#azu i love you so much. forever.

[moofbat]

next up! muscled beach babe azu <3 love is stored in the gainz btw. and she wants you to wear spf this summer.

ID: a full coloured digital drawing of azu lying on her front on a pink towel on a sunny beach. she is viewed from the left, smiling at the viewer as she is propped up on her elbows with her knees bent and feet crossed in the air. azu is a brown skinned orc with a shaved head, she is very muscular and has two tusks sticking out of her mouth, one of which is chipped. she is wearing a golden bikini, the top ties at the back and around the neck, and the bottom piece is tied at the side. the bikini and her skin are glowing in the sun, and her black eyes have a slight twinkle. her nails and toenails are long and painted pink, and she has two tattoos, a rose on the top of her hand and a large, partially obscured thigh piece featuring blossoms and a dove. end ID.

[just-an-enby-lemon]

Azu is the youngest member of the LOLOMG, even if we count all the NPCs that unoficially joined the party! A thing no one would ever know because she is the only one with emotional maturity and an once of common sense.

Bertie is Bertie and I'm really glad they never met. Sasha is just looking for dark corners. Zolf needs projects and he'll just leave at points because it's too much. Hamid is just putting himself in situations. Grizzop refuses to stop and keeps moving foward without a plan. Cel is actualy more emotionally mature than people give them credit for... would still turn themselfs into a robot for shits and giggles if unsupervised.

Than we have Einstein who I love but also like he would totaly hide a zombie bite. The ultimate himbo Ed. Earhart who is just "if it takes sacrifícing myself and everyone around me to kill a dragon I will". Wilde didn't noticed he was being cursed for months because not sleeping for a month because of nightmares that make you bleed it's just a shitty wednesday I guess? Carter is just a bunch of issues in a trenchcoat. Barnes makes Zolf seems emotionally open. Kiko is actually okay and the love of Azu's life, good for her. Skraak is the new "I'm fine" meme after Wilde just gave up (not in a healthy way either). Sassra (and look Cel is here again and so is Zolf) is just trying to fix problems she can't fix forever and ever.

Azu is dealing with her own baggage while having to deal with everyone else because she is somehow the adult in the room! She is 13 (mentaly she is in her early 20's but still). She is baby. What a queen.

[makesometime]

PROMPTS :D 85, 88, 89, or 93 for Azu & Zolf if you feel like any of them? 🥺 (right next to them is 84 which is. a VERY DIFFERENT VIBE but it made me cackle.)

88. “Maybe it’s best that we don’t go home.”

(endgame spoilers)

The necklace around her neck hasn’t glowed in days. There’s a stubbornness to her heart that says it will, but with everything in the world around them so very lacking in joy and sparkle, she’s not sure she can hold onto that hope forever.

The sound of squeaking metal sounds off to her right and she inhales sharply as she looks over, only to find Zolf approaching in the chair Cel fashioned for him out of things they found nearby.

It’s the first time she’s seen him without Wilde in days, and he looks worse off for it, like all of the demons snapping at their heels have found a foothold while he’s vulnerable.

“Hey, Zolf.” She says, and he does his best to smile at her, in the same way she attempts to smile at him.

“Hey.” He says, his voice weary. “How’s things?”

“They’ve been better.” She nods, the silence between them heavy as he settles beside her. She breaks it with a sigh, folding her hands together in her lap, over where her armour is a little tarnished. “Why does it feel so much like we failed, even though we won?”

Zolf’s lips curl up into a smirk at one side. “Been wondering that myself.”

Gods, she hates silence so much. Why is it so easy to fall into, now? She usually has so much to say.

“I don’t know what to do next. Before this, I couldn’t wait to go back to my village and share my adventures. Now, though?” She looks at him, sees his eyes full of understanding sympathy, and has to try not to cry. “Maybe it’s best that we don’t go home.”

The way he reaches out to her is a little stilted, but she can tell he’s trying. His hand settles cold on hers. “I think that’s exactly what you should do. No matter how long it takes.”

“It’s easy for you, Zolf. You’ve found your home.”

His smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Yeah. Doesn’t make it easier though.” His voice goes quiet and he looks away from her, drawing his hand back. “Might make it worse, actually.”

Azu’s heart aches. For him, for herself, for all of their friends trying to make sense of the world they’ve created.

“Would you sit with me for a while, Zolf?”

He nods, moving himself next to the little bench she’s found to perch on. It doesn’t make things any better. But gods, it certainly doesn’t make them any worse.

And a bonus, just for you:

#84: “We shouldn’t. You’re married and I’m pregnant.” 

(endgame spoilers)

They’ve been drinking for a while now, all of them except for Azu of course. But Azu gets just as drunk as she ever did on love and life and friendship and doesn’t need to imbibe to be giddy and foolish just like the rest of them. 

The music that plays is some of his favourites and he’s got a kiss from when his husband tottered on unsteady legs to the bathroom lingering on his lips, so he can’t help but hold the hand she’s placed on the arm of his chair, squeezing it gently when she beams at him.

(Oscar tells him that he’s got a lot more handsy when he drinks, which he’s been assured with several eyebrow wiggles isn’t a problem in the slightest, but he can’t deny it now, her warm palm soft against his own.)

Carter says something that has her roaring with laughter, leaning backwards with a hand curved over her belly. Zolf smiles, bringing her hand to his mouth and pressing a kiss to the back of it, and she looks at him with such adoration that he can’t imagine ever not having her in his life.

Her eyes flick above his head and then back to him, her face turning playfully stricken, her free hand clutching at her chest.

“Zolf! We shouldn’t!” She gasps, leaning closer to him even as he feels a presence behind him. “You’re married, and I’m pregnant!”

“Oh, I don’t know about that,” Oscar says, a smile audible in his voice as he rests his forearms on Zolf’s shoulders and leans in close. “Do I get to watch?”

[shy-magpie]

Pre: RQG 162

Look this has been sitting in my notes app for literally years now, so time to either go back to posting them or delete forever. I think I'd regret never posting them so here you go. Heads up I didn't end up finishing the series & don't actually remember when I stopped

Not much by way of pre listening thoughts other than a vague hope Earhardt is going to knock it off now that the Kobolds reassured her they won't object to fighting the dragon that attacked her ship. I mean there are over a dozen lovely things I anticipate coming up in the next few episodes but I trust RQ to get to it when they get to it. Literally the only thing I think they might actually drop the ball on is if they decide not to address if elementals are people. Which would esp suck after that great scene in Paris where Hamid has a moment with one; but no canon is perfect and I'm not sure how much more lore we can get before we lose people who don't live for world building like me. Especially since if they are people it implies systematic enslavement world wide. Which wowee there's a comment on capitalism being dependent on the exploitation of people who aren't seen as people at levels direct & indirect, large & small, but if fandom is reacting this badly to the cohort I can see where neither Alex nor Anil are paid enough to go there.

Oh and as always Azu needs to have a conversation where she isn't the strong one, like I hope mega juicing was cathartic but tell someone she's afraid of something, be petty about something silly, talk about her grief & guilt for her own sake. If she was a Mary Sue I'd wave it as women get to play wish fulfilment characters too, but she is very well played and real people don't do well with being serenely helpful all the time. Although I might be worried just because I like her so much, maybe I'm missing moments where she isn't making herself be perfect because she is perfect to me?

Lastly: names, Alex, 5 of them. When I thought he was keeping a hard line on treating the cohort as one character so they wouldn't take over the series it was one thing; but Meerk likes loud noises, and Skraak remains a delight, so make em canon and give me at least 1 characteristic a piece.

[miscreantahead]

yknow i loved zolf deeply from like episode 1 and everyone else took a while to grow on me (actually i probably liked bertie second for a while JUST because james is funny as fuck but bertie became insufferable ofc) but then he was gone and sasha and hamid were still here and they'd been here forever and sasha in particular was so so so so so good that while I really wanted to maintain zolf as the absolute fave of faves since he was gone so long i started to feel like maybe sasha is actually my number one favorite and then maybe even like hamid is second because god i love him too (no shade to azu and grizzop i adore them they just never came close to having anything on zolf is all im saying) but now that zolf is back it's like NOPE THAT ONE THAT ONE THAT ONE THAT ONE THAT'S MY LITERAL EVERYTHING I MISSED YOU SO MUCH

[knifemartin]

i think posting the first chapter will motivate me to write the rest of the fic lol

[cursedcola]

I want mine to be a crack post. So the dorm leaders + Sam(whom they’re buying the supplies from) reacting to mc buying prank supplies and scaring Crowley just for fun.

A/N: Aight. I gotchu. I love writing crack mm mm mmm it's the good juice. We love torturing bird-man in this house. Especially after he threw us in that dirty-ass dorm like we were trash. Like, you expect me to sleep on dust covered sheets with spiders making a nest in the corner? Nah. This isn't Cinderella bestie and we have standards.

Setting the Scene <3

MC to their love interest after being Crowley's bitch for yet another day: Listen. The F*ck. Up. We will not be taking this abuse. We will not be taking this absolute DISRESPECT. Okay, we have a saying back on "earth," and it's called "hoez mad". Which is me. I am the hoe and I am mad. And you? You are my accomplice. You see this ring???

*waves promise ring in their face*

THIS is the ring that YOU gave me when I snagged you up and made you mine. The chain of foreverness that you imposed on my alien-ass-self.

I pulled your emo-wannabe ass back from the brink of valhalla and you will be paying me back - at a very unfair trade on my end - today. We are destroying whatever pride that cocky pigeon has and we are doing it now.

