#My thoughts were sincere though! Heh heh

[kafkaoftherubble]

Idk if you particularly care about the Crunchyroll Anime Awards but voting opened yesterday (https://www.crunchyroll.com/animeawards/vote) and the nominees for some of the awards are so confusing.

With the amount of cool anime that came out last year I’m confused on why there’s a lack of diversity in the options. Look, I loved JJK S2, but why is it in nearly every category 😭. I’m also reluctant to let MAPPA get any kind of a win due the horrid scheduling conditions the animators were put under.

It just feels like the people that were deciding the nominees were like “Oh yeah CSM, Oshi no Ko, and Demon Slayer were pretty popular, just throw it in there!” Also didn’t the CSM anime come out and end in 2022, why is it here?

Also as a Hells Paradise manga fan, I’m confused on why the anime adaptation is even anywhere NEAR these awards. Best opening I understand, but it was a show that clearly suffered from MAPPA overwork and then taking on too many IPs. It’s just clogging up nominee spaces at this point.

Yo, I forgot that it's time for that Anime Award thing again! I remembered the Game Awards but not this, damn. SHould we vote too?

Oh yea, 2023 was such a banger.

I kinda expected JJK S2 to show up in a lot of categories, especially since I think for a lot of them, it does seem rather deserving to be there... even if it takes away the votes for other work. I think about it this way: is it fair to deny someone from being a candidate in a race even though they qualify, just because they are very popular? For now, I lean negative to this.

Of course! Deserving or not is a matter of subjective taste! To that, I am happy to concede, haha!

That said, since the Anime Award is a popularity award, I think voters like us should try to balance out the votes cast for JJK to mitigate the possible expense of other deserving anime.

I don't remember if Crunchyroll would show the percentage of votes for transparency purposes when the voting closes, but I think it's useful to do that. If JJK wins, we know it's because of its meteoric popularity, not because its competitors suck. Then we can see how, despite the competition, some anime managed to score a pretty startling number of votes.

I think focusing on the statistics cuts straight to the heart of acknowledgment and appreciation of an art form, even if it lacks the glory of actually winning the first prize. But hey, it's low-stakes stuff in the end. It ain't the general or presidential election, innit? 😂

If only we could do rank-choice voting...

---

I also do not understand why Chainsaw Man is here. I also thought it would not be counted because it was from last-last year.

I kinda think Oshi no Ko deserves to be around, though!

Demon Slayer... has been like a goddamn mainstay for years now, jesus. I'm gonna refrain from opining about it precisely because I don't enjoy Demon Slayer, so anything I say may be inseparable from this personal bias against the work, ahahhaha!

---

MAPPA taking so many projects shows another issue now that you mentioned it: it's taking up a lotta places with different projects too! If you don't want MAPPA to win, because you want to punish them for the way they treated their animators, your choices will become so much more limited. It's not a full-blown MAPPAのpoly yet, but there is a nascent emergence of it. Brrrrr.

Just taking up so many of the candidacies—via their surplus products—increases the probability of MAPPA emerging as the shadow victor no matter what anime won. Well, well, well. Slick move, MAPPA.

Anyway, I'm spitballing here, but...

I kinda think that it's high time awards minimize the brand of the studio and start amplifying the names of certain teams contributing to the art, like... the lead animators and the director. Ya know, "Director X and Their Team" instead of "MAPPA studio."

And award categories should really expand beyond genre or whatever the host makes up. Some of their categories even seem meaningless to me, like "best continuing series." What's there to celebrate about a long-running series? Why can't a series just compete with other series, regardless of how long it ran, as long as it's within that year?

Instead, wouldn't it be better if we create categories for "best animator" or "best scene" or, hey! There's an existing one! "Best Art Direction!" But instead of letting "Anime X, Studio Y" be the rep, we actually credit the name of the lead animators et al., and then the actual scene within the anime itself?

That way, even a show with fewer fans could still get recognized for that show's sick artistic achievements (if applicable), and the people behind it are at the forefront of said recognition. While we as fans can still shower credits to a big-production show—since it's got a lot of really good stuff—with minimal "accidental plaudits" to terrible studio execs.

I kinda... just think that if award shows are meant to celebrate and acknowledge the medium of anime, why not really cut to the heart of it?

Who are we celebrating for achievements, and for what?

---

I did not read Hell's Paradise as a manga, hee hee. Don't jump on me!

So, with nothing to compare, I liked the anime enough. I'm actually not bespoke about sakuga and composition and whatnot; I'm as unsophisticated as they come, ahahah! I love the monsters and the flowers and stuff!

I love the story and the philosophical mix between Buddhism and Daoism. It's so rad. I also really admire Sagirin! And I like Gabimaru too.

All these alone actually make me like the anime /scratches head

...Yea I'm shallow like that! HAHAHAHHAHAHA!

PLUTO WHERE YOU AT LEMME LAVISH YOU WITH VOTES YOU BETTER BE IN THERE

---

Oh, the length of this reply qualifies so...

Thank you for reading my ramble!

[yayll]

~ a little something about Dazai's impeccable detective skills... only when it comes to you ~

"Uh-huh... And you said you were meeting someone last night?" Dazai pretends to jot down this information, his brows slightly furrowed as he scribbles into the notepad he conjured up from his long tan coat just a few seconds ago.

"Yes, that's correct."

"Ah, I see.. Fascinating. And how was it?"

"How was what?"

"Your date." He says, smugly. His head tilts in mock innocence, and his smile stays plastered on his lips while he watches you practically choke on your own spit. Now he's really going to start writing details down...

"Oh, no, it wasn't like that. Nothing that official, heh." You fidget with your fingers, looking down, and suddenly your shoelaces are the most interesting thing you've ever seen. You didn't think questioning would last this long, you weren't even involved in the crime, but this eccentric detective before you says all witnesses are vital for the investigation and you're just doing your civil duty as a valued member of society!

And this drives Dazai insane... how ridiculous that you don't have a clear standing within the life of whomever you were seeing. It should be a crime, really! If you were his, no one would ever hear the end of it. He hums to himself, nodding as if in deep thought as he draws a heart around your name in his notepad, adding his own name right under yours. He clears his throat and looks back up at you, making sure his knees don't give out at the way you seem so bashful around him.

"I beg your pardon? Do I hear that a young and beautiful person has not been swept off their feet successfully?"

Just before you can answer, a young man with white hair and a peculiar asymmetrical haircut runs to Dazai's side. He peers at his notes, and nervously chimes in.

"Er, Dazai? Mister Kunikida wanted me to come find you, but I didn't think you'd actually be working- Why are there so many hearts drawn-"

Dazai immediately moves his hand over the young man's face and comically shoves it away from his notepad, still smiling at at you. He speaks through gritted teeth and a nervous chuckle.

"Not now, Atsushiiiii, I'm working~"

This causes Atsushi to grumble, his face deflating into an annoyed sigh as his gloved hand scratches the top of his head.

"But Dazai, this is kind of important, and I really don't want to have to be the one to tell Kunikida that you're slacking off again..."

Dazai instantly snaps his head to look at Atsushi, pointing at you with dramatic flair, his voice reaching a mocking pitch.

"Oh, but I'm not, young Atsushi! I've come out here on pure basic instinct... I'm conducting a very serious investigation, and so unfortunately Kunikida and the rest of the folks at the agency will just have to wait for my genius intellect to come up with a tantalizing resolve. Get Ranpo to help. 'Kay byeee!~"

Dazai grabs you by the arm and though the gesture is hasty, he's surprisingly very gentle as he drags you away from the white haired young man. You're now standing outside a cafe and Dazai takes out what looks like a business card, presenting it to you. He scans your slightly confused face, and thinks about what other precious faces you'd make for him if he stuck around you long enough like the hound dog he is. He wonders if you'd let him touch your arm again, maybe even your hand... maybe even your-

"Are you okay, Dazai?" You ask in slight concern. Oops! He's been nonverbal for too long. He shakes his head rapidly and lets out a soft chuckle.

"Never been better! Here, take this, it's my personal contact. I think I've got all the notes I need to finish my work, but I seem to be missing one last thing-"

He proceeds to lean in a little, his now softened hazelnut eyes looking into yours intently, and his voice becoming drastically more serious. There's a glint of sincerity, and an emotion you can't quite place, but it makes your blood pressure spike and your cheeks flush at the casual intimacy of it all.

"... A time and date so I can see you again, perhaps?"

You feel yourself feeling giddy, and slightly stammer as your response flows out of you coyly.

"Ooh well, maybe tomorrow in the evening? I'll be off of work then. We can um, get coffee here?" You nod your chin up at the cafe sign, and flash him a soft smile. A smile that will keep him happily satiated until tomorrow.

"Ah, then it's a date! An official one..." He winks at you, and pats the top of your head, the feeling is light and angelic. By the time you recover, he's gone. You get a last glimpse of the way the tail of his coat swishes as he sharply turns the corner of the street, and you stand there smiling like a giddy schoolgirl. What you don't know is he does the very same thing, thinking about how playing with the fire of his own destiny is worth ruining if he could cement himself into your heart. In his adoring eyes, you could do no wrong. That's his job.

[fumiscripts]

✦ SO, BABY, HOLD MY HAND NOW

✦ one shot ,, michael kaiser x gn!reader

content:: kaiser never would've thought he'd be falling first and harder. after an inner debate, he decided he'll ask you out on valentines. he's not sure what to do, though one thing was for certain: he wants to make you happy

valentines fic ,, fluff ,, 877 words

additional:: WHIPPED loser kaiser who tries to act nonchalant, implied childhood friends if you squint, he prolly would not do allat but like c'mon man it's valentines let's have a little fluff, ts is so sappy like actually, kaiser attempts to pin after reader, ending is open heh

Kaiser believed that he was a nonchalant, male manipulator.

But, really, he could not be any more dramatic than this.

Seriously, what was wrong with him? Thinking corny, cheesy thoughts about you like he liked you. He's killing himself inside every time his mind points towards the idea of holding your hand, or whatever couples do, cringing at himself— which was a shocker, as he never seemed embarrassed from whatever bullshit he constantly does— and tweaking out violently. And not the kicking feet and giggling type of tweaking. The pulling hair, screaming into a pillow type of tweaking.

He's Michael Kaiser, for fuck's sake, not some hopeless romantic! Why was he even thinking of you? You're so mid compared to him. Seriously, you didn't deserve to be going through his head 24/7. You didn't deserve the way he feels warm whenever he sees a smile grace your face, didn't deserve how stupidly much he wanted to be the reason for it— to be the reason you're happy.

Well, you're close to him, that much he can say. To the point the two of you had witnessed each other while on their most vulnerable. Kaiser found himself sincerely caring for you—but that doesn't mean he liked liked you.

So what? He could wrap an arm around your shoulders and pull you around by your hand whenever the two of you were walking, and you could still be friends. In fact, he does lots of the latter. A lot of hand holding. He could say the weight of your hand was perfect against his–

God, he really needed to stop.

The way it’s nearing Valentines is not helping. Usually, he’d find these days boring and meaningless— but now that you’re in the picture? Yeah, no, it’s different. While crashing out over his feelings, he had come to a simple conclusion: He’s gonna ask you out. In the most extravagant way possible because he’s Michael Kaiser. Plus, if he was to ask you for a date with him, he needs to at least make it seem like you were the one desperate for him, and that he was only doing it as a favor. Really, he just wanted to take you out, though he denies it.

On the day, you were greeted by a notification from him, a short one, to not make it seem like he had been staring at his phone for minutes, debating how to write the message.

“Dress up, we're going somewhere.”

The text stated, making you wonder what the hell he’s making you get ready for so early in the morning. But you made the effort to follow along, anyway. If he was up to tomfoolery, you were in. Maybe you'll shit on couples, who knows.

You could hear him pull up an hour later, just in time when you were finished doing your morning routine. Opening the door, you were greeted with him leaning against the wall— acting all cool and composed, when he had been pacing back and forth anxiously while waiting for you to open the door— Kaiser spots you and pushes himself up, leaning on the doorframe, instead.

“Hey,” he forced the word out, trying not to let the way you looked so good get to him. His palms were sweating. Why were they sweating? He's not nervous. Totally not… was he? Kaiser forced out a smile, shoving an obnoxiously flashy bouquet of blue roses in your direction, having it from behind his back to in your arms. Seeing your puzzled expression, he rolled his eyes, shifting his position again to tilt his head, looking down at you.

This was his attempt at making a scene with close proximity, like what he had seen in those low-budget romcoms the both of you watch for shits and giggles. Really, he does not have any experience in relationships— all of this was ripped off straight out of movies and books he read, just to try and impress you.

“Happy valentines,” Kaiser greeted. Before it could seem too mushy and sweet, he followed up. “Since I just know you're lonely and all, I decided why the hell not take you out on a date? Better than being single while sappy couples are kissing all around you, hm? How lucky you are, scoring a date with me of all people.”

