#a side fic for lami lives

[chromatic-lamina]

Any number you haven't yet answered but want to for the writer ask meme!

Heh-heh! Great ask ❤️

26. Would you rather write a fic that had no dialogue or one that was only dialogue? One with no dialogue, because I can always throw in reported speech and thought processes. Takes a particular skill to make a fic that is all dialogue authentic and interesting.

28. Does anyone read your fics before you post them? If so, who? Sometimes. I won't name 'em cos' I don't want to clutter up their notifications, but especially for exchanges, or if I've used someone's art (with permission) as inspiration, or for zines, etc.

37. Promote one of your own “deep cut” fics (an underrated one, or one that never got as much traction as you think it deserves!). What do you like about it? Okay, I guess the most recent is valuta from the Corazine (aftersales almost finished, but that's just an aside). I thought I did a pretty good job on portraying what the Donquixote brothers went through, also Cora's relationship with Sengoku and Law, and then Law with Sengoku, but maybe it was too much for the word count. It got very little interaction in the way of comments, at least. I like the KidLaw fics I did for the 2022 exchange and for the OP secret santa that year, but they remain two of my least popular fics (in terms of hits).

I like valuta for story parallels (Cora and Doffy, Law and Lami, etc.). I like the KidLaw fics because they make me laugh.

38. Did any of your fics get surprisingly popular (whatever that means to you)? Which ones? Why do you think they were so successful? Yeah. I think I've answered this before, and it's not massively popular compared to some fandom behemoths, but the Usopp vs the Heart Pirates fic: Dark like the North Blue Sea (aka The Sea-Hill you Die On) . I think it grew in popularity because it's canon compliant (also, maybe funny). Once a fic gets a certain number of kudos or hits too, it feeds its popularity growth, because people sort by kudos and hits, so all those hidden gems remain hidden! I'm happy that people enjoy it though!

43. If you take/write prompts: what’s your favorite prompt fic that you’ve written? Probably the one that @afterdeck-ace gave me of: Chopper and Law talking about courage or Jolly Rogers. They're talking about both in softening the fall of snow. That's followed or on par with screen / shiki-e, which was inspired by a tsute doodle. You can see the doodle and links to tsute's art on the AO3 page.

47. If [taxi] was a pair of shoes, what kind would it be? Describe the shoes.

Her jeans cost more than his weekly pay, hell — monthly— and her sneakers were scuffed and used in a way that hid or emphasised their one-of-a-kind design. Pretty cool. A red tonbo — dragonfly — from what he could see, stretched from the toe, its thorax and segmented body running along one side of the shoe, a blue chrysanthemum and pond reeds rising from the heel and undulating in the air below the insect.

I used a ref for that, but can't remember where I sourced it from.

I changed a few things, and the maker's name is on the jpg, fortunately!

48. What’s the last fic you read? Do you recommend it?

Yes! I recommend it: Ours lives like sand in the gears of the world by @afterdeck-ace (Lily_Amazon). A platonic Law & Robin ficlet that explores the parallels and differences between them so well.

Also, a quick but satisfying read (sounds like Borsalino's possible reflection on Akainu) with this fic, In The Dappled Sun. Lemon mentioned (tumblr's being silly with throwing out community settings left, right and centre, so sorry for the return to FFN vocab). Fic author @kookoofufu

Am continuing to read saltyrock's It Takes a Lot to Know a Man but haven't read the latest chapter yet. LawBin and CrocoBin. Endgame LawBin.

There's a lot of good stuff out there, and so little time!

[wordsdrippinginink]

Sooooo what’s ace &or the rest of The WBP up to at this point in time of the Lami lives au?

“You’re playing this close to the chest,” Marco states when the rest of the commanders have left them. He doesn’t move closer, adjusting his seat as he watches Pops. “And you involving Shanks in something as simple as raiding Impel Down for Ace seems like overkill.”

Pops looks tired as he leans back in his chair, “Son, there’s some answers that I can’t give you. That Ace wouldn’t like me to give you.”

“So it is about his family,” Marco snorts at the look that Pops directs at him. “I might not know about who his family is, but I know enough. I know that Ace hates his father and you knew him. I know that Ace worries that his mother would hate him for going to sea. That he wishes that he knew more about her.”

“I can’t give you anything, son. If Ace hasn’t told you-”

“Then the marines will. You aren’t planning a raid, are you?”

Pops doesn’t flinch, but Marco knows it’s close, he knows his father well, “We won’t arrive in time.”

“You think they’ll try to execute him that quickly? I don’t think they would risk your wrath. Our armada isn’t weak, why would you need Shanks to fight off something like this?”

“Ace told me his father’s name once,” Pops says after a moment. Marco can see the way the knowledge settles over his shoulders. “I knew him and he was a good man, you liked him as much as you like anyone, but I also know that the marines would have killed Ace for his father even if he had wanted to be a marine. I know that Shanks would never let him die. I know that this will be a declaration of war that we haven never even considered before.”

“Pops?”

Pops takes a moment before his eyes close and he asks something that isn’t tangentially related, “Do you remember, the last time we saw Roger?”

