It   Is   All   A   Facade   —   It’s   What   Five   Years   Of   Training   Within

Drowning Love 溺れるナイフ | 2016

being   around   her   fellow   heroes   and   trainers   is   a   constant   reminder   of   what   happened   that   night   at   the   museum.   it   has   been   non   -   stop   training   and   crisis   management   around   the   nsa   headquarters   and   mizuse   just   needs   to   take   her   mind   off   of   it.   with   a   fearsome   thunderstorm   outside,   it   isn’t   wise   for   mizuse   to   simply   run   around   the   island   (   her   mother   constantly   found   herself   saying   “   i   don’t   care   how   fast   you   are   —   you   will   still   get   a   cold   !   ”   )   to   get   her   mind   off   of   things.   she   loves   running   in   the   rain.   however,   now   she   is   stuck   in   the   nsa   facilities,   so   the   speedster   decides   to   use   the   nsa   employee   workout   room   instead   of   the   one   that   the   heroes   are   supposed   to   use.   i   guess   watching   the   rain   from   the   expansive   windows   will   do.   however,   someone   has   beaten   mizuse   to   the   row   of   treadmills   —   the   skull   man.   she   hadn’t   been   there   for   too   long   before   cecil   notices   her   observing   his   near   -   perfect   running   form.   hey,   she   does   possess   a   degree   in   biomechanics   !   she   can   tell   better   than   anyone   !   musings   are   cut   short   by   cecil’s   comment,   having   the   young   hero   blink   in   surprise   that   he   noticed   her.   surprise   is   soon   painted   over   by   amusement,   a   hand   placed   on   her   hip.   ❛   oh,   is   that   a   hint   that   you’re   hiring   ?   ❜   mizuse   ventures   further   into   the   gym,   light   on   her   feet,   and   leans   against   an   adjacent   treadmill.   ❛   i   wasn’t   trying   to   be   sneaky.   you   wouldn’t   even   see   or   hear   me   coming.   ❜   she   adds  even   if   cecil   already   knows   (   he   knows   everything   ).    ❛   i   could   fit   right   in,   don’t   cha’   think   ?   ❜

where: nsa facilities who: @kyllini

cecil does his best thinking - as most people do - away from everyone else. it’s not the reason he took up distance running, but the running makes it easier to think. makes it easier to not have to talk to people though, regrettably, when he has to use a gym that’s not always the case. the thunderstorm bottoming out over novus keeps him inside; oxygen mask securely in place and pale eyes focusing on nothing but said storm pummeling the city while he runs on a treadmill in the comfort of the nsa’s facilities. the media may have moved on from buchanan’s catastrophe (and accepted the truth kronos supplied), but he hasn’t. and won’t. still, it’s hard for him to focus on it when he can feel (and see, thanks to the reflection of mizuse in the window) someone watching him. he slow the treadmill to a fast walk, removing the restrictive mask as he does before wiping sweat from his face with a towel. “if you’ve grown bored of sentinel and are trying to join my division, you’ll have to be sneakier than that, mizuse.”

#KYLLINI   :    writing    blog    for    𝙺𝚁𝙾𝙽𝙾𝚂𝙵𝙼    dedicated    to    the    debut    of   the    𝑭𝑨𝑺𝑻𝑬𝑺𝑻    𝑾𝑶𝑴𝑨𝑵    𝑶𝑵    𝑬𝑨𝑹𝑻𝑯    ;    defying    all    odds    by    𝗢𝗨𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗡𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚    the    advance    technology    of    cybernetics    &    lowkey    STRUGGLING    to    handle    the    pressure    of    living    up    to    expectations    left     behind    by    𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗲𝘁  -  𝗳𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗱    predecessors.        

                                 written    by    𝚓𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚎    [   twenty4  +  she/her  +  cst   ]  

𝚒.  𝙱𝙸𝙾𝙶𝚁𝙰𝙿𝙷𝚈    𝚒𝚒.  𝙸𝙽𝚃𝚁𝙾𝚂𝙿𝙴𝙲𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽    𝚒𝚒𝚒.  𝙸𝙼𝙰𝙶𝙴𝚂    𝚒𝚟.  𝙿𝙸𝙽𝚃𝙴𝚁𝙴𝚂𝚃

𝗥𝗢𝗕𝗘𝗥𝗧   𝗕𝗨𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗔𝗡'𝗦   𝗡𝗘𝗪   𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥   𝗚𝗔𝗟𝗔   —   mizuse   sachikaze   attended   robert   buchanan’s   new   year’s   gala   on   january   7th   dressed   in   a   vintage   alexandre   vauthier   couture   gown.   this   was   the   young   hero’s   first   attendance   at   a   formal   event   as   a   member   of   team   sentinel.   

