𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕟

ᴛʜᴇ ɢʜᴏᴤᴛ ɪɴ ᴍᴇ ᴡᴀᴤ ᴛʀᴜᴇ ʙᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ'ᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ʜᴀᴜɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏᴏ ᴊᴜᴤᴛ ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ᴤᴇᴇ ɪᴛ ᴀʟʟ ᴀʟᴏɴɢ

[prcdigality]

Mar’i Grayson.  

“When they clearly need it. Yes. Other than that I usually just offer” she shrugged.  She would give the shirt  off her back if someone asked. She was just that kind of person. “I won’t apologize for helping you. But I am sorry it was such an inconvenience to you.” she pouted. 

“Offering, telling, it’s the same thing.” Ethan waved, finding a bit more amusement with the situation with his previous annoyance diminishing. “You got a name, Miss Giving-Help-Without-Choice?” Ethan chuckled at her. “Don’t--” Well shit now he felt a guilt for it. “It’s hard for me is all.” Letting people help. He wouldn't make a big deal of it, and he hoped she wouldn’t either. “i’m Ethan.” He relented. 

[prcdigality]

Garfield Logan.

Open starter for @assemblestarter​

      “Okay, okay.” Gar tried to steady his excitement. He had come up with the idea after watching a few too many scary movies by himself. Pretty sure that neither Beetlejuice nor Candyman existed, it was an excuse to spend late night time with his friends. “So, you say Beetlejuice three times. And I’ll say Candyman five times. Then we get them to fight.” 

“I still think, if we really wanna do this right, we also add Bloody Mary to the mix. A Mexican Standoff for them all, three way fight, we advertise and sell tickets and popcorn. Maybe red popcorn just in case there’s any splashage. And we outta really promote. “We’re gonna do it right.”

[prcdigality]

Mitchell Mayo. 

“If you’re not eating pickles in 2021, just don’t talk to me” Mitchell shook his head, speaking as passionately as somebody might have about something with a little more weight. “Seriously, there are bigger problems in the world. It’s not going to kill you, I promise…It’s really not a big dill” he continued, letting out a deep sigh. “They’re really good, I’m just saying”. 

@assemblestarter​ 

Confusion furrowed Ethan’s expression, both from the randomness of the question and the thought of someone dismissing pickles being the delicious snack that they are. “Since when are pickles deadly? Clowns, Penguins, and plants are more normalized on the deadly but pickles? C’mon you’re pulling my leg.” 

[prcdigality]

Oswald Cobblepot. 

.

Oswald always loved Ethan there was no denying that but he knew that love was a weapon, he’d lost plenty when his guard was down, and with everything that happened in his life he became hard and turned his son away to ensure he didn’t die. Only now it seemed to have forever left a mark on his physic to where he almost lost him anyhow to drugs. He’d done everything in his power to ensure his son lived even if it was clear the other hated him. “I want the actual Answer Ethan, you are so brilliant yet you poison yourself why?” He mused it was rather a time to drop the masks and get to the route of the issues that divided them for so long. “I always worry about you dying, I’m your father, and I don’t think you have to actively plan such things when you take such toxic things.” He replied, taking a seat in front of the other. “I sent you away for your safety, it doesn’t mean I didn’t keep track of every single thing you did Ethan.”

It had felt like no matter what path Ethan found himself on, he was fucked. Maybe it was just genetics. Which theoretically he could blame on Penguin but his mother was a bit fucked up too so, so he never had much of a chance. Craziness from the pa, addiction from the ma, and a whole lot of grey morality from them both to go around in spades. Oswald’s initial rejection had broken his mind in a way Ethan hadn’t even realized until after the fact. A single moment makes you decide to drop everything in your life, the LOVE of your life, become someone new, be someone different. “I mean--- did you know my mom well?” Ethan couldn’t imagine so, given how she tried to avoid the topic of Penguin like the plague most of his life. “Might be a genetic thing.” Also the bad parenting of letting him access this crap for as long as he could remember. He arched a brow with genuine confusion drawn upon his face. “So you could keep track of everything I did but you can’t send me a birthday card?” That was MEAN of him and he knew it. Poor taste for the guy who had saved his life (his father, he reminded himself). “Look I appreciate the gestures and all but you might wanna refamiliarize yourself with the term ‘lost cause’.” He FAILED as a supervillain, FAILED as a boyfriend, and well-- he was still a good business man but he doubted anyone would wanna do business anymore with the drug addict failed supervillain who recently OD’d.

[tkstrandsource]

“My demons, though quiet, are never quite silenced. Calm as they may be, they wait patiently for a reason to wake, take an overdue breath, and crawl back to my ear.” — Sarah Boswell, My Demons

[evanzbuck]

↳ for @sunshinestrand

[tkstrandsource]

tk strand + text posts

[prcdigality]

Mar’i Grayson.

