bad omens

Written by S ! For wearelondonhq.

[moonglowmuses]

"no need to work on your metaphor game, brother. i'm just being too hard on you. even if you insist that i am not. i should calibrate my tone," adam suggested, meaning every word. "talking to yourself can be helpful. if you can't trust your own voice, how can you trust others', do you know what i'm saying?" seeing the other's expression soften was something that adam did not miss. most of the time, he might, but it seemed that he and link had a bond that was stronger than most. "i used to talk to myself, too." did he still? perhaps from time to time. adam was reminded of being locked away in that bathroom with nothing but fear and darkness. he'd talked to himself until the very end, because he was wholly, unequivocally, alone. not that he needed to burden link with all of that traumatic baggage. "keeping your head above water doesn't mean good," adam mentioned with a curious and compassionate lift of his brow. "this place is hard to adjust to for a lot of us," adam said, studying his companion's expressions carefully. "i have," adam admitted after an appropriate pause. "i am not supposed to be here either," adam stated, trying not to swallow too hard. "but then again, i don't feel that i am supposed to be anywhere." even back home, he'd been tortured. disposed of.

[phantcmwritings]

Link listened. Adam’s words settled heavier than the ones that had come before. There was a familiar kind of ache in them. One he knew too well. He nodded slowly, the motion deliberate, like he was agreeing with something deeper than the words themselves. “Maybe it’s not about where you’re supposed to be,” he said after a moment, his voice low but steady. “Maybe it’s about who you end up standing beside.” He shrugged a little, as if he wasn’t sure if that made any sense. He had firmly believed he was in the right place next to the champions, but waking up a century later to a Hyrule in ruins - and then, in London… it was messing with his head. “I’m glad you are here, though,” he said. Simple and honest, without metaphors. “Even if it feels like we’re both just… treading water.” There was a tiny smile then. Almost self-deprecating. But there was a spark of something steadier underneath, too. Something that said he meant it. “Would you like to get a drink with me?” 

[trgedies-deactivated20250601]

She had to bite her tongue. If she was right, dealing with Stu would be a lot like dealing with herself, and Amber had less patience than anyone else she knew. And she didn't like being called a fan club member. No, she was much more than that. But she knew better than to vocalize it the way she normally would. "Just because I'm a fan doesn't mean that influenced my choice." And it hadn't, not really. She kinda geeked out the first time she'd put the outfit on, sure, but that didn't mean anything.

She took the seat across from him when it was offered. "I don't cry unless it gets me something, and I know better than to swing on you," she stated with a small shrug. Almost hesitantly, she took his hand and shook it before she leaned back in the seat. "My name's Amber, Amber Freeman. I'm not from Woodsboro, you wouldn't know my family. Not like my friends." She wouldn't say their names, because if anyone was going to find them, it would be her. And she didn't want to hurt them, so she wouldn't let anyone else.

[phantcmwritings]

“Sure, the copied costumes and methods were just a coincidence, I get it.” He teased, and waved his hand, as if waving away the idea of her being influenced by them.. Stu let her hand go with an exaggerated flourish, like they’d just signed some shady, unspoken deal. “Amber Freeman,” he repeated. He told himself he’d remember that name, but actually it would be forgotten by the time he left this place. “Noted.” He leaned back in his chair, stretching his legs out under the table as he studied her. “No swinging, no crying, and not even name-dropping your friends.” His grin widened. “You’re a smart girl. Almost like you know how the game works already.” 

His hand wrapped around his canned drink and he took a sip. “So.” He continued as the can hit the table again, his fingers tapping against it. “You came all the way over here just to… say hi? Tell a spooky urban legend he’s got fans?” He tilted his head, smiling at her. “Or are you here for something a little more fun, Amber Freeman?” 

