#I have been so swamped with exams and other nonsense that’s being going on in my life

[gatheryepens]

A Short History Of Nearly Everything book review

If this book has a lesson, it is that we are awfully lucky to be here-and by 'we' I mean every living thing.

About : Bill Bryson describes himself as a reluctant traveller, but even when he stays safely at home he can't contain his curiosity about the world around him. A Short History of Nearly Everything is his quest to understand everything that has happened from the Big Bang to the rise of civilization - how we got from there, being nothing at all, to here, being us. Bill Bryson's challenge is to take subjects that normally bore the pants off most of us, like geology, chemistry and particle physics, and see if there isn't some way to render them comprehensible to people who have never thought they could be interested in science. As a result, A Short History of Nearly Everything reveals the world in a way most of us have never seen it before.

Author: Bill Bryson

Rating: 4/5 ✨

This book was bloody brilliant. I started reading this in October of 2021 (I know, I know) and it is one of the few non-fiction books that I have picked out of pure interest. I was doing geography at the time and my friend recommended I borrow her copy and read it - I’m so glad I did. If I’m being honest most of this stuff a lot of people will either know or it can easily be googled and found on Wikipedia or even in textbooks, usually (for some) this would be a mundane and dull experience, but Bryson has such a way with words that he makes the information somewhat interesting and even comedic at times. Bill Bryson is what I would call factumanus, he is able to manipulate information and facts in a way that makes it easier to understand as well as immersing for people who have no prior knowledge or interest about evolution or the structure of the earth. The first half of the book is definitely more ‘physical’ science and by that, I mean it mainly covers astronomy, physics, chemistry, and earth sciences (meteorology and geology). This was definitely my favourite half because as much as I love biology and evolution, there is something about the stepping-stones that lead us to evolution and by that, I mean how earth was formed or how certain chemicals played a part to create the climate we live in. The latter half of the book is mainly life science, to be more specific biology and genetics. This is Part 5 (Life itself) Part 6 (The Road to Us), where Bryson talks about the famous Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution as well as cell biology and evolving from apes. I am definitely more a physical scientist, albeit I do biology - the chemistry behind life as well as earth are where my interests are at. That being said my favourite parts of the book were definitely Part 3 (A New Ages Dawn) and Part 4 (Dangerous planet). To quickly summarise the book, Lost in cosmos is the first part of the book here Bryson essentially writes about how the universe is formed. Whilst explaining he credits theories like the Big Bang and the inflation. He then goes in depth about our universe as well as other planets in our solar system, discussing a key idea that if one thing was ever so slightly different that we may have not been present today and I wouldn’t be writing this review. In part 2, The size of the Earth, Bryson starts off with a bang or more like an apple dropping with Isaac Newton. If I’m being honest, I wish he went more in depth with Newton, as he predominately talked about his laws and his discoveries. The size of the earth mainly focuses on geology and chemistry, he name drops some big shots like James Hutton (Scottish geologist), Dmitri Mendeleev (Russian chemist) and Marie Curie (Polish-French Physicist). Fun fact about Curie most of her stuff is still radioactive, as they are contaminated in radium as a matter-of-fact Marie Curie is still radioactive and it’s the reason she died (she died from aplastic anaemia which is linked to high levels of radiation). Part 3 (A new age dawn) discussed theories such as Einstein’s relative theory and Planck’s quantum theory. Since A new age Dawn encompasses all of the 20th century, Bryson talks about a lot of big shots that helped discovered the atom for example Rutherford and Bohr. Astronomy is also a big part of the section to name drop someone who is worth googling Henrietta Swan Leavitt who discovered a correlation between period and luminosity of stars.

The title of part 4 is basically what Bryson writes about – how dangerous earth is. KT impact is mentioned, which is how dinosaurs became extinct by an asteroid. He also talks about one of my favourite topics – natural disasters. Natural disasters can be caused by a number of different causes, a big one being tectonic activity. However, scientist have discovered ways to predict some natural disasters – seismology. Seismology is the study of earthquakes; its name derives from ancient Greek – ‘seismós’ meaning earthquakes and ‘logía’ meaning study of. Seismology is just the study of waves (P and S waves) propagating through earth. Part 5 discusses the oceans as well as the atmosphere. Bill Bryson also talks about mammals and dinosaurs and Darwin’s theory of evolution and natural selection (species that are able to adapt and survive to pass on the following characteristics for future offspring). I would recommend doing some research on Darwin as a lot of factors during that time affected the publication of his theory. To bring the summaries to a close, The Road to Us ends on a more sombre note. Bryson starts off explaining and talking about the link between humans and apes and ends with him educating the reader about how human activity has caused extinction for a great amount of species. He makes a point that a lot of people are finally realising, in the future we are going to have to take a lot of care into earth and not be so reckless. Bryson’s research is so thorough that I can’t fault it, as someone who is not a scientist Bryson took a lot of care in researching all the nitty gritty details that I and many others most certainly would have not known. Yes, this can be easily googled. Yes, what Bryson is saying is nothing new. However, Bryson has a way with words that makes learning about science extremely fun!

Factumanus - someone who is able to manipulate facts

my last book review!!!

[thefanficmonster]

Casual

Ranboo x Reader (Female)

Warnings: None, unless talking about the future counts

Genre: FLUFF, Humor, RPF (Real Person Fic)

Summary: Following the arrival of the dreadful invitation to his cousin’s wedding Ranboo turns to the only cover-up he can think of to keep his still-single status hidden from his family.

Requested by Anon. Hi darling! Thank you so much for your wonderful request! I’m so glad you sent your idea to me and I’m so glad you were my first official Ranboo request. I’m really sorry it’s taken me so long to write it but I still hope you’ll come across it and read it! Love, Vy ❤

“Heyyy, so Y/N, I have a favor to ask you...um yeah, call me back, it’s awkward sending it via voicemail. Bye“

Huh - that’s the first thought that goes through my head when I listen to the voicemail left after a missed call from my best friend Ranboo. The favors he usually asks for consist of requesting assistance for his videos in which I also appear with a mask and sunglasses to keep the brand running. I genuinely have nothing against my face being shown but when I think about it, I’m honestly a bit glad people can’t identify me.

Anyways, back to the favors, Ranboo is no stranger to asking me for them but they’ve never been considered too awkward for a voicemail which is why I’m no slightly concerned. I’ve been swamped with work for school and studies for the graduation finals for the past two weeks and it seems like I’ll never get on top of it and I know Ranboo’s been in a similar situation too, so maybe he needs help with that? He’s not used to asking help for school stuff, he sometimes even has a hard time accepting it when I openly offer it to him.

I eventually sigh, decide that playing this guessing game will not get me anywhere and settle on giving him a call as I make my way home from the gym with my legs barely putting up with the task of carrying me around.

He picks up on the second ring.

“Hey! Wh-...“

“Would you pretend to be my girlfriend for my cousin’s wedding next weekend?!“

My legs take that opportunity to stop moving in the middle of the sidewalk which is luckily void of any people at the moment. It’s not my fault my body’s first reaction was to freeze up at the question that came flying at me like an out-of-control jet, almost as though he’s been dying to say it and get it over with.

