#i cannot wait for his new myth set... like usually i just pull the myth cards for the fighting companion

[velmashaircut]

I played Caleb's route and myth a while ago and here are my thoughts/ theories/ predictions about him and the story (long af):

I reread my prediction post I made a month ago about Caleb, and I feel bad for painting him as some sort of villain. This man has been through the ringer, I thought the other LI's had it bad, Caleb somehow has it worse, he's been through so much and this is just in one lifetime. I both anticipate and dread his second myth, although the story will be good, it'll also be sad af

His main story branch update was the best of the main story in my opinion. I found it really engaging, not that the other chapters suck or anything. The same goes for his myth story; it felt like a continuation from the main story and the plot of the myth was enjoyable. If you want to understand Caleb and what's going on with him, read his myth! I would say his myth story is one of the best in the game.

MC's emotions and inner conflict were executed perfectly in this story branch. The emotion in MC’s voice when she’s face to face with Caleb was so touching, and the way she hugged him as soon as she could...it was sweet, her VA did a great job depicting her emotions! I really liked seeing MC so overjoyed to see an LI; in her initial meetings with LI’s she's either annoyed or neutral, so seeing her over the moon to be reunited with Caleb was refreshing and just solidified how deep their bond runs. Caleb naturally has an advantage compared to the other LI's in that sense, in this timeline, even if MC doesn't love Caleb, she'll always be warmer to him and he'll be her first choice.

Playing the main story and witnessing MC’s joy to be reunited with Caleb slowly turn into suspicion and eventually morph into frustration and anger was so good to read. The player and MC both bare witness to Caleb's transformation in character and it's heart wrenching to discover, both the MC and player don't fully understand what's going on to cause this switch in behaviour.

The ending for the main story was very solemn; MC failed her mission, Kevi was taken away and Mia died. Her short reunion with Caleb turns bittersweet. I thought that would be the end, but then it was revealed Caleb's been tangled in EVER's schemes and Caleb is making himself look like the perfect weapon to spare MC from this fate - he’s trading his life so she can keep hers. And his myth ending makes this all the more heart wrenching - the chip has taken away most of his memories, and he's doing whatever he can to preserve the memories he has of MC not only to keep his sense of self, but to still resist EVER's control of him.

Despite the lack of transparency and control Caleb exercised over MC’s life, I didn’t think he went too out of line. Caleb seems to believe he needs to amass power to protect MC and himself, Tainted Cuts seems to prove this ideology. Skyhaven is dangerous and Caleb knows it; despite being influential, he can't control over Skyhaven the way Sylus does with the N109 zone, he has to keep MC under lock and key to ensure she's out of harms way. He knows there are people after her, he works for them! He's not safe either. And in the end, Caleb was proven right to keep her under surveillances; MC nearly died twice in Skyhaven. When MC and Caleb get into an argument towards the end of the story, and she says she doesn't need his protection, instead of possession I think he felt more frenzied despair. He knows what lurks ahead, and he knows he can't hide her away forever and protect her from the danger.

...

In my theory post about Caleb, I suggested Caleb orchestrated the explosion, clearly that was not the case. I still think he wasn't clueless about what was going on behind the scenes though, his behaviour was still weird before the explosion. Unlike MC he remembers the past experimentation - I wouldn't be surprised if he was keeping tabs on EVER in case they made a reappearance in their lives. I used to think he didn't like the granny because of this, but I've changed my mind. He arranged for her to be moved to a nursing home that was remote and of good quality, he was remorseful when he told MC he couldn't save her in the explosion. Maybe he grew to forgive her for her past experimentation, or was just glad she gave them a roof over their heads.

I also believe Caleb failed to save Grandma in the explosion because he instead chose to protect MC. That could explain why his necklace was left behind. I also think the explosion was meant to target all three of them, kill the granny and take MC and Caleb back to EVER headquarters, but Caleb somehow managed to prevent them from taking MC. Or they were after MC only and Caleb convinced the raincoats to take him instead. It tracks with Caleb's intentions to have EVER focus on him rather than MC.

My theory post was mainly wrong, but I was right about one thing; Caleb wants to return to a place where it felt as if it was only himself and MC in the world; the secret/ abandoned garden he visits (in his mind?) at the end of his myth. In my post, I speculated this may be a reference to the Garden of Eden due to commissioned fanart of the game representing MC and Caleb with the forbidden fruit. Now I'm not so sure; What does the apple represent for MC and Caleb, their blurring relationship? And what about the serpent? I think it's no coincidence we meet Viper in this branch, who is some sort of snake cyborg...

I've seen speculate that this timeline is the first lifetime Caleb and MC have shared with one another, and as much as I like the theory, I disagree with it. The main reason being this:

I think this is how Caleb dies in the end of his next myth... question is what the hell happened for this to occur.

As well as that, Caleb and MC have the whole Adam and Eve thing going on, 100 years, space/nebula's surrounding their characters... the scene in the main story in which they watch the shooting star...that must link to a different timeline somehow. I personally believe in another lifetime, Caleb was banished from somewhere, maybe the heavens, or was sentenced to death, and MC decided to go down with him. I think this is a nice parallel to their current relationship, MC wants to be in the loop, wants to stand alongside Caleb, but he won't allow her to do so for her own sake, and instead shoulders everything on his own. Maybe he doesn't want to be the reason for her demise again. Whatever it is, like Zayne, I don't think Caleb has any recollection of their shared past.

Also, I believe Caleb surviving multiple instances of near death is no coincidence. He claims its because of MC, he needs to persevere to return to her... a part of me thinks he's being literal. Maybe he's been afflicted with some sort of curse, and he cannot die until MC does, or they are each others life source or something crazy like that.

Last but not least I want to say this: I hate EVER for what they did to Caleb. They have been fucking up his life since day one. Putting that chip in him and making him lose a part of himself was toooo much. I just mourn for Caleb now; he just wanted to fly and protect his loved ones, he was so beloved by those around him, and now he's been turned into a war machine. Free Caleb! If the 6th LI is the EVER ceo I'm throwing hands.

[magicaththedemigod]

an extensive analysis of “the song of achilles” by madeline miller

Or: things I noticed and couldn't keep to myself.

Because I just finished reading it and have many feelings about it, I've decided to compile all of them into a very lengthy Tumblr post.

This will be broken up into three parts:

1. Foreshadowing

2. Dramatic (and regular) Irony

3. Fatal Flaws

1. Foreshadowing

Miller does such a delightful job with foreshadowing. The number of quotes I could be spitting at you right now... but I digress. The main job of foreshadowing, especially in a tragedy like "The Song of Achilles," is to set the characters up for their tragedy.

What I like most about how Miller goes about it in this book is that she doesn't attempt to pull a shocking twist out of nowhere; instead, she takes an approach which allows the reader to fully marinate in their despair.

For example, this quote:

Achilles shook his head, impatiently. "But this was a greater punishment for her. It was not fair of them." "There is no law that gods must be fair, Achilles," Chiron said. "And perhaps it is the greater grief, after all, to be left on earth when another is gone. Do you think?"

Let's take a moment and unpack some of this. For context, this is a conversation between Patroclus, Achilles, and their mentor Chiron. They're discussing the tale of Heracles, who's driven to madness and ends up killing his own wife and kids.

From reading the book, (SPOILER ALERT) you know that Achilles' own pride and honor end up forcing Patroclus to impersonate him in order to save the Greek army, and in doing so is killed by Hector. The fact that Chiron directs this question, "And perhaps it is the greater grief, after all, to be left on earth when another is gone. Do you think?" to Achilles, who is left behind after Patroclus' death is such delightful foreshadowing that I almost threw the book across the room when I first read it.

Achilles slumps into such a depression after Patroclus dies (really, after he kills Patroclus with his own fatal flaw), that he even loses the ability to care about his fame or honor anymore. He feels the greater grief, so to speak.

Even after he dies, Patroclus is left behind, unable to rest properly because they never put his name on the tomb. In that sense, Patroclus is then the one left behind, experiencing loneliness and grief.

The book is full of little hints like this, and that's part of why it's almost torture to read as someone who knows how the Iliad goes. As I said before: the foreshadowing in this book is meant to have the reader in pain from the beginning because you know nothing is going to work out in the end.

2. Dramatic (and regular) Irony

Yes, that's right. I'm about to rip into your soul.

Probably one of the biggest parts of classical Greek myths is dramatic irony (the audience knowing something the characters don't). In plays, the ending is almost always announced before the play begins. In fact, the audience most likely already knows the story from previous tellings or just general knowledge. It makes sense that it would be one of the biggest players in "The Song of Achilles."

As usual, let's start with a quote:

His eyes opened. "Name one hero who was happy." I considered. Heracles went mad and killed his family; Theseus lost his bride and father; Jason's children and new wife were murdered by his old; Bellerophon killed the Chimera but was crippled by the fall from Pegasus' back. "You can't." He was sitting up now, leaning forward. "I can't." "I know. They never let you be famous and happy." He lifted an eyebrow. "I'll tell you a secret." "Tell me." I loved it when he was like this. "I'm going to be the first." He took my palm and held it to his. "Swear it." "Why me?" "Because you're the reason. Swear it." "I swear it," I said, lost in the high color of his cheeks, the flame in his eyes. "I swear it," he echoed. We sat like that a moment, hands touching. He grinned. "I feel like I could eat the world raw."

First of all: cute. Second of all: wow, so much pain.

As you know, Achilles is the opposite of happy at the end of the book (well, maybe after they die, but we'll get to that later). Though he swears it here with Patroclus, the two of them make decisions that ultimately lead to their downfall: Achilles decides to abandon the Greeks after they slighted his honor, Patroclus decides to help them even if it means risking his life, and Achilles lets him do it.

So let's talk about dramatic irony. The irony here is that you know, maybe just from this exchange alone, that Achilles isn't going to be the first happy hero. You know there is a war coming, know that Achilles and his famous heel will get himself killed. You might also know at this point that Patroclus will die first and send Achilles spiraling into grief before that happens.

It's painful, truly. Achilles spends his last days in utter agony, wanting to die but unable to kill himself, and Patroclus can only watch on as a ghost (spirit?). Even when Achilles does die and his ashes are put into their urn (seriously, how did any scholar ever think they weren't lovers?), they still have to wait to be reunited.

But there's still more. Consider these lines:

Hector's eyes are wide, but he will run no longer. He says, "Grant me this. Give my body to my family, when you have killed me." Achilles makes a sound like choking. "There are no bargains between lions and men. I will kill you and eat you raw."

Sound familiar? That's right: "I will kill you and eat you raw" sounds an awful lot like "I feel like I could eat the world raw," doesn't it? Another parallel from Miller: one from a time of happiness, the other from a time of extreme grief. However painful it is, I really live for connections like that.

And I've got one more for you:

Achilles shook his head. "Never. He is brave and strong, but that is all. He would break against Hector like water on a rock. So. It is me, or no one." "You will not do it." I tried not to let it sound like begging. "No." He was quiet a moment. "But I can see it. That's the strange thing. Like in a dream. I can see myself throwing the spear, see him fall. I walk up to the body and stand over it." Dread rose in my chest. I took a breath, forced it away. "And then what?" "That's the strangest of all. I look down at his blood and know my death is coming. But in the dream I do not mind. What I feel, most of all, is relief." "Do you think it can be prophecy?" The questions seemed to make him self-conscious. He shook his head. "No. I think it is nothing at all. A daydream." I forced my voice to match his in lightness. "I'm sure you're right. After all, Hector hasn't done anything to you."

See where I'm going with this? I don't think I need to explain this one.

3. Fatal Flaws

That's right, one of the most essential pieces for a tragedy: hamartia. For those who might not know, hamartia is the fatal flaw that ultimately leads to the downfall of a tragic hero or heroine. In every single piece of classical greek writing, if the story is a tragedy, the main character will have a fatal flaw that makes it so.

Take Achilles:

I looked at the stone of his face, and despaired. “If you love me-”

“No!” His face was stiff with tension. “I cannot! If I yield, Agamemnon can dishonor me whenever he wishes. The kings will not respect me, nor the men!” He was breathless, as though he had run far. “Do you think I wish them all to die? But I cannot. I cannot! I will not let them take this from me!”

You probably already know what his fatal flaw is: pride. He needs the fame, needs the glorious memory of his deeds to live on forever, so badly that he is willing to sacrifice his life and what might’ve been a fulfilling and long life with Patroclus out of the limelight. His fatal flaw is what spurs each of his actions in the later half of the book, including the moment where he decides to leave the Greeks to their deaths for slandering him.

Even Patroclus has a fatal flaw: his love for Achilles.

That night I lay in bed beside Achilles. His face is innocent, sleep-smoothed and sweetly boyish. I love to see it. This is his truest self, earnest and guileless, full of mischief but without malice. He is lost in Agamemnon and Odysseus’ wily double meanings, their lies and games of power. They have confounded him, tied him to a stake and baited him. I stroke the soft skin of his forehead. I would untie him if I could. If he would let me.

Though riding into the center of the fighting, especially dressed as Achilles, will make Patroclus the prime target, he decides to do it anyway. And not out of fear for Achilles’s life; he knows how important his pride and reputation is to him, and out of desperation will do anything to keep Achilles from being devastated when it doesn’t work out for him.

(Honestly, this is the part where I start to hate Achilles for doing this to Patroclus... it’s like he doesn’t even consider Patroclus his equal and does everything without consulting him.)

Of course, Agamemnon has a fatal flaw as well. He is like the mirror image of Achilles, so proud and stubborn, righteous and arrogant. However, he is the darker image, the one that revels in taking things by force and, of course, raping women like Briseis. He serves as a poignant foil for Achilles, highlighting all the ways the traits they share can easily become corrupted. It’s part of why this novel works so well.

I hope you all enjoyed this book as much as I did. Truthfully, I did have a few problems with it, but I wanted to trying picking it apart anyway. And if you haven’t read the song of achilles... what are you doing reading these spoilers?? 

[lokislittlesigyn]

A Day’s Work - Pt.1

Hi everyone!! This is an older fic I started a while ago and was pretty happy with. It seemed a good opportunity to get started with posting things. Basically, this is a random au (may simply classify silly/nonsense fics into a separate au category of their own) based around Marvel, focusing on Loki and my own interpretation/characterization of his wife Sigyn. hence... you know, my blog name and pfp and. yeah, you get the picture.

Pairing: Loki / Sigyn (basically an oc based off the marvel/myth namesake)

Warnings: The Collector being creepy (as usual), some capture but don’t fret! It’s short-lived.

Summary: The Guardians of The Galaxy have been, well, guarding the galaxy on their own time. But when a handsome reward for the safe return of an Asgardian princess is released, they may get more adventure than they bargained for.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Peter, you're an idiot." Gamora took a seat in the Milano’s cockpit, releasing a loud sigh.

"Yeah, yeah, I know..." Peter turned the ship, and within seconds the were on their way to Xandar. "It's not my fault that guy had literally the ugliest mug in the galaxy."

"He was not carrying a mug," Drax piped up from behind them, furrowing his brow at Peter.

"Face, then! Ugliest face."

"I disagree." Drax settled back into his seat. "You have the ugliest face."

"I am Groot."

Peter glared over his shoulder. "If you don't cut it out, I swear I will turn this spaceship around." Soon, the bunch of misfits reached Xandar. Landed, and took the opportunity to roam the city - partly in search for unclaimed bounties.

"Okay, since we haven't had the best luck under Quill's leadership lately, I’m electing myself as new leader of the group," Rocket smirked, holding a tiny baby Groot on his shoulder.

"Hey!" Peter huffed, "That Sakaarian was just one guy. One dude out of the whole universe. Every one of us has had a - a slight disagreement, over a keg of beer."

"I am Groot."

"Okay, except you. But you don't count."

"I am Groot!"

"All right fine, you count!"

Gamora rolled her eyes, walking over to a large, white wall, containing a screen that was shifting between advertisements. "Hey, come look at this." She put her hand up, stilling the screen.

Peter furrowed his brow, his hands on his hips. "Reward for the safe capture and return of an.. Asgardian? Asgardian princess?"

Rocket whistled. "Gorgeous."

"Yeah, I guess she's pretty-"

"I was talkin' about the money."

Peter's eyes settled on the bounty price, then widened. He grinned. "How do you guys feel about a rescue mission?" ~~~~ Sigyn awoke with a pounding headache. She blinked. Looked down at her bound hands. Great...

It was dark, but in the further reaches of the shadows she could make out the edges of rusty metal walls. In front of her stood an equally-rusted cell door.  Past it, another cell stood, identical if not for the fact it was empty. She stood, steadying herself against the wall. Voices came from down the hall.

"...won't remember anything. I gave her a double dose."

"Dunno, Asgardians are tough..."

"Not this one."

Two men stepped in front of her cell. Each wore patchy, well-worn clothes. One looked tanned and scruffy, the other had blue skin marred with scars.

"Oh look, she's awake," The blue one chuckled.

Sigyn stepped back, eyeing both of them. "Where am I?"

"That's not much'a your business, is it?" The man glared at her.

"Where are you taking me?"

"Knowhere." He smirked.

She blinked. "What... You must be taking me somewhere."

He nodded. "Knowhere. Hang tight, princess." Both men walked off, leaving her alone. She huffed, eyeing the door... Then noticed the clothing she had on. Interwoven leather and cloth, bits of metal, armored bracers on her forearms... Nothing like what those men wore.

What was going on?

She sat back down, defeated. Her headache became overwhelming, throbbing... She placed her head in her hands. ~~~~ Meanwhile, onboard the Milano, Rocket stepped over to a table in the center of the common area. "Now, behold." Rocket set a metal object that looked haphazardly thrown-together on the table. "A genuine Asgardian tracking device. Call it an A-T-D."

"You found a way to track Asgardians?" Peter raised his brows, arms crossed.

"Well yeah, why'd you think I called it an Asgardian tracking device?"

"I am Groot."

"Exactly! The nerve of some people!"

Peter rolled his eyes. Gamora spoke up. "How does it track them?"

"Now that is a good question." Rocket pressed a button on the side of the device. It started beeping slowly. "I won't reveal all my secrets, but it basically traces Asgardian DNA."

"Where did you get Asgardian DNA?"

Rocket grinned. "I have my ways."

"So we'll follow your tracker until we find the princess, grab her, maybe shoot some guys, and take her back to Asgard safe and sound?" Peter shifted his weight.

"That's the plan."

"..I love it. Good work, Rocket."

"Well, I am the resident genius." ~~~~ Soon, the Guardians reached Knowhere to the tune of Drax’s snoring, the tracker’s continuous beeping, and Suspicious Minds playing softly.

The tracking device released another loud, long bloop before returning to its rhythmic beeping - unfortunately, out of sync with the music.

"That toaster of yours better work," Peter huffed.

"I told you, Quill, it's already working. It's brought us this far, hasn't it?"

"We'll see. Asgardians are usually easy to spot anyway," Gamora stood, walking to the front of the cockpit. "They're loud and overbearing. Proud."

"Yeah but they've got a full medieval look, right? Armor and everything?"

"Yes, usually."

"So we're looking for a ren faire princess. Got it."

Rocket and Gamora exchanged a confused look. She shrugged.

The Milano landed, and the Guardians - after waking up Drax - began their search. Peter lead the way.

"All right, we should stick together. Remember what happened last time we came here."

"You ruined our chance at selling the Orb?" Rocket smirked.

"Okay, first of all, that wasn't entirely my fault." Peter huffed, glancing at Gamora. "Where should we start..?"

"I think we should follow the tracker," Gamora glanced around, "And keep an eye out for anything sapphire. Asgardians like wearing distinct colors - from her picture, it looks like sapphire is hers."

"Right."

"Hey, I got something!" Rocket held up the tracker, which had begun beeping faster. "This way!" He scampered off, the team in tow.

