#anyway as for the prompt i feel like it is mostly straightforward and fits together

[silhouettecrow]

365 Days of Writing Prompts: Day 270

Adjective: Brilliant

Noun: Beacon

Definitions for those who need/want them:

Brilliant: (of light or color) very bright and radiant; exceptionally clever or talented; outstanding, or impressive; (informal) (British) very good, excellent, or marvelous

Beacon: a fire or light set up in a high or prominent position as a warning, signal, or celebration; (British) (often in place names) a hill suitable for beacon of fire or light; a light or other visible object serving as a signal, warning, or guide at sea, on an airfield, etc; a radio transmitter whose signal helps to fix the position of a ship, aircraft, or spacecraft

[scary-senpai]

Bestie you shouldn't have done this because I'm going to ask you the worst one. (I almost went with the most controversial tropes I could think of but decided it was too mean.) 🔪 Fuck, marry, kill: Florist AU, Band AU, Soulmate AU?

Ah, Bestie, CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!

Fuck the Band AU (affectionate), because that’s what it’s all about, right? Raw attraction, carnal indulgence, “making beautiful music together.” It’s mostly fun and a little dangerous—always a good time

Marry Florist AU. It’s sweet, it’s stable, there’s nice symbolism… in a Florist AU, nothing can hurt you, not even bees.

…Unless your flower store is all about money laundering and (plot twist!) it’s been a mafia front all along. Anyway I did end up executing on that idea (no pun intended…or is it? 🔪🔪🔪☠️), but since the Jujutsu Kaisen cast happened to be a better fit, the OPM-verse is safe from me..for now.

You see, as I was brainstorming the Money Laundering Florist AU, it lead me to marry all the Flufftober and Whumptober prompts into some terrible, 31 day bastardization of two wildly disparate fandom events. Anyway, I hope for everybody’s sake Flumptober doesn’t take off—especially mine—but who knows. Maybe it will become tradition.

By process of elimination, this would lead me to kill the “soul mate au,” but as I’ve taken a personal vow of nonharming, I won’t be killing anything, which makes the ant problem in my office a bit of a sticky wicket.

I don’t the soulmate au needs to die, but I do believe it could benefit from more reincarnations. I think about how often we attribute strange, conflicting feelings to noumenal elements like the spirit or soul. And while I’ve never neither fully believe nor disbelieve in such things, I find myself leaning towards whimsical thinking when I want to escape the reality of something—historically, a bad romantic relationship. I feel like I’ve seen other friends experience more or less the same (especially late teens / early twenties). It’s hard to conceptualize healing from a broken heart when it hasn’t happened to you yet.

Anyway, even if soul mates are a scientific given, there’s still uncertainty in real science—even a seemingly straightforward diagnosis—so I thought it might be interesting to apply that same uncertainty to the concept of soulmates. I’m thinking back to okCupid algorithms, how you answer a litany of questions and get a percent match. I met my nest partner on okc and we eerily always order the same things, which makes sense since food / drink preferences were some of the questions asked.

Or what about different flavors of soulmates? Why just one kind, or just one soulmate? I (briefly) worked in a linguistics lab (even though I’m not really cut out for research), because I felt such a deep and immediate affinity for the grad students and faculty. We were on the same wavelength about pretty much everything except for how lack of diversity consistently and profoundly impedes developmental psychology research. I’ve (seriously) joked that my senpai John is my creative soulmate because we’re always absurdly on the same wavelength and people sometimes think we are dating if they see us together. (We are not flirting, we are “yes, and”-ing and they are not the same). But I do feel that way, that there are other types of otherworldly bonds aside from the standard romantic ones. My best friend and I were born exactly six months apart and I’ve always felt there was something auspicious about that.

And, of course, I’m a huge fan of The Good Place take, which is that “If soulmates do exist, they're not found, they're made. People meet, they get a good feeling, and they get to work building a relationship.” Because as I get older I find that the most fulfilling and beautiful aspect of a relationship is not that it just magically works, no matter what, it’s that I commit to making it working. Repeatedly. Every day. I think that this is a massively underutilized approach when it comes to prickly characters, because it can show two partners working to change behavior and strengthen communication as opposed to potentially excusing a “ride or die” mentality.

I had a whole rant about the unbearable lightness of being, but I decided to spare you because this is a Wendy’s an anime blog 🤷‍♀️

Thank you so much for the ask! I really enjoyed this (and I got a lot out of this question, including a new WIP)

[innovativestruggles]

Hahaha I need to admit, you got me into Obirin! 😂 They're so wholesome and adorable and I'm so sad that they couldn't get the happy ending they so much deserve. Would you mind writing some headcanons of their "happy ever after"? What would they do for living? How would their relationship progress? Kakashi helping Obito out on his first date? Is there something that changed between them over the years? Who proposed first and their reactions? Asdfghjkhg pls and thank you so much! 😆❤️💫

AHHHHH KANRA! afsaghadgklsjdf I love this!! (but I don’t think I can ever do obirin any justice with my HC! HAHA but I will give it a go). 

