Vereint Georges

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A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE

by Harper Kingsley

"What is this?" Vereint asked, walking around the stack of flat pak boxes curiously.

Warrick looked up from his cross-legged position on the floor to give a welcoming smile. "What, no kiss hello?"

Vereint shook his head with a fond smile, but agreeably leaned down to give Warrick a peck on the lips. "There. Now what is all this?"

"This," Warrick said, "is a gift from the new CEO of the Partridge Corporation. He’s trying to seduce me into business with his company."

"But what is it?" Vereint flopped on the floor next to Warrick, leaning against his arm until Warrick wrapped it around him. Warrick didn’t mind, always happy to have Vereint nearby.

"It’s called a Pear Tree," Warrick said. "Once it’s assembled, it’s like a cat tower for people."

"What?"

"Yeah, I know it sounds weird, but that’s how Partridge tried to explain it to me. A seven foot tower for humans. It’s made for climbing, lounging on, and I’m assuming we’re supposed to scratch it with our claws or something. I don’t know. It was a gift and he sent it straight here, so it’s not like I could refuse it."

"Huh." Vereint opened the nearest box, eyeing the poles and boards curiously. There was a piece of cardboard labeled "Hardware" in red taped to the lid that held vacuum packed nuts, bolts, washers, and an allen wrench. "At least it comes with tools."

"There’s supposed to be everything you need to assemble it in the kit," Warrick said.

Vereint found a sheet of full color drawings and turned it this way and that. "Is this some kind of sex thing?"

"What?" Warrick peered at the paper. "What are you seeing that I’m not?"

Vereint’s grin was naughty. "I’m seeing that you’re home and I’m home, and these boxes can wait for later, don’t you think? How often do we get the place to ourselves with no expected interruptions?"

"When you put it like that…" Warrick stood and held out his hand to tug Vereint to his feet.

.

By the time Melissa returned from her sleepover the Partridge Pear Tree had been assembled and had pride of place in the library. It was seven feet tall and spread wider than the height of either of them. This allowed them to lay down full length on the hammock section or curl up together on one of the four round platforms.

"I’m not sure what he’s expecting from you," Vereint had said upon first trying the human cat tower, "but I think I like this thing. Tell Partridge he’s got a winner with this Pear Tree."

Melissa, on seeing the human cat tower, crossed her arms and eyed it suspiciously. "Do you guys wait until I’m not around to buy weird things because you know I would poo-poo all over your ideas? What even is this thing? Where did you buy it, from one of those weird infomercials you keep letting suck you in?" She raised an eyebrow at Vereint.

"Hey, I… I feel very attacked right now," Vereint said, and Warrick laughed when Vereint began chasing Melissa around the apartment. He was moving at normal human speed, and her shrieking laughter rang through the rooms as she ran.

When Melissa came back into the library, she threw herself at the human cat tower and climbed rapidly upward to the very top platform. "I’m king of the mountain!" she yelled.

Vereint didn’t try to climb up after her. He tipped his head back and grinned at her, so wide that it squeezed his eyes nearly shut. "So I guess you like this thing, huh?"

Melissa rolled onto her back, her dark hair hanging down over the edge. "Yeah. I guess this thing seems pretty fun. We can keep it."

"Well, thank you very kindly, Your Majesty."

Warrick watched the people he loved–his family–and smiled.

Life is good, he thought.

=END=

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0 comments on "About: Kanon Darkstar pt 1 (supervillain, the GOAT) #HarperWCK"

"Darkstar" is introduced in Heroes & Villains as the supervillain name of the once-superhero Starburst.

Vereint Georges has always dreamed of being a superhero like his wall poster crush Blue Ice. So when he gains superpowers (strength, flight, invulnerability, speed–the basic package) he sets out to be what he thinks a superhero should be.

From the haircut, to the "I’m a superhero" voice, to the almighty poses, he uses them all.

And as a result, his superhero persona Starburst is universally mocked by reporters and superheroes alike. Including Blue Ice.