They reached the same bar they'd visited before,when waiting to meet the Collector.

"Geez, this thing is going crazy..."

"Rocket." Gamora said.

"I mean it's really losing its mind. Maybe I should've-"

"Rocket!" Gamora pointed to the betting table.

There, on the other side, the princess was being lead to the Collector's back room.

"...Oh."

~~~~

The two men from before lead Sigyn through a strange, crowded room, past droves of cheering spectators. What was going on? She tried bumping into people to get their attention, tried catching someone’s eye, but the blaster pressed to her back kept her lips sealed.

They reached a back room. Walked through a maze-like trail of glass cages, lead by a pink woman whose smile looked far too forced.

Sigyn looked inside the glass cages, gasping when one of the beings inside moved. What is this place? she thought, swallowing hard when they stopped walking. Sigyn stood between the rugged aliens who lead her, staring forward at the strange man before her. He lowered a contraption that looked much like a mix between binoculars and glasses, setting them and the precious stone he was examining on the table before him.

"May I present, Taneleer Tivan, The Collector." The pink woman nodded to him, then disappeared behind more glass cages.

"As promised," The blue man smirked, "An Asgardian. The princess herself. Safe and sound. Not a scratch on her."

"Oh," the Collector leaned over the table, studying Sigyn much like he had the stone. She tensed. Felt a chill go down her spine. "How you managed a feat such as this, I cannot grasp.." He walked around the table, reaching out to Sigyn. When she didn't move, the men forced her hands toward him. He took one, kissing it, gaze never leaving her face. "It is an honor, fair princess."

Sigyn was frozen in fear. She clenched her jaw, pulling away from him as soon as he'd let her. "I-I.. What do you want with me?"

The Collector only chuckled. "She looks reasonably healthy.." He grabbed her jaw, turning her face back and forth. She gritted her teeth, staring at him.

"About that..” The blue man smirked. “We want two million additional units. Seeing as she's a healthy, young princess, seems fair.."

"Yes.. Yes, that would be fair. Stellina," He called. The pink woman returned. "Transfer the units to these gentlemen."

"Wait- I'm not for sale!" Sigyn struggled against her captors. "I am not a princess! I don't know who you think I am, but-"

"Quiet," the blue man snarled. "We hit her with a big dose of Amnesiac Gas."

The Collector glanced at her with an amused expression. "How long until it wears off?"

The man shrugged.

"Well, never mind, then..." He sent Stellina to open one of the glass cages. "I trust the Asgardians have no idea you are here?"

"Not a clue," The other one snickered, "We made out in the dead of night. Didn't even know it was us takin' her."

The men started moving toward the cage. Sigyn's heart leapt from her chest.

"Wait- Wait, no, no no no, please don't! Please!" She kicked, managing to rip her arm away from one of the men, only to be firmly grabbed by the Collector himself, who kept one hand around her wrist, the other on her throat. "Now, little beauty, don't struggle so. I do not intend to hurt you." He brushed a finger across her cheek - gentle. Too gentle. Tears welled up in her eyes. "You will be a prize addition to my collection." In a swift movement, he pushed her into the cage, and before she could jump out, Stellina closed the door. It locked with a snap.

Sigyn slammed against the glass, tears flowing out steadily. "No! Let me out! Please, I beg you, I'll do ANYTHING!" She hit the glass with her fists.

"Pleasure doing business with you as always, gentlemen." The Collector shooed the two men off, then turned to Stellina. "Do something about that noise. But do not hurt her, or you will take her place."

Stellina bowed her head, then turned to Sigyn, who was still pounding on the glass.

[blahblahwritings]

Contracts and Captains. - IV

A/N: Remember how I posted something before one of my other fics saying that I had been consistently updating for weeks? Neither do I lmao who was she? Don’t know her anyway heres the fourth chapter of this black sails fic.

Words: 1823. Honestly I’ve been writing this since about 12pm I don’t know how its so short and its probably shit bc I haven’t written anything in months.

Warnings: Mentions of vomit as per the last chapter. Think thats it lmao. See you in three months.

As your eyes opened, there were a blissful couple of seconds where the previous night’s encounter didn’t exist in your memory. But, just like the sun flooding the room, unwanted flashes of vomit and slurred words rose like a tidal wave in your minds eye. You rolled over, burying your face and groaning into the pillow out of sheer embarrassment as a dull throbbing started in the depths of your skull. 

Why did you keep drinking? You could’ve simply had one or two before retiring for the night and you wouldn’t have met that boatswain or thrown up on your own boots. What was his name again? Ben? Boyd? No, they weren’t quite right. Either way you made a mental note to apologise again whenever you next saw him. 

Slowly, you tugged your still clothed limbs from the thin sheets, trying not to jostle your stomach too much for fear of whatever was left in there making an unwelcome appearance. Your pants were scuffed from where you took a tumble outside the tavern, your shirt was half undone, probably from a failed attempt to undress before not-so-gracefully falling into bed. A single boot was thrown on the floor alongside your coat, the other still stuck on your foot. What a mess. 

A hot bath, that's what you needed, and a hearty breakfast if your insides don’t bring it back up. Pulling on the other boot, you made your way to one of the girls working downstairs, trading her coin to fill the tub in your room. You must’ve looked rough as you passed her to get to the man at the bar because when he turned to look at you, his brows shot up, disappearing behind his hair. 

“You look like you could use a little hair of the dog, love.” He chuckled, eyes scanning your disheveled form. A grimace was your immediate response. “Some food then.” He offered, filling a bowl with something that you didn’t stop to look at as you practically inhaled it. The man watched you with a knowing smirk and had you not felt so terrible you’d have spat out a snarky comment. You chose to gulp down your water instead.

“Thank you.” You huffed with a small nod, tossing some money on the counter before you headed back upstairs. The state you were in just added to this morning's growing list of regrets but you weren’t quite sure if you cared how you looked to anyone else right now. All that was on your mind was a piercing headache and a good soak.

Stripping off, you stepped into the water, sinking down slowly as your body got used to the heat. Finally, with a heavy sigh, you rested your head on the back of the tub, your aching muscles beginning to relax. Scented oils and soaps were left on a stand by the bath. Working a generous amount between your palms, you massaged your limbs and torso getting rid of any tension and purging the memories of last night’s… festivities. In the quiet of your room, you took a moment to trace the small scars that littered your form, fingers landing at last on the freshly healed knife wound from only a few weeks ago. The soft pink flesh was still tender, and if you moved the wrong way it would ache. It was dangerous to be alone on this island, in this line of work. You needed friends, not just contacts. A crew, perhaps. 

Letting your mind wander, you thought about your new found place among Flint’s men. You had to keep bringing in leads to be of any value to him, lest you risk being tossed aside and left in the dirt. He and his crew were among the most revered on the island, therefore cementing your part in that would bring security. It would ensure that other crews would leave you alone, as you were important to someone they feared and the consequences of harming you could be severe. 

Then again, there was a little more than security on your list of perks as you thought more about the taller man from last night. He was kind to you, not that the others weren’t having bought your drinks and all, but, he made sure you were safe and fed. Billy Bones. You recalled. Replaying the meeting in your head, you winced at the slurred introduction and the puking soon after. Why did you care about how he saw you? Was it because he was the crew’s boatswain or because he was handsome and softer than most pirates you’d met. 

Catching that last thought, you shook it from your head, refusing to let it take root in your brain. Attachments like that are a weakness here and you cannot afford to have those. You’d only met the guy once and he probably didn’t want anything to do with you anyway, especially after that drunken show you gave him. Cupping a handful of water, you splashed your face, scrubbing any further thoughts of the man from your head, instead, choosing to focus on finding a new lead for Flint. 

They would be leaving to chase down the details you gave him yesterday in a couple of days, if not sooner, which meant you probably had around two weeks to find something of substance upon their return. You’d struggled last time but after sending out letters to old friends in neighbouring ports, you were hopeful something would turn up. 

Padding your way to the dresser, you pulled out some fresh clothes and got ready, feeling much better than you did even an hour before. The food had settled your stomach and the water you guzzled seemed to bring some life back into your face as when you left to go hunt down some work, the barman from earlier spouted something along the lines of ‘A whole other woman’ when you walked by.

---

An uneventful morning led to an uneventful afternoon. There were no new letters or leads and the streets were pleasantly calm compared to usual. You certainly weren’t complaining, you had been feeling better since this morning but your body was still recovering. The easy day was probably just what you needed. You were sat on the beach, sipping some water and watching passersby as you sketched in the journal you kept.

It was something you’d taken to keeping since arriving in Nassau just over two years ago. A small leather book to help keep track of potential jobs and record anything interesting that happened. Really, though, you just loved to draw. You’d already filled a couple just like it with sketches of people, ships and landscapes that caught your eye, often accompanied by your messy scrawl. You were just about satisfied with your latest addition when Mr Gates clapped you on the shoulder making you jump and slam the journal closed. You’d never shown anyone the contents before. 

“Sorry, Miss Devereux, didn’t mean to startle you.” He began, chuckling lightly at your reaction. “I heard you and the lads had quite the night..” He moved to stand by you as you got to your feet, dusting the sand from your pants. Tucking away the book, an amused smirk finds its way to your face as you look at him. 

“Depends on who you ask.” You replied. “How were they this morning? Feeling sorry for themselves?” Your brows raised in question as you both started aimlessly wandering along the shore. A snort met your ears as his head fell forwards, looking at the ground then back at you. “I didn’t see the majority of them until at least noon and they were still in a sorry state, although I wonder how you must’ve been. I heard that you hurled your guts up right after meeting our boatswain.” Gates mused, eyes crinkling as he watched your entire face turn a lovely shade of red. You tried to keep your cool but your expression faltered into one of sheer embarrassment. Apparently, this was hilarious as Mr Gates exploded into a fit of hearty laughter, and as much as you told him to stop you couldn’t help but have a good chuckle yourself as you covered your face with a half-sandy palm at the thought.

When you both regain your composure, he gives you a reassuring pat on the back.

“Don’t worry, the only people who know are Billy and myself, the men still think you can hold your drink.” He winked. You made a move to argue that you could in fact hold your drink but he began talking about the plan to set sail the day after tomorrow. You listened intently and explained that you were awaiting correspondence from friends in other ports to supply more promising leads upon their return. 

---

It had been four days since the crew left in search of another haul using your most recent information. Nothing out of the ordinary had happened, you’d made some money here and there through smaller jobs and pickpocketing but overall, there was nothing of real interest. You spent the days reading anything you could get your hands on or drawing and you’d even had your eye on some paints in one of the markets, but all you could do was wait. Checking for mail at the front desk of the inn you were staying at every morning had become a routine, desperate for any work or ships that you could relay to Flint. It was on the fifth day that you had gotten a response from someone in Port Royal.

As you read over the letter for the third time, you could feel your eyes widen in disbelief, your heart hammered in your chest and you released a breath you didn’t know you were holding. This was far too good to be true. Surely this was a myth. A prize of this magnitude was simply unheard of. Your eyes scanned over the paper again, barely able to focus on the words because your hands were trembling so violently. Calm down. You told yourself. It can’t be the truth. You thought as you stared at the other envelope that had arrived alongside it. At the bottom of the letter it read:

“P.S

Should you doubt my information, I sent you the correspondence shared between the dead man and the merchant with evidence pertaining to this gold. Best not ask how it came into my possession.

Your dear friend,

Josiah.”

You ran to shut the windows to your room and close the drapes. If anyone found out you had this information and the evidence to go with it, you would surely be killed for it. Tearing open the paper, you unfolded its contents. It was all here. The initials of the merchant, R.P., details alluding to the existence of this gold and the name of the dead man involved in plotting the course it would be on. 

Vasquez.

[kimberly-spirits13]

Moroccan Outlaw

Pairing (Bart Allen x reader)

Synopsis: Living in the wilderness of Morocco by yourself after your parents were killed for witch craft, you fight to survive with everything that you have learned of magic and the myth that now surrounds your name. You think that your life will never change of this endless cycle until one day, a certain team comes to your dwelling to investigate strange news of something powerful lurking in the forest. That is when your life changes forever.

Warnings: None

     You had never considered yourself a threat to anyone or anything that wasn’t a threat to you. You nor your parents had ever meant anyone any harm, however the world is a cruel one and doesn’t take lightly to things that it does not understand or take the time to adapt to. At the age of 7, your parents were taken and burned after being found out they were practitioners of witchcraft and magic. They had both come from a long line of magic users and taught you everything that they knew, including the combat that your father had picked up while serving in the army during his time. The only thing that you had of them now was a few books of magic, a few charms, and faint memories that haunted your dreams at night.

           The town considered you a myth, a legend, and even an outlaw. At just the age of 8, you had learned what it took to survive in these rare conditions and kept to yourself, avoiding people at almost all costs. Tonight, was a full moon. This was the most significant time of the lunar phases because it was when the most powerful book of spells that your parents had left you gained even more spells and charms to use. You had opted to stay in your house and practice the spells that you would be gifted. Well, if it could even be considered a house. The place that you lived was like a three- story tree house over a wide stream. It was in a smaller clearing but still high enough up that no passerby would see it. There you and your panther, Onyx would live out your lives.

           It was a normal day waiting for the spells and nothing in the world was happening to your knowledge outside of the usual mess of things. Well, at least that it what you thought.

_______________________________________________________________________

“Team, there has been a sudden disturbance in a sector of the forests of Morocco. It is thought to be magic with the level of power and magnitude that it emitted, however we cannot know for sure.” Nightwing informed the team, “We need to find out who or what this is and see who’s side it’s on.”

           The only ones who weren’t on a mission right now was Nightwing, Blue Beatle, Impulse, Beast Boy, and Robin. Everyone else was either off or on mission assigned earlier. They got into the ship and headed off to Morocco to investigate whatever was going on.

_______________________________________________________________________

           You settled in on your cot next to Onyx and watched as the sun started to set. Everything was going as planned. You had your herbal tea next to you and your spell book in your lap just like all the nights before. Everything was calm and peaceful until the magic sensors that you had put around your dwelling picked on a low flying craft. Onyx’s ears pricked up as you listened closely.

           Hearing it get closer and then the sound stopping made you go on high alert. You walked to your table and summoned a looking spell to see what on Earth was going on. You saw nothing at first, but upon further investigation, you found that the ship was shielded with invisibility tech.

           “Interesting.” You thought, “Tell me who these people are.” You said after seeing a few figured jumping out.

           “Heroes?” You thought aloud, “I wonder what they’re doing here.” “Onyx, it’s time to go for a hunt.”

           Onyx’s ears pricked up and he stood, walking to your side. Sliding on your combat boots and gloves, you stepped out of the shelter and traveled by the trees to where the ship was, not too far away. You observed them from a distance, sticking to the shadows and staying out of site along with your panther who was circling the group.

           “Nightwing, I feel like we’re being watched.” The smaller one with a cape and jet -black hair said to who looked to be the oldest.

           “I know what you mean.” Nightwing replied, “Just keep your guard up and...” He stopped dead in his tracks, “Impulse, don’t move a muscle.”

           Everyone started at Impulse as he stopped, noticeably frightened at Nightwing’s command. They looked around until seeing a massive black cat staring at them from a small clearing like it was about to pounce. Then they all saw what Nightwing really was pointing out. A snake was coiled up in front of Impulse waiting for him to take a step closer. All of them were startled when you spoke up.

           “Down Onyx.” You said in Arabic.

           The panther went into a resting stance and didn’t pounce at the team but you on the other hand came into few after a few seconds of moving in the shadows.

           You then stared at the snake, eyes gleaming red before it contracted and looked straight at her hissing. After a second it had been ripped apart and withered away with the wind.

           “You know you really should be more careful hero.” Your magic swirled from your fingers before disappearing once more, “The floor of these jungles move with life.”

           You jumped down to the ground, leaning on a massive boulder, “Who are you? Quickly, before I have Onyx sick you.”

           “We’re part of the Justice League.” The leader with a blue and black suit and domino mask said, “I’m Nightwing, this is Robin, Impulse, Blue Beatle, and Beast Boy.”

           “What is your business?” You demanded.

           “We are here to investigate a surge of energy. Now I can assume that you were that energy surge. We’re here to take you somewhere where you’ll be safer and away from all of this.” He finished.

           You smirked some at how hopeful he sounded. That was something that you had learned not to trust over the years. Hope was a delusion and something to pity for all who really relied on it.

           “I’ll come. But only if you can catch me.” You smirked, lifting your index finger which started swirling with glittering red and purple smoke before your body was completely engulfed in it and you reappeared in the tree tops.

           “Base.” You said to Onyx before starting off away from where the team was.

           “Catch her.” Nightwing said as they all started to go after her in preassigned teams.

           After some time of losing the team, you stopped on a branch and rested for a second.

           “Watcha doin up there?” You heard from below. You smiled some when you saw Impulse.

           “Becoming quite bored of this endeavor.” You said.

           “Well then, allow me to entertain you malady.” He darted up the tree fast enough to not give you time to react, “Gotcha.” He smirked grabbing you.

           “Please, can’t a girl play hard to get?” You said before disappearing once more, “Over here lover boy.” You waved from a different tree.

           “Impulse, Y/N is a witch, take her to the starting point and we’ll give her a dose of some white light.” Nightwing said into the comm before Impulse was about to take off after her again.

           “Got it wing.” He replied.

           Impulse chased you to the starting point before you noticed what was happening. You went to turn around before Blue Beetle shot a beam of white light at you. With somewhat of a mix of a screech and scream, you fell off the branch that you were on and plummeted to the forest floor.

           “I got her!” Impulse said going for you.

           After a few seconds, you regained your senses and looked around before meeting his gaze. Rubbing your temples you spoke up, “Thank you.” You got out of his arms and brushed yourself off.

           “No problem beautiful.” He said smiling at you as he got a good look at your figure.

           Your skin glimmered in the moon light, contrasting against the dark red and black costume. Your now purple and gold eyes shinned in the moon light as you swept your hair out of your face.

           “I don’t even know you name.” You said feeling weird that this random costumed person would just chase you down only to save you.

           “Oh, I’m Bart, Bart Allen. That is presuming you’re coming with us.” He said.

           “Y/N, Y/L/N.” You replied putting your hand out for what you thought would be shaking hands. Instead he took yours and kissed the top of it like he was trying to either be a gentleman or funny. You couldn’t decide which one it was.

           “So, you’re coming with us?” Nightwing asked.

           “Yes, well, that is as long as I can grab my panther and my books.” You said, “Trust me, it won’t be long.”

           He nodded and you chanted a spell before the entire contents of your home was in a small box and your panther walked up next to you. He wasn’t that big and would never get that big which is why your parents wanted you to have him.

           You sat next to Impulse and watched the forest fade out of view. Your home was now a tiny speck in the great big world, and you figured that you’d never see it again whether you wanted to or not.

           “Have you ever been outside of your home?” Impulse asked you noticing the weary look on your face.

           You shook your head, “Never.” “My parents always hid me away in fear that I would also be... well, executed with them if we were ever caught with magic.”

           “I’m sorry.” He said giving a sympathetic look at taking your hand, “You’ll like it at the cave, trust me.”

           “I’m sure I will.” You said as Onyx laid his head on your lap.

______________________________________________________________________________

           *Narrator voice* A few months later

           “Hey babe.” Bart said kissing your cheek.

           “You missed Speedster.” You said before he pulled you into an actual kiss.

           “Watcha reading?” He asked laying his head on your shoulder.

           “Spell book, tonight’s a full moon so it got new spells a few minutes ago.” You answered.

           “Could we cuddle?” He asked you.

           “Will you still let me read?” You asked.

           “Mhmm.” He answered.

           “Okay.” You picked up your book and the both of you walked to your bedroom with Onyx who was tailing you.

           The both of you curled up on your bed while Onyx jumped to the foot of it and laid down. Wrapping into the blankets, Bart laid his head on your thy and rubbed circles on your hips.

           “I love you.” You said.

           “I love you too Y/N/N.”

[arabellaaaas]

Favourite Worst Nightmare

Part 4: Mad Sounds

|An Alexander Turner x Arabella Davis fanfiction series |

Description: When two broken hearted meet, they try and hide their past. A story about two young adults whose pasts won't let them find happiness again in each other's arms right away.

A/N: As always, Credits to the owner of this gif!! Let me know if you all want to be tagged in here ❤

Taggs: @imagine-that-100

What do you mean you are going to meet up with him today?!" a loud voice could be heard through the phone. It was, of course, Bree who was shocked at what her friend was telling her. What bothered her more was the fact that Arabella did not even try to let her know DAYS AGO about this. She was one hundred percent approving him by any sort, she noticed from the start that he was Arabella's type and she was clearly into him. "And you did not even bother to tell me?" she whined like a little child while running around her flat. "I am so so sorry, Bree! I-" she stopped mid-sentence to catch her breath before unlocking the grey door in her place. "I literally forgot to tell you when I came over. I am really sorry, please forgive me!" she apologetically said, throwing her bag somewhere around her couch. She ran from work because she was going to be late for her meet-up with Alexander. She could have taken her car that morning, but she forgot she had plans and did not think, not even for a second, that her work program won't align with her plans and she was risking running late.

"We spent almost two days together, Arabella!" she snapped back right off to her friend that was heavily breathing, almost chocking on the last quantity of air she could breathe. "We were high for almost two fucking days, Bree!" she reacted with her last drop of energy leaving her body.

Bree mumbled something for herself, probably some curse words for Arabella she couldn't say over the phone because it was unfair to curse her when she was actually right. Arabella put her phone on speaker after she texted Alex her address so he can come to pick her up at the time they set. Then, the chaos has begun. "Can you please yell at me later and help me think about what I should wear?" she begged for her friend's help since she was completely lost. She was looking at her wardrobe and it was like the clothes looked back at her, not knowing what to do. Bree began to explain the weather to her to help her out a bit. It was not cold considering that it was the middle of the warmest season, but at night there's still a little cold because of the breeze.

