#Nini's Bookshop AU

[nuclearanomaly]

｡･ﾟﾟ･ ☀️🍦💕 ･ﾟﾟ･｡

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[karoiseka]

17) Sally

((a little late to posting since this week is also kicking my ass, but this one is very abstractly set in @nuclearanomaly 's bookshop au! I had an idea for a cross-over inside an AU, and here's how it turned out! lol))

Karo took the steps up to her apartment two at a time, pack slung across her shoulders.  She was already late, closing the store well after the scheduled time due to helping Hilda try out several of her new arrivals.  She was due a new instrument, and the latest song they were composing needed a particular sound out of the guitar. Karo had been helping Nastrond find the right sound, and the newest batch of instruments was looking promising for delivering what they wanted.  Very well worth every minute helping. 

She was, however, running late to her meetup with friends online as a result, despite messaging them earlier to let them know about her delay. It was rare enough that all of them were able to meet up and spend some time on the larger challenges in the game.  Opening the door, she almost danced through the one-room space, flitting to her computer to start turning it on, placing her pack by the door, and swinging into the kitchen to grab a drink and snack before sliding back into her computer chair, looping her headphones on.

It didn’t take long to get the game going, and the chat program running, the whole team already chatting away about their day and the things they were looking forward to in the next game update.  Karo left her mic muted as she ate her food while the loading screen greeted her before clicking her favorite and main toon.

Finally loaded in, the avatar on the screen leapt off the building, falling ever faster to the ground before suddenly shooting off into the sky, small black wings flapping.  A team invite came almost immediately after, her friends noticing she had arrived and she swapped zones via the in-game trains.  Grinning with glee, Karo set her toon to skimming the lake in flight while searching.

“You know, she’s only up once an hour because someone always finds her first,” the voice of Thancred in her headset reminded her that her “secret” hunt was not so secret due to the fact that they were all in a team and could see what zone she was in needlessly.

“Yeah, but I’m only one more tap away from the badge!”  Karo guided her toon over the water, casually dodging the various enemies on the shore while keeping an eagle-eye out for her target.  She had created a version of herself in the game, even using her full name as a character name for some reason, but if nothing else, it felt good to fly.

“Anyways, if you get in zone when I find her,  you get credit too!”  The elusive monster was a hard find, and Karo had been looking for her for weeks.  She loved to collect the badges in game, and had long since collected all the exploration and lore badges she could get her hands on, and was slowly going through the various lists of enemies to dispatch.

“That’s all well and good, but I thought we were gathering for a Task Force!”  Alisaie was definitely ready to take on the larger challenge for the evening.  One of the newest Task Force’s had a badge that required no deaths and no temp powers to be used, and it was the hardest one out to date.  They had defeated it normally several times at this point, but it was time for the challenge.

“I’ll be there in just a moment, I wanna do one more lap,” dodging another mob of land-based enemies, Karo was glad flight was a fairly fast travel power as she swung her camera to and fro, looking for the elusive enemy.  With a sigh of defeat, she angled her character up just a little to head back to the train station to join the others in the proper zone to get the evening started, when she caught a thin tall neck out of the corner of her eye.

“She’s here!  I found Sally!!” Karo squeaked, diving down to the rare spawn, hovering near her happily.  Exclamations of disbelief poured in through her headset as one by one she saw each of her friends pop into the zone before heading to her marker.  Once everyone was there, a solemn thanks was given, before a single stroke encouraged the monster to retreat beneath the waves once more, the badge popping up on several screens at once.

“Okay, now that that’s done, can we please get on with the Task Force?” Alisaie’s toon was already back into the proper zone as the rest meandered, laughing, but headed to her to buckle down and try the next challenge that awaited them.

[blackestnight]

lucky numbers

a very happy birthday present for @nuclearanomaly! set in her adorable bookshop au which i love (and with a cameo from @aethernoise, thank you again for letting me borrow alyx). i know estinien and nini had traded numbers by the first time she went to one of his shows and i know in my heart of hearts it did not happen without significant embarrassment, so, behold: the annual tradition of bullying the shit out of estinien.

The best part of having friends was recruiting them for free labor—well, labor at the cost of cheap pizza and cheaper beer. The worst part of having friends was everything else.

“I find one makes faster friends with their neighbors by actually talking to them, rather than staring out the window,” Aymeric said, and Estinien scowled at his reflection in the glass. Beyond both of their ghostlike doubles, he could see the lights over the front door of Page 64 flicking on as evening fell.

“Don’t know why I’d bother when the friends I do have can’t mind their own bloody business,” Estinien snapped, and deliberately turned away from the window to lean back against the cool glass. It felt like bliss on the back of his head, easing the headache that was starting to form from the overwhelming smell of paint that filled the shop. “Am I paying you just to annoy me?”

“I come with a peace offering,” Aymeric assured him, and held up a slice of pizza balanced on a newsprint sheet. Both the edges of the paper and Aymeric’s fingers were smeared with red paint, though the pizza at least seemed clean. Estinien grunted and took the slice. “Have you been by the bookshop at all?”

“Too busy.” It was true enough, at least. Trying to organize equipment deliveries and inspections around painting and cleaning and the thousand other tasks he had to finish before opening day kept Estinien on his feet from sunup to sunset, it seemed, and whatever free time he had did not fall within normal business hours. He only caught glimpses of the owner when she stepped in and out of her own shop’s front door, hanging posters on the window or setting out little chalkboards with quotes from old novels. There seemed to be some sort of fantasy theme on this week, because there was a shaky outline of crossed swords in the corner of the slate that had nearly been smeared away by passersby, with little yellow lines around them like they were meant to glow.

