M I T O S I S

not my depressed ass spending the entire afternoon building the cathedral from pathologic in the sims skdjgsdg

The Missing Piece

Chapter 1: Just A Tingle

Chapter Summary: It's been a long time since Hancock wasted his time thinking about soulmates. Until the night Nick brings a woman from a vault into his town.

Wordcount: 2481

Chapter Index:

Ch. 1 / Ch. 2 / Ch. 3 / Ch. 4 / Ch. 5 / Ch. 6 / Ch. 7 / Ch. 8 / Ch. 9

Masterlist

The night air is cool against Hancock’s overheated skin. The sweet taste of mentats dances all over his rough tongue while he's leaning on the balustrade of his balcony. The streets below him are mostly empty except for only a few loner souls wandering around.

Behind him, he can hear his office door getting closed silently, careful not to attract attention. John has a smile on the remains of his lips as he lights up the cigarette. It's not like everyone in the Old State House heard him doing that gal just a few minutes ago.

There was no need to go outside for a smoke, but John wanted to give that woman some privacy to get dressed again and the said toy’s just left. Lover would be a too hard word for that lass, what was her name again? Never mind, toy is as a fitting name as any other and John doesn't intend to learn her actual name anyway. It was just a one night stand, like always. No strings, just hurried sex for the sake of the release.

The ghouls smile slowly fades and he takes a long drag, the gleam of the cigarette the only light source up there. The smoke fills his lungs and is kept in there for a long moment, before getting exhaled through John's broken and scarred nostrils.

On the street below, he can see the gal from before hurrying to the hotel. Poor thing probably doesn't want to be seen escaping the Old State House this late in the night. John's eyes linger on her as she makes her way. Red ginger hair, freckles on her nose, cute but other than that? Meh. Nothing that would keep his interest for long. And obviously she doesn't want a second run herself, if her lowered gaze and fast steps are any indicator.

In times past this would have hurt him, no one wants to be known as a ghoul fucker, even if the ghoul was the damned mayor of the damned city they were living in. But John doesn’t really complain in his position. After all, quite a lot of folks found their way into his bed regardless.

Sure, all of them were seeking something - power, caps, chems, you name it. But John’s not naive, he knows they are always trying to gain something from him with sex. And that’s something he can use for his own advantage. He'd sleep with them and wave them out, simple as that. With no shame or regret really. Most of the time he doesn't even bother to get undressed, removed sash and open pants are enough to get the job done.

After another long drag, John tries to think of something else, there is no point in indulging in reminiscences of past releases. Almost automatically his eyes wander down to his left underarm. His scarred skin, all grooves and ridges ruined the name that used to be there long ago.

For whatever reason the very spot of what used to be pitch black letters doesn't stop tingling. He first noticed it when things got heated between him and the little toy a while ago. His eyes instantly went to her arm. Veronica. John didn't know if should laugh or feel pity for her.

After all this years he didn't give one single fuck about soulmates. Why should he? Even if there was someone with his name on their arm, he'd scare them right away, no doubt. He knows what he looks like and if he is honest with himself, that's the main reason for staying dressed when fucking gals he most likely won't remember the next morning.

Damn, he should have taken jet instead of mentats, he is not in the mood of overthinking this bullshit, for stupid emotions. And he doesn't believe in finding his mate anyway. For a soulmate you actually have to harbor a soul and John is more than certain he's lost his in Diamond City. Well, if you are believing in the spiritual part of that, which he doesn’t also. The tingling is most likely just a symptom of his drug abuse, it has to be.

With the burning smoke captured between his lips, he traces the line of where the name used to be with his free hand. Sotiria. What a fucking odd name. Never, not once has he ever met someone with that name. Sure, better a rare one than those everyone seems to call their kids nowadays, like Lisa, Mike - or John. Fuck, how many gals and guys has he seen with his name on their arm? And fucking allways he felt hope inside him rising. Pathetic.

But there was never a connection, not the weird feelings people used to describe once they found their missing piece. A pleasant prickle of the name on each other's arm. The attraction, the unsatisfiable need to be close to the person - like an addiction.

