#What I do in clas instead of taking notes

[calware]

You might've answered something like this before but how do you pick colours for your art? Your choices are always so striking, visually interesting and delightful. I would love to learn your ways. (also hi)

WAAHHHH THANK YOU <3 <3 (also hi!!) first of all i do have a post from quite a while back with some general tips that you can check out, but my process has changed a bit since then so i can definitely elaborate a little bit more!

observation

this first tip is not very straightforward (sorry) but something i try to do is pay attention to the colors and lighting in the real world and try to remember what moments really stick with me. like when you're watching the sunset and the light from the sky washes everything in pink and tints the buildings orange, or when it's dusk and the light blue of the sky contrasts with the dark blues of everything that's in shadow, or looking in a lake and all the greens, browns, and blues mix together in rich jewel tones

i try to keep track of these things & the emotions they make me feel (almost like taking notes in a mental journal) so i can try referencing them when i want a certain drawing to feel a certain way. AGAIN this is really not straightforward and i don't really know how helpful it actually is...? but i find that observation can be a really helpful tool and i find myself doing it a lot

references

sort of the same as the last point BUT using preexisting photos and artwork instead! this one is more straightforward because you can actually reference them as you are drawing. i said this in the other post i made but i think that looking at other images and asking yourself "how is the artist/photographer using the colors to make it look this way? how do i recreate that?" and using that as a way to study their use of colors can be really helpful. if you find a drawing that has cool colors, try using those colors in your own drawings and see how they look!

that said, i would try to avoid color-picking things directly because i find that if you try choosing them on your own you 1) gain a better understanding of what you're doing 2) have more control over what you're doing and 3) you can "push" your colors in ways you might not if you color-pick directly

play with contrasting hues

i think this might just be a personal preference, but i find that i'm not as big of a fan of monochromatic images, and i prefer it when drawings utilize a wide variety of hues. this goes especially for ones that implement more contrast in the hues (not necessarily where the colors have more contrast in value, but rather contrast as in they're further apart on the color wheel)

for example, in this drawing, everything is washed in green light except for rose's skin, which is a very saturated reddish-brown. this is sort of what i mean by "pushing" the colors because, in a realistic setting, a person sitting in green lighting is going to have a more greenish-looking skin tone (like in this drawing). you can see this in how the whites of the drawing—her hair and eyes—are greenish, but i made the stylistic choice to not do the same with her skin to create contrast between the two hues

i edited the one on the bottom to match the green-ness of the rest of the image, and the effect is pretty noticeable! green light makes people look less lively, almost sickly (which is good to use if that's the feeling you want to show, of course)

another small example of this is in this drawing where i use a couple of different hues in davesprite's body. overall, it registers as orange, but i like to ever-so-slightly introduce a bit of green to contrast with the orange, letting the lightest values tip into the greens instead of stopping at yellow to contrast with the muted red in the wings. the darkest values are purple, which also contrasts with the yellow parts. the only hue missing from this image is blue! the colors are all still analogous, and the greens and purples are a lot less saturated than the oranges and yellows, so nothing clashes and overall leads to a more subtle contrast

the colors on the top are the ones from the image, while the ones on the bottom i see used a lot more commonly—which isn't a bad thing! i just think it looks nice to use a wide range of hues because of the way they complement each other :)

other than these strategies, my process varies greatly depending on what i'm working on, so it's difficult to get any more specific than this (unless you'd like to ask about the process of a specific drawing!) there isn't really any step-by-step method i use for every drawing i make, usually i am doing something different each time based on the goals i have for the project

[cherrycola27]

Red, White, and Rooster

Series Warnings: Language, alcohol consumption. Frenemies to lovers, relationship of convenience. Political situations. Allegations of affairs, military and political inaccuracies. Smut. 18+ Minors DNI. Banner Credit: @thedroneranger

Masterlist Previous Part Next Part

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Chapter 14: A Hen In The Fox House

Your day started out as normal as it could be, considering you were the First Lady. You had breakfast with Bradley and talked about what you had planned for the day. You just happened to leave out one tiny detail.

After preparing for the day, you texted Jaycee to let her know what your real plan for the day was. Normally, you wouldn't, but you had this gut feeling that someone should know where you were going to be.

You made your way to the garage where your newly assigned agent, Alex, was waiting for you. Alex was sweet. He was maybe a year or two older than you and strangely— familiar. His face was one that you almost recognized but couldn't quite place.

After loading up in the car, he drove you to a few of the locations to complete your errands. Around lunch, you had him drop you off three doors down from where you really needed to go. You didn't want him, or anyone else knowing what you were really doing.

Your leg bounced nervously while you were waiting in the office for your name to be called. Once it was, you were taken back to a private room. You took a deep breath, praying your suspicion was true.

An hour later, Alex picked you up on the same corner he'd dropped you off at. You excitedly texted Jaycee from the backseat before tucking your phone and your surprise for Bradley away.

Alex merged into traffic as you headed back towards the White House. You watched the buildings and monuments go by. You couldn't wait to get home to tell Bradley the news.

You saw the turn for the garage approaching, but instead of making it, Alex drove right past it.

"Alex," you called to him. "You missed the turn. The south entrance is closed. We need to go in the east one." You told him. Instead of answering, he kept his eyes on the road before blowing past the road to the south garage entrance and taking a sharp turn.

"Alex, it's okay if you're lost, I know the roads can be confusing. Take a right up here." You directed him, but still no answer. You felt a knot in the pit of your stomach. Something was off. This didn't feel right.

"Alex. Alex, are you listening to me?" You asked him.

"Alex. Alex! Stop the car! I want to get out!" You shouted as you desperately pulled on the locked door handles.

"Alex! Please!" You beg, but yet again, he ignored you. You grab your phone and try to send a message, but it's no use. You don't have any signal.

"If you're trying to call for help, don't bother, I have a signal jammer on." Alex finally speaks as he looks at you through the rear view mirror.

"Alex, please. I don't know why you're doing this, but you don't have to. Please. Just take me home or just let me out. I can wire money to you or someone else. Please. Please don't do this." You tell him as you fight the urge to cry.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Bradshaw, but I have to do this." He says. "Now, you might want to get comfortable. We have a ways to go." He says before rolling up the privacy screen.

You beat on the screen and windows, but you know it's all in vain. They're blacked out and bulletproof. No one can see you or hear you.

You quickly dig in your purse and find a pen and note pad. You write down everything that you can see and hear. You also write a quick note to Bradley telling him you love him and how you're sorry you didn't get to tell him the good news in person.

You must have been driving an hour before the car exits and pulls into a rest stop. You have just enough time to write down the tag number of the car Alex pulls in beside and stuff your notes in your bag before you're pulled from the vehicle.

A masked figure has a tight hold on you. You're kicking and screaming and clawing, trying to break free. "Take her bag and toss it. Don't want them tracking her phone." The figure says. You recognize the voice but can't place it.

"Stop struggling you bitch." They tell you before you feel a set of zip ties tightened around your wrists.

If you get free, you try to make yourself dead weight. You drop to the ground. Alex and the other attacker try to lift you but are unsuccessful.

They try to put you back on your feet, but you don't get up. Alex and the figure are practically dragging you through the empty parking lot.

"Let me go!" You scream, praying someone is close enough to hear.

"Shut up! Alex, get me the stuff." The figure commands. Before you can determine what they are talking about, a damp rag is placed over your mouth and nose, and then, it all goes black.

Alex and the masked person scoop you up and place you in the trunk of a car before getting in and driving away. Just as they are leaving, a silver Jeep pulls into the empty rest stop. The driver makes a comment to the passenger about how it was weird that someone had just left their car there.

It's almost five in the afternoon when a mysterious call comes into the White House. The person on the other end asks to speak to the head of the Secret Service.

Dante picks up the line. "Hello?" He asks. "Hello. Am I speaking to Dante Rodriguez?" The obviously disguised voice on the other end of the line asks.

"Yes. May I ask who I'm speaking to?" Dante asks.

"You may not. Dante, can you do me a favor? I need you to open the email that was just sent to you." The voice says. Dante looks at his computer to see a new message from an address that is a jumble of letters and numbers. He opens it and almost drops the phone.

It's a photo of you, unconscious and tied up, in the trunk of a car.

"Who the fuck is this?!" Dante screams into the phone. "I'm the president's worst nightmare. Now, please tell Mr. Bradshaw that I'll be calling again at nine o'clock tomorrow morning, and if he ever wants to see his wife alive again, he'd better not miss that call." The voice said before the line went dead.

Dante immediately slams his phone down and gathers the security team. He races down the hall to the Oval Office. Jake sees the commotion and decides to follow.

Went Dante burst into the Oval Office and delivered the news. It almost makes him sick.

He quickly assembles a search team. A team begins to track the email and the phone call. Another traces your phone. As soon as its last location is pinged, officers are dispatched. Jake calls Jaycee and personally goes to pick her up. If someone was bold enough to kidnap the First Lady in broad daylight, he wasn't going to take any chances with his girlfriend.

Jaycee paced nervously in Jake's bedroom as he filled her in on the situation. He explained that they were trying to retrace her last steps. "Jake, take me to whoever is in charge. There's something I need to tell them, and Bradley." Jaycee says. Jake nods before leading her to the situation room.

It's crowded with people. She tries to push her way to the front to speak, but she's cut off by Dante who comes in carrying something.

"Sir! We've found some of the First Lady's belongings. They were dumped in a rest area about an hour outside the city. Her phone, wallet, and a few other things were in there. There was also a note in there. She was smart, wrote down what she saw, and heard. Even got a tag number. But sir, there's something you should see." Dante says. He hesitantly hands Bradley an envelope.

Bradley grabs it and steps out of the room for a moment. He opens the envelope and pulls out a handwritten note from you. He reads it.

"My Dearest, Bradley. I love you more than you will ever know. I'm sorry I didn't get to tell you in person."

Tears prick his eyes as he reads it over and over again before pulling out what else is enclosed in the envelope. His heart drops when he sees it.

He walks back into the room, and everyone goes silent.

"I need everyone to make this priority number one." Bradley says in a series tone. "Because this just went from a rescue mission for one to a rescue mission for two." He finishes.

Before anyone can ask what he means, Bradley tosses something on the table. There's a collective gasp when people realize what it is.

"Holy shit." Someone says. Jake looks at Jaycee with wide eyes. "Jay, is that what I think it is?" He asks her.

Jaycee nods her head. "That's what I wanted to tell Bradley. Y/N she texted me telling me that she was going to the OBGYN today because she wanted to be sure. She texted me this after she left." Jaycee says as she shows Jake her phone.

"Oh my God." Jake breaths out. "She's pregnant."

Taglist: @daggerspare-standingby @shanimallina87 @teacupsandtopgun @hecate-steps-on-me @roosterscock @roosterbruiser @roosterforme @seresinsbabe @startrekfangirl2233 @soulmates8 @xoxabs88xox @avengersfan25 @blackwidownat2814 @loveforaugust @mak-32 @cottagecori @amysteryspot @heyimmadisonn @princess76179 @bradshawseresinbabe @sunlightmurdock @lewmagoo @cassiemitchell @die-cunt @shipinabluebottle @malindacath @violyn20 @imawkwardlysoc @books-for-summer @blackroseboulevard @recordblues @desert-fern @luckyladycreator2 @katieshook02 @samhapner6 @sebsxphia @roosters-girl @diorrfairy @je-suis-prest-rachel @mizzzpink @a-linabean @amklibrary @gretagerwigsmuse @jstarr86 @actuallyazriel @krismdavis @bradshawsbaby @wkndwlff @dakotakazansky

[idiotsonlyevent]

when i first started p3, i couldn't find a good guide for how to raise social stats, and the guides that did exist were always missing something . . . so under the cut is my (hopefully comprehensive) list w/ information and notes on raising each social stat:

ways to raise social stats

courage

eat at wild duck burger

play horror house at the arcade on Tu, F

work at chagall cafe on M-W nights

work at screen shot on Su + days off

go to karaoke at night

go to nurses's office when sick/tired (does not take up time)

watch movies at screen shot M, Tu

attend the summer film festival on 08/17, 08/18, 08/21, 08/22, 08/26, 08/27, 08/31

charm

eat at hagakure

play print club at the arcade on M, Th

drink coffee at chagall cafe

work at chagall cafe on M-W nights

work at be blue v after school on M-F

answer questions correctly in class

get high scores on exams

watch movies at screen shot on W, Th

attend the summer film festival on 08/19, 08/21, 08/23, 08/29

academics

eat at wakatsu

play quiz game at the arcade on W, Sat

work at be blue v after school on M-F

work at screen shot on Su + days off

stay awake during clas

offer money at shrine (takes up time)

study in your room (+2/4 at nights, +4/6 on Su)

study at the library after school (+4)

watch movies at screen shot on F-Su

elizabeth's request sengoku era helm: go to the faculty office every day after school until you obtain the helm from mr. ono (does not take up time)

attend the summer film festival on 08/18, 08/22, 08/23, 08/24, 08/25, 08/28, 08/30, 09/23

s.links blocked by social stats

courage

rank 2 (ordinary): Mutatsu, Fuuka

rank 4 (tough): Mamoru, Mutatsu

rank 6 (badass): Fuuka, Ken

charm

rank 2 (unpolished, ingenue): Nozomi, Tanaka

rank 4: (smooth, queen bee): Tanaka, Akihiko

rank 6 (charismatic): Yukari

academics

rank 2 (average): Bebe

rank 4 (smart): Akinari

rank 6 (genius): Mitsuru

notes/tips

since most s.links are available during the day, it's recommended to use nighttime for social stat increases. prioritize courage and charm first.

academics takes the longest time to raise, but you cannot start Mitsuru's social link until 11/21, so do not rush to raise your academics too soon, or you will end up with almost nothing to do in the evenings for 2+ in-game months

i recommend starting the game by working at chagall cafe M-W nights + going to the nurse after school when sick/tired * studying one/two nights/week and going to karaoke or staying at the arcade the other days, every week until your courage is maxed.

at that point, depending on where your charm, academics, and s.links are, you can decide what you want to prioritize.

staying on track for academics isn't that difficult. to be in the top ten and receive Mitsuru's reward you need to be rank 2 for May midterms, rank 3 for July finals, rank 4 for October midterms, and rank 5 for December finals. if you want to be top of the class for every exam, the necessary rank goes up by one (3 > 4 > 5 > 6, respectively)

if you are sick/tired at night and thinking of studying - don't! you will not be able to focus; go to bed early instead, because then you can return to normal status the next morning

if there are any mistakes or anything you would like to add, please feel free to do so! hoping that this guide is at least somewhat helpful because when i started i had NO idea what to do 😔

[nomadicauthor287]

Welcome to the Coruscant Fire Department

*Walks into the Coruscant Fire Department

*A Mirialan woman wearing navy blue long sleeve shirt, cargo pants, and black work boots walks up to you*

“May I help you?”

*You shrug, nervous of the superior energy radiating from her

“I take it you must be the Probie. (Probie- probationary firefighter) I’m the Fire Chief, my name is Jaqycu but call me Chief. Everyone fall in!”

A total of 17 people ran into the lobby and lined up. 13 clones, 3 kids, and a mastiff wearing a helmet

Everyone step forward and introduce yourself to the Probie

Assistant Chief Country “Cunt”

Southern accent

Always has a hat on

Super Cool Long Hairstyle

Best mustache and beard (Think Pedro Pascal)

Organized

Rational

Upright

Likes to scare cadets

Has a crush on Chief

Father figure

Always has a cup of Caf

Got their name by: Watched one holovid on ranchers and adopted the accent

Notable features: His cowboy hat and always have Caf in his hand

Quote: “Don’t go in if you don’t know the way out”

Battalion Chief Axe

Swole

Has an award for the biggest muscles that Chief’s kids made for him

Inspired by myths from other worlds

Has a tattoo of an axe calling it his lady

Very attached to his Ax

Calls it his lady

Calls her Ali

Athletic

Good judgement of character

Reliable

Gym rat

Firefighter/Paramedic

Lead Paramedic

Got their name by: Swung an axe to show off to Chief and messed up. He embedded the axe in the ground and no one could get it out.

Notable features: His muscles

Quote: “How much do you bench?”

Captain Blaze

Blond

Long mane

Oblivious

Perfectionist

Modest

Sensitive

Firefighter/AEMT

Likes fire in moderation

Kinda a push over

Prone to doing the stupids with Axe

Great at doing hair

Axe’s workout buddy

Very shy when it comes to interacting with people

Got their name by: Got carried away with playing with hand sanitizer and a lighter

Notable features: Luscious blond locks in a french braid

Quote: “I’m shy at first. But I do the stupidest random things when I get comfortable with someone” *Points at Axe trying to pull the axe outta the floor*

Lieutenant Inferno

Prosthetic arm from the shoulder down

Red hair

Slicked back Modern undercut Hairstyle

Mongolian spots on back and arms

Firefighter

Innovative

Incorruptible

Brutally honest

DARK HUMOR

Firefighter

Always telling stories about fires and his younger days

Got their name by: Lost his arm in a large fire

Notable features: Fiery red hair

Quote: “Need a hand?” *takes off prosthetic and hands you arm*

Kevlar

Protective

Punctual

Ambitious

Top knot

By the book

Driver engineer

Always sleepy

Got their name by: no one knows. It just happened

Notable features: silver crew cut

Quote: “When experts panic they call us”

O2

Intuitive

Kinda clumsy

Adventurous

Wanderer

Ditzy

Firefighter/EMT

Terrible sense of direction

Undercut

Got their name by: During his final test he didn’t turn his Oxygen on and passed out

Notable features: lost expression on his face constantly

Quote: “I don’t remember how I got here”

Rapid

Dynamic

Articulate

Resourceful

Firefighter/EMT

Impulsive gambler

Purple Cool Short Crop Haircut + Low Fade

Talkative

Got their name by: Talks fast and works fast

Notable features: Purple Cool Short Crop Haircut + Low Fade

Quote: “I bet that… happens”

Shock

Audacious

Glutton for food

Chaotic

Always thinking of a scheme to make quick money

Sly

Firefighter/Paramedic

Thinks he’s a Paragod but isn’t

Cool textured Thick Hair + Short sides

Got their name by: Found a joy buzzer and pranks people

Notable features: Sly grin

Quote: “Let’s shake on it” *Cue being shocked by joy buzzer*

Siren

Lazy

Loud

Superstitious

Has a ritual for everything

Doesn’t has the stomach of blood

Firefighter

Mid Skin Fade Haircut

Got their name by: LOUD and makes random noises

Notable features: Dark green

Quote: *Random screeching noises to prove a point*

Sparky

Kinda careless about his safety

Gullible

Naive

Firefighter/Probie

Cool Curly Haircut

Got their name by: Likes making sparks with batteries and wires

Notable features: playing with batteries and wires

Quote: *makes sparks with battery and wire*

Torch or “Streak”

Love/Hate relationship with Sterling

Procrastinator of paperwork

Immodest

Comfortable in his own skin

Will literally go to work naked if not told to put on clothes

Hypocrite

Will flirt with anyone

Firefighter/Paramedic

Medium Length Modern Classic

Got their name by: Carried a torch for a person and won’t say who

Notable features: Fire tattoo that goes up his neck

Quote: “Hello you amazing person, how are you doing today” *Cue smirk*

Wildfire

Sympathetic

Shy

Reserved

Very clean

Like if he sees anything dirty he cleans it immediately

Neat

Values personal hygiene

Anxious

Sleepy

Firefighter/Driver Engineer

Side Part Haircut + Wavy Hair

Got their name by: His eyes are the color of wildfire

Notable features: His eyes

Quote: Zzzzzzz

Skip

Forgetful

Peaceful/avoids conflict

Critical thinker

Indecisive

EMT

Cool Long Fringe Hairstyle for Curly Hair

Got their name by: Kinda forgetful

Notable features: Teal hair

Quote: Can you repeat that please? I only remember the first word

Devo

Massiff (Space doggo)

Loves to eat

Likes to eat cheese

Stays with Chief and the kids a lot

Soft spot for the Ezel

Has his own helmet

Think of a pit bull wearing a firefighter helmet

Notable features: Helmet

Quote: *I desire all the treats and snuggles you have peasant* BORK

Ezel

9 y/o

Thinks she’s all grown up

Likes to hack

Shoulder length waves

NERD

Watches cartoons with Blaze after homework is done

Lesbean

Likes to do pranks with siblings

Notable features: Gold round glasses with bright Red eyes

Quote: “As long as we use a large web of information anyone can be hacked”

Bin

8 y/o

Hangs out with Sparky a lot

Looks up to Country

Calls Country Buir

Wants to be an architect or a chemist

Nickname is Boom

Notable features: hetero-chromatic eyes (Red and pastel green)

Quote: “I wanna make it go boom!!”

Tiru

1 y/o

Likes shiny things

Bites everything

Best smile in the whole fire house

Likes anything red

Black peach fuzz hair

Notable features: Gummy smile

Quote: Pire *Points and tries to grab candle*

[wyn-n-tonic]

Sacred Oasis

Word Count: 3.6k+ Pairing: Rhett Abbott x f!reader (established relationship) Warnings: Drinking and driving (not really though). Unprotected sex. Blink and you miss it knifeplay. Angsty boy Rhett Abbott Author's Note: "Heard you weren't doing anymore x reader fics, O." Yeah, but a bitch is down bad so forgive me, father, because I am SINNING.

If you want more of these two, please check here: Beautiful and Shiny.

Ao3

Music’s too loud.

Between the alcohol and the social interaction, the music became a blaring siren in your mind, beat increasing in frequency until it signaled time to go.

Walking to the bar to settle up, you stop, staring at the unmistakable back of Rhett. Last time you saw him, he was over by the jukebox. You’re half certain he was the one feeding the machine and the music, knowing exactly what gets under your skin and all.

Bar’s surface is small and he’s sitting dead in the middle, head bent over his beer or his phone. Hell, it’s late enough now that he’s probably moved onto tequila. Or whiskey. Or some deadly combination of both that’ll see him pissing on the side of the road because home’s just too far away. 

And there’s nowhere to go for you but one of the empty seats on either side of him. Of course, you could come pay it all off tomorrow but it was a couple of shots and half a beer so not handing Gertie the twenty in your wallet just because you don’t want to talk to him? That’s just about as fair as him somehow occupying every blessed space you’ve stepped into tonight.

Pulling up beside him, you signal for Gertie on the other side of the room and wait, looking anywhere after but at the man to your left.

“She won’t take your money, baby.”

“Excuse me?”

He takes a swig of his beer, bottle tilting upward as he raises a finger for you to hold your thought. I’ll be with you in one second, honey.

Loosing a breath when he sets the bottle down, he wipes at his mouth and stares, bright eyes weighed down by exhaustion and inebriation.

“Said she won’t take your money,” he repeats himself, picking his drink back up, “baby.”

“Fine, I’ll bite. Why won’t she take my money?”

“Cause I settled you up when I bought this,” he tells you. “Figured you’d had your fill of Miller Lite and vodka redbull for the night and I’d take care of it so you could just go home—sleep it off so you could do some more thinking in the morning or whatever it is you do with your old soul and your big ass eyes.”

“Rhett…”

“You think I don’t know what you’re doing, baby?” He gestures to your outfit and takes another drink. “Showing up here wearing that? You knew where I’d be.”

“Everybody’s here, Rhett,” you tell him. “This is the only fucking place there is, I didn’t come here to tease you—I came here because I thought you had a competition tonight and I didn’t want to sit in my dark ass room hoping this wouldn’t be the time you get gutted by a wild animal on a dirt stage.”

“So you put on the skirt I love the most and a top low enough that any asshole in this bar can and will think about when they’re fucking themselves—or their wives—later instead?” 

“You’re a real son of a bitch, Rhett Abbott.”

He huffs a laugh. “You are more that woman’s child than I am at this point. She got two sons and neither of them can keep the daughters she always wanted around. What kind of god did she piss off, huh?” 

“You’re drunk, Rhett,” you insist. “She didn’t piss off a god, you pissed off your girlfriend. You did this so don’t blame some deity you don’t even believe in.”

He smiles, lips half rising in that cocky smirk he wears when he thinks he’s being clever. “Who said you weren’t the god I was talking about?” 