"Did he tell you where he will take you?" she asked, the answer coming right away not helping at all. "He told me he wants to surprise me" Bree could hold back her giggle. Arabella was on the edge of a crisis, but Bree's dirty mind could not chill for a second. "BREE, WE ARE NOT GOING TO HIS PLACE TO HAVE SEX, COME TO YOUR MIND".

"Okay, okay... Damn, you said you were not going to catch feelings for ~a boy you met at a random bar~, ain't it? What about your black jeans? They really make your legs look good." she was really testing Arabella's nerves, especially pointing out her body AND saying a lot of pointless things. She wasn't catching feeling, neither was she looking forward to doing it. She was just stressing out so much because it was the first time in months she was going to hang out with someone new, who was not one of Bree's lover boys. Plus, they were going to be alone God knows where. Also, she did not want to look like a complete tosser in front of a lush man. "I am not catching feelings for anyone. And what should I wear with those jeans?" That's how their conversations go all the time. They are most likely to talk about multiple things at the same time, chiefly if one of them is in a hurry. They chatted for a little bit more and Arabella finally chose something to wear, matching a sheer top with the jeans Bree was talking about.

She was going to bring one of her black jean jackets because that sheer top wasn't going to keep her warm at all. She brushed her hair and went ran her hands through it to give it a bit of shape, painted her lips with a bit of burgundy lipstick. Her makeup was already done since she did it in the morning. Even if it was a bit smudgy, she couldn't care less. When her phone indicated that she received a new text message, she told her friend in haste that she had to go and hung up the call. She took her perfume out of the bag she threw earlier and on her way to the door, she sprayed some onto her neck. She put it back in the bag, grabbed her jacket and ran out the door, after locking the door.

Alexander was waiting for her in front of the building she described through the phone. He had his glasses on, as usual, looking around him at people passing by his car trying to figure if he knows anyone. In about five minutes, he glanced at his right and saw her walk over to his car through his window. A small grin found it's way to his lips, altering into a real smile when she opened the door. "Hello, darlin'!" his greeting makes her smile bit. She looked like she ran for a marathon but still managed to look fit.

"Someone's feeling good tonight, I see" without even saying Hi, she started teasing him for smiling. She found it really cute for Mr. Mysterious to smile right away when he was always trying to keep on a straight face to impress. "It's a special occasion, take advantage of it" he softly laughs, driving toward the location he was talking about. "You look brilliant tonight" he adds, looking away from her.

She giggles, making herself comfortable in her seat right next to him. She could sense the strong scent of musk from his probably expensive cologne. It was something about men wearing cologne, or just taking care of themselves in general. It was truly odd to be attracted to the way someone is smelling, but for some reason, men really know what cologne to wear in order to attract women. "Your smile looks beautiful tonight". He gave her a short look, then rolling back his eyes. They were both really comfortable around each other as if it wasn't their first time going out all by themselves.

After about ten minutes of small talks and humming together along with the music that was playing on the radio that night, Arabella decided to ask where they were heading to, but unfortunately, he refused to answer. She noticed that they were on the road that leads to the outskirts of the town. She hasn't been on that side of the town for a long time. She didn't even know what could be so special about the place they were going to that made Turner shut his mouth about it.

"Oh. come on! Why won't you just tell me? If it is somewhere eccentric, you could at least tell me so I know what to expect" she whined, looking out her window at the sun as it was slowly disappearing into the green hills that could be seen in the distance. "Have you never experienced a surprise in your life, Arabella?" His tone hinted at the joke he tried to make, and she understood it. She never actually encountered a real surprise, but she was happy to do it now. She decided not to say anything about it and just start singing, smiling at him. It was still warm outside, maybe around 73 degrees.

As they were going uphill to a look-out place Alex knew about, they could see their city slowly lighting up. It was a big, busy city that actually never slept as the myths say. Seeing how the day-life was switching for he night-life felt like they were teenagers again and they would just now go out with their mates. Faster than she thought, Alex stopped the car in the middle of nowhere.

She turned over to face him and he had a smirk on his smile, gesturing with his head that they had to get out of the car. She did as he suggested and studied everything she was seeing with the two green eyes she had. Alex grabbed her by the arm and pulled her with him to the spot he already knew it was best. He had a few things in his other hand, he came prepared. He let go of her arm and as she was admiring the view, he sat down on the grass, handing out a can of soda to the woman next to him.

She was so impressed by the view that she did not even notice Alex's hand. He snapped his fingers, bringing her back to the world they lived in. "I suppose you relish it here?" he was anxious she would just put it up front. "I love it here!" she cheerfully exclaimed as she sat down right next to him, grabbing her soda. "What made you bring me up here?" the question made him think for a little. He did not really think in particular of a reason to bring her up here, he just felt like that was the best place for them to hang out.

To offer her an answer, he also asked "Don't you ever want to escape and run away? I guess this was in my mind. It is peaceful up here. I often come here to cool my mind when everything seems too stressful. So I wanted to bring you with me." She was really pleased with what he was saying, also flattered.

He was indeed hiding a lot, and for her to be able to discover a teeny-tiny was really something she was looking forward and she clearly did not expect it to happen so soon. She appreciated the vulnerable side of the people surrounding her. Well, that once surrounded her. As she distanced herself from them, she didn't really saw that side of them anymore. The only one she keeps seeing is obviously Bree, and she would not trade her for the world.

"To be honest with you, I always think about running away. But I cannot leave my life behind. I worked too hard on this crap to just let it get lost" Bringing a cigarette out of one of her pockets, she brought her knees closer to her chest, admiring the wonderful view in front of her. He was starring at her eyes and he compared them to a galaxy. The lights from the city could be seen in her eyes, making them sparkle. She handed her pack over to him, leaving him with a confused look on his pretty face.

"Didn't you say you wanted to try these?". When they spoke over the phone in the middle of a night, he mentioned those organic cigarettes that she keeps smoking. He laughed and grabbed one with his lips as his hands were busy opening the can. They both lighted them, sitting in silence for a moment before Alex could go on with the conversation.

"Why would you be so scared to leave this damn place? It's filthy in here" as if he actually meant it, he looked directly in her eyes, analyzing her eyeful face. "You know, I would have said this too a year ago, and I thought I might want to say it now again. But I have the minimum I need to survive. Even more than that. I am free to do what I want, to hang out with who I want and I have the best human by my side. I think the only thing I want to escape now is my feelings."

"Do you think it is good for your mental health to just run away from your feelings?" he asks right away, and Arabella answers just as fast saying "But do you think it is healthy for you to run away from everything? It's pure death" Alex just nodded, trying not to think about it so much.

In order not to make the rest of the night a bit awkward, he started asking a lot of questions so he can get to know her better. He asked her about her work and about her past workplaces, then they started to talk about the future. Probably these were the best questions to ask someone in pursuance of getting to know him\her better. People tend to answer these questions sincerely, nut trying to lie about things they would want to do or pursue. When Arabella noticed how she was the only one answering questions, she returned Alex's inquiry. "How do you want to spend the rest of your life, Alexander?" The way she spelled his name sounded like music to his years.

"I just want to settle down, work from home, but not at some big company. Or maybe the big company could be one of the options, but only if I don't have to spend the whole day working. I want to live without fear or regret. To have my own house, that I designed myself, and I want to share it with someone special. Until then, I want to live as if I am 18 again. I just want to drink when I want, run for no reason, laugh all the time, tell stories, create my own, work on music, smoke, go out, traveling... All of that stuff, you know what I am talking about. " He sighed, lighting another cigarette, this time one of his own. He moved his eyes back to the view that sat still in front of him, waiting for a reaction of some sort. Maybe he seemed crazy, opening up to someone this fast, but he felt like she was not going to tell anyone anything.

"Mind if I join your life adventures?"

[nctzendreamz]

HOMECOMING • PROLOGUE

Prologue / Part l / Part ll / Part lll

Summary: The year is 3030, and the divide between the rich and poor couldn’t be greater. Wildwood University is the most prestigious school in the entire world, but it isn’t only because of the impeccable flying cars that can be seen best during the fuchsia lit nights, or the dexterous education everyone receives. It has secrets. A lot of secrets.

Genre: Gang!AU, Futuristic!AU 

Warnings: Vivid descriptions of violence, foul language, drug use, and murder.

Author’s Note: I love you all. I hope you will love this rollercoaster of emotions as much as I do.

Once upon a time, there was a boy. This boy was gentle, and loved to explore. Sometimes, he’d even allow his imagination to posses his body, pretending he was something he knew he’d never be, such as a racecar driver, a superhero, or his favorite—loved.

Now, as that boy travels down the dark corridor that lead to his instructor, he can’t help but to smile. His left hand caresses the mangled brick wall, reminding him of every waste of space that had been dismembered in his sanctuary. Even the two men who were unnecessarily escorting him down the dimly lit space seemed frightened at the way he lightly chuckles to himself, but they know if they look at him wrong, he’ll simply kill them too.

As they approach what was known as the “black door”, he knocks a familiar tune, informing the man on the other side it was one of his own.

With an almost cinematic effect, all of the locks audibly unravel, and a flashing light blinks onto his face, silently giving him permission to step in. He looks around, trying to see if any new souvenirs had been added to the otherwise plain walls, but he sees nothing fresh. The picture of all of the boys of NEO rests in the center of the large room, and as always, he spots himself first. 

“Lee Taeyong.”  A deep voice addresses, obviously coming from the leather chair which was turned the opposing way. 

“Mr. Sooman.” He bows, although the man couldn't see him. They didn’t have the technology for such a myth, but there was always a fear he had eyes in the back of his head.

The chair slowly begins to turn, revealing the only person in this world that brought fear into Taeyong. His current sadistic smile was a testament to that, as well as the sweat that began to form under the arms of the boy. 

“Why so stiff? It’s just me, your father?” He teases.

“My apologies.” Was all Taeyong could muster, now wanting nothing more than to get straight to the point. He wanted his mission.

“Did you take your pill today?”

“Of course I did.” He lied.

“Then why are you so jittery? He eyes the slim boy suspiciously, standing up now.

Taeyong decides on silence, as he doesn’t want to speak his truth to his father figure. His eyes once again fall on the photo hanging, and he tries to relax himself by focusing on his hair color. He can now vaguely see it’s raging orange print, probably the most color he’d ever see in his lifetime.

His meditation is interrupted with the sound of two precise claps, and a tiny robot now at his feet projecting light onto the blank wall. What seemed like millions of photos appear one by one, and so much color. Even though it was faded, he was still incredibly fascinated.

His eyebrows are raised ever so slightly, and his mouth waters, yet, he can still sense his elder approaching him. It ran through his blood to do so. He always had to be on guard. If anyone was able to run up on you, and hurt you even slightly, you’d most likely be murdered by the others because—how can you be so dumb? How can you sleep at night without the feeling of someone watching you? Your hairs stand up, a chill stretches against you. It’s very simple, actually.

“I’m sure you’ve heard of Wildwood?”

Taeyong snaps his focus back on the man who’s eyes were watching him intently. “Yes. Founded in 2002 by Lobos Smith. Known as the most prestigious, and honorable university in the world. They specialize in futuristic science, and were the first school to perfect the seemingly impossible flying car. In short, rich motherfuckers.” He spat, feeling his blood pressure heighten at the mention of wealthy.

“Very good, boy.” Mr. Sooman continues to circle his apprentice, as the wood floor creaks with his every step. “As you know, we’ve always had buisness with the Smith’s.”

Taeyong nods confidently, showing with his body language that he was genuinely aware of this fact.

“Well, I want you to kill them.”

The screen zooms into four faces, none of them familiar to him. A man, a woman, a girl, and a boy.

“This is the Smith family. Maleen Smith, President of Wildwood. His wife, Bianca, his son Johnny, and your most important target, Y/N.”

“Why is she the most important?” Taeyong questions, finally getting comfortable in his element. You could say what you wanted about him, but you couldn’t deny his manipulative talents, and serious approach for his job. He was always thirsty for blood.

“Because she is their pride and joy.” Mr. Sooman responds with a devilish grin, clearly knowing more than he was revealing. “Sweet girl, smart girl, naive girl.”

“So what? You want me and the guys to meet them for dinner or something? Blast their heads off?” 

The team of NEO was a dangerous one, and everyone who lived in this hell knew it. Their kills were always vicious, but the handmade masks they wore during their greatest hits hid their identity. All of them were specifically designed to the personalities of the boys, and their set skills. Taeyong, for example, always spotted a bedazzled fox, labeled red although he had yet to test that to be true. It was a metaphor to his sly nature, always able to easily grab the attention of clueless street-walkers. They were so awful at selling, and making deals for drugs that made people go off the charts. So easy to take advantage of.

They were essentially target practice. Something to play with. A pure rush; giving them their fix of killing and feeling superior because in any of situation, they were powerless. They were poor, and every fucking day did they have to watch projections of news from the other side. So many new inventions. More ways to protect the earth from falling back to its horrid ways. The way NEO looked. Dirty—dull.

Taeyong’s hand naturally reaches for his weapon that was always stashed in his pants, and quite a few scenarios run through his brain; different approaches that could be taken. “Call the meeting and consider it done, sir.”

“While I do appreciate your hungry nature, boy; I’m sure you’ve noticed that you’re the only person in this room right now, haven’t you?” The undertone of his voice reads nothing but menace, and Taeyong is truly trying his hardest to prevent his eyes from squeezing shut, or letting a mere drip of sweat dazzle from his forehead onto the ground. It would reveal he did indeed lie about taking his pill, and that would mean he’d have to double up.

“I have noticed, but I figured that I was in here because I’m the most superior.”

In reality, he wasn’t such a cocky bastard. At least, when he wasn’t high off of Indigo. That was the drug Sooman kept pestering him about, and it was what seperared NEO from the rest of the poor souls who lived in this baseless city. That’s what they were told.

Indigo made them strong, and it made them unstoppable. The more they took, the greater their kills felt, and the more their talents shined. Some were more addicted than others, and didn’t care about the black and white scenery that covered their headspace. Others, like Taeyong, planned to sneak up to the rooftop of the building tonight and see the sky, even if it would be half colored, half gray. At least that was the plan, before now.

They were always told that if they didn’t take their pill, the side effects would be deadly. Taeyong now knows this to be true, as his anxiety couldn’t be more intense in an environment where he was usually light and easy, and his mind is spinning. Random spurts of color can be seen everytime he moves his eyes in another direction, and even the colors on the projector are incredibly detailed.

“So you did take your pill today.” The man laughs, patting him on the back. “You’re right, you know.” His voice is light now, almost like a switch removing his dark demeanor. The sound of the floor creaking was practically making Taeyong lose his mind, but he can’t show it. “You are the best. And that is why this mission isn’t going to just be a ‘get the job done’ kind of mission.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying,” He reaches for his back pocket, pulling out a sheet of paper. It was folded into three, and Taeyong can feel his eyebrows basically touching, and his petite nose scrunching as he opened up his mail.

“Congratulations on being excepted into Wildwood University! Founded in 2002, it’s always been Wildwood’s mission to accept the best, so the future can be bright! Lee Taeyong, we cannot wait for you to transfer to our school of futuristic science, and see all you have to offer the brightest side of the world!”

That was all he had to see before he looks up in shock, clearly unable to believe in such an opportunity.

“I’m going—

“Yes. You, a poor boy, going to their world.”

“And I’m going to invade.” He seemingly finished.

“You’re not just going to invade. You’re going to make that girl fall in love with you, and you’re going to make those wealthy pieces of shit trust you, and then—when they finally accept you as their son, and that girl would die for you, you will bring them to me.”

“Like a parasite.”

“No. You, my boy, were born to eliminate the parasites. They don’t deserve to multiply, or reproduce.”

Maybe it was because of the lack of intoxication, but Taeyong feels himself getting too excited about this. The manipulation was excellent, and the plan couldn’t fail. He was charming in all aspects of the word.

“What did they do to you?” Was his final question. He once again is in a stare down with the older man infront of him, who had returned to his seat now.

“They took something from us, and they have to pay. No mistake goes unseen in NEO. You know that.”

“I won’t let you down, sir.” Taeyong bows, just as he did when he originally walked in. The respect was clear, even if the roots of the plan seemed eerie. He trusted his leader with his life, and if he said someone needed to die, it was the truth. He was going to bring their heads back on a silver fucking platter.

[zaritarazi]

I'm thinking of a Marlie Beauty and the Beast AU

okay let me set this scene for you. we’re flipping it. bc we know for a fact that mick is very bookish when left to his own devices and also, cannot stress this enough, does not want to talk to anyone, ever. they’re like oh there goes mick, he’s daddy but he never talks to anyone, that’s the song now. he’s daddy but he’s kind of weird that mick

and then there’s charlie who may or may not be an elder god or some kind of demi god like here i am just me, charlie, having a great time scaring some townsfolk, living in this hugeass castle, just me, all alone, that’s how it’s always going to be, me, charlie, over here by myself. im fine and happy with this

so how does mick even get up there?? like this is mick he’s a grumpy daddy writer who wears his period-appropriate shirts stretched over his bara tiddies like who would gaston even be in this situation. barry??? is it barry??? i dont know he seems like he’d fuck around and bother charlie and mick with his life’s problems.... i mean who knows. we don’t need a gaston in this. i want gustin’s role CUT from the musical

okay so we all know mick is a widower. this is not news. and one night some local youths, probably on a dare, sneak into his house and steal like, len’s old pocketwatch or something and mick chases after them up the hills into the woods where they are of course, stopped by some kind of horrible blob thing that is like 2 stories tall and made of like oil slick colored shiny mud-like material and it’s essentially just like, an evil, cackling face in this wall of dripping muck and mick is like oh for FUCK’s sake. he’s like i cannot bELIEVe i have to protect the local youth from THIS. give me back my dead husband’s watch you fucking idiot children. i hope this thing kills me i truly do

oh also worth noting of course is that mick has been carrying a bigass torch this whole time. it’s very sexy and powerful of him

anyway one of the idiot kids starts throwing rocks at this fucking thing and mick is like oh for the love of FUCK and when the creature lurches forward he tries to light it on fire and it shrieks out and the youths are yelling and the giant blob is yelling and in the fray of this thing trying to reach out and grab the youths and drag them along the road and maybe like, blob them up a little? you know just to teach them a lesson, mick gets thrown into a tree and he drops the watch and he gets a concussion and is probably unconscious for like, a day.

so he wakes up and his head is POUNDING and he’s in this OLD ass bed with fresh sheets and he’s still in like, his coat and his nightshirt and the pair of pants that he managed to pull on quickly but his boots are gone and the watch is gone and he’s also fucking famished. he’s like well at least this isn’t the first time i’ve woken up in a strange place and needed to get out quickly but i had hoped i’d gotten too old for this SHIT

okay mick wandering around this old old old castle again, we’re gonna have him carrying a torch bc of the imagery, it’s very good, and he finally finds the kitchen with all the pots and pans hanging up and like the big wood-fire stove and all that jazz. he’s like great. fantastic. there’s some bread and some jam and mick is like perfect let me just guzzle this and then. and then the candleabra comes to life and starts talking, and mick is like, well, i’ve hit my head a lot of times in my life, i think i should just uh, let that one go. and ray, who is obviously the lumiere, and nate, who is obviously cogsworth, bc they are gay and in love, are like. oh my GOD. a GUEST. mick is still ignoring them and candle!ray is like okay we’re gonna sing the welcome song to you now and mick is like if you do that, i will destroy you both with my bare hands

nate: it’s a GOOD song

mick: i doubt that

ray: can we at least do the first verse

mick: no

nate: haha anyway do you like men 

mick: you are a clock

honestly if mick is like “so uh why the fuck can you two talk” they just look at each other and are then like “honestly we have no idea. maybe we’re enchanted items?? we have fun here” and mick like great. outstanding. where is the exit. and nate like YOU CANT LEAVE. YOU CAN NEVER LEAVE. mick is like staring at him kind of shocked and then he and ray start laughing like hahahahahah you should see how stupid you look. it’s this way come on

mick: hey while i’m here. you’re a clock. have you seen a watch around here

nate: WOW. you just think all timepieces know each other? that’s so offensive

ray: he didn’t know

ray: but you should really apologize

mick: hey. let me ask. am i dead? is this hell? is that what’s going on?

okay but seriously mick can’t leave without that watch. and they’re like, well charlie usually keeps stuff she finds up in the study, but you’re probably not allowed in there. and mick is like this is literally, literally a kidnapping, so why don’t we just go in for a pound here and you two can take me to the study

nate: oh he said pound

ray: i heard it was very fun and sexy of him

mick: 

okay but like as they’re walking through the halls and nate and ray are giving mick just absolutely terrible directions, and he like has to carry them around, essentially, so now that’s his problem, he keeps seeing something out of the corner of his eye flitting around in the shadows and he’s like listen im sure this is all one big concussive nightmare and/or i’m dead so let’s just go with it, he notices that sometimes the shadow seems to reach out to him with a long, sharp hand and sometimes he thinks he can see the face of the monster from before, and like GOD how many STORIES does this castle fucking have? are we even NEAR the study? ray like oh crap i thought you meant the library. the study is on the other side of the building. mick just yelling SON OF A BITCH so loudly the fucking birds fly away outside

mick like so. that giant monster. is that who lives here?? nate and ray making extremely conspicuous looks at each other and going WHAT monster?? theres no MONSTER. there’s the person who owns the castle but thats not a MONSTER. monsters are just a MYTH. maybe YOU’RE the monster. have you thought about THAT.

okay. we make it into the study and there’s charlie dressed like a proper french soldier from the 17th century, for the EFFECT, and charlie is sitting on the desk one leg crossed over the other like HELLO i haven’t be WAITING for you or anything to nate and ray in a not whisper what the fuck took you two so long them like we got lost. it’s very hard we are very small. 

anyway charlie sticking out her leggy real far i’m sure your looking for your watch but before i can give it back to you i have to ask you a FAVOR. and mick is like sure whatever but before i do that. holds out nate and ray. what the fuck is this. charlie is like i have no idea they were here when i got the place why mick like well. that makes as much sense as anything else.

not totally sure what mick needs to do for charlie but he would sure love to know where his boots are and maybe get a proper change of clothes and a real meal, if possible

ray: we were GOING to feed you

mick: how

ray: it happens during the SONG

mick: then i’ll starve

so now mick is stuck in this castle with charlie, who is like very small but also deeply suspicious, the talking decorations, and he’d be more keen on getting out of here if charlie didn’t seem so interested in having him over, and if he wasn’t so curious about why she’s interested, or how this tiny little waif becomes a huge monster, (he wonders if she thinks he won’t notice the shadow she casts) or why she’s a monster, and it’s all very confusing to him but her eyes swallow him whole and he thinks he might have to help her out even if he’s not quite sure how. 