“Um...run that by me again please, I think I misunderstood.“ I say, blinking blankly as though awoken from a fever dream. No, actually as though I’m IN a fever dream right now.

“Ok, now that the cat’s out of the bag, wanna grab some coffee and talk about it face-to-face. I need to see your facial expressions to gauge what response to expect.“ He says, the previous nervousness gone and his voice calm as regularly once again.

I’m this close to face-palming but I squeeze my eyes tightly shut and bring myself to utter a reply, “Our usual spot. Be there in ten minutes.”

                                                             *  *  *

“No freaking way.“ I shake my head, folding my arms over my chest as I lean back in my seat in the booth we picked when we arrived. Good thing I got an iced coffee cause even a hot one would’ve gone cold by now considering I haven’t yet taken the time to have even a sip of it. I’ve been too busy listening to the long and short of the explanation and begging speech Ranboo probably made last night to try and convince me to agree to this nonsense. “Dude, we’ve been friends since middle school-...“

“Exactly! Who else was I gonna ask?“ He cuts me off, pleading gaze meeting my unimpressed one.

I huff before continuing my previous statement, “We’ve been friends since middle school so you know my opinion on weddings.” I put extra emphasis on the word ‘opinion’, giving him the clear hint at the distaste I’ve expressed on the topic multiple times before.

“And you know we’re on the same page there but there’s no way I can avoid going unless someone kidnaps me.“ He too now gets in the same stance as me, his coffee forgotten too.

I can’t help but snort out a little laugh, “I’d be more than happy to kidnap you considering the other option is far less appealing to me.“

He, of course, rolls his eyes at me as though he didn’t offer to do the same thing so I could avoid an exam but anyways. “So you’re gonna choose to fake a kidnapping that has the potential of landing you in jail over coming to eat some great food and maybe even have some fun at a wedding with your best friend? I’m hurt.“ He says, frowning to cover up the smile that’s fighting its way onto his face.

Now it’s my turn to roll my eyes, “I’d be kidnapping you, dummy...” I cut myself off to let out a long sigh and calm down before I go off at him. His smirk isn’t helping me much with the task either. I’ve known Ranboo long enough to know he’ll eventually convince me and he’s known me long enough to know how to do that exactly. With that in mind, there’s really no point in getting so worked up and wasting my energy. And so, despite my own rationality, I cave. “Fine, but I’m not staying the whole wedding.“

His eyes immediately light up and almost makes me feel the compromise was worth it. Almost. I mean, when you’ve been best friends with someone for so long, seeing them happy is worth more to you than your own comfort sometimes.

And he knows it too. Which is exactly why he outstretches his hand for me to shake and says: “Just one dance and you’re free to go. Deal?”

I take his hand without hesitations. That’s a better offer than I could’ve ever imagined. “Damn straight it’s a deal.“

                                                            *  *  *

“How long until you kick the heels off?“ Ranboo asks, bringing me a non-alcoholic cocktail and sitting down next to me.

I take a sip and giggle, “You kidding? I already kicked them off and replaced them with flats. I need mobility if we dance. They also lower the risk of me severing off a toe of yours if I step on you on accident.”

He laughs, clinking his glass against mine before he gets a bit more serious, “By the way, thanks for handling my family’s attack so well. I know it might’ve been a bit much but you handled it like a pro. Still, I’m sorry on their behalf.”

I shake my head and wave my hand dismissively, “Don’t mention it. I’d probably react the same way if my brother or cousin brought a date to an important family event like this.” I instinctively turn to look in the direction of where the majority of his family has gathered around, chatting with guests, smiling brightly. It’s hard not to immediately take a liking towards these people. They’ve been a second family to me ever since Ranboo and I started hanging out so I completely understand why they were so shocked to see me in the role of his ‘girlfriend’.

“I’ll tell my parents the truth later, our extended family is the ones I wanted to fool to be perfectly honest.“ He looks around as do I and we catch more than a few pairs of eyes fixated on us that turn away when they realize they’ve been spotted, “Mission accomplished by the looks of it.“

I chuckle. I’ve never felt so comfortable at a wedding before. I don’t feel stressed nor anxious despite knowing that there’s quite the number of eyes on me and there are whispers going around about my ‘relationship’ with Ranboo. It’s oddly calming and relaxing to be surrounded by some familiar and some unfamiliar faces. This cocktail is pretty great too.

Speaking of which, if it had any alcohol in it I’d blame it for the decision I’m about to make but this one’s entirely on me: I tap Ranboo with one hand while taking out my phone with the other. “If we’re already the talk of the wedding, let’s give them something to talk about.“ I say as I put up my phone, pretending to be taking a selfie leaning in to give him a kiss on the cheek.

When I pull away I can clearly see that he’s still processing what just happened. I can’t help but burst out in a fit of laughter as I reach out to wipe the lipstick stain I left on his cheek. He looks like a lost, clueless puppy with the question: ‘what on Earth just happened???’ replaying in his head and it’s so freaking cute!

Wait....what was that? Since when do I use the adjective cute to describe Ranboo? Didn’t I think he looks handsome in a suit earlier too? The hell is with me today?

Then it hits me - the feeling isn’t foreign. Like, I know I’ve felt it before but I never analyzed it or even bothered to acknowledge it. But now that I do, I’m afraid of what it might be.

“There!“ I say, desperately trying to push the thoughts away along with this little firework show in my stomach, “Now you have pinker cheeks. Well, cheek, singular.“

As if snapping out of his state of confusion, he returns to Earth with a smirk, “Kiss the other to even it?”

Alright, his blush might not be even but mine now is and it’s ten times as intense and very much apparent but I don’t let the feeling shine through anything else as I proceed to actually kiss his other cheek too, wiping the lipstick stain.

“Thanks. You’re the best.” And just like that, as though it’s no big deal, he kisses my forehead.

See, that’s the thing, it shouldn’t be a big deal! It’s never been! This is far from the first time I’ve kissed him on the cheek or the first time he’s given me a forehead kiss. These are regular occurrences after years of this lovely friendship we have. Why do they feel so different now?

Then, much to my relief, the music starts and the lights turn off leaving only one spotlight for the groom and bride to have their first dance. They look absolutely astonishing and I can certainly say I’ve never before stopped to think that about any newly weds of the weddings I’ve preciously been to. I don’t know if it has something to do with the company I have for this particular wedding or it’s maybe the fact that my mindset’s changed over the years without me realizing.

Then I automatically look at Ranboo who just so happens to be looking at me too and all I can say is: my mindset hasn’t changed.

A loud applause takes over when the couple finish their dance, officially opening the dancefloor for any other pairs who’d like to occupy it and I’m happy to see how many people are eager to rush up with their partner.

 Ranboo gets up, putting the glass down and offers me his hand, “So, wanna dance? Don’t take this as a sign to leave though, we said one dance and you CAN leave, not SHOULD.” He says, giving me a warning look.

I roll my eyes and am about to give him some sass right back but he takes my hand and picks me up from my seat, leading me to the dancefloor.  And I gotta admit maybe it’s a good thing he did. If he left it to me I would’ve probably said no to the dance and ran the hell away. Why? - Cause I’m freaking terrified of this new mindset and point of view and these intense emotions I never used to pay any mind to before in regards to my best friend.

