winter phantom

That was certainly true. When people panicked, their thoughts had a way of becoming irrational, acting on instinct more than anything else. With tensions so high, the threat to mutants hanging over Paragon like a dark cloud, Isabelle couldn’t help but think it was only a matter of time before something else happened. “I’d like to think I could,” she smiled, grateful for the older woman’s confidence in her. “But if you have any free time, I wouldn’t mind some training. It’s been a while.” Acting had been her sole focus for the last few years, ever since her mother had died. “I’m alright. Just busy, splitting my time between the theatre and helping out the drama department here. How about you?”

“Have you ever tried a cold brew?” August asked, arching his eyebrow as he turned to look at the person standing next to him in the line. It seemed to be a slow day- and he figured he’d make the most of the time he spent in line. “I’ve always been more of a plain black coffee kinda guy- but I’m thinking about switching it up. But maybe i’ll play it safe and go with iced coffee,” he mused, allowing a small laugh to escape from his lips. It was a rather pointless conversation but he figured it was better than continuing on in awkward silence. 

“I hope I don’t either,” she admitted. Fighting had never been what she’d wanted to do, despite the fact that she had grown up surrounded by fighters. Or maybe it was because she’d grown up surrounded by fighters that she didn’t want that life. While others grew up admiring heroes from afar, she got to see the inside story, see how things had affected them. She didn’t want that. “But, given everything that’s gone on around here lately, I guess we can’t be too sure about that.”

EMERALD EYES look at the elder woman. “ it’s all anyone says nowadays… “ she fixates on a spot on the floor for a moment before looking back at the woman. “ i try to be when i do. “

Harley smiled and shook her head. “Aw, I don’t know about all that. I just started out wantin’ to help people, and now I know from experience how nice it is just to have someone to listen t’ya. I’m just tryin’ to be a good person, especially cause I was so messed up for a while that I didn’t think I ever would be.”

                ❝ i understand that feeling. ❞ she mused, a small sense of respect growing for the blonde. shifting from one foot to the other, lindy was hit with the realization of what time it was.  ❝ ah, i have a training session that i need to be at, but i will get you that book as soon as possible.❞

“Well, thank you,” she smiled, accepting the box that was held out to her. Shifting her bag on her arm so she had better use of both hands, she opened it, carefully lifting the knife out to admire it. “Lindy, I love it!” So often, given what she did, people bought Isabelle more pamper-orientated presents. That Lindy knew there was more to Isabelle than just that was a testament to how well the other woman knew her. 

          she knew, she knew belinda didn’t know what had happened. sometimes meg felt like telling her. spitefully repeating every lie she had fed meg when they were younger— and then recounting how the rumlow had broken her heart and left her holding the pieces. let her know every horrible thing belinda had ever done that they took from her memory. it was a hateful, dark want. meg knew that. and as much as she wanted to— she always held back. even if meg hated her, ( or was it more like she was filled with such pain whenever she looked at her that meg had to bury it with hate? ), she knew how IMPORTANT the woman was to steve and bucky. and maybe it wasn’t her fault. maybe it wasn’t.

            but she was the only meg could blame that was here.

          “ no, “ she’s snapping again, anger at belinda suddenly switching to self loathing. anger and rage at herself for showing weakness in front of anyone— especially HER. showing she’s affected enough that the professor thinks she has to change her plans purely for meg. work around meg. like meg’s a problem. a weakness. ( she’s not. she refuses to be. ) “ no. “ she says it calmer this time, letting her hand drop. “ just— don’t do that again. please. “ it’s both angry and desperate. she doesn’t think she can handle a touch like that again. 

