nobis auxilium

"I know you’re not above bribing me.” In the almost thousand years that they’d known each other he knew Nico had no problems using different things to blackmail him with. Especially once he’d been introduced to macarons. Once it came to light that they were one of the few sweet things he enjoyed the other seemed to make a point of using it as blackmail material more times than not. And today was no different. Joe knew all about the bakery that was near where they were staying and knew that they just happened to have many of the flavours he enjoyed to eat. But what had Nico gotten? He didn’t see anything but that didn’t mean anything. Far too many times he’d only seen things after he’d agreed to whatever Nico wanted. “I’ve lost count how many times you’ve bribed. What do you have this time, hm? And what am I having to agree to.”

Never. Not in a millennia has he aged out of the playful manipulation a good bribe can give. There was, indeed, a small white cardboard box sitting on the kitchen counter. Several of each of Joe’s favorite flavours were his for the taking. Nicky would hand them over regardless. They both knew that. Doesn’t mean he isn’t going to play the part. Use his ‘leverage’ to announce the idea--”We have given them enough time to become good. To see what they are doing is rooted in nothing but hatred. Chechnya. It’s time. This government is not fixing itself. No one is going to try. The camps there, Joe. They are torturing people. Murdering them. For who they are. We know this. The more we wait?” Arms fold over his chest. They swore a break and it’s been one. But the articles he’s seen. The ones he keeps stumbling on. It’s like fate is reminding them--they ended their own projects. To further the work of the group. Necessary and they would do it a dozen times over. Because they as a whole? Loyalty is in his veins. But now? Now? It’s time.

His arms automatically wrap around Nico’s waist, the weight in his lap something he liked. He’d heard the rain that morning when they woke and knew that the other would most likely put up a fight. It wasn’t something that bothered him. If anything he loved venturing out into a city during the rain. Something about the rain made a city come to live in ways that nothing else did and he loved walking through it. But Nico — he could never figure out if the other would enjoy it or not, and in all honesty that was what made all the centuries more interesting. Joe knew he could most likely move Nico from his lap. The problem was he didn’t want to. As much as he would’ve love to leave the safe house, he was more than content with this Italian weight in his lap. “Is that a dare? Because I’m sure I can recount numerous times when you’ve tried something like this and I’ve easily moved you.”

“I TOLD YOU, I DON’T MAKE THE RULES.” couldn’t have said it plainer and still he can feel Nicky stare daggers at the back of his head. Booker squints at the laptop screen, nose scrunched up for a moment before a key combination auto-deletes a row of pictures that don’t seem to quite fit the grid criss-crossing at the center of the screen. they’ve been at it for two hours now. sorridi muttered time and time again, each time with a little more exasperation in his voice until Booker had disappeared to grab a bottle of wine and two glasses. the camera clicks, the picture appears, the picture doesn’t fit the grid. groundhog day.

he moves to refill Nicky’s glass        make it a little less annoying perhaps; something to soothe both Nicky’s nerves as well as his own. o, how he misses the days where IDs had no pictures on them. just a slap of paper with handwritten basics and a cheaply remade stamp pressed on it. nowadays? cut a milimeter off the sides and any authority is gonna have you arrested in 0.2 seconds flat. “times of us lookin’ like jackasses in our passports are done, those pictures need to be biometric now.”

Daggers and then some.

“Biometric,” he groans the word back. Nicky could easily list ten different things he would rather be doing right now than what he is currently suffering through. Jumping off a cliff. Dodging traffic to test his luck? The list could go on and on. His wine keeps running thin. Booker’s been doing his best to keep the zinfandel flowing. Shoulders hunch as he slouches back in his seat. One leg kicks out, heel against the floor and toes pointed towards the ceiling. “I know. I know. It doesn’t mean I have to like it.” 

           “You think both our egos fit in there?” Lips curled into a smile; catlike with the mischevious sparkle in her eye, that might just be the reflection of fire coming closer and closer. If she would allow it, there would be memories brought back; things that she had been suppressing for a while, but she didn’t allow it. She lived in the moment. Here and now. BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNEW WHEN IT WOULD END.             Not doing didn’t mean things didn’t hurt and the pain from your body slowly being consumed by fire, was one of the worst. SO, what was the responsible and sensitive thing to do? Find a place to hide from it or GET OUT. Nicky had found something that could do both. A metal crate. Big enough for two bodies to fit. Safe enough to be dropped out of a plane that was about to explode, currently already a blazing shooting star in the sky. At least if you could count on immortality.

      “Get in!              I’ll open the hatch and join you!”

Nicky can’t help himself with that smile cutting into the moment of calm in a scene that is anything but the definition of the word. There is safety in the fact that no matter what happens? They WILL walk away from this. However? Several grisly images come to mind of what could happen once they meet the ground. Ones he’d rather avoid if at all possible. Thus? The impromptu safe room of a metal box? Seems as good of an idea as any. Thankfully? Andy agrees with him. But with the trademark snark that is known to drift between their group born out of so many years staring at death’s door time and time again. Only to have no one answer the ring of the bell.

