#(And my motivation to garden was kinda spent this year)

[thewirewitch]

So I planted a lychee seed

I got some lychee from the store last month and I decided to plant the seed from the very first one I ate (which was my first time ever eating fresh lychee).

And it ended up sprouting!

I decided to replant the seed since I had planted it vertically, and I felt horizontal would have been better.

(much root. such grow.)

SO smol...

But slowly...

Get taller :D

I plan on putting it in a larger pot once it cools down a bit outside (it's been HOT and HUMID). I really hope I'll be able to keep this little guy for a long time. Maybe they'll grow fruit someday :3

[v3nusxsky]

Hello, do you still take requests?

If yes, I would like to request of Lady Lesso x reader, where reader is a teacher in the school for good and a retired knight (I have a thing for that kind of stuff sorry (TwT') ). If it possible, in that scenario, Lesso and reader were childhood friends and are now lovers. Lesso and reader are sharing an intimate moment and reader is ashamed of their body full of scars, thinking they are fat and Lesso just reassuring them, praising them.

I absolutely love your writing and I also find comfort in them. And I would love if you could write about that, as finding yourself beautiful is a difficult task sometimes.😓

P.S: You're doing an amazing job, and once again, I love your work! ❤️❤️

Hello my darling, I am most certainly taking requests and instantly fell in love with this prompt. So thank you for sending it in <3 I’m glad you enjoy my writing I tried my best to capture the insecurities r would face as I’m no stranger to those insecurities myself. Thank you for your kinda words. Remember darlings you’re all so uniquely beautiful <3

My beautiful knight

*Authors note~ loving these prompts guys it's giving me so much creative freedom and it's all down to your ideas. The motivation you guys give me is crazy. Helps that lesso is amazing to write for. All of the support is so touching and I'm so glad to have you all here with me for these. Read on doves*

Trigger warnings~ scars

Prompt~ see the ask &lt;3

Lady Leonora Lesso. The Dean of the very school she went to. You couldn't be prouder of the women she has become. After all, you were the only constant person in her life, the one that stayed through everything and more. You saw Lesso go through the whole Rafal thing, the trauma of her past life in Gavaldon and some of the harshest punishments imaginable. You'd been there for it all. Despite the fact you were in different sides. Good and Evil. A perfect miss match of harmony. You quickly became the best of friends, supporting each other in anyway possible. She was actually the one who encouraged you with your dream of becoming a white night. After all she saw your potential, they form you had the strict way you would conduct yourself all screamed out "knight" and that is why when the opportunity came she encouraged you to take it with a heavy heart.

You were due to leave a week after graduation, to be a knight for Queen Athena, and personal guard for her daughter Isadora Saige. Although you knew you were extremely fortunate to be granted such an amazing opportunity you couldn't help but feel the sadness at leaving her. See Nora, only you were given the privilege to call her this, had been offered a job as the new dean of evil. Obviously she had to take it, it was a dream she had since arriving here and you couldn't be prouder of her. Your crush on her had only grown with the years you had spent building friendship despite your differences.

That is why before you left for Queen Athena's dark palace, you had planned a special trip for yourself and Nora. You readily set up a basket of all the favourite foods you knew she loved and some of your own, laying a blanket down just outside the gardens overlooking the fountain. You even had a few decorative pillows to make it look pretty. Then you had instructed Lesso to meet you here just before sundown. Now the time was approaching you nerves were growing. Why had you waited so long to tell her? What if she hated you after? What if she didn't even feel the same for you? What if she did? God this was so hard.

You saw her fiery mane rounding the corner to meet you at the exact destination you had planned. The nervous bubbled away within as you carefully watched her reactions. The smile that graced her gorgeous lips was worth every moment of stress. She quickly schooled that into a face of indifference. You knew that she would succeed in her new role and couldn't wait to see her grow into the amazing women you knew she was. You decided to ask her to be yours as the sun was setting. Nervously you rambled out a little speech about how much she means to you and how long you've loved her from afar. You knew this would be difficult but you wanted her to be yours. You knew Evers and Nevers shouldn't be together but what is life without a little shade of grey? You shared your first kiss under the moonlight surrounded by the shining stars in the sky. It was perfect and everything you had ever dreamed of and more.

The day you left had been hard, you saw how it broke her heart despite the facade she put on. You promised to write, and you promised to love her forever and always. With a lingering kiss to her lips you set off on your journey to be the knight she knew you could be. You did write. And so did she. Those letters were your everything. Everyone at the palace, even the Queen, knew those were important and should be passed on to you immediately. You saved every single one, keeping them for the bad days. You drew strength from her words, loving hearing that she was flourishing at her job. Just as you knew she would. You missed one another terribly but all you could do is wish to reunite soon. You had pledged your services to Queen Athena and as a knight you had to honour your word. So the day she released you due to an injury on the battlefield, you could've sobbed with happiness. Being a knight has been everything you ever dreamed it could be. But your heart craved your home. The women who you'd missed terribly for years.

Immediately you reached out to your old friend Clarissa, who just so happened to be your loves counterpart. You explained the situation and asked to become the teacher for defence, which Lesso had informed you had opened up. Clarissa jumped at the chance to accept your offer, immediately arranging for your return. She followed every thing you said including hiding your arrival from your lover. You received letters from Lesso explaining her frustration at the secrecy being displayed. You couldn't help but giggle at her frustration, still the same Nora you left all those years ago.

You were escorted by the Queen and Princess themselves as a thank you for all your service over the years. You couldn't help but feel nervous at returning to the school, seeing your old friends but also Nora. Although you wrote letters you hadn't seen her in years, what if she doesn't like you now you had seen true combat? The things you experienced scaring you in multiple ways, what if Nora decides your too much? Not perfect enough? What Ever is covered in scars?

Queen Athena and Dora as you had been allowed to call her decided on a tour of the school grounds, one that Clarissa happily provided. You immediately set off to find your girlfriend with the blessing of the royals. Dovey started the tour on the side for Evers giving you some time to reunite with your lover. Effortlessly, you climbed the stairs to your lovers office and peaked around her door. It was unsurprising to you that she was working diligently on paper work with her cane resting against the desk. Of course Lesso had told you about the incident that had her now using the cane. Naturally she didn't see the serious sides of it only stating the cane looked badass and added to be evil vibe.

She was so engrossed with her work you easily slipped into the room and behind her chair. You reached your hands around to hug her causing a very irritated huff to fall from her lips as she turned to reprimand this action. All threats dying in her throat when she laid eyes on you, in your active knight attire that was your amour. After all you still had her to be released from your oath. That was all it took for the women to drop her cane and throw herself into your awaiting embrace, practically knocking the wind from your lungs. "Hey you" you whispered your hot breath tickling her forehead as you held her swaying lightly. She was quick to hide her face in your neck breathing in the scent she had missed so much and you would be lying if you said you hadn't missed holding her in your arms. A happy sigh filling the room at the thought, this was life now.

You held her in your arms for a few minutes before your private moment was interrupted by Dovey and the royals. A gasp leaving Dora as she took in the sight of your lover. Queen Athena stood with her regal poise and signature smirk, taking in the scene in front of her. You really were her prized knight, her very best and to see you with your love truly warmed her blackened heart. After all the way you described the women was similar to how the queen saw herself. After a few interactions and praises of what a good knight you were, the queen released you of all duties and the oath you had taken all those years ago, in front of Dovey and Lesso so they would know you were no longer sworn in. This was actually something you'd requested for Athena to do. Isadora sobbed into her mothers shoulder as the carriage was driven away. As much as they would hold a place in your heart you were glad to be home. Not the school but the fiery red headed women stood gripping your arm as if you'd disappear.

An immediate assembly was called and you were introduced as the new professor of defensive arts. Your classes would be joined as we most these days. The students seemed to be fascinated by the fact they'd have a retired knight for a professor. Some even daring to ask questions about the Queen you served for. Obviously you answered the best you could while remaining carful of Athena's reputation but trying to remain truthful. Truthfully Queen Athena wasn't awful at all, in fact you enjoyed the privilege to serve her. But now all you wished was to be on your lovers arms.

When the assembly ended, Lesso lead you to her sleeping quarters happy to see your stuff had been placed in there. As soon as the door was shut she was scolding you for not telling her, you could tell she had actually loved her surprise this was just for a show of dominance. One thing Lesso didn't count on is how willing you'd be to submit to her. In fact you had her sit on the bed and knelt before her, swearing in an oath to always love support and cherish her.  That was what choked up the dean with tears and she pulled you into a bone crushing hug forgetting her leg until the amour clunked against it causing a pained whimper. Apologies were flowing freely, you haven't meant to hurt her you just wished for a cuddle.

You began to strip the armour off piece by piece gently placing it against the ground until you were left in just underwear. You could feel the gaze raking over your body, taking in every mark and scar. There were loads of them in different stages of healing. You kept your gaze downcast, embarrassed and waiting for a response at seeing just how hideous you believed yourself to be. You continued to wait as Lesso greedily drank in your form, eyes roaming over every inch of skin on display. Unbeknownst to you she longed to trace the scars with her fingers and eventually her tongue, feeling the rough edges. The longer it went on the more anxious you became, your own mind convincing you that Nora was disgusted by you. It was the only logical explanation for her long pause while she took you in.

To say you were startled when she threw herself at you once more hands instantly tracing the scaring lips attacking yours with a passion that caused you to moan into her mouth. Soon enough you had made your way to her bed where she laid you down and made sure to kiss every scar no matter how big or small and remind you that you were safe with her and she loved you no matter what.  You were and always would be her big brave white knight. You were still breathtakingly gorgeous no amount of scaring could change that, especially the beauty within.

Only when lesso had lavished you with kisses and kind words for every scar did she pull back up to full height, feeling the burn in her leg and noticing the tears streaming silently down your cheeks. "Oh my love? What's wrong?" She hummed concerned gathering you in her arms whilst wrapping you in a blanket to keep you warm. You just broke there in her arms, and she held you as you cried. Only when you had calmed down were you able to thank her. For encouraging you to follow your dream and waiting for you to come home to her. Never to leave her side again.

Word count ~ 2210

[seeking-elsewhither]

Okay, so @brb-on-a-quest had the most wholesome response to me coming back with a piece from project throne, and I felt kinda bad because it was an unfinished piece.

It motivated me to work on a little more of some other pieces in the project, and I managed to finish one!

Taglist: @igotthisaccountunderduress and @hiddenvioletsgrow (consider yourself tagged already, brb, this one's for youuuuu)

the weeping stars

Relief, dearly and gladly bought, washes over Eruvanda when she descries at last Glanweth’s little form bundled in her brother’s arms. As a moss to a tree does she cling, her quiet, hiccoughing words replacing the bird-cries of the still morning air.

So early it is, the sun has refused to show face as yet. The air is fresh and chill, drifting down from the cresting ice of the mountains. Eruvanda draws the blanket tight when it gusts about her bare skin.

“And after,” she hears from the quivering child, “The beast swallows you whole. And Andir, and Ertan, and Vanda, and, and—”

With a broken cry, little Glanweth becomes a being wrought of heartbreak.

“You were gone, you were gone,” she wails into Manveru’s shoulder, “Gone, gone, gone.”

There is nothing so terrible as hearing a child weep for fear, least of all one’s own. And even after so many years past, so many sleepless nights spent begging relief from shrieking sobs, so many days spent soothing little sorrows; even still does Eruvanda’s heart writhe with the agony of her grief.

“Ai, little one, light of my heart,” whispers Manveru, kind as ever. He takes with all gentleness one little hand in his. “See here, my love! See now the warmth in my hand. See now the warmth of my breath. There is yet life in me. There is still a song in my heart. Do not weep, little one, do not fear. It was only a dream, I am yet alive.”

Further does the child burrow into him, her cries softening where they are drowned into his chest. He pulls her closer, holds her dear, swearing with his deeds the presence of life.

When he raises his head, he meets Eruvanda’s eyes, and silent anguish shadows his features. He is yet young, she is reminded, only two and thirty winters past. Forever does he seem with a foot towards the grave, dark and worn with fatigue.

Quietly, she comes to stand beside him, as ever she has stood when she was a child and he her stars.

“Terrors plague her,” he murmurs, long fingers running through midnight locks, “She could not sleep.”

Eruvanda places a hand on the girl’s quivering back, her brows drawn, a frown pulling her features. “When did she waken?”

“A few glasses past.”

Her eyes stretch wide. “I was not aware, nor did I hear her rise. If she disturbed your sleep—”

“Peace, dear one.” There is such sweetness in his smiling eyes, it makes her flush like the crimson-bellied dawn. “What is rest to the troubles of your souls?

“And in any matter,” the worry returns to his soft voice, like clouds over the moon, “Glan did not waken me, and she was prudent not to rouse any, I believe. You cannot be to blame, not when she has endeavored thusly.”

But another reason causes the shadow to be drawn over his face as a veil. She opens her mouth to give her question voice. With a sigh, heavy like the anchor of a ship, it is he who first speaks.

“I found her weeping silently in the garden.”

The garden. At such an hour. In the chill of a spring morning.

“By the Alfar,” Eruvanda breathes, staring at the slumbering child with new and frightened eyes.

“What could possess her, Vanda,” he says in haunted voice, her head held against his heart with a hand, “What has she beheld that drove her to seek comfort in the cold dew and not the embrace of one beloved? How long, how many have we missed for lack of notice?”

Dreamer, flashes the thought in her mind, Seer.

“Do you mean to say…”

His head dips, chin buried in the child’s hair. His eyes are closed, and his years are increased beyond even death’s mark. Even though his arms are wound strong around her little frame, he must forever bow under the knowledge that there is only so much he can protect her from.

“Aye, Eruvanda. I do.”

So it is, as it was, and it shall be.

At last, with the rising sun, comes a child to bear the strange and unwonted virtue of Vision.

[7ban-sama]

Now that miss 2n2n mentioned it, I feel like Chasriel and Amatsuka have a similar dynamic… what do you think about it?

Generally speaking, I agree with my wife. She's quite smart. Smarter than me about many things. Hehe. But I do just have a bias... Chasriel is a big ship of mine & has been for years. :3 Can't help but at times see some commonality... at least in ah, the appeal for me, and why I am drawn to each of these.

I think the funniest... 'strongest' shared trait is the sheer, BEST FRIENDS FOREVER!! emotion Chara and Asriel share... We get all these details of their childhood, and it feels loaded in sentimentality. Matching striped shirts, matching heart lockets, shared toys, playing in the garden together... I love that Asriel delighted in Chara enough to like, want to record them. Hehehe!!! Do a scary face!! (⬅ help him... he's sick...) All that good stuff though. Even ahh, that thing we learned, where Asriel would copy the way Chara filled their water cups... Sighh. When you compound the stuff we've seen of Kris and Asriel's childhood, it gets unbearable really. (Thinking of Kris as like, a combination and unification of Frisk/Chara's identities, informing us more about Chara and Asriel. Sort of like AU versions of self.)

I think what glimpses we've seen of the Yugi, we can allude that there were many moments spent together, blissful, enjoying each other's company. Even if perhaps life was difficult around them, they had each other.

So many moments spent, indoor and outdoors, day and night. Holding hands, laughing, ahhh, oooh, the bliss-! Enjoying the beauty of life! And I think in each respective dynamic, the point is they were once like this, before tragedy strikes... That's like, why it's so sad that everything ended the way it did.

Though, entering kinda delusional talk, I think similarly there was some sort of...? Destructive, addictive element... Perhaps whatever lead to Amane being bound in rope and scraped up is, in a sense, comparable to Asriel dutifully feeding Chara buttercups. Even if the motivations perhaps are ultimately different? Chara wanted to save the underground; I think Amane was far more selfish with his motivation to kill Tsukasa and himself. I think Chara envisioned a future for Asriel where monsters would inherit the earth and he could see the surface, w/o them as a burden of a sibling. (A bit closer to Tsukasa's martyring, in that way.)

Anyways deep down I like to think Chara and Asriel were sick off of the... romanticizing of Asriel's loyalty to Chara, poisoning them... They were edgelord children. I think there was a lot to be felt, about meticulously bringing Chara buttercups, and this making them sicker. Keeping it a secret from mom and dad... The endgame of soul absorption, not a small boon either. Desire to become one? Meld? The idea of 'take your soul in me', between these two very close individuals, feels like it didn't go without... some sort of idealization. Didn't it at least sound kind of mystical, incredible, some final act, to become one... I figure Asriel just wasn't ready for the raw consequences of when Chara was finally, fully dead, and he had to interact with their corpse.

Meanwhile, for the Yugi, I also think the whole ropes ritual came with a sense of secrecy, loyalty to one another. Indulging in harming, being harmed, permitting each other to do that. The satisfaction of, I really would let you do anything to me... For Amane, who is chronically bad at expressing himself, it might have just felt so satisfying, he couldn't give it up. Even if it was making them both unwell.

In both of these instances... I think the destructive paths provided a way to express intimacy that the everyday platonic shenanigans couldn't. Which makes sense to me, for incest-?? The nature of it is, your relationship naturally has a 'limit' of closeness. Your family, you'll always be family, and family can play together in the backyard, but family can't... consummate... You can't be crazy and obsessed with one another more than, you love your parents, it's not how it works. But what do you do, if you feel it anyways? What if you're desperate for a means to prove to one another something — even if you're not fully aware of it? Amane never liked to look his feelings head-on, Asriel seems to have been processing for years that no one could replace Chara...

