#but boy do i wish i'd known it as a student

[jupitermelichios]

i put some stuff in the comments but i ran out of space so i'm reblogging

firstly, lying about the tuition isn't great, but i can't say i wouldn't have done the same in your situation, especially at your age. being 20 is fucking hard.

secondly, your dad sounds like a piece of work, and you would be absolutely 100% justified in lying to him about not deleting your discord. a) you're a full grown adult who can make their own decisions, b) the idea that having social media accounts makes people fail exams is some technophobic nonsense, and c) it kind of sounds like he's trying to isolate you which is really not okay. lie to his face about it without guilt, just be careful. definitely delete the app now rather than waiting for him to check, password lock your devices if you haven't already, get in the habit of closing tabs when you're not using them so you don't accidentally leave discord open, and stick to incognito tabs or clear the browsing history if you're using a shared family computer at all

second-and-a-half-ly, medical care is confidential, if your dad does decided to seek mental health treatment no one but he and his therapist ever need to know unless he wants them to, don't worry about it hurting his reputation.

thirdly, i hope you'll accept some tips from someone who also really struggled with physical and mental health all through university, and ended up having to repeat a two years (but got there in the end)

a lot of people irl are probably going to tell you some real bullshit about yourself and your situation (maybe not, for your sake i hope not, but it's unfortunately more likely than not based on my experience). so you need to look yourself in the eye now and accept that no matter what anyone else might say, you did the best you could. yes even though you didn't sit the exams. yes even though you didn't get the grade you needed. you did your best, and the fact that you didn't end up where you wanted to be is no kind of moral reflection on you. you did your best in a crap situation, and you should be proud of yourself

but, and it's kind of a big but, accepting that you tried you best also means accepting that 'next year i'll work harder, be healthier, be better at the things i struggle with' isn't a plan, it's wishful thinking. accepting it means sitting down and making a plan for how you cope if things don't get better, because sometimes you try your best and things still end up being crap.

that doesn't mean they won't get better of course, and it doesn't mean you haven't grown or learned important stuff over the last semester that will help you cope if things get bad again in the future, and it doesn't mean you're giving up, even though i know it can feel like it at times. think of it like putting on a lifejacket before getting onto a boat. you might not need it, but promising yourself you won't crash the ship won't do anything to stop a storm blowing in, and trying to get back to land to collect one after your boat is in trouble is going to be really fucking hard. putting on a life jacket isn't you giving up on being a good sailor, it's just taking reasonable precautions. so you make a plan now, and then you've got it ready for when you need it.

there's four main things you need in your plan:

1. getting medical support if at all possible, and getting it now while you're relatively okay, so that it can help you stay okay, rather than waiting until a big crash comes. see if your university offers any kind of student mental health services (they often do in my country but every country is different), and if it doesn't, try to find services yourself. without knowing your country i can't advise on what that would be, since every country is different

in addition/instead you can look into what doctors recommend people do for themselves to manage your particular flavour of mental health problems, and try to incorportate that into your daily life. don't try and fix all your problems yourself, or set huge goals (it'll just end up being a source of stress when you inevitable struggle if you aim too high), find something you genuinely think you can do most of the time, whether that's a guided meditation app, mindfulness excercises, going for walks (i know it sounds like bullshit but unfortunatly all the resrarch agrees it helps with most mental health stuff), yoga, drinking more water, whatever the research recommends and you think you could do on an average day. the point isn't to cure yourself, it's just to reduce the chances of a big crash and generally give yourself a bit more mental energy to deal with problems if or when they do happen.

2. talk to your personal tutor if you have one (i don't know what other countries call this - universities here assign students a lecturer to act as your first point of contact for any concerns or academic issues you might have, we call it a tutor), and when you know what classes you're going to be taking this next semester, talk to the lecturers, as soon as you can. let them know now that you have some chronic health problems. that's scary the first time, but it gets easier every time, I promise. if you prefer not to do it face to face (and having a paper trail can be useful anyway) you can write up one formal email and then just tailor a few details and send it to each tutor. you don't have to tell them anything about what your health problems are, although it's best not to actually lie because you might need to produce medical evidence at some point down the line. just tell them you're looking forward to their class, and you wanted to let them know in advance that you have chronic health issues which can occaisionally impact your studies. you don't anticipate it being a problem, but you wanted to check, if it does impact you ability to attend class, whether lecture notes/slides are shared anywhere online, and if not, whether they would be willing to email them to you, and whether there will be classes (such as practicals/labs/presentations etc) which can only be done in person this semester, so that you can plan accordingly.

this works regardless of whether you actually think you'll need the slides or whether there will be in person classes, because the actual point isn't the slides, it's a) to make sure that if things get bad again and you have to ask for accomodations there's already a record of you having issues, which usually makes people more likely to accept you're being genuine, and b) make sure they know that you're pro-active and eager to learn, so they'll want to help to you if you need it.

(and since lecturers are only human, and sometimes humans are unfortunately dicks, it also lets you know which lecturers are the most likely to be kind and understanding)

3. find out now what the policy is on extensions to deadlines for coursework or homework. it might be university wide, or it might be department by department, or it might be lecturer by lecturer (in which case you can incorporate it into your email above). if you have a personal tutor, start there, or ask the university office who should be able to point you in the right direction, or if you have a student union, they probably have someone who can help. find out if you need medical evidence, and how much in advance you need to request the extension, so that if you do end up struggling, you know in advance what to do.

4. take a serious look at the last semester, and the one you dropped out of before, and try and figure out what the big stressors are. i know it probably feels like the answer is 'all of it', but there will be some stuff that stresses you out more than others. if you're living away from home, is it stuff about that, like cooking for yourself, or washing up, or laundry? do you have a friend who stresses you out every time you talk? is there a specific class or type of class you really struggle with? is it having too many exams all at once? did you have to do a lot of academic reading you found difficult? did all your classes combined involve more outside study than you had time for? do you really hate having to chose what to wear to class? have you used alcohol or drugs in a way that's stressing you out? are there noises or smells that you find seriously unpleasant? is it a person you live with? sometimes surprisingly small things can have a big impact. I have to limit how many crime stories i read, which sounds kind of silly for a 33 year old adult, but for some reason they happen to be one of the things that sets off my anxiety really badly. brains can just be assholes like that sometimes.

figure out what your stressors are, and then you can start figuring out ways to reduce or remove them. don't worry about what a "normal" person would need, who cares about them. everyone everywhere needs some kind of accomodation or has to compromise between that they think they should do and what they realistically can do, it's just that it usually happens behind closed doors so we don't see other people do it. it's not weak or shameful to alter our lives to fit what we need, it's a sign of maturity. and there's almost always at least a partial solution to stressors or mental health triggers. if you can't think of one, try searching online or asking people because there are no new problems, and chances are you're not the first person to ask. if the issue is about the number or type of classes, try and mix up what classes you take to balance out the ones you find particularly hard with easier ones (if you don't get told in advance automatically what coursework or exams will be like, or if you don't know what the lecturer will be like, ask other students - if the school has a message board or forum online for students you could ask there, if you don't know anyone irl to ask - there's usually someone who'll know).

and then, with these done, if things do get bad again, you know the process for asking for extensions, you've primed lecturers to support you if you need to skip class or ask for extra support (and in the unfortunatle situation that any of them didn't respond well to the email you know which classes to prioritise if you have to let some things slip), you'll have coping strategies and ideally professionals to support you, and you'll know what makes things worse and you can take steps to temporarily remove it from your life while you get back on your feet (for example, if you know cooking is a stressor, you can't permanently remove it from your life because you need to eat, but if you hit a bad patch, there's no shame in living on bananas and sandwiches for a few weeks to remove that stress from your life until you're feeling better)

good luck! you've totally got this 💚

AITA for asking my parents to pay my tuition for the semester, lying about how I lost my scholarship, and then planning on lying to my dad regarding his requirements in exchange for him paying the tuition?

My (20X) college has a scholarship for offspring of faculty members, and I was lucky enough to have my application accepted by the college that my dad (53M) works at. This means that I get a full ride scholarship; if I graduate within 4 years, I won't have to pay a single penny to my college (books and supplies not included, of course).

Unfortunately, the scholarship does have two requirements; I need to have taken at least a certain amount of credits semester before (not a ridiculous number), and for that semester, I need to have gotten over a 2.0/4.3 GPA. Easy enough, right? Who can't get a GPA over 2.0?

Well. I suffered a mental health downfall the past semester and I ended up failing half my classes. I was unable to sit my finals. I know this wasn't smart of me, and I think I should've done something about my academic situation other than just wait for the semester to be over, but I had quit a semester due to my mental health decline previously and I didn't want a repeat of that. In any case, I got a GPA of about 1.6. I'm not on probation but I did receive a warning.

Fortunately, this doesn't mean I lost my scholarship for good. I just need to fulfill those requirements in the upcoming semester and I get it back.

I realized I did need to pay my tuition this semester two days before tuition fee acceptance closes and I debated telling only one of my parents. My mom wants me to finish college no matter what, and my dad has told me that he does not care anymore as long as I don't stress him out. He's also told me he no longer has any expectations for me whatsoever. I did also consider talking about it with my brother and borrowing money from him to put together the tuition fee.

I figured I'd bite the bullet and just told my dad, who I know has been stressed about my future and how badly I'm doing in college. I just casually dropped it as I was making breakfast for myself and then we had a lengthy conversation that my mother (51F) joined when she got back home.

I don't remember much of the conversation (I may have memory problems) but the AITA mentioned part is that I lied to my parents and told them I did sit all my finals and try my best. I didn't. I tried that for mid term exams but I had nothing to write, so for finals I didn't sit them at all. This happened with three of the classes I was taking. I just didn't take my finals. My dad was suspicious of my claim; he said that as a professor himself he wouldn't fail students who at least submitted homework and sat their exams to write anything at all, but I maintained that I tried.

The conclusion was that my dad would be willing to pay my tuition if I got my shit together and also deleted my social media, which he thinks is a drain on my time and energy. He's not wrong. I deleted my Twitter accounts immediately afterwards (which my parents don't know about) because I've been thinking about it, but I can't really bring myself to get rid of Discord, where so many of my friends are. People I've met while studying internationally, long-term friends who moved to other countries; Discord is the only way to contact these people.

This is the AITA part; if my dad follows up on that particular requirement to check if I deleted Discord, which he particularly dislikes (he has previously confiscated the electronics I bought with my own money that I earned, after he saw me on muted call at night with some friends), I plan on deleting the app/program on my devices but using it anyway as a website. This would be a betrayal of my dad's trust in me, but there's no love lost between us anyway. He's already told me he doesn't love me unconditionally. (Yes, I'm his biological child and he did raise me.)

I also feel like an asshole because I could've settled this with the help of my brother; I'd pick up a job during the winter break to pay him back, but it would have been done eventually. Or I could've just gone to my mom. She works her own job, and we could've figured it out together without telling my dad. I told my dad anyway, wanting him to pay the tuition, even though I knew that talking about having to spend money on his kids stresses him out deeply.

My mom also told my dad to go to therapy (in detail, so I know it wasn't just something she said as a throwaway thing) during the conversation. It did get heated. I don't disagree, but I don't know if that'd be okay; mental health is stigmatized where I am, and my dad as a grown adult man and a respected professor if seen going to therapy could have his reputation kind of effected. It wouldn't have happened if I just brought up this whole situation quietly up to my mom, or just my brother.

So I lost my scholarship, I lied to my parents about the technicalities of how that happened, and I'm asking for some amount of money from my parents but also planning on lying to them in regards to the terms they set out. AITA?

What are these acronyms?

[storiesfromafan]

could you do a fic with mattheo x y/n including the words, i wish i'd never met you. maybe like they got in a fight and now he's trying to comfort her, but she doesn't want to hear it? thank you so much, i love your content

A/N: thank you for the submission 😊 I hope you like this, it is angst haha.

Pairing: Mattheo x Fem!Reader

The Arguement

He could be so infurating! He could make your blood boil, both in a good way but mostly a bad way. Mattheo Riddle might be your endearing boyfriend, yet he got on your nerves more then ever after you got together. It was all sweet and dream like to start. It began with parchment notes in class then small conversations at meal times. You even began to sit with his friends, and soon Pansy Parkinson became a good friend.

With time and a few dates Mattheo had some red flags begin to show. Yet wearing rose colour glasses, you made excues or turned a blind eye to them. And once you gained the title of Mattheo Riddle’s Girlfriend those red flags grew more. He could be jealouse or rude to males around you or who gave you the time of day, was possesive, could be demanding, ignore you for days, just to name a few.

Which brings us back to the current moment of another school day at Hogwarts. Classes were done for the day but you and Pansy had taken to the Library to study for Snape’s potions test tomorrow. Being Slytherin gave those students in that house some brownie points with Snape, but do poorly in his class and you might as well pack your bags. Snape had pride in Slytherin, so expectations were high.

Things had been going well in the Library. Pansy was greatful for your help, as you were a bit more put together then her. And the extra study was beneficial for you. Over the hour you both were there, you were joined by other Slytherin students who were panicing. Among them was Jordan Allen and Gil Williams. They were both nice and respectful guys, you’d actually known Jordan since your first trip on the Hogwart’s Express. So you both were studying the same book, debating on what Snape’s test would entail from it. And along the way you’d both began to joke around, which hadnt gone noticed by the others around you both.

Unfortuatly Mattheo, along with Draco and Blaise, had decided to join you and Pansy at this moment. Upon seeing the banter and laughter between his girlfriend and a Slytherin student he didn’t care for, Mattheo’s expression grew dark. The boys at his side, as well as Pansy, saw the change in the Slytherin heart throb. All three knew this was not going to end well. And it didn’t.

Mattheo walked over to where you were sitting, once standing behind you he leaded down till his face was next to yours. “Hello Love” Mattheo said in a husky voice.

You jumped not realising that your boyfriend had showed up. You felt a little guilty not noticing him. “Hello!” You replied in surprise before planting a kiss to his cheek.

Mattheo had turned his gaze to the male next to you, staring him down as you kissed his cheek. It was Mattheo’s way of showing the male you were his. Jordan eventually everted his gaze from your boyfriend when the dark look in Mattheo’s deep brown orbs became too much. You noticed the smirk that formed on Mattheo��s lips before he turned his attention to you. Unsure what he was so proud of, you looked back to your friend and saw how he looked down at the book on the table, looking a little frazzled.

Then it hit you. Mattheo, who you thought was being kind of sweet, was actually being a jealous, pompos ass. Feeling your blood starting to boil, which only grew hotter quickly when Jordan decided to excuse himself. That was the final straw. This was the last male friend Mattheo had intimidated and scared off. By this time Mattheo had smuggly taken Jordan’s seat, drawing you closer to him. But you weren’t having it. Slaming your textbook closed, you packed up for book and other things before telling Pansy you were heading out. Not once even giving Mattheo any attention. He didn’t deserve it. Not one bit!

You had manouvered out of the Library and had just made it to one of the hallways you had to take back to the Dungeon’s before Mattheo had caught up to you. He had called out your name but you had ignored him. Only when he grabbed your arm and stopped you in the hallway did you finally acknowledge your boyrfriend.

“Bloody Hell Y/N/N!” He said out of breath and annoyed. “What’s gotten into you!?”

You glared at the brunet before you, ripping your arm from his grasp. “You know damn well what’s gotten into me!” You said, spitting out the word’s he’d spoken.

Standing up straight, Mattheo’s dark brown eyes souly focused on you with a glare. He scoffed. “How about you tell me Love. After all, I did ask you first”.

Surprise flashed on your face briefly at how Mattheo was talking to you, but just as quick it was gone and replaced with your glare once more. If that was how he wanted to be, you weren’t going to back down.

“I was studying with Pansy before Jordan and the other Slytherin’s joined us, if you must know” you replied turning and started to head for the Slytherin common room. Mattheo hot on your heels, only getting more furious.

“Sure, studying” he spat. You shot him a sharp look. “From what I saw you were flirting and not studying”.

“Ha!” You said stopping suddenly and looking Mattheo in the eyes. “We were studying, nothing else. You’re just jealouse! Always thinking every male I interact with is flirting with me, or interested in me!” You poked him in the chest before taking off down the hallway again.

Mattheo laughed dryly continuing to follow you. “Oh come on Y/N/N! Don’t be so coy. You know those guys flirt with you, that they look at you with lust”.

You laughed heading down the stairs to the dungeons. “Please, I think you’ve got it wrong” you replied shaking your head. “You’re describing yourself and all the girls that fall at your feet!”

He grabbed your arm when you both made it to the bottom of the stairs. “Now, now Love. This is about you, not me!”

“Oh yes, sorry” you said rolling your eyes. “It’s always me in the wrong, never you, right?”

Mattheo’s grip tightened, making you wince a little. But he didn’t care. “I don’t like anyone coming near, speaking to or taking whats mine” Mattheo said dangerously low as his face came close to yours.

You wanted to cower, you wanted to beg for forgiveness. But this was it, you’d had enough. You looked him dead in the eye, not backing down like he wanted you too. It was a dangerous game to play. But what did you have to loose? Him? Yes. But if you give in to him, you’d loose respect for yourself.

“Let me go” you said calmly, eyes never wavering from his.

Mattheo didn’t do as you asked. He kept a firm hold on your arm. “No”.

With a small growl you used your free arm, pushing Mattheo back with your hand until he released you. “What is your problem!?” You questioned in a raised voice. “I am with you, Mattheo. It is always you! But you seem to think I would jump to another guy without so much as a second thought. Which I would never do! I love you for crying out loud!”

Mattheo winced at your words. He knew what you said was true, but a voice in the back of his mind told him it was a lie. Why wouldn’t you want someone else? Someone better then him? Someone who would sweep you off your feet?

Without thinking Mattheo opened his mouth and said wahtever came out first. “Oh please. Any guy gives you attention and you’d run off with them. After all I showed the slightest interest and you became a puppy that would follow me everywhere”.

He knew it was wrong. He knew it was an untrue exaduration. But it just kept coming. The word vomit, his insecurities, rising and possibly ruining everything. You. You looked shocked, hurt. All colour draining from your face at what he was saying.

“Y/N, you would let any guy have you if it meant not being alone”. That was the final nail.

Mattheo knew that you’d lost your parents early on. And didn’t have anyone close in your life. Those that cared for you did no such thing. They put up with you because it was expected of them, not because they wanted too. So those that you were friend’s with were your family. You did seek out approval from people. But with Mattheo it was different. He had seeked you out. He had instigated everything. He was the one to ask you out. He was the one who put the label on your relationship. Yet he had the hide to say you were the needy one!