AND YES! THAT’S IT, BASK IN THE AMBIENCE OF OBIRIN! I’M GOING TO SABOTAGE YOUR NEWSFEED WITH THEM <33333

Okay I’m gonna do this in a modern day AU cause it’s something different and fun hehe

Employment Obito

Obito would definitely be a cop hands down. Cause it’s a very Uchiha thing, and he would be the type who is down in the action and not those ones who sit in the office and just sift through paperwork

He has a strong sense of justice and would be very empathetic towards people - even to the criminals, especially those who have a real compassionate reason

But Obito would still uphold his duty as a police officer and arrest criminals

Obito would clash a lot with his colleagues (who are mostly Uchihas) as they are less likely to uphold the same values as he (i.e. they are very black and white in their way of thinking whereas Obito sees the grey areas)

Obito would be very dedicated to his work. He is passionate about justice and fighting for the best interest of his hometown

Rin

Not obvious at all but Rin would be a doctor. And not just any doctor but a world renowned doctor known for her ability to diagnose the most difficult of ailments

Rin would also be a researcher in the medical field. She would be at the forefront of cutting edge medical research

Like Obito, Rin is extremely passionate and dedicated to her work

Rin loves helping people and protect those who are the most vulnerable in her hometown

Rin is very empathetic in her role as a doctor. She would sit down and take the time to listen to all her patients’ needs

Rin is very well loved amongst her colleagues and those who work with her at the hospital

She would not hesitate to sit and work overtime to get down to the bottom of a difficult diagnosis

Both Rin and Obito are very dedicated individuals, so much so that they risk burning out…

Marriage Proposal

Obito proposed first (with the help of Kakashi of course)!

Obito is usually good at expressing himself and what he wants but when it comes to proposing, it would be a very difficult thing and he would struggle

The two have been together for several years yet Obito would already know he’d want to marry Rin from the very beginning

Obito is actually quite a patient person and he would give Rin all the time she needs

Only when he and Rin have discussed about their future together would he decide that it would be the time to ask her to marry him

And as much as Obito had all these fancy crazy things in mind to impress his girl, it would never turn out the way he imagined

Obito would ask Kakashi how he should go about with the proposal during when the trio are catching up for dinner and whilst Rin goes to the bathroom

Kakashi being his usual blunt and straightforward self would tell him to ask her straight out

And Obito being all panicky about it would just blurt it out in front of Rin and Kakashi when she is in the middle of walking back to the table

Of course there would be a long mortifying silence that follows

But needless to say, (and very much to Obito’s relief) Rin would say yes (and Kakashi would roll his eyes at Obito’s stupidity)

Relationship

Rin wears the pants in the relationship (lol!)

Obito out there catching bad guys and being in the midst of all the action with his fighting skills and use of weapons would freak out if he forgot to put the washing on when Rin told him to

Both share the household chores

Both cook, but Obito is the better cook

Obito would always try and find new recipes to impress and surprise Rin when it is his turn to cook

They have date night once a week

Obito would once in awhile bring home flowers for Rin or her favourite dessert

Rin would surprise Obito with massages

Obito loves giving Rin back hugs and Rin would turn around and cuddle him right back

Both are affectionate and are risk takers (both at work and in the bedroom!)

They rarely have major arguments, but if they do it would usually be from some misunderstanding

They would sit down and talk about it and resolve it together (then make it up to each other in the bedroom afterwards)

At the very beginning of their relationship, Obito would feel inferior to Kakashi (as he knew Rin used to like him) and would become very jealous whenever Rin talked too much to Kakashi

But over time, his level of confidence and trust in Rin grew and it dissipated, so now the trio would hang out a lot

Rin would also be hanging out with Kakashi on her own and Obito wouldn’t mind

But he would be unusually clingy when she gets back from her catchup with Kakashi and Rin reassures him with lots of affection that he is the only man for her <3

There would be days where they just do their own thing but in the company of each other and that’s the space they really like

They like to take baths together (yes to bubble baths!)

Obito is first to wake up and he would always try and make Rin breakfast in bed if he isn’t rushing out the door to get to work

When either of them have a bad day, they would just sit there together in each other’s arms…just silent

And Rin loves to tease Obito - always! And she would find it very entertaining when he just blushes and has no idea what he is doing (because he doesn’t love a flustered Obito)

First Date

Obito would be so nervous he wouldn’t be able to focus on work the whole week

He would be making loads of mistakes and be super clumsy

He would totally put the stapler in the fridge instead of the stationery cupboard cause he would keep thinking what the best outfit to wear would be

Everyday after work for the entire week, Obito would go to the shops and fuss over what he should wear and then freak out cause he can’t decide so he just buys everything and decide on it later

But later comes along and he still hasn’t made up his mind

So he enlists Kakashi to help him

And when Kakashi sees the enormous pile of clothes Obito bought out of a panic state, he would just roll his eyes and tell him he doesn’t know whether Obito could be helped or not

But Kakashi being Kakashi would still stick by Obito and help him

And the day before the date, Obito would call Kakashi incessantly whilst at work in fits of panic, to the point where Kakashi would just hang up on him

Then on the day of the date, Obito would be hanging around Kakashi in an attempt to calm his nerves and Kakashi would showcase his annoyance but would allow Obito to hang around anyways

And then during the date Obito would be super nervous and Rin can see straight through this and tries to calm his nerves and make things lighthearted

And Obito would run to the bathroom and call Kakashi and freak out LOL

But Kakashi would tell him to shut up and just enjoy the date and not call him again

So Obito just does his best like he always does and Rin also sees this

But eventually Obito gets used to the situation and he would feel a lot more relaxed

Until Rin decides to give him a kiss out of nowhere

And then Obito would be thinking of it for the entire month at work LOL

Omg, I tried! I am not good with writing HC! LOL I think I can only write a story rather than bits and pieces. But lmao I just envision in my head that Obito is this super dork who’s so awkward with everything. 

Mind you, the Obito in this HC universe is what he would be like had he not experienced any tragedies. My HC of him would be very different if it is set in the ninja world after Rin’s death.