On the raw physicality side, it could have simply been satisfying to be bound and helpless, under Tsukasa's hands. Biting rope, the accruing injuries. Invasive touch...? And there was a point Chara was bed bound, but still being fed flowers. What did Asriel feel, going to the gardens, bringing back buttercups... touching their face? Hand-feeding them? Affirming they're going through with the plan? Later, as Flowey, Asriel is obsessed with the idea of getting to kill Chara again, over and over... I don't think he can conceptualize anything else more intense, than this act. The omega flowey fight is grossly sexual to me btw, the dialogue obscene. He would like to trap Chara endlessly in the void and be in a loop of stabbing/being stabbed kfkfkf... But IDK if Amane and Tsukasa can conceptualize more bc they just seem stupid horny for the thought of TSUKASA BEING RENDED TO PIECES, UNRECOGNIZABLE, AGAIN... SO..... *THROWS MY HANDS UP* This is what I mean by the ADDICTIVE quality of it all... When two people can't just go "I love you" and kiss, for many many complicated reasons, it feels like this is the best proxy.

(An aside: Chasriel is closer to 'childhood best friends' since they weren't raised very long together, but I think the interspecies is it's own sort of taboo. Meanwhile in Deltarune, Krisriel is more directly incest.)

I'm rambling without direction here, but I did just wanna tack on, Toby Fox is... a weeb, nerd, likes Japanese media and culture. They're clear inspirations for UT... so I feel like that kinda rings through in the themes. The fact that he's endeavored to learn JP, go to Japan, conduct interviews exclusively in JP... further gives me the impression the JP fandom is something he wants to engage. Perhaps, it's uniquely rewarding? And I find JP fandom sooner understands Chara and Asriel's story... Regardless of like, whether or not they ship or don't ship tbh, I think the whole childhood sentimentality contrasted with their mutual death, is understood... They loved each other, they spiraled into this, and ultimately they couldn't be without each other. And even after they died, it seems the force of what they did to one another...? Has kept them existing, even though they've been chopped & screwed. This is actually another interesting detail tbh, like I wonder as JSHK progresses... if Yorishiro Tsukasa will feel as ah, warped/been through so much, deconstructed what time even is... as much as Flowey does? Acting in an extreme way, perhaps more extreme than Azzy would ever be inclined to in living, as far as we know. It's interesting...

These are my thayoughts. Enjoi

[clarencethemouse]

!preview! of my latest original work

I’m publishing the prologue to my latest thingy. I’m kinda proud of the three chapters I have going on so far. Three chapters is only ever as far as I can get with originals, for some reason. But I haven’t run out of motivation yet. I think I can keep this one going :)

Tunnels. Tunnels flourished in Lila’s earliest memories. Her childhood consisted of hours leeched away in the study, and spending the better parts of a month hunkered below the palace. In refuge camps at the edge of the nation’s borders. Between the walls. 

Terrorists; her parents called them. Enemies of the court. Enemies of the people. The terrorists never targeted Lila and her siblings. At the time, Lila could not comprehend what the terrorists would target her home for. She was too naive to understand how anyone could hold grudges against her parents. The parents who had loved her and her siblings without fail, who were sacrificing so much for the benefit of the country and a future for their grandchildren. What could her parents have possibly done so wrong to invoke such wrath from their own people? 

Lila was a child. A child with such scarce experience of the world around her. She hardly spent time outside of the palace gardens under her mother’s watchful eye. No straying into the streets below, no mingling with the commoners. 

The last attack was the evening of Anastasia’s fifteenth birthday. The party had been well and bountiful. Their mother and father had given the speeches, wishes had been bestowed upon Ana’s upcoming year. The palace inhabitants were ready to retire. Rafael had been on his way to turn in with a woman from the Isles’ bakery when the wall blew out. Once again, Lila and her family were sent into the palace walls to wait out the attack. Rafael’s lady was killed upon impact, and the future king-in-waiting was put under the highest medical care. 

An attack on the king-in-waiting — even an indirect one — was a crime of the highest offense. The retaliation was immediate. Security was raised. More extensive background checks were enacted for incoming service and work. 

Lila was fourteen at the time. She remembered everything but understood none. Nothing at the time. From that evening, the advisors kept the children in their bedrooms. Mealtimes were the only daily occasion they were sent away from the protection of a locked set of doors. Locked with nothing more than an extensive collection of books and parchment to occupy her hours, Lila studied. What time wasn’t spent studying was spent daydreaming, her eyes lost in the view from the window. 

She had made friends with other children in the palace — sons, and daughters of cooks and scullery maids. Each of those treasured relationships disappeared in the months following Anastasia's birthday. Her parents disappeared from her life, as well as the lives of her siblings. The court had become paranoid. They feared for their place in power and authority more than ever. Never before had the acts of terror harmed a member of the houses, not until that night. Their resources had failed to protect the children once too many. The king no longer trusted his own highest colleagues. 

And yet, the terrorists never returned. By her father’s searches and deep scours of the nation, they were gone. Disappeared, like a sugar cube in tea. But like a sugar cube in tea, you could still taste their presence. 

Lila eventually learned to ignore their treacheries. They had disappeared. For years, the court’s paranoia continued and increased at every falling acorn to hit their heads. But they were safer than ever. Lila was nineteen when she finally came to that realization. 

All those years locked in her room, abandoning all hopes of growing past the sheltered worlds of the black words on yellowing paper…

The books protected her. Lessons protected her from the taunting evils of the world. 

But it was not enough. It was never enough. The books could only communicate with her in the times she was willing to imagine their displayed worlds. Otherwise, they were mere words on paper with no more purpose than to take up increasingly needed space. They were thick tools for hitting. That what had once offered refuge in times of suffering for Lila now made the day lengthen and the outside only seem more appealing. 

The walls of her home became suffocating. The air inside became dense and stale. Her siblings had moved on; wed or joined the army. But not her. She was stuck within the confines of her study, determined by her father to be the scholar of the family. The advisor, she was to be — seeing as the royal court could no longer adhere to their jobs as such. 

She had never regretted following her parents’ word more than on the eve of her twentieth birthday. The day after Anastasia had been wed. 

---

spread it around if you liked it. Spread the word! This novel will be reaching your local bookshelves... sometime! Within the next century!

[headinthe-fridge]

My Grandfather’s Lawyer (pt.6)

⁂ – Ushijima Wakatoshi x reader –  ⁂

warning: nsfw, swearing

Summary: Your grandfather, Washijo Tanji, disowned your mother when she was pregnant with you and her hatred towards him was passed on to you. Now, your estranged grandfather wants you to leave your life in Tokyo and come live with him in his estate in the Miyagi Prefecture.

You took a day off and a 6-hour trip, intending to give him a piece of your mind before disappearing from their lives forever. You didn’t expect to see an ailing and fragile old man. Your day trip stretched into weeks and soon, you patched things up with your estranged family and warmed up to everyone -except to one: Ushijima Wakatoshi -your grandfather’s lawyer.

He thinks you have ulterior motives in reuniting with your grandfather.

You weren’t suppose to care what he thinks of you. His opinion didn’t matter.

But it did.

Masterlist

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

AN: As promised, here’s part 6! This was a double udpate so if you haven’t read part 5, link is above this! :))

-----

“Well, here’s something you should be afraid of.”

It’s been two weeks since your episode with Ushijima at the hospital garden. Because of your conversation with him, the moment you slipped back inside your grandfather’s ward, you immediately told him that you would stay, for a time. 

Of course, your grandfather was ecstatic and his happiness made you momentarily forget you major irritation for Ushijima Wakatoshi -who, in your opinion is the greatest villain of all villains in the ‘The Story of My Life.’ 

How dare he? How dare he use emotional blackmail against me? You fumed.

Your cousins were elated and excited to have you as well, except for Hoshina. Not news, you were kinda expecting that. Your first problem was clothes. You didn’t bring any when you boarded the train that day but the twins were quick to help you with that. So you spent three days running around the mall, going on a shopping spree -you tried to avoid ridiculously expensive branded clothing but the twins just kept on deviating towards it.

You mentioned your financial concerns to Kuroo but he shrugged it off, saying you had 22 years worth of money to splurged -care of your grandfather. That didn’t help much with your guilt but nothing you can really do about it.

Next was your job back in Tokyo. You gave Kiyoko the heads up that you won’t be returning home, indefinitely, and the cafe manager, despite his disappointment, had no other choice but to find a replacement -which he found in Hinata Shoyou, a friend’s friend.

So far, your stay was pleasant and you were steadily building your relationship between your cousins (save Hoshina) and your grandfather. Hoshina was complicated, there were many time when you thought she was going to approach you, in a peaceful manner, but then proceeds to glare and scowl at your at the last second. It bummed you, honestly. You never had a sister (and so did she) so you wanted to reallyyyy bond with her. But, she was as stubborn and hard-headed as you are. 

You asked the twins one time where their parents are and they said Kuroo’s parents are on a business trip in Singapore, their father (your uncle, second eldest) is in Sendai, managing his own business -a publication- their parents were divorced and they rarely see their mother who has her own family in Southern part of Japan. Hoshina’s are in Tokyo, securing a deal for the family business.

While your grandfather remains the company president, Hoshina’s father is the CEO and her mother the COO. Despite being the youngest son, it seems her father was the most reliable when it came to business.

So all in all, these two weeks sped by unceremoniously. Your aunts and uncles were quite excited to meet you as well. And you were relieved that Hoshina’s attitude wasn’t from her parents. 

Your train of thoughts came to a halt when your phone rang. You placed down the glass of water on the countertop to reach for it in your pocket. Your cousins were all busy -of what, you didn’t know, but they all had lives before you came so accepted that fact that you’re gonna be alone for the rest of the day, while your grandfather is having his rest -you just came back from his room. As for Ushijima -well, you don’t give a damn about his whereabout. You haven’t spoken to him since the hospital incident.

“Kiyoko?” You asked upon answering but a different voice spoke over the speaker.

“y/n-chaaan, are you not coming back?” Cried the person at the other end of the line.

A soft chuckle escaped your lips. “Hey, Tooru-chan, I miss you too.”

Oikawa Toruu was your senior in high school. He was the one who got you interested in the medical field so you always looked up to him as your mentor. He is currently completing his residency at a hospital in Tokyo.

“I was about to comeback home but my grandfather got sick. I decided to stay to take care of him.”

“Please tell grandfather-chan to get well soon. Iwa-chan misses you too.”

You smiled fondly at the mention of his boyfriend. These two are quite inseparable. You talked for a while, catching up and hearing stories from back in Tokyo. You felt homesick all of a sudden, you missed your friends.

“Yeah, I’ll see you soon. Call me anytime!”

“Byebye, y/n-chan. Love yah!”

“Love you too, Tooru-chan.” You replied affectionately and ended the call. You were about to reach for the glass of water again when someone spoke.

“So, Tooru-chan, I gather, is someone special to you?” 

You whipped your head around, facing the lawyer with a scowl. The man had a deep frown on his face, shooting daggers at you -well, what’s new with that?

“So the real reason why you wanted to go back to Tokyo immediately was because someone was waiting for you?”

“A respectable lawyer wouldn’t eavesdrop on personal phone calls.”

“I heard you mention your grandfather’s condition so I got curious.”

“And why would it make you curious?”

He clicked his tongue. “Well, let’s just say I was beyond surprised when you decided to stay when the last time we talked, you were vehement on going back to Tokyo. I can’t help but wonder what your grandfather promised you to make you stay. More so, he put me into work after the two of you talked privately.”

“Promised? What do you mean? And so what if he made you work, don’t you work for him?” You asked though you already have a hunch on what the lawyer meant.

It made your blood boil to say the least.

“I’m his lawyer and I am the first to know everything that he wants to do with his properties and wealth and to whom he will bequeath them.” He said nonchalantly but you knew there’s an underlying meaning. “I always remind him to work on his last will and testament but he always put it off. Then all of a sudden, right after he talked to you, he called for me to arrange the documents.”

“Look, I don’t know why you’re telling me this but I do know that the nature of your work doesn’t involve betraying your client’s confidentiality.”

“I’m certainly aware of that but that is if the client wants it to be confidential. In the case of you grandfather, he hides nothing from his family, and with you as his grandchild I know that one of these days, he will talk to you about it -that is if he hasn’t told you yet.” He explained then smirked. “Or am I right that in one way or another, you influenced him in his decisions?”

Your jaw clenched at what Ushijima was insinuating. “You keep talking in circles. If you want to say something, spit it out! Get straight to the fucking point.” You spat but it didn’t affect the man a tiny bit.

He scoffed before advancing towards you. “Why are you so angry? We’re just talking, why be so defensive?” He took another step but you held your ground. “Guilty? Tell me, is that your condition with your grandfather, to give you almost everything and in return, you will stay here?”

Anger welled up within you, churning your insides, red filled your vision and the next thing you knew, your palm collided with Ushijima’s cheek with full force. A loud slap reverberated around the hall while your palm felt numb.

You didn’t give a damn, not even when Ushijima’s eyes burned in fury as he cupped the reddening cheek.

“So after knowing that you’re a Washijo heir you think you have the right to do that?”

If looks could kill, you would be laying dead by now

But you can’t lose to him. You don’t want to lose to Ushijima Wakatoshi. “You think you can scare me? Think again. I’m not sorry I slapped you and I’ll do it again -wholeheartedly if I must, the next time you accuse me of something that never crossed my mind!”

“You’re really brave, huh.” He dropped his hand and took a step even close, staring you down. “Well, here’s something you should be afraid of.”

In one swift, his hands caught your head and whatever you wanted to say got stuck in your throat when Ushijima sealed your mouth with his in a searing kiss.

Part 7

Taglist: @thegrumpyhag​ @sushij1ma​ @valoryess​ @yakus-yakult​ @ly-nia​ @ushi-please​ @plutoglass @kokofirebangbomb​ @strawberryy-milkk @melanieacademy​ @defunkitatedmess​ @lunarknox​ @wtoshii​ @kyomihann​ @multishippers-trash-blog​ 

[facultyloungecosplay]

Hey I’m the anon from yesterday and *sigh* I think I figured something else and I feel really bad about it. So I have good ideas when I’m not sad but they just don’t turn to reality as easily, that’s to say I can’t put them into words where when I’m usually sad or at least melancholic my hands just work on their own that’s my problem with consistency... well with inconsistency. My new problem is kinda disgusting... I like being praised? Let me explain quite a few months ago powered by some horrible things that didn’t even affect me directly (I don’t want to get into it, it’s still sore let’s just say parasocial relationships were disgustingly abused) and I not even really wanting too make something I made some of the best poems in my life... I shared on anon with another blog and they loved it they thought it was beautiful and I remembered the other times I sent random blogs anonymous poems when I was drunk or something and how they liked it so I made a tumblr for my poem and I made a few poems I liked and I made a few I didn’t (I even posted some of the ones I didn’t like) but it was all silent and that’s what made me loose interest I wasn’t liking them and others weren’t but at the same time I’m paralyzed at the thought of sharing my poems I could be off anon but I’m terrified you’ll think I’m manipulating you emotionally or trying too. I want to share myself but I’m afraid of something, something I don’t even know what... I’m the type of person I hate the most someone that doesn’t fight

Good morning and welcome back. 🤍

I’m going to level with you right away: we all want praise for our work.

I don’t mean that in a general sense either. I mean that as creative people, most of us thrive on praise and attention for our ideas, words, art. And it’s addictive! We thrive on it, we wither without it, and that causes us to slump in creating more. I can’t think of a single artist who hasn’t experienced it.

At some point, you need to ask yourself what your expectations are and why you’re writing your poetry. The issue with praise is that eventually it’s no longer enough; we need more! How come I got 100 notes on that last piece and only 25 on this one? Why aren’t people reblogging this instead of just liking it?

The problem, my dear, is that Tumblr really is an awful platform for artists these days. I’ve been here for...well, a very long time, and the dynamic somewhere in the last few years has changed. People really don’t reblog the way they used to. I get less asks, I see less interaction. And for a while, that bummed me out! I withdrew, refocused on other things, and now I’m getting to the point where I post with zero expectation. Here’s a stone bird I bought. Here’s my garden because I worked hard and it looks pretty today! Here’s what I’m reading!

I’m still working on cosplay and writing fanfic, of course. I was extremely fortunate to get quite a lot (for me) of attention when I started doing both on this platform. Now? I’m lucky to get 50 notes on cosplay (47 likes, 3 reblogs, one rb mine) and a few comments on fic. Is that disheartening? It can be. It really can! The difference between who I was when I started and who I am now, however, is in my motivation. I’m not trying to impress people. I’m sharing what has brought me joy to create.

I’m not saying I don’t miss the praise. It’s something that all artists love to hear. But the thing is - public opinion is fickle. People move onto to new artists or new fandoms or leave platforms. We can’t rely on or guilt trip people into engaging with us no matter how badly we want it (and for the record, anon, I don’t think that’s what you’re doing either). We have to learn how to create for ourselves and to find the joy in that first. Praise, if we get it, is a happy bonus.

I can’t tell you how to find the joy in creating for yourself. It took me a long time after my taste of online attention, but I know I had it before that, when I spent nights frantically writing stories no one else read (and still haven’t read). I wrote because I had stories in me that I needed to tell. I still do. And that is a tremendous kind of power, one that doesn’t exist because others told me it makes me worthy.

It’s up to you if you want to keep posting your poems online. Original work is notoriously difficult to promote on Tumblr in particular, but not impossible. You have to decide if that’s the route you want to go. Either way, I would implore you not to stop writing, no matter your choice. It sounds like you have stories to tell.