[demongemz]

Ellen had been lost in thought it was something she often found herself given that she was stuck thinking about Orlok and her return to the land of the living. It was horrible to believe that Thomas was still in danger if the man couldn’t take no for an answer. “Hello, I suppose I’m just lost in my thoughts, I often get lost in them if only to get a few moments to myself” she mused honestly before tilting her head “What is this underground you speak of? I have to admit I’m a little unfamiliar with such a thing?” @phantcmwritings

[phantcmwritings]

Stu’s eyebrows shot up, a grin tugging at his mouth. “Alright, cool. Either you’re not from around here… or you’ve been living under a rock. Like, a really big rock. For a long time.” He tilted his head a little and watched her curiously. “It’s pretty shitty, actually, so I can’t say you’re missing out. Smells vaguely of sheep, even though it’s trains running underneath a big city.” He shrugged his shoulders, leaning back in his seat. “You good? Are you lost or something?” 

[cressidium]

CHOI SEUNG-HYUN (T.O.P.) as Thanos (230) and ROH JAE-WON as Nam-gyu (124) in SQUID GAME 2

[moonglowmuses]

if hyun-ju had any reservations about this night, and what she was about to do, than said reservations went on the back-burner when she saw thanos' smile. she had not expected it, but she'd grown to care for the man. he was, perhaps, her dearest friend. "i'm coming, i'm coming!" hyun-ju yelled above the music as thanos dragged her along. "a binding verbal contract, huh?" hyun-ju repeated, hearing herself laugh, which could be a rare occurrence, depending on her company. "... i guess i can get on board with that!" hyun-ju admitted, surprised herself, but not entirely in a bad way. the woman actually chuckled when thanos mentioned taxes. "i'll do my taxes at home, then. you've ruined my plans!" hyun-ju exclaimed playfully as she patted her pockets as if papers were in there. hyun-ju looked around and it seemed as if thanos' assessment was correct: no one was looking at her. at them. they were in their own little bubbles. hyun-ju took a leap of faith and leaned into thanos as the music blared. "are you gonna spin me?" hyun-ju said teasingly... with a lift of her brow.

[phantcmwritings]

Thanos gasped, like she’d just asked him to marry her. “Spin you?! Excuse me, are we in a ballroom right now? Are we in Cinderella?” He teased, already releasing one of her hands and taking a dramatic step back like he was about to perform a royal waltz. Then he grinned wide and real. “You know what? For you, I’ll make an exception.” He gave her a playful wink, then spun her gently beneath the lights, hands careful but confident, as if this wasn’t his first time turning chaos into choreography. When she came back around, he caught her hands again and leaned in just enough to be heard. “Look at you,” he said, grinning. “Breaking contracts and expectations. Who even are you tonight, Hyun-ju?” He teased her, then raised an eyebrow. “If that even is your real name.” He smirked. 

[moonglowmuses]

"not at all, bud. that made no sense to me. but that's probably a 'me' problem than a 'you' problem, okay?" to see link so focused and serious made adam take pause. perhaps he was being too hard on him. not that he intended any adverse variables himself. "it'll take a while to come up with metaphors that i can understand," adam teased, being self-deprecating but in a fun and playful manner. he knew that he wasn't always the brightest bulb, but he was turning into a good guy, so that mattered more than abstract measurements of intelligence. "not too much this time," adam said with a flash of kindness in his hues. he reached over to pat his friend on the shoulder. "i'm being too hard on you," adam said. "are you all right?"

[phantcmwritings]

Link’s lips twitched, not quite a smile, but something close. A flicker of relief, maybe, or appreciation that Adam was still trying to follow even when he wasn’t making much sense. “I’ll work on my metaphor game,” he murmured, his tone dry but light. The pat on his shoulder caught him off guard. It was small and simple, but it made something in his chest shift slightly. He glanced at Adam, and for a second, his expression softened. “You’re not being too hard.” He hesitated, then added. “You’re honest. I like that. I tend to… I don’t know. I talk to myself, mostly, so everything being said makes perfect sense.” He half-joked. He did tend to talk to himself. It was when he got the answers he wanted, but didn’t necessarily need. “I’m keeping my head above water.” He said with a nod. “Everything feels different and off balance. Like I’m not meant to be here, but I have to be anyway.” He said, furrowing his brows,, and looked up at Adam. “Have you had that feeling before?” 

