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papers4me · 3 years ago

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Fruits Basket Manga Review , ch 109

-The Tragedy of a an episodic format attempting to connect narrative in a series: (Tohru’s Background or Kyo’s Focus?)

One of my issues with se03, ep6 (other than it being 3 chapters combined horribly with new material added for shock value) is that it was weakly undecided who would be the focus? who would the narrative follow?: Is it tohru’s own pov abt herself? is it the gramps giving boring exposition abt tohru over weak still images of flashbacks or is kyo thinking abt tohru’s pain?

The truth is, it was all the above in the manga, but the manga gave each a chapter focus so that the chapter is well-directed with focused narrative. The anime weakly jumbled the 3 chapters together as they always do. You mix chapters & tada~ you got an ep, you only need a broad weak theme that connects the dots! here: it is tohru! & that’s it. As long as the 3 chapters discuss tohru in any form & manner, nothing will seem off if we put them next to each other in a 20 minute ep! right? riiiiiight ????

.. this was never a correct way. Just like a chapter needed a narrative direction, the ep is the same!!

ch 107: The beginning of tohru’s pov on her realization abt loving kyo.

ch108: tohru’s full pov of shock upon reaching the conclusion that she loves him & the beginning of her mom’s issues & abandonment.

ch109: Kyo’s pov abt tohru’s pain & his involvement, guil & the sheet hug.

ch110: (completely cut from the anime!!!!!!!!!!!!!) Kyoru’s part: the aftermath of kyo & tohru crossing the line of being in the most vulnerable & intimate, building towards a more crushing impact of the climax. The stronger & more painful their love is, the more it will hurt. Also a yuchi buildup?!!!!

-so, you see each chapter has a direction i& a narrative it follows independently that is weaved together to make a connected tissue of the overall plot. The anime puts the 3 chapters next to each other & we are lost on who to follow? kyo or tohru or the gramps. That’s why it feels tohru is weak & her two chapters worth of pov is stolen from her cuz it cut or shortened to include the grandpa, kyo, isuzu, shigure & let’s not forget (kazuma, yuki & haru) at the beginning, the dramatic shock value addition & OP & ED. All these take valuable screen time. The ep shocks us by moving from tohru to kyo. One minute she’s crying with him on the streets, next he’s at the grave & she’s visiting isuzu.

Kyo said he isn't going to the grave in the ep, upon seeing him actually going, I just assumed he wanted to avoid, hana, cuz I’m so invested in his story that I remember sth happened in se1, ep 14.. ages ago, The anime didn’t even allow kyo to inner talk abt avoiding hana... In their weird mind, kyo only inner talks in dramatic situations..See the difference!

Not only the writer (a) reminds us why kyo avoided the grave visit, she also (b) seized the opportunity to shine lifht onto an issue that will be the center of kyo’s struggles: Running away!

The anime introduce this in kyo’s pov only when kyo confronts tohru. Only when it was needed & couldnt be avoided. This is sth that will be the core of all the climax & the aftermath as well! Kyo running away.. How bad are you if you avoid inserting one line only that can be said in few seconds & establish great deal & foreshadow plenty!!!!!!!!!! I can’t for the life of my understand why short lines are cut from kyo when in the anime they have him be standing silent in the graveyard. Like slap the line above the silent scene!!!!! But doing so means the anime team understands tohru & kyo’s issues. They don’t. Not the slightest.

-Ep 6 signals the beginning of the anime moving from episodic format of se1, 2 & 5 eps of se3 & entering a connect plot. The anime doesn’t know how to do that & screwed tohru in the process. The protagonist’s main issues are one ep worth only. The antagonist main issues are one ep only (ep7). Ep 6, was treated as a stand alone ep (minus the inserted shock scene to create a lingering issue that needs a following ep to explain. TOLD YOU they don’t know how to make a series!). Thus the following ep 7 is akito’s focus. Everything that was established in ep 6 was pit on hold until akito reaches the craziest mindset for the climax. See why ep 6 was so bad? it is Should NOT be a stand alone ep.

-The plot connects kyoru emotional & physically: (Kyo’s chapter with a tohru’s focus:

Unlike the anime, the chapter knows what it’s presenting 7 where it’s going. Kyo’s issues. This ch focuses on him uncovering parts of his past as it connects with tohru’s. Unlike the anime, we know why kyo's connection to kyoko’s past. The anime is hiding this for the climax, no problem, it can still work both ways. However, hiding kyoko /kyo connection doesn't necessarily mean hiding kyoko/tohru connection. But the anime is cutting this to milk it in an ova or series next year~ no problem, it can still work if you handle this ep’s flashback better. for all the artistic creativity they inserted in the added scene, they failed miserably in tohru’s flashback portion. how?

By choosing a frontal pov shot in tohru’s grandpa flashback as if the audience are the ones who abandoned tohru or opening the door to find her alone. it does NOT work at all. why? the audience are encouraged to be like tohru since ep 1 as tohru is the mother, angel, fixer & endearing hopeful girl. The audience will NEVER abandon tohru, that’s why tohru’s story felt disconnected & weak in the anime. Not knowing what kyoko did, who would abandon such child?! differently not us. so why use the frontal pov shot? -_-’

-tohru confesses her pain to kyo without being ushered by isuzu, without any outside factor. She simply visited the grave & came home. hiding her pain. once again. like she always do. One question by kyo, prompts her to “ complain a little” call back to se1, ep5 as he advised. we see tohru get out of her shell little by little. NOT SCREAM OR SLAP. She opened up. why? cuz the story is abt “ opening the lid” not abt “ snatching the lid”. No need for shocks. Yuki opened his lide slowly, tohru even slower, kyo is resisting opening his altho it is cracking in this chapter. When your story focuses on character buildup it pays!

-I’ll give the anime credit when it due. The hug scene is so good both in manga & anime. but so awesome in animation, colors, music & voice acting. It’s breathtaking & painful. The most beautiful kyoru scene in the whole anime.

-It represents their mutual vulnerability, understanding, pain & determination to love the other but not also let go. kyo has made his mind to be locked in order not to hurt tohru & tohru has made her mind that she can’t let go of her mom.

You see, the scene’s meaning hits different between manga & anime; In the anime: tohru has already challenged the sohmas & screamed to be with kyo, while kyo is still decided to leave her. In the manga: they’re both at the same spot (undecided). I like both interpretations but I’ll choose the manga’s version. Simply cuz it means tohru is still uncovering her issues which means more focus on her, & more explanation of why cant tohru love her mom & kyo at the same time.

-This expression on tohru’s face is a the complete opposite of the shock value expression in ep 6! T_T. I do’nt even hate the shocked scene addition itself that much, I just think (a) this is NOT its time! Tohru deserved better spotlight! (b) kyo didn’t friggen forget! ah! THIS I HATE! (c) the whole shocked scene was so wasted in ep 7. tohru return to her stupid dumb lalala~ land, cooking & forgetting kyo. what growth? what determination & screams to isuzu? what enduring kagura’s slaps? nope! just happy & cooking, lalala~ no one was freaking over her mom’s picture~ lalala~ & kyo just slept it over~ shhhh... its okay. he’ll forget again... see? totally wasted!

The anime knows nothing abt connected narrative! augh!

Side Notes:

We see kyo asking the gramps why he’s offering him info abt tohru which is so logical! XD. I love it.

I’ve read ch 110 & wanted to insert the kyoru scene in ch 110 here, & put yuchi alone in a different post, then I realized I’ll need to talk abt it again once I analyze yuki’s own expressions! XD. so, I’ll put all ch 110 together in one post. It kinda half written by now, so I’ll publish it very soon in two days time. I didn’t read ch 111 yet tho.

I hope ch 110 is the last I feel this much disappointments in furuba’s anime & by ch 11, it hopefully be be minor changes altho I doubt that cuz the manga needed to dwell into tohru’s mindset & the anime kinda stopped after ep 6. so, yup! more big changes coming!

The sheet hug is so brilliant in theory & application! so romantic & so endearing! love it so much! The anime did it so well, too!

I love kyo’s narration & pov cuz it’s so refreshing change from the anime where he rarely does!

I really wish they kept the kyoko abandoning tohru part in the anime... sigh~ it has nothing much to affect her story with katsuya. so it won’t ruin the spin off/ ova or whatever it’s called.

I love the light focus on tohru in this chapter & how organic & natural it is opposed to how forced the plot seems in the anime....

#Anime Only #manga spoilers #Fruits Basket #fruits basket manga #disappointed paper

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addictedtomanga · 4 years ago

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Shoujo manga recommendations - love triangle

1. Ao Haru Ride

While most girls desire popularity among boys, Futaba Yoshioka wants the exact opposite. After attracting many admirers back in middle school which resulted in her being shunned by her female classmates, she decided that high school will be her chance to revamp her image. Therefore, she starts acting unfeminine and indifferent to boys, allowing her to make some “friends” along the way.

Little does Futaba know, her life will take another drastic turn when her first love, Kou Mabuchi, returns after his sudden disappearance years ago in middle school. Despite his extended absence, the fond memories they shared together still linger in her mind, and she wishes to return to those days. But she realizes that the sweet, gentle boy of the past has completely vanished, and in his place stands someone cold and pessimistic. While he admits that her feelings for him back then were mutual, he warns that they can never go back to the past, as everything, including him, has changed.

2. Beauty Pop

Although a truly gifted hairstylist, Kiri Koshiba has no interest in using her talent to pursue fame and fortune, unlike the three popular boys in the "Scissors Project" at school. Determined to become the best makeover team in Japan, they give showy makeovers to handpicked girls. As much as Kiri tries to shy away from the Scissors Project spotlight, she finds herself responding to beauty's call...

3. Blue Sky Playground

On a cold day, Mirita finds discovers a hidden room with a kotatsu (a table that keeps one warm) inside. The kotatsu belongs to two of the most popular and handsome twin brothers in school. Both immediately kick Mirita out. However, Mirita becomes even more determined to get back into that room. What love triangle will commence?

4. Boku kara Kimi ga Kienai

Hotaru managed to get in the same high school where Haruna-sensei teaches to see him again! However, on her first day there, she meets a very unpleasant guy who looks just like her beloved sensei...?

5. Dear!

Rei, Kazuma and Banri are close childhood friends. Rei, who's better than any guy, the cool and smart Kazuma and Banri who's mischievous and bright have the perfect balance. It's normal for the three of them to be together all the time and without thinking of themselves as men and woman they're just together. But something happens after which Rei starts to think of Banri as a "man", so the relation of the three changes...?!

6. Faster than a Kiss

After losing their parents, Fumino and her brother hop from one relative to another. Getting tired of all those moves, she finally decides to quit school and work to support her brother on her own. As they sat on a park bench, her teacher appears in front of her and agrees to her demands of marrying and supporting both her and her brother!! Is he serious or just playing around...?!

7. Haru Matsu Bokura

The timid and reserved Mitsuki Haruno seeks her dream sociable life at high school. But despite her best efforts, her ineptitude to speak her mind impedes her from befriending anyone. Nonetheless, while working at a cafe one day, she has a fateful encounter with her school's four idolized basketball players—Towa Asakura, Rui Miyamotoi, Ryuuji Tada, and Kyousuke Wakamiya. At first glance, these four heartthrobs come off as arrogant individuals, responsible for invading her cafe's safe haven. Soon after though, as they uphold their promise of keeping her workplace a secret, Mitsuki starts to see them in a new light.

Hence begins an improbable friendship between Mitsuki and the boys, as her days of solitude finally comes to an end. However, things aren't always so simple—with her heart waning toward Asakura and the female students green with envy, is there a chance this friendship could blossom into something more?

8. Hirunaka no Ryuusei

Suzume Yosano has spent the entire 15 years of her life in the countryside, so when her parents decide to move overseas for work and leave her with her uncle in Tokyo, she finds herself in a whole new environment. On the way to her uncle's house, however, she gets lost and faints.

Waking up safely at her uncle's house, she learns that a strange man had carried her there and that he happens to be an acquaintance of her uncle. Moreover, when Suzume goes to her new school for the first time, she discovers that the weird man in question, named Satsuki Shishio, is actually her homeroom teacher! Now, Suzume must adapt to her new school and make friends, since her blossoming high school life in the city has just begun!

9. Hoshi to Kuzu - Don't Worry, Be Happy

Anzu is poor but very ambitious and aims for a bright future. Her first step is to be student council president but that chance is destroyed by the equally ambitious and egocentric Yamabuki. She just has to settle for being the vice-president.

10. Iya da Nante Iwasenai

Anzu currently works part-time at a beach house however when it comes to serving male customers, she can't help but be cold and shy. When she accidentally spills a drink on one of them, a male co-worker saves her who ends up being her childhood friend Rei. Anzu is happy to reconnect with Rei, however, Rei might be after a bit more...?

11. Kaichou wa Maid-sama

Seika High School was an all-boys school, but it has since turned co-ed. Misaki Ayuzawa is the first female student council president of the school, eventually earning the nickname of the "Demon President" due to her mastery of Aikido and imposed iron rule.

However, Misaki harbors an embarrassing secret—she has to work at a maid café to support her family. If anybody from her school was to find out, her reputation would be utterly destroyed. And after Takumi Usui—the most popular boy at school—discovers her secret, that might just happen.

12. Kaoru-kun to Hana no Mori

Kaoru is as kind as a prince towards girls. She would love to met men stronger than her! And then, two men appeared in front of her...

13. Katakoi no Tsuki

Kurumi likes Souta-kun, but what happens when Kurumi witnesses Souta-Kun hugging one of her friends? Could Souta-kun already have someone he likes or is Kurumi misunderstanding? What can she do if that girl is her friend, too!?

14. Katakoi Triangle

Sekiya-san of the cultural library has an unrequited love for Yuuki-kun. The one who cares about Sekiya-san is the popular Kasai-kun, who is also Yuuki-kun's friend! And, what's this? Yuuki-kun is rooting for Kasai-kun?! It seems that everyone's feelings are one-sided...or are they?

15. Kimi to Koi no Tochuu

Just when I thought it'd start with you, you disappeared; I would've never thought this... Yuna has lost trust in love after her first boyfriend Takumi broke up with her. Shiina-kun from her class has already confessed to her twice and now finally she approached onto love another time. But Takumi appears in front of her!! What will the swaying Yuna do!?

16. Kyoudai Gokko

Growing up, Takara Rio has always wanted siblings. So when her parents decide to move overseas without her and tells her she will be living with two people around her age, she's cautiously optimistic. But they turn out to be brothers who fight like cats and dogs. Is this what having siblings is like?

17. Last Game

Nothing is beyond Naoto Yanagi, heir to the Yanagi business conglomerate. Idolized for his athletic and intellectual competence, looks and wealth, Naoto lived like a king during his elementary school days—then entered Mikoto Kujou, a plain, gloomy-looking transfer student.

Due to her low financial status, Naoto was initially apathetic towards Mikoto. But despite having just arrived at his school, she completely eclipsed him in everything by consistently scoring top marks in exams and placing first in athletic events. After a brief confrontation with her that left him shocked, Naoto vowed to outdo her no matter the cost.

Ten years later, they are now students attending the same college. Having failed to defeat Mikoto throughout middle and high school, Naoto decides they will have one last game: if he can make Mikoto fall in love with him and then break her heart, it will be his victory. However, he finds himself falling in love with her instead...

18. Last Notes

Haru and Aki are the masters of the branch store - an old-looking and very unusual shop. It sells only one thing: a special kind of incense that, when burned, allows the user to see and speak with the spirit of the dead person that appears in the smoke. Every customer has a different reason for calling up the dead, and how they use this unusual opportunity is up to them...

19. Love Berrish

15 year-old Yuya Fukushima has always wanted to live on her own, in an inn next to her school. This new dorm of hers, the Strawberry Tree Dorm, turns out to be a place with weird people -- a girl that touches her chest out of the blue, a guy with one of the shortest tempers ever. BUT the good thing is, there's a really handsome and nice guy that she fell in love with instantly! Also, not to mention a crazy cat who adores him (looks can be deceiving...). Yuya's life has just became much more interesting...

20. Mata Ashita

Towa's always been shy around guys, despite being a total tomboy. This has crushed her chances of ever having a boyfriend, but a perhaps fateful encounter on the first day of high school might lead to love? But will it be with the surprisingly kind "angelic" delinquent, or the popular yet secretly "devilish" prince?!

21. Momo Raba

Chieri (Cherry) was living an ordinary life, until her sister Ichigo (Strawberry) suddenly left her child Momo (Peach) on Chieri's doorstep. Momo is an infant; how is Chieri supposed to take care of a baby while still in high school!? To make matters even more frustrating, two guys are fighting for Chieri's love...!

22. Monokuro Shounen Shoujo

Kureha Mimachi, a 15-year-old girl, has just transferred into Shiritsu Kenhono High School. However, there is something weird about this school, it is actually a school where the Princes and Princesses of the beast-kind go to! Even though Kureha is human, she is there as a way to help the students lead their lives peacefully with humans and has the role as the "rabbit". Will she be able survive without being eaten by the students? Only time and her hidden bodyguards will be able to answer that...

23. Ouran High School Host Club

At Ouran High School, an academy where only the children of the rich and powerful attend, there exists a club consisting of the most elite of the student body: the legendary Host Club. Within the club's room, six beautiful, bored boys spend their time entertaining equally beautiful and bored girls.

Haruhi Fujioka, a poor scholarship student, has no interest in the Host Club—until she breaks a valuable vase in their clubroom. After being mistaken for a boy, Haruhi is forced by Kyouya Ootori to work for the Host Club to repay her debt. Tamaki Suou, the princely leader of the club, eagerly takes her under his wing to teach her the ways of the host. Things, however, are never quite so simple with the Host Club around. Even the most mundane events can turn into huge spectacles with the likes of prankster twins Hikaru and Kaoru Hitachiin, stoic Takashi Morinozuka, and sweet Mitsukuni "Hunny" Haninozuka. The crazy adventures of the Host Club are just beginning, and Haruhi must learn how to survive in the glitzy world of the hosts.

24. Parfait Tic

Fuuko is a happy and cheerful girl. One day, two cousins, Daiya and Ichi, move into the apartment upstairs. Cold Ichi and mischievous Daiya gave a very bad first impression. All three are going to the same school as well. How will Fuuko's high school life turn out?

25. Renren Zakari

The day of her graduation, while she was lost and end up on the infirmary, a girl met by coincidence a good looking boy. But she was so panicked that the young man started to make fun of her...?

26. Rockin Heaven

Sawa applies to Heaven's Wing Academy, thinking she would look cute in the uniform. But she never expected the academy to be a previously all-boys' school! And the head honcho of the school, the class president himself doesn't seem to like her one bit and takes no pains to hide it. At first, adjusting to life at the academy is tough. Sawa is bullied and teased, and the boys in the class even throw her new shoes in the water. While attempting to retrieve her shoes, she falls into the water and is unexpectedly saved by Ran, who up until this point has made her life hell. The newfound gentleness in Ran intrigues her, and she finds herself falling for him. What will her days be like for the rest of her school life?

27. Saiouji Kyoudai ni Komarasareru no mo Warukunai

Satou Fuuka is an orphan. Her aunt, who was her guardian, absconded in the night, leaving her with no money. Her parents wanted her to go to school, so she was looking for a job to cover her school expenses and rent (plus living expenses, though she didn't mention it). She goes to be interviewed for a part-time house helper job but is rejected before she can say anything, because the guy offering the job is the eldest for 4 brothers and it's an all-male household. She pours out her story, so he takes pity on her (even though he'd pointed out that she can't really take a part-time job if she doesn't have a guardian) and offers the job as a live-in position. However, he has one condition: she's supposed to disguise herself so his brothers don't take an interest in her. Her disguise: lots of towels around her body, so she looks fat; makeup so she looks old (39); plus her hair is all loose and she's wearing glasses.

28. Sekirara ni Kiss

Chitose has always done well wearing her face like a mask: always smiling, always cute. She feels complete whenever she put it on because it's built to hide her unrefined self: no one hates her, and no one makes fun of her. But after meeting a cute boy who is instinctively more annoyed by her mask than her real self, can Chitose change and make people accept her for who she really is?

29. Shiawase Kissa Sanchoume

Uru is a very short girl and is constantly mistaken for an elementary school kid, but despite that, she is ridiculously strong and decides to live by herself after her mother gets remarried. She ends up working at a small cafe with two rather unique co-workers, Shindou, who acts gruff and intimidating, but who is really a nice guy who loves to make cakes and pies and the like, and Ichirou, who is really good-looking but who instantly falls asleep when he gets hungry and doesn't wake up again until he's force-fed something? What will the future bring to them?

30. Stardust Wink

I’m Anna. I’m 14 years old and I’ve just entered the ninth grade. Sou and Hinata, who live in the same apartment complex as me, are my childhood friends and we’re all the same age. I thought that from now on we’d become even closer friends, but then Sou suddenly did that to me…!!

31. Strobe Edge

Having no experience in romance, the vibrant Ninako curiously explores the meaning of what "love" really is, and is surprised to feel a colorful range of emotions as she grows closer to the school heartthrob, the quiet yet gentle Ren, who also happens to be involved in a longtime relationship. With every intention of keeping her head held high, Ninako prepares to face the mental pain of this one-sided love that she had allowed to take root, facing a series of trials that would either contribute to her growth as a headstrong woman, or break her as it did with other girls.

32. Suki desu Suzuki-kun

Suzuki Hikaru, Hoshino Sayaka, Itou Chihiro and Suzuki Shinobu are all new students who have just entered the same middle school. Sayaka is a shy girl who secretly loves acting. Hikaru is an energetic boy who loves basketball. Incidentally, he shares the same last name with Shinobu, a popular rich boy who would be perfect if not for his rotten personality. Chihiro is Hikaru's childhood friend and has long had a crush on him. On the day of the opening ceremony, Hikaru happens to witness Sayaka acting out the lines of a drama on the rooftop and is instantly captivated. Upon seeing Hikaru getting along with Sayaka, Chihiro's chest begins to ache. When Shinobu sees this, he is overcome by a strange emotion and his heart starts beating faster... Unbeknownst to the four, this is the beginning of their magnificent love story; one that would last years to come.

33. Taiyou no Ie

After her mother abandoned her and her father remarried, high schooler Mao Motomiya is left feeling like she doesn't have a place where she belongs. One night, her childhood friend Hiro Nakamura finds her in a shrine eating cheap convenience store food and offers to take her to a restaurant. Their subsequent heart to heart leads to Hiro suggesting that Mao move in with him. To Hiro who has lived apart from his younger siblings all these years after their parents passed away, bringing his family back together in the once-lively Nakamura home begins with the first step of giving Mao a loving place to belong. When Mao reluctantly accepts his invitation, she is surprised at how easy it is to settle in with her longtime friend. Now she must deal not only with mending her relationship with her father and helping the oldest Nakamura brother attain his goal, but also her growing feelings for Hiro.

