#It's.... Uh.... not great. But an interesting way to learn for when I'll do the real one

[roxysmini]

Final coat of primer done !!!

It's not perfect, but I think this'll do with the final color and scars I'll add to hide some problems... 😅

I left the headcap pretty much "as printed" because 1. Hair will hide it and 2. This will let me remember where I started and how I got this final result... so much sanding ! I also skipped sanding too much in some joints (both because hard access and makes more friction), you can kinda see it in the shoulder on the top picture.

Now I need to acquire some airbrush appropriate skin-tone paint, and my boy will be much closer to the final result ~ ☆

[thebleedingeffect]

Losing my shit thinking of this ageswap concept that I think I wanna include in a work eventually- but the idea of Toichiro + the ultimate five + the scar members being in black vinegar middle school as a gang with a sort of school politics dealt by unusually ruthless middle schoolers that are all espers. Also just having to deal with the sheer mayhem that would be all of them in school and them nearly blowing everything up once every week.

Meanwhile Mogami and Reigen are over at salt middle school dealing with supernatural shit, bullying, and home lives that just make their lives the embodiment of this

[annewithaneofthegreengable]

Kinktober - Day 4

4th — cockwarming, Max Verstappen

The previous day I The next day I Kinktober masterlist I Main list

Prompt: You are an actress and have been in a relationship with Max for a while. You have been trying to learn all your lines in the upcoming movie, and since this time of the year is off-time, which means no racing for a few weeks for Max, he volunteered to help you remember your lines and practice it with you. 

You and Max sat on the couch together in their comfortable living room. Max had a script in his hand, and the other one was in yours. "Okay, ready to start?" Max asked, a slight smile on his face. You nodded, a look of determination on your face. "Ready as I'll ever be," you replied. Max chuckled. "Don't worry, I'll help you remember your lines. You've got this."

Sometimes you would stumble over a word or phrase, but Max was there to help you through it. He would gently correct or repeat the line if you forgot it completely. "Schatz, there’s another fun way to rehearse all these lines, and you can even memorise it faster. Take a break and meet me in the office.” 

Max's proposal piqued your interest and curiosity. You couldn't help but wonder what new method he had in mind to help you remember your lines more effectively.

With a nod, you got up from the couch and headed towards the office. You found Max already there, waiting for you.

He waves you over to where he’s sitting on his desk chair, motioning for you to sit on his lap. You look at him, confused for a moment, before doing as he wordlessly asked. 

“What are we doing? I thought you would help me with the script.” you half laugh, half ask curiously.

You can feel Max fumble his hands behind you, his cold watch brushing against the warm skin of your tailbone that’s exposed from your dress.

“I’m helping you to study it better with some motivation.” He whispered to your ears. 

You hear his zipper come undone, and that’s when you realize what he’s wanting. Max adjusts you on his lap so you’re hovering, and he aligns his length with your clothed entrance, teasing your clit through your underwear. He pushes the fabric to the side with his fingers, allowing his tip to brush against your wetness. You slowly push yourself onto him, and Max guides himself into you at a snail’s pace. You aren’t quite wet enough yet, so he takes his time. Once he’s wholly sheathed inside your warmth, Max grabs your hips so you can’t move.

“I want you to just sit here and be a good girl while learning, alright?”

“That’s kind of hard with you inside me, Maxie .”

“You can do it, baby. You’re so good for me.”

You aren’t sure what you’d do if you had to act normal while Max’s thick, now-throbbing length is being squeezed by your walls. 

He grunts softly as you shift a little, and he kisses your neck, nipping and sucking on your skin. Max's trying to distract himself by reading the script. "Act 1, Scene 1... Oh, god, you're getting wetter, aren't you?" 

​​He starts moving his hips slowly, pushing himself in and out of you, his thick length stretching you open with each movement. He keeps his hand on your hip, holding you in place as he sets a slow, steady pace. "Focus, baby... Focus on the script..."

Max thrusts into you, disguising it as a minor shifting in his chair, and you have to clear your throat to stifle a moan, “Uh … Oh, a chapel. Do…Do you think dad will be able to cross the threshold,” you try to read the line outloud. 

“You are doing great, Schatzi. Can you go on.”

“Of course,” you nod your head, rubbing your palm along Max’s thigh out of sight. 

Max's breath hitches slightly at your touch, but he keeps his face neutral, continuing with the script. "That’s a good question…" He punctuates each phrase with a measured thrust, maintaining the facade of simply coaching you through the scene. His voice grows huskier.

You begin to feel restless on Max’s cock, wishing for nothing more than to fuck him senseless. You want to end your learning session, spin around, and bounce on him for hours. But of course, until he gives the word, you can’t move. Max's intense gaze bores into you as he slowly trails a finger along your jawline. 

“Please,” you whimper, “Let me move.” “Then move.”

With his permission, Max's hands move to your backside, gripping firmly as he helps guide your movements. His hips thrust up to meet yours, the two of you finding a rhythm together. The sound of your labored breaths and wet, slapping bodies fills the room, the script is long forgotten on the desk.

Taglist: @formula1-motogpfan @iamafootballfanmiasanmia @arian-directioner @annimausi @mythicalmaven @lucycowr @hamilton-mount @Chuxk-leclerk @landosgirl @Kikiaaaay @iluvvmeeee @stars4me @starz4me1 @fxrmuladaydreams @Ashleyo1611 @ln-fours @cloud-55 @neo-stay @mysteriesincorporated @nzygftoji @dinodumbass @qxeenjen @lilmacabe @9fi @sya-skies @toriiez @jud-3 @ryl-xoxo @fandomz-queenie @gracie23x @kr1sblog @b-law @F1fan24 @taylorsdoratheafr @missevrythingg @salma @cherrypopsicle @toasterpiastri @uhhvictoria @01rrdbull @aracelys-stuff @horseymchorse3 @lou-ghoul @unknownmystery22 @thisbitxhs-blog @toxicdreamer296 @maxivstappen @si1ver06 @mendes-bae @bestgirlie @mbioooo0000 @depressedgiftedburnout @lieslostinsilence @chaoticversion @kaydesssssssss @maryelizaart @milkyymelanine @bisrae @carlando4 @mystichandspruneshark @sweetwh0re @larastark3107 @fiveyjustin @moonchildlec @bicrazybabe @maximumflaps @sainzwife @i--sa @liviav @nitonan-blog @moodymoony71 @horrible-decision @verstappenluv111 @Meyla123X @bea-stilinksi24 @Hayley125 @imjustme-n @elizamoe133 @bernelflo @evie-likes-stuff @anne1444444 @celtis--vr @rockytheluver @orlafitz1664 @aliceespector @ricciadosredbull @novelant @briannamh07 @oliveswiftly @hotlapshottakes @sinners-98-world @ramenblutte @fallenlunar @little-nando14 @fore45fore @importantduckhumanoidpatrol @eroselless @strabunny @sydneyhlove @jkdaddy01 @multi-fandom5 @f1-hoff @kittylolly4 @reguluscrystals @uhhvictoria @arian-directioner @forza-dolce @dukeofjjune @vimayxo @ilove-tswizzle @peachapat119 @mythicalmaven

[uzurakis]

HERE TO SEND YOU BLUELOCK HEAD CANNONS! >:D

Can you do headcannons of the guys and how they would be like if they were teaching us how to play soccer? Hope this is interesting for you ^^, if you're interested to make them thanks in advance!

TEACHING YOU SOCCER?!

featuring: michael kaiser. itoshi rin. oliver aiku. isagi yoichi. bachira meguru.

n. yees darling, i was invested to write this (it's a challenging one because i don't really play soccer myself). hope i nailed it though, thank you to u too <3

MICHAEL KAISER. "nice shot!" kaiser exclaimed, clapping you on the back. "but don't get too cocky, mein liebling."

"learned from the best, i guess," you teased, nodding toward kaiser. "after all, my boyfriend's the world's number one striker, hmm?"

kaiser's eyes widened in mock surprise, a beam spreading across his face. "well, when you put it that way," he said, puffing out his chest with pride and sliding back his golden locks. "i suppose i am pretty amazing."

"ah, but if i'm the world's number one striker," he continued, trying to tease you with words, "then that must mean you have to kneel before me, right?"

you lifted an eyebrow, unable to stop snickering at his exaggerated claim. "huh, is that so?" playing along with his joke. "i guess i'll have to remember to bow down to the soccer king himself."

the guy grinned, clearly enjoying the playful exchange. "that's more like it," now his voice filled with mock superiority, typical kaiser. "but don't worry, i'll be a generous king."

ITOSHI RIN. "fine, i'll try my best, but just so you know, i'm not really good at teaching," rin confessed, feeling apologetic because he’s not used to teaching others. and now, his girlfriend wants to learn how to play soccer.

rin took a deep breath, trying to muster up some confidence as he began to explain the basics of dribbling. "uh, alright, first, dribbling. just try to keep the ball close to your feet for now," he instructed, a bit hesitant.

"oi, dont look at me, look at the ball," he reminded you. "sorry," you chuckled, truly didn't realize you weren't paying attention. come on, just look at him. "if i’m being honest, you look really hot like this," you teased, but, it’s true though!

rin's cheeks flushed slightly at your comment, but he quickly regained his composure. "focus," he replied. though there was a hint of annoyance, you couldn't help but sneak a glance at rin's face as he continued to give you instructions, his cheeks flushed slightly from your earlier comment.

suddenly, rin's voice broke through your reverie, snapping you back to reality. "i said focus!"

OLIVER AIKU. "keep your eye on the ball and follow through with your kick," aiku instructed while you attempted to pass the ball to him.

even when you struggled or made mistakes, aiku remained patient and supportive, offering gentle guidance to help you improve. "try to angle your foot a bit more next time," he suggested, as you missed the mark with your pass. "you're doing great, sweetie. just keep practicing."

by the end of the session, you were exhausted but thankful for aiku's patience and support. he wrapped his arm around your shoulders, a proud smile on his lips.

"you're making progress, sweetie," he soothed, genuine and affectionate. "with a little more practice, you'll beat me out here."

