#bravely fashion zine

[the-nothing-maker]

Hi! Apologies for the random message but I am a huge fan of your art, especially your Jarlaxle drawings! I was wondering if there is perhaps a way to get prints from you in the EU? I saw you on inprint but i believe they ship from the US. No worries if not, i’m just absolutely obsessed with how you depicted my favourite drow (and Artemis). Anyhow thank you for reading! Hope you have a nice evening :)

Hi, thank you very much for reaching out and for the nice compliments! Unfortunately, I only have an Inprnt shop (which hasn't been updated in...... a while......) because printing/selling my own stuff is a little too pricey for me at the moment. That being said, that might change in the future! Me and my partner are thinking about opening our own shop soon, so maybe I'll have prints ready at some point! :D

Last time I checked, Inprnt's shipping fees weren't too expensive (I mean, this is taking into account that it's now around 10euros to ship to and from the EU...) but I understand not wanting to get something that was produced across the world. Hopefully we'll have something set up soon!

[77yearsteam]

Preorders for THBU Zine and 77 Years Zine go back on pre-order tomorrow!

But what WAS the 77 Years Zine? Well… 🧵

It all started in early 2022, when Mod Kat had the idea to make a zine about the Master’s exile on Earth. This was too big of a project for one, so she found…

Mod Em, famed Thoschei fandom cryptid and Social Media Guy, and—

Mod Dev, literal pug and graphic design whiz. 💜

The three of them found the best and brightest of the Doctor Who fandom’s writers and artists for the project, including the amazing @wykart who designed this stunning cover art!

Through several months of Intensive Project Wrangling, the intrepid mods and contributors managed to get every fic and piece of art written, drawn, edited, tidied up, and compiled into a gorgeous book, complete with production notes from the Master himself in the special edition!

The zine chronicled the Master’s journey around the Earth- from America to Russia to the UK and back to Russia again, and it was illustrated with fashion magazine-style pictures of the Master in era-accurate styles ✨

There was also an audiobook edition, compiled by Mod Kat- here’s an exclusive behind the scenes look at the editing process for it: 👀

Then it was time to promote the zine! Throughout the preorder period, Mod Kat braved the wilds of Cardiff to photograph the zine in random places, and Mod Em relentlessly ensured that no one on dwtwt could forget that there was a zine out!

Mod Kat even made a mini zine, which made it to the BFI, the shelves of Waterstones, and the very proud hands of both Mods Em and Kat 💜💜

After months of effort, the zines finally shipped, with these gorgeous extras and packaging. They went around the world, with well over a hundred physical copies sold!

They even got a special thank you from Sacha Dhawan himself, thanks to then-contributor and now-Mod Nat finding him at a con to hand over a copy for him to keep. In the end, they donated £1083.78 to Crohn’s and Colitis UK, a charity supported by Sacha!!

Shortly after that, they started working on the next zine, and the rest, as they say, is History… 💜💙

[darkthare]

In trying to get my Tumblr somewhat updated with Neoscum fanart after the deletion of my twitter, here's the Distinctive Style cover with no text! Buy Distinctive Style: A NeoScum Fashion Zine and support the Brave Space Alliance!

[dragonageannual]

Meet the Legends: Paragon Aeducan

Introducing the myths and legends of Dragon Age Annual 2025: Legacies! Paragon Aeducan features in fic as part of our zine, Sagas.

Click Here to order DAA 2025: Legacies NOW!

Orders Close:

Physical Copies & Merch: October 31st

Digital Calendar & Zine: January 31st, 2025

Codex Entry: Paragons Known and Lesser Known

The criteria the dwarves use to name a Paragon never ceases to fascinate me. While a relatively rare distinction, it seems almost any achievement of significance warrants the title. Some Paragons are the victors of great battles. Others write books or songs. The only common thread is an act that betters or sustains the dwarven way of life in some notable fashion. Aeducan is among the oldest and perhaps most famous Paragons. Not to be confused with his descendent, King Endrin Aeducan, this prior Aeducan was a humble member of the Warrior Caste whose brave leadership during the First Blight saved Orzammar. When other thaigs were lost, Aeducan claimed defeat—but his service made him a hero. History now remembers Aeducan as the quintessential Paragon.

—From Stone Halls of the Dwarves by Brother Genitivi, Chantry scholar

[zedoodles]

❤️ I'll just leave this cute (I hope not so cheesy), true little love story here on tumblr. Without any reason, except it may perhaps be reflected in my GG fancomic: "SHARON'99".