she has to BITE her own lower lip to stifle the wince that’d otherwise sing from bubblegum lips in a muted sigh  .  to be thrusted against the wall as though she’s nothing more than a rag doll  (  to be thrown around the way those men in arkham tossed her  ,  like she was nothing  .  meant nothing  .  would amount to nothing  .  )   ,  elicits a low growl from the rascal  .  in that moment she’s eris  ,   goddess of destruction  ,  she’s sharpened nails clutching harder at their grip around the woman’s throat  .  she’s hissing at the wrist now pinned to the slab behind her  ,  and she has half a mind to throw the entirety of her force into a headbutt to stun her  ,  fracture her nose and escape  .  but she’s got the edge with asphyxiation so she doesn’t bother  .  in fact  ,  she doesn’t feel trapped  .  not yet  .  so that cheshire grin spidering across her visage is one of seething calm  .  of a venus fly trap preparing for the first bite of its prey  .  ❝  well ya fuckin’ should  ,  ‘cause i’m gon’ be your worst fuckin’ NIGHTMARE  .  ❞  nostrils flare and she glares up at the woman  ,  writhes against the grip on her wrist  .  and still she’s scolded  .  scorned  .  nobody tells rosaline isley-quinzel enough  .  nobody who’s lived  ,  anyway  .   ❝  i won’t STOP unless ya somehow make me  ,  so fuck you more  .   ❞

                     jessica blinked slowly at the other, frozen treat still in her hand. she stared at the other professor before snorting, sticking it back into her mouth. she gave it a very obvious and over the top lick before speaking once more with it in her mouth. “ i think you’re just jealous i have one and you don’t. “

training psychiatrist  .  future doctor  .  salem crane’s serpentine eyes linger on the woman’s frame  .  ooh  ,  doesn’t she look like a bomb prepared to explode at any given minute  ?  and how he loves women who’re forces to be reckoned with  .  a challenge  .  he accepts it  .  ❝  then i’ll stand with you  ,  ❞   it’s a cheshire smile  ,  but his eyes are alight and twinkle with innocence  .  at least for now  ,  the chimera is avoiding trouble  .  until he’s bored  .  at least he has someone to entertain him    ───     ❝  i’ve been keeping people distracted by using my illusions to make movies  .  getting pretty burned out though  ,  so i’m taking a little break  .    ❞   purse of the lips  .  ❝  how’re you enjoying being large and in charge  ?   ❞

Scout sat against the wall of the library, looking around and trying to slow her heart rate and stay calm. At times like these, when she felt panicked she would start to involuntarily turn intangible and if she wasn’t careful she’d sink right through the floor. When she heard footsteps approaching, she looked up. “Oh I, uh, I think I’m okay, just not super fond of being locked in one place.” It wasn’t something she was used to.

A bark of laughter escaped Ben’s lips. “Thanks. I’ll try.” He’d never considered himself to be an optimist, more of a realist really. In this case, however, it seemed better to lie than to acknowledge the maybe not-so-great truth. “Honestly, I’ve been in worse scrapes. A blackout isn’t the worst thing in the world.”

          she looked the boy over again after hearing his words, trying to put a name to the face. while she made an effort to keep track of most of the students, some tended to slip through the cracks. ❝ good point. what was your name again, kid? ❞

Harley gave a little shrug. “I mean, he’s been through a whole bunch’a stuff, right? The fact that he’s even here at all, makin’ a life for himself and stuff – instead’a livin’ in a cabin in the woods cause he’s so sick of people – I think that shows he’s a pretty great guy right there.” She smiled. “Aw, that’s sweet,” she said. “That’s pretty great, yeah.” She smiled and shrugged. “Kinda the same reason. To see people work hard to understand themselves and where their problems are comin’ from, and for them to  feel better about themselves and their future. For them to realize they have a future at all, even.”

          ❝ that is very true. ❞ so there was more to the woman than belinda had previously thought. interesting. the more the spoke the less lindy minded her presence. maybe it had more to do with the fact that she was saying things about bucky that she also believed. or maybe they actually had some things in common.  ❝ to show them that they can change and be better? hmm, that is noble of you.❞

Zoe nodded. If shit went down, she would not be pulling her shots. As reluctant as she was to live at Paragon, for better or worse, she cared about people here. And her skills would keep them alive. Floyd hadn’t taught her because he wanted her to follow him into the business. “I’m better at a gun,” she replied. “My tactic would just be separating them.”

Though her birthday was no longer as much of a big deal as it had been when she was younger, Isabelle still thoroughly enjoyed the occasion. The day had been much like any other, but the evening had seen her out with her friends, all of them laughing and enjoying themselves and seeing how many people they could convince to buy the birthday girl free drinks. Surprisingly, it had been a few, and so it was safe to say that she was at least mildly hungover that morning. Nonetheless, the sight of the older woman brought a smile to her face. “Thank you! But you really didn’t have to, you know.”

“you really asking me? you’re giving me a choice to do work or nothing?”