#christmas eli shrine

[kittyamore0]

𝓜𝔂 𝓭𝓮𝓪𝓻 𝓫𝓪𝓫𝔂𝓼𝓲𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓻 ᥫ᭡

Summary: Elias Del, the sweet 15 year old boy, who you used to babysit at the age of 18, has grown up! And it seems like he doesn't want you to continue missing that...experience.

Pairing: Yandere! Male OC x GN! Babysitter! Reader

Fandom: Yanderes, horror, yandere! Male, male! OC, dark romance, yancore

Genre: horror, dark romance, head cannons

POV: second person

Rating: SFW with NSFW mentions

CW: 3 years age gap, manipulation, obsessive behavior, possessive behavior, male masturbation, innocent acts/victimizing the guilty, murder, animal murder, breaking of neck, very, very, very lovesick male! Yan, taking your pictures without consent, notebook of you/love notebook, room shrine, stalking, stealing personal value a.k.a clothes, cups, underwear, toothbrush, etc...

Age gap: 21 24, 3 years

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ELIAS DEL Your sweet 15 year old boy, who've you been babysitting since he was 13 and you were 16! Now, at the age of 18, it is your time to resign and start a new life at your dream uni!

ELIAS DEL Your sweet 15 year old boy, who you knew always had a crush on you since he was 13! 6/12/2016 or June 12th, 2016; When you were at the age of 17 and Elias was 14. You were looking for the remote to his High school project, until you found a pink notebook covered in hearts, letting your curiosity get to you, you opened the note book

and what you found was a few good pictures of you that you had posted in your social media, your name with a heart trapping in it with the words 'i love you', 'mine', 'they're so cute', and a whole paragraph about how much he loves, what he loves about and more!

You giggled at the thought of the sweet boy having a crush on you, a simple, small crush. He'll get over it though! Or so you thought. You placed the notebook down, and spotted the remote near his lamp. You quickly grabbed it and ran out of his room.

ELIAS DEL Your sweet 15 year old boy, currently 14 by the time of '6/12/2016 or June 12th, 2016,' who noticed how giddy you were after returning from his room, as he eyed you suspiciously. When you had gone to the bathroom, he ran up to his room, only to find his love notebook moved in a different spot than it originally was.

ELIAS DEL Your sweet 15 year old boy, currently 14 by the time of '6/12/2016 or June 12th, 2016,' whose cheeks go absolutely red at the fact you saw his love notebook. What did you think of him now? A freak? Weirdo? Creep? Stalker? Or the better alternative, which was a lovesick, sweet boy who just had a teeny, tiny (even though it's bigger than teeny, tiny) crush on his babysitter! Oh, he hoped it was the alternative.

ELIAS DEL Your sweet 15 year old boy, who asks for goodnight kisses and pouts whenever you reject the thought. "Can i have a goodnight kiss?" You sighed. "Eli, you're too old for a goodnight kiss," he groaned and rolled his eyes. "So what? That doesn't stop Brahms Heelshire from asking for one!" You shook your head and chuckled at his childish manners. "Okay, then..." You leaned in forward and placed a tender kiss on his temples. His heart pounds with excitement, his eyes dilated, replaced with seemingly heart pupils and his breath ragged. "Goodnight, Eli..."

ELIAS DEL Your sweet 15 year old boy, who begs his parents to invite you to some of their holidays, and gets all excited when you do come. "[Name], [Name!], lets make cookies together!", "Oh, you got me a gift...? Tha thank you! I got you a gift too!", "horror or Christmas movie?"

ELIAS DEL Your sweet 15 year old boy, who gets so offensive and jealous when one of his friends plans to hit on you, or talk about you like they plan to be more than just the kids you babysits friend. "Dude, is that your babysitter?" Elias raised an eyebrow at his friend. "Yea, and?" His friends eyes widened at Elias. "They're hot! What do you mean by 'yea, and?'" Elias held back a scowl forming in his throat. "Don't even try, Trevor. You're bitchless. You can't pull, so what makes you think you can pull MY hot ass babysitter?"

ELIAS DEL Your sweet 15 year old boy, who's an absolute sweetheart and listens to you a lot, but when a back up nanny comes in because you can't watch him. Dear lord. He has such a bad attitude. He either wont listen to the nanny or he'll do the opposite of what they said. He'll stay in the room all day, and he''l sometimes purposely get them fired if he really doesn't like them. "[Name!], why'd you leave me with that monster? They were horrible! They were mean to me and Stella! You're so much better, so much nicer...don't leave us again..."

ELIAS DEL Your sweet 15 year old boy, who has a sweet, golden retriever who he named 'Stella,' he had easily gotten jealous of Stella. You were always praising her, giving her kisses, cuddling with her, petting her, napping with her on the couch. He had it. He was going to go insane! This damn dog didn't deserve your attention! HE did! Why can't you see that? He wanted some relief, he needed relief

So, the only solution he thought of was...if he had gotten rid of her. "Stella, come out here girl!" He was home alone with Stella, waiting in the backyard for her to run out that typical doggy door. He cocked his head to the side, and let a sweet, sickly smile take over his lips. He hugged Stella with a tight hold, letting his arms quickly run up to her neck. She whined and whimpered, scratching at his skin. He let out a maniac-like laugh when he felt her head jolt to the side, in an impossible position, and her neck let out a...snap!

ELIAS DEL Your sweet 15 year old boy, who came crying to you, stuffing his face into your chest. "My par parents found Ste Stellas body! An and she was all man mangled up up!"

ELIAS DEL Your sweet 15 year old boy, whose eyes were all puffed up and red, so was yours. Your arms draped over his body. His face still in your chest from earlier as he refused to move from that position, claiming it was 'comforting,' but what was hiding on the face was the same sweet, sicking smile he wore during Stellas passing.

ELIAS DEL Your sweet 15 year old boy, who watches as you undress yourself, getting ready to hop in the shower that was in your attached bathroom. His breath all uneven and the length in those tight jeans grows warm and suffocating.

ELIAS DEL Your sweet 15 year old boy, who goes ahead and sneaks into your room while your showering, and take some of his favorite pair of underwear (or bra) shirts and pants that belong to you

ELIAS DEL Your sweet 15 year old boy, who uses your lovely-smelling clothes for pleasure, stuffing his face into the soft fabric while he lets out filthy noises and his hand fastens its pace.

ELIAS DEL Your sweet 15 year old boy, who claims 'he has no idea how your clothes keep disappearing!' "Im 15! why would i take them? I respect your privacy and items!" Liar.

ELIAS DEL Your sweet 15 year old boy, who was crushed when he heard you were resigning. After all he'd done for you.

ELIAS DEL Your sweet 15 year old boy, who starts crying and begs for you not to resign and to stay with him. "Please, please, please, please...Im sorry if i did anything wrong, please! Don't lea leave me!"

ELIAS DEL Your sweet 15 year old boy, who you have to let go. Hah, just kidding. If you're going, then hes coming along. You just wont know it. You cant escape him, [Name]

ELIAS DEL Your sweet 15 year old boy, who is now 21! has been stalking you ever since you resigned from babysitting. He knows your new current job, where you live, where your uni is, where your favorite place is, where your favorite shop is, etc...

ELIAS DEL Your sweet Elias, who has made it his daily hobby to take constant pictures of you, tape them on his shrine room in his apartment and stare at them 24/7!

ELIAS DEL Your sweet Elias, who finally worked up the courage to meet you at your favorite coffee shop. "[Name...?]" You turned around to see a familiar man, but then it clicked in your mind. "Oh, my god...Elias!" He let out a slight chuckle, as he embraced you. Now, you were the one face planted in his chest.

ELIAS DEL Your sweet Elias, who had gotten your phone number after that interaction, yay!

ELIAS DEL Your sweet Elias, who also got the courage to do something else...

...He made it in front of your house by midnight, as he snuck his way through one of your windows. Careful not to make any of the floor boards shriek, he entered your room with ease. He admired your sleeping figure with a lovestruck expression on his face. He softly grabbed your wrist and slipped a rough rope on them, making both of them tightening on each other.

Elias finally had you, after 6 years. He had lost you once, but never again. He's never letting you go again, ever.

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[geleafa-ond-faederethel]

Fr O’Shea’s Midweek Message 3rd June.

Dear Parishioners,

‘Does it bother you, living at number thirteen? Not a very lucky number, is it?’ So a visitor said to me recently. Catholics of course don’t believe in luck. We believe in Divine Providence, but all the same I was happy to tell him that when England was a Catholic country the number thirteen was considered a lucky number, suggesting as it did Our Lord assembled with His twelve Apostles. It’s just one example of the quite deliberate ‘reprogramming’ that took place in our country at the time of the Reformation. The state didn’t just set about destroying monasteries and shrines but also attempted to erase England’s Catholic memory.

Sadly they had a great deal of success. But you don’t have to look far to find things that slipped through the net. In a previous message I encouraged you to enjoy praying outdoors in your garden and in the countryside. Did you find Marigolds in your garden? Or come across Our Lady’s Slipper, Our Lady’s Mantle, Our Lady’s Smock, Our Lady’s Fingers, Our Lady’s Bedstraw, Our Lady’s Tresses, Our Lady’s Thistle or Our Lady’s Seal? All reminders of the time when England knew it was Our Lady’s Dowry. And crawling between the flowers you may also have spotted a Ladybird.

