#at least I made my goal of finishing this scene today regardless

[aberooski]

Why does it feel like every time I cap off a scene the last few sentences are the most shit thing I have ever written in my life????

[milkplusvn]

Soundless AAA & Patreon Survey Results

Tip: You can get posts like this sent directly to your e-mail by subscribing to the Substack!

This’ll be a long one today, so buckle in.

Reimagining CGs Is Fun

First thing’s first: Soundless progress!

I’ve been gradually chipping away at the CGs. I’ve roughly sketched all the ones that appear in the opening. The one I’ve made the most progress on is the one where Auma checks on Mercy after school, and I’m finding it fun to reimagine the CGs and try and upgrade the new CG wherever possible while still maintaining the original intent.

This CG in particular was one of the first ones I ever made for Soundless. According to the properties of one of the variations, it was originally completed in April 2017. The afternoon glow illuminating a heroine in an empty classroom feels so cool, doesn’t it? Even though the technical quality of the original is low, I think it has some of the nicest vibes.

For the new one, I took into account the fact that Mercy is sitting so close to the window and opted to change the angle of the background. This required a little bit of extra thinking on my part; I even made a sketch to guesstimate where Auma might be in relation to where Mercy is looking up from her desk.

Though, in the end, you’ll notice that the angle isn’t the same when you compare it to the sketch. I did it on purpose to make Mercy feel smaller and also have the window be off-center and not engulfing the space behind Auma. I just thought it looked more visually interesting like this.

This week is all CGs. My main goal is to complete all the opening CGs and have a brand new version of the opening ready for everyone by next Sunday at best and next week at the very least.

Art Patch Progress Summary

Sprites

Main Sprites: All complete

Special sprites: Finished

CGs

1/31 completed (4 in progress)

1/5 opening CGs completed (4 in progress, 1 in coloring stage (the one in the post!))

Implementation

All main sprites implemented.

Toggle option implemented

Initial selection screen roughly implemented

You can play Soundless for free with the original art on Itch.io now!

And now…for the survey results

About 15 people total took the survey! That doesn’t seem like a lot, and it’s not surprising since we’re not exactly the biggest studio ever, but just knowing how many people were interested enough to take it was very helpful in the decision-making process.

Let’s break down the infographic by section.

Patron Interaction Perks

Voting power was more popular than Patron Q&A, but both had a fairly high “yes” ratio. I’m not surprised Patron Q&A has a few more “no”s, because hey—what constitutes questions only Patrons can ask, anyways? Our Tumblr even has an ask box. However, it was a feature we’ve seen in other Patreons, and we wanted to see how much interest there was. The fact that 66% of respondents wanted to see it regardless of the lack of details says something: people have questions they’d like to ask if given the chance!

Behind-the-Scenes Perks

First of all, I think it’s just incredible that there was not a single no on the pre-production assets perk. All of the questions save the optional comment section and the merch choice were required, so nobody could’ve skipped it. We’re going to have to see to making a standardized look for concept art so it looks pretty when we share it!

Interestingly enough, early access to devlogs was unpopular at first, but when the survey ended it got many more “yes” votes. It’s definitely going into the perk pile. As for the Patron-only streams, we’re definitely factoring in the high amount of “no”s. I do wonder if people are worried about missing them—Patron-only streams also includes Patron-only VODs!

Other Perks

This one. This one is the one that told me everything on what to do.

Whether NSFW or SFW, monthly images and short stories had a lot of support. We’ll get more into that one when we get to the tier drafts.

The credit name styling depending on tier perk, by the way, got enough “yes” votes that we’re still considering it, but it’s definitely not going to be a selling point here.

Physical Merchandise

The people. Want. Stickers. And mini prints, but not as much as the stickers!

We originally weren’t going to include such a perk, but we looked into Patreon Merch and ultimately decided to give it a shot. Unfortunately, we don’t think we’ll focus hard on this as a selling point either due to the…strange way Patreon Merch works (you’ll see), but we’ve actually already prepared some things to be created for the initial round of merchandise.

Tier Affordability

Canva’s graph didn’t come with a key, so here’s how you read the bar colors:

Green means Very Affordable

Yellow means Somewhat Affordable

Red means Somewhat Unaffordable

Black means Unaffordable

We’ll admit we screwed up a bit writing the questions for this section—adding in a “very” adjective was a little unnecessary and probably influenced some answers. We also probably should have included a question on just what someone’s most affordable tier was to go along with the “can you commit for three months?” question.

Even so, this told us a lot about the financial standing of people who may very well be our initial Patrons. It tracks—the global economy isn’t doing too well—and since we suspected not everyone would be able to afford the super crazy awesome tiers because of this, we wanted to make extra sure so we’re not putting perks people want to see in tiers they can’t even pledge to.

So, What’ll You Do?

Using this data, we have drafted up the tiers and adjusted some of the pricing. We increased the initial tier to $2 (so we’re not getting literal pennies after fees) and reduced the highest tier to $20 (still pretty high, but the extra $5 is a lot for some people). Here are those tier drafts:

Tier 1 ($2)

Exclusive supporter Discord channel access, forever.

Pre-production tidbits and in-depth process posts and speedpaints

2 bi-monthly short stories with accompanying artwork: one spicy, one sweet

Early look at devlog posts

Your name in game credits

Unique-to-tier Discord role and color

Tier 2 ($5)

All prior benefits

Vote for the bi-monthly special art and stories

Patron-only livestreams & VODs

Patron-only Q&A sessions (likely on unreleased/unannounced games—still workshopping this!)

Tier 3 ($10)

All prior benefits

Monthly sticker club (starts 2 months after initial pledge)

Vote on the next sticker

Vote on aspects of a game

Tier 4 ($20)

All prior benefits

Monthly mini print club (starts 2 months after initial pledge)

Vote on the next mini print

Larger section in game credits

These tier drafts are naturally subject to change for the final version. We’re also open to any comments and suggestions at this stage to further refine the tiers.

Why bi-monthly stories and art, not monthly like the survey originally asked?

I considered things for a moment and came to a conclusion: I need to protect my wrist and Cherimoya isn’t always available due to work, so at the start, we’ll be delivering these special side stories & accompanying art on a bi-monthly basis. If we get enough support, we’ll likely upgrade it to monthly since we’ll be able to outsource help at that point.

Sweet AND spicy?!

Yes, we’ll be doing one SFW one and one NSFW one! This may come as a surprise to those who’ve only found us recently, but we’ve actually been planning for spicy content in our games happening eventually for a very long time. POLYCHROMANIA was originally billed with this promise and continues to have it. Of course, due to various terms of service including Substack’s, we can’t share such development freely and it’ll all be locked behind Patreon for the most part. (Cohost is also friendly to adult content, so we’ll post things from time to time on there.)

You are absolutely free to just ignore the NSFW posts if you’re not interested.

What sorts of game content will we be able to vote on?

Patrons can influence things such as little bits of bonus content. We actually already have an idea for something Patrons can vote on for 7388 when we get to that point.

Exclusive supporter access to a Discord channel forever?

We’d like to continue our tradition of allowing those who have supported us once in the special development channel, where we post some unreleased stuff and unrefined development thoughts and progress, forever. While the launch of the Patreon means that there will still be development content that’ll be locked to those actively supporting us monthly (for instance preproduction assets, things for unannounced games, and Patron-only streams), this channel will still be around posting ~secret~ things. (But not too secret.)

I’m in the special channel now. Will we still get our names in the credits without being a Patron, too?

At this time, yes. However, this may be subject to change for logistics reasons depending on how much the Patreon grows. We apologize in advance if this does happen.

Why do we have to wait to get the merch? How is it monthly?

The merchandise will be fulfilled by Patreon’s Merch service. The way said service works is that all Patrons in merch tiers will get their physical rewards after three months’ worth of pledging. We plan on asking Patreon for the specifics on when exactly that happens (on the third month, or after the third month?—our current assumption is on) before launch.

Every month, we’ll add a new sticker & print, then phase out the previous month’s. When you start getting your merchandise, you’ll start with the merchandise from the month you initially pledged in, and then every month you continue pledging you’ll get a new sticker (and print, if you’re in the applicable tier).

This is how we’ve come to understand Patreon’s articles regarding how their Merch service functions. You can read about the Patron side of things in their own words here (link to Patreon Merch help article). We would like to make sure that we’re getting this right, so once again we will be contacting Patreon Support prior to launch to ensure we’ll actually be able to do this with the tools we’re given.

Launch Date

At this time, we plan on launching our Patreon at the beginning of July. The exact date will be announced when we’ve completed preparations.

Once again, thank you all for helping us figure this out. To be level with you all, we needed to start earning more money to keep milk+ visual going and ensure the safety of team members. You’ll remember a few months back, for instance, that our editor Faust was in danger of eviction—we don’t want that to happen to anyone in the milk+ visual family ever again.

We’ll use the money first and foremost to support the three of us financially. Cherimoya and Faust are very kind to volunteer because they’re close to me, but I’d rather pay them both for their time and help, as well as make sure I’ll be okay, too. The future and title release speed of milk+ visual is entirely financially dependent at this point. To focus on making our own visual novels entirely without having to worry about money would be a dream.

As mentioned before, you’re free to leave comments and suggestions about the tiers either on the Substack comments, or in our askbox, or pretty much anywhere else you saw this article posted. See you next week!

[gb-patch]

Ask Answers: May 15th Part 1

It’s been longer than usual since our last answer session, so I’m answering a ton of questions today! It’s so big I split it into two parts. Thank you for the patience on getting a response to these.

Thanks for reaching out to us with your questions and kind words ^^!

Sorry if this has been asked before or isn't something you can say but is there anyway for Cove to confess in step 4? I wanted him to confess in step 3 and followed all the steps to make him do it but ended up texting my family instead of Cove at the end.

Yeah, Cove can confess in Step 4!

Hello! I heard that Cove is on the spectrum, albeit undiagnosed. As someone who is ND, this makes me UNBELIEVABLY happy. I literally was brought to tears! Thank you for that!

Out of curiosity, will Cove be diagnosed in Step 4? I have a strong feeling y’all won’t make it a HUGE deal/make it out to be negative, so I’m not worried about that whatsoever! I’m just curious just he’ll off handedly mention it? Or will it just not be touched upon at all (which is ok!)?

Either way is ok, I’m just curious!

I’m happy it made you happy! Admittedly, Cove simply being someone with autism that grew up not being diagnosed was something I included for myself. I didn’t really think anyone would notice or ask about it, aha. But players did start to have questions about his traits, so I started to talk about it outside of the game. It’s great to see it get such a positive response and now I do feel like having it be a non-topic may have been the wrong choice and bringing it up would’ve been good in terms of having positive representation for that. I don’t know if I’ll find a way to mention it in Step 4 now, with how far along the game is, but I am at least thinking about it when originally it wasn’t something I really even considered.

Hey!  Just wanted to say thank you for Our Life.  It's been a bright spot and a needed escape in what's otherwise been a crummy year.  I know you just did a Q&A post but I figured I'd ask anyway.  Was just curious about Step 4.  Will it be similar to the other Steps in that it consists of several different moments or will it just be one long sequence?

Step 4 is shorter than the prior Steps because it’s just an epilogue rather than a full arc of a story. It’ll consist of scenes that all happen in a set row one after the other. There won’t be a collection of Moments to choose from. But it’ll still be very sweet and fun.

¡hola!, you see, first I want to say that I love Our Life! (°◡°♡) and I have 2 important questions, would Cove cry watching titanic? and what is the saddest part according to him? (sorry for my english) 

Titanic would make him cry. He’d probably think the parts showing people who aren’t able to make it to the life boats/are choosing to stay and go down with the ship were the saddest.

Hello, I wanted to ask how much you earn with creating games? Like is it possible to make a living? Thank you >< <3 

How much I earn varies a lot month to month based on Steam sales, Patreon backers, and how many projects are in full production at the time. It’s also hard to say how much I make historically, since that also changes dramatically year by year. But I do earn enough to work on these games full time! I really appreciate all the support that allows me to do that.

Hey!! I was wondering for the 18+ Our Life moment, will there be an emphasis on safety/comfort for all involved? I feel like there  would be just going off of what the rest of the game is like, but I wanted to ask 

Yes! Cove is a nervous boy himself and also super cautious about doing anything the MC doesn’t like, so clear consent from both is absolutely needed for anything to happen. It’s a conversational sexy times Moment with stops/starts so the two can talk about how they’re feeling, rather than a heat of the moment just going for it kind of thing.

Hey!! I was wondering how long the wedding dlc would be? Will it be broken up into moments, or just one big event? 

It’s one long series of scenes all in a row rather than a collection of Moments to pick from. It’s the shortest and the least expensive of all the DLCs. It’s not super crucial to get and those who aren’t into big weddings can totally skip it without worry.

HELLO AMAZING DEVS 👋 i am hopelessly in love with the worst guy ever (jeremy king) and because of this i have a really stupid question: does he really hate people who are nice to him? TvT he’s too cute to be mean to istg it’s a miracle JB held the urge to be consistently nice to him bc just look at his FACE he is so cute! thank you for jeremy’s route it’s so lovely (and awful bc he’s scum 11/10) it gave me so much laughs LMAO i hope you guys have a good day!! 

Haha, thank you. He doesn’t hate them but he’s certainly not pleased with them. Jeremy is either uncomfortable with or annoyed by people being sweet on him, depending on how they approach it. He’s far more comfortable with jerkiness. It lets him relax and he can be himself without it being a problem, since he’s also a jerk. He feels a level of guilt being such a little punk to kind people, not enough to be a better person but still.

Has Cove dated or been interested in someone other than MC? 

Nope! He stays single over the course of the game if he’s not with the MC.

Is Step 4 more mature? Or it's gonna be set in similar atmosphere as Step 3? 

Step 4 is a similar atmosphere as Step 3. Though, it’s actually kind of less mature-topic heavy than Step 3 since it’s just a ‘hey, let’s check in on the gang to see what they’re up to’ style epilogue rather than a story arc with serious issues.

will there be new music for now and forever?? or will the old our life music be reused? 

It’s gonna be a brand new soundtrack. We’ll be opening up a job position for that soon.

Hi, is it okay if we use the assets in Our Life (like the sprites) for fanworks or fan content content, like edits? 

Sure! Just as long as you don’t use the assets made by those artists to make money.

Quick clarification on Step 3 choices: I hope I didn't come off rude (because I LOVE the game, really!!), I was just curious because the intro threw me off at times. For example, you could choose how you felt about Elizabeth in Step 2 (Dinner), but during the Step 3 intro, it says that you got closer to Liz and I didn't get a choice in it. 

For the example, it can’t be helped that you’re closer to Liz in Step 3 than you were in Step 2 because she’s inherently closer to the MC regardless of whether you liked her or not in Step 2. Her feelings are out of your control and the game isn’t so dramatic that you can push her affection away and not let her bond with you, haha. But ‘being closer’ can still be relative. For some people maybe that means you’re best buds now and for others it might just mean you’re not fighting all the time any more. If there’s other parts you want to mention, feel free to let us know.

Did the illustrator for Our Life change? 

We have many OL artists! The main artists who set the game’s style haven’t changed, but there’s multiple other artists who help finish assets.

So Miranda's type is confident and outgoing, huh? So...does that mean Terri's her type?? 👀 

Haha, sorry for the late reply on this. As you might’ve seen in our post yesterday- yeah that is her type.

Hey! First, I just want to say I've really enjoyed how detailed OL got with gender identity and sexuality and how respectful the topics were handled! It's been so wonderful to play since the experiences could be close to my own (I'd be lying if I said I didn't tear up at parts). Second, I was wondering, would future games explore the topic of polyamory? I'd love to see more visual novels allow room for that and I saw you've explored the topic before.

Keep up the amazing work! ♡

Thank you! We do want to include polyamory in at least some of our future projects. Floret Bond, which might be what you’re referring to when mentioning how we’ve explored the topic before, is on hold unfortunately. So right now I’m not sure when something might release or what will be the first game of ours to come out with poly relationships (we might do something else before FB is done). We’ll have see how things ends up coming together.

Hey um. I feel like im not allowed to ask this on the private discord cuz people will yell at me but why is there so much focus on OL2 and not finishing OL1 stuff? I like the new people but i kind of want to finish cove's story and get derek and baxter stuff first. didn't people pay for it? 

I’m sorry, I don’t understand entirely what’s making that situation a concern. There’s a channel in the discord for critique where no one is allowed to comment back. People can voice things they’re worried about without any way for others to push back on it. And the two teams working on the OL games are different. We try to post pretty often about how we’re hiring brand new people to start on Our Life: Now & Forever. The OL1 team is all still working on OL1 like normal. There’s only more updates on the Patreon for OL2 because the expansions to the first game are mostly script-based at this point while OL2 is just starting to get all its art, which means there’s a lot more to show off as previews.

Also, there was a Kickstarter for the first Our Life, if that’s what you mean by people paying for it. But one of the stretch goals was to start Our Life 2 early, before fully completing Our Life 1, so that the new game could be out sooner. It wouldn’t make sense to stop doing OL2 work because that would be going against what backers were promised. Maybe you didn’t get the full story before and hopefully this clears it up!

Hello! I know it's up to every player but.. What is your recommendation for playing order? Did you ever had any timeline  events planned? 

I didn’t make the events with a planned timeline. The events got made simply as I had ideas for them and then I just kind of organized them from left to right on the screen in an order to space out more dramatic ones between more lighthearted ones. Any order the player wants to go with is totally valid!

Hi! It's Step 4 a paid dlc or update? And how long it's planned to be? Ps. Love the game! 

The Step 4 epilogue is free! The Cove Wedding DLC does cost money, though. Those are planned to be shorter than the usual Steps/DLCs.

Will we have options for what sort of job the MC might have by the time step 4 takes place? 

Yeah, you can. It’s not super exact or detailed, but there are options about it.

Is there a pandemic in Our Life world, or is it just in a better timeline with no pestilence? 

Our Life is pandemic-free! That didn’t exist when we began working on the project and it’s not something we’d like to feature in this story now that it has unfortunately come along, aha.

Hi, you said that you can play tic-tac-toe or hangman with Cove in Boating if you're sick/scared but I keep getting tic-tac-toe. Am I doing something wrong?

After being sick/scared you have to continue to be upset/unwell. If you calm down and decide to just chill you’ll end up playing tic-tac-toe.

Hi, GB Patch! Since Lee was initially commissioned to only appear in two Steps does this mean she won't appear in the Wedding DLC? I really like her character so it'll be a little weird to not have our cousin at our wedding, aha.

She is gonna be in Step 4/the wedding DLC after all! We’re still working with her creator to make sure it fits with what they wanted.

Is Sunset Bird based on a real place? Asking for a friend, not trying to move there or anything. 👀

It’s based on small beach towns in So-Cal, but not one specific town you could go see in real life, I’m afraid. It’d be nice if it was real, though.

—– —– —– —–

We released a new FAQ! It answers common questions and we’ll keep adding more to it. Please check there before sending an ask. FAQ   Also, if you prefer to just see the main posts without all the asks/reblogs, feel free to follow our side account instead: GB Patch Updates Blog

[yoontaethings]

normal kind of love — jjk (1)

pairing: jungkook x reader 

rating: explicit

word count: 2.5k

warnings: a lot of cussing and some teasing if you squint, but other than that none really (the warnings will come next chapter lmao)

you’re one half of hollywood’s on-screen it couple. the greatest chemistry known on-screen with the one and only, jeon jungkook, the bane of your existence.

a/n: this was supposed to be a longer chapter but i decided to split it in half to tease potential readers mwahaha btw this chapter is very very unedited, though i did postpone the upload because i had to remove some parts because i just thought the story didn’t need those bits anymore lol but the rest of this story i haven’t even read through yet, i just wrote and wrote and wrote so please excuse any errors (my tenses might also not be consistent but i’ll edit this soon)

taglist: @min-nicoleee @thisartemisnevermisses @ggukkieland @kokoandkookie @somelazysundays

There was no way.

There was no way in hell they were pairing you up with him. Again.

You were confirmed to be cast as the female lead in the movie before any other characters were casted. They should have chosen a different male lead for this romance film. Heck, even Kim Taehyung, a friend of yours, received an offer for the role and you were certain he planned to take it. Unfortunately for you, even if Taehyung wanted the role, he couldn’t accept it because of scheduling conflict with another film he’s already working on.

Jeon Jungkook, an actor you starred alongside in “Dangerous Illusion”, was just confirmed as the male lead of your upcoming movie “Chosen for Pleasure”. The same man who seemed to make it his life goal to ruin you. After Jungkook was confirmed to play the male lead in your upcoming movie, fans on Twitter have been blowing up about it and made you two a trending topic worldwide. Elated fans mentioned you in their tweets expressing how happy they were to see you two again together. You wish you could say you felt the same.

The previous movie you worked on was a thriller/mystery. You played the part of Jungkook's wife in the film. The film was a blockbuster hit, as a result of the well-thought storyline, yet additionally because of its leads. Fans adored the chemistry between you and Jungkook, regardless of not having a lot of romantic scenes in the film. There were a lot of fans who wanted to see you two on-screen once more, this time, in a romance focused film. Looks like their wishes were coming true.

To add insult to injury, your impending film was going to be an adult romance. It required some steamy scenes that normally didn't trouble you because you were a true professional, yet absolutely irritates you now since you need to do them with Jeon Jungkook.

The script reading was to be done today and your eyes opened an hour later than the time you set for your alarm because of the fucking snooze button. Seriously, why were snooze buttons even invented? They just allowed people to sleep through their alarms continuously.

Hand reaching for the phone on your nightstand, you knocked over a booklet that was over it. It was the script you spent hours reading to grab a sense of the character you were going to portray. Obviously, you already knew the basics about the part you were going to play, but knowing the entire story helped in portraying your character.

Your eyes squinted at the bright light of your phone that had the numbers 8:33 glaring at you, unlocking it to see a couple of texts and missed calls from your manager.

‘Are you awake yet?’

‘Please don’t tell me you forgot about the script reading today’

‘Ok I know you’re still asleep but just make sure you get ready on time, being late won’t do you and your image any favors’

‘I’ll pick you up at 9’

You rolled your eyes at his messages. You loved Hoseok and he was the best manager you could have been given from your agency, but he nagged too much. He was also your friend and his endless nags made you want to rip your eyeballs out sometimes because even when you’re supposed to unwind with him, he never forgets to remind you of your job.

‘I’m the fucking lead, Hobi, they’ll wait for me’

You slapped your phone back onto the nightstand and started going about with your morning routine. You didn’t have a lot of time, and even though you knew they would definitely wait for you, you hated being that bitch who made people wait so you took a quick shower and slapped on some sunscreen, powder, and finishing off with your go-to lipstick. You didn’t bother with makeup and dressing up. This was just going to be a script reading and sure, there were going to be photos taken but the thousands of dollars you’ve spent on facials and treatments already made sure your face was at least flawless despite the lack of effort.

Bringing only your phone, wallet and script, you exited your building and as usual, a shiny black van already awaited outside. Hoseok was leaning on it, scrolling through his phone when he sensed your presence and looked up.

