#( thread. ) verse au

[justicepuppet]

@roninsae liked for a starter!

He had not been well after the events in Shido's palace.

The exact method of how he had escaped was gone from his memory, and Akechi had a feeling he never would be able to fully recover just how he had done that. One moment he was there, his gun aimed at the cognitive copy of himself that existed in Shido's mind, and the next-

-there had been a gunshot and a white-hot burst of pain. His vision had scattered in a swirl of sparks and agony, knees buckling as he bled- so much blood. He needed to leave but every exit was blocked with Shido's glare aimed at him, and-

-he had been... out. He had been... fine.

He wasn't okay, of course. Each day that ticked by made that clear. Strange incidents of wiping at his face to find blood trickle from the corner of his eye or from his nose, or waking up to find his pillowcase stained red, or a persistent ache in his side that never went away but there was no reason for it. Something was wrong (but if he just never acknowledged it then maybe, maybe, maybe something would go right for him for once).

The thought of trying to reach out to the Phantoms or anyone else had crossed his mind before being swiftly discarded. They thought he was dead and it was better off that way. Until he knew what was happening to him-

Something was trickling down his face again. It was a good thing his gloves were black; they hid the blood he found himself wiping off. This time it was from the corner of his left eye. A blink, and he glanced up to see that he was no longer alone on the sidewalk he had been walking down-

-(Where am I? How did I get here?)-

-and one Sae Niijima was standing in front of him.

"Sae-san." Her name was nearly stuttered off his lips as Akechi took a step back. "I-- didn't know that... you would be here."

[perilousxrealm]

closed starter for @carolxvers

Asgard. An ancient kingdom of an ever more ancient people, splayed in front of her for the first time in a century. At least. It causes an ache that is deep seated and nearly as old as she is. The door of her ship opens, and Valkyrie sheathes her daggers and grabs a bottle of Titanian Ale. Her legs sway a little as she steps on the sacred ground, and she scoffs at the way she nearly falls over.

Perhaps this has been a mistake.

----

Several days pass in a blur and she mostly keeps to herself, even though she gets some curious glances from the Asgardian people, and every time she pulls her gloves a little bit further up to hide the tattoo that would uncover her true identity. No one here really knows who she is, not truly, but the rumor she is here on a plea from Thor Odinson; and she plans to keep it that way. People who try to speak to her, thinking that she is... foreign, get short head nods and vague answers, so they learn not to approach her in time.

The very morning when the Bifrost opens for the first time she has been there, there is a clamor among the people in the kingdom, and everyone rejoices that Thor, the rightful heir to the throne of his late father, is back. And he's bringing friends; and for the first time in five years after the snap, there is hope; According to the remaining Asgardians, at least— the Valkyrie herself is cynical and does not believe it in the slightest... and who could blame her, truly? All she knows is loss.

----

When she enters the throne hall for the first time in an age later that day, it's different; in the absence of Frigga and Odin, and everything that once made it home. It's completely empty, save for the guards that ask here where exactly she means to go, and she shrugs, saying that she was there on behest of their almost-King... Trying to talk her into whatever next adventure he has in store, undoubtedly.

Mildly curious, she makes her way to one of the side rooms they show her the way to, and once the doors open she is met with a sight of blonde hair and fabric— splayed all over the floor and hanging of different hooks as the maidens do their sewing on a woman the Valkyrie has never seen before. There's a moment of silence, then two, and when the brown pair of eyes meet hers, Valkyrie's eyebrows raise.

She is definitely not an Asgardian... but she is unbelievably pretty.

"Apologies. I was sent in here by Thor's guards, I mean not to interrupt," she starts, gripping the brass door handle to steady herself... that whiskey bottle she downed earlier be damned. "Do you know where I might find him?"

[leschanceux]

@strtravels also gets this! ( bc i said so ) -

The door slams shut behind Gordy with enough force to rattle the glass of the inlaid window, but he'll feel bad about it later. For now, his only thought is to get up to his room without being seen or stopped or in any way interacted with, just so he can have a bit of time to get his head in order. He fears that if he's caught right now, he might just cry --- or snap, if pressed on exactly why he's in such a foul mood.

It's as if the universe has heard him, and decides to taunt him, though; as soon as his left foot hits the bottom step of the stairs, Gordy hears his name called from somewhere, eyes sliding closed as his grip on the bannister tightens until his knuckles are bone white, his heart contracting painfully in his chest.

