#are they running barefoot? do they wear sandals?

[fisheito]

now that i've seen the DIK fight island obstacle course and how it's. a course. not just them swimming all day makes me wonder who would do best at running through sand. bc you gotta have a technique. or a certain kinda muscle built up. sand is difficult terrain but by pitting garu-dante-quin against each other... hmmm... that's tricky bc they ARE pretty evenly matched. a trio of athletic little lads

[luveline]

That family holiday kbd was soo cute😭

Can we get a blurb about playing at the resort’s pool with Steve and the kids? 🫶🏻

kbd — the harrington’s go poolside !! mom!reader, 1.4k

“Can we hold hands?” Beth asks. 

You throw your hand out to her showfully. She giggles as she takes it, rejuvenated after a good night's sleep and a huge breakfast from the buffet. You and Steve are probably happier about her gorging than she is; it’s never a bad day when Bethie eats well. 

Steve holds a toddling Dove’s hand, leaning down to accommodate her tiny stature, while Avery walks just ahead. “It’s gonna be fun, bubby,” Steve’s saying, “I promise.” 

Dove’s been to the pool a couple of times, but never for long. Last time she’d been in Steve’s arms for the whole session, while you shepherded Beth, and Avery played water games with her Aunt Robin. You’re a little scared to be taking them now with just the two of you, but Steve reassured you that everyone would be perfectly safe in the kids pool under both your supervision and the lifeguards, and you tend to trust his judgement. 

You leave the hotel lobby and step out into the resort’s back, white concrete and bright green sections of grass cut by paths that lead down to the pools and water features. Steve shouts for Avery to stay close, your oldest girl gasping with excitement as you draw near the pool and families already swimming in the sun. Her flip-flops slap the ground. 

“Mom, it’s too sunny,” Bethie whines. 

“This is why we all have hats. Do you want a hat?” 

“No.” She frowns. “I can’t see.” 

“You can’t see?” you ask. “I might have something that can help. Let’s just get to some seats and I’ll show you.”  

There are rows of blue plastic chairs and sun loungers outfitted with tables near the kiddie pool, more further down toward the adult pool. Families have already set up in places, but there’s plenty of room for you, your family, and your huge baby bag. 

Steve hoists Dove onto a sun lounger. Avery next, though she stays standing, her excitement catching. A sprinkler shaped like a flower rains generous streams of water down onto a laughing little girl and her mother. Avery watches them over Steve’s shoulder. “Can we swim? Please, dad, I want to go under the sprinkler!”

“Yeah. Let’s take your nice dress off first, sweetheart, put your arms up. Up, up!” 

She holds up her arms for Steve to help her out of her dress. You and Beth take the sunlounger opposite, where she’s quick to climb into your lap, hiding her face from the sun. 

You knew Beth wouldn’t wear a hat. She hates them, just like she hates flip flops, sandals, and any shoes without socks. Luckily she’s fine to go barefoot from here —you begin to untie her laces. “I have something new for us to try. I think you’re gonna love it, but maybe you won’t, I don’t know.” 

“What is it?” 

You unzip the bag and pull out a round blue container. It clicks open, unveiling a toddler-sized pair of sunglasses made of a strange soft plastic. 

“You can match daddy,” you sing-song, attempting to entice her. “And keep your eyes away from the sun.” 

“Will they stay on when I swim?” she asks. 

“Maybe not, but I’ve got you goggles for swimming. Are you ready to swim? Or are we gonna sit here for a bit in the sun?” 

Avery jumps down off of the sunlounger. The skirt of her swimsuit bounces as she runs to you, hands vying for your bag. “Mom, I want goggles too.” 

“I got you some, don’t worry. Let daddy do it. He has to make them smaller on your head.”

Steve outfits Avery in her goggles, and takes Dove’s dress off to leave her in her swimsuit (or scuba suit). Beth doesn’t wanna swim yet, but you take her dress off and begin the long process of covering each child in SPF. 

“There,” you say, wiping a smudge of sunscreen from Avery’s arm down into her hand. “Tada! You’re now safe from the sun.” 

“I love the sun.” 

“I know, but the sun doesn’t love us. It gets too hot.” 

“That’s why we have to drink.” 

“Exactly, baby, exactly.” You frame her face with your hands. “Hey, you look beautiful today. You do! Look at your lovely smile, so pretty, better let me have a little kiss.” 

“Mommy,” she giggles. 

“Just a little one, Avey, just one–” You kiss her cheek twice, one near her nose and the other her ear, before pulling her in for a slightly slimy hug. The sun warms the back of your neck, and her shoulders are warm where your arms slide over them. 

“That was two,” Steve says. 

“You rat,” you say, grinning as he leans down to hug you from behind. 

“Better give me one to make it even,” he says in your ear.

“Don’t think that’s how it works.” 

He gives you a quick kiss. “Hey, Dove! Babe, where are you going?” 

“Swim!” 

“Guess we better get in,” he says, thumb in your shoulder and then suddenly gone as he chases your waddling barely-toddler before she can get too far away. 

“Ready, Beth?” you ask. 

“You’re coming in?” she asks you. 

“Yeah, I’m coming in,” you say, forcing a smile. 

You've had three babies. You know you don’t look like you did when you and Steve first met, don’t look like somebody you’d see on TV or in the background of a Madonna video. He sees you naked all the time and he’s never had any complaints (the opposite, always), but these people aren’t used to you. You have a doughy stomach and the baby weight sticks to your chest and thighs; you’re so worried you’ll be judged for how you look you start to resent yourself for not trying to fix it. 

You pull your dress over your head hesitantly. 

An immediate wolf whistle echoes from the poolside. 

Steve’s ankle deep in the kids shallows, his fingers still in his mouth, the other arm wrapped around Dove. The sun turns his hair a dirty blonde, his mild tan lightened. 

“Steve, don’t,” you scorn, immediately flustered at the attention it draws. 

“That’s my wife,” Steve says to Avery, unaffected. 

You grab Bethie, kiss her under the chin, and try to act like you aren’t embarrassed as you meet them in the water. 

“Well hello, gorgeous,” he says, grabbing for you, not quite reaching. 

The water’s cold. “Stop, Steve.” 

“You’re so beautiful, come here, I need a kiss.” 

“Stop.” 

“Seriously?” he asks. 

You hug Beth. “Maybe one more.” 

“Mom, you’re beautiful!” Avery shouts. 

“Yeah, mom, you’re beautiful,” Beth says. 

Steve smirks from over Dove’s head. “Took the words right out of my mouth.” 

You and Steve kneel in the pool. The water isn’t that deep at its deepest, and the girls can stand without being submerged. Avery and Bethie hold hands under the sprinkler flower to stop from either girl getting lost, while you and Steve watch with Dove held in his arms. “How’s that, Dovey? Are you having fun?” you ask saccharinely. 

Steve sighs. “You really are so, so beautiful.” 

“Daddy’s feeling silly,” you say to Dove, “he doesn’t get it.” 

“I get it.” 

“You don’t think people wonder what you’re doing with me?” you ask, mostly joking, ninety percent as you give your stomach a self-deprecating squeeze. “You look like you're still twenty-two.” 

“No I don’t. I used to have abs.” 

You push through the water to poke his lean stomach. “Feels solid to me,” you say. 

He laughs and pulls away from you. His eyes dart between you and the girls, softened with his laughing, “Get off of me, you rascal.” 

“Rascal?” 

You laugh worse. 

Steve’s predictable. He makes sure Dove is alright floating in the water with his one hand on her back before he leans across to kiss you, a wet hand to your collar, his lips persistent as he pecks you twice, three times. “Love you, pretty girl,” he says. 

You flush with heat from your face to your fingertips. That’s a rare one. “I love you too.” 

[crazylittlejester]

Which Link do you think would wear sandals? Wild for sure, and Hyrule probably. Legend would probably wear one if he have to, tbh I think he'd do pretty much anything if he have to, but he won't like it. And I think quite a few would be horrified by them, but I'm wondering who would have the strongest opinion.

On the topic of footwear, Four would be so attached to steel capped boots. Protects your toes from dropped tools AND destroys (other's) ankles in a single kick? Yes please.

