#43versionsbetter

[chassitpunk]

headlines

Chassit could not quite suppress a smile as it sent Katia the link to a breaking news article--a link that would destroy itself as soon as she clicked on it,

“Local Renowned Scientist Dead From Misadventure”

“Antoine LeClerq, famed associate of Peter Litvenko, was pronounced dead at an area hospital Friday night of apparent heart failure. LeClerq had dined at an upscale restaurant earlier that evening, and it was reported that he insisted on ordering the Pufferfish.

“Pufferfish, when prepared incorrectly, can emit a potent neurotoxin. It is theorized that improper pufferfish butchering may have led do LeClerq’s death.

“When asked about the death, distraught head chef Yamaoka replied ‘I told him not to order it. He threatened to have us shut down. I am so sorry. I should have refused. I will never touch pufferfish again.’“

A few minutes later, Chassit sent a follow-up message:

If his clones go up for auction, tell me. I won’t have some pervert purchasing the youngest ones.

[gold-and-former-honey-trap]

@43versionsbetter

Yury sighed a little, looking around at the Brussels HQ, a neat, streamlined, almost space-age building. He doubted he’d ever been here before. A task force officer was leading him down the corridors to the sick bay, then sparsely occupied. One agent had a broken arm, and was ranting in German, presumably about a mission or a target. Another was out cold, his head wrapped like he had brain surgery. Maybe they did that somewhere else and moved him.

He spotted Katia at the end of the hall, away from everyone else and sleeping relatively peacefully. A nurse explained that she was resting, and he promised not to upset her. The nurse glanced at Katia and then nodded. “Very well,” she said. Yury nodded back and walked over, settling in to a plastic chair next to her and touching her hand gently.

[gold-and-former-honey-trap]

The Perfect Place (Moving In, Part 1)

@43versionsbetter

Yury examined the St. Petersburg penthouse apartment with the real estate agent, who was busy listing off all the top selling points of what was essentially a glorified and larger five-star hotel suite. He turned to the agent and asked, “Alright, but I intend to live here with my girlfriend and at least three cats. Is that possible?”

“Well, technically, yes,” the agent said sheepishly.

“Technically?”

“Pets are allowed, on the condition that you don’t make noise and leave their shit everywhere.”

“So invest in litter boxes, then.” The agent nodded, and Yury considered this for a moment. Maybe the place in Singapore would be better? It only had one bedroom, but they’ve made that work before. Or maybe he should consider Berlin, Moscow, Chicago, or somewhere else entirely.

When he left, he sent a quick text to Katia: Not sure about this penthouse; agent very ambivalent and, frankly, an incompetent. Any luck?

[gold-and-former-honey-trap]

@43versionsbetter

Yury looked at Katia, who was staring out the plane window from the first class cabin. She seemed a little distracted, and while he didn’t mind looking at her, something seemed to trouble him a little. He reached over to touch her hair. “Are you alright?” he asked softly.

[rememberthatwedie-blog]

(via 43versionsbetter): "You new in town?" Katia asked, watching the man with her arms folded across her chest, more to hide the weapons a little than anything else. He looked, to her, very distinct-looking, easy to pick out of a crowd, but intimidating enough to counterbalance that. She kept a bit of distance out of healthy respect for that. "Ain't seen you before."

This is how all those horror movies start, right? Some dark alleyway with a killer soon to make themselves known. Aleks had a plastic bag of groceries in his right hand, his other was tucked into the pocket of his jacket. “I guess I am.” He said, eyeing her with a wary look. “What makes you interested?”

[agent100]

[text, from Katia]: eyyy fredster! got any plans?

[text] emmmm not at the moment? I mean I had this idea to go down to the bar and find out if the bartender thinks whiskey ice cream is a thing but other than that no?

[agent100]

(via 43versionsbetter): "So....you like Hot Pockets?" Katia asked 35. "Uh...." she pulled an uncertain, slightly queasy face.

35 stared at her curiously, “hm? Yeah? Is there something wrong with that? Didja know they’ve even got some now that come in a pretzel crust? Those are pretty good...”