#pandorasagents

[oxoncox]

an honest and embarrassing truth. the less ox knew about the base the better. reduced risk. less of a chance of calamity. having the young man become lost on numerous occasions was a shallow compensation for the base remaining stable and secure. an upper limit of ox's potential for destruction and chaos had not yet been calculated and his assessors were not keen to discover his full potential despite good - if unaware - intentions.

" they- " he points a solitary finger skyward and sort of gestures around at nothing. " -don't love me learning things. knowing too much about what we can do. something about adverse effects on agent performance, but i dunno what that means. honestly? i forget half the stuff they do tell me. "

he does brighten a little once they are within the confines of the elevator. it's a topic of conversation he enjoys. good memories. " oh definite frat bro potential. you know. if you could survive pledge week. "

Niko   wouldn't   act   as   if   it   didn't   take   him   awhile   to   memorize   Pandora's   layout.   The   place   could   be   one   hell   of   an   underwater   maze.   There   were   times   where   Niko   couldn't   help   but   feel   as   if   it   was   designed   to   be   as   confusing   as   possible,   because   why   else   are   there   so   many   misleading   deadends   and   what   not?   It   was   enraging   to   Niko   before   he   studied   the   layout   and   got   it   memorized,   the   arcadia   agent   never   liked   being   a   fool.   Even   though   Pandora   loves   to   try   to   make   one   out   of   him   with   their   shenanigans.

Lifeweaver   let   the   doors   of   the   elevator   that   he   had   summoned   not   with   any   power,   but   a   press   of   a   button.   As   he   entered   and   the   other   man   followed,   he   heard   what   the   'bro'   had   to   say.   "Really?   Even   if   it's   me?"   Lifeweaver   asked   with   a   chuckle.   “Many   people   here   have   known   of   my   power   and   the   pros   and   cons   of   it.”   The   life   energy   has   healed   a   lot   of   them,   but   he's   also   put   quite   a   bit   of   fear   in   a   lot   of   his   other   agents   with   how   he   drains   others   of   their   life   energy   as   well.

Lifeweaver   laughs   and   shakes   his   head.   "I   can't   say   I   know   what's   that   like.   I've   never   been   in   a   frat   before,   handsome."   Lifeweaver   says   with   a   shake   of   his   head   and   a   chuckle.   "Think   I   would   be   able   to   pass   for   a   frat   guy?"   He   asked   as   he   pressed   the   button   for   level   5,   so   this   man   can   finally   get   to   the   showers   that   he's   been   itching   for.

[osoenelbosque]

[pacifistsrun]

[hewearsredvelvet]

closed starter for @pandorasagents (for Li) outside world - a year ago || wonderland carnival

Sitting on a rust covered bench in front of the wrath agent, Eric scowls unimpressed by their methods to blending in for their mission. The tiny propeller swiveling slightly at each subtle movement. When it wasn't from the sparse gust of wind that managed to find its way from the dull drum of their dry and arid mission location, the hat's brightly colored propeller managed to gain some movement as Eric grinds his teeth in annoyance. While a terrible habit to have, the Envy agent only did it as a way to endure the sensory overload while disguised. Not official to the agent's handbook, but it was better than taking out his frustrations out on the crowd of locals around them who also managed to wear identical hats. The same spinning propellers on top of them as well, each one giving a slight raspy squeak as the cheap metal they were made from spun.

Speaking of locals, this had been the entire reason of their entire assignment. Recognizance. At least, until they were somehow presented face to face with the big bad towards the end of their investigation. Rumors of this so called Wonderland Carnival popping up in a small town not too far off from Pandora jurisdiction seemingly out of nowhere and having rampant success. While they could have easily chalked this up as a typical money laundering scheme, people started to come forward about strange things happening since its grand opening. Missing persons, geriatric people breaking into homes, and most strange of all, lights that seemed to have been spotted above the property at night. Contacts outside of Pandora's roster have volunteered to investigate but no signs of their return has been properly documented.

The structure of the carnival seemed bizarre as well, a large circular fence around them, all the rides and game carts seemingly measured out to the inch and perfectly kept within the fence's perimeter. Towards the center of all this was the circus tent, all white and standing tall as a focal point of the carnival. What was even more bizarre was the ice cold that seemed to grow as one stepped closer towards it. It could have calmed Eric's issues with heat and fire had it not been an order to not enter the tent under any circumstances.

