#though it often results in Arson

[funishment-time]

[death-in-a-handbasket]

oh . And ! And ...... I feel like I've not heard muchabout threader 🤔unless I am just fogretting . What are they like?what do they like to do and whyis florian the guyt hey fancy

threader I fear is my underloved son, I do not draw him nearly enough </3 alas. I have ideas I just keep forgetting to do them rip LMAO

anyways, threader is as the name would suggest, a textiles worker, he in the factory working that sewing machine day in and day out. he's had a very bland life thus far, one where he's for the most part played by the rules and followed the simplistic flow of life, simply because it's easy and it's what he was told was the correct way to be. however, he isn't happy like this, he feels no connection with the world around him and lacks friends in wake of his detached movement through life. essentially in trade for stability he simply forwent any self expression because it was easier to go through life dead than have a personality

as a result though his life is deeply boring and rote and repetitive and he is deeply apathetic and depressed to the point where to get through the day he often fantasizes about various ways to completely obliterate the stability he's cultivated, killing himself dramatically, getting sent to a mental institution, committing crime openly and loudly etc etc anything that would bring about change of some flavor, but he doesn't quite have the internal effort to act on it

cue the shit disturber, florian, who starts a fire in one of the back rooms of the factory and lets the place conflagrate rapidly off the textiles and thread permeating the air, he also opens a window after it's burned for a good bit so the air influx makes shit blow out. however, winding shit back a step, threader does spot him in the midst of coating the room in kerosene and he leaves it up to the fire to decide whether there should be no witnesses

well wouldn't you know, threader was able to tough it out with only a bit of lung damage and some light scrapes and burns so while florian is in there he takes it as a sign to fuck around and find out so he rescues them and decides to essentially blackmail them into staying quiet about the whole affair

florian likes threader for his resilience and the fact that even though he's got threader under blackmail lock and key threader is NOT afraid to get into fistfights with him and mouth off. threader, who albeit kind of hates him, does feel exhilaration while around him, florian brings long dead emotion to the surface that threader desperately craves. after so long of living life dead inside, florian feeds that adrenaline craving he's been long hungry for, and the fact that florian does it against threader's will and protests most of the time means threader can mentally excuse their cravings and just pretend that because florian forces them into crazy situations any thrill they get from it is not their fault. florian is an enabler for the danger they wish to experience and cause

"I'm not violent, he provoked and threatened me and that's why I had to break his nose, obviously" <- words of a man who gets off on the fight and has been needing to express his anger for years

"I'm not into him, I have sex with him because he keeps my rent paid and is more compliant with me if I do, it's a bargaining chip if anything" <- words of a man who also can't stop thinking about that hunky man's hot hard body and getting knocked up by that freak into next week

"I am not responsible for any of the shit he drags me into, half the time he just carts me off in his truck without warning and will physically drag me around into his mess" <- words of a man who also deeply took the opportunity to rob the house florian was setting on fire even though forian was only there for arson not robbery in fact the robbery was solely their idea

florian lowkey knows that threader is into this crazy shit and that half their aghast reactions are to write off the fact that they like it which pleases him because the struggle is funny even if they inevitably like it but he also loves threader's complaining and panic so he really wouldn't have it any other way

[casual-praxis]

Adding to the Four Swords x Tales from the Gas Station AU thing..

Despite the fact I said I was abandoning it immediately, I've still been thinking about it while getting swamped at work. Maybe it's just the sucky minimum wage job aspect, but it's taken up refuge in a small corner of my brain now. It owes me money, rent is due.

+ I'm committing to the setting being an actual gas station, though the whole town probably features at least a little in the groups antics. Red's apartment in particular is where everyone defaults to when bored (or in need of shelter due to some weird town-wide spooky shit goin' on).

Red starts off ecstatic about the constant company, but gradually starts to treat it like, "oh, hey, welcome home I guess, [Green, Blue, Vio]'s here too." If it's Shadow he will shut the door immediately, though that doesn't stop Shadow from getting in anyway if he really wants to.

+ Green works multiple jobs all over town and is struggling through student debt, of which comes up in conversation quite a lot as a running joke. He doesn't have many shifts at the gas station, but when he does, some weird shenanigans are pretty much guaranteed to happen. Dude's cursed or something.

He's always pretty low energy due to being run ragged, but always has energy drinks on him that he offers the others whenever there's even a slight inconvenience. He, like Blue, doesn't immediately assume something is supernatural despite the weird ass town they live in, so he's always walking into danger. At least a quarter of his soul now belongs to Vio because of how often Vio has to influence it after Green almost dies (memory alternation doesn't usually taint the souls of those afflicted, but overexposure is one helluva drug).

Also made the executive decision that he's aroace in this AU. Not relevant to anything really, I just think it's neat. Had to self-project this onto one of the Colors eventually lmao.

+ As the main character, Blue interacts with everyone quite a bit for one reason or another, but I've decided that his best friend is Red, his favorite coworker is Green (rip Red, literally whoops), his potential love interest is Shadow, and Vio is a work-acquaintance who he keeps seeing at Red's place and hasn't connected the dots on why that is (they're more than just "good friends", Blue).

+ Shadow and Vio hate each other early on. It is on sight, and it's not even subtle. When asked about it, they give a different reason why every time, often contradicting each other. Both are missing limbs in their true forms as a result of their last scuffle where they went all out.

I haven’t yet decided what causes them to start getting along, but as of now, I don’t think they ever really become friends, more so they just tolerate each other more. Blue and Red probably have something to do with it.

+ Red and Shadow don't particularly like each other, but they aren't outright spiteful of each other. Red's soul belonging to Vio marks him as an enemy to Shadow, but Red being friends with Blue almost negates that fact. Almost. He likes to tease him.

At some point they set the cornfield on fire with a Molotav cocktail and bond over arson.

Until then though, their interactions mainly consist of Shadow poking fun at Red for one reason or another, and Red playing along for Blue’s sake (unless it’s jabs at his relationship with Vio, in which case Red will tell Shadow point blank he hopes Vio kills him ((that’s a lie))).

+ Blue’s memory of Red dying was erased, which, unknown to him, put a strain on their friendship. Shortly after, Shadow makes his appearance, and causes them to unintentionally drift further as Blue starts to spend less time with Red, and more with Shadow.

While this had the potential to become very angsty, it instead just turned into a very convoluted B-plot with Shadow striving to get Blue's memory back from Vio so Blue can fix his friendship with Red--not because he has a soft spot for these two or anything ((liar)), but because Red is spending more time with Vio as a result, and Shadow will do anything to ruin Vio's fun.

It still gets a little angsty once Blue's memory does come back, since, ya know, he unintentionally got his best friend killed. But it's okay, they talk it out. Blue also gets let into the loop on supernaturals at this point, so that opens up a whole lotta exploration potential.

+ I like to think the actual relationship status between Red and Vio is ambiguous, but whatever it is, it's strange. Like, are they just really close coworkers, or are they secretly making out in the camera's blind spot?? Blue thinks they're just good friends, while Shadow is convinced they're together. Green barely even knows who Vio is, so his opinion cannot be sourced at this time.

Either way, Vio stalks Red outside of work. Red is aware, and does not care.

+ Finally, a rapid-fire list of weird shit Blue has seen at the gas station so far:

Lawn-flamingo in the freezer. He got stuck in there when he went to check it out, and then couldn't even find it afterwards.

Headless bird chillin' in the reach-in refrigerator. It was still alive and well, even after being in there for who knows how long--up until they released it and it was immediately eaten by an even bigger bird. Nature is brutal.

Weird nebulous cloud thing that appeared from the cash register. Floated up to the ceiling after a while at which point Blue and Vio took turns hitting it with a broom.

The chip display that only shows up on Sundays. Only contains off-brand chips that don't seem to exist anywhere else. No idea what happens to them once they're bought.

Every now and again, the shitty store phone will get a call on line 4, which shouldn't even be possible. Picking it up usually results in a headache, but also the sound of very faint, reverbed k-pop playing at what appears to be the end of a wind tunnel. Green apparently had a conversation with someone on line 4 once, but didn't remember the contents of said conversation afterwards.

Red somehow catching his hand on fire while restocking the shelves, proceeding to stare at it, then at Blue, then back at his hand, then back at Blue, and in the most monotone sounding voice Blue has ever heard from him, announce "ow," before fleeing to the bathroom.

Corn stalk growing in the air vent. They've been ignoring it, but recently it's been starting to poke out into obvious view of the customers, so Blue is debating contacting the store owners. Sometimes, Blue catches Red staring at it when he's by the lighter display. Not sure if he should be worried about that just yet.

Shadow.

No one believes him on this, but once Blue saw Vio eat a spider completely unprompted. Of course, when he asked why tf Vio did that, Vio just shrugged and said he didn't know what Blue was talking about. Before proceeding to smirk, open his mouth, and let the spider crawl back out--fuckin' weirdo. Ew.

[froot-batty]

Losers!

@sarseemd I still love the name Lightning Bugs for them so I'm yoinking that !! It's canon now !! Friendship name !!