BACHIRA MEGURU. "okaaay, let's start with some dribbling drills," he said, bachira was overjoyed since this meant he had another friend to play soccer with. "try to keep the ball under control as you move around me, kaay?"

you nodded, determined to give it your best shot. as you began to dribble the ball, you stumbled a bit, but bachira was quick to offer a push. "nice job, baby! you're getting the hang of it," he cheered, clapping his hands in support.

with each effort, you gained confidence and dribbled past bachira with greater ease. bachira congratulated you on your small wins every time you successfully escaped him. "woah, that was awesome! baby, i’m so happy!" he exclaimed, giving you a high-five.

"great effort, babes! keep it up, and you'll get it," he encouraged, his words filling you with determination. “lets keep playing together!”

ISAGI YOICHI. "hey, it's okay," isagi said gently, stepping closer to you. "here, let me show you."

he moved behind you and gently guided your legs into the correct position, his touch firm yet gentle. "see? keep your body low and your touches light," he explained, moving your legs in rhythm with the ball. "you've got this, angel.”

with isagi's guidance, you began to feel more confident, dribbling the ball with increasing control. whenever you made a mistake, your boyfriend always offered gentle correction and encouragement.

"nice try, but try to keep the ball closer to your feet," he would say, his tone encouraging. "like this," demonstrating the correct form before guiding your legs to mimic his movements.

@uzurakis

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

YOUR L*ONISMS IN THE MALLEUS POST BYE 😭😭 I tend to try to avoid talking about him precisely bc I fear I'll sound like Leona too lmao. or bc I'm scared ppl will say "ah you only dislike him bc you like Leona"- when that's not the case at all (although I also share some of his views about the lizard) Similarly to you, I just don't get the hype- basically everything you say. my feelings for him fluctuate from "🙄 ok." to "you're okay? I guess?"

which is weird, bc I really like dragons and non-human characters learning about humans. but that's what makes it worse for me bc man all the talk about him made me want to rlly like him and then I saw him in canon and I was like uh... okay? kind of disappointed + a bit annoyed at some stuff. I do like how he talks about gargoyles or things he finds interesting tho— I'll praise you that much, Draconia.

[Referencing this post!]

***PLEASE NOTE: Everything I express in this post is my own opinion and is in no way meant to disparage Malleus enjoyers.***

Leona and Rollo is right about Malleus and he should speak his truth 😔

To reflect a little on my own character arc with Malleus, I felt very neutral about him from the prologue to about book 2ish. This was simply because I hadn't interacted with the guy yet so I held off on judging him prematurely. The brief encounter we actually had with Malleus in book 2 wasn't meaty enough for me to get a sense for his character, so I brushed him off.

I thought it was interesting that book 2's narrative invites comparisons between Leona and Malleus, with Leona being a parallel to Scar, Malleus being a parallel to Mufasa, and the world holding Malleus up as the "superior" king. Lilia states as much in 2-26: "Would that the lion king of the savanna could witness this absolute farce. No, if you ask me, the collar suits you far better than a crown ever could. You may bemoan the fact that you're not higher in line to be king. But with that sensitive ego of yours? That so quickly directs all your petty anger at your retainers... Well, the idea of you ever contending with a REAL king like our Malleus—is absolutely laughable. Even if you COULD defeat Malleus, so long as that's how you choose to conduct yourself? You would never be fit to rule!"

And at the time, yeah, Lilia's right because Leona is very much losing his grip on his emotions and acts irrationally in an attempt to triumph over Malleus. HOWEVER... The longer the main story went on, the more I found myself disagreeing with Lilia's judgment of Malleus and his character. Now, that doesn't mean that I think Leona was in the right for the actions he took in book 2 (they are still and always will be wrong). Rather, I think Lilia gave a somewhat biased take on Malleus and his preparedness for the throne. Many of the things Lilia accuses Leona of also ended up being very true of his own liege. Malleus has a sensitive ego (he has attempted to strike down peers and faceless, magicless NPCs on more than one occasion; ie Halloween events). Malleus has directed his anger at his retainers (as a child, he froze many servants; in book 7, he attacks Sebek and Silver for attempting to wake up their peers and tries to return Lilia to sleep against his wishes). Malleus has scarcely led anyone in anything. Leona and Malleus are far more similar to one another than either of them would like to admit, but Lilia is just assuming that Malleus will be a great leader anyway because of... what? Because of birthright and lineage? Yeah, no wonder why Leona is pissed and has a bone to pick with the lizard (attempt to harm Malleus aside).

Book 3 and onwards is what I started to develop my current dislike for Malleus. (And to be clear, he has good points too! I'm not saying that he has nothing going for him at all; however, this post is focusing on my own critiques of his character so that is what I will be speaking about.) I started to notice things that annoyed me on a personal level: how he lacks consideration of others' perspectives and actively violates their autonomy, how he never gets any repercussions for his actions, how he's aware of his power and status and yet fails to avoid lording it over others, how he has been given so many opportunities to learn and change as a person but refuses those opportunities, etc. And yes, I understand that he acts in these ways for particular reasons. I'm not saying that his behaviors don't make sense, I am only stating that these are behaviors that I personally don't find appealing. (For more extensive explanations of why I don't like Malleus, please see the FAQ section in my pinned post.) All of this in spite of how little of him we actually get to see and interact with, especially in the main story. It baffled me that he was undoubtably the most popular character in EN circles. There's so much chatter about Malleus Draconia, you can't really get away from it. People are legitimately shocked when you tell them you actively dislike Malleus or when they learn that he's not even a top contender for best boy in the JP fandom. The default is assuming that you do like Malleus, which ironically happens to be the same thing that Draconians (Malleus stans in-universe) do. It feels like there's sometimes an unspoken pressure to like the guy. I also started to notice peculiar behaviors (?) which, in a vacuum, aren't necessarily bad--I would just like to comment on them because I find it interesting. With Malleus being as popular of a character as he is, there's of course going to be a lot of online discussion about him, especially from his fans. Now, I don't know if it's only me noticing this, but I've frequently observed Malleus fans going out of their way to "wring as much content" out of the least Malleus-related content possible. For example, there may be a screenshot of some other character posted and then a fan would come in and make a comment like, "I wonder how Malleus would feel about this". A more concrete example would be from the more recent JP Lost in the Book with Nightmare Before Christmas event; in it, the event character takes the back of all the characters' hands and kisses them (including Yuu). Automatically posts that showed this kissing were inundated with comments about how "Malleus would be so angry about this", even though Malleus himself shows no such reaction. Similar comments dropped when Yuu is kidnapped in the event even though, again, Malleus shows no such anger about the incident. Halloween events such as this contain half the main NRC cast, yet I saw no fans of the other 10 characters claiming those characters reacting jealously. This occurs VERY often in regards to Malleus; even in events or scenes where he doesn't react or doesn't even appear, zealous fans will insert him into the situation or make the situation suddenly about him, whether it's in someone's own posts or on other people's posts.

I wonder if this is a result of Malleus being kept so mysterious for two full years...? Without much of his character to go off of, it left a huge negative space for fans to headcanon, project, and hyperfixate on what he is like or what he could be. And maybe now those behaviors persist in an effort to fill in that void because honestly Malleus isn't getting much screen time within book 7 either 💀

I believe this has contributed to the discrepancy (that this asker brought up) between how the English-speaking Twst fandom speaks about Malleus versus what Malleus is actually like and how he is portrayed in game. The fandom version of him is pretty much always hyped up or sensationalized (sometimes simply for his mere existence), similar to how his own fans in-universe might put him on a pedestal. But then you play the game for yourself and you're exposed to so little of him and what little you do see of him is much more... reserved, somber, and sometimes even petulant, depending on the situation.

Anyway, my point is that anyone that dislikes Malleus (or any other character) should be allowed to dislike him, regardless of what anyone else says or if you feel pressured into silence🤷‍♀️

[tizeline]

I’ve never seen a separated au with Leo being raised by big mama, what do you think that would be like? (Since he’s kinda rebellious)

For the record, there are AUs where Leo's been raised by Big Mama, the ones I know of are Gemini AU by tangledinink and True Colors AU by v-albion. I'm not super familiar with either of them, but they're there if you wanna check them out.

That being said-

LEO being raised by BIG MAMA omg I have THOUGHTS

Listen, I don't see enough people compare Leo to Big Mama, but he's quite similar to her. Splinter and BM never got a kid together, BUT IF THEY DID that kid would literally be Leo he's basically just a fusion of the two of them!!

As I've mentioned several times before because I love bringing it up, Leo is strategic, quick-witted, observant and good at talking. In the show (as well as in my own AU) Leo's strengths aren't really recognized, let alone aknowledged for a big portion of the story. Because of that, for a long time he doesn't really get the chance to develop these skills, as much potential Leo has to become a master planner his impulsiveness and inexperience has a tendency to get him into trouble.

BUT! All of these skills also happen to be skills that Big Mama has and would value in Leo. So if he were to actually have to opportunity to not only be raised by BM but also trained by her for his entire life. If he got to properly learn strategy, planning, manipulation...?

... Holy shit Leo would be terrifying.

Think about it, canon!Leo managed to out-smart BM in Many Unhappy Returns without any real experience, just imagine what he could do with a whole life-time of training.... yikes!

Not sure what exactly Big Mama and Leo's relationship would look like. In my opinion she would view him as her son and love him dearly, especially if she knew that he's Splinter's biological son.... it's just that BM has interesting ways of showing affection. ("The love of my life just proposed to me?? Great! I'm gonna lock him up in my gladiator fighting ring for the rest of eternity!") She'd at the very least be quite controlling, I imagine.

As you pointed out, Leo can be quite rebellious, so that mixed with Big Mama's obsessive need to be in complete control of everyone around her would certainly cause some tension. Actually... considering how clever Leo would be in this AU... uh oh.

All of these qualities that BM initially appreciated and encouraged in Leo, what if, as Leo became more and more capable, Big Mama started to eventually view them in a more negative light? If she feels like she's loosing control over Leo, if she interprets Leo's rebellion as not just a normal teenage need for independence but rather him malicously working against her. What if she starts viewing him not as an asset or as a tool, but rather a threat?

If BM has reason to believe that Leo might try to overthrow her and take control over her criminal empire, she might take preemptive action and get rid of him before he has the chance to get rid of her.... Not like murder-get-rid-of, I don't think she'd just kill him, lol! But like lock him up, maybe throw him into the Battle Nexus, I dunno. Anything that would allow her to remain in control of both him and her business.

