#NO1 UNDERSTANDS ME UGH

[pup-pee]

no u guys just dont get homophobic dick grayson like i do

[brnest]

So I decided to post my thoughts from AO3 about JJK and how to correct the issues i saw in the next arc. Let me know what you all think.

rant:

I didnt like how gege built up the zenin clan only to throw them away as a plot device for maki's development. I thought the story would take a different turn when megumi was named heir but it felt rushed and extremely contrived, beginning immediately with the round table decision to KILL megumi. I cannot understand why anyone backed this decision. Why would a family that values power, tradition, prestige and inherited techniques so much not just have a duel to decide the leader?

1) It retcons everything we know about the Zenin including Toji's logic for giving megumi away. He knew if megumi had a good technique the family would invest in his development… turned out megumi didn't just have a "good" technique he had THE BEST technique! Toji' concern was never that theyd kill his som but that they'd turn megumi into a POS. Gojo explictly stated that hundreds of years ago a TS and 6E user killed each other in a mock-duel and the 2 families NEVER got over it. So the idea that the zenin would kill a TS user is completely out of the question. Even IF killing Megumi served Naoya, it didnt serve anyone else and goes against the zenins principles.

2)The TS literally puts the zenin on par (or higher) to satoru gojo in terms of strength. With gojo sealed The zenin clan would jet-propel to no1 in jujutsu society, which is what the family WANTS, power and prestige.

3) Megumi canonically had a lot of supporters, so this goes back to my first point that the blowback of killing him wouldve caused mass, internal strife.

4) Maki's massacre. (Ugh...)

So my headcannon is this:

Naoya gets told he isn't gonna be heir and calls the elders to the round table. Since a large portion of the family want megumi as head, naoya issues a challenge/duel on the condition that if naoya wins, megumi becomes an official zenin member but forfeits all rights to ever become clan head (doesnt matter if its on paper or binding vow, point is megumi won't be head). This would enable naoya to stay at the helm, while also boosting the zenins prestige because they'd have the TS under their control. Having a duel would also showcase naoya's talents so he doesnt come off a glass cannon like he did when maki flattens him later to show HER overwhelming strength. This plan makes infinitely more sense to me than what the manga did because it benefits EVERYBODY. Maki wants this. Naoya wants this. And so does the entire clan, because megumi will be a zenin regardless of who wins. It also put megumi in an active role, instead of passive one.

With this simple change, we can explore the characters introduced in the hei unit, tojis backstory/life, mai and makis sisterly bond, megumis leadership acumen, And ofc this would be the perfect time for naoya to reveal the truth about toji: That Satoru gojo is the one who killed him and thats why megumj and tsumiki were alone (in an attempt to turn megumi against satoru).

This change also benefits Maki's character too because after megumi loses, she tells him not to worry because he has enough supporters to drive a split in the clan, so while he can't be head of the zenin he can be head of his OWN faction. (remember this was makis ultimate goal, to have a safe space for mai, thats why she wanted megumi as head in the first place) now I'm skipping details, but ogi catches wind of maki's coup to start a civil war within the clan and throws her in the pits for it (a MUCH better reason to kill her than taking curse tools. I mean maki has been taking curse tools for years and nobody cared!) She becomes toji 2.0 and the story continues along the lines of the canon. Maki still gets her power boost and her revenge on NAOYA's supporters instead of the entire clan so she doesnt come off as a psychopath, and megumi learns the truth. There is even room for potential redemption for naoya should megumi prevent Maki from killing him which eliminates the need for curse naoya (a colossal waste of time)

What do you all think?

[henswilsons]

also in honour of 6x11 being my favourite episode of all time i thought i’d do a very quick lil fic rec list of my favourite time loop/alternate universe fuckery/dream fics. this is by no means definitive or comprehensive and i know im missing so many more so if u have any others pls pls feel free to rec them bc i actually love this genre of fic so much i could read it all day

keep going, keep going come what may by @fcntasmas​ - reading this fic for the first time damaged me in the best way. i wont spoil it so i cant give any real good summary but just read it its a++++

my words are paper tigers by @hattalove​ - all i can say is that i read this fic once a week for mental health purposes. basically buck breaks up with eddie and then gets caught in a time loop and its just. wow i should reread it again today i think

don’t take the money by @hmslusitania​ - the time loop fic of all time? the time loop fic of all time. time loop fuckery circa monsters and the lawsuit arc and its just soooooo good. also chimney immediate believer no1 stan

burn the straw house down by @hoediaz​ - this fic is SAUR good god. buck and eddie get trapped in their own time loops. the buck/maddie siblings dynamic in this is GOD TIER there’s a line near the end that i won’t spoil but GOD i burst into TEARS the first time i read it. u will know which one as soon as u read it. (also by zoe is this fic which is similar alternate universe fuckery and SO GOOD pls read) 

the persistence of memory by @anxieteandbiscuits​ - i read this like on the verge of tears the whole way through. its so so good and so beautiful and i was forever changed afterwards. basically au where buck gets shot instead and eddie time loops in despair UGH its amazing) (also again by sami is her most recent fic it’s a dream fic and 6x11 spec and SO beautiful omg)

it's funny 'cause i've always dreamed of me and you by @capseycartwright - dream fic/its a wonderful life au fic!!!!!!!! this fic means everything to me you don’t even understand. its so soft and tender and ugh. i love love love it. 

again plz let me know if there r others bc i would happily read 600 more fics of this variety

[ungirthed]

want to make a place for my thots of anything with no viewers if i remember to come on here. i cant believe i keep having to make these since i end up getting followers and interacting. but i'm an adult with shit to do irl and things to fight and this fandom is almost 20y old so idt i will do that. lol. just finished atla like 20y too late cos my parents hated me and my bro watching tv growing up. journaling/blogging thots!!! ugh. i wish i didnt hve adhd and dyspraxia lmao gonna split them up so i dont get overwhelmed reading my bullshit. if u stumble upon this it doesnt make sense sry

politically a lot of critique that i have to think about. character and plot wise it was pretty good and tight esp for a kids show. amazing female characters. can't wait for the bi agenda from LoK but i may take a while for that. p much i have to say these are great characters and i could talk a lot about them but i'm shocked at what i took away with regards to the romantic rships from the show and the characterization via it.

re love lines:

i wish kataang was written better in the show (MY opinion if any1 stumbles upon this). i don't ~ship~ zutara bc i am an adult and even back then no cos who cares lol but i see the appeal and am attracted to that. i do think we have to retire the trope of the "both sides but falling in love" not because it isn't possible but because post 10/7 (free palestine) i don't think it's worth it to look at it this way anymore. until someone proves themselves not worthy of death because of the resistance fighting back then they NEED TO PROVE THEMSELVES IMMEDIATELY. no more of this i'm in a concentration camp but he's a nazi bullshit. no more i'm a slave but he's the slave master's son (i mean in this case u could have been related but no1 listens to me!) it's repetitive, reductive, and untrue.

that being said: i just never care about the typical bildungsroman love story. you see the One Person bc i guess the kids tasked with saving the world have to be monk-adjacent (in aang's case quite literally) bc understandably theyre so fucked up lol. but it's always sooooo boring to me esp if it's f/m.

katara is such a complex character and mae whitman brings a wisdom to her voice that can be frustrating to connect with for me but her character arc, her strength, her MIND, her heart, and her fists. i think ppl probs like zutara the most when shes' going batshit and no one can understand aang's perspective. but aang is one of a kind and the cutest smartest sweetest loser ever. not my fav char but i love him. he's like if i had a younger brother and not an older one lmao.

of course they're (kataang) together. they were meant to be from the moment they saw e/o and that stupid cave kiss...this is why you don't wait until 32 to watch this lol.