All emotion left your face. But your eyes turned icy as they looked to the male before you. You stepped back from Mattheo, who’s mind was trying to work out how to take the foot from his mouth. You took a deep breath, and then other. Finally you straightened your posture, holding your head high.

“I’m glad I now know what you really think” you said eerly calm. “Fine then. Noted. How about I show you how wrong you are Mattheo”.

“What? W-what do you mean?” He sputtered.

“It’s done, we’re done” you replied turning from the male before you. You had taken a few steps before stopping, not looking back at him. “I-I wish I hadn’t met you…”.

Mattheo had barely heard your words before you left him, standing there alone in the cold dungeons. His blood ran cold from the argument, and end of your relationship. How stupid he had been to let his mouth get away with itself, and his damn brain for not filtering anything.

Alone. Mattheo was now alone. He was the one who had needed you. He was the one who needed your validation. He needed your love and affection. And in true Riddle fashion, ran you away. His chest ached. His stomach was in knots. His eyes burned, but he couldn’t let the tears out. Not here out in the open. Willing his body to move, Mattheo managed to get back to his dorm room. Briefly he saw you as he passed the Syltherin common room. Still you looked shut off and cold. But he pushed on to his room and his bed. Mattheo drew the curtains to his bed, welcoming the darkness. The same that was housed in himself. For anyone to hurt the light in their life deserved the darkness.

A/N: if anyone else has any submissions, feel free to put them in my ask box 😊

[joeys-babe]

Joey B Imagines: Out of My League

————————————————————————-

Summary: Flashback. The story of how you and Joe came to be. Years before marriage and your little family.

Warnings: none, fluff

Pairing: Joe Burrow x reader

Imagine universe: Beginning of… Into The Mystic

A/N: Joe is a senior in high school and you are a junior. It's your first year at Athens HS! Also, most of these students' names are made up.

————————————————————————-

August, 2014

(Joe’s pov)

“Yo! Joey!” - Zach

I turned around to see one of my best friends running up to me.

“First day of senior year!” - Zach

“Yup! Just think about it, we’re like the big dogs now.” - Joe

“Ya know it. I heard that there's this really hot new chick coming from Kentucky.” - Zach

“Well, I don't want any part of that. I've got enough going on with football and schoolwork. Don't be surprised if my next girlfriend is in college.” - Joe

“Damn dude, that was pretty forward. You haven't even seen her yet. This could be your Juliette, Romeo!” - Zach

“I highly doubt it.” - Joe

We rounded the corner to find a few more of the football guys and a few of their girlfriends with them.

“Yeah, her name is y/n.” - Cassidy

“Who is?” - Joe

After making my presence known, Cassidy turned around and rolled her eyes at the sight of me.

“Dude, what was that for?” - Joe

“Shoo, Joe.” - Cassidy

“What, why?” - Joe

“Because I'd rather you leave than explain that we have a new girl just to hear you say you're focusing on football.” - Cassidy

“She’s got a point.” - Zach

“Who's side are you on?” - Joe rolled his eyes

Before Zach could answer, the bell rang, telling us to head to first period.

The group disbanded, and when everyone else went in the direction of the same classroom, I realized I was probably going to be alone in this class.

My first period was chemistry, and sadly, the teacher was notorious for a boy-girl seating chart.

I walked upstairs and found the room. When I walked in, everyone was in their seats already.

Looking for my name attached to a seat number on the board, I found it and then went on trying to find it.

The tables were for two people, and in the back corner where my table was, I saw that a girl was already occupying the other seat.

She was pretty, I won't lie, but I'd never seen her before.

The girl was looking down at her schedule when I sat my stuff down on the table, causing her to look up at me.

A warm smile spread across her lips, and I found myself studying her face a little too long.

“Hi.” - Joe

“Hey.” - you

I sat down next to her, my mind trying to come up with a conversation.

“Enjoying your first day so far?” - Joe

“Yeah, pretty well, you?” - you

“Same. Other than my friend’s girlfriend being rude to me for no reason.” - Joe

She laughed. It was one of the cutest laughs I've ever heard, and it was infectious too.

“I'm sure you didn't deserve it.” - you

“Thank you! I walked up to them, and she just rolled her eyes at me.” - Joe

“Dang man, she has beef with you.” - you

“That's what I'm sayin’. I don't know what I've ever done to her, though.” - Joe

“Ask her.” - you shrugged

“Nah, I don't care that much. Why am I even telling you this?” - Joe

“I don't know.” - you laughed

There's that laugh again.

“I just started unloading on you, huh? Well, I haven't seen you before so tell me about yourself.” - Joe

“Well, I'm a junior, so that's probably why. I'm not that interesting though. I strive for good grades, and I do gymnastics with a side of dance.” - you

“Oh really? I play football.” - Joe

“That's cool.” - you smiled

“Yeah, I’m feeling really good about this season, I just know it's gonna be great.” - Joe

“Well, I wish you luck.” - you

“I appreciate that, and you too. Hope gymnastics goes well.” - Joe

“Thank you.” - you smiled

Before the conversation could go further, the teacher started talking about what we should expect in this class. The teacher didn't stop me and my new seat buddy from talking, though.

As we talked longer, I realized we had a lot in common. I wouldn't be lying if I said she was the first girl I've talked to about Star Wars.

She was really fun, though, and easy to talk to.

Our conversation lasted till the bell rang, and we both sheepishly smiled when we realized that we'd been loudly talking in a quiet classroom.

I stood up and started packing my things. She did the same. The rest of the students were filing out of the room when we both put our backpacks on, seemingly in sync.

“I… I’m Joe, by the way. Joe Burrow, but most call me Joey.” - Joe

“It was nice talking to you, Joey. I'm y/n.” - you

She shook my hand and walked out of the door, leaving me shocked.

y/n… new hot girl from Kentucky.

After talking to her, it felt wrong to refer to her in that way. She was really pretty, but hot isn't a word I like to use when referring to girls.

I hope I have more classes with her. Woah, what am I saying?!

Focus on football, Joe.

——

Sadly, I didn't have any more classes with y/n, but I thankfully had friends in all my other classes.

I had lunch B, and most of my football buddies were in there, but I found myself zoning out while trying to look around the room for her.

Ever since the bell rang in chemistry, I haven't stopped thinking about y/n. It was becoming a slight problem, but it seemed like all I wanted was to go to chemistry tomorrow and talk to her.

After school ended, the football team stayed after school since we had our first home game the same day.

Hours later, we were suited up and ready to go out and stretch.

When we ran out and took the field as the senior quarterback, I was naturally the one leading the pack, but my eyes drifted toward the sideline.

One of the cheerleaders was flipping while the others were in stunts, but when she landed her last trick and posed, I gasped lightly when I saw who it was.

y/n.

That's how Cassidy knew her name! She’s a cheerleader!

“Joe! Where are you going?” - Zach

The sound of my teammate yelling snapped me out of my daydream, and I realized that when the rest of the team stopped running to stretch, I kept going because all I was paying attention to was y/n.

“Oh.” - Joe

I turned around and ran to where I was supposed to be, but when I turned around, y/n was smiling at me. I smiled back.

——

We ended up winning the game, which is always amazing, but even better since it was our home opener.

After walking back into the locker room to hear what the coaches had to say, I showered and packed up to find my parents.

I wasn't at all surprised when most of the cheerleaders were standing outside waiting. Most of their boyfriends were players, so they'd wait after for them.

My eyes landed on my parents and brothers, but as I was walking in their direction, I heard a familiar voice calling for me.

“Joe!” - you

I turned in the direction of the voice to see y/n speedwalking over to me with a smile on her face.

“Hey, y/n.” - Joe smiled

“Hey, you did well! I knew you said you played football but I wasn't expecting that. You're super good.” - you

Is it hot out here all of a sudden? Why is my face heating up?

“Thanks. You're really good too. I know those flips are hard to do. You make it look effortless.” - Joe

“Thanks… sorry I distracted you though.” - you

“Not your fault, I just wasn't expecting to see you. You look uh… good, by the way.” - Joe

“You too.” - you giggled

Just as I was about to say something else, I heard my mom's voice calling for me.

“Sorry, that's my mom. I gotta go.” - Joe

“It's all good. See you in chem?” - you

“See you in chem.” - Joe

As I walked away from her, I felt something I'd never felt before.

Oh no.

——

Next Day

It was Friday and lunchtime.

All my teammates were feeling good after the win yesterday, and sure, I was too, but that wasn't what was on my mind.

This morning in chemistry, I found myself lost in a conversation with y/n again. The disappointment when the bell rang was insane. I never wanted to stop talking to her.

She was just different.

The attention she got from other guys was because of her looks, and she was pretty, gosh, she was pretty… but I didn't like being around her for that.

We had a lot in common and never ran out of things to talk about. She listened to what I had to say and gave great feedback. We talked about our futures and what we wanted to be when we graduated.

I told her about my hopes of going to the league, and what she replied with gave me a flutter in my stomach that I'd never felt before.

“If you make it to the NFL, you have to invite me to come see you.”

I’d known this girl for two days and I was already ready to make that promise.

My mind was so stuck on that altercation that I didn't hear Zach talking to me from across the table.

“Joe? Joe!” - Zach

I flinched slightly and looked up at him, all the guys at the table watching me with weird looks on their faces.

“Sorry… I spaced out.” - Joe

“Anyway, Cassidy told me that y/n was asking about you at their lunch.” - Zach

“What? What'd she ask?” - Joe

Should my heart be beating this fast?

“Asked if you had a girlfriend, I guess. Don't worry, though, Cas told her that you're focusing on football.” - Zach

“Oh. Okay.” - Joe

Is that really what I want?

“She’s so funny to tease.” - Chad

“Seriously, she's got cheerleader brain.” - Max

Why are they talking about her like that??

“I gotta go.” - Joe

I stood up from the lunch table, quickly finding a trashcan and throwing my stuff away before walking out of the lunch room.

“What’s his problem?” - Max

“I don't know, bro.” - Chad

Zach knew because he was right. What he told me yesterday was haunting me.

Romeo, this could be your Juliette.

——

My thoughts ran wild as I went to the office and asked to do some volunteer work.

The receptionist gave me the okay to go down to the middle school for the remainder of the lunch period.

I drove over to the middle school and went up to the office, clicking the button to signal the office worker that I was out there.

When the door unlocked I was able to open it. I did, and whose eyes I met surprised me.

“y/n?” - Joe

“Oh, hey Joe.” - you

“What are you doing here?” - Joe

“Gonna head to a class to volunteer, I have a free period right now. Aren't you supposed to be in lunch?” - you

“Well, yeah, but I had to get out of there.” - Joe

“Why’s that?” - you

Her brows were furrowed like she could hear the slight edge in my voice.

“Some of the guys were saying stuff about you, kinda pissed me off, so I left.” - Joe

“What? You left because of that? I’m used to it, Joe. I'm just a dumb cheerleader.” - you

“You're not, though, that's why I didn't want to listen to it. I've only known you for two days, but I look forward to every conversation we share. They don't know you as I do.” - Joe

y/n placed a hand on my shoulder and smiled at me. Her eyes gave off a grateful look.

“You're the first person who’s made attempts to get to know me, and I appreciate it.” - you

“Not even your teammates?” - Joe

“I love ‘em, but they're not the Star Wars type like you are.” - you

“Yeah… I'm pretty cool like that.” - Joe

“Oh, whatever!” - you rolled your eyes

We laughed with each other before the receptionist cleared her throat. Both y/n and I froze when we realized where we were.

“Oh, sorry!” - you

“You guys can both go to room 379 if you’d like, seems like you two have a spark.” - receptionist

I rubbed the back of my neck nervously, but y/n smiled at the older lady and walked through the double doors into the building.

There weren't any words shared between us as we walked to the room, both of us were thinking about what the woman had said. Do we have a spark?

——

Ten minutes into hanging out with the sixth graders, the teacher sent y/n and me to the copy room.

“Hey, have you thought about formal?” - Joe

“What about it?” - you

Winter formal wasn't coming until December, obviously, but I felt the need to ask.

“Like are you going? Date ideas?” - Joe

“I figured I'd go, yeah. I don't know who I'm gonna go with, though. Might just go with friends, the guys here aren't the best.” - you

“Ouch.” - Joe

“Hey, I don't count you with them. You’re separate.” - you

“I think that's good.” - Joe

“It is. You're a jock, but a nice one, you know? I like you.” - you

My face dropped as I looked at her, feeling my cheeks flush and my stomach flop.

“Not in that way!” - you rushed to say

“Oh… okay.” - Joe

“Why do you act disappointed? I thought you weren't looking for anything and focusing on football.” - you

“I don't know. I thought I was, but you're making it hard to.” - Joe

“What does that mean?” - you

“I barely know you, but I can't stop thinking about you. You understand me in a way I didn't think was possible… you're just different.” - Joe

“I feel the same way about you. You're nerdy but athletic and have these quirks that I'm obsessed with. You're oddly the guy version of me.” - you

“Nah, you're the girl version of me.” - Joe

“Oh, whatever!” - you shoved his chest

I'm feeling a little bold after she told me she can't stop thinking about me either. Should I make a little move?

“You look cute when you do that. You roll your eyes at me but are smiling.” - Joe

“Oh, uh. Thanks.” - you blushed

“You're welcome.” - Joe smiled

——

October, 2014

That's as far as we went talking about it.

Nothing ever came from that one conversation we shared at the middle school. That's the closest thing we ever did that could come close to showing feelings for one another.

We just continued being really good friends who giggle in the back of the chemistry room, but the eye contact we make while I'm on the field and she’s on the sidelines tells me there's something there.

In the past two months, I've concluded that no matter how hard I try to deny it, I have a crush on y/n.

I just don't know how to act on it.

She still thinks that I don't want a relationship right now, so I need to start dropping hints.

The first step of my plan was to ask her to study with me after school, like at my house.

So, when I walked into chemistry this morning, I had that idea in the back of my head.

“Hey.” - Joe smiled

“Morning.” - you smiled back

I sat my stuff down and took my seat next to her.

“I need to ask you something.” - you

“Oh, what's that?” - Joe

“They haven't announced it yet, but I won junior attendant for homecoming.” - you

“Really?! That's awesome!” - Joe

“Yeah, thanks. We have to have a guy from the football team be our escort…” - you

“And you want me to ask someone for you?” - Joe

She looked at me with a “boy, please” look on her face that made me laugh.

“I'm just playing. I'd love to walk you.” - Joe

“Okay, good. Thanks, Joey.” - you

“Mhm. When will you find out who won Hoco Queen?” - Joe

“Not till the game, but if I win, you’ll get a little crown too.” - you

“I get a crown too?? Now you have to win.” - Joe

“I'll try my hardest. You have to help my campaign, though.” - you

“Sounds like a deal.” - Joe smiled

——

Later that week, I met up with y/n during my lunch period and her free period. I helped her campaign, and when she wasn't around, I convinced the football team to vote for her.

I wanted to make sure she'd win.

——

“Junior attendant, y/n y/l/n, escorted by Joey Burrow.”

The announcer’s voice beamed through the speakers as we walked down the middle of the football field. My arm was looped with y/n’s, and I shortened my strides with the length of her heals in mine.

I hadn't seen her till she walked out and looped her arm with mine, but she looked so beautiful.

“You look gorgeous.” - Joe whispered

“Thank you.” - you blushed

We smiled for the camera when we reached the end of the field, and y/n gently squeezed my arm when we walked over and stood in our directed spot.

“You don't look too bad yourself.” - you

Our conversation was drowning out the announcer’s voice, who was reading the short paragraph that y/n wrote a couple of days ago. She'd made me proofread it so many times that I had it practically memorized.

“y/n would like to thank her parents and friends, especially her best friend, who is escorting her tonight.”

That part was new.

My cheeks heated up when I looked down at y/n to see her already smiling at me. She'd never come out and said that I was her best friend, but I couldn't say it didn't make sense.

“Surprise.” - you nudged him

“I'm your best friend, huh?” - Joe

“Yeah.” - you smiled

“You're mine too.” - Joe

“No way!” - you pushed Joe’s chest

“Don't tell Zach I said that, though.” - Joe

Her smile was infectious, and I felt my lips mirror y/n’s expression.

The announcer went on to introduce the senior attendant and read her little background story.

“Now, ladies and gentlemen. Your 2014 football homecoming queen is…”

I reached my other hand up to squeeze y/n’s that was wrapped around my bicep.

“y/n y/l/n!”

“You did it! Go get your crown!” - Joe

She let go of my arm and walked back to the middle of the field.

I watched with a proud smile on my face as y/n was handed a bouquet, a sash draped over her shoulder, and the crown on her head.

There was so much adoration in my heart for her, and when she turned around to look at me, my smile only widened.

“C’mere!” - you mouthed

I slowly walked over to her, and y/n re-looped our arms.

Bowing my head slightly, the crown was put on top of it. y/n laughed at the sight of the crown adorning my forehead.

“Lemme fix that. It's kinda sideways.” - you

She stepped on her tiptoes and fixed it, a blush forming on my cheeks when her fingers brushed down my face when she pulled away.

“You look cute.” - you smiled

“Thanks.” - Joe grinned

——

December, 2014

“Hey.” - Joe

“Oh, hey.” - you

I put my stuff down and sat down in my chair, the same routine since the first day of school. Hopefully, though, today some things will change.

Or at least be set in the right direction to change.

“I need to ask you a question.” - Joe

“Shoot.” - you

“Be my date too formal?” - Joe

I looked at her with hopefulness in my eyes. Please say yes.

“I'm already going with Chad… sorry, Joe.” - you

“Oh. It's okay, I just thought… nevermind.” - Joe

My shoulders slumped as I turned away from her and faced the board, biting the insides of my cheeks nervously.

The one time I shoot my shot with a girl, and I get rejected.

Guess that tells me what my priorities should be.

Focusing on football.

——

“What do you mean Joe’s here alone?” - you

“Yeah, Zach had to practically beg him to even come. Joe said there wasn't any point in going since he didn't have a date.” - Cassidy

“That makes me feel terrible…” - you

“Why?” - Cassidy

“Because he asked me, but I'd already said yes to Chad.” - you

“It's not your fault, how were you supposed to know that Joe was gonna ask you? I mean, he isn't looking for anything right now.” - Cassidy

“Yeah… do you know where he is?” - you

“No idea. Probably hiding in a corner.” - Cassidy

“Chad literally ditched me after pictures. Joe never would've done that…” - you

A few seconds of silence between the two girls went by before Cassidy had a lightbulb moment.