“oh right…thank you for that.” she said with a nod.. You’d think she would have learned by now. While human-alien relations had come forward by strides in her time, she could still feel the sting of her childhood when she thought on it. She normally pushed it back to the deepest parts of her subconscious. Perhaps she was starting to believe the lies she had told her family all those years ago. “You’re welcome.” she smiled when she finally got her way. Which was most of the time.

“So, you make a habit of forcing your help on total strangers?” Maybe it was a thing from the planet she was from, then again she had said HALF so maybe she grew up on earth too. There were plenty of humans who cared too much to look away from someone injured, even if the injured person was stubborn and bitter like Ethan himself. 

[prcdigality]

TK Hart​.

“I try,” TK shrugged, a smile tugging at his lips. It was strange, conversing about such heavy topics that had clearly scarred them both without letting it be an emotional rollercoaster. “So what you’re saying is you want to hang out again?” he teased, raising a brow at the other man. “Don’t really know what the correct term is but hey it’s all good.” he grinned. “Think we’ve got our slogan already selected. Dad’s suck, probably in one really big font, and hey maybe some glitter thrown over it to mask all the damage that was done.” Dads were not an easy subject for a lot of people as it seemed a certain generation of men were pretty much just raised to be tyrants or straight up assholes, tk was lucky enough that he got two parents who were cut from the same cloth. “Yup, you’re peaches, and that definitely makes me cream, smooth and silky.” smiling, he flagged the bartender for another drink before turning his attention back to Ethan. “You are right that is all I know, but you certainly know plenty about me.”

“Maybe,” Ethan wasn’t having a BAD time, he just didn’t like labelling it with the word good either. And he sure as hell wouldn’t be calling TK (or anyone else) his ‘friend’ anytime soon. Villains didn’t do friends. At least he was pretty sure. Not to mention TK seemed to be actively avoiding the whole villainy thing, and Ethan was one. Also to add, he was somewhat of a ticking time bomb. Getting into bed with Ethan was getting into bed with disaster, or friendship, or even acquaintanceship. He was an awful person to have in your life for anyone (and yet here he was, totally wanting to hang out with TK again). “Love a good slogan, and glitter. Big fan of glitter. And we have to write a disclaimer so we don’t get anyone looking for a Daddy,” Ethan joked, a chuckle leaving his mouth at the words. “No no, you could only be one of em. You gotta choose one, cream, smooth or silky. Not all the above, gotta save some slots for future members.” He shrugged his shoulders. “Eh, I do my research on everyone who’s name is worth remembering. Just a thing I do.” Paranoia was the fuel behind it, but that needn’t be mentioned. 

[prcdigality]

Anya Corazon​.

.

“you don’t take kindness very well do you?” anya shook her head, chuckling softly before looking him over. he seemed alright - all things considered. “oi, what you do to get that shiner anyway?”

“Kindness isn’t usually genuine in my experience.” Ethan responded, eyes refusing to meet the girl’s. Kindness was loose and convenient, an easy excuse to hide behind. “Oh you know the usual, wrong compliment to the wrong person.”

[prcdigality]

Lorna Dane | Polaris.  

      “  𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐇𝐔𝐌𝐀𝐍, 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐃  either,  ”    green  haired  mutant  drawls  out,  head  tilting  to  the  side  as  she  studies  them.    “  i  don’t  care  that  it  happened,   i’m  far  more  curious  to  why  it  happened.  ”   because  what  the  actual  hell ?  what  the  actual  hell.    “  it  looks  like  it  hurts  like  a  bitch.  ”  

“COULD’VE FOOLED ME,” At the very least she got the human look down. He didn’t see any horns or tail, no cat eyes either. He shrugged his shoulders at her noted lack of concern. “That’s probably better for us both.” He didn’t need to hear it. It was much easer conversation then someone fretting over injuries that he didn’t give two shits about. Then again, him not caring applied to most things. “The why,” He repeated her words dryly. That was different then the usual, at least. Kept things interesting. “Hit on the wrong girl’s boyfriend.” Ethan admitted, taking a sip of his drunk without shame. “In my defense, he kissed me. Not that she wanted to hear that.” 

[prcdigality]

Mar’i Grayson | Nightstar. 

“If it’s any consolation, I’m only half human.” she said with a shrug as she looked at his eyes. “And take my word for it when I tell you I don’t believe that. any chance to help someone should be taken if you can. I’m sure it well, but I have something that can help it heal faster.” she said with a small smile. If there was one thing Mar’i usually got, it was her way. “Please. Let me do this. then I’ll be out of your hair. Pinkie promise.”

