#booker will try to protect him as best he can but also like

[mugenloopdalove]

Honestly, the majority of s/is on here are pretty basic (my own included). Nobody's trying to win the Booker prize here, we're just having fun. You could have the best written s/i in the world and they still wouldn't get much attention because you're so pushy for interaction. You're scaring the hoes (casual anons) by suicide baiting and acting like your mental health hinges on getting the right kind of ask at the right time. We're all just here to have fun...

I think constantly making fun posts about your s/i and letting your followers get to know them organically is the key to making people love them. There's no magic bullet to force it. I still don’t know anything about Theil's bond with Astarion aside from "lets him drink their blood in a horny way".

I mean. My sui stuff yesterday was a genuine HUGE breakdown bc like. I had a lot happen at once the past week or so and then one thing kind of broke the camels back. Still wasn't good but I was genuinely so low I wanted to just be gone

And I feel like others get way more than me sometimes but talking w some others I realized it's. Confirmation bias and it's harder to see someone NOT getting something than it is to see someone getting it.

Oh gosh theil's Astarion thing is. Like.

The reason they literally let him KILL THEM the first time he fed in them was bc it was the first real physical content they had in ages it was hardly even that horny (not that it wasn't a lil. They're a big ol slut.) it was just. Holy fuck there is someone else touching me for once. Everything feels distant and fuzzy but I don't care if he's not touching me I think I'll die anyway.

Then just. The way she talked to them. The attention. The praise. The not only not getting mad if they did something a bit morally fucked but ENCOURAGING it. Everything about it was PERFECT to them. So of course they jump at the first chance for sex and eat up when they get closer.

And then seeing Astarion vulnerable and realizing that. I can protect them. At that point they were already pretty much in love. Which is why the whole "Isn't it nice not to know" thing drives them up the FUCKING WALL and eventually leads to a lot of tension between them because NO. ITS NOT NICE. I WANT TO KNOW. ARE YOU SERIOUS OR NOT.

It's also what leads to them sleeping w Mizora like it's absolutely not the not having sex for so long thing it's wanting to feel something more for once and maybe she'll show me that. She didn't and it leads to more rockiness.

From like. Late act 2 to act 3 the two kind of. Bicker a lot. A LOT. The stress is breaking both of them and lack of actual communication of their feelings is making the whole situation a mess. But. After Cazador they both kind of realize. We have to work a lot of things out. They def talk a LOT after the graveyard sex about just... How they both feel about a lot of things (and Astarion offered to throw Theil's parents caskets into the river-they absolutely do this later). They still have a lot of tense moments and still argue more than they should because they're both just. Still kind of wrecks that let tadpoles eat a good chunk of their brains. But it's still like... Overall happy and loving even if they sometimes bring out the worst in each other

[jackjolene]

BioShock/Sinking City: Jackabeth Family Headcanons

These are my headcanons for the Jackabeth family: Jack Jolene, Elizabeth DeWitt Jolene, their five adopted daughters (Sally, Masha, Leta, Annabelle, and Daisy), their biological son Booker, and of course, Brigid Tenenbaum.

Having grown up in Rapture, almost every former Little Sister had agoraphobia - the fear of open spaces. Sally, Masha, Leta, Annabelle, and Daisy had Jack and Liz to help them adapt to the surface world and not hide away within the rooms of the Grimhaven Bay Lighthouse. Tenenbaum made sure to aid the orphanage’s staff in caring for the 35 new arrivals and helping them to adjust.

One of the games that the girls loved to play with Jack and Liz was Hide-and-Seek. However, their variant had Jack or Liz using their different flavors of invisibility to hide in plain sight, with the rest of them being the Seekers. Jack’s Camouflage tonic required him to stay completely still, so finding him wasn’t as hard as trying to find Liz. Her Peeping Tom plasmid allowed her to move around and remain invisible, making for Hide-and-Seek games where she remained unfound until the end of the game, or until she ran out of EVE.

Their all-time favorite show is The Twilight Zone. Jack and Liz both had their lives turned completely upside-down and then thrust into some of the strangest, most bizarre, and horrible situations that anyone has ever been in, just like the characters in the show. The girls enjoy watching because their parental figures do. Also, Liz has a secret crush on Rod Serling (which Jack completely knows about).

As soon as the girls are old enough, Jack and Liz teach them how to shoot guns. After everything they’ve been through, none of them want to be without the means of defending themselves. Especially in a city like Oakmont....

When the girls became old enough to date, Jack convinces Liz to “chaperone” - that is, to follow them while invisible and make sure that their date doesn’t try anything. Liz would be annoyed by this, if Oakmont wasn’t infested with inhuman monsters that could occasionally take on Human form. 

After a bunch of close calls where she’s almost found out “chaperoning”, Liz begins to wonder if this is all necessary. She and Jack almost have a fight about it. He manages to convince her to do it just one more time; she agrees, and that’s the night she has to step in to protect her youngest daughter. Not from a monster, but from the date attempting to rape her.

While Liz got their daughter home, Jack contacted Charles about how to get rid of a body - one that was still alive, to be exact. A few hours later, the would-be rapist woke up in the basement of the Department of Medicine at Oakmont University, just in time to see Jack flip a switch and run upstairs, fast. An inhuman roar echoed through the room, followed immediately afterwards by very human screaming.

Just as Jack and Liz come to see Charles as something of a father figure (Liz especially), the girls come to see him as a grandfather figure. His scary stories are the best! The Jolene family becomes somewhat of an extension of the Reed family over the years, with Charles’ kids being aunt and uncle figures.

When Booker comes along, the girls, having now entered their teenage years, are enamored with him. Liz is happy to have had a child, one of the many dreams she gave up after the events in Columbia. Jack is glad to not be the only guy in the family anymore. 

When Booker is about six years old, one of Tenenbaum’s theories turns out to be right: He has inherited his parent’s plasmids and gene tonics, all of them. 

Booker is frightened out of his wits by all the things he can do now: Shooting fire, lightning, ice, and bees out of his hands, suddenly becoming faster and stronger, turning invisible, etc. It’s too much for him. Thankfully, he’s got a very good support system: Three mentors to help him with his powers(Jack, Liz, and, at this point, Eleanor Lamb), someone who knows what’s going on genetically (Tenenbaum), and a gaggle of loving sisters.

When puberty begins to come up Booker, Liz takes him aside and impresses that he is to NOT take advantage of his Possession or Peeping Tom plasmids when it comes to the opposite sex. She is very clear on this, and thankfully, Booker takes it to heart.

Thoughts? I will be happy to share more if I come up with them.

[in-tua-deep]

I sent an ask like this before but I think tumblr ate it so I guess I’m sending it again. I love your tog/tua crossover! It was the post that made me watch the old guard and I’m v happy abt that. I was thinking about Booker ‘I have trauma about my kids growing old and dying’ Le Livre and I can’t help but think he’d go full dad mode on Five at all times. Five gets the father he deserves and Booker gets an undying child. Everyone wins.

oof yeah it would be... complicated to say the LEAST

I’m not sure Booker would be ready in any sense of the word to be a father again, and having an immortal child would be,, really painful honestly, especially when he had to watch his children grow old and die and now there’s this child who gets to live and it’s not fair

and Booker is... a normal father, for lack of a better word. He loved his children. He told them stories and swung them into his arms and pressed kisses against their rosy little cheeks, he held them when they cried and joined in with the laughter, and he loved them

and so he looks at this - this child, because Five is thirteen and he doesn’t deserve this

but Five is not familiar with the idea of a normal father. His father was cruel, was very forthright in the fact that he did not care about the children as human beings. It’s laughable to think that Reginald Hargreeves would ever tell them stories, would ever hold them or kiss their cheeks or laugh with them. Reginald Hargreeves avoided even touching them. A father to Five is monumentally different than what a father is to Booker

they bright side is that if Booker ever acts fatherly, Five doesn’t clock it as fatherly. He might accuse Booker of mothering him? But honestly Booker probably is like “we can’t let Five do X dangerous thing, he’s baby” which,, Grace helped the kids get ready for their missions, she never tried to protect them from their ‘work’

and some of the things are so far outside of Five’s frame of reference that he just assumes they’re an Old Guard thing or something, like when Five gets a smear of dirt on his cheek and Booker automatically grabs a handkerchief to scrub it off

(I can claim this because Five has such non reactions to the same thing in the s2 gifs I have seen that I can only say he’s just like ??? the whole time and just chooses not to address it, especially bc it happens both with a family member AND an enemy and he doesn’t react either time)

To be fair, they all baby Five to an extent, but it looks different for each of them

Andy doesn’t know what to do with a child? She hasn’t really,, been around children for extended periods of time honestly, she’s used to saving kids and is honestly pretty good at awkwardly talking Five through panic attacks. But she’s kind of tough love, and would probably cheer Five up by giving him weapons and letting him blow stuff up tbh

Nicky and Joe are kind of like fun uncles? they tease Five a lot, and he can’t even argue with them because they’re both like 900 years older than him but also they are very emotional and touchy and they like to ruffle his hair and lean on him and give him hugs that pick him up and swing him around. It’s weird and he isn’t sure if he likes it, but it’s kind of nice to be included?? They never had kids so they’re kind of indulgent with him tbh, kids like taking down horrific time based organizations as a pass time right?

Booker is awkward because he is a father and so he does things like ruffle Five’s hair on autopilot or pile more food on Five’s plate or anything, and he freezes because - it’s something he did with his own kids, and,,,,, he might get more than a little emotional about it. which weirds Five out. Booker is definitely one of the more protective of them though and dislikes putting Five in the line of fire

Nile has Big Sister energy, despite being younger than literally anyone else in this au technically considering that the umbrella academy are 3 years older than her. She has what is vastly lacking: emotional maturity. She sort of adopts Five as a kid brother, which makes her nostalgic for her own brother but also Five is so different it’s not a big issue, but Nile used to babysit for money as well and knows how to handle difficult kids and just applies that to Five

(and it actually works more often than not, five is not immune to Nile’s impeccable logic - mainly because Nile doesn’t order Five she lays out her reasoning in a way that he can’t even argue with)

booker has issues, he has a LOT of issues especially regarding kids and stepping into a fatherly role that I’m not sure he would comfortable with for a long time... but he has a lot of time to wrestle with those issues and eventually step into a more parental role since they have... literally hundreds of years together in the future lmao

five has to learn to actually be a child and not just a child soldier, which isn’t exactly easy considering he’s now going to part of the immortal ‘army’ 

honestly i think a good healing part of this au is just... the og squad learning that surviving isn’t the same as living, and even though they still have to be careful about their footprints even with Copley erasing them... I think they have a lot to learn about living

and having normal human ‘sponsors’ to help out... well I mean - the Hargreeves are super wealthy now that their dad kicked the bucket and are probably very willing to go on camping trips or go to Disney World or drag the squad paintballing. When was the last time the og squad just had fun? no worrying about missions and saving people or saving each other, just pure silly nonsense fun

and the Hargreeves are learning to have fun for the first time as well, even if it means Klaus aggressively putting Mickey Mouse ears on everyone and Diego cheating at paintball and Nile teaming up with Allison to get everyone to go to various plays and musicals

the Hargreeves aren’t immortal but they also aren’t helpless either, and I could see them tagging along on any cool missions for a while. Especially Diego, tbh, with his discount batman schtick he has going on

(honestly if anyone would remind Booker of his kids, it would... probably be Klaus? His children were adults when they died, and he saw them dying, and Klaus is skinny as a rail and sickly looking and probably has health issues thanks to the extended drug use and withdrawal going on

so consider: Booker telling Klaus to sit down and let him cook, get some soup in that boy he’s way too skinny, booker is FRENCH he WILL cook for this beanpole. His mama’s stew could knock the plague right out of a person, probably. 

Booker: that is far too heavy for you let me take it

Klaus: oh! no dude it’s fine - 

Booker: sit down !! you look like a strong breeze could knock you over. I will bring you some soup.

Klaus: I’m fine !! Don’t worry about me - 

Diego: don’t listen to him!! he absolutely needs minding 24/7 or he WILL find a way to get hurt

Booker: !! are you hurting right now? Sit down! Honestly -devolves into muttered french curses as he bustles off to the kitchen-)

but yes there you go the og squad and umbella academy combine into the ULTIMATE FAMILY due to shared custody of Five for the duration of the academy’s lives

[nevermindirah]

I've been drafting and redrafting this meta post for weeks now. It's about to be 5781 and my country that was founded on settler colonial genocide and slavery and a deeply flawed but fierce attachment to democracy might go full dictatorship in about 6 weeks and it's time for me to post this thing.

All our immortals are warriors, all have been traumatized by war. But only three of them died their first deaths as soldiers in imperial armies. This fandom has already produced gallons of meta on Nicky dealing with his shit, because Joe would not fuck with an unapologetic Crusader. But there's very rich stuff in Booker and Nile's experiences and the parallels and distinctions between them.

Nile was 11 when her dad was killed in action - that was 2005, meaning she and her dad both died in the same war that George W Bush started in very tenuous response to 9/11. Sure, Nile's dad could have died in either Iraq or Afghanistan, or in a training accident or in an off-the-books mission we won't know about for a hundred more years, but he died in the War on Terror all the same. I had to look it up to be sure because Obama "drew down" the Afghanistan war in his second term, but nope, we're still in this fucking thing that never should've happened in the first place. The US war in Afghanistan just turned 19 years old. A lot of real-life Americans have experiences like the Freemans, parents and children both dying in the same war we shouldn't be in.

I know a lot of people like Nile who join the US military not just because it's the only realistic way for them to pay for college or afford decent healthcare, but also because they have a family history of military service that's a genuine source of pride. Military service has been a way for Americans of color to be accepted by white Americans as "true Americans" - from today's Dreamers who Obama promised would earn protection from deportation by enlisting, to Filipino veterans of WW2 earning US citizenship that Congress then denied them for several decades, to slaves "earning" their freedom through service in the Union Army and in the Continental Army before it. As if freedom is a thing one should have to earn. Lots of Black Americans have the last name Freeman for lots of different escaping-slavery reasons, but it's possible that this specific reason is how Nile got her last name.

Dying in a war you know your country chose to instigate unnecessarily and that maybe you believe it shouldn't be waging is a very particular kind of trauma. It is a much deeper trauma when your military service, and your father's, and maybe generations of your ancestors', is a source of pride and access to resources for you but your sacrifice is nearly meaningless to the white supremacist system that deploys you. That kind of cognitive dissonance encourages a person to ignore their own feelings just so they can function. How do you wake up in the morning, how do you risk your life every day, how do you *kill other people* in a war that shouldn't be happening and that you shouldn't have to serve in just so that your country sees you as human?

