So what I'm learning is I need to deep-dive into their comics and story because the Flash is actually a ridiculously decent mentor by the looks of it.
c/lark k/ent undoubtedly ugly sweater champion six years running at the daily planet.
not even for a moment does he spare a glance that way. dealing with such a trifle, if anything, bored him. with a wave of his hand, he could've made them forget — sent them on their way with happier memories. hell, slowing time to a crawl tends to work out for him more often than not. plenty of time to piece together a clever story or chart a hasty escape. still, he smiles, an all too knowing one. just because he does things that way doesn't mean others do. so, he cedes to her warning with a loose nod. biting down whatever cleverness surges to flee his lips, it slips free as a sigh.
❛ was hoping coming here would've been the end of it. ❜ sure, he loves a quest as much as the next guy, but sometimes it's nice to rest. carve out a little slice of peace without going so far to attain it. chewing the inside of his cheek ruefully, a hue of distress coats his gaze, although it warms with a tinge of excitement. rambling on 'n on about, well, anything? his favorite. ❛ it's a star. might be a little small, sure, but it's a star some hotshot got the smart idea to turn into a ring. to make the heavens and his fingertips one and the same. ❜ he rolls the band between his fingers, feeling out its etchings and the sting of its warmth.
❛ this baby, though, happened to be forged in a pair. binary stars — ever seen one? they're fun. if you're willing to help, i'm willing to pay. it's important. ❜
𝐈𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐋𝐘, 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐘𝐄𝐒 𝐆𝐎 𝐓𝐎 𝐍𝐈𝐂𝐎 in the back, flicking a bit of light down from the overhead to get his attention on the girls in the store. He moves to distract them by flirting, and Io is left to lean over the counter to stare the mage in front of her down, eyes wide in disbelief.
"Can you be careful?" She hisses softly, waving him closer so she can inspect the ring more closely.
Keen though her eyes are, the symbols are tiny, and she'll probably need a magnifier to get a proper look, depending on how old it is. Even so, she shakes her head at the description, because anything with that kind of juice would have immediately been sent to the Vault or offered up to Manon to handle as she saw fit.
"Can't say we've gotten anything like that, but depending what it is, I might be able to hep you track it down."
smears of green, streaks of blue, dots of red like stars, it's a tapestry from within the speed force. wally wonders how much dick could make out; how many of these fleeting instances he remembers? ( wally remembers most, if not all. ) / a single long second, it spans a thousand years, the shifting of body weight—— the familiar warmth, let's say they're both lucky: one misstep &. they're both gonna be joining those smears of color. not exactly the best way to start a reunion / date. he won't have it hanging over his head, not when dick already had plenty to dangle already.
slowing, wind goes from roar to a hushed whimper, all the colors unstretched becoming plain. only stopping when they're alone, only stopping when there's no danger, no risk, no nosey reporters eager for a story nearby. luckily, every hero kept a safe house—— some more private than others, but this one, he knew better than most. eyes glow with faint traces of the speed force, jolts of blue lightning that fade to reveal warm green eyes.
❛ easy ! easy ! gentle with the nose, birdbrain. ❜ head shakes, trying to brush off touch. ❛ half the fun of going out to dinner is enjoying the smells—— whatya gonna do if you hurt this prize-winning asset, huh? ❜ light jest, still, despite reaching temporary destination ... wally doesn't put them down. grip tightens ever so slightly, subconsciously leeching more warmth, eager to stretch one second into thousands. features flush, a faint hint of red against light skin. ❛ i missed you, dick. ❜
CONTINUED FROM HERE. dick & wally. / @amcssing
bad habits die hard; especially when they don't consider it entirely bad. its always been a talent of his, the disappearing act, since he was a child long before he donned the cape of robin. the circus crew had to be good at not being seen, after all. nightwing had to be even better. he tends to forget that there can be exceptions to this rule----even decades later.
he remembers when he reappears, of course. the mild twinge of wally's mouth makes it obvious. the tiniest pang of guilt hits, but it's replaced with an easy smile and a quip. when he opens his mouth again, he nearly swallows air, and his i told you not to carry me like this is quickly abandoned.
------ " your treat ? " he says between the wind, when wally finally slows enough, when his mask is no longer the thing keeping him from going all but blind in the velocity. when it is safe, mis-matched colored fingers lift to poke the speedster directly on the nose.
" since you asked. date etiquette and all, KF. " a dramatic swing of the legs, a hollywood imitation of romcom tropes, though the wave of giddiness isn't fake.
then, quieter, more serious: " meant it, walls. i didn't mean to take off again. "
about pages for brad and thane are moved / set ! thane will be iconless for awhile since im switching his fc to i/dris e/lba because i love bringing poc content everywhere i go.
sweeping sângeros with a single look, smile never wavers, even standing before the counter. senses catch a whiff—— faint lingering attachment—— equal parts magic. neat, worth mulling over for the challenge of it ( but far less important to him than this. ) he slips a ring off gloved finger, a silver band etched with symbols, the faintest glow lingering in engravings like dimming lights. dim, weak, dying.
