#FIIIVE YEARS FOR WHAT YOU DID

[yowzeight]

you will starve again‼️unless you learn the meaning of the lore‼️ i know the meaning of those nineteen years a slave :/ of the lore :///

[umbrella-academy-hcs]

"Why Don't You Hate Me?"

Summary: Five and Klaus have a short conversation sometime toward the end of season 3

Klaus wandered over to where he saw Five sitting on the edge of what remained of the world, bottle in hand.

"Heyyy! Mi hermano! Numero Cinco! How are you doing on this fine apocalyptic day?" Klaus said as he moved to sit beside Five.

"Don't save the world", that's what he said to me, "don't save the world"," Five muttered more to himself than to Klaus, who decided to change tactics.

"So what's todays poison of choice" he asked, gesturing to the bottle Five had by his side.

"Just something I nicked from the kitchen while I was in there," Five picked up the bottle and handed it to Klaus, who took a sip. It was shit.

"God,"

"Yep,"

A silence befell the two of them, gazing at the void that surrounded them, the void that would soon consume them if they did nothing. Klaus opened his mouth to speak but Five spoke first,

"Why don't you hate me?" The question threw Klaus off-guard, who turned toward Five. Five was staring at him intently, his face lined with desperation, his hands gripping the edge of the ground as if it was the only thing keeping him from falling.

"Hate you? Why would I hate you?"

"Everyone's lost something and I'm always the center of blame,"

As Klaus stayed silent Five continued, "Allison blames me for Ray and Claire, Viktor blames me for Sissy, Ben hates everyone, Luther is still upset about the years I put him through in the 60's, as is Diego. So, why don't you hate me? You went through the same shit as everyone else, you lost someone in Vietnam, you lost Ben for a second time. How can you not hate me?"

"None of that is your fault! You saved our life, Five! I mean, yeah, you left us in the 1960s which wasn't great but hey! I got to see the world, met a lot of people-"

"-Who you don't remember"

"Who I don't remember, yeah, but still! You couldn't have know about any of that. And I think Ben's warming up to me, I can put in a good word," Klaus nudged Five as he spoke about putting in a good word for him, hoping for some kind of smile, anything that suggested Five truly believed him. Instead, Five stared ahead into the void.

"Thank you, Klaus"

"No problemo, mi hermano, anything for a brother,"

"You really need to stop speaking spanish, you're shit at it," Five took a swig of his bottle, but a tinge of a smile played at his lips.

"But, really, it's not over Five,"

"How do you mean?"

"Dad! He's got a plan!"

"Alright, this is my cue to leave, nice speaking with you, Klaus," Five stood up and began walking back to the hotel.

"Five! Fiiive!" Klaus called after him, but he was already gone. He sighed dramatically, muttered something about having just sat down, and got up to follow Five back into the hotel.

[fa-by]

Hi, Faby I'm finally free of homework. I loved your theory on all these years. I laughed at the memes. many CS say we have a version of Camila with all these years, but we don't have a similar version of Lauren but at the time that Camila and Lauren weren't together (after Camila left the group) Lauren kept thinking about Camila because she kept writing songs based on her relationship with Camila like all night. Can you make a song analysis of all night?

Hello to you, dear @camilalauren0327 👋🏼😄 I'm glad you're free from your homework 💪🏼 I'm also glad that you loved my interpretation and that you laughed at the GIFs.

So. About All Night, I can tell you it's track n° 11 of Steve Aoki's Neon Future IIIalbum. Both Laur and Steve loved the time spent together in the studio, and Steve totally loved working with her: “She’s got so many ideas and the problem is, they’re all good. She’s very meticulous. The attention to detail Lauren has is something I don’t find in many people. She’s very attentive to the detail. She’s got those ears, she’s got the sensibility and the vision, and I’m just totally inspired to be in the studio with her”.

As for the lyrics, were already there, but Laur rewrote them and wrote the bridge from scratch. Vocally speaking, she did all the backgrounds and vocally self-produced. So the vocal production? It's hers. It was her. Yeah. She's thattalented, and people still sleep on her. But anyway. Let's move on to my interpretation now, shall we?

Verse 1:

“My heart beats a little faster

When our eyes meet, in the middle of a crowded room”

Typical reaction of when we meet someone we like. You know? Heart beating fast as Laur says, along with butterflies in the stomach, cheeks blushing, palms sweating, adrenaline, dry mouth, palpitations, hot flashes, etc., etc.

“In knee deep, testing waters”

What does ‘in knee deep��� make us understand? That it wasn't an ordinary person that she just liked, but that it was a person that she really liked very much. *cough Mila*

“I've got a feeling, and I don't know what to do”

Why? Because she knew it was different and contrary to the past, she didn't know how to act.

Chorus:

“You got me paralyzed, and I think I like it”

As I think you know, ‘paralyzed’ in this case is intended as being blocked by a strong emotion (such as amazement). Mila got her paralyzed. Their situation and feelings were so strong, so deep/in knee-deep, that Laur was petrified by it. But despite this, as I said before, this was different. Unlike anything she'd ever felt before. And she liked it.

“Caught me by surprise, I'm not usually like this, no”

It caught her by surprise because she didn't expect it. And we know why she wasn't usually like that. Because she'd been in denial all her life. Because she'd always fought against these feelings.

“Got me paralyzed, don't think I can help it”

She couldn't. Even if she tried, she couldn't. She couldn't help herself.

“Why's it feel so right?”

Why did what she was taught to be wrong made her feel so good/right? Because it was. It was in general, but it was even more so with her. With Mila.

Post-Chorus:

“Let's keep this going all night

Going all night

Going all night

Going all night”

Freedom. Without thinking of tomorrow. Tomorrow's tomorrow.

Verse 2:

“The crowd fades, tunnel vision

In a daze, and the only thing I feel is you”

Because she was the only important thing. The only thing that mattered. All the rest? They were just surroundings.

“In perfect, syncopation”

Syncopation can be a rhythm, a passage, or a dance step. Syncopation in music occurs when a rhythm is unexpected and is played off-beat. It's like, an oscillation in a soft and not stiff way. It's an imbalance and prolongation of a note in the middle that creates an effect of, precisely, oscillation. Flamenco is the simplest first example that comes to mind for both musical rhythm and danced rhythm, but syncopation is used in many music styles. From the classical music of Mozart and Beethoven, to the ragtime ancestor of jazz, jazz itself, rock, metal, reggae, hip-hop, pop, house, salsa, etc.