I hope you had your ‘breakfast’ this morning. In Catholic times many people went each day to a very early morning Mass, and of course fasted beforehand if they were going to receive Holy Communion. After Mass they ‘broke their fast’ with the first meal of the day before going off to the fields. Wedding Masses were usually celebrated early in the day too and the couple fasted before receiving Holy Communion. The reception afterwards was their ‘Wedding Breakfast.’

Perhaps they had their celebration in a pub called ‘The Salutation’, or ‘The Angel’ or ‘The Seven Stars’, all names which survive and which recall the Annunciation and Our Lady. Or they went instead to the ‘Crossed Keys’ which was almost certainly near a church dedicated to St Peter, the first Pope.

If you’ve ever said, ‘He hasn’t a halfpenny to bless himself with’, it comes from the pre-reformation practice of blessing oneself with the first coin you received that day. If you hadn’t received so much as a halfpenny you were indeed poor. Your house may have the name, ‘Dun Roaming’. It should of course be ‘Done Roming’. The word recalls England’s ancient devotion to the Holy See and the popularity of pilgrimages to the tomb of St Peter.

I hope you’ve never had cause to ‘Send someone to Coventry’, meaning to ‘snub’ someone. Apparently, unruly members of the Cistercian Order were sent to Coventry to cool off, in the hope that they would change their ways. Most of us have on at least one occasion come back from holiday having bought a souvenir that other people thought cheap or tasteless, like the trinkets that pilgrims used to buy around St Audrey’s shrine at Ely. Hence ‘Tawdry’.

If you watch proceedings in Parliament on television you’ll notice that MPs frequently bow towards the Speaker. It’s seen as a mark of respect for his office. But in fact it’s because Parliament used to meet in St Stephen’s Chapel in the Palace of Westminster and the custom of bowing towards the altar has been continued.

On St George’s Day the Queen and the other Knights of the Garter gather at Windsor for their annual service in St George’s Chapel. And splendid they all look in their blue cloaks. Why blue? Because King Edward III founded the Order of the Garter to the ‘honour of the Blessed Virgin’. On Our Lady’s feasts knights used to wear a golden image of Our Lady on the right shoulder of their blue mantles.

A ship is never launched on a Friday because of a now forgotten respect for Our Lord’s Passion. And on board ship sailors still salute the quarterdeck. The salute is given to the place where a crucifix always hung in Catholic days.

A flower which blossoms around the feast of St Michael in September is the MichaelMAS(S) Daisy. And of course ChristMAS(S) is still the highpoint of England’s year.

And so on. Next time you’re out and about, keep your eyes and ears open for the customs, names and sayings that speak of our country’s past.

Many of the snippets for this week’s message come from a little book, ‘Catholic Trivia’, by the late Fr Mark Elvins OFM(Cap). May he rest in peace. If his book is still in print, you might like to buy it. It’s a cheerful read but has a genuine message. You’ve only to lift the hem of Britannia’s cloak a little to find that she’s Catholic underneath.

God bless you,

Father O’Shea

(via Fr O’Shea’s… - St John's RC Church, Standishgate, Wigan | Facebook)

[lonelypond]

Tiger By The Tail, Ch. 3

NicoMaki, NozoEli, RinPana, KotoUmi, Love Live, 2K, 3/?

Summary: The plan to distract Nico begins...and our last Japanese tourist arrives.

Chapter Three

Nozomi read the email again. It sounded like Umi, polite, formal, composed, requesting Nozomi do some research on local possibilities for photo shoots, which Nozomi was planning anyway, until the last line, which read, “Please refrain from discussing this with Nico as I do not wish to undermine her confidence in Kotori’s designs” which if you had made a study of Umi’s habits, sounded like panic. Rin bounced behind Nozomi, shaking her head, drops of water flicking Nozomi, “What are we doing, boss?”

Nozomi considered how much to tell Rin, who was very very bad at not blurting out the very thing anyone was trying to keep out of the conversation. Just keep Rin focused on task, so that she didn’t give anything away to Nico, who was ALWAYS looking for what was going to go wrong.

“We’re going to drive around and check out locations, then I’ll meet Eli for dinner and see what she has to suggest.”

“Ooohh, Eli seems really cool. I bet she’ll have some great ideas for us.” Rin’s eyes gleamed. Nozomi was almost certain Eli had meant a private discussion but Nozomi couldn’t strand Rin; maybe Nico would want dinner company?

“Let’s head out and tell Nico what the plan is.” Nozomi tucked her phone away, response to Umi sent.

Rin saluted, grabbing a sweater from the top bunk, “You got it.”

###

Nico, under a stack of blankets, was scrolling through a playlist on the screen in the living room, frowning. “Nico should be on here.” She switched to search function, pulling up her latest video, watching it again, with a critical eye. They definitely needed a better lighting set up. Nozomi had talked about renting gear.

“Nico meets her biggest fan every morning in the mirror.” Nozomi pulled on the top blanket, as she leaned over the couch, to grab for the remote. Nico’s viewing choice was no surprise. It was barely worth the tease, but Nozomi was on task.

“If Nico doesn’t like it…” Nico began.

“No one will ever see it.” Rin interjected, batting an ornament on the Christmas tree to watch it spin. “But this cover’s great Nico. Why are you frowning at it?”

Before Nico could answer the front door banged open and Honoka came barrelling through the hall, hung a turn at the kitchen and nearly fell over the back of the couch Nico was sitting on.

“Nico!” Shouted. As if Nico weren’t two cushions away. “Umi says you have to come now. Kotori needs you to try on the clothes. Since there wasn’t a fitting.” Honoka bobbed up and down, arms on the couch, Nico staring at her. “It’s important.”

Nico huffed and turned off the screen, her English curt. “Nico might be busy.”

“But you’re not.” Nozomi poked Nico.

“And you’re here for the clothes, right. So they have to fit.” Honoka’s bright eyes were so wide and innocent that not even Nico could find a spark to start an argument.

Enjoying the stares of everyone in the room while she decided, Nico took a minute before levering herself off the couch. “Yes.”

“Yippee!!” More shouting. “I’ll text Umi we’re coming now.” Honoka jumped, pumping a fist. Nico instinctively went into cautious older sibling mode, not quite frowning, but squelching Honoka’s exuberance with delay.

“Nico needs clothes.” Nico was not meeting Umi’s stylish friend the designer for the first time in leggings and a sweatshirt. She had acquired a designer outfit specifically for this situation, so Kotori would know she was dealing with a real professional. “Nico will go soon.”

“Cool.” Honoka pulled out her phone, typing rapidly.

Nozomi and Rin had their coats on, “We’ll see you later, Nico.”

Nico flashed her signature gesture, “Nico Ni will knock you out.”

Honoka was ignoring the Japanese, continuing her text conversation with Umi, Nico guessed. Umi would be a proper audience. She never let Nico down.

###

Shut out everything else, Maki told herself as she locked the door behind her and approached the piano. A certain amount of ritual was involved in this moment, not quite approaching an altar or a lover levels of depth, but a gathering of emotions, a tension, a familiarity as Maki sat on the bench, rested a hand for a moment on the polished, warming wood of the fallboard, revealing the keys, the cool welcome against her fingertips, the demand for effort, for excellence, for passion...Maki leaned back, maybe a little more like a lover than a shrine, not that she’d had much experience with either. But the piano was a means, an ally, a key to a language that actually allowed Maki the freedom to express everything that bottled up in her throat and chest. Maybe her mouth wasn’t made for expressing the turmoil twisting itself out of expectation and others, but with her fingers, her arms, her body, she could shout for space, for, ironically, a moment of quiet, to just settle enough to know what it was she wanted. She wondered what it would be like to...Maki didn’t even know the words for it, it was an action, a feeling, a slam, a collision, into something that held, that would let her just be.

Maki didn’t know what she was playing, she had no space to listen, everything was being driven into the piano, to transform into the pieces of Maki that kept spinning away. Was there anyone here to listen, to hear?

###

The clothes were impressive. Just the pictures had gotten Nico on a plane, flying across a huge ocean. Umi had impeccable taste so Nico knew when Umi pitched the project it would be something spectacular. Nico had also not been unaware of Umi’s gloom since the very kind and decorative Kotori Minami had ended her internship at the atelier and returned home. Now, while Nico herself was an independent modern career woman, she didn’t fault anyone who managed to find someone to get sentimental about. Yes, she totally judged Tojo, who seemed to have mastered the casual weekend relationship. Nico would not have flown across an ocean if Nozomi had pitched the project. But for Umi, Nico shrugged, and smiled at Kotori, who was a whisper of steel and grace, answering all of Nico’s questions without hesitation. Nico couldn’t put the pieces down, the textures, the lightness, the way the light caught additional colors, none of that had been in the sketches and all of it was magical. Nico found herself getting excited as she imagined the photos, the camera turning her natural charisma up by 1000 when wrapped in these beautiful slices of artistry.

“Yazawa-san…” Kotori started.

“Nico.” Nico waved an invitation to intimacy as she put down a white blanket robe that seemed to contain in its threads the silver glimmer magic of first snow at midnight. Kotori was finishing that piece, she’d wanted to see it on Nico so that the painted on kanji could be placed in the proper locations. Umi had been confirming the order of strokes, offering to do the calligraphy herself, but Kotori seemed reluctant to put that responsibility on the other woman. Nico wondered if the seamstress realized how seriously Umi took the samurai’s mastery of both sword and brush.

Kotori reached for her chalk, “Nico...thank you, now that I’ve seen this, I can mark the locations.”

“Once again, Kotori, if you want me to, I would be more than happy…” Umi stepped forward.

