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armoredisopod · 3 months ago

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Arknights Spring Festival 2025 PVs

youtube

New Operators

Surfer, 5* Agent Vanguard

It's sunny out, wanna go for a walk?

Xingzhu, 5* Welfare Abjurer Supporter

The pen is never sharp, but paper falls like it's flying.

Blaze the Igniting Spark, 6* Primal Caster

I'm back! Right then, it's signed with my real name, Gù Zhúhuáng. Oh Doctor, you don't have to call me anything different, you can still call me Blaze.

Yu, 6* Limited Primal Protector Defender

I'm not gonna give it away for free, hehe, but the price is negotiable.

Of all the flavors in the world, the fullness of life is the best them of all.

Operator Outfits Update

4 new additions for the Made by 0011 brand

Almond Platter - Almond

Prairie Pals - Bena

Youthful Journey - Zuo Le (21 OP)

Spring Feast - Shu (21 OP)

Operator Modules Update

Xingzhu being part of the Abjurer Supporter branch immediately gets her module

BLS-X module base effect increases her healing to 100% of her ATK

Earthshaker Guard branch gets 1 module type

Lin, Zuo Le and Chongyue get their second module

PLX-Y module base effect increases Lin's damage the more enemies are in her range (up to +15%)

SBL-Y module base effect allows Zuo Le to survive with 30% HP upon reaching 0 HP for the first time each deployment

FGT-Y module base effect increases Chongyue's ASPD by +10 when he is above 50% HP

Dusk and Eunectes get specialized modules

Dusk gets an Integrated Strategies module

Eunectes gets a Reclamation Algorithm module

Events and Stories

Such is the Joy of Our Reunion, the next installment of the Sui storyline taking place in the culinary city of Bai Zao

Regardless whether you are worried about family matters or matters of national security, when you're at the dinner table all that matters is a pair of chopsticks.

If you're alive, how come you're not eating properly? It's time for dinner. Go wash up and get ready to eat——

Operator Archives update for Yu, Lin, Wanqing and Grain Buds

Misc Stuff

New QoL features

New activity rooms that players can decorate, operators assigned to these rooms can be controlled and moved around the base, also players can use emojis here for fun

The reception room has been expanded and can be decorated with Reception Room exclusive decor items

Dualchips will only take 1 second to make in the Factory

Added dorm rotation locks, operators in the locked slot will not be affected by the dorm rotation button

Added remaining working time display for certain base facilities and a notification option for shift rotations and operators being fully rested in the settings

Performance upgrades for Workshop, Offices, Training Room, Elevators and other facilities

In-game mail players receive can be stamped and stored in the mail folder where players can review them

Added a Module Showroom where players can conveniently view and manage module information

Archetto, Iris and Beanstalk added to Recruitment

Blue Poison's [Shoal Beat] Outfit will be available in the certs shop to players that don't have it

Livestream Stuff

Showcased Yu, a 6* Primal Protector Defender that specializes in inflicting Burn buildup

First talent makes him deal Arts damage and Burn buildup to enemies he blocks and gives him Sanctuary while blocking

Second talent makes Yu recover HP and elemental HP every second when there is at least a certain amount of ally units on the field

Skill 1 passively makes him more likely to be attacked, when active it increases his Max HP & DEF and makes enemies that attack him take Burn buildup

Skill 2 increases his Block Count, ATK & DEF, makes his attacks deal Arts damage, and upon skill activation it immediately deals Arts damage to all enemies in his skill range and teleports all the hit ground enemies to his tile

Skill 3 increases his Max HP, ATK & DEF and makes his second talent apply to all operators, upon skill activation it generates a firewall that spans across the entire battlefield, operator attacks that deal Arts damage against enemies on the opposite side of the firewall will additionally deal Burn buildup based on Yu's ATK, enemy projectiles that hit the firewall have a chance to be nullified

Showcased Blaze the Igniting Spark, a 6* Primal Caster that takes advantage of Burn Burst

First talent activates when Burn Burst triggers on any enemy on the field, deal more Elemental damage to them based on Blaze's ATK and she recovers some HP

Second talent activates when Blaze is defeated, instead of retreating she will instead be knocked down and she gains a large amount of Barrier, she cannot attack or be healed while downed but she recovers HP every second, once fully healed she will revive and Stun all nearby enemies for a few seconds

S1 drops a fire field on the operator with highest Max HP in her range, it deals Arts damage every second and Burn buildup based on the damage dealt by the fire field, lasting for several seconds

S2 changes her range, increases her attack interval, increases her ATK and allows her to attack multiple targets at once, she loses HP with each attack but the enemies she attacks leaves a fire trail, enemies in the fire trail have reduced Movement Speed, receive Arts damage and Burn buildup based on the damage dealt by the fire trail

S3 changes her range, greatly shortens her attack interval, increases her ATK and makes her attacks AoE, if the enemies she hits are under Burn Burst status she deals additional Elemental damage to them, it is an ammo skill that makes her lose HP every second but when Burn Burst triggers on any enemy on the field she gains more ammo, skill can be deactivated manually

Showcased the event mechanic, Fire Stoves powered by chopstick enemies that have hit-based HP, chopsticks will go into one of the 2 stoves on the field depending on their state, enemy chopsticks can be attacked and converted into allied chopsticks and vice versa, when fully charged the allied stove will summon a spirit dragon that deals massive true damage to all enemies in its path

The cost required to spark Nian will be reduced to 200 starting from this event, the cost required to spark Skadi the Corrupting Heart will be reduced to 200 in the CN 6th anniversary event

Announced CC#3 Battleplan Extinguished Sins which is confirmed to have Ep14 enemies and mechanics

IS#3 will gain 3 more difficulty levels up to Surging Waves 18

Starting from SW16 there is a new feature where players can suppress Rejection effects and gain "Genomes" at the end of each battle

At SW17 Rejections will be replaced by Combined Rejections

At SW18, Elite and Leader enemies take -50% Physical and Arts damage for 20s after entering the field, and their ATK is increased by +30%

Rhodes Island Icebreaker Games will return with new features as an annual gamemode

Players can select their preferred play style before matches to obtain their preferred buffs and better communicate their gameplay to other players

Players can swap lineups

More levels and difficulties will be added to Regular Events

New balls and enemy units added to Positional Football

New mechanics and boss added to Bastion Defense

Players can take commemorative photos of their units with their teammates after the match

A new outfit for Vermeil and Originium Slug emojis are some of the rewards players can get from IG#1

Showcased the new base update features such as a music player that can change the background music in the base (limited to main menu background themes) and an info board that displays your friends that recently visited

Announced the next story collection event in involving Eblana, Talulah and Amiya

Teased the next event featuring Eblana

Announced Episode 15, the start of Act III of the main story where Rhodes Island returns to Rim Billiton and cliffhangers from Ep14 will be resolved

Announced an in-game event timeline that puts all the main story chapters, intermezzo, side stories and story collection in chronological order

#arknights #arknights CN news #long post #livestream stuff under the readmore

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korraofthereef · 6 months ago

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Holy shit. TIMEBOMB FANS STRAP IN FOR THIS.

(lots of you have probably already seen this video before, but here’s a quick reminder)

First let’s start with the pinned comment that breaks down time stamps in the video:

Introduction (Ekko did not just have a SLIGHT crush on Jinx lol) : [0:00]

RIOT geniously hiding stuff about Timebomb till the reveal : [1:32]

The timelapse (lots of uncorrect lines in the audio cause we didn't know they met at that time, so it was just me theorizing, but I guess I wasn't wrong now lol) : [2.35]

Ekko-Jinx background, Timelapse + what we know from LORE, and how RIOT been playing with our sanity : [3:20]

✨ WALL ANALYSIS [starting with the easiest ones to see, most interesting parts are near the end]

Intro : Ekko's Wall painted in a RORSCHACH Art style [patchwork graffiti] - being full of Powder & Jinx, Ekko being in love representations, and references to Arcane : [7:28]

Jinx's heroe number and Ekko having her X and her signature all over him : [10:09]

(!) Please see the threads in description to see it all pointed out (!) The video didn't really say it right but these pictures and explanations will definitely make you see what I mean, and also, what I mean about the hair-clip and the Firelight symbol might be theory but I have explained in my thread all the things I discovered that make me thing the Firelight symbol, seeing how it changed, might have a link with Jinx in the first place when it was invented by Ekko.

RIOT playing with us and hiding the fact Jinx was on the wall : [12:14]

This is NOT hypothesis : [12:58]

The developers pointing out the forms we need to see with the thunder hextech energy : [14:54]

Yes, Ekko was in love, and he represented himself 6 times looking at her with bewildered eyes, heart in his eyes, blushing or spying on her during their teenage days : [15:18]

✨ SUMMARY FOR THE THE PAINTINGS --------

NOTE : sometimes you will see the paintings I’m pointing out even better in the next paintings I will point out. By exemple, the Firebomb and the Ekko blushing drawing described in N°2, are clearer and more easy to see in the screencaps pointing out painting N°3! Just try sticking till the end of the video to see them all! ;)

First observations & How I started my Analyze : [16:11]

N°1 - Arcane Jinx main painting on the left - representing Ekko’s Hope to get her back : [16:41]

N°2 - Powder main painting on the right (double faced Powder-Jinx + Ekko blushing + Jinx Chumper bomb) : [17:44]

N°3 & N°4 (I apologize for the lame quality of this one but it was quite hard to make it stand out!) - Screaming/crying Powder, teenage Powder-Jinx drawn K/DA style boxing + teenage Ekko with his Firelight jacket standing on the other side : 5 scenes painted in one and moving along with the seconds! (SIDE NOTE : the cube design on the painting represents the Arcade place in which Jinx boxes the machine, I forgot to mention it in the video!) : [19:19]

N°5 - Vi abandoning Powder - exact Arcane scene : [21:28]

N°6 - Get Jinxed scene from Arcane and Ekko spying on her : [22:14]

N°6, 7 & 8 - Ekko representations watching with bewildered eyes, blushing, with his Firelight mask AND A HEART around the 2 middle Powder & Jinx paintings : [25:20]

Back on N°7, beautiful painting of teenage-adult Jinx with shimmer eyes on top of the wall : [26:26]

N°9 - Little Powder from Arcane & Ekko blushing next to it : [27:47]

N°10 - Doll Jinx with Arcane's clothes : [28:28]

N°11 - Black & white picture of the same screaming/crying Powder represented on painting N°3 : [28:50]

N°12 (that you can see more clearly later in the screencaps of N°27!!) - Ekko in GILDED skin & Jinx with untie long hair drawn in negative mode : [29:04] (!) in the video I said Firelight jacket but now that I discovered all the Ekko-Jinx matching stuff in the Gilded universe (and them hiding in the crowd side-by-side on the Caitlyn’s Gilded artwork lol), I realized it looked like Gilded Ekko in that painting!

