#I’m only tagging the drama for my own tracking purposes

[tomorrowsdrama]

I’ve watched 8 episodes of The Legend of Zhuohua and aside from Feng Shao Feng looking really good, the drama is…fine. The otp have nice chemistry but so far in the drama, it’s nothing that makes me go crazy.

Like others have probably already said, the script is quite lacking. It’s not quite fluff but it’s also kind of… simplified political scheming and feminism. I feel like we hear from the characters how difficult it is to be a woman but it’s not really shown. Yeah, they show the male scholars automatically looking down on her because she’s a woman but it’s a very one-dimensional, simplified “you’re a woman so you must suck!” portrayal of misogyny (though I guess some people’s misogynistic views are pretty one-dimensional). Why not show how the women are constrained by the gender roles of the time without hitting us over the head every time that THIS. IS. UNFAIR. TO. WOMEN? Look, I don’t expect all my dramas to be groundbreaking or even overly complex, but this is just lazy writing. What happened to the golden rule of “show, don’t tell”?

It doesn’t help that I was watching this to tide me over between new episodes of My Dearest. Now THAT’S a smart drama that tackles a heavy topic and shows instead of just tells. Because I’m watching them side by side, it makes the shortcomings of The Legend of Zhuohua even more glaring. As they say, comparison is the thief of joy.

Also, I’ve liked Jing Tian in other things but this character feels like a bit of a mismatch. Maybe the character will grow in later episodes but right now, she feels overly young/childish sometimes in a way that i feel doesn’t really match Jing Tian’s image. I don’t think mischievous gremlin girl is quite her vibe. I see it’s adapted from a webnovel and the FL definitely feels like the typical super smart unconventional female character you see in so many webnovels.

All in all, it’s not a bad drama per se, just not for me. I wasn’t expecting anything super heavy, controversial or politically smart (I think those days are long gone), but this feels a bit too safe and sanitized. Again, it’s fine.

[archfated]

𝐢𝐧𝐝     &      𝐬𝐞𝐥     𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐄𝐍  𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐎𝐍  𝐈𝐈𝐈     𝐨𝐟      𝐱𝐦𝐞𝐧  /   𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐥.    𝟔𝟏𝟔    𝐚𝐧𝐝    𝐡𝐜    𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝.     𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝     𝐛𝐲     𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞.             /  /             Possibility.       A  word  that  can  mean  literally  anything.  But  what  makes  us  seek  out  possibility?      What  inspires  us  to  say  farewell  to  comfort...     and  seek  out...    more?    Is  it  the  opportunity  to  reach  for  the stars  toward  a  common  goal?       Is  it  the  chance  to  be  the    best     version  of  yourself?  Or  is  it  merely  natural   to  want  the  next  big  evolution?    Whatever   it  is  that's  next  --  let's discover  it   together.  Hello,  and  welcome  to  X-Corp.     We're  Simply Superior.

                                   RULES   /   BIO   /   VERSES  all  under  the  cut.       

𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐬   &&   𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐟𝐟.

don’t  be  shitty.       as  in  no  hate  or  drama  please.   i  tend  to  hardblock  those  who  do  vague  posts  bc  i  just  deal  with  enough  crap  at  work  and  don’t  wanna  see  it  here.

mutuals  only.      asks,  starters,  threads  and  stuff  are  for  mutuals.  i  ask  those  to  dni  if  we  aren’t,  but  i  won’t  block  anyone  if  it  happens.  it’s  just  easier  for  my  to  kinda  track  things.

ships.      both  warren  and  i  are  weak  bitches  for  some  love  ok.  he’s  rich,  wants  to  spend  his  money  on  someone  that  gives  him  attention.  but  as  always  -  chemistry  first.

themes.      please  be  aware  that  warren  has  body  dysmorphia.  less  we  forget  he  tries  to  morbidly  remove  his  wings  for  underlying  reasons  aka  an  abusive  father.....  do  not  follow  if  these  themes  trigger  you.  he’s  witnessed  horrible  forms  of  abuse,  and  it  will  reflect  in  my  writing  for  his  mental  health.

triggers.      i’m  pretty  good  at  tagging  the  common  things,  but  if  i  miss  something  please  please  let  me  know.   as  for  me,  i  ask  to  tag  the  following:  spiders,  pregnancy,  trypophobia, and  gore.

das  it.   i’m  sonne,  mostly  over  @firefated​.  31,  she/her,  bilingual  and  currently  working  full  af  time  in  a  hospital  -  sooo  replies  are  always  sporadic.

𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐄𝐍    𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐎𝐍    𝐈𝐈𝐈    ( 𝐃𝐎𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐄𝐑.)

warren  didn’t  join  the  xmen  because  he   wanted   to,   but   because  he  had  to  find  a  sense  of  purpose  in  life.    he  began  in  a  privatized  school,  where  mutants  weren’t  accepted  and  only  money  earned  their  keep.   being  the  heir  to  worthington  enterprises  and  named  after  his  own  father,  he  did  everything  in  his  power  to  keep  his  mutation  a  secret.  warren’s  downward  spiral  started  when  his  family  disowned  and  labeled  his  kind  as  an  abomination  -  and  if  he  wished  to  remain  a  part  of  their  lives,  would  require  the  serum  to  remove  the  x-gene  from  his  body.   at  first  he  had  considered  taking  the  proclaimed  cure,  but  ultimately  fled  and  learned  to  live  with  giant  angelic  wings  -  then  made  a  future  heroic  &  anti-heroic  career  known  as  the  archangel.

full name:  warren  kenneth  worthington,  the  third.

birthdate:   september  22nd.   

age  portrayed:   mid-late 20s.

gender:  non-binary male.

sex/romance:  pansexual  /  panromantic.  open  to  poly.

status:  sex  favorable,  but  open  to  dating.

occupation:  multi-billionaire,  shareholder  to  worthington  enterprises

affiliation:  x-corp  and  the  x-men.

alias:  the  archangel.  angel.  gabriel.   angel  of  death. 

height  and  build:  6ft 1′   muscular /  fit.

facial  features:  blue  eyes  and  styled  blond  hair.

citizenship:  american  and  krakoan.

school  level:  xavier’s  alumni. 

abilities:  flight,  speed, superhuman  strength.  healing  factor  by  mixing  his  blood  with  the  injured. advanced  hand-to-hand  combat. allegedly  nearly  immune  to  physical  injuries  due  to  fast  healing  and  wing  regeneration.

[imaginesupply]

Homecoming - Chapter One

Chapter Two can be found here

(Gif’s not my own.)

Summary: The day has arrived, Captain Syverson is going home. For good, this time. He is going home to a civilian life he can hardly remember and a wife he barely knows, with memories of the war still fresh on his mind. Love might not be able to heal everything on its own, but it’s a good start.

Genres: Romance, drama.

Story warnings: Smut (always fully consensual), mentions of PTSD and nightmares and mental health, angst, hurt and comfort, fluff, mentions of war (minor), mentions of cheating (minor), mentions of pregnancy (very minor), police appearance (very minor), violence (very minor).

Notes:

It’s my first time writing for one of Henry’s characters and I’m unsure I did Sy’s character any justice.

This is a Capt. Syverson x OFC (Ada) story, written in 3rd person POV but OFC’s physical description is very limited so it could also be read as Capt. Syverson x Reader, I think.

English is not my first language, so there might be some mistakes. Proofread, but not beta’ed. We die like men and all that.

Timeline is a little wacky: The movie takes place in 2003 and the U.S. forces were withdrawn from Iraq in 2011, but I never set a precise date because I don’t think it’s essential for this story. However, some elements might not be realistic because if we set this story in 2003: Phone cameras  quality was not as good as it’s now, but for the purpose of the chapters, I will need you to imagine you could film great videos with your flip phone haha. Plus, it says Sy is coming back after being deployed for more than three years which makes no sense unless we set this in 2006 or later. I am asking you disregard any time inconsistencies 

Also: I am not American. I only lived in the US for six months and it was in the Midwest, not Texas so please bear with me if I write something stupid.

Finally: This is pretty much a Christmas fic and I intend to post the last chapter (there will be seven in total) on or before Christmas. However, religion is never mentioned in this story and the Christmas-sy elements of this story are limited to family gathering, gift giving and tree decorating.

Chapter One starts after the cut. Let me know if you wish to be tagged in the new chapters.

Chapter One

Chapter warnings: Badly written smut (consensual), marriage awkwardness, alcohol consumption. Maybe OOC Sy, I don’t know. We never saw him being casual.

Sy checked his phone again as he waited for his bag by the baggage carousel. The airport was even busier than usual, it was taking ages and he was impatient to get out of there... and maybe even never set foot in an airport again for the rest of his life.

He read her text again, short and sweet. He sometimes called her that, short and sweet, just to tease her. Ada was considerably shorter than him and full of sugar, when she wanted to be, that was.

'I'm waiting by the gate for you, with a warm cinnabon :) So excited to see you again <3.'

Just then a notification popped up from Harper. It was a photo of the soldier at the airport, finally reunited with his wife and his two rugrats. It made Sy all the more excited to see Ada again, and then as if on cue, his camo bag appeared in the carousel and he groaned with relief.

He stood restless amidst the line, it seemed people in front of him were dragging their feet, but when they noticed his green beret uniform, most parted and let him through. Sy tipped his head gratefully.  

His wife was there, just outside the gate. Sy spotted her instantly in the crowd of people. She was wearing a red dress under her open coat and her hair looked fresh out of the hairdresser. He caught himself grinning at the sight of her. Then, once she spotted him making his way over to her, she started waving her hand excitedly as if there was any way his eyes hadn't already landed on her. He wished he still had his phone in hand to capture this moment for all of eternity, but his memory would have to do, he decided before casting his arms open for his wife. Fuck, did he love her!

°°°

Ada had been biting her nails nervously for the past two hours. She had arrived at the airport way too early. The parking fee would hurt but she couldn't find it in herself to care at this point.

Three weeks ago, she had received a call informing her that her husband and part of his unit had been ambushed. There had been an explosion in some building they were scouting only God knows where.

Only a full week after that did she receive a call from Sy himself. He was coming home. For good, this time. They were sending him home early, a full eight months earlier than what he had originally negotiated with his superiors. She hadn't been prepared for the news. She had spent the days following the call asking herself whether she had heard him right, making sure her mind wasn't playing tricks on her.

Now he was here, stopping right in front of her, his thick arms inviting her right in for a hug. Ada wouldn't have been able to resist the invitation even if she had wanted to. Within a second, she was enveloped in his embrace, her cheek pressed against his chest. She was overjoyed to feel his heartbeat again. Sy kisses the crown of her head before putting her down, his hands never leaving her lower back, his fingers big enough to reach the swell of her bum from there.

They pulled away a few inches to take each other in. His beard has grown a little long, but it was not enough to hide his apparent dimples as he smiled. He looked a little older too, she hadn't seen in seven months, except through a shitty quality facetime call once or twice. Her careful gaze spotted the new scar by his temple, it was the only visible physical evidence of the explosion he had been caught in. She dreaded what she might under his uniform.

Sy caught her eyes and she found herself blushing under his stare. It was always like that the first few hours when he was back, until she got used to his overwhelming presence again and to the fact that this handsome bear of a man was indeed her husband.

"You're looking good, darlin'," Sy grinned, making her spin for him. "I missed you."

Ada couldn’t resist his smile. "I missed you too, Sy." She confessed, handing him the still warm cinnamon roll in its paper bag.

He accepted the pastry with a smile and started eating it immediately but not before throwing his arm around her shoulders as they began making their way to the parking lot. Sy was eager to get her out of the crowd and have her just to him himself.

"So, what's the plan, darlin'?" Sy inquired with mischief to his voice, balling up the paper bag with his free hand and throwing it inside the trash can. "Did you book that hotel with the jacuzzi in the bedroom again?"

It had become a tradition of some sort between them. They would always spend his first night back at that hotel: they'd order some room service and eat in the jacuzzi. Though, usually, they would first end up on together on the bed.

Ada stopped suddenly in her tracks, making him still behind her. She smiled sheepishly. "Don't be mad," she started, his smile falling at once, "but your family is waiting for us in the parking lot. Your mom insisted that we celebrate your homecoming at the restaurant. Something about you missing Thanksgiving just by a couple days."

Sy groaned, thinking about the evening that now expected him. He'd been flying for God knows how many hours, all he wanted was a warm bath and Ada whichever way she'd let him have her, not a damn dinner party.

"I'm sorry, Sy."

He shook his head and leaned down to kiss her forehead again. "Don't worry, darlin'. I know it ain’t your fault."

As soon as they reached the open-air parking lot, Sy's nephew and niece start running up to him, having escaped their parents' grasp. His family was waiting for him with cheers and a 'welcome home, soldier' banner. Sy hated that kind of attention and she found it cringy as well, but she had been unable to stop his mother. Ada watched him hug the kids and lift them up into the air, making them laugh as she walked up to the machine to pay the fee.

Her hand trembled as she inserted the ticket into the slot, missing the opening a few times. She was happy - no, scratch that - she was ecstatic to have her husband back. It's just that, could you really say 'back' when there was never truly a 'before', a 'there'?

They had met when he was already deployed, but on a short leave back in Austin. They spent three weeks together, got married and he returned to Iraq. Since then, the longest stretch of time they had been together had been twenty days. Neither of them had ever gotten settled into married life and now he was 'back'. For good. Which was wonderful and foreign and overwhelming all at once.

Ada paid the fee and returned to join them, finding Sy hugging his mother. She smiled at the sight. She walked over to greet her sister-in-law and her husband, confirming that they'd meet up at the restaurant. With that, she went to the car, deciding to give Sy some more time with his family, and herself an occasion to take a few breaths and calm her buzzing heart.

"You didn't tell me my mom had gotten herself a boyfriend." Sy grumbled immediately as he sat down next to her in the car, putting on his seatbelt.

Ada turned on the engine and backed out of the spot. "I knew you wouldn't like it," she defended before casting a side glance at him. "Besides, I figured it wasn't my place to tell you."

Sy hummed noncommittally, removing his cap to rake his hand through his cropped hair.

"Though, as much as I don't exactly like your mother," Ada added quietly, "she's been on her own ever since your dad passed a couple years ago. With your father gone and you away, she must have felt lonely.”

°°°

Sy spent the rest of the drive mulling over her words in his head. The fuck was that supposed to mean? As soon as a woman feels lonely, she takes up a boyfriend?! Was Ada lonely too while he was away and… He wanted to ask if she was implying anything but then one look at her and he decided against it. Breathing out deeply, he forces himself to relax. He was just stressed out and on edge.

It was inevitable that things would have changed while he had been away. That was something he thought about frequently late at night when he got to be alone. Still, he hoped things hadn’t changed all too much. Ada still looked just as she had on their road trip to Vegas, focused on the road but leaning back on her seat, just one hand on the wheel with a grin on her lips. His wife loved driving.

"You got your nails done." Sy commented, already hoping the whole dinner thing would be over quickly so that he could go home with her.

Ada turned to him with a chuckle for a second, wriggling her graceful fingers and red painted nails, her wedding band reflecting the light. "I wanted to look pretty for you."

Sy huffed. "You always look pretty to me, Ada," he said and then watched her scoff.

"Or maybe, I just wanted to make sure I'd be able to scratch you up nicely," she wife winked.

Yeah, this dinner thing couldn't be over fast enough.

°°°

Ada saw him eat so much over dinner, she couldn’t help but wonder if he was going to be sick later. And, of course, the double serving of smoked ribs had to be accompanied with generous amounts of beer and whisky. She didn0t blame him, though. Out of curiosity, she once researched what they ate while on deployment and it looked anything but tasty. If she had been in his shoes, she'd have been eating her own weight in pizza and brownies right now.  

It also didn’t help that his brother-in-law and his mom's new boyfriend, Phil from the hardware store, kept asking him about Baqubah and even touching on the subject of the explosion. It was obvious how uncomfortable the subject made him, his grip tightening around his knife and his jaw tensing up so tightly, she could imagine his teeth grinding.

So, Sy kept asking for refills, raising his glass, and giving them vague answers, but it seemed they didn't get the hint. At least, the subject changed when his sister interrupted the conversation to announce she was expecting again. A little girl.

Ada used the moments of cheer that followed to excuse herself from the table and go to the restroom. She was still somewhat nervous and her face was damp. She would have given anything for a glass of scotch at that moment but she was driving tonight.

Helen, Sy's mom appeared right behind her just as she was washing her hands. She hoped the woman would just disappear inside a stall but she wasn’t that lucky.

"Jack is back." Helen stated, arms crossed. A shiver ran through Ada's spine, damn she hated that woman. "For good."

Ada dried her hands with a paper towel, looking back at her mother-in-law through the mirror. "He is."

"Now's the time to prove yourself to this family and show us that Sy was right in marrying you.”

Before Ada could ask what the hell that was supposed to mean, Helen finally disappeared inside a stall. Rolling her eyes, Ada went to leave the restrooms when Helen decides to add some more venom. "Maybe a good start would be calling him by his first name, as a wife would."

°°°

"When do you start at Camp Mabry?" Ada asked, looking away from the steering wheel to glance at him for a second. Sy looked exhausted, not that she could she blame him after three different flights and a seemingly endless dinner. They had finally called it a night once the kids had started getting fussy.

"January 15th." He replied. "But they want me to stop by before then to have a look around the base and sign the contract."

"You're going to boss the hell out of the new recruits," Ada laughed, getting him to lighten up and even chuckle.

"You'd be surprised to know I'm actually a fair and considerate captain," Sy defended himself.

Next to him, Ada huffed as she tried stiffing the bubble of laughter, trying not miss the right exit off the main road.

"I just value discipline and compliance a lot," he added, his tone growing teasing.

This time, she was unable to stop her laugh. "Believe me, I know you do."

The drive was a short one to their house in the suburbs and she was soon parking her in their driveaway.

Ada fumbled with the key as she tried opening the front door, nervousness setting back in as she felt Sy standing behind her, holding his duffel bag. He followed in quickly after her, once she had finally managed to open the door.

"Welcome home, captain!" Ada cheered in her silliest tone as he discarded his bag on the floor.

Then, before she could even react, Sy was on her. His arms lifted her up, his body caging hers against the wall before capturing her lips in the most ferocious kiss she could imagine.

Out of instinct, her legs locked around his waist and her hands dug into his shoulders, unwilling to let go of him now that he was finally there. Sy grinned against her lips, amused by her fervour, not that he felt any different.

He broke off the kiss as he pulled them away from the wall, freeing a hand to shrug her coat off her shoulders. "You ain't gonna need that, darlin'," he promised, throwing the coat in the direction of the kitchen, not caring where it landed.

Then his mouth latched on to her throat, forcing a delicious moan out of his wife as he carefully manoeuvred them upstairs, still steady on his feet despite the alcohol. Sy was almost surprised when he pushed open the door to their bedroom with his foot and it didn't squeak, but that thought was fleeting as Ada started rolling her hips against his. Suddenly, nothing else mattered. Not the war, not the explosion or his guilt, only the woman in his arms.

Unceremoniously, he let her fall on the bed, the urgency now flowing through his blood keeping him from doing things the gentleman way. Ada didn't mind, giggling as she unzipped her dress and slid the red thing over her head, along with her bra. Apparently, she had decided to forego panties. Sy stood there, almost mesmerised as he watched her, suddenly not certain if he dared tainting her with his touch but Ada quickly made that decision for him as she got up on her knees.

"A little less staring and a little more undressing, captain," she purred with a smirk, her fingers determined as they made quick work of the buttons on his shirt.

"That's it, darlin'. You're in for it now," Sy roared, pulling her in for another furious kiss before pushing her back against the mattress, making her land on her back as he got undressed in record time. Fuck, was he hard.

"Open up for your captain." Sy ordered and Ada complied instantly, her legs falling open for him as she peered up at him, holding herself up on her elbows and worrying her lower lip between her teeth. "That's a good girl," he praised.

Without losing another second, Sy settled in between her legs, wrapping his strong arms around her thighs and parting them to their limits. He wanted to worship her body the way she deserved, show her exactly just how appreciative he was of her, how much he craved her, but it had been months and Sy was a starving man who had just been presented with the perfect meal.

"Fuck Sy!" Ada screamed out, her back arching off the bed the instant he licked her just where she craved him most. He chuckled against her, marvelling at how wet she already was for him.

She tried closing her legs around his head, rejoicing at the feeling of his beard rubbing against her sensitive skin and never wanting him to leave again, but his arms were too strong for her clenching thighs. She was left defenceless against his assault, with no choice but to obscenely moan her pleasure and let herself cum against his tongue as his thumb expertly massaged her clit.

The coil inside her snapped and her body tensed up before letting go just as suddenly, her now damp back falling back on the mattress. "Fuck, Sy." Ada breathed out, her chest heaving as she tried to reopen her eyes only to find her husband playfully gazing up at her, smirking with her arousal glistening on his beard. The sight alone almost made her cum again. "I'll never let you leave again!"

He smiled in response, placing a kiss on her lower stomach before crawling up her body. "I've no intention to, baby," he promised.

Ada caught a glimpse of his hard, flushed erection as his body slid over hers, realizing in her post-orgasmic haze that she was in for an even bigger treat now. She could taste herself in his mouth as they kissed, his hand slithering behind her back to seize her shoulder and hold her closer. Teasingly, he started rolling his hips, his hard clock rubbing against her slick cunt, coating himself with arousal before finally, he found his way inside her, burying his head next to hers in the pillow.

Ada whimpered as he did so, her eyes tearing up as his clock slid inside her. She had evidently grown unaccustomed to his girth and length in his absence. Sy paused immediately, his muscles tense as he looked at her with concern. “You okay?” She nodded in silence, wanting him to start moving but Sy looked unconvinced, using all his strength to keep still despite his desire to fuck her right into the mattress. Without a warning, Ada tightly wrapped her legs around his hips, making him go deeper. Sy let out a reverberating groan. “God, darlin’. I missed you.”

He started thrusting into her with such vigour, such determination it felt as if he was trying to bury himself so deep inside her, no one would ever be able to pry him away from her again. It did hurt, her cervix was getting battered with each of his hard movements but she found herself enjoying the pain because it was him; it was Sy and he was right there with her, back in her arms, and she could feel his heart beat beneath her fingertips as her hand gripped at his chest.

"Fuck, I'm... I’m," Ada gasped incoherently, her nails now scratching the skin of his back. Sy was sure there would be marks there in the morning which made him enjoy the sensation even more.

"I got you," he rasped. If possible, he pulled her even tighter to him, his pubic bone now rubbing against hers in that delicious way only he was able to do. Her slick walls were now contracting around him, her second orgasm impending. "Fuck," he groaned, his breath coming out in a stutter. "Are you...Can I...?"

Sy didn't have to word it, she knew what he meant. "Cum in me, Sy. Please," she almost begged.

Her words did it. His hips stuttered as he pushed in deep just when his orgasm washed over him, exploding inside her. His face contorted with pleasure and that sight alone had her fast tracking her fall over the figurative edge. He had his face buried on the crook of her neck, muffling his groans and moans against her skin as the dam gave way within her.

°°°

Sy grunted against his pillow, slowly waking up the following morning. He was convinced he was just rousing after a very nice dream and he was ready to toss his alarm clock across the room, furious at the object for interrupting his dream, that for once, had been a good one. With a startle, Sy realized that no blasting alarm had woken him up but the sunlight on his face. Opening his eyes, he felt almost as if on foreign ground. He was home.

As quietly as he could manage, Sy turned around in bed, seeking his wife only to find her side empty. Just at that moment, he heard cursing coming up from the kitchen and scoffed. He’d bet his life Ada was cracking eggs, something she hated.

Feeling rested and in a much more relaxed mood than the previous day, Sy got out of bed and started searching for a pair of boxer briefs so he could go join her downstairs when he caught a sniff of himself. Fuck, did he stink. How Ada hadn’t thrown him out of bed, he didn’t know.