[givemestories-givemelife]

Blueberries, Lavender & Hot Matcha Tea  (Part 2)

A SasuHina ficlet

PART 1| Part 2

AN: THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THOSE WHO COMMENTED, OR RE-BLOGGED, OR LIKED THE FIRST PART TO THIS FIC. It truly means more than I can say. Helped a lot with motivation and it’s super cool to know that people are reading the things I write. I hope the follow up chapter doesn’t disappoint <3

Summary: Hinata has a run in with a familiar face.

Warnings: Brief mentions of grief and anxiety (because Hinata’s a nervous butterfly) but nothing remotely heavy. Also there’s alcohol consumption.

Word count: 6167

                                   __________________________

Lavender

Hinata knows that she needs to start putting herself out there. She can’t stay holed up comfortably in her room while years of her life pass on by, listening to cigarettes after sex under the safe warmth of her white fluffy blanket that still smells like her late mothers perfume, and sniffing essential oils like they’re some kind of soft-core drug to distract her spiralling thoughts from every embarrassingly mortifying predicament she’s ever found herself in.

She’s been trying really hard not to think about spilling her extra hot matcha latte all over this potentially handsome stranger a few days ago. She thinks - potentially - because she did not have the courage to look at the man's face after maiming him and probably ruining his expensive suit!

Hinata’s sure she must have ruined his entire morning, which must have ruined his whole day, and now he probably hates her. Oh goodness, Hinata strongly dislikes the thought of people out there in this world walking around hating her.  

Wow, these thoughts are entirely useless, she really needs to stop her brain from going down these awful paths.  

Today Hinata has decided to try really hard not to wallow in the comfort of all her numbing guilty pleasures.  

So, when Sakura Haruno, the loud and outgoing girl with pretty pink hair, who always smells like strawberries and vanilla from her photography course asked if she wanted to hangout and work on their portfolio’s after class; Hinata was thankful for the distraction.

They had spent that afternoon drinking green tea at the kitchen table in Sakura’s little homey apartment, showing each other their favourite pieces and sharing feedback.

“You have to include this one, it’s so cute” Sakura gushes, pointing at a print of children finger painting; a mischievous little boy is smearing bold red paint all over the face of a girl whose expression is twisted in pure terror.

“You have a real talent for capturing the essence of people.” She continues in a dreamy tone, “it’s like you’re able to capture the moment they’re most alive, even if it’s just the little moments, y’know?”  

Hinata blushes at the complement, “th-thank you Sakura.”

“It's kind of ironic that people are your main muse considering how afraid of them you are.” She teases.

“I’m not sca-AhyH!”

Of course, that’s the moment a woman with a giant blond ponytail barges through the door brandishing a bouquet of peonies making Hinata squeal. “Sakura I swear to god if you ate the last of the ice-cream again, I’m gonna- Oh! hello there.” The crazy flower lady stops mid-threat noticing a stranger in her apartment.

“Ino this is Hinata from class, Hinata this is my roommate Ino.” Sakura introduces, failing to constrain her laughter.

Ino’s demeanor does a 180 as she gently rests the flowers on her lacquered kitchen counter and approaches Hinata in a trance like state. “Your hair is so long and gorgeous, it totally reminds me of the violets we have at the flower shop -- you have to let me braid it.” She breathes and Hinata’s eyes are as wide as the sky outside.

“Ino, tone it down you’re going to scare her.” Sakura chides, rolling her eyes, not at all surprised by her roommate's antics. “Do you always have to act like such a spazz?”

“I am but a simple girl who is a slave to all things beautiful.” Ino proudly counters running her fingers through blue strands and Hinata mentally notes that she smells like a garden.

Sakura’s phone vibrates on the kitchen table, “it’s Naruto,” she says glancing at the screen. “Wondering when we’ll be coming over.”

“I don’t know, an hour or two? Tell him we’re bringing Hinata!” Ino adds excitedly and starts to braid blue hair without permission. “You should come out tonight with Sakura and I, meet the rest of the gang.”

“Oh.” In high school Hinata was never able to make friends with girls, and spent most of her time in the photography club’s black room developing pictures. Her introverted nature made it difficult to connect with people, but in this moment, the prospect of meeting Sakura’s friends, and the inclusive enthusiasm from these girls is making Hinata a little emotional. “I-I don’t know.”  

“Hinata, you don’t have to come if you don’t want to, but I think it could be good for you,” Sakura encourages.

“Carpe diem bitch,” is Ino’s convincing addition.

Hinata giggles, absent mindedly sniffing her wrist searching for the comforting sweet scent of the fragrance she’s wearing today, “yeah, okay.”

Ino makes a pleased sound and saunters over to a kitchen drawer to snatch a pair of scissors and clips the head off of one the peonies, then ties it into the base of Hinata’s braid. “You really have no idea how cute you are Hinata,” she coos observing her work in admiration and Hinata feels warm all over.

Hinata likes the rapport between Ino and Sakura, there’s something about their friendship that she finds inspiring.  

When they split what’s left of the chocolate ice-cream and start getting ready for a night out, Hinata can’t help pulling out her camera and snapping shots of Ino with her shades of purple and Sakura’s vibes in red. Hinata feels outshined in her usual high waisted mom jean and oversized grey patterned sweater.  

But that’s okay, she still feels like one of the girls.

~~~

Ino had made a strong case for wanting to get her steps in for the day, (since her fitbit said she had only reached 8243 so far) convincing the girls to walk to Naruto’s apartment instead of taking the bus. On their stroll Sakura and Ino began giving Hinata character profiles of everyone she was going to meet and Hinata found them to be quite amusing.

Ino playfully starts with, “Shikamaru’s like, my best bro. I’ve known him forever, smartest guy I know but a total stoner and he doesn’t give a fuck about anything.

“Choji gives the best hugs and he loves giving them, so if he looks like he’s going in for one - just let it happen - you’ll hurt his feelings if you don’t.”

“Naruto and Kiba are basically the same person and are the biggest loudest dorks on the planet,” Sakura chimes in, “but they’re also super friendly and kinda funny if you can get over their lack of brain cells.”

“Then there’s Sasuke,” Ino says, and hearing that name strikes a familiar chord with Hinata, triggering flashes of fond memories. “He’s really hot, but kind of a dick,” Ino hugs herself smiling at a distant memory, “basically, we all know each other from going to the same high school -”

“Ino and I had the hugest rivalry back then because we both wanted him.”  

“What happened?” Hinata really wanted to ask if they were talking about Sasuke Uchiha, but didn’t want to interrupt the momentum of their story.

“We were so stupid causing all sorts of drama in our little social circle nearly tearing it apart, and Sasuke wasn’t having any of it, one day he told us to grow the fuck up and to leave him alone.” That did kind of sound like something Sasuke would say, but that would just be too big of a coincidence, wouldn’t it?

“We both cried.” Sakura snickers sheepishly.

“Eventually we finally realized that friendships should be forever-”

“And boyfriends are whatever.” Both girls enthusiastically finish the rehearsed line making silly faces at each other.

Hinata giggles at that, whishing she had taken a picture, “awe, that’s so cute.”

“And now he’s one of our good friends, but I just want to warn you that he can be cold and he can be mean and if he says something dickish, please don’t take it personally.”

Hinata hums, only half listening to Ino. Was it possible that when Hinata arrives at this apartment she was going to be face to face with the childhood friend she hasn’t seen in over a decade?  

Guess she’ll just have to wait and see.

~~~

When Hinata enters the apartment, her senses are immediately overstimulated; it smells salty like ramen and sour with beer which clashes with how clean and pristine the space actually is. It’s decorated with blacks, whites and a few splashes of colors, but overall has a very minimalist feel.

Hinata barely has time to kick her shoes off before she’s surrounded by strangers, and can’t stop the heat from suffusing her face from the disorienting barrage of unwanted attention.  

“Hey bitches!” Ino yells at the group, “we’re here! We know you missed us!”

“This is the beautiful Hinata,” Sakura adds, and Hinata really wants to hide under a rock somewhere. “Be nice okay, she’s really shy.”

“Hey I’m Naruto.” A blond man appears beaming at her, outstretching his hand. “I have never seen eyes that look like your eyes before!”

“Oh.” Hinata went to shake his hand but was interrupted by another hand grabbing hers and kissing it, which is so uncalled for.

“And I’m Kiba, don’t listen to that guy, he’s a complete moron.” He says with a wolfish grin and Hinata has no idea what’s going on anymore.

When she tries to turn away, she’s met with the kind face of a stout man in a green Zelda t-shirt with his arms wide open for an inviting hug. She decides to accept her fate by awkwardly stepping forward wearing a confused pout, and lets the arms of a stranger wrap around her in what is surprisingly one of the best hugs she has ever received. He smells nice, Hinata thinks. Savoury and warm like a thanksgiving dinner. For a moment she actually feels safe, like a veil has been thrown over the sudden wave of chaos, giving her a quiet moment for her heartbeat to settle, “I’m Choji, it’s really nice to meet you Hinata, try not to worry so much, everyone here is harmless, I promise.” He says, rubbing gentle circles on her back.

When Choji pulls away, he sends her one last reassuring smile before padding off towards the ponytailed man currently dying of laughter, and joining him on a leather couch. Choji grabs a handful of potato chips from a bowl on the marble coffee table and starts earnestly snacking.

Snacks! Snacks sound really nice right now! Tasting tasty things can sometimes be a good distraction when Hinata is overwhelmed. She self-consciously shuffles forward towards the provisions, drawn towards the colorful array of fresh fruits, grabbing a small handful of blueberries and popping one of them in her mouth. She tries to ignore the pair legs in her periphery... she needs a moment before making another introduction.

Hinata jumps feeling a presence directly behind her, she twirls around to see Naruto pulling back appearing extremely guilty.

What was he doing?  Was he pointing at her hair?

“Hehehe, sorry about that,” he says, smiling sheepishly, and scratches the back of his head, “I was just pointing out to my friend here, how beautiful your hair is, what a wonderful shade of blue,” he made a weird face directed at someone over her head, “are you enjoying those, blueberries?”

Okay.

Hinata hears more laughter coming from ponytail boy on the couch.

Weird.

Hinata turns to see who Naruto is looking at and-

Oh.

Sasuke?

Sasuke was here.  

It was her Sasuke!

She instantly looks away, eyes wide, staring down at the hardwood floors.

Well, not her Sasuke. But an older version of the one she knew as a child. The one she met that one summer years ago and spent nearly every day with him before her mother fell ill and her family moved away in the wake of tragedy.

And he was... Glaring at her? No, he was glaring at Naruto? He kind of looked like he recognized her, but why would he be glaring?

“This is fucking stupid,” Sasuke seethes and takes off towards the kitchen, where Kiba and Ino are talking and drinking.

Ouch.

Sakura approaches Hinata with a glass in hand, Hinata stares at the ice clinking as she offers it, “vodka soda, with lime?”

Well, one drink couldn’t hurt, Hinata thinks.

She glances over at a brooding Sasuke leaning on the kitchen island sipping his beer.

She might need it.

~~~

It’s nearly an hour later and Hinata feels the dread sinking deep into the pit of her stomach. She desperately wishes she could conjure up some courage, approach Sasuke, and see how he’s been after all these years, but he still hasn’t left from his spot in the kitchen.  

She’s starting to believe that maybe he doesn’t recognize her, which is a rather sad thought.

Hinata also appears to be at the butt end of some sort of mean inside joke that she doesn’t understand, ponytail bo- Shikamaru and Naruto joined Sasuke in the kitchen and kept making not-so-subtle glances her way -- but whatever -- she’s a big girl, she’s not going to cry about it even if she wants to.

Currently she’s sitting on the puffy leather couch between Choji and Sakura, Sakura is sharing the memes she’s saved onto her phone this month with Ino and Kiba while Hinata stares down at the melting ice in her drink and Choji attempts to calm her with platitudes.

Hinata doesn’t regret coming tonight despite feeling like the biggest fool in existence.

After all, tonight she actually has the opportunity to reconnect with someone she still thinks about, even after all these years.

She has always wondered what had happened to that bratty boy she met that one summer.

The sinking feeling grows deeper and Hinata feels her heart beating in the drums of her ears.

She takes one last tentative sip before downing the rest of her drink and summons every ounce of bravery she didn’t know she had to strengthen her resolve.

She stands from the couch with shaky determination ignoring Choji’s concerned inquiry, then forces one foot in front of the other strait towards the guiding bright lights of the kitchen.

The easy conversation awkwardly dies down when she arrives beside Naruto and Sasuke. She feels both their gazes land on her, and Hinata spots an ugly orange magnet on the stainless-steel fridge Sasuke is leaning on that has the phrase - believe it! - stamped on it and chooses to direct most of her focus on the positive affirmation.

“Uh, hey Hinata, you doing okay?” Naruto asks, slightly taken aback. Hinata nods still focusing on the magnet, face heating up as the beginning of a buzz tingles in the corners of her mind. “Can I get you another drink?”

She looks down at the empty glass she grips and nods again, muttering a quiet thank you, and handing it over. He takes it and moves further down the island to chat with Shikamaru and starts making her another.

“Hi Sasuke,” she forces passed her chapped lips.

“Hello Hinata.” Sasuke says, sounding about as uncomfortable as she feels and she looks up, hopeful, to meet his burning gaze and quickly looks back at that stupid orange magnet.

“So, you do remember me?” She asks, confused as to why he’s been ignoring her since her arrival.

“I remember how two days ago you ran into me quite rudely, burning me with tea.”

Hinata’s brain short-circuits.  

“Wait what!?-”

No! No no no no no. Impossible. No.

“-That- that was you? oh my god, oh no! I am so sorry about that, I really wasn’t looking where I was going, I-I can’t believe this, I swear you just came out of nowhere though, oh my goodness, I can’t believe that was-”  

“Please just stop before you give yourself an aneurysm.” Sasuke lifts his hands in a placating manner and Hinata snaps her mouth shut. “So that’s not how you seem to know me?” He asks, further rankling as the conversation drags on.

“So you don’t remember me.” She says mostly to herself, completely humiliated by this entire exchange, every time she opens her mouth it’s like falling down a flight of stairs -- Hinata seriously wishes she would reach the bottom already.

“Remember you from... where?”  

“I-I mean I guess it’s not that surprising, we were only nine or ten at the time and it-it was only one summer... over a decade ago... You-you never really did call me by my name either.” Hinata says focusing on her twiddling fingers, her voice barely above a whisper, a pensive smile framing her lips at the memory.

There’s a long drawn out silence before Sasuke slowly asks, “...Tomato face?”  

Hinata feels her face burn red at the old moniker, nodding. “Yeah...”

“Hyuuga, Hinata. Shit. Yeah. I do remember.”

The culminating tension finally releases from the moment and Hinata smiles at the black and white tiles breathing just a little bit easier.

He remembers.

“Wait... Did I hear you call her a tomato?” Naruto returns with a mildly amused Shikamaru in tow, handing Hinata her drink, and looks between the pair completely intrigued.

~~~

It didn’t take long for the word to spread that Hinata and Sasuke were childhood friends and everyone congregated into the small-ish kitchen asking curious questions.

It also didn’t take long for everyone to lose interest when Naruto nudged Hinata and started grilling her for embarrassing details of what a prepubescent Sasuke was like, earning him a surly glare. Hinata shyly shrugged saying, “I-I don’t really remember, it was a long time ago.”  

Safe to say -- Naruto didn’t buy it, but surprisingly didn’t press further, and the group dispersed, leaving them to reacquaint.

The conversation between them after that was unfortunately still quite awkward, thankfully, Hinata wasn’t entirely to blame.

They exchanged small talk, Hinata mentions that she actually works at Heaven’s Little Corner and was just coming off her shift early when she ran into him the other day, and Sasuke talks about going to school and getting a Bachelor's degree in Business and how he focused on E-commerce after graduation. Overall, their -- re-connecting -- consisted of the typical pleasantries involved in catching up, and Hinata couldn’t distinguish if she was disappointed or relieved when their conversation came to a lull and she couldn’t think of anymore pointless verbiage to drag it along.

What she really wanted was to reminisce over hot days on the beach, collecting tiny crabs to occupy the sandcastles they built, and how Hinata had found sand in her hair days after the event. She wanted to talk about ice-cream and food fights and sneaking out to gaze at the stars in the night sky way past their bedtime, and how they pondered if aliens exist.

“I think the universe is too big for there not to be something out there somewhere.”  

She remembers Sasuke saying, thoughtfully looking up.

“I-I think you’re an alien.”

She said back, earning her an indignant huff.  

“Whatever tomato face.”

She wanted to talk about how simple everything was when they were kids, how she misses that naivety and how scary the world had revealed itself to be over the years.

Hinata was never good at making friends, even as a child, but she could still look back and she knew that Sasuke was one. He had been the last mark on her childhood that had made it a good one, the last moments she had to truly be a kid before she lost her mother, the truest love she had ever felt, forcing her to grow up.

Instead silence overtakes the kitchen and they both stare at their drinks unsure of what to say.

Sasuke isn’t how she remembers him at all. Yeah, he has the same face, just matured, and the same haughtiness, but the spark for life that had once inspired her seemed to be gone.

Which is an unfair thought to have, she admits, but she can’t stop herself from thinking it.

“Well I think it’s time to go on an adventure,” Naruto awkwardly offers.  

“An adventure?”  Hinata repeats, eyes growing wide.

“Naruto’s idea of an adventure is leaving the house and walking around the block.” Sasuke says rolling his eyes.