N°13 - Young Ekko with unknown person on his side but seeing how the rest of the wall is Jinx, it is probably Powder : [29:19]

N°14 - Young Powder & Ekko talking, probably the talk they had after Powder was taking in by Silco, seeing how Ekko is represented like a skeleton (dying inside) : [29:37]

N°15 - Jinx blue smoke/cloud tattoos representation (!) this cloud I'm pointing out is actually part of the ''cracking the hextech scene'' I've discovered later on, and is located on her shoulder! I will show the painting of that scene later in the video don't worry ! ;) [30:25]

N°16 - Symbols next to the Get Jinxed painting, that have different meanings in the next scenes I will show when the wall will be upside down (singing, crying + hextech symbols) : [30:32]

N°17 - THREE PAINTINGS IN ONE : Powder's red eye when she looks at Silco at the end of Act 3 + Jinx's face/mouth when she looks at Ekko before she made her bomb explode : [30:45]

N°18 - Representation of baby Powder's trauma on the bridge : [31:54]

N°19 - Lighting the flare scene drawn negative mode again, being represented in every way/side you turn the wall : [32:12]

N°20 - Random elements, like Ekko's young blushing face, giving the shape of a heart when you turn them upside-down : [32:29]

N°21 - Young Powder with Arcane's clothes, but looking more fierce as the Powder we know. Perhaps one Powder from Ekko's memory, or the Powder from the Timelapse : [32:40] (!) You can see this painting more clearly in the screencaps of N°27 (!)

N°22 - Jinx drawning/reborn scene with Silco : [32:56]

N°23 - (sorry I have deleted this one since I couldn't point it out in the video, but here's what it was : the black canvas on each side of the scene, also have Jinx & Powder's representations on them, but you'll have to zoom in and improve lighting + the quality yourself to see them cause it can't be shown in a video ToT/)

N°24 - Powder’s leather bag + teenage Ekko staring + blue & pink hand palm : [33:17]

N°25 - Big Jinx monkey-bomb from Arcane, near the other paintings of that exact same scene : [33:37]

N°26 - Drawn negative mode : ''Devil'' Jinx from the bridge scene : [34:08]

N°27 - Two paintings in 1 - Teenage or adult Ekko & Jinx + Ekko’s Gilded skin again ? : [34:31]

N°28 - Jinx ''cracking the Hextech'' scene : [34:57]

N°29 - Firelights representations, same as the ones Jinx drew in her Diary : [35:40]

N°30 - end [36:05]

MORE INTERPRETATIONS & BETTER QUALITY OF SOME PAINTINGS :

N°12 - Ekko & Jinx with untie long hair drawn in negative mode but also, if you look at it at [34:55], you'll see it way more clearly AND also see that it gives Jinx lighting up the flare scene with Ekko on his overboard flying around her.

N°27 - at [34:37] you'll see the young Powder from N°21 way more clearly!

The Jinx Monckey-bomb. At [30:58] ; [31:55] and [34:13] you might see the Jinx Monckey-bomb more clearly as the pictures are in better quality or more focused on this area !

N°22 [32:06] : I forgot to mention it in the video but in that drawing-reborn scene with Silco, you can actually see fingers/a hand (drawn by the Jinx mouth from N°28) pushing on Jinx’s skull/in her hair which seems to be pulling her under water.

More stuff about the Get Jinxed painting and the Devil Jinx one : on top of the Get Jinxed painting, there is a scary white mask/face that I believe to be representing Silco. When you turn the picture upside down, and try not focusing on that mask, it then gives off the Devil Jinx I showed earlier.

Also, the big yellow/bewildered eye in the middle of Jinx chest in the Get Jinxed painting could be representing the Eye of Zaun, as this a tech-nerd Jinx being represented here, and as Ekko is represented staring/spying on her, it could imply that Ekko has recognized Powder in her in that moment, the Zaunite child with whom he grew up with and whom he loved.

End note : I forgot to mention it in the video but there are also 2–3 Vi representations on the Jinx paintings, one from the scene where she left her on the street and went to calm herself away from her, and another with her head and shoulders down, on the main Jinx painting on the left, that looks like the Vi introducing scene from Episode 4 in the prison.

OKAY INSANE. Next I’m gonna give you some screenshots I took so y’all can get some visuals to the stuff you just read. Also, WATCH THE VIDEO!!! The creator does a lot better at exposing than I do—never mind the fact that this is literally their findings! (I didn’t find any of these, just watched the video and now spreading it to tumblr). I have absolutely no recollection of which N• photo these images belong to so you’ll have to play connect the dots lmao

A lot of the images also already have text on the screen explaining, I’m just gonna paraphrase what the voice in the video (not the text) is saying.

These two photos are telling us how Ekko’s down bad ass based the entire firefly logo off of Jinx and her logo… and for the context in the first image about the emboldened Z, here it is:

PRACTICALLY IDENTICAL.

This is the video creator explaining their level 1 billion brain power on thinking outside the box and how the idea of the painting was to go back to an Ekko origin short that came out YEARS before Arcane did. They’ve been planning this entire time, and when the description pasted far above talking about the different photos it was talking about the images painted on a wall in an Ekko origin (will show screenshots next)

The creator of the yt video found almost FORTY Jinx paintings and references to Arcane (which hadn’t been anywhere near its release date when the origin came out.

These ones on the large wood slab are CRAZY. The artists and develops had loads of fun because in the last photo you can see jinx screaming/crying if you focus on all the colours in the photo.

However, the YouTuber blurred Jinx’s face to hell you focus on the blues and pinks where the developers/artists made kind of like a moving mini scene that moved while the video itself moved. To my understanding you can see Jinx boxing and at some point Ekko shows up, too.

(I’ll repost this so I can add more images 👍)

#✮ reef talks #arcane #timebomb #theories #league of legend #Ekko #jinx #crush #before you started talking to the gun #league of legends #lol

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forgive00 · 3 days ago

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mutual aid request for a disabled trans person trying to survive after escaping DV and homelessness!!!! please share and reblog!!! 🍀🌱🧿

goal: 0/600

cashapp: $skyrimhead

venmo: rabbitknife

read below for more information please! thank you 🤍🤍🤍

hi, as some of you may already know, i am a domestic violence victim who in late february fled my former home after being assaulted by my abuser and becoming homeless. an extremely wonderful DV organization in my area took me in, and i had been living in a shelter until two weeks ago, when i was given an opportunity by this organization to acquire a studio apartment with the first three months of rent paid by them, while i look for a job (i was fired from my previous position because my disability unexpectedly got significantly worse and i asked to have my schedule reduced slightly so i could seek medical care). this has been amazing and i cannot stress enough how grateful i am to them, and to everyone who has helped me get here.

unfortunately, i drained my entire savings account while moving in due to buying household supplies and stuff like bedding, cleaning supplies, etc. this is currently how much is in my bank account as of 4/22/25:

i have food stamps so im not concerned about groceries, but i do need to buy more cleaning supplies, and have some money set aside for upcoming bills and also paying for transportation, i currently dont have access to a car anymore and have been relying on uber and friends who offer rides, and if i get a job that isnt in walking distance from my apartment, i need money to be able to uber to work until i can buy a car again.

i want to have at least 400 set aside so in case of emergency i can still pay rent, and about 150-200 left so i can buy cleaning supplies, pay for my hrt, pay for medicine to manage my disabilities, pay for doctors appointments for my disabilities, pay my bills, pay for transportation, and also caulk and advion to seal my apartment from pests and also kill palmetto bugs.

anything left over, or any extra money im given, will go towards helping me get things like wifi (im living off of data currently) shelving and lamps and such so i can make this space more functional.

it would also go towards fixing my laptop which is currently broken, so i can work from home more easily and not have to keep using library computers. i am very disabled and walking and standing for long periods of time is extremely strenuous and painful and has even led to partial dislocations for me before, and i dont want to risk doing it more than is necessary, the more i can do from my home, the better.

if you cannot donate, i humbly ask that you share this post by reblogging it or sending it to others. if youre interested, you can dm me and i can talk to you about offering something of equal value in return for your donation, such as a commission.

if youve read all of this, thank you so much, and i hope you have an amazing day 🤍

#mutual aid #crowdfunding #donations #mutual funds #mutual assistance #gofundme #go fund them #chronically ill #actually disabled #queer community #trans community #nonbinary #just adding hella tags lol sory #transgender

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shotatsuki · 5 months ago

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INTRO POST!!!

(Ik i forgor to make it, but let's imagine it never happened and that this is my first post, ok?)

I go by a few names, although i'd like to be referred to as Allan, I'm into a lot of fandoms, so don't be surprised when you see one of your fandoms on my likes!

I'm a ex-anti, proshipper, profiction, self shipper, AutoShota/Loli, and a Shotacon. If you are against any of these things, don't engage with me, please

Warning: I block every anti that interacts with me. So if you are planning on 'arguing' with me DON'T expect an answer

I don't really know if this blog is or isn't 100% pro-para. So please understand that i may make some mistakes (By pure accident, i swear!!) with definitions and stuff

Some facts about me:

-Instead of using fandom names, i will use Upper case and lower case (With some exeptions) in my posts, so they won't reach the antis from that fandom (Basically: i= Lowercase L (l), N=|\|, o=0 (Zero), and the list goes on)

-I openly talk about/Reblog posts about Shotas

-I'm not american (Or from a country that speaks english), so don't expect my grammar to be good

THE PERSON BEHIND @shota-fication AND @proselfieship (so far! !)

Fandoms i'm in:

-YUME NlKKl (and Y|\|FGS)

-H0MESTUCK

-S0UTH PARK

-V0CAL0ID

-0M0Rl

-SKULLGlRLS

-DELTARUN∃

-MOUTHWASHlNG

-D4NDY'S W0RLD

-C00KlE RUN (0VENBREAK AND KlNGD0M)

-THE AMAZlNG DlGlTAL ClRCUS

MY DNI LIST:

-Racist people

-Homophobes

-Actual IRL pedos/MAPS

-Zoos

-Necros

-Ableists

-Antis (Obviously)

-ANYONE THAT IS PRO CONTACT

Some extra stuff... Look down if u want 2! !