Shaking your head, you turn on your heel and head towards the door, not bothering to put on the jacket held firmly in your hands because it’s the cold you want. When you push through the doors, you’re hit with a blast of pseudo fall weather just cold enough to be considered winter back where you were born and raised before your parents left civilization to claim their inheritance of a shitty plot of land and a few sick cows in your seventh grade year.

That might as well be how long you’ve been with him, those navy blue eyes that only truly shine in the light following you around like a sad puppy the moment he caught sight of you on the other side of the fence. Rhett Abbott—the boy next door. 

Of course, he’s not that anymore. He’s the boy on the other side of the bed in an above barn apartment he built out over two years. And he isn’t a boy anymore, he’s a man who makes shit decisions and thinks it’ll all be okay.

Footsteps catch up to you in the hard dirt, dust kicking up around you in warning before he falls in line to your side.

“Seriously, Rhett, what are you doing here?” 

“Getting my girl back,” he responds. “I got used to sleeping next to you, come home.”

Stopping short to turn towards him, you scoff. “That’s it? You got used to me?”

“Baby, I’m really not good at all this romantic shit.”

“Then what are you doing here?”

He scrubs a hand down his face, skin pulling taught around his jaw before he scratches back against the scruff. He looks like shit.

“Perry said he saw you walking in here with your friends, I wanted to show you that you’re more important to me than riding.” 

“Okay,” you laugh, “we both know that’s bullshit, baby, but okay.”

“No, it’s true.”

“That is not what you said when I begged you to quit three weeks ago as I drove your ass two hours to the nearest hospital for your broken ribs and your fucked up hand, Rhett!” You’re yelling, half in his face with eyes on you from across the poorly lit parking lot. “That’s not what you said any of the other times that I told you this was stupid and that watching you get hurt for fun wasn’t my idea of a good time.”

“But you never left!” He yells back. “You never left me over it, it was all talk until you showed up the next time and the next. It was all empty fucking threats at that point, baby, you can’t wave steak in front of a hungry dog and expect it not to bite. You were always there with your soft hands and a much needed massage”—he steps forward until your back is pressed against the wall of the building furthest from the light—“maybe you shouldn’t have sucked my dick all those times,” he whispers down at you, “or told me I’d be better soon. If you wanted me to quit so bad before this, you would’ve fucking left before this but that’s not what this is about. This is about those girls who showed up asking to take pictures and fucking with my hat before I rode, who ran to my side before you could get down from the bleachers but you’re too cool to admit that. Right?”

He stares down at you, braced hand bracing his weight against the wall as he turns to shield you from the few onlooking eyes.

“Did you drive here, baby?” He asks, wiping a tear away from your cheek.

Bunching the fabric of his shirt up at both his sides, you shake your head as you pull him closer. “I came here with Casey.”

He nods. “Well, Casey’s a really shitty friend because she left you to fend for yourself about half an hour ago so she could ride Billy Tillerson.”

You laugh. “She pegs him, actually.”

“I bet she fucking does, and good for them, but”—he grabs your chin between his thumb and forefinger—“I want you to come home.”

“Rhett—“

“Don’t give me that shit, you know there’s only one girl I want in my bed and it’s not any of those likely underage, bad dye job having dipshits. It’s only you, only ever been you.”

You wrap your hand around his wrist and turn your face into the palm that cups your cheek to press your lips against the rough skin. His answer is to press himself closer to you, a kiss to your forehead and then down to your nose, finally ending at your lips while his body relaxing on an exhale against yours. 

“Is that a yes, baby?” He asks, planting his forehead to yours to keep his eyes level. 

You nod your head. It is a yes. It’s a yes that you were jealous of those girls, putting themselves close to him, fawning over him like they could fix his broken ribs or his bad decisions or the bloody knuckles he gets from fights protecting his brother. It’s a yes that you want to come home, wrap up in his arms and not some threadbare quilt your mom’s had since before you were born. 

He all but drags you to the truck, hand holding tightly to yours as if he’s afraid to lose you across the expanse of the parking lot. 

“Rhett, baby,” you turn as he helps you into the passenger side, “you’ve been drinking.” 

He laughs. “I had one beer, I’m fine.” 

“You look like you’ve drunk ten.”

“That would be exhaustion, honey, because I haven’t slept since the night you told me you were gonna go stay with your mama and daddy.”

“Then maybe you shouldn’t be driving”—you reach your hand out—“give me the keys, Rhett.” 

He shakes his head, “your four drinks is equivalent to my ten, we’ll be fine.”

The door slams and he jogs across the back of the truck, sliding quickly in next to me as he turns the key in the ignition and slings an arm around the back of my seat to back out of the space.

Truck’s quiet as you head down the main road towards home, windows half open with no music to fill all the space available inside and out. You feel the storm before you hear it, raindrops falling inward, sucked in by the steady speed. Then the thunder claps and it all comes down at once, sheets and sheets of icy rain soaking you through the bone in an instant before you can get the windows up. 

Rhett slows to a stop and pulls off to the side of the road, cutting the engine and the lights before turning to you. “I can’t drive.”

“I'll do it.” 

“The fuck you will, you’re not wearing your glasses and I already know you’re gonna be hungover in the morning, if I can’t see in this shit, you can’t see in this shit. The answer’s not just no, the answer is fuck no, sweetheart.” 

You pull your legs up into the leather bench and you lean your head down, blinking up at him as your eyes adjust to the lack of light.

“You're soaked,” he says. “You look cold as hell.”

“Both very good reasons to take me home,” you tell him. “What if the storm doesn’t let up at all?”

“Then we stay out here tonight and I get chewed out by Royal in the morning when we finally do show up. The real question is, what will we do to warm you up?”

He’s got half a cocksure smile on his face, smirking like he’s made the biggest play of his life, and you can help the way it makes your stomach flip.

“Not sure, Mr. Abbott,” you tell him. “I can't think of a damn thing.”

Reaching out, he threads his fingers through your hair, grip tightening slightly as he drags you forward toward his lips. You can feel his body slide towards you, one leg crossing over the bump in the floor that separates passenger from pedals. 

“Don't be shy, darling,” he whispers into your lips. “Get up on my lap.” 

He’s hard already, straining against the thick denim against your core when you oblige him. Hands find purchase on your hips beneath your skirt and he groans, pressing himself up against you as he pulls you down. 

“Is that what you really missed these last couple of weeks?” You ask him, fingers pulling at the buttons of his shirt to expose his chest. 

He squeezes your hips and rests his head back. “I’ll have you know that I missed it all, sweetheart,” he says, smile widening as another clap of thunder makes you jump. “Ass. Tits. Mouth. Tongue. Your eyes. Your pussy. Your soft, sweet little hands and the weight of you against my body. The knowledge that you’d be there when I left and you’d be there when I came back.” He licks his lips and takes a deep breath. “I don’t like who I am when you’re not there and I sure as hell don’t feel right laying in that big old bed without you.” 

He looks up at you with his midnight, ocean blue eyes clouded over black in the darkness, soft and searching your face for any hint of how his words land. His hands meet you at his belt buckle, helping you undo the metal clasp and then the button. He pushes your hands out of the way for the zipper, giving out a deep sigh of relief as he pulls it down to give himself some room.

Lifting yourself when he prompts you, his hips following yours upwards as he slides the layers that keep him from you down, loosing his cock to lay up against his stomach. 

Rhett’s tongue darts out again, wetting his lips as he hooks a finger into the bridge of your panties, rough knuckle grazing against your clit before running back and forth through the slick gathering in the seam of your sex. 

“Fuck,” he says. Removes his finger, he leans forward and opens the glovebox behind you, searching around for something as he holds you close to him. 

“If you’re looking for a condom, there’s no need,” you tease him. “I promise I didn’t fuck any other guys while we were apart.”

His chest puffs out against yours momentarily, a half hearted laugh until he’s leaning back again. “Not a condom, baby,” he says. “I need a knife.” 

Before you can ask what for, the sharp sound of the blade loosing from the handle sounds and he hooks a finger into your panties again, this time pulling them away from your body as far as they’ll go. 

“Rhett, what are you doi—“ 

The sound of fabric ripping easily permeates the space followed by another clap of thunder, this one accompanied by a lightning strike in the field off to your left. Something clatters back into the glovebox and he laughs. “Fucked up hand,” he says, raising the arm with a brace on it, “can’t tear your panties right now.” 

“So you decided to put a knife near my vagina?” 

“You liked it,” he laughs, lifting himself once more to press his lips to yours. “You liked it so much that I bet I can—oh”—he presses himself into your entrance and guides you to a fully seated position—“I can. Slid right in,” he says, biting down on his bottom lip.

“I think my pussy missed you just as much,” you tell him, pulling his head back by the grip you have on his hair. “Do you know how awkward it is trying to masturbate when your parents’ house is also their job?”

“Baby,” his lips drag against yours. “We had to listen to Perry and Rebecca try for a baby for years all while my hand was clamped firmly across this pretty little mouth of yours. Even with our own space now,” he shakes his head, lips pursing in thought, “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you give more than a little whine.” 

“Do you want me to scream more?” You ask him. “Yell? Chant your name like a god like all those people do for you when you manage to stay on the bull?”

He bucks up into you on that last question, soft groan and a heavy breath falling from him. He reaches up and grabs at the neckline of your shirt, fingers threading through the straps on either side to pull them down and off your shoulders, exposing you to him. His lips. His tongue. His teeth. 

The storm rages outside, the sound of rain soundtracking the hot, heavy breathing exchanged through open mouths as he guides you, pulls you, fucks you to a thoughtless daze. 

It’s animalistic, close and intimate, as he whispers praises into your ears and lips about you and the sweet warmth of your cunt until he’s nothing but a babbling mess, your name and endearments flowing out of him as easily as the movements he’s making against you. 

He presses his thumb to your clit and rubs tight little circles into the bundle of nerves, one arm wrapped around your hips to keep you from shying away from him and the borderline over sensitization he’s driving you towards.

“Come on, baby, you can do it,” he encourages. “You take me so fucking well, you always have.”

Tightening up around him, you collapse against his chest as another wave of thunder rolls across the sky, crying out for him as he grinds your hips together at a faster and faster pace until he stills, neck straining as he throws his head back to shout expletives at the heavens.

Taking a deep breath, his hands relax on your hips, fingers flexing across the soft skin there before he wraps his arms around you again. 

“Rain stopped,” he whispers into your ear. “I guess we can home now.”

You tuck your face into his neck and take a deep breath, rain and salty sweat and aftershave on his neck. “Can we stay like this for a minute?” You ask him. “Just a minute, Rhett.”

Rhett rubs your back as the clouds move across the sky, stars and moon becoming visible again with every minute that passes or soft kiss he plants. 

“I am jealous of those other girls,” you tell him finally, sitting up to look into his eyes. “I’m not as pretty or done up as them, I don’t cheer you on like they do their men.”

“Baby,” he shakes his head, “they don’t have men out there. They want to have men out there. I don’t want you cheering for me like that anyway, I like that you call me fucking stupid every time you drive home. I like the desperate kisses you give me when I fall and you can’t get to me fast enough.” He clenches his jaw, grip tight on you again as he sits up. “And don’t you ever say that you’re not pretty or done up again, at least not in front of me. Don’t do that shit to me and don’t leave me again because of it, just talk to me.” 

“I don’t know,” you say. "If you fuck me like that when I do, I might have to start taking more trips and picking more fights.” 

He laughs and removes his shirt, throwing it over your side of the bench before gently helping you maneuver to sit on it. When you’re settled, he throws his head back again and rubs his eyes with a deep breath.

“You okay?” 

“Yeah,” he nods, looking you over as he turns the key in the ignition to let the truck warm back up. Rhett tucks himself back into his pants, doing up the zipper but leaving the button and the buckle hanging open, before sliding back into the driver side. “Yeah, baby.” 

“You look sad,” you tell him.

“Yeah, I just”—he takes a deep breath and slides the gear shift down, guiding the truck back onto the road—“you said something earlier about how I just got used to you but I really need to make it abundantly clear to you.”

He rubs at his eye before adjusting in the his seat, throwing one arm behind you again as he cuts you a quick glance, eyes darting from your face to how you’re sitting and back at the road.

“Silence is very cle—“

“I didn’t just get used to you in my bed, baby. I built you that bed, I built you that apartment. I have fuck all else to offer you except what I can do with my hands. What I build for you and how I touch you”—that muscle in his jaw ticks again—“th-that is the only way I know how to worship you. I didn’t get used to you, baby. I never will. But if I’m not doing right by you, you have got to tell me because I don’t have a lot of examples of good love.”

He pulls into the entrance to the ranch and down the long dirt driveway to the barn. He doesn’t say anything else as he cuts the engine for good this time, just quietly gets out and comes around to your side of the truck. It’s late but you can see Cece and Royal peaking out the windows—one with a big smile and the other with a stoic look you’ve learned to discern as happiness. Rhett leans across you and presses the button for the buckle.

“Hey, Rhett?”

He tucks a strand of hair behind your ear, light reflecting off the glassy shine of his eyes. “Yeah?”

Kissing him before jumping down into the mud, you press your body close to his bare chest and look up into his sad eyes. “You’re doing right by me.” 

[yanderechuu]

do any of the teachers ever notice the things happening to y/n? (i headcannon Mic and Midnight as yanderes that would give advice to 1A lol)

yandere!Class 1A x fem!reader

[2.1K]

Summary: Aizawa is the first one you approached in regards to your certain predicament.

Warning: nonconsensual recording

│

Aizawa suspected something wasn’t quite right by the moment he saw you entering the class a minute before the bell rang, all haggard and teary-eyed, though you tried your best to obscure your disposition. He always knew you to often be in a state of discomfort whenever you were compelled to socialize, especially with your classmates, but now - you looked as if you reached your limit of holding the weight of the world on your shoulders, crashing down all at once as depicted on your crestfallen expression. 

And when you showed up in front of the faculty room, timidly soliciting his presence, his suspicions were only further verified. Even with a pending question regarding subject matters in your mind, you weren’t one to approach a teacher to inquire about it, and if you did it was because the teacher was the one who would ask your attendance; never the other way around.

Present Mic was the first one to acknowledge you. He stood up from his office chair, waving at you comically. “Yo, (l/n)! Having trouble with English again?”

You never had a problem with his subject; he only insisted that you’d come to him in regards to that. “N-no, not really. May I speak to Aizawa-sensei?”

“Talk with me instead!” He enthusiastically spoke and headed over to you. “Come on, what’s the matter?”

“It isn’t your place to ask that when I’m here.” Aizawa interceded, clearly unimpressed by Mic’s antics. He failed to see the latter’s displeased countenance. “(L/n), what is it?”

You avoided eye contact with him, averting your view to the ground - that was alright. You were always like this, and he didn’t mind. Nothing out of place except for the fact that it looked as if you were about to cry any moment now.

“Can we- can we, um, talk somewhere more private?” You asked quietly.

His brows raised in wonder at your request. Nevertheless, he didn’t decline you, only nodding lackadaisically before heading towards the teacher’s lounge, where you followed him suit. He flicked the door tag to ‘occupied’ and entered the room after you, when he told you sit on the three-person sofa situated not quite on the farthest left of the space. Then, he settled himself on the chair across you.

“Well?” He asked, expectantly.

But you had once again your head above a thick cloud of anxiety. You knew that after the event with Momo in the girls’ locker room - where you had injured her against your will because she had been violating your personal space - your homeroom teacher kept a cautious eye on you in case you’d re-enact that incident. And it wasn’t just that incident that made him look at you like you were a criminal on the loose, either. Your classmates found and did a lot of ways to place you in Aizawa’s naughty list just so you wouldn’t snitch on their abusive (they’d call it affectionate) behavior on you.

That didn’t erase the fact that you were nevertheless his student; he cared for you no less than he cared for his other pupils, yet you were just too ignorant in figuring that out. All that mattered to you was that you’d voice out your current concern to him, but with your insecurities holding you down it seemed it would be more difficult than you had primarily foreseen it to be.

“I-I,” you stammered out, fiddling with something inside your pocket, “u-um, you see, t-there’s this, I mean, I can’t-”

He grew increasingly frustrated with your constant stuttering, and although he did understand your shy nature which largely affected your conversational habits, he only had so much patience to deal with it.

“I don’t have all day.” He stated, glowering at your form in mild irritation. “If you’re going to keep doing that, talk to the wall.”

You abruptly halted in speaking after that, only looking down on your lap, staring wide-eyed, grief-stricken at the revelation that perhaps he really did not want to heed any of your words because you were just that bad of a student that he had decided you were not worth much the effort to concern himself with. And maybe he was right - that your words didn’t matter because you didn’t matter; that there were more affairs he better be tending to than yours; that you were only making a big deal out of this when it truthfully wasn’t.

Oh god, you felt like vomiting. Self-deprecation was getting the better of you.

He stood up and sauntered to the exit, not bothering to spare you a glance. “Come back to me when you actually know what you want to say.”

It was a matter of seconds when you ran to him, pulling him back rather harshly by the grip you had on his sleeve. He turned around due to the force to see your head still hung low, avoiding his gaze as always - only, your shoulders were quivering sporadically, and occasional sniffs were heard from your person.

“P-please, sensei...” you voiced out, shaken and horrifyingly delicate. “I-I’m so scared. Please.”

While he looked at you with contracted irises, countenance now alert from your unexpected disposition, you pulled your trembling hand out of your skirt pocket, nervously disclosing to him from your palm a small, black device with a tiny yet prominent lens.

“M-my room,” you heaved, “I-I saw this i-in my room, m-my closet, while- while I was dressing up, and I don’t know how long it had been in there but it probably already caught me bare and-”

You broke down in a flurry misery and shame, allowing yourself to fall to the ground but you didn’t - Aizawa seized you in his arms, his gentle, fatherly arms that could only do so much to console you from the horror of your reality. And he held your head as you cried on his chest, one little thing he could do after ignoring your situation and letting you think that your significance was less than the rest of his other students. At that moment, you were just so little, so fragile, so naïve he’d keep you in his pocket if he could. Why would someone do something as debauched as illegally recording your innocent self?

“I’m sor-sorry,” you sobbed, “I’m really telling the truth, p-please-”

“Shh, it’s okay. I don’t doubt you.” He reassured. Why were you apologizing? Were you that insecure of being a nuisance? No, no, you never were. Not to him. He reached for your hand to take the cursed device. “Since when did you find out?”

“J-just this morning.” You responded.

“Alright. Do you want to rest? This must have taken a huge toll on you.”

But you still had classes ongoing. Then again, you didn’t feel like looking at the faces of the prime suspects who possibly did you dirty, even when you knew that you’d have to eventually interact with them to get notes of your missed lessons. You were so tired from summoning the lot of your courage to confront your teacher regarding your problem, so you probably wouldn’t have the energy to listen to class discussion. Aizawa finalized your decision by pulling you up and guiding you towards the office of Recovery Girl who, after being briefed of your predicament by your homeroom teacher, welcomed you with a warm smile, telling you to make yourself comfortable in one of the beds in the infirmary.

He then made his way to 1A classroom, a newfound swelling of rage and disappointment in his chest, both forwarded to his class and to himself because only now did he realize that perhaps you were often so restless and apprehensive in the presence of your classmates because they did things that made you bury yourself in the deepest parts of your shell as a last attempt to revel in a sense of safety. Your timidity was not entirely derived from your own nature; it was also due to the maltreatment you were receiving from your classmates. Halting his steps by the classroom door, he looked through the glass window, seeing the class focusing on Midnight’s lecture.

Well, not quite. He could tell that your classmates were visibly affected by the lack of your presence, glancing at your desk from time to time as quiz papers were being passed behind - so they were in the middle of a test, he guessed. But that wasn’t his concern.

In impudent manner, he walked in amid Midnight’s talking, disregarding her face’s sudden morphing into vexation as the students gave him a look of confusion.

“Eraser, what are you-” she was rudely interrupted as Aizawa took the test reference papers from her hands. Something about Modern Hero Art History, he read. He faced his class with disdain, stating,

“Until someone confesses their crime of hiding a spy camera on (l/n)’s dorm room, all of you are receiving failing marks on this test.”

Quite suddenly, the class burst into violent upheaval, gasping, perking, some allowing the dreadful news of your situation to sink in, others letting out noises of complaint before actually taking consideration to the main point of Aizawa’s statement. Midnight stared at him in disbelief, but did nothing to stop his measures.

Momo abruptly stood. “I-is (y/n) okay? We should go check on her!”

“No, you shouldn’t.” Aizawa said. “All of you are suspects. You’ve no right to see her.”

“She probably just made that up get back on us for whatever fucking reason!” Yelled Bakugou.

“Yeah?” The male pro-hero disingenuously mused. He then picked up the spy camera and held it for everyone to see, before setting it down the teacher’s podium. “This was found on her closet. Would she risk recording herself naked just to prove that point?”

Noise died down thereafter, setting their sights solemnly at the device, the class collectively having the same thought in regards to the spy camera.

(Why hadn’t they thought of that? It could have been easier to check on you that way, since you almost always confined yourself in the privacy of your own room.)

“So? No one wants to speak up?” Aizawa asked, though expected the silence.

“Aizawa, have them approach you after classes. It’s embarrassing this way.” Midnight intervened.

“Well that’s the point. Get them exposed to the entire class, so everyone could realize how much of a perverted bastard one of these to-be heroes are. Good values, my ass.” He replied, not bothering to filter rather colorful vocabulary. “Where’s your dignity?”

He let a minute or two pass for the perpetrator to reveal themselves, but soon it became apparent that whomever they were refused to admit to their crime, willing to sacrifice the grades of the class for the sake of anonymity. That would be deemed useless, anyway, because Aizawa was already set on figuring out whom they were, no matter the extent he’d go to in order for that to happen. He’d expel them at once.

But he didn’t have the power to expel someone outside of his class.

“I guess that’s it for your test.” He sighed, disgruntled, picking up the small camera and sauntering his way out of the classroom after giving Midnight a look that he was dead serious with marking all of them a failing score. She stared at him in uncertainty, nonetheless abided by his decisions, albeit hesitantly.

Upon ascertaining his absence, Midnight turned to Class 1A, amusement and humor dancing on her seductive countenance.

“Naïve, hormonal teenagers,” she mused, “the closet, really? Couldn’t you have chosen somewhere less conspicuous?”

None of them bothered to tell her that they were truthfully unaware of the incident.

===

Hagakure Toru, stealth hero, entered your room silently in the nude, the only proof of her movements being a tinier, different spy camera she’d brought along with her. No, not the closet, you might find it again. It looked so painfully obvious on the desk, too, and neither in the bathroom due to its pale white interior. 

But on the pencil holder situated atop your nightstand would do. You barely moved it, anyway, only having its purpose served as a decoration; something to fill the vacancy of the bedside table. After a few adjustments in camouflaging the device with the environment and making sure the lens displayed the area of your space, Hagakure checked its concealment one more time, before mechanically heading outside and back to her own dorm. 

Her body collided almost violently with her room’s door, snapping her out of her trance. 

“H-huh!? Weird... how’d I end up in my room?” She asked, receiving no answer from particularly anyone.

But Shinso Hitoshi could provide her one, if only he weren’t outside, staring at your terrace from five stories down your room, a gratifying smirk donned on his features. Now, the only thing he had to do was dismantle and relocate the gadgets wirelessly connected with the camera Aizawa had confiscated.

[chirp-a-chirp]

Nothing Else to Compare

Fandom: Court of Darkness

Couple: Roy X MC (MC named Carla)

Word: ~1.4K

Tags: Established relationship; romance; fluff and feels

Description: Very self-indulgent piece. @liquid-yarn @x-daedalus-x​ @daegupaksu​ @jaysquid​ y’all might appreciate it 🥰🙂

Roy and MC share a dance under mistletoe…with help from Sherry and others. Mistletoe prompt for @voltage-vixen Tis the Season for Love event. Teen rating cause of the implied ending.

Song Inspiration: “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” by Shawn Mendes

…

“Your Highness? Your Highness!” The Invidian diplomat’s voice rose in pitch.

“I-I beg your pardon Lord Dorian?” Roy turned his head towards the diplomat. Throughout the Academy’s Winter La Fleur gala, Roy exhibited a degree of distraction not normally present. His fingers tapped the edge of his formal jacket impatiently. Roy’s eyes flickered back to Carla as she chatted excitedly with Sherry and Rio nearby. Carla’s eyes locked onto Roy’s as she beamed at him. 

