#None of them knew that the others were gonna Reincarnate in the same town as them

[blackhakumen]

Mini Fanfic #445: Father (Super Smash Bros Ultimate)

2:21 p.m. Tazmily Village, Flint's House

Lucas: (Happily Sit Next with his father) So, dad, how was everything in the village going along while I was gone?

Flint: (Smiles a Little) Pretty good. There wasn't really anything this village can't handle now that we're doing our part to protect it and ourselves.

Lucas: That's great! I'm really glad you guys are doing so much better nowadays.

Flint: Me too. But what about you, son? How are things going for you in Smash Town lately?

Lucas: Everything has been going great so far. I'm already loving it there already. I made so many new friends, the adults there are all so nice and caring, and I even have a girlfriend too!

Flint: (Raised an Eyebrow in a bit of a Surprise) Really now.

Lucas: (Nodded Happily) Her name is Ashley. She's a Witch in Training, she's so nice and caring, and we spent so much time with each other too. ('Sighs a Bit Dreamingly') I'm really happy to be with someone like her.....

Flint: (Chuckles Lightly) Well, I'll be. My boy actually got himself a Lady-Friend and in love as we speak. One of these days, we just might have ourselves an actual wedding in our hands.

Lucas: (Blushes Bright Red) D-D-Dad!! W-We're still kids!! I-I-I really don't think we're both ready for that responsibility yet!!

Flint: (Starts Laughing Wholeheartedly) Relax, son. I was only messing you is all.

Lucas: (Starts Pouting in Embarrassment) H-Honestly.....

Flint: But in all seriousness though, I am glad you're having a great time in the town. Especially how challenging the tournament itself can be at times.

Lucas: Yeah....But I always do whatever I can to pull through in the end. (Chuckles Lightly) It is a way to man up after all, am I right?

Flint: .............

Lucas: (Starts Frowning in a bit if Worry Once he Noticed his Dad was Getting Silent) Dad?

Flint: Lucas.... There's something I've been meaning to tell you since you got here....

Lucas: Really? W-What is it?

Flint: I would like to apologize to you, son.

Lucas: (Starts Getting Confused) "Apologize"? For what?

Flint: For not being a good enough father to you during those days.....

Lucas: You mean when-

Flint: Yeah.......('Sigh Heavily') Ever since that day of your mother's death, life became.........complicated to say the least. I was angry, depressed, and desperate for vengeance that....I hardly made sure you kids were okay, given that I was locked up after my..... outburst that night....It didn't help that your brother went missing that day....only to find out that he was dead and reincarnated to be that.....(Starts Gritting his Teeth a Little) abomination's working solider this entire time..... ('Sigh') But case in point, I.... haven't been the same person I was back then....But even still....(Turns to Lucas) None of it was an excuse for me to be being a careless father to you, son.

Lucas: Dad............

Flint: I mean it. You were suffering just as much as I was. About losing your own mother and brother. I knew that and yet......I never bother to be there for you when you needed me the most. Even when you were able to save our world, I hardly did anything to make sure you were okay. I practically let you dealt with all of grief and sadness alone. And for that....(Takes off his Hat a Bit Solemnly) I am truly sorry, my son.

'Sound of the Wind Blowing in the Air'

Lucas: ........Dad....(Smiles a bit) It's okay. I don't blame you for anything.

Flint: (Genuinely Surprised) You don't?

Lucas: (Shook his Head) No. I mean, sure.....I was really sad about mom's death that night.....And seeing Claus killing himself right in front of me didn't helped me on the long run....But I never once blame you for not being there for me sooner. You were so sad and heartbroken that....it made perfect sense as to why we were so distant with one another.

Flint: That maybe the case, but like I said before, it doesn't excuse me for not being the father I was suppose to be.

Lucas: I know.....And you're right.....But even still..... I accept your apology. Because no matter what happens....(Smiles Brightly) You're my dad. And I'll always love you.

Flint: (Chuckles Lightly as A Single Tear Fe Down From his Eye) You've really starting to grow up, Lucas.

Lucas: You think so?

Flint: (Simply Nodded) Yep. I don't remember tell you this, but....I just wanted to let you know that....(Smiles Softly Towards his Son) I really am proud of you, my son.

Lucas: (Smiles Softly as He Hugs Flint) Thanks, Dad.

'Twig Break'

Flint: (Noticed the Sound of a Twig Breaking and Someone from a Distance) Hey, Lucas.

Lucas: Hm?

Flint: Don't be alarm, but.... I'm start to notice someone's been watching us from a distance.

Lucas: "A Distance"? (Got up from the Where he was Sitting and Noticed A....Very Familiar Face Nervously Staring at Him and Flint... Behind a Tree) Ashley? I-Is that really you?

Ashley: (Starts Blushing) L-L-Lucas! M-My apologies!... (Nervously Made her way to the Duo) I-I was only checking on you two. Making sure everything is all right and stuff....I didn't mean to cause trouble.....

Lucas: T-There's really no need to apologise, Ashley. Really. In fact....(Smiles Softly at his Girlfriend) It made me really happy that you were worried about our well beings.

Ashley: You.... really mean that?

Lucas: Of course I do. (Gently Holds Both of Ashley's Hands) You always mean well to me.

Ashley: (Starts Smiling a Little) Oh, Lucas.....

???: ('Ahem')

The young couple turns to see Flint patiently stares at them. Which causes Ashley to get nervous again.

Flint: So....you must be Lucas' Girlfriend.... Ashley, right?

Ashley: Y-Y-Yes Sir! I-It's the honestly truth. I-I-I.....I......I LOVE YOUR SON WITH ALL OF MY HEART!!!

'Silence'

Ashley: (Eyes Widened in Horror) (Why on Earth did I say that out loud?! What is Wrong with me?!!)

Flint: (Laughs Wholeheartedly) I can already tell. Lucas told me all about you after all.

Ashley: (Turns to Lucas) Y-You really told your father a-about me?

Lucas: (Happily Nodded) Mmhmm. I wanted to tell him how amazing you really are to me. (Smiles Brightly) Cause I love you too.

Ashley: (Blushes Again) Lucas.....

Flint: Missy....

Ashley: (Turns Back to Flint) Y-Yes sir?

Flint: (Nodded with a Small Smile) I would like to thank you very kindly for taking good care of my son in Smash Town for me.

Ashley: I-It's not a problem at all, sir. (Gently Holds Lucas' Hand) Lucas means a lot to me and I want to do whatever it takes to be there for him.

Lucas: (Smiles Softly) It's the truth. (Gently Squeezes Ashley's Hand) And I would do whatever it takes to be there for her too.

Flint: .......Are you sure you kids aren't ready to get married yet?

Ashley: (Starts Blushing Brightly) M-M-M-Married?!

Lucas: (Blushes As Well) DAD!! We already talked about this!!!

Flint: (Chuckles Lightly) I kid. I kid. Let's all just try and settle down now, yeah?

Lucas: ('Sigh') Yeah...

Ashley: (Nodded While Finally Calming Herself Down) Couldn't agree with you more honestly......

Flint: How about I make you kids some lemonade on the house.

Lucas: (Smiles Softly) Sure.

Ashley: (Smiles a Little) I would like that....

Flint: (Simply Nodded) Great. Then I'll make them right away. (Grab his Hat and Made his Way to the House) I'll be right back.

Lucas/Ashley: 'Kay!

Lucas: (Turns to Ashley) So, Ashley....

Ashley: Hm?

Lucas: How are you liking Tazmily Village so far?

