wcvingtheflag

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annacastillx‌:

Anna sat up the instant she heard that it had been ‘Mateo’ who had given this information, reaching for the papers and scanning over them. “Mutant experiments?” she muttered, before looking up and searching Grant’s expression. “Why would he give this to you?” She needed context to figure this out. Nothing about this made sense, and Anna was rather determined to get to the bottom of it.

“The mutant experiments that my sister died trying to prevent” Grant adds gravely, for the first time he had the feeling that this quest for justice would quite literally end with his own death “for the sake of my sanity let’s just refer to who we thought was Mateo as Raul. Raul approached me at a book signing and when I went to meet him he gave me these, I thought at the time it was just a son trying to make up for his father’s indiscretions, now I don’t know what to think which is why I’m here.”

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annacastillx‌:

A skeptical expression made its way onto Anna’s face as she refocused on Grant. “Am I? Or am I going to be even more exhausted afterwards?” Despite her words, she looked over to papers and gestured to the seat in front of her. “What news do you bring?”

Grant takes the seat offered with a weary sigh, this had all been playing on his mind more than he would be willing to admit to anyone. “I was given all of this by who I thought at the time was Mateo” he allowed a second for this bombshell to sink in “I hadn’t had time to really look into any of this before the news dropped. But whatever all this shit is I don’t appreciate being a pawn.”

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strpaloma‌:

“Nah, I should be hard on myself about it. It was stupid as all hell. I’d like to think it’s a mistake I’ve learned from, though.” She’d gone the other direction, too cautious about it all, so much so that she hadn’t done anything. Hopefully this conversation was the start of finding a happy medium. “Because of my power I can’t really be restrained. The fuckers solved for that by keeping me high as a kite the whole time. Gave me a habit I can’t shake. Sadly the only name I remember was Suarez’ but thats not exactly news anymore.” She pauses and takes a sip of her coffee, “Though I suspect I might be able to point some people out in a list or lineup. Sometimes things feel familiar.” 

Grant couldn’t help but remain bitter for a moment, what was it about Paloma they had decided to kidnap and keep her hostage and Sylvie had to die instead? “I hope I don’t sound like a broken record but have you been getting help for the addiction?” Over the years his lists of contacts had grown, he was sure he could find someone to recommend Paloma to. He scribbles some more notes on his pad, contemplating the strings he would have to pull to get some potential faces to offer her to see if anything clicked “Your original testimony was what lead me to look at Suarez in connection with Sylvie.”

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annacastillx‌:

open

“If it’s important, then you can schedule it some other day,” Anna said, shoving aside a stack of papers and glancing up to see who had just entered the room. “I’ve got about three days worth of paperwork to deal with and unless it’s an absolute emergency then I don’t want to hear about it.”

Grant was still inherently annoyed after finding out that his supposed meeting with Mateo had in fact been anything but, the investigative reporter didn’t appreciate the wool being pulled over his eyes. Nor knowing he was that close to that close to the bastard that was responsible for his sister’s death and he had walked out of it, still very much alive. “You’re going to want to hear about this” Grant announces, the whole situations causing him to sound somewhat more jaded than his usual of easygoing, holding up the information he had been given by the Mateo look-alike before the reveal.

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3d3nsr0s3‌:

Why was the line so ungodly long today? He had always stopped at this bookstore to grab a paper (and perhaps another funny looking pen if he felt like treating himself) before heading back to work. He had preferred to learn what shit he was getting himself into at the Union that day from the paper instead of endless news notifications that popped up on his phone. It was much cheaper to rip up compared to smashing a three hundred dollar in flabbergasted anger. Through all the days he had found himself regretfully picking up the news he had never seen this amount of people packed into the shop, he supposed it was good for business but he couldn’t figure out the reason why? Maybe it was a sale he wasn’t made aware of? Or the next preteen novel was just released? He was snapped out of his pensive spiral when he took a step forward and almost smacked into a table, “Huh?” was all he could muster when he was met with the expectant gaze of some…person sitting smack dab in the middle of the shop? Wait…

He looked down at the stack of books sat by the author and back up to the man before turning bright red in embarrassment, “This isn’t the line for check out is it?”

Originally posted by somanygorgeousmen

Grant’s eyebrows knit together first in confusion and then in amusement as he realises what is going on in front of him, though he actively tries not to let his facial response upset the man on the other side of his table. “No I’m afraid its not, I could offer to take your money but I don’t think the store would like that” he smiles sheepishly, playing with the sharpie in his hand a little lost on if he should still offer his book to this guy or not.