So, there was this rather strange fellow, a classmate, back in primary school, not close, but acquainted with me and the bro. He was super cool, and genuinely kind to us.

Let's call him.."D".

When we had the chance, as a trio, we'd share PS1 games, zines, merch, and all that jazz. I was the shy, and uncool one. 😅

Then I get into my first anime, it was my world. The majority of my class could form a mob against anime-likers if they wanted too..but D approached me alone with interest. We took a look at the merch together in class, literally a huge table set up for just us in a corner. 😄

It was only for a brief time, but obvious enough to catch the attention of a few friends. I dismissed it as us just being friends, full stop.

but I realised later, there wasn't any discomfort, thinking of admitting it. Happiness overrode childish embarrassment. 😳✨️😊

Still, I was too uncool for him.

We went off to highschool, and went our separate ways..

College days come along, D and the bro attend the same place, and become cosplay buddies, D was Vincent Valentine from FF7. This bright red cape, frolicking down our rough home town. He inspires me to get into cosplay, and brave out the judgement.

I've met so many friends through the years with cosplay, and then discovered a love for Japanese Street fashion, expressing myself freely wearing my very own OTT coords, like Baiken, strutting down Takashita-dori, Harajuku. 😄🍑 It's been the best decade of my life.

(A missed opportunity to cosplay Lucrecia..?😅❤️)

We speak again, alone, only briefly on a quiet ass bus journey, and D breaks into hysterics, admits to jokingly thinking we should hop off the bus in motion, on a moving truck in the other lane, and surf it with the terminator 2 score. I look, and burst out laughing myself, this guy is bat shit crazy.

STILL DAMN IT, I was still bloody uncool and quiet around him afterwards. To this day, there is regret being like that. I wish I had opened up, spoken to him, and spent more time with him. ❤️

He's always been there, this daft, goofy, hilarious, determined and yet gentle guy, who never put a foot out of place whenever I was around him. Even when we were kids, and kids can be cruel lil' b**tards. 🤣🤣

Respectfully, I still admire him, and it's a treasure.✨️

I believe he's well and dating a lovely gal, even engaged now? I'm happy to know that he's happy, living life at its best. 😊✨️⭐️🦇❤️

So, the moral of my little story: be kinder to yourself, and don't be your own prison. Shine brightly, be free, and Dandy!😊✨️

End* 🤪✨️😊

[ethereousdelirious]

Can I request the full list of asks? or at least all the ones you feel like doing?

Sure!

Ask game here

🌟 - What illness symptom/torture tactic/snz trigger do you have the most fun portraying or reading?

Hmmm... I think delirium. Or maybe fainting. Or sudden agony. Anything that makes other characters in a scene go "Oh, fuck!"

👤 - Describe your current favorite character (including OCs)

I'm currently fixating on one of my OCs! I've reworked him a little bit so he has all of my favorite traits in a sickie: stoic, etiquette-conscious, and very shy about voicing his wants and needs. He's French of African descent, his neutral expression is veeeery pouty, and he wears his hair in locs. I'm still working on worldbuilding, so hobbies and ambitions will follow once I figure that out.

🖋 - What is your favorite media that you have made? (Illustrations, writing of any kind, WAVs, manips, etc).

OH DANG. I wasn't prepared for this question and I'm the idiot who wrote it 😝 I'm very fond of this appendicitis fic I wrote for one of my more obscure Pokémon blorbos! I don't remember what I titled it

💓 - What is your favorite thing about this community?

The diversity! I love how we have a few things in common and so much more not in common! For every person who loves stoic whumpees just as much as I do, there's another person who loves it when they whine and cry. And ofc everybody is so nice and respectful 🥰

🤩 - Is there any symptom/torture tactic/snz trigger that you haven’t portrayed or seen yet that you’d like to try?

Honestly just a BUNCH of whump tropes. Like. All the whump tropes actually. Also I'd eventually like to be brave enough to write REAL h0rny s3xy sneeze stuff for all my snzfvcker friends

📖 - Recommend some media that has a good i&i/whump/snz scene

The book I had in mind when I wrote this question was J.ohannes C.abal the N.ecromancer. It's not a lot or anything, but there is a scene where he catches a cold. It's more of a tease than anything, because it's almost immediately cured (due to pocket dimension fuckery), but sometimes a tease is almost as good as the real thing because it lets the imagination run wild *dreamy sigh*

🌡 - Giving your character a fever: yea or nay

YEA, I SAY! *banging my fancy dandy fashion cane on the table legs* YEA! YEA!

