CONSPIRATOR.

Read rules & about before interaction. Independent / fandomless / multimuse / multiverse / tentative multiship / original characters / as adored by Neptune.

[todancewithdeath]

Okay, Big Ash is the tree trunk over there. Put someone in the hospital last week for staring at his dog.

[quilljump]

( ‘ A LEAD! ’ ) @alicemarion can rest easy now

     ' You shouldn’t have saved her, ’ Winona says, a black panther circling around the girl, her eyes a hungry yellow, slits as BLACK as night. He flinches at every sharp tooth her lip curls up to reveal. She’s sneering, spitting and snarling her words. Why is she angry? ‘ You’ll always be slow. ’ She stalks off along the side of the road, rustling not a single blade of grass, unable to bend any of the branches she brushes. Eventually she’s far enough that he cannot see her even by squinting. He wishes he had the strength to SNAP at her, order her to listen to him because he’s the older one, force her to sit and help for once, convince her that it’s not a waste of time. He wishes she was still alive to hear it all.

     He turns to the girl. She looks dirty, and her face is twisted in pain. He’s not much cleaner, Mount Massive Asylum uniform soiled and torn. It’s useless. He tried to clean the BLOOD too many times, it never works. ❝ Don’t... be SCARED. ❞ He reaches over with a towel he’d picked up from a stroller earlier that day. ❝ That man... is gone. You’re safe. I won’t... HURT you. ❞

     He gives her space, sits on the dirt and leaves her the entire bench. That’s what the nurses at the asylum did for him when he began to shake. ❝ I... am MOWGLI. I want... to help you. ❞ A bus will arrive soon, and then he can take her back home to her family. He’ll do something kind to make up for the death he has caused. ❝ Where... are you from? ❞

[schweiber]

*to the tune of “our house”* I’m DRUNK in the middle of the WEEK

[transparentparadise-deactivated]

Lethal Weapon [2x13]

[quilljump]

( ‘ A LEAD! ’ ) @hrodohaide is going to be fun

     ❝ You’ve wandered too far from home, KITTY. ❞

     Not smart to be walking out so late. Not smart to be walking out so late in his city. It’s so ARROGANT of her to saunter out like this, flaunting her ignorance, her lack of FEAR. He, or rather, his crimes, have been all over the news! And yet... Well, whatever. No need to take offence, right? Right. No need to take offence, anyways. The grip on his blade handle tightens. She doesn’t look the type, anyways. Ha, right. Eyes glued to a tv screen, to the news? As if. Eyes glued to her Instagram, more like. Now what would those eyes look like when glued on him? What sorts of horrors would she be unable to escape? It’s amazing how much the human mind misses when blinking.

     For example, one blink, and suddenly he’s backed her into an alley. Another blink, his knife is at her throat. A blink after that, his mouth has cracked open to smile. See how much she’s missing? How many opportunities to escape have passed her by? What pretty eyes she has. The better to see HIM with!

     ❝ Here’s what’s gonna happen. I sure hope you’re good at following instructions, dear, because I’m giving you one right now: come with me. Oh, and NO SCREAMING. ❞

[quilljump]

( ‘ A LEAD! ’ ) @jatamansi​ has a ghost problem

     ❝ Do you by chance have a ‘Walter Wallace’ back there? ❞ She says, checking her notepad again to make sure this is the place where a specifically special spectre is supposedly stuck. CYPRUS was after this one why? Well, it didn’t matter anyways. The thing contacted her first, quite spooky, in fact, in that Wallace saw fit to write riddles only in BLOOD and only after he’d filled her tub with worms first. Scared the supernatural right out of her brother, that one. He decided he was ‘ too old for this shit, ’ ( Oh come now, Talos, you’re nowhere near forty! ) and left to take a shower in their neighbor’s apartment after gruffly giving Nanette the order to ‘ deal with it ’ by herself.

     ❝ Jeez, ghosts these days... Uh, I’m a, a relative! Niece... once removed. Was totally still in contact when he disappeared. ❞ All the magical pulsations are making it hard to tell if this morning’s rude awakening is actually snoring back there or if it was just playing a trick on her to get her captured. This human really needs to invest in an exorcist or two.

     ❝ I promise I’m not an organ harvester. ❞

[quilljump]

( ‘ THEODORE. ’ )

Theodore studied the other, unfamiliar with his aura he seemed to give off. Questions filled his very own mind as to what he was. He was not mortal, he knew that for sure. But he was not a Velvet Room attendant like himself either. However, knowing how his master Igor would be, he knew there was a reason for his appearance. Nothing but fate could bring this man to this room and so Theodore continued onto his normal lines.