To give you a practical example to help you understand better, count 5, 6, 7, 8 out loud three times in a row. From the fourth time, keep counting out loud and, at the same time, use the palm of your hand or the clenched fist on a surface to hear the rhythm yourself and understand how stable it is. Do this three times or even more until it’s natural for you to keep up the pace without having to keep counting 5, 6, 7, 8 out loud. Once you've done that, keep counting mentally and hit/tap 5 a little bit harder with a little pause, and then just 7, 8. It would be like: 5, no hit/tap, 7, 8.

FIIIVE, seven, eight - FIIIVE, seven, eight - FIIIVE, seven, eight.

You can slow down or speed up as you like, and this, dear @camilalauren0327 and babies, is an example of syncopation. If you guys want, to listen and understand better, I also found this for you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-H6oXpF-tw.

But anyway. What's my point? Why explain all this to you? Because for many composers and producers, syncopation is a vital element because it helps them tie the rhythm and the melody of a song together. The use of syncopation in music in general, but more precisely in a song, makes the track different and even unique at times.

And now that you know this, Lauren did or didn't use a beautiful metaphor with a simple one-word to describe her and Mila? *she was so phenomenal and romantic 😍*

“Face to face, tell me do you feel it too?”

Sounds weird that Laur was wondering, right? Well, it actually isn't because this song is about the moment in the timeline they were in the Like Friends Dosituation. Laur was still in denial and therefore they didn't speak. She didn't know if Mila still wanted her or not, and most likely, it was just before Mila started her relationship with the mystery girl because it coincides with Lauren finally accepting herself and her feelings for her.

Chorus:

“You got me paralyzed, and I think I like it

Caught me by surprise, I'm not usually like this, no

Got me paralyzed, don't think I can fight this

Why's it feel so right?”

The difference between the first chorus and this, is the ‘don't think I can fight this’ here. As I said before and as we know, Laur had been in denial all her life and she’d always fought against these feelings, but this time it was different. Thiswas different because Camila was different. Hell, Lauren herself was different. The environment she was in was different. Different especially from home and from what she was used to there. Her feelings were different. More powerful. Nothing like the crushes she'd had on other girls in the past, and she knew, because she knew, that she was going to lose this fight. Here, or rather at the time at that moment, she was simply admitting it to herself.

Bridge:

“But maybe I should wait

Let it fall into place

'Cause I keep going over

The things that could come from me feeling this way (Way)”

She was having second thoughts here. Her fear took over. Fear is the most powerful tool in the world. It makes you do unimaginable things and it makes you not do what you really want.

“And I don't wanna play (I don't wanna play)

This emotional game (This emotional game)

But when you pull me closer

I cannot deny that I want you to stay”

BUT, she finally gave in. She overcame her fear by finally admitting to herself that she wanted her, and not just physically. The ‘stay’ is tricky because if it's read just like that, it only means a physical action, but for Camren? It means so much more. An example that comes to mind now is the ‘It's almost 2AM and I can't ask you to stay’ that we find in Feel It Twice. For them, the ‘stay’ is not just a physical action. It's deeper. It means staying with each other. It means staying/being together.

After the bridge, we have the post-bridge and then the chorus again (in which that raspy, mature high-note occurs on the “I cannot deny this love”, which honestly leaves me dead every time) which I've already explained, so that's it, dear @camilalauren0327. All Night is a song about Laur's acceptance of her feelings for Mila.

I hope you liked it, and, I don't know where you live, but I hope you're having a wonderful summer or a beginning of winter. Sending you a hug 🤗

For you guys, on the other hand, I hope you too are having a wonderful summer or a beginning of winter wherever you live 😊 I'll try to keep answering your asks whenever possible until I get home in September (damn places with no connection and only one wi-fi).

Always remember to be kind, to others and to yourselves. Be a good example. Be patient. Be safe and take care of yourselves. Don't let our ship sink. Keep shipping them, but please respectfully 🙏🏼 Sending you virtual love and hugs 🤗🤗🤗 I love you, babies. Always with love, F ❤️

[the-amazing-spider-bi]

Prompt: Write a scene about the Hargreeves as children, please! (Vanya is my favorite, please include her too)

hi anon!! thank you so much for prompting me anon that is so so so nice!!!!i almost had no idea what to write until i remembered that the Hargreeves canonically went to school since Allison got into the soccer team and like… iconic. where’s the breakfast club au. anyway i’m not sure this is was you wanted but here it is anyway (or on ao3 if you like that better)

As Vanya and Five talked about extensively, her sitting under his bedsheets with crossed legs and a flashlight, they couldn’t understand why Dad insisted on making them attend middle school. 

He insisted even though he didn’t approve on any of their friendships with the other kids - not Five and Vanya’s, of course, who had no friends because Five didn’t like people and Vanya was as painfully shy as she was terrible at small talk, but the others who were better than them at talking to people. He insisted even though Pogo, Grace and he could certainly teach them better than any of the people employed there. He insisted even though all the parents kept protesting due to that time a supervillain tried to murder them in their Algebra class and ruined everyone’s grade on their finals. (Five thought they were just bad at Maths. Vanya stuck through the worst of it and got a passing grade. God, he got a B+, and he was fighting the supervillain for, like, half the exam.)

Dad, of course, didn’t care much for soccer parents’ opinions, or activities for that matter - he had never been to any school event in his life, which the other parents disapproved of in hushed tones in between glasses of mimosa. In his own words, their kids were no more unsafe from supervillains than from lone gunmen and it wasn’t like the government was doing anything about the later, so why should he? The world was dangerous, and you could die any day, they should just get on with their lives, pay for some self-defense classes for their brats, some Maths tutoring while they were at it, and stop bothering him.

And that was how they got stuck in assembly, which was the single most useless thing on Earth, in Five’s opinion. (Vanya had started listing useless things to pass the time as they ignored the speech in front of them: man’s tailbone, mosquitoes leaving bites when they sucked your blood, ties, itchy sweaters, sporks. Five only corrected her accurateness for some of those.)

So it was here, in the middle of the hall, as everyone else in school sat there on uncomfortable folding chairs that made Five’s back hurt like an old man’s and pretended to pay attention, Klaus gasped dramatically and pointed at Vanya. 