Anyways this was longer than I thought! Thank you so much for prompting me @kannra21​ ilysm this was so fun to write haha ❤️❤️❤️

Also a shout out to @sinemoras09​ because it’s your fault for re-igniting my obirin feels again LOL ❤️

[jacksgreysays]

I've been really loving "It's Thunder and It's Lightning" by We Were Promised Jetpacks and "Thunder" by Imagine Dragons lately. I feel like there's a thematic link there (obvious in the song titles), but the songs themselves are quite different. Do you think you can do anything with them (together) as a prompt?

I love both of these songs, lionheadbookends! I never really thought to compare them even though, as you said, their titles are similar. I suppose it’s because of when I encountered the songs (years apart, that is) and again, as you said, the feel of them is quite different; but I’ve given them both another listen with the lyrics in mind and I think I’ve got the link.

Thunder by Imagine Dragons is more easily understood as a song–not that simplicity of meaning makes it less musically entertaining–but as a piece of literature it’s fairly straightforward. An age old story of a kid from a (small) town who doesn’t quite fit, who is going to leave and make it big even though no one really believes in them. It’s almost the same idea behind a hero’s  journey–an internal call to action that differentiates the protagonist from the others in their hometown who are satisfied to stay behind.

In Thunder, it’s the vocalist vs the rest of his town/the world, but in a way it’s also the vocalist vs his own determination–can he keep going and achieve his dreams despite all the negativity trying to bring him down.

It’s Thunder and It’s Lightning by We Were Promised Jetpacks is more difficult to parse. Frankly, I’m still not sure how many people are involved in the story. There’s definitely at least two people: the vocalist and whoever the vocalist is going to guide home. That person is probably also the person whose body was black and blue. But there is probably a third person who is threatening to punch out the vocalists lights.

So as a narrative, this song might be about two teenagers dating and one of them has an abusive parent. Unless it really is just about two people in a rather disastrous relationship. But regardless it’s not really about the story so much as it is about the feeling: there’s chaos and violence and fear and at some point the vocalist decides to leave not out of an actual desire to do so but out of necessity, out of survival and desperation. And on top of that, the vocalist is not entirely sure if outside is more dangerous–it’s night and there’s a storm, no guarantee of safety, but at least it’s not where he is now about to get beaten. Bleak, yes, in comparison to Thunder which is uplifting.

In Thunder, the thunder and lightning is a good thing–a goal to be reached, to become so great that you change the sky, everyone looks up to see you, everyone listens; no one can beat you down. In It’s Thunder and Lightning, the thunder and lightning is neutral–force of nature which the vocalist decides is a better fate than the closer, human violence.

Ultimately what connects these songs, besides their titles, is the theme of leaving a toxic place–maybe to follow one’s dream towards a bright future, or maybe just to escape, braving the unknown to get away from the known danger. Moving on to bigger if not necessarily better things because to stay is to stagnate, be victimized, and die.

But you’re not here for an essay analyzing these two songs, you’re here for what I can make from the analysis as a prompt.

—

Frankly, lionheadbookends, whenever I see lightning (or thunder) my brain immediately goes to Tetsuki because she’s… well, she’s it for me. Maybe also Kiyoshi Utsugi–who has Lightning natured chakra as well–but given her specific circumstances it’s hard to apply prompts as easily to her.

Tetsuki is my go to OC–my everywoman, if you will–and this prompt could not be more suited to her. But it’s a very different side to her than I normally explore because it’s, well, less fun?

For me and for her, I think.

Because except for her “first life” that is, Trailblazers in KHR, Tetsuki doesn’t really have a toxic home life either because a) her families are kind if not loving or b) she has no home/family.

In her first life, Tetsuki’s parents were neglectful if not outrightly emotionally abusive. They might have possibly also been physically abusive earlier on–leading to Ryohei and Tetsuki taking up martial arts–but nothing that continued for long.

Were I to ever write Trailblazers properly, there would be a scene where, for the first time since the mafia madness started, Tetsuki’s parents came home (they travel a lot, mostly, hardly ever in Namimori which is why she can get away with so much but also where the neglect comes from) and suddenly the badass, cool senpai who will throw herself into this world of Flames and danger is just a teenaged girl who trembles whenever her parents raise their voices.

There would then be a point where–primarily the Sasagawas, but also the rest of the Family–remind her that she isn’t what they say she is, that she’s more than just a burden or an incompetent or whatever they say of her. And she leaves, probably to live with the Sasagawas properly (whose parents have always been quietly preparing for this day, pretty much have everything but the paperwork done to make her their third child) or, depending on the timeline, to a full-time member of Vongola.

So while it’s similar to the prompt idea, unfortunately, that’s not quite enough.

For this prompt I would probably go with a Viridescent–though I’m not yet sure what fandom would best house this particular episode–in which Tetsuki has the memories of her previous lives but none of the powers.

Which isn’t a combination I’ve yet done, I think. I’ve done powers and memories (Externality, Multiphenomenal, the Power Rangers Viridescent). I’ve done limited powers and limited memories (Iron Will). I’ve done powers but no memories (Deuteranomaly). But I haven’t done no power with memories.

I think I might have tried something like that previously in Big Hero 6 but I’ve put myself off of that fandom, unfortunately, and it wasn’t very good to begin with…

Because here’s the thing. In a new world where she has the memories but none of the powers, then that really brings the validity of the memories into question. If she could just randomly manifest lightning in her hand, that’s close enough to proof for the rest of the odd things in her life. But if she only has the memories and no way to prove it than what is inside her own mind, then there’s no way to tell if maybe it’s all just a delusion.

… which perhaps means it’s an Inception fic?

Hrm… but unless she encounters the characters, there’s not much point in her being in Inception given that it’s basically “the real world” but with mental espionage. And considering that, the memories themselves would give her powers as related to everyone else because she would have the best security ever if not also thorough forges or intricately physics-breaking architecture.

