get your rng on.

[attentionboys]

THE RANDOM SCENARIO MEME 3.0

- Post your character, name, and series in the subject. Include any preferences as well.
- Go to RNG and enter 1-6 for a scene type, and 1-20 for a scene to play out.

TYPE OF SCENE.
① Action → Gun fights, bar brawls, fights to the death are all possible scenarios.
② Angst → Characters suffer emotionally or physically from relationships breaking up, death, injury, etc. Hurt and comfort themes are included.
③ Crack → Genderswaps, super powers, sudden compulsions are all possible outcomes.
④ Fluff → Something that is devoid of angst. It's light-hearted and might have the overtone of romance.
⑤ Gen → General fun, things that didn't fit in the other categories.
⑥ Sex → First times, kinks, even dubcon are all possible themes of sex related scenarios.
⑦ Your choice → Think of your own scenario, choose one of the above or make a combo even!

ACTION.
① Zombies → It's the zombie apocalypse, lock and load!
② Bar brawl → You had one too many drinks, said something wrong, and now you're being asked to take it outside.
③ Chase → You're caught in a high speed chase.
④ Gun fight → You're caught in a big shoot-out.
⑤ Fight with a friend → You're fighting with a friend, all out.
⑥ Interrogation → You're being interrogated for some offense you've done.
⑦ Aliens → Aliens are attacking and you're not going to take your probe laying down!
⑧ Final battle → This is it. The battle that will end all the fighting for you. Will you win? Will you get that peace you want?
⑨ Training → You're not actually fighting, just training for the inevitable.
⑩ No hope → You know this fight has no hope. It's not going to end well for anyone involved, but you can't turn away.
⑪ Sneaking in → You're stealing a diamond or sneaking in to kick some bad guy butt, but whatever it is, you have to practice stealth.
⑫ Blue wire → You're faced with a bomb that needs to be disarmed.
⑬ Fight for honor → You've been disgraced or someone you care about has, so it's time to fight for honour.
⑭ Showdown → Time for a cowboy-style showdown. Whoever draws the fastest wins.
⑮ War → You're caught in the middle of a war here. Remember to keep your chin up and keeping fighting.
⑯ Apocalypse → The apocalypse finally happened and now you're left to scavenge and fight for whatever is left.
⑰ Sabotage → It's time to sabotage someone's plan! How is entirely up to you. Do you set up a bomb in their toilet? Do you double cross them at the last minute?
⑱ Big damn hero → You know you have to handle this one alone, so that means disarming or knocking unconscious the person who wants to join you.
⑲ Fight club → You know the rules... you're in an underground fighting ring and you're fighting with all you've got.
⑳ Threaten → You've just been sent here to rough them up a little, threaten them into behaving.

ANGST.
① Injury / illness → Your character has become injured or ill! To what extent is the mun's choice.
② Last moments → You character has been gravely injured and this is their last chance to say their last words.
③ Depression → Your character is depressed, what actions they take is up to the mun.
④ Betrayed → You character has been betrayed by the other. How do they react?
⑤ Tortured → Your character is being tortured and needs rescuing or at least a sympathetic ear to help him through it.
⑥ Jealousy → Your character is feeling jealous and must deal with it, how will they do it?
⑦ Breakup! → This relationship has gone as far as it can, it's time to breakup.
⑧ Broken → For whatever reason, the character is broken, mentally or or physically.
⑨ Fight → You can't even be in the same room as your friend or lover without arguing anymore.
⑩ Lost → You lost the biggest fight of your life and now all you can do is try to pick up the pieces.
⑪ Worst nightmare → Whatever you fear the most is now real or maybe you're just trapped in a dream together, but whatever it is, it feels too real.
⑫ Addicted → You're addicted to something, alcohol, drugs, sex, whatever. It's destroying your life and you can't do anything to stop it.
⑬ Hurt you → You're being forced to hurt someone you love either by betraying them or even being forced to shout things you don't mean. It's for their own good in the end though.
⑭ Separation → You were forced to leave this person for their own safety and while you've been miserable without them, you really didn't mean to run into them again... maybe it was by accident or you were watching them from afar this whole time.
⑮ Becoming a monster → You are slowly changing, becoming a monster: vampire, zombie, demon, something you can't recover from and no-one can help you.
⑯ Frozen → You are entirely helpless, frozen, to stop some kind of disaster.
⑰ Prison → You were very bad and now it's time to pay the price by turning yourself in or maybe the law just finally caught up to you.
⑱ Fear → You're not sure why, but you are suddenly terrified and you can't deal with it. You need help.
⑲ Hated → You are now hated by the person you loved the most.
⑳ Down and out → You're living on the streets, you've hit rock bottom, and you don't know what to do.