We see Nile do her best to be a kind and well-mannered invader. Depending on your experience with US imperialism, Nile giving candy to kids and reminding her squad to be respectful is either heartwarming or very disturbing propaganda. We also see Nile clutching her cross necklace and praying. From the second Christianity arrived on this land it's been a tool of white supremacist assimilation and control, but like military service, it's a fucked-up but genuine source of pride and access to resources for many Americans whose pre-Columbian ancestors were not Christian, and it's a powerful source of comfort and resilience. This Jew who's had a lot of Spanish Inquisition nightmares would like to say for the record that it's not Jesus's fault that his big name fans are such shitty people.

Nile is a good person trying to do her best in a fucked-up world. "Her best" just radically changed. Her access to information on just how fucked up the world is has also just radically changed, because everything's so fucked up a person needs a lot of time to learn about it all and not only does she have centuries but she won't have to spend that time worrying about rent and healthcare and taxes, and because she now has Joe and Nicky and Andy's stories, and because she now has Copley's inside scoop on just what the fuck the CIA has been up to. Like, I want a fic where Copley tells Nile what was really behind the brass's decisions that led to her experiences on the ground in Afghanistan, that led to her father's death, but also I Do Not Want That.

Nile was 19 when Alicia Garza posted on Facebook that Black Lives Matter. She grew up in Chicago well before white people on Twitter were saying maybe police violence against Black people is a problem. She knows this is a deeply fucked up country, and she put on her Marine uniform and deployed with her team of mostly fellow women of color, and maybe she and Dizzy and Jay marched in the streets between deployments, maybe they texted each other when a white manarchist at a protest sneered at one of them for being a Marine. Nile's been busy surviving, and she knows some shit and she's seen some shit but she hasn't had much time to think about what it all means. Now she's got time. And Joe, Nicky, and Andy are willing to listen. (Is Copley willing to listen? I could see that going either way.)

Booker might also be willing to listen. The brilliant idea of cleaning up the rat Frenchman so that Nile can have millennia of emotional support and orgasms sent me down a Wikipedia rabbit hole, and holy shit do Booker and Nile have a lot of shared life experience as pawns of imperial wars. Obviously Booker is white and a man and that makes a very big difference. (Though G-d help me, Booker could be Jewish and France was knocking its Jews around like ping-pong balls in the 18th-19th centuries. Jewish Booker wouldn't make him any less white but it does add a shit ton of depth of common experience: military service as a way for your country to see you as a full member of society who matters, because who you are means that's not guaranteed.)

Booker was hanged for desertion from the army Napoleon sent to invade Russia as part of his quest to control all of Europe. We learn in the comics / this YouTube video that Booker was on his way to prison for forgery when he was offered military service instead of jail time. While we don't know how he felt about the choice beyond that he did choose soldier over inmate, it's unlikely he thought invading Russia was a great idea, given he tried to desert because Napoleon like a true imperialist dumbass didn't plan for how he was going to feed his army or keep them from freezing to death in fucking Russian winter.

I find it very interesting that the French Empire was at its largest right before invading Russia and fell apart completely within a few years. My country has been falling the fuck apart for a while now - see aforementioned War on Terror, growing extremes of economic stratification in the richest country in the world, abject refusal to meaningfully deal with climate change that US-based corporations hold the lion's share of blame for - but between Trump's abject refusal to meaningfully deal with the coronavirus and strong likelihood that he'll refuse to leave office even if a certain pathetic moderate I will hold my nose and vote for does manage to earn a majority of votes, ~y~i~k~e~s.

Our only immortals who have never known a world before modernity and nationalism happen to have been born of wars that were the beginning of the end for the imperialist democracies that raised them, and I think in the centuries to come that's going to give them some very interesting shit to talk about.

Nile's a Young Millennial, a digital native born in the United States after the collapse of the USSR left her country as the world's only superpower. She's used to a pace of technological change that human brains are not evolved to handle.

Napoleon trying to make all of Europe into the French Empire was a leading cause of the growth of European nationalism and the establishment of liberal democracies both in Europe and in many places that Europeans had colonized. Booker's first war produced the only geopolitical world order Nile has ever known and I just have so many feelings ok. Nile the art history nerd is probably not aware of this, and why would she be? This humble meta author is, like Nile, a product of US public schools, and all they taught me about world history was Ancient Greece/Rome/Egypt/Mesopotamia and then World War 2. Being raised in The World's Only Superpower is WEIRD.

Nile the Young Millennial is used to the devastating volume of bad news the internet makes possible. But she has absolutely no concept of a world where the United States of America is not The World's Only Superpower. In order to get up in the morning and put on her gear and point guns at civilians in Afghanistan, she can only let herself think so much about whether that American exceptionalism thing is a good idea.

She's about to spend many, many years where the only people who she can truly trust are people who are older than not only her country but the IDEA of countries.

She's got time, and she's got a lot of new information at her disposal. But there comes a point where my obsession with her friendship and eventual very hot sex life with Booker just isn't about sex at all. Nile needs someone to talk to about the United States who Gets It. Booker the rat Frenchman coerced into Napoleon's army, and Copley the Black dual citizen of the US and UK who's retired from a CIA career that he half understands as deeply problematic but half still believes in hence his mind-bogglingly stupid partnership with Merrick, are the only people on the planet Nile can talk to honestly about, and really be understood in, all the thoughts and feelings and fears and hopes of her experience as a US Marine.

And one more thing before I go get ready for Rosh Hashanah: Orientalism was a defining element of the Crusades and that legacy is painfully clear in current US-led Western military activity in Afghanistan, Syria, Israel/Palestine, you name it. Turns out memoirs by French veterans of the Napoleonic Wars are full of Orientalist language about Russia as well. I am maybe/definitely writing a fic where Booker spends his exile reading critical race theory and decolonial feminism and trauma studies monographs because he can't be honest with a therapist but maybe he can heal this way and become the team therapist his own damn self. I just really need him to read Edward Said and Gloria Anzaldúa and then go down on Nile, ok?

[fuckyeahisawthat]

Another Old Guard headcanon I don’t have anywhere to put: Andy and Quỳnh started out a lot more battle-happy than Nicky and Joe.

In the brief flashback we see them in, they really look like they’re having fun. “They ran through the world together, fought in thousands of battles” really sounds like something they chose to do together, because they liked it and they believed they couldn’t die. Not to say they would have fought in any army for any political objective, but they seem like they would have been perfectly happy as eternal itinerant sword wives at that point in their lives.

The first change happens after Lykon dies. Because now they know that they can die, and now they think about each other dying, and it does make them more cautious, more choosy with what causes they commit themselves to. But I think they are still people who really feel like “this is who I’m supposed to be” when they’re in battle side by side.

Then they meet Nicolò and Yusuf. Yusuf, who never sought out war and would have been content to be an artist and a scholar, who only fought because invaders were coming and he couldn’t live with doing nothing, whose first battle was brutal and horrible, and ended in defeat and slaughter. And Nicolò, for whom war was nothing like what he’d been told; who reacted in horror when the reality of conquest was right there in front of him and spent years and years and years trying to atone for having been on the wrong side. Nicol�� who was on the side of victory and learned it just tasted like blood.

I think the two of them would have a fundamentally different outlook on war. They will fight when they have to (and particularly, in defense of the defenseless or for a cause they think is just) but they really would avoid war altogether if they could.

And for maybe a couple centuries I think the two couples sort of balance each other out, and I think this is the time period in which they start to develop the “we fight for what we think is right” ethos--understanding that they have skills and a gift they can use to protect people, but not letting themselves get swept up in conflicts that are just pointless bloodshed over money or territory or power, with no “right” side to join.

Then, they lose Quỳnh. And this is both a horrible personal loss, for all of them but especially Andy, and it reminds them of the dangers they can face when helping people. I think after this Andy starts to feel much more responsible for the team as a leader, and the dynamic fundamentally shifts, from two couples both alike in badassery, basically an equal group of four, to a dynamic where Andy is the leader and just a little bit removed from the two, and then three, men. I think they also start picking their missions a lot more carefully after this point, because they’re vividly aware of the risks they face. And when Booker joins the group I think he is another addition to the “reluctant warrior” side of the equation--he didn’t even choose to be a soldier; he was basically forced into it, and when he got the chance he deserted. I think his objections to throwing their lot in with certain causes tend to be a bit less moral/ethical and a bit more cynical, and some of that feeds into Andy’s growing disillusionment.

I also think, as they approach the present day, that the scale of modern warfare really starts to wear on all of them, but particularly on Andy. This isn’t a “War was Noble back in the Good Old Days” situation. It is always bloody and it always sucks to be a civilian stuck in the middle of it. But with modern mechanized warfare the scale of possible destruction just goes way up; the dead are being counted in millions now and it becomes much more common to have many more civilians than combatants killed. For someone who has seen 6,000 years of human warfare, it seems like it would be quite easy to look at something like the atomic bomb and think “humanity is definitely getting worse.”

And also, because of modern media and communication technology, for the first time it becomes possible to be aware of all the wars happening everywhere at the same time, all the thousands and thousands of people for whom their help could mean the difference between life and death, and that must just get exhausting. And so I think the dynamic kind of reverses, where Nicky and Joe in particular see this as “more ways to find out where we can help” and Andy becomes weary and overwhelmed and becomes the person we see at the beginning of the movie who thinks “fuck ‘em all, nothing we do makes a difference.”

There is probably something more detailed to be teased out about how the key to shifting this dynamic is introducing Nile, someone who has only known modern warfare and seems very much like a person trying to define her personal ethics while being a soldier in a war that is constantly challenging them, a war I think she probably has no illusions about being any kind of right or just cause at this point.

Nile is also the first one of them who gets to see and embrace the big picture of what they’ve done over the years, a historical record that they might not have been able to assemble in total before now. (And of all of them, she is probably best equipped to deal with the total information overload of our modern world, because she grew up with it; that’s normal for her.) And by the end of the film she seems like someone who really embodies some of the best qualities of all of them, learning what it’s like to feel invincible and have confidence in that in a fight, while still always being thoughtful about why they do what they do.

[sonotgiantballoons]

so!! “just go to sleep... i'm right here.“ and/or “you used me as a pillow.“ “i'm sorry.“ for booker and beth please~!

Here you are! Thank you so much for your patience with me finishing it! I had fun writing it, though, so I hope you like it!

“Just go to sleep... I'm right here.“ / “You used me as a pillow.“ “I'm sorry.“

“Do you think there’s anyone else around?” Elizabeth asked in a tense, hushed tone as she proceeded to bandage the last of Booker’s wounds.

“No, that should be the last of them,” he responded. Nevertheless, he reflexively glanced out a nearby broken window of the abandoned building they were hiding out in, just to make sure. Fortunately, all appeared quiet as evening approached.

However, despite the present stillness, Booker still couldn’t relax. While he had tried to conceal it from Elizabeth, their time in the Hall of Heroes had shaken him up a lot more inside than he expected it to.

But before he had a chance to think on this further, a sudden tight pressure against his aching arm made him hiss and instantly drew his attention back to the young woman beside him.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” she apologized quickly as she loosened the cloth wrapped around his arm.

He said nothing, but as he studied her in the dim light of a nearby, low-burning oil lamp, Booker could see her hands were shaking.

“Hey...you okay?” he asked quietly, his usually hard gaze softening a bit.

She didn’t respond immediately. She just kept her eyes turned downward as she began to pack up the medical supplies.

“Elizabeth-?” he tried again.

“-This is my first night out of my tower,” she blurted softly.

He didn’t quite follow. “I thought you were happy to finally get out of there-”

“-I was! I mean, I am!” she insisted, her head jerking back up. “I just...I mean, sure, I was locked up, but...I was also, well...“ Her eyes dropped back down to her lap. “...safe. Before today, I didn’t have to worry about...anything, and now...” She trailed off.

Booker was surprised to hear her open up like that, given how short of a time they had known each other. What surprised him even more, though, was the protective twinge in his chest at her uncertain tone.

He tilted his head a bit, trying to catch her gaze.

“Elizabeth, look at me.”

It took a few seconds, but she eventually obeyed.

“I’m not going to let anything happen to you,” he affirmed. “Alright?”

She simply nodded.

She then watched curiously as Booker proceeded to shrug off his worn vest, wincing slightly at his surface wounds, before rolling it up and setting it down next to him, trying his best to keep the cleanest side turned up.

“Here,” he offered. “How about you try and get some sleep, okay? We’ll go find that airship in the morning.”

After a hint of hesitation, Elizabeth nodded once more and stretched out on her side, still facing him, and rested her head upon the bundle of clothing.

Assuming she would soon start to drift off, Booker leaned back against the wall in an attempt to get comfortable as well, though he was still too anxious and alert to even think about attempting to get any sleep himself.

“Mr. DeWitt...”

He soon heard Elizabeth’s voice once more, gently breaking through the silence.

Looking back down, he saw her eyes were open and looking up at him.

“I know I should sleep, but...I don’t know if I can,” she confessed softly.

That foreign, yet strangely familiar feeling twitched in his chest again.

“Just go to sleep...” he said, his tone softening. “I’m right here.” He quirked up a corner of his mouth in an attempt to give her some semblance of a grin, though it didn’t reach his eyes, and briefly touched her arm as a sign of reassurance.

Feeling the comforting warmth of his fingers, even through her sleeve, she finally smiled a tiny bit, before closing her eyes once more.

“Good night...Mr. DeWitt,” she murmured with a yawn.

The young woman now finally slipping into a deep sleep, Booker’s poor attempt at a smile faded. For an extended period after that, he was left awake and alone with his thoughts, reflecting on everything that had happened since he had first come to Columbia.

He ran a hand through his hair with a sigh.

Had he bitten off more than even he could chew when he took up this deal?

He didn’t know.

Feeling sleep threatening to take him, he glanced down once more at the reason he was there in the first place; the young woman with strange abilities who exasperated, yet fascinated him. As he continue to look at her, he couldn’t help but wonder if all of this was even real.

Without thinking about it, his fingers reached back out and brushed a stray lock of hair out of her face, the subtle touch satisfying his need to reassure himself that she was indeed, real.

“G’night, Elizabeth,” he whispered.

He doused the lamp.

--------

The next morning, Booker awoke to the feeling of a weight upon his belly.

Immediately tensing up, he blindly fumbled for his holstered pistol. However, once he blinked open his eyes and looked down, he found that the source of the weight was none other than Elizabeth, still asleep, but now curled up against his side with her head resting upon his stomach.

Confused, Booker looked down next to him, where he swore he last saw her laying the night before, using his rolled-up vest as a makeshift pillow.

His attention was soon drawn back to his middle when he felt Elizabeth stirring. After slowly opening her eyes, she caught his gaze with hers and gave him an oddly dreamy smile, her eyes still hooded with sleepiness.

“Good morning,” she whispered sweetly, seeming oblivious to the position they were both in.