“Oh, thank god you’re on time.” He exhaled in relief, pocketing his phone.

“I value sleep but you’re well aware I also value my career.”

Hoseok grinned. “Now there’s the y/n I know.” He then slid the van door open and you entered without another word.

The drive was pretty much uneventful, with you scrolling through your social media, seeing what fans have been tweeting about recently and with Hoseok humming along to the random pop music playing.

You longed for a distraction, something much more interesting than working your thumb throughout the drive because of the chasm that you were about to jump into when you arrived on set. You weren’t stupid enough to forget about the man who got the role of your romantic interest in the film. But you were wise enough to not let it haunt you for the past weeks. Now though, you can’t really avoid it anymore since you were supposed to be seeing him in person again after almost 2 years. You didn’t exactly leave on the best terms with Jungkook but who knows, maybe you’ll be able to act civil around each other.

At least you were sure you were going to act civil around him, already decided on taking the higher path. You’re not so sure about him, but fingers crossed he’ll at least be an adult about the situation and pretend he can stand being in the same room as you.

Soon enough, you were entering the room the script reading was to be held in. Bowing and greeting the actors and staff seated around the table as you passed by to get to the last vacant seat. You caught Jungkook’s eyes following your movements as you sat down. Luckily, he was seated across from you and it was easier to ignore his presence with the staff members greeting and coddling you.

As always, script reading began with actors introducing themselves and the role they’re going to play. As the female lead, you started off.

“Hello everyone. I’m y/n y/l/n and I’m going to take on the role of Yuri.” Hands clapped around you as you sat back down.

“Hello, I’m Jeon Jungkook and I’ll be playing Ryan.”

You didn’t bother clapping unlike the rest and avoided the eyes of the voice’s origin.

The script reading continued without a hitch– for the most part. The other cast members were very friendly, and laughter was exchanged during the read. The same couldn’t be said for you and Jungkook though.

When lines between your characters were exchanged, there was a weird tension in the room. It felt like everyone else were holding their breaths and waiting for either of you two explode and announce that you can’t do this film anymore. As dramatic as that would be, none of that happened. Instead, cheesy romantic lines sounded flat and bored from both you and Jungkook. The director made a tsk-ing sound whenever that happened.

“It’s always been you.” You read. The script said that Yuri and Ryan stared in adoration towards each other before Ryan uttered his next words.

“Marry me?” Jungkook asked.

You nodded your head as a wrap for the script reading. According to the script, there was supposed to be a kissing scene at the end, so you make ridiculous smooching noises. The cast burst into giggles before the director stood from his seat.

“…and that’s a wrap!” He clasped his hands together. “Hopefully when we start shooting things only look up from there.” He flitted his eyes between you and Jungkook.

Honestly, you wish that too but from yours and Jungkook’s history, you don’t really think that’s possible.

You were both professionals though and you’re sure you could at least count on him to make the on-screen romance feel real.

“I’m sorry.” Hoseok said with pity in his eyes.

“Wha- but… why?” You asked, confused with what was happening.

Your part in the new film ‘The Notebook: Remake’ has apparently been withdrawn. As one of the rising stars in Hollywood, this was a really great opportunity for you. It’s one of the most anticipated films and accepting the offer of being the female lead in the movie was a no-brainer. Anyone who refuses that role is just stupid.

But now they were apparently taking it back.

Hoseok sighed. “There were too many scandals surrounding you recently. It doesn’t matter if they’re true or not, but you’ve been seen in hotels that Jeon Jungkook has been in too, and in everyone’s eyes you’re now secretly seeing him.”

“But we’ve never even been seen together in any of those photos. Don’t people know the word fucking coincidence?” Your brows furrowed, fists clenching at your sides. “And what does this have to do with my role in the film?”

“It seems they wanted someone with a ‘cleaner image’ and someone who’ll get the film to be a hit. Apparently, the romance won't be convincing if the female lead is dating someone in real life.”

You stared at Hoseok. He stared back waiting for a lash out, an angry outburst, anything really, but you remained silent, eyes unmoving. Soon enough, the dam doors burst open and the tears suddenly came streaming down your face. Hoseok exhaled and wrapped his arms around you.

“Hobi what did I do so wrong to deserve this?” you sobbed into his chest.

“Shh, it’s not your fault they’re all dumbasses. But you know the industry, y/n. We’ll find better films for you, okay?”

“Why is Jeon Jungkook such a thorn on my side? Why is he always ruining everything for me?”

“We can’t blame him, honey. He’s probably a victim in this too because of those damn rumor outlets.” Hoseok rubbed his hands along your back.

“But I’m getting the short end of the stick! The rumor is probably just feeding his bad boy persona!”

“Life’s unfair, y/n. Surely by now you’re aware of that. Just remember, karma’s going to bite them in the ass someday, okay? For now, do you want to call it a day and go home? I’ll drive you back and I’ll just report to the agency that you’re not feeling well.”

You nod your head, too listless to bother answering with words because there was only one thing on your mind right now.

Fuck Jeon Jungkook and his good looks. He just ruined the best opportunity for you. You were going to get him back for this. Like Hoseok said, karma’s going to bite him in the ass someday. And that karma was going to be you.

You were supposed to be looking forward to filming one of your dream movies with your dream director. But all you felt was dread when you arrived on set. You promised yourself that you’d stay unaffected to Jeon Jungkook, but you couldn’t help the distaste for him to be left on your face while filming.

The scene you were shooting was when your characters first met and the first takes were a total disaster. You and Jungkook barely spared each other a glance, even when your character was supposed to be enticed by him, breaking down Yuri’s cold exterior. A break was called after the 6th take because the director was so frustrated that he looked like he was about to call the casting director and replace his two leads.

You sighed, not knowing what to do with yourself after the announcement of a break. Your feet led you to your dressing room, ready to pass out on the couch but before you could, someone barged in. Your head turned towards the door, expecting it to be your manager or the director or anyone really, just not the person who currently stood at the doorway.

“Can we talk?” Jungkook asked. Your eyes were suddenly drawn to his biceps which bulged from his shirt as he crossed his arms. The damn arms looked delicious. Too bad they belonged to someone you would never ever be attracted to.

“Sure.” You shrugged your shoulders. You were sure he came here to talk to you about filming and how to work out your indifferences and shit like that and honestly, you were so tired of hating him you’re ready to just go along with whatever. Hating someone actually takes a lot of effort, you realize.

Jungkook stepped towards you until he’s close enough that you had to tilt your head upwards to look at his eyes. His eyes locked on yours for a moment before his arms uncrossed and one of his hands landed on the wall behind you. He successfully caged you in with no way out. His lips part and your eyes are drawn to the movement, feeling his exhales on your nose. You swallowed nervously.

Good lord his breath smelled so good.

“Babe, I’m sure you’re just as thrilled as I am to be working with you again as you are with me, but let’s not mess this up okay? Let’s get this over with perfectly and quickly so we don’t have to deal with each other again after. Deal?” His eyebrows raised in question and you nodded dumbly, unable to form a coherent sentence with how close he was to you.

You felt a sudden rush of heat down there and was mentally cursing the man in front of you for how much he was affecting you. He tilted his head to the side and leaned in closer to your face as if he was about to kiss you then he suddenly stopped, his mouth forming a smirk, taunting you.

That smirk was all it took for you to snap back to reality. No, you were not going to let him take the upper hand here. A burst of confidence surged through you as you leaned closer to him too and allowed your lips to brush lightly against his cheek.

“Deal.”

You pulled away, satisfied with how his lips drooped apparently not expecting that. You looked down and there it was, the tenting of his pants that brought a coy smile to your lips. Ha, take that.

You glanced back up at him, your fingers trailing over his thighs. “Aw, didn’t realize you saw me that way Jeon.” You abruptly pulled away and walked out of the room without another word, leaving him hard and defeated.

This is the beginning of his karma, you thought as you grinned to yourself.

[dialovers-translations]

Diabolik Lovers GRAND EDITION for Switch ;; More, Blood ー Yuma Ecstasy [Prologue]

Monologue

By the time I was finally released from the punishment room,

I had made two more comrades,

aside from Kou.

One smart and dependable guy,

and another fellow who’s kinda creepy and always covered in scars,

but somehow I can’t bring myself to ignore him.

It felt somewhat different from my relationship with Boss and the others,

but strangely enough,

I genuinely thought of these dudes as my companions.

I’m sure it’s because we all had the same goal.

The four of us gathered together,

and came up with a plan to escape this Hell.

And one evening, 

we finally made up our minds.

Bear: When are we putting this plan into action?

Ruki: Tomorrow evening. We won’t take any luggage with us. Leave everything behind. Understood?

Kou: Yeah!

Bear: Roger.

Azusa: If you guys…say so…

Bear: ( I don’t know if my luck is good or bad, but I survived till now. )

( Boss, I’ve made up my mind. I’ll take your dream upon me instead. )

( I’ll change this country, so please wait just a little longer. )

( ...To fulfill said dream, I’ll definitely escape this place. )

( Don’t worry. Right now, I have comrades who are just about as reliable as you guys were. )

( I’m sure...It’ll go well. )

*TIMESKIP*

Bear:  ( ...In just a few more hours, the night will fall. )

( We can’t get our timing wrong. We won’t get a second chance if our plan is exposed. ...We only get one shot. )

( Right, I should prepare to set the fiーー )

Youngster: ...! Oi, you!

Bear: ( ...Che, did he find out!? )

Youngster: I knew it! Thank god, you survived!

Bear: ...? Who are you?

Orphan A: It’s me, Leo! I lived in the village next to yours! We often went fishing in the past, remember?

Bear: Leo...?

Orphan A: Well, we were still children, so I guess I can’t blame you for not remembering. We’ve both changed as well. I didn’t recognize you at first glance either.

But I was worried about you this whole time. After what happened to your village...Your home was burnt to the ground as well.

Bear: Burnt...?

( What’s this? It rings a bell... )

( ...Right! That dream! When Boss had only just picked me up, I would often have dreams about fires! )

( Don’t tell me, this is a guy I knew in the past I can’t recall...!? )

Say, Leo! There’s something I want to asーー!

*THUD*

Orphan A: Guah...!?

*Thud*

Bear: ...!? Oi!

Orphan A: ...Uu...

Bear: Fuck...What do you think you’re doing, bastard!?

Gang Boss: Excuse me? ...Isn’t that my line? Right, Bear?

Bear: ...Che, look who’s back. You’ve made your return earlier than I expected.

Gang Boss: Thanks to you, yeah. (1)

Bear: What do you want now? Have you come to get beaten to pulp?

Gang Boss: Yeah, exactly. Howeverーー

You are the one who’ll end up beaten and bruised!

Bear: ...You’ve gathered some comrades because you know you can’t win by yourself? Whether you bring nobody or a whole gang, the end result won’t change.

Gang Boss: ...Per usual, you know how to run your mouth.

Anyway, your prolonged life ends right here. It’s been quite a while since your Boss died, but time has finally come.

Bear: You piece of shit...Why today out of all days!? You’ve got shit timing.

Gang Boss: Enough talking! Your beloved Boss is waiting for you in the afterlife!

Bear: Che...!

Kou: ーー Bear!!

Bear: Kou!?

Ruki: We were wondering what was taking you so long, but what are you doing!?

Bear: Don’t blame me! They’re the ones who started this!

Kou: I’m pretty sure you take some blame too though.

Ruki: That doesn’t matter! Hurry up and finish your quarrel! If we let this chance slip by, we’re done for!

Bear: Oh, I’m well...aware!

*THUD*

Ruki: In that case, we’ll use this commotion to our advantage. Kou, you light the fire instead!

Kou: Roger!

Ruki: I’ll lure in the guards from one side. You guys make as much of a fuss as you can! However, make sure they don’t get the upper hand on you!

When I give you the signal, we’ll dash through the gate at once! Understood!?

Bear: Piece of cake!

Azusa: Can I be the one getting punched...?

Bear: That’s no option! We’re gonna be the ones doing the punching! ーー Let’s go!!

Monologue

ーー In the end, the plan we spent days setting up,

did not go as planned.

However, luck was on our side,

and we succeeded,

at making our escape from that Hellhole.

ーー Spread out in front of my eyes once outside,

was an almost transluscent blue sky.

Seems like it is sunny out today.

It has been a while since I gazed up at the sky.

Perhaps that is why, the usual blue sky and white clouds,

seemed extremely beautiful for some reason.

I couldn’t help but think,

that the world is beautiful.

We may have escaped prison,

but the world we would have to live in now,

is most definitely rotten.

I will change this country, change the world. 

For that reason, I desperately kept on running.

Regardless, the clear blue skies,

were so beautiful, every time I raised my head,

I somehow grew emotional.

ー The flashback ends as the scene shifts to the living room

Ruki: How have things been going as of late?

Yuma: ...No change, really.

Ruki: You’ve been sucking her blood, no? Have you not been experiencing any signs? Of Adam?

Yuma: ...Don’t think so? Not sure tho.

Ruki: ...Yuma.

Yuma: Shut up, I know! Stop remindin’ me over and over, it’s annoyin’!

Ruki: ...Are you rushing?

Yuma: ...

Ruki: Rushing will not make you Adam. That is up to Eve’s blood to decide.

Yuma: ...I know that shit.

Ruki: Then don’t rush. Even if you are in a hurry, it will not benefit the situation.

However...I am sure you are aware that things cannot remain like this forever?

Our objective is not to become Adam. It is to return our favor to that man by doing so.

If you continue to not show any signs of awakening, then we’llーー

Yuma: Don’t say that!!

Ruki: ...Judging by your reaction, seems like you have realized as well. Yuma. ...That we are unable of becoming Adam.

*TIMESKIP*

Ruki: ...Either way, I’m glad you seem to understand at least. Either way, I am not asking you to act upon this right away.

However, as soon as we receive an order from that man, I will take action as well. Do not forget that.

ー Ruki steps away

Yuma: ...Givin’ her to those Sakamaki’s? Don’t be kiddin’ me.

...I will become Adam.

No way I’ll let those damn rich people steal Boss’ dream as well...!

ー The scene shifts to the kitchen

*Chop chop chop*

Yui: ( ...There we go. Now I just have to put all the ingredients inside and let it simmer. )

( Ah, right. I’ll add the cabbage we got from Yuma-kun’s garden the other daーー )

*Rustle*

ー The screen suddenly fades to black

Yui: Eh!? 

( W-What!? Things suddenly went dark...Hold on, somebody is covering my eyes!? )

Yuma: Keep still.

Yui: That voice, Yuma-kuーーNn!

( He covered my mouth as well...! )

ー Yuma bites her

Yuma: Hah...Nn...

Yui: Ah, ow...!

( W-Why did he suddenly bite me...!? )

Yuma: Nn...Nn...!

Haah...This side’s up next...Don’t ya dare tense up.

Yui: ( N-No...What is he doing!? I can’t tell since I can’t see a thing!. ...I’m scared...! )

Nn, nnnn...!

Yuma: ...Che, you’re so noisy. But it’s no use. Stay like that.

A humans’ remainin’ senses grow more sensitive when one is lost, right?

So by taking yer vision like this, I’ll make ya focus on only my fangs.

I’d love to take yer hearing too but...Nn...

Yui: ...! Nn...!

Yuma: I’m pretty sure it’ll be more effective...If I let ya listen to the sound of me devourin’ ya, mixed in with yer own sounds.

*Rustle*

Yui: ...Hah...Hah...!

Yuma: There ya go. I’ll release yer mouth. ...Cry out all ya want.

Come on, concentrate. Focus on only yer ears and body.

My fangs are the only thing you’re allowed to feel.

If ya feel it with yer whole body, ya should figure out that I’m Adam already. Right...!? 

*Thud*

Yui: ...Ah...!

Yuma: ...Hurry up...Hurry up and realize, Eve...!

Hurry up and make me Adam...!

Monologue

ーー Ever since that day, 

Yuma-kun became more aggressive than ever.

His irritation continued visibly growing,

and all of said frustration was pointed directly,

at my skin.

The bite marks which increased with each passing day,

made me experience his impatience first hand.

ーー TO BE CONTINUED ーー

Translation notes

(1) おかげさま or ‘okage sama’ is usually used to thank someone for their help, but in this context, it is obviously meant in a sarcastic way.

→  LIKE MY TRANSLATIONS? SUPPORT ME ON KO-FI!

<- [ Maniac Epilogue ] [ Ecstasy 01 ] ->

[sitcomified]

fighting dragons with you

summary:  amy gets injured on a case and jake pays her a visit. (pre-canon) word count: 3.5k rating: teen?

read below or on AO3

content warning for minor depictions of violence and general discussions of assault

Amy Santiago wrote her life plan when she was sixteen years old, and revisits it each month like clockwork. She figured out from a young age that if she could clearly define a set of rules to follow to a tee, then she would never fall off course. Most nights, the three inch purple binder lives on her bedside table, where after long days of life-threatening work, she can put everything into perspective. Most days, the plan works out great for her. But she’s not invincible. She still scrapes gum off her brand new shoes and wrestles with her too warm pillow. 

It’s not that she can’t deal with unpredictable situations. If anything, being almost comically prepared for every possible situation has made the challenge of taking on these changes that much more thrilling. She knows she excels at tasks that demand quick thinking and efficient problem solving. Hell, that’s why she became a cop.

Amy clocked into work two minutes late that morning. She stared at her watch, already mentally preparing how she would make it up to her squad (even though a quick glance around the bullpen would let her know that she was still the first officer there for her shift.)

By the time her partner showed up nearly thirty minutes late—an occurrence so routine she’d be surprised if anyone even noticed—Amy was already wrapping up her first report of the day. As she reached across her desk for the folder containing crime scene evidence, her partner finally acknowledged her.

“Nice spiderman band-aid,” Jake greeted her, gesturing to her right hand. She sighed deeply. The band-aid in question is nursing a particularly nasty paper cut from when she tried to intercept one of her partner's paper airplanes (probably made from some actually important file) the previous day. Amy rinsed the cut under the precinct kitchenette’s ice-cold water, swearing she’d be fine for the rest of the day, but her finger still stung when she got home and discovered that her only first aid supplies were from the last time her nephews visited.

“Hello Detective Peralta,” Amy replied, trying to salvage any semblance of workplace professionalism. Honestly, she wasn’t even sure if her partner’s retort warranted a response. 

“Aw, is that your pet name for me?” he joked, clearly not wanting to drop their banter, “I’m going to call you sugar...nose.” He extended a finger and lightly tapped her on the nose, to emphasize the point. 

Amy flinched in response. “Sugarnose?” she repeated incredulously.

“Yeah I didn’t want it to be too sexual, and then I panicked,” Jake explained. Amy half expected him to follow it up with one of the “title of your sex tape” jokes that he was so prone to making, but thankfully, today she would be spared.

It wasn’t that she didn’t like Peralta. At his best, he could be just as sharp a detective as she was. The problem was, that was rarely ever his goal. He showed open disrespect for any authority that would dare get in his way, almost as if it were a game to him. On the field, he spent more time trying to portray himself as an action movie star than trying to catch criminals, and she’d be surprised if he actually followed any of the NYPD’s safety guidelines. 

Her day went on as it usually did. Finishing up reports, interviewing witnesses, investigating a crime scene—fortunately on her own. Amy had no idea why Captain McGintley was so adamant about partnering her and Peralta. Their approaches to every aspect of police work seemed fundamentally incompatible. Her captain probably just needed someone responsible to babysit New York’s Least Mature Detective (a title he had bestowed upon himself) in the field. It was a horribly sexist and insulting implication that gave Amy flashbacks to a whole childhood’s worth of classroom seating charts and group projects, where she was put in the exact same position. 

That afternoon, just as she was getting into the rhythm of responding to the perpetual flood of emails in her inbox, Peralta tore her away from her work to go on a stakeout for a case they were working on, insisting that the new lead was “actually legit this time.”

When Amy left the precinct she was surprised to see that her partner decided not to “ball out” and instead opted for a sensible SUV for their stake out. “Nice ride, Peralta.”

“Thanks, I borrowed it from some guy Diaz is testifying against,” he said smugly. Amy raised her eyebrows in return. Of course there would be a catch. “Kidding,” he reassured her. “It’s the precinct’s, I’m surprised you don’t like have the license plates memorized by now.”

Amy wasn’t sure if she should feel relieved or insulted by that. She had only been there a couple months, surely that wasn’t an expectation; if it was, it was never conveyed to her in the brief amount of training she received. Regardless, she responded, “very funny, but I’m still driving.” 

Jake soured with mock offense, “Seriously, Santiago? You think that my driving is more dangerous than that drug ring you busted last month?”

“I’m a detective. I know that I might die on the force. What I’m absolutely not okay with is dying because some idiot would rather play air guitar than follow basic road safety concepts,” Amy said, crossing her arms. On their last stakeout, they almost lost their perp during his particularly enthusiastic rendition of Lose Yourself.

“Too-shee,” he responded, with a smirk on his lips. He was messing with her. Surely, he wasn’t actually that dumb.

Amy corrected him, “you know it’s pronounced touché.”

“Ok nerd,” he replied, and tossed her the car keys. “But I get to stay on AUX.”

She was a bit taken aback by how quickly he agreed to cooperate with her. “You’ve gotta stay focused,” she added, as she climbed into the car. There was a foul smell that she couldn’t quite place. All the more reason to rush this.

“Of course I am a professional, Santiago,” he said from the passenger seat. He reached into his bag and pulled out a giant pack of Cheetos. “Want one?” he offered. She shook her head in disgust.

“Alright, so the informant, Dragos, said the operation is based out of a pharmacy on Atlantic, I assume that’s where we’re going?” Amy asked, as she started the car.

“Toit, and also holy shit is that his real name?” Jake questioned, eyes wide. “That’s badass.”

Amy frowned. “Did you even read the case file?”

“I skimmed it. Your sentences are all so long!” he complained.

“I’m sorry that I’m thorough and I actually follow procedure. Maybe you should take a cue from me, I mean that’s gotta be why McGintley assigned us to this case,” she said.

Jake laughed at her. “I have the most arrests in the precinct,” he bragged. Amy wanted to bring up that arrests weren’t actually a good indication of community safety, but she couldn’t quite bring herself to articulate the problem to him once more.

“That’s just because you make Boyle do all your paperwork,” she retaliated. “If you did everything you were supposed to, you know that I’d be ahead of you.”

Jake stopped fiddling with the car’s radio, and turned to face Amy. “First of all, Boyle loves paperwork. And for the record, I actually asked the Captain to put us together on this case.”

“Exactly, because you knew I would do all the work,” Amy said, smugly.

“No! It’s ‘cause I knew it was a tough one, and you’re obviously super smart.” Amy blushed a little. She assumed that Jake thought as little of her as she did of him. “Plus, I heard you talking to Diaz about how you weren’t getting any good cases,” he continued. She’s surprised, not at what he noticed, but the fact that he actually cared enough to try and fix her problems. It was true that McGintley was underutilizing her—the other day he had her spend an hour finding an anniversary present for his wife. 

“Well, thanks,” Amy responded with an awkward smile. “I didn’t think you cared.”