The surprise written on your face quickly transformed into a hint of slight annoyance. “...I never complained about being single on valentines…? Are you sure you didn't just wanna ask me out? I'm not shaming you for that,” you say, having a slightly amused grin right after. Kaiser wanted to wipe it right off your face.

“Whatever,” he scoffed, before offering you his hand. A simple, romantic gesture. “Yes, I'm asking you out.”

You stared at his hand, raising an eyebrow. To which he sighed, heat rising up to his face at the thought of being out here and doing something soft and romantic with you— wanting to see you smile and enjoy the day because of him. You weren't stupid, you saw the soft hues of red on the tips of his ears, and the way those blue eyes softened just the slightest as he muttered something out.

“Just hold my hand now.”

happy late valentines y'all 😓

taglist (ask to be added) @shrii-kk, @tired-xyra-urstruly, @fishii28, @yui2aku, @lakeside-paradise

© fumiscripts 2025. don't steal, repost, translate or modify my works without my permission.

[anxietycheesecake]

There's something so "performative" about the finale, not sure how to articulate it. I mean, it's been like that for a while, but there were still sincere moments every now and then (probably from the cast putting all their actussy into it). It wanted to make a statement so bad, regardless of whether you think they were mocking us or not. "I'm not a normal sitcom, I'm a cool sitcom, like Seinfield. I don't fit in and I don't want to fit in. Have you ever seen my characters evolve? Oh... Oh... No, you haven't! I artificially took that back every single time! That's cool."

They wanted to remove the sense of a plot and a purpose that season 3 and partially season 4 gave it so hard it's like they couldn't think of anything else. It's funny because it's pointless and unsatisfying, even though we have managed to balance raunchy comedy and emotional scenes just fine before. It's easier this way and it get us Reddit praise. But here's the thing, it wasn't even that funny. Season 1 was just sitcom shenanigans and dark comedy and it was hilarious. Like, when was the last time you physically bent over in laughter while watching this show and are you sure it wasn't because the actors were making a funny voice or a funny face that absolutely wasn't scripted?

But I mean, all that aside, I think it's just cringe. It's giving "how you doing, fellow kids?" It's overdone and so eager to be disruptive it ends up being anticlimatic. "That's the point! We were trying to be anticlimatic!" Ok, bro, you're either a shit writer because you couldn't come up with an actual conclusion or because you genuinely thought that'd make good tv.

Comparing wwdits to Seinfield is like when wannabe great American novelist says he's writing the next Great Gatsby. No you're not. And I don't mean this as "wwdits isn't worth shit compared to actual high art sitcoms such as Seinfield" (I actually liked it better when it wasn't trying to become Seinfield); it's just... There's already a Seinfield. And there was already a wwdits that had found its footing and its voice and was doing a near perfect balancing act between comedy and drama, while keeping it humor-focused at all times. Your story is yours but when my book was starting to sound a lot like The Girls by Emma Cline minus the ABSOLUTE LITERATURE of it (arguably the best thing about The Girls), my mom was like "this not you, girl, what are you doing?" And that was MY MOM, not some random people on the Internet who are a small portion of the people who put food on my table (hopefully, heh -pay writers better, bitches >:(-). Like, dude, you're in your 40s, how can you be this petty?

At the end of the day, it was just petty. It read like fanfiction a troll would write. And they can try to gaslight us into buying it was actually such a smart move and amazing writing, but we know the truth. "We've thought about six possible endings for Guillermo's arc and haven't decided on one", "We kind of just come up with things that might be funny and work them into an episode"; things being said about a show one its fourth and fifth season. Absolutely valid, of course, but you can just admit you bit more than you could chew and wanted an easy way out. We get it, it's your job, do whatever you need to get that (far too small) paycheck, but don't put a "subversive" label on it and call it a perfect ending.

And if you're so willing to disrespect your fanbase or convince them they were watching a completely different show mere three years ago, for fuck's sake, commit to the bit and at least make it entertaining. Characters just spelling out things that are going to annoy the fans or prove to them it was silly to care about the shit and fart show for half and hour? THREE TIMES? Dude, you can be more subtle, media litecary's been dead for a while now. It's not unfunny in the sense that it's offensive; rather it was offensive how deeply unfunny it was. How can you manage to be this dishonest while doing everything in your power to make yourself seem even more dishonest??? smh

[anantaru]

୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅♡ sfw kaveh boyfriend headcanons

he‘s just amazing, point blank ૮꒰ྀི ⸝⸝ɞ̴̶̷ ·̫ ‹⸝⸝ ꒱ྀིა ‧₊˚

꒰ genre ꒱ — fluff, sharing kisses, a little angsty, gn! reader

+ ˚ spontaneous dates on a budget

to be frank, your lovely boyfriend kaveh never considered being short of mora to hold any sort of significant problem above his head nor did he ever regard it as something to completely wreck a well-thought out day with his beloved.

sincerely, you knew the blonde oh too well— particularly his charming tendencies to plan out your sweet dates.

as it happens, kaveh would always kindly decline your own offer to help out with any kind of planning because little do you realize was he quite fond of surprising you with his creative ideas, leaving not one stone unturned to make it into a spectacle in broad daylight, on a budget of course.

as an alternative of taking you out for a grand and pricy dinner on a warm evening in sumeru city, the architect will instead search for a nice and cozy place outside of it.

when it comes to the topic of food, he will mostly raid the freshly bought refreshments his roommate had purchased the other day when it was his turn to buy and fill up on required necessities.

now, hold on— zooming to a significant question that might float above your head right now; will kaveh tell alhaitham that he's taking some of the foods he shopped for himself? well, probably after he had already finished them with you, heh.

+ ˚ his fears

when deep rooted lovers such as kaveh and yourself strive to keep emotional and supporting tendencies for a lifetime, your bond was destined to be set in stone, to be eternal and flourishing— giving off light which was parallel to flames that breathe all the more deeply for being closer together.

in you, his loving significant other, he saw a comfortable life inherited infinitely and kaveh was quite eager to keep a balance in your relationship.

because you had been aware of his fears— the actuality was dreadful, of you leaving him behind one day.

the clear thought of such grueling despair alone was formed heavily in his blood vessel, a strong phenomena that cannot be measured throughout his own psyche.

in times like this, it's reassurance he needs, of course, you wouldn't ever leave him and he knows, yet the fear was always there— the frightening perception spreading inwardly, secretly hiding in the fathomless profundity of his heart.

+ ˚ huge cuddle (+kissies) sessions for hours

but now, to the fun part— in spite of the fact that kaveh was a passionate and emotional lover, he too had an abundantly huge love to give to you physically. quite frankly, he couldn't possibly keep his hands to himself and just had to have them encircled around your body at all times.

ever so often you catch kaveh being needier than usual but you really do not mind, you say it's cute if anything, when his cheeks surge with a heated bubbling as he walks towards you with his infamous puppy eyes, awaiting a well deserved hug.

kaveh once told you that being touch starved was one of the things he would suffer from on a daily, even though you have seen each other all the time. was he perhaps dramatic? yes, doesn't need a genius to figure that out, but that was one of the reasons you fell in love with him in the first place.

most of the times you will spend enough closeness together, hugging in your home, not his, but your home. yours was better and not plagued by the evil scribe bothering you, as kaveh had stated himself.

yet my love, do not concern yourself with outside noises, he whispers;

between an occurring storm outside the impounds of your warm home, supplemental to the wind that howls loudly through fallen leaves, in the opinion of your boyfriend, you were the gentle centre that occupied his life, and so here he was safe with you just as you were safe with him, coming to rest at his side with his scarlet eyes gleaming splendidly through the shadowed room.

aside from the cute fact of this matter, it was ridiculously amusing to you that kaveh didn't realize that he was an exceptional kisser, always giving his one hundred and ten percent. foremost, he will take things slow, leaning into your parted lips before claiming you wholly, not adding too much but the right amount was greeting you abundantly well.

you can see himself become excited the moment his movements get more uneven and unpredictable, when he feels like he needs to taste you further in order to feel somehow satiated.

above all, you see yourself becoming whole again as you slant into him, vulnerable and caring, you find yourself addicted to him, as much as he did too— but for every reason that is pure and right, none other dared to share this sweet perception of delight.

you were his safety and love, an anchor he held onto, that he tethers himself to because he so wanted to drag this moment on as long as physically possible.

+ ˚ conclusion and how he sees your relationship

finally yet most importantly, kaveh shares his views with you, he is incredibly transparent and never keeps a secret locked away from his significant other— he found it to be unnecessary to hide any topics that might concern you as well.

essentially in his own terms of phraseology;

“something such as transparency in a relationship was the gold key to my heart.”

archons, he's so damn in love with you it almost pains him to admit it all over again. to describe this fondness was impossible; wether its irreverent topics you'd ramble about together, funny, real as a crystal fly hiding in the rain and walking perfectly with your own dreams and fantasies.

you were bound and free with him, floating and established, laughing and sober— most of the times because if truth be told, kaveh was a terrible lightweight and couldn't hold in his liquor, ever.

but perhaps, now that he has the time to indulge in the kindness of your relationship, it is you that performs the miracles in his life.

©2023 anantaru do not repost, copy, translate, modify

[xxsycamore]

✨The Sunshine Syndrome

╰┈➤ 🎂 "Do you remember what you wished for, last night when you blew the candles?"

Sebastian x Reader; ft. all the mansion residents • rating: G • tags: Birthday Fluff; Humor; everyone being silly goofy • wordcount: 1,453 • masterlist

a/n: and again, HAPPY BIRTHDAY INKY!!!! 🎉🎉🎉@inkys-garden I was wondering what to tell you about Sebas celebrating your birthday, and it suddenly turned into fic plot so here we are :DD HOPE YOU LIKE ITTTT!! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH ❤❤❤

It's another beautiful day of your life in 19th century Paris, in the neat little mansion up the hill that you call a home, just you and your lover and your 8 housemates who are reincarnated vampires and your sugar daddy landlord whose wealth you all live off. A day like any other, it might seem, except, today is the day you were born. Well, the day you will be born, if you have to take the time travel into account… your suggestion to place a minus in front of your age on the cake this year was met with disapproval by your lover Sebastian. "We can do the same for your age!" You said, but Sebastian wasn't really interested.

Content and excited for the day to unfold, you've already put your cutest outfit on, made a little spin in front of the mirror and exited your room to head downstairs. Strangely, Sebastian didn't wake you up earlier this morning, despite your wish to come help him with chores like always. He must have let you get some more shut-eye because it's your special day. He really shouldn't have to!

Huh. It's strange, you can swear you're hearing a cheerful melody coming from the dining room. Speeding up your step that already had a bit of spring to it, your curiosity makes you push the doors open without a second thought.

"YOU CAN DANCEEE!"

"YOU CAN JIVE!"

"Having the time of your lifeee!"

Wait, what! Why is everyone here, spreading jam on toasts, smiling at each other, why is Mozart smiling at all, and why on earth are they singing Abba?! "Oh, you're awake! We've been all waiting for you!" Sebas suddenly notices you, giving you the softest smile while gesturing you to come closer.

"There's the birthday girl. Heh, had a good night's sleep, cara-mia?

Previously, you thought you did. Now you're wondering if you're STILL sleeping.

"I, uh, I guess so? I did sleep very well… I thought I'd be awake much earlier though! But that aside, what are you-"

Theo interrupts you, thrusting a plate with warm pancakes into your hands.

"Good morning, kuiken, this is for you, I left some pancakes for you. Happy Birthday. Sorry I wasn't around to wish you a Happy Birthday last night, I hope you had fun with the others."

"Oh! That's- Theo, please, I understand you're a busy man- wait, how did you call me?!"

"A baby chick. I figured hondje might be a bit too rude so I'm switching to kuiken. It suits you more."

H-Huuuh!

"Okay then, thank you for being so considerate! But still, what are you guys all doing here, singing and all?!"

Jean of all people speaks up, pulling out the chair next to him so you can take a seat. You do so with curiosity, seeing his sincere little smile.

"It happened spontaneously, mademoiselle. It seems like we all had the same sudden idea to have breakfast together for a change. I was a bit reluctant about joining, but Sebastian showed me how easy it is to make these toasts with jam. I think I should consider joining you around the table more often."

You're utterly moved by Jean's sudden change of heart, and his face is so angelic in this moment. You've been waiting for him to take this step for so long, and here he took a leap!

"Amazing, isn't he?" Dazai startles you by placing a hand on your shoulder from behind. "I want to seal this version of our Jean in one of my future writings. I feel like writing something happy and light for a change, I wonder why is that?"

You understand Dazai's sentiment, as surprising as it is to hear the last part of what he said. With a mood like this, it seems like everyone's in good spirits.

