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sunlightdances · 5 years ago

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Safe Place to Land (Modern!Bucky x Reader)

Author: Katie @sunlightdances Pairing: Modern!Bucky Barnes x Female Reader Rating: PG-13 for swearing. No trigger warnings except some alcohol use and drunkenness, and if awkwardness makes you feel weird, which-- SAME. Slow burn. Two idiots. Words: 8K+ aka HOW DID THIS GET SO LONG Summary: Modern!AU. You and Bucky are both standing up for Steve and Peggy’s wedding. Checking in at the hotel for the weekend, you’re horrified to realize there’s been a problem. A big problem. Prompt Filled: “Only one bed” Author’s Note: This is for @fanfictionaries’ Classic Trope Challenge! Congrats on 300 followers, and thanks for hosting! This was so fun to write. Special thanks to @writeyourmindaway for the divider at the beginning and the flower divider throughout the post! Disclaimer: I don’t own Bucky Barnes or Marvel. I also don’t own the song “Dance with Me” by Kelsea Ballerini, which is where the title comes from. The plot is mine! Please don’t repost my work on any other sites (AO3, Wattpad, etc.) without my permission. If you like what you read, please reblog to help share my work!

You’re late.

It’s truly a scene from a movie - you dashing through the airport, your rolling suitcase clicking behind you as it hits every line in the tile. People are staring, and you’re embarrassed, but you don’t have time to be.

Peggy will kill you if you miss this flight.

You’ll kill you if you miss this flight. Not for the first time, you curse Steve Rogers and his romantic streak for having a destination wedding. Especially because it’s going to be small. An exclusive wedding that could have just as easily been done in New York… you stop yourself.

You’re happy to be going to London. You’ve never been before, and you’re even happier to be going to celebrate the wedding of two of your closest friends.

It’s been over a decade since the first time you met Steve Rogers, alone and out of place in New York City, and at first you didn’t bother him - he was clearly going through something, and through your nosy neighbor, you knew he was recently back from a tour in Afghanistan. You were unable to stay away for long though, especially when you could hear the nightmares through the apartment walls, and could hear the grief he was struggling to control.

A casserole outside his door and a late night coffee break later, the two of you were fast friends. He trusted you with his story, and the look on his face when you introduced him to your coworker Peggy sealed your friendship for good.

Finally arriving at the gate, you nearly knock over a very tired, very irritated looking Bucky Barnes, and roll your eyes to the heavens, because of course you’re on the same flight. Why wouldn’t you be? You suspect foul play by your conniving best friend, but you don’t have time to complain about it.

Bucky’s already glaring at you. “You’re late--”

“I know. How did you even know I was going to be on this flight?”

“Steve mentioned it. Said to make sure you didn’t get left behind.”

You roll your eyes, collapsing into a chair near the gate as the boarding process begins, out of breath from your sprint through the airport. “He worries too much.”

“You are late, though.”

You glare right back at him, but can’t help but give him what you hope is a subtle once over - right from the top of his baseball-cap covered head to his Nike-covered feet. It’s really not fair that he still manages to look like a runway model at four in the morning.

Finally you’re called for boarding, and you push past Bucky to get on the plane, where you have plans to promptly fall asleep and hopefully be out for the next several hours.

“Me again,” you hear his deep voice before you open your eyes, and you’re treated to the truly amazing sight of Bucky Barnes’ abs when his shirt rides up as he puts his bag in the overhead bin.

“Terrific,” you mutter, and he snorts.

“Go to sleep.” The heat practically radiates off him as he sits down next to you, him in the aisle seat and you in the dreaded middle seat.

You really are tired - there was a reason you were running late. You have a habit of working too late and not getting enough sleep, another reason you were looking forward to this wedding. Ten full days in England. No work, just rest. And a wedding. But besides that--! No obligations. You can practically feel the stress melting off you.

Almost as soon as the plane takes off and you start to doze, the man on the other side of you starts talking. At first you think he’s talking to Bucky across you, but it becomes clear he wants to get to know you better when he starts asking about your job, and finally, if you’re single.

You crack open an eye in disbelief, and open your mouth to respond before Bucky leans over and says quietly, but firmly, “No, she’s not. Sorry, dude.”

Bucky’s forearm is pressing into yours, and you scowl at him before the other guy replies.

“Oh, sorry. Should have guessed.”

“Don’t worry, it surprises a lot of people,” you tell him. Including me. You look back at Bucky with a what the hell look on your face, and he shrugs.

Shifting, he lifts the armrest between you and leans in, whispering. “Unless you wanted him to hit on you for the rest of this flight?”

You groan internally, because there’s nothing you hate more than when Bucky has a point.

It’s not like you hate Bucky. He just-- he knows how to push your buttons. Being Steve’s best friend in the entire world, it was a packaged deal. Bucky came home a year after Steve. He was injured, and angry, and wanted nothing to do with the same type of optimism you tried to supply Steve with.

You were okay with that. Not everyone is wired the same, and you had no business butting into Bucky’s life just because you were able to help Steve adjust to life after the Army.

He warmed up eventually, after he and Steve both started going to VA meetings and were slowly working through things, though you knew there was a chance that the Bucky Barnes you were going to get to know would be nothing like the Bucky that Steve told you stories about.

Still, it has always seemed like there’s something else there. Something under the surface that makes Bucky wary of you.

You’re civil and have come to accept the facts: you and Bucky will never be friends.

That’s why you’re so suspicious of his behavior on this flight. You figured he’d be rather amused by you getting hit on at 20,000 feet.

Right before you fall asleep, you put that thought safely into the box labeled Reasons You Will Never Understand Bucky and leave it at that.

You wake up to turbulence, and Bucky’s elbow jamming into your ribs.

“Sorry,” he mutters, and when he steadies you, you realize you were leaning into him while asleep, and feel your face turn hot.

You don’t say anything - too worried you’re going to put your foot in your mouth. “What time is it?” You ask instead, and he blinks at you.

“No idea. I was asleep.”

“Oh.”

The silence that settles between you is a little awkward, but you try your best to get over it. It’s dark on the plane. Your left leg is asleep and your neck is so tense you wonder how you managed to sleep at all. Probably because you had the world’s most attractive body pillow, you think.

You pull your tablet out of the seat-back in front of you and turn the brightness way down. Opening a book you’ve been reading, you check the time. Seeing you still have a few hours before you land, you try to get comfortable before you start reading.

You can feel Bucky’s eyes on you off and on for the next few minutes and you try to ignore the feeling it gives you - the hair on the back of your neck standing on end, and when you catch him before he can look away, you feel the jolt through your entire body.

That’s new.

Finally, the announcement comes that you’re landing in fifteen minutes, and everyone around you starts to gather their things and get restless. You feel the excitement building in you like a live thing, and roll your eyes when you see Bucky smirking at you.

“Leave me alone; I’ve never been to England before.”

His smile falters, just the tiniest bit. “It’s nice. You’ll like it.”

It’s a weird comment, but you don’t say anything else. You have a vague memory of Steve telling you Bucky was airlifted to Germany and then to London before coming home after his accident, and you don’t want to say the wrong thing. Contrary to what he thinks, you actually don’t want to argue with him all the time, but especially not on this trip.

Heathrow is a madhouse. It’s even busier than when you left New York, and you’re a little overwhelmed, plus jet lagged. A great combo.

You and Bucky get your bags from baggage claim and then he turns to you, looking a little worse for wear. “I’m assuming we’re at the same hotel.”

“Hopefully not the same hotel Steve and Peg are in.”

Bucky looks like he’s trying not to laugh, but still remains stoic.

“Oh come on,” you say as the two of you head to try to find a cab. “You know if we’re in the same hotel they’ll be calling all hours of the day to get us to do last minute stuff for them. I agreed to be a bridesmaid, not the wedding planner.”

Like the sun finally breaking through, Bucky actually smiles at that, and not for the first time in your sort-of-friendship, you’re struck by it, by how it changes his entire face and makes him look like a completely different person.

“Steve’s been driving me a little crazy, I have to admit.”

After verifying you are both staying in the same hotel where the majority of the wedding guests are, you fall silent as you take in the scenery zooming past in the cab.

Soon you’re approaching the most beautiful hotel you’ve ever seen, and you stare, open-mouthed, because this cannot be the place you booked. You were given the name of a hotel that Peggy said was nice and reasonably priced that most of the other guests were using, and you expected it to be-- well, not like the place she and Steve were staying.

Still: this is-- too much. Opulent doesn’t even cover it.

“Wow,” Bucky says next to you, uncharacteristically awed by the sight.

In the lobby, you’re even more convinced this is all a scam. Which is why when the concierge tells you there’s a problem, you’re almost not surprised.

“I’m so sorry - we have names for both of you on the reservation list, but it seems like they’ve put you both in the same room.”

A pin could be heard dropping for how quiet you and Bucky get.

He’s the first to speak. “I’m sorry?”

“There must have been a mistake… we’re full the next two weeks with several wedding parties and whoever booked it must have made a mistake.” She’s perfectly apologetic, in that British way, but you’re having trouble getting past the idea that you’re going to have to live with Bucky Barnes for 10 days.

“Can I just get another room?” You blurt.

“I’m sorry - we’re booked. There aren’t any other rooms.”

Bucky turns to you. “Look, it’s fine. Where else are you going to go?”

You feel something like panic welling up inside you. You and Bucky, sharing a room for ten days. How are you going to survive what’s sure to be the most awkward thing you’ve ever had to do in your life?

Better yet: how are you going to live with the teasing from Steven Grant Rogers when he finds out you have to be roommates with his best friend?

You sigh.

“The same room it is.”

This can’t be real, you think. It’s too cliche.

“Um,” you say out loud, elegantly, “There’s only one bed.”

“Appears that way.”

“Well? What are we going to do?”

Bucky looks at you, blank. “We’re grown. I feel like this isn’t that big of a deal.”

You feel semi-hysterical laughter bubbling inside you, because this is very much a big deal. Especially when you’re just sort of admitting to yourself that your tiny crush on Bucky hasn’t waned over the years. You’ve always found him attractive and had no problem acknowledging that, but this? This is just too rom-com, even for you.

“It’s ten days. You don’t have a problem sharing a room with me for ten days?”

He shrugs. “What else am I going to do? Can’t bunk up with Steve. We’ll be busy with wedding stuff for the next two days anyway, and then afterwards… I don’t know. I figured you’d be sightseeing?”

You stare at him. “Okay, but… what are you going to be doing?”

He looks down. “Hadn’t thought that far ahead yet. You assume I’m here as long as you are,” he points out.

He’s right - you have no idea how long Bucky booked this trip for. Without wanting to pry, you’re again reminded that he has a small history here, and probably one that he doesn’t want to re-live.

You’re interrupted by Bucky’s phone ringing, and you busy yourself unpacking while he answers it.

“Hey, Steve.” He says, his voice entirely different when he talks to his best friend. “Yeah, just got to the hotel.” A few beats. “I was probably just going to crash for the night…”

You get a text from Peggy almost at the same time, asking if you want to meet her and Steve for dinner, and meet Bucky’s eyes. You must look as tired as he feels, because he makes another excuse.

“If Katie’s not going to be there, I don’t want to be third wheel with you two lovebirds.” Another beat. “Yeah, let’s do breakfast. I’ll call you in the morning.”

You tap out a response to Peggy about jet lag and already being in bed (and it’s not like you don’t want to see your best friend, you’re just-- there’s too many things happening right now for you to even think about going out for a late dinner), and toss your phone towards the bed.

Yet another reminder of the fact that you’re going to be sharing with Bucky Barnes as soon as you’re both exhausted enough to sleep.

When he hangs up, you look at him curiously. “You didn’t mention anything about our living arrangements.”

He sighs. “Look, Steve’s stressed out enough. He doesn’t need to worry about this mixup too. Besides, it’s fine. It’s just sleeping.”

You hate yourself for the heat you feel at the thought of sharing a bed with him, even though it’s a fleeting feeling that you force away. “Yeah. Just sleeping.”

Bucky says he wants a shower and you offer to order room service. It’s almost 10pm, but you both know you won’t be able to sleep on an empty stomach.

When Bucky comes out of the bathroom, you feel like a teenager. Even he looks a little flushed, but you think it’s from embarrassment. “I-- forgot a change of clothes. Sorry.” He looks so chagrined, you can’t help but snicker.

“Buck, you’re offending my delicate sensibilities.”

His eyes go a little wide and you realize you’ve never called him by that familial version of his nickname before, but it just -- you’ve known the guy almost as long as you’ve known Steve. It just slipped out.

He recovers quickly, winking at you. “Honey, we all know there’s nothing delicate about you.”

You both freeze, both taken aback by the sultry lilt to his voice as he teases you, and again, you’re saved by an interruption - this time a knock on the door saying room service has arrived.

Bucky heads back to the bathroom to change, and you gulp in a few deep breaths before answering the door to get the food.

A whole night of this. You have no idea how you’re going to survive.

Your alarm goes off way too early. In reality, it’s eight in the morning, but you still feel like you’ve been hit over the head with something heavy after a day of traveling.

Moreover, you feel like something heavy is actually on you, and you peek open a bleary eye to see Bucky over your shoulder, his arm slung across your waist like it was always meant to be there.

“Shit,” you whisper, hoping you don’t wake him, but also wanting to get out of this situation as soon as possible. You scramble for your phone, the groan leaving him as he wakes up a noise you try to convince yourself you don’t want to hear again.

“What time is it,” he asks, his voice rough with sleep. You shiver.

“Eight,” you reply, finally reaching your phone and sliding a thumb across the screen to turn the alarm off.

He realizes his position and rolls away from you casually, so you mentally decide to pretend you weren’t cuddled up to him for most of the night.

You already have a text from Peggy asking if you want to join her, Steve, and Bucky for breakfast, so you have no choice but to get up and shower, trying to forget the warm feeling of being held by Bucky Barnes.

In an hour, you’re both waiting on a busy street for the almost-newlyweds, and you see them before they see you, Steve’s broad form and Peggy’s impeccable posture unmistakable. You smile unconsciously - they look so happy. You feel a pang though, because you don’t think you’ve ever been with someone who made you feel so carefree.

“Short stuff!” Steve calls, and you roll your eyes, muttering under your breath about how you’re not that short while Bucky snickers next to you, but before you can berate Steve, he’s gathering you into a hug, nearly lifting you off the ground.

Over Steve’s shoulders you see Bucky give Peggy a kiss on the cheek and a shy smile as they hug, exchanging quiet words.

You and Peggy might have known each other first, but she and Bucky bonded right away, making you wonder (not for the first time) why it seemed to be only you that Bucky had trouble getting to know. You brush off the thought - this week was about your friends and their wedding, and you were going to stop worrying about anything that wasn’t making sure this wedding was perfect.

“Missed you,” Steve whispered, “Did you get in okay? Bucky said you were late.”

You roll your eyes again. “I’m here, aren’t I?”

He smiles. “Go say hi to Peg. She’s excited you’re here.” He gives your shoulders a squeeze before passing you off to Peggy, who hugs you so tight you can barely breathe.

“You look so--” you sigh, unable to find the words, “Happy. You look so happy, it’s like you’re already married.”

She grins. “I’ve been dreaming about this day for years. I’m excited.”

The four of you sit down to eat and you have the best breakfast you’ve ever eaten. Around a mouthful, you tell the table, “I never want to eat anything but these potatoes for the rest of my life.”

The rest of the meal is spent talking about the wedding and any last minute items that need to be done before the rehearsal dinner later that night. It sounds like everything is going as planned, which doesn’t surprise you when it comes to Peggy Carter.

“And so far everyone has arrived, we think. Have you run into anyone at the hotel?” Steve asks, and you and Bucky both freeze, before he speaks.

“Not… no. Haven’t seen anyone else yet.”

Steve looks between the two of you, eyes narrowed. “What? What happened?” He puts down his fork. “You can’t be fighting already, it’s only been--”

“They gave us one room.” You blurt. “There was a mixup and we have to share a room.”

Bucky steps on your foot hard, because you’ve forgotten his warning about not telling Steve and keeping the groom from stressing out the day before his wedding.

“It’s fine,” Bucky says, waving a hand. “It’s just sleeping.”

You want to scream. Was it just sleeping when we cuddled all night? There wasn’t even alcohol involved!

“Right.” You say brightly, “It’s fine. No big deal.”

Steve is frowning. “I can call--”

“No!” You and Bucky both exclaim.

“Please don’t worry about this. It’s a non-issue,” You say, looking to Peggy for reassurance.

“They’re adults, Steve.”

“Adults who always seem to want to rip each other’s heads off,” he mutters, reaching for his coffee. Over the rim, he meets your eyes, and you shake your head minutely. Don’t you dare.

Breakfast is a little subdued after that, but soon it’s time for Steve and Peggy to go to the venue to make any last minute changes, leaving you and Bucky to your own devices for a few hours before you have to get ready for the rehearsal dinner.

Before parting ways, your phone buzzes.

Steve Rogers: You sure you’re going to survive this?

You: I will murder you.

Across the sidewalk, Steve snorts.

Steve Rogers: I’m just saying. Your crush is kind of obvious, you know?

You: Lucky for you, Bucky literally pays no attention to me. It’ll be fine.

Steve Rogers: That’s what you think.

You meet Steve’s eyes, trying to figure out what he means, but he just shrugs and puts his phone back in his pocket.

The four of you say your goodbyes, and then you and Bucky are left standing on the street awkwardly.

“I was going to go to a museum--”

“I might check to see if Sam is here yet--”

You both speak at the same time.

Bucky clears his throat. “Right. Well, I’ll go check on Sam and you go to your museum or whatever. You have a room key?”

You nod. “Yep. All set.”

“I guess… have fun. Don’t get lost.”

You scowl. “Great, thank you for your concern.”

You’re halfway down the street when you hear him call, “Don’t be late!”

You flip him off over your shoulder and pretend you don’t hear him laughing as you keep heading down the street in the complete opposite direction.

You get back to the hotel in the early afternoon so you can shower and start getting ready for the rehearsal dinner. Outside your shared room, you hear voices, so you pause. You can tell one is Bucky, and soon you recognize the other voice is Sam.

“Really, dude. You sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine.” Bucky’s voice is gruff. “Do I want to be in London? Not particularly. Can I separate my issues from celebrating this wedding? Yes.”

A sigh, but you can’t tell who it comes from.

“It’s okay to have mixed feelings about London.” Sam says. “The last time--”

“I know what happened the last time I was here.” Bucky interrupts, voice firm and icy. “Sorry. I just-- I don’t want to talk about it.”

A pause. “Okay, then let’s talk about your other issue.” Sam says, and even through the door, you can tell he’s got a shit-eating grin on his face.

“Absolutely not.”

“Come on! You’re sharing a room with--”

Not wanting to overhear something else you shouldn’t, you hurriedly put your key in the slot and push the door open.

The two men are silent, staring at you, and you can feel the guilty look all over your face, so you try your best to school your expression into nonchalance.

“Long time no see,” Sam says, standing up to give you a hug.

“Hi, Sam.”

You make some small talk and try not to notice how quiet Bucky is being. He can’t really hate this situation that much… right? Or is it just this place in general? You’re too afraid to ask.

After another hour or so, Sam leaves the two of you to get ready himself, and you race to the bathroom to shower and start doing your makeup.

You’re very conscious of the fact that Bucky is getting changed in the room just beside you, so you take your time getting ready, making sure you’ve done every last thing you can think of before you emerge.

You’re not prepared for the sight of him, more dressed up than you’ve ever seen him. A dark blue button-up with the sleeves rolled to his elbow, showcasing part of a tattoo that snakes down from his left bicep. His newly-shorn hair is artfully styled, the watch on his right wrist glinting in the late day sun streaming into the room.

God, how are you going to get through tomorrow? Seeing him as one of the groomsmen? You’re going to die.

“You look nice,” you manage, not wanting to stare at him any longer.

He looks like he doesn’t know what to say. You’re not sure if it’s the compliment he’s having trouble with, or what. “Thanks,” he says eventually. “You do too.”

The rehearsal dinner is like a fairytale, just like you knew it would be. The food is great, the company is even better, and even Bucky looks like he’s having a good time. There’s lots of toasting the bride and groom to be, and that involves a lot of drinks. A lot.

By the time you’re walking back to the hotel with Bucky, you’re a little unsteady on your feet, but he’s not doing much better, your hips bumping every few feet as you walk.

“You’re a lightweight,” he laughs, and you attempt to glare at him, but you think it comes off more like you’re leering at him. He reaches for your elbow gently and tugs you into the elevator with him, and it’s a challenge to stop thinking all the inappropriate thoughts that start clouding your mind.

Safely in your room, you sit on the edge of the bed and watch as Bucky starts to get ready for bed. You need to get your makeup off and into your pajamas, but you can’t bring yourself to move.

“You’re staring.”

You grin, “Just enjoying the show.” Instantly horrified, you clap a hand over your mouth. “I didn’t say that. You didn’t hear it.”

Bucky’s a little pink around the ears, but he looks smug. “So you think I’m hot?”

You groan. “Shut up. You know you’re hot.”

He looks surprised for a half second, and you fall backwards onto the bed.

“Stop it, stop asking me stuff. I can’t be trusted.” Apparently you can’t take your own advice, because you start thinking out loud, “It’s too bad you hate me. We’d be like, the hottest couple of all time.”

It’s silent, and when you finally look up, he’s staring at you, a frown on his face. “Is that what you think?”

“I know we’d be the hottest couple of all time--”

“No,” he interrupts, exasperated. “You think I hate you?”

“I think--” you suddenly clamp your mouth shut. “I think I need to go to the bathroom.” Bolting past him, you make it there in time, and barely register him coming in a few seconds later, holding your hair back.

God. How embarrassing. Love this journey for you, your brain helpfully supplies.

The last thing you remember before falling asleep is Bucky helping you out of your dress, and a cool hand on your forehead. Then it all goes black.

Your alarm goes off early again the next day. Wedding day. You’re due at the venue with the rest of the bridal party at nine to start hair and makeup.

Your mouth feels like it’s made of cotton, and you curse everyone involved in the dinner for doing so many toasts.

“God,” you groan, and when you open your eyes, you see Bucky on the chair in the living area, a steaming cup of coffee in his hands. “What--”

“Here,” he says, tossing you your phone, alarm still going off.

There’s a text from Steve asking if you’re alive, and another from Peggy’s bridesmaid group chat with a million love-themed emojis.

“Thanks,” you grumble, bits and pieces of the night before coming back to you. Startled, you look up, “Bucky, I am so sorry--”

“Don’t worry about it,” he waves a dismissive hand at you.

“I didn’t mean to drink so much. I’m such an annoying drunk. I--”

“Really,” he interrupts your apology, “It’s okay. You weren’t that bad.”

He’s quiet, which isn’t that different, but he looks… more intense than usual. Contemplative. It makes you nervous. Especially because the night before is still coming to you in pieces.

“Have you been up long?” You ask.

His eyes shutter. “A bit. Had trouble sleeping.”

An awkward silence settles. “What time do you have to--”

“You probably need to get going--”

You both speak at the same time, and strangely, your throat feels tight as he won’t meet your eyes. How badly had you screwed things up the night before?

“Right. I do have to get going. Just going to--” you gesture to the bathroom, and he nods. You make your escape into the shower and spend a little longer than necessary in there, trying like hell to figure out what you could have said to him.

It’s hours later before you see Bucky again. You and the rest of the bridal party are helping Peggy with finishing touches, and the photographer is taking action shots, the entire room a mix of blush pink and gauzy white.

Peggy is a vision - her hair curled and pinned in an old-fashioned style befitting a princess, and her lips painted her signature cherry red.

“Steve’s going to die,” you say, grinning at her, and she winks.

“Almost ready, girls?” She asks everyone else, and there’s a cheer before everyone begins to head out into the hall, gathering with the groomsmen to begin the walk down the aisle.

You’re blindsided by the sight of Bucky in his tux. You take a moment to be thankful you’re walking with Sam, not with Bucky, because surely he’d be able to hear the way your heart is pounding just looking at him.

He looks similarly awed, and your ego takes a moment to soak it up before you can feel embarrassed at the attention.

“You’re… you look great.” He says quietly.

“Thank you. You too.”

The smile he gives you is so soft, you can barely stand it.

“Okay Barnes, hands off my date.” Sam interrupts, linking your arm through his.

Bucky rolls his eyes. Before he can say anything else, the procession is starting, and you’re swept up in the romance of this moment finally happening.

Steve cries.

You do a little, too.

You catch Bucky looking at you with those intense eyes during the ceremony twice, and you’re suddenly more nervous than you’ve ever been, because you still have eight days left of your trip. Possibly eight more days rooming with Bucky if he doesn’t leave before you.

If the tension doesn’t kill you, sleeping in the same bed with him again will, for sure.

The reception space is even more beautiful than the ceremony, and even as you sit there, chin in your palm watching Steve and Peggy dance, you think you’ve never felt more romantic in your entire life.

You dance with Sam, and then Steve finds you, his eyes already a little glazed over.

“Come on, you can’t sit there all night.”

You huff as he finds your hand and tugs you out of your seat. “I haven’t been sitting here all night.”

“You’re not going to deny your best friend a dance. That’s that.”

You smile, shaking your head. “You’re ridiculous.”

It’s quiet for a few moments as the two of you sway slowly, and when you look up at Steve, he’s only got eyes for Peggy, who’s dancing with Sam on the other side of the room.

“I’m happy for you, Rogers.”

He grins down at you, “When are you going to start trying to make yourself happy?”

You groan. “Steve, don’t.”

“I’m serious! Look… I know Bucky is… he seems serious sometimes, and it can be hard for him to open up, but I’ve seen the way he looks at you when he thinks no one notices.”

The thought of it sends butterflies straight to the pit of your stomach, but there’s just no way that could be true. No matter how much of a romantic Steve Rogers is and how much he would love for his best friends to get together, it’s just not going to happen.

