#— ❛❛ // MAKO ¦ My Everything has Always been yours my heart・ 「 Musings」

[oathofpromises]

[ META ] + oath (for any of your paladins!)

I haven't gotten to talk a lot about Mako, so I'll use her for this question. To start off, Mako is my OC that I created to be kind of like an ancestor to Stella. It's a huge part of why she holds a connection to the crystal tower in my own wol lore. Some might think it's silly to make up a character that only existed during the Allagan Empire period, but it was important as to why she felt such a connection to the Crystal Tower during the Crystal Tower raid storyline.

Mako has a strong resemblance to Stella being her ancestor; her path to Paladin wasn't a typical one either. She started off as being nothing more than a commoner, yet she was very close to T'sori, the prince, at the time, and who I decided was brother to Princess Salina. This is where it is slightly divergent from canon lore, which is fine because, honestly, sometimes we prefer to have things strictly for our own character lore. Anyway, Mako, being as close as she was to T'sori, decided to pursue the path of Paladin. At the time, the Emperor was searching for someone to be the prince's knight. Someone would be his chosen shield, so she trained from a young age until she reached 26 and eventually was sworn in as T'sori Paladin.

Her oath was to keep him safe from harm, no matter what, even if that meant she would end up getting hurt herself, and many times she had come back injured, keeping the prince shielded from anything that their enemies would toss their way. The sad thing about their background is how deeply they cared for each other, but Mako wasn't a princess or had any royal blood in her veins, so she was forbidden to pursue anything more with T'sori. However, the prince wasn't as willing to listen, so their love was one that was hidden behind closed doors. She couldn't hold his hand out in public and be intimate with him when others were around.

The hardest part for Mako was swearing the oath. She had to always keep him safe, but having such intense feelings for T'sori, she was forced to watch over him as the Emperor had the prince met with many princesses or women he considered worthy. Ultimately, we know little of how the Allagan Empire fell. Just what was revealed mostly in the game, so to expand on that, there is some lore where she does end up helping a wounded T'sori to the throne but has to watch as he slips away. His spirit remains inside the crystal tower but isn't discovered much later, and shortly after that, the Paladin faded away from her own injuries, but the tower was not done with her. The woman spirit too would remain right beside T'sori, waiting for the day the next heir to the throne or possessed the Allagan red eyes would open the tower once more.

I need to write more about Mako on here, but...in all, her oath as a Paladin was her entire life. Even more, before she even became a Paladin she had promised to keep T'sori safe. Be his shield—anything he needed. The whole story with them is something I am working on with @diademreigned since it’s related to their G’raha and our dynamic with those two. All I can say is that these two go through just as much as Stella and G’raha do.

[umbral-stigmata-unbound]

Scariest version of Sephiroth in your opinion? Mine goes to his AC incarnation who is so scary even the damn lyrics reflect it!

Anon Asks; Always Open

Hey, thank you for this ask! Answering this way just to make sure you get the notif, dear anon <3

This is a great ask, and it's got me thinking a bit! Because he's so complicated, as has been his appearance in every part of the story--so many can even debate how many versions of Sephiroth are fully him, and not Jenova or half of him and half of Jenova, so on.

And not only that, scary can be a bit subjective to each person. Different moments for him can evoke different experiences for each fan. As a writer and roleplayer with a reasonable, albeit not perfect Sephiroth muse, I can't say I feel fear for any version for him exactly? The closest I could feel is intimidation, reverence, and/or awareness of how unhinged and threatening he is. And there are so many moments where he puts off this threatening energy that you just KNOW is unstable and, gaia forbid, unstopable.

AC is definitely very intimidating and one of my favorite appearances of him! I headcanon that what is left of him then is simply will to survive, succeed, consume, that is a great deal him but may be influenced by Jenova too. I'm horribly biased, though, because...I enjoy him there too much.

The more I think about it, to be honest...?

The Nibleheim Incident Sephiroth. And even with that, the intimidation is still wrapped up with my muse born sympathy and my yearning for what-ifs and just heart ache. Yes, I know, AC Sephiroth was intense and powerful and threatening and did not flinch once until omnislash got whipped out. Early Sephiroth is powerful, Sephiroth after he falls into Mako is spooky and feels far too omnipresent at times and probably borders on creepy more than anything.

But Sephiroth, falling apart in Nibelheim? Sephiroth, at the peak of his strength and power and at that point, almost singularity as a great SOLDIER? Sephiroth, who had lost dear friends that he had to cut off as his foundations so that he could survive... Sephiroth, who only had a single friend left in the world, and even that friend could not reach him in the confusion and the loss he was feeling?

Sephiroth, who's world was shattered by careless words of a desperate former friend and lost love (no matter how you perceive the love, he loved Genesis, fight me on this), then shattered further by what he could gather, understand and assume and put together from old reports on his possible origins....who had been fighting the idea that his life had been a lie, and therefor a waste, and worse, had been fighting the monstrosity of SOLDIER literally and figuratively...

Sephiroth, who lay eyes on a figure he could cast as mother and the answer to all his confusion, loneliness, and despair, and last all sanity leading up to that moment.

He burned down Nibelheim, he cut down his friend, he cut down innocents and burned them alive and didn't give a damn. Part of him may have even believed they deserve it. If it hadn't been for Cloud's actions and him stopping Sephiroth, for a time, he would have marched on in his insane state. He would have burned everything in his path, would have obliterated ShinRa and Midgar in the process, and he likely would not have stopped. Not until too much damage was done, if he could even manage to return to reason, even then.

I'd say, in a more technical sense, that that is the version of Sephiroth I would find the most scary. He'd lost everything, nothing left, but a new twisted mission he would never fulfil, and the world would pay for it.

[pxnk-velvet]

Hey! I hope you're doing great, i waned to send a request for Bolin, I thought it could be, like, you're Tenzin's older daughter and Bolin is your boyfriend, and you introduce him as your partner but Jinora, Ikki and Meelo act protective or something along those lines, thanks! :)

SURPRISE

Bolin x Fem!Reader

Summary: Y/n, the oldest of the airbender kids has a boyfriend! But....how is she supposed to introduce Bolin to her crazy family as just that?

Warnings: fluff, crackhead airbender kids

This was kind of rushed and I didn’t go back to check for any errors. Sorry it took me so long and if it sucks lmao 😭

Y/n giggled sweetly at the sight of her boyfriend pacing back and forth, across the length of the hallway as he has rambled on and on. The airbender admired his form for a little bit, taking note of his strong board shoulders and taunt biceps under his shirt. She pushed herself off the door she was leaning up against, walking up to him.

“Bolin.” She called lightly, standing close to him as he kept pacing. Grazing past her multiple times.

“Bolin!” She called a little louder to get the earthbender’s attention. Even at that, his hands were raked through his hair, his signature curl still showing like always.

What finally caught his attention was the gust of wind she sent his way. Smacking him right in the face, sending his hair into a flowing frenzy.

“Bolin.” She stated firmly, stepping up o him, fixing his hair as she spoke, “You’re going to be fine, ok? They already know you, so it shouldn’t be that bad.” She ran her fingers through his hair, his eyes watching her features as she focused on her hands, watching her lips morph around the words that were falling from her tongue.

“If anything, my father isn’t the one you have to worry about.” She teased, pulling on the curling laying on his forehead, watching it coil back up.

“What?!” Bolin all but screeched. There was someone besides Tenzin to worry about? Was it her mother, Pema? No, she’s probably one of the sweetest women Bolin has ever met before? Was it her uncle Bumi? Or aunt Kya?

His mind ran a thousand miles a second, nearly overriding, a shocked and worried expression etched onto his face as he peered back at Y/n with big eyes.

“Listen, Bolin,” Y/n mused, looking up at his with reassuring eyes, eyes he could get lost in for all of eternity, “No matter what, I love you. And besides, if Jinora can have a boyfriend, I don’t think my dad would be up the wall about me having one either.” The smile she gave him warmed his heart, calming some of the nerves that had been running laps.

Y/n gingerly took his hands into hers, running her thumbs over his rough knuckles. They always had random scratches and bruises, something Y/n had noticed even before they were dating. Bolin relished in the feeling of her hands wrapping around his and feeling her soft skin. Even more of the worry in him washed away when she brought one of his hands up to his lips and placed a gentle kiss where her thumb had been.

“Come on,” She tugged on his hands, coaxing him towards the dining room, “They’re waiting.”

Bolin stood behind her, sweating bullets, as she placed her hand on the door, motioning to open it. But not before she placed a quick peck to his lips and whispered that there was noting to worry about.

“Y/n, what took you so long?” Tenzin chastised from his end of the table, Pema swatting his arm from beside him.

Jinora looked up from her spot, annoyed, Ikki and Meelo pausing their bickering to put their attention on you.

“Didn’t you say you were going to be bringing a friend over?” Meelo piped up, jutting his chin out at you, walking up to you to try to peek at who was behind you.

“I thought you said boyfriend earlier?” Ikki interrupted, dashing over to stand in front of Meelo. To which Tenzin yelled out, asking for an explanation, looking ver at his wife and second daughter. The two females shrugged their shoulders, acting at his they had no involvement in the situation.

“Hey! Back up please!” Y/n whined, bending a gust of air to send her brother and sister across the room.

“Y/n...” It was now Pema’s turn to call out the oldest air bender.

“Sorry, mom. No bending at the table.” She dragged on, with a playful eyeroll.

During that whole scene, Bolin had been standing beside her, shielded and hiding behind the wall. Listening to what was happening on the other side. All the while he kept looking at Y/n with frantic eyes.

She peered over at him with a sweet smile, “I want you to meet my boyfriend.” She announced proudly to her family.

She took hold of Bolin’s hand and pulled him into the door way, reavealing him to them. Pema and Ikki swooned at the fact that you and your bestfriend are now dating. Jinora snorted and rolled her eyes jokingly, saying something about doing better. Meelo and Tenzin nearly blowing a fuse.

None the less, Y/n had been able to get everyone to calm down, with the help of Pema of course, and dinner continued on smoothly. Tenzin did admit that he was happy with seeing his daughter happy with Bolin. Something no on was expecting to hear to be honest. But soon the night fell and it was time to send Bolin home.

Now the couple was embraced in ach others arms, standing outside the front door. Y/n had her face tucked into his chest and his was nuzzled between the juncture between her neck and shoulder, both for them relishing in each other’s presence.

“I’ll see you tomorrow?” Y/n asked, pulling away to look into his bright green eyes that seemed to glow under the moonlight.

His hand came up to cup her cheek sweetly, “Of course. That wasn’t as bad as I thought it was gonna be.” He admitted, scratching the back of his neck with a laugh.

Y/n’s giggle rang in his ears, arming his heart, “See? What did I tell you? Now I don’t have to sneak you around the house anymore.” She wiggled her eyebrows. To which he chuckled bashfully with a light blush growing on his cheeks.

“Alright, well, I should get going before Mako goes upset with me for being out so late.” He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.

“I love you.” She sang sweetly, a bubbly smile engulfing her lips, leaning in to close the space between them.

Bolin leaned in too, close enough so their noses were touching, lips grazing each other’s as he replied, “I love you too.”

When the two parted, they embraced again. Savoring the last moment together even though they knew they would be seeing each other tomorrow. When Bolin opened his eyes, he caught sight of Jinora, Ikki, and Meelo standing of in the distance.

Standing solemnly in the background, grav expression dawning on their faces as they all simultaneously swiped their fingers across their necks then pointinf directly at him.

His heart nearly fell into his stomach as he squeaked. Eyes wide and heart racing as he pulled away from Y/n.

“Is everything alright?” She asked with a quirked eyebrow.

“Mhm!” He hummed, turning quickly and starting for the sit, “I’m totally fine! not like I’m being secretly threatened by your siblings! I’ll see you tomorrow. Bye!”

Just like that, he was gone in the blink of an eye.

“You guys!” Y/n groaned, turning 180 to face her siblings.

“Just because he was your bestfriend before doesn’t mean he gets special treatment!” Meelo exclaimed, jumping out the out of the bushes. His older sisters nodding in agreement and Y/n pinched the bridge of her nose at the antics.

[just-patchy]

⚡️for mako/aquariet boys and ⭐️ for mako/cetus!! shark solidarity!!!

Thanks for the ask! :3c

Aquariet + Mako

…seeing your muse for the first time = ϟ

Phelan, Brutus and Darius dropped by Octavinelle for the Interschool Cultural Festival. After all, they were in charge of providing the food, and the collaboration meant that the two restaurants would be serving the same food.

(Plus, Mostro Lounge was still competition despite the temporary truce for the Cultural Festival.)

“Hello Azul, we’ve come to confirm the final menu, and Brutus has to talk with your cooks too,” Phelan greeted as soon as he spotted Azul sitting in the empty lounge.

“Ah, Phelan, I’ve been waiting for you,” Azul replied, his typical businessman smile on his face as he gestured towards the empty seat opposite him. “Please, have a seat. Floyd is out buying materials, so Mako is here to stand in for him instead.”

Phelan could feel Darius peak up in interest, and he knew by heart that his younger brother studied interesting people intently upon first meeting. Not that he could blame him. The fellow 3rd year was easy on the eyes, and he was almost certain to have good cooking skills if he could stand in for Floyd at meetings.

Brutus was already happily chattering with Mako about the menu, and Phelan was pleased to see that Mako seemed easy to work with....

Perhaps he could see about giving an offer to work at Cafe Blanche, especially since their principal liked to complain about NRC’s way of handling things.

———

Cetus + Mako

…being called a pet name by your muse for the first time = ★

Cetus munched happily on the meal Mako made, almost inhaling food at lightning speed. He always enjoyed his fellow third year’s cooking, and he felt less self-conscious about eating while Mako was around.

“You like it?” Mako asked, ruffling Cetus’ hair as he grinned. The whale shark nodded enthusiastically in response. He rambled to his fellow third year about all the things he liked about the meal, which was basically, well, everything, and blushed slightly in embarrassment when the other started laughing. He just liked the food a lot, and the chef behind them who treated Cetus so nicely. As much as he liked the friends he made on land, only merfolk, shark merfolk like Mako no less, seemed to be the ones who could really understand him.

“It’s fine, Vacuum, it’s nice to see that you like my food so much!” Mako replied cheerfully, grinning. Cetus, however, froze slightly in response upon hearing the nickname.

