I AM MORE.

[cj-rhodes]

“What are your thoughts?” CJ asked her sister as they inspected the metalwork on each of the swords before them. Keen eyes scanning every detail, from minuscule scratches to the finest engraved art on the hilts of the blades. She ignored the stares of the two merchants whose wares they were inspecting. If anyone knew who she and her sister were– what they’d spent years training in and fighting for, they wouldn’t look at the two of them so skeptically. “This one’s hilt is too light,” she passed over the one in her hand to her Annabelle, lifting another as she poured over its fine details. Regardless of how practical some of the blades were on the table (some were far too ornate or too lightweight to carry any bearing), it was undeniable that each was created with mastery.  @annabellerhodes-x

[cj-rhodes]

“Sometimes I forget you weren’t born doing this, Vasa,” CJ complimented her younger brother after watching him working on his form for upcoming tournaments. “How many months has it been without losing a match?” @veexrhodes​

[cj-rhodes]

“– we’ll move onto swords when I’ve seen you can handle this,” CJ stated, leaving no room for question as she tossed Osmond a staff that was roughly the same length of a sword, about the size he’d wield once they got there. “Are we clear?” She had a similar staff in her own grip, twisting it easily as she awaited Ozzie’s confirmation that they were, in fact, clear. @blccksheep

[cj-rhodes]

elisecoplen‌:

“I don’t think I’ve ever been more serious about anything ever before.” This was said quietly but with confidence. She was nervous, but Elise had made up her mind that this was what she needed. “Is that a yes?” 

“It might be,” CJ nodded, jerking her chin in the other’s direction. “Six am tomorrow– don’t be late.” 

[cj-rhodes]

calebmartinellii‌:

                    “Lucky and content,” he snorted as if in affirmation; struck with the impression that such combination was as recherche as any. Luck came in tandem with money in Caleb’s case, although for most with financial gain it never quite secured a level of happiness many were deluded into obtaining when and if pockets were loaded; Caleb an emotionally void exception on that respect. How could one be stuck in a sense of unfulfillment when their very viscera ran rampant with selfish bargaining? “They’re just waiting to find the meaning of life or some crap. All I know is that there’s no God or Ghandi to sing praises to me if I live a morally good life; that shit is all fake.”

“And when either one goes out the door–– does the other?” If luck ran out did that mean contentment stopped altogether? Or if contentment stopped, did that mean luck had also? CJ wouldn’t have tied the two together personally but mostly because for all her words, luck wasn’t something she truly believed in. Skill. Practice. Tenacity. Those were her tenants. Determination. Willpower. Strength. Luck had little to do with her contentment in life, if it could be called that. “So to hell with it all?” She smiled a little at that, wondering how much easier life might’ve been if she had his seemingly cavalier take on it. 

[arachnidfellow-archive-deactiva]

“Keep him alive, please… And you get your dream life back.”

The Hitman’s Bodyguard (2017), dir. Patrick Hughes

[cj-rhodes]

emiliofurtado‌:

“Until the day they put me in the ground,” Milho replied, tilting his head to crack the muscles in his neck. Sleeping on a bench definitely wasn’t the best of ideas at his age. “Please, I’ve dealt with worst smells coming out of those two’s asses than anything in here,” he chuckled, standing from his seat. He shook his head, already knowing the reason why they were here. “They’re on the outs with their mother again. I’d say they got all their stubbornness from her but I’d be lying.”

“Hopefully that’s still at least a few days away,” CJ mused, glancing over in the direction of the stalls his one child had been frequenting, “so they’re on the outs but you get the brunt of it? Sounds like a good time.” Her words were dry, as per usual. 

[cj-rhodes]

witheredwarren‌:

Central Park was buzzing with life today, the warm weather practically forced people out the door so they could enjoy it. Just in case the weather turned again. Spring and Winter seemed to be raging a war this time of year, and the crisp breeze proved winter hadn’t fully lost yet. Perched on a bench with a travel mug in hand, Aerith pushed her sunglasses up the bridge of her nose. People watching had always been a hobby of hers but in New York there was so much more to see then back home. And it offered just as many eyes to see them with. Leaning back against the seat, she caught the eye of one of her companions. The black bird was peering out from behind the branches, watching the same way she was. 

Lowering her gaze she took a sip of her tea as she watched the other approach, greeting them with an easy smile of acknowledgement. “Good morning.”

“Hello,” CJ nodded in acknowledgment, “have you been sitting here long?” The Rhodes was on duty and her inquiry was stemming from a place of potential use if the woman had been. They’d just gotten reports of someone being tracked by the NYPD walking through Central Park and the closest exit out was a little past where the woman was seated on the bench. It was only natural that CJ ask some questions if she’d been there a while, maybe she’d seen the suspect in question, whether or not she realized that’s what he was.

[cj-rhodes]

“Just got off duty, Clayton–– I’m assuming this is important?” CJ turned, still adjusting her jacket after removing her badge and stuffing it in her pocket. @themayor-calloway

[fragmentedink-archived]

Pick your bones up, girl. This war is not done with you.

- You got one more fight left to go// CBL

[dailymarvelqueens]

I am a bit of a weird case. Here, people perceive me as French and in France, I am half-Asian or sometimes I have heard that I am not Asian enough. There’s always something and I don’t pay attention to anything. I love acting so much. I’m not going to stop at one, ten, twenty people telling me, “You’re too much like this” or “You’re not enough like that.” My team is well trained. I tell them, “Just get me in the room, get me the audition, even if they’re looking for a blonde American woman,” because once I’m there, maybe I can bring something different and change someone’s mind. I try to force doors. I would never fit a character on paper.

