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fandomweekly2022-12-07 11:11 pm
iluvroadrunner6) wrote in fandomweekly2022-12-07 11:11 pm
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[#154] Just Searching for a World with Some Soul (The Umbrella Academy)
Theme Prompt: #154—Atonement
Title: Just Searching for a World with Some Soul
Fandom: The Umbrella Academy
Rating/Warnings: PG-13 | SPOILERS for S3
Bonus: Yes
Word Count: 630
Summary: Reginald approaches Allison about getting what she wants.
“I think we might help each other.”
It tempts part of Allison to snap back at him, not wanting the company of anyone, least of all her father. She’s still too busy stewing in her own rage to be interested in helping anyone, but she has a feeling she won’t be able to get rid of Reginald as easily as the rest of her family.
“And why do you say that?”
“Because I can give you what you want.”
The idea of her father knowing what she wants is laughable, and as she turns to face him, she’s sure her face says as much. But ever unflappable, Reginald Hargreeves doesn’t seem to care about Allison’s death glare, and intends to get what he came for.
“There’s still time, Allison.” It’s still so strange to hear him call her something other than Number Three. “We can still save the world, and when we do, we can set it back to the way things should have been all along. Restore your daughter and fix all the wrinkles that Harlan created. Wouldn’t that be nice?”
He’s dangling this temptation in front of her like she’s a dog searching for a treat, and she doesn’t like it. But given that the world is ending, she doesn’t know what else she has to lose.
“How?”
“There’s a machine in that alternate hotel that can reset the world to whatever our specifications may be. We just have to get past the guardians and find the bells. Once we activate it, the world will be restored to what you knew before you went to the 1960s.”
“And why do you need me?”
“We need all of your siblings for this to work. We either all go, or not at all. I thought your powers of persuasion might be helpful in winning them to our cause.”
He likely means her actual powers, and she already knows that won’t work. If they’re going to go, they’ll have to go willingly. It means she’s going to have to eat a fair amount of crow if she wants this to work, but she can do it. She’s an actress. She’ll make them believe her. But she’s willing to push her luck, because if she’s going to risk her life against the thing that cut off Diego’s fingers, she wants to make sure she gets her money’s worth.
“What’s it worth to you?”
Reginald raises an eyebrow, surprised at her bluntness. “You want more than your daughter?”
“I had a husband too. Not her father, but he should have been.” If she’s going to potentially die, why not go for broke? “I want him too. If you can reshape reality to whatever you want, I want my family alive, as well as my daughter and my husband.”
Reginald considers, then nods. He can make this work. “Make them believe you are atoning for your past sins? Make them realize that you’ve seen the error of your ways.”
“Trust me,” Allison says dryly. “I’m not sure they know me well enough to know the difference. They’ll believe me.” But will it be enough for them to risk their lives for her? That she doesn’t know. She doesn’t know if she’s burned too many bridges to get them to cross that threshold. But she can certainly try.
“Good.” Reginald smiles, before holding out a hand to her. “Do we have a deal?”
She considers, before reaching forward and shaking it firmly. And desperate as she is for her world to be the way it was, part of her couldn’t help but feel like she’s making a deal with the Devil.
“Then let’s get to work.”
A few hours later, Luther is dead, and Allison can’t help but feel that she’s made a terrible mistake.
Title: Just Searching for a World with Some Soul
Fandom: The Umbrella Academy
Rating/Warnings: PG-13 | SPOILERS for S3
Bonus: Yes
Word Count: 630
Summary: Reginald approaches Allison about getting what she wants.
“I think we might help each other.”
It tempts part of Allison to snap back at him, not wanting the company of anyone, least of all her father. She’s still too busy stewing in her own rage to be interested in helping anyone, but she has a feeling she won’t be able to get rid of Reginald as easily as the rest of her family.
“And why do you say that?”
“Because I can give you what you want.”
The idea of her father knowing what she wants is laughable, and as she turns to face him, she’s sure her face says as much. But ever unflappable, Reginald Hargreeves doesn’t seem to care about Allison’s death glare, and intends to get what he came for.
“There’s still time, Allison.” It’s still so strange to hear him call her something other than Number Three. “We can still save the world, and when we do, we can set it back to the way things should have been all along. Restore your daughter and fix all the wrinkles that Harlan created. Wouldn’t that be nice?”
He’s dangling this temptation in front of her like she’s a dog searching for a treat, and she doesn’t like it. But given that the world is ending, she doesn’t know what else she has to lose.
“How?”
“There’s a machine in that alternate hotel that can reset the world to whatever our specifications may be. We just have to get past the guardians and find the bells. Once we activate it, the world will be restored to what you knew before you went to the 1960s.”
“And why do you need me?”
“We need all of your siblings for this to work. We either all go, or not at all. I thought your powers of persuasion might be helpful in winning them to our cause.”
He likely means her actual powers, and she already knows that won’t work. If they’re going to go, they’ll have to go willingly. It means she’s going to have to eat a fair amount of crow if she wants this to work, but she can do it. She’s an actress. She’ll make them believe her. But she’s willing to push her luck, because if she’s going to risk her life against the thing that cut off Diego’s fingers, she wants to make sure she gets her money’s worth.
“What’s it worth to you?”
Reginald raises an eyebrow, surprised at her bluntness. “You want more than your daughter?”
“I had a husband too. Not her father, but he should have been.” If she’s going to potentially die, why not go for broke? “I want him too. If you can reshape reality to whatever you want, I want my family alive, as well as my daughter and my husband.”
Reginald considers, then nods. He can make this work. “Make them believe you are atoning for your past sins? Make them realize that you’ve seen the error of your ways.”
“Trust me,” Allison says dryly. “I’m not sure they know me well enough to know the difference. They’ll believe me.” But will it be enough for them to risk their lives for her? That she doesn’t know. She doesn’t know if she’s burned too many bridges to get them to cross that threshold. But she can certainly try.
“Good.” Reginald smiles, before holding out a hand to her. “Do we have a deal?”
She considers, before reaching forward and shaking it firmly. And desperate as she is for her world to be the way it was, part of her couldn’t help but feel like she’s making a deal with the Devil.
“Then let’s get to work.”
A few hours later, Luther is dead, and Allison can’t help but feel that she’s made a terrible mistake.