Riddle Rosehearts

-100/10. Will not comply or even be associated

bitch he isn't getting in trouble for you??? The fuck you think he's going to do?? Collar the headmaster?

The moment you step out of that door, he's tattling - no cap

Best drag him by the ear because he'll throw you under the bus

does not pass the vibe check

threatens to break up with you if you get him in trouble

so YOU threaten to break up with HIM if he doesn't at least carry your stuff

aight. he's in. it was a bluff so please don't dump him

he will cry and then stuff his face with tarts

he doesn't understand how covering everything in Crowley's office in tin-foil will make you feel better? but go off I guess

The entire time he is just complaining about how you both are wasting resources and time.

Riddle really needs to stop ruining the fun (T ^ T)

Leona Kingscholar

"That's hot"

Likes when you get mad lol Crowley should piss you off more often

He’ll watch but won’t do nothin

Another spoil sport in that he thinks it’s too much effort

He’s got some balls considering he’s no better than Crowley

Deadass is this a relationship or are you his servant

Okay that’s Ruggie’s job not yours

Speaking of, he suggests just making him doing it or the literal man children you babysit (*cough* deuace *cough*)

Lets you drag him by the foot to Sam’s shop. Why fight back?

Watches you swap Crowley’s toothpaste for mayo and wonders if you should really be considered future royalty

Doesn’t trust you around his food or personal items when you’re pissed at him

Azul Ashengrotto

“Can we get icecream after?” (〃ω〃)

Yes Azu, we can get nommies after but you must pull your weight

Man is Simp? Simp do anything for affection? Need I say more?

The BEST at covering tracks too. One bat of your eyelashes and he’ll buy out Sam’s store just to make you happy

Has a bit too much fun. One taste of rebellion and all the pent up r a g e from getting his businessman privileges revoked blossoms

They grow up so fast . He’s a natural born criminal

You wanted to do something small scale, like swapping the sugar for salt in Crowley’s coffee. He lets you, but goes the extra mile

Azul says “go big or go home,” and uses his henchmen to spam Crowley’s close conspirators with complaints from ‘student families,’ and essentially throws all of NRC’s shady business *cough*ghostbride*cough* back in Crowley’s face

Now the headmaster is up to the neck with work

Are you proud of him? He avenged you both and barely moved a fingie

Azul accepts payment in cash, credit, or kisses pls <3

Kalim Al’Asim

“Pulling pranks isn’t nice MC”

“And neither is nearly giving me a heart attack with diabetes tea. Quit complaining and move-“

You must trick the sunshine to comply

This is a game and the headmaster is happy to be pranked! It’s all in good fun Kalim~

He comes up with dozens of ideas but settles on on you pick bc he loves u

Anything to make his treasure happy ^_^

If worse comes to worse he can just throw some money to pay for the next school event so you don’t get expelled

You both get to work on covering the floor of Crowley’s office in plastic cups full of water

And…Kalim does not get the memo and blocks your way out *facepalm*

No problem tho! He calls his magic carpet through the window and it rescues you both from the makeshift island, also known as Crowley’s desk

Did he just step on important trade documents? Oops-

Fwoooooosh you both are out the window and safe

Thank him because you both were actually caught, but he payed off the snitches to not say nothin

All in the name of love so you get a taste of sweet sweet revenge

Vil Schoenheit

Uhm…no 💅

Too much effort

Honey why do you even want revenge? Keep stressing like this and you’ll be a potato for the rest of your life

Is that a potato spore or just a dry patch of skin? Nono dear lets go put that money towards some skin care products okay?

Ugh

U g h

Fiiiiiiiiiiine. One prank. And it better be both small and still funny

A schoenheit does not waste their time. We must be efficient with the best results

Which is why we are putting hair dye in Crowley’s body wash. J u s t enough to stain him a lovely shade of baby blue, okay?

Okay

Rook will do it. He’s better at being a cockroach on the wall anyways

Now lets do our nails. In exchange for helping you, Vil is picking the color. No, you have no rights in this exchange

Idia Shroud

“Alright” （；￣ェ￣）

…….

Yes, it’s that easy. He hates conflict

With you and ortho. He doesn’t mind messing with other people

Especially since that rotisserie chicken confiscated his talking tablet at the last ceremony

Idia wants vengeance. If it wasn’t for you, he would airdrop photos of Crowley picking his nose to the entire campus

Instead he settles for something more basic. For you. Because you don’t know how to have fun 😒

Special orders truth peppers from sam’s black market. All you have to do is eat one and you can’t tell a lie for at least a month

Idia does his little techy thing with the cafeteria camera so you can slip it into Crowley’s lunch (that you are forced to bring bc he treats you like an errand boy)

A few hours later, you both are chilling in Idia’s room with nommies and watching Crowley make a fool of himself by spilling his secrets

Cruel? A bit. Necessary? Yes

Malleus Draconia

“Is this what you like to do for fun? Have I misjudged your character”

Mans is so down. He wants to be a little rebellious

And damn is he e v i l

Like y’all forget that he is a powerful wizard. You think he hasn’t made a potion or two for his own purposes

He doesn’t even give you room to think. Just shoves a coin purse in his pocket and poofs you both into sam’s store

Nearly giving said tradesman a heart attack but whatever

“I need everything here and whatever you have in the back,” malleus purchases enough to make an alchemy lab in your dorm

And conjures the most v i l e smelling potion you have ever seen with a smile

And a little evil cackle for measure. Lilia taught him that no good villain is worth their salt without an evil laugh

He leaves you with a kiss on the forehead to go “do the dirty work,” and doesn’t even tell you what’s up

He…turned the headmaster into an actual bird

But like, Crowley can still talk so all you hear around campus is him squawking for someone to fix this

It’s pretty obvious who pulled the prank. Malleus is the only one powerful enough to make something even Trein can’t reverse

You both end up in the slammer

Still better quality than Ramshackle tho

Sam ze Tradesman

Cha-ching 💰💰💰💰💰

He knew there was a reason he liked you

Has Sam ever mentioned that you are his favorite wallet student??

No?

Well you are

He sells you anything and everything you want. No questions asked and a firm believer of snitches get stitches

If he gets caught tho then you’re on your own

Jk he wouldn’t do is favorite customer like that

Or would he???🤔💭

Well. Maybe not so long as these pockets of his stay stashed with cash

[esperanzagalaxy]

for requests, if you're willing to do something in the garden of yerlick? sasha the knife fairy or cel and their spouse or whatever else you prefer! your art is SO good I could look at it forever

 RQG request #12, a very sweet one. thanks so much for your prompt. i’m actually surprised i didn’t go with sasha the knife fairy (which i sincerely think is a severly underrated line) since doing something about the visitations kind of intimidated me! so i let this one sit for a while and then it just sort of came out of me. the lineart on its own is sincerely very nice, and i was nervous about over-rendering it with the colors, but... i think it’s a lovely result. i’m very happy about the faces. i think they’re all the emotions i wanted. look at cel and yuuko. i might never be able to top that tenderness.

  also, i love my design for feryn, so having the excuse to bust him out was great.

  hope you like it as much as i do <3

 mechanical pencil on cream paper and digital colors.

 ID under the cut!

[ID: an illustration of the party going through the garden of yerlik, accompanied by spirits. it is drawn traditionally with a mechanical pencil, and colored digitally. it shows hamid, zolf, cel, azu and wilde walking with aziza, yuuko,  grizzop and feryn. most of them are in profile, walking from the right to the left. there are tall trunks behind the group, as well as blue betals and cold breezes blowing through. the living and the trees are colored and rendered in cold palettes of purples and blues respectively, while the dead are colored in a flat, warm orange.    from left to right, first in the walking order are aziza and hamid. hamid has his eyes closed, and his head is hanging a little. he has a sad smile on his face. his skin is brown, his hair is darker, curly and slicked back. he's freckly and has a bit of stubble on his chin. his thick coat has a fur-lined hood. just behind him, and leaning forwards to look him in the face, is aziza, who is holding his left hand with both of hers. she has long, wavy hair and expensive jewelry. she has a build and face almost identical to hamid's, rounded, short and fat. she has an elegant dress and a shawl over her shoulders. she's smiling and talking to hamid with interest.    behind them, further back just a little, are cel and yuuko. yuuko is a tall orc with tusks, gentle eyes, and hair done up in a braid that runs along his scalp and then down. he's wearing a plain button-up with an open collar, and a simple waistcoat. he's walking side by side with cel, offering them his left elbow. he's looking at them with moved adoration. cel is white and blond, hair spiky and tall. they're wearing their goggles and a long coat with fur along the sleeves and collar. they're holding onto yuuko's arm with their left hand, and have the right intertwined with his. they're nuzzling into his neck, since he's a little taller. they're smiling, looking melancholic, both sad and elated.    some paces closer to the camera, behind hamid and aziza, are zolf and feryn. zolf is closing his eyes tightly, with his head hanging down, and he's walking with hands balled into fists. his hair is short and white, and his beard is done in a single plait. his coat has no fur on it. he's strong and stocky in build. behind him and one step closer to the camera, is feryn. he has his left hand on his pocket, and tje other on zolf's arm. he's talking to him in an animated manner. they have the same build, with feryn being very slightly taller. he's wearing an old, long coat with a breasplate underneath, and his hair is long and straight, somewhat uneven. his beard is done in three braids.    behind them and behind cel and yuuko are azu and grizzop. azu is looking down and holding the heart of aphrodite necklace in both hands, sad but smiling softly. her eyes are closed. her coat with a wide fur-lined hood is only partially visible. on her shoulders sits grizzop, who also has his arms crossed on top of her head, looking onwards with a cheeky grin. his long coat, plain trousers and boots are visible. he's bald and freckly, with dangling arrow piercings hanging from his long ears.    on the far right, behind them all, is wilde. he's the only one of the living with his eyes open, and he's looking behind them, off to the right to something off-camera. his eyes are wide and he has a surprised, searching expression. his hair reaches his shoulders and is dark brown, with a streak of white on the left side. his coat has a wide fur-lined collar, and there's a rope tied around his waist, tying him to zolf. end ID]

[izumi-fanclub]

A3! Event Story Translation “Blessed Memories” [ Epilogue: Beneath the Soap Bubbles ]

Nawww they had too much fun acting out a proposal to Izumi I don’t think any of y’all are ready (is the one that wasn’t ready)

-

Izumi

(The soap bubble surprise was a huge success! I’m glad to see them so happy.)

