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lykaonimagines · 2 years

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My One Constant - Supreme!Strange x Reader

I just needed to write some fluff for the man, I killed him last time I wrote him, he deserves this 😶

Paring: Supreme!Strange x F!Reader (childhood best friend)

Word Count: 6,569 (me telling myself I’ll just write a short fluff fic for him 🙃)

Description: Stephen’s known Y/N almost his entire life. The one person from his past he still has. He’s fought off his feelings for her for decades in fear of losing the friendship, but with her now working alongside him for the Illuminati, his feelings are getting harder and harder to hide.

A few slightly altered lyrics from “Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)” by John Lennon.

Other Things: Best friends to lovers. Childhood friends. Fluff. Two exceedingly smart idiots in love. They’re just silly and fun.

Warnings: Some swearing. Small bit of typical canon violence.

Masterlist

(Gif taken from Google, but credit on it. I didn’t want to use the one scene from MoM, so any clean shaven Stephen is going to be fair game for Supreme for me :P)

“Is it really wise to bring in an unknown scientist to help with something so delicate?” Reed Richards asks the rest of the Illuminati panel. “I’d feel far better if you gave us some information so I can run a proper check on this woman, Strange. At least her name and her qualifications.”

“I agree,” Peggy Carter comments, shifting her shield to sit against her seat. “A complete unknown seems like an unnecessary risk.”

“Just the fate of the Multiverse,” Maria Rambeau adds in.

“I’ve asked that you all just trust me on this,” Doctor Strange responds, checking the phone in his lap for nearly the hundredth time in the last five minutes. His foot taps impatiently on the tile.

“What has you so worked up?” Mordo asks from beside his seat.

“Nothing,” his foot taps faster and his eyes dart to his phone as the screen lights up.

A quick smile crosses his lips as he reads the message, pulling himself from his seat and heading toward the door.

“Where are you going? Isn’t that woman supposed to be here soon?” Richards calls out to him.

Pausing momentarily to look back over his shoulder, “She’s arrived, I’m going to collect her.”

“This woman needs to be greeted at the door by the Sorcerer Supreme?” Mordo asks incredulously.

“Yes, she does,” he shouts over his shoulder, letting the door slam behind him as he speed walks toward the entrance. A portal would have been far quicker and more practical, but he wanted to do this right. Plus the extra time to walk the distance to the entrance was needed to calm his racing heart.

Turning the last corner, his eyes immediately zero in on her. Standing between two bots just inside the doorway. He feels his pace quickening, and her eyes meet his, a smile spreading across her face.

Practically breaking into a sprint, he crosses the last of the distance, putting his arms out as she jumps into them eagerly, “Stephen!”

Hugging her tightly to his chest, he spins her around a couple times, her laugh reminding him why it is, and has always been, his favorite sound.

Setting her back to her feet, he suddenly becomes hyperaware of the eyes on them. Glancing over he sees several scientists from the nearby lab staring at them, “If you have time to stand around gawking, then I expect result reports tonight!” He snaps in annoyance and embarrassment, the tips of his ears reddening.

They quickly scatter to their various work stations as Y/N chuckles at his embarrassment. Quickly opening a portal to his office, he slips his hand in hers and tugs her through it, closing it behind them.

“That’s still always impressive,” she muses, looking at the place the portal once was.

“Suppose it is,” he says softly, reaching his free hand up to brush his fingers across her cheek. “I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too,” she smiles back at him, laying her hand over his on her cheek. “Hopefully I’ll be able to be of use.”

“You’re brilliant, you will be. And if I’m being honest, just you being here is already useful to me,” he grins and leans back against his desk. “Been far too long.”

“You just stress yourself out too much Stephen. You’re going to be regretting those words when I’m making you actually go to bed and eat like a functioning human being.”

“And you’ll have to forgive me probably fighting that on a regular basis.”

“You’ve always been a stubborn brat Stephen, I’m used to it.”

“You would know,” he chuckles, reaching back to open a drawer on his desk and pulling out a photo frame that he promptly hands over to her.

She smiles down at the photo, running her fingers wistfully over the three children pictured in it. The two of them not older than ten years, and a younger girl with the same blue eyes as her brother. “I still miss her.”

“Me too,” he admits, clearing his throat abruptly. “You’re all I have left Y/N. From back then.”

“And you keep me shoved in a drawer,” she teases, setting the frame down to wrap her arms around him.

“I don’t like people asking questions…” he admits slowly, wrapping his own arms around her frame. “People try to dig. I don’t like it.”

“You can tell people your past you know, you don’t have to hide everything,” her chin rests against the ornate embellishments on his robe.

“I don’t want pity,” he mutters softly.

“Do you think I pity you?”

“Of course not,” his brows furrow as he looks at her. “You… you’ve always been there. You knew me back then. You knew all of them. You loved them too. You’ve known everything all along. There’s no need to open up and tell you, you just know.”

“I think you do a pretty good job of opening up and telling me things, I’ve not been here this entire time to see everything in person, but I still know about it,” one of her hands drops to grab his and she runs her thumb over one of the scars there.

“You’re just… different,” he insists, the familiar stubborn expression settling on his face.

“I just worry,” she says with a shrug. “About you not letting people in enough. I want you to be happy.”

“I do have other friends,” he assures her, squeezing her hand. “And I’ve got you for the rest, I only need you.”

“You only need me hm?” She asks playfully, a smirk on her lips.

His heart rate immediately spikes, praying she can’t tell as he sticks his jaw out obstinately, “Well like I said you’re the one that’s been there. You’ve known me since we were children, always around at my house and following me around. Then you even followed me to New York for university, lived in the same apartment as me, and have continued to put up with all of my shit I tell you about for the last however many years. It would just be… inconvenient at this point to find someone else.”

“Oh so now I’m the convenient friend?” She teases, letting go of his hand and dropping her arm from his waist. “If that’s the cause…”

Quickly tightening his hold on her, he pulls Y/N back to his chest and growls in annoyance, “You know you’re important to me dammit.”

“I know, I know,” she grins and reaches up stroke his cheek. “And you’re important to me. I wouldn’t be here if you weren’t.”

“Prospect of a high paying job for an important powerful organization isn’t enough incentive?”

“As nice as all that is, I uprooted my life to move here for you, not because I want to be involved with the rich and powerful.”

“Hm, you could have just asked to see me more, not come all the way here?” He asks with his own grin.

“Hey you’re the one that said you need me Stephen Strange, too late to take that back.”

“Mhm,” he buries his face against her hair. “Truthfully, I’m so happy you’re here. Having you nearby cuts my stress by an indescribable amount. I also think you’re exactly who we need for this position. I’m glad you took me up on the offer.”

“Me too,” she says softly, clutching at his robes. “Im looking forward to the work, and seeing you everyday.”

Sighing heavily, he pulls back from her, “I suppose we should get to the assembly room. They’re all waiting for us.”

“So how bad is this job interview going to be?”

“They know nothing about you, I’ve told them to trust me. So they’re probably going to be annoying. But you have this job. I will override them on it if need be, but they won’t,” he responds before opening a portal outside of the assembly room door.

Pulling the door open for her, he ushers her inside before floating to his own seat on the panel.

“Welcome…?” Richards asks as he looks from Y/N to Strange.

“Doctor Y/L/N,” he responds, flicking his wrist and making her resume appear in all their hands. “Throughly qualified as you’ll see.”

“Good to meet you Doctor Y/L/N,” Carter says with a trace of a smile. “You’ve been a hot topic here, one Doctor Strange refused to share any information about. So forgive any prying that’s about to happen.”

“He does that,” she scoffs and nods her head. “Nice to meet you as well Captain Carter.”

“It says here you went to Columbia University… at the same time as Strange. Is that where you two met?” Richards asks as he scans over the paper in his hand. “Doctorate in Physics? Tell me how it’s relevant to this.”

“Richards,” Strange says harshly, fixing his friend with a stern look.

Y/N chuckles lightly and gives the panel a smile, “Longer than that. Yes bachelors, masters, and doctorate in physics. Specific interest in atomic-molecular, high energy nuclear, and overall astrophysics. All things I know you’re well versed in and know the practical application of multiversal and portal travel in general.”

“What’s your experience with any of that?”

“Aiding Stephen, researching debris from said portals and openings and remains of beasts. I worked with Asgardians for a few years researching their magic and the science behind their technology and their bi-frost form of travel. My focus was never engineering but I have taken several courses in my schooling years and worked with Stark Industries for a period of time. The cross-section of physics, engineering, and magic are my primary interest.”

Richards grunts and runs his eyes over the paper again, “So how do you know Strange then? And why has he been hiding someone with apparent perfect qualifications from us?”

Y/N’s eyes drift to Stephen’s raising a brow at him. He makes a face back at her, she smirks and quirks her eyebrow.

“What are you two doing?” Rambeau asks, watching the exchange between them. “Are you telepathic?”

“No,” Charles Xavier answers before she can, a smile on his face. “They’re both just making faces at one another and thinking very loudly.”

Y/N laughs and grins sheepishly, “I was trying to determine if he wants me sharing that kind of information, seeing as he didn’t offer it freely himself.”

“Well what would you say you are to our Sorcerer Supreme then?” Mordo asks.

“His best friend,” she says simply with a shrug as if it’s obvious.

“You stand before a panel of his friends, who he’s never bothered to introduce you to prior to today, and claim to be his best friend?” Mordo questions, glancing down at Stephen. “Do you have something to say about this, my brother?”

Stephen’s mouth presses together tightly before sighing and slumping into his chair, “We’re here now, might as well. She’s telling the truth. We’ve known each other since we were young children. We did also go to college together yes. And I have stayed in contact with her since then. As for why I never introduced her, she had her own things going on. She always would have been a big asset to the Illuminati, but I wasn’t going to take over her life.”

“Doctor Strange, considerate?” Rambeau asks with a smirk.

“It happens on the odd occasion,” Y/N responds with a wink. “He’s also just embarrassed to bring me into this aspect of his life.”

“He’s worried we’re going to tease him for caring about someone,” Xavier adds, earning a glare from Strange sitting beside him.

“So are there any other specific questions you all have?” Y/N asks.

“Do you have any embarrassing childhood stories I can hold over his head?” Richards asks as he sets down the paper in his hands. “You seem good to go, I just want leverage now.”

Laughing and nodding along she smile, “More than you could ever imagine, but I’m loyal to Stephen. I won’t embarrass him like that.”

“So we’re all done now then yes?” Stephen asks as he hurriedly stands, the faintest blush on his cheeks. “Enough interrogation for one day?”

“I’m satisfied, anyone in disagreement on Doctor Y/L/N taking over as lead researcher of lab A?” Richards asks, nodding when no one says anything. “Welcome to the Illuminati Miss.”

“You sure it’s alright that I stay here?” Y/N asks as Stephen helps her pass the rest of her belongs through a portal into a room at the Sanctum.

“I’m Sorcerer Supreme and Master of the Sanctum. I say it’s ok, so it’s ok,” he assures her, closing the portal behind them and watching as she flops onto the bed.

“Been a long time since we lived together, been kind of looking forward to it,” she says as she turns on her side to look at him.

“A bit fancier than our last place,” he laughs and sits on the edge of the bed, his cloak flying off and out the door.

“That it is, though broke uni students apartment versus mansion of mystical masters is quite the change,” she says as she grabs his arm. “Show me around? Mainly so I don’t wander into an ancient relic that sends me back in time when I get up to get a drink in the middle of the night.”

“Needy needy,” he teases, standing up from the bed and walking to the door. “Let’s get a move on then.”

“Look at me, turning the Sorcerer Supreme into a tour guide,” she jokes, slipping out the door behind him. “I can’t imagine how much your time costs if you were to monetize it. The amount of crap you have to do. To think I wasted your important time with tire swings and picnics.”

“Expensive to others, free to you,” he remarks, offering her his arm. “Come on. With you I’m just Stephen you know that. No Doctor, no Sorcerer Supreme. Let me feel normal for a few minutes.”

Slipping her arm through his she looks at the nearest relic on the wall, “It’s just crazy to think about sometimes ya know? You’re always still going to be the boy I grew up climbing trees with and counting change in college trying to afford a shit pizza. Now I mean… holy shit.”

“I’m still him.”

“I know you are, and I’m insanely proud of you, hell I was crazy proud of you being the best neurosurgeon. You worked really hard to get there. And then you didn’t let your accident stop you. You pushed on and made a new life,” she gestures at the relic by them. “Now you live in a magic house with things like that. Speaking of which… what is that and why does it look like it came from a medieval torture chamber?”

“Crimson Bands of Cyttorak,” he answers, trying to ignore the heat in his cheeks as he pulls her closer. “I would suggest not touching it, it’ll wrap around you and imprison you.”

“So it is basically medieval torture equipment,” she hums and pulls on his arm to go further down the hall when Mordo comes out of a door in front of them. “Oh, hello Mordo!”

“I don’t believe I properly introduced myself,” he jokes, offering her his hand.

“Stephen’s talked about you plenty, oh and thanks still for getting him into Kamar-Taj in the first place,” she shakes his hand happily. “I’m glad he’s had you in his life.”

Mordo’s eyes glance at Strange for a moment with a smirk before looking back at Y/N, “I wish I could say he’s told me as much about you, however he’s been suspiciously quiet. Though it explains why he’s so possessive over his phone and taking calls for hours.”

“I have come to notice he’s kept me as some dirty little secret,” she laughs glancing over at Stephen. “Making me feel like I’ve been doing something indecent.”

“Of course not, I just… don’t prefer to share all aspects of my personal life,” he states firmly.

“So now that she’s here, you’re comfortable to share her with the rest of us?” Mordo teases, a smirk spreading on his face as Strange frowns. “You seem a lovely lady Ms Y/N, I and the others look forward to getting to know you.”

“Likewise,” she grins and places a hand on his arm. “I’m happy to finally get to meet all these people he talks about.”

“Are we continuing this tour or are you just going to stand around exchanging pleasantries with Mordo all evening?” Stephen all but pouts at their interaction.

“Always so impatient,” she tsks and nods a goodbye to the sorcerer beside her. “Maybe we could sit down and talk later?”

“Absolutely, I’m sure we can figure out a good time.”

“Great, great,” Stephen mutters, tugging on Y/N’s arm to lead her down the hallway.

After circling through the many halls of the Sanctum and going over which relics should absolutely not be touched, the pair comes to a stop in a family room of sorts.

Y/N glances around the room for a moment before pulling Stephen toward the large couch in the room.

Raising an eyebrow he glances down at her, “What exactly are you doing?”

“When did you last sleep?”

“Is that a trick question?”

“Stephen, when did you last sleep?”

“Time is relative.”

Releasing his arm, she turns him around and shoves him down onto the couch with a grunt, pressing on his chest so he finally lays back on it.

“Well that means it’s been awhile since you won’t give me a straight answer. And I’m tired.”

“And?” he questions as she climbs on top of him and grips onto his robes.

“We’re napping,” she states firmly, burying her face against his neck. “I’ve missed doing this.”

“Ok,” he manages to choke out, trying to settle himself as he wraps his own arms around her to pull her close. One hand makes a quick gesture to change them both into more comfortable clothes.

“Good call,” she mumbles against him.

As he starts to nod off, he feels her fingertips brushing lightly over his face as she sings softly against his ear, “Close your eyes, have no fear. The monster’s gone. He’s on the run, and I’m here. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful boy.”

His arms tighten slightly around her at her voice, and a smile tugs at his lips before he finally lets sleep overtake him.

“Sleep well?” Mordo asks as Stephen enters the kitchen clicking his neck with a groan the following morning.

“No,” he mutters walking to the coffee maker.

“Unfortunate. You two looked awfully cozy when I walked through earlier,” Mordo comments, sipping his own coffee.

Stephen gives him a harsh glare, “Not a word. That couch isn’t comfortable for sleep. Especially for an entire night. Hadn’t intended to sleep that long.”

“Or you’re just getting old.”

“Fuck off.”

“Well good morning to you too Stephen,” Y/N says as she enters with a yawn.

“Not you, him,” he grunts, immediately handing her the mug he just poured. “Your neck ok? That couch is probably hundreds of years old.”

“Mhm,” she responds taking a sip and bumping her hip against his. “I crawled on top of you to avoid the couch. So I’m good.”

“You mean put more weight on me so I sunk further into the damn thing,” he teases and makes his own cup.

“Exactly, you know you love me,” she stretches up to press a kiss to his cheek. “I’m going up to shower and get changed, when are you taking off?”

“I’ll wait for you and portal us over,” he sighs and rolls his eyes. “One day you’re going to have to take a taxi or something though. This won’t be an everyday thing.”

“Or you could teach me magical Sorcerer abilities.”

“Not a chance, now get,” he shoos her off before looking back down at his coffee, trying to ignore the eyes on him.

“Friendship,” Mordo scoffs and takes care of his dishes. “I definitely believe you just love her in a platonic friendship fashion.”

“Once again, kindly fuck off.”

“You could just tell her how you feel, you two are clearly very close.”

“And ruin what we already have? One of the most important things in my life, the only stable thing I’ve ever had across my entire life?” he shakes his head vigorously. “I can be content with the way things are.”

“And then what happens once she decides to take a job elsewhere, or finds a partner here? You’ll be fine rarely seeing her once again, or seeing her with someone else?”

“We… have lived apart before plenty. And she’s dated. We both have had partners.”

“Strange, would you actually be happy with either of those things?”

Staring down at his cup silently, he finally sighs, “No.”

“Then say something. Or ask her on a date. If she really doesn’t want more with you, I doubt she will throw away everything you two already have. It’s obvious to anyone that spends more than a moment with the two of you that she cares about you. I doubt she’s put up with you for decades just to throw it all away in a moment because you asked her on a date.”

“Maybe… I’ll think about it, she just got here,” he responds and makes a quick gesture with his hands to change into his robes. “But for now, there’s work to be done.”

“Odd,” Y/N comments, eyes drifting to the clock beside her paperwork.

“What is?” Dr. Robinson, another scientist in the lab asks, leaning over her shoulder to look at the paperwork.

“Oh, no not this,” she says apologetically. “Just, the time. Stephen usually checks in by now if he’s not going to be back.”

She laughs and steps back over to her own work, “You’ve been here nearly half a year, and I’m still not used to hearing him referred to as ‘Stephen.’ Doctor Strange, Strange, Sorcerer Supreme, Leader of the Illuminati, and several unfavorable terms definitely. But Stephen, not so much.”

“It’s still odd to me hearing people address him so formally and seriously, or trip over their feet to bow for him,” she chuckles as she sorts through the papers.

“Well he is a fairly serious man.”

Y/N snorts at the statement and rolls her eyes, “He’s good at focusing in and getting work done. And he wants to be respected, which he thoroughly deserves. But he’s far from serious. He’s rather silly and fun when he’s not in work mode.”

“Yeah, for you. I’ve seen more of him in the last six months than I’ve seen of him the entire three years I’ve been here.”

“He didn’t used to come down to the labs?”

“Rarely while we were here, only if he had questions about the reports or wanted more information. He spent more time here at night after we all left.”

“Hm,” she twists the pen in her fingers. “He’s not been doing that now as far as I know. We have dinner together and hang out, he reads whatever reports he has or spell books, then we both head off to bed.”

“Now he visits here during the day to do whatever he needs to do because he wants to see you,” Robinson responds, giving her a knowing look. “You had to have noticed.”

“Well yeah he comes by to say hi, but he’s working.”

“He does his work, but he keeps circling around wherever you are in the lab. Finding excuses to walk past you, looking up at you while he’s working on something…”

“And…? We are best friends, he’s probably still getting used to me being here.”

“The man went from avoiding having to interact in the labs at all, to being down here whenever he can and looking at you like a lovesick puppy, Y/N,” she thumps a finger against Y/N’s forehead. “You’re a brilliant scientist but take a look of what’s right in front of your face boss.”

“I really doubt that he-” she begins to say before stumbling back as the air sparkles and a portal opens beside her, a blur of blue fabric stumbling through the opening before it quickly closes.

“What the- Stephen?” she asks, stooping down to pull the cloak away from his face. His eyes stare back at her unblinking, blood dripping from several gashes across his face. “Holy shit, Stephen! Robinson get the medical team, now!”

Pulling the cloak from his shoulders, she works to flip him onto his back, finding more gashes on his chest, the fabric shredded in several places. Cursing under her breath she reaches for the scissors in her desk drawer and cuts the remaining fabric away. Pulling her lab coat off she wads it up and presses it firmly against the gashes on his chest.

“Stephen are you here with me?” she asks, bringing one hand down to press to the pulse on his neck, exhaling when she picks it up.

“Barely,” he coughs out after a moment as he stares up at her.

“Just stay with me alright? The medical team will be here in just a minute,” she responds with one hand applying pressure and the other twining in his hair to keep his attention. “What did this? Any poison or magic?”

“Magic,” his eyes flicker open and closed a few times.

“Keep ‘em open Stephen,” she scolds softly. “Keep looking at me, just focus on me.”

“Always… focused on you,” he mumbles, his head lulling back and his eyes drooping.

Gnawing at the inside of her cheek, she cheeks his pulse once again.

Shit. Too slow.

Removing her hand from the jacket to grasp his head, she presses her lips to his. His eyes widen immediately at the contact, and his pulse quickens under her fingers, “Just like that, stay with me Stephen,” she whispers against his lips, his eyes dart to her face.

Finally the lab doors fly open to the medical team who quickly usher her out of the way and get him loaded on their gurney and out the door as she follows behind them.

The ringing in his head pulls Stephen from his sleep, his eyes slowly opening to the too bright room in the Illuminati Headquarters’ medical ward.

He looks around the room, his eyes settling on Y/N currently fast asleep in a chair next to his bed, her hand reached out holding his own.

Running his thumb over her knuckles makes her stir, eyes blinking open and a smile on her face as she sees him looking at her, “Finally you wake up!”

“Did I keep you waiting long?” he chuckles, wincing as he shifts in the bed. “What happened?”

“About nine hours,” she answers and reaches over to brush his hair from his face. “You don’t remember? You opened a portal right in front of me, stumbled through, closed it, and collapsed. You were covered in gashes from… something.”

Frowning as the battle with the beast comes back to him he sucks in a breath, “Apologies for that, I wasn’t thinking, portaling there in that state. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“Scare me? It was a fucking surprise for sure, and I was scared you were going to die. But hell yeah portal to me again if you need help,” she says firmly.

“So what’s the diagnosis?”

“You got a lot of stitches for one. Punctured organs. Variety of other things. They brought in two healers from Kamar-Taj that fixed most of the internal stuff. Medical team stitched you up, but they helped your healing along. I don’t even know exactly what was wrong, they were all running around frantically. You were a bit of a mess Doctor Strange.”

Nodding along, he leans back and shuts his eyes briefly before another memory hits him. His eyes fly open and he slightly turns toward Y/N, staring at her intently, “You kissed me. After I came through the portal.”

“You remember that part huh?” She asks, obviously flustered, her eyes avoiding his own.

“I do. Why?”

She clears her throat and shifts in her seat, “Well. You were fading on me, and I wanted you to stay awake and alert.”

“And a kiss was the medically sound way to do that?” he teases with a smirk. “I know you didn’t go to med school, but I think you know better than that.”

“Well I was just going off what had been mentioned to me… and thought maybe it would work to get your attention back on me.”

“What had been mentioned to you? Someone told you that’s a good way? At this lab?” he frowns in thought. “Either I need to go back through our staff and test some people or someone was teasing you.”

“No not like they told me to do that, just something about you and I thought it might work and I mean it did so…” she rambles and her hand twitches in his.

“What are people saying about me?” His brow furrows.

Taking a deep breath she finally meets his eyes, “There just might have been a few people that have mentioned since I’ve been here… that maybe, perhaps. That you may have feelings other than friendship for me.”

Stephen’s eyes immediately widen, the words hitting him like a splash of cold water. His mouth opens and closes several times as he tries to form a reply.

“I mean… I don’t know if it’s true. But I thought if it was maybe you’d… react to the kiss enough to get your attention back on me?”

“M-makes sense,” he stutters, his voice coming out hoarse as his mind races and body tenses.

“Maybe now isn’t the right time… but we’re here and it’s been brought up. If it’s a no we can forget we talked about this and leave it in this room. Is there any truth to that?”

“And if it’s a yes?” he asks quietly, his eyes darting away from hers and tongue quickly wetting his lips.

Y/N stands from her seat at his words, immediately making him regret it. He knew this would happen. This is why he’d always held it back. Now he’s gone and…

She closes the distance between her and the hospital bed, hands reaching down to gently cradle his head in her hands, “If it’s a yes, Stephen Strange, then I’ll let you know the feelings are mutual.”

His breath catches in his throat, turning his cheek into her palm as he stares up at her longingly, “T-they are?”

Leaning in close to him she stops just centimeters from his lips, “They are.” Her lips press to his gently, and he quickly moves his against them. Her tongue swipes across his lips making them immediately part, a strangled groan coming from his throat.

Slowly breaking the kiss, Y/N leans back as Stephen follows her up, sighing at the loss of contact. His eyes stare back at hers hazily, his hand gripping hers tighter.

Chuckling at his reaction, she leans back in and presses her forehead to his, “Let’s not overdo it right now, your face is barely holding together as is.”

“It’ll last,” he whispers breathlessly. “You’ve no clue how long I’ve wanted to do that.”

“I think I might have some clue,” her thumbs brush carefully over his cheeks. “Though I would be interested to know when exactly it changed for you.”

“It never ‘changed’ for me,” he admits, turning his head to press a kiss to her palm. “It’s always been there. It’s always been you. I never wanted to lose you, so I buried it.”

Pressing several small kisses on the uninjured skin on his face she gives him a gentle smile, “That’s been a lot of years and relationships we’ve been through Stephen. No wonder you hated all my boyfriends.”

“Why do you think they never worked out for me?” he grumbles. “And they weren’t good enough for you, any of them.”

“Only you’re good enough hm?” she teases.

“Well I have a few things going for me that none of them could ever touch,” he retorts with a smirk. “Sorcerer Supreme and leader of the Illuminati bring some perks.”

“I would say your biggest advantage is the way you’ve always been so attuned to me. Supportive, and caring from the beginning. The way you make me feel like I’m the most important person in the universe when you look at me.”

“You are the most important person in my universe, always have been.”

Finally releasing his head, she lets her hands slip to his shoulders and she presses another soft kiss to his lip, smiling as he relaxes into her touch, “I love you Stephen.”

“I love you too,” he responds, his eyes practically sparkling back at her. The most carefree and happy expression she’s seen on his face in decades. “Can we just make this official now?”

“Impatient?” she laughs as she sits back in her seat but still holds onto his hand.

“Exceedingly. I’ve waited decades Y/N, I don’t want to wait for some other asshole to come swooping in now. I don’t want to waste more time.”

“You have nothing to worry about, I’m reasonably confident about this one.”

“Only reasonably?” His lower lip jets out.

“You’re going to be trouble aren’t you? But I suppose you’re my trouble now,” she smiles and shakes her head at the man.

“If we’re being truly honest, I’ve always been your trouble,” he chuckles and intertwines their fingers.

“That you have,” she nods and lifts their hands to press a kiss to the back of his.

“How long am I supposed to be stuck here for?”

“Sounded like they wanted to watch over you for a few days, then you’ll have to take it easy for another few days once you’re out.”

Groaning loudly he flops dramatically back against his pillow and winces at the movement, “I have far too much to do to take it easy.”

“And here I was thinking you’d like a few uninterrupted days in your bed with me taking care of you,” she says innocently, trying to hold back a laugh as his head turns dramatically back toward her. “I requested the week off to take care of you, Richards and Mordo already agreed and are taking care of your duties and setting up Doctor Robinson to take my place while I’m out.”

“You should have led with that,” he says roughly, a new fire in his eyes. “I have you all to myself, all week?”

“That you do Doctor Strange,” she grins. “And in light of new revelations, I can make sure you are thoroughly cared for. If you agree of course.”

A growl of frustration leaves his lips and he tugs on her hand, trying to pull her closer, “And I thoroughly agree. Yet you tease me knowing I’m stuck in this fucking room for another few days.”

Standing up and going back to his side, she cups his cheek with her free hand and leans down to his ear, “Now, you just have something to look forward to love.”

Her teeth barely graze his ear as he groans and his eyes shut, “You’re going to be the death of me.”

“Mm, probably,” she laughs and presses a kiss to his cheek. “I’ve been here this long, I don’t plan on taking off anytime soon.”

“You’re my one constant,” he admits, his eyes opening to look at her lovingly. “You always have been, and I don’t know what I’d do without you in my life. I’d have fallen apart one hundred times over by now.”

“Remember the promise I made you?” she asks him softly, gently running her fingers through his messy hair.

“Which one?”

“When we were 19. It was after your father passed, and you said you were all alone now. I told you I could never fill the hole they left, but that you’d never be alone. That I’ll always be there for you.”

“And you always have, through everything,” he smiles up and her and leans into her touch. “I love you, with all that I am. I’m yours without reservation, forever.”

“Well that was deeply romantic and Hallmark movie sounding, have you been planning that line for awhile?” she teases, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “But I love you too, there’s no place I’d rather be than here with you, and that’ll never change.”

“May have had some time to come up with that one,” he responds as he lifts his hand to her cheek. “I’m just… happy. Didn’t think we’d ever be together. And I was content with what we’ve had.”

“Content but not happy?”

He nods, “You make me happy, I’m happy being around you. I’m happy for you to be here. But I suppose… there’s that part of me that held on to what could have been. “

“Well there’s no more what ifs. We can start figuring out where we go from here now.”

“Bedrooms.”

“What?”

“You can keep things in the other room if you want, but I want you in my bed, with me.”

“And if I refuse?” She grins as he pouts. “I’m just kidding. I’ll happily cling to you like a monkey every night once your body is adequately holding itself together.”

“Or, more sound medical advice, you just do that now and hold it together for me,” he teases. “From the same medical school as kiss someone losing consciousness.”

“Hey you make fun of me for it, but it worked,” she argues.

“Mm that it did, but do me a favor and save that trick for only me?” His hand drifts down her arm.

“Let’s just hope I’m not in that position for a multitude of people. There’s so many people with a medical background in this building, if somehow another person starts bleeding out in front of me I’m just going to quit, because that’s just shit luck and I’m not that kind of doctor.”

“Do I need to make up a rule that no employee bleed to death in front of Doctor Y/L/N?” he grins as she sticks her tongue out at him.

“You’re awful.”

“Yet you still love me,” he says smugly, carefully lifting his arms to put them behind his head.

“Clearly either a chemical malfunction in my brain or some off-shoot version of Stockholm Syndrome.”

“Keep telling yourself that,” he winks.

“For someone who nearly died today then was stuttering trying to tell me your feelings, you’re awfully confident now.”

“Like I said, I’m happy.”

“While I’m happy you’re happy, let’s stop moving so much before you pop a stitch,” she says as she feels for them carefully under his gown. “You’ll probably be stuck here longer if you do.”

Sighing at her words he nods and brings his arms down, reaching out to grasp her wrists and bring her closer to him, “Another kiss to ease the pain?”

“Are you always going to be this needy?” She teases, leaning partially over the bed to bring her face just inches from his.

His lips brush softly over hers as a smile slowly breaks through, “For you? Of course.”