Credits! ! ! (For as far as i know! !)

This user doesn't understan social cues/This user's soooooo normal abt their favorite crossover ship (someone please make content for them)/This user likes to daydream: @sweetpeauserboxes

Autoshota/Shotacon/I (heart) INCEST!! Blinkies: Me! (@shotatsuki)

Dear antis grow the fuck up or shut the fuck up stamp: @stampocalypse on deviantArt (Posted on tumblr by @benugsc)

Len stamp: @pink-sugar

I love selfcest stamp/Good boys kiss their brothers stamp: @graphic-cest-2

If you have any questions about me, feel free to ask (Just don't be rude)

That's it for now, i may update it in the future, ig

#proship #op is a proshipper #profic #anti anti #op is a ex-anti #intro post #big intro post #moot hunting

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dualecholity · 29 days ago

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‼️WIP‼️ this is my first time on tumblr and idk how it functions yet, but I saw other ppl posting intros for their blogs so I’m gonna do that too :3 warning this is absolutely littered with stamps and blinkies :v

DNI at the bottom

🪽☄️I hoard names because I don’t really feel connections to any of them, so you may see my pref name change a lot. On my different accounts I like to go by certain names, for example the one for this blog is Echo, but the names I currently liek to go by are Wolfsong, Wulf, and Lycan. 🌟🐾My pronouns are also very fluid and constantly change, I can never settle on ‘em -w-. I’m trying out namepronouns and mirrorpronouns atm so feel free to use those, though wolf/it/ze/star/cat/bite/fizzy ect would be nice too! 🌈🫧 I use many labels because my identity is very fluid and it’s hard to express myself without them… I’m a lesbian, transgender, enby, multigender, xenogender, and aspec (probably asexual and quoiromantic) did I mention I hoard xenogenders? XD

I try to reblog as many xenogenders that I like as I can on @lycanshoard fyi !

I am a holothere alterhuman! I am in full support of transspecies and physical nonhumans, delusional or not <3 here is a list of my ‘types!

kintypes!! 🪐💕 >Serial Designation V - Murderdrones >Cleavepool - Warrior Cats Creepypasta >Remote control - BFB/BFDI: TPOT >Icewing/Nightwing - Wings of Fire >Cat/werecat/sparklecat - N/A >Starflesh - N/A >Witchbrew - Kaiju paradise >Chroma - Castle Cats

hearttypes :3 💫🌱 >Dragons >Cats >the moon and night >doll/Uzi - murderdrones

doubles are fine to interact, but sorry if I make you uncomfy T_T

Some fandoms I like are: >murder drones, castle cats, warrior cats, wings of fire, wolfwalkers, internecion cube, tpot, itft, foxcraft, creatures of sonaria, portal, and dragon adventures , you’ll probably see me posting about them (when I can use my drawing tablet again -.-)

🍄🔮I love art, animation, reading, fanfic, fursuiting, alternative fashion, 2000s-2010s scene/emo/furry stuff, plushies, and kandi :3

🐈‍⬛🪶my favorite animals are cats, dragons, bats, snakes, and wolves ^w^

💿🦋i HATE cringe culture, dark chocolate, mean people, and BRAMBLECLAW!! This is a blue streaked Squirrelflight household 💙

🕯️🩹Im neurodivergent and have trouble with basic social interaction,, sorry if I come off weird or my jokes don’t make sense ;w;

🪞🎀I enjoy being very silly and whimsical. it is my favorite hobby. I notice that tumblr seems very silly and whimsical :0

💎🍭I really enjoy breakcore, Scenecore, hyperpop, speedcore, shitcore, ect music :P some artists I like are mailpup, salv the dog, tqbf, bbsi, femtanyl, and bugcried :P

🍧🦴it’d be nice if you use tonetaga but you don’t have to qwq I like to use tone tags and emoticons a lot because. uhhhh. im a cat and I plead the fifth

NSFW blogs DNI and nazis, transphobes, homophobes, and xenicphobics FUCK OFF‼️‼️‼️🚨 same for ppl who sexualize kids and animals </3 I block freely and will pretend I do not see…

ok bye lallalalalalalalalal :3

#how do i tag shit #/gen

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missasahina · 1 month ago

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Lips that hold love, Chapter #003 - Book 1, Season 1

MASTERLIST

The chapter is below the cut

Heyyy

Actually, I planned to post these chapters (the last 2 from book 1 that I wanted to translate) earlier today or, depending on where you live, yesterday :D But I somehow managed to delete it or smth while trying to post it on a time stamp. So, I had to organize all the content once again.

The good thing? I kinda improve it (?) or I hope so.

The original intro I wrote for this chapter was in Spanish, and I did my usual song and dance, summary, glossary, and stuff. This time I'm skipping the summary, I don't even know if someone reads it lol it's just fun for me.

On to the glossary:

受験生 (Jukensei) student preparing for or taking examinations (usu. entrance exams). Iori refers to himself as this, I translated it as test-taker.

ノーテンキ (notenki) laid-back; carefree; easygoing; thoughtless; happy-go-lucky. Being carefree, or a person who is carefree (perhaps recklessly so). Futo calls Ema this, I tried to check if this term is rude in Japanese but couldn't find anything conclusive. Personally, I think the way he uses it is rude.

ヒンソーな胸の女 hinsōna mune no on'na. Flat-chested woman. Again, Futo. Hinso by itself has the meaning of seedy-looking, thin. This one is rude and insulting, 0 doubt.

Also, I wanted to highlight that Futo, for some reason, is written in Katakana. Everyone else uses more standard Japanese, or at least the terms are easier to look up because they are written in the correct alphabet for native Japanese words (hiragana). If someone knows why, please explain it to me because I'm really curious.

The last thing, I tried to give characterization to how Tsubaki speaks. English is my second language, I don't have any accent or know someone who has it so... I wrote the phrases in standard American English and asked chat GPT to give it new york flavor lol

I don't think it's 100% accurate; I just thought it would be a nice touch. The way he is written originally gives him so much personality and if I just translated it as it was... it sounded meh.

The chapter is below:

The rainy season is over, and summer is finally here.

When you think of summer, you think of the sea! White clouds in a blue sky!

How wonderful it would be to relax at a tropical resort...

That's what I was thinking while watching an ad for a resort...

One night in July, when the tourist season had begun, as dinner was about to end, Ukyo-san spoke calmly.

Ukyo: " What should we do this year about that trip to the island?"

(Trip?)

I wonder what he is talking about.

While I was wondering, Tsubaki-san, who was drinking his after-meal coffee, pulled out his cell phone out of nowhere.

The others were also all looking at the calendar hanging on the wall.

Apparently, they were checking their schedules.

When I was in a daze, unable to comprehend the situation, Ukyo-san explained.

Ukyo: "Once a year, our family takes a trip to our mother's villa."

“Does she own a… villa?”

Ukyo: "Yes. It's a little far from here but on a remote island within the country."

Wataru: "It even has a private beach; it's amazing!"

Added Wataru-chan with a big smile, peeking his head from beside Ukyo-san.

I knew Miwa-san was a successful career woman, but...

(Her villa even has a private beach!)

Honestly, the scale of it all is so big that rather than being surprised, I was taken aback.

Ukyo: " Well, that's why we're deciding the dates for our family trip. What are your plans?"

"Oh, yes! Well..."

I get excited when I hear the words ‘family trip.’

After all, it's the first big event since I came to the Asahina household.

"I think I have classes until the 16th, so any time after that is fine."

Ukyo: "I see..."

When I told him that, the brothers began talking about their schedules.

Tsubaki: "Azusa and I are super busy with events and stuff during the summer holidays... Hmm... What we gonna do, Azusa?"

Azusa: "Yeah, that's true..."

Tsubaki-san and Azusa-san groaned as they looked into their respective cell phones.

After all, it's hard for popular voice actors to take time off.

Wataru: "Can't Tsukkun and Akkun come with us?"

Wataru-chan, who had been listening, said with a sad look on his face.

Tsubaki: "Don’t gimme that look, Wataru."

Wataru: "It’s just that... I want to go on a trip with everyone."

Azusa: "Don't worry. I'll make sure to adjust my work schedule accordingly."

Tsubaki-san and Azusa-san said that while taking turns patting Wataru-chan's head.

Ukyo: "So, how about this? We could all schedule our days off around Tsubaki and Azusa's, who are hard to schedule."

Ukyo-san summarizes, and everyone nods in agreement.

Azusa: "But wouldn't that cause problems for Futo?"

Kaname: "Well, he's around the clock, and we don't know what his schedule will be like because of work."

Azusa-san was worried about Futo-kun, who was away at work again today, but Kaname-san brushed it off.

(They say that when you're a member of an idol group at the peak of its popularity, you don't even have time to sleep...)

Come to think of it, I first met Futo-kun in the middle of the night.

I remember he was exhausted and lying on the sofa on the fifth floor...

At the time, he said some nasty things to me, which irritated me, but I guess that was just because he was tired from work.

I hope the timing works out so that Futo-kun can join us.

Kaname: " Ok, for now, students who have summer vacation will have to adjust to the working adults..."

Kaname-san clears his throat and says this, and Ukyo-san looks puzzled.

Ukyo: "Working adults… does that group include you, Kaname?"

Kaname: "Eh?! What are you saying, Kyo-nii? Of course, clearly!"

The brothers all sighed at Kaname-san's reaction.

Louis: "Working adult... somehow, that doesn't fit with Kaname-niisan..."

Louis-san said with a sigh, and Subaru-san agreed with him, nodding slightly.

Kaname: "Ah!? What's that? What do you mean?! You guys don’t seem to know, but I've been working properly!"

Ukyo: "You mean easy work, mainly flirting with women?"

Kaname: "Ah, well, that, that's... hey, Kyo-nii! You should at least support me!"

I couldn't help but laugh as I listened to the exchange between Ukyo-san and Kaname-san.

(Come to think of it, I may have never actually seen Kaname-san behaving monk-like...)

Kaname: "Ah. Imōto-chan, you just laughed, right?"

"Eh? No, no... that..."

I hurriedly deny it, but Kaname-san slowly approaches me.

Kaname: "If you're laughing, does that mean you think the same about me?"

"Uh……"

When I was at a loss for words, Kaname-san leaned in closer.

Kaname: "Am I right? Does my cute imōto-chan want to be punished?"

"Eh, no... No, that's not it!"

Oh no. Kaname-san's eyes are so serious!

Masaomi: "Yes, yes, that's enough."

