#Because there's a lot of Fairy Lights in that scene that are really bright like the Kart headlights | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

eirist · 10 months ago

Text

All Wrapped Up

Disclaimer: One Piece (and its characters) belongs to Eiichiro Oda-sensei.

Reminder: I have no beta-reader. Any grammatical and spelling errors are solely mine.

Warning: OOC possible. One shot.

Rating: T (Just a lit-tle suggestive)

Note: This was supposed to be an entry for the ZoNa Holiday Events at Tumblr and a holiday fic (would have checked Prompt #1 – Christmas Party and #8 – Red Lipstick) but it didn’t make it. Still, I want to get this out there even though it’s 2024 already and January’s about to end.

Also this is a companion fic to The Cat Burglar and As It Was one-shots. Set in the same AU. Because I adore that AU. First ZoNa fic for 2024 so enjoy the craziness!

Summary: His answer was a simple yes. And gave her that smile that never fails to steal her breath away.

Sparkling.

Everything and everywhere is freaking sparkling.

From the snowflakes and ornaments hanging from above, the wiry white branches lining the hallway, the garlands wound around the stairs, the Christmas wreaths peppering the walls, the table centerpieces and candles… and of course, the huge Christmas tree in the middle of the room where the party is held.

Everything she set her eyes on is absolutely glittering…

…and white. Did she mention white? Freaking pristine white.

It was like the place was snowed in overnight. And that snow settled in a kind of aesthetic way that it made the place look enchanting just like inside a fantasy winter palace.

“So…” a voice suddenly spoke up beside her, pulling Nami out of her entrancement. “Is this what it feels like to be inside a snow globe?” Usopp remarked as he observed the scene before him with a grimace, handing Nami a tall glass of—yes, no surprises with that— sparkling wine.

“Thanks,” Nami smiled as she took it from him. “You know, I actually thought I died and gone to heaven when I walked in,” she muttered as her eyes followed a heavily-jewelled matron who strode past them. “Everything is just fucking white and sparkling.”

A snort of laughter escaped Usopp. “You? In heaven?”

She narrowed her eyes at him knowing where his comment is heading.

“I highly doubt that that’s where you’ll go,” Usopp teased. “You’re too evil.”

“Shut up.” Nami smacked him on the shoulder. “Don’t you have to play nice or you won’t get any gifts from the fat, red man?”

“His name is Santa Claus! Don’t be ignorant!” Usopp countered, wincing as he rubbed his shoulder. “And compared to you, I am absolutely nice! I’ll definitely get a gift from him.”

She raised an eyebrow at that. It amazes her that even as an adult Usopp still believes in fairy tales and some guy who—for the life of her, she doesn’t really understand how—slides inside chimneys while everyone else is sleeping to leave gifts under the Christmas trees for nice children.

He really should stop hanging around their genius yet childish doctor.

“Speaking of gifts,” she decided to change the subject, sending a bright smile to his direction. “Where’s mine?” She held out her hand as Usopp frowned at her crassness.

“I left it in Chopper’s office,” he said with a roll of his eyes. “I’m not gonna mingle around tonight with it in my pocket you know.”

Nami squealed in delight and Usopp cringed when he realized his tongue slipped and gave her an idea on what his present is.

It was no secret that the orange-haired woman absolutely loves gifts. She made that fact pretty clear a lot of times.

Especially if said gifts were as sparkly and shiny as the lights decorating the entire manor right now.

Usopp was watching her with a dour expression on his face.

She patted his shoulder in an appeasing manner. “Oh don’t worry. I also got you a gift.” She winked at him as his face lit up with excitement.

“Really?!” This time it was his turn to squeal in delight.

Nami looked smug as she took a sip of her drink. “I’m fair after all. Plus in the spirit of Christmas, I decided to be more generous this year.”

“Wooow!” Usopp was looking at her disbelievingly. “I guess miracles do happen! I honestly thought you’d just cut-off a small percentage of my so-called debt to you just like you did last year.”

“Don’t make me change my mind Usopp. I can still do that.”

“Oh come on! Don’t be stingy! Everyone knows you got a big, fat bonus from that stealing stint last time!”

Nami pointed a finger at him. “Hey! You also got the same big, fat bonus! We’re in that stint together!”

Two months ago the two of them (along with Robin, Franky and Brook), pulled off a rather daring heist in an underground auction hosted by the one and only Buggy the Clown—the weird owner and head of Buggy’s Delivery; an organization that prides itself in acquiring hard to find artifacts and treasures of the old from different parts of the world to sell it to the highest bidder in a hush-hush, private event.

Robin was able to secure an invitation to the clown’s auction, following a tip that Buggy recently obtained some priceless items which belonged to Gol D. Roger himself.

They knew they needed to get their hands on those treasures as soon as possible.

And get their hands on it they did.

Nami can still recall that feeling of elation as they drove away from Buggy’s circus-inspired villa with all the priceless auction items in tow—much to the consternation and shock of Buggy himself. He wasn’t able to chase them as they had a good head start before he and his minions realized what had happened.

Thus they all got a damn big bonus for a job well-done. Not everyone can pull off a feat like that. But with a brilliant team like theirs… it was a walk in the park.

It was really a damn great decision to join them. Not only was she living lavishly now, but she was also enjoying her stealing assignments so much more than before.

A few years ago, Nami had stolen a relic in the Mugiwara estate from right under Usopp’s nose. Back then, she was working alone and Usopp was in charge of the whole estate’s security.

He and his team was no match for her. Nami was able to breach their safeguards and easily sneak into the estate and get her hands on the priceless item. It was almost like stealing candies from babies, she can’t even call it a challenge.

Then Straw Hat Luffy—the head of the Mugiwara Family—sent Roronoa Zoro, one of his top men, to track her down.

Nami honestly thought that that was the end for her when she saw him sitting on one of the booths of her then empty bar, silently and patiently biding his time.

But Zoro’s orders that night, was just find her…

…and apparently take her back with him to the estate.

Thank her lucky stars he wasn’t there to maim her. She definitely knows she’s no match for him. Still, Nami did not make it easy for Zoro to do his job. She made him chase after her for a good half an hour all around the town until he finally lost his patience and showed her first-hand just why he was Mugiwara no Luffy’s right-hand man.

To say he hauled her back with him like he was just carrying a sack of potatoes was an understatement.

Her addition to Luffy’s elite circle was unexpected—as unexpected as his invitation to her to join his group. It wasn’t a calculated decision on his part (like he’s actually capable of that). Luffy just felt that it was right to invite her. Plus her skills are really awesome (he said it with eyes lighting up in excitement while laughing at Usopp’s expense) and he was really impressed with how she was able to sneak into the estate and steal something.

It may have been an arbitrary whim on Luffy’s part, but it was Nico Robin who pointed out to everyone that it would benefit them so much more if Nami is with them instead of an adversary that they had to deal with every now and then.

“Her thieving skills are unmatched. Her moniker, true to its words. Also she is not just a cat burglar,” Robin had explained with a rather fascinated smile on her face. “Nami is also an exceptional cartographer and an excellent navigator. Very useful when it comes to treasure hunting, don’t you all think?” She posed the question to everyone present, her blue eyes almost sparkling with mirth. “She’ll make a fine addition to our group.”

Nami was stunned at tall and elegant woman’s knowledge about her and her skills. She later found out that Robin is an archaeologist and a treasure trove of information. She actually has an archive of who’s who in the criminal world—be it a big or small name. And Nami’s name was already included in it. Robin also makes it her business to know every person and organization who is interested in anything and everything related to Gol D. Roger and his treasures.

Zoro and Usopp are the only ones who were adamantly opposed to her joining. The former because he doesn’t trust her and claims that she would be nothing but trouble. The latter because his pride took a battering when she had stolen the priceless relic he was ordered to guard with his life.

But they had to relent when Luffy put his foot down.

And Nami had no choice but to concede too, because she knows she would not fare well as their enemy… especially if they sent out Roronoa Zoro after her.

Her thoughts suddenly shifted to the grouchy, green-haired man and her eyes automatically roamed the expanse of the party and the guests. She hadn’t seen him ever since she arrived.

He’s probably lost again. She thought wryly. Or going around in circles on the estate grounds.

Zoro might be exceptional when it comes to fighting, but definitely hopeless when it comes to directions. He would get lost in a straight line and will confuse north and south and left and right. It was completely frustrating.

Nami felt Usopp nudged her with his shoulder to get her attention. She gave him a glance and saw that he was pointing at one of the guests who were clad with so much sparkling jewelries she almost put the Christmas tree lights to shame.

Usopp was wiggling his eyebrows at her, issuing a silent dare to Nami that she should be able to nick some of those by the end of the night.

She smirked haughtily, raising her glass slightly to take his challenge.

It had been easy to win Usopp over when she finally accepted Luffy’s offer. They had a lot in common and Nami realized they almost, always have the same wave length. It didn’t take long for them to get close, all previous transgression forgotten.

Most of the time, it was the two of them who works out the security and possible breaches of the estate along with Franky—if Nami wasn’t on a stealing stint or nose-buried into antique maps and charting.

As much as Usopp had been an easy win. Zoro was the complete opposite.

He was harder to get close to. Harder to thaw. He was like a thick block of ice. Not to mention he has an inherent distrust to almost all the people he meets. That combination was enough to make him formidable.

He was quiet and calm; silently listening and observing and in most cases, he’s just… asleep.

Nami was astounded on how easily he could just nod off while they were having a meeting or going over the plans for a heist or an attack or even when they’re just randomly lounging about the manor. He just sits there, with arms crossed over that delectable chest of his then falls asleep, snoring like there was no tomorrow.

But what really surprised her was that even if he zoned out easily or looks like he’s not even paying attention… he was ever-alert and his reflexes are out of this world.

Once, she stealthily tried sneak up on him to pull at his ear for dozing off while she was in the middle of giving him the rundown of the plan for their current mission. He had been grating on her nerves ever since they arrive at the island of Dressrosa—no, scratch that—from the moment they started traveling to be exact, and a retaliation was definitely overdue.

The next thing she knew, he had her pinned down on the carpeted floor of the hotel room. She was looking up at him with wide eyes while he stared down at her with one eyebrow arrogantly cocked.

He drawled something about… she didn’t quite catch it because at that moment, the wind was knocked out of her and her heart was thumping madly against her chest, its thudding sound echoing loudly in her ears.

And all her brain could register is how good Zoro feels above her.

From that moment on, Nami wanted more of him.

They stared at each other for a good few seconds as Nami swallowed the lump that somehow formed at her throat as his steely grey eye regarded her intensely.

Though what happened next was far from charming. Bastard didn’t even bother helping her stand up. Zoro just pushed himself up and away from her with a scoff and casually walked towards the door to exit the room as Nami scrambled to get back on her feet. Out of frustration, she threw her red stiletto heel at his head.

Looking back,��she honestly thinks that that was what chipped the ice. Because when Zoro swiveled around after her shoe hit his head and marched back towards her direction, a vein was visibly popping in his forehead and he was looking mad as hell. It was the first time she had seen that expression on him.

She should’ve been afraid at that moment. But in a mixture of infuriation and embarrassment (from being pinned down the floor or from her improper thoughts about the green-haired man or both)—Nami folded her arms across her chest and met his flaring temper head on.

Their shouting match in that room was one for the books. Not to mention, they almost blew their supposed mission that day because they can’t stop arguing.

That was the start of the never-ending quarrels and quips between the two of them that drove everyone around them crazy. It was an unspoken rule to everyone in the estate that when Zoro and Nami start firing words at each other, it’s better to high-tail it out of there than get caught in the crossfire.