Friends don’t feel that way about friends. Friends don’t look at friends that way. What’s happening to me?

When I gotta look him in the eyes like this, not for the first time might I add, I can finally understand how the friends-to-lovers trope works: it’s all meaningless until it starts to mean so much to you. It’s all platonic until it reminds you of a romantic movie moment. It ‘best friends’ until it’s ‘I wish we were more than that’. It’s all casual, until it’s not.

And, unfortunately, it’s irreversible.

Damn do I wish I ran away now...

[mads-weasley]

Legacy Pt. 4: The Conversation

Bucky Barnes x Reader

Series Masterlist

A/N: Hey y’all! I’ve enjoyed writing this story so much and I can’t wait to keep it going! Sadly, I do not own any of these wonderful characters except (y/n)! I hope you enjoy! Also, sorry for the long wait and for this chapter being so short. I’ve been swamped with schoolwork and AP exams. I’ll try to crank out some new chapters quicker!

Summary: In order to find out information on the super soldier serum, you, Sam, and Bucky go to Berlin to see Zemo.

Warnings: angst, fluff, romance, typical cannon violence

(y/n) - your name

(y/l/n) - your last name

(y/n/n) - your nickname

(y/h/c) - your hair color

Italics - flashbacks

Sitting on the plane to Berlin, next to Bucky, you knew you had to have that conversation sooner rather than later. There was no better time than the present, and Sam was on a different part of the plane, so you went for it. Little did you know that he was thinking the same thing.

“Hey, I-” you both say at the same time, turning towards each other. The two of you chuckled before he told you to go first like a gentleman.

“Okay. Wha-what are we, Buck?” His eyes roam your face, looking for any indication of how you want him to respond.

“Well, what do you want us to be, doll?”

That was not the answer you expected whatsoever. “Answer the question, Barnes.”

“(y/n)-“ He starts in a soft voice.

“If it was just a heat of the moment thing, you can just tell me, but please don’t lead me on. I ca-“

“I love you.” Your eyes widen and jaw drops at his sudden confession. Heart fluttering, you can’t help but flick your eyes to his lips. He leans closer to you, eyes softening.

“Please say something, doll.”

You cup his cheeks and lean in closer. Puts his arms around your waist as your lips meet for a short, but sweet kiss. Separating, he moves his vibranium hand to brush some of your (y/h/c) hair behind your ear. The coolness of it, along with his gentle touch sends shivers down your spine. Staring in his eyes, you confess.

“I love you too, Buck.”

The biggest smile appears on his face as he starts to speak. “You know, I haven’t kissed anyone in over 70 years, but and I’m glad you broke the streak.” Before you could respond, Sam walks into the cargo hold where the two of you were. “We’re he-“ he stops when he sees how close you and Bucky were. “Well, dang. I thought it wouldn’t happen for another few days.” Suddenly, Torres pops out of the cockpit, “I’ll take your $20, Sam.”

“What!” You exclaim, “You bet on us?”

“Yep. Steve did too.”

With a soft smile, Bucky nods. “Of course he did.”

Once inside the prison, you could tell Bucky was nervous by the way he was so tense. He lets go of your hand when the guard says, “He’s just through that corridor.”

Bucky puts a hand up and stops walking, “All right, give us a sec...” when the guard is out of earshot, he continues. “I’m going in alone.”

Taken back, you flip out. “What! Why?”

“You’re both Avengers. You know how he feels about that.”

Sam pipes in. “Buck, it’s not like the two of you were knows for frolickin’ in the sun together.”

“Sam’s right, Bucky.”

“He was obsessed with Hydra. We have a history together. Trust me. I got it.”

He starts to walk away, and you reach out and gently grab his hand, giving him a concerned look. Pausing momentarily, he forces a smile for you before letting go of your hand to continue going down the hall. Of course you are concerned about him; he’s going to talk to the guy who framed him for murder and turned him into the thing he hates the most. Sam picks up on this and places his hand on your shoulder.

“He’ll be okay, (y/n).”

“I know he will. It’s just scary.”

your pov:

As soon as we cleared the prison, Bucky started spouting nonsense about needing Zemo out of jail in order to stop Karli.

“What are you talking about? You wanna break Zemo out of jail?”

Bucky just keeps leading us through a dark warehouse. “Buck, where are we?”

“Yeah,” Sam pipes up, “Have you lost your mind?”

Finally, Bucky stops, turns towards Sam and I, and finally responds to our questions.

“We have no leads, no moves, nothing.”

“What we have is one of the most dangerous men in the world behind bars.” I say, matter of factly.

Bucky gives me a confused look. “And we also have eight super soldiers that are loose.”

Sam’s expression turns to frustrated. “Zemo’s gonna mess with our minds. Especially yours. No offense.”

“Offense....Super Soldiers go against everything he believes in. He is crazy, but he still has a code.”

“I've been on the wrong side of that code, Buck and so have you.” I can’t believe he is talking like this. Like Zemo did nothing back in 2016.

“He blew up the UN, he killed King T'Chaka and framed you for it. Did you forget that? You think the Wakandans forgot about it? It’s a rhetorical question......they didn’t.”

Taking a new approach, I gently grab his hand. “James, I know why this matters to you, but it’s pushing you off the deep end.” I can see his eyes soften as he squeezes my hand slightly. Sighing, he lets go of my hand and pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Look, let me just walk you through a hypothetical. Can I walk you through a hypothetical?”

“What did you do?”

“I didn't do anything.”

After Bucky “walked us through his hypothetical situation, Zemo emerged from the shadows. Sam and I both freaked out, but Buck managed to calm us down. We got a car and started driving to an airport with a private jet waiting on us.

Once on board, I tried to sit across from Zemo to keep an eye on him, but Bucky snaked his hand around mine to stop me. I shoot him a confused look and he just tilts his head to the seat across from him. I sit down, closing my eyes and am reminded of the ever-present headache that pounds in my skull every time I open my eyes. My quiet groan catches Bucky’s attention, of course. His concerned eyes snap to my face.

“Doll, what’s wrong? Is it your head?”

I nod, my eyes still shut. “I’m okay, Bu-“

“What happened to you, Miss (y/l/n)?” Zemo interrupts.

“What?” I open my eyes to look at him.

“(Y/n), I asked how you got injured? If you don’t mind me asking.”

“I mind.” Bucky states plainly, eyes still glued to mine. Shooting him a look, I roll my eyes and tell Zemo what happened. Even though I don’t like the guy, at all, he deserves to know what we’re up against.

“Wow. If they did that,” he points to my arm, “To an Avenger, they are in fact a problem.”

“Thanks Zemo.” I huff, turning to look out the window but shy away at the bright light hurting my head.

“I have some pain medication in the kitchen if you want some, (y/n).”

Although I don’t want to take any medicine from him, my headache continues to worsen.

“Okay.”

“No. Doll, you know we can’t trust him.”

Sam finally pipes up in the previously three way conversation.

“Buck, I don’t trust him either, but she’s clearly hurting.”

Bucky’s eyes soften and he slightly nods towards me. He looks over to Zemo, making his eyes harden once again into his signature stare.

Zemo clears his throat. “Alright. Oeznik! Can you get some pain medication for Miss (y/l/n)?”