Out of habit, Sy hurried to the en-suite bathroom, wanting to shower as fast as possible before realizing that this time around, it was different. He wasn’t going back, he didn’t have to rush, their time together wasn’t counted. With that in mind, Sy forced himself to take his time, enjoying the act of brushing his teeth in a bathroom that smelled nice and showering with warm water. Ada had purchased his usual brands of shower gel and toothpaste, he noticed, even putting a red bow around his brand-new toothbrush by the sink. Even though he initially wanted to take his time to enjoy it, Sy still ended up rushing as he dried himself with a blue fluffy towel he didn’t recognize from his previous stay. He didn’t bother putting on anything more than his boxer briefs before heading downstairs. If he was lucky, he wouldn’t keep them on for long either.

Sy walked into one of the best sights he had even seen, when he entered the kitchen. Ada was standing in front of the stove, rhythmically tapping the black spatula against her naked thigh as she focused on the eggs and bacon she was preparing. The thin negligee - or whatever she called it, he always forgot - barely covered her ass and that outfit alone was one of the reasons he never minded that she always cracked up the heat so high, he felt like he was back under the hot desert sun.

Silent and stealthy like a predator despite his stature, Sy sneaked up on her from behind and wrapped his arms around her waist, feeling her startle before relaxing once she noticed it was him. She smelled heavenly, Sy thought, resting his chin on the top of her head. "Watcha got cooking, darlin'?"

"Obviously breakfast," she sassed, making him softly pinch her ass in response. Ada squealed and jumped up. "Good morning to you too, Sy," she said but not before slapping the handle of the spatula against his thigh. He decided to let it slide... for now.

"Morning darlin'," he answered, kissing the crown of her head before darting his fingers into the pan and picking up a piece of bacon. It was sizzling hot, but the taste was worth it. He had missed being home! Speaking of being home... "What do you say we take the food and coffee upstairs and have ourselves breakfast in bed?" His tone failed to hide his true intentions.

Ada scoffed, the back of her head rubbing on his hairy chest and she shook her head. "Nice try but I actually intend to feed you. Your mother will have my head if I let you go hungry."

It was Sy's turn to laugh, his hands now roaming her body as she leaned forward to turn off the stove, pressing her ass against his crotch and eliciting a husky groan from him. "I'm hungry enough to eat both breakfast and you, don't worry."

Ada turned around, a huge grin on her angelic face. "Alright, you win. What do you say, we have breakfast, we do the kinky and then go grocery shopping?"

Sy tried hiding his smile but it was a lost cause. He loved it when she talked like that. He loved her, point. "Yes, ma'am."

[ink-fireplace-coffee]

Short Story: Kiss me, for I am dying.

A/N: this story was crafted yesterday at midnight so I can't assure the quality of it at all. It is inspired in a theatre/legend we have here in Spain called Los Amantes de Teruel, or The Teruel Lovers in english. It's like the Spanish less known version of Romeo and Juliet.

Word count: 1901.

TW: mentions of death.

I don't have a general taglist or anything on the sort, but @nathandoesntknow asked me to tag them, so here you go! enjoy my midnight weird af inspiration I guess.

------

Five months ago, Jaime would've just left if he saw that on the rooftop of the campus was already someone.

Five months ago, if he had seen that stranger sitting there- feet dangling in the air and looking at the sunset- was Isa, he would’ve turned on his heels and left before she could even so much but noticed him.

Or maybe he would’ve “asked” (more like demanded) her to go somewhere else.

Jaime and Isa hated each other. Pure and simple.

Ever since the first day of university, when Isa had given him a “you are annoying” look after Jaime had accidentally hitted her backpack, launching all her stuff through the hall.

No matter how many times he had tried to convince her that it hadn’t been on purpose, she had said that it was his fault over and over again.

If that wasn’t enough, they had not only been forced to sit next to each other for their whole third year (since it was extremely rude to tame someone else’s seat after the first week of classes) but they also were constantly competing on the top of the class.

If Isa had a 95% on the midterm, Jaime had a 98%.

If Jaime had scored a 9,9 out of ten in that essay, Isa had gotten the full mark.

Everyone saw it as a nice academic competition, the kind that made you better every day and it was healthy. Sometimes it could also be mistaken for a nice banter, or even a bit of university drama.

Isa and Jaime saw it as a live or die battle where only one of them could succeed.

Spanish had been the only subject Jaime had ever been really good at, for as long as he could remember. His zeroes in maths had always mattered less next to his tens in Spanish.

When he had told his father that his dream was to become a spanish teacher, the old man had simply nodded and said “I was not expecting less”. And so, one entrance exam to Salamanca’s university later, Jaime knew he was starting to walk the path of his future.

But while his passions were words formation, syntax and how the language had developed into today’s form; Isa had decided to study the career for a whole different reason.

It was clear that she felt completely herself when discussing novels and authors. Her essays on every single topic were excellent quality (even Jaime had to admit it) and they always provided a new, fresh way of thinking.

And maybe that's why some months ago, whatever they had agreed on had taken place.

Now, when the morning classes had already finished, Isa was already on the rooftop, a book in hand and a notebook resting on her legs.

“You are late. Again.” She remarked when she saw Jaime’s blond hair.

“Some of us have life, Isabel.” he answered in the same cold tone and took a seat in front of her.

“Being the teacher’s pet is not having a life.” They both held each other's gazes for a while, until instead of intimidating, they were staring.

The wind whooshed, making the students snap back.

Jaime cleared his throat and Isa focused on her book .“What are we revising today?” asked him.

She tapped the pages of her notebook with a pen. “Los Amantes de Teruel. Spanish version of Romeo and Juliet, I believe. Since you haven't finished it, even though it was due yesterday.” Isa added, a sassy remark included in her voice.

Jaime rolled his eyes.

Lovers of Teruel.

It is true that he had been stuck for three months in a 170 pages novel. But there were far more interesting things to do than read how two fools felt in love only to die at the end.

“I would've finished it if I hand’t been busy correcting someone’s homework.'' He remarked, as he searched for his own copy of the book inside his backpack.

Isa just scoffed, and gave him another “you are annoying” look. Jaime had to make an effort not to smile.

“You know? I wonder if those death stares are unically for me, like a personalized stare.”

“Oh, right, because you are so important in my life that I decided to give you an specific look whenever you say or do something stupid.”

“I mean… You asked me for help that day, so I guess I must be somewhat important, dear Isa.”

“I asked you for help?” she repeated, astonished “You were roaming this rooftop for weeks until I got fed up with how creepy it looked and told you to help me with that assignment, which, for the record, was perfect.”

That was true. Her assignment had been flawless, but Jaime would rather die than to admit that out loud.

“Are you planning on finishing this book with me or do you want to keep talking?” He grinned then “I’m sure there are a ton of other things you could use your mouth for, but I’d like to be prepared for my exam next week.”

Her slight blush felt like a personal win. Until she stroke back, of course.

“One: that is extremely gross, and I don’t want to know about the weird fantasies you have with my mouth. And two: it’s your turn ‘Diego’, so read.”

Since there was no point in reading plays in silence and to themselves, at the beginning of the book (three months ago), Jaime and Isa had divided the roles, taking the two main characters with them: he as Diego and her as Isabel.

“You were practically born for this role” had joked Jaime and Isa wondered how far from the ground they were… and how hard she would have to shove him.

They read some scenes out loud, stopping to make some points on the narrative, paraphrase or make a summary of what they got so far. If it was true that individually they worked really well, as a team it was almost magical.

“Kiss me, for I am dying” said Jaime/Diego for the second time. Isabel had just rejected his lover, since she had already married and didn’t wish to deceive her now husband.

“And then Diego dies because he can’t bear the pain that causes him not being able to love Isabel.” the girl closed her book, and got up, stretching “It’s late, we should go before the campus closes.”

Jaime nodded and tagged alone, but stayed quiet the whole time until they were about to leave the university.

Then, just before partying ways, the question escaped his lips “Would you kiss me if my life depended on it.?”

Both of them looked equally surprised. When he didn’t add anything else, Isa understood he was waiting for an answer.

Well, what do you answer when someone asks that without a warning?

If there’s one thing Isa had clear was that Jaime and her weren’t friends. They weren’t even study buddies! They were just two students of the same class who happened to help each other out every now and then…

And for what?

“Let’s be glad that it doesn't.” she finally said, and turned away, wanting to run as quickly as her legs could carry her.

Would you kiss me if my life depended on it?. Two college students were replaying the same question over and over in their heads. Tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

Isa didn’t have the guts to go back to the rooftop in the next few weeks. Since Jaime had handed in his essay on the novel, she had assumed he had finished it on his own.

That was good, right?

Now, both of them averted their eyes, and tried really hard not to cross paths.

What had been Jaime thinking when he asked that?! Oh right, he had been not thinking at all!

Still, not knowing the answer to the damn question was getting on his nerves. Not that he desperately wanted Isa to kiss him, that could never happen but…

Hypothetically he wanted to know.

Two weeks before finals, they both bumped into each other at the rooftop. Seeing Jaime’s figure -his back to her and his face to the orange sun-, made Isa stop on her tracks.

The door slammed closed and the guy turned around.

Awkwardness was all over the place.

“The library is super crowded and-” started to explain her. He nodded.

“I know, that’s why I’m here.”

A few minutes of silence and then:

“You finished the play.” commented Isa.

“Yeah, I did” Jaime rubbed his neck, nervous “Thanks for sharing your notes, by the way. They were really helpful.”

“Oh, um, no problem.”

“And, about that question…”

“It 's okay! You don’t have to explain anything.”

“No, really, I don’t know how it happened.”

“It’s fine, there’s no need to apologize, really.”

More silence in between them.

“I can go if you want me to.” offered then Jaime. She lifted up her gaze at him.

“The rooftop is big enough for the two of us, and I know you don't like studying at the library.”

Isa had been thinking about how much she noticed about Jaime without actually wanting to: his likes and dislikes, how he frowned slightly when there was a concept he was not following, his happy smiles whenever there was something he was pleased about…

He was grinning like that now.

“Earth calling Isa, are you there?” She blinked a few times.

“Yeah, totally. Here. Present.”

Jaime decided it was now or never.

He lifted up his hand, the one holding the book and showed it to her. "We never finished reading."

"You handed in your essay already. Why would we finish reading it?"

Clearly none of this was working. The guy slided his backpack on his shoulder. "I should go, Alejandro needs me for this book analysis-" he rambled.

"Go" Isa nodded and then smiled. "Teacher 's pet."

He just laughed awkwardly and headed out.

Isa had hated every single second of that conversation. Even if it's true they never had a friendly relationship, they had somewhat grown closer along the few months they had tutored each other.

What did Jaime really mean to her? He was insufferable sometimes, that's true. Arrogant in class and a stupid know-it-all…

But he was also brilliant. And he was kinder than he wanted to show: he had given her his jacket to go home when it was raining once; and even shared his notes with her when she had been sick.

The girl ran downstairs.

Jaime was about to go inside the teacher's office when she finally got to him. In a final effort after her sprint, she tried grabbing his arm.

The guy turned around, really surprised.

"Isa, what-"

"Ask me again." she demanded.

"What?"

"Ask. Me. Again" Isa pleaded out of breath. Her courage would flee anytime soon and then-

"Bésame, que me muero." he whispered.

Kiss me, for I'm dying.

Their lips touched.

"Do you like this ending better?" she asked after the kiss, a sly smile already forming.

He tipped his head back and laughed "Much better."

In Spain whenever someone mentions Lovers of Teruel, we have a saying that sort of finishes the sentence: stupid her and stupid him. Since they both die foolishly.

Luckily, we can assure that the sentence does not apply to Jaime nor Isa.

[fencesandfrogs]

cloudtail’s daughter: jayfeather

alright, strap in, it's time for jayfeather. i've been holding it in on him for what feels like forever now; he's ya boy's favorite character

also, aside from dove and ivy, he's the character with the highest volume of changes to canon. even above cloudtail and brightheart, because they continue their lives, it's not a big deal. and lion and cinder go to the tribe, but like, that's it. (i'm figuring out if jay goes with them over the course of this essay. i think i said he did in holly? but he literally hasn't been mentioned once in that arc because there's a lot going on.) anyway lion and cinder don't get up to anything. but jay's priorities shift and we see that in his books. i'm really excited to write him but i need to finish arc 1 lmao.

but first, same deal as always. this is part of my cloudtail's daughter au, where dovekit and ivykit are born to cloudtail and brightheart. i don't know how well this will read preemptively, but i suspect it will be rather dependent on the others. cloudtail's daughter: dovewing and/or the long post that explains it are both good places to start, see the cloudtail's daughter tag on my blog.

[2.5k words, 14 minute read, one of the last warriors essays on this blog. i'm going to finish out with my character essays and then everything will be on new sideblog. so check out @mallowstep for more.]

section one: the leafpool business

at the beginning of this series, leafpool and jayfeather are on bad terms. they will stay on bad terms for basically the entirity of the book series. while one of my main complaints with po3/oots is the lack of acknowledgement of adoption, jayfeather has been lied to by his mother and his mentor, something neither hollyleaf or lionblaze have to contend with, and then his sister kills herself over it. obviously she doesn't, but from his perspective. so he blames leafpool because he was really close to hollyleaf and now she's gone, and it's his first real loss, and there's so much going on.

and so he's a grouch and he's unhappy and he's just trying to function when his whole support system has been dismantled over the course of what, like, a quarter moon? yeah so dovekit and ivykit are like "wow what a grouch he sucks" the same way they don't realize prey is dying of thirst & etc.

for the most part he's j chilling and then hollyleaf comes back and man is it some family drama. unfortunately it's postponed til book 4 because hollyleaf and jayfeather have journeys but anyway i'm getting ahead of myself, because this section should end and unlike the hollyleaf essay i want to actually have decent organization.

section two: hollyleaf is away (but jayfeather doesn't get to play)

holly, cinder, and dove go to deal with beavers. we only get jayfeather through lionblaze in the books, but jayfeather is...conflicted. he got his sister back and lost her again and oh i should say. i think jayfeather and hollyleaf are the closer pair of the siblings. not that they don't love lionblaze the same, but you know how cats pair bond? like, it's usually a trauma thing, but even in feral cats, you see very close friendships. anyway yeah so for other au's i've been sorting siblings n denmates into pairs for this purpose (mostly jaywing au because there's a lot re. dovepaw and jaypaw and remember they are reincarnated siblings they've got a close bond going.) and it's kind of...i don't know my point is jayfeather misses his sister because she's like, his best friend too. or she was. and then she died and now she's back and she left again, and lionblaze is more concerned about cinderheart, so jayfeather just comes off as grouchy all the time. but really he's lonely and sad.

so yeah, jayfeather is kind of moping around camp and then the tree falls and whoops now briarpaw/light is parapalegic.

and uhh this goes more or less as in canon but we don't get pov which is fine bc u can sub in canon. but jayfeather? he's still a sad boy but now he's a sad boy with purpose and that makes all the difference

yeah he's close with her. they're sweet. it's sweet. he's pressured by brambleclaw to take an apprentice. he's bristly and angry and "you're not my real father" you know?

beaver crew gets back. jayfeather, who had missed holly, is back to being angry for...angst and plot purpose, really.

but you know, when you love & miss someone and they leave and they come back and somehow that's worse because now they can leave you again? and you can't tell them you want them to stay because you're angry and hurt but you want them to stay? god i'm excited to write these chapters i love emotional turmoil.

he's protective of briarlight, he's trying to keep dovepaw from being a medicine cat, hollyleaf is apologizing but he's not ready to hear it and lionblaze and hollyleaf are beginning to reconnect and it feels like betrayal. so when cinderheart and lionblaze go to the tribe, he tags along. everyone, uh, strongly encourages he go. he is the big grouch.

section three: time travelling times

okay so the timeline for these books is...messy. if you track the chronology of my writing, it's messy. which is to say, i was thinking i could put forgotten warrior and distant whispers over the same time span, but that actually doesn't work, as i review my notes for FW because a big part of it is ivy and holly's relationship. so. fake news. whoops. that sucks.

or maybe it doesn't? idk i don't usually tell linear stories. i like messing with emotional impact of events. so writing 600k of very linear story telling is very not easy for me. but i'm trying.

right so basically the official order of events until i change my mind again is as follows (names abbreviated as DIHLJC because they're all unique): DCH returns from beavers, DILCJ go to tribe with some other random warrior undecided, J + rando return, JH start awkwardness (beginning of TFW, middle of DW), DILC return (end of DW), time travel stuff (middle to end of TFW). hopefully that was intelligble, but it is admittedly 85% for my own benefit.

alright so we've covered during beavers, now jayfeather and hmmmm let's say, uhhhh, let's say they go with, literally any interesting background character, uh, bumblestripe! he doesn't do anything in this au bumblestripe goes with them. also since his name starts w b i can still write DIHLJCB and have things be unambigious. and it means there are fewer bs in thunderclan and trust me you don't know how frustrating the existence of like 6 b characters is.

alright so we really have 3 sets of two pairs of cats here. maybe i won't go w bumblestripe, bc he doesn't have an existing relationship w jayfeather. i dunno. i'm a big fan of jay & briar, whether as a ship or just besties, but that's just out, and hollyleaf can't come a) because i said so and b) honestly maybe she can? actually wait hold on that solves my problems. hot damn so 6/6 of the pov cats go to the tribe and this will be one of the only times all six characters are plot relevant at the same time. but i'm going george r r martin on it and seperating the books not by time but into DICL + JH because they're two completely separate character arcs that happen to take place at the same time. (don't worry i'm going to resolve the fallen leaves thing. in this essay ig bc i've already covered hollyleaf.)

okay so yeah hollyleaf is sent bc jayfeather isn't planning on staying w tribe for long time. just short time. and he's all "firestar why"

"well jayfeather," firestar says, "you don't talk to your family."

"i talk to dovewing," jayfeather says

"you're not related to her," firestar says

"there's a whole prophecy about how i'm related to her," jayfeather says

"you know about that?" firestar says

and that's how the cat gets out of the bag.

so anyway. jayfeather and hollyleaf are sent because...hold on, spinning the wheel of reasons for a character to go on a field trip...because...because...because...because...jayfeather had one of those dreams. i don't know. rock or something. now he's going.

they get there, and this is where the books get a lil time wonky, bc jayfeather and hollyleaf stay for like a moon, during which jayfeather goes back in time. i think.

i haven't worked out the details and probably won't until i do an updated au synopsis because it's hard to keep track and i'm more concerned about character through lines. like, jayfeather does this and he feels sad, and hollyleaf is sad about her ghost boyfriend, and they're travelling back together, and hollyleaf is his sister and she doesn't make him feel like he needs protection and lionblaze is bad at that, and they start to talk again.

and yeah, they bond. again. it's kind of, on top of their old bond? like they don't repair anything, they bond like strangers. but it's not nothing, and that matters.

so jayfeather gets back, and we're moving into book five, and i don't remember when the last time i made a section break was or what number we're on, so...sorry.

section ???: old man yells at cloud

alright it's finally jayfeather's moment. you know, he's one of my favorite characters, and he only gets a book and a half. "but mateo," i hear you saying, "doesn't every character get a book and a half? and more importantly, 6x1.5 is 9, so how does every character get a book and a half?" well, yes, every character does, but dovewing and ivypool are relevant in books 1-3 and 6, cinderheart in 1-3 and 5, lionblaze in 1-3, and hollyleaf in 2-5 (and has a critical role in 1 and 6, just no character development), while jayfeather is just really essential to books 4-5, and has a background role in 3. that means he's about equal to lionblaze. he's equal to lionblaze. as far as the numbers go, i cannot tell you. it's a mystery.

right so the reason for this is because (a) jayfeather doesn't do that much in oots. i love him, but he's not, like, super important, and (b) he's going to work better in these books if he's concentrated. because his big theme is his relationship with hollyleaf and the past. they're both kind of stuck in it but in different ways. and that prevents them from ever properly healing. so jay never has a full arc in this. i mean he has a full arc, it's just not a satisfying one. and that means he's sort of got to be put in the containment units.

so anyway, he gets his real big moments in the fifth book, when he's reuniting starclan. i think this is one of the riskier decisions on my part: we'll see whether or not i can deliver on him the way i plan to. but i think i can pull it off so that his arc is more meaningful condensed as such.

right. so. jayfeather is decided. he is going to fix starclan. because dead cats need to get thier shit together and he dgaf.

he spends a decent amount of time arguing with yellowfang and bluestar, because basically no important cats have died. at least we're in omen of the stars so it still makes sense? i have no idea why yellow/blue are still so important. please kill more important cats. it makes us feel things.

but feathertail is also probably going to be involved, i don't know. i haven't read these books (specifically, books 4 and 5 of oots) in forever so i don't really remember what happens. but he's kind of, super done with everything. i think he'll probably try to get the support of mothwing and kestrelflight (which is canon i believe?) and try to work as a team. i feel like there's weirdness w shadowclan too i should sort out.

so yeah, there's some medicine cat bonding, everything is OK, sol is happening? but cinderheart is dealing with that. jayfeather is naturally very upset about disconnects with sol but like he's also dealing with stuff i...i really need to reread outcast and sign of the moon. well, they're on my list after "all of these fucking riverclan novels like why they don't show up in the main series but i still have to read a bunch to be able to write them that's not fair."

alright, well, with that very vague description of what happens, moving on, the prophecy gets revealed to the clans at a whole in like...the ending eighth of this book. trying to maximise the amount of exposure to other clans without messing with the pacing.

so jayfeather and undecided warrior B (definitively not hollyleaf) go to windclan. jayfeather is...very unhappy about this. he does not want to leave. thunderclan is his home, and he's blind, and it's really hard to adapt to a new space and he thinks everyone is going to treeat him badly.

and well, if you've read my culture posts, windclan is....very pro-medicine cats and pro-prophecy cats. funerals. mourning. prayer. is probably the best place to start, but to get to the meat of it, start with general clan culture. to summarize, windclan: religious. but kind of like catholics, they don't believe in an individual connection with starclan. only leaders, and medicine cats, and very rarely members of prophecies have a connection. so. jayfeather. he's twice over. that's very cool to windclan.

so cats are kind of falling over themselves to help him, and like. i mean jayfeather is a grouch and he hates that he needs someone to help him through the territory, but at least they don't treat it like a chore, or like he's pitiable. this is a desirable task. apprentices want to know about his powers. and kestrelflight is a respected part of the clan, arguably more important than onestar, and jayfeather has never really gotten over being shoved in the healer hole as a child like it was lesser or easier to be a medicine cat, and so it's a big change.

and yeah. so i mean. an unobservant reader might say jayfeather has sufficient ego. he does not need stroking. they, of course, would be wrong.

jayfeather has a complex, but it's not an ego issue. he's...he's been denied everything he's wanted, and he's jaded, and weary, and he's never really believed that his clan views him as able and equal. in canon, at present, he's lost almost every cat he's every cared about. alderheart is his strongest remaining tie, and his fear at losing him, but willingness to let him leave, is very telling.

so yeah, jayfeather enjoys being accepted. anyone would. he doesn't really have confidence issues, but....argh. i know why this is good i swear it'll come out in the writing.

anyway, that's...that's pretty much it. jayfeather? done.

[excuseme-howdareyou]

Birthday Prompt: Jason

@redhoodrage

They did it again. And by 'they', he meant Bruce.

Jason didn't know if he wanted to curse, sigh, or blow up the damn thing. Maybe all three? Either way, the fancy wrapped box sitting in front of his door, done up in shiny gray paper and yellow ribbon was doing way to much to fuel his anger. And the little tag on top, with just a 'B', was a bit much.

He just got off patrol, and all he wanted to do was go home, sleep for ten hours, eat his weight in chili dogs when he woke up, and enjoy an entirely Bat-free day all to himself. Was that too much to ask? So with a grumble and a glare, he nudged the box (probably full of something stupid and expensive and fancy) with his foot a good couple feet to the right.

