quinctus: (:|)
Five Hargreeves ☂ | (30 years old) ([personal profile] quinctus) wrote2020-08-05 07:50 pm

[ Open post | Tomorrow is another day, And you won't have to hide away ...]


What: Five being Five and also done with having a child body, so he does something stupid about it.
Where: Umbrella Academy House.
When: End of S2 but ignoring the last 5 minutes of episode 10. Sparrow Academy? I don't know her.
Warnings: Again, Five being Five.
Who: Five + anyone foolish enough to walk into the hot mess that is his life


A ] Nothing surpasses the beauty and elegance of a bad idea.

[ From ceiling to floor, the walls of Five's old room are covered with equations. They're not the ones Luther found him writing a month ago -For Luther that happened a year and a month ago, time travel is funny like that- but new ones that Five keeps adding daily. Allison, bless her motherly heart, mentioned something about Claire drawing on the walls when she was a toddler, and yesterday a huge, movable chalkboard had found its way into Five's room.

Klaus had been half right when he accused him of being addicted to the Apocalypse. His fixation wasn't interest in the End of The World on itself but the by-product of an obsessive mind that needed something to focus on. After 45 years with a clear goal in mind, spending decades thinking of ways of going back, to save his family, Five has no contingency plan, no idea what to do now that doomsday has been adverted. Some days he still can't believe it and most nights he doesn't want to fall sleep fearing that he will wake up with the taste of ashes in his mouth and the smell of burning flesh in the air, back in the remains of the library.

And yet, it looks like this time the apocalypse had been stopped for good. The Temps Commission, now under new management, is happy to leave the Hargreeves alone, lest they piss them off and people starts getting murdered. Vanya has better control of her powers and seems happier than before. It's good, not perfect, but more peace and happiness than Five ever dreamed to have. More than he ever thought he deserved.

Naturally, it's driving him a little insane.

Because things just don't go well in his life or with his family, and he's waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Shortly after they all came back from Dallas, Five had crashed and he spent the next 2 days sleeping like a brick. It was really embarrassing and only reminded him of how inconvenient it was to be stuck in a child's body that is nowhere near as durable as his older one. And that was when a new obsession and the equations started.

See, Five has a theory. One that he didn't bother to share with his siblings because they wouldn't understand anyway and there is no point in worrying them unnecessarily. Said theory is based on the idea that his powers had, so far, allowed him to travel through time but it stands to reason that the opposite could happen and he would be able to move time through him instead. Case in point: Child's body that shouldn't be here, yet somehow is, while his mind is the one of an adult.

Finding the right equation to use and apply it to his power is tricky because if he messes things up, he can go overboard and age too much too quickly and kill himself in the process. Quantum Physics are a pain in the ass but not as much as having to go through puberty a second time, or dealing with old ladies that call him 'darling' and then try to pat his head. So there goes nothing. Once he is 99'98% sure that he has the right equation, Five shifts his wrist and concentrates, a familiar blue light surrounding first his hands and then the rest of his body.

It's a different sensation from time traveling or spatial jumping. For starters, it hurts a whole lot more. His head feels like it's being split in two and there are bulls doing the merengue on his grey matter. His muscles burn and there's no air in his lungs when he tries to take a deep breath, chest seizing up as if he's drowning. Small drops of sweat run down his temple and neck. It feels as if he's an elastic cord, the tension growing exponentially until the stress is too much and something has to snap. His bones are melting and reshaping and Five hears his clothes rip and tear as his vision goes blurry.

All that, he had anticipated.

The door of his room exploding, not so much.

Oops. ]



B] I walk around like everything is fine, but deep down inside my shoe, my sock is sliding off.

[ Once the screaming, the yelling and the 'are you out of your fucking mind????' accusations had died down, and there had been a lot of those, Five is left trying to adjust to his new body.

It's still a little younger than he should be, much closer in looks to his siblings than his actual age, but he had tried to be cautious with the change and not age himself too far. Part of him, even if Five doesn't want to admit out loud, likes the idea of fitting in more with his family. The body seems to be fully functional, all his limbs are responding as they should, his powers working just fine and the headache of the first 3 hours is now gone.