🐑 - What scenario are you currently thinking about before bed?

Beating the hell out of my aforementioned OC. He has a little bit of family trauma atm and I imagine he didn't even realize how upset he was feeling until he caught such a nasty fever that even his internal walls came down. And now he's mumbling half-coherently to his friends about how he misses his sister and collapsing every time he tries to sit up and they are so terribly worried about him 🥰

👃🏼 - What would you like to do with your blorbo’s nose? (Break it? Tickle it with a feather? Wipe it with tissues? The possibilities are endless!)

Alas, I'm currently in the mood to leave it alone. Maybe not quiiite break it? Just put a big cut and a bruise right on the bridge. Maybe from falling/fainting.

🖥 - What is the first website where you started engaging with i&i/whump/snz? (Or was it irl? A webring? Zines?)

I think it was either LiveJournal or else random fandom websites where people would post their old snz fic or host other people's snz fic.

🤧 - Do you prefer stoic characters or characters who complain?

My entire brand is breaking the stoic character! I want him bearing everything with dignity and a stiff upper lip until he shatters like glass

🆎️ - Have you ever made a scenario post that uses “A” and “B” as stand-ins for character names? Would you?

Just once, I think! They're not really my style, especially when they get extremely dialogue-heavy. But I do appreciate them!

[souruuriin]

My full piece for @bravelyfashionzine

Ióvò))

[hakinowo]

here’s my full piece for @bravelyfashionzine !! it was an honor and lots of fun to be able to participate and help organize this wonderful project ToT thank you so much!!!

[kotalines]

I got word that I can share my full piece from the @bravelyfashionzine now, so here it is! Yew is such a heartwarming character, and I really love him- I tried to design a good mix of silly and serious outfits for him in this piece, and hopefully you can get an idea of what each was inspired by! Thanks so much to the organizers for having me, I love the Bravely series, and all the fan projects I’ve been in have been wonderful experiences.

[bravelyfashionzine-blog]

✢ Hi everyone! ✢

We are excited to announce that preorders for Bravely Fashion: A Collaborative Fanzine are finally up!

Bravely Fashion is a Fashion Themed Bravely Default Fanzine, mainly focusing on the different characters throughout the series and the sort of clothes they wear, inspired by the many different jobs these characters can have. This 6″ x 9″ Collaborative Fanzine is saddle-stitched with a soft cover and has 28 pages, featuring 22 talented artists.

The artist list can be found here!

..........................................................................................................

Preorders will be open from 8 January - 31 January 2018, and will be shipped out from mid - late February 2018.

Available Bravely Fashion: A Collaborative Fanzine Bundles:

- PDF Copy (USD 10.00)   Includes: (Digital Copy) 6″ x 9″ Collaborative Fanzine - Default Layer (USD 20.00)   Includes: 6″ x 9″ Collaborative Fanzine, 2 4″ x 6″ Postcards  - Second Layer (USD 25.00)   Includes: 6″ x 9″ Collaborative Fanzine, 2 4″ x 6″ Postcards, A5 Sticker Sheet, 1 Random 2″ Double-sided Clear Acrylic Charm - End Layer (USD 30.00)   Includes: 6″ x 9″ Collaborative Fanzine, 2 4″ x 6″ Postcards, A5 Sticker Sheet, 3 2″ Double-sided Clear Acrylic Charms

                      >>> ✢ Preorder now over at our Storenvy! ✢ <<<

..........................................................................................................

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to send us an email at bravelyfashionzine@gmail.com. Thank you for your support!

[anarchopuppy]

I’ve already reblogged a link to this entire article by @crimethinc, but I wanted to highlight the excellent ‘resources’ section on its own as we approach the election. For an anarchist take on the current climate, a list of upcoming actions, and a dope-ass poster to print and distribute, please do check out the full article as well

Trump’s term is ending as it began, with a likelihood of street conflict. The following guides offer a great deal of information about how to participate in effective protests while protecting yourself and your community.

Getting Connected

How to Form an Affinity Group

Find a Local Mutual Aid Network

Where to Find Your Local Medic Collective—This is not comprehensive, but offers a good starting point.

Security Culture

What Is Security Culture?

Bounty Hunters and Child Predators: Inside the FBI Entrapment Strategy

When the Police Knock on Your Door—Your rights and options: a legal guide

If the FBI Approaches You to Become an Informant—An FAQ

You can find a lot of important information about general security in protest situations here.

Digital Communications and Security

Your Phone Is a Cop—An OpSec/InfoSec primer for the dystopian present.