“Do you have a crush on Joe?!” - Cassidy

“What?! No!” - you

“You so do! y/n you should tell him! I honestly think he feels the same way…” - Cassidy

“No… he's focusing on football.” - you sighed

“So you do like him?” - Cassidy

“Maybe…” - you

When you admitted it out loud, it felt real. You like Joe.

Joey Burrow, the quarterback with the nerdy side that only you knew of, the one with the imperfect but adorable smile, the one that made you look forward to first period, your crush.

“I'm gonna go find him.” - you

You walked as fast as your heels allowed you and threw your half-drank cup of subpar punch in the trash can, pushing open the gym doors as Tongue Tied by GROUPLOVE playing through the speakers served as a soundtrack.

Zach wasn't hard to find as a sea of letterman jackets was in the hallway.

“Where’s Joe?” - you

“Oh, hey, y/n! He said he was gonna go take a walk around.” - Zach shrugged

You nodded and walked away toward the academic wing of the school.

Only the generator lights were on, but there was enough lighting to make out that familiar tall frame looking into the trophy cases.

Carefully, so as to not scare him, you slowly walked up behind Joe and tapped his shoulder.

“Hi.” - you

“Hi.” - Joe

“Chad ditched me…” - you

“That sucks.” - Joe

He hadn't even looked up at you yet.

“I'm sorry. If I had known you were going to ask me, I wouldn't have said yes to him.” - you

“S’okay, probably for the better.” - Joe

“Why are you just walking around by yourself, Joe?” - you

“Nothing else to do. Kinda bored.” - Joe

“Wanna go see what teachers left their classrooms unlocked?” - you grinned

Joe’s eyes drifted away from the trophy case for the first time and found yours. A smile pulled at his lips as he nodded his head.

You held your hand out to him, and Joe gladly accepted, clasping his fingers with yours.

There were so many unspoken feelings shared between you two as you made your way down the hallways to find an open door.

“The chem room is open…” - Joe

You gently opened the door and pulled Joe in behind you, the lights being motion-activated turned on as you two walked in.

Joe flicked the light switch back off as the moonlight through the window lit up the room.

Making your way to your table, you and Joe sat down in your respective seats without sharing a word.

“Your dress is pretty.” - Joe

With a longing glance, you examined Joe’s hair, outfit, and shoes.

“Thanks. You look handsome.” - you

“Thanks.” - Joe smiled

A few seconds of silence went by before Joe cleared his throat, immediately getting your attention.

“Uhm… can I be honest with you?” - Joe

“Always.” - you

Here goes nothing.

“I think you're amazing. Talking to you every day makes me want to come to school, and I enjoy every word that's shared between us. You get to see a side of me that many people don't because I feel safe with you. I hope what I'm about to tell you doesn't ruin that, and you might just see me as a friend… but I like you.” - Joe

“In what way?” - you

In all honesty, you knew exactly what he meant, but you wanted to hear him say it.

“In the way that I find myself staring at you all the time because I think you're beautiful, In the way that you give me butterflies when you laugh or smile at me. You are incredible, y/n; gorgeous, smart, talented, crazy athletic, loyal, trustworthy.” - Joe

He paused for a second to scan your face for somewhat of a reaction.

“Now that I think about it, you're so out of my league.” - Joe laughed

“Go on, Joey.” - you giggled

“What I'm trying to say is… I have a crush on you, y/n.” - Joe

“Mr. ‘I'm focusing on football’ has a crush on me?!?” - you

Joe felt his stomach drop at your teasing. He'd just poured his heart out, and was thinking the worst.

“So you don't feel the same way?” - Joe

“What? I didn't say that!” - you

“So…?” - Joe

“I like you too, Joe. More than friends.” - you

“Really?” - Joe smiled

“Yeah.” - you grinned

You two sat there, no words shared, just tooth-rotting grins.

“I've never done this before… what happens next?” - Joe

“I think there's another question you need to ask me.” - you

“Oh, yeah! y/n…” - Joe

He took your hand in his, the size difference making your heart flutter for a second before you shifted your attention back to his beautiful blue eyes.

“Be my girlfriend?” - Joe finished

“I'd love to.” - you smiled

Somehow, your other hand found its way into his. Almost as if magnets were pulling your faces together, you both leaned in.

Your lips molded together so perfectly like you were each other’s missing piece.

Maybe because you guys were.

Joe would forever be grateful that he took the leap of faith and confessed to the girl that he swore was out of his league, for she would become his everything for the rest of his life.

That chemistry room is where you found your first real boyfriend, who would be your first kiss, and unbeknownst to you, you were Joe’s first real girlfriend and kiss as well.

In fact, you were each other’s first everything.

And you'd also be each other’s last.

————————————————————————-

Authors note: One of my favorite requests to write, it was so fun picturing the beginning of their relationship!

Request for this fic;

Hope you enjoyed! 💕

[starlightshadowsworld]

Eyes of an Idealist

(Or teenage Kunikida gets in trouble and Fukuzawa is here to bring him home.)

"Did they bring you here to lecture me too? Well save it, I've heard enough." Came the teens angered words as Fukuzawa stepped into the room.

The officer at the door moved to walk in but Fukuzawa dismissed him with a look. Angry as he may be Kunikida was not dangerous.

Unless he was provoked which that officer definitely would have done.

Fukuzawa sat in the provided chair, eyeing the bars of the cell with distaste. He didn't like this set up, not in the slightest.

Oh sure he understood the reasoning.

But that didn't mean anything to him. All Fukuzawa wanted was to bring his boy home. 'He's got to be cold being in here for so long' he wondered.

Maybe he could pass him his jacket?

"No one bought me here. Ranpo heard what happened and told me." Replied Fukuzawa, relief flooding his veins when he heard shuffling from a dark corner.

Even though Fukuzawa couldn't see him, he knew he had the teens attention.

"Ranpo? Is he alright?"

Just like that his anger was put on pause. Nevermind that Ranpo hadn't even been in the area when the fight had broke out.

The fight in question being at a student protest Kunikida was attending.

One that resulted in a fellow student being hurt by an officer. Kunikida had seen red, launched himself at the officer and... Well here we are.

How Ranpo knew what happened was something Fukuzawa didn't question. It was best not to when it came to Ranpo.

He was just relieved Ranpo had called for help instead of getting involved. Who knows what trouble Kunikida would be in if Ranpo had gotten hurt.

"He's alright, completly unharmed. As is your fellow student.." Reassured Fukuzawa, he smiled a little. "Ranpo said you'd ask that first."

That earned him a chuckle, albeit a pained one. It only fueled Fukuzawa's resolve to get him out of here. "He's worried, as am I. The officer said you refused medical care, were you hurt?"

The Presidents voice was it's usual calm, if tinged with worry. He hadn't been happy hearing the news, but he wouldn't let any anger slip.

Kids were a lot like cats, they needed a calm but firm hand.

Ranpo responded to anger with jokes. From light hearted to cut throat to protect himself. Katai was a runner, he would flee back to where he felt safe.

Kunikida was a lot like Yosano, both of them were fighters. But while Yosano hid behind sadistic taunts, Kunikida's rage left him vulnerable.

The youngest of the group was also the angriest one, the passionate one. He fought for any injustice, big or small that went against his ideals.

Kunikida burned like a candle at both ends. Fukuzawa had known from the moment they'd met that it would only get him hurt.

"I'm not mad" he said, quietly and calmly. "I just want to know if you're okay." Honesty also helped. It hurt knowing how much his wards had been hurt that they always assumed the worst.

After a moment, Kunikida crawled into view. He sat himself just by the bars, the dim light highlighting a black eye, the broken glasses in a still bleeding hand.

Rage flared in Fukuzawa's bones before he stamped it out, lest he scare Kunikida. 'How did they let him in here?! When he's still bleeding?'

Oh those cops were going to get an earful.

"It's not that bad" Said Kunikida defensively. "You should see the other guy." Despite himself, Fukuzawa chuckled. "I know, though this is not where I thought I'd be spending my evening."

Kunikida had the grace to look down. "I don't regret what I did. But I am sorry for wasting your time." Not for the first time did Fukuzawa feel his heart break.

He got up and knelt beside the bars, hugging Kunikida the best he could.

"You haven't wasted any of it. Do I wish you hadn't been involved in a fight? Absolutely. But you did exactly what I have always taught you to do. You fought for what you believed in, to protect others."

Fukuzawa gently ran a hand through Kunikida's hair. "I am worried because you care so much for others, you're heart is so full."

He looked at Kunikida, his son in all but blood. "But you do not save that care for yourself."

You're a light that I don't want to see fade.

Kunikida looked like he didn't know what to say. But that was okay, he could burn as bright as the stars. And Fukuzawa would be here to catch him, so would the rest of them.

That's what he'd taught them after all.

"Mr Fukuzawa, wait we still need to question that boy!" Fukuzawa leveled the officer with a glare that shut him up. "I'm taking my boy home, do you have a problem with that?"

He didn't wait for them to reply. Kunikida, now bundled in his jacket had fallen asleep from all the excitement of the day. Fukuzawa shook his head with a fond smile as he carried him back to the Agency.

Home at last.

[lovelytsunoda]

i kissed a girl // logan sargeant

summary: logan should have known better than to kiss the college girl at that dive bar. especially when to the untrained eye, she looked like she had a boyfriend already

pairing: logan sargeant x female reader

warnings: bar fight, nicholas latifi gets punched in the face, miscommunication. alcohol based bad decisions. logan also gets punched once or twice. y/n isn't taking any of his shit.

making fun of him is so easy and also so much fun-

author's note: this is pure satire, this is a joke. please do not take it seriously. it’s not that deep.

please do not take this seriously.

austin, texas. october 2022.

"i'm sorry, again, about taking your seat next year."

across the booth, nicholas latifi grumbled, reaching for his beer bottle. "somebody was going to take it eventually. i just wish i'd had more time."

the drivers for the williams formula one team were sitting in the middle of a dive bar following the free practice sessions on friday morning. there was an air of unease among the group, an awkward bit of tension between logan sargeant and nicholas latifi, on edriver coming in to take the other's place.

"he doesn't even have his super license yet, mate." jack aitken shook his head. "there's still hope for you yet, i don't think jost has a backup plan."

alex albon chuckled. "good old jost. he's retiring, you know. he doens't want people knowing until the season is over."

nicky sighed softly, raising his bottle of corona. "to jost."

"to jost!" the other three drivers echoed, clinking the bottles together.

a country song roared in the background, a group of girls in tight jeans and cowboy hats gathered around a pool table, guys in tight white shirts and cowboy boots at the bar. it was the most texan joint in the whole of texas. there wasn't a single meal that didn't have red meat in it.

and that's when he saw her, out of the corner of his eye, walking into the bar in a tight denim jacket, the collar of a white buttoned shirt poking out over the top, a pair of suede booties on her feet as she shyly meandered over to the bar.

"dude," alex laughed. "she's so not your type."

"fuck off, alex." logan glowered. "i'm just lookin'."

"she looks like she'd punch him in the face if he tried to talk to her." nicky remarked.

logan rolled his eyes. "no she doesn't."

"she has that 'i hate everybody' look on her face."

"i'm settling this." logan shook his head, placing his bottle of corona back on the table. "i'm going to buy her a drink."

"and you think that's really going to work, mr. questionable family ties and cocky american charm?" jack snickered.

tuning out his teammates, logan slid out of the booth as a kid rock song began to play. the girl was alone at the bar, her muscular escort in the back playing a round of pool with some college students that he appeared to know.

clearing his throat, logan took a seat at the barstool next to her.

"that seat is taken." her voice was deeper than he expected, her texan drawl faint. "i don't appreciate it when strange men in bars, where the entire counter seating section is empty, decide to sit right next to me without asking first.

"my apologies." logan dialed up the charm, extending his arm for a handshake. "logan sargeant, future williams f1 driver."

this got her attention.

she swiveled in her seat, raising her eyebrows. her skin was washed purple under the bar lights. up close, logan was wondering if maybe she really was his type.

"i've heard about you, sargeant. you're a pay driver. williams' last hope. i know my shit, and i know that guys like you don't date girls like me."

logan leaned against the bar, trying to pretend that he couldn't hear nicholas, alex and jack laughing at him from the booth. "what do you mean 'guys like me'?"

"cocky florida frat boys who think they're entitled to everything because they have money. and i'm the quiet, independent type who was raised better than to think that dating a man with money would solve all of my problems." she smiled sweetly, playing with the straw in her soft drink. cherry coke, if logan was pressed to make a guess.

she didn't even fucking drink. and he didn't know what to say.

maybe he liked being put in his place.

or maybe he was just looking for a fight.

she laughed. "cat got your tongue, sargeant? god, you're just as shallow as i thought. the kind of television character i'd enjoy making fun of."

"who said i was looking for a relationship? even just a first date?"

"i don't do one night stands. nice try, though."

back at the booth, the other three williams drivers could hardly contain their laughter.

"look at how red he is!" nicholas latifi panted. "she really put him in his place."

alex raised an eyebrow "i think he's enjoying it a little too much, if you know what i mean."

"this has been fun, logan. you're a real charmer, even though i've done all the talking." the mystery girl said, gathering her jacket in her arms and moving to get off the barstool. "but i came here with someone, and we were actually waiting for a table to open up next door."

"is he your boyfriend? you're too good for him."

it was just supposed to be a line. but as he said it, logan was realizing that it was the truth.

"maybe he is, maybe he isn't. what's it to you?"

logan grinned. "i just think you're really pretty."

he shouldn't have done it. every synapse in his body was telling him not to do it. but impulse control and good-decision-making, especially while drunk has never been logan's forte.

so when he kissed her, he should have known there would be consequences.

for a moment, it felt like she was kissing him back. but it's not like he could explore that feeling before his body was yanked away from hers.

"who the fuck do you think you are?" the man in the muscle tank and sweats barked at the driver, who was likely only half the body weight of the tattooed muscle man standing across from him.

"look, i don't want any trouble, dude. she kissed me back!"

she rolled her eyes. "manolo, knock it off."

the bar quieted, the last bars of 'all summer long' fading out. y/n didn;t trust people who knew all the words to more than one kid rock song, and logan looked like the type who had memorized 'all summer long'. that's not to say that she didn't think it might be fun to mess around with him for a little, never going too far or getting too serious.

but the line to 'serious' had been crossed when manolo forgot that he was a family friend, not her older brother.

"no, i won't knock it off, y/n! he kissed you even after you said you were already here with someone."

"don't make a scene!"

nobody was sure who acted first.

it could have been logan, who was just trying to get his polo shirt free from manolo's fingers and accidentally headbutted the man in the arm. it could have been manolo, who'd hold on logan's shirt quickly became a punch in the jaw.

but that's when all hell broke loose.

nicky and jack jumped up from the table to try and separate the two men, just as logan threw his first punch.

nicholas latifi just happened to be the unfortunate fucker who pushed logan back when manolo retaliated, with the canadian catching a fist to the nose.

"that wasn't very nice!" he shouted, holding his now-bleeding face as alex joined the fray, pulling logan back from the italian.

"manolo, stop!" y/n shouted, standing in the middle of the fray. "let's just go."

she watched manolo leave, mumbling and huffing to himself about how men should know better than to make moves on girls who so clearly aren't interested.

not to say that y/n wasn't mildly intrigued by the florida man, but she wouldn't go as far as to say she was interested.

"sorry about manolo. he forgets his place sometimes. and you should learn yours, sargeant." she grinned. "it's at the back of a twenty car grid, bottom of the wdc. i'll see you on the big screen, pay driver."

"thanks for making my night more interesting."

"dude," alex chuckled. "you were in way over your head."

"shut up!"

[darlin-djarin]

Hiya! I've been lowkey stalking ur blog for the last few weeks bcs i recently got rllllllly into dinluke and saw ur recent post about fic, so now I'm wondering if you have any reccs (dinluke ofc)?! I like ur content and read ur tags so I'd say our taste in fic probably overlaps. Hope you have a nice day!! 🌻

hey!! and yeah i’ve got a few fics that i think a lot of dinlukers might like

first let me link @transmascskywalker's list because that’s where i started out originally!!

now as for my fic recs~

some of these fics might overlap, i’m just putting down the ones i loved most. i’m sure i’ve read tons more but these are the ones i found that you can busy yourself with :)

The Storm by shirozora

Din Djarin needs a new ship.

Greef Karga makes him a deal - do some work for the guild and he'll get a brand new gunship. One such job takes him to a planet with a volatile storm system to track down a double-crossing bounty hunter. What he doesn't know is that the bounty hunter is there to loot an ancient Jedi temple. What neither of them know is that someone else is also on the planet searching for the temple.

And then the storm rolls in.

in-universe

sfw

multichapter/parts

my comfort fic btw ^^ i’ve read it so many times

Mystery Man by snapdragonpop007

Luke is seeing someone, apparently.

And really, it’s none of Anakin’s business.

Really.

modern au

sfw

multichapter/parts

one of the best, funniest fics i’ve ever read ^^

Unfold by SilverScriptings

Han can’t help but be suspicious of a certain Mandalorian who’s been spending an awful lot of time at the Jedi Temple…

in-universe

sfw

multichapter/parts

A Little Farther Down the Line by Chromat1cs

Austin, Texas, 1973. Din Djarin plays the guitar, worries about his kid, and runs aimlessly from a past that pulled the roof down around his ears. When a stunningly-talented duo of up-and-coming performers turns Din’s plans of being a simple session musician clear on their head, Din must decide between the safety of mundanity or the unlooked-at thrill of following his heart lest the tape run out on this track of his life before he’s through recording it.

modern (1970’s) au

nsfw

multichapter

the warmest bed i’ve ever known by ceedawks

pre-original series, din djarin is injured on a remote planet and found by an incessantly chatty farm boy named luke skywalker || i won't ask you to wait, if you don't ask me to stay || aka "making out with hot farm boys doesn't count as breaking the creed if he's blindfolded during it".

pre-ANH/meet on tatooine au (in-universe)

nsfw

multichapter

We Two Scorched the Earth by annathaema (moony)

That left Luke with a much bigger problem: The Sand People knew he was here, they’d likely sabotaged or stolen the speeder by now, and he was stranded in a cave with nothing but a rifle with three rounds left, a survival pack good for only a couple of days, and no transport home. Great. Luke leaned against the wall of the cave and tipped his head back, thumping the back of it against the stone over and over. He closed his eyes and wished for rescue.