34. The Maid at My House

Runako is studying hard to someday succeed as owner of her family's maid dispatching service company. One day, a request comes in from an entertainment production company and shockingly, it's for their super-popular star, Seirei Moroboshi! But could it be that the image he projects on the TV is far different than his true secret face...?!

35. Tonari no Koigataki

Hiro-kun and Icchan are both very important childhood friends to Akane. She thought they would always and forever be good friends, but...

36. Tsubasa to Hotaru

Tsubasa to Hotaru follows 15-year-old Tsubasa Sonokawa, a young student—and a renowned stalker? After one very romantic gesture by a popular upperclassman, she falls head over heels for who she believes to be her one true love. Unfortunately, love can be deceiving, as her feelings are soon proven to be one-sided; the upperclassman directly tells her that she's annoying and that she needs to stop bothering him. How's that for some tough love? Shortly after this horrific heartbreak, her good friend Yuri suffers from a sprained wrist, making it impossible for her to continue her position as the basketball team's manager. After some coaxing on Yuri's part, Tsubasa decides to take on the role in her place. This may be the perfect opportunity for Tsubasa to move on and forget about her unrequited love. On Tsubasa's first day as a manager, the team's shooting guard Aki Hidaka saves her from being hit by a ball. Is this another fateful encounter? Or just a random, meaningless event? One thing is for certain: Tsubasa's days will never be the same again.

37. Uwasa no Midori-kun

Midori Yamate is a 15 year-old girl and is very much a tomboy. When she was young, Midori meets a boy called Tsukasa Hino, who came to the island she lives on for a holiday. He teaches her to play soccer and she falls in love with the sport. Midori is inspired by Tsukasa and continues to play soccer in hopes that they would meet again someday. When they do meet again Tsukasa does something unforgivable. Determined to defeat Tsukasa on the soccer field Midori enrolls in an all boy high school.

38. Yagami-kun wa, Kyou mo Ijiwaru

Just by talking to the famous Yagami-kun, Shizuku's high school life has become hard even from the start—!?

39. Yumemiru Taiyou

While loitering in the park, Shimana Kameko, who intended to run away from home and skip school, meets a suspicious man in a kimono. This man, who had been locked out of his house, offers Shimana a place to stay. However, he requests she fulfill three conditions in exchange for her tenancy!?

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goji-pilled · 4 years ago

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so how does the MG AU come about? I've been digging for a lore dump post but I can't find one? like how does ham come back and sae meet her and yadda yadda

Oh god now I really have to make a proper basics post about this AU shangdkshs

Okay so I actually have no explanation as for why Hamuko is alive again shamgdkss Maybe Elizabeth was successful in her mission? Maybe humanity's desire for death just got replaced by the control stuff with Mementos? Maybe some other magic bs? I really dont know lmao

As for the other stuff...I could offer you a rough "timeline" of things

-Almost 5 years after she died Hamuko wakes up on a train to Tokyo, shes got Thanatos as well as the yen she had still left from the SEES days (dont ask how thats not important shsbhsnweh) and gets a hotelroom

- Next day she visits Leblanc for the first time and meets Sojiro, Wakaba and Futaba

- Later on the same day she explores the streets and finds a libary thats run by Saori (who is in a happy relationship with Rio :)) because girl cant catch a break

-Reuinions and explanations ensue

-The following two weeks are full of commiting crimes to get housing bc she IS legally dead afterall

-Hamuko becomes a regular at Leblanc during that time and hears about some corrupt politician through the news

-The same day she runs into people protesting aginst said politician, Hamuko starts cursing the politician and oh dear!

-Welcome to the metaverse and your first palace!

-Thanatos at least knows somewhat whats happening

-Life threatening situation happens and tada, Persona re-awakening! And murder time!

- Two weeks later comes her run in with 13yo Goro

- A week after that (thank god for crimes!) happens the little post I where I said "Its my AU and I get to choose the dynamics" aka this:

Goro: "You are the most incompetent adult I have ever met"

Also Goro: "I barely had you for six hours but youre my mom now and please dont leave me-"

-She loves her feral bird son and is very much aware that he already killed a guy (thats her boy!)

- Futaba and Goro meet and its a disaster (the good kind)

- Goro "I'm 13years old and bitter but suddenly theres so many genuinely nice people around me that show me kindness simply because they want to" Akechi doesnt know how bonds work but wants to learn anyway

-Because sure he still has his plan against Shido but he also got the change for a life with people that actually care about him so why not both?

(Spoiler he should not have chosen both)

-Hamuko running into Sae comes a month later feat. Stressed Hamuko bc it rains and shes in a cafe with dozens of people waiting the rain out, Sae who's like "This place is free ;)" and gay people being gay people

- Hamuko inviting Sae leads to her bring Makoto along

- Cut to Goro being a little shit and Makoto suplexing him into Oblivion

- "Good to know theyre getting along"

- And welcome Goro "I had Makoto for six hours but I'm her brother now"

- Hamuko even gets to meet Mr. Niijima before he dies (haha fun times :'))

- Lots and lots of shenanigans ensue

- But also lots of pain (see Wakaba and Officer Niijima)

- More family bonding

- And even more chaos!

The rest may be better for another time bc this is probably long enough as is sbksgsjasg

#lime answers #mg au #hope this helps somewhat for now #I SWEAR ILL WORK ON A PROPER LORE POST SOMETIME-

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relenafanel · 4 years ago

Text

Dicks (in every definition): a fake-relationship AU

Geralt/Jaskier

Find it on Ao3: Dicks (in every definition) by relenafanel

FOR THE MODERN AU CHALLENGE. WEEK 1: Fake-Relationships

Tag: witcherauseptember

________

“I can’t believe anyone could be such an unmitigated puss-filled dick,” Essi said, staring at her phone in disbelief. Jaskier groaned and let his head thunk on the bar.

“I can.” His sticky forehead was the least disgusting part of the evening. He'd just come out to forget his ex, and maybe celebrate being free a little (as fucked up as that was) and quite frankly felt attacked by his social media.

“If I believed it from anyone it would be that narcissist,” she conceded, biting on her lip.

“I know,” Jaskier agreed. “That’s the worst part. I feel like it’s my fault being blindsided by this, as though I should have known something was going to happen today.”

Essi snorted. “It’s not your fault your ex is the worst.”

“No, but I was with him for almost 3 years. I don’t know. That’s my fault.”

“Don’t be stupid,” she said. “Look at this desperate fucker. Do you actually think he’s winning? He might be in a new relationship but the look of this guy makes my vagina want to shrivel up and die.”

Jaskier took her phone from her and looked again. Yeah. Yikes. Valdo was definitely scraping the bottom of the barrel with that one. Jaskier hadn’t even tried to join any dating sites post-breakup, but he was pretty sure there were better options. It wasn’t even the guy’s looks so much as he just screamed skeevy douchebag. It was making Jaskier’s metaphorical vagina also want to die.

“You need to get drunk. Maybe laid.”

“No,” Jaskier said, an idea starting to form as he looked at the relationship status change. “No. I need to match pettiness with pettiness. I need to find someone so hot that I’d have trouble getting him - let alone Valdo with his sad, small dick - and make sure to post a picture on Facebook.”

“Would that make you feel better?”

Jaskier smiled with teeth. “I think it would.”

***

It was their third bar of the evening and Essi was definitely sick of the manhunt. She probably hadn’t realized that when Jaskier was judging men fully objectively and not looking for matching personalities (relationship goals) or a willing body (one night stand goals) he had incredibly discerning tastes.

Probably too discerning.

“How about him?” Essi asked, barely looking up from her phone. She gestured to a guy sitting at the bar trying to make eye contact with a woman across the room.

“Ehh,” Jaskier said. “Sweater vest.”

Essi rolled her eyes. “But cute.”

“I’m not looking for cute. I’m looking for eye-searing hot.”

“I’m having trouble remembering how you’ve ever been in any relationships with these unrealistic expectations.”

“Valdo thought I was hot.” Jaskier thought about that for a moment. “Did I stay with someone for three years out of flattery?”

“Probably. Fuck. Get therapy.”

“I am.”

“You’re going to be working on tonight for a while.”

Fucking true. “Oh god, we just saw Valdo’s taste in men. Tell me true… am I ugly.”

“You’re spiraling.”

“That’s not an answer!”

“You’re spiraling!”

“Yes,” Jaskier agreed, pulling at his hair. “I’m so aware.”

“Based on the guy in his status update I’m going to guess you’re the hottest guy he could get.”

“You’re a good friend.” Jaskier pressed his head against her shoulder.

Then, a table opened up across the room, revealing the man sitting on the other side of it. “Holy shit.”

Essi looked up. Then she looked up. “Wow.”

“I hope he’s into men,” Jaskier said. “Or at least willing to play along with pretending to be for long enough for you to get a picture.”

“You’re going to walk up to that?” Essi asked. “You have more balls than brains.”

That was probably true.

***

“Hi, I’m Jaskier,” he opened with, dropping into the seat across from the gorgeous man. Up close he was even more startlingly pretty, with a chin dimple that highlighted his strong jaw and drew attention to his mouth. “And my boyfriend broke up with me two months ago, only to post his new relationship on Facebook today. Our three year anniversary. It’s the dickest of moves, right?”

The man hummed in agreement, but otherwise didn’t stop frowning in Jaskier’s general direction. Like someone waiting for him to get to the point. Jaskier saw that frown often.

“The reason for the oversharing is that I just forced my best friend to follow me to three different bars to find someone so phenomenally hot for me to spend time with and get picture proof, and here you are. I’d do jazz hands but you don’t seem like someone who responds well to jazz hands.”

“What are jazz hands?”

Whoa.

What a voice. What a sexy, sexy voice. Jaskier knew what he was talking about. He was a connoisseur of voices.

Jaskier wiggled his fingers at him. Tada! “Jazz hands.”

“Huh.” The man took a drink of his beer. “You want to use me as a revenge plot?”

“Exactly. Can I buy you a drink?”

The man gestured to his mostly full beer. “I’m not drinking to get drunk tonight.”

That was only a no to the beer. “Nachos or some other foodstuff?”

The guy seemed possibly interested in food.

“Fine,” he agreed.

****

Facebook: Julian Alfred Pankratz is in a relationship with Geralt of Rivia.

“Who’s Julian Pankratz?” Geralt muttered, staring at his phone.

“What?” Jaskier groaned, coming out a shitty sleep to a few realizations:

He’d gone home with the hottest guy on earth, which he should be pleased about, AND WAS PLEASED ABOUT

He might throw up

He’d done something last night. Something he’d said “that’s up for tomorrow Jaskier to sort out” because his drunk self was apparently a fucking masochist, and now Jaskier wasn’t really sure what that was.

Only Geralt was still scowling at his phone and seemed to know his real name.

So.

“Fuck,” Jaskier groaned. His mouth tasted like nachos and the regret of doing shots too late in life. He was 28 years old, not dead, but his hangover didn’t seem to know that. “We didn’t get married , did we?”

“...”

Jaskier risked the light filtering in through the edges of the blinds to look at Geralt. His hair was beyond mussed - Jaskier didn’t know hair could get that tangled overnight. He was still frowning at his phone.

“I’ve been calling you Jaskier.”

“I go by Jaskier,” he promised. He was too busy having his own crises to deal with Geralt’s! For fucksakes. “Now, back to the marriage thing??”

“No.”

Phew. That was probably on him. He wasn’t sure people could actually get fake married overnight. Legally. He’d seen a lot of movies, though.

Ok. Next problem. “I might throw up.”

Geralt turned his head slowly to look at him. Yikes. Too much beautiful-man-face in his face for this early in the morning.

“It’s eleven,” Geralt told him in the dry tone that told Jaskier he’d said that all outloud.

“Eleven after getting to bed at what? Five? Eugh, boo. Do you have any food?”

***

Geralt did have food.

Well, Geralt had protein bars and electrolytes, which was basically the same thing. Jaskier could always fall on top of a burger on his way home if he had to. He’d finally looked at his phone by the time he was halfway through his breakfast.

107 new notifications.

What the fuck?

Julian Alfred Pankratz is in a relationship with Geralt of Rivia

Geralt and I were going to wait until announcing this wasn’t an asshole move, but now that it doesn’t really matter, I just wanted everyone to know that I’m doing GREAT.

Attached to it was the picture of the two of them together that Essi had taken with the caption of “I wouldn’t feel too sorry for Jaskier tonight”

His drunk self had a lot to answer for. No wonder Geralt had been scowling at his phone.

“I can’t believe I went Facebook Official with someone I haven’t even had sex with yet,” Jaskier mourned. “What is it, 2007?”

***

It took Jaskier almost the full day to recover enough to actually look through his comments on Facebook. By the time he had, they’d almost doubled and he’d made the mistake of clicking into Instagram to find one of those quintessential happy-relationship-our-feet-are-cute-together bullshit pictures. He had a different following on Instagram, mostly using it for pictures of himself singing.

Yikes. Yikes. Yikes. This wasn’t a contained problem, if you could call their mutual friends and families on Facebook that had been gathering in the wings for 15 years a contained problem . Fucking Facebook. Jaskier friended people he’d met once. He had a database of acquaintances. It was great for - you know - being a musician looking for gigs. He’d done 15 weddings in the last year.

It was pretty shitty when he’d faked having a boyfriend so people wouldn’t feel bad for him.

But, as he read through the comments and realized that some of them weren’t for him, he realized that maybe he wasn’t the one with the biggest problem.

Jaskier: Did you just come out?

Jaskier: Are you EVEN INTO MEN?

Jaskier: I REMEMBER YOU THINKING THIS WAS FUNNY AND AGREEING TO IT

Jaskier: BUT

Jaskier: I REGRET COMMITTING TO CAPS SO SOON BECAUSE I MEAN THIS IN CAPS AND BOLDED

Jaskier: WHOEVER LAMBERT IS JUST CONGRATULATED YOU ON FINALLY GETTING DICKED DOWN BECAUSE IT MIGHT MAKE YOU LESS GRUMPY

Geralt: I see you’ve read the comments

Geralt: my brother

Jaskier: YOUR BROTHER?!

Geralt: bold and caps?

Jaskier: and italics what the fuck. Why’d you let me do this?

Jaskier: wait.

Jaskier: WAIT

Geralt: there it is

Jaskier: this was your idea

Jaskier: did you use me to tell everyone you know that you’re gay or bi or whatever you identify as?

Jaskier: what a brilliant opportunity last night was for both of us

Geralt: you went back to sleep and didn’t process any of this yet, didn’t you?

Jaskier had been seen with that, fuck. He made a face at his phone even though Geralt couldn't see it.

A few moments later a response to Lambert popped up from Geralt himself.

@Lambert who says I haven’t been getting dicked down this entire time you heteronormative asshole

Followed by someone named Yennefer posting a picture of a strap on.

Who were these people? Could you love someone based on how their friends reacted to their ill-advised fake-relationship status change? Asking for a friend.

Geralt: for context, that’s my ex-wife

Geralt: we’re ok

Geralt: especially when she’s helping me fuck with my brother

***

Jaskier was debating the merits of asking Geralt if he wanted to come up with a break-up plan or just date when another comment showed up.

Vesemir left a comment:

You’ll bring him to brunch tomorrow?

Geralt left a comment:

We’ll be there

Vesemir left a comment:

Leave the frightening device at home

Geralt left a comment:

He doesn’t need it

This was followed by a string of variations of LOL and OH SHITs from about 7 different people. Jaskier watched it all unfold feeling like he’d stepped into the middle of something he didn’t understand - yet. He was definitely in trouble, if the way his heart rate increased at Geralt’s he doesn’t need it was any indication. It wasn’t even the dick reference, though that was amazing. It was the snappy, quick response. The underlying sarcasm.

Jaskier had a type. He could end a fake relationship that was based on seeing a searing hot guy across a room, but it was a bit harder when the guy had a personality he liked. If Geralt turned out to have a heart of gold, Jaskier was screwed and would probably be proposing marriage by year’s end.

Yeah, we’ll be there , he commented.

Geralt: my dad

Geralt: thanks

Jaskier: no problem

Jaskier : gonna call

“So I’m thinking,” Jaskier said the moment Geralt’s face showed up on the video call. He was squinting at his phone like no one had ever tried to video call him before.

“Hi,” Geralt replied, looking amused.

“I’ve been debating the merits of planning a breakup for our fake relationship or just… dating? I’m thinking maybe we should date? Do you have input?”

“Dating’s fine.”

“But do you… are you even attracted to me? Would you pick me?”

Oh fuck, what was that?! Something new to bring up in therapy.

Geralt tilted his head. “You don’t know this about me yet, but I’m capable of saying no. Overly capable, some of my family might tell you.”

“So you’re not saying no?”

“I’m pretty confident I said yes instead.”

***

“As Jaskier’s best friend and the only witness,” Essi said into the microphone, holding up a glass of champagne to salute the two of them. “Our happy couple gave me full permission to tell the story of what happened the night Geralt and Jaskier met. Like Jaskier himself, the story is partially an embarrassing tale of bad decisions, half-cocked plans, and a lot of heart.”

Jaskier grinned, and nudged his shoulder into Geralt’s.

“And,” Essi continued with glee, “dicks in every definition.”

#geralt of rivia #jaskier #witcherauseptember #the witcher #fanfiction: drabble #fake relationship

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everyhowlmarksthedead · 5 years ago

Text

CALI COAST.

Filip “Chibs” Telford x Reader

Anon asked: Hiya, love your writing!! I’d like to request a chibs Imagine about a him falling for a female mechanic at TM. Thank you 😊

Word Count: 3.6k

Thanks to my lovely beta reader @chibsytelford 💘

Author comments: I hope you all enjoy. Gif credits to the author.

Tag list: @starrynite7114 @chibsytelford @dazzledamazon @mara-mpou @sammskellington @gemini0410 @1-800-imagines @briana-mishell24 @sassymox @whyisgmora @aquamento @sadeyesgf @viviansafizada ✨ (if you wanna be tagged, send me a message!)

Driving the car crane, carrying a blue sedan that you were trying to seize for three days, but the owner was such a dickhead till he finally pissed you off and you had to point him with a gun. Tig told you to do it, even if you've never fired one. His face was worth the risk of being reprimanded by Hale. Danny claps at you, when getting off of the crane, you point your new acquisition with both hands and a huge smile on the corner of your lips.

“Tada!” You say with a melodic voice, jumping one time.

“Good job, rookie”. He says urging you to high-five, giving you the ‘seized’ sticker.

Very proud of your work, you take it to stick it on the front glass, crossing your arms after it to admire your piece of art.

“Ok, let's pull down this big guy”. Danny palms your back, ready to drop the tow and park the car with the rest.

“Ya’, man, who's that lass?” Chibs steps slow down, some meters away from you, hitting Tig's chest with his palm, actually hurting him.

“What the fuck?!” He yells rubbing himself over the kutt.

“She's (Y/N), the new Teller-Morrow mechanic”. Happy comes from nowhere, scaring both men, with no gesture in his face. “She's like a Pop Tart. Sweet and crunchy”.

“Did you already fuck her?” Tig sighs staring at him.

“No”.

“Then, how 'you know she's crunchy?”

“She broke Juice's nose yesterday”.

The men break in laughter, now understanding why his face looks like shit.

“Wha' happened?” Chibs tries to talk, starting to cough because of the loud laughs.

“She just got scared, 'cause he was behind her in silence”. Happy turns at them, narrowing on of his shoulder, making a move with his head to follow him.

The SOA president has been out of Charming for two weeks, taking care of the gun's business at southern Cali. For you, he was just traveling. The guys talked about him a lot in his absence of the club and you were pretty excited to meet him. At least, he's also your boss. So, when Tig shouts your new nickname making you turn, you go immediately with the same smile on your face.

“What's'ap, boss?” You say placing your hands behind your back, covered by the green jumpsuit of the workshop.

“The president”. He says pushing the man into you, with a singsong voice, making the scottish clicks his tongue.

“Just Chibs”. He adds, offering you a hand in somewhat formal greeting.

“Finally!” You say excited narrowing it, actually feeling a little nervous. “I'm (Y/N), but they call me ‘rookie’”.

“Rooke'”?

“Yeah, like a prospect for the club”. You explain then, getting back your hand with the own other.

“And she likes whisky”. Happy puts a forearm on one of the president's shoulder, taking off the toothbrush of his lips.

“Really? Ya' wan' one? So ya' can tell me where did ya' come from”. The man offers then, turning an arm to the club entrance, and you obviously can't say ‘no’ even if it's ten am and you just finished the first coffee of the day. You nod in silence.

Tig and Happy continue their way to the workshop, whilst you're walking by the scottish side with the nerves running through your whole anatomy. Everybody knows the Sons of Anarchy, everybody knows what they do even if they didn't see it. You know you don't have to be afraid, nor scared, but you can't help feeling it anyway. In a gentle gesture, the president holds the door for you, smiling slightly coming in. The club is empty, not even music is being played and it's kinda strange. Maybe they prepared before this meeting, so no one could bother you.

Even if you have been working for the last two weeks, if Filip decides to fire you 'cause you're not what he was looking for Teller-Morrow, he can do it without needing the support of anyone. You like your job and they pay you quite well, having a very flexible schedule, and treating you like another one of the family. So losing it, it's not an option.

You can see the man turning around towards the bar, grabbing two glasses to serve a whisky from an old bottle. You can recognize it. An special edition of Blue Label of Johnnie Walker. You have never tasted before, but you heard about it. Honey and vanilla are the first nuances you can taste having a sip. Chibs is staring at you with a raised eyebrow, waiting for an opinion. Snapping

“It's sweet, but bitter because of the citrics”.

“Dammet', lass!” He yells excited, hitting the bar, provoking you a chill. “Its true ya' like wheske'”.

“Yea', I... do”. You nod with pursed lips, seeing him walk towards the sofa.

Sitting there, you doubt for a second carrying a chair next to him and leaving your drink on the table, looking around for a second expecting what he wants to know.

“So tel'me. Where 'ya from, where ya' worken'... All thes' thengs'”. Chibs finally says, placing his whisky above the table, leaning towards you with his forearm supported on his lap.

“I'm from Los Angeles, my father had a workshop too, so it's family business”. You explain yourself, not sure what more you can say about your life. “When he died thr—”.

“'Am sorre'bout that”. The president holds your right hand for a while, narrowing it.

“Yea', life's things, I guess”. His touch is firm, looking at both hands sideway, before continue. “Well, ah... It was three years ago. He left me the workshop, but I was alone and I couldn't do it without help, so I had to sell it. I was working with my uncle, till I decided to move on. And... a friend told me about yours and I said... Why not? So, here I am”.

“Hm...” Chibs nods thoughtful resting his back on the sofa, moving his gaze from one side to another in nowhere.