Once the box was out of the way, Jason unlocked his front door and stepped inside. He left the present sitting outside in the hallway.

A minute later, his door opened back up again and his arm reached out. A yellow sticky note with the word "FREE" was slapped on top, then he retreated back into his apartment.

.........................................

Jason was a light sleeper. He knew this. His friends knew this. Everyone knew this. So who in their right mind would break into his apartment at 4am, when he's only had two hours of sleep, and much more likely to blow someone's head off?!

Cassandra Cain. That's who.

Cassandra and her idiotic girlfriend Stephanie Brown. If Jason didn't have such respect for Cass, he would've called them the Dumbass Duo. But that nickname was reserved for Dick Grayson and Wally West. So it was just Cassandra and the Dumbass.

Cass was the only one skilled enough to get into his apartment at 4AM. Steph was the only one dumb enough to actually do it.

"Fuck off!" Jason roared at them, leaping out of bed with the knives he kept under his pillow for exactly this kind of trespassing. Cass silently caught the knife he threw at her face, but Steph eeped and ducked at the next one that came flying at her.

"Whoa, hey!" she yelled, ducking down behind his dresser," We come in peace!"

Upon realizing that they weren't ninjas/assassins/monsters/Untitled sent to kill him, Jason lowered the third projectile in his hand (his trusty laser-sharpened hunting knife) but did not put it down. "What," he breathed in deep, trying to blink the green away from his eyes," the fuck are you two doing here?"

Cass, still in her all black suit and really not making Jason feel all that better about the two of them breaking into his place in the middle of the night, hauled Steph out from her hiding place. "Umm, happy birthday?" the blonde laughed nervously and held up a purple gift bag. From... somewhere, Cass produced a matching gift bag in pastel pink.

Jason could only stare incredulously at the two of them. "Get out..." he whispered.

Steph blinked," But aren't you gonna-"

"GET OUT!" he roared at them.

They left, leaving the presents on the dresser.

Once they were out of sight, and Jason wasn't seeing as much Lazarus green, he took a couple deep breaths. Then he grabbed the two gift bags, walked up to the window which they exited out through-

-and from the 21st floor, dropped both bags out the window and slammed it shut.

...............................................

"Well of course he kicked you guys out!" Duke groaned, rubbing his eyes with the heel of his palm," What kind of crazy...and at 4 in the.... did it just not occur to you that breaking into someone's bedroom in the dead of night is just kinda this side of creepy?"

Both Cass and Steph had the decency to look ashamed.

"We wanted to be the first ones to wish him happy birthday," came Steph's explanation," He hasn't... I don't think he's had a birthday since he was put six feet under and dug his way back out."

Not exactly a tactful way to say it, especially on such a sensitive matter, but... well she wasn't wrong.

"And it's Alfred's birthday too," Duke murmured thoughtfully," Didn't they use to celebrate their birthdays together or something?"

From across the room, Tim piped up," They used to bake cakes together."

A contemplative silence fell over the room. "No," Tim deadpanned," You're not gonna succeed in whatever you're thinking."

"I didn't say anything!" Steph protested.

"But you were thinking it."

"Thinking what?" of course, Dick chose that moment to walk in, rubbing his wet hair with a towel.

"It's Jason's birthday and Steph and Cass tried to give him a present but he refused to accept it," Duke told him, as it didn't even occur to him to not mention the elephant in the room to the man who loved elephants more than anything.

At the words 'Jason's birthday', Dick froze and his eyes lit up. At the word 'present', a devious smile spread over his face.

"Dick, No," Tim directed his glare over to him.

"Dick, yes!" said man just grinned all the wider," It's Little Wing's birthday, we should celebrate it!"

The energy in the room now sufficiently reignited, both he and Steph smiled widely and bounced ideas off each other.

"Birthday party?"

"Nah, too big. Family dinner?"

"We could make both him and Alfred matching cakes."

"I've already got them both presents."

"So did we. But... Jason threw ours out the window."

"He did what?"

"Well can you blame him?" Tim sighed," Jason's not gonna come to a birthday dinner here at the Manor, Dick." He tried to explain, and wow it was really hard to explain this to a man who looked too much like a kicked puppy," He hates it here, you know that." Jason had made it plenty and obviously clear anytime he was forced to so much as come near the place.

"And he's not going to accept any gifts you guys give him. It's Jason. He's paranoid and temperamental and he's not going to trust anything that comes from us."

Dick thought a moment, rubbing his chin in deep contemplation. Tim didn't like that look. "So you're saying..." Dick hummed thoughtfully," ...that Jason will only accept a gift from someone he trusts? Someone he actually, truly considers family?"

'Oh no,' was all Tim had time to think before both Dick and Steph exclaimed," Challenge accepted!"

"Challenge?"

Oh no, Tim thought again as Damian descended down the stairs with an intrigued expression on his face. "What challenge?" Damian demanded.

................................

Jason straight up buried his head under his pillow when there was a persistant knocking at his door. 'Go away,' he pleaded and tried to fall back asleep,' I'm not here.'

"I know you're in there,  Jason!" came Dick's voice from out in the hallway," You can't hide in there forever!"

'I can, and I will,' Jason grumbled and rolled over.

The knocking continued.

"Fuck off, Dick!" he yelled.

"No, it's your birthday and we're going to celebrate!" came Dick's reply," Now open up or I'm going to come in whether you like it or not."

There was no answer, so Dick waited all of three minutes before picking the lock. (Took a couple minutes more though. Little Wing was getting good at arming electrified locks)

The apartment was empty when he got inside.

.....................................

The day was hot and muggy and Jason loved it. Gotham would probably never feel as warm as the tropics (except during heat waves, but even then those were just uncomfortable) but he liked the warm and if it was sunny and warm, Jason could be found outside soaking it in.

Annoying, persistent Bats aside, not a bad day for his birthday. Last night he'd successfully taken down a small drug ring, got a couple messages on his phone from Roy and Kori wishing him happy birthday, and the Joker was locked up in Arkham. Now all that was missing was-

-Jason stopped dead in his tracks.

Tim Drake stood in front of Jason's favorite hot dog cart, where the owner made the best chili-dogs, with an almost expectant expression his face.

Part of Jason -a large part- wanted to spin on his heel and just march away from Tim and his stupid face and everything else Bat. But his stomach was protesting loudly and he mentally swore at Dick because he hadn't had a chance to grab breakfast before fleeing out his own bedroom window.

"I hate you," he hissed as he passed Tim entirely to get him some chili-dogs.

Tim didn't look too upset about it. "Mmhmm," he hummed, as if didn't believe a word Jason said. "So who's all harassed you so far?" he asked.

"Including you?" Jason added with a glare," Dick, Cass, Steph, and Bruce."

That last one seemed to surprise the brat. "Bruce stopped by to see you already?" he blinked," I thought he was still asleep."

Jason took a bite of one of his three chili-dogs ('The best chili dogs in town.') and very purposely didn't offer one to Tim. "Left a present on my doorstep," he answered and walked away. Tim, the asshole, kept in step with him. Though Jason took a little glee in the fact that for every one of his steps, Tiny Tim had to take two.

"What'd he get you?" Tim asked, genuinely curious," It's always something stupidly practical and mission-related. Last year he got Dick a thermal insulated Nightwing suit with built in heaters."

Jason shrugged. "Dunno. I put a ‘free’ sticker on it and left it outside." So yeah, that had definitely been taken by some stranger already.

"And I heard you threw Cass and Steph's presents out the window."

Finishing off the last of his first chili-dog, Jason turned and gave Tim the stink eye. "And if you try to do anything for my birthday, I'm gonna throw you out the window."

Tim just scoffed; not like it would be the first time. "Sorry, you're not on my list of 'People I Buy Presents For'," he replied," But I suppose I do have some kind of birthday gift for you..."

At Jason's groan of despair and annoyance, he couldn't help but laugh. "Just a warning, you drama queen," Tim added," Dick and Steph sorta... made it into a competition..."

"What kind of competition?"

"The kind where everyone in the family is going to try and get you to accept a birthday gift. The first one you accept is the winner, and you've officially come back into the fold."

"....Fuck."

..........................................

"I hear it's your birthday, ya big lug."

Great. Now he's being harassed while out grocery shopping. Clutching his basket of food closer, Jason prayed for patience before turning around and looking at Harper Row. "Whoever told you that was lying," he said.

Harper looked like she couldn't decide if she wanted to laugh or scoff. "I'll be sure to tell Alfred that," she snarked back and ouch- She really knew where to hit him hard. "Anyways, I already gave Alfred his gift, so..." she held out a little red box with a white bow on top.

"Happy birthday."

Now, Jason didn't mind Harper. Not really. They never really hung out or talked, and as far as Jason knew she hadn't really done anything to piss him off. Hell, she wasn't even a Robin which went miles in his book. But then Tim's warning this morning about the competition rang through his head and Jason would be damned before he lets anyone of the Batfamily think he's one of them.

So without a word, he took the box out of her hand (she seemed genuinely surprised at that) then turned right around and found a little kid about 5 standing a little bit down the aisle.

"Happy birthday, buddy," he smiled widely at the little boy and held out the box," Here's a gift from the Red Hood, okay?" The little boy, staring up at him with wide awed eyes, clutched the red present to his chest before running off yelling," Mommy! The Red Hood gave me a present!"

Jason sauntered off out of the aisle -wouldn't do to have the mom come back and find him- with Harper on his heels.

"You know there was a taser in there, right?" she asked skeptically.

......................................

"Here."

Well, it wasn't the rudest way in which someone's shoved something in his face, but it was pretty far up there. Damian 'Demon Brat' Wayne looked like he'd be anywhere else when he sat down on the city bus with Jason and held out a perfectly wrapped present.

Jason Todd never thought he'd see the day in which Damian would willingly ride public transportation.

"Nope," he said, largely ignoring the present being shoved in his face.

The scowl on the kid's face was highly amusing though. "Just accept the damn gift," he snarled at him.

"Language," Jason found himself retorting before really realizing it," And I'm not taking it. I know about your guys' stupid contest and I'm not having any part of it."

Damian was oddly silent.

Incensed, Jason's scowl was even more impressive. "You guys seriously think you can just buy me back with some stupid things on my birthday and pretend like the past nine years hasn't happened? I know Dick's an idiot, but I expected better of the rest of you."

Damian still didn't say anything and for five city blocks, their bus ride continued in silence.

When they came to the next bus stop, the brat stood up and walked off without another word. 'Huh, not even an argument for once?' Jason thought. It was odd, for sure, but he decided to count his blessings and not dwell on it.

.......................................

All he saw was a hint of yellow, a smidgen of black...

...and the instant Jason saw Signal drop down in front of him, he threw a brick at his head.

.......................................

There was another box sitting in front of his door when he got home. This time, it was big and bright and blue. He didn't even have to look at the tag to know it came from Dick. He sighed, a put upon sigh that rattled down to his bones, and nudged the box away from his door with his foot, just like he'd done for Bruce's.

It was large and bright and had it been just a square foot bigger, he would've half expected Dick Grayson to have squeezed himself inside only to pop out with a confetti gun like some kind of smiley jack-in-the-box.

He really wouldn't put it past Dick.

So he dug his grocery receipt out of his pocket and a marker. And just like he did for Bruce's, he wrote FREE on the back of the paper, shoved it under the ribbon so it wouldn't blow away, and left it there in the hallway.

....................................

Inside his apartment is....

Well, the first thing Jason noticed was the smell of something herbal and sweet. He knew that smell. And he knew for a fact he didn't have any Oolong tea in his cupboards.

"Ah, I see you've returned with groceries, Master Jason," came Alfred's voice from the kitchen," I hope you remembered to get milk. It would appear you are out."

Wide eyed, confused, and just a little bit apprehensive, Jason stepped into his own kitchen. And yep, he wasn't hallucinating. There was Alfred, black suit and all, with a pot of water boiling on the stove, Jason's tea pot sitting on the counter, and a mug of tea in his hands.

Also spread out on the counter was a number of baking ingredients such as flour and sugar.

Jason set his bags down on the table, staring at Alfred. "What..." his voice squeaked and he cleared his throat," What are you doing here, Alfred?"

"It's my birthday, and I have the day off," Alfred answered in his usual no-nonsense tone, as if Jason had asked him what the weather was like outside. Then he poured some tea into another mug that Jason hadn't even realized was there. "Tea?" he held it out to him.

Still baffled, but he did love Alfred's Oolong tea, and well... he did love Alfred, Jason silently took the cup from him.

Alfred waited until Jason took his first long sip before saying," Happy birthday, Master Jason."

"Not you too!" Jason groaned.

There was a smile on Alfred's face as he sipped his own tea before setting the cup down on the counter. "Do you know why I'm here, Master Jason?" he asked. Alfred apparently decided to busy himself with unbagging Jason's groceries while said man tried to come up with an answer.

"Because you're in on this competition too?" he guessed sourly.

Pulling out the milk and a couple cans of soup, Alfred replied succintly," Because what I want for my birthday is to spend the day with my grandson on his own birthday."

..."I'm not really your grandson," Jason mumbled into his tea. His face was red and he felt warm and cozy inside, but he tried to not let it go to his head. He wasn't really Alfred's family. He wasn't really anybody's family. Family's not exactly his forte and time has proven multiple times that Jason Todd's never really been good at the whole thing.

Alfred shot him a look like he wanted to prove him wrong. "And do you know why everyone is insisting on giving you birthday gifts?" he asked instead.

"Because they want to win the contest?"

"Yes and no."

Great, a cryptic answer. Jason's favorite.

"Because they're a bunch of competetive fools who are bored out of their minds, so Dick and Steph came up with this stupid contest that will occupy them for a day, then everyone will go on with their lives like today never happened," Jason haphazarded a guess.

Alfred very nearly rolled his eyes, but they lit up in surprise when he pulled something unexpected out of one of the grocery bags. "Hello, what is this?"

It was a little white box with yellow ribbon, professionally wrapped, and Jason recognized it immediately. "That little brat!" he exclaimed," He must've snuck it into my bag on the bus!"

That would finally explain why Damian left without a fight.

With the knowing little twinkle back in his eye, Alfred set the present down and turned to Jason. "They want to celebrate your birthday because they care, Master Jason," he finally said," Yes, there are sadly few in this family who are any good at actually talking to each other, but you must understand that everyone, Master Bruce especially, do things for each other because it's the only way they can show that they care."

Jason opened his mouth to argue, but didn't dare interrupt Alfred. "They try to give you gifts because they know you won't accept an invitation to a family dinner," Alfred continued," Master Bruce gives practical gifts because he wants all of you to be safe. Master Dick gives hugs because to him, physical contact is how he shows his love. Master Tim doesn't get gifts for people, but he will set aside time to spend with those he cares for. And for this..." He held up Damian's little gift," While yes there is a competition going on, Master Damian snuck this into your bag not because he wanted to win some silly challenge, but because he simply wanted you to have it."

"But even more importantly, you must know this: What is the reward at the end of this contest?"

Significantly cowed, Jason sipped his tea and thought. He never really thought of it in that way. That other people showed the way they cared in different ways.

But it was still a hard pill to swallow.

"Bragging rights?" he replied, more of a quiet question than an answer.

But even still, Alfred smiled at him," No my dear boy. They get you. That's why they try so hard, because they want you know you're still part of the family."

[dontcallmecarrie]

screw it, this “too many options that all sound appealing” thing is really messing with my rhythm so here, outlines for Endings 1-3. Major spoilers inbound, read at your own risk.

Ending 1: Stay With The Original Plan

canon ensues on Loki’s side, aka he falls right into Thanos’ clutches. [Un]fortunately for him, Thanos is even more pissy than in canon, since ‘his love’ is MIA and he’s hyperfocused on assembling the Infinity Gauntlet under the belief that this’ll be what finally gets her to say yes

somewhere in here, Loki realizes that this is the purple bastard Hela kept telling him about. Just to make this entire experience even more hellish, because having to listen to Thanos talk is more torture than the torture. 

optional, probably won't write: at some point, Thanos asks Loki for dating advice. Which’d go about as well as expected.

Meanwhile, Asgard, Earth, and just about everywhere in between has their hands full now that Helheim is empty and all of its demons are having a field day.

somewhere during the chaos, Fenrir breaks his binds and steals the Aether on the way out. 

cue potential alternate antagonist to make the Avengers assemble. Surtur, perhaps, for maximum irony because...

Jörmungandr wakes up just in time to see Hela bust out of Helheim, and immediately invites her to come with him. Fenrir joins the club when he gets out, too, and cue minor time skip as they all catch up and help each other reacclimatize to living outside of a glorified prison/the modern world. 

okay, from here, there’s two further endings I’d be having to pick between.

Option A:

shit goes down when Loki shows up.

The Avengers assemble, and get not one, not two, but five Asgardians crashing the party on the Helicarrier.

turns out one of them’s an ancient sorcerer who’s been camping out on Earth over the past thousand years and influencing some of their myths. Somehow, this isn’t the weirdest part.

a lot of dirty laundry gets aired in a very short period of time, aka the Avengers get a front-row seat to the shitshow that is the Asgardian royal family and Thor’s respect for his father tanks. 

The local sorcerer is the one who figures out Loki’s being mind-controlled, and Hela is royally pissed off when she finds out who’s responsible. 

well, actually, that’s not entirely accurate: when they find out Loki’s condition, nobody takes it well, and since some of the people in the room were basically used as living weapons for the better part of a millennia, well...

RIP, Thanos. 

[insert family reunion and happy ending here, probably]

Option B: 

[insert antagonist name here] shows up, Avengers assemble.

Cue confusion when an alien trio beats them to the punch, feat. a fuck-off huge wolf, a goth chick who keeps throwing swords [seriously, where is she even getting them from?], and a honest-to-goodness wizard. 

Cue even more confusion when Thor recognizes them as Loki’s friends, and then a lot of stuff goes down very fast when he finds out that they’re famous on Earth— because they’re prophesied to bring about Ragnarok, the fall of Asgard. 

[insert drama here]

Fenrir, Hela, and Jörmungandr quasi-joining the Avengers? Not as impossible as it sounds. 

Thanos shows up looking for the Infinity Stones. Hela oneshots him, and maybe brings him back to life just to kill him again when they find out what he did to Loki.

cue happy ending.

Ending 2: All The Angst And Dramatic Irony [feat. Major Character Death]

this one’d make it all a tragedy, and I hate making myself sad and also I didn’t tag for major character death, so that’s already two strikes against it but my brain can’t let it go so here goes:

Loki died when he fell from the Bifrost. 

Hela and Jörmungandr don’t know this, and don’t have much to compare notes because Jör last saw him when he fled and Hela’s last conversation was right before Thor’s coronation. However, they are aware that Loki succeeded in his mission of getting Hela free, and they know how happy Odin would’ve been when it happened— they’re operating under the assumption that he’s been imprisoned for treason, and gearing up to invade Asgard for the sole purpose of getting him out. 

The events of the first Avengers movie doesn’t happen/gets skipped.

Fenrir breaks out during the Convergence, scaring the crap out of Jane Foster and taking the Aether with him. 

The group has a reunion, and then all eyes turn to Asgard. 

Chaos ensues when the Dark Elves’ invasion is interrupted by a separate, entirely unrelated attack that somehow manages to do even more damage.

and incidentally end up fulfilling the prophecy along the way, because they have a bone to pick with Odin and everyone who helped him

Cue angst and sadness when the truth about Loki comes out. Because Thor enters the fight, and Fenrir/Hela/Jörmungandr would inevitably ask “where’s your brother?” and then out comes the story of what happened on the Bifrost

...and because I made myself sad, here, have an alternate ending:

Hela and the others categorically refuse to accept he died, and keep looking. 

Jörmungandr in particular points out that the Bifrost can result in wonky time-space shenanigans if not monitored closely, and considering the circumstances in which he fell, well...

Fenrir goes to town on Sakaar when they find Loki.

cue tearful reunion and happy ending.

Ending 3: CHAOS [the fun one that I’m honestly leaning towards]

aka taking all of MCU canon that I remember, and sticking it in a blender because timeline fuckery abounds and absolute no one knows wtf is going on anymore. 

Taking full advantage of the “Bifrost can result in accidental time travel” thing, and the fact that Thanos is distracted looking for Hela and the Infinity Stones which in turn affects when the events of the first Avengers movie happens, well...

after Loki falls, cue minor timeskip because of Reasons. Hela and Jörmungandr get the chance to start recovering from the whole “living on the run/being forced into this position” thing, and also start looking

then a lot of stuff goes down very very fast.

Loki shows up in Germany, catching the attention of not only the Avengers, but Hela and Jörmungandr. 

...the alien god talking about subjugation should’ve been the guy getting all the headlines, had it not been for the gigantic glowing wolf that showed up halfway through his speech. Or the aliens that followed him from gods-knew-where.

aka Fenrir breaks out during the Convergence, and the Dark Elves really, really, really want the Aether.

aka yes, this is the one where the events first Avengers movie and Thor: The Dark World happen concurrently.

SHIELD has their hands full, Erik Selvig and Jane Foster are working overtime to figure out wtf is going on, and Thor is less than helpful because all of other aliens can and will attack him on sight. 

Thor tries to drag Loki into custody.

Loki gets kidnapped on the way. By a wizard, because why the fuck not, things were already weird enough as is. 

Tracking down said wizard is an exercise in futility, but damn if they don’t try anyway. 

Having Clint Barton and his associates get portalled in with an honest-to-goodness apology note? Sure, just add it onto the pile. 

Everyone in SHIELD is confused, anyone who knows their myths has just been screaming this entire time because there’s also been sightings of an enormous snake in the oceans [Jörmungandr’s defense system was working overtime, sue him], and things just keep escalating.

Eventually there’s a team-up, and then a human wizard shows up too? Saying something about how their duty was to safeguard the Earth from extradimensional threats and obviously SHIELD was doing a shit job of it? Fine. Just...fine.

hi, Stephen Strange

aka the Avengers assemble and there’s more of them because all hands on deck

[insert snappy dialogue and interactions here]

Hela when she finds out what Thanos is up to: (ง'̀-'́)ง

[insert cinematic fight scene with all the drama and irony and Norse mythology references]

cue happy ending

[iinfortunii]

rules: code of conduct.

BEGIN.

Before we start, I would like you to have certain things in mind when approaching me ooc. I am very shy and quite awkward, which results in me not being much of a talker; however, I will always try my best to be friendly to whoever wants to approach. I dislike pet names so please do not use them with me unless we are very close. There will be times when I'm just exhausted, so my wording could sound rude/aggressive, to which I apologize in advance -I never mean to hurt people’s feelings. I also reserve the right to interact with WHOEVER I want, and pestering me about it will only get you blocked.

Updates will be made as required.

I. BASIC.

A. This blog is: Selective / Independent / Canon Divergent / NSFW / Mutuals only / Singleship / Mostly iconless / Multiverse / AU, Crossover, OC, and Multimuse friendly / Vaguely affiliated with the OP RP fandom.

B. I am a very slow rper for many reasons —school, family, my ever-fluctuating mood —and I would appreciate it if you refrained from pestering me for replies. In return I offer as much patience as necessary. Think of this blog as low activity please.

C. English is not my mother language so I apologize in advance for any mistakes made.

D. I track the tag #iinfortunii, although mentioning me works just as fine.

E. Constructive criticism is always welcome but anon hate will be immediately deleted. I have no problems if you disagree with my portrayal, but it doesn't give you the right to harass me.

F. Mun and muse are both over 18, so there are chances that heavy content will be present; however I won't be writing smut. I can roleplay anything before or after the act if requested, but the moment things get far too explicit, I'll do a fade-to-black. I ask of you to not lie about your age or else you’ll be blocked indefinitely.

G. This is a heavily headcanon-based blog, and changes are likely to be made as more information is revealed about him, though I reserve the right to adjust the new information according to my interpretation of Deuce or simply ignore it, which is why I’m canon divergent.