As I was panicking, Masaomi-san intervened with a very relaxed attitude.

Phew, what a relief!

If I continued like that, it felt like I was in danger of being seriously punished.

Masaomi: "Well, then, for now, once Tsubaki and Azusa's schedule is decided, let's all go along with it. Fuuto, if he's lucky, he'll join in."

In the end, that's what Masaomi-san concluded, and the meeting came to an end.

(So, everyone's going on a trip to the island...)

I returned to my room and looked at the calendar hanging on the wall.

"I need to buy a swimsuit...!"

That's right. I also want a hat and a new travel bag.

I'll go shopping for them on my next day off.

I excitedly enter shopping plans into my planner.

I'm really looking forward to a villa with a private beach.

I hope summer vacation comes soon!

And then...

"Wow! This is a private beach!"

A few weeks later, we siblings were standing on a remote island a few hours away from Tokyo, a short flight and ferry ride away.

I put my luggage down at the stylish villa that stands near the beach, reminiscent of a tropical overwater bungalow, and stepped out onto the terrace.

The endless blue ocean spread out before me. And the white sand beach...

I can't believe this is only for the Asahina family.

It’s a shame that Papa is missing out on this view.

Apparently, Papa and Miwa-san couldn't make it because of work commitments, so in the end, it was just us siblings who came to the island.

(It's a shame because it's a special family trip... but I guess it can't be helped if it's work...)

As I gazed at the ocean with these thoughts in my mind, Iori-san came to my side.

Iori: "How is it? Do you like it?"

"Yes! A lot!"

When I answered, Iori-san chuckled.

Iori: "You're always so cheerful, aren't you?"

“I-Is that so…?”

Maybe I got a little too excited?

Iori: "Don't be so embarrassed. There's nothing wrong with being cheerful."

"I'm sorry..."

Iori: "So, don't apologize, okay?"

Iori-san smiled and patted my head.

(Uh... I feel kind of embarrassed...)

I don't really know what to do in this situation.

Iori: "Everyone else has already gone to the beach. Why don't you go, too?"

"I’ll do that."

I decided to return to my room and change my clothes at Iori-san's recommendation.

I changed into my brand-new swimsuit and stood in front of the mirror.

Actually, I wanted to get a one-piece swimsuit, but I followed the sales clerk’s advice and went for the two-piece type.

"Hmm..."

I'm a bit worried about my figure, maybe?

Juli: "Chī, what's with that outfit?"

"Huh? Well... it's just a swimsuit. What do you think?"

Juri stares at me.

Juli: "I think it suits you well."

"Thanks, Juri!"

Juli: "But..."

"Hmm?"

Juli: "Well, isn't it a little revealing?"

"Yeah, I guess... but it's a swimsuit, so I guess it's okay."

When I said that, Juri tilted his head.

Juri has been with me since I was little, and he's become like a dad to me. I'm sure he's worried about me.

"Only my siblings are here today, so don't worry."

I don't want Juli to worry unnecessarily.

Juli: "But that's why I'm worried."

"What?"

Juli: "No... it's nothing."

What's wrong, Julie?

After getting changed, I carefully applied sunscreen and headed to the beach.

Each sibling seems to be spending their time as they please.

Ukyo-san has set up a sunbed beside the cottage and reading a book.

As for Iori-san...

(I wonder if he's studying?)

Even though we are on vacation... That's impressive.

As for everyone else...

Subaru: "Oh!"

"Ah, Subaru-san"

As I was walking and looking around the beach, I bumped into Subaru-san coming out from behind a tree.

"Subaru-san. Are you going to go swimming now?"

Subaru: "Y-You..."

I wonder what's wrong with Subaru-san? Looking closely, his face is a little red...

Subaru: "What's with that outfit..."

"That outfit... it’s a swimsuit..."

Subaru: "I-I know that much!"

Maybe it doesn't suit me...

While I was feeling anxious, Subaru-san took off the hoodie he was wearing.

Subaru: "Wear this!"

"Huh?"

Then he thrusts it at me.

"What do you mean, “wear this” ...why..."

Subaru: "Nh-never mind that!"

Huh, what?!

What’s happening all of a sudden?!

While I was confused, Subaru-san seemed angry for some reason and shoved his hoodie on me.

"Uh, huh..."

Somehow, I feel like I have to wear it.

Subaru: "I'll get going!"

After watching me put it on, Subaru-san said this and ran off to the water's edge.

(Subaru-san is strange...)

Without making sense of it, I started walking towards the sea again.

The sun shining down from the blue sky is already shining brightly as we approach the height of summer.

(Good thing I put on sunscreen!)

The white sand is hot under my feet. I can't wait to dip into the cold ocean!

Just as I was thinking this, I heard Wataru-chan's innocent cry.

Wataru: " Onee-chan! Come here, come, come!"

"Wataru-chan!"

Wataru-chan and Masaomi-san were by the seashore. Together with Kaname-san, they were playing in the water.

When I approached them, Kaname-san looked dissatisfied for some reason.

Kaname: "Huh? What's with that unfashionable hoodie?"

"Ah, this is Subaru-san’s..."

Kaname: "Eh? What were you thinking, Suba-chan? Come on, let's take it off!"

"What!?"

Kaname-san stopped playing in the water and tried to take off Subaru-san's hoodie that I was wearing.

Wataru: "Why are you taking off Onee-chan's clothes, Kanakana?"

Wataru-chan asked with a puzzled look on his face.

"Oh, that's right! Why are you taking it off!"

Kaname-san stopped his hand as I tried to take advantage of Wataru-chan’s intervention.

Kaname: "That's right. I'll take off her clothes after the kids go to bed. I’ll look forward to it tonight.♪"

"K-Kaname-san!"

...You don't have to be looking forward to it...!!

Kaname-san grinned and finally let go of my hand.

Wataru: "......"

"Wataru-chan? What's wrong?"

Wataru: "......No, nothing."

For a moment, Wataru-chan seemed sullen. Maybe it was just my imagination?

After playing for a while, I came out of the water and saw Louis-san on the sandy beach.

(What’s he doing?)

Out of curiosity, I went closer...

"Wow, amazing...!"

Louis: "Huh...?"

In front of me was the Taj Mahal made out of sand? And even the Sagrada Familia...!

"A-all of this...Louis-san made it all?"

Louis: "Yup."

It's like a sculptor's work...! As expected from a hairdresser, she's very dexterous with her hands.

I was watching in awe when...

"Huh? Louis-san?"

Louis: "..."

Louis-san froze in place like a statue.

"W-what's wrong?"

Louis-san is staring at one spot, so I wave my hand in front of him...

Louis: "I'm almost at my limit. It's hot..."

What!?

As soon as Louis-san said that, he fell face down onto the pile of sand in front of him.

"Oh my! Someone, please!"

I screamed, pulling at the hem of Louis-san's clothes as he lay there.

It's heavy!

Tsubaki: “Hey, are you okay!?”

"Ah! Tsubaki-san!"

Tsubaki-san came running over.

“Louis-san suddenly collapsed!”

Tsubaki: "I can tell just by lookin’ at it, but what should we do?"

"’What should we do?’ Carry him to the shade!"

I said this while tugging on Louis-san's hem even more, and Tsubaki-san grinned.

Tsubaki: "There's a pile of sand in the right place, so let’s bury ‘im in there.★"

“Eh!?”

Tsubaki-san said something outrageous!

Then, Azusa-san rushes after Tsubaki-san and immediately slaps him on the back of the head.

Tsubaki: "Ouch?!"

Azusa: "You idiot! Stop joking. Let’s take him over there."

Tsubaki: "Yes, yes."

Oh, thank goodness...! Louis-san is too heavy for me to carry by myself.

Azusa-san and Tsubaki-san carried the exhausted Louis-san, laying him down under the parasol.

Azusa-san quickly took a cold towel from the cooler and tended to Louis-san.

"You seem pretty experienced at this."

As I was impressed by his skill, Azusa-san said with a wry smile.

Azusa: "This guy did the same thing last year."

"What?! Last year?"

Azusa: "When Louis gets absorbed in something, he doesn't notice what's going on around him."

Ah, I see... It certainly does seem that way.

Tsubaki: "Alright, if we keep ‘im cool like this for a bit, he should be fine. It happened last time, too."

As Tsubaki-san says this, he flaps a towel over Louis-san, blowing air on him.

Tsubaki: "Well, Louis is an idiot, but those guys are pretty damn dumb too."

"Hm?"

I followed Tsubaki-san's gaze as he looked at the horizon and saw two tremendous water splashes off into the ocean.

"Those are..."

Azusa: "Subaru and Yusuke. They were really excited about competing in swimming long-distance."

"Yeah..."

Azusa-san shrugged her shoulders.

Really, those two are full of energy.

Once Louis-san's condition had stabilized, we returned to the villa, where we found Iori-san and Futo-kun studying, just like before.

At first, Futo-kun was too busy to join the trip.

However, by coincidence, the shooting location for the drama he is in takes place near the island, so he's joining the family for a short while.

Iori: "Hey. Did you go for a swim?"

"Yes! Uh... are you studying, Iori-san?"

Iori: " Yeah. I'm a test-taker, after all."

Iori-san says this with a wry smile.

Futo: "Unlike carefree girls like you, we're busy."

"C-carefree...!"

Futo-kun snorts as he looks over something that looks like a script.

It really makes me angry...!

But be patient! Futo-kun is my younger brother.

"Aren't you two going to the beach?"

Regaining my composure, I asked.

Iori: "When I get sunburned, I get red right away. It's a bit embarrassing."

Iori-san laughs in a troubled tone.

He is indeed very white, and it would probably be terrible if he got sunburned...

Futo: "I can't just go out in the sun without thinking, like that flat-chested woman. I mean, a sunburn is totally out of the question. I'm an entertainer."

Hmm? A flat-chested woman?! Is he talking about me?!

Futo: "You’re flat-chested, so you're wearing that hoodie to hide your figure, right?"

"Wh-what! It's true that I don't have much chest, but..."

So annoying! Super offensive!

No matter how isn't this something awful to say?!

Iori: "Futo...!"

Futo: "Hmph!"

Iori-san chides him, but Futo-kun just turns away and doesn't even bother to apologize.

Ugh!

Why do I have to stand this!?

"I'm going to the beach again."

If this keeps up, we'll probably get into a fight. Thinking about that, I ran out to the beach again.

When I returned to the beach, the sun had gone down.

The weather had been so nice just a moment ago...

Even the sea breeze felt a little cold.

─── By the way, I wonder if Louis-san is okay?