“Hey anything can be an adventure if you let it!”

~~~

It smells like damp grass and Hinata nearly jumps out of her skin as Naruto’s roar of triumph echo's off the surrounding buildings, catching the glow in the dark frisbee Kiba threw him. Sakura and Ino had joined them in their late-night excursion and Hinata can’t suppress the giddy giggles from watching them stumble about attempting athleticism when they are clearly four or five drinks deep.

She snaps a few photos and decides that she likes Naruto’s philosophy of approaching even the mundane aspects of life as an adventure.

This whole day certainly has felt like one.

Hinata puts her camera away, feels the chill in the October air, and pulls her scarf tighter. She casts a glance over at the park bench where Shikamaru was smoking a joint to see that he’s now casually chatting about... string theory? -- to Choji, who continues to nod his head like he understands.  

Her trailing gaze then lands on Sasuke and-  

Hinata immediately looks back towards the glowing air bound frisbee.  

He was watching her - he looked suspicious - Hinata doesn’t know of what.

“Hey Sakura,” Hinata tries to call out, voice wavering, “it’s getting late, I think I-I should start heading home.”

That seems to put a halt on the physical activity for a moment, she’s then hugged by every frisbee player.

“It was nice meeting you Hinata.”

“Come back any time.”

“Yes please! We need more girls in our group, Sakura and I are severely outnumbered.”  

“Are you sure you don’t want us to walk you?” Sakura slurs slightly, pulling away from the tight embrace.

“I’ll be fine, thank you Sakura,” Hinata smiles at her newest friend and turns to leave but stops at the bench to wave goodbye at Choji and Shikamaru, earning her a warm smile and a lazy nod. She looks at Sasuke’s arms proudly crossed over his broad chest and says, “it was nice seeing you again Sasuke.” And makes her way down the busy street, casting one last glance behind her just in time to see Sakura jump on Ino piggyback style to catch the frisbee in an impressive display of drunken camaraderie.

She smiles wider to herself. Wow. Today was a good day. An Adventure! Even if seeing Sasuke again was really weird and awkward and not at all how she wished it could have gone, she still met a lot of new people – Sakura's friends are so nice! They made her feel right at home and didn’t make her feel too weird about being shy and -

“Hey, Hinata.”

Hinata startles, hearing the sound of her name accompanied by footsteps catching up and her breath hitches when she turns to see Sasuke slowing down next to her.

“S-Sasuke? What are you-”

“I’m going to walk you home,” he snorts like it’s obvious, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his black jacket, “it’s late.”

“Oh,” Hinata hugs herself, suddenly feeling extremely self-conscious and maybe even a little nauseous as they walk in silence, their steps in sync.  

She can feel the heat of his gaze on her and Hinata makes a point to stare at the crispy autumn leaves on the pavement – yeah – Hinata has no idea what to make of this.

“You know it finally makes sense now, why I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”  

Hinata trips over nothing, “you what?”  

Leaves. Look at the leaves. The beautiful burnt orange leaves. Just. Keep. Looking.

“At the coffee shop, there was something about you, I couldn’t get you out of my mind. Guess I thought you were familiar somehow.” Sasuke shrugs, with an air of nonchalance as they cross the street.

“Oh,” Hinata’s starting to feel warm, she doesn’t know if it’s from their quickening pace, the two drinks she’s had or how Sasuke is close enough for their shoulders to brush.

“It’s kind of crazy that we’d run into each other like this, after all these years.”  

Hinata stops walking and Sasuke mirrors her. There’s something in his tone that catches Hinata off guard, something almost fond? Hinata looks back in the direction of his friends, they’re about five blocks away now.  

Sasuke seemed... different than how he’s been all night -- more open somehow. Maybe he feels weird about their earlier interactions too, but didn’t feel comfortable acting this way in front of his friends? Sasuke’s always been a very private person, even as a child.

“Yeah it is,” Hinata bites her lip and throws him a timid fleeting smile, silently wishing she knew what was going through his mind.

“So, why did you come back to Konoha.”  

“I-uh-” Hinata starts playing with the hem of her sweater and reminds herself it’s good to open up, “-wanted to figure out this life thing for myself – be independent - if my dad had his way, I’d never leave home or do anything that wasn’t part of his plan-” she tapers off, distracted by the approaching sound of music, a dumb smile spreads across her face when she sees an old skinny man on a sparkly bicycle riding past them on the road blaring ‘Dancing Queen’ from an oversized speaker he probably installed himself -- he seemed so – in the moment, like all that existed was him and the music filling the streets that he owned – Hinata silently mourns the missed opportunity of capturing that moment forever in a-

“You were saying,” Sasuke pokes her shoulder harder than necessary, bursting her from her reverie, and starts leading her down concrete stairs away from the bustling main road of the city, towards the waterfront.

“Right,” Hinata continues feeling energized from the random encounter and embarrassed from being caught drifting away in a daydream when they were in the middle of a conversation, “it was – uh - hard to leave my sister, but she encouraged me to go, that I should at least attempt to do the dream chasing thing.” Hinata pats her shoulder bag in reference to her camera. “I saved up some money and here I am, making it up as I go.”

“Hm, you always were snapping pictures everywhere you went.”  

Their steps slow to a stop once they reach the cold metal railing where tourists gather during the day overlooking the docks, but it’s mostly quiet at this time of night.

It smells cold from the breeze and salty from the ocean. The lampposts must need changing because the only light is from the half-moon in the cloudless sky, casting them in dark shades of blue.

Hinata takes a deep breath observing the skyline and the colorful lights reflecting in the undulating ocean waves, then asks the question that’s been bothering her since their seemingly kismet reunion. “What do you remember after all this time?”

“I remember...” He trails off, Hinata doesn’t miss the sly edge in his tone. “That I had told you I’d marry you one day,” his voice is deep, almost gravely when he takes a slow playful step closer and Hinata swears her heart skips several beats noticing their breaths mixing in the cold air between them. “And that... you were technically my first kiss.” He says with a sarcastic snort, stepping back, and gesticulates somewhere behind them. “You can’t tell them about it though. Especially Naruto, the idiot would never let me live it down.”

Hinata blushes at the memory and attempts to mask her frown with an indignant pout, trying not to take the jeer personally.

Sasuke always did like to mess with her.

“You were my only kiss.” Hinata then whispers without thinking and regrets it. She immediately hates the implications -- like she’s some inexperienced-love-sick-twenty-something, who’s never gotten over her childhood crush.

Hinata sighs, briefly drowning in her own self-deprecating thoughts, gripping at the railing, eyes a passing ship, and pretends she can’t feel him studying her, surprised by the admission.

“What do you remember?” He asks back, finally breaking the silence.

She bites her lip, thinking, a rush of memories flashing one by one, settling on their goodbye -- her sobbing because she had to move away to a new city thousands of miles away that had special doctors who could treat her mother, how Sasuke was speechless and could only squeeze her tight in the first and only hug they had ever shared.  

She remembers how he always told her she should stand up for herself, even against him, and she remembers how sometimes when she was around, he’d bite his tongue, holding back petulant sneers.

There’s a small quirk to her lips when she softly says, “Looking back, I-I always thought that we brought out the best in each other.”

There’s another long silence and Hinata once again feels the heavy weight of his gaze examining her, he reaches out and she stiffens when he gently grips the base of her braid touching the bright pink flower there.

“Did Ino do this?” He quietly asks, and there something hidden in his voice that shifts the mood of their conversation, and he’s close again, close enough for their visible breaths to once again mix, his fingers trail down towards the tail end of her braid.

“Uh huh.” Hinata breathes, watching his fingers play with the tip of her strands.

“Why can’t you…” he starts to ask, unsure, but curious, “never mind.” He let’s go of the braid, huffing lightly in frustration and leans on the railing, looking out towards the roaring waves.

Hinata’s stunned by his sudden apprehension. "Why can’t I what?”

“I said never mind.”

“But… I- I want to know.”

“Why can’t you look at me?”  

“Oh.”  

Sasuke sighs, “you don’t have to answer.”

Hinata bites her lip hard, internally wincing. “I-it’s not just you it’s most people really.” She starts, racking her brain for the right words “- It’s -it’s embarrassing… Well everything is embarrassing but, I get anxious about nothing all the time? And looking at people. I don’t know. I get paranoid that they can hear my thoughts or something? Not that I’m thinking about anything weird, well sometimes I am… it’s easier when they’re not looking back at me... Anyways... I guess it’s just become a bad habit now…” she sighs and smiles bitterly at the mess that just flew out of her mouth. “So, to summarize, looking at people kind of sometimes really freaks me out?”

“I see,” Sasuke says, Hinata glances at his mouth, he’s smiling a little, it’s almost warm in an amused sort of way, which completely disarms her.  

Hinata’s tongue feels dry, “uhm, do-do you ever feel anxious?”  

“Never. I get annoyed or frustrated with people very easily though, which can be problematic, not that I care”

“I guess some things never change then.” Hinata teases gently.

Sasuke smirks, he seems ready to retort with a quip but retreats and opts for something entirely different, “are there things that help you with your anxiety?”

There’s something about the question that makes Hinata feel warm all over, she never really gets to talk about these kinds of things without it feeling like it would dampen the mood, but there’s surprisingly no judgement in his tone, he seems genuinely curious, which encourages her to open up some more, "I find different scents to be calming, so I wear whatever my current favorite essential oil is on my wrist every day and whenever I feel too overwhelmed,” Hinata begins to explain in a rush pulling her sleeve up to demonstrate and presents Sasuke her wrist, “I close my eyes, count down from ten and-” Hinata’s breath catches in her throat and her eyes fly open when Sasuke gently pulls her forward by the wrist and she feels the softness of his lips brush over her pulse, then draws in a slow breath to scent the fragrance she chose to wear that day, “...and... sniff.”

Oh goodness, is it getting hot out here? Because Hinata’s face feels like it’s about to burst into flames. Hinata debates pulling her arm back but is currently enraptured by the softest look she’s seen on the Uchiha’s face this evening.  

This feels way too intimate, and Hinata thinks she likes it. Hinata thinks that maybe this is what’s been missing in her life. The feeling of being close to someone in more ways than just proximity. Is it possible she’s been physically and emotionally touch starved for years without realizing it?

That’s a thought that petrifies her. How sleeping on your basest human needs can become a habit, and you find yourself going through the trivial motions of existence, not bothering to search for more, for something that makes your heart sing, twist, and turn into itself the way that muscle pumping blood through her circulatory system at a quickening pace is doing right now.

“Lavender,” Sasuke murmurs against her wrist and his breath feels hot on her skin, Hinata struggles for breath when the sensation brings her back to the present moment and she realizes that she’s been staring directly into his darkened obsidian eyes, boring into hers and she finds herself unable to look away. A subtle look of achievement flashes through them when he softly asks, “you okay there?”

Is she dead? Is she imagining this? This whole situation with the soft touches coinciding with depressing epiphanies triggered by Sasuke smelling her suddenly seems completely absurd, and Hinata’s not sure she’ll be able to form a coherent sentence any time soon.

“I uh, uhm.” There’s definitely something wrong with Hinata’s voice when she attempts to speak.

“I think that...” Sasuke smoothly adjusts their hands to interlock their fingers and his hand feels so warm in hers, “you should go out with me.”

What is happening?

“No.”

Hinata kinda meant to say yes, but sure, no works too?

“What?”

“I mean, I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Hinata winces slightly. Gosh what is she even saying? Is this some sort of weird defense mechanism because she’s afraid of getting hurt?  

Sasuke nods slowly, narrowing his eyes, “why not.”

Don’t you have to risk getting hurt to get anywhere in life that’s worth while?

“I-I don’t know.”

“Hn.” Sasuke breaks eye contact and lets their holding hands fall. Hinata reels at the loss of warmth. He turns away from her and crosses his arms over the railing and looks out towards the dark rhythmic waves of the ocean. Hinata worries her bottom lip between her teeth as she studies the man before her. The moonlight is hitting the sharp angles of his face just perfect, and Hinata’s in awe. He’s all grown up now, and by default that means Hinata is too. Yet, here they are, the oldest they’ve been, and still the youngest they will ever be.  

Nostalgia floods through Hinata’s system, deciding to grab the moment instead of letting it pass. She’s not sure when she pulled the camera out of her bag, but the flash went off before she understood that she was taking a picture.

Sasuke jumps slightly at the flash and is pulled from his brooding thoughts, shooting her a puzzled glare.

“Sorry, that was kind of weird of me. I just – I just thought you-you looked erm... nice in the moonlight?”  

A bewildered look flashes across Sasuke’s face before a small smile begins to form and he laughs! He actually, genuinely laughs while shaking his head in what appears to be disbelief.  

The only thing Hinata can do is smile sheepishly distracted by how handsome he looks when he lets go of his composure, the light in his eyes makes him look younger, like the Sasuke she knew all those years ago.  

Hinata wonders if any of his friends get to see him like this.

He looks down at the pavement, shoulders still shaking, smile still present and pinches the bridge of his nose while taking in a slow breath and on his exhale, he reaches into his pocket, pulls out his phone, unlocks it, hands it over and says, “give me your number.”

Hinata tentatively obliges, pulling open the add new contact page, filling in the blanks then handing it back. Sasuke starts typing something in his phone and asks. “Do you work Sunday?”  

“Uhm, yes?”  

Hinata’s phone buzzes, when retrieving it from her bag she sees a text from an unknown number.

>> I’m going to come by after your shift and I'm taking you out. Don’t even bother using your mouth to respond.

Hinata feels her fingers tingling and tries to open her mouth to speak, closes it, bites her lip to try and stifle her giggles and resists the urge to slap herself in the face for acting like a complete airhead.

She pushes her fears aside one more time tonight...

And takes the damn dive.

<< Okay <3

                __________________________

AN2:  Wow, okay. A month later and I have the second part to this little story. This is the first time that I’m posting something I didn’t just throw together in one sitting. I’ve also never posted anything that was longer than 1200 words and it’s unexpectedly a little nerve-wracking??? OKAY SO, I guess there’s going to be one last chapter and it’s going to be like 90% SasuHina interactions? And spoiler alert they’re finally going to make-out. I have this SasuHina headcannon where they’re both private people who generally keep to themselves -- so people think they’re a boring couple, but when they’re alone together it’s like they’re in their own little world, and that’s the dynamic I’m looking forward to exploring in the final part.  I’m not sure when it’s going to be up since I have a bunch of other stuff I need to work on so it depends on how the inspo hits me, but I do have plenty of fun ideas!

[bangtiddies]

The Other Sunflower (Part One)

Pairing: Yoongi x Reader, side Vmin Genre: Angst, Fluff, Childhood Friends, Hybird AU (kinda?), Dystopian Sci Fi (kinda?) Rating: PG15 Words: 2.8k Warnings: mentions of death, child neglect, anxiety, and panic attacks

Summary: When sunflowers are grown too close together, they'll compete and won't mature fully. Yoongi, grown too close to you, was taken away from you so you can reach full maturity. Now, after escaping from the garden, you try to find out what happened to Yoongi.

Note: This is my Bouquet Days gift for @shadowsremedy!! I’m so sorry it took so long for me to write and post this but I hope you love it! 🥺 I tried to incorporate the things you mentioned into this fic so it might be one genius plot or a big clusterfuck. We’ll find out 😉 Also a massive thank you for @mikroparadise​ for reading this fic and giving me the validation I need and to all my fellow writers across different network servers who helped me with research!

You don’t remember much of your childhood other than blurred memories of the sun, wires connected to your body, and isolation. What you do remember clearly, however, is the young boy you spent time with.

They tried to erase your memories of him. From the wires they connected to the stickers on your brain, they wanted you to forget. But in moments of darkness, when the sun wasn’t enough for you, you would remember the other sunflower in The Garden. The other sunflower they released because he was no longer useful to them.

When you asked for him after he was taken away, they told you that if sunflowers are growing too close to each other, they’d compete and not reach full maturity. That he had to be removed. In hushed whispers while you were pretending to be asleep, they talked about how he was ‘not needed’. You were all they needed. The only sunflower growing in The Garden.

It was lonely being the only sunflower. They wouldn’t let you mingle with the poppies or the roses. The curious daisies and buttercups would try to talk to you, only to be shooed away by them. You grew up in isolation. And when the moon shone through the windows of your room, your dome, your lab, the memories of your playful childhood with the other sunflower would start to materialise in the room around you.

Around you, versions of the younger you play with versions of the other sunflower, chasing each other around the room. Secrets shared in hushed whispers when he'd sneak out of his tube in the dome to talk to you under the stars and moonlight.

When you finally fell asleep, those memories would disappear with the sunrise. They would wake you up when the sun was shining through the dome to do more tests on your body. To force your body to reach the best it possibly could. They had high expectations for you. Their only sunflower.

Running away from The Garden wasn't a choice that had crossed your mind.

But, after you had reached your maturity, you stumbled upon the file in the office right next to your dome. The office was empty, the staff member who was usually there had gone to get lunch. They trusted you too much, thinking that your curious nature was gone. That your memories of the other sunflower were erased. Now that you were fully mature, they trusted you to be their willing tool.

The file showed information of the other sunflower. Flicking through it, you read that the other sunflower was deposited in a city not too far away from The Garden. You continued to look through the file, searching for any more information that would help you. You reached the back of the file and you found it. An address. A name you had forgotten.

Min Yoongi.

Your curious nature got the best of you. You had no reason to stay in The Garden. You had no close friends, no motivation to stay there as their tool. You wanted to find the only thing that gave you light.

And at night, you slip out of The Garden. It was too easy.

