#eh sure we'll do a week why not

[writersdrug]

Training for Two

Chapter 5. Back to Square One

Masterlist

Summary: Simon's rapidly growing obsession with you comes to a halt.

Warnings: obsessive behavior, cursing, slight nsfw

The drive back to Simon's house was quiet and dark. Price had turned on the radio, letting classic rock play quietly in the background. He tapped the steering wheel every so often, humming to whatever lyrics he could remember.

Simon sat in the passenger seat, staring at the cars ahead, occasionally glancing at the signs that whizzed by the truck. Each sign that brought him closer to home made him ache. He thought about his bed. He thought about Riley. And, of course, he thought about you. He knew you most likely wouldn't be there - it was after midnight. But he liked to imagine that you'd be waiting there, sitting on his couch with your book and mug of tea, Riley settled next to you, ready to greet him with your smile - the smile that he'd been thinking about in every stolen moment during the mission.

"Alright there, Simon?" Price cut through the silence, dragging Simon back to earth.

He cleared his throat. "Yes sir. Jus' ready to be back."

Price scoffed. He knew Simon didn't consider his house a home. If anything, it was a safe house between missions. "I'm sure Riley will be happy to see you."

"We'll see about that." Simon said with a chuckle. "This dog-sitter might've stolen her from me."

"Nah, she's yours. Been with 'er through it all." Price said as he turned into Simon's neighborhood. "I'm sure she enjoyed the company, though."

Simon grunted. "Seems like it." He said, remembering the picture you had sent him; the way Riley had cozied up to you, the way she seemed so docile and calm in your presence. He imagined you running your fingers through her fur, the perfect ratio of scratching to gentle pets. He wondered what it would feel like on his scalp...

A shiver ran down his spine. How does one become jealous of their own damn dog? It was ridiculous.

"Speaking of the dog-sitter..." Price said, "Johnny mentioned she's a real-"

"Whatever Johnny told you, you can disregard." Simon grumbled. "I told him not to worry 'bout it."

Price chuckled, which made Simon burn with frustration. "Touchy subject, eh?"

"There's nothing to discuss." He replied bitterly. Quite frankly, he didn't like the picture Soap had managed to paint of him. His entire team thought he was whipped by someone he had barely known. Despite it being entirely true, it was the complete opposite of the image he had built of himself - and he had a reputation to keep.

"Right." Price nodded. Simon could tell he didn't believe him, but as long as he didn't try to pester him anymore about it, Simon would take it as a win.

Price pulled into the driveway, and Simon immediately unbuckled. He reached into the back and grabbed his duffel bag, then yanked his door open and got out.

"Y' know this isn't over." Price said, right before Simon could close the door. "We most likely 'ave a week 'fore we get sent out again. Just don't get too comfortable 'ere."

"Never do." Simon replied, shouldering his bag. "I'll wait for your call."

Price nodded, sending Simon off with a wave. He watched as he closed the passenger door and walked up the path to his house, before pulling out of the driveway and heading towards his own home.

Simon sighed as he fished his keys from his pocket. He heard Riley barking on the other side of the door, and a small smile formed on his face. When he pushed it open, she immediately jumped on him, whining and sniffing him all over. He knew she could smell the others on him, and probably wondered why he didn't bring her this time.

"Hey, girl..." he said, yanking his balaclava off and kneeling down to ruffle her fur. "Sorry I's gone so long. Miss me?"

She stood her front paws on his knees and licked his face, still whining and swinging her tail rapidly.

"Yeah, missed you too." He chuckled. "D'ya have fun? Did she treat you right?"

Riley dropped down to the floor as Simon stood. She turned towards his duffel bag and began sniffing, eyes focused on the fabric as she took in all the new and familiar scents.

Simon sighed. "'Bout time for a proper cuppa." He said, making his way into the kitchen. Despite it nearing one in the morning, it would be a while before he was decompressed enough to fall asleep.

He reached into the cupboard for a mug, ignoring the way his back popped. When he placed the mug down and reached for a teabag, he saw a note on the counter. With a furrowed brow, he picked it up and read it.

Hello Simon!

Hope your deployment was fun good! Riley and I had a blast! She learned how to play dead - if you want to try it, just make sure to give her a biscuit for it (she's only had one today, and she was a bit bitter that I left before giving her a second one). Also, she's had her medicine for the day. I gave her last dose around 9 pm.

Can't wait to spend more time with her, but I'm sure she's happy to see her dad! Let me know when you need me next!

Have a nice evening!

P.S. I had to use your washing machine, I hope that was alright. I got a bit muddy trying to teach her the new trick.

He stared at the note for a good amount of time. His eyes wandered over your meticulously neat handwriting. He noticed how often you liked to use exclamation points - the same way you did in your texts and emails. It made him annoyed - but not with you. He was annoyed that he found it... adorable. He shouldn't. You were too bright and happy; your personality should burn him, not warm him up.

He tried to brush it off, blaming his obervant behaviour on the recent mission. Old habits die hard, he lied to himself.

"Riley, c'mere."

Upon hearing her name, Riley meandered into the kitchen and stopped in front of Simon. She sat on her hind legs and looked at him expectantly.

He looked back at her - he felt a bit silly, commanding a retired veteran dog to do simple party tricks. But, it sounded like you put a lot of effort into teaching her this - not to mention, you had somehow dirtied your clothes over it - so he decided to entertain the idea.

"Play dead." He said firmly.

Riley immediately flopped down onto her back, sticking her paws into the air. She even let her tongue hang out of her mouth to really sell the image.

He felt an immediate rush of pride. "Atta girl..." he praised, kneeling down and patting her affectionately. Despite all the annoyance he felt a moment ago, Simon couldn't stop the smile from creeping onto his face.

She twisted and sat up, snuffling and groaning as he rubbed her fur. She barked once, sharp and demanding.

"Yeah, yeah- suppose you deserve a biscuit, huh?" He stood up and grabbed the box of peanut butter and bacon treats, fishing one out and tossing it to Riley. She caught it perfectly, crunching it with an open mouth and licking her lips afterwards.

He watched her with a smile, his arms folded over his chest. Sure, tricks were dumb, something only glorified house pets did for small rewards. But he was impressed that Riley had so effortlessly followed a new command, especially after being out of work for so long. And he was warmed by the fact that, not only did you watch her, but you engaged with her. He was confident he'd found the perfect pet-sitter.

After starting a load of laundry, Simon had taken a cold shower. He scrubbed his eyeblack off with nothing but his hands and the generic body wash from the corner store. He slathered some of his 3-in-one hair gel into his scalp, giving it no more than seven scrubs before rinsing it out. He stood there for a while, letting the water beat against his sore back as the details of the previous mission swarmed throughout his head. He picked apart what he could have done better, what had nearly gotten him killed, and what had probably saved his life.

His eyes flickered to the corner of the tub; there was a cluster of travel-sized bottles, labeled "face wash", "body butter", and so forth. He let himself imagine - who was he kidding, he had no control over his thoughts when it came to you - your body, standing under the stream of the shower. You probably liked hot showers, didn't you? You most likely stayed in there for an hour, going through your meticulous routine, lathering yourself in scented soaps and creams... you'd be appalled if you had seen the three-minute showers he takes, wouldn't you? Maybe you would pull him into your routine, once Simon did eventually get the balls to ask you out, despite how much the thought of being romantic with someone made him scoff. He'd let you wash his face, or shave his balls, or do whatever it is you would do to him.

He suddenly snapped out of his trance, realizing he was holding one of the bottles labeled "conditioner". His thumb was on the edge of the cap, ready to flip it open and take a whiff of the scent - but he quickly stopped himself. He put the bottle back with the rest, then splashed cold water over his face. Quit being a fuckin' creep... he thought.

After turning the shower off and drying himself with a towel, he went into his room and grabbed a pair of sweatpants. He made his way back into the basement, patting Riley on the back as he passed her by the door. He pulled his laundry out and placed it on top of the washing machine, and opened the dryer. Just as he was getting ready to toss his clothes in, he noticed something hiding in the back of the barrel of the machine.

He reached in and pulled it out - it was your flannel. The same green-and-grey one you'd been wearing during your interview.

He paused for a moment, posture rigid as he held the fabric in the air. He wasn't quite sure what to do with it. It was just a flannel... but it was your flannel. He fought with his muscles, resisting the urge to bring it closer and inhale the scent - he tried to reason with himself. Maybe she used my soap, and it would just smell like my detergent. Nothin' special.

He dropped it on top of the dryer, still wrinkly and warm - but, strangely, that felt too rude. It's a fucking piece of clothing, for Christ's sake... he thought. Not her dead nan. He then attempted to hang it on the rack, but that felt too formal. He groaned, rubbing his eyes with irritation. How something so insignificant was causing him so much turmoil was beyond him.

He ended up bringing it back upstairs. Riley sniffed the fabric as he passed her - she thumped her tail eagerly on the floor as she smelled your scent. Once again, Simon was jealous of the dog being able to act so carefree with you - he knew for sure that if he tried sniffing your flannel, he would be a certified creep. Or, worse yet, he might not care, and wouldn't be able to stop himself.

He tossed it over the back of the couch, planning on forgetting you had ever even worn it. He dropped himself onto the cuhions with a groan. Riley immediately took her place in her bed, just a few feet away from him. He grabbed the remote off the coffee table and turned on the telly, flicking through the channels until he found some action/drama that caught his interest. He watched it boredly, drowning himself and his thoughts in the drone of the movie.

Suddenly, Riley barked. Simon looked at her - his gaze was met with hers, mouth opening and tail thwapping against the wall.

"Hmm?"

She let out an impatient, garbled sound. She lowered her head to the edge of her bed, still looking at Simon.

He shrugged internally and looked back at the screen. He settled further into the cushions and let his eyes fall shut. He thought about maybe drifting off then and there - the din of the telly might help keep the nightmares at bay...

Riley barked again, making Simon jolt. He snapped his head towards her - she was standing at the foot of the couch, ears back and panting.

"Wha' d'you want?" He asked in an annoyed tone.

She barked again, shifting her weight from one paw to the other.

"Ya need to go out?" He asked. He stood from his seat, only for Riley to scamper back to her bed and plop down on it. She looked at him expectantly.

Simon huffed. "'M not following." He dropped down to the sofa again. Riley groaned, making a scene of dragging herself out of the bed again and walking over to Simon.

"Now, don't you go 'n start aga-"

She cut him off with a shrill yap.

He pressed his lips into a thin line. He knew it couldn't be time for her medication - you had just given her some at nine. But he was entirely stumped on what she was trying to communicate to him. Was she hungry? She wasn't usually, after she'd had dinner... did she want to play? But... she was acting like she wanted to go to bed.

"What are you on 'bout?" He asked, leaning down to ruffle her fur. She dodged his hand and backed up a bit, yowling out a frustrated sound.

He scoffed. "Fuckin' hell..." he mumbled, pulling his phone from his pocket. Only one way to fix this, he thought, as he tapped through his contacts, until he landed on yours.

He stared at the picture for a moment, familiarizing himself with the details he had spent so long ogling at: your smile, your damp hair, the curve of your cheekbones, the way you marked your spot in your book with your fingers-

Riley barked again, making Simon scowl.

"A'right- just hush." He ordered, sending her a stern glance as she shuffled back to her bed. He started the call - he felt unusually nervous, his gut twisting as he listened to each ring on the line. Maybe he really was whipped, he thought.