I looked under the parasol, but there was no one there.

Masaomi: "Hey!"

"Oh, Masaomi-san."

Suddenly, Masaomi-san came running. He seemed to be really panicking.

Masaomi: "Have you seen Wataru?"

"Eh? Wataru-chan? I haven't seen him since we parted ways earlier... What happened?"

Masaomi: "Well, he just disappeared from sight."

"What??"

That's terrible!

"You mean, into the ocean?! Did he go too deep?!"

Masaomi: "No... he can't swim. Besides, I told him to play in shallow waters only."

Even so, Masaomi-san couldn't hide his anxiety.

"Let's split up and search for him!"

Masaomi: "Yeah..."

Then, Kaname-san, Tsubaki-san, and Azusa-san came.

Perhaps sensing our uneasy state, Kaname-san asked,

Kaname: "…Has something happened!?"

As Masaomi-san explained, the expressions on their faces changed in an instant.

Wataru-chan is a soft-looking boy, so I'm a bit worried.

Kaname: "Let's split up and search for him. Azusa, go back to the villa and tell Kyo-nii. Tsubaki, go call Subaru, Yusuke, and Louis."

Kaname-san gave instructions efficiently. Tsubaki-san and Azusa-san nodded silently.

At that moment, a raindrop suddenly slapped my cheek.

"Rain?!"

The weather was starting to turn bad... I'm more and more worried about Wataru-chan.

Kaname: "You should go back to the villa."

"...I'll help you look for him!"

Kaname: "But you’re unfamiliar with the surroundings..."

As he was worried about me, he said that.

"Wataru-chan is my younger brother!"

I say this outright. I can't be the only one quietly sitting out!

Kaname: "......."

Kaname-san stares at me intently. I stare straight back into his eyes.

Then, as if giving up, Kaname-san's mouth quirks into a smile.

Kaname: "Then, Masa-nii, go search the sea. Tsubaki and the others, too. You and I will look behind the villa."

Everyone took those words as a signal and dispersed.

Behind the cottage, there was a dense forest.

The rain and wind gradually got stronger, causing the trees to rustle and ruffle.

"Wataru-cha───n!"

No matter how loud I scream, the noise drowns out my voice.

"Where did he go...?"

I was at a loss, wiped the rain from my forehead, and sighed.

Kaname: "Are you okay?"

"Yes..."

Kaname-san looks at me with a worried look on his face.

"Let's go a little further in... achoo!"

‘Let's look further.’ Just as I was about to say that, I sneezed.

Kaname: " Imōto-chan, you're cold, aren't you?"

"I-I'm fine...sniff!"

Kaname: "You're actually surprisingly stubborn. Here..."

"Huh??"

Kaname-san smiled bitterly and slowly pulled me by the shoulder.

His arms wrapped around my body.

"Uh...?! K-Kaname-sa...?!"

(Wh-what...? What is this...?)

Kaname: "Your body is completely cold, you know."

As he says this, Kaname-san gently tightens his embrace.

As he hugs me tightly, my heart involuntarily leaps.

(Ugh...!!)

The warmth of Kaname-san's chest and arms slowly seeps into my body.

(My heart is pounding... my heart is pounding because of Kaname-san... even though he's my older brother...)

Not knowing what to do, I just let myself rest in Kaname-san's arms when he whispered in my ear, ‘Thank you.’

I looked up at Kaname-san's face, feeling embarrassed,

Kaname: "Thank you for searching for Wataru in this rain,"

Kaname-san added.

"B-but Wataru-chan is my precious little brother..."

Kaname: "Yeah, that's true. But you're also my precious little sister, so I don't want to push you any further than this."

Finally, as if whispering into my ear, Kaname-san gently asked, "Do you understand?"

Kaname-san's breath felt strangely hot to my ears, which had gone cold.

Just when I was about to say something like that───

Tsubaki: “Kananii!!”

Hearing Tsubaki-san's voice, I hastily shook off Kaname-san's arms.

Tsubaki: "We found Wataru!"

Tsubaki-san said, out of breath.

Thank goodness! Wataru-chan is safe.

Kaname-san and I breathed a sigh of relief.

Kaname: "Anyway, let's go back."

"Y-Yes!"

I nodded to Kaname-san's words and started walking.

Kaname-san was walking in front of me, talking to Tsubaki-san.

When his arm came into view, I couldn't help but look away.

(Am I becoming aware of Kaname-san...?)

Kaname-san thought of me and warmed me up like that...

Even though we didn't know where Wataru-chan was, my heart started pounding when he hugged me...

I'm insensitive.

But───

Wataru: "I'm sorry...!"

Everyone is gathered in the villa’s large living room.

Wataru-chan would occasionally glance up at everyone, then look down again.

As expected, he seems extremely dejected.

It seems he is very shocked that it got so serious.

As for where Wataru-chan was, it was no big deal.

Tired from playing in the water, he returned to the villa by himself and took a nap with Juri.

"I'm glad nothing happened."

Wataru: "Onee-chan, I'm sorry..."

"It's okay. You're all right."

I patted Wataru-chan's head gently. Then, Wataru-chan looked up at me with a crying face.

Tsubaki-san, who was watching the situation, said with a dumbfounded look on his face,

Tsubaki: "You, kids ain't s'posed to be runnin' around alone, got it?"

Hearing this, Wataru-chan looked a little annoyed.

Azusa: "Is there something you want to say?"

Azusa-san asked gently and after a moment of silence,

Wataru: "…I'm not a kid anymore,"

Wataru-chan muttered in a mosquito-like voice.

Her round eyes were filled with tears.

(Perhaps he was sulking because Kaname-san called him a child while we played in the sea earlier, too?)

Suddenly, I remembered our conversation early that day.

At that time, Wataru-chan did seem a little sulky...

Masaomi: "Wataru, if you say you're not a child, then you shouldn't cause trouble for everyone."

Wataru: "Makkun..."

When Masaomi-san spoke, Wataru-chan's face looked like he was about to cry. His mouth was twisted in a frown.

I patted Wataru-chan's head again, saying, “It’s okay, it’s okay.''

I know we shouldn't spoil him, but seeing Wataru-chan crying really makes my heart ache.

Ukyo: "You've caused a lot of trouble for everyone, so I need you to help me prepare dinner tonight. Adults pay the price for their mistakes, right──?"

Ukyo-san's eyes sparkled mysteriously.

Suddenly, Wataru-chan, eyes still watery, clung to me.

This looks like it's going to be a bit of a harsh punishment.

Do your best, Wataru-chan! This is surely the first step towards becoming an adult.

As I was cheering him in my mind, Ukyo-san said,

Ukyo: "By the way, you guys should go get changed. You're soaking wet."

Come to think of it, everyone was soaked from the rain.

"Oh, that's right. Subaru-san, your hoodie got wet, so I'll wash it and return it to you."

Subaru: "No, don’t bother... Don't worry about it. Just give it back."

“That’s not…”

Subaru: "No problem. I kind of forced it on you… so I can't cause you any more trouble."

Hmm? Subaru-san seems kinder than usual.

"But I feel bad about it... Oh, if you don't mind, I can wash your clothes too!"

Subaru-san's clothes are soaked from searching for Wataru-chan. I might as well wash them together.

"Take it off, please!"

Subaru: "Hey? Stop..."

I gently tug Subaru-san's clothes...

Wataru: "Onee-chan, taking off your clothes is supposed to be a fun thing to do at night, right?"

Wataru-chan seemed to remember Kaname-san's from earlier and said that.

"Huh? W-what did you say..."

My brothers looked puzzled.

And at the same time, Kaname-san burst out laughing.

Subaru-san looked at me, shock in his eyes.

Subaru: "Hey, what in the world did you tell Wataru..."

"What?! It wasn't me, I didn’t say anything ...!!"

I shook my head vigorously and repeatedly denied it...

Late at night.

Unable to fall asleep, I went out to the beach with Juli.

I can't get the memory of Kaname-san hugging me in the forest out of my mind...

(Ha, I... I guess there's something wrong with me...)

Even during dinner, I kept glancing at Kaname-san...

I was clearly not my usual self.

I looked up at the night sky, sighing.

The rain had stopped. The pitch-black sky was filled with stars.

It was as if they were falling from the sky.

"It's amazing... You can't see a sky like this in Tokyo."

Juli: "That would be hard to do in the city."

"Come to think of it, a long time ago, when I went camping in the mountains with Papa, I saw a sky like this."

Juli: "That brings back memories. Chii used to cry a lot because she was scared of the sound of insects."

"Juli used to get eaten by mosquitoes all the time."

Juli: "Why do you remember something like that...?"

"Well, because..."

As I casually conversed with Juli, I suddenly heard a voice from behind me.

Kaname: "You're talking to yourself pretty loudly, aren't you?"

"Huh?!"

Surprised, I turned around to see Kaname-san standing there, smiling brightly.

Kaname: "Or maybe you were having a conversation with the squirrel?"

"No, not at all..."

I shook my head vigorously.

I wanted to keep the fact that I could talk to Juli a secret for now.

It's weird to be able to talk to squirrels in the first place...

Kaname: "I was just joking. You don't have to deny it so desperately."

"Y-You're right..."

Ah, he surprised me. Kaname-san can't be underestimated because he is strangely sharp, even if only occasionally.

Kaname: "By the way, imōto-chan, are you taking a lonely walk along the beach at night?"

"Not lonely, but that's right."

Kaname: "I see. Maybe you couldn't fall asleep?"

"Huh..."

When he asked, my heart leaped involuntarily.

(I-it sounded meaningful because I was strangely conscious of it, right?)

"I-the sound of the waves... it was bothering me a bit..."

Kaname: "What a coincidence, me too. Did the sound of the waves lapping and retreating make your heart race?"

I said that as a last resort, but Kaname-san replied nonchalantly.

Somehow, there was something a little different about him than usual.

The Kaname-san I know is more...

Kaname: " Imōto-chan?"

"Oh, sorry..."

No good, I was spacing out.

I feel like I'm just floating around all alone; I shouldn’t be like this...

Kaname: "Well, since we're here, why don't we enjoy the night breeze together for a while?"

"Yeah, I guess..."

Is it really okay to be with Kaname-san in this situation?

For a moment, I felt uneasy.

Kaname: "Well, let's go."

"Y-yes."

And yet, the next moment, I was walking, urged on by Kaname-san.

