xxxxxparentage // daredevil
xxxxxoutfit // xxxxxxdialogue // BB141E
J A C Kx M U R D O C K
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"Are you fucking kidding me!?" shouted Wren once the envelopes were unsealed. "We went through all of that... For a fucking ball!?"
Word-for-word what he had been thinking. It was a nice surprise, sure, but something the mentors could have waited until noon to reveal. Definitely not worth the simulated death traps and bullets. He would have given a small cheer if he hadn't felt so whiplashed from the exercise - all Jack could muster was a nod of approval.
Sokovia, Thaddeus Ross, military control...nothing particularly surprising or unexpected. Time and time again the government enforced restrictions upon mutants and vigilantes, and time and time again those rules created more division than unity. That's why his old man never mingled with household name superheroes - the Captain Americas, the Spidermans. The Avengers. Daredevil preferred to stay underground during his crime-fighting days because he knew the higher someone climbed up the totem pole, the more surveillance they received from the hawks above. Descendant Academy was already attracting government attention. That must have said something about the people within it.
Well, whether tomorrow night was good or bad for the school, it was a worthy reason to get
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"Are you fucking kidding me!?" shouted Wren once the envelopes were unsealed. "We went through all of that... For a fucking ball!?"
Word-for-word what he had been thinking. It was a nice surprise, sure, but something the mentors could have waited until noon to reveal. Definitely not worth the simulated death traps and bullets. He would have given a small cheer if he hadn't felt so whiplashed from the exercise - all Jack could muster was a nod of approval.
Sokovia, Thaddeus Ross, military control...nothing particularly surprising or unexpected. Time and time again the government enforced restrictions upon mutants and vigilantes, and time and time again those rules created more division than unity. That's why his old man never mingled with household name superheroes - the Captain Americas, the Spidermans. The Avengers. Daredevil preferred to stay underground during his crime-fighting days because he knew the higher someone climbed up the totem pole, the more surveillance they received from the hawks above. Descendant Academy was already attracting government attention. That must have said something about the people within it.
Well, whether tomorrow night was good or bad for the school, it was a worthy reason to get
"Hey...wait!" he called, but by the time the words escaped his lips, she was already ascending the staircase. For a quick moment, his anxiety calmed. He tried focusing on the sounds ahead...maybe she heard his cry and was now proceeding to turn around, back towards the hallway. Instead, he picked up something from behind.
"Oh, and Mr. Lehnsherr... That invitation excludes children of current terrorist factions." Mycroft Xavier's pretentious purr, of course.
"I know." The metal doors of the elevator shut with a cold snap. Tobias didn't even look infuriated, just blank - like he'd been expecting it. If Mycroft didn't already hold the title for Douchiest Piece of Trash Ever to Exist, he certainly won it now. What a fucking jerk. Who thought hiring that prick was a good idea? He didn't seem like the type genius-billionaire-playboy-philanthropists such as Tony Stark or Bruce Wayne found universally appealing.
It wasn't his business, though. For now, it was another little secret to tack upon the wall. He returned his attention to Jaxon, Xavier, and now Riley, who had joined the circle while he'd been off listening to a conversation nobody was supposed to hear. "All right, boys," he smirked, beginning to tap up a text message for both Ross and Conrad. "I'm gonna head up to my penthouse now. Just give me a few minutes to get my shit together and then you're free to come in. Don't fall asleep on the way there. I can't eat all the eggs myself - I'm fat enough."
His thumb ticked the blue send button, and off the message went to Mirror Master Jr. and Conrad-super-long-name-Wagner...
Hey bitches. Breakfast at my place. Be there or be as square as Mycroft's tight ass.
Jack then saluted his fellow classmates goodbye and hopped on the elevator, just as someone else was about to make her way in...
xxxxxparentage // wonder woman
xxxxxoutfit // xxxxxxxdialogue // EAC117
P H O E B Ex P R I N C E
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"Working with T'Chioke was...refreshing," Phoebe added after Riley, a smile gracing her lips. "I threw a lot at him and he took my direction so well. We barely encountered any hitches, save for one instance. I didn't have to worry about anything while I was with him..." He was a much tamer partner than Jack, that was for sure.
"Sorry about that... Not picking you. I wasn't thinking. I was distracted by attractive men." Frankie grinned as she nudged Riley's shoulder. "Of course, you'd be the only man in my life if I was your type." Oh. Phoebe's eyes widened a little. This was the first piece of information she had heard regarding Riley's sexuality. Yes, she caught the subtext. And it made her inexorably happy.
She laughed at Riley's quip, cringed at Jaxon's mention of a breakfast party in Jack's room, and wanted to back into a corner once the gala invitations were revealed. Flashbacks to awful high school dances replayed in her mind, especially that one year during homecoming when her dress tore in the middle of the dance floor. She hid from the laughing cheerleading team and spent the rest of the night in a bathroom stall. It wasn't like anyone was willing to drive her home. Her mom couldn't come to the rescue either - she was off battling the Joker's henchmen in Gotham with the Justice League. It wasn't Phoebe's worst memory, but it was one of the many terrible ones.