It was around that time that Nami realized that Zoro wasn’t really all cold and aloof like she first thought. Most of the time he appeared like he doesn’t give a damn because he was just too freaking lazy to care.

His usually reserved countenance was most likely because he was the kind of person to assess the situation first before reacting. He prefers to see the whole picture before efficiently dealing with whatever it is that comes one by one. He kept a cool head in most circumstances yet can still easily lose his temper especially when she one ups him (or if Sanji-kun was deliberately pissing him off).

It had become a bad habit of Nami to rile him up as much as she can. Because in a weird and twisted way, she loves how expressive his face can be when he is fighting with her.

The longer Nami stayed at Luffy’s group, the more she came to know Zoro deeper.

Their enemies feared him. Everyone in their group and their members have high respect for him. He was actually one of the very few people that can rein their boss in because Luffy actually listens to him.

As much as he was known to be ruthless and emotionless by the other mob families, he is quite the opposite when it comes to his friends and other selected associates.

She saw how he was with Luffy, Usopp and Chopper. Sometimes when he deals with them, his lone grey eye would go soft and there was this air of fondness and this certain amused smile on his face that she never thought he was capable of doing.

It stole her breath away. And made her see him in another light.

She’d do anything to be at the receiving end of that smile.

“A pricey jewelry for your thoughts?” Usopp’s playful tone suddenly permeated her thoughts.

“Huh?” Nami snapped back to reality at the sound of her long-nosed friend’s voice.

Usopp peered at her face. “Are you alright? You just like zoned out.” His gaze traced the path where Nami was blankly looking. “Find something interesting out there?”

Nami shook her head. “Nah, just thinking.”

“You better be thinking on how you’ll steal some of those sparkly jewelries from that woman and that woman,” Usopp sniggered, tilting his head toward the direction of the bejewelled women he was pertaining too.

She raised an eyebrow at him. “Are you underestimating me?”

“Of course not!” Usopp said as he downed the last of his drink. “Actually… hmm… there is a betting pool.” He said muttered while pretending to scratch his chin.

“What do you mean there is a betting pool?”

Usopp took a step back from her realizing his mistake. He shouldn’t have said that.

Before he can take another step back, Nami suddenly grabbed his tie to the point of choking him.

“What’s the bet?” Nami growled. She was quick to grasp the meaning of what he was saying. She was quite familiar that the some of the lower ranked members usually indulges themselves with betting pools for their own entertainment. It was an easy way to win money after all. Sometimes even higher officials like her, Usopp, Franky or Brook would join.

But she wasn’t aware that there is an ongoing bet tonight.

Nami shook the curly-haired lad to urge him to give an answer.

“Come on Usopp don’t make this hard. What’s the bet?”

“Uuuhmm…. how much you’ll be able to steal tonight?”

Nami scowled and she narrowed her eyes at him. “Tell me more!”

“Eeep! That’s just it! I shouldn’t have told you! It’s not even my idea—” He struggled to explain and get out of her grasp at the same time. “I mean we can split!”

“Split?” Nami’s face darkened at that.

“Yeah!” Usopp nodded vigorously. “The pot is high!”

“How high?!”

“Ara… here you both are.”

Nami and Usopp whipped their heads toward the direction of the voice. Robin was approaching them looking all elegant in a shimmery white gown. Her long black hair was arranged in a sophisticated coiffure behind her head and she was holding a wine glass half-filled with one of the vintage reds from the manor’s cellar that she adores.

“Robin!” Nami exclaimed, completely forgetting about Usopp and releasing him from her clutches. She bounded happily towards the tall woman and enveloped her in a hug. “You’re back!”

“Ro-bin!” Usopp also greeted as he cleared his throat and adjusted his tie. “Good to see you here! Thought you wouldn’t make it tonight?”

Robin, Franky and Brook had an important errand in the island of Baldimore. They went there to finalize a deal with one of their important associates before the year ends. As the place was quite far, everyone was thinking the trio wouldn’t make it back in for the party.

But apparently they did.

“Fufufu…” Robin laughed softly. “Well Franky and Brook were adamant to make it back. They don’t want to miss this party.” She motioned to the far corner of the room below where a tall, lanky figure with afro hair was already sitting behind the grand piano, playing Christmas tunes. “It’s a must-attend event after all.”

“I thought the New Year party is the must-attend event?” Usopp’s brows furrowed.

“Both are,” Robin said with a smile. “You know how the three brothers are always in a high festive mood whenever the holidays approach.”

Both Nami and Usopp nodded in understanding. With both of Luffy’s brothers, Ace and Sabo, spending the season at Mugiwara estate, the celebration had been all out. Spare no expense was Luffy’s exact words. Well actually the three brothers’ exact words. Because Ace and Luffy absolutely love throwing parties and Sabo… well it’s two against one, he had no choice but to agree.

And this was only the Christmas Party. Another party will be held on New Year’s Eve and Nami can’t wait to see how extravagant that one’s going to be.

Not to mention how many glittering stuff she’ll be able to filch from their filthy rich guests by the turn of the year.

“Well,” Usopp let out an exasperated sigh. “It’s gonna be a lot of work from here on.”

Robin nodded. “I’m surprised you are even out here. I thought you’d be personally manning the security tonight?”

Usopp looked crestfallen. “Aaw, gimme a break Robin. Our security team’s the best! With Franky and I’s newly updated surveillance equipment, not even a fly would get past the fence!”

The archaeologist gave Nami a side glance which Usopp caught.

“Hey! We personally asked Nami to do practice runs to check the system’s efficiency.” Usopp explained, folding his arms across his chest, looking smug and proud.

Nami laughed. “That they did.”

Robin chuckled. “So how was it?” She directed the question towards the orange-haired woman.

“Quite a challenge actually,” Nami admitted, pursing her lips. “But give me some time to figure out something and I’ll be able to sneak past all that, get inside here and steal anything from right under Usopp’s nose. Again.”

“Hey!” Usopp lightly slapped her arm. “I thought we’re friends now!”

Nami blinked innocently at him. “Yes we are. But you’ll never know how effective that surveillance system is until we give it a serious try right?”

“Well, she does have a point Usopp,” Robin agreed. “Maybe a surprise break-in one of these days?” She suggested, her tone light with amusement. “Franky will surely love that challenge.”

“I won’t...” Usopp mumbled.

Nami rolled her eyes at him. “I’m pretty sure that’ll give you and Franky the opportunity to request for new tech stuff again.”

Usopp straightened up at that. “Well that idea I definitely love!”

“So all set,” Nami flashed him a smile. “Once the holidays are over, expect something will happen. I’m already giving you a handicap.”

Usopp knitted his brows at her. “What handicap?”

“Once the holidays are over,” Nami repeated. A Cheshire cat-like grin appeared on her face. “Come on, that’s enough clue right? It’s a surprise break-in after all.”

Now Usopp was looking at her with eyes narrowed. Then he turned to Robin. “I’m blaming this on you.”

Robin just gave him a mysterious smile. “It’s settled then. I’m looking forward to the chaos it’ll bring.”

“Wait hold up!” Usopp raised his hand. “Are we not telling everyone about it?”

“Where’s the fun in that if you do?” Nami asked in a bored tone.

“But…”

“We’ll inform Luffy and the others.” Robin took a sip of her wine before continuing. “Only our team will know. It’ll be the perfect incident response exercise for the rest don’t you think?”

Usopp was looking at her with mouth agape. “Where do you even get these ideas?” He paused for a moment and huffed. “Oh right… Franky.”

The corners of Robin’s eyes crinkled in amusement.

“Anyway, Luffy did call for a meeting before the party starts right?” Robin signalled to one of the meandering servers who‘s balancing a tray of beverages on his hand. She took the empty glass from Nami’s hand and replaced it with a champagne flute. The she got another, this time

low ball glass with a really expensive whiskey inside and placed it in Nami’s free hand.

Nami stared quizzically at the drinks.

Robin thanked the server politely as he moved away from them. “I think it’s time to head up now,” she proposed.

Usopp glanced at his watch. “Well, we better…”

“Can you go find Zoro, Nami?” The raven-haired woman requested.

“Me?” Nami blinked up at her. Then, she looked back at the glasses she was holding. Oh fuck that. That was why Robin handed her the whiskey. She frowned at her and Robin just smiled.

“You’re the only one who can easily drag him to these meetings. And he really needs to be there.” Robin’s tone had shifted and Nami noted that there must be something important to discuss if Zoro’s presence at the meeting is imperative.

But still she groaned her complaint. “Do I really have too?”

“Yes. Please.”

“Why not Usopp?” “Why me?” Usopp retorted. “Zoro will just threaten me into leaving him alone and you know I will always cave in. You on the other hand, don’t. So carry on!” He made a shooing gesture with his hand.

Nami childishly stuck her tongue out at him.

“Last I saw him he was heading towards the west wing.” Robin offered. “He’s probably still there.”

“Believe me he’s not going anywhere once he’s in that area,” Nami muttered under her breath. The manor’s west wing had like a dozen rooms. It was Zoro’s favourite hiding place whenever there is a party and he wants some peace and quiet. Plus that area is off limits to party guests, there are even assigned guards at its entryway.

“Fine.” She conceded albeit sulkily, glancing at the drinks in her hand. “I’m gonna drag his ass upstairs.”

“Thank you.” Robin murmured as Nami sullenly shuffled away to do what she was asked. She was still within earshot when she heard Usopp say to Robin,

“Hey about the betting pool…”

“I heard that!” Nami snapped as she spun around and marched back towards them. “And I demand to know what the hell that is! Don’t you dare think I forgot about that Usopp!”

Robin curiously raised an eyebrow at her before looking back at Usopp.

Said man stiffened under her gaze.

“Sorry!” Usopp sheepishly apologized to Robin with a nervous laugh. “It just slipped. I must’ve told her something.”

“What’s that all about?!” Nami inquired, her eyes shifting back and forth between the two of them. “You said something about it earlier Usopp!”

Robin just shrugged nonchalantly. “Everyone just makes bets.”

“Wait, everyone?” Nami repeated. “Like everyone bets and the winner takes all? How come I didn’t know of this! Are in this too Robin?”

Robin just replied with a chuckle. “Well you’d most likely try to rig the game so you can split the win.” She explained not confirming the answer to Nami’s question if she was involved in it too.

Nami’s eyes widened when she realized that she is. “I can’t believe you Robin! But yeah you’re right I’d definitely rig the game! Wait,” she diverted her attention to Usopp. “So that’s why you brought it up Usopp! You’re planning to strike a deal with me!” She announced in a sickeningly sweet, sugary voice.

“That’s cheating.” Robin commented coolly.

“Hey no! It just slipped out of my mouth alright?”

“You said something about splitting the win,” Nami pointed out.

Both women are looking at him unconvincingly. Usopp was known for having a flair for lying, which is surprisingly effective to most people outside their circle.

“Only because you were gripping my tie to the point of throttling me!” Usopp retorted. “Besides like you’d really agree to split fifty-fifty Nami. It’s gonna be more like fifty-none!”

“That is definitely correct.” Robin agreed with a soft laugh

“Of course!” Nami stated haughtily. “Why would I split evenly? How long has this been going on anyway?”

“Uhh… around mid-year last year…” Usopp replied.

“What?! That long?”

“Uh-huh.”

“I’m pretty sure a lot of you are like a thousand belis richer now because of me?” Nami was looking pure evil right now. She tossed back the champagne she was still holding in one go and casually placed it on the tray of a passing server. “I’m definitely taking percentages!”

“Oh hey I always lost!” Usopp held up his hands in mock surrender. “So no thank you. You will not be taking any money from me.”

“I haven’t really won,” Robin said with a smile. “Sorry. I’m up against those with uncanny luck in gambling.”