Eventually, the call picked up. His shoulders tensed as he heard shuffling on the other end of the line.

"... m... hello?"

Fuck. You sounded tired- no, you sounded like you were still asleep. He quickly pulled the phone away and checked the time; it was nearly two in the morning. Of course you'd been asleep.

"Uh... hey." He said, mentally cursing himself. "Shit, I, uh... didn't even consider you might be asleep."

"No..." You mumbled - were you even awake at all? "No, iz fine... yeah..."

Simon waited a moment, expecting you to say something else - but you didn't. Eventually, he heard the soft sounds of your breathing again.

"Hello?" He asked cautiously.

"Up... 'm up... what's up?"

Simon shifted in his seat, slightly ashamed that he hadn't put two and two together and ended up calling you so late. "Right- jus' a quick-"

Riley barked again, staring at Simon impatiently.

Simon covered the speaker to his phone and sent her a harsh glare. "Oi! 'M workin' on it, hush!"

Your sleepy giggle wafted through the phone and into Simon's ear. "Sweet baby..."

Simon's breath caught in his throat, and he coughed nervously. She means the dog, the fucking dog, you idiot.

"Uh, sorry- jus' got a question for ya."

"Hmm?"

"Well- she's acting a bit funny," he stared at Riley and held a cautioning hand up as she shifted her weight and whined, "she's runnin' around and yellin' at me. Keeps gettin' in 'er bed, then comin' back like- like she wants somethin'. I have no bloody idea. Just wonderin' if she was doin' this with you."

"Oh, yeah..." Simon could hear your smile through the phone, and he desperately tried to push the image of your tired face from his mind. "She wants her blanket."

Simon paused. "She- she's got her blanket."

"No- she wants you to tuck her in."

"She wha' now?"

You laughed again. "You need to tuck her in her bed. She's right under the air vent and she gets cold."

He looked back at Riley. She was now sitting down, mouth closed, as if agreeing with what you said. He scoffed, rising from the couch and shuffling towards her. She slowly thumped her tail as he approached.

"Never 'eard of a dog gettin' tucked in..." he grumbled. He grabbed the felt blanket behind her, swaddling it around her body. She groaned, slowly blinking at him in an appreciative manner.

"Ya spoiled, you hear me?" He said quietly, tucking the blanket in between her and the cushion of the bed. She sighed happily, completely unaware that he was insulting her. She licked his cheek when he bent down close enough, and he grumbled and wiped the spittle away.

You giggled in his ear - Christ, you've got to stop doing that, do you have any idea what it does to him? - as he sat back down on the sofa. "All better?" You asked.

"Seems t' be-" he replied, watching Riley as she settled into her cocoon, "ya turnin' her into a princess."

"Well, she is one." You quickly replied - Simon could hear you stretching your limbs, followed by a long exhale.

He wanted to talk to you all night. Hearing you prattle on was like a balm to his jagged mind. But he knew he couldn't. You were half asleep, after all.

"Well, tha's all I needed- oh, and you, uh..." he grabbed your flannel off the back of the sofa. "Y' left your flannel here."

"I did?"

"Yeah. The green one."

"Oh, bullocks, I knew I-"

"Who are you talking to at this hour?"

Simon felt his heart stop when he heard the other voice. It had hit him like a train, flooding his veins with adrenaline. His brain went into overdrive, thinking of the worst possible scenario. Break in? Crazy stalker? Murderous ex? "Y' aright, love?"

"Simon." You said, and he couldn't tell if you were talking to him or someone else. Were you trying to warn him? To ask for help?

"Talk to me."

"Who the bloody hell is Simon?"

"My client, ya git."

"Oh- sorry love-" Simon heard more shuffling, then a kiss, followed by a grunt from you. He let himself linger in the confusion of what was going on - but, in the back of his mind, he understood it completely.

"Got me right in my bloody eye-"

"Oh, hush."

"Left your flannel at his house."

"My green one?"

"Yeah."

"I thought you were using the grey one!"

"Well, I was, Tyler, and then I wanted the green one!"

"That's it - I'm stealin' all ya knickers tomorrow."

You laughed again - this time. The sound nearly shattered Simon. He felt like it was wrong to hear you laugh so sweetly.

"Well, uh-" he was speaking before he even realized it. "You can pick it up- or I'll drop it off- or, uh, I can drop it- I mean, I'll-"

"You can shove it in the closet until next time, if that's alright?" You said, yawning shortly after.

Simon paused. He needed to get it together. "Yea, that'll work. I'll let you go then - sorry to call so late."

"It's fine, really. But let me know when you'll need me again, ok?"

"'Course I will. I'll send you an email, as usual."

You scoffed. "I know you said we should only text for emergencies, but you can text me if it's something small, Simon."

"Right, will do. I'll text you."

"Is everything ok?"

"It's fine. You should sleep. I'll talk later."

"Ok. Goodnight, Simon."

"G'bye."

He ended the call, staring at the screen for a moment, until your contact photo faded away. He leaned his head back and sighed. His thoughts suddenly came rushing back - except this time, they were about you. How he should have expected you to have a partner. How could you not? You were so bright and bubbly, of course you'd be snatched up. He felt stupid for thinking you'd be single. Maybe this whole idea of you falling for him was stupid. Maybe this was better - he was saved from rejection, even if this situation stung painfully within his chest.

Whatever. Hopefully, your personality would finally drive him over the edge of annoyance and anger, and you'd be more of a nuisance to him. That'd be the easiest way you could let him down.

He looked at the flannel in his lap. It's not even hers. He thought. He crumpled the fabric into his hand and flung it behind him.

Riley's head snapped up at the movement, and she floundered out of her bed, chasing after the flannel.

"Riley, no- don't-" he sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose as he heard her scuffling across the floor. He kept his eyes closed as he heard her come trotting back, before she stopped at the edge of the couch.

She whined and tilted her head. Simon opened his eyes and looked at her.

"That's not even hers, ya ninny." He said. He looked away and turned up the telly, hoping that everything in his head would just disappear into the back of his mind.

Riley stepped around Simon's feet as she carried the flannel in her mouth. She then hopped onto the couch and settled next to Simon, depositing the (now damp) clothing onto his lap. He grunted as she laid her head down on his leg, whining and flattening her ears. She looked up at him with curious eyes, slowly thumping her tail on the cushion.

He exhaled through his nose. He stared at the flannel, then back at Riley. "Ya really like her, eh?"

She licked her lips and blinked, sighing through her nose.

He chuckled, patting her side and looking at the ceiling. "I know. I do too." He closed his eyes.

"We'll be alright, girl."

Next ->

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[arc-misadventures]

The Newest Ace

Weiss: Ohhhh~! I can't believe we're doing this!

Yang: Okay? Am I missing something? Cause, Weiss isn't the type to bounce up, and down in excitement.

Weiss, who had been bouncing on her feet in excitement suddenly stopped. She brushed the creases in her skirt as she tried to regain her composure, but the deep red blush across her face wasn't fading anytime soon.

Ruby: For this mission we're being accompanied by a group of, Specialists! One of them happens to be, Weiss's big sister, Winter!

Yang: Oh! Looking forward to spending time with your big sis, eh?

Weiss: I can't help it okay! I rarely get to spend time with her! And, lately whenever I try to spend time with her, she's always busy helping one of the other, Specialists!

Blake: Which, Specialist?

Weiss: I don't know, she didn't say who it was.

Yang: Maybe we'll get to meet them while on this mission; The reports did say we would be accompanied by two, Specialists.

Ruby: I wonder who it is, I hope it's Harriet; I like, Harriet, she's cool!

Blake: I hope it's, Clover myself. It's nice to have a guaranteed good luck charm around you.

Ruby: Clover has been spending most of his time around, Uncle Qrow when on missions. If anyone needs a good luck charm it's, Uncle Qrow.

Yang: Can't argue with that...

Weiss: Well it doesn't matter. I get to go on a mission with my... Winter!

Weiss, shouted out her sisters name as she ran over to, Winter, and hugged her, who reciprocated her hug in kind. They embraced one another for a while until, Weiss pulled away from her sister with a beaming smile.

Weiss: Sister!

Winter: Hello, Weiss. How are you doing?

Weiss: I'm doing well sister. Better now that I get to see you!

Winter: Yes, I am sorry I've been so busy. We recently got a new member on the, Specialist Team; I've been showing him the ropes, and going on missions with him when he's going outside of, Atlas.

Yang: A new member?

Ruby: Is he anyone we know?

Winter: Why yes, it fact it's...?!

: Sorry I'm late, Winter! It took me forever to get these drones from the supply sergeant. He didn't understand that when they said he was, 'responsible for them.' That it meant he was responsible for keeping innovatory, and filling out the proper paper work of who last took them out.

: Poor bugger thought he was financially responsible for them if anything got broken on the field.

A man called out dressed in blues, red, and an all too familiar set of white armour came forward hefting two large suitcases in each of his hands.

Blake: Is that...?

Yang: Since when did...?

Weiss: It can't be...?

Ruby: Jaune?!

The individual carrying the two large suitcases stopped as he heard his name being called, for it was their friend, Jaune Arc.

Jaune: Oh? Hello, Team RWBY.

Ruby: Jaune, is that you?!

Jaune: Yes, I am, Jaune.

Yang: What's with that outfit?!

Jaune: It's my, Specialist uniform.

Blake: You're the, Specialist that's been assigned to us?!

Jaune: It appears so.

Weiss: You're the, Specialist bastard that's stolen my sister away from me?!

Jaune: Uhhh...? Some context please?

RWBY: What the hell, Jaune?!

Jaune: Haa... Okay, let me explain some things to you...

Jaune: Yes, I am a, Specialist. I became one about... a week, and a half ago at, Winter's recommendation. I haven't... stolen your sister, Weiss. She's been mentoring me on my duties as a, Specialist. And, we both have been assigned to this mission as your handlers.

Ruby: Handlers? What's that?

Blake: That means he's the boss.

Winter: We are here to keep you in line. To make sure you didn't do anything... ill-advise.

Yang: Ill-advised?

Jaune: Stupid.

Yang: Oh...

Yang: ...

Yang: Hey?!

Jaune: Alright, alright if you have anymore questions, you can ask them on the bullhead. We have a mission to do.

Ruby: Alright.

Yang: We're going...

Jaune watched as the members of, Team RWBY climb on to the bullhead, each one of them giving him an odd, and almost untrusting look. Jaune shrugged it off, and grabbed the drone cases, and walk up to, Winter, and asked her a simple question.

Jaune: Did you know we were going to be assigned with, Team RWBY for this mission?

Winter: No. Will that be a problem?

Jaune: Not to me it will.