Communications Equipment for Rebels

Burner Phone Best Practices—A user’s guide

Doxcare—Prevention and aftercare for those targeted by doxxing and political harassment

This thread spells out how to protect your privacy via proper phone safety at demonstrations—before, during, and after the protest.

Dressing for Success and Security

Fashion Tips for the Brave

The Femme’s Guide to Riot Fashion—This season’s hottest looks for the discerning femme.

Staying Safe in the Streets

Blocs, Black and Otherwise

Safety Gear

A Demonstrator’s Guide to Helmets

A Demonstrator’s Guide to Gas Masks and Goggles—Everything you need to know to protect your eyes and lungs from gas and projectiles.

You can read some more tips about protest gear from protesters in Hong Kong here.

Strategy, Planning, and Tactics

A Step-by-Step Guide to Direct Action—What It Is, What It’s Good for, How It Works

Tools and Tactics in the Portland Protests—This text offers an overview of a wide range of options from leaf blowers and umbrellas to shields and lasers.

Creative Direct Action Visuals—Making banners and more.

Blockade Tactics—courtesy of the Ruckus Society

Tips about Blockading—from Beautiful Trouble

Lock Boxes—How to blockade with

Jail Support

Jail Support

Jail Support form from Rosehip Collective—Fill this out in advance of any event at which you might be arrested and leave it with your attorney or a support contact.

NLG National Support Hotlines and Other Resources

When Things Go Badly

Making the Best of Mass Arrests

How to Survive a Felony Trial—Keeping your head up through the worst of it

I Was a J20 Street Medic and Defendant—How we survived the first J20 trial and what we learned along the way.

Basic First Aid in the Streets

First Aid for Protestors

Eye safety at protests—You can read more on how to do an eye flush here

How to Protect Yourself from Audio Attacks—LRAD, sirens, etc.

COVID-19 Safety at Protests

You can obtain more graphics on this subject here.

For Experienced Medics

Protocols for Common Injuries from Police Weapons—For street medics and medical professionals treating demonstrators.

A Demonstrator’s Guide to Responding to Gunshot Wounds—It can also be useful to read these accounts from people who have experienced gunfire at demonstrations.

These four zines from the Rosehip Medic Collective include a range of useful information.

This collection of resources that appeared shortly before Trump took office includes more topical material, addressing non-violence, solidarity, white supremacy, colonialism, patriarchy, capitalism, and more.

[almalvo]

I think the majority of the tos fandom is neutral on or actively likes the greenish skinned spock?

There have been a number of quintessentially tumblr style posts over the years where someone (who to my knowledge is part of a vocal minority) comes up with some argument or piece of evidence to support the claim that a green skinned spock is perpetuating antisemitism, and then someone immediately provides evidence that counters or discredits the claim, then another rebuttal is presented and so on and so forth. ("Net zero information" as tumblr veterans will say.)

It seems to come up every so often, either side being made up of Both jews and goyim. It seemed to me the overall consensus after a while was it was not really a problem, some people just wanted it to be. Perhaps it is making a resurgence.

Obviously times change and we become aware as a group of different things in different ways (example: the miniskirts of the skant uniforms being shown on TV in the 60s at the time being seen as empowering women due to censorship and the culture then, versus the general consensus now that having women show more skin is not necessarily as empowering as it is objectifying. One doesn't really invalidate the other. What is the most "right" to do going forward today is still different from yesterday, yet those saying the miniskirts were black and white, categorically, never "progressive" are still missing, ignoring, or inventing context.)

I'm sorry if any of the discourse has tired you out, or sapped anything out of your enjoyment with regards to trek and its fandom here. I hope that its clear this is more of a symptom of the modern internet, and how that pronounces and enables the faults of general human interaction and the various hiccoughs endemic to it, than trek precisely.

From the other end, if its any consolation, this is neither the first nor the last of this in trek. Perhaps you might find it oddly nice to be included:

There are stories of discourse handed down from the "beginning times" of this fandom? Tales of brave fic writers and artists meeting up at conventions, passing around the hand bound and hard printed copies of the zines that they worked together to make, through the snail mail before the internet was a twinkle in any of our eyes, and attempting to guard specific editions from individuals who did not agree with the particulars of something found theirin and sought to do away with them through force, espionage, and various other means.

So it may be tiresome but at least its a little bit of a trek tradition? And a human one? Similar things seem to happen throughout history, to philosopher kings as much as fandomites. Hopefully theres humor in it, in the end.