Nami blew at her bangs exasperatedly. “Okay then. Who do I have to extort?”

Robin and Usopp glanced at each other and without waiting for a beat they both answered.

“Zoro.”

“That idiot!” Nami growled. So he was on it too! She can’t believe it! And he was getting richer from making bets about her and he did not even have the gall to tell her? She was gripping the remaining glass on her hand a little too tightly.

“Whoa easy!” Usopp tried to pacify her, seeing that cracks were about to form on the glass. “But yeah if you are gonna extort someone, it’s him. He like won almost every betting pool. That’s roughly about a hundred thousand belis now.”

Robin just arched her perfectly shaped eyebrows when Usopp threw Zoro under the mercy of a rather livid Nami. Money matters are in no way handled peacefully in the orange-haired woman’s books. She was willing to do almost anything for it. Robin had seen her break another man’s arm who idiotically tried to scam her before… accidentally though… or so Nami claims.

She swirled her wine slightly, watching it with slight fascination. But even more fascinating is what’s going to happen in the next few hours now that Nami finally found out about the betting pool that Brook, Franky and Usopp had actually started.

“Oooh that lazy, idiot moss-head. I swear I’m going to get every single beli he won from that stupid betting pool! With interest!”

Robin lifted her head up just in time to see Nami stomping away from them in purposeful strides, her high heels making an ominous clacking sound against the marbled floor as she made her way towards where Zoro possibly was. Usopp was waving his hand at her and cheering her on.

“Well this is definitely going to be a fun night,” Robin remarked, the corners of her eyes crinkling with mirth, before taking another sip of her wine. ------------------------

Unlike the other areas which were decorated with glittering lights and Christmas adornments, the manor’s west wing was totally devoid of anything festive. Only the warm chandelier lights lining the high curving ceiling illuminated the whole area.

The noise of the party grew faint the further Nami went forward and when she turned around the corner, everything fell silent. No music or party guests chatter or clinking glasses. Not even the clacking sound of her heels can be heard as she continued along the now carpeted floor.

She grimaced at the task Robin cheekily sent her to do. She could swear the raven-haired women had something up her sleeve for she had seen a particular twinkle in her eyes like she knew something that was supposed to be a secret.

Nami stopped walking and took a deep breath. She kind of… have an inkling to what it was that Robin knew.

But first things, first…

She tapped her foot while pondering. It irked her a bit that the soft fabric underneath her shoes prevented her from hearing the sound her foot should be making.

If everything was silent in this area then definitely the drifting moss head had gone into hiding in one of these many rooms.

Nami did a double take when she realized she was still holding the glass Robin handed her earlier. With a shrug of her shoulders, she lifted the glass to her lips to taste the deep gold liquid. It would be a waste not to drink it.

She needs it much more than Zoro do.

Mmmm… that hits the spot. Nami mused, nodding her approval as she felt the familiar sensation of the liquor warming up her throat and cheeks. Licking her lips, she studied the red lipstick mark she left on the glass.

She made a mental note to grab more of these once she gets back to the party.

After she finds Zoro.

And where could he be? She is not really looking forward to searching all the rooms of the floor for him.

Nami strained her ears to listen if there was any sound of thunderous snoring coming from one of the rooms. Hearing nothing, she strolled forward, glancing left and right.

“He better be in here somewhere,” she muttered to herself. Because there is no way in hell that she’d try to look for him outside the estate grounds on this cold night. They could do without him in the meeting. They have too. Someone can just fill him in with whatever he was going to miss.

“What are you doing skulking around here like a thief?”

Nami whirled around instantly at that. She wasn’t surprised to see the person she was looking for, casually leaning against the now open doorway of one of the rooms she already passed. Zoro’s arms were folded across his chest, one eyebrow raised in inquiry as he regarded at her.

She just snorted at his accusation and fought the urge to remind him that she was indeed a thief… in case his stupid, sexy ass had forgotten about it.

But she just let it slide, and took another sip from the glass in her hand before approaching him.

“I’m skulking around because I’m looking for you. Robin told me to bring you upstairs, your presence is required at the meeting oh snarky one.”

Zoro just scoffed and pushed himself away from the doorway. Without another word, he went back inside the totally dark room where he was obviously ‘stealthily lounging’.

Nami followed suit. So he had holed himself up in one of the many rooms that served as an office library. From the looks of this one, no Mugiwara was using it because the place was still tidy. No books, open and unopened, were occupying the antique writing desk. No papers strewn everywhere, crumpled or not. No pens or mugs and glasses half-filled with coffee, tea, water or any alcoholic beverage. There are no missing books in the shelves. No diagrams, floor plans or maps posted and hanging on the walls, windows or on any available flat surface.

There was none of the signature chaos that takes over the room once someone from their team uses it.

Well, unless of course Zoro had already staked his claim on this room and was using it as his personal sleeping quarter-slash-hideout.

“What are you doing in here alone in the dark Zoro?” Nami asked, using the exact same tone he used when he questioned her earlier as she closed the door. “Hiding from someone? Or from everyone?”

“Hmph.”

“Or are you waiting for someone?” Nami sing-songed as she approached him. Zoro was now leaning against the desk with his arms crossed over his chest again in an imposing manner. She deliberately brushed against him to reach out and switched the pricey vintage desk lamp beside him to illuminate the room.

His grey eye was following her movements. Watching. Waiting.

“I brought you a drink.” She handed him the liquor glass she still have on her hand.

She smirked when his face scrunched into a frown as he took it from her, scrutinizing the alcohol inside. “Sorry I had to take a taste.” She grinned cheekily at him.

Zoro stared at the glass. Her lipstick mark was still on the glass rim, the red smear a stark contrast against the gold liquid… same color as that on her devilishly smiling lips.

“I don’t mind,” he said lowly. He lifted the glass and deliberately drank right at the area where her lipstick mark was.

Nami did not fight the urge to bite her lower lip.

Well fuck. Isn’t that hot?

“You didn’t bring more?” Zoro asked with a smirk after he downed all the remaining whiskey in one go.

Nami laughed teasingly. “Oh you have to come out of your hiding place if you want more of that.”

The green-haired man chuckled, setting the glass on the desk.

“Guess I’ll settle with this for now.”

His hand instantly reached out and grabbed her by the nape, pushing her forward to him and capturing her lips with his.

Nami pressed herself against him straightaway. It was like her body had a mind of its own. It knew exactly what to do the moment Zoro’s lips settled on hers. Her arms automatically went around his neck, her head tilted to give him more access to her mouth, to deepen their kiss so he could taste more of her and she could taste more of him.

She melted in his arms when his tongue traced her lower lip slowly before teasingly giving it a soft bite. She practically purred in delight at his action. She likes it when he does that. It always sent shivers running down her spine and she can feel the heat from that playful nip spreading from her lips to every damn part of her.

She clung to him when she felt his fingers trailing down the bare skin of her back, her body quivering deliciously against the sensation. Zoro’s hold on her nape tightened. She felt him inhaled sharply before almost devouring her in their kiss, his mouth dominating hers in a way that made Nami heady, hot and needy all at the same time.

Zoro in turn completely caged her to him by wrapping one arm around her waist. His hand on her nape slowly moved to tangle with her unbound tresses and Nami realized from the slight movements his body was making that he plans to…

She pulled away almost immediately. Zoro’s face scrunched into a displeased frown.

“What?” He asked gruffly, looking peeved that she stopped their kiss.

Nami gave him a sassy grin. “We need to go upstairs for the meeting,” she reminded him, tapping his cheek lightly. Because good Kami if she didn’t stop him now, they won’t make it up there.

“Tch!”

“We have responsibilities tonight. Plus you also ruined my lipstick,” she chastised him softly even as she gave him a quick peck before proceeding to rub off the red smear on his lips with her thumb. “Didn’t I tell you that the lips are off limits when I’m all dolled up like this?”

Nami tilted her head down to gesture at her sparkling champagne gown.

She smiled softly when his frown deepened. Zoro absolutely looked like a spoiled brat who didn’t get his way.

Adorable.

Nami traced his mouth softly with her thumb before kissing him again.

“Do we have to be there?” Zoro grudgingly asked when she pulled away again and resumed wiping of traces of her lipstick on him. They weren’t exactly letting anyone know about them. Heck, even they themselves don’t know what the real score between them is. They haven’t really discussed it. But somehow they had both come to an agreement that whatever they’re doing are exclusively just between them and third parties are not welcome.

Robin probably (with her intelligence) knows a thing or two about them based on the way she was looking at Nami when she asked her to search for the green-haired man. And to be honest, Nami suspects that they are being whispered behind closed doors. Most of those in the low ranks are gossips after all.

They better be not in those idiots betting pool! She swore there will be hell to pay.

In the dim light of the room, she did her best to erase the remnants of red on his lips as Zoro watched her.

“Sorry, but boss’s orders.”

He grunted and straightened up, giving Nami a nod that they better go. He had a ‘let’s get this over with’ expression on his face and she chuckled.

Nami tugged at his dinner jacket. “We need to stop by my office first.”

“Huh? Why?”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “You made a mess of my make-up. I have to retouch.”

“Tch!”

“Don’t tch me! I absolutely refuse to walk into the meeting room without fixing myself first!” Nami glowered at him. “They’d get ideas.”

“No they won’t.”

“Yes they will. Robin is not an idiot.”

“Fine,” Zoro relented begrudgingly. Nami does have a point. He’s not looking forward being subjected to the others teasing or insinuations. “Lead the way woman.”

Nami flashed him a victorious smile. “Plus I also have to leave this there.”

She raised her hand and waved a small box in front his face.

Zoro’s brows furrowed when he realized what she was holding. “Damn it Nami!” He growled.

“Aaaw Zoro don’t be mad,” Nami pinched his cheek. “Is this for me?”

“I’m actually tempted to say no.”

“Ah, so this is mine!”

He was looking at her with a deadpan expression on his face. Nami just pressed a kiss on his cheek before mouthing ‘thank you’.

“I can’t believe you filched that, you’re unbelievable.” Zoro groused.

“Yup. Right in while you were busy shoving your tongue inside my mouth.” Nami brazenly declared as she observed the small yet pretty gift box. A sparkling ribbon was tied around it and she shook it lightly, her eyes widening at the sound coming from inside it.

Zoro looked smug. “Don’t think you one upped me witch. I just didn’t stop you.”

But Nami was too happy and too distracted with her gift to pay any attention to what he was saying.

“Oooh! Did you get me something shiny and sparkly?” She probed, her tone enthusiastic. “I sure don’t mind getting something to pair with them.” She tilted her head slightly to show him the earrings she was wearing. The diamonds set on them came from Jozu Island and very hard to acquire. When Zoro said he’ll get her those, she had treated it as a joke at first. But when he handed her a black velvet box containing the said stones in their raw beauty, she realized he was dead serious in with his word.

Nami had some of them set into different jewelries. And once they were done, she wore them to show Zoro just how absolutely stunning they looked, especially against her naked skin.

He just snorted at her. “Why don’t you open it?”

She excitedly tugged at the box’s ribbon, letting it fall down the floor. She lifted the top cover up and peered inside.

“Uh… wow.” She slowly nodded her head hoping it would give her time to wrap this one around her brain and figure out why she is looking at…

“Keys?” Nami looked up at Zoro in surprise.

Zoro smirked. “What? Are you expecting something else?”

Nami recovered quickly. “Nope. Not really.” She forced out a laugh. “I mean, I was actually expecting not to get anything from you at all after those diamonds.” She stared at the content of the box again. It wasn’t even a key for a car. She thought, a bit dumbfounded. So what the hell is…

She lifted her head and realized that Zoro was now looking at her amusedly. He had this certain expression on his handsome face that tells her he is up to something.

