#and then they confirmed it. thank you arashi for saying that

[mihai-florescu]

Remember when leo's pen name composing for kingslayer was regicide

[natsmagi]

can i say something. Enstarries obsession with having arashi wear a skirt or a dress or dress up in pink or whatever because She's a Girl is really fucking annoying and i think some of you need to stop relying on articles of clothing to confirm an already canonically trans womans gender identity. her being a woman doesnt mean she needs to stop wearing pants. and she also does not need to abide by the cisheteronormative view of what being a girl is in order to be a girl either. does she need to look like a barbie doll for you to process her as a canonical woman or something. let her have her own unique identity and preferences and tastes and treat her like her own individual person holy fuck. And also fuyume isnt even wearing a skirt and even if they were they wouldnt have been the first enstars character to do so thank you

[pitxroxas]

ive been writing for visionstars for funzies so heres some hcs

Tsukasa Suou: His hydro horse thingy is a mare and her name is Iris. Tsukasa could be a reverse childe, uses sword in normal combat and then mounted on Iris he switches to hydro bow bc why the hell not. (also bc he’s canonically good at mounted archery and theres a really cursed [!] era card for that + story) He’s from Fontaine and his family works under the Archon. They’re the head of the Archon’s defense for her and the region and Tsukasa is going to be the next general. Tsukasa is very fond of Inazuman treats (loovess dango milk). Also Tsukasa sleeps on Iris when they camp out

Arashi: Arashi is from Liyue and is a model in Liyue. Arashi may as well be related to Zhongli and may as well be an Adepti, but that isn’t confirmed :) (In Enstars Canon she has a big bro, maybe Xiao could be hers??) Arashi’s burst is similar in form with Zhongli’s (big object be hurled + stun) but instead of it being a big boom boom rock its a bunch of star-shaped shards of geo that skewer said enemy and explodes, giving stun. oh. and killing them. Arashi is also the mom of the group, completely against her will and its not certain to say she likes it or not.

Leo: Leo is a flaming piss weasel and that’s literally it (/j) he cannot control his powers whatsoever, so whenever he gets an emotional spurt of energy expect everything to be on fire. Fires comes out from him EVERYWHERE. It’s usually his hands within his control, his nose and maybe his mouth outside of control. Leo has totally made a claymore out of pyro and showed it to Ruka. Ruka was not pleased when half the kitchen was burned to shreds. He also is very good at woodworking (mostly the burning thingy) and sets wood on fire specifically to compose.. yippee!! Leo is also from Mondstat btw. Also, Leo’s burst is much like Yanfei’s, a birthday of music!! Boom boom!!

Izumi: Traveling model from Snezhnaya who would rather be home. He freezes everything because he hates everybody (actually just his insecurities talking) he’s like Elsa but if Elsa skipped therapy at any given moment. Izumi actually knew Leo when he went to Mond for a modeling gig and they became friends there and then never met again. Until now. Izumi is also hella good at ice skating and thats his entire fighting style. Skid skid boom deaded. Like op said, he works like yelan. I think his burst should just be a wall of ice. Defense!!! ahahah!!!!

Ritsu: Personally nobody knows where he’s from and no one is allowed to touch his vision (bc he said so) but everyone speculates Sumeru. Ritsu is not from Sumeru but I’ll keep you wondering. Ritsu sleeps on everything and everybody. One time he slept on Iris and Tsukasa has been angry since. (“How many times have I told you, Ritsu-Senpai!! Iris is not a pillow!!! You can’t sleep on her!!!”) (“But.. you do…”) (“Thats not the point!!!”) Ritsu has honestly found a great attraction to Arashi (in a platonic way) he sees her as a big sister and Arashi is sooooo validated by that. Ritsu’s burst may as well be something like Mona’s or Layla’s, a debuffer / debuffing field for the boss and a buff for the knights.

Unit: They do actually go around and sing and dance and they also go around and cause problems…. on accident?? Tsukasa and Arashi are usually damage control

They’ve actually set some important landmarks on fire.

Izumi has froze some people before and got away with it.

Despite their crimes, Knights is pretty popular for their music and choreography!! Also how they add elemental powers within their performances!! Except for Leo he isnt allowed.

and thats it for my visionstars hcs!!! Thank you so so SOO much @flcarius and your gf for the ideas that sparked the au!!! I love it so much that i. write. teehee :3

[canarymemories]

the long awaited nui izlo rambling is finally here!! leaving it all below the read more bc. i don't know how to shut up

(i'm copy pasting this w little to no edits from a twt thread so. sorry if the formatting is icky kasdgh)

this fic was brought to u by 1. my own darling nuis and my izumi nui does have a tear by his eye and 2. leo merch collector is such a fun concept to me

the concept of izumi being in italy while leo is away was something that lived in my head for a while ngl and there was a point where this was going to be a meowzart fic, like izumi moping around the apartment and meowzart being her cute little self. i think at one point i did have a sort of companion piece if you want to call it that, like leo would be the one at the apartment w izumi out of the country (also a meowzart fic) and the only part i actually wrote for that is what I lovingly call ace izlo

also. back to my izunui for a minute, I did try to do surgery on him but the eye embroidery is too thick to do w just a normal little sewing needle 😔😔 but he's my darling little guy and he's perfect the way he is, I just have to be careful with him 🥺

anyway! let's start w the title. this song I think is the reason I started writing mushy lines towards the end lmao, it's izlo coded to me, like pls consider (it's also in my bb playlist ✌ idk it's so izumi -> leo to me)

I make it my life's goal that izumi never knows one second of peace lmao (also somewhat unrelated, i do have this wip idea of their dormmates having to deal w them bc i think it's funny and. i miss that idea (is fully capable of still writing it))

i feel like this point comes up in . so many of my wips (I think it's honestly just me feeling like it does but. still) and I just,,, man post checkmate, the way you live in my head

izumi is so. easily swayed when it comes to leo (thank u rhythm tourism for confirming that for me <33) (I like to think that leo is somewhat aware of this fact) but yeah that comes up so much in this fic and I think it's so fun bc. sorry to say but izumi is such a loser

izumi cardboard cutout is such a funny one to me, leo would so have one. anyway, reloaded reference 🎉 also. the izumi calendar being a canon thing might be one of the best things happyele has done, unfortunate I'm p sure they'll be skipping it in engstars 😔

I feel like I'll end up forgetting to mention it, but like recital, the way izumi refers to leo nui changes over the course of the fic (aka after day five, izumi starts referring to leo nui w gendered pronouns fkdksl) they had a bonding moment <33

this is probably my favorite part of the fic ngl like honestly. I don't even think I can make fun of izumi here bc I think something that grossly domestic would fix me too (but it's still so funny to be like. izumi wakes up in a bad mood and his first thought of how to fix it is to imagine a whole scenario w leo that is soft but. maybe he really is onto something)

the day three naruritsu call is bc i started writing nui izlo last august which was a month before nrrt week and they were in my head so bad (they haven't left). and then I was like haha what if I write the date for nrrt week before the fic is finished. and now this year it's like,, haha what if i (hopefully will actually write the date this time but also. as a small aside, the concept of arashi having to be straight up told it's a Real Date and not a friend date is so good in this essay i)

this is supposed to be bc they're not speaking a language izumi personally knows how to speak, so only certain words make sense think of it when you hear someone speaking another language and there's loan words or cognates that you recognize even if u don't know what's being said

I said it in the a/n but this part and all of day five is that even though they're past the events of checkmate and everything that came from it, things aren't magically like. Perfect, yk? like they found their way back to each other and knights didn't fall apart but that doesn't mean that everything that happened then doesn't bother them to some extent. like just look at next door and mr they can't know i care taking the earliest flight to japan w limited knowledge of what's going on + leo leaving in the first place bc of an argument like I can go on for a while (so much of ! was izlo figuring shit out bc of what happened between them so i mean,, it's definitely still prominent in their lives even if it's in the past).

he's funny for being like wait can someone hear me rn, their conversation is happening in japanese lmao

happy brief trans leo mention, this part also makes me so like. giggles kicks feet and idk why exactly. anyway leo is trans, it just never really comes up in my writing so fkxksl (is anyone in knights really cis? the answer is no)

day five aka the radio silence day is so,,, I wanted to have a day like this in here but I felt like I was being a little dramatic abt it but i was like well. izumi knows that leo is probably busy and they're in a better space now, but all things considered, I do think he'd worry. I mean izumi is worrier #1 but fkdks that's not the point. by this point, he has mostly stopped blaming himself for checkmate but u do have to realize that next door did happen and he did make leo leave that time, that one was all him so,, but even outside of that, I don't think izumi is like. Concerned about it every time that leo stops talking to him or is out of the country, but in this situation, he already misses leo and they'd talked for a while the day before then to wake up to hear absolutely nothing is not fun. (i probably have more but idk where i'm going w this rip) I just think there's something there, yk? like idk they're a little (very much) attached to each other

requiem reference (izumi will never live it down sorry). was going to talk abt their relationship and the use of partner rather than boyfriend but. idk.

niki's kitchen is such a funny circle to me bc they really just. have a signed framed picture of izumi there for the meetings so gkdksm obligatory mention (plus I do think izumi is Aware that niki knows what he's doing in the kitchen so he'll actually take his advice)

when I was planning this fic out, this part was going to be a little different; izumi wasn't going to realize he had leo nui until he was in the store and he looks down into the bag and there's a little guy in there but mckslsl

I think this is so cute and I'm specifically pointing it out so you all agree w me. like idk izumi would think leo's dumb alien shirts r so fucking ugly but that's the first thing he's putting on when leo is out of the country for any extended period of time

reference to something in recital I haven't written yet (the concept of a person being your home rather than a place and what it means when you destroy that person and you're left without anyone to return to :) )

this part has been in my head for Months, like nearly since I started it. like,,, man I wish I could draw without having a meltdown bc I hate it bc,,,, the soft leo in my head in this part makes me want to eat glass (also haha izumi sena grossly in love)

I think that's everything,,, (is probably most definitely forgetting about something)

[fou-and-foue]

ok so i just watched 7SEEDS and if you don’t know what that is don’t worry because every episode is just A FECKING HEART ATTACK I SWEAR

[poppyseedfics]

hello !! the koga first kiss hcs were so cute i loved them 😭 if it’s possible may i request an izumi version? tysm in advance <3

Thank you so much anon!!!💕💕 I hope you enjoy these ones for Izumi as well <33

Izumi First Kiss HCs

Your first kiss with Izumi… it had to be special for sure. Luckily, you had the perfect little plan thought out and with the help of the others in Knights it was bound to be a success.

The first step of your plan was easy, getting the help of the other Knights members!! They were more than willing to help you, they love you and you are the beloved of their Izumi after all ;).

In theory your plan would go smoothly, everyone would only have to convince Izumi there’d be a lastminute photoshoot scheduled in 3 days and that there would also be a special guest for it (hint hint wink wink). Once Izumi fell for it, the plan was set in motion.