“Listen, ah... I know it took me three days to seize that sedan, and I have no excuses, but I really like this job. I mean, work here”. You look desperate licking your lips and gesticulating more than necessary, not trying to give pity, but asking for another chance.

“Relax, rooke', I'm not gonna keck'yar ass”. His loud laughter, shaking his chin, infects you chuckling. Not sure if because you want, or because you're doing it to please him. “The bike in the backyard, is yars'?”

“It was my father's. He used to run Cali with it, till he couldn't do it anymore. But it's not working. I have to fix it”.

“You wan'me to help ye'?”

The question takes you by surprise, twisting your neck as a dog would do when he's confused. Until now, you have been doing it by yourself, even though you can take her to a workshop and not worry about it. But someone offering himself to help you it's something new. Not actually ‘someone’, but the Sons of Anarchy president. And your boss.

“Yes, yes... I mean, sure. If you have time”.

“Aye! 'Course, lass. Wha' ya' have is a fuckin' gem! Wha'bout tonigh'?”

You don't say anything, but it sounds like a date. And it doesn't surprised you by the way he had to greeting you, when you two met minutes ago. His fingers were a little shaky and you can swear that even his hand was somewhat sweaty. Finally, you nod before he could start to think that you're kinda dumb, having a sip of your whiskey.

“Ya ken'? I had one simila' when I was younga'”. He comments, seeming like the man wants to continue your talk, but doesn't knows how to do it. “I toured Scotlan' whet'et'”.

“I've never been there, but I saw it in photographs. It's an amazing country”.

“Aye! Et'e—

Some yells outside call your attention, and you recognize the voice by heart, 'cause you have been hearing it for the last three days. Rolling your eyes and getting up, down by the scottish's gaze following you, you walk towards the workshop with a serious gesture on your face and your arms crossed above your chest. The sedan' owner is there, with Hale by his side. You're fucked.

“She was! She was!” The blonde man is pointing at you accusatory, seeing how the sheriff rubs his eyes. “That bitch pointed me with a gun!”

“Did you?” Hale asks you with a hand resting in the butt of his own gun, hanging from his belt, and the other hanging by a side of his body.

“No, sir. I did—”.

“You, fucking liar!” The man practically jumps to you, being blocked by the SOA president, hitting him straight to his face.

Everything goes so fast that you can't even react. But the scottish is putting you behind his body, after punch the sedan' owner, with a hand thrown back slightly touching your abdomen. Hale is handcuffing him, growling and cursing at you lying on the ground by the sheriff.

“If you say anything else, I'm gonna accuse you of obstruction, do you hear me?” The cop says putting him down, starting to walk next to the car so his co-worker can sit him inside the car. “Do you want to file a complaint?”

This time is coming back towards you, with a sigh on his lips rolling his eyes. You shake your head, hiding out from Chib's back, frowning at the blonde man.

“Don' worry, sir, it's ok”. You say then.

“Tel'im fi' me that he won't get his car back”.

And without saying anything else, he turns at you placing an arm on your shoulders to urge you start to walking back to the workshop.

┅┅ ┅ ┅ ┅┅

When your turn is already finish, you drive back home the enough time to have a shower and changing your clothes for something more comfy taking into account the plan you are going to have. You're also trying to not think that it's a date, even if it was like it sounded. And you can't help but feeling nervous parking by a side of the yard, frowning missed when you notice the fact that there's only a bike. So, your suspicions get confirmed. Actually it's not something that bothers you, after all you've heard about him. Loyalty, strength, sincerity, self-confidence, kind and polite. And an accent pretty funny. So, why not?

“Wha' ya' thenken'?” Chibs comes from nowhere, scaring you and making you scream.

The man starts to laugh loud, while your face becomes rude with pursed lips and a hand on your chest trying to calm your heart beat.

“Jesus Christ...”

“Dammet, rooke', it's true ya're ease' to scare!” You sigh rolling your eyes because of his words. “Com'ere, I've alrede' brought yar' bike”.

“DaMmEt, RoOkE”. You joke on him with a high-pitched tone, whilst he's laughing louder.

“Ya' amaze me, lassie. Dinnae' know you talk scottesh'”.

“What the...?” You find yourself laughing too in a relaxed way after a long time, shaking your head with a sigh, going to the workshop illuminated by some lights.

Turning over your steps you notice that the place is practically empty, guessing that Juice took off all the cars by Chibs' petition, playing fool when you find with your gaze two cardboard boxes from your favorite burger joint. Hiding your curiosity and moving your feet next to the old Harley Davidson, you let your fingers travel over the metallic handlebar. Memories crowd your head, one on top of the other, until you collapse. You still haven't driven it, because your father kept it for almost eight years on his garage, till he left. And it doesn't need a lot of fixes, but you haven't been able to get started before. You couldn't, 'cause it's the only thing you have of him.

“When was the... fers' time ya' ride't?”

Turning to the man, finding him supporting his back against the wall with a big cup of coke in his left hand, sipping from the straw. You shrugs your shoulders, taking the other drink to imitate him with your gaze on the matt black motorbike.

“I didn', yet. Alone, I mean... But by my father's back”. You say almost in a whisper. “I was five years old. We toured Cali coast”.

“Cali coast amaze me, et's a good ferst' ride”. He says then, after some seconds in silence. “Ded'ya by night?”

“Dawn, actually”. You answer with a goofy smile on your lips and your eyes on the drink between your hands, playing with the straw. “I... remember that... my father came to my room, to wake me up saying ‘let's go, bunny, adventure time’! He was very excited”.

It's the first time in years that you're talking about him and Chibs looks pretty curious about it, but you're trying not to break your voice. Smiling sideways, you stare at the scottish man, shrugging your shoulders again, not knowing how continue.

“Why ‘bunny’?”

“I like velocity”.

“Oh, realle'? Wha' bike ded'ya have before et'?”

Your cheeks turning red and your lips pursuing second by second, containing a laugh, makes him raises both eyebrows with curiosity.

“A Vespa...?” You mutters biting the straw, while Chibs laughs again. You're starting to love his laugh, no regrets. “Ah, ah, but...! I have a Mustang, so, boom!”

Your left hand imitates the typical gesture of dropping a mic, getting up from the wall to walk towards the food with innocent air, opening one of the bags with your forefinger and having a quickly look.

“Ya'hungre?” He asks then, following your steps to grab boths bags, twisting his neck in a soft gesture to tell you without words about to have a seat.

So you do, on one of the cair placed on the front yard, next to a corner.

“So, what et' needs?”

“Brakes. I need to change them. Now it has ones that are obsolete and I was thinking to put an ABS”. Leaving your drink between your feet, you take the burger Chibs is offering you to unwrap it on your lap.

“Sounds good. Do ya' have them?”

“Yea', I bought them in LA. And I think could be good change the tires, the oil and the handlebar grips, they're a little worn”.

“Tha's'ease fo' ya'”.

“Yeah, but... I didn't want to fix it, actually?”

“Why?”

“I'm scared to have an accident or something, and destroy it. I don' have anything of my father, but his bike”. Having a bite with your gaze on him, you cover your mouth to keep talking. “So, I just... was telling... myself that I didn't have time... to fix it”.

“But we're gonna do 'et!” Chibs exclaim excitedly, opening his arms for a second and holding the burger and the beer in each hand. “I know yar' father prefers to fac'ap his bike, than keep'et in a garage with dust on 'et”.

“Yea', I think so...”.

━━━━━━ ﹅ ━━━━━━

First, knocks on your door. Then your bell ringing. Palming the mattress till you find your phone to watch the clock, you read all the notifications in the locked screen. There are almost eleven lost calls from Chibs and a lot of messages. And it in silence. You practically jump off of your bed, running as never before to the main door, opening it.

“Finally! Jesus Christ, I thought ya' were dead!”

“What happened? It's everything ok? Sorry, I just fell asleep an—”. You're talking so fast that your tongue ends up making a mess.

Chibs enraptured looking at you from top to down with a goofy smile on his lips, very interested in the Black Sabbath' shirt you're wearing. Clearing his throat, while your gaze travels to the dark van parked in front of your house. Tig and Juice are taking off of it your motorbike. Pushing him away from you, with your left hand on his chest, you take some steps barefoot above the cesped. You're face shows surprise and confusion, believing for a while that you're dreaming or something like that.

One of his hands wrap your left wrist, urging you to look at him. You're legs shaking for a second.

“Ya're prette' with messy hair and tha' shirt, but I wanna ride with ya'”. He says then, trying to hide his excitement.

And you want to hide yours, but you can't. You hug him, but not with a normal one. You're rousing and thankful, surrounding his neck with yours arms leaning on your toes. You know he wasn't expecting by the “oh” he mutters kinda surprised, taking some seconds till he finally is able to wrap your back and your waist pushing you closer into him, resting his forehead on your shoulder. Then, Chibs understands why Happy said like you're like a Pop Tart. He knows it tooks you just one second to make him fall in love with you and that the fact of worrying about your favorite take away restaurant, it wasn't only 'cause you're ‘the rookie’.

The scottish have a deep breathe from your hair, starting to wish he hadn't, because he's falling a little more. And he can't watch his mouth.

“Ya' smell really good”. He tells you with a husky tone on his voice that bristles the skin of your arms.

“Honey and vanilla”. You mutter with pursed lips, before the man making you a gesture to come in your house.

You nod in a hurry, running back to your room looking for the perfect clothes to drive. A comfy pair of jeans, a vaporous shirt, your boots and a leather jacket. Keeping your principal stuff in a bag and grabbing your helmet, you walk towards the main door sooner as you can. The van isn't there anymore but your bike and Chib's one, close to yours, are parked on the sidewalk. He's already waiting sitting on his, turning on the engine when you're wearing the black helmet before keep the bag under the seat, the scottish stares at you with a hug smile and a dearly gesture on his face.

It has been eight years since you heard your father's Harley roaring, and feeling how your body vibrates on it it's simply amazing. You can't even describe how you feel right now, looking at Chibs with that gesture mixing incredulity and surprise. Pressing the brake, but also the gas, the back wheel squeaks without caring if you wake up your neighbors.

“Let's go, lass!”

You release the brake, letting your motorbike rolls above the road with a hoarse growl flying off from the engine, being followed by the scottish. He didn't tell you where you're going, but after five days talking about your childhood in Cali, it's pretty clear that he wants to ride the coast with you after seeing the emotions that provokes you the memories doing it with your father. You know well he wants to be part of it, part of your routine and part of your life. And you're letting him come in 'cause, why not?

You know the road by heart, touring it with the fresh dawn's air hitting your face, till it turns with a salty smell after some hours driving in silence, enjoying the landscape views. You're closer to the ocean and you can feel it inside your lungs, closing your eyes for second. Time enough to make you fly back to your childhood. The sound of the engine, the seagull, the waves breaking. Everything is the same as you remember. But you're not a child anymore, you're ridding California with Filip Telford by your side, who can say that? Only you. And it's not because who he is, but because of who you want him to be for you.

It's sunrising. In the horizon, the sky is mixed with blue, orange and soft pink. It's your favorite part of the day, but now it's different. You're /living/ it, breathing it, enjoying it totally relaxed as never before, with Chibs' eyes on you for a ephemeral instant, fully spellbound. And that's what makes it special this time.

“Don'ya thenk' it's time fo' a coffee?” He asks loud enough for you to hear him. You nod laughing, 'cause you really need it after sleeping for just four hours.

Some mills away, you finally stop in a rest area on top of a small cliff. Taking off your helmet, you walk towards the wooden railings looking down. You're too close of the sea that almost some salty drops splash your face interspersed with the sea breeze. You couldn't get tired of a place like that. The smell of hot coffee pushes you into reality, turning to Chibs so you can hold the metallic mug.

“Maybe I put some Cardhu in'et”.

“Maybe?” You break in laugh, leaning your nose over it.

“When I say ‘maybe’, et's because I alrede' ded'et”.

“So... the other night, at the workshop, maybe it was a date?”

“Maybe”. He nods, blowing his drink, before taking a drink. “Maybe that's the second one”.

“Maybe you already won me, fixing my bike and bringing me here”. Giving him your most smooth smile, you drink too, turning to the ocean while he puts an arm on your shoulders letting you rest your cheek on his. “Maybe you put a lot of Cardhu”.

“Yea', maybe”.

#sons of anarchy #sons of anarchy imagine #sons of anarchy x reader #chibs x reader #chibs telford #chibs telford x reader #chibs telford imagine #filip telford x reader #filip telford #filip chibs telford #filip chibs telford x reader

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lovee-infected · 5 years ago

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hello, i'm a big admirer of your theories and watching a movie based on the disney park i thought of a connection between the haunted mansion and the disorganized dormitory, was that a reference about the school's past or if there is a chance to have but a ghost that has a connection with the foundation of the school? it would be very interesting to know how the school came about or in whom the disorganized dormitory hurts inspired, maybe it's just a random idea but I kept thinking about it💓

Hi there and thank you very much darling !😄💕💕💕💕💕💕 Well first of all , I'm greatly sorry for my awfully late response - This ask came when my url was still @/geodraconia (Oof-long ago) and I was mainly a twst theory-only blog...

And now , this isn't a random idea at all my dear and thank you very much for leading me to it ! I'd previously written theories for the Ramshackle dorm but the haunted mansion..? I watched lots of streams and videos for this and I can't believe how much I've been missing all this time omg-

Well then ! Let's go for it !

Twisted Wonderland theories part 4 : Haunted mansion and Eliza's background :

First of all let us quickly review what we previously found about Ramshackle dorm's possible inspirations :

youtube

The designs are clearly based off Disney's thro the mirror and there's no argue on it - But the same design was used in the video game epic Mickey as well

The other point was with the ghosts . I was pretty sure that they're designed after disney's famous lonesome ghosts for both designs and the house they lived in which did share similarities with Ramshackle dorm

Full theory here

Well I totally missed the biggest hint amd that would be the haunted mansion ; a direct and strong source for not only our beloved ghosts but also the main reason and reference of our latest and so far , greatest event which would be the ghost marriage

Before I start talking about what and why leaded to Eliza's story ; let me have a small update on the haunted mansion:

With some YouTube videos and documentaries on the haunted mansion's establishment , you may now understand the high similarities between the Ramshackle dorm and the well-known haunted mansion better :

youtube

You can check the videos out for full explanation but let me just bring some of the interesting hints out here :

1) The three men and the ghosts : Pretty similar to Ramshackle's ghosts , aren't they ?? I still can't relate to the third ghost or...corpse with that beard but take a look at the other two : From the form of the skull...to the shape of the hat . Familiar , right ?

2) The mirror : No extra words I guess , the picture has it all ( Not much different from our dark mirror , is it?)

Well if you guys watch the YouTube video you'll get to see plenty of more details in a better explanation there , but for now let's get to my favorite part :

The ghost bride :

Well then before having a look at where Eliza did exactly come from , let's review the mostly mentioned thoughts on her

1) Eliza does have a Hamilton reference : I personally agree on this one . Since Disney had hosted a Hamilton remake in the late years and because both stories have a bride who is blinded b love and doesn't see the incomplete parts of their crush (Alexander Hamilton vs Idia Shroud lol-) that's pretty possible to be ( I actually had a doubt whether the ghost bride's name is pronounced as El-ee-za or El-ai-zaa and so @poisonepel helped me with it )

2) Eliza is based off the corpse bride : Well this one seemed a bit too good to be true since Tim Burton's Corpse Bride isn't a Disney original , but due to what I found on the bride's background , it wasn't that wrong

Well recently @vaudedrome-dorm too shared pics of the latest ghost bride from Tokyo's 2019 event and the similarities are just too obvious . But the story is far greater than just a cute 2019 parade ; let's return to The haunted mansion's first days

When the haunted mansion was finally open to the public , a ghost named hatbox ghost was one of the strongest-spookiest hints there to frighten visitors ; but due to some reasons , this ghost was immediately replaced with a newer figure named : Ghost bride which hasn't ever been even close to getting removed so far

The first design is believed to be this painting which was inspired by this mysterious photography , (close enough huh..?)

Then through later designs , the ghost bride was given plenty of changes . Each one creepier after another ...

Well well , as you can see , the first designs weren't much pleasant amd the main design was a corpse with a beating heart on chest , which later grow famous with the nickname of Beating heart bride was the longest design our bride has been through. Designs did change a lot during it's time , but the heart remained the same

2) Well years later after having the heart beating bride for too long , they decided to give it an all new design : They removed the heart and instead , came up with a fully digital blue-ish phantom of the bride , which seemed more suitable for the haunted mansion

The bride is stcuk next to the mirror and pics in the middle of the ride , but the most interesting part are the portraits . They show a woman dressed as a bride stepping next to a man , as you move through the ride , the man's head disappears as if his head gets cut of or better to say : they proves that the groom had died

Another amazing design at the haunted mansion is how a ghost marriage is supposed to be taking place there . Portraits and designs are another aspect of it :

Due to having different designs over the time ; plenty of different stories have bee spreaded about the ghost bride's possible back ground , but let's look at the two of the most famous ones of them :

1) Constance, also known as the Black Widow Bride, who was unveiled in the 2006/2007 upgrades having replaced the original beating heart bride tells the story of a bride who murders her husbands and takes their riches for herself, hence the name Black Widow Bride. Constance does not however tell us all of her secrets and we are left to imagine the worst. While it is nice to leave the audience wanting more…

Well well that's all that was explained so far about the beating heart bride which was the first and almost the most famous design of the ghost bride

2) Now Melanie, who is in DLRP, is a completely different story…she was a young bride in love but whose father was completely against her marriage and was devoted to stopping it no matter what…but her parents died in an accident so happy ever after right? No…her groom was then killed by the Phantom of the Manor (I’m not sure who this is or WHY he wanted to kill the groom) and so she kept waiting for him to show up at the alter even in death. And again you’re left with questions, or at least I am…who is the Phantom in this Manor and why did he kill Melanie’s groom? Was he her father hell-bent on stopping her marrying this young man? Was he a jealous suitor?

I believe most of you are well-familiar with Tim Burton's Corpse Bride which is actually based off this story . So to everyone who assumed Eliza to be based off Corpse bride : You were indirectly right ! Because the bride we now are talking about is most likely based off the same thing Burton was inspired by

Okay , now let's get to our best part of the bride's history , something that is indubitably Yana's main and direct reference for Eliza's design : TADA !

Let's take a look at Tokyo's 2019 Spooky "Boo!" Parade where this version of the bride showed up ; a special tokyo event featuring the haunted Mansion but his time , with all alive and human cast :

Spooky "Boo!" Parade :

I leave reading the full info to you but let me bring the important parts out ; the bride

In 2019, the Bride was added to the parade. She walked in front of the float with Mickey and the knights. Her appearance differed from previous Bride costume characters - her hair is done up in a bun, and her dress and veil are more stylized and cartoony - but her dress is designed with a red heart in the center of her chest. This was the first time that the original bride appeared in the parks as a live character.

The bride was accompanied by five men dressed in matching suits and top hats. They acted as admirers to her. They proposed to her and she playfully pushed them away, as they made their way down the parade route.

I wanna focus on this part again

You see!?? Yana didn't come up with that story out of thin air ! The bride , the haunted Ramshackle dorm , the marriage , the slapped proposers!!!! They were are designed based on canon Disney events along with her knowledge and research ; just , impressive

omg...I mean I know that Yana always does her research but this...this was waaaaay greater than what I was expecting...

Upcoming is the Wish upon a star event and many already are expecting it to be a Pinocchio reference , but who knows ? What surprises is Yana willing to give us this time ? Let's see

#twst #twisted wonderland #twst theories #twisted wonderland theories #Rest in peace dear tags 🙏

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calpalirwin · 5 years ago

Text

No Shame

Summary: You steal Ashton’s prop from No Shame to create your own art.

A/N: Idea courtesy of @carebearofriddles. Sorry this took me so fucking long!

Content: Typical goofy shenanigans

Word Count: 2.4k

And away, and away we go!

The music was blasting as you moved through your routine. You twirled- straight into a solid chest- and screamed, not having heard your boyfriend come home. “Hey, baby,” he grinned, breathless and excited.

“Hi,” you mumbled, happy he was home. “How was the studio?”

“It was great, baby,” he mumbled, brushing a flyaway strand of hair out of your face before kissing you needily.

“Mmm, that good, huh?” you smiled up at him after you broke the kiss.

“Fuckin amazing! We talked about the new music video. I’m gonna play a plastic surgeon!”

“Aw, Ash, that’s amazing!” you smiled, your mind racing a mile a minute for a different reason now. Hot doctor Ashton? Fuck yes.

“Yeah!” He was still grinning and his gorgeous eyes were a kaleidoscope of greens and golds and browns. “But what’s this routine you were doing, baby?” he asked, shifting the focus on you and your art.

“Oh, just something new,” you answered. “Experimenting with different things.”

“Oh yeah?” and now his eyes were shining for a different reason.

“Mhm,” you smirked. “Something like this?” and you twirled away from him to demonstrate with more exaggeration than you needed as you easily lift one leg high in the air and then flipped your entire body through a spin. You landed on the foot you had lifted and did the same move again before landing in a split before him, grinning upwards.

He reached down to help you up to your feet and you jumped to wrap your legs around his waist. “Damn, I love it when you show off your flexibility,” he practically growled into your neck as his hands squeezed at your ass.

“Oh do you now?” You wiggled your eyebrows suggestively.

“Fuck woman, you’re gonna be the death of me,” he groaned, his mouth hot as it traveled along the column of your throat.

You laughed the whole time he carried you upstairs to the bedroom.