“Oh, I couldn’t…” Kotori shrugged, demurring, “this is all of this fabric I have, any mistake...you’re very sweet, but...”

Nico couldn’t take the look on Umi’s face, like the damsel in distress had turned down the rescue and was slowly freezing in the ice tower. She coughed, drawing the focus back to Nico, “Maybe Umi could demonstrate her talents on another fabric, similar in texture.” Nico bowed, “Nico will cover the costs. For an original Sonoda.”

Umi blushed, Nico raised a hand to cover her own mouth, pretending modesty, but actually covering a broad grin at Umi’s embarrassment.

“Oh…” Kotori glanced from one to the other, giggling, “I’m sure Umi’s talents are more than up to the job, I just thought…”

Nico gave in and laughed at her friend’s grand gestures as Umi bowed, “I will not disappoint either of you.”

Now see, if there had been someone like Umi, serious and stunning and silly and too easy to tease, in Nico’s life, interested in more than friendship, the rising pop star might have made a little time for something that wasn’t her career.

###

Eli was surprised to find she had not a family standing in her office, but one client, a small, mousy, bundled up in layers woman by the name of Koizumi Hanayo, visiting New England with her parents, who had stayed in Boston. Eli had a good reputation among Japanese tourists, but solitary guests were unusual. Groups of co workers were more common. Not that Eli would let this throw her off stride. . “Hi, I’m Eli Ayase. Nice to meet you.” Eli offered a hand, Hanayo shaking it timidly while muttering something Eli couldn’t quite make out.

“Sorry,” Eli leaned down, “I couldn’t hear you.”

Hanayo leapt back, the earflaps on her hat a comedy short of their own, “Sorry.”

“Please take a seat.” Eli indicated the chair opposite hers and sat behind the computer, “Do you downhill or cross country ski?”

Another mutter.

Eli smiled broader, her voice encouraging. “You’ll have to speak up. I’m sorry.”

The young woman took a huge breath, her hands clasped in her lap, raised her head, blinking eyelashes over shy violet eyes, her Japanese rapid, “Neither, Ayase-san. I’m sorry.”

“No need to apologize.” Eli slouched a little, shoulders opening, trying every body language trick she could think of to be less intimidating. “Most of my clients just...already like the outdoors.”

Hanayo shook her head, “My parents hired you. They are worried that I’m…” Hanayo fidgeted, “neet.”

Eli was confused, “They think you’re too tidy?”

Hanayo sighed, “Do you know what otaku means?”

Eli typed it into her computer. “You’re an anime fan?”

“Idol.”

“Idol?”

“Singers. Pop stars.”

“Oh.” Eli had heard of that. “Like Babymetal?”

Hanayo’s eyes went wide as she squeaked, “You know them? Aren’t they amazing. I just love…”

“I’m not a huge fan.” Glad that she had finally gotten a reaction out of her charge, Eli didn’t want the young woman to slip back into embarrassment, “but my friends were talking about their last North American tour.” Eli turned away from her computer, “So your parents sent you here for some healthy outdoor activities. And hired me for the parts of the week I had available.”

Hanayo nodded, “They have business in Boston. They didn’t want to leave me in Japan alone over the holidays.”

“Where are you staying?”

“Hotel.”

“I have a friend with a B and B, maybe they’ll have a room. There’s a friendly group from Japan there right now.”

“Really?” Hanayo looked interested.

“Cute girls too.” Eli winked, expecting Hanayo to blush or be flustered...but her client had just leaned forward, a spark behind her glasses.

“And they might have a room?”

“I’ll have to ask Honoka. They might be booked. It’s…” Eli frowned, trying to remember the name of Nozomi’s client, she’d looked her up, “Yazawa Nico.”

“NICO NI!” Hanayo was on her feet instantly, shoving Eli’s desk back, demonstrating unexpected and impressive lung capacity, “NICO NI is here? I have to meet her.” Hanayo started for the door.

“Slow down.” Eli was on her feet, hand out, “First we have to find a winter sport for you. Your parents requested pictures. I can’t afford a refund.”

“Oh.” Hanayo collapsed in her chair.

“But after that, I’m meeting Nozomi and if you don’t have any plans, you can come along.” Eli suspected that even if Hanayo had already made plans, they would be quickly cancelled.

With a great deal of effort to not throw herself at Eli or the door, Hanayo spoke in a more normal tone. “Thank you, Ayase-san.”

“Just call me Eli,” Eli grinned, and pulled up her contact list, “Now what do you think about ice skating?”

[lgbtqiahistoricalromance]

LGBTQIA Historical Romances with Artists, Poets, Thespians, Musicians, Dancers, and Bohemians - July 2018

Jalendu by Mark Andrew

- Set in the turbulent twilight of the reign of the Mughal Emperor of India, Jalaluddin Akbar, Jalendu tell the story of the socially awkward, but politically important young Prince Adinath and Jali, a handsome, spiritually inclined farm boy who becomes his bodyguard. Their unlikely friendship and love changes the fate of the empire. The small kingdom of Vindhyagarh sits in the Vindhya foothills between Prince Salim, the rebellious son of the emperor and self-declared Sultan of Ilahabad (present day Allahabad) and his powerful Bundela Rajput ally, Maharaja Vir Singh Deo of Orchha. But Salim in truth is no rebel. He is loyal to the power behind the throne, the women of the imperial household. The court nobility, led by the emperor's vizier Abul Fazl, see their power evaporating as the emperor seems powerless to oppose the wishes of the empresses or to act against his disobedient eldest son. They fear that when Salim become emperor, they will be reduced to mere servants. Abul Fazl vows that Salim will never sit on the imperial throne. Rana Jayaram of Vindhyagarh wants peace, but his efforts to ensure it draw his kingdom into a very dangerous political game. His youngest son has rarely left the palace because of illness and spends his time reading ancient Sanskrit texts, drawing and composing poetry. His only friends are his brother's widow and his old tutor. Jayaram sees a chance to extract his kingdom from danger by an alliance with the influential Kachwahas. An alliance by the marriage of Prince Adinath to a Kachwaha princess would not only tie Vindhyagarh to a Rajput house more loyal to the empire but into the imperial family itself.

On Wings of Song by Anne Barwell

- Six years after meeting British soldier Aiden Foster during the Christmas Truce of 1914, Jochen Weber still finds himself thinking about Aiden, their shared conversation about literature, and Aiden’s beautiful singing voice. A visit to London gives Jochen the opportunity to search for Aiden, but he’s shocked at what he finds.The uniform button Jochen gave him is the only thing Aiden has left of the past he’s lost. The war and its aftermath ripped everything away from him, including his family and his music. When Jochen reappears in his life, Aiden enjoys their growing friendship but knows he has nothing to offer. Not anymore.

The Reluctant Berserker by Alex Beecroft Review (Gorgeous writing, and an unusual case of a dominant musician and a submissive warrior.)

- Dark Ages England. Among the Saxons, a warrior is the highest form of human life. He dominates all, he yields to none, and if ever this mastery is taken away, his honour is taken with it. Reluctant berserker, Wulfstan, a noble and fearsome warrior, has spent most of his life trying to hide the fact that he would love to be cherished and taken care of by someone stronger than himself. Slight and beautiful harper, Leofgar, has the opposite problem – how can he keep the trained killers off him long enough to get them to acknowledge he’s as much of a man as any of them? When, in a panic, Wulfstan accidentally kills a friend who is about to blurt out his secret, and Leofgar flees rather than submit to his lord’s lust, they meet on the road to the pilgrims’ shrine at Ely. Pursued by a mother’s curse and Leofgar’s vengeful lord, they must battle guilt, outlaws, and the powers of the underworld with the aid of only music and a female saint. And if they fall in love on the way, there’s still that murderous shame to overcome.

Treading the Boards series by Tess Bowery (author’s Tumblr)

Rite of Summer: Gay men in a disaster!triad. Sex solves a lot of things, but actually talking about problems solves more. Not a poly ending.

She Whom I Love: Bisexual best friends share a very confused (yet grateful) straight man. Disaster is narrowly averted. A very poly ending.*

*Shortlisted twice for the Bisexual Book Awards, 2015 - Best Romance, Best Erotic Fiction.

That Potent Alchemy: Genderqueer ballet dancer hates gender, ballet, and emotional connection. Macbeth helps. No poly in this one at all.

Artemis by Jessica Cale (trans male hero/bisexual heroine)

- Actress Charlotte Halfpenny is in trouble. Pregnant, abandoned by her lover, and out of a job, Charlotte faces eviction two weeks before Christmas. When the reclusive Earl of Somerton makes her an outrageous offer, she has no choice but to accept. Could he be the man of her dreams, or is the nightmare just beginning?

Apollo Somerton has been in love with Charlotte for a decade, seeing each of her plays multiple times, despite being a man that otherwise keeps to himself. After Charlotte finds herself pregnant, she almost resorts to drastic measures, but Somerton rescuers her and makes her an offer she can’t refuse. But, despite his adoration and beauty, Charlotte knows being an actress didn’t prepare her for the role of wife to an Earl, and others will stop at nothing to keep the pair from getting married.

This is a sweet novella, with a frankly adorable leading man. Handsome and devoted, he has a secret, but love with persevere. Some aspects of the novella are a little far-fetched, but the love story makes it totally worthwhile. (Contains mentions of period-typical homophobia and transphobia. Trans male leading man, and bisexual heroine.)