How can Marco forget? They had been lingering in Paradise because Roger had asked a favor of a meeting, even with his crew disbanded Pops hadn’t hesitated to meet him. The last time that Marco would see the Pirate King until his execution pictures had circled in the papers.

“He said that his future was secured, I think you assumed that he planned to be killed. But Roger would never have said that, not the way that you believed, not that I thought differently for a long time.”

“Pops?”

“My children secure my future. I told him that, once a very long time ago.”

“Roger had, he had a kid?”

“If one doesn’t count Shanks, but who remembers the brat who would sneak into battles. Buggy doesn’t count, he was more Rayleigh’s protege then Roger’s,” Pops taps his sake jug. “Roger had a child.”

“What does this have to do with-,” Marco cuts himself off, heart shuddering to a halt in his chest. Because he remembers Roger, he remembers the man and the way he had acted, his looks. “That’s, that’s why you’re calling in Shanks?”

“Even if Roger’s child refused to acknowledge their father because of what they grew up knowing of him, I don’t think that Roger’s allies would allow the child to die, do you?”

Marco nods slowly, “That’s why we’re going to Marineford, isn’t it? Because where else would they risk his execution? It’s a triumph and they will want to share it,” he doesn’t need confirmation. “We have to decide what will be done with Squard, as much as he cares for Ace, he would never forgive you for hiding this.”

“Mhm, I had hoped that he would understand that all are children of the sea,” he sighs. “What will you do with this knowledge, son?”

“I’m going to tell the commanders. They won’t care and it’s better if the shock of the announcement doesn’t put them out of commission. Do you think that Shanks will help us?”

Pops hums thoughtfully, “I think that he isn’t the man I thought he was if he decided not to. May I have the denden now?”

The snail feels like lead as Marco takes it from his pocket and sets it on the table, “I’ll take my leave now.”

“Good night son.”

Marco closes the door behind him and leans heavily against it for a long moment before shoving himself upright. Pops wasn’t as strong as he use to be, Marco didn’t think it was far fetched to think that he wouldn’t survive the battle or not make it long after, he needed to plan for that. He had to tell the others, he-

He wanted to go back. He wanted to stop Ace, save Thatch, to change what had happened, but most of all, Marco wanted to go back to that day that they had last seen Roger and get more from him. To make sure that Ace didn’t grow up thinking he was better of dead, because that was impossible to miss when the kid didn’t have an ounce of self preservation.

“We thought that would take less time,” Vista states lifting himself off the crate he had been on, in the hidden room deep in the ship that the commanders used for times like this. “Pops must have told you something.”

Marco glances at his siblings and hopes that he isn’t wrong to trust them, “he had to be less direct than he wanted, he had a promise to keep.”

“Why wouldn’t we go to Impel Down,” Haruta demands. “I can get us the building plans-”

“Ace won’t be kept there for long. Pops is certain he’s going to be executed in the next three days,” Marco sighs. “It seems that Ace’s parentage was more important than we assumed.”

It was a running joke in the lead up to Ace’s announcement that he would join them. Guess who put Ace up to killing Pops because that’s all he ever said on the subject, ‘that man couldn’t take him’. 

“A marine?” Izo asks, because there’s been a number of marines that had their pirate relations quickly and quietly executed.

“A noble?”

Marco takes a breath, a moment because he knows what Vista and Jozu will say, “A Pirate,” he wonders if they can tell it’s more title than normal. “King.”

“You’re joking,” Kingdew whispers almost falling from his seat. “You’re not, you can’t be-”

“Pops says that Ace told him his father’s name once and then spoke of the last time we saw Roger and how he said-”

“his future was secured,” Jozu finishes. “I see. This changes nothing, except my understanding of where he got his monstrous strength.”

“He’s still our brother,” Jiro agrees. “But it makes sense. Why he would want to take Pops. Roger never actually defeated, defeated him.”

Marco knows this is going to take hours, because they’re his siblings but they’re going to need time before they can go back to their divisions and pretend that they haven’t learned something like this. He wishes that it wouldn’t.

Marco closes his eyes for a fraction of a second, because he wants to go back to his room and hide himself away. He wants to make sure that he’s planned for everything, because he wants Ace to come home.

“Wasn’t expecting a call from you,” Shanks says and the denden mushi never does as good a job relaying the narrowed eyed look. “Not after how you reacted the last time we spoke.”

“Things have changed,” Whitebeard feels his age, feels the way his medication makes him tired and knows he’s not going to live through this fight. Either his body will give out or he will die for his family. “Tell me something Shanks, would would you do to protect Roger’s legacy?”

[sashi-ya]

~💟 Sashi's Valentine's Corner 💟~

🧩 Mini Story Sfw ~ Donquixote Rosinante x F! Reader ft. little Law~ A Feverish Date

a/n: So as promised this is the little side story from Law's interactive one: Locked Love! You can read this one if you haven't read the interactive one, though! (I swear it is even sweeter if you read both).

a/n2: So, this is as always the same family I've created with Cora, little Law (7 -10 y/o), Reader & their baby Lammy. There is a whole series of fics where there are featured, you can find them here.

tw: Only love and fluffiness.

wc: 1,7K

“Help me, Law!! You call me Corazón and I can’t think of something romantic enough for mamma” Rosinante begs, rolling on the ground, throwing a tantrum so his son can help him. “I’m just a kid, Cora-san. How the hell am I supposed to know what the fuck buy to her for valentine’s?” a little bean of grey eyes and caramel skin protests.

