free for all

[tigriswolf]

Well, it's now Saturday, so time for the free for all. Here are the rules:

+ No more than five prompts in a row
+ No more than three prompts per fandom
+ If one or more of your prompts is filled today, then you may prompt again
+ No spoilers within prompts until a week after the airdate/release
+ Warn for spoilers in bold and leave at least three spaces before the text

Have fun, y'all!

Comments

[tigriswolf]

Historical, CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien, changing the world

Not a fill but

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

My best friend in college was friends with one of the members of their writing group...she would've approved of this prompt.

[tigriswolf]

author’s choice, author’s choice, [character] doesn’t panic; [character] gets furious

[tigriswolf]

author’s choice, author’s choice, not everything has a meaning. in fact, some things have no meaning at all.

Filled: Firefly, River

[ammcj062.livejournal.com]

The Albatross flies and wheels above, bringing good luck to her ship. Her bird’s eye can see what others don’t and her caws sing prettily in the Captain’s ear.

But sometimes a caw is not one of warning. Sometimes it’s just an exhalation, a cleansing, a hundred other things. The sky is so pretty, the cows hum happily now their feet are back on dirt and grass, the shimmer of stars makes her think she can’t be the only Albatross wheeling above her chosen boat that day. Not everything has a meaning.

In fact, some things have no meaning at all. She wheels to feel the wind in her feathers and dives to prove she can catch herself. She lives on a plane of three dimensions which the others cannot see, and they worry when she disappears above their heads.

Don’t try to grab her foot, don’t try to ground her where she won’t be ground. Don’t weigh her down with shots and bindings. She always comes back to them, but sometimes meaninglessness can be peaceful too.

[tigriswolf]

author’s choice, author’s choice, Hostages only work if your enemy cares that they live.

fill: The Black Company [book 1]

[ammcj062.livejournal.com]

A/N: Not sure if you're familiar with the Black Company series, but I've been on a reading binge. Essentially -- a fantasy book from the POV of the Black Company, a troupe of mercenaries hired by the big bad.

----

You are the Rebel. There are fifty of you within the governor's house, most armed with arrows and standing watch in pairs at windows. The governor and his family are huddled in the parlor on the floor in front of you while you sit on the governor's favorite couch.

You've killed fourteen men tonight, including the governor's oldest son whose corpse lies cooling in the far corner without a hand. Your lieutenant jogs back, holding his sword in his non-dominant hand and trying to scrub the other one clean on his breeches.

"Well?" you ask, ignoring his weakness.

"I showed them the hand. The Captain -- he laughed. He says we must have missed if we just killed his son. He said Soulcatcher wants us dead, governor or no, so that what he's going to do tonight."

You are the Rebel and the Black Company is baying at your door, a foreigner howling into the night to send dark demons to scratch at the windowsills. There are fifty of you within the governor's house. It will not be enough.

You grip your sword and pray for the salvation of the White Rose.

[tigriswolf]

Author’s choice, author’s choice, one day I want to die and know I’ve done something important

[ammcj062.livejournal.com]

Author's choice, any, now (s)he is a handful of dust and glory

1/2: DCU animated/Marvel movies, Red Hood/Winter Soldier, PG

[tigriswolf]

(In this 'verse where Red Hood&Winter Soldier are taking over Gotham's crime.)

...



When Steve Rogers arrives in Gotham, everyone knows.

It is only surprising, Jimmy thinks, that it took him so long. They’ve been in Gotham for seven months, and were together on the road, burning down Hydra, for five months before that. It’s been a year and a half – he thinks – since the asset left Captain America on the riverbank. He’s been Jimmy for a year and a half.

Jason asks, “What are you going to do?”

Jimmy says, “I don’t know.”

.

Bruce Wayne, of course, makes a grand spectacle of meeting Captain America, even though Captain America is dressed as Steve Rogers and isn’t carrying the shield. Wayne takes Steve on a tour of Gotham’s most-hoity toity place; Jimmy knows that Steve must be hating it.

But all the pictures show Steve’s wide, gorgeous smile – his USO smile. Bucky Barnes hated that smile. Jimmy has no opinion either way.

But --

“He’s here for you,” Jason says. He looks solemn. A little sad. “Are you gonna let him see you?”