one   of   the   things   that   relaxes   mizuse   is   the   wind   in   her   hair,   breeze   brushing   along   smooth   skin   —   whether   the   sensations   arise   from   a   sprint   or   perched   on   the   highest   point.   despite   mizuse   being   less   adapted   to   cold   weather,   she   still   seeks   the   rooftop   (   she   purchased   a   sweatshirt   from   the   museum’s   gift   shop   that’s   not   surprisingly   open   to   have   some   sort   of   warmth   )   for   a   breath   of   fresh   air   &   some   solitude.   the   speedster   doesn’t   expect   anyone   else   up   here,   eyes   wide   in   WONDER   and   an   elated   gasp   once   she   steps   outside   to   witness   the   hanging   lights   and   sculptures   decorating   the   space.   however,   a   beat   after   expressing   her   wonder   and   relief,   her   attention   swiftly   shifts   to   the   seated   figure.   hands   shoved   into   the   front   pocket   of   the   sweatshirt   (   what   a   great   outfit   —   a   vintage   couture   dress   &   matching   heels   underneath   a   cotton   pullover   ),   mizuse   recognizes   it’s   one   of   the   heroes   -   in   -   training   …   oswald,   was   it   ?   oscar   ?   ❛   nah,   i’m   good,   ❜   she   declines   the   offer,   gradually   with   lithesome   steps   making   her   way   over   to   the   parapet.   mizuse   reaches   to   slip   off   her   shoes   and   sets   them   aside   before   lifting   herself   onto   the   ledge   beside   otto   in   a   fluid   motion.   ❛   nice   view   up   here,   eh   ?   ❜   she   gives   a   swift   glance   towards   him   before   nodding   her   chin   towards   the   novus   skyline,   slowly   kicking   her   feet   back   and   forth.   

when: 7 january 2040 where: buchanan’s annual gala who: open!

there’s little trouble to get into on the rooftop, but then he hadn’t expected to find much up of anything up here. he’s mildly surprised to find it decorated with tiny twinkling lights that seem to never phase out of relevance no matter the decade. there are seating arrangements, too, as if it’s common to host an event atop a museum but then maybe it is. a lot of change can happen in seven years. he hoists himself up to sit on the parapet - feet dangling over the edge - and gazes out over the capital city. when he was younger, he dreamed of blacking out an entire city like this. just to see if he could. he’s old enough to know it’s a death wish, but that childlike curiosity remains. he supposes he should be grateful the nsa couldn’t extinguish that over the last seven years. he cranes his head back as the door to the rooftop opens, blue eyes giving the intruder a once over before he, good naturedly, offers his vape pen. not without taking a hit first, but still offered nonetheless. “first hit’s free.“

amarcnthined​:

“—right.” suzu arches an eyebrow at mizuse’s denial and suppresses an amused smile. “well, you’re doing a good job of fooling everyone else, i’ll give you that.” she sips her drink, gaze traveling across the crowd, humming in agreement as mizuse explains her father’s absence. “you can tell him all about it later. he’ll probably love to hear it.” in her peripheral vision, she notices mizuse stepping closer, fingers fidgeting with silver jewelry, and suzu turns to fully face the young hero. “i didn’t, no.” better to be blunt than raise false hope. “sorry, i wish i had. it’s just as much of a surprise to you as it is to me.” still, she doesn’t elaborate on her own frustration, irritated by the fact she could’ve known but didn’t. no rumors, no whispers of a super serum finally more than a false promise—how tight of a hold does kronos have on this? but it’s nothing mizuse should worry about; suzu’s problems are her own, and she’d rather not drag mizuse into the intricacies of it.

“but barring that, how does it feel to be at your first official event?” she asks, mocking the tone of the journalist with a grin. beneath the teasing lies pride for what mizuse’s become, even if she thought the speedster would be better off in crux. “do you think it was worth it?” her tone turns serious, more contemplative. “all the training?”