but nothing surprised me and it was meant to be the way it was written. that's also why i find it understandable but shocking people in the universe and apparently outside of it were surprised at aang's turmoil over ozai. like are you joking? he's a 12 year old vegetarian monk. which: i loved his vegetarianism and obviously he was going to be but very casually they put in a line that hints as to why he would be and why many of us are...so i am dedicated to it again.

so wrt that and zutara...the episode where he's with her with the dude that killed her moms and his support of her i can see why people like them. the cave ep obviously but this show is veryyyyy free with affection i noticed and there's some jealousy but they all get over that pretty quickly. i read some of the comics and i could see different rships happening and i definitely think this world lends to queerness (me personally i love monogamy but a certain type lol so not rly interested in much poly but i do like a throuple) but i could see most being bi+ or having identified as that in the past, or labeling themselves but nto limiting. that's just an aside for meee...

so like katara was being katara. i could see suki and zuko being romantic but also a deep friendship that could be deeply affectionate either affect or physically or both bc that's who these ppl are. katara is a very intense person and that's part of why she can be annoying. that's part of why they ALL can be overwhelming. theyre intense, traumatized, repressed kids and teens with mostly good hearts (or just a person so disconnected from herself but also a fascist so u know. her going nuts lol)

hmm what else oh yea. so i came away with maiko......gjpasig the show was paced and plotted well. i am a libertarian communist (anarcho-commie) so MANNNNN i wish they did better on that front but again i must remember i am 32, ancom, and the world is diff. but anyway lmao so team avatar is who i would want to spend time with but i got so interested in mai and ty lee (mailee...). that beach ep conversation was so good, that whole ep, their argument. it was extremely teenage and showed how fucked up they all are. how confused and fucking lost and pathetic. how small their lives are. how boring....so mai...

[tellywoodtrash]

immj2 30+31.12.20 lbs

30.12.20

lmao ep starts off itself with vansh and kabir ka staring match.

vansh steady in first place, not having blinked for................ like 3 minutes now? this dude a fucking freak.

while riddhima gazes adoringly at him thinking bhagwaan ne mujhe itnaaaaaaaaaa achcha pati diya hai. pft. idk what the hell sins you did in your last life riddhima, to get a husband like this one in this life, but it had to be something reallllllllllll bad. like stealing from little orphans and kicking puppies or some shit.

thankfully dadi is here to put an end to this chutiyaapa.

countdown blah blah, no1 currrrrrrrrr.

itna pheeeeeeeeeenka happy new year. bhai-behen ho kya???

now we talking.

he just says some trite shit like new kahaani that will be remembered for ages blah blah and gives creepy looks. dude why can’t you be normal on oneeeee bloody day?

ahaana also giving random creepy looks seeing vansh/riddhima hugging. and she goes and............

i think i watch this show and rrahul a little too closely ki i instantly knew this isn’t his hand and thus it’s not vansh’s hand she’s holding.

yupppppppppp. bola tha na.

damn they make a hotass couple of shady bitches.

ok wow i’m really feeling it. wish kabir wasn’t a sociopath who is incapable of feeling attachment (“love” is too strong a word) for anyone but his mother.

lmao his reaction when ahaana tells him ki riddhima didn’t believe any of the pattiii she padaofied her about vansh.

ok but how do these two know each other??? matlab yeh le aaya hai issko? i thought vansh le aaya hoga?!!?

mereko kya kaunsa manhoos le aaya? i’m just here for the attractive ppl pressing their bodies up against each other. keep on keeping on, #KaHana

he’s warning her against ever double-crossing him and dude the angry/hate-sex vibes here are *~~~ExQuISiTe*~~~~

the way she’s confidently gazing at him all sexy tells me she’s a much more seasoned player than riddhima and i already love her more than the damn lead of the show.

damn. that’s a gnarly period you got riddhima. that’s an unusual amount of flow. go see a doctor about it, sis.

i’ve heard about ppl making art with menstrual blood and all, but this is fucking ridiculous.

anyway of course the dumbass goes investigating it. and got fucking attacked in the storeroom and SOMEONE HUNG HER UP. LITERALLY WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON IN THIS MESSED UP HOUSE DUDE????/ WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU STILLL LIVE HERE????

Chehra Appreciation Break

asadkjasldjlaskdjlsakjdlas the way he’s yelling for everyone and interrogating them of their whereabouts coz riddhima’s missing.

lmao ishani and ahaana’s reactions at this temper tantrum are fucking amazing.

dang what’s with the suuuuuper orange lower half of his face???? ugh. the foundation woes are back now that the beard’s growing back in.

anyway he went barrelling off to find her after some more chabaaya hua dhamkis at his fam. ahaana already regretting moving into this pagaal khaana.

this scene is so fucking disturbing to watch that i don’t even wanna fucking cap it. but she was legit getting HANGED and he managed to get there in the nick of time and save her.

how, you ask? BY SHOOTING AT THE ROPE, INSTEAD OF JUST.......... DOING SOMETHING NORMAL LIKE RUNNING AND PUTTING THE STOOL BACK UNDER HER FEET TO STABILIZE HER. THIS SHOW IS JUST FUCKING BATSHIT INSANE, MY LORD.

this poor girl, my god. i don’t think i’ve ever watched a tellywood FL be tortured to the extent that this one is on a daily basis. it’s fucking ridiculous. there’s no redemption for any of the raisinghanias at this point. she just needs to fucking leave (and file several domestic violence cases against each and every one of them, except dadi.)

anyway she tells him whatever went down today, starting from the period blood fiasco onwards and he’s........ vibrating in anger. cool i guess.

some promises and shit about how who ever did this will pay, time for “humaara khel” and .......... dude. you say this shit every single time. and nothing changes. i don’t give a fuck anymore about your stupid promises. move the fuck outta this hellhole with your wife if you really mean it.

seedha jaake ahaana ke sar pe bandook taan di. based on what evidence? only the Good Lord above knows, coz vansh and the writers sure don’t.

no literally based on what is he accusing her and pulling the trigger??????? idgi??????

almost shot her and is saying “riddhima pe kharonchh nahi aani chahiye, baat ishq aur vishwaas ki hai” and ahaana is giggling and literally what the fuck is going on i’m so confused.

ahaana saying wowwwww, you want revenge also, and she shouldn’t get hurt also.

MOTHERFUCKER!!!!!!!!!!!!! I KNEW IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HE’S THE ONE WHO BROUGHT AHAANA IN!!!!!!!!!!!!

literally what the fuck is this dude on???? badla chahiye, par dard nahi hona chahiye. bhai, kya phoonk ke aaye ho, humein bhi toh thoda de do.

ok this is tooooo fucking convoluted a game. riddhima thinks kabir is the one attacking her. but it’s kabir + ahaana. kabir thinks ahaana is on his side and brought her into VR mansion, but ahaana is double agent who was actually planted in kabir’s nazar by vansh to fuck over BOTH kabir and riddhima. i think?????????

ahaana be like re devaaaaaa, what fucking madness have i gotten myself into????????????? the things i have to do for health insurance coverage during a pandemic.

———————————————————————

31.12.20

first 5 minutes is some new year ka naach gaana bs. fwding.

ok this fucker is a legit motherflipping crazy. he just wants to keep torturing riddhima for god knows how long.

even ahaana is alarmed.

did he do absolutely noooooo research after the cliff chhalaang? like....... this revenge shit is so dumb at this point, when he knows she brought in vihaan to stop kabir from ruining the family, and took a second fucking bullet for him?!?!?!?!?!?! they shouldn’t have written the second gunshot plot point, coz now he looks like a reallllllllll unappreciative fucker for whom literally no good deed is enough.