“Oh yeah?” His brow rose at her casual mention of her lack of human-ness, or at least only half human part. “Shouldn’t say that so loud, lots of assholes around.” He was an asshole too, but lucky for her, not that type of asshole. “For what it’s worth you do a great ‘full human’ act.” He told her. “You totally got the very human martyr hero complex down,” Ethan said, eyes looking elsewhere. She was the type to try and help the wrong person, it’d get her killed (a quiet voice in his head mused if he was the wrong person). “Fine, for the honor of pinkie promises I will.” Ethan relented. “Thanks I guess.” Gratitude didn’t come easy to him. 

[prcdigality]

Gwen Stacy | Ghost-Spider.

“  𝐈𝐓  𝐌𝐀𝐘  𝐍𝐎𝐓  𝐁𝐄  to  you  but  that’s  not  exactly  going  to  stop  me  ,  ”  gwen  shrugs  ,  tossing  an  ice  pack  towards  him  .  “  10  minutes  on  ice  and  10  minutes  off  for  a  total  of  three  times  should  ease  the  swelling  .  i’m  not  saying  it  won’t  heal  ,  this  is  just  expediting  the  process  .  ”

“I’M MORE FOR THE letting it heal on it’s own approach,” Ethan shrugged. “Never failed me before.” Sure it had it’s own pains but he dealt with them, they were what he was accustomed to. He quirked a brow at her determination to help him. “You make a habit of being bossy to complete strangers?” He asked, lifting the ice pack to his injury. He smiled a bit too sweetly for it to be considered ‘sweet’. “Not that I’m complaining, of course. Only an asshole would do that.” 

[prcdigality]

Oswald Cobblepot | The Penguin.  

.

“How does what go Ethan?” Oswald looked at his son, their history was strained at best but it was never Ethan’s fault he just suffered for his failures and inability to keep him safe. Finding him at the point of death had destroyed him, his beautiful baby boy barely clinging to life in his arms as he rushed him to the hospital and saved his life. He was very proud of him regardless of what he showed to the world he loved his son and everything he’d accomplished. He’d grown into his power and status now there was nothing to stop him from showing his son his love now, only he feared maybe it was a bit too late. He looked around the little apartment he’d gotten for his son when he moved him out here with him, “I’m checking in on you because you are my son and I care very much about your welfare” he mused before looking at him for a moment. “How are you doing Ethan?”

“This.” The answer was simple and complicated all at once, just like he and his father. Simple, they didn’t know eachother really. Complicated, the small instances they had met and all the emotional devastation packed into them. For however they started, they were here now. Oswald caring about him, or at the very least making the investment for Ethan’s life. He had gone to extensive heights to keep Ethan alive, he didn’t want him dead, but did it mean he cared about him outside of his life though? Ethan didn’t know what to make of it, any of it really. The four zannix he took almost an hour might be helpful on that account actually. His welfare. That was a loaded question, one that Ethan had no intention of answering honestly. “Do you want the easy answer, the actual one,” Or at least as close to actual as he could be. “Or the one about if you need to worry about me dying or not.” There was dryness in his throat at the blunt words. “If it’s the latter you don’t need to worry. No plans of dying anytime soon.” Then again they had never been planned, they typically just happened. 

[prcdigality]

TK Hart. 

“That depends, are we just sticking to dads or are we going to trauma dump about all the deep psychological scars that our upbringing left on us courtesy of our other relatives as well.” TK grinned, playfully rolling his eyes at Ethan. He knew his family business was no secret, he knew his face was pretty much everywhere that you could find it, so he didn’t try to hide, what was the point? Besides, he kind of liked the attention. “Nah, what’s the point if we can’t laugh at all the bullshit our families put us through. Having daddy issues is commonplace nowadays. Besides, I think being the pariah of my family and being targeted by my older brother and his army with my father’s full backing just really puts the icing on the cake. Guess that just makes me an even hotter piece of ass I guess.” he laughed. “So how about you peaches?”

“Oooh that’s a good question,” Ethan responded a grin on his face. He loved this part, the talking and non-talking. It was fun in it’s strange odd way. There was solidarity without too much emotional wounds showing deeply, he liked it. It was a lot easier then sitting in a circle and going over all his stupid crap. “Eh I wanna stick to dads. We could mark the other stuff for a rainyday, there’s an expression for that that I am forgetting right now. Rainy day it? Raincheck? I think it might be raincheck.” He laughed it off. “Yeah, we could probably make a whole ass army out of any Daddy Issues club. Dad’s suck.” There were far less people with well adjusted people with well adjusted dads then the shit ones. “A whole ass army? Damn. Lucky you I guess.” He clicked their drinks together, sharing in the sardonic awfulness of it all. He downed the drink, mentally marking another negative point for his sobriety. Carlos would be so disappointed in him. “Peaches? Me? I could work with that.” He smirked. “What if I like being all mysterious, the mysterious Peaches. All you know of me is my daddy issues and aptitude for understanding.” 

[roseapothecary]

It’s so hard to say no when you’re dancing with the devil.

[t-k-strand-deactivated20251018]