#all that said. i still enjoy the show and i LOVED amaya | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

theredhairedmonkey · 1 year ago

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Posting my reply to @kuno-chan’s post separately here as I’m not going to reblog slander disparaging me or others.

Also, since these are just all the same talking points lifted from elsewhere in the fandom, there’s no need to go line by line. Nevertheless, I’ve given this plenty of time and thought, and will break my take down into four parts:

Callum and Rayla

No, Callum is not obsessed with Rayla. Sorry, but one brief evening of him mourning the anniversary of Rayla leaving isn’t a constant obsession lol. This scene shows he still has feelings for her, but it does not constitute a constant preoccupation. For the vast majority of time in s4 before she returned, he hardly acknowledged her. Even when she returned and left again in 4x03, he did not have a any reaction at all, and went along with his day.

Callum is a deeply caring person who would do anything for those he loves, including Ezran, Soren, and Amaya (Yes, even Soren, as Callum was about to fight Elmer to defend him despite being injured himself). This fierce loyalty is part of his nature, not evidence of obsession over one person. His willingness to fight for others can be both a strength and a flaw at times.

At the same time, as Finnegrin points out to Callum in 5x08, his friends are also willing to do anything for him too. It’s a two-way street.

Meanwhile, Rayla seems more singularly focused on Callum, calling him the "best thing I ever had" and clearly pining for him constantly. Her moral compass now revolves around Callum and protecting Callum specifically. So between the two, she displays more obsessive tendencies regarding their relationship. To the point that I have mentioned before it’s a little disconcerting that most of her character arc in s4 seems to just be about getting back together with him.

Speaking of which, even after they reconcile, the lead writer dropped the bombshell that they’re actually not currently dating:

Which really begs the question, if Rayla is so eager to resume their relationship, why haven’t they? If Callum is so obsessed with her, why hasn’t he taken her back yet?

This doesn’t mean Callum doesn’t care deeply about her. He absolutely does. But if Callum were truly obsessed, he likely would have immediately resumed the relationship. The fact that he has not suggests he has set healthy boundaries and is not driven by obsession.

But that’s just the relationship angle. There’s also the issue with assigning Rayla’s traits (flaws specifically) to Callum. Callum is indeed loyal, and to his detriment sometimes, but loyalty and devotion aren’t the main driver for his actions. They’re Rayla’s. You don’t even have to take my word for it, it’s spelled out in Tales of Xadia:

Callum’s most important value is Freedom/Liberty, once again spelled out in Tales of Xadia:

And this distinction is crucial, as it’s the crux of his storyline in s5: is he really free to choose not to do dark magic (or free to make any choice for that matter), and what does it mean to have unlimited potential, and whether that unlimited potential can lead to a very dark place. Once again, flat out stated by the lead writer of the show:

Notice how Devon explained Callum’s motivation without ever mentioning “Rayla”?

Chalking up his motivation to just an obsession for Rayla that he’ll always have, that he’s just That Way and nothing else, deprives him of this arc and reduces him to a two dimensional sidepiece for Rayla. It strips him of the complexity of his season 5 arc, where he struggles with the meaning of unlimited potential and the darkness that could engender. His inner conflicts go far beyond his feelings for Rayla. Suggesting otherwise diminishes his character development, and it's beyond me why anyone would want that.

Callum and Morality

As I’ve said before, I enjoy Callum’s dark side immensely. I really do. But the point of the Ocean Arcanum, as I've mentioned before, is that everyone has a dark side:

Thus, Callum isn’t any more particularly morally dubious than anyone else. Sorry, but a single use of dark magic, with already-dead ingredients, in an extremely controlled setting for the very narrow purpose of setting himself free, doesn’t make Callum morally dubious. And I’m sure the average person could see the VAST chasm of difference between using One Bad Spell and dooming the world for Rayla’s sake that the story has no chance of bridging in just two seasons.

He refrained from using the snake chain spell offensively against people, as we've seen it used before (in 2x03). It was narrowly employed just to free himself, after which he immediately returned to primal magic. And in that sense, I haven’t seen a single person argue this one act was unjustifiable.

And, as he gives Finnegrin the wrong list of ingredients, that’s basically the only real act of moral ambiguity Callum has displayed. Because for everything else, you have to hold Callum to a unique (and impossible) standard that applies to no one else. For instance, it's not considered morally dubious when Amaya punched Karim, yet Callum punching Finnegrin supposedly is? Callum is dubious for forgiving Rayla of her crimes (in a show that’s centered on forgiveness and trust as sources of true strength), yet Rayla isn’t dubious for actually committing those crimes? Like, Rayla actually lies, steals, and abandons her friends, yet Callum is viewed as more dubious simply for forgiving her?

Seriously, why am I supposed to think Callum is dubious for saving his friend at the cost of a snake’s tail, yet Rayla is merely “complex” for what she's done?

To be clear, while Rayla has certainly done morally questionable things, that does not make her a bad person or even a morally dubious person overall. But the same must also apply to Callum - his singular use of dark magic for escape does not negate his generally good and principled nature. Very few people would consider his actions in that scene truly unjustifiable.

Callum and Viren

As I’ve said before here, Callum and Viren are indeed foils, and perhaps the most important foil relationship in the series. But the point of foil characters is showing each other’s opposing traits:

And yea, it should be pretty obvious that Callum and Viren are dramatically different from one another. Callum protects those close to him and tries to do the right thing, while Viren seeks to amass as much power for himself as he can.

This is even clear from their parallel shots that Viren and Callum are extremely different, for good and bad reasons. When opening the door to greet the guard, Viren appears self-important while Callum seems nice and humble. When he confronts Soren on the battlements, Callum is aggressive and angry where Viren was calm and calculated. These are not the same person.

That doesn’t mean Viren and Callum are opposites in every way; some minor similarities are there to humanize Viren, not equate him with Callum. For instance, the moment he parallels Callum and the group’s “I’d do anything for you” was to show that Viren isn’t just a power hungry tyrant but also a devoted and desperate father. However the fact that this is a sympathetic moment undercuts the supposed dubiousness of Callum.

Viren's devotion to his children parallels Callum's loyalty to his friends, making Viren sympathetic rather than wholly evil. But this does not make Callum dubious by association - if anything, it suggests Viren has glimmers of goodness akin to Callum's steadfast decency. If Viren is portrayed as good to the extent that he’s similar to Callum, what does that say about Callum himself?

So while they have a couple superficial similarities, their core character traits and motivations remain opposites. It is unreasonable to equate them based on scant common ground when their differences are so pronounced. If parallels to Callum humanize Viren, that reflects well on Callum, not poorly.

It’s also pretty telling that the same people downplay Callum's explicit and canonical similarities to the moral exemplar Amaya, while overstating negligible common ground with the villainous Viren...

Fandom Toxicity:

While I can be blunt or harsh about takes I disagree with or think are poorly thought out, I never attack the people holdings those views or suggest that they’re terrible people. I would never, for instance, suggest that people who don’t subscribe to my view of Callum to be incels, or who don’t subscribe to my view of Rayla to be mysoginists, or who don’t subscribe to my view of Ezran to be racists.

It’s not just toxic and offensive behavior, but it’s also inconsistent. When you ask “why is it so bad that some people believe Callum is dubious,” it kinda falls flat when you turn around and call people "incels" for having a different take on Callum.

I’m not going to comment much more on this as I think it speaks for itself, but I also deal with enough bullying and harassment as it is, so this will probably be it for me. I see no reason to continue when you are arguing with such bad faith.

Postscript

The argument here is basically “since Callum was willing to squish a snake’s tail and risk his life for Rayla, then it’s reasonable he’d be willing to risk the entire world for her.” I’m sorry, but I’m of the opinion that this doesn’t follow and is kinda far fetched. That isn’t a personal attack, just my personal take.

It’s fine to want Callum to be morally dubious. You’d be pushing an open door with me if you think it would be cool headcanon. Completely unsubstantiated by canon, but still cool.

But for whatever reason, the favor is not returned. It should be fine to think Callum has a moral code, that he has a life outside of Rayla, and that he’ll probably rise above his weaknesses and flaws by the end of the saga. Yet the namecalling and mudslinging that this is responded with is just WILD.

I don’t deal well with insults, or namecalling, or the insinuation that I am in denial subconsciously, or I don’t really mean it when I discuss Callum’s dark side. Nor will I entertain it. This type of bad faith dealing barely deserved a response, much less several paragraphs worth, but now that this is all on a page, I’m going to do both of us a favor and say that we’re done.

#callum #rayla #rayllum #tdp #viren #amaya #ezran #soren #finnegrin #dark magic #primal magic

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raayllum · 1 year ago

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how long would you say you've actively shipped any of your favorite ships? - im curious specifically about sorvus, sorpeli, and claudiez

I wouldn't say Sorvus is one of my faves even if I do 1) love Soren and Corvus individually, 2) Corvus is one of my favourite side characters in the whole show (like top 5) and 3) I do really like them! That being said:

Canon

For the bulk of TDP ships, canon-wise, I shipped them as their relationships were revealed (aka Harrow/Sarai with the info we got in S1, Claudia/Terry with the info we get in S4, Runaan/Ethari back when he was known as 'Tinker' thanks to the S1 credit sketch, etc).

For Janaya, I shipped them from the first time they met in S2, since "rival intellectually and physically matched generals on the battlefield" along with both being very pretty is a decently long-ish homoerotic trend in literature (aka a production I saw of "Coriolanus" really leaned in on it, although I think I saw that pre-S2's release. Applies though)

For Rayllum, I shipped them pre-show even if I was also down to brotp them. They'd be travelling together, thus having plenty of time to develop an interesting dynamic / were around the same age, and the screencap released before the premiere of them sitting under the tree (Callum, distracted but eager, and Rayla, exasperated and fond) really drew me in since that's a ship type - dynamic and gender wise (I don't tend to love ships where the guy is the more grumpy/guarded one, I think, since women are so often forced to do More of the emotional labour in relationships Anyway) - I'm already Very susceptible to. I tried to hold off a little bit in early S1 cause I didn't want to ship them too hard, but then 1x05 came along with the boat scene and it was Over for me. They've had my heart ever since (5 years going on forever)

Requested Rarepairs

Sorvus

So I didn't really ship Sorvus (although I was never opposed to them) for the majority of the time post-S3. I didn't really ship Soren with anyone and preferred Gren/Corvus at that time (due to their personalities / closer dynamic to Amaya and therefore each other) as well as enjoying Corvus/Opeli. However I was also really hoping that Corvus would stay on the council/with Ezran, and figured that if Soren was going to end up with anyone, Corvus was probably the most realistic choice (shared goals, decent development, timeskip to help things, similar ages).

That said I still didn't actively ship them (like I didn't mind them but was completely impassive/neutral y'know?) until I wrote an interaction between them in "if heaven and hell decide" (a canon divergent S2 where Claudia and Soren decide to delay their betrayal of the trio, and therefore travel with them for much longer) and the fact that Corvus would see Soren at his worst in canon (S2) but also see and appreciate who Soren was becoming... I started to turn a corner and grew to ship them a lot more. I'm really excited for them to eventually be canon, it seems, even if they're not My Endgame for either character In My Head for years-post war, at least for now.

Claudiez

For aged up Claudia/Ezran, I think this post (dated July 2021) was when I started to ship these two. There was something about the interplay of Claudia telling Callum about Harrow's death, but he only seeks out comfort from Rayla, and Ezran rejecting Rayla's offered comfort about Harrow and instead accepting it from Claudia, that felt very apt to me? And then a couple weeks later I wrote my formal "I actually do ship Claudiez and here's why" meta so it's been a few years now!

Both the younger sibling uniquely given their father's mantle to carry in ways their older brother just doesn't have to; Ezran being connected to all nature while Claudia continually perverts it, thus Ezran having the relationship to nature that she needs to learn/acquire for her own healing additionally; they both see the throne as a tool to help and breaking their fathers' cycles with each other; the childhood friends to enemies to friends to lovers of an according slow burn because of said age gap; ending up as Queen of Katolis but not the way her father imagined and ending up with one of the brothers, just not the one everyone previously expected; Ezran getting to grow up and into his own and assert his independence and choices (no matter what his brother thinks about it), etc. I also think personality wise they suit each other - Terry's parallels to Ezran in personality are some of the reasons I think Clauderry works at least as a short term pairing.

It's also kinda perfect bc, since they'd only get together like 10-15 years post the end of the show Anyway, so like. they're Endgame to me no matter what and there's nothing canon can really do about it, #improvise adapt overcome.

Sorpeli

This probably started out as the truest crack ship because it started as a joke of like, Soren flirting with her at 20 and easy to dismiss and then again when he's 30 and Opeli is like "I deserve a little fun," so they start having a physical fling, and then catch feelings (Soren falls first, she falls harder). The earliest post I have for them is from May 6th 2023 but I know realistically I'd probably shipped them for a lot longer (what can I say, younger men not being put off my older women aging bc society is bullshit, and contrasting personalities + devoted man & woman who feels undeserving will always get me) before I ever had mind to say anything. Then I dragged @jelzorz into it and the rest, they say, is history. So like 1.5 years at least now?

I'd probably be even more into Sorpeli than I already am but I'm not unconvinced that Opeli won't die (I really hope she doesn't, but I do understand how it could benefit Ezran's narrative in particular) but like if all seasons pass by and she's alive? Canon crack quartet with Endgame Rayllum, Claudiez, Sorpeli, and CorTerry is a go <3

TLDR;

Rayllum before the show started, Janaya in S2, everything else when the ships got introduced, then next we have Claudiez (July 2021), Sorvus (casually since Oct 2021), and Sorpeli (late 2022/early 2023).