“Law! Language!” Rosi scolds him but keeps looking at the kid with puppy eyes.

“Fine… fine… I’ll think about something”

Law is no older than 10, yet he has a mature way of thinking already. He has overcome his illness three years ago and now lives a happy life with “Cora-san” and (Name), his adoptive parents. The little bean, despite being intelligent and mature, is still a child and enjoys dearly his mom and dad’s cuddles and smooches. Law got a new chance in life, and he will live it as long as his body allows him to do so…

“I know, you can take her on a cliché date, like the ones she sees when watching dramas” the bean tells his dad, who has tried to stand up and fall back as he has stepped on Lami’s Legos. Lami, Law’s little sister is already two years old and is now with her mom spending the afternoon at the shopping mall.

Rosinante runs to his phone, hitting his pinkie with the table but still manages to open the explorer to search for some romantic restaurants. “What about this one?” he asks, showing his child a romantic Thai restaurant on the screen.

Law frowns and narrows his eyes. “You know Thai food is mostly spicy, don’t you?” He questions his dad. “So?” Cora asks, genuinely confused. “MUM HATES SPICY FOOD!!”

“FUCK!” Rosi swears, feeling guilty for forgetting such an important detail about his wife. “LANGUAGE….” Law says, trying to outsmart his daddy with a rogue smirk. Soon the kiddo runs from his sister's room towards him as Rosinante runs behind him to trap his sneaky smarty boy.

Since Cora had more than a week since Valentine’s Day, they quickly forgot and went downstairs to prepare dinner for the princesses of that house that night…

Some days after…

Little Law waited for his mum to go to sleep and soon snatched her phone to text Cora. He was serving duty during that night at the Marine base, so Law expected for his dad to be up at the office.

▶ Law: Cora-san, I was thinking about the perfect date for mum and you. And I made an itinerary for you to follow. 📎 1 file attached:

▶ Cora: Son, you are amazing. I didn’t know you were such a romantic “man”… ▶ Law: take it or leave it. I studied mum’s k-dramas to the fullest for research. ▶ Cora: son, you actually shouldn’t be watching those… and about not having any more sisters… Law we should speak about it… ▶ Law: I know how babies are made, I’ve studied that already… and ew… you and mum… just EW! ▶ Cora: Law!!!!

After the messaging session in which Cora realized his son was still awake at 2 in the morning and sent him to sleep right away, he started searching the web in order to find the best gift for her lover…

“Should I buy her something she needs? or maybe something to eat?” he asks himself, scrolling endlessly through every single web page advertising the perfect surprises for wives. “Maybe something spicy… we haven’t had any good interaction since the kids want to sleep with us every night��

He felt absolutely naughty for surfing such websites, as innocent as Cora can be, the simple thought of ordering some “vibrating panties” and “chocolate flavoured lube” made him blush in embarrassment. Yet he still placed the order that was supposed to be there the next day, perfect timing for a steamy valentine’s date… maybe Law didn’t want a sister, but surely Cora wouldn’t mind trying for another one…

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ…

“Happy Valentine’s Day, my beautiful wife” the soft, sweet voice of your husband wakes you up. Cora kisses your cheek, while the beautiful sun rays filter through the window. A cold morning in February with him always feels like an eternal spring day. “Morning, sweetheart. Happy Valentine’s” you mumble, snuggling against his chest. Cora has arrived from his night shift some hours ago and sneaked into your bed softly enough not to wake you up (frankly, that’s incredible. Rosinante always stabs his pinkie with the bed and wakes you up).

“What time is it? Have you slept for a few hours, baby?” you ask, getting drunk with the scent of his skin. Your fingertips trace the little remains of old scars all over his skin and thank God for him being next to you every morning.

“I have slept enough, it’s 10 am. The kids are still asleep…” he mumbles, in a weird but suggestive tone. “Rosinante Donquixote… are we celebrating from this early? I love it” you giggle, so ready for a little couple time.

He covers you both with the blankets, creating a perfect refuge of love and passion. Sloppy kisses, full of love, cuddling romantically… “Wanna try for a new baby, mommy?” he asks, whispering, all naughty and hyped. “Bet!” you mumble, excited, so ready for it… “HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY MOMMY AND CORAAA!!!” you hear, two bouncing weights, no more than 30 kilograms in total over your and your husband’s legs. “I definitely don’t want any more babies…” you think, while your son and daughter jump over you.

“GUYS, GUYS! STOP IT” you tell little Law and baby Lammy, because when they are together, they are absolutely unstoppable.