also for the big ballroom scene they BOTH wear men’s formalwear for the dance. It is VERY good. 

[saveonesouls]

Chapter 5 of The Gods Aren’t Dead is out! Feel free to read it on AO3 and also I have posted it under the read more below! Feel free to like, reblog to share it around, and send messages and whatnot of what you think of the story so far and what you think might happen next :D

Charlotte was the first to appear near the scene in France, being able to successfully teleport near the scene and walk the rest of the way. She was fortunate that her abilities still worked just as good as they did before. In a way, it was like they never were gone, like they never were shut off.

Charlotte walked near it and passed some pedestrians, heading to the front to see the damage. Her blue eyes gazed at it all and she let out a breath. It was bad. A building lost, people being put in ambulances, people being covered by white sheets. She clenched her fist. She was angry, mad... livid. She wanted to find Gaia and give her a piece of her mind for messing with the mortals, for causing damage. She turned and walked away from the crowd, touching her phone screen and pressing a few numbers before it began to ring.

“Hello?”

“Sasha, it’s me.”

“What’d you find?”

Charlotte sighed as she stopped and looked over at the crowd and around at the damage. “It’s bad. She had to have done this. It looks like an earthquake than a landslide, though. Where the building is has fallen than look like a slide, though I can’t be sure. There’s too many people around for me to look.”

“We’ll have to check when it’s dead of night.” She heard Sasha sigh. “Meet me at Tyson’s place. He has it all set up and Bayley is there picking her weapon of choice.”

“I’ll be there soon. I’m going to check more of this place out. See if any of them are lurking or what other evidence I can find. Have you talked to Vince yet?”

“Other than this morning? Yes. I’m going to text him your updates now, but he’s... Well let’s just say that Florida is about to get a thunderstorm.” Charlotte sighed heavily as Sasha continued. “Mother will talk to him.”

“Mother wants nothing to do with him. You heard her last time. She told him she was going to chop his balls off because he keeps trying to sleep with other women.”

“Well, it’s dad and mom finally figured out to stop taking his shit like we’ve told her many times.” Sasha huffed. “What do you expect? I will get her to talk to him, but I know it’s no promises. Now, get to Tyson’s. I will talk to you then.”

“Alright.” Charlotte hung up and sighed as she looked back at the damage. It worried her how bad this was getting already. This was the very beginning of what was going to be a war on Earth and Charlotte knew it. Turning to walk, she took a few steps to make sure she was not in people’s view before she disappeared and reappeared by Tyson’s training facility for them. It was dressed up like a warehouse, but inside was a different ballgame. She walked inside and already could see a few people, Becky and Asuka to be more exact, sparring each other. It made her smile as she walked in. She even saw Bayley with Tyson looking at what seemed to be a bo staff of sorts, which had her curious to that choice. Though she knew Bayley had her reasons. Maybe not to slice through something or someone. Who knew, honestly besides Bayley.

“Charlotte.”

Charlotte turned and saw Becky walking over with Asuka. “Hey you two... I see everything is looking pretty great here.”

“Oh yeah. Tyson really pulled things together and got this place to tip top shape.” Asuka said softly with a grin on her face. “I have to go” She looked at Becky and patted her shoulder. “Great sparring today. You haven’t lost your touch.”

“Neither have you, old friend.” Becky grinned as Asuka walked away and then she turned her attention to Charlotte. “What did you find at the sight?”

“You haven’t spoken to Sasha yet?” Becky shook her head and the two started to walk in the direction of Bayley. “It’s Gaia. She somehow managed to move the earth under the building and pulled part of it down and caused tons of damage.”

“People are dead I assume and injured?” Charlotte nodded and Becky sighed heavily. “So what is it that we do?”

“I do not know yet. Sasha has to talk to Vince about it to see what we should do because in all honesty we cannot go out and start using our abilities like we used to. The people only know us as myths, as stories.”

“And to show them that we are not would be a bad idea.” Becky sighed as they stopped right behind Bayley and she spoke to her. “So the staff, huh?”

Bayley turned to look at the two and she smiled a little as she twirled the staff a few times. “Yeah... Is it a bad choice?”

“Not at all.” Charlotte shook her head. “It can do decent damage like a sword or a bow. It won’t make any piercing damage, but you can break a few bones with that thing in all honesty.” She looked at Tyson who she gave a light smile to. “As usual you never disappoint with good work.”

“Thanks, Charlotte.” He said and he turned and grabbed what was Charlotte’s sword and handed it to her. “This is yours. I’ve upgraded it a bit to be stronger and not break so easily. I also have used a bit more gold and some blood red on the hilt of the sword.”

Charlotte grabbed it; her eyes widen at the sight of the artistry of her sword. She pulled it out of the sheath and everyone just watched her quietly. Charlotte was like a kid in a candy store with her sword as it had been years since she needed it, since she had to ever use it. It shined bright of the steel reflecting the light in the warehouse, the hilt being a mixture of blood red and black like Tyson spoke about the and gold... Charlotte loved it. She could never hate anything Tyson did when it came to his artistry of weapons. Though this, Charlotte teared up at the sight.

“Ptolema...” Charlotte whispered to the sword as she ran her finger lightly on the sharp edge of it. “I missed you so much... We have so much work to do, so much to catch up on.” Charlotte sheathed the sword before she wiped her eyes and looked at Tyson. “I thank you for bringing her back to me.”

“Of course, Charlotte.” Tyson smiled and held out her shield next and what seemed to be a spiked headband. “Your shield and this... Father stated that in modern times your helmet would be seen as too back in the day. So, I made you a spiked headband that is moreso like your crown. Your shield will have your helmet symbol to show who you are and what you represent of course, but this--”

“--Will fit me currently.” Tyson nodded and Charlotte didn’t hesitate to slip on the crown headband within her blonde locks. She stood there now with her shield in one hand, her sword in the other and she looked at the three before her, especially Bayley who seemed to have this bright smile on her face. “Why are you smiling?”

Bayley saw everyone look at her now and she smiled more. “Because you’re happy. I can see it.” She gave a little nod. “You’ve been waiting for a moment like this to be back to you, we all have. Though we’ve been forced back into this way, we all are back to ourselves in full force and it’s what we need.”

Charlotte grinned at the brunette and at Becky who nodded in agreement. Then they heard clicking of steps after a door was shut and she turned her head, seeing Sasha walking in. “Good timing.”

“Good timing indeed.” Sasha smiled at her blonde-haired sister and nodded. “You look good.” She looked at Tyson. “I assume you have my things as well?”

“Of course. Let me grab them out of the weapons closet.” He turned to go into the separate room.

Sasha looked at Becky and grinned. “Your sword fits you. Glad to have it back?”

“Of course.” Becky smiled happily. “I think we all are happy to have our weapons back and acquiring one” She briefly looked at Bayley. “Charlotte here had tears in her eyes.

Charlotte rolled her eyes. “Shut up.” She said with a breath and looked at Sasha. “What did Vince say?”

Sasha sighed heavily. “He’s asking us to keep an eye out for other issues on the news. He doesn’t want us attacking yet but to prepare.”

“They’re just going to keep killing more people and recruiting the mortals for their cause.” Bayley said as she leaned on the table Tyson was near. “We can’t be holding back like this. Not when they think we aren’t here and they can take over the world as how they wanted it before Vince took over.”

“I’m aware, but that’s what Father said. We have to respect it for now.” Sasha shrugged before looking at Charlotte. “I need to ask you something.”

“Okay...” Charlotte furrowed her eyebrows confusingly. “What is it?”

“If you did something like what Gaia did, what would you do next?”

“... You’re asking me because I am basically the chaotic one in this group, aren’t you?”

“That and because you are the more aggressive one than I and I would do something more strategic and not something... chaotic.”

“Well” Charlotte put her sword and shield down on the table and turned to Sasha, leaning against the table. “What would you do then?”

Sasha paused a moment, thinking and analyzing solutions in her head. “I would see if I could track one of us down and attack. Either that, or go to Greece and destroy one of the monuments.”

Charlotte nodded. “Either would be logical and smart. If they wanted to be chaotic to the point where they want to cause pain instantly? I would find out if the gods and goddess of our circle are alive, but get the less important ones.”

“Like me.”

They all looked at Bayley, her looked uncomfortable and worried.

“Well... Yes, but you and Becky are surrounded by me and Sasha so they wouldn’t dare try.”

“They don’t know that though.” Sasha said with a sigh. “Wouldn’t they want to try and start a war or something?”

“Why? There’s two already happening.” Charlotte said before Tyson walked out and held out Athena’s shield, sword, her own headband that was golden leaves and olives on it, and what seemed to be two pairs of armor. “I assume one is mine?”

“Yes. I almost forgot to give it to you.” Tyson said and handed it over. “I tailored it to fit your female frame by making it a little smaller. If it doesn’t fit, I will adjust it.”

“Thank you, Tyson.” Charlotte and Sasha said at the same time before Charlotte started to speak to Sasha. “We need to make sure to warn everyone about what’s to come and I mean everyone. We can’t be holding back any information because we are all in danger.”

That’s when Becky chimed in. “I’m meetin’ some of them at Hunter’s bar. I’ll let ‘em know what’s going on and make sure they stop by here to see Tyson about weaponry or whatever they may need.”

Bayley lowered her gaze as the three spoke and she looked at Tyson who merely grinned at her and she grinned back before she ehard her name. She looked over at blinked. “Huh?”

“I asked if you’re ready to head home.” Sasha said softly. “Bex has to go to work and Charlotte has a fight tonight so I thought we could ride together.”

“Oh! Sure!” Bayley smiled warmly. She then looked at Tyson. “Is there a way to... hide these things?”

“Oh of course. Just have to utter krymménos, hidden in Greek, as you hold it or looking at it and it while be invisible as if it wasn’t there. You also can do the same and tell it to appear somewhere else, like your home, and it will be there.” Tyson explained with a nod. “I had to work with Naomi on getting that done with all the weapons. Didn’t take long, but it was rough to speak with her about it.”

“Not surprised...” Charlotte said with a sigh. “Anyways, we should all go. Thank you again Tyson.” Tyson gave a brief bow of the head and the four went their ways: Charlotte went off to the house by teleportation, got in her car to head to her match, Becky got into her car that was at the place and headed off to work, and Sasha and Bayley drove home.

It was a mostly silent drive other than the music playing off Sasha’s phone, which happened to sound like and positive with some not having any vocals at all and still gave that power and uplifting feeling. To Bayley, Sasha weas the one that was most positive when it came to many things besides herself, and she loved that about the other more than anything. They bounced off the positivity when it was really needed.

Once they got home, they put their weaponry in a locker and Sasha put a lock on it and put in the passcode, which she told Bayley what it was and was going to tell the other two when they got home. She stated “it’s better to tell them in person so no one hacks into their phones and somehow gets it and takes the weapons. They’re basically artifacts to the modern world and we do not want anyone or anything taking them from us”.

Bayley let out a breath as she crashed onto the couch and put on the TV, instantly going to the news to see if anything new came up about the Titans causing trouble, but it was everything normal, nothing too out of the ordinary. She sighed heavily, wishing she could just go out there and actually do something about all this. The fact that she read so many comic books and learned about superheroes really got her into the idea that that’s who they really were going to end up being: The real-life superheroes to the modern world. They were the gods and goddesses that ran the world the best they could and they evolved into minds much greater and wiser and that meant they had to as well, which they did. Now, with everything going on and the Titans causing a hassle, it had to be time right? In Bayley’s mind, this was the perfect time. This was the best time to do that. No one knew exactly what to do other than to prepare and ready up, but Bayley wanted to do more. They needed to do more!

“You’re thinking too much.”

Bayley jumped as she snapped out of her thoughts and saw Sasha walking into the living room with a glass of water and sat on the couch next to her. “H--How do you know?”

“Your face. You looked super serious as the news was talking about the oldest dog in the world is the tallest dog in the world. I don’t think you’d look so serious over that and more “aww” and cry of how good of a puppy he is.”

Bayley rolled her eyes and sighed.

“Thinking about the Titans?” Bayley nodded. “We’ll get them. It may be a while, but we’ll get them.”

“But when? We should start acting now. Form a group and just... go after that, protect this world, our mortals.”

“Protect? You sound like you’ve been reading too many Spiderman comics again.”

“M--Maybe I have, but the comics have a point in our situation. We have these abilities no one else has because we are immortal Gods and can only die by each other’s hands. The Titans may find us and kill us and then what? They take over. We should be... I don’t know! Like the Avengers! It’s time to avenge and protect our planet.”

“Our planet is fighting against us, Bay. You know, Gaia and all.”

“She’s not our planet. She stopped being that the moment she decided to hurt it.” She saw Sasha smile and she knew she was right and made a good point. “It’s time, Sash. All that talk I’ve said for the past couple years, it’s time.”

Sasha sighed and looked away. “I’d have to talk to Vince, you know that. Everything we do, I have to go through him and--”

“Talk to Hunter or Roman.”

Sasha raised an eyebrow, her face scrunching in confusion. “What? Why our them?”

“Hunter and Roman know how to get through to Vince better than you, no offense.”

“None taken... You’re right, but he’ll want my opinion on it as well.”

“Then the three of you can talk about it.”

Sasha nodded, knowing Bayley made a valid point. The three of them really could get Vince to just sit down and chill. Though, at this rate the old man was not chilling any time soon. In reality, Vince never was one to chill, not even when he was sleeping around and causing terror back in the Ancient Greece days. It is what made her mother, Lacey, be her own version of a calm before the storm situation. Athena didn’t blame her mother in the least bit. Though sometimes the anger went to her and the others, but with the women Vince went around with, they got more of the pain and anger. Just that thought made her shake her head and she looked away from Bayley.

“So you know I’m right?”

“Yes.” Sasha sighed. “I will speak to them at another time. Right now, we’re all on edge on who did it in the first place and since no one is blaming Charlotte for it, the blame is shifting to who knows who else on the spectrum of us.”

“I still like my own theory better.”

Sasha looked at Bayley. “Which is...?”

“They got out themselves. Charlotte had a point, Vince forgets to do certain things and we’ve had to pick up after him a few times. Maybe he actually did forget to close the gate and this is the time that the moment he did, they took over.”

Sasha sighed and looked at the news for a while, seeing something about a fire and she just stared at it for a while, which got Bayley staring too.

“... You think they caused that?”

“I don’t know.” Sasha leaned forward to focus on it and she sighed. “It’s hard to tell because they could do anything. They haven’t been around this world so they view is a different. For all we know, they don’t know what’s going on and are ruining it because they think it is an illusion.”

“I think they’re doing it because they think this is our handiwork of making the world like this when we haven’t done anything. We let them do it and we work with them with minimal skills.” Bayley shrugged. “I’ll text Becky to see if she can find out about that fire since it’s in the city. Maybe something in the police report can give her an idea on if it is them or just an average fire caused by mortals.”

Weeks started to pass and it seemed that things were escalating and Sasha was the one to get all the questions, but then the end of the month came and that’s when the mortals found out about the Titans. They revealed themselves to easily that it was no joke.

Gaia, was there causing an earthquake after she and Cronus, had appeared in front of national television. The announced who they were and the whole press conference was cut short as they saw Hyperion appear. He used the light to set the room aflame and cut everything short. That’s when the four women looked at each other with shock on their faces.

“We are the Titans and we have returned to claim what is ours! We are your rulers! We are your dictators! You mortals stand no chance when your Gods are dead! Zeus, Hera, Artemis, Apollo, Athena, Ares, Hecate, Poseidon, Demeter, and Hades... They are gone and they have been for years and now? It is our time to rule.

“It is our time to take back what’s ours.”

[perspective-series]

Exposed Perspective (9)

By: @arc852 and @hiddendreamer67

Warnings: Fear, panic, and feelings of helplessness.

THIS IS THE THIRD STORY IN A TRILOGY. READ “A Third Perspective” AND “Switched Perspectives” FOR THIS TO MAKE SENSE!

(Check the reblog for the links to the previous chapters and the TWO prequels!)

———————————————————————————————

“Isn’t there some sort of borrower protocol to prevent this?” Roman asked, looking down at his borrower friends.

 The borrowers glanced at each other before they both shook their heads. “No. If we’re found, that’s it. End of story. It’s just, before all of this, we’ve been… ‘lucky’ enough that the few humans that have found borrowers never revealed it to anyone else.” Virgil explained. Their kinds luck was really something. But it looked as if it had finally run out.

“But- it can’t possibly be just luck.” Roman insisted. “This is the twenty-first century, there are cameras everywhere. This cannot be the first time a borrower was caught on tape.”

 The two borrowers blinked and looked at each other once again, a silent conversation happening. “You...do make a good point,” Patton admitted, suddenly confused.

 “But borrowers have never been revealed, before now.” Virgil winced at that. “It...has to be some sort of luck or something, right?” Now Virgil was starting to doubt. But if not luck, what else could it be?

“Maybe it’s never become big news?” Roman offered. “Thomas, can you try and find any articles about borrowers?”

“I’m trying,” Thomas answered, already on it.

“Or perhaps borrowers have been revealed, but then disappeared and were taken for a myth,” Logan suggested. “Many folk tales are inhabited by tiny humanoid figures.”

 Both borrowers were shocked at that. “Wait, there are?” Patton asked, eyebrows furrowed.

“Of course!” Roman nodded. “Fairies, brownies, gnomes, elves...well, the tiny elves anyways. They tend to change size.” 

“It’s possible those mystical creatures are based off a rather un-mystical discovery.” Logan reasoned, pulling into the apartment complex.

 Virgil hummed in thought. Could those myths be based on his kind? He could never be for sure but it wasn’t a very comforting thought. “So, what? You think this will blow over into some myth or something?” Virgil highly doubted that would happen in this case.

“Oh, no.” Logan’s bluntness instantly dashed all their hopes. “No, this is far more severe than a mere sighting or a bit of film. You have to remember this footage was already distributed to over a dozen scientifically-minded individuals, all with at least a master's degree under their belt, and the original video still belongs to a psychopath who wants to ruin our lives.”

“...great,” Roman said once he was able to stop gaping at Logan’s lack of tact. “Thanks for the rousing speech, Albert Ein-stink.” He hopped out of the car, rolling his eyes.

“What did I say?” Logan’s brow furrowed, hopping out as well.

 The borrowers could only sit there in silence, leaning against each other as support. Everything was gonna change now. Borrowers would be caught and discovered...and it would be all their fault.

“What did you say?” Roman half-laughed, glad they were the only ones in the lobby as they began to make their way upstairs to the apartments. “You just crushed all their hopes and dreams in one fell blow! Thanks for ruining the mood, dr. gloom.”

“I was trying to be reasonable!” Logan argued, taking the stairs two at a time to get ahead and unlock the door.

“No, you were trying to be smart.” Roman sneered, walking past Logan and into the living room. “As usual.”

 “Roman, don’t,” Patton said quietly. “Please, don’t fight. Not now.” 

 Virgil nodded. Their humans fighting was the last thing they needed.

Roman glanced down at the borrowers, feeling guilty all of a sudden. “...sorry.” He apologized, setting them down on the coffee table. 

 “Thank you,” Patton said, giving Roman a small smile. Virgil sighed, looking up to find Thomas as he entered the room.

 “Have you found anything yet, Thomas?” Virgil asked, impatient and worried.

“No, nothing yet.” Thomas shook his head, still glued to his phone. “I think I’m gonna head downstairs, see if I get any more success on my laptop.”

“We’ll be here,” Roman said with a shrug, watching Thomas walk right back out the door. 

 Virgil watched Thomas leave and then sighed as he collapsed on the table and then laid down on his back. “...Our whole kind is screwed.”

 Patton couldn’t help but agree with Virgil.

“Well, maybe there is something to that whole myth theory.” Roman hypothesized. “Maybe this will all blow over? Certainly, if nobody finds anything it’ll die out eventually, right?”

“Do you know of any borrowers in the immediate area?” Logan asked, closing the door and kneeling next to Roman.

 “No,” Patton answered, seeing as how Virgil was still lying on the table. “Not that we know of. But, then again, we haven’t left this building in about two years. Or have checked the other buildings...there’s really no way for us to know.”

“Is there any way for us to check around?” Roman offered. “We could help you guys scout, maybe warn anybody else.”

 “That’s a terrible idea,” Virgil spoke up before Patton could. Virgil sat up so he was sitting. “No one would listen or believe us if we showed up with a pair of humans. Besides, there’s no way we would be able to reach enough of them…”

“I suppose all we can do is hope that their borrower instincts protect them,” Logan admitted. “Though humans may be looking for them, the only true consequence is if they are caught. After all...according to the tape, only the existence of two borrowers can be proven.” Logan gazed thoughtfully down at said two borrowers.

 “Unless they try and gas them out,” Virgil said, causing Patton to gasp. “Or tear down the walls to find them.” Virgil’s mind was working overtime at this point. “And if the government were to get involved, with all their technology and things? We’d be screwed for sure.”

“Okay, well, I seriously doubt the government is going to get involved with a simple pest problem.” Roman rolled his eyes. “But glad to know you think so highly of yourself.”

“Look, let’s think about this logically,” Logan advised. “Borrowers often take up residence in human houses, yes? Not places of business?”

 “W-Well, usually but there are some instances where-” Patton started but Virgil cut him off, glaring at Roman.

 “I’m sorry, did you just call us pests. What the hell, Roman?”

Roman’s eyes widened, quickly backpedaling. “No! I mean, well, I didn’t mean it like that, it’s just... oh come on, what else would you call it? You’re talking as though people are gonna call an exterminator.”

 “And they might! But that doesn’t mean you say it like that!” Virgil huffed, calming down a little. “Humans are going to see us in so many different ways. Pests, pets, science experiments. Why wouldn’t the government get involved in the ‘find of the century’.”

“That’s just it, though.” Logan jumped in, stopping Roman from apologizing further. “Borrowers have to actually be found. While it is true that humans could go to drastic measures, the individuals who currently possess the footage do not have the authority to search through every household. They would need to gain permission from every individual homeowner, who would, in turn, have to pay the costs of said extraction methods. It’s highly unlikely that a person would be willing to put so many resources towards a chance discovery. It is equivalent to putting your life’s savings into lottery tickets: foolhardy and uncommon in real life.”

 Virgil huffed, looking down. “I don’t doubt that humans will find ways. After all, it didn’t take much for the two of you to find us.” 

 Patton nodded slowly, agreeing with Virgil. “We’ve both seen humans do...a lot to get what they want.”

“That...does lead to my other realization,” Logan admitted. “The only way anyone of those individuals has a sure chance of discovering borrowers is to get their hands on one of you. It’s the only guaranteed source of information and the only way to determine the validity of the tape. At the very least Dee knows our identities, and I would not be surprised if our faces made an appearance in the tape itself.”

 Patton felt himself pale. “You think there will be humans coming after us?” Patton asked, not liking the sound of that.

“Most definitely.” Logan nodded gravely.

“Well, what the heck are we supposed to do with that molotov cocktail?” Roman frowned, looking over at Logan quizzically for answers.

 Virgil frowned, looking down and fidgeting with his poncho. “Maybe the two of us should...leave. Go off on our own, that way if they come looking here or with you guys, they won’t find us.”

 Patton’s eyes widened. “B-But…” Patton started, trailing off.

“Indeed.” Logan sighed. “My thoughts exactly.”

“But you can’t just leave!” Roman’s eyes widened, looking down at his friends. He didn’t want them to leave so soon after meeting them.

 “Me neither!” Patton cried. He ran over to be closer to Roman.