That in itself was not an unusual occurrence: Klaus, after all, did everything in a dramatic way, and was known to be rude to his siblings, and so Five decided to do what he did best and ignore him. 

Klaus, on the other hand, would not let himself be ignored.“Five!” he called out.

“That’s my number, yes,” Five answered, refusing to turn around, and Vanya hid her smirk by ducking her head.

“Five,” Klaus insisted, and he grasped his hand. Five stole it away quickly, because his siblings and him were twelve now, and they didn’t do silly things like holding hands, like babies. 

Klaus pouted and tugged at his sleeve and repeated: “Fiiive.”

“This could go all afternoon, you know,” Vanya pointed out, still pretending she was not smiling. She was right, of course. Vanya often was, and this was why she was his favorite. 

In that case, she was especially more so than usual, since they were hiding in the back of the room pretending to listen to some weird lady with homemade puppets who had been invited to the assembly for mysterious purposes. Allison was on another corner of the room openly laughing with some of the other girls, but no one was going to bother her for not listening, because she was class president and popular and also could make people do whatever she wanted anyway. Luther was sitting behind her and falling asleep on Diego’s shoulder, about five minutes away from being violently shoved away - Five was watching them with riveted eyes waiting for the inevitable disaster, and Vanya pretended to think he was being terrible but also watched as if she was at the movies.

Klaus, on the other hand, was sitting with Ben right behind them, and not content with being quiet until the lady stopped talking about bullying and the dangers of cliques.

“She is right, you know,” Klaus pointed out, useless. “I am nothing if not persistent. In fact, one could say this is my real power right here.”

“Being a pain in the ass?” Five supplied, enjoying a little the way Vanya squirmed uncomfortably at the swear word. She was such a goody-two-shoes.

“Yes. That’s how I beat the Magician, you know - I just kept talking and talking and talking and talking and-”

“He threw you out?”“No, actually, he tried to kill me and set off his own trap, but you know,” Klaus shrugged. “Anyway, as I was, in fact, saying,” he inhaled before bellowing: “Fiiiii-”

Vanya clamped a hand over his mouth fast, shushing him in panic. The teacher shot them a dark look. Five did his best to look innocent (unconvincingly), and she froze like a deer in headlights, sheepish as she almost always looked. Klaus didn’t even care, and instead licked Vanya’s hand, prompting a disgusted eww and her taking it off and pouting as she wiped it on her blazer. She didn’t punch him, because she was Vanya and she didn’t shove her siblings nearly as much as they shoved each other, so Five took it upon himself and kicked his chair. The teacher decided to move on. A wise woman. 

“Stop being a jerk, Klaus,” Ben said absently, turning the next page on his book. He had taken it out about five minutes into the speech and had not been reprimanded by any teacher, because he was everyone’s favorite, and rightfully so, but still - unfair.“

Thank you so much for the help, Number Four,” Five said.

“You’re welcome.”

“I was being sarcastic.”

“I know.”

“What did you want to tell us, Klaus?” Vanya said in a whisper that was very much like a plea.

Klaus pouted. “He’s not even listening to me.”

“When am I ever?” Five said before he added when Vanya narrowed her eyes at him: “What is up with you then, Klaus?”

“Loads of things,” Klaus said most unhelpfully. “I have a very fascinating life and I’m full of insights.”

“No he doesn’t,” Ben interrupted.

“What do you know about it, tentacle boy?” Klaus snapped, but Ben only smirked. “Anyway, I was thinking-”

“Dangerous pastime,” Five said. Vanya chuckled quietly.

“-because, you know, I was sitting right behind you, and I was trying not to pay attention to creepy puppet lady because I met her eye and I swear to god she winked at me-”

“In your dreams, maybe,” Ben quipped. 

“-which is scandalous since I’m saving myself for our Lord and savior Jesus Christ, thank you very much. Who are they even letting into our schools these days? God, everything is falling apart. Anyway, as I was saying… What was I saying?”

Vanya rolled her eyes so deeply Grace would warn her about getting stuck like this, and Five tried not to laugh at the face she made.

“Yes! Five. Right,” Klaus began again. “I was looking at your backs, and, lo and behold! You finally grew taller than her. Hurray! Can I get some applause for our little brother over here? I feel like we should applaud.”

Five turned to Vanya so fast he might have gotten whiplash and - for once, Klaus wasn’t lying. He was taller than her, for the first time since forever. Not that Five cared about petty business like that, except for how he did and he couldn’t shake the elation as his sister glanced up and down at him and grimaced in displeasure. (She used to be taller than all of them before they turned ten and Luther, Diego, Allison and Klaus started outgrowing her. Five and Ben still trailed behind. It was becoming embarrassing.)

Even then he just shrugged lazily and said: “Yeah, and?”“Come on, you can’t pretend you’re not happy about it.”

“Unlike you, Klaus, I don’t care about your nonsense, because I’m not a baby.”

“We’re literally all the same age,” Vanya pointed out. 

“I was obviously talking about a metaphorical baby.”

“Well, you’re a metaphorical jerk,” Klaus said, trying very hard not to sound whiny even though he totally was.

“Oh, that’s very clever-”

“Guys,” Vanya complained. “If you don’t stop talking so loud the teachers are going to yell at us-”

“So what? What are they gonna do? We saved this city, like, three times,” Klaus said, propping both his arms behind his chair lazily and starting to rock it. 

“I didn’t,” Vanya said, voice very small and entirely too bitter for a twelve-year-old.

“I’m so sorry, but that sounds like a you problem,” Klaus said, shrugging. 

At that, Vanya looked down and bit her lip and sat very still on her chair. Ben elbowed their brother in the ribs with a disapproving frown, which was probably meant, as Five would reason later, to prompt him to apologize to Vanya for hurting her feelings so callously, but only made him yelp very loudly in the middle of the hall and fall from his rocking chair in a tumble of lanky limbs. 

Somewhere on the other side of the room a very similar yelp and a very similar tumble of limbs echoed just as much as Luther was violently pushed off Diego’s shoulder and woken up from his nap.

The silence that followed this was very, very heavy on Five’s back, the only sound Vanya popping open her pill bottle - then looking up at Five with a gasp and a guilty look. Maybe it was because of the other kids craning their necks to see Klaus and Luther lying on their back in improbable positions. Maybe it was the puppet lady pausing her show for them. Maybe it was the calm before the teacher fell down on them with a hand too tight on their biceps and a snarl. 

