I l l u m i n a t e d

So gather all the rebels now We'll rabble-rouse and sing aloud We don't care what they say, no way, no way And we will leave the empty Chairs to those who say we can't sit there We're fine all by ourselves

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groundzcro‌:

“So are emergency hospital bills when you pass out from hunger and exhaustion, and one really will get you kicked out of your apartment.” Satisfied with their haul, Katsuki started pushing the cart towards the front of the store again, glowering ahead. He must have looked as pissed as he felt, because people were moving the hell out of his way.

“You would have sued them for negligence, demanded they pay for temporary accommodation as they hired me to fix your apartment, and gone about your life. Because they can’t just kick you out because they fucked up. It doesn’t work that way. Don’t let people kick you down, Kari.” // @crscntlight​

“I’ll be more careful, I promise.” She made a little ‘x’ over her heart to show how serious she was about it. 

Kari sent some friendly smiles to those who were on the receiving end of Katsuki’s glare. She knew he wasn’t meaning to send out such nasty looks, but still felt bad to those who just happened to be on the other end of it. “Why do I get the feeling you probably prepared for a scenario like that,” She meant it as a joke, but knowing him she wasn’t exactly doubtful. Katsuki was well versed in arguments and knew how to hold a debate very well.

Even if he was crass at times.

“I wish I had you back when I was in high school,” She began to unload the items onto the conveyor belt. “Your confidence would’ve helped me loads back then. I mean... you’ve helped me a lot now, don’t get me wrong! But I think you would’ve hated me back when I was younger, I kinda let people step all over me.” // @groundzcro​

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superagentwashingtub‌:

Well that was an understatement. Most people expected him to look something like Maine when he took off the armor. Muscles upon muscles, layered impossibly, and chiseled from marble. Instead what they got was David, definitely in shape, but no more remarkable than any other soldier, forgettable even.

“Let me guess, you expected me to be taller?”

@crscntlight

The petite brunette shook her head, “Not at all!” In all fairness, what should one expect under a suit of armor? Kari hadn’t expected to see one at all, so really everything was just up to the imagination. “I don’t know.... I don’t really think I had an image in mind to be honest. You’re just.... different without your armor on.” That was probably the silliest and vaguest explanation ever given, but it was the truth. “You don’t look bad though! I promise!” // @superagentwashingtub​

[crscntlight-blog]

quccnofthecastlc‌:

“Fear not, mortal, for I am a kind Goddess who will continue to grace all with my amazing gunshow.” Taking a moment to pose and flex her muscles, Nora offered a wink before downing a drink of water.

“I like your confidence! And I’ll be looking for you in the stands.” Setting her water down, Nora wandered over to Kari to spot. She needed a break after all. “Five!” Nora pipped up, rather proud of herself. “There were too many that looked super fun!” // @crscntlight​

The chestnut haired girl beamed at the other, letting out a laugh. “I’ve slowly been building it up over the years, tends to peak out every now and then. I just wish I could’ve joined. The running portion looks so fun and it would’ve been nice to see how fast I really am.” 

Physiotherapy was doing wonders for her, but she still wasn’t at the level she used to be to handle something as extraneous as the Olympics. Gripping the bar tightly, Kari pulled it back and held for a couple seconds before letting herself be pulled forward as the cord retracted. She continued these motions for her rep, the strap to her tank top slipping off causing a minor annoyance. She tried to roll her shoulder to slip it back on, but it wasn’t working. // @quccnofthecastlc​

[crscntlight-blog]

groundzcro‌:

“I didn’t say ‘don’t get the toaster’, I said that’s not all we’re here for. You need to fucking live,” Katsuki complained, filling up the cart with base necessities, grabbing a decent space heater to add. The Autumn chill should settle in soon and he wasn’t having her freeze on him. “Your diet is taking a hit because your home is fucked. You can’t cook properly. Don’t lie to me.”

“I still say it’s bullshit you have to pay for anything.” He understood it, he really did. With the amount of building damage they had to pay for lately, Yen Sid was being bled dry, but fucking hell. It was their own damn fault their security wasn’t up to snuff! // @crscntlight​

Kari watched the cart fill up, eyes slowly going wide with the number of items. He hasn’t even seen her apartment and he already seemed to know what she needed. She internally grimaced at the inevitable lecture she’d receive once Katsuki saw how barren her apartment really was and that she let it go on this long.