"They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away, yet here you are…" Isaac rolls his eyes at Arthur, holding up an apple in his hand as if to emphasize his point. Arthur blinks at him, not used to the physicist weaponizing the very same thing that has been used against him so often before. He feels inclined to ask, trying his best lighthearted but simultaneously teasing tone, without a real bite to it.

"You do understand that's just a saying, Isaac? It hasn't been scientifically proven."

Isaac smiles at him, shrugging his shoulders. "I was just joking."

You watch the exchange with the same bewilderment as everything else happening around you, and that's when the door opens again to reveal a yawning Napoleon. Oh, you didn't realize he was missing from the impromptu house meeting!

"'Morning. I don't remember the last time I slept so much…"

"Good Morning, Monsieur Napoleon! We all decided to let you sleep in for as long as you want to today. Your second life here is all about relaxing, after all. It seems like you've enjoyed it!"

"Oh, that's strange, last time I checked it wasn't my birthday today?" Napoleon smirks, running a hand through his unruly hair, and winks at you.

"Why did we stop singing? I need to remember the rhythm for my composition. Otherwise, I'll have to let you all in my music room later and… well, maybe if you agree to behave we can move our choir there actually." Mozart smiles behind his cup of tea, surprisingly considering the idea.

"Yay, I've been waiting for a chance to visit the music room!" Exclaims Vincent, just a tad louder than how he usually shows his joy.

Watching them all be so happy, to the point where even Comte cares little about keeping his chuckles in the usual gentlemanly tone and Leonardo barely bickers with him over it, you find yourself overwhelmed with the giddy feeling that fills the room. All you want to do right now is join in the good mood, enjoying this moment to the fullest, but you want one last grounding moment with Sebastian before you do that. So you pull him to the kitchen, away from the rowdy residents, and ask once again how did this happen.

"I taught them Dancing Queen because I thought it was fitting of the mood."

"I'm not asking about this!!"

Sebastian smiles at you, gently tucking your hair behind your ear.

"Do you remember what you wished for, last night when you blew the candles?"

The memory floods your mind at once, all confetti and the sound of several people singing you Happy Birthday. They quite literally bombarded you with wishes, compliments, telling you how big of a sunshine you are, how you're the most cheerful and bubbly person they know. In the heat of the moment, you said you wish they could all feel how happy you truly are in this moment. You wished it could stay like that forever; all smiles and fun and games.

You gasp.

"Am I… infectious?!"

"I'm afraid you are. Look around you. My dear, your sunshine syndrome could reach faraway kingdoms and melt the heart of any cold-blooded prince, turn the ruthless tiger into a playful little kitten. This is how you are."

"S-Sebas!! This could be very bad, what about-"

"Let's not think about the future. Things are amazing the way they are right now. We have to live in the moment."

"Sebas!!"

"You and I won't be doing any chores today. Or tomorrow for that matter. Or the day after. We should focus on enjoying life and partying."

"THE MANSION IS GOING TO CRUMBLE TO DUST!!"

***

"My dear, are you alright? Just what kind of dreams are you having? Why is the mansion going to crumble to dust?"

You wake up to Sebastian caressing your face, trying to shake off your dreams. Your…dreams?!

"Sebas… oh my god…"

"Was it a nightmare? It's over now." Sebastian leans down and places a kiss on your forehead, before standing to his feet. "You can lounge around for a little longer, but come to the kitchen when you're ready. It might be your birthday but we still have a long day ahead of us!"

You rub your closed eyes, still finding it hard not to mix dreams with reality. You're almost glad to see him so much… like himself, even if it means doing chores with him again. "Mm, I'll be there in fifteen minutes…"

"I'm supposed to keep this a secret, but… I want to be selfish and see your surprised and happy face while we're still alone. The residents all promised to come to breakfast today, and even help preparing it!"

You blink.

No.

This can't be.

"…Could we sing too?"

"Perhaps we can. If our masters are feeling up to it."

"YAAY!"

Taglist: @arsnovacadenza @kimi00twin @g-kleran @thesirenwashere @devonares @galaxyprison @starshards26 @thewitchofbooks @acethephoenix256 @ikevamp-shrine-2 @nad-zeta @crystal13unny @lordsister @ikemen-banshou   @themysticalbeing @otome-scribbles @rhodolitesrose @coornn @kpop-and-otome @queen-dahlia @kisara-16 @chaosangel767 @ikemenlibrary @queengiuliettafirstlady @aurora-morning @ikemenlover24 @mcofthemansion @joy-the-reader @katriniac @ikemen-writer @tele86 @lovely-bubb1es @aria-chikage @babyblue0t7 @rhodoliteschaos @shrimpy-kitsune @nightghoul381 @xbalayage @lucyw260 @kittygrimm88 @lokis-laugh @natimiles @completelyshatteredbrokenmschf @groovylita @justpeachyteastea Let me know if you want to be tagged/untagged!

[pabit]

Hi, its Patrick speaking.

Michael somehow locked up both of the camera creeps in the bathroom. I guess they were freaking him out while he was repairing the door or some shit? The footage is pretty much useless, which is a bit irritating…but I’ve transcribed the audio for you all here. I think its crucial to provide the full word-for-word conversation.

----

> welp…the hole has been patched. i will have to replace the entire door eventually but um, this will work for right now.

> …

> uh…

> ......

> habit?

> …YES?

> are you...upset about what i said earlier?

> WHAT? NO NO…IM FINE. > don’t even worry about it.

> …you’re lying.

> no i’m not—

> habit…i may be mentally unwell, but im not stupid. i know that look in your eyes. i know that tone in your voice. ive seen it all before - i was practically raised on the sadness of my institutionalized peers.

> IS THAT HOW YOU SEE THE HABIT? AS ONE OF THOSE PATHETIC FUCKING CRAZY HUMANS?

> ah…i wouldnt describe them that harshly but i mean, basically yeah? > they are just people with problems man…many of whom have done some fucked up things, patrick and myself included. mostly though, they are kinda just…sad. Because they keep fucking up, or getting fucked up, and they dont know how to stop it. evidently you are not much different from them or myself in that way

> so uh— i just wanna say that i’m sorry for my behavior. i was being a jackass and it was uncalled for. i wanted to believe you deserved that and much worse but…i dunno. spewing blind hatred like that doesnt sit right with me.

> ….... > no. don’t apologize.

> what? why not?

> nothing you said was inaccurate nor unjustified, michael. why be sorry about that?

> because, uh…you apologized to me first? an' well, thats unlike you. at least, its unlike whatever i thought of you before today. maybe patrick is onto something…and maybe i was little too quick to judgment.

> HA…ARE YOU SURE YOURE NOT STUPID? I’VE DESTROYED MORE THAN JUST YOUR DOOR. I KILLED—

> i know. i know. and i dunno if i’ll ever truly forgive you for taking my brother away…but like. i also can recognize the value of an apology. it’s a good start, if you really mean it.

> …

> do you mean it, habit? are you actually sorry?

> I HAVE NOTHING TO GAIN FROM LYING TO YOU.

> sure– unless you think appeasing me is what will keep yourself from being kicked out and left to die alone

[HABIT laughs]

> I’D BE A MORON TO SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT. YOU AND PATRICK HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO BAR ME FROM THIS PLACE, AT ANY TIME, FOR ANY REASON. I ACCEPT THAT. I WOULD DESERVE IT. AND ONE WAY OR ANOTHER…I WILL DIE WITH ALL OF MY REGRETS RIGHT BESIDE ME.

> I APOLOGIZED BECAUSE, WELL…I BELIEVE YOU DESERVE ONE, WHILE I STILL HAVE THE TIME TO GIVE IT. ONE LESS REGRET TO TAKE TO THE GRAVE, EH? > there is no other reason.

> you believe i deserve an apology, huh...

> ERRR…YEAH. > I CANT PRETEND LIKE I FULLY UNDERSTAND ALL THE WAYS IN WHICH MY ACTIONS HAVE AFFECTED YOU…BUT UM...

> YOU LOST SOMEONE DEEPLY IMPORTANT TO YOU. I HAVE LOST SOMEONE RECENTLY TOO. AND UH, IT…HURTS. IT HURTS AND IM THE ONLY MONSTER TO BLAME. > IF THE PAIN I LIVE WITH NOW IS EVEN REMOTELY CLOSE TO WHAT I’VE DONE TO YOU…THEN YES…i am sorry.

> I KNOW THAT WILL NEVER BE GOOD ENOUGH AND WONT FIX A DAMN THING...SO THROW ME OUT, IF YOU MUST. I WILL GO WITHOUT QUESTION.

> …

> …

> …

> …WELL?

> ...... . . . . . .........

> MICHAEL?

> …ugh…uh, hey…habit.

> ERR— PATRICK?

> heh…you got it…

> sorry im…still a bit fuzzy upstairs at the moment.

> UM. OKAY. SIT DOWN THEN?

[I flopped into the couch next to Habit, kinda bracing against him to ground myself.]

> SO UM– > IS MICHAEL ALRIGHT?

> Michael…? Oh right. > He’s fine.

> …THAT'S ALL? JUST FINE?

> Ugh– dude my head is killing me right now, gimme a break…

> OH. SORRY.

> Its– its okay, Habit. This is nothing out of the ordinary, really…it happens pretty often when I come around.

> AH…

> Anyways, ummmm…yeah! > Michael is fine. Processing everything, but he's fine. I won't go into more detail though…it's not really my place to talk about his feelings about you, after all. He will come back to say what he needs to when he is ready.

> AND IF HE IS NEVER READY…? IF HE WANTS ME GONE?

> Luckily for you, Mikey doesn't have the only say in that matter. You still have me, Habs – and I want you to be here.

> ................

----

Habit didn't say anything else after that, so thats when I decided to get up and let the creeps out of the bathroom. Now I'm in the kitchen; finishing up this post and waiting for this batch of cookies to bake. I'm just trying to give Hab's brain a moment to catch up with itself, y'know? You know. Whatever. Hopefully the sweets will lighten the mood. I promise I wont eat them all this time, heh.

It also appears that I have missed some interesting bits of insight while out of the house today, so I will check back in later once I am better informed and Habit has gotten a few dozen cookies in his stomach.

[ask] >>

[watarfallar]

Who's everyone's favourite team-up this season? Anyways, have more incorrect quotes in preparation for the chaos in session 3 tomorrow!

Cleo, singing: He's making a list, checking it twice, gonna find out who's on thin fucking ice Scott, also singing: Santa Claus is calling you out!

Lizzie: Yeah I'm LGBT. Lizzie: cuLt leader. Lizzie: God hates me personally. Lizzie: cowBoy hat. Lizzie: *sniffles* Trying my best.

Etho: Aren’t you going to say “have a nice day?” Bdubs: I don’t care if you have a pulse, much less a nice day.

Ren: What's worse than a heartbreak? Joel: Waking up in the morning and your phone wasn't charging. Skizz: Waking up in the morning. BigB: Waking up.

Joel: That's not funny. Lizzie: I thought it was funny. Joel: You don't count. You started laughing in the middle of a funeral because you started thinking of a meme you saw on Facebook.

Gem: Play to your strengths. Impulse: I haven’t got any!

Scott: You know, Pearl, when you generalize, you tell general... lies. Pearl: ... Pearl: Are you trying to teach me moral lessons through puns.

Mumbo: You're not my friend anymore. BigB: I was your friend?

Pearl: I haven't seen Gem and Tango for fifteen minutes now. *Outside a nearby window, a car without a driver inside is seen rolling down a driveway, with Gem and Tango running after it in a panic. Pearl doesn't look outside at all.* Pearl: That probably means they're getting into trouble.

Cleo: Would it be discrimination to only hire employees at my doughnut shop who have the same name? Ren: Legally, I don't believe that breaches any discrimination laws. Morally though... I don't know. Cleo: I believe god is on my side when it comes to Duncans' Doughnuts.

Cleo: I want a bf. Scott: Do you mean best friend, boyfriend or bread feast? Because you’re being really vague here.

Mumbo: You either buckle down and do your work or you’ll end up at McDonalds. Skizz: We're going to McDonalds if I don't do my work? Mumbo: NO-

Jimmy: It is 6:09 . Jimmy: I am wondering why I’m still alive. Jimmy: Send Wendy’s. Scott: The whole restaurant?!

Grian: What is this!? Etho: That’s the weight of guilt. Give in to the nice side. Help those unfortunate, and make the guilt go away, my friend. Grian: Ow! Make it stop! Etho: Surrender to your kindness, Grian. It’s nice to be nice. Grian: Your guilt is strong, my friend. But it is no match for the power of my selfishness!

Cleo, to Joel: Are you peanuts? Because I want to boil you alive.