Garfield Lynns was born and raised in Gotham - more specifically, in one of the many run-down apartment complexes in the Narrows. They had no idea what happened to their parents, for as long as they could remember they'd been raised by their three older brothers. "Raised" was a pretty strong word, though. Their brothers were a gang of well-known arsonists, and often either completely neglected Gar, forced them to do tasks for them, or yell at/bully him.

Due to how Gar was raised, they developed a fascination with fire from a pretty young age. They were never allowed to participate in the arson (or anything that their brothers were working on; they saw them as a nuisance), so Gar would watch as they made firebombs or flamethrowers - or watch the destruction their work would cause on the news.

One day, when Gar was 16, they decided that they had absorbed enough knowledge that they thought they could improve on their brother's weapons (and hopefully gain their approval in the process). They actually didn't end up being terrible at designing the mechanism or the weapons themselves - the problem came when Gar was attempting to mix chemicals. Gar was not the best at chemistry at the time, and their inexperience would result in an unexpected reaction in a mixture, one that let off sparks that would eventually reach the numerous HIGHLY flammable things in the apartment.

The resulting fire would not only render most of the apartment complex unlivable, but it would completely decimate Gar's home. It also killed all three of their brothers, who didn't wake up in time to escape the fire.

Gar, however, would end up living - in critical condition, with most of their body covered in burns. However, instead of being traumatized by the event, it would actually trigger a full obsession with fire in Gar. In their eyes, the fire had gotten rid of something that had kept Gar under lock and key for their entire life; it made them feel powerful.

So, the moment Gar was able to, they fled from the hospital. This is when their first crime spree would happen - little more than just them with a lighter and some gas setting things ablaze, but it was still destructive enough that it caught the attention of Batman.

Bats would recognize this was the same kid from the apartment explosion, so in the hopes that they'd be rehabilitated before continuing down this path, he took them off to Arkham (Gar was 18 by this point). Bats didn't know that this would eventually make even more of a headache for himself.

Maisy Zapropoulos Maxie Zeus was first born in Crete, though her parents would move to Gotham after they were both offered jobs at WayneTech. Her parents were strict, no-nonsense people, and had high expectations for their daughter right off the bat. They were the type of people that thought children should never step out of line, and that with enough punishment and reprimanding, bad behavior would be corrected.

So, when Maxie started acting out as a young kid - getting into fights, destroying property, stealing - this was unacceptable to them. But instead of getting her any kind of help for her then undiagnosed conduct disorder, they thought that with enough of a firm hand, they could fix what was "wrong" with her.

This obviously only made her act out even worse. She would take out the anger and the pain of her living situation on anything and anyone around her. She would start being an excessively cruel bully to her peers in school, when she would even go to school. Half of the time she would skip to go and shoplift or spray paint on the side of buildings.

Her behavior would eventually get so out of control her school decided to expel her. At this point, she was only 15, and none of what her parents were trying to do to "fix" her was working. In their eyes, this was the final straw that cemented her as a disappointment. A lost cause.

So they packed up her things and took her to Arkham Asylum. They didn't particularly care if it would actually get her help; they just wanted to get her off their hands. They signed custody of her over to the director of Arkham, Hugo Strange, and abandoned her there.

Maxie only kept acting out in the Asylum. She was alone, angry, and had even more of her life controlled by other people - hurting people or destroying things was the only way she felt like she had any freedom at all. At the time, Arkham still had a lot of outdated medical practices. Their goal is not to help people, and it certainly isn't Hugo's goal.

Maxie would end up being sent routinely to get electroshock treatment. The word "treatment" was mostly a cover, though - Hugo was interested to see what high amounts of electricity would do to the human body and mind. She'd spend so much time in there that the room they did the electroshock would be given the nickname Maxie's Room - as she spent more time in there than her actual room.

You'd think that this constant bombardment of electricity (oftentimes far too high than what is considered safe for an already dangerous practice) would just completely fry her brain. But, to the surprise of Strange...it didn't.

Maybe the shocks had triggered something in her DNA; some kind of inhuman gene most people didn't have. But her body slowly gained the ability to store electricity within it, to be expelled at will through her limbs. At first, they had no idea how this worked, and it led to a lot of explosive accidents when Maxie ended up not being able to control her newfound powers (this is when Strange got that scar on his arm!). Eventually, they'd make her those gauntlets and the sandals she wears, which allow her to safely and precisely channel her electricity.

By the time Gar was sent to Arkham, Maxie had already gained her powers. When Gar arrived, she saw another person she could make fear her - or, at least, that's what she thought. She was genuinely caught off-guard when Gar was nothing but friendly to her. They thought she was ridiculously cool!

It was the first time in her life that someone had ever been nice to her. And, for Gar, they lept on any chance to have a real friend (they were already used to being put down constantly by their brothers, it made dealing with Maxie easier). Their path to becoming friends was not an easy one, but they were both desperately lonely kids who just needed someone that got them. And they got each other!

Gar would be the person to give her the name Maxie Zeus. Maxie came from Gar accidentally mishearing her first name at the time, which they thought was funny enough to keep using, and Zeus was a play on the fact she's Greek, has lightning powers, and her last name started with a Z. Maxie would eventually completely adopt this name, since she'd always hated the connection with her family that her old one had.

Ever since then, they're completely inseparable. They go to Arkham together, they escape Arkham together, they cause destruction across Gotham together. If you ever hear that they've broken out of Arkham, you'd best get on the bridge to head out of Gotham, because it's going to be covered in fire and lightning before too long.

[vague-humanoid]

On the morning of June 29, 1755, Phillis, a Black woman enslaved to Captain John Codman in Massachusetts, prepared Codman’s usual breakfast of oatmeal. It was one of the last meals he would have. Two days later he was dead.

Codman had been prone to painful stomach ailments over the years, but local officials soon learned that his sickness and death were the result of a conspiracy planned by three of his slaves: Phillis, Phoebe and Mark. For two years, the two women fed a number of poisons to the captain, including arsenic, rat poison and potter’s lead. Phoebe evaded conviction, though the reason why is unclear. Mark was convicted as an accessory to the poisoning plot and hanged; Phillis was sentenced to death by burning at the stake.

Their case was not an anomaly. Between 1681 and 1865 dozens of Black enslaved women were put to death for the murder or attempted murder of White people. Some, like Phoebe and Phillis, used poison, while others used arson or blunt force. Nikki M. Taylor, a historian and Howard University professor, tells the stories of enslaved women who took justice into their own hands and resorted to deadly measures against White slave owners and their families in her new book, “Brooding Over Bloody Revenge: Enslaved Women’s Lethal Resistance.”

These stories, while often gruesome, help to paint a more complete picture of women’s role in slave organizing and rebellion in what is now the United States. The history told about powerful slave revolts primarily centers men and minimizes or erases women’s presence, Taylor told The 19th. She uses a Black feminist framework to unravel the details of these rebellious women’s lives, and unpack the levels of institutional violence they faced and the philosophy of justice that drove them to kill.

@meanmisscharles @quasi-normalcy @beyonceisstraight @midians-world @el-shab-hussein

[dr-octavio-kalev]

TW: Vermin infection

"Pull the tapeworm out of your ass! Hey!"

Prisoner #: ANM-634-P

Name: Sally Aníbal

Nickname: "Tapeworm Girl"

Crimes: Indecent assault, rebellion, riot, theft, arson

Number of Victims: 19

Subject Class: Anomalous | Kali 🟠

Cell Procedures: ANM-634-P, referred as "Tapeworm Girl" or just "Sally" by the personnel is to be housed in a standard humanoid containment cell reinforced with bio-resistant materials to prevent the spread of parasitic infection. The cell must be equipped with non-porous surfaces and regularly sterilized to prevent possible contamination. ANM-634-P should be provided with limited, supervised access to recreational materials, particularly those related to her fascination with heavy metal music, provided such activities do not result in behavioral escalation, personnel are not advised to enter her cell while loud music is playing.

Personnel interacting with ANM-634-P are to wear full biohazard protective gear, and contact with her face, mouth, or any exposed fluid must be strictly avoided. Any staff member exhibiting signs of gastrointestinal distress or other symptoms of parasitic infection after interaction with ANM-634-P is to be immediately quarantined and examined for tapeworm infestation.

ANM-634-P manipulation of her parasitic abilities must be constantly monitored, especially in scenarios where she perceives herself as being threatened. If aggressive behavior is exhibited, immediate isolation protocols are to be enacted, and non-lethal containment measures (e.g., tranquilizers) should be employed to prevent further spread of tapeworm-based infection.

Description: ANM-634-P subject is a humanoid young of approximately 20 years of age, standing 160 cm (5'3") tall and weighing approximately 50 kg (110 lbs). She possesses a thin physique, with light blonde hair and pale, nearly albino-like skin. The most notable anomalous feature is the texture on the right side of her face and neck, which is marred by clusters of small cavities that resemble parasitic infestations. The origin and purpose of these cavities are currently under study, though they are capable of secreting a viscous, clear fluid with unknown properties. Chemical analysis of the fluid has shown no immediate toxicity, but its connection to ANM-634-P parasitic nature is under investigation. Her left eye possesses an purple lens, which the anomaly uses as part of its style, the original color of its iris is light green.

