WA NOV

[fleurmortelle]

Word Association is a common word game involving an exchange of words that are associated together. The game is based on the noun phrase word association, meaning "stimulation of an associative pattern by a word" or "the connection and production of other words in response to a given word, done spontaneously as a game, creative technique, or in a psychiatric evaluation." ~ our lord and saviour wikipedia GUIDELINES ① post with your character's name & series. ② include a word of your choice and optionally the definition in the body of your comment. -- visit the random word generator if you need help! ③ other characters will reply with the first word their character associates with the one you chose. ④ continue back and forth until one of you just has to know the story behind an answer.

Comments

[timore]

[ he watches her shift and he smiles without teeth, but it doesn't meet his eyes. what a cute answer. he can sense that sarcasm aches to drip from her tongue. ]

America.

[underachievement]

[ It legitimately hurts a little to withhold that sarcasm. Or maybe that's a side-effect of prolonged exposure to his abrasive charm. ]

Flag. [ Real. How could anyone think of anything else with that gaudy-ass costume in their face? ]

[timore]

[ his smile widens, cheeks dimpling with that all-american charisma. he wants to ask her name, but he doesn't. this is all good fun, isn't it? ]

Justice.

[underachievement]

[ God damn it. For a second, she thought she was getting somewhere. Her shoulders would drop if her spine weren't so rigid. ]

Law.

[timore]

[ his eyes glint, niceties still walled up. to show his true face? that would require a lot more than this. ]

People.

[underachievement]

[ Niceties are fine. Actually they make her sick but in his case, she'll take them over whatever is under the mask, even if part of her is curious. Curiosity got her into this bomb disposal of an exchange. ]

Magazine.

[timore]

[ he's entertained, at least for the time being. his hands are clasped behind his back, and he sizes her up with a lightning-quick once-over. ]

Service.

[underachievement]

[ It never ceases to amaze her, celebrities' capacity for mind-numbing banality. She got tired of herself several minutes back. ]

Smile. [ Jess slips slightly. That word is still a fresh cut in her tongue, comes out a bit bloody. ]

[timore]

[ homelander's eyebrow quirks upward. his eyes focus on hers, dead-locked. there she is. he's been waiting on this — it's as if he's trying to provoke. maybe that's what this entire exercise has been about. ]

Game.

[underachievement]

[ Ah, shit. ]

Throw.

[ The makeshift passivity drains from her eyes. Her stare goes flinty again, her tone inflexible. She'd rather it was apathetic. ]

Well this has been fun.

[timore]

[ she's caught herself, it seems. homelander's arms cross, and he nods his chin upward. hasn't this been amusing? it has been for him. the squirming, the pretend pleasantries. ]

Hasn't it?

[ a beat, but one that doesn't escape without tension. ]

Are you going to tell me your name? Or is this your cue to leave?

[underachievement]

My face is on camera. You can look it up.

[ There's no point in withholding it except that if she hears him say it back to her, she's going to break something. Or someone. All this for a tiny peek into Compound V, the shit that's almost definitely responsible for her powers. Based on the claims in the news, successfully receiving it in her adolescence makes her a unique case. With the scandal breaking, she accepted an invitation to the tower to answer some questions, in exchange for a couple questions of her own. (Ostensibly. Jess wants the lay of the building more than anything.)

She wonders if Homelander was sent across her path to intimidate her or he's just doing it for kicks. ]

I've got a meeting with someone. [ Jess pulls out her phone to check the time. ] That's my cue to leave.

[timore]

Oh, famous? I'm sure it'll be easy to just — [ his brows jump, eyes slightly wide with sardonicism. ] — look you right up.

[ not sent, not exactly. homelander has a knack for being in the right place at the right time. whether or not she'd like to call this right? is her opinion. he watches her take out her phone, then shrugs one shoulder. ]

If that's where you have to be. [ another smile, broad, but dangerous. ] Who are you meeting with? I could walk you. I know all of the offices on this floor. Every single one.

[underachievement]

[ Nobody that important. Not any of the names on the newsreel. What shallow sense of security that had her lulled into has since evaporated. ]

Bosworth. [ She's on the right floor, a simmer of confidence underlining the name. Jess's interest lies in the secrets of the lower floors, where the sausage gets made. She clocked where the science types got off the elevator on her way up.