WHAT PYAAR AND VISHWAAS, FUCKER???????? LITERALLY WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?????? YOU’VE PLAYED THESE GAMES WITH HER FROM THE VERY START OF YOUR MARRIAGE AND MAYBE TOOK A BREAK FOR A WEEK OR TWO IN BETWEEN - WHEN SHE GOT SHOT THE FIRST TIME AND DURING ISHANI’S WEDDING. THAT’S WHAT YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT??????/ LIKE.......... THIS MAKES NO BLOODY SENSE. THIS CHARACTER IS JUST SUCH A SUPREME DOUCHEBAG, MY GOD. THERE’S ABSOLUTELY NO REDEEMING HIM WHATSOEVER.

also can’t say rrahul’s extra chabaaaaa chabaaaaaaa ke bolna is making this enjoyable to watch at all.

all i wanna know is what ahaana has on him that he’s indebted to her and thought her worthy enough to join forces with. SPILL SPILL SPILL SPILL!!!!!!!!!!!! what does ahaana get outta all this?!!?!?!!!!!!

riddhima on the other hand running around wondering whom vansh is gonna murder. SIS YOU JUST GOT STRANGULATED CAN YOU SIT DOWN FOR A HOT SEC AND REST?!?!!?!?

ahaana is like bro you gonna ruin riddhima’s life, and he’s like yeah, that’s what i want. jesus christ, dude. just divorce her then. why prolong this shit out like this????? truly psychopathic.

riddhima hears his voice and heads to the pool area..........

............. isn’t that his shoulder there behind the tree? is she fucking blind???????? HOW CAN SHE NOT SEE HIS 7 FOOT TALL HULKING ASS BEHIND THAT PATLA SA JHAADI?????? HE’S LITERALLY THERE LIKE........

........... she left. god. she’s really really REALLY stupid. like pretty sure these crimes against her count as extraaaaaaaaa bad....... like, pick on someone with your own brain capacity, vansh? leave the simple minded sis alone!

the only gift that’s acceptable from you rn sir, is divorce papers. and a self-filed restraining order promising to stay 3 whole districts away.

yikes, that beard is notttttt growing in well.

“tum mujhe apne saare stress de do.” BITCH YOU’RE HER BIGGEST STRESS. ASSHOLE. I HATE YOU SO MUCH.

“tumse door jaake jaaonga kahaan? abhi toh bohut kuch baaki hai.” fucking dieeee, you psychopath.

lmaoooooooooooooooo her face when she doesn’t understand wtf this gift is supposed to be. i’ve been there sis. trying to fake enthusiasm for some reallllll bad gifts from men is truly painful.

also she’s so dang cute when they let her use her face properly!!!!!! har waqt bechaari ko bass rulaate rehte hain iss show mein.

one ainvayiiii gift ke bahaane some random cuteness.

sis gazing at him some more thinking omg he loves me soooooooo much.

she remembered ahaana’s warning, and is like no she was lying to me!!!!!!!!! stupid stupid stupiddddddd. no matter whoever planted her, you should believe that sister over your haraami misters. motive jo bhi ho, bol toh behen sach hi rahi thi.

yuck that looks ugly af. why the hell would you want that on your bedroom wall? esp. when your bedroom is already so goddamn fugly.

anyway he’s gaslighting her some more about ahaana blah blah.

riddhima like i’ll prove it. le, iska jee nahi bharaa. she wants to do more jasoosi and go get stuck in random traps that try to kill her.

vansh promising he’ll throw ahaana and her partners out if she can prove it. meaning you’ll........... throw yourself out?????

whatever man, idk and idc anymore what this fucker does. i’m just here for the faces.

threatening notes planted in all these ppl’s rooms. everyone instantly like OMG VANSHHHHHHHHHHH DID THISSSSS. lol coz who else does this chutiyaapa of leaving random messages around like this.

but nope. chachi saw riddhima’s earring lying there and knows it’s her.

isko bhi mila.

lmao kabir rueing the day he set eyes on riddhima coz jeena haraam kar rakha hai ladki ne.

riddhima like mwahahahahhaha they must have got my notes and now they’ll come attack me! behen, woh toh note ke bina bhi roz karte aaye hain...............

there. promptly got jumped.

surprise, surprise.

lol attitude toh dekho behen ka. wish she was the lead of the show instead of riddhima.

[beetnelson]

This customer took it upon himself to like... go off on some tangent about the protests and since it's been so slow here today he was talking for a REAL long time and as soon as he said some shit about how he didn't feel bad about protesters getting run over by cars i was like 🙄😒 okaaaayyy 🙃 imma go into the cooler to see which soft drinks need to be restocked byyyeeee ✈ you can go bitch to my assistant manager about how you clearly value property over black bodies lmfao I was so annoyed I was cursing up a storm in that motherfucker but no1 heard me ugh. Anyways when I came back the assistant manager was like I'm sorry if anything we were talking about upset you and I said I wasn't even listening and I couldn't tell if he believed me or was just relieved that he was off the hook or whatever. I can't exert any energy into talking about things people are never going to understand anyways. And then he told me that same customer just legit farted while he was talking like really badly like I smelt sumn while I hopped out of the cooler to look for smartwater but I didn't think anything of it, but... anyways. today sucks. 😜

[gerbiloftriumph]

Captive Crown

(also on ao3)

Someone wanted the newly crowned King of Daventry and all his friends dead. Someone got close, once.

(warnings for the whole thing: kidnapping, bruising, starvation, nightmares, healthy dosage of angsty musing, sicfic, story-coherent vehicle for all my favorite ch2 headcanons)

~*~*~

7/7

(1: to steal)(2: to hide)(3: to seek)(4: to find)(5: to break)(6: to mend)(7: to heal, and to end)

~*~*~

Amaya flung open the door. “I didn’t know you were that sick! Why am I always the last person to know anything?” She stomped into the room and stopped. Graham was curled around his pillow, snoring softly and drooling slightly. He didn’t stir.

No1 was sitting in the rocking chair near the fire, helmet off, reading some report or other. He glanced up. “Good afternoon, Miss Blackstone. Can I help you?”

She gestured helplessly at the bed. “Well, I was…um. I guess yelling at a king isn’t a good idea anyway.”

“Generally, no, but it’s been an interesting week. I don’t think he’d mind, especially since he’s too drugged to hear you.” He glanced at the hourglass on the side table. “The dose should be wearing off soon. I’ve got to get some soup in him. If you stay, he should be awake presently.”

“You don’t mind?”

“Truth told, it’s not the most thrilling guard shift. He’s been asleep for hours. I’d be glad for some distraction from my distraction.” He flapped the paper he held. “Tourism report from Royal Guard Number Two. The man doesn’t know how to spell at all.” He paused, and added, “If you do stay and proceed with your original plan, perhaps keep your yelling brief? Nerves bit on edge all around, I think.”

Thunder growled beyond the castle walls as yet another storm billowed up over the mountains. They could barely hear it through the heavy stone, over the crackle of the fire. Graham mumbled something incomprehensible in his sleep and snuggled deeper in the blankets.

“I think that means he’s starting to rouse,” No1 said and went back to his paperwork. “Don’t shake him awake—he tends to flail if you do that, and he’s surprisingly good at landing blind punches.” Only then did Amaya notice the pale scrape on the guard’s cheekbone.

“While we’re waiting, what’s in that tourism report?”

“Well, you know the Fantastical Floating Island? Submersive Sunken Island, now? He’s got this idea…”

All told, it was another ten or so minutes before Graham opened his eyes, still fuzzed over with whatever drug Muriel had fed him. He struggled to sit up, but within a minute he was folding over with a ragged cough and a groan. No1 started to put down his report and come over to help, but with a meaningful glance at Amaya, leaned back again, flicking pages of the report without reading a word.

Amaya sat on the edge of the bed and reached for the mug of water someone had left on the bedside table. It looked like water, anyway. Not one of the wildly colorful concoctions the Hobblepots had whipped together. She passed it to Graham, who drained the mug in one go.