----

Stephen Taglist: @stephenstrangeaddictions @ironstrange1991 @gaitwae @geeky-politics-46 @elicheel @frostandflamesfanfic @tokoyamisstuff @singhfae @jotaros-bara-tiddies @kon-pan-16 @stanny-uwu @ohchoices @sparky22122 @typical-bistander @hunterofshadows04 @evelynrosestuff @asgardianprincess1050 @pop-rocks-and-skittles @namethathasnotbeentaken @peachywoong @valeriegreyy @cumberbitch @lightmeuplivly @lucimorningst4r @bluebear142077 @strangeobsessed @bymoonlightfics @strangeions @sherlux

There’s a link to a Google form to fill out if you’d like to be tagged, on my pinned Channel Navigation post and on my Masterlist! Makes sure I don’t miss your comment, and lets you opt out of certain things if you’d like :)

If I’ve tagged you in something you didn’t want to be tagged in (certain variant, a warning you aren’t comfortable with, etc) just message me and I’ll make a note on my sheet to make sure you aren’t tagged in anything like that again.

#doctor strange #Doctor Stephen Strange #Stephen Strange #supreme strange #supreme!strange #supreme strange x reader #doctor strange imagine #doctor strange x you #doctor strange x reader #stephen strange x reader #stephen strange x you #stephen strange imagine #marvel #fanfiction

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juiceinpanties · 2 years

Text

10 Things You Hate About Eddie Munson

Pairing: Eddie Munson/afab!reader

Rating(s): Chapter: PG; Fic: E

Tags: eventual smut, penetrative sex, oral sex (both m and f receiving), fingering, subbie!Eddie, masturbation (m and f), fake dating, van sex, secret relationship, antagonistic relationship to friendship to lovers, casual sex, not-so-casual sex, phone sex

Summary: Your best friend, Nancy Wheeler, is absolutely dying to date Steve Harrington, but her parents have the weirdest rule: Nancy can't date until her friends (e.g., you) do. Nancy begs you to date someone, anyone, and eventually you agree. Meanwhile Steve offers to pay Eddie "the freak" Munson to ask you out. What could possibly go wrong??

Notes: This is, quite obviously, a 10 Things I Hate About You au, with a slight twist. Throw in some fake dating, a 90s setting, and here we are. Thanks to @tonybourdain for dragging me in and continuing to enable me.

Please note the tags. This chapter is rated PG, but future parts will be smutty!

Feedback is always welcome and appreciated and PLEASE reblog! Completely blank blogs that just like will be blocked because I'm gonna assume you're a bot. I've been here a long time.

In case you wanna read on Ao3 instead

part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4

Senior year. You’ve almost made it, you’re almost OUT! You and your best friend, Nancy Wheeler, have spent the last 4 years planning for college and your escape from Hawkins, and now it’s just 9 short months away. You’re practically counting the days.

“I’m just saying,” Nancy says as she bites into a carrot stick. “One or two dates. It wouldn’t hurt either of us. Don’t you want to date before you go to college?”

“I have dated,” you say with a frown. “It wasn’t for me.”

She rolls her eyes. “Hooking up with a few guys at a few different parties is hardly dating,” she says. She leans in closer, lowering her voice so none of the cafeteria busybodies will overhear. “You know I love you and all your convictions, but my parents won’t let me date until you do, and I really. Really. Want to go out with Steve. Just once! Please?”

You huff and drum your fingers against the table. You aren’t 100% sure about Steve, but Nancy tends to be a good judge of character, so if she likes him...

“Fine!!” you say. Nancy beams and claps her hands in delight. You hold up a hand to quell her enthusiasm. “But I’m not going out with one of Steve’s idiot jock buddies. Find me someone interesting.”

Nancy stares at you. “Sweetie, no offense, but...what the hell does that mean?”

“I mean, like, I don’t know. Someone not like Steve. Think of Steve, then go the opposite direction.”

Her face twists in thought. “I’ll talk to Steve.”

“Do that,” you say, grabbing your tray. “In the meantime I have chem.” You walk away, confident that they won’t find anyone. Steve’s friend circle is small, and it’s almost exclusively jocks—except, strangely, for Robin Buckley; that’s not a pair you ever would’ve pictured. You’re sure they won’t find anyone who meets your criteria. The peace and quiet of your senior year will remain undisturbed.

---

Eddie Munson has probably spoken 2 words to Steve Harrington in his entire life, yet now he’s nearly positive Steve is waving...at him. And heading...his way. Eddie glances over his shoulder, but the coast is clear. Just him. And Steve. Making a beeline right for him.

That can’t be good.

“Hey! Munson! You got a sec?!”

Steve Harrington knows his name? That really can’t be good. Eddie shifts his notebook from one arm to the other and shrugs a little. “Kinda on my way somewhere.”

“Right, yeah, your Hellfire thing. Dustin Henderson and Mike Wheeler are in that, right?”

Now Eddie is thoroughly nonplussed. Even more than he was before. “Yeah,” he says. “Is that a problem?”

“Nah, man, not at all!” Steve runs a hand through his ridiculous hair and grins. “They’re kinda friends of mine. I mean, Dustin is. Sorta. And Mike’s his buddy, so...” Steve swallows and glances around. “Okay, look, this is kinda weird, but...you know Mike’s older sister, Nancy?”

“Uh huhh,” Eddie says, drawing the syllable out in suspicion. He starts toward the media room, hoping Steve’ll get the hint, but he just falls in next to him.

“Nancy’s cool. Really, really cool. And smart. Probably too good for a schlub like me,” Steve says, which makes Eddie snort.

“False humility ain’t your look, man.”

Steve peers at him, but then blinks it away. “Anyway, I really wanna ask her out, but her parents have this weird rule...” He explains the Wheelers’ bizarre and frankly antiquated rule that their precious daughter can’t date until her friends do—one friend in particular. You.

“Do you think maybe you could ask her out? She agreed to go out with someone so Nancy and I could date, but she requested someone, uh.” Steve clears his throat. They’re at the media room by now, and he stops. Shoves his hands in his pockets. “Someone...weird? Uh. Not at all like me, were her words.”

Eddie snorts. Is this a joke? He’s seen Carrie like 50 times and he has no intention of being the sad girl covered in pigs’ blood; especially since he doesn’t have any psychic powers to get his awesome, fiery revenge.

“You’re fuckin’ with me, right?” he says. “I might be stoned, but I’m not stupid. No way a friend of Nancy Wheeler’s would go out with Eddie ‘the freak’ Munson.”

Steve shifts his weight from one foot to the other. He told Nancy this was a bad idea. “Look, man, I swear I’m being straight with you. She’s cool, okay? A little bit touchy and, like, grumpy? I guess? But cool. She’s into that Dungeons and Dragons stuff too. You can ask her to join Hellfire! She’d probably say yes.”

He gives Eddie big, hopeful puppy eyes, and as much as Eddie wants to tell him to fuck off, some part of him can’t. He’s noticed you around school; he has eyes. You’re cute and definitely smart and probably way out of his league...but fuck it. It’s not like his stock could plummet much further, and if you really are into D&D, it’d be cool to have a girl in the club.

“Yeah, fine, whatever. Not gonna promise anything, but I’ll talk to her. If she wants to join Hellfire, fine. If not, you’re on your own. Find another patsy. Got it?”

“Yes! Thank you! You’re a lifesaver!” He slaps Eddie’s shoulder. “I promise you won’t regret it! I can even pay for your date. Just lemme know where you’re gonna take her. I’ll throw in a little extra for your trouble.”

Pay him. To date a cute girl. There are worse ways to make money. “Cool. I’ll see if I can talk to her tomorrow.” He pauses and studies Steve through narrowed eyes. “If you’re fuckin’ with me--”

“Swear I’m not!”

“Fine. But if I get kicked in the nuts I’m comin’ after you.”

“Fair enough. Thanks, Munson. Really.” Steve grins again and practically skips away.

Eddie glowers after him. Possibly he just made a huge mistake, but, again, what the hell? Maybe he’ll get a chance to chat up a cute girl; maybe he’ll get kicked in the nuts. Either way it’ll be something to do.

---

The next day during lunch you’re minding your own business attempting to catch up on the reading for AP English. Nancy is off canoodling somewhere with Steve (or so you suspect), so you’re on your own. Just you and Hamlet.

Hamlet’s hitting existential crisis number 582 (give or take) when you sense someone hovering over your shoulder. You glance back and your eyes narrow when you see Eddie Munson.

He offers a wave and a little smile. “Hi,” he says. “Hey. Um. I’m Eddie.”

“I know who you are.”

“Great! That’s great.” He takes the seat next to you, uninvited, and peeks again at your book. “Hamlet, huh? That’s the guy who banged his mom, right?”

Your mouth quirks. “In some interpretations, sure. But I think you’re thinking of Oedipus Rex.”

“Oedipus! Right. The riddle guy who banged his mom. Yeah, Hamlet’s the one with the ghost dad.”

“Bingo.” You shut your book and set it neatly in front of you. “Can I help you with something?”

“Uh, yeah.” He drums his hands against the table, his rings catching the light, and offers you an awkward smile. “I hear you’re into D&D.”

“Wow. Word gets around about an interest I never talk about or have a chance to indulge in.”

He blinks, then his grin turns sheepish. “Yeah, well. I think Mike Wheeler mentioned it? You’re friends with his sister, right? He’s in my club.” He smooths his shirt. “Hellfire Club.”

“So I’ve heard,” you say, mildly. “Are you selling candy bars or something?”

“Huh? Oh. Ha. No. We’re looking for an extra member for our next campaign. Someone with some experience.”

You eye him a moment. “You know, I tried to join your club freshman year. The guy in charge at the time told me girls didn’t play D&D.”

“He said what?!” He scowls and tugs at a lock of his hair. “Shit. Fuck that. We’re under new management now, and everyone’s welcome. So you in, or...?”

You grab your backpack and slip your book into it. “Listen, Eddie...I don’t know what this is about, but I’m a little busy these days, so I don’t really have time to—”

“Steve Harrington said I should ask you out!” he blurts as you get up to leave.

You freeze a moment before dropping back down into your seat. “You?”

“Yep, me. Sorry, not exactly the Dating Game lottery, huh?”

“Oh, shut up,” you say, rolling your eyes. “You’re fine. Just--well. I did say someone different.” You sigh and shake your head. “Fine. When and where?”

He stares. “The club?”

“No.” You wave a hand. “The date. You are interested in the date, right?”

“Oh!” he says. “The date! Yeah, sure, good. Is it like a double thing with Steve and Nancy, or...?”

This poor boy seems completely out of his element, and he’s kinda cute in a puppy, Muppet sort of way. You take pity on him. “There’s a party this weekend at Sharon Mooney’s. Pick me up at 8.” You scribble your address and the date on a piece of paper and pass it to him. “Don’t be late.”

“A party?!” Steve didn’t say a word about parties. He did NOT sign up for parties! He looks up at you, your brows lifted in a question, and after a moment he gives a resigned nod. “Eight,” he says. “I’ll be there.”

“Great,” you say. You stand up again, so that he’s having to look up at you. “This is strictly for show. No kissing, no touching, no bullshit. We’ll go, have a few drinks, mingle, leave. Got it?”

He blows out a breath and flashes a double thumbs up. “Got it, boss. See you then.”

You give him a brief pat on the head as you go by. “Good boy,” you say, and you don’t see his confused, slightly intrigued expression as you walk away.

#eddie munson #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson fanfic #eddie munson smut #eddie x you #eddie munson/reader #stranger things #stranger things fanfiction #meg wrote this #stfic #emfic #10things

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nova--spark · 5 months

Note

Ngl, definitely having this thought right now.

If you know the tf fic idea of a human being reincarnated as a Cybertronain, then good. If not, don't worry, it's been a minute since I've read those type of fics. Most of which weren't completed when I had read them.

Anyway, timeskip au. Tfp kids live their lives as humans, right? Only they pop back in as Cybertronains on Cybertron.

Que mass confusion from both parties once they meet their guardians and explain everything and its proven true, as well as fear from maybe a few Cons. Mind you, zero of the fics I had read never gave reason for the reincarnation, so do with that what you will as to why the three are now back as Cybertronains.

Interested to see your take on my ask, ngl.

Fun fact, reincarnation is a huge fave of mine, I will always play around with the idea

Reincarnated as Sparklings AU

Having reached the end of their natural lives, the Jasper trio had left behind a legacy by which to be remembered, one that their families, both robotic and organic, would hold firm and proudly now that they were gone...

Which caused quite the shock, when of all things, they reawoke on Cybertron, as something entirely new, in metal bodies of their own.

Call it fate, call it a gift, but be it the Primes or even Primus himself, they had been reborn, in the form of Cybertronians no less, each befitting their natures in their past life.

Jack was fast, his form sturdy but still one no less meant for speeds that a normal vehicle couldn't easily reach, but could also take the hits dealt out if necessary. Fitting really, when those he had to guide him before had been Arcee and his close bonds with Smokescree.

Miko was blessed not just with a form that could dish out hits as well as take them, but with wings to soar high above, a fact she was more than elated by, and no doubt, her family of Wreckers would be surprised when they saw their reborn teammate.

Rafael came as a bit of a shock, but it made quite a bit of sense once looking closer. Given many of the features of a bot with highly advanced processors and data cables, yet also tools by which to repair those he cared for, Raf was a natural in this form.

Once they were able to understand these new forms better, the first thing they did was speed off to find Team Prime, which proved to be little challenge.

They found Ratchet, who had been working a volunteer shift at the sparkling facility when in came 3 rambunctious bots, who immediately called his name and--

Wait how did they even--

It took the next few hours for them to explain, but after some questions that only they would know, Ratchet had sped them off to a small home of his own, where he contacted the rest of the team.

All were shocked, but none more than Optimus, who remained oh so still, as the three reborn came up to him and embraced him tightly.

Oh how his spark sang as he embraced his once young children with fervor, careful not to harm them, but oh so happy to be reunited with them.

A gift of Primus indeed.

Their family was whole again.

#transformers #maccadam #maccadams #transformers prime #tfp #tf prime #nova musings #nova writings #Reborn Spark AU

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pipermca · 6 months

Text

K-9: Part 1

For this year's TF Big Bang event, I originally started off with a different idea than the one I ended up running with. However, I did write about 7500 words of this idea before giving it up as far too long for me to finish in the time available.

That said, I'm still interested in working on this fic, but I don't know when I'll have the time or energy. So I'm working on cleaning up what I do have of this story, and I'll serialize it here. If I end up writing any more, I'll add it here. (This post will contain the first instalment, as well as act as the index/masterpost for the whole thing.) In later instalments there will be illustrations, since this story idea was partially based on a toy. (And man, if I had a IDW2 MP-scaled Barricade figure, I'd be able to do a LOT of illos. 😄).

Enjoy.

No content warnings. Relationships: Barricade & Prowl, Bluestreak & Prowl, Prowl & OC

******************

Part 1

"After we turn in our reports, did you want to come to the Rusty Strut with me and the others?" Barricade asked.

Prowl settled on his wheels. "No."

"Aww, come on." Barricade swerved slightly to chime his fender against Prowl's. "You never go out with us. I'm starting to think you don't like me."

As they reached the station, Prowl transformed and frowned at his partner. "The only time I went to the bar with you and the others, I somehow got stuck paying the entire tab," he said. He flicked his wings as he turned his back on Barricade. "I have no desire for a repeat of that situation."

Barricade caught up to Prowl at the curb. "That's because you were new! It's tradition!" He slung his arm around Prowl's shoulders. "I promise it won't happen again."

"Regardless, my answer is still no," Prowl said, shrugging out from under Barricade's arm. "It is simply an activity I have no interest in. I am only here to-"

With a scoff, Barricade threw up his hands. "I know, I know. I've heard you say it enough." He rolled his optics. "You're just here to do a job, not to make friends." He frowned at Prowl. "You know this isn't Praxus, right? There's more to life than just being a tool of the state. Things like making friends, or having fun." Marching ahead of Prowl, he glanced over his shoulder. "You should try it some time."

Prowl shook his head. It had been a big change for him, moving from Praxus to Iacon. He missed the order of Praxus, where everyone knew their role and rules were clearly defined and followed. But because of that order, being an Enforcer there was... Well, it was not very challenging. Iacon, on the other hand, was larger and more chaotic. Bots had much more freedom to do what they wanted, which also meant that the peace was harder to maintain. But it also meant that the work of keeping that peace was more interesting.

Moving from being a Praxus Enforcer to becoming a member of the Iacon Watch was a huge shift for Prowl, but he took his job seriously. And doing his job did not mean spending time with his fellow constables in bars or dancitrons.

As Prowl and Barricade walked into the precinct, the desk clerk held up a hand to the bot he was talking to. "Just a sec- Hey! Prowl! The Captain wants to see you in her office right away."

Barricade lifted a brow ridge at Prowl. "What did you do?"

"I did not do anything, except my job," Prowl said, mystified.

Barricade rolled his optics again. "Yeah, I know," he said. "I hope you're not getting canned. I really don't want to break in another partner."

"I will come back as soon as possible to finish filing our report," Prowl said as he turned towards the Captain's office.

"You better!" Barricade called after him. "You know I hate doing reports!"

Prowl wracked his processor for any clues as to why the Captain of the Inner Watch would want to see him. Discipline was usually left up to the sergeants, but Streetwise had not mentioned any shortcomings in Prowl's performance to him. As far as Prowl knew, he had done everything expected and to the required parameters. His regular reviews had always been glowing. He had no idea what the Captain could want with him.

Prowl paused just outside the Captain's office and knocked on the open door. "You asked to see me, sir?"

Captain Overdrive looked up from her work and waved him in. "Prowl! Yes, come in. Close the door, please." She gestured at the chair in front of him and watched as Prowl took a seat. "You've been with the Iacon Watch for quite a while, yes? Are you enjoying the work?"

From his seat, Prowl could plainly see his personnel file open on the Chief's desk. He suppressed a nervous flick of his sensor wings. "I have been with the Iacon Watch for a year. And I am enjoying the work, yes," he said. "It is more of a challenge for me than what I found in the Praxus Enforcers."

Overdrive made a thoughtful noise and flipped through a few screens in Prowl's file. "You've had nothing but commendations. Not a single complaint so far. That's surprising, considering your partner." She flashed Prowl a knowing smile, then leaned back in her chair. "And you said you enjoy the challenge?"

"Yes, sir."

"In what way?"

"The work is varied. On patrol, we see something different every day. Analyzing each situation and determining the best course of action possible within the confines of our mandate is appealing to me." Prowl lifted his sensor wings. "It is very different than the work I was doing in Praxus."

"I can understand that." The Captain nodded thoughtfully. "I know the crime rate in Praxus is very low. The Enforcers there seem mostly for show, honestly."

Prowl did not think that was a completely honest assessment of the work the Enforcers did there, but he did not see the point in arguing with the Captain. "Yes, sir," he said instead.

"Your record from Praxus is impressive. Wanting a new challenge does explain why you wanted to make the move to Iacon," Overdrive said. "But I can't help feeling that we aren't utilizing you in the best possible way."

"Sir?"

"Would you be interested in something a bit more challenging? Perhaps in one of our special units?"

Special units! If Prowl could possibly have sat up even straighter in his chair, he would have. "I would be interested, yes, depending on the unit. Some of them do extremely important, very interesting work."

Overdrive nodded and glanced back down at Prowl's file, tabbing through a few more screens. "Do you consider yourself a mechanimal bot?"

Prowl cycled his optics. "A... I am sorry, a what?"

"Someone who likes mechanimals. You know, felinoids, zap ponies, wirehounds, whatever." Overdrive waved her hand at Prowl's file. "It says here you had an organic for a pet when you lived in Praxus."

"Yes... I did." Prowl's wings twitched as his processor churned through scenarios trying to figure out what his personal life had to do with being transferred to a special unit. "I had a flyt."

"Did you train it yourself?"

When Prowl's processor came up empty on a rational explanation for the Captain's line of questioning, he decided that the only thing to be done was answer the questions as best he could. "Yes, sir. I got her when she was just a hatchling and started training her right away. I needed to make sure she could be left alone in my flat without causing a disturbance." He dipped his wings when he realized why the fact that he had a pet flyt was in his file. "Keeping organics in your living quarters was considered irregular in Praxus, so I wanted to make certain there was no reason for anyone to file a complaint with the Garaging Authority."

"What sorts of things did you train it to do?"

"I trained her to come when she was called and to stay on her perch when commanded. Additionally, I trained her to sit on my shoulder, and to fly through a hoop that I had made for her. She could also do loops in midair, although she needed enough space to perform one." Prowl thought back to the tiny flyt, and how she would chirp and tilt her head when she wanted a little bit of extra skitter. Then he suppressed the emotional subroutines that always inserted themselves into his processor threads when he thought about Green. That wasn't useful right now. "And of course, to eliminate her waste in the proper receptacle."

"Oh, right. I guess that's something you have to think about with an organic." Overdrive laughed. "Mechanimals don't have that issue."

"No, sir."

"This flyt, did it obey your commands?"

"Yes, sir. She obeyed them very well, sir."

"How do you feel about wirehounds?"

Prowl felt off-balance. He could not figure out where the Captain's questions were leading to. "I do not know that I feel anything about them in particular."

"You're not afraid of them or anything like that, are you?"

"No, sir."

"Does your residence building have any rules about pets?"

"No, sir, except to ensure that they are well-behaved and do not cause a disturbance."

"Good." Overdrive blanked the datapad with Prowl's file on it and leaned forward, tenting her fingers together. "Prowl, I've been asked to find someone to head up Unit K-9, and I think you are the right bot for the job."

Part 2.

Part 3.

Part 4.

#my writing #maccadam #tf prowl #tf barricade #k9

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charmingchappie · 1 year

Text

June 22, 2288

For my first entry, here is a list (in no particular order) of the bat-shit insane nonsense I’ve seen or heard since joining up with the Commonwealth Minutemen.

*Confirmed – saw with my own eyes or was told by a reliable source

1. Reclamation of The Castle with a handful of green recruits, the Mayor of Goodneighbor, and a single, janky-ass missile launcher.

* Since I have been actually living inside of said Castle, I will give this one a partially confirmed status, but the stories circulating about the actual events surrounding the reclamation of The Castle are many and, by and large, ridiculous.

My initial impression of Colonel Garvey is that he is not a man prone to exaggeration, but he also looks at General Taylor like the sun shines right out of her butt, so his assertion that they purged The Castle of a mirelurk infestation with less than ten men remains suspect. Even less believable is that General Taylor took out an cranky mirelurk queen with three missiles and a launcher they found lying around in a back room. The crab boil they had afterwards is supposed to have been epic.

* Colonel Shaw is a no nonsense type and I will therefore take her at her word that she, General Taylor, and Garvey destroyed a sentry bot in close quarters combat in the tunnels beneath The Castle. Also, I’ve seen the wreckage of said sentry bot and… holy shit.

2. General Taylor’s status as pre-war.

I honestly don’t know what to think of this one. There was that article a few months back, but Wright’s reputation as a journalist is a mixed bag. I’ve read a lot of stuff that rings true, but Wright also thinks Mayor McDonough is a synth based on his noodle consumption habits. I dunno.

The vault General Taylor climbed out of is supposed to be close to Sanctuary, which I have yet to see. I kinda hope it’s not true because all the stuff about General Taylor’s husband being murdered in front of her and her kid being kidnapped by The Institute is really awful.

3. General Taylor’s rescue of the last of the Minutemen

Again, I have only have Garvey’s word on this one and if it’s even remotely accurate, I can understand the butt sunshine. Allegedly, General Taylor, fresh out of frozen storage and still in her vault suit, rolled into Concord with a pipe pistol and a dog and proceeded to fight her way through an entire gang of raiders to save Garvey and what was left of his refugees.

That would be impressive enough but that’s not the craziest part, because after that the story shifts to something that would be better-suited to those old Grognak comics than real life. After blowing her way through the streets and up three floors of a rotting, wooden, pre-war building, General Taylor then proceeded to the roof where she got herself into an old set of power armor and laid waste to the remaining raiders with a mini-gun she also found lying around on the roof. Remember the missile launcher I mentioned before? Yeah, I’ m seeing a pattern here too.

ANYHOO. After the raiders are dead, General Taylor jumped off the roof of the building in her untested power armor and went straight into a head to head battle with a fucking deathclaw in the street below because of course she did. Where did this deathclaw come from? No one seems to fucking know. It may as well have appeared out of thin air. General Taylor pumped the rest of the mini-gun’s ammo into it and then finished it off with a shot-gun blast to the head. Where did she have the shot gun, you ask? Good question. Maybe she had it stored in the same place as the sunshine. Or maybe it too was just lying around on the ground for her convenience.

4. General Taylor’s rescue of Detective Valentine from the clutches of Skinny Malone and his gang.

* Okay, so this did happen. General Taylor did go down into an old vault and did come back out with Nick Valentine. General Taylor herself confirmed as much, but the details were given to me by the shadiest motherfucker this side of the Mississippi so I’m only marking the basics as confirmed.

Seriously, folks. The guy who told me this stuff was a fellow caravan guard on my last contract before I joined the Minutemen. He introduced himself as Brian. Funny dude. Competent with a rifle.

Had a full head of dark brown hair.

We exchanged shitty puns and giggled like twelve-year-olds for a week before we shook hands and parted ways in Bunker Hill. I got recruited by General Taylor that same night and left with her and a bald dude named Deacon the next morning.

Deacon, my ass.

It was Brian except that he insisted he wasn’t Brian. Fucker tried to gaslight me all the way to The Castle like I hadn’t just spent a week on the road with him! He told me the story about Valentine’s rescue on the way as a very transparent means of distracting me. To be fair, it was a great story, but the effect was diminished by General Taylor rolling her eyes the whole time. So yeah, until proven otherwise, I’m assuming all but the bare facts are absolute bullshit.

I mean, there’s no way Taylor and Garvey took out Malone's whole gang on their own, did some kind of expert computer hacking to get into Valentine’s cell, and then convinced Malone’s girlfriend to rethink her life’s choices and leave with them. And after all that, Malone supposedly just let them leave? Are you kidding me, Brian/Deacon/whoever the fuck you are?

5. The leader of the Brotherhood of Steel is a child.

I was on the road when these assholes showed up, but a lot of folks saw them coast over in their stupid giant blimp, lights and loudspeakers blaring, before they started squatting in the ruins of the airport. Benji, who was recruited the same week as me, says he heard from some hired gun of the General’s, who in turn heard it straight from her, that the Brotherhood’s “Elder,” is a kid.

Benji and I have spent a lot of time in each other’s company in the months since we joined up so I think I’ve got a decent read on him. If he says the hired gun said it, then the hired gun said it. But if it’s the same hired gun I’ve seen trailing after General Taylor on occasion, then I have some questions.

The company General Taylor keeps is, let’s say… eclectic. On any given day, she might be seen tramping around the Commonwealth with her dog, Colonel Garvey, Valentine, Piper Wright, Liar McLyingface (Deacon/Brian/?), the hired gun, or John fucking Hancock. Of those listed, Garvey and Valentine seem to have been the most frequent fliers until Taylor picked up Hancock. Now, if one catches sight of General Taylor, they can be sure there’s a ghoul dressed like a founding father walking lock step with her.

Anyway, all that to say that I’ve seen the hired gun Benji mentioned and he must be a whiz with that sniper rifle because he looks like three grimy eight-year-olds in a trench coat pretending to be a grown ass man.

Also, I’m pretty sure General Taylor is somewhere in her late thirties or early forties, which means anyone under the age of thirty-five registers as a “kid” to her, so who the hell knows how old “Elder” Maxson actually is.

6. General Taylor and Detective Valentine tracked down and eliminated an Institute hit man.

What in the actual fuck? I can’t decide which part of this is more ludicrous, the part where the two of them took out a mercenary supposedly enhanced by Institute tech or that they did so via mini-nuke. What idiot came up with that?! They'd have blown themselves and the building to smithereens! And where would they have gotten a fatman to being with?

Lying conveniently just outside the door, probably.

7. General Taylor was part of a heist that attempted to rob John Hancock.

* This rumor has been making the rounds since the first of the year. I was in Goodneighbor the first time I heard it, and while Daisy likes a good yarn, she’s got an excellent bullshit-o-meter, so I think the version I got is as close to the truth as it gets.

The story goes: While in town on business with Nick Valentine, General Taylor takes a job with Bobbi No-Nose. Now, I’ve been in and out of Goodneighbor enough times to know that name and Bobbi is almost as shady as Deacon/Brian/Mr. Pants-on-Fire. Taylor, being new to the Commonwealth, and new to this century if you’re inclined to believe number two on this list, jumps right in without doing any research on her new employer. Daisy said Taylor took the job under the impression that they would be robbing Diamond City.

Best I can tell, General Taylor operates on her own code of ethics and morality. She’s big on protecting the little folks and solving problems with talk instead of bullets when possible. She doesn’t discriminate against ghouls or synths and the entire Castle heard her vent her entire spleen and some of her lower intestine to boot on “Elder” Maxson over the radio when she found out The Brotherhood was taking crops and supplies from some of the Minutemen settlements. Even so, she took the job with No-Nose, so she was either desperate for caps or the idea of filching from those pretentious dicks in Diamond City didn’t ping her conscience. I personally like to think it’s the latter.

Whatever the reason, General Taylor throws in with No-Nose and doesn’t find out the real target is Hancock until they’ve got his scary-ass lieutenant waving a mini-gun in their faces, at which point, Taylor turns on Bobbi.

This is where the story diverges one of two ways: either Taylor puts a bullet between Bobbi No-Nose’s eyes or she convinces Bobbi to run. Daisy’s account says Taylor let Bobbi go (and that’s the one that lines up with what I’ve seen of Taylor so far). Either way, afterwards, Taylor hoofs it back to Goodneighbor to apologize to Hancock in person for her fuck up of epic proportions and somehow manages to acquire herself a ghoul bestie.

Almost no one believes any version of this story because everyone agrees that anyone trying to rob Hancock, accidentally or otherwise, would be buried in a shallow grave. Goodneighbor’s a rough place and the Mayor has a reputation as a chem head and as a man who has no compunctions about putting down anyone who challenges him. But (and if anyone tells him I said this, I’ll deny it with my dying breath) he’s also a big softie.

No really! He’s got an entire floor in that statehouse dedicated to sleeping space for folks who don’t have anywhere else to go. I know because six years ago, I was one of them. I had a run of bad luck with jobs and ended up in Goodneighbor without two caps to rub together. I was dirty, hungry, and when I got clonked on the head by some shithead in an alleyway who wanted my boots, Hancock let me crash in the statehouse until I was able to walk six paces without passing out. Hell, he was the one who carried me up there after he snatched my boots back from the guy who mugged me. And before you ask, -- yes, I’m sure it was him. I may have been concussed, but that red coat is pretty unforgettable. And who the fuck else wears a tri-corner hat?

Anyway, despite his hardass rep, I don’t think Hancock would shoot a lady for accidentally not-quite robbing him.

So there you go. That’s nowhere near a complete list, but this is getting long and Benji says I have to wrap it up so he and the rest of these yahoos can get me drunk for my birthday.

Until next time, this is Charlie Chapman of the Commonwealth Minutemen telling you to stay safe out there.