Despite her grotesque physical appearance, ANM-634-P displays a playful and flirtatious demeanor, often unnerving staff with her teasing and exaggerated gestures. One prominent behavior is the frequent extension of her tongue, which is abnormally long (with 25cm extension). ANM-634-P takes great pleasure in unsettling personnel by engaging in what could be considered flirtatious or overly familiar behavior, although she has yet to display overtly hostile or violent tendencies toward staff under normal circumstances.

Sally has developed a preference for heavy metal music, often headbanging and altering her vocalizations to match the intensity of the music. Her cell is decorated with imagery consistent with the aesthetic of metal subcultures. When heavy metal music is played, ANM-634-P exhibits signs of increased agitation and excitement, causing her anomalous effects to become more pronounced. For example, when she starts headbanging her head violently, fluids and parasite instances are thrown everywhere.

While ANM-634-P is largely non-aggressive, she is capable of deploying an array of parasitic tapeworms, particularly when she feels threatened. These parasites target the victim's digestive system, eyes, throat, and genital areas (interior of the penis, uterus, vagina, derivatives). The infection is rapid, often resulting in the tapeworms consuming vital organs. The parasitic infestation can spreads through direct interaction with the holes on her face and neck.

When provoked, ANM-634-P infections have been observed to be fast-acting and extremely painful, often culminating in death. ANM-634-P, however, refrains from using this ability unless directly threatened, or under manipulation, showing a degree of control over her abilities.

ANM-634-P tapeworms are a unique parasitic species under her full control. These tapeworms, upon entering a host, rapidly seek out internal organs and begin consuming tissue at an accelerated rate. Once inside the body, they secrete an enzyme that breaks down soft tissue, allowing them to digest their surroundings with alarming speed. This process results in intense pain, internal hemorrhaging, and, in many cases, death if left untreated. In addition to their parasitic nature, the tapeworms have a secondary function: they increase ANM-634-P metabolic rate exponentially during their release. This surge in metabolism grants her enhanced speed, stamina, and healing speed, allowing her to evade or counterattack if needed. The tapeworms can either remain in their host to continue feeding or return to ANM-634-P body, where they retreat back into the cavities on her face and neck. Despite the gruesome nature of these attacks, ANM-634-P appears to use this ability sparingly, showing a degree of restraint.

Behavioral Analysis:

ANM-634-P displays an extroverted, playful personality with a fixation on certain Institute personnel, typically those who interact with her frequently. She often uses her appearance and demeanor to manipulate and charm individuals into granting her favors, though no violent fixation has been recorded. Despite her manipulation, she does not exhibit any long-term strategic planning and behaves in a mostly whimsical and impulsive manner.

Additionally, ANM-634-P has demonstrated a childlike fascination with specific objects and behaviors, particularly loud music, which leads to increased activity from her parasites. Metal music in particular seems to evoke strong emotional reactions from ANM-634-P, suggesting a possible connection between her anomalous nature and external stimuli such as sound.

Personnel are advised to engage with ANM-634-P carefully, minimizing personal connections or repetitive engagements to prevent her from forming unhealthy attachments or using her abilities for manipulation.

Addendum:

Sally has taken to calling herself by her nickname, "Tapeworm Girl", with apparent pride. It is unclear whether this is an intentional effort to embrace her anomalous nature or simply part of her playful personality. Further psychological evaluation is advised to determine her motivations and how best to prevent her from manipulating personnel.

Research is ongoing regarding the clear fluid secreted from her cavities, as well as the exact mechanisms by which she controls and deploys parasitic tapeworms.

The following is a list of heavy metal bands that ANM-634-P is known to listen to and engage with during her periods of increased activity:

Slayer

Slipknot

Cannibal Corpse

Black Sabbath

Pantera

Metallica

Meshuggah

Lamb of God

Gojira

Iron Maiden

Sepultura

Behemoth

Dimmu Borgir

Death

Arch Enemy

System of a Down

KoRn

These bands, known for their intense sound and aggressive themes, seem to provoke strong reactions from ANM-634-P, with certain songs causing her parasitic abilities to manifest at an very accelerated rate and more agressive, Sometimes they are able to target other parts of the body, such as the heart, bones and even the brain and muscles.

[yxstxrdrxxm-a]

SYNOPSIS: One shot should be enough. That's all there is to it, right?

TW/s: Yandere behavior, emotional manipulation, guilt tripping, lowkey these two are terrifying to deal with, kazuha has no remorse in some of these, vaguely terrifying heizou, nsfw warnings also include drugging, blackmail, and arson.

NOTE FROM HR: Happy Valentine’s Day, 🩸 anon. It seems your boyfriends decided to do something very special for you. After all, they liked you, didn’t they? I hope you like sweets, because I know they prepared something special for you. Just… Try not to look into what they made too much.

Dealing with Kazuha and Heizou isn't all that bad. For you, the two of them had been nothing but kind and welcoming, although the first time you have decided to rent them in the app, the greeting was more or less a surprise.

You remembered what Heizou told you, since he would remind you so often. You were, in his words, 'a golden retriever'. Why did he call you that? You were answered with that you just looked like it, without any sort of explanation.

For Kazuha, though, he called you his 'maple'. An endearing nickname, considering you red through his profile that he was a poet and isn't fan of being too mean to whoever rents him.

The one thing that you knew from their terms was to not ask either of them about Wanderer or Kamisato Ayato and his clan. For Heizou, it's because he worked for the bigwig himself and didn't want word to spread about his comments, and for Kazuha, he had... 'History', as he puts it.

Going past the sudden surprise and the slight confusion between you and the two men, the three of you discussed some ground rules on what they should expect from you and vice versa.

For Kazuha, he wanted more than to treat you like a proper boyfriend, and he didn't have as much limitations other than prying into his past unless stated otherwise.

As for Heizou, he wanted to keep things light and casual, but he also wouldn't like it if you try to get into his connections with the higher up he's working for and for his job.

In your case, you knew it was to be expected. The rules clearly stated that renting a boyfriend in MixMatch is fair game for the boyfriend and the client, and the boyfriend can decide what rule the other party must follow.

It also works as a sort of 'out', just in case they felt as though they wouldn't be able to get along with the boyfriend they rented with a full refund.

With this in mind, you told the two that the same was to be expected: you don't want either of them to dig into your past, and you don't want them to force you to things you hate. After all, you had to scrounge up enough money to afford them as their prices are on the lower side than other guys.

And... Well, that's where you three are at right now. Granted, Kazuha enjoys going out, but he seems to adapt quite easily to your tastes. Heizou, though, enjoyed bantering with someone who can tolerate his little antics like the white haired musician.

Sometimes, you two would end up having a bit of friendly banter on who sucks at a specific game, while Kazuha will play as a 'referee' for the two of you.

One of those moments was now.

"Pfft, you suck at being a hunter, 'zou," you said, your fingers moving to have your little bony knight combat with Hornet. "I'm going to finish Greenpath if you don't come in here soon!"

"Oh, really?" you heard Heizou answer, laughing as he manages to join in the frey. "Well, you clearly aren't doing so good against miss Hornet, Finn."

You flinched as he began to attack you when Hornet wasn't nearby, making you slip and get hurt by the warrior as a result.

"Hey!"

Parrying both attacks, you hear Kazuha enter, the scent of coffee wafting in the air as he placed the mug beside Heizou. At your peripheral vision, he walked off from Heizou's side and went to your right, placing down a drink.

Ah, the scent of strawberry milkshake... You swore this man knows you like it extra sweet.

"It seems you two are at it again," said Kazuha, the albino watching as the two gamers clashed swords, dodging Hornet's attack when she got too close to hurting either of them.

"It's fun, Kazuha! Say, why don't you come in and join me and Finn?"

Kazuha laughed as you hear the cushions move before he sat down.

"No need. I'm more content in watching you two compete over who can beat the game than anything else."

"Aw, boo! You'll enjoy it, Kaz!"

It was you who protested this time, which made the latter hum. Although, you couldn't really look at him as you were busy trying to get Heizou down to his knees (metaphorically, of course).

"Seeing you two bond and play games is enough for me, maple."

... There it is again. The nickname he gives you is enough to make you sputter.

"I-- hmph, you're missing out," you grumbled, but the tone was playful. It was enough to have Heizou chuckle and land a particular hit when you were distracted.

"Whoops~ seems like you aren't looking, retriever," he quips, causing you to huff.

"Oh, shut up!"

For the three of you, the idea of renting a boyfriend to be able to do these things never crossed your minds. To those who are looking in, it just seem more like three friends, hanging out on a special day.

Three friends hanging out in one person's home on Valentine's, sharing laughs and banters as they played games.

Yes. That's how it should be.

After all, you wouldn't want to know what goes underneath that sense of naive fun, would you?

After having beaten Heizou through a 5 round lose streak (seriously, you sometimes wonder if the detective has a damn tracker on you), the three of you realized that you don't have food for the next few days.

In your case, well... You are the definition of a broke college student. Buying groceries outside is almost like some form of scam, considering the inflation on certain goods. But with the two of your boyfriends, budgeting was not an issue.