25% proceeds donated to Equality NC, and 25% to the Malala fund

Think of England by KJ Charles Mini Review

- Lie back and think of England... England, 1904. Two years ago, Captain Archie Curtis lost his friends, fingers, and future to a terrible military accident. Alone, purposeless and angry, Curtis is determined to discover if he and his comrades were the victims of fate, or of sabotage. Curtis's search takes him to an isolated, ultra-modern country house, where he meets and instantly clashes with fellow guest Daniel da Silva. Effete, decadent, foreign, and all-too-obviously queer, the sophisticated poet is everything the straightforward British officer fears and distrusts. As events unfold, Curtis realizes that Daniel has his own secret intentions. And there's something else they share-a mounting sexual tension that leaves Curtis reeling. As the house party's elegant facade cracks to reveal treachery, blackmail and murder, Curtis finds himself needing clever, dark-eyed Daniel as he has never needed a man before... Warning: Contains explicit male/male encounters, ghastly historical attitudes, and some extremely stiff upper lips.

The Actor and the Earl by Rebecca Cohen (Three book series, w/Sebastian playing his own twin sister in all three.)

- Elizabethan actor Sebastian Hewel takes his bow at the proscenium only to embark on the role of a lifetime. When his twin sister, Bronwyn, reneges on the arrangement to marry Anthony Redbourn, Earl of Crofton, Sebastian reluctantly takes her place. At nineteen, Sebastian knows his days as a leading lady are numbered, but with this last performance, he hopes to restore his family’s name and pay off his late father’s debts. Never mind the danger of losing his head should he be discovered.He didn’t expect Anthony to be so charming and alluring—not to mention shrewd. While he applauds Sebastian’s plan, Anthony offers a mutually beneficial arrangement instead. Sebastian will need every drop of talent he has to survive with both his head and his heart intact, because this is the best part he’s ever had.

You Must Remember This: A Gay Retelling of Casablanca by John Michael Curlovich

- You Must Remember This is an homage to the classic film Casablanca on the 75th anniversary of the film’s release in America. It is the height of World War II. Frank Chandler is an American GI who has been separated from the army on a “blue discharge.” Along with his musician friend and sometime lover Dan Jackson, he finds himself in Marrakesh (only a short distance away from Casablanca), an international city where every kind of pleasure is easily available. But Marrakesh is also a city of danger. The Nazis are establishing themselves there, and their ominous presence means life is fraught with peril. Then Lilli, a beautiful, mysterious woman from Frank’s past, shows up unexpectedly, and he finds himself confronted with the hardest choice of his life. Lilli’s presence stirs emotions he thought he had buried. Yet there is still the city—and its men—and the thousand pleasures it offers… Should Frank go with Lilli and try to make a “normal” life with her? Or should he follow what he increasingly believes to be his true nature? That is the dramatic conflict at the heart of You Must Remember This.

My Lord, Lady, and Gentleman - Book Three of the Surrey SFS series by Nicola Davidson (m/m/f)

- Welcome to the Surrey Sexual Freedom Society - where unconventional and uninhibited ladies and gentlemen discuss all matters erotic... Estranged from his aristocratic family for choosing art over a third son’s proper path, Mr. Clayton Irving lives in wretched circumstances. His only joys are his friends and an extraordinary talent for sensual portraits, until the perfect opportunity arises: paint ton empress Lady Susanna Fenton. All his financial woes gone…if he can hide his fierce craving for her—and even more forbidden—her husband Lord Joseph Fenton.

In the eyes of the world the Fentons have it all: staggering wealth, position, and a caring union. Yet their smiles hide a marriage broken by secrets and pretense. The wicked portrait is a last effort to save it, and Susanna and Joseph soon discover that sinfully handsome Clayton is key to a passionate and happy new start for them all. But secrets always reveal themselves, and those who break the rules are punished. Can an unconventional ménage truly defy all for love?

The Bohemian and the Banker by Bonnie Dee and Summer Devon

- A night lost in Paris finds two hearts changed forever. Sent to Paris on business, Nigel Warren doesn’t quite understand why his colleagues’ eyes twinkle as they tell him to meet them at a local night spot. When he discovers it’s a drag cabaret and his acquaintances aren’t there, he realizes he’s the butt of a joke. Yet he finds himself quite undone by a singer dressed in an elegant gown, crooning a spellbinding ballad. It’s not unusual for Jay, a former Londoner, to bring a new “friend” home from the cabaret, but he’s never had a guest quite like Nigel, whose straitlaced manner hides an unexpected passionate streak. One romantic night on a rooftop under starry skies, followed by an afternoon enjoying the excitement of the 1901 Paris Exposition, bonds these opposites in a way neither can forget—even after they part. Their spark reignites when Jay comes to London, but he’s not sure he can go back to hiding his true self, not even for the sake of love…unless Nigel is willing to shed his cloak of staid respectability and take a leap of faith.

Robby Riverton: Mail Order Bride by Eli Easton

- Being a fugitive in the old west shouldn’t be this much fun. The year is 1860. Robby Riverton is a rising star on the New York stage. But he witnesses a murder by a famous crime boss and is forced to go on the run--all the way to Santa Fe. When he still hasn't ditched his pursuers, he disguises himself as a mail order bride he meets on the wagon train. Caught between gangsters that want to kill him, and the crazy, uncouth family of his "intended", Robby's only ally is a lazy sheriff who sees exactly who Robby is -- and can't resist him. Trace Crabtree took the job as sheriff of Flat Bottom because there was never a thing going on. And then Robby Riverton showed up. Disguised as a woman. And betrothed to Trace’s brother. If that wasn’t complication enough, Trace had to find the man as appealing as blueberry pie. He urges Robby to stay undercover until the danger has passed. But a few weeks of having Robby-Rowena at the ranch, and the Crabtree family will never be the same again. Damn, what a kerfuffle. If only Trace can get rid of the fugitive while hanging on to his own stupid heart.

A Brush with Darkness by Erastes

- Florence, 1875 After making a grisly discovery one night, I needed proof that there was still goodness in the world. I never dreamt it would come to me during my next commission—with a subject whose very name means light... Yuri was glorious in his otherworldly beauty, surrounded by a bright halo of iridescence, but I detected a fierce darkness lurking underneath the surface. Sketching all night, I could hardly wait to capture his likeness in a painting. For Yuri has stimulated not only my creative urges, but my sexual ones as well. His very presence infuses me with joy and passion, but what will happen if my patron should discover our trysts? Dependent on his good graces, I can't afford to lose his support. But I fear the time will soon come when I must choose between restoring my family's fortunes and obeying the temptation of the muse before me... Previously published as Chiaroscuro, newly revised by author.

The Matinee Idol by Owen Keehnen

- LOVE IN THE SILENT FILM ERA... At the height of the roaring 1920s, Raymond Richmond leaves Iowa and heads for Hollywood with dreams of silent film stardom in his head. In Los Angeles, he meets Brick, the ruggedly handsome cowboy of his dreams. Soon the two are a couple. When Raymond film career takes off, he is pressured to choose between stardom and Brick. Afraid of passing up his dream, Raymond chooses his career. As Raymond’s star ascends, he attempts to fill the void Brick has left in a number of ways. Eventually, his career begins to suffer and shortly after the advent of talkies, Raymond hits rock bottom. Desperate and alone, he is prostituting himself to feed his addiction to alcohol. But fate intervenes and reunites Raymond with Brick. However, Brick carries deep wounds from their past as well. Can the former lovers overcome the demons and betrayal of the past and find happiness once again? Spanning over a decade, Owen Keehnen’s The Matinee Idol is a timeless tale about second chances and the redemptive power of love.

Convincing the Secretary - Book Two of the London Legal series by Ava March (Included due to Edward’s true calling.)

- Business and pleasure is a mix no gentleman should consider. Lord Grayson Holloway goes after what he wants—be it in the law office on his clients’ behalf or in the bedchamber. His new position as partner puts him closer to achieving his goal of becoming the most successful solicitor in London. There’s just one problem—his new secretary. Broad of shoulder yet mild of manner, Edward tempts Gray like no other. Yet the young man barely notices him. Edward Fenton tries to be a good secretary, but being in Lord Grayson’s hard, commanding presence rouses Edward’s most forbidden desires. Wicked, naughty desires no gentleman should consider giving in to, let alone with his new employer. Gray is more than willing to mix business with pleasure. But convincing Edward to take a chance on a future with him? That might be the most challenging case Gray has ever taken on. Warning: Includes buttoned-up gentlemen who become undone, improper use of a desk, spankings, and a big bad lord who has a soft spot for his virgin secretary.

A Wager of Love by Katherine Marlowe (Review pending, but this is included, because Gilbert and Laurence have long conversations about poetry and philosophy, and they do a little acting in pursuit of their goal. This was a delightful book, using the thoughts and concepts of the time period to great effect.

- Laurence Aberforth has never been in love. The first time he meets the impulsive and charming Gilbert Heckwith, he accepts a wager as to whether or not true love exists in the world. Amidst the playful flirtation of their new friendship, they explore the concept of love through philosophy and poetry, and the two of them ultimately find the proof of their wager in each other. Clean romance, no cheating, no cliffhangers, standalone novella.