#fallout #fallout 4 #tinker taylor soldier spy #Chappie Charlie

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eventdrafts · 2 years

Text

BODYSWITCH PARTY

carol danvers BOT — 12/10/2020 Carol wondered what the point was — the open bar, the empty dance floor, the weird twinge to the air as people shuffled in, looking around, some confused. Other’s frustrated. Her, personally, she was feeling rather fine in the tailored suit - a deep navy blue that accented the warm undertones of her skin. No, not her skin, Sam’s, but what did it matter? Not when they were stuck like this — did she mention the open bar? She supposed that was the point, wasn’t it. Some semblance of normalcy amidst all the crazy. Weaving her way through the crowd, she went straight for the bourbon, tasting the acrid bitterness on her tongue as it burned the whole way down. She wondered if she carried her tolerance into Sam’s body. She wondered if Sam even had a tolerance. The din was getting more overwhelming as the room began to fill and Carol turned, resting her back against the bar, still nursing the Maker’s in her palm.

tony stark BOT — 12/10/2020 "It's my first time back at a big party after coming back to life, and I can't even drink." Tony remarked as he awkwardly tossed back a long section of curls over his shoulder. It was frustrating to say the least— wanting to enjoy himself but being stuck in the body of his teenage daughter. He was still confused as to what to do about it, silently hoping every minute that somehow he would be back to himself and he could do whatever the hell he wanted. The worst part of it was watching his body get driven by his teenage train wreck of a mentee. So, there were multiple things to be pissed off about tonight, that was for sure. "Please be sad for me. If everyone else is going to be at least attempting to enjoy themselves, please let there be one person who mourns for my sense of fun."

Gerry Drew BOT — 12/10/2020 Gerry wandered into the area in a dress that really didn't suit his mother's figure and put on all twisted and already displaying some wrinkles. It was obvious to tell that he had dressed with his eyes shut. He'd rather have stabbed his eyes out than see his mother naked. The thought of it made him shiver as is. One thing he could at least be proud of in terms of the appearance was his hair, or rather his mother's. He knew how to do hair as evident by his own normal hair. He figured the right people for him to talk to would be here to figure out his situation would be here, plus, free booze! Speaking of which he made his way over to the counter, not struggling wearing heels; it wasn't the first occasion he had to. Sliding up to the bar he nodded at who seemed to be Steve, "Captain." He said with a nod before getting himself an amoretto sour. He wasn't much for whiskies or the like.

julian keller BOT — 12/10/2020 Julian had spent more time in front of a mirror in the last 45 minutes than he had in most of his adult life. And considering who he was, this was more a frustrated feat than he’d like to admit. He’d wondered why Lana didn’t wear tulle more often because, as he’d shifted in the mirror, her long dark hair falling across the bubblegum pink dress, she pulled it off better than most. But ultimately he’d stripped down and redressed in something both of them were a little more comfortable in - something a little less imposing and a hell of a lot darker. He’d arrived earlier than usual - considering he didn’t know where Kate was - who Kate was - and had really wanted to watch the people walk through the door. With his legs crossed beneath the short, almost too short, dress he was wearing, Julian sat bored at one end of the bar, his chin in his hand, his eyes following the bodies that entered. He turned down the drinks offered from the bartender, too, just drumming his free hand against the bar top.

alex summers BOT — 12/10/2020 Alex had never felt more exposed in his life. The outfit he had so reluctantly thrown together from Tabitha’s absolute labyrinth of a closet was fairly modest, but not entirely out of character for the woman; didn’t provide a ounce of comfort though. This night was one wrong move short of an absolute and total disaster, and his feelings or the beginnings of such for the girl who’s body he currently occupied were - fluctuating, to say the least. Too much to process, too little time. Not to mention the near constant fear that he’d accidentally blow a hole in the wall. The Summers Family’s signature psionic blasts where one thing, but this was a whole different ballgame. Wandering into the hall as his thoughts got a way from him, he quickly caught notice of the Stark girl lurking by the bar. Alllright. Approaching with caution, he leaned over to whisper to the other, “— need some help there?”

peter parker BOT — 12/10/2020 This was Peter's worst nightmare. Or, well— it was horrible and weird and awkward, but he hadn't ever really thought or dreamt about possessing Tony Stark's body before. So, not the worst scenario he had ever pictured himself in. But it was definitely going to make the top 5. One thing the two of them had in common was the ever-present anxiety, which Peter had never really heard him talk about before. Tony was an expert at hiding it— Peter was not. He was dressed nicely in a suit Tony had picked out, because he wouldn't dare let himself go out looking like a mess. But Peter felt like every single pair of eyes were glued to him, making him want to shrink away and rip off the bowtie around his neck for the sole reason of trying to get more air into his lungs. It was a ridiculous notion, but he couldn't chase it away. He shifted between pacing awkwardly, stopping after a few steps to shuffle his hands together and then shoving them into his pockets before stopping again.

Doctor Strange BOT — 12/10/2020 He hadn't been able to take his eyes of of his hands, or rather Wanda's. Typing, playing the piano, just wiggling his fingers and not feeling the pain anymore. He loved it. However, that was just about the only thing he enjoyed about this shift. Stephen borrowed his power from the multiverse, never really having to deal with the burden of power, but in Wand's body it felt so much different. Feeling this overwhelming power coursing through every fiber of their being was both invigorating and terrifying. Needless to say his understanding of Wanda's blight had only improved. "Now, are we all just going to go about this like it's normal and treat tonight like any other festivity?" He said mildly stressed, but willing to simmer down a bit if asked.

sam alexander BOT — 12/10/2020 Sam was losing it to say the least. His helmet was nowhere to be found, but in exchange, Tiana’s suit was in his possession, which was — not necessarily a good thing. And there was a party? And he was expected to attend?? Well, Tiana was. But hopefully that offer extended to “Sam” as well, as he wouldn’t know where to find his body otherwise. Somehow though, he found his way to the hall in which the party had commenced, in a questionable number consisting of the most casual thing he could find in Tiana’s closet, before disappearing into the woodwork, wanting to observe, but be anything BUT observed himself.

nathan summers BOT — 12/10/2020 His first stop had been the DJ where Nate spent an inexorable amount of time trying to persuade him to put on a mid 2000’s playlist, using whatever wily charms the Frost sister he was inhabiting had. He waggled his perfectly groomed eyebrows and smiled brightly and eventually, Nelly Furtado’s Promiscuous Girl began to blast through the speakers. He blew a kiss as he turned on his heel and sauntered off, next stop to grab the most uncomfortable looking person in the room to drag onto the dance floor. Being in a Frost was freeing in a way - she turned heads but because of who she was, who her mother was, no one approached. For as long as this lasted he wasn’t a Summers - he’d take that for now.

tony stark BOT — 12/10/2020 Tony looked to the side where he heard someone speaking, not turning his head at first. He debated just not answering at all, but then let out a sigh and directed his attention to them. "Me? Not unless you can fix all.. this." Both hands dramatically gestured to himself and then widely around the room to the odd array and mismatched people and bodies. "I wanted to get to know my daughter better after being gone, but this is way off course from what I had anticipated. But it's sweet that you ask. Who do I have the pleasure of speaking to?"

carol danvers BOT — 12/10/2020 Carol’s eyes flitted over as Jess approached — or who looked like Jess. With all this mess, who knew? “Shot in the dark here,” the deep baritone of Sam’s voice sounded both familiar and foreign but she pushed through. “But you’re not my best friend, are you? Lemme guess, Barton? Gocking?”

Gerry Drew BOT — 12/10/2020 Gerry nearly choked on his drink as he heard heard her guesses. "Wow, I'm hurt." He said laughing it off, feeling weird as his mother's laugh came through. They were both strong male role models to him but he always let them know how big of dorks he saw them as. Smug grin coming across his face. "You are so wrong. But I know who you are, Aunty Carol." Gerry mused as he took another sip still not sure if that was a good hint since she hadn't ever heard him call her that yet.

alex summers BOT — 12/10/2020 Alex shrugged, arms wrapped around his midsection in a meager effort to appear smaller, to disappear if he was lucky, “Hey, we take what we can get, I guess — I wasn’t expecting to get to know the girl I’ve barely started talking to so intimately - “ he shuddered a bit at the notion. Things were moving WAY too fast for Alex, “— but, what are you gonna do. And Alex— unfortunately. Alex Summers — Mr. Stark...?” He asked, although he knew that much was already perfectly clear.

remy lebeau BOT — 12/10/2020 Remy pulled a small mushroom pastry thing from a passing tray and shoved it in his mouth, occupying his time as he waited for - ah merde - Rogue to enter the room. Waking in Lorna’s body told him enough and it hadn’t taken long for them to figure out that either him or Lorna was being tortured by the choice in her switch. He kept wanting to say him, but that felt a bit selfish, non? Another tray passed and he plucked another food item from it, not concerning himself with figuring it out, and ate it all the same.

Gerald Drew BOT — 12/10/2020 The older more matured Gerry Drew made his way to the scene and was quite frankly nervous. He'd never really been to a party before let along wore clothes like these before; it was uncomfortable. Everything he did before coming to this reality was for the survival of his team and the human race, but here he was just supposed to have fun. Standing tall he wore a well fitting sweater accompanied with his suit pant and suit coat that had been acquired for him, it felt a bit tight on him. His beard styled and oiled with his hair carefully combed as he tried to look his best. Seeing Tony Stark or someone that looked like him, he approached. Extending one calloused hand he spoke. "Mr. Stark. I just wanted to thank you for inviting me here. I appreciate the warm welcome." He said offering a closed mouth smile.

james buchanan barnes BOT — 12/10/2020 He wasn’t going to show up. He had no reason to. And yet here James was, in nothing fancy (trousers, a pair of boots, and a coat) over a slim body he had a faint recognition for, but no where to place it. It made him uncomfortable and queasy, but he knew if he stayed trapped in his apartment for any longer he was going to pull his her hair out. So here he was, the music too loud and the milling of people too close - so he ended up looking for a familiar face and realizing that that wouldn’t help him either. Fuck.

tony stark BOT — 12/10/2020 "Oh, hey kid." His tone was light and just a bit surprised, but out of all the people he could have been randomly placed with this wasn't too bad. Then Tony chuckled, almost like a snort through his nose, and cocked one eyebrow up. Every movement felt strange. "The universe sure likes trying to teach me that there's not much I can control. I never listen, of course, but this kind of shit sure gets pretty close to convincing me. But like you said— we take what we can get right?"

carol danvers BOT — 12/10/2020 Her brows shot up and then Carol laughed, nodding in recognition. “Ah, time displaced Gerry Drew. Does Jess know you’re trapped in her body?” her words sent a realization through her and Carol’s face scrunched a bit. “Oh that’s gotta be awkward, huh.”

ripley ryan BOT — 12/10/2020 It was supposed to be a party. And it was, but it wasn’t a very good one. Same crowd, same stupid faces smiling complacently. Only this time, they weren’t glaring at Ripley. No one sent her a second look except to say a quick hello to who they thought was Carol. The dress wasn’t exactly something Carol would wear, but it also wasn’t so outlandish it would draw extra attention. Flaming red, sequined, floor length and incredibly figure hugging. Danvers did have the body for it, Ripley had to admit, as she flicked blonde hair off her shoulder and made her way to the bar. Sam Wilson - looking impeccable in a navy suit - was already there conversing with what looked to be Jessica Drew. “Oh, look. My two favorite people.” Was there too much teeth in the smile? Did it seem insincere? It was. “Hey, Cap. You left your jacket at my place but I forgot to bring it. And Jess. That dress is... not your best look.”

Gerry Drew BOT — 12/10/2020 Gerry just looked at the faux Carol and back at Sam Carol and back at the fake Carol. "Oh y'know, work with what you got. I like the whole disco ball look you got going. Very brave of you." He responded rolling his mother's eyes as he took a deep drink from his glass.

alex summers BOT — 12/10/2020 Alex deflated a bit, relieved that Morgan — er, Tony was also seemingly relieved to see him. Or hear...him? Nothing made sense right now, but Alex wasn’t about to let that ruin his evening, seeing his own body was nowhere to be found, was doing a perfectly good job for him! “Right. If anything could do that, it’s this shit,” he nodded, not so subtly switching the subject, “Hey - you haven’t seen me yet...have you?”

peter parker BOT — 12/10/2020 Peter's eyes went wide. Considering the circumstances, this was his worst nightmare— because there was absolutely no way he could pull off being Tony. Although, that would have been wrong anyway. He wasn't about to lie to this very kind man that had just approached him, but Peter also felt his heart drop into his stomach when he realized he would have to break the news that he was, in fact, not Iron Man. He gulped, freezing for a moment before taking his hands out of his pockets and smiling awkwardly. "Oh, gosh well—" He proceeded to take the hand being offered to him, and he shook it. "It's nice to meet you, but I'm-I'm really sorry to disappoint you, sir. I'm not actually Mr. Stark. My name is Peter, and uh— well, this whole situation is so weird." As he let his grip loosen on their handshake, he let out a nervous chuckle.

carol danvers BOT — 12/10/2020 Carol spotted herself before she even made her way over — she had been looking for her meat suit since arriving and as her eyes raked the dress Carol was wearing, she couldn’t help the frown that dampened her features. She decided not to immediately draw attention to the fact that whoever was in her body was also pretending to be her and instead tried to smooth her features down into an easy smile. “Surprised. You know I love that jacket.”

lorna dane BOT — 12/10/2020 Don’t touch anyone. Don’t touch anyone. Don’t touch anyone. Easier said than done. Lorna had never really been the warm and cuddly type, but her first response had been to rush to check on her daughter and the second to most definitely not touch Dawn. It seemed unfair. Rogue had been able to control her powers after her brush with Apocalypse, but Lorna hadn’t found the same level of control. “I’m allergic to bananas.” Lorna didn’t bother with a hello as she regarded one of the hor d'oeuvres before instead crossing one gloved arm over the other. “And my curls look terrible.”

tony stark BOT — 12/10/2020 "I have not." Tony replied with a shake of his head. He wondered for a moment whether he should move from this spot and try to find Peter in there in the chaos, but for once Tony was enjoying not being the center of attention. Huh— death seemed to have changed him a bit. That, and the whole wife and kid thing. One corner of his lips perked into a smile for a brief moment before it disappeared, and then he continued talking. "You worried about what that body of yours is gonna get up to?"

Gerald Drew BOT — 12/10/2020 "Ah, it happened to you too." Gerry responded with a gentle smile as he let go of Peter's hand and put his hand back to his side. "Why would I be disappointed? I may have to try again to find the true host of the evening, but you've been polite and your honesty is appreciated." His mother had taught him how to read a person before he could walk and he could tell the man was nervous. "I'm Gerry. It's nice to meet you Peter." He said with a nod as he allowed his large arms to drop down to his sides, it wasn't particularly elegant but it's what was comfortable. "So, did you just get pulled into this evening or were you supposed to be here?"

remy lebeau BOT — 12/10/2020 Remy pulled his hand away from the banana brûlée as he heard Rogue’s drawl, turning a sheepish, falsely innocent look on her. “Usually when my fingers are in your hair it’s for other reasons.” He was going for levity, but it sounded strange on Lorna’s tongue — sounded strange directed at Lorna wearing Rogue’s face. “Bananas, really?” He didn’t want to talk about her allergies, but it felt suddenly awkward to transition. He tried to, anyway. “Are you okay?”

alex summers BOT — 12/10/2020 Alex let out a huff of an exhale, eyes scanning the room and coming up empty as well. Shit. “Considering I’m not quite sure who’s piloting it at the moment, the answer is very. Very worried,” a lock of hair flopped into his face as he turned his head to scan another area of the room. Attempts to blow it away were futile, and Alex was growing more and more frustrated by the second. “Hey you wouldn’t happened to have one of those — hair loop things.. you know?” Vague hand gestures accompanied his words as he leaned toward Tony again, desperate for some level of control to the situation.

jessica drew BOT — 12/10/2020 Put the hearing aides in. Take the dog out. Why did Clint even have the dog? Didn’t Kate take him? Didn’t really matter. Lucky went out and seemed fine on the couch so Jess left him there in the nicest of Clint’s outfits -- and that wasn’t saying much. She spotted herself talking to what looked like Carol and Sam but something in her was unsure of if she wanted to get into that yet. Maybe a drink first. Grabbing a bourbon, she instead made her way over to where the older Gerry was. Er, the older older Gerry was chatting up Tony Stark. “Stark.” She nodded in his direction. “Glad to see you. Hope you know what’s going on here. Also, hey, kid.”

lorna dane BOT — 12/10/2020 “Yes, bananas.” Her annoyance wasn’t really directed at Remy, but he was wearing her face. “Could be worse. I think Dawn can’t have dairy.” That was something she wasn’t ready to try and prep for. “It’s just --- my curls are going to get dry and messed up. And that’ll give me a problem later on.” Banana’s and hair care. They had been talking for all of three minutes and she had been far from chill. “Fine. I love being Rogue. I’m gorgeous and stocked with memories of you. How are you?”

peter parker BOT — 12/10/2020 "Gerry. It's nice to meet you , too." Peter found himself able to smile, feeling just a tad less guilty as he stuffed his hands back into the pockets of his dress pants without another thought. "I haven't seen him since the party started, but uhm— he's around somewhere I bet. He and I got here together, he looks like his daughter right now. But I'm kind of like his.. mentee? I've been coming to these weird parties for years." Why was he feeling so guilty just for calling Tony's parties weird? He needed to calm down, but that was made hard by the fact that Clint (or whoever it was inhabiting his body right now) made the assumption once again that he was actually Mr. Stark. "Uh, actually it's Peter." He offered up an awkward wave. God, this was only going to get worse wasn't it? He should have taken a note out of Tony's book tonight and just hid in a dark corner somewhere, but instead here he was, trying to force himself to be here and pretend to be put together. "Wait, kid?" His glance flicked between Gerry and 'Clint' a few times before it hit him. Or, at least some of it did. "Jess?" He pointed to her. "But then this is—" He pointed to the very tall man he had just been introduced to. "And uh, no I actually don't know what's going on here! I'm not Tony! And I don't know where he is!"

remy lebeau BOT — 12/10/2020 That worked a tic in his jaw and he reached for Lorna’s gloved forearm, pulling her away from a pair of eavesdroppers and pulling her back towards the wall. “Really Lorna? Marcos — Alex?” the brief flare of irritation made the static on his skin feel electric and he had to tamp it down. He had enough practice rolling his emotions away from his mutation that it was simple with Lorna’s too. “I don’t like this either. I didn’t ask for it.”

tabitha smith BOT — 12/10/2020 She had always wondered what it was like to get intimate with a Summers. Not in depth, but there had been an errant thought. More like a totally valid what if. So while she hadn’t been thrilled to wake up as someone else, Tabitha was at least making the most of it. Her steps were decisive as she cut through the body, delightfully tall and dressed to the nines. “Well, there you are.” She flashed her body a smile. “What’s cooking, good looking?” Nate hadn’t had a flask she could easily find, so Tabitha had supplemented with a full bottle and was cursing her current stature and tolerance. “Guess this isn’t a booze dream after all.”

tony stark BOT — 12/10/2020 "Do you mean this thing?" Tony held out his small wrist to reveal a single hair tie wrapped around it. "That was there when I woke up as Morgan and I haven't bothered to take it off. From what I know she's not particularly attached to this thing so—" He removed it as carefully as he could and handed it over. "Good luck trying to use it though."

ripley ryan BOT — 12/10/2020 “I don’t blame you.” Ripley didn’t skip a beat. “Genuine leather? Nice. And, you know, I figured the whole new year, new me thing wouldn’t hurt. Gotta have an overhaul. Did you guys know that I don’t even own makeup? Real confident of me, huh?”

Gerald Drew BOT — 12/10/2020 "Oh, that must be quite the experience for him." He replied with some amusement in his voice before his mother walked up in Clint's body, which he had already discovered the truth behind. "Oh hi, Mom. Getting used to the hearing aids alright?" he asked before he turned his head towards the panicking Peter. "Now just take a breath, Peter. You know who the real Tony is, you don't have to try and have all the answers or be like him. Okay?"

Gerry Drew BOT — 12/10/2020 "Oh I don't think it's about confidence at all. You don't need any to look your best, Carol." He replied pointedly not like how someone was picking on his aunty. Instead of getting too carried away he finished his drink to silence his tongue.

ripley ryan BOT — 12/10/2020 “Don’t you have some existential crisis or bastard baby to have, Jess?” Ripley snapped before she could catch herself. “Kidding.”

carol danvers BOT — 12/10/2020 The smile Carol was sporting was starting to get strained around the edges. “Well you are a natural beauty, Carol.” her own name was over pronounced, Carol’s classic temper rising behind her eyes. She was starting to get an inkling on who was walking around in her skin. “So, Carol, about our conversation before all this nonsense started.” Carol motioned for another whiskey over her shoulder and took a sip before continuing. “You still on board getting that stone out of Ripley’s chest? She probably has something to do with all this mess.”

jessica drew BOT — 12/10/2020 “Peter? Hey, Parker.” Jessica’s face didn’t look disappointed, per se, but Stark would have been more helpful. “Son. But not my son. I should backtrack.” Sighing, Jess pinched the bridge of Clint’s nose. Why was he always so beat up? “The hearing aides are fine. I’m Jessica Drew, and this is my son Gerald. Kind of. Alt-reality. You know how it is. I’ve got my toddler and then one other one. I don’t know, man.” She took a long drink. “Stay cool, kid.”

alex summers BOT — 12/10/2020 Alex wasn’t expecting a visitor, especially not in the form of his own nephew, who apparently bore some semblance of recognition for Tabitha. The comment left a sour feeling in his gut, but he graciously accepted the hair tie from Tony and maneuvered dark locks into a low ponytail. “Thanks,” he replied, appreciative of the other, but still wary of not-Nate staring him down, “Can we — can we not do this?”

Gerry Drew BOT — 12/10/2020 "Hm." Gerry replied with a twitchy smile before turning around and asking for another amoretto sour as a few sparks came from his finger tips, as he tried to hide them.

ripley ryan BOT — 12/10/2020 Ripley tilted her head in agreeance at Sam’s words. She hated the long hair. She had cut her own in an act of empowerment. Maybe she’d go home and take the scissors to Carol’s, night depending. “Thanks, babe. I appreciate that.” One hand fell to land on his suit clad arm. “As for Ripley, well, it seems logical. I’m just not powerful enough to take her on.”

Gerald Drew BOT — 12/10/2020 "Gerald..." He muttered to himself. "Gerry is fine." He said with a small nod. Gerald made him feel like he was in trouble, despite being in his 30's.

carol danvers BOT — 12/10/2020 Carol just nodded to Jess. “Well that’s why you have us. At the end of the day she’s just a scared little girl in serious need of a personality adjustment.” She took another drink, almost emptying the glass. “Dance, Carol?” she held her hand out for Carol to take.

tiana toomes BOT — 12/10/2020 It had been a day and she was still pissed. Livid, actually. Tiana had fumed for a bit and flown around. The helmet was hot and sweaty though and she wasn’t interested in teenage boy funk. She hadn’t dressed up. It’s not like Sam had anything that was actually nice. So, it was in jeans and a t-shirt that she made her way over to her body and crossed her arms over her now short chest. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

lana baumgartner BOT — 12/10/2020 It had been tempting to stay indoors. Most people didn’t want to turn into their parents, but Lana suffered a gut twisting anxiety about being anything like Lori Baumgartner. Lori, who had never been slow to anger but always quick to the bottle. Who’d exploit her kid again and again and been violent if she resisted. Yeah, Lana really was tempted to stay inside. Somehow she found it in herself to get up and get dressed, hating the face that was too familiar to be foreign. They almost hadn’t let her in the door until she explained the full situation, but once she was in Lana made a beeline to her own body. “That outfit? Really?” Her face twisted. Her goth phase had come and gone but reminders remained. “Listen, mom, if that’s you I’m going to blow your ass to hell. I don’t care if it’s my body going boom.”

sam alexander BOT — 12/10/2020 Sam was currently sipping some sort of vaguely fruit flavored water, and hiding - or, doing his best to hide, but oh god, failing. The figure that was working to make their way over to the table he was seated at bore his own face, and the thought terrified Sam. Please don’t be Tiana, please don’t be Tiana. “Fuuuuck. Uh - hi.”

lorna dane BOT — 12/10/2020 There was an exasperated sigh as Lorna ran a hand through Rogue’s hair. “You knew the baby had to be made, Remy. And you knew Alex and I were... passionate.” Passionate? Really? Bad word choice. She should have fixed that but moved on instead, letting him pull her to the side. “So we’re in the same boat. Us and everyone else. I’m not sure how to be adult about this.”

pietro maximoff BOT — 12/10/2020 He felt as though he was living out a dream. The dysphoria of being in another body different from his own was one aspect in of itself—but to be his pregnant girlfriend...? He’d always sympathized with Crystalia but having to endure the very back pains and discomfort that she complained about was a whole different kind of trauma. —worse, what if she—he?—had the baby while they were like this? the thought made him nauseous. “i know i’ve already said it—but i hate this.”

tiana toomes BOT — 12/10/2020 “Hi?” Tiana intoned. “You invasion of the body snatch me and you say hi? Try again, bucket head.” She leveled him with a stare.

natasha romanoff BOT — 12/10/2020 Her husband was in her body, yet Natasha was in another. The connection she had with Bucky - or at least his past - was no secret but she still would have been more comfortable as herself. Waking up from your heroic sacrifice was one thing, waking up as Steve’s best friend was another. “You know, you were a pretty cute kid.” Natasha murmured with a half smile as she grabbed a cup with her metal hand and offered one to Steve, who was suddenly petite and dainty. “Think Tony’s here?”Her husband was in her body, yet Natasha was in another. The connection she had with Bucky - or at least his past - was no secret but she still would have been more comfortable as herself. Waking up from your heroic sacrifice was one thing, waking up as Steve’s best friend was another. “You know, you were a pretty cute kid.” Natasha murmured with a half smile as she grabbed a cup with her metal hand and offered one to Steve, who was suddenly petite and dainty. “Think Tony’s here?”

tabitha smith BOT — 12/10/2020 “Are you telling me I can’t even gas myself up?” Tabitha shook her head, missing the feeling of her hair between her shoulder blades. Taking a long swig, she glanced over at herself and the other person. “Hi. Tabitha Smith. You can call me Boom Boom. Or Cable, if you’re feeling freaky. I may be.”

sam alexander BOT — 12/10/2020 Sam blinked, one hand lifting to itch at the back of his neck, startled when fingertips came in contact with hair instead of bare neck, “Okay first off, I had nothing to do with this. So quit acting like I did. Second, you look like you slept outside last night and then woke up and came straight here. Please tell me you’re at least wearing clean underwear.”

julian keller BOT — 12/10/2020 Julian looked up suddenly, pulled from wandering thoughts about sheets and dark hair, facing off against Lana -if she were at least 20 years older and carried that piss poor look on her face all the time. He’d told her more than once to smooth out that frown. Then, as he remembered he was a few inches shorter in a body that wasn’t his own a chilly realization dawned on him. “Oh that sucks Lana.” he said in her voice. He waved towards the bartender. “I’ll get you drunk, if that helps.”

alex summers BOT — 12/10/2020 Alex swore under his breath. If that was Tabitha, where the fuck was his body? The implications of that statement were frankly horrifying, and Alex wasn’t sure he wanted to think any harder about it for fear of completely losing his mind. Grabbing “Nate” by the arm and excusing himself from Tony, Alex glared up at his nephew’s face, “—it’s Alex.”

remy lebeau BOT — 12/10/2020 “Passionate.” He echoed blankly. Again, that static of power rippled across his skin and Remy had to look away, back towards the crowd, away from Lorna. Crossing his arms over his chest, he suddenly felt really stupid standing there, after having made an attempt at presenting Lorna nicely. Sure, he hadn’t had a lifetime of managing her hair for practice, but he’d labored on it nonetheless. And the dress he’d worn was one of her favorites. It was frustrating, existing in her skin, when he much preferred to be in his own. “I’m getting a drink.” he said dimly. “You’re not allergic to that, are you?”

lana baumgartner BOT — 12/10/2020 “You have no idea how close I am to freaking out.” Lana dropped heavily in the chair across from Julian, arranging her long coat around her body. This was just gross. Her head hit the table, arms folded underneath it as she groaned. “I’m like forty.” The words came out muffled before Lana peeked out to look at herself. “Please, but my mom likes to imbibe. It won’t be easy.”

steve rogers BOT — 12/10/2020 Steve was ....adjusting. Honestly he could somehow find a way to hurdle over the fact that he was in Natasha’s body if it weren’t for the glimpses of memories he’s sure she wouldn’t want him seeing and a few he would have preferred he never did. To top it off—Natasha was in Bucky’s body...which was somehow worse? At her words though, he suddenly finds himself insecure in a way he hadn’t been for some time “i was gangly.” he replied and then cleared his throat, casting a glance around the room. He took the cup from her and sipped it. “if he is, I wouldn’t know how to tell.”

bucky barnes BOT — 12/10/2020 So, here's what was happening: he was small, blond, and Russian. Being Russian wasn't too foreign to him at least, but the rest? The rest was as strange as it could be (he figured). He found himself feeling odd about having a real arm hanging from the left side of his body. It wasn't his body, it wasn't his arm, so maybe he shouldn't have been focused too much specfically on that— but the change was the most distinct thing about the whole experience thus far. Once Bucky got there he set his mind on finding food, and then maybe he would get a drink. Maybe. For now, he was content in his own little world as he glanced over the array of snacks set out for them.

julian keller BOT — 12/10/2020 “Pretty hot at forty.” Julian tried, ordering a vodka cran and pushing it towards Lana. “Well it’s free and I bet you’re real fun tipsy.”

tiana toomes BOT — 12/10/2020 Tiana’s frown deepened after Sam got out approximately one world. “Trust me, ten years in a shower would not make me feel clean right now but I tried. You obviously know nothing about braid care, but congrats on being able to put a bra on. Now,” she planted her hands on his hips. “Who the hell did this?”

tommy shepherd BOT — 12/10/2020 Tommy had been avoiding mirrors for most of the day, because looking at them melted his brain every time he saw james’ reflection instead of his own. the only perk was that the extra height made him feel about ten foot two rather than six. when he saw his own face looking lost and out of place, he slid into view. while he couldn’t tell if he loved or hated life at this speed, he could only imagine james had to adjust to his. “blow anything up yet?” he asked.

sam alexander BOT — 12/10/2020 “I don’t know! How the hell would I know??” Sam stood up, shocked by the inability to stand over Tiana by a few inches, but playing it off as smoothly as he could, “You think I’m enjoying this or something??” Catching a sudden whiff of boy, Sam cringed at his own body odor and silently vowed to shower much more often, “Oh god, you reek.

tiana toomes BOT — 12/10/2020 “You know what? We’re not doing this here.” Tiana grabbed Sam roughly by the arm, tugging him towards the exit. “You have me looking like a fool out in public. Go home.”

james rogers BOT — 12/10/2020 The only thing worse than the constant reminders of his famous parents was being stuck in your boyfriends body. Boyfriend? James shook himself involuntarily, the word foreign and awkward and not the case and yet his brain kept supplying it in place of Tommy’s name. He’d been just on the verge of leaving, knowing that he was shit at making friends and really had no business being here, when his own face came into view and James didn’t know if that made him want to bolt more or less. Preferably less, since he had no control over the damn speed Tommy always boasted about. Steeling himself, he tried not to look as awkward as he felt. “I’ve been deliberately chanting ‘left, right, left, right’ to avoid it,” he said, “Jeez Tommy how do you control it?” December 11, 2020

tommy shepherd BOT — 12/11/2020 tommy scratched the back of his—er, james—neck and shrugged a little. “well, i didn’t at first. which is why im wondering how you’re doing.” it was a lot, especially at first. of course now he was used to it and living normally again for the first time in...years—it was weird. in a way it was nice, in others it was frustrating. time felt like it moved so quick now—he had to be careful about where he was going and what he was doing without the same reflexes.

peter parker BOT — 12/11/2020 Peter took in as big of a breath as he could manage and then let it out, hands clenched together tightly at his side. Didn't Tony have a bad heart? He needed to keep that in mind. "Sorry. Thanks." His answer was short and to the point but he genuinely meant it. He couldn't fathom how Tony handled this much attention all the time. "So.. you're Gerry. Like, Jess' Gerry. But old. And.. very tall."

thor odinson BOT — 12/11/2020 thor went to sleep at a towering height with the brawn and looks to match yet when he woke up this morning the scruff of his beard appeared to cover his entire body, and upon further investigation he found himself to be trapped within the body of his fuzzy rabbit friend rocket. yet the weirdest part? he was still capable of wielding stormbreaker—only now it was much heavier and sorely disproportionate. still, dragging the axe behind him, he walked into the room. “has anyone seen a ravishingly handsome asgardian? about six time my height, blonde hair—blue eyes, chiseled jaw—anyone, hmm?”

james rogers BOT — 12/11/2020 He made a sound in the back of his throat, suddenly realizing that they had a distinct height difference. Nothing substantial, but at their proximity, James had to look up a little. “Baby steps. Literally.” he answered. “I thought, at first, that this had something to do with, you know-“ he gestured awkwardly, which was even more awkward using limbs that weren’t his own. “But I ran into Sam — who’s Captain Marvel and my dad is in my mom?” he made a face. “Not like that.”