In a confrontation with Blue Ice, Starburst discovers some kind of new ability where violet light auras out of his body and melts everything it touches. He barely manages to stop it after it melts a section of street and sidewalk (and possibly a fire hydrant? I have to go back and reread that scene).

For a second, he’s proud of himself that he managed to get control. He looks up and catches Blue Ice’s–his hero’s!–eyes, and expects some kind of praise or something. Instead he gets derision and a general sense of "Get your shit together."

Vereint continues on as a superhero for awhile, but eventually snaps and decides that if he can’t be a hero, he’s going to be a villain and do whatever he wants. So during the annual Good Day Parade, he robs a jewelry store.

And that’s the start of his criminal career.

Stealing things. Displaying his powers to crowds as they hand off their wealth and goods. Trying out different outfits and looks to the enjoyment of the masses. And obliterating anyone that dares to confront him.

Every time Vereint "powers up," his metabilities grow.

In the Heroes & Villains universe, he falls in love with Warrick and retires from the super-life. There are occasions where he’s forced to power up (and violently kills a bunch of people, sorry to the squeamish) which grows his metabilities. But for the most part, his metabilities are just simmering under the surface, growing, but slowly. It’s more of a natural progression than Kanon-Darkstar’s power growth.

Because Kanon-Darkstar constantly uses his metabilities, his Charm is off the charts. It’s to the point where it’s more than just a registered weapon–his section of Megacity is under permanent quarantine.

Because while Kanon Darkstar can and does leave his Megacity to visit other places, he lives there and sleeps there most nights.

HV-Vereint can "power down," basically damp himself down so much that he’s practically a normal human. More durable, stronger, but at his depowered base he could still push a car or jump onto a second floor roof. It’s when he wants to move heavier things or do more metahuman stuff that he has to tap into his "inner power." But as long as he’s powered down, his Charm isn’t effecting the people around him. There’s not tendrils of influence going out, scrambling peoples’ brains.

Kanon Darkstar has kept himself powered up for so long and for so hard that even in his most depowered state, he can’t help exuding Charm around him.

And, as is revealed in–I think Allies & Enemies or Tuesday Night–one of the stories, a metahuman being around a stronger metahuman can make them stronger. (It’s all about the manna and the nectar zions and all that stuff from Timeline. It doesn’t matter for exposition purposes.)

Kanon-Darkstar is a powermaker.

Him just living in an area, exuding his presence all over, results in stronger metabilities in those that would have Manifested without him, and in metabilities developing in those that would have had a dormant Nor-gene.

In Allies & Enemies there’s statistics mentioned in the news about something like 80% of the population possessing the Nor gene, with most Manifesting minor abilities. Stuff like being able to grow their fingernails or heal their own skin. Minor stuff.

In the Kanon-verse, there are a lot more powerful metahumans because Darkstar is polluting the air around him with his very presence. And the more powerful metahumans there are, the more metahumans they effect and help create.

Kanon Sunfire is stronger than HV-Sunfire, and has displayed a much stronger–and deadlier–photokinetic ability as well as a devastating level of Charm-ability. Meanwhile, Kanon Melissa Kim becomes a superhero, but her powerset is a bit different from Blue Devil’s and she can’t fly.

no Vereint x Warrick = no adopted Melissa Kim = no Blue Devil

HV-Darkstar developed the gaussian blur he’s known for over time. There are clear photographs of the superhero Starburst, though everyone notes they look like different people. They could be brothers, but no one would think Starburst was Darkstar.

This is because while the gaussian blur is Darkstar’s metabilities visibly affecting mechanical equipment, it’s also a proof that his Charm is reaching out from his body. It shows up stronger closer around his head and face, but there’s no doubt that an invisible something is reaching out.

Because everyone that comes into contact with him is effected.

It is because of Darkstar that Charm is classified as one of the most powerful metabilities in the Kanon universe. So while the Heroes & Villains universe chugs along in ignorance, the Kanonverse understands that Charm is a horrifying and inexorable metability.