Assuming he's going to accept his offer on her behalf, she starts in the direction of Bosworth's office number. ]

[timore]

[ it's not that he couldn't look her up now — no, that's not what he wants to do. homelander would rather the nerves kick in a little first. his tongue rolls into his cheek before he grins, head canted just slightly before it straightens back upon his neck quickly. the test is over for now. ]

Bosworth. He's right down the hall — right past the portraits.

[ but that doesn't matter. he's already fallen in step with her, hands behind his back as he strolls along. he'll walk her there, all the while keeping a tight monitor on her heartbeat. ]

[underachievement]

[ He's as animated as ever, a perfect foil. They pass the framed silhouette of Black Noir, for whom she'd trade her present company in an instant. Hell, she'd take any of them except Starlight, for entirely self-loathing reasons. Her heart may shudder approaching that portrait. ]

Must be hard not getting sick of your own face. [ In general. She doubts it's a problem he has. ]

[timore]

[ that skip of the heart? he feels it. a smirk crosses his mouth, a ghost of it lifting his cheeks as he nods at the portrait with his chin. ]

Some days you do, some days you don't.

[ a lie. he never does. they keep walking, homelander's cape fluttering just slightly with every step. he's still trying to read her, but it's difficult. there is only her heartbeat. ]

[underachievement]

[ A very personable, middle of the road response.

She gives a placid, ] Uh-huh. [ as they come upon Bosworth's name plaque. Homelander's portrait is at the opposite end of the hall, probably wearing the exact same expression as he is. What a repellent sandwich to be the filling in. ]

Here's me. [ It's occurred to her that he has super hearing and putting a wall between them is no excuse to let her guard down. Jess flattens her lips in the imitation of a smile and raps on the door with a knuckle. ]

[timore]

[ he's not unfriendly — head tilted just slightly as he watches her knock on bosworth's door. it doesn't take long for the man to answer, but homelander makes no means to move. he simply inclines his head, nodding at bosworth, then: ]

How are the kids, Steve? Still doing well, I hope.

[ the conversation is short, but not before homelander grins at her, the threat made evident in the fact that he knows everyone and everything. ]

I believe this is where we say our goodbyes.

[ he extends his hand, smile still stretched into place. it doesn't meet his eyes as his gaze is weighted and strong. ]

[underachievement]

[ She gets the hint. He's not just a conventionally attractive face. He's controlled and connected enough that he can rip peoples' hearts out metaphorically, if so inclined. Message received loud and fucking clear.

Jess takes in Steve's body language, too, and gauges how welcome the family mention really is. There's nothing suspect to glean, overt or otherwise, but she could chalk that up to daily practice the same as she could to genuine comfort. ]

Goodbye. [ She takes his hand, imparting a firm grip. Firmer than strictly human. Her powers are public knowledge; they'll show up on a Google search and be made apparent well before that with some eavesdropping. The gesture is simply an acknowledgement. Her jaw is tight, her brief twitch of a smile strained. Exactly how it's meant to look. ]

[timore]

[ when she takes his hand, he can feel her strength. impressive. homelander returns it, then lets go, head tilted just slightly. that all-american smile is still glued to his mouth, and he nods at bosworth one last time. ]

Tell the kids I said hi, would you? Come by and I'll sign something for them before you head off.

[ homelander glances at her again, and he'll make sure to find out who she is. the seven would like to know — so why not research what she's capable of? his smile widens, and he turns on his heel, waving over his shoulder. ]

Goodbye. Have a good meeting, you two.

[underachievement]

[ Ace Rimmer, What a guy. Taut muscles from the base of her spine to the back of her neck go slack as soon as she wraps a hand around the doorknob. Like it would protect her any better than a sheet of paper if she were to rip it off and use it for a shield.

Bosworth offers her a seat. Jess accepts and their bullshit meeting gets underway. He's as obnoxious and insincere as any other three-piece suit. A glint in the corner of her eye, compared to staring straight at the sun that is Homelander. She struggles to stay present when all she can think about is hitting the nearest bar. Intermittently, her listless stare hangs on the back of a photo frame on his desk, presumably containing a picture of his family. Once it's over, she leaves with a lot to think about, very little of which involves the conversation she actually came to have. ]