Someone groaned.

pre-ANH/meet on tatooine au (in-universe)

nsfw

oneshot

Never leaving well enough alone by DarkIsRising

or Five Times Din and Luke Met (and one time they never parted)

He’s drunk, and he isn’t quite sure how that happened. That’s not true, Luke does remember vaguely how it happened, more or less, and it all started with Han.

in-universe

nsfw

multichapter

Yoda’s Academy for Li’l Padawans by MissDinahDarling

Being a new student is hard.

Being a new student whilst your socially awkward father avoids the school at all costs and your new teacher pines uselessly over a man he’s never met before is even worse.

But by god, Grogu is gonna get through this.

modern au

sfw

multichapter

Just Like Heaven by Kushana

At first, he watches.

Then, he touches.

in-universe

sfw (both aroace ^^)

oneshot

Romance As a Series of Debacles by The SexierEvilerCora

Han stumbles on a golden opportunity to make life difficult for Boba Fett, and drags Luke along as backup to crash a Mandalorian party.

Things do not go as planned for anyone involved.

modern au

nsfw

it’s unfinished with only one chapter but it’s still worth the read

Honey Lemon Popsicle by coffeecatsme

“Good morning,” Luke chirps, not even looking up from the stove, “my honey bunches of oats.”

Din blinks several times, trying to get his muscles to unfreeze, and opens his mouth.

Then closes it.

Then opens it again. “What did you just call me?”

5 times Luke calls Din increasingly weird pet names, and 1 time he finds out Din likes it.

modern au

sfw

oneshot

Restraint and Relaxation by Aureutr_Accoredge

Queen Amidala is sick of watching her son run himself ragged for every good cause he finds. When he collapses at his sister's engagement gala, it is the last straw.

Luke balks, so she summons one of her Mandalorian Knights to take him to the family's lakeside villa to make him rest.

By any means necessary

in-universe

nsfw

oneshot (v good ^^)

these are all the ones i recommend for now! i’ve read other really good fics, but these ones ^^ are the ones i’ve found myself return to at least one way or the other.

please let me know if you're looking for something more specific as well!! i'll do my best to find something for your tastes

[licncourt]

Have you read TVA and Blood and Gold? I would LOVE your rundown on all the historical inaccuracies in BaG.

Unfortunately yes, I have read those with my eyes :/

(the Marius/Armand pederasty conversation I've been meaning to have for like a year below the cut btw)

I wish I hadn't read B&G so young, I didn't have the breadth of knowledge or the foresight to mark anything for later when I was sixteen. I'd reread it for this exact analysis but really I don't think I have it in me so memory and ctrl + f to confirm will have to suffice.

Honestly, the biggest problem I had with it wasn't inaccuracies so much as the fact that the whole book reads like a Wikipedia entry. It's so clumsy and dry, it feels like AR just wants us to know how many Roman Facts she learned. It overshadows the story rather than adds to it. Fr, read this (if you can stand it).

There was not one reason in the world that she needed to explain the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in that level of detail, and that's coming from me. This sounds like a bad undergrad paper from a student who wants to prove they did the reading.

The whole book feels like this except when it detours into creepy and pedophilic, and I just don't need my vampire book to explain the Council of Nicaea AND the Edict of Milan AND the Parthian Wars AND the Vatican wall frescoes AND the Medici bank and a million other things to me like I'm in a survey lecture. It's mind-numbing for me and this is literally what I DO, so I can only imagine how other people must feel with no context or particular interest in this stuff.

It's not that she's WRONG per say, it's more that she clearly has no understanding of these subjects outside the rote recitation of facts. It's just regurgitated bullet points about Roman history and the Italian Renaissance. She also repeats some well known apocryphal stories in there, but I'm going to be generous and hope she doesn't think these are facts (like the Chi-Rho epiphany).

If anything seems sus and I don't remember it though, feel free to send it to me and I can yay or nay the information to the best of my ability!

*cw here for discussion of CSA*

With that said, I do think AR had a very skewed understanding of the pederastic dynamic or was choosing to ignore it, which is unfortunate considering how attached she was to the idea. A lot of my thesis research coincided with Greco-Roman pederastic tradition, so it's a pet peeve of mine when it's misapplied. It's not an uncommon problem (Call Me By Your Name has this going on too), but authors sending gay relationships with a rapey age gap through a "pederasty" funnel always pisses me off.

The history of pederasty is very long and complicated and ancient (we're talking Homer and Iliad kind of old here), but the bare bones explanation of the process and logic is this:

The ancient Greeks were deeply invested in turning their upper class boys into good citizens. To accomplish this, sometimes an established adult man would woo a younger male (most often starting at 14-19 years old) with gifts and attention over an extended period of time. Once the courtship was complete and the boy's self control had been proven, there were sexual relations between the two for a period of time.

The purpose of this relationship was ultimately to educate the boy, and the physical pleasure was used as a teaching tool to establish rapport and intimacy that could then be escalated to instruction on matters of philosophy and intellect in general. Essentially using the mastery and maturation of one's body as a stepping stone to the mastery and maturation of the mind. Once the boy was appropriately prepared to enter elite male society and/or had become physically developed as a man, the relationship ended.

It's pretty obvious that she's trying to do a whole pederastic erastes/eromenos thing with Marius and Armand, but she took an already very bad and gross practice from history and muddled it up with her own awful ideas about consent from minors and sexual fantasies of a kinky student/teacher savior relationship in her vampire books.

I hate the erotic and romanticized version of pederasty that's become weirdly popular in gay media, and AR was one of the first to really do this. It just picks up the historical thread of CSA under the guise of a kid's "consent" and continues to normalize it to modern readers with a new sexy twist. Using a bastardized version of a fucked up ancient practice to implicitly justify or downplay the severity of statutory rape is simply not the move, especially when gay and bisexual men already face stigma around being predatory and pedophilic. Just don't.

[occasional-drabbles]

Be Careful What You Wish For… Or Summon

A little drabble I did to kind of do a 'test run' of my Obey Me! OC, Zissa! I formatted it as a letter to Lucifer to catalogue her adventures in the Human Realm as an exchange student!

My Lord, 

After night falls in the human world, I must admit, it begins to feel more like home. While the stars and moon are in an unfamiliar pattern, and the air feels different, there is enough similarities to ease my homesickness. The lights and sound of activity below, a buzz of energy that reminds me of downtown. And before you grow too concerned regarding me flying while here, I ensured I was well above the view of humans, easily mistaken for a bird or bat. I am not that foolish, my Lord. 

However, this report is not to lament the differences and similarities between the human world and the Devildom. This is to document a rather entertaining encounter I had this night. 

As I was passing over a city a few hours flight from the city I am stationed in, I noticed a few younger humans acting suspiciously, sneaking through shadows. I decided to pursue them, curious what they were hoping to achieve. I could sense some degree of Greed on them, though I couldn't pinpoint what for, so I felt an investigation was in order. I followed them through dark alleys, intrigued when they came to a dilapidated house, with the windows and door boarded. It reminds me of what images there are of the House of Lamentations prior to it being brought to the Devildom, in fact. 

They went around to one side, and seemed to be prepared to break in. I decided that now was the time to make myself known, before they would leave my sight again. 

Of course, they were immediately defensive, and tried to scatter, however I managed to placate them rather easily. Such trusting creatures, humans are. 

“Wait wait!” I pleased “I’m not going to tattle! I'm just curious what you guys are doing in this area at this hour.” 

Now I was able to get a better gauge of the group. Five humans, two males and three females. They didn't seem particular noteworthy, not an ounce of magic between the lot of them. Not particularly built, but they seemed at least somewhat smart, as they had chosen to wear darker clothing to draw less attention in the night, one of the males even wearing gloves. 

He seemed to be the leader of the group, or at least the most confident, as he spoke first. 

“We wanted to… investigate, inside.” He lied. Or at least, half lied. 

“Oh? Investigate what?” I pressed as I came closer, admittedly enjoying watching them squirm. 

This time, it was one of the girls who spoke. And by her tone, she wasn't happy to be involved. Perhaps the voice of reason? “Apparently, these guys,” she gestured to the boys, “want to try and summon a demon.” 

The idea of these five, puny humans trying to summon a demon, of course piqued my interest, as a demon myself. The irony made it difficult for me not to begin laughing right then and there, and I must admit, the subsequent series of events were perhaps not my most calculated of moves… but it was extremely entertaining. 

“Oh, summoning a demon?” I echoed, offering them a bright and hopefully disarming smile. “What luck, I actually study demonology. I'd be happy to tag along on this little quest, if you'd be willing to have me?”

The group seemed rather skeptical, and thought I couldn't hear their whispered arguments as to whether or not to trust me. Eventually they tentatively agreed, claiming that they could handle it should it try to attack them, as they outnumber me and I didn't seem terribly threatening. Perhaps I should take it as a compliment, that my acting and disguise are truly working. 

“Think you could help us get in?” The other male asked, who has a backpack that was clearly weighed down with books. 

I hummed and took a look at the house, wandering to the window they'd been about to try and enter through. “Well, this would not be the way to do it.” I said, tapping a nail to one of the boards. “This house is unstable, and the force it would take to dislodge these boards with your bare hands would either tear the house up or cause enough of a ruckus to draw attention.” 

I wandered further, hearing the group of likely teenagers following behind me, like lost ducklings. How adorable. I went up to the backdoor and tested the lock, humming thoughtfully. It was locked, not that that was much of a problem for a Greed Demon. I knelt down, reaching into a pocket and using a tiny bit of magic to summon a lock pick, slipping it into the lock. Within moments, the door was opening, and I gestured them inside. 

The girl from before, whom I will refer to going forward as Reason, was the most skeptical of my little display. “What, do you always carry a lockpick with you?” She scoffed. 

I simply flashed her a grin, following the group inside. It was dusty within the house, clearly undisturbed by human touch for quite some time. The perfect ‘haunted house'. I can see why they chose to attempt to summon a demon here. 

“Is there a particular demon you want to summon?” I asked curiously, watching them explore the house and eventually re-gather in the living area, as it had the most space for them to set up. 

“Not really, no…” one of the other girls admitted, who shall be dubbed Braid, for the impressively long braid she wore. I have a feeling Lord Asmodeus would enjoy playing with her locks, but I digress. 

“Ah, so a general summon, then? That might make it more difficult, then…” I admitted, pretending to be genuinely concerned by this discovery. “It makes it more unpredictable, because who knows what will get the summoning, with so little direction.” 

“But that also means it's more likely for something to respond at all.” Retorted Backpack, who had set down said backpack and begun to pull out a few books that seemed to be on Demonology, some candles, chalk, and salt. 

“Fair enough logic.” I conceded, watching as he began to instruct the group, giving each of them a task. One to set out the candles, another to light them, a third to draw a basic pentagram, and the forth to make a circle of salt around the pentagram. 

“Well, I may have a suggestion on how to give a bit more direction to your summoning.” I offered, as my plan began to evolve, and I convinced myself that indulging myself just a little couldn't hurt, so long as I was careful not to directly harm any of the humans. When they looked to me in intrigue, I continued. “Demons have been shown to fall under the jurisdiction of each of the seven deadly sins. Pride, Greed, Envy, Wrath, Lust, Gluttony, and Sloth. To give some more direction, you could try to tempt a demon to show with something pertaining to their sin. Greed and Gluttony tend to be the easiest to summon, as they are frequently tempted with material goods or fine foods, respectively.” 

There were a few delicious beats of silence as they considered, and the Greed in the room was almost palpable. 

“We don't have any food on us…” the last of the three girls, we’ll call her Glasses, admitted quietly. “So we can't do Gluttony…” 

“Greed… so cash, and jewelry and stuff?” Gloves asked, looking to me. I nodded, and as a show of good faith, I removed my earrings and bracelets, setting them inside of the pentagram. This seemed to prompt them to do the same, and I watched as coins and bills were laid into the center of the pentagram, a watch, earrings, and a gorgeous gold pendant with ruby inlays. 

“Think that will help?” Braid asked, to which I nodded. 

“So should we begin?” Backpack addressed the group, earning nods of various degrees of certainty. 

So he began to read from one of the books, and the incantation was quite honestly pathetic and childish, such round about ways of saying nothing. However, that was perfect for my little prank. 

About halfway through, I used some illusion magic to make the room begin to get foggy, a faint gold shimmer to it. The other four began to move closer to each other, realizing the weight of what they were trying to do. Impressively enough, they hadn't run yet. Such brave little fools. 

The fog grew steadily thicker as the chant continued, and I slowly backed away, feigning fear. In truth, I was gaining some distance, hoping to not spoil my little trick. Fortunately they were all too distracted by the pentagram and the seeming results of their actions to pay me any mind. 

When Backpack finished his incantation, a large puff of smoke rose from the center of the pentagram, earning startled yelps from the teenagers. 

I took the chance, using just enough magic to teleport myself into the center of the smoke, slipping into my demon form. I slowly unfurled my wings, spreading them wide as I rose from my knee, staring down at them. 

“Who dares to summon me?” I asked, pitching my voice down slightly to truly sell the act. 

Their terrified screams as they frantically scrambled to run out of the building, back out the way they came, were music to my ears. They even made sure to keep each other close, so none would be left behind. Camaraderie at its finest. 

With a quick flap of my wings, I put out all of the candles to not risk the old house burning down. I picked up the jewelry and money, placing it in my pocket before putting my own back on, barely managing with how my laughter shook my body. Once everything was secure in my pockets, I prepared to leave, noticing that Glasses had dropped her glasses in her panic. I carefully folded them and placed them on the window sill they had initially planned to enter through, so she could find them easily later. With that settled, I took off back into the sky so that I could return home and write this little adventure down before I forgot. 

As I said, this may not have been my wisest decision, and I will be the first to admit as much. However, hopefully tonight will ensure at least those five will not mess with powers beyond their control or comprehension, and to not to trust strangers. It was also a rather entertaining opportunity to stretch my wings again, as I have been avoiding my demon form altogether for the past few weeks, save for when I have had to tend to my horns and wings to ensure they are still cared for. 

I will end my record here for the day, as I have classes tomorrow and want to ensure I am well rested so that I can ensure I give my all. 

Hopefully you can forgive my actions and how they may reflect on demonkind, considering my position as a representative of the Devildom, and hopefully you can find some amusement in my adventures to better understand humans and what drives them. 

Your loyal servant, 

Zissa

[mayarsh]

@fantasythetrashywriter SORRY I ACCIDENTALLY DELETE YOUR ASK. I'll answer it here, sorry, pal..

What is your nickname?

Maya, but feel free to give me your own nickname ;)

When is your birthday?

9 May

What was your longest relationship?

Errr, i never date anyone so, with my parents, ig

What is your favorite book?

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, Black Butler series by Yana Toboso, and all of Dazai Osamu's works.

What is something you're insecure about?

How fragile my body is. But overall, i'm pretty grateful at myself ^^

5 Female celebrity crushes

None, it's hard for me to get a crush at anyone i barely know

5 Male celebrity crushes

Well, i do had a crush on my best friend but, he's not a celebrity. Soo, none at all :)

What is your dream job?

ANIMATOR 🗣️🔥🔥🔥

What do you consider your biggest accomplishment?

Accidentally created the most toxic relationship that somehow complements each other between my ocs.

What is a fact about you that nobody would believe?

Nobody in my school would believe that i'm not the 'obedient and genius' kid. Like, what the hell???

I tried expressing them my true side, stopped acting and just being myself but everyone just goes, "You've change because you played with X. You're not the one i've known anymore". Golly... Looks like they prefer to see me keep pretending.

What were your highs and lows for this last month?

My mental health keeps getting better, yipeee! My ptsd didn't get triggered much often, yay =w= ♪

But, my friends will soon graduate. I know i should be happy for them, but i can't help but feel sad knowing they'll leave :"<

Where is somewhere you'd like to visit?

I'd love to visit Japan and see the blooming sakura with my own eyes. But for now, i really want to visit a library and a bookstore, which my small town didn't have TwT

How do you de-stress?

Listening music, watching my favourite vtuber's streams, and opening tumblr

What are your favorite apps besides tumblr?

Errr, maybe Youtube, Magia Record, or Pokemon Unite 😅

Describe yourself in one sentence.

No thought, my head filled with ocs

What do you think makes you attractive?

My skill at gaming, lmao

Or how much i cared about others, ig

What is something you're really good at?

I've answered it here

What is something you're really bad at?

Any physical activities and memorizing things

A time that you told a lie.

I despise lying, but being honest all the time will get you into much troubles. So if it's necessary, i only tell half-truth.

What's a totally random and useless fact that you know?

For the random fact, if you're a japanese student and someone puts a flower on your desk, that means they're wishing for your demise because putting flower on someone's desk is a way to honour that desk owner's death

And for the useless fact, with or without seatbelt, you'll die in a car crash

I just think that's interesting, thx goodness i'm not a japanese student or owning a car :)

Who knows you the best?

Few of my close friends. I feel safe near them and they accept me for who i am :"D

What is your most prized possession?

N & Zorua fastener accessory charm and a Zorua plushie i bought online!

(ps. I heard that the Zorua plushie came from an UFO catcher.. dunno what's that, but i bought the plush for 300k idr. I spend my lifesaving on that and never regret that decision, teehee >v<)

What is your longest friendship?

I befriended a boy since elementary and we're still best friend until this very second! Our friendship keeps getting better from time to time =w=

When did you first feel like an adult?

After finished my playthrough of Pokemon White and starts to see everything as shades of grays, metaphorically

Do you/ Have you played any sports?

Yeah. Though, i'm only good at chess

How are you feeling right now?

Kinda sick, but i'm fineee~♪/srs

Are you an early bird or a night owl?

Night owl for life!

Do you believe in love at first sight?

Maybe for some people that thing was true, but i find it hard to believe. Falling in love with someone you've just met?? Even without knowing them as a person???

How. Is. That. Possible!!???

Favorite song lyrics right now?

I've also answered it here

What does self care look like for you?

Doing things you love (even if it's your guilty pleasure)

Describe yourself with 3 singers.

Ado, Trickle, and Rachie

(ps. I want to add Kikuo, but then remember that he's not a singer, but a vocaloid producer. Oh my..)

What makes you nervous?

When standing on a stage and everyone satres at me and when thinking about my crush (the funny part is, when i'm near him, i didn't feel nervous at all, lol)

What’s a pet peeve you have?

Having trouble at understanding emotions and worrying too much about future.

What will always make you cry?

That one scene in Rebellion where Homura 'worships' Ultimate Madoka/Madokami. The way the Chiwa Saito delivers her line and the track Dream World being played in the background. It feels like experiencing it as Homura herself :"<

What kind of first impression do you think you make on people?