What was an issue, however, was what was essential to buy and what isn't.

"We may be able to live off with these for a while," you told the two men, your brows furrowed in thought at the list. "Still, I'm not sure if there's anything else we're missing. I don't even know if it adds to the additional fees aside from renting you guys..."

Kazuha shook his head, his hand moving to place it on your shoulder. A comforting gesture, considering you enjoyed touch and craved it from the two of them.

"We talked about this, ダーリン. We made sure that whatever expenses we spent on you wouldn't count to the cost you paid for us beforehand, remember?"

Your frown was still present. It was clear that you were struggling to remember, and it caused Heizou to pat your head with a chuckle.

"Look, if you're so worried that it could, why don't you see it as us treating you? It is Valentine's Day, so it'd be nice if you don't have to remind the two of us and your little head that we cost more than a month's rent."

Ah. Right.

"... Fine," you answered, sighing. "I guess I forgot that you two aren't actually my boyfriends. That, and spending for you two costs an arm, and I'd rather not pay for any additional expenses if I want to live for a year."

This caused them to chuckle.

"Oh, you don't have to."

After all, they have plans they want to spend with on Valentine's Day. Some that you weren't even aware of are already in motion.

Spending time with Heizou was easy, since Kazuha has a full day ahead to make this the most special for the three of you. After all, they've been deciding on how to spend it with the one they love most.

Now, sure, both have their... Differences, but the two loved Finn. To them, they were the best they've met so far, and the chemistry was already there. What more could either of them ask for?

Well, there was one thing they both wanted.

While the two are out buying groceries, Kazuha gets a phone call. Checking his phone, his eyes narrowed to see who was contacting him. Accepting it, he placed it on his shoulder as he got to work on setting up the house.

"Hello, █████."

"Hello, Kazuha," a familiar voice answers. 

"I wasn't expecting for you to contact me so soon," the albino stated, but the warmth in his voice was gone. It was the same thing that the latter could hear as he began to prepare for their final 'surprise'. "Is there another one you're letting us check to see if they pass?"

"... No, it's not that. I'm actually contacting you to inform you of what the Boss wants."

Kazuha stops for a moment, and he took a deep breath to calm his nerves.

He never liked their boss. No one does.

After all, that boss had ties to the underworld and what goes on. It's why they were able to host 'MixMatch', a dating app. Although, if you asked him, he didn't trust that it was a simple 'dating app'.

What dating app would have it's ties to trafficking, anyway?

"... What did he say?"

"He wants the clients that failed to get any matches gone."

...

The glass cup he was holding shatters from his grip.

He needs to clean it up. He does. But that information gave him chills.

"... Is that it?"

"Yes. I'm not sure who would get the short end of the stick, but he's planning on getting our clients involved on that. It's... Terrifying to think about."

Of course it would, he thinks. No one would be sane enough to propose THAT idea, right?

"I see. It... Truly is."

...

"You don't... Plan on hurting them, do you, Kazuha?"

"Why would I?"

He grabbed a broom, watching as he saw the clock move it's hands to strike 4.

"Like I'll let him touch what's ours to begin with."

"We're home! God, going out is such a headache..."

What greeted Finn was a curious sight.

"Welcome home, darling," Kazuha said, placing down the last plate of food he made. "Heizou didn't give you a hard time, did he?"

"Me? Giving our darling Finn a hard time? You wound me, Kazuha!" Heizou stated, placing a hand on his forehead almost dramatically. "It's almost like you forgot that I wouldn't have done anything to them."

"Well, you almost got away with buying more rope when Kazuha said we're on a tight budget—"

"Hey, hey, hey!" He shushed them, seeing Kazuha squint his eyes at the detective. "It's not like I'll spend it outside of our budget! Well... If it's not that expensive."

Finn and Kazuha sighed.

"Please tell me it's for the Crux, Heizou," the musician grumbled, giving him a glare. "For if it's anything else past that, I'll kick your shins in."

Scared of the outcome, Heizou yelped.

"It's for the Crux! Man alive, Kazuha, are you really about to do that just because I want to help miss Beidou?"

“Yes.”

“How terrifying! … And bold.”

Taking a seat, Finn watched the two men bicker lightly as they retrieved their food. They knew that it was Valentine’s, so it was quite pleasant to have a celebration with the people they cared for— rented or not.

Thus, that evening was spent with the trio speaking amongst themselves. Future plans, outings, and even some small in-betweens. Although, Finn didn’t recall when they had lost track of time… Or when they had simply nodded off.

All they knew was that day… It was one of the best celebrations they had.

…

When the two knew they were asleep, Kazuha grabbed his phone, his warm eyes gone cold.

It was time that they faced the truth of their side job: the one thing they needed to do, as much as they hated it. Even if it's only to ‘play’ the part, they’re both used to having their true intentions shielded for their own benefit.

“You know what to do,” he told Heizou, watching him sigh and prepare himself.

“Of course… It’s for our lives, after all.”

The two spared a glance at the slumbering client they had, feeling a sense of pity. They hated hurting these people, but that’s what the boss wanted. Their old one would have objected, but those who worked in Celestia Inc. are aware of the consequences should they be stopped.

And now, they had to swallow the bitter pill that was murder. Such a shame; Heizou was starting to like them, and so was Kazuha.

Raising the gun, he placed the barrel and put his finger on the tri—

Ring, ring.

Ring, ring.

…

Heizou stopped for a moment and grabbed the phone, answering it with his left hand.

“Hello? Who is this?”

…

“Hello, Shikanoin Heizou. Mind if you drop that gun you’re holding and speak to me outside?”

Kazuha scrutinized the look of apprehension as Heizou paused, turning his head to the gun. It was already aimed at their ex-client, but he knew that voice demanded business. Afterwards, he huffed and pulled it away, noticing the albino’s brows furrow.

He was confused, but that’s okay. It was normal to be confused in a situation such as this.

“Hide them somewhere safe,” he mouthed to Kazuha. “I’ll deal with this.”

Watching the musician carry Finn in his arms and leave, he sighed and adjusted the phone on his hands, his eyes remaining sharp as ever. “Alright,” he answered, turning his heel to leave the house. “Would you mind answering as to who I’m speaking to?”

“Oh, you should recognize who I am,” said the caller. “Look up.”

Reaching the porch, he turned his head up, noticing the familiar monochrome and red clashing and mixing into a unified sense of color. And for a mere moment, the ‘detective’ that people loved felt the dread that his past ‘clients’ had, should they be cleaned up with.

“Greetings, Shikanoin Heizou,” the caller greeted, their smile twisting itself when they saw the stiffness from him. “No need to panic. I wouldn’t dare hurt what’s tied to a shady business unless stated otherwise. Now, what brings you here?”

“... I’m here for my client with Kazuha,” answered Heizou, but he sounded curt. “That’s all there is to it.”

“Is it now? And how about those… ‘sweets’ you have? Is there anything in it?”

“Nothing of the sort, miss officer,” he retorted with a shrug, but he stopped moving when he felt the barrel of the gun on his head.

Loaded. Of course.

“I’ll ask again. Is there anything in those ‘sweets’?”

…

One shot and I’d drop dead. Not a good predicament.

“... Yes. Sleeping drugs.”

“I see.”

The barrel didn’t move. It left him even more apprehensive of the outcome. After all, it was clear that whoever they are, they excel a lot more in using guns, and they also have the upper hand against him.

Such a bother.

“One last question: do you mind if you do this favor for me?”

He could feel something cold. Metallic… And clearly not used. There’s a latch on the front, and a sticker that was ripped on its back. He didn’t know what it was, but he could smell the scent of charcoal on it— it was strong enough for him to have a whiff.

“Would you mind burning that house behind you? I’m aware you two have made up your mind that you’d get rid of Finn, but it seems you two got cold feet.”

Heizou seems to have felt his heart stop beating.

How did they know?

“Such a shame. I believe the boss knew you two would be excellent ‘boyfriends’, so to speak,” he heard them continue, sighing. “And here you are, hesitating to murder yet another lovesick ‘client’ who’s grown fond of you two. I’m quite surprised you haven’t seen how twisted this is.”

The barrel digs in deeper to his head.

“Then again, we are all sick in the head, aren’t we?”

…

Heizou had no rebuttal. After all, they all came with ulterior motives.

“Well, Heizou? Will you do the honors?”

“... Fine,” he answered. A bit too late, one may add, but he knew that he was not in a good position. He was being forced, and behind those words, the obvious and looming threat was present.

If you don’t, I’ll inform your boss that you failed the job.

“I’ll burn the place. Kazuha is responsible for taking care of anything else, should there be any more requirements we have to follow after getting rid of the ‘evidence’ here.”

“Splendid. I was wondering if you were truly having cold feet. As expected from a detective such as yourself.”

Satisfied with the response, the caller lowered the gun they had and tucked it away. With a satisfied hum, they turned their heels and walked down the steps, going to the entrance and to their motorcycle parked on the side of the fence.

“Be sure to do the job. You know what happens if you don’t..”