#shipping #thanks for asking #anonymous #forbidden op lore #requests

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make-me-your-animal · 1 year ago

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Chapter 12: Room numbers

Authors note: I'm not a hundred percent sure how I feel about this chapter, but it's also driving me crazy that I haven't finished this story yet. It's literally making it, so I can't write anything else. I have spent hours just staring at a blank page, trying to come up with something. This will be the second to last sirens and leppard chapter. But I have already started a sequel, so we will see. I hope you all enjoy it.

Room 306:

"Steve, wake up." Amaya giggled. she had already gotten ready for her day. washed her face, brushed her teeth, and brushed out her hair. when she returned to the main room, Steve was still curled into the blankets. All she could see confirming a person was even under the heap of white comforter was his wild hair. She wasn't surprised in the slightest, Steve was a lot of things, but a morning person wasn't one of them.

She frowned. Something seemed off today. Usually, he would just beg her to join him under the covers, but today, he just pulled the blanket up until there was nothing for her to see.

"Stevieeee," she purred, pulling on the edge of the blanket. He clutched it tight, not letting go.

"No," he grumbled. His voice was barely audible, but she could hear the sadness in it.

"Why not?" She asked, crawling back into bed with him. He engulfed her in his caccoon. The blanket was just thin enough that she could see him clear as day as they laid facing each other under the white comforter.

"Last night of the tour," he said slowly like that would answer her question. Amaya tilted her head to the side. What did that have to do with anything?

"And?" She questioned when the blonde didn't elaborate.

"Don't want this to end is all," he shrugged. His blue eyes were clouded with sadness. "I just... I don't think I've ever been this happy before. You make me feel happy... i love you more than I've ever loved someone."

"Oh, steve," she reached out a hand to craddle his face. "It won't end, baby. You make me happy, too. I'm not gonna throw away over a year of a loving relationship just because we aren't getting paid for it anymore. I love you too much for that"

"Promise?" He still looked nervous. It broke her heart.

"Promise," Amaya leaned in, kissing Steve softly.

"Promise you won't tell phil. I told you I love you more than him," he chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.

"Fear not Stevie. Your secret's safe with me, "she giggled, kissing his nose."Now get your ass out of bed. I want breakfast, " she stated, throwing the blanket off both of them.

Steve grumbled again, but this time sat up. He glanced at the clock on the bedside table before flopping back down. It was progress Amaya felt.

Room 304

"Last day of the tour," phil whispered, running his fingers through gemma's blonde hair he slowly worked out the knots that had formed as Her head lay on his chest. He wasn't even sure she was wake. The sun had just peaked over the horizon, and they had been dozing in and out of consciousness together.

"Shhhh," she hissed, pressing her finger against his lips. "I don't want to think about it"

"This will change nothing between us, you know that, right? Im not letting you go anywhere. i worked too hard for this." phil stated rolled over, so he was hoving over her on all fours. Gemma scooted up the bed until she was eye level with him again.

He had worked very hard to regain her trust. He was still putting in the work to ensure that their relationship would last. He started leaving her little notes and still had flowers sent to her dressingroom every couple of shows. Gemma was forever grateful she decided to let him try. Decided to let herself try.

"I love you, gem,"

"I love you too," Gemma smiled, reaching up to craddle phils face in her hands. "So much more than I originally planned"

Phil smiled as he swooped down and pressed a soft kiss against her lips. "So much ,my love, I love you so much." he lowered himself even more to bury his face against her neck. Her hands intantly made their way to his hair. He kissed the soft skin just to hear Gemma sigh.

Room 307:

Joe laid on his side so he could watch the women sleeping soundly beside him. The sun had risen and was shining in through the sheer white curtains. It's light casting everything in shades of gold.

She would be pissed if he let her sleep in much longer, but he couldn't bring himself to disturb her peace, not quite yet.

It was the last day of the tour. Tomorrow, he would be flying into Dublin. He would be going home. She would be flying home to London. They had talked it through, and he really believed they had a good shot. Still worry and doubt chewed away at him.

"It's rude to stare," Harper murmered, peering at Joe with half lidded eyes.

"Just admiring the finest of art," he grinned, leaning in to kiss her forehead.

She hummed slightly, her eyes falling shut for a spilled second before snapping back open.

"Go back to sleep, angel," he purred, kissing her forehead. She smiled at him before nodding. He knew they would be all right. They all would.

Her eyes fell shut again, and her breath evened out. They would have to get up and start there a day soon, but not yet. They could remain in their shared peace just a little longer.

Room 310

Bex sat across from Rick, sipping her tea and watching the man carefully. He was wearing the hotel provided robe. His bangs fell into his eyes. He looked so content that she almost felt bad for what she was going to say. "This isn't going to last"

"I know," Rick returned, looking up from his cup of tea. His eyes were filled with understanding. "Is this where you tell me you had fun, but this is the end?"

"You're a great guy. I just don't do relationships"

Rick nodded, sipping at his tea. He finished his tea and stood up, finding his shoes and sitting on the edge of the bed to put them on. "See you tonight?"

Bex nodded, smiling slightly. The second he closed the door, her smile faded. It was the first time she ever really felt pain over a man in a long time.

Room 309

Rebel leaned back against the savs solid chest as the warm water flowed over them. "You know this is kind of a waste of water. We are just gonna shower again later, " Rebel smiled.

"Yeah, but it feels nice," sav returned.

Rebel hummed in agreement. She spun around, wrapping her arms around his neck.

His wet hair clung to her skin. "Gonna miss this"

"Yeah, but we'll figure something out." Sav smiled, leaning down and capturing her lips.

Rebel happily kissed back for a moment before epulling back and resting their foreheads together. "Think the others are this.... pensive?"

"Probably. The end of the tour is always a time of mixed emotions. This tour is especially hard. So much love has formed. If I didn't know any better, I'd say Mel and chris planned this"

Rebel giggled at that. The water was starting to turn cold, but she couldn't find it in her to care.

Mal sat across from chris in the hotel lobby, grinning at the other man. "We couldn't have had this go any better," He asked. "I mean, when you called me and said you knew of a band that would work well with my boys, I didn't think you meant this well. Steve's barely drinking anymore. They all aren't fighting nearly as much. They have someone else to look at other than each other."

Chris nodded his agreement. "Bex is starting to trust. Gemma finally found someone to match her energy. Amaya found someone to take care of other than Gemma. And let's be honest, they all are staying out of trouble because they are too busy with each other"

It's been a great tour, " Mel stated, standing up and shaking Chris's hand.

"It sure has," the other man agreed.

#def leppard #phil collen #joe elliott #steve clark #rick savage #rick allen #def leppard fan fiction #phil collen fan fiction #joe elliott fanfiction #rick savage fanfiction #rick allen fanfiction #steve clark fanfiction

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sparklingdarklady · 17 days ago

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On Wings of Happiness Chapter 3

(*(Chapter Three)*)

GLOW!

Within their inner chambers, Magnifico was observing their Kingdom's defences over the shoulder of his beloved Queen. As she sat before the crystal ball they shared and focused her power on it, he saw she was in deep concentration as she performed the same spell again that night that she had cast for many moons since they'd been together that helped maintain their domain.

Quiet, as she continued her sacred duties, he waited until-!

FLASH!

The spell throbbed with a green light, showing that it was satisfied with her contribution. As it did, she sighed in relief, saying with her shoulders relaxing, “Finally, that's enough!”

Walking closer to her, he placed a caring hand on Amaya's shoulder and asked, “Are you tired my love?”

“Not more so than normal, you'd think I'd be able to cast this more easily as time passes,” she revealed. She placed a happy hand over Magnifico's, and then he studied the imagery within the crystal ball; it showed the entirety of the island they owned, with her green barrier shining brightly around it. She continued, “Honestly, what's more irksome to me is the fact nothing happens anymore! We've had no disturbances in so long... its just no fun.”

Hearing her complaint, he squeezed her shoulder and reassured her, saying, “That will soon pass; don't worry.”

“Mm...” She uttered, satisfied at his words, enjoying their quiet warmth together when-!

“Meow...”

Interrupting them both was the Queen's beloved feline, who'd hopped on up the side of his mistress, rubbing himself into her free hand, which had still been on the crystal ball.

Seeing him, she smiled immediately and said, “Charo!” Then, moving her hands, she cradled him and asked, “Where've you been?”

Magnifico smirked as she held her precious bundle and turned to get a book off the shelf, “Probably off causing havoc no doubt?”

Her light grey feline yawned, satisfied as he rubbed his head into Amaya's shoulder. As he did, she smiled more and said, “Well, I hope you caused a real ruckus if you did!” To which she stroked him all the more, enjoying his sweet warmth as he began to purr softly. Everything was wonderful and peaceful then...

SHINE!!!!

Suddenly, the room was lit up by bright golden light! On alert seeing this, Amaya gasped and-!

“HHHIIISSS!!!!”

Dropping his book unnerved, Magnifico cried out, “What is that!?”

His Queen couldn't answer him! Blinded by this golden radiance, Charo jumped onto the table, his tail and fur up angrily at this intruding light. She tried to speak, “I, I don't know!” However, seeing the colour and sparkle of this unknown phenomenon, her eyes widened as she somehow recognised it and said, “Wait, no! Is this-!”

FLASH!!!

Then, just as suddenly, the radiance died away! With no trace within the crystal ball that it had ever been there!

Charo before her continued to growl ferociously, unnerved by the light, leaving Amaya breathless. As she was, her shaking hand reached up to her pearled necklace, and as it did, she asked, looking at the red jewel in the centre of the black star, “Could it be possible?”

“Amaya !?” Rushing over to her worried, Magnifico asked, “Are you alright !?”

Feeling him close to her, she looked up to him and replied, “I, yes...” Then, tightening her hold around the star pendant, she told him about the possibility, “But that light... I think I know it!”

Shocked, Magnifico repeated with puzzlement, “Know it?”

After some thought, Amaya nodded and revealed to him what that golden radiance they both witnessed and if what she thought had happened was real. If they got their hands on it, it would finally grant them the much-needed boost they'd need to achieve their lifelong goal!

X X X X X X X X

Dazzled beyond words as the golden, once floating young man held her free hand, with glittery light all around him. Asha couldn't think of a single word to say! This was unbelievable! Too fantastical! Supernatural! It was-! Wait? Supernatural? Is that what was going on here? Then, as he held her hand, suddenly-!

“Oh!?”

He let go of her in a hurry! As he did, she was left without his warm touch. All she could do was stare at him as she took it back, and he then laughed awkwardly, saying, “Oops! Sorry, I got too excited there!” Then, looking to the side, he added, looking self-deprecating, “And I've completely broken protocol too!”

Still caught in her bewilderment, Asha stared at him and didn't understand what was happening! Who was this glowing person, and what was-!

“Beware...and make you disappear!”

Then suddenly, something clicked into her mind as she remembered a story about spirits she'd been warned about in childhood! Is that what was going on now!? She felt a terrible spike of fear charge up her back!

Shivering in terror, she heard the glowing young man say awkwardly with a laugh, “Well, I guess there's no going back now, so!” With that, he bowed elegantly and said, “Greetings, dear Aspirer! I have now come to-!”

But Asha didn't stay to hear him say another word as she ran straight back to the forest, dropping her treasured mandolin in the process! Charging on, she then heard-!

“Hey! Wait! You left your-!”

However, she didn't hear another word as she headed deeper and deeper into the woods!

…

Running at full speed, Asha had one goal: She had to get back to the safety of home! Finally, she remembered the rest of the chilling song her Grandpa had sung!

“Beware the Spunkie lad!

With lightened lantern hair!

Lost in the forest,

The smallest, those he covets,

He'll come for you,

And make you disappear!”

She became terrified at that possibility, remembering being scared of the tale even back then! That was one thing that couldn't happen! For if she disappeared-!?

“Hey? Is this a game you're playing?”

“Ah!” To her shock and horror, the golden-glowing terror appeared again! He flew right by her side with a carefree smile, leaving a glittering trail behind him!

Panicking, Asha quickly turned and headed in another fast direction! She had to get away! She had to do something or-!

“Ha! Ha! It's really funny if it is!”

Aghast, making her unnerved more, he was there again! Right in front of her, as he smiled away, she came to a complete halt! “I've never met someone so boisterous!” Then she saw him try to reach for something behind him, and he continued to say with a smile, “By the way, is this something that's involved in- ?”

“Get away from me, you, you Spunkie!” she cried out, and with that, she charged straight off again, baffling the golden-glowing young man.

…

Asha felt like she'd been running forever as she entered a clearing in the woods! Haggard from running for so long, she'd been through way too much for one night! But still, she had to get home or-!

“Hey! Miss Aspirer, did you come this way?”

Feeling another terrible chill, Asha looked back and saw that he was still on her tail! Shivering, she couldn't help but ask quietly, “Does he never give up!?”

However, she was just as determined! For she had to live! She had her Grandpa to take care of and friends she wanted to be with! She couldn't disappear!

Looking around herself rapidly, she saw one way out! She came across a stony ledge in the clearing with broken stones descending from it!

Running to it, she saw that the stones would allow her to ascend. But she had no idea if it would be completely safe, and thinking of the height she'd have to climb made her highly uncomfortable as she shook, looking up.

“Hi, can you hear me?”

But this was no time to sweat in fear; she had to go! So quickly, she grabbed the first stone and began climbing up as fast as she could!

Ascending for her wasn't as tricky as she first thought it would be; maybe everything would be alright when she reached the top. Once she got there, she'd have to find her bearings again, since she'd never been to-!

CRUMBLE!

“Agh!”

Suddenly, the stone she thought she had a firm grip on came apart, and she scrambled madly before quickly catching another steadier stone! Her heart felt like it was going to beat out of her chest, then, and unfortunately, she did the one thing someone was not supposed to do as they climbed. She looked down!