“Groceries are expensive,” The brunette countered quietly reaching for a spatula with a cute design on it. She really did need more cooking utensils, “And it’s only temporary! I was even able to afford cabbage and beef this time around. I’m still going to the gym atleast. It takes my mind off things.” At the mention of payment, she really did grimace that time. “I’m just glad I didn’t have to go searching for a new apartment altogether. I don’t know what I would’ve done if they suddenly cancelled the rental contract on me.” // @groundzcro

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quccnofthecastlc‌:

“Not that- hnn- I don’t- love a compliment- but can it wait?” The last thing Nora needed was to get flustered while lifting massive weights. Kari was right, of course. Under all the frills and cutesy outfits laid the body of a Goddess. Of a valkyrie. And, well, Nora did live up to her name. Still, she was very much in the middle of lifting something heavier than her, and she needed to concentrate.

Finishing her rep, Nora let the weights fall down behind her, taking a step forward with deep breaths as she reached for her water.

“Thaaaat’s why I signed up for it! Gonna show off my amazing bod for the whoooole space station!” // @crscntlight​

Kari grinned, “We are not worthy.” It’d still be a while before she had abs like Nora, but the brunette was slowly gaining her muscle back. Hospitalization for a couple weeks meant she was stuck in bed for a good while, then when she was released the doctor forbade her from any extraneous activities while she recovered. Mostly it just meant Kari couldn’t do a lot and lost a lot of the muscles she gained.

Getting them back was another climb up a steep hill, but physiotherapy was helping. 

“I’ll be cheering you on in the stands-camera ready for when you take home that trophy,” She winked, finishing her rep and standing on her feet to stretch out her muscles before she got to using one of the machines. “How many events are you participating in again? Four? Five?” Kari knew the other signed up for a good number.... // @quccnofthecastlc​

[crscntlight-blog]

groundzcro‌:

“We’re not here for just a shitty toaster!” Katsuki snapped, stomping down the halls and looking through the appliances. 

“I told you, I’ll pay and you can slowly pay me back.” He stressed the point because he damn well didn’t want her scrambling to put together money she didn’t have. Katsuki had a lot to his name. More than he really let on. He made a shitton of money, and barely spent a cent of it. He wasn’t going to do anything as stupid as offer to give her money, that was a Goddamn insult, but she needed to get back on her feet.

Katsuki was still livid that the costs weren’t covered by Yen Sid themselves.

“You live on a diet like that and you’ll wind up back in hospital, don’t give me that shit.” // @crscntlight​

Kari let out a quiet sigh, placing the toaster in the cart and following after him. She still wasn’t sure how to feel about being helped out. There was no question about whether she was appreciative or not, because she absolutely was! Groceries was probably the biggest hurdle because it was so constant, and she was thankful her friends were willing to share what they had with her. 

It was just that there was so much money involved and she knew she’d be paying each and all of them back-even if she had to insist they take her money. On top of that, Kari started setting money away as an emergency fund incase something like this happened in the future.

“My diet isn’t that bad,” She pouted-maybe it was, but it was only temporary! Just until she was back on her feet. “But I grabbed the toaster anyhows.” 

In some ways, Kari was glad she brought Katsuki on this trip. Or rather he brought her. He heard about her little situation and demanded she meet him at the store immediately to fix this. Still, he was abrasive and goal orientated enough to keep them on track. // @groundzcro​

[crscntlight-blog]

“You look different without your armor.”

She couldn’t help the way her eyes roved his body as if expecting the armor to poof out of nowhere. Kari hadn’t actually seen Washington since the blackout-and boy wasn’t that a rough time! She was happy to see him up and about, she really had wanted to thank him for saving her the way he did. But it was hard to thank someone when they were a literal walking suit of armor in the midst of darkness. // @superagentwashingtub

[crscntlight-blog]

“Oh! Hi!”

Kari flashed him a smile before ducking her head to swallow her food. Didn’t want bad manners to show! Straightening up in her chair, the brunette watched as the other slide into the chair across from her. Quietly, she pushed her plate to the middle of the table, one half of a sandwich still untouched for him to grab if he wanted it. “Long time no see!” // @cherrycheerss

[crscntlight-blog]

✉ → Nora || n&k

nora: i wonder how long they've been dead

nora: maybe they haven't even seen it

nora: movie night with the ghosts! we'll ask them what they like!

kari: that's a lot of movies

kari: horror movie night with my bestie and my new apparent ghost roommates

kari: what could go wrong

[crscntlight-blog]

simplyusual‌:

the question surprised and somewhat intrigued the likes of rinka. why did they want to take a picture of her? she, in comparison to others that walked the asteroid, was incredibly plain. the only interesting thing about her appearance she could think of was her outfit, and that was because naraka handmade her outfit and naraka always put his heart and soul into each of his creations.