Which lead to now, Eric sat on a rickety bench, the Envy agent not putting his entire weight onto the rust devoured seat as to not trigger the bench to collapse under him. The blazing heat of the sun above them, the noisy locals and the lack luster funnel cake they had to eat for what felt like an entire day. All of it being added to Eric's mental notes as reasons to never volunteer for an assignment again. Uncomfortable weather conditions he could handle, weird foam tasting funnel cake, now that would lead to problems. On the bright side, Velvet managed to squeeze in some one on one time with an agent he hadn't talked to much before. He looked new, and from what he was able to see in the simulations, very handy with his acquired power. It helped that Li was nice to look at as well. Although, he did wish the sun wasn't beaming down at them with such intensity. It was hard ogle a fellow agent when there seemed to be a stubborn stream of sweat ready to dive into one's eyes.

"Well, can't seem to see much with this bright sun in our eyes." Eric began to say, pulling his elbow away from the table's sticky surface. There was a weird combination of sticky and scalding, the texture similar to that of the plastic rides around them. Wiping the sweat off his brow and eyes with a couple of napkins they've gotten from a food truck, Eric gives a pout, "Unless you'd like to break a few rules, we can check out that tent in the middle? C'mon, I won't tell if you won't." He chuckles dryly, the heat around them becoming overbearing for the Envy agent.

[thrallttleme]

camping starter for @pandorasagents location: the tents || with: lifeweaver

"You know, I never say this enough, but I really appreciate my time with you. Just you, me, in this tent. And the ever impending doom of this mission lingering in the air between us." Virgil said plainly as he laid in his sleeping bag. He stared up above himself, watching the nylon of the tent crinkle with each breeze outside. Turning to his the fellow agent sharing his tent, the slight curls of a smile seemingly always affixed to either end of his lips. "How are we feeling? Am I being too loud again, roomie?" He asks, hugging his pillow in order to prop himself up..

[myriadpandora]

@pandorasagents

location: The Woods Pre-Misison

Nature was such a soothing place, though at times it could be a tad overwhelming, all the voices and songs of the many insects that reached out to him, if he wasn't careful could get to be too much. Still he was carefully selecting his chosen favorites and gathering them in en masse for the coming fight. Even in the cold his colony thrived, waking slowly at his call, laying in wait for him.

Of course the pets he had brought with him were just as important to him. They were tucked safely in the tent though. A shiver ran down his spine as the cold air got to him, and he became aware of another agent near by. "Camping- would almost be fun if we weren't here for what we are, no?" he asked offering that friendly dimpled smile to the other.

[secretofpandora]

@pandorasagents

"Again," the Justice agent stated as he watched one of the newer recruits train against one of the dummies - a stepping stone before training an android or a simulation - arms crossed over his chest as he watched their movements. It was another day for Forge, another day training yet another recruit for Pandora and yet it was different...

Because now he knew that they were enhanced because of an alien. That it was the alien's DNA that allowed their people to shoot fire balls or talk to animals or even fly... and that the alien was dying and they would need to retrieve it's brethren to ensure Pandora's success and Czernobog's defeat...

Lost in thought, Forge didn't notice when another approached until they were right next to him. "You looking to get some training in, too?"

[pvoodoo]

@pandorasagents WARD gets up close and personal with Voodoo closed starter

Barely out of conditioning, barely adjusted to his new powers, Kado was pulled out of purgatory vacation and thrown directly into the fire of hell week. He hadn't been with Pandora long enough to have many connections, but a majority of the few he had managed to befriend and started to lean on as he adjusted to life here were, suddenly, now dead-- and they had no real answers.

They knew what organization was behind it, and they knew it definitely wasn't Chimera-- allegedly-- but that was it. There were no other leads; and instead of putting them all into the field, or sending them out to try and piece things together, the agency had them all cooped up still; but, hey, at least they didn't have any limitations on their alcohol for the next two days and could eat whatever they wanted. It was infuriating.

What seemed to really set him off, though, wasn't how little the agency seemed to be doing on the surface. It was the fact that with everyone gathered together, all anyone seemed to care about was who the mole was. No one was talking about the agents they lost. No one was really mourning them. They only wanted to know who the mole was so they could serve their own agenda's and look better in the eyes of their higher ups. They had been his friend; they were people; they weren't fucking stepping stones.