The next step was to prepare for the photoshoot to make it feel as real as possible, picking out fitting clothes with Arashi, have the rest of Knights set everything up and of course subtly remind Izumi of this last minute shoot.

And then the day finally came, everything was in place for your little plan, now all that was left was the execution…

As the others were trying to distract Izumi a little bit, you entered the studio. Dressed up more than you usually are, you caught everyone’s attention, especially that of Izumi’s :3

When you finally stood in front of him, it took Izumi a while to say anything. “I- you- you could’ve said that you were gonna be that ‘special guest’, there was no need to be that secretive” he may have looked away, but you could clearly see his red ears.

“...You look nice.” It took him a while to add that part. You could hear the rest of the Knight snickering quietly behind your back, it became more obvious what they were doing when you saw Izumi’s face getting more and more red.

You kept wondering when he would realize that this entire photoshoot is a setup, even if he already knew he was doing a darn good job at hiding it. He was playing perfectly along, posing as he should and patiently waiting for the others to finish their turn.

That was when the moment came for you to come in, as it was Izumi’s turn again. Walking up to him, you grabbed his hand and told him that it was time for a duo shot (wink wink). You could feel his composure almost falling apart, but he recovered himself quickly.

You don’t know what it was, but now that you were this close to the first kiss you wanted, your heart started pounding, your face got hot. You ended up being so flustered, being so close to Izumi and all, posing with him like this.

It didn’t take long for Izumi to notice your strange behavior “Eh~ look who ended up being all flustered, weren’t you the one who set all of this up? Hahh, you’re so cute, what am I going to do with you?” He leaned in closer, but stopped as if he was waiting for you to make the final move. <3

Haha, what to do with you indeed, after all this planning only to end up being flustered. After looking into his beautiful eyes looking for some kind of confirmation, you didn’t hesitate to lean in for the kiss he was offering you so obviously.

Neither of you had even noticed that the rest of Knights had already left the two of you alone. It was just you, Izumi and the first kiss that you had been waiting for.

[ibasae]

SHUFFLE X Moonlight Mirror Ball - Prologue

Season: Winter

on the stage of the kaguyahime

Tatsumi: --So this is the stage of the modern Kaguyahime.

Hokuto: How do I put this...it's certainly a very unique stage.

Arashi: But it's easy to tell a lot of effort went into building this place.

Kanata: This stage, it's like it's anticipating the "rise" of Mister "sun"--truly glittering!

Hiyori: Mhmm! Indeed. It's a good place, worthy of marking the end to the "Getto Spectacle" project!

Plus, it will also become my--the idol Hiyori's--last stage.

Location: ES meeting room

(A week ago, the middle of January.)

Hokuto: Shuffle unit--Getto Spectacle.

Is that the unit name we are using for this project, Anzu?

Hiyori: Mm, it's a very nice sounding name!

Hokuto: Also, this "Shuffle Event" requires us to join the filming of "DJ Vintage"--a popular educational show that converts historical events into modern stories.

Hiyori: In addition to performing the theme song, I heard the we are managing the episode about the modern retelling of "Kaguyahime." Which is to say, the five of us present right now will be in charge of it!

We get to act in Kaguyahime, isn't that just so pretty, Arashi-chan?

Arashi: Yeah, Anzu inviting us to this event is super pretty too!

Hokuto: ...You guys, stop using pretty to start conversations.

Also, I wanted to ask Anzu about the criterias for the members of this event.

Disregarding Tomoe-senpai and Narukami-senpai, I'm curious to the reason you chose me, Kazehaya-senpai, and Shinkai-senpai.

Kanata: I also want to know the reason behind this.

I'm not super confident about my "acting," so I was a little unsure when I accepted this event.

Tatsumi: We should receive the script for the show soon, I also wanted to confirm how the five of us are going to play in Kaguyahime.

Mm. This episode turns Kaguyahime into the story of five highschooler boys while making their stories parallel to the original--is that so?

Hokuto: I see. The manager in charge of the event saw the character criteria of "OJS prince" and requested me and Shinkai-senpai.

Hiyori: "OJS prince" boys? Sounds like a very interesting job.

Tatsumi: I think it's a magazine photoshoot with the style of "OJS prince." If my memory serves, Star Pro has receieved this type of jobs before.

Hiyori: Is that so? How interesting indeed. Because the job went to Star Pro, it's to be expected I won't know about it. But, an opportunity to play a prince-like character is something I'd like to take part in.

But, no matter when, I'm everyone's sun, so there's no need to be a prince!

Arashi: Ahaha, with pretty idols like me and Tomoe-senpai in the show, it might just balance out nicely!

Hokuto: So, what do you exactly mean by pretty?

Hiyori: Haha, it's a phrase used throughout all of Pretty5, isn't that right, Arashi-chan ♪

Arashi: You're certainly right, Tomoe-senpai ♪

Hokuto: ...Right, I'm just not going to dig too deep on the meaning of this word.

Kanata: You're right~ we're getting "off-topic."

Me and Hokuto are a part of this "event" because of "OJS prince," that much I understand.

But, Tatsumi wasn't a "prince," is there another "reason?"

Tatsumi: I also want to know more about that.

Hiiro was in the "OJS" job instead of me, so why did Anzu pick me out of all the other Alkaloid members?

I see, the manager of this event was aware of my previous activities as well. Even though I went inactive for a while, they were still willing to give me opportunites, I'm truly thankful.

So, all five of us together now--let's work hard for the modern retelling of Kaguyahime in this shuffle event!

Even though I'd like to begin practice immediately, since we are short on time, we should elect a manager first--aka a leader. Would anyone among us volunteer?

Hiyori: Yes yes yes! I'd like to be the captain!

Hokuto: Tomoe-senpai seems very motivated.

Hiyori: Strictly speaking, nobody else fits the job except for me.

Hokuto: If we are talking about experience and achievements, Tomoe-senpai is a good choice. However, I'd like the opinions of the others.

Kanata: I think it's good~ it's "fitting" to let someone with pior experience as a captain manage this event.

Arashi: I agree. Tomoe-senpai is the leader of Eve, I think he's the best choice for the job.

Tatsumi: I'm fine with it.

Hiyori: That's wonderful! it seems like everyone is in agreement, so I'll make the first step as the leader immediately.

I heard that in the filming of previous shuffle events, all the members trained and lived together.

So, I propose for us to live together in the old buildings of the Starmony dorm to deepen our bonds!

Hokuto: What...! Living together? That's so sudden, Tomoe-senpai...!

Hiyori: But, since the time before the performance is short, we really can't afford to waste time! It's often said "no amount of planning will be better than just taking action," so let's live together and increase our understanding of each other!

Alright, everyone pack your bags and assemble! Before we return to the moon, let's enjoy some special moments together. Now that's just fine weather ♪

navigation

[hajimyans]

Scout! Fairytales in a Dream Translation: Chapter 3

Translated by: @myamura

Fun disclaimers: No proofreading was done. Not a professional translation. There may be mistakes and slight(!) mistranslations as this is my first time translating a full story. I haven't read many stories from Ensemble Stars, so I'm not familiar with the unique ways that some of the characters speak. Please read for fun! Please let me know if there are any major mistakes.

Season: Summer

Location: Garden

Hajime: Narukami-senpai, thank you for attending Ritsu-oniichan and I’s tea party ♪

I prepared a flower tea that has beautifying properties for you, senpai, so if you’re okay with it, please give it a try.

Arashi: That sounds good~ If it’s brewed by Hajime-chan, it’s definitely going to be delicious ♪

But you don’t have to thank me so politely. I had fun choosing accessories with you, Hajime-chan.

Come to think of it, I smelled a sweet scent when I entered the garden just now. It doesn’t seem to be the smell of tea?

Ritsu: Tada~ That’s the smell of the apple pie made by Chef Sakuma Ritsu~ ♪

Arashi: Ara, this apple pie is a bit—

Ritsu: A bit…?

Arashi: Ufufu, there’s no reason for Ritsu-chan to be so nervous. It’s not like I think the shape is weird.

Rather, it’s a bit suspicious because it looks too normal… Did you really make this apple pie, Ritsu-chan?

Ritsu: Hmph, you’re too much~ I specifically made this into a common shape that can be seen in dessert shops to thank Nacchan for helping my cute brother.

Hajime: Ehehe, I can confirm what Ritsu-oniichan just said. Oniichan worked really hard on this to treat Narukami-senpai!

Ritsu: Perhaps Nacchan prefers my original desserts? That’s fine, I don’t mind remaking it. Fufufufu ♪

Arashi: Ah, oh my, I never said I hated this though!

Anyways, thank you Ritsu-chan. I’ll eat this well…♪

Ritsu: (stares intensely)

Hajime: (also stares intensely)

Arashi:(chews) Mm, when you bite the flaky crust, the sweet yet tart apple filling melts in your mouth, it’s really good ♪

But if you both stare at me so intensely, it becomes a little awkward to eat, y’know?

Ritsu: Hehe, Nacchan truly has no sense of fear. It’s too late now.

Just one bite will spread the poison all throughout your body…♪

Arashi: Wh-What… Did I just get poisoned?! Am I going to die soon?!

Hajime:Narukami-senpai, please be calm for now! To be honest, we mixed in a herbal recipe 「The Magical Medicine That Causes You to Reveal Your Inner Feelings」 that we received from Sakasaki-senpai into the apple pie…

That’s why Narukami-senpai will be unable to answer with anything but the truth when asked a question.

But the medicine is completely harmless to the human body, so don’t worry!

Ritsu: Hey hey, how could you tell her everything already, Haakun? I wanted to tease her some more.

Hajime: Uuuu, but I felt so bad fooling Narukami-senpai…

Arashi: Hold on. My brain is completely lost right now. Why are you guys doing this to me…?

Ritsu:Nacchan seems to be worrying about something these days and I wanted to know what it was. I was afraid you would smile and keep it to yourself like you usually do.

It might’ve been an extreme method, but I think it was pretty creative ♪

Time: A few days ago...

Location: Staff Canteen

Ritsu: Huu… Ecchan had suggested that the Tea Club meet for meals every now and then but in the end, he suddenly had to go eat with some high-ranking people.

Hajime: Ufufu, There’s a lot to consider with Eichi’s position so it must have been a meal he couldn’t slip out of.

Ritsu: Hmph. I’ll forgive him for now since I got a message from him that says he would bring premium snacks and tea leaves next time as an apology…

Hm? Isn’t that Anzu over there holding a tray and looking around everywhere?

Hey~ Anzu, come here~ Our table has an empty spot~

Hajime: Ehehe, it feels like it’s been forever since I ate with Anzu-san. I’m excited ♪

Ritsu: It must have been the will of heaven for Ecchan to have left his seat empty today… Haha, it’s nothing. You don’t need to worry about it.

Hajime:Did I choose nice accessories? Of course I did. Narukami-senpai has such a good eye. She always picks the cutest accessories that would match me perfectly ♪

I might be mistaken but when I was shopping with senpai, she seemed to be forcing herself to pay attention and would sometimes get lost in thought.

Did you think the same too, Anzu-san? Mmm, I see, you felt it from the way she was speaking when you called Narukami-senpai to ask for help.

