#thegrimdarkoffice

[officestuck]

"Oh my gog. When I said you are obviously not just a collection of diseases and rot but a person who can be more than that I didn't mean stuff like joining the grimdarks."

[neverendingparable]

"Man, it feels good to be back here." Bradley says with a big smile, spreading his arms out. He's standing in his Lounge, Ezra and the woman are sitting on the couch, Birch is in the corner and Alice is next to Bradley, studying him intently.

"DO YOU REALLY MEAN THAT?" Birch asks.

"He doesn't." Ezra answers for him.

"Well, it feels good now. I missed this place! I was here for a decade, you know." Bradley drops his arms with a pout. No one bats an eye.

"Why did you come back anyway?" Alice says. "You came crashing into our Office like you're running for your life. We all thought you and Ezra would be living happily ever after by now, not rushing to come back here."

"You told her about me?" Ezra mutters.

Bradley shrugs, unapologetic. "I was here for ten years. I thought I'd never see you again, Ezzy. Why shouldn't I have talked about my past?"

Ezra doesn't reply right away, seizing Alice and Birch up with obvious discomfort. His gaze lingers on Birch, especially. The darkness under her hood, her lack of arms or legs unnerve him.

"What if she tried to curse me or something?" He finally asks.

"Excuse me? Why the fuck would I curse you? Do I look like I have nothing better to do with my time?"

"SHE DOESN'T, USUALLY."

"Guuuuuys! Stop it! Can't a man return back to the Hellhole Office he suffered in for years and bring two innocent outsiders along without anyone making a big deal out of it?"

Alice huffs. "Speaking of, who is the newcomer anyway? We know about Ezra, but who is she?"

They all glanced at the woman, who just crosses her arms and glares back at them.

"What's it to you?" She snaps.

Her hair is tied back in a pony tail, light brown and disheleved. She sits like she's ready to spring forward like a taut rubber band, her eyes hard. On her hip she's carrying a pistol.

"She's a friend." Ezra says, at the same time Bradley says, "She's no one important."

A pause. They exchange glances, until Ezra purses his lips in disapproval.

"Don't worry about her." Bradley tells the others. "We were pretty busy in the real world for a while and we maaaaay have sort of accidently become three of the most wanted people in the United States. But! None of that matters right now, I promise. For now, all we wanna do is catch up on rest."

He gets up and offers his hands to Ezra and the woman. They take them, hesitantly, not sure what he's about to do.

"Why are we holding hands?" The woman asks and Bradley gives her a mischievous grin.

"I'm about to show you a cool magic trick. Bye Alice, bye Birch, see you laaaaat-" All three of them are gone in an instant as Bradley teleports them up to the Apartment.

[networksupported]

"Hi, Castiel Townsend, isn't it? I remember you from way back."

> god. um. okay. well, not by any fae rights, it isn't. that is to say, i amn't. but i don't think you've exactly got 'spooky goth lady' printed on your own birth certificate, and yet that's what you're called to me, so...

> identity's a moot point, i guess.

> yes, i'm the dude that tried to advocate for rex's visitation rights that one time. that's me.

> can i help you? not that-- i don't-- want to, honestly. what are you here for?

[curiouscompanions]

"Good luck outbooping that, Nero Zero >:3"

[esfersart]

Happy Birthday, Felix!  @neverendingparable                                                         I was a little out of ideas, so decided to draw them, hope it’s ok x)       (avatars are under the cut, just in case)

  + curly haired Rex

[sovereignsecurityarchive]

"Oh dear. Have you tried restarting?"

"I don't know what you think I am, but if I die, there are consequences you know. "

[clickonmedotexe]

"I'll be right back, kiddo." Rex promises Coda, leaning down to ruffle their hair. He's exhausted, but happy. Actually, genuinely happy. He stops to look over his little family, at Coda and Seven and his newly wedded husband, all curled up together after a long night of wedding festivities and celebrations.

Maybe things could calm down for a while. His constant itch to hurt and torment is fading, replaced by a new want. To be around his kids a bit more, see them happy. To get into more fights with Raphael that will eventually end up with them having to stitch their mutually inflicted wounds or falling asleep in the Lounge together. He is growing fond of that angel as much as he hates to admit it.