“ Please, Adrian, do not fear. You are a guest of the Velvet Room, a room that places itself between mind and reality. This must be fate if you have found yourself within the confines of this reality. ” He said with his hand at his chest along with a slight bow towards him. The attendant smiled kindly his way with a book in his other hand. “ It may not be the same as our other former guests as for the reasons you are here, but there must be something that troubles you. ”

     ❝ This reality, well... ❞ The simple smile doesn’t ease Adrian’s skepticism. It’s almost too polite. Moves slow and with few gestures, sensing the other’s unease and accommodating. Very little unsettles the being, but the manner in which this man reads him is very much so; UNSETTLING. Adrian adjusts his glasses, puts on a neutral expression, hides the part of him that feels out of place in a room like this, a room that is nothing but CALM. ❝ I am not afraid. ❞ Not of this reality. Though there may be another.

     ❝ Plenty troubles me. What of it? ❞ 

     ( Now you’re going to say, ‘ Allow me to help, ‘ yeah? ) It takes a moment for his eyes to light and give off the same eerie white-blue glow that bathed the Velvet Room. ❝ Are you here because you have troubles, Theodore? ❞ His voice grows hollow, echoing into nothingness where it should otherwise be impossible. ❝ Have you ever known a different reality? ❞

[lilacsinthedooryard]

Arthur Rackham

The Rhinemaidens Bid Farewell to Siegfried

[leepace71]

Joe Macmillan, Halt & Catch Fire, season 1…

[quilljump]

( ‘ ALEX! ’ )

Alex blinked owlishly at the woman. He’d seen her before, he knew, but everything was just too fuzzy to focus on that. She was talking awfully fast and it took him a few moments to reply.

“I don’t think security is handling it.” He said slowly. Most of the guards were dead. “I’m just the janitor. I don’t know of any protocol…”

     ❝ You don’t know what to do when there’s BLOOD everywhere? ❞ This is an asylum for the criminally insane, and the JANITOR has no idea what the staff are supposed to do when a patient... ten patients... all the patients... She stumbles back. Pressed against the wall, the weight of reality sinks in and pushes her to the ground, where the only way for her to bear it all is by hugging her knees and laying her head down.

     ❝ People are DEAD. ❞ Obvious, right? The security moved like lightning, but the janitor moves and talks like he’s trapped in tar. To live in a moment like this with so much peace, it’s almost like he forgot how to be human. Was it a good idea running to the only friendly face she knew?

     ❝ People are dead and we’re gonna be next if we don’t find a safe place to hole up. ❞ Nodding once, twice, for motivation, for determination, she wipes at her nose and eyes and stands again. ❝ Are you gonna stay here or come with me? I’m going to find the security personnel’s office. They’ve gotta have guns there, or tasers, or something useful. ❞

[quilljump]

( ‘ REEK. ’ )

He was just about to ask the stranger what he’d meant by that when he felt another piece of meat pushed into his hand. The look on the other’s face told Reek that refusing was a bad idea. He wondered, though, whether his stomach could even handle so much food at once. 

But to not eat it would make him seem ungrateful… and he most certainly wasn’t that. 

As Reek slowly and carefully nibbled at the tender parts of the meat, he found himself thinking about his master. Just how long until Ramsay found him? He hadn’t meant to go this far, and surely the young lord would be angry with Reek once he’d retrieved his pet. Might even take another finger or toe for this. 

He was shaken out of his thoughts when the stranger spoke again, Reek nearly jumping when the silence was broken. 

                  “… R-Reek. My name is Reek.”

You had to know your name. 

                  “W…what do you mean, m-monsters?”

Surely no greater monster existed in this world than the man Reek served. 

     It must be menacing, the laugh that erupts from the deep pits of his stomach. Wouldn’t be a surprise. It’s the growling of a BEAST finally unshackled, feeling the warmth of the SUN on its blood-matted fur after being locked away in darkness for ten thousand years. Genuinely, Reek’s reaction is priceless, though expected. The startled little rabbit grows more and more entertaining by the minute. The cavern’s darkness isn’t the only thing that’s DENSE. But Talos does not laugh to be CRUEL. No, Talos knows cruelty. The other knows it too. This laughter is FREEDOM.

     ❝ SCARED, are ye? ❞ It would be so easy to show him. Then he’d have a heart attack and die. Or he’d run off to acquire a village of pitchforks and torches. That sure would be something. Been a while since he’d torn apart a human with teeth other than his own. ❝ Yoo’re lookin’ at one, ye plank. ❞ It’s received with a blank look. Somehow, Reek managed to look duller than wood. ( Oh, for cryin’ out loud— )

     Up and away, he’s risen to full height and flexed his biceps, topping off the display with a show of teeth. It’s casting a massive and BEASTLY shadow behind Reek. ❝ Can’t ye tell? Don’tcha see mah twisted maw? Th’ razor sharp fangs an’ killer claws? Ah caught ‘at food mahself, y’know. ❞ Now the look he gets is more akin to disbelief. At least they’re getting somewhere. 