 “I don’t either,” Virgil admitted, glancing over at Logan. The two of them had just become friends, after all. “But it might be the safest for us.”

“...we could all move.” Roman murmured, almost so quiet that Logan didn’t hear him.

“Roman, don’t be preposterous.” Logan chided.

“I’m not being preposterous!” Roman exclaimed. “Think about it- you can’t stay here anyways. You’ve managed to anger like every head of your department and they’ll all know of your involvement soon enough.”

“That doesn’t mean I should just leave town,” Logan argued.

“If they have to move, we should move.” Roman insisted. “It’s only fair.”

 “Yeah! And then we can all be together still!” Patton exclaimed. Virgil bit his lip, looking at Logan.

 “Isn’t moving kind of...expensive for humans?” Virgil asked. Not quite knowing how it worked but knowing it did involve money.

“It...can be,” Logan admitted. “Although cost isn’t necessarily a deciding factor here.”

“We can certainly find creative ways to make ends meet.” Roman smiled, clearly indicating his acting talents. “When there’s a will, there’s a way.”

 “But would moving cities really work?” Virgil asked, still worried about all this. He did want to stay with his friends but he also feared getting caught by other humans as well.

“It would certainly lower our chance of random encounters, and I doubt many individuals would be so dedicated as to stalk us in the next town over…” Logan began to seriously mull over the possibility.

“Oh my goodness, we could get a house together!” Roman gasped, eyes beginning to sparkle with excitement. 

 Patton gasped as well. “That would be awesome!” That means they would all be able to hang out together, all the time!

 Virgil bit his lip. “...I really do want this to work. I don’t want to leave you guys either.” Virgil said this, mostly directed at Logan.

Logan met Virgil’s gaze, feeling his heart swell slightly.

“I suppose we’re moving then,” Logan said with a slight smile.

“Yes!” Roman pumped the air victoriously with his fist. “Can we get a garden? And a wraparound porch? And one of those porch swings, you know?”

“We’re going for practicality here, Roman.” Logan reminded him gently.

 “Yay! This is gonna be great!” Patton exclaimed, right along with Roman. Virgil smiled softly.

 “We’re gonna be okay?” Virgil said it in a way that it was almost hard to hear that is was actually a question.

“We’re gonna be okay.” Roman nodded. 

“Now, if this is going to work, we will need to get started on preparations right away.” Logan clasped his hands together.

 “Is there anything we can do to help?” Patton asked.

“You two should begin packing all of your belongings,” Logan explained. “If there is anything particularly heavy or cumbersome you wish to bring, Roman and I can prepare a box.”

 Virgil nodded. “Sounds good. Pat? Wanna get started on that?” Virgil personally didn’t have a lot of stuff he was gonna take but he knew Patton would probably need that box.

 Patton nodded. “Yep! Let’s go!” Patton looked at the humans expectantly.

Roman put his hand down, eager to give his friend a ride. 

“Roman, you should begin packing as well,” Logan instructed.

“I got it, don’t worry.” Roman waved him off.

 Patton climbed onto Roman’s hand with a smile while Virgil instead went closer to Logan. His home was here, in Logan’s apartment, after all. It wouldn’t do well for him to go with Roman and Patton.

 “Be back later!” Roman smiled, departing with Patton to go home. 

“Care for a ride as well?” Logan raised an eyebrow, offering a hand as Virgil got closer.

 “That’d be great,” Virgil said, stepping on. As he settled down, he let out a small chuckle. “Kind of funny all this happened after we made up, huh?”

“Indeed.” Logan agreed as he stood up, walking Virgil back towards the hall. “It seems there’s never going to be a dull moment when the two of us are together.”

 “Yeah.” Virgil agreed. Though hopefully, the moments would be more fun once they got away from all this stuff.

“I’ll get to work on house hunting,” Logan said, setting his hand down in the still open hole that was Virgil’s room. “Hopefully by tomorrow morning, I’ll have made some progress.”

 “See you tomorrow then,” Virgil said as he hopped down into his home.

Logan nodded in acknowledgment before heading to his bedroom. There was a lot of work to be done. 

***

“Thank you all for coming in on such short notice.” Emile Picani said, gazing out on a sea of familiar faces. Every recipient of the email sat before him. Dee sat in the back, a proud smirk almost permanently plastered to his face. Picani frowned at him. “Now, before we begin, has anyone forwarded the email?”

“Only to my son.” One man answered, gesturing to the teen sat behind him.

“‘Sup.” Remy waved a hand in greeting.

“Yes, I am aware of Remy’s involvement.” Picani sighed. 

“I don’t understand why I’m here.” Remy pointed out. “You already reported my video or whatever.”

“I did not report your video.” Picani shook his head.

“Fine, someone did.” Remy rolled his eyes, going back to his phone. “I get it, whatever, someone’s pissed that I keep trying to put it on the internet.”

“In the future, perhaps it would be best not to share faculty emails with your children.” Picani’s tone was tired, clearly strained from this whole scenario. “Now, has anyone else shared the email?” There was a chorus of head shaking and Picani breathed a sigh of relief. “Good.”

“Was that video...real?” Remy asked, engaging again briefly.

“...well…” Picani seemed a bit unsure for a moment as many eyes looked back at him expectantly.

“Oh yes,” Dee answered for him, eyes turning to the back of the room. Dee gave them a grin. “That’s why I acquired your assistance in the first place, boy.”

“Wait a moment.” The man from earlier turned around, frowning at Remy. “You’re involved in all this?”

“Well….” Remy pushed his sunglasses further up his face, curling in on himself and looking as though he wanted the chair to swallow him whole. “You see dad-”

Before Remy could blubber his way through an explanation, the door at the front of the room opened and two individuals in suits stepped inside.

“Oh good, we’re right on time.” The one in the beanie said, grinning. 

“I’m sorry, this is a private meeting,” Picani explained, furrowing his brows. “Who exactly are you?”

“The name’s Joan, Special Victims Unit Officer.” Joan smiled, shaking Picani’s outstretched hand enthusiastically. “Heard you guys had a run-in with some borrowers!”

“Ah, well, yes, but-” Picani’s eyes widened as a few more suit-clad individuals walked in. The shorter individual with colorful hair that had arrived with Joan was now right in front of him, holding what looked to be a bright white light attached to a rod.

“Alright, sleepy time.” The Agent explained. With a flash of light, Picani blinked, wondering why he was here only briefly before his eyelids fluttered closed.

“Woah, I gotcha.” Joan caught Picani, laying him on the floor. Across the room other agents were doing the same, Remy only putting up a brief fight as his sunglasses had to be removed for the process to work.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Dee hissed, standing up so fast that his chair was flung backwards. Instantly two broad-shouldered Agents restrained him on either side.

“Oh, just your run of the mill memory wipe.” Joan sauntered over to Dee, their partner following. “So, you must be Dee.”

“What, you think you can pick on borrowers just because they’re tiny?” The short individual got up in Dee’s face, looking pissed.

“Easy there, Talyn.” Joan put their arm out to halt Talyn before turning back to Dee. “Heard you’ve been causing a lot of trouble out here. Didn’t anyone tell you the borrower rules? It’s an awfully big secret to keep. But not only did you fail to keep it, you’ve also violated a whole slew of ethics laws as well.”

“I demand to know what’s going on!” Dee roared.

“You’re coming with us because you were a jerk to tinies.” Talyn deadpanned. “Put him in the paddywagon, boys.” The buff Agents gave a nod, dragging a screaming Dee out the door. Talyn noticed that along the way Dee seemed to have dropped his phone. They picked it up, scrolling through the files. 

“Alright, got it.” They confirmed, deleting the file. Looking around the room, other agents had just finished doing the same on the other faculty’s devices.

“Man, what a mess.” Joan groaned. “Why can’t people just mind their own business and leave tiny peeps alone?”

“I mean, we would be out of a job.” Talyn shrugged.

“That’s true.” Joan stretched their arms above their head. “Alright, almost done. Ready to go to the source?”

“Yup.” Talyn nodded, already pulling up the address on their phone as the two headed out to their car.

[mythiica]

Myth congrats on all of your new followers!! ❤️❤️❤️ May I get a Modern!AU slow burn fic ending in fluff for either Ieyasu, Mitsuhide, or Shingen? Tbh, I'm having a hard time choosing who, please choose whichever one inspires you! I trust your decision hehe 😊

Title: Modern AU! Slow Burn

Fandom: Ikemen Sengoku

Character: Ieyasu Tokugawa, Mitsuhide Akechi, Shingen Takeda

Genre: mini fics

Warnings: none

Intended Gender Audience: Female Audience

Word Count: each is about 700 words x 3 = 2100 words

POV: second person w/ (Y/n)

Other comments: im insane so im doing them all as mini scenarios; i decided to use the official art of what jobs they would have in an AU setting, hope you like!- 

Ieyasu - Animal Kisses

“Hold her, will you?”

          You do as you are told, allowing Ieyasu to wrap the fawn’s leg with a bandage. It squirms in your grip, but you keep the animal in place the best you can. Once he smooths down the edge of the wrap, Ieyasu gives you a short nod, letting you know he has finished. The fawn stands up and takes a few steps with her newly bandaged leg before licking Ieyasu’s cheeks.

         He stands there, rather unamused, but accepts the creature’s kisses without saying anything. The deer also nuzzles its head against Ieyasu, but then he promptly picks her up to return her to the enclosure.

         “Aww! She likes you~” you tease as you follow behind him. “Thank you for helping her. I was really worried when I saw the blood this morning. I thought that something had broken into the conservatory, but she just fell over a broken branch.”

         “Don’t thank me. It’s my job.”

         “Still though… all the animals here like you. You have a special connection with them.”

         Ieyasu presses the button for the intercom. “Can someone come get Twyla? She’s ready to go back. Make sure she gets antibiotics in her food for the next six meals. If she comes back looking worse, I’m blaming you lot.”

         Your pager pings, so you pull it from your pocket. “Oh…” you mumble dejectedly.

         “Something wrong?”

         “No…” you reply, “I have to go to the other side of the facility to help one of the bush babies. It seems like one of them got stuck in a tree hole and is a bit too pudgy to get out.”

         Ieyasu chuckles slightly at this. “They have been putting on more weight than usual. Perhaps they are trying to bulk up for mating season?”

         Of course he has a reasonable answer for this. Ieyasu always knows everything about every animal in the rescue center. He also is always so kind to any creature that comes into his room.

         “I’ll see you around, then,” you say with a wave. “Bush babies to save...” You bite your lip and fumble with your fingers. An awkward silence passes between the two of you before you escape from the lab.

         Ieyasu lingers in his spot, leaning against the metal table, and thinks for a moment. He brushes off the notion and turns around to tend to some files for incoming animals.

         An hour later, a knock at the door coaxes him from his work. “You again?”

         You laugh. “This time, I am the patient.”

         He raises an eyebrow, to which you raise your finger and show him the smallest trickle of blood going down your finger. “Mating season indeed. The male attacked me when he heard the female squeal as I tried to remove her.”

         “That stupid saucer-eyed cotton ball,” he curses. “Come here.”

         Your heels click against the tiled floor as you walk over, and Ieyasu grabs your hand to inspect the puncture wound. “I washed it before coming here, but I didn’t know where we keep the medical supplies that are… well… for humans. I guess I’m too new here!”

         Ieyasu rips open a small alcoholic wipe and cleans your finger before applying a bit of cream to it and wrapping a band aid around it.

         “What’s my prognosis?”

         “You’ll live,” he replies. “Just make sure you wash it when you get home and keep it covered while you work.”

         “Thank you, Dr. Tokugawa.”

         “Don’t call me that. It makes me sound old.”

         You cover your mouth and laugh. Placing your hands back in your lap, you look around at his lab to avoid sparking up further conversation. But the, Ieyasu clears his throat, and you immediately worry that you intruded on something.

         “Oh! Sorry. I should… be getting to lunch. Thank you again.”

         This time, when you turn to leave, Ieyasu is not so quick to let you leave.  “Would you like to stay here and eat?”

         “I thought we were not allowed to bring food into the labs.”

         Ieyasu points at the tables. “I sanitize these at least forty times an hour. My floors are cleaner than the cafeteria tables.”

         You can’t hold your smile back and nod your head enthusiastically.

Mitsuhide Akechi - Late Nights at the Precinct

You turn the lights out and close your office door behind you. The lock clicks shut, and you begin to walk to the front doors to leave the precinct. With your hands on the door bars, you catch a glimspe of Mitsuhide in his own office. He is hunched over his desk, reviewing papers for a recent case he took on.

          Up to now, you have only heard whispers of the famous Mitsuhide Akechi –  he was a legend in Japan for solving the most difficult of cases. People said that it took him three days to find an illusive serial killer that had evaded the police for nearly a year. You wonder if he is really as ruthless as they say. Not only was he extremely good at his job, but people claimed that he had more connections to mafias and gangs than anyone in the country. This earned him the nickname ‘kitsune’, as he could shape shift to fit his needs for the case.

         You knock on his open door and lean against the doorframe. “Burning the midnight oil?” you inquire, trying to sound cool.

         He looks up, his golden eyes seemingly piercing through you. Mitsuhide takes his glasses off and leans back in his chair. His hand shifts, moving the case file over the papers so that you cannot see them. Of course he is guarded. He transferred to the Tokyo division only recently.

         “Is it really that late? I hadn’t noticed.” Mitsuhide proceeds to stand up and stretch before sauntering over to you. “And what is a little mouse as yourself doing here at a time like this?”

         “I had to finish a report for a case I just closed.”

         “Oh?”

         “Kidnapping,” you explain.

         Mitsuhide’s eyes shine. “I don’t think we’ve properly met, Detective…?”

         “(Y/n) (L/n).”

         “Ah, of course. You helped with the Yandere Killings last year, didn’t you?” Mitushide refers to a string of murders that happened over the course of a week early last spring. They were strangely consistent with murders that happen in the game Yandere Simulator, hence the name ‘Yandere Killings’ was coined for the case.

         “Yes, but I didn’t do as much as you did, Detective Akechi. After all, you caught the person who was doing it.”

         Mitsuhide smiles, accepting your praise happily.

         “Sorry to bother you, I just saw your light and…” you trail off, not really knowing how to explain why you stopped by.

         “It’s no problem.”

         Indeed, Mitsuhide was keeping his answers short as to avoid complicating the conversation further. You wonder if he ever let anyone in. Shaking the thought from your mind, you bow your head. “Best of luck on the case you are working on now. I will take my leave now. Goodnight, Detective Akechi.”

         “Goodnight, little mouse.” He stays in his spot as you leave, only moving from the doorframe until after you have exited the building.

         The next morning, when you enter the precinct, you can see Mitsuhide sitting in your chair from the main hall. “Hello Detective Akechi. What brings you here?”

         He brings his feet down from your desk and looks at you. “I came to ask you a question.”

         “Okay. Shoot.”

         Mitsuhide clicks his tongue. “Do you suppose it is possible that the murders from the Back alley case were moved there?”

         You tap your finger against your chin, pondering this idea. “I haven’t reviewed the case file in detail, but there wasn’t any evidence that they had been killed on the spot, right?”

         He nods. “Smart mouse.” Mitsuhide seems to really like this nickname. “Does that not make it kidnapping, technically?”

         “Well…” you think back to your years of training, “Not always. Kidnappers are not always motivated by a murderous intent. Unless the victims were held captive and then killed, I don’t know that… wait…” Something seems off. Why is he asking you this? Mitsuhide is smart enough to know the answer himself. He could just as easily look it up. Why bother to com ask you directly?

         Mitsuhide tips his head and looks at you as if he is analyzing you.

         “Are you asking me to work this case with you?”

         The corners of his mouth curl upwards into a sly smile. “How perceptive.”

         You laugh. “You could have asked me or put in a request with–”

         He stands up and pats your head, ruffling up your hair. “Yes. I could have. But I wanted to test you. And you passed, little mouse. Congratulations and welcome to the homicide division.”

Shingen - Etude in G# minor, Op.25; No.6

He plays with the grace of a swan gliding through crystal clear water. His fingers glide across the keys, creating beautiful harmonies that echo throughout the concert hall. The rest of the symphony has stopped playing, allowing him to continue with a piano solo.

          You find it strange – you have heard this particular piece, Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No.2, but the way Shingen Takeda plays it… he transforms the piece and brings the audience along for a mystical ride along with him. You would not be surprised if there were people moved to tears. In fact, when you inhale, your chest rattles with a surpassed cry.

         Shingen ends the song, keeping his finger held down on the key for a bit longer than was supposed to, but no one notices because the hall erupts into applause. You have been attending concerts for many years, but this is the first time that people throw roses onto the stage.

         He picks one up, and when he smells it, his gaze locks with yours. You are not too far in the back, and nor are you very close to the front, so this catches you off guard. Your stomach does flips in your abdomen when he winks. If Shingen Takeda was anything in addition to one of the best pianists in the world, he was the biggest flirt in the world as well.

         The concert dismisses, and crowds run to the exits in an attempt to catch him before he leaves. When you enter the main hall, you hear screams from behind you. A mob of young women runs straight for you, but before they make impact, a strong hand wraps around your waist and pulls you out of the way.

         When you look up, you nearly lose your breath – Shingen smiles at you with that charming smile of his. It melts your bones and steals any words you could have said in the moment.

         “Careful there,” he purrs, dipping his head closer to you, “an angel like you should watch her step.”

         Your heart thunders in your chest, and you pull to get away. The crowd of girls has circled around you, trying to get a piece of the action. Shingen pays them little attention, and actually seems saddened that you have moved away from him. “You played beautifully tonight, Mr. Takeda.”

         “Hearing that, from you, is a gift in itself.” The women all swoon simultaneously, but Shingen tips his head slightly when you do not fall for the same sweet talk.

         “Thank you,” you say quickly before escaping the crowd.

         The next day, you return to reality and your job as a hostess at a high-end restaurant. You arrive a bit earlier than usual so you can help set up the tables for dinner. The restaurant sits on the top of a skyscraper-hotel. As soon as you come out of the elevator, you nearly drop your phone because you see Shingen Takeda sitting at the piano in the middle of the dining hall.

         He plays as beautifully as he did last night, putting you in a trance that nearly makes you miss getting out of the elevator. Skittering out from the elevator, you try to find one of your coworkers and ask them to explain why Shingen is there.

         “Oh, the boss asked him to make an appearance tonight and play for the guests. Did you not get my text?”

         You look down and realize that you have gotten a message from her, but you were busy ogling Shingen to notice. Inhaling, you shake the nerves off and collect some table cloths to go cover the tables. Deep down, you pray that he doesn’t notice you, but when you hear him whistle, you know you’ve been found.

         He waves at you, and you know that he won’t stop until you visit him. “Hello again,” he greets, “it must be fate that allows me to see you again today, my angel.”

         “I’m not your angel. I work here.”

         Shingen runs his hand through his hair. “Tonight, I will play whatever song you wish. Tell me, what do you desire?”

         Rolling your eyes, you smirk. “Chopin's “Etude in G# minor, Op.25; No.6.” It was one of the most difficult pieces you knew, so you threw it at Shingen in an attempt to deter him.

         Instead of being discouraged, he smirks and nods. “A fine choice. I will make you proud, my goddess.”

         You pause. “Uh.. angel… is better than goddess.” A blush spreads across your cheeks as you say this, but it only makes Shingen laugh.

         When guests begin to arrive, Shingen finally starts to play the song you asked for. As he plays the first few notes, you stop and turn to look at him. The spotlight is focused directly above him, catching everyone’s attention. Your heart shatters as the minor undertones take over because he is that good.

         Snapping back into reality, you take a group to their table. On the way back to the front, you stop by the piano and place a flower on the music stand. He smiles at you, but continues to play.

         The music wraps around you, enveloping you in the strong emotion he pours into the piece. Of course he does. He is Shingen Takeda after all – the world’s best flirter and pianist.

[lokislittlesigyn]

OG616 : Thor 1 - Pt.3 [The Odinsleep]

[My masterlist, where all parts of this and my other fics can be found]

Pairing: Loki / Sigyn (basically an oc based off the marvel/myth namesake)

Warnings: Some mention of violence/death. All past tense.

Author’s Note: It’s getting worse.

Taglist: @high-functioning-lokipath

To be added to the taglist, just ask me here or send a message! <3 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Something has happened.

Something is wrong.

Sigyn sat alone in the library, a forgotten book lying open next to her. The last remnants of evening light gleamed over the city. Fiery hues of red and gold, mixing with the slightest whisper of purple. So far, the Bifrost had fired - thrice. She heard it, the distant, low rumble.

Loki still hadn't come for her.

Healers bustled around the castle. Rumors spread.

"The Warriors Three were wounded."

"Prince Thor hasn't been seen since they returned."

"The Allfather mentioned Jotunheim."

Sigyn decided against bothering the healers or trying to find her brother and his friends. Instead, she decided, she should stay put. Things were better that way. No need to worry, she told herself. Everything would work out, and soon Loki would peer around the corner, wearing his signature smirk. Ready to tell her how foolish Thor was being, or how relieved he was to be home.

So she waited.

And waited.

She twiddled her thumbs, gazing out a window. The day was fading. Tones of amber and gold mixed with cobalt blue, where stars began to twinkle, promising the coming night. Asgard always had beautiful sunsets.

"Princess?" The guard's voice made her turn. "Princess Sigyn, the bookkeeper asks you retire soon."

"Yes. Of course…" She stood, returning the book to its shelf.

The guard didn't move.

".. Do you need something else?"

"Prince Loki requested I escort you to your quarters."

Sigyn whipped around to face him. "He’s home?"

"He is preoccupied."

".. Very well, follow me, though I wish Loki would do it himself. Where is he?"

The guard led her from the library, on the usual route back to her quarters.

"He is at the Allfather's bedside, milady."

"The Allfather…?"

"Has fallen into the Odinsleep."

Sigyn stopped. "What?"

"Allfather Odin has fallen into the Odinsleep. Had you not known?"

Without a word, Sigyn turned and walked in a different direction.

"My lady, where-"

"I need to see the Allfather."

"My lady," The guard jogged after her, "My orders were to escort you back to your room..."

"Consider this taking the long way."

"Princess Sigyn." he stressed.

Sigyn sighed, looking at him. "I ask that you please escort me to the Allfather before you escort me to my quarters."

After a moment of silence, she asked again. "Please?"

With a sigh, he finally spoke. "Yes, my lady. But only this once. I fear Prince Loki's wrath should I displease him…"

"Leave my husband to me. He can be difficult, but he'll come around."

They reached the Allfather's cavernous room. Entered.

There, in a great bed, lie Odin. Frigga was on one side, Loki, the other. A golden aura encapsulated the Allfather, cloaked him in shining light which shifted and writhed like waves.

"Sigyn," Frigga stood, "Daughter."

"Frigga." Sigyn smiled at her, but quickly looked back at Odin. It was jarring, to see him there. The king of the realm, the most powerful of all of them by far, reduced to a deep sleep. Defenseless.

Without him to govern the realm, perhaps the Frost Giants could attack again, could-

No. That would never happen.

Loki stood, staring the guard down. "I told you to escort her back to our chambers."

"Yes, Prince Loki, but when she heard about the Allfather-"

"I don't care. You should be flogged for disobeying my orders."

"Loki, have mercy on him." Sigyn glanced at him. "It's not his fault I decided to run off."

"So it was you again? Sigyn, you mustn't keep running about like this, you’ll end up hurting yourself." Loki walked over to her. But he didn't touch her, didn't take her hand like he normally would. "Go to bed, Sigyn. It's late."

"But what of the Allfather? Is he safe? Are we safe? Loki, how did this happen?"

Loki’s jaw clenched. An unfamiliar, pained look flashed across his eyes, but quickly left.

Sigyn's brow furrowed. "Loki?" He avoided her gaze. Avoided getting too close. Have I done something wrong?

Frigga walked to them, embracing Sigyn in a light hug. "My dear, worry not. Tomorrow we'll have a better understanding of how long Odin may rest… Until then, you should rest." She kissed Sigyn's forehead, then turned to Loki. "Both of you."

Loki opened his mouth to respond, but shut it. Instead he nodded, dismissing the guard and motioning Sigyn toward toward the door. She turned back to Odin, pondering as she stepped backward to follow Loki.

"Sigyn." He called.

"Coming..." She took a final glance over her shoulder before leaving the room.