Somehow, Kaname-san tonight has a magnetism that compels me to do so. That's what I felt───. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kaname-san and I took a walk along the beach at night. I silently follow Kaname-san from behind. The sea at night is incredibly calm. Occasionally, I can see the moon floating in the night sky reflected on the water's surface. The sound of Kaname-san's footsteps overlaps with mine. For some reason, that makes me nervous.

Kaname: "I love the ocean at night. It gets pitch black, and the boundary between the sky and the ocean disappears. You're thrown into a vast space... I like that feeling."

Feeling unusually romantic, Kaname-san smiles quietly as he saunters along the water's edge.

Kaname: "The ocean on a dark night is filled with ripples... Don't you think humans are insignificant when surrounded by nature like this?"

"Yes, that's right... All we can do is surrender ourselves to it..."

Kaname: "That's right."

Kaname-san said in a singing voice and slowly walked into the sea.

"Kaname-san, be careful, okay?"

Kaname: "It's okay!"

Kaname-san laughs as he says that, somehow, he looks like a child...

Kaname-san has an entirely different atmosphere tonight than usual.

I can't find the right words to say it, but...

(If someone told me his usual appearance is just temporary, I would probably believe it.)

The way he is now may be the true Kaname-san.

He waded into the ocean up to his knees and stretched his arms towards the night sky.

Kaname: "When I'm in a place like this, I really feel like I'm alive thanks to God's blessings. I don't care about trivial things... don't you think so?"

Kaname-san spoke in a light-hearted tone.

But his words penetrated deep into my heart.

"Kaname-san, so you can think of things like that. I thought you only thought about women."

Kaname: "You’re cruel. I'm a monk, you know? I'm always thinking about peace for all humankind, peace of mind, and maybe a little bit about women."

See, he thinks about it after all.

I chuckled, and suddenly Kaname-san stopped moving.

"Is something wrong?"

Kaname: "Nothing, you... have you caught a cold?"

"Oh, yes... I'm fine, thanks to you."

Kaname: "That's good. Thank you for today. I'm so glad to have a girl like you as my little sister."

Saying that Kaname-san smiled gently.

I can't help but be fascinated by Kaname-san.

That's right───.

He's always smiling and saying things that I can't tell if they are jokes or serious.

He seems a little gentler today. And there's depth to it...

Perhaps the way Kaname-san looks right now is───.

And just as I thought that...

Kaname: "Whoa!"

"Ka-Kaname-san?!"

Kaname-san disappeared into the black waves.

This is bad!

I took Juli off my shoulders and hurried into the sea.

"Kaname-san?! What's wrong...?!"

...There, sitting on his butt, Kaname-san looked a little stunned.

Kaname: "Wow, that's lame. I'm so lame..."

"Pfft...!"

It seems some seaweed has gotten tangled around his leg.

I'm sorry to say that Kaname-san looked a little dejected, and his expression was a little strange. Trying to hold back my laughter, I held out my hand.

And then───.

“!!!!”

Kaname-san pulled me hard by the hand...

Splat! I plunged headfirst into the ocean.

"Pfft... W-w-that's cruel!"

Kaname: "Getting my revenge for laughing!"

I’m soaking wet, though!?

I brushed the water droplets off my face and opened my eyes.

Then, Kaname-san's chest and face were right in front of me.

"W...!!"

The memory of him holding me in the rain comes back to me.

(W-What am I thinking...)

As I hurriedly tried to leave, I suddenly noticed something.

Kaname-san has a tattoo on his right collarbone.

"That's..."

Kaname: "Hmm? That tattoo?"

"This is the first time I've seen one up close... Is this a cross?"

Ah, but he's a monk, so probably it’s not a cross.

Although, he's probably the only monk with a tattoo.

Kaname: "It is... a sword."

"A sword?"

I wonder why he chose a sword as a motif.

Kaname: "Hey, imōto-chan. Can I tell you something today?"

"Eh?"

As I wondered about this, Kaname-san smiled gently and began to speak.

Kaname: "It's about the sword. There's a saying that goes, 'The pen is mightier than the sword.' It means that speech is stronger than force...Did you know?"

What is he saying all of a sudden? A pen? A sword…?

As I was wondering about this, my arm was pulled hard. Kaname: "But there is something in this world that is stronger than a sword or a pen." Kaname: "You know, that's love."

"Love?"

That word was tangled between our lips.

By the time I tried to ask what that meant, my lips...

were already covered by Kaname-san's.

Juli: "Wha-wha-wha-what?!"

I could hear Juli's voice in the distance.

What on earth is going on?

Not understanding what was going on, I could only abandon myself to the slow swell of the waves.

#003 Lips that hold love

Iori laughs a lot, Futo is a brat, Kaname please control yourself.

#brothers conflict #brocon #lightnovel #asahina ema #asahina kaname

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icewindandboringhorror · 1 month ago

Photo

Scans of some old postcards I found in an old candy box at the bins a few years ago :0 I always think stuff like this is neat to come across, but I just hadn’t had the time to fully examine them until now lol.

(words of some of the text under the ‘read more’ )

--------

Only three of the post cards actually have text on them, the other two are blank. The text doesn’t seem to be anything outstanding or special, but I just find it interesting anyway, the idea of reading what someone wrote like a hundred years ago, even if mundane.

Also, I’m not sure how to read everything, some of the text is faded, and the addresses can be confusing, so it may not always make sense. If something is unclear I’ll put it in parentheses with a question mark after it lol..

Postcard # 1

--- front ---

An image titled ‘Oranges and Roses’, with text at the top saying:

“Oranges and Roses, my what a feast

To the eye of the Tourist, just out from the East.

Where they dig in the snow, and pile it so high

That you can’t see the Sun, nor the Stars in the Sky.”

--- back ----

Text at the top that says ‘(Nevermore? or Nextmore?) Post Card company - Los Angeles’.

Stamped ‘PASADENA CAL. JUN 20 2:30 PM 1910′

Then an address - ‘Miss Thelma Coffman, Indianapolis, Ind - , 336. East 10th St.’

With the message:

“Sunday, June 19 -

Pasadena Cal.

My Dear little girl, just a line to let you know I am thinking of you. Lillian is still in bed, but hopes to be well soon. Hope you are all well. Guess you will be glad when school is out then I hope you will write me a nice letter. With love, Grandma.”

Postcard # 2

--- front -----

‘Miss Thelma Coffman

Pasadena Calif.

253 So. Lake (Ave?)’

Stamped ‘YUMA NOV (??) 7 PM 1906 (ARZ??)’

---- back ----

An image captioned ‘Colorado River Streamer -- Yuma, Arizona’.

Part of the image has a stamp over it ‘PASADENA NOV (6?) (5:30PM??) (rest of stamp too faded to read??)’

Then the text: “Yuma Ariz. 11/5 - 06

Dear Thelma - I’m about 200 miles from you. There are lots of (Indians?) here who dress in fine colors, paint their faces like some of their (????) friends do only more so. Hope you are having a good time with (fun??). - (W.A. Baldwin??)”

Postcard # 3

--- front ---

An image with the caption ‘Walk in University of California ground, Berkeley, Cal.’

There’s also some written text at the top, but I think it’s the continuation of the message on the other side, so I’ll just include it with that.

---- back ----

Background text saying ‘PCK Series POST CARD , the space above is reserved for postmark’ - and also in the other side ‘Paul C. Koeher Co., 85 Franklin St, New York City and Kirchheim. (Germany.) IN SPACE BELOW MAY BE WRITTEN SENDERS NAME AND ADDRESS (NO OTHER WRITING AND COMMUNICATIONS AFTER MARCH 1st. 1907)’

stamped ‘WATSONVILLE, CAL JAN 26 11:30 AM 1908′ and another larger stamp overlaying it ‘(AROMAS??) JAN (rest is too faded???)’

addressed to ‘Miss Annie Nicholson, (Dumbarton?) Calif.’

then text saying: “Sat. night, 9 (pm??)

Hello Annie. What do you know about my pipe. I have lost it now, it is too bad don’t you think so. You wanted to know what girl that is with me, do you. Can’t you tell your own picture in the moonlight, It is not a (gilroy??) girl for I don’t know any over there now. Gee I wish that (lodge?) was next (Thurs.??) night so that you could help me read that (postal?? rental??) it takes a (dutch?) lawyer to read it , but I made it out after I went around and around (rest unreadable because it’s written over text??) -- (most text on the other side is also hard to read???) we can wait (???) a day (???).”

That’s all !

#postcard #antique

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elltheenergetic · 12 days ago

Text

@isnotabelle for some reason it won’t let me respond so I’m just gonna do screenshots

A letter is sent back to Isabelle, and fortunately it is not burned in any way, shape, or form. It is a neat envelope, sealed with a round and golden stamp of a dove. Attached to it is a ziplock bag with small caramel chocolates, titled "4 isa!!". Upon the first look of the note, the handwriting is tidy and legible, however the grammar and capitalization seem to be overlooked absentmindedly.

=====================

dear isa,

:0 hi!! im super happy because apparently i can receive stuff from my friends here and respond to them!

who's flora?? i want to meet her! her name reminds me of gardening

anyway, I'm doing well!! my wounds are healing up and i hope i can see everyone when i come back.

P.S. I am trying to get back ASAP!!

don't worry about that ell! we made up.. i think?

i just hope i don't get hit with a metal bat again :(

ok bye bue! see you latr!! sending good luck your way 🍀 🍀 🍀

from, elli

#semi-ooc #author 1 #???

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cpl-gator · 25 days ago

Text

AUTHORIZATION FOR DISCLOSURE OF MEDICAL OR DENTAL INFORMATION

NAME: Miles Jack D.