“What, cat got your tongue?” “It’s nothing, it’s just that the nickname is quite...new, for the lack of a better word. I don’t usually label my food intake as something positive, especially since coming onto land. You know, humans usually have similar bite sizes, compared to merfolk,” Cetus explained, scratching his face nervously before smiling warmly in return.

“I quite like the nickname, thank you.”

[thecorpulentbeagle]

Okujima Week 2020: Spring

This fanfiction is my second challenge of the Okujima (Makoto x Haru) ship. There was a challenge in 2019 on Tumblr, and people liked it so much, that a 2020 version was announced!

Similar to last time, the author or artist must post their work during one week, with a different prompt each day. This year, the week will start on March 16. Go and search #okujima week if you are curious and want to see other works – I know I will be doing that again! 

Since the 2019 challenge, Persona 5 Royal has become a thing. This means that some of the creations of my fellow authors/artists could contain spoilers for that game, so be cautious when searching! We are supposed to let others know if our creations contain spoilers or not, so I want to clarify that my stories WILL NOT CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR PERSONA 5 ROYAL! I have not played the game yet, as I live in the West, and this challenge was specifically timed to be right before the release. If you leave comments, please make sure to identify if your comment will contain a spoiler for Persona 5 Royal.

I also want to clarify that these stories WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR PERSONA 5, so if you have not finished the original game, please wait to read this until you do! 

The first day is Spring, so here we go! 

Here is the fanfiction.net link.

Please enjoy this first part of the Okujima Week 2020 Challenge!

Okujima Week 2020 Challenge:

Perfect Celebration:

Spring

-Haru- 

“Happy birthday, Mako-chan!”

“Thank you, Haru.”

Haru was currently sitting in her apartment, on the phone with Makoto. It was early in the morning, but Haru knew that her girlfriend was an early riser, so she had no apprehension about contacting her.

It was April 23rd, which meant that it was Makoto’s birthday, and Haru didn’t want to waste a moment of this special day. Makoto had insisted that she didn’t want Haru to go out of her way with any birthday celebrations, but Haru had insisted for the opposite. Eventually, as most things were with the two, there was a compromise for something in the middle. 

Makoto’s birthday celebration would be in two parts. The first part had been walking through the local park to look at the cherry blossom trees in full bloom a few weeks prior. Haru had suggested it, even though it had to be before Makoto’s actual birthday due to the short amount of time the cherry blossoms would be around.

Makoto had readily agreed to the idea. She said it was something that she used to do back with Sae and her father when she was a child. Haru changed her mind then, not wanting to do something that Makoto had done several times before, but Makoto had stopped her, saying that engaging in an activity from the past with someone new whom she cared about would mean a lot to her. Of course, after a heartfelt declaration like that, Haru couldn’t refuse.

Now that today was Makoto’s birthday, part two of the celebration could begin. Unfortunately, Makoto had classes up until the evening, while Haru had none for the day. The gardener wished it would have been the opposite, but it couldn’t be helped.

Fortunately, that meant that Haru could spend the day getting ready for Makoto to come over. The two had decided that they would spend some quality time together for Makoto’s birthday in Haru’s apartment, but they hadn’t planned any details. 

Haru had a few ideas.

For now, though, she kept those a secret, wanting to surprise her girlfriend. They weren’t extravagant by any means, but she wanted to have this day be a little bit spontaneous. 

“So, are we still on for today?” Haru asked, confirming that Makoto was available. 

“Of course, Haru,” Makoto murmured. “I’ll see you at your apartment after my last class today.” At that point, Haru thought she heard Makoto stifle a yawn behind her hand. 

“Did you have trouble sleeping last night?”

“I didn’t mean for you to hear that.” Makoto sighed. “It’s not that I had trouble sleeping.” She hesitated. “I’m just tired because I stayed up most of the night studying. I have a pretty important exam today.”

Haru understood the reason for her reluctance to share that. Though she wouldn’t necessarily nag the other girl, she had talked with her many times about how resting was just as, if not more, important than studying. The former student council president wouldn’t be able to graduate from university if she collapsed from exhaustion.

But it was her birthday, so Haru decided to relent for today. “Well then, we’ll have to make sure that we take it easy and have a good time today.”

Makoto gave a soft laugh. “Yes, that would be much appreciated.”

“Great! Then I’ll see you tonight.”

“Okay. I’ll see you then.”

“Happy birthday! I love you!” Haru giggled.

“Thank you. I love you too.”

“You don’t have to thank me when I say that I love you, you know,” Haru teased. She knew that she was thanking her for wishing her a happy birthday, but she couldn’t help herself.

“I-I know that! I meant for the… n-nevermind. Goodbye!” Haru pulled her phone away from her ear to see that Makoto had abruptly ended the call.

“Oh, Mako-chan…” she mused. She slipped her phone into her pocket and stood up from the couch she had been laying on, double-checking and making sure that she had everything that she would need for today.

She rearranged the pillows that were on the couch, making sure that they were neat and tidy. She didn’t need Makoto running around straightening up her apartment. As much as Haru would like to say that she wouldn’t do that on her own birthday, the fact that she could see that happening motivated her to make sure the place was spotless.

Luckily, Haru kept everything relatively well-kept on a regular basis, so she didn’t have to do much. She gave a few of her potted plants a quick watering before looking around once more.

Satisfied, she reached into her pocket to double-check the time on her phone. Barely an hour had passed, so she still had plenty of time to go shopping for the rest of the supplies that she would need for today.

Haru nodded her head. Quickly picking up her purse from the couch, she slipped her phone inside and departed, making sure to lock the door behind her.

--

A few hours later, a soft knock on Haru’s apartment door had the girl look up from her task of fluffing a pillow for the thousandth time.

“Coming!” she announced, dropping the pillow unceremoniously onto the couch and rushing over.

Opening the door revealed the face of Makoto, who was looking at Haru with a smile. “Good evening, Haru.”

Haru launched herself at her girlfriend, wrapping her arms around her shoulders. Makoto had obviously not expected her welcome to be quite so enthusiastic, as she stuttered slightly before slowly wrapping her arms around Haru’s back.

Giggling at Makoto’s awkward behavior, Haru moved her head so that her lips were positioned a fraction away from the other girl’s ear. “Happy birthday, Mako-chan,” she whispered. She pulled away slightly to press a brief kiss on Makoto’s cheek before pulling away.

Or at least, before she tried to pull away.

Makoto’s grip on her hadn’t lessened in the slightest. In fact, she seemed to be holding on even tighter now. Surprised but delighted, Haru readjusted her grip and went back to hugging her, snuggling into her shoulder.

“Oh uh… sorry!” Makoto immediately let go once Haru had eased her hold, but now Haru was the one pulling her back.

Haru laughed at their exchange. “Mako-chan. I’m happy to stand here hugging you all night, but then you’ll miss the rest of what I have planned!”

“I-I… apologies, Haru.” Makoto stepped back, and Haru realized that she truly did want to pull away this time. Tucking a strand of hair back behind her ear and looking down at the ground, Makoto continued, “I just had a long day, and seeing you so happy to see me… well, it made me…” She cleared her throat.

Haru titled her head, not quite sure what the other girl was trying to say.

Seeing that Haru wasn’t going to rescue her from her rambling, Makoto powered on. “It might sound silly to say, but it made me… desperate for affection. For yours, specifically,” she added, looking back up at Haru.

Haru blushed. She always loved how sincere Makoto was, but seeing her so earnest about something as trivial as receiving attention from a loved one was adorable.

“Mako-chan…” Haru placed a hand on her cheek. “You never have to apologize for your feelings. I’m happy that I can give you the comfort that you need.”

This time, it was Makoto’s turn to blush. “Thank you, Haru.”

The two stood like this for a few more moments before Haru pulled away. “Now why don’t you come inside and put that long day behind you?” She grabbed Makoto’s hand and guided her into the apartment.

“Well, technically the day is still going on,” Makoto teased, closing the door behind her.

Haru laughed. “The day is over and the night is starting now!”

“Of course, how silly of me to argue with your flawless logic.” Makoto squeezed her hand.

The couple made their way over to the couch that Haru had painstakingly prepared. She was glad to see that Makoto evidently approved, seeing as she wasn’t making a fuss about straightening the pillows.

“You just sit down and I’ll get your first present.” Haru patted a spot on the couch and let go of her girlfriend’s hand.

Makoto took a seat, removing her shoes and placing them on the floor. She gave a shy smile up towards Haru. “You really didn’t have to go out of your way with presents.” Her face reddened slightly. “Besides, you’re already the greatest present I could ever ask for.”

Haru could feel the heat on her face in addition to her heart beating a little bit faster. Makoto was always so earnest, even if it sometimes edged into cheesy territory. Though Haru wouldn’t have it any other way. “If it were anyone other than you saying it, I would have a hard time believing someone would say that.” She giggled.

“I-It’s true though!” Makoto stammered, tucking her hair behind her ear and looking down at the floor.

Not wanting to give her girlfriend a heart attack on her birthday, Haru relented. “I know,” she murmured. Ensuring that Makoto was indeed comfortable, Haru nodded before turning to walk over to her kitchen. She opened the fridge and pulled out the fruit that was to be the first in a long list of presents.

Walking back over to Makoto with a bowl in her hands, she noticed her girlfriend’s furrowed brow and head tilt.

“Grapes? I know that I try and eat a healthy diet, but that seems like a strange present.” Despite her confusion, Makoto moved over to make room for Haru on the couch.

“It’s not just the grapes, Mako-chan!” Haru sat down and placed the grapes at her side. Looking back over at Makoto, she patted her lap. “Make yourself comfortable,” she said, winking.

“R-Really?” Makoto spluttered. If her face had been red before, it was nothing compared to her complexion now.

“Yes, really! It’s your special day and I want to treat my special someone,” Haru insisted, patting her lap again.

“Now who’s being cheesy?” Makoto joked. The two laughed.

Makoto slowly situated herself so that her legs and feet were up on the couch, with her head towards Haru. She seemed to make sure every part of her body was accounted for before ultimately laying her head in Haru’s lap, doing so with a gentle ease. She looked up at Haru, meeting her eyes despite her earlier reluctance.

Haru couldn’t help herself. Despite wanting to feed grapes to Makoto, she decided that part of the plan could wait. Instead, she leaned down and gave her forehead a quick kiss, which caused Makoto to squeak in surprise.

Of course, Haru wanted to elicit more of these adorable reactions. She went a step further and rubbed her nose against Makoto’s, feeling the heat rising off of her face. To her delight, she realized that Makoto was taking the lead in their interaction, and was slowly tilting her face so that her lips could meet Haru’s.

Their kiss lasted for a few sweet moments before Haru pulled away. Though Makoto seemed reluctant to do so, it appeared she was just as eager for the next part of her present to begin, as her eyes flicked over to the bowl of fruit as she relaxed in Haru’s lap.

Not wanting to keep her waiting, Haru plucked a grape out of the bowl and held it over Makoto’s mouth.

“Now say ‘ah’.” Haru giggled as Makoto did so immediately. She gently placed the fruit into her mouth, smiling as Makoto chewed and swallowed it, her expression delighted.

“That’s delicious! Did you grow these yourself?” Makoto asked once she had finished.

Haru shook her head. “I haven’t moved on to grapes yet, so these are from the supermarket unfortunately. I’m glad that you like them, though!” Haru fed her another grape.

“Mm. They’re just as sweet as you.” Makoto kissed Haru’s fingers, which had been hovering over her mouth. The other girl blushed and thanked her.

The two sat (or in Makoto’s case, laid down) on the couch, slowly depleting the bowl until it was empty. Haru was happy to see that Makoto had completely relaxed, and that whatever stress had occurred earlier in the day was nothing more than a distant memory at this point.

Haru began to slowly weave her fingers through the other girl’s short hair, butterflies fluttering in her stomach as Makoto hummed in approval and moved her face towards her abdomen, nuzzling her there.

It almost seemed like a good stopping point for their night, but Haru wanted to enact the rest of her plan. Her fingers stilled. “Now let’s move onto something that I did make,” she murmured gently.

Makoto didn’t move an inch. Her words muffled slightly due to her position, she mumbled, “But I’m too comfortable to move.”

Haru tilted Makoto’s head back so that they could look at each other. Making a playfully-stern expression, she said, “It’ll just be for a moment. I’ll be back before you know it.” She waited for Makoto to move her head, which she did after a few beats.

Getting up from the couch, Haru picked up the bowl and deposited it into the sink, intending to take care of it later. She pulled a package out from where she had been hiding it in a cupboard and brought it back over. Makoto immediately lifted her head for Haru to sit, placing it back down on her lap just as quickly.

“Here we are!” Haru placed the box on Makoto’s stomach and pulled open the lid, revealing the sweet treats within.

“Cupcakes?” Makoto looked at the baked goods before looking back at Haru.

“Yes!” Haru picked out a cupcake, moving the box to her other side so that she wasn’t using her girlfriend as a human table. “I ask Boss to teach me how to make all different kinds every time I visit LeBlanc. I made this one since it’s still sort of cherry blossom season.” She peeled the pink wrapper off of the cupcake, which itself was vanilla cake with pink cherry blossom icing.

“That sounds wonderful. Though I might have to sit up and eat this myself. Cupcakes are bit messier than grapes.” Makoto chuckled as she sat up. Haru missed the warmth, but she figured that Makoto had a point.

Handing her cupcake to Makoto, she exclaimed, “Dig in!”

Haru watched as Makoto took a bite of the baked good, her eyes sparkling. Seeing as Makoto was not as much of a fan of sweet food, Haru took her following excited bites as an enormous compliment. She had made sure to make the icing sweet, but not too much so. It seemed that she had hit the mark.

She went to work on her own cupcake, and she had to admit that it tasted delicious. The two went through around two cupcakes each before a ringing sounded.

Makoto fished her free hand into her pocket, extracting her phone. She smiled at the caller ID.

“Who is it?” Haru asked, curious.

“Sis. Do you mind if I take the call?” Makoto’s finger hovered over the button.

“Of course not! I’ll get your next surprise ready!” Haru was delighted that Makoto accepted the fact that there was more to her birthday surprises, rather than express disbelief and insist that she didn’t need anything more. It was a nice feeling to be able to spoil her girlfriend sometimes.

