despite everything it&#x27;s still you

You broke into my house. It's only fair I broke into yours.

You still have a picture of me?

(@ask-sgtmedusa )

Fuck you. It's a picture of MY team. You happened to be there. I would cut you off the picture if I could.

You hid it under the mattress, and you threw my other photos with you recently. I thought you would've done it sooner. Got something to confess, fag?

Yeah, I wish I could've killed you when I had the chance, fucking freak.

When? When I was in your bed, or you were in mine? Or when you broke like a fucking psycho, like you always did?

Fuck you.

You used to love that, too.

You broke into my house. It's only fair I broke into yours.

You still have a picture of me?

(@ask-sgtmedusa )

Fuck you. It's a picture of MY team. You happened to be there. I would cut you off the picture if I could.

You hid it under the mattress, and you threw my other photos with you recently. I thought you would've done it sooner. Got something to confess, fag?

Yeah, I wish I could've killed you when I had the chance, fucking freak.

When? When I was in your bed, or you were in mine? Or when you broke like a fucking psycho, like you always did?

Fuck you.

You broke into my house. It's only fair I broke into yours.

You still have a picture of me?

(@ask-sgtmedusa )

Fuck you. It's a picture of MY team. You happened to be there. I would cut you off the picture if I could.

You hid it under the mattress, and you threw my other photos with you recently. I thought you would've done it sooner. Got something to confess, fag?

Yeah, I wish I could've killed you when I had the chance, fucking freak.

When? When I was in your bed, or you were in mine? Or when you broke like a fucking psycho, like you always did?

You broke into my house. It's only fair I broke into yours.

You still have a picture of me?

(@ask-sgtmedusa )

Fuck you. It's a picture of MY team. You happened to be there. I would cut you off the picture if I could.

You hid it under the mattress, and you threw my other photos with you recently. I thought you would've done it sooner. Got something to confess, fag?

Scotch, as a person, is capable of great subtlety. He’s knowledgeable in the workings of the human mind, able to snare and manipulate lesser, more gullible, individuals with ease; not only can he do it, but he’s more than eager to. Persuasion, charisma, blackmail… it’s not just a skill, it’s his favorite hobby.

None of that masterful subtlety is on display here. Why isn’t it? Scotch is pissed. And why is Scotch pissed? Because that fucking snake bastard, Medusa, has his hands all over Scotch’s partner crush boyfriend mentor accomplice favored associate. Rook.

And Scotch, well, Scotch is gonna tear him a new one for that.

“You’re one slimy motherfucker,” are his first words as he slams open the door to Medusa’s little hideout, stomping in like he owns the place. “Oh, you think you’re soooo subtle, practically glued to his hip? You can fuck off with your fangirling bullshit right away, Irene.” The name is spoken with more derision and venom than most would think possible.

[ @mike-sierra-mike ]

A man as paranoid as Medusa always had a safety plan in case someone broke in; hidden cameras secured every inch of his home, and he always carried and hid a gun in his reach. The moment he heard the doorknob turn he reached for it, hiding it under a cushion.

But when he saw Scotch and what he spoke of, his mouth curled up with mischievous attitude and condescension. "Is this how you greet everyone? Your mother never taught you any manners?" His smile grew with each word he muttered, eyes staring deeply at the other man. "And why the commotion? You need to specify who are talking about here, and you only get a couple of seconds." Revealing the gun from his cushion, he reloaded.

"I trust you know your way with words."

mike-sierra-mike

Scotch inhales deeply and sighs, offhandedly wondering if his eye just visibly twitched. Medusa is always like this, and it always ends up with Scotch looking like the idiotic, irrational one; if he can keep his temper under wraps, just this once, maybe he’ll win the damn argument.

“You know that I’m talking about Rook, Medusa. We both know you aren’t an idiot, even if your… general behavior may lead many to believe that.” It’s underhanded, maybe, but so is everything Medusa says, so Scotch is more than justified here.

“Look, you’re a grown-ass man, not a toddler; you don’t need him holding your hand everywhere you go. Rook is a fuckin’ CEO, he’s got shit to do besides being your little purse dog. I get that you…” Scotch pauses to consider the wording of his next statement, an extraordinarily sour look present on his face, “…like him, and that you two have some kind of ‘relationship,’ but that doesn’t mean you have sole fuckin’ ownership over the man. You’re gonna suffocate him following him around like a dog all day.”