Such a Dance by Kate McMurray

- New York City, 1927. Eddie Cotton is a talented song-and-dance man with a sassy sidekick, a crowd-pleasing act, and a promising future on Broadway. What he doesn’t have is someone to love. Being gay in an era of prohibition and police raids, Eddie doesn’t have many opportunities to meet men like himself—until he discovers a hot new jazz club for gentlemen of a certain bent...and sets eyes on the most seductive, and dangerous, man he’s ever seen. Lane Carillo is a handsome young Sicilian who looks like Valentino—and works for the Mob. He’s never hidden his sexuality from his boss, which is why he was chosen to run a private night club for men. When Lane spots Eddie at the bar, it’s lust at first sight. Soon, the unlikely pair are falling hard and fast—in love. But when their whirlwind romance starts raising eyebrows all across town, Lane and Eddie have to decide if their relationship is doomed…or something special worth fighting for.

The First Act by Vanessa Mulberry

- April 1594. William Moodie thinks he’s in love with celebrated actor Richard Brasyer. When Brasyer’s playing company, Goldfox’s Men, comes to town, William is only too willing to leave his country life for the opportunities of the theater and a life in London. Determined to become Richard’s apprentice, William seeks to impress his mentor with his acting—and please him in bed.Meanwhile, Richard struggles to escape his past as a spy and disentangle himself from the manipulations of his former master and ex-lover, Bennett Goldfox. Swearing off a relationship with his new apprentice proves difficult for Richard, as William uses all his youthful charms to seduce him. When Bennett’s life is threatened, Richard is lured back into the game for one final mission, and he and William travel to Cambridge to hunt down a list of traitors to the Crown.In the midst of danger and deception, Richard and William come to truly see each other, faults and all, and realize their feelings run deeper than either expected.

Palace Dog by RE Nelson

- In April 1975, as the government in Saigon is falling, Michael Andrews prepares to make his way back to Vietnam to find the love he was forced to leave. But Michael’s journey begins four years earlier. He joins the Air Force to keep out of the Army and out of Vietnam, but his first assignment is teaching English in Saigon to members of the Vietnamese military in an Army program called Palace Dog. As an artist, and a man, before his time in Vietnam, Michael found life lonely and unsatisfying. In the midst of war, Michael searches for direction and meaning. He ultimately finds love and hope with Thao, a young Vietnamese art student, only to have their already uncertain future wrenched from them when he is pulled out of the country. For Michael, his return in 1975 is inevitable and without question, though the outcome he hopes for is anything but assured.

The Viscount and the Artist by Alyson Pearce (The Eccentrics Book 1) (Review pending, but this was a lovely surprise. I expected a slap-dash May/December romance, but these characters were actually worked out, and Jeremy stays true to his convictions in spite of everything working against him. Andrew has a crisis, but they work through it together.)

- Andrew Cardwell is a man driven by duty to his country and to his family. After the death of his uncle, he’s determined to provide security and stability for his family as the new Viscount Cardwell—even if that means marrying and producing an heir. Surprising himself, Andrew decides to sponsor a young artist named Jeremy for the season, to help him find a patron. What he doesn’t anticipate is how well Jeremy fits in his bed…and his life. Jeremy Leighton knows what it’s like to be a disappointment. The only son of a vicar, he’s refused to follow the path his father set for him, choosing his passion for art, instead. He accepts Andrew’s proposal, hoping to prove to his father—and himself—that he can succeed as an artist. After spending time with Andrew in and out of bed, Jeremy struggles not to fall for the damaged viscount, knowing the season will likely end in Andrew’s engagement. Between a meddling cousin, a widow on the hunt for a new husband, and their own doubts about the relationship, how can Andrew and Jeremy shed the expectations of others to find true happiness?

Juliana by Vanda (f/f)

- New York City, 1941. Alice “Al” Huffman and her childhood friends are fresh off the potato farms of Long Island and bound for Broadway. Al’s plans for stage success are abruptly put on hold when she’s told she has no talent. As she gets a job to pay for acting classes, Al settles into a normal life with her friends and a boyfriend. It all changes when she meets Juliana.A singer on the brink of stardom, Juliana is everything Al isn’t: glamorous, talented, and queer. The farm girl is quickly enthralled, experiencing thoughts and feelings she never realized were possible. Al finds herself slipping between two worlds: the gay underground and the “normal” world of her childhood friends. It’s a balancing act she can handle until the two worlds begin to collideIn a city bursting with change, can Alice find what she was looking for all along?Juliana: Volume 1: 1941-1944 is a captivating work of LGBT historical romance. If you like extensively researched settings, spell-binding storytelling, and characters you can’t help but fall for, then you’ll love the first book in award-winning playwright Vanda’s new Juliana series.

Nightingale by Aleksandr Voinov

- In Nazi-occupied Paris, most Frenchmen tread warily, but gay nightclub singer Yves Lacroix puts himself in the spotlight with every performance. As a veteran of France’s doomed defense, a survivor of a prison camp, and a “degenerate,” he knows he’s a target. His comic stage persona disguises a shamed, angry heart and gut-wrenching fear for a sister embedded in the Resistance. Yet Yves ascends the hierarchy of Parisian nightlife to become a star, attracting the attention—and the protection—of the Nazi Oberst Heinrich von Starck. To complicate matters further, young foot soldier Falk Harfner’s naïve adoration of Yves threatens everything he’s worked for. So does Aryan ideologue von Grimmstein, rival to von Starck, who sees something “a bit like a Jew” in Yves. When an ill-chosen quip can mean torture at the hands of the Gestapo, being the acclaimed Nightingale of Paris might cost Yves his music and his life.

Ardent by Heloise West

- In the village of Torrenta, master painter Morello has created a color that mimics the most expensive pigment of all, the crimson red. Master Zeno, from strife-ridden Medici Florence, tells him the color gives him a competitive advantage – but Morello must be careful. Fraud is ever-present in the dye and pigment markets. As they work together in Torrenta, Morello falls hard for Zeno’s assistant, Benedetto Tagliaferro, a young man of uncommon beauty and intelligence. Benedetto is still fixed on his old lover, the master painter Leo Guisculo, and cannot return Morello’s affections. But when Leo dies in a terrible accident, it’s to Morello that Zeno and Benedetto turn for help. And Morello soon finds that in Florence, every surface hides layers of intrigue.

[xqr]

LLSIF Things 57: 600 gems, 51 STs for Band Hanayo

December 15th 2015: Christmas Hanayo graces JP. I use 250 gems and get no URs. December 18th 2016: Christmas Hanayo comes to EN. I use 1100 gems and get no URs. December 10th 2017: Band Hanayo arrives on JP. I use 200 gems and get no URs. August 1st 2018: Band Pana released on EN. I am ready to be crushed. 

Step 1: set up a shrine 24 hours prior

JP

It also happens to be Chika’s birthday on the day my waifu appears before us

I was going to leave JP decorated in the usual Hanayo stuff, in solidarity with EN, but decided JP is a fake ally. 

Step 2: make the summoning circle

EN

Eggs were released this morning. I am offended rice was not first

Off to a good start! Finally one of my account has this card! <3

1/3 of new cards

2/3 of new cards. Both SRs get!

A long pause before Rin turns up

And another long pause before Nozo. 

I feel like STs have been kinder in the past. But this will do.

1. Not bad. Not fantastic. At this point in my SIF career you have to be an SSR to even consider being on the team, just to put into perspective what’s going to happen to all these SRs.

2. Yes!! Hanayo is idolised and the world is good. I also had another copy of Nico from ages ago. Good pull, would pull again.

3. Hm

4. Better

5. Finally Initial Eli reaches SL2!

6. Sweet, I pulled that Rin last time.

7. About time I got a 1SR pull, right?

8

9. Nico also reaches SL2

At this point I’m already dead inside knowing it’s not happening lmao

10. Well, it’s a better note to end on. Got a cool Hanayo of some description. Nico gets SL2.

But it doesn’t end just yet. 

Got dem BTs

Klab: give XQR the cool scoring 1st year, you know, Hana- SIF: I gotchu fam:

The most recent UR on Aqours side. If I’d put my BTs into the Muse box would I have got Hanayo? We’ll never know. But I can’t chance getting one of the old shit URs. But I’m v happy about this card.

I saved these for post-Pana so they wouldn’t ‘steal my luck’

well it was free!

Me, when the UR envelope flew out: NO

This is such a fucking good free pull?? I’m like so mad?? Argh. Why couldn’t this have been in the paid-for pulls? Jesus. So. Like Cooking fucking Maki. It’s funny. All I actually need in life is a smile scorer and here it is. Is the game telling me to scout for shit my teams actually need? lmao

But also even more funny bc when I failed to get Xmas Hanayo, it was Cooking Hanayo that saved the day. It’s like this pair is laughing at me.

BUT THE FUN STILL ISNT OVER. Klab at it again re-releasing the starter packs!

thanks i love it

thanks i can idolise it.

Only then could I stop and let Chika have her birthday time. It’s not like I had the new UR to show off >:(

First SSR to level 5!!

No sitting in the present box for these guys. We’re bonding and (hopefully) grinding to 50 gems again before the event ends lmao

Maki can thank herself for the SSR seals

EN’s first pair that includes Hanayo. How fitting it was this one.

I’ve been stockpiling all the smile SR supports and R Nico children so she went straight to lv4 lmao. That’s how long I’ve been waiting for a smile scorer. And I still had nico children to spare.

Helix: The Revenge

If EN had pulled her, Helix would have continued on with birthday boxes. But no.

god why

that’s. better. but...the dream hath ended?

As for Maki and Kanan:

ok

oof event card (actually I might not have it?)

happy birthday then

So, for the 4th year running, a cool Hanayo UR refused to come home. I mean, I don’t even know why I bother anymore. Am I saving for wonderland Pana? Maybe?? I fucking guess? 