“Incoming,” Steve whispers, and you turn over your shoulder to see Bucky there, looking a little sheepish.

“Sorry to interrupt.”

Steve steps away from you, and your eyes widen at him, panicking. “No problem,” he says to Bucky, “I’ve got a bride to get back to.”

Bucky takes a step closer. “Dance?”

As if on cue, the DJ plays something soft and slow, and you’re left powerless to resist Bucky and the way he’s looking at you - a little guarded, but still open and vulnerable. You feel like you have no choice but to take his hand, a shock working its way up your arm at the contact.

May my hands be the hands you hold onto When you let go of everything else May my arms be the arms that you fall into When the night gets too heavy to hold by yourself

You feel so self conscious as you dance with Bucky, his touch gentler than you ever allowed yourself to imagine it might be. He holds you close, your clasped hands resting over his heart, and you force yourself to enjoy this quiet moment with him.

If you're looking for a safe place to land I will guide you home And if the levy of your life breaks all your plans You'll never be alone

You think about the first time you met him - he was so different then. The same stoic Bucky Barnes you know now, but less quick to crack a joke or a smile. He stuck close to Steve and Sam, but it was clear to you that there was so much more to him than his outward appearance.

There’s the loyalty he shows to his friends. He’s smart - probably the smartest person you know, and so driven. He’s fiercely protective and is observant to a fault, the result of Army training he’ll probably never get rid of.

And -- you hate to admit it, but there was a time when you thought Steve was right. You’d catch Bucky staring out of the corner of your eye and think maybe, maybe there’s something there. And then like a switch flipped, he was quicker to argue with you, every little thing turning into a reason for the two of you to fight.

Now though, the gentle way he’s holding you and the scent of his cologne flooding your senses… you can almost trick yourself into thinking your feelings are reciprocated. That Bucky was just as nervous around you as you are around him.

The song comes to an end, and so does the moment.

If you dance with me Feel my heartbeat through your body to your feet If you dance with me Hold me in the dark now, until both your eyes can see And if it's you and me against the world If I'm your man, you're my girl We'll win you'll see, if you dance with me

Steve and Peggy are leaving in the morning for Paris for a few days, and then to Spain. You feel a pang of jealousy watching them leave the reception, hands and eyes locked together as if nothing could tear them apart.

For a moment, you so desperately want that kind of affection with someone else. You take a deep breath and force yourself to get it together.

“Share a cab back?” A deep voice behind you asks, and you’re surprised to see Bucky. He made himself scarce after your dance and you didn’t see him again for the rest of the night.

You nod, not trusting your own voice.

The cab ride to your hotel is nearly silent. Every small noise is amplified, like you shifting in your seat, and Bucky loosening his bow tie.

“Have you decided how long you’re going to stay?” You ask, finally, the one question that’s been plaguing you.

He looks at you, eyes impossibly blue in the streetlight glow. “A few days, I think. I have some… I have some stuff I want to see before I go home.” He shakes himself out of whatever memory he’s in. “You? The full ten days?”

You shrug. “If I can keep this room, yeah. I can’t remember the last time I took a vacation.”

Bucky nods, turning to look back out the window again. At the hotel, he helps you out of the car and pays for the cab despite your protests, and when you get inside the elevator, you’re struck again by how handsome he looks, flushed from alcohol and a little more tousled than usual; his bow tie hanging loose around his neck and his top two buttons undone.

He catches you looking once again, but you can’t look away. You know you’re not imagining this time how his eyes darken a shade, and you watch with rapt fascination as he licks his lips, leaning down ever so slightly -- the elevator dings and the doors open.

The spell is broken.

“Bucky?”

He shakes himself out of his thoughts almost physically, and then he’s walking away from you, heading towards the room without a backward glance.

The next morning, you and Bucky are tangled together so much that there’s no way you can get up without him waking up first. Your first thought is embarrassment, but then you just… give in. You let yourself enjoy it, only feeling guilty for a few minutes.

You’re so warm and you feel so protected… you once again curse Steve Rogers for making you think about your persistent crush on Bucky, because now you can’t get it out of your head.

“Morning.” Bucky’s voice is rough, and you jump, because he’s still got his arms around you. And he’s awake.

“Morning,” you say cautiously.

“Sorry,” he slowly pulls away from you, the tips of his fingers lingering on your arms. “I’ve been told I’m like an octopus in my sleep.”

Something about Bucky seems different first thing in the morning. His walls aren’t up.

“It’s okay. I’m not complaining about free cuddles.”

He smiles, you can feel it where his stubble scratches your temple. There’s something like giddy excitement brewing in you.

“Can I-- I have a favor to ask.” He says. “I have to go somewhere today… I-- if you don’t have plans, would you come with me?”

You crane your neck to meet his eyes. He looks nervous.

“Okay,” you say simply, because you think if he keeps looking at you like that, you’d follow him anywhere.

He tells you to dress casually, so you opt for a simple jeans and t-shirt outfit with a cardigan thrown overtop. You pack whatever you think you’ll need for a day in your backpack and follow Bucky out when he’s ready. He seems to know where he’s going, and you walk with him in comfortable silence.

He starts fidgeting the closer you get to a massive hospital, and when you get close enough to read the sign, you realize this must have been where he was taken for part of his recovery.

“Bucky--” You breathe, because this is too much. He’s trusting you with too much, and you’re not sure you deserve it.

“I--” He swallows hard, “The doctor who saved my arm still works here. I try to write as often as I can, but I thought a face-to-face visit was probably overdue.” He looks down at you, “I just-- I haven’t been here in years. I don’t think I can do it alone.” His words are measured and careful, and you realize how hard it must be for him to be here in the first place, let alone trusting you with something like this.

You feel tears pricking your eyes and you fight to keep them back. “Okay, Bucky. Yeah. Let’s do this.”

He smiles shakily at you, and on a whim, you reach for his hand. When he freezes, you realize you’ve gripped his left hand, the one with the scars encompassing his wrist and three of his fingers, the hand connected to the same arm that was nearly blown off in Afghanistan, the one that nearly cost him his life.

He doesn’t let go. If anything, he squeezes your hand tighter, and you feel another tendril of affection curl around your heart.

Inside, he introduces himself to the woman at the reception desk, and after a few questions, you’re directed towards an elevator and given directions to the floor the doctor’s office is on. You think Bucky has memories of this place for the way he leads you there with almost no words.

A quick knock on the door, and then he’s shaking hands and exchanging broad grins with a young woman.

“Sergeant Barnes!” She exclaims after letting go of his hand. “It’s about time you showed your face around here.”

Bucky is blushing and you’re so enamored with him you can barely stand it. While he’s talking, you dig your phone out of your pocket and text Peggy.

I know you’re on your honeymoon, but SOS! I need help.

Bucky turns to you, and you realize he’s trying to introduce you.

“This is Shuri. She’s the one who operated on me and helped me with PT after my injury.”

“It’s really great to meet you,” you tell her, trying to ignore her curious look.

“You as well.”

She and Bucky start talking again, and even though you can tell Bucky’s still a little nervous to be here, you’re enthralled by the sibling-like relationship he has with his former doctor.

“I want to make a donation,” Bucky says quietly. “I didn’t know who to go to about it. I want to give it specifically to this ward, to the work you’re doing.”

You feel like you’re intruding, but he keeps looking to you like he needs reassurance, so you smile at him.

“I’ve-- I’ve been putting money away over the last few years and I’m at a place now where I want to help.”

You send another text to Peggy.

Seriously, SOS!!!!! If you don’t call me soon, I’m going to do something I regret.

A minute later, your phone rings, and you excuse yourself to the hallway.

“Thank God.”

“Darling. I love you, but what could possibly be so important that you had to call on the first day of--”

“I think I’m in love with Bucky and I have no idea what to do about it.”

A choked noise comes from behind you and you whirl around, mortified to see Bucky there, eyes wide, pale.

“Oh, shit. Peggy-- I have to go.”

“Are you kidding?”

“Bye, love you.” You hang up quickly, and take a step towards Bucky before you even register you’re doing it. “Bucky--”

“Are you-- I heard you were talking to Peg, I thought something was wrong.”

“I’m-- oh God, Bucky, I-- I have to go.”

“Wait--”

Your tears are overflowing now. You’re so embarrassed, you have no idea how you’re going to look him in the eye, let alone sleep in the same bed as him.

Vision blurry, you decide to take the stairs two at a time instead of waiting for the elevator, and you’re gone before he can catch up to you.

Bucky’s ears are ringing as he stares after you. He feels like he has shell shock again - unable to comprehend anything that just happened.

“Need a chair, soldier?” Shuri asks him, clearly having overheard the entire thing, and he nods dumbly, basically collapsing into a chair near her desk.

I think I’m in love with Bucky.

Your words echo over and over in his mind, and he honestly can’t believe what he just heard.

Your friendship has always been complicated, but the way Bucky feels about you is simple. He’s crazy about you. Crazy for you, and terrified that he’s not good enough for you, so he’s pushed you away time and time again, despite all evidence pointing to the fact that you might like him too.

Sharing a room -- a bed -- with you has been every one of his daydreams come to life. (A lot less kissing, sure, but whatever)

Now this-- this revelation, it’s too much.

“All the most important events of your life seem to take place at this hospital, Bucky.” Shuri says, gentle teasing in her tone.

“Jesus Christ.” Bucky groans, “What the hell do I do?”

“You’re going to go after her.” Shuri says simply, like it’s the most obvious answer in the world. She rolls her eyes. “It’s obvious you’re in love with her too.” Bucky thinks he must look horrified, because she continues, “You’ve never brought anyone here before. I couldn’t convince you to come back even for a tour of the new labs. And the one time you do come of your own free will, you bring her. What does that tell you?”

A half hour later, Bucky has called you three times and has checked at the hotel twice, and now he’s at a park near the hotel, on a bench, having no idea what to do.

Of course that’s when Steve calls.

“I hear you’re having a crisis.”

Bucky groans. “‘M not having a crisis. A moment, maybe.”

“She told you she loved you?”

“She told Peggy she loved me, and I was eavesdropping, and she ran away crying.”

Steve is silent.

“Right? It’s bad. It’s so bad. Maybe if I’d just been… I don’t know. More talkative during this trip? Or maybe I should have just gotten my own room and saved us both the trouble.”

“Look, no offense, but you’re both so dense.”

Bucky scoffs. “Thanks.”

“I love her like a sister and love you like a brother, but everyone knows you two have a thing for each other. Why else did everyone steer clear of the two of you at the wedding? It’s obvious, dude.”

Bucky has never felt so stupid in his entire life. All these years, he tried to distance himself from you, sure that he was only going to get hurt if he put himself out there. He liked you too much to risk ruining a friendship, even if it was barely a friendship to begin with. Quick to argue and stubborn, you were also generous and kind, beautiful, and passionate about your work and your friends and your family.

You’re everything he’s ever wanted, and you terrify him.

And you love him.

Apparently.

He’s on his feet again.

“I have to go,” He tells Steve. “I’ll text you later.”

“Good luck.”

You’re back at your shared hotel room, trying to pack up and leave before Bucky finds you. It’s childish, sure, but you can’t take this anymore.

You’re going to get a new room at a different hotel, and try to salvage the rest of your vacation.

The door opens before you can finish zipping your bag, and you turn to see Bucky storming in, his face unreadable and a piece of paper in his hand.

“What the hell is this?”

You turn away. “It’s a note.”

You assume he’s noticed your bags. “Were you really going to take off and just leave a note that says you’re sorry?”

His hand on your elbow forces you to turn around, and you feel like you’re going to cry again.

His face softens. “Talk to me. Please.”

You bury your face in your hands. “I’m so sorry, Bucky. You were-- you were trying to do something for you, and my loud mouth just had to ruin it. I never meant for you to find out--”

“You were never going to tell me you’re in love with me?”

You blanche. “God, I mean-- I don’t know! It’s not… this isn’t easy…”

“You still think I hate you.”

You freeze, thinking back to your drunk conversation from a few nights ago. “I don’t think you hate me.”

“Good. Because I don’t. Far from it, actually.”

You try to squash the little seed of hope blooming in your chest.

“You know, when we first met, I was jealous of you. You were closer to Steve in a year than anyone else, and I didn’t know where I fit anymore. I didn’t understand what made you so special.”

Frowning, you try to turn away, but he won’t let you.

“But then I got to know you. I got to know how you care about people, and how you looked after Steve when he first got back. I learned how you do everything you can to make other people happy, but don’t try to do the same thing for yourself. I learned that you’re a lightweight and you’re a flirt when you’re drunk, and I learned that I--” He stops, catches his breath. “I learned that it only took me a few months to fall in love with you so deeply that I can’t see my way out.”

Your insides feel like mush. The touch of his hand slides up to your shoulder, and you feel more alive the closer he gets to you.

“I pushed you away, because you’re way too good for me, sweetheart. You always have been. You don’t need someone like me weighing you down. And when this room mix-up happened, it was both the best and worst thing to happen to me.”

“Don’t you dare,” you whisper, and his brows furrow, confused, as you continue. “Don’t you dare say you’re not good enough. You’re-- I’ve never met a better person than you, James Barnes. I think I’ve loved you since the day we met.”

You’re both silent, staring into each other’s eyes, the room crackling with the energy of confessions and tension.

You don’t know who moves first, but suddenly you’re kissing, Bucky’s hand moving to the back of your head as his free arm slides around your waist to haul you against him. Fire licks through your veins as he deepens the kiss, barely letting you break for air before dragging you in again, consuming you entirely.

It could be minutes or hours that you’re kissing him in the middle of your hotel room surrounded by your luggage, but when you break apart, your legs are weak and he chuckles as he keeps you upright, a smug smile growing on his face.

“Shut up.” You say weakly.

“Don’t leave.”

You sigh, forehead leaning against his collarbones.

“I haven’t had a vacation in a long time either, now that I think about it.” He offers, head tilting to one side as he looks you over. “You think you could stand to room with me for another week?”

You can’t stop touching him; hands gliding over his shoulders as he noses at the spot behind your ears where you’re the most sensitive. “I might be able to be talked into it.”

He smiles, and it’s blinding. “I love you,” he whispers, right before he kisses you again.

Later that night when you call Peggy on speakerphone and tell her the entire story, Steve takes the phone and says “told you so,” before hanging up.

Bucky’s arms around your waist, you’re already thinking of writing the concierge who made the room mix-up a thank you card.

End

#FanFictionariesClassicTropeChallenge #bucky x reader #bucky barnes x reader #bucky barnes fanfiction

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kyouxa · 5 years ago

Text

Diabolik lovers Chaos Lineage: Kino (Story 08+CG)

In terms of the gameplay: The black choices lead up to a bad ending, the white choices lead up to a good ending. Please no reposting onto other sites, ask me before translating this into another language too!

Monologue

When I woke up, I once again felt the pain of the scars from yesterday’s blood sucking running through my body. Kino-kun continued to thrust his fangs into my body mercilessly, while I realized how I was unable to go against him.

As I tried standing up, I also recalled how this matter has left me extremely fatigued.

It was useless trying to encourage myself over my broken heart over only one night. And on top of that, I’m still unable to tell anyone about Kino-kun’s plan. Thinking about this caused myself to feel miserable and made my tears run down once again.

While the inside of the Scarlet mansion continued to have a rather unfriendly atmosphere, suspiciousness still rises.

Shu-san shut himself in his room while Yuma-kun worked on his vegetable garden, both of them went out of each other’s way by attending their own business.

Reiji-san is the only one who’s silently drinking his black tea in the living room all by himself.

The tense air seems to somehow really mark everyone’s skins full with bites.

Place: Scarlet mansion — Living room

*Reiji pours tea*

Reiji: You two should have one as well.

Kino: Thank you, big brother Reiji.

Yui: (Kino-kun’s goal is to get rid of everyone in the Sakamaki family)

(If only I could somehow make Reiji-san aware of the situation…)

Ah… um, Reiji-san.

*something hits her*

Yui: (...Did something just hit my foot?)

(..... ! Those were Kino-kun’s feet…)

Kino: …..

Yui: (Is he trying to threaten me with this… ? In case I say something—)

(Nn… I guess I really can’t tell anyone after all…)

Reiji: You. What is the reason for you calling out my name and then suddenly sinking into silence?

Yui: Ah… um… I’m really sorry. I simply forgot what I wanted to say.

Reiji: What does this mean exactly?

Kino: It mustn’t have been of great importance if you forgot it this easily, right? More importantly, what about the teacake?

Reiji: Haa… I did prepare it. There is no need to rush for it.

*Reiji gets the teacake*

Yui: (I can’t discuss anything with anyone as long as Kino-kun’s monitoring me like this)

(If so, am I really just going to watch him continue? Watching everyone in the Sakamaki family… getting killed by him… ?)

Place: Scarlet mansion — Kino’s bedroom

Kino: Hey, did you seriously risk trying to talk to Reiji earlier? Were those unpleasant things I did still not enough?

Yui: Err… !

Kino: Fufu, there’s no need to worry since you’re still an important piece in my plan. I won’t kill you just yet.

Yui: (Even if he says he won’t kill me, this won’t make me feel relieved since he’s still able to do something to me… Nn)

Kino: Don’t get scared, we should still get along well. That’s only because you’re still a thing that belongs to me though. Keep in mind that the one who becomes the king of the demon world, will be me.

Yui: No way… I-I...

Did he actually objectify me and claimed that I belong to him just now? ...He’s certainly wrong about that. But that’s not what I should tell him now though…)

(I’m scared… and I hate it, but—)

...I-I’m going to be the one who stops you, Kino-kun.

Kino: ...Hah? What an impertinent woman… was it really not enough for me to torment you like that? Are you a masochist?

*Kino grabs Yui*

Yui: Eek… g-get away… ! Stop...

Kino: Why do you think you can stand up against me while your body is clearly shaking? Do you really want me to continue playing with you?

Yui: I-It’s different...

(My whole body is clearly going against it. I don’t want anyone to get hurt anymore… but,)

(Letting him end up killing Ayato-kun and the others — I’d hate that too!!)

Kino: ...You still do have that rebellious face on. I wonder if I have to thoroughly teach you that there’s no escape.

Yui: B-But still, I’m sure your plan isn’t going as you thought either…

Not everyone will simply break up with each other that easily… !

Kino: You saw that big quarrel yourself, and yet you’re still able to say this? Could that by any chance be because you’re concerned about them?

Ridiculous… don’t make me throw up.

Yui: ...Nn

Kino: That’s right. Let’s go and see what the situations of the other houses look like.

Yui: Stop… if you continue pulling my arm so hard… ouch...

Kino: If those in Reiji’s aren’t enough, I’ll show you the fragility of those outside of the Scarlet’s mansion… you’ll obediently follow me then, right?

Yui: Nn… F-Fine with me...

Place: Orange mansion — Outside

Yui: (We slipped through Reiji-san’s eyes and once again got to this place…)

(Moreover, isn’t this Ruki-kun’s Orange mansion? Why did we even come here… ?)

Kino: I thought that, since you’re such a kind soul, I should bring you along to have you witness it yourself.

Did you think I lied about Laito and Kanato apparently being on good terms back then?

Yui: Ah… speaking of which, you said that to Ruki-kun—

*flashback*

Ruki: What are your intentions, loitering around in enemy territory and dragging the prey with you?

Kino: Nothing in particular. I just thought I’d like to talk to you, so I ended up coming here.

I recently saw your little brother Kanato speaking with Violet’s Laito.

They didn’t seem to be acting like enemies at all, y’know. They honestly seemed to be getting along rather well.

This is just a simple warning. Whether you believe me or not is up to you at the end.

Ruki: …..

*end of flashback*

Kino: Around this time, don’t you think suspicion also spread among the brothers from Ruki’s mansion, just like Reiji and his siblings?

Yui: (He only brought me here to show this to me and make me feel even more despair than I already am…)

Kino: Fufu… all they have to do now is to kill each other like insects.

Yui: To call them such a thing as insects…

Kino: You keep getting flared up each and every time I say something. Should I remind you of your situation again?

Yui: ...Nn

Kino: Even though you have no powers yourself, you won’t learn no matter how much you disobey me.

With the exception of me you’re similar to junk. You have no value in society if you don’t have any powers.

That’s exactly why you’re not even powerful enough to bring everyone together.

The only one being able to do this is, Karlheinz’ illegitimate child, me.

That’s also why everyone should realize that they have to appreciate me.

Yui: (If I’d start to argue with him now, I don’t know what he might do to me… which leaves me with no choice but to stay silent and listen to Kino-kun)

Kino: Ah, look inside the mansion. Ruki and the others are gathered there, and they seem to be having a talk with each other now.

Place: Orange mansion — Living room

Kanato: What sort of business do you have with me if you had to summon me?

Ruki: Do you perhaps have any idea in mind why I would need to call for you in the first place?

Kanato: I truly have no idea. If it’s nothing urgent, I might as well return to my room now.

Ruki: Kanato. Is it really true that you’ve met up with Violet’s Laito?

Kanato: What?

Shin: We’d consider it best if you talk honestly about it. There’s obviously a reason for our eldest brother to ask you something like this.

Ayato: Can you really say that Kanato is making moves to turn into a traitor? We can’t be careless then.

Place: Orange mansion — Outside

Yui: (Kanato-kun is being questioned by Ruki-kun right now…)

Kino: Now, I wonder where it goes from there?

Yui: (As things are now, Kanato-kun is obviously being as suspected as Shu-san—)

(Is there really nothing I can do now? Please, somebody… help…)

Place: Orange mansion — Living room

Shin: Now, you just have to obediently tell us. Reveal everything to us.

Ruki: Kanato.

Kanato: ...Why?

Ayato: Hm?

Kanato: Why are you doing nothing but pressing questions onto me...

Shin: That’s because someone who’d try to cover up their suspicious behaviour would be bad, right?

Kanato: If that’s the case, then—

*ground shakes*

Kanato: Why aren’t you waiting for me to say something about this!?

Ayato: Uwah!

Kanato: Why!? How come? Why is it that you do no more than question my honor? Everyone here’s joining forces against me to make me look like the bad one.

Do you really hate me this much? I’m sure that’s it, otherwise you wouldn’t make up those crimes for me!

Ruki: Stop screaming. There simply were some rumours about you silently going out to meet up with one of our opponents.

There’s no smoke without fire. In order for us to confront the truth—

Kanato: Rumours? And you really started to doubt me because of some rumours? Or is it that there was some serious proof about this matter?

Did you really try to make me look like a scoundrel, despite not having any specification about anything?

Shin: That’s why we’re now here to listen—

Kanato: See!? There’s no evidence for anything. And here I was, almost about to cry over you doubting the significance of my respect, what a laughing stock.

This is beyond displeasing for me!

Shin: No, Kanato...

Kanato: Shut up, Shut up!

First of all, I’m free to meet whoever I wish to see. And yet, you go as far as trying to get control over someone and stealing their freedom!

Shin: Even so! It would obviously be a big problem if you went to meet up with one of our rivals! Why are you getting angry despite being wrong to begin with!?

Ayato: Hey, let’s think about it again. Would it really be a huge problem if he did meet up with that pervert in the end?

Shin: There’d obviously be a problem with that, right? If he ended up betraying us and our plan, he’d deserve death penalty!

Ayato: I mean, this is all about whether or not this guy betrays us by changing sides, or if he’ll be classificated as an ally.

Shin: ...Eh?

Ruki: You’ve got a point. This individual is surely pulling some sort of strings behind the scenes, this way he influences us so nobody would be able to notice his next moves.

Neither do I think he could imitate that behaviour. I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t even think about joining hands with someone else.

Shin: B-But, brother...

Ruki: If this rumor was about either me or you, it would’ve been improbable. But this is about Kanato.

In other words, I can assure you that there’s no need for any declaration.

From this moment onwards, I’ll make sure of the truth before rushing into conclusions.

Shin: Well, I guess as long as our eldest brother is convinced by that it’s fine...

Kanato: Nothing’s fine, it’s still displeasing! If any of you ends up doing similar things again, I’ll make sure to break everyone’s neck in here.

Place: Orange mansion — Outside

Yui: Kanato-kun...

(For some reason, Ruki-kun was convinced about this being different from what he was told to…)

(I’d never think that Kanato-kun’s habitual behavior and personality would somehow be effective in such a place)

(But, that’s good though ...! Everyone in the Orange mansion didn’t end up having an unfriendly atmosphere!)

Kino: Hmph, how boring. Seems as if I ended up aiming for the worst prey of them all. I thought I’d get to see an unimaginable farce.

Guess it would only be a waste of time to stay here any longer. The next one we’ll go to will be Violet’s mansion.

Yui: Eh? You’ll keep going… ?

Kino: We’ll only keep going because of Kanato being a huge failure at the end. Violet wouldn’t do that to me though.

Yui: (Violet, huh… that’s right. Kou-kun…!)

*flashback*

Kou: What the… you sound as if Azusa and Yuma really are on good terms with each other...

Kino: See? Azusa and Yuma did build up mutual trust together.

I wouldn’t completely ignore that there might be a deeper meaning behind my words.

Kou: He might have reasons to get along with the enemies side… but are you really trying to tell me that Azusa is trying to betray me and the others… ?

Place: Orange mansion — Outside

Yui: (Kou-kun, he also has been given false information from Kino-kun back then)

(Even though Azusa-kun and Yuma-kun probably didn’t even end up meeting nor getting along well with each other… !)

Kino: Violet has already cancelled their attack at us once. That’s definitely some sort of evidence about something going on inside there.

Is that because of Kou and Azusa? Isn’t it about time things start to get all interesting all over again?

Next, I’ll make sure to teach you a lesson though… there’s no such thing like it in Scarlet you said, right?

Place: Violet mansion — Living room

Kou: Hey, Azusa-kun. Could you hear me out about something for a bit, if it’s okay?