Anyway, even as their teachers berated them with threats of detentions they wouldn’t dare give out, Five couldn’t help feeling giddy. He was, after all, finally taller than Vanya.

Of course, years and years later, he would learn that Vanya would be forever stuck at her twelve-year-old height and that every one of them would grow up to tower over her. Still. It was nice at the time. 

[justonehappyvictory]

MLSHR Anniversary Appreciation Week 

Day Seven - Favorite Exchange of Looks

a modern, comical, and light-hearted take on this exchange of looks 

Soo sat at her desk, the office too humid, the drone of the weak air conditioning drilling into her mind and making the words on the screen bleed together. Her focus dwindled and her head bobbed up and down, up and down, in an effort to keep awake.

“I could write you up for sleeping on the job, you know?”  

She jerked, her eyes now wide and her surroundings clear. So leaned over her shoulder, his name tag swaying in the air, almost hitting her nose as she turned to look at him. She flushed, telling herself it had everything to do with being caught and nothing to do with his closeness, the heat he emanated. “I-I wasn't sleeping. Sometimes closing my eyes just helps me concentrate.”

His chuckle vibrated. “Sure, okay. Think of this as a warning, then, and try to concentrate with your eyes open.”

He patted her shoulder and she gazed at his retreating figure, hands behind him and back straight. Another came up to him, Yeon Hwa, a trill on her red lips, her hand falling so easily on his bicep. She glanced over her shoulder, catching Soo's gaze. Her nose wrinkled at her while So wasn't looking, like Soo was something disgusting she had stepped in, and, as he looked back, her features resumed their playfulness, their flirtations. Soo pouted and looked back at her screen, her fingers pounding into the keyboard.

Two hours later, and her eyes drooped again, falling into the click-clack of surrounding keyboards, and ruffling of papers, and the hum of the printer shooting out copy after copy. She felt something on her neck, light and tickling, and she brushed it away, but it returned and she, again, batted at it clumsily.

The tickling stayed, unmoving, like a stone on the crook of her neck, and then fell into her lap. She looked down and found a giant cockroach wiggling on her legs and a scream bursted from her lips, echoing through the office. She jumped out of her chain, the roach falling to the ground without fanfare and she swatted at herself, feeling a hundred invisible bugs on her body and blanching.

But the cockroach she had thrown laid on the floor upside down and still. Everyone in the office had stood, peaking over the cubicles, staring at her and then going back to their work as she reddened before them. A snicker caught her attention and there was Wang So, face as red as hers, hand covering his mouth, eyes clenched close in silent laughter, his body shaking with the effort to keep it inside.

“Did... did you just throw a fake bug on me?” Her embarrassment evaporated as the heat of anger boiled in her gut.

He doubled over, clutching his stomach, letting a burst of guffaws leave him before he stood up and tried to cover his amusement with a straight face, his voice lower with the effort. “Don't sleep on the job, Hae Soo-ssi.”

He walked off and she decided that she would pay him back, stomping her foot on the fake cockroach and trying to grind it into the floor.

“Good morning, Hae Soo,” So said, walking up to her desk. He blew on his coffee, taking a sip as he leaned against the cubicle wall.

She smiled at him, sugary sweet but not quite reaching her eyes. “Good morning, Wang So.”

“You're not still mad at me, are you? It was just a small prank.”

“Oh, no, no, no,” she said, brows furrowed and each syllable exaggerated. “You know, I could never stay mad at you for too long.”

“Alright, then.” He bowed his head slightly and walked to his office, glancing back and scratching his head. Her words hadn't that genuineness he came to associate with her.

As he neared his desk, Soo peaked over the cubicle wall. That's right, she thought, just a little bit further. He set his mug on the desk, stretched his arms out in front him, rolled his neck, the usual morning routine. He was going to sit down in three... two... one...

BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!

Wang So yelped at the siren, falling forward, knocking his mug off his desk, and then bringing his chair with him. He clattered to the floor, rolled in the spilled coffee, and garnering the attention of his staff. He stood and kicked his chair and, on the underside, was an airhorn duct taped to the base support of it. He growled, already knowing the culprit. “HAE SOO IN MY OFFICE NOW!”

She strolled from her cubicle, to his office, that sugary sweet smile smeared on her face, the picture of innocence. “You called for me, Wang So-ssi?”

“You!” He pointed at her. “You did this! Is this payback?”

She placed her hand on her heart, her mouth dropping open and scoffing. “Me? Are you saying I came in to work hours before anyone else would be here, picked the lock on your office door, duct taped an air horn to the bottom of your chair just for the satisfaction of seeing you fall out of your chair? All because you threw a fake bug on me?”

“Yes!”

She pouted. “I am appalled that you would think so poorly of me, Wang So-ssi.”

So laughed, bitter and stunted. “Okay, okay, if that's how you want to play, then let's play.”

She leaned forward, the innocent act dropped, replaced with a narrowed eyes and a snarl. “Bring it.”

And that's how it began, with pettiness and a competitive edge neither knew they had. Hae Soo came in to find her cubicle plastered with Wang So's face. His attractive face littered across her desk, her chair, her walls, the floor. When she opened up her computer, his face was there, too, with the message, I'm always watching you.

Yeon Hwa stopped at her desk with a smirk. “Clean this up, immediately. Personal effects cannot be distracting to the work atmosphere, Hae Soo-ssi.” And Hae Soo could do nothing but scowl as she peeled face after face off her cubicle with a triumphant Wang So passing by to check on her progress every fifteen minutes.

Wang So paid little attention to the way Hae Soo jittered every time he reached for something in the drawers of his desk, and then deflated. Every time she came in asking for a pen, he would open his drawer and give her one, and she would leave the office slumped and pouting. He thought nothing of it when he caught her in his office, underneath his desk after he had stepped out to get a snack. “Sorry, I thought I dropped something in here earlier,” and she scurried away empty handed. He figured she just didn't it.

It wasn't until the work day was almost over, when he was finishing up a report, that he opened his drawer to get a post-it and glitter exploded in his face. Rainbow glitter, star shaped glitter, fake rhinestones came out of his desk with a crack, sprinkling in his hair, creeping into the folds of his clothes, sticking to skin. He puffed out of his nose, more glitter blowing around him.