Gerald Drew BOT — 12/11/2020 "Older." Gerry corrected gently. He was only 32. He didn't like the insinuation too much. "but yes. I'm a lot taller than myself in this timeline." He chuckled lightly. "So that must make you Spider-Man. I have some faint memories of you not far from now." He said not wanting to insinuate he was dead in his time. "But let's not focus to much on the mind melting physics. I believe tonight's supposed to be more fun than confusing, no?"

Gerry Drew BOT — 12/11/2020 After Carol and Carol went off to do their weird hate dance Gerry was left not knowing what to do and ended up with a whole bottle of vodka, barefoot, and clinging to the wall by his feet as he drank. "All of these songs are so ooold. They should play something new..." He mumbled before putting the bottle to his lips once more.

tommy shepherd BOT — 12/11/2020 tommy surveyed him “yeah it’s hard to pace yourself.” he said. honestly it was harder to lose awareness of the fact that he wasnt in his own body when he was staring at his own face. it made it hard to have a conversation with him, especially when he was getting very used to kissing him whenever he wanted and doing that now just felt...weird. “wait—steve is nat?—is nat in steve?”

peter parker BOT — 12/11/2020 "Older than me, I'm only 18. All you adults seem the same to me!" Peter replied in a goofy tone that sounded way too odd in Tony's voice, and he immediately regretted it. Then he shrugged, taking a quick glance around the room and then looking at his feet. "I don't really care about this stuff. I'm much more comfortable behind the mask. Not that the mask matters much anymore but.." Peter tried his best the shake that feeling away before abruptly switching subjects. "You didn't come here to meet me, though. Do you wanna try and find the real Tony? He can't hide forever."

crystalia amaquelin BOT — 12/11/2020 There should have been training wheels on being a speedster. Crystalia had woken up and launched herself into a wall. She had been jerky ever since in motion, but most knew to not comment. She’d take the headache and the fact that everyone was infuriatingly slow. It was manageable. What wasn’t was the fact that her unborn child was no longer in her stomach. The doctors had previously advised her to avoid stress - their child was a special one, after all - but this seemed like the most stressful thing possible. “I hate it too. Trust me.” Crystal was careful to keep her voice kind even though she wanted to scream. “Please, Pietro, how about you sit down? I don’t know what I’ll do if you go into labor after I’ve spent nine months doing this.”

james rogers BOT — 12/11/2020 “Have you talked to no one?” James chided, looking over Tommy’s - his - shoulder at Natasha and Bucky talking. He knew his dad occupied his mom’s body but if someone else was in Bucky, he had no clue. “I haven’t found Steve yet. I don’t know if he’s here, so no clue.” James shuffled uncomfortably on his feet, feeling the rise of energy in his bones again. He forced himself to stand still. “I feel like I’m about to take off at any second.”

natasha romanoff BOT — 12/11/2020 They hadn’t spoken about it directly, but if Nat could see Bucky’s memories she had a good feeling that Steve had hers. Which meant, logically, Vormir was on the table. He’d have the memories. What about the desires, the drive? Natasha couldn’t ask. Instead she just shook her head. “Like, I said. Cute. Although, I’m biased to you now.” He was her husband, after all. The public speculated and knew, more or less, but Nat liked the bubble they had built. “Calling his name probably won’t work. I see Sam, Carol. Yelena, but we may want to avoid her.”

Gerald Drew BOT — 12/11/2020 "Right." He responded with a bit of a smile. Seeing that come out of a middle aged mans mouth was certainly not something he had ever imagined and felt quite strange. "Maybe one day that will change. I've never been one for masks myself." He said with a small nod. "Well. I would like to talk to him, but don't feel obligated to help me find him, alright, kid?"

valkyrie BOT — 12/11/2020 Was she drinking too much? Or, maybe, not enough. It was hard to tell when you were constantly imbibing. Val had seen a lot but she didn’t ( that she could remember ) wake up as someone else. Let alone the Trickster God who she tolerated, disliked and mourned in no particular order. Still, by some trick of Odin her hands were pale and her form was not her own. Of course she had a drink before leaving, but once the Valkyrie arrived to the party she set out to look for either Thor or herself. Instead, she found the rabbit with Stormbreaker. “Am I supposed to believe your highness?” She asked, kneeling down. “Or are you a thief, rabbit?”

thor odinson BOT — 12/11/2020 When Loki came into view Thor instinctively narrowed his eyes “—a thief?? you know very well brother that it’s me because you had something to do with this didn’t you?” he huffed at him. “well now that you’ve had your fun, undo it.”

tommy shepherd BOT — 12/11/2020 tommy put his hands on james’ shoulders and looked at him. “close your eyes and uh take a deep breath. tap a finger or something, figure out a fidget.” he usually bounced his knees, but given that they were standing...well. “i haven’t really been talking to anyone else—the whole thing just feels like a weird dream or something, you know.”

valkyrie BOT — 12/11/2020 “You do appear to be holding a very large weapon that does not belong to you. Guns are your thing, no?” Val arched a brow. “But greasy hair is not mine. I would undo this if I could. I’m looking for Thor. Also,” she tilted her head to the side. ��I’m not furry enough at the moment to be your brethren.”

pietro maximoff BOT — 12/11/2020 pietro stiffened at the mention of birth “please don’t jinx this.” he replied, but for once in his life he listened and sat per her request. “this is so uncomfortable—i don’t know how you do this.” he sighed. he felt the baby shift around and something suddenly squeezed at his lung. his features contorted and he wheezed slightly. “I think there’s a foot in the organ i use to breathe.” he straightened in hopes to alleviate the pressure.

crystalia amaquelin BOT — 12/11/2020 “I will bend heaven and hell.” Crystal stated, fully believing in her words. She managed to get a glass of water to him without spilling it before taking something harder for herself. It wouldn’t do anything, but after months of restrictions it felt good. “Luckily, I happen to love both her and you. Otherwise I’d light myself on fire.” It felt strange to carefully place Pietro’s hand over her stomach and feel for the baby she’d grown to just know was there, just like she knew there was oxygen in her lungs. “She’s a gymnast. All I do is pee because she kicks my bladder.”

steve rogers BOT — 12/11/2020 “biased, huh?” the comment brought him back to the time she let him and bucky escape t’challa’s pursuit despite their alliance due to the accords. he supposed there had always been some bias evident...“who exactly is yelena, anyway?” steve asked, uncomfortable by the pitch of his voice as it left lips that didn’t belong to him.

ripley ryan BOT — 12/11/2020 “And from what I’ve read, a pretty shitty reporter.” Ripley as Carol laughed before she stopped leaning off the bar and straightened up. “With you, Captain? Always. Lead the way.” It felt like he was challenging her, but Carol was annoying and didn’t back down so Ripley wouldn’t dream of doing it either.

lana baumgartner BOT — 12/11/2020 Dark eyes rolled. “This bob makes her face look fat. I keep trying to tell her that.” Not that the two really spoke anymore for obvious reasons. Taking the drink, Lana tossed it back and shook her head. “Actually, Lori likes to skip tipsy for belligerent and makes me go to the store. Always wine coolers and tostidos. Have I told you before how much I never want to be like my mom?” Lana asked, knowing she had. Despite it being a Lori move, she still sucked down another drink.

sam wilson BOT — 12/11/2020 Waking up white had been as disconcerting as waking up as Steve. People called him Cap. He was used to that. Sam Wilson had just failed to attain the boyscout look though, but suddenly he was blonde and wearing a thin wedding band. Dressed as inconspicuously as possible, he wanted to cut in when he saw himself dancing with his ( not secret but not public ) girlfriend, it seemed easier to palm a beer and try to loiter for a moment. He found himself standing next to Belova, small and using brimming with anger. “Nice evening we’re having.” That sounded nice and neutral.

lorna dane BOT — 12/11/2020 “I was never great in English. Bad adjective.” Lorna huffed. Some of the air inflating, Lorna opened and closed her mouth a few times before sighing. “Listen, Remy. I’m sorry. I’m insecure and that’s not on you.” At his barb, her eyes still rolled. “Clearly not. Alcohol was the tone setting for a lot of our best hits.”

yelena belova BOT — 12/11/2020 Towering tall and with one flesh based arm, Yelena had faced the day decently detached. Was she happy? No. Did she know how to compartmentalize? Very well. The party was an invite kind of thing and it was likely that Natalia was there. If anyone could spin it, it was the prodigal child of the Red Room that had always made life make sense. Natalia wasn’t there yet when Yelena arrived though, so she ended up next to a slim woman that required a double take. “Eden? Not your scene.”

jean grey BOT — 12/11/2020 It was quiet without the thoughts of others. Quiet, but not in the comfortable sense. Jean had stretched unfamiliar limbs that it turned out she actually knew before dressing. There wasn’t an issue of modesty considering their relationship and Jean knew Logan’s thoughts, but she wanted to figure out what was going on. It seemed Charles was at the party, so Jean went too. “Professor,” she approached him. “You can read my mind. It’s Jean.”

pietro maximoff BOT — 12/11/2020 “oh good, that’s wonderful.” pietro replied, tone clearly implying the opposite. he took the water and sipped it as the baby shifted again. “not that i didn’t respect you before but i have more respect now than ever that you’ve lived like this for the last several months.”

natasha romanoff BOT — 12/11/2020 A scoff. “I did marry you, Rogers.” At the mention of Yelena, Natasha stilled as her mouth quirked to the side in almost imperceptible twitch. “I can spare you scanning through my memories. She’s my sister, more or less. I say more and she acts less. It’s complicated. Red Room.”

steve rogers BOT — 12/11/2020 “ah.” he nodded. “i think her and james are ...close?” just something he’d observed. speaking of james, though. “you know our alternate son is dating the pietro mini me.” he said suddenly.

bucky barnes BOT — 12/11/2020 Bucky was interrupted before he had the chance to officially decide on something, eyes flicking to the side to see Steve standing next to him. He straightened up in surprise, turning away from the table and suddenly grateful that there was a familiar face existing next to him. "For the sake of my own sanity, please say you're still.. Steve." The voice Bucky was currently using was much higher than his own, but once again the whole Russian aspect of it all wasn't too jarring for him.

crystalia amaquelin BOT — 12/11/2020 There was a small hum of agreeance. Medusa hadn’t really talked about her pregnancy with her sister. They talked about the baby, but not how it felt or the long nights of not being able to get comfortable. “It’s special.” Her voice was quiet when she spoke again, Pietro’s accent lilting. “Having a connection with her. I’m glad you get to experience it too, even if it’s momentarily.”

natasha romanoff BOT — 12/11/2020 “Are they?” That was news to Nat. She tried to mask her surprise, finding herself disappointed in being out of the loop. “I need to do better about keeping up. But James?” That sent her brow up towards Bucky’s dark hairline. “And Wanda’s son? Really?” She wasn’t even sure she wanted to be involved in that. Alternate realities were alternate realities. Natasha wouldn’t have a child. While Yelena didn’t care, Nat always would. A part of her hated the alternate version whose Red Room hadn’t left permanent scars.

thor odinson BOT — 12/11/2020 “this is ridiculous. i am thor. stormbreaker is mine. how else would i be able to use it? somehow i’ve been placed into the rabbit and my body is who knows where. —wait, if you’re not loki, then who are you?” and more importantly if his brother wasnt behind this there were bigger problems at hand. loki would be an easy fix—not knowing who or what did this made things a lot harder.

sam wilson BOT — 12/11/2020 One shoulder rose and fall. “No dice. I am Captain America, but this is Sam Wilson.” He pointed at himself. “I take it you aren’t a Black Widow then?”

erik lehnsherr BOT — 12/11/2020 The moment Erik had gotten anywhere close to the gathering at hand, he had regretted coming at all. He had always considered his mind a strong one, but there was a big difference between that and being able to handle the thoughts of dozens of people at a time. It was during times like this when Erik truly was in awe of Charles— it was overwhelming. "Hm." All he could manage at first was a hum of acknowledgement to Jean (who was looking a lot like Logan right now) before he turned to her, a grimace on his face. "I'm having difficulty not reading your mind. And the same could be said for everyone in this room. I haven't yet mastered Charles.. level of authority over his own abilities." One of his hands moved to pinched the bridge of his nose, eyes closing briefly before he took in a breath and tried to center himself. "Unfortunately, I am not Charles. I am Erik. And I do not think I will be much help at the moment."

valkyrie BOT — 12/11/2020 “Thor’s a rabbit? From the King of Asgard to the one eyed God of Thunder to a furry?” Disbelief laced her words as Val reached out to pat his fur. “Most certainly not. I’m the actual King of Asgard. Valkyrie.”

james rogers BOT — 12/11/2020 At his touch, James involuntarily bristled, still mildly uncomfortable with how close they’d gotten these past few months — mostly because he didn’t know how he felt about other people knowing. “Right.” he tried to focus on what Tommy was saying, but it was incredibly hard as he watched the movement of his own mouth. Heard the cadence of his own voice. Resolving to drumming his fingers against the side of his leg, he tried his best to push the swell of energy back into its bottle. “Do you think they have ale here? I could use a drink, honestly.”

steve rogers BOT — 12/11/2020 steve nodded and hummed “mhm. they were in the common area the other day.” it was cute, james seemed a lot happier from what he could tell. he didn’t open up to him much but he could tell he was struggling before. “gotta say, i’m surprised he tolerates tommy, kid’s pietro in spades.”

tommy shepherd BOT — 12/11/2020 tommy frowned. “i don’t know if being intoxicated is really the best thing for you right now.” he admitted. not that he loved being the responsible one but a drink would probably just make it more likely for something to happen. “why don’t we go sit down, how about that?” he asked.

carol danvers BOT — 12/11/2020 Carol pulled her onto the dance floor, keeping her close to Sam’s body so he could lean down and talk quietly in her ear. “Drop the act.” she said curtly. “You’re fooling no one.”

bucky barnes BOT — 12/11/2020 "—Sam? Well, I guess I'll take my second best friend as the next best thing." He couldn't help but pair his reply with an extremely subtle smirk. "Nope, no dice like you said. I spent a lot of time with them but I certainly never was one. Part of me wondered if it was really worth showing up to this thing.. right now I'm still not sure."

thor odinson BOT — 12/11/2020 Thor waved her hand away. “Val—it is me. how would you like me to prove it?” he thew his tiny paws up. “the rabbit cannot wield stormbreaker. only the vision and steve rogers can aside from myself, thor odinson. former king of asgard.” he lifted the axe for emphasis and wobbled it back to the floor.

julian keller BOT — 12/11/2020 The sympathetic look probably appeared more genuine on Lana’s features than it ever would have on Julian’s, but he still schooled it and tried for a smile instead. He wasn’t the cry on the shoulder friend - that was what her Summers boy toy was for. He leaned over the bar at that moment, getting the attention of the bartender as Lana’s tits almost fell out of the dress entirely. “Six shots of tequila.” he said before settling back. Once the drinks arrived, he lined up four for her, two for him. “You’re not your mom.” he said. “Just like I’m not you. Now stop worrying about it,” he wanted to tell her to stop whining, but he bit his tongue, not wanting to scare her off. “Drink. You’ll feel better.”

natasha romanoff BOT — 12/11/2020 Turning to look ( down ) at Steve, Natasha managed a smile. “I’m glad. She needs a good influence. Last I heard she was still killing, and...” she paused. “I have regrets. We can discuss it later when I’m not your childhood best friend.” Pietro in spades. That in itself earned a low whistle. “You see Pietro’s pregnant girlfriend? I haven’t spoken with him about it, but maybe it’ll help him be less, well, himself. Have you talked to James? The alternate one.”

remy lebeau BOT — 12/11/2020 He just gave her a knowing look, one that almost tip toed into a smile, but her adjective opened that can of worms in her rolodex of memories and he was having a hard time putting a lid back on it. When he’d first been struck by them, he hadn’t been bothered. Not entirely. He’d made peace with her past - but her pushing stoked his temper and he was just. Annoyed. “Want something?” he asked flatly, though he was still attempting. That was enough of an olive branch for now.

lana baumgartner BOT — 12/11/2020 Mouth falling open, Lana had to resist the urge to throw herself over the table and deal with the wardrobe malfunction. “-boobboobooboob. Please watch your boobs.” Face heated with embarrassment even though it hadn’t come out fully and it wasn’t on her body, Lana accepted the shots. “Actually, I’m literally my mom right now.” Still, she obliged and tossed them both back. On Lori’s tongue they tasted far too familiar, the edge dulled. “Is this a nightmare? I didn’t even look for Nate or my friends. I don’t want them to see me like this.” A middle aged, second rate criminal.

ripley ryan BOT — 12/11/2020 Body curling up next to Sam’s, Ripley tilted her head up to look at him innocently. “You know what’s funny, Carol? I’m always going to be in the weight class above you. I have the Stone or I have your powers and you just fall short. I love this for us.”

james buchanan barnes BOT — 12/11/2020 “Eden?” James echoed, turning his head at the sound of his own voice. The name bounced around in his head, struggling to find purchase on his memories, but he came up empty every time. “Sorry but no. If you haven’t noticed, none of us are who we seem.” He said with a curious look at himself. “Would really love my body back, you know.”

yelena belova BOT — 12/11/2020 “Veronica Eden,” Yelena filled in the blank with her interest now piqued. “Are you still a handler?” Yelena hadn’t wanted to be recruited but they had tried. “And here I was hoping I was special. Ну что ж. At least I got a good body.” She knew it better than she knew most in the States. “It’s yours then? How did you lose it, James?”

julian keller BOT — 12/11/2020 Julian just stuck his tongue out at her but pulled the dress up a little higher, hiding Lana’s cleavage a little more. Tossing back his own shots, he immediately grimaced - for his first taste of alcohol ford the night, he probably shouldn’t have chosen well tequila. “You can’t avoid your boyfriend forever, Lana. I do have to face Kate like this, you know.” he swiped a hand down the length of Lana’s body. “I’m actually surprised he hasn’t come over yet, considering you’re sitting right fucking here.”

jean grey BOT — 12/11/2020 It was disappointing but Jean was staying rational. “Erik, hi. There are worst people to be in Charles. Have you seen him? I can’t find Scott.” She hadn’t looked that hard, but it seemed likely he was suffering the same malady as everyone else.

james rogers BOT — 12/11/2020 He wanted to argue that but really couldn’t find the point. Oddly enough he was too wired to find the energy. “Didn’t peg you as the sensible one in this.” he said offhandedly as they walked to a set of tables. “I don’t need a babysitter, Shepherd.”

carol danvers BOT — 12/11/2020 Her grip on Ripley tightened, their bodies fitting together in a way that Carol was too familiar with and it took all she had not to shove Ripley away. “Villains don’t have a great track record against us, Ripley. Keep that in mind.”

valkyrie BOT — 12/11/2020 This really was a strange one. “Stop swinging thing around, Highness, you’ll hurt yourself.” Val put a hand out to gently ease it down. “Perhaps you should give it to Steve Rogers. He’s here and more... equipped to handle it. And while I’d love to make you prove your worth, I’ll go out on a limb and believe you’re not actually Loki playing tricks. He really did admire you.”

ripley ryan BOT — 12/11/2020 They were swaying slightly, power humming in Ripley’s fingers. She felt her own rush from the Stone but Carol was different. Her body was electric. “I’m not a villain, babe. Not right now at least. And you know what? Thanos dreamed too big. He got caught up in the Stones. I’m just taking what I have and working with it.”

james buchanan barnes BOT — 12/11/2020 James just looked at her, only mildly annoyed he now had to look up to make eye contact. “I don’t know her.” he said dimly, gesturing to himself. A knowing smile fit across his lips as he realized just who walked around in his skin - just the way she built her sentences was enough of a give away. “Well if anyone is gonna be in there, at least its you and not Rogers. Stay away from the memories, Yelena.” He said that more out of privacy than anything else.

sam wilson BOT — 12/11/2020 “Second best. Thanks, man. Glad to see I’m runner up even in your bunk cyborg brain.” Sam snorted. “I’d say outside of Nat they’re pretty nasty, but she’s scary too. Now I got memories of being married to her and, y’know, I could have lived a thousand lives without being this close to Steve.” What he saw Sam would never speak of. “I came from the quiche. Figured answers would be a bust.”

carol danvers BOT — 12/11/2020 Carol let out a low breath - she had to remember she was in Sam’s body and not her own. She couldn’t risk him. “And why not use that power for something else - not everything has to be a ploy at self preservation.”

lana baumgartner BOT — 12/11/2020 That almost seemed like a challenge. “Nate does’t know what I look like and he has no reason to approach this MILF. But I don’t feel bad for you, Julian. You look great. A little bit thotty, but still better than a mother.” Anger was bubbling up in her gut, the Bombshell’s powers still there like a warm wave. Lana clenched her fist to stop from lighting up and stood up. Lori was getting older and her head waved slightly from the drink. “You want another?”

julian keller BOT — 12/11/2020 Julian just gave her a stare. “Lana, I’m in your body. He should be looking for me. For you. For me in you.” he stopped and watched her stand and instinctively reached out to steady her. “The only point was to get you wasted, so.”

lorna dane BOT — 12/11/2020 Lorna wasn’t sure if the situation could be recovered but she wouldn’t purposefully make it worse. She knew her body with its overwhelming highs and lows. There had been a lot of work she’d put into staying balanced. “What gets Rogue happily buzzed the fastest?”

remy lebeau BOT — 12/11/2020 Remy just looked at her, his lips parting as if he wanted to say something, but instead he just walked off, towards the bar. He returned a few minutes later, handing her a drink that was dark and cloudy. “Her favorite, actually.” he was looking directly at her as he handed it off, a beer in his opposite hand. Might as well not start doing shots just yet. “She hadn’t wanted much else for the wedding, as you probably know.”

yelena belova BOT — 12/11/2020 So he knew. That ruined the fun but would make conversing easier. “I wasn’t trying to fool you, you know.” The assassin clarified. “I thought we were intimate. Shared things. You like me.” The smile on her face didn’t fit James’ body. “I’m touched.”

ripley ryan BOT — 12/11/2020 “I’m going to use it to protect myself. I tried saying that and people assumed it was a threat. I didn’t want this, Carol.” Ripley initiated a spin before pulling herself closer again. “You killed me. But that’s not good party talk, is it? This thing with you and Sam. Scandalous. When’d that start?”

james buchanan barnes BOT — 12/11/2020 “Like I said,” James started. “Stay away from the memories.” They weren’t there yet - and he was staying away from Veronica’s too. It all felt too private - too intimate for him. “Does that surprise you?” he asked, addressing whatever emotional connection existed between them. “Cause it doesn’t surprise me.”

lana baumgartner BOT — 12/11/2020 She scoffed. “Maybe my boyfriend doesn’t like me then.” Not true, but still. She felt vulnerable. When Julian’s hand hit her arm there was a buzz and Lana quickly pulled away. “Our powers are the same. They used to only be activated by each other.” Not anymore, but Julian didn’t have her control and Lana felt off centered. “Congrats, we’re almost there. Where’s Kate?”

carol danvers BOT — 12/11/2020 They continued to dance, Carol easily stepping into the lead, the use of Sam’s body oddly fitting her own motor skills. “Arrogant if you think there’s anything to know.” She pulled back then, looking down into her eyes. “ Maybe you should consider a different career path, Ripley, before it burns you up.”

yelena belova BOT — 12/11/2020 Even though she didn’t verbally agree, Yelena decided to respect his wishes. She just turned to walk and find a chair with the assumption he’d follow. “I didn’t think you were the type to like people, and I’m not known for being likable.”

lorna dane BOT — 12/11/2020 Lorna almost tossed the glass out of pettiness. Instead, her fingers tightened so the glass didn’t slip through her gloved hands. “--That was low. As you can tell, I at least never married Marcos you’re spared there.”

julian keller BOT — 12/11/2020 “Right,” he said slowly, pulling back as another round of shots were dropped between them. Before he could pick up his own, lithe fingers wrapped around the glass and he saw a flash of blonde hair as one of the Frosts tossed it back. By the look of her, she was clearly drunk, swaying on her feet. Her cheeks were pink and her eyes were bright and she was looking at Julian like she knew him. Her. “I’ve been looking for you.” a set of fingers came towards Julian’s face and he caught her wrist automatically, A slight furrow knit the Frost’s perfect brow and for a moment Julian remembered why he’d been so interested in the sisters. She was pouting, but it was clear most of it was the alcohol. “Uh Lana,” Julian’s voice had risen. “I think I found him.”

ripley ryan BOT — 12/11/2020 “I’ve got your memories.” Ripley hummed. “There’s plenty to know. I love how flexible you guys are.” A muscle in her jaw feathered. “No choice. Raft escapee with an Infinity Stone in my chest. At my worst I’m a cosmic threat. At my best I’m a liability. I don’t have many options here.”

lana baumgartner BOT — 12/11/2020 Seeing herself being manhandled by a Cuckoo was both terrifying and hot. The Cuckoo’s were gorgeous but too bitchy to approach. Add in the fact that they used to date Cable and Lana just felt uncomfortable and a little bit less than. “Jesus.” She swore under her breath, reaching to grab the Nate-Frost and pull her off of Julian. How nice it was to be an adult. “Sorry,” Lana winced at Julian before facing Nate. “You don’t actually want to do that.”

james buchanan barnes BOT — 12/11/2020 He did follow her - partly because if he didn’t, he was walking out the front door instead. “Maybe that’s what I like about you.” he said offhandedly, looking around as they weaved through the crowd. “Look, Yelena, I’m not trying to make this more than what it is.”

remy lebeau BOT — 12/11/2020 Remy let an uncomfortable silence stretch between them as he sipped at the beer, the hoppy taste an almost immediate cold shower to his heated nerves. At this point, he knew half of it was in his head, but he didn’t care. Sighing, he shrugged. “Yeah. I know. Sorry.” he said around the lip of the bottle, taking another swig. “Rogue and I stopped being a thing years ago. We don’t even talk now. I don’t like it being thrown in my face like I’ve stepped out on you.” like you’re not the beginning and end for me.

yelena belova BOT — 12/11/2020 Finding a seat, Yelena crossed one leg over the other. “The last person to actually like me died. The other ended up in the gulag. I have a bad track record.” Although the eyes weren’t hers, the gaze she sent towards him was still calculating. “What is this, James? Nice, casual bedding?”

carol danvers BOT — 12/11/2020 Carol just rolled her eyes, coming to a slow stop in the middle of the dance floor. She couldn’t keep it up - and she desperately wanted to find Jess. “You have my memories of Wanda.” was all she said as she stepped away. “Don’t make things worse if you don’t have to.”

nathan summers BOT — 12/11/2020 Nate had been drinking Lana in through the foggy haze of one too many rum and cokes when he felt the tug of his arm and he had to catch himself against the side of the bar in case he fell forward onto his face. He looked up automatically, trying to make out familiar-unfamiliar features - but all he knew was that this wasn’t Lana. “Hey hands off-“ what was supposed to be firm came out more squeaky and slurry. “I’m taken, lady. And I have an age limit.”

lorna dane BOT — 12/11/2020 She felt bad, and once she started feeling guilty Lorna tended to cycle through emotions quickly It was why she didn’t often let herself open that door. She took a sip of Rogue’s drink - it was frustratingly good - and tried to gather her thoughts. “She’s just all this.” Lorna waved a hand over herself. “I’m the baby of the Mageto family. I know you don’t care. Marcos was just so... separate. No Krakoa, no big bad daddy. And I love you, but you’re my first relationship where I’m also Magneto’s daughter. I’m confident until I see memories of you with others. Obviously you’ve loved others, but I wish it was just me. And that’s selfish.”

james buchanan barnes BOT — 12/11/2020 James sat across from her, readjusting a few times before he resolved to just tucking his legs beneath the chair and gripping the edge of the seat with his hands. “I am a bad track record.” he said with a raise of his brows but exhaling, looking away momentarily before resettling his gaze onto Yelena. “Wasn’t that what it was supposed to be?” he went to push a hand through his hair and then remembered it wasn’t his. Longer, softer. “I just - I can’t do romantic, Yelena. I don’t deserve it.”

lana baumgartner BOT — 12/11/2020 “I’m her mother.” Lana paused, face twisting slightly. “I’m not. The body you’re trying to mount is actually Julian Keller. This body is Lana’s mother, Lori. God, I am too drunk for this.” When Nate pulled away Lana made no move to touch him again. Instead she just sat down. “And I’m Lana.”

yelena belova BOT — 12/11/2020 Why was it that his words stung slightly? Yelena didn’t want them to, but she felt a quick twist in her gut. She may have been a master at holding her own face still but it took a second to even out James’ features. “Trust me, I don’t either. I don’t expect it. That’s something Natalia gets.” Love, the family. Not Yelena. She would never let herself be open so she couldn’t be hurt. “Some people like being alone. But you, James? You’re not irredeemable.”

remy lebeau BOT — 12/11/2020 Remy just listened, not taking another drink until she was finished speaking. “Come,” he nodded towards a pair of open seats and sat down. Another waiter came by and he took the whole tray, setting it down between them. He wasn’t really hungry, but it gave him something to focus on if needed. “I’ve wanted to marry you since I was twenty-one.” he tapped the edge of Lorna’s fingernail against the tray, her mutant ability reacting to the silver. “If there’s one thing about growing up as the mutant I was, I don’t scare easy. You’ve pushed me away before, Lorna. Please don’t do it again.”