Ritsu: But Anzu, you’re worried that you added to Nacchan’s burdens with your request?

I think Nacchan knows how much work she can shoulder at one time. She wouldn’t accept it just to help take care of your situation.

Hajime: Mmm… I want to understand Narukami-senpai’s inner feelings as well but it doesn’t seem like it’d be easy.

It would be nice if there was a way to get senpai to speak first, like a potion that would cause someone to speak their thoughts nonstop if they were to drink it…?

Ahaha, sorry. I sound unusual right? Maybe it’s because I’ve been practicing and reading fairy tales so much, but I feel like my thought process is becoming like that of a child’s.

Ritsu: … No, Haakun, I think you have a point. There really could be something like that.

Hajime: Eh? R-Really?

Ritsu: If it doesn’t exist, we’ll have to make it exist…♪

Time: Present

Location: Garden

Arashi: …I see, so that’s how it went. You guys got me. That means I must have looked like I was in really bad condition, especially if it was enough for people to be concerned about.

Alright. I was going to just think about it by myself, but maybe I’ll get a better answer if I ask you both for your opinions.

Maybe it’s because I joined Dramatica, but a while back, at a theater run by an office of NEWDI, I was offered to appear in the musical Snow White.

Hajime: Huh, another Snow White…?

Arashi: But the role I’m going to play is the most evil and vicious role in the fairy tale— the 「Queen」.

I thought perhaps the office distributed the roles to people that are close to those personalities…

To properly portray the original 「Queen」, I think I would have to show a strong heart that isn’t afraid to push others to the side and suppress them in order to reveal my own beauty.

But this is the complete opposite of the beauty that I pursue. Since everyone has their own beauty, I don’t get jealous just because there is someone more beautiful than me.

Even as I constantly polish my own beauty, I will give encouragement and help to others around me that want to be pretty.

What I want as a queen is a utopia where everyone can live peacefully and happily with a smile on their face.

Ritsu: I remember Nacchan said something similar during Knights’ 「Requiem」, right?

Arashi: You’re right. Those were my true, honest thoughts and they haven’t changed since then.

That’s why I probably can’t relate to the character 「Queen」 and it’ll be hard for me to act in a way that suits it.

But if I reject this role, I worry that it’ll be harder to take on the roles of an actress in the future. That’s why I haven’t been able to make a decision.

Ufufu, 「The Magical Medicine That Causes You to Reveal Your Inner Feelings」 is so interesting. I feel better now that I’ve revealed my inner feelings.

Ritsu: ……

[ohcheckmate]

a confident model: izumi special story scout chapter 2

Location: Classroom

Izumi: Is this the location of the photoshoot?

Okay, we can start once you confirm that there’s no problems.

Me? You don’t have to worry about me, I’m good to go.

Hm~ Speaking of which, I don’t think you’ve really seen me at work.

…You’ve got some nerve to say you have confidence in me.

We aren’t familiar with each other yet, and we’re not on the same page.

If you really think you’re standing on the same battlefront as me just because you’re a producer, that’s just your own wishful thinking.

But since you said that, I’ll show off a bit.

Good, the client has arrived too. I’ll have to go up soon, so just watch closely from the sidelines.

Remember, I’m not ‘escaping’ to the idol world just because I can’t stay in the modelling world anymore, okay?

“Hello, I’ll be in your care today~♪” [1]

“Is this pose alright? Ah, regarding my expressions, due to the concept of the advertisement, I feel that I should not smile.”

“If I display a rather stoic expression, the audience will have the impression that the product has the same aura as its endorser: solid, reliable, and long-lasting.”

“Smiling in the shots would break the impression that we would like to give everyone about our product.”

“Are you in favour of these suggestions? Alright, I’ll maintain the expressions I have at the moment. Then, I’ll hang my jacket over my shoulder…”

“All done.”

“Mm, I’ll have to change up my pose and take a few more shots later.”

“Are these pictures all that’s required? Understood, thank you all for your hard work today.”

… Oi, Anzu, what’s wrong with you? You’re standing there all dumbstruck.

Arashi: Hmm, Izumi-chan, you’re so unromantic. Of course it was because you were sooo focused, and sooo handsome while working just now~

You were super cool, and even I, not to mention Anzu-chan, was staring in awe.

As expected, I absolutely adore the hardworking Izumi-chan the most.

Izumi: Oi, you shi—Tsk!

(The photography staff are still here, so can’t you be a bit more aware of your actions and not hug me like that?! It’s so embarrassing?!)

Arashi: (Hehehe, it’s exactly because there are staff around that Izumi-chan can’t use his usual attitude to talk to me, right?)

(After all, he’s suuuper careful about his public image, so how can he curse and swear at me?)

(Of course I have to use this opportunity to become closer and closer to Izumi-chan♪)

Izumi: (... Are you deliberately using this chance to piss me off? And anyway, what are you even doing here?)

Arashi: (Are you serious? I am a model too, you know. Of course I’m here for the audition.)

(Anzu-chan didn’t tell you? I was commissioned this time too.)

(And also, I do want to fairly and honestly compete with you for once.)

(Izumi-chan… You can’t surely be scared, right? Betcha worried that this job would be stolen by me♪)

Izumi: (Hmph, there’s no need to be riled up by you.)

(It’s just Naru-kun, so try giving it your best shot.)

Ahem, um… Naru-kun, what are you still stalling around for? Why don’t you quickly get changed? Don’t keep others waiting.

Arashi: Oh fine, I know.

Anzu-chan, will you stay here and watch me when it’s my turn? I can’t let Izumi-chan show off all by himself♪

Wait a sec, I’ll be ri~ght back~

Izumi: (Tch, this brat is still as shrewd as ever.)

(Shrewd, yet not horrid to others. Having an excellent sense of propriety is one of Naru-kun’s strengths, I suppose.)

Anzu, what’s wrong? Why do you keep staring at me? I’m not upset.

Whether Naru-kun shows up for this audition or not isn’t my problem. Whether I knew about it or not doesn’t affect my performance.

This is the most fundamental professionalism; no matter what career you’re in, you should understand this.

To tell you the truth, it’s not a bad thing to have someone competing with you at your side.

At the very least, it won’t feel hollow or stupid to put in effort, and you also won’t feel like there’s no meaning in working hard…

Forget it, I don’t know why I’m saying all this to a starry-eyed idiot.

You just continue to work hard. I hope you’ll never have to understand whatever I just talked about.

These are genuine blessings from me, you know? You should be grateful and cherish this in your heart forever.

←previous | masterlist

cn proofing: eme eng proofing: junsweats

just wanted to emphasise that izumi’s being Extra Polite while saying this, he said hello using the more formal ‘您’ rather than the usual ‘你’ which is more informal and commonly used ! all lines said by izumi in quotation marks are him being super formal and ... work mode … woohoo u go izumi !!

[syngigeim]

Day 6 - Deliverance

TW: Violence, Non-Graphic Depictions of Beheading. Canonical Character Death. Implications of Shooting.

“Why...why am I cast down, when it is you who are the villains?” Vauthry, now the “ascended” Innocence pleaded. Syngigeim began striding forward as he continued, unsheathing her rapier. “Father told me that I am hope. I am righteousness. That I...am a god.”

Syngigeim stepped to the side of his head, and placed her blade at his neck. “You are no one’s god,” and sliced at his neck.

Q’hara knew immediately what she was planning as the ball of light formed above the slain lightwarden Now to just ensure no one messed it up.

“No! Syngigeim stop it! We know, damn it!” Arashi shouted.

And right on cue.

“I’m not going to let you do-” She began to shout, but found her words escaped her lips. Q’hara had just aetherally yanked her back with Rescue and, just for good measure, bear hugged her. Arashi immediately headbutted him in his face and shoved his arms away.

But by that point, it was enough. Syngigeim had taken the Lightwarden’s power into herself. The night was returning, one last time. And Q’hara’s head suddenly pulsed and he felt his body lurch and he was never as so grateful for an Echo vison as he was then.

It was a simple thing really. Give the Lightwarden’s power until a child. All to fulfil a ruler’s design, to gain power and dominion, under the promise of peace and stability. No longer would they fight what would ruin their world but accept it with open arms. And thus would plans proceed apace…

Loud anguished screams pulled Q’hara out of the vision. Glancing up, he saw Syngigeim, writhing in pain as an aura of light surrounded her. “Twelve forfend, she cannot contain the Light! She’s beginning to turn!” Y’sthola cried out. “Urianger! If you have aught up your sleeve, now is the time!” Everyone glanced over at the Elezen, who had his eyes only cast down in silence. There was nothing anyone could do. Or so it seemed…

Come on, ‘Raha, where are you?

“It’s changing back!” Ryne said. The cool of night shifted and so came back the shimmering and gleaming brightness of day...just as Q’hara spotted the Exarch stride forth. “The combined might of every single Lightwarden is too much a burden for one soul to bear...” Q’hara slid carefully behind the Exarch, making sure not to startle him in his purpose. “And so I shall relieve you of it.”

Now! Q’hara dashed right beside the Exarch, managing to get within the circle he cast around himself and Syngigeim. He could feel the light swirling, around them, as the Exarch attempted to pull it into himself but now he was there. “What are you-?”

“You said it yourself Exarch, the power of the Lightwardens is too much for one person to bear. So, in the words I have heard before, let me join my strength to yours.” Q’hara placed his hand on the Exarch’s staff. “For in this place, in this moment, our purpose is one.”

“Q’hara Tia! What in the seven hells are you doing?!” Alisaie shouted.

Oh hells. “Sorry, Alisaie.” He said with remorse, not glancing at her, just looking forward. The light was surging up his arm and he could his body spasm in pain. “But the Exarch divulged to me his plans and I must see them to fruition.”

It wasn’t even a lie, truly.

Thankfully, the Exarch picked up quickly. “Together, we shall abandon this dying realm and use the Crystal Tower to travel to new worlds. As I dreamed of, ever since learning of their existence! Thus...” the Exarch said, directing his words to Syngigeim, “...thus did I use you.”

“No...no, I don’t believe you! It doesn’t make sense!” Ryne shouted in confusion.

Was that a laugh from Syngigeim? What was she amused by?

“Damn you!” Alisaie shouted. “We won’t let you do with her as you please!” Q’hara heard the sound of sheathing weapons to his left, where the other members of Wanderer’s League were willing to take that as confirmation to fight but a sharp voice called out.

“Do not interfere!” Urianger said, with authority enough that even the League glanced at him. “Please I beseech you all. Let them go!”

He knows. Q’hara inwardly relaxed just a slight bit, even if his body was racked with pain. He felt splinters, shards of crystal, hitting his skin, where the Exarch’s arm was touching his.

“You knew, didn’t you Urianger?” Q’hara heard Y’sthola ask. “This all a fiction. Such vaguely defined acts of teleportation stand no chance of success. The Exarch, and Q’hara, will never life to see another world, as they know all too well.”

“Then what do they mean to do?” Alphinaud asked.