Azusa: Hm… what’s it?

Kou: It’s- It’s just a story I heard though!

I heard that you betrayed us by meeting up with Yuma, but you didn’t do that, right?

Azusa: Eh… ?

Place: Violet mansion — Outside

Yui: Kou-kun… Azusa-kun...

Kino: Fufu… perfect timing. I was already starting to get worried since I didn’t continue to pursue them until today.

Now, will he ask him for an explanation? Don’t end up not amusing me to the fullest.

Yui: Nn… Kino-kun, is it really fun for you to look at them like this… ?

Kino: Of course. It’s pretty interesting, and it’s nice to be able to push you into despair like this too.

Yui: (That’s right… his answer was already obvious before he even opened his mouth)

(Even though the Mukami brothers really are close…)

(I don’t want them to keep on doubting each other and continue everyone to develop cracks in their relationships)

Place: Violet mansion — Living room

Kou: Hey, Azusa-kun, answer. About Yuma-kun… did you really go to meet up with the enemy?

Azusa: …..

I really didn’t go anywhere without telling you about it.

Kou: Really? And you’re not lying to me?

Azusa: Hm… it’s the truth.

I’d never try to betray you, Kou… I said it once already… but my brothers are way too important to me.

Kou: Brothers...

Azusa: We’ve all been continuously holding hands and surviving all this time together already...

Isn’t that right? Kou...

Kou: I see, you’re right. We’re brothers… that’s right. We’ve been going through so much together by now...

...Sorry. I really did say something strange.

Azusa: Hmm…

Place: Violet mansion — Outside

Yui: (Kou-kun really ended up believing in Azusa-kun…)

Kino: Hah… ? What was that? Right now, why was he so convinced by that? Why didn’t he want any sort of evidence from him?

Kou: Anyway, I want to hurry up and get Eve as soon as possible already.

Azusa: Our raid… it has been delayed, right?

Kou: Gotta tell you that it was said that this Kino guy actually has some unexpected powers, and he also seems to be good with tactics.

Azusa: Hm... but I’m sure that we’ll see Eve again soon.

Kino: Kch… they’re already starting to talk all cheerfully again...

How ridiculous. For real, why did this happen again!?

*Kino walks away*

Yui: Ah, wait!

Place: Outside — Forest

Kino: I just don’t understand this guy at all. Does he usually really believe anyone so easily? Or is that only because Kou is an idiot too?

Yui: ...Honestly, I was a little surprised because of that too. I thought he’d aim for Azusa-kun like a wolf would.

But I think it ended differently because they really do trust each other a lot.

Kino: Trust… ?

Yui: The Mukami’s are really close with each other after all.

I think that’s also because all four of them have overcome various things up until now.

Even if their memories have been rewritten, and they don’t remember anything whatsoever, the bond they have with each other still remains.

Kino: Are you really still keeping up with saying that? Do you really think there is such a thing as a bond between vampires?

Yui: Yes, I do believe that.

Kino: ...Nn.

Yui: I do believe that any existence can develop a bond with somebody, even if they’re something like a vampire.

Kino: Heh… then could it be that we might be able to develop a bond between us as well?

Choices

1) Answer him immediately (black)

2) Be troubled to answer (white)♡♡♡

— Answer him immediately

Yui: That’s right. We might be able to develop something like that if we stay together.

Kino: And what makes you think that?

Yui: I have no idea...

Kino: Then how are you able to say that all nicely even though you can’t explain your theory!?

I hate it when you open your mouth and then speak without thinking about it first!

Yui: Kino-kun...

(I wonder if I should’ve told Kino-kun about this in different words...)

— Be troubled to answer♡

Yui: That is…

Kino: Tell me. Or do you think we can’t have a bond?

Yui: That’s not it. I just can’t say that for sure right now.

If we do take the time to understand each other, I’m sure we might develop one.

Kino: That means that it’s no more than just tightening the relationship, right?

end Choices

Kino: Well, whatever... I might be able to understand what you said in a bit.

Yui: Eh? Really… ?

Kino: Therefore, you’ll forgive me if I do something like this now, right? Since this will be our bond!

*Kino grabs Yui*

Yui: Kyaaa!?

Kino: You should look closely at the place you’re bitten in. Look, I’ll slowly… sink my fangs into your skin...

Kino: Ngh! Nn… !

Yui: Ouch… it hurts...

(Because he’s biting down more carefully than usual… the pain doesn’t go away like usual… Nn)

Kino: So you won’t resist, hm? You’re doing this in order to prove the bond between us is a real thing… right?

Yui: ….. !

(Kino-kun’s really trying to do it. If I’d say that I dislike it now, my words might end up never reaching him...!)

(That’s why, I’ll have to endure this much...)

Kino: Heh…so you’re trying to admirably endure it? That’s no fun.

Then… what about this? Nn…

Yui: ...Ah

(He gently kissed my wound… this is so sly of him)

Kino: Fufu… your face turned all bright just now.

And your blood... because of the pleasure, it’s getting even more delicious. It’s just as a seasoned wine.

And you call this a bond between people? That’s an awfully disappointing way of putting it.

Yui: (I have to tell him that this isn’t the case… but, I can’t get anything out of my mouth…)

Kino: Now, this is merely where the fun starts. What would you think if I’d gently push my fangs down into your skin once again?

Yui: Eh… ? No, stop...!

Kino: Now then, I’ll have to give in again. Nn… Nn… !

Yui: Nn, ahh... !!

(My whole body, it’s becoming all dim… I cannot let this continue… I have to do something)

Kino: Ah, so you did end up resisting? Guess I won then.

Yui: Ah… Ngh...

Kino: Don’t you dare say anything about having bonds anymore, from now you’re only allowed to stay silent and think about how you’re being used next.

This time I just ended up aiming for a bad prey. Next time I’ll make sure to have them crush each other.

The gap between Shu and Reiji is still pretty deep, which makes it easier to have them kill each other without fail.

And when that happens — I’ll let you taste that despair to its fullest.

#Diabolik Lovers #diabolik lovers translation #chaos lineage translation #chaos lineage #chaos lineage kino #chaos lineage kino translation #diabolik lovers chaos lineage kino translation #diabolik lovers kino #diabolik lovers kino sakamaki #kino sakamaki #Kino #Komori Yui #kyouxa #Diabolik Lovers game

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the-not-so-silent-back-up · 4 years ago

Text

Until Full Moon

-1 -2 -3

Werewolf!(f)reader x Jaskier

note: I am reposting my own writting because I am planing to continue the Story. And I want my fic on my new Blog. And of coures a big Thank you to @the-winter-witcher for cheking my writting and @calamitycrowley, my beta-reader

description: Since a few month you are a werewolf, and you mostly hide in the woods because you know how dangerous you can become when it’s time. One day you meet Jaskier and Geralt. Unfortunately the witcher recently got the job to get rid of a werewolf. And that’s when it all begins

Chapter -1-

It was a sunny day, the birds were chirping, the wind was mild and fresh and the flowers were blooming in all of the colors imaginable. But Geralt wasn't in a good mood. He and Jaskier were wandering through a little village with Roach behind them. It wasn't even a village it were just a bunch of farmers living near each other.

Geralt knew that he will find no job here, and even if the farmers here had a problem with a monster they wouldn't hire a witcher, they don't trust him. How did he know? It's a mild summer day and there are no kids playing in the streets, no men working on the fields and no women anywhere to be seen. They all hide. They hide from the Butcher of Blaviken.

Jaskier besides was also not in his best mood, he was stuck in writing a new song that he just couldn't finish properly. But he still looks at all the beauty in the world, he played his lute not for Geralt this time he played it for all the birds that were singing. But he didn't sing, because everytime he starts he remembers the song he couldn't finish. So this time he leaves the singing to the birds in the trees.

They finally found an inn in the last village they crossed, with water for the the horse and cold ale for the men.

Geralt wasn't in a talking mood, if he ever was. And Jaskier wasn't in the mood to play for people, today the birds were a much better audience. So the two just sat there drinking their ales in silence.

Jaskier noticed three rough looking men coming in. They looked miserable.

"this damn wolf"

"shut up! You don't even have sheeps"

"that doesn't matter. I don't want that fucking wolf near me"

"you only care about yourself, what about my sheep and his cows" he pointed to the third man that didn't said anything yet.

Jaskier looked at Geralt, but the Witcher wasn't interested. For him it sounds like a normal wolf and some dumb villagers that tried to hunt a wolf at the day.

"Geralt" the bard whispers "they are talking about one wolf, but the only wolves that hunt alone are werewolves"

Fuck he is right.

"Hmm"

Jaskier turned to the men and asked them if they knew that they were trying to hunt a werewolf at the daytime. The men looked angry at the bard but after a few moments they saw Geralt in the corner.

"What do you say Witcher?"

Finally the silent one of them said something.

"The bard is right. What you are talking about is definitely a werewolf."

"Don't make these stupid faces. I told you it's a werewolf but you never listen to me."

The first two men left without any words.

"So Witcher how many coin for a werewolf?"

…

"Geralt?"

"Hmm?"

"Will we actually find tracks right now? I mean the last full moon was one day ago. So that werewolf is human till next month. Am I right?"

"That's all true. But maybe we will find his hiding place"

"His?"

"Yes, only man become werewolves"

"Oh I didn't know that. That is really interesting. Do you know why? Or is just that there are male and female monsters?..."

"shh.."

"Oh did you hear something? I am sorry. I almost forgot we on a hunt right…"

"Jaskier!"

"Oh yeah. I will be silent now"

The witcher actually heard something, but now it's gone. But he is just tired of the day. So the dissimilar couple started to set up their camp for the night.

Jaskier knew what he has to do. It's always the same after they set up the tent and decide what to eat, he is the one searching for firewood. While Geralt is either hunting for a rabbit or preparing the food they have left.

So he makes his way into the woods, not too deep, after the one time he didn't find a way out at first and it was in the middle of the night he he finally returned, he had learned his lesson.

He is gathering as much wood as he can find. But then all the wood he collected so thoroughly, falls all to the ground. Jaskier saw something he is familiar with, but didn't belong here at all.

There you lied curled up unconscious, Naked. Half underneath a bush.

Jaskier looked all around but didn't find any clue why you were here, the only thing he noticed was the little pile of clothes that was right next to you. He felt a bit uncomfortable, but mostly he was confused and concerned what happened to that young woman lying unconscious in the forest.

He got closer to you and was relieved when he saw you chest rising and sinking in a steady rhythm. He leaned down to carefully touch your shoulder.

"Hey… Are you awake?"

He almost whispers.

It will get dark soon and he just can't leave you there, it was too dangerous.

Now he takes both of your shoulders and shakes you a bit.

"You need to wake up. I don't know what happened to you,but I can't just leave a girl like this in the forest at night."

His voice got louder.

An unfamiliar voice is ringing in your ear, a man's voice with a tone of urge in it. You shake your head a little and hum a few inaudible words before you can open your eyes.

You saw a man with dark hair and eyes blue as the sky in spring, who looks worried at you but most importantly he is holding you.

You pushed him back because you knew what happened last night, you knew that you were totally naked and who knew if he isn't paid to find you and kill you.

"Oh gods you are finally awake. I know that sounds like it's made up but I just was collecting some firewood and then I found you there. I thought you were dead. Can I help you. I am not going to lie, you look a bit lost and I…"

"Turn around."

You cut him right there

"What? Oh yeah of course. Do need any help with that?"

You slide into you really simply dress, make a few knots at the right spots and now you are fully dressed again.

"Okay what did you just said, sorry I wasn't listening"

"I said, I was collecting some firewood and I found plenty of it, but I also found you. I have no clue how you got here but I just couldn't left you there so I tried to wake you up to get you out of here. It get gets darker every minute and this is no good place to be naked and alone and unconscious."

"I am fine.."

You pat that strangers shoulder

"but thank you for your help, I just need my bag and my basket with food and you don't have to see me ever again."

You look around searching for your very few possessions. But they were nowhere to be found. You look back to the stranger. He looks probably as confused as you.

"Have you seen it?"

"What your bag and a basket? No i didn't saw such things. When I found you there was only you and your dress."

You start to lower yourself to search for your lost properties. But as the man said it get darker and you could barely see anything. Resigned you sat underneath a tree, your hands covering your face to hide the tears in your eyes from the Stranger, who just don't want to leave. That was everything you have, everything you could take with you that night you have left. What the hell are you supposed to do to now.

"Hey.." His voice is really soft.

"what do you think about that we leave now and go eat something and tomorrow when the sun is shining again I will help you to find your bag and your basket."

He offers you a hand to stand up.

"Hmm? What do you say?"

"That is probably a good idea"

He still holds your hand and made a little bow before you.

You couldn't resist a smile.

"So how is the lady called?"

"My name is Y/N just Y/N… And you are?"

"My name is Julian Alfred Pankratz viscount de Lettenhove. But you can call me Jaskier."

He lifts up all the wood that fell down earlier and refused to let you carry any of it. As you walked out of the wood onto the meadow.

"So Y/N you were wandering around the forest with a basket full of food, are you red riding hood or something?"

He laughed

"Not exactly"

You laughed a bit too. But deep down you knew that you were actually the big bad wolf.

#the-not-so-silent-back-up #jaskier x reader #jaskier #geralt of rivia #the witcher fic #The witcher Netflix #reader fic #jaskier the bard #y/n #alina writes

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ey8508 · 5 years ago

Text

Rumors & Secrets LZ

Totally more contents about LZ : )

[Finally, we meet again]

Note:

R&S for this card (CG above)

Chapter SPOILERS up to chapter 37 (read with your own risk)

Contains 5 chapters

Translation isn’t 100% accurate (or grammar errors)

This is mostly in Li Zeyan’s POV before he meets MC (in the past original timeline) and ends with the iconic “Evolver?” question (where it all begins in chapter 1)

Do not repost to any other site (reblog is fine)

Chapter 1

Page 1

The sun is slowly setting...

At the horizon, a large rose color slowly fainted from the golden sunlight, soaking the low-hanging cloud curtain, allowing the color of the stratus clouds to burst out, reflecting the blue sea surface that meets the sky.

The extended Bentley drove away from the bustling part of the town and moved slowly along the winding road. It rained at noon, and the air was full of the smell of wet soil and raindrops soaking leaves. Li Zeyan lowered half of the car window and turned his gaze to the red-brick and white-walled building under his feet, unconsciously a little surprised.

Eze, one of the most beautiful towns on the Mediterranean coast, is also the former residence of Li Zeyan's grandfather and grandmother.

Page 2

Since he can remember, he has often come to Eze with his mother to stay for a while. The leisurely and beautiful memories of his youth are composed of the humid sea breeze here, the touch of the ankle being drawn by the low bushes, and the moment when the eyes are filled with bright and full bouquets.

Mother always likes to go to the market in the early morning to buy a few bunches of flowers, before he gets up. He then will put the flower branches in various containers or clay pots or glasses as the way he likes.

When grandpa and grandma were still alive, they would have a richer breakfast. Although they had settled in Eze early in the morning, they still had a Chinese stomach. They wanted to eat porridge and noodles. When they passed away, breakfast becomes a little simpler, only bread, omelette, or instant cereal...

Page 3

Of course, his mother is also studying cooking seriously and wants to cook some complicated dishes for him, but progress is slow.

Although these memories became more and more blurred with his busy life, as soon as he returned here, the images of sunlight, green trees, ocean, and flowers in his mind became particularly clear.

The corners of Li Zeyan's lips showed a faint smile.

The video conference is already being connected, and Li Zeyan withdraws his gaze and sets his sights on the laptop in front of him. Soon, several young people in suits and leather shoes appeared in the meeting room. Although their hair colors were different, their pupils were different, the confident and relaxed look on his face was particularly noticeable.

Page 4

They are several industry stars recently discovered by Li Zeyan. They have been successively arranged in several venture capital companies established by Huarui overseas. In Li Zeyan's view, the times have changed. It is no longer the person in the investment department holding a bunch of industry data. In financial statements, you can easily figure out whether a company really has the stage of commercial value. They need to work hard in a field, understand every link that a student can accomplish, understand the most innovative business models, and look at all new things with suspicion and surprise.

They can contact any field they are interested in on the platform of Huarui, accumulate experience, and become Li Zeyan's eyes for exploring new tracks.

Page 5

The car drove halfway through the mountain, and the cascading sunset cast a golden glow on Li Zeyan's face, covering his smiling eyes in a warm color.

[They're talking in EN]

"Li, looks like you've got a brilliant sunset."

"It sure is."

[Back to CN]

"Isn't it Eze? It's a place worth sitting on the balcony all day."

" Indeed. "

Page 6

[Now they're talking in French]

"Better to drink good wine and appreciate the scenery."

"D'accord."

Chapter 2

Page 1

The relaxed video conference ends when the vehicle reaches the top of the mountain.

Li Zeyan got out of the car, strode forward, and a gentle breeze came towards him, messing with the strands of hair on his forehead. He fastened the suit that was blown up by the wind, took the rose bouquet from the entourage, and walked to the corner he knew.

Only a little golden light remained in the setting sun, hooked in the dark blue of the starry sky, quietly spilling on the white marble tombstone.

"mother."

Page 2

Li Zeyan put down the flowers, took out a brown handkerchief from his pocket, and knelt down to wipe the floating dust on the monument. Although there are people taking care of it every day, the tombstone is never slender. Every few days someone will come to replace a bunch of flowers, they are all taken care of and was cleaned with moisturizing liquid in the crystal vase that was placed in front of the tomb.

"Father was originally going to come over, but something happened temporarily. He asked me to bring you this bouquet of roses to make amends."

Li Zeyan slowly stood up as he spoke, looking at the sun that had completely sunk at sea level, inadvertently folded his fingers slightly, and clenched into a fist.

Page 3

On this day of the year, he will definitely take time to return to Eze. Although the schedule is tight, sometimes he can only stand in front of the grave for a short while, and has to rush to the next meeting. However, he still insists on coming in person...

His mother's death day is of extraordinary significance to him.

Li Zeyan breathed the cool air at the top of the mountain and talked about trivial matters for no reason.

"The charity project I talked to you last time is fully operational. I have found a lot of professional teachers who are willing to teach music to disabled children. Many of them have experience in caring for disabled children. Some also have a background in music schools. It should not be an issue to send gifted children to regular schools in the future-"

Page 4

"By the way, I saw the Moments two days ago. Aunt Gu said that she wants Wenwen to accept the wedding, as she has a very good boyfriend. Given her previous battles with Wenwen to urge her to marry, I think they will be urged to get the certificate soon."

" Do you remember Ronan? He went to Italy two days ago and sent me a two-meter sculpture, the sculptured piece was me.

...It is really difficult for him to spend such a large cost to let the world's best sculptor accompany him to do such boring things."

After a moment of silence, he remembered another thing.

Page 5

"Father’s favorite program "Discovering Miracles", the ratings and profitability of the last year are not good, Huarui is preparing to divest. Although it is a pity to say that, in the process of fast-forwarding, many people have been left behind, and "Discovering Miracles" is just one of them."

The hands on the dial had reached the time when Li Zeyan planned to leave, but he was standing in the dark, looking deeply at his mother's silent gravestone.

A breath of wind was quickly blown away by the night wind, and his voice became lighter while he was talking.

"All leads are broken..."

"I still didn't find her."

Page 6

After that, Li Zeyan sighed slightly emotional. He retracted his gaze from the tombstone, raised his hand to shake off a leaf hanging on the neck of his suit, and then strode away.

As if responding to his lonely back when he left, a quiet meteor suddenly struck across the endless night.

Chapter 3

Page 1

On the tarmac, Li Zeyan's private jet had been waiting for a long time. The weather tonight was good and the field of vision was wide. When boarding the plane, the captain rarely suggested that he could take a look at the sea covered with white moonlight from the porthole.

As soon as he sat down, Wei Qian walked over with his tablet computer.

"President. Regarding today's schedule, there are some parts that need your confirmation."

"First of all, the equity investment plan of the SE network video platform has been formally established. The relevant meeting is scheduled at 2 pm, and the representatives of SE will land at 12 noon, and the airport pick-up personnel have been arranged."

Page 2

"But you have promised Mr. Chen to attend his cocktail reception at 7pm on time, so the dinner after the meeting with the SE representatives..."

"Just say that we understand their hard journey, postpone the meal for one day, let them rest for the night."

"Understood. Also, Yaoxing Circus has accepted our invitation and is willing to come to Lianyu City for performances. However, they still have some doubts about the performance venue and performance permits, and they want to determine the original schedule. Is it possible to successfully obtain the performance license? Regarding this point, I have asked the relevant person in charge to prepare the materials required to apply for the license. I apply in the name of Hua Rui. I believe that it is not a big problem to get this license. So please ask the president, can you give them a positive answer directly?"

Page 3

Li Zeyan nodded faintly, and turned his sight out towards one of the porthole. The plane was flying over the city, and the star lights were gathered in his eyes. In the darker glass, a pair of eyes were also as deep as night.

"President Mr. Bao's payment for this month has passed, but he replied to this email and asked me to convey it to you."

"He said that he has only found some useful clues in the first few years before. In the last year, almost nothing was collected. He loves money very much, but he does not want to take your money for nothing. None of these investigations have yielded much. He is willing to help you do some commercial work. Business. No additional fees will be charged to you. He has a wide range of knowledge and resources. If you can find some news, you can help your friends... "

Page 4

Lao Bao's original words were "commercial espionage," and Wei Qian thought about it repeatedly before coming up with this rhetoric.

Li Zeyan couldn't help but smile faintly when thinking of Lao Bao's joking expression.

"Tell him, we don't need it for now. Hua Rui's information channels may not be less than his. Let him take money at ease and do things seriously."

Wei Qian replied in a low voice and stopped talking. The silence in the cabin was comparable to that of the night. The plane traveled steadily in the quiet, clear night, repeating the journey it had traveled countless times without moving.

Chapter 4

Page 1

Half an hour later, Li Zeyan finished shower, changed into a white bathrobe and sat on the bedroom sofa.

The red wine in the decanter has reached its best taste. Li Zeyan poured himself a half glass and tasted it, his expression was neither salty nor light. He vaguely remember that this 85-year-old Romanee-Conti seems to be a gift specially given to him by a director of Yuelai Entertainment at the auction.

At Yuelai Entertainment, Li Zeyan was tasting the wine, and a few projects that could work with them flashed in his mind, but when then changed his mind, as he puts it down.

Can wait, they are not qualified now.

Page 2

Li Zeyan leaned on the sofa, turned on the computer, and casually browsed the letters in the mailbox and the approval process.

An e-mail with the subject "Facial Structure and Profit Prospect Analysis Report" was lying on the first line of his mailbox. He clicked it in and glanced at the conclusion part 1 hastily.

According to the final data analysis, the film company’s only variety show "Discovering Miracles" lost about 80% of its audience in the last year, and its ratings ranked thirteenth (that is, third from the bottom) among the programs at the same time. At the same time, the film and television company has changed the person in charge a few months ago. The investigation showed that the person in charge had no experience in program production, company management, business negotiation, etc. before officially taking over the company. Accordingly, the venture capital department requested the president and the board of directors to suspend the continued capital injection of the company.

Page 3

Li Zeyan replied to the email with one hand with little thought: Approval of the withdrawal.

It never takes him too much time to make such a decision.

In the last two weeks, Li Zeyan has divested five companies, and this film and television company is the sixth. At the same time, he also made a lot of investment transactions, such as SE.

Huarui's capital chain is operating at a high speed, quickly responding to the market.

Page 4

Many people think that there is a gamble in this. Li Zeyan never denies that Huarui's style of offensive and never procrastinating seems too "aggressive" in the entire industry. But it doesn't matter. He knows better than anyone that the steady fight of the so-called industry giants is just a strategy that has to be adopted without an efficient business promotion mechanism and redundant management structure.

In a few years, perhaps Huarui will do the same.

But it doesn't matter, before that, he will lay the best foundation for Huarui, so that Huarui can still maintain active and vigorous vitality in the continuous expansion.

Page 5

After drinking the red wine in the glass in one sip, Li Zeyan pressed the sleep mode on the remote control, the light-shielding plate slowly fell, and the surrounding lights dimmed a little bit. He walked into the bathroom again to brush his teeth and wash to end the busy day.

This night, Li Zeyan had a deep dream.

In the time of emptiness, countless spots of light flowed slowly between his fingers. He tried to hold one or two in the house, but every time he made a fist and opened it, his palm was empty. Someone was smiling in front of him, her long light brown hair was slightly curly, and the corners of her lips were slightly raised with a smile, that was his mother. She smiled at him, her eyes calm and gentle, as if looking at a unique treasure in the world. She seemed to be asking something, but she also seemed to be just smile quietly.

He couldn't keep up with her.

Page 6

He knew that he had been waiting for a long time in a strange vortex, but who was he waiting for?

The indicator light on the wing is not clear in the thick night, the whole continent under the clouds is sleeping, and the time is as quiet as stopping, freezing the whole world at this moment.

In the sky, the stars are shining, and the whole Milky Way witnesses him breathing while in a dream.

Page 7

In the same deep dream, a girl was holding a mobile phone with a flashing light in her arms, and she was talking indifferently in a drowsy sleep.

As the two ends of the world are finally connected, the trajectory that continues to move forward is quietly changed.

The smoothly moving plane passed the sunrise scenery on the horizon.

The light-shielding board was slowly raised in accordance with the program instructions, and the first ray of sunlight in the morning shone into the porthole, covering Li Zeyan's bed.

Chapter 5

Page 1

Li Zeyan originally planned to go directly to Hua Rui, but halfway through, he received a message that Mr. Cai said that he had committed rheumatism and wanted to ask him for two days off.

He was a little worried, and after hesitating a little, he decided to visit.