Jin

We better get changed out of these clothes.

Miki

That’s right.

Everyone, I really can’t thank you enough for today.

Then, please excuse us.

Azuma

Yes, thank you for today too.

Izumi

…... The wedding ceremony really was wonderful.

Hisoka

They both looked so happy.

Chikage

…... They sure did.

Kumon

Director, can I post our outfits on Inste?

Izumi

Sure, why not. It’s a special case this time around, since I don’t think we’ll ever be able to show our costumes and play again today.

Posting a lot on social media might make a lot of people happy.

Yuki

I wanna show off our costumes to other people too.

Sakyo

That’s right.

Kumon

Then let’s all line up and take a picture together! Since we’re all here, let’s put director in the shot, too!

Izumi

No, no, I’m good. I’ll just take the pic.

Yuki

…... Wait, where’s Azu-nee?

Hisoka

He was here a moment ago.

Chikage

Aaaand looks like he’s back.

Sakyo

Oi, where did you run off to?

Azuma

Sorry, sorry, I went and borrowed this for a moment.

Hisoka

A bouquet?

Yuki

Heh, cute.

Izumi

What are you gonna do with that?

Azuma

I thought since we’re taking pics, I borrowed one from the staff.

Izumi

I see, it’d make for a great photo if someone had it!

Azuma

No, this is for you, director.

Take this and we’ll take a pic.

Izumi

Eh, me? But......

Chikage

Can we do it one-on-one?

Kumon

Yeah yeah! Let’s take a pic together, director!

Azuma

Now, here’s your bouquet.

Izumi

Thank you very much, then......

Azuma

Mhm.

Azuma

Aah...... I knew it, it looks really good with you, Izumi.

Izumi

Eeh!

Azuma

I love your smile, your voice...... your everything. Izumi, you cutie, will you be my bride?

Izumi

…...!

A-Azuma-san?

Azuma

Fufuu, there’s no need to look so surprised. We’ve done this kind of etude in front of a wedding venue before. *

Kumon

That’s right, Muku mentioned that during the bride’s three-game match. Everyone did an etude like a marriage proposal.

Hey hey, the atmosphere and everything is perfect, let’s have director play the bride and we’ll follow suit!

Izumi

Eeh!?

Yuki

Haa? For what. 

Kumon

Right, the scenario’s literally laid out for us!

Azuma-san was really cool and director was so cute with her bouquet, I wanna see everyone else’s etude too!

Azuma

Fufu, I also wanna see it.

Yuki

Even Azu-nee......

Kumon

Yeah! Come on, Yuki!

Yuki

Haa...... guess I got no choice.

Yuki

…... I’ll keep on making you prettier and prettier with my own hands.

Hey, when you’re by my side, you can put on the best wedding dress I’ll ever make.

Izumi

!

Kumon

Wow! It’s cute but cool at the same time! That’s what I’m talking about~!

Chikage

Yup, nice one, Yuki.

Kumon

All right! My turn!

Kumon

Izumi-san, I’ll definitely make you happy......!

And I love you! Please marry me!!

Yuki

For real, he’s so straightforward.

Hisoka

Think it really conveys how Kumon feels.

Azuma

The proposal’s got moxie to it.

Kumon

Hehe, thanks! Next up, Hisoka-san it’s your turn!

Hisoka

Me?

Hisoka

…...You’re so pretty. It honestly feels like a dream. Thank you for being my bride.

Let’s stay together forever.

Sakyo

Guess it’s nice to be straightforward.

Azuma

Yeah, it’s pleasant and easy. There’s no need to be shy.

Yuki

You’re up next, Chikage.

Izumi

(Chikage-san, I don’t think he’s into this kind of stuff......)

Chikage

Come on, don’t look at me like that.

Chikage

…... You’re beautiful, Izumi.

You’re my someone, who fills me up with warm and loving feelings.

I vow to protect you with all that I am.

Kumon

Wow! That was so friggin’ cool!

Yuki

What a show-off.

Not bad, I guess.

Hisoka

It’s your turn, Sakyo.

Sakyo

Sigh. geez......

Sakyo

You’re very special to me. I’ll never let go of your hand...... I want to live with you.

Let’s get married.

Azuma

Fufuu, it’s nice to convey how you feel.

Hisoka

Yeah, same here.

Kumon

It makes me feel like an adult, I like it......!

Izumi

(Haa, I’m still shy about these things...... no matter how many times it’s happened......!)

     *beep*

Izumi

Eh?

Yuki

What was that sound?

Kumon

Hehe! Everyone looked so cool so I took a video! Muku’s gonna be soooo stoked to see this——

Yuki

Haa!?

Sakyo

Delete that right now.

Kumon

Eh—!! But it was so cool......!

Yuki & Sakyo

DELETE IT!

Azuma

Now, now.

Hisoka

Snore...........

Izumi

Ahahaha......

Chikage

Just don’t ever show it to Masumi by mistake.

Story clear!

------------------------------- T/Ns:

A reference to the “Bride Concerto” Event story

-------------------------------

Previous Chapter [ Ch 10 ]

[arianwells]

hey there!! just dropping in to say that its been a joy following you and i appreciate your content a lot!!

also for the rqg ask meme (i would point out the 4pm thing but you're aware of that) :

1. What is that one moment from the show that you will find yourself thinking back to, intermittently, for years to come?

11. Which raw-ass line will stick in your mind for years to come?

20. I’m a firm believer that everyone takes at least a little piece of every piece of media they consume away with them, to become a part of their lifestyle, or moral code, or even a part of themself. What will you take from Erasing the Line?

have a lovely day!!!

Ahhh thank you so much and right back at you! All your posts and art and comments always make genuinely smile. It’s been an honour! 

1. What is that one moment from the show that you will find yourself thinking back to, intermittently, for years to come?

Sasha’s letter broke my heart forever. It was a moment I hadn’t expected at all. And. It was so beautiful, hopeful and sad. Sasha, caring for all these lost children, Sasha, becoming the leader, Sasha, never forgetting her mates (you all speak Latin in my dreams). Ok. Crying again. 

2.  Which raw-ass line will stick in your mind for years to come?

“You will always be the man on the floor.” 

Azu, being the most badass being in the universe. 

3.  I’m a firm believer that everyone takes at least a little piece of every piece of media they consume away with them, to become a part of their lifestyle, or moral code, or even a part of themself. What will you take from Erasing the Line?

Sometimes you can't save the world but you can save a person. You can leave, change and come back and be better. Sometimes there are no good solutions for a problem and someone will get hurt, but we can only go forward. Hitpoints matter. 

[kimabutch]

Some thoughts about Sasha’s letter, because no one stopped me. 

Alright, mates.

Sorry about the erroribus. It’s been so long that you all speak Latin in my dreams. But you know I wasn’t all that good in English to start.

The phrase “you all speak Latin in my dreams” is forever going to be written in my heart — it’s a beautiful, simple way of saying how much she still thinks about them, decades later, these people she knew for a month at most. There’s something sad about it, the implication that maybe it’s not their voices exactly she hears in her dreams, it’s been so long since she heard them speak, but I think she’s okay with that. Her memories of them are intertwined with her life now. 

I got no proof you made it back, but I believe you did. I believe that you’re okay, somewhere. I am. 

What stands out to me so much throughout this letter is the hope. The faith that Azu and Hamid got back. The trust that the letter will get to them, over a thousand years later. The belief that Grizzop is happy and that she’ll get to see them all someday. Sasha didn’t really believe in good news, before. Her excitement for exploring the world was balanced by her cynicism. Now, she’s seen so much of the world, good and bad, and she’s hopeful. I’m so glad she got to that point. It gives me hope, too.

We landed back in Rome right when it was falling apart. There was fights. Grizzop took a spear that was meant for me, and then he took more. I light candles for him at the temple every year. They tell me that he’s happy somewhere on a Celestial Hunt and I believe that, too.

Words cannot describe how relieved I am that Sasha had help in finding closure for Grizzop, that she managed to talk to the Cult of Artemis/Diana and hear from someone that he was happy. There’s so much between the lines here, such a big space between his death and her lighting of candles for him, so much that Sasha would have had to process in losing her last connection to home, in having someone else die. But she wasn’t alone this time.

After everything was destroyed by the dragons, I found a home and a friend. So much was ruined and a lot of people was also lost, and so we took them in, too. Some of them was so small that they didn’t have names or they couldn’t remember them. But they’ve grown up now.