Uhh, dunno. Maybe the way i talk? Or how i look? I honestly don't know how to answer this one :"D

[egittae]

"Professor, why is this your choice of dress—" or rather, undress, "—if you are not meant to handle the sun of this intensity?"

Andrei had been eyeing the professor's post for some time, for no other reason than that it distracted him from the only other (much less pleasant) target in his line of sight. He'd seen the students approach one by one, some more hesitant than others, and saw how Professor Lambert received each one with open arms.

He knew that if he wanted, if he so much as asked, he would be treated the same.

(He really shouldn't.)

"I am not here for that, before you come to assumptions," Andrei clarified hastily, waving a hand at the board, "I don't— I don't need that."

But he had approached, nonetheless. Had kept his eye on the professor until a time that he'd found the other alone, and crossed the distance to speak to him. Perhaps it's mere weakness, again, but at least he would not allow himself to indulge in his own childish wants.

Still, when Andrei next spoke, his tone was uncharacteristically meek, almost shy. "I do not know whether healing magic would be helpful in treating sunburns, but I can make an attempt, if you wish it," he said, "I'd learned because— because..."

Because of the sister that had stood aside and allowed you to be killed by Yewfelle's arrow? Because he somehow still wanted to grasp onto any reminder of family, even as he destroyed every bond between them?

(Professor Lambert didn't need to know any of this. What use would it be to divulge yet another part of your ugly past?)

"Never mind. Here," Andrei said, and called forth the soft, white glow of a healing spell, holding it out towards the professor like an offering.

“I must be ready at all times to jump into the water and save someone. Do not get me wrong, I surely would be quite happy to wear a shirt, but swimming with one is not exactly optimal…and during an emergency it is not like I will have enough time to take it off. Worry not however, I have grown used to this state.” He reassured his student with a head shake and a small smile. Truth to be told, Lambert was surprised to see Andrei here of all people.

Sure, the young man did state he wasn’t here for what Lambert was advertising. But a tiny, tiny, very small part of Lambert wondered if it was just another of Andrei’s attempts to put up a front. By now the professor could read his students fairly well- some more than others that is. Andrei was tricky, but Lambert felt he was starting to understand his thought process.

Lambert shrugged, though with a knowing smile. “I am not assuming anything, I am simply sitting here. You are free to do or ask as you wish.”

It was impossible to not catch the difference in Andrei’s tone and the slight change in his demeanor. Having known the boy for quite a while now- the two literally inhabiting the same area and seeing each other on an essentially daily basis, Lambert had grown used to those brown eyes hidden behind a shadow cast by his bangs, his posture reserved and calculated, his voice leveled and at best sprinkled with irritation. 

His knowing smile became softer. Warm and compassionate instead. “You do not need to explain anything you do not feel ready to. There is strength in taking your time to gather yourself and your words, and knowing the moment you finally feel ready to tell someone.” Lambert explained carefully, accepting Andrei’s offer of a healing spell with a nod. “Take all the time in the world with it. Slow progress is not a weakness."

Lambert did however pat Andrei’s head- without ruffling his hair, that is.

[2xcursekissed]

it's an otherwise quiet moment when satoru decides to make conversation with yuuta. he's only just recently returned from the prison realm and his fight is coming soon, so naturally he's been preparing for it, and who better to train with than his students? more than just training himself, though, he's teaching them. they've missed out on quite a lot of school since that showdown in shibuya, after all. despite what others may think of him, he's confident, not arrogant, so when he approaches yuuta he speaks from the heart. it's something he reserves for yuuta only, and he hates to have to do this, but it's necessary. yuuta is the only one he can speak to like this. yuuta is perhaps the only one that gets it. he's grown quite fond of him, watching him grow from a scared boy wishing death upon himself to a powerful, menacing, and confident sorcerer—second only to himself.

he believes that it's possible for yuuta to surpass him one day. as a teacher, he hopes for it. aside from just a powerful ally, satoru knows yuuta as a precious student and dependable friend. he's seen the love the boy has for others, the desire to protect in him, just bursting at the seams and he's always known that yuuta gets it.

"yuuta, i probably won't say this to anyone else, and i know you don't want to hear this and it's unfair of me to say this, but... i might not win. it might be really ugly, and i know it'll suck to see your awesome sensei look, well, not cool, but you've gotta keep your chin held high," he claps a hand on the younger's shoulder, giving it a firm and encouraging squeeze.

"i mean, it's unlikely, but i just want you to be ready. i've believed in you from the moment i met you. you've got a good head on your shoulders, kid, and there isn't anyone else here i'd want to have holding down the fort for me. got it?"

Yuuta's bangs stick to the side of his face as the sun's rays beat down on him, one hand holding his sweat-drenched shirt away from his chest, the other supporting his upright position as he sits on the grass across from the track. His eyes are trained on his peers, sparring with one another reminiscent of the time he completed during his first year.

So much has changed since the first time he arrived, and he has definitely grown—and not just in height. Trust, he has had to replace his uniform on multiple occasions —the woes of being a growing teenage boy. The thought of battle once terrified him—encounters with curses and pain both unwelcome for the doe-eyed first-year Yuuta, now a daily occurrence and expectation for the second-year student—almost addictive.

He sits up out of instinct upon seeing his teacher appear from the corner of his eye, nodding his head in a subtle greeting. As of late, the students don't see much of Gojo-sensei. He's been off focusing on his own training leaving Yuuta and Hakari-senpai in charge of the others.

"Finally done slacking?" he jokes, his mouth forming a small grin as he greets his teacher in an attempt to lighten the tense mood. He's been trying his best since he returned to Japan. He knows why his teacher has been away. He knows Gojo-sensei is not lazing about. It has lingered at the back of Yuuta's mind nonstop—not just because his teacher's life was on the line, but because he was next to inherit Gojo-sensei's enemies should he lose.

There's an insignificant exchange of words between the two as Yuuta picks at the grass, once more relaxed as his gaze returns back to the match between one of the first-years and Maki. He smiles watching the two in their element. Maki has always held herself with grace in battle.

Yuuta's ears perk up at the start of Gojo-sensei's sudden confession, his mouth down turning almost immediately. He doesn't like that tone. There is a pause as Yuuta collects his thoughts, the words not entirely surprising yet still stinging. Hearing Satoru Gojo talk about death is foreign. The second-year shuts his eyes for a few seconds as he inhales slowly in an attempt to calm his nerves. He can feel his anxiety start to spike.

He finally has the strength to rip his eyes away from the scene in front of him once his teacher is done speaking. Be ready? That's the last thing Yuuta wants to hear.

"Has being holed up in the prison realm made you weak?" he says in a faux display of jest, yet the grimace on his face gives away his discomfort. "You're already acting uncool, sensei."

Still, Yuuta shakes his head in understanding. He knows exactly what his mentor is getting at, and no matter how much he doesn't want to acknowledge it, he has to.

"I can hold it down while you fight, but when you're done, you can have your fort back," he compromises.

[zumpietoo]

Part Deux...

No, dude, you WISH PP was "a part of that family".....kinda obvious....especially given how PP's own family (who she ignores) is legit rustbelt trash....

Mark was on a much bigger show than CB is on and clearly revels, daily, in how he got Cari together. He's also been friends with/known Cole since they were tweens.....PLUS....he isn't an actual Sprouse so WTF does it even have to do with PP "being part of that family"?

Oh and, lastly? Not only is PP, herself, ofc, a colossal attention whore, but her mom (speaking of thirsty) remains the woman who doled out info to her faithful tweens, including "speshul" pictures....

Dude....have you looked at your kween (and her man and her family) EVERRRRR????

This was a very lowkey, casual but classy event....

Once again, have you looked at your kween? Also....Cole and Dylan are both close to Ari's and Babs's large families....plus it's called integrating and creating a life together....

So deep, so klasseee.....and (sing along with me) have you looked at your kween recently? BTW....Ari looked lovely.

How are ANY of "these weddings" remotely "dirty looking"? This was casual and lowkeyish, but they're older, both previously divorced, etc....however, I thought it looked absolutely splendid! And let's not even get started on the weddings this part summer or Babs in couture, etc....

"Dirty looking" would be whatever the fuck Mommeee went to awhile back and shared pics of her arm flab for the world, prior to the bride posting....and while Fancee Nicola's wedding itself certainly wasn't, PP's conduct there most assuredly WAS....

Again, Cabana Boi isn't remotely hot or funny and I really question the "trust fund" (tho I do get you like to pretend, Silly/janASS)...and I don't think scabbing for less than scale on a cult/student/one and done project, while scrambling to make her next mortgage payment is "on top professionally", either....

Ummm....have you looked at your kween??? Also, with Cole iz fatty, ummm....A) no and B) have you looked at your kween?

Oh hai, Liareyes----I remember when you searched that out over 6 years ago. Next time, try updating yourself.....I think Matt sold the house over a year ago and bought a place with Lindsey. He also (clearly) has plenty of his own $$$.....my guess is that was some sort of tax shelter or trust fund....(you know, like you guys pretend CB has!)

Oh wow....how far off the map is this?

Yes, PP never "fit in" because she didn't want to bother herself/was still under mommeee's pull at that point. However, noooo.....other than Chrissy (sad girl mutuals), I don't think any of the Sprouses liked her one bit. Including Babs....

It's long been really obvious Dylan couldn't stand her and it seems like she and Matt, past a few meetings, only got along for Cole's sake. I'd even point out they all liked BREETCH better than they liked PP....and, albeit for entirely selfish, gold digging reasons, Breetch DID make an effort (for awhile, at least).

And by "fans" do they mean "close family friends"? Dude, you're so pressed and it's so fucking funny!

[shobringer]

Hello there!

It's about time I did a post like this. Hi, I'm Charlie, known to my close friends as Charles or Ferre, and I love writing.

I'm a polytechnic student, and am currently studying for my diploma in Story and Content Creation (for media). I am a huge theatre fan, mainly Les Miserables, and I kinda go batshit crazy over Star Wars at times.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alright, with all the introductions out of the way, I've been thinking about being more active on Tumblr so I'll be opening writing requests to anyone who may be interested. I mainly write Star Wars and Les Mis, you may check me out at archiveofourown.org/users/CharlesAndCo for the works I have published. (I implore you to ignore my Marvel fics...) But before everything, I do have several boundaries when it comes to writing for requests, so please, I hope you'll respect them if you're thinking of requesting for any fics.

I will absolutely not write /reader fics, even gender neutral readers or male readers.

The ships I specialise in are as follows: for Les Mis, Valvert, Enjoltaire, Courfius, Combeferre/Jehan; for Star Wars: Obikin, QuiObi, Anidala. I would not be opposed to exploring other ships, but I will put my foot down if it comes to any ship I am uncomfortable with, which does not happen often but if it does, consider this a warning.

If I have any ongoing WIPs when you request, especially oneshots that are meant to be gifts to my friends, I will not prioritise your request over the works for them. I love my friends to hell and back, the only way to get around this would be to become my friend, I guess.

NSFW is... well, it depends. I may or may not write NSFW depending on how I feel about it. To put it simply, I have had bad experience when it comes to sex, and so sometimes certain things do trigger me and bring back bad memories. So unless you really think that I would enjoy writing the NSFW request you send in, I'd appreciate it if you mainly stick to SFW works. Thanks :)

If I am uncomfortable, due to any reason, with the request you send in, I will probably very politely decline to write your request.

I write trans stuff as well. HMU if you want me to write a Trans!Javert fic for ya ;))))

I'm pretty versatile when it comes to writing. If you have any specific writing genres or styles you wish me to write, include it in your request and I'll see if I can meet your expectations. For example, if you want me to write an introspection for you, say it in your request, and I'll gladly write it for you!

What you could request:

Les Mis (Musical, 1972, 1978, sigh 2012)

Other musicals like Newsies,

Moulin Rouge (movie my beloved, wouldn't mind musical too)

Falsettos

Catch Me If You Can (musical)

Little Shop of Horrors

Jesus Christ Superstar

(Maybe...?) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Star Wars (mainly Prequels, may write OT though)

If any other musicals that you might want to request is not in this list, you could check with me if I know it/would write it. And yes, Hamilton, DEH, BMC ain't on here, I will not be writing them, thank you.

More might be added, as I discover and watch more shows.

That's about it from me for now. Idk if I'll get any requests from anyone that ain't my friends (not to say that my friends can't request anything, y'all would actually have priority), but I was bored and I need to start writing more. If you've made it to the end here, thanks for reading.

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For more information about tags:

[electrasev5nwrites]

Ninja Daily: AIC 25

"That one."

Inoichi gave him a sidelong glance that was far too expressive for 5 in the morning. "As you say, Hokage-sama."

Minato considered explaining. He was too tired.

'Kushina, I wish you were here for this. You're laughing at me, aren't you?'

There was no sign of her, of course, other than the ache in his soul where they should be touching. He pressed his lips together and waited for the genin he'd chosen to be brought in.

When he was led in, the boy had his shoulders back just a little too far and his hands were clearly aching to make fists. He was defensive. Not overly fearful.

'Is Naruto like this boy? Would he be wary of me, too?'

Minato smiled brightly. "Please, have a seat." While the genin was dithering, he made a point of glancing down at the clipboard he was holding. "Inai-san, right?"

His daughter's favored student sat down with slow, deliberate movements. He straightened his back. He didn't make eye contact. "Yondaime-Hokage-san."

'That's exactly the minimum amount of politeness required,' Minato thought. 'How familiar.' He didn't let the ghost of a smile reach his face. "How are you finding your stay in Konoha?"

Inai Yuusaku swallowed whatever smartass remark he'd been about to make. "Acceptable. How is yours?"

Well. Maybe he hadn't swallowed all of the sass.

'Disorienting. Highly concerning. I don't have the time or freedom to conduct the research I'd need to know what exactly has gone so wrong here.'

He felt his eyes crease in a smile. "It's beautiful, isn't it? I missed the plum blossoms last year."

The Kiri genin gave him a mildly disbelieving look. "So you did. Maybe some other things too, but mostly the plums."

Minato crossed his ankles underneath his chair. "I hear good things about Kirigakure lately. Is there anything you particularly like to do at this time of year?"

It was sort of cute, watching the kid strain to understand what Minato was hoping to glean from that question. In the end, he played it safe. "Not really."

"How did you end up training under the Mizukage?" Minato asked casually.

The boy gave him a sharp look. "I am lucky to have a skilled teacher."

He was neither confirming or denying that Aiko was the Mizukage. Even after she'd given her implicit permission for her team to talk about it.

"Of course," he agreed politely. "But you shouldn't be so modest. I hear good things about your performance in the second task of the chuunin exams, in particular."

If he hadn't already known the body language in that recorded fight belonged to Aiko, the stiff and defensive set to the genin's shoulders would have confirmed it.

"Thank you," Inai-san said. He made eye contact and then looked away as quickly.

"Uzumaki-san was in Kirigakure's Black Ops, wasn't she?" Minato tried.

The shrug the genin gave seemed genuine. "I am not privy to the career details of my seniors."

"Of course." He uncrossed his ankles and adjusted his feet to be the perfectly proper four inches apart. "But it's an open secret, isn't it? It is unusual for someone with such a low-profile career to be welcomed into the upper echelons of government. There's not many other confidential departments where a shinobi can become powerful enough to become a kage."

Inai probably didn't realize that he gave a minuscule nod of agreement. He believed that theory, then.

That was… Well. He hadn't expected that Aiko would have been honest about where she had come from. A classified career was the most comforting explanation that Kirigakure could come to.

"How long has she been your teacher?"

"Only since the weeks prior to the chuunin exams."

'Aiko specifically told them to be honest about that, then. He's hedging ambiguous answers where he isn't sure what she wants and spitting out what he's sure is safe.'

Minato nodded and gave a conversational hum. "Is she a good teacher?"

Inai gave an answer to that easily, in the affirmative. But of course he would.

"Thank you for your time," Minato decided. He stood up and resisted the urge to put his hands in his pockets.

The genin looked relieved. He actually gave a half-bow from his seated position.

Minato let his posture relax as he pulled open the door. "Goodbye." He nodded to the foreigner. "Before I go, I have one last question." Minato tossed it out as though it was an afterthought. He rubbed at the tendon behind his right ear. "If your teacher decides she wants me gone, how would she do it?"

He pretended not to notice how incredibly tense that was making the observing ANBU.

Inai Yuusaku seemed more than a little confused by the question. His eyes narrowed, looking for the trick. "I'm afraid I've never seen her in a difficult fight," the genin hedged. "I can't say what she would do."

Minato nodded. "Thank you. Have a good day." He let the door shut behind him and immediately set off to his temporary office, not the conference room behind one-way glass. Yamanaka-san would follow after the genin had been taken back to his cell. He only had to wait a couple of minutes before Inoichi slipped inside with a mild expression and let the door shut quietly.

"Yondaime-sama." Inoichi nodded. The way his long hair slipped over his shoulder was the same way Minato remembered, even if the wrinkles and scars were new.

He managed a thin smile. "What did you think?"

The Yamanaka took a moment to respond. "I do not think he gave any information that Uzumaki-san would have forbidden him to give," Inoichi said.

'He thinks I made a mistake in choosing that genin to interrogate.'

Minato nodded. "Yes." He folded his arms and leaned against the wall. "He did a good job."

Inoichi looked at him, perfectly steady. There was no judgment in his clear blue eyes.

Minato snorted and made a waving motion. "You think I'm an idiot."

The younger man shook his head solemnly. "Not at all, Yondaime-sama." Inoichi let one corner of his mouth slip up in a smile. "I'm waiting to hear what you wished to accomplish."

He eyed Inoichi, but indulged. "I didn't need any classified information that a genin would have been privy to." Minato scratched the back of his neck. "But he did inadvertently confirm that Uzumaki-san has revived the dead before and that he believes the process to be permanent. I'd say that the breakdown of what Uzumaki-san did and did not classify would also indicate that she has dug her heels into Kirigakure, but has not been transparent about her history. She isn't especially friendly, but she hasn't ruled out cooperation with Konohagakure."

He was hungry, again. That was so odd. It was a strange feeling to get used to again.

"I see," Inoichi said slowly." A frown line formed. "I had made the first connection myself- his answer about how Uzumaki-san would get rid of you was phrased ambiguously to protect knowledge of her fighting style, but clearly assumed that a fight would be necessary." He tilted his head. "I… can see hints that evidence your later conclusions."

Minato didn't answer the implicit question. He was going to have to, eventually. It hung like a rock in his stomach. He just… He needed some time to gather more information and come to a conclusion about what needed to be done.

"Thank you," he said. He heard that his voice came out wooden, but didn't muster up the energy to falsify emotion. "That will be all for now. I'll speak with the Sandaime soon, but you may as well go first."