WIND, he comes from an island i know the others have to force boots onto him in order to protect his feet. I headcanon he prefers sandals or to just run around barefoot, but that’s not the best idea when on rocky terrain or in a forest, so he does have closed toe shoes but he doesn’t like them very much. he definitely hates the texture of socks too

I could see Sky wearin’ sandals but not super often, Twi too

Warriors I think would be against the idea of any form of footwear that wasn’t boot-like because how is he supposed to hide a knife or dagger in a sandal? (dont let him think too hard about it, he’ll find a way)

FOUR DEFINITELY HAS STEEL TOED BOOTS. AND HE KICKS MONSTERS WITH EM, I KNOW IT IN MY HEART

[spotaus]

So i had another new age thought. Also yes hi i am back again and i just like sending you asks lmao.

Anyway. Remember how we agreed that once nightmare trusted and knighted killer he would be send on a mission to get more info/stuff/reminders of ccino's past life?

And how before we agreed he would find it boring?

Now with the whole crush and in love situation

Killer would be EXCITED for this mission

Finding stuff about ccino?! His family?! Sign him the fuck up- wait.what will you do with that information?

Nightmare: safeguard it obviously?

Killer: okay cool! When do i leave?

Because if nightmare was gonna destroy it killer would have 100% hidden the info away and reconsider those running away fantasies- I MEAN! plans again.

That was all. That was the thought lmao.

Ohoho- Killer would be SO pumped for it- I can't believe I forgot that with the crush plot line he'd be super curious... the him abd Ccino not getting along plotting is definitely more of a farce now, so ofc he'd be invested!

And... you can't tell me this man didn't immediately snoop. Like, he knows it's bad, he knows he shouldn't, but Ccino is one big mystery to him so of course he's going to try and find out more! And he gets a peek at the names of his parents, the old bakery they used to run, where he used to live, the whole nine yards. Do you think he found the death certificates of his parents and saw the cause of death was a housefire? He's pretty sure Ccino would've been really young when it happened, too. Do you think he went to the address out of curiosity and saw that the lot was still empty? (Taboo to rebuild atop the ashes of sonething burnt by the King, you know) Do you think he got a sense of what happened, even if he really doesn't know at all?

I think we've discussed it before, but Killer is all the more protective over Ccino and even more curious after this mission. He has no right, he knows that, but he can't help but try to look after him. Just!!! These guys!!!!

Also, I didn't get around to doodling them properly, but since I don't want to constantly draw Killer's armor? Here's his and Ccino's comfy/general clothes, as well as the front of Ccino's uniform! (Poorly sketched as always, haha-)

Killer likes to wear loose clothes, especially jackets. (I forgor to add the gold clasps on the jacket...) Tighter clothes feel like they confine him too much, almost like claustrophobia. For meta-story? The long jackets + oversized clothes are just a habit from his days in the temple, and then later when he and Chara had to steal clothes sizes too large so they could grow into them. I also think that Killer, later in the story, really only has his soul circular when he's in public/training, anytime he's comfy with his family (or ofc Ccino is near) it leans towards soul-shaped. His eyelight likes to pop into place when he's with Ccino :] (<- I WILL forget to draw/write like this. So like. Nbd.)

Ccino's casual fit is usually only for his days off, market shopping, and when he's alone in his cottage. He always keeps his apron and work shirt the same (honestly Nightmare wouldn't mind, but Ccino still worries about being punished for stuff like uniform screw-ups) and he wears a more casual pair of pants and a white shawl which fits him like a scarf now. (Maybe, if I wanted to be angsty, then it was given to him shortly after Nightmare came to power, and back then he was so stick thin it wrapped around his shoulders? Now he wears it as a sign of his healing <3) also!! Decided Ccino inherited hid mother's 'sleepy' eyeshape, where his sockets curve like he's sad, but that's just how he looks. Gives him a calm and gentle appearance.

Ignore that they're missing their shoes 🙏 I'm very close to convincing myself to let Ccino stay barefoot/sandals because tbh if I were him I'd be wearing the least shoes possible, but he's also very sensible so like. Probably sandals for him. Killer probably wears short boots or his sturdy armor boots? I couldn't see him taking the time to lace up any sort of complex sandals lmao-

[koifishart]

I want to be Your Koi Fish

Warning: +18 content, criminal underworld, intercourse, strong language - and so on

Fanfiction based on: "Baki" by Itagaki Keisuke

>29<

The clean air of Okinawa was soothing to him, but the balance in the universe was kept by his wife's stubborn grandfather, still counting on Hanabi to leave husband to take over the school. Fortunately, she clung to his side, giving Shigeru no hope of changing her mind. The night before, they had given him a taste of the failure of a great plan to break their marriage. It started out innocently enough, sweetly, delicately, that finally Hanabi would scream at the whole house how much she loves Hanayama and how much he has to keep going. He had noticed long ago that for her the concept of shame didn't actually exist, the more willingly started to implement his little project, knowing that she would most likely be pleased. Thought it would bother him, but he liked the earring in her tongue, cool and hard, lending a special sensation. Hoped the schemer hadn't fallen asleep, and if he could, woke up.

They were sitting in the living room, shutters wide and doors leading to the inner garden. They drank green tea, so amazing...he never had the chance to drink. It turned out that Shizuka, despite a complete lack of talent for cooking, was brilliant with the traditional brewing of matcha. Even Tokugawa praised the skills of the red-haired woman to the heavens, to which she merely bowed with a slight smile. The astonishing calm was interrupted by the noise from before the entrance. If you think about it, during the trip from Tokyo, Tokugawa mentioned that someone was missing... Kaoru sensed someone's presence, familiar, strange and strong. He, Hanabi and Baki went out to see who they were dealing with. In front of them stood a man over two meters long, with short-cropped blonde hair and pale blue eyes, built tighter than he remembered.

- Onii-san? - young Hanma was surprised. - What are you doing here? And... Are you kind of...taller?

- Or you shrunken. - he replied evasively. - Tokugawa gave me the address and ordered...ooou...

Jack clearly focused on the person behind them. Hanayama turned around. Tall, blonde, green-eyed, again dressed in tight jeans and a bright floral corset, she fastened a strap of high-heeled sandals around her ankle. She regarded the newcomer with a critical glance, without a trace of emotion. Elder Hanma looked as though his brain had flown through his ears. An effect so similar to all those guys drooling over his wife. Indeed, with all four of them, it seemed, most men's minds would run away to nothing, being replaced by wild lust. Immediately after the eldest of his father-in-law's daughters, Kureha appeared unhappy.

- ...he said to be present, but nothing about the lovely company. - he finished swishly, so unlike himself. - Hi. Are you a predatory kitten?

- If only I don't bite you something, little boy. - she replied impassively.

- I'd love to check it out. - he muttered as she stood next to him.

He barely registered movement. Ayame reacted immediately, delivering a high kick straight into the tall blonde's jaw. Apparently, the heels had their advantages. Maybe that's why Hanabi was so eager to wear them. Her oldest sister didn't really need her height - she was 175cm barefoot, if not a little bigger. Hanma hit the ground with great force, spitting blood. Baki was stunned and Shinogi seemed to be pleased with the development of events.

- Pff...sucker. - she said, straightening her blonde hair. - Bunch, come on, no time!

At dinner he tried again. It was a pity to see Jack Hammer go to waste. His sister-in-law was a relentless woman, and he didn't seem to see it. He pressed on to her, tried to get attention, and she was successfully ignoring him.

- Oh, don't tell me I'm not moving you... - he muttered, leaning over to her.

- ENOUGH OF THIS. - she growled firmly, reaching her hand toward his bruised jaw.

Think he was counting on a kiss, and in return Ayame...dove with chopsticks in Canadian mouth. She grabbed something and took it out. Tooth. Sizeable, with quite a bit of roots, but somewhat crooked, like a tree that has been forced to grow amidst obstacles.

- Beautiful eight, boy. I don't think I've ever seen a wisdom tooth like this. Completely degenerated, the enamel is almost gone, even though the dentin looks healthy. Do you bite metal nails with it or what? - she assessed, sitting down in her seat.

- How do you... - he groaned in shock. - But my jaw is made of steel!

- Oh, your teeth are indeed strong, I don't deny it. Most would hurt like hell in this condition! - she snapped. - They're not holding up well, that's their problem. You stuffed yourself with steroids, anabolics and other crap to gain muscle strength while your body was paying heavy taxes. Are you proud of yourself?

- How dare you, woman... - he hissed, propping his arms on the table.

- Are you such a tough guy? Let's check it. - she replied bravely. - Tonight, in the training room.