Azu is my best locksmith. Grizzop turned out all calm and quiet. He loves plants and growing living things. Cleric of Opis. I hope other Grizzop would be ok with that. Amidus used to help me out with the business side of our security work but he’s busy with his own twins now. They’re exactly your height now Hamid and they call me Ava. No one here could pronounce ‘Zolf’. We ended up calling him Sagax. Has excellens knife work when he’s not busy arguing. I think they’d get on. Little Wilde has caused me so many headaches you would not believe. Bertus teaches the kids acrobatics now that I’m getting too stiff. I wish so much that you could meet them.

Sasha was never good at speaking directly about her emotions; she was always better at showing people how she felt. And here, she doesn’t say “I love you,” or “you are my family,” or “you helped me when I was lost and alone.” Instead, she shows them — shows them how much her friends meant to her, shows them that she built with her adopted children what her friends gave to her. 

And the small images that this conjures up are just beautiful; Sasha’s audible pride in little Azu; Sasha teasing Grizzop for how different he is from his namesake and Wilde for how similar he is; Sasha smiling when she heard Amidus had had twins, just like Hamid’s siblings, and measuring their height against that of her old friend; trying to teach people how to say Zolf and finally giving up and figuring out a name that paid tribute to his wisdom; Sasha showing Bertus the falcon scar on her back. 

I also wish that they could meet them; I think all of their hearts would swell with pride for everything Sasha did and everyone she helped.

Sometimes you can’t save the world but you can save a person. I believe I’ll see you again and get to tell you that. Light a candle for Grizzop for me.

I’m also never going to be over “you can’t save the world but you can save a person.” I think it’s got a double meaning, sort of. 

On the one hand, I wonder if she’s talking about their mission, how she’s accepted that she couldn’t be there to take down the simulacrum with them and save the world she grew up in; she’s managed to save people where she is, and that’s what matters. 

But the second line makes me think she’s speaking to the guilt that she knows her friends must be facing. Reminding them that whatever happens in the world, they should know that they saved her. That Zolf and Hamid changed her life for the better when they looked out for her in that alleyway in London; that Hamid, Azu, and Wilde saved her by helping her heal in Cairo; that all of them gave her hope and love when she was so alone. That she’s taken care of other people now, and she’s let other people take care of her, and she knows how important that is, even if it’s just for one person.

And then there’s a third thing that Sasha wouldn’t have known about. When her friends saved her, just one person, they did save the world, because that one person went on to found the organization that’s now leading efforts against the infection. With every success of the Harlequins, that’s Sasha fighting alongside them. 

Thanks mates.

Whosaskinus “Sasha” Lolomg

It means so much that Sasha dropped “Rackett” in favour of one name that was truly hers and another that she shares with her mates. She lived her life free, on her own terms. I’m so, so proud of her. 

Thanks, Lydia, for the letter and for Sasha. 

[ary-se]

Mankai with a roach

some of these are based on irl experiences so i hope y'all enjoy reading this as much as i did writing it LMAO no braincells were involved in doing this i am so sorry.. also tagging @tsum-uwu-gi for some of the totally whack ideas, tysm 🥰

🐪 the mankai dorm never really experienced having a roach flying all over the place that much, and even if it did, they're immediately dealt with by the moms of the dorm

🐪 that was mostly the case until that one specific day arrived, when the reliable people were gone for different reasons. tsuzuru was in his part-time job, omi was getting groceries, tasuku was a guest actor for another troupe, and no one knows what in the world sakyo was up to

🐪 anyways the first one to notice was azuma, he walked in the bathroom probably to take a dump or something - who knows really lol - when he found himself staring at a roach that was literally on the toilet.

🐪 azuma literally has no idea how or when it got there, but the fact remains that there is no freaking way he is going to use the toilet unless he wants a death sentence. the logical choice was to close the toilet and flush it, but at that moment he kinda lost his shit, both literally and figuratively, and so all he did was act composed as he quickly left the bathroom

🐪 "azu-nee, why do you look so pale?" yuki asked him out of curiosity in the dining room, but azuma is hella smooth so he just laughs it off and acts as if he totally wasn't horrified at all, "it's nothing, you're probably imagining things."

🐪 after that incident, nothing happens for at least an hour. unfortunately, a roach doesn't simply disappear just because you want them to, which was why azuma's efforts of not letting the roach escape from the bathroom were in vain...

🐪 for some apparent reason taichi sometimes has this tendency of holding his own pee before he sprints to the toilet and just bursts in there, so when he ran to the bathroom and immediately let out an ungodly screech, it's all fucking over

🐪 did taichi piss himself? who the hell freaking knows. if he did, mankai would normally either laugh or feel bad for him or both, but at that moment nobody cared about that. what actually mattered was that taichi left the fucking door open so the moment he screamed, the roach already started flying EVERYWHERE

🐪 the one who was nearby the bathroom that time was kazunari. even if kazunari acts like he is scared of roaches, he actually isn't and he is capable of killing a roach in sight. would he help taichi, who has his fly almost open, by killing the roach and call it a day?

🐪 the answer is hell no. killing it doesn't even cross his mind. kazunari thinks this is really hilarious, and if he finds something funny he doesn't do anything to solve the problem. kazunari would basically make things worse by going live on his instablam to record what is happening. in this case, it is all about the unwanted creature and where in the actual world it is gonna land

🐪 gladly, kazu's sanity is still intact that he didn't include taichi in his live for the first few minutes. if kazu did, taichi better say bye bye to his remaining dignity and write his last will so he can finally dig his own grave. people will forever know him as the ugly sobbing, screaming dude in the bathroom with his fly open, and that is honestly the last thing taichi wants to be known for

🐪 sakuya goes to where the chaos is, poor boy was legitimately confused as to why two people are yelling and laughing at the same time. it is normal in mankai but every time it happens, somewhing whack is happening. unfortunately for sakuya, he was completely unaware of the roach flying behind him

🐪 "hi kazunari!" sakuya greets, and the roach lands on the sleeve of his hoodie. sakuya is a pure little bean, he is ALWAYS a pure bean but if kazu was being honest, the current image of sakuya smiling widely while a roach is chilling on his sleeve was really unnerving in its own way

🐪 kazu started to laugh so hard that he is physically unable to explain to sakuya what was happening, and he felt so bad about it. sadly, kazu doesn't have the capability to stop laughing by force, does he? because of the lack of explanation, it took sakuya approximately 7 seconds of obliviousness before he notices

🐪 tenma arrived right after that, and the roach flies off sakuya's hoodie after he jumps from surprise. high and mighty carrot boy is now in for a storm cause the moment he appeared, the roach lands on top of tenma's freaking head out of all places

🐪 "hey guys, what's happening?"

🐪 "there's a flying roach. and it is now on your head." kazunari deadpans. he always tricked tenma when it comes to these kinds of things, but he is serious this time

🐪 tenma literally HUFFS as if he doesn't believe kazunari in the slightest, and tbh you can't blame him cause summer troupe gave him trust issues from their pranks. sorry mister. unlike their old pranks, it is actually real right now... kazu ain't joking, please believe him now

🐪 tenma shrugs and places a hand on his head nonchalantly to ~prove his point~, "you won't fool me again-" he froze the moment he actually felt something moist moving under his hand

🐪 at that moment tenma screamed one hundred fucking times louder than the entire mankai company could, the entire neighborhood would learn their lesson to bring earplugs wherever they go cause his screams are literally ear-splitting

🐪 tenma should say goodbye to his reputation as a k00L b0y 4ct0R😎 that he has maintained for so long cause a lot of people are already watching the live. also rip to the people who were using earphones... at least you have witnessed tenma's most unglorious moment on public. from that moment he is already and permanently a meme and there is no going back

🐪 "STOP SCREAMING HACK!!" yuki yells at him with all of his might, but it was super inaudible because his scream still reigns. the roach lands on the wall, so yuki grabs whatever was on the table. it was banri's fashion magazine, which is fucking useless by the way, because he still can't dress himself up no matter how many fashion magazines he purchases. good job yuki for using it as a sacrifice

🐪 yuki rolled the magazine and repeatedly whacked it to the wall out of pure annoyance so he can kill the roach. in all honesty, the roach would've been dead by now from yuki's wrath, but curse his height cause he can't reach the freaking roach no matter how hard he tried. sorry yuki, your courage and bravery were all in vain

🐪 amidst all the chaos, nobody freaking noticed muku, who was deadass in the living room the whole time. question is, how is muku not aware of what was happening? how did he manage not to hear taichi's and even the mighty tenma's screams? the answer is simple. HE WAS TOO ENGROSSED IN HIS SHOUJO MANGA.

🐪 when yuki was about to finally hit the roach, it flew to the cover of muku's shoujo freaking manga. for an unknown reason, muku doesn't even flinch. HE JUST KEPT ON READING. muku, everyone adores you especially with your love for romance but the kissing scene isn't important right now, PLEASE STOP READING THIS INSTANT

🐪 everyone literally went silent, nobody had the heart to tell muku. they just watched the roach crawl slowly to muku's fingers in suspense. after what seemed like forever, muku closed his book while giggling, but that didn't last forever cause he saw the roach and in a split second he dropped his book without any hesitation

🐪 muku got so freaked out they all felt sorry to the poor boy. he just stared at the shoujo manga that is now on the floor, endlessly mumbling about having to buy a new one because the roach already cursed his book and he will become unlucky and he might pass on the curse to everybody else and they will fail all their upcoming shows and---

🐪 anyways. the roach lands on citron's palms, and citron... surprisingly doesn't freak out. he doesn't care. actually, CITRON'S HAPPY??? he just looks at the roach in fascination and if it were any other creature it would look so adorable. but no, it had to be a ROACH and it's absolutely whack and disgusting. please remember that it is the same roach that came from the freaking toilet. citron, please wash your hands RIGHT NOW.