Ashley: (Smiles Softly) Pretty well. The scroll around the town was relaxing and somewhat memorable. Though, it would be lovely if were there with me, my dear.

Lucas: (Chuckles Lightly) Sorry about that. I wanted to see my dad first before I do anything else.

Ashley: (Giggles Softly) I understand, Lucas. Don't worry. Your father seems like a really nice man.

Lucas: He is. He tries his hardest to be the man he wants to be. Even now.

Ashley: I can see that. I'm just happy you two were still able to have a close bond after all this time.

Lucas: (Smiles Sincerely) Me too, Ashley. Me too.

Inside the House....

Flint: (Smiling a Little to Himself) (Lucas....My son.... He's really growing up now, hasn't he? If he keeps this up, one of these days....He might be a even better man than I am right now. Honestly can't wait for that day to come, not gonna lie.)

@keyenuta

@26shann

@cyber-wildcat

@albion-93

@ink-correctsmashbrosbloo

@chompycroc

[gvnbreaker]

CHARACTER SURVEY || Aja Hyskaris

@yascaret​ edited/removed some of the questions to make this more FFXIV-friendly. I made a few of my own changes as well.

RULES.  Repost, don’t reblog! Tag 10! Good luck!

TAGGED BY.  @yascaret​ and @wood-warder​

TAGGING. If you’re reading this, you’re tagged!

BASICS. FULL  NAME :   Aja Hyskaris

NICKNAME :  None (yet?)

AGE :  Appears around late 20s/30 by hyur standards

BIRTHDAY :   Midsummer

GENDER : Non-binary; she/they

ETHNIC  GROUP : Viera (Rava)

NATIONALITY :  Ivalician (?)

LANGUAGE / S : Common

SEXUAL  ORIENTATION :  Homosexual

ROMANTIC  ORIENTATION : Homoromantic

RELATIONSHIP  STATUS :  In a relationship with Lofn Yascaret & Pjel Qoet

HOME  TOWN / AREA :  The Hyskarian Deepwood, Golmore

CURRENT  HOME :  A small house in Shirogane.

PROFESSION : Mercenary. Bounty/monster hunter & occasional bodyguard.

PHYSICAL. HAIR : Vibrant red, wild, curly, falling to mid-back; undercut. Sideburns and widow’s peak.

EYES :  Amber.

FACE :   Square with a sharp jawline. High cheekbones, thick, arched eyebrows, and a prominent, aquiline nose. Often smirking insufferably or flirtatiously, prone to great expressiveness and wide smiles but just as easily brooding. Sharp teeth.

LIPS :  Full. Her smiles are crooked to begin with and deadened nerves on the left side of her mouth add to the effect.

COMPLEXION : Deep brown with warm undertones, lighter palms and soles of her feet, a lighter smudge underneath her nose and around her nostrils. Freckling around her shoulders, arm, the tops of her thighs and her lower back.

BLEMISHES : None of note.

SCARS :  Covered in scattered scars of varying age, depth, and severity, particularly on her left side and near her prosthetic arm. Ceruleum burns on torso; old, ringed scar around throat; vertical scar on left corner of mouth; small scar across nose; edge of left eyebrow; three scars beneath right eye.

TATTOOS & PIERCINGS :  Blackwork tattoos around forearm and legs, among others (design with art to come); white tattoos (curve, three dots) beneath eyes; Several gold rings along outer shells of ears; gold septum ring

HEIGHT :   Just under six fulms, not counting her ears.

WEIGHT :   Average.

BUILD :   Muscular and stocky, with broad shoulders tapering to a strong waist and thighs. [body type reference]

FEATURES :  Her left arm, from the start of the bicep, is a mechanical prosthetic, appearing to be of magitek-or-close make.

ALLERGIES :   None that she knows of.

USUAL  HAIR  STYLE :  Worn loose and wild, not so much a style as a thick mane.

USUAL  FACE  LOOK :  Bare-faced, wearing tinted red pince nez. Smirking, grinning, flirting--generally looking like a complete asshole.

USUAL  CLOTHING :  Loose, open shirts, trousers, long coats, heavy, knee-high boots, leather jackets.

PSYCHOLOGY. FEAR / S : Imprisonment, isolation, drowning, Garlean war machina.

ASPIRATION / S :  Stability, helping others, belonging. In her younger years, she had romantic visions of knighthood, but those have since quieted with the years.

POSITIVE  TRAITS :  Adventurous, Passionate, Brave, Charismatic, Strong, Empathic

NEGATIVE  TRAITS :  Cocky, Bull-headed, Self-destructive, Reckless, Impulsive

MBTI : ESFP

ZODIAC :  Leo

TEMPERAMENT :  Sanguine

SOUL  TYPE / S :   Warrior

ANIMALS :   Wolf

VICE HABIT / S :   Brooding, drinking to excess, recklessness, impulsive decisions, using sex as validation.

FAITH :  She spares it little thought.

GHOSTS ? :  Yes.

AFTERLIFE ? :  Maybe.

REINCARNATION ? : Hopefully.

ALIENS ? :   When she met her first hyur man, she knew aliens were real.

POLITICAL ALIGNMENT : Garlemald bad, fuck cops.

EDUCATION  LEVEL :  Average for a viera of her village. She's taught herself to read between the lines better after being conned out of a full hunt reward once or twice in her early days in Rabanastre.

FAMILY. FATHER :   Fleeting contact a lifetime ago.

MOTHERS :  Still in the Wood.

SIBLINGS :   Several, no contact. She was close with one, but has made peace with never seeing any of them again.

EXTENDED  FAMILY :  Still in the Wood--as far as she knows.

NAME MEANING / S :  Aja, from the Hyskarian Deepwood

HISTORICAL  CONNECTION ? : She was born in Golmore, but as far as she knows her name has little meaning.

FAVORITES. BOOK :  Adventure stories and romance novels. She’d never admit it, but they can be found hidden in her satchel or underneath or inside other things.

DEITY :  She tries not to think about them.

HOLIDAY :  Moonfire Faire, ????

MONTH :  Summer

SEASON :  Summer & Fall

PLACE :  A grassy field. The back of a cycle. On top of someone or between someone's legs.

WEATHER :  Thunderstorms, rain showers, clear skies and bright sun overhead.

SOUND / S:  Rain, thunder in the distance, the soft breathing of a woman asleep.

SCENT / S :  Metal, cedar, rain, leather, girlfriend ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

TASTE / S :  Meat, whiskey, curry, girlfriend ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

FEEL / S :  Furs, leather, grass, rain, girlfriend ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

ANIMAL / S :  Cats, coeurls, dogs.

NUMBER :  7

COLORS :  Red, browns, black, gunmetal

EXTRA. TALENTS :  She's a blunt instrument, so beating the shit out of things. Flirting. Fixing things, usually the mechanical variety. Making friends. Diffusing social conflicts as often as she creates them. She's a good cook, but it's suitable really nowhere else but over a fire with a beast's flank in one hand and a metal spit in the other.

BAD  AT :  Love. Understanding and accepting her feelings. Has a chronic case of Foot-in-Mouth Disease. Has a long fuse, but her temper can spin out of control when pressed. Terrible at restraint and not being reckless and impulsive.

TURN  ONS :  Stockings, especially with the seam up the back. The nape of a woman's neck. Banter. Compliments. Smiles. Give her a smile and a coquettish eyelash flutter or make her feel strong and she's useless putty in your hands.

TURN  OFFS : Flirtatious men, cowards, cruelty, Garleans.

HOBBIES : Fishing, tinkering, gambling, trying new foods, sparring and training, exercise.