“Miss Aspirer!?”

Hearing this worried cry, Asha saw to her dread the golden guy again! This made her shiver worse; she felt like she would cry! But she had to get away, so again, she continued climbing up hurriedly!

“What're you doing!? That's dangerous! That ledge isn't safe! You won't-!”

“I can't be taken by a Spunkie!” Asha cried back! Grabbing another stone, she cried, “I've got a home to go back to! I can't let you-!”

CRUMBLE!

Then the worst outcome happened, the stone underneath her right foot gave way and-!

“AAAGGGHHH!!!”

She completely fell away from the stones and was plummeting down to earth!

“HANG ON!!!”

Asha had her eyes squeezed tight. What was she to hold on to!? What was she to-!

SHINE!!!!

Suddenly, to her amazement, instead of feeling the pain of the earth and stone coming to bash her to pieces for her foolish escape, she was being held by a pair of warm, strong, glowing arms that held her aloft with glittering golden light all around them!

Opening her eyes, she saw him again. The one she'd been trying to run away from the entire time! Seeing him, she then saw him release a sigh of relief as he told her brightly with a laugh, “Looks like I finally caught you, safely too!” All she could do was stare at him quietly, and then she heard him ask, “So is the game over now?”

This then caused her to cry, as her panic and stress finally overwhelmed her.

“Hey! Why're you crying!? Are you hurt or-?”

Shaking her head rapidly, Asha said hiding her face, “No, no I lost! You're gonna make me disappear now, aren't you!?”

“Disappear, why would I do that to you?”

Hearing the words be said curiously, Asha became puzzled in her overwhelmed state. Then, opening her misty eyes, they cleared after a quiet moment, and she saw him staring at her, perplexed.

Silent herself, Asha uttered, “Huh...?” Then she asked, “I thought that's what Spunkies do, don't they?”

The young man stared at her, clearly not understanding what she meant as he repeated, “Spunkies?” Then quickly, a flash of realisation came across his face as he told her with a laugh, “Oh! You mean Willow-o'-the-wisps, don't you?”

Blinking, Asha asked, “Willow the...what?”

“That's what Spunkies are! That's another title for the blue spirits that are found in Scotland, I was told about them ages ago by the elders!” Then, with a curious look as he turned to the side, he said in thought, “Though I've never heard of them making people disappear?”

Feeling calmer as he explained, Asha asked, “Scotland, so...?” Knowing that definitely wasn't the region she lived in, she asked him, “You're not here to take me away?”

As he heard her ask, he laughed and said, “Well, if I were, don't you think I would have done that already?”

Hearing him say this so relaxed and happily, Asha could feel it now. This person wasn't malicious at all. His warmth and glow all around her made her feel so calm that she couldn't help but smile at her silliness as she replied, “Yeah, that's true, I guess!”

The young man smiled, looking happy at her, but before he could say another word-!

WHOOSH!!!!

Feeling a strong gust from the wind blow at them made the boy waver as he held her in the air! This made Asha hold onto him more tightly and again look down at the height they were at, shaking at it. She asked him nervously, “Um, could you take us back to the ground please!”

Looking down at her and seeing her tremble, he said, “Oh, yeah sure of course! Hang on!” With that, he descended down with her gently and entered another part of the woods; he landed back on solid earth and allowed Asha to detach herself from him.

She was quiet momentarily as she regained some calming breaths. Then, looking at his golden-glowing form, she asked, “Um, thanks for that... can I ask? Who are you? Where did you come from?”

The young man remained silent, then smiled and replied, “Well, I'm glad I can finally give my introductions properly to you now!” With that, he bowed gracefully with a hand to his chest and told her, “Greetings, my dear Aspirer! I am one of the Siderea!”

Quiet as she heard this, Asha repeated as she processed the word, “Sai-dee-ree-ah?”

With a nod, he replied, “That's right, one of the people of the stars!” He told her, then lifted himself up and pointed to the heavenly bodies that shone above them far beyond them, showing where he originated from.

Seeing them all glow and shine with awe, Asha remembered then what happened that must have caused him to arrive and the legends her Father talked about! Amazed, she asked him, “You're someone from the stars?” Then, as he nodded with a smile to her, she realised, “You came because of my wish!”

“Exactly!” He smiled, then, with his arms opened, letting his warm golden light shine around them, with his orange cape fluttering around gently, he revealed, “I am here to help you make it come true!”

“Wow!” she cried out, amazed. Then, she covered her mouth at how loud she cried in surprise. She laughed and said, “So I did it! I made a wish loud enough to reach you guys!”

Laughing brightly, he told her, “Something like that!”

Smiling, Asha couldn't believe her luck! Then, excitedly, with her hands clasped, she told him, “Thanks, thanks so much!” Then, as her mind raced, she told him, “I don't know how I could ever repay you, um...?” Then she realised, “Wait? What do I call you?”

With a smile, he revealed his name. He touched the white diamond on his chest and said, “Asterix, the little star!”

She remained quiet momentarily and then repeated, “Asterix?” Looking at him, she couldn't help but comment, “Um? You don't look little?”

“It's more of a joke of where I come from!” Asterix revealed, then he added, looking a little bashful, scratching his cheek, “Since well, I'm not as high up as some of the other granters in the heavens so...”

Asha, hearing this, then revealed a small smile and told him, “Well, for what its worth, I think it's a really cute name!” Then, as he looked at her, surprised, she happily told him, “Thank you! Thank you for coming to grant my wish, Asterix!”

He looked amazed at her, then he said in a cheery tone, “It's okay! I'm more than glad to!” Then he added, “Especially one like yours!”

Puzzled, Asha then asked him, “Huh? Why would you say that?”

“Because it's one of the purest wishes I've ever heard!” Asterix smiled.

“Pure?” She repeated, puzzled.

Asterix nodded, “Yeah, cause most wishes tend to be mainly just for the Aspirer themselves, but to hear one, that's for more than just you! That's something that's really remarkable! We don't get too many of those that often, so I'll be looking forward to helping you achieve it!”

“Oh?” Asha replied, not realising how strong her wish was and feeling awkward. “Well, I mean I wasn't really trying to-!” However, she stopped as she realised something: “Wait?”

“Hm?” Asterix then looked at her, puzzled, as she stopped.

“You said to help achieve my wish?” Asha asked, then staring at him, she continued, “I thought you're here to grant it instantly, aren't you?”

“What do you mean?” He asked her, looking baffled.

“I thought stars were supposed to like, snap your fingers and make everyone instantly happy or something?” Then, as Asterix stared at her, she asked him, “...Is that incorrect?”

“Ah, yeah, I'm afraid that's not how I work unfortunately!” Asterix replied, looking awkward and scratching the back of his head.

Feeling suddenly crestfallen, Asha uttered as dread grew, “...So, I am wrong?”

“Sadly, sorry!” Asterix revealed, looking apologetic.

“I'm doomed!” Asha cried, looking at the ground. Her mind surged with stress as she said, “I've only got three days and barely three nights now!” Then, thinking of Magnifico's awful shadow looming over her, she said, sweating at the oncoming terror, “There's no way my wish can be granted is there!? I mean with what limited amount of time I've got left and barely any talent, I'm-!”

“No! That's not true!”

GRAB!

“Huh!?”

Suddenly, one of Asha's free hands was grabbed again! As it was, she looked up and saw Asterix looking at her intently with determination as he told her, “Dear Aspirer! Your wish can come true, I absolutely guarantee it!”

Perplexed as he held her hand so strongly, she looked to it and back to his warm glowing brown eyes and asked, dazzled, “How?...What do you mean?”

“Because I'm here now, with you!” Then, with a gentle, kind expression, he revealed, “Your wish has the full potential of coming true! My being here now is the proof of that! If it couldn't, there's no way I'd be here before you right now!” Then, smiling, he told her as though trying to chase the darkness of her worries away, “You have no need to fear, I promise you that!”

She was not used to someone saying something like this with so much confidence, especially encouragingly! It left Asha awestruck as she uttered, “Oh...?” Looking down, she said, “Okay, that's good to know, I guess?” Then, looking up at him as he shone so brightly in the dark, holding her hand, she said, “Um, by the way...?”

“Yeah?” He asked her, a smile still gracing his warm features.

“My name's Asha, not Aspirer...” She shyly revealed, then said, “I thought you better know that.”

“Oh?” he replied. Then, studying her, he told her, “Well, it's pretty! It suits you, Asha!”

Turning red, she said, “Thanks, I guess, um?” Her heart racing, she asked, unused to being stared at so warmly, “Do you think, you could let go of my hand now?”

“Huh?” Then, seeing he was still holding it in both his hands, he told her, “Oh, sorry! I guess I got carried away again!” Then, with an awkward chuckle, he released her and said, “I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable!”

Holding her hand close and feeling his lingering warmth as she looked at it, Asha told him, “No, you didn't. It's fine and...” Then, looking back at Asterix, she added, “And thanks.”

“Hm?”

“For giving me that guarantee there, it was nice... I don't get it too often like that.” Asha revealed.

“It's okay! That's what I'm here for!” Asterix smiled, hand to his chest. Then, as he did this, Asha smiled and felt herself calm down. As she did, her star boy asked, “So? What prompted you to make your wish? How would you like to make everyone happy?”

Hearing his question, Asha remained quiet, but soon, remembering what she'd need to do, she became a little uneasy. Thinking of how little time she had left to get ready, she told him, “I'll tell you along the way.”

“Along the way?” He repeated, puzzled.

Nodding, Asha told him, “Yeah, as we go back to my cottage, I'll tell you the details and so I can get in some practise before the night ends.”

“Oh, okay then! Lead the way!” he told her, and with that, he floated by her side as she began to explain her circumstances and what led to her calling out her wish to the stars...

X X X X X X X X

Wandering through the woods, Asterix, listening by her side and hearing what had been asked of her, uttered, “Whoa!” Then, turning another corner down the path, Asha heard him ask, “So? You've been asked to put on a whole magic show?”

Nodding, feeling terribly nervous at what was coming, she replied, “Yeah, very, very suddenly...I'm not prepared at all!”

“I don't think I'd be ready either!” Asterix replied, then looked up and said, “I mean in the heavens for something like that, you'd be given at least a month!” Then he enquired further, “So you need help to better your magic then, right?”

“Yeah, that's right!” Asha confirmed. Then, momentarily in thought, she explained, “I've been studying it for four months, and I'm still struggling, sadly.” Then, with a sad sigh, she continued, “I need to master all five of the Star qualities in magic, Magnifico wants. If I do, he'll take me on permanently as his apprentice.”

Creasing his brows, Asterix asked her, “Five Star qualities? What're those?”

“Well, simply they're the powers I need to help aid him in running the kingdom, mastery over locks, healing, enhancing and reduction.” She took a breath and finished, “Then finally, control over light and levitation.”

As he listened to her explanation, Asterix asked, “Those are oddly precise?” With his arms folded, he stated, “Usually, what I've seen and heard is sorcerers wanting control over the elements of nature.”

“Oh, he wants that too eventually!” Asha confirmed, but then she explained, “But, I'm just a beginner so, he said those five types are the bare minimum one needs to casts spells... otherwise you're not qualified at all.”

Looking shocked at her saying this, Asterix looked displeased as he honestly told her, “This King Magnifico sounds like an awful oppressor, if he's using wording like that!”

Laughing awkwardly, Asha replied, “Well, he is strict! I won't deny that!” Then, with her hands together, she replied, “But, despite that, he's given everyone a home here, a place to belong! He's made everything comfortable, for everyone who lives here in Rosa, so... I can't really badmouth him, especially when he revealed I even have talent in magic in the first place!” Then, sighing, she added, “Without him, I'd never have discovered that!”

Quiet momentarily, Asterix replied, “...I understand.” However, floating before her, he said, “But that doesn't give him the right to demand such outrageous things from people! No matter what he gives, that's not fair!”

Asha stared at Asterix, then looked down and became uncomfortable. He wasn't wrong in what he was saying, but because Magnifico was their ruler and kept them all safe, he was the reason any of them could even live in peace in the first place, so-!

“Asha?”

Hearing his voice broke her out of her thoughts. Looking up at him, she heard him say, “He's not doing this just to bully you is he?”

Surprised hearing this, she repeated, “Bully me?” Not understanding why he came to that conclusion, she asked, “Why would you say that?”

“Well, because I can't help but feel it might be?” Then floating before her, he continued with concern, “For demanding something so suddenly out of you like that, when you're still new to the world of magic, I can't help but feel like he's a tyrant!”

Upset, Asha told him, “He's not doing that!”

As she interrupted Asterix, who looked shocked, she took a breath and explained, as he stared, “I'm the one who said everyone looked miserable. I brought it up and...” Then, tensing her hands, she continued, “And honestly, I thought he might not do anything! But despite that, he surprised me and does want to help! He wants to cheer up everyone too, so-!”

Then, looking at Asterix, he saw that he was staring at her with surprise. As he did, she continued, “... I know it may seem extreme what he's putting me through, but I'm sure that he believes in me, otherwise he wouldn't have given me the task!” Then, looking down, she added, “I'm sure he does, for he said he expected great things from me... I just have to do my best, that's all and prove my worth!”

…

As uneasy silence came between them, Asha didn't know if she got through to Asterix. But after a little bit, he sighed and said, “Okay, I believe you...” Then, standing on the ground, he scratched his head and said, “I mean, I was told not to assume before I met someone, so...” Then, as he looked back to her, he said, “But if you believe in this guy, I'll hold back on my judgements until I see him myself.”

Hearing him say this, Asha was relieved and said, “I'm glad to hear that, Asterix!”