“Uh...good morning?” he greeted awkwardly as he raised an eyebrow. “You were using me as a pillow.”

“Hmm?” It took a moment for the half-awake young woman to register what he said. But once she did, she gave him an almost sheepish look. “I’m sorry. Just fell asleep there, I guess.”

She said no more on the matter and Booker didn’t try to inquire further. Thinking back to her confession the night before, he merely figured that perhaps she had moved closer to him to feel safer.

He supposed he couldn’t really blame her.

After pushing herself off of him, she sat up and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, before stretching her arms skyward. “By the way, Mr. DeWitt, you’ve got a loud stomach, you know that?” she asked offhandedly as she continued to stretch. “Woke me up earlier.”

She didn’t seem to think anything of her remark, but heat flooded Booker’s cheeks at the rather blunt statement, as he was again reminded of just how thin her social filters were. He cleared his throat.

“Yeah...well...let’s just get moving already, alright?” he mumbled, avoiding the subject and averting his eyes. He then grabbed his vest and stood up. “If we stay here too long, someone’s bound to find us.”

“What about breakfast? Best keep your energy up and all-”

“-We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” he grumbled back a bit testily as he slipped on his vest and began checking if any of his firearms were in need of reloading.

But just as he was getting started, a low growl rumbled from his stomach, making him pause.

“Sounds to me like we’re crossing that bridge now,” Elizabeth pointed out with a cocked eyebrow. “I’m sure I could find something, if I looked around in here.”

With a huff of frustration, Booker rubbed the spot between his eyes. He was eager to get going, but he knew full well the stubborn young woman would likely keep prodding him about his growing hunger until it was at least somewhat sated.

“Fine,” he finally agreed. “If you’re gonna look, look. But be quick about it; we’ve got an airship to board.”

[avelera]

Things I just have to assume about the whole “Booker and Copley turn the Old Guard over to Merrick for medical research/to help Booker die” thing:

1) At some point, whatever deal Booker originally made with Copley got double-crossed, or it just failed. I can’t imagine for a second his deal was, “Capture all of us and keep us locked up forever so a sociopath can torture us for profit.” He might want to die but I don’t think he’s that stupid. So, I assume something went wrong. 

Now, maybe Booker was naive, and as an ex-criminal should have known to be more suspicious of Copley, but I can much more easily picture that his depression led him to trusting Copley, whose grief was so sympathetic, when he shouldn’t rather than that his depression led to him not giving a fuck about his family getting captured.

2) The plan was never supposed to be any of the immortals ending up in custody, and Copley never raised the possibility to Booker. Otherwise, Booker would have just turned himself over, right? But if Booker never thought to do this on his own, maybe it’s because Copley never raised the possibility OR  because Booker point blank refused to become a lab rat, not unless there was no other option. Copley says he might be able to “get one” of the immortals, so he probably knows Booker would be willing to cooperate, but he seems uncertain even about that, which leads me to further believe that Booker never intended any of the immortals, including himself, to end up in custody.

Booker gets double-crossed by Copley too when they get captured at his house, and the only reason Booker turned on Andy at Copley’s was because he also didn’t want Copley to die. Obviously, he couldn’t have known Andy would stop healing in the middle of this! He also didn’t expect to be captured.

(Maybe the original plan was just for the “kill floor” to happen, with their tissue harvested there and without Andy realizing they’d been filmed? Then everything went sideways when the samples were ruined and Andy figured out who set them up and set out to kill the guy Booker was working with to try to help humanity, and he wasn’t going to let her murder this guy, then Nile happened, and from there everything spiraled?)

3) Merrick must have some sort of reputation as a world-class humanitarian philanthropist good guy, OR some kind of personal relationship with Copley, perhaps developed while his wife was getting treatment for her MS, that made Copley naively believe that Merrick wasn’t going to go full Pharma Bro the minute he got what he wanted. There must be SOME reason he decided Merrick was a good person who had not only the greatest medical capabilities but also would make the best use of this research to help people. Seriously, any other non-psychopathic doctor would probably prefer to work with the samples without TORTURING the subjects first, and Copley may have believed Merrick was one of those AND had the most advanced lab. 

4) Booker has brought up the possibility of going to a doctor before and has been repeatedly shut down. Nothing else explains why he didn’t bring this up to Andy and the others and instead ambushed them with it. On the one hand, Nicky, Joe, and Andy have probably been to every doctor and quack magician for centuries and know there’s nothing that makes them unusual to science.

BUT, I could easily see Booker getting frustrated with this explanation just as any modern kid might get annoyed with older relatives about technology. For all their worldliness, Nicky, And, and Joe might still be very out of date with how far medical science has come, which Booker could find immensely frustrating. If Merrick is on the cutting edge, maybe he’s got something no one else has. If every time Booker brought up the possibility, he just got shut down and told it wouldn’t work, at some point he’d probably just stopped bringing it up to the others and went rogue to find the answers he’s looking for. 

Look, there’s a huge plot hole at the center of the film which is where all “Booker Discourse” springs from. 1) What was Booker and Copley’s original plan? 2) Why didn’t Booker just turn himself in? 3) Why did Booker trust Copley? 4) Why did Copley trust Merrick? 5) Why didn’t Booker tell the others that he wanted to try to use medical science to die? 6) Why would Booker betray his family and get them all locked up by a sociopath dead set on torturing them for profit? Did he just not care anymore?

We just don’t know! If we had even one scene of Booker telling Copley he doesn’t give a fuck if Joe and Nicky get tortured as long as he gets to die, that would be something. If we had a scene where Booker says he’ll help set up a scenario where they get killed on camera and a bunch of samples can be collected, but no one is going into custody and they’ll vanish until Copley comes back with a cure for Booker, that’s another possibility. Without at least one scene to this effect, we’re left with wildly different interpretations of how dumb, naive, cruel, apathetic, unfortunate, or desperate Booker was based on how each viewer fills in those blanks.

EDIT: And just to clarify, I truly think that Booker’s plan ended after the Kill Floor, I don’t think he was the puppet master after that. He didn’t know Merrick, he didn’t know who Copley was going to pass the samples on to or that Merrick was suddenly demanding live specimens instead of samples (Hey, another great discussion topic for a Booker & Copley scene if we had one!). 

IMO, everything after the Kill Floor was damage control. Mostly, it was Booker being unhelpful in Andy’s quest to hunt down Copley and kill him, because Booker didn’t want Copley to die, because to him, Copley’s only sin was trying to help Booker find a way to die and most likely, he and Copley bonded over their shared grief over dead family members. 

Then, Nile shows up and Andy loses her immortality, everything goes off the RAILS. But I don’t think Booker develops a NEW plan to get samples when he shoots Andy at Copley’s, I really do think everything has been cover-up for whatever the initial plan was and to protect his source, Copley, from Andy. I could definitely be misremembering the film but the idea that anything to do with Merrick can be blamed on Booker seems a stretch to me. Booker didn’t know Merrick or have any contact with him, it’s Copley who got double-crossed by Merrick’s greed, Booker as far as I can tell was just working with Copley and letting Copley work with all the 3rd parties.

And if you think Booker is dumb for doing this, you’re probably right! But that sure does make the whole Old Guard dumb too then, because they end the movie by putting their lives in Copley’s hands, as if he couldn’t capture them with the same tactics again long, long before they show up to kill him.

[sophialikesthings]

Death Of Me Chapter 2.5

Song: Let You Love Me- Rita Ora

TW: Physical Assault

I felt my stomach in a knot as I sat next to Rafe in the courtroom, I knew what I was doing was wrong on so many levels.

"John Booker Routledge, pursuant to North Carolina statute section 14, you are charged with murder in the first degree. with aggravated circumstances, If convicted, the maximum sentence would be the death penalty." The judge said.

I felt like I was about to be sick.

I looked over to see JJ,Pope, Kiara, and Sarah shocked. It took everything in me not to go over there.

"I'm so sorry, give this to JJ." I purposely bumped into Sarah, handing her I note I wrote.

===

3 POV

"I don't even know who that is?" JJ looked at Demi as she walked out of the court house, her hand in Rafe's.

"That is Demetria Jane, The person her parents want her to be, but everything she's not. She gave me this to give to you JJ." Sarah handed him the note.

"Kiara can you read this please." JJ tried to read her handwriting.

"sure, 'Dear JJ, I am trying not to write this in cursive, so if I failed, have Kiara read it to you. I know you are probably really upset at me for doing what I did, but I did it for you, because JJ Maybank, I love you. I have to do what I think will keep you and the others safe,because you guys are my real family. We can talk more at school . But for now I think it is best if we keep our distance, because I would hate to see what happened to John B happen to you. Also, no matter what happens with Rafe, I love you. Sincerely Demi Jane Thornton." Kiara read it aloud

"Are we just going to let her do this?" JJ asked, trying to help her.

"I know Demi, she knows things are going to go south and it is safer if she keeps her distance." Sarah reassured him that Demi's decision was reasonable.

===

Demi POV

"I need to go home." I held Rafe's hand as we exited the court house.

"I can drive you." Rafe offered.

"That would be nice." I sighed.

"I'm so sorry for what you and your family have gone through." My mother talked to Ward.

"Mom, not now please." I tried to stop her.

"No Demetria, That boy deserves what's coming, Thank God this system works."

"Can you please shut up? Of course you think the system works, because it's made to protect people like you" Kiara yelled.

"He will have his day in court." My mother replied.

"He shouldn't even be in court, you should." She pointed at ward

"Show me some respect!" Ward yelled, my father came and held Kiara back.

"Why don't you take the kooks down Thornton?" JJ asked my father.

"You wanna get arrested? Get out! You need to go." My dad yelled.

"It's not a coincidence that your daughter's sitting with us, and Demi would be too, if it wasn't for you." She pointed at my father.

===

"Demi, can I come in?" Topper knocked on my door, I sat curled up on my bed staring on my phone.

"What Topper? I really don't need you making fun of the fact Mom and Dad are making us wear matching outfits again." I avoided his eye contact.

"I just wanted to say I am sorry for everything that has happened this summer." He sat down on on the foot of my bed.

"Just shut up Topper, we both know you don't give a damn." I laughed sarcastically.

"Are you going through with this, marrying Rafe?" He asked looking at my finger.

"I sort of have to Top." I stared at the ring on my finger.

"Anyway, dad is at the Jail, says he needs to talk to you." He got up.

"Yeah, I'll- I'll head down there now."

===

"Hey, I came to see my dad." I placed my hands on the desk, talking to deputy plumb.

"He's in his office, I can let him know you are here,"

"I'm here to see John B Routledge!" I heard JJ next to me.

"No music, and get rid of the toothpick."

I couldn't help but to chuckle.

"Demi." My dad came out and got me.

===

"Why am I hear Dad?" I asked.

"Because I wanted to apologize."

"Yeah right, You have done a lot of shitty things and haven't apologized one bit." I got defensive.

"What have I done Demetria." He asked.

"Lets start with the fact you put me into a relationship with Rafe Cameron so Ward can pay you to throw away all the sketchy shit he doses."

"He does not pay me!" He yelled.

"You're joking, HOW THE HELL DID WE GET OUT OF DEBT HUH? YOU SELL ME OFF TO THE CAMERONS IN EXCHANGE FOR ALLOWING SKETCHY SHIT TO GO ON IN THIS HELL HOLE OF A TOWN, THAT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT, ALL THE SHIT WARD DOES PUTS ME IN DANGER BECAUSE OF THE RELATIONSHIP YOU PUT ME INTO!" I laughed.

"DEMETRIA!" He grabbed my wrists tightly.

"DO NOT PUT YOUR HANDS ON ME!" I screamed.

I saw JJ walk past his office.

"Congratulations, you're officially figure eights worst father, and that's saying something." I left his office.

===

"Hey, have you seen Wheezie's phone?" I asked Rafe.

"No, I haven't." He hugged me.

"What happened to you?" He looked at my bruised wrists.

"My dad, what happened to you?" I looked at his red cheek.

"My dad." He laughed.

"Two fucked up families, one perfect pair."

incoming call from... Kie🌊

Accept|Decline

"Yo" I stepped away from Rafe.

"You're joking." I gasped

"No he found it he found the key." Kiara squealed.

"Talk at school?"

"For sure." She replied

"What was that?" Rafe asked

"Project, Mr.Sunn assigned a giant paper about immigrants and the immigration act."

"I'll see you tomorrow?"

===

I stared at my celling with thoughts running through my mind.

JJ

Hey I got your letter, I have a lot of things to tell you but,

I'll tell you at school.

Demi

Okay, I meant everything I wrote,

Good night JJ.

My heart pounded as the anticipation of tomorrow drowned out all my thoughts

===

Double update!

Sorry I missed yesterday. I’m planning to get part two wrapped up Saturday. Then I release a HPU book as well as a JATPU book then I rest, and y’all they need to announce season three soon because I can’t handle all the ideas floating through my head right now.

[andyquynhnickyjoebookernile]

Lacus Solitudinis

So, I just finished reading The Old Guard: Tales Through Time #3 (reviewed here) and I was decidedly unimpressed but I feel like the latter story in that issue "Lacus Solutidinis" warrants further examination.

Lacus Solitudinis literally the Lake of Solitude is a lunar feature on the far side of the moon and makes as much sense as the title of this story as any other lunar feature.

The story features Andy, Nicky, Joe and Booker which is a first in this anthology though they are separated throughout the course of this story.

To make my criticism clear I will have to dissect the story.

Carl Edwin Hach is the Great Lakes ripper, a person convicted of having killed numerous queer people, twenty-four to be exact and most of them under the age of eighteen. The story makes it clear that Joe and Nicky with or without Booker helped Carl to shuffle off the mortal coil. Carl's death is considered to be a suicide and he appears to have left a suicide note and therefore it is unclear what involvement Joe and Nicky and maybe Booker had in his death. Suffice it to say they made sure he died.

Over the course of the story, it is made clear that Detective van Hoyt the person Nicky and Booker are hunting had the opportunity to arrest Carl months earlier but knowingly let him off the hook and is at least indirectly responsible for any person Carl murdered after this instance. But he is not the only person Nicky is after and I specifically say Nicky because this seems to be a personal vendetta for him while Booker is just along for the ride.

Now, we know Van Hoyt is the detective but it isn't instantly clear who the other people are but something Joe says later makes it clear that Nicky is after everyone who in any way wronged Carl's victims.

Since Nicky has Nelson on his chart and Joe specifically brings up Damian Nelson's family who turned their back on him, I feel I am somewhat justified in assuming that all the other names on that list are people who were connected to the victims and somehow contributed to their deaths at least according to Nicky.

But, I can't be the only one who sees this for the slippery slope it is. I like how the story only focuses on the cop who is more objectively in the wrong and given present circumstances easier to see as a bad person but doesn't say anything about the other people on Nicky's hit list whose involvement in the death of Carl's victims is way more tangential. Also, I must preface this with the statement that this is an assumption based on how the story is told because it isn't outright stated that that is the case, but given the circumstances, I don't believe I am wrong in my assumptions.