TROPES :  You Can’t Go Home Again, Badass Longcoat, Dark-Skinned Readhead, Cannot Spit It Out, Hot-Blooded, Scars Are Forever, Everyone Can See It, Artificial Limbs, Berserk Button, Unusual Eyebrows, Dark and Troubled Past, Rage Breaking Point, Cool Bike, Hot-Blooded Sideburns, Fiery Redhead, Red Oni Blue Oni, Gun Blade, La Résistance, Spell Blade, Love Epiphany, Bruiser with a Soft Center, Didn’t Think This Through (Gonna stop now or I’ll be here all night)

QUOTES : “Ah, fuck.”

MUN QUESTIONS. Q1 :   If you could write your character your way in their own movie,  what would it be called,  what style would it be filmed in, and what would it be about?          

A1 :  John Wick mixed with Final Fantasy VIII mixed with Drive but with Garlean soldiers, turncoats, gay bro content, a sorceress, and also heaps of gay in general.

Q2 :   What would their soundtrack/score sound like?          

A2 :  Chromatic rock, Nightrun, hair metal, a lot of Deftones, Tool, the Weeknd, indie and acoustic rock for angst.

Q3 :   Why did you start writing this character?          

A3 :   When viera were teased at Fanfest, I lost my mind and have been unable to concentrate on any other character since. Aja was actually going to be a hrothgar, but when they genderlocked them and the model and general design didn’t fit her body type, well… plans changed.

Q4 :   What first attracted you to this character?          

A4 :   Much like @yascaret’s answer, getting my gay hands on viera in FFTA and being obsessed since then. I wanted to write a warrior, a little battered but unbroken despite everything. She came out differently than originally planned, but in a good way. She’s just an even bigger himbo now.

Q5 :   Describe the biggest thing you dislike about your muse.

A5 :   I worry about Flanderizing her too hard, because while she is a big flirtatious himbo idiot I also want it to come across that she has depth.

Q6 :   What do you have in common with your muse?          

A6 :   Not a lot. I guess we're both stubborn idiots with very long fuses that nonetheless eventually explode and/or destroy whatever is on the receiving end. Also what's gender precious

Q7 :   How does your muse feel about  you?          

A7 :   She probably wouldn’t acknowledge me at all, but we might bond over spicy noodles.

Q8 :   What characters does your muse have interesting interactions with ?        

A8 :   Lofn and Pjel are the obvious choice, but… Lofn and Pjel. I really love writing her alongside and against them because their personality traits both complement and chafe against one another, often in the same scene. Also I love their chemistry and look forward to how that plays out.  ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Q9 :   What gives  you inspiration  to write  your muse ?        

A9 :    B u n y  d e a t h  s q u a d. Just in general seeing my RP partners and roleplayers I haven’t interacted with yet writing and posting content for their characters really inspires me. As far as writing Aja, I take a handful of aesthetics, design elements, and themes and smash them together until something clicks. Listening to music and rolling through a prompt generator usually kick starts me into writing a drabble or developing something, and the FFXIV Write challenge has been great for that this month.

Q10 :  How long did this take you to complete ?          

A10 :  About an afternoon and part of an evening. I fell into TV Tropes a little too hard near the end.

[whimsically-ominously-auspice]

Ms Chen would be pleased

She said "the most peaceful way to demonstrate and protest and have your angriest voice heard is to vote and we are lucky in this country Because we are allowed to vote. Women and Blacks worked hard for the future of them -- you -- and i dont mean biologically i mean their heart and spirit and knowing well the people in front of them when they see the future must learn and learn well in order to protect the world. Because you see this country is very powerful as is China. While China is bigger, the United States has more power and I'm sorry to tell you that all the power in the world, relies on you to use your angry voice in that polling booth. My parents still in China can not vote. They are not allowed. (No matter how many times she said this speech some one always gasped. And it -- her words caused my heart to stop in fear for her family and China and it did for many kids. They became terrified for the citizens of China) Because there is No voting. None. Not allowed. It is not too far. It is not too boring. It just does not exist. So it is you to protect the people of China. Tawain. NE Asia. You the voters of the most powerful of nations -- the USA"

And some of us. When she said to protect China. We promised with our whole hearts and souls we would. There is now voting in China

It was not until 1988 that a Village Chief in a town in China could be voted for. And in 1989 it still hadn't occurred in hers.

She never lived to the day it would be before she was murdered by the Chinese Embassy in NYC that she was trying to work with to help China and it's citizens.

She was murdered on April 17, 1990. We were notified on 4-20-90 its never been a joyous holiday for me. I try to avoid the date. Sleeping through it usually.

So two days ago was her 29th anniversary of her death. And she will be dead 30 years.

Two days ago a castle was bought for me. Two days ago i helped solve 88 murders and 43 people were arrested.

Two days ago i cried a lot and it was a very difficult day for me. And I didn't know it was the 29th anniversary of her death 30 years ago

I think i did her wonderfully proud.

She was abducted on her way to work on a Tuesday morning. Friday morning we were told of the news.

We were worried. I told the office... They had been in tears for two days in a row i said "you better tell me what's going on because i know something is. I been down here every day this week to find out about Ms Chen. Y'all attitude aint right. So us kids have assembled a search party for right after school if er can't find her on this island by midnight tonight we will go home to sleep for at least 3 hours as Me Chen would say we need to rest, she is not that important. Then we will go to Brooklyn to search. So you as an adult better tell me. And then tell them what the fuck is going on with you emotionally. Other wise put a post it in each teacher box so have an adult to go with us. 5 am for the city ferry then on to Brooklyn."

Half the office was literally i mean honestly throwing up in trash cans.

Ms Pallen the principal came in with a small jewelry like box. And what was inside was mostly covered by a tissue. "Sabrina is -- this ring -- does this belong to Ms Chen, finger and all?"

"Well it looks like her rin--" i lifted the small tissue covering her finger "a finger! Where's the rest of her?! Did you get the hand?! What about an arm?! Where is her body?!"

I wanted to know more. The more missing body parts the less chance we had to save her. I knew -- she told us. So a finger? Just a finger?! We were looking good!! Of all her stories. She of all people was tough enough to lose a finger and keep on talking.

"Do i have permission to leave the building for one quick look just around? I'll be back swiftly i promise"

Our principal softly stroked our friends finger and nodded gently and sadly as tears dropped down ... If tears and throw up could bring her back we were doing well in this office.

"As bad as it pains you look in the worst place first. Here i would think it would be water. I can't swim. Well barely. But not too good for New York City's oceans" she had said. She said it was the worst to know we would think but in reality it was worst to question and hope when there was none.

So i took off to the seawall and ran up and down looking but i didn't see her... I didn't want to. So I ran all the way around the tiny military island. Then back. Then i rode the public transit bus looking far off in the middle not the edge then the outer edge at Brooklyn. I got off at the school. I walked directly to the sea wall and looked down.

There she was floating face down. Her skirt covering as much of her legs as possible. Her beautiful black hair covering much of the rest. She had on one heel, a white shirt and black skirts. One of her favorite outfits she said. Because she said it made her feel most business.

I walked slow back to the school.

Ms Pallen smiled "i knew you were onto something, did you find it?"

My eyes got huge because i had and i had been believed in and i looked up at her in her heels "i do. I need the police"

She was smiling all kinds calling it in. "She found a clue. No shes mute. You know how she gets. No not really happy. Oh she's thinking and her mouth is dropped. Not good? Oh it's a clue! Just hurry"

Ms Pallen kneeled down next to me I really worked st hiding what i saw. What i had did.

"So what is happening. What clue can you tell me?"