Coincidentally, it was close to the meal time when he went to visit. The elderly eat early, and the house is full of plants when he enters the door. Mrs. Cai said that it would keep her down for a casual meal. He couldn't refuse the meal, so she took over the dishes.

Li Zeyan held a bowl straight at his waist, eating, and asking about Mr. Cai's condition. He had already arranged for a doctor to follow up for Mr. Cai before he finished the meal.

Page 2

Mr. Cai was grateful, and remembered some gossip he had seen on the Internet before, "I saw a lot of people commenting about the restaurants on the Internet. You must have seen it, manager, don’t keep it to your heart."

Li Zeyan smiled, he did not expect Mr. Cai to comfort him in return, "Mr. Cai, I never care what they think, how the restaurant wants to operate, I have always been aware of this, please rest assured. You can rest in peace in these two days. According to what I just said, Souvenir will be out of business for a week. Firstly, see what the doctor says."

Mr. Cai pounded his long-painful knee with a smile on his face, "I am old and useless. You don't have to do it for me"

Li Zeyan remarks "It's nothing"

Page 3

Then Mrs. Cai silently took a thin blanket from the living room to cover her husband. The two couples looked at each other for a short time, and said nothing. They still followed the topic just now and started talking cheerfully. The restaurant diners praised the manager’s craftsmanship.

Li Zeyan took the scene in his eyes, and a faint smile flicked across his lips.

After finishing light meal with a cup of tea, Li Zeyan did not want to disturb the couple too much, and left after that.

When he came, the weather was fine, the sun was fragile, and there was a leisurely sunny day scenery. Unexpectedly, when Li Zeyan walked to the intersection across the street from Huarui, there was both the sun and rain.

Page 4

He thought of the evening reception, thinking about whether to let Wei Qian bring him a clean suit. At this moment, a petite girl suddenly stood in front of him.

The green light on the crosswalk turned red just after the countdown, the vehicles coming from a distance did not slow down at all, and the girl was still standing in the middle of the road slowly, not aware of the coming danger!

It happened too suddenly, and two rapid bangs rang out.

Page 5

Li Zeyan's expression between his eyebrows changed slightly, and all the noise around him stopped in the moment.

He took a step forward and held her in his arms.

The girl stared at him with stunned eyes.

"Evolver?"

When time stands still, raindrops hover in the air, he also stopped his gaze.

#rumors and secrets Victor #love and producer #love and producer li zeyan #mr love queen's choice #mr love queen's choice victor #mr love li zeyan

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theycallmebeccawrites · 5 years ago

Text

Chris & Ellie Series: Episode 20

Hey lovelies! No, you aren’t imagining things... I really am updating this series. C&E have been on my mind a lot lately and I’m working hard to get this stuff out to you guys.. but bear with me. This story is only about half way finished...

Stay safe ♥ Becca

Shout out to my kick ass friends who helped me out with this one @nomadicpixel @heather-lynn @alievans007 @mrs-captain-evans

Pairing: Chris Evans x Ellie Spencer (OFC)

Rating: PG-13

Warnings: Relationship drama

Episode Summary: This episode takes place in May 2014 as Ellie finally opens up to someone about what happened between her and Chris.

Disclaimer: This work of fiction is not to be reposted, used or translated without my permission.

This episode can also be read on AO3.

The Chris & Ellie Series Masterlist | Chris & Ellie Masterlist

Episode 19.5

Episode 20: Mending Fences

Mid May 2014

Scott frowned as he watched Ellie walk out the backdoor with Daisy shuffling behind her. It had been a month since the disastrous fallout and his friend was a ghost of her former self.

"You're worried about her," his friend Pierre's voice said from behind him.

Scott nodded his head as he turned around. He didn't necessarily feel right about talking about Ellie and Chris's breakup, but at the same time, Pierre was a psychologist and he'd helped Scott through things before.

Maybe the fact that Pierre had needed a place to stay while his condo's kitchen was being redone was a sign. Pierre had been with them for a few days now and he and Ellie had hit it off really well. Especially since Pierre loved to cook and had been taking on that chore while he was there so Ellie wouldn't have to.

"She went through a breakup recently," Scott explained, watching his words carefully. "It was a mutual friend and she doesn't want me to be caught in the middle any more than I already am."

Pierre raised a well-manicured eyebrow and asked, "More than you already are?"

"I was inadvertently the one who told her it was over between them, at least in her eyes," Scott confessed.

Pierre made an 'oh' face and went back to loading the dishwasher. In the few days he'd known Ellie, he'd noticed how quiet she was. There had been brief glimpses of a happier, more vivacious personality, but she'd mostly seemed withdrawn.

"Do you know if she has talked to anyone about what happened?" Pierre asked Scott. "A friend or a professional?"

"I don't know for sure, but I don't think so," Scott replied. "I'm good friends with one of her sisters, too, and I haven't heard from her about the breakup and I'm certain I would if she knew."

"And she won't talk to you at all about it?" Pierre asked and Scott nodded. "Do you think she'd talk to me? Not in a professional capacity, just here in the house."

"She knows you're a psychologist," Scott stated. "I know she won't seek you out and ask to talk. But maybe, if you went to her and started the conversation?"

"I'll try," Pierre promised Scott. "If she won't talk to me, maybe I can at least encourage her to talk to someone she trusts."

Two nights later, the opportunity for Pierre to speak privately with Ellie presented itself when they were cooking dinner together. He'd gotten more glimpses of the woman behind the sadness as they'd collaborated and now the main course was in the oven.

As he opened his mouth to broach the subject, Ellie's phone rang and he listened to her side of the conversation with Scott.

"He's going to be late," she relayed the message after hanging up. "There's an accident and he's stuck smack dab in the middle of it."

Seeing his opening, Pierre took it. "He's worried about you, you know," he stated.

He expected Ellie to play coy, but she nodded solemnly and said, "I know."

"He wants to help."

Ellie frowned to herself as she opened the fridge, stalling for time as she tried to decide how to respond to Pierre. She’d had an inkling that he was going to seek her out from the moment Scott had asked if it was ok for his friend, a shrink, to crash with them for a couple weeks. It all seemed too coincidental.

Turning around, she looked at Pierre and asked, “Is your kitchen really being remodeled? Or is this all something that Scott cooked up to get me to talk to someone?”

Pierre chuckled and answered, “it’s really being remodeled. Or rather, it had to be gutted completely after the kitchen in the condo above me flooded and ruined my place.” Ellie’s response was a shocked ‘oh’ face. “I will admit that Scott did ask me to talk to you, but only the other night when I saw how worried he was about you.” He also appreciated the fact that she seemed like a straight forward, what you see is what you get, type of person. It was a refreshing break from the normal, wannabe famous, LA crowd.

Taking that into account, Ellie nodded her head and asked one more question. “You won’t tell him what I say, right? It'll stay between us?”

“Of course,” Pierre assured her. “I know you want to protect the relationship between Scott and his friend. Nothing you tell me will be repeated, unless you tell me otherwise.”

Ellie nodded again and pulled out a bottle of wine. “I think I’m going to need this,” she said and then, as if worried about what he might think, added, “I don’t drink a lot. There’s just a lot to unravel…”

“I understand,” Pierre assured her with a smile. “Why don’t you sit down and talk while I put together the salad.”

Resisting the urge to nod her head again for fear of being mistaken as a bobble head, Ellie grabbed a wine glass from the cupboard and then sat down at the breakfast bar.

After pouring herself a glass of wine, she leaned back in her seat and wondered where to even begin. She wasn’t sure how much Scott had told Pierre and she wasn’t sure how much she wanted him to know. He might be a professional in helping people with their problems, but that wouldn’t make her feel any less heartbroken or foolish.

Foolish.

That was the key source of her pain, she knew. She’d had her heart broken before, though never as badly as Chris had left it. But it was the shame of feeling foolish that had kept her from speaking about what had happened between her and Chris. At least it had been after Chris’s text to Scott.

Before that, she had just been confused and hurt, but hopeful at the same time. She’d naively thought he’d contact her in some way, that they’d get through this rough patch and be better for it.

But Chris had messaged Scott and then she’d had to accept that whatever had been between them was over and done with.

Around that same time, Phoenix had told her that she was pregnant with her second baby, Izzy had gotten her first big case and Riley had accepted an internship that kept her busy. Knowing that they were all busy with good things in their lives, Ellie hadn’t wanted to bring them down or have them feel sorry for her.

And then there was Sydney. Ellie hadn’t spoken to her older sister since the night of their argument in the restaurant. At first because she was just mad at Sydney and then because she hadn’t wanted to hear I told you so.

“And now?” Pierre asked. “How do you feel about your sister now?”

Ellie stared down into her empty wine glass as she realized her train of thought had become a verbal word vomit without her realizing it. Instead of feeling embarrassed, she felt a surprising amount of relief from getting everything that had been circling her mind out in the open.

“Now? I miss her,” she admitted, looking up. “Do you have siblings?”

“Two older brothers,” Pierre replied.

“So you know how much older siblings can be a pain in the ass then,” Ellie said with a small smile and Pierre nodded. “Sydney is almost three years older than me. We were close when we were little and then she became a know-it-all for like ten years. Then she became normal again, for the most part, but she has her moments.

“We’ve gotten along really well during the last ten years, to the point that I’d count all three of my sisters as my best friends. But then a couple months ago, she met Chris and I thought she liked him. But then she took on her holier than thou persona about my situation, specifically that I was living with him, and it just pissed me off.

“Turns out she knew better than I did,” Ellie sighed as she poured herself another glass of wine. “She was right. About the entire situation.”

“Is that why you feel foolish?” He prompted.

“That and the fact that I let myself get so caught up with how I was feeling that I just trusted everything Chris told me and now look at me,” she replied with a bitter laugh. “I’m single and living in my ex’s house with no place to go. And I work for him, too. So not only is my housing attached to him, but my livelihood, too.” She took in a shaky breath. “Just like my sister predicted.”

Trying to get her emotions in control, Ellie paused and reached out to pick at the label on the wine bottle.

Sensing she needed a moment, Pierre stayed quiet as he waited for her to continue.

“The real kicker of it all?” She said, looking up at Pierre. “Is that the one person I want to talk to the most about this whole fucking mess is the one person I can’t talk to, my big sister.”

“Why can’t you talk to her?” Pierre asked. “Did she change her number? Write you off?”

Ellie shook her head and said, “I was worse than mean to her the last time we spoke. I was awful to her and -”

“She was awful to you, too,” Pierre interrupted. “And if you’re as close as you say, it’s likely she is tearing herself up about this situation, too. You won’t know unless you reach out to her.”

Silence fell between them. Eventually, Ellie admitted, “I’m scared. I know once I tell them what’s going, it'll be really over between me and Chris...”

“Breakups are never easy,” Pierre said, compassionately. “But that’s when you need to surround yourself with the people who love you the most. The people that have your back regardless of whether you think you deserve it or not.”

By the time he finished talking, Ellie had tears rolling down her cheeks. “You must be good at your job,” she said in a weak attempt at lightening the mood.

“I’ve always loved helping people,” he replied with a smile as they heard the rumbling of the garage door, announcing Scott’s arrival.

Ellie excused herself to the bathroom and was still gone when Scott came into the house. He met Pierre’s eyes and the latter nodded his head as the oven timer buzzed.

When Ellie came back into the kitchen, Scott was pouring wine into glasses for all three of them. Crossing the room, she wrapped her friend in a hug from behind and whispered, “I’ll be ok, I promise.”

-----

It took Ellie a couple days to work up the courage to text Sydney, but she finally did it on Friday morning. She went back and forth on what to say, but ultimately decided not to beat around the bush.

Turns out you were right all along.

Chris and I broke up.

She hit send and stared at the phone for a minute before she tossed it down on the bed and went into the bathroom to take a shower. She was still in the process of getting ready to get into the shower when her phone rang.

Her stomach flipped when she saw Sydney's name on the screen and she had to fight back her nerves as she answered it, "Hello?"

"Oh, Ellie!" her sister's voice, thick with emotion, echoed through the phone.

Ellie felt tears in her eyes as her sister talked, expressing her sorrow and being the compassionate older sister that she knew and loved.

"I didn't want to be right, you know?" Sydney said, softly. "I didn't want you to get hurt."

"I know," Ellie assured her as she sat down on her bed. "But it happened and there isn't anything we can do about that now."

"Maybe not, but maybe I can help in a different way," Sydney told her. "I'm here, in LA for a conference. I have to present some stuff tomorrow afternoon, but I have a hotel room and I don't leave here until Monday."

"You're in LA, right now?" Ellie repeated in disbelief.

"I am," Sydney confirmed. "And I'm about twenty minutes or so from your house. I was going to try and surprise you. I wasn't sure you'd answer your phone if I called."

"Of course I would have answered," Ellie said, softly. "You might annoy me sometimes, but you're my big sister and I love you."

"I love you, too," Sydney replied. "But I know we have a lot to talk about and a lot of stuff to work out between us. I was hoping we could spend the weekend together. Unless you have to work?"

"I have the weekend off," Ellie told her. "I'll be ready when you get here." Then she remembered she needed to take a shower. "Or almost ready. I'll call Scott and let him know that you're on your way and to let you in."

The two said goodbye and then Ellie called Scott, letting him know that Sydney was on her way and asking if he'd let her in. He agreed and offered to take care of Daisy for the weekend as well.

After taking as quick a shower as possible, Ellie threw some clothes into a small suitcase and gathered Daisy's stuff before leading her dog out of the guesthouse. After a potty stop for Daisy, they made their way up the stairs to the kitchen entrance and where Ellie left the dog's toys and bed.

Hearing voices in the living room, Ellie made her way there and paused in the doorway when she saw her sister and Scott sitting in there waiting for her. Letting go of her suitcase, Ellie made her way to her sister, tears rapidly filling her eyes, and met her sister halfway. For the first time since Chris had walked out of her life, Ellie let herself weep as her sister held on to her.

Scott felt himself tearing up as he watched the two sisters embrace, Ellie crying and Sydney soothing her the best she could. He'd filled Sydney in on what he could while they'd been waiting for Ellie to appear and she had appeared both broken-hearted for her sister but also abashed for what she had put her sister through. Then Ellie had come in and he'd seen in Sydney what he knew his older sister did when situations called for it, she became the heroic big sister that was needed.

He hadn't believed Ellie completely the other day when she'd told him that she'd be alright, but now, seeing her with her sister, he knew she would be. It wouldn't be overnight by any means, but her sisters would make sure she recovered from her broken heart.

Excusing himself from the room, he headed upstairs. Now that Ellie was talking and on her way to recovering from everything, he needed to try and focus on helping his brother. He would still be there for Ellie, of course, she was one of his best friends in the entire world. But so was his brother and he wouldn't give up on him ever. No matter how stupid Chris was acting.

Episode 20.5

Want to find me off tumblr? I'm @beccatheycallme on twitter. I also post my stories on AO3.

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ryuukia · 5 years ago

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[Translation] Tsukiuta. 2nd Anniversary Round-Table Discussion ~Seniors version~

I’m a bit late but, happy birthday Shun! I started to translate this on his birthday but due to this interview being long, I only ended up finishing on 25th. This is an interview published in the AGF version of Tsukiuta Monthly Publication, meaning it’s 6 years old by now.

I should have translated the 1st anniversary interview, but this one really left me in shock. I mean.... SHUN HAS A KINK?????? I’M JUST????? TSUKIPRO?????

Anyway, that’s all I’m going to say for now, I hope I made you curious. Many thanks to Ryota and Chrome for assisting me and helping with the proofreading. Please don’t reuse/retranslate/repost my work. I mean, seriously.

Haru: The 2nd anniversary round-table discussion of the Tsukiuta. series, seniors version is…… starting!

Shun: Wah (claps)♪

Haru: That being said, this year had a lot of chaotic things in store for us, but somehow we managed to reach the second anniversary without any problems. We’re grateful for that, aren’t we?

Hajime: That’s right. Thank you for always supporting us.

Kai: Thank you. We will never forget this feeling of gratitude.

Shun: Ah, I remember it was during last year’s round-table talk… Ever since AGF finished, there were a lot of opportunities to organize different plans and fairs. We managed to expand our merchandise too, didn’t we?

Haru: Well, speaking of big things, we also had a corner with things for our fans, and then Haru no Fan Matsuri1 too……?

Kai: Then Super Comics, the artbook, the summer comics, the collaboration with Karatez-san, then the Full Moon Fair & Full Moon Cafe, and now we’re back to AGF.

Hajime: We had a big event about every two months and in addition to that, our duet CDs were being released monthly. Somehow it feels like we’ve been busy all year round. Good grief.

Haru: Right? But monthly progress is something fitting for Tsukiuta (smiles bitterly). Good job for now.

Kai: Good job~

Hajime: Good work.

Shun: Good work. This round-table discussion gives us the chance to take it easy and look back over what happened this year. Ever since last year’s events it feels like our talk has become a routine.

Hajime: Okay. Then without further delays…. Haru, bring the tea.

Shun: Ye~s. I want some too.

Haru: Really? That’s how we’re starting? (laughs)

Question: “Tell us about a situation that occurred during the production of the duet CDs.”

Kai: ......Well, until our spoiled leaders get their tea, we have our first topic. “A situation that happened during the production of our duet CDs” it says.

Haru: Hmph, hmph.

Kai: Each of us had to prepare two duets at a time, right? The ones Shun and I got were “Kimi ni hana o, kimi ni hoshi o” and “Celestite”.

Haru: Otherwise known as “Hana Hoshi” and “Kuro Ouji2”, right?

Kai: Yeah. “Hana Hoshi” is based on my image, while “Kuro Ouji” is based on......

Shun: Behold☆ My image!

Hajime & Haru: …...Aah (both see the light)

Shun: By the way, since the composers and the listeners both have their own impressions on the songs, the prompter is telling us to talk about some stuff that happened during the photoshoots for the CD jackets.

Haru: Roger (smiles bitterly). So, about those photoshoots…...

Shun: The Hana Hoshi photoshoot was fun. It was done somewhere in the north, on a vast field.

Hajime: Based on that description alone, it must have been cold.

Kai: We actually went there during the summer, so the cold air was pleasant. Underneath a sky covered by stars, we were sitting on a flower bed with bouquets in our hands. It felt so nice…… for us it was very relaxing.

Shun: Fufufu. Because of the shade of my costume, at first glance it looked as if I had a ribbon on my bare chest. That created many confusions, you know?

Hajime: You sound glad about that.

Haru: Above your head was a complete starry sky, and you were holding flowers in your birthday suit (distant look)

Kai: …...You’ve just destroyed my precious memory…...

Hajime: Now that you mention it, I’ve observed since long ago that many of the Procella duets have the word ‘flower’ in their titles. Is there a reason why?

Shun: Fufufu. You have good eyes, Hajime. It's a coincidence I'd like to call ‘fate’!

Kai: That was so blunt (laughs)! But it really was just a ‘coincidence’. Although we all have different producers, these kind of things happen once in a while. I guess you could call it proof of our unity?

Haru: Wow, you’re forcing your own conclusion~ (laughs bitterly)

Hajime: …...Haru, do we have something similar to that?

Haru: Don’t force me to compete with that, leader (laughs). Also, if you think about it, Celestite is not a ‘flower’.

Kai: For that one, we went completely into Shun-sama’s world. Or should I call it the ‘Spirit World’?

Shun: Ahaha, Kai? Do you want a demonstration of my real powers? I’ll show you how hard I worked for the ‘Kuro Ouji’ concept.

Hajime: Indeed, it suited you. Both you, …...and Kai.

Kai: Me too?

Hajime: Yeah, it suited you…...I think. Kai, during TsukiRadio, you did something similar to a Demon Lord, right? The younger kids said you fit that image perfectly. I think so, too.

Shun: Kai’s physical build was perfect for this to begin with. Those black clothes brought a lot of impact to the surface. He was definitely cool-looking.

Kai: Eh, you think so? You two praising me makes me feel a bit embarrassed, but I’m happy. Thanks.

Hajime: On the other hand, we have ‘Koi wasuregusa’ and “Hajimari no haru”.

Haru: Yes.

Kai: I could feel Japanese vibes coming from both of you, and I’m talking about both the titles and the costumes.

Haru: Ahaha. Is it because of Hajime?

Hajime: ? What about me giving off that ‘traditional Japanese’ impression?

Shun: Your entire image is built that way, can’t you see, Hajime? Take your first stage outfit for example, it was heavily inspired by traditional elements.

Hajime: …...I see.

Shun: On the other hand, mine is inspired from the west.

Hajime: Even without you mentioning that, it can be seen that the duet costumes and many other costumes are made based on a western style.

Haru: Maybe the reason why Gravi’s and Procella’s own images are divided into ‘western’ and ‘traditional’ is exactly because of our leaders’ images.

Hajime: Our images...huh.

Kai: Though, the more you look at Koi Wasure, the more luxurious it looks. Are those costumes made from Nishijin silk fabrics3?

Shun: They look that way. I was watching them when the shoot happened, but the real thing looks even more impressive than in the photos. I think someone poured their soul into those outfits, and the final result is only proof of their skills.

Haru: Speaking of effort? On site, everyone was bursting with energy, but that shoot honestly made me all tensed up for the first time in a while. I rarely wear kimonos to begin with…… I mean I probably wore a kimono only for the Shichi-Go-San festival4 in the past and having to wear one again after so long felt like too much of a hurdle for me (smiles bitterly).

Hajime: Haru, has it really been that long since you've worn a kimono?

Haru: Ahaha, Hajime. Most people aren't even fated to wear a kimono in their entire lifetime. I’m one of them. I can’t get used to it, and if it wrinkles or looks dirty even the slightest bit, I become terrified. Not to mention they are also unbelievably expensive. ……Though, I think it might be difficult for Hajime here to understand that.

Kai: I know what you mean. I definitely do, Haru. That common sense is something I agree with on a spiritual level.

Hajime: Hmm……. So that’s how it is.

Shun: We’re quite familiar with household events, aren’t we?

Hajime: Yeah. At each turning point in life, our relatives would gather for events and wearing full formal dress was a custom.

Haru & Kai: (We’re witnessing a conversation between two real young masters)

Hajime: …...Though if you look at the results, I think it suited you well enough, Haru.

Haru: Ooh, my king is bestowing me with words of praise.

Hajime: C’mon, look at this shot, you look like a young playboy husband or like a beguiling king. (chuckles)

Haru: Correction, it wasn’t praise. They randomly started to call me beguiling recently and I keep wondering why, Kai.

Kai: Don’t mind it, Haru (laughs). Well, wasn’t the concept of that jacket cover the ‘bewitching, traditional Japanese rock style’? In that case, the beguiling king concept was a huge success in a way. Good job, Haru.

Haru: Oh, geez.

Kai: Finally, ‘Hajimari no Haru’. You had the same ‘traditional’ theme, but it was the complete opposite of the previous CD and felt more formal. The military uniforms gave a nice, cool feeling.

Haru: Correct. The costumes were made to represent military outfits. You can tell that just by looking (laughs).

Shun: Hajime! This includes Haru as well, but Hajime looked sooo good! It suited you so well, I end up wanting to crawl! I want to go down on all fours and be stepped on by you! I want to see you cast that cold glare onto me!

Kai: …...Shun, Hajime’s backing away slowly. Haru and I, too...

Question: “What event left a strong impression on you?”

Haru: Shall we answer at the same time?

Kai: Ooh, a curve ball was thrown. ‘Kay, let’s do it. I’ll bring the notebooks and markers then. Everyone, write~.

Hajime: I’m done.

Shun: Me too.

Kai: Then, three, two…... one!

Haru: ‘Haru no Fan Matsuri’

Hajime: ‘Haru no Fan Matsuri’

Shun: ‘Full Moon Fair’

Kai: ‘Full Moon Fair’

Haru: Ooh, we got half and half (laughs). My answer is without a doubt ‘Haru no Fan Matsuri’. It has my name in it too, but it’s also because I worked on every special benefit up until the smallest detail.

Hajime: Aah, indeed, like the little bunny plate that came as a bonus or the rubber strap that came with the DVD and stuff. I chose our first independent event because it left an impression. Unfortunately, my schedule didn’t match with it so I was only able to participate via video feed.

Kai: As expected, you went for ‘Haru’ (laughs)? On the other hand, I chose the Full Moon Fair which incidentally ended not long ago~. It was our first nationwide Animate fair, after all. And the Animate storefront even made it on the ‘Kyarabii5’ cover, right? The fact that they were given that important cover space made me so happy.

Haru: It was the first time in a while when all of us were featured in a photo.

Shun: We were so lively (chuckles). In one set we were wearing casual clothes, and in the other yukatas.

Haru: That one also ended up being the cover of the calendar this year.

Kai: The fans’ reaction was more than what we were all expecting, so the staff was left in awe at the power of the yukatas and some hair arrangements.

Haru: Hajime, you also let your hair down, right?

Hajime: You’re the one who messed with my hair. I wish I had done something about that back then.

Haru: Ahaha, that’s true. That was the result of me talking with the hair and make-up artists and how we agreed that not teasing your hair up was better since the yukata was so fitting on you.

Hajime: I admit they complimented my hair, young master.

Shun: Ah, yes, yes. Me too. They said I looked like the prodigal son of a rich family. Kakeru and I happened to be shot side-by-side, and they were saying from all directions that we looked like ‘the apprentice and the prodigal son’. Ahaha.

All of them: (Because that’s exactly how it looked like)

Hajime: Our first solo event, and our first national fair. This year we had a lot of ‘first times’ once again as a series.

Shun: That’s what we would call some of our many progresses. Thank you very much.

Question: “Tell us about other work situations if there are any.”

Shun: This year, a lot of new opportunities arose for me and to top it all off, I’m really, reaaaaally happy that I got to experience being paired in the leaders group. I think it was very fun. (softly)

Kai: The twelve of us look like some kind of family (lol). We barely had space for everyone to fit in at the same time, but even with the limited room by picking out the right camera exposure levels, the two leaders didn't look unnatural. Of course, there's the tiniest bit of post-production as well.