Winter nodded her head, as the two boarded the bullhead, and made their way to the drop zone.

~~~

Midway through the flight, Jaune turned on a screen display for the mission zone, and gave them a debriefing.

Jaune: Alright listen up people: The mission is a seek, and destroy mission. There is a cave system north of the port town of, Foxquinth. This cave is routinely filled with, Grimm, and thus team's of, Hunter's are routinely sent to clear it out. Now, since this cave has been cleared out several times it has been thoroughly mapped out as a result of it. The oldest map we have is from two years ago. As you can see from the map, the tunnel section is a long path, that breaks into two paths. Now, I brought along two drones; the drones will be used to explore each cave section. We'll be checking to see if there are any, Grimm, and if there are, we'll know what kinds of, Grimm we'll be facing. After the drones have explored the cave system, we'll start clearing it out. If there are, Grimm down both separate tunnels, we'll divide into two teams of three, and clear them out. If not, and the Grimm is only in one tunnel, we'll all handle as a six man team. Any questions?

Jaune saw the hands of each member of, Team RWBY raise their hands before he added a caveat to his question.

Jaune: Any questions about the mission?

And, all, but one hand went down.

Jaune: Weiss?

Weiss: If this cave is routinely filled with, Grimm, why didn't they destroy the cave system to stop them from coming back?

Jaune: The cave formation is made out of iron stone; It requires explosives at the best of times to mine through it. And, the amount that's needed to bring down this cave system is considered too costly for what it's worth. Does that answer your question?

Weiss: Yes it does. thank you.

Jaune: Good, any more questions?

Jaune didn't see any hands rise so he gave a tied sigh as he then looked at them, and reluctantly said.

Jaune: Any questions about me becoming a, Specialists?

Everyone's hands shot up.

Jaune: Okay... Ruby?

Ruby: How come you didn't tell us you became a, Specialist?

Jaune: Did I have to?

Ruby: Y-Yeah, we're your friends, you tell your friends things, right...?

Jaune: No, no we're not.

Ruby: What...?

Jaune: Yang?

Yang: First off: Love the new look.

Jaune: Thank you~!

Yang: Secondly, why are you in charge of this mission?

Blake: Yeah, no offense, Jaune, but shouldn't, Winter be in charge, she is your superior officer?

Winter: We're testing him; General Ironwood wants to see how good, Jaune is in a leading position. Both in his abilities to lead others into combat scenarios, and how effective his plans are.

Yang: Oh, that makes sense...

Jaune: Anything else?

Weiss: Winter, is he treating you well? He hasn't done anything untoward you?

Winter: No. no he has not...

Weiss: Okay, but what if he...?!

Jaune: We're landing! Get ready to depart!

Ruby: Alright! Let's do this, Team RWBY!

Winter: You don't want her to ask anymore questions about our relationship?

Jaune: And, what exactly kind of relationship do we have?

Winter: ...

Winter: Yes...?

~~~

Jaune: Hmmm...

Jaune, and Winter knelt down in the snow as they watch the camera feeds on the monitors of their respective drones they were each piloting. All the while, Team RWBY formed a perimeter around them.

Jaune: See anything, Winter?

Winter: No, the cave path that leads to the right is empty. What about the left?

Jaune: I've got a few... not too many... Just a bunch a, Sabyrs, about eight of them, and one, Alpha Sabyr. Not too much to deal with.

Winter: Any chance of there being any, Centipede's?

Jaune: No. The iron stone is too thick for, Centipede's to burrow through. Even, Alpha class, Centipede's can't dig through it. Alright, recall your drone, we'll move as soon as they're back.

Jaune hit the recall on his pad,, and stood up to brush off the snow from his legs.

Jaune: Okay, listen up everyone; We're dealing with at least eight, Sabyr's, and one, Alpha Sabyr. They're all in the same place so we don't have to divided up. As soon as the drones are back we will head inside. Yang, you, and I are on point. Winter, and Weiss will be in the middle, and Ruby, and Blake will take up the rear. Okay?

Ruby: What? Why am I stuck in the back?

Jaune: Yang, and I will take the front because we are frontline fighters. We're the heavy hitters, and we can take a beating. We'll keep the enemy at bay while the rest of you whittle them down.

Jaune: Weiss, and Winter, are in the middle to provide support with their semblances. Be that with ranged attacks, barriers, whatever else their rather versatile semblance can do.

Jaune: While you, Ruby, will be with, Blake, and protect the rear. You job is to make sure nothing comes up, and attacks us from behind. And, if anything does come too close, Blake will engage to keep them off the, Schnee's. While you whittle them down with your sniper rifle, and protect the rear.

Jaune: Understood?

Ruby: But, I want...?!

Jaune: Understood!

Ruby: Y-Yes...!

Jaune: Good. Let's go team!

Yang: Since when was, Jaune so... so...?

Blake: Commanding...?

Yang: Yeah... something like that...

Weiss: He was a team leader... maybe he was always like this, we just never saw it.

Ruby: Yeah... but, he never seemed so angry though...

Weiss: Well, I can think of several reason why he might seem...?!

Jaune: Team RWBY! Form up!

Weiss: Yes!

Yang: Sorry!

Blake: Was he always like this?!

Ruby: How am I supposed to know?

Blake: Well, aren't you his best friend?

Ruby: ...

Ruby: Was I...?

~~~

The fight with the, Sabyr's was done. Barely even five minutes had past, barely anyone's aura's had been touched, and even if they were hit, it was barely even a drop from the bucket. All in all, Jaune thought the mission was a resounding success. However, there was one thing that he did not like.

Ruby: Yeah! We did it! We did...?!

Jaune: Ruby!

Ruby: We... d-did it...?

Jaune: What the hell were you doing?

Ruby: C-Celebrating our victory...?

Jaune: Really? Well, I think you should be celebrating the fact, that you got, Weiss killed.

Ruby: What?! She's just fine, she wasn't hurt at all!

Jaune: Luckily she wasn't. But, your job was to stay behind, and protect her in case she was attacked. And, here you are, with me, and, Yang, at the frontline.

Ruby: I-I was k-killing the, Alpha Sabyr...

Jaune: Really? You came up here to kill the, Sabyr? Did you not think, Yang, or I can handle it all on our own? Or, did you think that, Weiss, and Winter couldn't provide adequate support?

Ruby: N-No you guys could have handled it...

Jaune: Then why did you rush forward, and basically commit what others would call a kill steal? Blake stayed in the rear, she ran out, and covered, Winter when that, Sabyr tried to flank her. But, after she dealt with that, Sabyr she pulled back, and covered the rear, and continued to provide fire support.

Jaune: Of which; Nice job there, Blake. I didn't know you were that good of a shot. Nice job.

Blake: Oh... Thank you, Jaune...

Jaune: But, you, Ruby... What were you thinking?

Ruby: W-Well... All the, Grimm were dead... A-and, I saw an o-opening... so I took it...

Jaune: So you do think that, Yang, or myself couldn't deal with it then?

Ruby: N-no, I didn't say that!

Jaune: Vocally, no. But, your actions prove to the contradictory. We could, and would have handled this, but you had to come in because you thought you could do it better.

Ruby: No, I didn't mean to do that!

Jaune: So then you meant for, Weiss to get killed?

Ruby: What?! Of course not!

Jaune: Then why did you leave your post? If you did this while we were in the middle a fight with the, Sabyr's, and Weiss was mid casting, and a, Sabyr flanked her. What did you think could have happen?

Ruby: W-Weiss is a, Huntress! She can protect herself!

Jaune: Yeah, she is a, Huntress, and yes, she can protect herself. But, your job as a, Huntress is to protect people, and that includes your fellow, Hunter's. Your job was to stay in the back, and protect, Weiss. It doesn't matter if, Weiss can save herself, or the fact there was no more, Grimm around. You job was to stay in the back, and protect your friends. Do you understand that, Ruby.

Ruby: Y-Yes... I-I'll make sure it doesn't happen again...

Jaune: Make sure you do, least you live to regret it.

Ruby wilted under, Jaune's comments; His words were not harsh, nor cruel. But, they radiated the energy of a disappointed father disciplining their wayward child. But, what made it worse is that she knew he was right. She did screw up, and if she didn't listen to him, Weiss, Blake, or Yang. Anyone of them could have gotten hurt, or worse.

Jaune: Alright then... Let's get out of here. Winter, can you make the call for an evac?

Winter: On it.

The team of four, Huntresses followed behind the two, Specialists, and while they thought they should feel good about a job well done. They all agreed that they failed in another way, a way they did not expect that they would fail. Leaving the four, Huntresses in a sour mood all the way back to, Atlas.

~~~

Back at, Atlas Academy, in the dorm room, assigned to the members of, Team RWBY, a conversation was being held about the latest news they had just heard. And, one of them was quite upset about this latest development she would voice her rage, a fact she made evident rather vocally.

Nora: What?! Jaune's a, Specialists?!

Weiss: Yeah, he is...

Nora: Why didn't he tell us?!

Weiss: He didn't tell anyone anything.

Blake: He's been a, Specialist for nearly two weeks?

Yang: A week, and a half.

Blake: A week, and a half, Jaune's had plenty of time to tell us if he wanted to. But, he didn't...

Nora: But, why?!

Ren: ...

Weiss: Penny, you work with the, Specialists, how come you didn't tell us he joined them?

Penny: I do not spend as much time as you may think with the, Specialists. Unless ordered to by, General Ironwood, I do not get assigned with them on missions. Considering I have not spent any time assigned with the, Specialist as of late, I would not have been notified that, Jaune Arc was assigned to the, Specialists.

Ren: Did he say how this happened?

Blake: Jaune said, Winter scouted him ,and offered him a spot on the team.

Ren: When did that happen?

Blake: AS, Yang said: Jaune became a, Specialist a week, and a half ago.

Ren: A week, and a half ago...? Then he joined the, Specialists... the day after, Ruby's birthday, or it could have been done on her birthday...

Yang: Ruby's birthday...?

Penny: He did reject your invitation... so, maybe that's why he didn't show up?

Nora: But, why didn't he tell us anything about this?!

Blake: Did he have to...?

Weiss: What?

Nora: What does that mean?!

Blake: Jaune, doesn't consider us... any of us to be his friends. If he doesn't consider us friends, why would he have to tell us anything?

Nora: That's... no that's not...?!

Blake: And, look at how he scolded, Ruby! He's never done that before. It... it was... shocking...

Oscar: W-What did he do?

Yang: Jaune had a simple battle plan for this mission: Me, and Jaune would be in the front, being the tanks. Weiss, and her sister were in the middle providing support. And, Blake along with, Ruby take up the rear. Simple plan, and it worked flawlessly. But, Ruby then, broke formation...

Ren: She broke formation?

Blake: Ruby was meant to stay in the back to snipe any of the, Grimm, or to help, Weiss if one of them flanked her. When only the, Alpha Sabyr was left, Ruby saw an opening, and killed it. Jaune was angry that she broke formation, and left, Weiss exposed.

Ruby: He wasn't angry...

Ruby's voice came out as a quiet whisper. Everyone turned to look at, Ruby, she had tucked her knees to her chest, and rest her face on them as she curled herself up in blankets as she tried to make herself as small as possible to hide away from the world.

Nora: W-What was that, Ruby...?

Ruby: Jaune wasn't angry at me... He was disappointed in me... His voice didn't show any rage, his voice was calm, smooth, and controlled... But, it radiated disappointment... Disappointment in me... He expected better of me... and, I failed him...

Ruby pulled the blanket over her face, but one could all tell based on how her body shook that she was crying, Yang walked over, and sat on the bed with her, pulling her sisters body against her as she gently rubbed her through the blanket.

Weiss: Has, Jaune... has, Jaune ever acted this way to you two?

Ren: No, no he hasn't. He's never been angry, or anything close to it with us... Annoyed at, Nora's antics yes, but who hasn't?

Nora: Hey?!

Oscar: So, Jaune's changed...

Yang: Yeah, he has... but, how has he changed...?

Blake: He grew up...

Weiss: 'He grew up?' What do you mean by that, Blake?

