#and one more chapter to finish this arc

[traditional-with-a-twist]

lix. Beauty and Her Beast

<<Previous || first arc || second arc || third arc || AO3 || Next>>

Parallel scene: Lovely, Dark, and Deep from Obiyuki Winter Challenge 2018.

As Kiki set the hunting lodge to order, she assessed the situation.

Truth be told, she had foreseen little good following Obi’s choices from the start, and now there was every reason to declare her fears vindicated.

She found her friend alone and forsaken, stranded somewhere along the road to nowhere and by no means in the best of health.

...

Kiki had not meant to interfere. She had understood in the couple’s sudden and silent departure, vanishing on the eve of their wedding, that they would find their own way now. 

She thought of them; she wished them well; she waited.

When Shirayuki’s letters stopped, she had begun watching, listening, looking for signs of something amiss. 

Had they simply disappeared again, in quest of a still more distant retreat than the one they had made for themselves in the wilds of the Haruka estate?

The message from Mitsuhide had settled this question.

...

Where Obi had gone now, why he had left — those questions Kiki could not answer, and she doubted whether Shirayuki might, either.

Perhaps Obi himself would be hard-pressed to explain. 

Regardless of the case, Kiki considered such details immaterial. He had made his decision; he had broken the promise sworn before her and to his wife.

Now only one question remained: what next?

...

Shirayuki’s feelings wavered from gladness to trepidation when Kiki re-entered, bearing a bowl of something hot.

She felt herself stronger as she sat up to eat, but inwardly her spirit quailed. 

Twice now Shirayuki had appealed for assistance with her quest; twice she had been refused — by the very persons she might have expected more interested, most sympathetic to her case.

Now that she faced a third prospect of rejection, Shirayuki debated whether to mount the petition at all.

...

Perhaps Kiki was too busy; perhaps it would not be fair to ask.

Shirayuki would not want to put her in an uncomfortable position…would not want to impose….

She accepted the bowl in silence and began to eat with her eyes lowered.

...

Kiki sat beside her on the bed, a gesture so familiar that Shirayuki looked up in surprise.

She met her friend’s kindest smile, the one she had encountered first in the belly of a pirate’s ship after a long nightmare of fear and isolation.

The same expression of warmth and kind understanding met her now.

...

“Shirayuki,” her friend said gently. “You’ve come a long way.”

The herbalist of Tanbarun turned royal pharmacist then princess-to-be, bereaved and betrothed again, lately a wife and now a sojourner — at this acknowledgement, she felt herself begin to tremble.

Shirayuki gripped the bowl to stop it from splashing.

...

Kiki laid her small hand, strong and sure, on her friend’s shoulder. “You’re not alone,” she said simply.

Shirayuki set the bowl aside and let herself be held as she had not for an interminable number of nights — not since Obi had left her nor Zen before him, not even since her grandparents, but perhaps all the years back to the loss of that unknown mother who had once cradled her close and secure as Kiki did now.

The fear drained away as a restful sense of comfort overtook it.

Shirayuki leaned on her friend and said, “I’m looking for Obi.”

...

Kiki nodded. She had guessed as much, but it meant something that Shirayuki spoke in the present tense. She was yet searching; she had not given up.

Bolstered by this first mark of acceptance, Shirayuki drew herself upright.

She met Kiki’s gaze and confessed, “I don’t know where he is.”

...

There it was – the shame and futility of her search, bundled together in one short phrase.

She had admitted herself completely forsaken, even as she asked an fabulous boon: help me to find a man who does not want to be found. 

Help me track a flake of snow in the mountains, a fallen leaf in the forest.

Help me to journey, I know not where, for a man who may refuse me when I arrive.

Help me to do the impossible.

...

She bared the guilt and absurdity of it all before the gaze of Lady Kiki Seiran, the third nobility of her adopted country to whom she had addressed her plea.

The first had scorned both her and his son, lashing out in anger.

The second had turned from her, drawn away along his own road to somewhere she knew not, too bound in his own pain to minister to hers.

...

Now Kiki’s eyes regarded her: the pale clarity of an aristocratic line, hardened like diamonds in the forge of Kiki’s exacting mind and unrelenting spirit.

The eyes of a basilisk when angered, the eyes of a sphinx when calm, they weighed up all who came before them and found most wanting.

Shirayuki met these eyes unflinching, firm in the courage that rarely wavered and never deserted her for long, and awaited her judgment.

...

Kiki rose from the bed and walked to the window, every step precise. She stood gazing out at the forest around them, lately streaked with white.

They were in the depths of cold yet; spring had not thawed the roads.

It would be a difficult journey under the best of circumstances, like and unlike the one she and Shirayuki had undertaken alongside two men now lost to them. Then they had traveled from the border with Tanbarun all the way to the capital of Clarines, and Shirayuki had arrived a fugitive from injustice.

...

Shirayuki was hardy and wise to the natural world, Kiki knew, but her health was flagging; at the very least, she had suffered a shock.

Besides this, the long distance of that first journey had followed known routes.