CRACK.
① Sexswap → Uh-oh, you're suddenly the opposite sex!
② Forced confessions → No matter what it is and no matter how hard you resist, you're going to be compelled to spill some deep dark secret!
③ Mind-reading → You've suddenly got the ability to read minds!
④ Animal → You're suddenly part animal or transformed into an animal!
⑤ Awkward pick-up lines → You're compelled to use bad pickup lines on whoever is closest!
⑥ Back in School / Graduated → You're suddenly back in school! Or if you were already in it, you've aged and long since graduated!
⑦ Vampires, werewolves, and zombies, oh my! → You're suddenly a vampire, werewolf, or zombie! Maybe even a demon or a devil, whatever creepy crawly you can think of. What do you do now?
⑧ Ghost → You're suddenly a ghost or at least invisible. What are you going to do with this new ability?
⑨ Awkward conversations → So did you just fart or what? Any conversation goes, as long as it's embarrassing and awkward.
⑩ Crossdressing → For whatever reason, you're suddenly dressed in clothes of the opposite sex.
⑪ Suddenly naked → Oops! Your clothes are suddenly gone.
⑫ Suddenly a kid → You're a kid again! Have fun with that second childhood.
⑬ Fortune cookie → You've suddenly received a note with something that will happen in the future, either precise or vague.
⑭ Super power → And suddenly you're like Superman! Any power goes.
⑮ Bodyswap → Somehow you've changed bodies with the other person.
⑯ Back in time → Somehow, you wound up in the past again. Do you try to correct something or just sit and wait for time to jump? Maybe it jumps to various points in your life or maybe you actually think you're back in the day. Have fun, run wild with the idea!
⑰ To the future → Is it everything you've dreamed? Is it horrible? Whatever happens, you're here to witness what happens to you in the future. Either you take the place of your future self or you're just there to watch. Might cause some confusion if people start seeing double though...
⑱ Angels, mermaids, and fairies! → You're not necessary something dark or evil. You're just something different. How do you deal?
⑲ Locked in a closet → For some reason, you're locked up in a closet with someone else. Do you make nice and try to figure your way out or what?
⑳ Finger trap → You're caught in a Chinese finger trap... with somebody else! You can't figure out how to get loose either... have fun with that.

FLUFF.
① Cuddling → For whatever reason, characters feel like being close and cuddling.
② Pillow talk → After the main event, characters are up for some pillow talk.
③ Celebration → Anniversary or some other big event is taking place and characters want to celebrate!
④ Love confession → Someone has finally decided to confess their love and today is the day!
⑤ Appreciation → You feel the need to show appreciation for that person closest to you, even if it's just a pat on the back.
⑥ Apologies → You made a mistake and now it's time to make it up in some way you know the other can't refuse!
⑦ Get back together → Why did you break up again exactly? Whatever the reason, it was a huge mistake and you both know you can work through it.
⑧ Date night → You've planned for a wonderful night together and you can't wait to get it started.
⑨ Family → You've either found out you're pregnant or you've already got that addition to your family.
⑩ Marriage → You're just about to get hitched or maybe you're enjoying your honeymoon. Maybe you've been together for years now! Whatever the case, it's time for that next big step.
⑪ Meeting again → It's time for that happy reunion finally!
⑫ Love at first sight → For whatever reason, you are now insanely in love with the first person you set eyes on.
⑬ Flirtation → You can't resist to do a little bit of harmless flirtation all of a sudden.
⑭ In the snow → Look outside! It's a winter wonderland, so why not go out and play in it?
⑮ Engagement → You've planned it all out and now it's time to finally pop the question.
⑯ Friendly games → You've set up the game station or board games for a friendly competition!
⑰ Gift → Time to give that special someone a gift just because.
⑱ Recovery → You're taking care of someone who's just recovered from some illness or injury.
⑲ Healing → Time to help mend that someone who's been through hell and back.
⑳ Better than ever → You've finally got everything you've ever wanted here. What is your ideal life and who does it include?