Only once it was empty did he look up and realize who was sitting there. He blinked, groggy and confused. “Amaya? What are you doing here? Is everything okay?”

“I should be asking you.”

“Yeah, but, consider this: I asked first.” He grinned.

Amaya looked over the pile of bottles and crucibles and herbs and tissues and bandages and things crowding the side table. “I didn’t know you were so sick. You just sounded stuffy, before.”

“I didn’t know I was so sick, either. Kinda snuck up on me.” He cleared his throat and winced.

She frowned at him, and she seemed to be debating with herself about something. There was a terrifically long pause, but Graham was too drowsy to think of anything worth saying. It was something of a relief when she finally muttered, “Hey. Do you remember what you told me down there? Try killing them with kindness?”

“Yeah. That was—oh!” He froze, startled, as she grabbed him in a fierce, although stiff and rather awkward, hug. He didn’t know what to do with his hands, and it took a few seconds before he tentatively returned the embrace. When she kept holding it, he sagged gratefully into her arms.

“Thank you,” she whispered into his hair, eyes screwed up tight like that would distance what she was doing from herself. “I don’t think we would have made it without you.”

“It’s what a king is supposed to do, isn’t it?” he said. And then, after another hesitant pause, he mumbled, “Muriel thinks I’m probably contagious.”

“Ugh! Graham!” Amaya shoved him back into the pillows. Despite already wearing gloves, she scrubbed her hands on her skirt. “That’s the only physical sign of affection I’m authorized to give out for the year.”

“I understand. It’s a blanket ban,” he said, nodding seriously. “I won’t hug-gle with you over it.”

“I’m going to wait for Ken to turn his back,” Amaya said, “and then I’m going to thump you with this pillow.”

“Go ahead,” No1 called, not looking up from his report.

“What! No, come on. You’re supposed to be on my side! I pay you to be on my side!”

“Thump him hard, Amaya.”

“I bed Roberta would defend my honor.”

“Not this time she wouldn’t!” No3 trilled from the hall.

~*~*~*~

After a day or so, Muriel altered the doses so that he wasn’t always unconscious, although he still wasn’t allowed to go anywhere. Graham tried reading to pass the time, but the small print tended to bring back his headache. Mostly he watched the flickering fireplace shadows move against the walls.

Once (more than once) he was adamant that the stone walls of the royal bedroom had been swapped for the stone walls of his goblin cell. He yelped for someone, anyone, to come, to help, and he clung to the guard that appeared first until the feverish delirium faded. With the Hobblepots and their tinctures close to hand, these distressing spells never lasted long, but they upset everyone.

Someone had the bright idea to let Triumph sit in the room with him to keep him grounded, and then the royal guards could breathe a little easier. Graham never figured out how they coaxed the gerbil up the steps—he tried it once or twice later, but Triumph never dared it again. Still, it worked this time. Triumph wandered around the royal bedroom, claws clicking on the wood. No1 looked at the gerbil with mild annoyance and said he was going to make another pot of honey tea to try and relax the king’s awful sounding wheeze. The moment Graham was alone, he leaned as far out of the bed as he could, clicking his tongue and snapping his fingers until Triumph nosed his huge face into Graham’s hand.

It wasn’t comfortable to lean out of bed for more than a minute or two, but he wanted Triumph close. So, he snapped his fingers over the mattress a few times, whispering random encouragements until Triumph, head cocked with considerably deep gerbil thought, backed up a pace or two and made a flying leap onto the mattress. The impact shot Graham up a few inches before he slammed back into the pillows.

Triumph padded over to Graham, chirped, and licked the king’s face. Then he paced in a tight circle, twining the blanket around his paws like spaghetti to make a lumpy sort of nest, before curling into a ball, chin on Graham’s stomach. His ears drooped low in contented sleep. Graham stroked Triumph’s cold nose. The fireplace crackled merrily, and the thunder purred, and the rain poured, and for the first time in a while he felt truly content and warm and safe.

The last thing Graham heard before sleep overtook him too was No1 huffing in irritation, teacup and pot on his tray rattling as he slammed it harder than necessary on the bedside table, muttering, “We’ll never get that fur out of those blankets. Whose idea was this. Gods. I warned them he’d do something like this. No one ever listens around here.”

But all told, he wasn’t to be kept in bed much longer. Muriel relented fairly soon after that and said he was as good as her enforced bedrest was going to make him. The royal guards weren’t allowed to barricade the door against him, so long as he promised not to wear himself out, and to wrap himself in a blanket, and to ask for help if he felt faint, of course.

He felt a touch suffocated, not faint, but he expected this was the way a kidnapped king was supposed to be treated upon rescue—coddled and treated like a doll.

He went for the courtyard. Someone set a chair beneath the overhang and stocked it with blankets and tea and reports that he almost certainly wouldn’t bother to read until next week. He snuggled deep into the cushions. The sharp tang of the brisk air made him feel even better, almost bright enough to go for a jog around the trail, but for the fact that his royal guards would probably tackle him and insist he wasn’t ready yet. Maybe tomorrow.

From behind, someone coughed—the sort of “I’m here, please notice me, but only if you want to” cough, not the sick sort—and Graham almost leapt out of his hair before realizing it was the Feys.

Wente was staggering beneath the weight of a perfectly ridiculous four tier cake, and Bramble was wavering at his side, ready to throw her hands out to help catch it should it slide. It was drowning in frosting flowers, and the words Thank You were so tightly embellished with so many little curls and flourishes Graham could scarcely read them.

“Wente?”

“Your Majesty, I’m so sorry I couldn’t visit earlier. Muriel said I wasn’t allowed, else I might sicken Bramble, and we couldn’t have that, could we, sweetums, honey bun, favored pie—” At this point he broke off and started whispering sugary sweet sentiments in her ear before realizing Graham was starting to laugh. “Sorry, sir.”

“No, you’re absolutely right,” Graham said, and then paused. “Uh, I don’t think I’m contagious anymore…?” He held the question tremulously, a little afraid of himself. A little afraid his friends’ smiles might melt away and—

“We cleared it with Muriel,” Bramble said, firm. “We wanted to make you something small to say thank you, but, ah,” she eyed the towering icing sugar construction with barely veiled alarm, “it got slightly out of control.”

“No point in baking small,” Wente said, a touch offended. “I don’t believe in those bitty samples. How do you know you’ll like something if you don’t get to try it from every angle?”

“True enough, dumpling.” Bramble bumped him lightly on the arm. Very lightly, so the cake didn’t topple over.

Wente and Bramble had planned on leaving cake and king alone, but Graham insisted that they share—four tiers, for stars’ sake. Plates and forks were found, and once the royal guards realized what the Feys were offering, they couldn’t be kept out of the courtyard with a stick. Somehow Chester got wind of it because it was free food and Chester had a nose for that sort of thing, and Muriel came with him like she always did. Amaya was dragged into it quickly after that: a royal guard had requested she double check the strength of the side doors’ security, just in case, and it was easy enough to pull her away from her work once cake was offered. Four tiers broke up in short order, with everyone nursing their slice and yammering away about this, that, and nothing at all, while the thunder rolled around the mountains and the rain danced in the leaves.

The tense atmosphere that had seemed to settle into the bones of the castle over the previous weeks (truly, months, ever since the hasty coronation) finally started to break apart. Everyone was safe, everyone was happy, and everyone was getting hyped up on tremendous amounts of sugar. Someone even dragged out a lute, which No2 was valiantly attempting to play. (Attempting being the word.)

“Matt, please. It’s key of C. Not undersea. Give it here.” No1 snatched the lute away and launched into a petulant sort of song before he warmed to it and settled into a decent rendition of Greensleeves.