“‘Course, you’re part of the 99 now. Anything for the squad.” he said. Right, Jake was just doing what any good cop would do for their team. He didn’t actually care about her, at least not enough to not get cheeto crumbs on the seat that she’d have to clean up. 

Jake points at the car’s speaker system at the next red light. “Hey, do you know how this works?” 

“Do you seriously not know?” she teased. It was a strikingly simple set up.

“Obviously not, or else we’d be listening to my sick beats right now.” Jake said. “My car still uses cassettes exclusively and I fear my mixtapes would cause this lame car to spontaneously combust.”

Amy sighed. “Here, give me your phone,” she told him, and plugged in the audio cable. Immediately music started blaring out of the speakers. She recognizes the opening chords instantly and starts laughing. “Is this what you listen to?” she asked. 

Jake started frantically pushing buttons on the dashboard, only making the music louder by accident. “No. I swear I don’t know how this got on here.” Amy grinned. It was so rare that she had the upper hand in embarrassing him and she was already thinking of how to capitalize on it.

“Keep it on,” she said, guiding his hands away from the speaker system before he had the chance to break something. “I like this song.” He leaned back in his seat and helped himself to another handful of Cheetos. Amy returned her focus to navigating the complex puzzle of Brooklyn traffic. 

Over the revving motors and honking of angry drivers, she heard him begin to sing along. It wasn’t obnoxiously loud and it didn’t feature impromptu parody lyrics. His voice was surprisingly soft, and she wondered if he was even conscious of his singing. She was perplexed by how he managed to focus on nothing and everything at the same time. How he managed to let loose in the most tense situations. Amy couldn’t even bring herself to have that kind of fun when she specifically scheduled it in her planner. 

What the hell, they were still a fifteen minute drive from the pharmacy. She joined in with the chorus. He looked at her with a confused, yet happy, expression, and ramped up his volume, and even incorporated his own dance moves. “Damn, Santiago, didn’t know you had it in you,” he said, after they finished the chorus on a tone-deaf harmony.

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Peralta,” she replied, raising her eyebrows with feigned confidence. 

Jake chuckled and opened his mouth; she assumed to argue, but instead he just continued the second verse. She didn’t know the rest of the lyrics, and she certainly couldn’t decipher them from the dramatic voices he was adding into it. 

“Hey isn’t that our guy,” he interrupted, pointing to a man who was standing by the trash cans on the corner, despite his right of way. Amy paused and took a closer look. Surely enough, their perp, Andrei Volkov, was standing there, waiting for the deal they had been told would occur miles away.

“Oh my god,” Amy said, turning to park their car just out of eyesight.

“Luckily he didn’t seem interested enough in the two adult Taylor Swift fans, to notice we’re a police vehicle.” Jake replied. He leaned towards the trunk window to sneak a better view of their target. 

“Do you want to call for backup?” Amy asked. “How many guys are there?”

“Looks like about three, and it seems pretty exposed for back up unless they have access to one of the houses,” Jake said, propping himself back in the seat. “I think we should be good.”

Amy paused for a second. Her instinct was always to air on the side of caution, but Jake had proven himself to be more reasonable than she assumed. “Okay, I trust you,” she said.

“Take my lead,” he instructed, before she could argue, and secured his vest as he left the car. Amy followed him out hesitantly, one hand hovering protectively over her radio. They crossed the street while Volkov’s back was turned. As soon as they made eye contact, Jake whipped out his gun, and cornered him against the lamp post. “NYPD, you’re under arrest.” Amy instinctually dove behind the trash can. Through the grated metal she could see both of Volkov’s men pull their guns at Jake from behind his back. She can’t quite recognize exactly which members of the operation they are. He held one hand on Volkov while he turned to face the others. They kept their guns raised in his direction. 

“Here’s the deal, come back to my precinct, and I won’t shoot. I’m all alone out here.” Jake kicks the trashcan Amy is ducked behind. Then twice, to get her attention. And again. The Funky Cold Medina, she realized. Amy felt her heart pounding all the way in her fingers and toes. 

“What’s the matter with your leg, pig,” one of the men scoffed. She recognized the voice. Apparently Dragos was more involved in the operation than he led on, and had intentionally given her the wrong address. Amy reached for her gun and jumped up, turning to cover Jake.

“Hey, you’re the lady with the thank you notes,” Dragos said, as he lowered his weapon, “almost made me feel bad for lying to you.” 

Amy fixed her eyes in his direction, “yeah well, thanks for nothing.” 

“That was a pretty weak comeback, Santiago,” Jake muttered from her side. She shot him a nasty look.

“Your partner’s right,” Volkov added, still struggling against the lamppost.

“Nice try but you’re still arrested,” Jake said, as he reached for his handcuffs and began reciting the Miranda Rights. Amy stared down the other two men in the meantime, instructing them to drop any weapons they’re carrying. They obeyed and placed their guns at her feet. Just as they began to stand up, Dragos punched Amy in the face, his ring leaving a deep gash on her cheek. The metallic taste of blood floods her mouth. Her vision was blurred as tears welled up in her eyes, causing searing pain in the open wound.

Dragos started to bolt but Jake managed to trip him and keep him pinned to the ground. He struggled to handle both perps, however, and Amy watched as the third man ran away. She tried to chase after him, but she was too shocked to make it any farther. “Dragos, you’re coming with me,” Jake said, locking the handcuffs in place. “Amy, I’m calling you an ambulance.” 

She was too dishevelled to protest.

That night, Amy’s brother drove her home from the hospital where she received seven stitches. Half her face was still numb from the anesthesia. Still, the second she got her phone back, she sent a text to her partner: “LMK if you need help processing.”

Half an hour later she heard her apartment buzzer go off. She paused her episode of Jeopardy, kicked on her fluffy slippers, and answered it. 

“Delivery for Lady Amy Santiago,” Jake said, in a terribly butchered British accent through the phone. 

“Come up,” she replied, stifling a laugh. The meds had worn her down enough that she could fully embrace his immature humor. 

Three minutes later Jake announced himself with a knock on her door. “Alright, so I got you this. Hope you like shitty diner food because that’s all that’s open right now,” he held up two take out bags. Through the semi-opaque plastic she noticed two liters of the horrible orange soda he spilled on her desk once and still couldn’t get the stain out from.

“Yeah that’s fine,” she said, gesturing for him to come take a seat. She braced herself to be tormented for her decor. Suddenly she realized Jake came all the way to her house for her. He didn’t have to be here. Why was he here? “Thanks, by the way. You didn’t have to do any of this.”

He took a seat on her couch and plopped the bags on her coffee table. She never ate there, it was reserved for drinks, at most, but she didn’t correct him. Especially when he was doing her a favor “I know. I wanted to though. I also finished processing Dragos and Volkov, all by myself,” he said. 

“Why are you being so nice to me?” Amy asked flatly. She peered into the bag and examined the feast he brought: two cheeseburgers, a plate of chicken tenders, one hamburger, a salad, about three orders of fries, and of course the two orange sodas. For someone who was proudly in debt, he sure spent a lot on this meal.

“Cause it’s my fault you’re like this,” he said. Amy wanted to protest, he made a bad call re-backup, but she could have gotten injured either way. “Also you’re so hopped up on painkillers there’s no way you’ll remember this,” he added, cracking a smile. He really wasn’t capable of a genuine moment. 

Amy rolled her eyes at him. “It’s not that much stronger than Advill, and memory loss isn’t a side effect,”

“Hmm,” he frowned, “we’ll see about that tomorrow.”

Amy froze. “I hope you’re not here to try anything,” she said, half joking. Jake was a jerk, but she never thought he would stoop that low. Even still, she couldn’t let her guard down that much.

“Oh, God no, absolutely not. I would never take advantage of you—of anyone—like that. Is that what you thought?” Jake stammered, scooching himself away from her on the couch. He looked as if he had seen a ghost or something, and his messy hair only added to the effect.

“I dunno,” Amy said, “I guess I can’t be too trusting.” She took out a container full of fries and handed him one as a peace offering. 

“Right, right, men are a nightmare,” Jake agreed through a mouthful of potato. He even didn’t try to distance himself from “other men”, or go with the “but I’d never do that route”. Her chest was heavy with guilt at the thought of making such an implication.

“No, no, no, it’s fine, really. Sorry for accusing you.” Amy said. 

“It’s not fine. And you shouldn’t apologize because that’s a real fear. It’s on me,” he replied. She looked at him with confusion. It was rare for guys to understand that much. “And I’m sorry for being such a dick to you these past few months,” he blurted out. 

Amy couldn’t believe that the guy sitting in her apartment was the same one who decided to address her via paper airplane for a week, and only stopped when he ran out of papers on his desk.  “Hey I wasn’t much better. I was so obsessed with out-doing you, I never went to you for help—” he shot her an expectant glance,“—also I’m sorry for ratting you out all the time.” He nodded, and helped himself to another fry from her container.

“Why are you so competitive?” he asked through a mouthful of potato. She noticed a bit of ketchup on his chin and reached for a napkin.

“I have seven brothers,” she provided him with the stock answer.

“I know that,” he said, “that doesn’t answer my question.”

She pauses. “My parents were always comparing us, so many siblings meant the bar for anything was set super high, I don’t know, that sort of stuff.” 

“But why do you care?” he pushed. She hadn’t ever considered that before. The endless treadmill she shoved herself on was just always there. Even when she knew the goals she set were irrational she would just keep running, because the idea of falling off was so much worse.

“I guess it makes me worried, if I’m not measuring up,” she confessed. “I feel like I did something wrong.”

“You know you’re crazy, right?” he asked, smirking at her.

Amy rifled through the bottom of the takeout bag. “Did they give you any mustard packets?” she asked.

“Nah. But, as your self-appointed guardian angel, I will go to the bodega and get you some,” he said, picking up the jacket he threw on her floral carpet.

“You don’t have to do that, really,” Amy insisted.

He looked back at her as if the very notion were ridiculous. “Amy, you just got injured in the line of duty. If all you want is mustard, you can have all the mustard in the world.” 

“Thanks, Jake. You’re a really good friend,” she ventured. She waited for a moment, to see how he would respond, hopefully solidifying their friendship. Maybe she was friendzoning advances she wasn’t even aware of. Maybe he was confused, and he was just doing a nice thing for a coworker.

“You too,” Jake said. However he interpreted all the implications, he didn’t let her know. “When I get back we’re watching Die-Hard!” he added as he rushed out the door. Amy smiled to herself as she heard the lock click into place. 

[pedros-mustache-main]

just a job

summary: working wardrobe for the new film ‘bohemian rhapsody’ is not all its cracked up to be. until it is.

word count: 2.6k+

warnings: language, ~suggestive~ themes (but who am i kidding? we’re all here for that)

a/n: i’m continuing to work on the next chapter for “even now” but this has been in my drafts for awhile, so i thought i would finish it. enjoy, loves! xoxo.

you hate your job. really, you do. despite what your younger sister believes, it’s not glamorous and it’s not well-paid. it’s simply a 9-5, clock-in & clock-out, leave-work-at-work gig to hold you over until your final semester at university ends.

at twenty-seven, you could have two degrees by now. instead you have zero—and a startlingly amount of student debt amassed thanks to your two attempts at completing a single degree. it’s been complicated, to say the very least, and you don’t like to dwell on past failures.

you consider your job a necessary evil. there’s no one to pay tuition bills except you, so when your cousin landed a position in makeup for a new film and mentioned the need for a wardrobe assistant, you applied. the work is simple, mindless even. you take measurements, offer your opinion when asked, and catalog the different costumes. you’re truly a glorified hunter-gatherer: you hunt through the rows and rows of possible options and bring back what’s needed. 

still, it’s a job, and it pays the bills. for the most part, you stomach it. there’s loads of downtime, giving you ample opportunity to study or write a term paper. your co-workers are nice enough. they live completely different lives, surrounded by the latest fashion magazines and sketchbooks full of costume ideas. your workspace—a child-sized deck in the corner of the trailer—is covered in maths books. your future in mathematics lends itself to things like tailoring and fabric measurements, but it’s not the same. there’s an obvious disconnect; you try your best to smile and fit in, anyway.

your cousin, morgan, finds you on a lonely tuesday afternoon. it’s drizzling outside, so her hair is puffy when she enters the trailer. 

“this damn weather,” she mutters. though she’s your first cousin on your mother’s side, she grew up in australia, and her accent, thick as it is, never fails to make you smile. “i swear, if gwil comes back and his wig is all frizzed out, i’m gonna pop a lid or something.”

“that bad outside?”

“humid as hell and still raining.” she sets her paper coffee cup, stained with purple lipstick around the edge, on the counter. “how’s the paper comin’?”

you glance at your work, at the empty word document on your laptop screen, and shake your head. “it’s not. i tried to start but i just...” your words drift away, incomplete but crystal clear at the same time.

“hey.” morgan crosses the narrow trailer to squeeze your shoulder. “stop doubting yourself.”

peering up through your lashes, you shrug. “i don’t know if i have what it takes to a researcher, that’s all.”

morgan scoffs. “that’s horse-shit and you know it! think about it: you like maths, for some strange reason, and you like medicine, and you want to marry those two and become the best biomedical blah-blah researcher the world has ever seen. and be smoking hot at the same time. don’t give up on yourself now, [y/n]. not when you’re so close.”

you rise from your chair and lift your arms over your head to stretch. you know she means well—hell, you’ve been through this all once before—but your fears persist. with a good-natured roll of your eyes, you close your laptop. “you’re supposed to say that. you’re family.”

“maybe, but it’s the truth.”

the trailer door bursts open, and you glance at the faded clock on the wall. post-lunch break. time for a scene change and costume switch.

your boss, richard, climbs the trailer steps, his glasses fogged over by the weather. he tosses a plastic-wrapped lunch plate on your desk before feathering your cheek with a kiss. his beard scratches your face, but you return the air-kiss, still feeling slightly ridiculous any time you imitate his standard greeting.

“sorry, lovie. you’ll have to eat later. the boys are on their way and we only have them for a few before the cameras start rolling again.” richard sheds his leather jacket and runs a hand through his rain-slick hair. “morgan, you’re taking up too much space. shoo, honey, shoo!”

“right, of course! i’ve got to go wrangle gwilym’s wig anyway.” before exiting the trailer, morgan lifts her brows in your direction. “remember what i said, okay? it really is the truth.”

shuffling to the door, richard waves his hands in a shooing motion. “yeah, yeah, we get it. you’re family and you love each other. scram—and i mean that in the nicest way possible.” once morgan disappears, he points to the back of the trailer. “i need you to find those god-awful corduroy pants. joe has to wear them today and last time i checked there was a tear up the inseam.”

you do as your told, squishing your way to the storage area. four clothes racks—one for each of the boys—take up the majority of the trailer space. aside from a bathroom the size of a postage stamp and an area for fittings, it’s a tight squeeze. that squeeze is made even tighter anytime one or more of the borhap boys makes their entrance. their personalities are distinct and their friendships are loud; it should be endearing, but it often leaves a headache grating at the back of your skull from all the noise. 

from your place jammed between joe and ben’s clothing racks, you can hear him—joe—as he makes his way to the fitting stool.

“okay, but listen to this, richard.” his voice is muffled by the mink coat your head is pressed against, but you already know the routine. he’ll start with some ridiculous anecdote then work his way to a joke or two, peppering in a smattering of questions for good measure. it’s the same nearly every day. 

joe is kind. they all are. but joe, specifically, is the most gregarious of the bunch—a bit much for your quiet tendencies. he makes you laugh on occasion, but the majority of the time, his personality is too big for the sandwich-sized trailer. you’d never tell him that, of course, so you often spend most of his fittings with a haphazard smile on your face, your mind millions of miles away.

corduroy pants retrieved, you wiggle your way to the fitting area. richard has his hands full with rami, attempting to peel a black-and-white checkered unitard off the poor man, so he gestures to joe with his foot.

“fix that inseam,” he says, his voice strained with effort.

joe has a wry smile on his face when you look at him. “look, [y/n], i normally don’t take my pants off on the first date, but i’ll make an exception for you.”

you toss the pants at his chest. an girlish blush crawls up the back of your neck, so you turn away, rooting around on your desk for your sewing kit. to further enflame your face, you cringe when you hear his jeans unzip and drop to the floor with a soft whoosh. your fingers stutter over the assortment of books, papers, and fabric materials on the table. 

what has you so nervous, you aren’t sure. joe is handsome. again, they all are. you suppose it’s the idea of having your face inches from his crotch as soon as he’s clothed. not for the first time, you wonder what you’ve gotten yourself into. a biomedical researcher would never have to deal with this.

“m’lady, i am ready.”

the plastic surrounding the sewing kit bites your palm as you hold it tight, turning to face him. “don’t be so smug. it’s not cute.”

joe frowns. he looks slightly ridiculous, like a small child, in his wig: the straight bangs, the uneven locks of hair brushing the collar of his shirt. he looks like john deacon; at least, you assume he does. you’re no expert. still, his frown coupled with the wig and the striped shirt and corduroy reminds you more of a primary school boy than rock god oozing sex appeal. it’s discombobulating. 

“you’re a hard nut to crack, [y/n].”

lowering to your knees, you nudge his legs apart with your knuckles. already, you feel a lump rise in your throat. “yeah?”

“i’m in here every day and i don’t think i’ve made you laugh once.”

“that’s not true.” you search the recesses of your mind for a memory, but can only think about how, if you move an inch to your left, your forehead will brush the fold of his pants near his most delicate parts.

(god, you need to get laid. between a flurry of dead-end jobs and university courses, you can’t remember the last time you had a good romp in the hay just to blow off some steam.)

joe doesn’t seem at all bothered by your proximity. that is, until you run the flat of your hand down the inseam of his leg. you swear you hear him hiss, but maybe it’s just your imagination. regardless, he jumps a little, and you look up with a wince.

“sorry, cold hands. i’m just looking for the tear.”

he nods, a definite flush to his cheeks.

the tear—a whopping four inches from top to bottom—is nestled near the back of joe’s left thigh. you might be able to get away with a bit of fashion tape, but richard has an eye for detail. he claims the camera can pick out every loose thread, every minor snag. 

drawing back, you pop open the sewing kit with a click. “you’ve made me laugh before,” you say. it’s a lame attempt to break the silence, but you’ve never claimed to be the best conversationalist.

“huh? oh.” he hesitates. his eyes narrow, but there’s a playful glint to his gaze. “you’re only saying that to make me feel better.”

“no, it’s the truth. there was that time with the... dinosaur story. and the other time with the baseball thing and your brother.”

he runs his pointer finger over the fingers on his opposite hand, eyes rolled toward the ceiling as he counts under his breath. “so, twice?”

you nod. “at least.” with a flourish of your needle and thread, you warn, “cold hands coming in again.”

he shifts to stand a little wider. his arms cross over his chest, straining the fabric around his biceps. “twice is good. i can live with twice. my normal goal is twenty times at minimum, but i can adjust.”

you fall silent. once you’ve located the rip, you give it a good tug, testing to see whether it will tear more before you’ve finished the job. it holds, thank goodness, so you place the needle at the base of the rip and start threading it back and forth. 

you don’t turn when richard announces, "be back, [y/n]. rami’s stuck. we need baby oil from makeup.”

at this, joe laughs. his hand slaps his opposite leg, his body heaving as he all but cackles. you jostle with the force of his amusement, and the needle stabs the exposed flesh his thigh. this time he does hiss, pulling back on instinct.

you grimace. “sorry! you moved!”

“that’s your excuse? you sure you didn’t plan to stab me?”

“why would i do that?”

“‘cause you think i’m annoying!”

“i don’t think you’re annoying—not all the time, anyway.”

“aha! so you do think i’m annoying!”

you huff. “joe, please. i’m just trying to do my job.”

perhaps it’s the weariness in your tone that drains the good-natured grin from his face. maybe it’s your confession, which you hadn’t meant to confess. whatever it is, he clears his throat and looks toward the mirrors on the wall across from him, arms snug over his chest again. you return to the tear.

the silence stretches thin with tension. you’ve wounded his pride, you know, but you aren’t sure why it’s shut him down. you’ve interacted only a handful of times, and you try to keep professional, distanced, any time you do interact with a cast member. his suddenly-cold exterior is peculiar. 

“can you turn around for me?” he does so without complaint. his ass looks good in the pants, you’ll give him that, and this vantage point gives better access to the top of the tear. a win-win, you suppose. 

“what did you mean by twenty times?” you ask. “your normal goal being twenty times?” another lame attempt at breaking the tension.

he shrugs. “it’s stupid.”

tear repaired, you stand. “no, i want to hear. please?” 

gently, you tug his arm so he faces you again. you glance over his new outfit, searching for minuscule imperfections. you can feel his eyes search your face in a similar manor, and your face grows warm under the scrutiny. 

in lieu of an proper response, he kisses you.

the sudden contact causes you to drop your sewing kit to the floor. the plastic breaks—you can hear the crunch—but you don’t care. it’s been a long time since anyone kissed you and a longer time since anyone kissed you properly. his lips are soft and skilled, slow against your own. you rest your hands on his forearms, let him kiss you until he pulls back.

your skin feels like it’s on fire, and your chest is tight with anxiety. you swallow hard, eyes darting back and forth between his.

“i don’t like it when girls i like think i’m annoying.” his voice is thick, but his words remind you of a schoolboy’s again. it’s endearing; you smile.

“i’m quiet, that’s all.”

“i’m not.”

“i know.”

“usually i can tell if a girl is interested by how many times she laughs when i talk. twenty times and over, i’ve got a solid in. you’ve never given me an in.”

“i suppose twice is a little below the mark.”

he leans forward, as if to kiss you again, and your eyes flutter shut, but his nose merely brushes yours. “go out with me... to dinner. let me make you laugh again.”

you know you should say no. if not for the sake of professionalism, for the simple sake of proving your sister wrong. she’d told you at the start that you would meet someone and it would be dreamy and romantic and totally Hollywood. you’d promised her you wouldn’t.

but joe is cute. and even though he’s loud and chaotic, there’s something about him. he’s like a magnet. despite when your head aches because he and ben are singing too loud, you’re drawn to him. there’s no use denying it.

“one date,” you whisper, holding up your finger. “i’ll give you one date to let you try.”

“how do i know if there will be a second?”

you have to laugh at his boldness. his grin widens at the sound.

stepping back, his hands dropping from your hips, he shows three fingers. “that’s three times. i think that automatically qualifies me for a second date.”

“we haven’t even gone on our first!”

“doesn’t matter.” he hops down from the dressing stool and presses a loud kiss to your cheek. “pencil it in. two dates, back to back.”

“joe—”

he pauses at the trailer door. his toothy smile flips your stomach. “i’m being annoying, i know.”

before you can laugh again, you bite your lip. “get out of here, you idiot.”

he purses his lips in an air-kiss before bouncing out the door.

you grab the broken sewing kit from the floor. straightening, glance at yourself in the mirror. 

your cheeks are flushed and your lips look freshly kissed, but you’re smiling. maybe not laughing, but smiling. joe’s the first guy who’s made you smile in awhile. he’s made the stress in your chest relax, and the constant worry at the back of your head slow.

that ought to count for something. maybe even a third date.