She wasn't kidding. She was waiting for him in a traditional-style red top and light-colored pants. She tied her blonde hair in a high ponytail to keep it out of her eyes. The three children sat on the side, perfectly still. She stood up as he appeared in front of her, wearing only shorts, snapping his knuckles. The style she used must have been very old, until Retsu, after a moment's thought, deciphered that it was northern Shaolin kung fu. In fact, shouldn't have known it, and for some reason she was at least a master of it. Dodged attacks with ease, quickly unleashing her own, very explosive.

- I told you Kitsune learn very quickly. - Shigeru said with a shrug. - The highest degree of initiation and skill in the art that suits their temperaments is only a matter of time. Ayame is like a flame, just upset her and she will explode and incinerate everything in her path.

As soon as Jack tried to pin her again, she jumped back for a kick. The force she put into it, put her opponent on his shoulders. Hanayama wasn't sure he heard the crackle of the floor under the mats. Baki, sitting next to him, couldn't believe his eyes...as probably all the people gathered.

- Mom is like Master Tigress from "Kung-Fu Panda". - commented dark-haired Rozu.

- You have such brilliant genetic potential and physical conditions, and through your idiotic rush you ruin everything... - Ayame huffed, resolutely refraining from spitting next to him.

>>><<<

She couldn't watch people like that go to waste. Maybe it was because she grew up in a family where you must be the best in your field, maybe she was just like that herself...but she couldn't let him go to waste. And he had been doing it successively, in her eye for several years. She lied about his teeth. They were indeed sandpaper-wiped-out, but she pulled out the one had damaged in front of the house with one smooth kick. She hoped it would wake him up. Sighed heavily, lowering her bare feet onto the cool grass in the inner garden. Ayame liked to sit outside on the terrace from time to time and not think about anything, although the latter, as a rule, never worked out.

- Can't you sleep, sucker? - she asked quietly, still looking ahead.

- How did you know about chemistry? - Jack said, sitting down next to her.

- I'm a good observer. - she muttered evasively. - If you don't take care of your health, you slap a wheelchair in your fifties, or even faster. I guess at such a young age you hardly think about it, but believe me, you don't want to.

- I'm not going to live long. - the man snorted. - The plan was that I would do whatever I can to be the strongest...

- So what, are you doing good? Probably not, because you get weaker with each dose. - she assessed, glaring at him. - My guess is Kureha's behind it. He is usually well-meaning, but he is bathed in hot water, especially on the subject of sports...

- He warned me once that I would kick the calendar faster than I think.

- So why...

- Teach me. - he demanded. - I want to be even stronger.

- I have neither the predisposition nor the time to teach anyone. However, if you stay in Okinawa and ask Yui nicely, she will definitely take you in. - she replied firmly, standing up and heading for her room. - Relax, my sister doesn't bite. However, I'm afraid that you will be forced to give up what you consider necessary...

>>><<<

He slowly began to drag on. He missed the hustle and bustle of the city he was used to. Fortunately, Kizaki called saying that they absolutely had to come back. He and his wife were leaving just as Shigeru and Tokugawa locked themselves in their room to discuss the possibility of another tournament. He didn't think his affinity with Master Soga would make him participate, quite the opposite.

For several days, he had heard information about a strange person wandering around the city. He was...specific, traditionally dressed, with two swords attached. The police became interested in him mainly due to the openly carried weapon. News on TV every now and then informed about his next actions, killed people, but still no one knew his identity. He hadn't heard of any incident on Hanayama territory at the time, nor was there any indication that he was a member of any of the mafia families. He came out of nowhere, many wanted him back there. He neither burned him nor chilled, until he stuck a finger into Clan Fujiki. But it started to get dangerous, so much so that the Chief Police General, Utsumi Shunzo himself, knocked on Hanayama's door. He never had a problem with Hanabi hanging around somewhere, but this time he couldn't let her listen to the conversation. He had an overview of the matter, guessed what the man was coming with, and knew just as well what his wife would say. She couldn't find out what he was planning, she had to be safe, and this time safety meant ignorance. She wasn't pleased, but looked as if had come to terms with his decision. He received the guest as he should, there was even a whiskey on the table. He could see that Chief was wondering if had hit the right place. In fact, not every twenty-year-old looks...like him. He thought that mere presence was enough for the interlocutor to weigh his words, but the Utsumi tried to speak to his conscience - he was to lend his skills to DEFEND THE COUNTRY. Ha! Good! Need the nerve to propose something like this to a representative of the underworld. He spoke beautifully about how his proposal would most likely be welcomed by a man of this caliber and status. Kaoru guessed that they were getting some training in flowery talk or successive persuasion at the higher levels. It didn't work this time, he wasn't going to suddenly start working for the police, not even for a moment. The distance between them was too great. He wasn't even convinced by the story of a half-cut friend. Until Kizaki came with the information that the TV man was indeed Musashi Miyamoto, one of his next victims was Retsu Kaioh, and he himself...was heading towards Shinjuku.

It would be rude not to welcome a visitor to your lands.

_____________________

* Onii-san - the term "big brother" or sometimes the person towards whom we feel fraternal 

[reikaryu]

beach (bitch) date ♡ txt cbg

pairing — choi beomgyu x fem!reader

genre — one-shot, angst

summary — who knew your stroll to the beach would be your last date together ?

iffah’s bimonthly fics ♡ february edition

warning(s) — light kissing

word count — 1.0k words

author’s note — very first fic of my “iffah’s bimonthly fics” series 😍 thank you my lovely ipah for the spotify premium !! hope everyone enjoys this !

You stood in front of your full body mirror, twisting your body here and there to check your outfit and fix the weird parts of it.

You had decided to don a yellow sundress, since you were going to the beach, after all. You paired the dress with a pastel yellow hair tie in case the wind was unusually strong later on. Your footwear was simple: a white and yellow beach sandal that you reserved specifically for beach dates with your boyfriend.

(You two went often, as both of you like the sound of the waves crashing against the coast, and the freshness of the air.)

You smiled after confirming with yourself that you were all ready. Right after that, the doorbell rang, signalling the arrival of your date.

You rushed downstairs to swing open the door and grinned almost maniacally at the man standing on your doorstep. He was wearing matching clothes with you.

He mirrored the expression on your face, but you noticed something amiss with that smile you usually see. It barely reached his eyes. And his eyes — they held the tiniest bit of sadness. It left you feeling unsettled, but you brushed it off as him being tired. You couldn’t let it ruin your mood.

“Are you here to pick me up?” you teased, going back inside to pick up your phone from the little table beside your couch.

Beomgyu smiled at your question, looking down with his hands in his pockets. “Of course. I could never let my beautiful girl walk the streets alone,” he replied in the same tone. You chuckled as you walked back to him at your doorstep and hooked your arms around his neck. You pulled him closer and his hands found themselves on your waist.

You looked into his eyes as he did yours, then leaned in to plant a light kiss on his lips. It was mostly you initiating these kinds of stuff. Beomgyu was always too shy to.

Minutes later, you found yourself barefoot on the sand, your boyfriend beside you, holding your hand. He swung them back and forth slightly, enjoying the breeze.

You loved these quiet moments between the two of you. Just enjoying the sound, the scent, the beauty of nature was what you and Beomgyu loved to do together. Mind you, I said together. You wouldn’t do it if you weren’t by each other’s sides. It was a promise the both of you made. You signed a contract with him — and the consequence of breaking this promise and going against the contract would be deadly, apparently.

Walking by the coast and letting your feet get washed over by the incoming waves, you turned your head to look at your boyfriend. He hadn’t said much on your way here. It was mostly you talking about your days while you were apart and ranting about school stuff. Adding on to the look he gave you previously, everything was starting to get increasingly strange.

“Are you alright, Gyu? You seem a little off today,” you spoke gently, caressing the back of his hand with your thumb. He took a second too long to look at you, and when he did, there was grief in his eyes. Guilt. As if he had done something very wrong.

“I have something to tell you.”

Silence.

His demeanour, his expression, his words. Everything was starting to piece together and you were worried what his next words would be. Did he commit a crime? Was he being hunted down by the police? Or did he get into a fight with a gang and now he’s on the run?

Beomgyu stopped in his tracks, and you followed suit.

“Let’s break up.”

His words hit you like a thousand bullets. Your stomach lurched and your vision was starting to get blurry. You felt dizzy.

But you hadn’t processed his words just yet — they hadn’t gone through your head fully. They went through your brain like a bullet train, not letting you register the information even for just a second.