Without looking back, you head toward the city to find Min Yoongi.

To find the other sunflower.

The city is a lot different to the images you've seen in books, having only seen the big buildings and bright pretty lights. The city is overwhelming, people and vehicles everywhere, your years in isolation making you realise that you lack in any kind of social skills. Sunflowers are supposed to be pretty and stand tall in the sun. You never had any lessons on how to communicate with people. Now that you think about it, other than the other sunflower, you hardly talked to anyone in The Garden at all.

Finding the address is difficult - navigating the city was different to what you had expected. Your pride in your navigation skills from the tests you had to take diminishes in the bustling streets of the city. But after a few hours of taking wrong turns and using the map of the city you found in the cabinets of the office, you finally found the address you were looking for.

The building of the address is old, the stone walls covered in vines and morning glories. The flowers tell you that they took over the building, giggling to each other about their plan to cover the whole street. A sign above the door of the building writes a word that you wish you knew about before you found the address.

Orphanage.

Your heart sinks at the word, your realisation that the other sunflower was probably discarded somewhere that was convenient because he was no longer useful to The Garden. You doubt that he would be here, knowing well enough that if you're a matured flower, he would be too. Still, you knock on the door, in hopes that you'd find more information about the other sunflower.

You wait a few minutes in anticipation, before the door is slowly opened by a curious young girl with doe eyes. She stares at you with wide eyes, a mixture of excitement and fear in them.

"Hello," you give her a smile. "Is there an adult I can speak to here?"

She nods, staring at you for a little while longer as if she's analysing you before scurrying away. You ask the morning glories if they can hear discussions going on inside.

She told an older woman that you're a pretty lady. You sunflowers always know how to please people.

You smile to yourself at the morning glory's words, just as an older woman walks to the door.

"Hello, can I help you?" she asks you, looking you up and down.

One of the morning glories tells you, they don't get enough adopters here. They're probably wondering if you're here to adopt a child.

You try not to let your smile falter. You want to. The young girl looks so excited that you might be here to adopt her and your heart almost breaks that you have to bring that excitement down. Still, you keep the smile on your face, ready to charm the older woman into telling you about what you came here for - the other sunflower.

"Hello, I'm looking for an old friend of mine and the information I found tells me that he was once here."

The young girl's excitement drops a little, but she still continues to look at you with such awe. You hope that you're not using your charm too much.

You are, one of the morning glories whisper.

Another one says, who are you looking for?

"Sure, what's his name," the older woman asks, charmed by your smile, returning it with a kind smile.

"Min Yoongi," you say, answering both her question and the one from the morning glory.

The morning glories gasp. The older woman's jaw drops a little before she composes herself.

"Come in," she says quietly, opening the door wider to invite you in.

We heard about Min Yoongi from our mothers, the morning glories say as you walk into the orphanage. He's a bad sunflower.

You wonder what they mean by 'bad sunflower' while you follow the older woman to the door of what seems to be an office. The young girl follows the two of you before she's stopped by another woman, this one younger than the older woman, whom you're assuming is the lead caregiver of this orphanage.

"C'mon, Daisy. It's supposed to be your bedtime," the younger caregiver says, picking the young girl up. You give the girl a small smile as she's whisked away by the woman.

The lead caregiver opens the door to the office, and she invites you into the room. You walk in, the older woman closing the door to the office before moving to the desk. You look around the room, the lack of wallpaper in the building unnerving to you. There's an uncovered light bulb hanging from the ceiling in the middle of the room. Three small windows are placed on two sides of the square room and the lack of curtains shows you glimpses of the city through the many vines and morning glories. The room looks nothing like an office, and more like an unfurnished room in the midst of renovation.

"You might not like what I'm about to show you," she says, grabbing a file from the first drawer of the desk and handing it to you. You accept it, giving her a grateful smile, feeling the rough texture of the yellowing cardboard file before sitting down on the small wooden chair in front of the desk and opening it. There seems to be a few documents in there but the first one catches your attention. It's a newspaper article.

Local gang fights lead to deaths of young men.

The article is recent, dated a year ago. You look through the names of the suspected deaths before your eyes land on one.

Min Yoongi.

Tears prickle at your eyes as your hands shake, gripping the sides of the file. The light bulb in the room turns off. Shadows from the lights outside that filtered through the small windows start to overtake the room as the brightness of the room disappears. The shadows whispering to you, asking you to give them physical forms. The lead caretaker mumbles something about a power cut but you don't hear her. All you can think about is the despair that you'll never see the other sunflower again. The morning glories outside start yelling at you, telling you to SNAP OUT OF IT!!

Small arms wrap themselves around you as the light in the room suddenly turns back on. You take your eyes off the file to turn to the body wrapped around you to see the young girl from before. Daisy.

"Don't let the Shadows take over," she whispers to you.

And then you realise. You realise why she's been looking at you with such curious eyes. Not only was she expecting for an adopter but she saw who you were underneath the skin of a normal human being. The young girl, she's like you -- a Flower. A daisy. But she's a little different to the daisies at The Garden, she doesn't have the same aura as normal flowers and Flowers from The Garden. You can't quite put a finger on it but you know that she knows. She knows you're a Flower.

"Daisy!" the woman from before barges into the office, steam coming out of her ears. "What did I say about bedtime?"

Daisy pouts, gripping her arms around you. "I want to be with the pretty lady."

"The pretty lady isn't here for you, Daisy," the lead caretaker says from her desk with an exasperated sigh. She turns to you with an apologetic smile. "I'm so sorry about her. Ever since one of our co-workers left, she's been, uh, difficult."

"You should go meet Taetae, pretty lady!" Daisy says, unwrapping herself from around you so she can show you her grin with missing teeth. "He likes sunflowers!"

"Okay, enough about Mr Kim, young lady. It's time for bed," the younger caretaker says, grabbing Daisy's hand and pulling her out of the office. Daisy waves at you with a knowing smile before the office door is closed. You turn back to the head caretaker.

"Thank you so much for your help," you say to her, giving her a charming smile.

She smiles back. "If there's anything I can help you with, let me know."

Get Kim Taehyung's address, the morning glories whisper. He's just like you. He can help you.

You use your charm on the head caretaker, giving her the brightest smile you can muster. "Actually, could I ask you a favour?"

The house in front of you has sunflowers on the front porch. They face the sun with pride, ready to lift the spirits of the people who walk past. Look at me! Look at me!

Daisy lets go of your hand, running to the front door of the house and ringing the doorbell before you could say anything to stop her. You stand by the open front gate awkwardly as the door opens a few minutes after. Daisy jumps in excitement.

"Taetae!" she giggles, leaping into the arms of the man who opened the door. He looks surprised a second before a boxy grin breaks out and he wraps his arms around the small girl.

"Daisy, what are you doing here?" he asks, adjusting her so he's resting her on his hips. He looks at her with such joy, as if she lights up his world.

He must love children, you think, letting the sunflowers hear your thoughts.

Oh, he does, the sunflowers say. We think he loves them more than us.

The man, you notice, seems to be a Flower, his bright red hair and eyebrows being an obvious flower trait. If you got a better look at him, you'd guess exactly what kind of flower he is. You think about asking the sunflowers, but you’re a little worried that the sunflowers might tell him your thoughts.

"I came here with a pretty sunflower lady!" Daisy points a finger at you. “She stayed the night at the orphanage and read me a nice book.”

You awkwardly smile as the man turns his attention toward you. You lift your hand to wave your fingers, and your breath hitches when you see that the man's eyes darkened at the sight of you.

"How about we get inside," he says. "We wouldn't want any unwanted listeners."

He invites you inside the house, still holding Daisy on his hips, and he closes the door behind you. You hear him talking to the sunflowers, and in that moment, you also realise what kind of flower he is. He's a unique one, one you haven't quite seen nor heard of before. But you do remember looking at files of failed projects in The Garden during your training.

"Kim Taehyung," you whisper. "Bird of Paradise."

The man, who was walking past you down the hallway, stops in his tracks. He breathes in deeply, before breathing out again.

"Follow me," he whispers, leading you down the hall. The interior of the house is like the exterior, bright and colourful with paintings of sunflowers on the walls. But with the lights out and the curtains drawn, the hallway looks dark and eerie. It looks almost like you had stepped into one of those virtual reality tests where you had to search for a perpetrator. Anxiety fills your lungs at the reminder of those tests. You hated those tests.

Pushing your anxiety aside, you follow Kim Taehyung down the hall toward a door. He opens it and you see stairs leading down. You follow him down into the basement, the lack of windows making you feel slightly more on edge. The lights on the walls are enough for you to see the steps below you and Kim Taehyung's red hair in front of you. When you reach the bottom of the stairs, you find that you're standing in front of three doors. Each of the doors look exactly the same, brown and worn with a copper door handle.

Kim Taehyung places Daisy down on her feet, before turning to the door on the furthest right and unlocking it, opening the door to yet another hallway. He flicks the light switch by the entrance and the lights down the hallway turn on one by one. The hallway is long and narrow, and you wonder how long it goes on for. The stone walls of the underground hallway intimidates you as you start walking toward an unknown destination. Daisy holds your hand and Kim Taehyung's, a bounce in her step.

The three of you walk for a good ten minutes or so before the path splits into two. Kim Taehyung stops, looks around, before leading you down the left path. You walk for another five minutes before you reach another door. Kim Taehyung unlocks it, opens it, and you find yourself in a basement similar to the one you were in before. He turns to the door closest to the one you walked out of and knocks on it in a specific pattern.

You wait in anticipation, breath hitched, as you hear the noises of somebody walking toward the door. The door opens, slightly ajar, and you hear a man’s voice.

“Codeword?”

“Mandu.”

“Oh my god, Taehyung!” the door opens to reveal a pink haired man, arms crossed with a pout on his lips. “How many times to I have to tell you I’m sorry?! I can’t have you mentioning the mandu incident when I’m trying to be professional!”

Kim Taehyung smirks, “I just wanted to see you worked up, babe. I forgive you.”

The pink haired man smiles, before realising that they’re not alone. “Wait, why are you here?”

“I have someone the crew might want to meet,” Kim Taehyung says, gesturing to you. The pink haired man’s eyes widen at the sight of you.

“A sunflower,” he whispers.

“Get Hoseok hyung,” Kim Taehyung says. “We’re calling a meeting.”

masterlist (to be posted) | next (coming soon)

[hotel-japanifornia]

What’s your feelings on godot i do feel sorry for him and i don’t hate him but he was a huge prick to Phoenix

Godot is a rather complex character. I like him as a character in general, however the fandom does seem to misunderstand who he is and what his motives are, even his fans.

When we first meet Godot chronologically, we meet him as the defense lawyer, Diego Armando. Diego is honestly pretty charming, he’s smooth, he’s confident, he’s cool, and I like the way he plays off of Mia. I personally never found the “kitten” nickname sexist nor do I understand why it would even be considered that way. It’s never said once that Diego doesn’t think Mia is lesser for her gender. In fact, in their first conversation during the case, this is said:

Armando:No, no, no… You’ve got it all wrong! Today, YOU’RE the finest! After all, it took an amazing amount of guts to take this case! Imagine… An escaped death row convict for a first client!

If anything, I think the whole kitten thing is probably just his nickname for rookies in general, and not necessarily women. I’ve seen people think it’s his way of flirting with her, and that’s possible too, just not necessarily how I see it. Anyways, at the end of the case, Mia beats herself up because she thinks that she was the reason her client died and Diego gives her this piece of advice:

Armando:Don’t you get it? You can’t cry yet. The only time a lawyer can cry is when it’s all over.

Mia:M-Mr. Armando…

It’s honestly a good piece of advice, and I love how Mia takes inspiration from that quote and uses it towards Phoenix even if it’s said in a different way:

“The toughest of times are when lawyers have to put on their biggest smiles.”

It’s not exactly the same as what Diego said, sure, but it does have the same meaning. In that way at least, you can see the impact he must have left on Mia. Regarding the two’s relationship for a moment, I do think they had just started dating when Diego was poisoned. It does explain why Grossberg calls Diego Mia’s boyfriend, but I digress.

When we meet him in 3-2 and 3-3, it’s obvious he dislikes Phoenix but we don’t know why yet. Honestly, Godot is probably one of my favorite parts of 3-2: he’s mysterious and confident, but he also has some goofy moments like when he refers to himself as a legendary prosecutor because he’s never lost a case but he’s also never won one either. I don’t know that it was intended to be funny but it’s always made me snicker a little. He comes off as being a jerk sure but so did Edgeworth and Franziska, and like them, we learn more about Godot and his motivations later on.

Godot in 3-3 is why I can never agree that T&T has a filler case. For one, in 3-3, you learn about Godot’s inability to see red on white when he fails to notice the ketchup on Maggey’s apron. It’s an extremely subtle moment, but it’s given quite a bit of focus so the player could then assume that that unique feature will be important later on. Godot is still mysterious and a jerk but I love the way that he handles Furio and willingly admits to being the one who summoned him to court. Like Nick said after the fact:

(T… Too cool…) 

Not only that, but he does manage to have a somewhat nice moment with Phoenix at the end of the case after throwing coffee at him:

Godot:Well done… Trite. I saved my 17th cup of coffee just for you. Savor it… While you watch your caged prey. 

While we don’t learn that much more about Godot than we did in 3-2; what we do learn about him plays a very important role in a case later on. 3-3 isn’t directly involved with the Feys at all, but it does have some importance to the overall plot of the game.

We meet Armando in 3-4 which is the first playable case chronologically in the trilogy’s timeline. Right off the bat, we notice he looks similar to Godot, the two even have a similar suit to each other, just different colors and have a similar hairstyle. I’m not entirely sure how many people guessed that Godot and Diego Armando were the same person right away but I think people might have at least thought the two were related at least (I’ve even seen people think that Godot and Diego were identical twins!). As for me, I kinda had a feeling since the two look alike and have the same love for the hot, bitter lady known as coffee.

Godot is extremely important to 3-5. If it wasn’t for him forming a plan to save Maya with Misty and Iris, Maya would be dead. Thing is, I don’t agree that Godot is entirely to blame for not going to the police and bringing the plot to them or just burning the note the whole way through. If the latter had happened, Pearl would have told Morgan she couldn’t find it and Morgan would definitely suspect that something was going on and possibly even relay the plan to Pearl herself. The former happening is unlikely because of reasons that I will go into a bit deeper. Another problem lies in that Misty also shares some of the blame herself but this post isn’t about her so I won’t go deep into it. 

We don’t see Godot until the second investigation period when Dusky Bridge has been rebuilt and Phoenix enters the Inner Temple, desperate to find Maya. It’s there that we learn why Godot hates Phoenix so much. Godot blames Phoenix for the murder of Mia Fey. He states that since Phoenix was there at the time, he should have protected her and by failing to do so, he in a sense, killed her. And because Maya is missing at the time, he goes further and says that Phoenix killed Maya indirectly by failing to protect her when she needed it most.

Personally, I find this conversation to be more Godot venting out his frustrations on Phoenix. Think about it, the guy spent 5 years in a coma because a psycho killer poisoned his coffee. He wakes up and he finds out that his girlfriend was murdered while he was in a coma. He feels mad at himself for not being able to protect Mia and thus sought to protect Maya as a way to make amends. While it seems like a weird conversation and just another example of Godot being a douche during one’s first time going through the case; a replay of the case after finishing it helps shed new light on the conversation the two have. 

We also learn more about Godot’s inability to see red on white during that same encounter in greater detail. He says that his eyes are messed up and that mask is the only way he can see. Although it’s not much, it is something. 

During the first trial portion of the last trial day, Godot starts acting rather strangely. When he learns that there was writing in red on the stone lantern in the Inner Temple Garden, he starts freaking out. Not only that but he actually helps calm Phoenix down when he freaks out over Dahlia’s suggestion that Maya jumped into the Eagle River from the Inner Temple side, and tells him that would be impossible to do.

Eventually, after Dahlia has been exorcised from Maya’s body, the Judge attempts to hand down his verdict. Godot immediately objects and says that they still don’t know who killed Misty, and the only person who can testify about that is Maya Fey. Some people have called this move callous and insensitive to the state that Maya is in, but it really isn’t. Godot could have simply let the Judge hand his verdict down and get away with his crime. But he doesn’t, he requests that they summon the one person that could incriminate him. Also, he does show a fair bit of empathy towards Maya in this exchange of dialogue towards her before her first testimony:

Godot:Straighten up this moment, young lady!

Maya:Huh…?

Godot:Pick your head up and speak clearly. There’s always time for crying later.

Maya:B-But I…

Godot:Your mother was killed right in front of your eyes! There’s nothing you can do to change that fact.

Maya:…!

Godot:But there’s something you can do… You can finish this. You’ve been watching the whole thing right? You’ve seen the witnesses come out and you’ve seen us squeeze the truth out of them. Now it’s your turn. …Let’s hear your testimony. On the night of the crime… what exactly did you see happen!?