H. If you'd like to turn an ask into a thread, you can turn it into a new post, or reblog from me, as I won't be using the Tumblr asks anymore due to the problems that come with formatting and such.

I. Ask box is open for everyone ic or ooc, but you aren't allowed to turn it into a thread and nor I will reply to it if we’re not mutuals. Please don't push me, because I won't hesitate to block.

J. No godmoding —only a minor is allowed if it moves a thread forward —or metagaming, please. Don't kill Deuce either, unless plotted beforehand, and most importantly, don't hold your muse back.

K. Discord is available for mutuals upon request.

L. Just because I write something it does not mean I condone it. Please have this in mind and again, do not pester me about it. Any and all nsfw matters will be tagged accordingly. There will be triggering topics present, and you can know more about this on the section below.

M. DO NOT involve me in drama or call-out posts. I’m heavily against both things. On this note, you’ll never see me rebloging a call-out post. This culture is so damaging and toxic, and I firmly believe no one should play the role of the judge for the good of the community just because you had issues with someone or don’t agree with the things they roleplay. Talk things privately, be mature about it, hard-block the person and move on. I am also very aware that a lot of people have done things that can’t be excused, but I like to believe that people can change for the better. If you try to drag me into it, I'll hard block any and all people involved indefinitely.

II. TRIGGERS.

A. They will be tagged as trigger tw, trigger / and trigger cw.

B. I do my best to stay up to date with my mutuals triggers. Your comfort is way more important to me than you might think, so never be hesitant to approach me via IM, (anonymous) ask or stop following me.

C. Triggers that are likely to appear, although some more than others: violence || blood || death || drugs || abuse || knives || body image || medical equipment || suggestive content || etc

D. I have no triggers, so you are free to go wild with your content. I only ask you remember to tag your nsfw (both written and visual), please.

III. INTERACTIONS.

A. Deuce won't like everyone. He might/will make wrong assumptions about your character. He will insult and bite back. He won't always be nice to those he likes. He does many things that serve his interests. You, as the mun, have no reason to take it personal, because I'm won't follow someone I don't like; if you DO take it personal however, and decide to rouse drama, then I'll be hard-blocking you. Goes for me as well —I have no reason to get angry for any of the things noted above.

B. My bonds page displays the relationships that have been built over time, not necessarily through interaction alone but over plotting as well. Refer to it for more information.

C. Interactions with OCs related to canon characters will only take place as long as said OCs have a detailed about page. Personally, I'm not interested in the idea of an OC being blood-related to my portrayal, so I apologize in advance.

D. Formatting isn’t a big thing across my blogs, save for the small text. Please don’t mix either sup/sub with small text when writing with me, as I have eyesight problems. Don’t use colored text either.

E. Non-romantic pre-established relationships are allowed! Just make sure to talk it out with me first, yeah?

01. Spade / Whitebeard pirates (canon and original characters alike that i am MUTUALS with) will have a pre-established relationship as long as the other mun is comfortable with such idea, though that relationship will be limited to merely crewmates, unless discussed otherwise.

F. You don’t need to match my writing length as long as I’m given enough to work with. If something about my reply bothers or doesn’t work with you, let me know and I’ll re-work it.

G. I really enjoy plotting scenarios or talking out about the relationships my muse could have with other muses, so hit me up if you’ve got any ideas! I’ll try to do the same!

H. Mun does not equal muse, so don’t go assuming I’m a jerk simply because Deuce is an asshole from time to time. I’m set on the idea that I’ll give people the same treatment they give me —which is always nice and kind. Kudos to everyone for this ♡

I. I don’t use a threadtracker because I rely on my memory (terrible mistake, I know), but I try to draft people’s replies as soon as I see them. If by any reason it seems like I lost it, then please let me know / send me a link with it and I’ll be deeply grateful.

J. I don’t do nor reply to greetings starters for matters of my own comfort, so I ask of you to never expect a starter or a reply from them.

IV. SHIPPING.

A. Singleship, with the spot taken by daadzi, which means Deuce is no longer open for romantic relationships.

01. Under no circumstances, I will accept more romantic relationships once the spot is taken. That being said, I won’t discourage your muse from falling for / hitting on him, although I ask you to understand he will never respond with the same interest or will never react gently if he’s pushed too far.

02. If my shipping partner is comfortable enough, I'll interact with duplicates with the condition that the relationship is strictly platonic.

B. Constant interaction, mutual interest, and chemistry are a must for the sake of better communication (both ic and ooc, preferably).

C. Please do not approach me if you wish our characters to have either a: one night stand or friends with benefits type of relationships. It won’t work out due to the nature of Deuce’s personality, and for that I apologize.

E. My ship has its own tag so you're free to block it if you don't want to see it on your dashboard. In addition, I'll also tag those posts with only the ship name for this very purpose.

F. Please do not force ships on me.

V. CELEBRATIONS.

A. First off, I am absolutely terrible at keeping up with dates, and to be frank, I am not the biggest fan of celebrating, which is why I think it’s necessary to say I won’t be partaking in any holidays, not even Deuce’s birthday (not that he has one, to begin with). Obviously I will still reply to any gifts received, and will send out things in return —you know, common courtesy.

B. I won't be sending out birthday gifts every year, and I might write drabbles for people once in a blue moon; it doesn’t mean they will be done for the specific date though, so please be patient.

VI. REASONS TO NOT FOLLOW BACK / UNFOLLOW.

A. Too much drama / call-outs / vague posts / sexual content.

B. Content makes me uncomfortable.

C. You are a personal blog without a visible rp sideblog. Please make sure it's easy to find.

D. You do not have a proper tag system.

E. Your blog doesn’t have a rules and about pages.

F. You lack the manners to deal with people respectfully.

G. I have no interest / lost interest.

H. I'm constantly / only used as a meme archive.

I. Other reasons may apply. I will soft block so we can both cease following each other and avoid any potential awkward situations. I won’t make a fuss if you decide to unfollow so I expect the same courtesy.

VII. ABOUT BEATRICE.

She is not a real person. Her concept as Deuce’s (toxic) pseudolover is my creation and was somewhat inspired from the real life Beatrice Portinari. Do have in mind that Deuce doesn’t talk about her so your muse can’t simply approach him and ask about her unless they can go through his memories / read his mind / any capability alike or he speaks about her, though it won't take a genius to figure out that she's a product of his imagination.

You can read about her by clicking here -link to be added.

She serves as a lie to shield himself from the internalized homophobia he deals with up until meeting Ace.

NOTE: As stated previously, Mun =/= muse, but I too have been dealing with compulsory heterosexuality for far too long, so I'd like to apologize in advance for projecting a bit of that into my portrayal. I'll work so that this part makes sense with what we've been given from Ace's novel.

VIII. MISCELLANEOUS.

A. I will never force people to follow me, so if by any reason you have to unfollow/block me, please go ahead. Your comfort matters and have every right to do what you must to ensure your wellbeing. With that said, I will not tolerate and will immediately hard block if you try to police my content.

B. I do not follow back immediately, and it can take me from a few hours to several days to follow back. Do not take it personally if I choose not to.

C. If I follow it’s because I am interested in interacting. I only ask you to be patient because it might take me a while to gather the courage to send something to your inbox or talk to you.

D. I have. ZERO knowledge about medicine. Don’t expect me to go full force and try to be 100% accurate, because I won’t.

E. I practice reblog karma (send a meme to someone if I’m rebloging it from them). If you see something you’d like to reblog but have no intention in sending something yourself, then please reblog from the source.

IX. FINISH.

Thank you for taking the time to read this! As you might have noticed, there’s no password to send. Make sure to check the psa tag for any updates, or don’t hesitate to send an ask if there’s anything unclear! I do my best so as not to post too much OOC posts, but sometimes it just happens. If it's nothing important, then I'll erase it whenever I have the chance/remember.

Keanu Reeves vc: You’re all breathtaking!

[lovemychoices]

The Lost Prince - TRR AU [Liam x MC] Mini Series. CH.5

After being married for three years and unable to produce an heir, Liam and Riley are about to give up when Liam gets an unexpected news that changes his life forever.

Genre : Romance, Drama

*THIS SERIES PRACTICALLY THROWS CANON OUT THE WINDOW* YEET!YEET!

Characters except my OCs belong to Pixelberry, I am just borrowing them

Word count : 3278

Chapter Summary: Will they find Theon?

A/N : Hey, so this is the last chapter of my mini series and the there the Epilogue/Prologue that’s going to come up a few days after this. There will be a sequel/Spin off from this mini series and the first chapter will probably be up somewhere in mid May.

So I can’t put the read more option since I’m posting via phone so this I’m tagging this under #long post.

Thank you @annekebbphotography @ao719 and @thecordoniandiaries for listening to my ideas and ramblings 😆

Warning : some Mentions of Death. Gun violence.

Catch up with the series HERE

“The prince is missing your majesty.”

Liam’s hand slams straight onto his desk making a loud thudding sound, causing the items on it to shake. “Damn it Bastien, how did this happen!” His voice elevated, he was angry and yet there was fear in his eyes. Riley could see it, she wraps her arm around her husband's shoulder. “Liam, we need to calm down if we’re going to figure out where Theon is.” Liam closes his eyes and counts in his head as he inhales and exhales before opening them up again. “You’re right we have to stay strong.” He said. “Bastien, tell the guards to search every inch of the palace, they couldn’t have gone far if the palace was heavily guarded. Check all the surveillance footage and send them to me if you see anything suspicious.”

“Already on it, your majesty, I have all the guards searching and blocking all entries no one gets in or out. As for the surveillance this was the only thing we got.” Bastien informs them by taking out his phone and shows them a footage of someone holding a package in front of the king's quarters and then the nanny opening the door and letting the person in. They were smart enough not to show their face on camera which means they knew the palace well. “Now here’s where it gets strange, after entering no one goes out. There is no footage of the kidnapper or Theon leaving the room.”

“This has to be Madeleine, I can feel it.” Riley said without a doubt. “But what I don’t understand is why? She’s been internally sabotaging us from the inside for 3 years. Why do something like this? Why now?”

“Because of Theon.” Liam answers before plopping back on his chair with his head bowed towards his knees, an expression of guilt on his face. “This is all my fault, if I hadn’t.. if I hadn’t brought Theon here he would have been safe.”

“Liam, it’s not your fault. Madeleine would have acted out eventually with or without Theon in the picture. All this time she’s been scheming right under our noses and we didn’t even know.” Drake reassures his best friend.

“Drake is right Liam, Madeleine had us all fooled. After Godfrey, we thought she would be a trustworthy ally but in reality she was playing a much longer game with her own agenda.” Olivia added. “The question is how did she manage to get in and out of the palace undetected?” Just as she said the word she looks at Liam and they both share a knowing look. “The secret passageways.” They said in unison.

“I need to head to the quarters now.” Liam said, abruptly getting up from his seat and struts toward the door.

“Maxwell, Drake and Olivia, you three go with him. I’ll stay here with Hana in case Bastien has a lead or Madeleine decides to call.” Riley said, giving Liam an assuring look. “I’ll call you immediately if there are any leads.”

Liam is hesitant to leave his wife but nods in agreement before going off to the quarters.

*************************************

A few minutes after the rest of the gang left, Riley and Hana continue to search for clues to where Madeleine could be when Mara barges into the office with a serious look on her face. “Sorry to interrupt your majesty but one of the kingsguard found something at the docks outside the palace gates. If you would come with me.”

“Is it Theon? Is he hurt?” Riley asks with a concerned expression.

“We don’t know yet Ma’am but you need to come with me.”

Riley abruptly stands from her seat. “Let me call Liam..”

“King Liam has already been informed and is on his way.”

“In that case we should go now.” Riley said, turning to face Hana. “Hana you stay here, I wouldn’t want Katherine killing me if something happens to you with all that’s been going on.”

Hana chuckles. “Alright I’ll stay but do let me know once you have something.”

A short while later Mara and Riley reach the end of the docks but when Riley looks around she notices it’s empty and no one is there, not even Liam. The only thing that was there was a small motorboat.

“Mara, there’s nobody he—.” Riley’s speech is cut short by a piece of cloth covering the bottom half of her face. Suddenly her head starts spinning and soon everything turns black.

*************************************

The group rummage through the king's quarters for almost an hour, pulling on every wall lamp and moving every picture frame to search for the hidden passageway. “How did we not know there was one here in the kings quarters?” Olivia asks as she runs her fingers across the wall searching for a hidden loose brick that could reveal a secret door. “This palace is old and frankly not all the secret passageways were recorded.” Drake answers.

“Guys over here, I think I found something!” Maxwell calls loudly from one of the spare rooms. When the group enters they see Maxwell standing in front of an open wall; inside it is a flight of stairs spiraling down. “Where do you think this leads?”

“Only one way to find out.” Drake answers then turns on his flashlight on his phone and leads the way while the others follow. After what felt like forever they finally reached a slightly closed stone wall. “Maxwell, help me with this would you?” Drake and Maxwell move the wall effortlessly, when they step out of the tunnel they are surprised that it led to the secret dock which was just below the palace outside of its wall.

“Liam, over there!” Maxwell points at the end of the dock and they both hurry towards it. Liam bends over and picks up Theon's favourite stuffed Lion, it was the first thing he gave Theon when he arrived at the palace. He is pulled out of his thoughts by a bright light hitting his eyes, not far from where Theon stuffed toy was found. There was something shiny on the surface of the wooden dock.

Liam walks towards the shiny object, his eyes go wide open when he realises it’s Riley’s engagement ring. No this can’t be not her too. He quickly takes his phone from his pocket and dials his wife, Drake and Olivia notice Liam’s frantic expression. “Liam what’s going on?” But he doesn’t answer them. “Pick up come on pick up.” He murmurs anxiously.

“Hello?”

“Hana? Where’s Riley? Why do you have her phone? Is she with you?

“Liam, I thought she was with you? Mara said you were going to meet them at the Maze, she said there was a lead on Theon’s kidnapping?”

Liam pinches the bridge of his nose trying to figure out what the hell just happened, clearly there he wasn’t told to meet Riley in the Maze or that they’ve found something. This could only mean one thing Mara was working with Madeleine this whole time. But to what end? “I think, I think they took Riley as well.” He said and showed them her ring. “She must have dropped her ring on purpose to give us a clue.”

“How did Madeleine pull all of this by herself?” Olivia asked.

“Mara. We have to get back to the palace now. Drake calls Bastien and asks him to meet us in my office. Him and only him. We’re not sure who else we can trust at the moment.” Liam said, his voice calm and commanding but his expression showed a different thing, he was scared and worried but he knew he needed to put on a brave face for his family. He couldn’t save them if he was a mess, he needed to think straight.

****************************

Riley wakes up with a painful ring in her head, she could hear the sound of water droplets like they were falling into a puddle, the air around her gave out a misty pungent smell. Slowly she tries to flutter her eyes open, letting out a low grunt before she speaks. “Where am I? What is this place? Liam?”

“Riley, Please wake up, please.” Theon’s voice pleads. “Theon?” Her blurry visions start to get clearer, she closes her eyes once more trying to focus, when she opens them again notices what looks like a cold old basement surrounding her and to her right is Theon tied up to a chair like she was, his expression scared and confused. “Theon!” Are you alright? Did they hurt you?!”

“No but I’m scared. I want my dad.” He said, tears started to well in his eyes. “I’m sorry this is all my fault.”

“No Theon it’s not. And don’t worry your dad is coming for us until then I need you to stay strong. Can you do that for us both?” Theon nods even if he feels scared and misses his dad.

Riley carefully studied their surroundings, a sudden rush of deja vu ran through her mind. It reminded her of when Anton had her and Olivia captive three years ago. “If you can survive that you can survive this. She thought to herself. If only there was a way she could let Liam know where they were, if only she knew where they were. And then it occurs to her. “Please be in my back pocket. Please be in my back pocket.” she murmurs repeatedly to herself.

A while back Riley had this habit of always losing her phone and keys, so Liam got her this little device that acts as a tracking chip and also looks like a cute keychain. Lucky for her the thing works both ways, she just had to press the button so it would give a signal out to her phone which so happens to be back at the palace.

She carefully wiggles herself and moves her wrists until finally she feels something inside her pocket, she presses the button on the keychain and hopes that Liam or somebody notices the signal.

****************************

Back at the palace in Liams office, he and the rest of the gang look for clues to where Madeleine could be. They’ve searched Fedylia; they've searched every property and estate house Amaranth owns but not even a shadow of her was seen.

“The lake is about 50 acres and then another few acres of forest covers the land after that. The boat could have docked anywhere between here and here.” Olivia pointed on the map that was laying flat on Liam's table. “The guards and the police are searching these areas as we speak but no news yet.”

“They could have hid the boats so no one would find them.” Drake mentions. “We need to narrow it down. Is there any abandoned property around these areas?.” His eyes scan the map once more. “There’s a round 2 miles from this east side. They couldn’t have carried Theon and Riley by themselves so maybe there were vehicles parked waiting for them. Liam what do you think?”

Liam stares at the map, trying to think of any possible places Riley and Theon could have been taken to. “There must be someplace I missed.” He murmurs to himself in an inaudible voice.

“Liam?”

“I don’t know Drake. I’ve had the police and kingsguard check every estate the Amaranth owned including Godfreys. So far they’ve come out empty handed. And it’s been five hours, yet Madeleine hasn’t even contacted us for any ransoms. But we cannot give up.” He turns towards Bastien who is standing at the far corner of the office. “Bastien, have the guards and the police triple the search. We will not rest until the Queen and my son are found.”Bastien nods and takes his leave.

Riley’s phone suddenly beeps continuously, Liam immediately checks to see what it could be. He had hope that it would be her calling to tell him they were alright but he got the next back thing. “It’s Riley’s keychain. She must have had it with her.” He said quickly tracking the location. “Here!” he pointed to the map on the map on the table. “I have to go.” He said in a hurry.”

“Liam wait, what about Bastien?” Drake asks worried.

“There’s no time. I text him on the way.”

“Well you can’t go alone.” Olivia said with her arms on her hips. “At least take Walker and me with you. We don’t know how many people that bithch has over there.”

“Liv’s right. You need some backup.” Drake said in agreement. Liam hesitates but nods. “Let’s go there is no time to waste.”

******

Riley struggled as much as she could to loosen the tight ropes that bonded the wrist together, when she heard the sound of chatter coming from above the stairs. She turns to Theon giving him one more reassuring look. “Whatever happens Theon, stay strong ok? Your father will be here to save us.. soon.” Theon feels scared but nods.

“I see you're finally awake.” Madeleine sneers as she approaches. “Perhaps it’s time we had a little talk.”

“Whatever it is you want Madeleine, whatever beef you have, take it out on me but let Theon go. He is innocent.” Riley said in a fierce and commanding voice, she wasn’t going to give Madeleine the satisfaction of fear.

Madeleine scoffs, taking a sharp blade and pressing it on Riley’s cheeks. “And what good would that be? No, I want Liam to suffer for what he did, I want him to break apart. Starting by killing you then the little prince in front of him.”

“Why are you doing this Madeleine? We.. We trusted you!”

“Because you took everything from me!” She belted, pressing the blade harder against Riley’s cheeks. “I was supposed to be Queen! I was supposed to rule Cordonia with the love of my life!”

“The love of your life? But you never loved Liam!”

Madeleine scoffs, throwing her hands in the air. “Typical. You think you’re so special Riley that everything revolves around you or Liam. I wasn’t talking about someone else and you killed him on the night of your wedding!”

Riley thought for a moment. What did she mean by that? And then it dawned on her. “You.. You were with Anton?”

“I wasn’t just with him. I was in love with him! We were both in love and you and Liam took that away.” She seethes, her face turning red with anger. “And now I am going to take away the only thing Liam can’t live without.” She points her blade at Riley then at Theon, a sinister smile crept on her face. “You know what. Killing the both of you and throwing your bodies in the woods for him to find. Where’s the fun in that? Maybe I’ll have him choose? Who lives and who dies? And then after that I’ll still kill whomever he chooses to live.”

“You’re a monster!”

“Maybe I am?” She sneers. “You what I’m bored.” She turns her attention towards Mara. “Mara, shoot the queen in the leg. Make her suffer a bit before we call her husband to come get her.”

Mara nods and Madeleine steps aside, watching from behind Mara as she raises her gun. “Mara why are you doing this? Why are you turning your back on the crown?” Riley asked, confused as to why Mara would do such a thing.”

“Because Riley, I was never loyal to the crown and I will never be. I serve the sons of earth.” She explains, her expression was cold. “Don’t worry your majesty, this won't hurt a bit.” Riley closes her eyes and then…

BANG!

Riley expected to feel pain but instead she felt nothing, when she opened her eyes she saw Mara Lying on the floor in a pool of blood.

“Riley! Theon!” Liam quickly ran towards them from behind with Olivia and Drake behind him. Liam and Drake quickly unite Riley and Theon while Olivia holds Madeleine at gunpoint. “It over Madeleine, there's nowhere for you to run!” Olivia sneers.

Madeleine scoffs. “That’s where you’re wrong, Nevrakis.” She takes a step back pulling a lever next to her, suddenly the room starts shaking and rubble starts to fall in front of Olivia. “This room is about to collapse. We need to get out of here now!” Liam belts, helping Riley to her feet while Drake carries Theon. “Olivia let’s go!” They make it out in time before half of the place eventually collapses to the ground.

******

3 months later..

Riley stood outside the balcony of their suite, thinking about the past few months after the kidnapping.

When they finally managed to clear through the rubble only Mara’s body was found and Madeleine’s was missing. It appears she escaped through one of the secret tunnels just after she pulled the lever. Liam seized all her accounts, he had the guards and police look for her, her picture and name were in every border gate, every station, every terminal of Cordonia. There was no way she could escape without being recognized.

Those few months were terrorizing for Riley, she was afraid that Madeleine might suddenly show up and do her worst. All she could do was pray they would find her and bring her to justice. Surely enough her prayer was answered but not in the way she had hoped, they found Madeleine but by that time she was already dead. Madeleine died in a tragic car accident, the gas tank leaked upon the coalition causing her car to explode. Her body was so badly burnt they had to use her dental records to identify that it was really her.

Adelaide died a week later from a heart attack, without an heir to the estate and not nominating anyone in her will, Liam bestowed the title Duke of Krona to his loyal and bestfriend Drake Walker.

Riley felt the crisp autumn air on her skin, after everything that happened she felt like she could finally breathe again and it was finally time for her and Liam to extend their family.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Riley is pulled away by Liam’s voice, she turns to her husband and is standing by the archway, smiling. “You said you needed to talk? It sounded serious. Should I be worried?”

Riley smiles walking towards her husband, giving him a soft kiss on the lips. “It's nothing to be worried about. I wanted to give you this.” She held out a small blue gift box wrapped with a gold ribbon. “Think of it as an advance Christmas gift.”

Liam chuckles.“If I knew we were exchanging gifts I would have prepared something for you.”

“Eh.. I’m sure you’ll make it up to me.” She smirks. “Now open it!”

Liam gives his wife a curious look before eventually opening up the box, inside it was a clear plastic bag and in that bag was what looks like a white plastic stick that had two red lines. Liam’s eyes go wide open. “Riley is this what I think it is?”

Riley nods excitedly. “I’m pregnant!” Liam picks his wife in his arms, beaming as he whirls her around. “We’re having a baby!” He howls, the words echoing throughout the palace grounds. Liam carefully places her down, tucking in the loose strands of hair behind her ear. He tilts her chin up then seals the gap with a kiss when they part they are both smiling at each other. “I love you Riley.”

“And I love you Liam.” She beams. “Now, I think it’s time we told Theon the good news.”