Graham ended up with an enormous frosting rose on his plate, which he nibbled at in between conversations. He wandered away for a minute to watch the rain—it was gradually starting to break up, and he had the feeling monsoon season was reaching its end.

He still thought King Edward would have handled the whole goblin situation differently. He didn’t know how, but it wouldn’t have gone quite like it had. A proper king, Graham was reasonably sure, wouldn’t have gotten so frazzled and scared, and he’d certainly been frazzled and scared. But, after all, he hadn’t been born to kingship. He’d been given it. It had taken hard work and hope, and he had been entrusted with the crown. He was a different sort of leader. Different, but maybe an okay one after all.

Because, in the end, they had survived.

He watched the impromptu party for a minute, licking frosting from his fingers. So he wasn’t King Edward. Fine. He was going to have to be King Graham, as big and good as he could be. That, he thought, he could maybe do.

From out of the little crush of party folk, Bramble came and found him and took him by the hand to lead him back into the conversations—Whisper and Acorn had showed up too, and they were looking for him. He put down his empty plate and rejoined his citizens and his friends, ready to face whatever came next.

Preferably without any more mass kidnappings.

[elejah-wonderland]

Sweet Love/7

Fanfiction

Part 7

AU TVD/TO story

Elijah Mikaelson x reader

Klaroline

Kennett

a/n: thanks so much for reading and liking. It is so appreciated. You are the best. xoxo

tags @rissyrapp20 @dendrite-lover @elejahforever @fafulous @goddessofthunder112 @captainshurley @butifulsoul125

______________

 If you love somebody, let them go, for if they return, they were always yours.

If they don't, they never were.

Kahlil Gibran

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤

For all, it was like crunch time of sorts. Take a moment. Put the foot on the ball. Weigh out life. Look deep inside and see where you are in the world, what you want, how you fit,  how you want it to be. To lose oneself is easy, but to go back to your true self, that is not the easiest this to do. Find the centre, find the balance. Make sure you do consider others too. Not be selfish, but don't also give all of yourself away.

All and more was going through the heads of Y/N, Elijah, Davina, Kol, Bonnie, Klaus, Caroline.

Y/N knew that after the breakdown she had faced in the Sunny Cove, she had to take time to herself. And after the video conference with Abby Bennett, giving her extended power to be the CEO, she jetted late that night to Hawaii, to a retreat. No phones, no social media. No work. No family. Just her and nature.

Elijah was not far behind in making big decisions to change things around for himself. That same day as Y/N walked out of the loft, he called his promoter and agent, telling him that he wanted to go back racing.

As for Klaus and Caroline- there was a period of a tiny freeze between them, as Caroline decided she was taking time off from men altogether and started to work for a big party organizing Agency.

Klaus, who same as Elijah, had been most of his life were like those guys that never thought they could lose their hearts, utterly and completely. Elijah, same as Klaus felt the emptiness the women they loved left behind.

 Now that they Klaus and Caroline were no more, his heart could only thinking of all the moment he had spent with her. It was not all about sex, like he made it out to be. Deep down, he loved her bubbly nature, her fun and positive outlook on life. Though she was rich, not once did she make him feel that he was just some guy she is sleeping with. She was sweet, loving, kind. He was in love with her and he didn't even notice it. And no matter how many times he had called her, leaving sweet messages on her voicemail, she didn't call him back.

Last, but not least, Davina broke up with Kaleb, no matter how much it pained her, as she let her heart out on the sleeve with him, and got burnt badly, at least that's what she thought. No matter how much he tried to convince her that his ex kissed him, and he didn't kiss her back, she didn't believe him. She focused on school and getting good grades, working on her portfolio for the designer school. 

One other person, who tried desperately to forget the woman, who had just been his friend, and never got further than the friend zone, was Kol. Klaus could not understand his brother never having made a move on Bonnie, especially if he was so desperately in love with her. Kol had to admit that he had messed up once. Though it was not anything bad, he was sure, it pushed Bonnie away. Namely, when she made a move on him on a party, he refused her. 

“She was drunk and I didn’t want to take advantage.”- Kol said to Klaus-”the next day when I went to see her, she dismissed everything and said that it was better that nothing happened as their friendship was something more important than anything”. And so Kol started dating another woman.

❤️

Days turned into weeks, weeks into months - this is how they went on.

Y/N, Hawaii

      Elijah, Whitmore

Kol, Whitmore

             Klaus and Caroline, Falls

            💘

A couple of months later

Y/N rang the bell on the loft door.  A million butterflies rose up as she waited for the door to open.

And the doors opened and a woman stood there saying hello-

"Hello"- Y/N slipped

And then she heard Elijah say-

"Who is it, Sophie?"

"Ahm- I'm sorry-"- Y/N now turned around and walked to the elevator.

Elijah was now at the door and his heart stopped a beat as he saw who it was-

"Y/N?"

Though the elevator arrived, Y/N, having heard Elijah, now turned around.

"Hello"- she slipped.

"Hello.- Elijah said, looking at her like he entered and lost  himself in a daydream. 

💘

Rewind a couple of days before Elena went to Elijah's

Y/N stepped down from the plane and as she walked through the arrivals, a happy face of her friend Caroline shot at her. Two women hugged like they had not seen one another in a very long time.

"The hair!"- Caroline exclaimed seeing Y/N had significantly changed her look.

"I know. It was - redo, refresh, re- everything."- Y/N said.

"Oh, it's good! It's like you - with a totally knew glow! Which takes me back to last year of High School, before you got all too serious!"- Caroline said.

"I am not less-serious now"- Y/N replied-"but now I got all my priorities in order, and definitely all my feelings about - everything- so clear."

"I have to go swimming with sharks, too."- Caroline said.

"I read all your messages on the plane. I can't believe that you gave up on - love, men."

"Not given up"- Caroline said-"taking time off- like you. Setting priorities- and I am priority no1 but, not like I was before- all careless and cloudy."

"So, is Klaus still squirming?"

"Pretty much."- Caroline replied.

"Aren't you a bit harsh? He said that he wanted more."- Y/N said-"and it all started with no strings attached, he was not pulling "

Caroline sighed a little. Y/N was right, and she knew it, and she wasn't really giving Klaus a hard time to be mean. She explained now-

"I need time to myself. I've always had a boyfriend or - been with a guy. You know. Now it's Caroline time. And it feels so good."

"Right."- Y/N said.

"And you? Did you think about- Elijah? Oh, but first- Aiden told me that you kicked Lucien to the curb. I want the whole download."

Y/N now told her friend what had happened the day she left Elijah's, about Lucien cheating with Aurora.

“I am really sorry that I just couldn’t tell you anything. You are my best friend, but it was all too much. You know how I shut down”- Y/N said apologetically.

“I know.”- Caroline said-”you don’t have to perfect. We will still love you.”

“Thank you. You are really the best

Flashback

Three months back

"Ok. I told Lucien that you were with me in Hamptons."- Caroline said while they were still in the car on the way to the Gilbert Mansion.

"Sorry about this. Didn't want to - have you lie."

"Don't worry about it. But, I am mad at you for not telling me you and Elijah had this thing."

"Elijah and I don't have a thing. There is nothing going on between us!"- Y/N jumped straight away at her friend.

"You could have fooled me. Talk about tension in the room." - Caroline said referring to the moment between Elijah and Y/N in the loft.

"He said he loved me"- Y/N now said.

"OMG!!! Really?"

"Really."- Y/N said.

"And you?"

"I -"- Y/N stopped and sighed-"I - don't how I really feel."

"But you feel something, right? Come on, I saw you. You were not cool when you looked at him!"

"No, I am not cool - I - kissed him - earlier at the Summer Cove house - and I would have slept with him if he didn't refuse me."

"WHAT??"- Caroline was gobsmacked-"I mean- he is hot like hell- but - ah- you have really hit - the black hole. This is so not you!"