Lord Dorian laughed knowingly. “Ah, to be young and in love. I will write my proposal for you to read later.” The lord gestured to Carla. “I believe your time would be better spent elsewhere. I am sure my colleagues would agree.” 

Roy was thrilled at the diplomat’s kindness. Making a mental note to read Lord Dorian’s proposal as a top priority, Roy expressed his gratitude and left, walking to Carla.   

“Where are we going?” Carla looked at Roy quizzically as he extended an arm to her. 

“You’ll see, Heartspell.” Roy smiled softly. “Do you mind if we depart early?” Carla was surprised—she and Roy had been apart for most of the gala, not even having the time to dance together. However, the notion of having him alone was an enticing prospect. She nodded, grasping his hand instead of the crook of his arm, interlacing her fingers with his. Roy returned her grip and kissed the top of her head. 

Sherry and Rio waved as the pair said their goodbyes and began to leave. “Have fun you two! Hope you enjoy the—“ Rio was cut-off as Sherry elbowed Rio in the chest, making him drop his plate of food. 

“Oh, excuse me, Rio!” Sherry knelt to help Rio pick up the plate and its fallen goodies. Roy silently mouthed thank you to Sherry as he and Carla departed. As Sherry handed the plate back to Rio, Lord Dorian approached the princess. 

“Thank you for allowing my brother to escape.” Sherry inclined her head prettily towards the diplomat. 

“He would not have allowed himself to do so otherwise,” murmured Lord Dorian. “Responsibility and formality cling to Prince Roy, regardless of the venue.”

“And worry. It’s been his constant companion for so long.” Sherry frowned and then perked back up. “Though much less so lately.”

“I guess we know whom to thank for that,” chucked Lord Dorian. 

“That’s Carla for you!” Rio interjected merrily. “They’re thick as thieves, always together smiling.”

“It is good to see His Highness smiling. Actually smiling.” The diplomat turned to Sherry. “You and Prince Roy have planned something tonight, haven’t you?”

“Perhaps,” giggled Sherry. 

…

“What was that about with Sherry?” Carla inquired as she and Roy walked down a hallway. “The two of you have something planned, don’t you?”

“The two of us? No, that would be inaccurate.” Roy quirked his mouth mischievously.

“Hmmm. Then you’ve roped in Grayson as well, and perhaps Rio.” 

“There is no rope involved.” Ever since becoming paramours, Roy found that teasing Carla was his second favorite thing to do in the world—the first thing was something he could not engage in with Carla until they were behind closed doors. “Impatient, are we?”  

“More curious, if anything. If it’s a gift, you could always give it to me here.” Carla’s tone was playful as she ran her fingers up his arm. 

“No, it’s…too exposing.” Roy bit his lip at the admission.

“Says the prince who made-out with me in a closet,” Carla replied archly. She raised her eyebrows as they passed by a classroom with a well-known closet to the pair.  

“I was eager to express my love for you.” Roy’s arm encircled Carla’s waist as they continued to walk. He smiled crookedly and added, “You were equally eager as I recall.” Carla’s cheeks turned pink at the memory, earning a satisfied laugh from Roy. “But that was not what I meant by exposing…for now, I hope.”

Carla gave up trying to pry more information from her paramour, realizing Roy would just continue to tease. Eventually, the pair made it to the threshold of Roy’s room. Roy opened the door and leaned in Carla’s ear. “Surprise.”

The room was darker than usual, lit up with various candles scattered across tables and shelves. Clusters of roses and twinkling lights curled and ran up the room’s columns and newly installed trellises on the walls. Carla gasped as she noticed the center of the room had been completely transformed. The chaise, table, and chairs that were usually there were replaced with a sturdily constructed pergola, covered with twirling vines and wisteria. Carla walked underneath the pergola in awe. “Well, this explains you not inviting me in your room recently. And Grayson, Rio, and Sherry being so mysteriously busy.” Carla twirled around, eyes twinkling. “This is beautiful. But why?”

“Do I need a reason to show how much I love you?” Roy pulled Carla gently into a loose embrace. “The rooftop garden is occupied with guests from the gala. So I brought the garden to us.” Carla looked up at Roy’s loving gaze and noticed something above him. “Roy, is that…what I think it is?” Intermingled among the wisteria were clumps of mistletoe, tied with pink ribbon. “But I thought mistletoe wasn’t found in Saligia?”

“It wasn’t…until recently. When you mentioned it at last year’s Holy Night, I was intrigued. I worked with a number of Invidian cultivators to grow it based off your descriptions.” Roy raised a hand to the top of the pergola, touching a sprig of mistletoe. “Sherry had some suggestions to improve it,” Roy laughed. The plant was a near replica of what Carla would have found in her realm, except for the smattering of pink berries alongside white ones. 

“It’s perfect.” Carla squeezed Roy tightly. 

“Not quite.” Roy stepped back a pace. For the first time since leaving the gala, Roy tensed. He took a breath and snapped his fingers. The sound of a piano played from a nearby gramophone. Then, words sung softly. 

You’re just too good to be true

Can’t take my eyes off of you…

“This is the song I wanted to dance to with you tonight. Alone.” Roy’s golden eyes smoldered as he bowed to her, extending a hand. “May I?” The song continued:

At long last love has arrived

And I just thank Vane I’m alive

You’re just too good to be true

Can’t take my eyes off of you

Carla’s heart soared. The song was Roy’s love personified—elegant, crooning with longing, passion, and hidden emotion. “Yes, under one condition.” Carla waved a hand. Roy’s formal white jacket, pink cravat, and Invidian royal sash floated from Roy’s body, leaving him in his black undershirt and dark pink dress pants. 

“The people have their prince. This dance is for us. Just us.” Carla held Roy’s extended hand and leaned in, kissing his lips lightly. Roy marveled at how even the slightest touch from her sent him reeling. His skin prickled in goosebumps underneath his shirt as her arms wrapped around his shoulders. Roy’s hands slid around Carla’s waist as he pulled her closer, foreheads touching.  

Obligations, duties, images to maintain. All these things evaporated from Roy’s mind as he swayed in rhythm with Carla and listened to the song. 

Pardon the way that I stare

There’s nothing else to compare

The sight of you leaves me weak

There are no words left to speak

So if you feel how I feel

Please let me know that it’s real

You’re just too good to be true

I can’t take my eyes off of you

They moved together slowly, losing track of time. Neither sought to lead or control. Both simply held one another, content to convey their feelings through touch, shared heat, unrepressed delight. The moment imprinted itself into their collective memory as the song eventually faded away. 

“I love you.” Roy breathed into Carla’s skin as his lips sought hers. He murmured against her lips. “The only one I can truly be myself around with is you.” After a moment, Carla pulled away, a flash of mischief in her eyes as she stared at Roy. 

“You’re not the only one with a surprise gift tonight.” Carla blushed furiously as she undid the ribbon at the base of her neck, letting her dress fall in a pool on the floor. The lacy undergarments she wore matched the pink and white berries from the hanging mistletoe. Roy’s eyes drunk in the sight. He put a hand lightly on her shoulder and trailed past her collarbone, fiddling with lacy straps.   

“A beautiful gift,” Roy whispered in her ear. “One that I intend to take my time in unwrapping.”

“Is that a challenge?” Carla laughed as she pulled Roy to her, undoing a few of his shirt buttons. 

“A promise,” Roy smirked. “One we’ll both appreciate.”

[dasher85]

6. Unconditional

A sequence from  Inexpressible

Kamisato Ayato X Reader | you | y/n

Sequence: 6

[’I now understand, there is no such confession or proposals that matters to you more than the person itself. It is such a privilege, to be that person’

A note, written in Ayato’s notebook. ]

A snippet:

"Y/n wait-" he exclaimed. You faced him yet again as he quickly removed the golden pin from the left side of his coat. The pin that has the Kamisato crest on it. He then hands it to you. For a moment you just stared at it. "Take it, bring it with you. Let it be an extended string between you and me" his eyes filled with hope and yet a hint of lingering sadness was visible. You eventually took it as you nodded indicating you understand what he meant by doing so. It reminded you of your earlier meetings with him. Ayato, giving you a string, just so he could bring you to have a walk together with him by the seashore.

"Commissioner, it's only been six months since we last meet each other again... last time was longer-" you sighed at the sight of him. He was seated opposite you with a smile stuck on his face. It was as if, it's his first time meeting with you. "Ayaka..." You looked at her who was seated on your left side. Seeking for an explanation from her instead. "That's the same look he has before... I think it's something about what you guys talked about, y/n" You frowned and tried to recall the event. There weren't anything much about it... "We talked about origami, your country's issues and trivial matter... It's probably the trivial matter" you shook your head sideways. Seemingly disagreeing with the matter. "What are the trivial matter about?" Ayaka questions with curiosity in her light blue eyes. "Well, it was him who initially hinted about it because apparently he can't say it." You lightly laughed. "But I never thought it's that necessary right now... Anyways, it's about engagement" you said it way too casual. Ayaka almost dropped her cup of tea but then carefully placing it down. Was about to ask you but was interrupted. "I think he's just joking-" "I was not" You and Ayaka instantly looked at him. The look on his face was amusing to you. Although you refrained yourself from laughing and stayed calm. "Uh... I better get the mochi ready" Ayaka was quick to excuse herself. Now it's just between you and him. Silently staring at each other. "Just say it already... Isn't it your expertise to give reasonable words of sentences, especially as the highly accomplished clan leader?" He laughs, "By no means, you're not included in my area of expertise." "That's good... We'll just stay like th-" you were about to pour another cup of tea. "y/n, I Kamisato Ayato proudly asks for your hand in marriage. Henceforth, humbly asking you to consider the engagement as the official starting point between us?" Ayato unexpectedly conveyed those words with utter confidence. He reaches out a hand for you to take from which you only stare at it. "Hmm... " you looked at him with a smug smile. He sighed knowingly, "You're just enjoying this aren't you?" Ayato knew you have such peculiar reactions towards different interactions or situation. However, this was a rather serious matter and yet it was as if you've just heard a joke from him. Seemingly satisfied with the frustration on his face, you finally takes his hand. "Alright, I'll agree." You nodded with a smile. Those words didn't change the seriousness in Ayato's face expression as he intently listens to you. Perhaps he has long anticipated to the other conditions you'd definitely add. "However, since you were a tad bit late to say this, I've already planned to return back to my homeland since a week ago." Since the Sakoku Decree has been lifted, you were finally able to sail out from the country. He was prepared for whatever conditions you might want, but this... He wasn't expecting to hear anything that would lead to this. He blinked, speechless. You on the other hand, finds it amusing. Perhaps it feels rather grand to defeat a clan leader in this circumstances. "I'll be back in a few months, unless-" He heaved a sigh "Please do pardon my etiquette, but I'm emotionally dying." You laughed, "Did you perhaps learn that from me? I can see that I'm not a good example for you" He laughs joining you but eventually stops. "Y/n..." He sighed becoming more serious. "If I were to propose earlier, would you consider staying a bit longer?" You looked at him, seemingly understanding the emotions he was feeling at the moment. "No, if it wasn't for the decree, I would've returned home earlier. I'd still inform you before I leave though" you slightly smile. He squeezed your hand. "It's not like you're not used to not seeing me after months, right? It'll be fine. Unless you're worried about something else?" You try to assure him but if he was worried about other matter then, it's inevitable that he would feel that miserable. "I can always ask my servants to check up on you everyday, whenever I'm busy." He admits. 'So that's how he knew about my location...' you finally know the answer to your previous unanswered question. "But that's impossible if you're not within this country" he frowns, informing you his worries. "You worry too much. In fact, it's my family's ship who'll bring me back. I'm my parent's favorite after all" you proudly admits. He who has never know anything about your parents seemingly quick to realize that he has somehow possibly made a miscalculation. "Your parents?" You nodded. "Should I meet with them?" You looked at him with the 'What did you just say??' written all over your face. "Right, it's only natural to do that. To be honest, I didn't think it'll be this fast. But it's not yet the time to do so. I’ll properly make a meet up with you and my parents, if that’s what its called" you seemed to have gained your usual calm self. "I understand" he nods, seemingly not prying into the matter. "When will you be leaving Inazuma?" He then adds. "In 3 days" "It seems like I couldn't even bring you to the festival that I've organized myself" he looked away. "Aren't you being dramatic again?" You lightly laughed. He somehow resembles the cute cats you've once kept as a pet. "I just-" he frowns "is it possible for you to at least accept to stay in the estate for these remaining days?" He faintly smiled. "Sure, but I do wanna see you to act like an actual Commissioner, like when you're outside, in the public or during official meetings at least for a whole day" you excitedly exclaimed. He looked at you. It was rare for you to act this excited much less asking something from him. Especially something like this... All you ever say was 'Don't do this' or 'I don't need it'. You were the prefect definition of being independent. In fact it was just him who frequently asks something from you, be it your opinions or for comfort. It does gives him headache whenever he thinks about your preferences too. He has way too many doubts when it comes to catching your interest. The confidence level he has for his work is high but when it comes to you it's the opposite. Even about the proposal, he's actually been doubting about it... Not because of you but because he was doubting himself. The ultimate doubt was if he was good enough. These were the things that has been on his mind for months but now that he has already said those words, he felt slightly better. Perhaps it was because of your positive reaction or because of how casual you'd act... There was no doubt that he was definitely influenced by your current emotions. "Do you mean when I'm in work mode?" You nodded with a grin on your face. Maybe due to such expression, Ayato didn't have second thoughts and nods in agreement. It was one of your rare expressions after all. "Wait, that's just me doing my reports inside my office and-" his eyes widen, seemingly realized the true meanings behind it. "No taking back, it starts now" you gestures him to go. He slightly frowns but obediently walks to his office leaving you there. Keeping up to his promise. 'I'm finally free!' you secretly exclaimed. "Brother, where are you going? I was just about to serve the mochi I made" Ayaka who finally returns. Although, you were sure she was just trying to give you and Ayato some privacy. It wasn't really needed but perhaps Ayato did need it. "Work" he simply exclaimed as he walks past Ayaka. Ayaka looks at him then at you. You on the other hand, just beamed her a gleeful smile. She eventually walks towards you and serve the mochi she has personally made. "Thank you Ayaka, this looks absolutely delicious" you exclaimed before taking a bite. She nods with a smile and took a piece for herself as well. "Do you want to learn how to bake cookies?" You asked after you both had a good drink of tea. "I'm not really good with learning new things, I wouldn't want to trouble you." "It's fine, first let me share you the recipe" You and Ayaka spend the whole afternoon together. It was undeniable that you were enjoying the moment with her. "Lady Kamisato, should we prepare for dinner now?" One of the servants came. You both has just finished stacking the cookies into the jar. It was a success to be exact. Ayaka learned things quite fast. "We're done now" Ayaka informs the servants as you both walked out from the main kitchen. "We should prepare ourselves for dinner as well, y/n" Ayaka suggested. After yet again borrowing Ayaka's outfit because of obvious reasons... Well actually you never planned to stay at the estate for today. "Y/n this is a gift from me, I hope you like the color theme" Ayaka excitedly exclaimed. It was indeed more dark in color. Navy blue to be exact. Golden embroidery was visible around the edges. "Thank you Ayaka, the design is exquisite and the fabric is comfy. I love it " you smiled. "I want to give you this hairpin too!" Ayaka hands you a box. You opened it. A hairpin with matching design similar to your outfit glisten into your view. "This seems expensive, I should repay-" "That wouldn't be necessary. Brother specifically designed this for you" "Ayato?" "Hmm" she happily hummed. "Brother didn't actually like this design, he thinks it's still lacking and he redid another one. Hence, giving this to me instead. But I think, you should have it, y/n" she then adds with a smile. "You two are too generous, I'm not in any position to accept such thoughtful gifts" you politely decline. You've only witnessed Ayato being gloomy once, but perhaps due to being siblings, there are certain things that are exceptionally similar. Especially how Ayaka acts at the moment. 'Oh no... Am I seriously that bad?' you felt helpless. "Oh alright, I'll take it. I'll wear the hairpin as well. Mind helping me with it?" You gently asked her with a smile. Trying to coax her. She finally smiles as she nods her head gleefully. During dinner time, you and Ayaka sat opposite each other meanwhile Ayato sat at the seat he was originally needs to be when there are official guests present at the estate. At front far from other people. "Brother?" His younger sister questions why would he be there when it wasn't even a formal dinner to begin with. "Pardon my younger sister, but I do hope the food is qualified for your taste" he spoke with formality expressed into each words. "I do wonder what official business do I have here?" You whispered to Ayaka with a grin on your face. Totally ignoring the person who was looking at you. "Brother seems depressed, what happened?" She whispered the question worriedly. At this point, the oldest person in the room is getting more and more depressed. "I just said if he can act in work mode for a day, and he agreed" you lightly laughed recalling his shocked face. "That's it?!" You nodded. Ayaka looked at you, blinking trying to surpass a laughter. Eventually you both end up laughing. You both talked until Ayato leaves to his office room. Eventually, after a while you and Ayaka left the dinner table as well. Calling it a night. You walked in the guest room, and went to the table. Already planning to write something on your book. You haven’t written anything for the whole afternoon, to you it just doesn't feel right not to write anything in a day. 'To... What should I call that person?' you thought. It was the first time you had to write something like this. It's just too trivial but let's just say you do care. Sighing you decides to take the book and pencil outside. Thinking that perhaps ideas would come if you're outside. Meanwhile, that one person who has been patiently waiting for the time to reach midnight has finally able to smile when its finally a minute past midnight. He walked out of his office and went straight to one of the guest room. He lightly knocked on the side of the sliding door. "Right, she must be already asleep" he finally realized that it was just him who's used to sleeping late at night. Feeling rather disappointed he walked out towards the study room. It was where most books and scrolls were kept. Flames from the candles are always bright there. A few shelves filled with neatly arranged books at the side and two tables were at the center. Perfect for studying or doing late night research. To his surprise, someone was there. Although he was sure he was quiet enough when walking, you already looked up, eyes meeting his gaze. Perhaps you didn't notice it during dinnertime but his outfit color theme was matching to yours. But you didn't think much into it and continued with your work. "Are you planning for another story?" He finally walks towards you. The 5th volume, has long been done and he knows about that without you personally informing him about it. You simply nodded, although it wasn't exactly a story it was just your thoughts. Just a few essay that you'd specifically wants someone to read. A letter to be exact. It's not that you didn't want to tell him but you where in a middle of writing an important sentence. You turned another page as he finally sat beside you. Seemingly curious about what you were writing. "Aren't you supposed to be the Commissioner?" "It's already past midnight, it counts as a day" he informs you with confidence. "Hmph... So what brings you here then?" You questioned but now completely facing him. Staring into his eyes. Sometimes he still does question how can you be this confident and yet still able to ignore him altogether. "Y/n, I've got a lot of things to ask you..." "About what? Your country's problem, my personal background or about this relationship between us?" These type of questions doesn't seem to bother you at all. "Certainly, there is no doubt that your confidence level is better than mine" He admits with a faint smile before continuing. "Y/n" he paused, seemingly arranging the words that he wants to say. "How about you, do you not have anything to ask me?" "There is nothing at this moment but I'll ask you right away if I have" "Alright" He nods, looking away. "Don't worry too much about whatever you're thinking right now. You're looking too gloomy. Go get some rest" you sighed. Thinking it was because of you, yet again, the reason why he's feeling this way. "I.." he briefly paused. "Am I not forcing you... to do any of these things with me? Do you not feel burdened?" You blinked, processing the questions he has just asked. It was quite a complex question. Should you answer it in a wrong way, someone could interpret it wrongly. Hence leading to much less desired understanding. Perhaps answering with a formal way would do it better. "I think you know quite well that I'm a free soul. I do whatever I want and go wherever I wanna go. Nobody can stop me or influence me unless I want it myself. Should you unable to convince me since the beginning, I wouldn't even be here." He looked at you, intently listening to the words you're saying. "It's also easy for you to confirm that I've been captivated to the point of unconditionally accepting against all odds." You adds. "I am also aware that being with you is a challenge and perhaps there are many things that I couldn't help or give back what is needed but aside from all the responsibilities and worries, I am still clear about the main reason" you deliberately paused thinking if it's the right word to say. "I talked too much again, please do pardon me. Ask away if there's anything else..." you looked away and casually continuing with writing your letter. His eyes were fixed on you as if unable to decipher the meanings behind your words. After a while did he finally reached out to hold your right hand. Your fingers laced with his. However this wasn't the first time, so you didn't react and kept on writing. You were left handed when it comes to writing, so it wouldn't be a problem. "Y/n..." "Mhmm?" you only stopped writing and finally looked at him when he kept on whispering your name for a few times. "Y/n I won't let go of your hand too" a genuine smile appeared on his lips. You nodded replying him with a smile as well. Glad to see that he was looking way better than minutes before. "Should you ever lost your confidence because of me, just remember to invite me for a tea" you casually adds. "Mhmm... I will. And I haven't asked you about the hairpin you're wearing now, but do you like it?" "I love it" you exclaimed. He knows too well that the word 'love' was something you'd never say unless you really mean it. In that moment, did he finally appreciate his own design. Trying to impress someone was the hardest thing he'd ever tried and yet perhaps somehow it did went quite well. "Thank you for loving it" he calmly replied, smiling ear to ear. Should he be not the clan leader, he'd be unable to control the unmeasurable immense of joy in his heart. The few remaining days went away just like the changing of weather. Ayato who was the commissioner was obviously busy because of the upcoming festival and yet he has properly prepared in advance just so he has the time to personality see you off to the port. "You don't have to really be here, you know... People will talk rumours and even if they don't, your work schedule is-" A few Inazumans would occasionally be looking at the port area. It was as if they were filled with curiosity, interested to know what the Commissioner is doing around the area during this hour of time. It was early in the morning to be exact, and yet obviously other people are also having other agenda for the day as well. They just happened to be here but the sight of the rare Commissioner at site is in fact something rare. He smiled at you, seemingly having no such care about the matter. "Don't worry, aren’t you happy to have a nice stroll with me right now?." You sighed in defeat. You were indeed walking side by side with him towards the ship you were boarding.  "Right, I almost forgot... You were busy yesterday so I couldn't give it- wait" you stopped on your tracks and opened your only backpack you had bring with you, to get the item you were looking. You didn't bring much things actually, just your backpack and a bento. Courtesy to the Kamisato because they insisted you to bring it with you. Saying ‘no’ again would only get you the immense depressing face expression from the two siblings.  "Here" you finally hands him the few pieces of neatly folded letters. "Letters? For me?" You nodded without actually explaining the reasons.

"Read all at once will give you headache, not reading it at all is actually fine but I'm not gonna return back if you do that. However, once a month is the right way" "Are you not returning?" A hint of shock was visible although you know he was trying to surpass it. It was as if he'd only get the 'not gonna return' part. You slightly laughed at how he became overly cautious about certain words that he'd left out the other information entirely. "There's no doubt, I'm not a good influence for you" you shook your head. "Don't worry about that I was just joking, if you think I won't return for you then just remember I still have much mora to collect from Yae's publishing" "Don't you want my mora instead?" If he has cat ears then it'll be all droopy. "Please... It's your mora, why would I be taking any of it?? Before you get more dramatic, I need to board the ship" you exclaimed with a genuine smile. "I know..." He sighed in defeat. "I'm sure you missed your family more than ever, promise me you'll enjoy your return to your homeland" he replied, finally back to his usual calm self. "Of course." you nodded.

Eventually you reached the ship area as Ayato followed you behind. 

Just by looking at the ship’s design he seemingly gets the idea where your homeland could be from. Yes, to this day he didn’t exactly know where... He could’ve just asked you about it yet he didn’t actually want to pry into such simple matter. To him it just doesn’t matter where you’re from anymore, as long as you’re you then it’s fine by him.