“They mean to take the Light with them into the rift...where they will die.” Y’sthola said. “From the beginning, the Exarch intended to sacrifice himself to save Syngigeim and Norvrandt. And Q’hara...”

“...intends to ensure he does not die alone,” Q’hara said, finishing off that sentence. “We had the same idea after all, and his plan was much better than mine.”

The Exarch spoke up, “At journey’s end, an opportunistic thief makes off with the hero’s prize. A paltry way, to end a chapter, I concede. Yet your tale will continue, and my role in it will scarcely be remembered,” he said, keeping his words towards her.

Q’hara could hear sobs escaping from Syngigeim. He at least knew her well enough to know what she would be thinking now. It was even more people sacrificing themselves her, people she loved and cherished. Tears were beginning to stream down Q’hara’s face but he would keep his smile up. For her sake.

She reached out her hand, for them and the Exarch continued. “Worry not. Whatever should become of me, I will be happy and free, safe in the knowledge that I have played my part.” The two extended the staff again, making sure to keep steady. A gust of wind came forth and the Exarch’s face was finally revealed to her and her friends.

He heard two gasps. Arashi and Eleone, Q’hara figured. Together with Syngigeim they climbed the braved a Labrynth, climbed the Tower and delved into Darkness.

Syngigeim’s face was unreadable, her hat’s brim was covering up her eyes. But her words rang loud and clear. “G’raha Tia you...” Whatever else was was to say was lost in a desperate sob.

He heard G’raha gasp in shock. He wasn’t expecting her to remember him. Which honestly was quite foolish of him considering they were friends. Friends linger deep in each others hearts, Q’hara knew.

G’raha’s voice cracked. “Thank you for fighting for this world. For believing. Fare you well my friend...my inspiration!”

Last words time. Gotta make it count.

“It’s been a good time everyone. Thanks, Syngi, for bringing me along.” Q’hara and G’raha Tia smiled as they focused and the magic was just about ready to complete. His whole body was beginning to tense up, his heart was rebelling at the thought of death but, he reminded himself, it was just another adventure and he wouldn’t be alone to begin it.

He heard two loud sounds and a sudden flash of pain. The staff! No! Syngigeim! No!

And all went black.

[mikarashis]

Cheval Live - Chapter Thirteen

Summer Sky ＊ Galloping Cheval Live - Chapter Thirteen

Season: Summer

Location: Horse-riding club 

(Promotional live at the riding club)

Mika: o~i, Anzu-chan!

The weather forecast was kinda iffy fer today, but it seems t’ be perfect fer a live!  Na?  What’s with that weird look?  Ah...is it b’cause of my voice?  Yeah, I guess ‘m usually not so friendly.  But y’ really saved me this time, so I thought I should thank ya properly.  

...y’ talked t’ Oshi-san about the trouble I was havin’, and y’ even offered t’ help figure out the content of the live.  So thank ya muchly, Anzu-chan.  Eh?  What is it?  Isn’t this a nice cos~tume?  Fufun, of course ♪  Oshi-san designed it, so obviously it’s gonna be nice!

Arashi: Mika-cha~n, Anzu-cha~n

Mika: ah, Naru-chan!  Good mor~ning ♪

Arashi: ufufu, aren’t you full of energy?  But after all, Mika-chan’s smile is the best.  And the costumes are super well-made; you look very stylish, Mika-chan ♪

Mika: na, thank ya~  it suits Naru-chan real well, too!  Seein’ y’ standin’ there like this, y’ really do look like a model.  I’m kinda captivated... ♪

Arashi: thank you.

Though, I feel like I should apologize for some of the things I thought earlier...you have a surprising sense for things like this.  I’ve seen some of the accessories you carry around and call ‘cute things~’ so I was a little worried that the costumes might have a...unique design.

Ritsu: I see.

Arashi: ...uhya!?  Hey, Ritsu-chan, don’t just say things from behind out of nowhere!

Ritsu: sorry, sorry.  Mikarin, you didn’t want to accept any help because you wanted to make the costumes by yourself, right?  But you were worried about how we’d react once we saw them.

Mika: ahaha...the truth is, if anyone should get credit fer the design, it’s Oshi-san.  After all, he’s the one who thought of it.

Arashi: ah...well, the details are very nice.  Did your ‘Oshi-san’ also make them?

Mika: yep, I was gonna help, but he thought I’d jes’ be in the way.  So instead, I made sure everythin’ was cleaned up and that he was eatin’ properly.

Ritsu: you know, that really makes you seem like a housewife, Mikrain.

Tsukasa: is everything okay with all of you?  Onee-sama wanted a final confirmation as the live is about to begin.  

Arashi: right, it’s important to go over it before we start.

Ritsu: so, first of all, we’re supposed to get on the horses and ride around the stage?

Arashi: yep, if we show the guests that even beginners can get on a horse right away, that’ll entice people to come to the riding club, right?

And after that, we just perform as usual.  The combination of two brilliant units like Knights and Valkyrie in a single live - we should be able to enchant the audience with our skill.

Yuta: Sena-senpai~?

Izumi: Yuta-kun!  Are you working today?  Is your brother not here again?  Poor Yuta-kun, I’ll comfort you ♪

Yuta: uhh, he should be working right now, so don’t worry; it’s all good!  But regardless, I’m not skipping out on work, either!  We were taking care of a pony until a little while ago, but I came here because I heard the live was supposed to start soon.

Sena-senpai, please do your best!

Izumi: fufu, thank you, Yuta-kun ♪

Arashi: my, my...Izumi-chan, you can handle a horse well, can’t you?  Ufufu, Izumi-chan is also a knight ♪

Mika: fuaaa?!  So cool!  Oshi-san looks amazin’ ridin’ a horse... ☆

Shu: hush!  You’ve startled the horse with your loud exclamation.

Mika: na, ‘m sorry.  I didn’t mean t’ do that.  ...um, will it calm down if I pet it?

Shu: don’t go overboard.  But it appears as though everyone else has mounted their horses already, Kagehira, so you should as well.

Mika: ah, right!

(na~...lookin’ at it close-up, they’re real big, huh?  What if I get kicked?  I... ‘ve gotta jes’ copy everyone and try t’ ride!)

N~.....nn~......nnn~......

(ahh, I can’t even get on!  It was hard t’ even practice and be comfortable with it, so doesn’t it make sense that I can’t do it now?  But, I just can’t ride it.  Please, horsey!  Just this once, please let me get on....!)

Arashi: Mika-chan, get on behind me!

Mika: na?  But, Naru-ch- ...... naaaa?!

Mika: (my hand got grabbed and I was pulled right onto th’ horse!?  Naru-chan, yer so strong.... ahaha, Naru-chan looks like a real knight right now~ ♪)

Arashi: are you alright if we run?  Do you feel steady?

Mika: yep!  So this is the view from th’ top of a horse.  Na~, my heart’s beatin’ so fast ♪

It’s finally the ‘Cheval Live’ performance!  This feelin’ is so big and excitin’!

Arashi: ‘Cheval Live’...? Mika-chan, did you think about the live name?

Mika: yep.  Jes’ callin’ it a ‘promotional live’ didn’t seem special enough.  I remember readin’ in a book from th’ library that ‘cheval’ means ‘horse’ in French, so I got t’ thinkin’.  Oh, or it is too simple...

Arashi: not at all!  I think it’s the perfect name ♪ The ‘Cheval Live’ has begun!  Now, now - please welcome us with lively applause... ♪

Notes: 

Only the two epilogues left!  Thank you to everyone that’s read this so far.

[whiteclericmaris]

D, J, W.

D - A pairing you wish you liked but just can’t.

Pa//wn I don’t care if the manga has them as brothers Yugi is very disrespectful to Yugo until he dueled him and won against him. 

Fai//th I do not like how it was forced by the end of 5d’s. I don’t like when Yusei got distracted by Bruno and ignore Aki’s plea of homework even if what he does is important. Heck if Season 2 never happened I would probably like it more.

Pea//ch Just... no. I’m more into Encourageshipping. Tea’s feelings for both Yugi and Atem just make me extremely sad for Yugi as it is obvious he has a crush on her but her shift between loving Yugi or Atem is just so angsty and unfair to Yugi in a certain sense. It’s why I am happy with DSOD having her leave to follow her dreams.  

J - Name a fandom you didn’t think about until you saw it all over Tumblr. (You don’t have to care about it or follow it; it just has to be something that Tumblr made you aware of.)

Too many! BNHA when I followed @plushie-tusk and she would write fan fiction for it. Shugo Chara when she asked an ask meme for magical girl shows that I decided to give it a chance when glossing over the Wikipedia summary. Beyond the Boundary, I saw gifs of the Mirai with the sword and although I did not know the context I watched it because pink haired character. Akatsuki no Yona, I started reading it after seeing it so much on my dash due to a blogger and even their request for a fanfic of it. I started the manga before the anime (and I’m behind again). I tried watching the anime but to be honest I prefer the manga because... well.. it just gives me a weird feel. Mawaru Penguindrum when I saw gifs of it from 2 blogs I followed and one deciding to watch it and live blog some of her reactions. Yuri Kuma Arashi... Wait was it tumblr or was it because of looking at TV Tropes for Revolutionary Girl Utena going over Ikuhara’s works? I don’t remember but I watched that. Mob Psycho 100 when it was still airing. A blog I admired reblogged it making me consider watching the anime (I know nothing of manga). Princess Tutu I loved the aesthetic as a teen but I never watched it. So there’s this joke that I recommended it to a friend without watching it or knowing the context. However seeing two blogs make content for it made me consider watch it again (Now with some good internet to watch it). I mean... pink haired character. Need I say more? Yuri on Ice!... boy was that blowing up when the first episode aired. I’m not too deep in the fandom but man I remember watching it when this blog I admire kept reblogging it. 

I think those were the main ones I can recall at least.

Lately though I haven’t been keeping up with shows. I have heard of B99 and The West Wing but like I haven’t considered watching any show.  

W - A trope which you are virtually certain to hate in any fandom.

HATESHIPS HATESHIPS HATESHIPS!!! I hate it when fans ship characters that either one is abusive to the other or they can’t even stand each other as love. For example pu//ppy? Kaiba is so disrespectful to Joey. It has been proven in canon several times. ‘Oh he’s doing that for his attention?’ NO! He is most definitely not doing that for his attention. He clearly only views Joey as some poor deadbeat which he could help him out seeing as they came from similar backgrounds but does he? No, he treats Joey like a dog. That’s not love. Also incest. Shugo Character had a certain moment with Ikuto and his sister which makes me even question why the animators added that scene to the episode after confirming they are brother and sister. I doubt I’d probably get through any piece of work but ‘no hope’ works. I don’t look for depression in fiction. I already have depression I don’t need a work of fiction for it. I look for happiness and reassurance. I can’t think of anything else but these are the main.

Thanks for the ask! 