He grinded his teeth. “Hae Soo,” he said, which was a mistake because glitter coated his tongue and teeth. He glanced at her desk and she stood, gleeful eyes, an ear-splitting grin, and two thumbs up. He would find glitter in his office for years later.

“Copy, twenty-five,” Soo said to the copier, as the paper had instructed her to do. But the copier remained still. No light sweeping under the scanner, no clicking of paper lining up and pushing through, and no swsh-swsh-swsh of completed copies falling into the tray. There was no hum of a working copier at all. She tried again, this time slightly louder, more pronounced. “Co-py, twent-ty fiiiv-vuh.”

She went around to the back, making sure the copier was plugged in. She checked the toner, still full. She checked the paper tray, low but enough. She lifted the scanner, repositioned her paper. “Copy! Twenty-five!”

Five minutes passed. Then ten. Then fifteen. Yeon Hwa walked in to see Soo shaking the copier, strands of hair falling from her usually neat bun. “Should I report you for destruction of property, Hae Soo-ssi?”

She stopped, slid away. “It wouldn't make copies.”

“So, you're answer is to break something worth thousands of dollars?”

Soo sputtered. “No-no-no. I wasn't going t-”

Yeon Hwa wasn't paying attention, her fingers ripping a paper from a wall. “This copier is now voice activated,” she read, amusement flashing off those pearly white teeth when she smiled. “You didn't believe this, did you?”

“It's not... the copier's no-”

“You're as stupid as you look, Hae Soo-ssi.” She shoved the paper in Soo's chest, knocking the breath out of her. “If that copier breaks, it's coming out of your paycheck.”

Tears welled and the lines on the paper blurred. Only one line at the bottom stirred the storm inside her. Thank you for your patience and we hope this makes your lives easier. She ripped the paper until it was confetti. “You're dead, Wang So.”

She found it by accident, was looking for an adventurous tea for her mom's birthday. The phrases “maniacally spicy” and “infused with habanero”guiding her movements, the mouse clicking “add to cart”, the fingers punching in her credit card information. She cackled at the image of So sputtering for water to cool his tongue.

Her opportunity arose after a meeting. He hadn't had any water, kept coughing and smacking his gums trying to find some moisture as he spoke. “Wang So-ssi, let me make you a cup of tea. ”

He nodded. “Sure, that sounds great.”

She tested the tea, taking the tiniest of sips, balking as heat tingled over her tongue, gripped the back of her throat. “Perfect.”

So took the tea from her with gratitude. A look of such relief and such warmth flittered across his face and she found herself reaching for his cup, ready to take it back, but he already drank it, long sips passing over his tongue. She bit her lip, waiting. His eyes widened, sputtering, the tea falling back into the mug. He grabbed at his throat. “What was in this?”

But she couldn't answered, his skin burst red and pimply, starting at his neck and blossoming over his now-swelling lips and tongue. “Wang So-ssi?”

The mug dropped to the floor at the same speed he did. A clunk and a thud. Yeon Hwa was over in seconds, Hae Soo still standing over paralyzed. “What happened?” she screamed, dragging his head into her lap. “Never mind, call an ambulance. NOW!”

Soo ran to the phone, her fingers shaking as she pressed the numbers. “What's your emergency?”

She lost her voice, it opened and closed, the sounds trying to come out in uh's and um's and stilted syllables. Yeon Hwa yanked it from her, eyes ablaze. “Our manager is having a severe allergic reaction. He has hives, swollen lips and tongue, and he's wheezing. I think his throat closing up.”

She nodded a few times, set the phone back in it's cradle, and slapped Hae Soo across the face.

The sting of her hand rang in her ears, red welts formed on her cheek. “I didn't mean it,” she whispered. “It was supposed to be a joke. I didn't kno-”

“You did this on purpose? You gave him this tea knowing what would happen? As a joke? You thought this would be funny? You're sick.” Soo could only shake her head, her words being twisted and thrown back in her face. “You're fired, Hae Soo. And I'm calling the police. You'll be punished for this.”

As the paramedics put Wang So in the back of the ambulance, as Yeon Hwa climbed in after them, as the doors closed and they hurried to the hospital, Hae Soo was being read her rights, handcuffs were tightening around her wrists, an officer was gently pushing on her head as she slid into the backseat, and she was being driven to the station. A criminal.

So woke up to fingers brushing through his hair, another holding his hand, the sounds of rushed and hushed tones around him. He blinked his eyes open, moving his arm and then hissed as a soreness struck through it.

“You're awake. How are you feeling?'

He rubbed his forehead. “About as good as you can feel after having a severe allergic reaction to tea.”

He looked over, his eyes already searching for Hae Soo, for her bright smile and sparkling eyes, squeezing the hand he held like she was a lifeline. But it wasn't Hae Soo. It was Yeon Hwa. He dropped her hand, sat up and away from her closeness. “What are you doing here?”

Her face fell. “I'm your guardian. I made sure you actually got treated after what Hae Soo did to you.”

“What do mean what Hae Soo did to me?”

“She poisoned you. Gave you tea she knew you would be allergic to. I fired her and had her arrested for assault and malicious wounding.” Yeon Hwa crossed her arms over her chest, smiling with pride, wanting a pat on the back for a job well done.

“You had her arrested?!” So started to pry the IV off his arm and Yeon Hwa rose, trying to keep his hands away. “Nurse! Nurse, someone please get me out of here!”

“Oppa, what are you doing? You're going to hurt yourself if you do this.” She struggled with him, failing to pry him away from. “Stop this!”

He shoved her away and she fell back into the chair. “Yeon Hwa, thank you for bringing me to the hospital but you went too far. Charging Hae Soo with assault? Malicious wounding? What is wrong with you? And now she's in there all alone and it's all my fault. You may have signed forms claiming to be my guardian but I didn't ask for that. So get me discharged and take to the police station. Now!”

Soo curled herself into a ball in the corner of the holding cell, trying hard to hide her tears from those she shared it with and from the police officers roaming outside it. She couldn't forget the sickening thud of So's body hitting the floor, it echoed in her mind. Couldn't forget the way he clutched at his throat and how his beautiful face was marred with red splotches and swollen, expanding skin. Couldn't forget that it was by her hand that he had become that way, that, it was like Yeon Hwa said, it was all her fault.