The wooden plank you were stepping to board the ship was increasingly inclined which eventually surpassing his height. You smiled, seemingly happy to feel a bit higher in position while looking down towards him. He was just standing there slightly tilting his head up to meet your gaze. You were still able to reach him if you were to extend your arm and that's just what you did. As soon as your hand reached his head, you quickly ruffled his light blue hair.   Ayato who didn't expected it and only manage to let out a laugh because of your actions. He could've grabbed your hand but you losing balance was the last thing he'd want. "Sorry... " You sheepishly smile, slightly regretting your actions. You quickly tried to fix his hair but it seems impossible for you.  "I get it that you like this fabulous hair" a confident grin appeared on his lips. He casually combed his hair with his fingers and it seems back to normal. You blinked at how quick for him to fix his hair unlike you did yours even in front of the mirror. "Not really, actually..." You deliberately rolled your eyes. "In fact, the next time we meet be sure to have a nice haircut, for instance like that man up there" you points towards the man who was already onboard the ship. Ayato looked up towards the person who you've just mentioned. Unexpectedly his eyes met the other person's gaze. Those eye color resembles that of yours. The young man who seems to be slightly older than you was already looking down towards the both of you, his arms was crossed across his chest, seemingly uninterested. His hair style was cut short and neat yet a side fringe was slightly covering his eyebrows. Ayato looks back at you with a smile, wasn’t the slightest bothered. "I'll keep that in mind, about the hairstyle preference. However, that person, could it be related to you?" "Now that you've seen him, things might get interesting." you didn't exactly replied to his question. "Right, I should really board the ship now, see you when I see you".

Even you couldn’t be sure when you will return to Inazuma. Perhaps it’ll be months or at least a year... but you’ll make sure to return somehow. You have to because you know someone will be waiting. You quickly waved your hand but before you could take another step he stops you. "Y/n wait-" he exclaimed. You faced him yet again as he quickly removed the golden pin from the left side of his coat. The pin that has the Kamisato crest on it. He then hands it to you. For a moment you just stared at it. "Take it, bring it with you. Let it be an extended string between you and me" his eyes filled with hope and yet a hint of lingering sadness was visible. You eventually took it as you nodded indicating you understand what he meant by doing so. It reminded you of your earlier meetings with him. Ayato, giving you a string, just so he could bring you to have a walk together with him by the seashore. You didn't actually thought he'd do the same thing yet again even though he knew you would return this time. Nevertheless, you liked that sense of sentiment he’d been giving you. He smiled, then took a few steps on the plank, now standing the same level with you. He tenderly placed his palm behind your head as he touched his forehead against yours. It was brief but powerful enough to convey the many feelings he has for you. You weren't able to exactly explain it into words about what it felt like but somehow you knew that his feelings was genuine and will always stay with you. "It's an honor to be chosen by you, y/n"

-----------

A/N: Thank you for reading. I just hope my writing skills could capture these imaginations I’ve been keeping. There’s a lot of unexplained things about MC but lmk if I should continue with it.

[alwaysfeelingsaintlike]

Driving Me Mad [G.W] - Part 4

Series Description: You and George come up with a plan to pretend to date each other. But what happens when you actually start to catch feelings...

Pairing: George Weasley x Gryffindor fem!reader 

Word Count: 2k

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Taglist: @obsssedwithjustaboutanything

Description: George takes you on a secret trip to the Three Broomsticks.

                                                              X

“Hey, what are you doing?” You were sitting in the library taking notes and completing your assigned reading.

“What does it look like I’m doing?” you responded, peeling your eyes from the text to shoot George a look. 

“I could use your help.”

“My help? What could you possibly need my help for?”

“Come with me and you’ll find out.” Your curiosity peaked as you raised an eyebrow at him. He gave you a pleading look and moments later you agreed. You packed up your things and followed him out of the library. You assumed you were heading to the common room but George grabbed your hand and pulled you around a different corner. 

“Where are we going?”

“We may or may not be sneaking out.” 

“And how exactly do you plan on doing that?”

“Just wait. It will soon become clear.”

You reached an isolated hallway in the castle where the One-Eyed Witch statue was perched. 

“Here we are.”

“Here?”

“Yes. Now I will be lookout so you can go first.”

“Go where?” Instead of answering your question he cast a spell and the hump on the witch opened up, creating a passageway. 

“Climb in there when I say go. I’ll follow you down a few seconds after.” You decided not to question his instruction. You trusted him and knew your window of opportunity was limited. He gave you the signal and you hoisted yourself up and slid down into the statue. You fell down the corridor and let out a little squeal, unsure of what was ahead. After a short slide, you were airborne and barely landed on your feet. The ground was rough and uneven. You stood up, wiping the dust off yourself and you cast the Lumos charm to illuminate the hallway. You heard movement a few seconds later and George landed swiftly right behind you. This clearly was not his first time.

“You okay?” he asked. You nodded and curiously looked around.

“Okay, I tried to keep my questions to a minimum, but where the hell are we going?”

“Hogsmeade of course.”

“Hogsmeade? Why?”

“Now I know you’re aware of the party happening tonight.”

“Of course.”

“Someone’s gotta supply the butterbeer.”

“Ah, I see now. And pray tell why am I accompanying you on this journey instead of Fred?”

“Fred’s been avoiding me lately. I offered to get everything tonight so I imagine he’s spending time with Lee and some of the other Gryffindors.”

“Anything happen?”

“We just got into an argument. It’s fine.”

“That’s not like you two. You never fight. Seriously what happened,” George was quiet, putting his words together carefully. It didn’t take long for you to jump to conclusions. “No…no. This isn’t because of me is it? I don’t want to drive a wedge between you.”

“No, it's not because of you.”

“If it was, you would tell me right? There’s an easy out clause for a reason, we don’t have to go through with this if it’s causing tension.”

“It’s not because of you. I promise,” he lied.

“Okay. That’s all I needed to hear,” you said.

“So, will you be my date to the party this evening?” 

“I sure will.”

You made your way through the dark and dusty corridor until you reached a stopping point. You were expecting a doorway or something but the hallway just stopped. You looked at George, about to ask him where to next and you followed his eyes up the ceiling.

“You’re joking,” you spoke. He shook his head back and forth. There was no way you could get up there. George stood up on his tiptoes and reached his long arms up to displace a trap door. “Come here,” he instructed you. You moved closer to him as he crouched to the ground. “Sit on my shoulders. I’ll hoist you up through the door.”

“Are you sure about this George? I don’t want to hurt you.”

“What, you don’t think my broad man shoulders can handle it?” he joked.

“No, it’s not that-“

“Just hop on. You’re light as a feather.” You slowly put one leg over his shoulder and braced yourself before swinging over the other. You gently rested your hands on his head, to keep balanced. 

“You ready?” he asked.

“Go for it.” 

He slowly stood up and took a few steps forward until he was directly under the trap door. He fully extended his legs and you were looking into a dusty shop room. You held onto the sides of the trap door and hoisted yourself  up ever so slightly, extending your legs. You climbed out and dusted yourself off when you saw George’s fingertips claw the side of the opening and soon he was pushing his torso through the hole in the ground. You offered him a hand but knew he didn’t need it. He had done this so many times before, he had the process down. 

“And where are we right now?”

“Honeydukes cellar. Fred and I know the owner. He lets us come and go as we like in exchange for free marketing. That’s why we always have free samples of the latest sweets.”

“How do you have all these connections?”

“Dunno. Fred and I have a knack for getting into trouble and then talking our way out. Make a lot friends doing that.” George placed the cover diagonally over the trap door and led you upstairs. The shop was closed but he continued walking through the aisles towards the front door. He magically unlocked the door and you made your way to the Three Broomsticks.

It was a cool night, but the air wasn’t as crisp as you expected as you walked through the quiet village. You made small talk as you walked down the empty streets. Most of the shops and stores were closed at this time of night. As you neared the pub, you heard the buzz of the regulars and drunks carrying on and having a laugh. Part of you wanted to stay and enjoy a butterbeer here with George, but you knew there wasn’t exactly time for that.

“Madame Rosmerta! And how are we doing this fine evening?” George said as you approached the bar.

“No! No, you’re not getting any more butterbeers! I told you last time.”

“Now that is not fair. You know this is a special occasion. We’re hosting the Triwizard Tournament this year. We have to make sure our guests enjoy themselves and have a good time.”

“I don’t care. You’re not getting anything this time.”

“Oh, come on. You’re making me look bad in front of my new girl.” She stopped pouring beers, turned to look at us, and cocked her eyebrow. You shot her a smile, trying to help George’s case.

“Now, I recognize her. She’s always in here with a group of giggling girls. What’s your name love?”

“Y/N,” you answered.

“Well Y/N, you’ve got yourself a good one. Underneath all the pranks and scheming, Georgie’s a catch.”

You nodded at her statement and looked at George, trying out your acting skills, “He’s so good to me. I’m a lucky girl,” you said rubbing his shoulder.

Madame Rosmerta looked charmed and you could see her starting to soften up. “All right, all right. You’ll get your butterbeers. But this is the last time, you hear me?”

“Rosmerta you are truly a saint. Thank you.”

“Save your flattery. Meet me around back. Y/N, look after the bar.” You shrugged and agreed as she led you behind the bar and gave you nowhere near as much instruction as you needed. You made conversation with the patrons as you poured refills and collected empty mugs. You had to admit, it was a little bit fun. Once everyone seemed to be taken care of, you snuck out from behind the bar to look for George. Surely you would be on your way out soon. You headed to the back office and saw George carrying a crate filled with bottles of butterbeer.

“She’s beautiful that one. You make sure you treat her well, ya hear? She deserves a good guy to take care of her,” you heard from around the corner. You waited a moment to hear his response, your curiosity getting the best of you.

“Trust me, I won’t hurt her. She’s special.” You grinned at his response for a moment before returning to reality.

“So everything’s all taken care of back there. Glasses are full, bar’s wiped down, and everyone’s happy. Well…almost everyone. Keep an eye on Henry out there. He’s about to start weeping over his ex-wife.”

“Ah, I suppose it is about that time,” George chuckled.

“You handled everything?” she asked you, stunned.

“Yeah, I think. Everyone seems to be in good spirits.”

“No one’s ever done that before, aside from me of course. Listen here, if you ever need a job in the future, you come straight here and I’ll hire you on the spot.”

“Wow, I will keep that in mind. Thanks!”  

Rosemerta gave George a pat on the back and came over to give you a kiss on the cheek, “You best be off. Have fun tonight you two.”

“Thanks again Rosemerta,” George said as you made your way out the back door.

“And if you get caught with that, it didn’t come from here!” she added. You both laughed as you stumbled outside into the cool breeze. 

“She loves me,” he stated as you walked through the empty road.

“Oh is that so.”

“Oh absolutely. I mean every time, without fail, she starts with a stern no. Then I talk to her a little bit and she remembers how much she likes me, minutes later she’s shoving a crate of contraband into my hands. Look, she even put a bottle of Firewhiskey in this batch.”

“Wow, well done George.”

“I should say the same to you. You really know how to tend a bar. Anytime Fred steps behind there to hold the place over, about five different things go wrong and there’s always broken glass and some sort of spill. Rosemerta returns and goes ballistic; until Fred reminds her that he is indeed a wizard and magically cleans everything up. But she was thoroughly impressed with you. I wouldn’t be surprised if she asks for you next time around.”

“I would be more than happy to accompany you. Who knows, maybe I’ll end up taking her up on that job offer.”

“I’m sure you can do a lot better than running a bar. What’s your long term plan?”

“To be honest, I have no idea.”

“That’s a joke. You’re a Gryffindor prefect. You’re brilliant in all your classes. You have so much ahead of you and you don’t know?”

“It’s not like that’s uncommon. Are you telling me you already have a plan post-Hogwarts?”

“Course I do. Fred and I are opening a shop where we can sell our brilliant products.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I can’t imagine doing anything else.”

“That’s actually great. I wish I had that kind of clarity.”

“Well, what are you good at?”

“I’m fairly decent at every subject, but I don’t feel a strong connection to one subject over the others. Maybe charms or transfiguration if anything.”

“What do you like? And don’t just limit yourself to school. Just in general.”

You had never really thought about it before. Whenever the subject of the future had come up you changed the subject or completely stopped thinking about it.

“I suppose…I like people. Being around people and talking to people. That’s not much to go off is it?”

“It’s a start. You’ll find your calling soon enough. You’re smart and personable, people love that combination.”

“Thanks George. That is oddly reassuring.” 

By this point you had reached Honeydukes. You led the way inside and you ended up scanning the aisles, salivating over all the sweets.

“Here,” George said, handing you a giant, heart-shaped lollipop. “Thanks for coming with me.”

“Wow, stealing candy for me. You’re too generous,” you joked. He rolled his eyes and you gave him a genuine thank you as you made your way back down to the tunnel.

[guiltysecretpasttime]

Pretense

Here’s a one-shot fanfic from me, still on Legend of Korra.

- Lin/Tenzin, pre-LOK AU

- One-shot, completed

- Length: Approx 8.9k

Overview:

As far as the Earth Kingdom is concerned, Lin Beifong is in a relationship with the son of the Avatar.

No, not that one.

 ---

Lin could not believe that they managed to pull it off.

It has been a week since she arrived at Ba Sing Se. So far, it has gone well.

She towel-dried her hair as she moved around the room to get ready. The metalbender has just finished her shower right after coming home from training with the Dai Li.

Lin had always wanted to train with them. She felt that, aside from her mother, they would be a good source of learning different earthbending styles.

As expected, her grandmother Poppy was more than unwilling to have her train – for what good man would indeed wish to be with a brutish young lady like her. On the other hand, Toph Beifong was quite supportive but was hesitant on the grounds that it might hinder her progress with the police force.

Ever the people-pleaser as her pestering sister described her, Lin struggled to come to a solution that would hopefully meet all their concerns. By some fortunate coincidence, someone swooped in with a proposal, which she accepted after weighing the pros and cons.

Sliding into a long deep scarlet dress, Lin quickly pinned up her hair and applied lip stick.  It would simply not do for one of the ladies of the Noble House of Beifong to be seen unkempt.

This was the concession of her temporary move to Ba Sing Se: train with the Dai Li by day - attend society events at night.

It was enough to satisfy both her mother and grandmother. Toph hated these events expected from the current head of the Beifong family. Having Lin attend to it in her stead works for both of them - Toph gets to stay in Republic City and Lin gets to show her family (and the world) that she is highly capable in navigating these events. This way, no one need worry about the Beifongs not being recognized within the Earth Kingdom.

There was a knock at the door. Lin took one last look in the mirror and went to open it.

To add to her advantage, showing up with a date every time for these events keeps possible entanglements at bay.

“You look wonderful, Lin.”

After all, what better way to repel unwanted admirers than showing up at the arm of the Avatar’s son?

“Thanks, you look good too, Bumi.”

 ---

Tenzin unfolded the letter.

This was the address, he confirmed, standing in front of a tall nondescript gate, blocking the view and entrance to a residence in the Middle Ring in Ba Sing Se.

He rang the bell and waited.

The airbender shifted his bag from shoulder to shoulder, his robes billowing in the wind but interestingly not drawing attention from any passersby. He figured it was a good call to leave Oogi at the Air Temple and take a train to the Earth Kingdom instead, less commotion and less accommodations needed. He did not want to unnecessarily impose on others after all.

Tenzin was at the last leg of his travels and it happened to be a stop at the Earth Kingdom, specifically at Ba Sing Se University. Initially having thought that only minimal information documenting the Air Nomad culture survived the genocide, after the deposition of Ozai, more and more have contacted the Avatar to share artifacts and knowledge of the Air Nomads that they had hidden away during the war. Aang had eagerly responded to each of these letters and began to acquire these relics beholden to his culture. When Tenzin became of age and was to embark on his travels as a new airbending master, he sought to continue this practice and exploration. This is what brings him to Ba Sing Se University.

He had been writing to his mother to update her; telling of his plans to stop at the Earth Kingdom before going home to Air Temple Island. Katara had suggested to contact his brother who would be there for a diplomatic assignment. Tenzin was skeptical; he did not have a close relationship with his siblings after all. Nonetheless, to appease his mother, he did write to Bumi asking if he could stay for a couple of weeks with him. To his surprise, Bumi had responded in the affirmative.

“Coming!”

A voice answered the bell, a voice which was obviously not Bumi and was distinctly feminine.

The gate swung open, and Tenzin gaped.

“Hi Tenzin, you’re early!” Lin Beifong stood before him, clad in a gold qipao. For a moment Tenzin was not able to respond, focusing his attention on the curl at her neck that must have escaped the bun on top of her head.

“H-hello, Lin.”

She invited him in. “We weren’t expecting you until tomorrow.”

We?

“I was able to catch the first train out and so cut a day from my travel time.” He managed to respond as Lin led him to the house.

“I see, we were going to fetch you.”

“So, is it really Tenzin?” A loud voice came from one of the inner rooms of the house.

The metalbender rolled her eyes. “Of course, has my seismic sense failed us yet?”

“One could hope not.” Bumi came into view, wearing a towel tied at his waist and nothing much else. “Tennyboy! Great to see you!” The military man clapped his hands then moved to embrace his brother tightly and lifting him up. “Welcome to Ba Sing Se.”

“Good to see you too, Bumi.” Tenzin gasped out, dropping his bags, and patting his older brother back.

From his peripheral view, he could see Lin watching them with amusement.

“I want to hear all about what you’re up to here, baby brother.” Bumi set Tenzin back on the ground, crossing his arms, unmindful of his still dripping hair from his shower.

Lin cleared her throat and both men turned to her. She simply raised an eyebrow.

“Ah right,” Bumi shrugged. “Lin and I were on our way out for a charity event, would you want to join us?”

“Um, thanks but no.” Tenzin thought it would be the height of poor manners to show up uninvited by the hosts to a formal dinner. “I’ll settle in first.” He gestured to his things.

“Maybe next time, then.” Suddenly aware of his semi-nakedness, Bumi quickly addressed Lin. “Lin, if you could show him to his room? I’ll finish getting ready.”

Lin inclined her head and beckoned Tenzin to follow her.

Tenzin, although bewildered, followed Lin as she showed him where everything was (pantry, kitchen, living room). He also noted the shiny red embroidery on Lin’s dress that crept from the shoulder (is that a dragon?) to the small of her back which then drew his attention to her –

“And here is your bedroom.” Lin pushed open one of the doors.

“Thanks.” He paused just in time not to crash into the woman in front of him.

“If there’s anything you need, well, just let Bumi know.”

And, with a curt nod, Lin left Tenzin to settle in and wonder what he just got into.

 ---

Tenzin heard the front door open hours later as he sat at the living room, having a cup of tea while going over his notes.

“That was tough.” Bumi’s deep timbre echoed in the silent house.

Both he and Lin came into Tenzin’s view as they entered. Lin removed her heels and all but collapsed at the couch. “Remind me to decline any event that comes right after physical training sessions.”

“I did remind you,” Bumi slid down beside her, nodding at Tenzin to acknowledge his presence. “And you said, and I quote – ‘it’s just a short event, how bad can it be?’”

Lin covered her face with hands and groaned. “I underestimated the amount of networking that they expected during a charity event.”

Bumi laughed good-naturedly, patting Lin’s back. “Hey, Ten – how was your afternoon?”

“Good, good. I managed to unpack everything. All set for tomorrow.” Tenzin waved a sheaf of papers.

The non-bender looked between the metalbender who was slumped on the couch, eyes closed, and the airbender at his other side, clearly up for a long night of paperwork. An idea came to him. “I know, let’s all go out and have a late dinner and some drinks to welcome to you to Ba Sing Se.” He placed an arm over his brother’s shoulder. “What do you say?”

Tenzin grimaced a bit, having travelled conventionally without his sky bison was tiring. “Thanks for the offer but I’d rather stay in and get some rest.”

Bumi nudged Lin, who gave him a baleful glare. “Okay, no.” He laughed and got up, checking his pockets to make sure he has enough money. “I’ll just get us some take-out and we’ll eat in then.”

“That’s the first time you made sense tonight.” Lin grumbled.

With promises of a well-balanced meal for them of both vegetables, meat, and booze, Bumi loped off.

Lin remained in the couch, sighing as she stretched her legs and then tucked them to herself.

Tenzin adjusted his glasses and surreptitiously observed Lin as he went through his research notes.

He always had a soft spot for this childhood friend. They spent most of their toddler years and early childhood with one another, but Lin (and eventually Su) had been shuttled back and forth from Gaoling and Republic City. This was highly dependent on the Beifong grandparents as well as Toph’s schedule (and how dangerous her cases were). Meanwhile, his education has turned to focusing on Air Nomad culture. Their days intersected less and less as time passed by.

Their friendship dwindled, and they were not as close as they could have been.

Truth be told, as he watched Lin stretch once more then pad over to the kitchen with familiarity, he did not even know what she had been up to recently. He had some inkling to it (mostly relating to the police academy) but he did not expect her to be in Ba Sing Se. And most especially not around in Bumi’s UF provided residence.

He did harbor crush on the earthbender in their adolescence; surely at least Bumi knew about it, if his subsequent teasing during his visits to Air Temple Island were any proof.

Tenzin shook his head.

That was then and this was now; he had grown up and something as silly as a childhood crush was soon forgotten.

At least, that was what he kept telling himself as Lin came back to the living room, placing her own cup of tea on the table then disappearing to Bumi’s bedroom, claiming to retrieve a book she had been reading earlier.

Yes, it was all forgotten, Tenzin convinced himself even as he felt a pit form at his stomach.

 ---

The next time that Lin was over, Tenzin was lugging with him a large book bag filled with loaned books from the university library. After a couple of visits, he felt that the scrutiny from some of the staff and students made him uncomfortable. There was no denying who he was, with his tattoos brightly announcing to the world his mastery of a long thought to be dead element.

The fawning and the preferential treatment were a little less bad than how the air acolytes had regarded him. That was not conducive to his productivity and so he decided to bring home as much relevant material as he could instead and work from there.

He had only managed to spread out all the books and was in the process of cataloging the references when Lin burst into the house.

“Is Bumi home?” Lin appeared have rushed over, and Tenzin appreciated the flush on her cheeks and neck exposed by the tank top she wore.

Tenzin made a noise and pointed to Bumi’s bedroom and was responded to by a hasty thanks.

 ---

“You said you had news?” Lin asked without preamble upon entering the bedroom.

“Spirits, Linny!” Bumi shouted, pretending to cover himself up with his blanket when he was obviously doing some mending of his clothes. “What if I had been indecent?”

Lin simply snorted. “I’ve seen you in worse conditions.” She was no doubt pertaining to the time he had gotten drunk, and she had to bail him out.  “So, what is this about?” She sat at the edge of the bed, mindful of the sewing basket.

“Eh,” Bumi shrugged unconcerned but grinning. He tossed her an opened letter. “See for yourself.”

Skimming through the letter, a grin formed on Lin’s face as well. “Bumi! This is great!”

Prior to his assignment in Ba Sing Se, Bumi was short-listed for the next round of promotions. While tried and tested in the field, Bumi’s skills in diplomacy were yet to be proven. This latest assignment was a chance to prove just that.

And as in everything in his life, Bumi had to work doubly hard to prove himself. He had been a month in Ba Sing Se, attending meetings in the Royal Court, with the legislature and the kingdom’s security. He felt that he was not making a lot of leeway into reaching the accord that the United Forces needed with the Earth Kingdom. Their queen, Hou-Ting, had recently ascended to the throne and was distrustful of anything linked to the United Republic.

He had taken a couple of days off to visit his mother to take a breather and maybe a change in the scenery would give him more ideas how to approach the dilemma. He was going to sneak into the kitchen for a late breakfast when he overheard a conversation between his mother and Toph Beifong – which ended up with him seeking Lin to discuss a mutually-benefitting proposal…

This brings them to this moment where one of Bumi’s superiors had sent a missive on how one of the Earth Kingdom nobles had revisited his stance on the agreement between the United Republic and the Earth Kingdom. Included in the letter as well as a congratulatory note to continue whatever tactic he has employed as the results were in their favor. It was a simple introduction into the right company, an assistance that came in the form of Lady Lin of the Noble House of Beifong, who knew the Who’s Who in the Upper Ring of Ba Sing Se and the influential nobility in the Earth Kingdom.

“We should celebrate these little wins.” Lin handed the letter back. From her end, she will know if her presence in the upper-class of the Earth Kingdom has made any impact once she hears from her grandmother (who in turn, would have learned from one of her contemporaries living in Ba Sing Se).