GEN.
① Nice meeting you → It's your first time meeting this person! You bumped into each other on the street, in a bar, at work... whatever!
② Drinks → You're out for drinks! Or just chilling at home with some beers. Wherever!
③ Lost → You're lost and you kind of need help finding your way to where you're going. A little help with directions?
④ Costume party → You're at a costume party, both of you are wearing masks. Do you keep the anonymity or take it off and see whose company you've been enjoying?
⑤ Wrong number → Oops, actually you didn't mean to call that person...
⑥ Drunk → You're already drunk! Drunk dialing, stumbling into someone, showing up unexpected... what type of drunk are you anyway? Aggressive, loving, happy? How does the other react?
⑦ Old friends → you haven't seen this person in a long time!
⑧ Rivals → you're suddenly rivals! Or maybe you have been all along...
⑨ Problems → you've got a problem with each other, just got in a huge fight, whatever. Try to work it out!
⑩ What are your intentions... → This person? They're dating a close friend, family member, etc. You need to find out if they're going to hurt them! Or you need to discuss your friend/family's dating choice.
⑪ I saw you → you saw the other person doing something bad and you need to confront them about it.
⑫ Sorry but no → the other person has feelings that you just don't share. They don't necessarily have to be romantic... maybe you just don't agree with their sudden desire to quit their job and start a business making tiny, fuzzy teddy bears.
⑬ My hero → you need to tell this person how much they mean to you. They've been your best friend or your role model your whole life and they need to know.
⑭ Enabler → you're enabling the other (or each other) to do something bad, really bad. Addiction, stealing, killing, or just any other self-destructive behavior.
⑮ Cooking → Time for an impromptu cooking lesson!
⑯ Oh, sure, I remember you... → It's that awkward moment when someone comes up and seems to know you, but you have no idea who they even are!
⑰ Rescue! → One of you was in trouble, but you came to the rescue!
⑱ Boss → One of you works under the other. Is your relationship good? Are you scheming things? Or do you hate each other?
⑲ Perfect crime → You and the other person have just pulled off the perfect crime... or you're planning to! What are you doing? The heist of the century, an assassination?
⑳ Movies → movie night! Maybe it's a sleepover. Whichever the case, it's time to eat a lot and have fun.

SEX.
① First time → it's your first time together or your first time ever! Enjoy the awkward times!
② Bondage → You and your partner decide to experiment a little with ropes or handcuffs or whatever you'd like to tie your partner up with.
③ Rough / Aggressive → Your characters want it rough.
④ Romantic → Slow and gentle, meaningful, that's how characters want it.
⑤ Dubcon → Character A wants Character B and it doesn't really matter if Character B wants it as bad or not.
⑥ In public → Characters feel like taking a risk and doing it in a public place.
⑦ Roleplay → Naughty nurse fetish? Pirate kink? You and your partner decide to try it out now!
⑧ Healing → You've both fought hard or gone through a rough time and it's time to get some R&R in.
⑨ Last time → This is the last time you're going to this because you're breaking up or maybe your lover is running off to sacrifice their lives in some heroic way. The possibilities are endless, but you better make this one count.
⑩ No strings attached → You're just friends with benefits. Nothing wrong with that, right?
⑪ Anonymous → You met in a restroom or bar, any location of your choosing, but you don't even know each other's names.
⑫ Toys → You're eager to try something new, so why not toys?
⑬ Aphrodisiacs → You've been slipped a strong aphrodisiac somehow and now you absolutely cannot control yourself.
⑭ Show → You're putting on a show by either doing it right in the club or filming it for a bunch of people.
⑮ Ménage à trois → It's time for that threesome you've always dreamed of.
⑯ Non-penetrative → Frottage, handjobs, whatever you want to try out.
⑰ Controlled → You are under mind control and must do whatever your lover asks of you.
⑱ Hate sex → It's not just rough or aggressive, you absolutely cannot stand each other.
⑲ Extreme → Fisting, knife play, whatever you can think of so long as it tests the boundaries.
⑳ Fantasy → This is just a fantasy, a dream, and you know it, but what is your ideal fantasy and how willing is your partner?

Comments

[sk12]

When it came to fashion, the majority of Rainbow lacked it. Buck wore a shirt he'd gotten from the last JTF2 field day, a faded grey shirt with nothing more than facta non verba silkprinted on the front. "Rangers lead the way." He corrected while walking, "we merely follow them to the valley of death."

The walk was a short one, a short two kilometers from base to a quiet side street hidden behind a falafel stand. It wasn't the diviest of bars, but it certainly wasn't the fanciest either. The only other customers were two older men sitting in a corner and Montaigne, who gave them a cursory look and nod. He chose a seat by the bar, waving over the barkeep for two beers. "We'll need something stronger, but a beer is customary, at least where I come from." If there's one thing Quebecois never shut up about, it's Quebec. Buck wasn't any different, and he took pride in codeswitching often enough to irritate even the most patient members of the team. "Beer, tourtiere, and we'd have a proper celebration. Once we've put ourselves out of a job, I'll have to show you the culture that we're missing."

He fell silent to take a few sips, wiping his mouth on the back of his hand before reconsidering, and picking up a napkin. The promise was part hyperbole; they'd always have a job, as long as people had causes they felt were worth dying for. Still, going back to Montreal was a nice idea, even if a pipe dream.