“sure,” she agreed as while she may have not understood their reasoning she was happy to at least make someone happy even if it was something just as small as allowing them to take her picture. // @crscntlight​

kari smiles, bright and full of life at the other. “okay! thank you! just stand there and hm, you can smile if you want or pose. you don’t have to do either.” she backs away to find the perfect distance to take her photo. 

there was something exciting about people not behaving as if they were having their photo being taken. just acting and living and having the camera capture that. there is nothing wrong with smiling or posing for the camera, kari knows she does that too. but when she saw rinka she just wanted a photo of her. whether that was with the camera or not, kari just wanted to capture of a moment of her life. 

[crscntlight-blog]

wvrwick‌:

Warwick was willing to be whatever his friends needed him to be, always one step behind them to make sure that they don’t fall. Sometimes, that means that he has to go on a shopping trip or two to make sure that they remember that he loves them very deeply. Today was one of those days, the man more than happy to be in the company of a true friend, the smile on his face reflecting as much. 

“A day with you is never a bore, butterfly.” Warwick was genuine with his words, passing that feeling through his tone in such a way that Kari would hopefully not miss on it. // @crscntlight​

“I’m always happy to help you with whatever you need me to.” These words were accompanied by a shrug and a nod, as if he was agreeing with his own words. “It’s what I’m here for, after all.”

“Awwww, keep talking like that and my ego’s going to explode.” She giggled behind her hand. Her friends were so ready to hand out compliments to everyone, it warmed her heart. Even at times she didn’t feel like she deserved those compliments, it was nice to know they thought so highly of her. “But you’re just saying that because you were never with me when I do yoga. Now that’s pretty boring.”

“Yeah, but I can’t be relying on you guys all the time.” She reasons, mostly to herself. She knows, she knows that everyone around her still sees her as someone to protect, someone to look out for. Kari knows she hasn’t done the best job of standing on her own two feet either. “Besides, you need time to do you too.”

Kari clutches her bag and leads the two into the store. She’s not entirely sure what to buy first, she has so much she needs to replace. Well, maybe some blankets and pillows would be good. “I think we should start with the stuff for my room... Other than the futon I don’t have anything else there.” // @wvrwick

[couragecrests]

so come away || t&k

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couragecrests‌:

taichi finds himself - quite comfortably, might he add - in kari’s apartment for the first time in about … six hours. he’s been spending a lot of there, especially lately. truth be told, he’s been spending as much spare time with his little sister as he can get away with. with all that’s been happening lately - from the stuff he won’t mention to the other stuff he really doesn’t like to talk about - it’s a wonder that he’s managed to keep himself from full out moving in to her apartment. the fact that she would never let him is completely outside of that realm of thinking.

at the moment he’s looking around the apartment, originally with the idea of finding himself a light snack. but like he’d been quick to realize the first time he stopped by post flooding, there’s not much of anything to be found.

“… do you wanna go grocery shopping? or furniture shopping? i’m really feeling some furniture shopping. i have a credit card with your name on it. uh. actually it has my name on it. so there’s that.” // @crscntlight

Kari feels embarrassed about her apartment at times. Just the lack of everything can be overwhelming in some moments. When her friends visit, she feels bad she cannot accommodate them as she did before. The flood was out of her control though, she rationalizes to herself, it is not her fault that she lost everything. Still, when her friends come to visit and she sees the flash of sympathy in their eyes-she cannot help but internally grimace.

“Are we buying for you or for me?” She asks, giving her brother a pout. She has cup ramen that he could stuff himself with if he really wanted to! “Because I’m pretty sure I told you that I’d get everything replaced I’d just need some time.”

And a lot of it. She’d been working overtime at her job to cover costs to replacing everything. While she managed to get some essentials, it was still a pretty steep hill to climb. “Besides you can’t be spending all your hard earned money on me!” // @couragecrests​

[crscntlight-blog]

“I’m just saying all I really need is a toaster.”

Kari shook the aforementioned item vigorously-but gently. The two were in a department store shopping for more necessities because her entire apartment had gotten flooded out and now there was essentially nothing to her name.

Her boarding was completely bare, save for a few select items that she managed to replace at the moment; a couple bowls, some forks and spoons, a couple towels, some toiletries and a microwave. Everything else was still in the works.

Atleast Kari didn’t mind sleeping on the floor while she saved up to buy a new mattress. “Just pop some bread in and I’m good. The microwave helps cook the cup ramen.” // @groundzcro

[crscntlight-blog]

“Your biceps are goals.” 