[nanamicide]

You are there, beyond despair - Chapter 1

Summary:  Kanon Nakajima and Yasuhiro Hagakure have been spending the past few weeks together in Towa City. As they get adjusted to their daily routine there, Yasuhiro wakes up telling Kanon that he had a vision -- he will be going home with his mom today. Kanon's reaction to the news is nothing like what she expected from herself.

Read on AO3

It had now been around a week since they’d almost parted ways – a week of small arguments, laughing and crying about sweet nothings; a week of making fun of each other while having each other’s backs whenever danger seemed to draw near. Things had definitely been quite intense, no matter how Kanon looked at it. But somehow, it had eased part of the pain and anger that she’d been holding onto since she’d been made captive.

It didn’t matter that Yasu was part of the Future Foundation anymore, as he clearly was different from most of them. First of all, he wasn’t a skilled fighter – she was the main reason why they’d survived this long in the city. Second, he wasn’t smart or manipulative the way she’d always assumed most of their agents were. He had tried to manipulate her, making her believe that he’d lead her out of the city and be able to protect her, but she’d seen right through him. Besides, it hadn’t taken a long time for her to understand that he was sticking around her because she had money – money he desperately needed to pay his debt to the Kuzuruyu clan.

At that moment, the sun was about to rise. This meant that they wouldn’t be able to stay here much longer if they wanted to stay safe and not have to hurt anyone. Sure, the Warriors of Hope weren’t running the city anymore, but this didn’t mean that it’d stopped being dangerous. Towa City was still filled with its fair share of criminals, and news sources were going on about how the Future Foundation was still looking for the Remnants of Despair, whoever these people were. Regardless of that, the fact that people associated to the Ultimate Despair were still running free implied that constantly hanging around a Future Foundation member was putting her in danger. Kanon didn’t mind, though. She knew they’d manage to save themselves. Besides, Yasu’s talents as a fortune-teller had been useful to them in the past. There was no way he wouldn’t be able to predict it if their lives were on the line, right?

Kanon rolled to her side, facing the sleeping man in the bed that was next to hers. Of course, he was still asleep. He always slept in. No matter how much she told him they he needed to stay alert and get out of bed as soon as the first rays of sun began peeking through the window of whatever place they’d chosen as shelter for the night, she still had to wake him up herself. It was almost as though she had to do everything for him. Still, as much as she complained about it, she didn’t mind it too much. It may have been weird, but something about his company and the way they interacted with each other made his flaws tolerable.

So, as per usual, Kanon sat up in bed and quickly fixed her hair before shaking him awake. She’d tried nicer approaches before but had quickly learned that the only way to get Yasu out of his slumber was to be rough.

“Ugh, you could be gentler when you do this, Kanon-cchi!” was what Yasu greeted her with, just like he did every morning.

“Well, how many times did I tell you to wake up before the sun even rises, idiot? Don’t you realize that if you could simply do as you’re told, I wouldn’t have to touch you like this,” she replied, making a face as if to show her disgust towards him.

“Alright, alright, I’m sorry!”

“Yeah, just pick your stuff so we can go, already,” Kanon shrugged, picking up her bag. “You wouldn’t want one of these mysterious Remnants of Despair to find us now, would you?”

“They’re not going to find us!”

“Huh?” She turned to him, raising an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“I had a vision before falling asleep last night,” he started, wrapping a loose hair tie around his dreadlocks. “I’m going to see my mom and go home today.”

Kanon shivered, blinking to make sure she’d understood what Yasu had just told her. Were they really going to go home today? She knew the things he’d predicted about their futures had been quite accurate since they met, but what if he was wrong? And if he weren’t, what would happen to her? He’d mentioned that he would see his mother and go home, but he hadn’t said anything about her, had he?

“Now, now, Kanon-cchi, what’s the long face for? Think you’re gonna miss me?”

“No, thank God, you won’t be holding me back anymore,” she laughed, heading towards the exit of the building. “It’ll be much easier to just look after myself, you know?”

“There, there,” Yasu chuckled, patting her shoulder. “You don’t have to pretend to hate me now that you know I’m not gonna be around anymore. We did have some good times together, didn’t we? No point in pretending they never existed.”

“Like, when I saved your ass from all these Monokumas?”

“I mean, that’s one of the examples, but that’s not the only thing we’ve been through!”

Kanon rolled her eyes, stepping outside. The sun was beginning to shine its blinding, crimson light on Towa City. She hadn’t cared about how different the outside world looked when she had first gone out after spending a year in captivity. She’d understood that things were now a lot more dangerous than she remembered them right away, but at least she was free. And with that hacking gun she’d stolen from that dead Future Foundation member, she felt invincible. Today was different though – she wished the sun could have stayed shining on the other side of the world instead of hers. Did that mean that she’d already grown tired of her freedom?

No, that couldn’t be it – if it were, it would mean she was falling into despair again, which couldn’t happen until she’d get the chance to find out if she truly did want to avenge Leon Onii-chan by killing some Future Foundation members.

She wasn’t falling into despair, and it had nothing to do with Yasu and I probably having to part ways soon. She probably was just tired from all the things that had been happening to her recently. Regardless, she sure as hell was not going to give up.

-

“It’s gotta be around here! At least, it looks hell of a lot like what I saw in my vision!”

Yasuhiro was excited. After weeks spent in Towa City in a failed attempt to gather the money he needed to pay his debt and return to his peaceful existence with his mother, things were finally about to come to an end. At this point, he wasn’t thinking about ways to borrow Kanon-cchi’s credit cards anymore. He was only eager to go home and have things be normal, at least for a short while.

He understood very well that the Tragedy, and everything it’d changed in the world, meant that nothing would ever be the exact same again. But a few days of normalcy in the apartment he shared with his mom was everything he wanted – well, that and maybe a little bit more time with Kanon-cchi.

It was true that, at first, he’d stuck around her because she’d saved him. Once he’d realized she was the daughter of one of the richest families in the country, he’d told himself that he was after her money, nothing more. But the uneasiness he’d felt after he’d found out about her feelings towards her cousin and the Future Foundation, as well as how easy it’d been for him to forgive her – after she had damn near killed him! – and decide to stay in Towa City with her even though he could have very well escaped, made him feel as though there was a little bit more than purely practical reasons as to why he’d spent these weeks with her. He blamed it on his physical attraction towards the young woman. Just how long had it been since he’d had a girlfriend, anyway?

No, I don’t want her to be my girlfriend, he thought. It’s just that she’s kinda cute! Yeah, she’d be a terrible girlfriend – she’s always nagging about this and that and she’s so impulsive sometimes. Still, I enjoy being around a pretty girl! It’s normal for a guy my age.

“Is that… Her?” Kanon-cchi asked, pointing towards what probably used to be an important office for the Towa Corporation.

“Yeah! That’s right!”

It didn’t take more than two seconds for Yasuhiro to entirely give up his train of thought about his relationship with Kanon-cchi. His mother was there, standing around smoking a cigarette, just like he remembered her. He hadn’t seen her in years. Nothing mattered more to him than reuniting with her.

“Mooooooooooooom,” he called out, sprinting towards her.

-

Angry. That was how Kanon had been feeling since Yasu had run towards his mother without paying any attention whatsoever to her. After everything she’d done for him since he’d almost died at the hands of that Monokuma, was that how he was thanking her?

Paying no mind to how she felt, she had followed him, dragging her feet at every step. It didn’t help that the wind that was blowing was super cold and messing her hair up. It was just all so wack. Still, she waited for the mother and her son to finish reuniting and talking about how much they’d missed each other and how happy they were to be together after all this time. She didn’t even say a word no matter how much the entire scene annoyed her, which was out of character for her.

She was just silent, as though something inside of her was breaking – as though she were falling into despair again, except she seemingly had no reason to do so this time. Everything would be fine, right? Yasu would leave and she’d be able to gather all the answers to her questions, without him holding her back by being an idiot and putting himself in danger. She didn’t need to be feeling so negative about what was going to happen. It was good for her. She’d be one step closer to her goal.

“Aren’t you going to introduce us?”

Kanon glanced at Yasu and his mom, confused. Had she just asked to be introduced to her? Why did she care, anyway? It wasn’t like she was anyone important in her son’s life now, was she?

“Ah yes, mom, this is Kanon-cchi! She saved my life a few times after we arrived here, and I lost the Future Foundation squad I came with. We’ve been best buds since!”

Best buds, huh? That’s one way to put while completely disregarding the fact that I tried to kill you, weirdo.

“Thank you, Kanon-chan. My boy can be so clumsy sometimes, I’m relieved to hear he had someone as bright as you to rely on.”

“Huh? I… Uh, you’re welcome, I guess.”

Suddenly, Kanon felt overwhelmed with guilt. Why was she being praised after everything she’d done? Why wasn’t Yasu telling his mother the truth? It’s not like she’d even been happy about them finally reuniting. She didn’t deserve any of what was happening.

“Pretty girl, too. Good choice, Hiro,” the pink-haired woman added, making Kanon embarrassed. “Anyway, I’m Hiroko.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“Future Foundation should be here with a helicopter in about fifteen minutes,” Yasu said. “Ahhh, I knew today would only be good fortune!”

“You’re still in debt,” Kanon spat, surprising herself by how rude and angry she sounded. “So, I don’t know about good fortune. What if one of the members of the Kuzuruyu clan is waiting where you used to live, knowing damn well you’ll have to go back there at some point?”

“Wh-what do you mean? Why d’you have to be so negative, Kanon-cchi?”

“Well, at least you won’t be able to say I didn’t warn you,” she shrugged, turning her back to them and starting to walk away.

“W-wait!” He called, making her turn towards him again. “Where are you going? What are you gonna do now?”

“You know what my plans are. They haven’t changed just because we spent some extra time together. I still hate them, y’know? They killed him.”

“But it’s dangerous out there. And what about your parents?”

Kanon froze, unable to understand why Yasu suddenly seemed so worried about her and what would happen to her. He’d had no problem ditching her to run towards his mom ten minutes ago, so what changed? What had gotten into him that made him want to know what she’d be doing?

“They’re probably dead, aren’t they?” She coldly replied, staring at him. “So, what if it’s dangerous here? At least I’ll have done what I had to do.”

Yasu frowned, making her even more confused than she already was. His reaction to the current situation made little to no sense to her. He’d been so eager to go home when he’d woken up and told her about that vision, so why was he holding onto her like this? Why wasn’t he letting her go and do what she had to do?

“I have an idea,” Hiroko finally said. “Why don’t you come live with us if you have nowhere to go?”

The question hung in the air for five long minutes, during which neither she nor Yasu spoke.  And at that moment, her heart felt like it was split into two different parts which wanted completely opposite things. Going with Yasu and his mother, although she wasn’t quite sure why, seemed quite appealing to her. She had never thought about it until Hiroko mentioned it, but now that she’d planted that seed in her brain, it was growing into quite a reasonable and safe-sounding plan.

On the other hand, that other part of her kept screaming at her that if she did this – if she gave up on attempting to kill at least one Future Foundation member without even trying to find out if she still felt like doing so – she’d be betraying her cousin. And that thought was unbearable. She’d put herself through a lot of hardships just to make him acknowledge her as a woman, and now that someone else was coming along and offering her some sort of comfort she was forgetting all of this?

He was dead, and she was thinking about giving up on him as if he’d never even existed. That wasn’t fair. Yasu had told her she was his captive because she was important to him. This meant that in his last moments, he probably thought about her, didn’t he? He probably even tried to survive that dreadful class trial for her. So how could she abandon his memory like this? How was it right for her to just leave Towa City without putting her plan into execution? What was wrong with her?

“Um, if I may,” Yasu spoke, breaking the silence that had lasted far too long for it to be considered comfortable, “I think it’d be a good idea for you to come with us. I know you have all this unfinished business, but uh—No, no, please, don’t cry!”

“I… I’m sorry, okay? It’s just that you come into my life out of nowhere and think you can just replace Leon Onii-chan like this? Do you really think your stupid demeanour and kindness are going to make me forget about how much I loved him? About how much it hurt when I found out he was dead? I’d trade you for him if I could, do you understand that?”

“I know all of that, but you still didn’t kill me when you had plenty of opportunities to do it. So, the time we spent together must have meant something to you! I’m not pretending like I can replace him or whatever weird relationship you had, but don’t pretend like you’re even happy to see me leave. You’ve been sulking all day, Kanon-cchi. Even the most stupid person on Earth could have noticed it!”

“Don’t you understand that me coming with you is betraying him?”

“It isn’t,” Hiroko spoke up, chewing on the cigarette she’d brought to her lips a few seconds prior. “I have no clue what you two are talking about, but if someone you loved and who loved you died, then I’m sure they’d want you to be safe.” She paused, lighting her cigarette, and taking a drag. “I don’t care about this hope versus despair thing they all have going on these days, but I’m pretty sure you choosing to stay here instead of moving forward in your life would be picking despair. In a way, you’d be giving whoever took that person away from you exactly what they want. You don’t seem stupid enough to do something so desperately idiotic.”

“C’mon, Kanon-cchi, it’ll be fun.”

Kanon blinked, wiping her tears away. As much as she hated to admit it, Hiroko made a fair point there. If she stayed here, she’d most likely despair – either she would realize that killing a Future Foundation member wouldn’t be enough to make her forget her cousin, or she would die at the hands of one of these Remnants of Despair. Deep down, she knew this.

“Fine,” she yielded. “I’ll leave Towa City with you guys. But don’t assume that it means you have free access to my money!” Kanon pouted, making Yasu let out an amused laugh.

Maybe leaving Towa City with the Hagakures wasn’t mistake.

-

With Kanon-cchi’s head resting on his shoulder as she was peacefully asleep, Yasuhiro realized that his life would truly never be the same again. Because the short, cute, wannabe-gyaru would be sticking with him for what seemed to be the foreseeable future. He did not mind, though. His fortune-telling abilities did not seem to be giving signs of anything bad happening starting from now, after all.

I’ll be the one to keep you safe, now. I’m gonna act like the protagonist, for real! He thought, running his finger through the young woman’s light brown hair.

[rigelmejo]

February Progress Update, March Goals:

(Updated as it’s now the end of the month) How February went:

Chinese novel chapters read in February (so far): 27 (a huge amount! Last month’s was 8. This month - 4 were Guardian, the rest are 寒舍)

Chapters I studied with Listening-Reading Method: 2 (Catch me barely doing L-R and just reading Guardian instead...)

Chinese shows watched: 6. (I expected this number to shoot up and I was right! Word of Honor - tian ya ke adaptation - is airing and I am watching the raws first then the English subs as they release. I’m also maybe going to start Anti Fraud League since I finally finished ep 1. YouTube recommended me another Zhen zhehan drama - he plays Zhou Zishu in woh. It’s called Demon Girl and I’d had it in my list to practice anyway with when I got bored since it’s set 1920-1940s, one of my fave drama settings, featuring a demon heroine in which demons are like mutants who live among us. Which happens to be my LITERAL favorite story setup - mutants/monsters/etc sci fi or supernatural setup in which the story uses it to tell fantastical tales while also commenting on real social issues. Some stories do it better than others - In The Flesh and Bureau of Transformer do excellently, Love and Redemption and Guardian do some fascinating stuff with it, Heroes touches on it only a little compared to Xmen which is known for it, and Merlin often failed to commit to a strong message. But regardless - if a story has this Setup I will ultimately wanna see. So that show definirely has 3 selling points now: my Fave story setup, a heroine as the lead, and an actor I like as the other lead. I also found Mystic Nine and LORD Critical World in HD on a chinese site so I’m very tempted to just watch them in chinese only since it’s more convienient then the english sub links I have for the shows. An interesting update: trying to watch a show this month was easier than in the past - last month I could barely watch Any shows, and before that I distinctly remember shows being harder to catch the details. I watched Anti Fraud League ep 1 fully this month and caught all details roughly without pausing - and like 3 sentences of exposition on main character Mi Huo I paused and replayed the scene just to catch all the chinese subtitles and clarify I understood correctly. I think I got about 90% of the details - because I was a little vague on some word meanings and just guessed on those. And grasped 100% of the overall plot. which is well beyond where I was at month 10-11ish last time I tried watching shows. Also yay! A detective show felt as easy as watching a fluff romance which is so great, because I like this genre much more! Although I am going to give a grateful shout out to Granting You A Dreamlike Life because... while the shows first 15 eps I did watch are Not My Thing, I watched it like 8+ months into learning and it was both a challenge and easy enough TO watch and keep watching. Which made it great for improving. I really think it helped a lot. And I also think... at this point I probably could rewatch guardian without eng subs and be fine. When I watch shan he ling today I guess I’ll find out if I can handle a wuxia plot though without eng subs lol)

Japanese Audio listened to: 14 (no change, this is since start of year)

Personal books read: 11 (since 2021 started - so 6 books in February. I have been reading SO MUCH lately, I’m really excited? I’ve been meaning to read so many of my books I just hadn’t gotten around to it. This is also likely to increase as I’m about to finish dmbj 2 next time I pick it up).

Some other things:

@a-whump-muffin​ u inspired me and sometime soon I will be trying to play KH in japanese again, and looking at ur super amazing grammar guide u made ToT (I might try nier automata if its bearable just because I’m playing all the drakengard/nier games right now but... the language is a lot more sci fi so i’m not sure that’d go well... also i want to check if my final fantasy type-0 has japanese language settings...). But like... I am definitely up for looking at a grammar guide, and looking up words on my phone as I play. Now that’s a study method i could DO maybe ToT and also like!!! ultimately i want to do it anyway!!! i just figured it would be drowning and chickened out! but like. to study doing what u wanted to do anyway in the language??!!! wowwww ;-; i mean that’s basically why i’m reading chinese but u get the idea

Other japanese updates: I’m still listening to quickleur I just haven’t done any listening lately (u can tell by the L-R status above lol). It did help a lot though even the bits I listened to, as far as refreshing my mind on particles and verb endings. And the explanation on sentence structures u gave @a-whump-muffin​ !! (who is god tier if ur studying japanese they are <3 <3 )

Part of the ‘personal books read’ goal - I’m counting any textbooks I read in that category, in the hopes if I frame it in my head as reading for personal interest instead of studying, I will do it. Ideally I would LIKE to read my DeFrancis Chinese books, Chinese Nature Method grammar book, Chinese Sentence Patterns book, 2 books I just ordered, my japanese reading books (the 1st one a good refresher the 2nd one literally could be... my textbook for years its got so much). Those chinese books in part because WOW I am so used to so much grammar in context when reading, but when I go to produce language I’m a hot MESS. And I think just like... I really should read those books and fill in the gaps in my understanding and like solidify the correct understanding of what I can comprehend. Sometime.... I ALSO should read my Alan Hoenig chinese characters book. But will I???? AHA. I forgot to mention in my last reading post - but brute forcing learning the hanzi has been going fine actually. I was concerned just looking up hanzi when reading, that I would struggle to learn the new ones. But I can confirm that reading has gotten easier, and I’ve picked up a LOT of hanzi I was previously brute force looking up repeatedly while reading. So like... as long as this keeps working, I’ll keep doing it. I’m very lazy and the path with least resistance and mental exhaustion is what I’ll keep doing, if it works, even if it might be slower. (Although I do think the hanzi books I have are very useful and have helped me speed up progress when I used them).

I learned how to make gifs this month and I’m overwhelmed with all the stuff I could try to do? Idk its very cool i’m very excited about it.

Goals for March:

Basically, we’re sticking to the quite steady study plan I’ve had the past few months, which has boiled down to: read chinese, L-R, listen/watch if desired, do something listening related in japanese if desired. It’s not well rounded or anything but I’m making steady progress and its easy to keep doing.

Anything in bold is what I’m doing right now/likely to do (although we know how often I just derail).

Read chinese novels. (This can include Guardian. Currently includes: hanshe, guardian. On hiatus: Tian Ya Ke).

Listen-Read Guardian. (Reading guardian in Any way is the priority so if this happens yay, but if it doesn’t I’ll be happy if I’m still working through guardian and just postponing the listening part).

Optional. Play video game in japanese, use a dictionary and grammar guide when confused af. This one’s imminently likely just because the instant I get Nier remastered I’m playing it, and also playing Nier Automata etc games, so like... the opportunity and desire to play the japanese versions of games I want to do that with WILL hit me. 

Optional. Watch chinese shows. This one’s also likely because a priest novel drama adaptation just dropped (Word of Honor, shan he ling, tian ya ke/Faraway Wanderer’s adaptation) and I don’t want to wait for the english subs. 

Optional - unlikely (I’m not in the mood to listen to stuff lol). Audios. Keep listening to Japanese Quicksleur when there’s down time (like playing games), and Chinese Spoonfed audio if I feel like it. 

Personal. Keep reading while I’ve got the motivation to. I am really enjoying getting through all these books I’ve wanted to read for so long. 

BELOW I will eventually link a list of story recs (also see tag rec list for more):

Poyun 破云 (recced)

Poyun 破云 2

一级律师 by 木苏里 (recced)

盗墓笔记 series

默读 by priest

他们的故事 by 一根黄瓜丝儿 

寒舍 by 夏灬安兰 pingxie supernatural au

818 (pingxie)

鎮魂 by priest (chapter 4)

天涯客 by priest

Qi Ye 七爷 by priest

六爻 by priest

FGEP

犹记斐然 foxghost rec

一受封疆 foxghost rec

女主大人 我错 gl

将军府小妾生存报告 gl

夜半衣寒 by 夏灬安兰 pingxie (can u tell i like this author)

(瓶邪同人)所谓一切发生在网配+番外 (writer and radio voicer pingxie au)

死亡万花筒 kaleidoscope of death

将军府小妾生存报告  

女主大人，我错了  

魔女霓裳

公主饶命 GL

民政局领到了媳妇

In progressing difficulty, books I want to read and should be ready to read now, a la foxghost’s recommendations:

那些風花雪月 by Gong Zi Huan Xi (took 14 months of study before I tried to read this, did try, did not click with me lol)

不正當關係 by Gong Zi Huan Xi (foxghost said this was the same difficulty as the story above, so I’m probably ready for this one too).

*SCI 谜案集 by ErYa (I’ve heard this somewhat easy to read, is a good story, and since its case-centered I think it would be a good intro to later reading books like Silent Reading by Priest)

龍圖案卷集  by ErYa (There is an audiobook on Ximalaya!)

黑風城戰記  by ErYa (sequel to novel above)

Then the recommendation says you should probably watch a lot of shows for some vocab (I sort of do so I’ll see how that helps me out), and you can start tackling xianxia, like Priest’s “六爻, and then 鎮魂, then 殺破狼, and pretty much any other of GZHX’s works.” I would guess this point is when Tian Ya Ke would be more my reading level, when 六爻 is, at the beginning. I would guess after 鎮魂 is when I could try to tackle Can Ci Pin. Sha Po Lang is steampunk and fantasy, so I would guess it has some of the sci fi type words - so if I’d be ready for that, I might be ready for Can Ci Pin at the same time.

[mintseesaw]

Written in the Stars | one

Pairing: taehyung x reader

Genre: fluff, angst, dad!au

Word count: 6k

Warning: none

Description: read here (link in bio)

“I know, Mom. I’m about to leave.” You're on the phone with your mom, she’s reminding you about your trip to your hometown, your eyes skimming through the things you’re going to bring, making sure that nothing is forgotten.