(Idly he thought they could use a bit of shading for a more dynamic effect. Yellow and blue, maybe, in keeping with the pastels. A pink dragon and dusty orange flames crawling up the opposite corner. Deliberately two-dimensional, like illustrations in old folktales.)

Aymeric, the fucker, waited until Estinien had a mouthful of pizza to clap a hand on his shoulder. “If I may offer a bit of unsolicited advice, my friend,” he said, without a pause for Estinien to swallow and tell him you may not, you dick. “Sometimes it does one wonders to be a tad selfish. Taking a bit of time for your own happiness can bring about miracles.”

He wasn’t looking at Estinien anymore—Aymeric’s voice had gone soft and wistful, and he’d angled himself to lean against the window so he could look across the room to where Alyx was crouched on the floor, cutting in the corners by the floorboards with an angled brush and snickering over something with Hilda. She looked up as if responding to her name, improbable as it was with Ysayle’s little speaker filling the shop with screeching guitar riffs, and answered Aymeric’s soppy smile with a wink and a wave from her free hand.

Estinien swallowed his mouthful of pizza. “If you make me vomit,” he warned, “I’ll be sure to aim for your shoes.”

“Just consider it,” Aymeric said, and strode across the room to join the ladies in their corner, where Alyx busied herself painting a lopsided heart on his forearm with a brush far too wide for the task.

Estinien folded the remainder of his pizza slice in half to shove it in his mouth, dusted his hands free of crumbs, and resolved to ignore the sunset washing the shop across the street in enticing golds and blues.

—

His resolve lasted exactly as long as it took to finish peeling the tape from the base trim, and then the paint fumes became overwhelming enough that all of them had to step outside—his fault for scheduling a painting day before the aircon system had been set up, he figured. Hilda and Ysayle planted themselves on the front sidewalk, leaning back against the building’s facade, and propped the front door open with Hilda’s backpack.

Aymeric of course took the opportunity to sling an arm over Estinien’s shoulders and steer him across the street, like an obnoxiously polite sheepdog.

“If my shop gets robbed, you’re paying for it,” Estinien grumbled.

“Watching any would-be trespassers confronting Ysayle and Hilda would be worth the cost of admission,” Aymeric said. “Have a little faith, my friend. And be a little selfish.”

Aymeric was not so inelegant as to shove Estinien through Page 64’s front door, but it was a near thing.

The tinkling bell over the door disguised the sound of his stumbling footsteps, but didn’t entirely manage to cover the squeak of surprise from the front counter.

“Oh!” said the little shopkeeper as she pushed her glasses up her nose. “Hi, Mister Borel. I wasn’t expecting to see you or, um, or your friend.”

(Green eyes like fresh spring growth, and hair the color of lavender. The pastels really would suit her—suit her shop well.)

“My apologies for stopping in so late, Miss Ninira,” Aymeric said. “I happened to be in the area helping Estinien with his set-up, and he’s been so eager to come by”—Aymeric would have done his ballroom teacher proud, Estinien thought, with the way he pivoted to avoid having his foot stomped on— “so I thought I would join him. Have you finished the most recent Sirens?”

“Oh! No, not yet. I’ve been busy sorting new inventory…I like your, erm, tattoo?” Ninira said, with a fluttery little gesture to Aymeric.

“A new acquisition,” Aymeric said drily, and held out his arm for closer inspection. Alyx’s painted heart had blossomed rapidly into a field of truly shitty flowers, and eventually the entire inside of his forearm had been covered with a solid coat of red; Hilda had taken a Sharpie to the new canvas to give him a skull-and-crossbones ‘tattoo’ so awful Estinien had felt morally obligated to disguise it in a half-sleeve of boring but inoffensive thorns and roses. “Estinien’s work, actually. If you’ll believe it he’s actually far better in his preferred medium.”

“It’s really good,” Ninira said, and then looked up at Estinien. “Are you the owner of the place across the street?”

He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Yeah. S’posed to open in a couple of weeks.”

“I always say that if I am ever possessed with the desire to be stabbed thousands of times by a needle, Estinien will be the only one I trust to do it,” Aymeric said. “I’m going to browse for just a moment before you close.” And with that the cur ducked around Estinien and vanished into the stacks.

Having friends was the worst.

Ninira fussed with the counter for a moment, dropping Estinien’s gaze. “I guess my shop must not look that impressive compared to yours,” she said. “I’ve seen the renovations—just, just as I pass by sometimes—and I can tell it’s going to look really…cool once you’ve finished,” she said.

(Dusky rose on her cheeks. Was she blushing?)

“No,” Estinien said, and flinched when it came out gruff. He cleared his throat. “Your place looks good, I mean. I like the chalkboards you do.”

“Really?” Ninira said, and looked back up so quickly he might have called it a flinch. “I mean, thank you. I’m not great at lettering or art or…things.”

“Really,” Estinien said. “I think they look nice. Readable.” Readable. Fury’s tits. “I mean—sometimes when people do hand-lettering it’s so gods-awful you can’t tell what it’s meant to say. Yours is nice though.” He scuffed his boot against the floor. “What kind of chalk do you use?”

Ninira uncapped and re-capped a pen. “Just sidewalk chalk. Kids’ art supplies.”

From somewhere across the aisles, he swore he heard Aymeric cough.

“I’ve got some chalk paints you could borrow,” Estinien said. “They’re more durable. Or—if you wanted,” he said, “I could do a couple signs for you sometime.”

“Really?” Ninira said again. “I’d—yes, if it’s no trouble. That would be nice. Thank you,” she said.

“Yeah,” Estinien told her. “Here, I have—” He rummaged in his pocket. His ‘business cards’ were nothing fancy, no use wasting money on nice ones before the shop was even open, and he found himself regretting his frugality when the card he pulled out was plain white and grubby from the dye on his jeans. Thank Halone there was another pen on the counter so he didn’t have to ask for the one from her hand. He scrawled his tomephone number across the back of the card and laid it on the counter. “You can text me or something when you want me to do one for you. A sign.”