🐪 "CITRON KILL IT!!"

🐪 "NO, NO! POOR COACH!" citron shakes his head, reluctant to kill it. he kept the roach in his hands so nobody would be able to kill it... he was oddly protective of it and NOBODY KNOWS WHY. THEY ALL DO NOT WANT TO KNOW WHY EITHER. citron please stop, what you're doing is making everything way worse. let go of that roach this instant and be hygienic just PLEASE oh my god

🐪 everybody already lost hope on trying to kill the roach, citron and his questionable logic is beyond their comprehension. but they refuse to waste their time fighting him about it because it will fly everywhere and no one wants that... lucky for them, tsuzuru finally arrives the dorms. HE IS EVERYONE'S SALVATION! SOMEONE WHO CAN FINALLY KILL THE ROACH! FREAKING FINALLY,,

🐪 yeah no, nevermind that. tsuzuru was so fucking tired from his part-time job that he just collapses right after he closed the door. please let the poor man sleep, don't even bother on trying to wake him up to kill the roach cause there's no way he is gonna wake up any time soon. cut him some slack. they felt bad for him but it happens way too often so they just left him on the doorway and that's it.

🐪 a few minutes after tsuzuru passed out, banri got back from no one knows where, probably shopping for more animal print clothes... who the hell knows. unlike the others, banri already knew what was happening without asking cause he has been watching kazu's live for like ten minutes already. if he was being honest, the whole thing was making him lose his shit so he tried to go back to the dorms asap to not miss out on anything good

🐪 coincidentally, juza also left their room from his long ass nap to see wtf was happening cause they were being hella noisy. after some explaining, when juza already fully figured out what was going on, he was aboutta kill it, ACTUALLY KILL IT, when banri stopped him. "you get out of this. i am the one killing it."

🐪 "get your own roach for you to kill, settsu"

🐪 curse their competitive asses cause it has reached to the point where they're already starting to beat each other up to death. the goal here is to kill the roach, not each other you dumbasses, get your brains straight please that's not helping anything don't be stupid for once

🐪 the roach flew from citron's hands and everybody screeched but finally, FINALLY AN ADULT walks in. tsumugi went in the dorm from the garden with a bottle of pesticide in his hand. once everybody noticed what he was holding, they were all getting panicky so they angrily screamed at him to spray it to the roach, it was too chaotic

🐪 tsumugi was so confused??? why was everybody angry at him?? what did he do to deserve this?? he doesn't actually think his pesticide works on roaches, but it was probably better if he stays silent about it since everyone will not listen and would force him to spray it on the roach anyways, what's the point

🐪 and so he did. at first, the roach stopped moving, so they assumed it was already dead. tsumugi then sprayed a lot more to make sure it actually was dead and everybody collectively sighed in relief. finally the fiasco is over. everyome can go back to their normal lives before this fucking happened

🐪 or not. the ROACH DEADASS FLEW AGAIN AND THEY ALL PANICKED. funny enough tsumugi calmly explained amidst all that, and it turns out tsumugi's pesticide was weak, and to top it all off it was water-based so it had no freaking effect on the roach whatsoever. too bad, so much for everybody getting false hope, huh. they wanna blame tsumugi for not saying anything before spraying but it is also their fault for getting worked up so whatever

🐪 itaru arrives from work, and one quick glance on what everyone was yelling about tells him that he refuses to participate in this crap. give him a freaking break please. he was dealing with work and you're telling him that he has to put up with this, too? hell fuckin no. he manages to quickly escape to his room to catch up on his games and it is a good thing that no one really noticed. they're too busy screeching every time the roach just flies outta nowhere.

🐪 masumi was deadass watching them from the sidelines. he could tell them to open the windows and just wait for the roach to fly outside so they can get it over with and call it a day. what a joke though, masumi giving helpful tips so everyone can calm down? yeah right haha no. he doesn't want to waste his energy on doing that even if their noise was actually getting into his nerves, so the whole duration he stays silent while he watches them lose their shit

🐪 this is one of the moments where they all legitimately wished misumi was here right now. him blabbing about triangles every second made them think that the roach kind of looks like a triangle when its wings are out. misumi what did you do to them to make them think this way?? did you make them do the triangle calisthenics or cathletics or whatever the heck that is??

🐪 knowing misumi, he can catch the roach in a matter of seconds. so where in the world is misumi? he is out again for his daily triangle hunting, obviously. come back, misumi... literally everything would be over in a flash if misumi decided to stay in the dorms today

🐪 despite this, for some apparent reason homare manages to find inspiration in all this. look, mister. the dorm is a fucking chaos. actual chaos. kazunari is somehow still live on instablam, wheezing so hard like he is gonna die any second now. the scene is literally just teenage boys screaming and running all over the place. two of said teenage boys are beating each other up... and one (1), ONE roach flies on top of everything, still fucking alive. EXACTLY WHAT PART OF THAT MAKES YOU FEEL INSPIRED HUH HOMARE!!! SPEAK UP!!!

🐪 the noise levels of mankai dorm is practically a headache at this point, if sakyo was here his boomer brain would be having a migraine that would be worth a week of pure pain and agony. for some reason, hisoka, who is on the sofa in the living room, literally in the MIDDLE OF THE CHAOS, just sleeps through it all.

🐪 how does he do that? just what kind of marshmallows does he eat?? do they permanently damage a person's hearing?? no matter how many times they woke hisoka up, he doesn't budge. what the actual fuck. and tsuzuru is still sleeping in the freaking doorway. at this point they could cuddle each other for all they want until they fucking die cause no amount of noise is gonna wake them up from their eternal slumber

🐪 after what seemed like forever, sakyo arrived and everybody immediately went silent. they stopped what they were doing except kazu, who was either incredibly stupid or incredibly brave, nobody wants to answer that right now. he is still live on instablam. even the live chat went silent.

🐪 sakyo still doesn't know what was happening but he knows it is BAD news, so he glared right at kazunari's camera and the last moments before the live ended was sakyo angrily stomping his way to kazunari and the screen blacked out

🐪 after learning that everything was only caused by a roach, sakyo got so mad that he managed to snatch a flip flop out of nowhere and killed the roach until it was completely crushed. it was safe to say everybody felt bad to the roach despite being the cause of everything. by the way, whose flip flop was that? nobody knows.

🐪 tasuku, misumi and omi arrived in the dorms while sakyo was lecturing everyone, and they still got dragged in without knowing what in the world happened. please pray for these poor souls they have to deal with his yelling without even being a part of it.

🐪 omi just bought groceries for dinner, he didn't waste his time to do that just to have no dinner tonight oh my god please give this man a break from everyone's bullcrap. tasuku's role in the other company's play was some random teen whose parents were mad at him for doing shit. he doesn't have to deal with sakyo actually getting mad too please let this man live in peace. and misumi? he isn't happy that he got dragged in, too. this is not very sankaku of you, sakyo

🐪 "MIYOSHI, WHY DID YOU HAVE TO RECORD THE WHOLE THING? YOU'RE RUINING THE COMPANY'S IMAGE. ALSO THE BOTH OF YOU FIGHTING YADDA YADDA YADDA"

🐪 the lecture lasted for 5 hours and nobody ate dinner that night. everybody was so tired after that. nobody was allowed to speak and if someone mutters, sakyo will yell at them next. can sakyo still lecture you for another 5 hours even after that long ass session? unfortunately yes.

🐪 everybody was banned from eating meals the next day. the resident moms reached an agreement that at least one of them always stays in the mankai dorm so this never EVER happens again. once is enough, they do not need another fiasco like this one.

🐪 oh and was it mentioned that kazunari doesn't have a phone for a solid month? cause that happened, sakyo banned him. you bet he managed to live a phoneless life by logging on his social media platforms on other people's phones without sakyo knowing,, not really the definition of "phoneless" if you ask him..

[lobster-tales]

Pining - Azutara

Day 3 of Winter ATLA Femslash Week 2021. This work is also available here on AO3. 

Prompt: Braids/Hair Braiding or Pining

Katara arrives home after another late night of tracking down an assassin. To her surprise, the assassin tracked her down instead. Basically a Killing Eve AU. Blood CW. 

Thud! “Fuck.” Katara glared down at the dropped grocery bag. She continued to fumble with her set of keys, feeling the jagged edges with her fingers in the darkness. After two failed attempts at finding the right fit for the door, she finally felt one of the keys slip inside the lock. Katara adjusted the two other grocery bags in her arms, freeing her other hand to pull the knob towards her. The door, along with the rest of the building, was ancient, and after years of settling, the wood remained stubbornly out of place. 

The lock clicked. She twisted the knob and shoved her weight against the door, but was met with resistance. Katara grunted as she pushed again, keys jingling with each effort. 

A light flickered on above her. Katara winced and turned around. An older woman stood outside one of the other apartment doors, arms crossed. She wore a fierce expression, pink slippers, and a robe that would have been too short on a person of average height. 