You zipped the travel bag open, checking specifically the treats you bought yesterday in the nearby convenience store for your nephews. Joo Woon and Seo Joon are in a sugar diet but it doesn’t hurt if you spoil them once in a while.

“Okay, dear. Give us a call once you arrived at the station, I’ll ask your brother to pick you up.”

Your movements halted for a second at the mention of your brother.

“He’s home?” Since he got into uni, you rarely get the chance to see your little brother. You couldn't even admit that you miss that little punk who used to call you every time he asks you for a favor--more like when he needs money for his luxuries.

“Oh, he is. I threaten to cut his allowance off if he does not go home this weekend.”

Your eyes rolled at your mother’s remark. Indeed, she always has her ways in everything, including your trip to Daegu today.

“Mom, let him be. At least, he’s studying well. Anyways, don’t worry about me, I’ll just ride a bus or something.” You zipped it shut then hooked it on your shoulder as you sauntered your way out of the bedroom towards the sofa in the living room.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. You know my brother, mom. Yeonjun will only ask me a favor in exchange of driving me home.”

She chuckled and you can just picture her shaking her head. “Alright. Take care, dear.” Your thumb pressed the end call button then slipped the device inside your pocket.

You didnt fill your hand carry full as you don’t need a lot of clothes to change into. Also, you have remaining clothes kept somewhere in your drawers back at your parents’ house so you don’t necessarily need much.

Today’s your first Saturday to spend it back at home, first of the many coming weekends. You’re not a morning person, and if it werent for your agreement with your mom, you would have still been sleeping at this point.

The car ride to the train station was short giving you an ample of time left for you to catch the closest trip to your hometown. And as you saunter your way inside, you’re not expecting anything less than a crowd swarming within the pavement.

In no time, you have made your way to a ticket booth, purchased a ticket and settled in your seat indicated in the ticket receipt. Among the two pairs of seat facing each other, the one to your right and the pair across yours have yet to be occupied. And as you wait for the clock to strike at the time the train will leave, your eyes scan the confined space, eyeing the passengers who have also settled in like yourself before they unexpectedly land on a pair of a tall, young man and a little girl whom you assumed his daughter.

Although they have yet to reach near where you are, you could still make out the displeased expression of the man. The little girl, on the other hand, is half-sprinting ahead of him and you concluded that the action stirred the reaction present on the young man’s face. He tried to garner her attention by calling her name which you had failed to hear through the collective sound of chattering passengers. Instead of making her turn around to face him, he gains some of the passengers’ attention, heads glancing in their direction to which he bowed his head apologetically for creating an unnecessary noise. For you, it wasn’t the noise that made them turn their heads at him, it was probably his voice.

Wasting no time, in three long strides, he was able to reach for her tiny hand, taking it securely in his large one, making sure the little girl will no longer run naughtily. Once she snapped her head up and had a glimpse of his face, it’s as if she already knew she did something unpleasant. Her face fell, letting her father take her wherever their seats are without a protest. You were half-expecting for them to pass by your seat so when the same man halted his steps next to the seats across from yours, you slightly straightened your back, gathering they must be occupying of the seats across yours.

His nearness allowed you to examine him clearly and the first thing your scrutinizing eyes have landed on is his hair. It was not short, but not too long to be able to tie it up in a bun. Your eyes then traveled down his deep set of brown eyes to his pointed nose, to his pink, supple lips— you abruptly jerk your head away when you realize you’ve been staring far too long to be considered rude. You silently hoped he didnt notice that, lowering your head in utter embarassment. That‘s how you noticed your phone clutched securely in your palm.

You opened it and directed your gaze at the device, mindlessly scrolling through a social media app you just tapped, shaking away the urge to peer at the two figures in front of you.

After they had settled down, and made sure his daughter is comfortable enough, the handsome man crouched down to his daughter's eye level. Talking to her in a low voice so no one could hear it. The proximity between your seats and the wavering commotion allowed you to hear it, whether you want to or not.

"Do you promise not to do it again?" Asked in a low but deep whisper.

You heard his voice earlier, but now that you can hear it clearly and this close, it surprised you how his voice seemed deeper than you expect it to be. Not only his physical features made him a head turner, but his voice could as well. You know for sure.

The kid avoided his gaze then said, "Daddy, I want to eat." She was completely ignoring his father’s warning. And she was trying to get away with it.

"We just ate before we got here, didn’t we angel?" His forehead creased in doubt of his daughter’s claim. She was silent, blinking innocently.

"We didnt bring food though. Can my baby wait until we reach granny's house?" He softly coaxed, praying she would understand that there’s no way they would get anything to eat inside the train. He then clips some of her hair behind the shell of her ear, consoling her to her little dilemma.

"But Daddy, I'm hungry." Whines the little girl, although her pronounciation is clear and her verb communication skills are noticeably developed enough to voice out her thoughts straight into a clear message rather than saying it in chunks of phrases. Maybe she’s above the age of three.

"Didn't we just eat, angel? You're hungry again?"

She nodded vigorously, as if to prove a point. He looked helpless for a second.

It was during that moment when the train moved.

His features fell into a worry one. His goal to scold his daughter, long forgotten and washed away with concern. "Are you sure?" You heard his daughter whines again. You couldnt watch the scene continue to unfold anymore. And before you even register what you’re doing, you’re already interrupting their conversation.

"Uh— excuse me," the moment you spoke, it was an instant reaction of him to snap his head towards you. His daughter quietly peered at you. He straightened his back as he waits for you to continue talking, “Im sorry, I didn't mean to listen to your conversation. I heard... uhm your daughter... I have treats here, I'm not sure if you allow her to eat sweets—" he cuts you off politely. Your cheeks heating up when he didn't let you finish.

"No, it's fine Miss..." he trailed and look at you expectantly, waiting for you to tell your name.

"YN,"

You’re embarrassed for what you did that your mind is tricking you when you saw his eyes glinted by the mention of your name.

"... Miss YN, I mean, you didn't have to." He offered a smile and you’re not sure if it’s in response to your offer or a consolation to your flushed face.

"I was just considering that the journey will take more than 2 hours. And we just left Seoul..."

You waited as his eyebrows meet, pondering over the situation. It wouldnt upset you if he wouldnt accept it, since you’re a stranger and if youre in his shoes, it would be reasonable enough to second doubt a stranger’s intention.

He heaves a long sigh, raking his eyes to his daughter’s figure. If it weren’t for his daughter, he’d be too shy to accept anything from anyone.

"Okay, but please let me replace it once we get there."

You shook your head, “It's alright. I can just buy another."

"For your kids?"

Your mind momentarily went blank, suddenly losing the ability to process and comprehend a question.

"What?"

"The sweets."

Then it clicks in your mind. “Oh!" You chuckled, then briefly corrected his query, "...nephews."

This time around, it is his turn to blush. The faint crimson tinting his cheeks made him no less than the attractive man that he is. He looks dashing, regardless.

"Right, I'm sorry for assuming. I shouldn't have asked in the first place."

You didnt speak, but offered him a polite smile in reply. Your hand went to the small travel bag which you placed to the empty seat beside yours, lightly rummaging through the contents inside well aware that you’re under the scrutiny of two sets of eyes, watching your every movement in pure curiosity.. It shouldnt take you long to find it since you put them on top of the clothes. The familiar touch of the plastic wrapper made its way to your palm and you pull one out, and hand it over to the little girl.

His daughter, whom you heard her father called her Jae hya, looked at him as if to get a consent before accepting the treat from your hand.

He nodded and mouthed a ‘Thank you’ towards your direction before glancing back at her daughter, ‘What will you say to Miss YN, angel?”

Blinking a few times, she answered shyly in her cute adorable voice, “Thank you, Miss YN.”

“Just YN please,” you softly said then laughed a little before continuing, “and you’re welcome.”

Silence filled the air after the small interaction, to which you used the opportunity to divert your attention back to your phone.

The only time you dared to look up at him again is when he introduced himself out of nowhere.

"Taehyung,"

Your eyes instinctively flicked up at the sound of his deep and thick voice and met his intense gaze. His hand held out across the rectangular platform which created a little distance between your seats. Your eyes travelled from his eyes to his palm pushed forward in front of you, you stared at it for a second admiring how impressively large it is compared to yours before accepting the handshake. The warmth of his hand felt contrastingly good to the cold temperature inside the train. But then the moment ended shortly as you took your hand back quickly, startled by the sudden faint cold enveloping in your spine as his long and slender fingers made contact to your slim ones.

Sensing your awkwardness in the situation he cleared his throat as if to ease the strange tension between you, pulling himself back to his seat. Your head tilted on your left where the clear window allowed you to watch the blurry view outside. There’s nothing entertaining or astonishing in the view that can prolong your attention there, but you could just pretend to be immersed with it if it’s the only way to escape the chance of getting an an eye contact with him.

He was not intimidating at all. In fact, he’s polite and seems like a good father. The smile on his face while you were conversing with him is surprisingly sincere. But the rational in you tries to disregard the certain pull that’s accentuating in him.

Why would he waste his time to you? You’re someone he personally does not know of as well as he is for you.

But...is it wrong to appreciate his perfect exterior features? After all, he’s just not simply beautiful. The word alone would not give justice to describe him. He can be likened to an ethereal creature whom god generously gifted too much of all the good physical attributes that one human can have.

And when he stared at you—the intensity that his eyes hold when he sets them on you, it was too much to just let him rest them on you while your insides are melting. You try to shake away the emerging attraction.

Isnt it too soon for that?

He’s just a stranger— a passenger travelling from Seoul to Dongdaegu station which also happens to be where you’re boarded into, and whom his seat is across yours. That’s just it. You’ll never see him again. The thought becomes your internal mantra the whole journey in order to dissipate the agitated feeling inside you that one could mistakenly concluded as a look of indifference while you motionlessly peer at the window.

Two hours and more had passed and the train stopped to your destination. During the whole ride, you were not even spared a single wink of sleep from the mere presence in front of you. His eyes are shut when you stood up and walk towards one of the exit doors, unsure if he spared you a glance during the rest of the journey. It shouldn’t matter anymore because you wouldn't see him again. And the embarrassing act which hinted your little act of eavesdropping to their personal conversation should be buried deep in your memory lane where you can’t remember it forever.

“YN!” Your mom exclaimed happily when she opens the front door, greeting you with a warm hug.

It was more than four weeks ago when she paid you a visit in your place in Seoul and it was the last you’ve seen of her until today. You hugged her back.

“Come, let’s eat. Table’s ready for breakfast...”

Your eyes skimmed the vicinity of the before asking, “Where’s Yeonjun?”

Just as your mother heard you and is about to speak to reveal where your brother is, Yeonjun timingly appeared from the doorway of the kitchen. He was munching something you’re not sure what of. Not to mention, his mouth is full. When you say full, his cheeks are swelling and his lips are barely closing from the contents filling exaggeratingly inside his mouth. When your mother’s eyes landed on his form, he flinches. The mere sight of her giving you and him an indication of what is to come.

“Yeonjun!” He earns a smack in his arm from your mother, “I told you to wait up!” She gritted.

Yeonjun immediately went behind your back, knowing he’ll be spared the scolding if he has someone protecting him from your mother’s wrath and someone as a human shield from another impending spank.

He complains, “I’m starving, Mom. I didnt have dinner last night.” You chuckled, not at his reason but from the manner he delivered it, they way a three year-old kid would reason out if they get caught red handed eating sweets when they’re not allowed to. Going to college didn't change him one bit. He’s still the immature younger brother that you know.

Such a baby.

“Who isnt? Your father is as hungry as you are!”

He didnt reply but you could hear him mockingly imitate her in a low voice so she couldn’t hear. It made you snorted further. Your mother eyed you briefly, her eyebrow shot up in question. She threw a harmless warning at him before proceeding back to the kitchen.

“You rascal,” you poked, ruffling his hair at the same.

“Stop that, Noona, I just fixed my hair.” He whines, swatting your hand away from his hair.

“Oooh, my baby brother’s growing up. When did you learn to clean up?” You teased further. He rolled his eyes in response.

“Stop calling me that. I’m not a baby...look I’m even taller than you.” he retorted back, a side smirk appearing on his face, mocking your obvious insufficiency in the height department.

You playfully rub his cheek as if to literally wipe off the smirk on his face. He reacted impulsively, grabbing your hand away from his face.

“Noona… stop!” he grumbled. His efforts seemed to be wasted as he firmly locked both of your hands in his fist but he was kept pestered on as you kicked his thighs in return, trying to get away from his hold.

You were enjoying the look of complete irritation in his face like he’s ready to throw you off the window at any second in any chance that he gets.

“YN noona!” he frustratingly exclaimed while struggling to keep hold of you. “Why are you being annoying? You literally just got here.”

“Carry me to the dining table.” You softly demanded, as if you’re not locked up from his hands. Despite his strength and towering height, he’s scared enough to use it to his advantage against you and a sly grin making its way on your face knowing that he’ll eventually obey you.

His face scrunched up, trying to mock your command. “What are you, 5?”

“Piggy back ride, then I’ll leave you be.”

He dramatically lets out a sigh before he follows to your bidding, “Fine.”

Your parents both send you a weird look when Yeonjun entered in the dining room with you on his back. After he puts you down, and after you briefly greet your dad and flop down on an empty chair beside your brother’s, the four of you finally started eating, anything but a silent breakfast. It’s always like that, especially when your brother is present. He also has his way of annoying you as much as you have to him and if not for your mother chiding in between your bickering, you wouldn’t try to shut up as well as your brother.

As the short duration of the meal ends, your father ordered your brother to do the chore of washing the dishes. Being a baby that he is, he whined helplessly as if it can change your father’s order.

Your sister and the twins arrived shortly after breakfast. Your temporary job or as your sister calls it your duty as an aunt starts right away, babysitting them as they play in the confines of the living room. Toy cars, animal figurines and pieces of legos were left scattered all over the floor and you helplessly sat on the floor while looking out for your nephews to make sure they won’t hurt themselves. At this point, you find the chance to talk to Chae through the phone, while your eyes never leaving the two handful human beings wherever they waddled to. When she came to know you’re currently at your parents’ house, she immediately gossiped the information in the groupchat you share with your old friends whom you met in high school.

“How’s the city girl doing?” It was Chae right when you reached the table where you found her sitting in inside the famous Samgyeopsal place in the town. It was about twenty minute drive from your parents’ house. She arrived to the diner before you and Hoseok did and obviously selected a table while waiting for everyone to show up.

You were greeted with smoke and pleasantly tolerable chattering coming from the customers as you and Hoseok went inside. Hoseok took the chair which is literally across the grilling area of the table.

“Just fine.” You casually shrug your shoulders, asking you as if you two haven’t been talking on the phone for at least half an hour.

Chae craned her neck trying to peer behind your back, probably looking for the others. Hoseok gave you a ride so you only came with him.

“Where’s Yoongi and Irene? I swear to God those two are always competing for the last one to show up.”

“I called Irene to say I’m gonna pick her up along with YN, but she mentioned baby Leo is sick so she couldn’t make it.” He told you that earlier in the car on the way here. He continued talking when no one else has yet to throw a remark, “Yoongi-hyung… well you know him, he’s probably just late.” Chae curtly nodded in acknowledgement.

“Chae told me your auto repair business is expanding, Hobi.” You began, and in a way, to talk about something far more important. If Chae didn’t share the information, you probably wouldn’t have known. Among the group, you’re always the last one to know what’s going on with your friends’ lives, not only that you’re the only one who left the town to work, you also rarely get the time to communicate with them.

“Oh, yeah. It’s going great, the number of customers is growing so there’s also a demand to expand the area. But you guys know it’s not solely mine. I have a business partner.”

“Are you talking about that beautiful, young man in your office when I came to your shop? You didnt even introduce us!” Chae accusingly asserted.

A familiar lady, who you recognized as the owner of the diner, appeared on your table. Fresh slices of pork belly in a plate and side dishes in the tray being balanced in a single hand as she placed them one by one on the table. Another helper came, serving the rest of the dishes Chae first handedly ordered. Hoseok attentively took the plate filled with meat and started grilling them.

His eyes narrowing at her remark. “Shut up, Chae. He just recently got divorced.”

“The more reason you need to introduce me to him. You know, he might be looking for someone to forget his wife.”

You throw a potato marble in her direction using your chopsticks. It was too late when she tried to cover her face with her hands as it landed on her shoulder. You heard Hoseok roared into fits of laughter. She winces even though it was faintly thrown, thus, she’s only being dramatic. “What? I’m desperate. Perhaps, your brother—” she ducked and screeched when she saw you raised your chopsticks, anticipating the impact of another potato marble.

“He’s 19.” You grated casually knowing that she’s being in her satirical self.

“So? He’s attractive.”

“So is Ji Soo. Better option since he’s around our age.” You teased, your smirk growing as a distaste look replaces her bright and playful aura. Hoseok yet again fell into a series of laughter in pure amusement which made you laugh in return. He’s the only person who can make you laugh through the sound of his laughter alone.

“Why don’t you give the poor guy a chance? He’s been pursuing since forever.”

“No, thanks. I’d rather be single.” She scornfully expressed while spontaneously filling her mouth anything that her chopsticks can reach to divert her attention, mostly kimchi and anchovies.

“He’s not that bad, seems like a nice guy to me and probably better than your ex-fling.”

“Yeah, he once stopped by the shop. He’s nice.” Hoseok seconded your comment to her dismay. Her face scrunched up in disgust.

“Why is the topic suddenly shifted to that guy? I can’t stand him, okay?”

Before you can bite back a reply, Yoongi suddenly appeared, coolly sitting up beside Hoseok.

With a simper, Chae retorted at the swift appearance of the honey-haired man, “Look who decided to finally show up.”

As usual, he doesn’t seem one bit embarrassed from being almost half an hour late. He gave a brief nod in your direction, acknowledging your presence before taking a pair of chopsticks and took a bite from Hoseok’s ramen.

“I couldn’t leave until Yoo-Ri sleeps.” He states in an indifferent manner, even though no one was questioning his late arrival. Maybe you all just got used to it.

“Aww,” Chae’s hand flew on her chest, clutching it, a gesture of mock admiration to which Yoongi responded by rolling his eyes. “Such a sweet father.”

He ignored her jest, then spoke in between chews of food in his mouth, “So, what’s up?”

“YN, wants to treat us. That’s what.” Chae proudly announces which you send her a dumbfounded look, not expecting her comment.

“I didn’t say that.”

“She’ll pay the bill anyway,”

“I’m sure city girl will,” Yoongi snickered. The pet name came from him. As you’re the only one who went away from the town for better opportunities of your career. All of you separately went to uni outside Daegu. But the rest of them, unlike you, came back here. Yoongi married a year ago and chose to settle down here, as well as Irene who got married right after college. Hoseok started a business related to his degree and Chae works in one of the district hospitals here as a nurse.

In between chitchats of you and Chae, and Yoongi and Hoseok, your sudden visit in Daegu became the main topic of conversation when Yoongi asked out of nowhere, “Are you planning to stay here for good?”

You shook your head, “Plain visit. My mom wants me babysit the kids every weekends.”

“You’re going back to Seoul?” Yoongi interrogated further.

Uncertain of where the conversation is going, you tell him, “My work is in Seoul...”

“But where do you wanna live permanently?” It was Hoseok, this time. Now their attention is solely aimed at you, peering as they curiously wait for you to answer.

“I don’t know…”

“Life is much better here.” Yoongi acknowledges. Of course, he’ll say that. For one, he wouldn’t decide to live here if he thinks otherwise.

“Are you guys convincing me to live back here?”

She shrugged of her shoulders. “Maybe?” You didn’t respond to that, mostly because you’re confused why the casual conversation turned serious and seemingly fishy in your perspective. Are they teaming up now? For what?

“I mean, there’s like a tiny chance of running into...him if you’re here.” She further supplied.

Your eyes remained at Chae processing her words, although you’re certain the two guys are observing your reaction by the mention of your ex, an indicator rather. They must have thought you’re still not okay. You admit you’re not entirely healed up. But it doesn’t mean you’re hopelessly waiting for him to come back. You’re done with him. Nothing will ever make you change your mind, even so much as him literally begging the place he once have in your life, though you’re certain he wouldn’t.

The pain caused by the remnants of your wounds is what’s making you emotionally reserved these past few weeks. You’re broken and you’ve learned to cope up with it. You’re still broken because the past keeps haunting you for it was hard to erase years of your life that you had spent with him. 8 years to be exact. But it was just that. It’s not because you haven’t moved on. In fact, you don’t love him anymore. The pain that he caused is the only thing that reminds you of him now.

“Even if I do, I can manage. It’s not like I’m avoiding him, anyway.”

Yoongi decided to interfere as the atmosphere abruptly changes, “Let’s just drink.” He then called the attention of the lady owner, ordering bottles of soju.

The night ended pretty much later than you have expected. Hoseok’s low alcohol tolerance already made him wasted after half of the shots Yoongi have had, as well as Chae. Unlike him, Yoongi looks fine except for his flushed cheeks and neck. Not even a flicker of drunkenness can be identified in him. The current situation led him to volunteer himself to drive Hoseok’s car since all of you didn’t bring any car except for the owner himself who’s barely holding up and almosr crawling his way back to where his car is parked.

Both Hoseok and Chae have literally passed out right after you and Yoongi brought them to the backseat. It was quiet on the ride home. And you’re not complaining about it.

This day went a little productive than you anticipated it to be. The hangout was unplanned and a spur of the moment decision while you were talking to Chae through the phone. You mindlessly brought up the desire to go out to Chae, not really thinking the others would take it seriously if you ever ask them through the groupchat. The next thing you know, Chae have set up the the time and place where everyone will meet up to have a little drink and Hoseok calling you up to tell you he’d pick you up on the way.

In the midst of the silence inside the car, an image of the man earlier in the train flashed into your mind, to your dismay.

He’s just no one.

Yoongi decided to break the comforting silence. “You’ll be back next Saturday?” He rolled down the window and lit up a cigarette which you’re not aware where he got it from. Inside his pocket? You guessed.

“Yeah.”

“To babysit?” He chuckled, resting his elbow against the driver’s side’s door, the stick in between his forefinger and middle finger poking outside the window as he puffs out a smoke through his mouth. His other hand permanently glued on the steering wheel.

“Something like that…”

His efforts to casually converse with you was short lived as he noticed through his peripheral vision how all the events that occured today are gradually taking its toll on you. So he just continued to drive without opening up another conversation.

He only spoke later on when he stopped in front of your parents’ house, right after you slid off the car, and is about to close the passenger’s door.

“Give me a call if you wanna set up a little playdate with the kids and Yoo-Ri. I’m sure my wife wouldn’t mind it.” A smile made its way on your face, nodding at his offer. The twins will be ecstatic to meet another playmate.

“Sure. Drive safely, yeah?”

He gave you a curt nod then rolled the window up in the passenger’s side and drove away.

That night was the last you saw them yet. Days flew by in a blur unlike the past weeks and months which felt longer than this week that had quickly passed. You hate to admit that the weekend you spent with your family and with your old friends did a wonderful refreshment to you. You’d rather not tell your mom that she’s right, yet again. That her idea made a great effect on you.