“I don’t see why not.” Bumi merely tossed his mending into his sewing basket.

Grasping Lin’s arm and eagerly bringing her to the living room, he called out to his serious brother. “Tenzin! Get up, man – we’re going out to celebrate!”

 ---

Tenzin looked up to his beaming brother and Lin who was blushing from Bumi’s arm.

He wanted to decline joining them, fearing an outing of being the third wheel to the couple. At the same time, it had been a long time since he had spent time with Lin (and Bumi for that matter). Additionally, for some reason, that he did not want to dwell on right now, he did not want to leave the couple alone to their own devices.

Seeing Lin’s smile and Tenzin knew his decision was made for him.

 It was not too bad, not really.

Lin and Bumi had tossed banter, speaking of nobles and politics that flew over Tenzin’s head. He did not bother to clarify, thinking that it must be some sort of inside joke between the two. Or something confidential related to their fields of work.

They selected a small food court still in the Middle Ring, which catered to the varied crowd with different cuisines. Bumi ordered mounds of varied barbecued meats and sauces.

Tenzin noticed that Bumi did not order anything for Lin and Lin was left perusing the menu on her own.

The waiter stood patiently; pen poised over his notepad ready for their order.

“I’ll have the green mango salad please.”

“The green mango salad for me.”

Bumi looked at them with amusement. “Seems like you’ve finally found someone who enjoys shrimp paste as much as you do, Lin.”

Lin simply pursed her lips and went on to order another entrée on top of the salad (squid ink noodles) and a glass of cold tea.

Tenzin added an order of seaweed noodles for himself.

Once their orders arrived and they have dug in, Lin and Tenzin continued to rib Bumi for not having green mango salad, which in this case, included a healthy dollop of shrimp paste.

“I’m telling you, Bumi, this salad is good.” Tenzin insisted, taking in several bites of the salad. “You can’t know until you try it.”

“No, thank you.” Bumi grimaced with slight disgust. “It stinks high heaven.”

“I find it a good deterrent on a first date,” Lin happily mixed the shrimp paste into the leafy vegetables and sliced mangoes. “Makes it easier for me to weed out those with unscrupulous intentions.”

“Seriously, Lin – unscrupulous? You’re the only other person aside from Tennyboy here who uses words with more than three syllables.” Bumi evaded a slice of mango that the earthbender tossed him. “Well, there you have it Tenzin, if you do find that unique lady who would share this horrific salad with you – you could be rest assured that she’s not after your good name, your esteem or a good time that night.”

Lin chortled. “I doubt anyone who was looking to hooking up will even order it in the first place.”

“Imagine the stink during foreplay…” Bumi waggled his eyebrows and was rewarded with a slap upside his head from the earthbender.

Tenzin thought that he would not mind sharing a salad with Lin while on a date.

As Lin reached out her chopsticks to snatch a piece of meat from Bumi’s plate, which Bumi subsequently tapped away lightly, the airbender sneaked two pieces of meat from Bumi to Lin’s plate when his brother was preoccupied.

This was the Lin that he knew, in a plain tank top and loose pants. Not the Gaoling heiress made up with a fancy bun and a tight dress. While she did look beautiful in her formal attire, Tenzin thought that she was especially radiant tonight in her natural state.

The grateful grin that Lin gave him was enough to remind him that maybe his little crush was not all gone.

 ---

Later that night, after Lin went home, Tenzin made a mistake of hovering in the kitchen as Bumi put away some of their leftovers.

“Something’s bothering you.”

“N-no.” Tenzin stammered out.

“You’re making that face.” Bumi waved a hand in front of Tenzin’s face.

“This is my face, that’s all.” Tenzin knew the non-bender could be stubborn and will not budge unless he gave in. “Fine.” He sighed. “Seriously, Bumi – Lin? She – she’s not even your type.”

“So, I have a type, eh?” Bumi stood up to his full height, sending a critical look at the younger man.

“You know what I mean.” Tenzin crossed his arms. He sought to phrase his thoughts in a way that will not insult either Lin or his brother. “You take her on dates, and she doesn’t seem like the usual girls you go out with.”

A flash of something crossed Bumi’s face and a knowing smile formed. “I don’t see how that’s a problem. Think about it Ten, Lin Beifong has brains, beauty, and brawn – the complete package. Anyone should think that she’s their type.” He flexed his arms, giving his brother mischievous wink. “Now, she’s got Bumi too.”

The sinking feeling that Tenzin felt since the start of the night grew heavier as he watched his brother gleefully say his good night and left him to his thoughts in the kitchen.

What was he thinking? Reviving feelings over his brother’s girlfriend? That just was not gentlemanly to do nor was it right.

 ---

As much as Tenzin wanted to avoid Lin, he found that it was near impossible with the frequency of Lin dropping by or Bumi coming home with Lin.

The couple would also be very considerate and would often invite him to join them at their formal events. To date, Tenzin had not accepted any of their invites yet.

It was also hard to ignore the earthbender as Lin would usually be the one to initial conversation, usually by poking through his notes and the materials sprawled on the coffee table. If there was anything that Tenzin could talk about all day, it was anything and everything to do with the Air Nation and their nomadic culture.

Lin’s sincere interest in the topics similarly encouraged him to open up to her.

And, hopefully, dare he wished, her to him.

 ---

Finding more in common with him with their esoteric food tastes compared to Bumi, Lin had taken to bringing some packed food from the food court from time to time.

In one of their conversations, she admitted to Tenzin that while she did enjoy eating out with Bumi, the soirees that they go to tend to serve the usual Earth Kingdom Upper Ring fare and it tends to get a little bit redundant after some time. While she would love to sample more of the dishes in the multi-cultural food court, most of the orders were good for sharing. And, after an ill-advised selection with Bumi (which ended up with the man looking green the entire night, to be fair Bumi was a champ and had not complained all night and had valiantly finished their food), Lin did not have the courage to order more with the non-bender.

To her delight, Tenzin offered to do these taste tests with her. Unfortunately, the schedules that they both adhere to had prevented any outings like the night that they all went out with Bumi.

Lin came up with a solution and would stop by the stalls and the food court to order a dish or two to try. Then, over their paperwork (Lin had taken to bringing over her own paperwork to go through at Bumi’s house), the two of them would share this meal, pretending to review the dishes with posh and snooty language they read in the lifestyle section of the Ba Sing Se gazette.

Lin found herself looking forward more and more to these nights, a reprieve from the arduous Dai Li training and highly decorous hobnobbing with the Upper Ring.

Tenzin’s calming presence and dry wit kept Lin interested to spend more time with the airbender. It was as though they were picking up back from their previously close relationship.

Don’t get her wrong, she also enjoyed the company that Bumi provided when they go out on their dates. He was a good conversationalist and he helped her deftly navigate through the upper echelon of the Earth Kingdom society. Bumi is a good older brother who shared her experience in a similar industry, someone to talk to in terms of career and the practicalities of life.

Tenzin on the other hand…

Lin tilted her head in consideration while the airbender absentmindedly tapped his pen to his chin, a mannerism that she now recognized.

The airbender made her feel heard and seen.

She made a face and turned to face her own papers.

Put it like that makes it sound so sappy and un-Lin-like.

And yet, it felt right.

 ---

Tenzin had finished his research an hour or so ago.

He was now vacillating between going to bed early and leaving a few books on the table, in the illogical hope that maybe when Lin drops by later with Bumi she will be intrigued enough to stay for a chat. It sounded so stupid.

A beat.

He wants that.

He looked at the clock. Lin and Bumi will not be back for a few more hours.

While he was contemplating this conundrum that he placed himself in, the door opened and in limped Bumi, an arm over Lin’s shoulder.

Tenzin immediately stood up to take Bumi’s other arm to assist. “What happened?” He peered at his brother.

“Genius here decided that he was strong enough to -.” Lin had started to respond but Bumi swiftly twisted to cover her mouth with his hand.

“It’s not important how I got injured- just that I did.” Bumi interrupted as he held Lin’s gaze.

The unspoken communication between the two was too much for Tenzin and was about to leave the couple alone when Lin rolled her eyes and mumbled her agreement.

Bumi placed his arm again on his brother’s shoulder. “Let’s hop to it, Ten-Lin.” He ordered imperiously, nodding towards his bedroom.

“Of course, my liege.” Lin muttered, snark and sarcasm dripping from her words as they assisted the non-bender.

With a bit of maneuvering, Tenzin and Lin were able to place Bumi on his bed. Tenzin then noticed the glint of metal at his brother’s foot.

“Do you need any more help?” He directed his question to Lin rather than his brother who seemed to be smiling loopily at them.

“Ooooh Ten-Lin,” Bumi called out in an odd singsong voice then patted the bed beside him. “Care to have a heart-to-heart with Papa Boomboom here?”

Papa Boomboom?

“I’m good.” Lin shook her head, pulling at Bumi’s shoes and tapping the metal brace that she appeared to have created. “The healer on site was able to give him first aid and painkillers. He’ll be out in no time.” She was resolutely ignoring Bumi’s waggling eyebrows.

Tenzin inched out and quietly closed the door behind him, not wanting to find out what Papa Boomboom was up to, similarly disregarding Bumi calling out “Ten-Lin! Ten-Lin!” as he left.

 By the time Lin got out of the bedroom, the airbender was back in his spot in the living room, nursing a warm cup of genmaicha. His things were now in a neat pile on the coffee table. His hope of a conversation with Lin that he had initially looked forward to now a thing of the past. With his brother in semi-lucidity and injured to boot, no doubt Lin would be spending her visit (or even staying over) at Bumi’s bedside.

It was to Tenzin’s astonishment when Lin plopped beside him at her spot on the couch a couple of minutes later.

“Do you still have some of that?”

He blinked before realizing that Lin was pertaining to the genmaicha. “Ah yes, there’s more in the pot in the kitchen – let me get it for you.” He added belatedly, something warm curling within him at Lin’s soft smile as she thanked him.

The airbender got up to get the teapot while the earthbender proceeded to remove her shoes.

Lin was flexing then curling and uncurling her toes when he got back.

“Why do you even wear those shoes if they’re so uncomfortable?” He could not help but ask as he set the tea tray down on the table.

“It goes with the dress.” Lin nonchalantly stated as she shifted in her seat. She tucked both of her legs to her side at the couch and Tenzin had to concentrate on pouring her tea as her green silk skirt hiked a bit.

 They sipped their tea in comfortable silence for a few moments.

As always, Lin was the one who broke the quiet. “Aren’t you going to ask about Bumi?”

He wrinkled his nose. “I’m not sure if I want to know what happened but I’ll bite – how is he?”

“He’ll be fine tomorrow,” Lin scoffed. “I’ve removed the brace. Nothing else bruised except for his ego. Not going to give everything away but he injured himself because of a dance move.”

Tenzin was mid-sip and had choked on the tea.

“Easy there,” Lin moved to rub Tenzin’s back in circles, in an attempt to help him.

Unknown to her, it only heightened his embarrassment and the soothing movements only contributed to his discomfort.

“Dance move?” He eventually garbled out, having regained his composure.

Lin’s lips quirked up. “Yes, don’t go teasing him on it yet though. Keep that in your back pocket. You’ll never know when you might need it.” She removed her hand on his back and Tenzin felt its absence acutely. She reached for the pot on the table to refill her own cup. She then caught sight of the title of the topmost book that Tenzin had.

As Tenzin had hoped earlier, the earthbender brought their attention to the book and asked about his progress in his research on the instruments of the Air Nomads.

 Eventually the pot has been refilled and emptied, their cups left cold as their conversation suitably engaged them until the late hours of the night.

“Wouldn’t that be grand though,” Tenzin had expressed. “If we were able to have enough artifacts to host in a museum. I mean, Dad was able to transport the ancient airbending gates to Air Temple Island. It would be great if we’ll find something more to add.”

Lin, who, by now, did not care that her skirt was wrinkled and was now hugging a throw pillow to her chest, observed. “You really enjoy what you’re doing, don’t you?”

“Bits and pieces of it,” He picked at the frayed edges of his notes. “The thing I hate the most about being the Avatar’s airbending son is the travelling.”

“Oh?” The tone was non-judgmental but curious.

“I know it sounds terribly ungrateful.” Tenzin fidgeted. “But I really disliked moving from one temple to the other. I’m not made for this nomadic lifestyle. I sometimes think that being an airbender was wasted on me.” He had never spoken of this to anyone, not even his mother. “I would have been utterly contented spending my days at Republic City or at Air Temple Island even.”

He expected a rebuke or a scathing remark on him being an ingrate (Agni knows how some senior acolytes had spoken behind his back whenever he deviated from Air Nomad culture).

“What would you rather do if this wasn’t expected of you?” Lin’s gentle query and earnest expression was a balm to his anxious soul.

“Maybe a teacher or a scribe.” There was something about Lin that was drawing him in, making him want to be honest as possible. “Nothing fancy, nothing worth writing home about.”

“You’d be a good teacher,” She considered. “You’re very patient and very much willing to impart whatever knowledge you have.”

He rubbed the back of his neck, Lin’s intense grey gaze on him. “How about you? What if… you weren’t born a Beifong?”

He could see the hesitation. “Can you keep a secret?” Lin whispered, inching towards him after a few moments.

Tenzin could only nod. At this point, he will probably do anything for her.

She curled her finger at him, beckoning him closer, close enough to whisper in his ear. “I wanted to be a dancer.”

“I could see it.” There had always been something graceful with how Lin used to manipulate her metal cables. Where her mother was firmly stuck to the ground with rough movements, Lin seemed to be lighter on her feet with more fluid motions. He has not seen Lin metalbend recently; he could only imagine the difference a couple of years training would make on improving her bending.

“Really?” The surprise was apparent on her face.

Tenzin idly wondered if she, like him, thought that their dreams were ridiculous considering the heaviness of the mantle that were their parents’ legacies.

“Why not? I think you’d be good at it.” On a whim, maybe it was the lateness of the hour, the cathartic feeling of telling someone of his dream and insecurities, Tenzin let the words escape before he could even filter them. “Dance with me.” He stood up and extended a hand to the earthbender who was still curled up on the couch.

“What?” Lin’s eyes widened slightly (is that a faint blush he sees on her cheeks?).

“Dance with me.” He repeated.

“But there’s no music.” Despite saying that, she held his hand and allowed herself to be pulled up.

“Don’t worry about it,” Tenzin positioned themselves closer, he was sure it was not an airbending dance position but something he saw on a visit to the Fire Nation. “It’s just you and me now.”

After few false starts, both got into a steady rhythm with Tenzin leading.

As Lin grew more relaxed in his arms, Tenzin knew he would take what he could now. He felt like he was just doused with cold water with the epiphany he had. He was just fooling himself. His crush was not over, far from it.

His feelings were stronger than ever.

His eyes landed on Bumi’s bedroom door.

His feelings which should remain hidden as they were towards his brother’s girlfriend. His feelings which he will never act on.

It never did cross his mind to wonder why the woman was still there in the house, spending time with him willingly hours after her supposed boyfriend had turned in for the night.

 ---

“Nobleman with a distasteful mustache at three o'clock, Lin.” Bumi whispered at her side, clutching her elbow as they weaved through the crowd.

Lin stood ramrod straight. “That’s the nephew of one of Grandma's friends.”

It was at situations like this that she valued Bumi's presence at her side. Nonetheless, they made sure to act in accordance with proprietary.

She overheard several matrons saying that it was a pity that Lady Beifong appeared to be spoken for; their son/grandson/nephew would have been perfect for her.

However, in all the soirees and events that they have been attending, no one had outright asked them the status of their relationship. Lin was not about to disabuse them of their assumptions as no one was brave enough to confirm anything with her.

This at least left her to freely engage in conversation without fear of misconstrued intentions. This also allowed Bumi to be included in these discussions where he would expertly drop opinions or statements that may influence their thinking in relation to the United Forces or the current political climate.

No one thought twice of the presence of the non-bending son of the Avatar – If the Beifongs approved of this military son of a pacifist, then he was good enough to mingle among the Earth Kingdom elite.

As the two of them navigated their way to the buffet table, Bumi casually asked. “When this is over, aren’t you worried about them vultures descending upon you? Or Republic City gossip rags?”

Lin hummed as she perused the selection. “No, not really. We’re far away from Republic City and this is very exclusive society is not about to dish out to anyone outside of their circle. That’s what keeps them in power.” She picked up a piece of bruschetta. “And besides, maybe I’ll ask Mom to send Su here in the next season – find herself a good husband or something.”

“Lin, she’s barely twenty.” Bumi commented, eyes twinkling in amusement.

The earthbender merely shrugged.

“And, what about you?” He prodded her side as they sat back at their table. “Any romantic entanglements you see in the horizon?” It was to Bumi’s credit that he detected the barely noticeable tightening of her jaw and widening of eyes. “So, there is someone!” He announced gleefully, turning a few heads their way.

“No, there isn’t.” Lin grumbled, stabbing a fork into the plateful of food that she had taken.

“Playing dumb with me never worked, Lin Beifong, even when we were children.”

Lin hated how Bumi was able to read her easily; their equally matched observational skills honed by their respective careers.

“Don’t think I didn’t see it coming or that I did not see it happening.”

She resolutely brushed him off and focused on her plate.

“What are you going to do about it?” Where Lin might be stubborn, Bumi was downright obstinate and pushy.

“There’s nothing I should do anything about.”

Bumi glanced at her pensively over the glass he was sipping from. “Maybe you’re right – you shouldn’t have to do anything.”

“Oh Bumi, you’re reading too much into this. It doesn’t mean anything,” She turned away. “Besides, he probably has some sweetheart waiting for him at one of the temples. We’re just friends.”

It doesn’t mean anything.

We’re just friends.

 At least, that was what Lin told herself even as she once again found herself sitting at Bumi’s living room that night long after Bumi had gone to bed.

 ---

“What did that piece of paper do to offend you?”

Tenzin paused the incessant pen tapping that he had been unconsciously doing as the notice he received was pulled from under the pen. He twiddled with his fingers while Lin read the document. “I got an offer from the university to hold a series of lectures in the coming days.”

Lin congratulated him on the offer. “What are you displeased about then? Surely it’s not about the lack of topics that you’ll discuss.” She raised an eyebrow at the stack of folders on the table, each labelled with meticulous care.

“No, it’s not that.” He waved it off. “I just – I don’t know if I can make it interesting enough for them.”

She handed him one of the folders. “Try me.”

“Come again?”

Lin leaned back in the couch, getting comfortable. “Practice with me, pretend I’m one of those bright-eyed students that you’ll be teaching.”

Yes, pretend.

Little did they know, both were pretending for each other’s sake long before they realized it.

 ---

“In all honesty, I envy Bumi and Kya.”

“You do?”

A nod. “They get to live their life the way they wanted it to be. There’s not a lot riding on their shoulders. Whatever they are doing now – they wanted it, they’re living the life that they want because they can.”

“Is that what you truly think?” The earthbender’s piercing stare held his gaze. He hoped that whatever she found conveyed his honesty. “Maybe you need to check in with them. They might see things differently.”

 ---

It was one of the rare weekends that Bumi, Lin, and Tenzin found themselves free from any engagement. They took this opportunity to head to dine at their usual food court.

While Bumi and Lin scouted for an empty table, Tenzin browsed the menu of one of the newly opened stalls.

“Master Tenzin?”

Tenzin turned to who called him and came face to face with a vaguely familiar woman.

“I’m Pema – from the lectures?” The student obviously expected that he would remember her.

“Ah yes,” Tenzin awkwardly responded because he did not really recall a lot from the sea of faces. “From yesterday’s morning session?”

The girl, Pema, beamed at him, nodding. “And the afternoon session from the day before, and the one session lecture the day before that.”

“Oh, so you managed to attend all of them?” There was mild interest in his tone now. Maybe he was able to get through the Ba Sing Se students. “Which topic interested you the most?”

Pema began to explain excitedly when Tenzin saw Lin wave at him from a few tables away.

“Say, are you eating alone?” At the very least, politeness made him invite the young woman.

“I-I-That is to say -no- I mean, yes.” Pema shifted her eyes.

“Would you like to join us?” At her nod, Tenzin motioned to have her follow him to their table.

Upon approaching, Tenzin saw that Lin and Bumi had already given their orders to the waiter.

At Lin’s raised eyebrow and Bumi’s curious look, Tenzin introduced Pema and said that she would be joining them today.

The waiter handed both a copy of the menu while Tenzin pulled the chair in front of Bumi for Pema to sit on.

“Ahh, Pema, is it?” Bumi placed an arm around the back of Lin’s chair. “Any idea what you would be getting?”

“I, um, not sure yet.” She hid behind the menu, brows furrowing.

Bumi grinned mischievously while catching his brother’s eye.

That can’t be good, Tenzin thought silently.

“Might I make a recommendation?” The non-bender leaned forward and at Pema’s nod, pointed on an item on the menu she was holding. “Tenzin loves this.” Bumi winced subtly that Tenzin could surmise was because Lin must have kicked him under the table.

“Oh, yes of course!” Was Pema’s immediate reaction and ordered.

Tenzin was surprised and ordered his food as well. When the waiter had taken all their orders and left, the airbender turned to the student. “You like the green mango salad?”

“Yes, I do – I enjoy it a lot.” Pema enthusiastically agreed.

“Even the shrimp paste?” Bumi asked innocently but sending a sly look at Lin, who steadfastly kept silent.

“Especially the shrimp paste. It gives it the texture and distinct salty taste.”

“Indeed.”

Tenzin finally caught Lin’s eye and there was an odd expression on her face that he could not explain.

Bumi proceeded to liven up the table with conversation and even make Pema feel at ease. It was one of the traits of his brother that Tenzin envied.

The rest of their meal went by uneventfully and they all got to know Pema a little bit more and her interest in the lectures from the past days. As Bumi did not draw attention to the unusually taciturn earthbender beside him, Tenzin did not attempt to draw her into conversation as well despite his confusion. Lin would commonly be a little bit more talkative during their small outings like this.

Maybe she had a bad day?

As the meal winded down, Tenzin thought he rather wanted to see more of Pema. At least, to not remain as a third wheel to the couple in front of him.

“So, we might have, uh, tea after dinner. Would you like to join us?”

Pema’s effusive acceptance became garbled to his ears as he detected the sudden screeching of the metal chair in front of him being pushed back.

“I’m sorry, I need to go.”

Both Bumi and Tenzin turned to Lin, who was only maintaining eye contact with her boyfriend.

“Oh right, your… report.” Bumi motioned to stand up as well. “Do you want me to bring you home?”

His brother’s unexpectedly gentle tone made Tenzin think if there is something else that he missed. A subtext that passed known only to the couple.

Lin tilted her head and smiled weakly. “No need, I can manage.”

Nonetheless, Bumi stood up, made their excuses to Tenzin and Pema.

Tenzin looked on as Lin allowed herself to be escorted by Bumi. The lie of having a report waiting for her tasting bitter in the airbender’s mouth.

But why?

“I suppose tea is out of question now.” Pema said shrewdly, moving to stand up as well when Bumi and Lin was out of their line of sight.

Maybe she was more perceptive than Tenzin gave her credit for.

If Pema thought that he was about to invite her elsewhere, she was mistaken, and Tenzin extended his hand to shake hers. “Pleased to meet you, Pema, thank you.” He paused and somewhat awkwardly added. “And good luck on your studies.”

Tenzin closed his eyes for a moment, a headache already forming.

He froze.

There on the table, beside Pema’s empty plate of what used to contain her order of skewers, was a full bowl of green mango salad, mixed but not a single bite taken out of it.

 ---

“You’re an idiot.”

“Excuse me?”

“She’s too young.”

He knew his older brother was right, but it stung to be called an idiot.

Ever since Lin urged him to talk to his siblings, Tenzin had consciously made time to connect to Bumi.

Along the way, he learned about how different their views of their childhood were. Bumi, on his part, was quite candid and the airbender appreciated that. More than once, Tenzin was tempted to evade some of their talks that were bordering on painful (cut-and-run much?). He felt that he owed it to his brother though to power through.

But tonight, there were emotions that were too raw to filter. If the couple just wanted some time together, they need not fabricate Lin having to work on a report. They need not pity him for being their third wheel.

