"Yeah, Words Can Be Difficult," He Nodded Along, Already Coming Up With A Few Ways She Could Start Her

Candlewick || One-Shot

Summary: John meets Candlewick the Donkey Takes Place: Approx. 16 years ago TW/CW: abuse/Animal abuse(implied), kidnapping(implied), black market dealing/trafficking of a cursed creature that’s probably actually a human, body horror (curse), eye horror (wrong kind of eyes on something)

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JONATHAN BAILEY

Who What Wear (2024)

He took the beer. He listened to the rant with a furrowed brow. This poor kid. All of these things he felt responsible for, that he'd put himself through. Yes, he deserved to be seen and recognized for all he did, but was it worth it? Was giving up half himself worth it?

John had to hope so.

"At least they're not brand new recruits," John offered. "It's good to know your teams strengths and weaknesses, and it sounds like you do. They'll fall in line because you'll get them to."

John let out a sigh, leaning to clasp Banzai on the shoulder. "You need to relax, though, kid. What is this, day one of your promotion and you're already feeling vindictive about it?" He wouldn't point out that Banzai is just as much a kid as the others. Even if it was true.

"I've seen you go through shit to get here, I've seen the light fade from your eyes and turn to smoke. You know that? That you don't look the same as that kid all those years ago. If that's a good thing and what you were after, then great. But just--" John shook his head. He wasn't going to get into this with Banzai. Not now. "I'm glad you got what you were after."

The laptop was protected by a PIN and after a few attempted at what could be significant dates for the old owner, he was in.

"Other than the crew, how was it leading a mission? Karen said it was a big one," John asked as he started going through files on the computer, scanning for names and dates that may stand out.

@banzai-bungu

in the details // Honest Jackal

She did about what he'd expected and told him she was busy anyway. He just sat and waited, staring at her, being an annoying presence. She was stubborn, but so was he.

"Well," he started, leaning forward when she finally looked up, like she hadn't sounded like the most annoyed person in the world, like she was actually invested in this conversation, "I've been thinking, you know, things are getting a little... heated around town. They've been that way for a while now, if you know what I mean." He paused, waiting for any kind of reaction.

"And because of all that," he continued regardless of her reaction, "I was thinking what better way to take the heat off than by doing something cool." once again, an expectant pause. "And what's cooler than doing something publicly helpful for your community?" A lot of things, actually, and he knew that.

"It can honestly be anything, I won't be picky about that, just something to, you know--just in case anything were to happen--make it so when people hear your name they think 'oh, Angel? we love Angel, she would never be involved in any fiery, murdery crimes.'"

@angel-milano

Putting Your Best Paw Forward || Johngel

"Hm, alright, I'll keep that in mind. Don't usually read sad books, but a change of pace is sometimes good," he said, watching her. She had a sadness to her, one that was almost palpable. "If I'm honest, I don't do a whole bunch of reading. Maybe I should change that. Any suggestions?" hopefully not something super depressing? He was trying to steer her away from that but who knew if it would be successful.

@wintersselene

Chapter Three | OPEN

Putting Your Best Paw Forward || Johngel

Hey Stranger || Fox Hop

"No, not fully," he said with a wave of his hand. "Campaigns are more for the broader image, or when people know its you. We're just trying to be preemptive and keep the cameras pointing the other way, so to speak, so we don't have to do a full on campaign."

This was about the reaction he expected. John usually got this reaction from people. And this was Angel, and he thought she was great, but definitely a tougher nut to crack.

"That's the spirit," he nudged her arm as she let out the most disinterested groan he'd ever heard. "You wouldn't have to do much. You work somewhere, right? The Lucky Cat, right? I just want you to start by making sure you're always on time, saying please and thank you, greeting customers with your most annoying customer service smile, you know, all the basics." John pulled out his phone, scrolling through to find something he'd saved. That was a downside to Pixie's, it was so dark in here sometimes he felt like he couldn't see a thing. And he didn't want to blast his brightness, that just made things worse in a different way.

"Here, look at this--you only need to focus on the second slide," he showed her the phone. Maybe he was being a little bit of a smart-ass here, but whatever.

He switched his tone back to something a little more genuine. "Things like this matter, Angel. If there's a chance people see you as aloof or too antisocial, they can start connecting dots or making up their own stories. Not necessarily ones that'll direct them back here, but as information grows and spreads, news comes out, people figure things out. Especially in a small town. Especially when you bloody write out MAFIA in the ashes." He didn't think that touch was her specifically, but he's trying to make a point.

"Point is, love, just don't want you getting into trouble, okay?" And he did mean that. "The bad kind of trouble, that is. You can get into all the fun kind of trouble you want, so long as it's done safely and nothing escalates to fire-starting levels."

@angel-milano

Putting Your Best Paw Forward || Johngel

"Right, right," he conceded. If he actually wanted answers, he knew who he'd have to talk to. He really would prefer not to, though. He wouldn't want to risk getting called out or his loyalties or job position put into question.

In that life he had before, with the Marquette family, John had no problem talking back or making a point when he was upset or concerned on their ways of doing things. Because he knew the results would be the same every time--a punishment of varying degrees of severity. They didn't try to hide their cruelness under a layer of sweet, not to him. Not to their other 'pets'.

Bill was different. Because he seemed to actually care. He seemed to want what was best for those in his care. John wouldn't talk back or question him because he didn't know what the results would be. A show of his darker side, or some dulcet disappointment that would somehow strike deeper than a kick or a switch.

He wouldn't question Bill, not any more than he just had to Karen. Never to his face. Because the reaction may prove what he secretly feared. That he'd gone from one gilded cage to another.

"Yeah," John nodded. "That is my job." Make it matter. Twist that one act of cruelty into something that would benefit the masses. He'd done that plenty of times before.

His mood shifted quickly, back into his more jovial and usual self. "Alright, posing questions, boosting engagement. Makin' a fucking splash, yeah? Any types of support from the community that you'd like me to focus on? Solely digital, or encourage public action as well?"

@into-the-voyd

The PR Game || Voydfellow

John had put that magical event out of his head. Mostly. Every now and again he'd think about it. It was strange--he knew about strange magic in Swynlake but hadn't experienced it himself. It was good to be back to the town proper, though. This place already had enough magic flowing through it that sometimes the sensations could get overwhelming. He was glad to be gone from that world made of magic.

He wasn't thinking about it at all while waiting for his drink at Hatter's, until he saw a familiar face. It didn't register as familiar at first because he'd never met her here, but at a second glance he knew exactly who he was seeing. When her gaze turned to him, he gave her a small wave.

"Oh, hey," he said with a grin, sidling closer to her. "As good of a look as the armor was, you do look a lot more comfortable without it."

@officer-judy-moon

Hey Stranger || Fox Hop