Haru stood up and walked back over to the kitchen one final time, hearing Makoto exchange pleasantries with her sister.

She carefully pulled out something she had been working on for a while. She hoped that Makoto would like it.

Haru glanced back at Makoto, who was laughing about something that Sae had said. The gardener merely watched her girlfriend for a few moments, enjoying how happy she was. She wished she could see her carefree expression more often.

Once it seemed that the call was wrapping up, with Makoto promising something or other to her sister, Haru made her way back over to the couch, hiding her present behind her back.

Makoto hung up her phone and placed it back in her pocket. She noticed Haru was standing next to her, and she waved her down, indicating her vacated spot on the couch.

“Sis wished me a happy birthday. She said that she’s planning on coming up sometime soon for us to spend a day together,” Makoto answered Haru’s silent question.

“That’s wonderful!” Haru smiled at her girlfriend’s bright expression. Makoto tended to guard her more childish emotions, so it was a pleasure to see her so excited at the prospect of spending time with her big sister.

“So, what’s this next surprise?” Makoto asked, noticing that Haru was hiding something. She leaned over to try and sneak a peek.

“Nothing much.” Haru moved her hand out in front of her, revealing a ruby-red rose. “For you.”

Makoto smiled pleasantly as she took hold of its stem, raising it to her nose.

“A rose! It’s lovely, Haru. Did you grow this?” She moved the flower away from her nose and examined it. Haru hoped that she saw how immaculate the petals were.

“I did! I’ve been practicing to grow a suitable one for you. I wanted to give you one last year, but I didn’t have the conditions nailed down then. This was the result of a perfect batch!” Haru smiled, proud that something she made had turned out so well.

Makoto smiled too. She then placed the rose in Haru’s hair, right behind her ear, which the other girl hadn’t been expecting at all. Honestly, she had been planning to do so for the other girl, but it seemed that Makoto had her share of surprises as well.

Makoto stroked Haru’s cheek before moving in to kiss her on the lips, which Haru eagerly returned.

“I love it, Haru. And I love you,” Makoto murmured as she pulled away, her lips replacing her hand on Haru’s cheek for a brief kiss. She grasped Haru’s hand and kissed her there as well.

Haru had to admit that she herself was growing increasingly flustered at the sheer amount of affection that Makoto was expressing. It was moments like these that reminded Haru just how much the other girl had charmed her.

Before they lost themselves in the rest of the night’s activities that were sure to follow, Haru made sure to respond to her girlfriend’s earnest declaration.

“I love you too, Makoto. Happy birthday.”

--

Well that’s that! One story down, six more to go!

This story is significant in that it shares birthdays with two important people in my life: my mother and my sister – and it’s not because they share the same birthday. My sister shares Makoto’s birthday of 4/23 (so jealous!) and my mother’s birthday is today/first day of this challenge, 3/16. I knew I had to make a birthday story to celebrate those two coincidences!

Hope you enjoyed, and I will see you tomorrow!

[wittyblather]

Budding (SilMil Makoto/Nephrite)

On the night of a ball thrown for Princess Serenity, Nephrite escapes into the garden for some time alone. Princess Jupiter has the same idea.

SilMil Mako/Neph, fluffy and angst-free. Mostly.

(Ok, hands up if the world desperately needs more SilMil content. What am I supposed to do, write it myself? :|

Thanks so much to my co-writer minorvariation. <3 She is responsible for Jupiter here, and she is the best ever.)

Over a decade as one of Endymion's Shitennou, a lifetime as a noble before that, and Nephrite still hasn't learned to suffer parties. Or balls. Or feasts. Or anything of the sort. Force him out of his observatory and one may as well strip his personality from him entirely.

Endymion's teased him for it before. How different is the Nephrite the kingdom sees -- stoic, drawn off to a corner somewhere, hand clutched around an untouched drink -- from the Nephrite he and his friends know. The Nephrite who can talk for hours, if no one sees fit to interrupt him. The Nephrite who, in his way, has a wit to rival Zoisite's, and a way with footwork that would net him half the girls in North America, if he ever learned to use it outside his weekly swordsmanship drills.

He could have the world, Endymion said, if only he didn't disappear at these things.

Utter foolishness.

A cape twirls at the edge of the golden ballroom, a flurry of auburn and grey that most won't see. His sense of duty pains him for a moment -- surely the king expects him to remain and entertain their Millennian guests -- but the feast and opening niceties have already passed, and he's certain every foreign eye that needed to see him already has.

Zoisite is clever enough to cover for his absence if it's noticed. Kunzite has a deathgrip on security, as he always does, and the girls have Jadeite if they are in desperate need of a dance. There's no place for him here.

Secretly, or maybe not so secretly, he's glad for it.

Nephrite escapes to the gardens but a few minutes later, and for the first time in hours, he feels like he can breathe.

It's a beautiful night. Clear, not a single star obscured, the moonlight streaming silver in the waters of the garden. Even in his armor, he's yet to overheat or sweat, cooled by a breeze rising from the west. Why they choose to have a ball in that stifling palace instead of on the lawn, he'll never know.

Truthfully, he doesn't know if any of the Lunar delegation have seen the gardens at all; he's never had the honor of setting foot on the Moon, but from the tales he's heard, they manicure the flowers in their great sea craters down to the petal, cultivated from birth for perfection, a mosaic of colors and smells the people of Earth have yet to dream of. The palace's bushes and marble planters must seem primitive in comparison, a patch of barely tended weeds, and maybe that is why his noble masters want to fete the Lunarians in an overdecorated hall instead.

Still, if he had to choose, could he bear to sacrifice the wild, untamed, mortal beauty of the Earth for all the cold perfection the Moon could --

"It seems we've had the same idea."

Nephrite startles out of his thoughts in an instant, whirling on his heel. Behind him, still half-cloaked in darkness, the princess of Jupiter regards him with smiling emerald eyes.

There's not a moment's rest tonight, is there? Stars almighty. But he is nothing if not practiced at putting on a facade.

That spark of surprise and the looseness of his bearing immediately disappear. Soon, it is Nephrite of the Golden Kingdom that stands before her. Nephrite, the somewhat frazzled, introverted man musing to himself in a garden, has fled into the night, as he so often does.

"Princess Jupiter," he says, one hand on his heart, sinking to the appropriate bow for her rank. He tries desperately not to think of how, without supervision, this comes horrifyingly close to fraternization. "Please excuse my absence. I'll be returning to the festivities soon, I only needed a moment to --"

-- 'clear my head' sounds astonishingly informal, he should say something else instead, but he's already started the sentence like that -- is that really worth breaking rank over -- for stars' sake, say something --

"-- air."

Yes. A moment to air. Brilliant as always, Nephrite. And they wonder why you're not much for parties.

But, even as he berates himself, Jupiter sweeps into an answering curtsy that has more fluid grace to it than it does strict formality.

"Please," she says as she straightens, a small and slightly lopsided smile curving her lips, "don't trouble yourself. I didn't come out here to scold you for slipping away. If anything," she adds, "I'm fairly sure you'd have more right to scold me for meandering out here unescorted."

That's...come to think of it, that is true, in a strict sense. Superior or not, benevolent or not, the Lunarians are foreign powers to the Golden Kingdom. One of their number wandering the halls of the palace without an escort is some kind of diplomatic breach, though perhaps the knowledge that their own princess is doing just that, and regularly, has inured him to the shock of it.

Absently one of Jupiter's hands smooths over the cascade of her skirt. "...If I'm intruding," she says, "I can leave you to your thoughts. I only wanted a little air, myself." Her eyes flick briefly away from him, skimming over the starlit greenery. "And perhaps to see the garden."

Nephrite straightens.

"As it happens, I have more time with my thoughts than anyone needs," he says, perhaps a bit too personally -- but they are co-conspirators, are they not? And there's no one around to hear, besides. "I can spare them a few minutes for conversation."

His mouth ticks up in a slight, wry grin. "Not that you'd know it from how I act in there. I suppose I've yet to do my dancing for tonight; pardon me for not asking you yet, you've probably guessed that parties like this aren't my strength. I trust Zoisite and Jadeite have kept you well entertained?"

It's only then that he notices her eyes have turned to the gardens. He barely holds in a sigh -- it's in bad taste to defend something so paltry to one of the most cultured people in the solar system, but he has no choice. This garden is the fruit of his homeland, its spirit. Small and fragile though it is.

"It must seem like nothing to you, compared to what there is on the moon," he says, quieter, "but I beg you to look for its beauty, if you can."

Jupiter quirks an eyebrow.

"You do your world too little credit," she answers gently. "Yes, it's true that there is great beauty on the moon, but... it's a deliberate sort of beauty. Planned and sculpted."

A soft breeze moves over the garden, rustling a bit in the leaves and ruffling Jupiter's hair around her face. The hand that was smoothing over her skirt a moment ago lifts, not quite touching the plants, just letting the breath of wind play over her fingertips. "This wild green world of yours... in a way, it's more like what I come from."

The wind whistles between them as she speaks, her fingers hovering over a delicate cluster of flowers, not touching them -- and a curious feeling comes over Nephrite. It's quiet, a whisper in his heart that might have been ignored were his attention elsewhere. But he is more in tune with himself and the world here in the peace of the garden, and he can't help but feel that time has slowed down for a moment. That his mind is taking this image before him and engraving it into memory, as small and insignificant as it seems.

He looks on for but a second before giving his head a shake and turning his eyes to the stars. What a strange man he is, to think something like that.

"Where you come from," he repeats. His eyes find the planet Jupiter instinctively, glimmering brighter than its fellows in the night sky. "It's funny. I look upon your homeworld every night, and yet I know nothing at all about it."

That's -- no, that's not true, and he shouldn't make himself look stupid in front of the princess.

Hastily, he adds, "Well, of course not nothing. I could tell you everything about what it means for your world to be trine with Venus, or what we can expect for the next year on Earth when Jupiter falls in Cancer. I know your ambassadors, your diplomats, your gross domestic product, the basics of your culture, from what they show to us on Earth."

Here, he looks back down at the flowers, the wild beauties that Princess Jupiter likens to those of her home.

"But it never occurred to me that your world would have flowers like ours. I never thought a Jovian could come to Earth and see something even remotely familiar. You know," he gives a soft chuckle, "some of the less educated of our subjects think of your race as gods."

A soft, surprised laugh bubbles up in Jupiter's throat.

"Gods?" she repeats, and shakes her head. "No. Although there are some in the Silver Millennium who would like to think themselves gods in comparison to your people." The breath goes out of her in a quiet sigh.

He shrugs, absentmindedly reaching out to one of the pink roses on the bush, running over one of its petals with his hand. Beautiful -- but they will be out of season soon. This one is already going slightly slack with age. The gardeners will no doubt prune them in the next week.

"I suppose we're all ignorant, in our way," he muses.

"Yes. I suppose we are." As Nephrite did moments before, she lifts her head to look to the night sky, strewn as it is with myriad glittering lights.

"We're so far from my planet," she muses. "From here, you can scarcely pick it out. I can feel it, wherever I am, but I'm a little ashamed to admit I couldn't point to it amidst the stars." A beat, and then the princess looks toward Nephrite again, eyes bright with self-deprecating humor. "Please don't tell anyone I said that," she says with a quiet laugh. "How shameful would it be?"

Nephrite drops his hand from the rose when the princess starts speaking of her homeworld again, stepping back from the planter and lifting his head once more -- this time to look at her, not at the sky.

"Yes," he says, a thoughtful tinge to his voice, "of all the Senshi, I suppose you're the furthest from your home. Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto...they're all so far that I don't believe we've ever seen as much as an envoy from them on Earth, yet here you are. Only a slight bit closer than the outer planets, and still made to live with us," he says. "With the Moon."

Privately, he can't help but feel it is unfair, to keep a princess away from her world so completely, but it would be the height of disrespect to say so. Not to mention hypocrisy -- is he not far from his own home, in service to a royal? Granted, 'far' by Earth standards and 'far' by Millennian standards are different by orders of magnitude, but the concept is the same. He shouldn't criticize her sacred duty, for what duty is without sacrifice?

Still, there's something he can give her.

"There," Nephrite says, lifting his hand to the familiar star of Jupiter, pointing it out to her. Princess Jupiter tips her head back to follow the gesture. The smile that curves her mouth is a wondering one, warm, perhaps with gratitude. "Your home. Don't feel ashamed for not seeing it, it's much further than the moon and Venus -- Venus is so bright here that some call it the morning star -- but if you look closely," he indicates the area around the glimmering star with a wave of his hand, "you'll see it shines brighter than all those around it. In fact, after Venus," he looks back down at her and smiles, "it's the brightest star we can see on Earth."

Of course, Jupiter is a planet , not a star. But such things are semantics to an astrologer like him; a divine object is a divine object, leave the classifications to astronomers.

"I see it." She lifts a hand herself, as though she could reach up to touch the distant planet.

He goes quiet for a second or two before he speaks again, in a bit of a whisper, almost conspiratorial.

"If it's not too much trouble, Princess," he asks, "can you tell me more of your homeworld? I don't mean to pry, and I'm sure it seems like a petty thing to ask, but you must understand that we of the Earth -- we've seen little of the Millennium beyond our borders." His blue eyes glimmer with curiosity. "I've never left this planet, myself. And I feel like I know so little."

Jupiter, too, is quiet for a little space, but soon enough she turns her eyes back earthward to the man standing next to her. "It's no trouble," she answers him, that smile still warm on her face. "Nor petty, either. You've done me a kindness; it's a small enough thing to ask in return. Where should I begin?" she wonders. "What would you like to know about?"

Nephrite's eyes widen, the spark of curiosity and excitement unconcealable.

"I confess don't know where to start," he says. "There's so much I'd like to learn about the other planets. Earth and its people are the only thing I've ever known, and I -- I can't fathom what life is like on the Moon, much less somewhere as far away as Jupiter. It seems almost beyond my understanding."

He looks away from her, gazing off into the middle distance, consumed by his thoughts so thoroughly that he may as well be airing them aloud for all to hear.