You choked on your words as you stuttered out, “S-sorry? Could yo— you say that … ag— again?” You wanted to curl into a ball and bury yourself deep into a hole. Never had you let yourself be so vulnerable in front of Beomgyu. Especially not when he was going to say the two words you have always feared.

Your (soon-to-be ex) boyfriend didn’t bother wiping away your tears as you once thought he would. He simply stared at your shaking figure with pity all over his features. The features you came to love and adore. The features you might never see again, unless you are lucky that the gods will hear your pleas.

“Let’s break up,” he repeated more firmly, holding your hands tighter with each word. To ground you, you realised. To ensure that you won’t come running to his house the next day, claiming you had the most ludicrous dream the previous night. “I have no romantic feelings for you anymore, as I did five years ago when I asked you out at prom.”

He didn’t wait for a reaction from you. He left you on the beach, sobbing quietly, as he walked away and towards the concrete. He didn’t look back once, and you wondered — with what was left of your blurry and unresponsive brain — if he will ever think about you again. Maybe when he gets married to his new girlfriend, or when he has his first child. Or when he looks through his gallery and finds pictures of you and him. Perhaps he might even delete them the moment he got home.

Three minutes later, you crumbled and fell, knee first, onto the crunchy sand. Your knees hurt like hell, and you knew they were probably already bleeding from the impact, but you couldn’t care less at the moment. Not when your high school crush had just broken up with you, stating that he had no romantic feelings for you anymore. The man you often dreamt of spending your whole life with. The man who made butterflies erupt in your stomach whenever he simply looked at you.

The twenty-first of February, 2023.

You found your heart broken into pieces and thrown into the vast sea.

reblogs are appreciated ! ♡

taglist — @i520sn @piakae

[ gen. masterlist | txt masterlist ]

[vanishingreyes]

TIMING: Various. LOCATION: Various. SUMMARY: Just some snapshots of Xóchitl's life! CONTENT WARNINGS: Child death, implication of alcoholism. Also if you haven't read The Lottery by Shirley Jackson there's like, vague spoilers for that!

September, 1999.

She’d begged her moms to just let her stay home. School couldn’t be that important, and she wasn’t going to know anybody, and she’d never spoken English except for when they went out places and the people there didn’t speak Spanish or Haitian Creole. 

Those languages made her feel safe, feel wanted, feel steady.

Her parents had said she had to go, though. Education was important or whatever, and she supposed she should’ve expected that from a neurosurgeon and art curator.

Xóchitl still thought it was a dumb idea, and the frown in her ‘first day’ photo was enough to prove that. 

She’d gotten on her shirt and skirt, and her new PowerPuff Girl lunchbox (the lady at the store had said it was super cute, and so Xóchitl couldn’t resist getting one – or rather, begging her parents to get her one), and her fancy buckle shoes, and bright blue socks with lace around the cuff.

She’d been coaxed into smiling for one photo with the promise of being able to take Duvalin and watermelon Salsagheti. Which, of course, she’d taken, because she wasn’t stupid, and it made her moms happy to see her smiling, so it was an all-the-way-around win.

Soon enough though, it became clearly worth it. The little girl with bright blonde hair and an even brighter smile asked her to be friends and Xóchitl agreed right away.

July, 2001.

Mackenzie had declared popsicles the best part of summertime, and so Xóchitl agreed. She also liked swimming in the ocean and then devouring burgers and fries on the beach. The two of them were going to start second grade this fall, and Xóchitl knew it was going to be the best year ever, even without her friend saying so.

Which was like, totally forward-thinking and self-aware, right?

They were going to wear matching Billabong shirts three sizes too big for them and do their hair matching in braids. They were going to be twins all summer and also in the fall, and they’d for sure sit next to each other in class and Mrs. Walden would let them because she was nice, even if she was sort of old.

Xóchitl felt herself jerked out of her thoughts by Mackenzie’s words, melted popsicle covering her hands. 

“You can’t catch me!”

“I’m so gonna get you, just watch!” 

Running off barefoot. Happy.

Because being seven and turning eight next year was good. It was the best, and one day they’d go to college together and be roommates and then they could eat all the ice cream and popsicles that they wanted.

February, 2009.

“For a minute, no one moved, and then all the slips of paper were opened.” Mr. Vincent read the story out loud. It was a cold day, though it hadn’t snowed in weeks.

Xóchitl skimmed ahead, just barely, and felt her stomach drop.

Rocks. Used for killing.

“I – uh,” she felt her whole mouth go dry.

“I need to – uh. Go.” She shot up out of her seat and rushed toward the classroom door, ignoring Mr. Vincent’s calls of her name, ignoring the confused murmurs of her classmates.

She navigated her way through the school’s hallways before pushing the front door open and collapsing into herself on the front steps.

If Mackenzie had been here, they would have laughed about all of this. If she was here, it wouldn’t have been scary and stomach churning. But she wasn’t, and so it was.

She pulled out her phone and typed a quick text to her mothers:

Can you pick me up? Not feeling good.

Thankfully, Elena Reyes and Medjine Augustin-Reyes didn’t ask many questions.

She went through a whole box of popsicles that afternoon.

May, 2014.

The laurel branch tattoo was only semi visible under her sandal. Which was good. It meant Mackenzie was still mostly hers, but also a little bit everyone else’s.

Her first-year roommate in college had been a curly-haired red-head who smoked too much weed and listened to music at 2am. Her name had been Angela and she hadn’t been bad, but Xóchitl hadn’t realized just how disappointed she’d be that Mackenzie wasn’t her roommate, even eight-odd years on.

Still, they bought a world map together and Xóchtil did her best to sound interested when Angela talked about wanting to study abroad in China.

At graduation, Angela Simmons got an award for her senior thesis on the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. Xóchitl congratulated her, and the two of them went out for drinks afterwards and wound up in Angela’s downtown apartment and Xóchitl left later that night smelling like oranges and whiskey.

May, 2021.

She’d never intended to get a doctorate, but it was something to do, something that kept her distracted.

She’d written her thesis on trauma and memory. Her advisor had called it ingenious.

Xóchitl thought it was ironic, given how many of her memories she pushed down as far as she could and how much of an expert she’d become at denying her own trauma.

The dedication page of the thesis read:

For Mackenzie.

I-ay ove-lay ou-yay..

Always.

– X

June 18th, 2024.

“We’re shutting down for the night.” It was Mackenzie’s birthday.

“I – okay.” Xóchitl wasn’t sure what time it was, she only knew that it was the worst day of the year.

She pushed herself up, grabbed her phone, and put money on the bartop. 

“You really should make a popsicle-themed cocktail. It’d sell well.” 

[imsoquarky]

Making design notes is one of my favorite things ever. I don't know why but making a list of them brings me so much joy.

I made one for MK awhile back and I'm getting the itch to do some for my own original characters. Sure my ocs do have set designs, but writing them down feels good.

Anyways. If you've never written a list of design notes, highly recommend. They don't have to be in-depth but here's some I wrote for a post-s4 MK design I haven't made yet

(Below the cut just to make sure I don't flood y'all's page or whatever)

Bodily Changes:

- Spread vitiligo to reflect new monkey markings (Dot on each upper cheek, patch covering the bottom lip to chin)

- Mullet hair

- Sideburns now reach lower and there is now sparse facial hair on his chin alongside the facial hair that was already on the edges of his jaw

-Fur covering his arms and back

- Striped gradient monkey tail

- Forehead scar running from hairline to a little below his eyebrows

- Fangsssss (Not as prominent as SWK or Macaque, more like Pigsy or Sandy's)

Wardrobe Changes:

- Sleeveless blue hoodie with one big white stripe and one small one

- Yellow Monkey King themed leather jacket (usually sensory hell, but he's got furry arms now)

- Still has the baggy, red cargo pants, but add on the overall straps that aren't being used like they should. Just decoration

- Cargo pants also have a tail hole now

- Headband is stitched up down the center, got damaged in the fight with Azure.

- Now wears sandals and goes barefoot during training

Other changes:

- His ears can twitch now, tho they still appear human. Hearing is also more sensitive, but not anything like Wukong and obviously nowhere near Macaque's

- Nose is also more sensitive, again, not quite like Wukong or Mac

- Is actually a bit faster than Wukong now, though SWK still far surpasses him in sheer strength and stamina

- Deals with migraines and meltdowns more often due to the higher senses and after effects of fucking HEADBUTTING A SWORD

- Still has human feet, but they're slightly bigger and he's more in control of their movement and can pretty reliably pick stuff up. This makes close-toed shoes very uncomfortable now

A few extra MK hcs that aren't listed here and didn't really change:

Transgender FtM (He/Him)

AuDHD

Pansexual

(All subject to changes or additions as I see fit)

Tbh, if enough people find this interesting I'll do them for all the characters. Even ones I may never draw, like Sandy (I LOVE him, but he's such an intimidating character to draw, muscles are strange and I still struggle with drawing my Red Son design.)