He smiled hearing her, then told her, “And by good fortune you've called on the right person to teach you magic now!” For spinning around in the air, he told her with a graceful glittering arc, “I'll show you some good tricks that'll help you master it faster!” Then, gathering the sparkles he created, he formed it into a star and handed it to her, “You'll have control over the Five Star qualities you need by the time of the show, I guarantee it!” Then, as she held it in her hands, making her glow golden with amazement, he winked and finished, “And I'll make it fun too!”

Asha was astounded. As the star in her hands gradually faded into pretty twinkles, she uttered, “Wow...” Then, smiling again, she told him, “Thanks Asterix. I can't wait to learn from you, too!”

He smiled as well and nodded, and then they walked on together quietly. After a bit, he couldn't help but say, “This forest is so fascinating! I never get to be in the woods like this!”

Surprised, Asha asked him, “You don't?”

Shaking his head, Asterix revealed, “No! I mean tree's don't exist in the heavens!”

“They don't?”

Asterix shook his head again. Then he explained, “Well, some of us try to form clouds that resemble trees, with our magic making them glitter with light but... it's not the same thing, like this!” With that, he gently touched a leaf and looked intrigued, holding it as it shone between his fingers.

Asha then couldn't help but reply, “That's kind of sad.”

Shrugging his shoulders, he replied, “Yeah, I won't deny it, it is kind of...” However, he brightly revealed, “But I'm glad that I get to feel and see them now!”

Hearing him turn the sadness so suddenly, Asha was surprised. Then she smiled and replied, “Yeah, that is good!” As they walked on together, she couldn't help but ask, “So if you guys don't have trees in the heavens, what do you do for food?”

“Oh, we don't eat!” Asterix smiled.

Shocked, Asha asked, “You...don't eat?”

“Well, not like humans do!” Asterix smiled, then looking above, he explained, “We get our energy from sources of light, when they shine on our skin that's how we get our nourishment.”

As she heard this, she was quiet and repeated, “Sources of light?” Then, thinking to herself, she asked, “You mean? Like from sunlight, candlelight and moonlight?”

Nodding, Asterix replied, “Yeah, pretty much!”

Hearing this, Asha couldn't help but say, “That sounds like such an easy lifestyle for you guys!” Then, looking up, she said, “I mean, you don't have to work for it or anything! Some light on your skin and boom! You've eaten. If that's not easy, I don't know what is!”

“I guess!” Asterix laughed; however, looking at her, he said, “But to be honest, we're all envious in the heavens at what you all can eat.”

Surprised, Asha asked him, “You're all envious?”

“Well, of course!” Asterix then, looking at some ripe-looking red berries, picked out a twig from the tree they were under and said, “I mean you all get to taste the fruits of the earth, and cook them into all kinds of amazing things! We can't help but wanna try it ourselves!” With that, he went to take a berry to eat when-!

“Not that!”

GRAB!

Asha quickly snatched the berries away from him and the one he was about to eat, making Asterix stare at her, shocked. As he did, she quickly explained, “You can't eat berries from a spindle tree!”

“Huh? Why?”

“They could kill you!” Asha urgently told him, throwing them some distance away, “You can't just take anything from anywhere! You don't know what it might do to you!” Then she added, “You have to be careful! Don't take anything for granted, whether you're from above or not!”

Quiet, Asterix then laughed and told her, “Okay! I'll try not to do that!” Then he smiled and said, “Thanks for the save there, Asha!”

To which all she could do was sigh. Then, as she started walking and Asterix floated by her side, she told him, “Besides, I can let you taste better and crucially safer fruits in my garden!”

“You have a garden?” He asked, surprised.

“Yep!” Finally leaving the woods, she returned to the Hamlet! She started running and energisedly told him, “C'mon! I'll show you!”

He quickly looked thrilled and replied, “I'm coming!” Then he flew to catch up with her and together they made their way towards the cottage she called home!

X X X X X X X X

“WOW!!!”

Asterix looked around at all the fruits, flowers, and other vegetation she'd grown over the years in amazed wonder. Asha never expected anyone to ever be this excited about it all! She couldn't help but smile as he pointed around like an excited child as she guided him around, “What's this?”

“A small Clementine tree!” She smiled.

“And this?”

“A fig tree.”

“What about this one?”

“They're called grapes; they're some of my specialities that I grow!” Then, coming across one of her particular plants, she told him, “But this one is one of my personal favourites!” With that, she plucked a red fruit off a green vine.

“What is it?” He asked her eagerly.

Smiling, Asha approached him, placed it in his hand, and said, “It's called a strawberry!” Then, stepping back, she told him, “You can try it if you want?”

“Okay!” he eagerly told her. He then popped it in his mouth, not swallowing the green head. He became quiet as he chewed.

Staring at him, she then asked after a moment, “So...what do you think? Do you like it?”

Asterix, quiet after a little, looked dazzled, then swallowing, he told her, “That was delicious!” Then, with a hand to his cheek, he told her, “I've never had anything so good!” As he did this, he glittered more, revealing his happiness.

Quiet at this warm, dazzling sight, Asha laughed and said, “Glad to hear it!”

Looking at the plant it came from and back to her, Asterix asked, “Can I have a few more?”

Nodding, she told him, “Sure! But not all of them! I need some to make jam at some stage!”

“Alright!” With that, he walked over to her side, picked a few more berries, and began happily eating them.

Seeing him do this, she couldn't help but smile warmly at him. However, after a moment, she said, “Oh, wait! I need to get to practising!” Then, moving back to the front of the cottage, she told him, “I'm just gonna get some of my books. I'll be back in a minute!”

“Okay!” Asterix smiled, and with that, he waited, eating the delicious fruits of the earth as Asha fetched her studying materials quietly so as not to rouse anyone.

…

Her satchel bag was in hand, with the books she needed inside. Asha, adjusting it, said, “Good mission accomplished!” Then, as an extra merit, she credited herself with a smile, “And all fetched without waking Grandpa or Valentino!”

Then, thinking of him again, slumbering in his room sadly with Valentino on the end of his bed... she wondered if she could restore his happiness with Asterix's help, too?

Thinking of how upset he was about the mandolin when she brought it to him, she couldn't help but worry.

“Dear Aspirer! Your wish can come true, I absolutely guarantee it!”

However, Asha remembered Asterix's words and how warmly he shone. That light couldn't help but motivate her and chase the worried thoughts away. Gripping her hands around her bag straps, she reassured herself, saying, “No, we'll be alright! I'm sure of it!” For walking back to her garden, she said, “Cause after all, I now have-!”

GLITTER!

Shocked, Asha walked around the corner and saw all the flowers in her garden swaying together in perfect unison! All of them had vine-like arms, and she could see as she walked through that they were all interacting with each other! She noticed some conversing with tiny sweet chirps and flattering gestures, others laughing, and some had their vine arms entwined around each other, making hugs!

Utterly baffled by this, she could only stare at them all as she walked through her now enchanted garden, which was bathed in Asterix's golden dust! Noticing this, as they all glowed with his warm, glittering light, she couldn't help but ask, “Um, is this all happening because of-?”

“Oh, hey, Asha!”

Then, turning her head immediately at his voice, she saw him again, “Asterix!”

The star boy, in the middle of the glittering space, who caused this miraculous effect on her flowers! Running over to him, she asked, “What's going on here!? Why're all my plants-!”

“My powers enhanced them!” He smiled at her.

Baffled, Asha then repeated, “Um? Enhanced them?”

Nodding, Asterix then explained, “Yeah! As a Siderea, I have the ability of enhancing the potential of all living things!” Then, looking at all the cheerful flowers and plants, he continued, “I was so happy being in this garden, my power affected them all, giving them the ability to become fully animated!” Then, one of the flowers quickly looked annoyed and made a protesting squeak! As it did, he laughed apologetically and said, “Oh, excuse me! I meant a little more so than normal!”

Asha listened quietly and looked at the complaining blossom. It seemed appeased as it returned to conversation with another nearby plant. Quiet momentarily, she couldn't help but say, “Well, I can't deny it. That is an amazing power you have, Asterix! I can't compare to that at all!”

“Thanks!” He smiled and then told her, “But you know, you're more incredible, Asha!”

Perplexed, she looked at him and asked, “Huh? Why would you say that? I haven't done anything yet?”

“But you have, though!” Then, gesturing to all the flowers and plants, Asterix told her, “Everyone here has told me how hard you've worked, letting them all grow to be healthy and strong. They're really proud of their colours and beauty.”

Amazed, Asha couldn't believe what Asterix was saying! Then, looking at all the plants around them, she asked as they all glowed, “They all told you that?”

Nodding, he continued, “Yeah, and they're all this way because you've cared for them for so long, throughout the good and bad seasons.” Then, quickly, all the plants chirped up with happy sounds. It all seemed to Asha's ears like agreement, and as they did, wide-eyed, she couldn't believe it. Turning to Asterix, she heard him say, “They're really happy you did and they wanted me to tell you, thank you! Thank you for caring for them all so much!”

All her beloved plants in her garden quickly released more happy chirps in volume, showing Asterix's words were true. Amazed by this, Asha didn't know what to say. She became bashful, and her face turned red as she looked down.

As she became this way, Asterix asked, “Are you alright, Asha?”

She didn't know what to say at first, but after a moment, she replied, “...I'm fine, just astounded I guess?” Then, looking up and around at all the plants in her garden, she replied, “Thanks for the praise, all of you here... and thank you all too, for giving me peace when I needed it.”

She then heard all her plants release a happy hum and more chirps, showing they were pleased. She smiled at this, then looked at him and said, “And thanks for letting me know all that, Asterix! It really means a lot!”

“You're welcome!” he told her with a smile. However, he couldn't help but ask, “But are you sure you're alright? You look a little red?”

Quietly, Asha looked at him and then noticed something. Releasing a slight chuckle, she pulled a small white cloth from her satchel and moved over. She made it to Asterix and-!

“Mmm!”

She wiped his mouth and quickly removed the remains of the fruit he enjoyed. As she did, she told him, “You are too!” To which she revealed the juices of the strawberry she'd cleaned off.

“Oh?” He uttered, startled. After a moment, he laughed, and she did, too.

Then quickly, all her plants cried out excited chirps and squeaks at the little moment they shared!

Then, after they calmed down, Asterix couldn't help but say, “Looks like everyone's excited now, I wonder what they mean? Saying will they? Over and over?”

Shrugging her shoulders, Asha replied with a smile, “Who knows? Plants can be a mystery!” However, remembering what she needed to do, she told him, “Well, anyway, I need to get more practice in now, so...!” Returning to her satchel, she put away the cloth and went to get something else.

“Hm?”

Hearing Asterix look on curiously at her, she got out what she needed, saying, “There I found it!” Then, with a book in her hands, she asked, “Asterix, could you help me try to understand what's written here?”

“Huh?” Then, as he looked over the book, he asked, reading the title, “The Discipline of Latin?” Taking it into his hands, he told her, “Well, I can give it a try! Let me read it for a bit!”

“Alright!” Asha smiled, and with that, she waited for Asterix to read it through so he could help her understand this baffling language so she could at last learn and master it! Then, she would hopefully be able to master her magical power so she could put on the best entertaining show that all of Rosa would ever see!

#asha #starboy #starboy x asha #wish 2023 #wish asha #wish rewrite

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stormrisings · 2 years ago

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You know I love love your Toni. She's taken over the world and yet it's still not enough for her is it? I think it stems from her childhood and how she never felt good enough so now she needs to excel above everyone. I see her as such a multi dimensional character. Which Toni will we get today, or tomorrow? Who knows but I love seeing her on the dash to find out. I love that she can be kind but cruel, hard but gentle, unapologetic but apologetic (it's all in which Toni shows up) She really needs therapy for all these personalities. I'm not sure who I love to watch her with more, Mercedes, Bianca, Jamie, Amaya, Saraya, Jay or Bea. I do want more Toni and Rhea due to how long they've known each other, and both have gone through similar things, I think that's another reason I love her and Saraya too. Few know what it feels like to be ripped open and exposed, taken advantage of like they have and yet, they keep fighting and holding their heads high. Great job on Storm.

I think it does too and listening to some podcasts she's done opened my eyes to a lot of her mindset. Wrestling is her life and all she's ever wanted to do. She didn't have friends or enjoy school (she was bullied). She didn't fit in anywhere but wrestling. She has no idea what she'll do after wrestling, maybe have kids that wrestle or train people to wrestle. She said she's a lifer and it's all she loves. Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde, she is. She's in therapy and says that helps but honestly she stays conflicted. So many sides to her and all want and love different things, different people. I'm open to any and all connections for her. I can't say she'll be nice to all of them but drama and angst is fun. She closed her self off after that leak and was in a really dark place but thanks to her friends they helped pull her out of it and now she sees it as a learning experience. Young Toni did a lot of stupid things that grown Toni won't relive. Thank you!

#tw mental health #tw bullying #tw depression

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hermitmoss · 2 years ago

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So, I have some thoughts on Viren, Terry, and Claudia. (Naturally, spoilers for Book 4 ahead, as well as discussions of domestic abuse. I’ll also note here in case somebody wants to do some Discourse™ - I hope it’s not necessary, but still, in case - that I am a survivor of abuse, and have been a caregiver for my abuser, a parent.) With that said, let’s dive in (dive off?)!

Terry and Claudia treat Viren in completely opposite ways. Three guesses who treats him the “right way” - that’s right, the one who didn’t have to grow up being taught and emotionally abused by him. In a work explicitly about breaking the cycles of harm, this is very significant. This is a meta about this.

In many ways it’s completely natural (in a terrible way) for an abused child to, when finding herself suddenly more powerful by far than her abuser, to treat the abuser the way that she herself has been treated and seen modeled. Terry obviously hasn’t been raised (badly, dangerously, harmfully) by Viren.

