bakerstreet | thursday pic prompt

thursday pic prompt

the picture prompt meme

i. COMMENT WITH CHARACTER
ii. OTHERS LEAVE A PICTURE (OR TWO OR THREE....)
iii. REPLY TO THEM WITH A SETTING BASED ON THE IMAGES.

THIS POST WILL BE IMAGE HEAVY.

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[M/M for ships, OTA for gen.]

( one, two, three, four ??

bonus because i saw this and thought yes it's perfect )

[It's been a battle to get here. Genji has been coaxing 76 for almost half a year on the topic, little comments here and there in their brief face-to-face meetings, in emails to addresses he knew 76 held and discarded as need saw fit. Never pressing in all at once, but baiting and waiting 76 out with the newfound patience Genji's time with Zenyatta had gifted him with. With the kind of understanding that came from surviving the same sort of awful tragedy they both had been put through. I've heard the view is beautiful, the food is exquisite, innocent links to interesting landmarks or, when Genji got particularly lucky, places of 76's specific interests that just so happened to reside within what was considered a tourist's country. A self-imposed campaign with the aim to try and get the man to relax from the constant hunt for the truth.

The months went by with 76 rebuffing or entirely ignoring Genji's subtle prodding; even as he'd set out on this endeavor, Genji knew it was a long shot in the dark. But much to his surprise, he'd gotten something of an agreement.

Which is what brings them here and now to Paris. Officially, 76 is here to hit up a Vishkar building for anything they might be hiding; Genji has broken off temporarily from Overwatch to assist him in the operation. They'd arrived a week ahead of the scheduled attack in order to discuss the plan of attack where they can get a direct look at their target. And Genji's convinced 76 to allow them an actual civilized place to stay rather than holing up in an abandoned warehouse or building somewhere, using the excuse that casing Vishkar will be easier if they blend in, act like one of many tourists milling about the city. Easy enough: a change of clothes and a pair of sunglasses on 76, swapping out his usual plates of armor for other less conspicuous pieces, and they can play the part of an older blind man and his omnic assistant with minimal hassle. Nothing more than some wary looks shot Genji's way over his perceived status as an omnic.

It grates a little at Genji's nerves, but it's nothing he can't bear in silence and shrug off once they're away from prying eyes. A far better reaction than he would have in the past, where any assumption of being non-human would have sent Genji into a cold silence at best and a rage at worst.

It's their third day in Paris and they're making their return to their hotel room after exploring the streets and checking the Vishkar building against the blueprints they have in their supplies. Genji has been making the most of the trip, making sure that 76 doesn't pass the city up in favor of focusing solely on their target. This is the compromise: Genji allows 76 to do his work, assists him with it, as long as 76 makes an effort to be something other than a revenge-bent vigilante when they're off the clock.

Genji knows he can't ask for a miracle to happen within this week, and he doesn't mean to; his own trauma had taken a lot of time and a gentle, steady hand to sort through and figure out who he was in the aftermath. His goal is, hopefully, to give 76 back a small piece of what the explosion took away. And to that end Genji is also careful not to push too hard. He pays attention to 76's attitude when they're out in public, catching the moment when it's clear 76 is no longer comfortable with being visible to so many eyes and steering them back to the privacy of their room. It's all within the boundaries of what could be expected from an omnic assistant, of course.

With the door closed and locked behind them, Genji leaves 76 to his own devices in favor of drifting over to the window, gazing out over the city as night begins to settle in. It's beautiful, watching the lights glimmer against the coming dark, well worth the hassle it took to make it happen.]

We were lucky to get this room, [he says idly, not so much directly addressing 76 as leaving him an invitation for conversation.] The view is breathtaking.

[Something Genji had never been able to appreciate after his conflict with Hanzo. Something he hopes to help 76 find appreciation in before they finish their work here.]