As for Leo, maybe he would actually try to overthrow BM. Considering he was raised by a literal mafia boss, his moral compass is gonna be a bit wack. Maybe Leo's desire for control over himself would cause him to try to seize control over his mother's business. Oooooorrrrr maybe Leo just wants some independance but doesn't actually want to compete with BM, so when she interprets his actions and behavior as malicious he's not prepared for that at all and, as a result, is more than a little hurt that his own mother would take such extreme actions against him. Who knows?

Hhhhhhh there's a lot of fun posibilities here but MAN I'm not really in the mood to work on an entirely new AU. Maybe I'll create some art for it I dunno, this concept is really fun, but I'm not gonna turn this into a proper Thing, so if anyone else wanna steal this concept and explore it for themselves, feel more than free to do that!

[d6volution]

Corporeal.

Caine/Fem!Reader

caine wants to learn more about humans, so why not become one himself? surely, these new waves of emotions and new desires won't become an issue.

requested by: @kenenergy

tags: mutual pining, eventual smut, fluff, human!caine, lingerie, reader is down bad for caine but won't admit it.

Chapter one.

"I just don't know bubble! After letting them all down about the exit I feel... a little guilty?" Was that the correct wording? Humans were far more complex than he could imagine. But, oh, so interesting.. what could he do to learn from them better? He tapped the bottom of his jaw with a gloved finger in thought.

"Well, maybe you could—" Bubble began but Caine cut him off before he could get a word out, "Gadzooks you're right bubble! To understand them, I have to become like them! Of course! What a great adventure that'll be!" He exclaimed and extended his arms out in delight.

"I'll get a brand new.. body! All equip with artificial human emotions, looks, the works!"

Caine said , happily agreeing with himself. All it'd take was a snap of his fingers.

"Can I have body too, Caine..? I'd absolutely.. love to.. hug everyone.." Bubbles voice drifted off strangely at the end of that sentence and Caine stared... that certainly wasn't a good idea.

"Uh.. no!" He said just as cheerfully as if he were to agree.

SNAP!

the following day..

Knock, knock, knock!

The noise broke you out of your extremely light sleep. You got out of bed without issue, feeling groggy wasn't exactly a thing here. "Coming.. coming.." You sighed and pushed aside the fluffy comforter, rubbing your eyes and stretching out your body. It was still taking some getting used to.. you dragged yourself to the door and swung it open, Ragatha stood there, hands clasped in front of her. She gave a small wave, "Hey, y/n! Uh, Caine called everyone to the main hall, so I just came by to.. get you." Her sentence trailed off with a little chuckle as she pushed some of her red locks from her face.

"Oh, thanks Ragatha." At the mention of Caine you seemes unconsciously adjust your clothing and hair, what can you say? He's a charismatic man.. it was hard not to be a little attracted to him. Not like it would lead to anything, he certainly didn't seem to be interested in you humans, not anymore than playthings at least.

"Let's get going then, don't wanna keep everyone waiting." You flashed a kind smile at the doll like woman and you both walked together to where the others were already gathered, exchaning mundane conversation on the way.

"Well, well well glad you ladies could make it!"

"C.. Caine..!? What the [censor] !?" Your eyes were nearly popping out of your sockets and even ragatha seemed taken aback, mouth agape.

"We can't have that, y/n but I will give you a pass because I'm sure you are quite surprised by my apperance!" He said followed by a wacky sound.

"Yeah........" Zooble chimed in , "Welcome to the party."

Caine was.. human? His face was chiseled like an old timey talk show host. Dark brown hair was skicked back except a single curled strand hanging above his forehead ... he, of course, had on his iconic red suit and still held his baton, but he was just.. human now. And fuck was he handsome. Just what his goal?

"I'm sure you're all wondering why exactly I look—"

"Who cares," Jax said, arms crossed. Clearly annoyed, it almost seemed like Caine was mocking them in his opinion, "What about us? Does this mean we can get our human bodies back?"

Oh.. oh. You didn't even think about that, he's right. At least you'd feel a bit more normal here, surely there had to be a way. With a tinge of hope in your eyes you looked at Caine, waiting for his answer.

"Ah—" Caine raised a finger, but it soon fell. "Well.. no. This is simply coding, ones and zeros, Jax! Nothing more." He said, his grin a bit more charming when hes human, though now that you get a good look at him the 'coding' on him was too perfect. His skin had zero imperfections and his teeth were inhumanly white.

"So, our adventure today will be a little different! None of those devious little gloinks to steal your things away, no no! Just different trials for human emotions! Who will crack first!? Who will cry first !? Oh, the horrors! And I will be standing by to drink up everyones reactions!"

Everyone stood in silence, some annoyed some just downright confused. But, they didn't exactly have a choice but to follow through with the new adventure.

"Now go on my little superstars! Head to the dining area with the other NPCs!" He shoos you off but you purposely linger behind, waiting for the others to head off first.

"Yes, y/n, can I help you dear?!" He said , unknowingly in your personal space. But it quickly became apparent as his expression seemed to shift a little, usually it wouldn't bother him.. being this close to you but now, as a 'human' it felt a little strange. Causing him to clear his throat.

"O.. Oh nothing, I just.. wanted to say being a human.. kinda suits you Caine." You laughed a little and skipped off into the dining area leaving Caine with a flushed face. He touched his cheek, confused by the weird reaction he was having.. humans sure are interesting creatures.

Inside the dining area everyone was sat down with a the wooden mannequin NPC, they spoke to each person differently. Trying to provoke a reaction out of them, it must have been apart of Caine's way of getting you all to release different emotions he could learn from.

You took your seat in front of the wooden doll, [Y/N, welcome, you're late you should be ashamed of yourself.] The voice was robotic and out of habit you almost snapped back, but that's what Caine wanted probably. After all everyone was either close to strangling the faux mannequin or getting up to leave out of frustration. Caine made sure the trials pushed their buttons.

"God.. what is Caine thinking, this is so .. weird." Zooble commented, leaning back against their chair as their mannequin had been.. well out of commission thanks to them. "Hey.. where'd y/n go..?"

You found a way to sneak off, seeking out Caine again. You had more questions about this.. human transformation of his, not only that there had to be a way to get him to turn you all human again. It could be the first step to getting out of here.

You rounded the corner and shuffled back behind it, peeking past it to see Caine getting a haircut from bubble. "Anddd.. There!" With comically large scissors he snipped off a ungodly chunk of hair, without thinking Caine popped bubble and made all the chair he was sitting in disappear. His hair reappearing perfectly as if it hadn't been cut at all!

Your mouth dropped.

"Oh, y/n! Shouldn't you be at the trials? What slippery little snake you are, come now let's get you back!" He got close to you and you shuffled back, to avoid being instantly teleported back there. "W.. Wait! Caine.. I had a few questions."

"Questions? What about?" His eyes studided yours, "Oh, right, of course! This must be about my handsome new human face correct?" He said with a all to charming grin.

"Well, ... yes.. Don't you think you should have a human test the validity of your new... er.. body." You said attempting to close the distance between you, and he allowed it. You extended a hand and caressed his face, he looked at you with wide eyes.

"Did I.. perhaps get something wrong here?" He said a little confused, the close proximity between you two was causing him to flush uncontrollably. "Well, your face is a bit.. too perfect? Still so.. did you make yourself attractive on purpose?" You caught yourself tracing the features of his face and had to pull back.

"Well.. yes! Humans seem to respond well to, a more attractive face!"

It was getting a little awkward for the both of you, Caine cleared his throat. "Note taken! Will ..there be anything else y/n? If not then chop chop, your trials are almost finished!" He didn't let you answer, too confused and taken aback by these feelings coursing through his veins. He snapped his fingers and you were back in the chair with the damn mannequin.

Great.

Meanwhile Caine was still hovering in place, touching the same place you had caressed him a moment ago. "Humans sure are.. interesting, what a strange feeling!" He said and lifted his hat where bubble emerged from. "Day one, I will call a success bubble! One step closer to understanding these bundle of emotions we call humans!"

Later that night, Caine was sure everyone else was in their rooms before he too attempted to "sleep" it was apart of the learning process he thought. He desperately tried to push back the unraveling emotions in his body. Your fingertips, lips and even voice was encompassing his every waking thought.

Perhaps it would be smart to stay close to you throughout this experience. You are making his body and mind react in such strange ways and you've hardly done anything.

Surely, this won't have any repercussions later.

(next chapter.)

[platonic-writer]

I love your account so much, I want to cry every time I read smth with dadttore

Almost every fic with him includes !child reader with his interests and personality, basically his copy. But what about GN!Dottore's child reader who is opposite of him? Like, the scientist and his theater/art kid.

Imagine him trying to teach reader something, while they are like "Oh yeah, by the way I got lead role in school theater" or "Wow, that's great, but can I go sew/paint now?"

Omg opposite reader 🙏

You're Request has been made!! Im so sorry it took so long!!! I am drawing a lot these days because i entered an Art Competition!

OPPOSITE GN!CHILD READER & PLATONIC DOTTORE

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

Dottore doesen't know how Reader became the opposite of him-

He's a Scientist, he raised you to be one too!

How did you turn into his opposite!?

Since you were a child he tried making you into a Scientist like himself but it never did work

At the age of 3 you started running away whenever Dottore would take you to show you an experiment

You would hide behind a Box and secretly do whatever you desired

You learned how to sew, draw and even dance while hiding

At 5 years old you told Dottore with a presentation that you wanted nothing to do with Science

" My presentation is called 'How to let your child be themselves.' Dad! You have to Listen carefully!( ͡ᵔ ͜ʖ ͡ᵔ)"-Reader

" ( ͠° ͟ʖ ͡°) " -Dottore

It somehow worked...?

He now lets you go whenever he experiments and now you get to show him everything you do!

The drawings you gave him are displayed in his Laboratory

And he brags about them while he experiments on the victims💀

You and him have yap sessions

Every day either he or you yap

You talk about new books or what you painted today, and Dottore talks about what experiments he did and has to do

At the age of 8 you got your first Role in a Play!

"OHRHR DAD DAD! LOOK IM THE MAIN LEAD IN MY PLAY!!WAA IM SO HAPPY!!ヽ(>∀<☆)ノ"-Reader

"Thats great kiddo! I'll be sure to watch you in that play! Now, i have to tell you about this experime- " -Dottore

" nuh uh. (￢_￢;)" -Reader

Yep, reader walked away

As time went on Reader became more and more interested in the World

So whenever Dottore went to a Mission, Reader asked for different Items and so

Dottore always bought things that he thought reader would like back

He gave reader different Instruments whenever he came back

And now Reader plays lots of different Instruments in the Laboratory

The Drums are Reader's favorite Instrument because its so loud💪

You play it at the dead of the night or when Dottore is focused on something

Dottore hates that Instrument so much because of you

But he can't just destroy it! Its your favorite!