“Lin is too young for you too and you don’t hear me berating you for it.”

“That’s different.”

“Is it, really?”

“Well, if you get your head out of your behind, maybe you’ll see what’s right in front of you.”

 ---

Letters swapped hands.

“Training’s almost done and as you can see there, Grandma has already received news from the grapevine about what an asset I am to the Beifong line.”

Bumi refolded the letter after reading. “I suppose your time in Ba Sing Se has come to an end then?”

“Only if you think you don’t need me anymore.” Lin paused and gave a short laugh, finding her phrasing funny. “I mean, if you think you don’t need help anymore with your assignment?” She leaned back, tapping the letter from Bumi’s superior in her hand.

“I should say mission accomplished to us both.” Bumi drew Lin into his arms. “Thank you.”

 It was most unfortunate that it was in this good-bye scene that the airbender arrived to.

 ---

The raindrops continue to fall, leaving staccato beats on the roof top.

The entirety of Ba Sing Se was coated in a haze that enveloped the typically green and brown place in a blueish gray hue.

The peaceful scene should have relaxed the airbender.

Tenzin sighed.

But it did not.

Not when he could hear characteristically feminine giggles from his brother's room.

He checked the clock, too early to have visitors over unless it were visitors who never left the night before.

His knuckles turned white, tightly grasping his mug.

As much as he felt that he should come clean to Bumi about his feelings for Lin (his girlfriend), his head was telling him not to. It would be another thing that Bumi might hold against him (on top of a lot of other childhood insecurities that their father inadvertently caused).

He just wants both Lin and Bumi to be happy. Even if it means hearing what they have been up to in the early hours of the day.

“Ah, Spirits what a turn out – it’s as though Tui and La decided to inundate the entire Earth Kingdom by flooding it.”

Tenzin’s head jerked up.

Lin Beifong was standing in the edge of their kitchen, hair dripping wet.

His mind was sluggish in realizing, shocked as it was to see the earthbender.

“Do you still have some of that?” Lin waggled her fingers towards Tenzin’s mug of genmaicha.

“Oh, yes – where are my manners –.” Tenzin tripped over his words and hastily poured her a cup. Then reaching over to the coat rack and draping his coat over her, he admonished her lightly. “What were you doing out in this deluge anyway? You’ll get sick!”

“Well, Bumi told me that you intend to leave in a few days’ time and as I was preparing for my trip back to Republic City, I thought that -.”

A door creaked open. “Lemme grab us a bite from the pantry; we need sustenance if we want to last all the way to noon.”

Damn.

“Oh.” Bumi stumbled into the room, completing their peculiar tableau of a dripping earthbender cloaked in red and yellow, a pale shock airbender standing at the edge of the room and a military man that, for whatever intent and purposes he may have, was wearing nothing.

Tenzin’s pale skin started to redden, comprehension dawning on him. “Oh – that’s all you have to say?” If Lin was here – then who was with Bumi the entire night/morning back in his bedroom?

The non-bender scratched his bum. “What did you want me to say?”

“Oh, for Spirits’ sake, Bumi cover yourself!” Lin averted her eyes. “I may not act like it the whole time, but I still am a lady!”

“Ah Beifong,” Bumi smiled devilishly, his hand moving from his head to his legs. “Come take a look at what you’re actually missing out on.”

Lin pointedly faced the ice box, her back to the naked man. “No way, I’m not missing on anything.”

“Come on, Linny!”

“No, Bumi.” Lin snorted a laugh then bent her head over her cup of genmaicha.

Tenzin felt like he was going to explode.

How dare Bumi disregard Lin Beifong just like that? Flaunting his floozy---

How dare Lin not call him out – it was beyond disrespectful!

What’s more: being in a relationship with Lin was something he personally wanted for himself - not because of his father, not because he is an airbender, but because he wanted this. To see Bumi taking her for granted was like a knife twisting in his chest.

“Get yourself some clothes before you catch a cold.”

“You dry yourself before you catch a cold.”

Why were they skirting over the obvious issue?

Tenzin let out a strangled sound.

“Something wrong, Tennyboy? Your vein is about to burst on your forehead.”

“Something wrong?” The airbender’s voice went a pitch higher. “Something. Wrong. You –.” He pointed aggressively at his brother. “Just spent the night with some,” He clenched and unclenched his fist as he tried to select the appropriate word. “Woman that is not your girlfriend!”

Lin’s eyes shot to Bumi’s. “You have a girlfriend?”

Bumi raised both hands. “Wait a minute, you know I don’t. This,” His shoulder gestured towards the bedroom. “Is a recent development and it’s just for fun, you know, and she definitely knows.”

“What!” Tenzin’s gasped out.

“Wait a minute,” Bumi snapped his fingers. “Lin, you didn’t tell him?”

“Tell me what?”

“Tell him what?” The earthbender scrunched her face thinking before it cleared as she seemed to have concluded something. “Oh. No. I didn’t – I didn’t think I had to –!”

Tenzin felt he was watching a ball go back and forth between the other two.

“You’re the one talking to him often.” Bumi crossed his arms.

“You’re the one living with him.” Lin pointed at the airbender.

“You’re the one in love with him!”

A stunned silence followed.

Surely… Bumi was mistaken?

 ---

Bumi ran a hand over his face. “I think you both have a lot to talk about.” Then, he grabbed the nearest food on the table (a loaf of sweet mung bread). “I’ll leave you both to it.” He waved the loaf then exited the kitchen.

Lin considered the tea in her cup, focusing as though it could lend her the fortitude for the upcoming conversation.

Tenzin sat on the chair opposite her, taking a sip from his own genmaicha. “Feel like explaining what that was?”

As an earthbender, Lin went into it head on. “Bumi and I are not – were not – in a relationship – we – I thought that was clear.” Then she proceeded to explain the arrangement that she had with his brother. “I’m sorry if we made you feel uncomfortable with this.” She waved her hand uselessly.

Lin bit her lip anxiously. She blew on her cup, waiting for the airbender to process the information that was dumped on him.

 ---

Two things ran through his mind.

Firstly, Bumi and Lin are not (never were!) in a relationship.

That key revelation echoed, unlocking several objections that he had repeatedly told himself to tamp down his feelings for the earthbender.

Secondly, it did not escape his notice that Lin did not say anything to refute Bumi’s claim.

His heart beat loudly, feeling like it was up in his throat. Excitement and nervousness made it difficult for him to breath, ironic for an airbender.

“Lin,” Tenzin cleared his throat. “And what Bumi said,” He leaned forward to tilt her head up so he could look at her eyes. He gulped and took a deep breath. “Is it true?” He felt Lin pull back for a second before she slowly nodded.

Without a hint of hesitation, Tenzin stood up to gather Lin in his arms, feeling complete and contented, something alien to him, something he had not felt for the longest time.

“I take it you like me too?” A muffled voice at his chest murmured.

“More than.” Tenzin bent his head, putting his forehead against Lin’s, unmindful of how her wet clothes now clung to them both. “I love you too.” He then closed the gap between their lips.

They would have gone longer if Lin had not shuddered involuntarily. They separated slightly, arms still around each other.

“I’m sorry, I probably need to get dried.”

Tenzin peered down at Lin’s now translucent attire. “Better yet, let’s get you out of those wet clothes. That is – if you don’t have any objections to it?”

“None whatsoever.” Lin tiptoed, pressing her lips to him. “No boyfriend, no rumored beau…Care to help me out?”

“Gladly.”

[selinas-ships]

Everybody Loves Somebody

I didn't mean for this to turn into a song fic, but it kinda did, and I'm not mad about it. 

Also hi, I know it's been a million years lmaooo

With a frustrated sigh, Selene tossed the file onto the table she and Loki claimed, currently littered with papers from various files. “I hate paperwork.” She grumbled, rubbing her eyes and trying to stop the words from swimming in her vision. Stupid, tedious paperwork.

“You’re so good at it though.” Came Loki’s humorous reply. She didn’t need to look at him to see the insufferable grin on his face. And yet she couldn’t help a grin of her own from growing.

He wasn’t wrong, technically. Experience with her father helped her in finding the important information quickly, and the quicker the important information is found, the quicker one can understand the point of the report or the file, and in their case, deduce if it was at all significant to their cause. So far though, there has been little.

“That doesn’t mean I like it.”

“Fair enough.”

The words and phrases of the tedious report she threw on the table finally stopped swimming in her eyes, but she couldn’t bring herself to open them. She was tired. There had been nothing but reports and files on the seemingly countless Loki Variants caught by the TVA for the past hour, and she was tired of it. Tired of reading how Loki made a choice that led him to being happier and fulfilled with his life and how it had to be destroyed for the sake of the “sacred timeline.” There were too many unknowns to make a properly informed opinion about the importance of the TVA and the sacred timeline, but from what she had so far, what was the phrase? She wasn’t a fan.

Soft music suddenly filled the quiet halls of endless bookshelves of files. A string quartet, perhaps? The scale they played seemed a little intense, she thought as she searched for where the music came from, finding nothing of note. And joining the instrumental music, people, a man and a backup chorus, sang.

(Everybody loves somebody sometimes)

(Everybody falls in love somehow) 

She closed her eyes again with a smile as a piano and percussion added to the instrumental background. Distracted by the music, she barely registered the sound of chair legs softly scraping against the floor directly beside her until someone took her hand and placed a gentle kiss to her knuckles.

With a quick glance to her left, she found Loki had stood up, holding her hand, his brilliant green eyes meeting hers as he lifted his lips from her hand. It was an action he’d done before, an expectation when greeting royalty, and Loki always had been as gentlemanly as he could when he visited. But it never failed to make something she couldn’t quite name yet flutter in her stomach.

(Something in your kiss just told me) 

“Dance with me?” He asked, giving her a soft smile, one he liked to save just for her.

(My sometime is now) 

She smiled back, hardly hesitating in her reply. They could make good with a break anyway. “Why not?”

Standing from her chair, she held onto Loki’s arm as he led them to a slightly more open space close to their table. Their next few movements were like clockwork. Her right hand clasped his left as her left rested on his shoulder and his right held her waist in a gentle but firm grip. Loki led them through a slow waltz, Selene following him seamlessly.

One thing she noticed in her now twenty-one years of formal balls and kingdom-wide celebrations with the waltz was, ultimately, it was about trust. The lead had to trust that the follower would follow where they directed, and the follower had to trust the lead to know what step to take next and carry through. A waltz without trust wasn’t a waltz at all, in her opinion. A waltz without trust was less of a dance and more of two fools tripping over each other because they didn’t trust or communicate enough to make it work. 

Truthfully, it was a simple way to read a person. Someone who habitually took the lead was likely to be a person used to being in control, whether of a people or of themselves, while someone who typically followed in a waltz might appear to be less of a leader and instead let others take that role, either due to not being confident in themselves enough or because that was the role they played in their society. A dancer experienced in both leading and following is easily inferred to be a flexible individual, neither strictly a leader or a follower, instead being what was needed. An unsure dancer let insecurity get the better of them, while a confident dancer, insecurity still very much a possibility, was far less likely to let their insecurities get in the way.

Loki was both a confident dancer and one who preferred to lead, which would logically mean that he was a person used to being in control of himself and didn’t like letting his insecurities (because Asgardian and a literal god or not, everyone had an insecurity) impede the path to his goal. 

But that was something she figured out years ago. This wasn’t a royal ballroom full of formal attire and people of political interest. This was two friends, taking a break, and enjoying something they both found joy in. So she pushed those thoughts to the back of her mind, while trying not to dwell on the memories of balls in a ballroom that now likely rests in dust and dried blood, and instead let herself get lost in Loki’s eyes, in his touch and in his arms, feeling safer here with him than she has during this entire ordeal.

(Everybody finds somebody someplace)

(There’s no telling where love may appear)

His soft smile grew into a wide grin as he dropped his head, his eyes sparkling with mirth and shoulders shaking with barely concealed laughter.

“What?” she asked through a small laugh of her own, dipping her head to meet his eyes again.

“Oh, it’s nothing,” He insisted, shaking his head. “Just remembering the last time we danced like this.”

(Something in my heart keeps saying)

Selene quickly wracked her brain for the memory before it hit her. Ah, of course.

“Oh, you mean the time you dragged me into the gardens to hide after a prank went wrong? One that I told you would go wrong, but you did it anyway?” She asked in a playful, accusatory tone, struggling to stifle her laughter at Loki’s utterly offended expression. She distinctly remembered saying ‘No, Loki, that is a terrible idea, and I will not bail you out of the mess you will cause,’ and Loki proceeding to go, ‘Trust me, it’ll be fine!’

It ended up, in fact, not being fine. It ended up being almost exactly as she predicted, if memory serves.

“Excuse you! You aided in that!” The smile that grew from his expression betrayed his amusement as she raised a single eyebrow, smirking at him.

(My someplace is here) 

“How?” she asked dubiously. 

“By giving me the idea!” 

“And then I told you specifically not to do it!” 

(If I had it in my power) 

“Oh, here we go again.” Loki sighed as he let go of her waist, Selene subconsciously understanding the cue for him to twirl her, giving him her own offended expression, a gleeful smile poking through.

“Wha-?? You bastard!” She laughed as Loki pulled her back into his arms. It had only been for a moment, but she had already missed his arm around her waist. It was comforting, grounding.

(I’d arrange for every girl to have your charm) 

“I’m your bastard.” He quipped, giving her a self-satisfied smirk. He knew he was right. Unbelievable, utter bastard. Her bastard.

“I suppose that’s true.” She dramatically sighed, laughing as Loki stuck his tongue out at her.

(Then every minute, every hour)

(Every boy would find what I found in your arms)

They fell into a comfortable silence after that, Loki leading her through another twirl as she just looked at him. Well, admired is probably a better word. She was doing more than just looking. She noticed the smile on his lips matched the smile in his eyes, the usual tension in his shoulders gone, the way his eyes crinkled in his joy. It made her happy, seeing him and being able to know he was too.

(Everybody loves somebody sometime)

(And although my dream was overdue) 

“What?” He asked her, noticing her widening smile. 

(Your love made it well worth waiting) 

“Nothing. It’s just good to see you smile again.”

(For someone like you) 

Staring into his eyes, she could see her words surprised him, but he was quick to come back with a smile that could almost be labeled as shy. “Well. I’ve had good reason to.”

((If I had it in my power))

(I would arrange for every girl to have your charms) 

Surprised by his words in turn, Selene ducked her head to get her giddy smile under control a little more before returning to his eyes.

They had almost gone half-lidded, and there was something in his gaze that made her want to smile and giggle uncontrollably, like Rosalind when she talked about her beloved, and kiss him at the same time.

((Then every minute, every hour))

(Every boy would find what I have in your arms) 

It really shouldn’t surprise her, the sudden urge to kiss him. This wasn’t the first time she’s had that thought.

(Everybody loves somebody sometime)

(And although my dream was overdue) 

This might be the closest she’s come to thinking she may act on it, though.

(Your love made it well worth waiting)

(For someone like you)

Loki led her into a graceful dip, her body and mind trusting him completely not to let her fall. He never did. But she thinks she’s fallen in more ways than one.

((Everybody loves somebody sometime)) 

As the song came to a close with one last beautiful violin, and Loki pulled her out of the finishing dip of their waltz, Selene couldn’t take her eyes off him. His hair, his eyes, his face, everything about him in this moment, she tried to commit to memory. The way he looked at her, the smile he gave her, the way a curl of hair fell over his ear.

Her eyes trailed down to his lips of their own accord, her hand on his shoulder sliding up to cup his neck. She forced her eyes back to his to find Loki’s gaze at her lips. Sliding the hand still clasped in his free, it moved to his hair, running through his gentle curls and waves.

They had moved closer in their waltz than they did when they started. Where before there had been a respectable distance between them, now their faces were mere inches apart.

Loki’s free hand moved to the back of her head, sliding down to cradle her neck as he nudged her closer, Selene offering no resistance. The tips of their noses brushed together now, eyes meeting and then moving to lips and then meeting again.

Her heart thumped louder in her chest. He was so close, it would be so easy to close the gap and finally know what his kisses are like-

They both jumped at the sound of someone clearing their throat, finding Agent Mobius staring at them with a very unamused expression that would have been a little funny had she’d not been both embarrassed at being caught like this (not that they were doing anything strictly wrong) and frustrated he had interrupted. Who knew when she would get the courage to try that again?

“Oh, I’m sorry, was I interrupting something?”

Normally, Selene would be a bit more diplomatic in her response, saying no and to apologize for making him wait, but Mobius, and to be honest the entire TVA, had a habit of frustrating her, so the snarky response “A bit, yes.” slipped out of her mouth before she could stop it. 

Understandably so, Mobius let out an exasperated breath. “Look, princess, you’re here to keep him in check, not to... act on whatever unspoken thing you two have going on.”

“Hey now-”

Oh dear.

Selene quickly put a hand on Loki’s shoulder, taking his attention away from Mobius. “Loki. It’s fine.”

The pout he gave her was unfairly cute. “But it’s not. He shouldn’t speak to you like that.”

“I appreciate it, but I can take care of myself, Trickster. You know that.” 

Loki sighed, ducking his head and pressing it against hers, his arms coming up to hold on to her elbows. “I know. I just want to keep you safe.”

Selene let out a sigh of her own. How was he real? What had she possibly done in order to deserve him?

“I know. I’m alright.” She promised, closing her eyes to focus on his touch and proximity.

And Mobius once again interrupted them. “Hey. C’mon, we have a job to do.”

He walked away, gesturing for them both to follow.

Selene looked to Loki again, taking a chance and pressing a kiss to his forehead. “We’ll talk later, okay?”

He smiled again, nodding. “Okay.”

Slowly, not wanting to but not having much of a choice, they let go of each other and stepped apart, hurrying to follow Mobius.

If Loki’s hand sought hers and held on tight, she did not object. Instead, she held on just as tight.

[chaoticowlpost]

Hello nice person behind the screen. You want some prompts huh? Hmmm, what about a professor au where the student trolls Draco and he blames it on Harry without thinking twice idk :>> have a nice dayyyh

“My deepest regrets, but as you don’t have breasts,

I find that you’re actually quite fit.

And your arse in those pants makes me want to dance.

Your brilliance is most evident in your wit.”

And as the note exploded, the sound of his students laughing began flooding his ears. Yet, despite the sudden awareness of his surroundings, he still stared wide-eyed at where the note had exploded on itself, leaving a small pile of petals on his classroom floor.

If his shock at the sudden arrival of the note during his class wasn’t enough, the contents were just... no. Absolutely not.

“Silence,” he snapped, just loud enough to be heard over the loud peals of laughter. His expression was grim, he knew, and the students immediately began to shut up one by one.

Though he was often quite formal, and even strict, in his classes, he knew that his students still felt comfortable enough around him to be able to make jokes and not feel like someone was always breathing down their necks during class.

“Professor-”

“Stay here and read pages 395 to 420 quietly,” he said evenly, trying to control the tone of his voice. “I will be back shortly.”

‘But Professor, I-”

“Mr. Cohen, if you do open your book in the next 10 seconds, I will be deducting house points,” he threatened, still gathering his bearings. Then, without wasting another second, he stormed out of the room, his robe billowing behind him.

He walked down the familiar halls, mind set on his final destination. There was only one other person who despised him just enough to humiliate him in front of all his students. He was an educator, for Merlin’s sake. They both were, and they knew damn well that it was hard to lose the respect of their students.

“Potter!” He snapped once the man in question came into view.

“Malfoy!” Potter responded brightly, as he would considering he probably knew that his note had already been received. If only he knew what was coming for him. “Don’t you have a cla-”

“What in Salazar’s name do you think you’re doing, sending a bloody note like that during class hours,” Draco demanded, getting up in his face.

“What no-”

“‘Do not ‘what note?’ me, Potter,” Draco spat. “I saw it, and all those 5th years saw it.”

“But I never-”

“I will have you fired,” Draco threatened. “I mean, I tolerated you at first because I don’t have the authority to get rid of you, but I will. Salazar help me, I will get rid of you, one way or another.”

“Now, there’s no need to resort to murder, but-”

“I don’t care,” he interrupted, uncaring as to how childlike that might have come out. “There was no need to send that bloody letter either!”

“If you could just-”

“Potter!” Draco said, cutting him off once again. He didn’t need excuses. “Why? Just why do you always make it your goal to be my living hell whenever we’re present in the same room?”

“I really don’t-” Merlin, did he not know when to quit. Hadn’t he realized that Draco wasn’t going to let him have the last laugh.

“I’m reporting you to the Headmistress.” In all honesty, he felt like a child saying that, but that wasn’t the point. He did respect due process, after all. “And if you even try to pull-”

“Malfoy!” Potter said loudly, eyes wide in distress as he finally managed to stop Draco’s rambling. “What letter are you talking about?”

“The heinous, most pathetic attempt of a love poem I’ve seen since that time in second year with Weasley,” Draco spat. “Is that what this is? Your petty revenge for your girlfriend?”

“Of course no-”

“That was so long ago!” Draco said, throwing his arms in the air. “And even you have to admit that it was pretty awfu-”

“Malfoy!” Potter was almost shouting at this point. “Will you stop that?”

“No, Potter,” Draco scoffed. “The real question here is ‘will you stop harassing me?’”

“I didn’t send you any letter!” Potter claimed, looking just as frustrated as Draco felt. 

“Of course you did,” Draco scoffed. Nobody would be so bold, except for the physical embodiment of Gryffindor itself. 

“Okay, but I really didn’t,” Potter said, rolling his eyes. “Now if you could just explain to me what really happened, maybe we could figure it out.”

Draco ignored the last bit of his statement. “You didn’t send it?” he asked instead, feeling his mind go blank.

“Yes, I didn’t send it!” Potter said exasperatedly. “I know you have a class right now, and frankly I hate writing poems.”

“Yes, well, it would explain why the poem was so awful.”

“Except, you know, I didn’t write it,” Potter reiterated for the nth time that day. Frankly, Draco was getting tired of hearing it already.

“Fine, let’s say you didn’t write it-”

“I didn’t!”

“-then who do you think did?” Draco asked, ignoring the interruption. He resisted the urge to grin triumphantly when Potter rolled his eyes before responding.

“Have you maybe, I don’t know, considered that it was a student?” Potter asked, raising an eyebrow at him. 

“Why would a student send me that?” Draco retorted, not seeing where Potter was going with this accusation.

“They’re kids,” he said in response. “They pull pranks all the time. I’ve gotten my fair share as well this year.”

“What?” Draco asked dumbly. He’s never been pranked by a student like that before, that was for sure. Maybe the occasional attempt to see what they could get past him, but never anything so drastic.

“I mean, I know they generally avoid getting on your bad side, but maybe someone decided to be braver this year,” Potter shrugged. “Have you tried asking them if they knew who sent it?”

“Er...” Draco trailed off, suddenly feeling guilty. “No?”

“Then why did you immediately assume that I sent it?” Potter asked, a small frown marring his face. It made Draco feel guiltier. 

“Because,” he said, unsure, looking away. “You’ve been acting weird all year with your compliments and things. When I suddenly get a note about my arse, of all things, why wouldn’t I assume it was you?”

“What?” Potter asked, genuinely confused. Draco resisted the urge to groan, because really, he didn’t want to explain this to him in such plain words.

“I mean, obviously you were trying to embarrass me,” Draco scoffed.

“Malfoy,” Potter said softly, eyes kind after a small moment of realization. It made him want to shrink on the spot. “You think I was just messing with you all year?”

“Of course,” Draco confirmed, still not meeting his eyes. “Why else would you do it?”

“Have you considered that maybe, oh, I don’t know, I like you?”

“What?” Draco’s head suddenly snapped up, his heart threatening to lurch from his throat, because Potter what.

“Yeah,” Potter shrugged awkwardly, giving him a toothy grin. “Generally, you do tend to notice things about people you like. And I like you.”

“Oh,” he said, for the lack of a better response. 

“Yes, oh,” Potter repeated, chuckling a bit. “And I didn’t send you that letter. I wouldn’t try to embarrass you like that.”

“Oh.” He was getting tired of saying that.

And then, unsure, Potter took a step closer towards him, almost completely closing their distance. He cupped his face gently, the warmth of his hands heating Draco’s cheeks.

“Do you think that I could take you out some time?” Potter asked, his breath ghosting Draco’s lips.