Inoichi didn't bother to deny that he would be reporting to the Sandaime. "Very well, then."

He couldn't work up the emotional effort to be offended that the Sandaime was distrustful of him. It made sense. The situation was incredibly suspicious.

'It's really starting to look like an alternate timeline situation.' Minato slowly collapsed to a seated position on the floor and ran his hands up his hair. 'Aiko, what have you done? Do you even know?'

She was different from the 14 year old girl he had briefly known in Rouran. At least, in presentation. It was a fair assumption that a lot of the same neurosis and traits were present, just better hidden. Less raw. He could easily see where the same need for control was playing out in this genin team she had adopted, the same protective desires towards younger and more vulnerable children. The oddity was that she had ended up bonding to persons in Kirigakure.

'If I can get her to come to Konohagakure, that would be best. I don't know if she can be convinced to leave.'

It was completely mad that this situation existed and he didn't even get the luxury of feeling confused about it. There was a terrible certainty in his gut. He knew what had happened- what linked him and Aiko. It was so terribly vulnerable to extra variables, simply because it wasn't meant to be subverted at all.

Minato wasn't under any illusions about what he was. He was walking and breathing and his heart was beating, but his soul belonged to the death god. He'd been given physical form to bear witness, but he hadn't truly been revived as one of the living.

The only question, really, was why Aiko had come to this place. Had it been an accident, like what had happened in Rouran? This was absolutely another dimension- there were only two live hiraishin seals in existence. One was in Kakashi-kun's possession, and the other one was being kept alive by the natural chakra in Rouran. Aiko had made certain that he wouldn't do that, ergo, there was either no Aiko belonging to this universe or at the very least, she was not the same as the Aiko he had encountered.

It seemed likely that he had never had a daughter in this universe, and not simply because no one seemed to think Naruto had a twin. Why else would Aiko have found herself in this specific timeline? This proved that alternate realities exist, and that probably meant infinite realities. Unless it was pure chance drawing Aiko to this universe, then there was some other factor involved.

Minato pieced listlessly through the reports he'd already studied. He kept coming back to focus on one paragraph in particular- Aiko had rather baldly interrogated a genin about siblings.

He wanted to think that her lack of subtlety meant that she had been upset or surprised by what she had learned- that perhaps she had never considered that there would have been no Aiko in this universe. Or that she had strong reason to believe she had a counterpart?

'She should be conversant with this theory.' Minato leaned back and ruffled his hair up. 'She's capable of adapting and using hiraishin. Maybe it's not her focus area, but I doubt that. So why wouldn't Aiko have learned about multiverse theory?'

From that he could posit two possible solutions- option one was that her fuinjutsu education was bizarrely inconsistent and patchy. Given that she should have been reared by Jiraiya, he would have said that was impossible. Of course, now in this universe he had seen that Jiraiya had abandoned his responsibilities to Naruto. Grimly, Aiko's selective ignorance was not as far-fetched as he would like.

Option two was that she had been upset by Naruto's answer because she specifically had reason to believe she had a younger counterpart. That was interesting. If there really was another Aiko in this universe, where was she? Why hadn't anyone ever mentioned Naruto's twin to him, if only to explain why she was absent? Why would Aiko know when no one else seemed to?

'Or Aiko could have just panicked. People do foolish things and forget obvious information when they are panicked.'

That theory was less interesting. Minato bounced his right leg a few times. He frowned when he caught himself fidgeting.

This office was a third the size of the Hokage's office. It felt like he was working in a dark cave and the walls would come down at any mo-

Minato dismissed the thought. He took deep, calm breaths. He did not ruminate on the soul that he'd never encountered in all his years wandering and reconnecting. It made some sense that forgiveness was still coming. Avoiding someone who got you killed was reasonable. Perhaps after a decade one's resolve might fade, but- it was what it was.

The walls were a pale green, textured with dust that made them scratchy. It was rather tasteful. He looked at them for a while, pushing down the blackness. If there was a window, he would have opened it. Or maybe he would have jumped out of it and chosen not to use any chakra.

That, he reflected, was possibly why there was no window.

He wasn't going to kill himself. Probably. He had a bone-deep terror that he wouldn't be able to pass back to where he belonged. Would his soul be trapped in limbo? Would he intrude on this Minato and Kushina's afterlife? Would Kushina wait for him until the world shook apart and death was unmade?

The only person who might be able to give him a hint was in Kirigakure playing at Mizukage. He was grudgingly, confusingly proud of her for achieving that. Aiko was a very odd person, but she didn't lack for ambition, did she? She was definitely his kid. And she seemed more stable than she'd been as a teenager. That was a good sign.

Talking to her in private would be… not impossible, but difficult. And unwise, given that the Sandaime was trying to figure out if Minato was under her control, as well as what had possessed him to keep a child completely secret and send her off to Kirigakure.

He hadn't asked yet, but he probably would, once investigation turned up nothing. It would have been a very strange choice, so Minato couldn't blame the Sandaime for wondering.

Would it be better or worse to tell the Sandaime that he was misplaced in dimensions? Would Sandaime believe him? Would sharing that information cause harm to Aiko?

Minato cleared his throat. "Excuse me."

ANBU boar obediently entered the room.

"I want to interview the genin who wrote this report." Minato handed it over. "Have her brought to me, please."

The shinobi gave the report a cursory glance and then handed it back. "Of course, Hokage-sama." He bowed and left quickly.

Minato spared a moment to feel a bit sorry for how alarmed that girl was going to be when told that the undead Hokage wanted to talk to her about a mission months ago. In all likelihood, she wouldn't remember anything more detailed than what she had written in her report. But if there was a chance he could push her to remember more details, specific wording that Aiko had used or facial expressions- well. It could help him.

He occupied the late morning and afternoon with the materials the Sandaime had arranged in order to help him understand the current political and social climate.

Three sharp raps on the door made him look up. That was Boar's hand, but he wouldn't be knocking to enter.

"Come in," Minato called, more on reflex than as a decision. He frowned immediately. The list of people who was approved to come and see him was short. Who was- oh, already?

The door took a good long second to open, during which time Minato twirled his pen and leaned back in his chair.

"Please excuse me."

He had melted at that timid little voice before he had a name to go with that pink hair. "Haruno-san," Minato said gently. Just looking at her made him feel a bit squishy and parental. She was rather small. "Thank you for coming so quickly. I read your reports and had some questions for you. Please, have a seat."

She gave the chair a fearful look.

Um. Maybe she was too polite to sit in her Hokage's presence. "Or you can stand."

Sakura gave him a wobbly smile. After a moment's deliberation, she sat. She did not relax in the slightest.

Alright, then. He dug out the relevant report. "You mentioned that Uzumaki Aiko exhibited attachment to members of your team," Minato started, as though he wasn't very aware of why this would be true. "Did you at any time have the impression that she might be willing to come to Konoha for the chance to be near anyone?"

Sakura twisted her hands in her lap. She looked up and then down quickly. "It's possible, Hokage-sama. She was kind to Sasuke and I, but I think she was very protective of Naruto."

'Yes,' Minato thought dryly. 'She would be. She was worried about him when they were the same age. Now that he looks like a child to her, she would be more alarmed. My best guess is that she was checking to see if this Naruto had an Aiko to take care of him- she would have come back to Konoha at that point if she could have. But now that the shock has passed, she could have rationalized that he isn't in danger, or that she can protect him from afar.'

She was projecting those feelings onto her current genin team, most likely. But the bond there wasn't as strong. It couldn't possibly be.

The trouble was deciding what to do with that information. He wasn't willing to hurt those kids on the off chance that Aiko would come to Konoha without them to mother. Was separating them more or less likely to help? Should he keep them apart as long as possible and see if her attachment faded? Or would it demonstrate more goodwill to give them back to her?

Had he made a mistake by not removing the hiraishin seal Aiko had left on her genin? Had that been a message, or had she really forgotten that it would be no barrier for him?

He had to admit that he didn't really know his daughter well enough to guess. It left a bitter taste in his mouth.

'She might return if Naruto asked her to. She wouldn't do it for me.'

Minato sighed. "How do you think she felt about your sensei? Was she relaxed? Fearful? Interested?"

Consternation crossed the genin's face. "Ah. Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura furrowed her brow. "She wasn't deferential at all, even when she was pretending to be a civilian. She might have…" Sakura looked a bit ill. "She might have flirted with him a bit. She exhibited a pattern of being apparently dismissive and disinterested, but she was very aware of him." Sakura folded her hands more demurely in her lap. "And she took interest in ensuring his health, when I don't think it served her purposes."

Well. He could see why she would make certain her genin sensei was healthy, even without a direct benefit. But still, Minato wondered at that possibility.

'Aiko could well have a crush on Kakashi. Or it could just be her familiarity and trust with her Kakashi bleeding over and looking odd to anyone who doesn't know why she cares about him.'

"Did you notice any concrete signs of attraction?"

She looked as thought she would very much prefer to forget this conversation. "Um." Sakura grimaced. "She and Tsunami-san may have exchanged some meaningful looks and comments. But I didn't think it was serious."

He mercifully abandoned that line of questioning for now, suppressing any amusement. For the next ten minutes he picked Sakura's memory. She did surprisingly well at repeating what seemed to have been verbatim quotes, and could recall specific body language.

When he finished, he leaned back. "Thank you, Haruno-san. You've been very helpful." He tapped his pen against the paper where he'd been taking notes. "Do you have any questions or comments for me?"

Her eyes widened. "Hokage-sama," Sakura said, as thought she was newly realizing that was who she was talking to.

He resisted the urge to see if someone was standing behind him. "That is me," Minato said cautiously.

She gave a polite little bow, as though pre-emptively apologizing for the rudeness of daring to speak to him. Her hair swept forward to cover her face. "Yondaime-Hokage-sama." She stopped. "I do have a question."

"Yes?" he prompted, trying not to smile.

The girl put her hands behind her back and lifted her chin. "I want to know why no one has told Naruto that Aiko-san is his sister."

He dropped his pen.

"What."

The girl barreled on. "Naruto deserves to know. Does Aiko-san know for sure? I'm worried that will come around and cause political trouble down the line."

'Good god, Kakashi. You trained this girl? I didn't give you enough credit as a teacher.'

Minato folded his hands on his desk, a plain one with the cheap plastic cover. He took a moment. "You are very small and frightening," he told Sakura. "That's a good combination. Have you considered your career path?"

Her brow furrowed. Oh god, her big green eyes glinted when she looked at him so suspiciously. He wanted to give her an ice cream and teach her to make explosions.

He wouldn't have been surprised if Kakashi or Jiraiya had figured that out. But this little girl, who didn't have the extra hints of the connections between Minato and both of his kids…. How had she done it? Minato considered what she could possibly know and how that could point in the right direction. "Why do you think that?"

Haruno glanced down at her sandals. "Strong circumstantial evidence implied that she thinks she's Naruto's sister. She could be wrong, but she seems like she knows what's she's doing." She dug a toe into the carpet. "Superficially, there are also some similarities in appearance and personality. They've got the same smile, for one thing."

He'd never registered a particularly memorable smile from either of them. Minato tilted his head. "You know, I want a detailed explanation of the evidence and logic that lead to your conclusions." He raised an eyebrow. "Can you have that on my desk today?"

"Um. Yes?" Haruno seemed a little confused, but that was alright.

"Just come back whenever you're finished. I don't know if Kakashi-kun is a good teacher for you, but I hope he's proud of you," Minato told her. "You're going to have a great career. Thank you, you may leave. Please keep this meeting and all contents to yourself."

Flustered, Haruno bowed far deeper than was necessary. She was rapidly turning a shade that threatened to compete with her hair. "Ah, yes. Thank you Yondaime-sama. Goodbye, Yondaime-sama."

"Have a nice day," he said.

"Yes, Yondaime-sama." She closed the door.

Minato didn't bother to conceal a smile. He sat very quietly, leaning forward a little to listen for the sounds of the girl gathering her wits enough to leave. After two seconds, there was a quiet, "Damn." Then she left.

He huffed out a laugh. "What a sweet kid."

The morning dawned sullenly. Or maybe that was Aiko projecting on it. She struggled her way to the office and only remembered she was supposed to have fed Gaara as she was taking a report from Saito-san's hands. She accepted the papers with both hands and a guilty feeling.

'For two shining days in a row, I was a responsible adult,' she thought. 'I've hit my peak, it's all downhill into garbageville from here.'

"Saito-san, please have Sakurai-san report to me as soon as he comes in," Aiko said. She transferred the papers to only her left hand. "When is my first appointment?"

If it hadn't been for the wrinkles that said otherwise, Aiko would have been forced to conclude that Saito had never smiled a day in her life. "From 7:45 until 8:05, you have the three hospital administrators. At 8:10, you could see Sakurai-san until 8:40. After that, you have three consecutively scheduled appointments in half-hour blocks that would begin at 8:50 and last until 10:30am. At that point, your schedule opens up until after lunch."

Aiko eyed her. "The last appointment is with you, isn't it?"

Saito-san nodded sharply, but her halo of tight gray curls didn't bounce a millimeter.

"I'll look forward to it." Aiko ran fingers through her hair, pulling it all to rest over her right shoulder. "Who is the young man who brought my coffee yesterday?"

"Kouzui-kun. Was there a problem?" There was a hint of teeth in that question.

"No problem at all," Aiko said mildly. It seemed more politic not to express surprise at the slightly inauspicious name. But, really? Unless it was a really strange spelling, his name had to be Flood. What family living on an island would want to be named 'Flood'? "Please ask him to prepare refreshments for my first meeting, and to bring it in at 7:44 to signal the start of the meeting." She tapped her reports against her left hip. "Thank you, that will be all for now."

Saito bowed her way out of the office. Not two seconds later, she was barking out orders to someone who wasn't using both hands to transport boxes of mission scrolls. Aiko pressed her lips together tightly even though no one was around to see her smile.

In the brief window of time she had, Aiko managed to read through the missions report data from the last week. It painted a picture that was incrementally better than last week's, but formed a stronger pattern of improvement when she remembered what these had looked like when she had first started reading them. Her personnel had been engaged in 2409 missions during the course of the week, 2089 had been completed and 1988 of which had been completed successfully.

It was a far cry from the 100% efficiency mark of managing 3577 weekly missions, but it was better than she had seen in past.

The numbers were artificially inflated by the bloating of D-class missions, of course. On average, a team could complete 4 D-class missions per day, and ideally that would form about 15% of the overall mission intake. With 23% of the mission requests coming for low-paid D-class missions, the treasury wasn't repleting properly, and shinobi who really ought to be doing C and B class work were being pulled to missions below their skill level. If she-

"Mizukage-sama." She looked up at the voice that came before two polite knocks on the door frame.

"Yes?" Aiko kept her tone mild to conceal the sharp spike of irritation she felt.

Nishikawa-san pulled the door open and gestured behind him. "Sanno-sama, Eirei-sama, and Namamura-sama are here for your meeting."

"Of course." She stacked the papers together and slid them into a folder. Then she came around her desk to greet her guests. Eirei relaxed during the pleasantries of bowing and being seated, but Namamura and Sanno were unperturbed from the start. That was a little off-putting, since Eirei was the only one who she had met prior.

"Mizukage-sama." Sanno was the one to begin, once they were arranged in the trio of chairs in front of her desk. "Let me be the first to thank you for the honor of the invitation to talk."

Aiko folded her hands in her lap unconsciously and ducked a couple of seated bows. "Not at all, Sanno-san," she deferred. "I am pleased that you could find the time in your busy schedules." The door slid open quietly. She glanced behind her guests to see that Kouzui was carefully balancing a tray in both hands while Nishikawa silently shut the door behind him. She turned her attention back to her guests. "The aim of our meeting today is to go over the new direction for the city hospitals. I would like your concerns, as well for you to communicate the new direction to the head of the hospital."

The three-person board of directors must have already designated Sanno as spokeperson, because he didn't glance at his fellows. "I regret to inform you that the senior management is missing key personnel that will make enacting a change difficult. We are in the process of internal review to begin promotion, but it could take some time to complete hiring and other necessary changes." The big man leaned slightly out of the way as Kouzui placed a cup and saucer on the sidetable at his elbow.

"I'm aware." Aiko said evenly. "I consider filling the position of Head Doctor your most immediate concern. I would like to request that you waive the two-month probationary period in favor of immediately assigning one of the seniors to the role on a temporary basis. In my opinion, Kamimura-sensei would be suited to overseeing the changes I have in mind, as interim head or whatever designation seems appropriate to you."

Kouzui left as silently as he'd entered. Sanno glanced backwards before making a moment of eye contact with Eirei.

"What did you have in mind for the hospital this year?"

Aiko glanced down at her desk for an instant to be sure she was handing over the correct papers and not her missions efficiency reports. "It's a two year plan, with a review scheduled in 3 months. I want to construct a new, more modern building for the main hospital within the year, and the two satellite clinics to be completed after that. I'm concerned about insufficient corridor width in the burn ward-"

Eirei was nodding as he passed the last paper on to Namamura. "Yes, I see," he agreed. "That was renovated from an older section and it's really not up to code. But this project sounds prohibitively expensive, Mizukage-sama. Our current budget is not sufficient for 3 new buildings within two years, much less maintaining the current ones concurrently until the transition can be made."

"Which I why I want you to direct the financial review to come up with a projection of expenses." Aiko took a sip of her coffee- 3 creams, 4 sugars. Someone in the office was feeling kind this morning. Or trying to kill her gradually with too much sugar. Could the two be compatible? It might be Mei.

"That projection will need to account for additional hiring and training as well. I'm aiming to increase the staff by 2% this year, and 3% the following year." She gestured at the notes she'd handed them. "I want to make a career in the medical sector more appealing to draw in more candidates to reduce the workload and head off the burnout. That's going to involve more aggressive recruiting and some mandatory aptitude testing, as well as a slight salary and benefits increase. Once we've dealt with the current glut of D-level missions, I think suitable candidates could be drawn from our genin population as well as aiming further recruitment into the Academy."

"And the funds for all this?" Eirei was carefully neutral in tone, despite pressing the point.

Aiko favored him with a slight smile. "This is one of my highest priorities. If I find the budget requests reasonable, I will find a way to fund them. Additionally, the costs for the construction are not going to be on the hospital budget. I need your cooperation for drawing the blueprints to ensure the facilities will be adequate, but your other responsibilities for that project will be minimal."

The meeting went on along those carefully polite lines. It wasn't ideal that they were too cautious to offer many thoughts, but it was efficient. She'd take it and probably miss it later, when people got bold enough to argue with her.