"And then how long your people live...the idea of living for hundreds of years. Thousands. It's baffling to me. I can't imagine how that changes a culture, to not be afraid of death. Do artists care about their legacy if they know they will live to see it? Do Millennians war for resources and the safety of their families? Do lovers marry for eternity, or only for a little while --"

But he's babbling now, and even he realizes it. Nephrite cuts himself off with a sigh and a shake of his head, putting on a small, apologetic smile when he turns to look at Princess Jupiter again.

"That's...probably more than you'd like to answer, though. And hardly specific to your home. I'll think of something a bit simpler." He casts about in his head, tossing away the high-minded nonsense he always busies himself with. Of course, that nonsense consumes most of his thoughts, but he can come up with something normal. Something conversational. Something like: "What's the weather like on Jupiter? Or, I guess, whichever moon it is you come from...?"

The princess's eyes, which had stayed on him all while he spoke, suddenly light up with merriment, and she laughs.

It's possible he overcompensated on the simplicity. Damn.

"Well," she says, "Jupiter is a world of constant storms, you know. You can see them churning the atmosphere." Almost automatically she looks upward again, and despite the playful note in her voice, something nostalgic creeps in as well. "If we were on one of the moons of my world, you'd see a great red spot in the southern reaches of the planet, like a knot in the grain... a storm that never ceases, larger than this entire Earth. We call it the Dragon's Eye."

When she meets his eyes again, the teasing has evaporated, though she's still smiling. "But you already knew that no one can live on Jupiter itself," she says. "I was born in Io Castle, which hangs in orbit around the planet, so the 'weather' there is much like how things are on the White Moon. The greater moons are more exciting. Callisto is very cold, covered in ice that never thaws. Europa is often stormy, although not the same as the planet - Io even more so. There's no real settlement on Io, it wouldn't be safe, but I've visited the generator stations that help channel power to Io castle. The auroras are spectacular, they light up the whole sky in green and blue.

"I think you'd find Ganymede the most welcoming," she adds, after a moment's pause. "Its climate is the mildest, and the forests there are not so very different from what I've seen here on Earth, though older."

It may have only been a question about the weather, a small and insubstantial thing that he hasn't wondered about much at all, in truth; all the same, the moment Jupiter starts to answer him, Nephrite goes still, rapt with attention.

How strange, that one planet's moons could have so much life. The different parts of Earth have their own weather quirks, it's true -- but that an ice world could exist so close to a world of forests, two worlds of storms? That these are only the major moons of Jupiter, and that so many orbit her still, unmentioned, maybe not even inhabited except for a handful of hardy settlers?

His mind is on fire. The wonders of the Millennium are too great to name. Why, oh why must they all be holed up here, on a world so very small, so simple and mundane? What he wouldn't give for a single day out there, among the stars...

But he knows his heart remain on Earth all the while. And maybe that is what keeps him bound, more surely than the statutes of the White Moon, or his duty to the prince.

"It sounds beautiful," he says, unable to keep a touch of wonder out of his voice, though he tries desperately to remain professionally detached, as befits his rank. "I imagine the peoples of your moons must be very different from each other. Stars, even between our subjects here on Earth, there can be vast divisions of culture, and we're only some thousands of miles apart from each other. Nothing like the moons of Jupiter." He smiles, matching hers. "Though I'm certain you've bested us in both technology and magic. All of this...it must seem very primitive to you. I apologize. We've petitioned the Queen before to grant us some of the Millennians' knowledge, but for reasons we can't claim to know, she has declined."

He doesn't sound unhappy, per se, though it is impossible not to pick up on a touch of frustration in those final words of his.

"So we remain as we are. We have no senshi. Our cities stay beneath the stars. Our flowers wither and die." He reaches out to the fading rose again, this time bringing its faint grey tinge to her attention, instead of hiding it. "And whenever you're forced to come here, we must subject you to it as well. Until we figure what the Queen wants from us to enter into the Millennium proper, I'm afraid this is all we have." Nephrite goes quiet, then plucks the rose from its stem.

"A little sad, isn't it?"

Slowly, Jupiter's eyebrows lift. For a little while, she has no answer, and her gaze settles on the wilting rose in his hand.

"...I meant it before when I said you do your world too little credit," she says, eyes sliding away from him to look out across the garden again. "It's true that there are those in the Silver Millennium who think of the Earth as primitive. Many of them are the same people who'd like to think of themselves as gods over you. I'd hope that you wouldn't be so quick to follow along with their way of thinking."

She falls quiet again for a space, and this time when her face turns upward, her eyes seek out the silver glow of the moon in the night sky. "You must know this, as a scholar of the sky and the stars, but... the days and the nights here on your world are so much shorter than they are on the Moon. More than anything, I think that was the strangest to me when I first visited here. It's as though time itself moves faster here, passing in the blink of eye."

Her voice has grown quieter, words hanging softly in the fragrant air. "You wondered what it's like to live as long as we do," Jupiter murmurs, "but it's not as though we live forever. We age in time, and we can die. The flowers of Io Castle and the oaks of Ganymede are no more free from withering than the roses of Earth."

At last, her eyes come back to his again, solemn now. "I can't claim to know the Queen's mind myself," she admits. "I'm sure that from the perspective of Earth, it must seem interminable waiting for anything to happen in the Moon's pace. Just as, to our eyes, your world seems like a hasty one. But," a trace of a fond smile begins to tug up the corner of her mouth, "if your prince and our princess have their way, perhaps your wait will end sooner than you think."

Nephrite doesn't know why this always happens. He sets out to have a pleasant conversation -- a normal, light conversation, the kind he's expected to have, to put guests and dignitaries at ease -- and then out come his innermost thoughts, so heavy and high-minded, betraying how absurdly ruminative he is, how boring and self-obsessed. It's no wonder he can't do a thing at parties. If he opens his mouth for longer than two minutes, he'll read a treatise to the Venusian ambassador, or go on about the profound, inescapable nature of loneliness to the queen consort, or...or…

No. He wouldn't. It might seem so from where he is now, but he knows in his heart that he can hold his tongue when he needs to. It's only around some that he can't seem to hold back. Only a certain kind of person stirs him so, only a certain kind of person whose opinion matters to him in the first place.

He's silent for several moments, the ripples of that realization settling within him. What is it about this girl, whom he barely knows, that would draw this out of him?

But at the mention of Endymion, he lets that thought fade into the dark corners of his mind, where it can no longer trouble him. And the smile that tugs at his lips afterward is his widest, most genuine of the night.

He can't help it. The prince's happiness is infectious, and if his union has the added benefit of bringing them into the galaxy proper, then so much the better.

"I really hope it will," he says, a hint of a laugh in his voice, "for my sanity, if nothing else. All this covering for him and his sneaking about...I'm sure it's knocked years off my life already." She must be able to relate to that, at least; it's difficult enough hiding Endymion's indiscretions from the king, imagine how much harder it would be to hide from an all-knowing queen. That almost mischievous hint to his smile turns more wistful a second later, though, as his thoughts turn back to his prince.

"Still...as long as he's happy," he says. "I think you're right, Princess. Better days are coming for everyone in our kingdoms." Nephrite glances down to the flower in his hand, whose life he ended quite on a whim; the least he can do is make some good of it. Closing the distance between them with a step or two, he presents the rose to Princess Jupiter, along with the smile her words helped create.

"Here. A small piece of our garden to take back to the Moon. It may be wilting now, but I'm sure a bit of magic could keep it beautiful a while longer. We Shitennou owe you a debt of gratitude for protecting the source of our prince's happiness," he says. "And I owe you one, myself. For dealing with my gloomy musings this beautiful night."

The gift of the rose causes her brows to lift in surprise, and then those green eyes light up with delighted pleasure.

"Not so very gloomy," she replies lightly as she reaches to accept and cradle the rose carefully between her hands, like a valuable and delicate treasure. "Thank you. For protecting the source of my princess's happiness, and for your generous gift as well."

When she lifts the flower to breathe in its perfume, she lets a little of her own power seep in to strengthen it, a glimmer of green light moving from her fingertips to the rose. "Perhaps I can persuade this flower to strike root, if it does not find the soil in my garden too objectionable."

As peculiar as it is, and as much as he knows that it isn't true, Nephrite can't blame his people for believing the Millennians to be gods. What is it that makes a god: limitless power, immortality, a home on high from which to judge those below? All the Lunarians and greater Millennians he's ever met fit that description more or less exactly. For a time, he may have held a similar belief himself; not that the Millennium was divine, of course, but that they were beings so far removed from the Earth's form of humanity that they could never exist side by side.

Then Endymion met Serenity -- and by association, he is standing here with Jupiter in the palace gardens, smiling and laughing, airing his thoughts as easily as he would to one of his brothers. And that image that he had in his head of the cold, unfeeling woman, so very unknowable and distant, starts to crumble piece by piece.

Jupiter has such a beautiful smile. So beautiful his eyes linger on it a moment to long, and only after a moment or two does he realize she's been speaking.

He blinks. Stars, how embarrassing. He must have misheard what she said just then...something about planting the rose he just picked? Impossible. The flower died as soon as he pulled it from its bush. There's no replanting a dead rose, the best she can hope for is to preserve it in a vase and hope it holds its color for as long as it can.

...at least, that is how it works on Earth.

"Forgive me, Princess," he says, a trace of hesitation in his voice. What if he had misheard her, and this entire question is a misunderstanding? "I...do not know how plants on other planets work, but I'm afraid that rose is dead. It was rather thoughtless of me, I should have arranged to get you a potted flower for you to take back. I still can, if you prefer." He falls silent for a moment, his face growing far more thoughtful, as though something's occurred to him and he's retreating back into his mind to sort it all out.

"...unless," he says, half to himself, "the Millennians have magic to bring the dead back to life?"

"Ah?" Again Jupiter's brows lift, as she looks up from the rose in genuine puzzlement. "It's nothing like that. This flower isn't dead yet." Glancing down at the rose, she smiles the affectionate smile one might give an adorable puppy or a kitten. "It will die soon, if it's not cared for properly, but... didn't you know? Some plants can grow roots from cuttings with the proper handling. It has that kind of energy, so I thought I could try and see."

Still cradling the rose in both hands, she looks up to meet Nephrite's eyes again. "The power of Jupiter isn't only storms," she says. "I have a bit of a sense, I suppose you'd say. A small pot with some moist soil from your garden would certainly help, if it wouldn't be too much trouble - I'll need to keep the stem from drying out, and I'm sure it would find it easier to root in familiar ground."

Ah. That vague redness of a blush? Those blue eyes flitting from the rose to the ground? The tension in the muscles of his jaw? Congratulations, Princess Jupiter, you have seen a sight that few ever have.

Nephrite is embarrassed. Desperately so.

Imagine. A Jovian knowing more than he does about Earth flowers . Stars, he's supposed to be educated .

"O-Of course," he replies, still not meeting her eyes. "I'd heard that rose clippings could grow, but I didn't know -- what part, exactly. I thought it had to be from the base or the root, somehow. Not a flower on a stem." That much is true, at least. "Here I am, lecturing you about how things are on Earth, when you know more about this than I do." He smiles up at her. "Anyone here could tell you how arrogant I can be, at times. Forgive me. I do not mean to be so."

If she brings that rose to her nose again to hide an amused smile, she's kind enough not to make it obvious.

"I can have a gardener bring fresh soil to your room," Nephrite continues, maybe a little too quickly. "I can't promise how it might react when it leaves our atmosphere, but if the moon's climate is as controlled as they say, it might not be an issue. Besides, if you have power over plants, I trust you could make anything grow." His smile takes on a rueful tinge. "Would that my people had such a power."

No one is starving, here on Earth; the king and his prince make sure of it. To call their lot bountiful, however...

He clears his throat, steering his thoughts from their once again gloomy destination. There are other things he needs to know, and he wouldn't subject Jupiter to this nonsense again.

"It's not quite so easy as that," she admits after a moment, surprising him. "I can't truly make things grow. I can only ask, and I do not know if a flower grown from your world will answer. Still, your trees and your gardens have felt like friends to me since I first arrived here. I think perhaps this rose can be persuaded."

Interesting. Very interesting.

"I believe our gardeners here occasionally talk to the plants, actually," he muses. "I doubt the flowers here are conscious to hear it, but they swear by it all the same. Apparently it helps them grow stronger and more beautiful." He shrugs. He'd always dismissed the idea of it as placebo, but if a senshi is here expressing similar sentiments, there may be more merit in it than he thought.

"I suppose there are stranger things in this world. The gardeners talk to plants. I read the stars. The princess of the Moon and the prince of the Earth fall in love, and it's our job to hide their happiness from both our kingdoms' prying eyes," Nephrite says. "Speaking of, when does your coalition plan to leave? We're prepared to host you for as long as you please, but I'd like to deliver the soil to you fresh, so the chances of your rose growing are as high as they can be."

With a quick flash of a wry smile, Jupiter answers, "I believe our 'plan' is to depart at moonrise tomorrow night. But you know how plans sometimes go. I have a feeling the Princess will beg to stay longer, if she can."

Of course she will.

Nephrite smiles at Jupiter, at the absurdity of their lives, the idea that the joy of love can be dangerous -- but that that same hidden love could change the world.

"You're right. I suspect your princess has her own plan about when you're leaving," he says. "Hopefully the king won't make us throw another blasted ball." After a moment's hesitation -- should he say this, it feels a trifle too familiar, but it is the truth and he'd like her to know -- he continues, "Though I suppose it is this very ball that allowed me to talk more with you. I doubt my night would have been nearly as stimulating without it."

Nephrite regrets being so forward even as the words leave his mouth, but then Jupiter laughs, and his heart stutters half a beat inside him.

"There, you see?" she says merrily. "These balls do have their uses, after all. Although I grant you it must be very tiresome to have to host them. Especially if you're not one who's very much for dancing?"

Nephrite would do well to steal a little of the princess's charm. So quick to smile, to laugh -- to see the bright side of even misfortune and confusion. Where does such inner strength come from? Have the Millennians discovered some secret to happiness that they on Earth have not?

Or does this all just come naturally to her?

Nephrite shifts from foot to foot, debating how best to answer.

"...if my friends are to be believed," he begins, "I am actually not hopeless with dance. There are much less enjoyable duties I have as a Shitennou of the Golden Kingdom." But he sighs, thinking of how much the vision of dancing in his head conflicts with the annoyingly imperfect reality. "If only there weren't so many people in the hall. And if only the dance was for dancing's sake, not for politicking or appearances. I think that is what most exhausts me, out of all of it."