When Monday came, you’re already anticipating another weekend to spend to in Daegu. And now that it’s already Saturday, you couldn’t wait to see them again today. You’re not sure who exactly you're excited to see of. Perhaps, being around the presence of people you trust without reservation puts you in peace. Being away with your loved ones and faced with strangers, colleagues, gravely contributes to your pent up frustration of doubting everyone’s sincerity towards you. After what happened.

All you’ve been chasing throughout these years is a decent life somewhere with someone you love thinking it’s the simplest form of happiness. After he broke off the engagement, the man whom you thought you’d spend the rest of your life with and the future you created with him all vanished into the thin air. When he officially left your shared apartment, you thought it was also the end for you. Not knowing how you’d recover from the severe damage he inflicted. That the rest of your life will be spent full of pretense happiness, with pure indifference and hatred to the world.

Now that you’ve realized what you’ve become after he left, it’s a good thing for you that he’s already out of your life. Because loathing the world instead of directing it towards him says how badly infatuated you are to him. To the point of blaming everyone for your heartbreak instead of aiming your fury to the person who have caused it. This would be the last time you’ll think of him. Even a flicker of his name, or a tinge of his image in your mind. You wont think of him, unless an external force coerces you to.

It was the last thing you remembered before falling asleep in the comforts of your seat.

He couldn’t help but stare mesmerizingly and in full awe. His lips parted, eyes twinkling from admiration, barely blinking, as if afraid to let his sight falter to such view in front of him. An angel. It was as if luck is on his side. She was already asleep when he arrived at his seat not too far away from her. But taken aback when he saw her, sleeping. Noticing the vacancy of the seats across her, he risked occupying them with his daughter sleeping on his arms as he settled in front of the woman who has filled his thoughts since that day. Indeed, luck is in his favor because nobody has claimed the seats.

Now, he’s not only sitting across her, the closest he could get, he can also stare at her sleeping form and could do it longer without making her uncomfortable like the last time. Hair getting in the way of her face as her head swayed to the said and he wants so much as push it aside to see her face more clearly. She looks like a beautiful angel, one that was sent to rescue them last Saturday and one who is responsible for making his heart flutter involuntarily.

When she offered the sweets for his daughter, it was an instant thought that she may have kids on her own although he shouldnt have voiced it out. Because she looks mature enough to be one, in a good way. Taehyung witnessed his friends bloom in their motherhood stage. It was that kind of maturity that he sees in her.

His eyes instinctively searched for her hand, for her ring finger that may hold him back. His heart does an overwhelming tug when he saw your finger unoccupied by a wedding band. Perhaps, a boyfriend? The same thought trailed in his mind as he noticed her stirring from her slumber. He moves his eyes towards his little princess, sleeping soundly beside him. And when he moves it back in front where the beautiful angel is sitting, his eyes widens.

She’s awake. And her reaction completely mimics his. Surprise evidently written on her face. For what reason?

You’re dreaming, aren’t you? Your mind must be creating an illusion at the place where you first laid eyes on him. You were thinking of him too much than you care to admit for letting him wander in your mind alone is unnecessary. You literally just broke up with you fiancée some months ago. You’re not supposed to relevantly consider the idea of him, someone you’re probably attracted with like a teenager that you’re not.

Your eyes fluttered, expecting to see nothing but the cushioned chair in front of you as you open them again.

Your breath hitched when your eyes landed on him yet again. He was looking at you with the same intensity like the last time. The same one which made you strangely uncomfortable.

He’s really here?

Your eyes traveled beside his seat. It is taken as well. By the sleeping figure of Jae hya. Have your mind gone wild making an image not only him in it but including his daughter...which likened the scene last Saturday? This time though, he is wearing a different button up shirt, larger than his body size but strangely suits him well. If this image in front of you is real, isn’t it weird to be seated across with a man and his daughter twice in a row?

Your heart achingly tugs against your chest when a smile slowly surfaces on his face while he locks his eyes on you.

The longer you stare back at him, completely immobile from your seat, the harder it gets to believe a part of you which convinces you this is not true.

The same man who has kept your mind unwarrantedly occupied is here? Same train in a same day. What is the probability of seeing him again? There’s only a tiny bit chance. Coincidence? Possibly… or perhaps, fate?

mintseesaw © 2019

⇀

an: unedited :( what do you guys think?

[writingpaperghost]

I Would Offer It Happy With a Smile on My Face (Chapter 21)

Chapter 21: Don’t Worry ‘Cause We’re With You And Ready For the Fight

Turns out there’s a bit of a reason Mebius ended up here.

AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/24860734/chapters/64224799

It’s been about a week since Mirai was, quite literally, flung into this world. After their fight with Windom, not much had happened, there hadn’t even been a stray monster wandering into the city. Nor did anyone appear to take credit for either of the robot attacks.

Unfortunately, they really had no way of getting Mirai back home. He was stuck there until a portal back to his world opened or someone came along who could take him back. He was, effectively, in the same boat as Asahi. Except at least Asahi knew something for sure about how she ended up in Kurokita.

So Mirai and Asahi continued their training in the morning. Asahi wanted to get better at fighting, and Mirai was more than willing to help her. It was during one of these training sessions that Jun, Rin, and Fuyuko wandered in, watching. They used KPaRS training room –  which the existence of befuddled Asahi, as KPaRS only required basic self-defense training – so it wasn’t like it was hard for anyone to walk in. It was just odd, because Jun, Rin, and Fuyuko knew they were in there, so they had to choose to come in on purpose. Maybe they were just curious, but it didn’t make it any less strange.

“So this is what you two do in here for several hours,” Fuyuko noted idly, “Well, at least this room is actually getting some proper usage.”

Mirai nods very seriously, “Training is important,” He said, “You must not only work with others to become stronger, but work on yourself.”

“’A chain is only as strong as its weakest link’,” Rin supplies, “In order for a group to become stronger, each individual must also grow.”

With a nod of affirmation, Mirai says, “Exactly,” Then he looks to the side slightly, “Truthfully, it’s nice to be able to train in this form again.”

Jun arches a brow at that, “Really? How come?”

Mirai looks to them again, “It reminds me of when I would train with my friend.” He looks very serious again as he continues, “When we would train, Ryu would always make us yell the Five Ultra Oaths.”

“The Five Ultra Oaths…?” It was Asahi’s turn to be confused.

Mirai nodded, then began to list, “I will not go to school on an empty stomach. I will go out and play when the weather is good. I will watch out for cars when watching the stree. I will not rely on others. I will play and run around barefoot.”

There’s a moment of silence after he finished, everyone taking some time to process what he said. Fuyuko squints, looking like she was about to say something but thought better of it. Rin raises their brows, seemingly surprised. Asahi tilts her head, slightly confused.

It’s Jun who voices their confusion, “Those sound like something you’d tell children.” It was a blunt observation, but it did cover what they were all thinking.

“Well that’s because they are…” Mirai explained, though he continued, “But that’s not what’s important about them.”

“Okay,” Rin says, tugging at the end of their scarf, “What’s so important about them, then?”

He pauses for a moment, then responds, “Ryu learned them from his former captain, who died with the rest of their team.” He explained, “When he taught them to us, it was him recognizing us as members of Crew GUYS – as his teammates. It was just a part of what he brought with him, and then it became a part of what made us all teammates.”

Fuyuko smiled, “Sounds like you had some great teammates there,”

“They were,” Mirai smiled, “I knew after I saw them risk their lives to save Konomi’s class’ rabbits, that they would do well in Crew GUYS.”

He shook his head then turned to them, “What about you guys?” He asked, “Aren’t you good teammates?”

Jun tilted her head, Rin shrugged. But Fuyuko laughed. She then looked at Mirai, “We’re as good of teammates as we can be, I suppose. But not everyone is as lucky as you.”

Rin turned to look at Fuyuko, “I think we’re better than you realize,” They looked to the side for a moment, sighing, “I mean, we all work together pretty well, we get along, and we all share similar goals.”

“Maybe,” She shrugged, “Maybe not. Who’s to say?”

Asahi laughed at the two. Fuyuko may not have necessarily thought so, but Asahi was of the opinion that there was no other group of people she’d rather be working with than those at KPaRS. She didn’t choose them, not in the way that Mirai seemed to have. But she’s heard what they’ve had to say and she’s seen what they’ve done.

---

While their mornings were occupied with training, there wasn’t much they did in the afternoon. They’d get lunch – Mirai got to eat all his rice these following days – and then sometimes Asahi would drag him around the city, other times they hang around the base. There really wasn’t much to do. Like today.

Asahi and Mirai were playing a game of what Asahi liked to call “Guess the Kaiju”. You had to close your eyes and try to guess which Kaiju from Asahi’s Kaiju Crystals were currently trying to get pets. At the moment, it was Mirai’s turn and he was currently gently feeling Jasyuline, who was happy for the attention.

“Is it… Gomora?”

Asahi laughed and shook her head, “No, more stone like.”

“Sodom?”

“No!”

“I give up,” Mirai pouts, opening his eyes. He startles at Jasyuline, who has moved to put his three faces in Mirai’s face. Jasyuline laughs then disappears.

Before they can start Asahi’s turn, Katsuhito walks in, holding some papers in his hand. He seems vaguely irritated, “Okay, why are these missing person reports being sent down to us?”

The question seemed to be directed at Hisoka, more than anyone else, who simply sighs, “Because there was a strange pollen found at all the scenes.” He sounds somewhat tired, as though he knows what Katsuhito is going to say next.

“Okay, but we’re engineers,” Katsuhito said, “Not scientists. Why are these going to KPaRS anyway? Shouldn’t they go to the police?”

“You would think,” Is Hisoka’s dry response, “But the police are convinced that there’s a Kaiju involved. We don’t really have anyone to handle these cases, though, so they’re in limbo.”

Katsuhito rolled his eyes, “Why do they think there’s a monster involved?”

“The cases are all really similar, people who have been… down on their luck, so to speak, suddenly disappearing and the last place their seen having that strange pollen nearby.” Hisoka explained, “That and the fact they all happened within the last twenty-four hours. The police were quick to hand them to us, but not much we can do about it.”

“Some job the police are doing,” Katsuhito scoffed, then looked around, holding the papers up, “So what do I do with these?”

Hisoka shrugged, looking to Matsuoka, “Captain?”

Matsuoka seemed hesitant, “Ideally, we’d look into them,” He said, looking just the slight bit distressed, “But since we don’t have anyone, I suppose we’ll have to-“

Mirai shoots up from his seat, “Asahi and I could look into them,” He offered, “These sound a lot like something that happened on my Earth.”

Matsuoka seemed thoughtful, though still hesitant, “I suppose… But neither of you are actually members of KPaRS…” He looked over at Katsuhito, “Someone would have to go with you…”

Katsuhito sighed, “And I’m the one who should go with them.”

“Well since you offered,”

“I walked into that,” Katsuhito groaned, “Well it’s fine, I need a break from Chi anyway.”

“Right,” Mirai nodded, “Lead the way.”

---

The first place they investigated was a street in a residential area, right in front of an apartment complex. The area had been half heartedly cordoned off by the police, but everyone seemed to be trying to steer clear of it regardless.

Katsuhito consults the report in his hand, “Right, so, Hideyoshi Takenaka, last seen leaving the apartment complex here,” He points to the apartment complex they’re in front of, “at about three a.m. Like a madman. Anyway, there’s a blind spot on the cameras here and he just. Disappeared, it seems.”

“But to where?” Asahi asked, “The only place that the cameras wouldn’t catch is that alley, and the wall back there is way too high for a human to make it over.”

Katsuhito shrugged, “Beats me, but he sure disappeared. Apparently, someone saw something and reported it. A Kokoro Sasaki, who we’ll have to talk to, at some point.”

Mirai looked around the area. He seemed to notice the strange pile of what appeared to be pollen. He made his way over, crouching to get a better look. Katsuhito and Asahi peer over his shoulder.

“Is that seriously pollen?” Asahi asked, to which Katsuhito only shrugged. Mirai frowned but didn’t say anything about it. Instead, he looked to Katsuhito and with a serious expression said, “We should go talk to this witness.”

Katsuhito nods and consults the report once again. “Right, she lives in the complex here, let’s go.”

It only took them a couple minutes to reach the apartment they were looking for. Katsuhito knocked on the door, which was answered by a woman. Presumably Kokoro Sasaki. She seemed a bit distressed, but mostly irritated.

“Are you Kokoro Sasaki?” Katsuhito asked, to which he was met with a nod, “We’re with KPaRS and we’re here to ask you about the disappearance of Hideyoshi Takenaka. Apparently, you saw something?”

Sasaki sighed, “Yeah, I was waiting for a friend in the lobby when I look out the window and I see this guy talking with him. I didn’t think too much about it, but then next thing I know there’s like – a vine or something grabbing at him – I don’t know.” She ran her hand through her hair, “It was freaky. I went out to look for him, but all I could find was some weird stuff. Like pollen or something. Seriously, I’m not sure.”

If anything, what Sasaki saw made less sense then Takenaka just disappearing from thin air. Maybe a vine grabbed him or something? That only raised more questions and barely answered any they already had.

Katsuhito sighed, but Mirai looked thoughtful. Again, though, if he knew anything, he wasn’t saying anything. Katsuhito thanked Sasaki for her time them turned to face Asahi and Mirai.

“Alright,” He sighed, “So that made about as much sense as a two-year-old trying to write, so I guess we’ll have to check another report out.”

As it turned out, all the other reports were much of the same story. If there was even anyone to talk to. But there was always that pile of pollen. Looking into the missing people simply showed that they were always people who were in a bad place. Someone just died, they just lost their job, or they were simply struggling with life.

But Mirai, it seemed, had some idea of what was going on. As they finished investigating the sight of the last missing person, outside the city at the edge of the forest in a little campground, Mirai seemed a bit distracted. He was examining the pile of pollen, identical to the ones they had seen prior. No one had saw anything here, despite the fact that there was someone in the campsite just a few yards away. All they said they heard was the person talking to someone, which was about as helpful as what people had seen or heard in other cases.

So, as far as Asahi and Katsuhito were concerned, they had no idea what could have been happening. These cases were all connected, clearly, but by what, exactly, they didn’t know. The pollen was the most obvious thing, but even then, how could they explain it? A flower monster? They had far too many questions and far too few answers. There was just no explanation to be found.

Asahi, frankly, just wished that something would happen, that they’d find something that might be able to point them towards an answer. But everywhere they looked, it was all the same thing, all the same clues and pieces. It was frustrating, especially since she was certain there were people who must be worried about these missing people.

Katsuhito groaned, “Ugh, and this is why I like to leave the detective work to people who are, you know, actual detectives.” He glances around once again, then looks at the report in his hand. And then he groans, again, “Seriously, what are we even supposed to be able to figure out from this?”

With a shrug, Asahi climbed atop a large rock, as though it might help her see something they were missing. It didn’t, but she had to admit she felt cool on it. Finally, Mirai stood up and glanced around.

“I think I know what’s behind this,” He said.

Asahi leaned a bit in Mirai’s direction, now balancing in a crouch on the rock. Katsuhito looked up at him, an astounded look on his face. “Seriously?” He was surprised, to say the least.

Mirai nodded, a serious look on his face, “Like I thought, these cases really are similar to ones I saw with Crew GUYS.” He hummed in thought briefly, “If I recall, they were caused by a plant monster, one that had flowers that could disguise themselves as humans. The pollen that the flowers could expel was able to paralyze their victims, who they then brought to the parent plant…”

Katsuhito frowned, “Okay, yeah, there’s definitely some similarities there…” He taps his finger his handful of missing persons reports, “You think that they could be caused by the same plant?”

“Or a similar plant,”

“Wouldn’t a bit plant be kind of hard to hide, though?” Asahi slides off the rock, looking at Mirai.

He shook his head, “It could easily hide somewhere that doesn’t get a lot of people. A forest, say.”

She blinks, “A forest, like the one we’re right next to?”

Mirai’s eyes widened as he seemed to have came to the same conclusion as she did, “Yes,”

Then Katsuhito butts in, “Okay, that’s great,” He said, “But we can’t just. Go into that forest looking for some monster-sized plant that may or may not actually exist.”

He crossed his arms and continued, “Why don’t we go back to base and work from there? Captain probably has a good idea of how to deal with this.”

Though Mirai looked hesitant, he didn’t put up a fight. Asahi frowned, “But what if the plant kidnaps more people?”

“What if,” Katsuhito repeated, “We really have to think about this carefully. If that plant’s in there – which we don’t even know for sure – then it’s too dangerous to just waltz in. You two may be able to become giants and what-not, but I sure can’t.”

Asahi pouted, “I guess you’re right.” She just really didn’t like the idea of just leaving it, especially if more people could be captured by the flower. But Katsuhito had a point, they didn’t know if Mirai was right and they had no way of knowing, if Mirai was right, whether the monster was even in this forest. They’d just have to wait and see what happened.

“Great,” Katsuhito gave her a small, reassuring smile, “Now let’s get going.”

They barely make it out of the spot designated as the campsite when a person just. Walks in front of them. The person is dressed rather oddly, in a long trench coat and fedora, like a spy or detective in an old movie. But they also moved oddly, in sort of janky, stiff movements. Different then a robot, but still very… inhuman.

“Can we help you?” Katsuhito called out, warily eyeing the person.

The person took a step towards them. They couldn��t come any closer, though, as in small flashes of light, Regina and Jasyuline had appeared, placing themselves between the three of them and the person. Regina growled and fired her missiles at the person, causing them to stumble back. The attack revealed what the person was, as rather than a person, they were a flower like being. Its body appeared to be made of stalk, leaves, and vines, while the head looked like a stalk, with a flower blooming on top.

The flower raised its arms and vines extended from it, heading towards them. Jasyuline summoned his boomerang weapons and cut them, causing them to fall to the ground. With a cry of what Asahi could only assume was pain, the monster stumbled backwards. Then, it turned and ran, heading towards the forest.

“You two go after that thing!” Katsuhito called as he began running off, “I’ll head back to base and report!”

Mirai began to run after the flower and Asahi followed close behind, Regina and Jasyuline returning to their Crystal form and flying into her hand. They follow the flower into the forest a distance, before it seemingly disappeared into the trunk of a large tree.

Asahi quickly looked around, trying to figure out where the flower could have gone. “There’s no where it could have gone!” She sighed and leaned against the tree.

Mirai frowned, “It had to have gone somewhere…” He closed his eyes in thought, “If I remember right the larger plant that the flowers came from resembled a very, very large tree.”

“Like how large?”

“About the size of a Kaiju or so.”

“Woah,” She gasped, “That’s like, really big! How could someone just miss that?”

He shrugged, “Well…”

Asahi feels something at her ankle, then it sort of climbs higher, slithering up her leg. It felt odd, like a plant. “Huh?” She looked down, then jerked in shock. There was a vine wrapping itself around her leg, another one starting on her other. “Uh, Mirai…” She attempts to pull free, but to no luck.

Mirai looks at her, “What is it?”

“Vines!” She summons her sword and tries to cut at them, to no avail. Instead, a vine only comes to try to grab at her wrist.

He’s startled for a moment before he comes to try to pry the vines away. He has about as much luck as she had with her sword, which she’s now dropped. Mirai looks up, at the tree she had been leaning against.

“The tree,” He said, “The tree’s the Kaiju.”

Asahi groaned, “Great, but what am I supposed to do?”

“Try transforming,” Mirai suggested, “Then we can deal with it.”

That was a great plan, in theory. And it would probably work, for Mirai. He only needed his left wrist to transform. “I can’t. I need both hands!” Judging by the look on his face, Mirai clearly hadn’t thought of that.

Right on time, as she often was, Regina appeared again, breathing fire against the vines that held Asahi’s wrist. The with the vines burned away and her hand free, Asahi was able to transform now. She nods at Mirai and they both transform.

Now she could see just how big the tree was. It was widest at its base, where it seemed like many trunks came together. Its arms appeared to be made of vines and the top of its head was covered in foliage. It had sinister looking face with bits of wood that appeared like fangs.

“Is this the monster that’s been making people disappear?”

It seems like Mebius was going to respond, but he didn’t get a chance. He’s cut off by a laugh and pinkish feathers swirling around. Soon they took form, one that Grigio was surprised they hadn’t seen sooner.

“Hello there, Ultras.” Kenshin greets with a laugh, “How do you like Sorichra?”

“Of course you’re the one behind this,” Grigio sighed, then points at him, “Let all those people go!”

Kenshin seems to ignore her, instead turning his attention to Mebius, “Do you like seeing it again? I was trying to get it for a while now… But I ended up getting you instead.” Grigio had a feeling they were about to get something of a villainous monologue. “So I had to send some… Distractions. But I have Sorichra now, so it’s all fine, though I suppose I also have another Ultra annoyance to deal with.”

“But why do you want Sorichra?” Mebius questioned, “Why go to all this trouble?”

With a laugh and a spin, Kenshin just gives the impression of a smug smile and says, “The question of the hour, isn’t it?” He taps his temple, “But I’ll let you figure that out. After all, you’ve done a wonderful job playing detective so far.”

“But why kidnap all those people?” Grigio watches him carefully, wary that he might disappear if she doesn’t.

“They’re all in such horrible places,” He responds with mock concern, “Sorichra is simply giving them an escape. A perfect world without a worry to be found.”

If she could see his eyes, she was certain he’d have narrowed them, his next statement seeming to be directed at her. “Doesn’t that sound nice?”

“The world has its hardships so we can learn and grow from them,” Mebius said, “Putting them in Sorichra’s dream is putting them in a lie. It’s taking away their choice to become better or to turn their life around!”

“Ah,” Kenshin tuts, “But is that really what they want?”

When he doesn’t get an immediate response, he continues, “You don’t know that; I don’t know that. No one knows that!”

Before either of them can respond, Kenshin disappears, leaving Grigio and Mebius alone with Sorichra. Now, they had a monster to deal with, though their conversation with Kenshin still was ringing in Grigio’s mind. She chose to ignore it, for now. They had bigger things to worry about.

“I think fire will be our best bet,” Mebius called out, “Since Sorichra can’t move, it can’t dodge any of our attacks.”

“Right,” Grigio nods, summoning Gomora and Miclas. They both had fire-based attacks, so they should be helpful.

Mebius summoned his sword, cutting at one of Sorichra’s incoming vines. Gomora began to shoot fire balls at the tree, seeming to be doing a fair amount of damage, while Miclas prepared his heat ray. Grigio summoned her bow, using the Mebius Crystal to light the arrow on fire.

“Grigio Flaming Scatter!” When she fired the arrow, it broke into many, all of which were aflame. The arrows all landed on some part of Sorichra, causing it to cry in pain.

Miclas fired his ray, hitting Sorichra, unlike when they were fighting Windom. Sorichra attempts to grab and swat at all of them, to varying degrees of success. Miclas and Gomora are unable to move out of the way, getting tied up. Mebius backflips out of the way of two, then cartwheels out of the way of another. Grigio, in a similar manner to Mebius, cartwheels out of the way of a vine, like Mebius had taught her how.