After a time, the League of Superheroes and other groups develop the use of "Charm proof" helmets for when they have to come into contact with Darkstar. But it’s well understood that the helmets will do nothing against long term contact or if the complete attention of Darkstar rests on someone. It’s better to not have him power up around people.

Thus the quarantining of Megacity.

He is treated as a god. Given everything and anything that he wants and whatever people think he might desire.

Some want his attentions upon them, feeling the burning glory of his presence against their skin and every bit of being.

Most people dread his attentions, glad to keep him appeased and within the confines of the Quarantine Zone.

"Darkstar is like a bear. A fucking dancing bear. He doesn’t know how to fight. He’s flailing around, punching and kicking and ‘oh look, I did a flip’ when it’s his ability to fly. But if you let that bear get its paws on you… it will fuck you up." — possibly from an LoS meeting where they watch video of Darkstar "fighting" a large group of people.

Vereint in Heroes & Villains has no real fight training. He never bothered to learn more than the basics he’s managed to pick up.

Kanon-Darkstar has more fight ability, but he’s still not "skilled" at it. Mostly because anything he hits with intent is obliterated.

It’s very hard to practice martial arts when you’re so strong that the world around you might as well be made of soda-lime glass.

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0 comments on "Heroes & Villains: “Dinner For Two” by Harper Kingsley"

Title: Dinner For Two
Author: Harper Kingsley
Series: Heroes & Villains
Setting: post-The Wedding, pre-Allies & Enemies
Characters: Vereint Georges, Warrick Reidenger Tobias

Inspiration:

Walking into the penthouse, Warrick was greeted by bags of groceries on the counter and Vereint wearing an apron and nothing else. The sight of that devilish smile and those bare arms and legs made Warrick hitch his step on the way to the hall closet to hang up his jacket.

“What’s going on?” he asked slowly. He couldn’t help tracing his gaze over Vereint, seeing where the brightly colored fabric curved, bent, cupped, and what it did and didn’t cover. It took him an extra few seconds to get his jacket on the hanger and the closet door closed.

“I thought we’d cook dinner together,” Vereint said. “I saw this recipe for garlic butter steak.”

“Steak?” Warrick’s mouth salivated at the thought. “Butter… That’s going to be a calorie bomb though.”

“Tonight’s special,” Vereint said.

“Oh?” Warrick crossed the intervening space and wrapped his arms around Vereint. He peeked over Vereint’s shoulder and couldn’t help grinning at the sight of a bare back and buttocks. He let the fingers of his right hand drift off the apron and lightly brush against Vereint’s skin. He was always so warm.

Vereint obligingly pressed closer to him, one hand going into Warrick’s hair. “Mm.”

“Why’s tonight special?” Warrick asked. He tried to walk Vereint toward their bedroom, but Vereint didn’t move. Warrick stopped pulling at him, resting his whole weight against him instead. If Vereint didn’t want to be moved, there would be no moving him.

“It’s our anniversary,” Vereint said. He must have felt Warrick’s body stiffen with sudden panic because he laughed. “Don’t worry; it’s not our wedding anniversary. It’s the anniversary of the first time I took you hostage.”

“What?”

“You know, when we were in that bank–”

“And you were wearing that horrible shirt!” Warrick laughed and squeezed Vereint.

“That’s when you fell in love with me,” Vereint said.

“No way,” Warrick said. “You terrorized a bank full of people and took me hostage. I thought you were a brat.”

“A brat that you immediately fell in love with because that’s the kind of person you are. You thrive on adversity.”

“And you being a brat is what you consider adversity?”

“No. I call that ‘charm.’ The adversity part comes in when you try to resist jumping my bones as we sear the rib-eye I’ve got on the counter.” Vereint tugged himself out of Warrick’s arms and headed toward the kitchen. The flirty wink he tossed over his shoulder and the way he flexed the globes of his ass were a dare.