Lammy jumps over Cora, smearing boogers over his dadda’s cheeks. Law, grimacing at that image and while clenching over you informs you about your daughter's diagnosis (because he acts tough, but whenever he needs cuddles, he turns into full kid mode)

“Mum, Lammy seems to have a cold” he tells you. “Uhh… apparently. What about you? Are you feeling sick? You look a little blushed” you ask him, because a mother’s eye (and a paediatrician’s) never fails to identify a fever.

He instantly jumps off bed. “I’m ok, mum!” he assures and runs out of the room. You hear him sneeze over the hall, and Cora and you look at each other, with suspicious looks.

The thing is Law hates to be sick. He doesn't want to put a single foot on a hospital if it’s not for learning or working -thank God he is still in third grade-. Ever since his saturnism was gone, he hated to be medically treated. He despises needles on his body (we will see when he turns 18 and the tattoo craze hits him) and he denies every pain or slight cold not to worry you…

The day went by with Law getting out of his room only for lunch and the bathroom. You checked on him several times, but as long as he didn’t show any sign of fever you wouldn’t intervene. Law needs his space, he is not a normal child.

After Cora surprised you with the dinner invitation it was time to get the kids ready for their little trip to Sengoku’s house…

“Lammy, come here, let me blow your nose” you tell your younger baby, while checking on her to see if she was running a fever or not. Luckily, she isn’t. But there is another child to check up on.

Cora and you have decided that if any of the babies felt a little bit bad you will go have dinner another day, and Law wasn’t very fond of the idea… “I CREATED THIS ITINEDADY BY MYDSELFD! I DOND’T WANTD TO RDUIN THE DATE, CODA-SAN! IT’S JUSTD A DITTLE FEVED” you hear Law shouting from the other room. Lammy looks at you scared, sure his Law-ni was throwing the biggest tantrum.

You finish cleaning your daughter’s nose and take her hand to walk to the other room.

“What’s going on?” you ask, seeing Law absolutely annoyed with his dad, and Cora trying to act like a strict parent -failing miserably, because he is just too sweet to scold his son-. “SON, YOUR BRAIN WILL MELT! YOU ARE RUNNING A HIGH FEVER!”

And indeed, the poor kiddo has his eyes glossy and his cheeks red. He is of course running a fever, and his stuffed nose makes him talk in a funny way. “Law-ni? ade u feeling okeid?” his little sister asks, making Law realize you are watching him shout from the door.

You walk lovingly towards him, placing your palm on his burning forehead. “A future doctor denying the dangerous side effects of having a high fever?” you question him, using the best vocabulary that Law could understand; a doctor’s one. “I am dot… but… I dond’t wadda ruin dyour date… you ad in dlove and I’m duining this” he confesses, with sad eyes.

Cora smiles sweetly, your child is amazing…

“Law… It doesn’t matter where you go and what you do when you are in love, it only matters to be together with the person you love the most…” Cora says, hugging his son.

“That’s right, son. This house, you and your sister, are the people we love the most…” you tell him, kissing his forehead.

Lammy, as little as she is, after his brother taught her how to use it, comes running with your Polaroid camera and takes the sweetest photo that Law brings on his wallet up until today… ❤ ~

Happy Valentine’s Day! ~

[naralanis]

Hi Nara! Love your fic and your glorious fountain pen posts. Any ink recs? Best brand of ink you've found for your fountain pens in your very organized pile?

Hiya, thanks for dropping by!

Anon, you have no idea, but I stared at this ask for roughly 2873618 years thinking about all the inks I’ve tried and I am so sorry, you’re about to read a whole-ass essay on inks. Let’s do this -- there’s way, way more under the cut!

First off, my best overall ink recommendation: Waterman Serenity Blue.

You might be thinking, ‘So what, that’s just some blue ink,’ and yes, you are partially right. However, whether you are a fountain pen newbie or someone who uses them and is unaware of this ink, let me explain why I always recommend it to literally anyone who asks.

It’s a beautiful shade of dark blue. It’s one of the best inks you can get for the price. And it is probably one of the most well-behaved inks I’ve ever encountered. Every single pen I own is ‘baptized’, so to speak, with this ink; because I know it so well, it removes the ink variable when I’m testing new pens, so I can more easily see any issues with flow, for example. I also use this ink in my vintage pens (depending on the materials, certain inks will damage older pens, but Serenity Blue is super safe). It is also stupidly easy to clean, doesn’t take too long to dry, and behaves pretty well even on my cheaper papers. 10/10 in my book!

Now... For other ink recommendations, featuring some of my favourites, and also a bit of a spiel about why ink preferences are as unique as pen preferences, if not more so. Brace yourself.  I’m sorry.

Now, as far as ink brands go, I’m afraid I simply cannot pick a favourite. There’s Diamine, which is incredibly consistent. There’s Noodler’s which has a TON of inks with some of the craziest ink properties (like UV, freeze-resistance, invisible ink...) I’ve ever seen. There’s Jacques Herbin, which has been around for literally centuries. Or Organics Studio, which has some crazy good sheening inks (also Maryland-made, so I gotta plug it!)

The options are endless.