It’s pretty obvious during Maya’s testimony that she’s willing to protect the identity of whoever killed her mother, even to the point that she begs Phoenix not to reveal his identity and even suggests that she thought it was a man for other reasons than the three red glowing lights. We also get to hear about this one cute little story about an interaction between him and Pearl in which he actually comforted her and gave her coffee. That’s pretty sweet…and kinda dangerous.

Still, it’s quite obvious upon cross-examining Maya that Godot is the killer, so why is she covering up for the man who killed her mother to the point that she’d be found guilty otherwise? Godot did save Maya’s life in the process of killing Misty who was channeling Dahlia at the time and would have killed her if Godot hadn’t intervened. Maya is plenty aware of this and it is in character for her to do something like that.

We also learn through Godot’s self-reflection that he knows that he could have killed Pearl instead of Misty that night and that Misty’s murder was out of a fit of rage against the ghost of the woman who ruined his life. He also goes on to say that he’s not really sure that him saving Maya’s life was out of a genuine will to protect her, and even tells her that if he genuinely wanted to help Maya, he should have gone to Phoenix instead. Despite this, Maya genuinely believes that he wanted to save her life and so does Phoenix even despite the way Godot had treated him up to that point.

Godot is an extremely gray character and it’s really interesting to study him as a character, who he is and what his intentions were. I don’t think he truthfully wanted to kill anyone that night in the Inner Temple Garden, all he wanted to do was protect Maya the way he wanted to protect Mia. He was never willing to actually kill anybody and even helped Phoenix catch him in the end. Iris and Misty both played a role in this plan too and made their own share of screw-ups so I don’t understand why people shift so much of the blame for it onto Godot?

Honestly though, I think that the whole black-white morality lens that people typically view characters through doesn’t really work with characters like Godot. Godot is not a good guy but he’s not a cookie cutter bad guy like some of the culprits in this series seem to be and that’s what makes him so intriguing to me. He’s not my favorite character, but I can see why someone may say he’s their favorite.

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #328

okay i’m going the fuck to bed now. @_@

Have you ever worn fake eyelashes? No; the only time I ever will will possibly be my wedding, if even then. Could you possibly write a successful novel? I think I'm capable, but I don't believe it will happen. Who’s the last person you video-chatted with? My therapy group via Zoom. Do ski lifts make you nervous or do you like them? Never been in one, but they seem cool. Have you ever had dandruff? I have dandruff AND a dry scalp. Nice combo. Do you think sleeve tattoos look trashy? Please explain to me how ANY tattoo inherently equates to being "trashy." I actually love sleeve tats. Have you ever gone through a phase of crushing on EVERYONE? No. I experienced a few crushes my freshman year of high school, but they weren't just anybody. If you had to get a portrait tattoo, who would it be of? I may or may not get a tattoo of Darkiplier doing his i c o n i c debut smile somewhere, but idk. I already have one tattoo related to Mark and would kill for another with his handwriting, so having three would be a bit... wild, haha. Do you have any stickers on any of your electronic devices? No. Do you like the smell of men’s colognes better than woman’s perfumes? Usually. Can you remember what you last clapped for? Yes; everyone in group clapped for one of the women taking a big step against her agoraphobia. Is your hair damaged? No, it's actually super healthy. Are you in charge of cleaning anything in your household? The litterbox and my room in general. Ever carved/written anything on a park bench? No. Most interesting place you’ve ever visited? Chicago was a big shock to me. I am FAR from used to cities that incredible and stocked. Do you keep your eyebrows more thick or thin? I don't groom them, so they're on the thicker end. Do you always wear a bra? Not at home and if there's no company. Do your shoulder blades protrude? No. Have you ever won on one of those grabber machine things? Yeah, a few times. Are you gonna French kiss your hubby at your wedding? Who says I'm marrying a man? But whatever, no. Keep that behind closed doors. How many bananas have you ever eaten in a row? No more than two. I usually don't even have two. Have you ever had sex outside? No. Have you ever been outside naked? No. Have you ever been in a shrubbery maze? No. You ever like someone who liked you back, but didn’t want a relationship?: That's pretty much where I'm at now. Have you ever fallen for someone who didn’t feel the same? No. Are you financially stable? No. Mom can barely afford rent right now; I had to pay it last month with gifted money. Are you emotionally stable? hunny Do you think kids these days are growing up too quickly? I kinda think so, yeah. It's funny how different kids are now compared to when I was whatever age they are. I try to be open-minded about it, though; times change, and I don't expect my generation to be the only "right" way to have grown up. I just think kids are chasing the power of "maturity" with much more vigor. Are you a rebel? Not really. Do you like when people use proper grammar on the Internet? Yeah. I like conversing with people who type just how they talk, like me. Have you ever driven or been a passenger on a motorcycle? Neither. I don't want to ride one. Do you use standard time, or 24 hour time? Standard time. Do you enjoy NASCAR? "HE'S MAKIN ANOTHER LEFT TURRRRRRN!" Lol no, I really don't. Who is the most fascinating person you’ve met? Probably Sara, honestly. What amazing adventures have you been on? What's this "adventure" you speak of? What would you do if had enough money to not need a job? Lots of traveling with my camera, still selling art anyway. What TV series do you keep coming back to and re-watching? None. What would your perfect vacation look like? Y'know, one of those glass dome ceiling cabin... things in the mountains with Sara would be so, SO cool. So much nature for us to explore. What are some obscure things that you are or were really into? Most of my interests honestly, haha. The strangest is probably "vulture culture," in which the remains (typically the bones) of a naturally deceased wild animal are basically recycled for some sort of artistic purpose. You could consider my roadkill photography an example. What are some things everyone should try at least once? I dunno, man. Depends on what you're into. What would your perfect morning be like? Cuddles with an s/o watching some funny videos or something like that to get in some morning laughter. What are you always game for? Video games, haha. What do you do to unwind? Watch YouTube. What’s your favorite piece of furniture you’ve ever owned? I don't have a fave. What would be the best city to live in? I don't want to live in a city. What would you like to know more about, but haven’t had the time to look into it? Time isn't an issue; I just haven't. There's lots of stuff. I'm a very curious person. How have you changed from when you were in high school? I'm less depressed, but more confused, scared, and much less motivated. Imagine a chicken wandering around with its head chopped off. Where is the most fun place around where you live? Nothing, really... Where would your friends or family be most surprised to find you? Like, a strip club or something. What’s expensive but totally worth it? This depends on what's important to you. For me, a quality DSLR camera. When do you feel most out of place? Whenever I'm some place fancy. What’s the most recent thing you’ve done for the first time? No idea. What small seemingly insignificant decision had a massive impact on your life? Accepting Jason's friend request on Facebook because I thought it was a different Jason I actually knew. What did you do last summer? Nothing, just stayed indoors trying not to melt into a sizzling puddle. What are you most grateful for? My mom. What’s the most essential part of a friendship? Trust, maybe. When was the last time you walked for more than an hour? Many, many years ago when I used to walk outside for hours with my iPod. All modesty aside, what are you better at than 90% of people? It doesn’t have to be useful or serious, it can be something ridiculous. 90% is a lot, man. Maybe bonding with animals? What’s the strangest phone conversation you’ve ever had? I don���t know. What do you like but are kind of embarrassed to admit? If I'm embarrassed by it, I have no interest in sharing it. What skill or ability have you always wanted to learn? Even just a smidge of social skills. What’s the best meal you’ve ever had? Probably the spicy shrimp fritas at Olive Garden. I adore those sooooooooo so much. Where was your favorite place to go when you were a kid? The zoo. We didn't go often at all, but I would frequently nag Mom about going. What’s something that most people haven’t done, but you have? Fed a freshly severed rat to a vulture. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I wanna go back to that bird rescue... What says the most about a person? How they treat others. What machine or appliance in your house aggravates you the most? The dryer. It can take a few rounds to fully dry something. What places have you visited that exceeded your expectations? Chicago, that I actually remember. Disney World probably did, but I was just a little kid and only have faint memories of the trip. What’s the worst advice someone has given you? I don't know. Besides your home and your work, where do you spend most of your time? People leave their houses? What are your top 3 favorite things to talk about? Mark, meerkats, and video games. When you were a kid, what seemed like the best thing about being a grown up? No one could tell me no for "stupid" reasons. What’s the strangest way you’ve become friends with someone? Strange way? I haven't got a clue. What’s your favorite band NAME (not necessarily your favorite band)? Maybe Cradle of Filth. Badass metal name. There are a lot of good ones, though. What’s your favorite thing to do outdoors? Take pictures of flowers or animals. How often do you dance? Silly/ironic dancing counts. Essentially never. Who besides your parents taught you the most about life? Jason, I guess. What’s been the most significant plot twist in your own life? The breakup that I thought was physically impossible, entirely unfathomable. Where did you take family vacations to when you were younger? We didn't really go on vacations. If you could instantly receive a Ph.D. in any discipline including all the knowledge and experience that goes along with it, what would your Ph.D. be in? Biology. What are the top three social situations you try to avoid most? Anywhere where I have to speak publicly; parties/get-togethers involving people I don't know; anywhere that is extremely crowded. Just social situations in general, really... What friendship you’ve had has impacted you the most? My friendship with Sara. What’s something you’re interested in that most people wouldn’t expect? Uhhh I don't know, really. What’s the hardest you’ve worked for something? My recovery from the breakup. What took you way too long to figure out? The only person who had any right to control my happiness and will to live was myself. What nicknames have you had throughout your life? If you include online ones as well, there's Britt, Britt-Britt, Twinkie, Bee, Flower, Ruby, Mozart2, Ozz(y), Alessa, and uhhh... I wanna say that's it? What do you do differently than most people? I deconstruct my breakfast biscuits to eat one part at a time... haha. Where’s the last place you’d ever go? Prison. What fact floored you when you heard it? That my dad did some hard drugs before us kids were born. I was entirely speechless. Have you ever watched a needle go into your own skin? Yeah, it doesn't bother me. Have you ever spent more than two weeks in a wheelchair? No. Does weed smell good? Or no? Ugh, no. It smells awful. Do you blow dry your hair or do you let it air out? Air dry. Do you catch lizards? No; I don't like the idea of catching wild animals just to pick up and check out. That poor critter is terrified. I'd rather just take pictures of it and let it go about its day. Would you rather get a big tattoo or small tattoo? I want my next tattoo to be a big'n. How many pills do you take every morning? I absolutely do not want to count. A whole lot. What was the last parade you went to? /shrug What theme would you choose for a baby’s nursery? If I was hypothetically having kids, let's see. A son, absolutely dinosaurs. A daughter, maybe meadowy with baby animals. My baby blanket was full of baby animals, so it'd be kinda cute, that connection. What color would you paint a baby girl’s nursery? Not because of gender norms, but by personal choice, pastel pink. Does your first crush know that he/she was your first crush? No. What is the last thing you missed out on that you wanted to go to? Hm. Who do you wish were your best friend? I am perfectly happy with who already is my best friend. Who do you wish you could go on another date with? She knows. Who was the last friend of yours to have a baby, and what’s the baby’s name? I'm not sure, but my high school friend Megan is due to have her daughter Persephone soon! She won the naming game. Like damn, how badass would it feel for your name to be Persephone. Do you have a favorite M&M? Just the classic ones. Is it easy to make you cry? OHHHHH YES IT IS. Have you ever snuck out? Nah. Who was the last person to comment you? On Facebook? My friend Lyndsey commented on a photo I shared. What song reminds you of being in middle school? "All Signs Point to Lauderdale" by A Day To Remember is the anthem for going through puberty in school and trying to figure yourself out. What was the first thing you learned how to cook? Scrambled eggs. What’s something really basic that you’re terrible at? Cooking. Are you pale or tan? I'm very pale. When’s the last time you were kissed? On the lips, like two or so years ago. Do you like the movie Grease? Never seen it, actually. What’s your favorite Jim Carrey movie? The Mask, probably. What was the last baby animal you saw in the wild? I think a fawn. Have you been binge-watching any shows lately? If so, what? No. What’s the best physical feeling in the entire universe? I meeeaaan... Do you have bad anxiety? If so, do you take any kind of medication for it? Yes and yes. If you could, would you work from home? Do you think that would make you more or less productive? Well, it's complicated. I don't, but I also want to be a freelance photographer, so I kinda would. I like the idea of having an office in my house purely for productive activities to prevent becoming lazy because I'd be at home. Would you ever be an organ donor? I am one.

[jq37]

The Report Card – Fantasy High Sophomore Year Ep 14

Brennan Says It’s My Turn With The Daddy Issues

So we’re in hell--literally, not emotionally (at least for the moment). We being Fig, Riz, Gilear, the Hangman, and the blood-imp valet that Fig created last week who is ostensibly named Wretchrot but also picks up the nickname Baby this episode because of shenanigans. Wretchrot brings them all to where they’ll be staying, says a bunch of wild stuff in his weird Rita Repulsa voice, and drinks Fig’s blood which is what he is made of. Riz is bullied by the Hangman and misses the other half of his Nerd Squad. 

Anyway, Wretchrot takes the group on a little tour of Gorthalax’s stuff starting with the library which includes books that steal souls and also legal texts (redundant). Fig looks for a book on devil dating advice while Riz looks for something on the Hellish legal system On a 17, Fig finds a Manual for Succubi and Incubi about extracting souls via the penis. More helpfully, on a 16, Riz finds out that coups are baked into the ruling system of hell and killing someone to ascend to the throne is pretty par for the course. 

Next up is the hall of treasures where there are suits of armor themed to the 7 deadly sins including kinky, gimp, Lust armor they briefly consider equipping either Gilear or Kristen with (Ally breaks at that). There are also these Venitian style masks through which the people who failed to kill Gorthalax to take his place are forced to watch him do his thing. 

They pass through a hall of mirrors which they realize is a kind of security system as it shows things as they really are. Wretchrot appears in the mirror as a drop of Fig’s blood. The Hangman appears as a huge puppy!!!! (OK, a hellhound but all canines are puppies). Riz holds up the photo of Kalina to the mirror and, in the mirror, can’t see her in the photo. However, he does she her in the mirror itself. She waves at him and then appears “in person”.  Fig doesn’t know this is going on and asks Riz if he’s emotionally OK with the fact that they just whip out the photo of his dead dad on the regular. Riz says it’s fine but he quickly becomes less fine when Kalina asks if he'd like to see his dad. He starts to answer her out loud but she tells him that, by talking out loud, he’s tipped off Fig potentially so he should lose her and then meet her alone. The Hangman guards everyone while Riz and Fig split up, to find stuff to test in front of the mirror. Well, that’s the stated plan anyway.

Back in Arborly, Adaine is getting to check an item off of her Teen Girl Life Experiences checklist: Spilling Tea About Your Friend’s New GF. She gleefully does the whole, “I can’t tell you but I’ll tell you if you guess right,” routine before outright confirming that while crustacean shenanigans were happening in the house Fig and Ayda were sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G! Everyone in the group goes feral over the news, especially the Gay Squad. She vaguely recalls that Ayda also told her some information about a rune or something but everyone agrees that she retained the most important information. 

They decide to call Aguefort about their coins and the rune (Kristen wisely having all the infected people leave the room). Aguefort tells them that the coins that they have comprise Kalvaxus’s hoard but not his original hoard as it has been spent and invested and put into the economy. Classic Ship of Theseus problem (ie: If you have a ship and you start replacing damaged parts of it, by the time you've replaced all the parts, is it even the same ship?). He also reminds them that spending the gold as quickly as possible is a good idea to avoid the dragon madness curse which is on all dragon gold (a weak but very hard to break curse). That prompts Adaine to describe the rune she discovered to him and he tells her basically the same stuff Ayda did last episode. She wonders if dragon madness could be the larger, static curse under which the trojan horse curse (the spellbook) is hiding. Gorgug wants to give all of the gold away and Fabian is not about that life at all.

Back in hell (literally and emotionally now) Riz prepares to meet Kalina. With a 25 Investigation, he finds a sliver of mirror that he can bring with him to keep from being tricked. He’s also mindful of being paralyzed while he’s with Kalina at the edge of a hell cliff so he anchors himself with a rope tied around his waist. Kalina is her usual aloof, darkly charming self when they speak and Riz is pretty flustered, asking if she was his dad’s familiar (no). Kalina says that Riz didn’t really know his dad and the question he isn’t asking but should be is how did his dad meet her in the first place.

She takes him to a little secret passageway which she says goes to a liminal place where he can see between the levels. She gives him the help action to get a good look (which makes Murph extremely nervous) but he only gets an 11 which means all that he sees is a cold, white light coming from the opening. He tries to use his mirror to look inside but on a 13 dex save, his footing is shaky and some rocks fall down the side of the cliff (he’s fine). Kalina says that he’s gonna have to man up and walk down the tunnel if he wants to see what’s going on. She fully reveals that she’s incorporeal and can’t actually touch him to mess with him if that helps at all. 