He steps out of the Lounge and makes his way down the hallway, his feet bare on the carpeted floor after an entire night of running around in heels. He can't wait to curl up with the others and finally get some sleep-

"Hello, Townsend." A familiar voice stops him dead in his tracks.

Rex turns, a mocking grin is already on his face, out of habit.

"Nero."

"Congratulations on your wedding. I heard it was wild." Alice is standing in the hallway where he had just come from, blocking his way back to the Lounge. Her posture is relaxed, and that worries Rex even more. She's got something up her sleeve and she's ready for him to give her a chance to use it.

"Thanks." He said, his own posture tensing. "What do you want?"

"Well, isn't it obvious? Your time has come, I'm afraid. I would've come for you sooner but it was amusing watching you for a while. Adopting Seven, losing your arm, fucking up in Aperture, developing a hate-love relationship with an angel. So on, so forth. It's time for you to go, however. This is where your fun ends." She's not moving to get him even as she speaks, simply watching him with a curious smile.

Rex thinks he still has time. He can feel his sheathed knife pressing up against his hip. He could stab her before she touched him. Or even better...

He smirks a cold, cruel smile, laughing at her threats as if they don't cause a bolt of ice cold fear to stab through him.

"You can't keep me anywhere, Alice. I'll escape, sooner or later. And when I do, I guarantee I'll fucking make you suffer. You and your girlfriend - Melissa, right? You seem very protective of her. You want her to end up in the same position as Joule? Tied up, tortured, broken. For me-"

Alice just chuckles. "Interesting you should threaten her. You'll be seeing her around a lot in the next few weeks. Feel free to repeat your threats back to her, I think she'll find them amusing while she's digging through your brain."

Rex falters. Takes a step back. The knife is in his hand now but he's uncertain if he can win. He's hoping he can. He wants her to step out of the way so he can return back to the Lounge and sit with his kids. A half formed plea is already on his tongue.

You don't have to do this. Just let me go back to my family. I lied, I won't touch you or your girlfriend if you leave us alone.

But he doesn't plea, he doesnt stoop so low. He just snarls.

"She won't be laughing when I make her beg for mercy-"

"It's over, Rex." Alice interrupts him. "Save what's left of your dignity and come quietly."

"Never-" Dark sigils appear on Rex's skin, burning into it as the man drops his knife and hisses in pain. He's rubbing at them, scratching himself bloody to try and get rid of them. They sink into his flesh, disappear without a trace and Rex falls forward, hitting the ground like a sack of bricks. He's paralyzed, barely conscious, just enough to make out the woman standing over him with an amused look.

Something soft brushes against his shoulder and he hears a low purr, like a cat but...wrong. A black feline materializes out of thin air, like its been there this whole time lurking in the shadows. It sits next to his head and Rex swears it is grinning.

"Sorry, 'darling'." Alice taunts, crouching down next to Rex. "You're coming with me. But don't you worry. I'll make sure your family is alright."

"D o- n t-" Rex tries to rasp out. Don't touch my family. Don't you dare touch them.

Alice simply snaps her fingers and glowing silver coils appear around Rex, dematerializing him out of the hallway and into his own personal holding cell, inside the grimdark Office.

[therevisor]

"Inspector!" A familiar voice rings out, carrying with it the smell of old books and fresh coffee. Moments later the owner materializes, Dottie, the grimdark's librarian who had welcomed him and Jon into her place months ago.

She's carrying a small stack of books in her arms, which she places on a nearby surface.

"I brought some books I think you might like. Based on what reading materials you were checking out earlier."

Inspector Cornelius was sipping his coffee and reading his daily dose of the Office's news on his phone—which tab he instantly pokes closed the moment he hears someone calling him. He looks up and shoots her one of his nicest smiles. "Hello, Ms Dottie! What a pleasant surprise to see you again," he says as he waves at her.

His eyes light up as he examines the books. "Why, thank you! Hmm... I wonder, which of them would you recommend to start first?"