“Sorry, Auntie,” Katara whispered. They weren’t related by blood, but the landlady had never introduced herself as anything else. 

“Do you have any idea what time it is?” Auntie hissed. 

“I know, I promise I’ll be more quiet next-”

“If you’re going to be out late, the least you can do is bring home a man!”

“I wasn’t ‘out’,” Katara said defensively. “I was working.”

“Again!” She shook her finger at Katara. “You can’t keep this up forever, you know! You only think you can because you’re young!”

“I know, Auntie.”

“You tell that boss of yours that you need a break! You tell him or I will!”

Katara smiled to herself, picturing her tiny landlady just as she was, robed, slippered, and wagging her finger at the head of the Secret Intelligence Service. “Okay, Auntie.” She pressed against the door again, and this time it chose to relinquish easily. “Goodnight.”

The woman grumbled a goodbye as Katara entered her apartment, dragging in the bag she had dropped earlier. 

Katara sighed, letting the wear of the day slide off her shoulders along with her oversized coat. She abandoned two of the grocery bags at the door, too exhausted to bother with the non-perishable items. Katara carried the third paper bag, now soggy with cold, through the darkness, aiming for the kitchen. Her fingers danced on the wall until she found the switch. 

Light flooded the tiny area. The short, cluttered counter had three bar stools behind it. Sitting upright in the center one, hands folded neatly, was Azula. 

“Oh shit!” Thud. Katara ignored the fallen bag this time, her attention narrowed on the other woman. 

Azula’s long black hair was pulled into an unusually messy top knot, a bruise swelling above her smeared eyeliner. She smiled easily at Katara, flinching as the movement stretched the bloody cut on her lip. “You redecorated.”

“What the fuck are you doing? Just sitting alone in the dark?”

“I wanted to scare you,” Azula said. “I thought it’d be funny. And it was.”

Katara gawked, her expression turning to one of concern. “Are you hurt?”

“A little. I tried to clean up before you got here, but I couldn’t figure out how to work your shower.” Disdain entered her voice as she said, “It seems that the knob was replaced by a wrench.”

“Yeah…” Katara struggled to regain her composure. “Yeah, the uh… maintenance guy is out on vacation.” Her eyes landed on Azula’s left arm, where a strip of yellow cloth had been tied and dyed red. “Oh my god, are you bleeding?”

Azula rolled her eyes. “It’s just a scratch. Turns out some children hate when you try to off their father.” Her features darkened. “Even if he was a complete asshole.” Her mood lightened again, as quickly as it had dimmed. “Either way, I was in the area, and I figured someone as maternal as you could stitch me up.”

“What? I’m not maternal!” 

“So you can’t give me stitches?”

“Of course I can!” Katara finally resumed control of herself. She knelt and picked up the grocery bag, reaching for the spilled contents. “Hold on, let me um… put everything away first.”

“Take your time; I’m in no rush.”

Katara opened the fridge. “They’re not after you?”

“I never leave a trail.” Azula smirked. “This may surprise you, but I’m actually good at my job.”

“Hmph. I’m not,” Katara said. “If I was, I’d be calling my boss right now. I’m supposed to be tracking you down, you know.”

“Aw, all this fuss over me.” Azula propped her elbows on the counter, making a bridge with her interlaced fingers. “I’m touched.”

“At the very least, I should drop you off at the hospital.”

“Ugh, you know how I feel about hospitals.”

Katara gazed at her intently. “And you know how I feel about assassins.”

“Hmm. I actually don’t, but let me guess.” Azula’s golden eyes flickered, like a cat playing with it’s meal. “You feel… ‘Scared’? No, that’s not it. How about ‘intrigued’? Wait, I’ve got it.” She licked her lips, smearing blood with her tongue. “‘Aroused.’”

Blood rushed to Katara’s face. She turned away, changing the subject quickly. “Can I get you anything? Some tea? Vodka?”

Azula leaned back, satisfied with her reaction. “Do you have any cabernet sauvignon?”

“Well for wine, I’ve got…” Katara dragged a large box out of the fridge and dropped it unceremoniously on the counter. “Red.”

***

“Ah!” Azula hissed in pain. 

Katara grinned, pulling the curved needle away from the open wound. “Oh, don’t be a baby.”

“Then stop hacking me to pieces, you maniac.” Azula used her free hand to grab her wine, drinking from a faded London Zoo mug. 

“What did they get you with, anyway?”

“Bullet.” She sighed. “It was my fault, I didn’t move quick enough. Getting sloppy in my old age.”

“We’re only 25, Azula.”

“Yes, and that much closer to death.”

Katara shook her head affectionately. “I guess assassins don’t have long life spans.”

“The good ones do.”

“And you’re one of the good ones?”

Azula’s expression changed. “I was.”

Katara punctured her skin once more with the needle, causing Azula to wince. “You said yourself that you’re good at your job.”

“Yes, usually I finish my assignments flawlessly. But this time…” She looked away. “I… I was clumsy. I made too many mistakes. The son caught me mid-kill. I should have had plenty of time before he arrived, but… I hesitated.”

Katara paused, frowning at her. “Why?”

“I don’t know,” Azula said quietly, almost whispering. Katara had never seen her like this: yielding, vulnerable. The sight put her on edge. Any moment, Azula would bounce back, laugh at her for falling for the act. “I mean, don’t get me wrong, he was a deplorable person. Politician, pushed through policies that left millions of people suffering, not to mention the 4 sexual assault accusations.”

“Oof,” Katara said, pulling on the thread. 

“But… I don’t know,” Azula repeated. “I started by beating him bloody. He liked trophy hunting, so I used the blunt side of some elephant tusks. I’ve done this enough times that I knew the begging would come next. They always beg, offer me money, power. But he just looked me in the eye. Like he was at peace with it, with the consequences of everything he’d done. 

“I’d just caught him fresh out of the bath, so he was still wearing his robe. And he asked me to wait before I killed him. He crawled to his desk, and grabbed something small off the surface. And he put it on his left hand.” She closed her eyes, solemn. “He wanted to die wearing his wedding ring. That asshole, that monster, wanted to die… loved. And he did.”

Katara searched her face, fighting the urge to take Azula’s hand. Even if this was an act, it didn’t matter anymore. What mattered was that Azula, the assassin she’d spent a year tracking down, fighting with, dreaming about… was crying. 

“After it was done,” Azula said, treating her tears like an inconvenience. “His son came in, caught me with an upper right before he got his hands on one of the shotguns. I was almost out the window when he fired.” She lifted her chin, staring up at the ceiling. The callous bathroom light hit her features, and Katara wondered how someone so clouded by sin could look so holy. “When I fell into the bushes, felt the sting on my arm, I realized I could have been a few inches too far to the left. Or he could have aimed better.” She stiffened her lower lip. “I don’t mind death. It’s always been part of the job, a potential side effect. But if I died, even the most painless, agreeable way...” Azula looked down at her naked left hand, flexing her fingers. “I’d still have it worse than he did.”

They sat in stillness for a moment. In a last ditch attempt, Katara waited for a punchline. A jump scare. Anything. But she was only met with silence. 

Though Azula had stopped crying, Katara was still stricken. During the briefings at MI6, Azula was always described as a psychopath. No feeling, no remorse. After encountering her in real life, Katara had come to the same conclusion. But now…

Katara grazed the top of Azula’s hand with her fingers. They both stared at the action, slowly moving their hands until their palms were pressed together, fingers intertwined. “You won’t die unloved, Azula,” Katara murmured. 

Azula scoffed, a harsh sound after the quiet. “Don’t say that. I could have a heart attack in the next ten minutes, or you could have poisoned the wine.” She flashed a glare at the mug. “Considering the taste, I wouldn’t be surprised.”

Smiling, Katara shook her head. “Even if you died right now.”

They both froze, the weight of Katara’s words settling in the air. They met each other’s eyes, lips parted slightly. Katara gulped involuntarily, mind racing. “A-Azu-”

Azula pressed her mouth against hers, swallowing her own name before Katara could finish saying it. Katara tilted her head, letting Azula run her tongue along her lower lip. She tasted like blood and cheap wine. 

After a moment, Azula pulled away. Katara threaded her fingers in her black hair, pulling her back in. Azula chuckled against her mouth, letting Katara kiss her, letting herself be loved. 

[intomymindspace]

Are You Bored Yet? ✰ Sawamura Daichi

Are You Bored Yet? by Wallows (ft. Clairo)

sawamura daichi x gn reader

Through the Summer and the Fall // Haikyuu!! Songfic Series

a/n: Hello hello! I didn’t expect this big of a response for my series and Asahi songfic, but thank you all for the support 🥺 as promised, I have delivered a hopefully good dadchi fic featuring just deadass a scene from Monthly Girl’s Nozaki-Kun because I just want a second season 😌 I hope you all have been doing well!! The next insert I will be posting will be with Iwa-chan 🥰 I also try to make my fics as gender neutral as possible! But sometimes I slip without noticing it, so if you see a she or her in there, please just let me know kindly and I shall fix it!

Warnings: maybe like really light angst? and just Suga being his matchmaking self as per usual~

Daichi stared at you from the sidelines as the team took a small water break before their post-practice stretch. The boys had been practicing since the morning because school wasn’t in session for the summer. Not to mention, the Star Festival was tonight - so Coach Ukai decided to let them out earlier than usual in the afternoon so they could join the festivities before sunset hit. Daichi was too late to react as your eyes met his, and his cheeks reddened slightly as he was caught staring at you. Noticing how red he had gotten, you jogged over and handed him his water bottle.