"Can we do this later? Only I'm a bit busy at the moment."

[zap2zeitgeist]

[C O N T I N U E DF R O M: Reposted From]

Virgil was a nerd, has been since as long as he could remember and like most nerds, Virgil had gargantuan amounts of anxiety when it came to those that he had feelings for, being Bisexual in Chicago meant that anxiety sky-rocketed from it’s post of the nerdy stratosphere. Whether fortunate or not, Virgil also had a tendency to talk more when he got nervous. And boy was Virgil nervous right now and it showed. It showed his whole hand and his feelings right now. Virgil was devastated, embarrassed. Wishing he could find a hole to just crawl into. His host didn’t seem to mind, although Virgil was certain that Jamie wasn’t interested and his heart sank a little. Well that was until Jamie smiled and Virgil melted. I Guess we’ll see where th’ night takes us indeed. Virgil keep some hope and at the very least he had grained a new friend who happens to be a fan of cinema, and a potentially new ally to help Virgil be Static, t’ boot. So all is not lost even if Jamie is  not in fact interested in Virgil.

“Mhmmm” Virgil hummed in amused agreement with Jamie’s assessment of them seeing where the night goes.

“Hell yeah! Expansive. Sounds like this’ll be a blast and a lot better night than I had planned.” Virgil chuckled. When Jamie asked him to help out Virgil’s eyes lit up and he sprang into action.

“Yeah! Sure thing, man!” Virgil slide past Jamie and into the kitchen. Then trying to move again but without the traction Virgil began sliding in place until he put is hand out and snapped, causing a small spark of electricity to pop and send him sliding toward the fridge, where Virgil grabbed the fridges and slide safely to a stop. Virgil chuckled to himself, as he had fun, the quibbles still in his stomach from sliding across the floor. Popping open the fridge, Virgil makes a face at the choices, he grabs a few more of what they had been having. They weren’t bad but they weren’t what Virgil was used to drinking but he’d never let Jamie know any of that. Virgil closed the fridge and headed back to Jamie and the coffee table, walking this time, sans sliding. Virgil puts the beers on the coffee table, two in front of Jamie and two where he was about to sit on the couch, giving Jamie some space, if he were to sit on the couch, with plenty of elbow room, but also not so far that if Jamie wanted to sit closer…

@vintertsarn [Jamie Barnes]

[threegoldfish]

@mxlevolence asked: ❛ you look like you just saw a ghost. ❜ / unmasked GF, maybe? And Steven or Marc!

---Marc cannot even say anything against that, those words that the one in front of him speaks into the silence between them; He's not sure whether they're meant to be a tease, a taunt, something smug - it's hard for him to focus on such things when the face he's looking at is...

Damn, perhaps he is seeing a ghost, in a strange way. Perhaps not literal, because that guy sure as hell looks like he's breathing and all of that, but... ---fuck this, the fact that these eyes that stare straight back at him look so hauntingly familiar sends a cold shiver down his spine, so intense that it prompts goosebumps to appear all over his neck, shoulders, back.

Marc certainly feels like he's seeing a ghost, wonders if his own features are going a bit pale in return. A tongue flicks out for a second and a half, wets a pair of full lips, then disappears again - followed by a somewhat shaky inhale of air, an exhale that follows, hands curling into fists by his sides.

"What kind of shitty game is this supposed to be?" Low, almost a grumble, but filled with obvious discomfort - with confusion, something unsure, uncertain. Maybe a little afraid, even.

Sure thing, people say everyone has a couple of doppelgangers existing on planet Earth - but this? Fucking scary, the resemblance.

[gravesung]

@malient // continued from here.

IT WAS A LOSING BATTLE from the start. suguru bought enough time for anyone in the vicinity to evacuate, and that was just about all he could do in the face of something — someone — so great and terrible he could only be compared to a natural disaster.

satoru is dead. what happens to suguru, this body and its wretched inhabitant, is meaningless now. he is giving the kids enough time to regroup, and with that, he has fulfilled the only purpose he had left. it's why the defeat in his eyes, as they flick up to meet the monster's face, is tinged with relief.

his face twists into a pained grimace as ryomen sukuna grips the hair at the base of his skull and dangles him like a novelty windchime, but all that escapes his throat is a wheeze. pathetic. the king of curses hardly has a scratch on him; in contrast, suguru's bones feel like they have been crushed under the wheels of a truck ( and, really, they may as well have been. ) his tongue works beneath the two claws that hold it down, jaw forced open, the impossibly-dark expanse of his throat bared to light. he doesn't answer. he isn't meant to. instead, his fingernails scrape at the black-ringed flesh of sukuna's wrist; they are jagged and torn, but the skin of the wrist is delicate. perhaps he'll get lucky, slash an artery. leave a mark before he dies.