Obviously, Claudia’s dark magic raising gives her a sense of entitlement towards the bodies of others -- they’re used for spell components, after all! Why should she listen if Viren says that he’d prefer palliative care than the slim chance of survival (and certainly a less enjoyable time than “enjoying the time he does have” would be)? He has no say over his own body; she’s a dark mage, she’s in charge here, so what happens to bodies is her domain, not the domain of the people in them.

Terry, again, does not have this. In fact, he models a very different conceptualization of love - a healthy one - when he says (I’ve slightly paraphrased rather than dig through the episode again for the exact dialogue) “I don’t control them. Plants and I have a healthy relationship. I know that they’ll be there for me when I need it.”

Claudia hits Viren. She embraces him, and he weeps. Terry suggests hugging Viren, then, when Viren doesn’t consent to it, Terry verbally states “I respect your boundaries”.

“That went well,” says Terry, when Viren first dismisses him. He seems to mean it. When Viren tells him, essentially, to suck it up about having killed somebody, he puts in a lot of thought, then has a genuine discussion with Viren about why he isn’t going to do that, and what he’s going to do instead. (It reminds me of Amaya’s “two cakes” assertion.) Terry is showing Claudia and Viren both a better way to love than what they have been practicing... and, right now, Viren seems more receptive than Claudia.

Neither Terry nor Claudia seem to notice initially that Viren is struggling with the ascent up the Storm Spire; however, it’s important to note that Terry is following Claudia’s lead. When Viren has a panic attack and loses consciousness, Terry, without being patronizing or critical, grounds and reassures him, telling him what’s going on and affirming that it’s okay. Terry is sitting with him. Claudia... is not. She’s standing ahead, impatient. When they keep going, she continues to lead the way; Terry follows not her, directly, now, but Viren; stays on the other side of him so he’s no longer bringing up the rear, can no longer fall behind unnoticed.

Viren tries to hand the staff that he once used over to Claudia. She uses it for one spell, then.... then who is carrying it? Terry.

Terry offers Viren a hand up. Viren hesitates. (Claudia never gives him an option to say ‘no’ about receiving physical contact.) The last time somebody offered Viren a hand up, and he took it, I think was Sarai, just before her death (her death, one could argue, because she stopped to save him). He takes Terry’s offered hand. I don’t think he wants Terry dead.

It’s also interesting that as much as Terry struggles (as he should, of course!) with taking a life while Viren scoffs that he has never hesitated to do the worst things imaginable to protect his family... Terry says to Claudia that she’s done terrible things, but until now (until it’s about a moonshadow elf rather than Viren’s life) he’s believed they were justified.

Viren also seems genuinely considering of what Terry has to say about feelings, and protecting people, and at the least awkward and at most genuinely sorry for snapping at him the way he did.

Then, of course, there’s The Scene. The coming out scene, where Terry says that he chose the name Terrestrius. Viren says “it’s a strong name.” Strong. It’s his idea of an affirmation.

“I ask you and your brother to reject history as a narrative of strength, and instead have faith that it can be a narrative of love.”

I think Terry’s offering up love as an alternative to strength. Unlike Claudia, he doesn’t expect Viren to be strong. He reaches out his hand to Viren. To assist him when he is, this season, shown to be physically weak. (“There will be stories of armies, battles, and decisive victories. But this isn’t true strength — it’s merely power. I now believe true strength is found in vulnerability. In forgiveness. In love.”)

Viren takes it.

#tdp 4 #tdp spoilers #*#my meta #meta #tdp #terry tdp #lord viren #viren #tdp terry #the dragon prince #abuse //#child abuse //#mage family

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fandomsandflyingstingrays · 2 years ago

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Season 4 Thoughts: Ray Edition

First of all, a disclaimer: all of these might change after I watch the season a second time, it usually takes me going episode-by-episode with full context to form a full opinion. That being said, right now, my feelings on the season are mixed. I definitely think it’s my least favorite of what we’ve gotten so far (not that it’s bad! Just less good). I’ll get into that, but I want to start off by talking about what I liked:

The animation was breathtaking. Everything was so smooth, I loved pretty much all of the character redesigns, and the scenery was gorgeous

I loved that conflict between the humans and elves didn’t end with returning to Zym to his mother, and I loved how that was explored. The show continued on with doing what it does extremely well: making sure that the conflict is never black-and-white. I always thought that both sides had valid points

(Also: Ezran’s speech deserves a point of its own because that was fantastic. You could hear his anger and pain so well as he was talking about it and his conclusion that you have to hold all your emotions to move forward was so wise. Plus it being juxtaposed by the fight with Ibis... incredible)

Janai and Amaya. Their dynamic was so wonderful and sweet and you can really see how they bring out the best in each other. They had better get married and be the best queens the sunfire elves have ever known

Terry, as a character, is fantastic. He’s so sweet and devoted, the way he sees the world is fascinating, and his reaction to killing Ibis and journey with how he dealt with it was very compelling

The whole villain (?) trio was great actually, they still all have very believable flaws and are still likable despite their actions (although Claudia less so than she has been)

TERRY CONVINCING CLAUDIA TO RETURN THE COINS. First of all, because it means neither of them are beyond hope, but mostly because we’re FINALLY GETTING SOME CLOSURE ON THAT PLOT POINT RUTHARI REUNION WHEN

Bait was a little champion. His bond with Ezran in previous seasons was cute, but I adored seeing how connected he was with Callum. And the fact that he was the final push to open Rex Igneous’s door. 10/10

Ezran subverting the whole “we will sacrifice our treasured possessions to you” trope by realizing their gifts to Rex should mean something to him. I love that it was a baked good that got him to talk. Honestly, same

But with that being said, the whole season kind of felt... off, especially in the beginning. It really took a while for the tone to find its footing. The humor felt really jarring at first, and it really switched from super dark to super light very quickly (for example, two minutes of bathroom jokes and a guy coughing up blood as he dies in the same episode). I also wasn’t really a big fan of Rayla’s plotline. First of all, her disappearance was never really explained- it pretty much alienated anyone who hasn’t read TTM, and I’m sure a lot of viewers haven’t. And the way it threw off the group dynamic wasn’t fun for me. I loved the show primarily because even though there was conflict between the characters, they still bantered and fought for each other and there were tons of moments where you saw how much they cared about each other, and that was missing here. I liked that Callum didn’t forgive Rayla right away, but I really do wish he’d at least gotten a chance to explain why her leaving hurt him and have them air that out a bit, because she really didn’t seem to get it. The fact that she never apologized or acknowledged that leaving him with absolutely no word for two years would hurt... I’m so sure she’s smarter than that. I’m hopeful that season 5 will go into Rayla’s disappearance in more detail and kind of negate this critique, but we’ll have to wait and see.

Overall, I enjoyed the season, and I think I will even more once I watch it again! It just took a while to find its footing, and I do think I liked arc 1 better so far

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blutopaz15 · 3 years ago

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Flufftober Oct. 2

Sneaking Out Together

Yay, day two! This has been REALLY good for my writer's block so far! Hope you enjoy more sweet, dorky rayllum fluff! <3

NOTES: rated t for mildly suggestive content, 1.1k

ao3 link

It was weird going to bed without Rayla.

Callum snapped his sketchbook shut. Even drawing felt strange to do alone.

He missed having Rayla beside him, peering down at the page. Her hair, so shiny and white, always fell across his shoulder when she tucked her forehead into the crook of his neck and her lips were always so sweet and soft when she interrupted to kiss him first...

He sighed.

They’d seldom spent a night alone since coming back to Katolis, and Callum could tell from the way Rayla had crossed her arms as they went their separate ways—without so much as a kiss in front of all the dinner guests—that she was definitely just as unhappy about being apart as he was.

The clear view of the nearly full moon through the windows that led to the balcony attached to the room didn’t help.

Swinging his legs out of bed, Callum tried to come up with a reasonable excuse to traipse across the Neolandian palace they were visiting, but came up short. He settled for stepping out onto the balcony instead.

It was complicated here.

Not like it was in Katolis, where it was just a fact that their room was theirs. The worst thing they needed to worry about back home was the morning housekeeping crew catching them in a compromising position if they slept too late, and that only resulted in—at worst—another embarrassing conversation with Opeli or Aunt Amaya. The threats to separate them had grown less and less convincing the older they got, especially as it became more and more obvious that Rayla was there to stay.

Here, though…

At first, Callum had thought it was some convoluted show of prejudice when their things had very clearly been taken in separate directions as they arrived. After all, he was certainly in tune enough with the sideways looks from palace staff—even without her hand tightened around his—to realize that Rayla being an elf was definitely still noteworthy here, like it’d been those first couple weeks in Katolis after the Spire.

But...he’d gotten the feeling that it was the sharing-a-room part that would have really stirred the pot, regardless of Rayla being an elf. Opeli had reminded both of them with a shake of her head: a few nights apart wouldn’t be worth the risk of an even rockier relationship with Neolandia.

Callum huffed grumpily, resting his elbows on the banister.

Did Rayla really have to be all the way on the other side of the palace, though?

Apparently—he brightened, seeing her slip out onto the balcony directly across from his—exactly on the other side of the courtyard.

It was too far across to call out, but...not too far to be able to tell that she was grinning at him. He waved, and her lips didn’t need to move for him to hear her voice calling him a dork. Rayla waved back, though...and then the look in her eyes shifted to a familiar, calculating brightness. She glanced all around his balcony then peered down hers, eyes narrowed and judging distances. Rayla ended up frowning, though. She hesitated for a moment and then clumsily signed a few words that she’d learned early on in talking with Aunt Amaya.

No blades. She pointed behind her then, back to the room where she seemed to have left them along with her day-clothes, and Callum understood that it was a little far of a jump to make without her hooks to catch herself with.

You, she started, then paused to think before settling on a gesture that got across that he was supposed to fly over, whether it was actual Katolis Sign Language or not.

Callum watched her roll her eyes when he licked a finger and pointed it up in the air like he was testing the breeze, as if it was even a question that he was heading over there to kiss his beautiful, adorable pajama-clad sweetheart goodnight.

“Manus—” Callum paused, realizing that midnight flight practice might not be an adequate explanation for a shredded pajama top, especially if Opeli caught wind of it. He tossed the shirt back towards the door to his room.

The goal was not to get caught anyway…

He held his arms out, and struggled to get the words out around the grin that Rayla’s smirking at him from across the way had brought on.

“Manus, pluma, volantis.”

He’d barely touched down before Rayla’s arms were looped around his neck.

“Nice flying, mage,” she teased, fingers in his hair sending a tingle down his spine. Brushing her lips against his temple, she let his wings folding around her draw her in even closer, and whispered: “I missed you.”

“Just a few more nights, okay?” Callum reassured her, nosing a piece of hair away from her cheek so he could pass the kiss back to her. “We’ll ride home together and everything.”

Rayla’s hands slipped to his chest, ghosting over his ribs. “Won’t be too weird for you?” she giggled when he gasped.

“Not...not weirder than this,” he stammered, acutely aware of how her hands had slid further down to pull his hips against hers and how they were now trailing up his back. “That...tickles.” He tried to ignore how her hands actually felt on his skin.

“Oh, please. She stilled her hands but kissed his neck. “You love it. You’re the one who decided to strip down, half naked, to come kiss me goodnight.”

“Had to,” he shrugged, getting his bearings without her fingers wandering. “Sleeves, you know.”

The moonlight sparkled in her eyes before they went half lidded as her palm pressed flat against his ass.

“Hmm, well, tomorrow night—”

“Good night, Rayla,” he scolded gently, only slightly tempted to risk political ruin and slip back into her room with her. He sought out his goodnight kiss instead, looking at her lips meaningfully, unable to catch her jaw in his hands the way he wanted to without all the trouble of dispelling the wings.

“I’m just saying! The moon! It’ll be full!” Rayla squirmed around in his wings, gesturing dramatically to the brightness looming overhead. “I can’t believe you’d willingly waste a full moon!”

Callum wrapped the wings as tight as he could around her and angled closer. “I love you.”

Saucy grin softening, Rayla finally let him close the distance between them, her lips pushing back against his with searing heat and her hands pulling him in with fervor enough for the both of them. She let their foreheads meet and lingered, eyes huge and bright and lilac and refusing to leave his.

“Night, Callum,” she said at last, her reluctance matching his own as she slipped away, leaving him longing and lonely…

...and looking forward to tomorrow night.

#rayllum #the dragon prince #fluff #flufftober2021 #rayla #callum #post series vibes i guess?#rated t for mildly suggestive content #oneshot #rayllum fanfic #spicy fluff #ah yes spicy fluff #my one true love #<3

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simslegacy5083 · 7 months ago

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NSB (Straud Legacy) Gen 9

Today's (7/31/2024) Episode: The Birthday Girl

The household was grieving Peachy’s departure for the afterlife, but time refused to stand still for those left behind.

The very next day was Noemi’s birthday. Fielding condolence calls and messages from friends and family wasn’t how they wanted to start her special day, but with Peachy having been opposed to “some fancy memorial shindig”, it was the best closure they could offer his loved ones.

Luigi’s baby made him miss his dada even more. Peachy had been so excited to help Skye try new activities and foods, but never got the chance. When Luigi found Noemi and Valentina in the nursery, celebrating his son sitting up for the first time, he had to work to suppress a strong wave of resentment.

Just a day earlier Peachy would have been able to enjoy the milestone with the rest of them… that boy of his couldn’t pick the right time for anything!

The unfortunate ending to Luigi’s birthday party had prevented Noemi from giving him the special gift she’d arranged.