"Would you just shut the fuck up?!" Kado bellowed out, his palms slamming against the bar, making peoples glasses and bottles tremor from the force of his strike, as he turned to glare at the agent next to him. "No one fucking cares about your theories." He yelled as he grabbed the man by the collar of his shirt; pulling him close as Kado got in his face, his eyes wild with anger. "You really think if the agency thought you knew fucking anything useful they'd just leave you to sit in here with the rest of us?"

His emotions were getting the best of him; clearly. Usually this was the part where he started swinging but thanks to the session's he had with a few patience agents, he was getting better at regulating himself. So rather than knocking the other agent's teeth out with his fist, Kado let out an angered breath before pushing himself away from the bar.

"Fuck this shit," he grumbled, still on edge, as he almost walked into another agent. "What? You got a problem with me too?" He needed a drink, or some kind of distraction, before he did something he might regret.

[thetriumvirate]

His lips almost curled in a smile. Almost. It was rather entertaining to see the lengths Dean would go to get him to do anything remotely entertaining – and if that meant resorting to this sort of strategy, apparently, he wasn’t going to be shy about using it. Shadow had to admit that he wasn’t expecting the other man to use the excuse of camaraderie building and trust to get him into the water. It was an unexpected turn, but one that actually had Mathias considering for a fraction of a second. He didn’t really need to do those things. Either you trust someone or you don’t. And unless you actively give someone no reason to trust them – why would they leave you hanging? He wouldn’t. Not unless his mission objective took precedence, but he had been trained as a soldier so his logic was different from others. He did not like to leave anyone behind,d but if the mission was indeed important? Well…

”You really do want me to join you.” Still with his hands in his pockets, Mathias approached the water to feel it caress his bare feet for a moment. It wasn’t all that cold. It was actually decent. Fresh, not freezing. “If I do join, it’s because I want to. Not due to your argument.” Just say you want him to join and have some fun. Not that Shadow would entertain that thought, but they were on vacation. What would Cardinal do? Probably jump into the water and have a blast. Live in the moment. No one knew what tomorrow would bring. With a sigh, he pulled his shirt over his head and discarded it to the sand but kept both his sunglasses and shorts on as he slowly stepped into the clear waters, his gaze seeking Fortis and Fortis alone. “There. Happy now? It is a decent temperature.” Not as cold as he had desired but better than nothing.

A   happy,   blissful   sigh   escaped   his   lips.   The   water   wasn't   as   cold   as   he   wanted,   but   it   at   least   was   helping   with   the   scorching   heat.   Plus   after   a   second   of   consideration,   he   probably   wouldn't   want   to   be   skinny   dipping   in   cold   ass   water.   He   allowed   himself   to   float   for   a   moment.   Uncaring   that   it   left   half   of   his   body   nude   for   anyone   to   see.   Fortis   wanted   to   relax   and   do   something   fun.   And   this   was   one   of   those   things.   He   allowed   himself   to   simply   float   and   exit   for   a   few   moments   before   swimming   around.   He   heard   the   other   man's   words   and   grinned   as   he   swam   closer   to   him.   He   nods   his   head. 

“Hell   yeah   I   like   it   man!   You   should   ditch   the   clothes   and   join   me!”   Fortis   said   before   grinning.   “I   mean,   we're   going   to   be   allies   and   all   of   that   right?   Consider   this   as   trust   building   or   comraderie   building   or   whatever   bullshit.   I   can't   trust   that   you'll   have   my   back   on   the   battle   field   if   you   can't   even   swim   with   me…Unless…Oh.   Are   you   afraid?"   Fortis   challenged   with   a   grin   as   he   leaned   towards��  the   other.   “If   you   are,   don't   be!   You'll   have   big   Fortis   here   to   keep   you   nice   and   safe.”   He   said   with   a   grin.   As   if   he   wasn't   5'5   on   a   good   day. 

[projectpandora]

PANDORA DIRECTIVE MEMORANDUM CLASSIFIED — INTERNAL DISTRIBUTION ONLY.