Scar: If I didn't know better, Grian, I'd say you were scared. Grian: Heh, scared? *absolute silence* Grian: DID YOU HEAR THAT?!

Grian: What are you up to today? Mumbo: Nothing. Grian: But you did that yesterday! Mumbo:I wasn’t finished.

Scott: Why aren't there friend pick up lines? Pick up lines to make friends like- Scott, to Pearl: Hey, that's a cute outfit. You know where it would look better? On nobody else, because you're a beautiful individual. Ren, to Impulse: Be my friend or I'll set your entire family on fire. Scar: There are two types of people.

BigB: FUCK THE CHAIR. PARDON ME FOR MAKING MYSELF COMFORTABLE DURING A SINCERE HEART TO HEART DISCUSSION WITH A DEAR FRIEND IN NEED! BigB: BUT THE TIME HAS COME FOR ME TO CEASE STRADDLING THIS DEEPLY OFFENSIVE PIECE OF FURNITURE! AWAY WITH YE, FOUR LEGGED TEMPTRESS! DISTRACT US NO MORE WITH THE MOST BASIC AND UTILITARIAN FORM OF COMFORT YOU SUPPLY! Cleo: BigB just threw a tantrum about a chair. Cleo: I just won BigB Tantrum Bingo.

Jimmy, gardening: Hey, can you bring me the hoe? Ren: Yeah, sure. *A few minutes later* Ren: Here you go. Jimmy: Ren: Joel: Why am I here?

Jimmy: What are the hardest things to say? Grian: I was wrong. Martyn: I need help. Skizz: Worcestershire sauce.

Scar: Last night I found out Bdubs is a sleep talker. Cleo: Oh, really? Scar: "The mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell." Right. In. My. Ear. At 3am.

[storiesbyjes2g]

3.172 New plan

Running around after four toddlers while chatting up our guests was quite the ordeal, and me and Sophia were beat. Dirty plates and glasses lined every surface, making me wonder who raised our friends, heh. The mess was too much to tackle in our state, so we left it to tend to in the morning. Sophia crashed while I got Desiree ready for bed. My mood tanked when I thought about how happy Mama would have been tonight, surrounded by all her grandchildren for the first time. I'm not sure what triggered it, but my mind drifted to this morning when I wondered about my life's trajectory. Before now, I'd been fine working this yoga thing until I figured out what my real passion is. But now I find myself unsettled. Desi is older now, so life can be more flexible. I can start working again, but do I want to? How long do I want to teach yoga? Do I want to teach yoga? Mama was right about me being good at it, but what do I think?

That time I fixed the sink and wondered about being naturally handy came to mind. Maybe instead of forcing myself to fulfill someone else's dream, I should take advantage of my privilege and figure out what I want. The money tree has blessed Sophia and me with the gift of time. I could be by Sophia's side the entire time we were trying to get pregnant. And I was still by her side through the birth and recovery. Without the need to run to a job every day, I have time to figure myself out and what I'd rather be doing with my life. Don't get me wrong. I still love yoga. And I sincerely wish everyone would learn and live less stressful lives. I don't mind teaching, but do I want to do it forever? Maybe when Less moves, I'll go get Mama's candle equipment and give it a whirl.

I put Desi down, and she seemed very hesitant about her new bed at first. Even though we only made minor changes, her room was different, and she noticed. We took out the changing table and put it in the other room. And, of course, the bed replaced the crib. It took her a minute to decide if she liked being so low to the ground, but eventually, she figured it was okay.

I tuck her in, tell her I love her, and watch her drift to sleep much quicker than I'd ever seen. All the activity must have wiped her out too. I turn out the lights and watch her for a moment. There's something calming about knowing your little ones are safe at rest. It's a beautiful thing. And so is she.

[ali-anne-undertale-stoof]

OHH YES!!! It's Mettatime, baby!!! Welcome to chapter 18!!!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/59131027/chapters/160103674

(Psst! If you also want to look at Mettaton's song in full, you can check out the lyrics and listen [mentally] here!)

Second half

Chapter 18: Heart Drive

Ah, the late morning. The time for overworked lazy folk to finally get up after a nice lie-in and have their brother cook for them. And it's particularly pleasant and exciting for both brothers, since Sans knew that Papyrus had been waiting to show off his skills since yesterday's cooking lesson. Sans had been in the middle of one of his little comas, though, so sadly, he was unable to eat Papyrus', um, "delicious" spaghetti meal. It didn't matter, though. It was apparently easy to replicate, according to him.

Thankfully, nothing burned down this time.

"hey, bro." Sans called out for what had to be the gazillionth time. He couldn't help it if he was so excited to see his brother's cooking skills he's even bouncing his leg and clapping his lap with a big, cheesy grin on his face! "is it ready yet?"

"IN A MINUTE, SANS!!! I JUST HAVE TO PUT ON THE FINISHING TOUCHES!!!"

Papyrus didn't sound annoyed. In fact, he sounded just as excited as Sans was about this meal! If that's the case, then it had to be good! Perhaps he could even eat at home more instead of going to Grillby's for all of his meals! That's perfect! He was craving something different lately. Just the thought of it made Sans' leg bounce faster and his grin grow wider.

As Papyrus took out the plate, Sans' eyes brightened into large stars. "oh boy oh boy oh boy! this is gonna be so good!"

Sans' excitement was instantly dashed the moment he saw what exactly was on that plate.

Was... Was this supposed to be spaghetti?

"TA DA!!!" Papyrus puffed out his chest proudly and laid the black and yellow mush on Sans' lap. It looked like someone took a dump on some charcoal. No, actually, it looked like a dog threw up on a pile of ash. Wait, no! It looked like a dragon coughed up the world's largest hairball and started serving it in the cafeteria of a dragon school, but even the dragon kids hated it because it didn't even qualify as food, but then for some reason, the hairball started to hatch and put spawned a hairy dragon chick and it took a large dump inside the egg and this was what was left behind.

"...wow. that looks so... uh... distinctive."

"THANK YOU!!!" Papyrus laughed and stomped on the carpet with glee. Sans' mood lifted ever so slightly while he watched Papyrus' arms whirl around. "UNDYNE TAUGHT ME HOW TO MAKE IT PERSONALLY!!! SHE SAID BEING ABLE TO COOK IS AN IMPORTANT SKILL TO HAVE WHEN YOU'RE A ROYAL GUARD!!! SO IT'S MY DUTY TO BE THE BEST CHEF I CAN POSSIBLY BE!!! NYEH HEH HEH!!!"

"oh, uh, cool... and, uh, what's... what's undyne's skill level with cooking?"

"OH, LET'S JUST SAY SHE KNOWS HOW TO LIGHT A FIRE! NYEH HEH HEH HEH!!!"

And there went Sans' eyelights. He knew what that meant. He hoped her house was alright.

"oh, uh..." How to get out of this, how to get out of this. "w-well, i just realised that... uhh..."

"YES?"

"well, um..." Oh god Papyrus is crouching down at his level. "y-you see, i just remembered that..." Beads of sweat slid down his forehead. "err..."

Papyrus' eye sockets were so large they rivalled Sans' own. "YES, BROTHER? YOU KNOW HOW EXCITED I WAS WHEN I REALISED I CAN FINALLY FEED US BOTH? I SHALL WORK SO HARD ON ALL MY DISHES THAT YOU WOULD NEVER HAVE TO GO HUNGRY AGAIN!"

"but... we- you didn't have to do that, we weren't going hungry..."

"YEAH, BUT NEITHER OF US COULD COOK BEFORE! AND NOW I CAN, I CAN MAKE YOU ALL THESE WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL MEALS!!! I'VE EVEN BEEN RESEARCHING ALL THE PASTAS SO I COULD LEARN TO MAKE MANY DISTINCTIVE DISHES!!! NYEH HEH HEH!!! THERE'S A LOT MORE PASTA THAN I INITIALLY THOUGHT."

Not the puppy Papy eyes, Sans can never handle the puppy Papy eyes! It was already working too. Guilt settled where Sans' stomach should be. And he was being so sincere too.

"SO YOU SEE, I WAS JUST AS EXCITED FOR THIS AS YOU WERE, BROTHER!!! GO AHEAD!!! TRY IT!!!"

Well... There goes Sans' escape plan. Rattling slightly, Sans shakily stabbed the thick black and yellow mush with his petite little fork and made sure to avoid the 'sauce' as much as possible. He tried to make out the tomatoes and... oh god was that BANANA??? Well, that explained the yellow mushy texture!

Oh well. Here goes nothing... Sans' smile wobbled continuously as he tried to absorb the "spaghetti".

It tasted just how it looked.

"hrk-!!!"

"OH, BROTHER!!! ARE YOU ALRIGHT?!?! WAS THE TASTE REALLY THAT SURPRISING TO YOU?!?!"

Sans nodded and gave Papyrus a shaky thumbs up. Papyrus didn't even notice how Sans' magic refused to absorb the 'food'. It was absolutely inedible. Not that the disaster chef observed that fact, anyway.

"OH MY GOD!!! THAT MEANS... THAT MEANS YOU LOVE IT!!!" Papyrus' squeal pierced through Sans' lack of ears. Usually when it comes to Papyrus, Sans was used to his loud volume, but not this time. Not this time.

Speaking of Papyrus, he proceeded to breakdance in the middle of the room. "OH MY GOD!!! I'M GOING TO COOK FOR YOU EVERY DAY, THIS IS AMAZING!!! THE BEST THING I HAVE EVER DONE, YES YES YES!!!"

Honestly, seeing Papyrus breakdance like that made Sans smile. If there was one thing that can cheer him up, it's watching a very happy, goofy Papyrus being himself. And it served a welcome distraction for him too, because while Papyrus was getting it down, Sans used his magic to zap the so-called spaghetti away, leaving bits of 'pasta' and 'sauce' behind to make it look like he ate it.

The taller brother was shocked once he got up only to see an empty plate in Sans' lap.

"WOWIE!!! YOU REALLY LOVED IT!!! LOOK AT HOW FAST YOU ATE THE SPAGHETTI!!! OH MY GOD!!!"

Sans was all to eager to get rid of the plate when he passed it to Papyrus. Yes, Papyrus. Get it out of his sight.

"I'M GOING TO COOK EVERY SINGLE DAY NOW!!! NYEH HEH HEH!!!"

Where, oh where did he go so very, very wrong?

So much for not eating at Grillby's anymore...

...

Oh, well! TV time! Let's see what old 30's show was on this week. Perhaps one of those old comedy shorts? Sans loved those.

Instead, what came on was decidedly more... modern. And new...

"OHHHH YESSSS!!!"

"eek!" Sans turned the volume right down. He was NOT expecting that jumpscare.

What was supposed to be a silly silent film was replaced by a loud calculator box looking... THING rolling around the screen. Was Sans annoyed by this? No, not really. Any distraction from that meal was a welcome one, after all. Besides, he was curious.

"HELLO, BEAUTIES AND GENTLEBEAUTIES! YOU MIGHT BE WONDERING, 'OH! WHERE'S ALL MY BORING SHOWS AND LACKLUSTER ENTERTAINMENT?' WELL, LET ME BE THE FIRST TO TELL YOU THAT ALL OF THAT JUNK IS CANCELLED FOREVER! HAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Well, that was a nice way to break the news.

The new voice must have gotten Papyrus' attention too, because it didn't take him long to come out of the kitchen by the sound of it.

"HEY, SANS, WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING?" The only response he had was an invitation to sit with him. Once he tuned in, he finally spotted the face(?) behind the voice. "OH."

"FROM NOW ON, MONSTER ENTERTAINMENT IS GOING TO IMPROVE! THANKS TO ME, METTATON, YOU WILL HAVE REAL DRAMA! REAL BLOODSHED! REAL INTRIGUE! ALL DAY, EVERY DAY, FROM THE BREAK OF DAWN TO THE LATE, LATE NIGHTS! OHHH, YES!!!"

The way the robot was zipping around the screen and advertising all these new shows... The brothers couldn't look away.

"AND THAT'S NOT ALL!"

Ooh, boy.

"IF YOU WANT TO SEE ME IN PERSON, I'M MAKING MY BIG DEBUT AT A ♪LIVE SHOW♪, ONLY IN T H E C O R E IN HOTLAND! AND THE BEST PART? IT'S COMPLETELY FREE, DARLING! STARTING AT 8PM FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY! DON'T MISS IT, OR YOU'LL MISS ME!"

"wow. he, uh, really knows how to make a spectacle of himself, doesn't he?" Sans chuckled lightheartedly, ready to make fun of these upcoming shows like they do with their old shows. But when Papyrus didn't respond, Sans' bonebrows furrowed in slight worry. "bro?"

Despite the commercial being over, Papyrus' eyes were still fixated on the screen. Almost as if he was mesmerised by what he was looking at.