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“He clings to his hate so stubbornly, because once the hate is gone he’ll have no other choice but to deal with his pain.”

—

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strpaloma‌:

Paloma mimics his glance around, the need for secrecy readily apparent. Finding the environment satisfactory, she breathes in and readies herself. “Well, the story starts with me being an idiot and biting off more than I can chew. Take it as a warning, if you will.” She laughs, finding the memory funny because otherwise it would be deeply disturbing. “I was shooting on location in Diamond City for this movie called Tryst Fund about these two heroes who- nevermind, that’s not important. You can watch it if you want. My role got recast and went to this little thing who- sorry, again, not relevant.” Grant didn’t need to know about her Hollywood problems. “I was in my trailer one night and we were parked across the street from this abandoned row of buildings that were being used as sets. I saw this weird glow coming from one of them, heard weird noises. I was so used to playing heroes that I got sort of possessed in the moment thinking I was one. I barged right into the warehouse, ripped the locked door off its hinges. I don’t know what I was looking to do. Immediately I got fucking wrecked. I think I was shot in the neck with some sort of tranquilizer?” 

That was the problem with the ‘hero types’ from the union, or so Grant had found. They used their power as a battering ram hoping it would shield them rather than thinking about or planning their move out first, Grant himself could be pretty reckless but he knew better than to throw himself into a dangerous situation without at least a little preparation. Or maybe that was just the human in him talking. He continues to scribble notes on the page, circling parts as he goes to highlight them for later further analysis “Don’t be too hard on yourself about it, I’ve taken a blow to the head a few times for snooping where I shouldn’t have been.” He finishes a thought on the page before sitting back slightly and regarding Paloma “What you and my sister did was stupid, I’ll be the first to admit it, but it was a bloody brave move.” And Grant would have done the exact same thing, and his humanity would probably have been his downfall just like Sylvie. “You said you don’t remember faces right? Do you remember anything you heard?” 

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powcrup‌:

remi gives grant a shrewd look. ‘ don’t sell yourself short, flag. what is it that makes a special ability to be considered a special ability ? who determines what’s considered ordinary and what’s considered super ? i’m considered a mutant because i can’t remember anything past the last four years of my life, whereas historians agree that people like michelangelo and isaac newton were both human. you’re doing just fine. ’

“So what you’re saying is that my superpower is my stubbornness and determination to constantly put myself into harms way?” Grant had found himself asking many times how the hell he had survived this long with so little care for his own safety, rather with his eye on the endgame which most often was an expose or in recent times a book. “I don’t know, I think it’d be handy to have like, invisibility or something. Now that’d help me be a fly on the wall.”

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a-ghost-a-spectre‌:

She watched the man, seemingly frantic to get her inside, he seemed almost happy to see her which was something that she just didn’t understand. She took in her surroundings, “I’m a murder suspect so I shouldn’t stay too long,” she said, trying to wave off his offer when her stomach grumbled. She glared at herself, looking up at the ceiling shaking her head. “I just came to bring you the evidence I’ve gathered in case they decide it’s me who did it.” She couldn’t say it directly. 

Grant was well aware of her rank as a suspect, it was his job to know things like these and thanks to his sources in various places he was often well fed with information. He was also just generally patting himself on the back for not making the suspect list, it meant his motive to avenge his sister had not been made apparent to the police. “This house has seen worse than a suspect” He shrugs lightly, did he care if she had done it? Not particularly, the guy had been the scum of humanity and Clarice had suffered at his hands. If she had done it he wouldn’t blame her and he’d help bury the evidence if needed. But that was quite the leap from the current position. “You decided to trust me then?”

Darkness and Dawn

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powcrup‌:

remi cracks a smile. ‘ i’m pretty sure it’s part of the canon that his good looks intimidate his enemies and make them surrender in fear, ‘ he says with a shrug.

Grant chuckles “Now that would be a handy superpower to have when I’m trying to wrangle answers out of the people I’m interviewing.” 

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The idea of a second book after writing the first had strangely not been something that Grant had even considered. In some naive sense of justice Grant had just assumed that he would have achieved everything after the book was published, and though it had certainly made huge strides in his need to avenge his sister but in the end the biggest thing it had achieved was his estrangement from what was left of his family. But even still the idea of a second book had not even crossed his mind until his agent asked him about what ideas he had for it, and since that moment for the first time Grant wasn’t sure what to do. It would be the perfect platform to fully expose the Underground and it’s true involvement in Sylvie’s death, especially since he had so many new informants in Clarice, Paloma and the goldmine of Mateo. But that was still a huge risk to take.