TO : 𝙰𝙻𝙻 𝙰𝚄𝚃𝙷𝙾𝚁𝙸𝚉𝙴𝙳 𝙾𝙿𝙴𝚁𝙰𝚃𝙸𝚅𝙴𝚂 FROM : 𝙾𝙵𝙵𝙸𝙲𝙴 𝙾𝙵 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙳𝙸𝚁𝙴𝙲𝚃𝙾𝚁 SUBJECT : 𝚃𝙴𝙼𝙿𝙾𝚁𝙰𝚁𝚈 𝙳𝙴𝚃𝙰𝙸𝙽𝙼𝙴𝙽𝚃 & 𝙸𝙽𝚃𝙴𝚁𝚁𝙾𝙶𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽

effective  immediately,  the  following  agents  have  been  taken  into  custody  and  escorted  to  private  holding  cells  on  level  08  for  interrogation :

WARLORD

CASPER

GOSSAMER

PARASITE

COYOTE

HIVE

PROMETHEUS

TOXIN

LORALEI

CHIMERA [ not identified as a suspect, but will be placed under the same hold to make sure his czernobog programming is not active ]

these  individuals  have  been  identified  as  potential  czernobog assets  pending  further  investigation.  there are no charges placed at this time as these matters require a more in-depth scrutiny to determine whether they pose a risk to pandora's operational integrity. each  will  undergo  a  formal  interrogation  within  24  hours.

agents who successfully  clear  security  protocols and verification procedures, and receive dispensation from their interrogator will  be  permitted  to  return  to  our community  without any additional constraints.  pandora also has the authority to extend an operative's detainment or employ alternative measures if they fail to to  comply  or  show discrepancies  in  their  testimonies.

all  personnel  are  to  refrain  from  unauthorized  contact  with  the  detainees. anyone who attempts to obstruct or impede our interrogation process will be met with disciplinary actions.

further  updates  to  follow.

THE FOLLOWING AGENTS HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED TO INTERROGATE OUR SUSPECTS :

ONI, assigned to WARLORD. HARBINGER, assigned to CASPER. KISMET, assigned to GOSSAMER. AFFINITY, assigned to PARASITE. NIGHTSHADE, assigned to COYOTE. WILDSEER, assigned to HIVE. BLINK, assigned to PROMETHEUS. LITTLE SPOON, assigned to TOXIN BLOODBORN, assigned to LORALEI. ZERO, assigned to CHIMERA.

[ @psivn @uncanines @harbingerofrot @cigarettesandgunsmoke @deadlypandora @killerthwips @affinityforyou @pandorasparasite @yokaisblade @pandorascurse @pandorasagents @justprometheus @thrallttleme @dvlsplaything @thebloodborn @pandoraiis @pandoraxzero @theirchimera ]

interrogators are also free to employ any tactics they might useful including threats and physical harm if need be ( as long as both writers agree to it ! ). also please don't reveal whether you're muse is actually innocent or guilty, just think of how they'll react to these accusations. the murkier the results are, the better. there's no set time constraint for when you need to have this done, but hopefully by march 22nd the interrogation results are at least posted so our suspects are not in limbo !

and you don't have to thread this, but after you've plotted with each other you must post this assessment ( you can deviate from it if you wish ) :

CLASSIFIED FILED — FOR PANDORA'S SECURITY DIVISION ONLY. SUBJECT : [ CALLSIGN OF PERSON BEING INTERROGATED ] INTERROGATOR : [ CALLSIGN OF PERSON PERFORMING THE INTERROGATION ] interrogator notes : [ any key findings, physical tells, verbal inconsistencies, etc. ] given  these  findings,  [ callsign of suspect ]  is  assessed  as  [ low/moderate/high ]  risk  for  potential  mole  activity  within  pandora.  it  is  recommended  that  they  be  [ cleared  from  suspicion/placed  under  watch/further  interrogated/detained  for  deeper  investigation ]. final  assessment :  [ trustworthy/potentially  compromised/likely  guilty ].

however, here are some possible questions if you do wish to thread the interrogation.

baseline  assessment.

state  your  full  name,  callsign,  and  division.

why do you think pandora recruited you ?

who  do  you  trust  most  in  pandora ?  who  do  you  trust  the  least ?  why ?

describe  your  daily  routine  here.  any  deviations  in  the  past  month ?

stress  response. ( watch  for  microexpressions— hesitation,  lip  pressing,  throat  clearing, etc. )

have  you  ever  been  approached  with  an  offer  to  betray  pandora ? 

if  you  were  offered  freedom  and  a  fortune  in  exchange  for  classified  information,  what  would  you  do ?

tell  me  about  a  time  you  were  accused  of  something  you  didn't  do.  how  did  you  react ?

would  you  turn  in  a  friend  if  you  had  evidence  they  were  leaking  intel ?