Blake: We keep treating, Jaune as if he's still that dork... 'Vomit boy,' from, Beacon. That dork died with, Pyrrha. He's been growing up all on his own since then. He's become a new person since then, and because we were never watching him... We never notice him changing...

Weiss: And, while, Jaune was growing up... and, we stayed the same...

Nora: ...

Nora: W-What can we do then...? There's gotta be something right?

Blake: We give up, Nora... Jaune's already given up on us... we just have to accept it...

Nora: N-N-No.... No we can't... w-w-w-we can't give up on, Jaune... No! We can't give up on, Jaune! We.. we can't.. w-we can't...

Nora fell to her knees as tears fell down her face like a water fall, Ren got up, and knelt down with her, pulling her into a hug.

It seems like now they would finally understand the harsh truth of the world.

Jaune had given up on them. Now, it was time to accept that. No matter how much it will hurt, they had to accept it.

[raphael-angele]

Nico Protection Squad

WARNING: Use of hateful slur

Nico, coming home from school with Percy: Hey, Reyna. Hey, Jason.

Reyna: Hey, Nico.

Jason: Hey, Buddy

Percy: Hey, guys. Uh, Nico, why don't you go to your room and rest. We need to talk.

Nico: Mkay. *leaves*

Percy: Make sure to do your homework, alright?

Nici: Uh huh!

Reyna: What happened?

Jason: Is he okay?

Percy: ...we need to call the team

---Later---

At one of their rooms:

Percy: Good day, everyone. I know it's late and it's unusual for me to call a meeting at this time but this is an emergency

Annabeth: But first, an attendance check. Annabeth? Here. Bianca?

Hazel: Oh, she comes back next week

Annabeth: Ok. Jason? Here. Thalia? Here. Percy? Here. Hazel? Here. Piper? Here. Reyna? Here. Will? Here. Grover? Here. Leo? Here. Frank? Here. And Mr. D? Present! Ok, that should be everyone. Take it away Percy

Percy, clearing his throat: Okay, I need you guys to swear that you will not go berserk right after this and you will remain seated until we have a plan.

Everyone:

Percy: So, I was picking up Nico from class. On the drive back, he...

Hazel: He what?

Percy: He...asked me what a faggot was.

Everyone:

Thalia: WHAT THE FUCK?!?!

Will: Is he okay?!

Hazel: Where did he even learn that from?!

Jason: Did someone call him that?!?!?

Reyna: WHO THE HELL WOULD CALL HIM THAT?!?!?

Leo: Every single douchebag in school, of course!

Piper: You think they'd learn their lesson after the first time

Percy: *gavels* Order! Order!

Grover: I think we're all missing the point here. How's Nico doing?

Percy: He's fine. I asked him where he knew the word from. He said someone was calling him that, a couple of students a year above him apparently.

Frank: What happened then?

Percy: I asked him if he knew their names. He didn't and he asked me again what it meant.

Will: What did you say?

Percy: I didn't answer. There was a McDonalds right there and I went for it. He took the bait and has been quiet for the whole car ride.

Grover: So...what do we do?

Leo: OH! *raises his hand* WE'LL SET THEIR LOCKERS ON FIRE!

Thalia: I think what Grover meant was what do we do for now? We don't know these guys, and we don't know how much it's affecting Nico.

Reyna: Thalia's right. We need to have a plan to protect Nico and catch these bastards.

Annabeth: Percy and I already thought about it.

Percy: Introducing the Pick up/Drop off Nico Chart. We each get a schedule of when to pick him up, and when to drop him off

Annabeth: And to make sure we catch these guys, we think it would be best to see Nico off to his classrooms or at least the building.

Thalia, raising her hand: Uhm-

Percy: Don't worry. We adjusted it for times you guys are away. Which is why we used magnets to represent us. See? I'm the water droplet, Annabeth's the owl, Grover's the goat, Leo's the fire, you're the tree, Hazel's the-

Annabeth: They get it, Percy. All in favor of the chart say aye

Everyone, raises their hand: Aye!

Leo: So how are we gonna get back at these guys?

Jason: We could tell them off to the dean

Percy: You'd suggest that, wouldn't you, Mr. Goody Two Shoes?

Piper: I can charmspeak them to do embarassing stuff

Percy: Eh, we need something more

Annabeth: I'm writing that one down, it sounds funny

Mr D.: I am the God of Insanity. I can just drive them crazy.

Annabeth: Mr. D, no.

Percy: Not a bad idea though. I'm writing it down.

Will: Wait. I think I figured out another problem

Percy: What is it, Will?

Will: Who tells Bianca?

Everyone:

Percy: ...all in favor of keeping this a secret from Bianca, say aye?

Everyone, terrified: Aye!

Will: Whu- Percy, no. Remember that time you didn't tell her about how you accidentally destoryed Nico's mythomagic cards and made him sad for nearly a month?

Percy: *shivers* I still get nightmares from that.

Annabeth: Fine. Who tells her?

Everyone: *looks at Reyna and Thalia*

Reyna: No

Thalia: Absolutely not.

Mr. D: Hang on. If Bianca is so terrifying, why not just give the guys to her?

Percy: Mr. D, although that's a tempting plan, there is no telling what Bianca will do to those guys if we let her get near them.

Mr. D: She can't be THAT scary.

Everyone: Yes, she can.

Percy: With what she did to me? She might as well have sent me to Tartarus!

Frank: Gods, what did she do to him?

Annabeth: She took away all the blue in our apartment and replaced them with orange.

Percy: It took a month before she put them back! There was no blue food for a month!

[harunayuuka2060]

Cater: Acey-kun~ What did you do to anger a whole dorm like that?

Ace: I don't know, Cater-senpai!

Riddle: Are you sure? Because even Leona-senpai was glaring at you.

Ace: ...

Deuce: It's because Ace said something stupid to Yuurin.

Deuce: About the hairpin.

Ace: I apologized already!

Trey: *laughs* Yes. I've seen that. But please don't do it again, Ace.

Trey: You don't want to mess with Leona.

Ace: Geez. He wasn't like this with Jack and Epel.

Riddle: You don't understand, Ace. If I have someone like Yuurin in Heartslabyul, I would be overprotective too.

Ace: Tch.

Cater: I'm not really familiar with this Yuurin, Riddle-kun.

Cater: What is he like?

Riddle: Oh, he's—

Riddle: You want to ride the horses?

Yuurin: Yes. Would it be possible, Housewarden Riddle?

Riddle: Hm. I can allow it, though do you have experience in riding one?

Yuurin: Yes. I took classes when I was little.

Riddle: I see. Well then, follow me.

Riddle: I suggest that you choose the most docile one for your own safety.

Yuurin: ...

Yuurin: *points to a certain horse* How about that one?

Riddle: You can't. He's quite aggressive. He has already harmed multiple students because of his short-temper and attitude.

Yuurin: ...

Yuurin: *approaches the horse's stall*

Riddle: Yuurin! What are you doing?!

Yuurin: *is having a staring contest with the horse*

The (aggressive) horse: *pricks his ears*

Yuurin: ...

Yuurin: *turns to look at Riddle with eagerness* I like him.

Riddle: ...

Random student: Are you sure about this, Sir Riddle?

Riddle: We'll just send him to infirmary if anything happens.

Yuurin: *riding the horse she picked*

Riddle: Yuurin! What are you planning to do now?

The horse: *whines, trotting in place*

Yuurin: Let's do a race.

Riddle: What?! It'll be dangerous for you!

Yuurin: I trust my horse.

Trey: So, did you end up having a race?

Riddle: Yes. He's not bad for a first-timer.

Cater: Does that mean he's a member of the Equestrian Club now?

Riddle: *sad frowns* No. He's still choosing. But I have given him permission to visit the horse whenever he wants to.

Ace: Y-You gave him special privilege?

Deuce: He hasn't chosen a club yet?

Ace, Trey, Riddle, and Cater: ...

Riddle: Deuce.

Deuce: D-Don't misunderstand, Housewarden Rosehearts! I have no plans in stealing Yuurin from the Equestrian Club!

Cater: Ah! By the way, Acey-kun! Isn't Jamil looking for a new member for the Basketball Club?

Ace: Huh? Y-Yeah... Why?

Cater: I'm sure Leona and the Savanaclaw students are still pissed about what you did, I think it will be an opportunity to be friends with Yuurin so they will forget entirely about the whole hairclip-bullying accusation. *smiles*

Riddle: That's a great idea, Cater.

Ace: ...

Ace: I-I'll try...

Ace: Please, Leona-senpai!

Leona: No. Yuurin is in the middle of training right now.

Leona: AND I HAVEN'T STILL FORGIVEN YOU.

Ace: ...

Ace: I'll just wait for him then.

Ace: What is he doing by the way— *his eyes widened*

Yuurin: *doing a triangle choke hold against an upperclassman*

Other students: *shouting* Yuurin! Don't let him create a space!

The upperclassman: I'm still... stronger than you, Yuurin!

Yuurin: !!!

Yuurin: *releases the grip around his neck, seizing hold of the trapped arm*

Yuurin: *with a swift adjustment, she transitions smoothly, securing the armbar position, applying pressure to his elbow*

The upperclassman: Ow! Ow! Stop! Stop!

Yuurin: *releases him*

The upperclassman: *groans* Ow...

Yuurin: Thank you so much for your assistance, senpai. *bows respectfully to him*

The upperclassman: Yeah... We'll do the defenses next.

The upperclassman: But let's do that after this week.

The upperclassman: I'm beat.

The other students: Great job, Yuurin!

Ace: ...

Leona: You still here?

Ace: Um... Wow.

Ace: Good thing we don't have a wrestling competition here.

Leona: There'll be one. *smirks* And I might invite you to compete.

Ace: Eh?! Please don't, Leona-senpai!

Yuurin and the rest of the Savanaclaw students: *looking at their direction*

Savanaclaw student A: Isn't that Ace Trappola from Heartslabyul?

Savanaclaw student B: What is that punk doing here?

Savanaclaw student C: Is he still making fun of you, Yuurin?

Yuurin: Oh. No. He already apologized.

Savanaclaw students: Good, good.

Savanaclaw students: Just beat him up like you did to us if he ever teases you again.

Yuurin: ...

Yuurin: *smiles*

Savanaclaw students: ...

Savanaclaw students: Our little sister is so cute. 🥺

[carmenized-onions]

The Other Shoe | Consultation

logline; old wounds tend not to heal, if you don't let them. but, there is hot chocolate, and love. so perhaps that's enough.

[!!!] series history, this is the seventh; First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth

Spotify Playlist, if you like to listen while you read. I listen to it when I write :) Constantly gettin’ added to. Finally got Hozier on here. Don't know how that took me so long.

portion; 3.1k

possible allergies; two absolutely garbage mental states of people who are NOT over Mikey or the way they've been treated. Bunch of self-loathin, the whole lot.

pairing; Carmen ‘Carmy’ Berzatto & Fem Reader (no pronouns!)

Took me a minute, new jobs goin' well though!! This one took a lot of stewing, lmao. Lot of staring and thinking. We'll talk after, but SO many alterations were made lmao.

It has been three weeks since you met Carmen in a freezer.

Six days since you were at his apartment. Ish.

Roughly forty-three weeks since the worst day of your life. Doesn’t feel like it.

In five days, you’ll have the second— Well, maybe third or fourth, worst day of your life.

But today is Monday, and you don’t know what’s coming yet.