~~~~

Sigyn waited for Loki to embrace her that night, but he never did. She supposed the day had been very rough, and he would talk to her in the morning.

She expected him to. To wake her up the next morning, venting about how reckless Thor had been again. How Volstagg had nearly gotten himself killed again. How everyone had acted like complete oafs, only for him to save them all again.

Sigyn would smile and lie there with him, agreeing with him, stroking his ebony-black hair. Tracing the line of his jaw. Perhaps stealing a few kisses.

But that never happened.

Instead, Sigyn awoke to find she was alone.

"Loki?"

No answer.

She pulled a blanket around herself, trudged over to the balcony. Even with her nightdress on, she felt cold.

There Loki, fully dressed as though he’d been up for hours already, stood overlooking the city.

"Did you sleep well?"

He jumped, turned to face her. "You startled me."

She pursed her lips, walking over to join him. "I'm sorry, I hadn't meant to…"

"It's fine." He turned back to the city and set his jaw firm. He didn't smile.

Didn't say good morning.

Didn't jest or chuckle or tease her about the blanket.

He didn't even seem to notice the blanket.

What's going on with you? Why aren't you yourself? My love, why won't you look at me?

".. Any news of the Allfather?" She focused on the city. She loved this city. But more, she loved the man next to her, the man who still hadn’t looked her in the eye.

"No."

"And of the Warriors Three? I heard they were wounded."

Loki shifted next to her. "Yes. Fandral and Volstagg both."

"And?"

"They're being healed." His tone was short, his jaw still clenched.

"I’m glad to hear it." Sigyn practically felt the conversation waning. Gasping for breath. Dying. She cleared her throat. "And Thor? Is he well? I didn't hear from him yesterday. Though I suspect he may be tending to his wounded pride.."

"Thor is banished." Loki spoke far too calmly.

Sigyn froze. Blinked. "... What?"

"Odin banished him."

She turned to face him, head already swimming with questions. But all she could manage was- "Why?!"

Loki huffed through his nose. "Sigyn, isn't it obvious? We went to Jotunheim. The imbecile nearly got us all killed because a few stray Frost Giants broke into the weapon's vault. Thor practically committed treason."

Sigyn’s blood ran cold. "But- You warned a guard, so you’d be stopped?"

"That was my plan, Sigyn." Loki was growing tenser by the second, and yet, he refused to look at her. Refused to acknowledge the fact her hand was reaching for his. "It's the guard's fault for taking so long; this could've been prevented."

Sigyn went silent, trying to comprehend everything.

"...Where did the Allfather send him?"

"I don't know."

"Will he ever come back?"

"I don't know, Sigyn!" He shouted, finally facing her, then stilled himself when he saw how her eyes had gone wide, how she’d pulled away from him. 

He breathed, swallowing and hushing his tone. "There's no telling when Thor may return. And now our realm is weak; we have no king, no crown prince, and no assurance our borders are even capable of keeping out two Jotuns - much less an army of them."

Sigyn swallowed. Loki turned away, running a hand through his hair.

".. They won't get in again, will they?"

He glanced at her. "I cannot say for sure."

"So they might."

"Of course they might. I won't pretend our realm is safe. None of us are safe now. Laufey practically declared war while we were on Jotunheim."

"War?" Sigyn's pulse quickened.

"He mentioned it."

"Oh, Loki.." She leaned against the balcony wall, hugged her blanket tighter around herself.

So the truce was broken. Jotuns, at war with Asgard, like they were when she was a child. Her thoughts drifted back to then – to the stories of fearsome, bloodthirsty creatures from a world of ice and darkness. Her father had told her those stories of the Jotuns he slayed. Hundreds, he said, had challenged him. He killed every one of them.

Sigyn shivered. If war came again, she would hardly be able to help – she was weaker than other Asgardians, more delicate, more… Cold. She always felt cold.

Luckily, Loki felt rather cold too.

He always said that it proved he and Sigyn were destined to be married. Her skin hardly felt different to him...

She looked back at her husband.

He hadn't moved. Still deep in thought, he stared out over the city, his brow furrowed, his body tense. She hadn’t seen him this tense in a long time.

"Loki…" She moved closer, "Whatever happens, I love you. And I trust you. We'll be okay."

He tried to smile. But there was still a shadow behind his eyes. He seemed closed off, removed... Like there was a gap between the two of them.

She returned it, nodding slightly. "We'll be fine. Just fine."

[iphoenixrising]

it's mermay!! will mer!au get another installment??

HI BABE <3 <3 <3

Ah, I mean, I hadn’t really thought about the Mer-thing tbh and someone sent an ask about the last one being a little too dubcon-ish. Which, I mean, I can understand. 

But between you and me, I feel like it would go something like this:

Once Dr. Drake broke the surface of the water, gasping in a deep breath of dirty Gotham Harbor air–

–his tail turns back into legs, and he’s frantically kicking to try and keep himself and his large belly afloat.

It’s only by sheer luck a few fishermen are coming in after a day out with the nets and see him starting to tire on the swim back to dry ground.

“M-My clothes are gone!”

They give him a spare set and let him use the phone to call Tam, and get a very nice pick-up.

The clothes are for someone probably twice his size and hide his belly, and she looks positively horrified and immensely relieved at the same time.

She’s kept up the rent on his apartment, been checking with GCPD’s missing person’s unit, kept the university abreast that yes, Dr. Drake is still missing. So she does take him home, make him hot tea, and listen to the most INCREDIBLE story of her life.

“Th-they’re real? That’s! And you’re!”

“Yes and yes,” his voice is hoarse, the shakes mostly subsided. “We’ve found evidence in bits and pieces over the last fifty years, Tam. It’s not as far fetched as you might believe. The fact I’m…pregnant is another thing entirely.”

“Well, I mean, I can’t exactly throw you a baby shower, Tim.”“I need to find a doctor that can be discreet.”

At this juncture, Dick and Jay have gone back to their clan to tell them what has happened to their poor mate. The head of their clan gives them each a bit of magic trapped in shells.

“These will help you. You will understand the language of the land-walkers.”“How will we get to him?”“Use the magic, my clansmen. It will direct you to what you seek.”