“What?” Nami queried, cocking an eyebrow at him. “I don’t like the expression on your face right now.”

He just shrugged his shoulders and continued looking at her with amusement dancing behind his grey eye.

“Merry Christmas Nami.” He greeted in that deep, lazy voice of his. “That should stop you from nicking my own set.”

Nami’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped open when she finally realized what those keys are for.

Stupid Zoro just gave her her own set of keys for his house.

Her very own set.

She glanced down at it again.

Does he have any idea on how serious the implication of his gift was?

She lifted her eyes up to gaze at his face. And she knew instantaneously that he had thought this one through. After all, Zoro rarely decides things on a whim.

Without another word she threw herself at him, glomping him with enough force to almost push him back against the writing desk.

She buried her face on his neck. She could feel the rumble of laughter on his chest at her reaction.

“I take it that you like it?” Zoro laughingly asked.

Nami looked up at him and replied with a dazzling smile. “Definitely.”

“Better than the diamonds?”

“That is a hard question Zoro.” She mock-pouted. “I like them both very much.”

Zoro responded with a chuckle.

She studied his face for a moment, unsure on how she would ask the question that’s weighing on her mind for months now.

“Zoro…”

“Hnn?”

Nami took a deep breath. “You know that this… you know that this means…” she trailed off and instead pointed a finger at him and then at herself. ��Are we making this official?” She just blurted out not knowing how to proceed anymore.

His answer was a simple yes. And gave her that smile that never fails to steal her breath away. That one smile she always, always coveted to see directed at her.

And there was no really better response to that but to press her lips on his in the softest of kisses that he eagerly returned.

She was giggling when she pulled away. “I’m so going to put that bathroom of yours into good use.” She murmured while running her fingers through his hair.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah,” she affirmed. “And you will definitely have a lot of sleepless nights from here on.” She grinned naughtily at him.

“Looking forward to it.” He whispered before Nami kissed him again.

“And also, now that we are official,” Nami murmured in between kisses. “I will collect my percentages from all your betting pool wins.”

Zoro jerked back at that and was now staring at her incredulously.

She smiled mischievously at him. “Oh. Usopp tattled.”

“Usopp?” Zoro repeated. “That idiot. Pretty sure he wants to split the wins tonight with you.”

“Definitely. And the tattler also told me you’re in it too. So want to counter-offer?”

Zoro looked like he was pondering for a moment. “No way that’s gonna be fifty-fifty. You’re too much of a witch to be fair.”

Nami threw her head back and laugh.

“Sixty-forty,” she offered impishly.

“I knew it.” Zoro huffed with a roll of his eyes.

Nami tapped his chest. “Sixty on you… and you take me out on a really fancy date.”

Zoro grinned. “Eighty-twenty.”

Nami’s eyebrows disappeared behind her bangs.

“I’ll take you out on a fancy date and not on that place where dartboard brows goes.”

“Go on…” Nami still looked unconvinced.

Zoro bent down slightly so his lips were now touching her ear. “Then I’ll take you home. And we’ll spend all three days before the New Year party in bed.”

The corners of Nami’s lips quirked at that.

“You better not be talking about just sleeping there Zoro.”

“Of course I’m not.”

“Then you got yourself a deal.”

#zoro x nami #ZoNa #zonami #zonalove #zona AU #zona one-shot #zona fanfiction #zoro nami fanfiction #roronoa zoro #nami

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tigermousse · 11 months ago

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Rewritten

genres: dating simulator, otome, comedy, romance

Did you ever wanted your favorite book character become alive? Of course, you did. So in this game MC has a chance to meet characters from books and even fall in love with one of them (or with every one of them). Because they came out of their books to help MC open her aunt's bookstore in time. You will have a lot of work, but also plenty of time to spend it with your bookish bachelors. You can talk to them, found a place in our world that they would like to visit for a date, and even read into their story - literally - and find more about them.

This game is pretty short, cute, funny and colorful. It is lighthearted and heartwarming, with a tiny bit of drama. The art style is unique, because it differs for every character.

Because a novel is so short, romance feels too rushed, of course. Characters confess love after two days knowing each other. Ok, let's call it love on the first sight.

(yeah, on the first day it is too soon, let's talk about love in two days)

The other problem is that each route alone lacks a conclusion. I think that a little scene in the end would be nice. But after all, if you finish all the routes, you will have a conclusion and some bonus pictures.

MC (Nameable)

MC got a degree in English literature, but now she has a writer's block and in the meanwhile decided to come and help her aunt with the bookstore-opening project and maybe gather some inspiration for writing in the future. Hopefully romance with a book character will help with it.

She is funny, sassy and independent, but kind. I would say that her personality more or less depends on the character she is pursuing

My rating 4/5

Love Interests (MILD SPOILERS AHEAD):

Klaus

Klaus is literally the strong silent type. He is the knight from a fantasy novel and he doesn't talk a lot, but when he does, it is appropriate and to the point. He's really so cute, especially after first date. How can you not love a man, who loves all the creatures, big and small? And also cooks! Definitely a keeper.

My rating 5/5

Dr. Vincent Asimov Nightshade

Nightshade is a [mad] biology scientist from a sci-fi novel. He has seven PhD in botany - and other kinds of fantastic botany. A typical tsundere, and I love tsunderes, scientists and men in glasses. He's a bit of a narcissist, he likes talking about himself. He's sassy, clever but in fact you will find it east to embarrass him, because deep in his soul he's bashful and afraid of his own feelings. So he's confused, but it is a good thing that he will have MC at his side to help him sort the thing out.

My rating 4,5/5

Rosamel

Rosamel is the opposite of Nightshade. He's a poet from a fairy tale and he's in love with love. Sweet-talking, tender and romantic. Prepare yourself for a full-time love bombarding from him.

He seems giddy and airy, but I really loved how bittersweet his backstory turned out. You'll find out why despite his appearance his favorite color is blue and not pink.

My rating 5/5

Amos

Amos is a PI from a mystery detective series that MC liked as a kid. He's working with a bright young detective girl and speaks very fondly of her. So he's the only one whom MC really knew before. He's funny, smart and has got a bubbly personality and a zest for life. There's so many things that will light his interest. And he won't stop talking about them.

For me his story and character were a bit bland, not my cup of tea, but he is a nice guy anyway.

My rating 4/5

Morgan MacAllister (Mac)

Mac is a sea captain from a classic adventure novel which MC has heard about, but hasn't read, because she was intimidated by the seriousness of it. Probably it is a reference to a Moby Dick, though the plot of Mac's book ші different.

He's looking pretty much intimidating and not very talkative. Definitely not a romantic. But if MC chooses to know him better, she'll find out that he has a kind heart and a crude sense of humor. In the past he was harsh to his crew and did thing that he regrets now. But nevertheless now he's caring about MC and tries hard to help her and make her feel comfortable.

My rating 3,5/5

Overall:

Visual: 5/5

Story: 4/5

Characters: 5/5

Romance: 3/5

Originality: 3/5

My Rating: 4/5

The game is free! You can get it on itch.io

#rewritten #visual novel #video game #video games #otome #my review #my #personal #Tiger Mousse

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animehouse-moe · 1 year ago

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Ranking of Kings Season 2 Episode 9: Miranjo and The Demon | The Prince And His Treasures

I need to get my soap box and megaphone out so I can tell the world about how much I love this season. Maybe it's because I knew what we were in for before it came here, or maybe it's because Wit has been working animation magic these last few years. But this season of side stories for Ousama Ranking has been so amazing. Absolutely zero shortage of heartwarming and important and creative moments.

Starting with Miranjo's story as a child, where she finds the wish granting demon child in the forest. I think it's a really incredible story about duality. She finds herself lost in a deeper part of the forest after hitching a ride on some deer, only to spot the young demon feasting on a wild animal of some sort.

Right away, that dichotomy appears as Miranjo is peaceful and accepted by the wildlife, while the demon boy is shunned by it. You can say that they're also hostile and violent towards it, but that's a complete misinterpretation of the scene. They have to eat to survive, so they're unable to create that peaceful bond like Miranjo has, which I think is a rather impactful statement. And those comparisons and differences continue, with Miranjo always being in light and the demon boy remaining in the shadows.

But, the story turns on its head pretty quickly, as the demon child flees from Miranjo, and she chases after him before leaving him alone, and huffing and puffing on her way home before she gets lost. I think it's a really great pairing of pieces, as the foliage covers overhead of Miranjo in both scenes, dulling them in comparison to when the demon boy helps Miranjo find her way back home. It's incredibly cute because the light that Miranjo brought into the forest is the same light that the boy returns to her to help her home. The cramped forest that appeared around the demon boy, and that Miranjo poked through, is the same forest that the boy returns to so that they can find Miranjo. It's a circular story, reciprocative, as Miranjo brings happiness and light into the boy's life, and he returns the favor and in turn begins their friendship.

It's just so wonderful. The colors are amazing, the art style is incredibly precious, the direction is perfectly fitting for a fairy tale style, and I love how they use the forest to frame the various scenes. Using trees and foliage to create a suffocating and encroaching feeling before opening it up to allow for freedom and brightness later on. Such a wonderful story of how Miranjo and the demon boy came to be friends.

And quick side note, I really like that little backstory we got for the boy. Not cause it shows there's a whole town or whatever of demons, but how the story views adults and those seeking power as inherently evil and repulsive.

Anyways, on to part 2!

What a cute and endearing second half. Far less a cohesive story as it is the culmination of memories and experiences as Bojji runs all around the castle to deliver his treasures to the people whom they were discovered with. A lot of similar stuff, so I just want to highlight the importance/significance of the items.

First, we've got Bebin with the snake skin from a young Matsumata. Of course, it can signify his growth and the changes he underwent to get to where he is, but I'd also like to think it's a testament to how caring Bebin is inside that outer shell.

Next up, we've got Apeas (who was sporting some really awesome combat animation in his training), to whom he gives what looks like a piece of obsidian in the shape of a spear. I think it's an equally rewarding gift that commends Apea's honing of his abilities, and is in a way, Bojji recognizing the strength and power of Apeas, whom struggled greatly with that concept through the end of the first season.

Following Apeas, we have a double feature with Domas and Hokuro, who share the same gift of the shell of a cicada. I think this is a really precious one that does great at symbolizing how both of these characters have broken out of their shells and grown. Plus, over-emotional Domas is incredibly fun and endearing.

We've got another duo after this pair, with Hiling and Dorshe. Hiling sports a feather from some sort of bird, while Dorshe is given a fang. You'll have to forgive me, but I can't think of any symbolism or prior event for Bojji to give Hiling a feather for. Dorshe on the other hand? His gift of a fang makes perfect sense as a reward and treasure for how fiercely he defended Bojji's mother.

And last but not least is Daida's acorn. I think it's a really cute one that's equal parts innocuous and important. There's the whole idea of growth and strength associated with it, but more than that I feel its importance stems from the shared memory that Daida wants to cultivate with Bojji, by turning the acorn into a tree within the castle.

Now, there's a bit more to cover before I get to the end, so I just wanted to share some of the outstanding layouts from this episode. The use space and slightly warped perspectives through most of them is really creative and gives a refreshing twist on what can sometimes be typical layouts for "good" series.

This scene with Bojji giving Miranjo a crystal ball though has to be the best of the episode. Such a creative idea with incredible execution.

And then we get to the end, where they use the song from the first OP for the anime. Need I say much more? Incredibly endearing and precious, it's the perfect way to approach the end of such a nostalgic and memorable episode.