"Yes." Jupiter nods, sympathy softening her expression. "Yes, I see. It's certainly unfortunate that those things are so hard to escape. I don't dislike balls, myself, but it's true that they'd be much more enjoyable if we didn't have to be forever conscious of the eyes of the court upon us."

Quieting for a moment, she looks around the quiet garden, washed in starlight and the faint strains of the music drifting out of the ballroom.

There are no eyes on them here, no one to keep up appearances for. She must realize it. Nephrite certainly does.

With the utmost care, she tucks the rose he gave her in amongst the silk rosettes at the waist of her gown -- and then, as she looks up to meet his eyes again, she holds out her hand in invitation.

"In that case," she says with a smile, "I'm sure you'll think me very bold, but... would you do me the honor?"

Well...this is new.

There are certain expectations placed on him, growing up as a noble and Shitennou of Earth. It is not as though women are treated as lesser in the Golden Kingdom. Far from it: Endymion's mother rules jointly with his father, there are many royal advisors and governors of both sexes throughout their lands. Nephrite would certainly not have it otherwise; but, to him, it is still a strange thing to be asked for a dance by a lady, instead of doing the asking himself.

His eyes flit from the offered hand to Jupiter's face, as if there's some cue he's missing, or a way he's supposed to react to this invitation that he can't immediately see. Perhaps she has wanted him to ask her all along, and she is only bringing the matter to his attention now because he couldn't catch on? Perhaps there is a joke here at his expense?

-- why would she joke or obfuscate, after she just spoke to him of honesty and the tiring charade of court?

Doesn't he want to dance with her, even more now that the chance has been offered?

Stop thinking, Nephrite, he says to himself, and dance.

"Of course, your highness. The honor is all mine," he says, bringing her hand to his lips for a courtly kiss. Then, with eyes trained for any sign of displeasure or objection, he places his hand at her waist and pulls himself a bare inch or so closer. This is the way of the Earth, when it comes to dancing; intimate, graceful, face to face. Who can say how it is on the Moon, or on her homeworld, or anywhere else in the wide Millennium, but this is what he knows.

The expectant smile on Jupiter's face warms into pleasure at his acceptance, and her hand settles lightly into place on his shoulder.

"I've learned your waltz," she answers him, her face tipped upward toward his. "I'm still somewhat new at it, I confess, but I trust that I'll be able to follow your lead."

"I will do my best."

And so they dance, and dance, and dance. Under the silver light of the Moon, wreathed in the aroma of roses, far from the cares of the morning. It is lovely. Peaceful. Very nearly bliss, to be so contented and alone.

Nephrite prays, perhaps foolishly, that such a dance might never end.

[lightlorn]

ABC- For Everyone

late festivities. ll accepting.

A   :   AFFECTION.   how does your muse show affection?

Aerith: See, Aerith is a bit odd. She’s ultimately a good person, and a fantastic friend, but she’s very out of practice in letting others in and demonstrating her feelings. Part of this is her backstory, part of this is just the hard knock life she’s led. For the most part in canon, her affection is a little mischievous, a little chaotic, being the one that goes along with your wild ideas and giving her all to your aims. But it’s also thought, letters written and wishes made, the same care and attention she would give her garden. Aerith is not a woman that shows her affections easily, but is no less devoted once you get around her rougher edges.

Albel: He doesn’t. For the last nine years, Albel has not had a speck of affection in him for anything, living or dead or self. Even his once close bond to his deceased father has soured in his heart to a further reflection of his failures. Tenderness or adoration are beyond him. That said... I think he would display it in respect, or in curiosity. For a wicked man such as himself, simply taking the time to listen to another’s opinion or invest himself in their affairs is a great show of trust. I also think he would, over time, get more physical without getting violent, like a child just learning how to navigate the world. There is something simultaneously mature and overall boyish about this, which is why he does not let such sentiments rise to the surface.

Angela: She’s a healer, so it falls on her to want to take care of those she feels strongly for. Besides this, Angela is a taciturn woman, and I think she uses her words to great effect if someone can coax them from her. Whether she’s singing praises or taking someone to task, her voice will be used to demonstrate just what someone means to her. There’s also the possibility she will geek out about her hobbies and interests with someone who has won her affections, all too eager to get them up to speed so they can keep up with her interests. The act is repaid in kind, as she looks into her loved one’s interests and gains at least a rudimentary understanding of how it works or what it’s about. Catch her with lots of useless video game trivia to keep up with Hana, for example, or basic knowledge of bike maintenance for Mako.

Aria: A more in-depth answer can be found here.

Aqua: Oh my God Aqua is such a giver. It’s in her nature to mother others, to show her affection in gifts and in tender care for them. She’s all handmade gifts and homecooked food, deep concern tempered with constant support, the peak of team mom. While this is sometimes tempered by her self-righteousness, such as her worry for others manifesting as nagging, her heart is as ever in the right place. Her affections are also very self sacrificing, as she will take the fall for her loved ones without fail and try to take their burdens on as her own. At her best, her love is a gentle and homely thing, and at worst she will let it take everything she has so long as the object of her affection is alright.

Braska: Actions. Above all else, Braska is a man who acts. While his tongue is silvery and his heart too big for his own good, he is more of a doer than a talker. This is a man who turned his back on the church and his own lifelong training for the love of a foreign woman, and who later decided to lay down his own life to try and spare his daughter some pain. He spares Auron, in my telling, by leaving him behind out of love, though it does nothing to spare Auron in the long run. Even his taking a chance on Jecht is a leap of faith that pays off in the long run, and shows the depth of their bond. Even if he ought to think things out a little more thoroughly, he puts his money where his mouth is every time he feels strongly for someone.

Eraqus: Stern as he is, Eraqus has always shown his affection recklessly and sometimes in a very troublesome way. He is always willing to forgive and grant second chances, whether romantically as seen with Xehanort or as a matter of familial affinity, as seen with Terra. He puts care into everything he does for those who have won his loyalty, and works to show it in his own ways -- the time he offers others, and the encouragement he shows them. As a younger man, I think he was far more open about his affection, and more physical about it as well. He was less judgmental then, too, and as part of his adulthood affection he is at least willing to hear out those who disagree with him rather than shutting them down completely.

Gwynevere: Honesty and physical affection are the cornerstones of Gwynevere’s genuine affections. She puts forth the face of the all loving goddess, but her real love is shown in simply being herself around another person. She won’t beat around the bush or try to trick others, only show them how she really feels for them and those around them. She is also liberal with physical affection, anything from a touch of the hand to an embrace, and for lovers there is an ever-present sensual element from a woman who must always be above such things in the public eye.

Inessa: Inessa is actions and giving, to be honest. She shows affection for her community by being an ever present sentinel in Lowtown, ready to help as she is needed or sees need. Diligence is what makes affection in her eyes, the time and effort put into others sure to be repaid even if she does not work for that reason. Faithful as she is, she puts goodwill and prayers without actual attempts to see your desires made reality in low regard, something that has led to a lot of her friction with the Chantry of late.

Invi: Reserved as she is, Invi’s presence alone is one way she shows her affections. If she likes you, she will tolerate being around you for longer than is strictly necessary, and without any ulterior motives to boot. Being observant, she might also ensure little tokens or treats are left where the person she cares for can access them, never owning up to these things but responsible all the same. There’s also the chance she invite someone into her personal space or day and that is when you know you have made it with her.

Isa: This is actually very hard to answer because in canon, we see his affection as a child manifesting in ‘I am going to roast you alive but also I will go along with your dumbass idea because I love you’ and as a Nobody in displays of great possessiveness and rage. His actions towards Lea/Axel have always been a little antagonistic, but to what degree varies between his state of being. I think he might be the kind of person who shows his affinity in time spent together and being easily compelled into whatever the other person wants. Given my take on his backstory, I think he’s emotionally stunted even putting aside his inhuman rage issues, and so he’s not entirely sure what to do to show how he feels about others on any positive level.

Kokoro: Local Blue Blood Lets Down Her Defenses In Show of Trust, Lets Herself Be Human and Make Mistakes. But seriously, Kokoro is a person who is all about appearances and keeping up a front, so her affection comes more in letting others see her be more down to earth and laid back. I have said before that she shows her love in being able to admit she doesn’t know something, but it’s also in admitting she’s wrong or made some mistake. The sins of the father have definitely influenced her to channel her affections in a more healthy way, and acknowledge those moments where she lets the people she cares for down.

Roxas: Ice cream and fighting a cult. No literally. The boy is a trained child soldier whose only brushes with softness involve eating sweet snacks with other child soldiers, former or otherwise. This is what he was taught friendship is. He’s got to figure out for himself the shape his affection takes when he’s not fighting a war.

Shizuka: Flashing cash and offered favors. Shizuka’s got shaky identity and self-worth ideals, so they fall back on using their resources to reward those who get close to them sincerely. Some who are very close to them get more genuine shows of affection, the ability to hold them or be held, and heart to heart conversations, but for the most part Shizuka is the kind to pull strings rather than get into any ‘sappy shit.’

Zevran: I swear I am not shitposting, flanderizing, or making fun of him, but how doesn’t Zevran show affection? Realistically, though, he’s very protective with those he cares for, and tends to let them in a little deeper to see the mess he is under the ladykiller facade. He can be something of a good person for them, and that’s the most he can give. He’s still a little too broken to fully form an idea of how to show affection that isn’t saccharine or bombastic.

B   :   BOUQUET.   does your muse like flowers? which ones are their favourite?

Aerith: She absolutely adores flowers. Her people are tied to the planet itself, and the ebb and flow of life is shown so beautifully in flowers. She tends to some both as a hobby and to make some money, and so she’s very attached to them. She adores lilies best of all.

Albel: Once given a flower by a female peer of his fathers, immediately bit it off of the stem. He’s from a harsh winter environment backed up against desolate flatland and mountain ranges, so he is unused to them in any capacity. Still mesmerized by the red spider lily. 

Angela: They’re alright, but not really a priority. She’s so used to hospital flowers that the appeal is kind of lost, though she might still hang a few cheaper bouquets on her desk to try and spruce the area up. Show her a proper Alpine bellflower and you might get a nostalgic smile out of her.

Aria: Like might not be the right word, but Aria is certainly aware of various herbs and flowers from the Koccari Wilds to the edge of the Free Marches. She appreciates them as tools, but is not much of an aesthetic admirer. Is fascinated by the vandal aria for which she was named.

Aqua: The land varieties are just fine, but her love for flowers lies in the watery blossoms. She studied them extensively as a child and knows basically everything there is to know about them. Unsurprisingly, she loves the lotuses that grow on the Land of Departure.

Braska: He was never much of a man to stop and smell the roses before his Pilgrimage, so he often overlooked flowers. He’s not very well educated on the different types, but they’re pretty enough.

Eraqus: Coming from a world that was a winter wonderland, Eraqus is absolutely enamored with flowers. His master’s daughter had a balcony garden that was his favorite place to go and decompress after a long day. He is fond of morning glories above all.

Gwynevere: The princess oversees the maintenance of Anor Londo’s vast garden during its glory days. She is a friend to every flower she meets and knows how to care for any variety. Scandalously, her heart belongs to the moonflower for deeply personal reasons.

Inessa: Good flowers are hard to come by Kirkwall, at least for women of her station. The most she has seen of them has come through her work as an apothecary. For this reason, she has decided the marigold is her favorite.

Invi: As the local font of mystical and magical wisdom, Invi is well acquainted with many different plants. The language of flowers is one in which she is fluent, though it has little bearing in her choice of favorite. It’s the water hyacinth, for those interested.

Isa: The man is a Radiant Garden native. There is no conceivable way he escaped being a fan of flowers. Of the many species found on his homeworld, he just had to be enchanted by a dangerous one -- wolf’s bane. 

Kokoro: Her mother is aforementioned master’s daughter from Eraqus’ answer. She could never have escaped being educated and invested in flowers. Of the many that her mother grew in her garden, Kokoro gained an affinity for foxglove.

Roxas: He doesn’t know a lot about flowers, admittedly. There wasn’t a lot of time to stop and smell them during his missions, and Marluxia was unbearable even on his best behavior. He feels drawn towards the forget-me-not for reasons he cannot immediately pinpoint.

Zevran: If a poison can be made from it or a message conveyed with it, Zevran is aware of it. He’s learning how to appreciate flowers for just being flowers the longer he’s a free agent. And he’s a cliche who just adores a red rose.

C   :   CHOCOLATE.   does your muse like chocolate? which one is their favourite?

Aerith: It’s ok, but a little out of her budget. Whatever is cheapest gets her vote.

Albel: First had chocolate on the Diplo. It churned his stomach. Disgusting.

Angela: Yes, but only a rich European style or she’s not touching it.

Aria: Humans are out of their gods damned minds thinking this tastes good.

Aqua: As a connoisseur of desserts, absolutely. Loves a good white chocolate.

Braska: Has never heard of chocolate in his life.

Eraqus: Patron saint of sweet teeth. Milk chocolate or don’t talk to him.

Gwynevere: It’s human food and she’s not a plebeian. 

Inessa: Had some once as a child. It’s now way out of her budget but she dreams.

Invi: More fond of chocolate products. Loves hot chocolate.

Isa: His body is a temple and only cheat days permit a chocolate/nuts candy bar.

Kokoro: Eh. Not a huge sweets person, but a rich chocolate cake has her number.

Roxas: If it’s not sea salt ice cream don’t fuckin talk to him.

Zevran: Thinks Aria is fucking crazy and any chocolate is good chocolate.

[dancingkirby]

So I heard that y’all were asking for more Bopal fics

And I decided to write one!  This is a missing scene from Part 2 of the epilogue of my fic “Into Open Waters.”  Brief recap: Bolin and Opal are in a polyamorous relationship with Eska in which they’re all married to each other, Opal had just given birth from Eska’s PoV, and then Eska had to leave the room briefly because it brought up traumatic memories for her.  This is what happened while Eska was out of the room.

WARNING: Mild gore; i.e. normal postpartum stuff.

Bolin, Opal, and Suyin all looked up at the sound of the door closing, and glanced over to see that Eska’s spot on the bed to Opal’s left was now vacated.  Suyin’s nostrils flared.