Her old robotics club friend Kenzie had become a Computer Engineer, with access to computer glasses that only those in her field could craft. Gaming and computer enthusiast Luigi had been trying to find some for awhile and was overjoyed upon opening his fiancées cheerfully wrapped present.

“Happy belated birthday love,” she said as he excitedly slipped them on. Luigi gave his girl a warm thank you kiss, exclaiming:

“I’ve always loved how you just “get” me. Hopefully the big day and BIG gift I have planned for you will make you just as happy!”

The couples first stop on Noemi’s “party train” was a meetup with their island friends. The group had intended to take all the kids to enjoy “Family Funday” but as they were leaving Luigi got a text from Rhys telling him they’d discovered the event was geared towards older sims.

Deciding to skip the festival this time around the household met their friends at a nearby beach cabana instead, where the always unfiltered Beau saw Luigi and blurted out “You look ridiculous!” before a mortified Breanne could stop him. She quickly elbowed his mirth into a halfhearted apology.

Luigi knew the tech glasses looked odd but refused to show how the tactless comment had stung his pride and instantly tainted his joy. “Envy doesn’t look good on you friend.” he smirked instead before turning his emerald gaze pointedly to Isra and Rhys in greeting.

After shyly accepting everyone's happy birthday wishes Noemi settled in a quiet corner with a sleepy Skye while Luigi kept the conversation going.

Isra was happy to report that her 3rd trimester was progressing smoothly. When she asked if anyone else was planning to join her in having a second child, both Luigi and Noemi shook their heads. “Skye is quite enough for us. Besides, with your brood he won’t lack for playmates!”

Overall, Luigi was glad his and Isra’s relationship had worked out like it did. He was quite happy with one child and, clearly, she wouldn’t have been.

Beau spoke up then “well his highness might be one and done, but if all goes well Bruce will be getting a little brother or sister soon”, explaining that he had an appointment scheduled for another insemination attempt. As everyone wished them luck Luigi glanced at his friend's elder wife with concern. He hated to imagine any kids going through what he had losing his papa, but he couldn’t think of anything to say that wouldn’t offend Beau.

When they finished up at the beach the pair made a quick stop at the house to drop Skye off with his grandma before grabbing a teleport to Chestnut Ridge. It was finally time to get his birthday girl that extra “BIG” gift, the horse he’d promised her the evening they got engaged.

Amaya met them at the park just outside the exhibition center, wrapping Noemi in a big hug and exclaiming “Happy, Happy Birthday pretty momma! Are your ready to go pick out your new best friend!?” At her enthusiastic “let’s do this!” the girls headed inside the center while Luigi hung back to play with his new toy while he waited, telling them “I know nothing about horses, so I’ll leave this to you two experts.”

A surprisingly long time later the ladies finally emerged, although the horse trailing behind them wasn’t quite as large as he’d imagined.

Noemi introduced the tiny foal: “This little guy is Roach – I thought you’d appreciate the name”. Luigi chuckled “You thought right.”

“Are you going to grow up to be as faithful and sturdy as your namesake?” he asked the soft nosed creature as he gently stroked it, mimicking the animation from one of his favorite videogames. “Look” he grinned, turning to Noemi “gaming skills DO translate to the real world sometimes!”

Amaya took Roach back to her ranch to wait on his new parents while Luigi and the birthday girl enjoyed a nice romantic walk. The teleporter wasn’t far, but taking a less direct route gave them more time to enjoy each other’s company and the lovely summer evening.

Finally arriving at Amaya’s ranch, they were met by Valentina and Skye. While oohing and aahing over each others tiny offspring Luigi convinced Miguel that his little Greyson simply must have a kitty companion, and he just happened to have the perfect kitten for the job….!

Finally, Valentina pulled out the uneaten cake crafted by Peachy with love the day before and lit fresh candles. Noemi wished to stay healthy, FINALLY start her new career, and get back in shape as she blew them out and spun her way into the next life stage in front of her friends and family.

It had been a wonderful day and she looked forward to many more with her two favorite boys by her side.

For anyone not familiar with the reference, Roach is named after the faithful steed of the main character in The Witcher videogame series.

View The Full Story of My Not So Berry Challenge Here

#sims 4 #sims 4 challenge #sims 4 legacy #sims 4 nsb #sims4 #sims 4 not so berry #sims4nsbstraud #sims 4 let's play #sims 4 gameplay #sims 4 lets play

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aarcanechaoss · 4 years ago

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Just for Tonight

Amaya is a tease, she enjoys getting a response even if they aren’t always what she expects it’s certainly not denied

Amaya & Jack: smut MDNI

Look I was gonna write some eventually like I said it’s going to be like Tatsu’s shit so… yeah. Also it’s my birthday and I wanted to write a smut of Jack and well Ama was right there for me sooooo

Quick reference of what Amaya is wearing as a magic knight

“So then Langris walks in and I’m still half dressed, goes bright red and runs off faster than Sekke when you glare at him.” Amaya giggles her drink sloshing in her hand.

“Okay kekeke back up why are you half dressed again?” The Green Mantis Captain asked.

“I’d just gotten out of bed. Little shit barged in.”

“What! Got a good show, freaked out and dipped. Kekeke.”

“Good show alright.” Amaya scoffed before laughing once more. “At least he was to embarrassed to say anything.”

“Could have been worse.” Jack shrugged before taking a large gulp of lager.

“Like what? Walking in on me fucking someone. I don’t know if that would be embarrassing or hilarious as all fuck.”

“Depends on your preferences.” The taller man joked. Their laughter died down as Amaya called for another round of Lager, his golden eyes drinking in her form. Neither had their robes on as they were draped across their respective chairs so the bugman had a wonderful view of the woman in front of him. Her corset lifted her chest up and it didn’t help that when she drank she got hot and would loosen her shirt. Jack coughed as Amaya turned her attention back to him.

“What about you? Any new shitty squad stories?” Her silver eyes shined in the light of the pub. Jack swallowed at the look she gave him- what’s in this drink?

“Too many to count. Sekke has been racking up the squads money to pay for disturbing women and general public, the mushroom guy accidentally destroyed half a house…” the fake distressing tone making the drunk woman snort.

“Oh boy. Sounds like an awful time.” She laughed leaning forward over the table. Jack’s eyes darted back to his now empty cup. He could see her scarlet hair drop to the side as she stared at him.

“Uh ma’am, sir you’re new drinks.” A waiter interrupted. “Can I take your empty glasses?”

“Yes please that would be lovely.” Amaya answers.

“Yeah thanks keke.”

Amaya wasn’t stupid she’d noticed how as they both became drunker that his eyes began to wonder. She used her overheating as an excuse to shift her top and have her subtle movements caught his eye. She had to admit she was trying to rile him up, the alcohol was certainly removing some of her inhibitions and usual boundaries with the captains.

“So who’s turn is it to pay for the drinks tonight?” Jack asked after taking a moment to drink the new liquor.

“You bigbug.” Amaya said. Jack raised a brow. “It’s what you get for calling me little bug every other day.”

“So instead of telling me to stop I get my own nickname.” He grinned. “What other ones you got?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know.” She whispered before taking a sip.

“You know. Keke. I think I would.” All cards on the table now Amaya had to think carefully about her next step. She lent forward eyes hooded just a little making Jack pause for a moment. Gears shifting in his mind- he caught onto her little game. “How about we get out of here you tell me.” He said huskily.

Reaching the Golden Dawn base Amaya nearly turned to thank him for walking her home before stopping. Maybe she needed this. Just a moment, a single night to feel something maybe she won’t freeze up because it’s Jack she knows Jack the Ripper past his scary visage and the stories of his battles, he’s a kind man who just wants a hug.

“Would you like to come in?” She asks finally allowing the buzz of her drinks to settle. The Captain blinked.

“Just for tonight?”

“Just for tonight.”

They were in her room faster than either thought possible, hopefully quiet enough they wouldn’t have be caught with their lips locked and Jack’s hands pressing her body against his tightly. Her door shut with a click as they made their way to her bed. Amaya wasn’t short by any means standing at five-eight against his six-five, still smaller than him by a reasonable margin as he picked her up to bring them both onto the soft mattress.

Jack pulled away kissing and licking down her neck earning him soft moans and pants. With a tug she pulled off her corset that was held at the front by clips allowing her shirt to flow around her. Her hands moved up his torso nails scratching at the toned flesh as he leant back on his calves to pull off his shirt and to watch as her shirt fell open. Without the corset holding it closed nothing held it together. She lifted herself up pulling the top off leaving her in a bra and her skirt. Their shoes had long been removed. Jack’s hand rest on her cheek as he pressed a kiss to her lips his other hang moving down slowly to grasp as her clothed breast. She gasp lightly into the touch pressing further into his hand as he kneaded the soft flesh her hands on his thighs, nails digging into the thin pants.

Within a flash Jack was on his back with Amaya above him skirt flung to the side with their other clothes. The Green Mantis Captain grinned.

“Cant make this sentimental Jacky.” She purred. “Would you rather I call you captain?”

“I’m not your captain.” Jack grinned.

“Right now you are.” She whispered. “I’m all for you to see and command.”

“Says the commander.” He tutted hands grasping firmly on her upper thighs. “Show me what you got Ama.”

With the quickness of a Fox the rest of their clothes were gone and Ama was perched delicately over his thighs a hand wrapped around his hard length. Jack seethed. Having enough with the teasing he flipped them again this time Amaya on her stomach with him behind her. Hands dragging slowly down the expanse of her back before lightly slapping at her firm thighs urging them to open. Jack moaned at the sight his thumb grazing her centre and dipping to rub her clit. She gasped and moaned when his tongue came in contact with her wet core while his hands held her hips up. With a groan he pulled away.

“Are you okay with this?” He asked.

“Please just fuck me… Captain.” She breathed out.

Almost like lightning the grin on his face widened as he entered her slowly. With one hand on her hip he moved slowly keeping an eye on her reactions not wanting her to be uncomfortable.

“I thought I said to fuck me.” She moaned pulling herself onto her elbows so she could easily meet his thrusts. Jack smirked and grasped her hair pulling her up against his chest. Turning her head their lips met, one hand tangled in his hair while her other reached for his hip. The hand he kept on her hip tightened as he quickened his pace the sound of skin connecting echoing in the room.

One harsh thrust had her lurching forward onto her hands, Jack kept on hand in her hair as he fucked into her grunting and moaning while she whined out his title.

“Captain fuck Captain!”

“Say my name Ama.”

“Jack!” She moaned out as her arms gave way allowing her to drop down further so her chest was pressed into the mattress.

“Amaya, fuck.” Jack said shakily through a moan. A few thrusts later and she was tightening around him a strangled gasp leaving her throat as she came, thighs straining to keep her hips up. With a hiss Jack pulled out allowing himself to spill across her back in pretty white steaks.

Amaya collapsed, face smooshed into the bed as she panted. Jack managed to get up albeit his own legs shook to pull on his pants and grab what he thought was a towel to wipe down her back. Grabbing her white shirt from before he helped her sit up to put it on. He licked his lips and gave a strained grin.

“I think I needed that.” Amaya laughed rubbing her thighs softly as she leant against the Green Mantis Captain.

“Me too… what now?”

“Hmm?”

“Want me to stay the night or sneak out keke?”

“Fuck it just sleep here and if anyone asks we got to drunk and I almost fell asleep outside.” She shrugged pulling him into the warmth of her bed again- but this time purely to sleep. “Want to cuddle?”

“Keke. Do I want to cuddle? C’mere commander Amaya.” She groaned before resting against his chest both of them falling asleep quite fast.

The next morning came almost too soon with light seeping into the room and the shuffling of feet outside the room.

A knock sounded making Amaya sit up quickly and stumble from her bed. Quickly pulling on some underwear she stumbled for the door and opened it not worried about the state she was in- probably should have considering it was her Captain, Vice Captain and Klaus’ team. But within her half asleep stupor she hadn’t quite noticed her state of undress.

“Good morning.” She yawned arm reaching up to scratch at her hair. Her shirt opened slightly showing off the expanse of smooth stomach and chest Jack and not long pressed his mouth too.

“Good morning commander Harlow.” Klaus said with a blush. Langris couldn’t even look her in the eye and William. Well William was as red as a tomato and had kept his focus on her face and her face alone. A groan came from inside her room making the group freeze. Mimosa squealed slightly while Yuno looked a bit confused.

“What’s the racket keke?”

“Nothing Ja- oh…. Well fuck.” Amaya said now realising what had been occurring. “Um just don’t move yet.”

Too late Jack had already moved across the room to stand behind her a yawn leaving him before his eyes locked with the Golden Dawn Captain.

William’s jaw dropped.

“Captain Jack?” Klaus spluttered.

“That’s the name don’t wear it out.” The tall man said before turning on his heel to collect his shirt, grimoire and cloak. Amaya looked at the floor with her lips pursed together- no excuse was going to get her out of this one.

“So I can understand Langris or the golden trio coming to my room but Captain?”

“We will be talking about this later Amaya…” William’s violet eyes were stern. “I was walking by is all really and decided to join them in waking you for today’s activities.”

“Hmm yes uh… is there a way we can not talk about how I got railed by the Green Mantis Captain?”

Jack let out a snort from behind her.

“Just go get dressed and Jack it would be best you went back to your squad.” The emphasis on your was very, very evident from Captain William.

“Yeah alright I’m leaving. See you round Amaya, had fun.” The bugman said before dashing out the door (somehow no one saw him?).

“See you Jack.” She waved before turning back to her squad.

“Get dressed please.” Langris said flustered. “This is unbecoming of a noble or a magic knight.”

“Firstly fuck nobles, secondly fuck you.”

“I’d rather you not.”

“Yeah thats a disgusting thought.” She agreed before ducking back into her room to change.