While Scotch ranted, Medusa's demeanor turned cocky and/or mocking, like he was talking to the most pathetic thing he's seen today.

When he's done talking, he asked the question.

"Are you jealous?" He teased, visibly leaning his way. "Jealous I might take him away from you? Jealous you won't be his favorite anymore? Or is this... About something else?" He swirled his revolver in his hand briefly, humming as if he was uninterested by the converay. Of course, he was keeping an eye on him, but also throwing snaky glances his way.

"I dunno if I should feel flattered or bothered. Maybe I'll just feel pity... or maybe I'll have to ask Rook how to feel, wouldn't you agree, Scotchy?"

mike-sierra-mike

“For the love of-” Scotch cuts himself off before the exasperated swear can fully slip through his lips, pinching the bridge of his nose like this conversation is giving him a headache (it is, actually. Medusa is the most insufferable ass Scotch has ever had the “pleasure” of sharing Rook with).

“Look. I’m not fucking insecure about my… relationship… with a man I’ve known for over a decade at this point, who you met, what, a few months ago?” It’s a half-truth; sure, Scotch knows Rook isn’t going to drop him completely for Medusa, but that doesn’t mean the bastard won’t try and slither his way between them, and Scotch think’s he’s more than justified to be a bit paranoid about it. “And no, you don’t need to drag him into this. Be a big boy and have a serious conversation with me instead of taunting me and threatening to run to Rook to complain.”

It takes… significant mental fortitude to ignore Medusa’s sardonic, half-assed excuse for a nickname. Honestly, Scotch wants nothing more than to strangle the other man, and he’s not sure he cares enough to restrain himself from trying it for much longer.

"Then why the big deal? I ain't gonna take him away, Scotchy." Irene taunted with a smirk, leaning back on his seat though still keeping a cautious posture. Just in case. "And besides, he's also a grown man. He can choose himself, no? And nobody would be at fault for that." He shrugged, the clear double meaning of his words poisoning his intention, intentionally or not.

Something about the other's attitude was kinda amusing, however. Seeing him getting so riled up over a minor thing he did with someone... he could understand it, since he knew that feeling very well. It was fun to poke at him, though.

"If that's all you came here for, breaking in and all that jazz... you can see yourself out. Shoo shoo, message received." He waved off.

And Scotch, well, Scotch is gonna tear him a new one for that.

[ @mike-sierra-mike ]

"I trust you know your way with words."

mike-sierra-mike

While Scotch ranted, Medusa's demeanor turned cocky and/or mocking, like he was talking to the most pathetic thing he's seen today.

When he's done talking, he asked the question.

"I dunno if I should feel flattered or bothered. Maybe I'll just feel pity... or maybe I'll have to ask Rook how to feel, wouldn't you agree, Scotchy?"

And Scotch, well, Scotch is gonna tear him a new one for that.

[ @mike-sierra-mike ]

"I trust you know your way with words."

#ask medusa

OPEN RP. BEACH EVENT THING HOORAY

It had taken six hours of meticulous planning for Suki to realise that, really, there was no organising something like this- a beach trip with the amount of people she'd invited, all wildly different. So she'd sent out a date, time, and location, (and a request to only bring small weapons please, she could not handle more bloodshed than absolutely necessary) and let God do the rest.

She sat now on this beach (blissfully empty, for now) wrapped in a cardigan, waiting for the absolute chaos she had brought upon herself to begin.

Ok ok so this is an OPEN RP thingamajig. I wanted to do a summer event thing and the general population voted beach trip so here we are!! Anyone, and I mean ANYONE can join, just don't start a fight (ooc) etc etc.

Anyway yeah go crazy

Originally he wasn't supposed to show up, but then he thought "fuck it". Duckie would be there anyways, and you know what? He refused the restraining order when held in court. That must've meant something.

Later than expected, he showed up, walked past the group, and looked for him amongst all the people. He identified him, with someone else... with that creature that dared to call itself human. Thinking about it, he shouldn't be a problem. He couldn't run away.

[Rook slipped next to Medusa, slinking out of nowhere like a disgusting rat crawling in filthy subways. His disgusting, bright white grin shines out next to his tan skin, toned body looking like those steroid-pumped models off of Vogue. He tapped along his shoulder, a plan already on his bottom-feeding tongue.]