Grigio fires another barrage of flaming arrows while Mebius slashes at Sorichra, blade ablaze. Soon, Gomora and Miclas disappear, their minute up, leaving only Grigio and Mebius to finish the fight.

Dodging out of the way of several more vines, the two meet up, ready to put an end to Sorichra and it’s vines. “Ready to end this?” Grigio grins, leveling her bow at Sorichra.

Mebius nods, “Ready,” He prepares his attack, raising a hand to his device. Energy gathered in the device, then he punches, sending out a wave of energy.

“Lightning Counter!”

“Grigio Flaming Arrow!”

As Mebius’ wave of energy hit Sorichra, Grigio’s arrow lands, bursting into a blast of flames. Sorichra explodes, bits of wood and vines getting everywhere.

“Yeah!” Grigio cheers, “Now that’s happy!”

---

“Good job,” Matsuoka says when they return, giving each of them a pat on the head. Mirai looked briefly confused while Asahi just grinned, “You found out what was causing those disappearances, and thanks to you two those people can return to their families and lives.”

Mirai runs his hand over his hair, frowning slightly in confusion. “Thank you?”

“And now we know that Kenshin was behind Mirai’s appearance here, Mecha Gomora, Windom, and Sorichra.” Asahi notes, “Though we don’t really know why he wanted Sorichra in the first place.”

Matsuoka hummed, “Yes, that, it seems, remains to be seen,”

Jun scoffs, “Given what he’s pulled before, I’m sure we’ll find out soon enough.”

Then Asahi frowns, “But Mirai’s still stuck here, who knows if Kenshin will actually send him back.”

Mirai shook his head, “It’s fine. I’ll find a way home eventually, until then, I’ll just help out here.”

“That’s not the point!” She grumbles, “You didn’t get any choice in coming here! You shouldn’t feel the need to just, to just help out since you’re here.”

Mirai blinked, “Isn’t that what you’ve done, though?”

“What?”

He tilts his head, “You didn’t choose to come here. But you’ve decided to help out here, despite that.” He frowned slightly, “Or did I misunderstand?”

Asahi looks away, “No, you’re right, but…” She sighed, “Still, you have things in your world you need to do, don’t you?”

“And you don’t?”

She shakes her head, “Not really, no. Katsunii and Isanii can handle things in Ayaka.” She tries not to seem sad, really she does. Because there’s no point in being sad, especially about all this. “They’ve always been able to.”

Fuyuko was the one who spoke up next, “So what?” She crossed her arms, serious, “You feel like you’re more useful here?”

Asahi couldn’t really look at them, because it hurt to admit it, but… “I mean, I can help so much more here then in Ayaka.” She shakes her head, “In Ayaka, I just get in the way. But here, I can actually help people.”

“But you’re an Ultra,” Mirai places his hands on her shoulders, “Wherever you go, you’ll find a way to help people, even if you don’t realize it.”

She looks at him, at that statement. She wants to believe it, but it almost sounded too good. The idea that she could be helpful anywhere. Because she wasn’t, really. When it came to her brothers, she was mostly only helpful so they could become Gruebe, and while that was great, it wasn’t really her helping.

But there’s something in her that says he’s right, a voice that sounded suspiciously like Saki. The one that always seemed to appear at the strangest of times. It tells her that she’s always helpful, she just doesn’t realize it. It tells her that she is more than she gives herself credit for.

But it’s hard to believe the voice.

Asahi blinks and fights the urge to look away from Mirai. Because he’s believed in her, that she could help people and live up to the name Ultrawoman. And he barely knows her. There’s something wonderous about that.

“Alright,” She finally managed to say, “Alright, I guess you’re right.”

Mirai smiles in response, “You may not see it yet,” He insisted, “But you will one day.”

She smiled a little at that, “One day,” She repeats, “I will.”

And though that day is not today, she would wait patiently for when it was.

“Uh, sorry to interrupt,” Came Hisoka’s voice, “But we’ve got a weird energy reading in the city.”

“What is it?” Matsuoka asked, though he was met with a shrug.

“We don’t know,” Hisoka said, “It’s a bit like the energy that comes from Grigio and other Ultras, but all we can see is a light.”

Asahi and Mirai look at each other, “We should check it out,” Mirai said as Asahi nods in response.

Soon Grigio and Mebius stand in front of what really could only be described as a light. But what was it, really?

Then the light changed, it became a portal while a smaller part of it flew away. They could see through this portal, unlike the other. Mebius seemed to recognize where it showed, a place of bright lights and pretty greens and blues, with crystal like buildings.

“The Land of Light,” He said, sounding surprised.

“You’re home?” Grigio catches the small light that flew away from the larger one. In her hand was a Crystal. She didn’t recognize the Ultra on it, or at least she assumed it was an Ultra. But she’d never really need a silver one like it before. Not in the ones that her brothers had met or in the ones she had.

Mebius nods, “I think the light – I think it’s given me a way home.”

“That’s great!”

Still, Mebius seemed hesitant, “Will you be alright?”

Grigio smiles, “Of course! I was fine before you showed up, I’ll be fine now.” She places a hand on her hip, “Besides, I have Tomomi and KPaRS. They’ll have my back.”

Mebius gives her a smile, “Alright then, I guess this is goodbye.”

“Or maybe,” Grigio suggests, “A ‘see you later’! Who knows, maybe we’ll run into each other again.”

Mebius laughs at her and waves, “Well, see you later!” He called as he began to step through the portal.

“See you!”

Once Mebius had gone through the portal, it disappeared as suddenly as it had appeared, leaving Grigio standing there, alone. She still had the curious Crystal of the Silver Ultra in hand. Who was it? What did it do?

It didn’t seem like she’d be getting answers anytime soon.

[jnlnyaface]

Those Magic Changes

This is the first of 4 connected fics. They are in the same universe and here are the rules: Macy, Mel and Maggie all have the same father and they grew up together They don't find out about their powers until after the first part Pretty much, it's an AU that follows closer to the original series as far as timeline is concerned *** This is for @charmedsecretsanta My person was: @xoheatherkw This is for the Hacy AU Meet Cute

You can also find it here *** Merry Christmas! I hope you like it!

Summery: All Macy Vera-Vaughn wanted for Christmas was to not think about how this was she and her sisters first one without their mother and father. Ice skating should take their minds off that. Right? If that doesn't, meeting a cute new guy just might.   

              Winter was always Macy Vera-Vaughn’s favorite time of year. She loved the cold and the snow and the fact that it got dark earlier in the day. She knew she was weird but, at 29 years old, it was too late to fix now. What she loved most, though, was the time she got to spend with her family. As corny as she knew it sounded, it was the truth. When her father died 3 years ago she and her sisters, Maggie and Mel drifted apart for a while. It took some time but they’re mother brought them together by reminding them that their sisterhood was their strength. She showed them that, the best way to get through the hurt was by leaning on each other. Now, 10 months after their mother died, they are trying to remember that lesson so they don’t lose each other again.

               At this point, as they approached their first Christmas without her, it mostly meant everyone taking turns coming up with activities for them to do together to keep them distracted from the reality of their situation. Maggie had them decorate the whole house. Inside and out. Mel had them make hot chocolate and watch classic Christmas movies all night. Today it was Macy’s turn. Her main goal was to get everyone out of the house. But she didn’t know what to do.

               She tried to think back to Christmases of years past. She tried to think about the things that brought her the most joy. Most of her Christmas memories included her parents doing everything they could to make sure everything was perfect. She wanted to do that for her sisters but she was at a loss. It wasn’t until she was walking up the path towards the house after work and she almost slipped on a patch of ice that she got an idea.  

               Their local ice rink was the scene for so many of her favorite childhood memories. Macy remembered all the times they would go as a family and all the fun they would have together. That’s how she and her sisters found their way there this afternoon.

               “It’s been way too long since I’ve been on any type of skates,” Mel said as the three sisters sat on one of the benches that lined the rink lacing up their rental skates. Macy forgot how hopeless Mel was on skates but there was no turning back now. “I’m not even sure I know how to anymore.”

               “It’s just like riding a bike Mel,” Maggie chirped standing up ready to go.

               “Yeah if a bike had one inch wide metal wheels and you only rode it on cold hard ice.” Mel wobbled as she stood and began to limp toward Maggie.

               “You can always get one of those walker things,” Macy attempted kindly. “I’m sure they have adult ones too.” Macy knew Mel’s pride wouldn’t let her get the ice walker but she wouldn’t be her if she didn’t at least try.

               “No thank you. I refuse to look like an idiot out there with a walker like I’m some toddler on the ice for the first time or worse an old lady.” Mel stubbornly made her way to the rink’s opening. Knowing her insistence would do no good against her hard-headed sister; Macy shook her head and followed behind her. If she couldn’t get Mel to get the walker, she could at least stay by her to make sure she didn’t hurt herself.

***

               Being back on the ice was like being a kid again. Macy forgot how much she loved the feeling of gliding. The cold breeze against her face. The slightly numb feeling in the tips of her fingers. When she was younger she wanted to be a figure skater. In the basement she would watch the Olympics and pretend like the floor was competition ice. She would mimic the skaters’ routines down to the hand movements and facial expressions. No one could’ve told her she wasn’t going to be a gold medalist. Her dad paid for lessons when she was 6. But after a year she realized skating wasn’t something she was ready to commit to full time. In other words, she turned 7 and found something new to be obsessed with.

               As she and her sisters started on their first lap around the rink silence settled heavily around them. There was an unspoken agreement among them that they wouldn’t speak about their mother or their father or what this holiday season meant for them. That they were orphans all alone in the world, but for each other. The problem was: they running out of things to do and say. In tiptoeing around the subject they were drifting dangerously close to an epic emotional breakdown. Macy wasn’t sure she was quite ready for that yet.

               “Remember, that one year we came here, and dad broke his arm trying to impress mom?” This may have not been the best way to break the tension but it was her idea to come here so she had to try something. “He tried to do that backflip?”                “We were in the ER for 6 hours on Christmas Eve!” Mel laughed.

               “She made him take us to iHop for pancakes once they finally let him out,” Maggie cackled. Macy was surprised Maggie remembered that, she was only 5 at the time. “She let us get whatever we wanted and when we got home she took a nap and made him take care of us by himself.”

               “…with one arm!” Mel finished, laughing so hard she almost loses her balance.

               “It was a little cruel of her to hop us up on sugar and leave him alone with us,” Macy lamented.

               “He deserved it,” Mel proclaimed. “He knew he shouldn’t have been doing flips, let alone on ice.”

               “At least she kept us out of the house the rest of the day to let him rest. She was always so considerate. Even when she was mad.” Maggie’s face fell as she added the thought. It was the exact face Macy was trying to avoid. The three sisters slipped back into silence. More melancholy than the one before. Macy took a breath, something upbeat to shift the mood back to lightheartedness dies on her tongue as Maggie speaks again, “I think I’m going to get a hot chocolate.” Maggie was halfway across the ice before either of her sisters could say anything.

               Macy and Mel looked at one another then after their sister shaking their heads in tandem. They started their path around the rink again enjoying the ice in silence. Well, Macy enjoyed the ice, Mel focused on not falling.

               “I have a meeting with the new women’s studies chair on Friday.” Macy welcomed Mel’s effort to make conversation. “I already registered for next semester. Now I just have to prove to him that I’m ready to teach again,” Mel groused. “Have I mentioned how much I hate the idea of a cis white male taking over mom’s position?”

               “Yes, Mel, you have,” about a billion times Macy kept the last part to herself. After their mother died, Mel had what can only be classified as a slight mental breakdown. She became a woman obsessed. She was convinced someone killed her. After 2 months in a downward spiral she decided to take the rest of the semester off, the summer and fall semester too. Now she was going back for spring semester. Macy wasn’t sure Mel was actually ready or if she knew the right things to say. She figured though maybe if her sister faked being happy long enough she would accidently become happy. Macy would continue to keep a close eye on her regardless.

               “Well it’s insane and I am not here for it!” Mel exclaimed. “I’m going to meet with this guy and as soon as he clears me to teach again I’m going to give him a peace of my mind.”

               “Please don’t.” Mel was always quick to jump headfirst into a conflict. Macy was always the voice of reason trying to hold her back. It was not an easy job.

***

               “Can we take a break? I’m starting to get tired.” They made it to the opposite end on the rink and Mel started to slow down and grabbed hold of the wall to keep herself upright. “You can keep going. I’m just going to hang out here for a minute.”

               “N…no I…I can’t leave you,” Macy stammered. “I would never forgive myself if I left you behind and you got hurt.”

               “You can be more dramatic than Maggie sometimes, I swear.” Mel rolled her eyes and attempted to push Macy away from the wall while simultaneously gripping it for dear life. “I will stay right here.”

               “No, I’ll wait. I don’t want to leave you here by yourself.” Macy was trying to be more assertive. She was the eldest sister but Mel was always the one who took the lead. She was fearless and headstrong and defiant. Macy envied that about her. Macy had always been told that as the oldest she was supposed to protect her sisters. But that directly conflicted with her shy and reserved nature. In fact, if it wasn’t for Mel protecting her, people would walk all over her. It had been that way for as long as Macy could remember. Now that their mother was gone Macy was technically the matriarch of the family. Hers were big shoes to fill. Mel was the natural choice for leader. Her overconfidence would often get her and Macy into and out of all kinds of trouble as children. But Macy wanted to take care and help ease some of the burden. Especially considering recent circumstances. Maybe they could do it together. Maybe there didn’t have to be one leader. Maybe the three of them could just take care of each other.

“Macy I know how much you love ice skating,” Mel started knowingly. “I insist you take a lap or two or three. I’ll just stand here and chill. Get it chill?”

Macy stared straight faced at Mel not cracking even the slightest hint of a smile at her joke. Mel always tried to make them laugh with puns and it never worked. Well it kind of worked but Macy didn’t want Mel to get a big head so she never gave anything away.

Just as Macy went to reply a young girl zipped past them. She had a look of peace on her face as she enjoyed the ice. Macy couldn’t hide the look of longing that passed across her features. She wished she could skate faster. But she couldn’t leave Mel when she was one stiff wind away from cracking her tailbone on the smooth ice below. Macy tried to quickly school her features but her ever perceptive sister saw before she could.

“I’m serious Mace, Go,” Mel insisted.

“You know what? I think I will.” It wouldn’t hurt. She figured a lap would help clear her head. She hoped it would make her numb to the feelings that were trying to break free from her heart. “I’ll do one lap and be right back.”

“Take you time and enjoy yourself,” Mel gave a faux serious look.

“No wonder why people think you’re the oldest. You’re so bossy.” Macy took off with one last backwards glance in Mel’s direction, just to make sure she was steady.

***

Gliding around the rink was just as wonderful and freeing as Macy remembered. While on the ice it was like all the world’s problems didn’t exist. Only her and the blistering cold. Which, wasn’t all that blistering despite what the weather reports and thermometer would have you believe.

As she made it to the far end of the rink she looked up to see Mel waving at her from her spot on the wall. Maybe one more lap wouldn’t hurt. Mel will be fine. She was the one to suggest Macy take a couple of laps in the first place. Maybe she’ll even do a couple spins in the middle of the rink while she’s at it. Then she’ll be right back at Mel’s side, helping her struggle back to the exit.

Once in the middle of the rink she looked over to quickly check on Mel. What she expected to see was her sister holding the wall for dear life. What she saw was a man in a red coat with his arms wrapped around her. What she also saw was a furious Mel swatting at the arm around her waist.

Macy took off like a shot towards her sister and the stranger who may or may not have been manhandling her. As she got closer she could hear more and more of the lecture she knew Mel was in the process of giving.

“…didn’t ask for your help, first of all!” Macy could hear the righteous fury in Mel’s voice. “You shouldn’t be touching women you don’t know. Second of all…”

“Get away from her!” Macy screamed as she slid to a stop behind the pair. “Get your hands off of her right now!”

“I got this Macy,” Mel assured she blindly waved her hand over her shoulder in Macy’s general direction to reinforce her point. “Get your hands off of me.”

“I am so sorry!” The red coated stranger, with a surprising British accent, started as he turned to face Macy, Mel still in his arms. “I was just skating by and I saw her losing her balance and…” the stranger’s voice trailed off as he and Macy locked eyes. She’s instantly struck by how beautiful his are.

Macy was frozen in her spot and it wasn’t because of the cold. This man was handsome and Macy would be the first to admit that she was not the best when it came to speaking to handsome men. Maggie still won’t let her live down the ‘Galvin Incident’ from 2 years ago. That was when Macy first move back home, she just finished her doctoral program at Oxford and got a sweet position at Hilltowne University’s lab. Galvin worked in the lab with her; she met him on her first day. She was so awkward and uncomfortable around him she scared him off. He ran right into the arms of Summer and never left. Macy, Galvin and Summer were actually the best of friends now. She was even set to be a bridesmaid in their wedding next Spring, but that was beside the point. The point was she wasn’t good with hot guys so in this moment she wasn’t sure what to say. Words might be a good place to start.

“Uh…hi…hey…hello…hi…” Macy stammered her cheeks heating up with a flush. “Hi.”

“Hi,” the stranger responded a smile growing on his awestruck face. They stayed gazing at each other for way longer than appropriate. The stranger extended his hand toward Macy letting go of Mel while he did. “Hi…”

As Macy’s hand met his and she mentally prepared herself to stumble through another unintelligible sentence the trance is broken by a thump, a loud groan and Mel’s voice coming from the ground, “Uh…some help here guys…?” She must’ve lost her balance again when the stranger let her go to shake Macy’s hand.

“Oh my God Mel!” Macy and the stranger dived to help her sister back to her feet. “Are you okay?”

“I am so sorry once again,” He said wiping the ice off her coat. Mel once again swatted his hands away but clung to Macy to stay upright. “Maybe you should get one of those walker things.” The glare Mel threw his way could melt steel. He made the wise choice and raised his hands in defeat before the fight even started. It was like he knew he would never be able to win.  “Or maybe I’ll just go…”

“No!” Macy startled herself with how loud she was. She and the hazel eyed stranger locked eyes once again. And once again she fell into their beauty. Scanning his face she landed on the small smile on his lips and moved to the light stubble on his chin. His whole face was beautiful. Faintly she could hear Mel getting revved up for another lecture. Macy cut her off. “What I mean is, you don’t have to go, we will.” She gestured to herself and Mel. “I should probably get her back on solid ground anyway.”

“No way!” Maggie seemed to materialize at Mel’s other side. “I will take Senorita Stubborn Ass to get a walker while you two take a couple laps around the rink.”

Before Macy could even process Maggie’s words she had Mel’s arm around her shoulder and they were halfway to the entrance leaving her alone with the stranger.

“Well…that wasn’t awkward at all.” Of all the things to say. Seriously? Macy was more than a little mortified.

“We don’t have to if you don’t want…” His voice trailed off obviously meaning the give her an out. After some more intense staring Macy’s brain finally came back to life with an answer.

“I would like to…would you?” She figured skating with a handsome stranger was the best distraction she could ask for.  

“Yes!” He enthusiastically replied before he cleared his throat and more calmly stated, “Yes I would love to.” He extended his elbow toward her and Macy took it locking their arms together. She didn’t have to wonder if she imagined the spark she felt. She could see in his eyes that he felt it too.

“I’m Macy, by the way…” She realized that while they had been speaking for the last 20 minutes she didn’t know his name.

“Nice to meet you Macy,” He smiled softly at her. “I’m Harry.”

***

I hope you guys enjoyed it. Like I said this is the first part of 4 connected fics. I haven't finished parts 2-4 yet but I plan to have them finished soon. I wanted to get this out during the posting period. If there are any errors I apologize in advance. Thank you so much for reading Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

@charmedsecretsanta  @xoheatherkw

[benisasoftboi]

Some unorganised, stream-of-consciousness thoughts about the Golden Deer/Verdant Wind route, having just finished it for the first time:

Yes this took me three months I’ve been busy

Wish I’d done this for Blue Lions but I didn’t so oh well

Did make a list back then of questions I still had (never posted it), and basically all of them have now been answered except for the Edelgard ones (I’ll find out when I do Crimson Flower I guess - yes I still haven’t done it, I’ve been very busy, check back in another three months I guess) and also what happened to Dimitri’s eye 

So. Claude. I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about him because characters of his general archetype can be really annoying to me. But I really liked him from pretty early on

He married Annette and it was cute

But as I think about it, there’s something I find kind of interesting about him, and it’s how relatively uninteresting he is compared to Edelgard and Dimitri

Edelgard and Dimitri are both deeply complex, flawed people. I could definitely understand someone not liking either or both of them. Their motivations, choices, actions, are all pretty questionable and often grey - they’re good, interesting characters, but not always the most likeable ones (for the record, I like Dimitri. Reserving judgement of Edelgard until I do her route) 

Claude, meanwhile? Claude’s primary motivation is to End Racism. He wants to achieve this by Being Nice To People. And somehow, this works

How do you hate that? You can’t hate that

It does, in hindsight, make his chapter in Azure Moon extremely funny, because the whole scene is just him talking about his vague goal to ‘achieve his dream’, and then he just pisses off. Like, mate, why are you being so coy? Your dream is Ending Racism. The worst thing Dimitri and I might think of that is that you’re being a bit overly idealistic

His other goal is to Solve Mysteries by being Nice and sometimes Harmlessly Sneaky. Again, not remotely unlikable 

Claude is, in this sense, the closest thing this game has to a more traditional Fire Emblem protagonist, and by extension, Golden Deer is also closer to a traditional Fire Emblem story

A nice, well-meaning, if not terribly deep Lord who wants peace and prosperity in his country is joined by a ragtag group of disparate, mostly simple, but generally likable characters. He and his crew fight some battles before all out war kicks off, where he fights a neighbouring country, with another neighbouring country sometimes involving itself as the plot demands. Just when it seems like the war’s all over though, it’s revealed that there’s actually a bigger problem at hand. A dragon is involved. Victory is achieved regardless

See?

Claude is probably smarter than most FE protags though. I don’t think he’d ever eat an unpeeled orange

Also, I do want to stress that Claude being a bit simpler than the other two isn’t a bad thing - like I say, I do really like him. And it works, seeing as his story is more lore based. Also, he’s hardly a flat character - I saw someone else put it that he’s just a character who already had his development before the story even began. I think that’s a fair assessment

I would like to know how TWSILD got so oddly high tech and if Claude and the others will adopt it. Or will this actually lead to an anti-technology backlash? 

Seriously, I can only compare Shambhala to walking into the Fifth Stratum of Etrian Odyssey for the first time 

I would actually kind of like to see a high tech Fire Emblem game. Something kind of like Devil Survivor 

Referencing allll the obscure DS games today! (and also pretending that I haven’t only ever played their remakes, shush)

For the sake of triadic structure, I’ll say that I’d also like to engage in Rune Factory-esque monster taming (that is to say, I want to be able to pet the demonic beasts and feed them home cooked meals until they become friends)

Please tell me the Death Knight is good in one of the Black Eagles routes. Please don’t actually tell me I don’t want spoilers.