[fcrafcrtnight-deactivated202505]

"OH, it's very calming. extremely. and you know, if you're looking for something a little more with a kick... black tea is close to coffee." and yes, she was smiling, because.. steve was apparently a good company. and maybe, it was because she couldn't shake the fact that he reminded her of someone that she had once wished to protect and... no, she didn't know what to do with that AT ALL. she nodded a little bit, glancing down at her hands. even if violet did not know how to acknowledge it? yeah, that had hit a little too close to home. "you know, i can't even say anything against that, because... same. nothing's better than knowing you belong somewhere, right? that you have a home to go back to. that you don't have to keep looking over your shoulder." grinning. "everyone's bound to have a mismatched socks phase at one point." and that question? well. yeah. "a lot like what you mentioned. finding a home. knowing where you belong. not having to be afraid." @phantcmwritings

[phantcmwritings]

Steve’s smile softened, and for a moment he didn’t say anything, just watched her. There was something quiet and honest in the way she’d said it, and it hit him harder than expected. Maybe because he’d been pretending for so long that not having a place where he belonged didn’t bother him any more. Or maybe because hearing someone want the same thing made it feel a little less impossible. “Yeah,” he said eventually, voice a little lower. “That sounds pretty perfect, actually.” He paused, taking a sip of his coffee, then smiling a little. “Even the mismatched socks part.” He paused, trying to gather his thoughts as he looked down at his drink. “If either of us figures out what that kind of peace looks like, I hope we’re smart enough to know when we’ve found it.” He said. His expression was still light. “I think sometimes people get so used to the chaos they forget how to stop running,  you know?” He pursed his lips thoughtfully. “I don’t know if that makes sense.” 

[ofwhytewidow]

Yelena was confused at first, not realizing right away the he was even speaking to her. He was amusing, theatrical. She could respect that. "How about this..." She placed her hands behind her back as though she was a soldier giving orders, her chin tilted upwards as though she meant to appear taller than she was. "You give me half of that churro and i won't alert the authorities. Her demeanor was tough, but if you looked closely you'd see a jovial glimmer in her pale Green eyes. "The authorities and I are very close, you know." It was practically an inside joke with herself. Being an assassin and all. "Ill even let that jab about my outfit slide. This time."

@phantcmwritings

[phantcmwritings]

Stu blinked at her, then slowly tore the churro in half and held it out with the reverence of someone handing over classified intel. “Well, shit. Didn’t realise I was negotiating the most stylish enforcer.” He gave a solemn nod, like this was a formal treaty to be signed. “Half a churro it is. I accept your terrifying terms.” He took a dramatic bite of his own half, then pointed the remaining stub at her. “You say you’re close with the authorities, but now I’m starting to think you are the authorities. Or like… A really charming hitman with great taste in jackets.” He raised an eyebrow playfully. “Should I consider myself lucky to be let off this easily? Or is it my dashing looks?” 

[daydrcamerss-deactivated2025070]

"i'm touched. i don't think my son would agree. billy... would rather me not take the title of mother i am sure." which gutted her, didn't it? though of course... it was her own fault. "it's a pleasure to see you, stu." she had nothing against the boy, if anything? she was glad that billy had someone by his side. "... things are... difficult, i can't deny that. things with billy are tense but i'm sure that's no surprise to you." nancy mused with a sad smile. "i hope that he has you to count on still?" she questioned with a raise of her brow. "are the two of you still close?" @phantcmwritings

[phantcmwritings]

Stu’s smirk didn’t falter, but it did cool - a little bit. “Well, he’s always been dramatic,” he said, his voice light and almost fond. “I wouldn’t take it too personal. Being pissed off at your parents is basically what we do at 18, right?” He shrugged his shoulders, his gaze flicking across her like he was sizing her up again. “I think tense is just how he does relationships in general.” He said thoughtfully. He didn’t answer her question right away. He glanced off to the side, as if he was considering whether to or not to lie. Then he shrugged. “I haven’t talked to him in a while, actually.” He said, his tone was breezy. “Guess we’ve both been busy.” He met her eyes again, and put his ever so charming smile back on, changing the topic. “Anyway. How long have you been back?” 