I looked down, with dead eyes. Glassy purposeful eyes and a stroked her head, starting at the tip top and down to her chin "I'm sorry"

"No" she started to angry scowl and cry at the same time.

I nodded "yep"

"No" she started crying again her face contorting different

"Shh it will be all okay. Come sit" i patted the seat next to me

"What's wrong with her eyes? She looks dead -- no im not going to throw up. I think"

"A clue" I held Ms Pallen's hand. I was the kid. But no one was gonna be okay.

"If she's dead im gonna get a new job. Remember i told you that. Her, too!"

"Then you better start" i hung my head. No Don't look down Ms Chen would say. Be strong for you and your friends "looking" i looked up cheerfully as if it were just a bright new day.

"Haha very funny kid"

I just smiled. -- show me you're happy. Show the world you can be And be free. She would say. I found her. The world could rest. Stop puking. Stop being afraid. Ms Chen would like me for that.

"Why so happy kid?"

"Cause... Life... It never ceases to exist. Its always inside me"

"Bright sunshiney day"

"Looks gloom and dreary if you ask me"

"Maybe that's why i didn't see her at first."

"Sabrina you have something for me? Did you see thr finger? They only had it since yesterday" i heard behind me, a male voice, "good mornin girls. Sabrina do you hear me?"

"She went mute again but shr was just talking. Let me get my coat"

"Sabrina do you need her?"

I nodded

"Don't nod. Speak. What do you need? You know you can tell me?"

"Every one clocked in in the office and at two chair or an ambulance. People will need to sit"

"Well uh how come?"

"Death"

"Well, come on it's just a finger."

"Chair. Ambu bed"

"So she's alive?"

"Morg--- just come on"

Halfway there he dropped the chairs. Just dumped them. The girls left a string of clues behind. Shoes. Coats. Jackets. They all knew. They all knew as soon as they saw my direct path was to the fence seperating the land from the water.

And they ran. Throwing all their unnecessary items behind. So they could get in the water. All three of them. 2 secretaries and a principal.

And the body of the world's greatest teachers floating stiff and face down, dead.

"Yeah it's her alright. But she's missing two fingers i guess her parents got the other one. Her two families most important things. Both index fingers or her pointer. Sabrina what's that mean? Im gonna sit in the water with her until the coroner gets here. I don't want her to be alone" said what had appeared to be the weakest Secretary but most determined

"I don't know if she's more beautiful dead or alive. Shes like a mermaid. And so pretty."

"Sabrina what's It mean? The one index?" Asked our police

"You're number one. Wait right here. One minute and I'll be back"

"She had them cut it off? I bet she did. She's a tough woman like that" she sat on a dry area next to our friend.

"Idk how much you know about biology. But that finger had no blood. Shes been dead at least since yesterday" Ms Pallen out of the water in a wool green plaid frock dress, her fur coat in the street at the stop sign.

"The moment they picked her up. She was never going to live past that" i sighed

"But sabrina why would she want them to cut it off?" She asked looking towards the school

"Reincarnation. She means it. She will be back. Or She will never leave at all"

"Sabrina she's not supposed to talk about religion with you. Seperation of church and state" she said looking out over the water send down.

"Chinese culture is not a religion to some people. Neither is American religion not a culture"

"Oh she loopholed. That is sweet. Now we know. Oh my dear sweet friend, here is your ride coming up" said Ms Pallen the principal.

"the most peaceful way to demonstrate and protest and have your angriest voice heard is to vote and we are lucky in this country Because we are allowed to vote. Women and Blacks worked hard for the future of them -- you -- and i dont mean biologically i mean their heart and spirit and knowing well the people in front of them when they see the future must learn and learn well in order to protect the world. Because you see this country is very powerful..."

And you are a part of that power.

So register to vote then vote in the November 2020 election.

Raise your kids right. Not only are they our future. They will take over the world.

I did.

[joneshartright-blog]

The Other Side (Part 4)

Summary: a story about love and reincarnation

Warnings: none, song: please I recomend you to listen 'Ace of Hearts by Zella day' since a think is a beautiful song and match the romance, especially this chapter in the end.

»Thank you for being receptive with the fic.This chapter is in the same day as the other, if you look carefully at the details, you'll see.Also let me now if any of you wants to be tagged! «

Gabriella didn't know exactly how the visions started, she just remember feeling really nauseated at the time.However, she went to different doctors and psychiatrists that never find anything, but tried to put the fault in the fact that "she was abandoned, by her real mother" and it somehow caused a “trauma".

She always knew, since childhood, that she was adopted.At the age of 5, in a saturday morning her 'mother' came up and told to both of the kids that she wasn't her daughter by blood.But that it doesn't really matter, because the first time she saw her, she knew, she was meant to be her daughter and Julia's sister.The little girl only smiled answering a "love you,mommy”.

Now, old enough to understand, Gabriella couldn't be more grateful for everything that her and Julia, did to her.She would be forever grateful, the way they made her feel home and happy, never ending.She couldn't ask for more, but the same for them.

But yet, this never explained why she had the visions she had.The doctors could be right, if it wasn't for the fact that she was abandoned when a baby.Now all that she could think about was that.She was worried.She didn't know the meaning of a coffee "overflowing blood" , but she was damn sure she saw it happening, in front of her eyes.However the fear of being discovered as a “crazy lady in london", was worst so she just left the cafeteria, putting the pennies at table.

It has been only one day, that she was in London and confusion was something she felt the most part of the time.Her phone rangs and with cold hands she grabbed.

“Hello?"

“Hey, Gabs" she heard the voice of her sister on the other side of the line and tried to play it cool.

“Hey"

“Are you okay?" she could tell something wasn't right just by the tone.It was hard to lie to Julia.

“Yeah, right, I just had a headache. How was it?”

“It was fine, they told me everything I needed to know before I start on Monday." There we're a loud noise of people on the other side and apparentely some yelling.

“Look, Joe called me saying that he has some of kinda of invitation to us, and asked if we could find him at mall"

“At the mall?”

“Yeah, he told me that whatever where were going I have to use a dress, and not pants and a pair of boots"

Gabriella laughed at how annoyed she sounded.

“Are you laughing?"

“No, I'm sorry, but I think he's right, I don't understand why you never use a dress."

“It's not like is never, besides I think pants are more comfortable"

“Yeah, right"

“Ok, so find me at the mall, 12 PM?”

“Fine"

[...]

“Joe, this is really necessary?"

Julia asked annoyed after trying the third dress of the day.

“Of course it is, there's going to be a lot of ladies dressed like that"

She looked at the mirror, the dress wasn't bad, it was black, long and loose, she even liked it, but she still thought that her pants, sweater, boots and olive jacket was better.

“You're not gonna tell us where kind of event we're going, that requires those fancy dresses?”

“All you need to know is that a friend of mine invinted me, and me being the best guy that I am,I'm gonna bring you two with me and well now I'm buying you a dress.”

"What a gentleman" Gabriella says smiling and looking at the shoes she was putting.

“That's the time you two should say, 'oh my god Joe, you're the best!' "

“I really hope, you're not setting up one of us in a date"

“What's the problem?I see that you finally broken up with that prick so that means you're single and Gabi too"

She rolled her eyes adjusting the strap of the dress.

“Are you not going to tell us the name of your friend?"

"Yeah your 'best mate' " she faked the british accent laughing and receiving a hard look.

“Well you now" he posed in front of the mirror touching his hair and looking back at the two girls. “No one special, just Ben, I mean Benjamin Jones"

Realization came to Julia's eyes and she arched her eyebrows.