[celevrian]

@saltuary redirected from here

It felt like magic, as if she'd pressed her lips to something longing to find it waiting with desire. A step taken back, she watched with lips parted, moonlit gaze darting from his face, those eyes of grey ( like stormclouds, belying gentle spring rain or fury of an autumn tempest ) to his lips---( smiling slightly, tempting to touch, the smile a gift to her every time she spotted out )--- to his hands ( fingers, she thought, with every gentle touch stitched deep into her soul, her mind flashed to caresses without looking for the memories as if she needed reminding of their skill ) which undid the clasps with ease.

She knew his skin now, and yet her heart skipped with every inch revealed, a blush tinting her pale cheeks as she held the paper to her lips as if she could hide a fraction of the look in her own eyes. Gone was silk, and with it any voice to answer him, lost in breaths that quickened and sought to steady herself.

In the silence was vulnerability, and something within her heart was touched and tugged for him. Scars littered his form, a tale of pain and hardship, the wheels of war that had torn at him, and clawed his life with the desire to devour. Yet here he was, beyond it all---" muig ernil nín. "--- he had lived beyond it, still kind, still gentle. She reached out and touched him, seeking to soothe the abandonment, the cruelty, the brutality that he had endured. " meleth i gûr nín. thalion nín." she pressed a kiss above his heart, and through her lashes peered up with a small smile.

" to answer your question, " she at last found her words again, licking her lips as she lifted the paper before him. " I found this. your handwriting is it not? " the paper was placed in his hand so he might read it, but her focus had shifted.

Bare as he was before he, she was unsure where to go first. If only she could touch him everywhere at once, she would. She settled for holding one side of his neck while her mouth began a tender assault upon the other side. Her mouth was at his pulse, tonguing it just to feel its beat. She kissed slowly, gently, from the corner of his jaw, to the apple of his throat, then changed sides so no part of his neck was neglected. Oh he was gentle, he was kind, she adored him---oh, how she adored him. How she ached for his very existence, craved his touch, longed for his skin against hers and his voice in her ear. He was giving ( so much it made her tremble ), and now that she knew his 'weakness' as he'd termed it, she wanted to give him something in return.

No. . .

She wanted to give him everything in return. To fill his loneliness with companionship, his self mockery with understanding, his insecurity with confidence. Because he was far better than he realized. Because . . .she loved him. Because she could. Because he was hers.

[kierras]

@jaymaybnk sent:🍸 find kie drunk.

this party blows. kiara hadn't wanted to come at all, but sarah had practically begged — and she's always been a sucker for those stupid puppy dog eyes of hers. besides, she knows she's been no fun ever since she and jj had broken things off. or rather, since jj had broken things off citing some self-sabotage schpiel about how it was all going to end one day anyways. so kie's here now, at the party at rixon's doing her best to socialize her way though the night and slamming back beers to keep herself from doing something stupid, like trying to watch jj across the beach. except that plan doesn't seem to matter because while she'd been stumbling her way for another drink, she literally runs straight into him. but not just him. it's jj and a pretty little brunette coming out of the rest room, hair mused and lips swollen and they've obviously, at the very least, been making out. kiara feels her heart break and her anger rise. "wow," she scoffs and the girl — ellie, elsie, emily, something — has the decency to look embarrassed and take off. "that didn't take you very long at all. y'know if you wanted someone else, you could've just told me that. didn't have to make up all that other bullshit."

[zaunitespride]

Plotted starter for @mxchineherald

Despite his position as a councilor, proudly representing Zaun, Silco was simple man. The only reason he had even taken the position was at the behest of Heimerdinger. "Why not prove how much Zaun matters by representing it on the council? You can make a difference." Was something along the lines of what he said and how could he resist? Especially knowing that he could have a say in what is done for his home, where is family thrived...

That did not meant he was a fan of labels. And so when he wasn't in the confines of the council room, he paid no mind to his position. He simply returned to life alongside Vander, where he was just a bartender and father of their collective found family. So when Heimerdinger strolled in with his assistant, he couldn't help but let out a sigh.