Grant remains at his table in the Pantheon after his agent has left, hand rubbing at his tired head as his eyes look over the rudimentary notes he attempted to make during the meeting. Sure he trusted his agent enough, but there would always be a part of Grant that would be wary of truly bringing out the truth in case there were some ties to the Underground. He motions to one of the passing servers with a warm and polite smile hoping for a refill of his drink, more alcohol would be needed to get past this.

@lilac-swarm

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thrcughlincs‌:

with everything his father has left him, it feels wrong not to pay, and so mateo shakes his head and wordlessly puts his card on the table for the server to take. “dark coffee, no sugar,” he says, insisting that the server take his card before he realizes he’s slouching and fixes his posture again. “right, so,” he says, sliding the manila envelope over to show laboratory data and memos. “as you might be aware, my father wanted to spearhead mutant research before anyone else could mark their claim on this territory. and as you might know, a lot of this territory is illegal. still, he hoped to pioneer a future made possible by mutant research.” from his bag he procures a vial of turquoise liquid. “i believe that he was working on this. a serum that could give non-mutants powers. i found it in his office, stowed away in a locked secret compartment. seems like it was for his own personal use, if you ask me. but where i’m running into trouble is… maybe he did care about humanity? i don’t know. what’s your take on this?”

Grant quirks his brow as the envelope is pushed in his direction, keeping his eyes on Mateo while he carefully picks it up and inspects it. Was he being paranoid? Absolutely. But he hadn’t survived this long by sheer luck. He starts pulling documents from within the folder, though he doesn’t do more than glance at them while he’s listening to what the man across from him. At the mention of the mutant testing Grant is rendered stiff, his hands with the papers stilling in the air as he stares motionless. This could be it, the book was a great starting point but what Mateo coming to him with this information meant was that if this was legit Grant would finally and truly be able to destroy the thing that had resulted in his sister’s brutal death. “I am aware, yes. My sister died when she tried to intervene with a potential subject kidnapping” That part he had left out of the book for obvious reasons, and so if Mateo had read the book before approaching him wouldn’t be aware of the ties he had to this whole thing. And then he sees the vile, his eyes locked onto it, he leans forward in his chair resting his elbows on the table and clasping his hands “That if your father was doing this because he cared about humanity then why did my sister have to die? These sound like the actions of a man working in his own interest, he wouldn’t be the first nor the last man to be corrupted by a quest for ultimate power.”

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lilac-swarm‌:

Lilla’s lips part to curve into a silent ‘O’, she squints her eyes at the man’s strange comment before shaking her head. “Oh, no, that wasn’t my intention! I’ve always found it a bit odd that people can make money selling the signatures of others, but I suppose it’s still better than, well… forgery.“ She offers a small shrug and stifles the urge to crack a smile - joking about crime seems somewhat distasteful, given the circumstances.

“I’ll be honest, I’m not familiar with your work. This is for a friend, her birthday’s coming up and all she ever watches is Investigation Discovery. I’m sure you know the type.“ It would be a lie to claim that she hasn’t picked up on the man’s tense demeanor, and so it comes as a relief when she catches a glimpse of amusement reflecting in his expression.

At that trace of encouragement Lilla perks up once again, flashing a skewed grin at the man as she does. “Either way, fame has found you. You might as well enjoy your rock star status. You could go trash a hotel room!“ That’s when she hears the first batch of over-exaggerated sighs and tuts performed by the people waiting to have their turn. She gives the woman behind her an apologetic look, glancing briefly over she shoulder. “I’m sorry, I’m going.”

With the replacement pen delivered and the copy signed, she certainly hasn’t a reason to throw a wrench into the well-oiled system. Her gaze darts back to the man as she slips the book into her handbag. “Look out for those autograph hunters, I hear they’ll try anything for a Sharpie stroke.” One more annoyed hiss of the crowd is enough to alleviate Lilla’s guilt, and she frowns as she addresses the line once more: “Cool it. Patience is a virtue.” She takes a small spin around to lock eyes with the man as she backs away: “Thank you again.” 

“It was more of a warning that it wouldn’t bring much of a payday on Ebay” He smirks, it hadn’t exactly been an ego boost when he had come across the listings. He’d stopped searching reviews and the like after that. “Oh I know the type” He motions subtly to the crowd behind her, they were afterall the largest percentage of those who were buying his book. He takes the new sharpie offered by the agent and begins to scribble a message in the book, hoping that a extra message would help make the present even better for the friend. “There won’t be any trashing since the only person cleaning up my home once I’m done is me” Though Grant appreciated the thought of being considered a rockstar, it was a dream of most young boys at some point wasn’t it? Sliding the completed book back across the table he frowns slightly at the negative responses she was getting from others in the line, instead he offers her with a warm smile “Guard this with your life in that case.” He watches her retreating form for a second with an amused smile, grateful for the alleviation in the strain these events could have on him, before he turns and greets the next though impatient person in the queue.