"WE MUST SEE IT."

"must?"

In a flash, Papyrus grabbed Sans' shoulders and shook him like a maraca. "WE MUST SEE IT!!!"

--------

To Papyrus, Hotland was a lot more bearable when it has two things: a working elevator, and a good brother to help you with the puzzles. Not that he needed help with puzzles, of course. But he was able to handle the confusing lasers and air vents much better with Sans around... and there were no spiders to encounter this time!

Having his brother around also made the journey a lot better because he actually listened to what Papyrus has to say, unlike puzzles, which are obviously not sentient. Therefore, he was able to listen to Papyrus about the many many types and shapes of pasta that he was intensely fixating on since his first cooking lesson. In alphabetical order. In different categories.

"LASAGNETTE AND LASAGNOTTE ARE TWO VERY DISTINCT TYPES OF PASTA FROM LASAGNE!"

"yeah? how's that?"

Using Papyrus as a floating stepladder, Sans reached out to the switch on the other side of the puzzle and flicked it with a bone attack, turning off all the lasers.

"LASAGNETTE IS MORE NARROW THAN REGULAR LASAGNE WHILE LASAGNOTTE IS LONGER! LASAGNETTE ALSO TEND TO HAVE RIDGES!"

"ah, i see." Timing the moving laser just right, the brothers held hands as they let the blue laser pass through them. "so what about linguine, then?"

"I'M GETTING TO THAT! IT'S JUST FLAT SPAGHETTI, NOTHING SPECIAL!"

"of course."

The brothers flicked two switches at the same time to open a door.

"I DOUBT YOU'VE HEARD OF MACCHERONI ALLA MOLINARA!!!"

"huh. i haven't, actually. what's that?"

"WELL, ITS TRANSLATION IS 'THE MILLER'S WIFE'S PASTA'! IT'S LONG AND THICK AND YOU PULL IT WITH YOUR HANDS!"

"neat. maybe you should cook it sometime."

"I WILL!!! ONCE I'VE GOT THE SPAGHETTI RECIPE DOWN, OF COURSE!!! NYEH HEH HEH!!!"

Sans wanted to throw up in his mouth. Wait, can skeletons actually do that?

The bridge leading to the stage was oddly nostalgic to walk across. Eh, don't think about it.

"OH BOY OH BOY OH BOY!!! WE SHOULD TRY TO GET FRONT ROW SEATS!!!" Papyrus nodded towards Sans, who put a couple of earplugs in and gave Papyrus a thumbs up. Papyrus took it as a signal to open the door and walk in and... the room was packed full of monsters.

Well... There's no chance for them to get front row seats. They'd be lucky to even sit next to each other!

"OVER THERE!!!" Papyrus pointed to a couple of empty seats near the back. Grabbing his brother, he darted towards them.

"whoa, pap!"

"SANS, WE HAVE TO SIT NEXT TO EACH OTHER, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!!!" He said, before slam-dunking his brother in one of the chairs so hard he almost broke his tailbone.

"ow..."

"QUIET, SANS!!! THE SHOW'S ABOUT TO BEGIN!!!"

After one last groan from Sans, the lights dimmed. Mist spewed out of the ground, leaving a silhouette in the midst of it. The silhouette was not particularly tall, about the same height as Papyrus at most. But from his presence, it definitely felt like it should be much taller. The voice from the commercial boomed out of it.

"BEAUTIES AND GENTLEBEAUTIES! TONIGHT, WE ARE MAKING HISTORY!" On cue, the crowd whooped and hollered out to him. Him. It's definitely a him. "FOR I BET YOU HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A CELEBRITY QUITE LIKE ME BEFORE! KING ASGORE? UNDYNE? OH, THEY ARE GREAT. BUT THEY HAVEN'T REACHED STARDOM BEFORE, HAVE THEY? HAVE THEY?"

"No?"

"EXACTLY! TONIGHT, FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, YOU WILL WITNESS THE FIRST EVER PERFORMANCE OF YOUR FIRST EVER ENTERTAINING ROBOTIC CELEBRITY!"

Sans sat, fascinated by the amount of murmuring in the audience.

"NOW PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER FOR..." The mist swirled down, revealing the robotic guy from the commercial. He struck a dramatic pose. "ME!"

Before the crowd even had a chance to cheer again, a poppy yet synthetic soundtrack started playing. Yup. Song time.

"All your sad little faces, blended in the crowd,

Pitiful lives full of boredom, no joy to be found,

Well, let me be the solution you are waiting for,

For once I'm done, you'll be shouting, 'METTATON, MORE!'"

Platforms floated down from the ceiling as the robotic celebrity rolled onto them with his single wheel. How did he manage to stay in place as the platforms floated around? And they seemed like they were designed to allow him to get in the crowd's face as well.

"So come on down, I've got the cure,

Game shows, cooking, movies and more,

It's what you've been dying for,

And I'm always here for another encore!"

Mettaton practically swan dived off of the platforms. Out of nowhere, a pole shot up from the center of the stage, which he managed to grab like some sort of acrobat at the circus. He swung around, he spun, and did as many acrobatic feats a robot was capable of, all in the name of showing off to the crowd.

"It's coming up me!

It's coming up me!

A celebrity in the spotlight,

Suddenly the world feels just right,

You need a show,

You need some drama,

It's what you're after,

So with that I'll say, repeat after me!

M-E-T-T-A-T-O-N,

M-E-T-T-A-T-O-N,

M-E-T-T-A-T-O-N,

Mettaton, it's Mettaton!"

As if it was magic (and it very well must be), the crowd caught wind and started singing along.

"M-E-T-T-A-T-O-N,

M-E-T-T-A-T-O-N,"

"It's coming up me!

It's coming up Mettaton, it's Mettaton!"

Despite the earplugs doing a great job at blocking out the noise, Sans still ended up overstimulated somehow. Perhaps it was the flashing lights and the constantly shifting colours and platforms and Mettaton's over-the-top performance, but something inside the short skeleton made him want to look anywhere but the stage. Eventually, his eyes shifted over to a window high above the stage. The tech booth. And through the glass, he could just about see a familiar figure. A familiar pointy-headed figure through tinted glass. Gosh, Sans would do anything to get up there. Eh, what's stopping him?

With one last glance at Papyrus, who was on the edge of his seat and flapping his arms with a big dopey grin on his face, Sans slunk away to go see the ever so "mysterious" technician in the booth.

As he peeked around the door, he spotted Alphys sitting at a panel with all kinds of buttons. Fancy. But he noticed something else with her. Something she's wearing.

"whoa, is that a lab coat?"

Alphys started. "GAH! Oh! S-Sans! Hi!"

"sorry 'bout that." His smile reached his eye sockets. "so, i'm guessing you got the job, huh?"

Her smile reached her eyes in turn. "Yeah! It actually really surprised me!"

"what? it surprised ya? it didn't surprise me."

"Oh, you!" She briefly shot him a playful glare as Sans laughed.

"what? i was just gonna talk about how your position was made for ya."

"You're too nice! Stop!"

"oh, am i now?" Alphys rolled her eyes as she struggled to reach a button Sans was close to. Sans nonchalantly pressed it for her, and colourful mist sprayed out on Mettaton's stage.

"Um, yes!" She activated a mechanism that allowed a trapeze to fall into the room for Mettaton to use. What kind of theatre was this? "Meanie!"

"heh heh. so, a robot with a soul, huh? how'd you pull THAT off? i thought souls couldn't be artificially made."

The room felt deathly cold all of a sudden. Where was Alphys' smile? Why was she making even less eye contact than usual? Why was there a sudden... wrongness in the air?

"al?"

She refused to look at him. Unease filled Sans' ribs. Was she hiding something from him?

"hey, uh... is there something you're not-"

"N-No! No! E-Everything's fine, I just did it! I don't know if I can replicate it, but I did it! That's all you need to know! Hahahahaha! Haha..."

This girl really couldn't make herself sound more obvious if she tried. And as a result, curiosity wasn't the only thing tightening its grip on Sans' soul. He looked out the window of the booth to watch the robot with a soul as he rallied the crowd to sing along with him once again.

"Mettaton!"

"The highlights..."

"Mettaton!"

"It feels just right!"

"Mettaton!"

"Above the crowd!"

"We love you, Mettaton!"

Those movements, that voice... They all sounded way too lifelike for the robot to just be an ordinary robot. Wouldn't robots be more... robotic? Something wasn't adding up here. He definitely acts like he has a soul. But then, why was Alphys acting so evasive. Sans decided to probe a little.

"heh, wow. he's really lifelike. however you did it, he's definitely not soulless, is he?"

"N-No... He's not." The shy lizard bit her lip nervously as Sans continued probing. Did she catch on to his probing?

Nonetheless, Sans made it a point to lean on his elbow as casually as possible to look more nonchalant. "heh, you know, you might've just about made history here, alphys. an artificial monster soul? that's gotta shake the world. ain't that right?"

He caught a wince. "Y-Yeah..."

The skeleton hoped she didn't catch onto his narrow eye sockets. Luckily for him, she seemed to be too focused on the special effects to notice. "you know, i bet you would look really cool in a history book. imagine, 'alphys alpha, the first monster to ever create an artificial soul.' you'll be on the news."

A scoff. "Mettaton will be the news."

"true."

It wasn't working. She was still too closed off. Disguising a sigh as a regular exhale, Sans zoned out at the crowd, watching his brother bounce and sing along.

"METTATON, IT'S METTATON!!!"

"heh, at least papyrus is happy."

"Y-Yeah. He is... They all are."

"It's coming up me!

It's coming up me!

It's coming up me!"

"M-E-T-T-A-T-O-N,

M-E-T-T-A-T-O-N,

M-E-T-T-A-T-O-N,

Mettaton, it's Mettaton!"

Thundering applause filled the room. Now that the song was done, perhaps Sans could get some more answers- and she's gone.

Just straight up disappeared.

Huh.

--------

"BREAKFAST IS READY!!!"

Oh god, how did it look worse than last time? Sans wanted to sink into the couch and hide away from this monstrosity Papyrus dared to call spaghetti.

"HERE YOU ARE, BROTHER!!! UNDYNE'S BEEN TEACHING ME HOW TO MAKE MEATBALLS!!!"

The smaller brother winced as he picked at the ball of coal on his plate. "uh huh." Reluctantly, he stabbed the spaghetti with his fork, only to find that the entire meal stuck together like one big lump of dried up-

"WELL, I WOULD LOVE TO STAY AND SEE YOUR REACTION, BUT I'VE GOT TO SEE A DOG ABOUT A HORSE- WAIT, NO, IT'S THE OTHER WAY AROUND. A HORSE ABOUT A DOG. WAIT, WAS HE EVEN A HORSE? PERHAPS THAT WAS JUST MY IMAGINATION. HOW SILLY OF ME!!!"

Seeing this opportunity, Sans flung the fork and...

CRASH!!! There went the window!

The disaster chef screeched in terror and immediately whipped around to see a guilty-looking Sans, an empty plate, and a broken window.

"WHAT WAS THAT?!?!?!"

Oh god, he was sweating bullets. "uhh... the dog?"

...

"THAT BLASTED CANINE!!!"

The tension sapped out of Sans' body so fast, he almost forgot how to breathe. It was then that a very grumpy Papyrus sat next to him, grumbling about dogs and bones and whatever.

"hey, it's nothing the great papyrus can't handle, right?"!

"TRUE... BUT IT IS VERY ANNOYING. LET'S TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE, LIKE METTATON!!!"

"oh, boy..."

"WHAT?! YOU'VE SEEN HIS SHOW!!! THE LIGHTS, THE SONGS, THE SPECIAL EFFECTS!!! I WANTED TO STAY THERE ULNA-IGHT, BUT NOOOOO, IT HAD TO END AT 11PM FOR SOME REASON!!!"

"well, even robots need to recharge."

"HE'S SO LIFE-LIKE, I FORGET HE'S EVEN A ROBOT AT ALL, TO BE HONEST!!! NYEH HEH HEH HEH HEH HEH!"

Sans nodded in agreement, because really, he did agree. His mind drifted back to yesterday's conversation with Alphys. How she was so evasive. Well, even more evasive than normal. Why did he get this itchy feeling that she's hiding something from him? The more he thought about it, the more that itchy feeling turned into a burn. That oh so familiar burn of just wanting to know MORE. There's got to be a reason why she's hiding like this. No one lies to Sans. No one.

He found it hard to focus on what Papyrus was saying. Something to do with merchandise and action figures. At least he knows what to get him. As important as Papyrus was, Sans had other things to investigate. And where else to start than Alphys' new home?

--------

The lab had never felt this... lived in before. Boxes scattered everywhere, the upstairs had been turned into a bedroom... The fridge was already full of ramen.

note to self, take alphys out to eat sometime.

