purified in holy rite;;

[restrainingorders-deactivated20]

Temperance missed that smile, so rarely seen, even behind closed doors, in private. He wished for it to be around more often than not but he knew it was cherished more in those moments than when he could take it for granted.

"Good…" The words come out hushed just before he gently presses his lips to the other’s, keeping them there as a slow feeling of excitement and happiness overcame him.

Seconds later, he pulls away, smiling down at his lover once again. “Because I’m not a fan when you are mad at me. Well… Maybe in certain situations, I don’t mind it as much."

[unboundjustice]

   Eyes fall close and he leans up into the slow soft press of Temperance's lips, savoring it in knowing that so easily it could be taken from him. How many faces of his lover had he watched ripped away? Justice has lost track in the wake of humanity and once more his thoughts slip briefly away  until his grip tightens and he dares to nearly drag teeth along Temperance's mouth--

   Blinking owlishly up at the other virtue, there's a raised brow and subtle smile given at the words offered. "Well," he begins, licking his lips to chase the warm flavor lingering there, "If I'd have known you enjoy having control taken from you I would have explored that a bit more thoroughly."

   A wicked sort of smirk is given before his features smooth to a calm once more. It's just a subtle tug at fabric and Justice leans up to press a fleeting kiss at the corner of Temperance's mouth. "I am not as I once was you know." It's constant conflict on his part, to change as humanity does. "Yet never will my passion for you wane in the least." Carefully his gaze travels along the virtue's features, brows drawing together.

   "You know that don't you?"

[restrainingorders-deactivated20]

"Have you tried to get onto a subway during tourist season?" Temperance laughs easily, slowly sliding down into Justice’s lap, wanting to feel more than just those gentle fingertips on his back. “No matter how tightly you pack the sardines, you can’t always get them all in."

A poor metaphor, but he was fine with letting poor metaphors slip his lips. He was safe with his lover, wounds healed and spirits high. His gaze held Justice’s, the smile on his face never quite leaving. He could tell something was wrong with Justice but he didn’t know what it was.

And evidently, it wasn’t important.

As he leans down to his lips, he whispers. “Forgive me?"

[unboundjustice]

   "I haven't had the pleasure in quite some time."

   Public transport was one of the things Justice attempted to avoid. It triggered a far too chaotic range of emotions that left him scrambling for his bearings. It was always a plethora of anger, fatigue, bitterness, love, hate, and further emotions far beyond his grasp. Humanity packed in closely about him resulted in drawing out the panic at the heart of Justice which in turn led often times to a little girl rushing out until the panicked tears ebbed and Justice could assume a more fitting role.

   Eyes skim the virtue's face and a rare slow smile quirks at the edge of his lips. It was easy to forget the distressing memories of the past when Temperance leans in so close. Those words are all but swallowed down as Justice draws in a slow breath and observes through lidded eyes.

   "For you--" Finger curl into the fabric of Temperance's shirt. "Always."

[magpiemagician-archive-blog]

unboundjustice vindt je bericht leuk: Okay I’m here I’m less hungover than I was earlier…

Well talk about fashionably late. I’d fucking figured you had just bailed.

[unboundjustice]

   "Calm down kid."

[ A heavy exhale leads to smoke being blown in the magician's face. It leads to ash being flicked away and a calm sort of smirk being offered. ]

                        "I came to negotiate terms of payment. If you'd like me to bail, I can oblige."

[unboundjustice]

restrainingorders:

The watch on his wrist clearly showed that he was late—almost screaming at him to get home. He knew that there would be hell to pay for. While they were a thing, Temperance knew that Justice would often make sure that he would pay in one way or another.

The tumblers clicked as the key slid in the lock, undoing the door. It swung silently inward, the room always welcoming to him. With a smile, he stepped inside, closing it and locking it. He tossed the keys onto the countertop of the kitchen that greeted him along with his wallet. Slowly, he walked into the living area, sitting on the arm of the couch next to Justice.

"Sorry I’m late."

   Dark eyes watch each movement carefully, calculating each aspect of each step taken. Easy gait meant no injuries. A lack of reluctance implied an eagerness to approach that was both refreshing as it was intimidating. Next his gaze slides to the keys, watching them drop audibly into the bowl upon the counter.

   Finger fall away from his lips as he catches sight of that smile. What rage he may have held dissipates along with the memory of the punks who'd cornered Temperance. Broken bones and battered flesh is forgotten as he reaches out easily towards the warmth settled so close.

   "It's fine."

   Fingertips dance along the small of Temperance's back and finally his gaze slides up to meet those of the other virtue's. Justice is satisfied in knowing there are no fresh wounds tonight, there is no further cause for anger aside from brief annoyance at catching himself staring too long at the phone. "What took you so long?"