"Well, counselor Heimerdinger, what a wonderful surprise." Silco let out a soft chuckle as he wiped down the surface of the bar. "What brings you to our side of the bridge, and with company no less?" He nodded his head then, in acknowledgement of Viktor. Of course he'd seen the boy plenty of times, and knew exactly who he was. "I assume this is your esteemed pupil."

Heimerdinger was not subtle with his intent as he took great effort in climbing onto the bar stool. "Can't I pay a good friend, and fellow councilor a visit?" The yordle gestured for Viktor to join him in the seat beside him. "Viktor, I would like you to meet my good friend, I'm sure he needs no introduction."

Silco waved his hand in the air. "Please, I'm just a simple bartender, nothing more, nothing less." He smiled at Viktor, setting two glasses of wine in front of them. "Though I will say it is a pleasure, to meet the man the dear professor raves about."

[leschanceux]

@strtravels is having a moment with gordy! -

"You were always more a dad than he was." A heavy-ish subject for a quick tea break during a weekend d.i.y. session, perhaps, but Gordy's been thinking things over for a while. "I mean," he starts, taking a quick sip from his gently steaming mug, "you were always there --- always." Football on the weekends, school things, Christmases and birthdays and everything in between --- Gordy's memories are filled with Ed and his mum and Moira and just general happiness as a child, and now, he's a happy almost-adult.

Ed had been the best of the bunch, as far as step-fathers were concerned, really.

They've been building bookshelves for Moira's room while she's off on a trip, the radio playing cheerfully in the background though it's been mostly drowned out by hammering or chatting as they've worked. Gordy'd volunteered his services for the task; Ed might not have needed a hand for the simple project, but the teen had been quick to offer anyway, gratified when he'd been accepted and not just sent away by his step-father.

"Any regrets so far?"

[normaltothemax]

“They’re dead, and it’s all my fault.” The words sounded hollow, but he didn’t think anyone could blame him for that. After all, the hunt went south because of him. People got hurt, got killed, because of him. Because Sam got scared and froze, like a baby. It didn’t even matter that he got hurt too—that’s what he deserved, wasn’t it? A fitting sort of punishment for a screw-up like that.

[alsunday]

it's come to orihime's attention more than once that her cooking methods and ingredient pairings are ... unconventional, to say the least. still, it doesn't deter her from advertising a cooking session for anyone interested in learning a few basics and completing a new dish to add to their meals. today, it would seem she has a class of one!

"higuruma-san, thank you for joining!" she has all the ingredients neatly spread out on the table. one set for her student and one set for herself. today, they would be learning to make okonomiyaki. of course, with her own little spin on the ingredients. "do you have any experience with cooking already?? don't worry if you don't! i'll try my very best to take you through it step by step." she only hopes that he would be patient with her too ... sometimes, she could get a little sidetracked on her own tangents.

@deadlincs ... cooking classes with orihime !

[fatescattered]

@apaise

the small package seems to weigh twice as much judging by the way she slumps and drags her feet, postponing reaching her destination as much as possible. what will they even say to each other? after their last conversation and the angered words haphazardly spat out, any chance of reconciliation is long gone. perhaps for the best. a secret like that wasn't meant to be kept while seeing someone.

it wasn't as though haley meant to lie. but there was never a natural segue for bringing up being bitten by a radioactive spider and begrudgingly becoming a vigilante overnight. instead, she kept making excuses for always being late and rescheduling their dates, avoiding any contact to hide her injuries. haley figured it was only fair she be the one to break things off too, bearing the weight of that responsibility herself.

definitely not because she was scared of being dumped sooner rather than later.

she takes a deep breath as she finally reaches the house. the walk over had been too familiar, and her feet seemed to steer her the right way no matter how many accidental detours haley tried to make. she stands awkwardly before the front door, the package safely tucked under her arm. she could just leave it there. ring the bell and make a run for it before anyone even got up to open it - she was certainly fast enough now.

with a sigh, haley shakes her head to dismiss those thoughts. hasn't she been cowardly enough already?

the loud ringing of the doorbell makes her mouth dry, and haley's antsy as she shifts her weight from one foot to the other. she's praying ash is the one to open the door - she'll shoot daggers at haley and hiss venom with every word, but that's infinitely better than the alternative.

no such luck.