     ❝ Guess aam nae ugly enough tae convince ye. ❞ 

     He sits back down and scarfs down the remainder of his food. As he’s wiping his mouth, he remembers that he has yet to tell the other his own name. ❝ Reit, uh, pleasure tae meet ya, Reek. Ye can call me TALOS. ❞

[quilljump]

( ‘ APPROACHER. ’ )

“ How absolutely peculiar … I would not have expected a fellow Being such as yourself. I am Theodore, and who might you be? ”

     An ocean of velvet. Soft light, soundless steps, aura of calm. The waves wash over him. He wouldn’t mind sinking here if not for the tall spires and thrumming life energy emerging around him. ‘ Suspicious, but not disquieting, ’ he finds himself thinking as he paces around the room, gaze wandering along the hall. It is not THE CREATOR’S work, ( Which is bombastic, has a flair for the DRAMATIC. ) Neither is it like The Architects, with a vision of FIRE and GOLD and heat and INFINITY that would turn this melancholy spirit into the fantastic. It’s less a Watcher’s living and more a Watcher’s limbo.

     He will wait for the one who’ll ferry him off.

     The one who appears does so quietly. His voice, the same cooling effect as the room. Adrian gives some space between them, leans against the wall. ❝ No beating around the bush. I like it. ❞ It takes two seconds to size Theodore up. He sets his briefcase down to approach with caution, stands an arm’s reach away, and stares with intent.

     ❝ Adrian. ❞ Attempts a smile, instantly regrets it. His face falls.

     ❝ What is this place? Have I gotten stuck between rebirths? ❞

[aliceeveupdate]

The premiere of Replicas was postponed until 24th August 2018. The information made available by Exhibitor Relations and IMDb has also changed the release date on its site. Starring: Alice Eve, Thomas Middleditch &  Keanu Reeves.

[quilljump]

( ‘ A LEAD! ’ ) @murkoffjanitor can take care of this

     ❝ ALEX! Oh my gosh— ❞ He’s just a janitor, but he’s a man; tall enough, sturdy-looking. A guy that spends so much time working hard and cleaning up must have at least a little strength, right? ( Beggars can’t be choosers, anyways. )

     ❝ D-Did you see what’s going on? The, the um— ❞ She swallows her nerves. Somewhere down the hall Jamie just came from is a mess of limbs and organs. The sanitary staff have their work cut out for them. On her way here she slipped on the fresh BLOOD clinging to her shoes. They cost more because they were supposed to have a strong grip on tile and linoleum. So not worth the price.

     ( None of what she saw is worth any amount of money. )

     ❝ Security’s supposed to be dealing with it but it’s not looking good. What’s the protocol for this sort of thing? ❞

[quilljump]

( ‘ A LEAD! ’ ) @itemseller has business

     ❝ I don’t think I’m supposed to be able to see you, ❞ he muses, stirring two sugar cubes into his tea.

     ❝ Were you trying to HIDE? You’re not very good at it. ❞ Another WATCHER? Corrupt or uncorrupt means little to him. The teaspoon spins seven times. Recollection is vague, fuzzy around the edges, but it has been about a century now since he has met with an uncorrupted Watcher, yes? Hopping through other universes isn’t against The Creator’s Laws yet Adrian is not privy to intruders on his timeline regardless.

     His hands glow an eery blue. Fingers flicker in an untraceable wind as he rises to stand from his seat. ❝ You have thirty seconds. State your name and purpose, or I extinguish you permanently. ❞ 

[quilljump]

( ‘ TIMID ONE. ’ )

Once he could even have been considered clever, bright. But that was back before he knew his name. Back when Reek wasn’t yet Reek at all, but Theon. There were times, now and then, that he got flashes of memories, little tiny instants of recollection, and for a moment or two he was Theon once more.

But they were merely shadows of who he’d once been. Not real at all.

Theon might have understood what this stranger meant, might have grasped the situation before him quickly and easily. But alas, Reek did not have such skills. He’d been trained to think only as his master wanted him to. And this had never been something that had come up before.

Wide eyes gazed curiously at the stick filled with meat, and suddenly he realized just how hungry he was. When had his master last fed him…? He couldn’t quite recall. Still he was uncertain, not daring to step closer.

Until, at least, he heard an order. And so, at that, Reek sat and obeyed, taking the meat and eating the tender pieces slowly. It always was a struggle, with broken teeth, to eat properly.

                   “… th-thank you. I… I’m in your debt.” 