“I will!” Ninira said. “I’ll text you now, actually. So you have my number.” Estinien twirled the pen across his knuckles while she wrested her tomephone from her pocket—it looked massive in her hands—and carefully tapped against the screen. After a minute his own phone buzzed in his pocket and he pulled it out to show a notification: This is Nini from the bookshop! with a little smiley face.

“Thanks,” he grunted, and obligingly entered a new contact: Nini, and then, after hovering over the keyboard for a moment, the smiling emoji with the glasses. “Just let me know.”

“I will,” she said. “Thank you, Estinien.”

Aymeric reappeared then, a slim paperback held in his hand. “My apologies again for coming in so close to closing time,” he said, as Ninira scrambled to shove her phone away. “I hope the rest of your evening is peaceful, at least.”

“You’re fine,” Nini said, as she punched Aymeric’s purchase into the register. “Thank you for coming. I hope I’ll see you again soon?” But when she asked, her eyes slid over to Estinien.

“Naturally,” Aymeric said. “Both of us, I’m sure. Have a good night, Miss Nira.”

“G’night,” Estinien grunted, and ducked out of the door.

“Night!” Ninira chirped.

—

In a fantastic display of restraint, Estinien had managed to wait until they were back across the street before pulling Aymeric into a headlock, and couldn’t even bring himself to regret it when his phone buzzed that night with a new text. Would you like to come by tomorrow to do a sign?

Sounds good, he sent back, and went to grab his sketchbook.

[nuclearanomaly]

Bookshop AU - The All Saint's Party Incident: Outfits

[nuclearanomaly]

Say 🧀

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[nuclearanomaly]

💜🤟🖤

[nuclearanomaly]

They are here and they are everything!! 😭💖

[nuclearanomaly]

18 – Fish out of Water

wc. 568 | Bookshop AU

Sorry it's self (Nini) deprecating angst.

Ninira didn’t much like navigating the crowds of venues. She usually arrived early, sat in a seat and stayed there until the flow of people towards the door was manageable enough for her to handle. Any time she did dare to brave the crowd she tried to make sure she did so with a friend close by. 

Estinien had joined her this time, for which she was grateful, she had needed the washroom, while he had stopped by the bar to grab a drink. He was now leading the way back to the table, Ninira following close as he parted the crowds enough for her to slip after him. They were nearly back to the group when a gaggle of girls intercepted them, or more specifically Estinien. 

Two Au Ra, and a Miqo'te. Ninira couldn’t hear well over the din of the venue but it was evident what they wanted. A picture, something signed. Nastrond might not be famous by any means but they still gathered crowds, and fans. They clustered around, eager to speak with him and Ninira couldn’t help but notice how much more they seemed to fit in, especially when she compared them to herself. 

They were tall, pretty, slender legs in torn jeans and fishnet tights. Thick platform boots and dark smokey makeup. One wore a Nastrond shirt that she had clearly modified herself, transforming it into a grungy sleeveless crop top. It suited her, she looked like she was made to wear it.

Ninira’s own band shirt felt baggy and awkward in comparison. 

One was eagerly taking Estinien’s drink, offering to hold it for him, while the one in the Nastrond shirt pressed up close beside him, cheeks flushed. Their remaining friend, holding up a phone to get the perfect shot. She stepped back, forcing Ninira back into the crowd as she almost trod on Ninira’s toes, unaware she was even there. 

They had no reason to notice her, she was just Estinien’s scruffy knee high shadow, following after him in hopes no one looked too closely and realized she didn’t belong.

She swallowed, a sudden lump in her throat. 

The entire venue seemed to bore down on her, the crowd around her a sea of looming people who were all effortlessly coordinated. She was like a puzzle piece noticeably forced into the wrong hole, trying to act like she fit, like she matched. Her band shirt felt like a lie. Like at a glance anyone could deduce she was some fake of a fan. 

The lump in her throat seemed to swell, it was hard to breathe. The venue was already so crammed, so stuffy. She needed to leave, to get outside. 

Her jacket and bag are back at the table, it seems stupid to go back for them, she knows this but logic is hardly fulling her actions. She is panicking, pushing through the crowd until it suddenly breaks and she’s back at the table, snatching her things.

She’s half aware of her quick reply. “Need to go.” To the confused questions from her friends, if they even think of her as such, as she grabs her belongings and pushes back into the crowd. She can’t dawdle, can’t allow for the possibility for anyone to see the way the lump in her throat has now become a burning behind her eyes. 

Crying here will just make her stand out even more.

[karoiseka]

I had meant to post this first, but then got behind, and basically ran that way the whole month. I DID however get things written and submitted on time which I was very happy about, and really had a lot of fun with this one overall!!

Thank you @sea-wolf-coast-to-coast for hosting like usual, and giving such great prompts every year!! I look forward to this every year to try and stretch myself!

Congrats to everyone who wrote *something*! If you posted it publicly or not, even if you only did one prompt, or the whole thing! It was great to read everything!!

This year for me, brought about the formal introduction of Karo's birth family, and most importantly her brother, which really has been fun to start to dive into, as well as plenty of Bardic Trio fun as well! I kinda got stuck with Kar'a, so, unfortunately not as many prompts with her, but she poked her head in a couple of times, same with Seir and Feo! Loooots of music-themed ones for a very Bardic Karo this time around too!

Prior Years: 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 (still upcoming)

Full list under the cut, with some metrics!