So, I assume that the john who left Emery on the curb is also on the list and personally I don't see how you can justify going after a person who treated someone badly or a family that turned their back on their own with the same intensity as going after a police officer whose actions directly enabled the murderer. Also, at this point, it has become less about justice and more about revenge.

The Old Guard until now has always been a bigger picture kind of group and personally I liked to believe that they fought mostly in wars doing the best they could in very trying times, but this story kind of shifts that perspective and makes the whole concept of the guard seem rather petty. Their actions are supposed to bring about good in the World but I don't see how revenge can bring good especially when you are the sole arbitrator of a person's crimes.

It's interesting how Joe and Nicky protecting queer people was earlier brought up in Zanzibar and Other Harbors another story in this anthology but I liked that depiction better. In Zanzibar and Other Harbors, it is made to seem that Joe and Nicky have always helped people in trouble especially queer people in trouble as being queer themselves they find themselves in queer spaces and are therefore in a better position to save other queer people, but in this story, that same concept is twisted in such a way that it's lacklustre at best and disturbing at its worst.

I totally see Joe and Nicky going after Carl and even van Hoyt but I am not sure the other people on Nicky's list deserve the same treatment. Also, where does it end, Nicky's criteria for that list seems to be highly subjective and any crime these other people might be convicted of would hardly result in a death sentence. Frankly, the fact that Nicky believes he is justified in going after these people is chilling.

[caitlesshea]

passed down like folk songs

4 times Nile hears Joe and Nicky tell a fake story of how they met + 1 time she hears them tell the real story.

1.

“We met at university.”

Nile pauses from where she’s sucking down her milkshake through a straw even in New York City winter because Chicago, when she smiles at whatever flowery love story Joe and Nicky are currently telling a bakery owner. 

“How lovely.” The owner says and then smiles at Joe’s humorous turn of events. 

Nile’s glad she made them take her to Max Brenner, even in this weather, because even though they aren’t tourists, she is. And neither one complained when she saw them greedily lap up the hot chocolate. 

She also saw Nicky eyeing a Hug Mug and she grabbed it before he noticed. Even though no one else celebrates Christmas, she does, so they’re all getting gifts.

“He was my English tutor.” Nicky says and Nile snorts, recalling both of their animated stories of their distaste for learning English when they did, hundreds of years ago.

“He was my best student.” 

And, Nile’s back to gagging. 

She loves them, she does. But there’s only so much poetic love she can hear them wax about each other before she tunes it out. 

She should’ve dragged Andy along with her, but her and Quynh opted to stay in their town home they’ve owned since the Industrial Revolution or something, and lord knows where Booker’s fucked off to. 

So, she’s walking around New York in November, so Joe and Nicky can go to their favorite bakery on the other side of the city from where their place is. 

“He really didn’t need any help with English.” Joe teases and Nicky smiles like this is a story they’ve told before. 

“Nope. We’ve been married for eight years now.” Nicky says to the owner, who squeals loudly. 

They end up leaving the bakery with more pastries than they paid for, much to Joe’s delight. 

“Eight years, huh?”

“It has been eight years since our last wedding.” Nicky says and Nile’s eyes bug out of her head.

“Wait, you’re actually married?”

They both stare at her like she’s lost her mind and she doesn’t know why she thought they weren’t.

“We’ve been married for a long time. Different places, different names, different countries.” Joe shrugs and grabs Nicky’s hand as they continue their walk. 

Nile pulls another bit of milkshake through her straw and follows after them. 

2.

“Your friend is very hot.” The woman, Anya, smirks at Nile as she gestures over her shoulder.

“Who?” Nile asks incredulously because for one quick moment she wants to answer with I don’t have friends but she knows that’s not exactly true so she just gapes at Anya with her mouth open. 

Anya, the daughter of their mark, who Nile is supposed to be getting to know, just points rudely towards Joe.

“Are you lovely ladies talking about me?” Joe slides up to Nile and puts an arm over her shoulders.

“No.” Nile says at the exact same time Anya says yes.

Anya smacks Nile’s arm playfully and smirks at Joe.

“I was just telling Nile how attractive you are.” 

Nile stares at Anya wondering when she got so bold and then looks at Joe who’s smiling and blushing, which she didn’t think was possible.

“Why thank you. But I am happily taken.” 

As if summoned by Joe mentioning he’s taken, Nicky comes over and places a hand on the small of Joe’s back as he separates from Nile.

Anya is pouting but Nicky just smiles.

“Were you talking about me, love?”

“I was just about to tell Anya how we met skiing in the Alps on vacation.” Joe turns to look at Anya and continues. “My Nico is not the most coordinated and he got his skis tangled and once we realized he was okay I asked him to join me in the lodge and we had hot coco in front of the fire. He still makes fun of my love for mini marshmallows.” 

Nile smirks at the story, knowing that some of it is probably true and when she turns back to Anya she notices what only can be described as heart eyes.

“That is the sweetest story.” Anya gushes and just as she’s about to go on, her father, their mark, walks up and smiles at her.

“Darling. Who are you friends?” 

As Anya introduces them Nicky turns to her and winks.

Yeah. They’ve definitely told that story before.

3.

“Do you wanna dance?”

Nile turns at the question and comes face to face with the most attractive woman she’s ever seen. 

“I’m Nile.” Nile blurts out unintelligently and the beautiful woman laughs and Nile’s fucked.

“I’m Frankie.” The woman, Frankie, smiles and leans closer to Nile. “Dance with me?”

Nile nods as she finishes her drink and turns in time to catch Joe’s smirk. She rolls her eyes and lets Frankie pull her out to the dance floor.

They’re in London, because Booker needed to be here for something he couldn’t say, but right now Nile doesn’t care. She convinced Joe and Nicky that they needed a night off and they let her drag them to a club. 

She’s forever grateful they agreed. 

She lets Frankie grab her hips and pull them flush together and after a couple of songs Nile feels want like she hasn’t since she died in the desert. 

“Your friends are staring at us.” Frankie whispers in her ear and it pulls Nile out of the moment.

“Huh?”

“Your friends. They’re protective?”

“Oh.” Nile tugs on the belt loops of Frankie’s jeans. “Yeah.”

“Introduce me to them.”

“What?”

“I want to meet your friends.” Nile looks at Frankie incredulously because really? 

“Kiss me.” Nile says instead. 

So Frankie kisses her and Nile ends up dragging her to meet Joe and Nicky. 

“Joe. Nicky. This is Frankie.” Nile introduces them as she steals Nicky’s drink right out of his hand. He scoffs and smiles so she knows he’s not mad.

“How do you know Nile?” Frankie asks them like they didn’t all meet tonight. Nile would find this weird but she’s immortal so what even is her life?

“Nile and I met at work.” Joe answers. “But I brought my husband to a work party and I’m pretty sure he stole my best friend.” 

Nile’s breath catches in her throat. She knows Joe’s telling a story and she knows they’re friends but something about the way he says best friend makes her heart clench. 

“And how did you meet your husband?” Frankie asks as she slides closer to Nile.

Nile assumes she’s being nice, trying to get to know them, but the cynical part of her that has only grown more and more since she became immortal wonders why Frankie is asking all of these questions.

“Oh, it wasn’t much different than this.” Joe gestures to the club and even though Nile knows it’s a lie her eyes still bug out of her head. 

“Really?” Nile squeaks and Joe smiles.

“Yes, although I think it was called a speakeasy. The one we met at had a dress code and everything. Fedoras, suspenders, the whole nine. Nico was very dashing.” 

Nicky smiles at Joe as he kisses him quickly, once, and then turns back to them. 

“He bought me a drink and the rest as they say is history.” 

Nile chuckles and Frankie seems enraptured by them and Nile gets it, she does, but she tugs Frankie back onto the dance floor. 

Later Frankie puts her number in Nile’s burner phone and Nile throws it on the ground and crushes it with her boot.

4.

“Did Dr. Jones tell you I introduced him to his husband?” Luca, the curator at the museum they’re canvassing asks.

“No, I don’t think so.” Nile smirks and Joe rolls his eyes.

“He didn’t introduce us so much as we met when I was helping curate one of the museum exhibits. Nico, as you know, is a photographer and he was hired to take photos before the opening.” Joe smiles like he’s replaying a pleasant memory. 

“Love at first sight?” Nile teases and Joe and Luca laugh.

“Seemed like they couldn’t stand each other at first.” Luca smirks and Nile raises an eyebrow at Joe who just shrugs.

“We figured it out eventually.” Joe turns to her and Nile knows the moment Nicky walks into the room because Joe’s gaze has left Nile and is now focused over her head. 

“Practice makes perfect.” Nile mumbles and Luca smiles at her as Joe leaves them to go stand next to Nicky.

+1

“Hurry up!” Joe calls after them as Nile, Andy, and Quynh cross the street to catch up to them.

Nile pulls her scarf tighter around her neck to keep the chill away. It’s New Years Eve and they’re back in London, because Booker, and they’re trying to beat the crowds out of the city to get back to Copley’s. 

They’re about to jump onto the sidewalk when Nile hears it; tires skidding, a sickening crunch, and Booker’s ear piercing scream. 

“James!” 

That’s new. 

Before Nile can even process what’s happened, the car is speeding away and Joe is trying to grab Booker by the shoulders while Andy and Quynh land on the pavement next to a woman, unconscious on the ground, body twisted in an unnatural way.

“Nile.” Nicky takes her by the shoulders and steers her away from Copley, lying on the ground, blood pooling around him, and the woman, who it looks like he was trying to save. 

Booker is inconsolable and suddenly London makes a lot more sense. 

“Booker.” Nile goes to say as she steps around Nicky and stops in her tracks when she sees the woman.

“Frankie.” Nile falls onto the pavement unconcerned with her jeans getting soaked as she gently touches Frankie’s face. 

She wants to scream, she wants to cry, she wants to blame this universe for all that is unfair. 

Booker’s hiccupping sobs cut through most of her inner turmoil as she turns to Andy and Quynh.

“We need…” Nile clears her throat. “We have to call the police.” 

“Nile.” Nicky’s voice is soft and she turns sharp eyes on him. 

She’s about to argue with him when there’s a loud gasp as Copley shoots awake right into Booker’s arms. 

“Sébastien.” Copley whispers as Booker starts crying in earnest now, mumbling in French, as Joe holds both of them. 

“We have to get off the street.” Nicky says quietly.

“We can’t leave her.” Nile grabs Frankie’s hand, the woman she spent a half a night with, and knows she can’t leave her alone.

“Nile.” Andy tries to placate her.

“No.” Nile stares Andy down. “No.” 

“Frankie.” Copley crawls over to her and Nile’s eyes widen and she’s about to ask how he knows her when Frankie gasps awake and turns to cough up blood.

“Shit.” Frankie says as she grabs her head and watches in abject fascination as her legs heal. 

Nile has just a moment to catch Frankie before she passes out and hits her head on the pavement.

“Now can we get out of here?” Andy asks exasperated and everyone nods as Nile picks Frankie up.

Back at Copley’s, hours later, Frankie listens as Joe and Nicky explain everything to her. 

Nile wants to comfort her, wants to know if this is why she felt drawn to her before, months ago. 

She has so many questions but they can wait until Frankie asks all of hers. Luckily Copley doesn’t have many, and he and Booker are cuddled on the couch together.

“Nicky and I met in the Crusades.” Joe says cheerfully, and Nile’s thrown back to the church almost a year ago when she heard the same story. 

In retrospect, it probably shouldn’t have taken her almost a year to figure it out. 

“We killed each other.” Joe jokes as he winks at Nicky.

“Many times.” Nicky smiles at Joe but Nile can see what she now knows isn’t just an underlying sadness of hurting his love, but the battle he wages within himself, nearly a millennium later, thinking he’s still not worthy, that he’ll never be able to repent for those sins he made outside of Jerusalem. 

“They never get to tell the real story.” Nile says quietly to Andy. 

“Real story?”

“Of how they met. I mean before tonight they maybe told it three times? You and Quynh, Booker, me.”

“Ah. Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

“That must be really hard.” 

“They have fun with it.” Andy shrugs as she looks over at Quynh.

“I’ve heard some of the stories.”

“They’re not just stories.” At Nile’s questioning glance Andy continues. “I mean most of the things have happened, they just leave out the part where they already know each other.”

“Huh.” Nile thinks back to all the stories she’s heard them tell of how they met or how they got together and her heart aches that they’ve only been able to share the real version a handful of times.

“You’ll be able to have your own stories someday.” Andy nudges her and she looks over at Frankie.

“We met at a club.” Nile smiles at the memory. 

“Yeah, but tonight is when you really met. And someday they’ll be another to share it with.” 

That makes sense and Nile smiles at the possibilities. 

“So, Copley, are you gonna tell us why you were meeting up with a CIA analyst?” Joe asks Copley and Nile watches both Copley and Booker look at Frankie and then Copley gets up and goes toward his office.

“I was gonna tell everyone tomorrow.” Copley says as he leans against Booker, who pulls him closer to his side. 

Copley drops a file down on the table and Joe and Nicky open it. 

Nicky quickly loses all the color in his cheeks and stares at Frankie with something akin to awe.

“Is this real?” Joe asks and Copley nods.

“She’s a descendant of Nicky’s. We worked together before I left the agency and since I can never let anything go…” Copley trails off. “I got in touch and she said she was interested in her ancestry. I was gonna tell you what I found before I brought her in but well…”

Frankie looks around at everyone and then she makes her way over to Nile. 

“Hi.” Frankie says quietly to Nile as everyone else in the room starts talking over each other.

“Hi.” Nile says as they sway closer together.

“Is this why you never texted me?”

“Yes.” Nile breathes and Frankie smiles. 

“I forgive you.” 

“Oh you do?” Nile teases her and Frankie smirks before turning back to the rest of the room. 

Nicky has a strange look on his face and Frankie turns her questioning gaze to Nile. 

“He’s trying to figure out which one of us to give the shovel talk to.” Nile smirks and Joe laughs with his whole body as Nicky winks. 

“Is he?” Frankie smirks and tugs Nile impossibly closer. 

“Yeah.” Nile breathes against Frankie’s mouth before she closes the distance and kisses her.

“Let’s give him something to talk about.” 

This is a story Nile can’t wait to share.

[cryhardanddanceharder]

Andy’s headcanons because we need to talk more about her:

She’s 6732 years old. She says she doesn’t remember her age, and it might be true, maybe she forgot to keep counting, but she thinks she’s somewhere between 6500 - 7000.

She’s a warrior since she’s a teenager, because the time she was borned was the “eye for eye, teeth for teeth” period.