The only thing missing was the actual resident, but knowing her, she was probably-

BONK!

Sans groaned as he rubbed his poor nasal cavity. What did he just walk into?

He looked up to find that it wasn't a what he walked into, it was a who.

"OH MY! WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE?"

"...mettaton?"

"IN THE NUTS AND BOLTS, DARLING! OH, GET OFF THE FLOOR, YOU'RE GOING TO GET YOURSELF COVERED IN DIRT!" The celebrity robot picked Sans up by the scruff of his grey hoodie and gently placed him back on his feet. Huh. That was oddly gentle for a robot. He then proceeded to dust Sans off methodically. "THAT'S BETTER. NOW TELL ME, DEAR, WHY ARE YOU HERE? DID YOU WANT TO SEE MORE OF THIS?"

Pose! Pose! Pose!

"actually, i'm looking for alphys."

Mettaton struck a different pose. "IS THAT SO? OH, I UNDERSTAND. YOU'RE ALPHYS' LITTLE NERD FRIEND, RIGHT?" He chortled.

"she talked about me, huh?"

A different pose. "ONCE OR TWICE."

Sans hummed to himself. If he wanted to figure out what was happening with Alphys and her secrecy about Mettaton, why not get some information from the 'robot' himself? As the idea sunk into his head, Sans let his shoulders lax and smile grow, almost as if he WASN'T secretly investigating Alphys like an agent.

"heh, she's pretty great, ain't she? a real pal."

Mettaton posed like one of Sans' French girls. "OH YES! SHE CERTAINLY KNOWS HOW TO BUILD A ROBOT!"

"yup, she's great at building calculators on wheels."

Somehow, Mettaton was flexible enough to lay on his front and still look up at Sans. "WATCH IT, TINY."

"watch what? watch your show?"

"YOU KNOW WHAT I MEANT, SHORT STUFF." He put his finger to his 'face' to emphasise his 'pout.' "WHAT DO YOU NEED HER FOR, ANYWAY? WHO NEEDS FRIENDS WITH IDOLS LIKE ME?"

"i think i've had enough of idolising people for a lifetime. besides, idols are more often than not just people who are trying their best."

"...WOW. YOU ARE WEIRD."

"heh, thanks." Something lit up in Sans' mind. "say, you don't idolise alphys, do you?"

"OH MY! ABSOLUTELY NOT! I WOULD CALL HER A FAITHFUL FRIEND, BUT NOT AN IDOL!"

Sans' smug grin made a comeback. "who needs friends, huh?"

"OH, SHUSH! I KNOW I'M HYPOTHETICAL, SO WHAT? I'M A STAR! AND IT WAS ALL BECAUSE OF ALPHYS THAT MY DREAMS CAME TRUE!"

His dreams? Since when did robots have dreams? If he took what the show stated at face value, then Mettaton was merely just an entertainment robot... with a soul. But if that were the case, would he just be programmed with hopes and dreams? That's some... odd programming on Alphys' part. Oh, well. Couldn't hurt to double check.

"hehe, hopes and dreams, cute. mind sharing a little more about 'em?"

"HMM..." A dramatic pose.

"i'd love to hear alllllll about you."

"ALL ABOUT ME?! WELL, THEN!" He twirled around on his wheel and summoned a spotlight onto himself. Oh, how his metallic paint glistens in the spotlight... It was mesmerising. "EVER SINCE I WAS BUT A HUMBLE SNAIL FARMER, I HAVE DREAMED OF STARDOM. BUT ONE DAY, A SMALL LIZARD GIRL CAME UP TO ME AND OFFERED A WAY TO HELP ME CLIMB THE LADDER TO STARDOM. AND SO, I..."

Eureka! A snail farmer! If he was built as an entertainment robot, why would he talk about being a snail farmer?

"...AND MY DIARIES SHALL LAST TO TELL THE TALE OF MY RISE TO FAME! IN MY OLD HOUSE... IN WATERFALL... OH, WAIT."

And there it was. The proof that Sans needed to make sure it wasn't just programming. His body language, the way his lights dialed down... He messed up. He slipped, and they both knew it.

"...OF COURSE, DARLING, I KNOW THAT WAS JUST, ER, PROGRAMMING! NOTHING ELSE TO SEE HERE, HA HA HA. TOODLES!"

And with that, he zipped away, leaving a Mettaton-shaped hole in the Mettaton-shaped wall.

"heh. sure, buddy. whatever you say."

Whatever he said, indeed. At least now Sans had a lead. He didn't need that poser anymore. Um, metaphorically speaking.

[halfincontextmagic]

Event Story: The Crimson ribbon for Désir | CH9

HEATHCLIFF — Hn….

SHINO — Heath!

AKIRA — Heath, are you ok…!?

The blue eyes that have just opened look around in a daze,

until they catch Shino’s gaze.

I can tell Shino’s body is stiff with nervousness.

Everyone swallowed, waiting for Heathcliff’s reaction….

HEATHCLIFF — Shino.

A warm smile emerged on his face.

SHINO — …Heath….

Shino’s dawn-like eyes swam, and closed.

SHYLOCK — …Welcome back, Heathcliff.

BRADLEY — Looks like it was a safe success.

HEATHCLIFF — Ah…. The ribbon came off….

AKIRA — Shino’s the one who took it off, you know.

SHYLOCK — He used a spell of separation to lift the spell tied to your heart. A change like earlier shouldn't happen again.

HEATHCLIFF — Shino did….

I see.

Thank you, Shino.

SHINO — I didn’t do anything to deserve thanks. I only did what’s natural.

That aside, how are you feeling? Do you feel weird anywhere….

Slowly pulling his body up, Heathcliff gently held his right hand out.

His slim fingertips wrapped themselves around Shino’s right hand.

HEATHCLIFF — Aah, as I thought…. It’s red.

I’m sorry about earlier. It must’ve hurt when I slapped you back then.

Shino’s mouth hangs open to the question directed to him.

As if he were softening the tension from the string of a taut bow, Heathcliff continued, one word at a time:

HEATHCLIFF — …I, was so, so scared.

I thought, what if I stayed stuck like how I was earlier forever.

Because, even if I’d…managed to get out of here, in a state like that, Chloe and Mitile…, Rutile and Riquet and the others would surely get hurt.

So, I’m really glad.

…Thank you, Shino.

The things that spilled out of Heathcliff’s mouth were…all concerns about someone else.

His dislike to hurt anyone and his gentle, caring nature are what make him himself.

SHINO — ………….

Even in times like these, you still….

Shino squeezed Heathcliff’s hand back with his own free one,

in such a careful way that it was as though he were holding a jewel.

SHINO — Yeah, the Heath right now is the one I….¹⁴

HEATHCLIFF — Huh?

What is it, Shino. Did you say something, just now?

SHINO — No….

It’s nothing.

Suddenly, Saku-chan seemed to have noticed something and jumped into my chest.

And soon, the world around us lit up at once.

It was a softer, gentler light compared to when we’d come here.

AKIRA — This is….

BRADLEY — Looks like we can get back safe, huh.

SHYLOCK — I can sense that we’re getting closer to Sir Snow’s presence.

And when I’d thought we were once again enshrouded in an all-white world….

The next moment, we were back in the exhibition hall we were originally in.

SNOW — Sage!

MITILE — It’s Sir Sage!

CHLOE — And also everyone! Thank god~!

RUSTICA — I am glad everyone returned safely.

AKIRA — Sorry, everyone. We made you worry.

CHLOE — Hmhm! It’s nothing. You must’ve gotten through a bigger fright than us since you were the ones who got pulled into the box, right?

MITILE — Wasn’t it a daunting place inside? I hope you weren’t put through something horrible….

HEATHCLIFF — …We’re fine.

It looks like Shino solved the issue.

SHYLOCK — Yes, absolutely.

BRADLEY — Heh.

SHINO — Fufun. Pretty much.

RUSTICA — As expected of Shino. That is a brilliant achievement.

SNOW — I wasn’t too concerned, as Bradley and Shylock were also there but….

I see, so it's Shino. You’ve accomplished quite a feat.

BRADLEY — Hey, don’t give me the ‘you’re so useless’ look.

SHYLOCK — Fufu, it’s more gratifying to think of it as a youth with a bright future accomplishing a splendid achievement.

When I spontaneously looked at it, inside the red ribbon box, laid a canvas painted over with a thick layer of white.

Mr. Klaus picked it up with mixed feelings written all over his features and bowed down to us.

KLAUS — My most sincere, deepest apologies for putting my dear guests in danger this time.

How could I ever make it up to you….

HEATHCLIFF — Oh no…. Please raise your head.

SNOW — To wizards, this is a trivial matter. To the Sage’s Wizards, all the more so.

SHINO — Yeah. Strange phenomenons are a daily occurence.

MITILE — I don’t want this kind of routine but I also can’t deny it….

SNOW — That being said, we cannot let this painting as it is, however.

Everybody’s gaze gather on the painting in Mr. Klaus’ hands.

KLAUS — Ah….

At Snow’s words, Klaus’ fingers tighten their grip on the painting.

SNOW — Don’t fret. I won’t do anything such as burning it.

I’ll just cast a spell of purification so it won’t confine anyone else.

« Noscomnia »

The painting drifted away from Mr. Klaus’ hands, floating in the air.

A purifying light cloaks the snow-white painting.

And….

AKIRA — Huh…? Isn’t the white paint kind of coming off?

HEATHCLIFF — You’re right. Isn’t this….

What reveals itself to us is the sight of a young man smiling to us.

Golden hair and a pair of gentle blue eyes. He looked just a little bit like Heathcliff, I thought.

All around the young man were painted many fluttering ribbons.

KLAUS — I never thought—that something like this could….

I never thought…that I could ever see this painting in such a beautiful state….

Mr. Klaus took the canvas within his trembling fingers.

I could see the corners of his eyes, slightly wrinkled with age, blur with tears welling up.

CHLOE — …That’s, such a beautiful person.

To have someone like this model for you is so….

I feel like I can understand why that painter person spent decades searching for him.

RUSTICA — …I agree. The depiction of the light within the eyes of the smiling model is such a splendid work.

Does it indicate the true strength of the model’s heart, I wonder?¹⁵ However, his brows are bent, like he is troubled by something….

“Are you done painting soon? Let’s take a break. You’ll tire yourself out.”

…I can even feel that gentle concern he has for the artist, can’t you?

KLAUS — …!

…How—could you tell? It’s almost as if you were there to see, on the day this painting was made….

RUSTICA — I can tell. Because I can hear it from this painting:

My beloved is such a beautiful person. And it is not only beauty that is visible to the eye, but also the inside of his heart, all of it.

KLAUS — …hg.

…I see….

Just hearing these words….

…Makes me feel like there was a meaning in holding this exhibition.

MITILE — …Now that I think about it, Mr. Klaus. You said this painting was what inspired you to hold this exhibition, right?

SHINO — What did you mean by that?

TL/n: WELCOME TO HISUSHINO MISSED CONFESSION SCENE WHAT IN THE SHOUJO MANGA IS THIS !!!!! THANK YOU FOR MY LIFE

¹⁴ To explain my biased translation choice, original sentence says 「今のヒースが......。」 (ima no hiisu ga…….), so it could be "the you right now is the one.", "it has to be this you." However, I decided to make it a follow up to chapter 8 and 4th anniversary, where Shino says that this is the Heath he likes/loves, that the kind, overly considerate, unjudgemental Heath, is the one that made Shino love him. One of the reasons why I chose to translate it like this is the Japanese confession culture, (you know the one) where people tend to word it in this way: 「あなた(の事)が—......好きです。」 ʼanata (no koto) ga—... suki desu.ʼ (i, about you— i like you. [read: romantic ʼlikeʼ] ), and the way Shino words it in this chapter sounds...well, just like that. And I wanted to convey the way it sounds SO MUCH like he was about to confess his love to Heath. because it was definitely worded that way on purpose, since Mahoyaku is a fu-targeting media.

¹⁵ 「芯の力」 (read ʼshin no chikaraʼ) is very specifically the true strength, coming from the core of the person, from deep inside their heart.

←CH8 CH10→

↞CH1

✧INDEX✧

[suusoh]

quick check in for our dear author susu!😁 you may or may not answer this ask, im just curious ab sth after i saw your vents. i hope reflecting on these questions can make you feel better though!😃

are you, by any chance, pressured by the attention your works are having? did you not expect that a lot of people will like your craft? do you actually prefer having fewer audiences? i feel quite sad that this toxic world of internet where audiences just look at creators as machines to produce and produce has seemingly taking a toll at you and i sincerely hope you feel better ab it soon and eventually rekindle your love for writing.

love,

your reader

you're very kind anon :-)) thank you for sending me an ask. I hope you're doing good as well?

I've think I've explained things better on my other blog but I'll try my best to answer your questions here as well <3.