" I know. I just - everything just - was overload and I wanted - ugh! I can't explain. And he was so great- about it all. Too great for words."

"Well, he is in love with you, that's for sure. Madly!" Caroline stated and then thought-"Poor Elijah."

Y/N said nothing. They arrived at the house and as she thanked her friend, Y/N got out of the car.

What followed was this as Y/N got in the house, and Lucien was there wanting to talk.

"I don’t think we have anything to say to each other anymore”-  Y/N said, looking at the surgeon with deadly serious eyes.

They got into the study and Y/N didn't beat around the bush. She took the engagement ring off throwing in on the floor and said straight out-

"Now, get the Hell out of here."

“What?"

“You heard me. Out!”- Y/N said with an even more serious tone.

"So, after ten years this is it? Just like that? A Gilbert switched off and walks all over a person. I had nothing with Aurora De Martel"

“Do you think that I am stupid? Well, maybe I get lost in too much work, but I very well know what you look like after you had sex. I will not say this again. Get out! Now you can fuck her as much as you want, when you want.”

“You stand here like a saint, but I am sure you and that driver had a romp or two in that slick Audi of yours!”

Those words now were the last straw and Y/N slapped Lucien so hard across the face, Mary probably heard the bang in the kitchen.

Lucien left, picking the diamond ring in the process. 

Y/N sat down on the sofa, taking her phone, calling Aiden to make arrangements to fly out the same day.

“Wow, you should have done this sooner.”

“Yeah. I should have. I don’t know what I’ve seen in him.”- Y/N said.

“Well, I have always wondered that too. But, let’s be honest. You were too concentrated to get the company growing and he was there and - “

“Yeah, the company was my whole life - and we - barely had sex, and I guess that made him go off with Aurora. I just wish it was someone else and not her.”

“Don’t make excuses for him. He is a slimy bastard.”- Caroline said.

Y/N now smiled at her friend. She agreed.

"And Elijah? How do you feel about him? Do you feel anything? Or - is it - still at the one-night stand level?"

Y/N now looked at her friend in a very serious fashion uttering -

"I -"

❤️

At the same time more or less in front of the loft building

Davina waited for Kol and Elijah to get down. She now took the magazine out of her bag, and opened the page with the article on Y/N.                 

"I will see you at the basketball court- at six."- Elijah said to Kol as the walked up to Davina.

And there it was- like a flash from many months ago, but this time, seeing the woman on the cover of the magazine, he knew quite a bit about her.

Davina could see straight away the way Elijah's face changed colour, his eyes sparkled. Without a word, Davina passed the magazine to her brother. 

Kol got a call and seeing it was Bonnie, he now excused himself and went to talk her.

Elijah gulper skimming through the article. So, she is back. His heart jumped up wildly. Butterflies, he pushed down now rose up again in him. She looked good. He thought. Different, yet the same. There was a certain new vibe about her. She was better, and that made him feel happy. He knew that she went to Hawaii. That was the last he had heard from Aiden as he went to pick up his last check, as he had resigned a week or so after Y/N had left.

Elijah now gave the magazine back to his sister, and like nothing particular happened, confirmed once again with them the time they would meet.

As Elijah drove off, Davina said this-

"He is still totally in love with her."

"I know how that feels."- Kol said.

Davina now looked at the man a bit gone out.

"You do?"

"Yeah."- Kol said.

"What happened?"

"Nothing- yet."- Kol said.

"What are you waiting for? Tell her how you feel. I don't know why you guys wait forever to tell the girl how you really feel"- Davina said.

"Because we don't know for sure how- they feel and then if it is a no- we are- believe it or not- we are totally destroyed."- Kol replied.

"Oh, please. I really don’t get you. You told her and now"- Davina said in disbelief.

"Look at Elijah. He told her he loved her- and - nothing. She went away."

"Yeah, but in their case, it was super complicated. She is engaged. Was engaged. I don't know. But she was also his boss. As I said- complicated. Ok- are we going?"

Kol nodded. Once again, the three letter word was not coming out. He now hopped on the bike and they took off.

Like Klaus had said to him weeks ago- if you leave it too long you will be in the friends-zone.

Forwarding to the moment Y/N turned from the elevator having heard Elijah call out her name

"Hello"- Y/N said back to Elijah.

"You are back?"- Elijah said as if he didn't already know it.

"Yes. A few days ago."- Y/N replied.

And then there was strange silence. Sophie, who went back into the loft, was at the door again, and said -

"I will see you a little later."

Elijah now turned to the woman and said ok. As Sophie got into the elevator, she mimicked to Joel with her hands to invite Y/N into the loft.

The way Joel's eyes moved to Sophie, Y/N said-

"I will not keep you. If you need to go - with - ahm- your girlfriend- I just came to - ahm-I left, without really having thanked you properly. And Aiden told me that you quit."

"Girlfriend?? "- Elijah now said and immediately made things clear, although it was in the clumsiest way possible. Y/N was not doing so great either, as the butterflies in her stomach were just flipping around. Both felt like they were fifteen again and this was the school dance or something.

"This is Sophie. She was my cousin- from New Orleans. She is visiting. For a week. Do you want to come in?"-blurted out in one breath.

"Cousin- ah-oh-yeah"- Y/N said.

Thwt both still looked one another in the clumsiest way ever.

Elijah now gestured to her to come in, and Y/N now walked into the loft.

If any of their friends saw them right now, the way they were, all tensed up, hearts running up to their throats, pulse going wild, they would not say that these two were a heartbreaker and a CEO of a big company, but two teenagers.

"Ah, you made changes- Y/N said seeing that the kitchen was turned around and there was another sofa there. Small talk was always good in situations like these. Like a cushion. So, Y/N thought.

If Caroline was there she would have already told them not to stall, just get finally all there was in their hearts. But- they went on about unimportant things- and so Elijah replied-

"Yeah- we needed another sofa. The other one is not comfortable to sleep on, and Sophie needed something better - to sleep on."

"Looks good. Davina chose it?"- Y/N continued.

"Yeah"- Elijah muttered looking at the sofa and then at Y/N again. 

Y/N looked at him. And there was silence. She felt a thousand tiny little fires were inside her, and she now flashed back to the question Caroline put to her on the way from the airport, a few days ago-"So, is Elijah still on the one-night stand level?"

Y/N now gulped a little and said this to Elijah-

"I - am in love with you- I - don't know how - when - it started but yes- so- I - there- I don't know how you still feel- "

The next thing she knew was Elijah stepping to her, pulling her now into the most adoring, loving kiss.It was magic, the way his lips connected with hers. His mouth was so warm, the caress of his lips softer than she could have imagined and she opened her mouth with a low moan. And then the soft caress of his lips became more firm. Elijah savoured her lips and the quickening of her heart now matched his own. A kiss like this was a beginning, a promise of much more to come.

[holycowbrowniekitty]

20.5 Special talk corner: Kantou Tournament Veteran Schools summit p. 128-133

And here is the long awaited captain interaction! Tezuka, Tachibana, Akazawa, Atobe, Aoi and Sanada team up to talk about their role as a captain. This is some really good banter!

My translations can all be found here.

P. 128

20.5 Special talk corner Kantou Tournament Veteran schools summit ( A captain summit)

Proposals to the Middle school Tennis world. In this book, you'll find a never read before project! The captains of Kantou's most outstanding schools have gathered! Crossing the fences of their schools, the captains will passionately talk about their sense of responsibility, worries, and the state of middle school tennis as it is now and in the future!!

Written by Inoue Mamoru (Monthly Pro tennis)

From Main planner/Inoue Mamoru (Monthly Pro Tennis editor): The captain's leading the strongest clubs have unwavering beliefs and philosophies. I think I'll be able to hear some constructive comments to the middle school tennis world if they look back at the municipals and regionals.