It’s just after one in the morning, and you wake up to a phone call. Carmy. Yes, do not disturb was on. Yes, you’d set him on priority access— Which most people would find very cute and intimate, and it is— But he’s not the only one. It’s not a limited feature for people you want to kiss. There’s Syd, Richie, …Mikey…

Cause when is the right time to delete a dead friend’s contact info? It’s not right now. You know it’s not right now. And it probably won’t be tomorrow, either.

Phone call. You’re getting a phone call.

“Carm?”

“…”

You stir a little, bit, when there’s no reply, brain dehazing. “Carmy? Everything okay?”

You hear the beep of the phone call being ended. No way he butt-dialed you, right? You’re awake. You’re so awake. This feels all too familiar, and that's not a good thing. You immediately open your phone to text him, by the time you get to his contact, he’s already texted you. Actively texting you, in a rapid, manic succession.

‘fuck’

‘sorry’

‘you were supposed to be asleep’

Hm.

‘talking to a person hard right now?’

‘yes’

‘you’re so smart.’

‘easier to talk to robot you.’

‘wowwww’

It’s hard to write funny, right now. It’s hard to act like yourself, right now. You’re not sure how you’re doing it.

‘not what I meant’

‘I know. You’re you.’

‘you wanna send a voice message maybe?’

‘it’s fine. I’ll text.’

You give him time, you expect a paragraph since he’s taking so long, but instead you get,

‘can’t.’

‘carmen.’

‘I like you so much.’ Oh be still your stupid heart.

‘feeling is mutual.’

‘I can’t make my problems the only reason I talk to you’

Is that true? Fuck, that's kind of true, isn't it? But there's the puzzles! And there's been phone calls!

‘You talk to me for other reasons’

‘yeah. But it’s mostly problems’

‘with me.’

‘eh. Not really. Walk-in was you, toilet was Mikey, Nat had a baby, I’d consider the oven a shared problem of you and Syd’

‘oven was my fault’

He types for even longer this time. It’s hard not to interrupt him. When you start to type, he sends.

‘can I come over?’

‘I know it’s late’

‘I’ll come pick you up.’

‘no’

‘I’ll walk. I’ll be there in 20.’

‘it’s not a problem to pick you up.’ It's a problem if he doesn't let you pick him up.

‘I know.’

‘promise I just wanna walk. Get air.’

God, why are your fucking hands shaking he just wants to walk. He just wants to walk. Why can’t you bring yourself to believe people when they say that anymore?

Everything’s normal. It’s been a good six days for Carm, you know that it’s been a good six days. Everything's normal. You’ve kept a puzzle streak every morning, you’ve called him some nights, he’s called you some nights. He’s had a good week. He told you so. Everything's normal. You’ve vaguely flirted in that extremely sexual yet completely nonsensical way new situationships do, via text. People don’t do that when they’re on the brink of death, right? Everything's normal. Stop playing with your pendant. Relax. Put a shirt on. Stop being so fucking paranoid. Stop typing—!

‘can you do me a favour’

‘anything’

‘can you turn your location on for me’

‘not to be invasive. You can turn it off when you get here, I—’

Before you can even finish typing your explanation, let alone send it, he sends his location, trackable. He’s already walking.

‘be there in 18.’

You watch, with bated breath, his little contact photo bubble marching across Chicago to you. You make yourself mildly presentable and make hot chocolate on the stove—Gotta use milk, for Carmen— For when he comes to you, out of the cold. Because he’s going to come to you. He’s gonna be here. He’s gonna be here. You know that because you’ve been keeping your phone screen open and only look away to ensure you don’t pour milk on your stovetop and to blink.

He's here in eighteen minutes. You think if you had a stop watch going on, it’d be down to the millisecond. You open the door for him, before he can even knock. You watched his bubble walk up to your door. No point in waiting. You need to see him.

He’s breathing heavy. Held tight in his fist is a bundle of flowers— Importantly, not a bouquet, a bundle of flowers—Like, roots still on a few, visibly yanked out of the ground. Though seemingly from different gardens, since there's quite a variety. He looks at you, then down at the flowers, then back to you.

“I— I stole these.”

“Had a feeling.” You wave your hand for him to come inside, he does. “Are you okay?”

His steps falter, he seems downtrodden. You take the flowers, and then take his hand. He hesitates to speak, but he’s really trying to say fucking something. You squeeze his hand, it seems to help.

“I—” He swallows the spit caught in his throat. “I didn’t know— I— No. No, I did know— I knew the one place I had to come was, here. Had to go somewhere.”

You nod, you look over him. Silently doing a wellness check. You’re panicked. You’re so panicked. But he can’t know that. This is about him. You’re the one that takes care of people. He’s clean. He smells like Old Spice and you. He’s a little cold from the walk, he didn’t wear a jacket, but he’s warming up fast. He looks tired but not exhausted, which, for Carmy, is kind of as good as you’re going to get. He didn’t have the energy for a phone call, but he had the energy to come over and talk to your face; his social battery is wonky, but that’ll fix with time here. Is he hungry? That’s hard to tell on looks alone.

“You wanna talk about it, Bear?”

He nods, head down. Can’t look at you. You gently pull at his hand for him to follow you into the kitchen. “Made hot chocolate. You a marshmallow or whipped cream guy?”

His eyes are glassy, and his mood itself doesn’t change, but he does swiftly lift his head up to look at you with an incredulous, curious half smile. “You don’t do both?”

“I find it gets a lil’ busy. But I like the tiny marshmallows that come with the mix with whipped cream—”

“You gotta do actual cocoa.”

You roll your eyes. “I don’t like my hot chocolate to actually be rich. I want sweet.”

“You’re breaking my heart.”

“Good thing I’m a repairman, then.” You deadpan. He does actually seem to glow a little bit, at that. You repeat, hand full of flowers resting on your hip. “So both?”

“Both.”

He calms you down so easily, even when really, he was the oncoming stress— Or rather, your perceptions. He clears static for you, without effort. You nod, letting go of his hand— Slowly, withdrawing, like a silent promise that you will be back. You grab a paper towel and wrap the flowers in them, setting them down on the counter. You’ll plant them later. Honestly, kind of a better gift for you and your green thumb than a bouquet would be.

You turn to your oven to stir the pot of hot chocolate— Can’t have any fuckin’ clumps for Mr Michelin over here. Speaking of Michelin, he sidles up behind you and puts his head on your shoulder, hands hovering as if he’s going to hug your waist but simply cannot bring himself to.

He mumbles into your shoulder. “I lit my oven on fire.”

Ah. The oven was his fault. That's what he meant. When you pause and try to turn, that’s when he hugs you, holding you in place. “Please don’t look ‘t me.”

You take a deep breath, and continue to stir the pot. “Okay. I’m listening, not looking.”

“I did— I did it in my sleep. Not the first time. I think, I think they’re night terrors? But I don’t, don’t scream or nothin’— I don’t say shit actually. I don’t think.”

God, he’s insecure, even now, about how crazy you’ll think he is. Like telling your therapist everything that’s wrong with you except for the stuff that they might hospitalize you for. God, does he treat you like a fucking therapist? He’s awful. He’s awful for you. He’s awful for anyone. It doesn’t matter that you’re different— The common denominator is him. He’s a fucking piece of shit—

“I wake up screaming sometimes.” You reply, so softly. You feel his short nails dig into your sides just slightly for a second as he remembers where he is. He’s over your shoulder. No one’s over his. “Happens to the worst of us.”

You grab two mugs from the cupboard— Reaching with the arm he’s not leaning on. “Did you put it out or should I be calling my former C-F-D crew?”

“I put it out.” He notes your mugs. They’re mismatching. One is definitely handmade with messy floral patterns, the other a tourist trap Chicago mug.  They’re perfect. “I—I was cooking something, in my sleep— And then— Then the fire starts.”

You ladle the hot chocolate into the mugs— Usually you’d just pour it straight but you don’t want Carmen to watch you inevitably spill half of it on your counters. You nod, “Do you dream that you’re cooking?”

“K-Kinda? I’m not cooking, I’m the Head, the expediter— And, and my Exec is over my fucking shoulder and he’s— Just in my head.” He swallows, thinking of how to explain without explaining. “And then I wake up, and there’s a fire, and I watch it grow, and I think about what it would mean if I just let it, and how I’d want it to.”

“And then you put it out?”

“And then I put it out.”

“Do you wish you didn’t?”

“I don’t know. And it’s fucking with me. ‘Cause— ‘Cause things are really good right now.” You tense under him, and he knows it’s because you don’t believe him. “They are, they really really are. Sug bein’ away is… not easy, but, it’s, it’s okay—”

“Carm.” Your tone is so accusatory.

“It’s the same nightmare it used to be.” He doesn’t hesitate to correct as soon as you question it. He cannot lie to you. For one, you see right through him. For two, it’s you. You’d rather know he’s insane. For some reason. “It’s been hard. I— I know fuck all, about business, and, and we can’t afford to hire a fuckin’ replacement right now because we owe so much fucking money or the whole thing caves— But it’s— It’s been good.”

You grab a handful of mini marshmallows, splitting them between the two mugs. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.” He nods into your shoulder. “Everyone is… happy, right now. It’s not always fuckin’ breezy but— Everyone’s, everyone’s okay. And I have somethin’ I can actually be proud of, right now. And I have— I — You’re around. N’ that, that has been good. For everyone.”

You hum. Heart full, at that. You awkwardly shift to your fridge, waddling like a penguin instead of turning, as not to disturb Carmen, he chuckles against your shoulder. “You can tell me to fuck off, y’know.”

“Yeah, but I don’t want you to.” You hug his arm to you. This makes him squeeze just a little tighter. You pull out a half-empty can of Reddi-Wip, shaking it violently, as instructed. “Say when.”

You hover the can over the tourist mug, he shakes his head. “Other one.”

He wants the handmade one. Your fingerprints are grooved into the handle. You ignore how insane this makes you feel, and spray whipped cream into the handmade mug. You’re waiting for him to say when.

It’s getting to a concerningly tall pile, at this point. You feel him swallow. He finally says the quiet thought out loud.

“I think I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop. Even in my sleep, I know it’s coming.”

You nod, you stop spraying. You think on it for a beat. You opt to be honest. “I am, too.” You nod. “I am, too.”

“What’d’you think it’s gonna be?”

You feel your neck flare red and hot, guilty. Horrifically guilty. Lifesaver. You spray whipped cream into your own mug. You don’t really want both whipped cream and marshmallows, but it’s a good way to disguise how shaky your hands are. You take a deep breath.

“Think you’re gonna realize I’m not as good as you think I am.”

He kind of, tugs at you, pulling you closer to him, as if to rebuke thee. “You’re very good, Tony.”

You just hum in reply, once again, the pile of whip cream grows— It sputters, and basically nothing is coming out, but you can’t bring yourself to move, so it continues to struggle. He lets you do this, for a moment, before softly, questioningly speaking your name.

You just hum, again. Everything’s fine. Everything’s normal. This isn’t even about you, this is about him. “I’m good.”

“You are.” He declares, like it’s law. He grabs the empty can from you hand and puts it on the counter, then turns you around to face him. You keep your head down, there’s every chance you throw up and die if you— “Look at me.”

“I know—” He does not give you the chance to excuse yourself, he grabs your chin, softly, but still, forces you to look at him.

“You’re very good.” Too much eye contact. Too close. Too sincere. Too much— “Too good, too good for anyone.”