Steer - 5.0 Karo and Ardbert

Horizon - 6.x Myths of the Realm, Karo/G'raha

Tempest - 5.x Karo with Thancred and G'raha (silly)

Reticent - 6.0 Karo (cw: injury)

Stamp - 5.4+ Thancred/G'raha sappiness

Halcyon - 6.0ish Kar'a poetry

Morsel - 7.0 setting, Meet Rremeyo!

Free Day 1 - 7.0 beginning Karo, Rremeyo

Lend an Ear - 5.x G'raha and Thancred

Stable - 6.0 Karo at the end of MSQ

Surrogate - Pre-Cal, Seir and Feo

Quarry - 4.x Karo in Ala Mhigo

Butte - 4.0 Karo in Doma

Telling - 7.0 Karo and company after 1st dungeon

Free Day 2 - 3.0 Karo with Estinien

Third-Rate - 6.x Karo (ft @newty 's L'selle and Y’lantaa)

Sally - Karo in @nuclearanomaly 's Bookshop AU! (vaguely. heh)

Hackneyed - 5.x (Eden) Karo with Ryne and Gaia

Taken - 5.5ish Semi-spicy Karo/G'raha/Thancred

Duel - 5.2 Karo with Ryne and Thancred

Shade - 7.0 Heading into zone 4 Karo with Erenville

Free Day 3 7.0 setting, Rremeyo before 7.0

On Cloud Nine - 5.1 Karo/G'raha (Thancred-ish)

Bar - 7.0 half-way point Karo

Perpetuity - ARR with 6.0 knowledge, Kar'a

Zip - ARR Karo

Memory - 5.1 Karo/G'raha/Thancred

Deleterious - 5.x Karo at the Rising Stones

Free Day 4 - 5.x+ Karo

Two Heads are Better than One - NSFW 6.0 Karo/G'raha/Thancred

Total works is apx 24,200

Longest is Memory, shortest is Halcyon.

I think my fav is still Third-Rate, followed by Bar and Memory. Free Day 1 still tickles me silly with the near-miss. Thank you to Nini and Bri for letting me play in their AU/with their characters!!

This month has been such a blur, I honestly *forgot what I had written* for some of these. Overall happy with myself, and will work on porting this all over to AO3 here soon!! Thank you if you've been reading along!! I've really enjoyed reading everyone's entries this month!!!

[nuclearanomaly]

2 – Bark

wc. 1023 | Modern | Bookshop AU

It’s not that Ninira outright dislikes dogs, but when you are small and they are large they’re scary, sometimes.

Ninira checked her phone again despite having checked the location before leaving, and again while on route. The address was right, it hadn’t been that hard to find. The red brick townhome sat on a quaint street in an older part of the city, surrounded by similar homes of varying styles and lined with well matured trees.

But it wasn’t the possibility of having messed up the address and approaching the wrong home that really gave Ninira pause but a figure in the home’s front bay window. A dog and a large one at that. Garlean Shepard, she wasn’t well versed in dog breeds but knew enough to identify it as thar, or at least partly that. It watched her transfixed, snout pressed up against the glass so that even at a distance Ninira could make out the flash of white of its teeth. She swallowed. Had anyone told her Hilda had a dog? Perhaps, and she had forgotten? Or perhaps, and she’d simply imagined a smaller less terrifying breed. 

Unfortunately, she couldn’t even wish for her house call to go unanswered, or to simply slip away unmissed. Hilda was expecting her. They were going to go over Nastond merch together to figure out what would be feasible for Ninira to sell in her store. 

Steeling herself she started towards the house’s front steps. In the window the dog exploded into a fit of barking before tearing away from the window. The front door opened before she even reached the top step.

“Nini! You found the place alright?” Hilda gave her a cheery wave, voice raised slightly over the barking that came from immediately beside her. She was blocking the dog with her hip as she reached to open the screen door. “Mongrel, that’s enough, honestly.” To his credit the dog did quiet though he continued to try and nose his way past Hilda to the door. “Sorry he gets excited to greet guests.”

Ninira hesitated, eyes on the dog. Something Hilda clearly seemed to notice as she slipped one hand through his studded collar. 

“You haven’t met Mongrel yet have you?”

Ninira shook her head.

Hilda smiled. “I promise you he’s a goofball and sweet as anything.” Still she backed up from the door a bit, Mongrel moving with her. “Sit.” She ordered and Mongrel obliged, tongue lolling from the side of his mouth as he panted.

“I’ve got him, if you want to come inside and say hello. But I can also put him out back first if you would rather not.”

Ninira would have preferred not, but she didn’t want to be rude, and didn’t want Hilda to think she hated her dog. She didn’t hate dogs… they just made her nervous, especially big ones like Mongrel who looked like they could bite off her hand and trample her with ease. Carefully she slipped in through the screen door, not wanting Mongrel to explode into a new fit of barking. But with Hilda’s hand at his collar he sat and simply watched as she entered though his tail thumped loudly against the floor betraying his excitement. 

“Hello Mongrel.” Ninira managed and his tail thumped harder.

Hilda chuckled. “If you want to hold out your hand and let him sniff you, it will help him get to know you better.”

The mortifying thought of the beast taking her hand off in one bite flashed through her mind, but she tried to quell it. Now that he was no longer barking, Mongrel was perhaps slightly less scary. She still could hear the quiver in her voice as she asked, “you'll keep a hold on him?”

“I won’t let go, I promise.”

Ninira inched slowly down the hall, stopping what she felt was a far enough distance before holding out an open palm to Mongrel. He leaned his head close, sniffing. She could feel his hot wet breath and––he licked her. Ninira shrieked, from unexpected surprise over anything, lurching back. Her sudden movement and noise making Mongrel excitedly leap to his feet but Hilda held tight, “hey, sit!” The dog obliged, though Ninira had scrambled back until she hit the hallway wall and stood frozen against it.

“Sorry, Nini. Sorry!”