Five has only stared at his face in the mirror briefly, trying to decide if he needed to shave and then not bothering with it. He didn't really pay attention to how he actually looks like, more concerned with finding clothes that fit him because the uniform doesn't anymore, thanks all the gods he doesn't believe in. The idea of checking for anything useful in Luther or Allison's closets is quickly discarded, the clothes too big or too colorful for his linking.

Diego's wardrobe is mostly all black, which suits Five just fine, but it isn't perfect either. The sweaters are nice but the sleeves are a tad too long and the open collar leaves part of Five's collarbone and the curve of his shoulder visible. He refuses to wear the turtlenecks on principle, so this is still a step up over walking around the house covered with a towel. Beggars can't be choosers. The pants, however, are a no-go. Too tight in some places and too loose in others, and overall too long. Five might have an older body and longer legs now but it looks like he will never really be properly tall.

In an act of pure desperation, while wearing one of Diego's old black sweaters that is surprisingly comfortable, Five checks Klaus' room next. It's either trying his brother's clothes or Vanya's, and Five actually respects her privacy enough to leave her room alone. ]


It was easier to find clothes in the Apocalypse. [ The man grumbles while holding a pair of leather pants. They're clean and they're his size but they're also leather pants.

Five tosses them into the pile of clothes already present on top of the bed. He finds a skirt next, that he's pretty sure belonged to Allison at some point, and actually gives it some thought before putting it back where he found it. In the end, Five slips into a pair of skinny low-rise jeans, frowning down at them when they still leave his belly button exposed. The sweater should cover it but it still feels weird when he walks. ]


How does he even move in these!?
onlyordinary: (Let's chat)

[personal profile] onlyordinary 2020-08-11 10:56 pm (UTC)(link)
[Vanya opens her mouth to respond--hey, everyone looks good in jeans, don't call her out like this, Five--but then he reaches over and brushes her mouth. She could see Klaus or Allison doing it, and Vanya would swat at them playfully telling them to stop being momish. She could see Luther trying to gesture at her mouth before dabbing it with a napkin. She could even see Diego just casually saying 'You got foam on your mouth'. But Five reaches, and Vanya doesn't swat him away. Her face just gets red as his finger drags against her lip.

Hopefully it's not too obvious. She just drank a whole gin fizz. People get red after drinking. That's normal.]


Yeah, well, we should go to the mall, shouldn't we? [Luckily, Vanya's able to recover quicker than normal because of good old-fashioned alcohol.] Go grab dad's checkbook. He can spoil us from beyond the grave.
onlyordinary: (Admire this amazing profile)

[personal profile] onlyordinary 2020-08-11 11:43 pm (UTC)(link)
[It's almost a relief when he disappears. Vanya's able to look at the ceiling and think of random innocuous things until her cheeks stop burning.

Oh, she really hopes this doesn't keep up. Otherwise she might need to sulk to Allison about it.

But things are okay again when they're in the car, Five being typical Five by insisting on driving and also somehow looking like a grumpy old man even with the face of a thirty-year-old. Once they park, he sticks close to her like a comforting shadow. It's probably uncomfortable for him to be among this many people doing a completely normal thing normal people do. Vanya flashes him a reassuring smile.]


It will take forever for me to pick the right violin. Let's start with your clothes.

[Vanya, as any good professional, is very picky about her instrument. It needs to have the right sound and the right feel. Plus, violins are finicky instruments that require a certain amount of faith to play, so she needs a violin worth having faith in.

Vanya leads the way to the first outlet she thinks Five will like. It's a smaller brand, less for flash fashion of rushing adults looking to grab something off the rack and more for sharper, more dignified clothes meant to last a while. She doesn't think Five would see the value in clothes that fall apart in a year, and she doesn't think he'd have the patience to renew his wardrobe that often.]
Does anything catch your eye?
onlyordinary: (Sweet little smile)

[personal profile] onlyordinary 2020-08-12 12:38 am (UTC)(link)
That Italian place? What was it--Capriccio's? [Of course Vanya remembers it. It was so rare that her father would take them out, and even rarer for him to include her.] I'm not sure if it's still open. But we can check.