She’s more an action person than a word person, because her first language was everything related to gestual actions. She can read body language better than anyone, so she can make you feel the more comfortable or uncomfortable you ever felt in your life depends the situation. She does little actions to show her love.

She’s ambidextrous. She can use her weapons perfectly with each one of her hands. (and later write too)

She’s been worshipped as a goddess at least in two or threes comunities she’s been part of. She actually thought she was a goddess at the beginning, because she was the only one who couldn’t die. But then, when years passes and she’s the only one not dying, but she loses all the people she loves and trascend generation after generation, she stops thinking it like a goddess thing and starts seeing it as a curse.

She used to wear clothes made of extinct animals skin, necklaces made with teeth, flowers and horns crowns.

When she was a goddess she had slaves, but once she overcome her goddess complex and realises how wrong it is (because all humans are equal, they all die no matter their social status, their nationality, their religion, skin color, gender, sexual preferences) she stops it. She starts fighting against it, every time she can. She still fight against it in the present time (human trafficking). 

I feel like she could also been a slave or prisoner in some period time. Maybe as a punnish from her inmortality? Because mortals see her as a threat?

She loves storytelling and stargazing. That’s why in present time she loves to go camping, she loves sleeping outside. She’s so old that even she had seen the sky change. The stars constellations changes but she learns those changes. There is something comforting about stargazing, so she keeps doing it.

She has very good location sense. She can always find the way to get to where she wants to go.

She’s been there when the first language was created, that’s why it’s easy for her to learn new languages. 

She was there when the pyramids of Egypt were built, maybe she worked in the construiction of one of them (?

She’s gender fluid and bisexual (or could be pansexual).

She knew the Sahara dessert before it becomes a dessert. She knew it with trees and vegetation.

She loves horses more than (most) people. 

 She was the lider of the scythians.

Her name “Andromache” comes from all the legends, that actually are true. She’s the amazon who defeated Heracles and once upon a time she was married to Hector of Troy.

She was the one who trained the amazon warriors on how to be warriors.

She was a gladiator for some time and had fights in the roman colliseum.

She writes mixing languages, because why not? That’s how her thoughts are anyway, in mixing languages. “Let’s put this word in scythian, and that one in greek, and the other in saumerian or tamil, and let’s finish in italian because italy it’s actually the country i am at the moment”.

When she starts dreaming about Quynh she thinks she’s crazy, untill she starts dreaming about Lykon too. She tried to indentify wich languages they speak in the dreams, so she could learn them before meeting them. 

She met Jesus once. She doesn’t find him that special. He didn’t come back to life, at least not in the way inmortals do.

Lykon, Quynh and her have a chaotic dynamic. They always die to save the others, to save them from the pain; wich in some way it’s ridiculous because they are all inmortal. But they always fight about it like children.

She can speak all the languages (even those that are extinct), only she sometimes forget how to speak in some of them, but remembers once she hears someone speaking it.

She knows more way to kill than entire armies will ever learn. 

She can use any kind and type of weapon. She’s as good as archer as Quynh and as good as a sniper as Nicky, but if she can choose another weapon she will do because she prefers hand and hand combat. 

She feels every death. She might have been a warrior all her life, but she doesn’t take pleassure on killing. We can see that in the church scene, her face tells us all how much it takes from her to be that lethal.

She’s very protective of the others inmortals. They are her family. And she feels like she has to protect them, because she has been alone for so long that she doesn’t want to take chances on that ever happening again. 

She’s become more protective after Lykon’s death, because now they know even them don’t last forever. She wants to protect the time she has with the other and thinks the best way to do it is to be the one who always goes first. 

She hates to dream about Nicolo and Yusuf at the begining because it hurts her to see them killing each other. For someone who has been alone for so long, it hurts to see that. Because for her they are lucky to have started their inmortality together.

Lots of deaths and trauma. She probably been raped at least once. 

She died from dehydratation and hunger more times that she can count. That’s why she’s not picky with food, she’s happy as long there is something in front of her to eat. She can cook good enough, but she’s not fan of doing it.

She died from every tipe of weapon: spears, swords, arrows, axes, throwing stones, daggers, knives, cannons, guns, grenades, bombs. Also she died from being dismembered, from being hanged and burn alive.

Once Quynh’s is taken to her ocean prison, Andy was tortured and burned alive. They chose water methods for Quynh and fire methods for Andy.

She have tried to kill herself sometimes when she was depressed. They way i see it probably three times: one when she found out her inmortality and wanted to see how it worked, two when she lose her goddess complex and was tired of being alone for so long, and three after she realised that finding Quynh was impossible.

She spent lot of years looking for Quynh with Joe and Nicky, untill they realised it’s an impossible mission. She still checks new technological inventions and andvances to see if they have a chance. But as long as she knows it’s impossible and technology doesn’t help, even the marines and ocean experts says it would be easier to find something in the moon than in the bottom of the ocean.

The only time she prayed in her life was to ask for Quynh’s death, so she would stop suffering from constantly drowning. And for hers, because she doesn’t want to keep living without Quynh.

She keeps Quynh’s belongings saved in one of her fav caves.

She likes wearing things from the other inmortals because it gives her comfort and help her feel ground. She always wears Quynh’s necklace. And sometimes she wears Joe’s cap, Nicky’s hoodie, Booker’s jackets. She also shares t-shirts with them, or more like stole t-shirts from them.

Wars she probably fighted in: Achaemenid conquest of the Indus Valley, Corsica civil war, war between Corinth and Corzira, Expedition of the Ten Thousand, Latin wars, First Peloponnesian War, First medical war, Thasos Rebellion, Roman-Etruscan wars, Samos War, Second medical war, Wars of Veii, Trojan war, Sicilian wars, Alexander The Great  conquest of Persia, An Lushan Rebellion,  Mongol Conquests, Conquests of Tamerlane, Qing dynasty conquest of Ming dynasty, Dungan revolt, Hundred Years’ War, World War I, Russian Civil War, Ten Years’ War, World War II, Vietnam War, Afghanistan War.

Some modern revolutions and independence processes she possibly was/could be: French Revolution, Haitian independence, USA independence, Russian Revolution, Cuba revolution, LATAM independences, India independence, Australia independence, New Zeland Independence, Africans independences.

She died from electrocution, trying to find out how electricity works.

She died learning to drive a car and learning to pilot a plain. 

In World War II she was a pilot of the night witches.

Baklava and really anything that is sweet are her comfort food.

The first time she had ice cream she became a fan and only eat ice cream for like an entire year.

She likes percussion music: all types of drums, cymballs, tambourine, maracas, bongos, castanets.  

She likes theater more than cinema. 

She likes tea more than coffee. 

She can sleep everywhere. A chair? Good. The floor? Good. The earth and grass in the middle of nowhere? Good. A cave? Good. A tree? Good. The train. Good. A Car? Good. The bus? Good. A plain? Good. The couch? Good. An armchair? Good. All is good. Sleep when you can moto is big on her, because beds are a modern concept she still can’t fully incorporate. And without Quynh doesn’t feel like doing it. 

She’s very good on learning new things because she’s used to everything constantly changing. And when she finds something hard to learn she is patient, after all she has all the time on the world to learn it and master it (she’s kinda perfectionist).

She’s okay with technology, she could understand more if she wanted to. But she let’s Booker have that place and handle it, because she sense he needs to have something as his responsability to feel he’s useful to the team.

There’s personal things (clothes, weapons, paintings) of her in lot of museums. Joe and Nicky would try to recover some things of her (and them) from time to time.

Hard on the outside, soft on the inside. Ironic and dark humor.

She’s the best at dissapearing when the team takes time out of their missions, if she doesn’t want to be found there is no way you could find her.

She’s been nomad most of her life. She can’t stop moving. She loves traveling with no destination in mind, just for the act of it.

She gives up sometimes because she’s old and she’s tired, but if you give her a good reason to keep fighting she’s all in. 

She has the biggest heart (even if she tries to hide it) and actually loves humanity, if not she wouldn’t have fight for so long… and still does. 

(if you want to read more headcanons: here are the ones i have for Quynh)

[bitchin-beskar]

Spidey Sense

Fandom: The Old Guard

Rating: T

Word Count: 2.4k

A/N: So the original prompt for this was something along the lines of: "hey, what if Joe and Nicky keep pictures of each other in their wallets to remind them of why they're doing this whenever they have to be apart" and this was born from that. Enjoy!

Tags: @theocatkov, @cosmicbug379, @marydjarin @perropascal

Let me know if you’d like to be tagged in any of my works!

Please like and reblog! I love feedback!!!

Gazing down at the image of the love of his life, forever immortalized by his hand, never failed to bring a smile to Joe’s lips. His drawings would never be as magnificent, as breathtaking as looking at Nicky with his own two eyes, but whenever they were apart, he had to make do with images drawn by his hand. 

Slipping the small slip of paper back into his wallet, Joe flipped it shut and slid it into one of his many pockets. He hated going on missions without Nicky, but this particular job had required his expertise in infiltrating one building while Nicky’s skills as a sniper were required four blocks away. It was unfortunate, but not the first time it had happened, and it likely wouldn’t be the last. 

When Copley had informed them of the job, he’d made sure they knew that he’d been unable to get any estimates on the number of guards they’d have to deal with. It made Joe uneasy, but they’d gone through with it anyways. Some tech company was trying to use their software to hack into the Pentagon to steal the locations of missile silos located all over the US. The government was very concerned about this threat, and so Copley had called them in.

Joe was supposed to create a distraction at the main headquarters, drawing the company’s attention and thus, allowing Nicky to eliminate guards at the warehouse that housed the company's main servers, which would then allow Nile and Booker to get in and plant explosives. Boom! No more servers, no more threat.

Nicky had been worried about Joe causing a distraction when they didn’t know the amount of guards, but Joe had tried to soothe his beloved’s fears as best he could. 

“Habibi,” he’d said, hand resting on Nicky’s waist, holding him close. “I will be fine. And if anything were to go wrong, I know that you will not allow them to hold me for long.”

Nicky had leaned his forehead against Joe’s, one of his many, silent, I love you’s that he bestowed upon Joe throughout the day. “I would prefer it if nothing goes wrong.”

“As would I.”

***

Nicky had been right to worry, and Joe knew he would never hear the end of it. There had been twice as many guards as Copley’s estimate, and even with Joe’s healing, and centuries worth of experience, he’d quickly been overwhelmed. They’d knocked him out–although, perhaps they’d killed him, Joe wasn’t entirely sure–and when he woke, he was chained to a metal chair, bolted in the middle of an all white room.

His first thought had been something along the lines of how poor of a choice it was to put him in an all white room, as it undoubtedly would become quite the grotesque scene when Nicky arrived. Blood clashed so horribly on white walls, and Nicky could get quite ferocious whenever Joe was threatened. 

His second thought was on the fact that even while bound, he could tell that his wallet was no longer in his pocket. That, in of itself was of no consequence, practically everything in it was fake–it was hard to have valid ID’s and such when you were an immortal warrior born nine hundred years ago–but there was one precious item in that wallet. 

The drawing of Nicky was one of many, but that didn’t mean it was any less special. Joe had saved every single scrap of paper he’d ever drawn Nicky’s likeness on, and while some had aged beyond recognition, he hadn’t had the heart to let any of them go. He knew that Nicky similarly had many, many photographs and paintings of him. Nicky always professed that he wasn’t as artistically inclined as Joe, but every time Nicky sketched him, Joe could see the love and care that went into each piece of art, and he fell in love with Nicky all over again. 

He was jolted out of his musings by the door opening violently, slamming against the wall. He didn’t react outwardly, instead analyzing each of the men that walked into the room. Ten men entered, the last, an older man with grey in his hair, shut the door behind him, making a show of locking it. Joe wanted to scoff. These men didn’t intimidate him in the slightest, and they would have to try a lot harder if they wanted to get a reaction out of him.

“Who sent you?” 

Joe laughed. So this is how they were doing this. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

The man scowled, the expression twisting his features into a mask of hatred. “I don’t like your attitude, kid.” 

Joe laughed even harder at that, his body shaking with mirth, although his eyes were cold as ice. “I’m not quite as young as I look,” he chuckled under his breath, watching as the other men shuffled awkwardly. They clearly feared the older man, and he could see in some of their eyes that they feared for him if he continued to antagonize their leader. 

There was a sharp crack, and Joe’s head snapped to the side, the backhand delivered with an impressive amount of force. It might’ve hurt, if Joe hadn’t lived as long as he had, and had experienced far worse. Still, he kept up appearances. The longer these men were unaware of his healing and his immortality, the better. 

“Who sent you?” 

Joe grins, the perfect picture of innocence. “Who says anyone sent me? Perhaps I decided to come all by myself?” He probably shouldn’t be antagonizing this man, but he’s having too much fun. 

The man snaps his fingers, and one of the other men rushes forward to hand him something. Joe recognizes it as his wallet, watching as the man flips through it, pulling out his driver’s license. “Joseph Jones? Is that even your name?” The man scoffs. “Why were you trying to break in?”

“Oh, I wasn’t trying to break in.” The man looks confused for all of two seconds before Joe opens his mouth again. “I’d already broken in. Your men found me after I got in.” Joe can’t help but brag a little, because, well, their security was shit, but also because he was trying to stall for time, so that Nile and Booker could get in and out without any issues. “You really shouldn’t have picked white walls you know, white stains so easily–”

He gets another backhand for his efforts, and the man in front of him actually growls. He goes back to pawing through Joe’s wallet, and Joe can feel his heart stop when the man pulls out Joe’s drawing of Nicky. 

The man looks at it, and it’s clear he doesn’t know what to think at first. He studies the drawing, and Joe can feel sparks of anger igniting in his chest, although he tries not to show it. The man suddenly laughs, and it’s a cruel, mocking laugh. He shoves the drawing at one of the other men before turning back to Joe, a cruel smirk on his face. 

“How cute,” he sneers. “Mr. Jones keeps a picture of his boyfriend in his wallet.” The man spits on the ground at Joe’s feet. “God, that’s disgusting.”

Anger clouds Joe’s vision, bubbling up in his chest like rising magma before bursting forth from his mouth before he can stop it.

“Boyfriend? Boyfriend? Nicolo is not my boyfriend,” he spits, fire burning in his eyes. “You are a narrow-minded, childish, little man. Nicolo means more to me than all the stars in the sky. He has been my light, my heart, for over nine hundred years, and he will continue to be my light and my heart for nine hundred more. I have fought a thousand battles by his side, I have gone to war to protect him just as he has for me. There will always be those who try to separate us, those who cannot possibly understand the depth of my love for that man, and yet,” he pauses, a dark smirk on his face as some of the men step back in fear. “Those who try always end up dead. No, Nicolo is not my boyfriend. He’s all and he’s more.”