Ah, shit, that actually sounds pretty cool though.

So perhaps the fill to your prompt would be the “prologue” to this Inception Viridescent: like, Tetsuki is born in a “normal world” to awful parents who are, perhaps, so similar to her original, awful parents that it puts the rest of her memories into doubt. Maybe there never were any reincarnations or any fantastic powers, maybe it was just a desperate, over imaginative dream of a girl in a terrible situation.

Maybe she tries to run, tries to go to Namimori only to find it doesn’t exist. Maybe her grandmother was actually named Hisae Kaiza, but she passed long ago and certainly wasn’t a calligraphy/magic teacher. Gotham may very well exist, but there’s nothing on the level of the superheroes she knows (Nolan'verse Batman might very well be a real thing, given all of it is ~science~ and, possibly, Ra’s al Ghul’s “immortality” is him doing a pre-PASIV mind restructuring such that his consciousness gets passed onto a newer, younger body).

As far as she can find, none of her memories are real, and yet… she’d rather try to scrape out an existence out there, which may never be as good as the lives she remembers, than go back home which she knows for certain is worse.

And then maybe it gets worse. Maybe she is snatched–this is an awful world, but a lone teenage runaway who thinks she’s more powerful than she actually is will not survive long–and gets experimented on (there’s a new technology and different countries/companies are eager to be the first ones to crack it). She’s a fascinating subject, but hard to break, and so  they get her addicted to Somnacin thinking that will let them control her.

Maybe she escapes anyway, learns of extraction (and inception), of weaponizing dreaming and imagination, and turns her weakness into her strength.

I’m not saying she eventually ends up as Saito’s on-call secret keeper (extractors learn to fear the shadow of this mogul, the one whose mind can’t be broken into) but that is one way of getting her to interact with the characters. Maybe instead of him being “the tourist” it’s her.

Or maybe she’s just another professional dreamer in the world of Inception, dreaming of worlds and lives that probably don’t exist.

~

Check out the Ask Box Advent Calendar!

[randomactuallywrites-57]

Pierce the Skies

Title: Pierce the Skies Author: randomwriter57 Rating: G Word Count: 2,836 Event + Prompt: @sormikweek day one - Elysia: Innocence/Beginnings Summary: Archery has never been Sorey's strong suit. Lucky for him, Mikleo has a knack for it. Notes: Hello! I'm Random and I've been lurking in the shadows long enough. Here's my first foray into the Zestiria fanfic world! Actually that's a lie - I've been writing sormik fic for months, but I decided to post now since it's Sormik Week! I'm super excited to share my writing and to see what everyone else has created. This fic came from an experience I had with trying archery, but that doesn't mean everything in here is entirely accurate ^^" I hope it's still enjoyable anyway!

Also on: AO3

The first arrow Sorey fires lands two metres in front of him. With a loud thwack, it strikes the ground, startling the poor prickleboar which was once his prey.

He watches it retreat, his tiny hands gripping the wood of his makeshift bow with a force that might be enough to splinter, were he not so young. He feels tears well up in his eyes, and though he knows there’s no need to cry, he can’t help but feel disappointed in himself.

Kyme kneels down beside him, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry, Sorey. That wasn’t bad, for your first shot.”

“But I missed,” Sorey sniffles.

“It’s not the end of the world,” Kyme says. “There are plenty more prickleboars here. Do you want to try another one?”

Had he not felt so guilty, he might have given up for the day. So far it doesn’t feel like he’ll ever be any good at hunting with a bow and arrow. Besides, he wants to know what Mikleo’s being taught right now, in the lesson he apparently wasn’t allowed to attend. If it’s something they needed to be separated for, it must be some secret seraphic magic, right?

(Mikleo will tell Sorey everything he’s taught as soon as they’re reunited, of course. That’s how it always is, between them. All the seraphim in the village know that there is not a secret kept between the two children.)

Eventually, Sorey nods and lets Kyme lead him to a different group of bushes, facing a small clearing where a prickleboar sniffs at the ground, unaware of their presence. As he was taught, Sorey raises his bow in his right hand, carefully slotting the arrow in place and holding the weapon up with quivering hands. His stubby fingers clench the string as if letting go would send the arrow flying backwards towards himself.

“Look along the arrow to aim,” Kyme reminds him.

Sorey does so, setting his sights on the prickleboar. With his prey targeted, he draws back the arrow as much as he can. The problem with being so young, however, is that his bow is too big for his arms, and he isn’t able to get the full draw back on the string. When he releases the arrow, it acts much the same as the last - weakly floating for a few metres before stabbing the ground.

“You’ll get it eventually,” Kyme says, patting his shoulder lightly. “It takes time and practice, is all.”

Sorey doesn’t want to practice, though. The bow and arrow looks cool, sure, but he can already hunt with traps and the ceremonial sword he found when exploring the Mabinogio Ruins with Mikleo. Really, there shouldn’t be any reason he needs to learn to use a bow and arrow at all.

Before Kyme can suggest they try again, the sound of someone running towards them catches Sorey’s attention. He drops his weapon, turning to face the newcomer with a grin. “Mikleo!”

“Sorey,” Mikleo says, panting a little as he comes to a stop. “You’ll never believe what I just learnt!”

“Now, Mikleo,” Kyme says. His tone is not at all annoyed - in fact, he seems endeared by the children’s behaviour. “Sorey is in the middle of his own lesson.”

“Can Mikleo join?” Sorey asks. At least if Mikleo is here, it won’t feel so bad to not be able to use a bow and arrow. After all, Mikleo might not be able to use it either.