"hey." her voice sounds foreign even to her own ears, and haley clears her throat in a futile attempt to strengthen it. her eyes are torn between avoiding beth's entirely and refusing to look away - did she look as miserable as haley had been feeling since the breakup? was it wrong to wish for that? that she wasn't alone in her regret and heartbreak, desperate to fix things?

"mailman dropped this at my place. has your name on it." haley shows her the package nonchalantly and hands it over, speaking as if she doesn't know exactly what it is. chrissy's birthday was coming up, and beth figured that having the gift delivered to her house was too risky. haley had done the same plenty of times, barely home herself to receive any mail. during their time together, the roberts' house had become a second home to her. but not anymore. "figured i'd bring it over myself. 's easier."

[menelvagor]

Your muse rescues mine from the cold. (Bard saving Kili) -✧- @promisesofstone

The tall man stared down at the dwarf he had found, all covered in ice and snow outside the walls of Dale. Dale, the majority of the people of Lake-town's new city he would be in charge of and helping to rebuild. However, winter was proving to be rough for them all.

He had grabbed onto the furred hood of the traveler, dragging them up from the snow which was drifting into tall mounds, his own hair becoming stiff with the freezing weather. "Come on, we'll get you out of this cold," Bard yelled over the howling winds, leading the dwarf along with him roughly, quickly.

When they reached the interior of the city, Bard pulled the dwarf to a small make-shift market where a fire blazed in the center. He brushed some of the snow off of himself and the other's head. When some of the precipitation thawed on the dwarf's hair, Bard finally recognized him.

"Prince Kíli!?" he exclaimed, looking more closely at his features for a moment. "What are you doing here, in this weather?"

[cancnfcdder]

>>> continued from here. [ ... ] @wctchers

🧭 the snow leopard doesn't know why he says it like he does, stated flatly and with the neutral affect of someone unafflicted by the words spoken. like caring about the other was some meager afterthought that didn't make him feel like he might need to run again. flee the feelings the same way he'd flee any officials that ought to come after his brother. yet, when peri rises and comes over to where he lounges, sprawled out and tail flicking with content movements to and fro, knife in hand that diligently works on a small little trinket of wood. there's a collection of shavings between his crossed fore paws, slumped into the wood of the tree they both settle under.

polaris doesn't remember when they'd first started this, perched at the small basin of a wooded outlook that dapples their skin with sunlight through the treeline, shading them mostly and keeping them equally cool in the humid air of the server. it's both a secret and a perfectly reasonable escape for the tundra creatures—born for much colder climates than this. still, the snowy cat doesn't move when peri rises and comes over. he doesn't stop her either when his chin is taken in her grasp and is tipped to make him look up.

his hands still, frigid gray orbs locking in hers as she mumbles the reply, and he sits hauntingly still when her lips find his—only spurred into action to lean up and into the soft plush of another's lips, before chuckling out a noise that sounds more like a chuff than a laugh. polaris gathers himself up, slips his knife back into one of the loops on his midsection belt, straightening it. his paws flex and he can feel the tips of his nails dip into the dirty as he stretches and rerights his bottom half. "want to tell me what's on the to do list, or are you planning to string me along to do whatever you want?"

the words came out in a gentler hum, but still the same sort of tone that made most words sound a little short. he wasn't. quite the opposite, in fact. peri could tell him to shut up and do as she said and he would do exactly that. maybe it was the mercenary in him, the soldier—maybe it was the lingering sensation of her fingertips on his chin or velvet against his lips. that of which weakened him and drove him equal amounts insane.

[phoenixmuses]

"You must not know who I am. Want to find out?" (From Bo to Dean) @norvstforthvwickvd

♡ First Meetings Sentences Vol. 3 ♡ Starter for @norvstforthvwickvd

She had caught him breaking into an antique shop in the dead of night. Unaware of her occupation, he had tried to flirt his way out of the interaction and claimed he was the owner, but found himself at the end of her firearm. Dean's eyes glittered in the dim lighting, fixed on Bo with an air of wariness, hands held up to show he wasn't currently armed. He took a slow step forward, hesitant yet steady, his gaze unwavering from her.

"Listen, lady," he responded gruffly, his tone somewhat more serious, "I'd normally love to find out — maybe grab a drink together — but I'm runnin' out of time here." Dean shook his head imperceptibly, pausing to study the woman before him for a long moment. "You can have me arrested for breaking into your place later, all right? But for right now, I need you to trust me — can you do that?"