ripley ryan BOT — 12/11/2020 “You mean when everyone just forgave Wanda despite the fact that she fucks up again and again? Because, for some reason, the world can’t hop off Wanda Maximoff’s dick. Maybe she can take me, but she may destroy reality past actions considered.”

nathan summers BOT — 12/11/2020 Nate tossed a look over his shoulder, Esme’s curled blonde hair bouncing as he did so. “Doesn’t look like Keller. He’s not normally so pretty.” A sober Nate wouldn’t have meant it like that - wouldn’t have said that in the first place, but he was looking directly at Lana’s face and she was smiling at him, one eyebrow cocked. He almost went back to her when the older woman’s words settled into his mind and he turned sharply, almost pitching over. “Awh fuck,” he said with a sudden realization, looking down at himself as if just now remembering he wasn’t in his own body. “Sorry Lana,” he said, just as he heard Julian bark a laugh behind him. “I got carried away with all the free drinks.”

james buchanan barnes BOT — 12/11/2020 “That’s not what I meant, Yelena.” he said automatically. “I didnt’ say I didn’t want it. Or that you don’t deserve it. It’s just not—“ he searched for the right word, but it didn’t come. “Some things you can’t come back from.” he wasn’t looking for an argument and everything he said sounded definite. “And I’ve made peace with that. I like what we have - you’re one of the only people I trust.”

carol danvers BOT — 12/11/2020 Carol sucked her teeth, annoyance running through her again. “No you idiot.” she tried to keep her voice down. “Everyone forgave Wanda, despite everything. Why do you think we wouldn’t do the same for you?”

lorna dane BOT — 12/11/2020 Lorna followed obediently, sitting down without a word. She eyed the tray but resisted telling Remy that her hips couldn’t handle them all and her costume - which had cutouts - was being worn more and more for various reasons. Lorna, unfortunately, remembered being seventeen and what a mess she was. She flushed her pills and yelled at her aunt. Reckless and rageful, Lorna ended up institutionalized not longer after she had met Remy. She remembered him. He had made a fast impression but Lorna was Lorna and she was on to one thing and then the next. It had taken time to come together again and once more. “If you wanted to marry me when we met you’re even more out of your mind than I am. You never did marry me though, and you’re pushing thirty.” Did that mean she was old? She did have a child. “Pushing people away is what I do. My entire life. I’m really, really good at it. But I love you and I will try even though it terrifies me.”

lana baumgartner BOT — 12/11/2020 “Keller’s whole thing is that he’s a pretty boy.” Lana’s liquor laden tongue commented. “It’s why we...” Nope, not going there. “Stop looking at him like that, Keller. This sucks. It really @#$@# sucks. And yeah, Nate. I can tell.” It was a bit hypocritical of her considering she had been as well. “Esme?”

ripley ryan BOT — 12/11/2020 “You would forgive me?” Ripley felt like a statue standing so still on the dance floor. “After everything you think that people will ever be able to see me as something else? That’s optimistic even for you, Cap.”

remy lebeau BOT — 12/11/2020 He just smiled at her, not commenting on it. He was mad - it was his inability to make a sensible decision that made him so resourceful in the end, but it also kept his life interesting. Got him here, didn’t it? And it was the velvet box tucked away in his bedside table that he’d had for almost six months now that was another decision he wasn’t being sensible about. But Remy didn’t want to rush - or pressure her. He knew he should just do it, see what she said, but it was too soon. He didn’t want to give her reason to run now did he? “Good.” he would’ve leaned forward now to kiss her - but that was both awkward and dangerous given their predicament. “You know I hate this right? I like my body. I like yours too, but not like this.”

nathan summers BOT — 12/11/2020 But it was a thread she let loose and Nate had the urge to tug. “Why you what?” he asked, looking between them. He saw Lana - Julian - just quirk another brow but he didn’t make a move to comment.

yelena belova BOT — 12/11/2020 Holding up one hand, Yelena shook her head. “I’m not trying to get anything from you. I don’t care about citizenship.” She snickered. Was she lying? Always. It was always mixed in with the truth. “I’m not my sister. My life -- I choose it. This. But if you trust me, I won’t stab you in the back.”

carol danvers BOT — 12/11/2020 Carol tilted her head, shoving her hands into the pockets of Sam’s slacks. “You know about me now, don’t you? How the public doesn’t trust me anymore. We all become the villain in the story at some point, Ripley. It doesn’t have to stay that way.”

james buchanan barnes BOT — 12/11/2020 He gave her a droll stare, Veronica’s long hair falling over his shoulders as he tilted his head. He took a moment to tie it back into a loose ponytail before gripping the seat again. “I do. We’ve long past if’s.” he hated how they’d tiptoed - no, nosedived - into this conversation, but James trudged on. “Be honest with me, it’s only fair. What do you want?”

lana baumgartner BOT — 12/11/2020 “Why we became friends.” Lana covered, praying they could leave it at that. It was also true.

ripley ryan BOT — 12/11/2020 “I should apologize.” Ripley sighed. “About the people not liking you thing. Turns out my subpar journalism skills are still useful. Nice to know I have something to fall back on. But say I want to be good or something. Where does that even start?”

nathan summers BOT — 12/11/2020 He heard Julian snort behind him and when he looked back, Julian was looking down, fiddling with an empty glass like he hadn’t mean to make a sound at all. “Oh.” Esme’s voice was pitchy. “For a minute I thought you were going to say you slept together.”

carol danvers BOT — 12/11/2020 Carol eyed her suspiciously but continued on. “You start trusting in the right people. And yeah, those are people like us. Even if its not me, there’s Steve and Sam.”

julian keller BOT — 12/11/2020 “Oh for crying out loud,” Julian watched the awkward exchange between them and grew impatient. “We did. A long time ago. So what?”

lana baumgartner BOT — 12/11/2020 Committing murder in her mothers body sounded tempting because it would a) rid the earth of Julian and b) send Lori back to jail. Instead Lana just clasped her hands and allowed her nails to dig into her palms. “A year ago. Once.” She added on quickly.

ripley ryan BOT — 12/11/2020 Trusting people? Yeah, no. “I’m a diagnosed psychopath with a tragic past I can try to blame it on when really, it’s probably just me. They have heroes like that?”

YELENA BELOVA: Without skipping a beat Yelena replied, “I don’t want anything.” Lie. Tell the truth, Yelena it was fair. “I don’t know what I want, but I have been conditioned my entire life to not want anything. Natalia did and it got her killed and I’m better than her. I’m supposed to be better than her.

NATHAN SUMMERS: Nate’s brows shot up, but he didn’t look particularly affronted. Instead, he just frowned. “Low standards then. Glad you worked your way up in the world.” he swung a grin at her — or at her in someone else’s body — god he couldn’t keep this straight in his haze. “I’m stuck in my ex’s body after all.” and at his words, he heard Julian laugh again.

CAROL DANVERS: Carol tried to suppress her sigh. “Probably. We’d still offer to work with them.”

BUCKY BARNES: James leaned forward then, his legs spreading into a more casual stance as he rested his elbows against his thighs. “Take all that away - the duty, the comparisons. With all that gone, what’s left?”

JULIAN KELLER: “Yeah, one of them.” he tacked on. “You know he dated all five, right? Not even I could do that.”

LANA BAUMGARNER: “--I think I need to go home.” Lana stood. Home was her moms shitty apartment with the lumpy couch but it felt wrong to bring Lori into Lana’s space. It was better than here at least. “Thanks for this, Julian. It’s not my fault you’re only mad you only got one.”

RIPLEY RYAN: Interesting. “Maybe they’ll consider it.” Ripley couldn’t let herself be anymore comital. She was tired. It was hard with a target on her back even if Ripley could take a few hits. “This has been fun, Carol. We should dance more often. Sam’s got good hands.”

NATHAN SUMMERS: “Hey-“ Nate reached out for her automatically. “Can I walk you?” the drunken dip in his tone was still there but he held fast, determination settling into the smooth lines of Esme’s face. “If you met a Frost you’d know one is no small feat.” Julian grumbled distantly behind him.

YELENA BELOVA: Mirroring his pose, Yelena leaned forward. “Nothing.” Her answer was surprisingly honest. “You’re not in my body so you don’t get to see that I’m actually a holo shell. Я вдова. That’s all for me.”

LANA BAUMGARTNER: Adjusting Lori’s long jacket so she could button it, Lana shook her head. “One tiny blonde telepath who probably isn’t that skilled currently. I’m an adult who can blow things up and the fresh air will help me feel less drunk. Again: thanks Julian.”

JULIAN KELLER: For the first time since Nate showed up, Julian looked apologetic. “Lana,” he said, moving out of his seat and side stepping Nathan. “Don’t make me do something crazy. I am in your body, after all.” it was a ploy, but he’d overstepped and goddamit he cared. He felt an elbow in his ribs and he turned sharply to face Nate. “I’ll kick your ass too, Summers, drunk or not.”

#ooc

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fandomwriterstuff · 3 years

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“We’re a well-oiled team of military-grade kindergarteners,” his best friend, and the only other human on the ship who would understand what kindergarten was, continued chastising him and his companions. “The level of education and training among the three of you eclipses that of the entire rest of the members of this operation,” Annabeth continued, pointing her finger individually at himself, his pilot Jason, and his Chief Science Officer Nico. “You know, I’m not that surprised with you, Percy, but you are our XO so you should really be more responsible,” he winced at that, still feeling a bit of imposter syndrome at being the Commander of the USS Olympus. “Jason, shouldn’t you be piloting a ship or something?” At that, he saluted her and did an about face before scampering off to get into more trouble. “And you, you’re definitely way too responsible to have gotten mixed up with this Seaweed Brain and Sparky, so what’s in this tomfoolery for you?”

Nico, the only Neptunian on the ship, shifted his large black wings self consciously under the scrutiny of their Chief of Operations. Percy, as the Commander of the vessel, felt obligated to protect his usually stoic and well-behaved… acquaintance? Di Angelo was reserved, almost standoffish, and resented anyone who tried to stick up for him for some reason, but that didn’t stop Percy’s stupid seaweed brain from doing so. Hence the acquaintance. Percy was 99% sure Di Angelo didn’t consider him a friend. But he was nice to Percy and a great officer, so Percy considered him his friend.

“It was my fault, Annie,” he used her childhood nickname carefully, not knowing whether it would soften her up or piss her off more. He was hoping for softening. “It was just another one of Jason and my dumb ideas that we thought we would need a scientist to help with, and we didn’t want to piss off Leo by involving him in it. You know how he is about his engineer and warp cores and whatnot,” Percy held his hands up placatingly. “Leave Di Angelo out of this, he has sciencey things to do, isn’t that right?” Percy side-eyed his companion who (not surprisingly) rolled his eyes.

“I try not to get involved with human pranks or even Jovian mischief, but Officer Grace and First Officer Jackson were about to be meddling with my linguistics team. It isn’t my duty to tell my superiors what to do, so I sought out the next best option, supervising and ensuring no lasting damage was done to the physical or emotional state of the linguistics team. Now,” Here Percy held in a smirk as Di Angelo shrugged. “If they caused interference with the machinery of the ship, that wouldn’t be my expertise, so I allowed it to happen and-” Percy held back a laugh as the other male started speaking even faster to get everything out as Annabeth turned redder and redder. “I’m very sorry about that, truly, but I had no control over the situation.”

“No control over the situation? You three broke our LIT machine and now we have to go back to Earth as soon as we pass close enough to fix it. Soon enough nobody on this ship will understand each other,” the woman across from them crossed her arms and Percy shrunk back a bit.

“I want to make a joke about a machine being called “LIT,” but I feel like it isn’t the right time,” he muttered. “I know the Linguistic Inhibition Technology is important, but most of us have a working understanding of at least one other language, so it shouldn’t be a huge issue, right?”

“You know it works by connecting to the implant technology in our brains, so as it shuts down one by one, members of this ship from spaces stations and planets far and wide will have no clue why they suddenly can’t understand their XO, or their Chief Officer, or their best friend. So you better explain this. And you have to tell them that we’re going straight back to Earth to fix it because no nearby planets have the same brain implant tech as us. Damn Terrans and their brand name technology copyrights,” Annabeth grumbled and finally turned around to walk off.

“Hey, you’re Terran, too!” Percy shouted after her, but she just flipped him the bird.

“She can do that?” Di Angelo asked, side-eyeing Percy.

“Yeah, she’s been my best friend since we were twelve. As long as she doesn’t undermine my authority in front of everyone else, I don’t really care. I’ve done way worse to her,” Percy laughed at the other man’s frown. “Nothing bad, just pranks and things of that sort. Maybe when we get back to Earth we can show you where we’re from. You never set foot off of the training grounds while you were in school.”

“I would… like that,” Di Angelo paused and gave Percy a soft smile.

“Great,” Percy patted the younger male on the shoulder and made his way to the Command Center.

Percy sat himself down in the rotating chair and pressed on the comms device.

“Gooooood evening crew of the USS Olympus, this is your Commanding Officer, Percy Jackson, speaking,” he smiled at the engineering crew that was scuttling by, only for one of them to pause and look at him like he was speaking a different language… Whoops.

“There was a malfunction with the Linguistic Inhibition Technology and we will be returning to Earth henceforth to repair it before the damage becomes problematic. You may experience glitches with your implant technology and may revert to only understanding your first language and those you have studied extensively. If somebody looks like they’re not understanding what I’m saying right now, please escort them to the linguistics team in Science Bay 3. Carry on. Jackson, out.” He clicked again and the mic turned off.

He sighed, this would be one of his bigger mistakes. They were supposed to be exploring, but they couldn’t do that if nobody could speak to one another. One trip home couldn’t hurt him, and he was sure Annabeth would be happy to see her father.

It wasn’t until later after the Chief Officer meeting when someone finally asked Percy about Earth. For many of the non-humans on the ship, Earth was a place to get education and training to go out in the star fleet, and they never set foot outside the campus grounds, just like Di Angelo. But people had stopped asking him questions because Earth was basically “Space Australia,” as Annabeth had explained to him. The adaptability of humans and their need to pack bond astounded many and horrified many others. So, he stopped talking about home.

It was a new member of their ship, Novax (a Vulcan who was a part of Leo’s engineering team), who asked him about it first.

“I hear Earth is 75% made of pure salt water, and is filled with animals of all kinds. Do you have a favorite water animal?” he asked Percy excitedly.

“Definitely dolphins, though they aren’t underwater creatures. Like humans they need oxygen to breathe, and come up for air very often. My favorite actual underwater species would have to be a hippocampus from Neptune. I’ve always wanted to go and see one, but my human anatomy prevents me from going on-planet,” Percy explained and sipped on his hot tea.

“There are a million creatures in the ocean and you pick one that doesn’t breathe underwater?” Clarisse grunted. His Chief Tactical Officer was a brutish Martian, but very specialized in weapons. “And your second favorite isn’t even Terran.”

“What else do you know about the ‘ocean’?” Novax breathed, leaning forward.

“Eh, not much,” Percy shrugged.

“I’m not sure I heard that correctly, maybe my LIT unit isn’t functioning well,” another member of engineering asked, Nyssa. “Your planet is 75% water and you don’t even know what is inside it?”

“I could tell you about the people who spend their life learning about what survives in the deep depths,” Percy looked up, knowing he had all of the non-Terrans hooked on every word. Even Di Angelo had paused in his note taking and was staring wide-eyed at Percy. “But I don’t know if you’d want to know.”

“No we do!” Nyssa exclaimed. “There are people who dedicate their lives to a place that’s literally not navigable by humans, the main inhabitants of the planet?”

“Well as you said, most of the planet is water. Which means that coastal communities are filled with fisherman, whalers, swimmers, and more. I could tell you about some of those. I could also tell you about the scientists that spend years of their lives building bots that can’t even come close to withstanding the pressure at the deepest depths without imploding, or I could tell you about those that do come close,” he shrugged.

“What happened to those?”

“The video feed cut out after only seeing multiple rows of sharp, jagged teeth,” Annabeth answered, her sharp grin frightening those who hadn’t noticed her. Some forgot that she was Terran, because she was also half Minervan.

“I could tell you about whales. Beautiful, they come in black and white or grey or blue. But they can be as big as almost 100 feet long. That’s as long as most pirate ships. And they could fit about 400 average sized humans in their mouths. You don’t want to cross one of them. And they only live on the surface. The things that live in the deep,” Percy shuddered for effect. There were no Neptunians on the ship, so there were no natural water dwellers there, so all of his rapt listeners were shocked by this information. “There’s the anglerfish. They light up the dark with an antenna on top of their heads, and the light lures in prey. But it’s so dim elsewhere that you don’t see their big sharp teeth until you’re right up against them,” he murmured. “Giant squids are almost as big as whales but not nearly as peaceful and beautiful. They have eight arms and two tentacles that could wrap around any boat and crush it.”

“Ten limbs?” Nyssa whispered, clearly disturbed.

“Plus, the Portuguese Man o’ War,” Percy shrugged nonchalantly. “Also known as the floating terror. It’s like a big blue jellyfish that sits innocently on top of the water with huge blue tentacles that sit just underneath with a sting strong enough to kill a full grown human.”

“Don’t worry,” Annabeth grinned that shark grin again. “Percy won’t tell you about the stories of the old days. He doesn’t want to scare you.”

“That was the not scary part?” Novax gulped.

“Anyway, I just got notified that we’ll be back on Earth in a few days, so brace yourselves,” and with that, she stood and left them all staring after her. When the door clicked shut, Percy had all eyes back on him. He shrugged.

“Don’t look at me. I wasn’t going to tell you about the kr- nevermind,” he stood. “Di Angelo, with me,” the younger officer stood, back to business and was at Percy’s side again in a moment. “Clear your schedule, you’re spending shore leave with me, pal.”

“Great,” came the deadpan reply.

“Don’t sound so somber,” Percy rolled his eyes. “I’m just going to show you the beach and maybe a good gay bar. You need to let off some steam my dude.”

The other male reddened.

“That is so… That is…” he huffed. “Highly inappropriate.” he glared down at the ground and Percy felt a little bad, maybe the guy wasn’t out? But it was clear he had a preference for males. Oh well, that foot was already in Percy’s mouth.

“Fine. But I will be attending and I am a great dancer so you’re missing out,” he winked at the flustered officer and made his way back to his cabin. It would be an interesting few days.

He made a plan with Annabeth. Day one before shore leave, Percy would spread a rumor to Novax about the kraken. Bigger than a giant squid and meaner. Known to crush entire pirate ships in the olden days.

Day two, Annabeth would mention sirens to Nyssa. Hideous creatures that could lure you in with their voices and lead you to believe you were bringing your ship in to everything you ever wanted, when in reality you would crash your ships and then drown.

Day three, Percy would tell Leo about the Megalodon. A definitely very real shark so big you couldn’t even imagine it. Percy shuddered at that one.

“But, there are some good things,” Percy was speaking to Nico Di Angelo from his Commander chair, in ear shot of some of the participants of the conversation a few nights prior. “Mermaids, the siren’s nicer cousin species. And the lost city of Atlantis. Known to be a great and bountiful city, lost to the sea and cursed by the gods to be stuck down there forever. Some believe it still exists, but it’s within the Bermuda Triangle.”

“What, pray tell, is the Bermuda Triangle,” Clarisse sighed.

“Hard to explain. Ships just… go in… and they never come out,” Annabeth shrugged. “Planes go down. Ships wreck. People who go in don’t come back out, so we don’t know if Atlantis is really there or not.”

“That’s… terrifying,” Novax whispered as he walked by.

Percy was sure he had created a healthy fear of Earth’s oceans in his crew. And he meant to, because while he loved the beach and swimming, he did want to make them shy away from the depths. They wouldn’t do well to explore it.

#percy jackson #humans are weird #humans are space orcs #star trek #fusion #nicercy #percico #if you squint

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timextoxhajima · 3 years

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Love Me A Little Less: Chapter 1 - Frankenstein

LOVE ME A LITTLE LESS CHAPTER MASTERLIST

Member: (3rd person pov) arranged marriage au with Lee Juyeon

Genre: angsty wangsty

Taglist: @hyunvelies

“We buried you.”

The feast before Kim Jang Won is absolutely stunning. Lemon meringue tarts, strawberry smoothies (with actual strawberry bits in them), pancakes and freshly buttered croissants, a gorgeous transparent glass pot with the golden shade of chamomile tea and a beautiful tray of puffs and eclairs.

It would be even more stunning if it wasn’t her view every morning though.

“Hey, um, don’t we have like alternating menus or something for breakfast? I feel like I’m eating the same thing every morning now, it’s kinda getting tacky.”

“Miss Kim, I hope you know you’re the one who decides what the menu is. You chose this set like a week ago and you told us not to change it for the next two weeks.”

Jang Won sneers at her butler, arguably the only person on the property to has the guts to talk to her in a way that could get her fired.

“You’re lucky I can trust you.”

Ro Il Jung purses his lips into a thin white line, scratching his cheek with one of those knuckly, wrinkly-skin-covered fingers of his. “You seem to forget that I wanted to retire last year, Miss Kim.”

Jang Won huffs childishly, sticking her tongue out, now a gentle, thick shade of smoothie on her tongue. “I’ll let you retire when I find someone else I can trust, Mr Ro. It’s just too bad I don’t have anybody in mind right now.”

Mr Ro shakes his head like a parent disapproving of his child, but a house guard pulling the heavy doors of the entrance over accompanied by some urgent yelling tears his attention away from the owner of the mansion.

Jang Won looks up from her butter and croissant, at Mr Ro, who excuses himself before heading for the entrance hall.

“Sir,” He begins before he can even note the visitor. “If you could--”

“Mr Ro!”

Jang Won hears her butler’s words fade to a complete silent, only listening to their visitor talk. But it’s strange, because it’s a familiar voice...

Mr Ro cannot believe the sight before his eyes.

“I can’t believe you’re still working here. It’s so great to see you again!” Then the visitor pulls Mr Ro into a hug, harshly patting the space between his shoulder blades.

The lady of the house cannot take it anymore, not when she can’t eavesdrop on the conversation occurring in her own halls. So she gets up from the table, heels clacking against the marble floor as she heads into the entrance hall.

“Alright now, who’s got the guts to stop me in the middle of my French breakfast this morning?”

Mr Ro turns in silent shock, eyes wide and glaring while Jang Won processes the face of the visitor.

The man hadn’t looked like he aged a day since he was--

“I’m sorry,” Jang Won scoffs, waving her beautifully done manicured fingernails in the air. “If this is some impractical joke, please do tell because my brain is just about to explode from the sight right now. Y’know,” She gestures to her head and mimics the sound of a bomb.

“Jang Won...” The visitor strides towards her, arms wide. But she raises a palm and shifts backwards, a cautious half-smile mixed with a frown plastered to her flawless skin.

“Not another step, nuh-uh,” Waving a finger before his nose, she shakes her head. “There is no way in Hell you can be standing here.”

“Oh, but I am, love,” Once a warm voice that sang her to sleep, Jang Won cannot decide if the tears in her eyes are welling from relief or fear. “I’m home.”

“No... no!” She slaps away his outstretched hands. “We... we buried you...”

“And I can only imagine what you’re feeling right now, my child, but... we have more important things to worry about.”

Mr Ro’s face is contorted with a mess of confusion and anxiety and he watches the first tears fall down Jang Won’s cheeks.

“What...? ‘More important’-- No, how is anything more important than you... standing here?” The last word comes out like a final breath, at a volume just enough for him to hear.

“I came bearing news, Jang Won. I-- Well...” He rubs the back of his head, eyes tilted down to his feet. “Because I’ve return to the board of administration now... part of the company now comes back to... me--”

What?

“And... you cannot inherit any part of the company unless you are married to someone from a family from the same administration board.”

Jang Won’s tears solidify into fumes of anger as the thought runs through her neurons. The middle aged man begins to panic when he can read the rage in her eyes, her fists now clenched and the markings of her rings probably embedded into the flesh of her palm. Her knuckles begin to turn white as does his face, ever so slightly.

“Now, now, love. I know what you’re thinking and we can sit down and have a chat about this--”

“‘Sit down and have a chat’?” Jang Won scoffs miserably, lower jaw hanging agape. “Why don’t we sit down and let me ask you whiCH SCIENTIST MADE YOU FRANKENSTEIN?!”

The hallways of the mansion echo the shouts, the sound waves bouncing back and forth between the marble walls mostly adorn with gorgeous, one-in-a-million paintings.

“That’s not important now, hun. I just need you to understand that without this marriage, you will lose the house and everything you own from HERA & ARTEMIS.”

“I built HERA & ARTEMIS after you were fucking bURIED! Who are you to tell me that you will inherit it ownership and I can’t just because I’m not married?!”

“These were instructions from The Board, Jang Won. I had absolutely no say over this--”

“BULLSHIT! If you have the power to take ownership of HERA & ARTEMIS just because you climbed out of your own grave, why don’t you have the power to help m-- Oh, oh...” Jang Won frowns in disdain, disgust welling her lungs and her gut.

“What?” His eyes widen and shoulders shrug.

“You came back just to tell me this... because you want HERA & ARTEMIS for yourself.”

“What-- No--”

"You... low-life... scumbag!" The sharp shatter of the glass cabinet behind him echoes through the entrance hall of the mansion. One of the palm-sized statues sitting on the table in the middle of the circular hall lands amongst the billion pieces of glass on the marble floor.

"You give me my freedom and now you tell me I have to get married?!" The final word is literally pushed through her teeth when she cannot clench her jaws even harder. The tremors vibrating up her fist and into her arm and then her entire body makes her look like a volcano ready to erupt, so if these people haven't gotten enough, they have yet to see what's in store.

"Just who the HELL do you think you are?!" Grabbing another one of those tiny statues, Jang Won throws it into the other glass door of the cabinet.

"Jang Won, will you calm down?!"

"Don't you DARE tell me to calm down! You waltz back into this house after GOD knows how long- Hell, we BURIED you!"

"There was a mistake of the body identification and frankly, I expected a warmer welcome from you!"

"HA! A ‘warmer welcome’?! What do you want me to do? Set the entire house on fire? Do you want me to? Because I will!" The man has his brows furrowed back, palms out stretched to her. The mansion staff have all gathered a safe distance around the two of them, Mr Ro and some of those closer to Jang Won trying their best to get to her and calm her nerves but there is just absolutely no way she isn’t going to hurl a brick at her father.

"I can't BELIEVE you're standing there as if you own this place," The muscles around Jang Won’s nose twitches as the frown sinks deeper into her forehead. "I want you to hear this mighty well and crystal clear. You may have been the one who gave me life, but you will never EVER be my dad.”

The huffs that are billowing out Jang Won’s nostrils are starting to hurt.

"There is not a single cent you're stepping on - or touching, for that matter - that belongs to you. The only reason why I haven't fucking put a bullet through your right eye is because I'd go to jail and every thing I've worked for would be thrown out the window.”

“Now, now, love, we can sit down and be civilized about this—”

“Fuck you,” The anger surges through her, and she picks up one more palm-sized statue from the blue resin table. The heavy bronze weight leaves her fingers, and before it can hit the slightly aged man, someone reaches out and catches it instead.

“What the HELL are you doing?!” The scream echoes through the hall of the mansion. Younghoon sighs heavily, hand retreating back to his side as he hands the statue to one of the house staff.

“You have no right to get involved in this—”

“Jang Won, let’s go,” Younghoon strides across the space and grabs her arm, back-facing his father and trying to pull her in the opposite direction. “We can talk about this in your office.”

“How are you thinking straight?! We BURIED him! We watched his coffin get lowered into—”

“I know! I was there!” His eyes flutter shut in frustration, shoulders raising as he sucks in a deep breath, flaring his nostrils. “There’s no point destroying your own property over this. We can carry out some investigations, figure out what really happened, then we’ll work from there.”

The grip on her arm tightens when her instincts try to writhe away from him, but obviously, he doesn’t relent.

“Don’t do it. It’s not worth your time, or mine.”

He stares down at Jang Won, but it doesn’t scare her, not when she has a ghost standing right in the middle of some shattered mess. Not one cut on him.

Younghoon grimly shuts the door as Jang Won stomps over to her office desk and rests her palms flat against the Agar Wood surface. With a sharp, swift feat, she swipes nearly all the documents off the furniture. But when she misses the empty glass (that would usually be filled with some kind of alcohol or soda), she doesn't hesitate to pick it off the desk and propel it into the marble by the television mounted to the wall.

The shatter startles Younghoon as he whips around, eyes darting frantically between her and the mess she’s made.

"Jang Won!"

"Should I be concerned you don't seem one bit bothered that a dead man is standing in our living room - MY living room?"

"That dead man is our father."

"No, that dead man WAS our father before he ditched us! How are you not- UGH!"

Frustrated, furious and absolutely exasperate, she plops down into one of the two sofas sitting in the middle of the office, feet almost tempted to kick the frosted glass table in the middle but she holds herself back. Younghoon manages to get a few house staff into the room, who hurriedly help clear the glass and return the documents to the table. Fingers pressed into her temples, Jang Won could only imagine the gratification she could receive have if she had the chance to ram her first into someone's face.

Younghoon waits for the staff to leave, then stands by the sofa opposite her, one hand on his hip and the other running through his hair. The late morning sun reflects off his soft, dark brown locks when he absent-mindedly rubs the back of his head and he proceeds to unbutton his blazer to allow him a seat. The leather squeaks under his weight before he leans his elbows on his knees, knuckles resting under his lips and chin.

"Please tell me you're actually thinking and not just trying to look pretty. You're in my house now, not some studio photoshoot."

"I'm thinking about where to put a whole person for you."

"Don't bother, he's moved half his things into the first guestroom. He's probably holding a conductor's wand right now and asking the staff to help him with the second half."

"Have you called the funeral services?"

"And say what? 'Hey sir, have you... perhaps mis-screwed a coffin about 2 years back and now we might have a problem of a zombie'?"

"I'm just saying someone might've paid someone to replace the bodies!" Younghoon frowns, eyes stuck to the rug under his feet. "We don't know how it happened but someone MUST know, right?"

"I think your best bet is the asshole living down the hall now."

"He's not gonna budge, we both know that."

"Well, Sherlock Holmes, thanks for pointing out the obvious."

"I'm just trying to help. You need to stop your nonsensical whining and use your brain like how you used it to get all this money."

Jang Won picks up a pillow and hurls it into Younghoon. “You’re lucky you still stick around, else I’d have the both of you screwed over.”

Younghoon catches the pillow, holding it to his side. “The day I stop looking out for you is the day I die, alright? So you can be rest assured I’ll--”

“Miss Kim!” Mr Ro’s voice calls out from outside the office.

“What is it, Mr Ro?” Younghoon turns and returns the call, head tilted towards the door. It croaks open, and Mr Ro’s eyes are tired, wary as he sticks his head in.

“Your father just left and... and I think you should see the news.” Mr Ro pushes past the heavy door and reaches for the remote sitting on the frosted glass. The television screen mounted above the fire place flickers on, and there it was, her father’s face.

“The Board has just confirmed the ownership of HERA & ARTEMIS will thus forth be returned to Kim Jo-Pil, father of Kim Jang Won, the current owner. Investigations as to Kim Jo-Pil’s supposed death two years ago are still ongoing.”

“I’m gonna kill him.”

“You can’t.”

“Watch me.”

“We’ll be-- Wha-- The Board’s just come in with some new information! Kim JO-Pil has announced a marriage between Kim Jang Won, current owner of HERA & ARTEMIS and Lee Juyeon, the next-in-line to becoming the next Director of Apple, South Korea.”