Heizou couldn’t help but stand as he watched them ride on top of a motorcycle and drive off in the night, the feeling of the lighter resting in his hands. He felt that weight grew heavier, knowing fully well that he was forced to do such a crime. His hands were already stained in red, but he felt pity. He didn’t want to kill Finn, and even Kazuha can tell.

He can even see that the once quick detective stopped when the topic of arson came up for his beloved ‘client’.

Alas…

… The die was cast, and the cast must die.

Raising his phone, he contacted Kazuha, texting that he will set the house ablaze— and that he needed Kazuha to take Finn back to their home. Kazuha sent him a text to inform him that he took everything that Finn valued when they were gone, so he should be fine burning it all down.

It was only when he finished texting did he look at the house, lamenting that he felt so… Attached to it, like it was his second home.

Heizou hated that part of himself. That part that wanted to keep things as is, just like the good days.

Those days where Kazuha and the others weren’t as twisted. Those who didn’t have to stain their hands for bloody cash. Those who didn’t want to be reminded of what goes down below. And yet, here he was… Standing over the house like it was him denying the call of adventure.

With one deep breath, he turned the lighter on and tossed it inside. Heizou watched as the flame traveled around the flooring and through the walls, going to various rooms and setting things ablaze quicker than he could catch. It wasn’t long until the house was engulfed in the fire he willingly made, those pops and sizzles haunting his memory.

It was done, he thought.

And yet his chest still felt as heavy as he remembered ever since he ‘got in’.

@.throw-letter-away | do not republish or repost my works anywhere | 2024

[ivoryminitower]

Echoes of Home: 78 - Tsu'na ("conflict")

Echoes of Home: FFXIV AU OC – WoLs on Earth

"Russian sleeper agent":

"A sleeper agent is a spy who is placed in a target country or organization not to undertake an immediate mission but to act as a potential asset if activated"

"Russia is the largest country in the world by area, covering over 17 million square kilometers, with a population of 146 million."

incidents of espionage, murder, political destabilization and military invasion

- "political destabilization": "the action of making a government, area or political group lose power or control, or making a political or economic situation less strong or safe, by making changes or problems"

nuclear weapons

"Coerced by the Chinese government":

"coerce": "persuade to do something by using force or threats"

"China is the world's most populous country, with a population of more than 1.4 billion people, covering an area of approximately 9.6 million square kilometers."

incidents of espionage, citizen repression, military action around borders

nuclear weapons

"Al-Qaeda sympathizer":

"Al-Qaeda is a multinational militant Sunni Islamic extremist network composed of Salafist jihadists."

- "Jihadism has been applied to various insurgent Islamic extremist, militant Islamist, and terrorist individuals and organizations whose ideologies are based on the Islamic notion of jihad."

-- "Jihad": "a struggle or fight against the enemies of Islam"

incidents of terrorism, slaughter and murder

- "terrorism": "the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims"

"ISIS operative":

"Islamic State (IS), Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is a militant Islamic group that follows the Salafi jihadist branch of Sunni Islam."

incidents of terrorism, slaughter and military action

"domestic terrorist":

"a person who commits terrorist acts in their own country against their fellow citizens"

incidents of domestic terrorism in the United States.  Includes Oklahoma City Bombing.

"religious fanatic":

incidents of terrorism, murder, property damage and poisonings in the United States

"political extremist":

"someone whose beliefs fall outside mainstream societal values and on the fringes of the ideological spectrum.  In the U.S., the typical political extremist is motivated by anger, fear and hatred – most commonly toward the government and people of different races, ethnicities and nationalities."

incidents of terrorism, murder, property damage and hate crimes

- "hate crime":

-- "crime committed on the basis of race, color, and religion; may also include crimes committed on the basis of sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and disability"

-- "often a violent crime, such as assault, murder, arson or vandalism, or threats to commit such crimes, or conspiring or asking another person to commit such crimes, even if the crime was never carried out"

"sociopath":

"a person with a personality disorder manifesting itself in extreme antisocial attitudes and behavior and a lack of conscience"

- "murder-suicide": "an act in which an individual kills one or more people before (or while) killing themselves"

- "suicide attack": "any violent attack, usually entailing the attacker detonating an explosive, where the attacker has accepted his own death as a direct result of the attacking method used"

- "spree killer": "someone who commits a criminal act that involves two or more murders or homicides in a short time, in multiple locations"

- "going postal": "becoming extremely and uncontrollably angry, often to the point of violence, and usually in a workplace environment"

Husband taught me more about this world's politics in the five minutes he talked with Sam than in the several weeks in this world he has talked with me.

Few of these ideas were truly new to me.  There were instances of many of them in different forms in Eorzea.  Though I had not heard of an instance of "going postal".  Certainly the moogles did not seem to kill each other.

Husband once quoted a video called Broken Arrow: "I don't know what's worse, that it happens at all or that it happens enough that there's a name for it."  There were no scholars in Eorzea writing articles about such things in Wikipedia, since there was no Wikipedia.  Perhaps there were names for them in a book somewhere in the Great Gubal Library.  I did not notice such a thing in my visits there.

Nuclear weapons are not news to me.  Husband described them when he compared the demonstration of the Ultima weapon in the Praetorium to a nuclear explosion.  He said there were single nuclear bombs that could destroy entire cities, things the size of cars that could be dropped from airships or flown on rockets across seas and continents.  He probably meant an Earth city, of which apparently there are far larger than Tulsa.

He said he thought the Ultima weapon could fit in a beer keg.

Wikipedia says the United States has many nuclear weapons, as do Russia and China, more than enough to kill all the people in all three countries and perhaps damage the entire world.  And China is not kind to its people, and Russia is not kind to its neighbors, and the United States leadership changes often and who the United States is kind to can change with it.

And there are other countries with nuclear weapons, and countries with chemical weapons like Black Rose, and countries and former countries and potential countries with guns and bombs and spies and willingness to do harm.  And this is the state of the world without people like us in quantity who can lift cars and use magic and teleport and carry guns and poison and nuclear weapons in their inventory.

Husband perhaps should have mentioned this when he spoke of confused and upset hyur.

Superman is older than nuclear weapons, but even before them the idea of a hero must have been appealing to people, one who could fly and who could not be shot or blown up.  The minstrels in Eorzea did well with stories of heroes.

But for a story of a hero to be interesting, there must be a target for his heroism.  The primals we fought in Eorzea were our targets.  If we had not fought primals, there would not have been as many stories about us.

Likewise, the superheroes in the comic books have supervillains to fight.  The people who invent superheroes invent supervillains too.  Perhaps the conflict is the reason for the stories rather than the superheroes themselves.  Perhaps people like stories about conflict.

Is that why there is so much violence in this world?  Do people here like conflict?

We can do things most people cannot.  Are we superheroes?  Must we expect conflict and supervillains?

I asked Husband about this as we settled in to bed after work.  He told me to add Spiderman to my reading.

[fishrpg]

2024-12-12: Ohio (Hex 12)

Great fields of corn are wedged between stands of buckeye trees growing near the numerous streams and rivers, though the waters often smell of industrial chemical runoff. The way to the northeast is prone to delays.

Notable Feature: Black Star Salvage Yard (Resource)

A vast expanse of old and partially-destroyed vehicles stretches out across one side of the highway. For a small fee and a few hours of searching, any component that would reasonably found in heavy machinery, commercial trucks, or consumer automobiles can be located here. Black Star Salvage Yard is a reputable business that is able to offer such cheap prices and broad inventory because the company is able to tow all the vehicles that get stranded on The Routes. The profits from the salvage are invested in Black Liberation movements (which will eventually include the Black Panther Party in the winter of 1966). After paying the entry fee to the salvage yard, each paying customer can select from several salvage options:

A single perfectly functional part that looks brand new

Two mostly-functional parts (they don’t have to be the same part) that have a 50% chance of malfunctioning when used

Four parts (they don’t have to be the same part) that are probably broken, but have a 25% chance of working if installed

Six parts (don’t have to be the same) that are definitely broken but can be relatively easily repaired with the right tools

Mix and match from options 2-4, taking half of the indicated parts from each of any two of those options

It takes 4 hours to search for the needed parts, but they will always be found. Helping can halve the time it takes to find the requested part(s), but the person who is helping doesn’t get to request select from the above salvage options.

Service Station (Black Star Fuel and Towing Company)

Located next door to the Black Star Salvage Yard is a service station owned by the same company. It’s a sturdy building with walls made of painted cinderblock, prioritizing functionality and protection over aesthetics, which is an unfortunate necessity after several racially-motivated arson attempts on the property. The store proudly serves people of any color, creed, or national origin, though making bigoted remarks and acting a fool will result in the offender being forcibly removed from the establishment. LeDarius Huffman runs the service station and freely hands out business cards for their towing services in case of problems along The Routes. He also tries to upsell customers on a more expensive rescue service (paid in advance, of course!).