Riz is clearly struggling with the choice but he ultimately decides that he can’t pass up this chance and that he can trust Fig to rescue him if things go south. He leaves her a note and then steps through. Within the tunnel, he can feel things watching him and hear a chittering that’s weirdly somehow coming from him. In front of him is a smoky room lit by a cone of light--think interrogation room in an old detective show. In a chair, covered in blood and shit and tattered clothes is Pok Gukgak, gagged and chained. Riz reaches for him but, as he tries to step forward, he reaches the end of his rope. Someone unseen splashes Pok with water and tells him to “confess” and “tell us what you know.” Riz pulls out his gun--his dad’s gun--to shoot out the light. As he does, a thought comes unbidden: You know what the kind thing to do with that gun would be. That shakes Riz so he lowers the gun and starts to untie himself. He’s stopped by Kalina (speaking in his mind) who tells him that if he steps in the light, he’ll be on another level of hell in the Iron City of Dis for real. Not just looking in. Riz pulls out his mirror shard and confirms that it really is his dad in there being tortured. He leaves the tunnel.

Kalina says that she knows Riz is all hopped up on doing his quest and stopping the Nightmare King but if he just stops, if they all stop, none of his friends will have to die and, bonus, maybe there will be a little rescue mission for his dad in it for him. Riz wants to know if Pok knew what her true nature was and he seems to think he cheated on his mom with her (“I know what happened between you two. I can do the math.” Which seems logistically improbable but OK). She reminds him that Pok was a spy which means it’s naive to think that every thing he did was good and taunts him about his clue hound nature before vanishing.  

Riz meets up back with Gilear and Fig and he spills about everything. Gilear wants Riz to have lunch and drink some water before he does anything rash. Fig says that they don’t need Kalina to rescue Pok. They know crazy-person Bill Seacaster who’s also in hell. She lights a beacon to help him find them (if you remember, the Hangman has been attempting to contact him for Fabian). One thing I didn’t mention before is that Fig brought up the idea of temporarily installing herself as the ruler of Gorthalax's section of hell so she’d be a powerful enough devil (or devil-adjacent entity) to get them into Sylvere. Wretchrot said it was probably a no-go since she’s half mortal but, now, on a 29 Riz re-reads his legal book and realizes that Fig wouldn’t actually have to kill Gorthalax to take his place, she just needs to defeat him, which she technically has by putting him in a gem and they put that together almost before Brennan is done narrating. They have a new plan.

The other Bad Kids are discussing what Arianwyn is up to and Gorgug suggests that maybe she’s not actually working with Kalina. Maybe she’s playing along but actually has ulterior motives. Kristen looks at Arianwyn’s notes and on a 24 “Empath Roll” (Brennan converts this Ally-ism to an Insight check) sees that at a certain point, Arianwyn started making leaps in her research that were too lucky and suggest someone was helping her--possibly the entity she was researching. Adaine thinks about calling her mom using Sending or her new Sinod of Spire spell but Ayda calls Adaine and asks if she can come over. Of course she can. She comes with her recently summoned tropical fish familiar in a bubble of water--it has the very Albus Severus name of “Garthy and Adaine the Fish” which Adaine is thrilled about but also suggests shortening to GAF (and also considering reconstituting it into a cuddlier form--though the image of her dumping Boggy into GAF’s bubble is super adorable). Meanwhile, Kristen is thrilled to welcome her to “the family” because being gay is the same as visiting an Olive Garden (this is a shirt now because Ally said it which is too much power to give to Ally). Ayda kinda sucks some of the fun out of teasing her about her relationship with Fig by being extremely forthright about it but Kristen and Adaine brighten at the thought that Fig will be a lot more fun to tease. 

But, back to business. Ayda has not slept because she’s been working on getting to Fig. The whole group is like, “Bitch, are you OK?” and give her an ice cream sandwich which is proper Good Friend Protocol if you have them on hand I think. Ayda is super worried about Fig and is just about ready to unmake everything standing between them (Normal lesbian move according to Kristen). They talk her down for the moment in favor of sending Fig a message: Fig you sneaky bitch. Ayda’s here. She wants to invade hell. You good? PS: OOOOOOOOOOOH. PPS: Ask Kalvaxus about dragon madness. Fig completely misses the fact that they know what’s going on with Ayda (you’d think they’d be more in sync which each others’ texting shorthand) and sends back a message saying she hopes they have fun with her but, “not too much fun,” and also that she, “is king” with no further explanation. Wild. 

Ayda, who is still super keyed up to get Fig, thinks she can figure out the Planeshift spell but she needs more time to work on the spell which she could get...if they steal her dad’s time stopping pocketwatch. Considering they watched Aguefort grab the sun out of the sky the other day, they’re not super down to have a possibly adverse encounter with the man but they hear her out. While they do that, Gorgug takes his now working phone and just straight up calls the guy, explaining the situation (including Ayda’s involvement) and asking to borrow the watch. Aguefort is a little taken aback by the fact that Ayda would want any kind of contact with him at all because about 300 years back, she told him to never contact her again and that she would leave notes to her future self detailing why, which is why he hasn’t really been in her life. He lets him borrow the watch for a week (after which time it will return to him) and asks him to tell Ayda what they talked about, leaving the door open for a possible future relationship between them. When Gorgug returns with the watch and the news, Ayda breaks a little and reveals she didn’t even know she was that old. Presumably because her notes start about 150 years ago with an apology that her past self wanted a fresh start and destroyed the last several batches of notes. She hates herself for doing that and Kristen gently tries to get her to cool it with the negative self talk. Then, they hit the button on the watch and they have a week to work. 

The Wizards work on Planeshift. Fabian and Kristen go to the shrine and Kristen--mirroring her vision from episode 1--sits down to draw the unknown goddess from the mural. Her Spirit Guardians emerge and start to kinda deride her for the sincerity of her action. She in turn decides that she’s done with this wishy-washy “above it all” attitude and dismisses her Spirit Guardians for good (making her, as far as I can tell, the only cleric in Solace with a 100% turnover rate on her Spirit Guardians). She finishes the picture and it feels somehow significant, to her and to Tracker too (who can look at it without wolf-raging out). Gorgug uses the time to “get smarter” which bumps his score from an 8 to a 9 (which has no mechanical implications). Ayda is also working on a side project but she’s keeping it a secret from Adaine. 

In hell, the tribunal is called back in session. Fig comes in ready to claim her hell passport and the throne along with it. On a big ol’ 30 persuasion check--and because the law is on her side--Vrath is reluctantly convinced to confer upon Fig the title of arch-devil (via a full lip kiss which is some Poison Ivy bs) The new title comes with an upside pentagram mark on her forehead, full fire immunity (very convenient considering her new constantly on fire gf), and resistance to poison. However, Vraz is about to force the Hangman to stay in hell due to a legal technicality when who walks in but BILL FORKING SEACASTER, who invokes the law of the blade and immediately starts stabbing their way out of there and hustles the group to his ship (Goldenhoard’s reshaped corpse) which was indirectly named by Fig we learned after the thing that would annoy him the most--The Goldenrod.

Bill gives Fig (who is feeling iffy about her archdevil decision) a pep talk before fully signing up for the rescue mission of the dad of his son’s BFF. We also learn that Alastair Ash is interning on Bill’s ship! He’s pretty happy to see Fig and Riz but if he sees Fabian he’s fully gonna kill him. Right around now, the Bad Kids not in hell remember they can talk to the group via the Hangman and check in since the week of stopped time is up. The Hangman is like, “YOU NEED TO COME HELP US RIGHT AWAY!” They (everyone but the HangVan) Planeshift onto the deck of the Goldenrod which is being targeted by monsters and devils commanded by Vraz. Alastair makes good on his threat and starts trying to shank Fabian immediately (which Bill is hilariously blase about). Ayda opens up a portal to the sea and tries to flood Hell from the top down but Fig stops her, saying that they need to get to the second level to save Pok which seems like it will be quite a task with all the monsters Vraz is throwing at them. Luckily, Bill has money for days (and that money is somehow worth something in hell) and has a whole fleet to back them up for our big Hell Pirate Battle next episode! 

Detention

Gorgug for Bad Gossip Etiquette 

Look, obviously Kalina was the worst person in this episode. Like, duh. But, also, it feels like cheating to punish the Vader of the series for doing something bad. Like, yeah! That’s what she’s supposed to be doing!

So, instead, today’s dubious honor goes to Gorgug for the much less damning but more relatable sin of making his girlfriend aware of tea but not spilling it. Say it all or say nothing! 

Honor Roll

Gorgug for Being More Insightful Than His 8 9 Int Would Suggest

Back to back double awards.

Wisdom is not the same as Intelligence and I actually have no idea what Gorgug’s Wisdom score is on paper but he showed a lot of in this episode.

I think he’s been the first person to suggest that whatever’s going on with Arianwyn might not be as cut and dry as it seems and then, of course, he decided to, instead of trying to Ocean’s 11 Aguefort to just slip out and have a quick heart to heart with him. One that affects him surprisingly deeply. And him bringing up his own experiences with no knowing who his birth dad was was just the chef’s kiss on top of it all.

I don’t think Brennan actually intended them to Oceans 11 Aguefort because that would be crazy, but Gorgug is the one who stepped up to solve the problem for the group with a little compassion and I think that more than earns him the spot.     

Random Thoughts

Trailer for Season 5 is dropping Thursday so get hyped! 

“Are you looking for the Teen Zone of the bottomless pit?”

“The fief of this dom.”

“You’re a little nerd. Tell the cool girl what you know.”

“If I had new parts, where would they go?”

I love Fabian’s confident assertion that Ayda would “love shrimp river”.

Line of the night goes to Ragh for, “Frankly, bringing up the rune in this context is homophobic.” And Adaine’s followup of, “I apologize. As an ally, I’m always learning,” was also great.

I love that the girls instantly understand Fig’s earlier hot tub comment with the new context but the boys are still clueless. 

Watching Emily and Murph have their own little side adventure was so great. They are so fun together and they were clearly having a blast.

I wonder if Gorthalax can tell than Fig just got his title. Either via the title itself or his patron status.

Fig bringing up Riz’s dad to be like, “Are you OK?” caught me so off guard and it seems like it caught Riz off guard too. I hadn’t really thought about it but the fact that Fig had is just another example of her being extremely bighearted and doing a bad job of hiding it. 

Emily’s impotent “rage” as all the party members loudly gossiped about her and Ayda and she couldn’t do anything about it because she wasn’t in the scene was *golden*. 

Kalina leaves Riz so he can watch his dad but, if you think about it, that’s all placebo because she couldn’t do anything to him whether she’s appearing to him or not and she can watch through his eyes regardless anyway so it’s just like, “Do you want me to be visibly watching you or invisibly watching you?” 

Does Kalina have, like, a range? Like, if she can literally just see out of the eyes of people that she’s infected, that limits her to a certain cone of vision and range of movement. But it seems like she can appear to a person and move independently around them to some degree, see things they can’t, point things out, and move away from them. How far away? How independent can she be? What are the logistics here?

Also, on the topic of logistics, it seems extremely hard to know someone for as long as Pok knew Kalina and not realize they’re non-corporeal. Like, even if you’re not a touchy person, eventually you’re gonna bump into them (or, in this case, not bump into them).

Man, the dice really hated Murph this week and, honestly, good. His scenes, imo, work so much better if he doesn’t get to Ally his way out of them with a Nat 20. Him being toyed with by Kalina and unsure and lost is the more interesting version of this sequence of events. 

I feel like he made some big swings and misses this ep though. Like, asking if she was Pok’s familiar? Why would that have been a thing? I’m surprised he didn’t ask if he was the goddess’s familiar--though I guess they might not want to let on how much they know but bringing up the concept that she’s anyone’s familliar I think is kinda of giving the game away.

“I have a hard time making conversation with my friends, let alone you” Riiiiiiiiiiz.

Kalina brought up Kristen to Riz specifically, which I find interesting. (She also said that Kristen used to worship Sol which isn’t strictly true, she worshiped Helio, but same family and that was likely just a slip of the tongue from Brennan. Just wanted to point it out). 

Who does Kalina even work for? Like, it seems like she’s working with the Nightmare King but if she’s the mystery goddess’s familiar like we all think then that’s weird because it doesn’t seem like the NK and mystery goddess are together. Like, a part of me is just dumping everyone antagonistic to the Bad Kids into the same “Bad” bucket in my head but there’s no way all of these people have totally aligned goals. 

“Dragon madness 69”

It’s brought up again in this episode that some of Arianwyn’s research was requisitioned by Pok earlier which I want to ascribe significance to but I’m not in a theorizing headspace right now so I’ll just point it out for anyone who does want to play Gukgak.

I’ve been kinda wondering about the logistics of Aguefort and Ayda and how old that dude is but I totally forgot Chronoancy was a factor which I guess indirectly answers any and all questions about that. It also adds some dimension to his character that time travel is a thing that kinda makes you feel unmoored from time, which I think goes some way (though not all of the way) in explaining why he’s so feral. And, speaking of Aguefort insanity, he was also at the party Zelda was at last episode in the form of an owl as the beer pong mascot. Which Gorgug has Thoughts about. 

I really really want Adaine to talk to her mom in the Synod of Spires. Have you guys realized that, for as much of a driving force Arianwyn’s been this season, she’s had almost no dialogue? She has talked I think 3 times total in all of FH: During Adaine’s intro, Apologizing to her when Aelwen was arrested, and the Message Adaine found from her last episode. That’s it. We know almost nothing about her. What is her deal? Also, Siobhan just always kills during all of her one-on-one scenes and I’m biased.  

Love the return of the Bad Kids being unable to make a phone call and stealing the phone from each other to tag in with their own nonsense. 

Wild that Gorgug was able to get through to Aguefort since he has a history of pissing that dude off by saying the wrong (well, “wrong”) thing.

Shoutout to Gilear for being the Designated Dad of the Hell Trip and making sure the kids were eating and stuff. That was a very endearing moment. 

Also, while we’re on the topic of Gilear, he also cleared up that Sandra-Lynn never seriously propositioned him in an irresponsible, “Let me give you a Magic STD” kinda way which was something I’d been thinking about so I’m glad he said something (though the kids kinda aren’t even though I think we’re way past the point of TMI here).  

“Hiss at her litigator.”

Riz, who Fig is Looking to be the Voice of Reason re: Her Arch-Devil Upgrade: This is super rad.

I’m very curious about whether Brennan fully planned for Fig to decide to take Gorthalax’s place because, on the one hand, my brain didn’t go there at all but, on the other, getting Emily Axford to install someone--possibly herself--into a position of power is like getting Siobhan Thompson to steal a book I feel.

Fig Upon Being Told That Ayda Told Everyone About Them: Fuck.   

I feel like Kristen is gonna wish she had her big moment of emotional catharsis AFTER this big hell pirate fight and not before when she can’t summon her Spirit Guardians. 

Man, we haven’t gotten a big, enthusiastic, “Papa!” from Fabian in a while have we? 

No crits in either direction this episode which is wild considering Fig got a THIRTY at one point.

[daybreak-delusion]

Chapter 1

Introduction: Whitney Goodwinson was planning on inheriting one of her deceased grandmother's properties, but not a little house off the coast of North Carolina.  As she struggles to meet new people, fix up her new property, deal with troublemaker JJ Maybank, and perfect her grandmother's infamous lemonade she might just find that the Outer Banks has more to offer than it seems.

Series Masterlist

It was just like a regular family gathering. Aunt Elizabeth was wearing something that was completely inappropriate for a 50-year-old, cousin Will was shaking from cocaine withdrawals, and my mother was whispering more family gossip into my ear. Not the best circumstances for my grandmother's funeral, but she wouldn’t have expected much from us.

“This is ridiculous,” Mother hissed/whispered into my ear, “your grandmother always said that she wanted white roses not white lilies at her funeral,” she finally finished, sitting up straight in her chair. I just kept staring ahead trying to ignore the fact that my family is insane. Grandmother was the only thing keeping us all together and after her will reading, we would probably never see each other again. Allow me to explain, Grandfather was the highest paying heart surgeon in the L.A. county by the age of 30. He met my grandmother at a yacht club off the coast of North Carolina and I guess it was love at first sight. A load of bull that was, Grandfather had countless affairs and they barely stayed in the same home together. I guess that’s love.

“As we celebrate the life of Victoria Goodwinson, daughter, mother, and friend, we ask that the family come forward with their flowers,” said the perspiring priest gesturing towards the first row to step up.

“Come on,” grunted Father, leaving a laughable sweat mark on his seat. Honestly, who picked black for the color of death and why did Grandmother have to die in June? Whatever, we all got up and gathered our white roses, which triggered another comment from Mother, and headed to the casket. I adjusted my black dress and moved my straightened brown hair over my shoulder. I could tell from the look on my mother's face and the sweat on the back of my neck that my hair was probably frizzing up and going back to its waves. There goes another hour of straightening down the drain. Just like we practiced Uncle Richard and Aunt Elizabeth's family went first, followed by Uncle Charles and Aunt Anne’s family, and finally our little whirlwind. Oldest to youngest, straight backs, and mournful looks on our faces. Sadly this meant that I would have to hold a sad face and stand with my shoulders back the longest. By the time it was my turn I had started seeing black dots. I placed my rose on top of the others and actually started to think about Grandmother for the first time since she died. It’s not like I was granddaughter of the year or anything but I still felt a close connection with Grandmother. She would always talk about her glamorous life in London, New York, and Singapore, the Channel fashion shows, and the exquisite champagne imported from Paris. She was the only adult that let me drink in her presence, so she was basically my favorite human being and ultimate role model. Then about two years ago Grandfather died. After that, she stowed away to the place where they met, and then she died. Snapping back to reality I realized the service was over. Let the games begin.