“Dai-san, you’re looking a little red. Are you okay?” He heard genuine concern in your voice, and he couldn't help but smile at your kindness.

“Yeah, just a bit tired since it's so hot, that's all.” Grabbing the bottle from your hands, he thanked you as he rubbed the nape of his neck sheepishly.

“Is everything okay? You seemed a bit out of it today.” Daichi’s eyes widened at your question - but he wasn’t surprised by it. You could read him like an open book, but you were completely blind to his feelings for you.

“Everything’s fine! I’m fine. I guess I’ve just been thinking about tonight.” You smiled at him, taking the answer. You could tell something was bothering him, but you decided against pushing him for the actual answer for now.

"What's wrong?" you've been askin'

But I don't have an answer

While getting ready, you couldn’t help but think about Daichi - what was going on with him? You had been close friends with him since Suga introduced the two of you in your first year - and you knew almost everything about him. If Suga didn’t take first place in being your best friend, it would’ve been Daichi. Even though the both of you had only met almost three years ago, when you’re with him, it feels like you’ve known him forever. So why couldn’t you pinpoint why he was acting strange around you?

And why didn’t he want to tell you?

Sighing, you finished fixing your face and hair, giving yourself one last look in the mirror before putting on your yukata, your mom helping you perfect the obi across your waist. Promising her that you’d take lots of photos, you walked out your door and made your way to Suga’s house - you were neighbors and childhood friends after all. During the half-an-hour walk to the festival square, you took the initiative to ask Suga about Daichi’s mood - maybe he knew.

“Daichi-san has been acting weird? What makes you say that?” He asked, a light smile on his face.

“I don’t know. I didn’t really think of it as a big issue until today. The past week, I just thought that maybe he was more tired than usual… but now, I feel like he’s just trying to avoid me - or at least, avoid talking to me.” Suga hummed in response. He saw the way you tried to hide the hurt look from showing in your eyes, a frown still creeping onto your face. He smirked at the phone call he had with his friend while getting ready.

How come, I'm still thinkin'

Let's pretend to fall asleep now

“Suga-san, what do I do?” He could feel the panic in Daichi’s voice. Rolling his eyes playfully, Suga answered the captain’s question.

“Baka, we’ve been talking about this for a whole month, Daichi-san.”

“That’s not the point! What happens if they reject me? That's literally three years of friendship down the drain because of me.” If they had been having this conversation face-to-face, Suga would’ve chopped him in the side so hard.

“First of all, what makes you think they’ll reject you?”

“Well - ” Suga cut him off.

“And second of all, why are you assuming they’re going to stop being your friend even if they do reject you? I didn't know you thought they were that shallow, Dai-san.” Suga smirked after he finished talking - he knew he had Daichi in checkmate.

“I - I don’t think they’re shallow! I just… Ugh! I hate that you’re always right.” He could practically see the annoyed look on Daichi’s face, making him giggle.

“I know. So are you going to confess to them tonight?”

“I - I don’t know.” The setter’s eyes formed slits as he squinted.

“If you don’t, I will tell them.” Suga was definitely lying - he wasn’t the type person (or friend, for that matter) to do that. While he was invested in the romantic lives of his friends and teammates, his dream being the ultimate matchmaker, he hoped that Daichi wouldn’t call his bluff. Luckily, the captain didn’t.

When we get old will we regret this

Too young to think about all that shit

“Perhaps you should ask him about it tonight. It’s better to just ask instead of letting the situation fester for longer.” He advised.

“Hmm, you’re right. Thank you Suga-kun.” He nodded at you, his smile lifting your mood. Now only if that damn Daichi would take his advice -

“What has got you so worked up about Daichi’s mood anyhow, if I may ask?” Your eyes widened at his question, not expecting it.

“Well, I - to be honest, I’m not really sure why. I just don’t like that I feel like he’s avoiding me.” That idiot, Suga thought.

“Why don’t you like that?” Suga pushed, interested in questioning you further. He always had the inklings of a hunch that you returned Daichi’s feelings, but you had never expressed it. It made him wonder if you maybe just hadn’t realized it.

“I don’t really know. Wouldn’t you be a little upset if your best friend started avoiding you? I guess I just don’t want to lose him.” There it was.

“Why?”

“Why are you asking so many questions?”

And stallin' only goes so far

When you've got a head start

“Why are you avoiding answering them?” You rolled your eyes at the playful smirk on his lips.

“I hate when you do this.”

“I’m only trying to help ~ but why don’t you want to lose him? And don’t tell me it's just because he’s your best friend. Besides me, of course.” He sent you a wink.

“Well…” Suga brought up a good point. Why were you so upset by it? Usually when Daichi had bad weeks, he acted the same - but he always told you what was wrong. “I don’t want to lose him because I care about him.” The both of you were walking down the river, nearing your destination. Suga said nothing as you collected your thoughts, the both of you stopping for a short while to stare at the river.

“He’s always there for me, you know? Like I know that you’re always there for me, and I love you. But with Dai-san… I feel like I just can’t pinpoint it and it frustrates me so much! All I know is that I want to be by his side for as long as possible.” Much to your surprise, the setter laughed, making your eyebrows scrunch in response.

“What?”

“God, you are so blind. It’s rather endearing, really.” You just glared at the silver-haired boy. “You’re in love with him, idiot.” Suga saw the way your eyes widened, the way your cheeks reddened, and the way your jaw slacked. He took your silence as a realization, and continued.

“Why don’t you spend time with Daichi tonight?” Your wide eyes met his.

“Like… alone? But - what about you? And Azu-san? And Nishin - ” you were cut off as he flicked your forehead.

“Don’t worry about us, silly. Take your time tonight and see him in this new light - it’s not like you haven’t been alone with him before. I’m just surprised you didn’t realize it sooner.”

'Cause we could stay at home and watch the sunset

But I can't help from asking are you bored yet?

When the both of you met up with the other boys, you noticed the way your breath seemed to hitch in your chest when you laid eyes on Daichi - how long had you been blind to your own feelings? The captain was wearing a navy blue yukata, white outlines of waves, koi, and scales patterning the ends of his sleeves and at bottom half of the lower portion. He looked so handsome in the afternoon sun. The boys were preoccupied with one another, giving Daichi the opportunity to speak to you without the seemingly prying eyes of his nosey children teammates.

“How are you? I know I just saw you only a few hours ago, but - ”

“I’m doing good! I - how are you feeling, Dai-san?” He blushed at your question.

“I’m doing good too. Um - I think you look really good…” As the two of you trailed into an awkward conversation for the first time in the history of your friendship, Suga rolled his eyes as he eavesdropped on the two of you.

And if you're feelin' lonely you should tell me

Before this ends up as another memory

“Suga-san, is it just me, or are the two of them acting a bit weird?” While Asahi directed the question to his setter, the rest of the boys all thought it was a good idea to shut up and look at the two of you - to find both of you with blushes on your cheeks, Daichi with his hand rubbing the nape of his neck. Before Suga could answer, Nishinoya spoke up.

“Yeah, why aren’t they over here?” He began yelling. “Oi, Dai - ” Suga immediately chopped his kouhai on the head, shushing him. The vice-captain then glared at the rest of the second and first years.

“None of you will interrupt them, understand? And I mean the whole night. I’m trying to get them to confess to one another, and I don’t need any one of you idiots to ruin their chances!” Suga heard Tsukishima tsk.

“Lame. I thought they were already dating. Yamaguchi and I won’t be in your way.” On the other hand, Hinata had resorted to hitting Kageyama in shock, the blocker’s eyes wide and mouth on the floor. Asahi laughed as Suga folded his arms, making sure the others knew what to not do.

“I guess everything all makes a little more sense now.”

Will you tell the truth so I don't have to lie

Will you tell the truth so I don't have to lie

While the majority of the team hung out as a group, the boys made sure to leave the two of you with as much space as possible. At an origami tent, the boys were fooling around, attempting to make impossible shapes out of the paper. While you were deeply focused on folding a crane that would be hung as decor, Daichi paid attention to a poster hanging from the tent that explained the different meanings of origami folds and the different colors.

He kept running various situations through his head - all of them ending badly. What if you just wanted to be his friend? Should he ask you how you felt first? If you said something about how reliable he was of a friend, then he could just lie about how you were just his good friend too. Then he could mope and move on. He just wished you could tell him.

As you finished your crane, you looked up to find Daichi slipping his folding into a pocket. As his eyes met yours, a blush grew on your face. Had his doe eyes always been so mesmerising?

Feels like I've known you my whole life

I can see right through your lies

“I’m still a little hungry, and the sun looks like it’s starting to set. Do you want to get something else to eat?” He asked you, standing up from his seat. Nodding your head in response, you stood up and followed in step with him, the two of you leaving the comfortability of the team, finding yourselves lined up to buy dango. As you ordered, you were about to hand the vendor the yen when Daichi interrupted.

“Make that two please. Thank you!” He handed the vendor the appropriate amount of money before turning to you, a blush on his cheeks. “My treat, okay?” Unable to form words, you nodded as you waited for the dessert to be ready.

“Thank you for the dango, Dai-san. You didn’t have to.” You couldn't help the pink tint that was staining your cheeks as the two of you began to walk away.

“Don’t worry about it. Let’s walk by the river before the fireworks, come on.” Daichi wasn’t sure if it was the sweetness in the dessert that gave him the confidence and energy, but he grabbed your hand and led you to the walkway.