Haru: Wow, that’s a very vivid story you got there!

Shun: Geez, Kai~ I’m trying to be grateful here so please don’t bring up business here.

Kai: Ahaha, my bad, my bad.

Hajime: ……. I’ve been thinking about that too.

Shun: Yes?

Hajime: Your…... ‘that’ thing you do, Shun…...Being my fan I mean. I started to think about it only recently, but half of that thing is a joke, isn’t it? I’m not wrong about that, am I?

Shun: ーーー!?

Kai: Ah, his shock is easy to understand for once.

Haru: It really is. …...I can’t ignore how pitiful Shun looks now so I’ll back him up. Listen Hajime, anyone can tell that Shun's very serious about ‘that thing’, you know?

Hajime: …...Really?

Kai: Yeah. And what I’m about to add might sound strange…… but I can confirm he’s been seriously devoting himself to his fan activities and supporting you since the beginning and until now. From the start he rarely, er, sometimes, no, always was noisy about it, but well, he can be pretty entertaining if you feel like listening to him.

Haru: He never changed (laughs)

Hajime: Is that so……? …...I see. I’m sorry, Shun. Thank you for always supporting me.

Haru: Ah, here’s the heartfelt fan interaction. (laughs)

Shun: ーー!! That "I see" just now! That gives me legal authority to accompany you from now on, right!? In that case there’s no problem! I don’t mind it! It just means I didn’t put my heart enough into it. From now on I'll work hard on my fervor for Hajime so that my love will be conveyed! L O V E Hajime LOVE!! WASSHOI! (grabs Hajime and clings to him)

Hajime: ……

Shun: Hajime~, Hajime~♪ Fufufu no fu (snuggles)

Hajime: ……

Kai: (whispering) Hajime’s definitely trying his best not to send Shun flying across the room.

Haru: (whispering) He’s really putting up with him (laughs). Let’s not forget that apology from earlier. It’s a good thing our leaders are on good terms with each other. A really good thing.

Kai: Right~? The leaders’ work kept increasing, but on the other hand, we are still considered…… uhh, ‘advisers’? We also received more and more jobs in pairs like this one and they’re always fun.

Haru: Ahaha, you’re right.

Hajime: ……

Haru: …...Anyway, I think that’s enough, Shun (laughs bitterly). Our king is a cat after all. You can hug him however much you want, but he won’t get used to it. He’s already turning into stone, so can you release him?

Hajime: Who are you calling a cat, Haru? (sigh)

Kai: You say that but it's so easy to tell that you're relieved (laughs). Good work, Hajime.

Question: “Leave a message for your fans.”

Hajime: It’s been exactly one year since the last AGF. Due to everyone’s support, it feels as if we were able to go a few levels up. Thanks. This is more or less all I wanted to say.

Shun: Fufufu, indeed. The things I want to say as Procella’s leader and the things I want to convey myself, too, are exactly the same as the ones Gravi’s leader, Hajime, just said. …...Thank you, everyone.

Haru: You switched from fan mode to leader mode (laughs).

Kai: I’m always amazed when he does that switch (laughs).

Haru: I think now’s the time for the advisers to show their gratitude too. And we'd be happy to receive your support for more of the merchandise promotions we do together in the future.

Kai: And don’t forget about the youngers either! Their growth is remarkable even from our point of view, so don’t miss out any of that.

Shun: You pulled that off perfectly. As expected from our reliable partners.

Hajime: …...Right? I trust both of them too.

Kai: Ahaha, thanks. Among our unit members, the senior group aspire to be the ‘most steady’. Let’s continue doing things in our comfortable rhythm and without pushing ourselves.

Haru: The younger ones will be able to walk ahead without worries if we build them a solid foundation, won’t they?

Shun: Even more than that, we are both their foundation and their guides. The two of us should pave the path for them, don’t you think so, Hajime? A path everyone would stroll on happily as they head for joyful days.

Hajime: Yeah. …...Indeed. As the ones who walk ahead of everyone, you and me have that role.

Haru: If you two get tired, don’t hesitate to tell us, okay?

Kai: I don’t mind if I’m being relied on even without them being tired.

Hajime: Then I want a second helping.

Kai: Of tea? …..Well, I'll guess I'll pour it for you then (chuckle).

Shun: Me too, me too~.

Haru: I want some too!

Kai: Everyone's taking advantage of me (laughs).......Fine, I get it. I’ll be taking your requests~. Do you want Japanese tea? Black tea? Or coffee?

(And so the end transitioned into a leisurely tea party.)

T/N:

Haru no Fan Matsuri (translated 'The spring fan festival') was an event held back in 2014. The guests were Masuda Toshiki (Kisaragi Koi), Aoi Shota (Minaduki Rui), Kanemoto Hisako (Hijiri Kurisu), Uesaka Sumire (Tendouin Tsubaki), Mamiya Yasuhiro (Kurotsuki Dai) and Yamanaka Masahiro (Tsukishiro Kanade). You can buy the DVD here

Kuro Ouji means 'Black Prince'. Shun reveals in his duet SS that according to the song concept, he's the black (imperial) prince. I'll get to it more when I translate that SS.

The Nishijin silk fabrics are high quality silk fabrics originating from Kyoto.

The Shichi-Go-San Festival (translated 'Seven-Five-Three Festival) is an event held on 15th of November for girls who are 3 or 7 years old and for boys who are 5 years old. On that day they celebrate the growth and well-being of young children.

Kyarabii is a magazine from Japan.

If you like my work and you want to support me, you can now buy me a coffee by clicking right [here]. I also started taking commissions, more details are right [here]. Thank you~

#tsukiuta #2nd anniversary round table discussion #seniors version #mutsuki hajime #shimotsuki shun #yayoi haru #fuduki kai #english translation #tsukiuta monthly publication #interview #agf 2014 #IM STILL SCREAMING #THIS INTREVIEW IS A ROLLER COASTER

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miccatepoztli · 6 years ago

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XIMENA’S RP PLOTTING CHEAT-SHEET

Want new-and-exciting plots for your character? Long to reach out to more of your followers, but don’t know where to start? Fear not! Fill out this form and give your RP partners both present and future all the of juicy jumping off points they need to help you get your characters acquainted.

Be sure to tag the players whose characters YOU want more cues to interact with, and repost, don’t reblog! Feel free to add or remove sections as you see fit. Template here.

Mun name: mónika OOC Contact: DMs or discord (available upon request!)

who the heck is my muse anyway:

Ximena is a young brujeria practicing witch who was ~*mysteriously*~ spirited away from her home at age 5 with no memory of her past or self. Raised in the restricted environment of an abbey among sympathetic but uncaring sisters, she’s quite prim and proper to the public eye, but cares very little about the rules of society or her place in it.

She is also a ridiculously smart little girl. She will grow into a terrifyingly smart woman. With secrets sewn into her skin and a powerful network of magical creatures at her fingertips.

points of interest:

She’s very willing to learn and perform “dark” magicks, and can often be found reading questionable books and tomes of various subjects regarding the art. If you came at her with the offer to summon a demon together, she would be hooked almost immediately (though cautious, of course)

Near the middle of her adolescence, she begins to dabble in potioneering and finds herself very skilled at it. Through a questionable network of fellow witches, creatures, jealous ex-wives, and the like, she develops a steady stream of loyal customers and builds upon her craft.

Once reunited with her family, she is a part of a long reaching, long lasting network of witches and brujas that have lived in their forest for centuries. Perhaps millennia. The forest in which their home resides is an inter-dimentional one where time doesn’t always work properly (whatever ‘properly’ is).

Like her, her current living family is cursed with painful and involuntary immortality, alongside a few other choice effects. Ximena can die from just about anything, but she will always return after a brief visit with death: her body will take time to rebuild itself. She can stall her return to her living body if she wishes, but she can never permanently rest unless the curse is broken.

A by-product of her curse is her unending ache to know. To learn about everything she can possibly get her hands on: magic, languages, plants, mathematics, space, everything. Her hunger for knowledge cannot be satiated until she learns enough about a certain branch of magic...

Ximena literally does not care about the problem of people outside of herself and her loved ones. She’ll spare a moment of sympathy for the sake of her humanity, but she will not go out of her way to help unless she can get something out of it such as personal vindication or some rare item. Occasionally she will help others out of sheer curiosity, but it’s rare.

what they’ve been up to recently:

Making friends with demons of other cultures! From India @marakama to China @fwm-gsm to Korea @roanarch --She’s gatherin up them demonic business cards and seeing what she can trade for information or rare items.

Learning how to communicate with the dead successfully and without accidentally summoning a legion of the undead. Whoops! No necromancy here, she just wants to talk to her ancestors to see why the fuck she’s cursed and who she is!

Training her corvid friends to send messages and retrieve items using whistles and tongue clicks.

Forgetting her place around adults she doesn’t trust and asking suspicious questions about black magic that could set off some red flags--But her interest is purely academic! She swears! And lies.

where to find them:

Croydon - If in her early stages of life (5-13 ish), Ximena can be found wandering around the abbey where she grew up in, or around the streets of London. She has a reputation for being a wallflower and very meek and polite.

Mexico - At age 14, Ximena is unofficially adopted by local Vampire Dad, Salazar @deoscuridad and taken with the rest of his misfit family to Mexico, where her magic has never been stronger, and her search for her family has never been closer. Find her at the library, markets, docks, and museums taking in her culture.

Forests - The aforementioned inter-dimentional forest leads to every forest in the world (and in others). So if one is talking a walk or run among the woods, it’s entirely plausible to find Ximena (ages 14 and up) on your journey. She’ll be picking mushrooms, documenting flora, performing dangerous summoning seances, and taking naps.

Other Locations - Hogwarts is a plausible place to locate her (in the proper HP aus where she has British citizenship and is thus allowed to attend) from ages 12-16, as that is when she is withdrawn by her father. Bookshops of all sorts are another, as she quite enjoys traveling.

current plans:

Eat some fish

Find her family, if she has one

Learn about herself and her past

Become a fourth level mage (highest tier)

Collect information and knowledge from every possible source.

desired interactions:

Ximena asking [muse] to watch over her body as she performs some dark summoning shit, allowing a demon/spirit/etc. to possess her body

[Muse] accidentally witnesses or just straight up accidentally (or purposefully!) murders Ximena in a really stupid and/or violent way, freaks out, cleans up/hides the body or runs away. They, of course, find Ximena just fine the next day/week. [Muse] can publicly freak out or demand answers, and Ximena just “yeah man, that happens sometimes, no hard feelings, jaja” and tries to brush it off.

Ximena being in a stiff upper lip environment while at a big fancy party and trying desperately to both appear normal/well adapted and also not attract any attention–but of course she’s asked to dance or give a speech.

Her fully exploring why it is that dark magic resonates so nicely with her. is it her nature? heritage? genetics? idk, but let’s test it out by trying some old school hardcore black magicks. Preferably! With a mentor muse.

On a fluffier (or more dramatic, if you’re like me) note: Ximena teaching someone how to dance.

A Coraline AU

Any sort of AU taking place in a dystopia like The Giver or The Hunger Games.

Offered interactions:

Uhh, gestures above?

As stated in my rules, I do not ship unless I know you personally OCC because it just makes it easier to establish relationship dynamics, but that doesn’t mean nothing can naturally develop or a muse can’t develop feelings for Ximena. It just means I have trust issues with people fetishizing the color of my characters’ skin! And if I know you OOC, there’s less of a chance of that happening!!

Honestly, just kill her, it’s fine. If the thread is going that way, it’s ok. She’ll be back. Very angry or scared or frustrated, but she will be fine! Don’t be weird about it though.

She’s a good tutor in all verses, even the ones where she plays dumb! Have her help out one of your muses in any subject!

She’s a very naturally curious person who, if allowed, will plow someone with questions til exhaustion. Have her ask your muse some things to help sort something out!

On that same vein, they could be penpals! Ximena is always writing to other peoples across the globe for knowledge!

current open post/s:

Anything under the /prompt tag and /ic tag!

anything else?:

my discord is open to mutuals if you wanna talk about ideas/concerns/questions!! arróz con babe #8991

tagging: ...u

tagged by: lol i stole it from a random blog

#about mun #wishlist;#important #long post

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lynseymoon · 6 years ago

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my videoranch experience

ok, hi. hello. so, now that holiday “excitement” has died down, and tumblr’s new bs nipplegate has caused a mass exodus of users, i feel like it’s an appropriate time for me to talk about this.

for those of you who aren’t aware; hi, it’s me, lynsey moon. in case you don’t feel like reading a big long mess, i will preface this by saying that this is going to be about my videoranch experience. if that’s something you don’t really care about, feel free to skip on by. ok, on we go--

so, as a lot of you have probably heard, i was fired very unceremoniously from videoranch this past september, after working there for 10 years. up until now, i haven’t really felt like i had a safe platform to vent this information on. i think i was still holding onto a little thread of hope that maybe things would go back to the way they were. unfortunately, that hope has passed, but on the bright side, i’m feeling a whole lot better about the situation. i am going to do my best to tell my complete story, while remaining as impartial as possible. there are other stories that connect to mine, but i don’t feel it is my place to speak for those people, so i am not really going to discuss anything other than my own experience. anyway, let’s get into the details--

context/backstory:

before my firing, i had worked for videoranch as their social media manager for maybe about 7 years, and had been a dj in vr3d for about 10. without getting into the long ass story of how, i was hand selected by nez. we became pretty friendly, and would exchange emails and chat on skype fairly often. even when there were long stretches where we didn’t talk, he would still occasionally shoot me a one-liner or two. after i had been djing regularly for a few years, his wife vic announced she was leaving. she was the one who pretty much kept vr running (the woman behind the curtain, so to speak), and she asked if i would take over running the vr fb page, which was virtually unused at the time. i agreed, and started making regular posts about the music, and events in vr3d. some years later, i set up the tumblr, twitter, and (more recently,) the instagram accounts for vr. i enjoyed the work i did. i really liked interacting with the fans, and getting them excited about nez news/vr happenings. over the years, i single-handedly grew their online audience to be in the thousands. so all those social media pages for vr you see, with the exception of the youtube page? yeah; those were all me.

new employee #1:

maybe 2-3 years ago, nez’s assistant tells me that they’re temporarily hiring this well-known person in the monkees community, to help promote a t-shirt sale. we were told that this person would just be on board for the sale, and then they’d be departing. nez’s assistant asks me to give them social media privileges. keep in mind, i have been the ONLY person posting on our pages up to this point. so, of course, i give this person privileges, so they can post about the sale. the sale ends, and nez’s assistant tells me that this person is going to stay on as sort of a “sales” person, to help them move some merchandise. this person keeps their page privileges, and is told to only post things related to sales, which they do, but they also post all kinds of other trivia and photos, which is essentially what i am also doing. already, things are starting to feel a bit crowded, but i go along with things and try to be amiable, because i like my job and i don’t want there to be any animosity.

new employee #2:

about a year ago, we are told that nez’s assistant (of many, MANY years) is leaving, and that a new person is taking their place. this person had previously been in charge of the (now defunct) “vr forums”, where fans were free to discuss nez’s work. i am not going to get into this person’s reputation among the fans, because that is a whole other situation that would take way too long to get into. suffice it to say, this person is well-known.

this person immediately takes the reins from nez’s previous assistant, and sends us information on what kind of posts they’d like to see on social media. they set up an official vr youtube page. they instruct me to post one photo and one video per day. i suggest that posting that often might lead to oversaturation, and therefore not get us as much visibility through the fb algorithm. i also point out that there are only so many videos/photos available online, and i will probably run out and have to start reposting things before too long. they insist. i comply. one video and one photo per day. i start scheduling posts per their request, to meet these quotas. they also instruct me to use the tumblr page more. i try to explain that tumblr is largely a younger audience, and the posts there don’t get much traction. they insist. i comply. they also ask that i give them fb privileges, so that they can begin posting things, in addition to my posts, and the posts by new employee #1. they ask that i stop asking questions in my posts. i try to say that questions engage the fans. they disagree. i stop asking questions. our pages start to become oversaturated with multiple posts by multiple people, and i try not to make much of a fuss, because again; i like my job, and i do not want to make waves.

at this point, with the amount of posts going out on a daily basis, i quietly reduce my posts to 3-4 times a week. i try to alternate between photos and videos, to keep things from going stale. i am hoping that the new assistant does not notice, because it seems to be helping our posts get more engagements. they notice, and instruct me to again; post one photo and video a day. i try to continue with these posts as requested, and soon begin running out of photos. i ask for help in finding more, as i know this person is a known nez expert, and must have plenty. they tell me that this is my job, and i should be the one researching these things. bear in mind, before this person came along, my job was to post about the events in vr3d, and occasionally throw up a nez photo or fun fact. not to be a historian. i didn’t bother trying to explain this to the new assistant because again; i. liked. my. job. i tried to do my best to comply, just to keep things running as smoothly as possible.

the firing:

early september 9th, i was sitting around, thinking of a post to make. as i pick up my phone, i see an email saying i’ve been removed as an admin on the fb page. immediately, i start freaking out, and fearing for the worst. if you remember, at this point, nez was on tour with the fnb, and currently in texas. frantically, i text nez’s other assistant (who mostly just deals with nez himself, and does not work with the social media side of things). i tell her what happened, and she is confused. she assumes (like me), that it had to be a mistake, and says she will check with nez and the other people in texas to see what they know. in the meantime, i message new employee #1, to see if they know anything. as i suspected, they do not, and are just as confused as i am. i start trying to convince myself that maybe it WAS just a simple mistake, but deep down i feel that it isn’t.

nez’s other assistant (i’ll just say noa) gets back to me, and says that everyone is in the dark about this. they ask me if i’ve emailed new employee #2 about it, and i confess i haven’t. i have been avoiding it, hoping i could get things corrected before having to talk to the one person i feel is responsible for this. in between all of this, i am attempting to log into all the other social media accounts, only to find that they have all had their passwords changed. instagram locks me out, because there has been an attempt to log in from texas. i am panicking, but try to appear calm as i compose an email to the assistant. i state simply that it looks like the passwords have all been changed, and inquire if maybe we’d been hacked.

a dreadfully long hour later, i receive my reply. i have it saved, but i still hate having to re-read it. the first line was the only thing close to an explanation i received:

"The operations of our company require us to remove your position as a social media content creator. You are welcome to continue DJing in VR3D, but we can no longer pay you for these sessions."

that is a direct quote, by the way. the email went on to say that the comped tickets i had already secured through noa were now null and void, and if i wanted to attend the show, i would have to pay my own way. reader, i was absolutely gutted. i was devastated. i sobbed-- SOBBED-- for an hour. i was full of confusion, loss, and hurt feelings. the lack of explanation was what killed it for me the most. that, and the fact that i was being fired by someone who had been there for a tenth of the time that i had. i was being indirectly let go by someone who i once considered my friend. i started to wonder if he even knew what had transpired, or how. also within the email was a complaint about a post i had made, about the anniversary of the newspaper ad for the monkees. i was told it was “inappropriate” to be posting monkees-related things while nez was on a fnb tour. mind you, i don’t think it was that act that got me fired, but i wasn’t even made aware that this was a problem until after the fact. it was like i was supposed to already know this, and i obviously did not.

aftermath:

i was an absolute wreck about this for about a month. i kept going over the events in my mind, trying to make sense of it all. the offer to continue djing felt like a cold slap in my face; as though i would take joy in continuing to share music in a place that i was no longer welcome in. it felt like being broken up with. after it was confirmed, noa sent me a text that just said “i’m so sorry”. even nez’s former assistant, who had always been very kind to me, called and left me a very sweet voicemail wishing me well, and expressing her disappointment in what happened. other friends of mine in the band also expressed their shock and sadness to me. even new employee #1 claimed to be surprised, though i am now second-guessing that, as that person remains to be on the staff, while i am not. it seemed like everybody wanted me to stay, except for this new assistant. it also seemed like nobody even knew why i was fired. maybe even the assistant didn’t know, and they just wanted me gone, and had the means to make it happen. the whole thing was one big drawn out gut punch.

i agonized for a long time about whether or not i wanted to go to the show. eventually, i found a friend of a friend with two tickets, and i took that as kismet, and decided to attend. i told myself it would be my last one. before the show, i got to meet up with circe and christian, and without going into too many details (for their sake), i felt a little better after talking to them. i also saw noa there, who gave me a very sweet card and wished me well. it felt somewhat cathartic to feel that i was appreciated by (almost) everyone. the show, of course, was impeccable, though it wasn’t as enjoyable as the other nez shows i’ve attended, but i expected that to be the case. afterwards, i hung around for a bit and chatted with friends. i saw noa leading nez over to the meet and greet, and i believe she guided him past us on purpose. he gave me a sad little wave and said “hello” before being rushed off. i convinced myself that i was never going to get any real closure for the whole situation, so i called that my closure, and left.

in conclusion:

based on the way things seem to be running now, and how they were when i left, i feel a little less sad about having to leave. again, i am going to try to remain as impartial as possible here, but it almost seemed like that chapter of my life was meant to close when it did. when it first happened, in addition to the pain i felt, i also felt incredibly anxious about the extra money i was going to lose from this. i had literally JUST moved into a new, more costly apartment just a week prior, and was distraught about how i was going to afford it. luckily, things have been working out, and i’ve been getting by just fine. initially, i had hoped that everything was just a big mistake, and that nez (or someone) was going to contact me and tell me to come back, but the more time passes, the more unconvinced of that i become. at this point, it’s in my best interest to just try to move on, and take pride in all the things i accomplished while i was at videoranch. it was a huge part of my life for so long, and now then suddenly it wasn’t, so of course it was a pretty big adjustment to make. slowly but surely, i am making peace with everything.

lastly, i have seen some rumors floating around that i want to dispel:

my firing was not a “financial decision”-- some people have been spreading this around, and it is simply not true. i got confirmation on this from c&c, noa, and others. nez has enough money to hire a private jet to shuttle him from show to show. he is not hurting for money.

this probably goes without saying after everything i’ve written, but i was fired. i did not leave voluntarily, nor did i have plans to. this decision was made entirely without me.

i was getting paid for the work i was doing, and was a contract worker for vr. i was not a volunteer.

i always tried to follow instructions and requests from my superiors to the best of my ability. even though i would sometimes question the reasoning behind things, i would always try my best to be polite and maintain a productive work environment. i never once refused to do anything that was asked of me.

so there you have it; now you finally know what really happened to lynsey moon. if you have any questions about this, feel free to drop me an ask, and i will try my best to answer. thanks for listening, especially if you made it this far. i appreciate all the support i’ve received. ❤

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liugeaux · 3 years ago

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Repost Vol. 57: Abandon All Expectations – IDW’s TMNT is a True Reboot

Originally Posted via Techpedition.com on January 31, 2012.

HEY! Welcome to another repost. I haven’t been able to do one of these since I ran out of old Myspace posts to explore. This one is going double as a Shellheads promotional post, so those of you who are here because of a carefully placed TMNT url, enjoy!

This was written at the beginning of 2012 and was an opinion piece on the recently launched IDW comic series. Sure, the series has gone on to become a significant pillar of the TMNT lore, but at the time, fans were VERY skeptical that someone other than Mirage could usher in the next era of TMNT.

I’m posting it here un-edited, so forgive any typos or ridiculous hyperbole. Techpedition didn’t have any copy-editors, lol.

Abandon All Expectations – IDW’s TMNT is a True Reboot

I know all of you loyal Techpedition readers have been clamoring to hear my opinion on the new IDW Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book series. You’ve been waiting for the proverbial stamp of approval from yours truly before diving into yet another turtles comic series. All cheesy bravado aside, I’ve never been shy about my love for the TMNT and I can say definitively that IDW’s take on the Turtles is the most “out of left field” to date. Caution: Major Spoilers Ahead!!!

With 5 or so proper issues and a Micro series half done, enough of the story is on the record for me to start spilling opinions. First off, Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz are rebuilding the Turtle lore completely. When it comes to this revamp, nothing is off limits. The first story arc not only doesn’t include The Shredder, but for the vast majority of it, the Turtles are looking for Raphael, who is lost. Essentially, the Turtles don’t “become a team” until issue 4, that really sets the tone for series.

The origin story is uniquely different in ways that have never been explored in TMNT fiction. Rather than Splinter being the pet rat of ninja master Hamato Yoshi, he is actually the reincarnated soul of Yoshi in the body of a rat. The Turtles are the reincarnated souls of his 4 (murdered by the Shredder) sons. The mutation they went through was originally caused by a mutagen accidentally spilled by aliens. In the IDW series, the mutagen is a super soldier formula developed by Baxter Stockman for a “yet to be seen” General Krang.

Probably the most alarming change in the story is the fact that the Turtles don’t age to their “teenage years” as Turtles. Immediately after the mutation, they are full grown Teenage Turtles. This is used as a plot device to have April and other characters interact with the Turtles and Splinter both before and after the mutation. It was a bit alarming at first, and I was questioning the writing until the origins of the turtles came to light. Conveniently, to fit the story better, the Turtles don’t need a 15 year maturation period.

Casey has had a pretty big role as Raph’s first post-mutation friend and his story has seen significant panels. This is probably due to Eastman’s fondness for the character. Clearly there’s a lot of backstory that is in the works, especially in the Stockman-Krang relationship, but its being doled out very sparingly.

This is one of my principle problems with the story telling style. Ideas that didn’t make any sense in the first issue aren’t clarified in a timely manner. Personally I love it, but I don’t know if its good for the series itself. Readers that are in for the long haul, like myself, benefit greatly from the serialization of the story, but I can see where jumping into the series mid-run could be really hard. Once they are 20-30 issues in, the groundwork will be laid and penetrating the fiction will become very hard.