[sambart93]

2017.09.24 Ensemble Stars Stage: Jadge of Knights Review!

Before y’all say anything(!) I wrote it as ‘Jadge’ on purpose xD

The Live Stream video is already available (here) so I assume most people are going to watch it (one way or another) so I’m not going to do my usual in-depth review; I KNOW everyone loves EnStage, I KNOW everyone’s going to watch the LV, I KNOW everyone’s going to buy the DVD, I KNOW the fans already know the story and stuff, I KNOW everyone’s going to love it, SO I’m just going to write my: this was so beautiful and I cried and here’s my fav parts and why etc. Sound good? GOOD!

Official Website here Official Twitter here Press Coverage 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Video Coverage 1, 2, 3, Ritsu’s Making Rating: 9/10

Because this isn’t really a structured review, I don’t really know where to start but... I’ll try and be as structurally accurate as possible.

PRE-LV STUFF

BEFORE I aw the LV, I had kept track of some fan reports and stuff.The infamous; Shohei (Hashimoto who plays Reo) getting a nosebleed in the middle of the show and running of staged and adlibbing it so well that no one was worried and causes the rest of KNIGHTS to laugh so much they couldn’t get through the (what should’ve been a) serious scene. I also heard other random stuff like TakaChan (Takasaki Shouta who is Izumi) pulling MakiChan down the stairs but hopefully no one getting hurt and other stuff. And then there’s the infamous Shouta “accidentally” kissing MakiChan at one point xD Also, in MakiChan’s latest live stream, he talked about one time he kind of did fall asleep and his mic fell out of his hand and started going down the stairs xD he also mentioned another time where TakaChan was dancing in front but he got the moves wrong and he cracked up laughing. Another higawari was apparently a yelling contest between KNIGHTS while walking around the seating area and MakiChan cracked up so hard because the audience found it totally hilarious too. Thanks to fans, there were a lot of fanart thrown out too which caught the higawaris and stuff which you can find on twitter under the あんステ tag.

And THEN there’s the going and trading outside the venue for two days; the first day I felt pretty hopeless because MakiChan was THE desired bromides and everything but luckily through amazing friends and luck I manged to haul quite a bit of his stuff.

Look how beautiful he is ^_^

Also, I’m the type of person who’s very much like ‘well I might as well keep this rather than try and sell it because I paid for it anyway’ so I ended up trading and getting other whole character sets too! Which I’m glad I did because I ended up falling for quite a few of them during the LV and glad I got their stuff.

Who’s your favourite out of these guys?

---

The LV

I LOVE how they played the Manner video (here) while we were waiting for it to start xD the girls next to me were absolutely hilarious and knew all the words to this video and were saying all the lines - it was brilliant. I was trying not to die laughing next to them. Especially Wataru and Izumi’s parts xD

So Shouta being the ultimate troll and the fact that Marv’s directors always allow TakaChan and MakiChan to have so many “coincidental” scenes together xD so we had:

☆TakaChan dragging MakiChan down the stairs and MakiChan acting fast enough to use his hands to save himself from getting hurt. ☆Takachan getting ontop of MakiChan when trying to wake him up. ☆Takachan slapping Makichan’s butt and him automaticaly going ‘ita! Ouch’ . << in fact there were a few butt slapping moment.. Nazuna/Tomoya slapping Mitsuru’s butt(?)

Other higawari-like stuff that I loved was:

☆ All the puns with the tea! Hajime accidentally froze the tea and was like ‘ocha ga occhaimashita!’ and then Eichi got on board while MakiChan/Ritsu had to turn away to stop himself from laughing but he was laughing hard and then Eichi asked him to join in and he was like ‘ocha ga ochatta ne’ and Eichi immediately went ‘that’s not right! Say it again’ and MakiChan was just dying. Then he got really concerned that the teatpot’s lid wasn’t on properly xD MaeChan is always amazing at keeping in character and serious during hilarious moments. ☆Shohei was trying to remember Nazuna/Eichi’s name and he was like ‘A...a-’ and Tsukasa said ‘ari!’ (< MaeChan’s laugh at this moment was gold) but that was wrong so Shohei started yelling out names and finally he went ‘...ALEX!’ and he ended up doing a french double cheek kiss greeting - I died from two things; them somewhat ‘kissing’ and the fact that my name came up! I couldn’t help but think ‘Did MakiChan... mention me?’ but that’s probably NOT what happened, I know that xD ☆ In one scene, KNIGHTS are in the seating area, and Makichan asked to sleep on someone's lap but as he went to do so, there was a ‘HAI! ARASHI-CHAN STOP!’ from Arashi. Good Arashi teaching Ritsu about consent xD

☆ Kanzaki brings his damn turtle out at one part and puts him on the floor so they can do for a walk but Kanzaki just takes steps closer to him but is like ‘yeah you did great! okay a little more! Yeah! *turns to audience* doesn’t look like he moved right? But you’re wrong!’ xD ☆ When Tsukasa asks Ritsu for help and Ritsu is like ‘oh yeah THAT dance’ and then does a completely different dance and so Tsukasa tells him it’s the wrong one; Ritsu is like ‘oh yeah this one! Dubidubidoo~!’ and Tsukasa is like ‘NO!’ xD ☆ Also in this same scene as the bullet point above, Izumi and Arashi check in one the rehearsal, and before going in they’re like ‘we can dance’ and started off by doing a secret hand shake and then jumped into (bent) splits, BUT THEN they couldn’t get up from them xD

--

Also I am very happy most of these boys are of age because I was having nosebleed heaven; especially with MakiChan and all of Ra*bits. *does a quick search* PHEW they are all legal and over 20... okay I can carry on now...

SO MUCH HIP AND WAIST AND TUMMY FLESH!! I WAS DYING! 

EVERYTIME MAKICHAN ROLLED AROUND ON THE GROUND! EVERYTIME THE RA*BITS PERFORMED, THEY HAD RAISEY ARM MOVEMENTS SO THEIR TUMMIES AND WAISTS WERE EXPOSED AND IT WAS JUST SO BEAUTIFUL TO WITNESS! *dead* even my eyes are bleeding thinking about it.... DAMN boys. I’m gunna be screencapping the SHIT out of these moments.

I am such a Ra*bits fan after this stage cos of all this sexiness from them... also their crying scene was hilarious.

And speaking of sexy, can we talked about Toori’s fucking thighs and butt when he’s in his Live Outfit!!! - DAMN they’re so nice! I was like ‘damn I wish my legs and butt looked that good!’

--

Extra things I wanted to mention:

☆Stop making my Hajime cry!!! It breaks my heart! He’s too precious! Also I’m pretty sure Keito was dying to cry during the curtain call - either that or he was still super in character. It was freaking adorable. But yes, stop making my Hajime cry! ☆ I absolutely loved when, during Akatsuki’s live, Akatsuki - all THREE of them - pulled out swords! I was like YESSS!!!! It was so cool! ☆ Also Kanzaki smacking his chest a bit too hard in front of Keito ☆ I found it hilarious that Nozaki plays Yuzuki exactly the same as his female character in Banchou Boys (vid here). It’s totally adorable and I loved seeing Nozaki act like that xD ☆ Speaking of Nozaki; when he span Toori around! That was cool! ☆ I wasn't sure if it was a higawari or not but it’s been confirmed it wasn’t; after Eichi collapses, Keito flies/jumps down the steps and rolls to get to and aid Eichi. It felt very out of character so I felt like it was a mistake, but it wasn’t. ☆ ALL the Ra*bits members being mental (especially Miyazaki/Tomoya) and trying hard not to cry during the curtain call was both hilarious, adorable and I too wanted to cry. But I didn’t cry until Toori, MakiChan and Shohei spoke. Especially when Shohei spoke <3 his soeech was just so... good. And I love the way Yuzuki presents and speaks, t was so prim and proper <3 ☆ I am SO proud of MakiChan and his dancing <3 he made me a proud mother! I didn’t think he could really sing or dance but he proved himself in this; I can’t wait to see him improve from now ^_^

☆ I am very thankful to the director this time who handled the lives and how often and close together they are this time around. I felt like the first 30 minutes of the second stage were such a waste of time because it was just song after song of group introductions and just chunking it together at the beginning. But this time, they handled the lives much differently, spaced them apart, gave each group equal time almost (exception of KNIGHTS of course), and I’m thankful for it! It was so much more enjoyable this time around.

☆ I don’t really have any complaints about this stage except, I need more and I feel Shohei always plays the same type of character. I want to see him... not like this - any recs anyone? Also, he just drains energy from me. His energy when he’s in character always feels forced and it just takes the energy out of me watching him trying to be this over-genki character. 

--

Compulsory MakiChan Spam

---

This and Nanbaka and Yume Stage has made my year this year! Seriously, go watch all these of these stages. All of them have been phenominal and stayed in my heart and been amazing!

I am SO happy with this stage and so completely satisfied and it was enjoyable and had heart and the story was great and the visuals and everyone’s acting and the dancing and just goddammit this EnStage was A-MA-ZING!

I’m off to buy and watch the shit out of the live stream now.

[imagineyourstars]

Hi~ im back and i just wanna say i really love my matchup it's really detailed and cute :) anyway can i request a scenario of mao,rei,izumi and arashi when they found out about their s/o being abused at home.

i’m glad to hear you loved it !! what a request this was ! i was surprised to see so many angsty requests in the askbox hahaanyway here you go !!! izumi isn’t in this post, because i combined this request with another very similar request that only asked for izumi, so i made his scenario a bit longer and more specific ! i’ll post it in the next ask, and i’ll tag you so that you’ll be able to see it ♥ - mod mademoiselle 

Mao :

You don’tthink you’ve ever seen him like that. His eyes are widein shock and his mouth is still open. He suddenly realizes it and closes itimmediately in a moment of self-consciousness. You can’t help but notice it,though. You’re watching him hesitantly, wondering if now was the right time totell him. He gets up for a moment, checking if the door to his bedroom is closed.Then he comes back and sits on the bed, shyly taking your hand in his.

“I’m… I’msorry, I really wasn’t expecting that was what you had to tell me. I’m…” Hepainfully swallows, eyes darting all over the place. “I’m so sorry. I don’tknow what to say.” You’ve never seen Mao being so at a loss for words. Usuallyhe finds a solution, he jokes a bit and all your problems are solved. So you thoughtthat maybe… If it was him, maybe he could solve even that… But you wereprobably being childish. And now you’re starting to regret you told him. Ifyou’d just managed to hold it in a little longer, he wouldn’t have had to know…

“… Sorry,Mao. Never mind. I’m fine.” You manage a smile, although it feels forced. Mao’seyes are oh so worried, when they meet yours, and the grip of his hand on yourstightens.

“No, noyou’re not. I’m so… God, I’m so lame.” He lets out a little laugh, but youjust know he doesn’t really feel like it. His mouth is contorted like it always is when he’s angry at himself. “I mean, I can’t do anything. You’re…. you’rein pain and I can’t do anything.” For a moment, you’re at a loss for words too.He just keeps going, eyes resolutely avoiding yours.