Walking up, Oeznik glances at me, slight concern evident on his elderly face. “Yes sir.”

Once he gives me the pills, I pop them in my mouth and close my eyes, leaning my head on the window. I feel something drape over me and assume it’s Bucky’s jacket. He leans down and kisses me softly in my forehead.

“Get some sleep, (y/n).”

Starting to fall asleep, I just mumble.

“I love you, James.”

A small smile forms on his face before he continues, “I love you too, doll.”

I finally allow myself to fall into the deep abyss of sleep, and I know I’ll be dreaming of Bucky.

Bucky’s pov:

As I watched (y/n) silently sleeping, Zemo’s voice breaks the sweet silence.

“I was just fascinated by this. I don't know what to call it, but this part seems to be important. Who is Nakajima?”

At the mention of the name, I shoot up out of my seat, placing my hand around his neck.

“If you touch that again, I'll kill you.”

I snatch the book from his hands and sit down with a grunt. I was surprised that the commotion didn’t wake (y/n) up, but I guess we can thank the concussion for that. To be honest, my mind is still reeling from our confessions earlier. It physically hurts me to see her in pain. Now more than ever, I can’t stand to see her hurting, so I know I can’t let what happened before, happen again.

Sam and I hesitantly engage in conversation with Zemo about Marvin Gaye and super soldiers.

“Do we want to live in a world full of people like the Red Skull? That is why we're going to Madripoor.” Zemo states.

Looking confused, Sam asks, “What's up with Madripoor? You guys talk about it like it's Skull Island.”

Looking out the window, I just tell the facts with no expression, “It's an island nation in the Indonesian archipelago. It was a pirate sanctuary back in the 1800s.”

(Y/n) stirs in her seat, her eyes fluttering open as she sits ups.

“It's kept its lawless ways. But we cannot exactly walk in as ourselves..... James, you will have to become someone you claim is gone.”

Tag List:

@confusednerd09 @ahahafudge @bluemoon-icecream @lunamadhatter99 @thatfangirl42 @fionanovasleftnut @youcanstandundermyamberella @friendly-letters

[kumoriyami-xiuzhen]

Hakuoki Drama Shinsengumi Oni-tan Track 2 Translation

well... finally got around to finishing ssl’s harada’s cross short stories... been super sleepy this week... which doesn't help with me being swamped with stuff to study since i finally booked the exam for the aws course im taking... it’ll be a month and half before I can resume my normal pace for all things... that is assuming I’m still stuck at home doing nothing aside from looking for a job. oh well. lol. im in the health>everything category... stay safe people!

anyway, this is my translation of Shinsengumi Oni-tan track 2! according to the drama info page, I believe this is the very first audio drama that either Amagiri’s or Shinaranui’s VA participated in tho i can’t remember who it was... however, this cd is definitely both VAs’ first appearance in a Hakuoki drama.  

due to content of this, out of all the dramas i have TL for, i’ve wanted this translated the most... unfortunately since all i got for resources are images and a video of the translation, it’s a serious pain in my ass to translate it since my CH word recognition ability is very bad...

well, no pain no gain as they say... though i think i suffer way more than what i get back in return lol. finals edits will be done later when i get to making my subtitle video (delayed due to me being busy).

anyway, enjoy~!!!! 

do not repost elsewhere or else! 

Hakuoki Drama CD: Shinsengumi Oni-tan Track 2: A Letter from the Yase

Translation by KumoriYami

Shiranui: Ah~ahah~ really, this is turning out to be a real hassle. hey, Amagiri, have you read this letter?

Amagiri: Yes, I've already checked it. Having received a letter from the Yase princess, I was contemplating on what should be done next.

Shiranui: Then, what's to be done [what do you plan on doing?]. Do you intend to/Should we tell Kazama about this? If it's anything related to that guy, it'll be even more troublesome.

Amagiri: I don't blame your way of thinking, but because he is the leader of the western clans, there's no choice but to inform him of this.

Shiranui: Mah~ na.

Kazama: Amagiri, you've come.

Shiranui: oh, you're finally here.

Kazama: Shiranui. Why are you here?

Amagiri: His presence today is owed to oni relations.

Kazama: What business do you have. If there's nothing, hurry up and go.

Shiranui: mah, mah, quit being so inflexible. Compared to that, what's the matter with you. I just had nothing important to do so I went out. Were you checking on that girl's condition/situation [check for Kazama in audio here]?

Kazama: Of course. My wife has constantly been mistreated by those wild dogs. To check on her situation is my/the duty/obligation as a/of the husband.

Shiranui: I was only joking. However you actually did that./You actually went [check audio for if sounds like a question]?

Amagiri: I'll be asking this just in case, [but] you didn't forcefully touch her/come into contact with her right?

Kazama: Hmph, how could that possibly happen. As long as my wife sees me, she will graciously cheer aloud [roughly says: thankfully cheer for (me). reword later?]. So today I only watched her from a distance.

Shiranui: You should really learn how to distinguish/what the difference between screaming and cheering is.

Amagiri: Observing from a distance, this type of activity is still not appropriate as a leader.

Kazama: The next time I'd like to prepare glasses to watch her from a distance [or maybe: something to watch her from a distance. the version i used for this translation says glasses.... check other tl later since im assuming this to be binoculars/telescope], but I won't be talking about that now. Instead of that, there's something you should know.  

Shiranui: Ah? It's not going to be something boring again right?

Kazama: It can be considered boring/simple/ can't be considered complicated, in a sense.  This was something that just happened after I encountered the Shinsengumi recently on my way back. I don't know why, [but] among that pack of dogs, [there seems] to be someone who's inherited the blood of the oni.

Shiranui: Eh... Amagiri: Hmm

Kazama: What's with that response? That reaction, are the two of you thinking that I'm an idiot?

Amagiri: No. We didn't mean to imply that, but how could that be?

Shiranuui: To confirm then, you saw an oni that wasn't Kodo's daughter?

Kazama: They're unrelated to my wife, I saw a young man, it's impossible for me to mistaken the characteristic [not sure if this is more of the 'mistaken in what i saw' sense or unable to be mistaken in this' kind of sense. check other tl after], he must have inherited the blood of the oni.

Shiranui: It turns out it was like that. Indeed, this can be considered simple/not complicated. Actually, this was sent/delivered recently.

Kazama: What is it, that letter.

Amagiri: Nn. This was from the oni living in Kyoto, Princess Yase's envoy delievered it.

Kazama: Huh. Is that woman finally going to bow down before me?

Shiranui: Why do you immediately imagine that.

Kazama: Then, don't be surprised otherwise [roughly says something to the effect of 'don't leave a man's appetite in suspense' so i put down what i thought made more sense. double check both tls later], hurry up and read the letter.

Shiranui:......."To Amagiri, Shiranui, also Kazama" Ah, by the way I added that in because it doesn't make sense [to not do so], [though] this letter was mainly directed towards me and Amagiri [check other tl later].

Kazama:......By the way [check audio and other tl], Shiranui. Are you deliberately adding in details while reading this to make this more interesting [literally: to add oil and vinegar, which figuratively means: 'adding details while telling a story (to make it more interesting)']?

Shiranui: Don't use such unpleasant words, that's basically how it reads.