“Would you stop crying already? I'm trying to sleep,” one of the others growled at her.

She only curled further into herself, trying to find quiet in her pestering guilt.

The station was quieter as night approached. Wang So trudged through it, feeling drowsy from medications, but it was the sight of Hae Soo's small body crumpled in a corner that dragged him to the floor. He heard her sniff and he whispered her name, with tenderness.

She looked up, old tears stained into her cheeks. The tightness in her chest and her muscles loosened and she sagged as she took in the sight of him. Red spots still kissed some parts of his skin, lips still slightly bigger than normal, his skin paler under the florescent lights, but it was him looking conscious and healthier than when she last saw him. She scrambled over to the bars, reached her hands through and cupped his cheeks. “You're okay.”

He held onto her wrists, his thumb caressing the soft and delicate skin. “Look what kind of trouble you got yourself into.”

Her lips trembled and tears threatened to spill again. “I'm sorry. This is all my fault.”

He shushed her. “Don't you dare. It isn't. I'm the one who started this stupid prank war.”

“But the tea. I told them it was an accident, but they wouldn't listen. Yeon Hwa told them I wanted revenge and knew what I was doing. I swear I didn't know.”

He pulled out a small baggie from his pocket, inside Soo recognized the packaging the tea bag was in. “Yeon Hwa had it pulled from the trash for evidence. 'Bitter Winter,'” he read, “'Orange Pekoe black tea paired with clementine, clove, and generously infused with habenero.' And, right here in the corner, it tells me that this has maniac levels of spiciness.”

“I just wanted to burn your tongue a little,” she said, pouting. “I didn't want to send you to the hospital.”

He stroked her hair, and she leaned into the warmth of his hand. “I know, Soo. For the record, I think your prank would've worked perfectly if it wasn't for the minor detail that I'm highly allergic to cloves.”

“Cloves. I'll remember that.”

“What do you say, Hae Soo? Should we call a truce? We'll never be able to top a hospital visit and a trip to jail.”

She chuckled, sticked her hand out for him to shake. “Truce.”

He took her hand and, on a whim, pulled her closer to the bars. He placed a kiss right on her forehead, inhaling the scent of roses and vanilla that clung to her hair. “Let's get you out of here.”

So and Soo rode back to the hospital together on the bus, which she insisted upon when he stumbled while walking out of the station. She stared out the window, watching the scenery change and So leaned his head on her shoulder, resting his body. He gripped her hand in his, keeping it close too his heart. She could feel the steady thump of his heart against her hand and the rhythm helped to calm her mind. “So.”

“Hmm.”

“Yeon Hwa fired me.”

“I know, but none of the paperwork has been filed yet and I can convince her to forget about it.”

She bit the inside of her cheek. “I don't think I want to go back.”

He lifted his head and smiled. “Good. I don't want you to come back.”

She furrowed her brows. “What?”

He leaned forward, eyebrows waggling at her. “Company policy states I can't date my subordinates.”

“I don't understa-” But she was interrupted by So giving her a swift kiss on the lips. She covered them with a gasp, leaning back into the window, and staring at him with questioning eyes.

He only smiled at her and leaned back on her shoulder. As he settled back into her, eyes closing, ignoring the way her heart pounded outside her chest, he said, “Don't worry, I won't do that again without your permission.”

Bitter Winter is a real tea!  There’s also milder cayenne and habanero infused teas available. 

[ask-marine-mitsu]

((Art by @ask-sutekinaoaldonza Story by me))

                                    Meeting The Admirals. 

The sun hadn’t even peeked over the horizon when Mitsu Murata sat up in her hammock. Her cheeks were puffed out and her eyes squinted shut as she rolled out of bed and landed on the floor.  A few feet away a tiny green striped puppy was sleeping, a handkerchief tied around its neck as it snoozed away. They had recently rescued the little cutie from a group of notorious pirates, and Mitsu was all too happy to have a new little friend. Though her father disagreed with it vehemently he had eventually lost to the power of double puppy dog eyes.

She didn’t want to waste a single second today, after all, it was a very important day indeed! They were finally docking at the Marine Headquarters, and the fleet admiral himself was going to come on board. She had heard of Sengoku plenty, and once or twice even seen the other Admirals speaking with her father, but today was the day she was going to really meet them! Mitsu was determined to give a good impression, no matter what.

“Come on Marimo! Get up! Get up Marimo, it’s food time!” She ruffled the puppy’s fur and it yawned, which triggered the same response in the small child. “No! No more sleeping, we’re gonna be late if we don’t hurry!” Slowly the little puppy shuffled over to his food bowl and began to eat while Mitsu fished out the proper attire for the day.

 Unfortunately, despite her pleading, the ships tailor had refused to give her a proper Marine uniform, and thus she was stuck with only a marine jacket. Mitsu was determined to make the best of it though and dug out her nicest pants, shirt, and boots to wear. She even found a new handkerchief for Marimo with the Marine logo on it, so that he could look his best too. By the time the girl and her puppy were dressed and ready for the day the rest of the crew was beginning to get up and about, the sounds of heavy footsteps echoing softly into her room. “Come on boy, let’s make sure papa’s actually awake in time for this!”

Mitsu paused just before running out the door, and came right back to grab up a rubber ducky that was still sitting in her hammock. “Sorry Freddy, I could never forget you.” Marimo barked at the door, tail wagging eagerly, now that he was awake he was almost as excited as his owner to get going. Opening the door to her room Mitsu found herself in her father’s office, crossing it quickly she entered his bedroom, where Admiral Kizaru slept sprawled out like some sort of stretched out monkey. The door made a solid bang against the wall and Marimo barked as loud as his little puppy lungs could allow him to. Kizaru only groaned and rolled over in bed. “Fiiive more minuuuttes.”

Pouting Mitsu marched right up to his bed, wound up, and threw Freddy as hard as she could right into his eye. The rubber duck landed with a ‘QUACK’ its beak hitting the girls target perfectly. Borsalino swatted the duck away and sat up squinting down at his child. “Miiitsu, if you wanted to cuddleee- “ 

His sentence was stopped as his child jumped on the bed, right on his knee and glared at him. “We’ve docked at headquarters! Now get up old man!” Not very many people could have smacked the Admiral on the head and gotten away with it, twice no less, but his child was one of those people. Grabbing up Freddy she hopped off the bed while her father groaned, trying to summon up his will to live after being smacked by his child first thing in the morning. Not that it was an altogether uncommon occurrence. “Get ready! I’ll make sure you have food ok! Jeeze, and I thought you were adopting me.”