“You know,in manga, the guy suddenly, like, does something and saves the day… and hebecomes happy with the person he loves. But I can’t do anything like that. It’sreally sad for some reason.” He lets out another weak laugh, but it feels likeit’s more for himself than for you. “I’m sorry. I love you, and I really wantyou to be happy, but… I can’t do anything. I mean, it’s not like you can comelive here.” Your breath suddenly hitches in your throat : Mao’s eyes areglistening. He’s crying. And yet he bravely holds the tears back.

“I hatethat you have to go through that… But I’ll be here, okay ? No matter what timeit is, just call me if anything happens. I’ll answer.” His eyes, still brimmingwith tears, are now bravely fixed on yours. His fingers hold yours so tight thatit’s a bit painful, but you don’t mind. It feels good to be connected to him. Tofeel you have someone to rely on. Before you realize it, you’re hugging him closeand he’s so shocked he doesn’t hug back immediately.

“I’m sosorry I had to tell you… You make me so happy, you know… ?” you manage tohiccup, tears streaming down your own face. Mao tries to laugh again, but thesound is so weird you suspect he’s crying more openly now. Your thoughts arequickly confirmed when one hot droplet falls on your neck. But you couldn’tcare less, right now, and you quickly add : “Just you being here is enough.Thank you so much. You have no idea how much I needed that…”

Gently, Maobreaks the hug and cups your cheek. His eyes are red, and his nose is running abit too, but what matters is that he’s smiling. That smile is so full of love,compassion and hope that you can’t help but smile back, shyly. “I’m just gladyou’re happy. I’ll stay by your side, forever, okay ? Don’t hesitate. You canrely on me.” He seems to hold back for a moment, but eventually he inches hisface closer to yours and softly kisses you. It lasts only a couple seconds, yetit felt like so much more.

“I’ll finda part-time job. I’ll save money so that you can move out as soon as you can,okay ? We can do it if we work together, I’m sure.” He’s still smiling, and yousuddenly are reminded that it was what you were missing. Hope.But for now, everything feels okay. Everything will be okay. He’s here withyou, after all.

Rei :

You didn’tknow why Rei suddenly asked you to come at his house after classes. He’susually busy, and you are too… You still came, although you were fidgetingnervously. He did seem pretty serious when you’d last seen him.

He was theone who came to greet you at the door. His face was stiff and unusually grave.He didn’t speak when leading you to his room. Instead, he looked… deep inthought. When he nodded to a chair, you sat down. He did the same, still looking displeased. You were about to ask him what was wrong when he interruptedyou.

“Why didn’tyou tell me ?” You looked up at him, eyes wide. He dropped the usual tone andoutdated words he always used. Whatever happened, it’s serious business to him.

“What areyou talking about, Rei… ?” He shaked his head, almost angrily, but immediatelyrealized it and reverted to his former grave self.

“Whathappens at your house.” You couldn’t answer anything to that, and instead justlooked down. You were hoping he wouldn’t find out… He didn’t talk, looking atyou pointedly. That was when you understood he was waiting for an answer.

“I… I don’twant to hide anything from you, I swear, it’s just… I was hoping you wouldn’t need to know…” He didn’t answer immediately, instead carefully studying yourface. Once he found whatever he was looking for, he just sighed. A very longand pained sigh. He looked so tired and vulnerable, shoulders slumped and eyesdown… But soon enough the usual determined and all-knowing Rei was back. Andhe was staring at you intently.

“I washoping we wouldn’t need to come to this. You don’t have to keep anything asecret from me… Because I will help you, no matter what it is that makes yousuffer.” It wasn’t even a question. He asserted this with complete calm andconfidence. You couldn’t help but want to believe him, even forjust a second… even though you knew better than to hope for someone to come andrescue you.

“I’ve beenwaiting for something like that, you know… but it’s just not how things go inreal life, Rei.” When he saw you looking so down, he couldn’t help but bite hislip softly. He didn’t like this at all. Soon he was up and gently hugged you from behind, bending slightly to embrace your shoulders. His breath tickled your ear when he whispered.

“I can helpyou. I know people. You can trust me. Should you want it, you could live here.And even if you don’t, I would find a solution.” He paused a moment to put astrand of hair back behind your ear. “I am just sad to see you didn’t come tome earlier.” 

You couldn’t stand it any longer and stood up to rush in his arms. Hedidn’t say anything, just holding you close and letting you cry silently inhis chest. His hand traced small circles in the small of your back, as if totell you he’s here and he’ll help you through anything. Once your head peeked up, he gave you a handkerchief he seemingly produced out of nowhere.

“I’m sosorry, Rei, it’s not that I don’t trust you…” He nodded, gently caressing yourhair.

“Of course,my dear. I know. This is not what I meant.” His fingers stroked along your hairfor a bit longer, and the motion was pleasant and soothing, enough for you tocalm down a bit.

“You’realways doing so much for me, and I’m… I can’t even tell you when things are notokay.” He tutted, shaking his head. One of his long fingers slipped under your chin,forcing you to look him in the eye.

“Do notblame yourself, love. I should have come to you earlier. If you would justpromise me you won’t hesitate to come to me directly next time…” He smiled, andyou smiled back unknowingly. It’s so hard to feel anxious or sad around yourboyfriend…

“I promise.Thank you so much, Rei…” This time, he let you hide in his chest. You couldn’t see it, but he was smiling softly, playing with your hair.

“Do notmention it. Shall we forget about this ? You can stay here for the night. I’lltake good care of you, for once. Let me make you happy.” When he leaned down tokiss your neck, you found yourself closing your eyes and abandoning yourself inhis arms. Maybe for once, you could take him up on it and forget about everythingfor a blissful moment…

Arashi :

The sun wasalmost setting, and you still didn’t know why Arashi suddenly asked to see you.He wanted you to meet him as soon as you could, in the local park. Here, Arashicould come pretty fast, as it wasn’t too far away from his own place. It had onlybeen a couple hours since he walked you back home though… You were a bitworried. Maybe something happened… ?

You wereplaying on one of the playground’s swings when he rushed to you. He was out of breath : didhe run all the way here… ?

“Oh my ohmy ! Dearie, are you okay ? Are you hurt anywhere ?!” He started examining yourarms and face, much to your surprise.

“Yes… ? Whathappened, Arashi, is there something wrong ?” He sighed in relief, hugging youclose in a rib-crushing motion.

“Oh my god…I thought something terrible happened, I was soooo worried !” You couldn’t see his face, as he was still holdingyou to his chest, but his voice was shaky…

“Hey, I’mfine”, you laughed, gently pushing him away to look at him in the eye. “Really,what happened ? You’re being weird, Arashi.” You were expecting him to teaseyou back, but he didn’t. He looked so serious…

“I wish itwas just me, sweetie. I’m sorry I’m so late… I called a few people to knowwhat they thought of it before I came. I didn’t want to do something a bit too…you know ?” No, you didn’t, but you still nodded. He couldn’t hold a littlegiggle when he saw you looking so confused, but you could tell he didn’t reallyfeel like joking around or teasing you that night.

“Well, youknow, I walked you back home ? And after you came back home safely, I was aboutto go back too, but I saw someone texted me, so I took my time to answer and,you know… ? Someone started to yell and all, and I was, like, so worried ?” Youfelt yourself becoming paler already. Did he… hear it… ? He was right, yourrelatives were there when you came home and didn’t give you the warmest welcome,but… Could he have heard… ? Did he know ? He didn’t notice how agitated youwere getting and kept going hurriedly.

“Well,anyway, I thought maybe it was coming from another house, but then I heard yourname ? So I was hesitating, you know, like should I come in and defend you or…? But then they started yelling even louder and I ran outside, Iwas sooo panicked ! Before I knew it I’d called Izumi and Kasa-kun and I wasasking about their opinion on the matter, and, well, here we are… I rushed hereas soon as I was done talking things through with them. But this isn’t important at all !Are you okay ?!” You blinked, trying to hold back your tears. So he was worriedabout you… ?

“I’m… I’mfine, really.” You looked away, unable to face his worried gaze. He really didn’tneed more and hugged you tight again, one hand pressed on the back of yourneck.

“It’s goingto be fine, sweetie… I’m here with you, and now that I know I’ll be extra careful,okay ? Like, you can come sleep at my place ! I already told my parents aboutit and they’re okay with it. If you’re in danger it’s no problem ! Also, Iwanted to call the cops, you know ? But Izumi told me maybe it wasn’t a goodidea, with that smug face of his, and I was really pissed for some reason ? Oh,don’t worry though, I didn’t call them or anything, even though I definitelyfelt like coming in and getting in a fight like in the good old da—“ You kissedhim suddenly, effectively silencing him. Not that he minded : he soon startedkissing you back, as eagerly as the first day. When he finally let you go, hiseyes were twinkling happily but his face was still pretty serious.

“Oh, comeon, I was being all serious for once ! I’m not kidding, you know. You canreally stay at my place tonight. I’d be happy if you did actually !” Oh,shucks. What could you answer when he was looking at you worriedly like that ?Really, that guy was doing everything as he pleased.

“Well…Maybe it’s fine, just tonight. But you don’t need to, you know…” He huffed hischeeks in protest, effectively managing to make you smile again.

“But I wantto, actually. Besides, my mother’s pretty worried and she’d be glad you come atour house, just so she can see you’re fine. Alright ?” Before you could even sayanything, he was leading you back to his place, one arm around your waist andchirping happily to lift up your spirits. You couldn’t help but smile tenderly. Hemay not look the part, but he’s really worried about how you feel. Really, you wereso glad to have him…

[ddtriohub]

“What’s this Farce?”

((I mean it was stated that even if you didn’t attend, you can think of it as the ideals being put on the newspaper or something. I’d assume that includes her being able to see the threads and so I mean, here is a thing, I guess. This includes both Ponsol and Shugarl’s thoughts on the matter because I wanted to be compact with this. Vasco and Mizumachi will not be added because they don’t exactly... follow the news...;;;;; ))

[Readmore because you know why]

“Bro, did you read the news? About Alaine?” Ponsol flipped the page of the newspaper in his hand, calling out to his brother who was watching the television. It was a lovely morning for the two of the brothers and they were spending some time together. 

Mainly because Ponsol had sent his brother an emergency call... to help him not burn down the kitchen. How one could royally fuck up that badly was beyond the older Geripeta. This was a very common occurrence, wouldn’t you know? This brat... so troublesome.

Contrary to what most believed, the two brothers did get along for the most part. They may bicker, they may talk ‘smack’ about the other, and they may end up fighting each other physically when they meet (a common habit between the brothers to relieve stress by sparring), but they did love the other. 

They just had a tougher way of showing it was all. 

Sipping on the coffee that Ponsol had prepared for him (don’t worry, he knows how to use a Keurig) he looked away from the TV to ask, "Who?"

"You know, that woman who is all over the news. The one saying something about abolishing fate?" Ponsol had to jog his brother's memory as he had the tendency to omit everything from his mind that was no of any use to him.

This, was not of any concern to him, obviously.

Nothing was jogging his memory. Perhaps it was and he was only acting as though it hadn't registered. It was hard to tell. Shugarl set his cup down on a coaster and looked over at Ponsol and flicked his eyes over to the cup.