[She has fond memories of the few restaurants they went out too, especially Griddy's, despite the fact that it recently had a mass murder inside.

Vanya thinks that Five is demonstrating remarkable restraint by not just popping in and out of space as fast as he can, and she smiles as he piles on more clothes, nodding along as he focuses mainly on suits--or at best, business casual. But hey, he'll try on jeans, and maybe in a couple years she can work him down to wearing normal clothes.

Going to the women's section is mildly unexpected, but Five has been known to wear skirts on occasion so she doesn't question it until he's offering her a jacket. Vanya's eyebrows go up.]
Oh--you think so?

[Vanya dares to take the jacket, slipping it on over her shirt to get a feel for the fit. It is her style. A more chic version of her style, in fact. It's actually touching, though not surprising, that Five is thinking about her too. She poses for him to see.] What do you think now?
onlyordinary: (Hey you're plenty elegant)

[personal profile] onlyordinary 2020-08-13 06:33 am (UTC)(link)
[“It brings out your eyes.” Five pays attention—Vanya KNOWS he pays attention—but the little intimate details like that always catch her a bit off guard. Maybe because Five is so ruthlessly pragmatic that it’s easy to forget his softer, more sentimental side.

And his grin just adds to the charm. How dare Five be charming.]


I’m just surprised that you already have such a good sense of my taste. [Doing the math, he must have been home for... a little over a month, she thinks? And much of that time had been spent scrambling around stopping the end of the world. Some of that time was even with her completely missing her memory. But trust Five to know her better than she knows herself half the time.

She smiles at him before admiring the jacket again.]
Yeah, you know what? I’ll get it. Dad’s treating, after all.

[Vanya should add to her wardrobe. She’s not drugged out of her mind anymore. She actually wants to wear things that don’t allow her to sink into the wall at a moment’s notice. Hell, maybe she’ll even get some earrings. Let’s go crazy.

Vanya smiles at Five, nodding at the pile of clothes in his arms.]
You should try those on. And don’t forget to try a pair of jeans!
onlyordinary: (Lol at sister)

[personal profile] onlyordinary 2020-08-13 10:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, I need new shoes anyway. Especially for the stage. My last pair turned white. [And is also probably lying around somewhere in the 60s.

She sees his distaste and confusion over the jeans. She gives him a fond smile before nudging past him and casually checking out the selection.

Skinny jeans are right out. He’d look good but be incredibly uncomfortable. Same with loose or baggy jeans. No bell cuts either, and he doesn’t have the hips for high waists.

Vanya takes her time before picking out a style of jeans she thinks will work for him. Fitted, but easily to move and work in. Reaches all the way to his ankles. Something comfortable and stylish for him to try.

She throws the jeans onto his pile.]
Okay, you’re ready.
onlyordinary: (Glaring)

[personal profile] onlyordinary 2020-08-13 11:14 pm (UTC)(link)
[Vanya is smiling up until her ears perk. Two girls giggling, arguing over who gets to approach... Five? Good God.

Vanya expects the slightly horrified reaction of any sibling that's overhearing someone express interest--she remembers him when he was literally slinging mud at their brothers, for God's sake--but what she doesn't expect is the hot razor edge of tension and contempt that settles in her gut.

She tries to shake it off, tries to focus on the clothes instead, but then one of the girls comes over. Blonde. Pretty, too. Vanya tries not to think of how much prettier the girl is than her.]


He knows what he wants, [Vanya says shortly, sparing the woman a glance (and it's a bit colder than she means to be) before looking back at Five.] You want to find a changing room?
onlyordinary: (You lied to her Carl)

[personal profile] onlyordinary 2020-08-14 12:04 am (UTC)(link)
[Vanya knows Five. Even in this new adult body, she knows what he looks like when he's getting ready for a fight. He sinks his weight into his heels, widening his stance, and makes it look casual. Vanya scowls at the woman, irritation burning in her gut, but she'd really like it if Five didn't murder someone for flirting. She takes a breath to calm Five down, but the breath catches as he wraps his arm around her waist and pulls her away.