“If she thinks that she can just up and leave without so much as saying anything…” she began.

“Mom.  She can,” Opal interjected.  “She was here for hours on end, with all the noise and talking, and she obviously needed to go cool down.”

“Should I go check on her?” Bolin asked.  “Make sure she’s okay?”

“I’d recommend giving it a while.  She needs her quiet time,” Opal answered.  Having settled the matter, the two of them turned their attention back to San, whose initial lung-filling wails had quieted down to grumbling as An the midwife loosely wrapped him in a towel.  

“He’s beautiful,” Bolin murmured.  He knew that he’d already said that, but there wasn’t anything wrong with saying it multiple times, right?  “And so are you.” 

 The front part of his wife’s hair was plastered to her forehead with sweat, the back part was sticking out every which way, and her eyes had dark circles under them.  Bolin thought that it was possibly the most wonderful thing he had ever seen.

At that moment, An cleared her throat and said, “Well, it’s time to cut the cord.  Dad, would you like to do the honors?”

Bolin thought at first that the midwife was talking about her own father, and he looked all over the room for a really, really old guy.  It was only when Suyin prompted him by saying his name that he realized: Oh yeah.  He was the dad.  Of course, he’d known that already since this wasn’t even his first kid, but Kinalik preferred to call him by his given name and he had a tendency to let her. Thus, someone actually addressing him as “Dad” was a bit jarring.

“Uh…sure,” he finally replied.  An put the clamps on and showed him where to cut, and he got through the whole thing on his very first try.  Everyone applauded politely.  Shortly thereafter, An pressed on Opal’s stomach with one hand while pulling on the severed cord with the other, and…

“Did her guts just fall out?” Bolin cried, painfully aware that his voice had gotten higher and higher until it was a nearly inaudible squeak by the end of the sentence.

“That’s the afterbirth, Bolin,” Suyin explained like this should be perfectly obvious to anyone. “It’s supposed to come out. In fact, it’s a very bad thing if it doesn’t.”

“Oh,” Bolin mumbled, looking down at his shoes.  

“Mom,” Opal warned again, her voice nearly a growl this time.  Even Suyin looked surprised, and was briefly at a loss for words.

“She’s right,” the older woman conceded when she found her voice again.  “I shouldn’t have used that tone with you.  I’m sorry.”

That was his Opal, all right: normally patient and gentle and introverted, yet terrifying when that patience ran out.  Bolin squeezed her hand in gratitude.  However, his heart plummeted again when Opal’s teeth started chattering despite the room being well-heated.

“Oh, honey, you’re getting chills.  Why didn’t you say that you were cold?” Suyin said quickly.  She did not have to tell Bolin what to do next; he had already grabbed a blanket from the stack near the bed.  Opal’s mother gave him a nod of thanks, and told him, “Be sure to wrap that nice and snugly…and around San, too.”

Meanwhile, An was examining that big, red, angry…thing… and confirmed that it had all come out in one piece.  Then she stepped into the smaller room off the main one that was strictly off-limits to non-employees of this birthing center, and returned bearing several small, pointy instruments.  Opal groaned in dismay.

“She doesn’t like needles,” Bolin explained as he and Suyin finished tucking the blanket corners in.

“I’m sorry.  She has a tear that needs repairing,” An said briskly.  And, to Opal, “You don’t have to worry.  It looks to be fairly uncomplicated as far as these things go, and should be able to be fixed in a few minutes.  And I will give you a shot that will numb the area.  You might not feel anything whatsoever if you’re focused enough on your baby.  Just be sure to hold still.”

Opal had to hold on tight to Bolin’s hand, and although she yelped a bit during the shot, the numbing medicine appeared to do the trick. Suyin had moved towards the back of the room to give An some space (was it wrong that he felt a little relieved?), so Bolin decided that he would help distract Opal in the way that he knew best: talking about the first things that came to his mind.

“I want to buy you something,” he said in a rush.  “Anything you want.  Even if it’s the most expensive necklace at the most expensive jewelry store in Republic City.  Or…or…that humongous toy stuffed armadillo bear that you thought looked cute while we were shopping for stuff for San’s room.  Or…”

He was cut off by Opal placing a finger against his mouth.

“You don’t have to buy me anything,” she said with a confused look on her face.  “Why would you think that?”

It was a good question.  Bolin had always had trouble putting his feelings into words, especially when they were all jumbled into a huge knot like this.  Thinking very hard, he started, “Well, you went through all that, and I feel bad that I have nothing to give you in return.  And I guess…”–he finally had his epiphany mid-sentence– “It doesn’t seem fair that I only did the one part at the beginning, and you had to do all the hard work.  And then you were in labor for I don’t know how long, and then you got hurt while doing it, and, and…I just love you so much.  Him too, of course.”

He kissed each in turn, before adding, “I think I’m starting to cry again,” as he once again rubbed at his damp eyes with his equally damp sleeve.

“You’re sweet,” Opal replied, looking a bit teary-eyed herself.  “But you don’t have to worry about me.  I decided to have your baby because I wanted to; I didn’t feel any kind of obligation.  And it’s true that the labor was more difficult than I was expecting, but I knew going in that it wasn’t all going to be a walk in the park.  Besides, I enjoyed being pregnant overall…and there were perks.”  At Bolin’s confused silence, Opal leaned over and clarified in a whisper, “The sex was great, with both you and Eska.”

“Oh,” was all Bolin could come up with in response.  Most other times, he would have preened over the praise, but his brain was fried from staying up all night.

“If you still really want to buy me something…I could always use more books.  Eska can help you find some if you want.  Just…don’t go overboard,” Opal said.

“Is ten going overboard?”

Opal gave a drowsy smile.  “Ten would be great.”  

She looked like she was on the verge of drifting off, needle and all, so Bolin simply held her in silence until An announced, “Done!  See, that wasn’t so bad, was it?  Now let’s get mom and baby all clean and bundled up, shall we?”

And so An measured, cleaned, and swaddled San, while Suyin helped Opal into her nightgown and bathrobe and redid the blanket.  Then, at long last, Bolin got to hold his son.  It was exhilarating and nerve-wracking all at the same time.  Bolin had never held a newborn infant before, and although San was a sizable baby, he was still so fragile.

“Uh…question. How do I not drop him?” Bolin asked.

Suyin, not looking concerned in the slightest, replied, “Just keep supporting his head and bottom, and everything should be fine.”  

And it was.  But now what was he supposed to do? He thought about this, and after several seconds recalled from one of Opal’s classes that it was important to talk to babies so they could start building up their language skills for later.

“So…uh…hi.  I’m your dad,” he began; it was still weird to say it.  “And over there are your mom and grandma.  And you’re San, obviously.”

Opal giggled a bit. Bolin looked over, worried that he messed it up, but she assured him, “Keep going.  You’re going great.”

“Right.  So of course, there’s Eska too.  She’s going to be like a second mom to you, and to be honest she’s the only one of us who knows what she’s doing. And Ki’s back at the house.  She can’t wait to meet you; it’s pretty much been all she’s talked about for the past two months!  And there’s also Baatar Senior and Baatar Junior and Huan and Wing and Wei.   You’ll meet Mako and Grandma Yin and all the rest on my side of the family in a couple months when we get back to Republic City.”

San peered up at him somberly; he had completely quieted down by now.

“Oh, and you’ll get to see Korra and Asami too; they have this awesome pool, and Asami saved all her toys from when she was a kid.  And you’ll probably be going to Air Temple Island a lot.  And, in a couple years, you can come to the pro-bending arena and hear me commentating some games…”

He broke off because San was starting to fuss again.

“Already decided you don’t like pro-bending, huh?” Bolin mused.  He looked up and asked, “No, seriously, did I do something wrong?”

“I think it’s more likely that he’s ready to try to nurse,” An replied.  “If you would…”

“Hm?  Oh, yeah, here you are.”  Bolin handed San back to the midwife, who gave him back to Opal in turn. As they started the process of assisting San with latching on, Bolin began to feel like this was a special moment between only Opal and her baby, and didn’t want to intrude.

“Should I see how Eska’s doing?” he asked.  “Or did you want me to stay here longer?”

“Go on ahead,” Opal said, wincing slightly as San apparently found his target.  Bolin felt a little anxious, and his face must have showed it, since she added, “I’m fine.  It just takes a little getting used to.”

“Okay then.  I’ll be back soon.  Hopefully with Eska.”

Bolin hoped that he wouldn’t have to walk all around the building to retrieve her.  To his relief, as he cautiously opened the door a bit to look out, he saw that their wife was sitting only a few doors down the hallway.  She looked up at the noise of the hinges, and he was further happy to see no evidence that she had been in crying or otherwise in major distress.

“Hey,” he said to her, “What’s up?”

[disgraced-doctor-junkenstein]

Response to Like/reblog for a nightmare with our muses @aprimespecimen Title: Nearly Perfect

“Well take a look at you~” Purred a disembodied voice. “Nearly perfect. A few minor adjustments and I can make you truly sublime.” The darkness all around him began to fade at it’s edges inward from a circle pattern. Everything devoid of color until Mako twists himself around trying to find just where that voice had come from. Color comes crashing in like a flood so fast that it actually causes him to stumble backward. Hands up to shield his eyes until the intensity dies down. Cautiously Mako lowers his hands. Before him now is a familiar wasteland. The hum of his electric generator cutting through that of the soft breeze that grazes over the area. Rusty metal shifting ever so slightly with tiny squeaks he could normally ignore but he is tense. Something is off and on his property but what he has yet to pinpoint. Soft giggling comes from around the corner. It’s small and childlike in volume. It’s also familiar but feels dusty like a statue on top of a cabinet that’s admired from afar but never used, almost forgotten. Mako uses his height to his advantage to look over the generator to find a little girl who is crouched down and only partially facing him. It’s his sister. He wheezes her name in a soft tone. It’s been years since he’s seen her, a lifetime even, and the fact he sees her now as she once was is impossible. It hurts in ways he hates to admit. “The good die young.” The voice from before calls out to him. “It’s probably for the best really. You wouldn’t want her to see what you’ve become, would you?” Mako looks up past where his little sister is playing to see Junkenstein resting against the ladder on one of his silo bins. Arms folded over one of the many rungs and raising his gloved hand to wave merrily over as if nothing he said was off putting in the least bit. “It’s an old saying but if we believe it to be true then I suspect you’re going to be around for quite some time, huh, Killer!” The terrible nickname ringing in Mako’s ears like an alarm. Mismatched blues quickly snapped away from the doctor back to his little sister who is gone. The toys she was playing with flashing like a strobe light between being new and worn to bits. The ground itself lush with grass and strobing to that of bare dirt. “Tsk, tsk- Shame really. I’m sure she would have grown up into someone interesting.” Junkenstein was now hanging upside down from the ladder rungs, Mako’s not sure how the man even managed to get himself up that high or how the eccentric scientist had yet to fall from his antics. “You know… If she would have survived you blowing everything to shit and back that is.” Junkenstein doesn’t normally curse like that. Not so freely unless he’s upset but Mako can’t even remark on it or ask what is happening when everything begins to shake, throwing Mako off balance in an impressive feat. The sky dark for an instant until it’s a blinding white that cascades into the most vibrant of orange and yellow, ringed heavily with ashen grey. His whole form is flung back and slamming into something hard but he can hear it beginning to splinter and crack like eggshells. His vision clears all at once and Mako finds himself holding another man’s skull. He can’t make out their words but they are bleeding heavily and begging, of that he’s certain. With some added pressure he feels it give under his meaty palm, squelching from the action but they are no longer squirming. As Mako let’s go, the crumpled form drops to rest at his feet. It’s Tick. Mako’s eyes widen. Panic is starting to claw it’s way into his heart, filling his veins with ice water, so freezing it actually burns. His breathing spiking to where he suddenly can’t breath. The mask isn’t helping. If anything it’s starting to fog with his own alarmed gasping. “You don’t look so good.” Junkenstein randomly appeared into view, stepping to Mako’s left only to stroke his scruffy chin in thought. “Better than him I suspect but I am kind of surprised he’s made it this far. Hm… Oh well.” Oh well?! It was then his vision started to blur again. Everything fading along the edges as Mako struggled with it all. Losing his sister again, the sky that’s on fire, Tick- Oh god- Two hands grasped the side of his face, pulling him down to meet Junkenstein’s level stare. The amber eyes Doc shared with Tick doing nothing to help. Hisss!! Junkenstein twisted in a bright yellow can of Hogdrogen into place. The condensed air forcing it’s way into his mask and down his throat in a way that made his lungs feel like they were being freezer burned. But the good doctor didn’t seem to care. His expression placid even as he twisted the canister the other way to remove it once it was drained. “You are so close to being perfect.” Dropping the canister as his feet, Mako could barely make out it hitting the ground and rolling towards his partner’s lifeless form. Hands grabbing at his leather mask and forcing him to look away. “No, no, no~ You’re a killing machine! So rotund, and those biceps! Oh ho ho! The good lord certainly spent some quality time with you.” A cruel smile tugging at the far corners of the doctor’s lips. “But I can pick up where he left off and really make you into something special.” Falling to his knees, Rutledge’s vision was still dimming. His surroundings becoming even more unfocused. Junkenstein  leaning in closer till he was the only thing with any crispness not fading into the background. “Hello? Earth to Hoggie,” Dr. Junkenstein cooed. Amber eyes leaning in closer that Mako could now see the crimson glow to the the other’s pupils. A diabolical luminosity that did nothing to take away the distress, panic, and unease of everything. “There you are. My sweet Hoggie. Look at you now! Perfect!” Junkenstein was talking nonsense. Bile burning in his throat as Mako was going to be sick. Doc better move away if he didn’t want to be in the splash zone or have his neck twisted off like a coke top. “Take a look! My greatest achievement yet if I do say so myself!” It was then the other released his grasp on Mako’s mask only to pull up a hand mirror. Staring back at him now was a green pig face with a mop of raven hair. The brows on it darting skyward and it was then apparent it was not a mask but real. “Beautiful. Truly perfect!” Vision dropping downward to the rest of his person, it was discovered everything had been changed. He looked like he did each year for Halloween when Tick and him would dress up as Junkenstein himself and his beloved creation but it was wrong. It was real. Horrifying did little to accurately describe it. “Don’t worry my little Hoggie-woggie! I’ve taken the liberty to fix up your little playmates too. Say hello to Hayseed!” Numbly looking up from his hands and arms towards Junkenstein did another figure appear. Seemingly sliding out from behind the doctor like a shadow though dressed in the ruins of another costume Tick had worn in a failed plan to ruin the Queen’s day. “Formally known as Tick and Junkroo.” The abomination pulled off it’s silly straw inlaid mask to reveal the grimy patchwork of those named, sewn together. Expression one of agony though the body itself waved merrily as ever. “Don’t you see, Hoggie? We can embrace our inner natures like this! Be monstrous inside and out like they claim, like we were truly meant to be! We can be a family like this. Perfect like this… Well, nearly perfect. I still have some work to do on Hayseed but,” Junkenstein started to chuckle as he placed his hand on the small of the scarecrow’s back and pushed them towards Mako. “I’m a patient man. I always get what I want and I won’t settle for nearly perfect.”