The tow truck drivers will provide vehicle assistance and towing at any point along The Routes, though the service is neither cheap nor without risk outside of Ohio. Black Star employs 10 tow truck drivers who work in teams of two. At any given time, three teams are patrolling The Routes for abandoned vehicles to salvage, one team is on call local vehicle trouble, while the final team rests. Each tow team is far more familiar with The Routes than the average driver and knows how to reliably cross dangerous shortcuts that are either unknown to most travelers or are too risky. The teams travel with firearms to deal with the horrors lurking in the shadows of The Routes, extra fuel to traverse long stretches without service stations, and food to last for up to four days.

If the party has paid for the rescue service and needs help outside of Ohio or its adjacent hexes, a tow team can arrive at the party’s location in four hours. From there, the tow team can traverse a hexes at a rate of 1 hour per hex, regardless of terrain or if a segment is prone to delays. Inside Ohio or its adjacent hexes, the tow team can arrive within an hour and return to the service station in an hour. If a person lacks the money to pay for towing, Ledarius or the tow team drivers will accept payment in the form of political action. Payments of this kind inevitably involve putting oneself into a life threatening situation.

[wardenswateringhole]

ASK ME ANYTHING: INTRODUCING ARSON!

Additional Information:

Likes

Flowers (only in nature)

Piano

Firm or crunchy food

Laughing

Cuddling

Dislikes

Violence

Soft runny foods

Seeing his friends struggling

Glitter

Hot Weather

Is a giggly bitch. He can keep a straight face for a long time but once the dam breaks it's hard to make it stop. He gets the giggles like nobody's business.

Likes puns. Loves to see the eye rolls and groans of those that don't. Guilty pleasure for him.

Like fruity cock tails or “girly drinks”. Doesn't mind being buzzed, but despises the feeling of being full on drunk.

Has never taken any kind of recreational drug.

Patience of a saint. Very rarely raises his voice. Immediately feels bad afterward.

Will bend over backwards for those around him. Often times at his own detriment. Needs to be reminded it's okay to be selfish and to take care of himself first.

LOVES LOVES LOVES HUGS!!!

Loves being loved on in general. Treat him like a giant stuffed toy. He will be in pure bliss.

Exercises not to keep fit but as a meditative activity. Moving around helps him think.

Favorite scent is fresh linen.

Has a hard time with confrontation when it comes to defending himself. Not a physical fighter at all. Will use his size and natural intimidation to attempt to defend his friends though.

Whimsy likes to steal things and cause mischief. He shampoos her in coconut scented soap to so he can tell if she's the guilty party as a sniff.

Whimsy likes to also store things in her fluff. If you've lost something, it's most likely in her fluff hoard. She has a special love of keys.

His dad had hoped to have him take over the breeding business as he saw Arson's docile nature as perfect for handling fire types. Fully accepted it when Arson expressed he didn't want to take over. His sister took over instead.

Was born in Alola but moved to Unova as a teen. Still has his dad and older sister in Alola. Mother died from illness not too long before he moved.

Had tried to play piano professionally at various establishments. Made good money and was well enjoyed but felt like playing for money took the enjoyment out of it for him. Plays only for his own fulfillment now.

Had an abusive ex. They took full advantage of his docile nature. They would get drunk and hit and yell at him. Not a fan of the smell of beer as a result. The sound of a drink can opening sometimes makes him jump. Doesn't like to talk about it for being made fun of about it in the past.

Was rescued from his abusive relationship by a private detective his sister had hired. They were kind enough to let him bunk with them until he got back on his feet. They treat each other as siblings as a result of being together so long. She still comes by his place and work to check up on him.

His Team

Whimsicott – Whimsy

Arcanine – Kelvin IV

Luvdisc – Kissy

Ampharos – Joule

Absol - Edge

Krookodile - Dill

((I feel in a slump lately and need something fun to get me going. Ask him anything you like.))

[ejzah]

The Agent and the Fireman, Part 10

***

After a short debriefing with the Captains Palmy and Bates, two arson investigators, and Deeks, they were given custody of the lighter and any other evidence. They’d also been given approval to use Deeks as a liaison. With that in mind, they’d decided to regroup at the boat shed.

“Is that a code name?” Deeks asked once his superiors had dispersed and it was just NCIS and him left. “The boat shed?”

“Nope, it’s literally a boat shed repurposed for our interrogations and meetings with non-NCIS staff,” Callen replied, folding his arms over his chest.

Clearly this was some kind of test, so Deeks just nodded along as though using a boat shed for classified business made perfect sense. He’d heard enough rumors about NCIS over the years from Bates to know they were decidedly quirky for a federal agency, which worked just fine for him. “Cool. I love the water.”

“Of course you do,” Sam commented under his breath. “Tell me, do you surf, Lieutenant?”

“Every chance I get,” Deeks confirmed. “Which admittedly isn’t so often these days, but I’m not complaining. Why do you ask?”

“Oh, no reason. You just seem the type.” Sam’s grin in Kensi’s direction suggested otherwise. As did the way she suddenly dipped her head for a second before leveling the other agent with a glare fiery enough to burn a brick house down.

“Alright, are we done with the small talk? Because there’s an arsonist out there,” Kensi said with a “wrap it up” gesture.

“Right. Deeks you can ride with one of us—”

“I’ll do it,” Kensi volunteered quickly, interrupting Callen. Deeks just barely held back a grin at her eagerness. “What? There’s more room in the SUV.”

“Uh-huh. Alright, we’ll meet you there.”

“Don’t take any detours, kids,” Sam said as they walked through the tent flap.

“You know, if you wanted to spend more time with me, all you had to do was ask,” Deeks teased quietly.

“I just don’t want to give them the chance to give you dirt on me,” she insisted.

“Ooh, that’s implies there’s dirt to know.” He wiggled his eyebrows a couple times.

Kensi shook her head, starting to brush past him, but he stopped her with a finger to her shoulder.

“Hey, just so you know, I want to spend as much time with you as possible too,” he informed her.

Her cheeks darkened slightly with a light flush, and she stepped back to look him up and down suggestively.

“Preferably some of that time is in private in the very near future,” she whispered in his ear.

***

A petite brunette woman and a man with short curly blonde hair were already set up with tablets and folders when Deeks and Kensi entered the boat shed.

Deeks detected a faint fishy smell and noted the various boats and surf boards hanging from the walls. He tried to imagine Agent Callen or Sam breaking out one of the boards in a spare moment, and had to conceal the resulting smile that thought produced.

“Deeks, this is Eric Beale, our technical operator and Nell Jones, Intelligence Analyst. Eric and Nell, Lieutenant Marty Deeks of the LAFD,” Callen said, handling introductions.

Beale gave him a short wave and a smile while Nell Jones tilted her head, clearly scrutinizing him. He wondered what she hoped to find.

“Nice to meet you,” Deeks said, nodding to each of them. “I’ve heard about you guys from one of our analysts and he’s really impressed with the kinds of results you achieve so quickly.”

“Why thank you, sir,” Eric responded with a small, but pleased smile. “We do our best.”

“Wow, cute, charming, and a fireman. What more could I ask for?” Nell responded, and Deeks huffed out a laugh of surprise.

“Nell, not now,” Kensi sighed, and Deeks turned his head enough to smirk at her. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Nell give Kensi a double thumbs up.

“Moving on to the case, did you get anything from the lighter found at the fire site?” Callen asked.

“Yes. The lab results came back on the fingerprints LAPD collected.” Eric tapped something on his tablet, dramatically gesturing to the large screen mounted across the room. “And there was a partial fingerprint that matches one Jason McHenry.”

A picture of a man with a medium build, short brown hair, brown eyes, and a truly unremarkable appearance popped onto the screen.

“McHenry is 37 years old. He dropped out of Cal Tech after one year before accepting an entry level position at a plumbing company. Since then he has lived in six different states and held a variety of blue collar jobs, most recently as a subcontractor for a cleaning company,” Nell added.

“Well, custodial work would certainly be a good way of getting access to a building,” Kensi observed. “I bet most people wouldn’t even look twice at a guy in a pair of coveralls and the administration wouldn’t even remember they had a sub in for a few days.”

“Can you check if he has any prior history of arson or similar criminal activity?” Deeks asked, drawing a nod of approval from Sam.

“Good thinking.”

“Let me see.” Eric tapped away, his fingers a blur as he typed. “Jason McHenry doesn’t have any prior criminal charges, not even a parking or speeding ticket.” He raised a finger, eye lowered as he read. “However, when we go way back to little Jason, a shed on his parents property burn down. They filed a police report, believing it was the work of some troubled teens in the neighborhood, but no charges were ever submitted.”

“And there we go,” Sam said quietly. “I bet if we look a little deeper, we’ll find a whole lot of small fires linked with this guy.”

“Mm, yeah. He seems to be a pretty smart guy, if a little arrogant. Based on the types of accelerants he used and the way he was able to conceal them, get past security, and time the fires when the building were empty for the most part, I’d say this is not the first time he’s done something like this. I think he’s just got cocky with this last batch.” Deeks shrugged, hoping he hadn’t overstepped, but he was there to liaise after all.

“You think he’s for hire?” Callen asked.

“For most of these, yeah, I do.”

“Ok, I need to make a few calls.” Callen grabbed his cell, stepping several feet away, Agent Hanna following him.

“Don’t you want to listen in?” Deeks asked when Kensi stayed by his side.