inconsistency  traps.  ( laying  misdirections )

tell  me  about  the  " classified  transmission "  you  sent  last  week.  ( no  such  transmission  exists,  gauge  their  reaction. )

we  recovered  a  device  transmitting  signals  from  within  pandora.  if it's not yours, then why  do  you  think  someone  would  choose  your  apartment  as  the  breach  point ? ( no such device exists, gauge their reaction )

how did you react when czernobog raided hell week ?

did  you  notice  anything  unusual  about  hell week's  debrief ?  any  names  that  stood  out ?  ( use  fabricated  names  to  see  if  they  falsely  recognize  them )

loyalty  gauge.  ( pressing  their  allegiance )

if  you  discovered  pandora  was  lying  about  something  that betrays our own mission to serve greater good,  would  you  still  follow  orders ?

you're  ordered  to  execute  a  fellow  operative  accused  of  treason.  no  trial.  do  you  obey ?

what's  more  important:  the  mission  or  the  people  carrying  it  out ?

what  do  you  think  pandora's  biggest  weakness  is ?  ( if  they  answer  too  quickly,  they've  likely  considered  it  before. )

final  pressure.  ( breaking  the  facade )

we  already  know  who  the  mole  is.  why  do  you  think  they  did  it ?  ( a  guilty  party  may  unconsciously  justify  actions  similar  to  their  own. )

let's  cut  the  bullshit.  tell  me  the  truth,  right  now— why  should  i  believe  you ?

what  would  you  do  if  i  told  you  we  have  undeniable  evidence  against  you ?

if  we  let  you  walk  out  of  this  room,  can  i  trust  that  you'll  still  be  standing  with  us  when  the  time  comes ?

[myriadpandora]

OOPS

"Nice angle there. I mean really just gorgeous nudes. I appreciate it but ah- you sure you meant to send these to me?"

[myriadpandora]

"You know I wanted you to say shit like this to me for awhile now. It just took be some wine to work up the courage to act on it." he said with a little laugh he had indeed dreamed of fucking and being fucked by Fortis. That kind smiling face above him, holding him as he pleasured the depths of his body. Or laying under him wracked with pleasure as Cayden fucks him in return. He'd take the other either way. He didn't dream of pools, more soft beds or hidden coves in Atlantis.

"I can handle you. I promise I can handle you." Cayden lifted Fortis to settle against him legs around his waist as he let his hard cock rut against Fortis' ass, pushing on that tight hole. "Let me make you feel good Dean. As a thank you for putting up with how...nerdy I am."

Fortis   looked   at   his   friend   and   couldn't   help   but   to   laugh   when   he   asked   who   said   that   he   dreamed   of   anything   of   the   sort.   "Common   sense,   duh.   Have   you   seen   me   Cay-Dog?   I'm   fucking   adorable.   If   you're   not   dreaming   of   banging   me,   you're   dreaming   of   being   banged   by   me."   Dean   said   with   a   smirk   and   a   wink.   "Although   I   suppose   you're   right...I'm   sure   you've   dreamed   of   me   in   other   places   other   than   a   pool."   Fortis   says   with   a   grin   as   he   lets   out   a   chuckle.

Fortis   shivered   as   a   big   grin   came   onto   his   face.   His   tongue   dancing   on   the   other   man's   skin   before   he   left   as   big   of   a   mark   as   he   can.   Pulling   away   with   a   eager   look   in   his   eyes.   "Think   you   can   handle   being   on   top,   Cay-Cay?"   He   purred   as   he   wiggled   down.   Wrapping   his   short   legs   around   the   other   man's   waist   so   he   can   grind   his   ass   against   the   other   man's   cock.   "Can't   say   that   I   imagine   myself   to   be   much   of   a   top."   Fortis   hummed   as   he   nipped   and   sucked   at   hte   other   man's   earlobe.

[secretofpandora]

How is it you always know what I need?

A smirk pulled at the corners of Veil's lips at the other's words, finding them humorous as he let his fingers brush against the other's jawline. "Because that's my job, bellisimo. I can sense what you like... what you need..." His fingers moved upwards then, teasing the boy's bottom lip as he stared into his eyes. "You don't just want this, boy... you need this, don't you?"

[scarlineorbit]

Graft knelt beside a dying agent. Fingers, bare and trembling, traced the back of the neck—just below the occipital ridge, where the nerves choked into the spinal stem. He didn’t whisper comfort. He didn’t lie. He just deadened the screaming nerves. It was the least he could do.

Two fingers slipped into the cleft between vertebrae.