I also think if people are coming for you, perhaps its a matter of becoming more popular and overall exposed to more individuals. On your way to becoming a "big name fan," perhaps? ;). Maybe more of a curse than a blessing, though. Hopefully it pans out right for you.

I think most people recognize that what youre doing and contributing, it is with love. I think the majority see your love, especially for spock, in your work. I think we can also see our own love reflected in it.

You're doing great work, I just hope they're not bothering you too much. You really add something to the fandom, and it really feels like you specifically are contributing something to a tradition of hope and joy and more that dates back to the inception of things. (The inception of both trek, and fandom as we know it and knew it, that is. They are often one and the same.)

Someone mentioned your work reminded them of the old trek art, and you said you werent quite sure what that meant. I don't think I myself could quite do what that meant any justice in explanation, but I do believe it to be true, in both fashion and in spirit.

Aesthetically there is some resemblance, but it also just feels like we should be welcoming you home, should you deign to stay a while.

Like its not quite a stranger being inducted.

Like the bones of the place we've built together recognize a kindred soul, and would be gladdened if that soul were to stay a while and build anew, or upon old foundations, at their leisure. Like theres a history to be shared that that soul can be trusted with, though they are as free to come and go as we all are.

Theres just some nebulous quality that someone else may be able to better pinpoint than I. I think it may be that same quality you mentioned not being able to quite put into words in a previous post. (Assumptions, Assumptions, though. If I am wrong, I apologize, and mean no offense. )

Theres just a recognition of feeling in eachother in this fandom I think; that feeling that drew many of us to it. Like how some sea dog sailor sees anothers yearning for the open ocean, and how one future day some solar sailor may recognize that same yearning, this time for the stars, in some young bucks eyes.

I also apologize if this is too much, or uncomfortable to receive. I'm up a bit too late, and am rambling and most likely incoherent, but it seemed untenable somehow to not make an attempt to offer something, anything, if there was any chance you may feel alone or disillusioned with those around you. It felt important to not sit idly, and silent. I make no excuses for anything less than ideal, but I hope things are worthwhile despite any misgivings you may have.

As well, Please do not feel it necessary to respond to or post this if you'd feel better not doing so. (No offense where none is intended? None will be taken, at least.)

From me, to you: Peace and long life, Sochya eh Dif. 🖖

And if I may speak for trek in general: May we, together, become greater than the sum of (both of) us.

Hello, dear Anon.

I am, regrettably in far fewer words only out of succinct packaging and in no way diminutive insult, so humbled and thankful for your wonderful message - rather missive - to me :')

I assuredly took no offence by those who voiced this unpopular and logically unsubstantiated opinion on Spock being some indecent and politicised caricature of the Jewish existence. I understood it as a largely emotionally driven explication, knowing how emotions shield us from a more objective reality we may not like to acknowledge out of whatever comfort, ease, fear, and even ignorance doing so can grant in those of us who have inherited and live through pain.

Unlike the typical regular, as someone who is fairly extensively well versed in the historical and social contexts of these kinds of matters, psychology and the more scientific disciplines in tandem, it is why I could hold anything at all in credible confidence, as I took these opinionated submissions to be what could be expected and understood when it comes to the human question and the human condition.

I welcome these conversations - there is a particular endearment unique to the bustle and puzzle of buzzing minds. Additionally, functionally, I can already tell numerous individuals have become better learned from my exchanges and gestures so far in their own ways positively and constructively, which I deem a quaint success.

And you would be very correct in your observation of my personal takes on the universe of Star Trek, for indeed, in even the characters I portray, they are, I profess, truthfully, the illustrative letters of my fathomless love.

Ahem - well, in any case, though I am new, I intend to reside for, certainly, a while ;)

And so, I am very grateful for the warm welcome into this - the largest, oldest, and truest fandom family I have ever been privileged to have found and become a part of, and may ever will be.

It is all well worth it, and so,

I am content.

Dif-tor heh smusma ~

[ghostmoor]

THE REVIEWS ARE IN: “This zine is where the gender is stored” - Twitter user pixelizedprince

Distinctive Style is a NeoScum fashion zine put together by Kel (LK_Darkthare, also the illustrator of this dope cover) to benefit the Brave Space Alliance, a Black & trans-led org providing services and resources to LGBT+ people in Chicago. It’s available on a pay-what-you-want basis and all money is going to the BSA!

I have several pieces in here and there are a bunch of other very talented artists who took part, this was a blast. If you have a few $$ to chip in in exchange for enjoying some Sick Looks then please consider donating!