P. 129

Inoue: Thank you everyone for gathering at this busy spot today! This year's municipal's and Kantou regionals were filled with unusually high leveled competitions, so if you look back at it, are there are any ideas or suggestions you would like to give the tennis world from now on?

Tezuka: I think it has been a huge privilege to have received a spot in this competition. However, I think I can share a few stories of the player's of Japan's tennis world.

Aoi: You're so stuffy Tezuka!

Sanada: What are you saying! If you want to call yourself the representative of your club, it is your duty to state constructive comments! That means calling someone "stuffy" is… tarundoru! (Because Rikkaidai's captain is hospitalized, we called the vice captain Sanada-kun as substitution)

Aoi: W-well… uh… I mean…

Tachibana: Well, don't say it like that Sanada. Even if he's a captain, he's still a first year.

Sanada: So age has become the reason for a lack of self-reliance? When I was a first year, there were few hydration spots on the grounds, and I established the installation of vending machines that sell drinking water by sending in a proposal to the administration of the tournament.

Tachibana and Akazawa: (… you are the only 1st year who would do that)

Akazawa: By the way, this time 7 people should have been called. Aren't we missing someone?

Tachibana: Now you say it, I don't even think we're with 6.

Sanada: To be late… It's preposterous!

Tezuka: Don't think too much. Listen closely.

???: Hyoutei! Hyoutei!

Aoi: W-w-what is that!?

Atobe: (shines) It's me!!

Akazawa: It's you again! Stop fooling around bastard! When we were competing for 5th place, he also appeared with such flash.

Tezuka: It's been a while Atobe. Are you satisfied now?

Atobe: Aah, yeah I am. You guys, go home already.

Hyoutei's tennis club members: Yes!!

P. 130

Inoue: Hahaha, it seems like everyone is present. Is it okay if we get to the main issue at hand?

Tezuka: Feel free.

Inoue: Then, I wanted to know what you guys thought was the best match at this year's municipals and regionals?

Atobe: I haven't thought as far as discussing that, ahn.

Aoi: I don't really know what I'd pick for the municipals

Sanada: Actually, can you please tell us what you mean with "Best match", Inoue-san?

Inoue: Ah, that's right (as expected Sanada-kun has an air of intimidation). First, the match's level should be high. And also fascinating the audience with the development of the match… things like that.

Sanada: Then we don't have any matches like that. From the start, our goal was qualifying, the contents of our matches don't matter.

Atobe: Heh, it can't be helped that you guys had dull matches.

Sanada: What!

Atobe: Oh well, the best match was ore-sama's and Tezuka's, and it's not like anyone will object to that.

Sanada: What about that was the best match! Breaking down in the middle of the match, it's disgraceful as a player.

Atobe: You're not a romantic guy at all. It was kind of like a tv drama.

Sanada. Hm. Anyway, tarundoru Tezuka!!

Tezuka: Do not worry Sanada. I will definitely have recovered by the nationals, and will take you on in a perfect state of health.

Atobe: Hey, you guys, don't ignore me and just continue the conversation!

Inoue: Ah… then there's no doubt about Atobe-kun and Tezuka-kun's match being the best? (Inoue note: After this, to prevent the quarreling and controversy, let them choose 3 best matches)

The captains chose?

Their municipal/regional's most favorite game (Best 3)

Tezuka (Seigaku) VS Atobe (Hyoutei) With Atobe-kun's severe pushing, they chose this match. The match development and the level of the players was high, and it was an undisputed amazing game.

Kamio (Fudoumine) VS Sengoku (Yamabuki) Tachibana-kun fiercely pushed this match. It's true that the match between the nationals level big gun Sengoku-kun and the tenacious Kamio-kun was intense!!

Akazawa/Kaneda (St. Rudolph) VS Oishi/Kikumaru (Seigaku) At the regionals, St. Rudolph lost, but the match where they defeated Golden pair was one with value.

P. 131

Inoue: T-then, is it okay if I continue with the next question (I wonder if I made a mistake in selecting my interviewees?). Who do you guys think is this year's best rookie? Ah, The definition of rookie is someone who this year, became a regular for the first time, appeared in a match and is relied upon as a player.

Aoi: (My heart's beating… if I get chosen as best rookie here, I'll get fan letters from 100 girls at the nationals…)

Inoue: As for my opinion, I think it should be Seigaku's Echizen-kun.

Tezuka: I'm taking your word, Inoue-san. Anyhow, despite Echizen's abilities, his character is still immature. If you're talking about him as a best rookie, he should improve his human nature.

Tachibana: If you say it like that, our group isn't fit to be the best rookie either. When they get heated, they do whatever without thinking.

Atobe: Then our Hiyoshi is a difficult case as well. That guy needlessly provokes, and he's also very antagonistic towards the club members. That guy Mukahi always irritates him. However, he's the kind of type that won't grow and will become menial if you don't push him.

Tachibana: I see. We all have our problems with our members. 

Minami: Right, good grief.

Sanada: Well, isn't Echizen being the best rookie good. He created a sensation at the regionals, he's reliable.

Akazawa: If that's the case our Yuuta is… No, our Yuuta wouldn't win. If you guys choose Echizen, I wouldn't object.

Minami: Hm, hm, that's right.

Atobe: If it's like that, isn't Echizen our best bet?

Inoue: What does everyone think, it doesn't seem like anyone here has any objections to Echizen-kun..?

Tezuka: if everyone said it, it doesn't look like anyone has a motive to stubbornly refuse.

Inoue: Then I'll write down that everyone chose Echizen-kun as the best rookie.

Aoi: (M-my kind of topic…it has already moved on!!)

The captains chose (?)

This year's best rookie No1

Echizen Ryoma While he was in his first year, he became a regular of prestigious Seigaku, and until the semi-finals, he didn't lose once! With his small stature and offensive play, he suddenly became the hot topic of this year.

P.132

Akazawa: By the way, is it true that Echizen is the son of that "Samurai Nanjirou"!?

Tezuka: Ah, that's right. 

Tachibana: So it was true!? I too thought he looked like him.

Atobe: I see. He who shook the world before, Samurai Nanjirou.

Inoue: That's right! With his heroic play, he evenly matched or even surpassed the veterans of the world, with his alias the Samurai, it's that Echizen Nanjirou!!

Echizen Ryoma's (Seigaku) real father

Echizen Nanjirou With his offensive and courageous play, he was nicknamed the Samurai, an unparalleled player. When he was at the top, he suddenly retired.

Sanada: Inoue-san. As a press member, you should be objective and calm at all times, and definitely not slack off in those areas!

Inoue: Ah… my bad, my bad, continue.

Minami: Oh well, isn't it okay?

Sanada: Anyway, Samurai Nanjirou… I've also admired his plays.

Akazawa: Huh!? You remembered him?

Sanada: Of course. 

Tezuka: His play has left an extraordinary impression on me as well.

Tachibana:… I also recollect some faint memories… I think we were around 1-2 at that time, was he still active at that time?

Atobe: Aren't you guys glossing over your age ahn?

Aoi: Heeh, I don't care at all about that Samurai something.

Akazawa: What!?

Aoi: Well you know what they say "The older the wiser," like that? The elderly like you guys can remember the olden days much better.

Tachibana and Sanada: (Ugh!)

Akazawa: Hey. It's not because you're the greenhorn bastard here that you should be so conceited.

Aoi: Huh!?

Tezuka: Time flows evenly for all humans. You should remember that while you may be the youngest now that won't be absolute.

Atobe: Oh well, that urchin won't understand your lecture.

Aoi:…. S-such a thing….was it something I shouldn't have done?

Inoue: Well, it seems like there's a chance to change the subject now, we'll reach our conclusion soon… (The air has become somewhat uncomfortable)

Atobe: Hey, who's coming there?