[prismofwords]

Three Wishes

Umimaki Month Day 14: “I Love You”

The first time they said it to each other was on a clear summer night. The words felt foreign on their tongues, and their hearts felt like they might explode like the fireworks above.

It’s the last festival of the summer after the third-years’ graduation, and the former members of μ’s decided to go together, their last chance before the future starts really pulling them apart. No one mentions it, of course, not even Honoka, probably because if nothing else she doesn’t have the money to buy them all drinks again. The streets are full of people, but the nine girls all stay together, enjoying the revelries. It’s been a while since they’ve all been in one place, after all. They all laugh as Nico utterly fails at goldfish scooping, and as she takes in their smiling faces, she congratulates herself for a job well done. Maki steps up to demonstrate how it’s really done. Honoka and Hanayo eat an amount of food that’s equal parts impressive and concerning. Rin almost gets lost in the crowd a few times, but luckily Nozomi’s able to keep an eye on her former groupmate. Loud, cheerful, bright--no matter how much time passes, they’ll never change.

It’s Kotori that points out that the fireworks will be starting soon, so the nine of them start looking for a place to watch from. They head to a spot not too far from the shrine, but there’s only room for seven. Before Eli can even start to discuss what to do, Umi raises a hand and, with the other, takes hold of one of Maki’s.

The younger girl glances behind her, but she already has lost sight of their friends. “Is this really alright? We were supposed to stay together all night, weren’t we?”

The one walking ahead doesn’t even look back. “There’s not enough time left to look for another spot. Besides, it’s not like we won’t see them again after this.”

They end up at a small park, some ways away from the festival streets but still close enough to have a clear view of the fireworks show. It’s empty, and the two of them sit down on a plain wooden bench to rest their tired feet that have done nothing but walk all through the evening. “Actually,” Umi starts, looking up at the stars, “it’s selfish, but I was sort of hoping it’d end up like this. I’ve always wanted to go to a summer festival with someone...important to me.” Her hair dances in the soft breeze, and Maki feels something welling up in her chest.

“Geez...I’m surprised you can say something so embarrassing.”

Umi still doesn’t look at her and continues. “Am I...Do you think that I’m someone important to you?” As the last word leaves her lips, something whistles across the sky, and the heavens explode in a shower of light. For a moment, they both forget how to speak.

“Ah, they’ve started,” Maki says simply, following the next volley with her eyes. “It’s been so long, I’d forgotten how beautiful fireworks are.” She keeps her eyes on the flowers blooming and fading in the sky. Umi just nods. Maki can tell she’s unsure if she should say anything. The younger girl tightens her grip on her partner’s hand. “As for your question...well, if the sound of the fireworks can drown out my voice, then maybe I could say my feelings out loud.”

Umi takes her attention back down to earth, giving her partner a questioning look. “Just kidding,” Maki adds quickly, sticking her tongue out. “Look, there are more going up.”

When she’s sure the older girl has turned her head back to the sky, she leans over and rests her head on Umi’s shoulder. “Maki...?”

She watches as the next volley shoots up towards the stars, wondering if they’ll drown out her voice. She’s not sure if she wants them to or not. “You know, I _____ you.”

Umi’s eyes widen. She glances at the girl on her shoulder, her face ablaze and her eyes pointedly not looking at her. Maki holds her breath, and as more fireworks pierce the night--

--something sets off much closer to her. “...Yeah, I ____ you too.”

The second time was on the first snowfall of the winter that followed. Their words tumbled out clumsily, their true emotions ringing out in the halating snow.

Umi can’t help feeling uncertain as she rings the doorbell. She has a perfectly sound reasoning for being here, but maybe it’s weird after all, she thinks. After all, who just shows up unannounced 20 minutes before Christmas Day? Especially since they already had a μ’s Christmas Party at Honoka’s house earlier. Maybe Maki doesn’t even care about Christmas as much as she thinks. And why does Maki have to have such an intimidatingly large house? Umi reminds herself that the younger girl still believes in Santa Claus, and really isn’t against spending time with her, and she herself has a rather large home. Besides, she can’t get a certain image out of her head...

She’s broken out of her thoughts by the door swinging open. “Umi? What are you doing here?”

Fighting the urge to take off down the street without explanation, the ocean-haired maiden forcibly plants her feet on the ground. “Well, it’s Christmas Eve, and my parents are out of town, and yours are too...I thought you’d like some company?”

A mischievous smile appears on the other girl’s face. “My, Umi, I didn’t think you were that kind of girl.”

It takes Umi a second to figure out what she means. When she does, her face heats up so much she swears some of the snow piling up around her melts. “Maki! You know that’s not what I meant!”

“Just teasing! Come on in.”

It’s not her first time in the Nishikino household, having come over many times before to work on songs. As she takes her shoes off, though, it suddenly occurs to Umi that she’s never been over just to spend time together. She wonders why Maki’s never invited her over before. Has she ever invited anyone over?

Walking further inside, she also notices that Christmas is most definitely not ignored here. The living room is dominated by a massive Christmas tree, decked out in layer upon layer of bright little lights and angels and stars. A mountain of presents lie underneath it. In the middle of the room, a miniature train rolls through a long and complex loop of tracks. Wreaths and garlands adorn the walls and railings, and the fireplace is barely visible behind the three large red stockings hanging in front of it.

“Pretty impressive, right? We always go all out for Christmas.”

Umi nods. It’s a stark contrast to her traditional Japanese home, where the holiday is barely even acknowledged. She walks into the dining room and gasps. “You have a banquet laid out here!”

“Yeah, the three of us can eat quite a bit after all the hard work of setting up the decorations. Like I said, we always go all out for Christmas!” Maki’s voice suddenly turns cold. “Of course, if it’s just me it’s still too much.”

Umi looks at her, noting the way her fists tremble at her side. Whether it’s anger or frustration, she can’t tell. “Maki?”

The princess of the mansion shakes her head. “It’s nothing. They’re usually home for Christmas Eve, but this time something urgent came up at work...it can’t be helped, right? It’d be selfish of me to ask them to stay.”

Standing there all alone in the middle of a house meant to be full of a family’s love and laughter, Maki looked like a doll abandoned and forgotten. Umi crosses the floor to be at her side. “U-Umi...why did you come here?” It’s not a hostile question, but a searching one, as if the younger girl couldn’t possibly comprehend why anyone would be there for her.

A certain image, of Maki’s devastated look when she first got to Honoka’s house that morning, flashes through Umi’s mind again. It was gone soon enough--it’s hard to stay upset around all that infectious cheer--but Umi can’t let it go. She knew right away that Maki was more upset about being alone than she had let on. “I had a feeling you needed someone. That you’d need me. Call it a premonition, if you want.”

“You came all this way based on a ‘premonition’?” Maki looks at her incredulously. “What, are you Nozomi now?”

“I promised you, remember? ‘When you feel troubled/I’ll come running right away’.”

That manages to get a smile out of Maki. “Just quoting our own song lyrics doesn’t help at all, you know.” She sighs. “To be honest, I...was hoping you’d come. I had a feeling, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up.” She pulls out her phone and unlocks it, showing it to be on the Contacts page for Umi. “I was going to call. Say, I don’t know, ‘Come here, come quick, please...’, or something, but I didn’t want to be selfish.”

“You know I would’ve come the moment you asked me to.”

“Yeah. But I hate being a burden, especially on you.”

“You’re never a burden.”

The grandfather clock in the living room cuts in then, slowly and steadily booming to announce the new hour, end of the night and the beginning of the morning. Umi is the first to remember what that means. “Merry Christmas, Maki.”

Maki nods. “You too.” She pauses. “And Umi...thanks for saving my Christmas.” Umi has to strain to hear her over the continuing chiming of the clock.

Umi leans in close, bringing the tip of her nose to meet Maki’s. She can’t tell if the noise in her ears is from the clock or from her own heartbeat. “I ____ you, you know.”

Maki looks down, but doesn’t push her away. The snow is falling hard outside, but all the two of them feel is warmth. “...Yeah. I ____ you too.”

The third time was by the piano in the room they’d spent countless eternities together in. It was cloudy, as if not even the sun’s light was allowed to intrude in their sacred moment, their last chance to make a wish.

Maki stares at the object being held out to her. “...What’s this?”

Umi blinks. “It’s my blazer button. Don’t tell me you don’t know what it means.”

The pianist takes it gingerly, as if it might shatter if she holds it too tightly. “Of course I know. I just...wasn’t expecting you to actually give this away. I mean, did any of them last year actually give theirs?”

“Eli and Nozomi exchanged theirs. Nico said something about belonging to everyone, you know how she goes. She gave it up when Kotori unleashed her forbidden technique, though.”

Maki laughs, remembering walking in on the aftermath of that scene. “Ohh, that’s what happened? Nico looked so shaken up when I got there, I thought Kotori just took a sewing needle and ripped it off her.”

They fall silent. Maki pockets the treasure she’s been given and lifts the piano cover. Her hands hover above the keys, but they do not fall. Her partner sits down next to her, and for a moment she expects her to pull out a notebook and start writing. “Two years, huh...I didn’t expect to have anything to do with music, but somehow some of my fondest memories were right here. To be honest, I might miss this room more than the archery range.”

“Yeah, I’ll miss it too.”

“Huh?” Umi looks at her. “You’re still here for another year.”