***

Nicky was in the middle of dismantling his rifle when he felt it. It didn’t even take him a moment before he recognized the feeling. It was the feeling he always got whenever Joe would make grand declarations of love, which, admittedly, happened quite often. While Nicky was more reserved when it came to lyrical speeches, Joe had no such qualms, and would gladly shout to the heavens–and had done so, multiple times–about his love for Nicky. 

Just as he was reaching for his phone to call Copley–because clearly something had to be wrong if Joe was waxing poetic about Nicky when Nicky wasn’t even in the same building–the phone buzzed.

Nicky didn’t even have time to greet Copley before the man was launching into an explanation. “Nicky, I’m sorry, there were too many guards, Joe’s been captured. They’re holding him somewhere in the building, but I don’t have eyes inside.” 

“I’m on my way.” 

Sending a quick message to Nile and Booker, informing them of what happened, Nicky finished packing up his gear quickly, leaving his spot on the roof and descending the fire escape as fast–and safely, he’d be no good to Joe if he executed a swan dive off the fifth story–as possible.

***

Joe could feel his mouth filling with blood, so he leaned forward and spat some on the ground. Apparently the older man hadn’t been too pleased with being insulted, and he ordered his men to get answers out of Joe, while he watched. 

The beating, while not one of the worst he’d experienced, had not been pleasant. Thankfully, the men hadn’t seemed to realize Joe was slowly healing from their attacks, but sooner or later they would get suspicious. He hoped one of the others would get here before that happened, he really didn’t like dying alone.

He’d just been punched repeatedly in the stomach when the man doing said punching stopped. Joe was confused, but he certainly wasn’t going to complain about a reprieve. 

“What?” Barked the older man, pushing himself off the wall and stalking forward. “What is it?” The younger man shook his head, looking around. 

“Did anyone else–?” 

He cuts off when a loud bang sounds from outside the door. All of the men turn to look at the door, missing as a smile spreads across Joe’s bloody lips. Another bang sounds, louder than before, closer than before, and some of the men jump.

“What do you think it is?” One of them whispers, and before anyone can answer, something heavy slams into the bolted door from the outside. The whole door seems to shake in it’s frame, and it’s only made worse by the sudden scream of pain. 

There’s a sudden onslaught of noise, bangs, screams, gunshots, and crashes and–was that a cat screeching? The men all back away slowly from the door, hands on their weapons, but nothing could have prepared them for the way the door was blasted off its hinges, flying into the room and taking out two of the men. 

There’s a sudden burst of gunfire, taking out three more of the men before they can react. Watching their companions fall around them, the remaining four men all aim for the door, shooting wildly at a target they can’t even see. The older man, the leader, unlocks Joe’s cuffs only to pull him upright, pressing a knife against his neck, using Joe’s body as a human shield.

Joe rolls his eyes. If only this man knew how ineffective Joe would be at being a human shield. He watches with interest as the men stop firing, only for a knife to fly through the air and embed itself in one of the guard’s skulls. The others start firing again, but even though it's three against one, they’re no match for a furious Nicolo di Genova. Bursting into the room in a flurry of movement, Joe watches, fascinated–and more than a little turned on–as Nicky becomes a whirlwind, attacking violently with his longsword, cutting down the three men–with violent efficiency–who stand between him and Joe. 

The older man presses his blade tighter against Joe’s neck, but Nicky doesn’t even blink. Joe stomps on the man’s foot, and Nicky puts a bullet in his brain, quick as you please. The knife cuts Joe as he moves, but it’s certainly not life-threatening, so he’s unconcerned. 

Joe looked around the room, taking in the blood and guts and gore that decorate the white walls and floor and ceiling. “I told them that white was a bad choice, blood stands out far too much–” Nicky strides across the room, and kisses Joe hard, before he can get another word out. Joe grasps Nicky’s face with his blood covered hands, bringing him even closer, moaning as his beloved steals the breath from his lungs. 

Nicky pulls away, but only just, his forehead resting against Joe’s. “Yusuf, amore mio, are you badly hurt?” His eyes rove over Joe’s face, checking for any and all injuries.

“No, habibi,” Joe sighs. “The marks those men left are quickly fading. I am alright.” Nicky kisses Joe again, uncaring of the fact that Joe’s lips still taste of blood. 

They stand there for longer than they probably should, and when they finally part, Joe asks the question that had been pestering him since he first became aware of Nicky’s arrival. “How did you know so quickly, Nicolo? They’ve had me for less than an hour.”

The look on Nicky’s face is one of fond exasperation, one that Joe has been privy to many, many times. “You were being incurably romantic again, weren’t you?” 

Joe grins, his eyes shining as he looks at his love. “They dared insult you in my presence, hayati. Besides, you love it.”

Nicky sighs. “I do.”

Joe cups his face once more and kisses him, pouring nine hundred years of love and affection and desire into the kiss. He would defend his Nicolo to the ends of the earth, against anyone and anything that dared try to come between them. 

***

“I do not understand, Nile. Why do you keep referring to me as a cross between a human and an arachnid?”

“You have spidey sense Nicky, of course I’m going to call you Spiderman! Except instead of sensing danger, you sense whenever Joe’s delivering a love speech worthy of Shakespeare!”

“Hey! Do not compare me to that jumped-up English playwright–”

“Shut up, Joe!”

[prettyyoungandbored]

Becoming Mrs. Wayne [The Dark Knight] Three

Pairing: Christian Bale!Bruce Wayne x OC

Summary: Demetria Gallagher knew her cozy life would change the second she became engaged to Bruce Wayne. But what she doesn’t know is she’s getting more than what she agreed to. (I am trash at summaries.)

Warning: Language, Minor Panic Attack

Taglist: @dragonballluver

Previous Chapter

“We have an issue.”

Jack closed the door behind him. Jack was a college friend of Demetria and Harvey who co-ran a moving company with his brother, Max, in Gotham. He’d been there to help Demetria move in to the one bedroom so it was a no-brainer to ask him to help her move.

Demetria looked up she loaded the last box ontop of the dolly

“What broke?” She asked, the knot in her stomach tightening.

He waved his hand reassuringly “Nothing broke. Everything is secured in the truck.”

“Then what’s the issue?”

“There’s some paparazzi outside.”

She rolled her eyes and groaned. “You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me.” 

“It’s not a whole lot. Just like two, maybe three.” 

“No it’s definitely three,” Max confirmed as he glanced from out the window. 

Demetria threw her hands up as she walked over to the window, Jack trailing right behind her. The three of them watched as across the street, three men stood around with cameras in their hands.

She could think a few ways they could’ve gotten her address. One was from the Gotham Gossip, the other was someone at GCN tipped off the Gotham Times who also tipped off some other publication. 

“Should I call the cops?” Demetria asked.

“Yeah, that’s gonna go over real well,” Max snorted.

“Well, what am I supposed to do?”

“Just keep going and ignore them, I guess,” Jack shrugged. “Best you can do.”

She closed her eyes. “I thought I had more time before I had to deal with this.”

“Can you call Bruce?” Jack asked. 

She shook her head. “He’s at work.” She stepped back. “We’ve got these boxes left and then it’s over.” 

She began rolling the dolly when Max stopped her. “Let us do that.” 

“And have them catch me empty handed? Not a chance.” 

“Fair enough.” 

She quickly went into her purse, grabbing her keys and iPod with earphones wrapped around it. She shoved the iPod in her back pocket. “Here’s the plan. Jack, give the keys to Mrs. O’Neill. She’s in the room 301. Tell her I say ‘thanks for everything.’ Max, take one last look around and make sure nothing is getting left behind, alright? I’ll meet you two in the truck.”

Both men nodded their heads. She grabbed her purse and swung it over her shoulder, She rolled the dolly out into the hallway and into the elevator. 

Upon getting inside, she let out a deep sigh and rubbed her temple. She could feel her throat closing in and chest tightening, a sign she needed to do her breathing exercises. She inhaled slowly, holding it in for seven seconds before breathing out. 

She knew she would eventually have to deal with it when Bruce wouldn’t be around, but as she’d said, she thought she had time. Either way, she’d had to deal with it and it looked like today was the day to begin doing so.

She put her earbuds in as Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chains” filled her ears. 

The doors opened and she rolled the dolly out into the lobby, watching the men across the street watch her moves. She inhaled and exhaled slowly. 

“Here goes nothing,” she mumbled. 

She opened the door with one hand and pushed the the dolly with the other. The men hurried across street, their cameras flashing her as they stood on the street.

She kept her eyes on the truck and even with the pounding of Mick Fleetwood’s drums and Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nick’s powerful vocals, she could still hear the men yelling at her.

“Demetria, where’s Bruce?”

“Demetria are you moving in with Bruce?”

“When’s the wedding?”

“Give us a smile!”

“Demetria is it true you dated Harvey Dent prior to being with Bruce?”

She pulled her lips back, mentally reminding herself that responding to them would only make things worse.

She rolled the dolly into the back of the truck, setting her purse down before unloading the boxes. She knew they were there, watching her unloading, and photographing her from behind. While her throat really started closing in, she continued to breathe. She then put the empty dolly up against a box before grabbing her purse and going down the ramp. She kept her head down as she made her way into the driver’s area of the truck. 

Closing the door, she could still see them photographing her from in front of the car. She kept her eyes down as she pulled out her phone and began texting Bruce. 

Heading to the mansion in a bit. There’s paparazzi outside my place but everything is fine. 

She leaned her head back, continuing her breathing exercises when her phone buzzed. She looked down to find it a text from Bruce. 

Are you alright? Are you safe? 

I’m fine. I’ll see you tonight. Love you. 

Jack and Max got into the driver’s area with Jack at the wheel and Max right beside Demetria so she was in the middle. 

“Vans all closed up and everything is good,” Jack said. “Let’s move out.” 

The paparazzi moved off to the side as the van pulled forward before driving off. 

“How much do either of you want to bet that I’m going to be criticized for not wearing a seatbelt?” Demetria brought up.

 ____________________________________________________________

As they loaded boxes into the storage area of Wayne Manor, Demetria kept looking over to see the mansion. 

It was still being fixed, with certain areas built and ready, while others were covered in tarp. 

Bruce had shown her photos of what it looked like prior to the fire. For a mansion, it wasn’t overly designed, but rather cozy and the kind of place a kid would be lucky to call home. She’d hope that when it would finally be rebuilt that it would look exactly how it did. Knowing Bruce’s attachment to the house, it probably would. 

“So this is where you’ll be?” Max asked. 

“Yep,” she responded popping the “p”. “We’re moving in the second it’s ready.” 

“I remember when this place burned down,” Jack said. “Real shame. But I heard Wayne’s all cozy and whatnot in his penthouse.”

Demetria shrugged. “It’s just an apartment.” 

“Yeah with a helicopter pad,” Max snorted. 

Bruce’s wealth was a big topic of discussion that Demetria’s mother and older brother would bring up with her and it made her sick to her stomach. “It’s not that big of a deal.” 

“Demetria, can I ask you something?” Jack brought up, as he set down a box. “Are you...are you two planning on having a prenup?”  She cocked her head back. “Excuse me?” 

Jack and Max exchanged looks. “Look, I know he’s your fiancé,” Jack began, “but I mean, the guy is known for having a new girlfriend each month.” 

“Hell, sometimes it’s weekly thing,” Max chimed in. 

Demetria folded her arms across her chest, anger boiling up inside. “What’s your point?” 

Jack sighed. “Look, don’t get defensive...”

“Jack, what is your point?” 

He eyed Max. “I just wanna make sure you’re taken care of incase he hurts you or...you know...” 

“I’m fine,” she retorted. “Our relationship is fine. I’m aware of who he’s been with, but it’s not like that. If everyone stopped believing in this idea they conjured up about him based on the bullshit gossip magazines write about him, they’d see he’s actually kind and smart and thoughtful. Yea, he dated and slept around, but like you guys haven’t?” 

She turned to Max. “I couldn’t even keep up with your count after sophomore year.” 

She turned to Jack. “You know the lengths he went to to keep our relationship a secret so that not only I could keep my job, but that he would protect me from get hounded by the fucking press every night? If he wanted to leave, he could’ve. I gave him every chance to, but he refused. Thank you for you concern, but we’re gonna be just fine.” 

She walked away leaving Jack and Max alone. 

Her phone vibrated as she made her way back to the van. She pulled it out to find a text message from Bruce. 

I love you too. More than anything. I can’t wait til’ you’re all mine. 

______________________________________________________________

Hours later, Demetria entered the Wayne Enterprises building. She made her way to the front desk and by the time she opened her mouth to speak, the woman at the desk beat her to the punch. 

“He’s on the 24th floor. Top of the building. ” 

She gave the woman a nod. “Thanks.” 

She made her way into the elevator and pressed the button. She was thankful to have the elevator to herself when a man with balding, blonde hair rushed in. She gave him a friendly smile and watched as she reached over and pressed the button with ‘18′ on it. 

She could feel his eyes on her and she adjusted her purse on her shoulder, keeping her eyes in front of her. 

“You’re Bruce Wayne’s fiancé, right?” he spoke up. 

She looked over and gave him a small, but friendly smile. “Yeah, I am.” 

“Coleman Reese. I’m the mergers and acquisitions law accountant.”  “Nice to meet you.” 

She looked away but could still feel his eyes on her. She began playing with the engagement ring, hoping he’d take a hint. 

“Wayne really shelled out big ones for the ring, huh?” he spoke up. 

She laughed nervously, shrugging. “I wouldn’t know.” 

She pulled back her lips, wondering why his eyes wouldn’t leave hers. At this point she couldn’t tell if he was just weird, nosy, attempting to make a move, or just trying to make conversation. Either way, she hoped it would end soon. 

“You worked for Gotham City News, right?” he asked. 

Jesus Christ, dude, she thought to herself.

“Uh, yea, I did.” 

“Just out of curiosity, did any one there ever do some digging on the identity of the Batman?” 

She furrowed her eyebrows, holding her in her urge to ask him why the fuck he was asking her this. “I...I’m not entirely sure. I was just a junior talent booker there. I wasn’t involved with the stories reporters worked on.” 

The elevators doors then opened, her heart leaping with excitement. Coleman gave her a disappointed, but kind nod as he left. “Nice to meet you.” 

“You as well,” she responded. 

The second the doors closed, she mumbled, “The fuck was that?” 

Reaching the 24th floor, Demetria got off the elevator and wandered around looking for Bruce’s office when she heard someone say, “Miss Gallagher, I presume?” 

She turned around to see a gentleman with grey hair and a warm smile approach her. She recognized him as Lucius Fox, Wayne Enterprises’ CEO. 

“Lucius, hi! I’ve heard so much about you,” Demetria remarked, holding out her hand.

He shook it. “And I you, Miss Gallagher. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. Bruce talks a lot about you” 

“Well hopefully he only tells you good things. Speaking of which, where’s his office?” 