Neither of you slept as you spent the night tangled up in each other, both talking about your crafts and engaging in a craft of your own.

~~~

A Friday evening found you sulking on the couch. Ashton was shooting the music video, leaving before the sun was even up. You had been right behind him, headed to your dance studio. But even after perfecting the routine, something still felt off. You were known for having dance routines that not only went off the beaten path. You were known for creating routines that not only pushed your limits physically, but pushed the audience’s limits psychologically. In short, you had an affinity for dark and twisted. It was what set you apart from what you considered to be the “traditionalists” in the world of dance. And while this routine was definitely taxing on your body, it was still missing that “umph” to put it over the top.

So after a grueling few hours, you were sulking on the couch, racking your brain over what it was you were missing. You checked your phone every now and then to see if Ashton had messaged you, before you went back to the mind-numbingness of the television, your brain in overdrive. You wanted to relax and let the tv show transport you elsewhere. But you also wanted to make a breakthrough with your routine. The battle over which would take priority in your head both made you agitated and desperate for Ashton. He knew how to make your brain silent in a way you couldn’t on your own. That was why you two worked so well as a couple. Each of you brought out a quiet stillness in the other- a quiet stillness that was desperately needed and commonly overlooked in the public world you both inhabited.

You heard the door but didn’t both to look up, knowing he’d sense your mood and just quietly snuggle up next to you. So when he slid into view with a grand “Tada!” while wearing a headpiece with far too many mirrors on it, your flight or fight response kicked in. And you fought. A shriek left your lips while your fist flew, connecting with whatever it could reach, which happened to be his upper thigh, dangerously close to the inside.

“Fucker!” you continued to shriek, adrenaline sending you to your feet as you continued to land punches on his body.

“Ow, okay! Sorry!” he giggled, wrapping you tight so you couldn’t beat up on him anymore, not that your blows were doing any real damage as you were a delicate strong and he was actually strong strong. When he was convinced you’ve calmed down enough to stop hitting him, he let you go to take the contraption off his head. He shook his head, “Ah, thing was giving me a headache.”

“And me a heart attack,” you laughed, the initial shock wearing off and giving way to laughter.

“Sorry,” he giggled again. “Misread the room. What’s up? What happened?” he asked, his demeanor completely shifting from goofy to concerned as he sat you both down on the couch.

“White noise,” you mumbled the code phrase, leaning your head against his shoulder. His arm wrapped immediately around you, his thumb rubbing small circles in your lower back. The code phrase had come about in your earlier days of dating when you had flown into his place screaming that the world was too loud and you just needed white noise to drown it out. And he had held you silently to him until he evoked that quiet stillness in you for the first time. It had become as commonplace in your conversations with each other as “I love you.”

His thumb continued to rub in circles on your lower back as you sat there in silence, your eyes trained to the mirrored headpiece from hell. Instead of the quiet stillness taking over, an idea formed in your head. Then, like a light flicking on in a pitch black room, you had it. You shot up to your feet, excitement making you bounce on your toes. “How long do you have this?” you asked, picking up the prop and cradling it gently.

“Well, it’s Friday. And I don’t have to be back until Monday at 7. So… however long that is,” he told you simply, his brain racing to catch up to yours. “Wait… why do you need to kn- babe. No. You can't take it.”

But it was too late. It was already in your hand and you were bounding out the door calling out “Don’t wait up!”

“Use the studio downstairs!” he calls out after you, not wanting you out so late.

“I need the stage!” you shout back, pulling the front door closed.

~~~

It’s a little past three in the morning when you stumble back into the house, body spent and in search of Ashton.

You find him still awake in the downstairs studio- a basement he had converted into a musical space for himself with a dancing area for you- pounding away on his drums. “Hey you,” he smiled, bringing a thunderous finish to whatever he had been playing before setting aside the drumsticks and pushing his sweaty black locks out of his face. “How was the studio?”

It was a dumb question. You had been sending him videos of what you had been working on all night. It was part of why he was still up himself, his phone buzzing incessantly with your updates. The other part was he never slept all that great without you.

You slid to the floor, stretching out your aching muscles. “It was amazing!” you started before rambling through your thoughts as you stretched. “Like I was stuck right? Something just wasn’t clicking. I needed something to put it over the top and I couldn’t figure it out. And then you! You gorgeous, BRILLIANT MAN! You had my answer! I love you!” And with the last sentence you were back up on your feet and trapezing your way over to cover him in grateful kisses.

“Glad I could help, babe,” he giggled against your neck. “Anything I can do now that you’re back?”

You practically moaned at the way his hands were rubbing at your back, not noticing how sore and spent your body actually was. “This,” you mumbled into his chest, clinging to him. “Keep rubbing my back, please.”

“C’mon then,” he coaxed. “Let’s go to bed and I’ll rub your back.”

“Not allowed to fall asleep on me until you rub my back,” you warned, as you both yawned, the exhaustion of a long day setting in.

“I won’t,” he promised.

Your back wasn’t the only thing that got rubbed upstairs in bed, neither of you falling asleep until the dawn broke out across the bedroom floor.

~~~

“So No Shame. Ashton. What the hell, man?” the interviewer asked.

Ashton laughed. While everyone was gushing over the music video, the conversation always circled back to the mirrored headpiece he wore.

The interviewer was still talking, “I mean like… your eyes. You all have pretty eyes, fans have pointed that out for years. And we get a real good look of yours in the video. But damn, personal space, mate.”

“Yeah, I felt like a fuckin’ space alien. I could only wear it for short bursts of time,” Ashton laughed, rubbing at his temples in memory of the day of the shoot.

“Yeah, I bet the headaches that thing must have caused were killer.”

“Oh, it was worth it though. Probably the coolest prop we’ve ever used.”

“Oh, got a question!” the interviewer said, looking at his computer screen. “Frontmanash wants to know where the prop is now?”

Ashton chuckled as his cheeks flushed. “Funny story actually. So I came home and scared my girlfriend with it. After she calmed down, she took it and ran, and I haven’t seen it since. Which means she probably broke it and was afraid I’d get mad. So I had to explain to the prop guys when I went back to the shoot that I lost it. Surprisingly they weren’t that mad about it, saying that they had enough footage and I mean, I guess they made it work.”

“Well, we actually got your prop director on the line,” the interviewer informed him. “You’re on!”

“Yeah, uh, Ashton, your girlfriend called me in the middle of the night, and I sold her the prop for a fiver so I could go back to sleep. It’s hers now, mate.”

Ashton laughed loudly. “I was wondering why you guys weren’t mad at me! I was like ‘geez that thing cost them like 50 quid to make, they’re gonna be pissed!’ And you sold it to her for a fiver?!”

“It was 1 am, I was exhausted. That thing was already haunting my dreams. I tried to give it to her for free, but she insisted.”

Ashton leaned back in his seat and continued to laugh, “Oh, that’s great!” while the interviewer stifled their own laughter.

~~~

“Spot your turns!” you laughed as Luke and Mike tumbled to the ground. “C’mon, I’m doing this in a mirrored head prop, and I can do it!”

“You do this for a living!” Mike grumbled as he righted himself.

“Ash and Cal figured it out,” you pointed out.

“They’re the rhythm section!”

“Yeah, we got moves!” Calum grinned as him and Ashton danced like dorks on the other side of the studio floor.

“Why are we doing this again?” Luke asked, raking back his blonde curls.

“Because I asked nicely,” you grinned.

“Because Ash said he’d kick our ass if we said no,” Luke grinned back.

You whirled, keeping perfect balance despite the headpiece throwing off your center of gravity. “Aw! You threatened them for me? How sweet!”

“Easy there, love,” Ashton chuckled, lifting the contraption up and off your head. “You’re gonna fall on your ass like these two.”