[ END ]

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strpaloma‌:

Paloma sighed. Despite everything, those were still the words of an optimist. Most interestingly, the words of an optimist who had actually made some progress. She wasn’t eager to hop onboard a crusade, but he was right in that this was the only route she saw to clearing her name and she did want to learn what information he’d already gathered. “I suppose I can answer questions. Help out in little ways.” Even if this thing did go horribly wrong, it’s not like she had much to lose. 

He takes an automatic look around them in the coffee shop both from paranoia and just experience before he dares continue, taking out an old fashioned reporters notepad and pen which he leaves on the table in front of him. “Tell me everything you can remember about what happened to you, I know you’ve already given statements but I prefer to hear it for myself rather than read someone else’s interpretation. They often leave out the important details, or just try to cover it up altogether” He adds to final comment as a sly reference to his own situation that had lead to the book, working against the people who covered up his sister’s murder.

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thrcughlincs‌:

it isn’t until the morning of, when his iPhone alerts him, that mateo remembers his meeting with grant. he arrives to the address late, all out of breath and forehead clammy with sweat, but the moment he sees grant from the window he runs his palm through his hair and fixes his posture, walking calmly to the author’s table. from his bag, he procures an envelope as he sits down. “thanks for your time. i promise it won’t go to waste,” he says, still recovering the last of his breath as he gets himself comfortable, putting his bag down onto the floor. “you, uh, good? or can i get you anything before we start? water, coffee? i guess i have a granola bar in my bag if you’d prefer that.”

Grant got to the location with plenty of time before the meeting to stake out the location and make sure that he would be safe, though he was pretty frivolous with his own life he did have his own interests at heart enough of the time. He was human after all, if he was in a situation he didn’t have any extra powers to help him get out of it. He spots Mateo as soon as he runs into view of the windows, his eyes glancing over at the clock on the wall with an amused smile. He was starting to believe that this guy wasn’t a threat to him, but he wasn’t rushing to let my guard down. Grant sits back and lets Mateo settle into his seat, smiling with amusement as he motions for the server to come over “I’ve got it covered don’t worry.” He orders his usual, which was technically just a refill since he’d been here a while, and motions for Mateo to order. Once that’s done and the server has gone he turns to Mateo, hands opens on the table “I’m all ears.”

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strpaloma‌:

Grant seems to be handling the subtlety aspect of this quite well. She guessed that she probably wasn’t the first person like her he’d managed to find and talk with. Good. She was glad to learn someone competent was looking into it in a way that she couldn’t, though she doubted one person could make much of a dent against the underground. “You seem like a good guy, but I’m afraid I’m probably a disappointing lead. I’ve got nothing to bring to the table to help. I can’t snoop. I can’t fight. All I have are hazy memories of hazy faces.” 

“But you survived and that is a considerable advantage, and I’ve found that it can also be quite the driving force” He shrugs, he wasn’t here to be her personal cheerleader but he could do with her being on side “you wouldn’t be sat here, with me without it.” He takes a sip of the coffee before continuing “I can’t fight in the way powereds can, but just because I’m human it doesn’t mean I’m helpless. What I mean is what you are bringing to the table is something that I’ve been dying to find since Sylvie’s death, I’m not asking you to become like me and switch careers I just want to work with you and who knows maybe we can clear your name while exposing the Underground.”

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strpaloma‌:

“Yeah, that’s about the short of it.” It was strange hearing that whole fucked up chunk of her life summarized so succinctly. Paloma raised an eyebrow at his admission, unsure of how to respond. She wasn’t great with sympathy, but it seemed that if he was able to write a book tangentially about the experience he was past the point where he needed it. “That honestly doesn’t surprise me. They’re not exactly the good guys.” 

With a small signal with his hand he indicates to Paloma to not mention anything else as the waiter was coming over with their drinks, appearing from behind her to place the two coffees on the table in mismatched and inappropriate cups. “Nothing else for us right now, thank you Eddie” he pulls out his most dazzling smile to help convince him before he turns away, keeping his eyes on his back until he’s beyond the safe distance away “No, they aren’t. But my sister was the best person, which is why I couldn’t let her murder be covered up by the Underground, or Raúl.”