"Yeah okay, sugar?"

A single grunt in reply.

So that answers that question. Ponsol started to prepare another cup of coffee for his brother and made sure to put the sugar away so he woudn't accidentally add in any. His brother did want any this time around.

The older of the two men stared off into the distance, reading the captions running across the screen of the TV. Ah... that's right. This was the woman who caused his colleages to ask him the question about fate and soulmates, wasn't it?

SO IT WAS YOU.

Why this was getting so much publicity and regard was beyond him. It was stupid then and certainly IT WAS STILL STUPID NOW. What a farce.

Soulmates were real but you were trying to abolish the system because people were fated to criminals and the like? What low percentage of people were? Secondly, if they were, they could certainly get out of it.

Many people probably were married to the wrong people. Could they still lead happy lives? Yes they could. There is no reason to abolish anything. What a ridiculous farce.

Ponsol returned to the room with a cup of coffee in hand and sat next to his brother on the couch. "What was your opinion on soul mates? Do you think it exists?" He was curious as to what his brother thought on the matter. Most likely the answer was what he was expecting: No.

"You can't scientifically prove such a thing, and thus it's stupid to believe in it. It's much too convenient and there are too many variables to consider. Moreover you could never know for a fact if you were truly with your fated one. If one of you were to die, would you then be fated to be single forever? Would you gain a new fated partner? Who is to truly say. What if you stole someone else's fated partner, does it then cause a chain reaciton of misplaced fated partners? You couldn't tell me that this process is more efficient than DNA Replication." Shugarl spat out these words as he accepted the coffe cup from his brother with a quiet word of thanks before he took a sip, hazel eyes still glued to the screen.

Ponsol could understand where his brother was coming from and it was true that there was some truth and insightful thinking to his words. These were reasonable questions and concerns. It was hard to truly say that such a convenient concept could be true. However, he thought differently-- for the most part.

"I think that soulmates aren't limited to just two people. I think it just goes to show that there is someone out there that is very compatible with you. Some more so than others. There could be a group of people you are very compatible with and they could be in a sense your 'soulmates'. It's like how you could fall in love in multiple people. This is why some people are just very comptabile with you. You love the way they sound, the way they look, love their scent... and more. I don't think it's wrong to think that Soulmates is just some title given to the ideal that someone is compatible with you and you could come to love them so much you'd believe it to be fate."

While a bit different from the concept of soulmates that the legend in Rouves raved about, it was an interesting spin on things. As expected of his brother. He grew worried at first that his brother had slowly become one of those mindless idiots who believes in anything the government may spew to control your mind.

It seemed he put some thought into things at least. He wouldn't blindly beleive in nothing. He had properly contemplated on the idealization of soulmates and came to his own conclusion. As long as his brain was consulted, that was enough for Shugarl.

"That is an interesting way of seeing it. A very realistic and biological way of thinking of love which is, as i'm sure you agree, a series of chemical reactions in the brain. It would make sense that some people out there are much more in-tune wiht you on a biological level and therefore you may naturally come to feel more attracted to them. No higher being was set into play here. It was just that: natural."

Pleased to know that his brother could understand him and his standpoint on the matter. It was at rare moments like these that Ponsol could enjoy being in his brother's presence. "I should have known better to think you would believe in soulmates." He snorted, sipping on a cup of tea that he prepared for himself.

Stopping mid-sip, Shugarl's eyes lowered to stare down into the darkness of the bitter coffee that was sitting in his cup. "That's where you are wrong. I did have a time when even I believed in fate and soulmates."

Honestly? This came to be a shock for Ponsol. He oculdn't begin to fathom the idea that his brother would even consider such a fallacy. However, when he thought on it, he could recall a time when his brother was very much unlike himself. No, he was starting to become like himself again, but was also staring anew.

It was HER, wasn't it? "Was it... Jenny? It certainly couldn't be Clarice." Ponsol was sure if anyone was able to get Shugarl to consider in such a thing like soulmates, it would have been Jenny. The girl back in highschool that Shugarl dated for a time, and he truly loved her. A lot.

The breakup hit Shugarl hard and he's never been the same ever since. Much more moody, and a lot more pessimistic. He couldn't trust people easily and he pushed everyone away.

The silence grew thick in the air aside from the distant mumbling sounds coming from the TV. That was all Ponsol needed to hear (or rather, not hear) to know that Shugarl had confirmed that only when he was dating Jenny did he start to believe in soulmates and the like.

Of course, with the way they broke up, that was another story entirely. Hazel eyes gazed over the words of how the idea of fate should be abolished as there were people who were fated to the wrong kinds of people. They were fated to bad people. Criminals. Those who were not suited for them.

Those words hung deep in Shugarl's subconsious.

Bad people. those who were not suited for them.

A certain picture of a blond came to mind. He wasn't suited for that person. A monster like him. He didn't deserve to be given any love. He wasn't meant to be loved. If such a thing as fate existed, then Shugarl was fated to give anyone who loved him pain.

Perhaps, before things got any further with Arashi, to prevent history from repeating itself he should--

"Don't be fucking stupid."

An irritated voice cut through the air, shocking Shugarl out of his mental reverie. Curiously, Shugarl turned to gaze at his brother who was now sporting and irritated look which was rare for anyone out in public to see. However, it was a face that Shugarl saw often.

With one leg crossed over the one, Ponsol was bouncing his leg up and down impatiently. "I can see it on your face. Your thinking something stupid again. You're getting into one of your pessimistic moods again. Stop that. It's fucking annoying when you do that. You turn out to be even more of a drag to be around. I was finally enjoying your company for once."

What a cheeky brat. Shugarl wasn't even mad. It was true that he was thinking negatively. It was also true that the two of them didn't have many favorable interactions. Not after... that time.

Things have changed and became strained after THAT happened.

Still, they cared very much for each other, but they were now hesitant to show this. They did not know how to act out their brotherly love for the other. "Amazing, to think you could look at someone long enough to see what they were thinking. Did you mistake me for a mirror, you narcissistic brat?"

"You freaking monster." Ponsol huffed, rolling his own hazel eyes into his head. Of course his brother would have something to say to him. He knew that Shugarl was merely teasing him and that's why it was even more annoying.

Shugarl's lips curled upwards to an off-centered smile. "And you, an intolerable demon." He flicked Ponol's forehead with his index finger lightly.

Silence drifted between the two before a quiet bout of chuckles were shared between the two. That was an inside 'joke' of sorts between the two. Ponsol appeared approachable and affable, but he always hid his darkest thoughts inside of the deepest part of his mind. Shugarl was a Genius with numbers who was so good, he had to be some kind of monster.

Horrendous sounding nicknames that they've given the other from their very early years. They could only accept being called such things if it came from the other. From anyone else, the Geripeta brothers would instantly launch into a tirade-- and if you weren't lucky, you'd be physically reminded why the Geripeta's were a force to be reckoned with.

"What were you even thinking about anyways? Thinking about who a monster like you could be paired up with? I feel sorry for them to have to deal with someone like you." A snort leaves the younger of the two brothers, unknowledgable of the truth behind one of the biggest moments in Shugarl's life. Though he knew a lot of what happened as he was a part of it-- he did miss a big part of what caused Shugarl to turn out this way.

He had no way of knowing that those words had hurt his elder brother. He didn't mean to hurt him, and only meant to give his brother the usual Geripeta 'tough love.' They showed affection to each other by making wise-cracks at each other.

"I'd feel bad for them too. Wonder if there is a way to break away from your fated pair. You should look into it too, because your partner will constantly be jealous of a mirror." Though hurt, he chose to make a joke of his own to not alert his brother to the inner turmoil his mind was going through.

Turning to look away from his brother, he placed all his attention to the TV screen so Ponsol wouldn't be able to read his eyes. His brother was so sharp with his observational skills, it was hard to hide much from him.

"Whoever you end up falling in love with next, I want to meet them so I can approve of them. I don't want a repeat of the last time. I don't want to see you break down like that again."

Silence.

A quiet nod of the head let Ponsol know that Shugarl agreed to those terms. It didn't matter if he agreed or not, because he highly doubted that he could come to love someone. Even if he did... they would leave him soon enough.

He wasn't meant to be loved by someone.

"Same to you, brat."

Once again, silence.

Something his elder brother never knew about him was that Ponsol did have a complex towards his brother who had 'everything' going for him. He was more intelligent, more athletic, charismatic, and his personality, at the core level, was a good one.

Shugarl often thought that if anyone were to meet both of the brothers, they would eventually gravitate towards Ponsol, because he was the more 'friendly' of the two brothers. This made him something akin to being the 'second choice,' something that hurt his pride immensely. He got enough of that even within the company. Everyone bemoaned the fact that the more talented and intelligent of the two brothers should be the heir rather than him.

Upsetting, but it spurred him to try harder. He WAS worthy of the spot. he COULD do this and prove to all that he could be every bit the leader his brother or grandfather could be/was.

He wasn't some cheap knock off replacement for his brother. Even though people would eventually end up preferring Ponsol over his brother, he was still nothing but a replacement.

Growing tired of inferior goods, they lose genuine interest in him and only look to him in order to use him.

Those that his brother actually kept around him were genuine people. Those who truly cared for him. Jupiter being the prime example of such a thing.

As much as he hated to admit such a thing, he was jealous of his brother. He had people who cared so much about him. They could see past his cold icy walls and love him regardless of his attitude. They loved him. People admired him and sought him out for help.

On the other hand for him, people only saw him as a useful commodity. He knew this, but for the sake of making networks, he'd pretended he hadn't seen it. Thought he was inferior goods, he was still high quality. As long as people hadn't met his brother, they kept their interest in him.

However, once they've met Shugarl, they slowly become more interested in Shugarl, but his attitude scares them away.

How ironic it was that the brothers envied the other for what they had, unknowning how the other wished for what the other had.

'If I showed you my lover, you'd end up charming them away from me.'

"Yeah, I'll introduce them to you, so try not to scare them away, will you?"

This time it was Shugarl's turn to roll his eyes at something Ponsol said so he knocked on Ponsol's head with his knuckles lightly. "I was being serious."

'So was I.'

"The day you can truly find someone you love is the day you've truly grown up to be an adult, Ponz. I hope you can find someone good. You may be a hassle of a brat, but you aren't bad. Anyone who can't see that isn't worthy of you."

Somehow, those were comforting words.

"I'm sure if soulmates do exist out there, they would be happy to be fated to you. I bet you are thinking you'd want for you to break things off with your fated pair, but that's unfair to them. You should let them make that choice. You shouldn't be scared to get yourself out there again. There is someone out there for you who can make you forget about her."

If only that were to be the case. He could only hope.

"What do you think about those rallies or whatever? Did you go to any of them?"

"Are you serious when you ask me that?"

A laugh erupts from the younger of the two. Nodding his head, he understands the answer with that question he got hit with. Of course, his brother wouldn't bother going down to some rally. Not for something like this. Not even Ponsol had gone so of course his brother wouldn't have.

"I would rather grade papers for hours on end than attend."

"As I would rather water my cacti."