Kazama: Che, it seems that Kyoto's oni do not know much about manners/etiquette. It seems that oni princess has inherited that lunacy of her ancestor [the translation of "血肿," used here means hematoma/swelling of soft tissue due internal hemorrhage... so I put in what I kinda thought was appropriate given the time period]. How laughable [check other tl. i’d guess ‘amusing’ though].

Amagiri: Can I continue reading this? [continue with this]

Kazama: Ah... Hurry up continue reading. What's wrong with that guy [check tl]?

Amagiri: "then before I get to the main point, I will first say, if you're still coveting Kodo's daughter, you should give up," she said.

Kazama: That's ridiculous.

Amagiri: It seems that the Yase Princess is speculating that, she [that girl] is fond of someone in the Shinsengumi. Perhaps it's he harsh/strict and strong Hijikata... or perhaps it’s Okita or Saito, who are excellent swordsmen/have superior swordsmanship. Of course, it's possible that it's Todou or Harada, since it's hard to guess/determine who it might be [reword later].

Kazama: That's utter nonsense/what a load of nonsense [check audio. the tl is the same where it says 'that's ridiculous']! Get to the point.

Shiranui: Really, you're impulsive as ever. Anyway, it says that a different clan [while i use the word 'clan' here, and most of the other times i see the word '族', it can also mean race/nationality/ethnicity/social group (ex - office workers). may use "group" since it's more ambiguous when I get to making the video] of oni entered Kyoto not so long ago.

Kazama: Oh? there are [other] oni in Kyoto? Where are these oni from?

Amagiri: Based on their whereabouts, they should have come from the west [says 'western part' so i might change this to 'from western lands']. So if we know something, That's why she's saying that if we know something, to please tell her. 

Kazama: So it's like that/that is to say, the person I saw recently in the Shinsengumi, is the someone who probably comes from an oni clan fro a different part of the country, as mentioned in this letter.

Amagiri: That is very likely. Although Kyoto has long history, the bloodlines of many oni clans are around here/in the area. [may just omit bloodlines entirely here]

Shiranui: Joining the Shinsengumi, that sounds impossible/Then joining the Shinsengumi is even more impossible [check other tl and audio]. Then as the leader of the Western clans, do you have any idea/know anything about this oni clan?

Kazama: No/I don't know, at least I have never been in contact with them.

Amagiri: Then I'll contact the village to investigate [check tl again since the tl i wrote says 'fight'. probably wrote something down incorrectly]. How do you intend to handle this unidentified oni clan?

Shiranui: The Shinsengumi being involved in this, already makes this a real hassle. If that guy becomes a member of the Shinsengumi, we'll be fighting sooner or later.  

Amagiri: Did he know that the Shinsengumi is hostile towards us, or did he know that there's a female oni within the Shinsengumi?

Shiranui: Either way it's a problem.

Kazama: hrn...

Shiranui: I'll first say, that even if it's me, I don't want to fight against another oni. There are a barely any of us to begin with/ There aren't a lot of us to begin with.

Amagiri: Then, what should be done, Kazama.

Kazama: That remains to be seen. let's go. Amagiri. Shiranui. Based on my observations, I'm afraid that the strength of his bloodline is so weak that he doesn't even know that he is an oni. Those who have inherited the noble blood of the oni, even if they don't know it, answering to the call of humans [check other tl], is something that must never be allowed.

----------

ah i wish i could have someone reading a letter from sen about why saito is better than kazama lol....hahaha i can only wish.

unfortunately im still really busy so i don’t when i’ll be able to translate the next track of this... still would like to have it done before end of the year though.

also, the reason why the sanan tsukikage chapter TLs were taken down from that blog i found was apparently because the site itself had problems with the images that were uploaded along with the author’s translations... i think? 

Well, regardless of the reason, i was able to save the tl of sanan’s 1st tsukikage chapter since it got re-posted, and guess that means it’s only a matter of time before the tl of chapter 6 gets re-uploaded so i can go save it later....

[lurafita]

Avengers/Peter, dub/con, captivity

Know these moments when you just can’t get this one idea out of your head, and all of a sudden you are writing it down, even though you have other stories going that you should be focusing on?

Yeah...

Heed the tags, everyone.

kidnapping, dub/con, captivity, chains, bondage, obsessive Avengers, Peter/Everyone, darkly soft Avengers (in the sense that they hold Peter captive, but only want to love and protect him), non-powered Peter, dark-ish Avengers, 18+ Peter, Clint is not married and has no kids, Tony is not in a relationship with Pepper.

The long chain wasn’t actually necessary, what with Friday being able to control every door and window in the building, and every single one of the Avengers being physically stronger and faster than him (even the non-enhanced ones like Tony, Natasha, Clint and Sam).

So it’s not like Peter could escape from their private floor, much less the tower as a whole.

They simply liked the physical proof that he couldn’t get away. They liked being able to touch the chain, to hear the links clink when he moved. They liked being able to see him tethered to their home. Their territory.

-

It hadn’t started like this. Of course not. These things never do. Or, at least Peter doesn’t think they do.

He had been one of the very few lucky college students to get an internship at Stark Industries, home of the Avengers. (Though, while Peter was undoubtedly a fan, he cared far more about the Stark Industries part of the deal, than being close to the cities heroes)

He had started out as a lab assistant to one of the project leaders, working on different things. After about four months of that, the new interns (which included Peter), had been asked to propose an idea for a new project that could benefit the company, and/or society.

Peter’s idea of an organic polymer that could be compressed and stored in great quantities, and hardened to adjustable strength when exposed to air, had immediately caught the attention of one Dr. Bruce Banner.

After the initial shock and hero worship that Peter experienced when being face to face with one of the greatest minds the scientific community had to offer wore off, he was able to talk to Dr. Banner (”Please, call me Bruce.”) about the different applications his formula could be used for, especially in the fields of emergency rescue and medicine.

Peter had apparently left such a good impression on the doctor, that the man who would occasionally turn into a green rage monster, had elevated Peter to  his personal lab assistant.

Needless to say, the college student was over the moon.

Shortly after beginning to work with Dr. Banner (”No, seriously Peter, call me Bruce”), Peter had gotten to know Tony Stark.

Stark was a close friend and frequent visitor of Dr. Banner (which of course he was, with them both being on the same Superhero team), and had come to the lab one day to talk shop and escape one of his many, many board meetings.

After Peter somehow managed to stutter his way through an introduction to Tony fucking Stark, the man had enthusiastically joined the two in brainstorming for more and more ways to adjust and improve on the ‘web-fluid’. (”So you are the little Spiderling Brucie-bear has been ranting about for the last few days.” “Sp-Spiderling, sir?” “Well, your web-fluid, yes, that’s what I’m calling it, does have some similarity to spidersilk. I was just going to call you ‘Bug-boy’, but seeing you in person, that name doesn’t really fit someone as cute as you.” Not knowing how to deal with being called ‘cute’ by one of the smartest and most powerful men in the world, Peter’s brain had zeroed in on the one thing it could process. “...Spiders are arachnids...” The two older scientists had given him an impossibly fond look for that comment)

Lab work often ran pretty late, and on one day where the hours had flown by particularly fast, Bruce had invited Peter to just stay the night there.