He bears with it for you😭💕

Summary: You may not be like Dottore, but he loves you for what you are . He loves your art and whenever you show him something New! You may not be a Scientist but you will always be his Partner in experiments! He tries to understand your view on things and will always listen to you whenever you yap about stuff!

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

Ty for reading! I hope you liked it. Check out my other works!σ(≧ε≦σ) ♡

[numberonetacostan]

I remember reading a headcanon once where the contestants can only be programed to know the emotions that Mephone knows (not he unable to feel them, just knowing what they are when they do feel them) and romantic love was brought up (as well as the other not platonic kind but we don't need to get into that) but basically they'd be on their own to figure out what it was (with the theme of this blog it's kind of inevitable this gets related to tacopad/Tacomic, although more tacomic here tbh because Mepad could probably just pull up the dictionary definition or something, if that would even help I'm not exactly sure)

Hello!!!^^ Welcome, and thank you for sending in an ask!!! :] I am unfortunately having a bit of trouble reading the first part, so I apologize if I get anything mixed up.

The contestants learning about romantic love on their own is a super sweet idea actually?? We see in canon that payjay are already figuring it out, and it's interesting to note that our first canon couple consists of a season 1 exclusive character and a season 1 + 4th s3 boot who didn't stay on indefinite island. It's almost as if the game gets in the way of the contestants forming healthy, loving relationships. Weird.

But yes, the contestants would be on their own for learning about and navigating romantic love!! There will be a lot of self-discovery going on post-canon, and this would fit right in!! I'll write a bit about Tacomic and Tacopad since you mentioned them, but I actually don't mind talking about other characters or ships at all!!!^^ I love every ii character, other than maybe Salt, but then I feel bad about leaving her out so. Taco just happens to be my favorite :).

SO Tacomic would uh stumble and fumble around a lot I think. They're still working on their friendship at first, Taco has a lot to learn, and she's currently grieving Mepad. Mic still has growing to do too, even if she's gotten better and grown since s2 episode 14, yeah? I think it gets easier as things go on for them. Taco always has her little crush on Mic, but it's Taco she is shoving those feelings as far down as she can, because she doesn't want to lose Mic again. It would be when Mic's falling for Taco that things would really be getting started, because I think Mic seeing Taco changing and working so hard to be better because Mic is so important to her might make Mic's heart explode one day and she realizes oh she wants Taco. She probably had some feelings during their partnership, but that dynamic wasn't as healthy or strong in it's emotional connection, so Mic ends up falling again later on.

TACOPAD!!! Uh neither of them are too incredible with their own emotions. I mean, Taco is just bad with feelings in general, but Mepad is a pretty great therapist, yeah? But it's important to keep in mind how his emotional range and intensity has changed since the beginning of season 2. He's been watching the contestants all along, learning about feelings from Toilet, but his own are an entire other ballpark!! And we see how intense these feelings are, he loves all the contestants so much that he died for them. And intense feelings can be a lot for a guy who used to feeling very little at all!!! I am a Tacopad learning about feelings together truther actually. Mepad helps Taco to manage hers and express them in a healthy way and Taco makes Mepad feel a whole hell of a lot and helps him learn to communicate his at all!! I have so much to say about Tacopad. I can't believe we only got four months of it instead of four years as god intended based on the old season 2 upload schedule. I have so many feelings about them!!!!!

[krispycreamcake]

sakamaki with a latin gf!!! pleasee

From author: I fucking love poc asks so much. Also to make this just a tiny bit easier on myself since I have writer's block rn, I'll just do something a bit short today

Sakamaki's with a Latin gf

Shu Sakamami

🎻- Slightly intrigued by the culture

🎻- Would honestly ask a couple questions if he was up to listening to you rant about your customs

🎻- Honestly likes the music you play sometimes (he has a playlist of Celia Cruz but shh)

🎻- Also yes yes before you shoot me, I know he likes classical but he seems like the type of guy who could appreciate the way how salsa music incorporates different instruments to have a specific kick to the genre

🎻- Once you told him about paella and now he asks you to make it for him almost all the time

🎻- Terrified of meeting your family and avoids it at all costs but tries to pretend it doesn't bother him

Reiji Sakamaki

☕️- Extremely educated on Latin culture

☕️- Asks you for local book recommendations

☕️- Genuinely wants your opinion on Japanese culture and how much of a difference it is compared to your own

☕️- Like Shu, he enjoys the music and if he had to pick he'd say Los Tres Diamantes was his favourite band from that genre

☕️- Invested in learning Spanish and takes pride in tackling another language alongside German

☕️- Since Latino culture is extremely diverse, he'd ask you about your OWN personal experience a lot of the times

Ayato Sakamaki

🏀- "Of course the great ore-sama could obviously get any girl he wants from around the world!"

🏀- Cocky asshole

🏀- See it's one thing being able to charm those around you that you share similarities with, but it takes something special to make someone completely different than yourself fall in love with you

🏀- And Ayato knows this, takes pride in it even

🏀- Hmm when it comes to how interested he is about the culture I'd give it 5/10

🏀- He cares about you more than all those fancy songs and food, but that is YOUR culture, so by extension he kinda has to care even if it's just a little bit

🏀- Asks you to speak Spanish and if you can't, he'll make fun of you for it and tease you by telling you to go learn a thing or two from Reiji

Laito

🃏- Lorddddddd

🃏- LORDDDDDD

🃏- Well before I start, let me just say that he's also educated on the culture just maybe not as much as Reiji, so anything he does is a means to tease you by playing coy and outright stupid

🃏- Just also would like to add, if you're from Brazil and happen to have a curvy body, he WILL comment on that

🃏- If you have a flatter body type, he'll tease (annoy) you by asking how come you don't have more uh curves in certain areas because that's supposed to be what you're "known for"

🃏- Trust me, he's only saying this to get a reaction, he loves you in his own weird fucked up way

🃏- But expect a lot of comments like that and at some point you'll probably need to tell him off

🃏- Midnight salsa dancing because well, do you honestly expect anything else from him?

🃏- One of his favourite things to do is watch those cliche over dramatic Spanish dramas and eats it up every single time there turns out to be a twin brother

Kanato Sakamaki

🧸- Like Ayato, doesn't care that much about the culture, rather his main focus is on you

🧸- Probably likes to hear you tell scary folklore stories from wherever you're from

🧸- And on that note, he already knows about La Lloronoa and Sihuanaba

🧸- Makes Teddy™ cover his ears when you get to the scary parts

🧸- Comments on how he'd still love you as a vengeful ghost and might even prefer it that way

🧸- Like Laito, he has this preconceived notion that you're meant to be curvy but doesn't care if you aren't

🧸- Besides if he only liked you for your body, he'd kill you and preserve you somewhere, hiding you away from the rest of the world where only he could see you. But he'd never do that riiiiiiight?

Subaru Sakamaki

🥀- Learns how to salsa when no one is around so he could impress you one day

🥀- Like Laito, he also watches those cliche Spanish soap operas but pretends he doesn't like them and think they're overrated (He's on the second season of Monarca)

🥀- Secretly interested in the culture and would ask Reiji for some books so he could learn more

🥀- Doesn't want to seem dumb in front of you but also doesn't want make a fool of himself by saying words he doesn't understand or asking dumb questions

🥀- If you speak Portuguese or Spanish, likes hearing you talk in your native tongue

🥀- Out of all the brothers, he'd be the one to treat you the most "normally" by not pestering you with questions or flaunting you off like a trophy he just won

🥀- You try to teach him your native language so you could both shit talk his brothers right in front their faces

From Author: It has been so long since I opened this app omfg but I've been busy with a lot of irl things so now I should have a bit more time to produce more content yay (I'm this close to jumping off a bridge with how dead the fandom is rn)

[bunnisplayground]

Meet Cute... Not Really

Warnings: Does cursing need a warning? Really bad translations (my other languages are a bit rusty)

This story begins with two total strangers meeting on a disgustingly rainy day. Some may enjoy the rain.. Reyanni does for sure.. But there are those who prefer the sunshine or even the snow compared to what pain the rain usually brings... for once it brings a meet cute? Not really?

The moment Lance went for a walk down the streets of Switzerland in a thin jacket and an old umbrella while skies were dark, would be one he'd remember for a lifetime... How could he forgot afterall it was the day he met our darling main character....

November 9, 2022~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>

The moment she saw that man enter her bakery she knew she was in for a journey. Some people say that they don't believe in an automatic interest.... but for Reyanni, the moment she locked eyes with him she knew three things.

She loved the way the rain seemed to make him look like a wet puppy.

She hated the way he entered her bakery with a scowl

She knew cleaning and tending to her Aphrodite altar before she left home that morning was a great idea.

So of course she decided to get closer.. by working the register (because in her words it's her bakery and she can do as she pleases). When he finally got to the register and she asked if she could take his order something in the air shifted. This feeling however shattered the moment he harshly placed an order for a black coffee and a slice of banana bread while looking down at his phone. He was quite snarky with it which rubbed her the wrong way 

Reyanni POV

If he wants an attitude, I'll give attitude. 

“Your total is 7.50 and I need a name for the order” 

At that moment he finally looks at me. And I feel what little integrity I had left slip away like the sun behind the clouds on a rainy day. Now I know what you may be thinking….. Reyanni don’t fold for a random ass man on a random ass monday…

“Could I also add a cheesy hashbrown bagel to that order”

“Uh sure… your new total is 11.25”

And just as soon as he came… he left.. Leaving nothing but curiosity and a tiny bit of unbridled rage… But i’d probably never see him again.. How stupid of me to believe that

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>

A few days later that same handsome stranger walks in. but this time she talks to him beyond taking his order and he responds… from there he becomes a not so regular customer until they exchange numbers. It’s only after five months of texting and phone calls that she learns that he’s no ordinary man, but a formula one race car driver. Despite his worries she doesn’t care one bit about that.