Looking at a particular Ducky of yours, darling? Need a little help getting to him? You know, that's my brother he's tangling with... I could easily get him off your sweetheart's back. Say, I'll give you a little less work to do if you help me with my sweetheart...

He wasn't even started when he heard someone behind him, his face contorting to disgust before realizing who it was. Then, it turned to an undecipherable mix of cautiousness and... Something too.

"That is your brother?" Medusa's tone dripped of condescension and bitterness, along maybe with a hint of ableism that was totally JUST directed at Bishop. Immediately he raised an eyebrow at the request, and sort of at the nickname. "I'll bite. But don't expect me to do all the dirty work." He hummed back, staring at Duckie like he was a sweet treat he was ready to shove into his mouth and penetrate with his tongue.

Yeah. That pathetic freak's my brother. Trust me, he don't deserve none of the graces he gets. I'm glad to tear those two apart and make him live the supposed independent life he desperately wants.

[Rook grimaced, clearly lamenting Bishop's existence as a burden. He was worthless in this kind of world, and Rook himself wasn't sure why he even let himself be here. He's meant to stay in that damned building every day without end, and he dared to get out here? He deserves to get his pathetic little "friendship" torn apart.]

You don't gotta do much dirty work. All you have to do is sweet talk him a little and make him feel safe-- you're good with that, if I've studied you well enough. Just lead him into the water where other people aren't. Make sure he's alone. Maybe bullshit him into thinking staying away from people in the water will keep him safe. Sound good? Shouldn't be hard with his weakness.

"I almost feel sorry for you." He mumbled under his breath, kinda truthful. Honestly he hated him simply for the fact he was getting in Duckling's head, infecting him with all these ideas to isolate him from him. They were probably talking about him just now, mocking him.

A joking grin appeared in his lips. "You've been studying me? I'm flattered. Fine, I can do that... I'll do that, but you better keep your end of the deal."

Don't worry. I keep my word.

[Rook drawled out, touching Medusa's arm gently as if to assure him he'd keep his end of the deal. A disgusting grin painted his face, excitement already building as he imagined getting Andrei all alone to play with as he wished. It'd been months since he had his hands on the man himself, and Admin could keep his needs met for only so long.]

I'll make it obvious when Duckling's alone. Just go to him whenever you see me wheeling Bishop away, yeah? He can't fight me anyway.

Rook must've thought his sweet words and flirty touch could get through him. Well he was right. He was just a man.

"You got it." Just to prove he could, his own hand loosely wrapped around Rook's, to then trail up his elbow, then his arm, and his shoulder. A light, "friendly" touch in retaliation. "I appreciate the help. I know neither of them would separate if I went on my own.

OPEN RP. BEACH EVENT THING HOORAY

She sat now on this beach (blissfully empty, for now) wrapped in a cardigan, waiting for the absolute chaos she had brought upon herself to begin.

Anyway yeah go crazy

He wasn't even started when he heard someone behind him, his face contorting to disgust before realizing who it was. Then, it turned to an undecipherable mix of cautiousness and... Something too.

Yeah. That pathetic freak's my brother. Trust me, he don't deserve none of the graces he gets. I'm glad to tear those two apart and make him live the supposed independent life he desperately wants.

A joking grin appeared in his lips. "You've been studying me? I'm flattered. Fine, I can do that... I'll do that, but you better keep your end of the deal."

OPEN RP. BEACH EVENT THING HOORAY

She sat now on this beach (blissfully empty, for now) wrapped in a cardigan, waiting for the absolute chaos she had brought upon herself to begin.

Anyway yeah go crazy

He wasn't even started when he heard someone behind him, his face contorting to disgust before realizing who it was. Then, it turned to an undecipherable mix of cautiousness and... Something too.

OPEN RP. BEACH EVENT THING HOORAY

She sat now on this beach (blissfully empty, for now) wrapped in a cardigan, waiting for the absolute chaos she had brought upon herself to begin.

Anyway yeah go crazy

#in old times human chased after the animals by walking #The animals would run and run #And eventually #They got tired of running #But the humans kept walking #Approaching.#And they weren't tired.