[darktharkthelark]

Distinctive Style is a non-profit zine. It will be put up on Gumroad for pay what you want- any and all money raised will be going to the Brave Space Alliance. 

Signing Up: All you need to do to sign up is fill out this google form asking for some basic contact information and to get a gauge on how many illustrations we’ll have. The deadline for sign-ups is August 31st. If you miss the deadline or see this later, don’t be afraid to DM me @LK_Darkthare, but unfortunately there would be no guaranteed spot in the zine past the 31st.

Link to the Google Forms! 

Theme: The  theme is Neoscum fashion- this can be a blast from our past, a look at the funky-fresh fashion of the future, or even historical costumes!  In the form, you’ll find a selection of characters you can choose from, including the main Neoscum cast and any NPCS. There are no off-limits characters.

Deadline: As this is a non-profit zine and not paid work, I understand it is low on the priority list for a lot of people! It is a no-judgement space if you end up needing to withdraw, or ask for an extension. That being said, the deadline is January 17th, 2022. 

Format: 5.5 x 8.5 submission (6x9 page size), 300DPI, CYMK. Portrait orientation only. I have a PSD template that will be sent out via e-mail to all contributors. Traditional work is accepted, but it has to be scanned in at 300DPI. Illustrations can be either black and white, or colored. The zine will be in PDF format, but I’m planning to print off copies for contributors (When I have the funds, so it might take a while after completion haha).

Content: The zine is centered around fashion illustrations, and as such, all pieces entered should focus on the entire outfit and character. You do not have to include any background elements or props- you could just leave it white if you wanted to! If you would like to draw a group photo or want to include a background, that’s awesome and more than welcome.

Have a question? Awesome! Send us an e-mail at distinctivestyezine@gmail.com, or a DM @LK_Darkthare on twitter.

[souruuriin]

Master and Student

This is my preview for the lovely @bravelyfashionzine ~

Please check out the official post about the preorder details!

[cruelangelstheses]

The First Rule of Fright Club

fandom: bang dream rating: G characters: hello happy world words: 2.1k additional tags: halloween, haunted houses, canon compliant, fluff, humor description: at a haunted house, the members of hello happy world encounter a familiar face. a/n: hi!! this was written for the @bandori-zine for autumn!! it’s the perfect time for me to post this, to commemorate the start of spooky season! i love harohapi so much <3

read it on ao3

—

It’s a Saturday evening in mid-October, and Misaki can feel the chill of fall firmly setting in. She buttons up her denim jacket most of the way and pulls her beanie over her ears. It’s cooler now that the sun has mostly set, and the breeze doesn’t help matters, either. Kokoro, of course, is taking all of this in stride.

“Wow! It’s so dark and spooky out! It’s perfect for a haunted mansion!”

Misaki doesn’t think Kokoro completely understands that the haunted mansion they’re going to isn’t actually haunted, that it’s just an attraction with actors and creepy decorations, but she’s long given up trying to explain these things to her. Besides, Kokoro doesn’t seem to be afraid of anything. She looks at everything and everyone as though they’re her best friends, or have the potential to be.

“Yeah!” Hagumi agrees. “I wonder what kind of creatures we’ll see there!” She wrings her hands, which are covered with light gloves that serve more as fashion than warmth. “You don’t think they’ll try to eat us, do you?”

“Of course not!” Kokoro replies confidently as they reach the entrance of Halls of Horror. It looks like an old, abandoned mansion, the kind that are always in horror movies, though Misaki is pretty sure that it was just designed to look that way to add to the atmosphere. Regardless, it’s certainly working; Misaki still isn’t sure if she really wants to go in, but she agreed to come along anyway, if only for Kanon’s sake.

“Mi...Misaki-chan?” Kanon whispers. “We’ll be okay, right?”

Misaki smiles and tries to put on a brave act. “Of course. It’s all fake anyway, and these actors are trained. They know what they’re doing.”

Kanon takes a deep breath, twiddling her fingers nervously. “Okay.”

It’s just the four of them tonight, though Kaoru was invited. If only I could accompany you on this thrilling adventure! she had said earlier, with her signature dramatic flair. Alas, I have a previous engagement that I must attend to this evening. Misaki half-suspects that Kaoru just made that up so she wouldn’t have to go through a haunted house. She tries to act brave, and it fools a lot of people, but Misaki has figured out by now that she’s actually afraid of spooky things like bats and monsters. It’s kind of endearing. Kind of.

“I wish Michelle had been able to come,” Hagumi says as they hop into the line to be admitted into the mansion.