Maybe it's just an itch. Yeah, that sounds plausible.

Suddenly there is yelling at the gate of his town, catching Hancock's attention. Was that Nick Valentine’s voice? What the hell is he doing in Goodneighbor this late in the night? John flicks the butt of his cigarette away and goes back inside. He grabs a new pack of smokes on his way to the stairs. He'd prefer alcohol right now but one of his supply lines got cut by raiders, a problem he has to deal with tomorrow. Hm, maybe buffout? That's a topic for later, first of all he has to know what is going on at the gate.

The tingling on his arm seems to increase as he takes the steps down to the exit of the State House. When he opens the door, the guy Finn can be heard talking. Hancock rolls his eyes, Finn is doing his old insurance scam again. Damn this idiot, does he really dare to threaten his visitors again? Finn already got a warning and is really testing Hancock's patience. Looks like John will have to send a few guards to visit him later. A quick reminder to behave inside the town's walls.

Once stepping outside, John’s eyes land on the new visitors. It sure was Nick Valentine’s voice he’s heard but the old synth is not alone. A woman is with him, one arm around Nick’s shoulders for balance and her other pressed on her abdomen. Blood is leaking out of what seems to be a nasty wound, turning her blue suit crimson red. She looks up from her wound towards Finn.

Damn, she's a sight! She looks like she’s stepped out of one of the pinup posters. Blonde, shiny hair, pinned up in various rolls, a light blue bandana wrapped around as decoration, sharp eyeliner, purple lipstick, curves to die for. Damnit, if she wouldn't look so disheveled and injured - injured?

"Fuck your insurance! Move, rassgat or you’ll gonna need one!”

John is blown away. He’s forgetting how to breathe, his lungs are burning from the lack of oxygen.

John immediately snapps out of his trance. Shit, that woman needs a doctor at once!

"Nice try, doll." Finn sneers at her. "You'll pass out before you could raise your little pistol. Caps or bleeding to death, your call, sugar."

That's enough! Line crossed, brother. John is more than fed up, ready to beat Finn out of the misery he calls life. "Move your worthless ass out of the way, Finn." John starts, walking up to the other man. "You lay off that extortion crap right now. Obviously she needs help and we ain't turning people in need away, nor do we threaten 'em."

Not impressed in the slightest, Finn turns to face the ghoul. "The fuck do you care, Hancock? You don't know her, she ain't one of us, would be a waste of stimpacks!"

Slowly and a bit over dramatically Hancock moves further towards the stupid bastard. "Better keep your tongue in your mouth! I said she can pass."

Finn crosses his arms over his chest, not stepping to the side like he was told to. He even straightens up, trying to look intimidating. "Soft, Hancock. Way too soft. Keep letting scum enter our city, let them benefit from our supplies. But one day there will be a new mayor."

John just huffs a laugh. That daring asshole. "Heh, lemme tell you something, brother." With the flash of a smile the ghoul comes closer and when he is close enough to smell the jet in Finn’s breath, he rams a knife into his chest. Twice, no better make it thrice, for good measure. Finn is dead before he hits the ground, blood slowly pooling around him.

"Quick." John stresses. "Bring her to Amari in the Memory Den."

Nick nods and tries to help the woman walk through the street. John takes the lead, while cleaning his knife off of Finn. "Sorry for the harsh welcome, this probably wasn't the best first impression but the rest of us are civilized - usually."

John can hear Nick snicker behind him. "Uh-huh, always making a show, huh, Hancock?"

"You know me, Nicky. Ain't gone miss a chance to show off." Although Hancock is playing cool and collected, he is everything but at the moment. His arm is killing him. The tingle got really bad, now it feels like tiny electric shocks are running through his skin and flesh. That's not tingling anymore and it's starting to get fucking annoying. He'll have to talk to the Doc himself later, maybe his last batch of psycho was bad. But didn't he use his right arm? Hm, maybe -

"Damnit, Blue! Stay awake!"

Nick's sudden panicked voice brings Hancock’s mind back to the street. He turns around to find the Synth trying to stabilize the woman. "Shit, we better fuckin' hurry!" Hancock says, when Nick quickly picks her up, carrying her.