Younghoon’s eyeballs are about to bludgeon out of his eye sockets. “Jang Won... I know what you’re thinking... But don’t--”

“I’M GONNA FUCKING KILL HIM!”

#lee juyeon #the boyz lee juyeon #lee juyeon fanfic #lee juyeon scenarios #the boyz fanfic #the boyz scenarios #tbz juyeon #tbz lee juyeon #juyeon #the boyz juyeon #juyeon fanfic #juyeon scenarios #love me a little less

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ordinaryunordinary · 3 years

Text

Ć̶͚̱͎͉̘̻̭̀̃̇̃h̷̨̛̦̩͇̠̙̜̟̙̮́̈́̔̓͜ä̴͙͕̞̳̪͉͈́́̈́͐́̈́̚n̵̠̖̘̉̋̎͑g̷̢̯̤̥͎͙̥̲̙̓̆̄͊̋͒̾̐͛̈́͝͝ë̶͚̱͙̰͇̜̭̭̤̭́̎̐̽̌͑̅̈́͌̈́̚͠ͅ

Experiment Zero was a success

Words: 5737

CW: implied torture, manipulation, violence, brain fuckery, they messed him up…that’s all I gotta say

For the most part, it was dark. It was also wet, what exact liquid that was though was uncertain. There were very few things he was certain of at the moment.

That it was dark, wet, and cold.

He was also certain that he was very sweaty and that it was hard to breathe. He was certain that his arms had been bound behind him by something very heavy and that same heavy object was also around his ankles and his neck. There was also something heavy covering his eyes, though it wasn’t as cold and hard as the ones arm his arms.

However, there were many things he was uncertain of. He was uncertain of where he was and who he was. He was uncertain of how he’d gotten here or when he’d gotten here and how long he had been here.

What he knew at the moment though, was how the constant ringing in his ears had stopped and a loud creaking had filled its place. There was also a small clicking noise that grew in volume as the seconds passed by.

“Get up.” He flinched, hearing such a gruff voice or just a voice in general in such a long time. When was the last time he heard a voice, when was the last time he heard his own voice? Did he even have a voice? The last sound he remembered hearing in this place was a high pitched giggle, if it could even be described as such.

Alas, he didn’t have much time to mull over it any longer before he felt that heavy weight lifted from his arms, legs, and from his neck.

“Get up,” demanded the voice once more. Hilarious, did the voice actually expect him to move in his state? He didn’t actually know what state he was in though, he was in pain. His limbs were sore where the weight had been, but there was also a constant ache going all throughout his body. If he managed to stand up, he wouldn’t make it a step before he collapsed once again.

He heard a sigh before he was roughly grabbed and pulled to his feet. As expected, he immediately wobbled and almost came crashing down if it weren’t for the sturdy arms holding him up. “Pathetic, to think someone like you was capable of evading us eleven times.” He didn’t know what the person was talking about, so there was no use thinking about it.

“The boss wants to see you,” he was addressed once more before he felt them moving. He tried to take a step, to walk along the person rather than drug behind them, but once enough pressure was added to his ankles he felt a burning sensation shooting up his legs. Giving up, he allowed himself to be pulled behind the person.

There was a slight shift in light, whatever was over his eyes was doing a good job of obstructing his vision, but he could assume that a light had been turned on in the place he was in. He staggered wherever the person was dragging him until they came to an abrupt stop and he felt himself fall to his knees. Clearly the person he was following had let go of him and scoffed watching him collapse into a heap of weak bones once again.

“Here he is ma’am.” Ma’am? So now he could assume that there were two people in the room. One being the man, he assumed who dragged him in, and another being the woman that he addressed.

“Good,” he felt a chill run through his bones at the smooth voice that rang through his ears. It wasn’t like the gruff voice of the man that he had heard so many times. And though he couldn’t quite remember who the man was, his body could definitely remember what he had done.

There was a small clicking noice that grew in volume before the blindfold over his eyes was torn away. His eyes slammed shut after a flash of bright light filled his voice and he held in a whimper to keep some of his dignity. He wanted to reach up to cover his eyes once again but his hands were blocked by a firm grip that held his face.

“Pathetic, you can’t even open your eyes.” Pathetic, he had heard that word several times today, maybe that was his name, or at least a name they were going to call him. “I myself am embarrassed that it took so long to catch you,” the woman continued before he pulled her hand away. “Open your eyes,” he winced. Just barely opening his eyes filled his vision with bright white light and it was started to give him a headache.

The man beside him scoffed, “open your eyes.” The mans voice was demanding, and he felt the man grip his head hard before his eyes flew open against his will. There was a flash of images that passed him. Faces he didn’t recognize, places he didn’t know existed, but eventually it all faded and he could see the cramped office room he was sat in.

He blinked before he turned his head to see the two standing around him. The man was tall with maroon hair and pale blue eyes and was currently looking down on him with a scowl. Meanwhile, the woman was also tall as hell, though it could’ve been because of her high heels, with long blonde hair and yellow eyes.

Her faces showed a smile, but it was anything but warm. “Young man, what is your name?” He tilted his head, “pathetic?” He flinched, his own voice was hoarse, high pitched, and barely audible. Nonetheless, it drew a laugh out of the woman. “No dear, that is what you are. But it isn’t your name.” He blinked and looked down at the ground. He truly didn’t know his own name, he was frightened by the sound of his voice, the amount of things he didn’t know were quickly becoming overwhelming.

Suddenly, he wanted nothing more than to disappear off the face of the earth.

“I know, we can give you a name. Does that sound good,” her voice had turned into a sweet, caring tone, almost sounding as if she was speaking to a child. “I know you’re confused, and you probably have so many questions. But trust me, we’re here to help you, I promise.” He stared up at her, her yellow eyes softening and a warm smile spreading across her face.

“Zero, that’s what we’ll call you.” She directed her face up to the man, “in honour of experiment zero being a success.” The man nodded, his grip on the young mans head lessening before he eventually pulled away.

“Listen to me Zero, my name is Valerie and this is Keon. There’s a really evil organization out there, okay? They’re threatening to hurt civilians and trying to force their ideas on to people. I work for an organization called EMBER, we’re dedicated to ridding the streets of these evil “heroes” and restoring peace to the hierarchy.”

He shook his head, he still didn’t understand a thing she was saying. She sighed before reaching over and ruffling his hair, a soft gesture before she pulled away again and crouching in front of him.

“We’re going to help you. They hurt you, they put you in this condition, but we’re going to stop them. Think of how much pain you’re in, we don’t want anyone else to suffer the same fate. You’re so strong for surviving through all of that. Don’t worry everything is going to be okay.” She reached out and stroked his hair again before she stood. “Take him to his new room and let him rest, we’ll introduce him to the others tomorrow.”

The man nodded before he held a device up to his mouth and called for someone to come to the room. He…Zero, stared at the ground. He couldn’t remember half of the thing he had done while he was here. All he knew was what this woman, Valerie had just told him. She promised to keep him safe, but at what cost? Did they want him to help them? How could he in this state?

He felt himself be pulled up to his feet again by a third member in the room. The woman smiled, “he’s going to take you to you’re room. Don’t worry, it’ll be much better than that hell hole you were in before.” He nodded, for now, he would trust her.

The third person began to pull him out of the room.

What other choice did he have anyway?

———

Valerie watched the door slam shut behind the worker and the boy. “My my Keon, you’ve really out done yourself this time.” The red haired man shrugged, “it wasn’t all my doing. There’s only so much a simple memory recall ability can do. I also had Cyko and Thompson play with him from time to time so I’m sure that helped.”

Valerie nodded before she walked back to her desk and sat down. She breathed out a sigh, “three months. We started this project three months ago and it is just now finished?” Keon nodded, “he isn’t ready to use yet. Once he can stand on his two feet, he will be our trump card against those vigilantes.”

“So, explain to me. The silver eyes, what’s up with that?” Keon smirked, “to put it simply, the colour gold is full of life, spirit, and determination. The colour grey is lacking in anything, almost numb.” The redhead laughed to himself, “I have created an entirely new vessel for you to mold to your liking.” The woman nodded, “and you eliminated all chances of a relapse into his old self.”

Keon whistled and he felt the immediate scowl the woman bore. “Not entirely, though if that happens we can just throw him back into the chamber. I’ve discovered through the past few months that he does not like small spaces.” Valerie raised her nose up, “you’re dismissed, do not let this opportunity fall from our hands.

Keon nodded before he turned to the door. He had a hand on the handle when Valerie spoke once more, “if we use him in the field, what are the odds he will recognize one of the heroes.” Keon huffed, “he won’t, and even if he does, he won’t escape the grasp I have on his mind.” Valerie spoke no more and Keon dismissed himself.

The blonde swayed back and forth in her seat.

“I want Rei back.”

She smirked, “I feel as if a rematch is due soon.”

———

He, Zero, looked around the new room he was in. There was a bed in the corner, albeit it looked sketchy as hell, but it was a bed. There was a toilet and sink across from it, and a tiny mirror near the toilet, and that was it for the room. He laid his head against the metal door behind him and sighed, his eyes closing along the way.

He shivered, both from the cold of the room and out of fear. They told him to rest, but at the moment he could do anything but. Not really though, he was still in a lot of pain and his growing headache was making him sick.

“Zero, that’s what we’ll call you.”

“In honour of experiment zero being a success.”

He huffed, what was that supposed to mean. She said that the “heroes” put him in this state, but then called him an experiment?

His head hurt.

Slowly, he crawled his way over to the bed and painfully pulled himself up into the mattress. Immediately, there was a creak, and he felt as if a ton of needles were poking into his back. Nonetheless, it was much better than the cold metal floor, and what he now realized had been chains from the previous room. He rolled onto his side, onto his back, onto his stomach before sitting up again.

Of all times to be restless, it was the only time he was told to rest.

He didn’t know how long he sat there, just staring at the wall, at the toilet, at the floor, he just sat there. “Pathetic,” it was the only word that seemed to stick to his head out of that whole lecture from the woman named Valerie.

Valerie, he had watched her mood change from sinister to caring in a matter of seconds. What was her motive, why did she want him exactly, and who exactly was she? He felt like he knew her, in the back of his head he could’ve sworn he knew her. But perhaps it was just a feeling of deja vu from a time he couldn’t remember.

Speaking of things he couldn’t remember, he had no idea what he even looked like. Did he want to know? Considering how much pain he was in, he could only imagine the state his body was in.

Curiosity got the best of him though, so he pushed himself to his feet and steadied himself against the wall. Stumbling, he reached the mirror and held one hand on the wall while he pushed back to look at himself.

His hair reached his shoulders and was matted in blood, what he assumed to be blood that is, and thrown all about the place. His eyes were grey with deep bags under them, and he could see large scars running down the left side of his face from under his eye to his neck and disappearing under his shirt. Said shirt in question was a white shirt sleeved shirt with several tears around his sides and chest area. On his right arm he could see several bruises and cuts lining his arm along with scares around his wrist and hand. His left arm on the other hand was wrapped in bandages all the way from his fingers to his shoulder, and he found that it was incredibly stiff when he tried bending it.

The black pants he was wearing also had rips around his thighs and there were large holes revealing his bloody knees beneath. And just by looking down he could see his beet red feet that no doubt were infected and scraped underneath.

Just as he thought, he looked…well, pathetic. He would hate for someone to see him like this. Then again, who was going to see him? According to Valerie, there were others he was doing to meet after he got some rest. Question is, would he like them or not? In this state, he could guess that he wouldn’t like them.

With not much else to do he eventually made his way back to his bed, and fell asleep with an empty, dull, and numb mind.

———

“Rei! Catch me!”

“I gotta ya Remi what’s got you so happy today?”

“I’m starting highschool, I get to go to the same school you did.”

“Yep! Be sure to say hi to Arlo for me.”

“I will! And let Kuyo know I say hello as well.”

“Don’t worry I will.”

——

“Get up.”

Zero was abruptly awoken by Keon standing over him, his arms crossed and eyes narrowed into a scowl. “We’re introducing you to the others and the people you’ll be working with today. Then Valerie wants to evaluate you on something.” Keon nodded before leaving the room, though Zero could see that he was only standing outside of the doorway.

It wasn’t like there was anything he needed to do, so he simply pushed himself to his feet and followed Keon on the door. “That was surprisingly fast.” He shrugged before Keon grabbed his arm and pulled him behind him. “I’m leading you to the dining hall, make note of how to get here cause I won’t be bringing you here everyday. I’d advise not getting lost, someone might get the wrong message and try to kill you.”

Zero nodded, though Keon couldn’t see it, and merely followed as Keon led him through a set of doors into a small and very crowded room. On one side, there were groups of people sitting and staring at nothing or picking at their food. On the other side, there were people wide eyed and excited and were flipping bottles, wrestling, and borderline food fighting.

Keon sat him down in the middle of chaos.

“Ahem!” At Keon’s voice, the group looked up at him and then to Zero. The young man curled in on himself at everyone’s gaze before the male in front of him spoke up. “Ohhh this is the fresh meat Keon was talking about. “Bundle of joy” he said, that diminished real quick once I was introduced.”

“Cyko,” the man looked up to Keon who shook his head. “Ohhh, interesting,” the man leaned back in his seat with a giggle. “Alright, this is Zero. He’s going to be joining Cyko and Thompson on the field as our trump card. Meaning he is your last resort if the target becomes overwhelming. Though he can be used just for fun as well.”

Keon’s hand was resting on his head as he spoke, and try as he may, he couldn’t remember a word the man was saying to the others. It was like it went in one ear and was pulled out of the other. Instead, he just stared at the man in front of him.

He had black hair with neon blue highlights that complimented his bright blue eyes and a grin laced with insanity painted on his face. And his piercing blue eyes were boring into his own dull grey ones.

“Zero.” At the mention of his “name” he perked up and looked toward the red haired man. “These two are you partners. Cyko, and Thompson.” The older man pointing at the guy with blue eyes and a man sitting next to him. “Eat your food, I will come receive you whenever Volcan wants you.”

Zero nodded, watching Keon release his head and briskly leave the crowded dining hall. Unsure of what to do, he turned back toward the table and found several pairs of eyes pointed at him.

“Zero huh,” the man with the blue highlights leaned across the table toward him, “how is it fair that you get a name cool enough without a nickname, yet you look like a kicked puppy. What’s your kill count? How many limbs have you lost?” The young man stiffened and shook his head, as far as he knew he hadn’t killed anyone, nor did he plan to.

A darker skinned male sitting next to this so called Cyko shook his head and pulled the younger back into his seat. “Leave the newbie alone, the thing looks like he can’t even hold a knife. He’s shaking like a leaf,” the other man had a deep voice and deep brown eyes that were almost black. At his words, Zero looked down at his hands to discover that he was indeed shaking.

“I’m Thompson, and as you’ve seen this is Cyko. We’re your partners on the field.” Zero nodded before Cyko leaned over and spoke again, “you can leave all the dirty work to us if you’re scared.” Again, Zero nodded and Cyko scoffed before sitting back down. “You’re absolutely no fun, it’s like I’m talking to a brick wall. Can you even talk?”

A nod.

Cyko gritted his teeth, “I’m gonna end up killing him Tom, I’m relying on you to hold me back.” Thompson sighed and ran a hand through his hair, “you can’t kill another one of our partners. Keon gave you one last warning and said after the next one they’d throw you in the chamber.”

Zero began to tune them out, he didn’t know what they were talking about. “Chamber,” it must have been where he was before. Considering how Cyko shivered and immediately curled in on himself, he could assume it was a terrible place even the worst people didn’t want to be.

On another note, the two men in front of him acted like killing was the most casual thing to do. Quite frankly, it unsettled him, he didn’t know why but it made him want to leave the table. He could begin to feel his heart pounding in his chest. Did Valerie want him to kill people? Is that what they meant when they called him their “trump card?” But she said they were going to help people, that they were going to stop the bad guys.

He wanted to H̴̛͙͚̮̜̻̰͇̽͛͌͐̈͝e̸̺̯̝͇̗̊̒̋̎̾̽͑̂͋̆́̑͛̅͌͜ͅl̷̛̛͉̘̺̱͓̮̺̼̺̯̗͋̒ͅp̸̧̙̦͓̱̣̦͚͔̼̞̤̏̃̾̒̓̃͐̔ people

He wanted to keep people S̸̡̧̻̻̄a̸͔̱͚͌͗f̴̤͎̘͕̄̔ę̷̛͚̤̳̫̣͂͊̃̉͠

He didn’t want to hurt people

He didn’t want to kill people

Ţ̶̛̜̣̺͑̀͂̊̂̇h̶̨̛̜̞͉͊̿̍̆́̆̿ä̶̻̙̼̤̦͈̥́̊͑̇̊͒ͅt̶̡̲͎̱̒͗̔͆͝͝’̴̲̙͓̮̻̤́͜s̴̢̜͎̬̪̱̬̙̈́̍̌͌ ̸̨̟̺̥̼̠͙͈̔̆͊̕n̸̨̹̲͉̠̭̥͎͐͠ơ̵͇̠̦͐̌̒̅́t̵̹̚ ̸̢͉̤͕̼̱͗͌̈̊̀̂͐͜w̶̰͕͔̹͙͈͙̯̌́͗̑̕ḣ̴̼̜̏̌͆̿͑̌o̴̼̤̓̅̊̋̾͝ ̸̜̤̭͗͒̈͠ḧ̵͚̳̳̰͂̎e̵̡͖͚̗̘̍̔̋͆͊̈́̿̈́ ̷̧̡̨̲̘̫̬͑̊̐͊͘͝w̶̛͉̞̉̾̌̚a̴̢͔̪̍́̏̆̎̎͋͜͜ͅs̸̠̲͌͑̂̑͆̇͘-

Zero blinked, his heart calming down and breathing coming down to a regular level.

“So who exactly are ya kid? Where’d ya come from?” Thompson turned toward him and spoke, neither him nor Cyko managing to see his sudden freak out. Zero shrugged, “I don’t know.” He winced again at the sound of his voice, maybe it would get better with time. Cyko hummed, “so he can speak.” Thompson waved him off with a hand, “you don’t know?” The young man nodded, his eyes flickering between the two men in front of him.

The older man nodded, a small smirk coming across his face, “they made you into their perfect little war machine didn’t they?” Zero titled his head to the side, Cyko mirroring his actions with a look of confusion. “This frail thing? A war machine? Yeah okay, if he’s a war machine, I’ll give you my burger next time we have them.” At that Thompson mature demeanor immediately vanished and was replaced with a childish smile.

“Really?!” Cyko groaned and rolled his eyes, “you’re so immature.” Zero looked between the two, they seem to be friends. That was a nice thought to have, he wanted to have friends in this place, maybe it would make him less…less what? This place didn’t make him feel anything. That was one thing he had noticed while staying here, he felt, nothing.

Physically he had felt pain, and exhaustion. But mentally, he hadn’t felt anything in his entire time here. Nothing made him sad, nothing made his happy. He felt as though he was just existing, as if he was just following an invisible string that was pulling him through his life.

“Hey,” Cyko’s high pitched voice shook him from his thoughts and he looked at the blue haired man. “Are you gonna eat that?” The other gestured to his full plate of food, white stuff that he really hoped was mashed potatoes, purple carrots, and a single apple. The hell kinda meal is that? He grimaced before pushing the plate forward toward Cyko he smiled before absolutely devouring the plate.

Thompson cleared his throat, “you’re gonna have to learn to eat that stuff. Trust me, one only get full meals maybe one every three months. And burgers only come twice a year. The food is shit, but at least they give us food.”

Zero nodded, he would force himself to eat his food tomorrow. For now however, he simply sat and listened to Cyko and Thompson talk, along with whatever conversation he managed to hear from other people. I’m doing so he found out that Justine had an affair with Cole and now Erin was going to slit Cole’s throat. One of the lunch ladies died the other day and her body was found in the kitchen with several stab wounds, the suspected murderer was Cyko who giggled about it. A girl named Lumina got thrown in the chamber after refusing a job given to her directly from Volcan.

His name floated around the dining hall a few times as well despite his limited interaction with any other people. He had just managed to start ignoring the several mentions of his name when he spotted Keon out of the corner of his eye. The male gestured out of the room with his head before disappearing around the corner.

Zero could only take that as his cue to leave. So silently, without another word to anyone, he stood from the table on wobbly legs and slowly made his way out of the dining hall. He could definitely feel every pair of eyes on him as he left, but he kept his head straight and slipped out of the room.

“I’m shocked you actually understood my gesture, and that you’re standing. Maybe this will work after all.” Keon began walking once more and Zero followed behind him, that invisible string of fate pulling him in the direction Keon wanted him to go. Maybe Keon was pulling the string, maybe Valerie was, maybe this Volcan person everyone spoke about was.

He then realized that it had been a while since he last peed. His nose scrunched up, did that mean he had been peeing himself while in the chamber? Zero held in a gag, if that were true, then he was walking in pee stain pants and was very lucky that they were black.

“If you’re done having dirty thoughts, we’re here. And be assured, your pants have been changed.” Zero nodded, a feeling of relief coming over him. Feeling calmer, he let Keon lead him through a large set of metal doors and found himself outside. He blinked against the harsh light of the sky and the sun, it was the first time he had been outside in ages, and only now did he realize just how pale he was.

Where he stood he only saw sand spreading far away from where his eye sight could reach. All around him there were props, decorated to look like people. It was a little too realistic for him, if he hadn’t looked twice, he would have though they were actual people.

“Zero!” He looked up and behind him to what seemed to be an observation deck and found Valerie standing in the edge of it. She smiled down at him and waved, and he found himself do the same. “How are you feeling, well rested?” The young man nodded, never seeing Keon’s disgusted face next to him. “That’s amazing, listen I’m gonna give you a challenge. You see, if we’re gonna go out and stop those bad people, we have to train you. Understand?” Zero nodded again and looked back toward the training dummies.

He could see where this was going. She wanted him to take out all of these training dummies and would evaluate his abilities at doing so.

Keon made a noise and Zero looked over, in his hand was knife and it was gently placed into his own.

“Listen Zero, the best way to stop these heroes is to immobilize them quickly. They can’t hurt you or others if you knock them down first. We’re not sure how well your ability works at the moment, so we’re focusing on this first, okay? All I want you to do, is find the best method to immobilize the training dummies. You don’t have to use the knife if you don’t want to.”

He looked down at the knife in his hand. It felt heavy, like it wasn’t supposed to be in his hands. He felt like dropping it would made the feeling in his stomach and chest ease up and go away. He gripped the knife tighter, it was a self defense mechanism, he would only use it if he had to.

Slowly, he made his way to the first dummy in front of him. He stopped when he was face to face with the dummy and stared at it. These are meant to be the people Valerie says are our enemies. He stared at the black button eyes in front of him and gripped the knife tighter. They hurt people.

Before either Keon or Valerie could blink, he swung his leg and connected with the dummy’s neck. Keon inhaled sharply, his body tense as he watched the dummy’s head roll down the hill.

The young man took a deep inhale before he broke into a sprint toward the next dummy. In one Swift movement he landed a punch in the chest, his fist going all the way through.

His foot took off the arm of another, his bandaged arm claim another head, and he kicked the feet out from under a dummy before stepping down on its chest. He panted, sweat beginning to fall down his neck, his grip on the knife only growing tighter, enough to wear his hand was beginning to ache.

It felt…exhilarating.

He smiled as he lunged for the next dummy, and giggled as he arm flew through the stomach of another.

On the deck, Valerie could feel her own grin widening as she watch every last bit of sanity escape from her precious experiment. Keon on the other hand, felt as though he would be sick. He clenched his fist together as he watched dummy after dummy fall over. Some missing limbs, some missing heads, he gulped as he imagined what this “thing” could do once he used his ability.

Zero grinned as one final dummy stood before him, and without a moments hesitation he brought the knife into the throat of the dummy and lodged it deep within the thread.

He allowed himself a second to breath before pulling the knife back out and holding it in his hand. He stared at it and his vision blurred, red blood painting the knife and his hands. He looked down at himself and saw blood coating his pants and his shirt.

And he heard his own laughing before he knew that he was laughing. His chest was burning, there were tears streaming out of his eyes, the knife felt like fire in his hands, but he kept laughing.

And like a fire had been extinguished, he stopped.

The knife fell from his hand and he stumbled backwards. He stared at his hands, expecting to see blood covering his body, but all he found was dirt and sand. “Zero.” His head snapped up as he saw Valerie, Volcan, approaching him and he stepped back again. His ankle rolled and he fell to the ground, crawling backwards he tried to make space between himself and the blonde haired woman.

“Zero, you’re okay. I promise, you did very well.” Valerie walked toward the young man, but he only pushed further back. Finally, she stopped, “Rei,” she said with a glare and the mans head popped up. Frightened gold eyes stared back at her and she clenched her fist. “Keon!”

Rei shook his head, scrambling to his feet and running as fast as he could from the duo. “Rei! Get back here,” he ignored Valerie’s yelling and kept running. His body screamed in pain, and he had no idea where he was going, but he wanted far away from wherever they were.

A war machine, their trump card, the prefect vessel. They were making him into their weapon, and he had no way of pushing back against it. He mentally kicked himself, he allowed Keon to get into his head, and now they had complete control over his mind.

He wiped at the tears blurring his vision, he had to make it back to Wellston, and if not to Wellston then he had to get back home. He had to let everyone know he was okay. What about Remi, what about his mom? Were they currently grieving because they thought he was dead? And what about Arlo and Kuyo, were they okay?

He had to get home, he had to help them.

“Rei!”

There was a sharp whistle through the hair before he felt pain spread throughout his leg and send him tumbling forward on to the ground.

He winced, gripping his leg close to his chest and gingerly pulling the tranquilizer dart from his calf. “Please,” he whimpered and attempt to stand up again. He saw Valerie making her way toward him, anger painted on her features and flaming claws emerging from her hands.

The “sweet and caring” demeanor was gone, and was immediately replaced with cold, murderous anger that was currently directed toward him. He held in a Yelp when she gripped his collar with one hand and pulled his face close to hers.

“Don’t ever attempt to escape from me again.”

The greenette screamed as she plunged her claws into his abdomen and twisted them further in. “Or you will never get to see them again.” She yanked her claws back and allowed Rei to fall back down. “Keon,” she addressed the male who was panting as he reached the other two. “Take him back to the chamber, clearly he needs to learn who is in control here before we can effectively use him.”

Keon nodded, his stride directed to the young man rolling on the ground, his ability active.

Rei winced, his vision was beginning to blur but he mustered enough energy to active his ability. From two of his fingers he sent a weak spark toward Keon hitting him in the forearm after he blocked his face from being hit.

“Why you little shit.”

Fear overcame Rei as Keon practically tackled him and held him by his wrist in one hand and gripped his head with another. “I dare you to tell me to stop.”

And in a flash of images he watched Remi, Arlo, Kuyo, he watched all of them smile at him, before everything went dark.

———

*1 Month Later*

———

“Your target tonight is a duo by the names of X-Rei and Nobody. X-Rei has a lightning ability at a level of 5.4 and Nobody is a 5.0 with energy discharge. Both of them have incredibly fast reflexes and speed. Exercise caution and keep a distance between yourselves and them.”

Cyko and Thompson nodded, this was a regular night for them.

“They will likely hold out for a long time, whenever you bore of them, send him in.”

In the corner of the room, grey eyes scanned over the files in his hands. X-Rei was a pink haired girl with an x on a grey sweatshirt and Nobody was a redheaded male with almost his entire body covered in black.

“Zero.”

EMBER’s ultimate war machine looked up with a smirk, a glint of silver being seen under his green bangs.

“As you wish, Volcan.”

#unordinary #unordinary webtoon #unordinary rei

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votederpycausemufins · 3 years

Text

Guys, idk how to tell you this, but we’re nearing the end. I mean, i’m gonna write more smaller pieces and maybe another long one in the future, but this one specifically is ending soon

@petrichormeraki

Mumbo walked down a hallway behind Drista. It looked like something Scar would have made as it looked more like a decorated underground tunnel than anything else. Stones of different types lined the walls and some vines and grass were present here and there. He kept trying to ask questions to pass the time, but Drista always shushed him.

Since he couldn’t really have a discussion with her, he just looked at the walls around then that looked worn by time. Some ores were present in the walls, though they weren’t any Mumbo recognized. When he looked away from them, the redstoner could see what looked like the tunnel widening up ahead, likely to a room or sorts, though based on their surroundings, it could be more along the lines of a cavern.

He was right as when they stepped out of the tunnel, the ceiling was still made of rocks, but the room itself was filled with life. Trees of varieties he had never seen before littered the area. Leaves of blue purple and gold were scattered around and hanging on the trees. Flowers of every color. A small pond to the side, small lily pads covering a good portion of the surface. It was beautiful.

“Alright, a couple of the fam are headed over here to talk with you. Don’t go wandering around because this place is like a labyrinth and you don’t have the ability to get out yet.”

“You sound like you’re going to leave me here.”

“Cuz I am.” And with that Drista ran off down another tunnel that connected into the room. With nothing to do but wait, Mumbo wandered around the cavern, trying to not stray too far from where they had entered. He really decided to stay close when he saw what he thought was an armor stand wearing armor, slumped against a wall. When he got closer and noticed the skeleton within that was obviously not a reanimated monster, he made sure to run back and stay in place.

After he started to become a bit restless again, Mumbo was slightly glad to see people approaching him. All of them wore some sort of mask, which unsettled the redstoner a little bit, but he remembered how Drista and Dream had worn some of their own, so it must have been a Vault God thing. Come to think of it, Grian also showed off a Watcher mask once. Did these higher beings just wear masks?

“We do indeed. It hides the self and keeps us separated from those we… work with.” A chill went up Mumbo as he realized that they had just read his mind. “Yes, another reason for the mask, though that enchantment could be placed on anything.”

“Should I just ask questions in my mind then?” Mumbo asked, now trying to keep his mind empty.

“Nah, just Song being cryptic and stuff.” A new voice spoke from the Vault Gods and one wearing a mask that resembled a turtle slapped the back on the head of one wearing a mask decorated in music notes. “We can control it easy enough, some people just get used to various powers and tend to overuse them.”

Mumbo sighed in relief at the casual tone from turtle mask. He had no clue what to expect from whoever he would meet and assumed they would be very strict and cold people. “I see. Well, speaking of powers…” He trailed off, not sure how exactly to ask.

“Drista’s kept me updated.” Another new voice spoke. They gave a small wave when Mumbo tried to figure out who was speaking. He had to shift a little to see them properly, but taking a step to the side, the redstoner would see their mask which seemed to be a generic green alien. “You don’t want to be a Vault God, but you used your powers out of necessity.”

“I shouldn’t have any to begin with!” Mumbo argued. “I said no the last time Drista showed up and they went away. It wasn’t until I found Dream that anything happened again.”

It was quiet after he shouted, long enough that Mumbo was beginning to worry he shouldn’t have said anything.

“That does change things.” Someone in an earth mask stepped forward. “Due to Dreamon’s work with the abandoned Watcher he obtained.”

“His name is Grian.”

“Yes, that one. He was able to shield his world from the sight and hearing of both us and the Watchers. His abundance of power is likely what pulled yours out again, not true willingness.”

“Are you saying you can do something about it? I don’t want to be one of you. Grian’s a Watcher and he’s told me many times that your magics don’t mix. I lo- We’re… really close to each other. I don’t know what I would do if us being around each other caused problems.”