“Benjamin, wait, what?!” Gabriella took one minute to assimilate the sentence, a little shocked.

“Benjamin Jones?Are you joking?God, I can't , he's a genius!

“Yeah and happens to be a really nice guy too, I told him about you and he offered to go."

“I didn't know you two where friends"

“Well, we are, and I think you'll like him”

“Of course she will, he's intelligent, handsome and a journalist.I would kill to have a conversation about politics or anything with him"

Julia rolled her eyes again, shaking her head at her sister, smiling.

“Yes he's really talented and everything, but now I really need to decide which dress, because we don't pretend to expend all the day here right?And since you want your conversation we need to walk" her sister nodded enthusiastic.

“How do I look?”

“Perfect"

[...]

Outside the night seemed cold, only lights iluminating,sky without stars.The blond man looked through a window taking another sip of his whisky.

“Benjamin Jones!"

The voice of his boss echoed and he turned around giving him a quick smirk.

“Mitchum"

Mitchum Huntzberger was the editor-in-chief of 'The Front Page' one of the most influent journals in town.

“How are the things?"

It was really ironic to say that they were friends, since the beggining Mitchum made it clear their positions in journal: his being the editor-in-chief, and Benjamin, well a mere journalist who had the lucky of become famous.The truth was, Mitchum really liked Jones job, but refused himself to recognize that he was, in fact, a better journalist than he, Mitchum Huntzberger, could ever be.

“Fine"

“Did you enjoy yourself at this party?There's a lot of ladies here, for all types."

Ben always hated the way he treated woman around him, objectifying them.

“Yeah I see they're all interisting”

“You should give yourself a night of relief, if you know what I mean, if you keep yourself working like a dog, you might loose the taste."

Benjamin thought that at any moment he could throw the man in front of him out of the window, but infortunately he liked and needed his job.

“Thanks for your worry Mitchum, but I'm not looking for anyone tonight." he took another sip “I might let the chances for you"

He tapped his boss shoulder walking across the room, lefting the man alone, grateful that he didn't followed him.He step aside the tall man sighing tired.

“TED talks with the boss"

“I swear I could throw him trought the bloody window”

“The feeling is mutual, my friend, but think at least now we have a reason to toast"

Ben laughed.

“To our dick 'editor-in-chief'"

They hit the glasses, drinking all the whiskey.

“Joe is really coming?"

“I guess so, I offered to him to bring to girls"

“Two girls?" Gwilym smirks intentionally at his friend.

“What?”

“Nothing you just offered to him to bring two girls and I am the desperate for love"

"Oh shut it"

He shake his head seeing his other friend entering the party.

“Joe!" he talk out loud as the music start playing in some waltz rhythm.

“Ben!" he hugs his friend tapping his back.“Gwil!"

“Give me a drink please" Joe says to the man who has been serving the drinks. “So how is the party"

“Sublime" Gwilym says ironicaly and the blond one denies with his head, smirking.

“Well I have two interisting people to apresent to you, so maybe you night could be less boring." he blinks at Ben and he reply with a mouthful "yeah".

Joe turns around going into the direction of the two girls, one of them with a short hair and other with long.

At the moment she turns around to look at them Benjamin could hear his heart skip a beat and his eyes focuse in her moviments.The resemblance was haunting.She had exactly the same pale skin, freckles on it, dark brown eyes and hair except for the fact that it was shorter than he remembered.He could feel his stomach drop, he didn't know if he was seeing was true or not, but she was there in front of him vivid and real just as his dream.No she wasn't pleading to live, neither crying or even dead.She was alive, right in front of him looking at his eyes and smiling politely as he continued staring, reminding himself of his dream.

“Ben this Julia, Julia this Ben, well Benjamin, but we call him Ben"

And he took her hand, an eletricity running trought their palms as he shaked it gently.He was sure she felt it too, by the way she looked away, at his friend.However her eyes always find his again after some minutes.

In the other side of the room Gabriella stopped, she could feel it happening again as she tried to approach the group of friends.Blinlink a few times, she looked at them.

Her eyes widened at the sight in front of her.No, she couldn't be dreaming.At one minute she was in a room, a party, but now everything seemed out of place and time.Her blood started to boil, she didn't understood why they're dressed like that, with old clothes and accessories, like in era of the queen victoria and the books that she read before.Whatever it was, it wasn't her sister or Benjamin, they looked so different, so

“Gabriella!"

She didn't felt when she fell on the ground and before she could even reply everything went black.

@strangemaximoff @alosthufflepuff @imamazzellhoe @jdroman5432 @parkersroses @benshardy @kurt-nightcrawler @imaginesbyme @destiel-stucky4ever-loki-queen @wint-er-voices @eyeballchambersgirl @blooharry @queenspur @72-mingo @toasty-fish

@onceuponadetectivedemigod @lizgarxo

[timmyrx2000]

Dipper Steps Up: Chapter 8

Chapter Index: (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)

Chapter 8

Dipper and Mrs. Taylor ran to the stair, Dipper in the lead. He tore up ahead of her to the second floor and tried to open Chuck's door and found it locked. "Mabel!"

From inside the room came Mabel's frantic voice: "Dipper! Something's wrong with—"

"Go away!"

Dipper heard Mrs. Taylor gasp. The voice was Chuck's but then again it didn't sound a bit like Chuck's normal tone—lower, grating, more guttural. Dipper pounded on the door. "Come on, this isn't funny! Open up!"

He flinched as a shattering crash of glass came from the far side. Mabel screamed. Dipper threw himself against the door, bounced off, and went sprawling. He got up and charged the door again—

And bowled over Mabel, who'd just thrown the door open. They tumbled to the floor together. Mabel waved her arm wildly. "He broke the window!"

"Chuck!" Mrs. Taylor yelled, stepping over and around the two fallen Mystery Twins. "What—where is he?"

"He broke the window!" Mabel said again, getting up. "With the chair! And then he jumped out!"

"From up here?" Dipper asked, standing up. Mrs. Taylor went to the broken window, next to the bed, and he stood beside her looking out. The window had been one big pane, completely gone now, except for half a dozen sharp shards left clinging to the sides and top of the frame. A window screen had been pushed out and hung crazily off to the left. The blue curtain on that side hung out of the opening, ripped so a piece of it flopped loose.

"Where is he?" Mrs. Taylor asked. She turned and ran out to the hall and down the steps. Dipper leaned out.

Below him, fragments of broken glass from dinner-plate size on down littered the grass below the window, and a few feet away the desk chair lay on its back, as though it had been hurled out in a fit of anger. No sign of Chuck.

"He just—he went crazy!" Mabel said, sobbing. "He told me to get out of the chair, I stood up, he pushed past me and locked the door and picked up the chair, and I yelled—then he threw the chair right through the window!"

"You OK?" Dipper asked her.

"I'm scared! He looked so—wild!"

"You're not hurt, though?"

"No."

"Come on—let's see if we can find Chuck!"

He wasn't in the back yard—but some of his blood was. A splash of it as big as Dipper's hand was right under the window, and a smear of it on the fence showed that Chuck must have climbed over it at the corner of the house, where he could head to the street. Mrs. Taylor was yelling Chuck's name and staring all around the back yard, though he couldn't have been there—no place to hide.

"Take care of Mrs. Taylor," Dipper told Mabel. "Get her back inside and have her call the police. I'm gonna see if I can track him."

"Track—how?"

"He's bleeding," Dipper said. "Not too bad, but I can see a drop here and there. I'll try to follow him."

"What—what will you do if you catch him?" Mabel asked.