"Is that the shirt you're going to wear when you meet my parents?" He raised an eyebrow as he drank again, making it clear he was teasing. "Ne t'inquiètes pas, they'll be thrilled that at least one of us has manners."

[orcsurfing]

It was a lucky thing that Legolas had some degree of self control, else that question would have had him choking on his own beer. Buck's timing was impeccable, asking the question while Legolas was swallowing a mouthful. Thankfully nothing went flying, nothing was snorted up the nose, Legolas managed to calmly put down the glass before licking his lips, smiling with eyebrows arched and a sideways glance to his companion. This sort of teasing he didn't exactly expect, but he met it head on all the same, giving as good as he got. Or at the very least, trying to.

"I suppose those manners of mine would not only thrill them, they would also make them hopeful! That they would rub off on you. But ah! I would have expected a romantic dinner first, fine food and drink by the candlelight, some heartfelt confessions that reveal what I already know...," but it was all a double edged sword. He felt a little too flushed saying it all, himself, and for this reason, the dim light in the bar was a godsend. Still, he continued smoothly and evenly, allowing mirth to lace every word. "Before you asked me to meet your parents."

He paused to take a sip, wet that dry mouth of his, and continued a bit more seriously — he would truly like to explore Montreal again, and with such a proud guide! — but not without continuing with that line of teasing.

"A tour of Montreal with you as my guide? I think that would prepare me well for it, but you could begin by teaching me that français québécois of yours."

The dialects held enough similarities that Legolas could understand it well enough, the European French and the Québécois French, but they also had enough differences that it was far too easy to commit some sort of faux pas at any time.

[sk12]

"A lost cause, I'm afraid." He sighed as if it were a great shame, giving his beer a sad swirl, before continuing in the same somber tone. "A good dinner is one we've killed, preferably earlier in the morning. I doubt the romance would survive even the cleanest field dressing. Your shirt certainly wouldn't." He didn't take Legolas to be vain, but even the most extreme of survivalists found gutting a caribou to be a messy task. Decades later, and the smell bothered even him.

He couldn't help but chuckle at Legolas' reaction, knowing that his ribbing would be perfectly returned in kind. Some things he could always count on, and easy banter was one of those rare things. It was a new skill for him and he could never meet it with the same fluidity, but it was nice to flex the skill every now and then, just to see how far he could push.

At the mention of Quebecois, he made a noise as he drank, wondering how to describe how it differed from plain continental French. "It's not so different," He said finally, finishing his drink. "We understand French perfectly, it's the French who struggle with our language." He motioned for a second drink, and told the bartender to bring him another beer, along with a bottle of whiskey. "We care far less for manners, unless we're speaking to our grand-mère. Your grasp on French is good, all you've truly left to learn is our colloquialisms. Lâche pas la patate, you're a quick study. Worst case, you can always ask us to speak English."

Asking for English, the ultimate sign of giving up. It was self deprecating in a way; he'd given up ages ago trying to pick up whatever form of Sindarin Legolas knew.

[orcsurfing]

Maybe the picture Buck painted wasn't the standard most would consider as romantic, but ironically enough — and funnily too —, it was something right up Legolas's alley, as they say. It reminded him of the old days, of the good times in the past. Hunting and feasting on the game they caught and fruit they gathered, only wine something traded that the forest could not provide with. True enough, the gutting and cleaning was hardly pleasant, but it was the sad necessity to have something better later.

"Star lit dinners in the wild are just as romantic, although in a different manner," he shrugged, smiling a little softer — as if he was about to suggest they should actually do it — but still with that edge of teasing to it, "And the hunt, the preparation, they are precious in their own right. Do not think me so squeamish that I would be bothered! Or be unwilling to stand a stain or two on my shirt. It is hardly pleasant, indeed, but for a good cause!"

It helped he had enough money to buy a new one, of course, but even so! For an elf of Mirkwood, or Eryn Lasgalen as it was called after the war, to be squeamish of the hunt and the field dressing, it was unheard of.

"Lâche pas la patate," he parroted next with a laugh, his accent smooth but in the very continental French kind of way, but his tone was confused, as he tried to make sense of the phrase, "I think that one you will have to explain, unless I should always keep a potato on my person to not let it drop!"

Beer was one of those drinks that was deceptively easy to down quickly. Granted, not for him, but he had witnessed many a time that those who drank the quickest, wound up napping their intoxication away under the tables the soonest. Granted, again, most, if not all, of Rainbow were quite seasoned drinkers, so that happened rarely. All the same, Legolas arched a brow a notch, at Buck's pace, but matched it anyway, least someone got it in their head he could not keep up.

[sk12]

"Very few things we say should be taken at face value." He explained offhandedly, while wiping off his beard for any residual beer foam. "It means to not give up— the true meaning behind the potato has been lost to time." When you're a tiny contingent of fur trappers and prostitutes stuck in a providence while the rest of the continent is English, you tend to come up with your own funny sayings.