Watching him go, Warrick shook his head with a rueful grin. He could definitely feel the adversity now.

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1 comment on "Excerpt “All That Remains” – from Chapter Five"

Title: All That Remains – excerpt Chapter Five
Author: Harper Kingsley
Genre: superhero. science fiction. action. mm.

EXCERPT-

They didn’t get to enjoy the afterglow for even five minutes before someone rang the front doorbell. Then rang it again, and again, and again, before leaving their finger on the button for a long time.

One look at Vereint’s darkening expression had Warrick climbing out of bed. “I’ve got it.”

He pulled on a pair of black sweatpants and a loose gray tee shirt.

“No underwear?” Vereint asked.

“I don’t care if whoever that is sees me free-balling,” Warrick said.

“But it might be one of Nicky’s friends. Put on your robe,” Vereint ordered. Then rolled on his stomach and burrowed his face into his pillow. “I’mma sleep now.”

Warrick rolled his eyes fondly. “If you weren’t so cute…” He picked his robe up off a chair and slipped his arms in the sleeves, tying the belt as he left the bedroom and padded barefoot down the stairs.

Whoever was on the porch rang the doorbell again.

“Okay, okay. I’m coming!” Warrick called. He could feel himself getting irritated. His evening with Vereint was being spoiled by this interruption.

He forced himself not to jerk the door open. The last thing he wanted to deal with was a broken front door. Instead he —-purposely—- turned the knob and opened the door.

“Can I help you?” he asked the delivery man in a frosty tone.

“It’s a good thing you’re here. I was about to leave.” The guy proferred a clipboard. “I need a signature, please.”

Warrick took the clipboard but didn’t sign until the delivery man showed him the package with Vereint’s assumed name on the label. Then he scrawled a signature on the digital paper and exchanged the clipboard for the loaf of bread-sized box.

“Thanks,” he growled, then slammed the door and locked it. He waited until he heard the truck start up and drive away before carrying the package upstairs to Vereint.

“Who was it?” Vereint asked when Warrick came in the room.

“A delivery for you.” Warrick set the box on the bed and began stripping back down. He wasn’t giving up a rare opportunity to lounge naked.

“Hedonist,” Vereint teased. He didn’t lift his head from his pillow, just reached out a hand to snake the box across the covers toward himself. He fumbled at the tape with one hand, eventually pulling it off the lid in one strip.

Warrick climbed into his side of the bed and sat with his back against the headboard. His pillow was somewhere on the floor. “What’d you get?” he asked.

“I don’t know.”

“So it could be a bomb, and you’re opening it on our bed?”

“Yes.” Vereint fumbled the box lid open and tilted it toward Warrick. “What’s in there?”

Warrick reached out to move the brown packing paper out of the way. “It looks like a creepy doll. Is someone going to try and serial kill us now?”

Vereint snorted. “I’d like to see someone try.” He lifted the doll out of the box by its head, tilting it so he could get a good look. “Hm. That is creepy. Who’s it from?”

Warrick glanced at the widely smiling bald ceramic head with the hand and foot-less white cloth body and fought a shudder. He looked at the outside of the box, then the inside. He even flipped it over to show there was nothing inside.

“There’s no name,” he said. “Someone went out of their way to send you a creepy doll anonymously. Strange and suspicious.”

Vereint rolled over and sat up, the bedcovers pooling over his bare lap. He picked up the doll with both hands and examined it closely. “Whoever made this knows how to sew, yet purposely made it look amateurish. It’s a taunt.”

“What–“

Vereint whipped the doll around by one leg and smacked the head against his night table. The head cracked apart, a small slip of paper falling out.

Vereint snatched the paper out of the air and spread it open. “‘I know who you are,'” he read aloud. “What the shit is this?”

/end excerpt

*

Wanna know who these guys are before reading “All That Remains”? Check them out first in “Heroes & Villains“, then follow it up with “Allies & Enemies.”