CALLSIGN: Gator

RANK: Corporal (E-4)

YOS: 6

HEIGHT: 5'11" (179cm)

WEIGHT: 225lbs (102kg)

AGE: 23

BLOOD TYPE: 0-

NATIONALITY: American

DOB: 29 Oct 2000

BIRTHPLACE: Highlands, Florida

PRIMARY SPECIALIZATIONS/SKILLS: Special Reconnaissance (SR), Close Target Reconnaissance (CTR), Direct Action (DA), Close-quarters combat (CQC/CQB), Unconventional Warfare & Foreign Internal Defense (UW/FID)/Insertion & Extraction, Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC), Advanced Marksmanship

PRESCRIPTIONS: Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen (OTC MEDS)

ALLERGIES: N/A

APPEARANCE: Stocky, muscle-bound (with a healthy layer of fat), Rugby build/brown colored hair (haircut is a mohawk - he gets yelled at for it & continuously ignores it)

TATTOOS/SCARS/PIERCINGS: Ouroboros tattoo around right bicep, biblical cross tramp stamp/unilateral cleft lip scarring to right nostril (tugs his lip awkwardly, visibly exposing teeth even when relaxing his facial muscles), bullet wound scarring to right hip/nipple piercing, prince albert, frenum ladder, lorum piercing, & scrotum ladder

SEXUALITY: Heterosexual

PERSONALITY: Stubborn/strong-willed, defensive/aggressive/protective, adaptable, loyal, hardworking/compulsive/competitive/ self-destructive, asocial

HOBBIES: While on Base - Reading/creative writing, swimming (per PT)

While off Base - woodworking/metalworking, tinkering on old cars (unfinished, half-done projects)

{#anti-txt} Posts from yours truly

{#gator-txt} Posts from Gator

{#gator-log / #journal study} Asks & Replies {#gator-plot / #plot thickens} RP's & Snippets {#gator-lore / #back home} Background Info

{#silly} silly RP’s, asks, posts, silly stuff

{#nsfw} nsfw asks & posts

ANTI - MOD

Howdy, Anti (20) here!

This is an 18+ blog, MDNI, no explicit NSFW (implied is fine), disrespect to myself or other blogs is unacceptable and will not be tolerated here.

Please do feel free to send asks/rp starters!

I'm a bit slow on replies but I'll eventually get to everyone! (If I don't, please message me politely about it as I do tend to get lost in the sauce)

Thank you @ask-declanwilsons, for the layout inspiration <3

Things will change here in the pinned because I’m incisive and add things that seem more fitting to my character so be sure to check here every once in awhile!

#intro post #cod #call of duty #cod ask blog #cod rp blog #cod oc blog

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princess-of-the-corner · 11 months ago

Note

Ya know how I said Gabriel descends further into villain from Origins to Miracle Queen?

Ironically Marinette seems to go through a similar thing, or reveal more facets to her character that are less paragon but its very much by accident.

I like Marinette, but the fact this stuff never seems to get acknowledge or addressed both ends up hurting the story & in the fandom it makes it hard to discuss without being perceived as a salter or apologist, ETC.

Like, bear with me.

Season 1 Mari is basically fine, she's good, heroic, any flaws she has are fairly minor but some could be taken as 'hints' for later while still not being an issue.

Like her meticulous Adrien schedule could literally just be info she picked up associating with him that she wrote down. A little odd but not like, terrible, terrible.

Her sabotaging Bubbler's music is certain an irresponsible use of her powers but its far from the most irresponsible a hero is with a Miraculous & she is fourteen and people/protaganists can be flawed.

& her tear down of Lila, but she seemed to realize she went too far & tried to apologize. & after a point Lila staying out of school because of it starts to feel less like a Marinette issue & more a Lila (Or Gabriel) issue.

Season 2

We start to see some other potential issues emerging here, but they can still be rationalized away.

Chat being left to fend for himself is her having faith in her partner & she is going to get help.

Adrien being kept in the dark is more Fu's deal than Mari's & she is the one who presses him to bring Chat in.

Her decision to make Chloe QB again does paint a target on her back & could be tied to Adrien or rank pragmatism, but she does seem to make a genuine effort to sympathize, so at worse the target is an accident.

Less justifiable but still explain-able is encouraging Chloe's mean-ness so she can bond with her mother being a poorly thought out attempt to getting them to bond & assuming it will make them better.

The lack of follow through when the opposite happens does feel like its an issue but one can see why a kid mightn't make the connection.

Using Chloe on Heroes' Day is again, explain-able, IE it does paint a target on her back but shit was indeed dire.

The real red flag so to speak is her reaction to Kagami.

IE characterizing her as an evil witch& only stamping down on her interpretation to benefit Adrien, not because she realized that was wrong.

IE, Kagami's done 0 to warrant such a negative view of her & there isn't really a positive way to spin this one as just good intentions gone awry, someone else's fault or an accident.

Season 3

This is when it all comes home to roost so to speak.

With Kagami this comes in deliberate attempts to sabotage or even embrass and sabotage her. This continues even after Marinette realizes Kagami is actually a nice if lonely girl and befriends her.

But it gets worse because even if Kagami's ID wasn't known to the public (Though it makes sense that it is) the dialogue still acknowledges Hawk Moth knows!

She is painting a target on her friends back wile sabotaging her date!

There isn't really a good way to explain this one, which might be why I know some fics basically seem to outright pretend it didn't happen.

Meanwhile with Chloe the lack of follow through issue becomes text.

IE, she paints a target on Chloe's back by using her twice in short succession, then ghosts her even though its clear Chloe's trying to communicate with her.

Even if attacks weren't happening near her home this would be bad.

But when finally pushed into acting on this reality, the second its convenient to use Chloe in combat again she does so. Making it loud and clear to Hawk Moth that if the situation is dire, he knows where to get the Bee Miraculous & its wielder.

This is a big issue because unlike "Making Chloe a better person" which in universe is not Marinette's job. As the person who gives out Miraculous, as the leader she has in fact made herself responsible for what happens to Chloe in regards to Miraculous business.

She can't abdicate on that one except maybe to Fu who also damn well should have known better.

Which leaves the story with Marinette willingly putting two people into danger and using them opportunistically either out of rank pragmatism or for outright selfish reasons. Then just like, not acknowledging the risks or consequences, with one of these people even being her friend.

It makes her come off as ether a lot more cold, or a lot more out of touch with the consequences of her actions than almost anyone else.

Neither of which get acknowledged in the narrative so as before, it becomes hard to even talk about without being seen as smearing the character or being unfair. Or like you just need to ignore these traits even if the story no longer works because of it and Marinette ironically becomes a less interesting character.

Cos like, a Marinette who can become extremely, even ruthlessly pragmatic the moment she needs too. Or one who is genuinely that taken away with her crush that its effecting her morality to the point where she can become harmful. Those are interesting ideas to explore!

They don't make her like, more evil than Hawk Moth or whatever, & if handled well could prove really interesting. Especially as they could parallel Gabriel's behaviors in regards to Adrien and others. Thus letting him be a sort of "Oh shit, is this who I could grow into in twenty years if I had money/power & zero people to check me?" villain.

But instead even noting it seems discouraged in most of the popular sphere's, or worse and well, we know the show doesn't take issue with it.

See it's.

I do love this about her and find it fascinating! As a character in a piece of fiction, I mean. I don't /want/ her to make these decisions, but /on paper/ I'm eating popcorn as I watch it unfold.

A lot of this does stem from Marinette's black and white mentality and overall being naive. Everything is all or nothing with her.

Sometimes this comes across in her thinking of people as good or bad. While she tries, it's hard for her to think of Chloé as 'good' and it's hard for her to understand that even if Chloé wants to change, it takes a lot of time and isn't just flipping a switch.

And while there's past precedent with Chloé, this shows up again with Lila. She never entertains the idea that Lila may just be lying for attention because she's bad at making friends. Lila is lying and lying is bad so clearly she's a manipulative bitch that deserves to be publicly humiliated! Like with Chloé, she may back down for a moment when called out like what Adrien did, but it doesn't last long.

Kagami is the eventual progression into twisting things. She's not overly friendly and sweet and social, but she /is/ in competition with Marinette for Adrien's affections. So she twists the idea that Kagami must be an awful person, despite doing literally nothing, and deserves what Mari does to her. And while she does befriend Kagami and feels some guilt, I think a combination of 'this is for True Love™' and not wanting to admit that she was a jerk and wrong makes her keep sabotaging her.

And it's a similar thing with her actions as Ladybug.

At first it's things that make sense: trusting Chat to do what he can on his own with little information, just like they've been doing for all of Season 1.

Then she gets Fu telling her that things are too risky for anyone else to know. So she doesn't tell Chat things. Because Fu is an Adult™ and their guide in all this, so ofc he's right even if Marinette thinks otherwise at first. And this is hammered in with Chat Blanc and Ephemeral. If Chat knows more, things get fucked.

And then we get Marinette justifying keeping secrets for the Greater Good™. Whether it just be not telling Chat anything, or lying to all of Paris to make sure Adrien never finds out his father is a complete fucking asshole. Secrets are good. She's doing the right thing by keeping them so that it doesn't hurt anyone. If he knew things would go to hell.

In theory I find all this fascinating! But while there's been a hiccup here or there, usually caused by Adrichat going 'girl what the FUCK?!', on the whole the narrative chooses to see this as the good and right thing rather than a flaw that Marinette needs to overcome.

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iamsweden · 6 months ago

Text

WE GET POSSESSED? | Ghost Hunting with Friends! Pt. 1 Before the Hunt

Summary:

While filming what should be a routine “ghost hunting” urban exploration video with her friends, Tressa uncovers old secrets that should have stayed hidden.

A/N:

Celebrate Halloween with me by reading this obscure Octopath Ghost Hunting Youtuber parody AU?

This is really just a fun little thing I wanted to do, so I’ll posting chapters as soon as I finish them! That means minimal editing, so I apologize for any errors! I just want to get as much done as possible before Halloween hits tomorrow :)

I’m also cross-posting this fic on AO3 but without the extra formatting. Click HERE to read!

All chapters will be tagged with #ghosthuntingwfriends if you'd like to follow along!

Enjoy!

WE GET POSSESSED? | Ghost Hunting with Friends!

515,962 views | Oct 31, 2024

For this week’s treasure hunt, I take my friends on a Spooky Halloween Adventure to the HAUNTED Old Royal Academy in Atlasdam!

Featuring:

Ophilia (@AskSisterOphilia)

Cyrus (@historywithcyrus)

Therion & Alfyn (@GrabBagGames, @DontTalkToMe, @thatherbguy)

Primrose (@primroseazelhart)

Olberic

H’aanit & Linde

Follow me!

IG and X: @TressaColzione

Edited by Noa (@wyndyseagull)

Time Stamps:

0:00 - Before the hunt

3:30 - FIRST FLOOR

8:50 - SECOND FLOOR

19:51 - THIRD FLOOR

25:02 - HEADMASTER’S OFFICE

33:28 - TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES

38:02 - History Lesson Break

46:57 - THE H4TCH

48:36 - B4SEM3N+

66:66:66 - F4LL1NG IN+0 +H3 A8Y5S

1:19:58 - CALLING THE EXORCIST

1:24:20 - NVM WE’RE GOOD

1:36:21 - REFLECTION

—

BEFORE THE HUNT

Since diving headfirst into her steller youtube career, Tressa has learned several valuable lessons: avoid drama, thoroughly vet and research any potential sponsorships, create backups of all her files and videos, etc. You know, the stuff anyone in the business will tell you to watch out for. And even though Tressa hasn’t been on the scene very long, at least compared to some of her peers, she really feels as though she’s gotten the hang of this youtube vlogger thing.