“Maybe she and Kaoru-san are both doing the same thing,” Misaki suggests. Her excuse for why Michelle couldn’t come had been vague, because usually that’s all it takes to explain her absence.

Kokoro grins at that. “Oh! If they are, then I hope they’re having a great time!” she says. “Maybe we can trade stories tomorrow at practice!”

The line moves fairly quickly, so they’re at the front and paying the admission before they know it. Instinctively, Misaki takes a few steps closer to Kokoro and Hagumi, and Kanon follows suit, so that they’re all sort of huddled together, like penguins. It makes her feel safer somehow, even though she knows it’s stupid to be nervous in the first place.

Unfortunately, the haunted house is designed mostly for single-file lines, so they can’t group together for long. As they follow the people in front of them into the haunted house, Kokoro takes the lead, naturally, with Hagumi right behind her, Kanon next, and Misaki bringing up the rear. She can’t help the shiver that runs down her spine when they enter the darkness.

As her eyes adjust to the dim light, Misaki can see that they seem to be in some sort of foyer adorned with old furniture, strange paintings on the walls, and cobwebs in every corner. Most of it is inaccessible to them, forcing them to continue their one-way journey, and a pair of actors dressed in old, ripped-up tuxedos reach out to touch them as they pass. Their hands and faces look like rotting flesh, and most of their teeth seem to be either yellowed or gone. “Oh! Hello there!” Kokoro says when one of the men hisses and grabs her shoulder. “You don’t look so good. Are you feeling sick? I know some people who can get you fixed right up!”

“Uh,” Hagumi says worriedly, grabbing onto Kokoro’s other arm and pulling lightly, “I don’t think they want to talk, Kokoron! Let’s keep going!”

Misaki laughs sheepishly as they pass by the men and exit the foyer. Sometimes she wishes Kokoro would just get scared like a normal person; it’s embarrassing to have to drag her away from any enemy or monster because she doesn’t understand the concept of danger.

In the next room, a living area decorated in a fashion similar to the foyer, three “vampires” with razor-sharp fangs and blood running down the sides of their mouths discuss which one of the girls would be the best snack. “I’d take the little one,” one says, grinning and pointing at Hagumi as she follows Kokoro into the next hallway. “Short hair doesn’t get in the way as much.” The vampire makes a slurping sound, and Hagumi covers her neck with her hands protectively. Misaki still can’t figure out whether or not Hagumi realizes that the monsters aren’t real.

As Kanon and Misaki approach the doorway leading into the hall, a fourth vampire jumps out from a dark corner and startles them, hissing and laughing. They both yelp and grab onto each other for safety, then rush into the hallway behind Kokoro and Hagumi. “Th-that was scary!” Kanon whispers.

“Yeah,” Misaki says dismissively, trying not to show that it rattled her. “But it’s fine. None of it’s real.”

The rest of the haunted house proceeds in a similar fashion, with a few jump scares here and there, an assortment of elaborately decorated rooms, and realistic-looking actors dressed up as various spooky characters, from a man with a chainsaw to a mime. Kanon and Hagumi seem to be enjoying themselves despite the frightening atmosphere, which might be due in part to Kokoro’s antics. She still hasn’t quite grasped that the “monsters” are supposed to be malicious and scary and certainly not friendly.

“Ooh!” she says to the man with a chainsaw as he revs it up threateningly. “That’s a really big chainsaw! I bet you can cut a lot of wood with that!”

“Wood’s not the only thing I use it for,” the man replies ominously.

“Oh, I bet!” Kokoro says as they pass him and head into the next area. “You could probably cut anything with something like that!”

Despite herself, Misaki laughs and shakes her head. Part of her is thankful for Kokoro’s unwavering positivity—it keeps her spirits light, keeps her from getting too sucked into the mansion’s horrors. Not that she’d ever admit that.

One of the last rooms they enter is an old, ornate-looking bedroom covered in cobwebs. Hanging on the walls are old photographs of a young woman with three children. Misaki can hear the voice of a woman, moaning slowly and laboriously, as if in deep pain, but she can’t figure out where it’s coming from—there’s nothing in the room. Kanon huddles closer to her, glancing back and forth around the room. “What is that?” she whispers.

“I don’t know,” Misaki says. She can hear the voice getting louder and more intense, as if the woman’s pain is worsening.

The lights in the bedroom, already dim, start to flicker on and off. The woman’s voice feels closer, but Misaki can’t pinpoint where it’s coming from. Her heart feels like it’s jumped up into her throat. Then the doors of a closet hidden in the corner burst open, and a tall, ghostly figure jumps out, wailing and crying, a thin veil covering her face.