You felt like your hand was on fire. You didn’t even know what to say! You were so taken aback by the way Daichi’s hand enveloped yours perfectly. You had almost forgotten about the dessert he bought you - you were too focused on admiring him. He looked so good in the light - the way the last golden rays hit his face and changed his eye color from a deep mocha to a honeyed gold. As his eyes suddenly met yours, Daichi couldn’t help but smile - there was something about holding your hand that made all his worries disappear. You returned his smile before quickly averting your gaze to watch the sun meet the horizon - you tried your best to distract yourself by eating the dango and staring into the landscape.

I don't know where we're goin'

But I'd like to be by your side

Daichi couldn’t help but stare at you as you watched the sunset. He felt like he was falling in love with you all over again as he watched the way your skin seemed to glow in the fading light. He blushed as he saw you take a bite out of your dessert - thinking about how he wished he could feel your just as sweet lips on his own. Finishing your last bite, you turned to find him still looking at you - not that you knew he never stopped.

“Daichi-san, what's wrong? Is there something on my face?” Immediately, Daichi’s eyes widened as he shook his head side to side rather adamantly.

“No, no! There’s nothing wrong.” There was an awkward silence as you two stared at one another, not really understanding what to do or what to say. But finally, he spoke up again. “The fireworks are going to start soon, should we find a better spot?” All you could do was nod as he tugged your hand and led you away.

Daichi weaved between the growing crowd until the two of you reached the children’s playground, which was seemingly empty. Motioning for you to climb onto the metal jungle gym, your eyes widened. Your mom had tied your obi rather tight - and your yukata was a lot more movement-restricting than his.

“Dai-san, I don’t think I’m going to be able to climb on it. We can get on the swings, though.” Shaking his head, Daichi replied. “Nonsense, I’ll help you.” The top of the metal bars just passed your head, so you were curious as to how he could help.

You weren’t expecting Daichi to grasp your waist with his hands, gripping your hips tightly and lifting you up with ease, allowing you to sit on the small platform the bars made. You were glad the sun was just about gone by this time - you knew your face was beet red, but you found yourself immediately missing the way his hands felt on you as you looked down at him. He climbed up easily, settling down next to you. It felt like such a long time before either of you talked.

If you could tell me how you're feelin'

Maybe we'd get through this undefeated

“Daichi-san,” you started, staring down at your hands as the brunette looked over at you, “What’s wrong?” You met his eyes, and his heart panged at the hurt look in your eyes.

“What do you mean? Nothing’s wr - ” you cut him off.

“Can you just tell the truth? I don’t want to lie and keep on pretending like everything’s okay.” Daichi sighed, his eyes flitting around your face before staring at the now dark sky. He wished he could wait for the fireworks, but he knew you were expecting an answer.

“Aren’t you bored yet? Of being friends?” Your eyes grew wide at his questions, and you felt your heart shatter as tears began to fill your eyes. Of course - that's why he was acting so weird. Daichi didn’t want to be your friend anymore. He wanted to spend one last happy memory with you before he shut you out of his life. You turned away immediately before he could see the tears stream down your face.

Holdin' on for so long, oh

“Oh, I see.” You tried your best to remain calm, but your voice betrayed you as it wavered. Daichi’s eyes widened - you were crying because of what he said. Gently grabbing your hand, he quickly tried to explain himself, saying your name over and over again.

“No, no, no, that's not what I meant to say - I mean, I did mean to say that, but not in that way! Not - ” you cut him off again, looking at him once again. His heart broke as he looked at the tears that slowly fell down your face.

“Then what did you mean to say?”

“I… I meant to say… Ugh!” Daichi’s hands flew up to run through his hair in frustration before he turned back to you. He had to tell you now or never.

“I’m trying to tell you that I - ” the night sky lit up with fireworks of all colors and sizes, their booms filling the air, cancelling out what he was telling you. You couldn't even understand what words his lips were forming. You stared at him in confusion, your eyebrows furrowing.

Daichi looked at you expectantly, but all you could do was ask a loud “what?” You hadn’t heard him. Sighing, a small smile coming to his lips - of course you didn’t hear him, the fireworks were so damn loud, and he couldn't help but chuckle at the irony of you not hearing him. You looked so cute when you were confused too. 

Leaning down, Daichi moved his head right next to yours - you shivered and turned red as you felt his breath tickle your ear. You heard him this time almost loud and clear, even when he spoke your name at a normal volume right in your ear.

“I don’t want to be just your friend. I love you.” Daichi pulled away just enough to look at your face. Your lips were parted, a surprised look on your face.

'Cause we could stay at home and watch the sunset

But I can't help from asking are you bored yet?

“Dai-san…” You didn't even know what to say or what to do - his eyes were so mesmerizing, and you were so shocked by his confession that you couldn’t even tell him you felt the same way. Daichi smiled, knowing you like the back of his hand. He saw the way your pupils dilated and the heavy blush that rested on your cheeks. He definitely should’ve told you sooner.

Leaning in once again, his lips hovered just centimeters from yours - seeing if you would move way or not. When you didn’t move away after a few seconds, Daichi closed the gap between your lips, kissing you as gently yet as passionately as he could convey. It only took you a second to reciprocate, and your lips moved against his as the fireworks in the sky and in your heart exploded furiously. Pulling away so you both could catch your breaths, you made your confession.

And if you're feelin' lonely you should tell me

Before this ends up as another memory

“Daichi, I love you too.” His eyes widened at your confession and he cupped your face in both his hands, his thumbs tracing your jawline as he pulled you into a desperate kiss. One hand moved to pull your waist closer and your hands moved up to rest on his chest and at the nape of his neck. As his lips moulded with yours perfectly, Daichi wished the moment would last forever.

Will you tell the truth so I don't have to lie

Will you tell the truth so I don't have to lie

Thank you for reading!!

~ Crystal 😌❤️

through the summer and the fall series masterlist

blog masterlist

buy me a ko-fi (but only if you can and want to)!

BONUS

The next day, the boys were surprised when you brought them freshly baked cookies as a treat for their lunch break. The excited first and second years eagerly thanked you as you each gave them two cookies. Daichi held a loving look in his eyes as he watched you from just a few meters away - and when your eyes met his, he gave you a smitten smile.

“I assume things worked out well? I never got a text from either of you last night.” Daichi turned to find Suga next to him, hand on his hip with a playful glare on his face. The captain’s smile only grew wider as his eyes wandered to look at you again.

“Yeah, they did.” But his mood immediately turned dark when Tanaka and Nishinoya started obsessing over you and the fact that you baked for them - their shouts and cries filling the gym.

“OI, TANAKA, NISHINOYA, BOKE! GET YOUR DIRTY HANDS OFF MY LOVE!”

The captain didn’t hesitate to pull you away from the rowdy second years, everyone’s eyes wide open as Daichi held his most intimidating face. However, he immediately softened up and lost the face completely when you placed a gentle kiss on his cheek.

“WOOOOHHHHHH! Senpai, you should kiss Daichi-san at practice more often! He’s way less scary!”

[scrambled-eggsed]

♦️ for cel?

Cel My Beloved. Lets do this

What were you first impressions of the character?

I LOVED them from the moment i heard their voice. Also their introduction included an almost-fight with hamid, and that bit where they transformed into a monster thingy and told the lads and blokes to run away and never cone back or their heads will explode. So that was a strong start that meant i love them always and forever

What were your favourite emotional scene involving them?

Well as we all know the best emotional scenes in this podcast are when alex throws everyone into personalized dimensions to squeeze angst out of them. So the conversation with sassra and the flashbacks to their village ripped my heart out. But also i have to mention the conversation with azu on the airship where they discuss Relationships?? It wasn't exactly angsty but i loved it and i think it qualifies as an emotional scene

How do your thoughts/feelings on the character compare with popular fanon and/or creator intent?

I think my perception of them is pretty much as intended by lydia? Also cel as a character doesnt diverge a lot bw canon and fanon. I think i might imagine them as less goofy than most people do? Like i think they're optimistic and willing to try Lots Of New Things but tbh i dont think they goof around a lot. Or maybe they just think they dont? Cuz the difference between goofing around and Science is writing shit down, which they definitely do, so ????

[lifeisabouttogetstranger]

Current tag game!

Thank you so very much @cyansimblr and @madeofcc for the tags! 💗💗

Five songs you’ve been listening to on repeat recently?

Rewrite The Stars ~ James Arthur and Anne-Marie, For You ~ AZU, Run Away ~ Diamond Eyes, Born a King ~ 5ive9ine, Who Wants To Live Forever (remasterered) ~ Queen.

Last movie you watched?

#Alive ~ I LOVE this movie. Not gonna lie, the zombies are so well done and Yoo Ah-in and Park Shin-hye are awesome in it. No I will not be taking criticism at this time, thanks XD

Currently watching?

Emma Kenny's True Crime channel over on youtube. Disturbing stuff so I won't say what but yeah, true crime is my thing. I try to understand how all this shit goes wrong, but I'll never get it cause the things people do just... Nope, no thank you, please stay locked the hell up forever!

Currently reading?

I just started reading, Call Down the Hawk by Maggie Stiefvater. *I struggled to get into the Raven boys series (took me honestly almost 2 years just to finish 4 books and I read 4 books a week usually, I just kept reading other stuff cause I couldn't get into them properly) and I never fully loved them, but I adored the characters and this book has my fav character in it, so I wanna read and see what happens to him.*