(any bitterness or snippiness picked up in this answer is not aimed at you anon!!! you are very very precious and kind. susu is just talking out of frustration.)

Not pressured, maybe overwhelmed and shy at times, but not pressured, no. If i don't like a request I literally don't entertain it at all and will just answer it shortly. If i don't feel it then i just don't.

to be fair I didn't even expect an audience in the first place. I was literally jsut writing because I felt like i was going to explode (or implode?) if i don't get my ideas outside of me. It felt like i ended up just talking to myself with fic dialogue, or staring mindlessly in my room while i just watch scenarios in my head. So i thought, heh, why not make it into a fic. no harm done.

If anything anon, I was quite expecting for myself to be.. uh... niche? I guess my expectations started out wonky because prior to monster, I came from very large fandoms. So as an x reader, as a yandere x reader, and as a yandere x reader who warped johan into her own personal characterization with near zero-canon basis at all just to get her rocks off at that too, I figured I'd just be writing for only a certain amount of people who choose to seek me out.

not sure about the fewer audiences thing, I don't quite care for numbers. But i guess what I preferred isn't "less followers" per se, but I think i would've preferred the energy and the synergy of interactions back then when it was only quite a good number of people. felt intimate. Like can you believe I got more comments when there were less people on here, compared to with more people on here... people are more quiet now?

quiet- in the sense of showing appreciation and enjoyment of the writing of course. the amount of people in the ask box..... is another different thing. my ask box is definitely not quiet.

to be fair anon, I don't think they're doing it intentionally. I guess with how niche monster is and how there were only so few of us here writing johan x reader content, people of course asked for more.

but now i guess i do feel a bit... tired and listless now. Because it felt like i've already achieved my goal of seeing what I want to read. If anything, i think i've written so much content of what i want to see that I've even made myself sick lol.

so now it feels like im at the point where i don't have the same drive as I used to before. there's no personal goal keeping me going, and the people who inspire me to keep on writing are very few and far between (aside from friends of course), compared to those who just wish i'd keep writing so they'd get their daily dose of johan copping a feel up or something. idk.

truth be told. what makes me feel tired is that not only did i grow to loathe my old johan writing and concepts, but it's exactly those concepts that people are drawn to, and keep asking for everyday. which makes me somehow loathe what i've written even more.

And honestly, look i can't blame them. When I wrote those, i was vibrating and i wrote it with so much love and energy at the time, and i'm sure the vibes they still translate into those posts.

but it just feels so so so confusing and honestly... emptying to me that that's all people who come here care about, that's all they ever ask for, and in some weird ironic laughable twist, they don't even show any appreciation for it.

and like shit, im not even sure if appreciation is the right word to use. I'm not asking for praise or anything. but literally just... talk? talk to me? talk about your thoughts on it?

and NO. talking about your thoughts on it is different from downright just sending in something with no explaination. just some blank prompt that you think I'll pick up, go insane over, gush over, and spit out 4 paragraphs worth of whatever you sent in.

and again yes, the glaring answer is "just ignore those asks then lol. pay attention to nice asks instead.

but then again, it's just tiring that the only story comments i ever seem to get nowadays are just those asks. i'm talking about the majority.

and before anyone says i'm too negative or too sensitive for focusing on the bad instead of the good: I do pay attention to nice comments, i hold them close and dear to my heart. made a whole freaking tag and folder just for it.

but it's just that they're so rare and few and far between compared to how much people have the time to type in another request, but can't seem to type in at least one... thank you. or... say that that what i did was... really nice.

and it i feel so confused again because people assure me over and over again that they like my writing, that lots of people like my johan writing.

but with the way i'm treated and interacted with here.... i'm starting to think that sure, maybe people do like my writing: but it only because it gives them their fill.

so whenever i go on a break or when i go post something to express my worries with my blog and i get asks or comments. i just... I have to laugh a bit at just how much of those asks feel like they're saying the same thing:

It's less of "oh no! susu is going away and needs a break." and more like "oh no! now we won't get any more johan."

[lululawrence]

Annual Writing Self-Evaluation 2023

Thank you for tagging me @allwaswell16! I am so happy every year that this (I believe) brainchild of @juliusschmidt's from 2016 still exists in various forms! hehe I apparently missed doing this in 2021 and 2022, and I was determined not to miss it again so here we go!

List of works published this year: My Other Half Was You Gemma's Dad (Could Use A Guy Like Me) Quite the Pickle Livin' In A Daydream (Gimme a Solution and) Watch Me Run With It You Are A Song Did You Know I Fit In A Dryer? Were You There On That Christmas Night? Team Gaelic FTW No Constraints Odds Are That We Will Probably Be... Damsel in Christmas Distress Snow In Love

Work you are most proud of (and why): Oof. This is always such a hard question to answer. Almost as hard as the next one, and the next one and the next one....... hah honestly though, I think... I'm honestly sincerely proud of most of my fics from this year simply because I got them written. I'll go more into that later, I'm sure, but maybe... I think maybe My Other Half Was You or Odds Are That We Will Probably Be... and for very different reasons. My Other Half Was You was written based on artwork by @moon-sun-thyme for @1dreversebang and the moment I saw her artwork I had these vague ideas coming to mind and I am quite proud with how I was able to bring them to life so closely resembling what I originally thought of when I saw the art. And for Odds Are, I wrote that for @1dtrickortreatfest so it had to be exactly 666 words and that's always a trick (heh), but in this case I had to completely world build and set up the situation and lead everyone to the conclusion within that word count while making it somewhat compelling... and I think I was able to manage it. I hope I was, anyway haha

Work you are least proud of (and why): lmaooooo usually this answer is really hard for me to answer, but this year it's not haha i have a few fics that I literally wrote to just remind myself that I could. That not everything has to be thought out and polished and pretty, sometimes it's just a matter of getting words on paper and putting them out into the world immediately, hoping for the best, and they absolutely served their purpose! I'm fond of them still, but that doesn't mean I'm proud of them necessarily haha So I would have to say Damsel in Christmas Distress (which I still love dearly, simply for how self indulgent that silly thing is for me haha) and Quite the Pickle. Again, my darling Stylinshaw fics getting the brunt of it here, but they did as they needed to for me. I'll maybe try to write them a longer, more polished fic with some thought behind it this year, as they clearly deserve.

A favorite excerpt of your writing: GAHHHH I hate this question every damn time! Okay, I don't know if this is my absolute favorite thing I wrote this year, BUT it immediately came to mind, and I do very much like it so, here's an excerpt from Gemma's Dad (Could Use A Guy Like Me). I just adore Harry being a fumbling idiot around a pretty boy hahaha Ever since he had dug up his garden, he preferred to start in the back where the job was a lot more complicated to work around and then move to the front, which was far easier.  Now, though, Harry was wondering if this was the right decision because Louis was also mowing his lawn. That wasn’t a problem, of course, except he was shirtless and that only defined for Harry the fact he really had grown up. Louis used to try to show off for the neighborhood by mowing any number of lawns shirtless in middle school and high school, but he had been a scrawny kid with little to no meat on his bones and Harry had thought it adorable back then. Now, on a sweltering day like it was, he was probably shirtless just to be as cool as possible as the sun beat down on him, and Harry’s vision wasn’t as good as it used to be, but he could still tell that Louis had filled out since going to college. He was still a thin man, but as he pushed the mower through the tall grass, Harry could see the muscles he clearly put effort into. Add to it the chest hair that was only growing darker as he continued to sweat and the smattering of tattoos he’d gotten since he turned eighteen and it was clear he had grown up. Harry couldn’t help it when the glint of the sun off Louis’ sweaty skin made him lick his lips without even thinking. Clearing his throat and thankful it was obvious Louis was too focused to notice Harry ogling him from his own yard, Harry pulled the starter and began to work on his own yard.

Share or describe a favorite review you received: I've got three that immediately came to mind, so excuse me while I mention all three as quickly as I can manage lol First was from @allwaswell16 for Gemma's Dad. I'd had a lot of difficulty with a someone reading motivations and meaning in the characters and story that I took a lot of care in ensuring were actually avoided as I wrote it. There were a lot of pitfalls I could have fallen into when writing the fic, but one person just kept asking over and over again for things I thought I had already done and my beta assured me I had sufficiently covered etc, but I still worried so when Anitra gave the review she did of it on her podcast, it literally made me cry a little bit lol Second was @londonfoginacup in response to (Gimme a Solution and) Watch Me Run With It when she commented "Ah so you really just tore your chest open and picked out your beating heart and handed it to me here, didn’t you" because... well I hadn't really considered it when I'd been writing the fic, but I guess I kind of did exactly that, yeah. haha And then lastly I want to thank @tommokat for their lovely comments on Snow In Love regarding the Michigan geography and freak lake effect snow that can be experienced there because I tried my very best to describe the absolute chaos that is that region in the wintertime and they basically affirmed that I had accurately captured it. Genuinely, the best gift I could have gotten haha

A time when writing was really, really hard: Excuse me while I laugh a bit hysterically until I cry alksdhglskfja The last year or two have been incredibly difficult for a whole host of reasons, but the ones that most affected my writing were my lingering (and seemingly unending) burnout combined with an absolute lack of time/energy available to write. There were so many times this year that I thought I wouldn't be able to do it or thought I'd have to pull out of various fests and just... cut down on things, but I kept pushing and kept trying and I did it. I'm so fucking proud of myself, honestly.

A scene or character you wrote that surprised you: Jordan North in Did You Know I Fit In A Dryer? Well, honestly, Louis in that fic too. And the entire premise of the fic. Really all of it surprised me lololol I never expected to write Jordan in a fic. Ever. hahahaa And as I've barely dabbled in a couple of weed candies is all, I certainly did not anticipate ever writing someone as THAT HIGH. sooooo...yeah just all of it hahaha

How did you grow as a writer this year: Psh. Bold of you to assume I've grown as a writer this year when I was merely doing what I could to survive haha if anything I kind of wonder if I went backwards in my writing abilities but who the fuck knows, really haha

How do you hope to grow next year: I just... I dunno man. I just kinda hope I'm in a better place this time next year so I'm just not so fucking tired all the time and so I have actual time to write, you know? lol continued good vibes are always welcome here, folks haha

Who was your greatest positive influence this year as a writer (could be another writer or beta or cheerleader or muse etc etc): Like... everyone. hah I'm getting a little emotional thinking of everyone who helped me keep going this year. but the greatest? probably @londonfoginacup again. She was the biggest influence in actually getting my Big Bang finished because I didn't want to disappoint her (even though?? I know I won't??? like.. anyway) haha and then I wrote like three fics for her/dedicated them to her just because... like. she keeps me going some days honestly so yeah. Emmu. You're the bestest always babes. Love you.

Anything from your real life show up in your writing this year: Listen, all I'm saying is in one of my fics it hits a little too close to home. Like I kind of wrote Harry's starting place... and kinda where he is for a lot of the fic... pretty much exactly how I was feeling, and still pretty much am, though for very different reasons. So it's maybe a little too much of my real life emotionally speaking in there yeah

Any new wisdom you can share with other writers: New? Not so much hahaha just don't give up!

Any new projects you're looking forward to starting (or finishing) in the new year: YES. I was just talking with @moon-sun-thyme this morning that I started the year by posting a fic based on her art, and I'm going out of this year focusing on the fic we will be collaborating on together for the @onedirectionbigbang hehe so I'm very very excited to get started on that one. It's a fic I've been wanting to write almost ever since I first heard the song Satellite, so I am READY to delve in and lose myself to it, honestly. In the whole... one night every week or two I have to write. hahaha Here's hoping I make the deadline haaaaa

Tag three writers whose answers you'd like to read: MAN I have no idea who has and hasn't done this yet! So maybeeeee @justanothershadeofblue, @hellolovers13, anddddd @quotefromthatshow and @louandhazaf if you haven't done it already and want to! And shh I know it’s four but who cares lolol

*All answers should be about fics posted in 2023

Past Years: 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 and 2020 | 2022(ish)

[theworldibuilt4you]

"Yesss, we are!"

[They emphasized each word with little extra shoves, though it felt like trying to move a brick wall…]

"Come onnn, it won't work if you don't take it a little seriously!"

[Their tone was light, yet held a touch of sincerity. They didn't blame him for thinking they were kidding… it wasn't an easy thing to start in earnest. Perhaps they needed to vouch for it some more...]

"I found out about this online a while ago… I thought it sounded silly at first too, but it's surprisingly effective. It's what gave me the little bit of confidence I had, if you remember how snarky I was way back when… Always talking about how I would fight Owl… Acting way bigger than I was. Heh."

[They shook their head with a small smirk at the various memories. Even now, there was still lots to be fixed with Owl.]