It would be something for the two to get close to the surface and whisper to the shells how much they want to find their little mate. They want to love and protect him, they want to be by his side.

And the magic throbs in hand, gives them the legs they need to walk on land for the first time.

If anyone had seen how they wobbled and fell all over the beach trying to get used to standing, it would probably be hilarious. But in reality, the two are one hundred percent invested on getting this walking thing down so they can keep following the scent trailing through the city before they lose it.

It takes a while, but they’re able to walk well enough to see land walker coverings  behind some glass. Jay breaks it casually so they can get in and help themselves to some that fit quite nicely. They leave authentic gold doubloons on the counter as payment.

The foot coverings are odd, but it feels much nicer than when they step on the street without them.

The two walk and listen to land walkers, the magic shells allowing them to understand the language and many of the references to the world above the waves.

They’re probably suffering culture shock, wandering around Gotham to see everything and try to catch their mate’s scent again.

…while Tim has contacted the only expert he thinks could be discreet enough (and might believe everything) to help.

Dr. Ra’s al Ghul, Aquatic Mythos.

He goes in to his office at the University, has to explain to his research team where he’d been the last two months and hide the fact he’s pregnant.

It takes him a few days to get reintegrated with where they are in their work, and meeting deadlines for studies, etc. Business as usual.

(And does Tim angst about it after Tam leaves him alone finally and he has a night in his apartment to inhale everything, to rub his swollen belly and feel the little life kick inside. To love it without even really trying. To think about what could have happened if he’d stayed in the ocean, stayed with them–)

Tim gets used to his balance being off, to being hungry at odd times of the night, gets caught up on news and things during his spare time when he’s not catching up on work.

It’s only been a few days back, but he’s absolutely on his game (he’s going to have a child to look after), already setting up a request for a brief leave to go abroad and study on-site of a large research program. 

He’ll come back with (Minnow at the moment, but that might change depending on what he finds out if he can access to an ultrasound machine) a child in nine months, telling everyone it’s the child of a family member or something.

By the time the baby comes, he’ll have a plan.

As it turns out, his request is approved. He can go out to the coast and hide away, study, and swim in open waters until Minnow is ready to come into the world. Trust that it’s Dr. al Ghul to personally deliver the approval letter.

In his office.With the usual intense interest.But Ra’s may be the only one that could think of some archaic legend that could at least give him an idea how he’s going to have this baby or if mermen impregnating human men was ever, you know, a thing?

“I’m disappointed you have yet to come see me, Timothy,” while casually touching his hand and arm, “I was hoping you would have the moment you returned. And here I find you are off again so soon?”

“I’m doing some very important research,” he tries for casual, “I’d like to write another book soon. I think this one might be more…interesting…than the last.”

“Mm, I see. Should you have need of my extensive knowledge, Doctor, I am readily available.”

“I was kind of hoping you’d say that–”

Jay and Dick meanwhile have gone through the whole city on foot, taking in everything.

They meet so many land walkers and sit for hours in various parks, people watching, waiting, hoping for a sign.  Somewhere along the way, they traded a few shiny golds for much much greenery and someone on the street showed them what the paper meant.

They’ve eaten at different restaurants, gone to clubs and found the tradition of body writhing to loud sounds very fun.

But since Tim has gone against his instincts and told Ra’s al Ghul he might have proof of the existence of merfolk, the man is completely at attention.

(Proof? Then he would be welcomed back in the intellectual circles again, would regain his place and be out of Gotham for good.) 

When Tim starts asking about mermen mating humans, and any myths on children from that union–

–Ra’s al Ghul realizes the opportunity he has here.

“Hm. I seem to remember a few legends, but those books are in my personal library at home. Come over this evening and I’ll pull out a few of them. Perhaps we can uncover the details?”

Babe.

Babe.

You know what happens next. 

Ra’s drugs Tim’s soothing tea and unbuttons his shirt, finding out the truth.

Dick and Jay catch the scent of their mate from a creepy looking land walker carrying a bottle of sparkling cider and an evil grin.

When they see their mate pass out on the floor and the land walker starting to undress them, the fight is on.

The two are ruthless taking their mate from this man who dared touch his belly where their young lay.

And when Tim had admitted to Tam he was going to Ra’s tonight to do research about this little problem, she’d been worried enough to break into the records room of the university to get the address just in case. 

Jay is carrying their unconscious mate when a car stops right in front of them and Tam throws open the door.

“What are you doing with him!!”

The female is utterly terrifying.

“He is our mate!” Dick defends, stepping between her and Jay, “you cannot have him!”

“What?! He’s my boss, and you! You’re supposed to have a fish tail!”

Sirens rent the air and she yells at them to get in the damn car before the police come. Make it snappy fish-face!

It comes down to Tim waking up from the sedative Ra’s drugged him with laying on Tam’s couch in the lap of the two mermen holding him tightly and nuzzling against his face, patting his squirmy belly.

[deansinkdbitch]

Of the seas and winds

Notes: siren song used is via link to this incredible girl who done a vocal cover of Hans Zimmer's score piece “mermaid” from POT : on stranger tides. Check it out, she’s absolutely haunting to listen to! https://youtu.be/QFo2mpFBIX8

Summary- You meet John Constantine at a local bar in Scotland near the shoreline but not all is as it seems.

Constantine X mer!reader/ fluff and mild violence. Also, its over 5,000 words- I apologise haha! Feel free to give me any feedback/ if you wish me to write more about Velinia and John etc etc etc. :)

--------------------------------

Waves crashed against the Scottish shoreline. Rocks took a mighty beating as the waves became stronger than normal on this brisk night. Only people utterly insane came out on this blustery night in the rain. Of course, there were ALWAYS crazy people out in this typical British weather. As the weather beat down, a tall muscular man stopped dead in his tracks. His dog barked repeatedly but not at him but out towards the sea. The man seemed to get hypnotised by the bearing waves when he could hear a song in his head. “AHH ahhh ahhhh ah...ah ahhh ah...” the melody was simple, and repeated but he couldn’t turn it off. He couldn’t turn away as his feet took charge of his entire being and walked down the stone steps that years of water damage had created. With his feet on a low rock, water crashing over his feet, his jeans soaking the salt water up, he saw her. A maiden with long hair billowing in the harsh winds.

She stared at him with her silvery eyes as her arms crossed her chest combing her fingers through some of her dark hair. “Are you my jolly sailor Bold?” she questioned in a melodic voice. “I can be whatever you want me to be,” he replied smiling, unable to get the song out of his mind. “Just answer me this. Are you the one singing that song?” he questioned. “I am...my sailor. Come... Come closer, I’ll grant you three wishes my jolly sailor.” She practically sang to him, and that’s all it took. He stepped off the rock, arm outstretched to go to her when sea foam lapped at his legs and she leapt towards him with an almighty screech.

With a vicious flip of her golden and silver tail, she grabbed the man removing his hypnotised state, and dragged him down underwater.

Up above his dog barked more viciously, left seeing his owner be dragged by the local mermaid of Culle Bay, Nunton.

---2 weeks Later---

“What can I get ya?” The barman queried as he placed a napkin on the wooden bar and wiped down the top. “Whiskey mate” a Scouse accent replied. “coming up!” came the acknowledged response.

A glass got placed in front of John Constantine, he watched the golden dark liquid got poured into it. “Cheers.” John thanked the bartender, grabbing for his glass. He had been told about a case in Scotland about men disappearing and reappearing days later washed up on shore. He personally thought Chas was talking rubbish but Chas wouldn’t let him pass this one.

“How’d you get into this cases Johnny boy? I mean really... Merfolk.” He mumbled to himself as he let his drink warm his throat as it slid down. He had met all kinds of supernatural beings. Vampires? Check. Demons? Check. Angels? Double bloody check. Hell, he’d even come across werewolves or as he knows most of them to be- lycanthropes. But mermaids?! John was convinced Chas had lost his mind. He’d be doing this job for too many decades to believe they really existed. He truly believed if they did exist then he would have spotted one by now in one matter or another.

“You gonna keep staring lass or can I enjoy my drink without your eyes boring into the side of my skull?” he questioned without even looking to the side of him. Yet he knew there was a girl just sitting there stools away from him staring at him intently. When he had no response from her, he glanced towards her barely even turning his head. She was quite the sight John thought. Her skin was almost translucent, shimmery even. Her hair long and dark. Yet, it wasn’t those features that made him check he even still breathing. It was her eyes. They were golden. Not just bright brown that deceives onlookers into thinking they were gold. They were 100% golden, like the setting sun's rays when they got the water and dance on top of the waves.

“What’s your name love?” John enquired, unable to turn away. He’d met some gorgeous ladies in his time but this woman was hypnotic. She was nothing he’d ever encountered before. Pull it together John.

“Venilia” you tell him. You had some limited English but you understood more than you could speak. You were captivated by John. He seemed so different to the fishermen in this bar. You were intrigued by his look and style. You wondered by he would wrapped slim fabric round his neck. Your curious wandering gaze didn’t go unnoticed by him. “Like what you see?” he smirked. You wasn’t sure if you liked it as you wasn’t even sure if you understood what you saw. All you knew was you couldn’t help standing up, walking over and grabbing his tie in fascination.

This made John chuckle and wonder what drugs you were on. “Its a tie love. Lots of blokes wear them.” He smirked lifting his hand up and grazing yours as he removed his tie from your grip to flatten it back down. Not that he ever wore it properly anyway.

His brief touch threw you off guard and you pulled your hand back towards you rapidly. “You on drugs or something?” he questioned. “Dont worry about her. She’s a regular but don’t think she’s from actually from here. Just comes in and watches everyone and drinks a fuck load of salty water.” The bartender explained to John as he came back out from the back. “Is that so mate?” John responded intrigued. “Yup, but she’s not harming anyone so I let her stay. Think she’s trying to learn English from people.” John gets told before the bartender tends to a new customer who just walked in.

Maybe Chas wasn’t insane after all. He thought to himself. “How about we have a little chat lass. Would love to get to know you,” John suggested as you continued to study his whole demeanor. You step forward and go to sit next to him when you hear a familiar sound from outside and quickly run out the bar. John couldn’t believe what he just witnessed. He saw you run out but he could have sworn you barely made a sound as you placed each foot on the ground. “Dont be stupid, mermaids ain’t real and you’ll prove it.” John mumbled quietly to himself, finishing his whiskey.

“Oh they’re real alright lad! This town is known for having sirens come on stormy nights luring men by their song before dragging them to the sea depths. You’d be wise to believe in what you don’t see boy.” The oldboy next to him chirped. This caused John to just snigger as he placed a five pound note on the bar and getting up. “then I guess I’m wise mate. Just don’t think merfolk are one of the myths that are based in truth.” John quipped back leaving the bar. “Now...where did you go?” he wondered to himself before deciding against looking for you and heading back to the motel by the sea instead for a much needed sleep.

John was standing by the shoreline watching the calm seas wash out into the open world. The sun was incredible which made him glad he had his shades on. “Venilia...” he whispered as he watched you walk out the waters and up the stone steps. Your naked body glistening like sea foam. Meeting you half way John took his trusty trenchcoat off and wrapped it around you.

“You’re back love.” He smiled as you stopped him from guiding you further onto land. “I’ve come to say goodbye John. I cannot return to this world above anymore. I cannot risk your life.” You tell him in perfect English but still essences of your ethereal accent remained. “I can keep myself alive. Come...” John spoke brushing hair out of your face, getting lost in your golden eyes once more.

You leaned forward and placed an intoxicating kiss on his lips before handing back his coat and returning to the sea ..

John woke up the next day his head feeling fuzzy. “What the bloody hell was that?!” he groaned. Sitting up in bed he ran his fingers through his hair. He wondered who you were to create such a dream as that. Romantic dreams were NOT his style. Dreams that were practically porno maybe, but not disney-esque romantic ones. He shuddered in disgust that he had such a dream.

It didn’t take John long to get dressed in his usual outfit and trusty trenchcoat ready to head out and do some research. If one guy said mermaids are real, then surely there must be someone else who’s not drunk nor insane to tell him more information. As he stepped out onto the street, cars screeched down the road sirens blaring. Looking around he saw people standing around watching also. “Hey! What’s gone on?” he questioned, taking out a cigarette and lighting one up taking a deep drag.

“Another guy has been found washed up on the beach dead. Fifth one in two weeks. Poor bastard.” A bystander nearest him explained. Five men in two weeks washed up dead on the beach? Okay, I’m officially curious now. Probably demons pretending to be mermaids. He thought to himself. With a flick up of his coat collar, he begins to stride down towards the edge of the road that leads to the beach. Knowing the beach would be completely surrounded by all kinds of authorities he had to come up with a plan to inspect the body and area without being seen. Unfortunately the only way he could do that was to wait til the body was at the morgue. “bollocks. Okay, wait for the authorities to thin out and the body has gone. Start with the area first. The poor dead bastard will have to wait til tonight.” He thought out loud to himself.

Hiding under the nearest stone pier he watched silently as the dead guy got carted off in a body bag and over time the authorities cordoned off the area and left. It took most of the day, and a lot of fighting restlessness, but John could finally go over. Closing his eyes, he mumbled a spell to himself and with a wave of his hand, he cast a supernatural scan of the scene. “Now... Let’s see what we find” John said to himself. Looking around he was beginning to think it was pointless until a tiny glimmer began to reveal itself in the sand. “Hello” he remarked in an almost flirty sing song. “And what might you be?” he enquired, bending down and picking up the object in question. If was thin and scaly but not as thin as a fish scale. He wasn’t sure what it belonged to. Nothing he had seen before anyway.

He stared intently, before placing it in the palm of his hand and muttering an identification spell. It was then he began to hear an incredibly haunting song play all around him. Looking frantically around him he found nothing. The song grew louder and it felt it was burying itself so deeply into his mind, he felt like he was losing all control of his senses. Quickly snapping out of it, he rapidly shoved some headphones into his ears and stopped the spell. “close call” he muttered to himself. Could they really be real??

On the other side of the beach by a nearby rock, you hid watching him. Being on the surface in daylight was dangerous, but you had to watch him with so much curiosity in your eyes. You had never come across someone like him before. He fascinated you and now you had witnessed for yourself he could use magic, your curiosity peaked to all new heights. He was different. You could sense it but the thought of your family finding out terrified you. It actually saddens you seeing so many human men die at the hands of them. All because one man denied your mother’s love many decades ago. She cursed the land folk as she called him, to forever fall under the spell of the siren song and die in the waves. It’s why she called you Velinia for it meant ‘of the sea and the wind'.

“Velinia!!” you heard your name be called in your native tongue and it was one of your pod ushering you to come back into the sea. You did as requested but you did so reluctantly. “I’m sorry Oceania” you apologise sheepishly before diving under water causing your fluke to splash the water. “Why were you up on the surface? Your mother would kill you like those men up above if she knew you didn’t wait until the night sky rose.” She practically lectured to you, but it was out of worry. Oceania was your best friend. “One of them has picked my curiosity. He was inspecting the ground where mother left the body. He used magic dear Oceania.” You explained to her before she quickly wrapped her hand over your mouth. “A human witch?! Velinia they’re dangerous!” Oceania exclaimed in worry.

“I don’t think he is. He’s different. He doesn’t even believe in us.” You quietly tell her. No more words were exchanged whilst you both swam into the dark cave that brought you deep into the ocean depths.

John managed to charm his way into the morgue and checked the body of the latest sea victim. He choked and gagged at the pungent sea salt smell that emanated off the body. There were deep scratches running from his shoulders down his chest. Claw marks down his legs also. His skin had already started to take on a shade of grey but it was the missing heart that interested John the most. “That’s a werewolf trait. Interesting. Seems like I’m going to have to find a mermaid expert to see if this is typical.” He continued to think out loud whilst he took photos on his phone of the injuries sustained.

He decided he should start at the fisherman’s pier to see if anyone knew of anyone that lived and breathed mermaid folklore. Walking over he must have asked several people but no one knew who could help him. Hell, some even laughed at him. “You’re the one from the bar last night lad! I can help you aye.” The old man from last night spoke up, wiping his hands down his jumper walking over to him. “You’ll want to speak to Helen. She owns the nautical shop in the main town centre. Word has it she knows everything about those water beasts.” He explained and John thanked him before heading to the shopping area.

It didn’t take too long to find the shop in question as it had a mermaid as it’s logo. Stepping inside he saw an older woman with greying hair behind the counter. “Excuse me love, you Helen?” John questioned. “That’d be true. What can I help you with?” Helen replied professionally. “I was told you were the one to come to if I wanted information on mermaids.” John said straight forwardly but with a charming twist. “Sorry I can’t help you.” Helen quickly stammered, her whole body language and features changing. She no longer oozed that friendly shop owner persona.

“See love, I think you can. I’m here about the rumours of a mermaid killing your townsfolk and that if innocent blokes are getting killed, that don’t sit well with me.” John explained, dropping the level of charm and switching it to a time of force. “I’m John Constantine Helen, and I’m an exorcist, demonologist and master of the dark arts. I hunt the supernatural if they hunt us.” He properly introduced himself. He studied Helen’s features to gauge what her next move would become and he deep down felt relieved when she relaxed.

“You can’t kill these beautiful creatures. They’re already so far and between hence why people think they’re a myth. But they’re smart. REAL smart. They’re not your stereotypical Ariel. They’re predators in the waters.” She began explaining as she offered John a seat out in her office where they could talk in private. “Ariel? What the fuck is that?” John questioned not having a clue what this woman was on about. “Should have guessed. She’s Disney’s take on a mermaid.” Helen told him. “Dont do Disney lass. I’m not a kid.” John quipped. This just earned him an eye roll from Helen.

“Thing is they’re as dangerous as they are beautiful. There’s many legends of the merfolk. One is that they started life as winged muses in Olympus. They were known as Sirens back then and lost to the God's muses where they were cast out and sent to earth’s seas. There they grew tails where their legs used to be. In spite of having their wings stripped and being cast out, they used their song to guide sailors towards their rocky refuge and seduced them before killing them. Some they kept and turned into mermen so they could breed.” Helen started explaining and John couldn’t help himself be interested.

“So they were wrathful bitches who took out their anger on all men because they couldn’t spite the Greek gods?” he clarified, making sure he got it right. “Correct. Other legends are based on the country. Lots are similar to ours. It’s said by some the mermaid Caesg was spotted on the beach one day in 1880. After a woman spotted her, a young lad threw a rock at her head and she scarpered back to the sea. The next day she was found dead from the head wound further up the beach. Tail and all. They buried her at the church. Others say Caesg entranced a man by the rock pier and fell in love with him. However he betrayed her by loving someone else so she cursed the men of this place to forever fall victim to the same fate.” Helen told solemnly.

“And which do you believe?” John asked. “I believe they’re both true. I believe the mermaid killed was Caesg's daughter. I believe it wasn’t the betrayal of unrequited love that made her curse the men of this town. I believe it was the death of her first born.” Helen truthfully told. “the wrath of a mother losing a child to murder will trump any of that love will create.” Helen actually made sense John thought. He was convinced that she’d be some crazed lunatic but hearing how serious she sounded, he actually believed her. “Another thing, can you tell me if these wounds match that of a mermaid attack?” He asked, handing her his phone with the photos. The sad sigh that escaped her lips and the way her hand clasped at her chest told him the answer would be yes.

“Yes. If they feel betrayed by man they’ll tear his heart out and scar him so deep they’ll forever be marked even in death.” Helen explained once more to him. Thank you love.” He replied, taking his phone, he stood up to leave. “One more thing Mr Constantine. The legends of their song hypnotising men? That’s true. Be careful of what melodies you hear. Good luck.” Helen said one last time before wishing John farewell.

John decided to walk along the seafront back to the motel. He had a lot to mull over and research for what spells would be right to fight a creature of the sea. He couldn’t believe he was beginning to believe despite trying to stay sceptical. What he wasn’t aware of was a certain pair of golden eyes from a afar watching him.