There were three things operators enjoyed more than anything else, and they were the three Bs: brawls, bullets, and booze. Two beers and a fifth of whiskey was just the start of the night for Buck, and it usually wasn't until the third shot before he started to feel the familiar buzz. Two beers were just enough to get him a little more conversational than usual. Drinks made conversation easier, and those good natured jokes easier to respond to and think of.

"It's a plan then. When you feel the need to experience the true terror of the Canadian outdoors, let me know. We've earned a few vacation days after today's debacle." He poured himself a shot, not bothering to measure but filling the glass to his own satisfaction. He gestured for Legolas to slide his own shot glass over, holding the bottle up to indicate his intention.

[orcsurfing]

What kind of friend would he be, if he did not use this opportunity to its fullest! Without digging too deep, or too personally, of course, but he did enjoy it when those less chatty ones opened up a little. Even if only in teasing. It was nice, a lightness contrasting the tension and stress of all that their job came with. No casualties this time, but they were not always this lucky, especially when taking this many newbies into the field.

Chasing away the darker thoughts, Legolas slid his own glass obediently, quirking a brow. "In this case—," oh, not taking Buck at a face value at all, as instructed, "Is the 'true terror of the Canadian outdoors' harmless rabbits and cosy walks in the park?" That was the one option, the other had to wait a sip and the burn of the whiskey to pass. "Or perhaps is it the ease to mistake you for a bear in the dark forest? Having one on your face, I can see how it could happen."

All the same, if it was a serious offer, Legolas wouldn't think twice about taking it, regardless of the context of it. There was no better way of taking mind off of Things than to go and stay out in the wild for a little while. The climate didn't bother him, the wildlife was no worse than what he knew too well. And if the company was good, that was all he needed.

"Regardless, I will be sure to dress appropriately for it."

[sk12]

"Hah," Buck chuckled as he downed his shot glass, taking extra care this time around to make sure no liquid got stuck in his beard. "When I've let it gone as unkempt as Blackbeard I'll accept that criticism. Until then, all I can think is you're giving me shit for the hell of it."

The curses dropped more liberally after a few beers, when normally he was cautious to rein them in when in public or with Legolas. The normal frown he wore was replaced with something easier and more relaxed as he finally let the stresses of the day fall away. It was the company too— drinking with the rest of the team tended to be more chaotic, with drinks and punches thrown as often as insults.

"Quebec is a good place to be." He finished, sounding as if he added a sudden afterthought. "I would have been content to finish serving at home if I hadn't been called away. Hazards of the job, j'pense." At the very least home was just a flight away in his case. He'd never been interested in asking his coworker for personal details, and even now he wouldn't change his habit. Still, he was always curious as to where Legolas' home, something that sounded like one of the hundreds of books he'd read as a child. One didn't grow up on Call of the Wild and other nature books without dreaming of a world outside of modern civilization, after all.

[orcsurfing]

True enough. Blackbeard, as his nickname implied very much, was more akin to a dwarf than Buck could ever dream to be. Still, beard was beard, especially when one let their drinks and food get stuck in it— which Legolas was glad, Buck was trying to be mindful about. He grinned in response, broad and cheeky, betraying just how true Buck's words were. Teasing just to tease! For one, it was really none of his business, and even if it were, he found Buck's beard, at least, suited him perfectly well.

The alcohol burned going down, almost painful in the first second, before it settled into pleasant warmth that just spread throughout his body from the belly. Relaxing and soothing. Though it was his companion's words that softened his expression into simple, warm amusement.

"Your love and pride of your home is admirable," he remarked, "Few in this day and age admit openly to such sentiments."

Then again, maybe it was a quality often found in those who would risk their lives for the fellow citizens, and more than that, for the fellow humans.

"I think you should go and visit, at least," take it from one who no longer can, but there was no need for such guilt. Legolas kept those words at bay, and continued easily with something else, something equally genuine. "We will hold the fort in your absence— unless the invitation stands, and you would take me with you. Then, I suppose they will still manage, if barely!"

[sk12]

"One day. Our memories of a place are far better than the actuality." Typical Quebecois pride aside, he knew the truth of how rememberance worked. He'd remember the good times, the perfect hunts and wilderness, but conveniently gloss over how overbearing and urban Montreal was. Combined with explaining to his parents exactly what he was doing now that he'd left the police, well. It'd be an awkward homecoming no matter what, especially when explaining to parents who'd hoped their son would have taken up a more academic career.