#ranking of kings: the treasure chest of courage #ranking of kings #ousama ranking #ousama ranking: yuuki no takarabako #ousama ranking bojji #王様ランキング #王様ランキング勇気の宝箱 #prince bojji #anime recommendation #anime review #anime and manga #anime #dorshe #apeas #bebin #domas #prince daida #miranjo

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imhereforscm · 1 year ago

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Which is your favorite Barbie movie? (　＾▽＾)

I recently watched Barbie as princess and pauper and fell in love with King Dominic again 🫠

Can you write a fluffy story where MC is cleaning her childhood room and finds a old barbie movie ( your choice ) and decides to watch it with Louie? Pretty please ( ＾ω＾ )

"Childhood memories"

Genre: fluff

Warnings: none

A/N: YES!! KING DOMINIC✨✨🔥🔥😩😩 And also prince Antonioᕙ⁠(⁠ ͡⁠◉⁠ ͜⁠ ⁠ʖ⁠ ͡⁠◉⁠)⁠ᕗ🔥🔥🔥 Barbie is amazing!!🥺🌹🌹 I love a lot of Barbie movies, such as The Twelve Dancing Princesses (fun fact: I burnt that DVD from watching it too much), Barbie In The Three Musketeers, Princess Charm School. I actually couldn't pick a favourite until I actually sat down to write this fic. And now I can proudly say... It's BARBIE IN THE NUTCRACKER🥺💖🌹💕🥺🥺🥺🌹🌹🌹

It started as a chore, it really did. But with every box you'd open, new memories would jump out at you.

Clothes and shoes that were too small for your current self, showing you a totally different person from the one you were today, as you cleaned away the dust.

Drawings of vivid childlike dreams shoved messily into shelves and all around your desk.

Those, along with your toys, brought a smile of sentimentality to your face, feeling as if every childhood bliss unfolded before your eyes like a film tape that was buried in the past covered in dust, yet not forgotten.

Soon, your mind had drifted away from cleaning your childhood room. A happiness so energetic and thirsty chased all those thoughts away from your mind, as you dug deeper between your toys and some sparkly hair clips with butterflies and flowers attached to them.

Your fingers made contact with a broad surface and peering into the box, you couldn't identify what it was, due to it being in the very dark bottom.

You began pulling out one toy at a time, equivalents of memories. Of how you first got them on Christmas or on your birthday or on an ordinary Wednesday evening. You turned some toys on. Some made sounds rather loud and not so coherent, because of how the batteries had began to run out. Some didn't turn on at all. Some toys had glue on them and you giggled as you remembered the way you'd accidentally break them, yet how happy you were to see the pieces sticking back together again and the fun continuing.

And finally, you reached the object of your interest. You pulled it out and your mouth opened into a huge grin, your eyebrows rising. You laughed happily, the mere sight of this movie in its colorful case bringing you so much nostalgia and happiness you swore your heart would burst and your eyes would fill with tears.

You still loved this movie and a bright idea made your eyes light up. You would combine the two things you loved dearly.

"So what's this movie about?" Tauxolouve asked, his face illuminated only by the light of your laptop. He spread his right arm, welcoming you gently into his embrace, as you joined him on the bed, two bags of chips in your arms, which you dropped on your lap to get comfortable.

"It's a movie I loved as a child, Barbie in the nutcracker. It's like... A sweet adventure, with ballet, classical music and it's got that fairy tale glow." Even talking about it made you smile, love filling your ribcage to the brim.

You put on the movie and cuddled close to Tauxolouve, resting your head against his chest and pulling the blanket up to your chin.

The movie started and the familiarity of it, combined with Tauxolouve's warmth made you feel at peace.

You watched as Clara slept and how the fairy dust danced around the room, enchanting the nutcracker awake and the magic of that scene didn't fail to take your breath away even now.

Tauxolouve watched silently, a pleasant smile on his face, until the point when the owl gave Clara the golden locket and he saw your eyes practically shine at its sight. "Do you like her locket?"

"Yep! It's so pretty!" You giggling, your cheeks a little rosy from the happiness. "I remember wanting it so badly when I was little."

Tauxolouve pressed a kiss to your temple, his heart flattering when you chuckled softly at his heartfelt move, before falling silent again.

You two watched on as Clara and the Nutcracker took off for their adventure and landed into a pile of pure white snow.

"What a cute fairy." Tauxolouve commented lightheartedly as the little snow fairy approached the two heroes. "But he's right, she should've said thank you to Clara for fixing her wing."

You chuckled at his commentary, but agreed.

His eyes squinted kindly as more fairies came out and started dancing. "The music is lovely."

Clara walked forward and the flowers growing from the places where she previously stepped, made the cozy fairy tale elements of this movie shine even more.

"Huh," You began, upon seeing the broad scenery. "I remember that being much more detailed. I still love it though."

"That's what matters most. For a movie or a painting or a poem to never stop conveying the same feelings each time you watch it, even if it is after years."

"That's a beautiful way to put it." You agreed, smiling and nuzzled more into his chest, breathing into his caramel scent, which fit perfectly with the feelings of this movie.

Warmth, fairytales and caramel. This is it. This is a feeling you knew you'd never get tired of.

"I just realized..." Tauxolouve muttered.

"What?"

"This mouse or rat king or whatever he is..." He stared aside, his eyebrows forming downturns. "He reminds me of the king. He's got the same tyrannical look."

You snorted. "I can see that, yes."

More of the movie passed you by, your attention focused there and your heart pounding with pure happiness and tranquility as more and more familiar figures came upon the screen.

Until the scene where the Nutcracker and Clara talking beneath the moonlight appeared within the screen of your laptop. "Oh my god, that scene...!" You breathed, more happiness and nostalgia gushing forth from your lungs. "I completely forgot about that scene..." You watched on, transfixed into this movie that seemed like a dream which you could only explain by feelings and sensations the next morning. "It's such a sweet scene..."

"Indeed. It's very heartfelt." Tauxolouve nodded. "The lesson of this scene is seeing who someone is within and believing in them. That even if they once failed, they can always try again, isn't it?"

"Yes, that's exactly it." You nodded, proud at this movie for being a part of your childhood and loving Tauxolouve even more for being able to see the magic in it, which many would mock for not having flashy enough graphics. "It's the type of thing that as a child you admire and when you're older, you understand it. But in both cases, it's precious and irreplaceable."

"I hope you know I want a hug after this too." Tauxolouve whispered into your hair as Clara hugged the Nutcracker, after breaking the cell, which the mouse king had turned invisible.

You laughed. "You can have one after the movie."

"Alright. I'm gonna remember, just so you know."

The movie came to the point where the Nutcracker turned back to prince Eric, by Clara's kiss and you gripped Tauxolouve's shirt, feeling the exact same giddy feeling you'd always experience as a child in this part. The emotions overtook you and you turned to Tauxolouve, placing a kiss to his cheek.

Tauxolouve chuckled teasingly. "We're gonna need to replay that part if it means you're gonna kiss me every time."

"I still owe you a hug!" You laid back on his chest, with Tauxolouve's arm still warped around you, continuing the movie.

Your eyes, ears and heart were glued onto the screen, until the colours faded to black and you sat up, your body feeling light. "That movie is still so beautiful." You said, your brain clouded with the childlike sweetness that never actually left you and you had merely discovered it again. "You think they married?" You asked, turning around and accidentally pushing the unopened bags of chips off the bed. It was a clumsy move, yet it brought you back to those times when you'd ask everyone around you if the characters were going to marry and be together forever, not caring if you stepped on something, as you were so caught up in your excitement.

Tauxolouve smiled sweetly at you, patting you on the head. "I believe it is as possible for them to get married as it is for us."

Your eyes widened at his words, your lips parting a little. Blood rushed to your cheeks, warming up your face and melting your surprised expression into one of affection for this man.

"You like that idea for us or them more?"

"Both." You honestly replied. "One day... Clara loves her Nutcracker just as much as I love you, after all."

Tauxolouve took your hand in his, bringing it to his lips and leaving a gentlemanly kiss there, before staring at you with a charming smile. "Now where's my hug?"

You laughed and threw your arms around him, squeezing him tightly into a hug similar to that in the movie. "Satisfied?"

"Very." He said and then he snapped his fingers.

"What did you do?" You asked, pulling away a little to look at him, irises filled with curiosity.

"Take a look in the mirror."

A little nervous, you got off the bed and went to stand in front of your mirror. "Lou!" You exclaimed, delighted. Resting on your collarbones was a golden locket in the shape of a heart. "It's like that from the movie!"

Tauxolouve approaches you, his reflection coming to stand behind your own as he pulled you into his arms from behind.

"Thank you so much." As you stared into the mirror at your entangled forms and the golden chain clasped arouses your neck, you knew Tauxolouve would make sure each and every fairy tale you harbour in your heart would come to life.

#scm #star crossed myth #fanfic scm #scm fanfic #scm tauxolouve

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authorofdragons · 2 years ago

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you know what? lifes shit. come make something with me

So for context, these are my comfort dolls I crocheted over a year ago: Bonehill and Zerako.

theyre also the main characters of my webcomic Skull & Pyro but you dont gotta worry about that rn all you gotta know is that theyre husbands. (if you wanna worry about it its ok go check out my pinned post)

So I love making them minature things and I'm a horrible little christmas goblin so I wanna make them a mini christmas tree (and a whole scene to boot but lets start with a tree).

Here you can see the leaves fighting against their creator as I bring them into this wretched world (aka my loops kept falling off my hook). I went off of The Lazy Hobbyhopper's pattern here. Base of the tree is made with bulky green yarn I found in a bin and then worsted weight white yarn to make the leaves look smaller to make sure the green would be seen underneath. I Also skipped every other row when making the leaves to further achieve this.

Next I need a sturdy interior so the tree is firm for decorating. There could be better materials for this but my brain will use any and everything I have on hand before it'll buy new materials so my grubby lil hands grabbed some cardstock and made it a cone

Next for the trunk I used the left over cardstock to make a tube and then grabbed a old CVS paper bag to give it trunk texture and color. The final touches are with crayola marker because thats just the crisis situation we're dealing with here.

Now the base of the tree is made, rad, cool, looks neat.

Ignore the fact that my camera decided my walker is the star of the photo this is what happens when I screenshot my videos.

We need a topper and I refuse to make a normal star bc my boys are agents of chaos so I asked my mom what it should be and she suggested a mushroom gnome. She knows me well.

I make a lot of these little guys purely bc my brain eel has decided they are The Shit right now. This is my own pattern that is minimal sewing because I Hate Sewing Extra Shit it just makes more steps in my mind which makes the brain eel angery. So I bullshit stitches and run with it. If I can learn to translate the horrors that are my patterns into words, maybe one day Ill share it. Unfortunately the horrors are winning

Now for ornaments and lights. I could crochet those but brain eel doesn't want to so Target it is.

Now on with the lights, these fairy lights were bright as fuck and with the white leaves I felt assaulted with color ASDFJFLGK like listen I love color but Im used to green trees and didn't realize the frosted leaves would just Become The Entire Light Spectrum

they are entranced.

So I just swapped the fairy lights with my taco lights that were on my own mini tree and honestly, that fits better in every way given Zerako notoriously loves tacos and its much less stimulating. And the fairy lights look great on my tree.

Of course I need cheesy couples photos of them putting the tree up because it Is their tree, they deserve this moment.

you're doing great boys (they are not doing anything)

NOW for ordaments. Percieve them putting on the ordaments.

Now pretend you never perceived them (for I am doing the rest).

All together it looks great!! The colorful ordaments really help balance the plain yellow/white lights.

I adore how this turned out. Life is still shit but my boys have their own tree so I'll live with it 💚 I got more christmas crafts planned for these two so follow me for more mild serotnin inducers.