The writing is the sharpest the TMNT have seen since, Tristan Jones’ Tales of the TMNT stories or the Dreamwave series in 2003. I’m not a huge fan of the art style. Its nice to see the Turtles in color, but I can’t get into the intentionally gritty and slightly abstracted depictions of the Turtles. Luckily the story is strong enough to carry the title. I really miss the art from the Mirage series. That weird Jim Lawson style kind of grew on me. The important thing the series has going for it right now is that its interesting. That’s something the Turtles have needed for a long time.

The most significant new character in the series is a mutant cat named Old Hob. He was mutated along with the Turtles and is the reason Raphael was separated from his brothers. I really like Old Hob, he has a swagger about him that other Turtles secondary characters like Hun or Null have had in the past. I’m not sure if a recently mutated cat being a gang member makes sense yet, but if the short history of the series has shown anything, its shown a resilience to logic breaking plot points. So, I’ll hold off on passing judgement just yet.

I really like it when properties venture in new directions and the Turtles have never been afraid to do just that. This is by far the most radical (ha, see what I did there) departure to date. Eastman being involved in the transformation gives the departure some validity. I don’t think IDW and Tom Waltz could get away with this series “as is” without having someone close to the Turtles supporting them. I’m sure the fans would rake them over the coals.

A note to IDW as a publisher: As a slightly crazed collector of the comics, I don’t appreciate each book having multiple variants on day one. The first 5 issues had anywhere from 4 to 12 variants a piece. I understand it, they’ve got to make money, but 12!? I understand subsequent printings having different covers, but retailer incentive variants and store specific covers are disappointing and nearly impossible to track down. I end up buying multiple copies of the same book for no good reason. It also takes the novelty of the cover art away. One of my favorite parts of the old TMNT books was the iconic nature of the cover art. With four different covers available for each book, no one cover stands out as THE cover to the book.

On the other hand, I want to praise IDW for releasing the nicest collected book to date of the original Mirage TMNT books. The hard cover collection of the first 8 books of the Mirage series is a beefy, beautiful and true to the original books. The weird Peter Laird, computer re-shading, George Lucas inspired, tragedy of a reprinting has been abandoned. Thank GOD! IDW, please keep these collections coming.

#tmnt #Ninja Turtles #teenage mutant ninja turtles #idw

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sakyou · 8 years ago

Text

Dear Vocalist Wired Entry No. 2 Joshua (Full Translation)

This is Joshua, Joshua is a good boy, please love Joshua.

Joshua is the new vocalist joining us in Dear Vocalist season 3 following Ciel’s departure for America (｡ﾉω＼｡)ﾟ

Please note there are slight mentions of self harm and if that makes you uncomfortable I would suggest maybe giving this one a miss.

Apologies for any mistakes, it’s been a while and audio translations aren’t my strong point (/)u(\)

(Translation under the cut - Do not use/repost without permission)

-Song track 1: Artist Night-

-Song track 2: Stay with me-

Key to (My) Love

Good evening i’m Brave Child’s Joshua! Thank you so much for coming out to our live! Are you ready my devils!

*cheering*

Good! But that’s not enough, you can do better than that right!

*Louder cheering*

Then, tonight we’ll light this place up so stick with us until the very end!

We have an announcement for our devils. It’s been confirmed we’ll be performing at the upcoming rock fes!

*Cheering*

(0:51)

Thank you!

No matter how big the stage we’ll put on the best live for our devils.

Now then, shall we get started? Are you ready to receive our love devils? *cheering* Okay, we’ll love you until the very end!

*music plays*

(1:30)

Found you~ *kiss* It’s fine, you came all the way backstage to see me right? Ne, lets go somewhere the two of us can be alone. Come on this way!

(2:06)

So small, well it’ll do. Ah, be careful there’s the buttons for the bidet there.

We’re finally alone *kiss*

Haaa, it’s fine, I want to be with you after a live. No~ I won’t stop. If I have to hold back then we could do this tomorrow. I’m working on a new song but I can’t concentrate.

(2:57)

That’s why, I want to flirt with you right now, besides I can’t stop. I hate flirting in public but I can’t hold back anymore. It’s all your fault, you’ll take responsibility.... won’t you? *kiss*

(3:30)

You can leave the other members be. Right now, only think of me.

It’s fine the door’s closed, if you don’t make a sound we won’t get caught.

Eh~ I got it! Then how about this, come stay over at my place tonight. If we do that there’s no problem right? Lets do lots of things, at my house.

(4:11)

*smiles* Yeah, ah but I have a meeting after this not to mention it’s with a guy that likes to drag things on...*sigh*

(4:27)

Eh? No no, I couldn’t let my girlfriend wait outside that late. What if something were to happen to you? ...wait a sec

*pulls out key*

Here, it’s the spare key to my house. You can use it, so wait for me there. *smiles* I’m happy too, we can be together more then.

Even if you’re only free for a bit come and see me. I love you

(5:15)

*footsteps*

Hmm? Seems like we’ve been found *sigh* I want to be with you rather than go to a meeting though. I got it, i’ll go.

*Opening door*

Wait! *pulls you in* I don’t want to after all. Lets stay here a little more. I haven’t had enough of you at all. Stay with me a little more.

(5:56)

I love you so much *kiss* Today, I was only looking at you. You were on the second floor waving your hand weren’t you?

Even though there were so many people there I found you right away. My eyes only went to you, I was a little troubled.

At the next live don’t come looking so good, like this you’re just too cute I might jump you.

(6:36)

*kiss* Your hair smells nice.

Hm? What’s wrong? Ah, the cuts on my arm. I don’t know. When I realised it they were already like this. I might have caught it on something.

I’m fine i’m fine. It’s healing, if I wear something long sleeved you can’t see it. It’s not effecting my lives either, don’t worry about it.

That aside, before I go off to everyone else...lets kiss more *kiss*

Lies Lay ahead

Hm, alright! This feels good, I wonder what I should do for the arrangement.

As I thought I want a ‘only one’ kind of feel to it. *phone rings* Oh *laughs* even the stickers they use are cute. If I don’t respond they’ll be worried

(0:34)

Good night *sigh* I want to see them soon, it’s been a week since i’ve seen their face.

I may be reaching my limit. But, i’ll endure it until the song is done *laughs* they wished me good luck with work using a stamp after all

I have to do this properly. Alright, for their sake too i’ll write the best song!

(1:17)

*music plays, Joshua pauses it, then replays the same part*

That’s not it, maybe I should lower the bass a little more. *replays* that part might not be the problem the whole thing is too weak.

What day is it today? *checks phone*

I still have time, alright once more from the beginning.

(2:10)

*While playing the Keyboard Joshua becomes frustrated*

This won’t do! I have to give it more of a catch. Why can’t I make it sound good.

*phone alert*

Ah- it’s from the company

*throws phone*

(2:45)

The melody is fine, the problem is the hook of the song. It’s the most important part I have to do it right. If it’s me then I can do it.

I can do it, I can do it. I can do it!

*Goes back to playing the keyboard*

(3:13)

Dammit *slams keyboard and throws everything aside*

No, no, this isn’t it, it isn’t it!

Anyone can come up with something like this. If it’s not a song that only I can come up with it’s no good. I need to come up with a even better Brave Child like song.

Haa. I have to.

*Joshua scrunches the piece of paper up and the doorbell rings*

Tsk, who is it? *throws the paper aside and storms off towards the door*

(3:53)

*opens door*

Ah sorry I took so long, I had my headphones on so I couldn't’ hear.

What is it all of a sudden? You said you were coming? Ah, you left a message. Ah come to think of it my phone might have run out of battery. I’m really sorry. Eh? Ah, a bento, No way you made this for me?

Crap, i’m seriously happy. You don’t have to worry i’m fine. I’ve been sleeping properly, i’m eating too.

(4:59)

You’re wrong~ these aren’t bags under my eyes it’s makeup. Didn’t you know? Mens makeup has become pretty popular recently.

Ah. *nervous laughter* i’m kidding....yeah I haven’t been sleeping or eating....I may have been struggling a little. But, it’ll be fine it’s the hardships of my work

(5:34)

Up until now there’s never been anything I couldn’t do. You’re such a worrywart. Even so can you say that you love me? *laughs* I love you too.

Come in, my room’s a bit of a mess so lets eat later.

*walks in*

(6:10)

*Joshua sampling tracks later on*

Wrong. *switches track* this isn’t it either. *switches* this too, this either, they’re all wrong!

*Throws headphones*

They’re so plain and lacking. What is it...I should be able to do better. *Pulls pen out and writes* I have to make the hook stronger, the overall melody too, and the melody of the hook, then- *crosses out*

Why...why....Why won’t anything come to me!?

Dammit! Dammit! Dammit! Arrrgh

*Throws something, shatters*

(7:08)

Haa...haa....sunlight. It’s happening again like that time

*phone rings* Huh?

*Joshua walks over to get his phone tripping over something. He gets back up, and grabs his phone*

Shut up, shut up, shut up! I know I have to come up with a song!

I’ve been working and working so hard for Brave child and yet! Why why why! Why can’t anyone understand!?

(7:59)

Shut up!

*throws phone*

Haa....ha...I really am alone after all. The other members and staff are nothing but a burden. It’s always the same no matter where I am.

*kicks things over*

They don’t know a thing....I don’t want this anymore.

(8:28)

No more! Why does it have to be like this!?

*throws things across the room, shatter*

Haa....ha...haaa...

*door bell rings*

Haa....haaa....huh?

(9:00)

*click click click*

No more, I don’t want this. No one understands. It hurts.

*cut*

*flinches* ugh...haa....haa...*laughs*

*The door bell continues to ring*

(9:38)

*Outside ringing the door bell you hear a smashing sound. Pulling out your spare key you quickly open the door and run inside*

Eh? You...why are you here?

*Running up to him you grab what was in his hand*

No don’t, what if you get hurt!? Ah....let go of me...don’t touch me!

Why!? This has nothing to do with you!

(10:36)

You were worried...ah. I’m sorry....i’m such a fool. I made you worry, i’m the worst.

Sorry, don’t cry. I’m sorry.

(11:20)

Thank you for treating my wounds. It’s all my fault though. No...come to think of it how did you get in here earlier?

*You pull out the spare key*

Ah *nervous laughter* the key. It’s a good thing you didn’t give it back.

*sprays disinfectant* T-That hurt. Hang on aren’t you using a little too much disinfectant? It really stings.

Haa. I’m sorry for joking about being glad you didn’t give the key back, I never once thought that. I always wanted for you to have it, if you were to give it back after all this time, i’d be really sad.

(12:27)

*wraps bandage* Yeah. Thank you.

Rather than when...before I even noticed, i’d done it. It was the same as when I did it.

Yeah, but it’s not like I always do it. Whenever i’m troubled over music and it’s not going well I lose control of my emotions. Occasionally this’ll happen. That time you saw those cuts on my arm after the live it was the same.

The people around me call me a genius. I never really had trouble writing songs, I could quickly come up with the best songs but sometimes I can’t seem to do it.

What even is my own music? There are times where I don’t know. Once that happens it’s became some sort of a bad habit

(13:54)

When this happened before the band split up soon after but I was relieved.

Even if I said it was for the sake of the songs, if there were people that realised I was self harming the members would worry too.

After that, I had decided I wouldn’t do it anymore, but in the end even after returning to Japan nothings changed. Even though I had said I would never do it again.

(14:24)

Earlier too I don’t know why....there’s no way I could talk about it.

You might think I was a useless boyfriend...I was afraid...

If I said I quit music because something like that happened, there’s no way anyone could understand right?

That’s why, I hid it all this time.

(15:00)

I’m seriously lame aren’t I?

The people around me say i’m a genius and charismatic. I thought I had talent too...but the truth is i’m this kind of guy.

When things don’t go the way I want I get irritated, I break things, I end up going as far as to do things like this. I really am the worst aren’t I?

(15:35)

No. I am the worst.

For the sake of my music, I made you worry.

If you were to ask me to quit music then....I...would be fine quitting music.

Why are you grasping my hand?

(16:21)

Eh...you don’t want me to quit?

That’s just the kind of person you are. Why are you so kind...you really understand me.

*hugs*

It’s like you say, I love music. I have nothing else but music. With the deadline approaching and a job to be done, there’s no way I could quit anyway.

(17:13)

In that case, I’ll do it until the very end, for you too.

I’m sorry *kiss*

To overcome the pain

Ah! Over here! No, I just got here too.

I had work at a studio nearby today, lets go. We finished mixing our new song earlier. I want you to be the first one to hear it.

(0:36)

*Artist night finishes plays*

How is it? Really!? I’m so happy to hear you say that!

It’s thanks to you I finished this song. I never would have been able to create such a great song on my own.

(1:11)

I’m really sorry about what happened previously, and thank you.

*kiss*

Why are you being embarrassed? Look this way. I want to look at your face more.

Hm? Ah this, it’s just a little left over from before. No, it doesn’t hurt. *laughs* That tickles, touching me like that isn’t fair *pulls you in*

You’re touching me too much this is revenge *kiss*

(2:19)

Your face, your voice, how your kind, how you get embarrassed...and how much you love me....I love all of you. Not to mention when i’m with you I feel calm.

You’re the only person I could talk to about my self harm.

(2:48)

Ne, could you hear out one request of mine?

You probably don’t really want to think about it but, if I become like that again...may I call you?

Of course i’ll try my best so it won’t happen.

*hug*

Really? I’m so happy. Then, it’s a promise.

(3:31)

I’m doing this knowing you’re embarrassed.

*pouts* Besides there’s no way I could not kiss you. I’m not being mean, come on be quiet *kiss*

I will never let you go, I love you.

#dear vocalist #rejet #drama cd #Drama CD translation #aarutranslations

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kyouxa · 6 years ago

Text

Diabolik lovers Chaos Lineage: Reiji Sakamaki (Story 11)

Monologue

A few days have passed, since we started collecting information to change the current situation.

Until now, I don't see any unusual behavior from anyone else.

Instead, there was another piece of information which I gathered—

The map that Reiji-san was making, showed us another terrible reality.

Place: Scarlet mansion — Reiji‘s bedroom

Reiji: This is...

Yui: Ah! Did you complete the map?

Reiji: Yes... would you like to see it?

Yui: Y-Yes.

(What does that mean? Somehow my complexion is getting a little pale...)

Eh!? Is that really the completed map... ?

Reiji: Yes. The drawing is based on what exactly our familiars described.

Until now, we were investigating mainly in the vicinity of mansions and churches in anticipation of conflicts with other families.

But, the outside world was not even reachable for us... I drew an undeveloped land.

Yui: B-But this map, the end of the map is broken into a square ...?

Reiji: That is indeed correct. The edge of this land has been cut into a square.

Yui: What does that mean...?

Reiji: According to the report from my familiar, this is a true isolated island on real land.

Reiji: The precipice of a cliff has completely pinched the ground. That means, it continues to straight up to us.

The abyss are where the bottom is not visible under the cliff. There is no opposite shore and the horizon is blurry yet unclearly as if a spirit was hanging.

I do not think that this kind of land is a natural occur.

In other words, as initially expected, we are confined in a space created by magic.

Right now, it has been officially proved.

Yui: That means that we really are in a created space...

(On this square land, there are forests, a church, and mansions. We are actually able to live here)

(If you think about it, it’s horrible. It’s like an abandoned board game that we are caught up in….)

Reiji: Although I knew about it, it would not be good if it is illustrated like this.

I wonder if the lord of this space is watching us from above, as if it was a game he stares at?

Our battle, it was already planned that blood will be washed with blood.

Yui: (This battle is overhead ...)

If so, it is really scary... If you think that you might still be watched all the time...

Reiji: Yes, but if you see no interference, our actions seem to be completely acquiesced.

However, I do not know what would happen if I did something which does not follow the will of the creator.

Yui: (Someone who can mess up everybody's memories in this space ...)

(We are really trying to confront such a powerful person ...)

Reiji: However, I thought that I could find at least a little clue ... There is nothing which is not remarkable.

Yui: This space has a mansion, a church, a forest ... and only a few resting places.

Reiji: Yes, there is only the minimum of necessaries for a fight.

Shu was heading to an abandoned house and a cave I found during the survey recently.

I hope that they discovered something that the familiars have missed ...

Yui: I agree...

Yuma: Hey! Reiji, are you in your room!?

Yui: Ah, Yuma-kun!

Reiji: Just as we talked about them, it seems as if the three scouts have returned.

Yui: If something was found in everyone's report, the survey is going a step forward!

Reiji: Yes... on the other hand, if they do not have anything new to report...

Yui: Nn...

Reiji: Anyway, let's head to the living room.

Place: Scarlet mansion — Living room

Yui: Eh! Didn’t you want to talk about something specific?

Yuma: Yea. There was a house that looked like a shack. Nothin’ came out even when we knocked tho.

Shu: The same applies to the cave... Well, I’d like to go to my bed and take a nap without anyone getting in my way.

Yui: Such...

(I thought there might at least be a hint to get out of this space or restore everyone's memories ...)

Reiji: I see... were you remembering or feeling anything while getting closer to one of these buildings?

Yuma: Oh? What ya mean? There was nothin’ else there.

Reiji: Is that so...

Kino: Even so, you were able to find a cave and an abandoned house. As expected from my big brother Reiji.

Reiji: ...If we would contend us with another family, the winner would be the one that controls this land.

Anyway, you did excellent work. For today it is good enough.

Shu: It's unusual for you to praise us like that...

Yuma: Is it really fine to have found nothin’? Are ya looking for somethin’ specific?

Reiji: Yes... But it seems like I was disappointed.

Yuma: What the hell, just what are ya exactly lookin’ for? We might have missed it.

Reiji: No, it is fine. Everyone should rest for today.

Yuma: What the hell, you can just tell us about it.

Shu: I didn’t plan on increasing my work anyway. I’ll go to sleep.

*Shu leaves*

Yuma: Ah! That damn guy Shu. The most of our exploration work was done by me and Kino anyway.

Kino: Well, whatever. Our brother Shu has been like this from the very beginning.

Yui: Shu-san...

(The air is still thin between him and Reiji-san ...)

(And there were no satisfying results of the search. Once again we got stuck—)

Place: Scarlet Mansion — Reiji’s bedroom

Yui: I thought it was a good idea, but we got nothing as a result...

Reiji: Yes. It may be a different story if they had their memories back...

As long as they keep hearing this story, the hope seems to become thin.

Yui: What can we do if this happens... ?

Reiji: Do you desperately want to wander around and research the exit of this space... ?

Will you appeal to everyone here to regain their memories? Think about that first.

Yui: It kinda sounds ridiculous…

(I wonder if there even is an exit in this space in the first place... Can we really get out of this timeline—)

Reiji: I see that you feel depressed in this room. Would you like to drink a cup of tea in the living room?

Yui: Oh, that would be great!

Place: Scarlet Mansion — Living room

Yui: Yes, I’ll serve another cup then.

Reiji: Thank you very much. Was it okay for you that I brew the tea like this?

Yui: Yes, thanks for the previous herbal tea.

Reiji: I see. Do not hesitate to ask for another cup.

Yui: I’m glad that we are able to spend some time in peace in this way...

Reiji: I agree. Fortunately somehow, Carla and Ruki have no sign of showing any movements.

However, this is a temporary world. No matter how calm it is, you can not just soak.

Yui: That’s right...

(I thought that maybe I am able to do something, but I couldn't do anything. My feelings are just getting impatient)

(And if we can't get out, we will forever stay in this small miniature garden... That would be absolutely disgusting... !)

Reiji: There are wrinkles in your eyebrows.

Yui: Eh!? I am sorry, I was just overthinking...

Reiji: Good grief, did you think I have not realized how you look? Right now I just want you to remain calm with your heart.

I do not have a certain specification. Put your cup down and lean on me for a little.

Yui: Huh? Y-Yes...

Um, should I really lean on... ?

Reiji: That is right. Come a little closer.

Choices

1) — Refrain (black)

2) — Be shy (white) ♡ ♡ ♡

— Refrain

Yui: W-What if I’m heavy? I don’t want Reiji-san to get tired.

Reiji: If you are worried about me, you should not show me such a disgusted face from the beginning next time.

Yui: Uhh...

Reiji: If you understand, come here.

*Reiji pulls Yui closer*

Yui: Kya!?

— Be shy ♡

Yui: Right now, aren’t we in the living room and literally everyone would be able to see us... ?

Reiji: There will be no problem about this matter. For now, we will do this for your sake.

Of course, if you do not like it we can immediately stop if it pleases you?

Yui: Just listening to it is awkward ...

Reiji: The sly yet adorable and ashamed side from you comes through. Now, come here.

*Reiji pulls Yui closer*

Yui: Ah...

end Choices

Yui: (He hugged me rather than letting me lean onto him...)

Reiji: Relax your body and close your eyes for the time being.

Recently, I forced you to do a lot of things.

Yui: That’s not true, Reiji-san was busier than I was. You worked hard every day since then.

Reiji: There is nothing much about this. Anyway, it personally affects me if your face is shaded because of something I forced you to do.

I can not protect every person who thinks they are tormented by helplessness.

If you do not want me to be armored, please spend our remaining time calmy.

Yui: (The hand that strokes my head is gentle. Actually, maybe even Reiji-san’s heart is calm and able to forget everything for this moment)

(But, I am completely fine with him being gentle in this type of situation ...)

Thank you very much. Pardon my rudeness, but could you do this a little longer... ?

Reiji: Yes, of course. I will hold you until you settle down.

Yui: (I feel finally feel more relieved. Before Reiji-san’s memories came back, I didn't even remember this feeling)

(Still, I am happy just being together with him, he really is the most special person to me...)

(I love it when we clean together or when he teaches me about chess—)

Oh, the chess board...

*Yui backs off*

Reiji: What is the matter?

Yui: No, I just thought that I got a chess guide from Reiji-san there.

Reiji: Oh, it is the chess board which does not have all its pieces. Speaking of that, how did that happen?

We might be like those chess pieces. Because, they are standing on the square earth and they fight for something as well.

Yui: If you say it like that, we may be similar.

(Chess or...)

(Speaking of which, I've been stuck here, but I think I saw some chess piece around somewhere?)

Reiji: What is it, your expression turned surprisingly tense.

Yui: No, I've always been interested in that since I came to this mansion. I feel like I saw some chess pieces around somewhere.

Reiji: Before the both of us played with the chess board there?

Yui: Yes, before that. But, I don’t remember where I exactly saw them...

Reiji: Chess pieces ... Could it be, that you saw them in the church?

Yui: Eh?

Reiji: Knowing that Eve has awakened, I also stepped into the church myself.

At that time, there was a stone statue which imitated something like one.

Yui: Oh ... yes!

Yui: Nn...

(That... things... ?)

(Large stone statues are lined up ... The shape of a horse and castle which looked like chess pieces)

The stone statues in the church! Those looked like the missing chess pieces.

(I remembered it and finally refreshed it, but why were there chess pieces even though it was a church?)

Reiji: Are they... in the church?

Yui: Reiji-san?

Reiji: No, I may had forgotten because I finished the role of capturing Eve after her awakening.

The church may still have room for us to examine.

Yui: Eh!?

Reiji: Until you woke up, the church was covered with magical power to surround you and nobody could enter.

The place where Eve woke up. A sanctuary that was forbidden to be entered before the fight began.

And as you see on this map, it is the center of this land. Do not you think there might be something hidden?

Yui: S-Surely... !

(Only in that church, the air was somehow different. It wouldn’t be a strange thing if there would be a secret hidden)

Reiji: After all, it seems to be worth visiting.

This time, I will not leave it to Shu alone anymore.

I will go for myself. Of course, I would have to take you with me...

Yui: Of course, I will follow you! If you have a clue to change this situation, I want to go with you!

Besides, I don’t want to leave Reiji-san’s side ever again.

Reiji: Hmph... I see. This is not a bad response.

Then, let's head out tomorrow as soon as possible. Is that alright?

Yui: Yes!

(This may seems weird. But, if there is just a slightly possibility, there is no choice but to investigate it... !)

(And I'm sure we will eventually find something. If we go to that church, something must happen—)

Shu: Where are you going?

Yui: Kya!?

S...Shu-san!

Reiji: ... So you were here.

Shu: I'm here now. And? I can go somewhere else if you want.

Yui: W-What should we do ... It seems as if we’ve been watched.

Reiji: There is no need to hide. We can tell him for now.

Tomorrow, I and her will aim for the church

Shu: The church? Hm... why are you going to that place again?

So that means that we are supposed to follow you again, right?

Reiji: … No, I’d not like you to accompany with us this time.

Yui: Eh!

Shu: What?

Reiji: Of course, it would be helpful to have more members following us. However, the situation is different this time.

Since this is an action which is not able to be understood by anyone other than me and her.

Yui: (Yes, there is no point in going there for them if they are not aiming for the sleeping Eve in the church anymore)

(We are going there to retrieve their memories or to just find some information about this space ...)

(He wouldn’t believe us if we told him that...)

Reiji: I would like to accompany with her so she can not be attacked by another family. But I will not force you to come along.

Shu: Heh. Then my support isn’t necessary for you this time?

Reiji: That is right.

Shu: Hm...

... You somehow changed.

Reiji: What?

Shu: It’s nothing. I’ll go back to my room.

*Shu leaves*

Yui: Ah ... Shu-san!

Reiji: You do not have to stop that man. That is because Shu has no reason to help us.

Yui: But...

(Even Reiji-san would have really wanted to let Shu-san help us)

(But, for now I can't tell Shu-san about that neither he would believe it...)

Reiji: Let's just talk to Yuma and Kino about it. It is up to them if they want to come along or not.

Yui: Yes...

Monologue

It’s the day after explaining the situation to Yuma and Kino-kun.

Me and Reiji-san were preparing to leave for the location of the church.

Surprisingly, Yuma-kun offered to accompany him, because he was worried about us.