Quick little note: I'm not feeling too confident in this chapter but I wanted to get it done (mother nature snuck up on me so now all work is grueling) Anyways hope you all enjoy and the next part should be up within the next two days, it's exam season so I don't have a set schedule.

[bucksaiga]

Tommy has a journal (?)

(Read below, or on Ao3)

When Buck starts staying at Tommy's more often, he's given free access to move a few things around and make himself at home. While Buck is making himself some room in a bottom drawer, he finds out that Tommy has a journal.

It's a seemingly old book with a blue hard cover and elastic closure.

Buck really wants to know what's inside. Not because he's nosy, (partly because he's nosy) but mostly because he wants to know what Tommy uses it for. Knowing his boyfriend is also into journaling is exciting new knowledge for him. What is he logging in his book? Does he write his thoughts and feelings, affirmations? Does he use it took keep himself organized?

Buck told himself it may be too intrusive to ask, but he wants to know.

One night, when he stays over, he leaves the room to spy on Tommy, and see if he will take out the journal and write in it. He planned to waltz right in and curiously ask "what're you writing?" so he could learn what Tommy uses his journal for.

He just had to know, it was all he could think about.

For an entire week, he'd sneak off and leave Tommy alone to see if he'd grab the journal, but he didn't.

Buck began to assume that maybe Tommy didn't like to use the journal when he came over.

He told the 118 about his silly little predicament.

"Why don't you just ask him what he uses it for?" Hen wondered.

"Because that's too invasive!"

"So you'd rather spy on him when he's possibly writing down his most intimate thoughts?" Eddie chimed in.

"I'm not trying to spy! I don't actually want to see in the journal. I just want to know what sort of journaling guy he is. Maybe we can go shopping for new books and supplies together!"

"So...just invite him to do that and see what kind of things he wants to buy." Chimney proposed.

Buck nodded. "Yeah! That's a great idea!"

So, Buck takes Chimney's advice and invites Tommy to Michael's with him. Buck shows Tommy some journals, stickers and stamp pads, but Tommy doesn't seem very interested in them.

He does buy some gel pens, though.

Buck considers that a clue. Maybe Tommy uses the pens for color coded writing. He's going to ask him about it in the car.

"So, gel pens, huh? You bought that multicolor pack. Tha-that's pretty cool."

"Yeah, I figured I could take some, and you could take some. They're retractable and great for jotting things down."

"Oh, definitely. D-do you know which colors you want?"

"Eh, I don't think it really matters." Tommy shrugged, eyes remaining focused on the road. "I'll just switch between colors when the other runs out of ink."

Buck nodded. He still wasn't getting anything juicy about Tommy's journaling habits. Maybe Tommy didn't have any. Or maybe he was a "go-with-the-flow" type of guy.

Buck decided to kick it up a notch. "So..." He began as they walked in the door. "I was thinking we order a pizza and maybe we could have some uh...some journaling time together?"

"Journaling time?" Tommy raised a brow.

"Yeah! I-I'll break out my new journal and you can get yours. We-we can just...have some quiet time and write in our journals together."

Tommy snickered. "Evan, I don't have a journal."

"Y-you don't? B-but I found that journal in your bottom drawer and I thought..."

"Oh, that." Tommy disappeared into the bedroom and returned with the book and handed it to Buck.

Buck excitedly opened the book, frowning at the blank pages.

"I don't exactly...like journaling, so I never used it. My therapist suggested it a few years ago but it didn't work for me. I prefer doodling."

Buck's eyes lit up once more. "Do you have a sketch book?"

"Nope. I just...doodle on napkins or scraps of paper and then throw them away."

"Throw th—" Buck scoffed. "Throw them away?! Tommy, get back in the car."

"What? Why?"

"We're going to get you a sketchbook."

"Now? What about pizza?"

"We'll pick up pizza on the way home." Buck pushed Tommy out the door.

At least they could still have their journaling time together...sort of.

[theamityelf]

how do you think a daemon would work with the whole hajime izuru thing

Uh-oh, Danganronpa Daemons AU? Let's go!

I think, in a scenario where:

everyone has a "daemon" (your soul living beside you in talking animal form)

daemons "settle" (meaning they stop changing at will into different animals) when you mature (adolescence)

they can't go far from you

their pain is your pain and vice versa

Hajime's daemon settled when he got into the reserve course, but before he actually started attending Hope's Peak. Like, around the time of that flashback where all his normal classmates are like "Really, you can pay your way into Hope's Peak?", his sense of self really solidified. Most people's daemons settle sometime in middle school.

During the Kamukura Project, I'm going to say the objective (in addition to all the talent stuff they were also doing) was to have him live without a daemon. Killing a person's daemon kills them, but they're trying to basically reverse-engineer that whole connection and figure out how to have an Ultimate Hope who doesn't have the same vulnerabilities as everyone else.

They "succeed", in that there's a point in the experiment where his daemon vanishes and doesn't return, and he stays alive. It's an understood truth that Izuru Kamukura doesn't have a daemon, and therefore he doesn't have a soul.

Really, his daemon learned to become incorporeal, as a projection of Hajime's desperation for the scientists to stop hurting him, and it will become corporeal again if and when Izuru feels safe indulging in emotion again.

When that happens, the daemon (and it's "she" pronouns for the daemon) won't appear to Izuru himself; she'll appear near someone important to him (like Fuyuhiko, Sonia, Nagito, Makoto), and she might be severely injured. She's remained incorporeal because she needs someone to tend to her injuries (from everything they did to warp Hajime's selfhood), and she's been waiting for someone who will care for her and won't just kill her. Letting one of Izuru's friends tend to her wounds requires her to let them touch her, which is extremely intimate. (She knows there's a non-zero chance that Izuru might kill her, if she appears to him pre-character development. She won't appear to Izuru until she's healed, and even then she still trusts the touch of Izuru's friends more than Izuru himself. They have to grow back together.)

TL;DR: His daemon vanishes during the Project, but he still has one. It'll come back when it feels safe. It now has the ability to become incorporeal and travel some distance away from him.

I'm going to say Hajime's parents named his daemon Minami (which I borrowed from Hajime's voice actor), and she settled as...you know, in a vacuum, I'd find it fascinating to say a tortoise, but I'll put that aside because, while I like it reflecting his defensiveness, I don't want it to actually have a way of defending itself. Which sounds monstrous of me. 😊

I'm leaning chipmunk or tree sparrow. Both fairly plain and unassuming; he cannot have an interesting daemon. Chipmunks: known for fitting an absurd amount of food in their mouth at once, hearkens to his ambitious side. Sparrow: bird, flight, freedom. Hearkens to Chiaki's statement that not having talent makes him freer than those who do have talents. (Plus, when she's injured, a broken wing symbolizes the loss of freedom.) Either one is a small, helpless animal that would look great 1. secretly appealing to Izuru's friend(s) to help it heal, and 2. sitting on Izuru's shoulder once he's accepted it as his daemon again. (Or he finds it at the wrong point in his character arc and just steps on it real hard. Sorry, lol.)

I'm going to go with sparrow. Yeah, Minami is a sparrow. Pre-Project, she has a nervous energy, where Hajime himself usually tries to mask his nervousness as other feelings. (Basically, her behavior gives away how nervous he often is.) After the Project, she has the vibes of an Oracle. She's seen a lot, she knows generally how stuff is going to go, she's no longer nervous, but she still cares about things on about the same level as Hajime did.

Below, I have taken the liberty of sketching Hajime and Minami. She's kind of flying around his head, saying stuff, and he's swatting at her a little because he's annoyed. Basically, this is him going, "Stop that; you're embarrassing me. Keep your voice down."

[mysteryshoptls]

SSR Leona Kingscholar - Bloom Birthday Vignette

"Happy Birthday"

[Savanaclaw Dorm – Birthday Party Venue]

Leona: Sigh, these interviews are a pain… Crazy how they can keep doing this year after year without gettin' bored of it.

Leona: So then, I wonder who's my presenter this year…

???: Ay, I made it. Excuse me!

Cater: Heya, Leona-kun. Happy Birthday!

Leona: Tch, and in walks in one of the loud ones.

Cater: EH, DID YOU JUST CLICK YOUR TONGUE!? C'mon, it's your birthday, you gotta try to have a bit of fun ♪

Cater: Today, I'm planning on asking you every little thing to learn everything about you, Leona-kun, so be prepared～

Leona: Well, aren't you real chipper. Alright, I'm fully expecting you to make this the best birthday ever, then.

Cater: U-Uh, you might be putting a little too much pressure on me there? But okay, let me just restart, and… Let's dive into the first question!

Cater: “If you could use flight magic to go anywhere, where would you like to go?”

Cater: And, it doesn't look like you have to worry about the amount of magic you'd have to use.

Leona: So, anywhere I want, huh… Then, I want to go to a full-service hotel and spend my time lounging about.

Cater: Ooh, so you want to just enjoy a resort to the max. That sounds great, and I bet you'd be able to take a ton of awesome pics ♪

Leona: Yeah, I'm not planning on going to any of the noisy places you're probably thinking of.

Leona: Since I'm going to be using flight magic to get there anyway, I'd rather find a remote place that normal people wouldn't really be able to get to.

Cater: But if it's a remote location… Then You can't really enjoy any sightseeing or recreational activities.

Leona: I told you, I wanted to just lounge about. If I were to run around like that, it completely defeats the purpose.

Cater: So, basically…. You're wanting to "do nothing," right?

Leona: Yeah, that's the best way to live in luxury, don't you think?

Leona: Food is prepared when I'm hungry, and the bath is ready for whenever I feel like taking one.

Leona: And there, in that quiet and comfortable environment, I can sleep peacefully without being bothered by anyone else

Cater: Not being bothered and in a quiet place, huh. Yeah, I guess that's not a bad way to go about it.

Leona: Right? As Dorm Leader and as Captain of the Magift team, there's a ton of things I have to constantly worry about, you know.

Leona: Basically, that just means that I also need some time off to rest my mind and body once in a while.

Cater: Ahaha. I bet I know a few people who'd be cross hearing you say that… But hey, I guess I get how you feel, Leona-kun.

Cater: Alllright, now that I got to hear a lot about that, I'll move on to the next question ♪

[Savanaclaw Dorm – Birthday Party Venue]

Cater: 'Kay, second question!

Cater: "What is your best class?"

Cater: Now here's a super interesting question!

Leona: Huh? How.