Lucius laughed. “I’ll show you.” 

The two walked side by side, as Demetria’s eyes fell to the glass windows. “How do you guys get anything done with a view like this?” 

“We do our best.”

He directed her to an office with glass windows all around, her smile widening at the sight of Bruce staring at something on his desk.

Bruce’s face lit up, closing the binder on his desk.“Sweetheart, what’re you doing here?”

She wrapped her arms around Bruce’s waist. “I just wanted to drop by and say ‘Hi’, and thanks to Lucius I was able to find you.” 

Bruce smiled at Lucius. “I hope she didn’t give you much trouble.” 

Lucius grinned. “Not at all.” He eyed the binder. “Is that the full report you wanted me to look at?” 

“Yeah, I made some adjustments you’re gonna want to look over.” 

“Will do. Demetria, a pleasure.” 

“Wonderful to meet you as well, Lucius.” 

Her eyes scanned Bruce’s office, admiring the mahogany wood that shine at the touch of the sun. It was organized down to a tee, not a single paper sticking out from the stack. The decor was kept to a minimum, not a single photo album anywhere. 

“I’m glad you stopped by,” Bruce said. “I have a present for you.” 

Demetria turned to him. “Is that so?” 

“Consider it a moving in gift.” 

“I told you I didn’t need you to-.” She cut herself off when he handed her a manila folder filled with paper. She pulled her lips back, holding back laugher. “A folder and some documents. How romantic.” 

“Open it.” 

She opened the folder to find documents pertaining to Gotham's Saint Swithin's Orphanage, including contact information, funding break downs, etc. The way her eyes crinkled made Bruce’s heart melt. 

“Thank you,” she said, giving him a quick chaste kiss. “This is perfect. I can start making some calls tonight, get a meeting set up-.” 

“Yeah, you might want to wait a couple days.” 

Demetria looked up. “Why’s that?” 

Bruce smiled. “What are your thoughts on setting sail for a couple days?” 

[eventual-ghoste]

TOG rambling

Hello! This post has to do with Andy and some revelations at the end of Force Multiplied. Spoilers I give aren’t super specific but they’re there, and I can’t promise they won’t bite.

This is also in response to a TOG discord question I couldn’t stop thinking about, regarding Andy’s history as compared to Nicky’s, as posited by Em | salzundhonig:

But Nicky's past as a crusader and his growth from his past was well received, surely that'll be the same with Andy right?

I apologize if these ramblings sound like a rant but I swear my intentions are in the spirit of debate/discourse, and they are not an attack on any individuals.

The TL;DR is: Andy has work to do. Hopefully Hollywood and Rucka don’t fuck that up.

Feel free to check/correct/call me out if I’ve misspoke anywhere here (I realize I still have a lot to learn) but IMHO, I don’t think a semblance of Andy’s growth will be well received. Or, at least, I’m not so certain it should be because, in the comics, I genuinely don’t think Andy has grown. At the end of Force Multiplied, she still defends her actions with the “this is how I grew up” argument, and says it was “a long time ago,” and as much as I love love LOVE Andromache the Scythian for her badassery and how she’s a vision of female empowerment, I can’t help but think about how I hear those words all the time from people defending themselves against racist and/or sexist comments from so-called bygone eras.

Wanna know a sad difference between those people and our beloved Andy? They apologize for what they’ve done, or who they were. As hollow as the words will sound, however unforgivable their actions, however self-serving the apology will be— Those Asshats apologize. Comic!Andy never does, not even when confronted by Nile, an African American woman who likely descends from slaves, and has undoubtedly experienced racism and discrimination on a regular basis. It’s been thousands of years and Andy doesn’t even know how to say sorry (if she ever does, kudos to whoever finds a timestamp/panel, and let me know!). Instead, Andy buries the truth of her actions with a load of justifications to the point that she becomes self-deprecating, calling herself “vermin,” concluding she’s no better than the apathetic, selfish, evil POS they hunt. She may have spent the past millennia with TOG, trying to make things right but then—

But then she gives up. She’s tired. She resigns because she doesn’t have it in her anymore to fight the injustice she once willingly and self-servingly participated in. So, on top of being incapable of apology, Andy also doesn’t vow to do better. She doesn’t accede to change.

If there is one reason for why “The Old Guard” is a fucking absolutely shitty title, is that it refers to people who refuse to accept new ideas and progress. We are in a fandom that has four canonically queer characters, three people of color, and two female leads! Maybe the irony is intentional but damn, why is it that Andy, PROTAGONIST #1, hasn’t completely caught up with the program?

And that brings me to why I think Andy’s reckoning will not be on the same level as Nicky’s. Because as popular as Kaysanova is, neither Nicky or Joe are the main protagonists of TOG.

We don’t follow Nicky or Joe (or Booker) into scenes. The men are strictly back-at-the-ranch, supporting characters. We follow Andy or Nile (who also have the most screen time, I believe, but fact-check me). Filmically speaking, we ought to value them with a measure of precedence. Their words and actions matter the most, especially Andy’s by nature of how everyone looks to her for guidance.

So, with all that in mind: How does one reconcile a beloved protagonist with a despicable past in slavery, of all things? In the wake of an international racial reckoning, how is a celebrated, white South African actress going to fulfill that role? How is production going to balance fantasy with reality? How are Rucka and other involved writers (Theron, Prince-Bythewood?) going to alter the original IP, while retaining the nuance of this moral quandry?

Forgive me for the overkill but: How is it going to happen?

I’m well aware that my thoughts are going down a rabbit hole, and I am definitely overthinking this, but as somebody who’s genuinely curious about whether Victoria Mahoney and the rest of the TOG crew will have the guts to confront the issue head-on, or if they’ll take the easy way out. Excise the bits that no one wants to talk about, much less watch in a feel-good film that TOG has become for many fans.

Whatever production ends up doing, I hope that 2O2G doesn’t end on a cliffhanging “pity Andromache” note because, damn, I’m gonna feel real uncomfortable scrolling through fandom posts, reading people defending slavery and giving the same “the past is a foreign country; they do things differently there” spiel, in order to protect a fictional character played by a conventionally-attractive cis heterosexual white woman.

(Also: If the past is so different from the present, why are there still calls for social justice? Why do ALL industries still lack diverse and equitable representation?)

Now, this is where I’ll go back to the original question and say: While I think Nicky functions well as an example for change/growth/redemption, I don’t think his change serves as a good comparison to Andy’s. I say this, even while I’m aware of double standards in gender, and even between the reception of gay characters vs lesbian characters vs etc. (re: I’m open to critique).

My line of thought stems from the fact that, canonically, Nicky always had Joe. The two have seemingly been inseparable from the moment they first killed each other. It’s likely that Joe would check Nicky whenever he said or did something wrong and offensive, and perhaps this symbiosis was mutual.

(I also have a feeling that many people easily disregarded the Christian/Muslim conflict because A) lack of knowledge in BOTH religions and B) the onscreen couple appear very much in love, especially when one is giving a beautiful monologue on the nature of their relationship. When we meet Joe and Nicky, we meet them at their best. Shout-out to interfaith couples who know more about this than my single (and secular) ass does, and might have more to say about this.)

On the other hand: Andy never had someone who was like how Joe was for Nicky. No one ever calls out Andy because A) she’s the oldest, B) she’s the lead, and C) her business card says ANDROMACHE OF SCYTHIA, WAR GOD. Yeah, she had Quynh/Noriko but— at the risk of yelling at Rucka for vilifying a queer woman of color (or praising him for not leaning on the stereotype of Asian passivity? idk, anyone got thoughts on this?)— Noriko is clearly not encouraging good behavior. Neither will Quynh if Netflix lets 2O2G be as faithful to the comics as TOG1 was.

Which means the Law 282 conversation might be…unavoidable? Somewhere along the line, we still end up in the hotel room with Andy, on the floor, pleading for her crew to not abandon her, even though she is the one who abandoned their cause.

This sets up a circumstance in which Fade Away might be spent trying to redeem Andy/Charlize Theron, bring her back to the “good side,” teaching her to be better— thereby highlighting her experience and “salvation,” rather than making a point of her past, and the reality of her actions. In other words, a “pity the white woman” fest.

(Because I’m crossing my fingers that TOG production/Netflix know better) In an effort to prevent that from happening, I wonder if Rucka will combine Force Multiplied with Fade Away for the 2O2G script. Given the series’ track record, I think it is feasible that FA’s release coincides with 2O2G’s, and that it finally resolves Andy. Whether by revitalizing her energy as a do-some-gooder, or finalizing her vulnerability by putting her 6,000 years to rest, thus handing off the reigns to Nile and a new generation of leadership.

The last thing I want to leave off with is: I don’t hate Andy. It’s a credit to Rucka and fellow writers (from film and fandom) that I don’t.

I might not love her character as enthusiastically as I used to, but that doesn’t mean I’m not amazed by her creation. She’s a female lead whose sexuality is not exploited by the male gaze; whose emotional vulnerability is not considered a hindrance to, nor an explanation for, her battle prowess; and whose unabashed queerness is not reinforced by cookie cutter stereotypes. Andromache the Scythian is AMAZING.

That doesn’t mean I’m going to excuse or ignore her most glaring and contemptible flaw. More than anything, I’d love to sweep her past under the carpet so that 2O2G can be problem-free. Like many people, I just want to enjoy a movie without getting triggered.

I want to see Quynh and Andy kiss and make up. I want to see Joe rocking Those Shorts, and a cheeky shot of Nicky appreciating his ass. I want to see Nile welcoming Booker back to the family again. Some form of group therapy would be chef’s kiss.

But something about glossing over/removing slavery from Andy’s narrative reeks of dishonesty, and reminds me that the (Hollywood) movie industry is full of people who do not want to be tainted with negative perceptions. Understandably, appearances are their livelihood— but that particular truth is something they still have to reckon with.

[anonymous0writer]

Pretending (Part Two)

Author: @anonymous0writer

Summary: When a tourist won’t leave you alone at a party in the Boneyard, you go to John B. for help. But something’s changed.

Warnings: Swearing... nothing else (I think) Alcohol use. Mentions of sex. Like twice.

A/N: This is a long one- but it’s finally here. I loved hearing the feedback! Thank you. :) Also, I might make this a slow burn. Idk. Let me know. Also, I’ve never had a hangover, and Idk how to write it.  Also, if you want to be tagged, let me know!

Part One here

You groan, keeping your face tucked into the pillow. Your head feels like it’s been split open. Your hangover is bad. Whatever was in that drink did the trick. You can barely remember where you were last night, but unfortunately, it didn’t wipe away the thing you hoped it would.

You didn’t want to face the day. Or John B. Or Pope, or Kie’s questioning eyes and her uncanny ability to know what you were thinking. And you certainly didn’t want to face the hangover that was going to kill you all day. 

But you’d have to face it eventually, right? You hoped it was something that’d go away with time, but you were never a very lucky person. 

“Y/N!! Are you up?” 

John B.’s voice carried through the room, reaching your ears. Conveniently, you stomach flopped at the familiar voice. God, you had butterflies. Butterflies. And this time, you weren’t able to blame it on the alcohol. You silently cursed yourself. 

You felt the couch you were currently sprawled across dip as John B. sat down at the end of the bed. You shut your eyes tightly. You did not like John B. This was some weird faze. John B. was your best friend. No romantic feelings involved. You didn’t like John Booker Routledge. Not one bit. Not ever. 

You jumped as a hand gently touched your shoulder. 

“Y/N?” He asked, hand still warm on your shoulder. “I know you’re awake.”

You groaned into the pillow again, and flipped over, lying on your back. You didn’t realize it, but your shirt slide up, exposing your stomach, and the bottom of your bra to your best friend. Your stomach was tan from days in the sun, and your bra was a lacy, white thing. You were too busy grumbling and throwing an arm across your eyes to protect yourself from the blinding sun to notice how John’s eyes flickered to your stomach. He licked his lips, eyes landing on the peek of the bra and bare stomach. But it was so quick, that even if you were staring right at him, your hungover brain wouldn’t have caught it. 

“John, leave me alone!” You heaved a sigh. You removed your arm from across your eyes and rubbed them. “God, it’s fucking bright in here.” 

He laughed, a sound you’ve always loved, but now it brings a flutter in your stomach. Fuck. You really had a crush on him. Your stomach did the classic teenage high school romance movie flip flop. And you hated it. This crush would easily turn into something bigger, knowing yourself. You spent all fucking day with the boy. How could you look at him in a platonic way again? Your feelings would grow and it’d fuck up your life. And you hated the way you fell like those cheesy high school movies. You never thought it was that realistic, and the cheesiness was like salt in the wound since you didn’t have much luck with boyfriends. Your total was a grand one of: one. Yes, one. And it was pretty bad. It was freshman year, and you were somewhat friends. You dated for a couple months and then you lost your virginity to him, and after that, you never talked. It wasn’t a great track record. But having you stomach flip like in the movies made you hate it all the more. This was a little too realistic.

“You gotta get up. There’s coffee and some breakfast in the kitchen. You should eat.” 

You squinted at him, from your spot nestled in a blanket on John B’s couch. For some reason, he seemed to talk to you more gently, and he was nicer. Wasn’t he? He seemed to treat you differently than he would normally. You hoped it was just your imagination, because you couldn’t deal if you had said something last night. Last night came back to your in fragmented pictures and hazy snap shots. 

You were begin chased by the cute tourist, Julian. You had finally got him off your back when you went to John B. And you convinced him that John B. was your boyfriend, and kissed him to prove it. Holy shit. You kissed John B. Oh god. 

You try to remember what happened after. You went to talk to Kie, and got crazy drunk. Then at an absurd hour, all five of you stumbled back to the van. And thank god to Pope for keeping the signal clear all night and refusing a drink, because you were sure that if you all got as drunk as you remembered, you’d all be dead in a ditch. 

You and JJ passed out on the couch, Kie going to the guest bedroom, John B. in his room and Pope on his usual spot of the couch on the porch. Those were your regular spots, though JJ usually had a touron and was giving it to her in a more private spot like the guest bedroom while you and Kie giggled on the couch. And that’s how you ended up, tangled in a blanket on John B.’s couch. 

“Where is everyone?” You asked, voice hoarse. 

John B. looked surprised. You didn’t acknowledge his comment about food, when usually, when this hungover, you would kill for food. He ran a hand through his hair. You sighed at the sight, sitting up. God, that hair. John B. would be the death of you.

“Um. Pope went home. He’s in lock down for a couple days after ditching his dad.” I winced. Poor Pope. “Kie’s up- I don’t she got as wasted as you did. You went fucking crazy with the drinks.” He studied you, and you shifted uncomfortably under his eyes. He was trying to figure out why you drowned the night away with hard alcohol, and you weren’t ready to give it up. You shrugged, and he sighed, continuing. “JJ’s passed out on the couch on the porch.” 