Shirayuki had stuck to the main roads in her flight from Tanbarun – speedy, but not secretive, as the untimely gift of apples had proved.

The four of them together had preferred the open country, but still along familiar paths, with known supply points.

In this situation, such a method of travel would never serve their purpose.

...

“Obi had made a life of secrecy and flight,” Kiki said. “For his kind, the woods are the nearest they have to a home. He is skilled above all in the art of vanishing without a trace, of leaving false trails, of assuming multiple identities to conceal his passage.

“Beyond this, he will have allies equally if not better skilled, some situated to provide just such a service as preventing discovery — by bolt holes, hidden passages, even arranging stowaways aboard ships.”

She turned to read Shirayuki’s face as she spoke, watching for the emotions that overtook it.

...

“When Obi fell to our supervision, Zen instructed us in the case of his disappearance, that we were not to follow.

“It would be useless, a fruitless waste of our resources. To track him with no idea of his whereabouts or purpose may cost months… even years.

“He may never be found.”

...

“Even if it takes my whole life,” Shirayuki answered, eye blazing, “I won’t stop looking! I won’t give up on him. It doesn’t matter how long.”

“Long,” Kiki repeated. “It will be long.”

The two women stood in silence for a moment. Hard sunlight slanted in through the window and struck the floor in long bright bars.

...

Then Kiki smiled. “So,” she said, “there is no time to waste. Let us start at once.”

[otaku553]

Fire (part 3)

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(Spade Pirate Sabo AU Masterpost)

[kyouka-supremacy]

I think we should just bring back Wungo Wednesday and start a fandom collective anime rewatch

[novasintheroom]

013. Recommendation (pt. 4/5)

♡ Pairing - Vash x Reader

♡ Word count - 1.1k

♡ Warnings - none

♡ Description - Vash finally caves and sees you again.

Part of the 150 Bullets drabble series on AO3.

Part 1 ---- Part 2 ---- Part 3 ---- Part 4 (you are here!) ---- Part 5

So it goes for the next nine years. Letters are constantly exchanged between you two. Trinkets and baubles pass between envelopes, too. Vash’s pockets fill with the papers you send, and he pulls them out on lonely nights to thumb over the ink and laugh at the bad jokes. Some letters fall apart from bullets he dodges, and he mourns their loss every time. It’s like losing you all over again. But, he reminds himself that he chose to leave, not you.

He wonders if you look older. If you’ve cut your hair. He still expects you to write one day, telling him you’ve found a partner, that you’ve started a relationship, that your partner doesn’t like that you’re constantly writing letters to another man and you’ll have to cut contact. He dreads those thoughts, those days. A secret part of him hopes it never comes to that, selfish as it is.

 He tells himself he hopes you find happiness wherever you go.

Your latest letter is long, filled with anecdotes of your days and funny stories. Near the end, your letter takes a turn:

I’ve also heard about someone taking the Plants, too. Several towns have been wiped off the map recently. Do you know anything about that? It’s crazy, what some bandits will do to get money or power.

                One of my towns was hit, actually. Henna. I rode to it one day and just found it in fresh ruins. Some of it was still smoldering with fire. Most of everyone had left by then, and those who hadn’t…I had to leave quickly and sent word for help to go to them. I couldn’t do anything, not without outside help. They tried to take my bird. I think they planned to eat her. Desperate people do desperate things.

                 Please be careful out here, birdie.

You end with a joke, as always, but Vash barely reads it. He looks up, around at the small camp he’s made for himself that night, the bottle of alcohol sitting by his hip. A sinking feeling settles in his chest. He’d heard about the Plant thefts, too. It was part of the reason he’d travelled to the southernmost part of the region. The other, well…he can’t admit it to himself, but he wants to be close by in case something goes wrong for you. Bandits, bullies, robbers – they just get more numerous the further from cities one gets. Not that he’d get there in time. He wouldn’t even know something happened to you until your letters just stop coming.

That thought settles something in him. He’s known, of course, that there’s no way to help you unless by chance. But maybe it’s the alcohol, or a fierce want to just see you again that finally, finally takes over. He pulls out his pen and paper and writes a simple letter he’ll send tomorrow:

                ______,

                Do you want to meet at the town Gregarious for dinner sometime soon?

Vash

Of course you say yes.

Gregarious is a bigger town, up-and-coming on its milling and water production. They even added a third Plant to their arsenal recently. Everyone is in high spirits, and Vash receives friendly nods when he walks in.

The Mom and Pop’s is crowded for dinner. He’s happy, seeing so many people out and about. But there’s one person he’s looking for. His eyes scan the room in quick flits, jumping from one person to another. Have you dyed your hair? Cut it?

Someone taps him on the shoulder, and he turns, and his breath leaves him. It’s you. You, with your hair in a braid, the same color it’s always been. You look hesitant, even with recognition in your eyes. “Vash?” your quiet voice asks.