All four of the girls scream in various states of shock and terror, holding onto each other for protection. Then, after a half second of silence, Kokoro says, breathless, “Wow! You definitely startled us, Ghost! You’re really good at this!”

Misaki feels her heart start to return to its rightful place in her chest. She’s not sure whether to laugh or cry in disbelief.

The phantom woman sighs and puts a hand to her heart. “How flattering,” she says, “but I fear that frightening you has done naught to ease my sorrow.”

“Oh, no!” Kokoro says. “What are you sad about?”

“My children,” the woman replies, “my children were taken away from me. But I suffer a most miserable curse—I cannot leave this house, nay, even this room, to search for them. I wish and wait every night for them to return to me, but alas...they never have.” She puts the back of her hand against her forehead, a gesture Misaki has seen a certain someone perform many times, both in plays and musicals and in casual conversation, when saying something that she thinks is particularly tragic.

Wait a minute. That voice, that manner of speech…

“Well, that’s no fun at all!” Kokoro says with a frown. She glances over at the door to the exit. “I don’t think we can stay for much longer, but I want to help. I want to make you smile!”

The “ghost” sighs again. “I appreciate the sentiment, but I know that you must depart, and so I have a favor to ask of you. If you should stumble upon any of my dear children in your travels...I implore you, little kitten, bring them to me.”

Little kitten.

Kokoro nods furiously. “Oh! I definitely will! I swear I’ll help you smile again!”

With that, she leads the group out of the bedroom and through the doorway. To Misaki’s surprise, they find themselves not in another room, but outside, stepping into a chilly fall evening. “Whew!” Hagumi says, pulling her gloves out of her jacket pockets and slipping them back onto her hands. “That was scary...but it was really fun!”

“Y-yeah,” Kanon agrees with a tiny smile. “I liked it.”

“Great!” Kokoro says, turning around to face the group. “Hey, hey, Misaki, what did you think?”

Misaki smiles awkwardly. “Oh, uh, I had fun.” It’s true, actually—she did have fun, more than she’s willing to let on—but it still comes out sounding sort of like she’s faking it.

Kokoro, of course, remains oblivious, or seemingly so. “Good!” she says, turning back around and leading them out onto the main street. “It’s too bad that Kaoru and Michelle weren’t here. We’ll have to tell them all about it!”

Misaki bites her lip. Yeah. Uh. About that.

As they walk, Kanon falls back with Misaki, a few paces behind Kokoro and Hagumi, who are recounting their favorite parts of the evening. “Misaki-chan,” she says quietly. “Did you...notice anything about the...the ghost?”

Misaki raises an eyebrow. “You mean like how she talked and acted a lot like Kaoru-san?”

Kanon breathes a sigh of relief, as if she was afraid she was the only one who had noticed. “Yeah, that. I guess that was the…the ‘previous engagement’ she mentioned.”

Misaki laughs a little. “That girl couldn’t turn down an acting job to save her life.”

Kanon hesitates before nodding at Kokoro and Hagumi. “We’re not going to tell them, will we?”

Misaki shakes her head. “That’s Kaoru-san’s secret to keep. Or give away. We’ll let her decide when the time comes.”

—

The next day at Kokoro’s house, before the start of band practice, Kokoro and Hagumi catch Kaoru up to speed on their exciting night. Misaki hasn’t changed into her Michelle suit yet, so she doesn’t have to pretend like she doesn’t know what they’re talking about, though she’s sure they’ll retell the whole story for her once she’s inside the bear. Kaoru, on the other hand, listens intently to the girls’ descriptions, as if she isn’t intimately familiar with Halls of Horror and all its surprises.

“And then,” Kokoro says, “at the very end, there was this ghost woman who really scared us! But it turned out that she was just lonely and sad. So now I’m keeping an eye out for her children so that she can be happy again!” She puts her hands on her hips and puffs out her chest in determination. “She was really tall. And she called me ‘little kitten,’ just like you say, Kaoru!”

Kaoru chuckles nervously. “Oh, she did?”

“Yeah!” Kokoro says. “I guess I must resemble a kitten somehow, since multiple people have called me one.”

Misaki can practically feel Kaoru’s inward sigh of relief, and she has to suppress the urge to snort. Instead, she exchanges a knowing glance with Kanon, who simply smiles back at her. At least now she’s not the only one in the band with a secret identity, but she doubts Kaoru will ever figure that out.