*****

TRR/TRH @charliejane-blog @dcbbw @hopefulmoonobject @cmestrella @pixieferry @lodberg @traeumerinwitzhelden @romanticatheart-posts @gnatbrain @the-soot-sprite @texaskitten30 @ao719 @desireepow-1986 @emceesynonymroll @jessiembruno @kinkykingliam @jlpplays1 @annekebbphotography @thecordoniandiaries @rainbowsinthestorm @cordonianroyalty @lauradowning29 @msjr0119 @janezillow w @heauxplesslydevoted @cordonia-gothqueen @kacie-0156 @bebepac @queenjilian @sanchita012

[jokertrap-ran]

[Drama CD] Vanquish Brothers Vol 3

Company: Rejet CV: Sugiyama Noriaki ( 杉山 紀彰 )

*Commissioned by @powerbanker ,Thank you! *Spoiler free: Translations under cut *CD can be viewed in the Rejet Youtube Archive here!

Commissions are OPEN!!

01.知略の将ケンシン Track 01: Kenshin, the wise general

Ugh...My head’s spinning and I’ve got to turn up for the next class too. What is it? What are you doing here? This is...You brought them for me because I didn’t bring the prints needed for homeroom today? Unfortunately, that’s a copy. I’ve already submitted the original papers. That’s right, I’m saying that you’re only wasting your time doing this. I don’t look too well? I feel perfectly fine; on the contrary, this is normal, so you don’t have to worry. This happens all the time. Besides, I don’t want you of all people worrying about me. Can’t you leave me alone? 

I said that I’m fine, didn’t I? I’m just a little dizzy; don’t touch me. How persistent. Alright. I turned up for the afternoon classes because I didn’t want Shin-chan worrying about me but I guess I’ll just leave early today. Huh? I don’t need someone to escort me. I’ll be fine alone. I’ll tell Shin-chan to inform the teacher about it later.

I told you not to touch me, didn’t I!? I don’t want to burden someone with the likes of you with such a pathetic version of myself. You’re living with me and my brothers as a potential bridal candidate, but in all honesty, I don’t have even the slightest bit of interest in you.

It’s not like I’ve forgotten about it all being an effort to connect our families together, but as you can see with how stricken with illness I am, this has absolutely nothing to do with me. You must have had some hell of a luck to get yourself involved with a familial war like this.

Don’t go making such a scene when all I’ve done is to simply collapse onto my knees. Your voice really makes my head hurt right now. I already understand so stop making such a fuss about it. I told you that your voice’s really piercing through my head right now, didn’t I? I’ll call the car round the back gate. I guess you can help me till we reach there, at least.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

03:26

Really. We’ve taken quite a long time to get here due to how slow you are. I really wish you’d try harder if you offered to help me along the way.

Why are you getting into the car as well? I told you that escorting me till this point was enough. Plus, you’re even supporting my back like that...There’s even a limit to what you should and can be doing for someone in your position. I’m...prone to fevers whenever I start wrecking my brain hard enough. I’m sure that even you know that I’m prone to illness.

Heh. You look rather worried. Exactly what are you planning in that head of yours? Do you think you’ll manage to score some points with me by helping me while I’m stricken with illness? You’re wasting your effort, if that’s what you’re aiming for. I’ve already said so earlier, but I have absolutely no interest in you. Therefore, there are no benefits for you to reap even if you act ever so kindly towards me. You’re really persistent. Very well, if you’re that insistent about it, then do whatever you like. Because you’re the one who decided to tag along of your own accord, after all. Please start the car, 

I’m fine. Please stop making a fuss out of every little thing; it’s annoying. Besides, I’m sure there are other things you should be doing rather than trying to check up on me just by speaking alone. You’re really someone who can’t read the atmosphere, aren’t you?

Hm? What is it? Can’t you just lend me your shoulder since you’re already sitting beside me? It’s a little better now. Just stay still like that for a while more. 

Huh? My phone’s ringing...It’s from Shin-chan. I’m sure he’s calling because he’s worried about me after I told him to report to the teacher about me leaving early for the day. Forget the fact that we’re even twins, he’s always worried about me and tries to coddle me whenever he’s able to.

Yes? Shin-chan? I’m fine. I was just feeling a little light-headed. I’m inside the car right now. I called the car down to pick me up, so everything’s fine. Yeah, I’ll make sure to keep myself warm and sleep it off. And I’ll take my temperature once I reach home. Yeah. I’ll message you once I get home. Come on, don’t worry so much about me. Look, I’ll cut the call now, alright? You’re still in the middle of class right now, aren’t you? You can’t do that! You’re healthy and well, so you’ve got to turn up for classes! Listen and pay attention to the classes like you should, and then you can tell me how far the afternoon classes progressed once you get back.. Okay? Yeah. Thank you, Shin-chan. See you then.

07:20

I’m a little tired since I spoke so much. 

I’m guessing that’s him calling again. No, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it. He’ll never back down at all even though he should once I start picking up every single one of his calls.

Really, I wish he’ll let me rest in peace for a little while at least. I’m sorry Shin-chan, but I’ll have to kill the battery for a while. Honestly; it seems like there are only worrywarts all around me, what with you and him both fretting over my health like that.

It seems like my fever has risen again thanks to that. I’m starting to blank out. Hey, can I ask a favour from you? There’s fever relief medicine somewhere within my bag; could you get it for me? That’s right. It’s in the pocket over there. I get fevers so often that I’ve taken to carrying the pills with me everywhere I go. There’s a bottle of water there too, right? Could you get that for me as well?

It’s there, isn’t it? Yes, that’s the one. Enough already, just let me drink the water. Yes, you are going to be the one doing it. What other way do you see this happening? How, you ask?  Through your mouth, of course. I’m about as fatigued and boneless as you can see, so there’s a high chance I’ll spill the water everywhere if I tried.

Not really. You won’t become my wife just because you’re feeding me my medicine like that. There’s no way that’ll happen, I wouldn’t lower myself that far, and I actually really need that now too. Come on then, hurry up.

What is it? Are you nervous? Please don’t misunderstand anything. This isn’t a kiss at all, it’s simply you taking care of a sick person. Your mouth’s still sealed shut. A little more, so just bear with it. Mngh!? What is it?

Such careless driving, even though there’s a sick person on board...Do you wish to be fired?

And? How long do you intend to stay on top of me? You’re heavy. Wait up. What happened to the medicine from earlier? I told you to feed it to me, didn’t I? You swallowed it? You did that when the car suddenly jammed down on the breaks by accident? Really...There’s no helping someone like you. No, you don’t need to apologise. Besides, it wasn’t as if I expected anything out of you to begin with. It’s not drugs or some other shady medicine, so I’m sure you’ll be alright. I did tell you that it was just fever relief medicine, didn’t I? Well, you might feel slightly drowsy since that’s the medicine’s side-effect; but no adverse effects will happen.

Rather than that, what will you be giving me in return then? There wasn’t any real need for you to be here in the first place, and now you’ve accidentally swallowed my medicine too. It’s not your fault at all because you didn’t do it on purpose? Heh…? You seem to be rather affixed to that stance you seem to have taken. Do you think I’ll let you off so easily? Then...Say, if I were to force you to do anything within this small space we share here right now, and it wasn’t done on purpose, is that to say that you’ll forgive me for my actions then?

The car shakes, so it can’t be helped if something happens? Does this mean that even if I forced a kiss onto you that wasn’t for the sake of caring for a sick person, that’ll be fine? I’m not wrong at all. That’s what you’re saying right now. You have to take responsibility for your own words and the things you say. So you’re the kind that takes their words back even though its been spoken? It seems like this will never get settled if this is the case here.

Well, I’ve got no interest in the feud though. My condition? That’s right, I’m still fatigued and boneless right now because a certain someone just so happened to accidentally swallow my fever relief pill.

I might not even be able to walk later since my fever did rise. You have to take responsibility; since you’re the one who bears the sin of having eaten my medicine. I’ll have you help me out till the very end.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

13:20

Ahh, you’ve finally awakened. You’ve been asleep for a long time. I doubt that the medicine had that strong of a side-effect though. You don’t have to look so wary, trying to decipher your surroundings like that. I’ll tell you where you are. This is my room. I doubt you’ll remember it anyway but I’ll just say this; those soft toys over there aren’t mine. They’re all things that Shin-chan brought over and left here all of his own accord. I don’t know where he bought those things, but he kept on bringing them over despite me telling him that it was embarrassing to have those in my room. He’s a really troublesome brother. I really do want to toss them out, but I can’t do it since he comes into my room at least 3 times per day on a daily basis. He’ll bring twice the amount of plushies back into my room if he notices that the amount in here was lessened even a little.

I don’t want my room looking any more stupid than it already is. Besides, it does take quite some patience to play the role of a cute brother. However...that act ends here as well. The battle ends here, today. Do you have any idea how long I’ve waited for this day? You’ll become mine today. I’ll show them all; I’ll show them who’s befitting of the title of the head of this family.

02.川中島の戦い Track 02: The battle of Kawanakajima

15:18

You don’t know what’s going on, do you? You have that look on your face right now, clear as they day. I hate repeating myself, but I’ll say it once again. You accidentally ingested the medicine I was supposed to take and fell into slumber because of its side-effects. And then, you continued sleeping on even after I brought you to my room. On top of my bed, no less. I doubt you’d fare much for an escort since you’ve taken to sleeping atop the bed of a patient.

Huh? How do I feel? Do I look unwell to you? If I do, then there must be something wrong with those eyes of yours. It’s just as you can see, I’m perfectly fine and well right now. It was all a ploy to isolate you from the rest of my brothers and to take you for myself. However, you accidentally ingesting my medicine and apologizing for it was outside of my calculations…

What are you in denial about? You must really be an idiot if you’re still unable to grasp the situation you’re in right now after I’ve already said so much. It’s your reason to hate me, if you needed one. It’ll take time to explain everything all over again, so I’ll just have you understand it yourself later. I don’t know if you’re doing it on purpose at all, but you’re so full of openings. To think that someone like you is going to become my wife...I’d say it would be better if I stayed single for the rest of my life. Even my father’s will; I’m still unable to wrap my head around it. He made someone like you out to be like a special princess, even though you’ve got nothing that makes you stand out from the rest of the crowd. Well, that’s fine. All I have to do is to steal your first night. It’ll end before you know it so just shut up and be compliant. 

I’m not such an idiot that I’d wait just because you told me to. Enough, just stay still.

Tch. Didn’t I tell you to stay still!? How many times do I have to- 

My dizziness has returned thanks to that...Damn. I think my fever’s rising yet again. At a time like this… Who’s saying who’s fine right now? Do I look even the slightest bit okay to you? If you really want to do something about it and worry about me, then I’d appreciate it if you don’t anger me. 

My fever won’t go down from your apologies. Are you stupid? Oh, yes, you are. Sorry, that was a dumb question. How about you take responsibility for it if you feel bad about it? Because it’s entirely your fault that I’m feeling like this right now. No matter how foolish you are, I’m sure you can take care of a sick person, right? It wasn’t my intention to bring you here to take care of a sick person, but...As it stands right now, I’m unable to concentrate. I suppose I’ll have you do something else/ I’ll go lie down for a while...And as for you...let’s see. Maybe you could sleep beside me? You can’t be embarrassed by just that. It’s hard to think of the future, if this is how things are. I can’t meet up to your expectations if I’m this light-headed. I’m not exactly a willing party either. Enough. Hurry and come over here already. The spot beside me is empty. Do I have to repeat myself?

20:10

Yes. I’m glad you understand. Of course, you’re going to be facing me? Hm? Are you not going to retaliate just like you did earlier? That’s a nice spirit. Why are you trying to run away now that you’re by my side? I only touched you a little. Weren’t you going to take responsibility and look after me? 

Of course, this is looking after me. Your body is cool and it’s nice to the touch since I’m really feverish right now. Is your body temperature only this low because you’re nervous and terrified right now? Are you really that terrified to become mine? I’d still do it even if you don’t want to; because isn’t that why you came here in the first place? To become the bride of one of us brothers. We have a familial feud right now; the fight to obtain you. I’m sure you’re aware of that, right? One of us has to have you, in order to inherit the family. It’s uncough for us to do so, but since father himself wrote that down in his will, there’s no other way around it. I’m not one to be saying this, and I know what doing this will entail, but I’d rather die than to see one of my other brothers steal you from under my nose and to ascend as the head of this family. It chills me to the bone, just thinking about it. I suppose I’ll tell you everything about this family for today. That’s your role to play in all of this eventually, after all.

You are fetching the papers I forgot today and me leaving early from school because I was ill; they were all planned in order to lure you here without my brothers ever suspecting anything. There’s only one last step left, and I don’t want them getting in the way of it. It’s a good thing that you’re not sharp at all, since you were stupid enough to fall for it all. Thanks to that, my preparations have been completed. I have absolutely no interest in letting you go, so you should just accept your fate and be compliant to me. Understand?

My fever’s bound to rise again since I talked so much. Hey, you. If you’ve got the time to space out, then how about you get on top of me? Why? Heh. Do you really have to ask? I’ve got a fever running and I’m really sluggish. Besides, even I have no intention to move if I’m supposed to be doing it with you. I’m sure you’ll understand if you think about it hard enough. Besides, it’s even strange that you think I’m going to move. You came here to become one of ours in the first place, so aren’t you supposed to be begging me to embrace you now that it has come down to this? Am I mistaken? I’m not, am I? If you understand, then hurry and get on top. Haa...I see there’s no helping it. If you really don’t want to, then I suppose we can do this. This is my sword. No, it’s not a fake. Here. See? Even my brother’s soft toys can all be torn into shreds when sliced by this blade of mine. For whatever this blade pierces through, even this tiger cannot withstand is strength. Do you wish to become like this plush over here as well?

I hate tigers. It annoys me to think that others think that we share the same interests and hobbies just because we’re twins and he’s my brother. Right...I think I’m more fitting to be a dragon. One of the skies; one that rules the skies above and gazes down at the lands below. Comparing someone such as I to the likes of a tiger…! I can’t stand it! If anyone wishes to reduce me to something of the likes of that, I don’t care if you’re my parent or if you’re my wife. I can, and I will, kill you. Well, my parents died of their own accord before I could even kill them, anyway. And they also happened to leave a stupid will which I can never understand. 

I’m totally fine with killing you if you refuse to comply with my wishes. I only need that one thing from you. After that, I really can’t care about whatever happens to you. 

So we’re finally on the same page? I never thought that it’d take this much effort to get an idiot to understand me. It seems like my fever has slightly risen from that too...Get closer up here. What are you intending to do from that low? Really, for crying out loud. You’re an idiot, aren’t you? That’s right, come closer. I’m sure even you know what you should be doing at a time like this. That’s right, there’s fine. How’s it feel? You should feel honoured to be looking down on me like that, for you’re the only one I’ll forgive to commit such an act. It does make me feel a little angry when I think about the fact that someone like you is looking down upon me, but...I suppose I can let it pass if you’re looking at me with such an expression.

What’s the matter? It seems like your hands are shaking. Could you be embarrassed? Even though you’re on top of me and looking down at me like that? Heh, how strange. That’s right. It’s a little odd to be saying this, but you’re the one standing on top right now. In other words, you have to be the lead. You understand what I’m trying to get at, don’t you? You’re scared because you think that I might steal it from you. If that’s so, then you can just do it by yourself and submit yourself to me. I’m sure you wouldn't be as scared if that was the case, right? I’m trying to find a way around this since you’re so scared. Heh, be thankful for it.

03.騎馬の戦い Track 03: Horseback Battle

28:05 

Now, hurry on up. You might be okay with it, but I don’t like to be kept waiting. Plus, those brothers of mine might come bounding home once they realise that you’re no longer there. I wish for this to be over and done with before they come home. And my shitty brother’s worried to the seven hells about me too so he might end up coming home much earlier than usual.

Come on. You won’t be able to do anything if you keep your fists bunched into the sheets like that, right? How about you let go of those and put your hands forward for starters? You’re still shaking, as usual. Are you still scared? You’re still terrified, huh...Nervousness? Well, whatever. You can suit yourself, either way. What is it? Don’t go touching me of your own accord? Of course I’m hot to the touch, I have a fever running for crying out loud. Heh, I can’t believe that the person responsible for this is saying something like that. Hold up, where do you think you’re going- 

Where are you going? I didn’t give you permission to move away. You can’t be planning to escape? Are you going to run away, leaving me suffering as you made me? You’re as dim as you’re as prone to confessing. I really can’t believe that someone like you’s to be my wife. I can’t even look my father in the eye if he was still around. Enough. You can just run away if you really wish to escape that badly. What is it? Weren’t you going to escape? If you weren’t going to run away, then why did you get off the bed? Aren’t you contradicting yourself?

Medicine? Humph. What a lame excuse to say that you’re going to get some medicine for me. Even a child can be a better liar than you. Besides, you don’t even need to leave to fetch medicine. There are lots of them over in the drawers of the side-table over there. You feel bad since I was feeling so unwell that you wanted to fetch me some medicine...I suppose you should first fix that attitude of yours before making such an excuse. Just use the medicine over there and do what you were supposed to do back in the car. Besides, you were already supposed to have done that back in the car. If you’re able to prove it to me with your actions, then, I’ll know that it was really not in your intentions to run from me. I wouldn’t mind trusting you on your claim that you’re worried about me. I suppose we can do a fair trade with that, despite your confession. What are you going to do? I won’t shoot you if you run away right now or anything. Well, I suppose you’ll probably have to take refuge for a while though. 

Heh. It seems like you’ve finally realised that you should take responsibility for what you have caused. That’s fine, you can just continue to feel responsible for your own actions like that.

Now, you’ve already popped the pill, haven’t you? Then hurry. What do you intend to do, turning your face away like that? Come on, turn this way, You already know how to do this, right? You can’t open your mouth until I do. Hehe, how obedient. It seems like you’ve finally started to understand, so I’m grateful for that. Did that surprise you? Even if I’m ill and down for the count, I won’t leave you longing. Heh. And here, I told you that you were free to run away. I suppose you aren’t as stupid as I initially thought you were, but it does seem like you’re a stupidly nice person. You can regret your choice to stay all you want since you didn’t run earlier when you could. Haa...what are you standing around for? You should just come lie down with me. Of course, you are. You’re supposed to be taking care of me. It’s not like my fever will go down just from ingesting the medicine alone. I was feeling hot and feverish earlier but I’m cold now. I’m sure you understand what I’m saying, don’t you? Hehe. Well, that’s fine. If you’re still embarrassed about it, then I don’t mind you keeping your back to me. I just require you to warm me up, after all. Now, hurry on up. That’s fine. Just stay like that. Please stay still. My fever will rise again if you struggle against me. Oh? How strange. Your body’s really hot too. It’s a good thing since you’re here to warm me up, but I suppose you can become even hotter, since you’re already heating up. Ah, your hands are shaking again. You can just spread them out and have a look at it yourself. 

See? Just like I said, right? Even I can feel it from where I am. Are you still embarrassed? Or are you uneasy because you don’t know what’s going to happen in the future? If that’s how it is, then you don’t have to overthink it. If you do that, then you won’t feel as uneasy or flighty. For example, if you focus on the feeling of my fingers striking the palm of your hand right now...Heh. You don’t have to have such a big reaction, right? Was it that ticklish? Heh~ So this is your weak spot. That’s unexpected. From that expression, it seems like you won’t be satisfied if I continue stroking this place here lightly. You can just forget about your principles and be honest about it. You can just tell me whatever you want, however you want. I’ll allow it, so feel free. Your voice’s coming out. You really do cry out with a nice voice. That’s fine, it’s not bad at all. That voice...Is it like this because it hurts? I’m sure it’s not painful. Or is it because it feels good? You won’t tell me? Well, that’s fine. I can always just read off your face if you refuse to speak.

What, aren’t you already longing for me? You’re a pretty lewd woman, huh. Was all your embarrassment up till not all just an act? Well, well, what a sight this is. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but you have the talent of alluring people when you really put yourself to it.

Humph. I bet. Even I wouldn’t have thought that you had such an ability in you for however much of an idiot you are. However, if that’s so...then I wonder why you’re making such an expression right now? It’s almost as if you wish for me to take you here and now.

I know. You’re really the one who knows yourself best too, so how about you just admit it. There's no meaning to you turning your face away from me at this point in time. I’ve already seen completely through you. You should already come to terms with it that it’s useless to deny otherwise. That’s right, I’ve seen your true self now, so...this also includes what you really want right now, of course. You don’t wish for me to stop touching you, in fact, you want more. That’s what you’re thinking right now. I’m not mistaken, am I? Heh. Don’t you know that silence in this case means that I’ve hit the mark? Well, that’s fine. I can’t move well enough at this point yet anyway, so I can just touch you however you like it right now. Can you feel it? This warm hand of mine touching you. Hm? Your lips are a little cold, aren’t they? Even though your body’s this hot. How strange...I’ll have to warm them up again then since there’s nothing you can do about that. Turn back over here once more.

Haa...Didn’t I already tell you? There’s no meaning to you trying to hide right now. It irritates me to keep repeating myself so please, I’d rather appreciate the fact that you don’t force my hand on that matter.

Or do you wish for me to warm it up in another manner? So it is just like I thought. You do want me after all. Heh. Turn this way then. You’re really honest, aren’t you? I suppose it’s not too bad of a trait for someone who’s to be my partner since it’ll be easier. You still do annoy me sometimes though.

So? How is it? Your lips have turned rather warm now. I think that’s about as warm they can get. There you go, turning your head away again. Do I have to tell you everything about what you should be doing during times like this? You’re really...Didn’t I tell you that you can just be honest with yourself. You can just submit to it if you don’t wish for me to stop. Huh?  Here, hold my hand. Or would you rather you voice out what you really want deep down? That you want for me to touch you more. Yes. You can do it if you want to. It seems like you’re slowly starting to let your guards down around me.

Hm? Your shoulders just trembled just now. For you to react as such just from me biting down..I see, so you’re into that sort of thing, huh. If so, then I suppose I didn’t have to hold back at all since the start. Actually, I think you might have been happier if I just made you suffer from the very start. What a failure on my part.

Heh, there you go again. What good reactions you have when I bite down onto you. Where else should I do it next? Over here? ...Or? What is it? You don’t like it? How strange for you to be saying that when you’re clearly enjoying it. Well, I guess we can leave it at this for now. We’ve got to save the fun for later after all. It’s much more enjoyable that way,

That was a rather rough ride to get up to this point, but how is it? Are you feeling much warmer now? Heh. That’s true. I was the one who started it, didn’t I?  But I’m plenty warm now thanks to that/ And it seems like you’ve worked hard on your part too so I’ll thank you for it. My body feels much better now, so I suppose we can end this break here. Now, get on top and bear yourself to me.

04.電話越しの凱歌 Track 04: Singing of victory over the phone

44:40

It’s already this late, huh. My brothers will be home if we don’t hurry. I’ve already said this many times, but we don’t have time. I don’t have the time to comply to your whims. Just think of it all as you doing it for my sake. No matter if it hurts or if it’s hard.

Understand? Now...Tell me that you wish to become mine. I don’t really care if you’re crying or if it hurts. But I really don’t agree with forcing myself onto anyone. Of course, I can do it. But that’ll not be a pretty sight to be waking up to. So , I wish for you to want it, yourself. I told you, didn’t I? I won’t be stealing your first night against your will. You’re going to be giving it to me yourself. Like I said earlier, you are free to run from these arms of mine if you don’t want to. I don’t mind at all. It’s a chance for you, as thanks for taking care of me. Therefore, I’ll grant you the freedom of choice. You can run off from me now and become one of my brother’s, or you can stay here, and become mine. The choice is yours. What will you do?

Make a decision. I don’t mind, whatever it is. However, let’s see...If you answer me in the way that I expect you to, I’ll give you a special reward. How does that sound?

Now...Hurry and make your choice. Heh. That’s a good answer. So you can do it if you want to.  You’re fine with me and you wish to become mine. That was what you yourself, has just said. Am I right?

I’ll never forget those words of yours. I like you. I wouldn't mind making you my wife, if you’re always this honest and straight-forward. I promised, didn’t I? I’ll give you the promised reward.