A shiver. A breath. Then the flood came.

Not just images. Not just sounds. Sensation. The scream he couldn't finish poured into his brain like boiling tar. Pelvic fracture. Shattered molars. Chest compression. The grip of panic, childhood terror, heat-seared memory of a fire that wasn’t even this one. Graft's back arched. His jaw locked. His eyes rolled white as the imprint burned across his spine.

He ripped the pain free like a butcher tearing sinew from bone.

The other agent went still. His face slackened into peace. Not dead— yet. Just emptied.

At peace. He could give him that.

Sirius exhaled a strangled breath. Blood leaked from his nose. A voice crackled over comms: “Graft, status—do you need evac?” Did he need evac? He stared hard at the lifeless bodies around him. The blood... spattered brain matter... a few teeth laying in a puddle...

Eyes slowly dragged over bodies. Some he recognized. Others were... beyond recognition... pulpy... shot and blown to hell... bloodied. Dead. Very dead.

A memory stirred:

Graft hadn’t even drawn his weapon yet. The mission had been labeled routine—low risk, high control. Containment only. He remembered the hum of the lights, the sterile reek of bleach failing to mask something worse. Something alive.

Vulture was ahead, cracking jokes under his breath. Always was. Graft had started to smirk when the wall to their left split open.

Not a wall. A thing.

It moved faster than instinct. One moment, Vulture was standing. The next—he was on the floor, twitching, mouth opening and closing without sound. His torso cleaved open like wet paper.

Blood hit Graft's face. Warm. Human.

He didn’t shoot. Couldn’t. Someone else did.

Later, they called it “exposure.” Standard loss. First of many.

But Graft never forgot the way Vulture reached for him, fingers slick with his own life, as if he could still be pulled back.

It all whispered back at him. Or maybe it was the comm he didn't answer. He stared down at his hands. They weren’t bleeding, but they shook like they wanted to. His reflection in a blood-slick floor tile looked hollow. Something was screaming behind his eyes—something not him. Feral. He laid down amongst the wreckage and mess, letting the stillness enveloped him.

He breathed a shuddering breath. Life was fucked. Sirius... Graft... whoever... whatever he was... was fucked.

“…No,” he answered, to himself. “I need quiet.”

"I'm not dead... just... floor..."

@pandorasagents

[pandorasphoenix]

“ I guess there's no reason to worry, really. Even if I damaged your face, once the power inhibitors are off, I could just fix it. I'll even let you choose the treatment method that suits your preference. ”

His words were suggestive, hinting at something more. Unannounced, he reached for Niko's chin and lifted his head, quietly observing his features.

“ Bloody hell. I don't think I would be able to hurt you even if you were unable to defend yourself. Look at you — a face like that is a natural defense mechanism. You bat those lashes at me, and I'll forget what I was doing. ”

Niko felt comfortable saying these statements because at the end of the day? He knew he wasn't the mole. So why should he be afraid if they suspect him? Besides, as someone who spent a good portion of his life in the crime syndicate? He's quite used to working under the watchful eye of others. So that wouldn't be anything new for him. He let out a chuckle as he heard the other man's words and shook his head.

"What makes you think I can't be confident and worried about damaging my pretty face? Two things can be right at once." Niko says with a playful wink and a smirk on his face as he regarded the other man. "Besides, not everyone needs brute strength to do everything."

[cigarettesandgunsmoke]

[ 42 for @pandorasagents — Lex Candor ] atlantis — level 07 ; 3f – lex's room

The first time he'd caught sight of Wildseer, the face had tickled the back of Ian's mind. It hadn't taken him long to place it — the CIA, of course. Candor had been a squeaky-fresh up-and-comer when Ian had disappeared into PANDORA, and it was a strange feeling to see him in Atlantis now.

Not so strange that Ian had hesitated to chat him up at the bar, though.

A few drinks, a few laughs, a few barbs traded, one thing led to another, and now they were back at Wildseer's apartment. This wasn't some romantic hook-up; there was absolutely no romance in how Lex was bouncing on Ian's cock. It was just about having a good time. Maybe, if anything, there was an element of Chicken taken too far; Ian didn't trust Lex, and would guess that the sentiment was shared. There was a beauty in that, though, of knowing where you stood with someone.

(Maybe that was the booze still talking.)

"Fuck, your ass feels incredible," he complimented, the slightly-breathless compliment mostly honest; still probably one of the most honest things he'd told the man all night.