“Between my studies, the student council, and the Idol Research Club, I’ll probably be too busy to keep coming here if I don’t have a reason to. I’ve got my piano at home anyway. Besides, it wouldn’t be the same without you.”

“Maki, you shouldn’t give up something like that because of me.”

“Don’t feel guilty. It’s the promise I made myself. We said μ’s wasn’t right without all nine of us, didn’t we? Well, for me, this room isn’t right without you here with me.” She starts playing, a piece Umi doesn’t recognize but it still kindles a sense of familiarity and nostalgia in her, and a realization that days have passed by.

The ocean-haired girl notices how tightly the pianist’s eyes are shut, more than just being lost in the music. “Maki--”

“I won’t cry,” the younger girl says, softly. She isn’t even sure who she’s telling that to. “This isn’t a heartless farewell, so I won’t cry. Even if it’s not here, from now on we’ll still meet up just like always.” Frantic movements, a steady crescendo, she hits every note without a single glance. She doesn’t need to look, even though she knows she can’t mess up. --That’s because it’s impossible for her to mess this up. “Because it’s not an illusion. What we have won’t just disappear. No matter how distant our skies, I’ll always run after you.” The storm breaks as the last note rings out, quiet but deafening. “I...I love you. You’ll wait for me, right?”

The response is as immediate as it is resolute, the answer already obvious to the only person the song is for. “Neither one of us is waiting.” Umi stands up and extends her hand. There’s no button in it anymore, and in its place lies a promise. There’s nothing and there’s everything, and most importantly there’s everything that Umi was and is and ever will be. “You’re right, this isn’t a heartless farewell. Because whether I’m feeling happy or sad, no matter when, I want to be by your side. It can’t disappear, it’s only just begun, we’ve yet to reach our goal. I want to look at the same stars as you. We’ll run forward together, just like we always have, even amidst the storm.” At that moment, the sun breaks through the clouds outside, its brilliant light crashing into the room as if to illuminate everything that’s being laid bare. “Maki, I love you too much to run ahead without you. Wherever I go, you’ll be right there with me, right?”

The pianist is surprised for only a second, before nodding and grasping hold of the outstretched hand, betting her everything on their fervent wish as well. “Now come on, we’re keeping everyone waiting.” Maki nods, and they leave the music room behind them, taking with them the dreams they found and promises they made in its walls.

[miffyremade]

just go to /tagged/christmas eli shrine/ and see how fucking wet i was over this card and now i FINALLU HAVE HER

[lonelypond]

Tiger By The Tail, Chapter One

Love Live, NicoMaki, NozoEli, 2.6K, 1/?

Summary: Nishikino Maki is escaping family expectation by wintering in the Nishikino's summer haven, while allowing her childhood friend, Kousaka Honoka to use the family camp as a bed and breakfast. Their friend, Minami Kotori, met Sonada Umi during a design internship in Tokyo and has convinced Umi that her Lily White management group and their primary client, rising social media star Yazawa Nico, should travel to America to help launch Kotori's debut design line. Local Eli Ayase is interested in the new visitors.

Notes: Note about language: I am not going to attempt English to Japanese translation very often and when I use Japanese phrases, I will try to make the intention clear. But if the Japanese natives are alone together, assume they are speaking Japanese although I will have typed English.

Tiger By The Tail, Chapter One

Honoka was back. And with company she’d apparently met at the door.

Nishikino Maki could have stayed out of it. Arguably, she should have stayed out of it. But her ears had perked up at the flow of perfectly spoken Japanese and something about the shrill indignation of the speaker...Maki glanced over the couch. A tiny, almost miniscule woman completely swaddled in a parka was gesturing wildly at a much more buxom specimen, wearing only a fair isle sweater and a scarf over her regular clothes. Honoka was looking very confused.

Honoka, rubbed her head nervously but her smile remained bright, “I’m sorry. Is there a problem?”

The taller woman shook her head and spoke in only slightly accented English. “Pardon the intrusion. Are you Kosaka Honoka?”

“Just call me Honoka.”

“Honoka.” A smile, but Maki was mostly watching the shorter woman fussily unwrap two yards of scarf and continue to mutter. It fascinated.

“Is your friend all right?” Honoka the ever helpful wondered as she unpacked groceries from their totes.

At that there was a stomp. And a “Nico Nico Ni” and some kind of hand gesture. Was this a Japanese form of exorcism? Maki would have to take notes. Eli would be entertained.

“Nico was just expecting…” a hesitation from the taller. A snort from ‘Nico.’ Was her name actually a demand for a smile? Because Maki thought that seemed more foreign to her demeanor than English.

And perhaps Maki really should have minded her own business. But... “The short one has put a curse on us for being a rustic backwater she’s being forced to slum in. Apparently, we are about to contaminate her perfectly crafted image.”

The shorter one spun, almost faster than Maki could blink, strangely dangerous red eyes narrowed and locked on. Maki felt struck by the accusation in the gaze.

“Shitsurei na hito desu ne.” Nico snarled

Yes, Maki was being rude, but so was insulting the host in a language Honoka didn’t understand. If Maki was giving up her Christmas solitude, she was certainly not going to let her friends be run over by Little Miss Misanthrope. Maki decided her best response was a shrug and an eye roll. Match attitude for attitude.

“Hello.” The taller woman spoke slowly. “I am Tojo Nozomi. Please forgive Nico. Jet lag is difficult.”

Nico obviously spoke enough English to be unhappy at the apology on her behalf but chose not to speak.

“Konnichiwa. ” Maki was still stretched out, leaning on the arm of the couch, enjoying the show.

“Nihongo jyouzu desu ne, doko de naratta no desu ka?” Nozomi’s turquoise eyes brightened with curiosity.

“Watashi wa Tōkyō ni sunde imasu.” Maki had lived in Japan and had dual citizenship, at least until her 22nd birthday, although she’d been based in New York City for high school and college.

“Interesting.” Nozomi inclined her head, “May I have your name?”

“Oh, that’s Maki. She’s…” Honoka had put the groceries away and stepped around Nico.

Maki hopped up, interrupting Honoka, “Let’s get them settled in their room. The double upstairs?”

“ummm...I’m not sure, there were...” Honoka scrunched up her face, trying to remember details.

Nozomi clarified. “Two more people are due. They had to wait for some of the luggage to clear customs.”

“That’s right, there were 4 of you. And two rooms.” Honoka bopped herself on the side of the head.

The tiny woman had stopped glaring at Maki and stepped forward. “Take Nico to her room. Now.” She did speak English. Fairly smoothly.

Nozomi seemed uncomfortable and made a half bow. “Nico is tired and would appreciate privacy.”

“Upstairs?” Maki asked, searching for a bag but Nico had the handle of her rolling suitcase clutched in a hanging off the side of a cliff from a sapling grip.

Rapid fire Japanese from the shorter woman and then a reluctant translation. “Nico agreed to the master suite.”

“That’s my room.” Maki was startled. When she’d agreed to let Honoka run the Nishikino family camp as a bed and breakfast, she insisted Honoka keep the master suite unbooked.

Nico’s arms were crossed and she was glaring.

“Nico has certain expectations of privacy.” Nozomi offered smoothly.

“No.” Maki snapped.

Honoka turned to Maki, blue eyes pleading. “There’s two rooms. Your parents are in Japan…I figured it wouldn’t be a problem.”

“The bathroom’s shared.” Maki hissed, coming around the island and dragging Honoka down the hall towards the door.

“Maki…” Honoka whined, Maki hated it when Honoka whined. “Kotori asked us as a favor.”

Kotori had asked for a favor. Said these were friends of hers. Maki should have obviously asked for more details.

“This is your problem, Honoka. Put her in the garage.”

“That’s my room.”

Maki glared at Honoka.

“It’s a tiny loft.” Honoka had both hands out, pleading. Maki tried not to think of the clutter that Honoka had probably buried her bed in.

Maki’s hand flashed out, pointing back to their guests. “She’s tiny.”

“Maki....” more whining.

Glances were exchanged between the guests and Nozomi stepped forward, “Is there a problem?”

“No, no, not a problem…”Honoka had started waving her arms, “just a hiccup, but Maki’s really nice and it’ll all be okay, right, Maki?” Honoka had one of Maki’s arms in a not so friendly vise.

Maki closed her eyes, humming a darker patch of the Nutcracker, then grimaced at Honoka, “I’m going to Eli’s. NO ONE goes into my bedroom.”

“Nobody wants to...” Honoka almost sagged with relief but still clung.

“Oh, just be quiet, Honoka.” Maki shook off her friend, and grabbed her coat, tossing her hair back and pulling her watch cap over the curls. She could rant at Eli and then be back after jet lag had knocked out the problems. Good strategy.

“See you later.” Nozomi called out. “Thank you for your hospitable greeting.”

Nico snorted.

Maki growled.

###

“I can’t believe Honoka would do that.” Maki was pacing, she’d already done a dozen circuits of Eli’s tiny storefront office.

Eli looked down at her friend, reaching out to grab the pine swags that Maki was thrashing the air with. Eli took some care hanging them off nails, “It’s Honoka. What did you expect. You agreed to let her run a B and B out of your family’s camp. Even if you only did it to annoy your parents, you still did it.”

Maki blew her bangs out of her eyes, “I didn’t do it to annoy my parents. Honoka needs some actual experience. I wanted to help.”

“I know.” Eli paused, debating if the swag was level enough that customers wouldn’t think the Christmas decorations had been hung by elves drunk on nog. Then she swatted Maki with a spare pine branch. “Plus, bonus, if it annoys your parents…”

“Eli…” Maki’s voice held a note of warning.