[trgedies-deactivated20250601]

So it was him. London was by far the oddest place Amber had ever visited. The dead were walking again, and it wasn't like the theories online that said he hadn't ever died. No, this was Stu Macher in his prime. He couldn't be older than Amber was, and if he was, it couldn't be by much. He was just as they had said he was, in the interviews she had seen, in the books she had read. It felt weird, like she was looking in a mirror. Because they had both gone along with it, hadn't they? They had both enjoyed it, right? Maybe Amber had had ulterior motives, but that couldn't take away from the fact it had been exhilarating, she couldn't deny that she would do it again if given the chance.

"I'm a lot of things, but I'm not a hypocrite." She didn't want to outright say it, not with so many people around them. But she figured he was smart enough to piece that together. "I just . . . I was one of them, after you. And I just . . . I guess I just wanted to talk to you. To ask you some things, if you would answer them."

[phantcmwritings]

Stu’s eyes didn’t leave her. His smirk twitched into something more thoughtful. This was… new. An angle he hadn’t considered before, but it definitely wasn’t an unwelcome one. It was rather refreshing. “One of them?” He echoed, raising an eyebrow. He had heard his and Billy’s stunt had gathered a following. “That’s cute. Little fan club spin-off.” He tilted his head as he eyed her, curious, but not convinced. Not yet. He didn’t fully trust her. But the part of him that was intrigued wanted to know everything. 

“You have my attention, little miss,” he said, voice easy. “Most people come up to me crying or swinging. Sometimes both. This is a nice change of pace.” He nodded slowly, and gestured towards the seat across from him. He then held out his hand like this was some kind of twisted job interview. His smirk widened. “I’m Stu, as we established.” He said, all false charm, and bright-eyed trouble. “And you are…?” 

[trgedies-deactivated20250601]

He hadn't been there for the aftermath, he hadn't seen how affected the survivors were. Stu had made his choices, he had done what he'd done. He had no reason to care. There was a small part of Randy that had hoped he would, but it didn't feel as if he would. "When they deserve it, why wait?" He didn't even respond to his next words, just rolling his eyes as he found something to do, stacking cups and lids as he listened to Stu speaking. "Maybe we had a bond at one point, but that shit's long gone now." He turned then, glaring at Stu, fists clenched at his sides, nails digging into his palms. God, he wished he didn't need this job, or else he'd have decked him right there. "I am loyal. To Sidney, to Dewey. To Tatum's memory. Not to you fuckers, there's no chance in hell I'd ever be loyal to you again." He hesitated then, hands relaxing just slightly as he turned back around. "Yeah, well, things change."

[phantcmwritings]

“Well, shit, man. Look at you getting all righteous on me.” He tilted his head, a grin still playing on his lips but with something colder behind it now. “Loyal to the dead, bitter to the living. Pretty catchy, I gotta say.” He didn’t move away, if anything he leaned in more, watching Randy with a mock-curious tilt of his head. “It’s cute that you’re sticking to your little moral loyalty checklist, though. How’s it working out for you now? Is it paying off?” He smiled sweetly. He shrugged, almost lazily. “You act like you’re above it all, but you loved that night. The adrenaline, the chaos. You spent your whole life watching horror movies and talking about killers like you understood them, man.” His eyes narrowed. “What happened, Randy?” He let out another theatrical sigh. “Guess it just hits different when it’s your friends, huh?” 

[daydrcamerss-deactivated2025070]

diana shrugged her shoulders. "it... it was messed up. it was... the worst time of my life. it... it still sits with me now. i can't... i can't sleep in the dark. i can't have a closet in my room and i feel like i gotta check under the bed every night." she let out a forced and humourless laugh. "it's... it's shit. i can't deny that. it's fucked with my head. i reckon it's what got me into the darker things. horror movies. dark movies. dark... things." diana admitted with a shrug of her shoulders before clicking her tongue. "it's a shitty thing and people are fucking shitty." she agreed, nodding her head. "trauma bonds people, right?" she teased and let out a small chuckle. "here's to that. i may not know what you've been through and you don't gotta tell me but... i want you to know you got someone on your side, alright? if you want it, that is." @phantcmwritings

[phantcmwritings]