I'll also do non LMK characters, from basically any of my fandoms. These are so fun to me. It's my happiest form of feeding my hyperfixations when Im dealing with art block or just a lack of time.

[rosalind-of-arden]

I picked specific questions this time mwahahaha: describe their shoes, and where does their disposable income go? For Morgan and Wolfe.

Let's start with Wolfe:

Shoes: Fuck, I know nothing about men's shoes. Something nice-looking, black leather to match his robe. After Rome, he spends some time mostly wearing sandals that are easy to slip on while he's recovering, only to refuse to ever wear them again after recovering enough to manage shoelaces. He can't stand being barefoot after Rome, so he wears shoes in the house. For missions he wears combat boots. He'll polish them if he needs to look nice, but it only took one time having to run away from Burners in dress shoes to convince him to wear something more practical. After Rome, he wears combat boots at home more often, too. They make him feel prepared for the attack he knows is coming. All of Wolfe's shoes are well maintained. When he's not well enough to take care of them himself, Nic does it for him.

Disposable income: He likes theater and eating out, so he spends a fair amount on date nights with Nic. If they manage to somehow go a few months without being sent on a mission somewhere, he gets the urge to travel, too, and he does not travel cheap. First class train tickets, nice hotel rooms, all the good stuff. He donates to literacy-related causes like schools in towns too poor to have a Serapeum. He absolutely is not the one who makes large anonymous donations to the orphanage where he was sent after the Iron Tower, who on earth would you dare accuse him of that? Also wine. He has expensive taste in wine. After Rome, he spends less in part because he's afraid to go out with the Archivist plotting his death, in part because Nic is too paranoid to go out, and in part because he's saving up in case they need to run away. It takes him a while to get back to his normal habits post-canon.

And now Morgan:

Shoes: A pair of boots held together by patches and hope to start with. Someone gave her money for new shoes in Alexandria. Postulant stipend of some sort? Wolfe? Khalila? She got the sturdiest pair of boots she could afford because she was planning to run as soon as she could. In the Iron Tower, she was supposed to wear delicate silk slippers like the other Obscurists but refused and kept her boots. She wasn't planning on staying. Keria didn't push. Gregory did.

Disposable income: Morgan does not understand the meaning of disposable income. She's from a war zone. There was never any money to spare. After that, if there was a way to get money at all (postulant stipend? Do Obscurists get paid? Probably not, unless the Library is running a company store in the Iron Tower or there's Codex Amazon or something?) she would have squirreled it away to finance an escape. In a #morganlives AU, she's either frugal to the point of absurdity or gleefully blows every paycheck on treats and trinkets just to celebrate that she can.

[wuxiaphoenix]

Worldbuilding: The Agony of De Feet

Footwear. Very important. Yes, I know there are people who like to wade or walk on the beach barefoot. I wouldn’t advise it. If the water’s warm enough to swim in the shore is often hot enough to burn your feet.

Not to mention when you mix water and humans having fun, there’s often broken glass, and a shard in the pad of your heel can lead to months of misery even if it doesn’t get infected. Maybe especially if. Guess how I know.

I consider footwear one of the lifesaving human inventions, because when you’re running from lions, tigers, and bears, it doesn’t help to get away now and die of a thorn in your toe later. What are your characters wearing on their feet?

If you just want to go with generic boots, shoes, or atmosuit mag-soles, you’re probably fine. As long as your characters are wearing something that fits local conditions, it’s a reasonable handwave. On the other hand, if you do want specifics, this is an excellent way to get in some worldbuilding.

Shoes are never just shoes. They’re human-made (unless you’re dragging in fay or aliens), meaning they’re a product of the materials you have available, the skills you have to make them, and the environmental conditions, physical and social, that you have to deal with.

For example, if you have sea-pirates who never touch land, and they have classic buccaneers’ leather boots, then either that leather’s some kind of fish or cetacean skin, or they trade with people who do live on land. Likewise, if you live where the streets will flood, or there are four-inch thorns ready to punch through skin, you’re not going to be wearing straw sandals. Upper-class shoes are likely to go with leather, lots of it, and tougher materials if they’re available. Peasants? Wood clogs or geta are good bets. Poke around. Look up oddities like the first rubber shoes. The history of footwear can be fascinating.

And that doesn’t even scratch the surface of shoes and fashion. Emergency Jimmy Choos and several-hundred-dollar sneakers are only the latest manifestations of humans showing off. Earlier incarnations include porcupine quill-beaded moccasins, foot-high oiran’s geta, and Renaissance footwear with toes so long you had to tie them near the knee. Yikes.

If that’s not daunting enough, sometimes fashion details can be plot-important! I read a snippet once of a cop lurking undercover at a mob funeral to pick up info. He had the suit, the haircut, the slang, everything seemed to be going well....

Except the mobsters were staring at his shoes. His very practical, relatively cheap cop’s work shoes. Next to everyone else’s imported Italian leather.

...Needless to say, the cop quickly put heel and toe to the use for which they were designed, and beat feet before someone beat him.

Consider shoes! After all, if we send our heroes walking these mean streets - they’re going to need a lot of sole.

(Cop anecdote was in, I think, Connie Fletcher’s What Cops Know. Neat book.)

[cacklingblobbittyrabbitty]

unhinged rainbow magic post 11 of 12

Ok most of this is insane rambling but for one part of it you’re going to need to remember Bethany the Ballet Fairy’s tragic backstory of having a gay quarter life crisis because of a homoerotic ballet rivalry with a girl who she loses the lead role in a show to please and thank you

MAGICAL CREATURES FAIRIES (hurray for cute animals again!)

Ashley Dragon looks like a dragon version of nessie the loch ness monster, which is a great design tbh DRAGON ON THE JEANS YES Also different versions of dragons! we love diversity Outfit does not match but she makes me not care! It’s different colours but its the right shade of each colour (this is such good colour theory knowledge El well done) HAIR EXCELLENCE Pockets! Sandals are not the right shade of yellow, it should match the top or the dragon on the trousers - also the chunky looking design is ugly, she needs to either go barefoot or have jesus sandals

Lara So well put together oh my god This is a witch not a fairy Adorable kitty! Cat lady vibes (cardigan) but super super cool (skinny jeans and boots) I am WEAK for those boots omg Lovely hair as well

Erin How is her hair literal fire??? Idk but I am Loving It Lara’s a witch, Erin is a goddess Freckles!!!!!! THIS is how you do a headband! The honeysuckle fire flower thing? ADORABLE Viking esque fur neck thing is NICE it has how to train your dragon vibes She’d take me to a pagan ritual involving a bonfire and I’d enjoy it Dress? INSANE This is a GOOD BELT TAKE NOTES it’s a lovely asymmetrical waist ribbon band thing!!!!!  Her delightful sandals have greek goddess vibes I’m living Girl could set me on fire and i’d thank her

Rihanna AHHHHH THE LIL BUBBLE AND THE SEAHORSE ARE SO CUTE Congrats on having decent blonde hair! Barefoot + anklet = beach ass vibes babey Her dress gives me the feeling of being underwater and looking up at the sun Mamma Mia vibes! Groovy and beachy and blonde This dress is kinda growing on me ngl The hem looks good on her and I like the shape of the neckline, but it should be a thinner line of green Rihanna absolutely votes for the Green Party btw

Sophia  Her creature is a cygnet cos it’s small and raggedy but it’s white instead of grey? First impressions she kinda looks like a bad art project but still cute I really like her hair tho its very cute with the ribbon Movie sleepover vibes This girl is wearing slippers. A pyjama top. And a really nice skirt. Is she halfway through getting dressed???? Feathery inspiration of her skirt is good, it looks like she’s halfway through a swan transformation Colour scheme is very cute and dreamy vibes

HEADCANONS: please remember Bethany’s backstory again thank you! This is the girl who takes the role of Odette in Bethany’s dance company, and the girl with whom Bethany has a homoerotic rivalry. Sophia weaponises flirting because it amuses her, especially aggressive flirting, like Bethany can be leaning against a wall and Sophia will come and put her leg up on Bethany’s shoulder. Sophia just delights in getting really close to her all the time. Sophia is into Bethany, Bethany is into her, Bethany knows neither of these facts. She has a high ponytail when she’s doing ballet and it just makes Bethany's brain go offline. Later in life they’ll run into each other, when Sophia has a high-powered ballet girlfriend and Bethany has her wife the costume designer and her really chill life. Sophia will apologise for making Bethany freak out but she really was into Bethany, and Bethany will reply yeah you fucked up my life for sure, but I don’t think I would have quit without you so thanks. Also your leg gave me horny nightmares. 