Sticking her tongue out Mitsu turned around and marched out of the room, so she couldn’t see the small, proud smile that broke across her father’s face at the sight of the determined little girl. Just a few short months ago she had barely felt comfortable asking him to help when she was actually in physical pain, and now here she was, helping him of all things. Though he hated actually having to get up and take this seriously, he could manage, if only to please his child… and perhaps the thought of Akainu’s confused expression also motivated him slightly. Though only slightly. 

On deck Mitsu was rushing about with the other Marine’s helping new and old recruits tie their knots properly, remember parts of the ship, and how to greet superior officers appropriately. At first many of them had protested at having a little girl help them with such things, but it was hard to fault the child when she so earnestly wanted to assist them. Especially today when chaos was raining all about, they could use all the help it was possible to get. Near the helm, Lieutenant Noot called out to the crew. “Alright! Line up men! And gods damnit try and remember your names this time!”

The boarding ramp was finally being lowered, and just at the end of the dock stood three imposing figures. From where she stood near the ramp, making a few final adjustments to the ropes tied there, Mitsu could just make them out. They stood head and shoulders above all the men around them, all of whom were beginning to line up and salute along the dock. Quickly Mitsu rushed back to the deck of the ship, where the crew had lined up in order of rank and name. Her father was still nowhere in sight.

Shaking off the worry that was starting to crawl up her spine Mitsu whistled, and Marimo came bounding over as the duo rushed to their position. The Marine’s around her didn’t even have to move much, so small was the little girl who now stood between them. Mitsu was near the end of the first line, between Casiel Mollark and Pietro Nagarkar. Now she was really nervous, her father was still nowhere to be seen and the Admirals were almost there, the entire crew was ready for this. A hand came down on her shoulder and she looked up, Pietro, with his dark skin and almost darker eyes as he smiled down at her. Taking a deep breath Mitsu nodded and pushed her shoulders back, chest out, feet together. Casiel and Pietro, along with the marine’s behind them, were all trying not to giggle at the sight of the tiny (usually hyper) child putting on such a serious expression.

Just as the admirals began boarding the ship there was a streak of light that moved from the captain’s quarters and began to coalesce in front of them. It flashed and formed and then there he was, standing as tall as the other admirals, and emerging in his usual bright yellow striped suit and amber sunglasses, her father, Admiral Kizaru. He smiled at the other admirals and gave quite possibly the laziest salute Mitsu had ever seen towards Sengoku. “Weelcome aboard gentlemen~ care for a tour?”

Admiral Aokiji yawned, the sleeping mask on his forehead dipping down slightly as he looked around. “Hate to interrupt, but we know your ship Borsalino, maybe just-” 

“Yeah yeah, get on with it. Are you going to make this damn meeting take all day?” Akainu looked like he was about five seconds away from punching… well anyone really, he seemed about as angry as ever. Sengoku was the only one who seemed remotely in control of the situation, and simply stepped forward to begin the quick inspection of the crew. 

All the Marine’s stood at attention immediately as the admirals walked down the line. Aokiji barely said a word, only yawning occasionally, but Akainu would actually stop and question any Marine who seemed remotely out of place or whose stance was wrong. All the while Sengoku strode past row after row of them, looking like his mind was on paperwork and more paperwork. Kizaru walked with an almost annoying spring in his step as he spoke about his crew’s stellar performance, providing some poor relief to the Marine’s that just a few seconds before had been yelled at by the red dog.

As they came to the end of the row Kizaru kept walking, but Sengoku paused, and looked down. Mitsu, while not taking up much space, did cause a slight gap between the rows of Marine’s given her size. Akainu’s eye actually twitched at the sight of the tiny child standing in line with the other Marine’s. At first Aokiji didn’t understand why they had all paused, and then he looked down, and had to clap a hand over his mouth at the sight of the saluting child. Sitting just at her side was Marimo, the striped green puppy with his Marine handkerchief tied around his neck. And right on top of his head was Freddy, the rubber duck, who somehow had not fallen off yet, Mitsu was very proud of this.

Akainu very nearly bit the cigar he was holding between his teeth in half as he bent over at the waist to get a better look at Mitsu. Years of staring down far uglier men than this, in much scarier situations, prepared the little girl well, as she simply kept staring straight ahead, never once breaking form. “Exactly why is there a child on board this ship?”

From the way he was looking at her Akainu was expecting an answer from her, so Mitsu delivered. “Sir, I serve as an assistant to Admiral Kizaru sir. I ensure that his work is properly managed as well as assisting in minor tasks around the ship sir.”

Aokiji was straining right then, clutching his stomach, and Sengoku was not much better off, his stoic expression miliseconds away from breaking. Just behind them stood Lieutenant Noot, looking entirely proud, and her father who was grinning from ear to ear. Akainu was the only person standing there who seemed to be unaffected by the tiny cute wannabe marine. “And the green dog?”

“Sir, I am training him to be a search and rescue dog, as you can see he has already made excellent progress sir.” She had a slight lisp at the end, and Mitsu realized then that one of her baby teeth was beginning to come loose. Sengoku put a hand to his mouth, trying to disguise a small laugh as a cough, while Aokiji was busy doubling over just beside him.

Akainu’s brow twitched again and a few cigar ashes fell onto the deck just in front of Mitsu. Still she didn’t move. There was venom in his voice, actual annoyance at the fact that this tiny child had so far not wavered an inch. “So, what reason do you have for the rubber duck then?” 

“Sir, due to his buoyancy Fre- the rubber duck can be used to track currents when without traditional equipment. His squeak also serves as an alarm in case of emergency, and he can be a useful projectile weapon.”

Kizaru spoke up at that. “She’s not wrong, nearly took out my eye this morning.” 

Aokiji finally broke, he was laughing hysterically at this point and Sengoku wasn’t far behind. Almost all of the Marine’s around Mitsu were fighting, through clenched jaws and trembling limbs, to not join in the laughter. Kizaru was glowing, quite literally, with pride and quiet laughter. Even Akainu managed his version of a laugh, a gruff scoff, at the child’s final answer. Standing back to his full height he took one look at Pietro and Casiel, and glared. “Straighten up! Both of you, follow the girls example and salute like you were trained to!”