Jimmy finally nods. If nothing else, it might lay Bucky Barnes to rest.

.

Steve graciously declined Wayne’s offer of his mansion to stay in while he was in Gotham; Jimmy knows that they were both secretly relieved. (Of course, if Natalia is supplying Steve with intel, he probably already knows that Wayne is Batman.)

If Steve could’ve gotten away with it, he’d gone to some rat-trap motel but his face is famous all over the world. So instead he chose the fifth-ritziest hotel in town and quietly slammed anyone who tried to convince him to go somewhere better.

It doesn’t matter where he stays; Jimmy can get in no problem.

It helps, of course, that Steve wants him to.

.

Jimmy knows what Jason fears. But he watches Steve watch him and he knows that the fear is unnecessary.

“Bucky,” Steve says.

Shaking his head, Jimmy says, “Bucky Barnes is dead. I’m Jimmy.”

Steve nods. “Jimmy, then,” he says. “I hope – I just.” He chews at his lip, scratching the back of his head. “I had all these things I was gonna say. I miss you. I hope you’re happy. I’m so glad you’re alive but I hate how.”

There are tears in his eyes. He says again, “I miss you.”

Bucky Barnes would pull him in close and hold him. Kiss his face. Take him to bed and never let go.

“I cannot be the man you remember,” Jimmy tells him as gently as he can. “But – ”

Steve’s face crumples but he nods again.

And Jimmy – Jimmy steps forward to place the real hand on his shoulder and squeeze, just a little. “Let me finish, punk,” he says softly. “I’m never gonna be that man again. But I can still be your friend.”

“I’d, I’d like that,” Steve says through the tears.

Jimmy pulls him in close with a muttered, “C’mere.”

.

They spend all night talking – about the movies they’ve caught up on, about the best ways to blow Hydra to hell and back, about Steve’s new team and Jason.

“Can I meet him?” Steve asks.

Jimmy says, “I’ll ask him when I head back.” He knows that Jason wants to meet Captain America – it’d fulfill one of his childhood dreams. But to meet Steve Rogers…

They don’t talk about what Jimmy and Jason are doing in Gotham. Steve just says, “Be careful.”

Jimmy nods. He then recites a phone number and says, “Call me around lunchtime; I’ll let you know if Jason wants to get together.”

“Alright, Jimmy,” Steve says. “It… it was so good to meet you.”

Jimmy smiles at him. “You, too, Steve.”

.

“How’d it go?” Jason asks without looking up from his tablet.

“Steve’s a good friend,” Jimmy says, sliding the tablet out of Jason’s hand. “And that’s all he’ll be.” Jason lets out a small sigh of relief and Jimmy tilts his chin up with the not-hand. “He’d like to meet you.”

Jason surges up, kissing him fiercely, and it’s a long time before he pulls back far enough to say, “Meet Captain America? Fuck yeah.”

.

[ammcj062.livejournal.com]

Author's choice, any, Now dead, now on his feet, now immortal, now a ghost

DCU animated/Marvel movies, gen, PG

[tigriswolf]

(In this 'verse; Jason Todd ran into the ex-Winter Soldier and they started running together. Past-Steve/Bucky is discussed.)

...

Bucky Barnes died in the mountains. He died cold, alone, and terrified, and his last thought was, At least it wasn’t you.

He didn’t stay dead, and it took him years to die for good, and then the asset stood on his feet, breathed with his lungs, killed with his remaining hand and the not-hand his masters gave him.

The asset killed its way through the decades, slept when it wasn’t needed, and was unbeatable, unstoppable – unless the codewords that blanked it were said. It obeyed without question (except those times it didn’t) and never challenged its handlers (except those times it did). It survived things humans couldn’t and made impossible shots – it was the perfect weapon, the deadliest man in the world – except it was no man. It was a ghost.

Bucky Barnes never left that ravine.

.

After their initial meeting and the agreements to work for Red Hood, Jimmy stalks Enrico Inzerillo and Edmund Dorrance. He plants bugs in every room of their respective HQs, memorizes every face and name, and notes down who does not entirely agree with what Inzerillo and Dorrance have done.

He also leaves a note in both Inzerillo and Dorrance’s bedrooms with their first order from Red Hood: cease trafficking in humans. He has already determined where they keep their victims.