Cater: Yeah, because you're real smart. So I def wanna know what class you like best～

Leona: So, you think I'm smart, huh. I guess I'll go ahead and take that as a compliment.

Cater: Well, obviously it's a compliment! I have a hard time getting most of my classes, so I'm a bit jelly. Is there some trick to it?

Leona: I've had private tutors ever since I was a child. Obviously, the curriculum also contained classes that wouldn't be found in this school, too.

Cater: Uh… which means?

Leona: All the stuff that they teach here at this school, I learned way before enrolling.

Leona: Basically, everything I know isn't from just sitting behind a desk and studying like crazy, like your little Dorm Leader.

Cater: I see～ So you're saying that the stuff we learn in class are basically second nature to you, huh.

Cater: Okay, then, let me change the wording up a little bit… What's your favorite class?

Leona: My favorite class, hm… If I had to choose one, that'd be Ancient Incantations. That one is at least not as boring as the other classes.

Cater: Woah, Ancient Incantations, huh～ That's the one where you try to decipher old languages that aren't even used anymore, right?

Cater: And there's still a ton of languages that haven't been deciphered yet, either, right?

Leona: Yeah. And many of those languages were made to conceal magic spells in the first place. So they were already created to be complex.

Leona: That's why even subject matter experts also have a hard time combing through them.

Leona: Even just trying to read the individual letters is a chore. And even if you can figure those out, there's no point unless you can actually understand the words and sentences.

Leona: It has to be carefully analyzed by comparing the new content to old words that have already been translated, or rules that have already been pre-established.

Cater: I already have trouble with just what's in our textbooks, so I can't even imagine trying to figure out even more difficult things like those languages…

Cater: What can someone do to get better at ancient incantations?

Leona: It's just that I already was interested in that type of thing. I guess the thing that dragged me into it was this inscription I found in the Sunset Savanna.

Leona: There was this very long engraving in some old language…

Leona: The first time I looked at it, I had no idea what it was supposed to say, but then I started to translate it in my spare time, and…

Cater: AND? WH-WHAT DID IT SAY? SOME KIND OF ROYAL SECRET THAT NO ONE KNOWS!?

Leona: It was just the country's history. On top of that, basically it was stuff already in the textbooks.

Cater: Ehhh, you got my hopes up, and that was it? That was kinda anticlimactic.

Leona: Yeah, it's basically a boring story once you get into it… But it wasn't too terrible learning how to decipher it.

[Savanaclaw Dorm – Birthday Party Venue]

Cater: Last question! Here we go.

Cater: “What would you like to do in the coming year?”

Leona: Not to repeat a year, that's all.

Cater: Wh…! EH, THAT'S IT!?

Leona: Isn't that important enough?

Cater: I mean, yeah, but��! You gotta have something else you wanna do too.

Cater: Like, surpassing 1,000 followers on Magicam, or winning a Magift tournament…

Leona: Okay, then that.

Cater: Eh, what do you mean by "that"?

Leona: The whole, "winning a Magift tournament" thing.

Leona: I want to draw out the magical shift team's full potential and win at the national championships― That's closer to the answer you were looking for, right?

Cater: Now you're making me feel like I forced you to say that～ …Well, I guess that's better than not getting an answer.

Cater: Okay, then, I got a question for you, since you're captain of the team! Do you ever coach the younger students?

Leona: Yeah, of course. For example…

Leona: There's some guys who'll slack off during games because they don't have enough stamina and they want to conserve energy.

Leona: It'll be detrimental to have people not give their all during important games. So, to help build stamina, during passing practice…

Leona: I would send the disc flying long so they'd have to run from one end of the pitch to the other.

Cater: Woah, that's so tough! If you're that hard on them, won't you have students drop out…?

Leona: That's also part of it.

Cater: Eh, what do you mean?

Leona: We don't need anyone who takes off and runs like a coward just because their pride and confidence is torn down.

Leona: They should get angry when defeated and vow to do anything to get revenge―

Leona: The Magift club doesn't need anyone who lacks that kind of determination.

Leona: Only the guys who are fully prepared to overcome anything can get a starting spot on the team.

Cater: W-Wow… You're really sounding like a team captain, Leona-kun!

Cater: But I guess it's a little surprising to hear that you take care of your teammates like that. Maybe you're actually a softie inside?

Leona: Hah? No way.

Leona: I'm just doing the bare minimum as the leader of the pack.

Leona: I'd rather be spared being held back by someone who's just completely useless.

Cater: Interview completed～! Next is… Ta-da! Here we are, take this broom and go fly on the Birthday Road.

Leona: Sheesh, that's a fancy lookin' broom.

Cater: Yeah, it's pretty showy, but it's also pretty dignified, so I think it's perfect for you, Leona-kun ♪

Cater: Okay so, go and show them all how it's done. I'll make sure to take pictures of you flying out there!

Leona: I'm only saying this one, but don't do anything I haven't asked you to… I got no intention of being on display for you.

Leona: Aah, finally, it's quiet. I guess I'll go out and enjoy a leisurely stroll in the sky all by myself, then.

Requested by @dorito9708.

[howlingday]

The One Where Emerald Finds Out

Oscar: (Knocks on door, Opens) Hi.

Sun/Neptune: Hey~!

Oscar: I have to go to Atlas.

Jaune: What?!

Sun: The kingdom?!

Oscar: No, there's this book with the map of the world in it. Yes, the kingdom! (Sighs) Is Mercury here?

Sun: Sun... Neptune... Nope, just us and Jaune.

Oscar: So he's out with Emerald, huh?

Neptune: Oh no! How could she do that when she's never shown any interest in you?!

Oscar: ...

Sun: FOR! GET! A! BOUT! HER!

Jaune: I hate to say it, but they're right, man. Eventually you gotta learn to let go and move on with your life. Go to Atlas, do your thing, and if you get the chance, punch Ozpin for me.

Neptune: I mean, don't punch yourself, obviously.

Sun: Unless he can feel it, too.

Oscar: Right, I... I don't know... Can you just give this to her? It's for her birthday.

Jaune: Sure thing, man.

Sun: And hey, we're just looking out for you. I might have a couple of beers in me, but... I love you, man. (Hugs)

Neptune: I'm still on my first, so I just think you're nice.

Jaune: (Chuckles)

---------------------------------------------

Yang: Who wants burgers? And who wants Ren's veggie burger?

Ren: (Smiles) I want my veggie burger, honey.

Ruby: Can we do presents first? I wanna give Emerald my present to her!

Weiss: It's her birthday, Ruby. She doesn't have to do them now if-

Emerald: Eh, sure. I wouldn't mind getting my presents before food.

Weiss: In that case, open mine first!

Ruby: No, mine!

Emerald: If it gets you two to stop, then I'll take them at the same time.

Ruby/Weiss: (Hand over lien)

Emerald: ...Oh, wow. I don't know who's present I like more. If only there was a way to tell how much their both worth in lien. (Group laughs)

Jaune: Alright, my turn! (Hands over gift)

Emerald: It's... (Opens gift) ...a green pen. Uh, thanks. (Hands back)

Jaune: (Slumps)

Nora: (Pats his back) Well, if she doesn't want it, can I have it? Anyway, my turn! (Hands gift)

Emerald: (Opens gift) "Pumpkin Pete Goes Home".

Nora: That book got me through some rough times.

Ren: It's true. It did.

Mercury: What kinda little kid are you?

Jaune: The kind who can break your legs. And yeah, even yours.

Emerald: Speaking of, where's your present?

Mercury: I'm right here, obviously!

Emerald: ...Can I get a receipt? (Group laughs) Wait, who's gift is that?

Neptune: Oh, that's from Oscar!

Emerald: Really? Didn't think he could afford a gift, since he just left on a last-minute trip. (Opens gift, Gasps) Oh... Oh my god...

Ruby: What is it?

Emerald: It's... It's a brooch. It's just like the one my mother had. I... I didn't think he would remember.

Mercury: Remember what?

Emerald: Couple months ago we were walking around Shade and we passed this jewelry shop and there was a brooch in there just like my mom had when I was a kid. I... I can't believe he remembered!

Jaune: Well, he does have a mental notebook to help him remember.

Nora: It looks so pretty~!

Weiss: And expensive. How did he afford this?

Jaune: Oh, you know how Oscar is. I mean, remember that time he and Ruby were dating, and when he fell in love with her, he bought her that scythe keychain?

Emerald: ...When he what?

Jaune: (All eyes on him, Gulps) Uh... S... Scythe keychain?

Emerald: No, no, no. What did you say about him loving me?

Jaune: Ah... Ammah guh...

Emerald: Oh... Oh my god...

Jaune: (Turns away) No, no, no, no, no, no...

Sun: Hey, uh, I don't know if you know this, but turning around doesn't undo screw-ups. Believe me, I tried.

Emerald: I... I can't believe Oscar loves me.

Nora: This is huge!

Jaune: No, no, it's not! It's small! It's tiny! It's wee!

Nora: No way, this is such a game-changer! I don't think anyone here is going to be the same after hearing that!

Jaune: Nora, I love you, but do you have a mute button?

Ren: She doesn't.

Ruby: This is so great! I mean, I dated him a while ago, so I can tell you he's a great guy!

Weiss: Did you have any idea?

Emerald: No! None! I mean, after you and your boyfriend started going out, he mentioned something about going out, but he didn't try anything after that. (Grabs Neptune) Hey! Tell me! Does he still want to go out with me?!

Neptune: Uh, well, considering how he's desperately in love with you, I don't think he'd say no to a cup of coffee sometime.

Emerald: I... I need to talk to him!

Jaune: You can't!

Neptune: He's in Atlas!

Sun: The kingdom!

Weiss: He's meeting with Whitley about some new Dust policies, and he needs Ozpin for council. I can call him right now.

Neptune: W-What about the towers? Aren't they down?

Ruby: Whitley's bullhead hasn't left yet. We can still call him right now!

Jaune: No, you can't!

Emerald: Why not?!

Mercury: Because he's probably not in love with you anymore.

Emerald: What do you mean?

Mercury: Because these idiots told him to get over you.

Emerald: ...

Jaune: Oh no...

Sun: Door?

Neptune: DOOR!

Sun: (Opens door, Runs into Blake clone)

Blake: Where do you think you're going?

Jaune: Oh no- Ack!

Nora: (Holding him up) WHERE ARE YOU GOING, MY LOVE~?!