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"Working with T'Chioke was...refreshing," Phoebe added after Riley, a smile gracing her lips. "I threw a lot at him and he took my direction so well. We barely encountered any hitches, save for one instance. I didn't have to worry about anything while I was with him..." He was a much tamer partner than Jack, that was for sure.
"Sorry about that... Not picking you. I wasn't thinking. I was distracted by attractive men." Frankie grinned as she nudged Riley's shoulder. "Of course, you'd be the only man in my life if I was your type." Oh. Phoebe's eyes widened a little. This was the first piece of information she had heard regarding Riley's sexuality. Yes, she caught the subtext. And it made her inexorably happy.
She laughed at Riley's quip, cringed at Jaxon's mention of a breakfast party in Jack's room, and wanted to back into a corner once the gala invitations were revealed. Flashbacks to awful high school dances replayed in her mind, especially that one year during homecoming when her dress tore in the middle of the dance floor. She hid from the laughing cheerleading team and spent the rest of the night in a bathroom stall. It wasn't like anyone was willing to drive her home. Her mom couldn't come to the rescue either - she was off battling the Joker's henchmen in Gotham with the Justice League. It wasn't Phoebe's worst memory, but it was one of the many terrible ones.
At least this time she'd be dancing with friends by her side. With Frankie's sunny personality and Riley's sense of humor, this gala was bound to be a memorable experience. She couldn't wait to go to Frankie's room later and talk about outfits or boys or whatever it was girls talked about before a formal occasion.
"Eh. You girls have fun," Riley responded absently, moving towards Jack and his little circle. It was starting to turn into a ridiculous boys-club-thing. "We're gonna talk about, uh, cars and annoying blonde girls," he teased back, laughing. "Seeya, Phee. I'll help you girls look at your dresses after breakfast if you want."
"Yes, you can be our personal stylist!" she giggled as he sauntered away. Her eyes flicked to Frankie. "I'm going to go put these weapons back in my room. I'll see you in a bit. You're going to have to tell me all the itty bitty details of your time with Bane Jr...I'm dying to know more." With a playful wink and a knowing grin, she bid goodbye to her friend and departed for an open elevator. She made it through just before the doors closed. However, her smooth timing was barely a stroke of luck...
Standing in front of her was Jack, avoiding eye contact. Just him. No one else.
Was it too late to take the stairs? This was going to be a bumpy ride...
Cold, biting silence. Grey metal walls only heightened the claustrophobic feel. Realizing the elevator wasn't moving, she quickly scurried forward and pressed her floor's button. She was quieter than a mouse: just like she was before they'd talked in college. It was like he could feel the goosebumps rising on her nape. Seconds passed slowly. His fingers fidgeted along with her trembling heartbeat.
This was absolutely ridiculous. "Listen, Phoebe-"
"I'm sorry," she blurted, just as the contraption began to rise. Then she froze. "Oh wait...my apologies. You were saying something...?"
"No, it's fine. You first." Her temperature increased. So did his. Finally, they were thawing. Albeit slowly.
"No, I was just gonna say...I'm sorry. For how I treated you back there...You had every right to partner with someone else. I guess I just got mad because, well...we usually work together. I was caught off-guard, and it turned into unjust anger..."
"You had...have a right to be angry." Jack scratched his fingers across the back of his head. "I shouldn't have abandoned you like that. To be honest, I keep forgetting you've only been here for a little while...I won't leave you next time. I'll ask for your permission before-"
"Jack. Stop right there," she said, turning her body in his direction. "I accept your apology and everything, but...and I mean no offense by this...I need to start connecting with my surroundings." His brows creased. "Okay...are you referring to meditation or...?"
"No, I mean...this partner-test-thing made me realize I need to...I dunno...open myself up more to people? I'm keeping myself in a bubble right now. I've always been that way. But...today I learned that people trust me. Someone was willing to take a chance on me this morning. I don't know why, but he did. And everything went smoothly. I can't just ignore opportunities to join forces with people like me, because this may be the only opportunity I get to build something new. I...I need to..."
"Stop telling yourself that you're worthless and start realizing how powerful you are," Jack finished for her. "Yes, I wanted to partner with Wren this morning, but I left you because I knew you could handle yourself. You can handle yourself, you just don't believe it. Why do you think you got accepted into this crazy academy in the first place? You can't be a million dollar baby if you keep telling yourself you're trash. You're not trash. You're Phoebe goddamn Prince."
Dimples folded across her cheeks as he pressed his shoulder into hers. That movie had always been their 'thing'. The first time she opened up to him, he compared her looks and smile and spirit to that of Maggie Fitzgerald's. In retaliation, she screamed, "Mo Chuishle!" whenever she came to watch one of his fights. Her teasing voice grounded him in the ring, and that was why he'd never lost a match. They had a million more inside jokes. They were close enough to be siblings, and they could never really stay mad at each other. "Okay. I won't tell myself I'm trash," she murmured, her cheeks glowing pink. He smiled back, gave a nod, and clicked on his phone.
"Good. Now explain this."
It was his new background - the picture of her and T'Chioke. She looked away, coyly. "Yes, that's T'Chioke and I. He's the one who asked me to partner with him."