While Jason is contacting various people (a woman named Talia and members of something he only ever calls The League), Jimmy goes to the holding pens, slaughters the keepers, and then delivers the women and children to a clinic for the poor.

“It’s done,” he says when Jason answers the phone.

“Good,” Jason replies. “You should probably know that Captain America’s back in New York.”

Shit, Jimmy thinks. Aloud, he just says, “Headed back.”

.

Bucky Barnes loved Steve Rogers more than anything else. But Bucky Barnes died in the mountains.

The asset pulled Captain America out of the river and ensured he lived before retreating. The asset knew nothing, not even that it had a name – but Captain America refused to fight, and those words… I’m with you ‘til the end of the line should have meant nothing, but they resonated inside the asset and so it saved the mission’s life.

And Jimmy… Jimmy doesn’t know Steve Rogers. Has never met him. Jimmy is with Jason; Jason needs him the way Steve Rogers once needed Bucky Barnes. What Jason’s planning is just as hare-brained as some of Steve’s plans when they were hunting Hydra, and Jason has nobody watching his back the way the Commandos watched Steve’s.

“It doesn’t change the mission,” he tells Jason when he gets back to their loft.

“If you’re sure,” Jason says after a moment. Jimmy identifies his expression and tone as worried.

“I am.” He removes his armor, pulling on one of his bright shirts and soft sweatpants in place of the leather. “How did your calls go?”

“Pretty good,” Jason says. “Everything’s in place for Part B of Phase Two. Wanna get dinner out? Bruce Wayne’s making an appearance tonight.”

“Sure.” Jimmy grabs a glass and fills it with water, then goes to his nest, where The Black Stallion is waiting. Bucky Barnes had never gotten around to reading it.

“We’re gonna need to get spiffed up,” Jason says, turning back to his computer.

Jimmy chuckles. “I can do that.”

[ammcj062.livejournal.com]

Author's choice, any, today the streets remember

1/2: DCU animated/Marvel movies, Red Hood/Winter Soldier, PG

[tigriswolf]

(In this 'verse where Red Hood and Winter Soldier are taking over Gotham's crime together.)

(Immediately follows this.

...

After he gently places Jason in the far corner of the fallback position, he goes to dispose of Batman’s tracking devices. Five were placed on them, all told: three on Jason, two on Jimmy. One is put in the undercarriage of Batman’s ridiculous vehicle, one in the tailpipe. Two he leaves in the “Batcave” (he can hear Bucky Barnes complaining in the background at the lack of originality) and the last one is placed in the room he determines to be Bruce Wayne’s.

What better way to make Jason’s point?

.

He settles Jason into their bed and does a quick medical check after Jason passes out. He’s got a good-sized lump on the side of his head but that is his only injury. Nightwing’s fighting reminded him of Natalia’s – elegant and fast.

Natalia is better, of course. But Jason did very well.

And as to Batman… he is quite formidable. Given a few decades, he might be able to give Jimmy a challenge.

Jimmy shakes his head, scoffing. He strips and curls around Jason, placing his real hand over Jason’s pulse.

.

At 0900, Jimmy wakes Jason up just to be sure he can. Jason almost immediately falls back asleep. Jimmy does a quick internet search and decides to wait a little long before procuring a doctor.

At 1500, he wakes Jason again. Jason grumbles at him but holds an intelligible conversation, so when he falls back asleep, Jimmy does not panic.

Jason finally wakes up himself at 1800.

.

They spend the remainder of Friday and all of Saturday lounging around. Jason tells him he needs to actually watch the Star Wars films, even the “suckass” prequels. Jimmy orders half a dozen pizzas and they eat three of them for dinner and the rest for breakfast.

On Sunday, Jimmy makes Jason stay recuperating while he checks in on the various groups. One of the Sullivan lieutenants is trying to strike out on his own but Mickey Sullivan promises to take care of it.

Under the Red Hood, everyone is given a single chance. Jimmy ensures that Sullivan is aware of that and then continues on.

.

Now they have confronted Batman, Phase Three requires that they do not confront him again for a sufficient amount of time to drive him out of his mind with worry and fear. They spend days as Jay and Jim, and then Jason goes out as Red Hood only if he must make an appearance for the minions, as he calls them.