[ a few months before the fall of the shimada clan, 76 once dragged angela ziegler out of her office. he urged her to take a break, first kindly, then commanding. she'd been in the operation room for 36 hours at least, successful in her attempt to revive the younger shimada brother as per the instructions of their bosses, though drastic measure were necessary. jack let her do as she deemed necessasry then, despite knowing only half of what went on in that room. he trusted her particular skill set on the matter, and she rewarded his patience and support with genji shimada, broken but alive. soon enough, she began talking about cyberization, and jack had her contact several other associates, knowing that certain information were about to go over his head. she spent the next two days in her office, carefully planning, until jack managed to pry her off her desk.

over coffee, she spoke with him and said, rather frankly, that while she is able to recreate his physical form with newer and shinier parts, she does not hold the true key to the success of the operation. that part, of course, was something that 76 already knew — and still does to his day.

if there is anything that he remembers best about genji, it is his perseverance, manifesting in different ways, up to and including sheer stubbornness. the messages, the emails, the comments nudging him at a certain direction — they don't surprise him at all. he has a feeling that genji is catering to him, too, knowing that 76 is not too keen on surprises nowadays, nudging but not pushing. waiting for something. 76 would feel terrible, ignoring his efforts so consciously, but even as jack morrison, strike-commander, he has always been mission-driven, focused on the job. as soldier: 76, he considers it his only worth in life. get the job done.

but genji has been terrifically patient with him, a true novelty. 76's memories of him had different undertones, sadness and anger curled around a lost soul unhappy with his life and where he ended up. things are different with him now, obviously for the better — 76 can't say the same for himself.

paris is something of a compromise. vishkar corporation has been making noise for some years, rumors of sinister plots rising from the ashes of online conspiracy theories. he looked them up a couple of times, attempting to figure out if it's worth getting himself involved into. for some time, he's found nothing but the same old shit that everyone already knows, until he stumbled upon a couple of interesting notes on them while he digging through a couple of old overwatch bases. it so happens that genji's (honestly, truly unsubtle) comments aligned so well with his plans, so he gives in.

getting out in public was not part of his plan, but he can't deny that it makes sense to stake out the area while attempting to look touristy, hiding amongst the crowd instead of attempting to be sneaky in a terrible congested city. his comfort level rises and falls at every new wave of people that they cross paths with. for himself or genji, or practically both. he isn't used to be seen, not anymore, but he supposes it doesn't compare to the looks that genji's getting. ]

There might not be much of one soon.

[ if reports are true, anyway. 76 would like to think, that the owner of the vishkar corporation is savvy enough to learn that dealing with talon (or any other shady organization) is ultimately bad for business. but then again, 76 has known a great many people in his life. some people just don't have enough morals to give a shit, and vishkar's agendas and motivations are such hot topics in the first place. ]

We'll stay here tonight and hit them tomorrow. Stock up if need be. If you need anything, now's the time to tell me.

[ he sits down on the edge of the bed — a single, of course, because the receptionist assumed, rather pointedly, that an omnic wouldn't really need one of his own (76 had stiffened, and would have said something extremely rude, but genji had been the one to get the room for them in the first place, as his assistant) — with his back is to the window, hunched over with his shoulders high and stiff. he puts the sunglasses down on the side table, rubbing at the back of his eyelids. they don't usually hurt, not as much as they did the first couple of years after the explosion, but the migraines appear now and again to remind him that while he has superhuman abilities, he is not immune. ]

[Genji isn't surprised when 76 takes the opportunity to steer his comment back toward their work, but he does have to bite back a sigh and remind himself once more than he's not looking for a miracle to occur here, that his own counseling had taken time and patience. But Genji is hardly Zenyatta, even if he's following the lessons and methods his master taught him. He still has a long way to go to come even close to arm's distance of the tranquility Zenyatta makes look so effortless. Genji admits his frustration to himself and then pushes it away.]

All the more reason to enjoy it while it's there.

[His tone remains level, another gentle nudge in a certain direction without pushing the matter. He turns to 76, about to let a smarter comment roll off his tongue - perhaps I should make a souvenir run, like he hasn't been collecting souvenirs throughout their entire stay already, whether it was in the form of overpriced trinkets or simply photos and video taken with his phone - but the words die in his mouth as he takes in the sight of 76's back. Hunched over as he is, exhaustion and tension are incredibly easy to read, especially for Genji who uses body language to emphasize what his voice alone cannot.

It's odd to see. Knowing who 76 is, for a second Genji sees double, trying to imagine Commander Morrison looking the same way. It's difficult; Genji had been so angry and hurt back then that he'd kept most people as far from him as he could, only allowing a select few in his space, and Commander Morrison hadn't been one of them before Genji had taken his leave. He'd only ever seen the man as the unwavering face of Overwatch, always strong and ready. He'd had to be. Of course the lingering ghost of Overwatch is proof enough that it only went so far.