[9minutesb4midnight]

[ariemaes]

[equalpowerandresponsibility]

 [ Peter’s grown up in a lot of ways. He stutters less, talks more, makes friends a little bit easier, is a little bit more comfortable in his skin. More mature.

He’s changed in ways. His temper, however, isn’t one of those ways. Which is why you have the teenaged golden boy staring at you like he yearns for nothing more than to punch you in the face.  ]   Who’s been teaching you modern “teen lingo”? Because I don’t think “What’s shaking” has been used since the 70’s, buddy.  [ He can be sassy without the mask, too. ] Did you pay Vi yet?  [ Things had gone south really quickly with his friend. Emotions were high, snap judgements were higher, Peter’s temper had been through the roof. He had said things he didn’t mean, and done things he shouldn’t have done, and ultimately Viola came through and proved him ten kinds of wrong. He owed her a lot. Justice owed her money. ] 

[unboundjustice]

   "Excuse me for keeping my ear away from modern pop culture and it's rather uncultured swine."

   [ Justice retorts with a roll of his eyes and a bored sort of sigh slipping free after the words get by. He's been around the block for countless years, sassiness is in the long list of things he's immune to. Not that the boy wonder likely cares beyond his rage and his anger. Ira would be proud of Justice's favored human. ]

   "Still have to discuss payment, frankly it doesn't concern you."

   [ Sharp and to the point delivered with a polite smile that screams countless profanities Justice would never dare utter save for this time. Peter is a horrible influence you see and it can drop the maturity down a peg so they're on equal footing.

   Generally results in a piss poor attitude and smoke being blown in the boy's face.

   Like it was now. ]

   "That's the unfortunate side-effect of rush order deals Petey, things never get finalized in ink."

   [ There goes the corner of some kind of paperwork on your desk, Peter. Better hope it wasn't important because in the grand scheme of things Justice generally doesn't blink twice at the little stuff. It's a small act of turnabout is fair play and Justice flicks the butt of his cigarette out the window.

   It's a minor miracle he's still in a fairly good mood. ]

   "Now can we talk like adults or am I going to have to wade through more of your bullshit?"

[metuere-now-exspiritment]

[She’s not sure whether this is the kind of offer you accept from strangers, or how trustworthy his manners are (‘please’ has never been one of Spirit’s favorite words), but she slowly lowers herself into the seat across from him regardless.]

[For a full minute, she lets her hands tap the surface of the table in some indistinguishable rhythm, eyes focusing anywhere except for the person(??) in front of her. Unfortunately, this can only be kept up for so long before curiosity gets the better of her.]

Do I—know you?

[unboundjustice]

   She taps and moves restlessly as he sits unmoving save for eyes skimming the fine print upon the newspaper. The rhythm set by idle fingers draws his attention briefly. It was familiar in it's tap tap and he wonders just who it is he's asked to his table. Her question barely registers in his mind at first. There is only a steady beat of fingers gone silent and he folds his hands carefully beneath his chin. Manners be damned, elbows rest on the table.

                                    "Perhaps," he concedes with a patient smile.

                                                                         "Or perhaps you don't."

   Hands fall away and set to grasping his cup, bringing it to his lips to take a cautious sip. A waitress spies his present company and approaches, pad in hand and pen tucked neatly behind her ear.

              "Do you like coffee?" He asks.

                                  "Can I get you folks anything?" The waitress inquires.

[metuere-now-exspiritment]

unboundjustice started following you

[metuere-now-exspiritment]

Oh.

Wow.

[unboundjustice]

   A smile. He's choosing to be polite because the girl is curious and feels familiar. It should be worrisome. Instead he motions to the small table he's seated at drinking coffee and reading the morning paper.

                                                                             "Please," he says. "Won't you join me?"

[restrainingorders-deactivated20]

The tension in the air was palpable, fueled by Justice’s desire to get back at those who did this. Yet Temperance wanted nothing to do with it. At least not right now. All good things come to those who wait.

"It’s a character flaw." Too true. His eyes stayed close as his face was held in the tender hands of his companion, most of his negativity released through that simple touch. It was amazing what Justice could do, no matter what form he was in.

"I’m sorry I’ve been gone. I just… Right now? I don’t want you to leave. Just hold me, babe." It was only then that his blue eyes flicked open, meeting the eyes the held so much love for him. “Just stay here."

[unboundjustice]

   It is a constant fear that Temperance will send him away and he knows full well that it is a justified one. He's never lost count of all the time that familiar face would harden and a simple order would have him recoiling away, blacking out, only to wake in a place he had no memory of with Temperance long vanished from sight. It took decades to find him each time.