“We need to give you a name,” Jason tells Jimmy as they wait for the Inzerillo gun-runners to arrive. “Something as terrifying as you.”

“I don’t need a name,” Jimmy sighs. He thinks it might even be scarier that he goes without one. When he shares that thought, Jason clicks his tongue.

“But I’m getting all the credit!” he protests. “You’re doing half the work.”

That is not a new paradigm, Jimmy thinks. And it bothers him as little now as it did when he was Bucky Barnes. “We’ll discuss this later,” he says. “Inzerillo has arrived.”

.

[ammcj062.livejournal.com]

Author's choice, any, in alleys where the wind grows tired

1/2: DCU animated/Marvel movies, Red Hood/Winter Soldier

[tigriswolf]

(In this ‘verse where Red Hood and Winter Soldier are taking over Gotham’s crime together)

...


At mid-morning on a Wednesday, Jay and Jim go to Crime Alley, to where a boy once stole the Batmobile’s tires. They’re wearing frat boy clothes and neither has shaved. On a burner phone, Jim calls the Wayne Manor’s home number.

“Wayne Manor, Alfred Pennyworth speaking,” Alfred says. It doesn’t sound like he’s changed at all.

Jason can’t breathe. Jimmy, with his mission mode voice, replies, “Give Batman a message.”

“I beg your pardon,” Alfred says, sounding puzzled. “Give who a message?”

“Batman,” Jimmy repeats. “If he wants the Red Hood, he should be at the site of his first great failure at midnight tomorrow.” He ends the call and drops the phone.

Jay and Jim wander away, hands in each other’s pockets, two idiots on the wrong side of town.

.

“Oh, fuck, they must both be panicking,” Jason says as they eat at a hole in the wall diner. He used to love this place; the owner would give away food to kids who cleaned the floor and tables. “Man, I wish we coulda seen the old man’s face.”

Bruce, he means. Not Alfred. Alfred was awesome. Jason never got the sense he was being compared to Dick from Alfred. Alfred’s what he imagines granddads to be like.

The Red Hood’s phone rings. King Snake is calling and Jason sighs. “Yes?” he says, rolling his eyes at Jimmy.

Jimmy steals a handful of fries off his plate so Jason moves the plate closer to him while King Snake says, “Four of my boys were making a run to Blüdhaven last night; they’ve been picked up by Nightwing.”

“And you expect me to do what, exactly?” he asks, pouting as Jimmy takes more of the fries.

“Well, one of them was new,” King Snake says. The man sounds very nervous. “So new he hasn’t been initiated in yet. If he has to face Batman, the boy will break.”

Jason goes still; Jimmy meets his gaze. “Edmund,” Jason says softly, “what did I say about children?”

“He’s nineteen!” King Snake protests. “He’s the younger brother of one of my best men!”

“And what does he know?” Jason’s voice is still too soft, and he focuses on keeping his breath steady. They are in public; he cannot rage here.

“Billy’s been showing him the ropes,” King Snake says. “He knows a lot.”

“What does he know, Edmund,” Jason asks, borrowing Ra’s al Ghul’s coldest tone, “about me?”

King Snake sighs heavily. “He knows this phone number.”

“Expect a visit,” Jason says, ending the call.

Jimmy pays the bill, though they’re not even halfway through eating. Once they’re outside, Jimmy takes the phone from Jason and crushes it with his metal hand, as ever hidden inside a black glove. When it is powder, he opens his hand and lets the wind scatter it.

“Shitting fucking hell,” Jason mutters, running through various scenarios. “We need to find out if the kid broke, if Night—if Dickie even called the old man in, when he might’ve given up the phone number…” He pulls at his hair, wanting to light something on fire.

“When do you want that visit paid?” Jimmy asks, putting his metal arm around Jason’s shoulders and guiding him down the street, easing through the crowds without touching anyone. He’s so amazing. Jason doesn’t even know what would’ve happened if they hadn’t met in Baltimore. They’d both probably be dead now.

“Right now,” Jason says. “I’ll head to Blüdhaven, see if I can get in to see the kid. You, go deal with Eddie; it’s time for him to retire.”