So this time the theme was cacti. Last time it was something else, what was it again? If he recalled, he had a thing for raising blue flora the last time.

"How do you suppose they want to abolish fate? Sounds rather impossible to me. It says that it's suspected that she can see the threads?" Ponsol wondered what his brother thought of this.

Finishing his cup of coffee, he set the cup down on a coaster to see that Ponsol handed him a newspaper. Scanning over the words quickly as he had a fast reading speed, Shugarl folded the paper and flung it across the room onto the other couch.

"For all we know she's delusional, or that's just something she's saying to brainwash people into joining her stupid cause. Even if it were true that she could see threads, it only proves the fact that it may in fact exist, and trying to abolish it when it's known to be true will prove to be a fruitless endeavor. It's only going to backfire when you tell people you can see the thread. It will only strengthen the idea. Saying that some are fated to the wrong people only shows a small percentage of people will suffer through such an ordeal. There is no point in abolishing the damned thing for a small percentage. What you can do instead is to SAVE those who were fated to pain. That's much more productive than to try to convince everyone to abolish their thoughts, and relinquish the chances of meeting their fated one."

"For once, we both agree on something."

[1ff]

The Society of Multiples, Chapter 2

Again, this is only a second draft, and still pretty rough. I’m putting this out there for constructive criticism. By reading, you agree to say a a minimum of 2 words in response.

(tw: a gun? that’s about it. some talk about the stigma that singlets are deranged, violent murderers)

-Ronin

Chapter 1 here

PS (Thanks to @arashi-of-ota for pointing out an error in a plot point, which I have fixed in the text below.)

Chapter 2 (cont)

Work was uneventful. There was a group booking in the main banquet hall, so lots of dishes to clean. The steam of the huge industrial dishwasher distorted my makeup, requiring reapplication a couple of times. Lunch was short and eaten alone, then back to the steam.

Right after lunch, as I was getting things sorted out in the dish pit, I looked across the kitchen and caught something unusual. Jace, one of the line cooks, had a strange dazed look about him. He was staring off into the distance, as if there was nobody home.

And then, like the click of a lightswitch, it wasn’t Jace. I’d never met Rhonda, only  ever heard about her in passing, but intuitively I knew exactly who I was looking at. She looked confused for a moment, then mortified.

And then, like the click of a lightswitch, Jace seemed to disappear. I’d never met Rhonda, only  ever heard about her in passing, but I knew exactly who I was supposed to be looking at. She looked confused for a moment, then mortified. My heart seemed to start beating in double-time. Something wasn’t right here; this was a ruse.

Then she was surrounded by a small group of concerned co-workers, and I didn’t see much of what happened after that. She was calmly and quietly escorted out.

I overheard, as I was loading up the next tray of silverware, that a mixture of stress and stomachache led to an embarrassing unplanned switch. Rhonda, his bureaucrat headmate who usually worked the audit offices upstairs, had gone home, embarassed. Nobody commented much on it, just gave quiet sympathy and understanding as they packed up Jace’s knives and stored them away for him.

For me, though, it was a very familiar and startling moment. I'd watched people closely all my life, trying to figure out the exact ways they thought and acted in order to emulate a normal life as closely as I could. I would never pass a dMRI scan, but I'd gotten very good at acting, and observing others. I was pretty sure that Jace hadn't actually just switched to Rhonda. The entire thing was all an act.

I'd faked it once or twice myself, when I felt I needed to. I was always looking for ways to throw people off the trail I imagined they were following, to provide further proof that I'm like everyone else. A fake public switch isn't really easy to pull off, so I only did it rarely. Usually I figured that the risk of drawing attention and being detected wasn’t worth it.

When work ended at 3pm, I slunked down to the cafeteria to join Eron's friends for dinner. Neither Eron, Jan, nor Tigh could really be said to have actual friends; you can't genuinely befriend someone who doesn't exist, and I was too far removed from people to develop any direct human connections.

On the way I mentally rehearsed Eron's food preferences. Greasy, warm comfort food was the usual. The lasagne the cafeteria was serving was an easy choice.

I laughed Eron's laugh with it’s slightly mean edge, made small talk in Eron's blunt style, struggled with his more outgoing and social nature. I pushed myself to stay longer than comfortable, finally bowed out to go for a solo hike. On my way to the door I was surprised to see Jace on his way out. If the switch had been real, Rhonda would have gone off to a switchroom to change clothes and makeup. But I could tell easily by his angry slumped posture and quick pace that this was definitely Jace, not Rhonda. He’d changed out of his chef costume, but nothing else was different.

I noticed Jace was heading out for the mountain paths; specifically, towards one of my favorites that led up to Morraine Lake and then to Mount Big Beehive. Since I was heading out for a hike myself anyways, I decided to go in the same direction. Maybe I'd catch up to him, and have a chance to carefully ask about what I'd noticed- maybe, I even dared to wonder, Jace/Rhonda/etc. weren't actually normal; maybe they were singlet like me. I'd only ever encountered one other singlet, and only in passing, as neither of us had wanted to bring attention to ourselves.

I lost track of Jace soon, though. He must have taken another fork in the path at some point. That was alright, though; my real purpose in being out here was to have some time to myself.

It was a relief to be alone in the woods. I kept to the lesser-used paths that wound through the mountains, so I could have time to myself. I let my guard down, just a bit, in case I was unknowingly being watched. Muscles in my face relaxed, the tightness in my throat eased.

I'd been walking for at least twenty minutes, far from the hotel and the community of workers that lived in the housing behind it. I'd even ventured off-trail, swiping spiderwebs from my face and taking care of where I stepped among rocks and burrows. There had been some snow earlier in the week, which was now softening and melting off the branches of trees with occasional sloughing noises.

I heard a snap of a broken branch, and froze- that one definitely wasn’t from the weight of snow. I turned my gaze slowly to the left, expecting to see some large wildlife like a moose or deer. Instead, I saw someone crouching about thirty feet away. It was Jace. I recognized his plain brown jacket, blending in to the trees. I might not have spotted him if I hadn't heard him.

And it was definitely Jace. I was confused; why was he off-trail? I didn't know anyone besides me who'd wander this far out.

Also, why was he crouching? I realized quickly that something strange was going on, and I crouched too to avoid being seen. I moved carefully, slowly back into thicker growth and out of sight. Jace continued creeping slowly along, eyes fixated further downhill. He was watching, looking for something.

And then there she was- one of the servers from the banquet division. She was walking along with a taller man, smiling. I could tell from here by their giggling voices and body language that this was some kind of date. Looking back at Jace, I could see what he thought of this. I smirked; I was witnessing a strange little moment of drama. Weird to be in the right place at the right time to catch the subtleties of this event. Close enough to catch every wrinkled brow, smile, fidget of anxiety.

Doesn't look very good for Jace though. What kind of creep sneaks around like this? What was his situation with them, anyways?

I caught movement, and watched as Jace reached around to his back pocket and pulled out a black handgun. I didn't know enough of guns to know one from another, but I could tell he wasn't here to be hunting. Where the hell could he have gotten a gun? I watched, frozen, as he raised it to aim at the unsuspecting couple. Everything suddenly felt surreal, disjointed, like I was watching a movie.

I shook myself out of the fugue. I looked around at my feet, found a sizeable rock, and quickly threw it in Jace's direction.

I missed, but distracted Jace and got him facing directly away from me. The sound startled the couple on the path, and they stopped and looked around.

Without thinking I found myself hurtling across the slope toward where Jace was hiding. He didn't notice me at first- he was too intent on the waitress. He had his gun raised again.

Already knowing I was about to fall and land hard and awkwardly, I lunged directly at Jace. I'm not sure if he was already pulling the trigger, or if the contact or surprise caused his finger to pull the trigger. I had no idea what direction the bullet went. Either way, the gun was flying into the leaves and thorny branches of a bush. Jace was momentarily stunned, then I saw him struggling to get back to his feet, his face red and furious.

Instead of trying to get to my feet, I pushed off with my legs and dove towards the gun. Adrenaline kept me from feeling the thorns as I reached out and grabbed it; I gripped it firmly by the handle and brought it to bear on Jace.

Other than in a movie or two, I'd never seen anyone actually handle a gun. I had no idea if I was even holding it properly. Either way, I could see by Jace's expression that he wasn't about to fight about it.

“Get on your knees,” I stammered. My throat was dry and my voice whispery. I was breathing heavily. “And get your hands on top of your head.”

He slowly dropped back down, and put his hands on his head. “This isn't what it looks like,” he said in a strangely calm voice.

I could see the waitress shaking herself, visibly changing in posture and mannerism. She was switching- something that I'd only seen about half a dozen times in my life. Normally a very private moment, but now she was responding to a moment of crisis. Seeing it happen now made me realize even more strongly that Jace had faked his switch earlier.

“Eron. That's your name, right?” it was a very masculine voice. He pushed the waitress’s long hair out of his face in annoyance. I felt myself flushing a little in empathetic embarrassment for whoever this was, called upon to handle this situation in his headmate's makeup and clothing, interrupting her romantic walk.

“I'm-” I stopped myself. I realized in the heat of the moment I'd dropped my act; I was speaking in my natural voice. I quickly returned to Eron's facial and bodily posture. Even at this moment I was paranoid that I would be spotted; but obviously there were more immediate distractions.

I stopped before I confirmed Eron's identity. Part of living my life in peace meant hiding from any kind of attention; this was the very worst kind of attention. Suddenly I realized the very dangerous position I'd just put myself into. Although none of my invented identities had any kind of police record, the last thing I wanted was to be sitting in a police station, being interviewed, having to defend why I was up here in the first place, why neither Eron nor any of my adopted personas had registered personhood, why I'd followed Jace up here in the first place.

My cover was blown. I had to get out of this situation.

“Do you know how to use a gun?” I asked him, returning to Eron's voice. At the very least, if I did end up in that chair at the police station, I could keep up the consistency of the act. But I was going to avoid it all, if I could.

“Used to go hunting with my dad,” he responded, pulling the long black hair out of his face and tying it back with an elastic from his pocket. “I can handle one.”

I walked slowly, carefully towards him, keeping the gun pointed at Jace. His face was still red, but now with a look of fear. Whatever he'd been planning, he'd failed.

“I can't believe he was going to shoot at us,” said the tall young man. “How can anyone shoot at another person? Why weren't his headmates stopping him?”

I took a deep sigh. There was that usual assumption, that someone without headmates was prone to violence. I clenched my jaw, kept my peace. It was a good question, though. Was he actually singlet like I'd speculated? If so, I'd finally found another one, and was face-to-face with the disappointment that he fit the stereotype of the violent singlet psychopath. I glared up at him. Maybe I was wrong, though. Maybe this was just one of those rare cases where everyone in a system was equally evil.

Either way, I couldn't stick around to find out.

I pushed the gun into the shorter man's hand, relieved to be rid of the surprising heaviness and coldness of it.

“I'm sorry,” I said.

He looked away from Jace for a moment to catch my eye. “What for?”

Without any further explanation, I turned and ran back down the path, as fast as I could.