     There’s not much more to say once he sits down to nibble ( PITIFULLY. Gods, it’s a mess ), so Talos doesn’t open his mouth to speak. It’s in the silence he watches instead, gauging the extent. Doesn’t think for his own, doesn’t act, won’t speak out of turn, can barely look at the person sitting across from him. Hunched over. BROKEN teeth, BROKEN gaze, BROKEN will. The shadows cast around them by the fire shrink the man further, or is he consciously hiding himself away? There’s not much to hide from a man who can see in the dark.

     It’s pain.

     Once, he served a master so cruel. The custody was handed over when Uzbeck Sr. was ( rightfully ) executed for harboring (  dissenters  ) witches. Worked to the bone, but his sister was coveted for something else: her magic. Entertained guests until they grew restless. Entertained them in other ways after that. Picking fights with them to protect her was not the smartest idea. She used to sit in the dark like this and mourn the loss of their parents. Not much Talos could say then, either.

     She used to try to hide her pain. Then there was no need for hiding anymore and the pain was gone, snuffed out in blood brilliantly brandished. One knife, all it took. Then all were taken by one knife, too. Now there was no master to serve but himself. He shouldn’t be ANGRY when it doesn’t concern him. Thank the gods for the convenient lack of night-vision in humans.

     ❝ Keep count of ‘at. Gon b’sayin’ ‘at a lot more 'an y’think. ❞ Though he’s not done, Talos practically forces another portion into the other’s grasp and glowers at him before he has anything to say about that, and leans back to sniff at an undercooked part of his own meal. ‘ What’s the worst that can happen? ’ He eats it anyway.

     ❝ So y’gonna introduce yerself or      does yer master forbid ye from      talkin’ t’ monsters? ❞

[quilljump]

( ‘ TRESPASSER! ’ )

     What a fucking sucker.

     Not that Miles is complaining, really – he’s quick to take advantage of a break when and if he can catch one. Not an ounce of guilt settles within him at this lie being bought hook, line, and sinker, either. For as much as he professes the importance of honesty, there are certain individuals he feels he doesn’t owe the courtesy to. Law enforcement officials just happen to fall into that category.

     Still, he hardly eases when the weapon is no longer being aimed at his vital areas. It’d still suck to get shot in the leg, for one, and he can’t quite bring himself to believe that he’s going to get out of this so easily, for another. He’s never been that lucky in his whole damned life. That notion is only compounded when the dismissal catches in the officer’s throat, like the reality of this is starting to sink in (too little too late, in Miles’ opinion, but what does he know?). The introduction is met with a quirked brow and little more – Miles has no intention of sticking around long enough to get friendly with this guy, that’s for certain. As soon as he’s given the all-clear, he’s gone.

     “Oh, just, y’know… insomnia. Helps to get out a bit, clear my head. Guess I was starting to fall asleep on my feet.” The fraction of a smile he offers is as fake as they come, and his hands are still raised a little. 

     “ID?” he echoes with mock confusion, playing dumb, trying to sell the innocent wanderer routine. Of course he’s got an ID on him – a couple, in fact, all fake, naturally, like any good reporter with a penchant for illicit digging would have. But if he can avoid a paper trail at all, it’s preferable. 

     “Listen, officer, it was an honest mistake, I swear.”

     ‘ You’re barking up the wrong tree, ’ he tries telling himself. Hell, it wouldn’t be the first time, and it probably wouldn’t be the last. He’d pointed his gun at the wrong guy too many times, and it’d landed him in some hot water when the wrong guy happened to be a minority of some sort. ( Not that he went around pointing guns at every minority, but with a face and background like his, well, shouldn’t it be obvious? ‘ Who’s easier to paint as a victim? ’ ) This is a dog chasing its own tail. The SOUR smell wasn’t that of a law being broken. It was the smell of a rookie who took off blindly and was incapable of reading a situation.

     ( So shouldn’t it be easier to take the guy at his word? )

     There’s something about him that’s screaming at Zach to put his guard back up. So right back up it goes, along with the hope that he isn’t going to have HR on his case tomorrow morning with a workshop on profiling and racial stereotyping.

     ❝ How DUMB do you think I am, pal? ❞

     If the confidence in his voice were real, he might have sounded like he just figured out this whole situation and caught the trespasser in the act, RED-HANDED. If the confidence in his voice were real, he might have sounded like he recognized the trespasser’s face and immediately knew all about his record. If the confidence in his voice were real, he might have already had the guy in cuffs for whatever crimes he’d not yet been arrested for. But alas, it looks like the only talent this dog has is biting itself in the ass. ( Well, it’s too late for regrets. )

     ❝ You must think you’re real smart. Maybe some other cops who are not me might’ve fallen for the act. Unluckily for you, I know who you are, and I know all about your shenanigans. I think I’ll be buying the entire force a round after I bring you down to the precinct, bub. ❞ He would’ve used the guy’s name for emphasis on the whole ‘ being bested at your own game ’ schtick... if he knew what it was.