(”I wouldn’t feel good about you taking the subway at this hour of the day, or rather night. There are more than enough guest rooms on the Avengers floor. And I’m sure we can find you something to sleep in.” “I, I couldn’t, Dr. Ban- I mean Bruce. That would be such an imposition-” “You are not an imposition, Peter. As I said, more than enough rooms. Tony has actually raised the idea of giving you one of those for your internship. You are our most promising intern in years.” Peter had blushed fifty shades of red “But Dr- Bruce, that’s not necessary, really, it’s not that late, I can just-” “Nonsense. Crime has been picking up lately, especially after dark. Can’t have my best assistant get jumped on his way home. Come on, it’s Steve’s turn to cook tonight, and that man makes a mean casserole.”)

And that’s how he had met the other Avengers.

He was awkward at first, shy and insecure about every little thing he said and every gesture he made. But the Avengers (THE AVENGERS!) had been very welcoming of the younger man. Asked him about his studies, his work in the labs, teased lightly about how much both Bruce and Tony were always praising him. The dinner had been great, conversation flowing between him (a total nobody) and the worlds mightiest heroes, going through many different topics. It had been mostly lighthearted and funny, with Peter being just as pleasantly surprised about the easy camaraderie as the Avengers were. He had helped clean the dishes after, and had tried his best to not feel emasculated when the clothes to sleep in, had come out of the Black Widow’s closet. (”You have a dancer’s figure. Nothing to be ashamed of. The guys’ clothes would just swamp you.” “I,... uhm.. th.thank you, miss Widow, I mean, miss Romanoff? I used to do ballet, but had to stop once I got into college. Time constraints..” “Call me Natasha. If you want, you can join me in the training room sometime. I like to go through a few of the routines, they are good for balance and agility.” “O-oh, I couldn’t disrupt your training like that-” “I will pick you up from college tomorrow, then we will go through some positions and figures. Make sure you eat something light beforehand. After, we will come back up here and make Barnes cook something. I know about that ‘starving college student’ myth, and I will not have you become one, you are skinny enough as it is.”)

And so Peter had started to do a few hours of ballet with Natasha every week. Which always led to being fed by whoever was in charge of cooking on that particular day. Tony tried to steal him away from Bruce’s lab and into his own about 4 times a week, and succeeded about half the time. Lab hours stretched late into the evening on more and more days, and Peter found himself sleeping over at the tower a lot. The closet in the guest room he used, gradually filled with clothes in his size, and three new pairs of shoes appeared in the room one morning (while his own, old and very battered ones, were nowhere to be found.) Tony never admitted to buying the items for him, but the satisfied expression on the older man’s face when he saw the brunette in his new clothes, was its own confession. Bruce started to keep snacks and drinks in his lab, and made sure that Peter took regular breaks in between the sciencing. Whenever Tony had Peter in his own lab, Friday would remind the genius that both he and his intern were required to take a break to eat and drink something. Peter was made to stay for dinner almost every night, even the ones that he didn’t sleep there. He got to know the men and woman behind their hero persona’s, and in turn opened himself up for them. Thor would visit a lot, and while it took a little more time for Peter to get over being starstruck by the god, than it had for the other Avengers, a friendship was struck quickly.

He truly, genuinely liked the Avengers. And they truly, genuinely liked Peter.

And the college student had thought that that was all it was.

He didn’t notice when fond, friendly looks, became lingering, longing stares. He didn’t notice when little, friendly touches, would last longer, would become caresses. Jovial shoulder pats turned into full body hugs. Leading the younger somewhere suddenly always required the other to hold on to his wrist, hand, or arm, or to keep a guiding hand on Peter’s lower back. They sat closer during dinner and the occasional movie night. Natasha corrected his stance and form during their ballet sessions far more often than Peter thought necessary. Pressing close and intimate every time. They started to fuss over him more. Made sure he ate and drank enough, always asked if he slept well, insisted he just stay over to study for his exams and other college work. (”Where else would you get a super computer and two certified geniuses to help you if you need it, Spiderling?”)

Peter hadn’t thought anything of it.

So they were a little protective and tactile, it’s not as if Peter minded physical forms of affection.

When they started to gripe about the neighborhood Peter lived in, he took it in stride. He knew it wasn’t the best part in the city. Ned, MJ and Aunt May similarly weren’t happy with Peter living there. But student housing had been filled to the brim when Peter started at the university, and the apartment had been close to the campus and cheap. (”Because it’s a shithole, Petey. Wasn’t there a drug raid just around the blog from your address last week? I think I heard something about that in the news. Do you even have hot water in that hovel?”) His answer of “Sometimes.”, had been met with many heavy and worried frowns.

Needless to say that Peter had been vigorously urged by the Avengers to abandon the place, and just move into the guest room he was already occupying most of the time anyway.

Peter had declined, of course. He could not be such a burden to his friends, not when they had already done so much for him. But the Avengers were evidently far more stubborn and determined than the college student, and by the end of that same week, Peter’s lease had been canceled via one phone call of Tony’s lawyers, and all of his belongings had been moved to the tower.

But still, the brunette hadn’t really thought anything of it.

Sure, their actions had been a little heavy handed (and controlling), but it was understandable, was it not? They were his friends. They worried. They just wanted to help.

But soon after that, the young college student had been appointed a personal driver, who would cart him to and from the university every day. Outings with his friends became decidedly less, the more each of the Avengers wanted to spend time with Peter. Between ballet, lab work, assisting with cooking or baking, video game sessions, movie nights, spontaneous shopping trips, or any one of the team just sitting down with him and talking, not to mention his course work for university, he hardly found time for his semi-regular phone calls with Aunt May. (Who was, by the way, ecstatic that he lived with the Avengers. “At least now I don’t have to worry about you being robbed blind one night, because your landlord is too cheap to install a working lock on your door.”)

It was fine.

Tony, Bruce, Bucky, Natasha, Clint, Sam, Steve and Thor were his friends. His very tactile, affectionate and protective friends.

When the pet names started, Peter took it as simply another form of affection.

Friends gave each other nick names. It was fine.

“Petey, would you hand me that test tube over there? Thanks.”

“Alright, sweetheart. Almost done with Mark 39. Just some little adjustments, then it can be taken for a test run.”

“Want more sugar for your coffee, doll?”

“That last pirouette was beautiful, lastashka.”

“Your Toad may have bested me in this round, sweetie, but Bowser and I will have our revenge!”

“Honey, did you remember to eat lunch today, or did you neglect your poor empty stomach over studying through your break again?”

“You cold, pumpkin? Come over here, I will warm you up right quick.”

“I understand that education is important to you, but you shouldn’t push yourself so hard, love. Give the books a rest for today. Sweet dreams.”

It was fine.

It was fine.

...

Until it wasn’t.

______________________________________________________________

Read Part 2:

here

Read Part 3: here

Read Part 4: here

Also, I’m not sure about ship names for a few of them, so I’m just gonna tag every combination I can think of.

[tigerlover16-uk]

So, what do you think of Boruto overall now that it's first arc is almost finished?

Conveniently enough I just caught up on it, barring today’s episode which I’ll watch later.