Too good for him. You, of course, don’t think that. But that’s exactly why you’re too good. “I’m not gonna change my mind ‘bout that.”

“…Hope so.”

Carmen can see it, now. The way your jaw clenches, how you’re looking past him, not at him. The way you mirror how he imagines he looked in the walk-in, to you. He decides to take a page out of your book, and hugs you close. “Know so.”

Your chin hooks over his shoulder. You stare down the hall of your apartment, brain somewhere else. He stares over your shoulder at the hot chocolates, whipped cream slowly melting and overflowing onto the counters.

“You wanna talk about it?” He asks, and you can’t help but smile at the ridiculousness of it.

“I—It’s not—This about you, not me—”

“It’s both. It can be both.” The shared burden.

You sigh, putting your arms around his shoulders. “…I’ll talk about it eventually, I promise. Just not… Ready—Right now.” You’re not ready to risk him no longer liking you. You need a little more time to be selfishly avoidant. “Eventually, though.”

He nods. He gets it. He does it.

“How do you think the other shoe’s gonna drop? If it does?”

This was the exact question he didn’t want, but you answered it, kind of, and that means he has to answer it, kind of. He relaxes his hold on you. “Think you’re gonna see me when I’m— When I’m not me— When I’m— I’m like, like my fuckin’ family.”

When he’s angry. When he yells. When he’s mean. When his crises don’t take the form of hibernation. When he’s frightening.

“Think once you realize, you’ll leave, and it’ll all leave with you.”

When he said that everyone’s happy at The Bear, he knows it’s because you’re back in the atmosphere. You bring a lightness that he never could, that he always envied in his brother. He honestly needs to break something at The Bear to get you to come in soon, because it’s been two weeks since you made everyone coffee, and your presence is only finally starting to wain in power. He really needs to start paying himself so you can get on bar.

“I don’t love being yelled at, certainly.”

You know what acting like his family means. Mikey used to do it. When things got bad. And while you got better and better at being understanding, still never managed to keep yourself from tearing up. “But it’s nothing that would make me leave. Nothing that’s not worth it.”

Jesus Christ. Jesus fucking Christ. His bad side, his anger, his violence, his teeth, the parts of his functionality that he hates, you consider worth dealing with, for the sake of the rest of him.

It reminds him, of a question that’s been on his mind for a while now. His chin digs into your shoulder, a little bit. He swallows.

“Do you really not think taking care of people is a lot of work?”

You frown, thinking about it. It is a lot of work. It’s exhausting work, rotten work, to take care of people.

“It is a lot of work.” You tilt your head, kiss his clothed shoulder. “But it’s just pure instinct, to do. “I care therefore I care, or somethin’.”

“What a poet.”

“Fuck off.”

You both laugh; then comfortable silence. He’s the first to break it. “You’re good.”

“We’re both good.” You pull back to look at him. Nothing has truly been resolved, and yet he looks more at peace. Thank, God. You’re doing a good job. You’re not failing again. “You wanna go drink these barely warm hot chocolates in my bed and pass out?”

“Please.”

Carmen never turns off his location, and he never will. He doesn't ask why you want it. He takes advantage of the whipped cream on your nose and the severe lack of napkins in your bedroom when he can. He replaces the Cubs jersey wearing bear in your arms, that night. He hopes he will forever, he's pretty sure he won't.

In five days, this Friday will be the worst Friday of your lives.

But neither of you know that yet. The painting is still not finished, he hasn’t yelled at anyone around you yet, Carmen still doesn’t know about the necklace you’ve tucked under your shirt every day for the past year.

The other shoe still hangs in the air; but not in your bed.

You pray it’s fall will not wake the bear.

FUCK bro.

It was tough writing in a way that was coherently incoherent. Like, neither of these two want to talk about their problems, so they are vague, but I know what the fuck is going on-- And hopefully you kindddaaa get what's going on?? There's still a little mystery I'm holding on for myself, hehehe. I'm very curious if anyone has theories by now tbh. What's this hidden part of Tony's life!!! They're usually so open!!! So what's this shit!!!

I cut out like a WHOLE 300 words of them doin' a smooch because it just made no fuckin' sense. They're both in emotional hell, couldn't force it, even if I wanted it. But there was the cuddlin' and nose kissin' in bed. So I think that's a good caveat.

But the most insane part of this chapter for me, and you'll see later, THIS chapter and the next,,,,, 3 chapters? Were all gonna be ONE. I know. Nuts. I was essentially gonna format it like all snippets of this one week, because as we know, Fridays gonna be the worst friday! But I realized like a quarter way through writing this one, that it simply couldn't just be a snippet. It needed to breath as it's own full thing. As did the next 3 chaps. I think they'll be a lot more digestable this way and also it won't force me to hole away for a fuckin month writing it without giving you a single morsel of content.

Anyways, tell me what the fuck you THOUGHT!! I'm excited to hear thoughts, hopefully all good ones~~~

Next Part

[nuginugi]

first kiss... ( itoshi rin x female reader )

(beware of bad grammar!!)

♡ fluff ;3

"Rin," you say his name. Your voice, sweet as honey.

You and Rin just dated few weeks ago, but never kissed. Come to think of it, you were just not ready (at that time,) but now, you were born ready! Rin understands. He's patient, and prefers to take the relationship at a slow pace.

He turned his head from his phone, and his attention was on you. "Huh?" He murmurs, his lips was in a thin line, yet, his teal-colored eyes were glimmering just by looking at you and his eyelashes just made him more attractive. Unlike his deadpan stare that he usually has.

You let out a long, deep inhale, and exhale. "...I want to tell you something." You said, scooting more closer beside him, practically your arms touching by the closeness of the two of you. Rin responds with a raise on a brow, leaving him confused and curious.

You hum, and looked at him with your soft and cute smile. He always loved that cute smile of yours. You cleared your throat, then spoke, "Do you remember what I said during our first date?" You ask, crossing your arms. Rin stayed silent for a while, until he answered. "Yeah, I did. Why?" He mutters, looking down at you. Only you would reply with a chuckle, "well... Um, I wanna do it. I want you to be my first kiss."

Rin's heart flutters, sending an overload explosion inside his stomach, but his expression really never showed it. He sighs, and looked away. "...What..." He says in a quiet tone, but you could hear it. You couldn't help but smile, "I said, I want you to be my first kiss... I've been waiting for weeks, you know?" You mumble, and his cheeks turned beet red. Rin puts away his phone, and tried to look at you, but always had to avert your gaze. "...Sure." he whispers, leaning closer to you.

Wow, it was quite straightforward of him, and you loved it. Then, you let out a small laugh, "...I don't really know how to kiss, but, can you teach me?" You ask him, as you leaned closer to him.

Rin clicked his tongue, giving you his poker face. "Okay, I'll teach you." He whispers.

With a final breath, Rin cups both of your cheeks, as he held you in place. "We'll just have to... lean closer like this, and..." He instructs, then without further ado, Rin slowly plants a soft kiss on your lips, sending butterflies inside your stomach, and the shock of adrenaline hit you. His lips... Was so soft. It was so sweet... He kissed you dearly, but decided to kiss you more longer. His head tilted, giving him more access to press his lips more on yours. You loved it. You felt the love just from this kiss. You loved everything about the kiss, just like you love him.

Rin slowly pulled away, looking at you with worry. "Sorry, did I go too far-"

"-You didn't... It felt... good." You cut him off, pressing your forehead on his. And it made Rin crack a smile. "...Okay, that's good." He chuckles softly, before holding your hand, rubbing your knuckles.

"I didn't know you were such a good kisser. You sure this is your first kiss?" You teasingly said, wiggling your eyebrows. Rin shook his head, and hummed. "Nah, I was just... practicing. I don't want to leave a bad impression on you." He mumbles, wrapping his arms around your waist, pulling you closer.

You can feel his warmth, and his breath hitting on your skin. You were grateful to have him as your boyfriend, and him, as your first kiss.

"Thank you, Rin."

"For what?"

"For kissing me the first time."

"W...What about it?"

"I'm happy that I was the first girl you've kissed. I feel so special."

"Eh, don't mention it."

"..."

"I love you."

( when I was writing this, I was listening to cigarettes after sex, and it made me imagine about this scenario :× i really love the band so much that I couldn't stop thinking scenarios like these, huhu )

[heeheesang]

is she foreal..? ── .✦

quite a long written chapter , my apologies (˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶) smau below !

" OH MY HAHA ! YOU'RE SO FUNNY DONGHYUN ! " JIEUN LAUGHED A LITTLE TOO HARD AS WE ALL WAITED FOR THE SCHOOL BUS TO PICK US UP FOR OUR SCHOOL TRIP TO THE AQUARIUM.

"it wasn't that funny... also i told you to call me leehan. i don't feel comfortable with people calling me donghyun." donghyun raised his eyebrow as she pouted and crossed her arms.

oh god is that what i look like everytime i do that..?

"but, why is yn allowed to call you donghyun?" she asks with a pout as the two girls gagged but i mainted a straight face, looking out for the teacher as the head student councillor in charge of the whole trip (with the teacher).

"because yn and i... we're really close." donghyun said as she opened her mouth but he hushed her, "look i don't feel comfortable so just call me leehan."

soon enough, the teacher arrived and so did the school bus.

"can i sit with you, leehan?" jieun asked him as he looked at me, "i was going to sit with yn, if you don't mind.." donghyun said as his eyes glistened.

"ynnie, could i sit with leehan?" i gulped a ball of saliva, muttering 'um ' over and over again.

but i had to be a good example right..? plus, it seems like jieun really likes donghyun from the moment she stepped in. it's been a whole week and she's clinged on him us like peas in a pod.

"sure..? i guess..." i said as donghyun's eyes widened. "who'll you sit with then..?" he asked with a slight pout. usually it would be the two of us sitting together, followed by yunah and taesan, lastly moka and anton.

"i'll be fine, don't worry!" i smiled at donghyun and he sighed dramatically, taking a seat with the girl in between the other four.

"alright..! everyone seated? let's have a fun day today!" i said as everyone cheered. i took a seat nearby the six but an empty one.

i sighed as i plugged in my airpods, listening to songs as i looked out the window. my phone kept ringing off, messages from the groupchat without jieun blasted.

i didn't think about it much and just closed my eyes. however, what i thought would be a peaceful ride, i was awoken by the sounds of anton yelling moka's name.

"shut the fuck up anton..! yn's gonna wake up!" moka slapped a hand over anton's hand and i giggled, "i'm awake now."

before i knew it, donghyun came out of his seat and sat down beside me. "hey," he said as he smiled down to me.

"hey, why aren't you with jieun?" i asked, trying to cover my tone of joy because he sat with me.

"eh she's asleep and she's boring..." donghyun laughed as i slapped his chest lightly, "rude of you."

NOT TOO LONG LATER , WE FINALLY ARRIVED AT OUR DESTINATION.

"everyone, please get into groups of six and stay within your groups. we'll be going to areas separately and we'll come back here to share our new learnings!" i announced as everyone immediately scattered around.

moka and yunah were doing signals with their hands for me to join but unfortunately, they were already six — moka, yunah, anton, taesan, donghyun and jieun.

i smiled in defeat and mouthed an, "it's okay".

"okay group one's leader will be jungwon, group two will be wonyoung, and lastly group three will be leehan." i announced and let out my last words of rules to follow before they dispersed.

