( the truth about steins;gate )
Jane Constantine has all sorts of tattoos. Some are ones that she’d gotten to be the smoky singer of Mucous Membrane. Anything to fit that punk trend, anything to get them all a good shag. These days, the tattoos are more nostalgic. She doesn’t miss those days; she’s a little more practical than that. But still, she can think about those days with a little quiet smile, raise a glass in memory, and all roads don’t lead straight to Newcastle.
Many of them are various spells of protection. One, she’s particularly proud of, is the result of her using a spell to actually absorb a magical artifact, one that repels the impure of heart. The wards don’t seem to work unless they actually attempt to physically hurt her, more’s the pity, but she didn’t expect too much from a dodgy spell like that.
Some of the tattoos, in other words, are window dressing. A misdirection. Some of them are the real deal. It’s rather appropriate, Jane thinks with a smirk.
Xander may have Stark’s memories and he might think like him, but he’s definitely distinct from him, every single version out there that he knows of. Xander’s self-effacing, prone to hiding who he is rather than flaunting it to the whole world. He has a healthy-bordering on obsessive-relationship to sex, but he’s a romantic at heart and so frequently doesn’t engage instead. He’s friendly and thoughtful and prone to spying but he really does want to help, and most don’t notice anyway. That being said, he’s still prone to jokes, accidentally hurting someone through saying something stupid, doing stupid things to protect innocents and the ones he cares about. And now he’s occasionally absent-minded, prone to meddling, and being too stubborn for his own good.
If asked, Xander would describe Tony Stark’s attitude as Cave Johnson. Without the voice, because his voice sounds too much like Obi which gave him a shock when he had a panic attack playing Portal. Cave Johnson with the ability to do science. Stark is the man to whom you hand lemons and are shocked when your house burns down due to thrown lemon grenades.
He’s the man who gets a crazy idea, shrugs, goes ‘why not’ and throws himself wholeheartedly into a project.
He’s the man who you make rules for and are surprised when he invents his own.
Okabe Rintarou needs Hououin Kyouma. At first, without that mask, he doesn’t know how to interact with the world. If he’s talking and he’s Hououin Kyouma…well, he doesn’t exactly have a script for every moment, but he’s sure of himself. He can actually act. Stripped of that, he’s vulnerable and…well, who the hell is Okabe Rintarou anyway? He doesn’t know; hasn’t known for years.
And, of course, there’s Mayuri. She needs it, too; and he’d do anything for her. Pluck the stars out of the sky for a present, and of course, he has moved heaven and earth and time itself, just for her.
Later, it’s because they’ll be waiting for a train, or Mayushii’s watch will begin losing time and need repairs and his heart will stop. He’ll mention something that no one ever said, not in this worldline, or react to something that none of the rest remember, and he knows they worry about his sanity, if he’s really losing it after all these years. Easier to just keep up the act, keep them guessing, then have them worry for real.
He’s still not quite sure who Rintarou is, but he suspects that Rintarou, the true personality, might be bound up with or connected with the Time Traveler in some way. He doesn’t want to think about it. Kyouma is a certainty. Real. Alive. It’s easy in a way that nothing is anymore, not even after it’s all over, so he clings to it for all he’s worth.
Ukitake-taichō is regarded as something of a marvel within Soul Society. Most wonder how he’s so kind and gentle all the time, how he’s polite and always has a smile for everyone. Most think it’s despite his condition.
Shunsui knows better. Knows that it’s because, not despite. Laughter and smiles are the best medicine, and Jūshirō’s had a long time to learn this, more than anyone.
He surrounds himself with people, not just because it’s familiar, reminds him of home. It’s easier to have hope when you’re not alone. It’s easier to trust that you’re alive when you’re surrounded by proof of life.
It’s easier to be generous, to forgive, when you know you yourself are far from perfect. That doesn’t mean that Ukitake is a pushover. He wouldn’t be a Captain if he wasn’t strong, wasn’t willing to fight for what was right, what he believes in.
It’s a difficult thing to deal with, sometimes. Shunsui admires his stubborn friend, just as he worries, but given the choice he wouldn’t change a thing.
Shunsui can always tell when the Captain of the Thirteenth isn’t feeling well.
Oh, when he’s too out of it to even be very aware of the pain, it’s obvious to all. He’ll be in his customary cot in the Fourth Division, usually unconscious and being attended to by Unohana herself.
Usually, under orders from Retsu, Shunsui will keep an eye on Jūshirō and make sure he’s not trying to do too much while he’s still recovering. It’ll earn a pout (or worse), but Unohana and Kyōraku are the two that can actually get away with saying such things to the Shinigami. As much work as it is, it’s the only task that Shunsui will ever complete cheerfully without a hint of laziness or resentment.
Ukitake could be very sneaky when he wanted to be, especially when he was at his most polite. Over the years, though, Shunsui had learned to keep an eye out for sudden escapes or plotting.
Still, there’s a part of his heart that’s gladdened when his fellow captain is at his most devious. It means that, ailing body or no, Jūshirō’s doing just fine. Ukitake is one of the few that’s he pretty sure could hold himself together on sheer will alone.
It’s the other times that scare him more. When Ukitake doesn’t act as if it’s business as usual. When he goes and sits on the roof, distractable, watching the passersby and needing the babble of voices just to feel safe enough to fall asleep.
When he barely has an appetite and his ability to pretend everything is fine is much, much less convincing than usual. Then Shunsui worries. But at least it’s never lasted for long.
( >Stop! Angsting! )
I swear these are meant to be short and just a way to blow off some steam during school and...uh, yeah, that's not how it's working...
(also I own a lot of Ace Attorney manga and probably am on my way to collecting most of them but why aren't there Apollo Justice era ones because I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who'd like to see more Apollo & Klavier and everybody else...)
This also might be a bit more random/abstract than the others. Lab sucked. Also, I'm tired.
I like what came out of it, even if it is a bit strange.
I WILL MURDER YOU FORMATTING DON'T TEST ME
OKAY FORMATTING IS MURDERED WE'RE ALL GOOD NOW and by that I mean I don't have to wrestle with this for ANOTHER TWO HOURS trying to get it all sorted. Sheesh. Glimmerous fop, I'm with Ema and blaming this all on you.
Main Points: Ace Attorney Klavier character study, universe optional
Summary: Kristoph would never know why Klavier turned against him in the last trial, and wouldn't even if it was explained to him (even if anyone had really wanted to do that at that point).
Word Count: 1639
Rating: T
( (A Loyalty Disowned) )
( The Mark of a Hero ) ( >Long intro is long. )
( >Cast Patra? )
( In Flight ) ( Soaring )
( Patience )
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timeasmymeasure