My relatives looked like lions chained up in a meat locker. We were all in the family mansion in L.A. patiently waiting for the attorney to show up. As patient as a bunch of spoiled rich children can. When the clock struck four minutes past 3 Uncle Richard started to pace, causing Aunt Elizabeth to convince him to sit down which caused an argument which caused an awkward feeling to rise in the room. Normal stuff. Thankfully the attorney walked in right as Uncle Richard was criticizing my father's necktie after he tried to stop him from throwing a vase. Everyone quickly shut up and put on their best phony smiles. This was it the real reason we all left our luxurious homes and spent 3 hours in the hot blistering California sun, the will. Now, Grandfather has left all of his assets to Grandmother and hopefully, the most valuable assets will be given to MY family. Personally I was hoping to be given her flat in London. Every summer I would spend a month there walking through the gardens, having tea in ancient places, and just spending time with her. It was my favorite city in the world and I couldn't wait to live there.

“Thank you all for gathering here today for the reading of Mrs. Victoria Goodwinson’s will and testament,” said the monotone attorney, “please save your questions for the end of the reading I’d like to begin.”

I kinda zoned out the beginning, but then he started with the good stuff.

“The mid-size private jet, Amazon shares, New York apartment residence and all that is in it, and a 5 million dollar allowance goes to Mr. Charles and Mrs. Anne Goodwinson,” continued the attorney, his voice becoming a little hoarse from all of the talking. Uncle Charles and Aunt Anne looked satisfied with their lot.

“The large size private jet, the L.A. mansion and all that is in it, and a 5 million dollar allowance goes to Mr. Henry and Mrs. Mary Goodwinson.”

I know Mother was hoping for the yacht that was given to Uncle Richard and Aunt Elizabeth, but getting the L.A. house, the house that Grandmother and Grandfather lived in, was enough to make her satisfied. The mansion had countless paintings that could sell for millions, plus the location was ideal and would sell for double what Grandfather had originally bought it for. 

“Now for the client’s grandchildren,” said Mr. get-to-the-point finally getting to the point “to Mr. William Speakman the London flat and a 2.5 million allowance is given.”

I just sat there in shock. What?! Are you kidding me? Crackhead Willy got the London flat and not me! This is absurd. Despite my outrage, I kept a smile on my face and my shoulders back.

“And finally to our last recipient, Mrs. Whitney Goodwinson…”

I leaned forward a bit just waiting for what the old man was gonna say. Since I wasn’t getting the London flat, maybe Grandmother had a secret cottage in the French countryside or another apartment in Italy. Anything would have been better than what Mr. bad news Bob said next.

“The Outer Banks, North Carolinian residence and a 3.5 million allowance will be given. This closes the end of the reading of the will and testament. Any questions can be asked now.”

Oh boy did I have questions. First off what the hell was Grandmother thinking. Outer Banks!? A dingy island that I had never been too?! I had never heard Grandmother speak of it and had to find out from Father that it was the island where Grandmother first met Grandfather. That meant it was also the place where she died, which did not seem right.

“Whitney she didn’t die in the house, she died in a hospital on the mainland,” said Mother while lighting a cigarette, a “once in a while” habit of hers. We were on the balcony of my parents’ new mansion looking over the Los Angeles skyline. Mother and Father wasted no time kicking everyone out and moving into their new home. In the distance, I could see the sun setting into the Pacific Ocean. It hurt me that in a few hours I would be leaving this perfect place and would be looking at a completely different ocean on the other side of the country in a town where I didn’t know anybody and was unfamiliar with. “And don’t complain it was your grandmother's dying wish to give you her old shack in North Carolina, the least you could do is visit it before you sell it.”

“Fine,” I said rolling my eyes, “I just hope someone is willing to buy.”

“Don’t worry honey we already have a list of possible buyers and I have a personal friend who’s a realtor there who said that she’d help you out. I told her you would be arriving tomorrow and she’s gonna come by the house.” Ah yes, my mother ladies and gents all ready setting up people for me to meet. I swear she knows people in every state, but at least I’ll have help selling the shack.

“You’re sure I can’t take the private jet?” I pleaded with my best “please take pity on me because I got screwed out of a London flat” face.

“Honey you know that your father and I need to go to Sweden to pick out new furniture for the house. Flying first class will be fine and I’m sorry you have to take a red-eye, but it was so last minute You know what’s funny? Your father and I already had a plane ticket to London for you,” she laughed, “we were so sure the flat was yours!” I did not in fact think it was funny.

“Yeah me too,” I said miserably.

“It’ll be fine honey, who knows,” she said snuffing out her cigarette,” you might even like it there.”

I highly doubt that.

 a/n: First chapter is finally up! Thank you for reading and not dropping out after the first sentence! Second chapter should be up shortly, for the time being I’m going to be posting two chapters at a time every other day. I figure this will motivate me even more to write! I am so excited for you guys to see where the story goes and all of its twists and turns! Stay tuned for the next chapter! 

[wecomrades]

Hello! Just spent 20 minutes staring at your art and damn girl it’s so good 😭 i wanna learn how to draw too but I don’t know where to start.. any tips? I’m not that bad but I’m not that good either, so I’m wondering if you could just drop some tips about how to begin or taking classes.. thank you! Your art is seriously amazing ❤️

Hey anon! 💛

I’m so happy about this message, you have NO idea how much! Thank you for all the compliments and for... asking ME for advice? 🥺 I’ll try and come up with something, but I’ll have you know I’m the worst at giving tips haha! Let’s hope you’ll find them useful, anyway.

First, I’ve already said this tons of times but I’ve NEVER took art classes! Never. I don’t know how that is, I don’t know how it works, I’ve never attended any course... the only thing was that I had art in elementary and middle school, but it was a different matter; it was pretty much all theory and occasionally some paintings, but I wasn’t that good.

I think mine’s a proper gift 😂 no one in my family can draw and I started just for fun out of the blue, so yeah, that must be it. My first portrait I was in high school and it was kinda terrible:

All of those random lines and shadows, and omg those fingers...! okay it was nice for a first attempt, but honestly that doesn’t look like Grace Kelly at all. And for years I just settled with that, I was content with my results and everybody used to say that I was good so, yeah, first tip: just GO FOR IT! Whatever’s the result, just keep trying, keep learning from yourself and especially don’t be scared by your mistakes. Mistakes help you more than you think.

Thennnnnn I stopped for literally years. I wasn’t in the mood, I wasn’t motivated, I had a life that I hated and I know my drawings ain’t original, that they’re copies of pictures, but still you need to be motivated. Which is tip number two! Find something that motivates you, even small things: for example, whenever I draw on my desk, the results ALWAYS turn out shit. I don’t know why, I swear. But when I draw in my terrace they look nice, even tho I get easily distracted by my dog or by watching little birds in my garden lol

During quarantine I was finally getting some time for myself, so I decided to start again, but this time I wanted it to be more “professional”, more realistic. All it took me was this video, a man using grids to draw Emma Watson. Now, it took him 16 hours to do that, I’m not that patient and I’m not really into small details, so my drawings take like 5-7 hours, not more. My last one of Skip Muck took me less than 2 hours, which is my record eheh but yeah, I know it’s difficult to believe, but truly I don’t spend that much time into details. My shadows technique is basically go random, I swear.

I made this post to show how I use grids; they’re super simple and help you with proportions. I print the photo I wanna draw, I draw a grid in it of 2.5cm each square (but you can do it smaller or bigger as you like), then I do the exact same grid on a blank paper and I start to draw. That’s it. Simple as that. Sometimes, when eyes/nose/mouth are small or kinda confusing, I use grids inside grids!

Another thing I did when I restarted drawing, was getting the proper material. I only used a pencil and charcoal before, now I use many different pencils, each one has their job. Material I usually use is:

pencils: H, HB, B and B2

charcoal pencil

kneaded eraser

grey pencil

black pencil

smudge tool

Canson Bristol 21x29 7 - A4 20 sheets, 180 g (when I make big drawings)

Moleskine Art Collection 13 x 21 cm, 165 g (for smaller drawings, basically the one you mostly see on my blog)

So, do some research about tools or just try and buy ones that you find people recommending online! Except from the moleskine and the Bristol sheets they’re all quite affordable. You just need to try and keep trying and failing and you’ll see next time it’ll be better!

I really enjoyed answering this, I hope you’ll find it useful 💛 thank you again! And if you have any other question - even of my first drawings omg hahah - I’m here to give you answers! Hope you’re having a lovely day 💛

[snowtimeisbesttime]

Thoughts and questions on Pesterquest Volume 5, routes 1 and 2!

also: sollux for volume 6 (route 2) you (might have) heard it here first

-The trolls' Prospit is still perfectly fine when we see it, as we still haven't done away with SGRUB. In Kanaya's route we see Alternia's Reckoning, the Land of Little Cubes and Tea, and our favorite rainbow drinker fan hunting for frogs in the clouds; meanwhile in Karkat's we straight up see his dreamself- who winks out of existence when he wakes up. John's did that too when he woke up after Prospit fell on the Battlefield, but I had thought dreamselves just teleported to their dream room's bed when the waking self woke up.

-Actually, I'm pretty sure we've seen dreamselves just existing on the moons when their counterpart is awake: John's before Descend, Vriska's in Make Her Pay, Dave's being on the computer and of course Dirk switching between dream and real selves, Roxy's flying out of Derse, Jane's when she dream revived (??), and maybe more I'm not remembering. Of course, dead dreamselves such as Aradia's or Jake's can't go anywhere.

-Possible candidates for Volume 6 basically trolls who were namedropped or had a cameo: Sollux (VERY likely imo, he had a good bunch of screentime in Karkat's route), Terezi (very likely too, as she's also a Peak Protagonist troll), Gamzee (less likely than the other two imo, though MC's been to his hive already), Vriska (could or could not........ it's a gam8le.)

-Worldbuilding: *happens* Me: *burning through my good note-taking pens*

~ROUTE 2~

-Now to Kanaya's route proper: she's got sunproof dresses just lying around. Very nice sunproof dresses, in fact. (the clothes collecting tradition goes on...)

-Rose immediately comes up on MC's mind when they look at Kanaya's room, though she's dealing with another Light player herself. Whose cameo here was practically expected, in hindsight. ::::)

-We find out that Vriska had been planning the whole Pupa Pan thing for Tavros for a good while. (Probably since she started planning Aradia's gift at least, though that was both a bigger project and also an... easier-to-see fix to what she'd done to her).

-And now that we've seen Kanaya's side of this, the panel where she finds out what the dress was for hurts a lot more.

(-actually kanaya spends a good bunch of her entire volume being sad??? and so does karkat??? and ofc jade did too????? That’s Fucking Illegal Let My Children Be Happy At Once)

-mc still remembers their movie date with polypa...... the feelings at least

-MC encourages Kanaya to finally tell Vriska how she feels, and it turns out she wants to be matesprits too... and it ends horribly. (Rose's bad route also seemed to be going perfectly well until it didn't).

-We don't know how much of the week she was out was spent travelling between their respective hives, though. (did she fucking run there and back???)

(-Kanaya's heart eyes, motherfucker sprite has jade eyes while Karkat's terrified sprite has grey eyes. Further fancy-eyed friends will probably have their associated color as well.)

-And by the time Vriska might have felt what Kanaya felt (the 3-way showdown) instead of just using her for her own benefit, it was too late.

-Bright colors seem to be a rainbow drinker thing, specifically? As opposed to being Alternian goth... (daraya's route explicitly states that she looks goth because she's wearing a lot of black, when she's actually one of the Troll Call trolls that wears the least black. What is the truth? We just don't know....). Meanwhile, chainsaws seem to be the go-to weapon of rainbow drinker hunters, like stakes are for us...

-Kanaya doesn't want a vampire gf, she wants to be the vampire gf! And before MC realizes that, they come way too close to a bunch of murderzombies. Now we know they can choose who they zap with them, with potentially disarming side effects!

-Undead blood is black like His Honorable Tyranny's, and probably something you should NOT put in your mouth.

-Sadly, Kanaya doesn't get to actually talk to the Tentacle Therapist herself, though she is assured that she'd like her. Mayhaps some other time, they will finally meet... hopefully in person.

~ROUTE 1~

-Weird knowledge of alien stuff absolutely takes a backseat to Friendship. Good to know retcon powers have an aim assist of sorts too.

-Karkat's theme gets a remix like John's Pesterquest one!!!!

-Karkat himself is as fucking zen as ever. And while he's got a wonderful good end (as in what happens -wise), his bad ends -all his routes even- are VERY much sadstuck to compensate.

(-Especially his short one... he finds out he's not the only being in the world besides his lusus with crimson blood, because he just murdered the other one... and then you think about how he immediately warms up to MC in his good route, and how he did the same with -past- Spades Slick, and then how his dreamself died in canon...)

-He can project his voice very well, just like a certain other someone who wore a cloak... Actually no shit he thinks ancestors are bullshit (besides vriska & eridan being 2 out of 3 trolls he knows that are into that stuff, and all that), his own's the most illegal one so neither him nor the aforementioned trolls he knows that are into that stuff would have found much stuff... (even Mindfang stuck to sneaking just the sym69ls in her journal).

-Did he paint his nails? If not, who did?

-Of course he'd notice this random alien was very warm. What he didn't know is that we're less cullable than we look like- case in point, Folykl. (actually, do we still have Plot Armor?)

-...Who was Gamzee talking to when we zapped into his broom closet? And why did Karkat freak out so much when he came close? He did know Gamzee was a clown, iirc... was he just leaking psychic spoops or what??

-The second Karkat finds out MC and him have the same blood color, they became friends in his eyes.

-Sollux (is here!!) kinda calls back to Dave in Volume 1, after Karkat and him finish their regular greetings and get to the point of the conversation. Hacking into the caste records is incredibly illegal, though Sollux's more than willing to risk being culled for Karkat*.

-We know there was an Adalov way before Hivebent time, but we don't know if that's our Adalov- and sadly MC doesn't get the chance to even hear that name. (it's too soon still.)

-How do we get rid of SGRUB? We take Karkat “The Fucking Leader” Vantas to Earth, obviously! Where he'll be able to play various skate games, bond with the kids over games left unplayed, and escape a certain death. Wonder how everyone’ll react to him disappearing...

-Narratively Unimportant Traits 1: dave loves olive garden's breadsticks!! Narratively Unimportant Traits 2: ...because he can eat a lot of them when otherwise he might not get to eat much of anything Narratively Unimportant Traits 3: karkat's been years perfecting hiding from drones that will kill him if they so much as detect his body temperature, and it's implied he may have been moving (will keep moving) from hive to hive as needed all this time because of the early warning systems, which warn him of his hive being about to go up in flames and killing everything inside it- including his lusus. We're in Hivebent's timeframe, but considering his good route's what takes SGRUB out, he might not even have turned 13 yet.

-Karkat's bad route ends with him just leaving, shrouded in Signless callbacks, after being put on a cull list not even retcon powers can escape from. ...That's also a way to get rid of SGRUB, I guess.

*Back to Sollux being a likely choice for volume 6- in Karkat's bad route, he repeatedly tells Karkat to come to his hive, after seeing him on the cull list and knowing there's drones after him. He knows and explicitly doesn't give a fuck about him being a mutant (though he doesn't seem to know how exactly is he a mutant). The last thing he tells him is “don't make me tell you how much i hate you.”

After that, he doesn't hear anything more from Karkat because he throws his palmhusk away, and then he just leaves into the wilderness. And even if we get the typical Friendsim timeline smoothie shenanigans, Karkat's on Earth in his good route and we don't know if he can still contact his friends. (Sollux can hear the imminently deceased. There's the chance that he might hear from Karkat one last time.)

If we do get the timeline smoothie, that's a hell of a motivation to seek out MC. (And even if we only follow the good route, Karkat still dropped off the face of Alternia after asking Sollux to hack the caste records and telling him MC was in his hive.)

[al-norton]

Oswald and Lacie for characters thing?

Hey I actually did Lacie a while back, but I still stand by everything I said - check it out!

So I’ll only do Oswald here.

favorite thing about them

What not to love! He’s tall! He’s broody! He’s secretly a softie! Great archetype, 10/10

And he’s a rare decent person in Pandora Hearts, just trying to do the right thing and be a good leader. Yeah, he gets manipulated and makes mistakes, but I can’t even say it’s because he’s dumb, he’s just... good. And very lonely. Breaks my fucking heart! 

"It's not right... to want to do good, to be good, and have that turned against you." - it’s out of Dragon Age, but sums up my feelings pretty well.

least favorite thing about them

Least favorite is probably the last arc of the manga, where he tries to change the timeline by murdering his sister as a child? It kinda has to do more with characterization of Lacie, though, I get where Oswald is coming from. I guess it’s easier to agree to early death of a person you love after the only other person you loved has betrayed you, killed you, tried to destroy the world you protect, and after that quartered your corpse and made you a villain in your own story. 

favorite line

“If that is the answer you came up with, that's unquestionably true for you” 

brOTP

Oswald & Lacie, obviously, especially before they were both poisoned by grief and guilt and could just be siblings.

OTP

Oswald/Jack! Listen, I know it doesn’t look like it, but I love them so much. I have a little warm-up folder where I doodle stuff before getting into serious art, and at least quarter of it is just, Jack and Oswald kissing. They’re fit each other perfectly, and Oswald is so in love! I’m pretty sure that before the ceremony, when he asked Gibert’s opinion on Jack, he was considering asking him to move in, so they could live as husbands, walk the gardens together into late evenings and raise two of their adopted sons. 

And I do think that Jack loved him too, even if he was trying to get to Abyss as his core motivation. Humans don’t work in separate “layers”, he wouldn’t be able to pretend being Oswald's friend for years without appreciating the time spent together, his little displays of affection and soft character. They were connected by Lacie at the start, by that connection only grew at the time they spent together - until it all exploded.

nOTP

None in particular

random headcanon

He’s done all of the administrative work for Baskervilles since he was, like, 14 (Levi couldn’t be bothered). By the time he becomes Glen all his responsibilities are smartly delegated, so even in the Baskerville family he only needs to speak to 4 people at most, and he really does spend all his days wandering the forest, chatting with Alice or Jack, napping under the trees (he probably has trouble sleeping at night)

unpopular opinion

¯\_(ツ)_/¯  

song i associate with them

Daughter - Doing The Right Thing

favorite picture of them