Leona (unicorn) Shit this is horrific I hate it all Well done on having a cute animal and absolutely nothing else Long flowy blue dress with more renaissance vibes please (see below picture) 

ok good we fixed it moving on

Caitlin (ice bear) The bear is so fluffy and it looks like shiver from barbie and the magic of pegasus awwww Swiss ski resort vibes are top notch Colour scheme? Yes Fluffiness? Yes Cosiness? Yes The haircut is really cute but I want more of a brown shade with less green in it thanks

[bleachanimefan1]

Inu-oh Part 12

The Dragon Commander,

The day of the shogun's party had finally arrived. Many nobles and aristocrats had gathered by the castle lake to see the show eager to find out the face hidden behind the mask of Inu-oh. The biwa priest were invited as well to support Tomoari. Tomoari's troupe stood behind him as he heard Inu-oh pacing back and forth. The priest was wearing a loose purple kimono exposing his chest with a kanji symbol painted on with a yellow sleeve on the left side, geta sandals, his hair tied up in a top knot bun with a few loose strands hanging down the side of his face. Inu-oh was wearing a white Noh mask with long black hair, around his shoulders was a long pink silk hagoromo scarf, red pants with frill around the waist and ankles, completely barefoot.

"Where's Hana? The show's about to start." Inu-oh murmured, softly.

"I'm sure she'll be here soon." Tomoari assured him as he held Inu-oh's scarf. Inu-oh's father stood a few feet away.

"Maybe she's not coming after all." He laughed. "If she was, then where is she?" Suddenly, everyone heard footsteps running towards them and saw Hana, heading towards Inu-oh and Tomoari.

"I'm here! Sorry, I'm late." She panted. She was wearing a light-yellow thin kimono with a flower design on it that reached down to her knees with red sleeves, geta sandals, her hair was let loose flowing down to her back. Inu-oh's eyes widen when he saw the fox mask that she was wearing. The same one that he had given her the night on the festival.

"Hey, that mask. Isn't that-"

"I'd figure that I would take it off with you when you take yours off." Hana spoke softly.

"It's almost time." One of the shogun's assistants announced to everyone. Inu-oh's father walked away to sit with the other nobles.

"Don't lose your head."

Tomoari frowned as Inu-oh's father left while Hana wrapped her arm around Inu-oh's. "Come on. Ignore him." Inu-oh nodded and the three of them along with Tomoari's troupe, pulled back the curtain and stepped out.

"Are you sure that you are up for this?" Inu-oh whispered in concerned to Hana as they walked.

"I'll be fine. I can still move around. I just can't overdo it too much with the flips." She reassured him.

On a small island across from them the shogun, Ashikaga and his wife watched them. "Inu-oh!" Nariko cheered when she saw them walking outside. She quickly turned to her husband, excitedly. "Do you think that we'll see the dragon this time?"

"Please don't get excited, my dear. You're in a delicate condition." He spoke.

"But Inu-oh is about to perform for us! How can I sit still?! Everybody loves him! From commoners to aristocrats and even the samurai! You should support him more if you want to keep him on our side, better than obsessing over Fujiwaka!" His wife laughed.

As they headed over to the other building with three floors, Inu-oh, Tomoari and Hana noticed a few red spirits floating around, following them. "The spirits are more excited than usual." Tomoari replied.

"They know that it ends here. This is it. Either they finally find their peace, or I lose my head. Either way it's over. For us, this could be our last show." Inu-oh spoke, gravely.

"Come on, we're only just getting started. The spirits will find their peace soon enough. We still have a long way to go." Tomoari assured him. Several people cheered and Inu-oh waved to them, so did Danjo and Kamari. Inu-oh turned to Tomoari and Hana.

"No matter what happens-"

"We're right here." Hana spoke.

"Everyone put a fist in!" Inu-oh shouted. The whole group leaned in, gathering around in a circle and put their fist in with Inu-oh. "Let's do this!" They broke away heading to their spots while Inu-oh turned and faced the shogun Ashikaga and his wife.

"The Dragon Commander, by Inu-oh" Several white curtains dropped down. The shogun's wife gasped. She pulled out her fan and looked up when she noticed that the moon in the sky as well with the sun.

"The moon's getting close to the sun." Nariko murmured in awe. A fog rolled in, and the curtains rose up, revealing Inu-oh standing on the third floor. 

"Your body drifts out to the sea

The past, present, and future become one.

Inu-oh climbed onto the railing and did some flips then some backwards, landing gracefully with each flip.

Are you alive or are you dead?

Like a spirit unable to find your way"

Inu-oh stopped and threw away his scarf and it blew away in the wind. He reached up and took a rope that was handing from the building and strapped it on. He undid a long striped pink ribbon and leaped off and flowed behind him.

"Remember your name again,

Who you were once, Commander of the Heike.

Remember who you were!

Dreams and illusions, beyond the Palace of the Dragon King."

Suddenly, ethereal voice sang out, matching with Inu-oh's and everyone gasped when they saw Hana standing on the lower floor. They were completely mesmerized by her beauty as well as Ashikaga as he stared intensely at her as she continued to sing.

"Truth and loyalty, what did they once mean?"

The sky began to grow darker as the sun and moon began to eclipse. Inu-oh undid the strap and dropped down onto the water. He landed on a hidden wooden platform and danced as if he was walking on water.

"You threw yourself into the sea, believing,

You would find the Palace of The Dragon King.

"If you seek peace, with faith unwavering, you will find your way!"

Suddenly, Inu-oh noticed the red spirits began to circle around him. "Something's wrong. The spirits won't leave me alone. Why? What are we missing? Why can't they find peace?" He thought to himself. So did Hana, and Tomoari as they continued to sing and strum along with Inu-oh.

"They're trying to tell us something?" Hana wondered.

"There is one more story to tell." Tomoari frowned, wondering as well. "We just have to find it."

Inu-oh quickly pulled himself back onto the structure and a red light shined behind him. Drums began to beat faster while a blue light shined above, revealing the two dancers and a green light below with Tomoari along with his troupe and Hana.

"There is only one path to the dream,

this is the way of the Heike.

Forgotten memories of the fallen clan,

saved by a monster, a woman, and a blind priest.

It's time- Tomoari sang.

To dream- Then Inu-oh.

Dare to seek. Then Hana.

A vision so bold you will laugh in disbelief."

Multiple colored lights shined on the lake lighting up the sky. Several people stood up clapping their hands.

"Where are the voices? Why can I hear them?

Answer us! Give us an answer!

What is it? What is it?

Something is keeping you here,

Break through! Break through!"

Tomoari began to strum faster.

"Time for us to reveal the truth, dive deep and find it!"

Then the priest was suddenly pulled into a vision as the spirits revealed what they were trying to show them. Tomoari was shocked to see that he was younger again had regained his sight, temporarily. He found himself swimming in the sea and quickly swam up and saw a boat. It was the incident which caused Tomoari to lose his sight and his father. He saw the people from the shogun steering the boat, looking completely terrified. One of them was holding the cursed legendary grass- cutting sword.

"I already know this story. Show me Inu-oh's!" Tomoari murmured.

Then Tomoari blinked and he was still in the ocean again. He saw a large ship caught in a battle with another and realized that it was the battle of Da-no-ura. Tomoari blinked, confused. Why was he seeing this? It happened almost 200 years ago. He saw a boy holding the sword fall overboard into the water. Water bubbles began to grow lesser and lesser on the surface seeming that he had drowned. But then he breached the surface, coughing and gasping for air. There was a girl, holding him as she swam the two of them to safety away from the battle, pulling his unconscious body to shore. Tomoari watched in confusion. "Huh? Why am I seeing this? Show me Inu-oh's!"

Tomoari saw a pregnant woman singing to her unborn child, beating a small spin-twist drum, while her other two children slept beside her. Inu-oh's father was practicing his performance in the rain but was unsatisfied.