Suki sat on the wall outside the Rook, legs crossed in front of her. She was dressed relatively normally; black long sleeved turtleneck, jeans, high boots, a jacket that looked like it might have been stolen by Woods. A duffel bag sat at her feet, zipped shut but clearly filled with all sorts of unmentionables. She was a little early, so she'd pulled her phone from her pocket and was staring forlornly at Duckling's contact.

It wouldn't take long for Tooth to get there. He wouldn't miss this for anything in the world, not when he knew what Medusa was capable of doing with just a second. Besides, a better reason to use his combat boots again.

"Hey." He doesn't want to chat or engage in any friendly interaction with Suki. Right how, he sees her as a work-buddy, an accomplice. Nothing against her, just had a lot in his mind. "Ready to go?"

"Ready to go," she said in the same tone. She tucked her phone into her pocket and jumped down from the wall, swinging the duffel bag over her shoulder. She looked like she hadn't slept much, dark bags lining her eyes; but she also looked ready to do whatever needed to be done. "What are the legal boundaries we're operating in? Because me personally, I can get through more than a couple loop holes."

Though not Lauren's biggest concern, he did took notes of Suki's dishevelled appearance. Not like she didn't look miserable all the time, he thought to himself.

"I'll make this quick and short while setting boundaries. We're not... breaking in, exactly. Not in a way that leaves evidence, as Esteban should be leaving that hell-hole as we speak. It'll be our way in." How did he managed to pull Duckling out of whatever he was going through to get him to leave momentarily? That was between Lauren and God. "Medusa's paranoid as one can be, so we gotta keep it quiet and... We can play around, so to speak." A devilish grin grew on his face, one that he had waited long enough to reveal. "I got a couple of tricks up my pocket, but as long as we don't hurt him directly, it's fair game."

"Esteban's leaving?" The relief was evident on Suki's features as she followed Lauren. "And playing around is my specialty."

"You could say that." He mumbled that phrase so quietly it might as well been a whisper or an inner thought. "And you better. I'm not going to give you a lesson on how to... But I don't think you disappoint ever, Suki." Medusa's place wasn't as close as he would like, but there's little he can do but hurry his pace, perhaps a bit careless if Suki was keeping up.

Suki smiled despite herself at the minute compliment, adjusting the strap of her bag on her shoulder. "You know," she said after a few moments, quickening her pace to keep up with him, "I'm MI6. I have- people, who can help get rid of someone like Medusa. Expose him for good, I mean. No one'd ever know we were involved." She knew the suggestion was silly, outlandish- but her heart ached for Esteban, and she would hate herself if she didn't even suggest it.

Tooth let out a deep sigh of frustration. "You think I don't know? Hell, I've had more fantasies about that than anything in my life. It's not that easy, though." He bowed his head, tucking his hands on his pockets to fidget with anything that wasn't that apparent. "He lost most of his connections after the..." The reminder of the incident hung loosely in the back of his throat. "However, he didn't lose one thing... His ability to fuck with a little guy's mind. If he has one thing left in his miserable life is an attachment to Esteban... A mutual one, if my nightmares have come true."

"Bastard," was Suki's only answer, the voice practically growled at the back of her throat. In truth, she knew very little about the whole Duckling Medusa thing- just that it made her very angry; even more so that she couldn't do anything about it.

"So," she said after a moment, "how do you know Esteban?"

Slowly but surely, a genuine hint of reminiscence crawled up Tooth's eyes, managing to get him to drop his tensed shoulders. "We were paired together for a mission when he was barely starting, and things grew from there. I admit I... Wasn't the best person when I met him and then afterwards, but he still stayed." He still felt ashamed of the things he had done and said to Esteban when they were younger and more vulnerable. He knew he could never make up for how he treated them. "Even when I met them he was a bleeding heart. A duckling." Lauren scoffed slightly.

Suki, both a trained psychiatrist and an observant woman, noticed the slight drop in Tooth's shoulders and his general change in demeanor. It made something in her soften, just a little.

"Esteban... came to me in a bad time. I had just come out of a bad place-" literally, her mind chimed in, with a quick flash of the abandoned prison where she'd been held flashing through her mind- "and they were the first one to really help, beyond what the doctors were giving me." Inadvertently, she ran her fingers over the area of her arm that her own teeth had once sunk into. "I'll always owe them for that, and it's a debt I try to repay in any way I can."