“Will not,” you countered, your hands reaching up to stop him and slam it back into place. “Alright! From the top!”

~~~

“I love the way you’re screamin’ my name,” the song finished, and you let loose a wild scream. The yell echoed out across the auditorium, reverberating off the walls before the applause drowned it out.

You bowed with the men before hurrying offstage. “Uh, Y/N?” Andy asked, having ran from his seat to meet you all.

“Yeah?” you asked, the water bottle you were about to drink from pausing at your lips.

“Don’t be mad, but I livestreamed your performance, and fans want that to be the music video instead of what we made.”

Water began to spill down your chin before Ashton’s hand steadied the water bottle as you stood there in shock. “What?” you finally croaked out.

“Oh, shit, this is good. Like really good,” Calum said, having pulled up the video on his phone.

You all crowded around him, reading the comments rolling in under the video. “So?” Andy prompted. “We can do it like how we did with Youngblood, where there were two music videos. What do you guys think?”

“I think I’m still in shock,” you got out. You had made this dance routine for your showcase. While you knew videos of your performance would surface, the audience would be limited to those in the dancing community. For it to be used as an alternate music video for your boyfriend’s band? You weren’t sure if you were ready for that type of public scrutiny.

“Look,” Andy started to apologize. “I didn’t mean to invade your privacy or anything. But people love it. More than just the people out there in that room.”

You looked at Ashton in uncertainty. You were less afraid of what this meant for you- you were proud of your craft and more than happy to share it- and more concerned with what he thought of this. The band had worked hard to create their music video and you didn’t want to diminish that hard work, especially when your own routine derived heavily from what they had already done.

Ashton grabbed your hand and squeezed it reassuringly, understanding what you weren’t saying. “I think it sounds great. Guys?”

“People sure seem to love it,” Mike commented.

“I love it,” Luke agreed.

“I already said it’s awesome,” Calum said.

The five men turned to you, expectant and hopeful. “Looks like you boys have a new music video,” you grinned.

Tag List

@frontmanash @goeatsomelife @flameraine @cashtonasff5sos @here-for-the-uproars @cxddlyash @1-irwin-94 @sparkling-calm @tea4sykes @youngblood199456 @5-seconds-of-obsession @gosh-im-short @aquarius-hood1996 @talkfastromance4 @itjustkindahappenedreally @philthepegacorn @kikixfandoms

#no shame #ashton irwin #ashton irwin fic #5sos #galcal irwin

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theolddarkmachine · 4 years ago

Text

Imaginary - Chapter Fifteen

Midoriya Izuku’s life was turned upside by fate.

Eri’s life was turned upside down by circumstance.

And Bakugou Katsuki is about to learn that even imaginary friends need to grow up.

Also on AO3

A/N: I give up making promises about being better about posting, because it seems when I do, work takes it as a personal challenge to fill up ALL OF MY TIME. for real though im so sorry there were points when i was going weeks without a day off TToTT I DO promise this is getting finished though. Anyway, here’s another longer update that will hopefully make up for the wait.

Also, consider this your NSFW warning.

********************

Izuku watches Bakugou closely as he smiles at Eri from where he’s kneeling before her and letting her try to fix a party hat over his unruly hair. It was almost a week since they had done, well, that, and he’d woken up confused and alone after what could qualify as one of the best nights of his life.

And it had hurt, in a way he hadn’t known something could hurt.

But then Bakugou had returned the next day, just as he had said in his note, and it he was almost inseparable from them since. Eri’s birthday invitation had evolved into more of an enlistment as Bakugou had found himself a prime part of the party planning, assisting the entire time in finding the perfect decorations, planning the perfect cake, and helping Eri with whatever various ideas she had that Izuku would catch them whispering excitedly about.

Yet, even with his constant presence in their house, it still felt like something was missing. Like Bakugou was more subdued, lost in observation in a way that made Izuku feel seen. Almost painfully so.

More often than not, he’d feel the weighted, burning gaze on his skin and when he’d turn to meet it, he’d instead find himself pinned beneath the scorching gaze with any biting retorts dying on his tongue.

It was strange, that was for certain, and it left him feeling like he hadn’t been let in on some kind of joke.

He’d often find himself wanting to ask about it. Dig deep into the meaning behind Bakugou’s sudden quiet, but every time he did, he would find himself cut off by a tempered smile, a softened comment, or his favorite, a sudden press of lips.

Izuku had finally written it off as equal parts stress working on Eri’s birthday party, keeping up with work, and the sudden realization that he had someone.

A person.

His person.

But the creeping feeling never left him, even now as he watches Bakugou’s head drop back with his loud laughter, causing the hat to fall helplessly from his head and Eri to cross her arms in mock frustration.

“Kacchan!” Eri admonishes as she reaches for the army of pointed birthday hats that line the table. Grabbing another one that matches the first, she fixes Bakugou with an expectant pout.

“Alright, alright, squirt,” he says, hands held up in surrender. “Let me see that, only a pro can defeat this hair.”

Gently taking the new hat from Eri’s hands, he stretches the elastic band to its limit before pulling it over his head with an exaggerated motion. Wiggling his head side to side as if testing its fit before he let the band snap loudly under his chin. His wince earns him a small giggle as he holds his hands out in a cheery tada motion.

“Am I party ready?” Bakugou asks, face serious as he watches her. Eri’s nose scrunched up in thought as she brought her small hand up to her chin and gave it a couple taps. Finally, after a brief moment, she shakes her head.

“No, I think you’re still missing something,” she replies, equally serious. Izuku bites down on his laughter at Bakugou’s confused look.

“Oh yeah? And what would that be?” He asks curiously. Her gaze flicks toward where Izuku stands, her smile growing wider before she looks back at the man before her.

“Your party buddy!” Eri says excitedly. Izuku watches as Bakugou’s shoulders tense ever so slightly. His shoulders stay rigid for only a moment, easing out almost as quickly as they’d stiffened, and for a second Izuku thinks he must have imagined it.

If he didn’t, Bakugou never lets the sudden anxiety reach his eyes as he returns Eri’s smile.

“But I’ve got my party buddy right here!” Bakugou says loudly, scooping her up into his arms and standing to give her a quick spin. Laughing loudly, Eri throws her arms around his neck to hug him.

“No, Kacchan!” She exclaims brightly, smacking at his shoulder blade until he stops their spinning so that they’re facing toward Izuku. Looking up from the young girl in his arms, Bakugou finally looks at him, that same tempered stare that he’s grown used to turning that gaze into twin embers.

Izuku can feel the heat of it in the middle of his chest, and it takes everything in him to stop from rubbing at the burning spot above his heart.

“Not me, Daddy Izuku!” Eri cheers, pointing towards him. Time seems to lapse as Bakugou’s grin turns sharp and hungry, wolfish in a way that strikes a shudder running down his back like a lit charge. Eyes flicking between Eri and Izuku once more, he stage whispers:

“Daddy Izuku can’t be my party buddy, he doesn’t have a hat.”

Eri’s gasp is a sharp punch of air as she struggles in Bakugou’s hold. His own laugh is a low rumble as he lets her down, coaxing the stir in Izuku’s chest as he shoots him another look.

“He’s right! Where is your hat!” Eri cries sternly, marching over with a bright multicolored paper cone in her hands.

“I was just waiting my turn!” Izuku replies, fake hurt coloring his tone as he tears his gaze away from Bakugou to look down at her. With her hair shining bright from the sunlight tangled in its silver, and the dusty pink brushed on her cheeks from her laughter, he feels an almost painful ache rock through him. She was another year older, and he almost couldn’t wrap his mind around the fact that that much time had already passed.

“Well now it’s your turn,” she says matter-of-factly, breaking him from his momentary reverie as she taps on his leg. Taking the hint, Izuku kneels in front of her, fixing her with a smile as she pulls the band of the hat long like Bakugou had. Humming lowly to herself, she pushes the hat onto his head.

Even without looking, he knows that it’s lopsided.

“How do I look?” He asks, aiming his question to her but flicking his gaze up to Bakugou.

Izuku watches the way he swallows thickly before he gives him a quick tilt of his chin.

“You and Kacchan match,” Eri states proudly. “Now you guys can be party buddies.”

Chuckling low, Izuku ruffles her hair before he stands as Eri runs to a further table and starts to fiddle with some of the decorations.

A soft hush and a gentle breeze falls over the backyard as they both watch Eri in the comfortable quiet before Bakugou finally comes closer.

“Party buddy, huh?” Bakugou says lowly. He’s stopped beside him, but Izuku swears he can feel the heated brush of his words on his nape. “Haven’t heard it called that before.”

“Oh?” Izuku breathes, taking a moment to let the shudder rock along his nerves. After it settles out into his blood, he arches a brow and turns toward Bakugou. He’s not as close as he’d imagined, but close enough for him to see the different arcs of color trapped in the blonde’s eyes.

“And what would you call it?”

The question causes Bakugou pause, and the same searching look comes over him as he returns Izuku’s gaze. It looks almost like sorrow, and Izuku feels a sharpness twist between his ribs as he lifts a hand to reach out to the man before him.

In the same moment, Bakugou opens his mouth, his name just on the tip of his tongue when the doorbell rings.

“I guess I should get that,” Izuku says before he can really think it over, not missing the way Bakugou’s brows pull together. Turning over his shoulder to answer the door, he jumps slightly at the sudden heat of a hand catching his own. With a jerk, he finds himself pulled back.

Lips meet his in a momentary heated press, shocking a small gasp from him that Bakugou swallows down before he pulls away. It was brief, and chaste, yet Izuku still feels the slight daze that leave his mouth slightly parted.

“What was that for?” He asks breathlessly.

“Just because I could, Deku” Bakugou says with a short retort and a shrug, dropping Izuku’s hand as the doorbell rings again. Keeping his gaze set on Izuku’s face as if trying to memorize it, he tilts his chin toward the door.

“I guess you should get that.”

He should, but he doesn’t want to. The creeping sense that Izuku has felt the entire week is back again, stalking around them like a hungry predator and it raises the hair at the back of his neck. Pushing back against the feeling, Izuku nods, turning on his heel to head to the door.

The entire way he feels the weight of a burning stare pressed between his shoulders.

***

Izuku stands to the side by the fence, his back pressed against the wood as he watches the party before him. He isn’t sure they’ve ever actually spoken with this many people in his lifetime, let alone had that many in his backyard, and he finds himself slightly spent.

Needing a moment away from playing host, he had settled himself off to the side, just out of the way enough that he can avoid anymore conversation, but can easily watch over things. Mostly, so that he can watch Bakugou and Eri.

He can hear her happy laughter from where he stands, both of their smiles drawing a bright one across his own face. Tucking it nearly into the rim of his drink, he takes a long sip of his punch.

As he does, a warm presence sidles up next to him, heating his side as he emerges from his cup.

“So do I finally get to meet this mystery man that has become the apple of my granddaughter and son’s eyes?” His mother’s voice is teasing as she bumps his hip with her own. Or, tries to. She gets more of his thigh than his hip, a fact that has him swallowing a small laugh.

Turning his attention toward her, Izuku playfully rolls his eyes.

“Still trying to stick your nose in my business, huh?” He teases back, fixing his mother with a bright smile.

“Izuku,” she gasps, feigning shock as she reaches up to throw an arm around his shoulders and drag him down to her level. He goes easily, watching as she makes a show of looking around before turning back to him.

“I brought you into this world, and I can still take you out of it,” she continues, the mock threat heavy in her voice before she loses her composure and laughs. Unable to help himself, Izuku joins in as he gives her a quick peck on the cheek before pulling away.

“Alright, alright! As a matter of fact, he’s right over there,” he acquiesces, nodding toward where Bakugou had been playing with Eri just moments ago, only to find that he’s no longer there. Eyes widening slightly, he scans the backyard for the bright flash of blonde hair anywhere.

“Are you going to try and pass him off as an imaginary friend now, too?” His mom chuckles.

“He must have run to get something,” Izuku explains, shaking off the hush of numbness feathering at the center of his chest. It’s edged with the bright spark of panic, and he swallows down the sudden urge to go in search of the man.

Lost to his thoughts, he misses the way his mother nods along.

“Eri said he’s been here helping you out with everything this week,” she prods. Izuku hides behind another sip of his drink before he resurfaces with a nod.

“Yep,” he replies, popping the ‘p’ as he continues to trace his gaze over the crowded yard. That very same creeping feeling is spreading out along his shoulders, stealing his attention from his mother.

“Well, I’m looking forward to finally meeting him,” she says, eyes lighting as she catches the eye of one of her neighbors. With a quick wave, she looks up to Izuku, worry creasing her brow.

“Make sure to grab me when he resurfaces?” His mother urges, waiting just long enough to confirm her son’s preoccupation. Huffing lowly, she shakes her head and turns to head toward her friend.

“Yeah,” Izuku says, moments to late as his eyes finally catches on a familiar figure. Bakugou is back with Eri, his posture mirroring Izuku’s as he leans back against the fence, watching her play with some of the neighborhood kids. Lips quirking up in a secretive smile, he looks at ease in a way Izuku hasn’t seen before.

It looks good on him, he thinks.

It’s then that Bakugou’s gaze shifts, catching Izuku’s gaze from across the yard. His smile grows wider as he winks.

Mouth going dry, Izuku throws back the last of his drink.

***

Stars punctuate the dark night sky above them as Izuku pushes the last of the paper plates deep into the trash bag Bakugou is holding open for him. The party had gone one without a hitch, leaving him tired but satisfied, even if it had also left a plethora of disposable dish ware to clear up.

Though, he’d be a liar if he said having Bakugou around hadn’t made the clean up go far easier than it would have had he been alone. Izuku smiles up toward the blonde, not entirely unaware of the fact that his gaze hasn’t left him for the majority of the party. His stare had been gnawing at his senses the entire time, sending a thrill through him every time he’d caught it from across the yard.

“You have anything else, Eri?” Izuku asks, tearing his attention away to look towards where the young girl sits on the patio. She shakes her head slowly as she yawns for the umpteenth time.

It causes his to chuckle lowly as he gives a small shake of his own head.

“Thanks,” he says to Bakugou, taking the trash bag from his hold.

“Anytime, Deku,” he replies with a small shrug, as if helping with a kids birthday party was something he did on the regular. Though, Izuku supposes he just might given his line of work.

Making quick work of the trash tie, he turns attention back to Eri.

“Alright, it’s time to tell Kacchan goodnight,” he says, blanketing his voice with a thin layer of authority. This causes her to perk up slightly as her eyes widen, her stare jumping between Bakugou and Izuku.

“But he hasn’t given me his present yet!” Eri says, voice lit with accusation as her stare finally stops on Bakugou.

“Eri,” Izuku admonishes at the same time as Bakugou snaps his fingers. The sound is crisp and bright, cutting through the otherwise quiet night.

“I knew I was forgetting something,” he says with feigned shock, earning himself a pout before he leaves the two Midoriyas to go back into the house. It’s only a few moments before Bakugou exits the house once more, kneeling down several feet away and ushering Eri toward him as he keeps something hidden behind his back.

Confusion tickles at the back of Izuku’s throat as he watches Eri hop up and run over to him, their position just far enough that he can barely hear them.

He stays where he is though, as he watches Bakugou pull a small wooden frame from behind his back. Holding it out to her, he says something that Izuku doesn’t catch.

Eri reaches for the frame slowly, looking down at it for a moment before she throws her arms around his shoulders. Bakugou’s arms circle around her waist as he says something at her ear. Izuku can’t hear it, but he doesn’t miss the way Eri seems to hug him just a bit tighter before pressing a kiss to his cheek.

A staticky feeling rips through the center of Izuku’s chest as he finally moves towards them, reaching them right as they break apart.

“What’d Kacchan get you?” He asks, gaze shifting between the two. There’s a heavy quiet between them as Bakugou keeps his eyes turned down. Eri sniffles slightly, rubbing a hand at her nose before she looks up at him and smiles.

“Look!” She says brightly, holding the frame up to Izuku. “It’s us!”

The staticky feeling only seems to blossom further as he traces the bright lines of the drawing in the frame. It’s a scene of the three of them, Izuku on the left, Eri in the middle, and Bakugou on the right, all holding hands with large cartoonish smiles.

And in the corner, in Bakugou’s scrawling handwriting, a small note that says: From your best friend, Katsuki.

“Did you tell him thank you?” He asks, trying to ignore the way his voice is almost breathless as he keeps his eyes trained on the drawing.

Eri makes a small sound of affirmation before she hugs the frame to her chest and whispers, “it’s my favorite, Kacchan.”

“You’re my favorite,” Bakugou laughs as he taps her on the nose, earning him a small giggle in return. The sound turns into a yawn as Izuku ruffles her hair.

“Alright, time to tell him goodnight for real this time,” Izuku says, still looking between the two as if he can decipher the odd air that has wrapped itself around them. Eri gives a quick nod before she gives another sniffle.

“Goodnight, Kacchan,” she says, her voice slightly watery.

“Goodnight, squirt,” Bakugou returns. It’s weighted like a goodbye, and the static opens into a gaping maw, tearing through his chest as he watches Eri head into the house, the frame still held tightly to her chest.

Turning a questioning gaze to the blonde, Bakugou just shrugs, his stare returned to its normal, heated crimson.

Nodding in silent reply, Izuku quietly assures that he’ll be right back before he follows Eri upstairs. She’s made quick work of brushing her teeth and getting into bed, her eyelids already drooping as Izuku finally pushes his way into her room. He can’t help the upward twitch of his lips as he sees the drawing tucked in beside her.

“It is a pretty great gift, huh?” He says, not expecting much of an answer as he picks the frame up and sets it on her nighstand.

Eri hums a tiny sound of acknowledgement anyway, her eyes closed as Izuku leans down to press a kiss to her forehead.

“Goodnight,” he whispers lowly, turning away from the bed and flicking off the light. It isn’t until he’s almost closed her door that he hears her speak.

“Daddy Izuku?” She asks, her voice lost in the darkness. It wiggles between the gaps in his ribs, feeding the off-putting static that tickles the back of his sternum.

“Yeah?” He says, pausing at the door to wait for her reply. Met by another long pause of silence, he steps back to leave once more when Eri finally replies.

“Can you tell Kacchan goodbye for me?” Her voice is filled with a quiet, urgent pleading. As if she needed him to relay her message, instead of just mere want.

“Yeah,” Izuku replies back earnestly, his heart stuttering around a pain he isn’t sure how to place. “Yeah, I think I can do that.”

There’s a sniffle in the darkness.

“Goodnight, Daddy Izuku,” Eri says lowly. Her voice is impossibly small, and it takes everything in him to not go back in and wrap her into his arms. He’s certain he’s letting his own emotions get the better of him.

“Goodnight, Eri,” Izuku returns, closing the door with an almost imperceptible click. Making his way back downstairs, he finds Bakugou waiting for him in the living room with his hands shoved deep into his pockets. The pose pushes his shoulders up around his ears, and for a moment, he almost looks bashful.

It would be funny if Izuku couldn’t taste the bitter taste of something off at the back of his throat.

Opening his mouth to ask if he knows what’s going on, he never gets the words out at Bakugou cuts him off.

“You put on some party for a nerd,” he says. The compliment fills Izuku’s cheeks with heat as he finds his mouth turning up around a small curl of a smile.

“It’s all thanks to you,” he returns, swallowing down his curiosity in exchange for the earnest words. They’re almost too sweet, even on the tip of his own tongue, but he can’t bring himself to care.

He means it.

The party, Eri’s happiness, his own, it’s all thanks to Bakugou.

A rush of emotions swirl like a tempest across Bakugou’s gaze as he flushes, his mouth turning down in a slight frown in a vast juxtaposition to his blush. He takes two strides towards Izuku, closing the distance that stands between them.

“Just take the damn compliment,” he says, raising a hand to run his touch over the crest of Izuku’s cheek. It’s almost like he captures the fire that has heated the skin along his fingertips, using it instead to connect the freckles that dot his skin. A small gasp parts Izuku’s lips as he looks up at the blonde.

Bakugou’s gaze flicks back and forth across Izuku’s own, a silent question buried deep within it as he searches for an answer. He seems to find it as he leans down, capturing Izuku’s lips with his own.

The kiss is a match, sparking to life with the slide of their lips.

It catches in Izuku’s veins, lighting him up like a fuse, and it consumes him. Moaning, he chases after the searing flare, deepening the kiss as he presses himself into the firm line of Bakugou’s form. His hands burn like brands as they trace down Izuku’s back, following the curve of his ass downward until they find a home at his thighs.

With a quick tug, he lifts him up, holding him firmly against him as Izuku wraps his legs around his waist and grinds down into him.

Swallowing down the hungry sound that rips itself from Bakugou’s throat, he smiles as he continues to chase the flame, all his questions suddenly forgotten as he gets lost in the burn.

Barely aware of their movement, Izuku doesn’t realize they’ve made it to his bedroom until Bakugou sits on the edge of the bed. Keeping him firmly pressed in his lap, Bakugou finally pulls away, his breath heavy as he looks up at him.

Those very same flames that Izuku is trying to reach flickers in the depths of his stare as he slides his hands up from his thighs and toward the hem of his shirt. As Bakugou’s fingers flutter gently across the skin there, Izuku can feel the tiny sparks popping through his nerve endings like cherry bombs.

Biting down on his bottom lip, he watches Bakugou with half lidded eyes as he starts to slowly push the fabric up over his chest. Bakugou’s own gaze is almost suffocating as he keeps it pressed heavily against him, not breaking his stare until he pulls the shirt over his head.

In the momentary blindness, Izuku feels the fluttering touch of a kiss right at his heart.

“Katsuki,” he breathes as the shirt falls to the ground behind him with a gentle hush.

“Mmm,” Bakugou hums, skimming his nose against his skin, he draws a line of goosebumps across his pec.

Izuku’s back arches, pushing him closer into his touch as Bakugou catches his nipple between his teeth before he pulls back. A gentle throb radiates over his heart as the blonde looks up at him once more, only this time his pupils are blown dark and wide with the depth of his need.

Losing himself to the pitch black tempering his stare, Izuku can’t help but capture his lips again as he twists his fingers into the hair at Bakugou’s nape.

Grinding down into him, Izuku mewls at the feeling of his fingers tightening at his waist.

“Izuku,” Bakugou hushes, breathing his name between them like a secret as he pulls away. It causes Izuku pause as he rests his forehead against his, his chest heaving around his gasping breath as he waits for what Bakugou has to say. It’s a quiet moment of indecision before Bakugou lets out a shaky breath and reaches behind his head to remove his own shirt.

His lips find Izuku’s once more with a slick, heated press as Bakugou flips them and gently pushes him back into his pillow. Fingers make quick work of his jeans, pushing them off his legs with deft movements before they’re discarded to the floor.

Sitting back on his haunches, Bakugou looks down on Izuku with a look of simmering admiration that settles itself low and heavy in his gut.

“You’re beautiful,” he breathes. It’s a quiet admittance, one said so low that Izuku thinks he’s misheard it until he sees the bright red that colors the bridge of Bakugou’s nose. The admission takes him off guard, sending his nerves further alight as the only response he can think to give it to reach out toward the man before him. Izuku’s palm cups his cheek, fully intending to pull him back in, but instead he’s met by the gentle press of Bakugou’s lips at his palm.

The fluttering pressure stalls his breath, trapping it at the base of his throat as he traces his gaze across the pretty picture that Bakugou strikes before him.

Beautiful, his mind echoes before the sharp pinch of teeth on his palm shakes him of the thought.

An embarrassingly high squeak pops itself free from his teeth as he jump, his mouth turning down in a playful scowl. It earns him a wink before Bakugou settles himself between Izuku’s legs and swallows him down without preamble.

The sudden heat is searing as he throws his head back, mouth opening wide around a moan as he feels himself hit the back of Bakugou’s throat. Legs closing around his shoulders, Izuku is all too aware of the soft brush of hair between his thighs as Bakugou bobs his head up and and down over his length.

Izuku grips tightly at his sheets, fearing he might rip them as he feels Bakugou’s burning palms trace up the backs of his thighs.

Bakugou gives a sharp squeeze that pulls Izuku’s attention back towards him just in time to watch as he licks a lewd stripe from his base to his tip. It forces another deep moan from deep in his chest as he feels his lashes flutter at the sensation, the movement almost causing him to miss the way Bakugou flicks his gaze toward the nigh stand.

Swallowing down another gasping mewl, he answers the silent request by reaching into the drawer and pulling out a small bottle.

Handing it over blindly, Izuku falls back into the pillow, throwing his arm over his eyes in a vain attempt to settle his breathing as the burning heat of Bakugou’s mouth returns between his legs.

“Katsuki,” he starts, only to be stopped once more as he feels his tongue roll against him. “Katsuki, I’m not going to make it.”

Moving lithe and quick, Izuku barely registers Bakugou sudden ascent until he feels his mouth pressed hot against his ear.

“Hang in there for me, won’t you, Izuku?” He hushes as his slick fingers trace around his entrance, enticingly slow. Izuku swallows another harsh moan, biting into the full of his lip to keep it trapped.

“You can hold on for me, can’t you, baby?” Bakugou continues, voice going gruff over the pet name as he rolls his unclothed hips against Izuku’s. The sliding friction of their lengths against one another almost sends him over the edge as Bakugou gently presses a finger in.

“I can’t,” Izuku whispers, eyes still clenched shut and pressed against the crook of his elbow.

“I can’t, I can’t, I can’t,” he mewls as Bakugou slows works him open. It’s treacherous and delightful, slow in a way that’s picking him apart in the most pleasant form of torture Izuku has ever known. The pace of it leaves him all too aware of the different point where their bodies meet and he thinks he’s going to combust.

The last time had been like a spark to gasoline, but this, this was a much slower burn. One that oozed slowly like magma through his veins, destroying everything in its path so languidly, he hadn’t even realized everything he was had already caught fire until he felt like he’d just turn to ash.

It’s almost like Bakugou is trying to burn himself into his skin.

A hand slowly brushes along the line of his arm, razing the skin in its wake before it gently pushes Izuku’s arm away from his face.

Blinking his eyes open, he’s met by Bakugou’s gaze and it cuts through him in a way that hurts. The sudden realization that Izuku doesn’t want Bakugou to be anywhere else steals his breath, leaving him dizzy as he tries to imagine returning to the life that they had once known.

He doesn’t understand where the intrusive thought comes from as it worms its barbs between his ribs, filling his chest with a sharp pain as he thinks about how much the blonde had done for him and his family, and he wants nothing more than to hold Bakugou close and never let him go.

A hand cradles Izuku’s face, pushing back the invasive concern as Bakugou’s thumb brushes along his cheek and collects the tear he hadn’t realized he’d shed.

“You can,” he affirms, leaning in slowly to catch his lips once more with a simmering kiss as he pulls his fingers from inside him.