[cj-rhodes]

calebmartinellii‌:

                    A smirk embellished his countenance, his own flagrant disregard to how effortless his life had been since the night he was bitten woefully apparent in every encounter he could endure, a meager shrug being produced in tandem with her flippant inquiry, “Something like that. I’m aware my life has been pretty fucking peachy, in any case.” A trust fund as a booster to whatever future he latched on to and parents that could get him out of trouble in the blink of an eye warranted his warped sense of view, Caleb knowing full well it would be difficult to sway him. “If I die tomorrow or when I’m seventy five at least I’ll know I’ve lived a pretty full life,” sable hues flitted over to his older counterpart, raising a near challenging brow, “Can you say the same?”

“That’s something then. Most people aren’t aware they’ve been so lucky.” Because most people been born into the world needing to fight for their next breath. CJ was lucky too, by all accounts. Had Chrisjen and Arcturo not found and saved her all those years ago, she would’ve probably died an early death. A girl with a gun. “I’m not afraid of death.” Not for herself anyway. But she didn’t want her siblings to go through what they went through with Oliver again. So she stayed alive. She fought because it was truly all she knew at the end of the day. How to rage against the grip of darkness. How to break free from the chains of defeat. “I think those that are have left things unfinished; they’re still waiting for something else.” Whatever it may be. Those who feared death, usually feared the unknown and the incomplete 

[cj-rhodes]

matthias-rhodes‌:

“No, you’re not,” he said wryly, giving her a look. His siblings didn’t need to know he had been pushing himself on his own time. Without them hovering or looking over his shoulder. They still insisted on treating him like the baby of the family. His injuries had been severe, but they were willing to go back to training far earlier than they were willing to let him join in. “And I hardly think Aquafit is going to strain anything.” Still, the idea seemed fun. And weightlessness was definitely a bonus. The removal of the impact from running or other land activities was a nice break for his missing leg. “I’m not made of glass.” 

“You may not be but you’re not an idiot either. But....I agree,” CJ gave a wry laugh and shake of her head, “I doubt Aquafit will strain anything and if it does, well, that’s a different conversation to have. About where you’ve slacked off in your training altogether.” She nodded at him, “when was the last time you were on a hunt, Matt? It’s not good to get complacent.”

[cj-rhodes]

jonahrhodes‌:

calxrhodes‌.

@jonahrhodes, @cj-rhodes

“I didn’t think I’d be this nervous.” Calypso spoke aloud, confiding in the oldest of her siblings. She’d gotten ready with Chrisjen’s help, only seeing her mother again at the front of the aisle. It was up to CJ and Jonah for the last give away, for them to place the red veil atop her head before she’d walk out with Jonah. After all, they’d always been the two people she looked up to growing up in this family. Her fingers brushed against the fabric of the dress’ skirt, eyes gazing out the car window where the botanic gardens slowly came into view. The closer she got, the more nervous she got. Was she at all ready for this? Change her name, her location, her priorities? But she loved him, wasn’t that enough? Air sucked into her lungs as the car stopped, seeing the bridesmaids gathered down the path. As she opened the door, inhaling deeply, she waited, looking over to where the guests were seated and she saw a glimpse of her soon-to-be husband. 

He smiled at Calypso. Jonah didn’t want to admit it, but he was nervous too. He knew the wedding would go smoothly, but it was a big change, albeit a happy one. He tried to think of it as if they were gaining a new member of the family, yet he couldn’t help but see it as losing his younger sister. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Blaze —he was actually glad it was Blaze — he just wanted his family to be close after all they had lost. “It’s going to be great. You’ve got a great support system after all.” He pointed between CJ and himself, trying to lighten the mood. He patted Calypso’s back. “We all love you, Cal.” 

@cj-rhodes​

CJ wasn’t one to be overly sentimental but she was sincerely happy for her sister. There was so much pain tied up in their lives– in their history and origin that this bright spot wasn’t something to be ignored. Her little sister was getting married and while CJ wasn’t surprised, she was still grateful all the same. She herself didn’t see a future differeing much from her present– family first then duty. Everything else was superfluous. But moments like these prompted CJ to remember there was more to this life than blood on hands. “Cal,” she took her sister’s hands in her own, “we’ve been up against fifteen vampires, you and me and you’re telling me walking down the aisle is making you nervous?” She smiled slightly, squeezing Cal’s hands gently between her own before moving to take her sister’s face in her hands. As gentle as she’d ever been really. CJ never was one to show affection, after all. She leaned in, touching forehead to Cal’s, quiet for a beat before speaking softly, her first language flowing from her tongue as she gave her sister a blessing in Khmer. A moment passed once she fell silent and she pulled away, hands dropping to give Cal’s a squeeze. “I hope it’s everything you’ve wanted and more.” Her sister deserved the happiness this day brought, of that CJ was certain. @calxrhodes

[damnedsuggestions]

Spit out the blood in your mouth and keep going

[lahesa]

[cj-rhodes]

annabellerhodes-x‌:

Anna nodded quietly. CJ was entirely too right, it would do no one any good if she wasn’t top of her game. God forbid something happen to her or one of her siblings due to exhaustion and then they’d have to live through another loss and another funeral. Anna smiled softly, “I’m starving, I could go for some dinner,” the younger huntress responded. She’d always take CJ up on any offer to spend time with her because it wasn’t often that CJ did anything with any of them.

“Good, then we can discuss how to convince Calypso not to put us in a ball gown for the wedding.” CJ added lightly, pulling on a sweatshirt and tying her hair back so it was out of her face. Flipping the light switch, she exited the locker room and headed towards one of the Sanctuary’s exits alongside Annabelle. “What are you in the mood for?”