"Oh, wait! hold on-"

[They pulled away suddenly, scurrying off towards their pile of junk. They pulled out a scuffed (but rather fancy looking) mirror, the bottom half missing. They propped it up against the wall, fiddling with it until it was balanced, giving them a full (albeit slightly skewed) view of themselves. They stepped aside, revealing Sonny's reflection instead.]

"There. These things work best with a mirror to speak into…"

-Addie

[Sonny watched at they dragged that mirror into view, seeing them adjust it so that they both have a clear view of themselves.]

[He looked into the reflective pane of glass with a slight warble of a frown, staring upon his reflection a bit... scrutinizingly.]

[His mind couldn't help but linger, a memory that he had thought he had pushed down itching at the back of his mind]

[Glass shattering, a handheld mirror clanging to the grey tiling that lined the mile long flooring underneath his feet. His creaky hands, puppetlike and wrong, pressing painfully against his face, nails scratching into rough skin. The raw skin of his neck, it burned something awful, scars that linger from his missdeed. All he could do was sob.]

[Sonny took a breath, and he was able to keep it from showing on his face- those awful first few moments of his new life. Or what was left of one.]

"I.... I don't know..."

[He looked away from it for a moment, letting the breath exit his lungs with a shred of tension.]

"I guess I could... try it, if that's what you wish, My Love. Just dont be disheartened if... nothing comes of it? "

[shoutascoffeepot]

Letters Left Unsent - Hawks

My dearest,

I am not sure when I had become so sentimental. When I started growing all those feelings. When it all started, what happened, it all seems like a blur. And whatever the reason behind this memory loss, I am not sure.

There is only a few things I am sure of, though: That I must protect you, no matter what it takes. That is my utmost priority. Protecting civilians comes second now. As controversial as it may be. Or perhaps it is one and the same priority, since you are technically a civilian. Yet to me you always were an angel, a blessing, a person above all that had given me so fucking much.

So much.

I couldn’t ever love you enough, even when it’s killing me with how much I ache, yearn, how much I want nothing less but to show you how overflowing my affections are for you.

Often times I find myself wondering, you were always my home, I somehow always knew. As you saw every part of me, saw through everything, every little thing that I thought would make me ugly, undesirable, frightening, disgusting, you took every flaw and still loved me. Do you still love me? Or have you been drifting away?

You were always my home, you will always be my home. I can never think low of you or love you any less. But I wonder. Am I your home still? Am I still your man? Am I your safe haven too? Or was it all one sided?

It is one thing to find your best friend in your partner, but it is a whole other thing when you meet the person that shows you how to live. Not just breathe and work and be a mere safety tool, as I once was.

This all sounds like I am trying to imitate a british man, heh…

But it is true, all of it.

If I never survived to grow old with you, and see our little nuggets grow and become great, as I know they will be, whatever their aspirations are, not because I am their father but because you are their mother..

If I never got to see them grow, please, I beg of you don’t ever let them forget the love I hold for them, for all of you, how proud I am no matter what happens. I will always haunt you all with the same love and support. The same you, yourself have given during our time together.

And if I do survive to share those moments, to truly share a lifetime so full, it would be an honor, and I would be so grateful for you to let me be the man who stays at your side, to be the man who holds your heart and fills it with love, to give you a happy home.

There is not one moment that passes that I don’t feel this love in a form of ache in my chest, like my organs swell and tears prick my eyes. You showed me love, and allowed me to love you. And I’d be damned if I let it flee away from me. I’d be damned if I let my dream flee away from me.

Sincerely, your Keigo x

[gross-gal]

"First Kiss" a.k.a. Weeb's first Repo self ship fic

Alright, here it is. This is the first self ship fic I've done in a looong time. Don't have much to prelude soooo, hope y'all enjoy this incredibly self indulgent thing I made.

CONTEXT:

*6 months into their friendship, Repo decides he wants to show his appreciation about their relationship for Clementine/Clem (Weeb). So the two go on a friend date and he spoils them. Both are crushing hard on one another but neither are ready to say how they feel. 

*This takes place after the date and they’ve returned back to the Scrapyard. Clem wants to say her thanks.

**Clementine is a placeholder name cuz I’m not calling my sona Weeb here lmao. ALSO I use multiple pronouns to address them (she/they/he)!!

“Noooo shut up. Let me be nice now..”

Repo knew he wasn’t going to win against Clementine’s kind and stubborn heart. They always had to make it known their appreciation for the ones they loved, even if it wasn’t called for, she was just sappy like that. Which overtime, Repo had grown to adore.

“It’s really lucky that we got to meet like this. I kinda just asked you for a job on impulse, that wasn’t something I normally do…but I’m really glad I did. I know you don’t see it but you’re a pretty sweet guy deep down, the bestest friend I could ask for haha…so thank you for today, not just cause it was fun but it means a lot that you went out of your way for…uh…meeee…”

She dragged on the last word for a second or so. The awkwardness from being so vulnerable already getting to her. 

Repo smiled warmly.

“Heh! Yer such a jokester most of the time, I always forget yer so sentimental Hahaa!”

“Whatever, I can’t exactly compete with your gifts, I wanna show my thanks somehow, you know?”

His comment only fanned her embarrassment. She was kinda regretting saying what she did but chose not to linger on that thought.

Truth is, Repo said that only to distract from his flustered state. 

Not wanting to make her feel bad, he swallowed his pride and responded after clearing his throat.

“Ehhh well…anyways I should be the one thanking youse. Yer also the bestest friend I got…one of the only ones.”

He took a second to think on what he wanted to say. Looking off to the city and focusing on the skyscrapers from afar.

‘Damn…how does she do it so freakin’ eloquently??’ He thought to himself.

“I ain’t too good with the words, kid. Not even my gifts can compare with yer bleedin’ heart. But I care about ya and youse been a real nice thing in my life. So thank ya, again.”

When he turned his head back to them they had a dopey grin forming on their face.

“YOU’RE SUUUUCH A GOOOOOD FRIEND!!!” She blurted, mockingly.

“AY!! GET THE HELL OVER ‘ERE!!”

She narrowly avoided the lunge he prepared. Looks like he was aiming to put them into a headlock.

“EVERYONE!! REPO IS MY BEST FRIEND AND HE’S THE NICEST MUTANT MANTIS EVER!!!”

“OHHHH- YOU ASKED FOR THIS ONE, NERD!”

Clem could dodge well enough but they could never hope to match Repo’s swift athleticism. 

He tackled them to the ground and their bodies came crashing to the dirt together. Repo quickly sitting on their back before they could worm away, he twisted their arm back, though not nearly enough to seriously hurt them. Wrestling was a thing they were used to and enjoyed.

“Ah right, take it back!”

“REPO IS SO WONDERFUL AND A SOFTIE–OW!! HE LOVES HIS FRIENDS–OW!! AND WOULD PROTECT EVERY KITTY EVER–SHIT!!”

“Heheh, dis the thanks I get fer bein’ so charitable?” Repo chuckled at the predicament they brought on themselves. 

Sincere, kind, a joker, fighter (sorta)… those were a few of the traits he saw and admired from them. 

“OKAY!! I’m done, my back is hurting…pbbt!” Clementine tried turning their head to face him but just ended up catching their large hair to the face.

And good hair…he liked that too.

An exasperated sigh blew out their mouth once Repo got off them. Though he was fairly lean, he still had some weight thanks to his abdomen, which did a number on their back after the tussle.

“Ya been werkin’ for me fer 6 whole months, how the hell do ya still got no muscle or anythin’?”

“Heh…genetics?” She joked.

“Pfft- yeah right. Lazy ass.”

“I’m an artist~ I don’t have to worry about muscles. I need to conserve all my energy for my drawing, you know that!” He proudly emphasized this by raising his chin.

“Oh yeah, I getcha…better go easy on ya so youse can still finish dat logo thingy I asked ya for!”

“…..”

“Hmmm, how long ago was it I asked ya to do that?” His elbow lightly nudged her shoulder.

“…yeah okay…” Clem begrudgingly muttered.

It was a jab but he didn’t really mind all that much she neglected it. He just liked having a hand in keeping her artistically motivated…though it would be nice if they actually got around to it…

The smoother part of his claw then moved to rest on their head and he tussled their hair. This was his way of saying “you’re okay” Without actually having to. He’d done it a few times before but neither of them ever really got used to it. 

It never failed to make Clementine smile.

Repo wasn’t a particularly emotionally vulnerable person, she picked up on that after sometime. And he especially wasn't the physically affectionate type, that was reserved for his cats and on certain occasions like today, only for Clementine.

That alone was enough. 

She was content on her assumedly one-sided crush. Though it brought an ache to her heart, knowing that these feelings she had would never be reciprocated, she still was able to make him happy and was allowed to share intimate moments such as these with him. Those brief, warm moments, they’d treasure.

.

.

.

About an hour had passed, they spent that time mindlessly chatting until Mrs. Nubbins hungry mewls put their conversation to a halt.

“Oh it’s that time already?”

“Never a dull moment around ‘ere…PAPA’S COMIN’ MY SWEETY PIE!!”

Had this been months ago, she would’ve made a joke at his sudden cutesy-ness. But Repo is incredibly unabashed about his love for Mrs. Nubbins, so that wore off long ago. And now to her, it was actually rather cute. Which they sorta hated to admit.

“Ah uh…guess dat means youse should be leavin’?” His voice lowered, saddened.

“Nah, I’ll stick around and help you with Mrs. Nubbins at least.”

His antennas perked up…

“After all, I AM her favorite~” 

And then laid flat…

“Watch yer mouth, kid.” 

She was careful to keep her snickering to herself. This was a satisfying little victory.

Repo went onto share stories about his bond with Mrs. Nubbins till they arrived at her cave of junk. 

It was a lot easier feeding her now with Clem here. She still wasn’t used to mutants and certainly not Repo, perhaps had something to do with the new instincts she had. But humans were alright to her and she grew a liking to Clem.

This was another thing Repo was thankful for but he’d never admit that. 

.

.

.

After finishing up with Nubbins’ dinner, Repo escorted Weeb out the yard.

He didn’t really say much during the walk. But his mind was racing with a thousand thoughts per minute. Mainly thinking on what more he could’ve done to make today special, was it really enough? Wishing he could’ve said more about his gratitude, was he too mean? Was he open enough?

‘No…don’t think it…’ But it was too late.

Today would’ve been perfect to tell them how you feel.

‘Keep dreamin’ jackass…he just considers ya a friend.’

Why did he have to get caught up in his feelings now of all times? All these emotions made him feel like a stupid, confused, lovey kid. 

“You okay?” Her concern pierced through his mind.

His head shot up, checking their surroundings. They’d already reach the gate. 

“Yeah! Just thinkin’ ‘bout what I’ll have to eat later.” 

Despite having eaten already earlier, they chose not to inquire about his appetite. 

“Alright…get some rest soon though, okay? I promise I’ll make it up to you when I can!!”

“Oh ya don’t gotta haha…” 

“I wanna though! And I’ll make sure it’s reeeeal special!” 

“Whatever ya say, kid.” There was no point in fighting him, not like he would bother any further, any chance they’d give to see him, he’d take it. 

They made him feel so cared for. It was too hard to keep himself from smiling, his cheeks were hurting a bit too.

In fact he felt so giddy, he couldn’t stop himself from pulling them into a hug.

‘What...?’ Was all Clementine could think at this sudden contact.

She couldn’t remember the last time, if he’d ever done this.

Their hearts were pounding, as if they wanted to burst from the walls that were their chests and embrace one another even further. This was all too much. 

What was going to happen when they pulled away?

.

.

.

It was less than a minute that this actually went on for. Eventually they would have to pull away and it had to be soon so neither seemed suspicious.

Repo was the first.

For a few seconds, Clem’s brain stopped processing and seemed to black out whatever had happened in those instances.

Why had the air gotten so tight? It seemed perfectly fine just a moment ago.

The face Repo was making was nothing they’d seen before. It was…bewilderment? Shock? Fear?? And why had their faces felt warm?

‘And my lips…?’ Though it was only barely, they’d also had been puckered. 

Oh shit.

“OKAY SEE YA BYE!!!!!” Clem blurted before their brain could fully put the pieces together. But they knew enough that whatever had happened, it wasn’t typical.

Repo was stunned and face flushed. 

None of it really made sense to Clem as they focused on running to the suddenly arriving bus. They showed their pass and collapsed into the seat towards the side exit. 

Now it was all coming together.

Oh god…

She kissed him. On instinct. As if he was a loved one. A significant other. She, carelessly, had kissed his cheek. 

They gave a loving goodbye kiss to her crush/best friend. 

“FUCK!!!!!” 

.

.

.

Repo proceeded to spend the evening yelling into his pillow.

He was 25% embarrassed this socially awkward nerd put the moves on him first, and the other 75% elated.

//END//