For a moment, Kyme considers it, before nodding. “I don’t see why not.”

It takes a few minutes for him to explain everything to Mikleo, taking care to flip the instructions to suit him as someone who is left-handed. When he finishes his explanation, he steps away from Mikleo to check his posture.

Sorey is entranced.

Mikleo looks like he is meant to use a bow and arrow. In the afternoon light, filtered through the leaves above them, he stands with a height taller than the trees, head held high and eyes piercing their prey as though they themselves are the arrow. His hands do not waver on the bow, though he too struggles to draw it back to its full potential. Sorey has always thought that Mikleo looks mature for his age (which is incredibly young, especially for a seraph), but in this position, he looks divine. Today, he is something Sorey cannot live up to.

Slowly, Mikleo draws back the arrow, then fires it.

It misses. But only barely.

“That was amazing, Mikleo,” Kyme says, patting him on the back. “You’ll become a fine archer.”

“Does that mean I don’t have to do it?” Sorey asks, feeling hopeful. “If Mikleo can do it, then he can hunt food with the bow and I’ll set some traps and get firewood.”

Kyme laughs at the suggestion, and tries to word his answer as nicely as he can. “There might come a time when you also need to use a bow, Sorey. We just want to make sure you’re prepared.”

Sorey is pretty sure there won’t be a time when he needs to use a bow and arrow when Mikleo isn’t with him. Even when he gets to explore the ruins in the world below, Mikleo will be there beside him, and they can probably hunt without a bow and arrow anyway, right?

Turning to face him, Mikleo grins. “Guess I win this round.”

“I’ll win next time, for sure!”

The two kids end up running back to the village without getting any more practice with the bow, and Kyme can’t find it in himself to be mad. They’re kids, after all. They might as well enjoy their childhood whilst they can.

When they enter the gate into Elysia, Mikleo drags Sorey in the direction of the house they share, ignoring the semi-questioning, semi-amused glances of the seraphim around the village. The moment they get inside, Mikleo closes the door behind him, his lips split in a grin.

“You wanna know what that lesson was about?”

Sorey nods enthusiastically. “Duh! Tell me everything!”

Falling into cross-legged sitting positions in front of the hearth, the boys huddle together as Mikleo begins to speak.

“Apparently we seraphim get these things called true names,” Mikleo says. “They’re really special! Gramps had to do some sort of arte to give me mine.”

“Woah,” Sorey says. “That sounds so cool! Can I get one?!”

Mikleo’s face falls a little, and he shakes his head. “Gramps said humans don’t need them.”

Despite Mikleo’s downtrodden expression and his own pang of disappointment, Sorey smiles. “Hey, it’s cool! So you have one, now?”

“Yeah. Gramps said true names are super special, and that I can’t tell anyone mine.” Before Sorey can even think to feel sad about not being allowed to know Mikleo’s true name, Mikleo leans forward with a conspiratorial grin. “You wanna know what it is, right?”

“Of course I do!”

“Hmm, I don’t know if I should tell someone who can’t even shoot a bow right…”

“Mikleo!”

“Maybe I won’t tell you.”

“Come on, tell me!”

Sorey launches forward, but Mikleo expects the attack. He blocks Sorey’s hands, then tries to reach his own towards Sorey’s abdomen. Sorey manages to reach past him, and the tickling ensues. Laughter fills the house as Mikleo wriggles under Sorey’s touch, both boys almost forgetting the conversation they’d been having in lieu of their tickle war.

Eventually, though, Sorey’s attack dies down, and both boys lie on the floor of the hut, breathing heavy. Everything is suddenly very quiet.

“Luzrof Rulay,” Mikleo whispers.

Gasping, Sorey sits up, staring wide-eyed at his friend. “Is that…?”

“You know what it is.” Mikleo gives Sorey a mock punch, though he smiles as he does it.

Sorey can’t bring himself to do anything other than stare, his lips mouthing the name silently.

“You can say it, you know,” Mikleo says.

So he does.

“Luzrof Rulay.”

The name feels perfect on his lips, perfect for the boy sitting next to him. The moment it passes his lips, he feels his connection with Mikleo grow stronger, somehow. He doesn’t really understand it, not when he’s so young and still has so much to learn. Still, cherishes it in his heart, a true link to Mikleo. A secret for the two of them.

It soon becomes clear that Sorey is not meant to be the archer of the pair. Even as he grows older and taller, his aim is still awful, and his hands shake whenever he draws the bow. Add the fact that Sorey does not enjoy his archery lessons, and the fact becomes reality.

Mikleo, on the other hand, is a natural. He soon becomes more than proficient in bow skills, hunting many of their meals with his own bow and arrow. The older seraphim can’t help but joke that it’s fitting, considering the difference in the children’s dispositions. Mikleo is straightforward, his mind always set on one thing. Sorey always has a mind filled with various possibilities, one which often strays away from his train of thought. Despite his young age, Mikleo has already found an answer without the bowstring of his heart wavering. It’s rather impressive, actually.

In the end, Sorey decides not to carry on with archery lessons, instead perfecting the other methods of hunting he knows - mainly smacking prickleboars around with his sword. That doesn’t mean he stops going to the lessons when he can, however, if only to watch Mikleo. He remains as mature and sophisticated as ever when he draws the bow, eyes focused on his target with pinprick precision. Sorey hasn’t seen him miss a shot in years.

He’s enthralled.

One afternoon, Mikleo is hunting as Sorey backs him up, though he’s mostly there to carry the load back to Elysia when he’s done. The afternoon light filters through the trees, shining on his face, but not enough to obscure his vision. With his back to Sorey, head facing forward, he draws the string back, aims, fires.

Thud.