❛ ciao, bella ! lookin' for a ring like this one. brighter though. uh, hot to the touch. whispers a bit when you wear it. ❜ sometimes secrets, sometimes lies about the stock market. really depends on the day. ❛ figured it could've ended up in a place like this. pawned off, probably. seen anything like that, love? ❜
@amcssing | starter call
𝐈𝐓'𝐒 𝐀 𝐑𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆, 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐒𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 actual magic to walk through the front door. It's a lucky thing she's seldom caught unawares by it, given her own magical ability. Even if she didn't have that though, she can smell it on this one. Light- repressed, maybe?- but real.
"Welcome to Sângeros," she hums, perking up slightly from her position at the counter. Her long nails tap a quick beat against the back of her phone case, and then she casts a quick look around- a couple of vanilla wicca girls, more aesthetic than dedication, Nico in the stacks... nothing to worry about.
"What can I help ya find?"
“I have survived, but I have not been spared.”
— Deathless, Catherynne M. Valente (via charwrites)
❛ you can spend all the time in the world in here, but if you don't spend enough time out there... you know? ❜ / harley to cass / don't think this is from a prompt?? can't find it, doesn't matter.
bone crunches against bone, flesh bruising and raw, a single blow enough to stagger foe. wind rushing from their lungs, light stolen from their eyes instantly, body crumples as if cut from strings. one blow, a single strike refined again &. again, it's all cass needs. countless hours training, countless time in the dark, violence comes as naturally as drawing breath. ( oh, daughter of shiva, bloodshed shall be your voice. ) / a shadow taunts. metal whistles through stale air, bat pinging off raised forearm, bones rattle—— a throbbing ache spreads—— thug's features going from proud to worry. a blow like that could've done more, ripped a scream from even toughest brutes, yet [...] nothing comes other than a sharp blow 'pon windpipe then the stars. without words, without voice, maybe cassandra forgot how to scream.
she listens to harley even if she does not speak. listening / watching, it's their curse and talent. to watch, to read, to choke on words jumbling inside own throat. she is silence. the swiftest of blows. the sharpest of blades. her strikes hollow, her movements fluid, empty of all except poise and intent. the battlefield speaks to her with blood and gore. it's words an unending story, a tale she read since she was born—— the only honesty afforded her. it intertwines itself with her; it makes her part of that same story, a character scrawled into its margins—— never once the focus, a mere player, a mere second to events before her. [...] she accepts it, for better or worse, that her mother sired a weapon. a tool to point &. aim—— but she chooses for herself now. her family steered her between right and wrong, far kinder, far more helpful, far greater than that woman had been. it's why she knows to help—— and help with every inch of flesh no matter how marred. she is batgirl; protector.
focus shifts to harley, to frantic swings of painted bat, to laughter from lipstick stained lips. she is chaos—— wild and free. she is loud, she speaks with a voice that rings through the night, she fights and fights hard. if battles with cass were full of silence, then harls would be full of fanfare. a violent collage of splatter and laughter. blows come with brutal efficiency. movements fluid if not spontaneous. filled with a subdued sense of glee, an effort to give performance. if cass's story fills itself with gore then surely harley's fills itself with fireworks, violent and hot. ( a storm clad in red and black with painted face ! no less a storm, even wilder than one, perhaps ! ) this woman is no bit player, no character fit for the sidelines—— she owns her story, tragedy and all. she chooses to be more, becomes more and help. she is harley quinn; hero.
both are broken glass, one shattered then reformed while the other continues to crack. jagged deep cracks, spread and spread, only racing towards inevitable—— to shattering. [...] sharp strike from the elbow brings the final goon to knee knees, swift pivot and sharp kick leaves them slumping in place. sirens echo in the distance, the sounds of gcpd racing through gloomy streets, red and blue, cut the darkness like an arrow of light. they'll come, soon. still, cass takes time to turn over harley's words. to consider what she meant, what she means—— to the smile sitting on her lips, to the kindness sitting in her gaze [...] a look that reminds her of those close to her, of when they care. shoulders lower, loosening tension.
❛ i'll ... remember that, quinn. ❜
tires screech as the first car arrives at the end of the alley; it's a split second—— maybe less, but it's enough for attention to waver. when blue hues turn to find cass again, there's no one in sight. she's close, though, watching from the rooftop as harley hurries to put some distance between herself and law enforcement. a smart move, considering. lips curl beneath mask, a bit more at ease, first crack ... beginning to mend.
@metanoen
The funny part about this first encounter is Steph is left wondering "geez, what'd I do to piss her off?" and meanwhile Cass is walking away thinking "she seems nice. I am so good at giving helpful advice."