Both men start to run towards the Memory Den. John slams through the door, holding it open for Nick and Blue to enter. Was that her Name?

"There!" John points at Irmas chair in the middle of the room. "Lay her down there. Doc! Quick, got an emergency in here."

Nick carefully puts Blue down onto the lounger. His clothes are blood soaked as well. Hell, she lost a lot of it.

"My lounger!" Irma yells in anger when she enters the room as well, woken up by all the noise.

Doctor Amari storms into the room with a bed head and in her pajamas. "What's going on, what happened?" She asks. Hancock just nods at the lounger and the doctor quickly moves over to Blue.

“A gunshot wound.” Valentine answers. “Got ambushed by Supermutants. We had the upper hand until they sent a suicider. We had to retreat but she got hit before we found cover."

John rolls his coal eyes. "I'll buy you a new one." Damn, she's really worried about that stupid piece of furniture, while the girl is bleeding to death?

“Looks like the bullet got caught in her rip.” Amari tells them. She takes a pair of thin tongs out of her bag and buries them into Blue’s flesh.

Irma is about to argue about that, when Amari orders her to shut up and get her medi-bag. While still mumbling to herself, Irma is doing what she’s been told and hands her friend the bag.

The doctor skips on the gloves and gets straight to work. Everyone watches Armari unzipping the woman's suit in order to get better access to the wound. Hancock recognizes the suit, she's a vault dweller? Vaulties usually never leave 81, what the hell was she doing out here and in company of a synth?

Irma gags before she quickly turns around, covering her mouth. "I want a giant couch after this!" She glares at Hancock before heading for her bedroom again.

"There you are." The doctor smiles slightly when she removes the tongs with the bullet inbetween it. She drops her equipment on the ground and continues. After a quick inspection of the wound, she gets two stimpacks out of her bag and injects them on each side of the lesion. The tissue starts growing back together but only very slowly. Amari frowns at that, this doesn’t look too good. With quick hands she wraps a bandage around Blues middle. “Alright, all done.”

"Will she make it?" Both Nick and John ask in unison.

The doctor nods in confirmation. "Yes, but she'll need rest, a lot of it. It was a very close call, she’s lost a big amount of blood. Two weeks of strict bed rest would be the best for now."

“No problem, Nick.” Amari smiles at him for a moment, before continuing to search her bag. She returns back to Blue, after she found what she’s been looking for. She rolls up Blues sleeve on her right arm and injects a dose of sedatives. This way the vault dweller should sleep through the majority of the pain. Amari zips the suit back up and covers the sleeping woman with a blanket.

Nick lets out an artificial breath in relief. John can't recall having seen the synth that distressed ever before. Must have been a hell of a fight. "Hey, Nicky, go and get a room in the Rexford. At my expense." John knows synths don’t sleep, but Nick seem to be in need for some space to cool down.

“Thanks, John.” Nick gladly takes the offer. “And thank you as well, doctor.”

“Nicky, don’t worry,” John grabs Nick’s shoulder, trying to sooth him. “We're gonna take care of her.”

Nick only nods a few times before patting John’s shoulder in return, his silent thanks. After one last glance at the sleeping blonde, Nick eventually takes his leave, disappearing through the door.

“Your arm.” She turns around to face him. “You kept rubbing it the whole time. Bad batch?”

“Alright, Mayor. What was it this time?” Amari asks while gathering her equipment.

John raises a nonexistent eyebrow in question. “What was what?”

Only now does Hancock realize he’s holding his left arm. “Heh. Can’t do shit unnoticed by you, huh?”

He tries to play it off, but Amari won't let go. “Come one, let me check you.” Amari stands up and moves to her office. “Bare your arm, Hancock. You probably missed the vein again.”

Hancock follows Amari into her office. On his way he decides that he doesn't care about the name.

Hm, yeah. Maybe he missed it.

John takes one final look at the vaultie. For a moment he considers to roll up her other sleeve and have a look on the letters of her arm. But something's holding him back. Maybe his deeply flawed conscience. Afterall he can’t just put his hands on a blacked out woman, also the name of someone's piece is a very intimate matter. He has no right to know.