"Not hurt him. Try to hold him until the police come. I'll call if I find him."

They went through the house, and Dipper ran to the front door. "Go get Mrs. Taylor inside," he told Mabel. "Make sure she calls the police. They wouldn't believe you or me."

"I'll do it."

As he opened it, Mabel called, "Dipper—"

"Yeah?"

"Be careful!"

Tracking proved harder than he'd thought. The outside of the fence showed a small streak of blood, but no spots showed on the lawn—none he could find. Oh, man! I wish Wendy were here—she knows all about this tracking stuff, and I don't know anything!

He walked to the street, taking the most direct path across the lawn, and went ten feet one way, ten the other, before he caught sight of a nickel-sized red splotch, roughly pear-shaped and already drying.

Forcing himself not to run—he might miss something—Dipper walked along the sidewalk of Selborne Drive, head down, gaze on the pavement. He took out his phone and called Grunkle Ford's number. When Ford answered, Dipper said, "Ford, I've got a big problem."

"Go on," Ford told him.

Quickly Dipper sketched in what he knew, what he had deduced, and what he feared. "Mabel says he went crazy and jumped out of the window," he finished. "And I'm almost sure he did that the instant I mentioned Northwest's name, but I wasn't in the room. Not even on the same floor!"

"Possession," Ford said. "Ghosts can gain a sudden energy by being called by their earthly names—and they have the uncanny ability of being several places at once, or it seems that way. The odds are high that's what happened. Let me consult some resources and I'll call you right back."

"Hurry. I'm trying to follow him, but I don't know how long I can stay on the trail."

A nickel-sized drop every ten steps or so, that was the track. And when he reached the intersection with Estates Drive even that vanished. At the corner, down on the sidewalk in the curve of a split-faced fieldstone wall, he saw three somewhat larger drops, spaced close together, as though Chuck had stood there considering which way to turn. Nothing from there on, one way or the other, on Estates Drive. He had seen no one to ask—no potential witnesses. "Come on, Grunkle Ford!" he muttered coming back to the corner with the blood spots and feeling the afternoon sun warm on his face.

As though in response, his phone chimed. "Hello!"

Ford didn't even greet him before diving in: "Dipper, here's what I have. It's based not only on research but also on my helping Fiddleford clear out some of the things the Northwests left behind when they had to sell their house. Listen carefully."

"I am."

"You may want to take notes."

"I'll remember, just tell me," Dipper said.

"Very well. I'm pretty certain, judging from some things he'd collected—one room was full of Nathaniel Northwest memorabilia, though of course Preston took most of it, but he left some things in bad condition behind—"

"Please, Grunkle Ford! I don't need the whole backstory!"

"Yes, forgive me. Anyway, from some of the memorabilia, it's clear Northwest was a man who believed in superstitions—some of which might not have been just foolish imaginings at all. When he first came to Gravity Falls—the valley, I mean, because the town—"

"Hadn't been built then, I know," Dipper said impatiently. "He started out building a log hut and trading with the Native Americans in the area. I think Pacifica told me that much."

"Yes, trading for furs and food among three tribes: the Shoshone, Klamet, and Liksiyu," Ford agreed. "The valley is near where all three territories touch—but I'm off the subject. Now, you may know that the Indians—I'm sorry, Native Americans, that term wasn't as widely used when I was in school—no, sorry, sidetracked again, let me just go on. The tribes were afraid of the valley and rarely ventured very far in. Northwests' trading post was near the valley entrance, at the Twin Buffs, and the Native Americans warned him of ghosts and spirits farther in."

"Come on, Grunkle Ford!"

"Patience, Dipper! Northwest was interested in their ghost tales and seemed to accept them as true, and so the Native Americans told him more of their beliefs and lore. Anyway, an idea that he may have picked up from one of those groups is that the spirit of a warrior can refuse to go to the afterlife—can become a ghost—and can reincarnate in the body of a descendant or relative. Listen: The possession cannot be complete until the spirit forces the body of its host to 'walk the path of twisting fate.'"

"What does that mean?"

"I have no idea."

Dipper slumped, ready to scream in frustration.

"However, let me tell you a little more that may be a clue," Ford returned. "In one room that Fiddleford and I cleaned out, we found an old notebook pages brown and brittle with age, obviously from the nineteenth century, in which someone had drawn in pencil page after page of labyrinths. The little story about the spirit and possession was on the first page, just six or eight lines, but probably not in Nathaniel's handwriting. He seems to have been next door to illiterate. Perhaps his wife wrote it for him. The drawings of the labyrinths are crude and I think it likely that he did them himself."

"Labyrinth." Like the one in Greek mythology where Theseus confronted the Minotaur.

"Labyrinth, yes. Not a maze," Ford said. "Most people confuse the two. The difference is—"

"A maze has intersections, different branches and a complex path in and out," Dipper said. "A labyrinth has only one very complex path, and no branches or intersections. With a labyrinth, the goal isn't to find a different way out, but to take a long twisting walk and then retrace your steps back to the entrance, it's a ritual meditation thing, I know."

"Very good!" Ford said. "Now, independently of the old notebook, I have learned that one of the tribes, I think the Liksiyu, though I may be wrong, made ritual labyrinths just for this purpose—not walled in, just patterns of stones laid out on the ground for the host of a possessing spirit to walk, a guide for his or her steps. If Northwest can force your friend to construct one of these and to walk through it and out again, then the possession may become complete. The soul of your friend will be cut loose from his body and Norhtwest will own it for the rest of its life. However, time is of the essence. If it doesn't force the body through the labyrinth ritual, the possessing spirit cannot control the body for more than three days and nights before it will lose its hold, and then the original owner of the body will re-emerge as dominant. You don't want to let that happen. If it does, invariably, though the original spirit is back in the body—the person becomes insane for life."

Dipper's heart pounded. "If I find Chuck, how can I stop that from happening?"

"You must exorcise the possessing spirit. I'll send you full instructions on how to do that by—what is it called? Electric mail?"

"Email," Dipper said. "Do it!"

"Within the hour. I hope all this helps."

Something nagged at Dipper, but it was just beyond his mental reach. "Yeah, it does," he said to Ford. A black-and-white police car with the blue, gold, and white Piedmont Police shield painted on the front door pulled up to the curb near the intersection, stopped, and two patrolmen got out. "Gotta go," Dipper said on the phone. "Call you later."

One of the officers said, "Hey, kid. You Chuck Taylor?"

"No," Dipper said. "I'm his friend, Dipper Pines. I've been following him, though. He cut himself going through the window and left a trail of blood up to here, and it just stops. See these?" He pointed to the three red spots on the sidewalk.

"You have any ID, kid?" the other cop asked.

"I'm too young for a driver's license or learner's permit," Dipper said, taking out his wallet, "but here's my school ID." He pulled out the card, and another one, laminated cardboard, tucked behind it slipped out too and fluttered toward the ground. The first cop caught it in mid-air.

"Mason Pines," the other policeman read from the school ID card. "What did you say your first name was?"

"Dipper," the second one told him.

"It's a nickname," Dipper said. "I don't like my real name."

"Mason's an OK name," the policeman who had caught the dropped card said. Smiling, he held it up and asked, "Official Junior Ghost Harasser, huh?"

"Uh—I was a big fan of that show when I was a kid. I mean younger," Dipper said. "The stars were at a convention in San Francisco, and they handed these out as souvenirs. They've got both the guys' autographs."

"I like that show myself," the policeman said, handing the Ghost Harassers card back.

As Dipper tucked both cards into his wallet, the other cop hunkered down and studied the spatters of blood. "What do you think, Joe?" he asked.