Honestly, it definitely picked up from the first five episodes, I’ll give it that credit. So far it’s still just pretty okay though, nothing really special.

I think after some retrospect, it’s the premise that I’m not a huge fan of. I get that they’re buying time for the manga to cover the movie arc and beyond, but starting the anime with Boruto and the other next gen kids in the academy isn’t a premise I care for all that much personally. We already have a movie covering all the way to Boruto and his team competing in the Chunnin exams, so I’d rather we get to that and actually advance the story and things that movie set up rather than pad things out before that. But honestly it’s looking like we’ll have to sit through a couple of arcs of academy stuff before we even get to that point.

I guess it’s kinda like how in Dragon ball Super it’s first two arcs adapted the recent movies and I and a lot of people were just waiting for it to hurry up and get to the original content, but at least with Super I had an idea of how long that would take before the new stuff came in. I don’t know how long we’re going to be waiting until we even reach the point where the show adapts Boruto: The movie.

I guess on the one hand that’s not an objectively bad thing, since it gives a chance to introduce the cast gradually to the audience especially those that haven’t read any of the side manga or seen the movie that features any of these characters (Myself included, if I’m being honest, though I’ve read plenty of synopsis and spoilers to fill myself in).

But personally I don’t care much for the whole ninja school premise. I’d rather we just have had one arc in the academy at most, or even a half arc, and then cut straight to Boruto and friends as Genin to set up the Chunnin exams. But considering the synopsis for upcoming episodes and that they only just started the academy, it looks like we’re going to be there a while. I might be a little less impatient about it if the first four episodes weren’t so boring and bland. It was only about episodes 8-9 where the show really felt like it started to get good, so that probably put me off. If I wasn’t curious about it because it’s a Naruto sequel I wouldn’t have really bothered watching past the first episode honestly.

The cast is okay, but a bunch of characters feel a bit lacking. Mitsuki is probably my favourite new character, Himawari is adorable and I wish she’d been the main character honestly, and I actually really liked Chocho in episode 7 (The first episode I’d honestly call wholesale good) but everyone else just feels either okay and could use more fleshing out (Sarada in particular, who for the supposed female lead doesn’t feel like she has that much to her so far), like a less interesting version of one of their parents (Shikadai), or just boring and I couldn’t care less for them (Denki and Iwabe). I really would like to see more of the old cast at some point, though so far Shino has been pretty meh.

Boruto himself… really isn’t half as good a character as Naruto. Honestly, he feels pretty okay at the best of times, not that interesting at others. He’s had some good scenes here or there, but nothing about his character or situation grabs me the same way Naruto’s character and personal journey were a lot more engrossing in the early parts of his series. Honestly half the time I feel more invested in the other characters that I do like.

And I don’t really care for the whole thing with him feeling resentful of Naruto for having become a stress ridden workaholic that doesn’t get to spend a lot of time with his family as a result. And no, it’s not because I buy into this idea the fandoms decided on of Naruto being a terrible parent. I’ve put up with enough of the Dragon Ball fandoms nonsense regarding Goku to spot the difference with what people think constitutes a bad father and what’s actually a more nuanced, understandable situation and characterisation.

Rather, I just don’t care about this whole “Boruto has daddy issues” Narrative because I already know how this is going to end thanks to the movie. So I’d rather we skip to the part where Naruto resolves to find ways to better balance his Hokage duties with spending time with his family. Because honestly, I don’t find the whole thing with Naruto being swamped with soul crushing work and being constantly worn out by it that interesting to watch. I’d rather get more adorable interactions with him and Himawari, and Naruto and Boruto getting more time to bond with each other with Naruto teaching his son his skills and just getting along. And yeah, I definitely want more adorable shipping moments with him and Hinata like what we got in episode 10. Come on Studio Pierrot, I waited over half a decade for those two to get together and now that they’re actually married I expect more than this guys.

I know I probably sound negative here, but a lot of this is mostly just personal gripes. The show overall is pretty fine and it’s got a lot to like. It’s well animated, it’s got some good jokes and action scenes, and while the story is still just pretty okay it’s been getting steadily better with each episode and I’m starting to get invested. But there still feel like a lot of decisions going on that I don’t particularly care for and the show has a long way to go to being great. It’s not nearly as good as Naruto was by this point, but I am enjoying it so far and it beats pretty much everything from the second half of Shippuden by miles.

Of course maybe I would be more positive if the show didn’t still have to deal with the baggage of so many of the terrible decisions of it’s predecessor, including a good number of straight up unfixable mistakes that I’m just trying to ignore to enjoy this show on it’s own merits. I’m especially not looking forward to Sasuke showing up again, just the fact that he got off scott free after everything he did, and how messed up him and Sakura getting together was and how that was handled still makes my skin crawl.

Ah well. Here’s hoping the show does well into the future and doesn’t fall into the same rut as Naruto did eventually.

[kristie-rp]

5. Do you hear the people sing?

Who: Jackson Masters (also: Damien Reyes, Red Arcton, James ‘Scorpian’ something, Desmond Reyes, Anastasia Innot) What: A character study, I guess? Focus on Jackson and music, anyway.

“ – And apparently, it would be a fucking fool’s errand, if you will, to bother putting effort, because I am always a disappointment, and those who are always disappointments need not try to do what they are best at.”

Jackson doesn’t hesitate to throw a drumstick at Damien’s head for that bullshit, and Scorpian – James, but calling him that tends to lead nowhere, because he elects to ignore it – scoffs so he doesn’t have to. “You’re full of shit, you pretentious asshole,” he says to Damien.

The stick hits the side of Damien’s head, and he shakes his head as if to clear it, and grins lazily over the beer he’s been pretty much sculling. He’s high on something, probably; Jackson knows him well enough to know he only gets this verbose – and polite – when he’s not sober. “But Scorp, haven’t I disappointed you by beginning to say anything about it in the first place? And haven’t I therefore proven my point exactly? I didn’t have to put any effort in at all, and yet, here we are – you, disappointed; me, proven right. Again.”

“I’ll give you again,” Scorpian snaps nonsensically, and Jackson laughs as he lunges at him.

“We’re doing Pretty Reckless today,” Red says as she walks in. She’s got a real name, but unlike Scorpian and his badly kept secret, it isn’t a well known secret, and anyway, Red sounds kind of sensible, in Jackson’s estimation, so he’s never asked her what the truth is. She doesn’t bother acknowledging the headlock Damien is currently in, except to roll her eyes. “Mostly ‘cause Dam’ over here needs practice at his high notes if he ever wants to get anywhere before the newbie arrives to replace Mr Traitor over here.”

Jackson spreads his hands in surrender. “Look, if I had any input at all, I’d say no. But it’s my mums’ greatest wish that I go.”

“Fucking Juilliard, you shit,” Scorpian says, which is a fair point.

“If you needed a piece of paper from somewhere fancy to prove you’re a talented musician, Jack’, we could’ve broken into the Fort and written something up on one of their embroidered napkins.”

“I’m pretty sure that isn’t the same thing,” Jackson tells Damien, “but thanks.”

“Course it ain’t the same thing. One of them you aren’t ditching us. What’re we meant to do without a drummer? Tell us that, O great traitor.”