It was then that Lucia emerged from the doorway at the end of the hall, where the kitchen was just visible beyond, looking worried. “Hilda. Ninira! What’s going on? Is everything alright?”

Hilda looked to her, relieved. “Can you distract Mongrel, maybe take him out back? He’s just a bit too excited to meet Nini right now.”

Lucia nodded, “of course.” She vanished from the doorway, but reappeared quickly, a bag of dog treats in hand and gave it a little shake. 

Mongrel’s head snapped around and Hilda released him just as he took off, charging down the hall, leaping excitedly as he reached Lucia. She laughed, holding the treat bag higher, earning a few more excited bounces from Mongrel as she retreated into the kitchen. “Come on then, outside if you want one of these.”

Hilda sighed and looked back at Ninira who still stood backed up against the wall. “I’m so sorry Nini. He’s still a bit of a puppy at heart but I promise he’s a big softy, he’d never intend to hurt you.”

Ninira nodded slowly. “It’s… It’s okay. I know. I just, he startled me, he licked me.”

Hilda chuckled. “Yeah, I should have warned you he probably would. I’m still so sorry you look so freaked out.”

“I’m… okay.” It was the truth, it had been briefly mortifying but it could have been worse, Ninira supposed. “Thank you for keeping a hold on him, and for understanding…”

Hilda smiled. “Of course, I know he looks more intimidating than he is. I hope maybe you can have more relaxed encounters with him in the future.” She moved to close the front door. “For now Lucia will keep him distracted and outside, and we’ll be upstairs in the office anyway.”

Ninira nodded again, releasing the death-like grip she hadn’t even noticed she had on her purse strap and stepping away from the wall so she could follow Hilda upstairs.

[karoiseka]

Novel

((Many thanks to @nuclearanomaly for letting me borrow her Bookshop AU for this one!!  With especial appearance by @blackestnight​ !!))

The walk to the bookstore wasn’t far from the music store that Karo worked at, and she enjoyed stretching her legs after being cramped in the smaller store for most of the morning.  It had been a slow day so far, and she figured she had enough time to grab a bite to eat after picking out a book to keep her entertained for the afternoon.

Pushing open the door, she slipped in quietly, amused to note that Estinien was sitting at the end of the counter once again.  He had become a fixture a while ago, and though the first time she had seen him there it had made her raise her eyebrows a bit, they shared a nod now, Karo headed to her favorite section in the store.  Estinien was a regular at her own shop as well, being one of the better places in town to get musical instruments and supplies.  Karo had regularly ordered new strings, drumsticks, and other items the band needed.

She had yet to see Nini, but that wasn’t unusual since she was usually shelving new arrivals or straightening this or that.  More often than not Karo would catch her friend in a corner, distractedly reading something that was meant for the shelf.  Rounding the last corner to the nook she was looking for, she also found the owner–just as she predicted, nose deep in a new novel.

Karo wasn’t trying to be sneaky, but as she reached her smaller friend, bending down to look at the cover, she had to catch the book coming at her face as Nini dropped it.

“Karo!”  she reached for the book being handed back to her with a grin.  “I didn’t hear you come in!”

“I doubt you would have heard anyone with how deep you are in that book!”  Nini looked sheepish, as Karo looked around at the shelves surrounding them.

“I was looking for the first book in that series you and Aymeric were reading a while ago.  Work is dreadfully slow right now, and I need something to fill my time,”  Karo sighed, leaning against one of the bookshelves.  “I can only tune the stock instrument so many times!”  Nini had closed her book, carefully placing a scrap piece of paper to mark her place.

“Amaurot.  It got really popular after Convocation came out, but I’m sure I have a few copies around here somewhere!”  She led the way through the stacks, weaving around piles of books that hadn’t been shelved yet, or just overflowing from the section they belonged in.  They walked back the way Karo came before turning and going down the next row.  

“It should be somewhere around–ah!  There!”  Nini pointed to the shelf where several copies of both books sat.  There were several versions of the first book, and Karo had her pick of printings and dust jackets.  Finding a matching pair of hardbacks, she tucked them under her arm as they made their way back up to the front.

The door chimed noisily as they came into view of the front counter and its watcher.  In poured a pair of teens, followed by their pink-haired guardian.

“Pick one book each!”  Laughing affirmatives echoed through the shop as the kids–one Elezan, one Au Ra–disappeared from view.

“Hanami!”  Nini of course knew the petite Au Ra who helped Nastrond move their equipment, and was tied to the enigmatic Fray.  The three started chatting as Nini rang Karo up for her books, Estininten and Hanami pointedly not looking at each other for the exchange.

“I’d love to stay longer, but I”m only on lunch break!”  Nini handed Karo’s purchase to her with another smile  “I'm sure I’ll see everyone soon enough!”

“Put aside another set of strings for me,”  Estinien finally broke his silence as Karo smiled and nodded affirmatively, headed out the door, realizing she was running late once again.

[nuclearanomaly]

Go For It!! (or you’re kicked from the band)

[nuclearanomaly]

Bookshop AU - Nini and Estinien Outfit + Coat

[nuclearanomaly]

Date Night

[nuclearanomaly]

Prompt 15 - Thunderous

(Modern (Bookshop) AU self indulgence ft @aethernoise​‘s Alyx as is my standard when it comes to Bookshop AU shenanigans...)

“I really think this might not be such a good idea after all.” Ninira declared fretfully, for the umpteenth time as Alyx returned to their bar table, drinks in hand. 

“Shocking,” she commented sarcastically as she placed one of the drinks down in front of the lalafell. 