The other policeman looked up and down the street. "No more blood spots?" he asked Dipper.

"No, sir. Not in either direction."

Joe nodded and said, "My guess is he was picked up, Frank."

"Not by one of our cars," Frank said straightening up. "We'd have heard."

"No. I think he waited here and tried to thumb down a passing car. He waited long enough for three drops of blood to fall, and then it happened."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. Somebody stopped for him."

"Let's go."

Joe said to Dipper, "Good work, son. You go back now. We've got this."

"Sir," Dipper said, "you ought to know—Chuck's a good guy. Never been in trouble, never. But right now—he's not himself. When you find him, don't hurt him."

"We won't, son. But you have to worry about something else."

"What?"

"He's already hurt himself." To be continued

Note from the Authors: This was just an idea I had but the one who really worked his magic and wrote almost all of this is none other than BillEase. He’s an amazing author who usually hangs out at fanfiction.net. Don’t pass up on a chance to check out his stuff. This guy is AMAZING. He wrote the story, I just gave the plot.

[sandalwoodandjasmine]

Toshir Anniversary Yr 2

The date for Bash’s and Toni’s anniversary was closing in rapidly and Toni finds himself on a super tight deadline with still no idea what to do after weeks of trying to unsuccessfully plan something, anything. Bash’s schedule is an unwieldy, inflexible one and trying to get Bash on board, low-key, for a date had proved way more challenging than he thought. Maybe he took it too lightly. Now the day is here and he’s staring down the barrel of a gun. If he doesn’t think of something, anything, Bash will feel unappreciated and he just can’t let that happen. Preemptively, the day before, he sent a message Bash’s way: <Tomorrow’s our anniversary! Can’t wait to see you. I’ll make you glad you came home.> It almost sounded as hollow as he felt inside. What does one do for a second anniversary? Toni pauses, staring blankly at the empty corner of a wall and lets his mind wander. Going out to dinner and a movie seemed so cliché. Everything else, like a getaway or weekend spa retreat, had been out of the question due to the scheduling. He’s got no idea what to do. Restless mind and feet lead him out onto the balcony to stare into the city scape. The smell of Boston rushes into his nostrils. Even uptown, it had it’s own unique smell. He hadn’t noticed until he and Bash went up the coast for a little getaway when they’d first gotten together. Too bad they couldn’t just repeat that trip… So, why had they gotten together?

Initially, it all started when Bash had run into Toni at a coffee shop. Literally run into. A full force colliding. The door opened just as Toni was departing, coffee in hand, and he hadn't been paying attention because Rees was non-stop messaging him over a petty argument they'd had. Before he knew it, he'd plow into the guy coming in. The canister of coffee he'd just paid for, went into the floor, splashing unceremoniously and without much notice. Maybe because Toni noticed Bashir more and was more concerned about his safety. It was just a couple of seconds of standing there staring at one another. Toni recalled himself.

"H-hey, sorry. You okay? I didn't spill any coffee on you, did I? It was hot!"

"No, no, I'm okay. Sorry about your coffee. Can I buy you another one?"

"Nah, this was my fault. It's not a big deal. Glad you’re okay."

A simple enough trade-off, apology delivered, accepted, and amends made. No harm, no foul. Toni leaned down to pick up his coffee canister as Bashir passed him. Another buzz from his omnitool tells him he's got another message and before he can even think to have his coffee refilled, Rees is calling him. He didn't even look back as he tore out of the cafe to answer the call.

It wasn't just because of the impending breakup with Rees that he’d found himself drawn to Bashir. It also wasn't due to Bashir offering him a shoulder to lean on when things got rough. Though Bash constantly telling him he deserved better certainly helped. He even offered a place for Toni to crash when the nights got rough. So Toni would curl up on his couch, safe from the threats of Rees and catch up on much needed sleep. Since Rees had no idea where he was at, all he had to do was turn off his omnitool for awhile. Rees never did find out either. All Toni would tell him was he hung out at a friend’s for awhile. And like clockwork, that conversation would break into a whole new argument, full of Rees’ insecurities and need for control.

The magic between them had occurred a few weeks after Bashir had moved into town for school. It had been a night a lot like the one now. Warm air. The city streets sprawling out below. The flickering lights of the skyscrapers with their intrusive and constant digitally displayed advertisements flashing, reflecting off the glossy asphalt. Toni had climbed the fire escape up to Bash's window to hang out for a little while, unannounced. He was always unannounced but he immediately came up when he saw the light on. They sat together, Bash half hanging out of his window and Toni perched on the banister of the fire escape. He'd had half a cigarette in his mouth when Bash crawled through the window and drew closer. He reaches out removed the cigarette between Toni's lips. Toni initially thought he was taking a drag himself, looked at him a bit surprised but said nothing. Then Bashir drew close and closer still, so close he could feel the heat of his body. It was hotter than the summer air. There was a moment between them, a simple kind of uncertainty, or so he thought. Bash's mouth, those lips a deep shade of mauve, lingered just an inch from his. Toni's back straightened and he leaned forward, craning his neck in automatic response. Something dark and hungry rose in the pits of his stomach and the pleasant feel of being fully attentive and drawn in crawled its way through his body, surging like a shot of adrenaline. He lets out the softest whisper of breath in want; a noise he had no idea he'd been capable of. Yet Bashir had laid the bait that drew him in. All Bash had to do was claim Toni, and he did. Just like that. No questions. No false pretenses. No hesitation. He'd simply acted. The kiss had come as a pleasant shock but very welcome. Bash drew back after the initial contact, his lips pressed together. He'd looked shy, then, eyes averting to scrawl against the brickwork of the old building.

"I, um," he muttered, "I've been wanting to do that awhile." Then he places the cigarette between Toni's lips again as if nothing had even happened. All Toni could do was just stare, eyes wide as he takes this incident in. He'd forgotten all about the cigarette. Instead, he slips from his perch, pulls the cigarette away again, and draws Bashir into him, eager to feel those lips against his own. The kiss had awakened something inside him, something curious and aching, wanting to know love the way it was being offered by the other man. They'd talked deeply about relationships enough to know all the things Bashir thought were important to share. And honestly, Toni wanted all the cute, romantic shit other couples had: watching movies together, eating each other's food, holding hands, waking up the next morning in the same bed, skin-to-skin... He'd gotten none of that from Rees.

He sucked in a breath as he retreated a bit to measure it all up, see how the world felt after that, if he still had equilibrium. He did and more. "Damn...," he exhaled, surprised by how he'd felt deep down. He'd not really realized it with all the fuss over Rees just how close he'd become with Bash. Now there was an ache, a burning deep longing to advance whatever this was. Being with Bash would go places. "I think I've been waiting for that... I dunno how long even..."

Was it just the chemistry? The chemistry was pretty damn good. But the chemistry with Rees had been just as good. It wasn't the chemistry alone that kept him coming back. Bashir offered so much more on levels Toni knew existed but hadn't recognized in their forms, things that were intangible and hard to explain that he'd observed in other relationships. He can name those things now, but back then, they'd been hard to put into words. And having these things strengthened the chemistry, created a level of arousal he'd never experienced before. He can lose himself with Bash and have no fear of being lost.

Was it the conversation? They'd talk a lot about the day, the week, how the month was going and when that part was over, they'd talk some more, about the deeper shit, the shit Toni loves the most—life, loss, dreams, hope, failure, where they'd be in a month, a year, what goals were looking like, what the face of love looked like and would they recognize it, if soulmates exist, if reincarnation was a thing, thoughts about deities and religion, about food. Especially about food. Christ, the take out from their favorite restaurant had this amazing fried rice that they both loved. It had become a guilty pleasure and a joke.