As a rule, pretty much all inks made by big-name pen brands (Lamy, Pelikan, Montblanc, Pilot, etc) will be pretty high quality. They may be a bit on the expensive side (cough, cough, Sailor and Montblanc), or they may not have the biggest range of colours, but they will be good and safe to use with your pens.

 That being said, in no particular order, here are some of my favourites (all images from my Instagram unless stated otherwise!)

1. Top Black Ink: Aurora Black

This is my favourite black ink because it is dark. Saturated, rich, and consistent, not to mention remarkably easy to clean! The one downside is it doesn’t dry as quickly as I would like, but I still like it so much I’m almost done with my bottle!

2. Top ‘Blurple’: Akkerman Nassaus Blauw

I already recommended a blue, but... though Serenity Blue is my #1 recommendation, it isn’t actually my first choice... That distinction falls to Akkerman Nassaus Blauw! I love all Akkerman inks (and their bottles, my god, their bottles), but this one is my current favourite!

3. Top Green: De Atramentis Jane Austen

OK, so green is my favourite colour, so it was maddeningly difficult to pick just one to be my favourite, but I’m just in love with this shade. It also helps that I am a Jane Austen buff, so really, it was meant to be. I particularly love the shading this ink brings to the table--it shows really well with medium and broad nibs!

4. Top Brown Ink: Diamine Roasted Chestnut

This was a very close one with Herbin’s Cacao du Brésil, but in the end, Roasted Chestnut won out. It’s such a warm tone of brown, and the ink is very well-behaved even in my cheaper paper.

5. Top Red Ink: Diamine Candy Cane

OK, so Diamine Candy Cane is not actually my favourite red. Right now that’s Montblanc’s Corn Poppy Red; however, the latter has been DISCONTINUED FOR REASONS UNKNOWN, and so the Diamine is a substitute... and a damn good one! Cheaper, too! It does take a little long to dry (even in my Pilot EF nibs, which isn’t ideal... but I’ll live). It’s super vibrant, a red red, y’know what I mean? I’ve had lots of fun with it (even if I don’t do much grading in pen anymore...).

Aaand... because this post is already painfully long, instead of ranking more inks, I’ll just share my currently inked list over the past few months-- I keep coming back to the inks I like. Sorry for the massive tangent; once y’all get me going on pens I simply cannot stop.

SORRY FOR THE ESSAY, GO CHECK OUT MOUNTAIN OF INK FOR LIKE, IN-DEPTH RESULTS INSTEAD OF MY RAMBLE, GOOD DAY

[onlyjihoons]

Oblivious; l.m.h

hey guyssss whoop

so i had some writing juice in me and i approached my soul-sister @markleetrashh for some prompts and here it is, me writing a fic about mark again

once again(no pun intended), this is semi-requested(more like i requested cheryl to help me lolol) and if you would like to see more of other members, please, please, please request, i would be more than happy to do them! please request i have really little thinking juice left for prompts :’(

i highly suggest reading my olderbrother!taeyong au first but if you don’t its ok i still luv u

note: all my works will be written in an 01 liner’s perspective, but you can fit yourself into it too:)

genre: fluffy angst

guest starring: Lee Dongmin (Cha Eunwoo) of Astro and also SM Rookies:)

synopsis:  you’re in a dilemma, 3 of the most endearing males in your life are living under the same roof and in the same idol group. Your older brother, Taeyong, your best friend/brother, Donghyuck, and your crush, Minhyung. Your brother supports you and Minhyung being an item(surprisingly), however, your best friend is strongly against you being with his closest hyung, and you began to see why as Minhyung begins to play cupid, oblivious to your feelings towards him.

“Wait, so you’re telling me you have a crush on my hyung that cannot even cook rice properly?” Donghyuck exclaimed as he stuffed a mouthful of food in his mouth.

You nodded your head as you took a sip of your banana milk, “Is there a problem?”

“Very,” he swallowed as he put down his utensils, “Have you seen how is he around the Red Velvet noonas?! He’s as awkward as heck, Y/N, I cannot let my best friend/sister date my hyung!”

“But he isn’t awkward around me though,” you pouted as you scooped a spoonful of rice into your mouth.

Donghyuck rubbed his temples and cupped your face a little too forcefully, “Y/N, you will regret this.”

Being your closest friend and over-caring older “brother”, (Taeyong thinks you guys were seperated at birth because you two were too similarly savage and much closer than he was) Donghyuck was the closest you could get to your crush, Mark. He was your crush ever since Taeyong introduced you to the NCT members, those caring eyes and calming smile captivated you ever since.

However, Donghyuck had to beg to differ as he had seen his beloved hyung at his worst, failing to cook eggs properly, using lame pick up jokes, something he wouldn’t want you to suffer from. The last thing he needed was Mark to break your heart.

You sighed as you removed the older male’s hands from your face, “Just tell me if you like me, oppa, I know you’re jealous of Mark because he’s handsome-”

“YA!” Donghyuck exclaimed a tad louder, causing several heads around you to turn around, “I’m NCT’s visual, Y/N, and how could you insult my taste like that?”