"No! No! NO! It's not enough! This isn't what I want!" Inu-oh's father shouted, angrily, pounding his fist into the puddle. Then a face appeared in the reflection of a purple mask with wide eyes.

"What is it do you want?" the demon mask asked him. "What do you desire?"

"I want to be the greatest star alive!" Inu-oh's father shouted.

"If that is your wish. I shall give you special stories to tell. In the secret villages where the last the Heike survived; they are hidden. Tales of greatness beyond your wildest dreams, sealed away from the world. The biwa priests over there have uncovered these stories. But they can be yours, if so desired. A simple trade, one story for each priest." The mask explained. Inu-oh's father did as the mask requested him to do, and he found and slaughtered the priests, stealing their stories.

"It's not enough. It's still not enough! I need you to give me more stories!" Inu-oh's father shouted.

"I can, for a price. If you are willing to give the radiant innocence of your unborn child." The mask said. Tomoari's eyes widened in horror.

"He can't!" he cried out.

"That is the agreement." The mask spoke.

"No! Don't!" Tomoari shouted. A twisted smirk appeared on Inu-oh's father's lips.

"Go on, take it. You can have whatever you want!"

Tomoari saw Inu-oh's body began to wither, slowly twisting becoming deformed, his skin turning grey. "Stop! He'll die! Inu-oh will die! How could he do this!? Help him! Somebody please! Someone help!" Tomoari screamed.

Just as the heartbeat almost stopped, it continued to beat slowly before it got stronger. The red orbs of the lost Heike spirits quickly began to surround Inu-oh, reviving him, his skin turning back to normal but still deformed.

"Found it!" Tomoari gasped. Inu-oh and Hana stood next to him as the others continued to play their instruments.

"Yeah." Inu-oh nodded.

"Did you see it?" Tomoari asked.

"We did." Hana told him.

"I saw everything." Inu-oh spoke. It was his father all along. He sold his body to a demon for fame. Why he turned out like this way...cursed.

"Look up. Somebody's jealous." Hana pointed. The two of them looked up and saw Inu-oh's father had snuck away and was glaring down at them from the other side above them in an attic of some sorts. Inu-oh turned away and continued to sing and dance while Hana and Tomoari did so as well.

"Even memories float among dreams,

This is where the Heike are found.

A large red dragon shined from the three-floor building and shot out, soaring through the crowd as they watched in awe and amazement, heading up into the sky.

"In this tale of dreams, we gather here to sing The Dragon and Beast Sutra.

Our song is all we have to reach the palace under the sea."

Inu-oh's father stomped his feet as he scowled down at the group, pressing his face against the wooden window.

"No! This is right! I should be on that stage!" He shouted. "Why!? Why not me!? Why that monster!? I'm the star! I should shine the brightest!"

"What's the matter? Are you not the brightest star?" The demon mask questioned appearing behind him.

"I'm not, but I should be! This is all wrong!"

"Then tell me, do you wish for more?" The mask asked.

"Of course, I do! Get rid of that monster!" Inu-oh's father shouted and pointed at Inu-oh, dancing on the stage with Hana. She spun around with him and did a single flip.

"Are preferring to the child that you gave to me?"

"Yes! Destroy him!" Inu-oh's father shouted. "Get rid of that monster, now!"

"Is it there?

(Is it there? Is it there? Is it there?)

(Is it there? Is it there? Is it here?)

Is the palace here?"

"You make a promise to me, are you taking it back?" The mask questioned, a little angrier.

"Then destroy that woman!"

"She is with child as well. Everything that child, the one you gave up, belongs to me. You're telling me to destroy what you've already given to me!?" The mask shouted, furiously. Inu-oh's father gritted his teeth.

"Destroy them now!"

"If so, then I shall destroy YOU then!" Inu-oh's father scowled before he yelped and looked down at his finger. A pool of blood began to form around the nail before his entire body exploded, splattering the walls.

The crowd watched in anticipation sitting at the edge of their seats as the performance was nearly reaching its end.

"(Is it there? Is it there? Is it there?)

(Is it there? Is it there? Is it there?)

The palace of the Dragon King

It's there, it's there, the palace is right there.

No longer lost after waiting so long,"

Hana took off her mask, revealing her face. Almost every aristocrat and noble blushed, taken back by her beauty, as well as the shogun. Inu-oh slowly rose his hands placing each on the edge of his mask.

"To be found by the seekers, delivering it by song.

We've finally reached the Palace of The Dragon King."

Inu-oh quickly closed his eyes and took in a deep breath then ripped off his mask, revealing his new gained face. The curse had been broken! His long dark green hair fell down to his back. Shimmering light grey blue eyes with green eye shadow and lipstick, shaven eyebrows, his face was painted with white powder and had red shaped triangles makeup painted on his cheeks.

"Our hearts here together as one."

Immediately, every single person stood up and cheered and clapped, giving the group a standing ovation! Inu-oh turned to Hana, who was surprised to see his new face. "How do I look?"

Hana smiled and stepped closer and reached up touching his pale cheeks. "The same as always, devastatingly handsome."

"I guess I can kiss you properly now." Inu-oh chuckled and he pulled Hana closer placing his hands on the small of her back. He pressed his lips against hers. "I prefer either way." Hana spoke and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, kissing him more passionately.

"I'll give you some more tonight." Inu-oh laughed.

"Hey, you two save it for the wedding!" Tomoari whispered to them, laughing a little. Inu-oh and Hana blushed realizing that they have been making out this entire time in front of everyone. But they didn't care.

The curse had been finally lifted and now they had found their newly found peace for a while.

[onmywaytofanfic]

Day 2: Diary

I know that I have been doing the wrong challenge, in terms of the year. But, I have already settled to do it with that one so... sorry

Words: 807 yes it is really short sorry. (Chokako's name is Chikako, but Reina as misspronounced it since she was a baby and everyone knows her by her misspronounced name. She actually likes it, finds it cute. Also, yes Chokako is a trans character and she stated her gender very early and since that moment everyone has addressed her with the correct pronouns and name. So, I hope that nobody comes talking about it so everything is clear. )

-Cho-The lovely lady smiled at her broadly, showing her teeth without shame - You will be in charge of Reina for today okey? - Cho replied laughing happily. - Yes, I am with the baby!! - shouted. She immediately took her humble sandals and started to walk around the compound towards the Aburame home. - Hello!!!! Good morning!!- shouted the girl who was just 5 years old. -Choo- could be heard equally vividly by a tiny squeaking voice. In the garden a toddler. Reina was wearing a shirt too big for her and her barefoot was touching the grass. She giggled when she saw her and started to run to her sister. Chokako hugged her firmly -Chookakoooooo - said the toddler who kept elongating the vowels laughing while doing so. Cho tried to take her in her arms, the soft voice of Takeo looked at them - Chokako are you going to help me with this rebellious bumblebee? - the tall man approached both girls holding a big guard, he then put it on his back. The girl smiled seriously - It’s today’s mission, sir yes sir - Reina was bubbling some words trying to imitate her. 

The small group started their walk towards the rice fields. Reina did not have shoes for her, but the toddler seemed to not care about it. Chokako held her hand firmly while guiding her, they were straight behind Takeo. Aburames were usually in charge of everything related with the agriculture in that place, the overflow of chakra than the seed produced led quite usually to huge plagues that endangered the town’s supplies, or better said Kamo’s cargo. Aburames took good care of all of it, Chokako had lately accompanied her mothers to the repair and construction sites, learning the profession they would tell her; although it was more about learning about everything that was expected from her. However, today they need help keeping an eye on Reina. Nobody told her how, but Shiori’s serious face made her uncomfortable. Something happened, she was sure about it…but what?

-Apa apa gapa ? - said the toddler

-Let grandpa rest, ladybug - Chokako look at Reina

-Buna is ill?- Reina answered by munching her shirt. Nobody answered either of the toddlers. When they reached the rice field, Takehiko and Chio were already there. They just wave their hands. 

-Girls, stay near me okey? - both nodded with their tiny heads. Takeo started to work as was expected of him. He took the guard off his back and opened the jar. He then did some signs using one hand and started to concentrate his chakra, some insects left his body and started to do their routine checking the state of those big fields. While the insects started to work on that, Takeo went into the rice puddles, and started to harvest the rice. The girls looked at him amazed 

-Daice - laughed tiny Reina while giving little jumps. The man looked at both girls - Let me see your palms darlings - both girls offered their hands and the man put some rice on them

-Is brown? - said Chokako amazed by the look that unclean and unprocessed rice had before it was ready to be eaten. Reina tried to munch it - Nooo -shouted and took the rice off. A very agitated conversation started among both toddlers about why they shouldn’t eat that rice. Takeo laughed low and kept working. 