"Damn, I really wish I could make the rice taste this good. I'm gonna' steal their recipe," Toni laughed.

Bash retorted with, "You might have to fight the owner first. She's pretty guarded about them."

They both laughed as Toni went over the top with some incredible scenario about fighting the restaurant owner for her cooking secrets. He'd been silly with lousy ideas but hearing Bash laugh and seeing his bright smile left him feeling like they were just a bit less lousy. That kind of feeling is the stuff home is made of. He'd never expected to feel at home and have this warmth with anyone. Bash had proved him wrong and refreshed his mind and heart. He's really understanding and taking it into his head that he's just as much a gift to Bash as Bash is to him. It's a thought he's struggled with for a long time.

It wasn't just because Toni makes him laugh, the late nights hanging out, the chemistry, or the constant conversation and rants... It's everything. The simplest thing he can think to do is somehow pay homage on their first kiss, what brought them together. It occurs to him then. A bad breakup, a few beers, a pack of smokes, and take out from a restaurant they both fancied. Maybe open the window, have dinner out on the balcony like they did when Toni used to climb the fire escape at night just to get away. Bash had been his comfort back then. Toni aims to be his comfort now. He knows it's been a hard road with work and school and balancing their relationship on top of that. This entire time, Bash had taken it like a champ, still making time for Toni in messages, getting better with communicating and urging Toni to do the same for the sake of their relationship. He'd been so mature the entire time, it shamed Toni a little to be so damned needy for him.

Maybe all this is the draw to why they work despite the distance, because having the bond they have, trusting someone that much so deeply is a beautiful blessing in itself. He is home with Bash, no matter where they live or where they will go and end up. So long as they are together, he doesn't mind. He knows Bash won't leave him or take him for granted, either. And he's loyal right down to the skin of his teeth. It'd take something serious at this point to detour him from laying it all on the line for the guy. Something in his smile, in the light of his eyes, in the way he talks, what he cares about... Toni knows he's in good company.

Now, does he cook or does he go out of his way to pick up food at their usual place even if it's on the other side of town? What if Bash didn't feel like a heavy meal? He takes the jet lag and exhaustion into consideration. Maybe both, because there's no telling how Bash's appetite is swinging. He'd make something up that's light and easy on the belly and also grab the take out for old time's sake. It's just too iconic at this point to leave out of the equation.

----

Finally, it's all prepped. He sets the mood on the balcony. A set of colorful hanging lamps dangle from the overhang giving it the inner city feeling. He can't stir up the bad smells of inner city life but this all works. A bucket of ice cold beers sit on the table. A pack of unopened smokes next to it. The takeout is still in the bag, covered and waiting, and the small dishes of easy stuff sat covered beneath a small dome. All he needs now is to change into a pair of sweatpants, a tank, and his hoodie, ruffle his hair a bit, and he's good.

----

When Bash comes home, Toni's there immediately, dragging in his bag, taking his jacket, pulling him in for a few quick kisses, surprising him but then again, not entirely surprised because it's Toni and he always has a penchant for affection.

He could barely get a word in edgewise. "Hey, hey!," Bash laughs, "Toni, slow down."

"Sorry," Toni mumbles between kisses to Bash's cheek. "Been too long."

"A month isn't that long..."

"You kidding?," Toni scoffs, smiling. "Without you, it's the longest. C'mon. I'll take your bag to the room and unpack it. Why don't you get a shower?"

----

"You... I thought you forgot," Bash smiles and locks his fingers behind his head, impressed by the spread. "We hadn't time to plan anything, but I should have known you planned something on your own."

Toni shrugs and pops open two bottles of beer. He passes one to Bash as they both sit on the balcony. They'd forsaken the chairs for the deck.

"It took me awhile to figure out what to do. Wanted it to be meaningful and... since you always felt like home, I thought it was a nice reminder."

Bash elbows him in the ribs with a nudge. "It's exactly what I needed. And you even dressed the part."

Toni laughs, "Yeah. All except the hair."

Bash reaches up and sweeps a hand through his blond locks. "It's grown out so much since. I like it."

"You seemed to like running your hand over my scalp back then."

"Yeah, don't get me wrong. It felt nice and I thought you were hot with the shaved head but it's much better this way."

Toni gives him a wry smile.

"I remember the first time you climbed up to my window..."

"What did you think?," Toni asks.

"I kept asking myself why this hot guy was climbing up to my window when he could have just knocked on my door."

Toni barks a laugh. "Hot guy..."

"What? You were then and you are now," Bash insists. "The only thing that could have made that moment more perfect is if you had brought up pizza with you."

"You wouldn't have eaten it!," Toni exclaims. "You have always been a conscious eater."

"Please," Bash grins, "I remember pigging out with you on a few occasions when you were close to tears. It wasn't always the healthiest junk either. I remember some kind of pasta with a ton of cheese in it. A rich decadent cake from the bakery a few blocks over. French fries."

"Oh my god, those fries with the seasoning," Toni sighs. "I miss them."

"Well, you're no longer miserable and you've better comfort foods."

Toni takes a drink to that. "And a better boyfriend. The best boyfriend."

"I love you, too, Antoni," Bash holds his gaze. "Now, pass me that rice. I'm feeling pretty hungry after all."

----

"I thought you were pretty hot, too," Toni smiles over his open box of rice.

“Obviously,” Bash grins as he takes a bite. “Why else would you have kissed me?” “Did you know I was attracted to you?” “I thought I saw signs, initially,” Bash shrugs,“but some of that was wishful thinking. You always hope someone is into that you’re interested in. I felt a kinship with you, too, a strong bond. It’s easy to deceive yourself into thinking someone is interested when they’re not and I thought maybe that was the case. Maybe it was just the bond I felt with you. At first.” “So…,” Toni takes a deep drink of beer. It’s a dark ale, a little smoky and robust. “How did you know when to kiss me?” “You came up here half drunk, Toni,” Bashir’s smile grows wide. “You had this look in your eyes. You said something about being horny and you wish you had a guy like me. How do you not remember that?” Toni almost drops his beer. He makes a clumsy grab for it, ends up fumbling it against his chest. The dark ale sloshes all over the arm of his hoodie. “W-what?!”

“Wow,” Bashir shakes his head. “You don’t remember… Why am I not surprised?”

Toni just stares at him, shaking the spilled liquid from his hand.

“To be fair to you, you were pretty upset about the fight you had with Rees. But I’d had enough teasing and decided to go for it,” Bashir shakes his head and leans back against the balcony banister. “And I was right. You wanted me. Remind me to send a thank you card to Rees. ‘Thanks for fucking up, buddy. I love my boyfriend.’”

“I actually told you I was horny…?,” Toni says after a minute.

Bashir laughs. “Yeah. You did. Verbatim. ‘I’m horny and all I want is a boyfriend who will treat me right so we can have steamy makeout sessions in the shower.’”

“Oh my god,” Toni groans. “I’m so glad I don’t drink as much anymore…”

“What?,” Bashir continues chuckling. “I thought it was a candid glimpse into your mind at the time. I found it more appealing than I did repulsive.”

He sighs and looks Bashir over. “Well, if it helps, I’m pretty horny after not seeing you for almost a month.”

“If it helps you any, I’m extremely horny and open to any ideas you have for relieving me of that pressure.”

Toni stands, placing his food and beer aside on the outside table, and holds out a hand to Bash to help him up. “Bed, here we come.”