It’s just in both of these two he’s been very... edgy and random, and that’s about it

He’d do well on the 2009 internet

Oh, also this was my Boyleth playthrough. I played him as 100% gay and had him marry Linhardt. Made all his interactions with Manuela very funny and even sadder than usual. It’s okay, I got her and Seteth together and they were cute

Felt really weird about it though because after accidentally getting them together in Blue Lions I’ve become a hardcore Linspar/Casphardt fan - they might even be my favourite pairing in the game. It’s definitely not because I strongly project onto them, I would never do that

Dimitri’s death was kind of badly handled imo. He shows up once, after being thought dead, then immediately dies for real off-screen. Then Dedue dramatically swears vengeance, and later shows up one more time to do ultimately very little

I let Dedue die :( 

Wouldn’t have happened if he’d been my dancer husband like I made him 

Annette was my dancer this time, purely because she really wanted to be in my Blue Lions run and I had felt so bad rejecting her offer. I recruited her specially for the task

I was really happy with pretty much all of the endings I got this time around - as yet unmentioned highlights include Dorothea/Petra, Ashe/Ingrid, Lorenz/Mercedes, and Flayn/Ferdinand (these all being pairings I didn’t get last time) 

I probably shouldn’t have laughed when I read that Leonie becomes a bit of an alcoholic in her ending with Alois

I put Caspar and Bernadetta together because their A support is cute but what the fuck is their ending

They enter an arranged marriage and then have tonnes of children that Caspar apparently can’t tell apart from his wife, what the actual-

WAS THIS MY PUNISHMENT FOR TAKING LINHARDT AWAY FROM HIM? I SWEAR I’LL NEVER BREAK THEM UP AGAIN, I PROMISE

Last time Ingrid got together with Seteth of all people. Not really relevant, just wanted to share. Was actually kind of wholesome

I wish endings were stored in the events logs

I’ll be doing Silver Snow next. In Golden Deer, I ill-advisedly made everyone into a Wyvern Rider, the quality of that as a decision for each character being:

100% Great: Claude, Hilda, Byleth, Leonie 

Actually Pretty Good: Ignatz, Raphael

Surprisingly Not Terrible: Marianne, Lysithea

Just Awful: Lorenz

For Silver Snow, I have equally silly plans. Watch this space

[coeurlkin]

Zealot, part one.

(an excerpt from a recent scene, featuring @fyrrdetelemagna) C'lai Nunh had chosen to travel once again through Ala Mhigo, in search for nuggets of imprinted techniques upon what feint remnants of aether existed. This time, he had followed a trail through meditation and communion... and the whispers had brought him to this place. The wind howled both distant and close... the occasional gust blown throughout the far chasm into the area with an imposing vigor. The flow of aether was stronger than in other places... and so, here is where C'lai chose to perform his meditating kata. With blades extended, each breath calling forth the very same wind... each step, like the call of thunder, aether manifesting in these two forms danced along the hulking miqo'te's kata, his martial poise as if enchanting the very flow of the elements to his grasp; the air motioned along with him, as if but a prolonging of his limbs, caressing the grass and making it sway with its stirring... lightning dancing erratically, as if trailing behind the man's blades and upper limbs. The air was charged with such aetheric forces, as if flowing through the man in conductive fashion... An aetheric meditating kata, bearing martial moves at imaginary foes. At the end of each one, a violent, yet controlled discharge - for such was the goal of the exercise... pristine control. What instability oozed from the releases, charred portions of the grass and dirt as jolts struck them; but these were like small grey and black dots spread about the chosen field.

Wyra'to Mhakaracca approaches slowly from the brush, announcing his presence by way of a slow clapping of his hands. It was always in these places which he'd find somebody lurking, somebody imitating the things he himself had gone through in his years... A form he recognised. C'lai was the mans name, the selfsame man he'd encountered within the ancient halls of the Schism over a summer ago. "Well, well, ain' we gettin' all fancy now, hm?" The clapping continued, the Keeper's tone oozing with what could pass for contempt. "Didn' expect t'see yuh wid Master Tigre, but now yer 'ere as well? Seems y'always end up lurkin' aroun', don'cha? but das what yer kinds good at, ain' it? Lurkin'." Step after step brings him closer until he comes to a stop atop one of the old slabs, bending one knee and leaning forwards onto it. "Y'talked alot 'bout lackin' gifts, but I'on think das th' case..."

C'lai Nunh's concentration brought to an abrupt halt by the incoming presence's voice, his kata ceasing, and arms slowly lowering as he turns his eyes at the other; focusing his attention upon the Keeper who bore a frame forged, too, for war. All senses had branded their perception of the man into memory, brows furrowing slightly at the words first spoken. His ears sharpened and tail curled briefly at the tip. He'd lift his chin proudly, retorting: "You tell me, whose kin lurrrks in the shadows of the Night, underrr dimmest manifestation of Azeyma's light." - he'd side smile lightly, a small huff through his nostrils: "Alas, the gifts I do have arrre not the blessing of Chakrrras... and as such, unfit forrr the Brrrotherrrhood. Yet you would know this, forrr we have crrrossed morrre than paths..." - the aether still jolted, as if but in a slow trickle attempting to dissipate from the man's grasp. He'd close his eyes then: "Worrrren is a good frrriend... and honourrrs me grrreatly by calling me brrrotherrr, as do otherrrs..." - and even though he said that, his expression was one of self-censure and sorrow.

Wyra'to Mhakaracca continues to speak through his mask, taking his hands away from his knee and rising back up to his full height. Steady, purposeful steps carry him closer to the edge of the cliff, his eyes focused on the horizon - or rather the lack thereof. "Well, das somethin' yer jus' gonn' need t'deal wid den, ain' it? Did y'ever try?" His tone shifts. One of pity. His posture remains unchanged, however, and he elaborates further. "Maybe s'a case'a yer faith wasn' strong enough, or maybe s'a issue wid yer body as th’ vessel, who knows... Dese are th' mysteries we's been left ta unravel, ain' dey?" Both hands move behind his body and clap together as his legs spread some, feet remaining planted firmly on the ground. "What would y'do? Would y'trade everythin' y'ave fer th' chance t'be like th' *Brothers* y'look up ta? Jus' what wouldja give?"

C'lai Nunh would close his eyes... he partly knew the reasons, and Wyra'to touched most of them. He'd keep his eyes on the other as he moved... and side smiled once he finished speaking: "Thinking on 'what woulds' and 'what ifs' is meaningless, and but detrrract focus upon my path. The legacy of my Arrrt is embrrraced... and with it, the achievement of enlightenment thrrrough the Sanctity of Combat." - he'd look towards the foggy horizon: "The Destrrroyerrr has given me anotherrr path, even if that not of the Fists. I would be ungrrrateful, werrre I not to see value in His trrrials." - he'd then look at Wyra'to: "No, Keeperrr... My path... My Arrrt, is my own, torrrn between the whims of two deities. Even if I could gaze upon the chance of Chakrrras... such desirrres arrre but a figment of a past long gone, and long accepted."

Wyra'to Mhakaracca keeps himself in place but lowers his voice some, inclining his head by a fraction. "D'ya really think deres nuh meanin' in lookin' at th' Ifs and Buts? If it weren' fer th' first'a us decidin' t'pay 'omage ta 'im Above, none'a us'd be where we are today, aye? If th' first among us didn' wonder 'bout th' *What If?* den th' entire world'd be a very diff'rent place... I understan' wha' yer sayin' though, ye've accepted yer state an' yer doin' what y'can t'make th' most'a it." Wyra’to shifts from his left foot to his right before centering his body off again, taking a deep breath inwards. He holds it, lets it sit in his lungs, lets it fill his body for a while before he pushes it all out. The cycle. Aether to them was like the air that they breathed, and to be starved of it? He couldn't begin to imagine. "We's nuh dat diff'rent, y'know? In dat I's still an' outsider ta dis whole Brother'ood thing... I carry th' sins'a me Mentor wid me until th' day I pass, an' only den will I know if dat were ever enough t'pay penance." The Keeper holds his position for but a moment longer before turning his head, glancing at C'lai. "Well, what wouldja 'ave us do, den?"

C'lai Nunh listened to the other... and though he found disagreement towards the man's words... he saw his view of things. To his Art... to lose focus would spell grievous injury, madness, or death - none of which he sought to attain... Not yet, at least. He'd take in a deep breath, and exhale slow and calm. As he did this, so did the aether move, sequestered by the man's Art of Combat still... He'd then look at the Sky in short contemplation, conclusions from what was said kept to himself, for he had seen stubbornness from the other, and from himself too. None of them would move from their view... and perhaps that is where their firmest similarity resided - opinions and life experiences that grounded them firmly into the beings they were today. He'd close his eyes and side smile: "Fate has brrrought you herrre forrr a rrreason... I say we unfurrrl Nymeia's intent, and answerrr to the Trrrial so carrrefully posed..."

Wyra'to Mhakaracca shakes his head some. "Nuh fate. Choice. I's of th' opinon dat jus' as th' Gods offer us trials, dey offer us choices as well... Y'ad th' choice t'either accept what y'was or t'try an' become somethin' greater. Every one'a us made dat choice, every single one. Some'a us paid more dearly fer it dan others." A slow turn on the spot is followed by a shift of his hands, one coming to rest inside of the other and level with his navel. Crimson and Gold pierced a veil of darkness to gaze directly into C'lai, to gauge him. Judge him, perhaps. "If yer lookin' fer combat? Den I's nuh one t'deny yuh yer chance t'step up an' prove yerself, as is me right t'choose t'engage yuh in dis. Rhalgr 'as offered me th' choice 'ere. Walk away or fight? I's choosin' th' latter." C'lai Nunh would then open his eyes, looking at the other and raising his chin proudly: "Then by all means, exalted Fist... exerrrt thy illusion of frrree will." - he'd then lower his chin, spreading his base, boot scraping the earth underneath him, as his arms adopt his usual martial posture; the same Wyra'to had seen in the Schism: "... Prrray not allow yourrr overrrconfidence to forrrce a step down on my parrrt. I would be rrremiss to taint memorrry of ourrr prrrevious dalliance..." - he'd jab back with his words at the other's perceived arrogance. His demeanour serene... the hulking frame that formed the man tensed, ears sharpening. Tail giving a swing left and right. The blades whose wielding arms crossed in front of the man raged into life, as lightning began brimming in small and wide arcs, from air, into the man's flesh, and along his limbs. The wind began circling in his vicinity, as noted by the motion of the vegetation... Aether and elements responding to the man as if connected in the purest of forms to his body and mind. His emerald hues encircling pale pupils brimming as the usual glimmer intensified. The noise of static and thunder giving their first deafening clarions.

Wyra'to Mhakaracca narrows his gaze and focuses on C'lai. Not just the man, but the gestalt beliefs that made him into what he is. "Free will ain'a illusion, y'truly underestimate th' importance'a what I's said." Regardless, the time had come to be about it. One foot pushed outwards in a semicircular motion through the dirt and grass whilst both his knee's bent, his left leg staying still whilst his right stretched outwards. The Keeper adopted a low stance as his fingers and thumb curled inwards to give his hands the shape of a set of fangs. He too drew upon aether - not solely his own, but rather than around him as his gates flared into life, drawing energies that had been otherwise in a state of quiescence into him. Just like breathing,. In and out. The practiced exertions of a man who was sure of his craft. His body lowers further, the air around his hands blazing into life and taking an all too familiar shape; that of two blazing, sneering coeurlheads. "Come den, let us answer yer question..."

[quillyfied]

Got tagged in a couple of writing things a while back by @lorienleylines so while I have some time ignoring my responsibilities today, thought I’d tackle them.

2018 Writing Review

Words written in 2018: Let’s see…combining my AO3 wordcount with my NaNo this year, it looks like I managed to churn out over 100k. Holy beans.

Number of short fics/drabbles written in 2018: Looks like about 12.

Number of fic chapters written in 2018: Chapters…none, they’ve all been oneshots.


Number of chaptered fics completed in 2018: Zip.


Fandoms: All of it is Dice, Camera, Action!, baby. It really stoked my creativity the back quarter of the year.


Relationships: Striath and Eveltin, mostly. With lots of friendship thrown in there, too.


Proudest achievements: Besides finishing a NaNoWriMo for the first time EVER, actually writing anything at all was pretty sweet. Think I managed to hit that sweet and mushy spot with more finesse and subtlety this year.


Writing goals for 2019: Do another NaNo. Finish something chaptered. Literally anything chaptered.

Writing Questionnaire

Short stories, novels, or poems? All of the above. Various things at different times, depends on what the story I’m trying to tell needs.


What genre do you prefer reading? Speculative, heavy on the fantasy.


What genre do you prefer writing? Speculative, exclusively fantasy :P I’ve made attempts at other genres but they just aren’t as much fun.
 Though there’s one contemporary fiction piece that has potential, if I could keep interest in the genre for more than five minutes at a time.

Are you a planner or a write-as-I-go kind of person? I like to have an endpoint in mind and some highlights to hit, but otherwise…it’s a journey.


What music do you listen to while writing? If there must be music, something instrumental and usually orchestral. But this year I experimented with white noise and found it much more conducive to tuning everything else out.


Fave books/movies? Oh, no, this is a hard question always. Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey, Eragon by Christopher Paolini, the Redwall series by Brian Jacques, the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan, the Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins; animated Beauty and the Beast, Pacific Rim, A Knight’s Tale, Howl’s Moving Castle, the Lord of the Rings extended editions.


Any current WIPs? Oh, always! Urban fantasy collection has been on the stove for a long time and I hope to finish at least a couple of novellas in that universe (the bones and blood club tag has inspo and info if you’re interested)


If someone were to make a cartoon out of you, what would your standard outfit be? Omg. Probably skinny jeans, combat boots, a graphic tee, and an oversized cardigan.
 That’s been my default this winter.

Create a character description for yourself: (Cue narcissism)

The best word to apply to her overall was “soft.” Soft belly, soft eyes, soft round face—a misshapen sponge cake of a woman, sweet and pleasant but without much structure, her short mousy hair falling in dandelion disarray and big blue eyes obscured behind glasses in desperate need of replacement. Her teeth were like an abandoned cemetery, her skin a pockmarked battlefield of losses against the sun and acne, and though her lips had a pleasing shape, the smile that followed was, in her estimation, an enormous disappointment, though the revelation of the dimple in her cheek was a point in its favor.

Do you like incorporating people you actually know into your writing? Not especially, though I’m sure they find their way in there regardless.

Are you kill-happy with characters? Absolutely not. I really hate doing it, which is probably why the only story I have that I can think of with any character death is a collaboration with one of my best friends and it was her idea XD
 Now, writing about people who are already dead...that’s my cup of tea.

Coffee or tea while writing? Water or hot chocolate, but usually water; hot chocolate tends to be more of a distraction since I want to drink it while it’s still warm.
 Used to be cream soda but my health demanded a change.

Slow or fast writer? Very fast, but sporadic, which is a terrible tradeoff, in my opinion.


Where/who/what do you find inspiration from? Images and concepts are usually pretty big for me, as well as emotions.


If you were put into a fantasy world, what would you be? Well, that depends on the world, but I’ve always considered myself a latent hobbit.


Most fave book cliche? Least fave book cliche? Hmm. I adore found family and absolutely eat up blushing, shy romance. I abhor interpersonal petty dramas and miscommunication. No. Stahp. Grow up, learn to communicate, and let’s go destroy the Big Bad with giant swords.

Fave scenes to write? I love interpersonal scenes in general, bc I’m pretty sure dialog is one of my strengths. Character voices have always been something I can naturally step into with my writing, and I love characters having to talk something out or engaging in witty flirty banter or getting in huge fights. Talking isn’t always direct and it doesn’t always solve the problems, but it’s nice how people try.


Most productive time of day for writing? Night, usually. I’ve always felt most creative at the end of my day, even though in recent years it’s made me more tired, as well.


Reason for writing? Because I have stories to share and I want to share them.

Tagging people is for people who have more energy than I do, so this is my formal invitation to readers to take on the challenge themselves. You can say I tagged you, if that matters to you. I’m too lazy for this.

[petri808]

A Child’s Drawing

@inuvember  Day 22  Family

It was one of those rare opportunities for the weary group to simply relax.  The rainy season made travel difficult in this time before covered and motor propelled vehicles so back in Kaede’s hut they were to ride out the torrential rain coming down outside.  It was a cozy atmosphere despite the cold breezes that slipped through the cracks of the wooden structure, but mostly pushed away by the hearth burning within.  

Inuyasha was lying on his side, with his head propped up just observing the scene in front of him.  Not an unusual position for him to be in, everyone was used to his aloof manners and simply went about their own business as if he wasn’t there.  They weren’t ignoring him, just busy with their own entertainments, figuring he had no interest in being engaged with them.  And it was true to a certain point, most of the time he didn’t, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t paying attention.  On the contrary, if they scrutinized his ear movements, Inuyasha was always on alert and cognizant of what was going on…

The grandmother of the group was bustling around the cooking portion of her hut, fussing with spices and other ingredients she needed for dinner.  Kaede was a miko in her own right, having chosen the profession to follow in her sister’s footsteps and despite not being as formidable, still powerful enough when she needed to be.  For 50 years, she had carried the burden and weight of watching over their village shrine, never gaining a family of her own, but simply becoming the respected guardian of many around her.  She smiles lightly as she goes about her business, humming some old tune.  Did this make-shift family, these orphans and friends ever notice how elated she was when they visited?  Because with them, she didn’t have to be the strong, caretaker like she was with the villagers, they were each or as a unit capable of protecting themselves or others and she could simply be the matriarchal figure of a family unit, a role she’d never truly played before.

It did surprise him that she would be so kind considering the history that played out between he and her sister.  Maybe because it happened so long ago she had already forgiven him?  Never once had she ever chastised, nor accused him of improprieties.  On the contrary, Kaede would often counsel him to move on and let her sister be part of his past, hinting that his future was currently right in front of his eyes.  His own brief, very brief relationship with his own ojiisan (mother’s father) was not a good one and she had respectfully become the only obaasan he’d ever known…        

He looks to the next pair, the hoshi, and the demon slayer, sitting near the door, in a corner all to themselves.  Miroku and he didn’t start off on the best of terms, hell how could he, when one of the first things he did was grope at Kagome’s backside.  If it wasn’t for her, that monk might’a just met his end right then and there.  But over time an odd friendship developed between the two males.  Neither wanted to admit that having the other on their side was necessary for their success against Naraku, but regardless, time and again, they’d let their more caring sides slip though long enough to save one another.  Now the demon slayer, here was a woman whose death glares could scare him worse than the most evil of yokai’s and yet her compassion for those she cared about gave her a power not possessed by many, especially a female.  Her courage and strength in the face of adversity was awe inspiring for the hanyo and he respected that greatly.  

Now what was amusing for Inuyasha was the two of them put together.  One couldn’t disagree that the idea of a partnership between a demon slayer and a monk wouldn’t make sense, after all, they were both trained to deal with the evils of this world.  But it was the persons themselves.  On one hand, you had a perverted monk who may have bedded down an unknown number of women in his short life and on the other, a girl his junior, honorable, untouched, and frankly unwilling to cater to his ego.  There was a part of Inuyasha that didn’t believe Miroku had ever slept with a woman before no matter how much he insisted it to be true.  I mean if he had, they should have come across little Miroku’s running around somewhere, right?  And Sango, why does she put up with the lecher?  It’s become obvious as he watches them whisper amongst themselves, the rosy little smiles, the light touching initiated from both sides how much they care for one another.  He smiles, well if it makes them happy…

That just leaves the time traveler and the fox tyke.  Did anyone notice the dreamy little smile on his face as he watches their interactions?  Shippo, the orphaned fox child is hunched over a piece of parchment with a crayon in one hand and the rest strewn around him busily drawing out his latest doodle while Kirara sat, tipping her head from one side to the other, amused by the picture.  Kagome lay on her stomach with her head propped under her hands watching with a sweet smile, offering words of encouragement or suggestions of which colors to choose next.  If anyone didn’t know better she looked like an attentive aunt or even, the child’s mother.  And often that’s what she provided for Shippo.  He was after all still very young compared to the rest of them and needed the guidance of a parent around to keep him both entertained and cared for.  

Inuyasha closes his eyes for a moment.  Kagome…  She was the reason they were all here, the reason he was alive today; the tie that pulled them along like a moth to a flame, honey to a bear.  One could argue that it was not her but Naraku that triggered their organization and while yes that was in part true, they could have easily gone on their separate ways with a common goal.  No, she was the ultimate reason the five of them became friends and banded together.  But she was more than just a reason, she had become, at least for him, something special.  They had been through so much as a pair.  Could he have come this far without her by his side?  If he were truthful with himself the answer was no.  The few times he had tried, like when he took the Shikon no tama shards and sent her back to her world, well, he almost died.  Luckily for him she found a way back and his strength returned.  How ironic, because it wasn’t merely physical prowess that allowed him to win in the end, it was simply the mental and emotional boost she provided that upped his power levels.

It was beautiful to see Kagome so relaxed in the position of a parent.  He assumed she had practice with Sota but that only explained so much.  When you examined the scene, there was experience, and there was the innate ability that showed she was meant to be a mother someday.  She’ll be a great mother, he knows it deep down, loving and nurturing, yet probably the disciplinarian, supportive, and protective, cherishing every moment.  And that’s when a thought strikes his mind, one that he had never entertained, never considered would ever be a possibility; maybe one day she’ll be the mother of their pups…  For the first time in his life, he could envision and contemplate such a concept.  I have a chance at my own family!        

She glances up from Shippo’s drawing to check on the hanyo, happy with the contented smile she sees on his face.  His eyes are still closed, but maybe he’s having a good dream or something, either way, if he was in a good mood, she was pleased.  Beaming, Kagome returns to playing with the child.                  

Her beautiful laughter causes him to open his eyes, and he see Shippo holding up his finished art work as Kagome lavishes praises upon it like a proud parent.  Inuyasha can’t help but flash a smile, he loves to see her so cheerful, but zeroing in on the picture, he realizes what the tyke had drawn was what looked like a family unit; six figures along with an animal.  There was Kaede, Miroku and Sango holding hands with Kirara next to them, and finally Inuyasha and Kagome also holding hands, with Shippo on her shoulder.  He looks at the drawing, then to Kagome, then back to the drawing… the fox tyke had drawn them holding hands!  Even Kagome was trying to hide a slight blush on her cheeks while she praised the child, but he could tell she was just as embarrassed as he was.  

She looks at the hanyo and immediately notices the crimson hue on his face.  Was he going to get upset, was her first concern since it was his normal reaction to Shippo, but soon it was allayed when he simply closed his eyes again, still smiling.  Huh?  Was she seeing things correctly?  Dare she even consider it, the man was almost radiating happiness?!  Was Inuyasha delighted at the idea of…?!  Kagome’s face turns a darker red as everyone else in the room chuckles.  She knew that someday she wanted to be a wife and mother, and seeing the contented hanyo, yes one day, that dream just may come true…

Four years later…

In front of the Goshinboku another painting has been commissioned.  The miko and her hanyo dressed in wedding kimonos with a little white-haired infant resting in her father’s arms, surrounded by their friends and surrogate family of Edo, Japan.