So when she rolls up to the looming, imposing facade of the abandoned Old Royal Academy in northern Atlasdam, Tressa doesn’t have a worry in the world. Tonight is gonna go off without a hitch. Once all of her friends get here, she’s sure they’ll be having too much fun exploring the old place to get scared.

Tressa can’t think of anyone else she’d want to guest star in her next big video than these guys. Even if they all make different kinds of content (or no content at all, in Olberic and H’aanit’s cases), everyone is guaranteed to come out of this venture with a special video of their own.

Cyrus and Olberic are here first, of course. They live in Atlasdam for one, and Cyrus specifically helped her nab permission to shoot on the premises tonight. His set up is frighteningly simple and devastatingly slapstick: a cheap video camera and likely even cheaper clip-on microphone. Olberic holds the camera steady with the fortitude of a statue. Cyrus barely pauses his agonizing ramble about the history of the college to wave at her in greeting.

“...thereby earning itself the new descriptor ‘old’ in 1847. However, the Old Royal Academy’s doors would remain open for several years yet, producing such austere minds as esteemed poet and playwright Simeon Ventus and Atlasdam native Yvon Baudelaire, who earned the title of second president of the (new) Royal Academy in 1864. Shortly after his inauguration, his alma mater would mysteriously catch fire, destroying a large part of the northern part of campus and compromising the structural integrity of the building as a whole. Regrettably, the fire claimed the lives of forty-eight students, teachers, and staff. The school closed, never to open again. As you can clearly see behind me, however, the Atlasdam Historical Society restored the building with the intent of transforming it into a protected historical landmark. While repairs were completed in 1962, a series of logistical mishaps stagnated the effort, leading to the project’s abandonment in 1970.”

With his very interesting and not at all boring monologue finished (for now), Cyrus claps his hands and spins on his heel towards Tressa, donning a mighty grin. “And here is our intrepid adventurer now, come to lead us on a journey through this stunning piece of history! How have you been, my dear?”

“Good!” she says, dragging her last duffle bag out of the back of her car. She brought more than enough gadgets and gizmos for everyone to use tonight.

Tressa has REM pods. EVPs. A bunch of different radios. This weird little teddy bear that talks to ghosts and records spooky sounds. A deck of tarot cards–though they’re mostly for show instead of, like, actual use in studying the paranormal. If there are ghosts and ghouls and demons lurking in that old spooky place, Tressa will find them.

And if not, because, let’s be real, ghosts aren’t real, she’ll have a ton of stuff she can use to edit spooks and scares in post! Her editor Noa always knows how to turn a boring video into something wild and interesting.

While Cyrus paws through her gear, critically examining each piece of probable junk, Olberic hums. “And these… items are supposed to help you do what, exactly?” he asks.

Tressa counts on her fingers: “Pick up weird ghost noises, talk to ghosts, catch apparitions, detect temperature fluctuations–oh, and this thing senses movement!”

“Ghosts are said to manifest as fluctuating energy,” Cyrus explains, holding the Boo Buddy teddy bear out at length. He pokes at its button nose. Then Cyrus hands the bear to his husband, who gingerly accepts it. “Paranormal investigators use sensitive equipment to measure that energy. I read through the wikipedia article last night.”

“I see,” Olberic evenly says.

Yes, their first real skeptic of the night! Cyrus is going to take this investigation so seriously, but she’s really counting on Olberic to keep realistic expectations! It’ll create a nice narrative for the evening, especially when everyone else gets here.

And speaking of the rest of their friends–

Next pulls up a real rust bucket of a truck, the back of which is covered in faded bumper stickers. Most of the decals are meme-y stickers from their own store, but there’s more than a couple hippy environmental messages thrown into the mix. The second the truck clunks into park, Therion tears out of his seat, indignantly hissing, “We’re fucking over.”

“Huh?” Tressa asks right as Alfyn calls through the still open door, “He broke up with me because my swag is–”

Therion slams the door shut.

“I’m done,” he reiterates, daring anyone to challenge him.

Tressa rolls her eyes. They’ll be back together within the hour.

Or so she thinks, until Alfyn joins the group, proudly standing before them while looking like an absolute idiot. Tressa doesn’t know what’s more egregious, the hat that says Paranormal Investigator or the shirt that says, This is my Ghost Hunting Buddy! with a big arrow pointed to the left. Presumably the shirt is half of a matching set. If Therion didn’t set fire to his shirt, it probably got thrown out the window to rot in a ditch somewhere.

(At least that’s what he’ll likely tell them–Tressa wouldn’t be surprised if he’s wearing it right now, kept hidden by his stupid hoodie.)

Tressa reminds herself that she loves Alfyn and Therion and values their friendship. She really does. She really, really does.

“I’m gonna text Prim and see where they’re at,” Tressa mutters, abandoning Cyrus and Olberic to deal with whatever that is.

She quickly rounds the corner, using her phone as a light. The academy rises high into the sky, blocking out the moon from this side and bathing the street in stolid darkness. Dead leaves sweep across the broken sidewalk and crunch underfoot. The gothic metal fence lining the property is painted a chipped black. The Halloween vibes are off the chart out here. If she hadn’t come out earlier to shoot some B-roll, this would be the perfect time.

the girlssssss 4 people Thursday 8:07 PM tressa Whats you guys’s ETA Alf and therion just got here Therions already throwing a fit prim we’re about 6 mins out. phili Oh no! What happened? tressa they broke up bc Alf looks stupid. prim I swear to sealctige. Sorry Phili. phili I’m sure he looks fine :) tressa He really doesn’t tho. prim well we’ll be there soon. hold fast soldier. tressa o7

Before Tressa heads back to the guys, she pauses for a moment. The air is cool but not uncomfortably so, yet a shiver still snakes its way up her spine. She zips up her vest and tugs the cuffs of her sweater over her fingers.

It’s pretty out here, sure, but it is genuinely pretty creepy, too. There are no street lights around the academy–save a large spotlight out front, illuminating the main front gate. The fence isn’t that high either. Even if it’s topped with ornate spikes, that wouldn’t be enough to stop any ne'er do wells from entering. Yet when Tressa was here earlier to film, she didn’t see any graffiti on the walls or trash strewn about the yard. The academy is in tiptop shape. Well, as in-shape as any old, abandoned building can be.

But it’s still weird that it’s so abandoned, right? Like, there’s not a lot of security around the building either. The front gate is padlocked shut, with the key held solely by some up and up from the (new) Royal Academy.

Tressa warily eyes the dark facade, half expecting to see something looking back at her from one of the windows.

But the place is as empty and lifeless as ever.

She’s psyching herself out for no reason. Ghosts aren’t real, and they’re not in any kind of danger. If they do happen to run into someone unsavory inside, they’ll surely turn tail and run at the sight of Olberic and H’aanit.

Tressa shakes her head. Prim, H’aanit, and Phili will be here soon. She needs to head back out front and–

Darkness swoops in as her phone’s flashlight turns off. Tressa flails in surprise, nearly throwing her phone–but self preservation keeps her fingers locked tight around it. She taps on the screen to turn it back on, but it’s like frozen or something, stuck on the background image of her, Ali, and Noa at the fair this summer. The time reads 8:88.

Wait. What? She looks closer, squinting at the dimmed brightness. Okay, yeah, she just misread it. It’s 8:14.

That’s still… weird, though. It wasn’t that late before when she texted Primrose and Ophilia, right? Is her phone on the fritz? Damn Apple, making crappy, overpriced products. Tressa smacks the side of it, clicking the buttons over and over, trying to force it to restart.

Eventually, it unfreezes and the screen goes black. She keeps holding the buttons, waiting for that stupid little apple to pop up and show it’s restarting, but it never shows. Instead, her lock screen flashes back on. It shows a couple missed calls and new texts:

dumdum did you fall in a manhole or smthn — phili Hello? Where are you? Are you okay? — Missed Call from alf — alf Everything ok? where’d you go for real tress we’re gettin worried — dumdum shortstack where did you go if ur doing a prank video i’ll kill you i’ll seriously do it. — Missed Call from alf Missed Call from phili

Before Tressa can respond or even figure out what everyone’s talking about, a blurred, unflattering picture of Therion fills the screen. Her ringtone blares, cutting through the silence like a jagged knife. She answers. “Hey–”

“It’s about damn time!” he interrupts, sounding breathless. “Where the hell did you go? Did you get kidnapped?”

“I’m like twenty feet away from you, just around the corner of the building,” she snaps, marching back down the sidewalk towards the main gate. “I stepped away to text Prim.”

“Yeah, like ten minutes ago! They’ve been asking us where you are.”

Ten minutes? But that’s….

Tressa rounds the corner, stepping back into the buzzing fluorescent light. Cyrus and Olberic still stand by the gate next to her ghost hunting equipment, but now they’re joined by Primrose, trying to convince them that this isn’t something we need to call the cops over, calm down.

“Perhaps she took a wronge turn and lost her way,” H’aanit suggests, though her brow pinches in concern as she scans the street–and then finds Tressa.

“Okay, well, bye,” Tressa mutters before hanging up on Therion. To the rest of her friends, she says, “I had some phone trouble and I think I zoned out for a bit! I’m good though!”

Everyone breathes a collective sigh of relief. Primrose’s thumbs fly across her phone screen as she texts Alfyn and Therion–missing from the group–that Tressa is back.

Tressa becomes a broken record as she assures her friends she’s fine, that she just lost track of time, that nothing happened. No, she didn’t get lost. Yes, she’s really okay. No, she didn’t see Alfyn or Therion–

“I don’t see how you didn’t,” Primrose says, giving her a thorough scan for–what, any injuries Tressa may be hiding from them? “They both went looking for you. You’re sure you just walked around the corner? Kept to the sidewalk?”

Tressa nods. “Yeah, I stood beside the fence the whole time. I don’t know what else to say. I didn’t go anywhere, I swear.”

“What matters is that you’re safe,” Ophilia decides, descending upon the interrogation with all the grace of a saint. She wears a beatific smile that completely unravels the tension. “Let’s head inside. When Alfyn and Therion rejoin us, we can begin filming.”

#ghosthuntingwfriends #I'M DOING IT #octopath #octopath traveler #this is such a goofy au but dang it I'm mostly writing this for me

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