Kouzui slid open the door at 8:04 to begin collecting dishes, and wow she could get used to staff that insightful. The silent prompting helped draw the meeting to an easy close and usher the trio of older men out on their way only two minutes past the designated ending time. It took one minute for Kouzui to remove two of the chairs to the storage area and refill her cup. She leaned back and rubbed at her head in the two minutes before Sakurai let himself in.

"Good morning, Mizukage-sama." He barely glanced at his inviting seat, with coffee steaming on the side table.

She gestured for him to sit. "Good morning, Sakurai-san. Did Gaara-kun report to you this morning?"

His mouth twitched. "He reported directly to Tazuna-san, Mizukage-sama. I have received his verbal report about his orders and aims for the day."

Aiko tilted her head, prompting for further thoughts.

Sakurai didn't take the bait, because he wasn't a sucker.

Fair enough. She could go to the source for information, later.

"I've decided on your role going forward, based on your experience with international trade in past." Aiko gave him a smile. "For now you'll still be handling the infrastructural projects, but we'll be moving new projects over to Utakata in future to free you up for setting up a financial department. Do you have thoughts about who you would like to work with?"

Sakurai blinked once, twice. He pressed his lips together tightly. "What would this position entail, precisely?"

"You'll be developing and implementing policy for ship-based trade," Aiko explained. "That would involve working closely with the Treasury, as well as several civilian industry leaders."

"I see." He didn't move for a moment. Sitting straight and perfectly still like that in the sunlight, Sakurai cut a rather heroic figure. Aiko had the frivolous thought that the off-white stone of the Hokage monument wouldn't do justice to the dramatic warmth of his complexion but she didn't know what material would be better.

"May I speak freely?"

Aiko frowned more on instinct than displeasure. "You may. What's on your mind?"

Sakurai, impossibly, sat even straighter. "I would like to respectfully decline this assignment, if I may. I believe that my skills are better used in the area where I am currently working."

What.

"The reconstruction won't be indefinite," Aiko pointed out. "Tazuna and his team will leave. It won't keep you busy."

"It's true that our immediate concerns will be addressed in short order," Sakurai agreed levelly. "However, much of our infrastructure and housing is old, built according to out-dated standards. Our city planning does not reflect the standards of one of the greatest nations. We need a long-term plan to rejuvenate Kirigakure and bring our institutions, cultural and functional, to the pinnacle of modernity and international dignity befitting our status."

She rested her arms on her desk. "You've been thinking about this," Aiko said slowly. "What would you term as our priority long-term and short-term concerns?"

Sakurai didn't fully conceal a spark of victory in his expression. "Our waterways are relics made of inferior and unsafe materials, our flood protections insufficient, and our electrical infrastructure woefully inadequate. Our natural resources are not being efficiently utilized, and frankly, much of the capital city is dingy and depressing. Parks and other sites requisitioned for training grounds and bleak government buildings have reduced the visual appeal and affected morale and quality of life. We do not offer secondary education and other resources that would improve the quality of life here, and so we lose talent to minor nations that can offer other opportunities."

Aiko licked her lips. She rested her chin on her palm, leaning into the conversation for the first time. "Utakata has some papers that you'll be needing. When can you have 2, 5, and 10 year plans on my desk?"

She only knew that the meeting time must have been up because Kouzui came in to take one of the guest chairs and accompanying table out from storage and whisked away Sakurai's untouched coffee. Aiko was sort of sorry to see Sakurai go, but she used her ten minutes of free time to scratch notes down and take out what she would need for her next consultation with the newly chosen Academy principal and the vice principal. After that meeting, Chojuro came in. He was adorable, and obviously passionate about outlining a system for recruiting more students to be mentored in swordsmanship.

But he was also obviously unprepared and off-kilter in the more general assignment he'd had to outline and staff parallel programs for other advanced skillsets.

"A very nice young man, but goddamn if he isn't a little bit narrow in his approach to problem-solving," Aiko muttered to the closed door after he left. Someone else was going to have to pick up that slack. "Not every problem needs a hammer, you soggy daikon. Dingus. Parakeet." She leaned back in her chair and hooked a foot over the support bar under her desk. "Poorly-wired waffle iron."

Sanbi finally woke up enough to register some vague confusion and disapproval, but no actual disagreement with her analysis. He did the bijuu equivalent of rolling over and going back to sleep, because some people were unemployed slobs and could do that.

She waived off the next coffee because she'd had four and it wasn't 11am yet. Kouzui actually frowned at her, but he returned with water. She gave a little more weight to the theory of slow-burn assassination by sugared coffee.

Aiko snuck off to her home for a hasty bathroom break before Saito knocked on the door for their meeting.

Saito wasn't pleasant on a personal level, but she exhibited a sort of ruthless competence that Aiko appreciated in her staff. She didn't trust that Saito would call a doctor if Aiko had a heart attack in her office from drinking way too much caffeine, but she felt a bone-deep certainty that all the missions paperwork would be filed, insightful notes on staffing trends would be made, and and no jounin would hand in a mission report with fudged details while Saito reigned. That was, generally speaking, more important. If a little unsettling.

Aiko shook off the jitters that came from a closed-door meeting with someone who likely wanted her dead. She felt like stretching her legs, so she ran out to check in on the harbor. The lack of news was encouraging, because someone would probably have come to find her if Gaara had killed Tazuna.

She arrived to find the work crew continuing whatever arcane science would complete the pump and lock system while Tazuna sat cross-legged on the ground and monologued while drawing something. Gaara was crouched on the other side of the paper and leaning ever so slightly in.

Cheered, Aiko chose not to disturb whatever momentum they had going. She'd asked Gaara to report to her later. Nosing in would steal his thunder and probably undermine the whole damn point of entrusting him with a little bit of autonomy. And nobody looked even a little bit dead, so it was clearly going just fine.

"An absence of murder qualifies a project as acceptable? I notice that this is a different metric than you applied to the Chojuro," Sanbi commented. "Is Gaara not being trained for a higher level of responsibility that would seem to require higher standards? Please explain."

'Chojuro is a name, not a title,' Aiko corrected. 'Also, shut up. The 'no murder so far' thing is a very preliminary observation. I'll have more details about Gaara's competency later, whereas Chojuro is a grown-ass man who had a month to come up with something to impress me.'

The leader of the three-man team that Mei had personally picked to watch over Yamato gave her a nod when she went to the last residential complex next. Yamato, dripping sweat already, took a couple of seconds to notice her.

"Hello." He glanced back to his work and used what she recognized as excessive dramatics in laying out the floorboards for the eastern section of the third floor.

Aiko folded her arms against the breeze and considered the even, smooth layout of the single piece of wood flooring that covered half of an apartment complex. She felt the left side of her mouth pull up. "That's impressive. Do you need to rest before you do the next part?"

Yamato tossed his hair and inadvertently flicked her with sweat. "Not at all," he said levelly.

She stepped behind him and focused on what he was doing, because she was a cheating piece of garbage and her Rinnegan were basically souped up sharingan.

He flinched at the reach of her chakra, but he had absolutely no way of knowing there was a chance she could gain from testing the way his chakra felt as he worked. So he laid out the next floorboards and built up the ceiling on the next level before he pleaded exhaustion to take his break.

"Thank you," Aiko said, because manners mattered even when one was secretly stealing another person's technique. "It's a pleasure to watch you work. I'll stop back in this afternoon to watch some more, if I have the time." She'd make the time, if it was at all possible. She might be giving him back to Konohagakure any day now.

His ears reddened.

Aiko nodded to his handlers and left. She felt a little bad about benefiting from his obvious years of hard work, but she didn't have time to be that diligent just for the sake of it. Her guilt didn't stop her from going to her private training grounds to replicate what she had observed about manifesting uniform, strong wood instead of a gnarled mess.

It went very well.

'Intellectual theft is very useful. I sort of get the Uchiha now.' Aiko guided a ring of stone up with her left hand and whacked it into the dirt with mokuton. It made a pretty inset. Contemplatively, she warped the wood and convinced it that it would like to be a decorative arch over the stone. It took a minute or two for the wood to agree with her and bend into a tall "U" shape, burrowing sturdy legs into the ground as a base.

Someone should put some flowers inside it or something. Actually yes, she'd do something like that when they got around to improving the city parks. She was going to have so many decorative bridges and pavilions. She could be just as classy as Konoha. She'd have so many unnecessary gardens. It was going to be great.

Every attempt to replicate what Yamato had done was vastly superior to her amateur fumblings in the dark. Aiko made a mental note of it: Stealing really paid off. She wasn't keeping track of time while she experimented with control and power, but it was at least 12 when someone came to find her.

After about 2 minutes of standing silently, Terumi cleared her throat. "Mizukage-sama," she allowed. Her tone was bland. "There's someone at the gate claiming to be your guest."

"That's… bold." Aiko blinked excess power through her body and concentrated it in her hands. She molded it into heat and pressure and pushed it out as a white-hot ball of fire that consumed her experimentation. Mei watched this with no particular expression at all, but Aiko was feeling slightly proud of her improvements with both the wood and the fire element, thank you very much. "I should go say hello, see if they need to be taken out to lunch or imprisoned or whatever."

Mei might have betrayed some irritation in the twitch of her eye, but her tone was implacable. "As you say."

"I remember that struggle," Aiko said absently. "You're too used to using the mask as a crutch for hiding your thoughts. Work on that." She let her hair out of the ponytail she'd used to keep it off her face while she trained and shook it out with her fingers. There were only a couple of splinters in it this time. Nice.

Mei's mouth neatly dropped open in outright outrage, but Mei didn't deny the criticism. She followed Aiko on the run to the gate and fell behind a polite couple of steps only when they reached the small cluster of wary shinobi at the city checkpoint.

"She is my beloved sister," Karin said, in the tone that meant she was daring someone to disagree with her. "We are very close. She would want you to give me tonkatsu. Probably ice cream, too."

"So you have said," one of Aiko's shinobi said. "Many times." The man was wearing the pin that identified him as from the outer patrol and a long-suffering expression that identified him as the poor bastard who had carted Karin to the main island.

Mei looked a bit ill when Aiko glanced back. Perhaps she hadn't heard that Karin was claiming to be related to Aiko. Or maybe she just hadn't believed it until she saw them at the same time.

She considered, for a moment, that Karin was almost certainly here to spy for Orochimaru. The chances were like, 98%.

"That sounds like a problem."

'Not really.' Aiko turned on her sunniest smile. 'She's not as slick as she thinks she is. She's 12. But her scheming is absolutely adorable, you'll love her.'

"Karin, I'm glad to see you." Aiko waved off the tense gate guard overseeing the potential disaster. "Stand down, everyone. There's no problem here. I've may or may not have some relatives that might show up from time to time."

"Yeah, yeah." Karin sniffed. "Can't the Mizukage's sister get some respect around here? A hot lunch?"

Aiko rolled her eyes. "I'll treat you to lunch and we'll talk. Terumi-san, thanks for bringing the situation to my attention. And-" She gestured a question.

"Kamimoto," said the man who'd escorted Karin. He probably needed hazard pay and a hot drink.

"Kanimoto-san," Aiko continued. "Thank you for your diligence and bringing her to my attention. Stop in to my office before you return to your post." She slung an arm around Karin's shoulders and began steering her away. "Afternoon."

They didn't talk after that. Karin was perfectly capable and appeared a lot more confident than she was, but even her iron will was apparently a little tested by the sudden awkwardness of reaching the kage to whom she'd claimed a relationship. Aiko steered them into a restaurant that seemed decent. She and Karin were ordering drinks when Utakata strode in and seated himself.

Aiko noticed something very interesting on the menu that required a lot of her attention.

There was a very long, very uncomfortable silence. The waiter shifted on their feet.

"Hello," Karin broke in. She kicked her heel against her chair. At least, that was probably what the little thump from under the table was. "Are you going to order something, or do you just subsist on hair cream and the smug satisfaction of being where you aren't wanted?"

"I'll have tea. Hot." Utakata didn't take the bait.

The server beat a hasty retreat.

"Aiko-san," Utakata said, in an incredibly pleasant tone. "I believe that we have had a very similar conversation before. May I request clarification? I had previously assumed that this issue was concluded."

"I didn't kidnap this one, either," Aiko defended. "She came here. And it's not even a lie. She's my relative, look at her." She gestured. Karin preened on reflex. "Those cheekbones are telling the truth, Utakata. The pretty, pretty truth."

"She's your sister," Utakata said with no inflection.

"Oh." Aiko shrugged, checking that no one was within hearing distance. "That's a lie."

"Then it wasn't the truth," he said patiently.

"It was basically the truth. It's close enough." Aiko tilted her chin up, combative. "What the fuck is this? Do you tell me what to do now?"

He leaned in. "You can depart upon whatever course of action suits your fancy, but it would be helpful were I to have accurate information so that I might support you."

She bristled.

"Mom, dad, I hate it when you argue." Karin rapped her knuckles on the table. She raised an insolent little eyebrow.

"That's ridiculous," Aiko rejected. She leaned back from Utakata's personal space. "I'm not old enough to be your mother."

"Unless you are," Utakata muttered.

"Maybe I am," she allowed the possibility. "I could be as old as fifty."

"Is she older or younger than your other ambiguous sibling or offspring?"

Aiko eyed Karin up. Side by said, she'd be able to pass Karin off as a year older than Gaara, but not the other way around. "Older," she said, and that was true. She was pretty sure. "Or they could be twins. Depends."

"You must choose one story."

"Why?"

"Because-"

"I'm really starting to feel left out." Karin sounded more bemused than anything. "Are you two actually married? Should I know you?"

"Yes," Aiko said, because she couldn't parent two teenagers alone. "That's your stepdad Utakata, a great big slug person who likes to blow bubbles. He's a very nice man and you'll be helping him imprison some nice Konoha nin. Darling, sweetheart, please tell my sister daughter person all about your current project and have her show you how she can help."

There was a lull around the table, but Karin and Utakata were probably reacting to different things.

"Goodbye. Enjoy lunch." Aiko stood up and waived the server over. By the speed with which they made it over, no one had quite managed to forget the just who she was. "These two are having a working lunch, I'm afraid that I have to back out of. Please send the bill to my office, I'll balance the account within an hour of receiving it. Excuse me."

She beat a hasty retreat.

When she made it back to the office, Gaara was waiting for her. She guiltily ushered him in, because it was a total fluke that she hadn't left him waiting through the lunch hour. If she hadn't fled Utakata and Karin, he'd be sitting here alone. How sad.

"Good afternoon, Gaara." She stopped herself from patting his head as she passed by. "What did you think of Tazuna?"

Gaara considered this. "Old," he said. "Knowledgeable. Lacks the self-preservation of a sand vole."

She blinked. She thought about that for a moment. "Fair enough. I guess that's all empirically true. I was hoping to hear about his plans for city development."

"Ah." Gaara nearly let his eyes close. "Today, I learned…."

Silence stretched out while he mulled over his words. Aiko used it to check hopefully if someone had brought lunch yet. Nope.

"Irrigation and drainage," he said.

Apparently he considered that enough.

"That they're important?" Aiko prompted. "Or you learned about the basics?"

"Yes."

"And?"

"I will drain water where there is too much. I will bring water where it is scarce."

"How?"

"Through drainage and irrigation."

She threw a pen at his head. The sand caught it and crushed it to pieces.

Gaara might have been smiling, but it was way deep on the inside. His actual expression remained impassive.

"You are a little shit," Aiko informed him. "I saw you having a perfectly civil interaction with Tazuna-san earlier. I am asking for macro-level analysis."

He made the saddest little motion with his shoulders. It was probably meant to have been a shrug. But it was so slow, small, and controlled that there was no possibility it was anything but a calculated imitation.

"I'm going to put you in the ocean," Aiko said calmly.

"I will practice drainage."

She blinked. "What, what?" She felt her brow furrow. "I don't think you can drain the ocean."

"Do you suggest irrigation instead?"

The worst part of his insolence is that his tone was perfectly level, and his expression was the same as ever. Aiko crossed her arms and sat on her desk, on top of her folders. She looked at Gaara long and hard.

He was waifish and adorable, really, with his oversized clothes, mop of hair, and sleepy eyes. He was also the child of a kage, brilliant and damaged and separated from everyone he had ever known in a situation where everyone treated him differently than before. He was deeply suspicious, waiting for the other foot to drop.

He was imitating her interactions with Utakata as a way to relate to her, because he had few models of positive interaction. Probably he felt that she would abandon him if he offended her, and he was desperate to change his entire being in order to find a new purpose. He both admired and feared her.

She felt… sad, suddenly.

"You are a lot like me," Aiko said, meaning absolutely nothing to do with the way he'd been needling a powerful figure. That wasn't really him, or at least not necessarily him.

Gaara gave her the same black stare, but there was somehow disbelief in it now.

"You're a good kid," she said. She averted her eyes, because that was edging dangerously close to forgiving herself for having once been young and vulnerable. "I'm really starting to wonder if lunch is ever coming. I did ask for that to be brought here, didn't I?"

"Yes." Gaara finally gave her a straight answer. "You did not give specifics. Therefore, my preference was asked."

"Oh." Aiko pursed her lips. "That's just fine. What are we having?"

"Rice, barley tea, tsukemono."

She waited a couple off seconds for him to continue, but he didn't. "…Is that all?"

He frowned at her.

'I should have eaten with Karin after all. I'd be having pork.'

"Alright, then." She brought her legs up onto her desk to sit more comfortably. "While I have you here, I wanted your thoughts on something. We need to contact Suna, to ensure that they won't count you a missing-nin once they realize you're here. I think being proactive is better. Who would have the clout to legitimize diplomatic action?"

The list was short, and the names he thought of were the same ones she knew. The two elders would be able to lend weight to anything, but were unlikely to get involved. There were some senior jounin who might be able to gain public trust and authority, but no one truly stood out.

"So… To be honest, your genin team might be the biggest concentration of influence," Aiko half-asked. It was what she'd wanted to hear. "Temari is not a genin in anything but name. The 16 year-old heir of the last Kazekage, an experienced jounin, and her 15 year old brother- it would be hard to countermand them, if they had some assurance of support or influence?"

"You want to lure Temari to Kirigakure."

Aiko frowned at her apprentice. "Lure is a strong word. I'm going to send an invitation from the newly inaugurated Mizukage to Suna no Temari, eldest child and presumptive heir of the 4th Kazekage. To be honest, it's a bit rude, but it would be hard for other interest groups to protest it. They won't want to outright offend me, but it would make it very difficult for anyone to limit her influence by claiming she's an unknown. She probably won't want to come, but it would be hard to turn down that golden opportunity to position herself as an authority."