Tachibana: Hm? That's…

P. 133

Oishi: Hah, haaah, haa…I'm sorry! Everyone, I kept you guys waiting!

Tezuka: Oishi!? Why are you…?

Oishi: Ah, Tezuka came as well? This is a problem. Sorry, I learned of the meeting just now…

Inoue: Oishi-kun, did you come because you thought you missed the captain's meeting?

Oishi: Yes. It's like that.

Atobe: Hm, we didn't call you.

Oishi: Huh!?

Tezuka: Oishi… when I was absent, you showed a full sense of responsibility. Because you were there, I could leave the club to you, and could completely devote myself to my cure with a peace of mind.

Sanada: No matter how many times you say it, injuring your own body is tarundoru!

Tezuka: However, at this place, you should leave it to me. I want to show my duty as Seigaku's captain.

Oishi: That's right, Tezuka. If you're here, I'm not anxious at all. Then, please excuse me. I'm sorry to have troubled you (Oishi, leaves)

Inoue: (What a troublesome bunch) Then, let's wrap it up this time.

Sanada: The municipals and regionals were just a side show. We will show our true strength at the nationals.

Tachibana: We share the same sentiment.

Aoi: We won't lose either!

Akazawa:…. (Everyone seems lively).

Atobe: Ore-sama is going on a vacation to my villa at the Aegean Sea. Well, I will be awaiting reports of your activities there.

Minami: Yeah! Please look forward to us!

Atobe and Sanada and Tachibana and Aoi: You, how long were you here?

Minami: Ha…!? Haven't I been here from the start!!

Tezuka: (….I didn't notice him either…) Then everyone, let's meet at the nationals.

The summit is over. Inoue Mamoru's impressions

Even when it got a bit noisy later on, with each school's captains here, there was a presence and sense of responsibility that completely overwhelmed me. As long as these guys are here, they will hold the hope of Japan's tennis from now on… It seems likely that I have said enough. When the nationals finish, I think I'm going to hold another convention like this.

[ebonix]

This is why I don’t fux wit a lot of ppl cuz I can be a social butterfly, but folx act stupidly. And I legit sit back tryna make sense of what I’ve seen and heard. Which is illogical cuz folx are illogical. It frustrates my blk and white mind. I’m tryna vent all my frustration out right now as I feel it cuz I nvr want to think about him again!! Every time I think of him I get nauseous. I hate being so real and honest and living in this world. I don’t understand the bullshit. Like if we show the receipts I HAVE this nigga not gonna like being put on blast. And anyone who knows me KNOWS when someone fucks up paragraphs are getting written. I told this nigga he was my summer fling, he reminds me of motherfucking Kindergartener who abuses the the girl he likes cuz he doesn’t know how to act, etc... That’s just the tipping point. This cupcake ass nigga don’t want to play the dissing game with ME! No1 does!! Notice how his ass kept coming bk to me!! He’s gonna hit 30 or 35 and realize wtf kinda dumbass he is. Who the fuck lets ME get away to chase hood rats?!? A boy. But it was necessary for me to prepare for the role I’m taking on NOW. But he must be a dumbass nigga to think it even makes sense to say that a woman who got out of a LT relationship, enjoys her freedom & openly says she doesn’t want a relationship with YOU wants a relationship. I really want to get away from whatever energy led me to this lil boy. I miss MY relationship. I was dealing with Joseph’s toxic ass, right? And he just had me missing Terrell and our bond. I miss having my best friend in my life. So, a new relationship is not even where my head has been. It’s just the fact that I don’t like someone especially a bitch ass nigga lying on my name. Ugh. Reminds me when he would talk TO me and Id just go into my head and think this nigga dumb af!! I can’t even wrap my head around wtf I involved myself in. Lol but I was tryna annoy his ass heavy once I finally understood he’s a ho. 😂 Like I wanna go off on him even today!!! Cuz ugh like here’s the energy U gave me!! I legit stopped caring what he thought of me & was blunt af... but I was tryna lock u down?? Rotfl https://www.instagram.com/p/CEpDyJsDxpQUQvPe2q-YwH0f9b4t9JHNr7-Bd80/?igshid=1x3xbzgvypz5o

[zak-helling]

How to text a friend who still uses a minutes plan in 2017

Long texts and phone calls eat through minutes like nobody’s business. If your friend is still on a minutes plan in 2017, read this! Because if you do these bad things, your friend is more than likely really annoyed with you!

1) NEVER call unless it’s an emergency or the person has said you can. If you know their house phone number, even better.

Good: “Hey I’m just calling real quick to let you know I can’t make it to todays plans. I’m really sorry!”

Bad: “Hey I’m just calling because I want to have a 2 hour conversation about various things and I know you’ve expressed not wanting me to call your cellphone but ooh silly me I forgot so GURL lemme tell you what happened today...”

2) Keep texts short and to the point.

Good: “U wanna get pizza?”

Bad: “So I was feeling hungry and I’ve been having this craving for cheese, and I thought maybe I’ll go to the store and get some cheese. But then I realized we haven’t hung out in a while so I thought maybe I’d see if you wanted to come with. But it didn’t seem like much fun to take you to the store and not do anything else, so I thought maybe we’ll do something else. Then I thought: you like pizza! So do you wanna go grab some slices later?”

3) Avoid multiple texts about the same subject. Try to keep it as one.

Good: “I’m alright, it’s just the stress of school has gotten to me lately.”

Bad: “I’m alright.”

“It’s just...”

“...the stress of school has gotten to me lately.”

“But whatever, you no?”

“*know.”

4) Leave out unnecessary details.

Good: “Hey can u cover for me on Tuesday?”

Bad: “Hey can you cover for me on Tuesday, March 3, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM? I have a tournament for the sports team I’m on and it’s critical I be there. I understand if you are busy, but I was wondering if you’d be able to? To make it up to you, I’m willing to cover your shift on Wednesday, March 4, from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Let me know as soon as you get this.”

5) Don’t keep texting if they don’t reply immediately.

Good: “U wanna hang out? Text me when you see this plz!”

Bad: “U wanna hang out?”

“U haven’t texted back yet, so is that a no?”

“cuz I got these tickets 4 the new movie u wanted to see”

“r u ignoring me?”

“u must be at work. i’ll w8 til u get back”

“ugh i’m sooooooooo bored w/ no1 2 talk 2!”

6) Don’t send them pictures. Seriously, I told you before not to, and you kept doing it, now I’m out of minutes. Thanks a lot.

Good: “Dude I took this amazing pic I wanna show you! Should I e-mail it to you or wait until I see you again?”

Bad: *sends pic*

“Cool pic but it took a total of 20 minutes for me to receive that. I literally told you yesterday to never send me pictures. Ever.”

“Yikes! Sorry, lol!”

“I’m gonna have to start having you pay for my minutes.”

[ebonix]

#ChrisBrown still surprises me that he has a career. I don't understand it. Beyond his 2nd album I'm lost. As much I am politically against #RKelly and stopped listening to him years ago.... he has a musical legacy. I would vote for his music to be gone on ethics alone, but a pedophile is gonna be a pedophile whether his music exists or not. His fame and music career made it easier for him to prey. #Usher apparently has allegations against him too. But again... had a legacy. #NeYo has a legacy. Mind you that I don't listen to any of their music anymore but if this is an honest question that's my answer. The 3 men are vocalist with decades in the industry and no1 can deny their talent no matter what happens in their life. I feel like Chris Brown was lucky and a gd dancer at a damn that wanted the kind of entertainer he is. Bores the hell out of me, but apparently is what these chicks want and dudes wanna be like. Ugh... https://www.instagram.com/p/B3UrRFDlMNk/?igshid=eecxfmgcfa36