You had made it back to the surface now the moon was high. You wasn’t ready to fully leave the water until you knew it was fully safe. It was then you spotted John walking along the seafront back to the motel. You quickly darted behind a rock and peered your head round watching with fascination. Watching him place what seemed to be a stick in his mouth and use fire magic to light it, you wondered what it was and why he placed it in his mouth. It was ever so bizarre to you. Humans were a strange species indeed. You noticed that the coast was finally clear and John was in the motel. So you lifted yourself up and shape shifted into your human figure. As you did so, you lifted your hands up your sides and created a simple floaty strap dress out the sea foam crashing on the shore.

“John...” you repeated a few times to yourself in his language as you walked up off the beach and towards the motel he was staying at. You had no idea what you were going to do when you saw him. You just knew you had to. “Velinia! Don’t!” you heard from behind you in your native language and you looked behind to see Oceania looking clearly worried. “I’ll be fine sister!” you called back before turning your back to the sea and headed to the motel. Walking in the main door you saw someone at the desk. You stepped up towards them and simply spoke one word “John”. Looking up the receptionist almost dropped his jaw at your beauty. “Sorry lass, this isn’t a place for that sort of service.” He told you, but you had no idea what he meant. “John” you repeated, a smidge louder this time but not to the point of shouting. “and I told ye are lass, we don’t allow sex services here. So if ye looking for a John check the bar” the receptionist said once more. You didn’t understand much but you understood the words sex and bar. “N...no ... John....here” you stammer, trying so hard to speak coherent English.

“You after me love?” you heard a familiar accent call out. Turning to your right he saw him. John from last night. When he looked up he recognised your distinctive look instantly. “Bloody hell! It’s you.” He gasped, quickly walking towards you and put his arms round you. “Sorry mate. It’s not what you think. I know this lass. Thanks for finding her. Been worried sick all day looking for her.” John convincingly lied guiding you to his room. Stepping inside, you looked around wide eyed. It was so different to the bar where you studied how humans spoke.

“Yeah... It’s not much but it’s a bed for a couple of nights.” John told you, ruffling his hands through his scruffy blonde hair. Spinning round on your dainty feet, you smiled. God that smile could melt hearts. He thought to himself. “Why were you looking for me? I’m not that memorable.” He asked you, genuinely curious. You glided towards him with such an innocence to you, but he found it greatly alluring. You placed your hands on his chest, lightly guiding them over as you inspected his body. “woah” he gasped actually taken aback. He was used to him being the forward one. “John...teach... Velinia” you slowly said, gazing into his eyes.

“Teach you what? Who are you?” John was baffled. “John...” you stated, patting his chest. “Velinia” you stated once more, patting your chest. “Your name is Velinia?” he queried. With a nod you smiled. “My name...Velinia”. You repeat, whilst learning. “I take it you’re not from bonny ol’ Scotland judging by your accent.” John spoke, walking over to the mini bar and taking one of the mini bottles of alcohol. “Mmhmm...” you respond with shaking your head. You didn’t know the word so you figured this was the best response to do.

“So where are you from?” John asked, sitting on the end of the bed, patting beside him to guide you to sit beside him. You tilted your head in confusion glancing from the bed to him. With a smirk appearing at the corners of his lips, he told you to come sit beside him. You did as suggested and a little gasp escaped your lips at how the bed bounced slightly under your weight. “I’ve never known someone surprised by a bed before.” John chuckled. This made you look instantly embarrassed as you let your hair fall in front of your face. The next move took you off guard even more as John reached his hand up and gently pulled your hair off your face and behind your ear. God you’re beautiful beyond words he thought to himself. You glanced up at him watching him intently. He found himself not being able to break your gaze. Your eyes...they were something else. “Velinia... I...” he breathed as he leaned in closely to you, and you responded by mimicking his actions. If there was one thing you did know it was the lead up to a kiss.

Closing the gap between you both, you pressed your lips against John’s, where he instantly took the lead kidding you with power and lust. Yet it was also slow. Normally he wouldn’t waste time. He’d be hungry and impatient to speed the situation up but something was powering his mind and body to not do exactly that. You were different, you made him act differently and he liked it. Your lips tasted salty like the sea and yet it didn’t deter him away. The kiss seemed to last forever when it actual fact it was only a couple of minutes before you both broke away from each other.

Smiling, you looked intently into his eyes as John swept your hair out of your face and behind your ear. He wanted to speak, to say something but he couldn’t find the words which was unlike him. “...I stay...here to...night?” you ask in broken English which truth be told, John was beginning to find quite adorable. It was a quirk that he found made you all that more endearing. “You want to stay here with me tonight?” He asked, clarifying your question, gaining a little smirk on his lips. You nod “yes” you confirm smiling back. “Sure. You can have the bed and I’ll use the chair love.” John graciously offered. This offer made you look across the room to the chair in the right hand corner, you grimaced at the sight of it. “What? I’ve slept in worse places! Can’t think of any right now...” John rambled, deep down knowing he really could think of worse places on the spot but he didn’t want to terrify you.

“Both....bed” you suggested, hoping it was the right term to use. “Share the bed? It’ll be a tight fit love, it’s a single bed.” John questioned. Not that he minded the idea of snuggling tightly to you for the night. Once again, you nodded and a defiant little 'mm' sound escaped your lips. Seeing you go from almost timid to defiant made John plaster a cocky grin on his face. “okay then. I guess we’re sharing the bed!” he confirmed. It wasn’t long before you got distracted by other various objects in the room. Things you never encountered in the bar....like the TV. Where you sat you never noticed the bar actually had one, and here you were up close to one. John, still on the bed with the remote in hand turned it on and you got do startled, you jumped back.

This made John burst into laughter. “I’m sorry lass...I couldn’t help myself! Here, I’ll show you how I did it.” John spoke through giggles, sighing and wiping laughter tear from his eye. You walked back to the bed and curled up beside him, in an attempt to not fall off the edge. He handed you the remote control. “This thing here controls the TV over there. Press that button there” he explained, pointing the channel up button. Pressing it, you saw the TV change from an old black and white image to a full colour one with completely different humans inside. You did it again and sea creatures came on which made you jump up and pounce towards the TV again. You held your hand against the screen as jellyfish swam in the ocean inside.

You stayed there for a while because you fell asleep on the floor, causing John to smile, get off the bed, walk over and pick you up to carry you to the bed. Soon after that, you both were fast asleep.

A siren began to sing on the beach....

The two of you awoke rapidly. “What is that sound?” John queried, trying to figure out where it’s coming from. “Oh no...” you muttered, recognising the call of your mother. She was on the prowl once more.

You scurried off the bed and practically ran out the motel room, with John scrambling to try and follow you. “Velinia wait up!” he shouted, as he caught you dash across the road, barely missing the one truck that was still on the road. “Bollocks!!” he cursed, fumbling getting his left arm in his trenchcoat sleeve before making it across the road and following you down to the pier. Panting, he looked around everywhere but you were gone. “Oh pissing hell!! Velinia where you go love?!” he shouted, he could have sworn you went this way. He never loses people, so how on earth did you escape him so damn quickly.

Then that sound... No, that music started again. He desperately shaking his head, trying to fight off the magic he could feel trying to control his mind, but nothing he did could fight it. He couldn’t even keep his mind straight to come up with a contradicting spell to help himself out. He followed the sound down to the rocks below the pier where low and behold there was a mermaid sitting on a bolder.

“Are you my jolly sailor Bold?” she asked John and he couldn’t find the answer to respond. He just stepped closer, reaching out. “No, you’re not my sailor Bold.... You belong to Velinia...” she spoke, but there was malice in her words. John was tainted as far as she was concerned, so she grabbed his arm in one fast swift action and dragged him to the sea below. The rapid action snapped John out of the hypnotic state he had fallen into. He went to speak but realised he was under water. Thrashing against the grip that was had on him, he looked behind and knew he wasnt imagining things. Mermaids really were real. “You dare connect with this one Velinia? You defy all our rules?!”

John couldn’t understand anything, but he was smart enough to know this was an language being spoken. He never once stopped thrashing whilst he still had breath in him. No way was he going down without a fight. The mermaid grew more and more intolerant to John’s thrashing. Seeing a rock on the sea bed, she dived deeper, stretching out her hand, grabbed the rock and lifting her hand high above his head. “NO!” Velinia screamed, swimming out of the seaweed where you was hiding. Stretching out her arms, you knew you had to save him. John was special. You senses the magic inside him from your first encounter but you also sensed so much more.

“You’d pick this human over your own kind?!” your mother practically spat. “Yes! He’s different! Leave him be!” you cried back, fully aware John was staring right at you in disbelief you weren’t human. “Fine! Then try to save his soul before it’s too late! You my dear are vanquished from this pod!! I curse you to be human and to never return to us!” your mother hissed at you, knowing this was the worst punishment your kind could ever receive. At that point, your mother slammed the rock over John’s head, knocking him out and leaving him to sink further down. With a strong kick of your fin, you dived towards him and grabbed him before swimming back up towards the surface. As each kick got you closer, you felt your mother’s curse take it’s control and soon enough you were breaking the surface with not a fun, but two human legs.

Pulling John to safety you stayed beside him. “Please...be alive.” You begged, tears stinging your eyes as they bubbled to the surface and rolled down your cheeks. With a hefty groan, John came round, wincing as he felt the back of his head. “Damn that hurts.” He complained before you pounced on him, wrapping your arms round him and sobbed. “I thought she killed you” you cried. Taken aback, John let his kind catch up to what happened before hugging you back. “It’ll take more than a rock to kill me love.” John reassured you. “hang on.... you’re a mermaid??” he pulled you back to take your appearance fully in. Though, he saw no tail, no fluke...just legs. You nodded solemnly, I was... Mother...she cursed me. Cannot go back... Human...” you explained, patting your chest to try and help your explanation of your new found situation. “I know she’s your mother but what a bitch! You were gorgeous Velinia. You still are mind.” John responded, feeling sad and angry for you.

“You’re not alone though Velinia.” John told you, lifting your head up by your chin with his index finger. You slowly glance up at him and wonder how he could say such a thing. You haven’t learned nearly enough of his world to live alone. He could see the tears brimming to the edge of your eyes and he just grabbed you pulling you into his chest. He knew if you were to be go back to the warehouse with him, you’d be in danger by the demons that are after him. You were special. Unique. That would make you valuable in Hell's eyes.

With a hefty sigh, and much inner arguing in his mind he kissed the top of your head. “I’ll call my mate Chas. He can pick us up and you can come back with me. I’ll help you get on your feet and learn more about this world. But lass, it’s not going to be safe being around me for long.” John forewarned you. You nodded and your lips stammered as you searched for your words. “Thank you... John Constantine” he smiled, running his hand through your hair.

“Just call me John love.”

[fourteenacross]

hadestown - 5/26/19, 3pm

We also saw Hadestown while we were in the city for Octet!

Sooooo, as I mentioned before, I saw Hadestown off-broadway at the NYTW in the spring of 2016. I had previously been familiar with the album, as Orpheus and Eurydice is a particular favorite myth of mine. I can't 100% remember, but I think that someone told me to listen to it when I was writing my X-Men Orpheus&Eurydice story? Either way, when we found out it was going to be playing while @pearlo was in town, we got tickets, along with @littledust and @anachronistique. And it was great!! I truly enjoyed it! I've been listening to bits of it regularly ever since! (Ish. There was like, a good eight months where all I listened to was podcasts, books, and Ghost Quartet.)

I'm saying all of this because this review is...pretty critical? And I want to make it clear that I do love this music and enjoy this show and I had a good time and I would recommend it, probably! But I wasn't as in love with the production as I was with the NYTW production for a few reasons that I'll get into below the cut.

So, usually I go song by song, but I feel like the things I have to say are largely broader than that, so I guess I'm just going to jump right in.

The cast is largely excellent. Patrick Page and Amber Gray could murder me and I'd be okay with it, tee bee aitch. Patrick Page does a thing with his face that just makes me cry, I don't know how he does it. Sorcery, probably. And Amber Gray is an actual goddess, for reals, how is she even real?

I loved Eva Noblezada's take on Eurydice! She had this sharp, broken energy to her that was truly incredible. She was like...spunky. And it was excellent.

I loved Andre De Shields' energy. His movement was unreal. His voice didn't work for me in places, but that could have just been the sound design of the show--there were bits where it was really hard for me to make out what he was singing.

Jewelle Blackman is AMAZING, as are Yvette Gonzales-Nacer and Kay Trinidad. They've really turned the Fates into a more menacing presence, and while I ADORE Lulu Fall and Shaina Taub and missed seeing them, I didn't MISS them, if that makes sense.

Reeve Carney. Oh. My dude. You are certainly a white boy with a guitar.

And here's where it really starts to break down for me. I have two major issues with the show, and the first one is that I find absolutely nothing exceptional in Reeve Carney. I cannot understand why this cagey, feisty girl who's been hurt before would throw everything in with this weirdo, IMMEDIATELY POSSESSIVE kid who's singing her a song? Lisa framed it as, "She's nineteen and she's literally never met a nice man before," and I can kind of see it through that lens, but I also don't think that's the lens that the show wants me to see it through. It wants me to frame this as a beautiful, epic love story, but I don't buy that she's in love with him. Maybe I'm too gay for it or maybe it's the writing or maybe it's the acting, but it doesn't connect for me, and once that connection is broken, the whole show sort of falls apart.

I don't recall having this problem with the NYTW version. It could be that since that version started with the two of them already in love, it was easier to wave it off as some off-stage wooing that already happened and accept that there were reasons they were together. It could have been that Nabiyah Be's Eurydice was a little softer and more naive. It could have been that I empathized more with Damon Daunno's Orpheus. Whatever it was, I found it much easier to accept that they were in love, which made Orpheus' neglect feel so much more painful and Eurydice's choice so much more desperate and all that followed so much more heartbreaking.

Basically, most of the stakes stop being so high if you don't buy into their love, which I just...did not.

My other major issue, to get that out of the way up front, is the pacing is still not great. Although I didn't write up notes after Hadestown in 2016 (I saw it literally hours before I saw Hamilton for the first time), I remember talking with my friends about how the beginning is very tight and the middle-to-end are kind of a mess and bloated. I didn't follow the show closely while it was out of town and I guess I kind of hoped that it would have been tightened up more, but no. It was not. It still feels very over-full and there's now this number where Orpheus gets beat up by the Hadestown workers that's like...comically over the top. In my heart, I really feel like this could be a one act show, or at least a two act show with much shorter acts. "Wait for Me" is SUCH a good act one finale, but you lose some of that energy moving to "Why We Build the Wall," which I think would work just as well as an opening to act two, as much as I love the way "Our Lady of the Underground" is staged.

Anyway, all that being said, I still enjoyed it and still cried, so what do I know, right?

Road to Hell: I liked this as an introduction overall, and loved the little intros for all of the characters. It really sold me on Andre De Shields, too, esp because I loved Chris Sullivan so much.

Any Way the Wind Blows: This is such a great song and god, I loved the way Eva played Eurydice. The candle thing was a nice touch.

Come Home With Me: I can't believe I'm supposed to care about this kid.

Wedding Song: I liked the new twist on this, although I think I like it better a more earnest song. Still, Eurydice using this to sort of mock Orpheus about being a broke artist was a cool twist and Eva sold it.

Epic I: This was fine. It's explained either here or earlier that spring and fall have more-or-less disappeared because Persephone is being forced to spend more time in the Underworld and is being brought back down sooner. The implication, as we get further along in the story, is that Hades doesn't know how to connect to Persephone any longer and is keeping her around more both a) as a show of power and b) because he doesn't know how else to express himself to her.

Livin’ It Up On Top: I would absolutely kill for Amber Gray. This version of Persephone is drinking to cope. A LOT. It paints this sad, lovely picture of what she's been feeling.

All I've Ever Known: I just do not buy that they're in love, sorry.

Way Down Hadestown: The staging and set of the show are fantastic. There's a panel at the center of the stage that rises and lowers as needed and the visual of Persephone and Hades, stony faced both, sinking back into the underworld is perfect.

A Gathering Storm: The through line about the weather mostly works for me, but honestly, I was so distracted by how annoyed I was at Orpheus during this number that I was pulled out of the moment.

Hey, Little Songbird: Skipping ahead a little, Patrick Page is perfect, in case you were wondering. I tweeted something like that after NYTW and he clearly found it in a vanity search and replied very humbly, which I find quite charming. But yes, I adore him.

When the Chips are Down: This is one of my favorite songs in this show and the Fates kill it here. Their slightly more sinister characterization makes it more haunting than taunting and I'm into it.

Wait For Me: The lighting in this number deserves a Tony all on its own. Jesus Christ, that's art. The set is also incredible. As Orpheus moves down into Hadestown, the stage splits apart from an intimate cafe into a larger, more industrial space. Very cool.

Why We Build the Wall: Again, Patrick Page is excellent. This works really well to pull Eurydice in, as well. We see her slowly starting to accept this way of thinking as she listens to Hades. And, of course, Persephone's act-ending line is perfect.

Our Lady of the Underground: Amber! Gray! Is! Wonderful!

Flowers: My actual favorite song in this show. Eva nails it, it was beautiful and poignant, on the heels of her slow realization that this isn't what Hades said it would be at all, that she's forgetting her name and who she is as she slowly is sucked into the capitalist machine.

Then in here is some more Orpheus stuff, including the ridiculous fight scene where he’s beat up by the workers?

There’s also this subplot that the workers think that if Orpheus can get out, they can get out too, so he’s leading like, a whole little revolution? Except that isn’t really expanded on at all and kind of falls away. It also, imo, takes these weird steps towards turning it into a different story than it is. If you’re pushing that it’s a love story, a love song, so much and then at the last minute paste on this “also a revolution is happening????” and then drop it for the emotional climax like...what are you doing, why is this here?

But also, there's this bit where Hades says "Have a drink!" to Persephone and she says something like "I'm done with that" and it is a real (pun not intended) sobering moment for the two of them. Ugh, I just really love them and the complexities of their relationship.

Epic: Patrick Page's face is very good at acting. The rest of him, too, I guess, but even from the cheap seats, I got SO worked up over Hades' quiet slip into acknowledging the despair that he feels over his inability to connect with Persephone. The guy on Naomi's other side was full on crying, even more than me. It was honestly glorious.

(I have a lot of thoughts about Hades and Persephone, and, to be honest, they’re my main draw to this show. I’m fascinated by their relationship here and the way it’s broken in a way they’re not quite sure how to fix. Against all odds, I’m rooting for them, I want it to work for them, if only because they both seem to remember this time when they were in love and nothing else mattered. I think that’s part of why the parts of this incarnation that don’t work for me...don’t work for me. I’m already more invested in Hades and Persephone than Orpheus and Eurydice, so when I have to work ten times harder to feel for their relationship, it just doesn’t seem worth it, especially next to one that I’m sucked into almost against my will.)

Doubt Comes In: I will give Reeve Carney this--despite knowing how this story was going to end, I still felt the creeping tension and dread in those moments leading up to him turning around. A woman behind Lisa said, "Oh no!" out loud, even.

Road to Hell (Reprise): And this is the other place where I cried, of all things! This number ends up being about how we know that this is a sad story and we know how it ends, but we keep telling it anyway, because that's what stories are there to do. I got weepy, who knows!

I Raise My Cup: So they moved this to after the curtain call??? I....don't know if it works like that, tee bee aitch.

ANYWAY, those are my thoughts, mostly I'm tired of typing this and the deadlines that I started writing it to avoid are looming, SO. I enjoyed it a lot, despite the things that bothered me, but I would probably not spend $150 to see it again. Rush tickets, maybe.