The bottle was only a quarter finished, an affront in his mind when they'd been talking for a good while now. It was better than fighting for the bottle with Frost, but drinking was a social activity; finishing a bottle alone was only the sign of an alcoholic. He gave the bottle a littlet shake, tilting it in Legolas' direction to see if he'd like another before filling his own.

"They managed a few months without us. They'd survive, if we settled for the bare minimum." Buck raised an eyebrow as he imagined what would happen if they went on extended vacation. "They'd turn our rooms into weight rooms, divvy up our equipment, and spam us with texts asking if we've died. In short, nothing different than usual." Constant harassment was how Rainbow showed their love, after all. But he couldn't complain, not when he knew that criticism only meant they'd trusted each other enough to actually listen. The haranguing he'd given the recruits came from a place of trust, in hopes they'd take it to heart and improve.

"And who would look after our recruits if we did?"

[orcsurfing]

There was nothing for Legolas to do but laugh at the litany of explanations, the very likely scenario that would come to pass at the base. Unless they took precautions, unless they prepared. He slid his glass forward, nowhere near done drinking just yet himself. Almost, almost he wanted to express some offence that Buck even felt he needed to ask. True, they did not see him drinking anything stronger than wine often, but he was hardly a light weight. The wine was a choice, not a necessity.

But the laughter distracted, and then his mind was busy considering which of their colleagues he could trust to take over their kids—

All of them, was the very obvious answer. But then there was also the matter of exactly what each and every one of them would teach them. The two of them with Buck made for a balanced duo. Long range and short range, care and finesse, and sheer effective force. He downed the next shot in one go, before finally finding his answer.

"I suppose it all depends on what we wish them learn," he tapped the now empty glass on his lower lip, "Carefully planned approach with an artistic flair and yet enough self control to remain patient when necessary? Then Glaz would be the best for the job, with Montagne not far behind. If we wish to teach them the more roguish approach, then I do believe Bandit is our man."

And he could go on, and on. Each and every member of Rainbow was valuable, each brought something of their own to the table. But in all those thoughtful considerations, Legolas couldn't help a small tease at Buck's expense. "What a fine father you make, however, always the responsible one."

[sk12]

"I haven't sent them out to sea on an ice floe yet, or even threatened it." He fired back at the jab of being a good father, which he'd have argued he halfway was. A blunt, if inattentive father, but one who cared in his own way. He hadn't made a recruit totally cry yet, and had learned to temper his anger a few classes back after causing one class to go fully black.

It was an interesting thought experiment to consider how the other members of Rainbow would bring up their recruits. He paused in his drinking as he considered the other operators, and if they would have even passed their current class. Valkyrie would have been far more critical, telling them they had no business in counterterrorism if they couldn't handle a simple OP without the veterans giving out orders. He poured out two more shots as he tilted his head to one side, shrugging. "Perhaps I should have. My father did, and here I am."

He had a good relationship with his parents, despite that, perhaps a little more distance than they'd preferred, but they spoke when he had the time to call home, and approved of his profession, if only after realizing he wasn't retiring anytime soon. "I may ask Valkyrie to take care of them next mission," he confessed, giving his shot glass a swirl before downing it. "They need a lesson in sight lines, considering their performance. It wouldn't have passed selection, not in JTF, nor BUD/s." It was a harsh critique, but drinking led to honesty, and if he were fully truthful, the recruits needed more work than he had time to put in. "She's far more creative in the insults than I am, sacres be damned."

[orcsurfing]

Legolas only stared for a couple of moments, and then stared some more, his next glass sitting untouched on the bar top. His eyebrows drew together in a confused frown, his lips a thin line that almost twitched into a smile, as he tried to figure out whether Buck was actually serious or not about that story of the ice floe trip. Then again, could he truly judge anyone's parents, when his own father would rather have him live hidden away like some sort of great treasure rather than living among humans? No, he couldn't. Still, it sounded quite drastic, and his curiosity was piqued.

And sympathy, but mostly curiosity. Buck was fine, and from what Legolas managed to pick up from his bearing and what all he managed to get out of him about himself, he did not loathe his parents. It must have been a trip that ended well, if... perhaps somewhat frightening for a child. Then again, so were spiders the size of a small car, and he turned out fine as well.

"Well, this is a tale I must hear," he finally said, after an extended — and for Legolas, very much unusual — moment of silence. He finally picked up his glass to down the shot as well. "The bear cub and the ice floe, the perfect bedtime story for the kids."

For the rest, he only nodded. Figuring that perhaps he could suggest rotating the instructors now and again, for a more well rounded training and experience before they choose whatever they wished to specialise in. It would be good for everyone. Well... it would be good, minus the insult training, but that was a battle lost a long, long time ago already. At the very least, for whatever reason really, he rarely found himself on the receiving end of the worst of them. Somehow, he commanded politeness out of the other operators, at least some of them.