It’s reaches deep, and feels wholly different from any other kiss they’ve shared before. As if Bakugou is trying to convey something he could never say aloud.

Doesn’t want to say aloud.

Izuku reaches up and wraps his arms around his shoulders to hold him close to his chest, reveling in the feeling of their hearts beating in time. Opening up into the kiss, he breathes a startled huff between them as Bakugou uses his hold to flip them.

His confusion at the sudden change only lasts for the breadth of a moment before Bakugou pushes up into him. The slow slide runs an even slower shiver up Izuku’s spine.

Breaking the kiss, he places a palm over Bakugou’s heart, noting distantly that its thrum is like a hummingbird’s as he uses it to press back into him until he’s fully sheathed. The heat pitches higher in his veins as he gives an experimental roll of his hips, earning a low moan from the man beneath him.

Another thrill shoots through him, electrifying his blood as Bakugou’s hands circle his hips and hold him in place as he looks up at him reverently.

“Beautiful,” he breathes again, and Izuku feels it break something free from deep within his chest. Grinding down into him with more fervor, he traces his hands along Bakugou’s forearms, following their path up to his wrists before he slowly pulls them away from his hips.

Twisting their fingers together, Izuku presses their joined hands down on either side of Bakugou’s head as he gives another sinuous roll against him, meeting each of his thrusts with his own.

They push against each other, meeting like the shore and the tide as their panting breath mingles in what little space still lays between them.

“Katsuki,” Izuku whispers against his lips before he chases the name and seals it against his skin. Bakugou’s hold grows tighter on his hand as he hums, pressing up into him and catching against the exact spot that makes him see stars.

It punches the breath out of him, the taste of his whines turned saccharine as he presses them to Bakugou’s mouth.

“Katsuki,” Izuku tries again, the pace of his flexuous thrusts quickening as Bakugou hammers continuously into that same spot. With each push, the heat in his stomach grows, and he fears the words he longs to say will turn to ash on his tongue before he can push them through the gap between his teeth.

Pulling away just enough to see the vast expanse of Bakugou’s deep stare, Izuku’s eyelashes flutter from the press of another well placed thrust.

“I love you.”

It’s what Izuku wants to say.

Only, he wasn’t the one who said it.

Eyes going wide, he pushes back, balancing his weight on one arm as he looks down at Bakugou. He’s watching him, dusting his skin with the gentle hush of his gaze as if he’s committing every one of the emotions flickering across Izuku’s face to memory.

Time feels frozen, only he knows that it can’t possible have stalled, if only because the flames within him continue to build to an unspeakable pitch.

“Say it again,” Izuku hears himself plead, his fingers tightening around the hand that he still holds.

“I love you,” Bakugou replies without hesitation.

A small sob falls from Izuku’s lips as his vision blurs, turning the already dark room darker as he feels himself flipped. Pushed down once more into his pillow, Bakugou’s heat is everywhere.

He is everywhere.

He’s at his mouth, between his legs, and in his heart. He’s pressing himself into Izuku’s bloodstream as he hammers into him, as if he wants him to commit this very same moment to memory as well. Clutching at his shoulders, Izuku can feel the burning tracks of his tears along his cheeks as Bakugou’s name falls from his lips over and over like a quiet prayer.

It all comes to a head with the sudden bright implosion at his core, burning away everything as his release pants the space between them. Bakugou’s low, fevered moan is an answer to his own as he comes within him.

They lay there, frozen for some time in a suspended moment of afterglow that leaves Izuku feeling weightless, as if he isn’t even present in his body anymore. He’s barely even aware of Bakugou’s lips as they brush across his cheek, disrupting the tear track that has marked his skin.

As Bakugou gently pulls away, Izuku makes a small sound of protest.

“I’m just going to clean up,” he thinks he hears Bakugou say as his mind continues to drift, leaving his boneless form to be tended to. Lost to the gentle tide of the lingering iridescence shimmering through his veins, he thinks he feels the soft brush of a warm cloth along his skin.

It only serves to lull him further into his lucid state, and the dream that waits for him glows like the same warmth buzzing through him. There, he sees Bakugou, watching him closely from where he lays beside him.

Izuku hums to himself as he feels the man in his dream brush the hair from his eyes.

“Izuku,” Bakugou whispers gently, letting his caress trace back and forth along his temple. The lingering touch sendings tiny aftershocks through his system.

“Katsuki,” he whispers back, his name turned into a soft purr as he presses into his pillow. Izuku can almost swear he sees a sort of sadness color dream Bakugou’s eyes, and it fills him with a heavy melancholy. His fingers twitch slightly as he thinks about how he wishes he could just reach out to him.

No matter how hard he thinks it, his hand remains where it rests atop the mattress, and for just a moment, he no longer likes this dream.

If it was such a nice dream, Bakugou wouldn’t look so lost.

“I love you too, you know,” Izuku hushes. And it should be the right thing to say, he thinks. Except it doesn’t seem to be as he watches Bakugou’s eyes turn a shade darker. The moment is fleeting as he moves in close to press a kiss to Izuku’s forehead.

He lingers there, and Izuku wants to ask what’s wrong, but his tongue feels heavy in his mouth.

“I’m sorry,” he feels Bakugou say, his breath brushing across his skin.

It’s then that Izuku’s eyes snap open, the sunlight blinding as he finds the space beside him empty and cold.

“Katsuki?” He asks out into the emptiness as the creeping feeling suddenly explodes around him, folding around his shoulders and weighing him down with the heavy weight of dread.

It only takes minutes for him to get out of bed and head downstairs to see that this time, there isn’t a note.

*******************************

#bkdk #bakudeku #bakugou katsuki #midoriya izuku #ANOTHER FRIENDLY REMINDER THAT THIS FIC HAS A HAPPY ENDING

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kaweeella · 4 years ago

Text

Bonding Time, Kids

Chapter 2- You Say It So Normally, But What You’re Saying Is So Absurd

Warnings- Swearing, let me know if I should add anything else.

Words- 1368

Author note- :D

“Wait, do you have my quirk?!”

“It would appear that the fog did more to our quirks than we first thought.” Momo stands up with a sigh.

“I presume this was her objective since square one. I ponder, however, what she wishes to gain from this.” Reiko says so quietly it’s nearly a whisper.

“Aaah!” Kosei screams. Looking at him, everyone sees a large, dark, bird-like entity coming out of his midsection. It does not look happy.

“Dark Shadow!” Fumikage runs towards the two and gains their attention.

“How do you control it?!”

“I haven’t even done anything yet!”

“The sun is still out, so this is as controlled as he gets.”

Dark Shadow gets really close to Kosei, uncomfortably so.

“What is it…” Dark Shadow bumps into his face. “Why?”

“He needs enrichment.”

“Yeah, alright. I’ll just pretend this is normal.”

While that goes on; Mashirao sits up, rubbing his head. But he feels something on his temples, and feels uncomfortable sitting.

“Oh hey, Ojiro. Good to see you’ve come-to.” Denki sat by him the entire time, not really doing much, but there isn’t really much he can do.

“What happened? Where’d the villain go?”

“Well, we don’t know where she went, but we do have a pretty good idea of what she did.”

“Which was…” Mashirao prompts Denki to finish the statement.

“She scrambled up our quirks.”

“Does that have anything to do with whatever it is on my forehead?”

“Yeah, probably. It’s weird to see you without a tail.”

“Oh.” So that’s why he’s so uncomfortable. “You seem pretty calm about this.”

“I was so confused and startled that I looped back around into a zen state.”

“You know, I think I’m going through that, too.”

“Nice.”

“Who’s quirk do you have?”

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t?”

“Haven’t really checked.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. Maybe I don’t want to. Maybe I’m nervous.”

“Oh.”

“It’s probably silly of me. It’s dumb, a lot worse could’ve happened. I can only imagine what it felt like for you.”

“I guess, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be nervous.”

“Huh.”

Something grabs Denki’s attention. He gets up and walks over to Hitoshi, with Mashirao following behind.

“I found your tail.” He says, pointing at the boy who’s still laying on the ground.

“Fuck, what happened?” Hitoshi props himself up on his elbows. Denki sits down and starts petting the tuft of hair at the end of his newly acquired tail. “The hell?”

“You should try this, it’s calming.” Denki says, not to either of them in particular.

Mashirao sits next to him and looks Hitoshi in the eyes. After a second, Hitoshi gives a small nod, and he pets the tuft too.

“It’s soft.”

“Are you aware of the… horns?”

“I had some idea of them, yeah.”

After a few seconds, Hitoshi lays back down.

Meanwhile, Izuku mutters, as he is one to do. Looking up, he sees a bunch of mushrooms have sprouted around him.

Kinoko slowly walks up to him, inspecting the fungi around him.

“I guess that means I got your quirk, Komori.”

“Hmm.” Is all she says in response.

“It doesn’t seem like the swaps were one to one.”

“Yeah, looks like it.” She pokes at a cluster of thin, tall, and white mushrooms. “These are flammulina velutipes, also known as enoki mushrooms. These ones are specifically cultivated ones, that’re grown specifically for eating. They’re also referred to as the golden needle mushroom in Chinese.”

“Why are they called that?”

“Probably because the wild ones are more orange-yellow in color.”

“That’s cool!”

“Yeah.”

Yosetsu lays on the ground where he was thrown by his teacher. He’d been laying there for a while now, on his back and limbs splayed.

Itsuka reaches her hand down to help him up. “You doing alright, Awase?”

“I feel like my insides are trying to become my outsides.” He says as he takes her hand and stands up, with a bit of a slouch. Yosetsu mumbles curses under his breath.

“Hey I think I figured it out!” Denki yells and large amounts of ice jets out of his side, freezing up Yosetsu.

“Fuck. What th-the fu-fu…” He can hardly finish his sentence.

“Whoops, my bad.”

“Awase, are you alright?”

“No… I…” He passes out.

“Oh god I killed him!”

“No, he’s still breathing. Why’d that happen, though?”

Tsuyu walks over to him and pokes his face. “I think I know. Could you give me a hand here?” The three of them pull him out of the ice.

“Now what?” Denki adjusts his grip.

“If I’m right, he just needs to be warmed up and then he’ll be fine.”

“Alright,” Itsuka isn’t sure how to go about it. On a normal day, she could just cup him in her hands, how people warm up hibernating hamsters. Actually, on a normal day, she wouldn't need to be warming him up at all, but this is not a normal day, no matter how hard she wants it to be.

Tsuyu looks around, and spots Shihai sitting on the ground. It’s obvious who’s quirk he has, with the six arms. “Hey, could you help with this?”

“What problem do you have that could possibly require my assistance?”

“Awase needs body heat.”

“And you think my cold dark soul will provide?”

“No, just hold him in your arms.” The three of them sit down with the strange brooding boy and try to warm up Yosetsu.

“If I’m correct, he has my quirk, so he just needs to be warmed up.”

“Wait, I have Todoroki’s quirk, so I could use his fire to warm him up!”

“No, you don’t have full control over it. Or any, it seems.” Tsuyu taps her finger to her chin.

“Oh…”

“It’s not surprising, this is new for all of us. We can’t expect to figure it out immediately.”

“Yeah… hey, who’s quirks do you guys have?”

“Uhm, I’m not quite sure. It seems pretty hard to test, since we don’t know what we’re testing for.”

“It seems we’ve become chickens with our heads cut off, running around blindly to die soon after.” Shihai says.

“Actually, chickens can survive over a year without their heads. About a year and a half, if I’m remembering correctly.”

“How do you know that, Kaminari?”

“I was looking up random facts as a way to procrastinate on my work.”

Their conversation was interrupted by a small “Kero...”

“I was right.”

Yosetsu starts squirming and slowly gets up, still looking kind of tired.

“What happened?”

“Your body temperature dropped and you went into hibernation.”

“... what?”

“You have my quirk, and my quirk is frog.”

“So what can you do with your quirk?”

“Well, you can shoot your tongue 20 meters, create three different types of mucous, climb walls, and spit out your stomach and clean it. Among other things.”

“What the hell…”

“I get that reaction a lot when I get to that point.”

“It is pretty unusual.” Itsuka says.

Ibara runs her fingers through her hair, which was once thick and thorny vines. Now it’s just… normal hair. It’s such a foreign feeling to her.

“Oh lord, what is it that I have done for you to forsake me so?” Her eyes are concentrated on the engines that have taken root in her calves.

“Oi Bible Thumper, you’re not the only one going through this shit.” Katsuki is growing increasingly tense. He’s always a little tense, but with the stress of everything that just happened and everyone freaking out, he’s getting really tense.

“What has brought you opinion of me so low that you see me as on the same level as this repulsive sinner?” She continues to prey.

“The fuck did you just call me?”

“Hey guys, check this out!” Mina cuts in, grabbing Ibara by the arm and lifting her gently. When she lets go, Ibara hovers in the air. “Tada!”

“So you got Round Face’s quirk.”

“Yep yep!”

“Would you put me down please.”

“Oh, right.” She presses her fingers together. “Release!”

She lands back on the ground. “Thank you for the demonstration, but I’d appreciate it if you’d never do that again.”

Mina gives her a big goofy grin in response.

#bnha #mha #bnha fanfiction #mha fanfiction #class 1b #quirk swap #quirk shenanigans #too many characters to tag...

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sassyduckqueen · 5 years ago

Text

30 Days of Lukanette- Witches and Cats

Tada! My version of Felix is done! Hope you all like!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

"So what's got you smiling huh?" Alya asked from her phone screen as Marinette sat on her bed with her drawing pad out. She was drawing some designs Kitty section's upcoming show. It was only a small venue but it was technically their first ever gig, other then the music festival and the TV appearance. Luka had messaged her early in the morning, asking her if she could come down and watch them and he also asked if she could design some more outfits for it. He wanted her to hear the new songs first so she could get an idea of designs but she couldn't help drawing a few designs. Originally, she was suppose to be hanging out with Alya but Alya had to babysit her sisters as something last minute came up for her parents. She had originally video called to explain but when she noticed Marinette all happy and smiling, she had to know why.

"Well, Luka asked me to design some new outfits for Kitty Section," She smiled dreamily. Alya rose an eyebrow.

"That's not it!" She grinned, knowing her best friend too well. Marinette grinned a little. "Come on, girl! Don't hold back on me now! What's got you all smiley?!"

"Well... you know I've kind of been spending a lot of time with Luka..." She mumbled, pushing her hair back.

"Yeaahhh?" Alya grinned, knowing that they had basically been going out on dates with each other. Marinette often came to her with the details. When it first started, she would say how lovely Luka was but often felt guilty about Adrien. However, that gradually lessened until one day, she just told Alya about how wonderful going out with Luka was. There was no mention of Adrien or the sudden realization that she had enjoyed another boy's company and therefore betrayed her precious prince. Instead, she smiled and was giddy about the whole. She told her about how kind and thoughtful Luka was and how much of a gentleman he had been. Alya had been happy for her.

"Well... I may have asked him out," Marinette replied, giggling a little. Alya rose an eyebrow.

"You asked him out?"

"Yep!" She gasped, causing Alya to gawk at her.

"As in on a date thing?"

"No... I asked him if he wanted to be my boyfriend," She smiled, clearly proud of herself. Alya couldn't help but smile too. "Marinette Dupain-Cheng is no longer a single pringle!"

"Marinette! That is awesome but don't you still love Adrien?" She asked, frowning a little. She instantly regretted it but to her surprise, Marinette didn't turn into a hot mess of guilty and fear. She instead shrugged softly.

"I don't think I ever did, Alya. I confused attraction for love but what I have with Luka... it's so much more real," She explained as she saw the time. "Oh no! Sorry, Alya. I said I'd drop by the Liberty to hear some of their new songs!"

"That's cool!" Alya grinned as Marinette rushed around to pack up her art work and threw on her jacket.

"Aaah!! I only have five minutes to get there!!!" She gasped, picking up her phone.

"Are you sure you'll get there in time?" Alya asked, raising an eyebrow before her sisters demanded her attention. "One minutes, girls. Let me say bye to Marinette then we'll play some games,"

Alya grinned as her sisters cheered before turning back to the camera as Marinette slid on her shoes.

"I gotta go, girl," She grinned. "Enjoy the private show,"

"Alya!" She gasped but Alya merely laughed and hung up. Marinette put her phone away as Tikki peered out of her purse.

"Are we gonna make it in time?" She asked as Marinette ran down the stairs. She said goodbye to her mother and father before running out of the house and straight in an alleyway. "Marinette?"

"We'll never get there on time as Marinette," She gasped. "Tikki! Spots on!"

She transformed and jumped onto the roof before making her way across the rooftops of Paris. As Ladybug, it only took her a few minutes to get to the Seine. She jumped down in another allyway and transformed back into herself before giving Tikki a cookie and running towards the Liberty. She gasped for breathe as she looked over. To her surprise, Luka was sat on his own, tuning his guitar. He looked up and waved as he saw. She smiled and waved back before walking over to him.

"Hey, Mari," He smiled, gently kissing her on the cheek, making her blush.

"H-hey, Luka," She grinned. "Where's everyone else?"

"Oh, Ivan's running late and Rose and Juleka are downstairs," He replied, lightly rolling his eyes. "They said they're be five minutes but they've been longer. Knowing those two, they've gotten lost in each other's eyes again,"

"They are cute together though,"

"Oh totally but don't tell Jules I ever said that," He grinned as she sat down. "You ok?"

"Yep! I'm good thinking!" She replied, face palming. Luka smiled softly. "I mean I'm good. Can I have a glass of water plase?"

"Sure. We have juice and fizzy in as well," Luka smiled as he put down his guitar and got up. "What do you want?"

"Just a juice," She replied before he wondered off. "You don't-"

"Here," He smiled, handing her a drink.

"Thank you," She mumbled, smiling a little as he sat back down. Always the gentleman. "Well done for getting your first gig by the way. I can't wait to hear the new songs,"

"I think you're gonna like them," He smiled before they noticed a car pulling up. They both recognized it as the Gorilla's car. Both of them raised an eyebrow as it stopped.

"That's odd," Luka mumbled.

"Yeah..."

The two of them looked over as Adrien got out of the car, followed by another boy who looked exactly like Adrien. Adrien looked over and waved at them before he walked onto the boat. The boy followed him as he looked around with a disgusted look on his face. Marinette frowned a little before relaxing as Luka gently smiled at her.

"Hey guys," Adrien smiled softly. "Congrats on getting your first gig!"

"Thanks, Man," Luka grinned, walking over and clapping hands with him. "I'm surprised you're here though. Special occasion?"

"Actually, yeah. I'm showing my cousin around Paris since he's staying with father and I for a couple of days. Naturally, I had to introduce him to my favorite guitarist and favor fashion designer. Though I was going to head to the bakery after this as I figured Marinette would be there," He smiled, nodding to her. She smiled shyly as the other boy walked over. "This is Felix. Felix, these are my friends, Luka and Marinette. Luka is an awesome guitarist and Marinette is a fashion designer. She may even be better then father one day!"

Marinette blushed a little at his words as Luka mumbled shyly about him not been great.

"Oh please. You're brilliant!" Adrien grinned. "Are Rose and Juleka here? What about Ivan?"

"Rose and Jules are downstairs. I can go get them if you want," Luka suggested but Felix was looking around with a sour face before facing Adrien with a nasty look.

"Why do you surround yourself with peasants?"

"Felix!" Adrien hissed, clearly embarrassed by his behavior. Felix, however, didn't seem to give a damn. He continued to walk around the deck as if inspecting the place.

"The Liberty really?" He asked, sneering. Luka instantly went on edge. Felix noticed and walked over. "I suppose this is your boat?"

"Felix! Stop it!" Adrien gasped but again, Felix ignored him and waited for an answer.

"It's my mother's and it's my home," Luka stated, frowning. "And we like the idea of freedom here,"

"The only true freedom comes from having money then you can do anything and get away with it. Not that you'd know anything about money," He replied, casting an eye at Luka's clothing. "That much is obvious from the way you're dressed,"

"I happen to like the way Luka is dressed," Marinette stated, jumping in to his defense. Luka looked at her and smiled softly. "And he may not be rich but he has something you'll never have!"

"And what is that?" Felix asked, looking at her.

"Friends!" Marinette growled back. "I doubt you have any with that attitude,"

"I have money. I don't need friends," He tutted. "I can just buy anything I want,"

"It doesn't work that way,"

"Everyone has a price, sweetheart," He grinned. "Even a pretty thing like you,"

Marinette looked at him with a look of disgust and horror as Luka gently pulled her to his side.

"I'm sorry, guys," Adrien gasped, pulling Felix to the side but Felix pulled his arm away and smirked at both Luka and Marinette.

"Anyone can be brought,"

"Not everyone," Luka growled, linking hands with Marinette. "And I don't recall you been invited. Leave now,"

"Are you two an item?" Felix sneered, ignoring Luka before moving closer to Marinette. "I could take you to the best places in Paris and show you a real good time,"

"I said leave now!" Luka growled, moving in front of Marinette protectively. Luka rolled up his fist as Felix continued to smirk, clearly wanting a fight. Marinette, however, pulled Luka away as Adrien yanked his cousin away. Luka looked at her and instantly calmed down. "Sorry, Mari,"

"It's ok. I thought it was quite romantic you jumping to my rescue," She smiled shyly before gently pecking his cheek. "I just don't want him to be the cause of an akuma getting to you,"

"Don't worry, Mari. I've had enough of akumas to last a lifetime," He joked, gently picking up her hand and kissing it before looking over at Adrien, who was telling his cousin off. Felix shrugged his shoulders and got back into the car. Adrien sighed in defeat and followed. "But we should definitely be on alert,"

"Agreed,"

(***)

Nothing happened over the next two days but when Sunday rolled over, Marinette found herself worried more then ever. Today was the one year anniversary of when Adrien's mother disappeared. Everyone had gathered the Liberty to come up with a way to let Adrien know he isn't alone. Since they knew he wouldn't be able to join them today, they decided to make videos to let him know how much they care about him and that they are there for him. Marinette and Luka had made their videos together in his room as she felt nervous about it and now she was pacing around his room, worrying that it wasn't good enough.

"What if he hates it?!" She gasped as Luka looked watched her. "Oh, god. What if he thinks I'm been awful?"

"Mari, all you said was that you care for him and that you're there for him,"

"I said I love him!" She gasped, covering her face. "What if he thinks I'm mean that I'm in love with him? Or what if he gets angry because he only likes me as a friend?! What if he says that he hates me?! And also why are you so calm?! I told him I love him but I'm suppose to be your girlfriend! I am a terrible girlfriend!"

He smiled as he played his guitar and walked over to him before sitting down next to her.

"I don't think he hates you and I don't think he'll think you're in love with him. He'll probably think you mean you love him as a friend," He replied, calmly. "And you're not a terrible girlfriend. I don't expect you to stop caring about him just because we're together now. I love Adrien as well. I just love him as a friend and I think you do as well. As for why I'm so calm... well, that's simple,"

"It is?" She asked. He smiled softly and played a bit of his guitar.

"Yep," He replied before looking up at her. "You're here with me, worrying that you're been a terrible girlfriend, which you're not,"

"Luka, you're too good for me," She smiled softly, going over and sitting next to him. He played his guitar softly as she closed her eyes but both of their phones vibrated interrupting them. "What if he said-"

"Whatever he said, I'll be here," He smiled softly before taking out his phone and pressed playing on the video.

"First of all, thanks so much for all your messages, guys. Really. Sending me messages on today of all days to remind me of how sad I'm suppose to be feeling. Why that's great! Really! Thanks!" Adrien gasped in a horrible way. Marinette found herself frowning as she watched.

"T-that's not like Adrien," She frowned, clearly hurt. Luka looked at her and gently moved his arm around her.

"My father was right. What can I possibly get out of going to school. Hanging out with you people is a total waste of time," He continued, causing both Marinette and Luka to frown. "And Chloe! You're still the same spoiled brat you ever were. You know that?"

Both Marinette and Luka looked at the video in shock as it finished.

"I don't think that's Adrien," Luka said calmly.

"No way! It can't be!" Marinette agreed, looking at him. "There's no way he would be so cruel,"

Luka nodded in agreement.

"But if it's not Adrien then..." Both of them looked at each other as it clicked.

"Felix!" They both said at the same time before Marinette jumped up.

"The others don't know about him! We have to warn them!" She gasped as he put his guitar aside and followed her upstairs. Alya, Rose and Juleka were sat on the ground, sharing Alya's tablet between them while Nino, Kim and Max all stood behind them.

"He did know Chloe before he knew us,"

"Don't believe to that video!" Marinette gasped. "It's not Adrien,"

"Marinette's right. It's his- watch out!" Luka gasped as an akuma flew in and landed into Alya's tablet. The purple butterfly shaped appeared around Alya's, Rose's and Juleka's eyes as Marinette and Luka both backed up.

"He's going to regret what he said to us," They said in union as the purple smoke took over their bodies. Luka grabbed Marinette's hand and they both ran into the bridge.

"This isn't good," She gasped. "They still don't know it's Felix and not Adrien,"

"Meaning they're gonna go after him instead," Luka pointed out, causing Marinette gasp. They both transformed and Viperion opened the window before they climbed out and landed on the roof of the Liberty as Lady Wifi paused Nino before the three of them cackled like witches. "Interesting,"

"Time to punish a very naughty boy," Wifi grinned as the other two nodded. Ladybug stood up to get their attention.

"She can be logged out by disrupting her signal," Ladybug replied, spinning her yoyo. "You're not punishing anyone, Wifi. It's time to log you out!"

"Not now that I have satellite connection!" Lady Wifi replied before firing pauses at both of them. The two heroes dodged them and jumped on the ground but a pink fog started to appear.

"Pinch your nose, Viper!" Ladybug ordered as she pinched hers. He did what was told as the fog consumed them, Max and Kim. It cleared and the two of them bowed.

"At your service, Princess Fragrance," They both sang, making Viperion frown.

"Capture Ladybug and Viperion," Princess Fragrance ordered, causing Kim and Max to charge at them. Ladybug threw Max into something as Viperion grabbed Kim's arm and pinned him to the ground.

"Call you later," Reflekta teased before the three villains disappeared in a white light. Viperion threw Kim to the side and grabbed the phone they used.

"Lady Wifi can also use wifi to travel through phones," Ladybug sighed. "Come on, we know where they're going!"

~ At Agreste Manor~

Viperion landed on the roof as Ladybug looked towards the manor. It looked like Adrien had been cornered by the girls. The two of them frowned.

"I'll distract the girls while you get Adrien or whoever it is out of there," Viperion stated. Ladybug nodded and he jumped down, landing through the window as Adrien dodged a hit from Reflekta. "Hey, girls, why don't you make this easy on yourselves and surrender?"

"Naughty boys get punished and right now, you're been very naughty," Lady Wifi declared.

"Ohhh I'm hissing in my boots," He replied before Reflekta charged at him. He dodged the attack and grabbed her boot, slamming her into Lady Wifi before kicking the tablet out of her hand. He went to grab it but Princess Fragance tripped him up and when to land him on him. He kicked her to the side and back rolled back into a stance. Lady Wifi threw several pauses buttons at him but he jumped around the room before noticing Adrien was gone. "Sorry girls. Gotta go! It's been fang!"

With that, he dived out of the window and jumped across the rooftops. He landed one, just as 'Adrien' leaned into kiss a very uncomfortable looking Ladybug. Viperion growled to himself and jumped onto the roof but to his suprise, Ladybug ducked under his arm and faced him.