“Wow thanks hyuck, I’m so ugly, I got offers from the Big 3, you saw them come up to me yourself.” you teased him sarcastically as you picked up your phone and began to type, “Besides, Taeyong oppa will be so glad you’re taking care of me like this-”

Donghyuck stood up from his his seat and hugged you from your back, causing you to drop your phone, he smirked as he snatched your phone before you could retrive it and raised it triumphantly above his head, “Thanks to Mark hyung I pretty much know all your weaknesses, but does he know?”

You pondered over Donghyuck’s words, he was right, Donghyuck knew you better than you knew yourself, but Mark only saw the platonic side of your relationship.

“I just don’t want you to get hurt by Mark hyung, Y/N-ah.” Donghyuck begins to turn serious with concern washed all over his face, “What’s the point when Mark hyung only sees you as Taeyong hyung’s sister?”

Donghyuck’s words haunted you when you were sleeping that night.

“Are you sure Y/N? Being an idol isn’t all about dancing you know,” Taeyong warned over the phone.

You sighed and joked, “The SM idol life seems appealing to me.”

“Is Mark the reason you suddenly wanted to be an idol?” Taeyong questioned.

“N-no!” you defended.

“It’s not worth being an idol for a guy, Y/N-ah,” Taeyong nagged, “I support you if you really want to be with Mark but honestly being an idol isn’t all about roses. You need to have the passion.”

You thought again, “yeah maybe, i will think about it more.”

You could literally feel Taeyong smiling at the other side of the line, “I wish I can come back home soon, Y/N-ah, why not you come over to the SM building this weekend? Besides, you can see- Taeyong hyung! We need to go now! Text me when mum agrees okay? Love you!”

3 months later

“So, Y/N, what do we expect for Show!Music Core today?” Dongmin quipped cheerily.

“Our NCT oppas will be performing Limitless, but before that, we have WJSN sunbaenim’s I Wish!” you greeted as you smiled.

“Music cue!” Dongmin smiled.

“Okay, cut!” the camera director motioned, “Good job Y/N and Eunwoo-ssi, we will take 5 now.”

“Wah Y/N!” Dongmin praised, “You’re doing so much better than I did when I first started emceeing for Mucore, as expected, SM’s ace!”

“No, no you flatter me too much, oppa.” You blushed as Dongmin smiled and ruffled your hair affectionately, “Good luck with your debut stage later!”

“Thank you, I will go for the rehersal first!” you waved to Dongmin as you walked towards your group’s waiting room.

After 3 months of endless practicing with blood sweat and tears, you debut with the remaining SM Rookies. Your passion paid off as your title in the group was the Main Dancer and Vocalist. You weren’t gonna lie, you weren’t the prettiest out of everyone in your group, but you still had a decent amount of fans due to your outgoing and cute personality.

“Unnie!You did so well today!"Lami rushed over to you and hugged you affectionately as you ruffled her hair.

 "Thank you Lami-yah,"you smiled as the younger member rushed back to her seat in front of the vainity table.

 "Yahhh Y/N! Soon the Astro fans will begin shipping you with Eunwoo sunbaenim! I’m proud of you, Y/N-ah!” Koeun playfully slung her hands around your shoulders,making you laugh.

“N-no its not like that-”

 "Y/N!“ you heard your bestfriend’s voice call out to you. 

You saw Donghyuck in red hair, in his grey hoodie and sweatpants, smiling at you. You gotta admit your best friend looked good, as much as you hate calling him handsome.

“Donghyuck oppa!” you exclaimed as you ran towards him for a hug.

“Finally Y/N looks pretty,” Donghyuck confessed as he pulled away to greet your manager, “You look good with Eunwoo-hyung! Better than Mark hyung-”

“Lee Donghyuck! I heard that!” You heard your crush’s voice echo through the hallway.

As he approached the both of you, you could see his pink hair peeking out of his beanie, wearing a yellow hoodie with jeans. You could hear your heart beat faster as he walked closer, about to burst out of your chest. Mark looked ethereal, and he seemed to be more good looking now than you saw him 3 months ago. 

The SM Rookies used to ship you and Mark together(with Taeyong’s lead) for some apparent reason, which Taeyong kept his mouth shut to (which you found out later on he leaked your secret probably to all of the trainees in SM). Meanwhile, you took the chance to grow closer to Mark, which he annoyingly complied and made you fall for him more. Despite the number of times you had mustered your courage and confessed to Mark, he always shrugged it off as a stupid dare given to you and never took it seriously. That was the downside of being with Mark, his obliviousness.

“Its true hyung! Eunwoo-hyung looks so much better than you,” Donghyuck argued, earning a kick on the shin.

Mark shook his head, “No, no, no. You look so much better with Y/N!”

Donghyuck froze, and turned to look at you. You had an unreadable expression of resentfulness on your face, you looked like you were ready to just shout out your true feelings for Mark.

The rest of your members whipped their heads towards Mark, giving him an “Are you serious” look. However, Mark being Mark, he was oblivious towards the stares directed at him.

 But instead, you placed a fake stoic expression on your face, “Of course! Hyuck oppa and I have been really close for many years.”

“See! Even Y/N admits she has feelings for you!” Mark acknowledged.