there   is   no   necessity   for   an   apology.   it   seems   like   everybody   here   was   blindsided   by   the   announcement   by   the   kronos   ceo.   the   grin   on   her   countenance   blossoms   from   consolation   (   of   course   mizuse   notices   the   vexation   swirling   within   the   bluntness   of   the   answer   that   she   did   not   want   to   give   the   younger   )   to   the   charismatic   self   -   assurance   and   relaxed   simper.   ❛   this   is   easy   -   peasy,   ❜   mizuse   answers   with   a   scoff.   the   amount   of   media   training   she   had   to   suffer   through   years   holed   up   in   the   nsa   training   facility   has   prepared   her   for   …   most   of   this.   what   mizuse   has   is   an   EDGE   —   able   to   think   quickly   on   her   feet   and   have   the   inability   to   be   visibly   fazed   by   most   surprises   and   stressful   situations.   however,   this   speedster   is   still   human   and   cannot   be   blasé   towards   everything,   especially   towards   the   discreet,   tense   mannerisms   and   underlying   meaning   in   teasing   words.   optics   flit   around   the   ballroom,   surrounded   by   the   nsa’s   super   -   powered   greats   and   novus’   influential.   holding   her   father’s   hand   at   similar   events,   wow’d   by   the   same   people   instead   of   being   the   one   to   work   with   them   only   seems   like   it   was   yesterday.   ❛   of   course   the   training   was   worth   it,   ❜   mizuse’s   gaze   shifts   back   towards   the   vigilante   with   a   gratified   smile   and   sigh   of   content   (   relief   the   grueling   training   has   ended   ).   ❛   i   learned   how   to   be   the   FASTEST.   i   reached   speeds   that   would’ve   taken   me   years   to   accomplish   if   i   didn’t   have   that   training,   y’know   ?   maybe   with   a   bit   more   experience   being   an   official   hero,   i   can   become   too   fast   at   saving   novus   so   heroes   can   be   a   little   bored   for   once,   ❜   she   quips   with   a   soft   chuckle,   only   suzu   being   able   to   witness   the   reveal   an   altruistic   side   of   the   younger.   mizuse   strives   to   be   one   of   THE   BEST   —   to   ensure   a   safer   society   and   also   lift   some   of   the   overwhelming   responsibility   off   her   veteran   mentors.   ❛   and   you   taught   things   that   they   couldn’t   have.   you’re   one   of   the   reasons   why   i’m   able   to   be   here   tonight.   ❜   

an      amused      chortle      emits      from      her      nose      at      the      comparison      baz      responds      with,     too      busy     indulging      in      the      taste      of      fresh      tomatoes      and      tangy      balsamic      vinegar,      but      still      extends      her      plate      towards      her      mentor      if      he’s      interested      in      another      piece.      a      crude      way      to      put      it,      but      he’s      right      —      a      true      statement      for      many      retorts      in      the      conversations      they’ve      had      bonding      throughout      mizuse’s      years      at      the      nsa.      now      a      fresh      graduate      and      focusing      all      of      her      time      on      being      a      part      of      sentinel,      she      has      missed      spending      time      with      baz.      a      twinge      of      disappointment      twists      her      heart    the      nsa      doesn’t      think      she's     READY      to      be      a      part      of      the      paragon      team,      but      this      only      fuels      her      determination      to      improve      and      demonstrate      she      can      fit      right      in      with      the      big      leagues.      mizuse      can’t      help      but      feel      a      bit      of      gratitude      towards      the      twins      for      shifting     all     the      attention      to      them,      so      the      press      wouldn’t      be      focused      on      her      rookie      debut      or      the      celebrity      status      of      paragon      heroes.      brows      then      raise      at      what      comes      next      from      baz,      placing      a      hand      on      her      sternum      to      feign      offense      as      she      grins      up      at      him.      ❛     ha     !     that      doesn’t      sound      like      what      happened      during      my      21st      birthday      party.      i’m      a      responsible      partier     !      ❜      the      hand      leaves      to      close      into      a      fist      and      nudge      his      closest      bicep      to      her.      ❛      do      you      mean      that’s      what      happened      during      YOURS   ?   ❜

>his   back   rests   comfortably   against   the   bar,      drink   nursed   in   hand   shaken   through   the   fidgets   of   calloused   fingers.      darkened   hues   watch   her   with   a   familial   warmth,      humming   in   subtle   agreement   as   mizuse   continues   to   toss   around   her   speculations.      whatever   this   serum   is,      whoever   it’s   going   to   affect      …      he   really   couldn’t   care   less.      nothing   can   replace   the   real   thing      :      the   birth   lottery   won   by   their   enhanced   genetics   and   years   of   training   surely   can’t   be   toppled   by   some   magic   in   a   bottle.      especially   not   by   a   money-hungry   mad   scientist   masking   as   an   innovator.      “      a   shitty   car   works   but   doesn’t   make   it   any   less   of   a   shitty   ride,      ”      taking   a   piece   from   her   plate,      he   pops   it   into   his   mouth   without   so   much   of   another   word.      the   sight   of   the   two   being   so   close   is   one   that’s   expected   out   of   the   two   heroes,      having   been   in   training   together   for   so   long      …      even   having   the   chance   of   seeing   mizuse   grow   to   be   the   formidable   hero   she   is   today.      he’s   now   only   mildly   disappointed      (      instead   of   immensely,      quite   different   to   his   reaction   during   her   graduation      )      she   isn’t   by   his   side   in   paragon.      “      and   we’ll   have   front   row   seats   to   the   inveitable   trainwreck.      it’s   like   binge   drinking   the   first   day   you   got   legal      …      bound   to   puke   all   over   the   place   and   pass   out   in   the   street.      sounds   familiar      ?      ”