“Better?” She asked stepping out but minutes later. Underwear on, shirt and skirt tucked and corset sitting comfortably, her boots pulled high above her knee with her hip cocked to the side as if waiting for approval. The golden trio had left only leaving the Captain and Vice.

“Thank-you commander Harlow.”

“Don’t do that bullshit with me you’ve seen me in worse states Captain.” She teased, Langris gagged slightly- that wasn’t an image he wanted.

“You being sick in my chambers while trying to undress is certainly sectioned into the worse category.” William admits. “But you were drunk-“

“And so was Jack and I last night.” She hummed as they walked down the hall whilst attempting to pile her curls of hair into a bun. William’s face was burning (let alone Langris who simply didn’t want to hear these things).

“And you still managed to reach your chambers?”

“The aim was to get laid so yes I made it to my room.” She scoffed. Honestly what was so hard to understand about this. “Apologise Captain but sometimes needs get to you.”

“I don’t have a problem with you sleeping with people-“

“It sure doesn’t seem that way… is it because it was Jack? Or because it wasn’t you?”

“Amaya!” William snapped, heel turning towards his most trusted commander (and friend). “Don’t go throwing an accusation like that out. Perhaps I am irritated that it was another Captain instead of someone in our squad or a random person you picked up like many times before but don’t state something so outlandish in public. You need to watch your image as a knight and even as a noble. You may not care but others do and they talk whether you like it or not. Whatever house you came from it’ll come back to you if you aren’t careful.”

Amaya raised a brow, her jaw clenched shut as her teasing expression fell away.

“Are you done?” She asked, tone low and void of emotion. Her words felt like a hot iron to cold water, sharp and instant.

“I apologise I don’t know what came over me I just got so-“ William started.

“Don’t.” Amaya’s silver eyes seemed to make him freeze. Noticing his unmovable Captain Langris jolted from his stupor and stepped between the two.

“Commander Harlow you’ll be taking a squad out for patrol today and then be reporting to Marx.” Langris recited. Amaya nodded before walking down the hallway. After a moment Langris turned to his Captain.

“I shouldn’t have said that.”

“Perhaps not. Whatever the Harlow’s did… perhaps we should look into them.” The Vice Captain suggested. William shook his head.

“She barely says anything about them besides her brother best not to push. I will be in my office- please let her know I’d like her squad to report to me in there later too.”

Langris nodded and watched his Captain walk off.

What a fucking weird day.

#black clover smut #black clover oc #Amaya Harlow #william & amaya #Jack & Amaya #black clover Jack smut

73 notes · View notes

kuroopaisen · 4 years ago

Text

tiny love || iii

➵ as tooru’s younger sister, falling in love with iwaizumi hajime is easy. your feelings aren’t ignored, either. but is it worth the complications it could cause? iwaizumi made a decision for you. but, life goes on.

warnings: f!reader, Emotions

wc: 4.6k (i’m so sorry we had a lot of ground to cover)

m.list | ch. 2 ↞ ch. 3 ↠ ch. 4

last time...

“Look, I…” He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I think it’s best if we pretend this never happened.”

The world shuttered to a stop. The mild afternoon sun was now searing your skin.

✧ ✧ ✧

“He disgusts me,” Amaya shivered, angrily shoving a spoonful of strawberry kakigori into her mouth. “Piece of—”

“It was ages ago,” you sighed, picking at the mountain of flavoured ice in front of you. “It’s not that important…”

“Yes, it is,” Amaya leant forward across the table. “It’s his fault, right? He kissed you.”

You bit your lip, giving your friend a pitiful look.

To say it was ages ago wasn’t quite a lie. It was finally the summer holidays, and it’d be a few months since that fateful afternoon.

You hadn’t wanted to spend your summer break thinking about this sort of thing. It felt like a waste of emotional energy.

But you just couldn’t get it out of your head.

You kept replaying the same few moments over and over in your mind – the kiss, the morning after it, the conversation…

“In my humble opinion,” Amaya sighed, preparing herself another scoop of kakigori, “I think he should answer for what he’s done.”

“Please don’t say anything,” you whined, reaching across the table and grabbing her wrist. “Don’t do anything, either. I don’t want to cause a mess.”

“He’s the one who caused a mess,” Amaya huffed, dropping her spoon into the kakigori bowl. “You have a right to be pissed.”

“I am pissed,” you sighed. “It’s just… I kind of get where he was coming from, you know?”

“No.”

“Well, like—” You squeezed your eyes shut for a moment, trying to clear your mind. “If we’d broken up, that’d make things really awkward.”

“Isn’t it already awkward?”

“I… yeah…”

“I just think he could’ve gone about it better,” she shrugged. “That’s all.”

You bit the inside of your cheek, twirling your spoon between your fingers. “You’re right about that, at least…”

Amaya watched you for a moment, pursing her lips together. You knew what she was thinking. That was reason enough to fear any potential advice.

“Date someone else,” she suggested. “Maybe that’ll help you get over him.”

You grimaced, cursing her for being able to read your mind. “No thanks.”

“Why not?” Amaya asked, raising an eyebrow at you. “Yahaba seems to be into you.”

You shook your head vehemently. “Ew, no! He’s on my brother’s team.”

“And?”

You shot your friend a dithering look. “That’s the problem, Maya,” you scoffed. “If Iwaizumi’s not ‘good enough’, then I doubt anyone else on the team is.”

“Did your brother say that?” Amaya gaped.

You shrugged. “I don’t know. But that’s what Iwaizumi implied.”

Amaya scoffed, screwing up her nose. “Men aren’t worth it.”

You laugh, shaking your head. “That’s true…”

“And men,” she said, pointing a finger directly at you, “don’t deserve you.”

“You know what?” You grinned, tilting your head at her. “You’re right.”

“I always am,” she replied, waving a hand at you.

You sighed, stretching your arms above your head. “Besides, if I end up going to America, I don’t want to deal with a long-distance relationship,” you grimaced. “Sounds tough.”

“What, you wouldn’t fight for love?” Amaya teased, fishing her phone out of her pocket.

You stuck your tongue out at her, screwing up your nose. “Shut up.”

Amaya giggled, looking down at her phone screen.

You took the opportunity to treat yourself to some of the kakogiri. The two of you had barely made a dent in it.

Amaya dropped her phone back into her pocket, tilting her head at you. “Hey, aren’t those qualifiers coming up soon or something?”

“Hm?”

“For your brother’s volleyball,” she shrugged. “You said something about going to nationals?”

“Oh, right!” You perked up, nodding. “If they win these preliminaries, they’ll finally get to go to nationals.”

“This is your brother’s last chance, right?”

Your stomach sank a little. “Yeah. He’s… he’s been working really hard.”

“Really hard?” She raised an eyebrow. “Or too hard?”

“What do you think?”

She sighed, placing her hands in her lap. “Right.”

You pressed your lips together, frowning.

“Hey, hey,” Amaya hummed, leaning over to flick your forehead. “Try not to think too much, okay? We’re supposed to be having fun.”

You smiled at her weakly.

“No more talk of boys,” she decreed, waving her spoon at you. “They’re a waste of time anyway.”

✧ ✧ ✧

There might be a thousand other places you’d rather be than outside Seijoh’s gym. But, you’d come to the conclusion that God hated you, and therefore would take any opportunity to submit you to some kind of punishment.

Tonight, it was this – standing outside a gym where a mass of sweaty teenage boys congregated, one of which was your brother, and another the Iwaizumi Hajime.

Tooru had always finished practice late, but this was just ridiculous.

Initially, you’d been content with walking yourself home after class, asserting that you were grown up enough to trawl the streets of Miyagi without a chaperone.

But recently, you’d signed up for the student council. You were surprised they let you in so late in the year,

Your parents had been chuffed with that, proclaiming that you were “finally showing some initiative” and that it was “a great way to teach you some responsibility.”

You hadn’t told them that the real reason you’d joined was because you were worried about Tooru.

You peeked inside the gym, eyes scanning the brightly lit hardwood for any sign of your brother.

You didn’t bother to check your watch. It was far too late in the evening for that anyway.

The boys were scrambling around on the court, jumping and spiking and all that volleyball stuff. You managed to catch sight of your brother, who, by your observation, was very much in the zone.

Perhaps maybe it would be okay for you to sit in on—

A flash of spikey hair was enough to make you recede, drawing yourself back into the dark.

You sighed, turning around and slumping yourself against the wall. Somehow, you felt even more exhausted than before.

Fuck this.

Fuck school and all it’s damn responsibilities.

Fuck your brother’s determination to overwork himself until he’s falling apart at the seams.

And fuck Iwaizumi Hajime.

Maybe you should just head home. Tooru would come home eventually, and…

No. That defeated the point.

You’d just have to wait it out, Iwaizumi Hajime be damned.

A few more minutes passed. You heard who you believed to be the coach call out an end to practice, followed by a resounding “Yes!”

You sighed, checking your watch. Seven o’clock. Even that would be considered a late practice.

Usually Tooru would usually wave the rest of the team out, spending the next hour on his own.

But not tonight.

You scampered through the gym doors, making a beeline for your disaster of a brother.

“Hey, Oika-chan!” A voice called out, making you stumble in your approach.

Ah, Matsukawa.

“Hey,” you waved absentmindedly, unsure of how exactly to process that nickname. It didn’t exactly roll off the tongue

“Stop calling her that!” Tooru yelled from the other side of the gym. “It doesn’t even sound cute!”

“You’re just jealous,” you shot back instinctively. “You just wish you were me.”

Tooru scoffed, ready to launch into a new tirade.

But you weren’t listening to him. Against your best efforts, your eyes sought out Iwaizumi. He wasn’t even looking at you.

Ouch.

Sure, you’d be avoiding him as best you could; finding excuses to be in your room or out with your friends whenever he was round at your house, always positioning Tooru between the two of you whenever you were forced to spend time with him... But, that didn’t stop it hurting.

You shook off the disappointment and continued your route to Tooru.

“Oi,” you barked, jabbing a finger at him. “Hurry up. I’m making dinner tonight and you’re going to enjoy it.”

Tooru screwed his nose up at you, grimacing. “But I still need to practice.”

You came to a stop in front of him, grabbing his elbow. “Too bad.”

“Aw, don’t complain,” Matsukawa grinned, suddenly appearing and looping his arm around Tooru’s shoulders. “We don’t all have a cute girl vying to cook us dinner.”

“Ew!” Tooru shrieked, shrugging off Matsukawa’s arm. “Don’t be gross that’s my sister!”

“I slave over the countertop for you and you don’t even have the decency to respect my efforts,” you scoffed, deciding to ignore Matsukawa’s half-compliment. You weren’t going to make the same mistake twice.

“Just stick it in the fridge,” Tooru sighed. “I’ll heat it up when I get home.”

Agitation brewed in your stomach, your mouth turning dry.

If he stayed here, he’d just overwork himself like he always did. And he’d come home sore and exhausted, bandages on his fingers and bags under his eyes.

But the prefecturals were so soon. If he wore himself out now, he wouldn’t be able to play to the best of his ability.

“Tooru, that’s not fair and you know it,” you whined. “Please.”

He tutted at you, shaking his head. “Now, now, as the older sibling, it’s natural law that I know be—”

“Hurry up, Shittykawa,” Iwaizumi grumbled, coming up behind Tooru and kneeing him in the back.

Tooru yelped, stumbling forward and out of your grasp. “Iwa!”

“We’ll clean up just fine without you,” Iwaizumi muttered, stepping away from your brother.

He caught your eye.

Your breath caught in your throat. Was he going to speak to you? Acknowledge you? Make you feel like things weren’t as weird as they were?

He just gave you an almost imperceptible nod.

You gave him a small smile in response despite the sinking feeling in your stomach.

Of course, Iwaizumi understood. He probably understood better than you did.

“Come on,” you whined, grabbing Tooru’s elbow and yanking him towards you. “Or I’ll kick your ass.”

“I’d like to see you try.”

You stuck your tongue out at him, dragging him towards the door. After a small scuffle he grabbed his bag, whining about how he was still in his sweaty gym clothes.

You waved off his concerns, telling him it was his own fault. Mustering all your strength you managed to push him outside, reprimanding him for wasting so much of your time.

You glanced over your shoulder one last time as you left. You weren’t quite sure why.

But Iwaizumi met your gaze for just a moment, his jaw tense.

That look stuck in your mind for the rest of the evening.

✧ ✧ ✧

The last thwack of a ball on the court.

Your brother, body half-twisted and arms outstretched, fighting to the very final second.

Everything the team had worked so hard for, gone. Crushed.

All those hours, all those late nights spent practicing, all the sweat and grief and band-aids.

All meaningless.

It was written on their faces. Regret, disappointment, shock.

And Iwaizumi. Poor steadfast, honourable Iwaizumi.

You’d never seen him cry. Never. But there he stood on the court, doing everything he could to hold back the tears.

You couldn’t even guess at what was going through his mind: probably some guilt about letting everyone down, for not being the best version of himself for the team.

You hoped, for his sake, that nobody else was paying attention to him.

Tooru patted him on the back. A firm, solid slap.

Even you could tell how much meaning was in that one gesture.

You gripped the barrier tightly, your knuckles beginning to ache. You watched with bitterness on your tongue, ready to cry the tears that Tooru refused to.

By the time you meet the team outside, you knew he didn’t want a hug. Even if you wanted desperately to give him one, he wouldn’t accept it.

He’s too angry for that.

You don’t know what to say; he’s worked so hard for this.

They all have.

And now they have to walk away from it all, no real victory to their name. Oikawa Tooru – destined for greatness, but yet unknown outside of Miyagi. He never did make it to nationals.