“I- yeah,” Draco breathed, feeling the air knocked out of his lungs when Potter smiled gently at him. It was such an affectionate gaze that made Draco want to both drink it in and look away. 

“Thank you,” he said before inching his face forward. Draco was half-expecting him to lean in for a kiss but, instead, Potter had tilted his head to the side, placing a chaste, but sweet, kiss on his cheek.

“I- er, I should get back to class,” Draco said awkwardly, looking down. He knew his face was starting to turn red.

“Right,” Harry chuckled, brushing his hair away from his face. “And maybe you could find who sent that letter while you’re at it.”

“Right,” Draco nodded, feeling rather off-balance. “I’ll... I’ll do that.”

“Professor?” A small, hesitant voice spoke from somewhere behind him in the hallway. Immediately, but with no rush, Harry stepped away from him, letting go of his face.

“Mr. Cohen, I believe I instructed that you finish reading the assigned chapter until I get back,” Draco said, exhaling through his nostrils.

“Yes! But I, uh-”

“Get on with it, Mr. Cohen.”

“Right! I wantedtoapologizeforthenoteisent.”

His words were all strung together, but Draco was still able to catch what he said.

“You what.”

“It was a joke!” the student said defensively, clearly regretful.

“Twenty points from your house,” Draco said, looking up to the sky for some divine intervention. “Now get back to class.”

Quick footsteps sounded through the halls as he ran away.

“Don’t be too hard on them,” Potter said, placing a hand on the lower part of his back. “But I think you ought to head back. They’ll probably gossip about you if you don’t.”

“Us,” Draco corrected absentmindedly. “And they’ll gossip either way.”

“Yes, but they won’t read if they’re gossiping,” Potter pointed out. He, unfortunately, had a point.

“I suppose,” Draco sighed. “Then I think I’ll be heading back now.”

“Of course,” Potter smiled warmly at him. 

“Goodbye,” he said awkwardly unsure of what else to say in that moment. Potter, of course, seemed to sense this, because he smiled before getting back in Draco’s personal space.

“Good luck with the kids.”

“Right, the kids,” Draco repeated, nodding. Potter seemed to find it amusing, however. At least, amusing enough to want to press another kiss on Draco’s cheek.

“And don’t forget our date, Draco.”

Maybe he was slightly pink, even as he re-entered his classroom. The students were clearly exchanging glances, having had the time to gossip with one another, but Draco didn’t care.

He had a date to prepare for.

And, hey, maybe that stupid note wasn’t too bad.————————————————-

Masterlist

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I want you all to know that it killed me to write that verse DFJSHFB Thank you for reading <3

[yourfriendslimey]

Clouds of Cream

Pt. 1

Summary- While taking a day to run weekly errands, you take the time to stop at your local cafe where a certain handsome barista happens to work...

Pairing: Mark Tuan x Reader

Genre: Fluff

author’s note: This part is mostly to establish base story, also later parts will contain sexual themes; however, i COULD also produce watered down versions for those of you who enjoy the story but don’t care for those kinds of things. lemme know. Anyways, enjoy <3

WC: 2342

Part. 1- I Never Got Your Name…

Your eyes pried themselves open as the morning sun snuck into your studio apartment. With a heavy arm, you reached over to the tiny bedside table and grabbed your phone. 8:00 a.m…. You groaned, tossed your phone onto the table and pulled the blanket over your face. It was Saturday, your day off work, so you could in theory sleep in. However, you knew if you didn’t get up now then the To-Do list tacked to the cork board above your desk would go unattended. Plus… You thought, sitting up haggardly…I could stop at the café while I’m out…

You had gone to Downtown Brews for the first time a few months ago with a close friend who swore up and down it had THE best coffee. He was right. Now you were all but addicted. The roasts were divine, and the pastries were nothing to scoff at. And often by chance, you were helped by the same barista who, if you dared to say so, was not too hard on the eyes. The barista…You felt guilty not knowing his name by now. Even though you saw him every time you walked through those doors, you never managed to read his nametag. You were always too…distracted.

You let your feet hang off the bed for a few moments while your mind began to wander. As you stood and made your way to your tiny bathroom, you wondered if he even really noticed you. Of course, he recognized your face. You were there all the time. At the counter, he would give a casual smile and in his cool tone say “Hey, y/n, nice to see you again? The usual?” They took names for orders, so yeah, he knew that too. He knew your regular order because it was well... your regular order. But that didn’t mean he really saw you. The café had a lot of regulars, he probably knew a few orders and names by heart. While brushing your teeth you became even more lost in thought… You leaned close the bathroom mirror, analyzing your face. It was still puffy, showing the aftermath of a late night’s sleep. You frowned a little. Maybe he has a girlfriend. Maybe you just weren’t his type. You fed into your dismay while taking a longer than usual shower.

With fresh breath and a newly showered body, you walked to your closet and pulled out a pair of black skinny jeans, an oversized t-shirt with your college mascot on the front, and a grey dad-hat. You might as well be comfortable while running around all day. You grabbed your backpack and tossed in your phone charger, wallet, and keys. You quickly snatched the list from the board and hurried out the front door before the demon that was procrastination could set in.

You groaned as you walked to the end of the hall, anticipating the journey you had to make down the stairs. The elevator was down and had been for months now. The landlord kept telling you someone would be in to fix it next month, but it seemed like next month never came. Instead, you frustratedly stomped down the stairs, each time cursing past you for wanting to live on the third floor.

The building you lived in was nowhere near fancy. But it was home at least. Unlike the buildings uptown, the lobby wasn’t big and beautiful with potted plants and delicate light fixtures. It was more of an extra wide hallway. The walls presented a sickly grey-green on the upper half, the bottom being slowly warping wood paneling. A large portion of the space was dedicated to old metal mailboxes and contained ceiling lights hanging on their last legs; more than half of them flickering or entirely dead. You decided to check your mail later. You never really got anything anyway.

Outside, you were met with a clear sky and smiling summer sun. A warm breeze danced through the branches and the sweet smell of mature flowers blessed your nose. You felt more energized by the perfection of the day and with newfound eagerness, began your walk to the café. You breathed easily, taking in your surroundings. It was around 9:00 a.m. now and most of the city was already awake. Busy men and women walked as fast as their legs could carry them. Some to their respective jobs and others you presumed, to use the day the same as you; going off to clear a long list of errands. The start of summer vacation also meant children with time to kill. Kids ran up and down the sidewalk, getting what you deemed an early start to their day’s mischief. A couple walked hand in hand, giggling and smiling. You could overhear them mention something about grabbing lunch later and maybe seeing a movie. Seeming them happy together sent you into a vivid daydream.

You saw the barista’s warm smile and kind eyes. You confidently sauntered up to the counter, cool as ice. You flashed a cheeky smile that caught him off-guard. “Hey there, what’ll it be?” he said with a fully flushed face. You leaned in real close and looked him in the eyes. With a stolen velvet tongue, you said “A tall, dark, and handsome…”

The cheesiness of the line snapped you out of your trance with a quiet laugh. Before you knew it, you found yourself standing in front of Downtown Brews. It sat gingerly on the corner, beckoning you inside. The coffee cup logo printed on the glass door a sight for sore eyes Through the large window you noticed that almost every seat was full. No big deal since you just wanted to grab something to eat while you walked. You pulled open the door, a small bell jingling overhead. You placed yourself at the end of the line, grateful that it wasn’t too long. The early morning rush had pretty much passed already. You scanned the peaceful scene. Even though it was full, the loudest noises were the clinking of mugs and forks. It was always like this no matter the time of day.

Downtown Brews had that affect on people. The café created a sanctuary away from the loudness of the city. It had a minimalistic look. Plain golden-brown wooden floors, beautifully simple wooden tables and chairs, and small hanging lights that seemed to float in the room. On each table was a centerpiece containing small purple wildflowers in cute white vases that looked like fine china. The walls were mostly windows, save for the left wall that made contact with that of the bookstore next door and the gray brick wall behind the counter. It was decorated with shelves lined with mugs, glasses, and more white vases with various plants and flowers scattered about. You noticed that every week, there was at least one new one. The owner of the place must have had a real love for flora.

You stood for what felt like ages, listening to some poor young intern order complicated coffees and various treats for what seemed to be an entire office. You anxiously switched your weight from one foot to the other, wondering if maybe today you would order something new. And then you saw him. The man who made your face hot and your head cloudy. He was always here when you were, not that you were going to complain about it. He looked so suave in his uniform. The white shirt, black slacks, and black apron on his waist seemed custom made for his slender frame. How could such simple clothes look so good on someone? Your hands felt clammy and your chest went tight. You hated and adored this feeling all at the same time. Taking a few quiet deep breaths, you set your sights back on the menu, busying your mind with deciding about what to order for breakfast.

You studied him as he switched places with another staff member and prepared his customer’s order. The café had a lovely practice. Whoever took your order would also prepare it. This allowed for a more personal experience that resulted in fewer messed up orders. The baristas took turns instinctually; based off who was the least busy.

You gawked at him, transfixed on his form. You watched as he grabbed a few pastries from the glass case in front of him, slid them into a small toaster oven and began fixing the drinks. Every movement was smooth and graceful. He was like an angel. His face was lit up with a precious smile as he handed over the massive order and with a nod chirped “Here you are! You coworkers better say thank you for this. Hope you have a good day.” The intern gave a rushed “Yes, thank you, you too,” and fixed her gaze on the cardboard trays of drinks stacked onto boxes of patisserie. She shuffled away with a sense of urgency you’d never seen.

The barista’s skin was almost glowing. It looked soft and flawless, almost like it had been airbrushed. But it was all too real. You heart began to race as the last person between you and the counter wandered off. You shook your head lightly, trying to snap yourself back to the now.

“Can I help who’s next, please?” the honey voice flooded your ears.

You nearly stumbled up to the register, eyes barely leaving the chalkboard menu hanging above. Even though you weren’t really looking, you could still feel the warmth of his smile. You met his eyes. “Hey y/n. How’s it going? Medium iced coffee with vanilla creamer, three sugars, and cocoa powder on top, right?” You felt the heat rising in your face.

“Hey, uh yeah. I mean, no.” Your voice was almost imprisoned in your throat, impulse taking over.

“Oh, did I get I get it wrong?” he let out a small chuckle and ran a hand through his beautiful hazelnut curls, “Sorry about that, guess I must be a bit tired if I’m forgetting-“

You didn’t mean to, but you cut him off “Not at all. I just wanna switch it up a bit. Today I think I’ll have a medium iced cold brew with sweet cream and caramel this time. And could I also have a cranberry muffin, please?” you smiled shyly, embarrassed knowing that you were obviously flustered.

He smiled wide and clasped his hands together. “Well I see we’re mixingg things up now,” he giggled quietly while punching your order into the automated screen, “Gotta keep me on my toes somehow.” Damn that smile- you took off your backpack and quickly pulled out your wallet. “Is that for here or to go?” He peered up at you, eyes doe-like. “To go, please.” You choked a little and could have sworn you saw a bit of disappointment in his eyes but passed it off. He told you the total and you handed him the cash. “Alrighty, I’ll have everything ready in about ten minutes.” You nodded and gave a small hum as he gave you your change.

You stepped off to the side and let your eyes follow him as he skillfully crafted your drink. His smile was replaced with a stern look as he focused on his task. You wondered if your mouth was watering from the aroma of coffee and hot muffin awaiting you or something else. Suddenly, it hit you that once again you avoided looking at his name tag. You instinctively avoided looking at one part of him too long. As a child mom had taught you it was rude to stare, and that sentiment stuck with you even now. You chastised yourself. It felt as though after you missed it the first time, it felt impolite to check now. But it was ruder to just not know. You always wanted to ask, but avoided it, thinking he would think you were a moron since he clearly has a nametag on. You silently huffed in frustration and made attempts to get a better look. However, you couldn’t get a clear view. If it wasn’t a machine in your way, it was one of the other baristas, or he was simply moving too much or he was turned away from you. Though you couldn’t deny that you enjoyed looking at his back almost as much as his front.

“Y/n, your order’s ready.” His smile had returned as he stepped up to the pickup area.

He held out a small brown paper bag and your drink. “Here you go. Have a good day, and I’ll see you soon.” His face was warm, his smile genuine. You beamed at him and gently took your things Your heart fluttered. Without even thinking, the words flew from your lips. “I’m sorry, I know I come here all the time, but um…” he leaned forward, placing his hands on the counter, “well I don’ actually know your name and i keep forgetting to ask…And it feels rude to not know since you’re such a good server.” He chuckled, raised an eyebrow and smirked. He shook his head lightly and let it drop to the side. “Tsk tsk tsk. And I thought we were friends.” His smile melted your heart. He stood tall and folded is arms.

You apologized again, telling him you knew he had a nametag on but you always forgot to look and began to ramble about feeling nervous to ask and the whole thing. He gently cut you off. “Don’t worry about it. It’s Mark. And now that you know, you better not forget.” He pointed a playfully stern finger at you. The name rang in your head. This man who occupied so much headspace finally had a name. A beautiful one. At least to you. You grinned, “I won’t, I promise. I’ll see you later, Mark.” You turned to leave and as you did, you were certain his smile had grown bigger and his cheeks pinker.

Mark....

[shouta-aizawow]

5.So what if Baku realize he never wanted to be a hero? What if that was what they told him that he want to be and he just... Internalize it. After he enter UA he started doubting this is what he wanted to do, but then people told him he couldn't so... Spite! In the starters of the 2d year smt happens and all his clas left him, this is the time he use to think if he wants to be a hero, decide that he don't, he prefers to dobe smt else (medic is my fav) so he leavs. Better if he don't tell anyone

So I relate to Bakugou a lot in this lmao!!

Hmmm... OKAY!!

For as long Katsuki remembered, he said he was going to be the number one hero.

He was going to be, because he had no choice otherwise.

Even before he got his quirk, his parents made the decision for him. Mitsuki and Masaru work in the fashion industry. Their son will become a hero, and he will work with them. Boost their presence in the eyes of the public, because if a hero is so loyal to this brand, it must be good.

Katsuki had no say.

He didn’t want to be a hero, he didn’t want to be a model. He wanted to go to college, maybe become a chemical engineer, maybe work in construction, because building things and seeing a plan come together was great. After he got his quirk, realizing its complexity and all of the things he could do with it to help in his dream career was amazing.

But his dream career will remain exactly that: a dream.

He always works to be the number one in everything. He always wants to be the number one in everything, and although he admires heroes from afar and had never desired to be them, if this is the path he’s forced to take, well, no choice but keeping up his #1 streak.

Maybe that’s the main reason he disliked Deku.

Deku wants to be a hero. Katsuki doesn’t. Deku doesn’t put in the work to be a hero. Katsuki does.

He knew life wasn’t fair the moment his parents refused to listen to what he wanted in his life, but never has he felt the severity of that unfairness until he met Deku.

Because Deku is a constant reminder of what Katsuki could never have: a choice.

(And he’s made aware of his lack of autonomy almost everyday in U. A.:

His classmates’ persistent in ignoring his boundaries.

The teachers telling him to go all out and not being pleased when he listens.

The sports festival.

The kidnapping.)

By his second year, Katsuki is a burnt-out person hiding behind perfect grades, a perfect quirk, and a not-so-perfect attitude, but he pushes through.

He pushes through and pushes too hard and he breaks when he becomes the target of the class because of his revealed past with Deku.

He breaks and at night, he stays up, staring at the wall, wondering what’s the purpose.

This isn’t his dream. This was never his dream, but he’s forced to carry on in silent suffering as everybody tears him apart limb by limb with words of disdain. As everybody treats him like he’s not a child, a victim of an uncaring society, and is instead a villain causing the terror the heroes work to erase.

Katsuki is tired, and he doesn’t want to do this anymore.

He doesn’t care if he’s cowardly for running away. There’s no point in staying for the people that either want him gone or make him want to leave.

He’s never gonna please everybody (he doesn’t know if he’s ever gonna please anyone), so he might as well try to please himself.

So Katsuki works. He can’t go out to get a job, so he makes money online. Day and night, he maintains his place in UA but labors away so he could get away from it.

He already had money stored away from odd jobs and the like, but by the end of the year, he somehow has enough to leave Japan and start anew somewhere else.

Katsuki leaves and tells no one but Aizawa, the one person that he can trust. The morning after he places the note on his ex-teacher’s desk, he’s gone.

Katsuki doesn’t know what the future holds, but anything is better than this.

And when, a few years later, he hears a knock on his door and opens it only to immediately be embraced by Aizawa, he feels assured in the fact that the best person he’s ever met agrees that he made the right choice.

TA DAAAA!!! Bakugou really pressed restart on his life. I wish I could do that...

ANYWAY!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS!!!💖💞💕💗💓

[houseisekai]

House Isekai: Shadowbringers Act 2, Part 2 - By the time you hear this...

House Isekai Shadowbringers AU Masterlist Here

—

Upon discovering the true identity of Lahabrea, The Golden Deer and Investigation Team move deeper into the Zanado Tower.

It is there where they make a discovery that pushes them, and everyone in Fodlan into a race against time...

—

Unknown Tower, Zanado

[A Long Fall - Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers OST]

Claude and Yu moved first towards the crates with their weapons drawn.

The rest of the Golden Deer and Investigation Team followed behind, slowly looking around.

Yu opened the crates and bags of food. It was clear by the dust on them that they had been here for a very long while.

Claude came closer and examined one of the bags, picking it up.

Claude opened the bag, and small blocks of meat fell out of it.

(Claude) “...Huh.”

The meat hadn’t spoiled. In fact, it looked brand new. 

He took another look at the crate, and it appeared that the food had been here for a while.

(Yu) “That doesn’t make any sense. How is the food still fresh?”

Lorenz, Hilda, Yosuke, and Naoto moved up the stairs, taking note of the planks of wood, crates, and lanterns as they were passing by.

Some of them were sawn in half while others appeared to have been unused.

The wood was nailed onto the walls and crates stacked on top of each other were in front of them. 

As they moved up, there were other stairs that appeared to lead higher into the tower but the path with the open door caught their attention.

(Lorenz) “Has someone already been in here?”

(Hilda) “It must be that Lahabrea guy, er...was it Byleth?”

(Yosuke) “We’ll cross that road when we get to it. For now let’s keep our eyes peeled, yeah?”

(Naoto) “Yu-senpai, up here!”

(Hilda) “Claude, get your butt up here!”

Everyone moved up the stairs after they finished investigating.

(Chie) “We didn’t seem to find much, other than supplies.”

(Leonie) “Looks like a bunch of people were here working on this place. Though, I doubt it only took some magic and wood to create this entire place.”

(Lysithea) “No, it seems they were trying to keep something out.”

Everyone nervously looked at each other after hearing that.

Just how big was this tower?

(Teddie) “No use waiting, let’s go in!”

Teddie ran to the open doorway and was ready to fight, the others quickly following behind.

(Ignatz) “T-Teddie! We have to stick together and!-...”

(Teddie) “JEEZ, THIS ROOM IS HUUUUGE!”

Teddie stepped near the edge and his eyes almost went out of his bear suit.

(Kanji) “Holy shit!”

(Marianne) “H-How is this area so big?!”

(Rise) “My Persona’s scans are going off the charts! There’s so much happening and-”

Everyone reached for their heads as they heard Claude’s voice echo through the halls.

“As big class reunions go, this one’s gotta be the worst in history...”

KABOOOOOOM!

The tower shook violently, throwing people off their feet and into the ground.

(Claude) “Never thought the sound of my own voice would be that annoying...!”

(Yu) “I don’t think this is a good time to be cracking jokes.”

Everyone was trying to steady themselves before they heard something in the distance.

clang! clang!

(Raphael) “Hey, I think I hear people fighting!”

Raphael pointed to the end of the walkway, with a glowing circle-like shape at the end of it.

(Raphael) “It sounds like it’s coming from over there!”

Everyone went over near the glowing circle, and it began to flash repeatedly.

(Yukiko) “Um, what does that mean-”

Leonie took a step into it, which catapulted all of them forward into another walkway, soaring high above a massive gap that fell deep into the tower.

When they landed, it prematurely cut off their screaming as they fell onto their backs and stomachs.

(Yosuke) “Ack, I think I cracked my ass...!”

(Claude) “Leonie, next time WARN US before you do that!”

(Leonie) “S-Sorry! I didn’t know it would-”

She was cut off as they were suddenly transported into a massive open field in the middle of battle.

Before they could realize what was happening, Naoto turned around and her eyes went wide.

(Naoto) “EVERYONE GET DOWN, NOW!”

Turning to see what was coming, they all screamed and dove onto the floor, a massive fireball hurling itself past and landing behind the group.

Claude looked up to see himself running into the front, firing arrows into incoming Imperial soldiers.

The group got up and slowly backed up, watching Alliance soldiers follow and move in front of Claude.

(Hilda) “Wait a second, isn’t this?-...”

Hilda saw herself in the distance, fighting off Imperial and Kingdom soldiers as she and several others moved towards a hill.

(Yu) “Gronder Field?! But how did we-”

The entire battlefield began to flash before they were returned back to the Tower where they landed.

(Chie) “WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!”

(Lorenz) “I-I don’t know. It looked like Gronder Field, and that certainly was us but-...”

(Ignatz) “I don’t remember us fighting the Kingdom soldiers. We were just fighting the Imperials!”

(Claude) “Yeah, and I wasn’t fighting the soldiers. Just Edelgard and Dimitri until Lahabrea and Byleth stopped us.”

(Naoto) "Wait a moment, do you remember what Lahabrea said when he was fighting the professor? They were teleported to that future since their subconscious had those memories. What if we went to Gronder in that time because you had been there before?"

(Claude) "...That was us from...those previous times? Man, thats weird to say."

(Yu) "Then what about our voices? Do you think we're going to be encountering our memories too?"

Everyone looked deeper into the tower before hearing echoes of more voices.

(Hilda) "Guess there's only one way to find out..."

Everyone held their weapons tightly and ran down the walkway, only now noticing that some of the platforms were moving on their own.

Some were carrying an assortment of supplies while some were empty.

There was another circle pad at the end of the hallway, which made everyone stop and look at their leaders.

Claude nodded and waited a moment for everyone to brace themselves. He stepped onto the pad and as expected, launched them into the air onto another walkway.

This time everyone landed on both feet, and carried on, noticing the memories of the past flashing more and more.

As they began to run down the next walkway, they were transported to another location, one unfamiliar to the Golden Deer.

The area suddenly became foggy, reducing everyone’s vision to almost nothing.

(Raphael) “Fog?”

The Investigation Team paused for a moment before Yukiko put on glasses.

(Yukiko) “Put your glasses on!”

The rest of the team put on their glasses and their vision became clear as day.

(Rise) “...Yeah, readings are almost accurate to our world’s Midnight Channel!”

(Lorenz) “How in the world do those glasses allow you to see through this fog?!”

(Lysithea) “It’s so thick I can’t even see my hands in front of me!”

(Chie) “Long story short, Teddie made these for us specifically for the Midnight Channel, otherwise these things are useless! So the fact it’s working now-”

(Kanji) “This being transported to recreations of our memories shit is serious!”

(Naoto) “How far does this go?”

The area began to flash a bright white before fading away, putting the groups back to their original location.

As they moved to the end of the walkway, there was a pad that seemed to send them down, deeper into the tower.

(Claude) “Let’s keep going for-”

An arrow whizzed by his head, making everyone duck down and look towards the direction it came from.

(Hilda) “WOAH!”

A soldier in an orange glow was loading up another arrow before Naoto drew her gun and pulled the trigger.

The bullet went straight through the phantom soldier but it still acted as if it was hit, then quickly faded away into a burst of energy.

(Yu) “Something tells me we should move a little faster...”

(Raphael) “Then let’s stop talking and go!”

Raphael stepped onto the pad, catapulting him deeper into the tower. Everyone else followed him and quickly, yet gently floated towards the bottom.

The size of the interior was almost staggering, a massive glowing crystal in the middle of the room led down to a seemingly bottomless green pit. 

After a minute of floating down, they finally reached the bottom.

As they took in their surroundings, they noticed a massive door, with the crystal core looming over them.

The group approached the door, looking for some way to open it.

(Ignatz) “There doesn’t seem to be a lever anywhere.”