Donghyuck simply sighed and pushed Mark towards their waiting room, “They’re going for a rehersal soon, we shall touch up on our make up too. Mark hyung let’s go.”

When Mark left, Koeun ran to your side and hugged you tightly, rubbing your back soothingly as you cried in her arms, “It’s okay, Y/N, I’m sure he will like you back.”

“Mark oppa doesn’t even like me, unnie!” you exclaimed as more tears threatened to fall on your face. 

“Don’t cry Y/N-ah,” Koeun comforted you, “I know it’s hard to not think about it, just dance it all off on stage later alright?”

“So, Y/N, can you tell us more about your debut song?” Dongmin inquired.

“Our debut song is called ____, and some of it’s lyrics are written by yours truly during my trainee days in SM!” you exclaimed excitedly.

“Wow, can you tell me more about it?” Dongmin queried.

“The lyrics are based off a scenario where a boy is oblivious to a girl’s feelings, it’s pretty tragic but I managed to put it in a more light-hearted way as possible.” you explained.

“Can you sing us a line of it?”

“Uhm... I don’t think so, because I think the lyrics are more meaningful when you listen to it live!” you implied.

“I will look forward to your debut stage, Y/N-ssi! But for now, we shall go on a commercial break, please don’t switch the channel!” Dongmin pointed cutely.

“And cut! Y/N please prepare for your live stage now, Eunwoo-ssi please be on standby.”

“Donghyuck-ah! Y/N’s emceeing now!” Mark called the younger member over in front of the TV.

“Really? Move over, hyung.” Donghyuck fixated his eyes on the screen as he shifted himself to a comfortable position on the couch.

“ The lyrics are based off a scenario where a boy is oblivious to a girl’s feelings, it’s pretty tragic but I managed to put it in a more light-hearted way as possible.”

“Wah Y/N writes the lyrics? I wonder who is that lucky guy who managed to win her heart over...” Mark beamed with pride as he watched you engage in a hearty conversation with Dongmin.

“It’s you, Mark hyung.” Donghyuck sighed as he rolled his eyes.

“Say that again.” Mark furrowed his eyebrows, “I didn’t quite catch that, can you repeat?”

“Y/N LIKES YOU, MARK HYUNG!” Donghyuck scolded as he sighed, “Haven’t you been noticing how Y/N acts around you lately? I can literally see the hearts in her eyes when she speaks to you and how heavily infatuated she was when she speaks about you to me every single time. Seriously, Mark hyung, Y/N was really upset when you said I looked good with her because obviously she wanted to look good with you!”

“Oh my god...” Mark mumbled guiltily as he recalled his foolish actions, “I better apologise to her...”

“Apologise?!” Donghyuck retorted, “Oh my god Mark hyung you are the worst person I have ever met.”

“Then what should I do? Get married with her?!” Mark rebuked.

“Well, that was out of the question but I’m sure Y/N will be ecstatic...” Donghyuck mumbled, “Anyway, just confess to her or something! That’s what Y/N wants to hear from you the most. I mean, you can’t reject Y/N right? She’s not herself when she is dejected and stuff, besides, I hate to say this but I think you two really need each other.”

Mark thought over Donghyuck’s words again and again, the more he thought of it, the more it made sense to him. You being shy when he hugs you, and also attentively listening to his rants when he had no one to turn to. He slapped himself mentally for only realising his feelings now, and felt apologetic towards you for all he has done whenever you mustered up the courage to confess to him.

“Uh thanks Hyuck-ah, I’m going out for some fresh air.” Mark stared into blank space as he stood up from his seat.

“Well done girls, you guys did really well today!” your manager piped as she handed out water bottles to all of you. “Especially Y/N, you did a good job as your first day of emceeing!”

“Thank you, I will work harder in the future.” you smiled as all the members gave you a group hug. 

“Y/N!” You heard Mark’s undeniable voice call out to you.

“Mark!” you heard your manager exclaim, “What brings you here?”

“If you don’t mind, can I borrow Y/N for a few minutes? I have something really important to relay to her.” Mark smiled.

“Ah alright. Do make it quick though, Y/N has to attend a fanmeet later.” your manager gave him a nod of approval as your fellow members squealed silently at the scene that was about to unfold.

“Thank you so much! Y/N, let’s go.” Mark pulled your hand as he led you through the dimly lit backstage and to the rooftop of MBC’s building.

When you reached the rooftop, you wriggled out of Mark’s grasp, “Are you here to congratulate me again, oppa?”

Mark rubbed the nape of his neck sheepishly, “Yeah...sort of.”

“Then I should get going.” you supressed your urge to let your tears trickle down your face as you turned on your heels.

Before you could even take a step away from Mark, he pulled you into a back hug, full of affection and resentfulness for his past actions.

“I’m so sorry, Y/N, I was so stupid to realise my feelings for you only now when Donghyuck scolded me about my obliviousness towards your feelings...” Mark confessed as he hugged you tighter.

Your tears began trickling down your face, “Are you only saying this because you feel sorry for me?”