“Sorry.” Eli laughed and climbed down, folding up the step ladder, and being a good friend, changed the subject, “Japanese friends of Kotori, huh. Bet they were stylish.”

Maki shrugged, “The tiny one was mostly wrapped up in a puffer jacket that she could have rolled down Cadillac Mountain in.”

“I’ll have to stop by. How long are they staying? You should invite them to the Nutcracker.”

Maki turned her back on Eli, appreciating the seasonal touches Eli had scattered around her office, a pair of antique snowshoes, skiing pictures, white and blue knit hats with Bibi and a snowflake embroidered on the brim, “Talk to Honoka.”

“I will.” Eli bounded behind her desk, chin propped on hand, “We need to meet more people. This is a very dead town in the winter.”

“I’m fine.”

“They’ll go back to Japan, you can try out flirting with no consequences.” Eli winked.

Maki raised a judge-y eyebrow at Eli, “Flirting always has consequences.”

“Not for the forthright.” Eli leaned back, the picture of smug, blonde charisma.

“Good luck with that.” Maki kicked a rug while Eli preened, “Can I borrow a snowmobile sometime?”

Eli leaned forward, looking at the printout on her desk. “Sure. Have a rental party tomorrow, but anytime after that. Need a guide?”

Maki shook her head.

“Where are you headed?”

Hands in her pocket, Maki sighed, “Just out.”

“Harasho.”

Maki had had enough polite conversation. It was time to move this to Eli’s garage/ballet studio and the upright Maki slummed on when Eli needed live music. “Let’s practice.”

“Go warm up. I’ll be right there.”

Maki nodded.

###

Very nice space, Nozomi decided, as she looked around the clean, bright wood of the walls, large framed photographs of rural rice paddy, bamboo, and temple scenes blending nicely into the natural feel. Nozomi wondered if there was a Shinto shrine or temple anywhere close. New Year’s would be strange without visiting one.

Nico frowned, “Why aren’t we in New York City?”

“Because Umi’s designer friend is amazing, based here, and we’ve been invited as guests…” Nozomi nudged Nico as she curled up in a chair, looking miserable, “Plus, the scenery is quite lovely.”

Nico glared at her manager, “You're not talking about the snow are you?”

“Why not have some fun?” Nozomi bounce sat on the bed, trying out its springiness.

“Nico is working.”

“Nico is always working.”

“Yes.” Nico was taking in every detail of the room and there weren’t nearly enough.

“Nico should take a break. Ask a girl out. Get a private tour…” Nozomi’s go to look was a leer and it infected her voice.

“Nico isn’t interested.”

“It’ll be a long, cold three weeks then.” Nozomi flopped back on the bed. She hoped the upstairs mattresses were this comfy.

“Nico will stay close to the fire.”

Nozomi sat up. “Women are warmer.”

“Nico doesn’t need entanglements.”

“I wouldn’t mind being tangled in…” Nozomi ended her teasing, for the moment, at Nico’s fierce glare.

“Leave Nico alone.”

Nozomi bowed, giggling, “Yes, your majesty. Maybe I’ll go see if that snappy, sassy redhead is back and we bond can over your bad habits.”

Nico looked for something to throw as Nozomi hustled out the door.

###

The music always helped. Maki had gotten another stern email from her parents suggesting she enter Columbia to start her MBA studies, since she had decided not to pursue medical school. As a pre med, she’d been able to sneak through college with a music major, taking the required science courses for her planned out future. But that had just made the thought of so many hours in school not in front of any kind of keyboard unbearable. So she’d fled to Maine and looked up her summer childhood friends, including Honoka.

After she’d finished at Eli’s, Maki had just walked straight into the music room she’d turned the walkout basement into, to continue practicing the Tchaikovsky pieces that Eli had decided on, and the March that Honoka had chosen for their latest video, with Maki playing as seriously as possible and Honoka cracking as many nuts as she could in the costumes that Kotori had come up with. They were filming that tomorrow, if Honoka remembered.

When Maki next looked at a clock it was after 2 a.m. Too late. But she was barely sleepy. Time to curl up with milk and cookies and a Christmas cartoon? Stretching her arms out in front of her, Maki stepped out, the snow crunching under her unlaced boots, stars distant but bright in the cold, clear night. Bracing. Maki should have just taken the stairs. Stomping through the snow while humming a very fast March, Maki found herself even more alert, shaking off the cold as she switched to slippers and strolled into the kitchen. Quick warm up some milk with cinnamon, Maki glanced over her shoulder, Honoka had left the fire going. Maki would have to talk to her about that...wait, was someone on the couch?

“Hello?”

Sharp red eyes glowered above a scowl.

Maki wondered if somehow Nico had heard the piano, even through the soundproofing, “I’m sorry, did I wake you up?”

A shrug, or more accurately the blanket Honoka’s Japanese guest had swaddled around herself moved slightly up, then down.

“I haven’t been sleeping so I’m hoping some warm milk and cookies will fix that.” Maki considered measures as she poured out a pint into the pot, “Would you like some?”

“Arigato.”

Maki poured more milk into the pot, took out the cinnamon, and turned on the flame. Humming Elligton’s Sugar Rum Cherry take, Maki started stirring.

“Why so quiet?” A voice grumped next to her.

Maki jumped slightly, managing to squelch a squeal and only splatter a third of the milk.

“I’m not quiet. I’m humming.” Maki turned to Nico, squaring her shoulders back to loom slightly. Nico’s glance paused briefly as she looked straight ahead, then ticked up to meet Maki’s.

“Not you.” Nico spun, waving both hands in a broad gesture that took in all the windows. “Here.”

Maki scratched her cheek, “It’s supposed to be quiet. It’s the woods.”

Nico hmmpphed. “Too quiet to sleep.”

“How can it be too quiet to sleep?” Maki was genuinely puzzled and found herself watching to see what Nico was going do next.

Nico sighed, started to say something, then her eyes went wide just as Maki’s nostrils flinched at an acridly sweet burning odor, and Nico shoved forward, pushing Maki to the side, using the blanket to snatch the pot off the stove by its handle, “Baka.”

“Just let me…” Maki reached for the pot, but Nico slapped her hand down.

“Sit.” Nico pointed to the front room.

“This is my…”

Nico shoved the pot under Maki’s nose and Maki stepped back, gagging, “Sit.”

Grumbling, Maki moved to the counter, leaning. Nico, with swift, sure movements, took a quick tour of every cabinet and assembled a new batch of ingredients. Maki tried to get a good look through the constantly shifting speedster but Nico was moving so fast it was hard to focus on what she had in her hands.

“Is that chocolate? I’m not…”

Nico turned, raised a finger to her lips, and shushed Maki, who decided slumping morosely in one of the stools was the right mood. But she just couldn’t keep her frown when the smell of cinnamon and chocolate with just the slightest hint of some heated spice started to warm her.

Maki, twirling a curl, was staring out the window, when a box of shortbread and a mug of meltingly dark hot chocolate landed in front of her. Nico had already shuffled past, rewrapping herself in the blanket, and claiming the far end of the couch.

“Arigato.” Maki said as she picked up the offerings and followed. Nico was staring expectantly. Maki cleared her throat nervously, “I was planning to watch some Christmas cartoons…”

Nico seemed bored, and shrugged, staring ahead into the fire, suddenly disinterested in Maki.

“Did Honoka leave the fire?” Maki asked quietly.

“Nico knows how to make fire.” Nico shivered, “wanted warmer.”

Maki jumped up, hurried to her bedroom and came back with the queen sized wool ‘Good Medicine’ blanket off her bed, leaning over the back of the couch to wrap it around Nico, “you can borrow this while you’re here. If Honoka’s only given you a comforter, it might help.”

Another period of staring while Maki watched the fire and wondered what notes the flares of yellow and orange would translate too if she were scoring the backdrop to a winter’s night.

“Jet lag Nico. You?” Nico broke the silence.

The chocolate was richer and sweeter than Maki was used to, with the slightest bite of what might be a hot pepper. “Never sleep.”

Nico grunted, “bad for skin.”

Maki drew in a hugely dramatic puff of air and patted her chest over her heart, “Harsh.”

Nico giggled.

Mood eased, Maki ventured a question. “Talking snowman or talking reindeer?”

Nico tapped her mug, then her lip quirked up into what looked like a smirk from the side, “Grinch.”

Maki grabbed the remote.

A/N: Well, here we go again. Buckle in for the winter holidays, this story will cover Christmas, New Year's, and the Lunar New Year, a holiday very meaningful to me. There will probably be more romance than the main two, but I'm still working out the details.

I have had the most stressful of Autumns and I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to get in the mood for a holiday jam. But I know I'd miss it too much. I'll be continuing the werewolf shenanigans of Midnight Apocalypse Dance Party as this goes on. And at some point, Can't Get Started will finish...probably. I blame the title.

This title is because I suddenly did math and decided Maki and Rin were born in the Year of The Tiger, the third years in the Year Of The Rat, the rest in Ox and that seems to work. So I'm going with it,Thank you everyone who keeps reading these. Knowing Love Live still connects us has been a bright spot. I appreciate your support.

[miffyremade]

this is the first time im buying love gems but i would actually give my life for christmas v2 eli ayase

[miffyremade]

friendly reminder that im in love with christmas v2 eli ayase

[miffyremade]

i would chop off any and all of my limbs to be able to obtain christmas eli