You bit your lip, regret and frustration and sympathy twisting in your stomach. There’s nothing you could’ve done, but by God you wished you’d done more.

Something. Anything.

But you’re just his little sister, a girl with nothing to offer. You hadn’t even stepped into the manager role when he’d asked you to in your first year. You’d been so distant from this world of his, a distance you’d only widened since that little hiccup with Iwaizumi.

You turned to the team, racking your brain for the appropriate thing to say.

You bowed. “Thank you for all your hard work.”

It felt empty, but you meant it. You knew that most of all, Tooru was proud of the team. Proud of what they’d built together.

It’d been three years of pain, but they’d done it together. And you knew, deep in your heart, that they’d given their all for him. That, at least, you were grateful.

You didn’t say goodbye.

Your fists are clenched at your sides as you exit the building, rushing home on aching thighs. You hadn’t even realised you’d been tensing so hard during the game.

Thoughts stumbled through your mind on the walk, trying to sort themselves out.

Should you have said something to Iwaizumi? Offered him some comfort?

He was obviously shaken by what’d happened. But perhaps that would’ve been stepping over a line. Maybe it would’ve made him uncomfortable.

And yet, you regretted not addressing him. He, more than anyone else, had given everything for Tooru.

His time, his sweat, his heart.

He couldn’t give anything to you because…

You swallowed, shaking your head. Now wasn’t the time to feel bitter.

Once you walked through the front door, you raced to the kitchen and rifled through your cupboards.

Bread flour, yeast, sugar…

A peek in the fridge.

Milk, butter, eggs.

You set everything on the counter, clattering around in your cupboards until you find a bowl, a whisk, a wooden spoon and a baking pan.

Your next few hours are a flurry of measuring ingredients, kneading dough with aching thumbs, checking oven temperatures and waiting.

You did all sorts of things to distract yourself during the waiting period: cleaning, reading, homework, laundry. But you could only do them in spurts, little five-to-ten-minute blocks until your anxiety returned.

You’d have to sleep this off.

By the time the oven finally pinged, letting you know you were finally free of your baking duties, you were exhausted.

But you rushed back over to the oven and took out your loaf, inspecting it once over. It looked okay – not as good at Kaori’s, but passable. Hopefully it tasted alright. You didn’t have the guts to check.

You let it cool as you grabbed a scrap of paper and scribbled out a little note.

“Good job today, you asswipe. You inspire me to work harder and go farther.

I’m so proud of you.”

You bit your lip, looking it over once. Is it sensitive enough? Is it too sensitive? Would it bring him comfort? Would it piss him off?

Hard to say.

You sighed, folding it over so it could prop up like a tent.

You cut off a third of the loaf, still hot, and plopped it on a plate. You wrapped the rest of the loaf up and placed it in the bread holder. Perhaps you’d have some tomorrow.

Tooru’s room, usually a place that was very out of bounds, was the next stop on your anxious little trip around the house. You placed the plate on his bedside table, propping the note up next to it. Hopefully this would make him smile, even if just by a little.

But you didn’t want to wait up to see.

The comfort of your own bed was calling you, coaxing you into an early night’s sleep.

You laid down with a sigh, unsure of whether or not you could be bothered to have a bath.

A little suggestion crawled through your mind, dragging itself along by it’s fingernails.

You tried to shoo it away. It was a terrible idea, really. One that was bound to end with you feeling quite shitty.

But tonight wasn’t about you. It wasn’t about your feelings.

You sighed, picking up your phone from the bedside table.

Hey, you typed.

[YOU] 7:31 PM: I hope you don’t mind me texting you like this, but thanks for looking after Tooru so well.

You bit the inside of your cheek as you stared at the name “Iwaizumi Hajime” at the top of your screen. Taking a deep breath, you tapped the blue arrow.

The message slipped into the grey space above, into the train of messages that hadn’t moved in months.

You stared at it a moment longer, fingers flitting anxiously around your screen.

Oh, fuck it.

[YOU] 7:33 PM: And thanks for being the best Ace he could’ve asked for.

It’s not what you wanted to say. It’s not what you feel like you should’ve said. There’s so much more, so much left unsaid.

But tonight isn’t about me, you reminded yourself. It’s about him. About them. About all they’ve been through together.

You waited a few minutes, heart hammering in your chest.

A response.

[Iwaizumi] 7:37 PM: Thank you.

[Iwaizumi] 7:37 PM: I’m sorry it wasn’t enough.

✧ ✧ ✧

“Argentina?” You hissed. “But that’s—”

“On the other side of the world,” Tooru shrugged. “What are you so mad for? You’re the one who wants to go to America.”

You had nothing to say to that. The two of you were sat at the breakfast table, your pieces of toast left untouched.

When Tooru had told you he wanted to talk to you this morning, you hadn’t expected this.

“When do you leave?” You asked, a lump forming in your throat.

“Soon,” he sighed. “I’m just trying to work out boarding and whatnot.”

“So… you’ll leave as soon as that’s sorted out?”

“That’s the plan.”

“It’s like you’re rushing out of here,” you mumbled, picking at your nails.

“Don’t be so dramatic,” he grinned. “I’ve just got to make sure I can get ahead. The sooner I start, the better.”

You looked up at him, frowning.

He wasn’t the little boy curled up in the bathtub anymore. He’s a young man with the tenacity to form his own destiny, circumstances be damned.

This day was bound to come.

But that didn’t make it any easier to swallow.

✧ ✧ ✧

A week passed. And then a month.

The year ended before you knew it. The festivities rolled on, but not without a hint of melancholy.

Each New Years celebration was tainted with the realisation that, after he left, chances were you wouldn’t see Tooru again until the same time next year.

You returned to school for the third semester and everything seemed like it was moving in fast forward.

It’s well and truly changing.

Student council swallowed you up, your family made a point of spending as much time with Tooru as they could, and life plodded on.

And before you knew it, you were standing at the airport at five in the morning, your parents to one side and Iwaizumi to the other. Your older sister, Kaori, was also there, hand-in-hand with your nephew.

For a farewell, it was quite the turn-out.

“Well,” Tooru took a deep breath, looking between the small crowd of faces in front of him. “You all better miss me.”

“Don’t push your luck, Tooru,” Kaori teased.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Tooru tutted. “Almost sounds like you’re glad to be rid of me.”

“I am,” your nephew piped up.

“Takeru!” Your mother chided. “Don’t say things like that.”

“It’s fine,” Tooru grinned. “He obviously just doesn’t know what else to say.”

Takeru simply stuck his tongue out at your brother, who just laughed as he stepped forward to ruffle his hair.

Tooru turned to you, grinning. “It’s now your job to take him to volleyball practice.”

You rolled your eyes at him. “Really, that’s all you’ve got to say to me?”

“Of course not!” He laughed, hopping towards you and wrapping his arms around your shoulders. “You be good, okay?”

“Always am,” you mumbled into his chest, wrapping your arms around his waist.

“Study hard,” he hummed. “And don’t talk to boys.”

“Tooru!”

“I’m serious!”

“Don’t worry about me,” you huffed. “Worry about yourself.”

“I’ll be fine,” he chuckled, pulling back. “Stop being such a worry-wort.”

You pouted at him. “Stay hydrated or I’ll kill you.”

“You know I will,” he tsked. “Which one of us is the athlete?”

“And don’t overwork yourself,” you continued, “or I’ll crawl out of the TV like Sadako and drag you back to Japan.”

“You know what?” Tooru grinned, letting you go. “I fully believe you’re capable of that.”

“Be afraid.”

He ruffled your hair; a sure signal that your conversation was over. You bit your lip as he moved over to talk to Iwaizumi. You tottered around to where your sister was, wrapping your arms around her waist – partly to give Tooru and Iwaizumi some privacy, partly to seek out some comfort.

She chuckled, standing on her tiptoes and propping her chin on the top of your head. “It’ll be okay.”

“Hm?” You blinked. “Oh, I’m not sad. Not at all.”

“You sure about that?” Kaori chuckled.

“Mhm,” you nodded. “Glad to be rid of him, actually. It’s my turn to get the biggest bedroom.”

“Sure,” she grinned. “If you need anything, don’t be afraid to text me, okay?”

“Thanks,” you smiled.

“And visit me more often!” Kaori chided. “I feel like I don’t see you enough.”

“I’m sorry,” you whined.

Kaori was right about that, at least. You’d spent the past few months focusing on Tooru, and before that, you’d been moping about Iwaizumi.

Some sister you were.

You peeked out the corner of your eye at the two boys you’d just fled from.

They were fist-bumping. Why they couldn’t just get over it and hug one another, you’d never know.

Especially seeing as this would likely be the last time they saw each other in a very long while.

Even if this was what Tooru wanted, even if this was a decision made on his own merit, something about it still felt off.

You want to be happy for him. You want to celebrate this new chance, this opportunity to make a name for himself outside of this tiny prefecture. But the melancholy wouldn’t budge; it’s like it’s rooted itself deep amongst the marrow of your ribcage.

You take a deep breath, trying to ground yourself.

You needed to be happy for him. And if you couldn’t, you needed to fake it.

“Alright,” Tooru sighed, addressing all of you as he stepped back and grabbed the handle of his suitcase. “I’m off!”

“Call us when you get there!” Your mother called after him, her eyes glassier than they were moments earlier.

“Will do,” Tooru called back, waving a hand over his head but not turning back.

“Make sure you eat well,” Kaori yelled. “Like I taught you!”

“I will, don’t worry!” Tooru called, ever more distant.

You wondered if there was anything you could shout out, anything you could implore him to do. But nothing came to mind that you hadn’t already said. But even that didn’t feel like enough.

Tooru passed through the gate, turning around to give you all one last wave.

He was so bright, so brilliant.

He always had been. But it was as if passing through that airport gate had freed him of the roots twisted around his ankles, finally allowing him to fly.

You frowned. What a stupid thought.

Once he was out of sight, your parents sighed.

“Alright, everyone,” your father yawned. “Time to go.”

You shuffled out of the airport in silence, your eyes cast to the ground. You lagged a few steps behind your family as you let your thoughts consume you.

How was this all going to work out?

It wasn’t like Tooru was just leaving for university. If it was just for education, there’d be a time frame. But he hadn’t given your family any of that.

He was just… going to Argentina. For how long, he couldn’t say. Would he be gone one year? Five? Ten?

Was that really for the best?

But he seemed optimistic. Maybe this would be the opportunity he needs. Maybe this would change everything.

“He’ll be fine.”

A voice over your shoulder made you jump. You turned to see Iwaizumi, a look of genuine concern on his face. You hadn’t even noticed him come up behind you.

“He always finds a way to land on his feet,” he said, digging his hands in his pockets.

“I know, I just…” You sighed, running a hand through your hair. “I’m worried about him.”

Worried about his safety, worried about his health, worried about his tendency to overwork, worried about the possibility he could be lonely, worried about his sense of self, worried—

“But, if he’d just stayed here, he’d never be satisfied.”

You paused, looking up at him. Iwaizumi was staring ahead at the early morning sky, something relaxed in his features.

“He’s got to keep pushing forward, no matter what,” he continued, looking at you. You caught your breath, but you didn’t look away. “If he didn’t, he wouldn’t be able to forgive himself for his losses.”

You stared at him for a long moment.

He was right. Iwaizumi was always right when it came to Tooru.

And you were grateful. Of course you were.

But a nugget of regret was buried deep in your heart.

Iwaizumi wasn’t worried about Tooru at all. He believed in him, trust him to go forward.

And yet you don’t feel the same. You can’t.

You can’t have the same faith in your brother because you don’t know him well enough.

Maybe you never would.

✧ ✧ ✧

More time passed.

Your holidays ebbed by in a haze, a flurry of friends, family, serious conversations about your future, and a little bit of snow.

You were trudging home in the waning afternoon after a day out with friends when you saw him. He was coming back from the opposite direction, bundled up in a jacket, with a scarf slung haphazardly around his neck and beanie pulled low over his hair.

You wondered if he’d bothered spiking it up this morning.

“Hey.” Iwaizumi raised a hand at you in some paltry greeting.

“Hi,” you nodded, slowing to a stop in front of your house.

He looked at you for a moment, something unreadable in his eyes. Admittedly, that was usually how he looked at you.

“How are you?” It was a simple question, but you were more curious about it than you’d like to admit. The two of you hadn’t spoken since Tooru left, your interactions limited to brief nods and hellos if you ever happened to bump into each other in public. Nothing deeper than that.

“Good,” he said, finally breaking eye contact as his gaze flitted to the ground. “I, uh… I leave for uni tomorrow.”

Your heart stopped in your chest.

Iwaizumi was leaving too, huh?

Not that there was much of a friendship for you to miss. But something about him leaving really solidified it all.

Tooru had left to pursue opportunities much bigger than those offered to him in Japan, and now Iwaizumi was off on his own journey.

Your stomach swelled, a quiet nausea rattling through your body.

“Oh,” was all you managed to say. “Well, good luck.” There was a long, painful pause.

He was looking at you again, something else in his eyes. Did he want you to say something else? Ask more questions?

“You’ll do great,” is all you managed to say, a tight smile stretched across your lips.

“Thanks,” he breathed, something between a sigh and a chuckle.

You hurried through your front door, a strange anxiety prickling over your skin.

Whenever you spoke to Iwaizumi, it never felt like enough. Like there was more to say, more to admit.

But regardless of what had happened, regardless of your regrets, you had to move on.

You should’ve done so months ago.

✧ ✧ ✧

a/n: this is SLOPPY but please forgive me! a lot of ground to cover,,, a lot of feelings to unpack,,,

#iwaizumi x reader #iwaizumi hajime x reader #iwaizumi x you #iwaizumi hajime x you #iwaizumi hajime #haikyuu x reader #tiny love

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