The coil of irritation cools in her gut as she throws an arm over his shoulder, looking back to glare at the women before leaning her head in closer than she really should with her brother, but she has something important to say so she tells herself it's not weird that she leans close enough for her lips to almost touch his ear.]


They're not from the Commission. It's okay.
onlyordinary: (Lol at sister)

[personal profile] onlyordinary 2020-08-14 10:03 pm (UTC)(link)
[One of the shop assistants whispers to her frustrated colleague, “Smooth.” They're far enough away that Five wouldn’t hear, but Vanya can, and she can’t help but huff a little laugh against Five’s face. It’s a little tempting to let him keep thinking they’re out to get him, but that’d be mean to all involved. Five doesn’t need any more reason to be paranoid and random assistants don’t deserve to maybe die because they flirted with an ex-assassin.]

I can know that.

[Vanya’s too distracted by the whole situation to notice how close their noses are. Now that the woman has been frustrated and Five soundly rejected her, Vanya’s left feeling amused more than anything and there’s some laughter in her eyes as she looks back to Five, letting their arms stay around each other.]

I overheard them talking. She was trying to get your number, Five. She wanted to ask you out.

[She told you those cheekbones were dangerous, man.]
onlyordinary: (No memories tho)

[personal profile] onlyordinary 2020-08-14 11:13 pm (UTC)(link)
I’d hope you wouldn’t. You could do so much better.

[Vanya has to try to stifle a laugh at his expression. She’s vividly aware of how this must look to outsiders, with their arms around each other, their faces so close and her teasing him after someone else failed to ask him out. She should care. She really should care. But she doesn’t.]

She was really rude about it. She was icing me out. Like she’s just so pretty that you’d just leave whatever woman you came here with to jump her. [Huff. How dare that woman. Yeah, she’s prettier than Vanya, but still. Have some manners.]
onlyordinary: (Oh U)

[personal profile] onlyordinary 2020-08-15 12:19 am (UTC)(link)
[Oh, what was she thinking? Of course Five doesn't really 'get' how attractive he is. Or how attractive other people are. Maybe he would have if he'd allowed himself to go through puberty surrounded by people, but that ship sailed.

I'm very happy with the woman I'm with now. Something dangerous in Vanya is very pleased to hear that. She tries to punch it down in her head. It's not right, it's not right. He's just saying that because she's his sister.]


I'll keep you safe. No flirty attendants for you.

[And then there's the changing room. Vanya gestures towards it, grateful for the distraction to stop from thinking too hard about her feelings.] Okay, let's see how these clothes hold up.
onlyordinary: (Admire this amazing profile)

[personal profile] onlyordinary 2020-08-16 01:08 am (UTC)(link)
[Vanya stands guard outside of the changing room, keeping an eye out just in case interloping women came along to flirt again, but she can feel at ease. Five isn't interested in random people who approach him in public. He's way too paranoid for that. She tries not to examine the security she gets in that, when a good sister would want him to put himself out there.

Her eyebrows go up when he comes out in the suit. This is just unfair.]


The suit looks really good. Try this.

[Vanya walks up to him, untying his tie and slinging it over her shoulder before she undoes the first two buttons on his shirt. She's just giving her brother fashion advice she's just giving her brother fashion advice she's just giving her brother fashion advice--]

Check the mirror now and see what you think. I think it fixes the tie problem and now you look more casual.
onlyordinary: (Oops)

[personal profile] onlyordinary 2020-08-17 04:43 am (UTC)(link)
[Vanya sees the approval in his eyes, and for a second she thinks that this must be what cats feel like when people start petting them. She gives a self-satisfied smile.]

You see? I know a thing or two about fashion. I think that suit is definitely a yes.

[Vanya gestures at the pile.] Give the other ones a shot too. If you don't like the tie, just see how it looks with a couple buttons undone.

(no subject)

[personal profile] onlyordinary - 2020-08-18 02:10 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] onlyordinary - 2020-08-26 06:33 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] onlyordinary - 2020-08-29 01:39 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] onlyordinary - 2020-08-30 23:03 (UTC) - Expand