Thanos nodded, letting out a slow breath. “Shit, man,” he said again, a little quieter this time. “That’s a lot to carry. He looked back up at her. “The dark’s supposed to be safe, you know?” He shrugged. “That’s the real mindfuck. You grow up thinking monsters aren’t real, and then one steps out of a closet with a gun.” He picked up his drink again, but didn’t sip from it. He just turned the glass slowly in his hands. “I get why you’d want to live in the darker stuff. If you sit in it long enough, it stops trying to jump-scare you.” He glanced at her with a crooked smile. “Plus, horror movies won’t lie to you. You see the killer coming a mile off. Real life ain’t that generous.” He sipped his drink thoughtfully before leaning a little closer over the bar. “Well, since you shared… I guess I should, too,” he said, playfully. Though, his story was anything but playful. He thought for a moment, not wanting to go into too many details. “I was invited to partake in… games. Said it was about money, but it was more a life or death kinda thing, you know? Think if you lost of tic-tac-toe, and instead of trying again like you normally would, you…” he mimicked a gun to his temple. “Either way,” he pushed himself back up. “It was a better scene than a house where shouting was the soundtrack, and love came with conditions.” He watched her for a moment. "Trauma bonding." He held his drink up for her to clink their glasses together.

[phantcmwritings]

William adjusted his tie with a kind of precision that came from habit more than it did vanity, his gaze settling on the man across the room with interest. "Mr. Stark," he said smoothly, extending a hand, "I've read articles on your work. Brilliant stuff, truly. A bit flashy for my own personal taste, perhaps, but undeniably effective." He smiled politely. "I run a small entertainment-tech operation myself. Mostly animatronic. Less global defence, more birthday parties. Still, I'd love to hear how you keep your machines from ripping themselves apart under pressure.

@thefinalgxrl

[phantcmwritings]

You are so mad. And yet so wrong. (Henry/William)

William let out a short laugh. He leaned back in his chair like Henry's words had only mildly entertained him. "Mad? Henry, please," he said with a smile. "You've always been better with dramatic phrases than diagnostics." He folded his hands neatly on the table. "I wouldn't call it mad. I'd say... passionate, maybe. There's a slight difference." He shrugged, eyeing Henry carefully. "But I suppose sometimes you've got to be a little bad to take risks. Which, I’d say, we have done, with all of this. No?" He gestured vaguely around the workshop.

@loomingdread

[phantcmwritings]

Link paused in the doorway, keys still in hand, blinking at the very not-him person already sitting in his living room like it was the most normal thing in the world. "... Hi," he said slowly, stepping inside and closing the door behind him. He stood there for a moment, wrecking his brain as he tried to think if they had plans tonight. "Did we have plans? Or did I let you in before I left?" He frowned, was he ok? "Or... What's going on?"

@daydrcamerss

[phantcmwritings]

Link stood stiffly by the café entrance, fidgeting with the sleeves of his jacket as he listened with the intensity of someone being briefed for battle, and not just a social situation like he was being talked into. "Okay," he muttered, nodding slowly. "So... I say hi. Then I smile. Then I don't, what was it? Don't talk about swords?" He glanced at them, dead serious. "Are you sure people don't like hearing about swords? They're pretty awesome. Or, you know, archery? Bows?" He suggested. Maybe it was a bad idea to be coaxed into being more social. "Maybe you should go... order me a coffee or something?" He smiled innocently, hoping he'd get out of this awful socialisation dare.

@fcdcdmcmories

[fcrafcrtnight-deactivated202505]

"AH. YES. I MAY HAVE DONE SOME.. ALTERATIONS. ER.." was edgar a complete disaster? yes, he supposed that he was and always had been, as far as he was concerned. regardless, he hadn't meant to break anything and so.. well, yeah. that was a problem in and off itself, because he hoped that the other wasn't going to.. hold him accountable? er. "i'm not really the technology type."

[phantcmwritings]

Link's eyes narrowed ever so slightly at Edgar's words as he looked back at the tangled mess of wires. He didn't say 'I figured' out loud, but the silence practically screamed it. He let out a slow breath, leaned back on his heels, and glanced over his shoulder at the other. "Well, you've certainly got a talent for picking technology apart for not being the technology type." he said and shook his head. He reached out to the mess of wires and tried to figure out where the wires would go. "If I get electrocuted and die tonight, you're going to have one pissed off ghost haunting you till the end of time." He told him.