Neptune: Help me, Mercury!

Mercury: I just sold you guys out. What makes you think I'll get between you and all of them? (Points to bloodthirsty RWBY)

Neptune: ...Yeah, that's fair.

Emerald: Hey, Princess. Can you take me to them? I... I need to talk to Oscar. Face-to-face.

Weiss: For the sake of love, I'll ignore the princess remark and help you. (Leaves with Emerald)

Neptune: EMERALD, WAIT! I LOVE YOU! DEAL WITH ME FIRST!

Ruby: You just keep digging yourself deeper, don't you?

[kat-thepoet]

Invisible string

CHAPTER THREE

A/N: I'm so sorry that I haven't posted in a week, I had the flu and I didn't feel well enough to write. But i'm all better now! Anyways, enjoy!

Previous chapters: CHAPTERS

Word count: 4313

After spending the afternoon immersed in my thoughts and ideas, I finally had a rough outline of how I wanted to approach the lessons. I decided to start with something simple—introducing the students to the world of literature. It was the only way I gained knowledge of the world since I'd barely stepped outside the orphanage, let alone out of town.

I sat back in the chair, feeling a sense of accomplishment, though a little nervous about how it would all come together. The room was quiet, the late afternoon light casting long shadows across the floor. I hadn't realized how much time had passed until I heard a soft knock on my door.

I blinked, glancing at the clock—dinner time already?

"Come in," I called, and the door creaked open to reveal Hank, standing there with his usual kind, slightly awkward smile.

"Hey, Flora," he greeted. "Just wanted to let you know it's time for dinner."

I smiled, feeling a bit guilty for losing track of time. "Thanks, Hank. I didn't realize how late it was. I guess I got a little carried away with planning."

Hank stepped inside, his hands in his pockets. "It happens to the best of us. We tend to eat around the same time every evening, but, uh, I figured I'd come grab you, just in case."

I stood up, stretching a bit after sitting for so long. "What time do you guys typically eat? I feel bad that someone has to come look for me."

Hank chuckled softly, shaking his head. "No worries. We usually eat around six, but we don't mind checking in on each other. You'll get used to the routine soon enough."

I nodded, appreciating his thoughtfulness. "Thanks, Hank. I'll try to be more mindful next time."

He smiled warmly, his demeanor gentle and understanding. "Don't worry about it. We're all still getting used to things around here in one way or another."

As we walked together toward the dining area, I found myself wondering how dinner would go tonight. Last night had been... tense, mostly because of Erik's presence, and I couldn't shake the feeling that his dislike of me was somehow affecting the atmosphere for everyone else too. I hoped tonight would be different, but a part of me doubted it.

When we entered the dining room, the familiar scene unfolded: the long table set with dishes, the soft hum of conversation as everyone settled in. Storm, Scott, Jean, Raven, and Charles were already seated, and I noticed Erik once again at the far end of the table, his expression as unreadable as ever.

I took my seat next to Raven, offering a polite smile to the others as they welcomed me with nods and small greetings. The food smelled good, but my stomach twisted with unease.

"So, how did the planning go?" Storm asked, her tone casual but friendly.

"It went well," I replied, trying to focus on the positive. "I think I have a good starting point for the lessons. Tomorrow's going to be interesting, though."

"You'll do great," Jean chimed in with a reassuring smile. "The kids are going to love learning from you."

I smiled back, grateful for her support. "Thanks, I hope so."

As dinner continued, I glanced down the table and noticed something odd—Erik wasn't completely silent tonight. He was speaking with the others. Not much, but enough to make it clear he wasn't completely withdrawn. He commented on something Scott said, and even exchanged a few words with Storm about the training schedule for the week.

It took me a moment to realize that while he was talking to the others, he hadn't said a single word to me. Not a greeting, not a glance—nothing.

I tried to shake it off, telling myself it didn't matter. He didn't owe me anything. I was the newcomer, and Erik had made it clear that he wasn't interested in getting to know me. Still, as I listened to the quiet conversations around me, the fact that he was ignoring me entirely started to gnaw at me. It wasn't like he was cold to everyone—just me.

I shifted in my seat, my fork pausing over my plate as I tried to focus on the conversation with Raven and Jean.

"Everything's ready for your first class tomorrow, right?" Raven asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Yeah, I've got it all planned out," I replied, forcing a smile. "I'm hoping the students will connect with it."

"They will," Raven said confidently. "You've got this."

I nodded, trying to hold on to that positivity, but my attention kept wandering back to Erik. Every time I glanced his way, he was speaking with someone else, completely avoiding even acknowledging my presence. I wondered if anyone else had noticed—or if I was just being overly sensitive.

"Don't let it bother you," Raven whispered suddenly, leaning in as if she could sense my discomfort. "He's always like this."

I gave her a quick nod, trying to brush it off. "I know. I'm fine."

But the truth was, it did bother me. Everyone kept telling me that Erik would eventually warm up, that it was just his way of dealing with new people. But how much time was I supposed to give him? And what if they were wrong? What if he didn't warm up to me at all?

I tried to shake off the frustration as dinner wore on, focusing on the others' conversations and ignoring the tightening knot in my stomach. I had a lot on my plate already, with the first lesson tomorrow, and I didn't need to waste time worrying about Erik's attitude.

But as the meal continued, and Erik's voice mingled with the others', his silence toward me felt more and more deliberate. I forced myself to smile and laugh along with everyone else, pretending that it didn't bother me at all.

By the time dinner was over, I felt drained, not just from the conversation but from the effort of pretending that Erik's coldness wasn't affecting me. Everyone else seemed oblivious, and I didn't want to make a big deal out of it.

But as we cleared the table and said our goodnights, I couldn't help but wonder if I was the only one noticing how hard Erik was working to keep me at arm's length.

It was well past midnight, and no matter how hard I tried, sleep just wouldn't come. I tossed and turned, my mind running in circles—half of it filled with nerves about tomorrow's lesson, the other half consumed by thoughts of Erik.

He was a jerk, plain and simple, but I couldn't stop wondering why. Everyone had told me he would eventually warm up, but so far, he seemed determined to keep me at a distance. His behavior at dinner—the way he deliberately ignored me while talking to everyone else—stuck with me like a thorn I couldn't pull out. What was his problem? Why did he go out of his way to avoid me?

With a sigh, I gave up on sleep. I was too restless, too wound up to lie in bed any longer. Maybe some water would help calm me down.

I swung my legs out of bed and stood up, glancing down at my outfit: a small tank top and even smaller shorts. Definitely not nun-approved, but I wore them anyway, glad for the comfort and cool air on my skin. It didn't matter—it was late, and I wouldn't run into anyone.

But as I stepped out of my room and into the hallway, I quickly remembered one crucial detail: Erik was my neighbor. Of all people, it had to be him.

For a brief moment, I stood frozen, listening for any signs of movement from his room. The last thing I needed was to run into him in the middle of the night, especially dressed like this. The hallway was quiet, save for the soft hum of the air conditioning, and I hoped he was fast asleep, completely unaware of my presence.

Just in case, I turned invisible. With a deep breath, I started making my way toward the kitchen, walking as quietly as possible down the hallway. Each step felt louder than it should have, and I couldn't help but feel a twinge of paranoia, like I was being too loud—too noticeable, even though I was invisible. The door to Erik's room loomed as I passed by it, and I quickened my pace, desperate not to linger near it for too long.

"Of all the people in the world," I muttered under my breath, "he had to be the one next door."

When I finally reached the kitchen, the soft glow of moonlight spilled through the windows, casting long shadows across the floor. The stillness of the night had a calming effect, and for a moment, I let out a sigh of relief, thankful for the quiet.

I made my way to the sink, filling a glass of water, and leaned against the counter, trying to gather my thoughts. Tomorrow was a big day—my first lesson with the students. I needed to focus on that, on giving them the guidance they needed. But Erik's face kept creeping into my mind, his cold, indifferent expression at dinner, the way he acted like I didn't even exist.

I took a sip of water, letting the cool liquid soothe my throat, but it didn't do much to settle the knot of frustration tightening in my chest. Why couldn't I stop thinking about him? He clearly didn't care about me or what I was doing here, so why was I letting him get under my skin like this?

I set the glass down with a little more force than I intended, the clink of it hitting the counter louder than expected in the quiet kitchen.

"Just let it go," I whispered to myself, running a hand through my hair. "He's not worth it."

But even as I said the words, I couldn't help but wonder if I'd ever get an answer to the question that had been gnawing at me since I first met him—what was his problem with me?

I took another sip of water, trying to push Erik from my mind. But the quiet creak of the door behind me shattered the moment of peace. I turned, and there he was—Erik, of all people, standing in the doorway, looking every bit as unbothered as always.

His eyes briefly flicked over my outfit—small tank top, shorts that would make any nun faint—but he didn't linger. His expression was unreadable, as always, but I could tell he noticed.

"You're up late," he said, his voice low and calm.

I swallowed, trying to keep my own voice steady. "Could say the same to you."

He stepped further into the kitchen, heading for the fridge. "I'm always up late."

Of course he was. I glanced away, pretending to focus on the water in my glass. The silence stretched between us, and I couldn't help but wonder if he'd keep ignoring me like he had at dinner. Just when I was about to slip out of the kitchen unnoticed, he spoke again.

"That's an interesting choice of sleepwear."

I stiffened, glancing down at my tank top and shorts. So, he had noticed after all. "It's comfortable," I replied, my tone sharp. "Not that it's any of your business."

Erik unscrewed the cap from a bottle of water, his eyes narrowing slightly as he leaned against the counter. "Just making an observation."

I huffed, trying not to let his comment get under my skin. "Is that what you do? Make observations and throw judgment around?"

He didn't answer right away, just took a long drink of water before looking at me again, a small, infuriating smirk playing on his lips. "Only when it's worth mentioning."

I could feel my patience slipping. "You know, if you don't have anything nice to say, maybe just... don't say anything?"

Erik raised an eyebrow, the smirk never leaving his face. "That's rich, coming from you."

I blinked, caught off guard by his remark. "What's that supposed to mean?"

He shrugged casually, like this whole conversation was a game he was winning. "Just that you've been tiptoeing around, acting like you belong here, when clearly, you don't know what you're in for."

My temper flared. "I belong here as much as anyone else does. I'm doing my best, and if you've got a problem with that, maybe keep it to yourself."