"Which part of no did you not understand?!" She growled before punching him. He landed near Viperion's feet and gulped in fear as the snake themed hero glared at him before he suddenly dragged him up and slammed him against the wall.

"I suggest you make sure you learn from this," He growled. "If a lady said no then she means no! Got it?!"

"Y-Yeah," He gasped, scared before he shoved him aside and walked over to Ladybug.

"You ok, Bug?" He asked, looking at her with concern.

"I'm fine. Grossed out though," She replied. "Clearly that isn't Adrien Agreste. He wouldn't be so pushy,"

"That's Felix. Adrien's cousin," Cat Noir stated as he landed on the roof before moving across to the two other heroes. "I just ran into the real Adrien and he told me everything. You made a lot of enemies in one day. Bet you don't have a lot of friends acting the way you do. Am I wrong?"

"Burn," Viperion grinned, holding out a fist to Cat Noir, who returned it with a smirk on his face as Felix looked away. The two of them clocked the three punishers. "No Ryuko today?"

"She's out of town," Cat Noir replied. "What's the plan, mi'lady?"

"Not sure yet but they're coming!" She replied, throwing up her yoyo. "Lucky charm!"

A can of cream landed in her hand and she looked at it confused.

"Do you think covering us in whipped cream will save you from been punished, Ladybug?" Reflekta asked as she landed on the roof. She pointed her hand at them.

"Do you want to smell like fish for the rest of your life, kitty?" Princess Fragrance declared as she point her gun at them.

"Do anything and I'll pause you for good, Viperion," Lady Wifi gasped, pointing her tablet at him. Viperion frowned deeply.

"You spend way too much on your phone you know that," Cat jested but the three of them were trapped in a stale mate with the three villains. They looked around but to their surprise, Felix suddenly attacked Lady Wifi, knocking her tablet out of her hand and catching it. He landed on the ground with a satisfied smirk. Ladybug looked at him.

"Felix, smash it in half and this nightmare will be over," She grinned but he stood up.

"What makes you think I want it to be over?" He replied, shocking her. Viperion rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Hawkmoth! Can you hear me, Hawkmoth?"

All of the villains and the heroes looked at each other really confused as he called out.

"You want Ladybug and Cat Noir's miraculous, don't you?" He called out as Ladybug looked over worried. Viperion noticed and carefully moved his hand to his bracelet.

"And what do you want?" Lady Wifi suddenly said, looking at him.

"I'm after a piece of jewelry too," He explained. "How about we make a little exchange?"

"Get hold of the miraculous first," Reflekta suddenly ordered.

"We'll discuss the rest later," Princess Fragrance added in.

"You got yourself a deal," He grinned evilly. "Now I think it's high time Ladybug, Cat Noir and that snake were punished!"

Ladybug looked around as he went to hand Lady Wifi the tablet. She jumped down and Ladybug moved out the way, dropping the can which caused Wifi to trip up and knock into Reflekta, who in turn accidentally shot at Princess Fragrance. Viperion jumped across and tripped up Felix as Cat Noir knocked his baton into him, causing him to fall off the side of the building, dropping the tablet in the process. Ladybug caught him in her yoyo as the three heroes looked on.

"I say we drop him," Viperion grinned.

"No!" Felix gasped in fear.

"I think Viperion's right. We should drop him," Cat Noir agreed. Ladybug grinned and went to let go of the rope, which made him scream in fear.

"I'm sorry!" He screamed. "Please don't drop me! I swear I won't try and contact Hawkmoth again!"

"Good to hear," Ladybug grinned.

"I hope you've learnt your lesson," Cat grinned as Viperion sighed.

"I still think we should drop him,"

"You know full well we can't, Viper," Ladybug smiled before she pulled Felix back up and freed him from her yoyo strings. Cat Noir and Viperion walked over as she held out her fist before placing they're to hers.

"Pound it!" The three of them grinned before Ladybug captured the butterfly and purified it. She threw up the whipped cream and called out the magic words, restoring everything. Viperion walked over to the now confused girls and helped them up as Cat Noir glared at Felix, who looked down.

"Why would you want to make a deal with Hawkmoth?!" He growled but Felix sighed.

"I just wanted to get my mum's rings back. Mr Agreste, my uncle, has them and has kept them even though they belong to my side of the family," He mumbled. "I figured Hawkmoth could help me get them back,"

"Hawkmoth wouldn't be able to, Felix," Ladybug stated, walking over to him. "He makes false promises and if you had succeed in getting our miraclous to him, he wouldn't return the favor,"

"He'd just cast you aside like trash," Viperion added in. "Bug, Kitty, we should get these girls back to where they were. I'm sure their friends are worried,"

"What about me?" Felix asked but flinched away when the three heroes gave him a dark glare. Cat Noir sighed.

"Wait here. I'll tell Adrien where you are," He replied before picking up Rose as Viperion and Ladybug picked up Alya and Juleka. "I also suggest before you leave. You say sorry to all of his friends in person. That was unforgivable sending out that video,"

"I... I will," He sighed, looking down. Cat Noir nodded before turning to Rose.

"Hold on tight, Princess," He smiled, making her squeal with joy. The heroes then jumped down and swung across the city before dropping them off at the edge of the Seine. They went to leave as Rose and Juleka ran back to the ship. Alya, however, lingered. Viperion noticed and frowned as Ladybug told Cat Noir that they needed to talk later on. He nodded and told them to message him when they want to meet up before leaving.

"Um.... Ladybug...." Alya started, looking down. Ladybug's earrings started to beep and she frowned. "About Rena Rogue?"

"I'm sorry, Alya. I have to go," She replied before placing her hand on her shoulder. "I'm about to transform. Viperion, would you mind?,"

"Of course not," He smiled. She smiled back before flying off. "What's on your mind?"

"I got akumatized..." She mumbled, looking down. "Does that mean I'm off the team?"

"Hey, been akumatized isn't your fault. You didn't know that wasn't Adrien when you saw the video," He reassured, gently placing his hand on her shoulder. "Besides, I also got akumatized recently and I'm still here as a full time hero. Ladybug isn't going to kick you off the team,"

"Thanks, Viperion," She grinned before running off. He nodded and headed back to the Liberty discreetly before climbing through one of the lower levels portholes and transforming back. He fed Sass before heading up to the upper levels.

"Luka!" Juleka gasped, hugging him. He hugged her back. "I'm so sorry if I attacked you!!"

"Hey, it's ok," He smiled as Marinette walked over. He smiled at her softly before they both noticed a car pull up. Luka crossed his arms as Felix got out and spoke to someone before he walked over to the boat. He stopped at the entrance and looked up.

"Can I come aboard?" He asked, surprising everyone, who instantly turned to Luka. He narrowed his eyes for a second before nodding. Felix walked on it and stopped in the middle. "Um.. I'm not very good at this but I just want to say sorry. I'm sorry for getting you three akumatized, I'm sorry for making out that Adrien hated all of you and I'm sorry..."

He looked at Luka.

"For insulting your home, insulting you and hitting on your girlfriend..." He mumbled, looking down. Luka walked over, causing Felix to look up at him. He stopped in front of him.

"I accept your apology," He stated calmly. A little too calm. Marinette noticed Juleka going on edge as Rose looked like she was about to grab something to restrain him. "But if you ever hit on my girlfriend or get my little sister or my friends akumatized again, I will destroy you. Understood, Felix?"

"U-Understood," He replied.

"Good," Luka replied before his whole demeanour changed and he held out of his hand. Felix looked at him in surprise before shaking it. "I'm guessing you're going home?"

"Yeah. London calls," Felix replied unsure how to take Luka. A woman exited the car and called his name. "I should go. Mother is calling and really I am sorry,"

"Safe travels," Luka nodded before the two boys turned away from each other. Felix got into the car and drove off and Luka walked over to his friends. "What?"

"You handled that better then I would have thought," Juleka mumbled but Luka smiled.

"I'm getting better at a lot of things,"

~Later That Night~

"Little kitty sat all alone," Cat Noir sang softly as he sat on the rooftop, waiting for Ladybug. A few minutes later, she joined him. "So what's this about hm? I'm not in trouble am I?"

"What? No," Ladybug grinned, sitting down. "There's something important I want to tell you, Cat and I want to tell you in person instead of you just finding out by chance,"

"Ok?" He asked. Ladybug fiddled with her hands.

"Me and Viperion are dating..." She mumbled. "Both as heroes and as civilians,"

For a moment, Cat Noir was silent and she expected him to get upset but then a massive grin came across his face.

"Yes! I won!" He grinned, making her look at him in confusion. "Oh, everyone has noticed that you two clearly have a thing for each other so we took bets. Carapace betted that you'd get together in a year's time, Pegasus believed the chances were for two months time, Ryuko said you'd just painfully flirt with each other without actually getting together, King Monkey was with me and said that you get together soon and Rena Rogue guessed six weeks,"

"You guys took bets on how long we're taking to get together?!" Ladybug gasped as Cat grinned. "Wow... wait, aren't you mad?"

"Mi'lady, I love you and all I want is for you to be happy," He smiled. "I learnt from a friend that sometimes that means giving someone up. If Danger Noodle makes you happy then I can live with that. Besides, we're still friends right?"

"Of course, we are,"

"Then I'm happy for you and the danger noodle,"

"Thanks, Cat,"

#felix #ladybug #miraculous ladybug #cat noir #viperion #trio of punishers #lady wifi #princess fragrance #reflekta #adrien agreste #luka couffaine #marinette dupen chang #lukanette #lukanette is endgame #lukanetteseptember2k19 #Pro LukaMari

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supergenial · 5 years ago

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Top 8 Doujin Albums 2019

Hi everyone, Superthony Genialtano here the internet’s busiest doujin music nerd, and it’s time to bring out the yellow flannel for the yearly roundup that I completely forgot to do last year. Just a neat little list of my favorite doujin albums of the year.

I will include releases from last year’s winter comiket, and won’t include things from this year’s winter comiket though. As I always say: “If you want to be included in yearly rankings, then don’t release your shit in december”, much less in the very last 3 days of the year which is when winter comiket usually takes place. I will also simply list my favorite picks from the year without any kind of objective measuring or strict order, consider them to be placed at random as I do not believe in strict numeric rankings for music. Having said that, click below to continue on to the list and happy holidays to you all.

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-Gensou Crisis by IRON ATTACK! (Metal)

youtube

As I often say, Iron Attack is very hit or miss, and this one's a complete hit. Ever since sadame yuku kamikaze they hadn’t made a song that truly wowed me but this time they went ahead and exceeded expectations not once, but 5 times. The eponymous Gensou Crisis, Nihon no Stage, Isekai Stage, Space Stage and Last Boss Stage are some of the better work they've ever done in my opinion. I also just like how the american stage is chock in the middle of Isekai Stage and Space Stage, like sure, that is a totally normal level progression, America is somehow more badass than a whole other world but not as much as space, sure. Just an awesome album, can easily recommend this one.

(Also pretty funny that they tried to re-capture the glory of Nihon no Stage in their latest album, Japonism, but the results weren’t as good)

-Metatron by DJ DEPATH&M-Project (electronic, hardcore, rave) (Bandcamp)

Yeah, I listen to non-chu2 non-denpa stuff too, don't genreshame me. This album is a banger, just sick, can’t even call it a rollercoaster because it never slows down for any reason. Throughout it's longitudinal 16 tracks it keeps me hyped up, I'm parsing really hard to try and find a song to say something negative about but I just fucking cannot, these guys really went out and made an album with no lulls in it, just a full hour of non stop climax action, though to be fair it is a compilation of their older works so it had to be at least this good. Still, awesome, 10/10.

-Crimson of the Sleeping Princess by Elymusia (Gothic Metal) (Booth)

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I was not expecting to fall so hard for this album but here we are. We've previously translated 2 songs from the album and will probably get around to doing the rest Someday. Tokeitou no majo, owari no hajimari and the eponymous song are all just absolutely amazing tracks among my favorites for the year. Sure, the eponymous does go on for a bit longer than it should, but I still listen to it entirely so that's quite a feat. Kuro no majo Athena is also a really cool track. Steam World and Tada Sore Dake no ohanashi, to be fair, are not amazing but at least they set the tone for the character Machina. The contrast of steampunk characters fighting gothic witches is a really good idea, so I dig it even if the shift from the first to second song is a bit jarring.

I also find it hilarious how in trying to go for an english name for 深紅の眠り姫(Crimson Sleeping Princess) they went and added two unnecessary words, but idk, it makes it funny so it’s cute. Overall great album, liked it from the beginning and it has only grown on me further.

-Kyousou Rinne Roosen Renetto by Ariabl'eyeS (gothic) (translations)

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The sequel to a classic. Anyone could've predicted this is one of my favorites for the year so there's really no surprise here. SUI's song is still a stand out for me, but the eponymous song is also pretty amazing. I really, really would've loved to attend the live as they told the audience beforehand to sing along with a certain part and I'm sure it would've felt so fucking powerful to be there, but we are but slaves to our own prisons in this life. Still, great album, also as far as Ariabl’eyeS goes this is actually their album with the least recycled tunes since automata, so good going for them on coming up with some new stuff every once in a while.

-SPD GAR 02 by Megarex Label (rave) (bandcamp)

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I've had my eye on Megarex Label for a while since their Fugene albums, and they have not disappointed me yet. Just really exciting, new-sounding music. I was actually really debating myself on which was their better album of the year between SPD GAR 02 or NEONSTRIDE and I ultimately went with this one but it's a pretty good sign when a group can put out two amazing records within a single year, even if to be fair it's a collaboration between several music producers and talents. Speaking of putting out too many records in one year-

-Mugen Ayakashi Yakou by Hatsuki Yura (neo-japanese) (lyrics)

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Look, Onyx Veil was an amazing album, sure, I like basically every song in it, sure. BUT I ASK: does it have Yura singing about taking lives with her demon blade? In a duet song with a cool male voice for the sword? No? Didn't think so. Therefore, Ayakashi Yakou edges out a victory if only slightly. This album goes for a japanese sound rather than sticking to the fantasy tunes Yura usually brings us and boy, it fucking works, if you enjoy the likes of Wagakki Band then you gotta give this one a try. Right from the get go Oiran Yagyou is an absolute banger and it's about a cool prostitute, then Renkai shifts things up by being fairly cheerful and when you least expect it, bang: Youtou Raikouzan. Give a nerd a song about a girl with a demon blade and he won't shut up about it. I'm the nerd. Excellent album, but then again Onyx Veil is also high up there for me even if this one edged out the victory, maybe it's just the recency effect why I prefer it, who knows. Also make sure to visit Meri's blog where she has extremely in-depth translations for these and many other albums by Yura, god bless her soul.

-Mukunaru Hoshi no Koujo Planetalica to Yutaka na Shikisai to Uta no Koujo Asterika, by el ma Riu (Fantasy) (booth)

Very conflicted on this one. The imagery to the album is pretty captivating with those two princesses on the cover and the way the title turns upside down, I'm sure Claude Von Riegan would get along with Asterika. This album has my favorite song of the year, which is undoubtedly Ancient Call「火」. Yet the rest of the album is simply good, not super fantastic and not nearly on the same level as the first track.

Naming 4 songs the exact same and having them each represent a different element, I would've expected a fairly similar rhythm to all of them but instead they're all entirely different. I do think the fire one is the real bomb in the album so maybe building up to it would've had a better effect than dropping it right out in the first track. I say all this because prior to listening to the album I remember being super impressed with the last track which is the one she uploaded on her youtube. But once I listened to the album entirely all I was thinking was wow, I want more of that first track, I need more. Not that the rest is bad, but just, the first track is so amazing dear god.

Still, it got me to follow el ma Riu more closely and her twitter presence is honestly adorable, she uses emojis all the time and even name searches herself and gets super excited whenever people praise her and basically, she rules, and her newer albums Vert and Akatoki were also pretty cool so it's an overall victory. Also check out this more recent artwork of the two girls, they’re so cute.

-Zettou no Labyrinth by Ariabl'eyes (gothic) (tumblr won’t let me embed more videos lol)

Yes I'm putting them twice, you know I have favoritism for them so might as well not dance around that fact. No announcement this year has made me as excited as knowing they'd revive chiisana majo to himitsu no hon even if only for one of the 6 worlds in it. Yes, that shit hyped me up even more than the Bravely Default 2 announcement.

It’s also just so weird, like it’s fanservice for me or like I summoned this into existence, like a monkey’s paw. “I want chiisana majo to himitsu no hon 2″ bam, this does it, a forgotten project from over half a decade ago revived for no reason. “I liked that witch better when she had no back story” bam, this has an evil witch with no backstory. “The best songs are the ones with both Luna and Rena” bam, this has like 3 of them, way more than usual. Are they reading me? I doubt it, but this means that their japanese fanbase has been thinking the same things as I so it actually feels pretty cool how we’re on the same page. Like Bunnyhop said about Death Stranding: “I know it’s pretentious to say you have a personal connection with a work but...” yeah, it does feel like that for me.

The album does take six minutes to get going (with two small narration tracks sandwhiching a decently rehashed old track), but once we get into it kokou no megami, ao no kajitsu and zettou no majo are amazing songs even if they so, SO blatantly rehash older sounds of the band like come on, the influences from automata and coffin are so blatant it's almost a parody, not to mention we also get a girl in a coffin and an evil witch trying to bring about the end because she's a dick so it's like, you're just gonna rehash coffin and romanesque like that and call it a day? Not only do you rehash sounds in every album but also stories now? Yes, that's exactly what they did and it still worked. Aaaahhh, I hate to love this band, they have me grabbed by the balls and I can't escape, awesome album I loved it.

And that is it folks, what a nice year for doujin music this has been, I truly hope the next is even better because I really do have fun checking out new bands and shit. Also in case if you want more well let’s give it up for those that almost made the cut.

Runner ups:

-Artificial Flower by Mame (gothic) (booth)

This album is a diamond in the rough, it’s truly excellent just needs a bit more polish to make it into the big leagues with me, plus maybe a more scarring vocal performance. Not that it’s bad, it almost made the cut! but the vocals are permanently subdued in their tone, just give me some fang and I’ll swoon.

- ななめが王国 by ななひら and mega (denpa) (translation)

I mean what can I say, 4 tracks are ok and the other 4 are amazing, it balances out. Plus if they do conquer the world one day I don't want to be on their gulag list, might as well praise them while it still counts.

-Vocis Helix by Sennzai (fucking epic) (booth)

This is like the epitome of "music I'd like people to believe I listen to, but that I don't actually listen to that much".

-Extra in Out by Cytekinesis (lolicore) (bandcamp)

“Lolicore? I haven’t heard that name in years...”

-Papermoon by Polysha (electronic, psytrance) (bandcamp)

A surprising latecomer, maybe with a bit more time it’d be up there with Megarex but alas, fate and synchronicity did not work in it’s favor.

And many others, we could be here all day! so let’s cut it short and call this a darn good year for doujin music. Next year I’ll probably spend less time listening to doujin music as I’ll be gushing over the inevitable new Sound Horizon album and the Bravely Default 2 soundtrack, plus it’s inevitable Linked Horizon album about it. Yes, this is the year, Rinne HAS to be this year folks. Anyway, see you all next time and remember: if you like an artist with a very small audience, tell them about it, they’ll probably be thrilled.

#review #doujin music #why 8?#because 2020 is the year of RINNE FUCKING CONFIRMED #yes I know he used a blue flannel on his top 50 shut up if you know this much flannel lore you know this one's more iconic

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unwritrecipes · 4 years ago

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Chocolate Espresso Cake

Hiya! Welcome back! Hope your holiday weekend was fun and delish! Don’t want to stress you out any more than necessary, but do you have any idea what you’re going to do for New Year’s? It’s always an issue, right? And this year, more than ever, as we can’t/shouldn’t party or eat in restaurants or go to the movies or...arghh!!!!! Stay with me and take a deep breath cause I think I’ve found a solution. And boy, is it a delicious one! Let’s make cake. Not just any old cake though, no sir! It’s got to be something stand out, amazing tasting and time-consuming enough to fill up the hours until we ring in the new year. So taking into account all that criteria, let me present this show stopping, knock-your-socks-off, worth every sinful bite, Chocolate Espresso Cake.

Three tender, deeply chocolate, not-too-sweet layers of cake, covered with a velvety coffee buttercream which itself gets topped with a rich, smooth chocolate ganache, plus chocolate covered espresso beans and chocolate sprinkles—Take that 2020!!!

To tell the truth, my daughter and I first made this amazing treat back in August for her birthday and it was a huge hit! Honestly, it might be my most favorite celebration cake ever and that’s saying a lot cause I am not a coffee drinker. But somehow the whole combo just works amazingly well here and the actual chocolate cake is quite possibly the best I’ve ever tasted!! I held off posting because with all the smaller gatherings, big fancy cakes didn’t exactly seem appropriate, but now having too much cake around is the least of our worries!!

Before I get to showing you how to put this masterpiece together, I just want to mention that the recipe calls for coffee extract, which can be tricky to find. You can definitely get it on Amazon and maybe even in some specialty shops, but if you can’t, no worries. An easy sub is to get mix instant espresso with hot water and let it cool to room temperature. Easy-peasy and done!

And now, onto the cake: there are three layers which you could easily make the day before and have all ready to frost and build with on new years eve or you can totally make them the same day—in any case you want them to be entirely cool before you start to frost them with the silky coffee buttercream:

Once all three layers have been assembled, you cover the outsides of the cake with a thin coating of the frosting, aka the crumb coat. This helps to make sure that any loose crumbs adhere to the the cake, creating a base that will allow you to spread the frosting smoothly and evenly. It also helps to seal in the cake’s moisture.

After a short stint in the fridge to firm everything up, we’re ready to slather on the rest of the frosting and pour on the luscious chocolate ganache—

Which we’re gonna help to drip down the sides—

So we get that drizzle effect—

It’s a bit messy but hang tight because the end result is pretty spectacular!

Once all that gorgeous chocolate has dripped down the sides and set, it’s time to decorate with crunchy chocolate expresso beans and sprinkles. Tada!! Cake perfection!!

Look at all those gorgeous layers! It would be almost impossible not to have a happy new years with a slice of this at your beck and call!

There’s happiness in every chocolate-y-coffee-ish bite!

Happy birthday 2021, boy do we need you more than ever!!!

Chocolate Espresso Cake

Serves 12-16 people

Prep Time for cake: 20 minutes: Bake Time for cake: 35-40 minutes; Prep Time for Coffee Buttercream: 25-30 minutes; Prep Time for glaze: 10 minutes; Assembly Time: About 1 hour (much of this is hands-free—the frosted cake has to chill twice and then again for glazing

Ingredients

For the cake

¾ cup good quality dark unsweetened cocoa powder (I used Valrhona)

⅔ cup sour cream

1 ¼ cups hot water

2 ⅔ cups unbleached, all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

12 tablespoons unsalted butter (¾ cup), softened to room temp and cut into cubes

1/2 cup vegetable shortening (I used Crisco sticks)

1 ½ cups sugar

1 cup dark brown sugar, packed

3 large eggs, room temperature

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

For the coffee buttercream

1 ½ cups sugar

1/3 cup unbleached, all-purpose flour

1 ½ cups whole milk

⅓ cup heavy cream

1 ½ cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, soft but cool, cut into small pieces

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 tablespoons coffee extract (if you can’t find this, use 3 tablespoons of instant espresso mixed with 6 teaspoons of hot water and let cool to room temperature)

For the chocolate glaze

8 ounces good quality bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped (I used Lindt 70%)

12 tablespoons (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened and cut into cubes

1 tablespoon light corn syrup

Chocolate-covered espresso beans and chocolate sprinkles for decorating (optional)

The Recipe

1. To make the cake: Preheat oven to 325 F. Butter three 8 or 9 inch round cake pans, line the bottoms with a round of parchment paper and butter the parchment. Dust the pans with flour and knock out the excess. Set aside.

2. In a medium bowl, stir together the cocoa, sour cream and hot water and set aside to cool.

3. Meanwhile, sift the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt together in a bowl and set aside.

4. Use an electric mixer to beat the butter and shortening together on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. When you lift the beaters, the mixture should sort of ribbon. If you’re using a handheld mixer, you may need to tack on a few more minutes. Add both sugars and beat on medium speed again for about 5 minutes, scraping the bowl as needed with a rubber spatula, until the mixture is light and fluffy. One at a time, add the eggs, beating for 10-15 seconds after each addition, until the egg is incorporated. Then add the vanilla and mix in on low speed. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix for another 30 seconds.

5. On low speed, alternate the dry ingredients with the cocoa mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients, scraping down the bowl between the additions as needed.

6. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans, smoothing the tops. Bake the cakes for about 35 minutes all on the same rack, rotating the pans halfway through the baking time, until a tester inserted into the center of the cakes, comes out clean. (If you can’t fit all three pans in the oven on the same rack at once, bake two at a time and then bake the third one separately. You don’t want to bake these cakes in the bottom of the oven—they might get too dark). Transfer the cakes to wire racks to cool for at least 45 minutes, then invert onto the racks, remove and discard the parchment and let cakes cool completely. You can definitely make these a day ahead and wrap well in plastic wrap at room temperature.

7. To make the coffee buttercream: Add the sugar and flour to a medium, heavyweight saucepan and whisk together. Add the milk and cream and cook over medium heat, whisking every now and then until the mixture comes to a boil and has thickened, about 10-15 minutes.

8. Transfer the mixture to the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or just use a large bowl and a handheld mixer) and beat at high speed for about 7-9 minutes until the mixture is cool. On low speed, add the butter and mix in well. Then increase speed to medium-high and beat for another minute or two, until frosting is light and fluffy.

9. Add in the vanilla and coffee extracts and mix until well combined. If you feel the frosting is too soft, place the bowl in the fridge for a few minutes and then beat again until the right consistency. Alternately, if the frosting seems too thick to spread, place the bowl over a pot of simmering water and beat with a wooden spoon until it’s the right consistency.