“Really, Alyx.” Ninira cast another apprehensive look around the Forgotten Knight Club, they hadn’t been here long and already the crowd was growing. More and more people, with ever increasing amounts of piercings, tattoos, shaved and styled heads. It felt like they all knew what to wear too; studded, patched vests, fishnets and thick leather boots that made Ninira’s cardigan look ever increasingly out of place. “I don’t think I belong here at all.”

Alyx gave an indigent snort. “No one is going to care or notice. Besides, it's not like you can say I’m any better.”  Ninira gave her a disbelieving look. Maybe it lacked some of the embellishments the majority of the crowd had, but her black cocktail dress at least suited the vibe better than what Ninira was wearing. “Anyway, I bought you a drink, so you have to stay and finish it now.” She smirked over the top of her own glass. “And, if you need any more reassurance, here’s Aymeric.”

Ninira twisted on her bar stool to follow Alyx’s gaze. Indeed Aymeric was maneuvering through the crowd towards them, and much like Ninira he looked, perhaps, like he had finished giving a class at the university rather than made plans to attend a punk rock show that evening. He took his pace at the table beside Alyx, giving her a peck on the cheek as he did so before beaming at Ninira. “You came! I’m glad. Are you excited?”

Ninira could only shrug sheepishly. After all, there had to be a reason she’d never been invited to one of these shows before, and now, unfortunately, her argument that it was her look clearly wasn’t going to cut it.

Aymeric turned his attention to the drink in Alyx’s hand as he folded his coat over the back of an unused barstool pushed up against the wall behind him. “What are you drinking?”

“Tonight’s featured cocktail, The Spice of Life--”

Their conversation about the drink and it’s taste was drowned out by the arrival of their table's newest occupant. 

“Look who has finally decided to grace us with her presence!” Ninira quietly wished to simply vanish on the spot as the declaration and Haurchefant’s exuberance were enough to turn a few heads in the crowd. He was unphased however as he gave her an eager clap on the back as he arrived at the table. “Excited for your first Nastrond show, Ninira?”

Ninira could only give a squeak of a reply as Haurchefant had jostled her, drink in hand, and her only chance at saving it from spilling all over her had been to quickly take a drink.

“Been here long?” he added as a question to the others.

“Just arrived,” Aymeric replied. “About to head to the bar if you want anything.”

“A grand idea! I’ll join you.”

“Starting to feel like maybe you do belong after all?” Alyx asked as the men left them alone at the table once more. Ninira shrugged weakly, yes Estinien’s friends had never not made her feel welcome and yet... she avoided the question by giving the crowd another apprehensive look. The club was even busier now, the aera set a little below where their table sat, had a crowd of people eagerly gathered around the front of the stage. Others gathered at tables, like theirs, littered around the edge of the room. And it was easy to tell that the bar was bustling by the din coming from its general direction.

“Are their shows always this busy?” Ninira asked instead.

“Hmm,” Alyx scanned the room. “The other one I went to was a bit smaller, but they're opening tonight. Lots of people are probably here for the band after.”

When Aymeric and Haurchefant returned it was with Lucia and as they all squished in around the table—Ninira desperately trying not to feel self conscious about being the only one needing a seat to see—Haurchefant dumped a t-shirt into her lap. “Nastrond Tee!” He told her as she unfolded it to look at the front. “You need one to commemorate your first show!”

“How much?” but Haurchefant waved her question off nonchalantly.

“Nothing, once I mentioned it was for you I got it special.”

“You’ve made Hilda’s night that’s for sure.” Lucia added leaning across the table so she could be heard over the growing din of the crowd. 

“She usually runs the merch stall before the show starts.” Haurchefant explained, and as if on queue the lights in the Forgotten Knight began to dim. He prodded Ninira in the side, “quick put it on, they’re about to start.”

Perhaps the drink Alyx had bought her had finally loosened her nerves some as she shrugged out of her cardigan and pulled the shirt on over her head without a second thought; popping her head out just in time to watch Hilda romp up on stage, guitar in hand. Her appearance was met by a roar of approval from the crowd, including a very well executed whistle from Lucia. She pumped her free hand in a fist, egging them on, a grin plastered on her face.

“She’s such a mooch.” Haurchefant had to lean close to be heard over the roar of the crowd.

“Who’s the drummer?” Ninira asked, she’d almost missed their appearance entirely. She could have sworn that one moment the drumkit had been empty and the next the figure in the hoodie, hood up, their face hidden entirely in shadow, was sitting behind it. 

“No fucking idea, think they said his name was Fray. Never met him, weird dude by the sound of it. Killer on the drums though.”

Ninira was about to ask more but any thoughts about the strange drummer left her as Estinien made his appearance on stage. He also earned excited yells from members of the crowd though he didn’t display any level of fan service like Hilda had. Instead he simply got to work, making sure his bass was connected to the amp and checking his mic stand. It was surreal. In his ripped skinny jeans and plain t-shirt he looked no different to how he did when he came to hang about her store and yet seeing him lit by the stage lights, with a crowd of cheering people between them, made him seem like he was a world away from the person she knew. 

Ysayle was last on stage, her appearance earning the loudest approval from the crowd yet, and for good reason. She appeared otherworldly, with her hair a glow by the lights above, sparkles in the sheer of her top catching in the light. She raised her hand in greeting as she made her way to the centre of the stage and her mic. Setting the stand aside she raised the mic to her lips, a smirk just visible.

“Listen.”

The music hit Ninira with a physical force, like someone repeatedly thumping against her chest. Beside her she was sure she saw Haurchefant laugh. At least she thought he was laughing, she couldn’t actually hear him at all over the music, she could barely hear anything.

Just as she was beginning to adjust to the noise, to hear Ysayle’s singing and catch the beat, the song ended and Ninira was left in ear ringing silence as the crowd exploded into (now muffled) cheers.