[oathofpromises]

My dearest love, even if I were to surrender all that I possess, it would be a small price to pay for the eternal embrace of your tender heart.

[sworntolight-a]

📝 I know Mako and Kiku always wanna gush sooo...?

Kasa knows Takeru’s girls too well clearly

Their first impression: “Honestly? That Takeru was a detatched jerk. I wasn’t sure how Kiku put up with him. I know better, now.”

Their current impression: “He’s wonderful. Takeru is… He’s sweet. H-He’s sweet and kind, gentle, warm… Like a fire. A rather protective one..”

What they like the most about your muse: “His strength. His smile, his energy, his dedication- I love that he’s never given up. Even if he doesn’t see it, he’s strong, with a heart of gold. And… He’s an inspiration.”

What they dislike the most about your muse: “He could be a bit less stubborn sometimes… And his temper. I understand it, but that’s going to get him into trouble sometime, and I worry about that happening.”

What your muse is for them ( Friend, lover, rival ecc.): “We’re friends. Very… very close friends… Mm…”

A general opinion of their relationship: “It’s a tight and close friendship. A supportive and deep one, too… We’re always supporting each other. It’s like… Like the warmest fire.”

If applicable, something they wish to reveal: “…You’re my hero, Takeru… I wouldn’t be here, in the city, without you. I wouldn’t… Be doing a lot w-without the inspiration you’ve been… Thank you. Thank you for so much… And.. I-I… Love you a-and that strength of yours.”

Their first impression: “We were only four when we met. I remember being nervous about another new kid in the shop… And then he smiled. Everything was all right, after that.”

Their current impression: “He’s stubborn, full of life, and fighting for a new life. He’s changed a lot - he’s so much stronger now. And braver.”

What they like the most about your muse: “The fire in his eyes. I’ve never seen anything like it before… He’s gentle. He always has been, even when nobody could see it. Protective. Like a knight.”

What they dislike the most about your muse: “I don’t like his love for fighting. I know he’s protecting me, but a single hit in a tender place can cause too much damage. I could deal with him not fighting again unless he had no other choice.”

What your muse is for them ( Friend, lover, rival ecc.): “He’s my boyfriend. My best friend.”

A general opinion of their relationship: “it’s warm. Being beside Takeru is like sitting by a campfire with a life of its own, surrounding you in warmth and protection. That’s what our relationship is like - Support, protecting, and gentle warmth.”

If applicable, something they wish to reveal: “You changed everything for me too, you know. I’ve decided on a lot for my future because of you… You make me proud and smile every day with what you’ve become. I hope I can do that for you, too.”

[xheartpages]

@heartsaked asked: kICKS DOWN YOUR MOTHER HECCING DOOR WITH FORCE OF A GREAT TYPHOON

ahem. shadow, my bae, the love of my life, my other meme half. if you didn't think i wasn't gonna come out this year SWINGING and showering you with every bit of love i have to show you how gay i am ( and you know, to win the gay war because i refuse to lose to you!!! ), then you've got another thing coming !! i mean i don't know where to start because i am always filled with so much love and respect for you, but i gotta start somewhere with my disaster self

first of all i just wanna say that i, as always, am just... so happy that i still have you in my corner. despite everything that this universe tried to throw at us, i'm just so happy to have you as one of my dearest friends for 6??? 7??? years now ( idk wtf is time ). we've been through so much together, the good and bad, and we've still managed to stick together and become stronger for it. like if that isn't some gay af shit idk what is. and finally being able to hang out with you, a dream of ours for years, a few months ago was GREAT. even if you enabled me to buy more books that i didn't need ( i still love them though ), i just had such a blast just vibing with you. i really can't wait for us to do it again

secondly, you are such a talented writer. and don't you DARE for a second forget that. the thought and care you put into your muses for their headcanons, regardless if in their canon or for aus, has been a constant joy and pleasure to read. and i just love the added depth you give them. i have enjoyed every convo we've had when it comes to sharing headcanons, especially for some of the muses we both share. even if sometimes those headcanons hurt me and i gotta threaten to fight you in a denny's parking lot at like 3am. but at least i can semi clap back with sending you sad asks about them ( case in point, zhongsemi, wink wonk ). but still, i always look forward to your asks and threads and i always am so excited to answer anything from you, regardless if on jack or on your multi.

and lastly, i am super glad we are continuing our efforts to increase our army with all the different combos we have. every dynamic that we have between our muses means so much to me. especially top contenders of like, lucifer/simeon, mako/noé and korra/hawks to name a few. and you know i'm always down to clown with even more dynamics, regardless if their agendas have yet to start or even new ones from whatever muses we add ( and by we you know i really mean me because i'm the dragon of muse hoarding )

all in all, shadow i love you with all of my heart. i will always love you and more than anything, i wish you the best new year. if 2022 doesn't treat you kindly then you know i won't hesitate to fight for you. mwah 💖

Before 2021 ends tell me something you always wanted to tell me.

wow.... you gay :/ ( post reply )

jgosdkogkdsog but this is such an amazing thing to wake up to. I don’t even know where to start in order to return all this love, so i’ll have to improvise and pray to god that it’s enough ldksjglkfdg.

I am also very glad that with everything that changed over the years, you’ve been one of the consistences. I don’t know how because i feel like i get worst every year, but you’re always still here, even through our differences and slight disagreements, which is amazing to me. and on top of that, i was able to point finger guns at you in person!!! which is incredible, and something we have to do again as soon as we can. ( so i can bully you to buy more books :) )

And I enjoy all of our interactions and writing too! And I enjoy having my inbox full to almost bursting of you and your memes, despite us both knowing that you’ll never win : ) there’s so many interesting combos we can make, and it’s always so fun to see which ones stick as like... some of the top ships. ( like the ones you mentioned, including shaw/jack ) and it’s always so fun to toss ideas back and forth with you, even for muses we have in common. because while we have some differences with them, there’s also a lot of similarities... which i always find fun.

I don’t wanna just repeat the things you sent, but please know they all apply from my end too. I love you to pieces and I’m excited to go yet another year with you, and i hope it’s a better year for both of us. But at least we know that we’ll still have each other through it <3

[mystupidoverwatchimagines]

Musical Muses and Character Insight (Non-Imagine Writing)

So I wanted to give you guys a list of music I listen to for each character I usually write for. Like a cool peak into my mind when I'm writing for specific characters, events you guys request. I also wanted to comprise this list for any writers in my list who have come to ask me questions and stuff of the like. I'm basically going to go through each character, give my little side of the mind set I put myself in to write for them. And I'm very lucky as a writer to have such an outrageous music eclicity because music is the most helpful tool I use to help me achieve the thought process I want for each prompt.

Sombra--

Sombra is always a fun one for me. I have loved her since she was introduced. I love her voice, I love the way she talks, I like she runs in any situation with the tools to make it turn out just the way she wants it too. I have a tendency to write her very similar to Gabe with speech patterns, because I see them like brother and sister, so they speak very similarly, only Sombra teases while Reaper demands. (Also I really like her saying Cariño/a more than Gabe. Just my personal preference) In my mind she listens to everything like I do. Like everything as long as it has a deep bass or fast paced vocals.

° "Icky Thump" by The White Stripes

° "American Idiot" by Green Day

° "Mi Gente" by J Balvin and Willy William

° "DVP" by PUP (as seen in Dream Daddy)

° "Stormtrooper" by Pepper

° "Lane Boy" by Twenty One Pilot

° "MEIN TEIL" by Rammstien

Angela Zeigler | Mercy--

Imagine if you will, suddenly becoming engulfed in a warm, comfortable light. The light can touch every part of you, even right down to your soul. Its cozy and the aura of the light feels like your favorite blanket, so familiar and safe. There is only one place that doesn't feel the light's warmth, and that is the base of your neck. The base of your neck is ice cold. Thats what I feel when I think about Mercy, I'm not sure why, but I imagine our beautiful angel has this healing aura all around her, but there is always something chasing her, and just brushing its icy deathly cold fingers at the base of her neck. A memory she wants to forget. People always depend on Mercy, but I like to imagine this pressure sometimes becomes too much (Which I tried to illustrate in "I'm So Happy You're Home" series) which may not seem canon, but in my mind, she is only human (despite not aging like one). When writing for Mercy, I tend to listen to instrumentals. I need to focus more when writing for her.

° "Humans Are Such Easy Prey" by Pertubator

° "Euphotic" by Carbon Based Lifeforms

Ooooor ABBA. Lots and LOTS of ABBA

° "Take a Chance on Me"

° "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)

° "Does Your Mother Know"

° "Money, Money, Money"

The Shimada Brothers--

Ah the sweet boys. Its interesting, I'd say these two are my most difficult requested boys. Hanzo being nothing like me and Genji only being relatable to me because I am YOUNG Genji. Not Present Genji. However for both I absolutely love writing for them when I can finally get into the mood for them. I imagine Hanzo much like I imagine what a wolf would feel in a modern world like theirs. Soliditary, cold to love, merely out to protect itself, but the lonliness pains him deeply. And for Genji, I see him much like a bird. Constantly flying and searching for somewhere to settle and call home, but be never lands. A little ridiculously poetic, I know. And I also never mention the dragon noodles, as I see them more like ghosts than noodles. But I love noodles, just for me, I see them almost as the power of the Shimada ancestors coming forward in the sons. For the Shimadas I listen strictly to Japanese folk music (I know but hear me out). These songs tell stories to me. I am not Japanese and do not know the actual stories behind these songs (I wish I did, they all sound so beautiful). But they also sound so tranquil, which I know the boys are both striving for, tranquility and peace. So I put a couple names down here you guys are more than welcome to look up.

° "Fishing Village" by Derek Fiechter

° "Geisha" by Anthony Davilio

° "Tancha Meh" by Hideo Osaka Ensemble

° "Utsukushiki Ten-Nen" by Ikuta Ryu

° "Horyo" by Tomoe-Ryu Yutakadaiko

Jesse McCree--

Oh my cowboy. So its actually funny, McCree is the easiest for me to write. By far. I relate to him on several levels. From the southern drawl (though mine has been watered down, its still strong enough that people ask me where I'm from cause I don't sound like I'm from Nevada), to the longing of a simple life of a cowboy. When I was young I dreamed of being a young gun slinger like Kissin' Kate from Holes. For some reason, with McCree, I'm just writing from my heart, and because of this I can listen to just about anything and still come up with the feeling I want to. But I do have a set of songs that belong only to McCree and no one else.

° "Johnny Guitar" by Peggy Lee

(This happens to be one of my favorite songs in the whole world. I highly suggest looking it up)

° "Bang Bang, My Baby Shot Me Down" by Nancy Sinatra

° "Que Sera Sera" by Doris Day

° "Short Change Hero" by The Heavy

° "Maneater" by Blue Eyed Blondes

° "Red Solo Cup" by Toby Keith (Teehee)

Mako Rutledge | Roadhog--

Ah, my big man. I love him so much, I truly do. I love the mystery of the mask. I love the mostly silent intimidation. I love the comics depecting such a rogue soul, a wonderer. I love everything about our perfect soul gone renegade. He is a favorite to write, but I will admit I give him a lot more gentleness then I probabky should. If I were put myself in any position, I would be this man's best friend (after Junkrat, of course). I would give him big hugs and tell him he's one of God's most beautiful creatures. So its been easy to write for him. I would probably write just about any situation with him, because I can easily put myself in this man's shoes and imagine the pain he has gone through, to see his home erupt in flames and losing everything. Yeah. I love writing for him. Its weird, but its almost humbling for me for even just a little while.

° "In Loving Memory" by Saba

° I wonder if we're dead" by eevee

° "Will He" by Joji

° "I am in Great Pain, Please Send Help" by Crywank

(^^^This shit is rough and super sad please be careful)

° "Crying" by Roy Orbison

Jamison Fawkes | Junkrat--

My trash can man, my Main in Overwatch. My tol boi. My fireball falling from the sky. So if anyone has seen or watched The Stand, he reminds me of Trash Man, a Pryomaniac seeking aimlessly to please the devil himself. And he was my FAVORITE CHARACTER OF THE BOOK OMG I LOVE HIM. Aaaaaaanyway, I think my love for Jamie roots in that. But also, I have found such love for him just for being the crazy unruly ball of fire he is. I love writing for him but like Roadhog I probably writw him a little sweeter than he should be. And I'll be damned, he is so hard for me to write. The fandom has swt such high standards I hopelessly strive to compete with. But, nonetheless, I do very much love the imagines I've written for him. I love him, I wish to protect him. I write him very snuggly when he needs to be, warm when he wants to be, and crazy all the time. Unfortunately for him, Every. Single. Song. For him is My Chemical Romance (sorry not too sorry)

° "House of Wolves"

° "Dead!"

° "Mama"

(This song you guys, for Junkrat, I don't know why but this IS Junkrat's song for me)

° "Na Na Na [Na Na Na Na Na Na Na]"

° "Part Poison"

And I'll do the rest tomorrow, you guys! That is if you guys like this and want to see more. If not thats totally okay!

[dreamsofasoldier]

Meet the Muse

► Name ➔   “The name’s Zack Fair”

► Are you single ➔  "Yes, ShinRa doesn’t give me time for relationships” (Verse dependent. Single by default)

► Are you happy ➔  “Yes!”