My fever seems like it’ll rise. No, that’s fine. If you’re going to become mine, then...How is it? The feeling of becoming someone else’s. It’s not that bad once you really accept it, right?

I’m way better than Shingen. That’s right. The dragon’s going to finally kill and eat the tiger today.

A phone? That’s not mine. Which means...is that yours? Really, what a disturbance. Make sure to shut it off the next time. Otherwise, I’ll be sure to dish out a painful punishment. Of course. But you liked pain again, didn’t you? I suppose that wouldn’t make for a punishment then. And the call’s from my shitty brother too. Seems like they will go to no ends in order to annoy me.

I suppose that’s fine. Let’s have you take responsibility for souring the mood afterwards. 

Hello? Yes. Yes, it’s me. As expected of you to realise that I was with her, Shin-chan. That’s right. The battery died. Sorry, did I make you worry? Yeah, I’m alright now. I’ve got a little fever left, but I’m feeling good now. Oh, Shin-chan. Sorry, could you wait a little?

Heh. Those eyes of yours really resemble that of a dog waiting for it’s owner. You don’t have to worry, I’ll end it in a jiffy so just stay put and wait. Or...Will you come onto me, yourself? I wouldn’t mind that at all. What will you do?

Ah, sorry for making you wait, Shin-chan. Yeah, I’m fine right now. I’ve gotten my hands on something much more effective than just medicine alone, you see? Now? I’m in my bed. With her. What about it? Hmm? What’s wrong? Grabbing my clothes like that. Are you finally in the mood for it? But it’s too late...I’m sure even he realises what we’re up to right now.

Hehe.

Huh? Sorry, I couldn’t hear you. How about you calm down a little. That’s right, it’s just like what I’ve said. She’s real red right now beneath me. She has just become mine, Shin-chan. Now no one can lay a hand on her. Of course, that means you too. Are you listening to me? Heeeeey? Heh. This won’t do. It seems like he has frozen up on the other end of the call. How about we leave that idiot alone and carry on? It seems like you can’t wait any longer either. Sorry for leaving you alone. I’ll love you even more so, as an apology. As much as you want. 

Ah, looks like he has finally revived his soul. Here comes the idiot again. Yes, hello? Shin-chan? I’m feeling good today, so I’ll take the chance now to tell you something. Will you be willing to hear me out, though? Shingen, you see, I...Actually hate you, you big fat idiot! Going all Ken-chan, ken-chan, ken-chan at me all day, every day, all minute, every second!! Isn’t there something wrong with that head of yours? I’m above you now. So don’t you dare do something so annoying ever again! I’ll cut you down if you ever do try. And also, don’t you ever dare think of laying even a finger on her. I’ll kill you if you ever try to say that the three of us can live happily together ever after. She’s mine. And I will never, ever let anyone lay even so much as a finger on her. Understand? Heh. He should shut up a little after this. But, I’ll be troubled if any more disturbances come our way, so I’ll shut this off for a while. This will be the end to all of it. No one will be getting in our way now. 

That was great. Aren’t you glad? The phone’s dead now, for good. Shingen won’t be calling us anytime soon. Are you glad? You don’t have to worry. I can buy you as many phones as you need. Besides, I broke it for you, so shouldn’t you be saying something to me? Or would you rather I continued that phone call and let Shingen hear you?

Right? That’s why I took the effort to break it for you. Personally, I wanted him to hear it all, to show him my power above him. I’ve managed to save you from that fate, so you should be thanking me for it, at least. AM I mistaken? Right? Hmm? I can’t hear you. If you can’t speak, then a kiss will work too. I suppose that will be easier for you now. Now, hurry.

So you chose that, huh. But that’s not enough. Again.

Heh. I’m happy to see that you;ve gotten a little sharper. But don’t forget, it’s Shingen we’re talking about here, so he’s bound to come bounding in as soon as he can. Of course, I’ve locked the doors, but that’s not going to stop him. He might hear you if you let out your voice too loudly from behind the door. I’ve got no qualms with him hearing you, though. I think you wouldn’t like that to happen since you’re prone to shyness. If you don’t want that to happen then you can just kiss me. I’ll help you out then, by swallowing all your cries with these lips of mine. I would love to have you cry out even more and hear all of it, but circumstances don’t allow it. 

I mean, you’re already reacting so well to just my kisses alone. But, it seems like you’ve not completely prepared yourself for this despite how far we’ve already come. Even though you said you wanted to become mine too. There’s still a part of you inside that’s still scared, deep down. That’s why you’re holding back your voice, isn’t it? You should just hurry and gather the courage for it already. But, I guess I’ll applaud your efforts. Although, it’s useless.

Or is that your way of retaliating? Is this you, trying to challenge me? Saying that something like this alone, will not be able to satisfy you? That’s fine, if that’s it. I’ll accept your challenge. I

I’ll stake it on the namesake of this family. Heh. As for you, who issued this challenge to me…. Do try not to raise the white flag all too quickly. Good luck trying to resist, otherwise...it wouldn’t be as fun to tease you for it all.

But...after you’ve accepted your defeat...You can cry out as much as you want. You can cry out as much as you want, until that offending door gets broken down.

05.龍と虎 Track 05: Dragon and Tiger

59:50

Seems like you’ve finally awakened. Geez, how long were you intending to sleep for? That’s not something entirely fitting for my wife to only be doing. What is it? Are you an idiot? Well, I already know you are one. Heh. What a face you’re pulling right now. There’s not even a hint of you from yesterday right now. It’s almost as if you’re an entirely different person. Do you not remember? Then I suppose I’ll have to tell you. Your eyes were filled with tears yesterday, sweat beading on your neck, cheeks rosy red and lips keening for me. It was that perfect for a woman. You should be thanking me for that, because I was the one who could make you look that way.

I know. At least, you were happy about it. I’m sure you’re aware of it as well. You were so reluctant to let go of me as well, no? Don’t make me repeat myself all the time. I’ve already seen the truest parts of you in all its glory, after all.

If so, then should I make it so that you understand? Once more, just like last night. Heh, that’s just a joke. Well, That's a half-truth I suppose. I told you that I wouldn’t, didn’t I? So don’t look so spiteful towards me like that as if I’m going to pounce on you against your will. I told you, didn’t I? I don’t like forcing myself onto anyone. Ut, I’m sure that even you can hold up to a simple kiss right now, right? I suppose I can tell you again since the fever’s still kind of there. You became mine yesterday. Understand what that implies and never forget it, for as long as you live.

You’ve done as well as an idiot could have.  This is something that has been passed down from the sengoku era itself. You’ll be living as mine from today onwards. If you’re not going to toss me out and throw me aside, then take claim to this and hold onto it. Understand? If you do it, then I’ll satisfy you, all you want.

I thought that I only have to do this because of those brothers of mine, but it seems like I can get something out of this, at least. And for that, I’m glad. There’s some good to teasing you too. Oh, it seems like my brothers are finally awakening as well. How about we show you to them all and show them who’s the one who has finally gotten their hands on you? 

That shitty brother of mine seems to be in denial and has refused to get up. But I suppose he’ll realize once he sees it for himself with his own eyes. He’ll finally see who’s the higher one between us both. I refuse to be seen as tiger no.2. Where are you going? Wait up. Of course I’m not going to flaunt you off to all of them. That was just a joke. Didn’t I tell you that you were mine plenty of times last night?

To think that you’ve forgotten that even though I’ve repeated it countless times yesterday, you must truly be an idiot. Well, I guess I can forgive you if you were too caught up in me to have heard anything I said.

I won’t let the eyes of other men fall upon you. Forever, promise. Huh? My fever? It’s been gone  a long time ago. Come to think of it...haa...It seems like there’s a little more. Actually, it might have gotten higher since yesterday. It’s cold, so how about you warm me up again. Just like yesterday. That;s fine, isn’t it? You’re mine and only mine; that’s why.

[hikikomori-sama]

Kimetsu No Yaiba Vol. 5 Special CD “Agatsuma Zenitsu’s First Mission” Translation

T/N: You can listen to the track over at this link. Then please enjoy the drama cd translation under read more.

Zenitsu: Gramps! Gramps! Gramps! 

Jigoro: Call me Master! What is it this time? 

Zenitsu: I don’t want to join the Demon Slayer Corps anymore cause I’m going to die FOR SURE! 

Jigoro: What are you talking about? You endured a year of harsh training and even passed the preliminary selections, what do you have to fear? 

Zenitsu: I kept trying to run away during training didn’t I? And in the end, I was able to learn only the first form of Thunder Breathing! I only survived the preliminary selections out of pure luck! I DEFINITELY WON’T BE OF ANY HELP! NO MEANS NOOOO! 

Jigoro: Stop it Zenitsu! They already approved you as a member of the Demon Slayer Corps and you are still saying that? 

(chirp chirp chirp) 

Jigoro: Oh? The sparrow sent by the Headquarters? What’s this? There is traces of a demon in a nearby town? 

(chirping) 

Jigoro: And he is supposed to go and investigate it? Ohohoho, Zenitsu! Guess what? It’s your first mission as a member of corps!

Zenitsu: NOWAYNOWAYNOWAY! IMPOSSIBLE! I’LL DEFINITELY DIE! THEY WILL GOUGE OUT MY EYEBALL, TWIST MY NECK AND EAT ME ALIVE! 

Jigoro: HIIIII! JUST HURRY AND GET READY! 

Zenitsu: NONONONO! I’M NOT PREPARED TO DIE YET, I’M NOT READY TO DIE YET! MOST IMPORTANTLY I DON’T WANT TO DIE! 

Jigoro: I have been to that town before, there is a line of shops that attracts a huge crowd, I bet there are going to be cute girls there too…

Zenitsu: Eh? Girls? Cute? 

Zenitsu: NONO! Even if there are cute girls, there’s no point if I die!

Jigoro: Hmph~ pathetic, can’t be helped since it’s nearby, I shall tag along this time only.

Zenitsu: Eh? You will exterminate the demons for me, Gramps? THANK YOU~

Jigoro: OF COURSE NOT, YOU MORON! I will only accompany you since it’s a mission for you after all!

Zenitsu: EHH~ since you are going why not do it instead? You are a former pillar and much stronger than me. I’m sure it’s for the better!

Jigoro: AAHH QUIET! HURRY AND LET’S GO!

Zenitsu: Demon Slayer, Agatsuma Zenitsu’s First Mission!

Zenitsu: Hence, I was forcibly dragged along by Gramps, and had no choice but to trail behind him into the town that’s rumored to be the hunting ground of a demon… (dirty high pitched note)

Zenitsu: This place looks deserted, there’s nobody on the streets. Was it the same as last time you have been here? 

Jigoro: That’s not true. The streets were crowded with people and it was a good town. Then I guess the rumor about a demon is true after all.

Zenitsu: Eh~ No way, I’m going to die! Gramps, hurry and defeat the demon~

Jigoro: That’s your job!

Zenitsu: Gramps~

Jigoro: Ann~ Why are you clinging on to me?

Zenitsu: That’s because~ if the demons were to attack now wouldn’t it be dangerous~ 

Jigoro: You little- Anyways, there is no way demons will appear in the noon, you moron! If you can’t locate the demon with your hearing then how are you going to defeat it? Let’s patrol the streets…

Jigoro: Most of the shops are closed…

Zenitsu: (frightened noise)

Jigoro: Geez, can you back up a bit?

Zenitsu: BUT! BUT~! 

Jigoro: Can’t be helped… Zenitsu, how is it? Can you feel anything?

Zenitsu: Feel what?

Jigoro: You should be able to!

Zenitsu: Gramps, I can hear the sound of fear from the townspeople, they are frightened by something…

Jigoro: Ho~ so you can hear it?

Zenitsu: (whimpers) I’M SCARED~

Jigoro: As I expected he has potential...

Jigoro: For now let’s head to that tea shop and hear what the owner has to tell us.

Zenitsu: Tea shop? Is today’s mission over? Yay~

Jigoro: No! 

Jigoro: Pardon our intrusion.

Owner: Welcome.

Jigoro: There is something I would like to ask… it’s been a while since I visited this town and things seem to be different, did something happen? 

Owner: There’s been a few cases of disappearance, and I guess everyone was creeped out and stopped going out. Even if I open my shop for business there’s no customers.

Jigoro: Oh sorry for not realizing, then can I order some dumplings? 

Jigoro: Did that happen at night? 

Owner: Yes, to kill or kidnap, it’s noticeable to do it during day time, shouldn’t it be difficult?

Jigoro: Is there any possibility for it to be a wild dog attack? 

Owner: They are some rumors but it’s hard to say when no corpses are found. Some even say they fell victims to a fallen warrior’s hand. Either way, the sun is setting soon, it’s best if you don’t wander outside, I will even introduce you to an inn so please head there.

Jigoro: Zenitsu, now is your turn to get information.

Zenitsu: I just have to enter a dumplings shop?

Jigoro: That’s not it!

Zenitsu: Ehh~ I get it okay? What you are trying to make me do and what you are asking from me, I get it! However, even if you praise me a lot but that’s not it, I’m weak and I don’t have the courage~

Jigoro: Then will you turn a blind eye and leave if there is a demon there?

Zenitsu: …

Jigoro: If there is somebody attacked by a demon, will you not fight and leave?

Zenitsu: BUT BUT! Gramps there is no point even if I’m there, it will only increase the amount of people getting killed, you don’t think so?

Jigoro: Then what is the purpose of the nichirin blade at your waist? A decoration?

Zenitsu: This is… I already said I only survived the preliminary selections out of luck…

Jigoro: If you are the type of person that can turn a blind eye to something getting attacked by a demon and leave, then I will abandon you too…

Zenitsu: …

Jigoro: The sun has set, Zenitsu a demon will appear.

Zenitsu: HII!

Jigoro: See how silent the town is?

Zenitsu: …

Jigoro: It’s fear, only a few people know about the existence of demons. People have a strong fear of the unknown, the townspeople are fearing what’s more than the existence of a demon, the unknown.

Zenitsu: Gramps! Gramps!

Jigoro: This again Zenitsu? Get away from me!

Zenitsu: That’s not it, Gramps… that temple over there? There’s a really disgusting sound coming from it…

Zenitsu: I didn’t hear anything just now but suddenly…

Jigoro: Hm?

Zenitsu: I can hear a sound like “Kiiii…”

Zenitsu: This is it, I can hear it coming from this building.

Zenitsu: Huh? Gramps? Gr- GRAMPS IS NOT HERE!? GRAMPS~! GRAMPS! WHERE DID YOU GO?

Jigoro: Zenitsu you can do it, you just have to believe in yourself.

Zenitsu: It’s a demon, it has the same sound as what I heard in the preliminary selections.

Zenitsu: Huh~ Am I going to die? I really wished I had a chance to talk more to girls… it was a worthless live huh~

Zenitsu: Hah… My legs are shaking, I can’t stop sweating either… What am I supposed to do, Gramps?

Zenitsu: Huh? This is the sound of fear… there is someone here other than a demon!

Zenitsu: If I don’t go, then the person is going to be killed by the demon in this building! Even if I did go it would be the same though~ but.. but…I get it already, I just have to go right?

Zenitsu: Gramps… gramps, I am scared but I have to go right, gramps? At the end, behind the doors, there is a demon! (draws sword)

(door opens)

Demon: Who are you?

Zenitsu: (SHAKING) 

Demon:  A sword? A demon slayer?

Zenitsu: (SHAKING) 

Demon: Are you shivering? 

Zenitsu: (SHAKING)

Demon: Coming here on your own accord, you are a strange one…

Child: Help me, please help me!

Zenitsu: A child! A child is caught…

Demon: It’s my delicious dinner time and you dare to interrupt? Just wait right there, after this I’m going to eat you too.

Child: Save me!

Zenitsu: Let go of the child!

Demon: I SAID WAIT RIGHT?

Zenitsu: HIII!

Demon: I want to start my meal with a delicious child…

Zenitsu: HIII!

Demon: The brain juice of a child is unbearably delicious, want to try some?

Zenitsu: (MELTDOWN) ARGH! (passes out)

Zenitsu: Zzz…Zzz…

Demon: He collapsed… Is he sleeping? 

Demon: I don’t know whether he is sleeping or not but this is good, after eating this child it’s going to be your turn.

Child: No No! 

Demon: Just stay still.

Child: Stop it! Save me!

Zenitsu: …

Demon: What’s this? You wanna go?

(boss music)

Demon: What’s wrong with him? His presence is different from before?

Zenitsu: (inhales)

Demon: What’s this!?

Zenitsu: (inhales) Thunder Breathing, First Form, Thunderclap and Flash!

Zenitsu: Zzz… Zzz…

(dawn breaks)

Child: Mister! Mister!

Zenitsu: Mm? Morning? Sunlight! I was saved? How?

Child: The monster disappeared already…

Zenitsu: Disappeared? Ah, Gramps! It must be Gramps that saved us? GRAMPS~ GRAMPS~

Zenitsu: I get it, gramps… from now on, I must carry on alone right?

(chirp chirp)

Zenitsu: Oh… Chuntarou?

(chirp chirp)

Zenitsu: What is it?

(chirp chirp)

Zenitsu: Don’t tell me? You are telling me to go on a new mission?

(affirmative chirp)

Zenitsu: Nowaynowaynoway! Do you want to kill me off that badly? You are okay with me dying?

(affirmative chirp)

Zenitsu: It said yes… Do you mean it? That’s harsh!

(pecking)

Zenitsu: Ouch ouch! I get it! I get it! I just have to go right?

Jigoro: I watched everything Zenitsu, it was an excellent first mission… You can do it if you just try, you have potential and most importantly, you are able to understand how weak people feel. 

Jigoro: That’s exactly why you were able to take the first step yesterday night and this will make you stronger from now on… You just have to believe in yourself!

Child: See you Mister! Thank you!

Zenitsu: Be careful!

Child: You too, Mister!

Zenitsu: Yes~ now let’s go…

Zenitsu: Chuntarou, where do we head towards? East?

(disapproving chirp)

Zenitsu: West?

(disapproving chirp)

Zenitsu: North?

(disapproving chirp)

Zenitsu: That means South?

(affirmative chirp)

Zenitsu: Alright I get it, for now I will just go along but it doesn’t mean I’m going to fight okay?

(angry chirp)

Zenitsu: Even if you say no, I don’t want to die! You are alright with me dying? Are you that harsh?

(sad chirp)

Zenitsu: It’s fine, you are here because you are told to anyways

(chirp chirp)

Zenitsu: Then let’s go… I might die soon but let’s get along okay?

(happy chirp)

END.

[thebiasrekkers]

Fragmentation 0.1 - JHS

Plot: How does one measure freedom? Are our choices truly our own, or are they part of a preset design outside of our control? We all have a question burning inside of us, though few speak it out. It is the question that drives us forward, seeking purpose in our lives. What is The Matrix?

Rating: NC-17 // NSFW

Genre: Series | The Matrix!AU | angst | sci-fi | action | drama

Pairing: N/A

Warnings: Strong language, allusions of suicide, extreme angst, graphic violence

Links: FAQ || BTS Masterlist || Admin E’s AO3 || [ REQUESTS ARE OPEN ]

Word Count: 2,008

AN: It’s finally here! I know that I am still in the process of updating Make It Right, but I have been dying to get this series off the ground. Especially since no one in the fandom has written in this Universe from what I can see. So I’m super excited to share this with you all. This is the prequel to my upcoming series, Defragmentation, which showcases everyone’s origin stories and how they managed to escape from The Matrix. Because this universe is so extensive, I strongly suggest that people utilize the official Matrix Wiki as a reference point because there will be much in this world that I will not go into in-depth explanations for. Again, if anyone would like to be added to the tag list, please feel free to message us!

Tag List: @aroseforyoongi​, @prisczero​, @pinkpjmin​, @btsaudge​ (I’m adding you because I purple you; don’t @ me)

© thebiasrekkers (Admin E). All rights reserved. Reposting/modifying our work is prohibited. Translations are not allowed. Plagiarism/stealing is not tolerated by any means. Legal action will be taken in instances of theft.

Sabine saw The Code first.

Just after his fourteenth birthday, Hoseok met up with his best friend after school for their traditional birthday shenanigans. The funny birthday card, the sweet cupcake with a single candle on top, and a handmade present that he  knew Sabine spent the better part of three months putting together. That was supposed to be the plan. Nothing changed in the ten years they knew each other.

Instead of meeting on the roof after school, Sabine told Hoseok she would be waiting for him at the abandoned playground on the edge of town. He didn’t understand why she wanted to meet there, of all places. Kids didn’t go there anymore because of a major accident and the lack of upkeep made it look creepy. Going there after the sun went down just gave it eerie vibes.

When he arrived, Sabine was idly moving back and forth on one of the swings. Her eyes looked focused on something just behind him. When Hoseok turned to see if there was anyone there, he felt a chill slide down his back when there was nothing. He wasn’t sure if Sabine was trying to scare him, but it was working.

“Hey, Hobi,” she called to him, standing from the swing to meet him, “you haven’t been using your inhaler lately.”

He tilted his head slightly. Now that she mentioned it, he hadn’t been. The doctor told him to only use it when he felt it was necessary. For the last year, he didn’t feel a need. P.E. wasn’t as hard for him as it used to be and he could run four full laps around the track without feeling winded.

“No, I haven’t,” he replied, meeting her gaze, “but why bring that up, Bean?”

She smirked, brushing past him to stare out across the road. The street lights flickered to life, illuminating the pastel green landscape around them. Hoseok knew that look and it almost always meant trouble. He really didn’t want to get involved with another of her hair-brained schemes on a school night.

“Can you see it?”

He turned to look in her direction, her back still facing toward him. “See what?”

He watched Sabine’s back muscles tense slightly until she craned her neck to look at him. “You can’t see it?”

“See what?” he repeated with a sigh. “I don’t see anything except you being weird.”

For a while, Sabine said nothing. It wasn’t like her to be silent for this long and Hoseok was consciously aware of how hard she was looking at him. He was about to tell her to say something, anything, instead of staring at him like he’d grown a second head. Just then, she let out a defeated sigh and began walking away, leaving him behind.

“Hey,” he called, already starting after her, “what am I not seeing?”

“Doesn’t matter,” came her dejected response, “no point if you can’t see it.”

He wanted to keep bugging her about what it was she was seeing and he wasn’t, but Sabine clearly made up her mind about something. 

Hoseok just wished he knew what that “something” was.

“Sabine, wait!”

Hoseok watched his best friend continue her ascent up the fire escape without him. He tried not to be too loud, considering that their neighbors were middle-aged office drones who worked nine to five hours and had 2.5 kids. The last time it got rowdy in their complex, the local authorities were called almost immediately. Add the fact that they were sneaking out after curfew and it was easy to see why Hoseok was a little nervous to be raising his voice.

But Sabine kept going, as if she hadn’t heard him.

Pouting, Hoseok quickly ran up the stairwell after her - his legs feeling much lighter than they usually did. Normally he would feel winded trying to keep up with her, but today it felt easier to breathe. Which was strange, considering he’d been diagnosed with asthma since he was a child.

Then again, a lot of things were different for the past two years.

His parents told him that it was the normal adolescent hormones that popped up at the age of thirteen. “Puberty” and all that nonsense. He’d learned about it in school and, at the time, it made sense. He figured that it was just “growing pains” and nothing more.

Ever since his fourteenth birthday, however, he knew that things were changing at a pace that almost didn’t seem natural. Things were getting weirder and weirder every day. Hoseok even had a weird case of déjà vu when he thought he saw the same cat go by twice. 

That couldn’t have been the case, though. That sort of stuff wasn’t real.

Hoseok mentioned it to Sabine just a few days before his fifteenth birthday. He remembered the way her eyes almost seemed to light up - a look he hadn’t seen on her face in almost a year. The truth? Their friendship was strained and Hoseok was confused as to why. He couldn’t remember doing anything to upset her and she was the sort of person who was blunt and honest about her feelings at all times.