Jimmy nods and presses a quick kiss to Jason’s lips. “Lynx?” he asks as he unwinds his arm from Jason’s shoulders.

“Lynx,” Jason agrees. “Deliver the good news after Eddie’s dealt with.”

.

[ammcj062.livejournal.com]

Author's choice, any, destroying historical artifacts

fill: Highlander

[tigriswolf]

After he puts his brothers on the pyre, Methos returns to a cache he has not visited in nearly a thousand years.

He trails his eyes along the faded sigils that formed Kronos' name in a long-dead tongue, counts the words that record the history of four horsemen infamous the world over.

Stone and clay tablets, papyrus scrolls, tokens of bone -- all of it, after rereading, he destroys because no one else will ever again claim the knowledge of his brothers.

[erisinia.livejournal.com]

leverage, any, at some point "let's go screw some badguys" starts to become a bit more literal.

no fill

[devylish.livejournal.com]

nice prompt....stellar icon

[mangacrack.livejournal.com]

author's choice, author's choice, vent frustration to a trusted friend

[mangacrack.livejournal.com]

Teen Wolf, Peter, I'm father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.

fill

[tigriswolf]

flickers in flame, howls and screams, pain pain pain

he burns and bonds break

he seethes and sleeps and survives--he does not die, and oh, but how they will regret not finishing the job

[classics-lover.livejournal.com]

Any, any, wordless roar of frustration

fill (drabble)

[leni-ba.livejournal.com]

Once Upon A Time

The wordless roar made Belle jump from her comfortable position on the divan, making her glad she hadn't been handling any breakables. As it was, she'd tossed her book in her fright.

She considered checking on Rumpelstiltskin upstairs, but hesitated. If he was as frustrated as to make such noises, he'd probably tease and prod until she was in a temper as well.

Her master's misery didn't only love company. It strong-armed others into joining in.

But the thought of leaving him to grumble and scowl at nothing....

With a roll of her eyes, Belle straightened and marched into battle.

[classics-lover.livejournal.com]

Disney/Opera, Ariel + Rusalka, how come you got the happy ending?

No fill -- yet

[matrixrefugee.livejournal.com]

:: claps:: One of my all time favorite operas! I might need to write this!

[classics-lover.livejournal.com]

Torchwood, any or ensemble, "that's it. That's too weird. I'm going home." "that is your weird threshold? I call that Thursday."

[classics-lover.livejournal.com]

Any, any +/ any, "keep me away from the General Public for the next ten minutes and nobody gets hurt."

Fill - Service with a Smile 1/3 (ST:TOS, McCoy & Chapel)

[icarus-chained.livejournal.com]

Dr. Leonard H. McCoy was a cranky bastard. This fact became readily apparent to most everyone, usually within a few minutes of meeting him. Less, if that first meeting was under less than stellar circumstances, which an alarming number of his first meetings with people tended to be. This was often the case for doctors, admittedly, but the tendency had been markedly exacerbated ever since he'd joined the madman's outfit that was the crew of the Federation Starship Enterprise.

(Privately, the good doctor was of the opinion that that ought to be Starfleet's unofficial tagline: "Starfleet: Meeting new and interesting people under less than stellar circumstances, and sometimes even managing to save someone's sorry ass in the process!" Well, either Starfleet's or his, one or the other).

It wasn't a surprise to people, therefore, that sometimes Dr. McCoy wasn't the most cheerful person to be around. Long-timers knew that there were certain days when he wasn't safe to be around, let alone cheerful. By and large, they understood it, or at least learned to keep their traps shut about it until such a time as opening them wouldn't result in later having them re-attached by a less than sympathetic nursing staff who had to live with him, you idiot, thank you so much for sticking your nose where it wasn't wanted. The captain was a genius maniac who'd get you into all the trouble in the universe, the first officer was a logic-obsessed vulcan who'd probably get you back out of it, and the CMO was a cranky bastard who could cuss you out so hard your descendants would be wondering years later why certain words made them wince in atavistic alarm, but who could also put you back together even if you'd been brought to him in a teacup.

You took the rough with the smooth, was the point here. You took the rough with the smooth, the crazy with the genius, and barring that you were actually in the process of bleeding out at the time, you took a long, long step backwards if you happened to walk into sickbay and Dr. McCoy was making that face in your general direction.