“Nice shot,” Sorey says. “That makes four now.”

Mikleo lowers his bow, turning to face Sorey. “Four prickleboars for me, and none for you. I’m eating like a king tonight.”

“Hey! I can hunt prickleboars just fine! I just don’t want one of your shots to hit me.”

“Are you doubting my aim?”

“No way!”

The two of them laugh. A moment later, Sorey hauls himself up, moving over to the prickleboar. He retrieves the arrow, laying it on the ground before heaving the boar onto his back and taking it over to where the other three lie. When he turns around again, it is to see Mikleo examining the bloodied arrow, twirling it between his fingers with a delicate touch.

“Would you ever want to try archery again?” Mikleo asks.

“It’s not like I was much good at it,” Sorey says, scratching the back of his head. “Maybe if I was, then I would.”

Mikleo looks up from the arrow. “I could try helping you, you know.”

Sorey shrugs. He’s had Mikleo give him advice before, but he still can’t improve much. “I mean, I guess.”

“Come on, let’s try it now.”

Giving in, Sorey joins Mikleo, facing a tree with a sturdy trunk. Mikleo passes the bow to Sorey, who automatically gets into position, muscle memory from his lessons.

“Your posture is weird,” Mikleo says, moving closer to correct him. For a moment, Sorey becomes the arrow, moved by Mikleo’s touch into a more accurate position. It strains his back a little, and he can already feel his arms getting tired, but he perseveres.

“Is this okay?”

Mikleo hums, pulling out a fresh arrow and anchoring it to the string for him from Sorey’s right side, facing the bow. He then moves to stand behind Sorey’s back, examining his posture once more. “Your hand is shaking.”

“Oh, I didn’t notice.” He tries to still his quivering hand, but nothing happens. The bow still shudders under its touch, yearning for its usual master.

With a sigh, Mikleo puts his hand over Sorey’s on the bow, using his other to lift his right elbow a tad higher. His arms only barely bend when stretched across Sorey’s wingspan, something he decides not to comment on, knowing he’ll most likely get doused in water for his teasing.

“Aim for the tree,” Mikleo says.

He does. Or at least, he tries to.

“Pull the arrow back.”

He does. Mikleo’s hands remain where they are, supporting him.

“Now.”

He lets go.

Dully, the arrow pierces the ground a metre to the left of the tree. Mikleo’s hands fall away as Sorey lets his own arms drop, his grip on the bow tight.

“That’s better than before,” Mikleo says. “But I won’t be able to support you every time you shoot an arrow.”

“Well, that’s why you do the aiming, then,” Sorey says, turning to him with a grin. “You can handle the long-range attacks!”

Mikleo smirks. “Or maybe I’ll stick to my staff. It’s easier to spar with, anyway.”

“Hey, your choice.”

On the inside, though, Sorey can’t help but be thankful for Mikleo’s choice. As much as he likes seeing him using a bow and arrow, he values the time spent sparring with him more than that.

True to his word, when they reach the world below a couple of years later, Mikleo continues to use his staff in battle. Sorey can always count on him to be at his left side, fending off the hellions as best he can with his seraphic artes, and often diving into the fray with martial artes. Part of Sorey feels a little bad, knowing what it’s like to be on the receiving end of those artes during their practice sessions.

Perhaps that’s why, during their argument, when his presence is missing for so many battles, Sorey feels a little off-balance.

(Though his eye might be partially to blame. Still, that doesn’t explain why having the aid of fire instead of water felt so strange when he explored the Vivia Subterranean Aqueduct with Lailah.)

In any case, he continues to fight regardless. It’s not like he has another choice, and besides, he’s the one who caused this situation to happen. He doesn’t regret it, either - he doesn’t want to push his burdens onto Mikleo. Not when Mikleo has his own dream to achieve.

Luckily, time passes quickly, in that period of absence. Pushed on by their wish to find a vessel for the guardian seraph, his party travel to the Galahad Ruins, an expedition made less exciting by a presence Sorey won’t admit to missing.

(It’s not like they can’t tell, though. Missing Mikleo is almost like a kind of homesickness. Even though he doesn’t let it show, he still feels a vacancy in his heart, something missing, a feeling which tugs at the bowstrings of his heart. He knows Mikleo will return, eventually, but that doesn’t stop the feeling from pervading his soul.)

A short ways into the ruins, they find a room dedicated solely to an altar holding a beautiful bow, sculpted from metals, painted blue like the waves it represents. It is the Divine Artifact for a water seraph, Lailah explains.

(And Sorey, despite himself, can’t help but remember halcyon days in the sun, watching as Mikleo’s small arms drew back the string of his bow. As little as he wants to burden Mikleo with becoming a Sub Lord, he can’t imagine armatizing with any other water seraph, especially with this bow; An artifact filled with memories and nostalgia, history Sorey sometimes wishes to repeat.

He carries on without looking back.)

Yet, it seems the bow is destined to come into his hand, for only a short time later, Mikleo bursts in, a tidal wave of stubborn energy and determination.

“Do you really think this is your dream alone?” Mikleo asks, and everything clicks in place.

Holding up his arm, he says, “This is our dream.”

With the Sub Lord pact made, Sorey doesn’t think twice before enacting the armatus, Mikleo’s true name spilling from his lips in a natural flow. A familiar sensation of coolness envelopes him, and suddenly he is not alone, the vacancy filled as everything slots into place. The bow falls into his right hand as if it was meant to be there.

“I’ll do the aiming,” Mikleo says, already getting into the left-handed shooting stance. The unspoken words ring through, and Sorey can’t help but grin.

“Alright,” Sorey says, letting Mikleo guide their arms to aim at one of the centipede hellions flanking them. “I’m counting on you.”