[sk12]

"The ice floe?" He raised an eyebrow, smiling despite the perceived seriousness of the story. It wasn't a true threat, more of a boogeyman story that was passed from the First Nations onto gullible Canadian children. He obliged anyway, telling what he could remember, which unfortunately, wasn't much.

Buck had a bad memory for anything that wasn't a grudge, combined with a belief that there was little need to remember the past. "N'importe, one day as a child I nearly shot the neighbor's dog. Nothing serious," He quickly added, in case the story made him sound like a serial killer, "Merely a lack of knowledge in safety, and poor timing." He'd ignored the 2nd law of gun safety, to never point the barrel at anything he wasn't prepared to shot.

"My father was ah, être en mosus. He threatened to drop me on an ice floe and send me out to sea, like the folk tales I'd read in êcole maternelle. He thought it'd scare me, or frighten me enough into apologizing." He chuckled, thinking about how frustrating it must have been to have a bullheaded child, and how much trouble he must have given his parents. He didn't appreciate them enough, he supposed, the alcohol making him feel more appreciative than usual. "When he learned it didn't work, he made me clean mow their lawn instead, for an entire year."

He scratched behind his ear as he finished, knowing full well his story had a rather lame ending. "Here, I've given you plenty of stories of mine, it's only fair for you to share." He raised his glass, pointing the neck to Legolas to indicate it was his turn.

[orcsurfing]

Ah! So it did not come to pass at all! Legolas wasn't sure if he was disappointed or not, all the same, he was grinning when Buck was done retelling his story. He was glad for the nearly there, about that poor dog, and had to shake his head too, in spite of his amusement. At least now Buck learned to handle the weapons better, he was a professional now, and no such accident would happen ever again. Very much a good thing. How much of where Buck was now came from his upbringing? That was an interesting thought for Legolas, the ever curious one about all the people in his life.

"Ah, stories of my childhood?" It was so, so long ago, he wanted to say, but that would invite questions just how long, and truth was, Legolas had lost count a long while ago already. Yet all his memories from that time were still crystal clear in his head, when he thought back to them. Like he did now, thinking which would be interesting to share. Certainly not the stories of his streaking across the halls of the Woodland Realm, certainly not the stories of his falling out of trees, or being sat on, or the myriad other embarrassing ones that... his father would be more than delighted to share.

"There was a time, once, that I had found a fawn, its mother the game our hunters have slain. On its own, it was bound to die, but I convinced my father to allow me to take it in. We ate together, we bathed together, we rested together, much to my father's displeasure...," his eyes twinkled with mirth, "And yet every time he tried to enforce his rules, he could not uphold them even for a minute."

Big grey-blue eyes, a mane of golden hair, Legolas learned early how to use his looks to wrap people around his pinky finger.

"Fawn, a bird and then another, a fox and hedgehog siblings, a litter of squirrels," he began listing on his fingers, grinning broader as he recalled Thranduil's frustration, "I think it was at that point that he found it in him to call a stop to my animal hoarding tendencies."

But the animals stayed until they all passed of old age. His grief was great, every time, and he better understood the reasoning of the ban on that.

[sk12]

The first thing that sprung to mind was Bambi, and then Disney, and then that perhaps Snow White had been based off Legolas. The idea was enough to make Buck snort, but he kept the mental image to himself, not feeling up to the challenge of describing the image of Legolas having his hair braided by a menagerie of woodland animals. No words could describe what he saw, with animals chirping and singing around Legolas as he sat in a verdant meadow in a similarly colored dress.

"No cats? Quel dommage." A corner of his mouth turned up in a grin, before turning his attention back to the bottle. "And I'd have guessed you were always a smooth talker." Smooth was an understatement. Legolas could have talked his way through an enemy garrison without trouble, and Buck had fallen for Legolas' ruse enough to know exactly how it went. A useful skill, certainly one he admired, but dangerous to those unaware. "Silver-tongued, and patron saint of the innocent and downtrod. No wonder you take to recruits so easily."

It was nothing more than good natured teasing, but it was how Buck saw things. The others spent a good deal of time smoking the recruits like they were back at selection, yelling at them at all hours of the day with an almost sadistic glee. At the complete opposite end of the spectrum, Buck tended to ignore them until he was forced to acknowledge them. "Will you adopt ours as well? They may object to bathing together, but with enough convincing..." He shrugged, as if actually considering it.

imagining him crossdressing, Buck, really 8')

[orcsurfing]

It was unsurprising that Buck found the whole thing funny, that was the desired effect after all. Laughter, amusement, even if it was at his own expense. That was just what it was, he did have a grand collection of stories from his past that could put to doubt the common reputation of elves as graceful, beautiful and wise. Then again, the Silvan elves were always more on the wild side, and it was them he grew up around. Plenty of what and how they were rubbed off on him.