Erik set his water down on the counter with a deliberate slowness, his eyes locked on mine. "Keep telling yourself that, Flora."

His voice was smooth, cutting in the way that made it hard to tell if he was mocking me or just stating the facts. Either way, it grated on my nerves.

I crossed my arms, refusing to back down. "You don't even know me."

"And I don't need to," he shot back, his tone as cold as ever.

We stood there in tense silence, the space between us feeling charged with unspoken words, snarky comebacks, and a mutual dislike neither of us was willing to back down from. I hated how much he got under my skin, how much his stupid, smug attitude made me want to argue with him even more.

"Whatever," I muttered, grabbing my glass and turning toward the door. I was done with this conversation.

But as I reached the doorway, Erik's voice followed me, sharp and mocking. "You'll need thicker skin if you're going to last here, Flora."

I froze for a second, his words hitting harder than I wanted them to. Without looking back, I muttered, "Maybe you should try using less of it."

And with that, I walked out of the kitchen, leaving Erik behind, still infuriatingly unbothered, while I felt my pulse race with the tension from our exchange.

As I made my way back to my room, I couldn't help but wonder why he had to be like this. Why he had to push every button I had, and why I kept letting him get to me.

The next morning, the soft light of dawn filtered through my curtains, and I woke up earlier than usual. I felt a mix of nerves and excitement—today was the day I'd officially meet the students and start teaching. There was a lot to prepare, and I wanted to make sure everything was perfect.

After taking a moment to gather my thoughts, I got out of bed and glanced at the clock. It was early enough that most people were probably still asleep, which gave me plenty of time to set up the classroom without interruption. I felt a little relieved at that thought—I could use the quiet to calm my nerves.

I headed into my bathroom, grateful that I didn't have to share it with anyone else. The warm water of the shower helped relax the tension I hadn't realized had built up in my shoulders. As I stood under the spray, I reminded myself that this was what I'd come here to do—help the younger students and create a space where they felt safe to learn and grow.

After my shower, I dressed quickly in a pair of jeans and a crisp white dress shirt, feeling a little more professional, yet still comfortable. I wanted to make a good impression, but I also wanted to be myself.

Once I was ready, I grabbed a few supplies and headed out of my room, eager to get to work. The hallways were still quiet, the early morning light casting soft shadows through the windows. As I made my way toward the classroom, I found myself thinking back to last night—specifically, my encounter with Erik. The way he mocked me, the way he always seemed so detached and indifferent. I shook my head, trying to push the thought of him aside. Today was about the students, not him.

When I reached the classroom, I unlocked the door and stepped inside. The room was just as I'd left it yesterday—bright, airy, and full of potential. But it needed a little sprucing up. Dust clung to the shelves, and the desks were slightly out of order. I spent the next hour cleaning, dusting the surfaces, and using my telekinesis to arrange the desks into a neat semi-circle so the students could easily interact with one another.

By the time I finished setting up, the classroom looked inviting and organized. The dust was gone, the desks were perfectly arranged, and I'd even placed a few potted plants around the room to add a touch of nature. I stepped back, admiring my work with a sense of satisfaction. This was it—my space, my classroom.

I checked the clock and realized it was almost time for the students to arrive. My heart fluttered with a mix of anticipation and nerves, but I reminded myself that this was just the beginning. I could handle it.

I was just about to take a deep breath and gather my thoughts when there was a soft knock at the door. I glanced at the clock—it was a little early for the students to start arriving, but maybe someone was eager to get to class.

Curious, I walked over and opened the door to find a small child standing there. She couldn't have been more than six or seven, her wide eyes peeking up at me through a curtain of curly brown hair. She held a stuffed animal—a well-loved rabbit with floppy ears—tightly in her arms. The girl looked a little nervous, shifting from foot to foot as she glanced up at me.

"Hi there," I said gently, crouching down to her level with a warm smile. "You're here a bit early, aren't you?"

She nodded shyly, hugging her stuffed rabbit closer. "I like to come early sometimes," she whispered.

I smiled, touched by her sweetness. "Well, you're welcome to come in and get settled," I said, stepping aside to let her in. "I'm Flora, by the way."

The little girl walked in slowly, her eyes wide as she looked around the room. "I'm Lucy," she said softly, her attention fixed on the plants I had placed around the room. "I like your plants."

"Thank you," I replied, watching as she walked over to one of the potted plants near the window. "Do you like plants?"

She nodded again, her face lighting up a little. "They're pretty. I talk to them sometimes."

I smiled at that, feeling a warmth spread through me. "You know, I talk to plants too. They don't answer, but I think they listen."

Lucy giggled, a soft sound that made me feel like I was already connecting with her. She looked at me with a little more confidence now, her eyes sparkling as she hugged her stuffed rabbit a bit tighter.

"Do you want to help me with something?" I asked, standing up and gesturing toward the small stack of books I'd brought to hand out to the students. "I was just about to put these on the desks. Maybe you could help me?"

Her face brightened at the suggestion, and she nodded eagerly. "Okay."

I handed her a few books, watching as she carefully placed one on each desk, her small hands working with focused care. She seemed to relax as she worked, and I could see that the quiet early morning had been exactly what she needed.

"You know," I said as we worked, "I think you're going to be a big help in this class. You already know how to make things look just right."

Lucy beamed up at me, the last traces of shyness melting away. "Thank you, Miss Quinn," she said quietly, her voice a little stronger now.

By the time we finished, the classroom felt even more ready than before, and Lucy looked like she'd found a bit of confidence in helping set things up. I couldn't help but feel that this was exactly the kind of connection I wanted to create with the students—trust, comfort, and a safe place for them to be themselves.

As more students trickled into the room, filling up the desks, I felt a slight flutter of nerves. I glanced at the clock and then at the door, waiting for Charles to show up and introduce me to the class as we had planned. But the minutes ticked by, and there was no sign of him.

The students settled in, chatting quietly amongst themselves, and I started to feel a little anxious. I had been counting on Charles to ease me into this first lesson, to give me that little boost of confidence in front of the students. But as the clock ticked closer to the start of class, I realized I couldn't wait any longer.

Taking a deep breath, I decided to take matters into my own hands.

Standing at the front of the classroom, I gave a small, encouraging smile to the students, trying to project more confidence than I felt. Lucy gave me an eager wave from her seat, and it gave me a small boost of reassurance.

"Good morning, everyone," I began, raising my voice slightly so that all the students would hear. The chatter died down, and the kids turned their attention to me, their young faces full of curiosity. "My name is Flora Quinnell, but you can all call me Miss Quinn. I'll be your elective teacher from now on."

The room was quiet as the students watched me, some with wide eyes, others with a little hesitation. I could tell they were waiting for me to explain who I was, and more importantly, what I could do.

"I know this is probably a little new and maybe even a bit scary," I continued, meeting their gazes. "But I want you all to know that this is a safe place for you to learn and grow. We'll be talking a lot about literature, books, and all of that good stuff, but more importantly, I'm here to help you understand your powers and how they can connect with the world around you."

A few of the students exchanged looks, intrigued but still a little unsure. I could sense their curiosity, though. That was a good sign.

"Now, some of you might already know a little bit about me," I said, glancing over at Lucy, who was sitting up straight in her chair, her stuffed rabbit still tucked in her arms. "But for those of you who don't, I have a few abilities of my own. I can turn invisible, I can move things with my mind, and I can change moods."

There was a collective gasp from some of the students, their eyes widening in amazement. A few of them whispered to each other, clearly intrigued by the idea of someone who could turn invisible.

"To give you an example," I said, feeling more confident now as I stepped forward, "I'll show you a little bit of what I can do."

I closed my eyes for a brief moment, focusing on the familiar shift in my body. A few seconds later, I turned invisible, leaving only my clothes visible.

The students' reactions were immediate—wide-eyed stares, excited whispers, and a few amazed giggles. After making my way around the classroom, I returned to the front, shifting back into my visible form. The students erupted in excited chatter and applause.

"That's so cool!" one of the kids exclaimed, their excitement contagious.

I smiled, feeling the tension ease away. "Thank you. And just like how I've learned to understand and control my abilities, we're going to work together to help you understand yours. Everyone's power is different, but each one is special."

The students seemed more at ease now, their initial hesitations replaced by curiosity and excitement. I could feel the atmosphere in the room shift—this was exactly the kind of connection I had hoped to make.

As the class settled into the lesson, I felt a sense of pride. Even without Charles's introduction, I had found my footing. The students were already starting to trust me, and that was the most important part.

Just as I began guiding them through the day's activity, the door creaked open, and Charles finally appeared, a small smile on his face as he quietly came inside.

I gave him a quick nod, letting him know that everything was under control. He returned the nod, looking a little impressed, but he didn't interrupt. He took a seat in the back of the room, watching the class unfold as I continued.

With Charles seated quietly in the back, I continued the lesson, guiding the students through a simple activity.

As the lesson wrapped up, the students gathered their things, chattering excitedly as they headed out of the classroom. Lucy gave me a shy smile as she left, clutching her stuffed rabbit tightly.

Once the last student had gone, Charles wheeled himself over to me, his expression warm.

"You did well, Flora," he said, his voice calm and encouraging. "The students responded to you, and that's not always easy on the first day."

I smiled, feeling a sense of relief. "Thank you. I was a little nervous, but I think it went okay."

Charles nodded. "You have a natural way with them. That's a gift, and one that will serve you well here."

I felt a swell of pride at his words. It meant a lot to hear that from him, especially after the uncertainties I'd had about fitting in at the school.

As Charles turned his wheelchair to leave, he paused at the door. "Remember, Flora—what you're doing here isn't just about teaching them to control their powers. You're helping them understand who they are. That's a responsibility not everyone can handle."

His words hung in the air long after he left, filling me with a renewed sense of purpose. Today had been just the beginning, but it felt like a good one.

I tidied up the classroom, my thoughts still lingering on Charles's words. It was strange how quickly I had come to care about these students, how much I wanted to help them succeed. As I wiped down the desks, I couldn't help but think of Erik's sharp comments last night. His coldness, his distance—it all seemed so unnecessary.

And yet, despite his harshness, I couldn't stop thinking about what he had said. Or maybe it was the way he had said it—like he knew something I didn't. Something I needed to learn the hard way.

🏷️ @nizem8 @maximumchilddreamland @mostlymarvelgirl

Chapter: FOUR