With how much the two seemed to agree on this topic, there was a shift in Lauren's body language. He seemed... Calmer, at ease, something he had made sure countless times to not show. His duty didn't allow him to get a blink of relaxation, so this was nice.

"He's always been quite a helper." He muttered fondly after listening attentively to her. "Not sure why, but always have been. I guess it's only fair we repay the favor... Hell, I guess we have more in common than I thought." And he owed it to him, after all. He didn't want to be a coward a second time, not when he finally found someone as kind and gentle as Esteban. A chuckle escaped him at his own words, humorless.

"Let's not get emotional. We're almost there, it's the department with the flowers on the porch." He quickly shifted, clearing his throat and pointing at a somewhat distant building. "I trust a lady like you knows how to pick a lock?"

Suki let out an affectionate chuckle at Tooth's description of Duckling, though any playfulness in her demeanor dissipated when she spotted the building in the distance. "You lost me at lady. Of course I can pick a lock." She reached into the inside pocket of her jacket, making sure that her lockpicks were still there. "So, how long have you wanted to do this? This being screwing with Medusa, not going for a brisk walk with a sentimental MI6 psychiatrist." She added the second part after a beat of silence.

He approached the department door, peeked inside to make sure no one saw them, and signaled her to do her thing with a nod. "Long enough for it not to be healthy. Couldn't give more than three fucks, though." He tapped his gun hidden under his jacket, just hanging onto his belt. Of course, he wouldn't use it... Unless he needed to. "I can always get one of your therapy sessions, right?" Lauren hummed, half jokingly. Half. Maybe.

"If you pay well, you can have as many of my bloody therapy sessions as you want," Suki snorted. She gave his gun a cursory glance- of course, she had one too, tucked neatly in a holster under her arm. Unlike Saint, she liked to be armed with more than a wire and a scalpel.

"No friend discount then?" Taking another quick at their surroundings, he took a moment to stay quiet before inquiring. "We have to hurry before Esteban realizes. Ladies first?" One hand gestured the door, while the other checked the time using his watch. No way in hell he was going to bring his phone for this.

"Are we friends?" She quipped, kneeling in front of the door and pulling her nifty lockpicks from her pocket. It took her a few moments of nimble work, but quickly enough, the door swung open. She stood and dusted herself off, sliding the lockpicks back into her pocket. "Shall we?"

"Only if it benefits both of us. It does for me, so I suppose." He shrugged without giving his words much thought, though clearly he only meant some of it. That was to say he thought Suki was pretty okay in his book, maybe a bit more. "Let's get this done, miss."

She stepped through the door, repressing a shiver as she left the cool air outside. She turned in a slow circle, taking in her surroundings with an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"He's definitely out?" She murmured, not quite sure who she was referring to- would it be worse if Duckling, or Medusa found them? She tightened her grip on the strap of her duffel bag.

The home is strangely normal, he said to himself. Maybe a bit too neat and tidy for a messed up mind like Medusa's, but decorated like any other place he has seen. A picture frame on the wall, hidden under the trench coat, caught his eyes briefly. His heart sunk at the sight of...

It didn't matter.

"Stay sharp, and lay low. You can never be too sure." Lauren dropped with a newfound rage building up inside him. "Stay close, getting caught individually is worse than in group."

Suki's mind was already taking everything in, organising every decoration, the tidiness, into a profile of a man she knew so little about. "If we get caught," she whispered, trying to joke lightly in an effort to lighten the mood, "I'll say you made me do it."

Lauren granted her a jokingly upset look. "I'll remember that when I leave you behind. Now keep up." He crouched deeper into the apartment, eyeing every corner in search for the man. "Wreck everything you see, silently, and take whatever he wouldn't file a police report about. Or do, shit-head's probably too afraid to go to the police."

Suki snorted. She unzipped the duffel bag- in it were some of the things they might need in an emergency, but it left plenty of space. "Anything you need to take, pop in here." She picked up a photo- it would've been sweet, if she didn't instantly identify the snake.

"You won't be needing this," she sang softly, laying it carefully on the floor and stomping the heel of her boot into the fragile glass. It shattered instantly; she shook a few shards off, then put it back where she'd found it. "This is fun," she added to Tooth. "Wish this was just one of those- rage rooms, and not, y'know..." she trailed off as, in a rather cat-like manœuver, she knocked a bowl of sweets from a counter.