After some hours the girls run out of ideas to play with. Takeo had cleaned almost a whole field, experience and the fact that he was a shinobi for real allowed him to work faster than any worker. He got closer to the girls - What are you doing? - they were drawing with a stick on the Earth. 

-Is a picture of you! -

-PAPA - said Reina, sometimes she got her words right. He felt his heart break in two any time she said that word. - I should write that in a diary.

-What 's diary?

- It’s like a book, but the pages are empty and you write what you want there. Most people write about their day. - The tiny Chokako looked at the mud thinking - Let’s make a diary Reina

-Deina- repeated her. Both girls started to draw in the mud their own particular diary. Chokako could actually write her name and her clan name, but Reina just made a huge mess of sticks and figures. 

-No Reina is not like that - reprehend the kid.

Those were good times, but not the best of them. They kept playing with the mud, practicing more their letters and stick figures, forgetting about the rumbling in their stomachs and about the sounds that visitors made to the rice fields. Forgetting that they were trapped there, so did Takeo.

Takeo Aburame teaching young Chokako Akimichi and Reina Aburame to write their names and family name.

[glacialdeath]

@ice-cold-shihoin from here:

Yuuno had managed to break away from the stuffiness and haughty vibe of having to be with the rest of the nobles. Yuuno was much like her older sister with regards to nobility and the etiquette that should be practiced between nobles and "commoners". Although when needed, she can put on the appropriate front and vocabulary for when she does need to deal with other nobles. Her typically messy, lavender locks which she usually liked wearing freely and to her shoulders, were tied up into a high bun with some hairpins running through the bun. She was wearing an orange kimono with some streaks of light blue instead of her usual Shinigami uniform. She found a nearby tree to finally find shelter from the stuffiness of these irritating nobles and sighed as she leaned up against it. And then she sensed something. Her instincts kicked in as her hand flew up with some quickness that it almost seemed like her hand was always in that position as she snatched something out of the air that was descending towards her. A sandal? "What in the world..." she muttered to herself as she inspected it. She then heard a familiar voice. "Rukia?" she uttered as she saw the Kuchiki making her way towards her. Immediately she noticed Rukia was only partially barefoot. Well, that makes sense. The sandal must be hers. "Don't worry about it, Rukia. It's going to take more than a sandal to so much as touch one of us Shihoin." she replied with a chuckle as she handed the sandal back to her. "Finally exhausted of all these buttoned up, stuffed up fuddy duddies and their empty bragging?"

Having made her way over, Rukia grabs the sandal from the other, placing it back on her foot quickly, and ceasing her hobling on her foot. She balances herself properly upon two feet, her sock hiding the dabbles of dirt about the end of her feet beneath. Rukia can’t help but remark on the quick skills she had witnessed..“Your instincts sure are sharp, even in a place like this.  Hmm. I guess some instincts never fully sit still.“ But to be that alert even here, Rukia can’t help but wonder what kind of environment the shihouin must live in. “Do you ever drop your guard?”

She waves off such direct whining, turning humble, not quite comfortable as an adopted folk to comment fully on matters such as that, not that she doesn’t agree. “I just wanted some fresh air. It feels like a waste to just sit and chatter while I’m here. It’s good for thinking. I suppose you’re probably similar in that regard?”

It’s as her hand hovers over the fan in her sleeve while she tries to cross her arms that she has a thought and her curiosity piques as she tilts her head at Yuuno. “Hmm, I don’t suppose you have much experience with entertaining hobbies? Tea serving, dance, music... that sort of thing?”

[vanwolffen]

Nope.

Nope nope nope nope nope nope.

I'm not gonna let you bersmirch sandals in any way as the ultimate form of footware.

Here is the thing, modern footwear stems from the western idea of footwear.

You usually get flat foot for wearing shoes without the proper arching and support and shit.

But guess why that is? Because modern footwear is designed like shit. You need to visit the podiatrist to get insoles/orthotics for your shoes because the footware is made en-masse.

Now. Guess what's one of the recomendations they give you when you visit the podiatrist specialized in orthopedics?

Walk without shoes around the house.

Walk without shoes so your feet can get a natural arch when walking. Walk on the outer side of your feet. Walk on the ball of your feet.

Barefoot.

Now.

Guess which footwear imitates the shape of your foot? The simple leather sandal.

Now, are you going to run around the dungeon like that, what about the support and traction and insulation...

I would like you to meet...

María Lorena Ramirez

Yulisa Fuentes

And the teams of Raramuri Runners from the mountains of Chihuahua, Durango and Sonora, Mexico.

They have won and beaten multiple marathons. Leaving their competitors in the dust.

Why have you probably never heard of them?

Well, they are indigenous people winning marathons and ultra marathons in their sandals while the colonial powers get beaten wearing Nike and Puma and Adidas.

That's not a good image for those brands.

And don't get me wrong. Those same brands have tried to sponsor those same winners, but the Raramuri winners keep rejecting them, arguing that the "sport" shoes just get in their way.

And the brands don't like that. These astonishing runners have been disqualified multiple times after winning for not wearing "proper footwear".

And don't tell me they don't have traction or insulation. These are the same huaraches (sandals) that they wear when running the mountains they live in. Under the sun of 50°C (122°F).

These people run marathons wearing their traditional clothes. Which as you can see has some similitude to the outfit Marcille is wearing.

Now, I'm not saying Marcille is indigenous, she is obviously Italian. But...

Every character has clothes that match their role

Chilchuck is wearing boots that are easy to slip off so he can be protected from traps most of the time while easy to get out in case he needs to use his bare feet to feel the ground around.

Laios is your traditional human fighter. He needs protection on his feet and boots that are big enough to fit his armor and are probably studded at the toes. He is a northern man which means his boots are probably warm too.

Meanwhile, look at senshi. While he is also a fighter you can see he is also wearing sandals. Wearing armor just in the right places that need protection, the shins and the feet have a metal protuberace he can use when doing a proper kick.

Izutsumi being a rogue cat, doesn't need much armor. Her role. Much like marcille is not the front lines, and just like her, needs to be light and have (no) footwear that allows her to run when necessary.

When you compare Laios experienced party, versus Kabru's you can see how they all lack experience down to their footwear.

Daya is a fighter with armor that let's too much exposed skin. Compare it to Senshi, and you can see how she is extremely vulnerable to attacks from behind and she is not wearing a helmet.

Again to contrast.

Look at Namari's gear, she is also wearing sandals, but her armor has better protection.

Meanwhile...Mickbell is a rogue that's wearing heavy armor like the one Daya is wearing.

And I can't add more images, but Kuro another fighter has no protection from his waist down... which would make sense if he got to fight on all fours but then his gauntlets cover his upper paws/hands and may hinder mobility.

All these to say that (leather) Sandals are underestimated footwear and that Marcille has the right equipment for an experienced member of the party whose role is to be on the back and ready to run.

I just can't get over the peculiarity of Marcille's outfit

Everything looks very practical and layered and comfortable. Sensible, tied back hair, warm overcoat with a hood, long dress that seems made of durable, dense fabric and heavy stitching, with a sturdy leather belt and at least what seems to be bloomers or longjohns underneath...

.... and then you've got these fucking cheap ass basic bitch sandals. No insulation, no traction, no padding, no arch support, not water proof, no protection from anything whatsoever. You're going to run in THESE? You're going to traverse rock and stone and slime and ice and tall grass in THESE?? You're going to BATTLE FOR YOUR BLOOD SOAKED CHIMERA GIRLFRIEND, IN THESE!?

Girl you are AT LEAST getting hella blisters

[proyogindia]

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Yoga Shorts:

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Yoga Pants:

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Look for fabrics like spandex or elastane for optimal stretch and recovery, allowing for unrestricted movement.

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Pairing your yoga shorts with the right top completes the look and ensures functionality. Here are some styling tips:

Tank Tops or Sports Bras: Opt for breathable, form-fitting tops to complement your shorts without adding bulk.

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Conclusion

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Choose a pair that fits your body and lifestyle, and enjoy the freedom of movement they provide. Remember, the right outfit not only supports your practice but also boosts your confidence on and off the mat.