Hope life's a little less shit for you today 💙

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henrike-does-writing-sometimes · 1 year ago

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air, beasts, mundane, rot <3

REN !! KING !!

AIR - What is your WIP's first sentence ?

Because I’ve already posted the first chapter of To The End, here’s the first sentence (plus the main prism attack) of the Divine. Featuring the previous Wielders !

“Light of Cosmia!” "Regal," "Prisma," "Chorus!" Pure aetherium exploded around them, turned the world pitch white and screamed in their ears.

BEASTS - Who is your favourite OC ?

Cruel of you to make me chose :<

Though characters that just, stick with me even when I’m not actively working on the wip they’re from are Epsilon, Kit, Ruben, and Vega.

Epsilon y’all already know, they go through such a character arc and they mean a lot to me. I love how they in a way represents parents who’ve fucked up and hurt their kid, intentional or not, but still love them and would die for them. And make that clear without crossing boundaries. Like “When and if you're ready, I’ll be here for you. That day may never come, and that is fine.”

Kit is such an angel (heheh), and this perfect mix of a kid having fun and being a kid, and being a whole tragedy. Scrutanized, and even demonized, ever since birth, slowly dying as a result of being an anomaly to a sacred prophecy. Kit has every fucking right to be mad and lash out and cause trouble, but they said “Nah. I’m going to live the best life I can.” and I love that for them.

Ruben wakes up every day and chooses wonder. Belle in the original fairy tale is written as a very kind and humble person, and I wanted to sorta emulate that with Ruben. He’s the kind of person who looks at the world and goes “I get to live here? I get to exist here? Awesome!” Yes, he’s handsome, yes, he’s cute, but what makes Ruben the beauty in this story is how he views and interacts with the world. Which, also is what makes him peculiar and weird to other people (weak of them)

Vega is one of the first main characters that I have killed off. And she is such a wonderful character. She’s the embodiment of stars; bright and exciting, but you never know first glance if the star you’re looking up at is dead or alive. Vega just, is phenomenal. And it was such a journey writing her, and her death scene actually made me cry, and her relationship with her dad means so much to me and their final scene broke my heart. I love her a lot

MUNDANE - Would you survive in the shoes of your main character ?

Nope :D

There’s really nothing else to it, I simply would not survive all the bullshit I put my characters through

ROT - Which of your OCs is the best villain ?

Well starting off, you already know, Madereine. I love her so much it’s unreal. Like, she’s so effortlessly threatening; elegant, calculating, manipulative, vicious, and absolutely cruel. The scenes with her and André are so fun to write because they’re such sharp contrasts to scenes with André and Catalina. It’s the “I am your mother, I made you.” vs. “I’m your mom, and I love you no matter what.”

Like take the vivisection scene. Madereine may act like she cares about André, and in one way she does. But it’s not about him as a person, it’s not about his well-being. It’s strictly what he symbolizes. Catalina loves and cares about André because that’s her kid who she’d do anything for. Madereine loves and cares about André because that’s her weapon.

“Be careful with him,” Madereine said. “We only have one.” // "I created you, my Phoenix, you're alive because of me. I'm the only real family you have."

In other words, Madereine makes me insane.

But I’m also going to give a shout-out to the Locksmith, aka Arahmen. Because while he isn’t as big-scale as Madereine or other Divine villains, he’s still great. The perfect first villain. Like he doesn’t have some diabolical plan to conquer the world, but he poses enough of a threat as it is. And his motives are reasonable, why should mortals get the powers of gods ? But his methods ? The fact that he goes against another God who specifically gives out these powers to prevent catastrophe ? The fact that his actions could’ve led to a much worse outcome for when the Divine Entity enters the chat ??

It’s also how he stays on the sidelines for most of the season. Giving away tools for other Celestials to summon monsters and cause chaos. Silently observing before the time comes. And his first time in active battle is just- AAAAAA

The man ignored Nico’s remark, and without looking up from his book he spoke, “I’m looking for a Nico Morales. Do you know him?” Nico felt an unease take root. The man was unfamiliar, a total stranger. And even if his life was filled with weird monsters, he knew when to play it safe. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know who that is.” That made the man close his book. He held it still in his hand, looking off to the opposing wall. As if pondering Nico’s answer. “Why are you lying?” he ask once the silence bordered on unbearable. “I’m really not,” Nico said. “Sir, again, we’re closing so if you could please-” “Nico Ángel Morales,” the man looked at him, and Nico froze under the sharp and knowing gaze. “Junior at West Grove high, correct? You work long shifts here because you don’t like being home, plan on moving out as soon as you can.” “L-Look,” Nico said, doing his best to hide the shake in his voice. “I don’t know who you’re talking about-” he was cut off when the man's hand shot out. Wrapping around his throat and pulling him closer to the counter. “Wielder of Aurora.” he spat his words, almost out of disgust.

And then the whole situation where he kidnaps Andie and just-

"You… You're going to kill me?" Andie spoke cautiously, as if their question would spark any ideas in the Locksmith. Arahmen looked them up and down. Calculating, considering. "No," he finally said. "I’m going to keep you here until they find us. Then I’ll watch them try to decide what to do. Leave you like this, unable to fight and with a ticking bomb growing inside you. Or forge a new key, and risk your life now instead. Thinking back on it, I should have done this to begin with. Pluck you one by one, and dangle you over the Sanctuary's heads."

Yeah, the Locksmith is great lol

#ask game #I'm not tagging all the wips right now iurliusr

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thebluestbluewords · 9 months ago

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I am in love with this art, it's so gorgeous! As an angst lover and a die hard believer that Jay falls hard and fast for his friends the second he has the beginnings of a crush, I am thinking SO hard about this concept.

I've read one variation on hanahaki that I absolutely loved and want to think about here, where instead of the disease happening because of unrequited feelings of love, it happens because the affected person won't acknowledge/say anything about their feelings. As much as I enjoy the angst potential of unrequited jaylos (and I do think this idea could still play out that way, just bear with me), I also really enjoy the variation where hanahaki disease doesn't require reciprocation or death.

I'm thinking about Jay as the protector of the group. As the cool one, who's there for the others but doesn't have the first clue how to talk about his own feelings. Thinking back to the D2 "girl talk" scene, Jay is a great guy and a loyal friend, but he's not super....emotionally intelligent. It feels very true to how I'm reading his character for him to develop feelings, and then just never talk about them or mentally acknowledge them, because he doesn't have the time or brain space for feelings! He's busy! He's got swords to swing and classes to take and Chads to bother!

And okay, maybe he's staying busy because he doesn't know how to deal with these feelings that keep popping up whenever he looks at Carlos and sees him happy, laughing, thriving now that they're off the isle, but whatever. He's a friend, and Jay has a lot of feelings about all of his friends. He's just a great friend kinda guy.

(Jay does not have these feelings about all of his friends)

And like, maybe his chest hurts a little more than it should, but that's fine. He's probably just tired. He'll sleep it off.

(spoiler alert: he does not sleep it off)

It's a surprise when the first flower petals start. Jay isn't expecting to start hacking out a lung after practice, and he really isn't expecting it when instead of a blob of gross chest mucus, he coughs up a handful of bright yellow flower petals. He's seen a lot of Weird Shit happen, but flowers coming out of his body isn't normal, and reeks of magic bullshittery, so he goes to the best magic person he knows, which is Mal.

Mal is in the middle of a mental breakdown, because I'm imagining this set in a vague time slightly before the second movie, where she's always one bad day away from snapping and murdering everyone around her and then herself, but she's grateful for a magical distraction. A magical mystery to throw herself into is as good an excuse as any to get out of her ongoing obligations!

Except...there's nothing about throwing up flowers in her mother's spellbook.

There's nothing in the library either. There's a restricted collection of magical textbooks and histories in Fairy Godmother's office, but they don't have any way of breaking in there, and they're committed to the whole goodness thing now. No more breaking and entering, even if it is for research. They'll just order the books themselves, off the dark web! It's much more morally defensible to engage in the illegal magical objects trade than it is to break into a teacher's personal book collections.

Unfortunately, the dark web isn't known for speedy shipping, and Jay's flower petals are starting to come up spotted with blood. He's pretty sure it's because they're tearing his throat on the way up, but the chest pain is a little scary, and he's sick and tired of waking up to the feeling of vines clogging his throat. (this is also where I would put a claustrophobia moment, if I was writing this for real and not just in bullet points). Jay's dad didn't exactly lock him in the closet as a kid, but Jay's been stuck in too many small, dark spaces while hiding from villains who caught him stealing from them to be fond of the feeling. The flowers don't cut off his light, but they clog his throat, and when he moves too quickly he'd swear that he can feel them ripping free of his lungs. It feels like he's drowning on dry land, and if there's one thing Jay does have an irrational fear of, it's drowning.

Nobody dies on the isle, but if you drown, the spell will bring you back over and over, and it'll hurt every single time.

Jay's the protector of the group. The loyal friend who looks out for everybody. But he can't look out for them if he can't breathe, and online shippers don't respond well to Mal's threats of violence and dragonfire on everything they love, so with a full bloody flower in hand, they break into Fairy Godmother's office.

It's a tense break-in, but they're careful and quiet (one bloody flower coughing fit notwithstanding) and the information they need is coincidentally in the first book they find. (Mal uses a searching spell to find the topic, but she's got her magic under control, and it's fine. It's not like Fairy Godmother would put magical shields on her office that are set to trigger a silent alarm if she senses magic being cast around her collections....no. She'd never do that).

Hanahaki. It's a magical disease, Mal reads out, that affects those who are in unrequited love. It's characterized by flowers in the lungs, and can be easily resolved by.....oh, okay, maybe she can just cast a localized fire spell to burn the flowers out? A little weed killer shot? They could make Jay laugh in the middle to make sure he aspirates it into his lungs. She's just spitballing here.

Jay is not amused by these suggestions. He would wrestle her for the book and read it himself, but he can't fucking breathe right now, and the next flower that comes up is whole, and there's more blood than petal visible.

Okay, Mal says. Okay. You just need to confess your feelings to the person you're in love with, and the flowers will die on their own once you acknowledge that you're in love.

Ah, says Jay. Yeah. Okay. I'll just die then.

(and then Carlos and Evie run in because hey, Fairy Godmother is on her way back, and she's moving pretty fast, and does anyone else hear an alarm??)

They can't run fast enough. Before they're even out the door, Fairy Godmother is there, and her phone is BLARING the magical alert sound, and she's not exactly pleased to see four students ransacking her personal magical reference library, but oh, dear, that's a lot of blood--

Jay maybe, possibly can't breathe. And like. The lecture they're getting is cool and all, but he's just gonna cough until he passes out, if that's cool with everyone? Great. Perfect.

He wakes up in the school nurse's quarters, because they didn't know where else to drag him. The nurse can't do shit, and the others are literally begging him to confess, but Jay Cannot Talk About This, not in front of everyone, and....look, he'll deal with it in the morning. Just one night to sleep it off and gather himself, and then he'll do it. Just. Give him space.

The girls leave. Carlos can't abandon his roommate to a night alone in the nurse's office, so he's reluctant, and this is it, this is the moment.

Jay literally has to tell him.

Or else he's going to die.

(and maybe it's unrequited, but the confession is the important part, and before Carlos can give him an answer, Jay starts coughing again, and the next flowers that come up are still bloody, but they're not bright and fresh anymore, and the stabbing pain of the vines in his lungs are already fading, and that's it, the answer doesn't matter, because the flowers are dead now and all that's left to do is pass the remaining plant matter and they can both get on with their lives and never talk about it again)

(but they maybe do talk about it again)

Because maybe they don’t love each other the same way, but they’re still friends, and Jay’s still in love, and they have to make sure the flowers don’t come back— because they can’t come back. There’s no way he’d get the same disease twice. They can just be friends, and Jay can be in love, and it’ll be fine.