   So it is a relief when those eyes are closed and those words come out soft and sweet telling him to stay, to hold him. Anger slowly dissipates yet it remains at the back of his mind as a constant ember. Justice would wait just this once if only because Temperance asked it of him. A slight smile quirks at his lips and he gives a brief sort of nod before leaning in closer. A moment of hesitation has him pausing, examining Temperance's face as if asking permission.

   In the end he decides to act anyways.

   "Always," Justice promises and closes the distance between them.

[chalkdustprophets-archive]

unboundjustice, unimpeded retribution

[chalkdustprophets-archive]

[ Well, he’d love to give a little hello, but unfortunately— someone’s got to learn the value of silence. So he nods instead, silent. ]

[unboundjustice]

[ Poor child. Little else to do save for give a slight nod of his own and drop a duffel at the boy's feet. It'll stir confusion yet the only answer is smoke and a smile. ]

                For your partner. With interest.

[ Ash is flicked away. ]

                 Unless she prefer I owe her a favor.

[unboundjustice]

His eyes stay focused on the floor even as he's touched, the blood scraping away. "Just some punks in an alley. Got the best of me. Again." Something that was all too true all too often. He just wanted to stay close for now, though. Be safe.

   Punks in the alley. It was a good enough clue that would likely lead to Justice finding them and questioning them with fists until they spoke with broken bone. He had half a mind to go and educate them now if not for the simple fact those calm eyes seemed turbulent, uneasy. Brows knit together and he shifts upon the couch to better look over Temperance. God knows Patience would tell him that the right thing would be to wait, to watch and see if the men in the alleyway were repentant. Yet seeing that familiar face so defeated makes him think twice about restraining himself.

   "You’re not weak."

   It’s something he finds himself saying more and more, becoming increasingly aware of how the virtue before him is questioning his being. Justice frames his face gently with both hands as if to chase such thoughts away with simple touch alone. “You’ve never been weak."

[unboundjustice]

He walks into the room, silent up until the point that he slowly sits down on the couch next to Justice, his eyes focused intently on the floor as he sits. He doesn't motion to the blood that's dried on his mouth or on his shirt. Instead, he simply leans towards the other, holding his wrist as he inhales the scent of the man he cares for deeply.

   Rarely does Justice feel anger. He can stomach the sweltering wrath and instead understand it as something pure and white-hot in how justified it is in that moment. Now though while his eyes follow the crimson at the corner of unmoving lips, it rises up well beyond his control. Justice turns with searching eyes to bring up a hand and trace the line of Temperance’s jaw.

   Rage is all but vibrating dimly beneath the surface as he rubs away dried blood with the pad of his thumb.

   "Who did this to you?"

[pastinificent-deactivated201408]

[equalpowerandresponsibility]

[ There’s a certain dissatisfaction in knowing that no matter how hard you work, or how many people you save, and how hard you train—Mythical beings of a higher power than you can just walk in and tromp all over everything like your city is an anthill and you’re all the working ants. Cosmic powered bullies were a total buzzkill, man. ]  How’s everyone doing?  

[unboundjustice]

-One such mythical being of higher power just so happened to peek his head in from hiding away. Justice never rested, never slept, therefore little time was given for matters of importance. A Virtue could only do so much in a world all but drowning in Sin.

Ash is flicked away and dark eyes narrow upon the so-called boy hero. His little magician had done her trick, spooking away whatever had begun rotting away the city. Still left quite the mess behind. He'd have to remember not to tip her when he finally paid her.

Dropping the cigarette to the ground, it's forgotten underfoot with a quick twist. Nothing but dying embers and twisting tendrils of smoke.-

Heya Petey.

-Oh this was going to be good.-

How's it shakin'?

[s-h-a-r-d-s-o-f-m-e-deactivated]

[unboundjustice]

everyonewantsxmore followed forth.

Of all the places.

Of all the people.

Now, this was a surprise.

Greed was bad enough in small doses, of if that weren't more evident than in the tales they've weaved. Justice has no room to gauge the Sin's worth though, that is why he remains the judge examining from all sides. It doesn't mean he cannot appreciate what can be accomplished with a small tempered amount; humans exhibited proof every day. No if the Virtue were to speak it would be to give a brief greeting, perhaps some form of simple hello between them.

As if Sins were such simple creatures.

There is a certain naivety he observed, all in the way those fickle little humans act and react. Greed though, this incarnation at least, intrigues him. Kindness veiled as malicious hunger, actions taken with the assumption of there always being a benefit, always being some way that it would amount to more--

Ash falls onto his fingers and the Virtue glances away, flicking it away. It would do little good to reminisce. Sins always gave him a wide berth yet this-- Being faced with one that reeks of something he has tasted once before? Well, curiosity killed the cat. Motioning to the bar keep, a pleasant smile is given as two bourbons are set before him. Best to nip this in the bud, Justice muses and approaches the table with easy strides.

"Evening."