Together, they pull back a bolt of water on the bowstring to its full potential, hesitating only for a moment before letting it pierce the hellions. Energy flows through them, connecting them in harmony.

“Congrats, you finally hit the target,” Mikleo teases as they aim once more.

Sorey can’t help but grin. “Shut up.”

Together, they pierce the skies.

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[spring-emerald]

for more chances of winning (your heart) Ch. 7.1

Summary: The five times Daichi is Kuroo’s ‘unofficial’ significant other, the one time he isn’t, and the one time he ‘officially’ returns the favor. 

(aka  a prompt dump and supremely self-indulgent KuroDai in a not-so-obvious-mutual pining-fake/pretend relationship thingy disguised as a mandatory 5+1 times fic)

Chapter 7.1: Nothing worth having comes without some misunderstanding

Pairing: KuroDai

 AO3

The day after the Nekoma disaster, Yaku, together with an unwilling Kenma, had ambushed Kuroo in his student apartment.

Kuroo grudgingly opened the door to the unwelcome visitors, and Yaku immediately gave him a judgmental once over once he did.

“You look even more than the loser you already are,” he said with a roll of his eyes as a way of greeting, before shoving Kuroo back and barging unceremoniously inside his place. Kenma, on the other hand, gave a small shrug and a nonchalant wave as he passed by his childhood friend’s hunched form.

It took a lot of Kuroo’s patience not to slam the door close, but he didn’t bother hiding his dissatisfaction at their presence when he looked at the pair of them.

“I don’t usually mind surprise visits, but, as you can see,” he gestured to his disorganized appearance, “I am not fit for any company right now. I am busy licking my wounded pride and nursing my broken heart and would appreciate it if you leave me alone.” He gave them a sardonic smile, while pointing at the door.

Yaku snorted. “You all have yourself to blame for that one.” He said, crossing his arms. “If you weren’t such an absolute moron, then you could’ve spared us all this humiliation and yourself from this ‘broken heart’ that you speak of.” He scoffed.

Kuroo’s eyes narrowed and he clenched his jaws. It’s one thing to be blamed, but it’s another for his hurt to not be taken seriously. Sure, he’s pretty used to Yaku chewing his head off for his idiocy, but this time he’s crossed an invisible line. And Kuroo is not about to let himself be stepped on just like that.

Not now.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about, Yaku-san.” He said through gritted teeth with a matching glare that Yaku had only seen once before. He sensed the other’s agitation and intelligently backed off and sighed.

“Perhaps I don’t know what I’m talking about,” he conceded. “But I know what I had seen.” He said, giving Kuroo a knowing look.

This caught Kuroo’s attention and he eased up his glare a little. His eyes flitted to Kenma, who was already sitting comfortably on one of his bean bags and playing with his phone. An absolute vision of indifference, but Kuroo knows that his sharp ears are listening. He returned his gaze at Yaku who was looking seriously at him.

“Yeah, you’ve seen me made a complete fool out of myself,” he scoffed.

“I didn’t mean you. I meant Sawamura-san.” Kuroo tensed a bit, but his anger turned to only mildly suspicion, and his expression was enough to tell Yaku that he was curious about what he’s talking about.

“I may not be as close to him as you are, and I really don’t understand how you missed it, but I had seen the way he looked at you yesterday. I had never seen anyone look at you so fondly like that.”

Kuroo took a minute to process what Yaku said and when he did, he just blinked at the other. Sawamura? Looking at him fondly? There was something surely wrong about that statement.

He scoffed and rolled his eyes. “You’re just imagining things,” he said dismissively.

Yaku raised an eyebrow at him. “Oh, really. Because you’re an accurate judge of that?”

Kuroo was about to retort, but Yaku wasn’t done yet. “I know you’re smart Kuroo, and I don’t understand why you went through with this ridiculous scheme of yours, when you could’ve just straight up told him that you like him. Because I can see that he likes you. Anyone with a pair of eyes can.”

“Yeah, right. Well, maybe you should get yours checked.” He turned away from Yaku, in order to hide the hurt he knows will appear on his face. “He didn’t even want to be with me, even for a joke.”

Yaku grabbed Kuroo’s arms and made him turn around again.

“That’s precisely it!” He exclaimed exasperatedly. “That’s precisely why he denied it! Didn’t it cross your mind that maybe the reason why he doesn’t believe you, is because he thinks it just one convoluted prank?” He paused, waiting for his words to sink in.

Kuroo gave him an uncertain look, but it was enough for Yaku to continue.

“He had said it so himself. He’s convinced that it’s just a joke in your part. And you want him to take you seriously?”

Kenma stopped playing with his phone and was looking on at the two of them, mostly at Kuroo’s expression which by then was a mix of surprised, then became thoroughly chastised as the realization hit him.

“So no. You don’t get to pull this heartbroken act, especially when you know you still haven’t done all that you could.” Yaku finished.

Kenma felt it safe to offer his thoughts then.

“Kuro,” he softly called out, and waited for Kuroo to look at him before continuing. “Sometimes the attack that defeats an enemy is not the flashiest, but the straightforward one.”

It was all that he said and they stared at each other for a while, before he broke off the eye contact in favor of returning to his game. Kuroo remained still, mulling over what they both told him. He had made up his mind last night that he would already give up, because it seemed hopeless anyway. The coward part of his mind had rationalized that it’s better that way, because if he had told him seriously, then he would’ve been rejected seriously as well.

At least with this, with Sawamura none the wiser, he can keep up a façade, until his feelings for the other boy slowly fades and disappears. It’s not exactly a good prospect, but it’s the best one his hazy mind could think of the night before.