THE FRENCH MAN MAY BE SIPPING on some coffee but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t already spiked with whatever liquor of the week has found its way into his flask . the quiet has been well spent with doing absolutely NOTHING but sitting here and watching some old movie on the tv . it is supposed to have been a quiet night , but that plan is ruined the minute joe and nicky come into the safehouse looking utterly exhausted and donning blood of wounds that have long since healed . 

booker doesn’t move though . they’re fine . they always are , but the situation could be needing to be attended to . this wasn’t something expected . ❝  the hell happened to you guys ?? ❞ he asks sipping from his mug .  ❝ bad day ?? ❞ one that he hopes doesn’t require lifting himself from this chair otherwise everyone involved will have get what they didn’t bargain for . 

“What happened? Humanity has grown quite fond of bringing guns to bar fights.” Nicky’s nose scrunches as he peels the ruined t-shirt over his head while crossing the room. From the hall Joe mumbles something about how they were going to mind their own businesses until blah, blah---whatever he says is cut off by the shower kicking on. “And that sometimes? A friend showing up at the last second doesn’t mind shooting you in the back if you win. Chivalry was dead long before the saying was invented.” He muses as he tosses the shirt into an empty clothes basket just inside the bedroom door.

nicolo is the one that paul might identify the most with . they relate on so many levels with the way their minds tend to come to the same outlooks and mindsets . they have their faiths as well as the incessant need for peace . neither one looking for a fight but not shying away from one if it ever endangers their loved ones . chris is paul’s opposite , that man was forged in war , but they’ve found a love that paul couldn’t ever possibly part with . much the same could be said for nicky and joe . 

this mission was particularly hard on all of them . this pair of men most of all because their hearts are too big to handle all the pain that comes along with it . the body count is what keeps paul awake at night . he’s never been okay with the violence associated with what they do but this … this is a destiny he cannot deny and where chris goes . paul is not far behind . the weeks after a mission are the hardest , and he’ll probably split soon . no doubt to find somewhere to hide to find himself once more , deal with the guilt of what he’s done without burdening everyone else .

❝ of course , i do . its what we do . we both worry enough for everyone don’t we ?? ❞ paul says after settling down beside nicky and handing him a bottle of water .    ❝ its okay to feel the shame of what we do . we do what we think is right , nicky , but just because we think its right doesn’t necessarily mean it is , but necessary evils and all that . ❞ paul takes a sip from his bottle before sighing .  ❝ it’s okay to not feel okay . ❞  

Necessary evils.

Nicky’s eyes pinch at their corners with the smile that greets a pair of words that ring true on so many things that they must do. He smiles because that’s all he can do. It’s tired and not quite the brand that makes pale eyes light up. An agreement and acknowledgement that he understands Paul’s thoughts all too well. Because he feels them. It’s in every part of who he was. Who he is. Who he will continue to be. Until that need for him to continue is gone and he can rest. 

The back of his head rests against the stucco wall of the porch they’ve perched themselves on. His gaze flicks from the sky above to the man beside him and steadies itself inside an endlessly soulful pair of eyes that hold him with such warmth. Out of the small handful of immortals that he has known in his many years? Paul stands out as someone he understands. Their feelings mutual about one another. He cares for Paul. Wants to keep him safe. But it’s in that caring that he wishes the other would not worry about him as much as he does. It’s in their nature to do so. Yes. If it wasn’t? They wouldn’t be themselves.

@affcgato​ || mun questions || accepting!

7. Who was the very first muse you ever wrote?

my very first muses were characters i made up when i was in about 7th grade? some guy who played guitar and his friends thought he was a killer. but for fandoms? my very first fandom character was philip swann from clive barker’s lord of illusions. a random movie by my favorite author. i still go back and write him now and then. it’s been a while but he’s someone who’s become such a staple for me in my writing that it could be years and i’ll suddenly get inspired to revamp him with a new fc and new headcanons with my old ones and go to town.

@bcck​ || mun questions || accepting!

3. Are there any particular aus or plots that you’d really like to write?

i’d love to do some early stuff with each person of the group and how they’re coming together/getting to know one another. big time! some movie aftermath plots of them reuniting with everyone after a while or helping nile learn how to navigate the world as an immortal and what they do and how to deal with the mental preparedness that would have to catch up with her after everything settles and she has time to truly let it sink in what’s going on. all that would be great! since i’m just starting to dive into this whole fandom, i’m like GIVE ME ALL THINGS! as far as au? a modern verse where they are new into this within this century would be fun with some proper plotting! or i’ll take a zombie au anytime for any character i write. lol!

6. What is your favorite thing about writing your current muse?

i love the entire story. i love how small the fandom is and how it feels like it’s gonna be mellow. i’m super excited to explore dynamics and branch out nicky’s (and joe’s) relationships further! i guess my favorite thing right now is the possibilities of what’s to come!

18. What makes for a great roleplay partner in your opinion?

// been sick as a dog for the last day and a half. finally on the other side of it and getting back to normal. i do not recommend whatever the hell that was. but i’ll be here and on joe later. then bouncing to the bucky cause he needs some serious love, too. come say hi. might be dozing off and on today as i’m still a little sore/tired but yay for feeling like a functioning human again! :D

come hmu for plots? pls and thx. or hit up my memes tag with this handy link. either way? hope y’all have a fab one! 

the love of my life was of the people I’ve been taught to hate.