It's hard to make noise on the plush carpet of the hotel floor when he's already used to moving silently, but Genji does what he can as he approaches 76's back. The last thing he wants to do is startle the man. Only part of it is concern over whether the ensuing reaction could fall under the definition of violent.]

I have heat pads if you need them. Mild painkillers as well.

[Most of Genji's pain is in the past, but every now and then old aches flare up. Never anything close to the agony he'd gone through when he'd been fresh out of surgery, but at the worst enough to be an inconvenience anyway. Being close friends with the world's foremost doctor has its benefits, including a more impressive working knowledge of handling pain and treatment than the average layman. And it had been necessity to know how to take care of his unusual body in the years that he'd been away from Overwatch. He's long learned what's most useful for him to carry.

And, because it's Genji, he's already rummaging through his luggage for the items in question regardless of how 76 chooses to answer. This is one thing Genji is willing to go head-to-head with him on if 76 decides to try and reject the offer.]

[ it's not like him to show any sign of weakness, even after his attempts on shredding the infallible image of a legendary hero. the weight of the world on his shoulders is a pressure that, in the past, he'd been able to carry with easy grace and otherworldly patience. he knows that there are plenty of reasons why they handpicked him as he leader of overwatch, some of which he's still trying to figure out. he makes it a point to remind himself that their decisions were not solely based on whatever scheme they've concocted behind closed doors. he bore potential, and everyone saw it. everyone had taken advantage of it, for better or for worse.

in some regards, not much has changed. the fate of the world remains his burden, as well as the source of the guilt and sadness that curls around him like a blanket of unease. it's not a part of himself that he's able to share with anyone, though they've always insisted that he shouldn't take on the world by himself.

but sometimes, just sometimes... he is stupid enough to let his guard down in front of people that shouldn't see him like that. ]

Genji.

[ his name curls around 76's tongue, at the tail end of a sigh, tired and exasperated and perhaps a little resigned. saying 'no' is not the difficult part in this scenario; it's the part that comes next that always gets a little tricky.

sometimes, people just don't take no for an answer. ]

It'll pass. It was just the sun.

[ bright lights are a killer, and it'd been an especially good day. zero clouds, cool wind, and the sunshine shining its brightest on a vivid afternoon. ]

[Genji hears him and adjusts accordingly: he pulls out a bottle of painkillers, moving to set it down near 76.]

Then these should help it pass faster.

[He leaves the option there and nothing more, moving away to give 76 his space back, leave him to decide whether or not to be stubborn for the sake of being stubborn. Something this small is something Genji figures he doesn't have to be too terribly concerned about unless it turns out worse later. As much advice as he's gotten from Angela, in the end Genji isn't her, and he won't interfere with how 76 tends to himself unless he deems it necessary. Now is not that time.

Small nudges, little reminders. 76 isn't alone, at least for this mission. He agreed to Genji's company and everything that comes with it.

He settles back in front of the window, though now he sits with his side against the glass rather than turned entirely toward it. A position that's much easier to look at 76 from. He's quiet for a moment, not entirely certain of what to say, his mood having taken a small drop from thinking back to times past. It saddens him to know that he'd climbed out of his own trauma only for Jack to seemingly take his place, for them to reverse their positions. Genji hadn't allowed him to make much progress, but Commander Morrison had tried to help him before Genji had abandoned Overwatch, and now here Genji is, trying to do the same. It's entirely possible that he'll have much the same results.

But he has to try. He has a unique, intimate understanding of the exact kind of pain 76 has gone through that not many have, and Genji hopes that no more will.

He bites back the initial words that want to slip - What happened, I'm sorry I wasn't there - in favor of something far more neutral.]

Are you certain about striking tomorrow? We have time.

[Three days of prep isn't bad, but they're also attacking an active Vishkar facility. Genji isn't exactly keen on attempting to rush into this confrontation only to discover there was something they'd missed.]

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thursday pic prompt

genji | overwatch

no subject

gosh 76 i had no idea you were so poetic. mix of 2 + 3 for now

i got carried away this is your fault??

i am more than okay with taking blame for this beauty

hi friend sorry this is super late!! work sucks and life sucks more

it's okay no worries! i been kinda feeling it too lately