Soulmates are bullshit.

Masterlist

Chapter Index:

Ch. 1 / Ch. 2 / Ch. 3 / Ch. 4 / Ch. 5 / Ch. 6 / Ch. 7 / Ch. 8 / Ch. 9

will you love him?? 🥺 will you buy. hats.

"kill them with kindness" WRONG. FISH🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟

online communities are so strange because people slip away so easily. you can be on here for years, folding people you've never met into the fabric of your daily life, and then they disappear, leaving only ghost posts scattered across tumblr behind. or their blog stays dormant, for weeks, months, years, until you're only still following them because you remember that they love sunflowers or they were kind to you when they didn't have to be or the last thing they posted was sad and raw and you still worry about them sometimes.

and sometimes they come back when you least expect it, years later, even, and there's this sudden rush of relief like there you are, there you are, even though you barely knew each other.

there's a strange kind of love to it. i don't know you and i want to hold your hand across miles and time zones and oceans. i can still see the imprint of you in this community you left. you don't anyone will notice or care when you're gone, but we notice and we care and we wish you well.

i hope you're all okay out there. i hope the sun is shining on your face and you are breathing deeply. i miss you.

Life is short - And Octavinelle wants you to appreciate it!

...That took a while. My sister sended me a video and said: Octavinelle. She is always such an inspiration! I just had to do it, but because I can only draw and not edit videos or something well...now listen to Azul and appreciate art!! Nah, don't worry. I had much fun and I hope you like it~

Under the cut is the original clip for you:

Things The Raimon Team Is Not Allowed To Do

1. No one is allowed to call Sangoku ‘’Sangomom’’.

2. Sangoku does not have the power to disown any of you and Hamano is not allowed to convince him to do so.

3. None of you are blood related and therefore none of you can be disowned.

4. Hamano is not allowed to grab Hayami and break into hysterics about their lives being a lie when told they are not blood related.

5. It is forbidden to eat any lunches that are not yours.

6. Raimon does not believe in the right of conquest and therefore stealing a lunch and claiming it is now yours is not allowed either.

7. Tenma does not have the power to kick someone from the team and Hamano should not try to convince him to do so.

8. Kariya is not allowed to suggest that the captain position should be put to a vote.

9. Tenma is not allowed to suggest that the captain position should be put to a vote either.

10. No one is allowed to volunteer for the captain position.

11. Tenma is not allowed to hand over the captain band to someone else for any reason other than being benched during a match, and then it goes to Shindou.

12. No one is allowed to try and dismantle a microwave again. Twice was enough.

13. Hamano is not allowed to start food fights in the cafeteria.

14. It is not allowed to dye the uniform pink.

15. It is not allowed to dye the uniform any different color, especially not to help Tsurugi ‘’embrace his inner emo’’.

16. It is not allowed to come in through the window. The clubroom has a perfectly well-functioning door.

17. It is not allowed to stitch, embroider and/or in any other way modify the uniform.

18. Hamano is not allowed to start food fights during training.

19. Hamano is not allowed to start food fights, period.

20. It is not allowed to deflate all the training soccer balls in storage.

21. It is not allowed to suggest that Shinsuke is ‘’the right size to serve as a replacement soccer ball’’.

22. Hamano is not allowed to convince someone else to start food fights.

23. No one is allowed to get their teachers fired, no matter how rude they are.

24. Claiming that the team cannot be held responsible for their issues with authority, because all the adults in their immediate surroundings have encouraged them to actively fight authority, is not a valid excuse to get your teachers fired.

25. Hissatsu are only to be used during soccer matches.

26. Hissatsu are only to be used during soccer matches and dangerous situations.

27. It is not allowed to put yourself in danger to convince coach Endou to change or revoke any of these rules.

28. Kurumada is not allowed to recreate any of his hissatsu with real fire.

29. It is not allowed to say that Hikaru did not pass the ‘’egg vibe check’’ because he is allergic.

30. Under no circumstances is Kariya allowed to cook.

31. Neither is Tenma.

32. Tenma is, however, allowed to bake. Kariya is not.

33. From now on, Sangoku is in charge of any and all cooking events and must always be obeyed in the kitchen. Sangoku is only to be obeyed without question in the kitchen when food is actually being prepared, and he is not allowed to claim that his teammates should blindly follow his orders when they are in a kitchen otherwise.