But now, once he had assimilated Yaku’s information, no matter how doubtful of it he might be, and Kenma’s words of encouragement are already making him change his mind. Kuroo thought back to all the video game heroes he’d watched Kenma used to defeat different enemies, and he always felt a semblance of satisfaction in seeing them win. They might have not been real, but the feeling of hope they give hits home.

He looked at Yaku, whose words are echoing inside his head. He hasn’t done everything he could yet, and, he still has a weapon left, so to speak. Kuroo relaxed his tensed shoulders as the corners of his mouth lifted.

“I can’t…” Kuroo started, after a moment of long silence. “I can’t believe you used your video games as an analogy for my love life.” He said lamely, sending his best friend a small, doting smile. Then again, it’s something he should’ve expected from Kenma.

“I didn’t know you guys cared so much about me and my love life.”

“I think you mean your lack of one.” Yaku quipped at the same time Kenma said “I don’t.”

“You still care,” Kuroo insisted.

“I don’t.”

Yaku shook his head. “Don’t push it Kuroo. I have half a mind to kick you if that’s what it would take to get your ass in gear,” he threatened.

Whether Yaku would see through it or not, it will not be the first time. But Kuroo’s thankful, all the same, feeling lighter than compared to earlier, and filled with renewed hope.

----------

Kuroo was pulled out from his reminiscing when Sawamura abruptly sneezed from beside him.

He immediately looked and saw the disgruntled look at the other’s face and squealed internally at the adorable display he made, as he scrunched up his nose when he sniffed. He thanked whatever deity was up there for letting him spend the day with Sawamura like this, because if it’s going to be the last time he would see the other man this candid, then so be it.

It wasn’t completely hard to fall back on the same routine of acting like everything’s fine, and that his heart is not aching for Sawamura. It helped that he’s had months of practice. But even then, he couldn’t completely restrain the utter joy and excitement, when the other asked for his helped. He had been waiting for an opportunity to properly confess and when he was the one that reached out to Kuroo first, he took it as a sign that maybe things will work out for him.

It didn’t escape Kuroo’s notice that Sawamura had become significantly somber and distant after their encounter with his classmate. Which was quite disappointing, since it had been going so well. He hadn’t counted on the fact that they would meet his classmate, and that it would disrupt the comfortable atmosphere they have had for the majority of the day. He had gone over the conversation in his head numerous times while they were walking, and he doesn’t remember saying anything that might have upset Sawamura.

He was over the moon, to be honest, when his classmate had mistaken them to be on a date. It was silly, but he’s so delighted by the fact that people think they look good together. If anything, it was him who found it difficult to introduce Sawamura as just a friend. But, he had decided to take his friends advice to man up and it wouldn’t do well if until the last minute, the other would think he’s joking.

Worse, he might even think the confession Kuroo was going to make is part of an even more elaborate prank. He had been used to his pride being wounded every time Sawamura denies him, but he doesn’t want to think how much painful it would be if the other shrugs it off, even though he’s truly serious.

Sawamura sneezed again, and Kuroo didn’t hide the amused smile it brought to his face. He took a big step and stood directly on his path.

Sawamura stopped just in time and avoided colliding with Kuroo.

“Kuroo, what the hell?” He looked up, startled, stepping back a little.

Kuroo smirked down at him. “You’re not getting sick on me are you, Sawamura? Didn’t think a little cold will harm you.”

This close and Kuroo could see the way Sawamura rolled his eyes at him. “I’m not. Just smelled something a little nasty. Considering you’re the only one near me, guess it must have been you.”

Kuroo was about to reply with something along the lines of mock indignation at being insinuated as smelly, when a gust of wind blew on their direction and he noticed Sawamura suppress a shiver. He pursed his lip with a sigh and shook his head at the other.

“I don’t understand why you insist on not wearing enough layers of clothes, considering how cold it has been getting,” he said as he stepped closer into Sawamura’s space, while loosening his scarf.

“What are you doing?” Sawamura asked, leaning away from the other’s hand, eyeing it suspiciously.

Kuroo clicked his tongue in warning. “Stop moving,” he ordered, which Sawamura surprisingly followed.

Sawamura stood still, and Kuroo noticed how he was following his movement with wary eyes, as he wrapped the scarf around his neck. He remained tense as Kuroo adjusted it, making sure that it wasn’t too tight.

Kuroo intentionally let his fingers brush lightly against what was left visible of Sawamura’s now covered neck, before bringing his hands down. If things had only gone Kuroo’s way, he could probably do so much more.

“There,” he said with a smile. “Wouldn’t want my favorite person to get sick.”

Although Kuroo said that, the image of a sick Sawamura, being needy and clingy, while Kuroo was being the perfect care taker, nursing him to health, came to mind. He shook his a little at the errant thought.

Kuroo noticed that Sawamura’s looking at him with wide eyes, and he must be really cold if he’s flushing like that, and god, how he wanted to cup those cheeks and feel its warmth on his hands, and maybe kiss it, so it would flush for another reason. He did neither, and he clenched them instead. He planned on telling Sawamura once they reach his place. They’re only a few blocks away from there, and depending on how it goes, he may or may not go back home to his student apartment with a goodnight kiss.

The urge to touch was pressing, so he hastily dropped a breathy “Come on,” before turning robotically and walking away.

But Kuroo didn’t hear footsteps follow him. He paused and turned around and sees Sawamura looking at the ground. He did not miss the downcast expression on the other’s face.

“Sawamura?” He asked, frowning at him with worry.

It took a while before Sawamura replied.

“Kuroo,” Sawamura’s voice sounded small and tight, “let’s stop this.”

Part 7.2