Playful ribbing met playful ribbing, however, and Legolas could only shake his head in well feigned disappointment.

"I fear I have my hands full with you, already," on the counter, he slid his glass over for another shot, "No time for more little ones to look after."

He matched that near seriousness, that genuine contemplation of the suggestion and the saddened rejection for his fate was sealed already. And yet, also, he did not seem to mind this fate. He did not complain, he did not seem put upon.

[sk12]

"Drôle de couple," Buck mused as he poured out another shot, holding back a yawn as he thought about their current predicament. Special Operations was a small world, and at first, Buck hadn't known how well Legolas would have fit in. Tribal knowledge, slang and abrasive personalities were all part of the package, and Legolas was a stranger to them all. Teams prided themselves in being close enough that they called each other brother, and often it was their first team that they stayed with for life. Rainbow was in the unique situation that they'd been reassigned, upending all those relationships that had been built on blood, sweat and tears.

Turned out his worry was pointless, with Legolas fitting in with relative ease. "I'm a simple man," he finally said over a sip of liquor. "Front towards enemy. Very little maintenance beyond someone to watch my 6, which you do very well." From afar as well, which was also a positive to Buck, who'd often stumbled over the man behind him when they had to back up. IF no praise was praise for Buck, then offhand praise like this was basically a glowing review.

"But since you did mention dining, the next dinner's on you." In actuality Legolas only mentioned dining with his woodland friends, but semantics. The point was dinner was mentioned, and no man in his right mind turned down any opportunity for a free meal.

[orcsurfing]

The odd couple? Indeed, they were. Even now, as they sat here by the bar, the contrast could sear the eyes of any person, and the few new patrons who entered since they began drinking sure did pause and stare for a second or two. Something Legolas only noted to remain aware of their surroundings, and did not pay much more attention to. If it bothered him that people stared, he would have never had any peace of mind, after all. Because they did stare, a lot, no matter where he went, no matter what he wore— unless it was a hoodie and trackpants, and the hood was up.

In Rainbow, nobody stared anymore, nobody questioned or doubted him anymore. Only the very new recruits, especially those who thought him to be an easy target due to his appearance and a lot gentler attitude than the rest of operators. In spite of the differences he wound up fitting well enough, and more than that, he was accepted among them.

But the fact was, they were each of them different. Different in the way puzzle pieces were different, yet still fit and work together to make a whole.

Legolas grinned, both at the praise — which genuinely tickled him pink to hear —, and the demand. It eased into warm laughter, "With such praise preceding, I could not argue that at all. Home cooked?"

[sk12]

When dinner usually consisted of reheating whatever was leftover in chow, all other options sounded good. He shrugged and waved a hand noncommittally, signalling that where and what the dinner was up to Legolas. "I leave the choice to you." It was like the analogy that driver chose the music; the one on the hook for the bill or meal was the one who got the choice.

He wasn't picky— well, as long as it wasn't pizza. Hereford had pizza often enough to the point Buck had started choosing MREs over take out, all while grumbling up a small storm that he was forced to pay a portion of a meal he was beyond sick of eating. "I'd like to see what you ate at home," he said as an afterthought, leaning back in his chair and looking up as if asking the ceiling. "British food is shit— ce n'est pas ma faute! It's the fucking truth." The latter part was directed toward the barkeep, who'd let out a loud hmph at the statement. He made a dismissive gesture, before thinking twice, and gesturing for the barkeep to return, this time with the bill.

"But, I have no preference. I'll leave the decision in your hands." He nodded, with more vigor than usual. It was a good sign that they'd drunk enough to hit the point of tipsy when his actions became more expressive, and a good sign that anymore would lead to a far more exciting night than either of them had planned for.

fin!

[orcsurfing]

The signs were there, indeed, and blessedly Legolas was not so far gone himself to insist on continuing. He was warmed, he felt lighter, but neither his speech nor his walk, or most importantly his thoughts, have been weighed down by the alcohol. He still observed Buck with some amusement at his expense, finding his tipsy antics endearing in their own right. Even with the whinging, even with the swearing.

(For one, he had a point, and Legolas got used to the swearing a long while ago already.)

"I will certainly enjoy this freedom you give me," and make sure Buck enjoyed his choices just as well, of course, but he trailed off on that exclamation instead. Whatever Buck thought of it, so be it!

But with the bill paid, it was time to head back, and though there was a distinct spring to Legolas's step, he at least managed to keep himself from skipping along even an inch. The stars were out in full force and the air was crisp. Tomorrow would be a fine day, for some to perhaps nurse a nice hangover, for others to practise outside.