34. It is forbidden to have sparring matches with Keshin outside of soccer.

35. Nishiki isn’t allowed to offer Midori a Snickers bar when she’s scolding someone because she’s ‘’not herself when she’s hungry’’.

36. The team is not allowed to start a new revolution to ‘’make sure they aren’t getting rusty’’.

37. The team is not allowed to start a revolution without first having both Endou and Kidou’s permission.

38. It is not allowed to pretend Shinsuke is not in the room because ‘’you didn’t see him there’’.

39. It is not allowed to look for Shinsuke in ridiculously small spaces that he cannot physically fit into.

40. It is considered mean to make fun of Shinsuke’s height.

41. It is forbidden to ask the Soul users on the team to turn into their Soul animal to support animal rights.

42. Shindou is not allowed to suggest they travel to the future to gain insight in next year's stock market.

43. The team doesn’t need a mascot, no matter how much Akane begs for one.

44. Amagi is not allowed to pick up any of his teammates and put them in ‘’air prison’’ if they annoy him too much.

45. No one is allowed to use Tsurugi to threaten others.

46. It is not allowed to bribe your teammates with donuts.

47. It is not allowed to bribe your coaches with donuts.

48. Bribery is not allowed, period.

49. Tsurugi is not allowed to turn into his Soul to threaten others. This includes his own teammates.

50. It is not allowed to bribe anyone from Raimon senior with donuts to get you out of practice, no matter how willing they are.

51. You guys seriously need to stop coming in through the window.

52. No one is allowed to use Midori to threaten others, either.

53. Tenma is not allowed to ‘’lose’’ the captain band.

54. ‘’Yes, but I’ve been to space’’ or any variation of it is not a valid argument.

55. Shindou is not allowed to advertise himself as a strategist for hire and sell personalized strategies.

56. No one is allowed to sell any of their teammates on the black market.

57. It is considered rude to ask someone with a Soul if you can take them to a pet spa. This includes your own teammates.

58. It is forbidden to imply that the Soul users on the team are ‘’technically classroom pets’’ and/or ‘’our furry team mascots’’.

59. It is forbidden to imply that the Soul users on the team have fleas.

60. You guys have to stop ordering ramen during training breaks, and claiming it is ‘’to help coach Endou relax and catch up with his friend from Rairaiken’’ is not a valid excuse.

61. Tenma is not allowed to fake amnesia to pretend he does not know he is the captain.

62. Aoyama and Ichino are not allowed to talk about their teammates in morse code.

63. We have a DOOR for a REASON.

64. Gardening tools may not be used as sparring weapons when inside.

65. It is not allowed to have a funeral for coach Endou’s taste buds, and his wife’s cooking skills shall not be discussed ever.

66. Haruna is not allowed to tell Raimon junior any embarrassing stories about Raimon senior.

67. If you see Tsurugi napping in Soul form, he is not to be disturbed.

68. Nishiki is not allowed to talk in Bee Movie quotes.

69. It is not allowed to create new hissatsu based on the Bee Movie.

70. Kirino is not allowed to suggest that sacrificing Kariya to the soccer gods will improve the chances at winning any matches, tournaments, or other competitions.

71. Kurama is not allowed to edit any Wikipedia pages to win an argument.

72. Demanding that Gouenji pays for you in any circumstance due to ‘’the childhood trauma he caused you’’ is considered rude and forbidden.

73. It is forbidden to discuss which teammate the people from the future might be descended from.

74. It is no longer allowed to say “don't worry, I have an alibi” when questioned why you're late to practice.

75. Tenma must stop bringing up that time Tsurugi got kidnapped and nearly married an alien.

This list shall be updated as necessary, and only by coach Endou.