Though she had been surfing the net more and more. There were days where Sabine would skip out on their normal hangout time to stay glued to her computer. Her parents said she was studying or doing homework, but he knew Sabine was extremely intelligent and rarely had to put any real effort into her school assignments. Hoseok was no dummy either, but even he needed her help from time to time when it came to classwork.

The days bled into weeks and then the weeks into months. Before long, he was beginning to dread that things weren’t going to be the same between them anymore.

Then Sabine showed up at his door, telling him to come with her to the roof of their apartment complex. He wasn’t about to question her reasoning. Hoseok was just glad that she was talking to him again outside of class.

When he finally reached the top, Sabine was standing on the edge of the roof on the other side. Her dark curls whipped around her head as a sudden gust of wind blew through the air. Hoseok shivered, feeling the cold bite go straight through him. He crossed the roof to where she was, rubbing at his arms to warm them up. 

“So,” he said, trying to ignore the awkward feeling in the air, “what’s up?”

She continued to stand on the rooftop’s edge, her hands stuffed into the large front pocket of her hoodie. Sabine didn’t answer him right away and while that would have bothered him before, he was just glad to be able to be close to his friend again. If he was admitting anything to himself, it was that Hoseok missed her. A lot.

“Do you feel that?” she asked suddenly, causing him to look up at her.

“Feel what?”

Sabine sighed, turning to look down at him. “C’mon, Hobi. I know you feel that.”

He really didn’t understand what she meant, and was about to tell her as much. Suddenly, she reached down to grab his arm so she could pull him up onto the perch beside her. Hoseok almost squawked, losing his balance slightly until she tightened her hold on his sleeve to steady him. 

“Bean, I really don’t know what you’re talking about…” And he felt bad about it.

“No. I think you do.” Sabine gave him a pointed look. “You feel it, but you just don’t want to admit it.”

He sighed. “What is it I’m supposed to be feeling, Bean?”

“That this,” she said, stretching her arm out toward the cityscape, “isn’t real.”

Hoseok balked at her. “Wait, what?” He blinked once. “What?!”

This time she scoffed. “You haven’t had to use your inhaler in the last two years. You run the track regularly during P.E. and you’re able to keep up with me now.”

He opened his mouth to say something, but stopped himself because he wasn’t sure if he wanted to argue with what she was insinuating. It wasn’t like any of it was a lie. But to say that none of it was real? That was just crazy.

“I’ve been reading up on these forums and there are whispers about this place. About how it’s not real.” Sabine’s brows furrowed as she bit her lower lip, averting her gaze from his. “How our whole life is one giant lie.”

A soft ache welled in his heart. Had she been battling with these feelings of depression alone all this time? Was that why she’d pushed him away? 

“Hey,” he said gently, reaching out to grasp her hand, “that’s not true. How can you say that?”

“Because it’s true. I’ve seen the glitches. I’ve seen the code.” Her tone was a mixture of hurt and indifference, like she couldn’t decide what emotion to display to him. Sabine turned to look at him. “And you have too. You just keep pretending that you haven’t.”

Hoseok frowned. “Sabine, come on…”

“You just want to keep being blind to it, but I know you’ve seen it too!”

The truth? He had. He had seen weird things - almost like flickers and after images. He figured it was because he was overworking himself or that his body was continuing its weird pubescent changes. What other reasoning was there? If he saw the same cat twice, it was just a coincidence. If he felt lighter on his feet, it was because he was taking the time to exercise properly. If there were ripples in the glass reflecting a person that was both him and not him, that had nothing to do with anything. It didn’t mean that their world wasn’t real or that their lives had no meaning.

...right?

A rush of movement reclaimed his attention and he screamed in horror as Sabine jumped off the roof. Hoseok reached out, grabbing at her wrists. The force of the jump coupled with gravity pulling her weight down in a rush caused his knees to crash into the concrete perch. The pain was immediate and he gripped onto Sabine with all of his might. Tears leaked out of the corners of his eyes as he looked down at his best friend, unable to fathom why she’d had the sudden urge to want to kill herself.

“Let go,” she said, causing him to sob.

“Are you crazy?!”

“Just let go, Hoseok.”

When he looked down at her, she wore an expression he couldn’t place. It seemed almost peaceful; resolute. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but there was a level of acceptance plastered over Sabine’s face that was profound. It caused his heart to leap into his throat and for a moment, the landscape dissolved into an array of black with strings of green numbers and letters in every direction. Even his best friend’s image was shaped around these numbers and letters.

His knees scraped across the concrete, causing his grip to slip a little. And then everything returned to normal. Or, at least, the normal that he believed himself accustomed to.

When Hoseok’s eyes met Sabine’s once again, he saw her crying. He didn’t have to ask why. Because he already knew the answer. 

“...it’s not real,” he mumbled.

Sabine nodded, smiling up at him. “So let go.” Her fingers tightened around his wrists. “Let’s go.”

He smiled at her, leaning down a little further, and gave a small laugh. “Okay.”

Hoseok waited for her to close her eyes first. Then he closed his. When he felt her thumbs pressing into his wrists, her silent way of saying she wasn’t going anywhere, he let gravity take hold of them both. The world rushed around his ears - the wind howling from the speed of their descent. At some point, he groped blindly until his arms wrapped around Sabine in a strong embrace.

And then everything went dark.

“Welcome to the Real World.”

[gallymagines]

A Fork In The Road - Steve x Reader x Alexei (Part 1)

Summary: Steve Harrington has been your best friend since childhood. Although others thought he was kind of a jerk you’ve always known him as sweet and caring. He’s been there through every step of your path in life and recently you started to imagine him continuing to be with you on that path. Dr. Alexei is your physics professor at your local community college whose kind and happy demeanor have led you to take quite a liking to him on more than just a professional level. With emotions raging and the fact that someone will be left heartbroken, you must make the ultimate decision and choose which road to travel down.

A/N: Not what I usually post but I’ve been on a Stranger Things binge and got inspired. In this story, Alexei did not get shot at the fair and is living near Hawkins. Also, I used google translate.

Word Count: 4.1K

Warnings: None

___________________

September 7th, 1985

The cool breeze swept through your hair and the sunbeams warmed your skin as you walked down the main street of your town towards the entrance of the local video store. This had become a common routine for you on days you weren’t attending your classes at Hawkins Community College. You’d get up, get ready, take the 15-minute walk from your house and arrive at the video store almost an hour after it opened. Why? Well to hang out with your childhood bestie, Steve Harrington, of course! 

After you guys graduated from Hawkins High School and all of the crazy paranormal stuff that had been occurring in the town subsided, Steve decided he wanted to make some money before heading off to college. He previously worked at Scoops Ahoy, an ice cream shop in the Starcourt Mall. Of course, that was before it was destroyed by Russians and the Mindflayer. Working at the video store Steve would explain to others that he wanted to give himself a “financial headstart”. You, on the other hand, knew the truth. After his breakup with Nancy, losing his ‘King Steve” status and every crazy, improbable thing that has happened in this town, he really lost track of where his life was going and what he wanted to do. He didn’t lose passion, just purpose. It made you sad to think about your best friend being so lost. It hurt even more because you knew he saw you making strides during this first semester at Hawkins CC. I mean you were practically top of all of your classes. Well, except for physics. Steve’s always been so caring and supportive of your major and life goals, but there is just something sad behind his eyes whenever you bring up school. You like to think it’s only because he doesn’t know what he’s doing about college, but deep in your gut, you get a strong feeling that it’s something else. When you see the video store you decide to push the thought out of your head and the feeling out of your gut. Pulling the door open you hear the jingle of the bell above you, as it rings to let the workers know someone is here. When you enter you see Robin at the front desk organizing the rental returns so that they can be put back on the shelves. She looks up from her work and says,

“Hey Y/N.”

She glances at the clock before turning her attention back to you.

“3 minutes earlier than your average arrival time.” She jokes

You and Robin had shared a drama class in high school. You didn’t get to know her on a personal level then but you knew she was smart, honest and very persuasive from her interactions with other students. Now though, you guys were close friends and got along really well. It was nice to have someone other than Steve to hang around. It was even better when you guys would tag team to mess with Steve.

“So where’s Captain Hair?” You ask

“In the back of store restocking shelves. Why? You want to see your boyfri-”

You threw your hand over her mouth while glaring at her. Robin pulled your hand off and started to laugh.

“Oh my god, you have it so bad for him.” She teases between laughter

“I do not!” You try to protest, a blush rising to your cheeks

“I don’t know why you don’t make a move. He likes you too!” Robin mentions

She had said this on many occasions. You wanted to believe her, you really did, but you just couldn’t bring yourself to agree. Steve was your childhood best friend. He still is your best friend. But that’s all he’d probably be to you. A friend. As you and Steve grew up, you were always together, and the older you got the more you realized you had a strong affinity for him. He was sweet, funny, caring, not to mention really cute. You had expressed these feelings to Robin but never to Steve.

“You know I can’t do that,” You start to reply “If I-”

You’re cut off by Robin saying,

“Yeah yeah, if you tell him how you feel and he doesn’t feel the same way it’ll ruin your friendship. You’ve said it at least 20 times.”

She looks down at her notepad and makes a tally mark.

“26 times to be exact.” she finishes

“I just can’t-”

You’re cut off again but this time it’s because a pair of arms wrap around your waist and spin you around. You know who the arms belong to and start to laugh.

“Y/N! You’re here!” Steve exclaims

“Of course I’m here, it’s Saturday.” You joke

Steve smiles before asking “Sorry I cut you off, what were you saying to Robin? You just can’t what?”

You shoot a warning glance to Robin before turning your eyes back to Steve. He waits in anticipation of your answer and you reply,

“I just can’t...uh do good in physics. I’m having a lot of trouble in that class.”

“Well, I could help you study again tonight if you want,” Steve suggests

“You’ve helped me study since the first day of class. It helps a little but I can’t fully grasp the concepts.” You complain

“Well, why don’t you go and talk to your teacher? I’m sure they’d be willing to help you.” Steve suggests

You nod your head.

“Yeah, that probably is a good idea. I’ll do it on Monday, as for today though I’m here to be with you.” You reply

Steve smiles and you can’t help but feel your stomach flutter a bit. The way he looks at you with so much happiness just fills your heart to the brim. If only you could tell him that though. You’re pulled from your thoughts when he grabs your hand and pulls you towards the back where he was working. Once you showed up at the video store you guys would play the same game over and over again. Back and forth you guys would hold up a movie with the title facing forward and the description on the back, and whoever had the title facing towards them needed to guess what the plot was just by the title and movie image. Sometimes you guys were close, but a lot of times you were way off base and that’s what made the game fun.

Hours passed, customers came and went and before you knew it, it was time to close. Robin and Steve had to lock up the store so you told them you’d wait outside. As you walked out Steve watched your every move, taking in every detail, from the way your hair moved with every step to the fact that your left shoelace was coming untied. Once you exited though Robin spoke up and said,

“So when are you gonna say something dingus?”

Steve fell out of his trance and asked,

“What do you mean?”

“You like her. And don’t give me that ‘of course I do she’s my best friend’ bs again. You like her.” Robin retorts

“So what if I do? It’s not like she likes me like that.” Steve complains

Robin looks down at the desk drawing something.

“What are you doing?” Steve asks

“Finally giving you a ‘you rule’ tally for admitting your feelings but also adding a ‘you suck’ tally for admitting it to the wrong person.” Robin states

“Thanks.” Steve replies monotonously

“Just take a chance, you’ll never know if you never try!” Robin mentions

Steve rolls his eyes but nods his head. He knows she’s right. He’s just...nervous. How could he ever find the right words to express how he feels for you. How he’s always felt for you. Nancy, all the girls he talked to in high school, all the girls at Scoops Ahoy, all of it was to just push away his strong feelings for you. Did it work? A bit. When he was with Nancy he almost convinced himself that everything between you two was strictly platonic. But every time he looked into those eyes of yours it was always undeniable. He really REALLY liked you.

“I’ll finish locking up, go be with your girl friend, not girlfriend.” Robin remarks

Steve waves goodbye to his co-worker and friend before heading out. When he exits you look up at him and ask,

“Is Robin coming?”

“Nah she’s got some stuff to do. Want to sleepover my place tonight?” Steve questions

“Sure.” You answer

You had been sleeping over at Steve’s for almost as long as you’d been friends. At this point, it was just a tradition and your parents assumed if you weren’t home that night, you were probably there. Heading up the stairs you made your way towards his bedroom and opened the door. His house was your house. Literally. You had as much of your stuff here as you did at your own home. Your own toothbrush, hairbrush, shampoo, space in the fridge, chair at the dining room table and even a couple of drawers full of clothes in Steve’s room. You grabbed a T-shirt and a pair of pajama shorts and walked to the bathroom to put them on. When you came back to the room Steve was already in his bed in a plain white undershirt and probably his boxers. It's always what he slept in so you assumed it was that again. You didn’t mind though, it was just normal to you. Lifting the blankets you got on the other side of his bed. As children, you would share his when sleeping over so it just became routine. When you guys got older though you questioned if it was still okay, especially after your crazy middle school sex ed teacher claimed that if boys and girls looked at each other near a bed they would both get STDs and die. You guys agreed that if you sleep back to back it would still be okay to share, and so you both continued to do that even though you knew her claim was wrong now. Sometimes you wondered what would happen if you faced him. You wished you didn’t sleep back to back, you wanted to face him and look in his eyes as he wrapped his arms around you. It wouldn’t happen though...so you took what you could get and laid with your back facing him. As you turned the lamp off on your side of the bed you quietly said to Steve,

“Good night.”

You fell asleep soon after. Steve, on the other hand, was lying awake. With his back facing you, he glanced over his shoulder, but all he saw was your back. This was normal for him. Every time you slept over he would look to see if this time you were facing him and every time you weren’t. He wished you did though. Steve’s mind raced with the thoughts of what Robin had said. If he didn’t make a move he would never know. And god, did he want to know badly if you felt the same way about him that he did about you. With Robin’s words repeating over and over in his head, Steve took a deep breath and whispered to himself.

“I’m going to do it.”

He slowly tried to work out a plan about how to tell you how he felt. He needed to do it, but if he was going to do it, he was going to do it right. He continued to think but as time passed Steve grew more and more tired. His back still facing yours, he fell asleep.

September 9th, 1985

The alarm of your clock wakes you up as you groggily look at the time. The clock reads 9:03. 

“Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.” you yell jumping out of bed

You slept through your alarm. It wasn’t the first time but this was the latest it ever happened. If you were going to get to the 9:20 shuttle bus to the community college then you had to move fast, otherwise, you would be late. You quickly ran around your room searching for half-decent clothes to wear. Throwing on a white tank top, you tucked it into a black mid-thigh skater skirt. You then threw on a pair of black keds and a red and blue plaid button up that was “borrowed” from Steve. Grabbing your backpack you raced out of your room, quickly brushed your teeth, spritzed some of your mom’s cherry body spray and rushed out the door. There was literally no time to do anything else. No time to shower, no time to eat what mom cooked, no time for anything. You needed to catch that bus. Usually, you would walk but today you had to run as if your life depended on it so you could get to the shuttle stop. When you got there you were out of breath and a bit sweaty but you hopped on the bus just in time. Catching your breath in the bus seat, you noticed the growling of your stomach and the headache you had from exerting so much energy. Ignoring the problem you arrived at Hawkins CC and made your way to class. Today you had physics, your worst class. The professor, Dr. Alexei, was very kind to all his students and very knowledgeable about the subject. He had come from Russia a little over a year ago and only knew so much English. Enough to talk and teach but he still stumbled on his words here and there. As you walked into the door to your classroom you greeted,

“Good Morning Professor.”

Dr. Alexei nodded towards you with a smile and replied,

“Good morning Y/N.”

You went and sat at your desk as you waited for others to arrive. As for right now, it was only you and Dr. Alexei in the room. You watched as he worked on some papers intently at his desk. For someone around 10 years older than you, he was quite handsome. His rolled-up sleeves on his dress shirt, his naturally messy hair, and the way his glasses fell on his nose were quite attractive to some of the girls in the class, including you. On top of it, he had a positive personality that was intoxicating. In a trance, you looked at your professor biting your bottom lip. When he looked up though you looked away at your notebook. As you looked down at your notes and forced those thoughts out of your head, your stomach growled louder and your head started to bother you more. At 10:15 when class started you felt sick but you decided to push through it. The clock went slowly and everything started to feel like mush. You forced yourself to focus on the board and take notes but your head was spinning and you started to get lightheaded. The person next to you asked,

“Are you okay?”

It was too late for that though, you had already passed out and fallen from your seat. Dr. Alexei stopped his lecture and went over to you. He was distressed at the sight of you passed out on the floor. He looked towards the class of concerned students and said,

“Rest of the class canceled. I will take her for help.”

The students shuffled out as Alexei picked you up and carried you to his office. He placed you on the couch before calling a professor from the nursing program to come check on you. When the nursing instructor arrived she immediately heard the sound of growling from your stomach. Putting a cold compress on your head she turned to Alexei and said,

“Don’t worry it’s nothing bad. Your student most likely passed out from not eating, since her stomach is growling so loud. Let her rest and give her some food when she wakes up. Call my office again when too so I can do a checkup and a concussion test since her head hit the floor.”

Alexei nods yes and the instructor leaves. He closes the door and goes to sit at his desk to do some grading but mainly keep an eye on you. After about 30 minutes you slowly start to regain consciousness. As you do, your body starts to move and your head falls off its position on the couch. Alexei makes his way over to you and gently places your head back on the armrest. He smells the cherry fragrance on you. He always enjoyed when you wore that scent and sometimes he wondered what made you choose that specific one. Did you know he liked cherry? Did you wear it for him? He knew he shouldn’t think like that. Professor-student relationships were forbidden to occur. He could lose his job if anything happened, and without a job, he’d lose his work visa and be sent home. He’d be labeled a traitor. He could be tortured or even worse killed. He already had an attempt on his life once. For all these reasons, it was quite risky for him to have feelings like this for you, but the way he saw you looking at him in the class made him wonder if it would be worth it. He started to talk to himself as you continued to stir. Awakening enough to hear again, you listen as he muses to himself. You can only kind of make out one word that he mumbles,

“прекрасный,” He says

You have no clue what it means though since you don’t know Russian. As your eyes flutter open you look around and notice that this isn’t the classroom. This is an office. Dr. Alexei hands you some food in a container and says,

“пельмень. Pelmeni good food, have some.”

“Oh no, I couldn’t take your food!” You say as your stomach yells at you.

“You are hungry, please eat.” Dr. Alexei asks gesturing to your growling stomach

You nod your head and start to eat but then question,

“But what will you eat now?”

Dr. Alexei smiles and grabs one of the dumpling-like foods from the container before sitting down at his desk seat.

“I eat one, happy?” He jokes

You smile at his joke and nod your head yes.

“Uh, professor?” you ask in a curious tone between bites

He turns his attention to you as you continue,

“Well, how did I get here?”

“I carry you from the classroom to the couch. You fell from the desk.” He responds

“Oh okay.” You say before continuing to eat the food he gave you

Dr. Alexei turns to his office phone and dials in a number.

“She is awake,” He says to the person on the other line before hanging up.

A couple minutes go by and a woman in scrubs shows up. She explains that she’s a teacher from the nursing program and just wanted to check that you were okay before going on your way. She looked at your eyes, ears, mouth, took blood pressure, asked some questions about the year, who is the president, and some other general stuff.

“Well, it looks like you didn’t hit your head too hard! You should be okay but if there’s any drastic pain or memory loss I’d suggest heading straight to the hospital.” She says “You’re free to leave if you feel well enough to.”

The nursing instructor then walked out the door. Before you left you had to ask your professor for help with the concepts you were learning. Ugh, this was so embarrassing though. What if another student heard. You looked at the open door and carefully walked over to it. Shutting it gently, you turned your attention to your professor. He looked at you with wide eyes. You were confused but nevertheless continued.

“Professor, I need to talk to you about something...I feel a bit embarrassed about it but I really think it’s important and that it needs to be addressed.”

As Dr. Alexei looked at you he felt a sense of worry and anticipation build in his gut. Were you going to tell him that you felt something between you two? What would he do if you did? He honestly didn’t know. You looked at him and continued,

“I know I’m doing poorly in class and was wondering if you could give me some extra tutoring?”

“Oh.” is all that came out of his mouth.

You started to backtrack, thinking he didn’t want to do that.

“If that’s not okay it’s fine but I just wanted to ask and all-”

“No, no. It is okay. I can help. Monday after class next week we start.” Dr. Alexei interjected

“Oh good. Well, I’ll be heading out then.” You replied

“Will you be okay to walk?” He asked

“I think so,” you answered

“I will come with you to be safe.” He stated

Grabbing your backpack you walked out of Dr. Alexei’s office and towards the front of the building. It was an awkwardly silent walk but you got the front of the building you saw a car you recognized. A Ferrari 250 GT California. The car that Steve’s dad kept in the garage and never used. And who was there leaning on top of the car? Why the man himself, Steve. He approached you and Dr. Alexei asking,

“So you ready to go?”

“What are you doing here?” you questioned him

“I was at the desk when I saw you run past the video store this morning. Though you might need a ride.” He jokes

You hit him on the arm and playfully yelled,

“Jerk!”

“Wait. Is that my shirt?” Steve asks

“What?? No.....” you said exaggerated

“You thief. You stole that from my closet. I thought I lost it.” Steve says in a fake-angry tone

When you turn to look away from Steve you see your professor looking back and forth between you and him, visibly confused.

‘Oh! How rude of me. Steve this is my physics professor Dr. Alexei. Dr. Alexei this is a longtime friend of mine, Steve.” you introduce

Steve extends his hand and Dr. Alexei takes it. They shake and then Steve puts an arm around your shoulders. He looks at Dr. Alexei and comments,

“I’m sorry she’s doing so poorly in your class. I’ve been trying to help her study, but she’s just not that good at science. Never has been.”

“Hey!” you say to Steve “Just so you know I took your advice and I will be getting some tutoring starting Monday next week. Correct?”

Dr. Alexei turns his attention to you and answers,

“Correct. Monday after class is our date.”

“Date?” Steve asks you with confusion

“He means like an appointment, I told you he’s still getting the hang of English. It’s a very complicated language.” You answer 

“Oh woo. That’s good.” He says while wiping his forehead with the back of his hand “I thought you got a boyfriend and didn’t tell your best pal Steve.”

“Oh my.” you laugh

You look at your professor and say,

“Well, I guess I’ll be going. See you on Wednesday for lab professor.”

Dr. Alexei nods his head but does not say anything. As you and Steve start to leave, his arm still around your shoulders, he comments to your professor,

“Nice to meet you.”

Alexei watches as you two walk to the bright red car. He sees how Steve opens the door for you and the cocky way he slides across the hood. He notices how you laugh at his actions and how your eyes focus on him. He lets out a deep breath and promptly turns around to return to his office. To everyone else, you might be just one of his students but to him, you were much more. He had no clue what to do but he knew he had to do something.

Tags: @hazeofeleven​

[tsumtsum-into-omiomi]

CHAPTER FIVE: KUDO STREET

warning(s): cursing

word count: 1.8k

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When Kudo Street was first established, it was what the name suggests; a street. However, businesses there were able to pick up at a rapid growth without humans' intervention because Taishi was a secluded magic town so it became a favourite stop for magic merchants from all over the world. They mostly brought in potion ingredients and recipes and pentagram scriptures since those were tough to find after practitioners had to find new lands when the purge happened. It wasn't long before words spread among them that Kudo Street had everything that they needed, which was all it took for the practitioners to start teleporting to Taishi.

 Demands then began to skyrocket, attracting traders to settle down in Taishi to open all kinds of shops on the street and supply magical goods, even rare ones, for local practitioners and non. Its popularity only grew bigger ever since and from there, little by little, the street expanded into the commercial park that it is today. Kudo Street now houses hundreds of stores where you can find anything magical you can think of and wish for.