“They’ll fill me in when they’re done.” She glanced over his shoulder suddenly, and he followed her gaze, seeing Nell watching them with obvious interest. “Come with me.” Hand lightly on his forearm, she led him around a corner and out of sight of prying eyes.

“Ooh, junkyard chic,” he said approvingly of the small filled with an interesting collection of items, including a worn bike and flippers.

“It’s a cover. Who’d ever suspect that top secret operations go on here?” Kensi didn’t wait for him to answer question, drifting closer until there were maybe six inches separating their bodies. “That was very impressive, by the way,” she added, changing the subject and the tone as her voice dropped several notches.

“You mean my profiling back there?” He hooked his thumb over his shoulder. “It’s part of what we’re trained to do.”

“Yes, but I found your confidence…appealing. Some people can be a little intimidated by Sam and Callen, but you’re not at all.”

“Oh, you like that, huh?” Deeks murmured, shifting a step forward, closing the distance by half. Kensi nodded, bottom lip tucked between her teeth. “There’s something about running into burning buildings that knocks the fear out of you. Plus, when I was younger, I tended to get a lot of flack for oh so many reasons, so I learned how to stand up for myself,” he explained.

As he spoke, his voice grew softer, the air between them warming with potential and the heat of their bodies so close together. Kensi swayed towards him and she settled her thumbs at the top of his waist, thumbs light on his back. He saw her eyes drop to his lips, the the rich brown even darker than usual.

Dipping his head, he lowered his lips towards hers as she tipped her chin up. He felt a whisper of her breath on his lips, the faint smell of lavender as her hair fell back from her face—

“Kensi!”

They both jerked back at the sound of Agent Callen’s voice, Kensi’s head swiveling towards the doorway, though she didn’t drop her hands from his waist immediately. She sighed heavily in frustration.

“We need to solve this case now,” she decided, voice dark with annoyance. With a final sound of regret, she slid her hand up his chest, leaving a trail of warmth in its wake.

***

A/N: Yes, I did create a temporary firefighter liaison position for Deeks. Because he’s special. And Kensi needs to spend more time with him. Even if it kills her.

As always, in these AUs, Nell is a little more feisty and has a thing for Deeks. Though she would never seriously go for him.

[second-wife-playbook]

Goetia Lore: Crime and Court Politics

While the regular citizen of Hell can be convicted, sentenced and punished by the law depending on the judge, the royals of Hell have traditionally been viewed as the exceptions. Whether it's petty crime, such as larceny or theft, to something major like murder or arson, the Goetia hold far too much sway in courts to have a case even reach court.

Instead, Goetic crimes only reach court when the consequences reach a massive scale.

Though they only make up a very minor portion of Hell's society, because royal demons sit at the top, their scale of misdeeds can be far greater if they are not kept in check. Historically, family feuds between rival houses, or even between relatives, have caused extensive troubles for ordinary Hellborn citizens. These disputes, unfortunately, often spawn from petty disagreements turned deadly. Goetia who employ assassins and gangs often use them to initiate miniature civil wars in order to establish territory or slow the progress of a rival...not unlike the fights between Overlords for turf.

Usually these squabbles are ended when the death toll or property damage exceeds a certain amount. But these squabbles can still be handled out of court. There are however, three major crimes that can instantly go to court, and would result in even more severe punishment than mere jailtime for a Goetia.

These crimes being treason, royal assassinations, and conspiracy.

In terms of exposing Hell's greater secrets to the Living World, attempting to murder its upper class, or otherwise plotting to overthrow the powers that be, a Goetia can find themselves in extremely hot water. And while the courts that oversee these crimes are very particular about witness testimony, proof, and certainty of guilt, it is a terrible fate should the judge and jury vote guilty on the defendant.

As it is the prerogative of the highest of the highest to dictate punishment, usually the head judge of these court cases is either King Paimon or the King of the Ring in which the royal demon is a resident of. The mildest a royal can get off with these crimes is being stripped of their titles, properties and wealth, and being barred from the Royal Circle.

The most extreme punishment however, is not death. Though execution can still be a final verdict, the most extreme punishment, saved for those who cause the most trouble, is exile.

What is frightening about this sentence however, is that no one knows where the defendant is exiled to. As it happens out of sight of the rest of the world, the terms of exile remain a mystery. It is not however, considered to be a good outcome. Many Goetia rumor that exiled royals are sent to Limbo...a dreary world inbetween life and death, where one's only purpose is to wander through grey mist, forever lost. Some have darker interpretations.

It remains the most feared outcome, and as of yet, only two royals are known to suffer it.

[magmacannon]

9, 13, 28-34 for romanman!

hell... YES more of this guy

9. Do they give tough love or gentle love most often? Which do they prefer to receive?

Roman 95% of the time uses gentle love and prefers to have it about 90% of the time! It may not get meaningful results as quickly sometimes but he tries to lead with compliments and add suggestions until it's necessary to have a slightly firmer hand (and even then he's as kind and compromising as he can manage to be). He's only really prone to put his foot down sharply in highly stressful situations that he really feels he has THE answer to.

13. When do they fake a smile? How often?

I don't think I'd count it as faking a smile when he greets people he's nervous to meet so much as just putting one on (which he does almost every time he meets new people.) He fakes a smile in response to Vulture bringing in strange spiders from the woods and when he's trying to be polite about topics he's not interested in but that others obviously are - it's not nearly as often as he genuinely smiles, at least.

28. What do they tell people they want? What do they actually want?

He wants the thrill of adventure and to explore the world! (And Friends)

And he really wants friends who share his interests in magic more than anything, and is a little worried at the fact that he wants to Do Heroics while also really really wanting to wake up next to Vince in his tower in Roanroot every day and just have a chill one more often than not.

29. How do they respond when someone doesn’t believe them?

Stubbornly... Roman will argue until he visibly annoys someone it he's really bend on getting someone to believe him. If it's lower stakes he'll shrug and tell them to suit themselves (and still argue it to himself for a good bit internally pff)

30. When they make a mistake and feel bad, does the guilt differ when it’s personal versus when it’s professional?

hhoo there's not much difference at this exact moment because he has not that much experience with professional teamwork. If he makes a mistake with a potion in Roanroot he'll feel bad about it internally much more than externally, and will just seek to right that wrong to whoever bought the potion immediately (and free of cost). As far as the adventuring party does, he's treating mistakes/conflict as something he's done wrong Personally 90% of the time and it much more visibly upset about it, though he still tries to fix it (or is stubborn about trying to get someone to see something from his perspective).

31. When do they feel the most guilt? How do they respond to it?

The most guilt he feels is when he makes Vince sad/mad/disappointed or worried about him/what he's doing. Historically he's gone from immediately folding and moving as far from the guilt-causing thing as he could to still feeling bad but trying to talk about/through it to having usually very productive conversations after a period of figuring out how to best communicate (and giving space if needed).

Second to that is disappointing/truly upsetting literally anyone else - he's likely to react emotionally and cow to appease a little in the moment, though he IS still pretty decent at trying to communicate and compromise when given a bit to cool off.

32. If they committed one petty crime / misdemeanor, what would it be? Why?

This is difficult because he generally follows laws pretty decently and the laws he'd break are.... generally very large and in self-defense (murder, arson - evocation wizard). Uhhh he'd park illegally??? But I don't think that's a problem in Dorna. Uhhh he could be convinced into petty theft for what could be argued to be a good cause.

33. How do they greet someone they dislike / hate?

If he had to keep up appearances it's a nod (no smile) and a steady gaze/firm handshake if expected. If he doesn't have to maintain some decency and he actually hates someone then he'd probably sneer a bit (tbh Roman sneering is probably just a frown most of the time) and try to leave the area rather than acknowledge them.

34. How do they greet someone they like / love?

Incredible enthusiasm... a lot of excited waving and big smiles and depending on the person a hug (or a leap into a hug/kiss for Vince). Roman has a very visible sliding scale of excitement in greetings pff

[franceblr]

halfbaked sasodei headcanon #4, modern edition, killing eve inspired cause i suck:

deidara is 21 and sasori is 37. they live together and are engaged. they’re also part of the akatsuki, a terrorist organization that operates across borders. the akatsuki works independently, though sometimes they get hired for political assassinations: their areas of activity range from destabilizing governments, hitmen work, to secondary activities such as fraud and trafficking. sasori’s expertise is espionage work and assassinations, while deidara is the bomber of the organization. they’re partners. they travel often for their work but they’re stationed in london.

ok but hear me out: russian deidara. from his blonde hair, height and blue eyes, to his fucked up sense of humour and crass manners, his booming laughter, his bluntness, his cruelty, his ability to outdrink even kakuzu, his love for luxury and designer items, dei’s russian through and through. deidara is linguistically gifted, so he hides his accent fairly well: he’s actually able to successfully mimic all sorts of english accents, and greatly enjoys parroting sasori’s own inflection, to his fiancé’s chagrin. deidara is very careful about putting on his best neutral american accent in his day to day, as brits usually take him for a yankee anyways. but it’s very energy consuming and tiresome, so with the akatsuki he settles for a less perfect english, but always being careful of not letting the russian inflection peek through too much. though he’s fluent in english, he still struggles with pronouncing “w”s and “th” sounds, his “h”s sound too harsh, and he tends to forego articles. he always comes up with an absurd variation of a popular saying and tries to gaslight everyone into believing he’s right. only sasori knows what his actual pronunciation sounds like: when he’s tired or angry it bleeds through even when deidara would rather not. his natural inflection is quite deep and stiff, his sounds too harsh or too soft, but sasori finds it extremely charming and he treasures jealously the intimacy that comes with being the only one who knows.