Kari eyed the set of muscles on Nora’s eyes with open awe. The redhead was busy lifting weights the size of her torso with the thickness of her arms. It was amazing! She continued her own rep, a good sized dumbbell in her left hand as she watched Nora do her own. 

The redhead was preparing for the Olympics events-one that Kari would be cheering her on from the stands. The brunette was still pretty consistent when it came to working out in the gym-despite all the fiascoes around her, and invited Nora once she learned the other was participating. 

“And your abs.” // @quccnofthecastlc

[crscntlight-blog]

Letting Loose Ends Go || w&k

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superagentwashingtub‌:

The fear on the girl’s face was enough to break even Washington’s heart, no matter how many walls he’d tried to put up around himself. These were the things they didn’t tell you when asking you to go undercover. They never mentioned that not everyone you met would be a bad guy, that you might end up caring about some of them, and that at the end of the day, you just might be locking up someone you’d come to consider a friend.

“No…no, you don’t have to worry about that. Nothing from me,” And then because he hadn’t quite risked his life or worse, pissing off the Director, enough with this assignment, Wash just had to ask the girl, “Kari, why did you join up? You just don’t…seem the type?”

@crscntlight

“Oh, uhm, money.”

The answer seems kinda stupid now that she says it outloud, but no one has ever asked. No one ever does, so she tells him because really what’s the harm? “I, uh, needed money for a surgery and they were willing to pay... I really couldn’t say no to their offer, you know?” She reaches up rubbing a hand over where her heart is, the feeling of a scar beneath her finger tips. 

The memory is still fresh in her mind. Struggling to make ends up and then the Boss coming to her with money-a favour they called it. Kari accepted knowing what she was getting into, it didn’t make it any easier, but she was stuck between a rock and a hard place. “So after I got better, uh, here I am. Not that grand is it? I mean compared to other people’s reasons.” // @superagentwashingtub​

[crscntlight-blog]

quccnofthecastlc‌:

“Huh, well.. if you want to earn your stay you could make for an excellent guard ghost.” Not that anyone really tried to break into her place. Nora had a reputation of.. being terrifying when angry. Her tiny body still packed that dwarf rage.

“What am I going to do with jewellery? You can’t fight with that!” Well, not unless it was enchanted, but that was a little out of her field of expertise. She never really cared for magic anyway. “Weapons. Armour. Anything to fight.” Jewellery was useless to her.

“Aww, you’re so sweet! Ah, well, of course. Market piece’s are mass produced and usually made quicker. Besides, they’re not made with a handler in mind. I have a select customer range so I can make sure to fit it perfectly for them, and I have more time. I’m not stressed to get more out.” // @crscntlight​

“I could!” Kari jumped eagerly onto the offer. Eagerly as her ghostly figure let her. Her excitement got the best of her, so for a second she kind of poofed before coming back a second later. Her abilities were still linked to the emotions she felt making them quite unstable at times.

“Weapons,” She mumbled looking around, now feeling a little silly for asking but it never hurt to be sure. “Your customers must adore your work-I know I do.” Maybe if she was alive she would’ve commissioned her? Kari wasn’t sure what she was like when she was living, maybe completely different to how she is now.

“What about that one?” She pointed a transparent finger to the item in the back. It was large and imposing, taller than her. A hammer from the looks of it, it didn’t look quite as finished as the rest of the items in the shop though. “Is that for one of your customers?” // @quccnofthecastlc​

[crscntlight-blog]

Pushing Daises || t&k

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motcrlegs‌:

Iida was good at his job. He was really good. Sure, sometimes things got a little skewed out of place, but he knew the difference between right and wrong, and he was never going to be one to sit by idly while something was happening. That wasn’t who he was as a person. 

But the last thing that he had been expecting when he rounded the corner was the girl that he had been tracking for the better part of a week being on the ground in front of him. Of course he was going to help her up. The entire point of this was to follow her back to the head quarters, not take her down. 

They weren’t after weak links. // @crscntlight

“Hello, miss, are you alright?” Iida stooped next to her, offering her a hand with a quickness. 

“Ow...” Kari hissed, pulling her knee up to her chest. Her knee was scrapped badly, dirt and blood mixing. It was a necessary casualty, unfortunately. “My knee.” The young girl winced, taking the head and standing up.

So this was the guy who was tailing her? He looked like some door-to-door salesman if she was being honest. But she couldn’t trust him and using what acting skills she learned through her time under the gang, made her legs wobble and pinched her face to make it seem like she was hurting worse than she actually was. // @motcrlegs​