They’ll be fine.

(if I want to get REALLY angsty with this, the magical hanahaki is progressive, and the first time it only requires a confession, but if it comes back it requires the feelings to be required, and oh, it’s going to come back.)

One sided Jaylos lives in my head rent free

#jaylos #the art makes me CRAZY about them augh #the angst potential is too good #me?? write 1500 words of not!fic because I saw beautiful art??#it’s more likely than you think

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k00286723 · 2 years ago

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secondary research:

Annihilation

(2018 film)

in this film (no spoilers pls watch it) it shows a growth of nature, a combination of human life with the natural world around it. its an exploration of a strange alien landscape in a growing bubble in the states. the explorers are a group of scientists and experts and are all stunned by the unique traits of this ecosystem. in my watches I was never really able to see it as a take over of the world because it seemed so beautiful. everything combining . I went through and took screenshots of my favourite frames to really illustrate my point.

The Plant Life

The plants are my favourite thing in this movie. it creates such a beautiful , calm feeling. the first scene we get with lots of botanical beauty is the scene beside the lake. all the characters were entranced with the gentle colours and the irregularities in form. none of them looked like the same species yet came from the same stem. strange plant hybrids were everywhere. one of the characters even said "it feels like someone's gonna get married." this atmosphere shed them of their defences for a short period because of its stunning beauty and led to one of them being very caught of guard by the sudden ugly danger that lay close.

the colours are so beautiful, light and bright . the textures are equally as soft , lots of moss , curved edges and bendy shapes . the mould is so fluffy and soft , the colours making some thing gross and dangerous look like candy floss. the multicoloured lilies in the water almost feel like decorations after a party, plastic frills blown into nature by the wind.

these moments are from quite a short scene , but another example of the effervescent calmness is an unknown landscape. you should be scared watching but looking at this spongy, scattered mossy branches it feels more like a fairy forest than a place of danger.

Unsettling beauty

the. movie is full of subversions of what is scary and what is beautiful. imagine the difference in this shot if it was just a normal bog standard dead body. the addition of soft colours and textures really turns it from morbidity to a beautiful creation made by nature .

the textures in this scene are so gorgeous . there's the cottony fluff around the head , very airy fairy. the wiry reaching structures and pretty too , they remind me of shooters from a plant, like the way strawberries spread. the layering and colour choice , im just obsessed with this . there's so much imagery in art using skulls , but. this doesn't feel overdone it feels new, whimsical and so organic. its amazing how the detail doesn't look intentional , or man made.

this beauty paired with the grimy environment of the dingy abandoned swimming pool is a really cool juxtaposition. gets me thinking about my piece in places other than studio 2 or a clean photography studio.

this area of the body mould is this section that to me really looks like braiding.

these creeping vines / lighting bolt feeling structures are beautiful . the stark colour scheme , the emptiness of the room, the scarcity and then close knit layering the closer u get to the hole, all of it is so visually interesting.

Metamorphisis/ Shape

there's a big theme of fractals and cell division in this movie and the visuals really capture this alien, growing spread of the entity ( whatever it is that's creating the strange landscape their in). the abstract shapes , the constant movement really makes me think of those backgrounds that used to show on my dads old computer when we listened to music. (ive now searched extensively for that online and can't find it for a visual )

Overall

Ive been really inspired by the forms and colour in this movie. aside from just the visuals its made me think about creating a safe , touchable , soft structure and pairing it with a harsher surounding

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sanctus-ingenium · 2 years ago

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another one of these posts lol... sketches vs final. not much changed for these ones, i kind of went into them with a very solid mental image already in my head. all of these were done start to finish in procreate

thoughts below the cut

horse fight .... this is based off a really really beautiful sky i saw while driving home one evening. i'm really proud of getting the colours i saw exactly right, this kind of greenish yellow fading to dark blue and with grey clouds low over it that looked very dark against the yellow by the horizon, but very pale against the dark blue.

i thought it would be a cool backdrop to draw a scene i've been thinking about for a while. The little cartoony horses are there to provide some tonal whiplash but also because these are two immortal shapeshifters who can fight violently without it being a huge deal. the little horses represent the actual gravity of the fight (that is, kind of a slap fight between two drama queens) which contrasts with the visuals of two animals brutally tearing at eachother. also i got the two horses at the bottom mixed up, Pascal is the one with the skinny plumed tail and Macha has a more traditional horse tail and i put them on the wrong sides.

i had a LOT of trouble shading this. i didn't want the horses to be too shiny but that meant a much lower contrast in shading and even with my screen brightness turned up i could barely see what i was doing. but i wanted it to read as realistic. mixed results i think. if i did it again i might try a different shading style because this one didn't really do it for me

spooky van!!! the post i deleted by accident (rip. i will repost it soon). this is a picture of the barrow (the field) taking a different shape - in this case a cool van. the van contains every single thing the field does (including the human victims that get lost in there...) but compressed down into a manageable shape. the void is Pascal because the field is inside him. he did this for his human bf to provide novel way to travel through the Otherworld. don't ask how this works like, spatially, because the answer is: i don't do hard magic systems in this setting

i loooove shading things with pencil hatching and i really like contrasting it with smooth colours/shading so that's mainly what i did here. it was simple enough. the van is of course heavily referenced and i wish i had been able to stylise it a little more.. maybe next time. i want to draw a kind of cutaway illustration of the van showing exterior and interior (like an old blueprint schematic), which i might use as a cover for the book/comic/whatever but that will require a very intimidating level of precision so i think i'll work up to that.

RUA magazine. this is my third time doing a rua magazine cover (first time posting tho). this is an in-universe magazine distributed throughout the Otherworld to an audience of fairies. in the sketch, the illustation was originally the King of Pentacles tarot card (the pentacle being the disco ball). but i decided to make a different King of Pentacles card for him instead, since I try hard to move away from symmetrical composition for the tarot cards (it's boring). so i repurposed this one into another magazine cover. like i said Pascal is a self-absorbed attention whore and has a habit of giving bullshit interviews just so that he can be on the cover as much as possible. he dresses like this all the time (the year is 2017)

the disco ball took 15 years off my life and it's not even the first disco ball i've drawn! i finished my actual king of pentacles card before i finished the rua cover sketch, so i can show u this

which is much better even if i did reference so heavily that it isn't exactly stylised. but this card needs some serious revision before i even think about posting it. i'm just not happy with his face.

original intent was for it be mysterious with emphasis on the neon lights but it ended up far more suggestive than i expected. that's life!

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tomwaterbabies · 2 years ago

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ok. here's a list of things. im trying not to go too in-depth with my ranting here. firstly because i would literally just much rather gush about the og than spend MORE time on this trash, and secondly because my friends and i are already ranting about it lol

(keep in mind this is still VERY LONG. my actual full thoughts would be pages long if you could believe that)

but here we go. spoilers for the disney live-action pinocchio if that matters

the cgi is bad. as expected. immediately you see a lack of warmth and coziness in geppetto's workshop. and in place of the whimsical and creative clocks of the original, geppetto's workshop not only is a bad cgi set but contains 2 (TWO) scenes of... disney references... the clocks are a bunch of disney character references..................

weirdly emphasizes his love for his clocks. this is hammered throughout the film (i will come back to this)

geppetto has a previous dead son.

the fairy shoots a beam of light that bounces off the dead son's picture frame and into pinocchio. i think the implication here is that he has some of the son's spirit. this is never addressed further

the scene of him coming to life is the most awkward fucking imagery ever. they play up the comedy and the sense of wonder is just... lost (might have to go in-depth with this scene later when i compare some scenes from the og and this one)

she sings when you wish upon a star for some reason

the pacing, in general, is so terrible

there is a montage of pinocchio and geppetto living together. it's badly paced and awkward and i think they did it because of the cinema-sins level nitpicking that people do where they ask why geppetto sent him off to school on his first day of being alive

he has some weird super speed ability of being able to move his arms and legs super fast? this is used multiple times and i really dont understand why they made him like that

he does end up going to school but quickly gets kicked out for being a puppet. i dont really think this scene adds anything. there's a shot where he's on the ground super sad and upset while the teacher yells at him for being a puppet or whatever and the kids laugh... which i would definitely be into in a better movie. this will not be the first time a good concept is in this bad movie

he is less naive but they don't really do anything to fill out his personality. it feels like pinocchio is missing something. which he is

his voice acting is weird. not a bad voice but the actual line delivery is just... not always... good. kind of awkward. same with geppetto. most of the characters actually

btw jiminy is definitely more helpful here, but it isnt worth it

ive got no strings was such an insulting segment of trash and uninspired disrespect my brother and i started crying (another scene i would just have to breakdown)

this is where the love interest comes in. shes a little girl who controls a ballerina puppet. there isnt much to say. she doesnt do anything but give a lot of pointless dialogue. they dont get together at the end (she goes off to run her own puppet show after she gets stromboli arrested). im serious this added nothing

multiple new songs btw. they are not good

ok let me break down pleasure island in a few points

him going back to his house and then scooped up into pleasure island nonsense is quite literally a blink-and-you'll-miss-it transition

pleasure island is now more akin to a SUPER extravagant theme park. massive buildings, bright lights, and high-tech systems. and none of the original bite

no drinking, no smoking. this is not inherently bad if you have him experience something equally as terrible. but they dont. he drinks root beer (lmao???) and that's about it

so lampwick... a character representation of pleasure island as a whole tbh. he is not nearly as impactful as the og and is just. kind of There. less bite, more stupid dialogue to tell us what the characters are doing

The Donkey Scene. completely hollow. the visceral and harrowing experience of the original is completely gone. shots like lampwick's hands turning into hooves as he desperately claws at pinocchio is just Not There. laughable

the faceless dudes working at pleasure island are now vapor monsters. i think they did this to avoid the controversy of racism but holy shit what the fuck is this. just make them dudes...

not a big deal but he also gets wooden donkey ears and tail?? im not sure why they did that other than "haha he's made of wood" and it kind of goes against what i think helps the story when it's flesh/fur ears/tail like the rest of the human boys

ok moving on from pleasure island

so they find the empty house of geppetto. they learn that he sold all his clocks that he loved oh so much in order to buy a boat and look for pinocchio. this scene is so stupid. it's just characters going on and on about how much geppetto cares about pinocchio instead of just like... showing us that? why do they NEED to emphasize to pinocchio that geppetto loves him this much like just SHOW ME THROUGH ACTIONS

monstro looks stupid as hell lol

remember the original monstro? the gorgeous painting-like animation? thats nice. its not like that btw

the reunion with his father contains TWO SEPERATE MOMENTS of a possible tender moment but they trade BOTH out for comedy. there is no heartwarming reunion there's no profound forgiveness of geppetto it's just HaHa Funny!!! Funny Look!!! geppetto does mention he forgives him im just saying it was NOT done in a profound or emotional way

THE ENDING SCENE.

where to fucking begin with this. i suppose breaking it down works

so pinocchio Does Not Die. they escape monstro and instead geppetto is the one knocked out (i dont THINK hes dead like pinocchio was but im unsure). this is a stupid change because it is pinocchio's own sacrifice that makes it so profound

pinocchio... starts sadly humming/singing a tearful when you wish upon a star????????????????????? and this pissed me off because it dared try to use it for an emotional moment when they didnt do shit with the song in the first place. the message of this song is NONEXISTENT in this movie so having it here just feels so hollow and therefore insulting lol

and finally. finally. finally. we get to what is the best (worst?) example of "great concept in a bad movie" ive seen in all these pinocchio adaptions

pinocchio remains a wooden boy.

ah... You Are Mother Fucker. not only this but the scene... the dialogue... the message... the acting/animations/actions throughout it (even small gestures) are all things i so genuinely desire in a GOOD MOVIE

geppetto accidentally tells pinocchio in a moment of pride that a "real boy" couldnt do what he did. pinocchio's expression falls and geppetto immediately realizes what he said. he apologizes and tells him that if he made it seem like he wanted something more than him in the beginning that it wasnt like that at all. he tells him how much he loves him and that no matter what, he will always be his real boy.

the movie ends not at geppetto's home, but pinocchio and geppetto walking away from the sea. jiminy's narration comes on and he tells us that pinocchio may have been transformed physically, that it's up to interpretation, but that it doesnt really matter. because who he is inside is what counts, THAT is what makes him real.