"yn—"

"leehan! let's see the fishes!" you guessed it, jieun pulled donghyun away and the other four rolled their eyes before following.

i strolled around the aquarium alone, smiling and staring at the fishes. this one looks like donghyun. i thought to myself before taking a picture of it.

walking around more, i bumped into my classmates. "oh? you are walking alone yn-ssi?" jungwon asked as i nodded hesitantly, letting out a small smile.

"oh! well you can always join us! we don't mind an extra here!" jungwon continued as i shook my head, "it's fine, i'm okay!" i assured jungwon and his group before walking off.

i smiled as i saw donghyun and his group from afar. the way donghyun was passionately explaining the fishes and their different species. i smiled even wider, i picked this trip for him.

thinking i looked stupid, i wiped the smile off my face and walked the other way. walking into the shark aquarium, i read more about the different types of sharks.

"hammerhead sharks... that's cute." i mumbled to myself as someone appeared beside me, "looking at sharks, ynnie?" i looked up to see donghyun.

i smiled widely, "so are you. where's your group, leader?" he fixed his glasses before answering, "told them i went to the restroom!" i laughed at his answer, "am i the restroom?"

"don't be weird yn," we laughed as he stared at me.

"is there something on my face..?"

"hm, no. but follow me, i have something to show you!" donghyun said with a wide smile as he locked his hand with mine and walked us out of the shark aquarium.

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[satureja13]

Vlad and Ji Ho are still in bed. In that cozy state between dream and wake. The Bond lets each of them feel how happy and content the other is, Ji Ho because he has his feelings back and he's finally able to love Vlad - and Vlad because they can finally be together without anything holding them back anymore. And none of them wants to wake up, because then it would be awkward again. But they will get there.

"Aouwww, you're finally getting there!" Vlad blinked his eyes open. What was that?

He turned his head just to see Jack standing beside their bed! (The whole sitting/standing beside Vlad's bed post collection starts -> here)

Vlad hissed, but quitely, to not wake Ji Ho: "Omg Jack! What are you doing here! For how long are you standing there?"

Jack didn't bother to answer: "Get up. Sai and Kiyoshi are starting the droid scanner! We will soon know where Tiny Can is! And it's Lunar New Year! We have to prepare everything!" Ji Ho stirred in Vlad's arms and they tenderly smiled at each other. Vlad: "Hey." Ji Ho: "Hey." Jack: "Hey now. Get up already!"

Vlad: "If you would kindly turn around, we would!" Jack: "Omg Vlad, why so shy? I've seen you naked countless times!" Vlad: "Not because of me!" Jack: "I've also seen Ji Ho naked countless times! But fine!"

Vlad and Ji Ho got dressed and went over to the bridge with Jack. This is a great moment. They'll be finally on their way to find Tiny Can. The reason why they'd left their home planet many weeks ago. But when they started the scanner, it asked for their permission code... Which, of course, wasn't included with the scanner parts they'd bought at Batuu... The curser blinked mockingly at them.

Kiyoshi: "It says we have to show up in person at the registration office ... data security and stuff..."

Vlad: "Nothing is ever easy..." Sai sighed: "Luckily it isn't far away. Let's start the engines. Vlad and Ji Ho are on duty at the bridge while we others prepare for Lunar New Year. We need all the luck and good blessings we can possibly get - apparently..."

Sai and Jack headed over to the storage, to look for the decorations. And Jeb and Kiyoshi went to the Crew Mess to prepare the meals. Sai spotted the Little Ones in the storage and hissed. Why aren't they on their meadow? Are they plotting something again? Jack tried to reassure him: "Look, they are just reading, hm?" Sai: "Why would they have to hide to read? They read all the time at the meadow!"

Skully: "We got caught red-handed, I guess..."

Jack: "What do you mean?" Sai took a glance at the title of the book, 'The Lewd Boys - Conny and Jett'... Jack: "Don't say... Is this one of the books about Val, Jino, Jett and Jet, Conny and the Night Shadow? The dirty ones? Omg! Where did you get it?" Skully: "The Little Ones found it at Batuu. But you probably shouldn't read them." Jack: "Oh come on, they are not even about us. And this one is about Conny and Jett, Kiyoshi and me- if you like. Can't wait to read it!"

Sai: "Uhm, Jack... by looking at the cover, I think Jett is Jeb and you are Jet. So this book is about Jeb and Kiyoshi doing ... it. I'm not sure if I want to see them together. And you had a nightmare about Kiyoshi 'taking care' of ... eh us. You broke up with him after that and went through months of pain. I don't think you can handle this." Jack stood up again. A lewd book about Kioyshi and Jeb...

Jack: "But I've grown. A lot. How can we not read them? These books are legendary throughout the whole galaxy! And like I said, they are not about us, they are about some Boys who just happen to look like us. And they are just fiction! I will be fine, hm?" Sai: "I don't know. There is more behind it. You know that Ji Ho and Vlad and Jino and Val are connected somehow. And I don't know if Kioyshi and Jeb would be thrilled if we read this." Jack: "Right, we promised we won't keep secrets from each other anymore. We'll discuss this all together later, hm?" Sai: "Fine. *And, directed towards Skully and the Little Ones* And you! Don't you dare hiding stuff from us!" Skully just chuckled. Sai: "Tch!"

They snatched the book and went back to the bridge to celebrate Lunar New Year 2025. (More in the next post)

Skully is so happy for Vlad and Ji Ho, he played You make me feel by Sylvester

'You mean I've been dancin' on the floor darlin' And I feel like I need some more and I Feel your body close to mine and I Move on love it's about that time Make me feel - mighty real Make me feel - mighty real

You make me feel mighty real You make me feel mighty real

When we get home darlin' and it's Nice and dark and the music's in Vienna Still your hot and you kiss me back and it Feels real good and I know you love me Like you should'

TMI: Sylvester James was openly gay and an icon in the gay community. Gender was an everyday choice for him. Sadly he died 1988 at only 41 years old, one year after his partner.

From the Beginning 🔱 Underwater Love 🔱 Latest

Current Chapter 'Goats in Space': starts ▶️ here Last Chapter: 'Piglets in Space' from the beginning ▶️ here

📚 Previous Chapters: Chapters: 1-6 ~ 7-12 ~ 13-16 ~ 23-29

[iam93percentstardust]

It's not just the commodification of fandom. It's not just the disinterest in wips in favor of completed stories. It's not just the unwillingness to take chances on new writers.

It's the demand for instant gratification too.

I'm posting a "wip" right now. It's actually a fully completed story, and I stated that in the A/N when I started posting it a few weeks ago. I finished writing it early in December. It's not going to be abandoned and discontinued. Short of a tragic accident, it will 100% be posted in its entirety before the end of January.

It's also almost 60k words long. Each chapter is approximately 14k words. That's a lot to expect people to read quickly, so I made the decision to post weekly instead of dumping it all at once. I don't normally do that for wips. I normally post bimonthly to give myself time to write the next chapter. But in concession to the fact that this one is already finished, I decided to post once a week. Could I have posted it all at once or even once a day? Sure, but again, I have more than a few close friends who are slow readers, and I thought it was better to give people the time to read each chapter and let it digest before dumping another one on them instead of making them feel like they have to read it immediately so they don't miss the next update.

This, apparently, was a mistake.

I've been very open about working on this fic since I started it in September. People told me they were excited to get the chance to read it every time I posted an update about where I was in the writing process. When I announced that I was posting it, they told me that they couldn't wait to read it. It's not like I was expecting massive numbers of kudos and comments; this fandom has shrunk in size and engagement, I'm not the most popular writer in it, and I try not to feel entitled to engagement, but considering all the people telling me they were excited for it, I was expecting something.

Instead it was crickets. All those people who were so excited and told me they couldn't wait to get home to read it? That was the last I heard from them, unless it was to express outright incredulity that I expected them to read a work in progress. "It's not a work in progress!" I protested. "I'm just taking a little longer to post it!" Yeah, but it's not posted all in one go, so why should we bother to read it? We'll just wait until the end of January once it's finished. "Will I hear from you then? Will I get any indication at all that you liked it?" Eh, maybe. If we feel like it. But it'll only be one comment at the very end. If that.

This keeps happening. If it's not an already completed chaptered fic that I'm posting over time instead of immediately, then it's an idea that I had first talked about a while ago but took a couple months to write only to be met with silence once I start posting because everyone moved on and forgot about it. If it's not ready to go right now in all its fully finished glory and all 60k words posted immediately after I first spoke about it, then why am I talking about it at all? Why should I expect people to be waiting in anticipatory eagerness?

I remember when I posted my first Christmas event fic in 2020. It was already finished too when I started posting it. I'd been talking about it all year. People had seemed really excited for it when I first mentioned it, but then interest seemed to die out somewhere around August. By the time I started posting it in late November, I was fully convinced that no one was going to read it. I actually posted the first chapter and then immediately turned my computer off and didn't let myself turn it back on until the next day.

I was shocked by the number of readers I had. The number of comments. The sheer amount of people telling me they'd been waiting on tenterhooks for me to post that first chapter. And it kept coming. People were talking and theorizing and marking their conversations with spoiler bars for anyone who hadn't read the latest chapter. People timed when I posted the first few chapters so they could be waiting by their computer for when I dropped the next one. I was randomly gifted art. It was really an event, and I'll always be grateful for the support and community I was given for that month.

I never believed I'd ever be able to capture that kind of readership again, and I was right, and that's okay. But when I posted last year's Christmas event fic, for the first time since I started doing this in 2020, someone asked me why I bothered to space it out over a month instead of just posting the entire thing in one go on Christmas Day and how could I possibly expect them to be that invested for an entire month instead of just waiting until it was finished. I didn't know how to tell them that only three years prior, that's not only exactly what people did but they were excited for it to be like that.

If I'm not going to post my already completed fic in one lump sum right now, then the audience for it is nonexistent. And the audience won't grow once it's finished. It's like I have one opportunity to capture the readers and if they weren't willing to take the chance on the first chapter, then they'll never come back. It's disheartening, to say the least. Only six months ago, I was telling a friend that I thought this was my forever pairing, that I'd still be writing for this ship when I was old and grey. And now I'm going through my ideas folder, wondering what can be repurposed for other ships, because I increasingly feel not just that I'm shouting into a void but that the void is actively ignoring me.

I can't post wips because what if I abandon them or take too long to update? I can't post a chaptered fic in one go because that's too many words to expect people to read. But I can't space out posting completed chaptered fics either because everyone wants the instant gratification of the full fic right now. So what am I supposed to do?

I miss December 2020, but it's not the random art that I miss or the kudos or the number of comments. It was the community that built up around this fic. It was knowing that it was okay to space out the chapters because everyone was still right there with me, talking and theorizing and using their spoiler bars. It was my audience trusting me enough to come along with me for the ride instead of waiting for me to be done. I was so scared back then that the full year between me first talking about the idea and posting the first chapter had lost me my audience, scared that they'd all forgotten about me and moved on to other authors who were quicker to post, but I wish I'd known that three years later, it would only take four months for people to lose interest in an idea.

I'd have treated December 2020 like it was way more special than I did.

[cadybear420]

WIP Whenever!

A couple of weeks back I shared a snippet from a fix-it fic for the HSS:CA Book 1 sabotage arc (check it out here if u haven't already. then again updated dialogue from that one is included in this post so eh), where I try to make Ajay more unbiased.