“How’s everyone doing tonight?” Ysale asked, earning another eager cheer. It was during this downtime that Estinien looked over, and froze as he took in the sight of their table.

Unknown to Ninira, Estinien’s view from the stage was of his friends poised with eagerly outstretched arms and stupid grins. All of them doing their best to frame and bring attention to the wide eyed lalafell sitting in their midst. 

Ninira looked away quickly as his own wide eyed, shocked gaze fell on her. 

Alyx gave her a playful nudge to her side. “Someone's happy to see you!” She said leaning in close to be heard.

Ninira didn’t think he’d looked pleased at all, luckily she was saved having to try and convey that to Alyx as the next song started and drowned out any attempts of her replying back.

—

Prompt # | wc 1411 | All Entries | FFXIVWrite2021

[nuclearanomaly]

/ˈkärnəvəl/

Me, my girlfriend, and the almost 2ft plush I did not win for her at the fair. (An Ambiguous Modern AU, ft @blackestnight​‘s Hanami) wc 2102

“Move over, Wyrmblood.”

Estinien let out a grunt of pain as he was jabbed in the ribs, hard, by a sharp elbow. He looked down and frowned as Hanami stepped up beside him.

“What are you doing here?” He hissed, rubbing the spot she’d elbowed with one hand.

“Friendly competition.” She replied as she received her handful of darts from the stall owner. “I figured the pressure would help. This way you can really dazzle Ninira.”

He quickly shot a glance over his shoulder, but was only met with the sight of the fair’s crowd streaming by. Ninira, and also notably, Aymeric, were nowhere in sight.

“Relax,” Hanami continued as Estinien turned back to the game, “they went to go find mini-doughnuts.” She lobbed one of her darts at the wall of balloons and was rewarded with a bang as not one, but two adjacent balloons popped.

“I don’t need help.” He huffed, releasing his own dart at the wall. Rather than a pop he was rewarded with a loud, dull, THUNK, as it hit the backboard.

Beside him Hanami chuckled. “Oh no, not at all.” Another dart left her hand followed by another loud pop. She flashed a grin at him.

“How the fuck? Don’t you need glasses or some shit?” Estinien whipped another of his darts at the board and was rewarded again with a thud. 

“Have you considered that you might?” Hanami snapped back, and Estinien was sure she deliberately stepped on his foot as she leaned into her last throw. Pop. Pop. Even the stall owner looked impressed.

Cursing under his breath Estinien threw his last dart, and was finally rewarded with the bang of a bursting balloon. “Hah!”

“Wow, so impressive.” Hanami drawled sarcastically as the stall owner gave Estinien a sympathetic look.

“Would you like to try again?”

“No.” he replied flatly, not under these circumstances anyway. The stall owner directed him to the selection of prizes he could choose from, which he picked without looking. A small plush keychain of a cat was handed over to him. Definitely not what he had wanted. 

“No second attempt? Disappointing... What prize was it Ninira had wanted again?” Hanami asked that knowing grin back on her face. 

Estinien sighed nodding with his head to the prizes hanging higher up along the back wall. The reason he’d even stopped here in the first place. “The pudding thing.” She’d frozen in place as they’d been walking by, pointing it out with a gasp and a soft look at him! Did he see the appeal in a big stuffed flan caramel pudding with a little blushing :3 face? No. Had he decided there and then that he was going to win one—regardless of how Ninira had tried to talk him out of it as he made his way over. Yes. Now he watched, fuming, as the stall owner brought one over and handed it to the waiting Hanami.

“This might be your worst joke ev--”

He was cut off as Hanami shoved the pudding roughly into his arms, and snatched his own prize, the keychain, out of his hand.

“You owe me.” She pointed at him for emphasis. “Big time.”

He spluttered, but was saved from replying by a loud gasp from behind them “You won the pudding!”

Estinien turned in time to see an awestruck Ninira rush up to him, a bag of half eaten mini-doughnuts clutched in her hand. Aymeric followed just behind with his own bag of doughnuts and the look he gave Estinien was one of surprise. Evidently he had not thought he would win… and rightly so.

“Yeah, well, it’s yours now.” He held the plush out to Ninira who gasped before wrapping both arms around it, just. The thing was almost half her size. 

“And I won you this.” Hanami declared looping her arm through Aymeric’s as she held up the keychain for him. 

“How cute.” He took it and smiled. “It looks like Mandragora.”

Estinien thought that was a pretty impressive feat considering he hadn’t even looked when selecting the damn thing. He was tempted to tell Hanami so, and that they were even because of it. But that would also mean admitting he had not won Ninira her prize after all. So he kept his mouth shut.

“Where to now?” Aymeric asked, clipping his newly acquired prize to one of the belt loops of his pants.

“The swinging ship!” Hanami replied, starting to tug him in the direction of the ride. “The thing we were planning on doing before we got distracted.”

“Sorry” Ninira’s apology was muffled as the plush pudding was obscuring most of her face as she juggled holding it, and her bag of doughnuts. 

Sighing, Estinien plucked the bag from her hand—earning a muffled Hey!—popping a doughnut in his mouth before grabbing her now free hand with his own. The crowd had already almost blocked Aymeric and Hanami from sight and he wasn’t about to risk losing Ninira as well. Especially now that her own view was mostly blocked by an oversized stuffed dessert. 

-

It was some rides later that Aymeric, looking perhaps slightly more disheveled than his norm, suggested something gentler, to end the night? Before pointing out the ferris wheel. (Perhaps getting him to go on the Zipper had been a bit much). Regardless, they all agreed before making their way over and getting into line. 

Hanami and Aymeric were admitted first, Ninira however looked startled when the ride operator slung the gate closed in front of her, cutting her off. 

“Did you really think we were all going together?” Estinien asked bemused.

“Well, me and Hanami wouldn’t take up that much room.” Ninira huffed. 