Gaara did not seem impressed by this logic.

"I think that Suna and Kiri can benefit each other." Aiko crossed her legs. "We have too few personnel to handle our mission load and reconstruction, which means that higher level contracts are getting filled slowly and in fewer numbers. That will hurt our clientele and influence them to take their business elsewhere. Suna, on the other hand, has been hurting for lack of missions to support the populace."

Gaara startled, green eyes firmly fixed on her.

"It's obvious," Aiko dismissed. "Do you agree with my suggestion?"

He narrowed his eyes at her. "How many?"

She bit her lip for a moment. "Twenty, for now. Including you."

Someone knocked on the door. They both ignored it.

"How long?"

"Six months, to be re-evaluated later."

He shook his head. "Far too long. Shifts of two month, in three waves." He frowned. "Staggered, so that more experienced shinobi can help the newer ones acclimate."

"Are you supervising them?"

Gaara actually grimaced, which was hilarious.

"Point taken." She leaned over to pat his head. He accommodatingly moved his head forward just enough that she didn't overbalance and fall off the desk. "I'll draft the letter requesting that your sister visit."

Saito-san pushed the door open and gestured a genin in with two trays of food. She didn't even pretend that she hadn't been listening in. "I could have a messenger sent to the business district, Mizukage-sama." She sounded incredibly, depressingly resigned.

Gaara's eyes widened.

"Other sister," Aiko said hastily. "Karin."

"How many are there?" Saito-san asked, but she didn't seem to be talking to Aiko.

"Karin?" Gaara said quietly. His brow furrowed.

She considered fleeing this interaction, too, but actually she was pretty hungry. So she slid off of her desk and cleared off a space for her tray and Gaara's. The genin set them down and began backing away. "Itadakimasu." She picked up her blue chopsticks, noted the slightest scent, and sighed. She set them down. Gaara had never made a move for his own food. "Saito-san." Aiko made eye contact. "Are you trying to poison me?"

The older woman was very still. "I am not, Mizukage-sama."

That was the kind of statement that compelled her bodyguards to come out, even before Aiko had to beckon.

"I wondered how long this would take," the Sanbi said cheerfully. "I was surprised no one had tried to kill you all this time. Admittedly, you were out of the village often."

Aiko kept her stare as cold as possible. "Please take yourself and your assistant out. Provide these professionals with a list of the people who provided the food and utensils. I hope to see you tomorrow morning."

Saito was so pale as to look ill. "Mizukage-sama, my loyalty to Kirigakure is absolute. I have nothing to do with this."

"I hope so." She waved the requisitioned Hunter-nin out. "I think that Gaara and I will find another lunch." Aiko watched her office head escorted out of the building in custody, head held high.

"Fuck," she said. "Who is going to finish that report before my meeting tomorrow?"

"Aiko-sama?" Gaara's arms were crossed again, body language closed off.

It probably wasn't a good time to try touching him. She took a moment to really fucking hate whoever was trying to kill her this time. Gaara had been relaxing, before. Fuck.

"Goddamnit," she said, apropos of nothing. Aiko sighed. "At least I know you can sense poisons. I smelled it, did you-?"

He shook his head. "There's grains of something plant-based in the tsukemono."

"It's sweet," she agreed. "Too sweet for daikon. Goddamit." Aiko gritted her jaw. "Let's… go out for lunch. You should meet Karin."

"Who is my sister?" Gaara said, dry as the desert he came from.

"Probably." Aiko locked her office door from the inside with a sharp, irritated movement. "I might change my mind on that, so don't quote-"

The ichibi rose.

She darted to the side before turning, but the sand wasn't aiming for her. Gaara was stretching his palm towards Obito. He was sitting on her chair.

Her shoulders dropped. "Rude. That's just rude."

He didn't smile at her. "Good afternoon, Aiko. You should go rescue your brother before he dies."

"Brother?" Gaara asked, but she couldn't tear her eyes away from Obito.

"Explain that."

"I believe that Itachi went to check in on his younger brother under the pretense of pursuing a target and gathering information on a target that has disappeared," Obito said, not sounding especially interested in any of this. "He met with several Konoha shinobi, and has taken a hostage. A summon conveyed this information less than an hour ago, as well as the fact that they have left Konohagakure but not Fire Country."

"Where is he going?"

Obito snorted. The answer was obvious.

"There directly?" Aiko demanded.

"I believe so," Obito said. "Akatsuki would be most prudent to go in order, but Pein has been angered by the disappearance of a target whose location was thought to be fixed." His one-eyed gaze rested on Gaara. "Taking the kyuubi at this juncture can be explained as opportunism, by a man with a grudge against Konoha. It won't send the other jinchuuriki to ground." He huffed. "Last I heard, they were planning to pass the 3rd border patrol between Shi and Sho stations. They're probably through already, but you could pick up the track there."

She grabbed his arm, thinking of probable routes that Kisame and Itachi would take out of Konoha. "I'll need you. I can't fight them both."

Obito pulled his arm away gently. "I have a cover to maintain." He gave her a one-eyed squint. "I'm hoping you'll help me deplete Akatsuki's ranks, but I can't be associated with your efforts if one of them escapes. Happy hunting, Aiko."

She nodded, reluctant. "Thank you." Aiko swallowed. "I appreciate the information.

He gave her a thin smile and then melted away into Kamui.

"Aiko-sama?"

"I need to go." Aiko gritted her teeth and tried to remember the most likely location to cut Itachi and Kisame off. If they'd left Konoha with Naruto hostage, they'd be traveling fast, directly to Ame. Once they made it past the final rings of tight security, they'd travel fast until they hit the border.

She needed backup.

Gaara was too young, and a jinchuuriki besides. She wouldn't bring another target to Akatsuki, which ruled out Utakata except in direst need. Mei was probably trying to kill Aiko. Ao was her man, she didn't trust Chojuro would do any damn good against a more experienced swordsman, and-

"Right," Aiko said, slightly regretting what she was about to do before she did it. But the list of people who were powerful and trustworthy for this was rather short. Okay, so she'd go get him, rescue Naruto, and then- right. She'd almost forgotten. Aiko pointed at her apprentice. "Gaara, my wallet is in the top left drawer, go get lunch."

He scowled.

"I love you, be good," she said quickly, and then she was gone.

It was hard not to flinch when a hostile suddenly appeared behind you. Yamato kept down the grimace and turned to face his visitor. "Mizukage-sama," he said mildly. "You look well." The sweat running down his back itched.

Uzumaki-san glanced around the area, checking 1-2-3 on the guards. "Yamato-san." She gave him a thin smile. Something about it sent a warning to his hindbrain. "I'd like to make a deal with you. I need to deal with a – threat to my personal interest," she said. Her pulse was jumping. "Two powerful figures have taken the kyuubi jinchuuriki, as part of their campaign to acquire all of the bijuu."

He felt the blood drain out of his face.

'If she's telling the truth, this is bad.'

"Neither of us want that," Uzumaki-san said. She wasn't wrong. "Come with me. You can escort Naruto back to Konoha."

"Who are we talking about?" Yamato pushed his hair back, missing his happa. "I'll need my equipment."

'This feels like a trick, but I can't see what benefit she could get from it. Why would she choose me? To legitimize her presence in an operation in Fire Country? Because she can't trust her people to keep a Konoha jinchuuriki safe? That could be it. But it would imply she doesn't have good control over her people. Interesting, if true."

Uzumaki nodded sharply to the closest guard. "Get all of his equipment," she ordered sharply. "Bring it here. And you, pass over your soldier pills- medkit? Yes. You, come with us."

The Hunter-nin scattered to do her bidding, which did make this seem convincing.

She finally turned her purple gaze back to him. "Akatsuki's Uchiha Itachi and Hoshigaki Kisame are the enemy," Uzumaki-san said. "Leave Uchiha to me. I suspect that Hoshigaki will be carrying Naruto. You two will retrieve him safely and occupy Hoshigaki until I can help you." She paused and addressed the nin whose equipment she was requisitioning. "You take a message to Utakata once we've left here informing him of where we've gone. I'll be taking your other teammate as well."

"Two Hunter-nin and I against Hoshigaki?" Yamato asked. Hoshigaki, Hoshigaki. "He was a hunter-nin too, wasn't he? He'd know the tactics well."

"Yes," Uzumaki said shortly. "That's why you'll be taking point while my people run interference and backup." She gave the remaining hunter-nin a look over Yamato's shoulder. "Is that acceptable?"

He wasn't certain she was talking to him, but he nodded just the same. "I want my teammate as well," Yamato tried. "I'll work well with him."

"He'll just get killed," Uzumaki-san said shortly. "He's weak against water jutsu."

'How does she know that?'

She appeared to dismiss him- ah, the hunter-nin had returned. Yamato got changed as quickly as possible, shucking the sweat towel around his neck in favor of his flak jacket and hastily fastening weaponry and equipment pouches. He pulled his uniform pants on directly over the pants he'd been given, because he wasn't flashing his underpants to the Mizukage. She waited with what he was now recognizing was tightly leashed violence, not calm.

'She seems to think she'll be able to take on Uchiha. I don't like making a plan based on that assumption. If she's wrong, things will turn ugly quickly.'

But she was taking him back to Fire Country. He'd get no better offer than that. As a Konoha nin, he couldn't pass up a chance to escape custody and aid in retrieval of a Konoha shinobi.

"I'm ready," Yamato lied, feeling his stomach clench. The Mizukage held out her left arm to her hunter-nin. After a pause, they both took hold of her forearm. The two gloved hands dwarfed the Mizukage's arm, making her look disturbingly fragile. Yamato copied the gesture when she reached out with her right.

And then they were in a forest.

[regulusarcturusblvck]

Chapter One

REGULUS’ POV

Another argument between James Potter and Severus Snape, of course, led us all to the bathroom. I'd only followed to monitor my brother, Sirius, who now stands in the middle of all of us. I stay on the sidelines. Barty Crouch Jr blocks the door, but he doesn't do a good job. Unfortunately, none of us realized how terrible of a job he was doing until a girl catches our attention, barging her way into our affairs.

"Where is he?!" We hear the girl yell, causing Barty to spin around.

"Never you mind-" Barty tries, but fails.

She shoves her way past him and marches in, I normally wouldn't think twice, except that she's now in the boys room. I know exactly who she is, Nyx Crowley, the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen. She's the princess of Slytherin, and cunning enough to destroy the entire world. Ive heard horrid stories of her family, and all rumors lead to a dreadful accusation that she may be more vile than the dark lord himself. A monster, the public calls her, along with every other Crowley. Her elder brother attended Hogwarts, but he never graduated, joining the dark arts instead...just like their father. I would ask her personally, but I've never spoke to her, though we've both been in House Slytherin since first year, ironically we arrived the same year. She keeps an odd assortment of friends, refusing to be linked to too many purebloods, I assume to rebel against her own bloodline. She is however known to mock anyone that isn't a pureblood, contradicting herself. She usually remains quiet and reserved, though now is a different story.

"Hey, you can't be in here" Barty argues with her.

"Shut up!" She spits, marching her way to us. She shoves James backwards and pushes Severus behind her, staring up at James. "Are you all right, Severus?" She questions, not being bothered to look at him.

"Listen here, little girl-" James began.

"No you listen, Pottah!" She spits, emphasizing the P. "The best thing you can do is grab your books and return to class"

"You really need a little girl defending you?" He smirks at Severus.

"Don't speak to him" she demands, earning James's attention. "This is now between you and me. Severus, go to class"

"I can't just leave you in here alone with them" he worries. "You're outnumbered"

"Oh, it's them you should worry about. Go on"

"My wand, he has my wand"

"I'll retrieve that"

"As you wish" he sighs, reluctantly leaving. He gave Sirius a look, and Sirius gave him a subtle nod, I assume to let him know she'll be all right. The moment he left, she swings at James, but Barty grips her arms and holds her back. I feel my body tense in concern for her.

"Listen to me-" James begins.

"Did I say you could speak?" She scoffs at him, tugging at her arms. "Now I understand it's hard for you to see someone actually capable of using talent for achieving all that was handed to you, and you're scared because he's better than you, but how dare you stoop so low as to pick on someone"

"Me stoop low? That's rich, coming from a Crowley. Did you think we'd forget what your traitor brother did?"

"He's still better than you"

"He burned half this school"

"At least he didn't torture innocent students daily"

"Stop meddling in our business"

"The next time you go after him, I'll bloody your nose. Understand?"

"Why don't you do it now then? Unless your scared"

"A Crowley scared of some filthy little Potter?! Don't be so stupid"

"You can't fight a girl" Sirius says. "Leave it be"

"No, she's so brave, let her do something"

"You don't want me to do something" she stares at him.

"Let her go, let's all move on before something happens that we can't repair" Sirius tries. Barty agrees, letting go of her arms.

"Wait until Lily hears about this" she spits.

She starts to walk away when James grips her wrist, jerking her back to him. I step closer, refusing to let him fight her. She shoves him back, but he grips her collar and pulls her closer. I grip his wrist, placing a hand on her back in case he shoves her.

"Let her go" I stare.

"Regulus-" he began.

"I said to remove your hand from her" I demand.

He stares at me for a moment before letting her go. I let go of him and wrap my arm around her to walk her out. The moment we reached the corridor, she rips herself from my touch.

"The next time your hands find their way to me, will be the very last time that you have hands. Is that clear?" She snarls at me.

"Very" I sigh, clearly she isn't one for contact.

"Good" she nods.

"I'm Reg-"

"Regulus Black, we all know all about you and your filthy family history. I'd delve into the insults I could spew solely off your family legacy, but it's too much for me to tell in a single day"

"And you are Nyx Crowley. Your beautiful family history of thievery, sly tricks and dark magic is far worse than the tales of my house"

"Messe" she nods.

"So, James can't bully people but you can?"

"You're whole little crew deserves it. Severus doesn't...well, at least not from him"

"How is that fair?"

"Because at least I mock them for being mudbloods, not because of some little crush. It's pathetic and a total embarrassment"

"Do you know the entire story?"

"I'm walking away now"

"I take that as a no?"

"Do you know the entire story, Black? I didn't think so"

"Well it's been lovely" I sighed sarcastically.

"Don't lie to me" she teases, walking away from me.

"There you are" Sirius says, walking out and placing a hand on my shoulder. "You okay?"

"Grand" I nod, looking at him.

"Did she say something to you?"

"Nothing bad"

"Watch her, you remember what her brother did"

"Doesn't mean she will"

"Don't defend her, you don't know her"

"Don't judge her, you don't know her"

"Regulus-"

"I've got to get to potions class, I'll see you later" I say, walking away.

I'm extremely late for class, and I can only pray it would be an easy class today.

Only potions class wouldn't be any easier than dealing with that whole fiasco.

[stargazer-sims]

15 OC Questions!

I was also tagged by @dandylion240 for this ask... thank you! These things are so fun. I've decided that I'm going to do a few for characters that don't typically get as much attention. So, without further ado...

Nikolai Pavlenko

Are you named after anyone?

Yes, I’m named after my paternal grandfather, Nikolai Mikhailovich Pavlenko. At some point in our family’s history, apparently some genius thought it’d be amusing to make it a tradition to name firstborn boys after our grandfathers. This resulted in us having alternating generations of oldest sons called either Nikolai or Mikhail (with corresponding patronymics, Mikhailovich or Nikolaevich). My sister and I are fraternal twins, and she's the elder twin, but lucky me... I'm still the oldest boy, so Nikolai it was. Not much for mixing things up, this family.

My grandfather immigrated to Canada with my parents, and he's always lived with them. Since Grandpa and I are both Nikolai, to avoid confusion at home, I'm always called Kolya by my family.

When was the last time you cried?

A couple of weeks ago, when I said goodbye to my love, Anya, at the airport. I tried to pretend I wasn't crying, but I think she figured it out.

Do you have kids?

No, thank the Watcher. I actually love kids, and I enjoy working with all my young students, but I don't think I'd be a particularly good parent. Besides, who would I have them with, anyway? I'm reasonably certain Anya’s not prepared to have children. She's not even prepared to settle down, so it's a safe bet that we're not about to be parents any time soon.

Do you use sarcasm?

Who, me? I wouldn't say I use sarcasm regularly, but I've been known to unleash a biting remark from time to time.

What’s the first thing you notice about people?

The first physical characteristic I notice about people is usually their hair. I'm self-conscious about my own, so I think I automatically compare it to everyone else's. In terms of behaviour, the first thing I tend to notice is the way they interact with others. I consider myself a good judge of character, and I prefer to be around people who are courteous and kind to those around them.

What’s your eye colour?

grey

Scary movies or happy endings?

Happy endings. I will watch scary movies, mostly with Anya because she loves them, but I'd personally prefer to watch something with a lighter theme.

Any special talents?

I can juggle. I can even do it on skates. My students love it.

Where were you born?

Evergreen Harbor. My family moved to Brindleton Bay when I was a teenager, though, and even though I wasn't born there I consider the Bay to be my hometown.

What are your hobbies?

I like to draw, and I enjoy video games. I suppose cooking could be considered a hobby as well, couldn't it? I like to think of myself as a foodie, and I'm always happy to try new recipes. Writing started out as a hobby for me, but now it's become my secondary job since I started actually earning money from my coaching blog.

Have you any pets?

Not at the moment. I had two cats, Biellmann and Butterfly, but I had to leave them with my sister Natascha just before I moved to Japan.

What sports do you play/have played?

I've done lots of different sports, but my main one is skating. I was a competitive figure skater until I had a career-ending injury. Then, I transitioned to coaching, but I still love to skate. Other than skating, I really enjoy weight training and swimming. I'm not sure if yoga and dancing are exactly sports, but I like those as well.

How tall are you?

Not very, unfortunately. I'm probably not what most people consider short, but I always wished I would've grown a little bit taller than 173cm

Favourite subject in school?

Language studies. I speak three languages fluently; Russian, English and French. I also speak enough German for basic communication, and currently I'm learning Japanese since moving to Mt. Komorebi. I also liked Physical Education when I was in school, and I enjoyed history.

Dream job?

I have my dream job right now. I'm a figure skating coach, and I've had students competing (and winning) at both national and international levels. I also teach group and individual skating lessons for younger kids. I absolutely love teaching and coaching, and I really can't see myself wanting to do anything else more than this.

_____

This time, I'll tag: @wannabecatwriter @simssong @babblingstacey @rebelangelsims

As always, if you've already done it, or don't want to, feel free to ignore