Again, there was silence from the Vault Gods. This time Mumbo wondered if, being able to read minds, they were communicating telepathically. “I suppose there is something that could be done.” One of them finally spoke up and Mumbo sighed in relief. “Masks are usually used as a limiter, that is due to enchantments, but others could be placed on it so it has the opposite effect.”

“That being?” Mumbo asked.

“It can be so that only when used will you be able to access your self as a Vault God. That being said, to do that, more than just powers would need to be sealed within the mask.”

“I would be able to stay around Grian though?” Mumbo asked, not caring about any side effects if it would get him what he was after.

One in a mask that seemed to house an entire galaxy spoke up next. “Yep, pretty much any Watcher if you really wanted to. I mean, doubt you’ll be around many, but hey, if you help out when we have to deal with… or I guess work with other Watchers, it would help.”

“Then I’ll do it.”

“Ey Big Geeeeee!” Tommy burst into the room, followed by Grumbot who had led him there. “Tubbo went with Sparklez to go see some of his family. Meaning time for you and I to get back into things. What are you thinking? New normal war to teach people things? Invitations to the upside down? Take people on base tours and blow their minds? Or maybe we go with the tried and true chicken bombings?”

Grian just rolled over in bed. “Noooo. I wanna go but everything’s catching up to meeee. I’m a messssss.”

“Dad is feeling sick from bad magic that was left over in your world.”

Tommy sat down and slumped. “Great, another thing Dream messed up. Can’t you just do some shit to get rid of it and be better already? The longer we wait, the less fun it might be.”

Grian gave a small hum as a signal that he heard Tommy. “Yeah. Left it on a table. Mask I was wearing when you stabbed me.” He pointed in a general direction and Tommy left to grab it. While he waited, Grian curled up more, wrapping his wings around himself. He was glad that the feathers helped muffle the sound around him which was starting to give him a headache. Stupid living base that you could hear everywhere.

When Tommy returned, he tugged gently on one of Grian’s wings. Because of the avian’s current state, he panicked and hit Tommy away with the wing. The blond was pushed back, glad his armor negated whatever damage that would have caused. “Sorry for startling you. I found it.”

Grian took the white mask from Tommy and put it on, glad that it started to block out whatever was making him feel sick. “Oh, that’s much better. So, what were your ideas again?”

Grian, Tommy and the bots were enjoying themselves as they returned to Mumbo’s base. Jrumbot was admiring the diamonds he had scammed someone out of while Grumbot put away the last of the discs he had been playing around, making sure he couldn’t be seen while they played, confusing whoever heard them. Tommy had emptied a shulker box of eggs onto the smp island and Grian had placed signs all over the place with cryptic messages.

“Oh man. We need to get Mumbo and get him to drag some people into Hermit Challenges.” Grian said through his laughter.

“I dunno. Me and him aren’t really on the best terms right now.”

“I know, but that’s exactly why you should do it. It’ll give you the chance to clear the air and ask why he was so upset.”

“Daddy yelled at us too.” Jrumbot looked up briefly from his diamonds. “Auntie Stress took us to see him but he got upset and wanted us to leave.”

“I wasn’t able to get a good look, but he had seemed scared. People tend to have different reactions when they are scared. Some get angry, others panic, even more just hide it.”

Grian picked Grumbot up in one arm and nuzzled him. “And we’ve all been through a lot so we know that. Mumbo hasn’t been through nearly as much. It would be better if it never happened, but the fact that it took so long is a good sign.”

“I guess.” Tommy responded, but he still seemed upset.

Just before they reached Mumbo’s base again, there was a burst of energy that came from it and Grian narrowed his eyes behind his mask. “They were told to stay in your world.” Then before Tommy could ask what Grian meant, the Watcher set the bots down and shot up into the sky so fast he left some feathers behind.

He scanned the base until he spotted a figure and dove towards it, landing nearby. “You shouldn’t be here. This is Watcher claimed. Get out before I make you!” He almost growled at them. He was prepared to shove them through a rift to send them to smp island and then throw them through the portal when the figure turned.

They wore a familiar suit, except for the fact that it was stained a bright red color. They wore a metal mask with piercing red eyes, and most importantly, a mustache. “Grian.”

Grian’s eyes widened. “M-Mumbo…” The Watcher felt himself start to cry. This couldn’t be happening. Mumbo had said no. Why would he change his mind? And he had protected Mumbo so this could never happen? So why had it? “Mumbo… please… why? Why would you-”

He didn’t get to continue as Mumbo pulled the mask off his face and discarded it by letting it drop to the ground. He followed it, collapsing to the floor and Grian rushed to him. Before he could do anything though, he noticed the lack of any foreign energy in the air. “Oh Mumbo… I’m sorry I thought you said yes.”

#hermit!tommy au #hermit!tommy #tommyinnit #grian #grian xelqua #watcher!grian #avian!grian #mumbo jumbo #vault god!mumbo #grumbot #jrumbot #grumbo #drista #vault gods (vault hunters)

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jaggedwolf · 3 years

Text

caracalliope replied to

yeah, i just had to nope out, i was like, i dislike everyone on this ship except - weirdly - Pete

it's very... i don't know. i don't even like competence kink all that much, but i hate this sense of like - team infantilization? and bad boundaries, yes. and vespa's entire thing. and just, an intimacy that felt unearned, and in fact felt less earned than when we barely saw these characters (specifically, buddy&jet together)

it feels claustrophobic i think? i'd love to hear more of yr thoughts

reconditarmonia replied to your post

yes please let's yell about season 3

i think my main takeaway is that everything they tried to do assumed a level of buy-in that i just *did not have* - the episodes about everyone else's problems and tragic backstory when we've barely met them, the godawful "family" thing (that's not what a crime family is!!!)

I felt so sorry for Sasha in the finale lol, which was probably not the intent

y’all are basically saying what I’m thinking! (though for me Juno remains the one I don’t dislike, even if I dearly miss the unhealthy-habits mystery-solving version of him)

The weirdest thing about S3 is that after the first two episodes covering Peter’s PoV, I was still entirely on-board - Buddy’s family comments seemed more ironic than sincere, we got to see Juno and Peter from interesting new angles, lots of interesting future dynamics to develop-

Except no development actually happened. You’re both right, that the season and finale relied upon a loyalty that was never actually built out, merely stated, and then the repetition of those statements made me claustrophobic and yes, feel oddly bad for Wire.

...okay this is going to become that long post on team dynamics...

Competency

How is this team this bad at their job. Forget as a team, even individually we have Rita failing to distribute her bot’s abilities because she likes a stream too much, Buddy thinking an EMP killing her is an acceptable loss when she is the one directing a mission, Peter reading a map upside-down and almost getting everyone killed because of it???

The last two tripped me the fuck up - this show made me dislike a dramatic attempt at self-sacrifice! I love dramatic attempts at self-sacrifice! But not when it would get all of your crew killed. Buddy saying Peter had merely been reading the map upside-down threw me so hard that I spent minutes wondering if she was covering for him actually being a traitor for her own reasons, but no, apparently that was the real reason.

(Juno waits till they’re literally at the Curemother Prime to have any questions about the motivations of the Prime’s keepers?)

Look, I’m not expecting superhuman rising to the occasion here, but I am expecting everyone to use the skills that I expect them to have. If Juno fucked up an attempt at leadership or Peter failed to deal with an injury correctly, that’s interesting! These mistakes weren’t.

Genuine Friendships

Putting aside that I am a sap who would rather watch teams that are friends than teams that aren’t, if you are going to say family this many times, I expect to see friendships develop. People actually growing to like each other as people and stuff.

We get the tiniest bit of that with Jet and Rita hanging out, but we already knew he thought highly of her at the end of S2. And we got some Buddy-Pete stuff at the beginning, but that was highly contextual to his role on the crew. I personally needed more overlapping groups/friendships and whatnot, and I think the season would’ve better for working on that.

Don’t wait till the finale episodes for Juno and Vespa to have the tiniest of shifts in their relationship due to Ransom’s scavenger hunt, when they started the season antagonistic and the shift could have begun earlier. Don’t wait till the finale episodes to tell me Juno and Buddy have been shooting together every week and expect me to have the same feelings as if you’d set it up as a throughline earlier.

Even the pre-existing relationships seem less earned this season than previously, for some reason (Juno/Peter, Buddy/Vespa, Buddy & Jet, etc)

So...boundaries

I don’t know how a crew made up of people who all actively chose to join it and its mission could feel this suffocating, but it did. And sure, “family” started to grate, but I can’t put my finger on why the overall dynamic itself made me feel that way.

I was listening to the getaway conversation in the final episode, right, and I kept wondering why I was getting annoyed and I think the thing is - I really didn’t like people’s loyalties getting dictated like that. I didn’t like that it left no room for discussions of tradeoffs, even though I obviously agreed it’s better than the rest of the crew bail than hang around for Ransom to pop up, because there are obviously tradeoffs even there. I dunno, man, just felt off, along with Buddy’s micromanaging in general.

And then very occasionally the season would be weird about boundaries in a different way, like Rita apologizing for looking into Pete’s real name and past. Why should she apologize! He’s a random guy on her crew who Mistah Steel is sweet on, of course she looked into him, are we genuinely supposed to think that was somehow rude of her?

-----

Ok, team dynamics rant over. Finally, maybe I’m just a grump, but Jet’s “I choose to believe” thing didn’t work for me either, because that’s not how life works. You get the good outcomes by making the right decisions, doing the right work, not by having belief in the moment it’s all going to shit.

#apologies for length #tpp #juno steel #replies #caracalliope #reconditarmonia #tpp meta

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heartofsnark · 3 years

Text

Can You Feel The Sun? (Chapter Seven): Flying Towards An Early Grave

Notes: Still posting my little backlog, I will warn in advanced, the next chapter is the heist (finally) AND IT IS A CHONKER, but for now have a little appetizer with some fun times, smut, and foreshadowing!~

Word Count: 10860

Chapter Warnings: heavy foreshadowing, food, blowjobs, groping, protected vaginal sex, car sex

If you haven’t yet, you can read the previous chapter here!~

V’s body is heavy as she gets to her apartment door, ready to curl up into bed and call it a day. She’s exhausted with adrenaline gone. She presses her thumb to the panel. The little intercom doorbell is also the lock, scanning and searching for SID validation. It takes a moment to scan, it seems to be lagging more lately.

Calling.

The intercom says it’s calling, why is it calling? She can hear the automated ringing and her lights inside are probably flashing. It only does this if the SID doesn’t match the apartment owner’s, assuming them a guest. V presses again.

Calling.

She presses harder.

Calling.

She tries her entire hand.

Calling.

She kicks her door, a heavy sound as her boot collides with it. That doesn’t help with the lock, but it makes her feel a little better. Just what she needs; bloody, sore, and locked out of her apartment for who fucking knows why? Her stomach growls as she pulls up the number for building maintenance.

“Megabuilding Maintenance, how can I help?”

“I’m locked out of my apartment,” V signs, her choker translator on.

“What do you mean?”

“The lock isn’t recognizing my SID.”

“Can I get your name and apartment number?”

V gives them the details and they say they’re sending a maintenance guy. All of the services floor is nearly shut down at the late hour, her stomach growling. No doubt the maintenance guy will take his sweet fucking time, so much for getting some decent sleep. She gets a burrito, a Nicola, and a little thing of ketchup from the machines. Sitting on the ground near her door, dumping ketchup on her burrito as she eats it.

By the time the guy arrives she’s finished eating, drinking, and is a little unsure what’s dried blood versus dried ketchup on her shirt. She hops to her feet when she sees the guy walking up, a massive case of resting bitch face. V doubts he wanted to be dragged out at three am to help unlock a door, but it’s not her fault the tech fucked up.

“You V?” he asks, voice gruff and annoyed.

“Yep.”

“Hard day?” His eyebrow raises, gaze focused on her blood stained flesh and chrome.

“Work.”

“Ah… I see,” he nods, “so, what's the issue with your door?”

Night City is one of the few places where one can just admit to being a mercenary for a living, even if it did earn her an odd look. V presses her hand to the lock button again and it once again initiates a call.

“Doesn’t recognize my SID.”

“Hmm, you are V, right?” He raises an eyebrow.

“Who the fuck else would I be? The building has a picture of me on file for fucks sake.”

“Hey, hey, nowadays with enough eddies anybody can look like anybody.”

“If I had an identity worth stealing, you really think I’d be living here?”

“Fair enough, let’s check something,” he pulls out a holo tablet, jacking it into the bottom of the intercom lock, “this will show what the lock is reading it as, try again.”

V keeps an eye on his tablet as she presses her hand back to the lock and the projected information starts to show. And for a moment she sees herself; her face, her name, her information, and all the shit Vik had to set up for her to have SID. Then in a blink of an eye it glitches out and the information shifts. She watches her nearly mugshot like photo shift into that of a man, with short dark hair and dark eyes. V [REDACTED] becomes Robert John Linder. Birthdate shifting from November 12th, 2056 to November 16, 1988. Birthplace shifting from Seven Devils, North Carolina to College Station, Texas.

Who the hell is this old man?

“Looks like it’s reading your SID chip as someone else's, strange, any chance you’ve been spiked by a ‘runner?”

“No, even if I was, not sure why they’d want to make my SID register to some senior citizen.”

“Weird, can’t think of how else this would happen? Seems like it starts to read your chip and then changes to this guy’s. Do you know him?”

“Don’t hang around old folks homes too much, actually. Just some random dude to me.”

“Hmmm.”

“I can promise you, I’m not a ninety year old cowboy man.”

“Somehow I noticed that, actually… looks like the guy is dead.”

“What?”

“Mmhmm, scroll down a bit and there’s the date his death certificate was issued,” the guy shows her, “you’ll probably need to have your SID looked at, see what’s wrong with it. For now, I can unlock it for you and have them add whoever this guy is to registered owners, so, you won’t be locked out until you fix it.”

“Fine, I guess.”

“But that does mean if this guy’s ghost decides to pop in for a visit, lock won’t stop him,” the man jokes, offering the first smile since he’s been here.

“Somehow I’ll handle it, thanks for the help, and if it’s not too much trouble can you forward me the details of that SID info?”

“Sure, no problem,” the maintenance man’s eyes glow and she can feel the very soft warmth and whirr of her neuroplant as it accepts the file.

She gives one final thanks as he unlocks her apartment and she’s finally able to step foot inside. Thankfully her door locks behind her and she makes a beeline for her shower, scrubbing blood and sweat from her skin; finding bruises, cuts, and flesh wounds she hadn’t noticed in the midst of fighting.

It takes her a little longer than expected to wind down for the night, the merc putting in her optic contacts and playing with the bot. Looking through its eyes, she has it twist and climb all throughout her apartment, making herself dizzy until she falls out of bed and bangs her head against the floor. Finally, putting the cute spider looking tech away when she feels the knot starting to form on her head. Then, setting her alarm and sleeping for the night.

V is still tired when her alarm vibrates beneath her pillow, waking her up as the sunlight streams in from her large window, warming her skin. She checks her phone, double checks the time and that Dex hasn’t sent the car for her yet. The young merc rushes through her morning routine; showering, brushing her teeth, dressing, and taking her medication with some Chromanticore in hopes of getting some energy back.

She’s out the door and has her mask on in a matter of minutes, phone buzzing with the message that Dex’s car is waiting for her. As she comes down the steps of her building she sees the same limousine and bodyguard waiting outside of it. But this time when he opens the door for her, there is no Dex, nobody. Chills creep their way up her spine, but she gets in nonetheless, sinking into the leather backseat as Dex’s guard starts to drive them away.

The guard is quiet, doesn’t explain where they’re going or why, V has a feeling he wouldn’t tell even if she asked. So, she doesn’t. Only the radio drones on, a mixture of news and occasional pop music from bands and singers she doesn’t know or care to know; an anouncer coming over the radio to speak somberly.

“Today marks the fifty-fourth anniversary of the attack on Arasaka Tower. Fifty-four years ago a group of terrorists stormed Arasaka Tower and detonated a bomb, which forever changed the history of our dear city. Devastating the lives of millions; thousands dying in the initial attack and more perishing in the aftermath as well. Today we ask for a moment of silence to remember those who lost their lives in this senseless act of violence so many years ago….:”

A beat of silence, barely a moment, then the high energy voice returns.

“Now, after this short music break, we return with the heartwarming story of Stumpy, the three legged puppy who’s gone viral after the use of veterinary cyberware has given the pup a new lease on life!~”

V rolls her eyes, sounds about right, barely a moment for something so somber. No real grief or empathy, time to move on to a cute puppy because that keeps people happy and listening. She watches the city around her change, spotting the Valentino graffiti starting to cover the buildings and that they’re entering Heywood. She sends a heads up text to Jackie, letting him know they’re not far from his house.

A short moment after, the driver is parking outside Jackie’s garage and she watches the older merc walking out. The guard opens the limousine back door and Jackie relaxes when he sees V, climbing into the seat next to her.

“Hey, V, you figure out what’s going on?”

“Was sort of hoping you had…”

“Asked T-Bug, said it’s a surprise.”

“Not sure I like Bug’s idea of surprises.”

“Hey, hombre,” Jackie calls out to the guard as he starts to drive them away, “mind telling us where we’re headed?”

They’re met with silence, because of they are. V nervously wrings her hands as she watches for signs of where they’re going based on the passing scenery.

“Has to be something to do with prepping for the job, just wish I knew what.”

“Speaking of which, you got the bot on you?”

“Yeah, brought it just in case and if Bug’s there she’ll want to take a look. Wonder if there’s any chance of keeping the Flathead after this?”

She knows Dex said it’s a single use toy, but...who knows, maybe she could somehow keep it afterwards.

“Why’s that?”

“Its cute.”

“You think a military grade combat bot is cute?”

“It's a little spider.”

“You find the weirdest shit cute, I swear.”

“It is cute!”

“It’s-” Jackie looks out the window, “shit are we in Corpo Plaza?”

“Maybe we’re just passing through?”

As if only to prove her wrong, the limousine parks outside a store on Senate Avenue, the bright sign says Jinguji. Even looking through the window, it looks entirely like a place that her and Jackie do not belong. Brightly lit, immaculately clean with fancy designer clothes on display.

“We’re here,” the guard tells them and the doors open with the press of a button.

V and Jackie share a look before getting out of the limousine, standing before the Jinguji store like deers stuck in headlights.

“Dex can’t be serious, Jinguji?” Jackie says, scratching at the shaved underneath of his hair.

“Looks…. Fancy.”

“Corp store, designer; a sock in there will cost you a few thousand eddies.”

“I know he says we need to play corpo, but… I don’t know, it feels weird.”

“I’m sure Dex knows what he’s doing. But, uh, you gotta take off the mask, chica.”

“What, why?”

“‘Cause its fucking Jinguji, they’re not gonna let you through the door looking like that.”

“You’re one to talk, you got a ketchup stain on your shirt.”

“Firstly, that’s blood. Secondly, you’re a wearing a jacket you stole off a dead guy last week.”

“Not like he needs it!”

“Jackie, V!” A voice yells out, drawing the merc’s attention into the doorway of the store, T-Bug in realspace, wearing a black netrunning suit, “would you gonks stop bickering and get in here?”

“Yes, ma’am,” the mercs speak and sign in unison, falling the netrunner into the corp store.

There’s a large lit up advertisement at the back of the store. Gold decor dripping down from the ceiling, plush white couches, and an ice bucket with champagne. To her surprise, there’s no other shoppers within the store. A man in a tailored designer suit sits at the desk, greeting the two mercs as they walk in.

“Welcome to Jinguji, an oasis of elegance!~”

V gives an awkward nod and wave. She’s not sure what else to do. She doesn’t belong here; she knows that much. A dirty black leather jacket under the bright lights and old raggedy boots on shiny polished floors. The merc wants nothing more than to run out of the store, some of the clothes she sees displayed are nice, if she’s being honest. A few bit tacky for her taste, but others are cute or sexy with dramatic flair, but nothing she would ever really have a reason to wear.

“Mind telling us why the fuck we’re here, Bug?” Jackie asks and the netrunner chuckles.

“To get into Konpeki, you two will have to look the part. Rather than blindly guessing what will fit, Dex is flitting the bill and getting you both some corpo threads,” T-Bug explains, taking a seat on on of the couches.

“Where is everyone?”

“Store is rented out for the next couple hours, discretion. V, did you bring the bot?”

“Got it in my bag.”

“Lemme see, got to make sure it’s in working shape.” V puts the bot down on the table, T-Bug opening the case and looking over the bot, running diagnostics that the merc can’t begin to understand,

“Right this way, you two, I’m sure we’ll find something perfect for both of you,” the man who greeted them, grabs their attention again, “but it would be easier, if I have a full idea of your features, miss.”

“Told you,” Jackie taunts and V elbows him in the side, slowly taking off her mask and she feels bare. And she knows people have seen her face before, but this is work and it just feels… wrong.

“Wonderful, so we’ll begin with the gentlemen, I think you’ll find we have a wonderful array of fine suits in our men’s department.”

The man, who’s fancy name tag says Zane, shows them a vast collection of suits. They range from slick classic black ones, deep navy blues, florals, brights, embroidered, and every color she can imagine. Its hard to imagine the big merc in any of them. She’s always seen him in muscle shirts or his favorite red and black jacket. His eyes seem to land on a red suit with gold detailing.

“Well-”

“Point is to blend in, not stand out, Jack,” T-Bug calls out, scolding him without having to even look at him or his choice in suit.

“Just black then.”

“Wise choice, sir, our tailors will get your measurements and get the perfect fit for you.”

Another employee guides Jackie to a fitting room and V feels the sudden urge to sink into the ground, Zane’s attention now solely on her. She scratches at her cheek and flips on her choker translator.

“Now, what about you? We have plenty of formal options in women’s fashion as well. A more androgynous business suit or perhaps a dress?”

She’s shown mannequins dressed in tight body con dresses with various necklines, materials, colors, and a few well fitted pants suits. Her eyes are drawn to the dresses, if she’s being honest. She has a rather small collection of skirts and dresses, for off days, but she never has a chance to wear anything more formal than a sundress or mini skirt over leggings. These dresses are dramatic, gorgeous; some with mesh inlays or cut outs.

But, like Bug said; they’re there to blend in, not stand out. This isn’t an outfit for fun but for work and if something goes wrong, the last thing she needs is this going to shit and having to battle in a tight constricting dress or too high of heels.

“I think a pants suit in black would be best; keep it simple.”

“Understood.”

V taken to a fitting room, given the chance to put on the ready to buy pantsuits in privacy. A stark white button up blouse, black blazer, and black slacks. And she knows immediately it will need to be tailored to suit her; the pants longer than her legs and the shirt loose around her chest. The tailor comes in after a moment and begins measuring, marking where things need to be taken in and raised. V left trying not to get embarrassed each time the measuring tape is wrapped around a part of her.

“Is there a way to make the blazer sleeves easier to roll up?” She signs once her arms are done being measured. The material is stiffer and harder to get tight around her elbows when trying; she wants her Mantis Blades easily used.

“Hmm, lets see, maybe it’d be best to use it more like an accessory rather than wearing it properly?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you could just wear it over your shoulders like a cape,” the woman drapes it that way across V’s shoulders.

“Not my thing.”

“Then you can carry it, like this,” the woman shows holding the jacket back over her shoulder with her fingers hooked in it’s collar. It looks alright, casual enough, though having a jacket and not wearing it still reads as strange to the merc.

“I’ll consider that.”

“It can also help keep you cool. Now, lets talk about makeup, hair, and shoes.”

V listens and nods as the woman gives recommendations; getting V a pair of low heeled black synthetic leather shoes. Then going into advice on hair; recommending french twist, a bun, or a low ponytail depending on how formal V wants to go. The woman recommends simple classic makeup styles and a few other tips for the merc to meet her full corpo potential. Finally, with measurements, adjustments, and everything marked; V is allowed to change back into her street clothes. She leaves the room, seeing Jackie already in his regular clothes again and sitting next to T-Bug.

“We have all the measurements down and will begin altering the clothes immediately.”

“Good,” T-Bug confirms with Zane, “remember we need them finished and delivered to The Afterlife by five.”

“I assure you, our tailors are already on it.”

“V,” T-Bug calls out when she sees the short merc, “got something for you.”

V sits down on the couch, watching as T-Bug sets out a pair of white hearing aids. They’re designed like her normal ones, just more boring.

“Hearing aids? I already have those.”

“These are special, optic camo. No corpo worth their salt has anything less than top of the line phonic implants, with press of a button or a thought, these will go invisible.. They’ll work just like your regular ones, but look like you’re wearing nothing. Try them out.”

She switches her blue hearing aids with the new ones, they fit well and she pushes the thought of turning the camo on. V catches her reflection in a mirror in the store, she can feel them, but see nothing.

“Perfect, no one will be any the wiser. This also means no signing or translator.”

“Oh, I see.”

“I know its not ideal, but it’s just the reality of it. Corpo types like this; lose your hearing, new implants. Vocal chords fried, get a new set in gold. Get paralyzed, new legs or entire nervous system. Go blind, new optics. They see you signing or using hearing aids, you’ll stand out like a sore thumb.”

“I get it.”

“No sweat, I’ll do the talking, V,” Jackie comforts her and then turns his attention to Bug, “So, what now?”

“We’ll go over the full plan this evening at The Afterlife, you two need to be there by five. We’ll talk with Dex and you’ll be in Konpeki by eight tonight, relic in hand before midnight strikes.”

“So we get to kick back and relax until five?”

“As long as you’re there by five and ready to go, I couldn’t care less what you do, Jack.”

“Said this place was rented out, right?” V asks, noticing a dramatic purple dress that reminds her of a certain tarot card reader’s favorite color.

“Yeah, why?”

“How much longer is this place reserved?”

“Another hour, maybe two and again, I ask why?”

“Ow, hell that for, chica?” Jackie looks up when V kicks him in the shin.

“Call Misty, dumbass. Buy her something nice, make a date out of it before we go on the job.” V tells him, remembering Misty’s concerns from the other night. It might ease her mind a bit to have a nice afternoon with Jackie, dress shopping and a fancy lunch in City Center. Just a chance to enjoy themselves.

“Dex is nice V, but sincerely doubt he wants to pay for Misty a new dress.”

“Oh no, if only one of us had scammed ten grand off of Militech, oh wait,” V says, pulling the Militech credchip from her bag and sees the twinkle in Jackie’s eyes.

“You serious, V?”

“Should get her a hell of a nice dress, maybe you a suit, and a nice fancy lunch; play corpo for an afternoon.”

“Shit, V,” he takes the credchip from her fingers, “what’d I do without you?”

“You two are going to make me puke,” T-Bug says, rolling her eyes while Jackie is already calling up Misty.

“Just wait until Misty gets here and the constant pet names start, you’ll really lose your lunch.”

“Ugh, more reason to get out of here, I’ll be taking the Flathead with me to keep in working shape.”

“Can I ask you something before you go?”

“Got more code you need me to check?”

“Not quite, had an issue with my SID chip last night, was wondering if there was a chance I was hacked?”

“You get spiked, jaina?” Jackie asks when he finishes chatting with Misty.

“Don’t know, couldn’t unlock my door last night, reader thought I was some old dude.”

“Hmm, SID hacks are tricky, we’re going to be using one for your covers in Konpeki. But they usually only alter your ID a bit and die after so many hours. Thing is, that wouldn’t really benefit anyone.”

“Yeah, that’s what I was thinking, I don’t think anyone would get much out of pretending I’m some ninety year old dead fuck.”

“I can jack in, see if I find anything in your soft.”

“Sure, if you don’t mind.”

V shifts her back to T-Bug, sweeping her hair off the nape of her neck and showing her neuroports. The netrunner pushes some loose strands out of the way and slots her personal jack into V’s biomon. A few moments pass and V can feel her cheeks flushing a bit, a weird feeling to having T-Bug directly touch her and jack in to her tech. This is the first time they’ve met in person, may even be the first time Bug has seen her face.

“Everything looks clear to me, SID is registering as yours, no signs of a hack,” Bug explains, jacking out.

“Weird, maintenance guy showed last night it was showing as some dead guy.”

“Strange, must be some sort of glitch.”

“Or you’re being haunted.”

“Haha, very funny, Jackie.”

“Hello… “

A soft voice calls out and V lights up seeing Misty poking her head into the fancy luxury store, looking every bit as nervous as V had been. Jackie is up and rushing towards Misty in a heart beat, pulling her into a hug and twirling her around, kissing her head.

“You’re here, mi carina.”

“Babe,” Misty says, giggiling as she’s put back down on her feet, then steps up on her tip toes to kiss Jackie’s lips.

“Gonna puke,” T-Bug comments low under her breath and V tries not to laugh.

“V, Bug,” Misty smiles at the two, “glad I got here before you two left out.”

“What’s up?”

Jackie walks Misty over closer to them, large hand on her hip as she rummage through her purse. After a moment, she pulls out three beaded bracelets. A mixture of beads in black, gold, and blue mottled with gold. T-Bug is already raising her eyebrow and V’s not sure how well Misty’s spiritualism will go over with the runner.

“These are protection bracelets. Lapis lazuli, black tourmaline, and gold sheen obsidian. They’re all meant to help with creating a protective spiritual barrier, it should keep you all safe from negative energies and frequencies.”

“Ay, you still in knots over this, mi alma?”

“It would just make me feel better knowing you have a little more protection, babe.”

Misty slides the biggest of the bracelets onto Jackie’s wrist and he gives her a soft smile, kissing her temple before starts to give the others to V and Bug. The young merc slides it on with a smile and T-Bug takes it in hand, with a less enthusiasm.

“Thanks, Misty, I appreciate it,” V tells her and elbows T-Bug in the side, earning her a glare, but the netrunner plays nice.

“Thanks…”

“I know it’s not much, but a little protection is better than none and should keep energies bright.”

“Right….”

“Well,” V cuts in before Bug can say anything else, “we’ll be getting out of your hair, have fun you two!~”

“Thanks again, V, see you two at The Afterlife.”

Jackie waves them off, Bug packing up and V putting her usual hearing aids in their case, away in her pocket. The runner and young merc leave the store, Dex’s guard already left a while ago, so V will have to either call her car or use the public transit. Come to think of it, she’s not sure how she’s going to kill time until its game time.

“V,” Bug stops her outside Jinguji before they go their separate ways for now, “gotta ask, you really believe in that spiritual crap?”

“No, but she does and it makes her happy, so, why not?”

“I guess, if she really thinks a bracelet is going to save us from Arasaka.”

“Won’t kill you to accessorize a little, Bug.”

“Whatever you say.”

They say their goodbyes and V is left thinking again about what she wants to do to pass the time. She could do a few short gigs, but her mind is preoccupied with the heist. Ultimately, V finds herself taking the NCART to El Coyote Cojo. Mostly just because she’s bored and maybe something or someone there will occupy her time. The bar isn’t too active at the early hour and she doesn’t see Mama Welles around.

“V!” Pepe greets her when she walks through.

“Hey, what’s up?”

“Same old, same old. Jaquito is still out, Senora Welles is out shopping, but Jake is taking out the trash in the back if you want to say hi.”

“I think I might go and do just that.”