Without preamble, Vash opens his arms wide. Your face breaks into a grin, and you hug him just as tightly as he hugs you. He can smell the apple lotion on your skin, along with the dust of the day, the suns in your hair.

Dinner isn’t awkward like he feared it would be. Nine years of letters will do that, he supposes. You both chatter to each other about your day, how you got here, where you’re staying, how each of your goals are going. It’s nice. It’s so nice. Vash can’t keep a smile off his face the whole time. Your cheeks turn red with your own smiling.

“So what are your plans now?” He asks, taking a sip of beer.

You push your vegetables around on your plate for a moment. “Well, the library exchange program is pretty well set up. A lot of young people – especially girls – are reading and writing and going to college, or planning on it. HQ has been so impressed with my progress that they want me to move to Octovern and be on the board.” You push a carrot around on your plate. “I turned them down.”

Vash gawps and leans forward. “What? Why?”

You smile. “I like being out here. I like seeing people, strange as that is to say. I usually hate people.” You and he share a knowing laugh. “But I like seeing how I’m actually making a difference, and I don’t want to sit in a stuffy board room giving orders to other librarians, where to go, whatever. That’s just not the kind of work I like. Plus, I…was hoping to travel with you again.”

You look up to gauge his reaction. He tries to school a neutral face, but you see right through it. “It wouldn’t be forever! I’d still hand out books and set up routes, just in a more sporadic way. We have several librarians that do it that way, travel wherever they want and switch books out when they come through a town. It gives people something to look forward to when they see us.”

You were already using “us” again. Vash feels torn. On the one hand, you’re doing exactly what he left you to do. You aren’t as safe as he’d hoped, but it’s better than traveling with him. On the other…Sigh. On the other hand, he really, really misses you.

You’ve carried on, not noticing his thoughtful look. It almost feels like a job interview – as if he needed your recommendation that you were reliable. “I’ve gotten much better at defending myself with my knife! And I’m good at making getaways on foot and on tomas. And I know you miss my cooking, you’ve said it a thousand times in your letters – “

“One month,” he hears himself say. “One month, and we see how much you still miss traveling with me. Alright?”

Your chair screeches from the force you jump out of it, and you’re on him, squealing with excitement and shaking his shoulders. Vash laughs at your enthusiasm. He’s missed it. He’s missed you.

He just hopes it isn’t a mistake to invite you along again.

[morningstargirl666]

WIP WEDNESDAY

No sneak peak as I don't have anything I'm happy with spoiling but-

The tbbw rewrite is going well, considering that's the wordcount for 11 completed chapters and 4 still in progress.

[muffled screaming]

[longagoitwastuesday]

Every day I am haunted by the fact JJK could be amazing but it will be just idk Bleach or something

[bambeebirdie]

This is for @bluepeachstudios ‘s Ghost in a Shell. It’s really good you should read it.

I looked at exactly one picture of Jupiter Jim and went “yeah this should be enough to draw him.” I will not be answering if it actually was

Have some bonus content under the cut!

And sketches

(I love any character who can say “I don’t want to go back to prison” it’s like the funniest thing to me)

[deus-ex-mona]

kinda thinking about t h e m again…

[thehylianidiot]

THIS FIC ISN'T DEAD!!!! :D

Also, who wants more magic circles?

No I'm serious this cover has been complete for like months. The words on the other hand...

I kid you not, I had the alternate chapter title be "Jellal Delivers The Mail," but I wanted Ultear to be the star.

Want More? Check out the Hub Post

[astro-b-o-y-d]

I am READY for a three-day weekend of editing!!!!

[ragnar0c]

Thinking about how Aurora talks to Ragnarok once and when they talk over her she hits them with "Let me finish." and they shut up so fast

drawing the guild in this when the chapter drops

[windor-truffle]

happy 4th birthday to my WIP long fic Two Hearts Could Be One!!!

[singsweetmelodies]

watching the alpines qualify dead last... my immediate thought was "oh it's going to be sympathy kisses+ for Pierre all season long in the your lips, my lips (apocalypse) universe" 💀

oh my gosh, HI 🤭😍 well this ask made me grin far too fondly down at my phone screen... it just means SO much that people are still thinking of this fic universe even though it hasn't been updated in forever. 🥺 i am really SO touched!

and i also agree COMPLETELY! sympathy kisses all night long, for sure... perhaps even a sympathy blowjob or two... or even (since charles has once again reminded us that he's not sensitive to bottoming) a sympathy fuck 😏 but whatever the case might be, you can bet your ass that they'll definitely be in each other's beds in the 2023 kisses fic 'verse <3333 😘

[sskk-manifesto]

(｡･ω･｡)ﾉ♡

[waywardsalt]

need to remind myself that while damien only has one arc focused on him in post-ph so far, there’s like only a handful of actual arcs planned rn and his is probably currently the most detailed and interesting of them

[skrunksthatwunk]

not my dad not liking moral orel season 3 🤭🤭🤭that's so embarrassing for him (<- he's not wrong for feeling that way but i think it's like 60% because he doesn't like it when art gets weird and that's so so tragic for him)