"So I've gathered."
"He's nicer than people assume. And very intelligent..."
"Did he stare at you more from up close than from afar?" He batted his lashes for effect. The punch that landed on his shoulder seemed to say, he's not in love with me, asshole.
"Not as much as you longingly gaze at Wren Wilson! Doesn't take super senses to notice the way you look at her..."
"Don't turn this around, Princess." The elevator stopped, and the duo exited through the doors into Jack's penthouse. She draped herself across his sofa like a queen on a throne, setting her shield and lasso on the hardwood floor. "I guess you really are the son of Matt Murdock. He had a huge crush on a wild, red-clad woman too...a certain Elektra Natchios, if I can recall correctly..." He was about to pour himself a glass of water from the nearby sink. Instead, Jack slowly pivoted on his heels, his ears perked high like a rabbit's. Apparently they always rose whenever he was startled, as Phoebe never failed to laugh whenever he made what she referred to as 'the surprised face'. "Now where did you learn that private and very personal morsel of Murdock family history?"
She smirked. "Jessica Jones is more of a gossip than you think."
Damn Alias Investigations and the alcoholic woman who ran it. After a few months interning there, Phoebe was starting to become a PI herself. Jack ran two glasses of water under the faucet - one for him and one for his partner-in-crime - and then sat next to her on his comfy beige couch. "Well, unlike Elektra Natchios, I don't think Wren Wilson has the gall to join a villainous ninja organization, kill her sensei, and bury herself inside an imploding building. She's loud-mouthed and strange and annoying..." he sighed, "but she's not...completely...crazy. I hate to admit it, but...she's actually kinda fun."
"Please tell me you're going to the gala with her," Phoebe giddily squealed inbetween a sip of water. With a frown, he shrugged. "I wanted to ask her after we opened the envelopes, but she left before I could say anything. She seemed pissed. Like she'd rather drink a gallon of hot garbage juice before going to the damn thing..." Odd, considering Wren didn't seem like the type to turn down a party.
"Well maybe that's because you haven't asked her yet! I may not be as experienced when it comes to romantic relationships, but Jack...if you like her, go get her! What are you waiting for?" Did those words actually come out of Phoebe Prince's mouth? She wasn't one for giving advice so...rash. Nevertheless, she was right. Perhaps with the right cajolery, Wren would be willing to go with him. It wasn't like he was asking her to marry him or anything - We'd just be going as friends. Phoebe's opinion was one he could trust. She was blessed with the wisdom of the gods, after all. Not only was she a brilliant tactician, but a shrewd counselor. He nodded. "All right then, I'll ask her now." He pulled out his phone again and found Wren's number, then cautiously began to type up a text. "Ask her in person! That's always nicer!" Phoebe interjected. He gave a teasing sigh and rolled his eyes, then pressed 'send'.
Hey Wrenpool. I'm serving breakfast in my penthouse. Come up if you want...I need to ask you something.
Hopefully she'd reply soon. He gave Phoebe a half-smile, then finished his glass of water. Maybe she'd stay for breakfast. "I just hope she decides to go the gala, at least. Don't know if I'll be able to tolerate a horde of snooty U.N. officials without her crazy shenanigans keeping us distracted. I just feel bad for Tobias. Mycroft told him he's not allowed to attend the event because his father's part of a terrorist faction..."
Phoebe's face went whiter than a ghost's. She cupped a hand over her mouth, keeping a swig of water from escaping, then swallowed hard. "Wait, what? When did Mycroft say that to Tobias?" Jack shrugged his shoulders. "Just after we opened the envelopes. Tobias didn't seem too surprised, actually..."
She fixed her gaze at the wall, shining topaz eyes suddenly turning a shade darker. "That's terrible...no, not terrible. Wrong. Someone needs to tell Mycroft he's incriminating Tobias for a crime that's not his fault...In court, that's called unlawful discrimination." She rose from the couch and slowly paced across the room. The expression on her face was a swirling collage of anger, confusion, and anxiety. Clearly she cared about this to an intriguing degree. "Phoebe, I know it's wrong and everything, but it's none of our business." Jack intoned. "The mentors get to call the shots, not us. There's probably a good reason for why they're doing it. Tobias Lehnsherr doesn't have the cleanest slate when it comes to family history...we don't know anything about him."
"So you're just going to sit there and let it happen?" she said, shaking her head in disgrace. "I don't know about you, Jack, but I became a lawyer to defend the oppressed. Not only is what they're doing unjust, it's dangerous." She put her glass of water on the ground, then grabbed her lasso, leaving the large Amazonian shield behind. "J.A.R.V.I.S.," she called to the speakers above while striding towards the door, "Let Frankie know I might be late to our meeting. And tell Mycroft I need to speak with him in his office. It's important."
"Yes, Ms. Prince."
"Not a smart idea, Phee," Jack called as she turned the knob. What on earth did she mean by dangerous? "You're letting your emotions get the better of you."
"What, prejudice doesn't bother you, Jack?" she replied through the crack in the door. A fire crackled in her eyes. "Keep my shield safe. I'll come back for it later." And with a slam, she left him.