(im summing it up and missing a few dialogue/acting moments but yeah)

screaming. crying. trashing around. i need to make it CLEAR that the only reason this whole ending is like this and is here is that they are taking what was presented in the og movie and expanding on it. i would LOVE this in the original movie yes, because i truly think that's where it belongs. but this fucking movie does nothing to be anything remotely as passionate and full of love as the original movie. it is heartbreaking to see this here

IN CONCLUSION:

disney remakes at the end of the day are about greed first. some will be worst than others. there are common trends that appear in various remakes, though not all trends appear in every single one. this movie has every single one of those trends. truthfully the worst ive seen and ive watched a remake that blatantly wrote a mental disorder that i have in the most offensive depiction ive seen of it (personally)

there is just no passion here. no love. the most i can say is that it does have sweet/good moments- specifically with small pieces of character acting and animation. but i cannot stress enough how minimal that is. it has a few good concepts but poorly utilizes them

it feels like it was relying on these moments to carry them through. but small moments like a genuinely sad/happy/loving pinocchio, as touching as that can be, will not actually mean anything or work when the story itself just isnt good. when so much of this movie is badly put together in every aspect. from writing to editing to animation to music to All Of It... terrible. disney doesnt care. not even about the history and art THEY made

tbh it's up to other people to keep the art alive. currently im working on my animated short (traditionally animated) and even enjoy my OWN work with pinocchio. including a sequel/continuation story idea that expands on the original's themes without being a piece of shit movie. if disney wont do it, we will just do it ourselves and/or find the people who still have the deep love and passion and All Of That for this piece of Art and Magic

#LONG POST #pinocchio #disney #disney pinocchio #rant #THIS IS A NEGATIVE BREAKDOWN OF THIS MOVIE. if you dont want to see someone hating it this post is Not For You

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erwinsvow · 4 years ago

Text

𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐬 | 𝐚𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐨𝐲𝐬

a/n: hey everyone! hope you enjoy these college headcanons! part two can be found here! warning for nsfw in jean's, and mentions of alcohol/partying throughout!

jean kirstein

jean shows up to college thinking it’s gonna be high school part two, and quickly gets put in his place

his old antics (for both school and girls) won’t fly anymore, so he tries his hardest at both

i personally see jean as not the smartest, most gifted kid (in college!) but definitely one of the hardest workers

this man comes in pre-law and changes to sports management real quick

he definitely plays some kind of club sport, lacrosse or basketball or maybe even both and he is way too into it

like club lacrosse is his life.

he 100% has eyes for cheerleaders, because he loves idea of someone rooting for him, and if you are one, then it’s instantaneous

he notices you at one of his games, giving a shove to conny and asking if he knew who you were

which is met with “what do i look like, a phone book?”

he builds up the courage to ask you out eventually, to which of course you agree, and it’s pretty much a happy ending after that

makes for a lot of sweaty, post-match sex, with him still in his jersey and you in your uniform hiked up

reiner braun

frat bro reiner is a business major with a focus on finance

reiner is the guy who dedicates 100% of his time to school during the weekdays, and the weekends are for the bros

he’s the first in the library, last to leave lecture because he stayed behind to get clarifications, and pretty much aces everything

halloweekend, he decides to drag annie and bertholdt to a party, because they are in desperate need of letting loose

probably dressed up as something mildly douche-y that didn’t require a lot of thought: a foot ball player jersey with eye black improvised by annie

he is a heavy-weight if you’ve ever seen one, probably on his fifth cup of cheap beer and not even slightly buzzed

annie and bertholdt are sloshed, so he keeps one eye on them to make sure they’re alright

you, on the other hand, are serving as designated-driver for the night and sipping on soda

i think any kind of sweet, innocent costume (angel, fairy, woodland creature) would get his attention immediately

he goes over to you to try to make conversation, and finds himself stumbling over his words even though he just swore he wasn’t tipsy yet

but you find it cute, and given how you have seen him before around campus, studying all the damn time, you’re pleasantly surprised to find a sweet, interesting guy making conversation with you at a halloween party

eventually, your friends take off with their hook-ups, and reiner is left behind alone too after making sure everyone had a safe ride home

with no one left besides you two and his passed out friends, you offer him and his roommates a ride back to his dorm

after dropping annie off, you arrive at the dorm and help lug a blacked-out bertholdt to their room

you say goodnight and as you leave, feeling bold, you leave your number on the whiteboard hanging on their door

so that then turns into coffee-and-studying dates, and eventually a relationship before too long

armin arlert

i think we all know what armin is like in college: marine biology major and history minor

this is an effortless genius, so unlike reiner, he doesn’t have to spend all his time studying

i think armin would be the kind of guy who has school and life figured out, and he slowly realizes a healthy relationship is the one thing missing from his life

there’s honestly plenty of people who want to date him, if he had ever cared to return any of their gazes

i honestly see him being oblivious, so when a fellow classmate asks if he wants to study together, he goes “oh, sorry, i wasn’t really planning on studying, but maybe eren wants a study-buddy, i’ll let him know for you!” instead of realizing that was someone flirting

so it’s the same for you

you’re taking the marine sci class as a last resort, everything else was completely filled up, and you just had to get out of that physics class

but all this talk about oceans and sea-creatures is even worse, somehow. to put it short, you’re struggling, and armin is the kid who raises his hand at every question without so much as jotting down a note during lecture

you know mikasa through a friend-of-a-friend type situation, and ask her if armin would be willing to tutor you sometime

doesn’t matter that part of the reason you’re doing so poorly is because you’re staring at the back of his head most of class

armin and you get together to study on a saturday evening, and what began as a recap on the history of the ocean quickly turns into laughing, talking, and then “you wanna go grab something to eat?”

for someone so smart, he’s really dense

he thinks you’re being friendly and doesn’t want to assume you’re thinking this is a ‘date’ even though you’re internally screaming

it takes you leaning in for a kiss after he’s walked you back to your dorm for it to click

needless to say, he wasn’t quite so oblivious after that

eren yeager

eren was determined to get into the same college as armin and mikasa

my man is undecided, and then sociology after he’s forced to pick

not exactly a fuckboy, not exactly a stoner, just somewhere in between

procrastinates doing work and submits every thing a day late, even though he probably would have gotten full marks if it was on time

him and mikasa decide to take a marine bio class with armin, and he ends up falling asleep during lecture

i don’t see him going for a goody-two shoes type that wants to reform him, because he just wouldn’t want to deal with that

it’s not a toxic relationship, but pretty close to one

on again, off again ever since the two of you met in a dingy frat basement, absolutely hammered, and hooked up

this boy does not want to admit that he’s caught feelings, but eventually it comes to that because he is very much the jealous type

catches you engaging in polite conversation with reiner and he is seeing white in seconds

he realizes he has to make you his

marco bott

the most wholesome nursing major with a minor in english because he is a sucker for lit

i don’t think there is any shortage of girls who want to be with marco, just given how sweet and genuine he is

that being said, i feel like the few time he’s wanted to pursue a relationship with someone, they haven’t reciprocated/just saw him as a friend

which isn’t the easiest thing to deal with, but because he’s a mature angel, he doesn’t hold that against anyone

instead, he kind of succumbs to this false idea that people want to be his friend, and not his girlfriend, which he’s a little insecure about

that’s why i think you and marco would have idiot best friends to lovers, featuring everyone around you knowing how head over heels you both are except the two of you

you two meet in a particularly challenging class, and not recognizing anyone, you both turn to the friendliest face in the room to make study-buddies with

over a whole semester of late-night cramming (and talking), scribbling smiley faces on flashcards, and good luck texts before the exam, you realize how much you’re gonna miss constantly hanging out with marco

and on his end, he’s complaining to jean about how after the final, you two won’t have any reason to keep talking

“so ask her out then, you idiot”

“she probably doesn’t think of me like that…”

“are you blind?” jean says, with a roll of his eyes

after the class has ended and you’re both headed back home for winter break, you work up the nerve to text marco one last time

“let me know if you ever need help studying for another class :)”

you have no idea that he’s over the moon, and that finally brings an end to your friendship, and starts your relationship

bertholdt hoover

mister bertholdt is structural design and architecture major

there’s basically six of those total in your entire college, so he definitely gets a bit isolated/lonely sometimes

he basically came to college with reiner & annie, and figured he didn’t really need more friends than that

so when they’re busy, he’s just by himself

annie definitely makes fun of him for not spreading his wings and flying out of the metaphorical nest, but he’s comfortable with how it is

not a huge fan of the party scene, and prefers a quiet night of studying

i feel like you and him would be the last two studying in the library most nights, and sometimes walk out together after the librarian reminds you both the building is closing

so, when reiner and annie drag him to a party one weekend, he’s shocked to see you there too with outgoing friends of your own

he’s used to seeing you in the bright fluorescent lighting of the library, so this dim, hazy room after the shots have already gone to his head is hard to take in

you two eventually end up talking after your friends push you towards him

“funny seeing you here.” “i could say the same to you.”

he already has a crush (you do too, but he doesn’t want to accept that) so the alcohol inhibits his usual caution

a little bit of dancing, a lot of sitting on the pavement outside while looking at the moon, stars, and each other, topped off with a first-kiss starts your relationship

levi ackerman

teaching assistant levi is a staple of your college

almost infamous, really

you count your lucky blessings that he’s still a year or so away from graduating with his ph.d. in molecular biology and that he’s ta’ing this microbiology class

you’ve definitely heard all sorts of rumors, but you really don’t know what’s truth and fiction

he definitely hasn’t slept with a third of his students (right?) but the lingering way he looks at you isn’t helping quell your thoughts

technically speaking, teaching assistants and students are not allowed to date, interact, etc

until the semester in which you are their student is completed, at least

it doesn’t take long after that for you two to constantly run into each other

“how’re your new classes going? any hot ta’s?” he asks, sipping his tea from the bookstore cafe. you choke on your hot chocolate.

all this being said, you’re an upperclassmen about to graduate, possibly start a ph.d. or masters program yourself. i see him teaching upper-level courses exclusively.

it’s not long after that you admit your feelings to each other, since after all, there’s no time to waste

erwin smith

you’re a second year masters program in the history department. your specialization is military history, so of course professor smith is assigned as your thesis advisor.

i mean, he’s only written several textbooks on the subject

on first sight, you can’t believe he’s a professor. because certainly, this is a some cruel twist of fate. he’s closer to your age than some of his colleagues.

you both try to keep it strictly professional

at first least. this gets gradually harder and harder

there’s a certain chemistry there neither of you can deny.

having a mutual interest in the same subjects doesn’t help too much either. suddenly, you guys are spending hours pouring over topics for his next textbook and your thesis.

the conversation continues over chinese food in his office, long after the rest of the building has cleared out for their friday evenings

“well, i won’t keep you any longer. i’m sure you have much better plans on a friday night than talking military policy with me.”

“there is no where else i’d rather be.”

hope you all liked it! :)

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