(Yosuke) “No button, handle...is this an automatic door?”

(Yukiko) “If that’s the case, what opens it? Clearly people don’t.”

(Rise) “Maybe there’s some kind of keycard?”

(Lorenz) “A...key card?”

(Chie) “It’s something from our world. Normally I’d say you guys don’t have the technology to have anything similar to ours but this entire tower...”

(Lysithea) “Hey, there’s something over here on the crate!”

Lysithea picked it up and showed it to the group.

(Teddie) “It’s...a crystal rectangle?”

(Leonie) “Sorta looks like that crystal message thing from earlier.”

(Marianne) “Is there a way to let us hear the message?”

(Naoto) “May I?”

Lysithea shrugged and handed it to Naoto. As soon as she came into contact with it, the crystal began glowing.

(Soldier’s voice) “By the time you hear this, I’ll be dead, so don’t bother trying to save me! Just...Get the hell out of here! This...This door, I don’t know who, or when it was made, but it...It goes into your mind! N-No, that’s not right, It takes you- O-oh GODDESS! HELP, NO-----...........”

(Everyone) ?!

(Yu) “What in the...?”

(Hilda) “What the heck happened?!”

(Kanji) “Uh, maybe we shouldn’t mess with this shit after all-”

Before anyone could another comment, the door slowly began to open, emitting an orange glow.

(Claude) “Tch, too late!”

Everyone drew their weapons expecting something to appear.

Instead, when the door open, everyone slowly felt a force pushing them in.

(Teddie) “H-Hey, my footing is-”

A violent shockwave blew out from the door, knocking everyone off their feet as it dragged them into the glowing orange light.

(Hilda) “GAH?!”

(Claude) “DAMN IT, EVERYONE TRY TO GRAB ONTO-”

Claude was the first to enter, completely vanishing from sight.

Lorenz was almost next to fall in, but Yukiko grabbed his hand and summoned her Persona to grab her.

(Yukiko) “S-So...Strong!”

Marianne, Rise, and Teddie were the next ones absorbed into the door, everyone struggling to even muster the strength to resist.

A final shockwave forced everyone into the door as their bodies leapt from the ground, into the light, Yu being the last one to enter.

...

[Song End]

...

Yu flew outwards from the portal and landed face first into the hard surface of the ground.

As his vision started to clear up, he could hear everyone groaning from the pain of their landing.

The area they were in was extremely claustrophobic, with a table in the middle, and some furniture and decorations most of them didn’t recognize.

(Teddie) “MMMMMFFF!”

(Raphael) “Oh, crap I think I’m crushing him!”

(Lysithea) “Then get off of him, don’t just say you are!”

Raphael quickly got up, only to see Teddie completely flattened.

(Hilda) “EUGH! Ugh, I’ll never get used to that!”

(Teddie) “Sh...Shaddup!”

Rise and Yosuke helped Yu up as everyone else tried to recover from the fall.

(Rise) “Senpai, are you alright?

(Yu) “I’m fine, Rise. Where are we?”

(Yosuke) “I don’t think we took the time to actua-?!”

Yosuke’s eyes grew wide as he looked around.

(Yu) “What is i-...?!”

Yu had the same reaction as Yosuke once he recognized the room.

(Claude) “Yu, recognize this place?”

(Yu) “It’s my room!”

(Hilda) “Huh?”

The Investigation Team looked around and quickly realized he was telling the truth.

(Kanji) “Think it’s one of those memory flashes from before?”

(Naoto) “It’s hard to say. I think it would have gone away by now if it was-”

knock knock knock!

(Little girl’s voice) “H-Hello? Is anyone in there?”

Marianne and Ignatz were closest to the door, and reached for their weapons before Yu put a hand on both of them.

(Yu) “N...N-Nanako?”

(Nanako) “Huh? Big bro?”

Yu opened the door and let her in, shocking everyone.

(Claude) “Has...any of the phantoms acknowledged our presence besides wanting to kill us?”

Nanako looked extremely confused looking at the Golden Deer.

(Nanako) “Who are they? And what are they saying?”

(Hilda) “Huh? Can you not understand us sweetie?”

(Nanako) “...?”

(Yosuke) “Nana-chan, you understand what we’re saying right?”

(Nanako) “Yes...? I’m really confused right now...”

(Dojima’s voice) “Nanako! Is everything alright up there?”

(Nanako) “Yeah! It’s just big bro and his friends!”

(Yu) “Dojima too?”

Yu motioned everyone to follow him downstairs, including Nanako.

At first Dojima looked confused seeing Yu and the Investigation Team come down the stairs. The last thing he remembered was seeing Yu and his friends off at the train station. That was just yesterday.

He was about to say something before seeing the Golden Deer right behind them, carrying all sorts of weapons.

(Naoto) “H-Hello, Dojima-san.”

(Claude) “Yeesh, this is awkward. How do we even begin this?”

(Lorenz) “Greetings, we are part of the Leicester Alliance!”

(Dojima) “Er...What language are they speaking?”

(Marianne) “Certainly not like that...”

(Dojima) “No first of all, how the hell did you all get into the house? We haven’t even left all day!”

Teddie ran up to Dojima and began poking him.

(Dojima) “H-Hey, back off!”

(Teddie) “SENSEI, HE’S REAL!”

(Everyone) ?!

[Paradisaical Predicaments - Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers OST]

(Chie) “Woah woah woah, hang on! We’re really back in Inaba?!”

(Nanako) “What are you all talking about? Are you guys okay?”

Kanji and Rise rushed to the back doors and opened it, seeing it was a bright and sunny day.

(Kanji) “No orange shi-...crap as far as I can see.”

(Rise) “I’m sensing something nearby us-...W-Why can I still sense things?! We’re not in the Midnight Channel or Fodlan!”

Lysithea pulled out a tome and snapped her fingers, a black flame appearing at the very tip.

(Lysithea) “I can still cast magic?”

Nanako and Dojima started to get more on edge as both groups were testing their own theories out.

(Yu) “Everyone stand back, there’s one last test we need to do...”

Yu adjusted his glasses and took a deep breath, holding out his hand.

(Yu) “Izanagi!”

A tarot card appeared floating above his hand, which he crushed into pieces, summoning his Persona right behind him.

(Dojima) “WHAT IN THE?!”

(Nanako) “Dad?!”

Yu turned to face Izanagi, frowning at the fact he was able to summon his Persona. Izanagi quickly disappeared at Yu’s command.

(Yukiko) “T-That should be impossible!”

(Leonie) “Is it not normal for you guys to be able to summon those?”

(Yosuke) “NOT IN THE REAL WORLD!”

(Chie) “O-Oh my god, this is too much to handle!”

(Dojima) “Hang on just a damn second, who are these people, and what is even happening?!”

Claude froze when he realized what Rise said.

(Claude) “...Rise, what exactly were you sensing?”

(Rise) “Um...it’s a signature similar to something we fight called a Shadow.”

Everyone turned to Rise.

(Yu) “...Where?”

The entire house shook violently as a roar came from outside.

Everyone dashed outside to find a mass of black clouds forming with arms and glowing red eyes.

People screamed in horror seeing what was happening outside, and ran for their lives in the opposite direction.

Nanako ran behind Dojima, her legs trembling as he reached for his gun.

(Yu) “There’s no denying it, we’re really back home-”

(Yosuke) “But how are shadows able to form in the real world?!”

(Dojima) “GET DOWN, NOW!”

Dojima opened fire at the shadows, which they quickly disappeared into orange glowing light.

(Claude) “BEHIND YOU!”

Claude raised his bow and fired an arrow behind Dojima, killing another Shadow that was sneaking up on them.

(Dojima) “Thanks.”

Rise gasped as she summoned her Persona and began scanning the shadows.

(Rise) “These signatures, they’re starting to match the phantoms from the tower!”

(Hilda) “What?! How?! We’re not even in Fo-”

KAFOOOOOOOOOOOM!

The ground shook violently as if an earthquake struck Inaba, the screaming of everyone getting louder.

(Kanji) “Holy shit, EVERYONE, OVER THERE!”

Kanji pointed towards the direction of the riverbed, where they saw the Zanado Tower.

(Marianne) “How did it...!?”

(Yu) “We have to get back to Fodlan, Rise how dangerous are these shadows?!”

(Rise) “A-A little but I think the police or armed forces can deal with them, seeing how quickly Dojima and Claude killed them!”

(Dojima) “Yu, do you know what’s going on?!”

(Claude) “Tell your uncle we have to go, can they defend themselves?!”

(Dojima) “Go where, exactly?! Who even are you?!”

(Claude) “We’re going back to...!!!...You...You understand me now?”

(Dojima) “I...I can. I can?”

(Lysithea) “What...?! Wait a second, the Investigation Team was only able to understand us and vice versa because they came to Fodlan. Does that mean...?!”

Naoto quickly looked back at the Tower, the skies started to lose the color of its blue into a pale white.

(Yu) “Dojima, we’ll be back as soon as we can. Hold out until then.”

Dojima looked at the tower, then back to the group.

(Dojima) “...Be careful, Yu.”

(Nanako) “Stay safe, big bro...”

Yu nodded and held onto his Katana’s sheathe, everyone rushing towards the Tower.

Tokyo, Leblanc Cafe...

Sojiro washed the cups and half-heartedly listened to the TV until breaking news came on, catching everyone’s attention.

(Reporter) “This just in, several unknown towers have seemingly materialized out of nowhere in 3 locations, a town called Inaba out in the country, Tokyo, and Tatsumi Port Island!”

Sojiro stopped washing the cups as everyone in the cafe began to mutter to themselves. He frowned and went outside and onto the street, finding a massive half crystal half red rock tower piercing the skies.

(Sojiro) “What in the hell...?”

He took out his phone and tried calling Futaba.

...

No luck.

She had only been missing for a day, and he couldn’t seem to call Akira or any of the other former Phantom Thieves.

Part of him wondered if they had something to do with this...

Tatsumi Port Island, Kirijo Group Headquarters

(Officer) “What did the scanners say about those towers?!”

(Officer 2) “Sir, shadow presence is confirmed but...something’s off with them. It’s like it’s half shadow half...”

(Officer) “Half what?!”

(Officer 2) “We don’t know sir, we’ve never seen anything like it before.”

(Officer) “Get the anti-shadow weapons deployed before too many people are harmed, whatever it is, we need to stop this! Get the S.E.E.S operatives on the line, now!”

(Officer 2) “Yes sir!”

Fodlan, outskirts of Derdriu

As the group was walking quietly, the Persona Users suddenly dropped to their knees, grabbing their heads and wincing in pain.

(Akira) “AAAGH!”

(Minato) “S-Shit!”

(Minako) “M-My head...!”

(Edelgard) “Healers, NOW!”

(Kazuma) “The hell?! What’s going on?!”

(Rean) “A-Are they getting more of those weird voices?”

(Ainz) “If that’s the case, why aren’t we getting it?”

Lahabrea and Sothis looked at each other with unease.

(Sothis) “Do you think its...?”

(Lahabrea) “There’s no other explanation, it has to be. EVERYONE, MOVE IT TO DERDRIU, NOW! PICK THEM UP IF YOU HAVE TO!”

The healers tried to help the Persona users, but to no avail. Eventually some had to be carried and helped as they walked.

Sitri let Minako’s arm go over her shoulder and moved with the rest of the group.

(Sitri) “Minako, can you understand what’s going on?”

(Minako) “A...A tower...?”

Sitri only looked more confused as Sothis and Lahabrea tried to avoid making eye contact with anyone.

(Sothis) “We’re running out of time, if we don’t activate this plan-”

(Lahabrea) “I know...”

He closed his eyes and sighed.

(Lahabrea) “I know.”

Part 2: END

[This Beautiful Cruel World - Attack On Titan OST]

Your dream is where your heart is

It’s something more fragile than life itself

No matter how many times you throw it away, you still find it

So rest in peace now

Your wish is violated by your pulsing urge

and as much as you forget about it, you recall it again

In this beautiful and cruel world

We only ask “why” we’re still alive…

Ah, what are we going to protect

with our strength and weakness? If reason no longer exists

TO BE CONTINUED IN:

[gaiatheorist]

“50% Feminine.”

I’m going mad again, I’m listing probable reasons, but going mad isn’t reasonable, it’s something that just happens to me from time to time. This is one of the slow, creepy-uppy episodes, not one of the sudden, explosive ones, possibly less dangerous, but incredibly draining. It’ll pass, it always does, it had better do, it’s bloody horrible.

Standard disclaimer, I am at increased risk of harm, but I have no intent or ideation of deliberately harming myself, apart from drinking too much cheap-and-nasty wine, which is my standard maladaptive coping mechanism.

I woke up at 1.30am, and, after a brief discussion with my wonky brain, acknowledged that I was Awake-awake, and there was no chance of going back to sleep. This will have a knock-on effect for a few days, there’s a fair chance I’ll fall asleep in my dinner, but it’s mostly containable. (The madness, as well as the dinner.) Scrolling through Twitter, to see if I’d ‘missed anything’, I found a link to ‘My Gender Coordinates’, and decided to take the quiz, no better or worse use of my time than a Fakebook quiz to tell me what sort of sandwich, or shoe I am.

There are 35 questions, I can’t remember exactly how they’re worded, but it’s along the lines of “I am...” or “I consider myself...” about various character traits, or behaviours, you ‘answer’ on a sliding scale from double-thumbs-up to double-thumbs-down. There’s a ‘middle’ option, which, when I’m going mad, is always a bit tempting, I’m indifferent, I don’t care much about much when I’m in this state.(Until I do, and get all emotionally peaky, HATING an empty shampoo bottle on the bathroom floor, but refusing to move it, because it’s not mine, or finding myself close to tears because I think I’ve offended someone, and not quite knowing how to check.) 

The ‘results’ come out on a quadrant-graph thingy, Masculine/Androgynous/Undifferentiated/Feminine, I deliberately didn’t look at that first, because I would have skewed my answers, aiming for ‘undifferentiated’, I’m awkward like that. My results were that I ‘fall between quadrants’, no big surprise there, my dot was bang on the line between ‘masculine’ and ‘androgynous’, all in the top half of the square, ‘68.3% Masculine, 50% Feminine’, I don’t know how that works, it’s numbers, and maths and stuff, and my brain doesn’t work like that. (Haha, because I’m a girl, and girls are better at biology than physics. Bullshit.) 

What does it mean? In all likelihood, nothing, it does look kind-of scientific, which is why I answered all of the questions, instead of giving up at the first hint of a cartoon dinosaur, or a ‘pick which colour-scheme appeals to you’. (Cartoon dinosaurs are my new pet hate, I’ve recently had to wade back through the clip-art infested worksheets from the last mental health course, and I’m fairly certain I’ve imagined a cartoon dinosaur, but that’s a tangent I’ll try to avoid.) I have strong opinions on the concept of gender, for however-many years I’ve been writing on here, I’ve identified as ‘meat no-one eats’, my biological sex is female, and my uterus is certainly reminding me of that fact this week. My gender? Human. Probably. 

“Identified as”, how very modern, it’s not ‘really’ a new thing, to me, or the world, what I’m trying to do here is type out a safe-release, to vent, I suppose it all boils down to my resentment of being ‘told’. There are vague childhood memories of being told “Ladies do/don’t do...”, and I have a ridiculous rage-bubble of “Yes, and sloths poo once a week, what’s your point?”, too late one thinks of what one might have said. I’m no more a lady than I am a sloth, I’m probably leaning more towards sloth at the moment, I’m overdue a bath.

Working through the statement-ratings, I noticed I was pulling a face at some of them. All of them, to be honest, which surprised me, because, with a diagnosis of autism, there’s the preconception that my response would be binary-linear, black-or-white, always/never. It wasn’t, my response was invariably “That’s a stupid question.”, and they weren’t questions, for every single statement, I decided “Unable to answer without context.”, and had to imagine a scenario to contextualise “I am generous” or “I am decisive”, or whatever. ( I *am* decisive, given sufficient context.) I need to watch that I don’t fall into a psychopath/sociopath rabbit-hole here, my sometimes-linear approach could be viewed as psychopathic, and my bending/masking could fit a sociopathic profile. Too many personality quizzes in my teen-girl magazines, and an on-going desire to name and categorize things.

I was pulling a face at the statements that are usually associated with the concept of femininity, there really isn’t a male-brain/female-brain. (All brains smell horrible, I have smelled my own brain, wasn’t pleasant.) There are some biological differences, most notably the reproductive bits, but not really a great deal else, the ex used to say that humans were evolving to be more androgynous, but I see now that he was trying to justify the societally-imposed feelings of inadequacy that I was as tall as him, with more body-hair. He ascribed to the concept of androgyny when it suited him, lauding Bowie in public, and insisting I was ‘better’ at housework in private. A product of his upbringing, but deeply coercive-toxic. He enjoyed my androgynous-atypical nature up to a point, I was a trophy in more ways than just my long legs and pretty mouth, I confused the hell out of his ‘traditional’ family, though. 

The statements that made me screw up my face could have been coloured pink, they were the ones that ‘ladies do’, some, I consciously, deliberately-don’t, and some are just a natural hard-no, nature vs nurture in evidence. I have learned behaviours, and innate, natural tendencies, there was a bit of a domestic issue the other day when I noted my son being manipulative, and destroyed-devastated myself wondering if he’d learned-observed that from me.  I don’t think so, my avoidance-behaviours are quite different. I was pulling faces at the stereotypical ‘female’ traits, initially an “Ew, no, I don’t do that!” response, but, as I realised I was doing it, I wondered WHY I was repulsed. There’s nothing ‘wrong’ with being kind/sensitive/compassionate, they’re human responses, not ‘masculine’ or ‘feminine’, but even the quiz itself refers to them as  “Traits commonly found in people of the ... gender.” (Androgynous is referred to as high in male- and female-typical traits, undifferentiated as low in both.) Commonly, not exclusively.

Part of the issue is that I associate femininity with vulnerability and weakness. I choose not to ‘present as’ female most of the time, my sex usually isn’t obvious until people get close, and I don’t let many people get that close. (Even before the virus-distancing.) There are ‘historical and complicating factors’ behind some of that, but there’s also the gender-conditioning I grew up with, girls-should, and boys-should, I didn’t have particularly positive experiences or role-models, but, even aside from that, the general concensus was that male was stronger, better, more important, female was secondary and subservient. To do something ‘like a girl’ was an insult, but, by the same token, I was often criticised for not being ‘girly’, ever the outlier. I’m wondering how much of the non-femininity is reactive-protective, how much could be part of the autism, and how much is just ‘how I am’? 

Girly-females irritate me, vacuous conversations, hair-and-make-up, dependence on others, incessant diets and fads, I don’t ‘get’ any of it, and I don’t buy into it, I don’t see why I should, just because my genitals are in the more difficult-to-kick arrangement. (True to form, my son has more make-up and hair-stuff than I do, I can’t remember how he referred to my presentation a few weeks ago, but it might have involved goblins, and a bin.) Occasionally, people tell me I could be attractive if I made an effort, my go-to response is “What for?”, I do generally look as if I live in a tree, it doesn’t bother me. That’s not wholly a girl-thing or a boy-thing, I do know some very well-presented people of both flavours, but I’ve genuinely never overheard a group of men discussing razor-blades or underpants the way I’ve heard gaggles of women banging on about make-up and such. 

Women who talk in baby-voices, women who giggle and simper around men, women who don’t even try to pick things up themselves, I think what I’m saying is that I don’t like women who ‘act as’ women, and it is an act, my mother’s phone-laugh used to make me want to scream. 

Before I became annoyed at myself for placing more value on the traits more commonly associated with masculinity than femininity, I’d had a mini-argument with myself that it was impossible to rate any of the statements objectively. Am I kind? It depends on the situation, last week I helped a little old lady sort out a mis-delivered parcel, but the week before that, I’d sped up my walking pace, so I could get into the corner shop before the person behind me, it might have been the same little old lady, I wasn’t paying attention. I’d viewed the thumbs-rating as a never-always continuum, so, technically, all of the responses ‘should’ have been middle-option, for ‘sometimes’. (There might have been an explanation in the site somewhere, it was daft o’clock in the morning.) For each behaviour, I was thinking of a situation, which was wrong, I think I should have been rating least-likely to most-likely. The situation has an influence on the behaviour, if I had friends, I’d behave differently with them to the way I’d behave with a doctor, or a manager, or my son, and even that behaviour would depend on multiple external factors, it wouldn’t be static-consistent, it would be dynamic. We all do it, we’re socially conditioned to behave according to audience and environment.

I didn’t go to finishing school, I didn’t even go to university, there were no elocution or deportment classes at my rough-as-arseholes comprehensive school, and most of my childhood meals at home were eaten from a plate on my knee, on the sofa, in front of the TV. There were still expectations, though. Standing up if a teacher came into the classroom, not interrupting an adult speaking, letting elderly or otherwise infirm people on the bus first. I don’t remember my brother being given as many instructions as I was, though, and I think that was more to do with me being a girl than being two and a half years older, he did pretty much as he pleased, and was a ‘rascal’, or a ‘scamp’, whereas I was told to sit down (nicely), be quiet, smile, be helpful etc long before the wear a bra, brush your hair, show a bit of leg nonsense started. 

I’m fairly certain that the gender-specific conditioning is part of the reason my autism wasn’t diagnosed until I was 42. I’d had expectations drummed, and sometimes beaten into me all my life, everything was already an act, a performance, so I just assumed everyone else was ‘faking it’ all the time, over-riding gut-instinct on everything, and acting according to these confusing social scripts. The “What for?” streak in me is problematic for other people, I’m viewed as difficult, challenging, sometimes plain rude, and overly bold ‘for a woman’. I don’t speak much, but, when I do, I make it count, I’m tenacious and determined, and, most of the time, completely exhausted trying to remember and correctly apply rules and boundaries, scripts I don’t understand the reasoning behind, and constantly-consistently assess environments and audiences, to avoid ‘getting it wrong’. 

I am blunt at times. I can be articulate and eloquent, but sometimes a situation demands just-enough information to convey the salient point. I don’t tend to ‘waste words’, and am frustrated when people fanny about with “Does that make sense?” and “This might sound silly, but...” Anecdotally, I hear that from women more than men, we’re discouraged from being too much to-the-point, to go the long way around things, instead of straight at them, and to check for reassurance. I speak ‘like a man’, it’s more efficient. (”Does everyone understand what they are to do?” was my preferred meeting-closing-statement, I’m brutal.) 

I sometimes see the reverse-of-me in my son, he isn’t the least bit blunt or brutal most of the time. (He did shout “Stop it!” at me quite forcefully one day last week when I was having a meltdown after getting bin-juice on my face. He saves his command-voice for emergencies.) He ties himself in knots about communicating with people, and avoids most conversation, although he’ll babble incessantly to himself to process thoughts and ideas. (I have sores inside my ears that won’t heal, because I keep putting my earphones in to drown out his waffling about D&D plots and such.) He’s nervous-anxious where I’m bold, he’s scared of a million things that I’m not in the least bit concerned by, but then, I am an idiot. Biological sex is not gender, but neither of us are really binary-gendered. (I’m not going to suggest he does the quiz, he’s so incredibly indecisive it would melt his brain.) I never conditioned him ‘male’, he’s always just been another human to me, but he has had conflicting messages from his Dad’s side of the family, boys-don’t-cry, come-and-kick-this-ball, look-at-the-tits-on-that, and the girly-girl aunts and cousins. Confusing times, but he has referred to himself as a pan-sexual trans-humanist, and I don’t really know what that is. (He hasn’t asked me to use different pronouns, or a different name, so he’s still ‘him’.) 

I’m rambling. I’ve been pecking away at this for hours, but I do feel a little more settled for doing it. I didn’t go off on as many ranty tangents as I thought I might, which is reassuring, this episode of going mad has been mostly-irritable, and I don’t like it. Catch-22, there, as a female, I’m ‘supposed to’ be all pink and fluffy, and nice, but the lazy stereotype of a woman can also be a nagging old harridan, I’m straddling that line as well as the line between quadrants on the quiz. I bet you 10p that if I did the quiz again, I’d be able to skew the answers to place the dot dead-centre in the grid, but I might blow up the internet if I did that, and imagine the mess that would make.