deidara never speaks russian unless he absolutely has to on missions, and he doesn’t respond if addressed in russian. sasori still catches him asbent mindedly listening to other people’s conversations and phonecalls in russian, though deidara always brushes him off and denies everything. it’s not that he’s awfully self conscious about his origins: it’s just not something deidara likes to be asked about. sasori knows almost nothing of deidara’s life back in russia, only that he was born in a rural city and likely had a difficult upbringing, surrounded by poverty, ignorance and an unforgiving climate; sasori knows he committed arson when he was 11, and spent a few years in a reformatory. as a result of this, deidara’s exceptionally street smart with a prominent penchant for violence, but his education has a lot of gaps, and sasori often has to teach him about cultural references and basic knowledge kids are taught in middle school. deidara makes up for the lack of schooling with his high intelligence and his curiosity; he is also an avid reader and collects and absorbs all information he can get his hands on. that sasori knows of, deidara has no family and no friends back home. he isn’t sure how or when deidara got to the uk, but he knows he changed his surname; his real passport still has his russian surname on it.

deidara prefers the eu over england, and whenever they get assigned missions there he’s eager to chat up to locals in french or german, and he always makes sasori detour through shops and boutiques, local cafés and restaurants, art galleries and bakeries. sasori, ever the pragmatic, has more of an in and out approach and would usually settle for modest accomodations, but deidara is a huge spender and he rejoices immensely in lavish hotels, fancy pastries and expensive clothes. sasori allows him, cause he gets unsufferably bratty when he doesn’t get his way, and also because he enjoys seeing deidara walk around paris like a child in a candy store.

despite his quirks, deidara is an extremely efficient partner and a master strategist. in contrast with his pretty face and laid back personality, he’s also exceedingly violent and cold. sasori himself is no stranger to spilled blood and torture, ever precise and ruthless: but the way deidara goes from being an extravagant brat to a deranged and cruel international terrorist never ceases to amaze sasori. he doesn’t quite enjoy inflicting pain on others in the sadistic and obsessive way sasori does, but instead finds great humour and mirth in what they do, as if aware of some great irony or joke that sasori isn’t privy to. sasori doesn’t always know where to trace the line between dei being russian and dei being insane, but he chalks it up to his origins nevertheless.

part of the money deidara makes working for the akatsuki goes into paying for his tuition at a private art academy; they don’t really care deidara is a high school dropout as long as he pays. despite being often away on missions and his attendance being flakey, deidara excels in all of his classes, yet has a hard time fitting in with his classmates; considering most of them are trust fund kids and not full time members of an international terrorist organization, deidara hasn’t made any real friends. the overall consesus seems to be that he’s very pleasant and friendly yet unsettling in a way nobody can pinpoint. he still parties like a regular 21 y/o when he’s off duty.

sasori proposed to deidara in their first months of dating, and they’ve been engaged for two years. sasori wants deidara to graduate before they get married. deidara will take sasori’s surname.

sasori’s father was a japanese diplomat who was murdered on a mission abroad along with sasori’s mother. because of the nature of his parents’ job, sasori travelled a lot as a child; after his parents’ death sasori moved back to london, where he studied medicine. later on he became a trauma surgeon working for the army in war torn countries. the homicide of his parents paired with the horrors he saw working as a surgeon cemented in him the radical belief that the order of things has to be overturned in order to free society of corruption, war and poverty. it wasn’t hard to recruit him for the akatsuki, and he’s one of the first members to have joined. with his military background and psychopathic tendencies, sasori adapted to his new life fairly easily.

deidara is entirely devoted to sasori and worships the ground he walks on despite their many differences. sasori is deidara’s everything, his partner, mentor, lover, friend and confidant; he trusts his judgement blindly and is loyal to sasori first and foremost. he’s got huge attachement issues and he’s very codependent on his fiancé. sasori is less overt with his affection, but he’s equally deidara’s as deidara is sasori’s; he’s extremely protective of deidara and spoils him rotten. even though their lifestyle is violent, uncertain and overall crazy, they’re a functional (or as functional as it gets with them) couple that enjoys the smaller pleasures in life.

deidara may not be crazy about mother russia, but he’s a huge sucker for traditional russian cuisine staples like borscht, potatoes and the baked pies; he also makes a mean solyanka. as a slavic person he gets regular manicures, is always dolled up, and has an insane tolerance for distilled liquors.

[dzthenerd490]

File: Attack the Block

SCP#: AFY

Code Name: Blue Tooth Hounds

Object Class: Euclid

Special Containment Procedures: SCP-AFY instances are contained at in an artificially created cave system that spans 150x150 meters wide at Site-AA. They are bred and trained in that area so that they can become proper hounds for Mobile Task Force Demeter-4 "Animal Control". No one besides Level 4 Clearance or a member of MTF Demeter-4 is allowed within the containment area of SCP-AFY. Any testing with SCP-AFY must be approved by a Level 4 Clearance Staff. 

In the event of a containment breach a pheromone is to be released within the SCP-AFY containment area. This pheromone will make them docile and want to hide by any means available. Should they smell anyone with an unidentifiable smell enter the containment area they will hunt them down and kill them. A calming pheromone will be released after the containment breach has been cleared. 

Description: SCP-AFY is a species of Quadrupedal aliens that came to earth via meteor. The males of the species all are large being able to stand 5 to 6 feet tall and weight on average 600 to 1200 pounds. They have no visible sensory organs, small but sharp claws, and for some reason glowing blue teeth. They also have fur so black that it absorbs all forms of light making them look like living and moving blobs of darkness. 

Despite having no sensory organs SCP-AFY has a keen sense of smell especially for pheromones. As such the females of the species produce these pheromones regularly quite similar to how a queen ant of a colony sprays pheromones on the ants to follow her orders. Unlike the males the female is devoid of hair and has a body size of 3 -4 feet tall. They are also relatively weak without male guards, but they do have a defense mechanism of spraying hostile pheromones onto their attackers. 

As a whole, the species is extremely fast and flexible able to run along any terrain with ease and at a speed of 30 to 50 MPH. They can climb across any surface, and break through glass, metal, and even concrete with ease. Their sense of hearing is incredible, and their bodies are durable enough to resist most melee and even basic firearm attacks. However heavy firearms, explosives, and energy-based attacks are quite effective against them. Furthermore, despite their great senses, they mostly focus on pheromone commands often ignoring prey when it hasn't been sprayed by hostile pheromones.

SCP-AFY was discovered in 2011 when an apartment building at [data expunged]. The Foundation was called to action when an agent living in the building as well as another agent passing by saw the SCP-AFY male instances roaming around the apartment building. The England Division of the Foundation deployed Mobile Task Force Artemis-6 "Wild Hunt" to capture all of the anomalous beasts. Though they captured a few the female was already killed, and the rest were killed by a boy who calls himself Moses and his friends. However, they were arrested by the police who believed they killed everyone who died by the SCP-AFY instances and caused the explosion in the name of arson. 

Foundation agents disgusted as detectives offered the boys positions at the Foundation under Protocol "Sole Survivor". They accepted and are now under training to become MTF units within the Foundation. As for a majority of the survivors of the apartment they were given the proper amnestics and sent to new apartments with £5,000 each as compensation for their troubles as well as hush money. The cover story for the boys was that they really did attack the apartment and were given capital punishment as a result, fake bodies were created for the funerals. Surprisingly a lot of people showed up to said funeral not remembering much but believing Moses and his boys were heroes.

Update 2013 - Moses and his men have completed their training they are now the newest recruits of Mobile Task Force Epsilon-11 "Nine-Tailed Fox". Unlike normal MTF Epsilon-11 units they are quite talkative and have good charisma making them instant favorites among Foundation staff. a majority of Mobile Task Force Alpha-1 "Red Right Hand" do not like this, so they are often handled by MTF Alpha-1 unit "Monster Slayer".

.

SCP: Horror Movie Files Hub

[limepigeon]

4 and 19 from the ask game u reblogged, if ur down? 👀

Thank you so much for the ask! These answers are for Arson! :) 4: When scared, does your OC fight, flee, freeze or fawn?

I think it's a toss up between fight or flee, but the result would be the same - either run from the problem or eradicate it, as long as it's gone and they don't have to deal with it (right now). They have trained away their freeze response to their best ability and replaced it with action, which isn't the best when dealing with personal/people problems.

19: How does your OC behave when enraged?

Arson is definitely the type to lash out, most often verbally. They would scream at you and grasp for anything they know about you that would really hurt you. They are not beyond throwing a punch either though (see Herald on the roof).

Thank you for letting me rant about my boy! <3