“Sir yes sir!” The Marine’s, straightened up and saluted properly. As the Admiral’s all began to walk away, still chuckling from Mitsu’s performance, the girl felt a quick pat on her head. Akainu kept walking, but she knew it had been him, it was quick and rough, and had hurt her neck a little, but it made her feel warm. Maybe the admirals weren’t that scary, not if they could laugh like that, and certainly not if they could accept a child like her wanting to be one of them.

[siverwrites]

Dangerous Games Parts I don’t know when exactly

Kind of WIPish still in that something might change depending on other things. STILL EXPLORING. But some Cabanela Lynne stuff. Two separate parts since I’m sure there’d be something in between.

Cabanela’s fingers drum on the file on his desk. He’d like to think she should know better; it’d be easier, but who is he to talk about easy routes (or knowing better for that matter)? If it weren’t for the larger dangers he’d even be happy to let her at it. She’s in the dark even more than he is, but luck comes from unexpected places and he knows she’s in regular contact with him. Not that that’s of any help. What are the odds of Jowd letting anything slip? Any takers? Didn’t think so.

There’s a knock and Lynne enters.

“You wanted to see me, Inspector?”

Cabanela slides the file toward her. “Lookin’ into old cases, baby?”

Her eyes widen for a second before she catches herself. “Research?”

“Want to try that agaaain?”

“Um…” Lynne clasps her hands and Cabanela knows he’s got her. “Just his case.” She raises her chin and her shoulders set. “I can’t believe it. I never could. Detective Jowd didn’t do it! There has to be something else!”

“I didn’t think your workload was light enough for opening solved cases.”

Lynne frowns from across the desk. He can’t fault her determination and certainly doesn’t want to, but not this time.

“Solved? There’s no way… You’re best friends! You can’t believe this any more than I-”

“We were,” Cabanela interrupts.

“What?”

“We were friends. I haven’t seen him in fiiive years.”

Lynne looks downcast. “I know you’re busy, but…”

“Yes, I am as are you. It’s a closed case, baby. Use that taaalent of yours on more timely matters.”

“But I… I thought you might even help…for him…”

“There’s nothin’ to help. Drop it. That’s an order.”

Her mouth opens, but nothing comes out.

“Do you understand?”

“I thought… if anyone…” Her eyes dart down to the file.  

He sees her expression change. Recognises the dawning look as one of his own. She’s thinking ahead, wondering what she can still do. He wishes he could let her get away with it.

“Off-limits,” he says firmly. “That you took it this far is bad enough. Don’t make me take your badge.”

Her eyes widen and her hand flies to her badge. She goes still except for her hand tightening around it almost pulling it. Cabanela’s respect for her goes up a notch. She’s actually considering it, wondering what she’d be able to accomplish outside the police’s rules.

Do it. Give me a reason. We’ll get it back for you later. Get out of here. Instead she goes stone faced and her hands drop to her side. She stands straight, at attention. Passive aggressive obedience down to a T. Well done.

“Yes Sir,” she says flatly.

“Good. You’re dismissed.”

She turns on her heel, but not before Cabanela catches the flash of anger and disappointment in her eyes. Sorry, baby. You’ll understand in time.

He drags the file toward him and flips it open. It’s more an act to give his hands something to do. He has the contents memorized.  And will that threat deter her? Did it ever deter you? Ha. At least he can hope she’ll take greater care for secrecy.

His gaze falls on his phone. One more thing to take care of that she can’t hide.

Filling blanks, checking boxes, signing off. The question of when will he ever empty his inbox looks to remain unanswered. The knock on his door is a welcome disruption.

“Come on iiin.”

Lynne’s entrance isn’t a surprise nor is her anger. She plants her hands on his desk. “Why?”

Cabanela leans back in his seat, twirling his pen around his fingers.

“That’s a question with a looot of answers, baby. Be mooore specific?”

“I’m not even allowed to call him anymore?”

“I did tell you to drop it,” Cabanela replies calmly.

“But I only talked to him. That’s it!”

“You’re tellin’ me you never tried to get him to talk about what happened?” Likely multiple times locked box that he is.

“I…”  

“He’s in prison for murder. We all have images to maintaaain. Think how that reflects on you. Most people think he did it.”

“Like you?” Lynne spat.

“I knooow what I know.”

“Images to maintain,” Lynne scoffs shaking her head. “That really is all that matters to you, isn’t it? Looking sooo perfect. And if old friends are left to rot, so be it?”

He gives an airy sort of shrug. “So be it.”

A mixture of surprise and disgust crosses Lynne’s face. She lifts her hands from her desk and shakes her head. “I can’t believe you. I thought…”

“Lynne,” Cabanela cuts her off and she scowls but her voice goes cold.

“Sir?”

“You’ve only just made Detective this year. You’re playin’ a dangerous game.”

“Is that a threat? Sir.”

“It’s a warning. You’ve got a bright career ahead of you.”

Her coolness drops and her hands slam on his desk again. “If it means being like you, maybe I don’t care!”

Cabanela inwardly sighs. If you’re gonna lose that temper of yours, fuel it toward something useful, baby and use your head. “Reaaally now? So you have other prospects already lined up?” he asks lightly.

“Wh-what?”

“You’re not the only one you’re lookin’ after. So, teeell me, what’ll you tell Kamila when you need to find a new job? Or if somethin’ worse happens and she has to find a third home?”

Lynne looks stricken. “I… I’m sure if I had to something would come up. What do you mean worse?”

“I told you. This is a dangerous game. Leave it. Focus on your job.”

She swallows and some of the anger fades to nervousness. “Is… is there something going on?”

“It’s about time you learned some caution. Runnin’ arooound like this is a waste of time and energy.” Distract, deter and he can see her annoyance flaring up again. Good. Keep her mad at him and not wondering about deeper meanings.

“Waste?” she demands.

“You have a job to do. I know for a fact you have a mouuund of paperwork waiting for you.” Delegated by himself. “I suggeeest getting on that.”

Lynne’s voice is sharp, biting. “Yes sir. Do I have permission to leave, sir?”

He waves a dismissive hand at the door. “Off you go.”

He watches her storm out before staring into his coffee. Not strong enough to wipe away the foul taste in his mouth.