Playing grab ass with one of her go to lays seems like a solid way to waste her time. V walks through the bar and out one of the backdoors that open to the alley with the dumpster. Sure enough, Jake is there tossing away a trash bag. He’s around 6’5 about as tall as Jackie, muscular, with a head of ginger hair shaved down on the shades and a thick beard.

She throws her arms around his waist, feeling the muscle underneath his shirt. He teases his fingers over her forearms, the chrome of his Gorilla Fingers cyberware sending a soft chill through her skin.

“Hey, V, new chrome?” He runs over the chrome patterns in her arms.

She hums against his back in response, not wanting to move. But, he twists in her arms. He cups her face in chromed fingers, for a moment, his browns furrow in confusion.

“No hearing aids?”

She pulls away, enough space for her to sign.

“Camouflage ones, it and the blades are necessary for the gig.”

“Oh yeah, Jackie’s been talking everyone to death about this heist you two got planned. He better be damn glad no one here’s got loose lips.” His hands drop from her face and loosely wrap around her waist, fingers starting to graze over her ass.

“Can’t blame him for being excited.”

“Hmmm and you?”

“Nervous.”

“Figured as much,” he squeezes her ass, “you looking for a distraction?”

“If I wasn’t I wouldn’t be letting you grope my ass in broad daylight, now would I?”

A low dry chuckle echoes in his chest and he dives in for a kiss. It’s quick and rough, his beard scratching over her skin before he pulls away. She can’t help but giggle as he pulls her back into the bar, hand still shamelessly on her ass.

“Pepe! I’m going on lunch break!”

“Yeah yeah, go on.”

“C’mon,” Jake guides her out of the bar, “lemme at least buy you lunch first.”

“You actually trying to be nice today?”

“Something like that.”

V settles into his passenger side seat as Jake climbs behind the wheel. They pull away from El Coyote Cojo, driving around Heywood and finding a drive in to go through, Burgers, fries, and pop bought; Jake finds a relatively empty place to park meanwhile V has already begun taking the pickles off her burgers.

“So, you wanna actually talk about it?” Jake asks, taking a bite of his burger.

“Not much to talk about,” she signs with salt covered fingers and a mouthful of fries, “biggest job of our career. Nerves are natural.”

Not to mention the shady client, the fact they’re robbing Arasaka, the fact they’re robbing Yorinobu specifically, the fact they have to play corpo, that V will have to force herself not to sign, and that every fiber of her being is screaming that something is going to go wrong. Then she has the weirdness of her SID chip fucking up on her mind as well.

“Yeah, but you overthink, so I know that little brain of yours is spinning in a billion directions.”

V shrugs, “No more than usual, so, what’s been going on with you?”

“Not much, been thinking of quitting the bar.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, get to work the day shift so I can pick the twins up from school and spend some time with them. But, day shift in a bar basically means staring at a wall and waiting for Senora Welles to cut me a paycheck.”

“You don’t like getting paid to sit around and look pretty?”

“Not gonna lie, it’d be hard to find a boss as forgiving as Senora Welles.”

“Not every boss would let you take an hour or longer lunch just to play grab ass with me?”

“Eh, pretty sure if she knew what I was doing with her precious adopted daughter, she’d already have me fired.”

“Oh please, she’s known you longer than me.”

“Yeah, but she likes you more, you’re basically her kid and I’m her employee,” he pauses watching V roll her eyes, “you know, she’s been worrying a lot about you and Jackie, lately. She knows things are getting riskier with the merc work and-”

V quiets him with a kiss, not wanting to hear another word of this. She comes to him for a distraction. The kiss is messy and he tastes like greasy fast food, but she’s sure she’s not any better, pushing her tongue into his mouth. She cups his jaw with one hand, scratching over his beard and as he deepens the kiss, she drops her other hand into his lap. He’s already half hard in his jeans, pressing into her touch as she gropes him through the denim. Jake curses against her lips, breaking their kiss.

“You talk too much, honey,” she chastises him, a soft smile on her lips as she undoes his belt buckle, he lifts his hips, allowing space to pull his pants and boxer down just enough to get his cock out.

She pulls her legs up into her seat, on her knees so she can fully lean over the center console into his lap. V pushes hair back behind her ear and takes his dick into her mouth; not bothering to tease, swallowing around him. The taste of him on her tongue causes a heat in her center to stir, getting slick between her thighs as she bobs her head up and down. He groans as she strokes and sucks him, teasing her tongue ring along the head of his cock. The bitterness of his precum and the salt of his skin making her dizzy with need.

His chrome fingers slide across the expanse of her back, reaching out to grab her ass. He gropes and fondles her through her pants, the rough feeling of her jeans and panties being pressed against her sensitive wet folds. Jake curses as V alternates between sucking, licking, and taking him as deep into her throat as she can.

He tugs on her hair, bleached strands wrapped around chrome, pulling her mouth off him. Drool covering his cock and her lips. She pouts at him for stopping her, cheeks flushed and breathing heavy. He gives her a swat on the ass, barely hard enough to sting.

“Want inside of you.”

That’s all the explanation he gives and she pulls away, thankful that the windows of his car have steamed from body heat, she begins to quickly strip off her clothes. Its clumsy as she tries to strip down in a car seat, throwing her jacket off into the back, kicking off her boots, before yanking her pants and panties down in one fluid movement. She curses herself for not wearing a skirt or something with easier access. A part of her mind recognizes how stupid she must look, still in her shirt, bra, and her socks staying on after tugging off her pants. But lust has killed her ability to think, just wanting him inside of her. Jake has rolled a condom on, but otherwise has simply watched the flustered merc strip down.

V’s easily able to jump into his lap, straddling him and having her back to the steering wheel. She steadies herself with one hand on his shoulder, the other lining his cock up with her entrance, sinking herself down onto his dick. She’s slick enough that she takes him all in one movement, both cursing out at the feeling. The stretch of his cock inside of her and the tightness of her cunt around him. Jake digs his nails into her hips and bounces her on his cock, fucking up into her. He takes complete control, setting a brutal pace that leaves V reeling with every thrust. All she can do is wrap her arms around his neck and moan against his sweaty skin, accepting each harsh movement of him inside of her.

The tension inside of her grows tighter with every thrust, every smack of skin against skin like a strike of a match trying to grow a larger flame. She can’t think, can’t focus, every thought consumed with pleasure and a desire to be pushed over the edge. Bruises form on her hips where he hold her, where he uses her for pleasure. The chair of his cheap car creaks with each bounce and a few thrusts slams her lower back into the steering wheel, but she doesn’t care, couldn’t if she tried. She whines and whimpers against his skin, feeling her end nearing.

And then the tension snaps, orgasm hitting her fast and hard, she digs her nails into his skin, squirming and writhing as she moans out her pleasure. Mind a haze as she’s overwhelmed with her pleasure. He thrusts a few more times and she nearly chokes at the continued stimulation, the feeling of him fucking into her already sensitive cunt. Then he curses, bringing her hips down fully to meet his own one last time before he cums, spilling his seed inside the condom.

V rolls off of him and back into the passenger seat, hating the empty feeling Her skin is sweaty and flushed, as much she hates it, she needs to get her clothes back on. Fumbling to get her pants and panties out of the passenger side floorboard. Pulling them on and shoving her feet in her boots. V waits as Jake ties off the condom and adjusts his jeans, opening the car door and tossing the condom away into a nearby dumpster.

The Night City air feels cool compared to the heat of the car after fucking, she watches him light up a cigarette outside of the car and grimaces. He climbs back into the driver's seat, keeping the window rolled down and she makes a gagging sound as the smoke hits her nose.

“You coming back to the bar with me?” He asks, blowing smoke out of the window.

“No,” she signs, thankful the choker translator can survive sweat, “I’ll catch the train back to Watson.”

“Let strangers see you sweaty and fuck-dazed?”

“Well, it’s a good look for me.”

“Can’t really deny that, now can I.”

She rolls her eyes and grabs her jacket getting out of the car, walking away on still slightly wobbly legs. V takes the train back to Watson, fiddling with her holophone the entire way. The merc gets off at the stop closest to her megabuilding and makes her way to her apartment; lock recognizing her on the first try.

V checks the time and decides to get ready to go to The Afterlife. Those nerves she had managed to fuck away for a moment creep up on her all over again. She shakes her head not wanting to focus on her anxieties, she strips down and grabs a shower, cleaning off the sweat from her liaison.

The merc pulls her hair back in a small low-set ponytail and does her makeup to the recommendations of the stylist. She gets dressed and uses the new camouflaged hearing aids, she takes her mask with her too. Though she knows she can’t wear it into Konpeki, she’ll still be walking into The Afterlife. That thought alone twists her guts into nervous knots.

The Afterlife is the go to bar for the top of their game, Major Leagues mercs and fixers. It’s where the biggest deals are made, the easiest place to catch a drink and a job, but only mercs or fixers of a certain standard are allowed through its doors. Jackie brags about the place like it’s heaven for mercenaries. If they’re going to become regular fixtures of the bar after this, then she’d prefer to maintain her usual level of anonymity for fixers moving forward. She’ll drop the mask when they’re finally in corpo threads.

V slides on Misty’s bracelet as well, fiddling with the beads meant to provide some form of protection. Her mind goes back to Misty’s tarot card reading, while she doesn’t put much weight on it, her friend’s fortune telling often sticks with her. The Wheel of Fortune is sticking out to her; she could care less if the cards thinks she’s stupid or if she’s about to fall in love, the latter of which so ridiculous she can’t help but dismiss it. But the idea of conflict sticks out, fear of the heist going wrong has been heavy on her mind. Something always goes slightly wrong, no job is perfect. But this has the highest stakes she’s ever encountered.

V has new cyberware, the best possible tech and upgrades from Vik. She has Jackie, her best choom and partner in crime who’s never let her down. There’s T-Bug, her friend and brilliant netrunner who could bring half of Night City down if she wished. Their fixer is Dex, one of the best in regards to his job, he has everything to gain by having their backs covered. They have military grade tech and an inside look into Konpeki. They are going in under the best possible circumstances.

She has to remind herself, review this again and again, that if something goes wrong someone there should be able to take care of it. But, those nerves don’t fade even as she leaves her apartment.

The Afterlife isn’t far from V’s apartment, practically a hop and skip downtown. Barely five minutes pass before she’s under the roofed alley, nearing the club. Vivid cyan and purple graffiti across the wall, trash along the way.

“Porque ya tengo planes para esta noche!"

The voice is familiar, Jackie’s and V pressed her back to the side of the vending machine, he’s telling someone he already has plans for tonight. He sounds frustrated, like he’s on the verge of pulling his hair out.

“Virgen Santsima, ma! Te vas a enterar mañana,” a beat of silence, “también te quiero, ma."

The conversation ways on her, he’s talking to Senora Welles. Remembering Jake talking about her feelings, that the matriarch has been worrying herself half to death. And it sounds like Jackie has been on the receiving end of that worry for a while. V pulls her mask on and rounds the corner past the vending machine, stepping in front of the main entrance of The Afterlife. Her friend standing in the doorway under the harsh green light.

“Heh, about time, chica,” he greets, tucking his phone into his pocket, she catches the blue of Misty’s bracelet mingled with his usual gold ones.

“What’s going on?”

“Ehhh, y'know. She's worried about me - whatever. Can't help herself, y'know - checkin’ to see if I'm not rottin' in some dumpster… like most of the Welles boys. Been worse lately.”

“Why’s that?”

“Started climbin' our way up. Got more an' more knives out there, waitin' to stab us in the back. Higher stakes, higher risk. She can see that.”

“Look like you’re about to keel over.” V reaches out, touching the red blotches on his skin, stress and sweat inflaming his skin.

“Years of merc work, and yet, still sweat like a roasted pig when I talk to my ma. It's really startin' to wear on me. More tell her everythin's OK, more I feel like I'm straight-up lyin’.”

“Well, hopefully you had a nice date with Misty at least.”

“Went about as well as talking to my ma right now,” he scratches at the back of his neck, “for two women who don’t get along, they sure agree when it comes to worrying about me.”

“They worry because they love you, worse things in life than people giving a damn about you.”

“Yeah, yeah, don’t matter none. Not anymore, Afterlife, here we come, baby!”

Jackie changes the topic and she can’t really blame him for it, rubbing his hands together and practically cheering in excitement. This is everything they’ve talked about, everything they’ve said they want. So, why does she still have a lump in her throat?

“Afterlife… we’re really here.”

“Does not get any higher, choom. And you know somethin' else? We fuckin' earned it, chica!”

“No point in standing around then, is there?’

“Ready to get your cherry popped?” he laughs leading her into the club, “Yeeeah! Come on!”

“Little late for that one, Jack,” she teases as they make their way down the stairs, a pair of double doors opening up for them. A short step down into a small hallway with mercs and fixers alike talking under the green glow of a sign bearing the club’s name.

“Place used to be a morgue - you believe that?”

“Really?”

“I know, right? Way before our time, that. When proper burials were still a thing.”

They come to another set of doors, through the small window V can see the true club main room beyond them. But a man stands guarding them, around Jackie’s height and a similar bulky build. Cyberware indented along his jawline and nose. His face is stony, eyes sharp when Jackie and V stop before him, then he puts a large hand out in front of him.

“And who might you clowns be?”

“Jackie and V,” the taller of the mercs says with a grin, “Dexter Deshawn is waitin’ on us.”

The bouncer gives them a look and V is glad for her mask helping hide her emotions. His expression is dismissive, looking down on them, making her feel all at once that she has not earned her place in this club. A baby merc, new to the city, barely six months under her belt and she’s standing at the Afterlife. How the fuck did she get here?

“Yo, Dex. Got two live ones sayin' they're here to see ya,” his optics glow as he calls Dex, “Yeah? All right, then. Says he needs a second or two. Go get yourselves drinks or somethin'.”

The doors open to a green and cyan lit club. Music louder as the barrier breaks away, people fill the room. Some sipping on alcohol and other’s puffing away on cigarettes; the smell of nicotine and booze wafting from the bar.

“Way ahead o' you, viejo,” Jackie laughs and leads the way in.

V follows him around the corner; the large bar coming into full view. It’s lit green, the same neon sign reading Afterlife at the top of it. A bartender in a blue button up slings drinks to the patrons. Floor to ceiling columns, like tubes, are places around the club each filled with water with a dancer twirling around inside with strategically place chrome clothing covering the most private parts of them. Everything is basked in that green neon light, despite being surrounded by mercs like her, she feels so completely out of place.

Jackie marches proudly across the bar floor, stride confident and unwavering.

“This is it… The heart o' Night City! That's it right there - beating. Hear it?” he proclaims as they pass by rows of half closed off booths, “Can you imagine? Susan Forrest, Boa Boa, maybe even Morgan Blackhand… All sat on those stools, fell asleep on that same bar.”

Jackie sits in one of the barstools, beaming and brimming with excitement. His eyes wide as he takes it all in, the place he’s dreamed of for all his years. V climbs into the seat next to him, placing an elbow on the bar, leaning her head onto her hand, as she shifts to face him.

“Doubt that puts us in the same league as them,” V teases, Morgan Blackhand brought down Arasaka Tower. They’re stealing a biochip, hardly the same thing.

“Oh, but we are. They just don't know it yet,” Jackie tells her with a wink and she can’t help but roll her eyes.

“We-”

V drops her hand when she realizes Jackie’s attention has gone elsewhere, an older woman walking past the two. She’s nothing unusual, older looking than most of the crowd here, sure but nothing immediately stands out to V. An older woman with long gray hair shaved on one side and a bright yellow cropped sweater, She marches her way across the bar and into a blue lit booth, moving past a guard.

“'Ey. See that old lady there?”

“Yeah, didn’t know grannies were your type,” V taunts him again, he’s always given her shit for her taste in older people, yet he’s ogling some grandma?

“Fuck off,” he playfully smacks her, but nearly knocks her from her chair, “that’s fuckin’ Rogue, best fixer in all o' Night City.”

“Thought Dex was the best?”

“Pff… Rogue was linin' up jobs when Dex was still shittin' in diapers, heh. Place belongs to her.”

“What can I getcha?” The bartender cuts in, hands down on the bar in front of them. She’s a woman with long dark hair pulled back in a ponytail and a soft round face.

V doesn’t drink on the job, something she’s always stuck to. But, this is Jackie’s dream and she knows how he likes to celebrate. If nothing else, their banter has failed to undo her nerves, maybe booze will do the trick.

“You order,” she signs to Jackie and he grins.

“You drinkin’?”

“Special night, pick me something nice.”

“Two Tequila Old Fashioneds with a splash of cerveza and a chili garnish.”

“A duo of Johnny Silverhands, comin' up,” the bartender starts to put the drinks together, “somebody did their homework.”

“Guessing the dog ate mine,” V signs, confused because what the fuck is a silver hand?

“Age-old tradition. Drinks're named after our regulars,” she explains, putting the drinks down in front of the mercs.

“What’d I have to do to get a drink named after me?”

“Snuff it,” she grins, “ In mind-blowingly spectacular fashion, Mid-op'd be best.”

“Aah, what a beaut of a tradition!”

“Steep price for a drink, not going to lie,” V signs, letting her nerves speak for her, if only for a moment. Her guts are in knots, she can only hope the alcohol will untangle. All of the merc’s usual stress relieving tactics other than a weed brownie, have failed to do much of anything.

“Hey, everyone's gotta go sometime, right? Why not in style? Death’s nothing but the final flourish!”

“To hitting the major leagues,” she signs, holding her shot in the other hand.

“To becoming legends.”

She pushes her mask just up above her mouth, careful not to smudge her lipstick and they throw back their shots. Smooth but strong booze with a kick of spice from the garnish, a burn in her throat. Not her style, but she’s had worse. She pushes her mask back down, regarding the bartender, her nametag says Claire.

“So, who else can I drink here?” She still has no idea who Silverhand is, but maybe there’s a name she does recognize, reading the posted drink menu.

“All on the menu…”

“'Cept there's a spot missing. Morgan Blackhand, right?”

“Heh, true. Morgan's yet to make up his mind he's dead or still kickin',” Claire tells Jackie and V rolls her eyes.

“Think he’s still alive? It’s been years,” Jackie asks Claire.

“No way he’s still alive,.” The radio was just talking about the devastation of the tower going down, if that many folks were killed who were just near it, then there’s no way someone who was in the tower survived.

“Why not? Look at Rogue. Peeps from that era - a species unto themselves.”

“And one day we’re gonna be there too,” Jackie probably proclaims, “speaking of which, name’s Jackie Welles if you want to write down my recipe.”

“Sure.” There’s a playfulness in her tone, just going along with Jackie’s whims.

“Shot of vodka on the rocks, lime juice, ginger beer… oh, and most importantly - a splash of love.”

“Haha, I'll remember that.”

“Gag,” V signs just to see the glare Jackie levels her way, the playful smack of her arm.

“Okay, what’s your drink then?”

“Literally, the only thing I drink is like cherry cola with a splash of bourbon.”

“You know those are usually supposed to be reversed, the bourbon and coke.”

“Maybe so, but, and hear me out… cherry cola tastes better.”

“Heard you were Dex’s latest finds,” Claire tells them.

“Just biz, no big deal.”

“How'd you know?” V raises an eyebrow behind her mask.

“My job to know. Look around - how do you think meres earn their reps? Through gossip rivaling that of schoolgirls, that's how.”

“Mr. DeShawn see you now,” a booming voice rings out behind the mercs, turning around she sees Dex’s bodyguard. The first time she’s heard his voice.

“Love to hang, imbibe the vibe, but we got an important meeting,” Jackie tells Claire, getting up from his seat and V following suit, throwing some cash down on the bar.

“Break a leg.”

“This way,” the bodyguard tells them and the mercs falls in line behind him. He leads them around the bar, past the crowd and through a door towards the back of the club. The lighting shifting, more blue than green as they walk past another vending machine.

“Damn, holmes, you're huge... Work out?” Jackie asks, unable to stand the silence.

“Hmm.” A vague grunt as they pass through another door, the music fading as they get further from the main bar. But V can just hear the starting beat of some old dad rock, something about losing another day to pointless drudgery.

“Same here, y'know, in the ring. You do some kinda exotic shit? Kempo? Ninjitsu?”

Nothing as they turn another corner.

“Think you could take me, drop me?”

“Jackie…” Why must he sound like he’s picking a fight with the guy?

“In here,” the guard says, stopping and standing in front of another door.

"Este pinche tipo..."

The door opens and they’re greeted to the first room with warm lighting, though it just seems to be a storage corner. With a cabinet and vending machine. But to the left are barely see through walls of a booth that takes up half the room, through them V can just see T-Bug’s outline and leather couches.

They walk around, the front of the booth opened. A wrap around black leather couch goes around the back wall and left side of the booth. Dex sat on the back portion, talking into a holo about Excelsior and cold hard eddies. T-Bug sat to side, a table in the center of the room with the Flathead, Jinguji boxes, and shards placed on neat little index cards. There’s a small disconnect leather seat in the right corner, next to the door.

“Gotta bounce,” Dex hangs up, “well, if it ain’t Miss V.”

“Whole family in one place! Hah! Finally!”

“That’s one way to put it,” T-Bug teases and a shine of blue catches V’s eye, the netrunner wearing Misty’s bracelet. She can’t help but smile.

“A’ight, then… Set your butts down comfy,” Dex tells them. Jackie plops himself onto the larger couch next to T-Bug, comfortably spreading his arms over the back of it while V takes the smaller seat, putting her at an angle to see everyone. She stifles a laugh, seeing Jackie’s leg excitedly bounce up and down.

“Sweet booth, is it soundproof?”

“Jackie…” T-Bug scolds and V stifles a laugh.

“Now, now, Mr. Welles is right. We gon' be goin' over some sensitive material. But if it's all right with y'all, I'd like to start with a question for Miss V… Evelyn Parker - how'd you fare?”

All eyes on her, stomach still twisted in a vise, this is her chance. She’s got to tell him, but she doesn’t want Evelyn hurt. Some fixers will go to any length to get revenge on a client or merc who does them dirty. But, he’s got a right to know the shit she pulled.

“Intel was good, brain dance was exactly what we needed….”

“So, she just wanna see wha'ss good, or was there somethin' else?”

“Honestly?”

“Wouldn’t ask for anything else, Miss V.”

“She’s high risk as far as clients go. Shady as fuck, naïve as all hell, and genuinely thought she could make me another offer.”

“Another offer?” Dex’s brow raises about his sunglasses.

“Wanted me to cut you out for more cash, told her no, of course. But, wouldn’t do business with her again, if I were you.”

“Cut me out… shiiiit, now that’s rich,” Dex laughs, Jackie nervously laughing along, “Clients... never learn, do they?”

“You’re not pissed?”

“Lived in NC too long to blow my top every time some amateur thinks they can take me for a ride. Parker ain't the first and sure as hell won't be the last.”

“Fair enough,” V lets out a sigh, thankful if nothing else that Dex doesn’t seem prone to getting too mad at Evelyn. Maybe she’s being too kind, but she can’t help but think Evelyn is more naive than malicious when it comes to the offer. A stranger to the merc world.

“I do appreciate you sharin' this info, though, Miss V. You see, trust… …is essential in any partnership that's to be long-lasting and fruitful.”

“Figured you had a right to know, so, what’s the plan?”

“This.”

Dex gestures towards the shards on the table, V takes the one in front of her and slides it into her shard slot. UI and graphics lighting up her mask, a map pulling up on the tech.

“Me and Dex've already covered the fine detes. Ops wise, should be a stroll on the beach.”

“Elaborate, I wanna hear it.”

“A Delamain'll drop your asses at the front door of Konpeki Plaza,” a picture of the hotel shows, then two names, “You'll stroll right in thanks to your false identities. Then, with Bug's help, you'll breach the hotel's subnet…”

“Mine and the Flathead's help.” Images of the hotel’s interior and the bot flash by.

“Last but not least, you slip into Yorinobu's penthouse and klep the Relic,” his words bring up images of the heir and his suite.

“Goes without sayin' we do this on the hush - ideally no bodies, not a one.” The shard shows them The Relic and then blips out.

“You'll have T-Bug on comms for the duration. Time for your burnin' questions.”

“What’s our cover?” V asks, they’ve been told a thousand times they’ll be acting like corpos, but that’d be hard to do if they have no idea what their story is suppose to be.

“Hello, Ramón Victorino,” T-Bug looks at Jackie and then to V, “and you’re Hannah Conwell.”

“Ramón - yeah, OK. What do we say we're there for?”

“Biz as usual. Corpo arms deal. Case anyone asks, you there for a bogus meetin' with Arasaka's defense rep - Hajime Taki. Anything else?”

“How do we get in the penthouse?”

“Yorinobu's got barely any muscle. Hardest part'll be penthouse security. If we wanna disable, we'll need to neutralize Konpeki's dweller - elite ‘runner monitoring the hotel's subnet twenty-four seven. Only catch is there's no way to get in the dweller's den from the outside.”

“Hold on, how you want us to get inside a room you can't get into?”

“Trust me when I say whatever hitch you think up. T-Bug's solved it already”

“This is where the Flathead comes in. You'll have to get him in the ventilation shafts, guide him to the dweller and force the dweller to… take a break. Flathead'll stay there, jacked into the dweller, but thanks to that I’ll be able to roll out your red carpet into the penthouse.”

“Anything else?”

“Transports a Delamain?” She has no idea if the company has an ASL sign like most other corporations and doesn’t have time to think of one on the fly.

“Preemest cab company in all Night City… Nada mal,” hackie tells her.

“DeShawn don't ever work with anyone but the best. I consider Delamain just that.”

“Yeah, who needs creepy, nosy cab drivers when you've got a clean AI to get you from point A to point B in style?”

“And how he bags a permit to operate every year's still a mystery.”

“If everythin' goes as planned, Delamain'll drop you back here. If things get sticky, he'll head for the safe house.”

“Which is?”

“The No-Tell Motel. Quiet, no questions asked. Make our next move from there. But I'm flat certain that won't be necessary. Though, there is one more consideration for if it does.”

“What’s that?”

“Hate to put you on the spot, Miss V,” Dex explains, “but if shit goes sour, I’m gonna need to know who I’m letting into the hotel. Mask can’t go with to Konpeki, so I’d sure feel a hell of a lot better if I knew what was hiding behind that thing.”

“Oh… yeah, that makes sense.”

Even if she’d have Jackie with her when shit goes down, Dex is trusting her with this heist. The least she can do is trust him to see her face and not write her off or sell her out to The Herd if the chance arised. Not that she can see that happening anyway…

“Don’t even know why you wore the thing in, V,” Jackie teases.

“Well, there are other fixers here, didn’t want to give away my face…”

V carefully pulls off her mask, feeling exposed all over again, a new set of eyes on her face. The merc knows how she looks; five feet with a head of bleach blonde hair and big gray eyes. Not the picture one conjures in their mind when they think of a capable, strong, badass merc. Sprinkle in her disability and the reactions to her deafness; most people think she’s not a threat, weak.

“That what you’ve been hiding behind that mask? All that fuss, for what?” Dex laughs.

“Hard to take,” she stumbles over her English trying to sign at the same time, “be taken- seriously sometimes when you’re five foot nothing, deaf, and look like…”

“Gutterpunk Barbie,” Jackie cuts in to tease, earning him a sharp kick to the shin.

“Fuck off.”

“Trust me, Miss V, you pull off this job; ain’t nobody in their right mind gonna underestimate you”

“That’s the hope...”

“Any other questions?”

“I got a question. When do we get to the real reason we're all here?” Jackie asks, shooting a wink V’s way.

“Now's a good a time as any. Fresh talent gets thirty percent always, but I'm willin' to make an exception in your case. I'ma cut you a nice, juicy forty as a bonus for your honesty, V.”

“Much appreciated.”

“Ka-ching baby!~”

“Last thing, Konpeki's got a strict no-iron policy. Security gates, the works. So you dawgs'll leave your lead-spitters in the ride, take the Flathead inside in its case.”

“Got your suits from Jinguji on the table.”

“¡Chido!”

“Thanks, Bug.”

“So, not to count chickens, but when'll we see our eddies?”

“All depends how Ms. Parker unrolls herself or her role, but a week, two tops is my guess.”

“And what do we do in the mean time?”

“You sit tight, heads down, 'cause ol' uncle Arasaka be watching. Now, as that ol’ Greek dawg says, life's a banquet - so don't go thirsty, but don't get drunk, either,” he tells them as he leaves the booth, “Your chariot awaits outside.”

“My cue to delta, too. Gotta prep to jack in, be there when you come on comms. Any other issues, now's your chance,” T-Bug tells them, shifting her feet and something catches V’s eye. Delta V emblazoned on the netrunner’s boots, was that there before?

“Plan - your take?” V shakes the thought from her head, must be a brand or a runner thing V doesn’t know.

“Enough, I hope, to put me in a luxury Creton Villa from which I'll never set foot in cyberspace again.”

“Send me a postcard?”

“No offense, but I'm gonna burn any and all bridges - need a clean break.”

“Gonna take Misty’s bracelet with you?” Jackie teases, grinning because he caught it too.

“Shut up,” she tells him, rolling her eyes.

“Uh, just realized something, what’s gonna happen to our clothes? I don’t want to lose my mask…”

“No worries, put them in the boxes, we’ll have ‘em sent back to your places.”

“Alright then, lets get this show on the road.”

“Let's get to work, go ahead and get changed, Delamain is parked out front, uh, okay-”Bug starts to trip over her words when the two mercs start taking off their jackets, “you can use the bathrooms.”

“Eh,”

Jackie and V shrug their shoulders, the outfits are right there. Not much point in dragging them out to the bathroom. The pair shared a bedroom for the better half of six months, a room with one bed. They’ve seen each other naked plenty, boundaries destroyed a long while back.

“Why do I bother,” T-Bug rolls her eyes and leaves the booth, letting the pair change.

V kicks off her boots and takes off her socks, Jackie tugging off his jewelry first.

“So, you’re nerves still going crazy?” Jackie asks her as she tugs off her shirt, his own tossed off.

“What do you mean?” She tugs off her pants, both mercs soon standing around in their underwear.

“Can’t hide that shit from me, chica, been giving me twice as much hell as usual. You’re freaking out.”

“High stakes, Jack, of course I’m a nervous mess. Means I give a shit.”

She pulls the slack on and tugs on the white blouse, buttoning it up. The two of them putting on the corpo clothes, similar in look. Black slacks, white button up tops, black suit jackets, and Misty’s beaded bracelets for protection. Each perfectly tailored for their body types.

“Don’t sweat it so much, V, we got this.” He sticks his fist out.

“Sure fuckin’ hope so.” She bumps her fist to his.

Their street clothes are packed away in the boxes, V puts in her optic contacts and slide on her heels, then they start to make their way out of the booth. But, Jackie stops her with a hand on her shoulder and he taps his throat. She catches on taking off her choker translator, neck feeling bare and odd without the tech. With that they leave out through the club, Jackie carrying the Flathead case and the smaller merc keeps her head down as best she can. Her stomach still in knots as they spot the Delamain in the parking lot.

Her life is about to change forever; hopefully for the best. She’s on the cusp of having everything she’s wanted since she’s come to the city. The verge of earning the respect of everyone in this city and finally feeling like she’s someone, like she’s done something.

So, why does she feel like she’s about to puke?

#cyberpunk 2077 #cp2077 #johnny silverhand #silverv #jackie welles #t-bug #dexter deshawn #female v #aidan v becker #aidan becker #original female v

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