You nodded, running your hands through your hair. Maybe a shower would wake you up and clear your throbbing head. You swung your legs over the side of the couch, and immediately felt like you were going to throw up. “Shit.” You murmured and gagged. 

“Woah! You okay?” John asked, hand on the small of your back. You tensed. 

You nodded, the feeling of throwing up easing. “Yeah.” You stood on shaky legs. “I think I’m going to take a shower. Is that okay?”

He nodded. And watched as you slowly made your way to the bathroom, rubbing your eyes aggressively. A cold shower would clear your confused mind and wake you up. However, you didn’t catch the small glance down to your butt from the boy on the couch. You wore a big T-shirt Kie gave to you and small cut offs. 

You shut the bathroom door and looked at yourself in the mirror. Messy hair, wild eyes and a frown. You looked bad. And hungover. If your mom caught you like this she’d freak. Though you doubted she was sober enough to notice her daughter. She used to be a good mom, but dad left, and then she started to get rocky. You were eight when your father left, and it took two years until your mother teetered off the edge of her addiction. After that, she was going to work, halfway sober, coming home and drinking the day away. She did have good days, where she cleaned up, made you lunch and promised she’d quit. But her last good day had been three months ago. And you saw no hope for her to have another one. 

You started the shower, making sure the water was cold. You stripped, leaving your clothes on the bathroom floor. You slid under the wake of freezing water. 

“Holy fuck!” You squealed as the water hit your skin and chilled you to the bone. You took shaky breaths, fully awake. You moved, getting your hair wet and slowly getting used to the chilling water. You washed your hair and body and climbed out. 

You wrapped a towel around yourself and shivered. Realizing you had no clean clothes, you gathered your dirty ones in a ball and tiptoed out of the bathroom. 

“Kie!” You hissed, trying to wake the girl sprawled on the bed. You peered around the corner of the guest room. “Kiara!”

She grumbled as you entered the room. You closed the door and called your friends name again. She finally got up, opening her eyes.

“What?”

“I need clothes. Do you have a bag?”

Kie nodded. Whenever going to the Boneyard, she packed a bag of clothes for herself, and usually you(because you always forgot) so you’d have something clean to wear. And something that didn’t smell like beer, vodka and fire. You’d long since perfected the lies and ways to convince your parents that you’d just been having fun at John B.’s. Definitely not getting shitfaced drunk and hooking up with random guys.

She unzipped a backpack and flung clothes in your general direction. A bra, underwear and shorts hit your body as Kiara flopped back on the bed. She mumbled something about letting her sleep and pulled the covers back over her body. 

You quickly slipped on the underwear and the shorts but frowned when no shirt appeared. “Kie, what? Where’s a shirt?” 

“God, Y/N, you know how to annoy someone.” 

You mumbled an apology as your best friend sat up, and stretched. She stood and sifted through her bag. Kie frowns. 

“Whoops. I only packed myself a shirt. I’d give it to you, but I smell like booze and a bonfire.” She looked up at you. “My parents would kill me.”

You nodded. “That’s fine.” 

But now you were left in just a bra. And it was a black, showy one. You groaned. You were going to have to ask one of the boys for a shirt. Shit. You didn’t want to ask John B. Especially not in your bra, so you quietly exited Kie’s room to find JJ. 

“JJ?” You called, crossing your arms over your chest. 

He was in the living room, looking for his hat. He had shorts and a long sleeve on. He looked up, and his blue eyes traveled appreciatively over your body. You rolled your eyes. You didn’t feel uncomfortable even now. This was just JJ.

“Damn, Y/N.” JJ smirked at you. 

“Keep it in your pants, Maybank. Do you have a shirt?” You scoffed, uncrossing your arms to flip him off. He’d seen you like this hundreds of times when you were in just a bikini on the beach. 

JJ shook his head. “Sorry, babe.” He paused. “Maybe, John B. does.”

Your eyes widened. Oh shit. But it was too late. JJ was already yelling his friends name. You closed you eyes briefly, pinching the bridge of your nose. John B. opened the front door, wearing a one button shirt that showed off his tanned and toned chest. You swallowed. His eyes widened at the sight of you in shorts and a showy, black bra. A small smile tugged on his lips. 

“What?”

“Do you have a shirt for Y/N?” JJ asked. 

You bit your lip, hoping the answer was yes, because you really hoped you didn’t have to parade around in a bra all day. You’d done it before, with a even smaller bikini top, but you didn’t want to when you got butterflies every time John B. talked and he was looking at you like that.

“Uh, yeah.” John B. smiled at you as he passed you. As he did, you got a whiff of his scent. It smelled nice. He smelled like salt water. The smell was soothing.

JJ frowned, confused, at you. “Why are blushing?”

You eyes widen. Fuck. “I’m not blushing J.”

JJ smirked, making his way towards you. “Oh, yeah you are!” He laughed, and cupped your face, examining the red blooming on your cheeks. “You’re fucking blushing, Y/N!”

You glared and swatted his hands away. “I am not!”

JJ laughed, leaning close. “I bet you have a crush on John B.”

Jeez. Were you that easy to read? Deciding it was no use to deny it, you pressed a finger to your lips, begging him to keep it a secret. He did the motion of locking his lips and throwing away the key. You sighed in relief. 

“Here you go.” John B. said, holding out a shirt of his to you. You spun on your heel and grabbed the shirt, thanking him. You slid it over your head and tucked the front into your shorts. You felt better and smiled at John. 

John ran a hand through his hair. “We should get breakfast and head out to surf. There are good waves today.” 

You nodded. “I’ll grab Kie.”

After eating breakfast and downing coffee, you, JJ, Kiara and John B. arrived at the beach and started surfing. Sadly, Pope couldn’t get out of helping his father, even for an hour, so it was just the four of you. 

The boys called out, yelling and cheering as they raced for the next big wave coming towards you. Without thinking, you dropped on your board and raced after them. Kie was on your heels. 

You got the wave, coasting freely. You did a couple tricks, and a new one JJ taught you. You caught JJ’s eye and he clapped. 

“Nice job!” 

“Thanks!” You yelled back. You’d been working on that one for weeks, and you finally mastered it.

Kie appeared at your side, and you both sat dormant in the water, not yet ready to chase another wave. She smiled at you, lifting a hand to block the sun. 

“Can we talk?”

“Yeah, of course.” You smiled. “What’s up?”

“It’s not about me. It’s about you.” Kie said, catching you by surprise. About you? “What happened at the Boneyard last night? Something was on your mind.”

You blinked. Oh. Right. Kie asked you what was wrong, and you didn’t want to talk about it. That was when you were confused about the kiss and feelings exploding in your gut, and right before you got shitfaced. 

“Oh.” You struggled to find words. “I guess- I like someone who I shouldn’t.” 

It felt like getting something heavy off your chest, but it wasn’t like you’ve been building feelings for John B. and have finally confessed. You weren’t even a hundred percent sure you liked him liked him.

Kie’s eyes widen. “Shit!” She narrowed her eyes. “You’re not fucking a Kook are you, ‘cause-”

“No! Kie! Of course not!” You shivered at the thought. 

Your best friend frowned. “Then who do you like? Oh!” Her dark eyes shot up to meet yours. They were as wide as saucers. “Holt crap! You like a pogue. Like a one in the crew!” Her hand flew to her mouth.

You bit your lip and nodded. Kiara leaned closer. “Who?” She frowned. “JJ?”

“No.” 

“John B. You like him don’t you?” She guessed. 

“I think so.” You groaned, putting your face in your hands. “I don’t know. We kissed last night- we were pretending to be boyfriend and girlfriend because this guy wouldn't leave me alone.” 

Her eyes widen, and she pulled your board closer. “Shit! But we have the no macking rule.” She frowned.

“Is Y/N macking someone?” John B. asked, smirking as he paddled over on his board. 

You rolled your eyes, trying to play it off. “No. Kie’s just joking.”

Kiara rolled her eyes. “We should head back. I’m craving a beer.”

“I could go for a beer!” JJ whooped as he joined your cluster of surf boards. You guys laughed and made your way back to the beach. Once you settle down on towels and had cracked open a couple beers, you noticed the looks Kiara and JJ were giving you. They looked at you and used their eyes to motion for you to sit next to John B.

You shook your head. These two idiots would give it away. You took a sip of your beer, suddenly needing the alcohol. JJ jumped up, sending sand flying. You flipped him off, glaring. You brushed off your shirt and pushed your sunglasses over your eyes. It was four o’clock, yet the sun was still burning. 

“We should play truth or dare!” JJ proposed, grinning wildly. Your stomach dropped. Oh no. Kie nodded animated, and voiced her agreement. What were these two up two? You had a bad feeling, and knew this wouldn’t end well. For you. 

Before you could decline, John B shrugged and sat next to you in the sand. You glanced at him, the sunlight lighting up his eyes. “Sure.” 

You closed your eyes. Holy god. 

“Alright!” JJ clapped, still standing before you, John and Kie. “Let’s get started. Kie- truth or dare?” He pointed finger guns at her, fake shooting. She laughed, and picked truth. 

JJ sat down, crossing his legs and resting his arms on the tops of his knees. A beer hung loosely from his hand. He met your gaze and winked his baby blues at you. You looked at him, pleading that he just let the game drop. But he smirked a wicked smile and you knew there was no hope. You took another sip of the beer. 

“Last time you had sex?” JJ asked, eyes on Kie. 

Kie thought, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. “Month ago.”

You laugh. You remember the boy. Kie was trying to talk to him about the turtles and he only listened because he thought she was hot and wanted to fuck. He was an asshole. 

“My turn right?” Kie asked, eyes dancing with mischief. “John B.” 

He looked up, “Shoot.” They seemed to unanimously pick truth. You prayed this game wasn’t just going to be truth.

“If you had to kiss a pogue, who’d you choose?”

Oh lord. You’re cheeks burned, ready for the embarrassment of him rejecting you. You licked your lips and rested your head on your knees, trying to hide. 

“Oh, easy.” John B. grinned. “Y/N.” He pulled you close. “She’s my girlfriend.”

You were pressed against his side, arm thrown over your shoulders. You curled into his warmth without realizing it. Despite yourself, you laughed and smiled. 

You pulled out of his grasp. John tapped his fingers against his chin. “JJ!” The blue eyed boy looked up. “What was the name of the last girl you fucked?”

JJ smirked. “I have no clue.”

That spouted a round of laughter between you. The game continued, Kie and JJ laying off on the questions of you and John, but they still heavily hinted. As the game continued, so did the alcohol. You were all a little drunk, but JJ had knocked a couple more back, fully drunk.

He stood up abruptly, raising his hands in the air. “Alright! John B.would you-” 

“JJ, it’s not your turn,” You rolled your eyes. 

“-date Y/N?” He yelled, catching your eye. Fuck. Did he just ask if John would date you? That’s not a typical question. 

John B.’s eyes went wide. “What?” His brows furrowed. “Why’d you ask me that?”

Your cheeks burned. He was going to reject you. This was going to be so bad. You didn’t think it could get worse. 

JJ laughed, “’cus she fucking likes you man!” 

You heart skipped a beat. You were wrong. It could get worse.

[moonlightperseus]

me being a casual anon: tell me about your tog powers au i love that idea

okay i also got a very kind anon who asked about this au so i’m gonna be responding to both of you here, and i would like to just take a moment to thank you both for the asks, im BIG heart emoji @ both of you (i’m on my laptop so just picture a big ol’ (purple) heart emoji)

okay so i have to give some credit to @nilefreemans​ bc kayla was the one who got me thinking about this and has encouraged me as i’ve gotten very carried away with it.

okay so im personally setting this as a canon divergent au, they’re still immortals, and for the most part this goes in hand with the canon events of the movie (although i am tempted to make an au of my au where i go off book but for now we’re sticking with canon events... just with a twist). so they’re immortals but they also each have unique powers, that are unlocked alongside their immortality with their first death (though the powers might not always present themselves right away). i think for the most part i’ve decided that their powers remain even when their immortality ends, but i haven’t done anything concrete with that yet.

(gonna continue below the cut with the list of everyone’s powers because this got... long)

Andy has enhanced senses; sight/sound/touch/smell/taste, but also a sixth sense in the manner similar to that of spiderman’s “spider-sense.” She might also have enhanced strength, although I’m still figuring if I want her to have that or something else, or just the enhanced senses thing. 

Quynh has trajectory manipulation, kind of in a sense of very mild telekinesis- though her skill with a bow is 100% her own and if you ever suggest otherwise you will be subjecting yourself to be shot with an arrow- she mainly uses her abilities for the purpose of manipulating the trajectory of weapons being used against her or her allies. However this ability is especially dependent on concentration, and the larger the object or the more things she is trying to manipulate the more concentration she requires. Unclear if the five hundred years under the ocean has any effect on her ability to use her powers. Guess I’ll have to think about that.

Joe can create and control illusions, his powers are best described as magical. He likes to use his powers to bring smiles to peoples faces, rather than torment them, his speciality is bringing his art to life, or enhancing storytelling. He is powerful in his abilities on his own, and is perfectly capable of using them for less pleasant purposes, but when he and Nicky work together, their powers compliment and increase the strength of each other. 

Nicky has telepathic abilities that allow him to read others thoughts and project his own, his powers also allow him to “push” people to do things, (essentially mild mind control) but he hates this ability, and after he first discovered this ability, he swore to himself to only ever use it in extremely dire circumstances, (and only for the protection of others) so, while he is powerful and well in control of his telepathy, the “pushing” of others is a more difficult thing for him because he almost never uses it. 

Booker has precognition abilities - however he is the least controlled in his powers out of the immortals, and his abilities mainly manifest themselves in the grotesque manner of tragedy based visions. because his visions first manifested in showing him tragedies, he never made much of an effort to explore his abilities, which leaves his powers to be a bit of a mysterious component. The visions can come at any time, however they tend be triggered by human contact. 

Nile can manipulate density, specifically her own, though perhaps in time she might be able to expand it outside of her own personal density. I am still figuring out the exact details of her powers but I know I at least want her to be able to become intangible (like marvel’s Kitty Pryde), though I am leaning towards full personal density control, so that she can phase/become intangible, but also in reverse, increase her density (like DC’s Anissa Pierce/Thunder). 

so yeah, that’s their powers as of right now. as far as writing for this au goes, i have three different drabble scenarios written/in the progress of being writing. one is of early days joe & nicky and them learning their powers (specifically joe’s.) the next is a scene set during nicky & joe’s capture in the lab. and the third is a scene from nile’s POV, which i think i want to make a little uhh ficlet about moments where nile slowly learning about their powers and her own. (possibly because andy forgot to mention that in addition to immortality they also had powers, and then it was just.. never gotten around to being mentioned with everything that went down and nile is just... a little confused.)