And for some reasons Kino-kun made fun of our idea, but at the end he decided to follow us as well.

It’s really encouraging for me to have everyone with us. However, only Shu-san did not come out of his room since yesterday anymore...

Place: Scarlet mansion — entrance hall

Reiji: Everyone has gathered by now. Let’s head to the church right away.

Yuma: Say, is it okay to leave that guy Shu here?

Reiji: This time you would say voluntary accompaniment. I was not going to force him to join.

Kino: Heh, aren’t you usually saying that it’s the eldest son's order? What kind of thing changed your personality?

Reiji: ... This kind of chat is unnecessary. We will go out if everyone is ready.

Kino: Yes yes. This certain attitude probably never changes on you.

Yui: (Shu-san, there wasn’t even a reply from his room anymore after we talked about that topic)

(But it can't be helped ... as Reiji-san says, we can't force him to join us)

Shu: *yawns*... tired...

Yui: Eh... Shu-san!?

Kino: Eh? What’s wrong? Sleepwalking?

Shu: Do you want to bother me? ...I’m getting tired of answering you.

Yui: Eh?

Shu: That’s why I’m getting tired of answering. Being alone in the mansion just would be dull.

It’s easier for me if I’d just follow you around.

Yui: That means... you actually decided to come with us?

Shu: Isn't that already obvious?

Yui: Shu-san... !

(He is acting the same as always, but he is willing to go with us...!)

Reiji: Shu... why?

Shu: If you’re saying it like that, should I return to my room?

Yui: No! Please don’t! I want you to come along!

Shu: Fine. Then let’s go.

*Shu walks away*

Yui: Oh please wait!

Yuma: Why is it that you made up with him, say it already!

*Yuma follows Shu*

Shu: You’re noisy. That's not even right.

Reiji: Good grief... what a selfish behavior...

Yui: Fufu, Reiji-san you look a little bit happy as well, don’t you?

Reiji: It's because of my mind. I did not expect much when that man came here.

Nonetheless, all of you are now ready to leave this mansion.

Let’s leave. The church will be waiting for us—

Yui: Yes!

Place: Outside — Church

Shu: So this is the inside of the church... I entered it for the first time.

Yuma: When we came to pick up Eve, only you were sleepin’ in the mansion.

Yui: (This is the place where I woke up. The center of this space ...)

(After all, it’s true that the air is different in this place)

Kino: There seems to be no one here, but what are you going to do now?

Reiji: I have something to look into. Yet I do not know where it is.

Shu: This is a vague story…

Yui: Reiji-san, those stone statues are looking like the chess pieces we talked about.

Reiji: That's right. Luke, Pawn and the King...

There is a sense of incongruity for statues placed in such a church.

And this floor is patterned. The check pattern is just like a chess boards.

Yui: Speaking of which, that proves... that the church itself seems like a chess board

???: I see, this is exactly built up like a real chess board.

Yui: Eh... ?!

Ruki: I've been waiting, Eve. And Scarlet’s leader Reiji.

Reiji: Ruki...

Yui: (Wait a second, Ruki-kun is here as well... !?)

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the-not-so-silent-back-up · 4 years ago

Text

Until Full Moon

-1 -2 -3

Werwolf!(f)reader x Jaskier

Chapter -2-

After a few minutes of walking you finally saw a small tent and a little fire, and another man.

"Jaskier are you getting robbed right now or who is this in your camp?"

"Oh no… that's my friend. He probably won't have a problem with you staying here overnight"

You got a closer look at the man. Tall, white hair you don't know if it's the fire or does he really have amber eyes?

"There you are finally. And you aren't alone! Who did you pick up this time"

The man had a rough deep voice.

"Hey Geralt that is Y/N I found her in the woods all alone. Y/N this is my friend Geralt of Rivia."

You reached out to shake Geralt's hand but he doesn't even look at you, he just looks at Jaskier with a really unpleasant look.

"All her stuff is gone, so I said she can eat with us and tomorrow I will help her find it again"

"And you believe that"

Jaskier turned to you again

"Come Y/N sit next to me"

And then he turns to Geralt again, you can feel that he doesn't want you here, does he know what you are. He is a Witcher you finally realised, Geralt of Rivia you heard this name in the villages you passed. Of course he knows what you are, it's his job to identify monsters like you. You can't look at him or at Jaskier. You just stare at the fire that got bigger and warm because of the new wood that the fire eats with pleasure.

You feel a touch of a hand on your shoulder. Jaskier's blue eyes are searching for yours, his look is soft and asking. You just nodded.

"I found her all alone, unconscious and naked in the woods! I don't know what happened to her but I knew that I couldn't leave her there. What would you have done? Oh mighty Witcher, who knows everything better than a stupid Bard."

Your eyes switched between the two of them, till Geralt catched your look.

"I guess shouldn't behave like that, I am sorry Y/N, it was a long day, but it's nice to meet you"

Did he just apologised? Is this a trap or something?

"It is alright"

"Yes it was a long day and Yes you are guessing right you should not behave like that towards a young lady..."

"Jaskier I already said sorry .."

"What about me?"

You chuckled a bit, but neither of them noticed.

"Oh Gods can we just eat now"

"Fine. But you owe me an apology."

"I put it on the list"

You still don't feel completely safe but you're sure the Witcher doesn't know, or at least he doesn't care. But you are grateful for the food, the fire and the company. You didn't have a real conversation since weeks or maybe months.

Conversation wasn't the right word exactly. You were listening to the stories Jaskier tells, about the adventures he and Geralt have had. Watching these two men together was a joy, they are so different and but they get along pretty well. It seems that jaskier always makes the stories a little more dangerous and exciting than it really happened, and Geralt doesn't even contradict him, he just shakes his head from time to time.

"It may can be that it didn't exactly happened that way. But it sounds better like that."

The fire burns slowly down and there was no firewood left. It has to be really late. And you can feel yourself getting tired even after your unwanted nap in the woods.

"... and then we heard these farmers talking about a wolf that is after their sheeps and cows and whatever. I immediately knew something was going on…"

Oh no

"... after the time with Geralt I knew what they were talking about has to be a werewolf…"

What would happen if you just ran away now. You couldn't look at Jaskier anymore -

"... so I informed them, that they won't find a werewolf at daytime… "

No, Geralt would know what you are if you would do that

"... at first they of course didn't believe me, but after they saw the white wolf, at least one of them knew I am right. He is good at convincing people …"

He would kill you in one second, no doubt

"... so the last one hired Geralt to hunt that werewolf. But the last full moon was last night, so we have to wait almost one month… "

Oh you are aware of that.

"... and he only will pay when Geralt brought him the head of that monster. And that's why we have to sleep here on this meadow, because we can't afford to rent a room for that long time. "

You forgot that you actually asked him why they sleep in this tent. This long time Jaskier was just talking about is actually all the time you have left alive. But does this matter. What is your life worth since you got cursed. You hide in the woods as deep as possible so the damage that you cause won't be that big. But this time you were to slow and that's the price you have to pay now. But what did you live for anyway, all of your family is gone. You don't have friends anymore they all think you are dead. You travel from town to town and hope that no one will remember you. You don't belong anywhere. Maybe this was your destiny.

In your eyesight you see Jaskier looking worried at you, because you didn't say anything.

"Geralt. You have to kill me in one month. I am the werewolf"

You feel the looks on you, but you don't care.

"No that cannot be true."

"Why should I lie to you? "

You got angry

"Only men can become werewolves"

"But I am one. Didn't you asked yourself why I lied there naked"

It's surprising that Jaskier don't say anything.

"It was because I just turned back into my human form after I ate one of the sheeps"

"But they teach us that there can only be male werewolves."

Geralt began again. You felt tears rolling down from your eyes. You aren't sure if the came from you anger or from your fear and sadness.

"But here I am. Go touch me with your silver sword if you don't believe me. Go on and see how it burns my skin."

You didn't realised that you were standing and screaming at the witcher, who was ordered to kill you. You once felt it. The silver on your skin.

"No Y/N I won't touch you with my silver sword, please sit down"

"You still don't believe me? Do you?"

"Y/N please sit down, we can talk about this"

The anger is burning in you.

"No there is nothing to talk about. I am the monster you're the witcher. That's it."

"You are not a monster"

"If you don't believe me now. You will see in a month. See you"

You turned on your heels and headed off to the woods. But you feel your left arm being pulled back. And then you feel it, first the smooth metal and then the burning hot pain caused by it. You screamed so loud you couldn't hear what Jaskier said. The pain brings you on your knees. Can see Jaskier looking at his hands in disgust.

"these damn rings" he shouts

He took of the rings as fast as he can to help you up again. You lied there weeping in the grass, holding left arm. It was only a tiny wound but it burned like hundreds.

He gently picked you up and placed you again next to him. You couldn't stop it you feel safe in his arms.

The pain is getting better and you can finally notice again what is happening around you. Geralt has a really serious face, it seems that he is thinking about what just happened. Now there can't be no doubt anymore. And Jaskier is gone searching for something.

"Y/N, I am so sorry, I didn't even knew that these were actual silver rings. Please let me take care of the wound. We have a salve for this. Please let me take care of it! I never wanted to hurt you"

You are still unable to speak. You just look at the man. He looks so worried and sorry. He means what he's saying.

Your left arm is still pressed to your body, as if this would help. But you stretch out your arm that Jaskier could see the wound. You looked at it once but you just couldn't let your eyes stay there. It looks worse than you thought. You look at Geralt, you don't know why, what the hell is he doing? He scrolls through a book.

You feel something cold touching your skin. And it burns again but different.

"Hey look at me" Jaskier must have noticed your reaction "It's alright now, it have to hurt a bit but tomorrow it will be almost gone"

You don't see what he is doing with his hands you just watch his face. He looks serious, he looks worried and concentrated about what he is doing, because of you?

"It doesn't matter. Your friend has to kill me anyways"

Jaskier looks at you pretty shocked and you're surprised too about what you just said.

"I am the werewolf, now the can't be a doubt anymore you both saw the prove."

You wanted to show the men you wound but it's already wrapped up in a clean cloth. "oh thank you" Your voice got really quite.

"But it still doesn't matter I am a dead woman, my days has been counted. My breath is limited. My life is over."

You feel the tears start streaming down your face, and what you also feel is that Jaskier is holding your hand.

"No that is not true. We will find a way to solve that problem"

"Jaskier it's not a problem. It's a curse. And how? How can you say something like."

"Because I know it. Y/N do you know what most people don't know about witchers?" he doesn't wait for your answer "They can undo curses, with some old rituals and magic. But most people don't want them to uncurse those creatures, they just want these creatures dead. And they won't pay if they undo the curse. And that's why most people don't know about this, because I don't sing about this and cause they don't want to know about this. And yes if you would have met another witcher he probably would have captured you until full moon and killed you then. But you are a lucky one because you met Geralt of rivia, he is the witcher to break your curse, he will undo it so you will have a normal life again. And he already started searching for some methods."

What you just heard was unbelievable, undo a curse you never heard of something like that before, only in fairy tales.

"But why does he do that?" is the only thing you could say.

"Because I asked him to."

Jaskier got his soft look back, as he swipe a tear from your cheek.

"But why did you do that?" it seems like it's the only sentence left.

"Because it's not fair, you deserve a better life. And because…... I like you."

You couldn't say anything. You just look down to his hand that is holding yours. This moment was something you never had before.

You both got roughly torn from that moment by the deep voice of the witcher.

"I didn't found anything here in my books, I will head to the next library tomorrow before dawn. Can I leave you here? I will be back in the evening. Don't wait with the supper for me. I don't know how long it'll take."

Geralt didn't waited for an answer, he just crawled into the small tent.

#The-not-so-silent-back-up #geralt of rivia #The witcher fic #Jaskier #The witcher Netflix #Reader fic #jaskier the bard #y/n #alina writes #jaskier x reader

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happymetalgirl · 5 years ago

Text

April 2020

WELL! I have been gone awhile, very busy, and look what happens when I slow down writing about metal: the world starts to fucking fall apart. But no, in all seriousness. I’m writing this part now at the beginning of June after an already tumultuous April and May, and now I’m just making myself sit down and do this because, well, honestly, it’s been pretty hard to justify spending my time writing about music with all the fuck shit going on right now. (I can’t wait to see what July throws at us.) But again, in all seriousness, I’m not looking for any pity or sympathy for my relatively mild circumstances at all because in all honesty, my white privilege has allowed my life to be pretty okay and proceed mostly uninterrupted in the midst of everything going on.

I’m probably going to repost this part in its own post, but I feel like I have to get this out of the way before I write any more about music. I’ll start by disseminating any ambiguity on what I’ll be talking about in these paragraphs that I am intentionally bolding.

As I write this in the midst of a fucking respiratory virus pandemic, another epidemic (possibly pandemic) of racist police brutality that has always existed in a culture of unhinged toxic masculinity in my increasingly embarrassing country has exploded to unbelievable and disgusting levels against Black people and peaceful protesters in the United States, ironically in wake of protests against fucking police violence, all of which is only emboldened and encouraged by local and federal leadership that is showcasing its oppressive, totalitarian ambitions in its unprecedented attempted revocations of its citizens constitutional and human rights.

I’ll make the necessary side note that this increasingly oligarchical government subservient to the will of military and prison industry has already shown its complete disregard for human rights for decades upon decades now through its violation of human rights through offensive wars and sanctions against other countries and its dehumanization of the refugees and immigrants who its actions create.

If you haven’t already checked out of this from all the political correctness breaching your conservative bubble (good job not being that person), but you’re upset because tHiS iS sUpPoSeD tO bE a MuSiC bLoG, uh, you’re on the wrong website buddy, and the potential tipping point of a long-awaited revolution in the midst of an economic depression, a viral pandemic, and a dual crisis of grotesque police violence and evolutionary transformation of proto-fascism into fascist dictatorship is no time to go about business as usual.

BUT HOLY SHIT, ENOUGH INTRODUCTION AND ENOUGH ABOUT ME! The point of this is to spotlight what to do in the wake of all of this. First of all, I don’t have all the answers and my perspective is as limited as any person’s, so if you’re an expert on any of these matters or if you have insight from having experiences that I as a white cis male have not had, if anything I’m bringing up here could be better in any way, feel absolutely free (but not obligated) to let me know.

Okay, so lots of problems at hand. The big, all-encompassing one facing all of humanity of course is the ecological disruption caused by industrially driven human-catalyzed climate change, and the rot of everything crystallizing at this current moment feeds into exacerbating that catastrophe, the next wide-reaching issue being capitalism, whose prioritization of profit and short-term gains is incredibly ill-equipped to handle a slow emergency like climate change or a more acute emergency like a global pandemic. Here in the U.S. we have a federal government so infested with corporate corruption to maximize capital profits for the country’s most wealthy that they couldn’t even choose the obvious solution of pausing the economy and providing for its people for the duration of the pandemic in the interest of public health over the appallingly quick choice of protecting the financial interests of the corporate “donors” that help them hold their positions of power, at the risk of maybe closing the gap a tiny bit between the truly despicably wealthy and the growing number of hopelessly impoverished. So while the wealthy get protection of their assets from the slow-down of business (you know, ‘cause the pandemic), the people in most need of help because of that slow-down and plunged into spiking unemployment get shit from the people meant to represent them. And that’s just the corporate rot that rears its head as a result of a pandemic!

Even in “normal” times, capitalism in this country has built its foundation on slave labor and justifying the use of slavery through racism (even after it became illegal to outright own people as slaves). That cornerstone of free/cheap labor that this country’s economy is built on whose role was served by slavery was filled by outsourcing to countries with an easily exploitable lower class (whose conditions are often exacerbated by U.S. meddling on behalf of business interests) and prison labor made possible by mass incarceration that has targeted similarly vulnerable people and communities of color through strategic, racially profiled over-policing of minority communities trapped in poverty through historic systemic racism.

The study of that global climate change I mentioned earlier is referred to as a crisis study because there isn’t an unlimited time to do something about it, and the ever-changing conditions and pivotal events of the world effect what needs to be done to combat it (and what it is too late to do). This current crisis of police brutality is one of those types of critical moments, for climate change and social justice. Police brutality didn’t become an issue when George Floyd was murdered on May 25th 2020; it’s been an ugly facet of this multifactedly ugly country for a long time now, but its being brought to light has instigated an uprising the likes of which has not been seen in a long while, and with it, an especially insidious aggression toward it by the increasingly fascist government and its authoritarian figurehead (to the point of threatening institution of martial law and suspending first amendment rights and habeas corpus) that at this point serves only to maintain complacency for the benefit of the ruling class and to the detriment of the disproportionately non-white lower working class (treated as a slave class). Consequently this is a pivotal time that obligates widespread action and ceasing of silence from privileged people like me who have been able to get away with writing about music largely apolitically for years. This is a time when we either plunge unfathomably further into the depths of fascism at the hands of the ruling class and the silence of the less-effected or we consolidate in this moment of broad energizing to both enact substantive change on the critical issue of police brutality and set a precedent and build momentum to achieve justice for LGBTQIA+ folk, other racial minorities and marginalized groups, and make the critical changes need to avoid civilizational dissolution in the face of the imperative to mitigate our impact on global warming.

Speaking of that change and the actions that this moment implores of us all to contribute our energy to: the most immediately critical issue at our feet, to both save human lives from being taken unjustly at the hands of police brutality and to galvanize this revolution to be able to demand further justice and critical social transformation, is ending police brutality. Being an institution born out of rounding up escaped slaves and given the state-supported monopoly on violence that attracts largely those seeking to satiate sadism with the license to that monopolized violence, police culture is inherently toxic and not worth even preserving for the sake of transforming structurally. While abolishing the police is obviously too ambitious of an immediate goal, there are a lot of proposed steps to defunding and largely dismantling the police as a whole. The project Campaign Zero outlines and pushes for ten tangible reforms that would (some of which have recently been proposed in Colorado) decrease police violence, especially in the majority-Black communities that suffer from it the most. The “8 Can’t Wait” proposal that has been making rounds lately is part of Campaign Zero, and donations to these projects are of course, quite helpful and a good start for this blossoming movement. Furthermore, donations to local bail funds is especially important at this time with police making wanton arrests of peaceful protests (and also just random Black people not making any disruption) to support the people going out and protesting. Because this money of course gets siphoned into the courts, and then partially to law enforcement, it’s important to also direct funds to organizations where that money will not later be used against us, but again, keeping people able to protest is of utmost importance, since that it what is driving positive change in this moment.

Also helpful is direct support of the people on the frontlines of these protests. It is a time for privileged people to take action in solidarity and support, but not one for privileged groups to take over or “lead” the movement. Right now, this is about who is hurting the most and who is being oppressed the most, and right now that is Black people, by police, hence BLACK LIVES MATTER. Now is not a time for even underprivileged white people to use these protests’ likelihood of escalating to indulge in venting frustrations against the system by inciting police violence that puts Black people disproportionately in more danger in such situations. Now is the time to use that privilege of being less prone to racism police violence to whatever extent possible to protect the people of color protesting. And again, this isn’t about being white saviors or martyrs, this is about supporting people in the way they wish, so don’t listen to my advice over the insight and requests of what Black people and the Black community have. And by all means, fucking listen to them! Read from them! Engage in good-faith conversation with them (though don’t expect any individual Black person to give you a seminar on racism, there are ample resources that don’t demand someone devoting their precious time to you)! Learn where the limits of your perspective fail you! And for fuck’s sake, don’t just cherry pick the word of one token Black friend that happens to have some class privilege to conveniently discount the testimonies of other Black people!

Lastly, on a personal note to the metalheads that read this blog, I think this is a particularly important time for the metal community, not to center itself, but to bring itself alongside social justice in a more complete way than it has in the past. Former Opeth and current Soen drummer Martín López said last year in an interview published in Blabbermouth that the metal community is very behind the curve on sociopolitical issues, and the response to his saying that from the metal community that floods Blabbermouth comment sections basically just made the case for the exact point he was making. And it’s a shame because I think such a huge part of metal is about standing up to injustice as part of or in support of the oppressed, or at least such a huge part of the metal I gravitate toward is. Without sounding too spiritual or cheesy because I’m not a really spiritual person, I feel like when I see the injustice going on, I feel that spirit of metal in all of it on the side of the oppressed. I feel like all the grindcore and deathcore and thrash and death metal I’ve been binging lately is in the spirit of the protesters standing up to and, when they have to, fighting back against the unjustified aggression of the police, and looking back at old, certified classic albums like ...And Justice for All, Toxicity, and Chaos A.D. and more recent albums like Machine Head’s The Blackening, and Thy Art Is Murder’s Human Target, and Venom Prison’s Samsara, it’s always been about standing up to this kind of bullshit. So I think if there ever was a time since Sabbath birthed it for metal to prove that it’s as important as it makes itself out to be and as important as it is to everyone who listens to it in such a way that they read an obscure blog about it, now is that time to show that it’s not just about being an angry white guy. Now is the time to make Martín López happy by proving him wrong.

Well, in typical Happymetalboy fashion, I can’t seem to make anything brief. So, with that said, let’s talk about the metal music that came out in the good ol’ days of April 2020. Wow.

Well, April was a pretty big month. Lots of albums coming out, the whole music industry still the throes of the pandemic, it’s a damn shame we got what might be the best album I’ve ever reviewed on this blog in the midst of all this soul-crushing stagnance and financial despair in the music world. I mean, I’m certainly very glad to be getting such a great album among other great albums at a time when music is definitely helping me to keep going as well. It just sucks knowing these artists aren’t going to be able to tour in celebration of their great artistic achievements, and the first one on this list definitely deserves to celebrate.

Oranssi Pazuzu - Mestarin Kynsi

I already reviewed the Finnish band’s fifth full-length in great detail, which I highly suggest checking out because I wrote a lot about that album and I wrote it quite enthusiastically. It feels weird in a way to make the rest of the albums on this list follow my recount of an album that I already detailed in great length to be one of the best albums I have heard in years, quite possibly the best album I’ve reviewed in this blog’s existence, but I have to make sure that it doesn’t get lost at the end of this undoubtedly long-ass post. Anyway, Oranssi Pazuzu have fucking outdone themselves on this one and in many ways, black metal in general. The band have been building their synthy, psychedelic sound for over a decade now, but Mestarin Kynsi is the crystallization of everything the band has been working toward, which I think last year’s Waste of Space Orchestra collaboration played a big part in catalyzing. The album is so immersive and in so many ways feels like it has a soul of its own, made possible by the band’s absolute chemistry and dedication to ego-lessly channeling this album’s transcendent ethos as a team rather than elevating themselves individually, and what they conjure on here is such a leap up from their already heady psychedelic black metal and out of this fucking world. Mestarin Kynsi is the kind of terrifying, yet transfixing light that pulls you in even as you know of its malevolence, because it is just too goddamn beautiful and compelling to resist. The score should be such a big deal, but I know that any time this kind of score is thrown out there it prompts all sorts of distracting question regarding the flaws of the album, but I stand by my original score. I love this album, and I don’t see anything about it that makes me think it’s any less.

10/10

Okay, now on to the unfortunate rest of April’s releases that had to follow this up.

Testament - Titans of Creation

Testament rode a pretty vibrant comeback wave with Chuck Billy’s beating cancer on 2008’s The Formation of Damnation and 2012’s Dark Roots of the Earth, but that hot steak came to an end on the rather droll effort they put out in 2016, Brotherhood of the Snake. Back when concerts were a thing, I caught them when they opened up for the rest of the stacked lineup of Slayer’s farewell tour; they put on a great show, and I was reminded of what made them, still, such a prominent force in thrash, hopeful for a rejuvenation on whatever record came next. And as much as I wish I liked this new album of theirs more, I just can’t get into it all that much for so many of the same reasons I couldn’t get into its predecessor. I’d say it has much brighter moments, but it suffers from much of the same recycling of thrash compositional tropes (with not enough elaboration) that Brotherhood of the Snake did. It’s the kind of album that at first listen will seem flavorful and engaging, but it loses it pretty quickly like a snack that isn’t that filling or easy to keep eating due to it’s overwhelming taste, despite its empty calories.

5/10

Abysmal Dawn - Phylogenesis

After six years during which I had thought they might have disbanded or been dropped from Relapse Records, Abysmal Dawn return from the shadows on Season of Mist with the tight, concise brand of modestly technical modern death metal that made them such a sell in the first place on their fifth record, Phylogenesis. Not deviating at all from what they know they do well, Abysmal Dawn stick to a direct death metal attack with no bells and whistles, relying on their speed and agility to guide them, and their strengths serve them well as they manage to highlight what makes death metal so appealing at its core.

8/10

WVRM - Colony Collapse

While not listening to Oranssi Pazuzu or straight-up depressive shit, I have had a massive hankering for filthy grindcore that has been graciously satiated in part by WVRM’s Colony Collapse. Airing heavily on the hardcore side of the genre, incorporating some slower slamming grooves and deep, dirty gutteral vocals into their otherwise true-to-the-genre grindcore, WVRM do indeed put forth a more intense slab of grindcore than your usual twenty-something minute LP, which is made possible largely by the dynamic that they inject with their willingness to incorporate so much tasty, hardcore riffage and nasty sludge.

7/10

Red - Declaration

After what I’ve now come to see as their worst album, 2017′s Gone, Red immediately bounce back onto the positive trajectory that Of Beauty and Rage set them on and back to the symphonic 2000′s alternative metal that they built their early reputation on, with their shortest, possibly most direct album to date, comprised of just ten tight tracks that focus their cathartic brand of alternative metal into surprisingly dense packages that undoubtedly include some of the best of the band’s whole career, like “All for You”, “The Evening Hate”, and the especially cathartic “The War We Made”. I can only hope every band that has stumbled so hard lately can pick themselves back up as quickly and convincingly as Red has on their aptly named seventh LP here.