10. To assemble the cake: cut 4 strips of parchment or wax paper and place them on top of a cake plate in a square. Place one of the cake layers centered on the square. This will help you keep the plate neat. If you need to, trim the cake so that it has a flat surface (I didn’t need to). Evenly spread about 1 ¼ cups frosting on top of the layer. Add the next cake layer and trim and frost it. Top with the final layer and spread a very thin layer of frosting all over the top and sides of the cake (a crumb coat that will help keep any loose crumbs from making the final frosting messy). Place the cake uncovered in the fridge for 15 minutes to allow it to set. Use the remaining frosting to cover the top and sides of the cake and return cake to fridge for another 15 minutes.

11. To make the chocolate glaze: place the chocolate, butter and corn syrup in the top of a double boiler set over an inch or two of simmering water and use a heatproof spoon or rubber spatula to stir the mixture until it’s completely melted and smooth. Remove the pan from the heat and stir the glaze for a few minutes to release some of the heat.

12. Starting in the center of the cake, slowly pour about ¾ cup of the glaze over the cake, using a small offset spatula or butter knife to smooth it out to the edges. Place the cake back in the fridge for another 5-10 minutes to allow it to set. Now, pour the remaining glaze over the top of the cake, letting it drip down the sides any which way. Return to the fridge for about 5 minutes to set—it’ll be easier to clean up any drips on the plate. Remove the paper strips and discard. Use a damp paper towel to clean up any smudges on the cake plate. If using, press the chocolate sprinkles into the cake along the bottom and decorate the top with the espresso beans. Return the cake to the fridge for another 20-30 minutes and serve or carefully cover and store at room temp for up to 1 day. Chill any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.

Enjoy!

Note: Recipe adapted from Baked Explorations by Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito. I stuck pretty close to the recipe buy changed a few of the techniques.

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katestinyliving · 7 years ago

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This is going to be a LONG post of all the holiday portraits I took of my family during this Christmas season. If you’re into pulling out family portraits and reminiscing or learning about someone’s family events, you will enjoy this.

I am that person. Haha! I Thoroughly enjoy hearing about people’s families and their histories or how they celebrate together.

Weeks’s Christmas Tree Decorating Party!

Because my parents technically live in a “tiny apartment”, we have tiny trees. They’re super easy to decorate and super cute, but my favorite part is my family and the food. Haha!

She’s being cute, as always.

Daddy’s giving me a serious face.

Mama makes THE BEST potato soup everrrrr. Ever.

Nom. Nom. Nom.

5 days engaged!

Super excited about all of it!

Wrapped up in the Grinch!

She loves the singing in this movie!

Asa being cute and funny.

Totally sucked into the Grinch.

Everyone decorating the tiny trees!

We just opened up the gifts our friend Melissa sent us for Christmas!

Family time.

She’s pickin’ a guitar!

Most of my evening was spent sewing on buttons to this velvet jacket I bought from Goodwill.

Moon’s Decorating Christmas Party!

And then we decorated the Moon’s tree the next evening. I thoroughly enjoyed looking at the old photos and eating the tasty Texas chili Darnea made! And I finally got Asa up out of the recliner to help put a few ornaments on the tree!

Can you tell I’m obsessed with food?

Cuuuutie.

Herb getting his soup!

Herb holding a childhood picture of Darnea!

Please notice how cute my fiance is on the bottom left. He’s got the best cowboy look.

And the recliner battle begins.

Herb getting the boxes open.

Jordan getting the tree stand ready.

Danielle being beautiful!

Stockings are hung.

Danielle and Jordan!

Asa’s grandmother holding one of the grandkids. I think this is Asa, but I could be way wrong.

Me asking Asa to get up.

Then he does this. Haha!

Decorations!

I began begging.

Yay! He joined us!

So handsome!

Darnea looking beautiful holding two ornaments!

Danielle making delicious hot chocolate!

Crazy cute.

Close up of the hot chocolate.

Darnea enjoying her hot chocolate.

The tree is completed!

Nanny’s Christmas Celebration

Every year my Mama’s side of the family gets together for Christmas. Nanny and all her kids and all their kids and all their kids’ kids get together and eat and exchange gifts. This year my aunt Ann and John couldn’t be with us, and my cousin Luke was in Florida. They were crazy missed, and I’m hoping next year we can all be together again.

First photo of the night. I’m printing this out and hanging it on my fridge. I love it that much.

Everyone praying over the food.

Dig in!

Love birds!

Daniel’s first Christmas at Nanny’s.

Loved having Kim and Tommy at the party! I love this picture of Kim. Beautiful smiles! We missed having her BFF Mary!

Two cousins.

Trying to figure things out.

Bashful.

I love my aunts!

Love this smile of Susan’s!

Mama! She’s gorgeous.

I love my aunt Missy!

Paw Paw wranglin’ a Jubi.

Nom nom nom.

Food makes her happy.

This is perfect.

Everyone gets wildly serious with gift giving. And most of the gifts are actually hidden.

Grandma and Maggie!

It’s not a gathering unless there’s a puppy running loose! Haha!

Two sister’s holding their grand babies passing out gifts.

Mother and daughter. Twins in frustration.

Passing out gifts!

Cousins at their great-grandmother’s feet.

Getting some great-auntie time in.

Mine and Asa’s first gift this year together.

I’m thankful for Levi snagging these for me!

Love our ornaments from Lori and Roy!

I am super pumped to learn how to make pies.

The best gift is usually just the box when you’re an imaginative kid.

I love my sister!

Best friends!

Kim gave us skillets! Crazy thankful! Kim is one of the best cooks I know!

Ladies and gentlemen. This is my sister.

Shameless party animal.

We love our matching boggin’s!

Asa took this picture of me.

Best friends!

Playing in a box!

Jubi and Tony!

Getting photos outside!

Nanny with her children. We just needed Ann with us! She was terribly missed!

Weeks/Tuttle Family! Grandma was freaking out because she was afraid to be on the tall porch.

We love Tony!

I love my Nanny!

I’m thankful I have her!

Looking at wood stoves!

Trying to take a nap.

You know it’s a good party when you end up with crusty hair, under a rug, and trying to take a nap as the party is winding down.

Weeks’s Christmas Celebration

The next day, aka Christmas Eve, we celebrated our immediate family’s Christmas!

Our tiny trio of trees!

Krispy Kreme is important.

Mama’s cornbread, or as Jubi calls it “kernbread”.

Daddy’s got the New Orleans 1920’s street band going for background music.

The beginnings of potato salad.

This is a mother daughter yearly event for all the holidays.

I asked Asa to take pictures of us and now I’m feelings shy. It’s definitely different being on the other side of the camera.

We’re having a difficult time peeling eggs. For some reason the shell didn’t want to come off of these.

Getting serious.

Ingredients.

Mama made this and it looks crazy tasty.

Serious tater salad makers.

Cutting up the eggs.

Mama cuts the onions.

Putting in the mayo.

Now the pickles!

Mix it up!

Daddy’s making chicory coffee!

So good!

Daddy usually says something wild, and then I look at him like this. HAha!

One with onions. One without.

Super cute percolator!

This WAS crazy tasty!

My friend Deb gave me this for Christmas, and I thought it was wildly cute!

Playing hide and seek. She found me!

Supper time.

So excited about kern!

Nom nom nom.

Passing out gifts.

She loves puppies.

Her Cabbage patch raccoon baby!

Moon’s Christmas Celebration!

Then on Christmas morning we celebrated at the Moon’s!

Last Christmas Darnea made quiche for breakfast. I was SO excited to hear that she made it again this year.

Lil Red.

Loooooove it. Which is why I’m posting two different photos of the same thing.

Herb relaxing before breakfast.

Beautiful tree!

Cuties.

Herb reading the birth of Jesus.

Handmade scarves by Darnea!

Yuri gave Seth a BKNY shirt and his reaction was hilarious!

Excited parents!

My Moonpie.

Darnea looking cute!

Another handmade scarf!

Darnea opening gifts!

Seth was very excited about Darnea’s dress Yuri gifted her.

Herb getting the hard drive of his dreams!

Moon Christmas jam session!

Asa took a picture of me singing. Also, that scarf was handmade by Darnea too! It is my favoriteeeee.

Cuties!

Proud Padre. I love it!

Danielle serenading us!

Christmas snuggles!

Family Photo!

The REAL Family Photo

Christmas With Grandma Celebration

And THEN that night we celebrated Christmas with my Grandma at Shoney’s.

Our driver for the evening. Haha!

The tribe!

Daddy’s driving!

Tristan’s updating her instagram story.

Mama looking beautiful as always!

Grandma opening her gift!

Mine and Tristan’s handsome fellas.

Jubi.

My two grandmothers. Both in their 80’s now. I’m so thankful to have them!

Buffet!

Gearing up for the family portrait!

Tada!

Shoney’s. This one in particular is fancy.

Nanny “What’s that Katie up to?”

I gave them accordion portrait books.

If you’ve made it this far, I’m honestly shocked. The holiday season is exhausting for me, but it is my favorite time of the year too. This is JUST the Christmas celebration portraits. I haven’t even talked about the birthdays.

My birthday is 2 days after Christmas. We celebrated eating Indian food. It was SO good! And then 2 days after my birthday is my Aunt Fay and my cousin Luke’s birthday. And then 2 days after that is Mama’s birthday AND it’s New Years Eve.

Christmas time is hard. It’s a whirlwind, but I’m thankful for these people in my life and I’m thankful for such a large family.

This past year my uncle Chris passed away, and we all miss him terribly. His passing though made me realize just how important portraits are of my family. The documentation process is everything. Usually I’m always photographing other people’s families with my DSLR and only using my phone for portraits of mine. But the more I think on it, the more I realize that I am a huge contributor to educating future generations on how our family was and who our family is. And I think it is insanely important for more people to document their families as much as possible from their own perspective. You only have your family once.

This next year, I want to document more of my family as well as my clients’ families. I love being a memory keeper. I just need to remind myself to keep my memories too.

I hope everyone had an amazing Christmas and I hope everyone took tons of portraits and held their darlings close!

2017 Kate’s Tiny Living Christmas Recap This is going to be a LONG post of all the holiday portraits I took of my family during this Christmas season.

#blogger #christmas #engagement #family #fiance #holidays #Home #Kates Tiny Living #Katie Weeks Photo #Life #lifestyle #real life

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raindrops-on-the-roof · 7 years ago

Text

Tenshi

Hey everyone! This is just the first chapter of a fanfiction I’m writing for miraculous! It, as well as the second and third chapters, are avaliable under the name “Tenshi”. Please give it a read if you want to!

Summary: In which Nino is smart and everyone else is just slow.

“Pay attention! Open your eyes!” Nino yelled, wanting to slap him and hug him at the same time. “She’s literally right there? How are you so blind? What is this?”

Also, how does Gabriel Agreste know so much? “Nathalie, find me all of this girl’s friends.” Nathalie frowned at him. “Sir, that could take a while -”

“Do it!”

Adrien doesn’t understand. In general. “Why do you keep bringing this up? It was just a cat pun!” He hoped Nino didn’t notice how sweaty he was.

Alya is somehow, surprisingly, miraculously, as clueless as ever. “What are you saying, Nino? That they- ” She waved an arm vaguely in their direction, her eyes dead on him - “are meant to be Ladybug and Chat Noir?”

Tikki is tired, in every way that a parent dealing with an overdramatic teenager is. “MARINETTE! I have been patient with you, but this is as far as your stupidity goes!”

And Marinette is just… normal. “I… uh…” She rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly. He glared at her. “I’m sorry.”

Let’s see if I can make this work.

Look who’s back, back again with more shit lmao

So this stems off the end of the “Miraculous Ladybug Episode - My Birthday Party | Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir” thing on Youtube. Don’t get excited, it’s not actually a new episode, but you should totally check it out anyway.

Anyways, enjoy

Tenshi

“I can’t wait till Saturday!”

Marinette closed her diary and placed it back in its handmade container before setting the trap. Tikki, her kwami, flew up from her purse as she stood back and took a deep breath.

“What did you write about this time, Marinette?” Tikki chirped, whizzing to look her in the eye.

She smiled at her friend. “Oh, Tikki, I wrote about my birthday! Mum said I could have friends over, remember? Of course, I’ll invite Alya, I mean that’s obvious, and Rose and Juleka, and maybe Ivan and Myléne because of course Myléne will come if Ivan does and– “

“Wait!” Tikki interrupted, waving her hands in an attempt to slow her rambling. Marinette, however, continued.

“–Oh, my gosh, what if Adrien comes! Imagine that, Tikki!” She grabbed Tikki and shook her a little while the kwami sighed, knowing she’d lost her. “I’ll need to plan it for when there’s a break in his schedule!”

Marinette frantically pulled down her (incredibly) detailed Adrien timetable to check that his Saturday was free. She scanned the days leading up to it. “Okay, Tikki!” She cried, excited. “Today is Tuesday!” She whapped the sheet with a cane. “So obviously today is his first of two– “She stuck two fingers in the air for emphasis– “free days of the week, the other being Thursday.”

Tikki nodded absentmindedly, trying to look as though she was paying attention. Honestly, by now, she was used to Marinette’s rants about Adrien, as she had watched the bluenette’s feelings go from disgust to curiosity to full-blown obsession.

Honestly, Tikki was starting to get worried about it, not that she’d ever tell the girl that.

Obsession with anything was never healthy, and looking around Marinette’s bedroom, Tikki could see the evidence of hers. Posters, doodles, little notes, and the most obvious thing; the schedule. She didn’t know and didn’t want to know how Marinette managed to get her hands on that information.

Zoning back into the conversation, Tikki noticed that Marinette was nearing the end of a rant about what days Adrien was free, noting that she had been talking for about five minutes.

“Marinette!” Tikki interrupted, sounding scolding. “What is the point?”

Marinette looked at Tikki as if she had two heads. “My point is… ah…” She waved her cane about as she thought. “… What were we talking about again?”

Tikki shook her head in exasperation. “Can Adrien come to your party this Saturday?”

Marinette’s eyes darted to the schedule before nodding her head in happy affirmation. “Yes! He can!” She started dancing around her room in excitement.

Tikki giggled at her antics, stopping suddenly when Marinette’s face grew horrified. “Marinette? What is it?”

She collapsed on her bed dramatically. “Oh, Tikki, what am I going to wear? What is he going to wear? What if he wears some super stylish awesome clothes his dad designed specifically for the party? What if I wear something gross and disgusting and he thinks it looks awful? I think I’d just about die from embarrassment!” Marinette groaned from her position face down on the bed. “What am I going to do?”

Tikki, well versed in the ways of the teenaged mind, was the voice of reason. “Marinette, you haven’t even asked him yet.”

Marinette looked up at Tikki, looking yet more horrified. “Oh my gosh, Tikki, how am I going to ask him?” She started groaning into her duvet again.

Tikki had to stop this before she got the ball rolling once again. “Won’t Nino help you? He’s been quite kind in the past, and now that he and Alya are… something, you would be able to catch him alone.”

Marinette looked up at Tikki again, but with a completely different expression. “Tikki, you’re a genius! I’ll call Alya right now!”

Tikki rubbed her temples. “Don’t you think you should make a list of the people you want to invite?”

“Ah, yes, more amazingly amazing good ideas from Tikki!”

Marinette tore a piece of paper from her ideas book before scribbling the names down, tapping her pen on the table occasionally before writing something, or crossing something out, before showing Tikki her list. “Tada! I decided on Alya, Rose, Juleka, Ivan, Myléne, Kim, Max and Alix! Of course, Nino and Adrien are there too.” She pointed to their names as she said them.

Tikki noticed but didn’t comment on the hearts drawn around Adrien’s name, nor the fact the Chloé Bourgeois and Sabrina Raincomprix’s names were crossed out. Instead, she was supportive. “That sounds great, Marinette! Now you can call Alya!”

Marinette nodded happily before picking up her phone and dialling Alya’s number in record time.

“Hey, girl! What’s going on?”

“Just a whole lot of planning, actually! Are you busy?”

“Uh, Marinette, have you seen the time?” Alya sounded like she was trying not to laugh.

It was 8:10 pm on a Tuesday night. Marinette had not started her homework.

“Oh no! ThankyousomuchAlyaI’lltalktoyousoonbye!” Marinette slammed her phone down on her bed and ripped her homework out of her bag. She had to get started if she wanted a decent night’s sleep.

Tikki giggled again, feeling happy albeit guilty for forgetting about her work. “Well, the quicker you finish the work, the quicker we can go back to planning.”

“Right!”

ひらがな！

愛していますよ！

Unfortunately, Marinette did not finish her homework until 11 pm that night and by then was exhausted and practically flew into her bed without changing or taking out her hair. Tikki, though exhausted herself, took a little bit longer.

Staring at Marinette’s sleeping form, the kwami sighed. The girl’s naivety was really starting to worry her along with her obsession and Tikki worried that, when faced with a difficult decision, her Ladybug would fall.

She shook her head. She knew better than to dwell on such things. Everything would work out.

Tikki floated slowly over beside Marinette and pulled out her pigtails slowly, trying not to wake her. One day she’d be faced with something bigger than her, and Tikki knew that Marinette could not fail her. Wayzz’s master had not been wrong about a ladybug in thousands of years. Everything would be okay.

She hoped.

奇跡的

よかたですよ

The next day, Marinette (of course) woke up late for school. She sprinted down the stairs with Tikki in her purse and quickly kissed her both her parents goodbye before tripping over her feet and falling face first through the door onto the pavement outside. Tikki stifled a giggle but stayed hidden as Alya ran up from the side.

“Again, Marinette?” Alya helped her up before dusting her off. “Hurry, we’re gonna be late!”

Marinette started laughing before grabbing her hand and pulling her along. “I need to talk to you!”

“Can it wait? Madame Mendeleiev is going to slaughter us!” Alya cried, starting to pant.

They rounded the corner to the school.

Marinette hesitated. “Well… Yes, of course, it can!” They both jumped up the stairs, taking two at a time before getting into the building.

“Wait.” Alya stuck an arm out to stop Marinette bursting into the class. “We need to fix ourselves up and enter gracefully.”

Marinette looked at Alya. Her hair was windswept and her glasses were askew. Marinette knew she probably looked similar. “Right!”

Tikki, feeling a bit battered, shook her head in Marinette’s purse, feeling a little discombobulated. Peeking out, she watched them fix each other up before they swept into class. Luckily, they were only a few minutes late and Madame Mendeleiev only told them to take their seats.

As soon as Marinette stepped into the classroom, Tikki could feel Plagg. It wasn’t something she could stop, and of course, she was used to it. She had a small idea of who had the ring, as Adrien had not yet been akumatised; however, it was not unheard of for a miraculous holder to become an akuma, and a regular civilian could easily avoid akumatisation with the ability to control their emotions.

Besides, Chat Noirs in the past had never been that lucky.

Tikki decided to take a nap. It would be a few hours before anything interesting happened, anyway.

奇跡的

よかたですよ

She woke up to the sound of Marinette’s frantic whispering to Alya.

“But Alya, how do you think he’ll react to my invitation? Do you think he’ll hate it? Oh my God, he will, won’t he?” She groaned. “This is the end of my life!”

Tikki could picture the pity smile on Alya’s beautiful face.

“Girl, you know he won’t.” She said, sounding like she was trying not to laugh. “Besides, you have to actually ask him first.”

“I know, I know…” Marinette stared at the blond mop in front of her, who seemed to be lost in thought.

Alya hesitated before touching her arm gently. “You know, Marinette… Do you think you’ll actually be able to ask him?”

Tikki hoped she remembered her suggestion. Luckily, that was the case.

“I was going to ask Nino for help!” Alya’s smile turned forced. Marinette noticed immediately. “What is it?”

“Nothing, nothing!” Alya tried to convince Marinette, who looked more worried by the second. “It’s just… I mean… Will you need me there?”

Marinette suddenly forgot all about the party. “Alya, is there something wrong between you and Nino? You seemed so close before…”

Alya pursed her lips. She didn’t want to talk about this, not now, not when he was right there and breathing and being perfect for her if she wasn’t so-

“Alya?” She immediately plastered on a smile. Marinette looked extremely concerned, remembering the way their personalities clicked so well while they were locked in the cage.

Alya couldn’t tell her, the words drowning her lungs, blocking her throat, stilling her tongue. “No, girl, don’t worry about me! I’ll totally have your back.”

Marinette smiled and thanked her, but Alya could tell this wasn’t the end of the conversation, and Marinette knew that she would have to seek out Nino herself. She couldn’t ask Alya for help after that reaction.

The bell rang, startling the two, and apparently Adrien, who fell out of his chair in front of her. Alya snorted and Nino burst out laughing.

“You right there, dude? Your head was totally in the clouds the entire class,” Nino said through his laughter. Alya was trying to hide her giggling, and Marinette was trying to find something to do with her hands.

Adrien rolled his eyes at Nino and sent Alya a look before grinning at Marinette. “At least you’re polite enough not to laugh.”

Marinette could feel her knees weaken at the way his eyes shined when he smiled and was suddenly speaking. “Ah! Yes! You are very nice! … I mean me! I am very nice! Marinette! That is me!” Smooth.

Adrien looked confused while Alya’s quiet giggling turned into full-blown laughter, struggling for air with tears in her eyes. Nino winced a bit while Adrien’s face went from confused to amused, saying “Thanks, I think?” before picking up his bag and walking out of the classroom for lunch.

Marinette put her head in her hands as soon as he left. Alya, finally calming down now, wiped away a tear of mirth before patting her on the back. “Come on girl, that wasn’t as bad as last week.”

Marinette groaned while that sent Nino into more laughter. “Oh man, that was great! You were… Um…” Alya’s glare cut him off and he quickly made himself scarce.

She sighed and patted Marinette on the back while the girl in question took some deep breaths. Finally, she stood up. “Let’s go. Did you see where Nino went?”

Alya smiled sheepishly. “No, sorry.” She glanced at the ceiling. “It’s Thursday, right? I don’t think he’d go home today, he has physics after lunch. He’s probably in the library.”

Marinette lifted her chin determinedly and strutted out of the room, her show of false bravado prompting Alya to join her as they walked towards the library. Alya was a little suspicious of her confidence but supposed that talking to Nino about Adrien wasn’t as nerve-wracking as talking to the boy in question was.

At least, for Marinette.

Alya was shaken out of her thoughts as Marinette stopped at the entrance to the library. She took a deep breath and pushed the heavy doors open.

The Collège Françoise Dupont library was the pride and joy of the school. With the 500 hardwood shelves stacked with books and papers of all subjects, it was not unheard of for the students of universities and other colleges around Paris to join the usual students in the library.

However, a big library meant it took Marinette over half of lunch to find Nino, with Alya getting steadily more restless.

Alya was struggling to think of an excuse to run, finding herself unable to come up with a reason to avoid seeing him. She could not see him, not outside of having to, she couldn’t -

“Nino! Finally,” Marinette cried, getting a withering look from a nearby student. “We’ve spent almost all of our break trying to find you,” she said, quieter.

Nino, who had glanced up at the shout, frowned in confusion. “We?”

Marinette pursed her lips and reached behind her, dragging Alya to stand beside her with surprisingly strong arms, Nino noticed. “Alya and I.”

Nino looked shocked for a split second before smoothing it over with a kind smile at Marinette. “Well, what can I help you with?”

“I… um…” Alya elbowed her in the side. Tikki was wide awake.

Nino waited patiently, knowing she’d get through her hesitations. She had only been hesitant around her when she wanted to know something about Adrien - that is until she asked.

Marinette sat down next to Nino, before turning her chair to sit right in front of him and leaning forward. “IwantAdrientocometomyparty!” Marinette whisper-shouted into his ear. Alya rolled her eyes and Nino smiling fondly. “You, uh, wanna repeat that?”

Marinette took a deep breath before staring Nino dead in the eyes. “I want Adrien to come to my party, it’s on Saturday at.. I don’t know where yet, the park? And it’d be really cool if he could come! What if he bought me a present! Oh my goodness, I -”

“Woah, woah, Marinette,” Nino said, holding his hands up to stop her ranting. “What do you want me to do about this?”

Marinette paused her ranting before saying, “Well, of course, I want you to ask him for me,”

Nino considered her carefully, weighing the pros and cons. Of course, the cons were obvious: Adrien probably wouldn’t be allowed to go, therefore making Marinette worry about why he didn’t come, he hated her, etc. But if he was allowed…

Well, that could open whole new doors to their relationship. Of course, he and Alya (separately) could con them together.

Alya…

No, he wouldn’t think anything more of it. He would ask him, for Marinette’s sake.

He leaned forward and stared her straight in the face, mimicking her perfectly. “Marinette, for your sake, I will…” He trailed off, his eyes having found their way to her earrings - red with black spots.

“You will? Thank you!” She flung forward to hug him, almost shoving him off his chair.

“No problem,” He muttered, wrapping his arms around her. Still, his mind focused on her ladybug-spotted earrings. He never knew she was a fan…

Effectively ripping his attention back to reality, Marinette let go and stood up quickly. “Wait, Marinette,” He called as she was about to leave. “He might not be allowed to go because of his father. Please don’t get your hopes up too high.”

Marinette nodded sharply, still beaming, and Nino knew that his words hadn’t quite gotten through to her.

Still, he would ask. He knew that Adrien would probably like to go, but if his dad said no, he wouldn’t push it. Nino had to change that.

Watching the girls leave, Nino stood up too. He had work to do.

奇跡的

よかたですよ

Adrien took a deep breath of fresh air before walking down the well-polished stairs of Collège Françoise Dupont. His day, as was usual, had been rather unlucky, and his brand new shirt was sporting the evidence: a rather large splatter of tomato sauce dead in the centre. His dad wouldn’t be pleased.

Shaking his head, he was about to get into his car when -

“Yo! Adrien! Wait a sec, dude!” Adrien smiled apologetically at the Gorilla before turning to see Nino quickly descending the stairs, his arm outstretched. “I need to ask you something.”

Adrien grinned. “Sure. What’s up?”

Nino sighed. “It’s Marinette. She wants you to come to her birthday party.” He stared at the ground. “I tried to tell her that you probably wouldn’t be allowed, but she didn’t listen -”

“Woah,” Adrien said, putting his hand on Nino’s shoulder. “It’s okay, I’ll ask my Dad.”

Nino ran a hand over his face. “Yeah, I know you will, and he’ll say no, just like he always does. You always have the worst luck with these things.”

Adrien smirked, and Nino knew the pun was coming before he even said anything. “Like a black cat, huh?”

Nino froze. Not what he expected. “Um, what?”

Adrien shook his head, still with a grin on his face. “Inside joke.”

Nino stared for a little longer than was polite, making Adrien clear his throat uncomfortably. “Uh, so, I’ll ask my Dad and see how it goes, alright?”

Nino cleared his throat. “Yeah, sure. Hey, you know what this means, right?”

Adrien rolled his eyes before they found the top of the stairs. “This again? Nino, you’d have to be crazy if you think she’d like me.” Nino took the opportunity to search out the silver ring on his finger.

“T-trust me, bro. She totally has the hots for you.” The ring had the outline of six dots - five smaller, one large.

Adrien shook his head before a grunt from his bodyguard made him wince. “Sorry, Nino, I really have to get going, or I’ll be late for practice.”

Nino stared blankly at the black limousine as it sped away, comparing Adrien’s appearance and behaviour to that of Paris’s beloved black cat. Finding too many similarities for it to be considered normal, he sighed and ran his hand through his hair, wishing he’d never noticed.

Okay you guys but don’t expect a legit schedule from me I wrote this in like two weeks around school okay thanks bye

#miraculous #miraculous ladybug #miraculous: tales of ladybug and chat noir #cat noir #chat noir #marinette cheng #marinette #adrien agreste #adrien #nino lahiffe #nino #alya #djwifi

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