Jackson snorts, and flaps a hand at them dismissively. “It’s not like I’m going to Juilliard to study drumming. I’m doing piano – keyboard – the blend, if I can. You guys will still be the only people with recordings of me banging the drums.”

“Yeah, because the sixteen other instruments you can play aren’t enough for you. A fucking harp, honestly, why did you learn that?”

The answer, which Damien would say if he were sober enough to be paying more attention and share the memory with the others, would be that Damien bet Jackson he couldn’t learn to play Zombie by the Cranberries on a harp in a month. Jackson had learned it by the end of the week, and won naming rights for the band Damien was dragging him into at the time. So it happened that Distressed Monday was a name Jackson had plucked from the aether just before exams, and also figured out how to cover popular songs on the harp, just an extension of playing by ear and driving his former instructors insane.

“One of you can take care of the drum side of things fine. I have faith in you,” Jackson defends weakly. “Look, are we going to get in some practice, or not?”

-

Before Juilliard, Jackson is wound tight, a cord on the precipice of snapping, the most neurotic member of the band he’d joined in high school. He’d looked the part before he was asked, wearing studded leather jackets stolen from his fathers’ collection, too-tight jeans that cut off the circulation to everything below the waist, and boots that weren’t platforms, quite, but came close. Damien had been the one to invite him to try his hand at being the drummer, back when it was nothing more than an abstract plan, and had sold it as stress relief.

(A certain kind of pressure came from being the child of a grunge master and an operatic genius, something Damien knew. Damien had, at one time, been one of Jackson’s most trusted friends, aware of the struggle Jackson felt thanks to the one panic attack he’d witnessed, back when he and Jackson first met.

It was before the drugs, before the band, before anything; the would-be punk rocker had found a boy in a studded leather jacket, huddled in an alleyway just off his favourite record shop. Aborted breaths had caught his attention, and he’d reluctantly peered into the alley, expecting a situation of the like Anastasia had saved his brother from ages ago. Instead, he finds a lone boy, older than him, unbruised and unmarked, fighting for a full breath and hunched in on himself, as close to the ground as he can get. Damien talked him down from the terror of certain death, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Or should be.)

During Juilliard, Jackson focuses on the music. He drives his tutors insane with his fondness for learning by ear, but they manage to beat an understanding of actual written music into him, proper, lengthy things, and not the aborted mess of notes his father and mother are fond of. He promised before he left that he’d keep contact with his friends from Port Lyndon, but as assignments swamp and more time passes between their messages and his own, it becomes too awkward to reply with yet another excuse. So Jackson lets the contact die off in drips and drabs, and loses himself to the music.

It’s at Juilliard that he starts singing, minoring in it, discovering a knack for it that must be inherited from his mother. She’s operatic, and enthralling, and enrapturing; he has some of that when he sings, too; it has applied to much of the music he has played over the years. He tends to ignore the way his tutors struggle to complain about anything other than his approach to learning music, and so it goes largely unnoticed. So Jackson picks up singing and spends years mastering both that and piano, and he comes out of it with such a range his tutors try to convince him to go for opera, like his mother – it is not every day one finds a switch, capable of being either tenor or bass and anything in between, somehow keeping it convincing regardless of the role he fills. He’s a coloratura for sure, and it enraptures and vexes those assigned to train him, especially when he denies operatic training in favour of going home to a YouTube channel and music hosted on various streaming services.

(The blood of a siren runs in his mothers veins – Kiri Kaufman is a hybrid, a half-blood, half human and half supernatural. Her son is one-quarter siren; sea water and enchanting runs in his veins. If he heard of magic and chose to dabble, he could be gifted in charming others to do his bidding, if he so desired. Technically speaking, a drop of siren blood is enough to give some the power to take over the world, at least through musical means.

Jackson knows none of this, of course. He is absently aware of the supernatural and the way the sea calls to him, sometimes, but he thinks of it not at all. It’s less stressful, that way – and he has had to stress less somehow. How else could he not be the tightly wound geek of yesteryear?)

-

After Juilliard, Jackson comes home to meet step-siblings, as Kiri has married in his absence. There are three of them, all younger than him, and their dad is a decent bloke called John, who Jackson isn’t really interested in getting to know. And his dad is in L.A., has been there since Christmas break after Jackson started at the world’s most well known music college.

So he moves into a tiny flat with half-heartedly improvised sound proofing in the form of foam stuck to his walls, and dives into the world of YouTube fame in earnest, taking advantage of his many musical talents (prodigious in all except guitar, which for some reason didn’t come as easily) to gain a following that grows by the day. And also into local fame. There’s no reason he can’t perform in bars or be hired for concerts at parties, after all.

“What the shit,” someone says after a show at a dingy bar that Jackson is fairly sure has a fight right. “Jackson? Jackson Masters? Didn’t you go off to music school or something?”

Jackson pauses, surprised at being recognised despite the fact that he’s been known in certain circles all his life (the media in Port Lyndon is easily bored, since so many of the potentially impossible things get covered up somehow). It takes him a moment to place the voice, even after he turns around. “Desmond?”

Desmond Reyes had been the older, overprotective, brother of Damien, way back when. He’d been adopted by this blonde femme fatale, and – there she is, Jackson thinks in some surprise, catching sight of Anastasia over the hulking mass of a man he remembers being – well, not weedy, no one could seem weedy alongside a teenaged Damien, but something close to it. “Red had a theory that you thought you were too good for them since you got into Juilliard. Between us, I’m pretty sure she just missed ogling you.”

There’s a taunt there, Jackson is fairly sure. He offers a placid smile instead and clasps Desmond’s hand in a brief shake, amusement piling over the place where he is sure he’d have once begun hyperventilating. “I’m no better than I was back then,” he says instead of freaking out, “how are the others, anyway? Is DM still a thing?”

“Despite Damien’s best efforts to make it not, yeah, Monday’s still a thing.”

Jackson blinks. “Is that an undertone I hear? Did something happen – did Damien do something?” Because when Jackson had left, Damien had been high more often than not, and he wouldn’t be surprised if the drugs had… complicated matters for the band, or pissed off Red enough that she might actually leave.

A shadow passes over Desmond’s face and, as if summoned by a change in mood, Anastasia appears and elbows her friend – soulmate, Jackson had always privately thought – until he takes a beer off her hands so she can clap him on the shoulder. “Damien messed up,” she says, blunt. “Didn’t stop at ecstasy, just got worse and worse. And then got Angeline into it, until she got herself out. He’s – not great, now.”

Jackson is fairly certain he doesn’t know an Angeline. Regardless, he frowns, concerned in spite of the tone Anastasia adopts that very clearly says she thinks whatever Damien gets, he deserves. “He’s still looking after himself besides that, right? Food and shelter and such?”

Anastasia and Desmond exchange a look. “Um,” Desmond says, and waits for Anastasia to say something. Anastasia doesn’t seem to know what to say, though, aside from “You should talk to Scorpian and Red, they know better than we do.”

It’s not the full story, Jackson is sure. They definitely know more – Desmond is too overprotective not to. He feels a dull ache, that old worry from his teen years rising in his gut, and says his farewells to the other two to go back to his set, some numbers from musicals he thinks he’s pretty good at.

It’s easier to drown his worry in music, after all. At least it isn’t destructive.