somber   hues   shift   upward   to   the   call   for   mizuse’s   attention,   flickering   with   light   from   the   warmth   emanating   from   her   tone.   a   break.   mizuse   snorts,   but   a   smile   of   interest   blossoms   across   her   features   to   paint   over   the   petulant   pout   that   was   there   before.   she   never   gets   a   break.   it   is   all   of   her   own   doing,   anyway.   there   are   ones   who   DESERVE   a   break   from   the   constant   stress   of   villany   and   turmoil   than   her.   ❛   i   don’t   know   …   ❜   reluctance   in   her   tone;   however,   her   growling   stomach   says   different.   mizuse   tries   to   muffle   the   sound   by   crossing   toned   arms   in   front   of   her   stomach,   but   suzume   knows   the   younger   is   always   hungry.   especially   after   training.   ❛   i   guess   i   could   take   a   little   break,   ❜   another   shrug   of   her   shoulders,   brushing   off   the   sheer   excitement   of   spending   time   with   suzume   outside   of   heroic   (   or   vigilante   )   duties.   ❛   as   long   as   i’m   back   by   my   stupid   curfew   !   ❜

suzu hates to admit it, but it’s true. with the way kronos has ushered the twins and the serum back into secrecy, all there’s left to do is to prepare. for her, this means organizing within crux: plans of action and collecting information. for mizuse, this means increased training. both play a waiting game, unable to discern exactly when the next threat will occur—or what it will be. who knows? maybe dante will come back, and they’ll have a whole different set of problems on their hands.

“okay, so, change of plans.” suzu claps her hands. “c’mon, look at me,” she beckons, calling for mizuse’s attention with a smile and warm tone. “we take a break. and i mean it—we all need breaks. you’ll burn out if you don’t take them. we can get lunch at the place near mine, take the rest of the day off. go shopping or something. what do you think?”

hands   on   hips   and   glossed   brims   twisted   in   a   subtle   pout,   mizuse   is   finally   intercepted   by   the   one   person   she   has   been   procrastinating   on   an   important   visit   (   it’s   a   bit   of   guilt   breaking   the   latest   thing   he   built   ).   and   of   course   zayid   would   go   out   of   his   way   to   find   her   at   a   formal   event.   sepia   hues   flicker   to   the   device   revealed   in   his   palm,   interest   veiled   on   her   visage   by   a   guilty   “   oops   ”   at   his   emphasis.   mizuse   knows   exactly   the   expression   painted   across   his   countenance   insinuates,   and   it   even   ignites   a   twinkle   of   her   own   curiosity.   ❛   zayid,   i’m   in   a   very   expensive   dress   and   heels,   ❜   mizuse   is   definitely   not   well   dressed   for   a   test   -   run   (   nor   is   she   allowed   to   use   her   abilities   in   any   way   ),   but   she   reaches   for   the   earbud   for   inspection.   she   has   been   so   good   so   far   tonight,   but   good   behavior   was   bound   to   be   put   to   an   end   soon.   swift   hues   flicker   around   for   any   sort   of   security   guard   that   may   be   in   earshot   of   her   conversation—or   even   cameras—as   she   quietly   adds,   ❛   …   you   really   want   to   test   this   out   NOW   ?   ❜

for: @kyllini. date: january 7, 2040. location: buchanan’s gala.

“had you come to HQ the first time i asked you to, we wouldn’t have to do this today.”

zayid’s tone is laced with impatience, the unusualness of which is further highlighted by the strictness of his voice as he gives mizuse a look that is supposed to tell her he won’t accept no for an answer tonight. when he’s satisfied with her response (or lack thereof) he uncurls his fist to display a suspiciously tiny device—an earbud, to be precise—his earlier demeanor soon replaced by a proud grin as he locks eyes with the young superhero. “i repaired and fine-tuned it after it broke the last time,” he says, stopping only briefly to emphasize the word broke before returning to his previous smile, “it should be able to withstand the cold at high speed now.”

which is to say: we need to go out and test it right now immediately.