► Are you angry? ➔ "No, not really. I guess more lost after Angeal dies.”

► Are your parents still married ➔  "-- To my knowledge yeah! Their really great people ... Mom usually asks nice girls to join the family tho.”

NINE FACTS

► Birth Place ➔   “Me? Gongaga!”

► Hair Color ➔  "Black but some people say they can see a blue tint in my hair?”

► Eye Color ➔  "Mako infused blue. It’s a sky blue with green near the puples.”

► Birthday ➔  "Autum! September 15th!” ( Fan made! )

► Mood ➔  "Normal I guess? A lot of people tell me I’m really energetic though.”

► Sex ➔  "-- Ah ... Well, only with the right person.” ( verse / ship dependent, extremely rare )

► Summer or winter ➔  "Neither season really effects me because of the Mako but I enjoy summer a lot.”

► Morning or afternoon ➔  "I’m usually up early morning and watching the sun rise is really nice.”

EIGHT THINGS ABOUT YOUR LOVE LIFE

► Are you in love ➔ "In love huh? I guess you could say that.” ( Verse / ship dependent. )

► Do you believe in love at first sight ➔  "At first I didn’t really believe in love at first sight, but now I do.”

► Who ended your last relationship ➔ "Was never in a relationship.”

► Have you ever broken someone’s heart ➔  "I ... I’m sorry ...” ( Aerith and Cloud mostly )

► Are you afraid of commitments ➔  "Not at all.”

► Have you hugged someone within the last week? ➔  "Yes I have!”

► Have you ever had a secret admirer ➔  "Not that I’m aware of.” ( He knows he’s pretty but no one has ever outright told him )

► Have you ever broken your own heart? ➔  "... Yeah, I have.”

SIX CHOICES

► Love or lust ➔  "Love over Lust. Lust only gets you one thing, love can be empathy, friendship, family, relationship kind of love, co-workers and so much more.”

► Lemonade or iced tea ➔  “Mmmm both are good but I like Lemonade more.”

► Cats or Dogs ➔   “Dogs, but cats are quite cute too.”

► A few best friends or many regular friends ➔  "New friends are always nice, but I prefer to give my special attention to my close friends. ”

► Wild night out or romantic night in ➔   “One in a while? I guess a wild night out with a group of friends but if it was with one specific person a romantic night in is better."

► Day or night ➔  "Night, gazing at the stars is my untold hobby.”

FIVE HAVE YOU EVERS

► Been caught sneaking out ➔  "A few times. My mother always caught me every time.”

► Fallen down/up the stairs ➔  "When I was a teenager during puberty I often fell up the stairs and bruised my shins.”

► Wanted something/someone so badly it hurt? ➔   “Extremely ...”

► Wanted to disappear ➔    "Maybe only once when Angeal passed away ... ”

FOUR PREFERENCES

► Smile or eyes ➔  “Eyes are what draw me in more.”

► Shorter or Taller ➔  "Shorter.” ( rarely ever taller )

► Intelligence or Attraction ➔ "Intelligence mainly, the attraction comes after that.”

► Hook-up or Relationship ➔  “Relationship. A lot of people in Midgar want to try and hook up but ... Mom taught me better.”

FAMILY

► Do you and your family get along ➔  “Yes we do! We are very close.”

► Would you say you have a “messed up life” ➔  “No, it’s normal work for a soldier but normal would people say it is.”

► Have you ever ran away from home ➔  “No, never.”

► Have you ever gotten kicked out ➔ "Never.”

FRIENDS

► Do you secretly hate one of your friends ➔ “Nope! Never!”

► Do you consider all of your friend’s good friends ➔  “Yes defiantly, but ...  ”

► Who is your best friend ➔ "Kunsel and Roche have known me the longest but Cloud is also my best friend!”

► Who knows everything about you ➔  “Kunsel, Roche, Angeal and Cloud know the most about me.”

Tagged by: @oflockhearted​​

Tagging: whoever would like to ~

[sworduserarchive]

RANDOM FACTS ABOUT THE MUN. repost, not reblog !  tag 6 muns you would like to get to know better when done! 

name:  kim nickname(s):  kimbo, kimmy, kimmy cub, the pacific rim obsessed chick faceclaim:  the cute rinko kikuchi pronouns:  she/her height:  5 ‘ 5 birthday:  january 3rd aesthetic: dark colors. halloween colors sans orange. i also enjoy pastels sometimes. last song / thing you listened to: braindead   ------   zombina   &   the skeletones

favourite muse(s) you’ve written:  i know it sounds biased, but any muse i’ve written in the pacific rim fandom has been a favorite for me. everytime i come back to this fandom, i feel like people are reminded of their love/appreciation of the film  &   i always end up bonding with lots of people   &   having a great time. with newt, mako, hermann   &   my pac rim oc, i made lots of good friends   &   created lots of amazing, detailed plots. all of my pr muses also happened to be my longest lasting ones, which is saying a lot if you know me !

what inspired you to take on your current muse (that you are posting this on):  i was in a weird place with the muse i had before mako. i wanted to write on her but felt like no one wanted to write with me ?   &   not to mention the fandom i was in died pretty quick, so that didn’t help matters much. it started with me thinking about making a halloween blog but then the idea for rebooting mako came to mind. after skimming thought the pacific rim prequel comic, i made up my mind   &   i’m so glad i did !

what are your favourite aspects of your current muse:  there’s more to mako than what meets the surface. hell, there’s more to mako than what we see in media ! she’s seen as a very formal woman; reserved   &   a bit shy, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. when she’s allowed to fight raleigh in the kwoon, you see her for who she really is. a strong, able bodied fighter, ready to strike at a moment’s notice. she’s also not a pushover, able to defend herself if need be. if raleigh didn’t hold her back when chuck was making rude comments at them, she surely would have knocked his teeth in. i just love her backstory of where she came from   &   why she’s fighting, as well as the deep connection she has with stacker   &   raleigh. she has a great love of family   &   a brave heart which you can’t help but admire. mako mori is an angel.

what’s your biggest inspiration when it comes to writing:  music ! i love listening to music when writing replies, as it helps organize my thoughts. sometimes when i’m really into a reply, i don’t listen to music at all,   &   i sort of come up with a tune in my head if that makes sense ? i also love re-reading source material that can help me further flesh out my muse, as well as watching interviews   &   other films the fc of said character was in to get more inspired.

favourite types of threads:  i love anything   &   everything tbh ! but the threads that are super awesome are the ones where you start off small, not expecting too much   &   then you become invested in these characters because they just ‘ clicked ‘ right off the bat. i love threads where i’m messaging my partner ideas   &   we talk about how person a would react to situation b, etc. i love anything   &   everything so long as mako has a good connection with said muse !

tagged by: @geniusflirt (   thanks babe !   ) tagging: @greatranger   &   @jaegerpiloted   &   @herchansenrp  &   @solopiloted / @booyahd   &   @bloodthirstygod   &   @wouldshoot   &   @gottlicb / @heartmeasured   &   @hedrifted   ------   &   anyone else who’d like to do it !

[ghostsandwhiskey]

Story + 11

@axgmented

The First Time Your Muse Broke My Muse’s Heart

   “It’s Geostigma.”

    Th��o tilts his head, even thoughhe’s heard the words perfectly clear.Two cups of coffee in cheap, styrofoam cups are still grasped in his hands, theliquid cold by now. He stands very still, feels like he’s been punched in thegut.

    “Well fuck’n check again!” Reno, pacing manically up and down the medical winghallway, nothing but a blur of red hair and agitation.

    Somewhere in his periphery, thePresident’s son reclines, cool as a sphinx – expression unreadable. Dark Nationsits dutifully at his side, the tail-like tentacle on it’s spine swishingagainst the sterile, white floors. There’s something about the combination ofthe two of them that puts the SOLDIER onedge, in ways that Reno never could.

    The doctor clears her throat, adjusts herglasses in an eerie way that reminds Théo vaguely of that creep Hojo from the labs, and repeatsherself, more sternly. “It can’t beanything else. The symptoms are very distinct. The degeneration. The ink-likedischarge from the dermis. Her organs are struggling, trying to fight thetainted cells in her system. And with her… unique… genetic makeup, there’s no telling how else it might manifestitself.”

    Reno makes a noise like a threatenedanimal, half desperate, and half furious.

    Théo wants to kick in the hospital roomdoor, pick up his partner and get her the hell away from here. He hates thisplace. He hates the doctor talking like Rem is some sort of science experiment. He hates that shestarted as such, and hates that he even has to acknowledge that much of how sheis, is because some asshole decided toplay god. He knows better. In the year that they’ve worked together – rockyas it started, he discovered with each passing day that beneath that spiny,volatile exterior, there was a twenty-year-old kid who liked granola andcould drink any SOLDIER underneath the table. A twenty-year-old kid who haddumped an entire bucket of sand on his head in Costa Del Sol, took an hour torouse from sleep when she was hung-over, and once blew up a Marlboro with dynamite to save Théo’s ass.

    Somewhere along the way, he had toldhimself – never again. She deservedto live as a human being. Not anyone’s pet or project.

    “Treatment?” Rufus Shinra waves the doctoron, a trace of irritability in his voice.

    “…We attempted to stabilize her with makotherapy. Injections. Although with her history,her body could very well reject those also. There’s also some highlyexperimental medication, similar to chemotherapy that’s been mildly helpful intreating the symptoms of the disease. Though of course, it comes with more sideeffects. Perhaps with more study and observation---”

    Théo feels sick, puts the cups down on anearby chair. He’s been subject to regular mako injections since he joinedSOLDIER some ten years ago. Had gotten violently ill, like everything on hisinsides was wanting to get outside,for about 70% of the doses. He can’t even imagine – what with Rem damn neardrowning in the stuff when she was young---

    He doesn’t want to think about it. But all he can see is her bitter, tear-stainedface, wild mess of hair as she’d drunkenly told him her stories one night in amotel outside of Gongaga. She’d crawled into his bed, smelling heavily ofliquor, placed her small, cold hands underneath his shirt. He’d initiallyfreaked out, started to scramble away, but then she’d started speaking.Speaking with a dead expression, a monotone voice. Far off eyes like she wasn’tquite there. And every word hadbroken his goddam heart. He’d lether sleep there that night, curled against his arm like a kitten, after she’dscreamed herself hoarse and left the room in pieces. He can still remember herhair tinted by the colors of the OPEN sign through the window. Blood red, likeher irises. Blood red, like all the tortures of her past. He hadn’t moved,feeling her labored breath return to something peaceful, reminiscent of sleep.She didn’t acknowledge it in the morning – back to her feisty, spirited self,but the night did repeat itself in other motels in other places, and he hadlistened every time – understandingfor the first time what it was to care about someone so much that you would doterrible things to protect them.

   “---but she refuses. She almost broke thenurse’s arm, you know. Won’t let anyone touch her. Started becoming violent assoon as she even saw the needles.” The doctor continues.

    “No shit.” Reno deadpans, incredulous.

    “And those are the only possibletreatments at the moment?” The President reaches out a hand to stroke DarkNation.

    “At the moment. But like I said, with moreobservation---”

    “…Let me ask her.” Théo cuts in, voicesounding loud in his ears after so much silence.

    “What?” The doctor snorts, gives theSOLDIER a once over, “---And who are you?”

    “That’s her partner.” Reno cuts in.

    “Let me try.” Théo says it again, thistime with more conviction even though the volume of his voice remains the same.“…She trusts me.”

    Stilted, awkward silence.

    “Couldn’t hurt.” Rufus drawls.

    “Your funeral.” Reno adds.

    “Hm.” The doctor stares at himskeptically, then steps out of the way.

     Inside the room, Rem is awake. But she’spale as a ghost, dark shadows beneath her eyes, lips parched and cracked, andso many wires and monitors hooked up to her that she looks like she’s part machine. She looks smaller somehow,skinny legs drawn towards herself beneath a billowing hospital gown. She glaresbalefully at the nurse at her bedside, who’s writing on a clipboard.

    Théo nods towards the door at the medicalstaff. They’re about to protest, but the steely look he casts toward them isenough to drop the temperature in the room by several degrees, and they quicklyshuffle out. He lopes over to his partner’s side, looks down at her – lookingsuddenly delicate, like her fire’s slowly distinguishing, and feels likesomeone’s reached into his chest and squeezedhis heart.

    “Hey Theola. Come to bust me out? Thisplace is a fuck’n dump.” Her voice sounds hoarse, a weak whisper, but there’s atrace of that smirk that’s so purely Rem,he could cry.

    His mouth twitches at the corner slightly,even though there’s a lump in his throat. He settles down awkwardly on her bed,can’t make eye contact, hates himself for what he needs to say next. “...Takethe mako, Rem.”

    She draws herself back from him like she’sbeen scalded. “The fuck did you jus’say?”

    “…You need the injections. You’re dying.”

    “FUCK YOU, I ain’t tak’n NOTH’N!” Shereaches over to shove him, and her strength is still something to beholddespite her being bedridden.

    “Rem.”

    “NO! YOU CAN FUCK’N GO TO HELL WITH THEREST OF ‘EM!” There’s a tremor in her voice now, her eyes bright and wet withtears and she lunges at him, tries to strike his face.

    His arms come up to shield himself, butalso to wrap her struggling form in an embrace. She wails furiously againsthim, claws at him, tries to bite him, but he hangs on to her like an anchor,takes every thrown curse word and abuse stoically, because he can. He needs her to know that he’ll always be the steady to her storm. That no matterwhat, his life is forfeit if her life is even remotely in danger. When finally she tiredly deflates, he can feelwetness against the front of his uniform, can feel her trembling beneath histouch (like so many times before, in dingy hotel rooms, and road stops). Ittakes every ounce of his strength to plead again. “…Rem, please.”

    “Fuck you, Théo.” Whispered and strained.But a surrender, none the less.

    Her cheek rests against his chest whenthey give her the first shot, and Théo makes sure to not break eye contact,even as her face distorts with pain and he can see her muscles tensing with thewill to fight. A hand comes up to rest on the back of her head, surprisinglygentle for someone of his stature. A reminder that he’s here. He’s solid. She can lean on him anytime, and he will notcrumble, no matter how it rends his heart. Even in the face of her demons, andher nightmares.