 "Come on, now," Atsumu calls to get you off the marble platform, "or the next teleporter will bump into you."

 You let out one last pant as you exit the cubicle, "I'm tired."

 "You're so out of shape," Osamu comments. The three of you walk together following the paved walkway towards the hustle and bustle up ahead.

 "I'm not!" you snap at him, "obviously a girl can't carry two boys who are bigger than her??"

 He responds in a mocking voice, "oBviOusLy a gIrL caN't cArRy twO bOYs whO aRe-"

 "Damn, why are there so many people?" Atsumu cuts him off, directing your and Osamu's attention forward and indirectly stopping your bickering. He's right. You can see heavy traffic at the entrance, which is a huge black metal archway with climbing red roses decorating it. Its apex holds golden letters that spell out "Kudo Street".

 "Wow, there are a lot of fairies today," you take notice of the numerous specks of glitters the size of a thumb flying in between people.

 "Don't get lost," Atsumu grabs your hand, worried that you'd get separated from them in the crowd because of the distraction.

 "Oh yeah, I think they opened a few more shops here," Osamu also watches the winged tiny people buzzing everywhere in all directions, "business must be good for them."

 "Well, why won't it be?" Atsumu joins, "not like we can get fairy dust anywhere else. I read they're accepting strawberries as their currency too now. One strawberry equals five blueberries."

 "Love how their economy is growing while ours is failing. Their prices have gone up, you know," Osamu comments, "100 grams of fairy dust is now 50 blueberries! Can't believe it used to be just 10 blueberries."

 "Who cares, I'd pay them as many blueberries as they want. They're so adorable in their glittery outfits!" you coo at two fairies carrying a strawberry together by its sepals, flying across your face before landing on a tree branch to eat the fruit.

 As soon as you pass through the arch, the stone walkway is spread out into multiple directions, connecting shops together on either side of it. Due to the unplanned growth of the street, various types of shops are scattered without a pattern. However, there are directories all over the place to guide you so before going further, you make a stop at a nearby one.

 "Should we go to the new stocks shop first?" you point a finger on the map, sifting through names under the category titled "Potion Ingredients". "What's its name again?"

 "Uh, what was it? It has a cringy name," Atsumu thinks aloud.

 "Is it this one?" your finger stops at "Stocks-holm Syndrome".

 "Lol yeah, that one," Osamu laughs, unironically entertained. "That's smart."

 "You gotta get a better sense of humour, man," Atsumu snorts, "that's east from here. Let's go."

 "As if you have a better one," Osamu retorts as the three of you start walking  (and bickering) again towards the east.

 "What does stocks have anything to do with the syndrome anyway?" Atsumu lifts an eyebrow at him.

 "Bet they just thought it's cool to use a One Direction song as their name," you roll your eyes.

 "Ew, do you really think only One Direction knows that syndrome?" Atsumu makes a face, "and does One Direction think they're cool for using it in their song?"

 "Bet they just thought it's gonna make them sound smart," Osamu scoffs.

 "Shut up, it's a good song and oh my God, you losers also listen to them. Stop dissing!" you hiss, hurt that your brothers are being disrespectful towards the most talented band in the world.

 "I only listen to WMYB and everybody does so it doesn't count," Atsumu shrugs.

 "Dude," Osamu looks at him in disbelief, "I think only fans could say What Makes You Beautiful's acronym in one breath effortlessly so you better shut up now."

 "Fuck off, Samu. Oh wow, there's a new potion shop," Atsumu diverts the topic not so elegantly.

 But you and Osamu take the bait and stop in your tracks thanks to the small crowd outside of the shop. Its glass panel door makes a delightful tinkling sound every time someone pushes it open. In the window display, you take notice of the cute potion bottles lined up neatly on a white fur mat. Multiple "Pink Potions' Opening Sale!" posters are also pasted on the glass wall. From where you're standing, you can tell that every corner of the place is painted with pastel pink, but what's really catching your attention to go inside for a better look is the complementing white and gold interior decoration.

 "Let's go in!" you rush inside, leaving your brothers no choice other than to follow you.

 The inside of the shop is as pretty as you expected it to be; the floor and poles are made of shiny marble, there is a chandelier hanging in the middle of the ceiling and potions are arranged on glass racks and labeled properly by their names and functions. Apart from that, you're also wowed by the products' packaging. It's not often for ready-made potions to be sold aesthetically so you're very intrigued by the glass vessels of different sizes and shapes that they come in. And the corks are pink too! Usually, they all are just packed in boring cylindrical bottles.

 You go through the aisles to see what type of potions they have and mostly, they're all common ones for healing (flu, insomnia, diarrhea, rashes, etc.)  and non-healing (iris colouring, muscle builder, bone growth, hair extension, etc.) purposes. Seeing how the shop focuses a lot on its branding, you are quite suspicious of its quality. You take one of the test tube shaped vessel that holds nail colouring potion and study the directions of use label that is stamped on it:

 "1. Consume potion after a proper meal. 2. Colour will show after 5-10 minutes."

 Okay, that's pretty normal for a nail colouring potion.

 "CAUTION: Use only as directed. Seek healer's advice if there are allergy reactions or discomfort after use."

 That's normal too.

 "Product is guaranteed to take effect for up to one month or we will return your money!"

 Oh wow, just a month? That's shit.

 On one hand, a healing potion's quality is usually defined by how effective it is for curing your illnesses and diseases. On the other hand, potions with non-healing properties (usually for body enhancements or alterations) are judged by how long its effects would last on one's body so one month is terrible. Good alteration potions should last you at least three months but oh well, there's no harm in trying this cute little stuff.

 You then bring the bottle with you to search for Atsumu, who you find is also looking at some potions two aisles away. He reaches for one of them and inspects its ingredient label, nodding away to himself. You arrive at his side and read the potion's name tag.

 "'Sleep Well, Sweet Dreams'? Why do you want sweet dreams?" you frown at him.

 "Why don't I want sweet dreams?" Atsumu retorts, frowning back at you.

 "Will it work?" Osamu appears from behind you, almost making you drop the bottle in your hand.

 "I doubt it," you remark, "pretty stuff is usually useless."

 "The ingredients look legit though," Atsumu lifts his shoulders, "guess I'll see if it works or not."

 "So you're getting that?" you prod.

 "Yeah," he shrugs again.

 "Ok then, Tsumu-nii channnnnn," you loop yourself around his arm with a sweet smile on your face, "can you pay for mine too, pleeeeeease? It's for my nails."

 "EUGH," Atsumu rolls his eyes, "leech!" but takes the potion that you picked anyway before heading for the counter, with you still hanging onto him like a koala.

 He places the two bottles on the counter and at the same time, Osamu slides another one in quietly.

 "Tsumu, can I get this," he whispers.

 Atsumu clicks his tongue, eyes gawking at his twin, "oi!"

 "Pleeease," Osamu averts his gaze, embarrassed that the cashier is watching the drama that is enfolding before him.

 Atsumu grabs Osamu's bottle to take a quick look at the label. "Taste bud enhancer?" he questions.

 "I wanna taste the difference between normal salt and sea salt," Osamu explains his intention, still whispering.

 Atsumu gives him a disbelief look, "weird ass bitch."

 "Fine, I'll put it back," Osamu pulls a face, extending his hand out to Atsumu.

 "Gosh, just take it," Atsumu returns the potion back to the cashier instead of Osamu's hand.

 "So... one receipt?" the cashier asks for confirmation, not missing the grin on Osamu's face.

 Atsumu sighs, "yes, please."

 Ah, yes. The curse of being an elder sibling; having to fund your younger siblings' ridiculous purchases along with your own.

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Note: no one has been making fun of 1D so I had to

[elrondsscribe]

No ATLA shipping wars, please. There is room for ALL the ships.

So I’m sure anyone who’s been tracking me lately knows that I’ve been all up in Avatar: The Last Airbender ...

And I must say, after checking out the tags, I am TERRIFIED to speak my mind about ANY of the ships I like!! Like, I don’t want to be thought of as a poisonous Supporter Of That Which Is Toxic And Problematic because I did or didn’t gel with one ship or other. Spoilers under the cut.

See, I’m always the kind of fan that nobody likes: I’m the MCU fan that appreciates Steve and Tony; I’m the Star Wars fan that loved all nine Episodes. So when I say that I sail literally all of the ships because all of them hit me in different kinds of feels, well, y’all know to expect this from me.

(I should say at this point that the only thing I’m considering ‘canon’ for the purposes of this conversation is A:TLA; no LoK or comics is relevant here.)

(Also, can I just say what a wonderful change of pace it is to be in a property where, at least in the generation of our ‘mains,’ there seem to be more named, developed female characters??)

So I’m gonna start out with saying: I like the canon pairings as they stand! Kataang, Sukki, and Maiko being the main ones, obvs. However, I also like all kinds of AU pairings too!

Like Zutara - I mean, I can hardly say anything here that ten thousand others haven’t already said better, but their journeys do parallel each other in a lot of significant ways, and I think that, by the end of the show, they do legitimately share enough to have the foundations of a good relationship, if as a fanwriter you wanted to go there. You could make much of the poetry of their differences (”you rise with the moon, and I with the Sun”), and/or really develop their existing ability to safely be the ‘splash zone’ for each other’s turmoil. Besides, I think Katara’s mothering fussbudget energy would be a great thing for Zuko, and there’s a gentleness to her that he’d find healing.

{Now, I’ve seen a lot of comparisons between Zutara and Reylo, made by people who either want to demean or defend both ships. I’ve also seen these comparisons soundly trashed by people who like one, but not both, of these ships. As someone who never has had strong feelings either for or against Reylo, and as someone who loves Zutara but not exclusively, my response to all of that drama is a big old shrug of my shoulders. So don’t come at me screaming about Reylo, either to stan or cancel. Please just don’t.}

Also I don’t know a good way to say this, but you know how some people just can’t seem to resist reading Zuko and/or Sokka as gay? Well, I can’t stop reading Mai as lesbian; I don’t know why.

I don’t know which pairing Taang is. If it’s Aang/Ty Lee, omg yes!! Kill me with all the sparkles and rainbows! I already want to eat them both up. More seriously, I think Aang’s peaceable temperament would be a really welcome change in her life, after Zuko’s turmoil and Mai’s ice and Azula’s, well, Azula-ness. She’d probably just love Aang’s aura :) 

If Taang is Aang/Toph, well, we’ve observed that our flighty lil’ Aangster could use a grouding influence :) I don’t know who on Tumblr pointed it out, but Toph is the last person in the world to fangirl over Aang, which seems to be very good for him, while also not clipping his wings. While I do believe they’d be the kind of couple to quarrel and, at times, drift apart from each other (she’s incredibly rooted while he’s the embodiment of a free-spirit), for some reason I can easily see them finding each other again. There’s a scene in my head, one where an adult Aang is faced with the necessity of a sacrifice play that he might not come back from, and instead of tearfully trying to convince him not to do it, Toph says, “Go get ‘em, Twinkletoes.”

[And if you ship Zutara alongside Aang/Toph, you could have a fanfic where you did a Parallel, with Two Ships Of Opposite-Power-Benders. I’d be a fan!]

Now I’ve seen Sokkla floating around too, and I must say that this intrigues me, especially the way that this ship is connected to ideas about the redemption of Azula. I’ve seen some people being really upset that Azula never got a redemption arc in the show, but c’mon guys. A redemption arc for Azula would have taken a long-ass time - it would’ve been awesome, but it would’ve taken a long-ass time, definitely longer than a fourth season, I think. But if you were going to go with a combination of a redemption arc and a ship for her, Sokka would be a great idea. I don’t think Azula knows what fun and merriment are, and who knows those things better than Sokka?

[Honestly, that’s the thing about shipping Sokka with anyone: he would bring them laughter.]

But enough about the het AU ships, let’s talk about the gay ones!

Zukka would be the most prominent example, of course. The rapport that Zuko develops with Sokka over ‘The Boiling Rock’ is beautiful to behold (jokes about ‘that’s rough, buddy’ aside), and heaven knows Zuko needs someone to teach him how to laugh.

And remember how I said that I somehow can’t see Mai as straight? Well, I also can’t stop shipping her with Azula (don’t know the ship name for this one, but I know it exists). Obviously this ship would have more than an edge of ownership and manipulation about it, but they’re so deadly radiant and it’s like I can’t look away from them.

And Ty Lee is just so adorable and sincere (even with all the buried sadness) that shipping her with almost any of the other girls just makes my heart melt. Especially Katara, who would just cuddle the hell out of her whenever she’s feeling down. Or even Azula, who would totally own and work her but also, like, dazzle her. Main exception being Suki - for some reason, my head goes all kinds of hot, dirty places when I imagine Suki and Ty Lee sparring.

However, all this being said, I still have love for the canon ships that we got.

For example, like I said, I do ship Kataang, and I think together they’re incredibly sweet, but I also think that Katara’s tendency to hover and Aang’s tendency to (literally and metaphorically) fly away from/float above problems would jointly become a not-inconsiderable hurdle in a long-term relationship. Now I’ve observed couples in real life with similar dynamics, and I’ll stick out my neck and say that I consider this a workable hurdle, especially if both Katara and Aang grow in maturity and interpersonal understanding as they get older.

Similarly with Maiko: we see that, where Zuko’s emotions tend to run fire-hot, Mai’s tend to run ice-cold; we saw a clear example of these tendencies really clashing with each other. And Mai’s way of showing Zuko affection does seem to have genuinely perplexed some people who watched the show, to the point that they didn’t read it as affection at all. But again, drawing on what I’be observed, some couples really do develop a ‘love code’ that they understand even if literally no one else does. I don’t see any indication of either Mai or Zuko actually ill-using the other; and I will always stan this line from Mai when she made her big choice: I love Zuko more than I fear you.

As for Sukki - well, you already know. Sokka definitely grew and healed a lot from it, but I don’t think the trauma of being unable to protect Yue is one that will ever truly leave him. And as much as Suki understands him, I do think Sokka’s protectiveness will sometimes grate on her. She’s a motherfucking warrior-chieftain. And yes, this can definitely shape into a relational problem, but not one that can’t be worked around.

So ... TLDR, I love all the ships, and refuse to be part of the anti drama.

[toziers]

can you explain what's going on right now? i keep seeing big IT blogs talking about some discourse or something but i have no idea what they're talking about other than it involves you lol

alright i like. i truly do not like having diScOurSE out in public because i’m not one to air out my dirty laundry 24/7 but seeing as how it was brought into public against my will i feel like the least i can do is clear up the situation for those who’ve been seeing the posts. 

i’m putting this under the cut bc it’s long. tws for some biphobia, brief mention of transphobia and, at the end, a rape mention. 

so if you don’t know: hi, i’m migz, i’m an it fandom blogger. its okay, i know, its really cool. part of my shtick here is that i like to turn normal thirst tags into works of art for the sake of comedy. perhaps you’ve seen some of my highlights from my “fhg” tag - perhaps your brain has been spared. either way, it became kind of “my thing” around the third or fourth week (mid nov) of me having this blog. at first, i tagged just about every ask i got mentioning the thirst tags with “bill hader” - they had to do with him, so why not tag him? it would draw more like minded people! about two days into that i got a message asking me to tag my nsfw. i am a big dumb idiot, and apologize for not initially doing it. i havent had a following bigger than like 10 in several years and completely spaced on basic etiquette. so by the end of november i was tagging everything applicable  with “notsfw” and “bill hader”. 

now you’re caught up.

on december 1st i got this message from user billhaderanti:

now i want to start by saying i absolutely was in the wrong here. i didn’t even think about how many people were being subjected to the asks i was getting - especially ones who had no idea they were all jokes. i don’t track the bill hader tag, so it just didn’t even occur to me - that’s ignorance on my part, and to anyone who was subjected to the terrors of me before my tagging system: i am genuinely sorry. i relay the same sentiment in my response, though you can tell i’m on edge.

and they replied:

clearly they Were offended by it but thats.. not the point. at this point, im feeling Really weird about the whole interaction, but still understanding, because again - i GET it. i know my posts are gross - that’s the point. it doesn’t make it excusable, though, which is why i understand why people are offended. so i responded with the only solution i Knew would keep us both safe and happy posting on our own blogs. 

so i thought this would be the end of things! i’d been pretty anxious lately already since i’d started to receive anons telling me i was gross and whore-ish for thirst posting in this way (i delete all of those, so if ur thinking about sending one, i guess no one’s stopping you but it won’t be seeing the light of the dashboard). i’m unsure if it was immediately or a few hours later, seeing as how i have a bad concept of time and the post-dates are right on the edge between nov 30 and dec 1, but i went to their blog - because anyone who has been on the internet knows the opportunity to vague post is near irresistible. and...what do ya know

fair! it’s their blog. however i am an emotionally fragile egg girl and immediately got freaked out. the odds that they were the only one who thought this were low. and, again, i’ve been very open on my blog about how important it is to respect boundaries; my posts are absolutely prone to breaking those boundaries people have created for themselves. 

so i made my own, semi-vague post, letting my following know (and i’m pretty sure i’d answered asks about it before, but this is going to be long enough w/o me searching those up too) that i understood if they wanted to block me or unfollow or whatever - people need to create their own safe spaces. the tension is pretty clear in the tags, i’m not trying to hide that. i felt that the way this woman slid into my dm’s was pretty abrasive (just my opinion/how it made me personally feel) and i let myself be a lil emotional about it in the tags of my post.

alright! maybe this is the end. maybe we both go our separate ways and post happily on our own blogs... except it’s not the end. later in the day (some of this was happening like 1/2am, so now its Day day, i believe - again, not good w time passage lol)

clearly, i’m upset. my groupchat double checked that i didn’t get too emotional in my response - did i mention im anxious about discourse lol - and apparently.. it did the trick. she didn’t message me again. great. it was over. 

at this point, i decided i needed to make an even bigger change. so a few days after i’d calmed down i created an entirely new tag for my thirst posts so if people hadn’t already hidden the notsfw posts or just blocked me outright, they’d have a third option to escape the madness. at this point, id had my blog about 6? weeks, but there were still 2k posts for me to sift through - some of them were completely untagged. i also had to do it post by post, because one of xkits features - the mass re-tagger - was getting blogs deleted for some reason, and i wasn’t going to do that. so i spent a few days going through all 2k+ posts, adding the “fhg” tag. 

YEEHAW! a brand new tagging system, no more hopping into the bill hader tag (minus one or two really funny, not super explicit asks, like the bill hader farquaad meme), and, tbf, i’d completely put this woman out of my mind. i don’t seek out drama and do my best to stay in my lane. yesterday, i checked my activity for the first time in awhile since id put out a couple new original posts that had started to get traction and i Love reading tags. i noticed a mutual had @’d me, and realized i havent checked my @’s in...ever, maybe. i see a post from my good pal billhaderanti. 

since i dont follow them and never check my @’s, i’d completely missed it. however, once i did see it, i was horrified. id gone through all that fucking work to keep my blog My Blog and also respect everyone’s boundaries and it still hadn’t been enough. i’d been awake for almost 24 hours and went. a little crazy. and i didn’t reply immediately because i just had no words. i sent it to my friends because i... i just wasn’t going to be able to figure it out myself. 

there’s a lot to unpack in this post alone, but whatever, i’m gonna put my own grievances with the immaturity of 1. making a callout post to begin with when i’d been nothing but civil 2. making a callout post about something as (in the grand scheme of Life) minor as some tags where i refer to a someone’s genitals as a “whack pack” and 3. making a callout post in such a rude way - aside. at the end, she calls me (and whoever else!) a demonic mlw (man loving woman, we assumed, and then later confirmed with a post further back on her blog). 

which - yeah, we started scrolling. at first we were looking for more vague blogs, and then we just...started finding things. billhaderanti is a self proclaimed lesbian separatist, which... fine. but it’s already pretty clear that this woman hates me on some level simply because i am a bi woman (demonic mlw, remember!) which is just. damn man i can’t believe we are still fighting the biphobic fight lol. so the more we scrolled, the more we uncovered - and not just the biphobic / vaguely mtf transphobic things they posted (or put in tags), but we also found that they had their OWN thirst tags. certainly not as hyperbolically comedic as mine, but they were there, talking about his body and his person the same (and, frankly, a bit creepier for other reasons) as mine. 

there’s one post in particular that snatched my wig in it’s creepiness - and i say creepiness in the sense that it feels personal. like this woman feels like she knows bill to some degree where she can say these things. my tags have always had a sense of distance, as they’re written for humor. and maybe this particular post was written for comedic purposes, but it doesn’t read that way, and if it WAS, then she has no right to call ME out for MY comic tags and posts. 

i’ll let it speak for itself, mostly because i don’t want to read it again. 

i also won’t be going through her blog again to find the posts with biphobic and other Interesting:tm: tags because there are plenty and i just really! want to be done with the whole ordeal! her blog is public and i’m sure you can all find it and look to your heart’s content. 

feeling a bit feral and a bit pissed off now that we knew the depth of how rotten this woman’s vibes were, a couple of my pals made a post or two similar to what my tag’s are like except turned up to eleven (if possible) - and tagged them with “bill hader” (and notsfw!!). yes, a bit childish, but at this point, the entire situation was childish, and making jokes was truly the only way we were going to get through it. another vague post went up on her blog soon after.

talking down to us, calling us children, and then for whatever reason calling us virgins... whatever, weird post. around this time most of us (est) went to bed, because it was nearing 3 or 4 in the morning. 

and then today happened. i woke up fresh and ready for the day after a wonderful 4 hours of sleep and found that jane had made an incredibly intelligent post in response to the situation. i won’t ss it, but i’ll LINK in case you missed it. attached there in the reblog is my own response. i think they can speak for themselves. 

after that, things were kind of jumbled, since i wasn’t online a lot and when i was i was Not checking my activity simply because i was afraid of what i’d see. for the most part, it ended up just being support (which i am very grateful to all of you for - it means a lot that you all enjoy my content to any degree). 

there was some more vague posting from both “““““sides”””””” of the “““““argument”””””” - mostly just people restating the fact that this is a public space and we should All be aware of how we effect others. i still hadn’t heard directly from billhaderanti, so i assumed we’d all be dropping and disengaging and moving on. i still wasn’t blocked, though, so who really knew what would happen. 

eventually, it culminated in this last post. tw for mentions of rape

i’m going to start by saying that 

1. there are nearly no teenagers that were involved in this. im turning 23 in january and most of my friends are 20+. maybe one or two are 19. 

2. none of us sent any sexually violent asks - most of us didn’t send asks at all. i believe one or two of my friends admitted to sending asks however they assured me their nature wasn’t bad; as far as i know, everyone remained civil in whatever went on (again, unclear to me as to what was being sent; no one was actively posting or talking about it. if billhaderanti wishes to elaborate, they can, but i don’t have anything to put in). 

3. before i finish this, i would like to apologize to billhaderanti. as a comedian - not just my stupid tags, i mean in real life, too - i know that humor can hurt. it’s not always funny, it’s not just stupid hahas. sometimes things that are supposed to be jokes just hit people differently and cause bad things. i recognize that. i never meant to trigger you (if you’re reading this) or cause you any severe mental/emotional harm. i apologize for my humor bringing up your trauma, and i never meant for that. regardless of my own thoughts and opinions about the nature of my posts/the thirst tags themselves, they hurt you, and i’m sorry. 

anyway, i’m going to wrap this up (i’m bad at endings, what can i say! steven king and i took the same writer’s class!). if you read all this... sorry. i probably won’t be taking any asks about it, because i find the whole “drama” of this to be stupid and rooted in some seriously biphobic issues this fully grown woman has. 

tldr; i attempted to contain my blog so this woman could exist and function safely on her blog, but it wasn’t enough for her, so she called me out, and then some of the fandom called Her out for being biphobic and mean and overall just immature about the situation. as of now, she’s yet to block me, though her and her wife have blocked a few of my friends. her wife continues to clown on my friends. this post was made for clarity’s sake. the end, i’m getting a drink.