Mark spun you around to face him, “No, Y/N, I’m serious about it.”

“How-”

“I,” Mark pecked your left tear-stained cheek.

“like,”He pecked your right tear-stained cheek,

“you.” he finally pecked your lips.

You smiled as you pulled Mark into an endearing hug, “It took you so long to say that.”

“I know.” Mark whispered endearingly as he hugged you tighter, sealing your new relationship.

KMXWJDIOA I apologise if this is shit omg i literally needed to use up my writing juices urgently csiwba thank you for reading!

[chromatic-lamina]

Some parts of Japan start obon a month earlier than others, keeping in line with the lunar solar calendar adopted in the Meiji era, rather than the solar lunar calendar. My part of the country is one of them, and it’s a rainy day today (rainy season has extended itself this year). But it eased up a bit and the mostly older generation with their grandkids light small fires (迎え火, mukaebi) on the pavement outside their houses or businesses to welcome ancestors home. Candles will be set on the river in four days or so to wish ancestors safe journeys back to the afterlife, but I don’t know if that will happen this year with the shut down of festivals due to covid 19. The Tanabata festival was cancelled this year. Anyway, I wrote about it in an op fic, and I still love the images it evokes as much as I love seeing those flames flicker in kitchen pots and pans and sometimes the correct utensil for the job; folks squatting over them, guarding and stoking them, guiding loved ones into their urban homes.

Law and Marco also have a lot of ancestors to welcome of course. When it’s time to farewell them I hope I remember to post that section too. I’ve posted an excerpt from a fic below, and I’ll post a link to the chapter, because it’s safe, but it’s from a dark work, so if you decide to proceed with it, make sure you read all warnings and tags. The following is fine, but the fic is rated E.

Marco and Law squatted outside their house. The air thick, the sky blue, as usual. Both wore flip-flops and cotton to beat the humidity. A towel hung around the Phoenix's neck. He lifted its edges and wiped sweat from his brow.

Torn up papers, sticks of incense, a few twigs, bits of wood, a pine cone or two, all rested in an old frying pan they used once a year. They lit the bundle inside it to guide their ancestors home. There were traditional bowls for this purpose, but they'd never got around to buying one, and using the old, beaten up pan had become part of their ritual. Many fires were lit directly onto the earth below.

There were no nearby neighbours, having bought the house for its space and view, but in the town below, outside the beach shack, and all around the island, in the small houses that surrounded Law's surgery, and in the coastal fishing huts, inhabitants were likewise lighting small evening fires, or switching on electrical lanterns to mark the way home for their loved ones.

Law leaned over to the charcoal-fired, portable grill resting on the asphalt, and turned two skewered fish; Aji marinated with soy and sesame. He pulled two beers from the icebox, stood and passed one to Marco.

He took it with thanks, and ran a fan back and forth across the smouldering pile, trying to get it to flare up. Law sat on their stoop, and popped his beer. Mercury, dog number three, moseyed over, and Law nuzzled her, then pulled two pieces of jerky for her from his pocket.

Once the wee beacon was ablaze, Marco joined him, having plated the fish, and thrown a few thick-sliced erengi mushrooms onto the grill. Law stretched to the ice box again for lemon, which he put on the side of the plate.

The dog devoured her jerky in a couple of bites, and stared at the men intently, her tail moving slowly, matching her instincts, ready to pounce if one of them dropped a scrap of meat. Once she realised that neither was going to be clumsy or feed her, she stretched out, nearest Law, head on paws.

Lamie's favourite soft drink and Whitebeard's favourite sake sat by the altar, as did small samples of all the drinks and food favoured by the others. 

Law didn't always know or remember, so he took a guess based on the scant knowledge he had. Tea for his father, and he liked to think his mother had a spot of Kureha in her, so he'd put out a thimbleful of whiskey.

All prepared, the two pirate lovers waited for their rough and tumble makeshift family to once more cross their threshold. Ace had a few people to visit, but Marco knew some time would be spent with Law and himself, or more precisely, with him. Sabo and Garp were visiting Luffy, so Freckles wouldn't have to cover too much distance to catch up with everyone else once he left their own tea-towel strewn abode. If Luffy had eaten all the offerings, Ace might be back sooner than expected.

Cora, too, needed to visit Sengoku, but Law's small nuclear family stayed for the whole four days. He felt that Cora probably spent more time with him than the ex-admiral, but who really knew? Young Law had only known Rocinante (and never to address him by his true name) for such a short period of time, and had been without him for so long. Sengoku had raised him, and Law couldn't begrudge him that.

Of course the Heart and Whitebeard two didn't see them, they weren't even sure if they could feel them. Whatever breeze might blow caught the furin bells, but the days were usually still. The spirits also languorous in the heat.

Law and Marco remembered them though, and all they had done for them, and all the two living men had been unable to do for them. They hoped their decisions made them proud, for, in so many ways, Marco and Law had their lives, because their loved ones had given up theirs, had them taken away from them.

This is a link to the last chapter of that fic which features this section, but it is a very dark fic (though ends with hope). So if you decide to read the whole, please heed the tags and warnings. That chapter is safe.