The fact that it didn't surprise anyone anymore, though, didn't mean that they didn't nurse a certain amount of respect and/or pity for people who could not only accept how much of a hard-headed cuss their doctor was, but actively ran the gauntlet of his temper on a daily or even hourly basis. With people like the captain or Spock, it was only to be expected, something you could put down to insanity or bravery or the protective calm of pure logic. With others, though, it could only be a case of sheer, raw stubbornness, and the patience of a saint.

There was not a soul aboard the Enterprise who didn't wonder how the medical staff did it, every goddamn day, but there was little doubt in anyone's mind that they were the unsung heroes of the ship because of it.

Which only went to show, Len thought wryly, that the best kind of boss was the boss that drew all the attention off you, and made you look like a saint by comparison.

Or possibly the worst. It depended on your point of view.

"I need ten minutes," Christine said flatly, not even waiting for the door to Leonard's office to hiss closed behind her before she stormed over to his desk and slammed her hands down on it in a way that suggested very, very clearly that at this point, comments and/or objections would not be advisable.

Len, half out of his seat and mouth already open on a question, rapidly say back down and shut it again. Let it never be said that Mama McCoy's boy was a slow learner.

"Ten minutes," Christine went on, her shoulders tight and quivering with repressed emotion, her temper rapidly and visibly fraying as she leaned over the desk to stab an angry, shaking finger in his direction. "Ten minutes with no idiot disruptions, where no-one complains, and no-one starts arguing, and no-one comes in here with domineering attitude and a sprained dick and expects me to smile sympathetically and not bite their head off for talking down to me like that."

[classics-lover.livejournal.com]

Frasier, Niles/Daphne, "That opera was lovely." "You really liked that? That's fantastic! They're having a Czech opera festival next month, I was going to invite Frasier, but if you-" "Don't push your luck, darling. It's only one."

[elfgirljen.livejournal.com]

any, any, saturday morning cartoons

Fill, The Avengers, "Looney Toons"

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

The sound of classical music wasn't what Pepper expected any given morning, but she followed it anyway, coming across the group loosely known as the Avengers sprawled across various pieces of furniture, all of them staring at a flat screen with a Bugs Bunny cartoon playing on it. She recognized it as a classic - the one spoofing Wagner's Ring Saga. What she didn't recognize was the childlike glee on various faces in the room.

"This is the best, isn't it the best?" Tony asked.

"Shut up, Stark." Natasha threw what looked like a crust from a piece of toast at him, winging him on the head.

"Yes, Tony, this is fascinating," Thor said, and Pepper wondered when he'd arrived. "It is a condensing of some of the favorite tales of Asgard!"

"And you're talking over it." Natasha threw another piece of toast at him. He caught it and stuffed it in his mouth.

"We can rewind," Tony said, almost mildly for him, though a thread of hurt - feigned or real, Pepper couldn't quite tell - ran through his words.

"You'd better," Clint said, "otherwise, Tasha's likely to kill you with bread."

She narrowed her eyes at him. He grinned back, looping an arm over her shoulders.

Pepper considered interrupting, but really, they were all so cute right now. Maybe she'd just rustle up some breakfast and join them. If she could convince Tony to put on some Road Runner and Coyote cartoons, that is.

[purplemoon3.livejournal.com]

Game of Thrones, Bronn + Tyrion & Cersei, Season 3 Episode 1: Cersei takes a bit longer to come out of her conference with Tyrion and Bronn's confrontation with the Kingsguard has escalated to two dead guards.

[icarus-chained.livejournal.com]

Rivers of London, Peter Grant & Thomas Nightingale, Thomas doesn't like when people take potshots at his apprentice. For that matter, Peter doesn't like people taking potshots at his guv, either.

[icarus-chained.livejournal.com]

Man From UNCLE, Illya +/ Napoleon, Illya developes telepathy

[icarus-chained.livejournal.com]

Ghostbusters (movies), Winston & Egon, "Well, that didn't go as planned."

short fill.

[indraleigh.livejournal.com]

"Well, that didn't go as planned." Egon said as the spectral ghost continued to get close.

"You had a plan?" Winston said in disbelief.

"Yes, but it didn't work. Do you have any ideas?"

"New plan. We run away."