“And Aymeric and I, on the other hand, will. Besides,” He watched as the ride started up again and Aymeric gave them a cheery wave farewell, Hanami already leaning into his side as the wheel swept them away. “You also have that oversized stuffed toy. It’s basically a whole additional person, there is no way you would have fit that in as well.” 

“That’s not my problem! You’re the one that won it!”

“You’re the one that wanted it.”

“I never said I wanted it.” Ninira replied matter-of-factly.

Estinien barked a laugh, “you did not have to, it was obvious. I’ve known you long enough now that I can tell when you want something, Nini.”

For some reason she didn’t have a retort for that. Instead she clutched her prize tighter, ears going red at the tips.

Estinien frowned as a silence fell over both of them. Somehow, he guessed, he’d messed up. 

The ferris wheel slowed to a stop, the current passengers disembarking merrily before the operator made their way over to admit them. Ninira went first, placing her prize up on the seat before climbing up beside it. Estinien followed, taking a seat beside her. As the safety bar was lowered across their laps he found himself thinking, smugly, that there was no way in hell they would have all fit on the seat. He was tempted to tell Ninira so, but she also hadn’t spoken to him since they’d discussed the subject in line. Of all the things to attempt to break the silence with, perhaps that topic was not the wisest. 

The silence persisted as the ride started and Estinien instead tried to settle in and get comfy for what was looking to be an awkward next few minutes. 

“Do you think we’ll stop at the top?” Ninira asked as they slowed to their first stop, chair rocking slightly.

Estinien blinked, glancing at Ninira. She was looking up towards the top of the wheel. “I’m… not sure, maybe?”

“I hope so.” She didn’t seem annoyed with him, if she had been at all? Gods dammit why was this all so confusing and stressful. The ride started up again and though she said nothing more Estinien felt like a weight had, at least, been lifted off his chest. 

At their next stop Ninira leaned forward to try and look out at some of the other seats around them. “Where do you think Hanami and Aymeric are?”

Estinien stretched, resting one arm along the back of their seat, “no clue.” 

Ninira cupped her hands around her mouth before letting out a “Hanamiiiii!!”

From somewhere above them came a faint “Niniraaaa.”

“Where are you?”

“At the top!”

“NO FAIR!”

Estinien rolled his eyes, before throwing his weight slightly so that the chair rocked in place. Ninira let out a startled gasp, gripping the bar across their laps before looking at him. “Estinien!”

He smirked, “oops.”

“Oops!? That scared the shit out of me!” She let out another startled squeak as the ride started once more.

Finally they stopped not quite at the top, but close enough that it still counted (in Estinien’s opinion anyway). Around them the fairground was a sprawling sea of lights. Lights strung over the bustling crowds of people milling around far below them. Lights lining the game booths and food stalls. Rides lit by lights all over. This high up the din of the crowds and attractions was no more than ambient noise which was why it was easy to hear Ninira as she softly whispered to herself. “It’s beautiful.”

Estinien looked over at her. She was leaning forward again, her wide eyes shining as they reflected the sea of lights below, an excited flush on her cheeks, the soft breeze catching her bangs blowing them back ever so slightly.

“It is…” He agreed quietly.

She glanced over and smiled. If she didn’t already have his heart she would have stolen it then. 

Ninira raised an eyebrow at him. “What is it?”

Estinien blinked, “what?”

“You’re staring.” She tilted her head slightly and despite the fact that he was definitely already dating her Estinien could feel the flush creeping up the back of his neck.

“I was,” he glanced past her. “Looking at the Zipper.” He pointed behind her to where the ride was visible amidst the lights, and she turned to look. “Think we can make Aymeric go on it again?”

She laughed. “No way! I think once was more than enough for him.” She turned to look back out at the fairground. “Though I am glad he suggested this after. The view alone is worth it.”

“I agree.” His gaze still firmly on her.

Her expression darkened ever so slightly as she watched the scene below them. “I never did stuff like this when I was growing up… And it’s so fun,” she let out a weak laugh, “I almost don’t want to go home.”

Estinien shifted closer, bringing his arm down from the back of the seat to put around her. “We can come back.” 

She tilted her head back to look up at him.

“If not this year, then when it returns next year.”

There was an unmistakable, hopeful, glimmer to her eyes. “Promise?” 

“Yes.” He smiled before leaning closer and kissing her gently. One of Ninira’s hands gently cupped his cheek as she returned the kiss. He felt her smile before she pulled back enough to ask “was it obvious?” 

“Hm?”

“That I wanted you to kiss me.”

He chuckled softly, “of course.” Maybe not as obvious as wanting the dumb pudding plushie but… He kissed her again.

-

Below Aymeric stood, head craned back squinting upwards, with one arm around Hanami as they waited near the exit of the Ferris Wheel. Slowly his face cracked into a grin. “I’m pretty certain he’s just kissed her.”

“Good.” Hanami huffed. “I swear they’re way worse than we ever were.”

Aymeric laughed. “I would have to agree. I like to think that neither of us were as aloof in the early stages of our relationship as they seem to be.”

Hanami leaned closer, her tail tapping lightly against the back of his calves. “Think he’ll finally take her back to his place?”

“One would hope so. It’s at least the smarter choice, his apartment is not far from here after all.”

Suddenly Hanami let out a very undignified snort of a laugh. Aymeric looked down at her, an eyebrow raised. “What is it?”

“I just thought, he finally takes her home and Ninira’s going to spend the night curled up with that stupid pudding.”

Aymeric’s mouth quirked. He could pictured the exasperated text Estinien would send the next morning:

>Ninira spooned the stupid pudding thing all night??

Laughing at the thought he fished his phone out of his pocket. There was a meme he needed to save, just in case...