8/10

August Burns Red - Guardians

I have to say, despite being a pretty standard slab of melodic 2010’s metalcore, this album has kind of grown on me a bit in the past few weeks of listening to it. The album shows that the band are doing well to keep an eye on what’s going on in metalcore, stylistically spanning old and new pretty well. And while we sometimes get cheesy Hot Topic melodicism on songs like “Lighthouse”, other tracks encapsulate old and new in the space of a single song with respectable tact. The track “Defender” for example features two metalcore breakdowns, the first of which is generic as fuck from the 2000’s, but the second is distinctly more creative and forward-thinking, showing that the band are aware of the genre’s evolution and their trajectory alongside it. I also have to point out the highlight “Dismembered Memory” is in the track list with its emotive, Gothenburg-style guitar melody mixed with some distinct Architects-inspired vocal melodies. The closing track, “Three Fountains”, also ends the album on a strong note with its powerful melodic vocals in particular. Again, most of this project is pretty unsurprising metalcore, but the band at least shows some sense of awareness of how to progress their sound, and the strength of the highlights here makes the album worth at least checking out to find them.

6/10

Benighted - Obscene Repressed

While it is a well-performed, well-produced offering, Obscene Repressed is little more than a competent modern horror/brutal death metal album whose campiness in its shots for grotesqueness and creepiness can actually end up working against it. It’s a fun enough death metal album for while it’s on with some impressive flashes of percussion in particular, but it’s memorable mostly for its goofy moments and much less for its songwriting.

6/10

Aborted - La Grande Mascarade

Well, three more songs of relentless modern brutal death metal from Aborted is surely hard to get worked up about, and that goes in the positive and negative direction. On the EP’s three tracks, the band basically just goes through the motions in a way that makes me question what the point of putting these tracks out on this EP as opposed to keeping them for the next album (and potentially grooming them further) was. I mean, I can’t complain too much, the band are solid on these cuts in all the ways we come to expect them to be, but what makes these songs unfit for the next album or really demands they be released on this EP?

6/10

Nine Inch Nails - Ghosts V: Together & Ghosts VI: Locusts

I don’t want to knock Nine Inch Nails’ more ambient works, as I do think Trent Reznor has proven he has the chops to thrive in dark ambiance, but I just couldn’t get too excited about this watered down three hours worth of dark ambiance that he put out this year. It certainly works on the baseline level that all dark ambient music operates on an generally seeks to achieve, but it really doesn’t go above and beyond anywhere and it just kind of settles for the passing grade. At the most charitable, both are the kinds of ambient albums that exist solely to provide an eerie, droning sonic background with a few notable shifts coming from song to song, but that’s not enough to get me excited for either of them.

5/10 & 6/10

The Black Dahlia Murder - Verminous

I have to say, I’ve kind of softened in my earlier perception The Black Dahlia Murder being overrated, and Verminous is an album that really helps their case. Its name is pretty apt for the band’s blackened style of melodeath in general, but the dynamic between their delicious melodic side and their muscularly heavy side on Verminous is quite possibly at its most comprehensively displayed. I know that the band’s fans don’t really see them as having any misses in their catalog, though there seems to be some consistent favoritism toward Nocturnal, but I would wager that Verminous has captured their composition at its most advanced and their sound its most savory.

8/10

MASTER BOOT RECORD - Floppy Disk Overdrive

I’ve not been keeping up too closely with the prolific MASTER BOOT RECORD project, but I do regret missing and not covering the dynamic Internet Protocol EP that was released last year. Floppy Disk Overdrive, aptly named, is a bit more of the usual overload of synthetically instrumental, chiptune-seasoned death metal that keeps me from getting too excited about new MASTER BOOT RECORD releases. Once again, the focus is on solid production of the instruments and minor tricks with the sonic aesthetic, but composition again seems to fall by the wayside, and there isn’t enough intriguing stylistic diversity to make up for it.

5/10

Caustic Wound - Death Posture

More delicious, nasty grindcore to ravage my ears with in between listens to Oranssi Pazuzu and Okkervil River. The debut album by the Seattle-based supergroup of sorts is as pummeling as I would expect given the pedigree of the members involved. Death Posture is nasty, gutteral, and relentless in all the ways anyone could want their grindcore to be. The monstrously bellowing growls in particular make me feel like I’m listening to Primitive Man playing grindcore (which is a good thing). While I have been in quite the grindcore binge lately, Death Posture is more than just your standard, straight-line-through grindcore record, taking an old-school death metal knack for dynamic accents, tasty isolated bass lines, bursts of speed, bursts of thickened walls of sound, and wailing solos. It sounds sort of like if Morbid Angel was directing Primitive Man’s deathgrind adventure, also a good thing. I definitely love this one, probably my favorite grindcore album so far this year.

8/10

Khemmis - Doomed Heavy Metal

While we (if not just I) eagerly await the Colorado act’s forthcoming Nuclear Blast debut (and follow-up to 2018′s perfect Desolation), the band offers a little compilation EP to hold us over until then. Of the six tracks, only the first is new material (and it’s a cover song), two are songs from previous non-album releases, and the other three are live tracks. The band’s cover of Dio’s “Rainbow in the Dark” transposes the iconic keyboard part onto guitar in classic Khemmis fashion, and the vocal and guitar harmonies give the already inspiring song a new sense of melancholic triumph that I have come to love so much from Khemmis. It’s definitely worth checking out for the fresh take it offers to the Dio classic. As for the rest of the EP, the one-off single “Empty Throne” feels rather B-side-level by the band’s lofty standards, as does their odd, but enjoyable melodic doom rendition of the folk tune “A Conversation with Death”. The sampling of live cuts gets one great song from each of the band’s previous LPs, and the band sounds pretty true to their studio form for the most part, the vocals on “Bloodletting” being noticeably rough though.

Compilation in the Dark/10

Me and That Man - New Man, New Songs, Same Shit, Vol. 1

The second album from Nergal’s folky satanic rock side project comes with a pretty star-studded line-up, and honestly it’s a pretty fun time and I don’t have many complaints about the concise, catchy tunes that Nergal and company are churning out. “Run with the Devil” is a brilliantly composed opener, “Burning Churches” is a catchy-as-fuck pub-type tune, and guests Ihsahn, Corey Taylor, and especially Matt Heafy showcase the versatility of their vocal styles on their respective features. It’s more a fun heresy-laden time explicitly not overthought than the usual heady blackened death metal that Behemoth pedals.

7/10

Medico Peste - ב :The Black Bile

Taking very apparent cues from black metal’s (and experimental metal’s) more esoteric figures like Deathspell Omega and even Tool, Medico Peste comes through with an at least very aesthetically intriguing listen, even if some of the compositions run kind of long without enough in the way of substantive musical ideas to last quite as long as they’re intended to. While the influences the band wears on their sleeve are at least quite respectably sonically pervasive, it can get occasionally uncanny. The main riff of “All Too Human” sounds like it could have come straight from the Ænema recording sessions, and “Numinous Catastrophe” even sounds like it pulls from Oranssi Pazuzu. But despite the influences on its sleeves, ב :The Black Bile is unique and diverse enough as a whole to sustain an exciting listen and one that I have enjoyed returning to.

7/10

Omega Infinity - Solar Spectre

I had not heard of Omega Infinity until this album, and out of the gate it really sounded like some cliché ambient black metal, but as the album unfolds, it really does reveal itself to be so much more than that. Hard to capture in a single word, the cosmos-themed album definitely captures the wide, chilling vastness of space through instrumental and compositional techniques that provide a fittingly alien, but not explicitly sci-fi, twist on the usual elements of ambient black metal, and it works wonderfully.

8/10

Black Curse - Endless Wound

I heard a good bit of hype over this project, but I’m honestly having a hard time hearing what’s supposed to be such a big deal. We’ve got some solid performances and the occasional compositional flash of brilliance, but for the most part, Endless Wound is very standard blackened death metal with meek ambitions. Like don’t get me wrong, it’s not awful, and I don’t hate it. It just doesn’t depart nearly enough from the beaten, and crowded, path or really stand above the crowd on that path enough to get me excited. I kind of wish the band would delve more into the slower, sludgier, more savory sections of they dip their toes in, like that of “Enraptured by Decay” and the more eccentric takes on black metal dark ritualism on “Seared Eyes”. But until they really commit more to things they can do to get their head above the death metal crowd, it’s going to be hard to get excited about another Black Curse project in the near future.

5/10

Vermicide Violence - The Praxis of Prophylaxis

It was only a matter of time until the pandemic delivered unto us an at least partially coronavirus-themed medical deathcore album, which I am of course not complaining about the obnoxious, ridiculous prospect of. There is a lot of silly, gimmicky deathcore (and metal in general) out there that is pretty superficial, but also plenty that makes a lot of great use of whatever gimmick it’s applying. In this case, the natural grotesquery (if that’s a word) of medical practice does give Vermicide Violence just that little bit of extra tangibility and realness to the nasty deathcore they’re pedaling. From breakdown lines of “vaccinate your fucking kids” and “you only hear once so just buy fucking plugs” (a twist on Suicide Silence’s “You Only Live Once”) to songs about asthmatic asphyxiation, coronavirus infection, West Nile virus, and breast cancer, it’s at the very least somewhat lyrically fresh and fun for any medical metalheads to have a good time nerding out with.

6/10

Vatican Falling - WAR

So I found out about Vatican Falling through the deathcoredads meme page, don’t judge me, but I’m glad I did, because this album, WAR, is some deliciously disgusting deathcore with lots of different flavors. They’re not exactly pushing any boundaries for the genre, but WAR certainly does branch out into melodic territory more boldly and successfully than your average deathcore album, and with good results. It has its low points where some of the experimentation doesn’t work, like the annoyingly repetitive clean vocal sample on the title track, but for the most part, the band’s use of more tangible, cleaner melodies goes over well and supplements the music nicely with a sense of raised stakes. If anything, I wish they did more in that vein because the band’s deathcore grooves at the core aren’t as above average on their own. That being said, songs like “King of Vermin” and “Kill All Humans” show that the band can really raise their game at the base deathcore front and outcompete their contemporaries if they need to.

6/10

Ulcerate - Stare into Death and Be Still

Stare into Death and Be Still is the sixth album from sonically ambitious New Zealanders, Ulcerate. Continuing to push their brand of atmospheric, blackened technical death metal to further reaches of the unknown, guitarist Michael Hoggard’s fluid, multi-faceted melodic work continues to play a pivotal role in steering the atmospheric tone of the album, while Jamie Saint Merat’s impressive following of the music’s odd time signature shifts boosts the album’s energy with tasteful technicality while simultaneously not being too obnoxiously flashy and showcasing some flavorful technical drumming chops. The guitar work takes on so many different shapes and styles, but probably most often reminds me of the winding angularity of Portal with the primal humanness and ritual catharsis of later/current Behemoth, with some more ambient detours taken here and there that hearken to Isis and even more doom-oriented projects like Bell Witch. The swirling together of influences here is so seamless and immersive, and honestly some of Ulcerate’s best. This is not to discount Paul Kelland’s contributions of emotively harmonious bass lines and consistently bestial, yet also somehow soulful, death metal bellowing to the album’s sound; I think his contributions in particular are what help this album feel meaningful and human and not just like some soulless piece of experimental art with a little too much of its head up its ass. For an hour, this album feels like listening to the best aspects of several different styles of cutting-edge death metal, black metal, and doom metal rolled into one masterful super-album that still manages to strike a dreadful chord all its own. Yeah, this is a pretty damn great album.

9/10

Katatonia - City Burials

Honestly, the vast majority of this album feels like Katatonia going through the motions and just playing it safe, never really committing to any really bold performance or composition moves, just coasting off The Fall of Hearts. It certainly passes by the usual Katatonia rubric, but it certainly won’t be going down as one of the band’s most revered.

5/10

Trivium - What the Dead Men Say

I somehow missed out on the entire first half of this album being released as singles, but I sure caught all the hype surrounding the band’s ninth album leading up to its release and all the preemptive praise it was receiving, and I’m kind of glad I got to experience it as a whole without the experience of the singles because I feel like I can honestly soberly assess it and say that it’s definitely not the masterpiece it’s being hyped up to be. The band definitely have found their groove in the various melodic, proggy, thrashy alternative metal styles they play, but this album really just feels like the band are just feeling themselves, in the sense that they’re kind of playing it safe, but bold enough with what they know they do well to kind of mask that. The band’s ninth album is pretty noticeably a continuation of their eighth, The Sin and the Sentence, which had some of Trivium’s most potent alternative metalcore bangers to date, but also some of their most confusingly tepid compositions on the other side of their spectrum. What the Dead Men Say kind of just maintains the band’s trajectory on their previous album and narrows that range from high to low. The low points, like “Bleed into Me” and (to a lesser extent) “The Catastrophist”, aren’t as low, but the high points aren’t as high, and I don’t think I’ll be returning to the better parts of this album, like “The Defiant”, “Amongst the Shadows and the Stones”, and “Sickness Unto You” as much as I will the plethora of highlights from The Sin and the Sentence. Overall, it kind of just feels like Trivium coasting a bit, but the band is genuinely at that level of evolution in their sound where they have made a lot of gradual refinements over time to get here but haven’t just repeated themselves, so they can kind of get away with it. Even if it’s not my favorite Trivium album, it’s sure a hell of a lot better than anything Trapt has ever released.

7/10

#Oranssi Pazuzu #Trivium #Ulcerate #Red #Katatonia #August Burns Red #Omega Infinity #Khemmis #Caustic Wound #Abysmal Dawn #WVRM

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ryuukia · 6 years ago

Text

[Translation] Anikuji Tsukiuta. B-4: Tsukiradio Special Edition (Hajime & Arata ver.)

In my attempt to postpone translating things I started to dig my collection and came across this. Again, audio is not my forte so keep that in mind. I also recommend you to listen to the CD while reading this.

Many thanks to Ryota for helping me with the proofreading~. By the way she has translated another CD from the anikuji set not long ago (Hajime & Haru mini drama) so check that out if you’re curious.

Both Gravi and Procella have 3 mini dramas featuring the original combi partners and 3 tsukiradio sessions featuring shuffled combinations. So this is not the last one you might be seeing from me (or Ryota).

Please don’t use/repost my translations. Likes and reblogs are appreciated.

Hajime: Hello, everyone. I’m Six Gravity’s Mutsuki Hajime.

Arata: Also from Six Gravity, Uduki Arata here. Hello.

Hajime: We’re currently live broadcasting the Tsukiuta Radio, a.k.a. TsukiRadio. This time Arata and me are in charge of delivering the live broadcast. Just as we are about to do with the title.

Arata: Tsukiradio Special Edition: Shuffle Round-Table Discussion! Whoaaa. -claps-

-claps from the background-

Arata: With that said, the die was cast, Hajime-san.

Hajime: Indeed, Arata. I had the feeling we would be put face to face again, but as expected, the two of us are an unusual combination.

Arata: Right. Ah, wait. We usually do talk when we’re inside the dorm, but sitting together like this and talking in the middle of a live broadcast is something that doesn’t happen every often, dear listeners.

Hajime: Don’t change the topic so suddenly.

Arata: Mentioning this is important. If I don’t properly say we’re actually on good terms, some might think there’s a conflict between us. I’d hate that to happen.

Hajime: Is that so?

Arata: It is.

Hajime: … You’re strangely full of energy today.

Arata: Really, Hajime-san. You just noticed that now? I have always been full of motivation and shining bright. Just like this. -sparkles-

Hajime: ....If you say so…

Arata: Ah, wait. Why are you turning your face away, Hajime-san? Today I’m actually really motivated. And excited too. I’m in a round-table discussion with Hajime-san. I’m in a round-table discussion with Hajime-san.

Hajime: -grunting- I can hear you even without you saying it twice.

Arata: I mean look, I am acting like this because I am in high spirits. Hajime-san should be the same.

Hajime: Don’t say absurd things. Well, for the time being I’ll do my best. Shall we proceed with the topic?

Arata: Oh, shall we? Then here we go. Uhhm. Bam. The first topic: “Tell us an episode or something about you that the other might not know.” That’s what it says.

Hajime: I see.

Arata: Something that Hajime-san doesn’t know about me…? About me? Hmmm…. Ah, I know.

Hajime: Hm? What?

Arata: I adore strawberry milk.

Hajime: I know that. -nods-

Arata: I’m done.

Hajime: That’s all?

Arata: I’m an open person after all!

Hajime: Hmm, you really do seem open. About various things.

Arata: Looks like we’ve reached an agreement. Now it’s Hajime-san’s turn.

Hajime: Mine? Hm, I…

Arata: Hajime-san’s rare episode. Or a rare aspect. I’m totally expecting something now.

Hajime: I don’t really think it’s something to expect much from though...ah…

Arata: Then, please proceed.

Hajime: You and me sleep a lot, and we have a sofa in the common room, right?

Arata: We do. Kuroda also sleeps on it a lot, its huge. Its coldness feels the best. Sleeping on it is the best.

Hajime: Yeah, exactly that. The brand that made that sofa also makes desk chairs and I recently bought one for my room in the dorm.

Arata: Eeeh? Huh, but wasn’t that brand a really expensive one coming from abroad?

Hajime: Seems so. However, even though I got to work, I don’t really get the chance to use the money I earn. I wanted to buy something good for once.

Arata: I see. It’s so like Hajime-san to get a desk chair instead of blowing money on accessories or other things.

Hajime: Really?

[03:53]

Arata: Yeah. Then, the next topic… but before I start, it was written on the cheat sheet just now that I have to mention an episode again.

Hajime: No wonder. Your strawberry milk news is something that not only I, but also everyone already knows.

Arata: Oh, ok. I got it. Then I’ll be talking about something I bought, since the topic just now was related to that.

Hajime: Ah, go ahead.

Arata: To be honest it happened by chance, but I’ve also done some impulse shopping recently. The item is fairly good too. It’s a luxury item that normal students don’t really buy, but I worked, saved money and bought it with the intention of rewarding myself.

Hajime: Eh? What did you buy?

Arata: A pendant. It’s silver and very simple, but cool.

Hajime: Eh? A pendant…? That’s unusual. Surely, you...

Arata: In private I’m not the type to wear accessories. I basically don’t wear any. I have this strange feeling of discomfort when I put them on, and I’ve always been the type to fiddle with them.

Hajime: Yeah. Why was this time any different?

Arata: I’m very glad you asked. To put it bluntly, it’s because of Hajime-san’s influence.

Hajime: Me?

Arata: That’s right! Even now for example, Hajime-san is wearing some simple yet cool piercings or even that pendant, like it’s no big deal, right? I’ve been thinking they were nice since a long time ago. That’s why I imitated you and bought it.

Hajime: I didn’t think you admired me that much. Plus, I don’t have such a strong commitment to wearing them either.

Arata: I know that. The other day too, you let Koi choose your piercings, didn’t you?

Hajime: You sure know many things.

Arata: Koi was boasting that he accidentally saw you looking at a catalogue in the dressing room. The pendant I bought too is something I chose from that catalogue.

Hajime: Eh? Is that so? So, where is that pendant now? It doesn’t seem like you’re wearing it.

Arata: I put it in the shrine from my room.

Hajime: You enshrined it?

Arata: Hmm, as expected, when I wear it, my existence becomes the center of my focus and my shoulders become all stiff.

Hajime: Ah, I think I know what you mean. Right now I can somehow wear things without any problems, but before I got used to it I also felt my shoulders getting stiff. Even now I’m not good with overly heavy or jingling items.

Arata: So even Hajime-san had times like that. It’s a bit of a waste for now but I enjoy simply looking at it. Since I’ll be wearing a lot of accessories at work from now on, I wonder if I’ll get used to it. And then, one day, I’ll be proudly wearing it. Fortunately, the design can go with any kind of fashion style.

Hajime: Is that so? Then I’ll be looking forward to seeing you wear that. When you get used to wearing accessories, I’ll be giving you one of your choice as a present.

Arata: Eh? Really? Woohoo. I’m lucky! -whispering- I’ll show off in front of Koi.

Hajime: You two really get along, huh.

[07:14]

Hajime: Now, the next topic is: “Talk to each other about how things with your combi partner are going.” About four-eyes?

Arata: By four-eyes… you mean Haru-san, right?

Hajime: Yeah. He’s been starting to do producing work over the past year and he’s now happily moving around. It seems he liked work that involved advertising and assisting to begin with, thus he’s very active.

Arata: He is. Because of that I ended up working in a shop last year during New Year’s holidays. Koi and me were making announcements in front of the shop while wearing that visor and apron equipment.

Hajime: Indeed. Seems like you gave your best.

Arata: I did! I couldn’t go against Haru-san while he was grinning and saying, “This is work, okay~?”

Hajime: I can totally picture that kind of scene.

Arata: Well, it’s fine though. I know that the jobs Haru-san gives us are really necessary. He’s smart, he can handle things flawlessly, and he’s unshakeable. To me, Haru-san is like an older brother I can depend on but in a different way from Hajime-san.

Hajime: If he heard that, he’d surely be pleased.

Arata: Would he?

Hajime: Of course.

Arata: Now, we know that Haru-san is really reliable, but if I were to say that in the future I’d like to become like Hajime-san, whom I admire a lot, would you also be pleased?

Hajime: Hn… ngh....that is… obvious.

Arata: Ooh… I’m glad.

Hajime: Arata, your frankness sometimes surprises me.

Arata: Is that so?

Hajime: I think I somehow understand Aoi’s hardships now.

Arata: Eeeh?

Hajime: You’re doing that without being aware? In any case, since we mentioned Aoi’s name, shall we let this discussion turn that direction?

Arata: Shall we? I think of Aoi as the steady prince Aoi.

Hajime: A prince?

Arata: Yes, a prince. He emits a large amount of light and sparkles to girls and boys alike, and then he puts his princely smile into operation. For Aoi it’s something normal, but I find that communication ability amazing.

Hajime: He emits amounts of light, huh? Aoi and Haru are quite similar.

Arata: They really are.

Hajime: Though compared to him, Aoi is not shady, which is nice.

Arata: I wouldn’t go as far as calling Haru-san shady.

Hajime: Is that so?

Arata: Probably.

Hajime: Aoi’s personality is not as cheeky as Haru’s I suppose.

Arata: I get that somehow. No, wait. I didn’t mean Haru-san was cheeky.

Hajime: I know.

Arata: Since Aoi is very good at reading the mood, everyone thinks well of him and he’s not really that unassertive. That’s what I meant by saying he was not cheeky.

Hajime: He really isn’t. You’re the assertive one instead.

Arata: I am.

Hajime: Instant answer, huh?

Arata: I am aware of it, you know? I’ve had this kind of personality for as long as I can remember and, my partner Aoi’s great at reading the atmosphere. I sometimes think that having us paired has its benefits.

Hajime: Well, given the fact that you two are exactly each other’s opposite, you two complimenting each other’s strong points and weak points well is what makes you combi partners.

Arata: You’re right. Ah, the last topic: “Lastly, please give each other a message.” is what it’s written here.

Hajme: A message, huh?

Arata: Fufu, fu.

Hajime: Arata, I think your unwavering strength is amazing. Sometimes that makes me feel envious. If you keep developing in the same rhythm, I’m sure you’ll turn out to be a reliable junior in a different sense than Aoi. I have big expectations from you.

Arata: Wha…… oooooh. Thank you very much, Hajime-san.

Hajime: Saying this directly to you really does sound a bit embarrassing.

Arata: Eh? But I’m actually really happy! It’s something rare after all.

Hajime: Good for you.

Arata: Yes. Then I should also proceed with what I have for Hajime-san.

Hajime: Yeah.

Arata: E-hem. I said so before, but to me Hajime-san is my role model and someone I admire. Of course, there are a lot of things I still have to catch up with, and I’m not even sure if I will eventually be able to catch up, but someday… someday I want to become an existence as reliable as Hajime-san. Please take care of me from now on too.

Hajime: Sigh … Likewise.

Arata: Yes!

[12:31]

Arata: Hajime-san and me have been taking things very leisurely until now, but all the topics have been covered. I think we did a good job. Hajime-san, good job.

Hajime: Good work, Arata. Thank you to all the listeners for staying with us until the very end.

Arata: This time we attempted to have a round-table discussion featuring an unusual combination, but from now on too, the Tsukiuta. series plans even more challenges and projects, so look forward to them.

Hajime: You caught that from the advertising cheat sheet, didn’t you? Well, that being said, we’ll be in your care. This is the end, so see you soon.

Arata: Bye, bye.

Arata: Sigh. It’s over, it’s over. I did my job properly.

Hajime: That’s right. I was wondering how things would end up with only the two of us here, though you talked more than usual and that helped me out a lot.

Arata: I told you in the beginning, I’m overflowing with motivation.

Hajime: Yeah, you certainly did. Alright! Since we did our best here how about going back and having a mini after-party? Arata, what do you want to eat? It’s my treat.

Arata: Whaa… I did it! I’m okay with anything, I can eat anything. Now that that’s decided, let’s go immediately! -gets up in a rush- Hajime-san, quickly, quickly.

Hajime: I get it, I get it.

-Arata leaves the room quickly-

Hajime: This guy is always eating except for when he’s hungry. And he’s still in his growth period. Sigh. That’s only one of the many things I can look forward to.

Arata: Hajime-san! Let’s go faster! I’m hungry!

Hajime: -chortles- Okay, I’m coming now! -gets up from the seat-

If you like my work and you want to support me, you can now buy me a coffee by clicking right [here]. I also started taking commissions, more details are right [here]. Thank you~

#tsukiuta #tsukiuta anikuji #mutsuki hajime #uduki arata #toriumi kousuke #hosoya yoshimasa #english translation #drama CD #tokuten #tsukiuta radio #tsukiradio #I SWEAR #THAT CHORTLE AT THE END #THAT CHORTLE IS THE REASON WHY I TRANSLATED THIS #MY HEART STOPPED WHEN I HEARD THAT

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