Yesterday I returned to the fic and I just added in some dialogue to incorporate the detail that Ajay is familiar with Danielle's jealous and vindictive ways, and can warn MC about it in a premium scene. I think realistically he would have tried to be unbiased and not jump to any accusations, but would also be suspecting Danielle and at the very least get on her case a bit.

NGL though, I feel like I should also rewrite the scene without the headcanon of MC wanting to be the witch. Because even in the canon situation of MC crushing on Rory and wanting to be the princess, Ajay would still try to be unbiased, sus out Danielle a bit for dying on the hill of MC being guilty, and would still tell off Danielle and the other Dick Assholes for bullying MC. Maybe I'll do both versions, I can do both. We'll see.

Tagging:

@lover-also-fighter-also | @loreofyore | @spadesofgrass

@choicesmc | @somerandomjewelleryonthefloor | @rjschoicesstuff

@rosesnink | @gmsrrn98 | @lilyoffandoms

@dutifullynuttywitch | @aria-ashryver | @aces-and-angels

Once again, script format writing is just for drafting

Cher: Wait… you don’t seriously think– Danielle: What, that you did it on purpose? Erin: Cher is a freshman! How could she know where the cubes are or which was the right one? It was obviously a mistake! Evie: Yeah, I’m right with Erin on this one! What freshman would know how to sabotage a play like that on the first day of school? I’d have been lucky to have even found my way to the auditorium in the first place on my first day!  Trevor: I don’t know… it’s starting to seem more and more like sabotage. Cher: Sabotage? Evie: Don’t be ridiculous, you guys. My broken leg was an accident on Cher’s part, and nothing more.  [Trevor shakes his head] Trevor: No way. I personally took all of the audition props from the prop room and set them in the wings, including the theatre cube with no wheels. Take a look at the prop checkout logs from that day if you don’t believe me. Cher: I didn’t see any cube! Ajay: Cher, are you absolutely sure you didn’t just overlook it? [not sure which dialogue option Cher would answer here… insert this later] Trevor: Erin, Ajay, I’m sorry to say it, but the cube was right there with the other audition props. She would have to be blind to miss it.  Mr. Olson: What are you implying, Trevor? Trevor: Hate to say it, but it really looks like Cher switched the cubes on purpose. Cher: Why would I do that? Trevor: You tell me. Danielle: I’m just throwing this out there… but doesn’t it seem convenient that Evie slips and breaks her leg, and then suddenly Cher waltzes in and gets cast as the princess? Cher: Seriously Danielle? [not sure which in-game response option she’d choose, so brb] [A few others nod along with Danielle] [Also, Cher didn’t even want the princess role in the first place! She wanted the witch! And Evie wanted to be the knight but IDK if that’s relevant here] Cher: Also… (her eyes start to flare) I didn’t even want the princess role. I wanted the role as the fucking witch!  Trevor: Cher, watch your language– Cher: You remember, right Danielle? I freaking begged Ajay to let me and you switch roles!!! Ajay: I definitely remember that. You dropped down on your knees and gave me big puppy-dog eyes and everything! (he chuckles a little, but quickly regains his serious mood) Danielle: Yeah. And how do we know Cher wasn’t just hamming it up to hide her true motives?  Ajay: I don’t know… I mean… sure, she was a bit… over-the-top about it… but she ultimately seemed genuine. Plus, I remember her getting very excited in auditions every time we tried her as the witch.  Danielle: Well, actors are the best liars.  Ajay: I… [a few others continue nodding along with Danielle’s arguments, others frown and roll her eyes. But Ajay starts to narrow his eyes at her…] Ajay: Danielle, you seem to be really dying on this hill that Cher was behind this… (Danielle’s expression wavers a bit) Danielle: I’m just pointing out–  Ajay: Yes, but none of it is any real evidence that Cher was responsible. Honestly, anyone could have tampered with the props.  Aiden: Exactly!   (Cher smiles a bit) Ajay: That being said… (he takes a deep breath in) …they’re not implausible explanations either… (Cher’s face falls into confusion) Cher: You can’t be… you don’t really think I’d do something like that, do you? Ajay: I’m not saying that, Cher. I’m saying… we can’t rule you out as a possibility. I don’t have much reason to believe that you’d pull this off… but I do also trust Trevor’s word that it wasn’t an accident. Especially since I’ve seen people scheme to get lead roles before. And you were the one who retrieved the cube, so that doesn’t exactly look good for you. (Ajay starts to become increasingly distressed here) Maybe it was an accident… maybe it wasn’t… honestly, at this point, I don’t know what the hell to believe!  Erin: You have to believe Cher! She’s our friend! Ajay: I’m sorry, what am I supposed to do? Just ignore that someone got hurt on my watch because of friendship?

[expatesque]

Monthly Recap - Nov

Second round of this, under the cut

Read

Mansfield Park, Jane Austen - Do not recommend, was decent in the start but a slog by the end. Fanny is the most insipid protagonist I’ve come across in Jane by a mile, truly wishing her the worst.

Death in the Clouds, Agatha Christie - a top notch Poirot, very fun and twisty.

The absolute drama around Yellow Bittern has been so jokes, Vittles as ever had a great take

Ann Helen Peterson on how to show up for friends (meh, some interesting suggestions, very American oriented) and whether the kids are too soft (oriented towards journalism but a good question to be asking in any industry).

So much about the last 6 months of the economy (tuned out for my gardening leave, now have to catch up).

Watched

This month included Halloween so we had Practical Magic (an absolute must watch for the season for me), Beetlejuice (first time watching, more entertaining than I thought it would be), and I Married a Witch (the second you see Veronica Lake in this you understand why someone would risk their eternal soul and stay married to her)

A lot of West Wing - election season always gets me back to here, one of the best shows ever

Drop Dead Gorgeous - a fun one for a wine-filled night in with a friend

A hungover binge of Man on the Inside - sweet and cute and sad, especially if you know people who've had memory issues.

I am continuing to watch Charmed at night before bed, which is low stakes and amusing enough. Also watching Vampire Diaries, which is terrible but great fun mainly because I live text my reactions to my friend who’s already seen it while I watch, so it’s really half a friendship exercise.

Did

Attended: The ballet! Saw Encounters: Four Contemporary Ballets at the Royal Opera House which was largely eh but (1) the Royal Opera House is amazing, worth seeing anything there for the venue (and esp the bar), alone, and (2) the final piece, The Statement by Crystal Pite, was absolutely mind-blowing, one of the best things I’ve seen in a long time.

Went to three V&A Young Patrons things: Portrait Miniatures handling session (v cool), opening party for the Great Mughals (v fun), private viewing of the Great Mughals (v good, see below).

Learned to: Use hot rollers. Really recommend, they're a super easy way to look way more polished and genuinely take <10 min start to finish. I used this tutorial (and can confirm the volumizing spray she talks about is very good).

Made new friends!: Ana I think is going to be a good one, maybe Parker too. And Beatrix is a perfect tennis friend, not sure if we'll graduate beyond that.

Revarnished my outdoor furniture: trying to help it survive this winter better than last.

A lot of soaking in oxygen bleach of towels, tea towels, stained shirts, etc: getting things into shape for when I go back to work.

Went to a Thursday singles event and went on a date off the back of that: event was scary and kinda meh but I met someone so, worth it.

Found someone to play tennis with during the week (and played twice outside of drills): a big accomplishment, she’s lovely and a good player and available the same kinds of times that I am. Jackpot.

Last Month’s Goals

☑️Use all class pass classes: Actually had to buy more passes, did a lot of F45 and Qigong this month.

☑️Read a book: see Read section above.

☑️New Recipes x4: (1) Confit Chicken Legs - so good and how amazing that they keep for months, (2) Rick Bayless Slow cooker mole - a really good mole recipe (available on YouTube) with a huge amount of depth for (relatively) little work, (3) Brazilian Stroganoff - made this for the Brazilian GP (I try to make themed food for every GP) and it was decent but not my fav and I’m unlikely to make again, (4) Not proper recipes but did a lot of making my own condiments and syrups, e.g. rosemary simple syrup, pickled chillis, slow roasted cherry tomatoes.

☑️Go to a new museum: The Wallace Collection, can’t believe I haven’t been before, it’s free and lovely. The Swing is actually very cool in person, I hadn’t realized how small it is. And the recently completed conservation is wonderful, the colors are really stunning. There’s also a nice cafe. Recommend!

☑️☑️Go to an Exhibition (x2): The Great Mughals at the V&A (very interesting, lots of little details, was glad to go to private viewing with two of the curators as that added a lot), Silk Roads at the BM (incredibly good but also incredibly packed. Try to go first thing in the morning). Note: This one means a major exhibition at a museum I’ve been to before.

☑️Go to the theater: See above, Did section.

🟧Crochet: Making progress, still want to get better about doing this more regularly at night.

❌Write More: Total fail here, need to reconsider how to prioritize this and figure out what the main blockages are.

❌Lay morning foundation: Also total fail on this, probably should reconsider what's realistic for these colder months.

☑️Budget: Barely, was tougher this month. I'm ready to have income coming back in.

🟧Memorize a poem (x2): okay really this is a fail but I had to memorize a rap for Russian class so I'm counting that as a half tick.

☑️Russian flashcards: This is going better and my vocab is improving.

🟧Screen time: Better but still not good. May need to think about how to cycle this through the week / month vs blanket bans/reductions.

🟧Job prep: Unlikely to have any interviews until Jan so this has slowed down but is in progress.

Next Month’s

Carrying Over

Use all class pass passes (I expect to use less because I got home for Xmas midway through the period)

Four two new recipes (shrinking this as I will be doing less regular cooking and more holiday cooking)

Read a book

Visit a new musuem

Go to an exhibition

Go to a show (off for this month, busy start to the month and then I’ll be home)

Crochet

Write more

Morning foundation

Budget

Memorize a poem

Russian flashcards

Screentime

Job/interview prep

New

Quality time with people at home (grandmama, gran and pa, Jack, parents, Grace, Anna, M&M)

[jmdbjk]

My head is spinning...

Let's spend the next two weeks (or however long) arguing about who, what, when, where, when we could be enjoying content or music.

Yes, it's all over the news media and social media: RM, V, Jimin and Jungkook will enlist December 11 and 12.

Buzzwords being used: companion enlistment and battalion, company, barracks, training center... etc.

The more information is reposted and quoted, the more it gets twisted because words get left out, translations aren't clear and people generally misinterpret what they are reading because most social media posts are not complete sentences (omg the internet is ruining language writing and reading comprehension skills).

The initial report was RM and V would be going to a training center together (or at least at the same time/same date) in the "rear" and Jimin and Jungkook were going to one on the "front" and this base is organized so that it is considered on the "frontline." The initial report implied all 4 would be at the same location, 2 going to the front training center, 2 going to the rear training center.

Then reports began to surface that Jimin and Jungkook had chosen "companion enlistment." Which is a thing and they very well could have done. Siblings, relatives, friends, can request this but only for those whose birthday is 1995 or after.

After all of that, somehow, now we have Jimin and Jungkook going to the training center where Jin is located. Which may or may not be true.

You might even start seeing stuff about men with tattoos that are visible if they wore a singlet (tank top) or short pants are not eligible for training instructor assistant positions and therefore that's why they chose companion enlistment. (??!! eh?) That one is all over the place, I'm not sure what the accurate explanation is.

It's a frenzy of confusion. We don't know for sure. We won't know for sure until the day of, when I'm POSITIVE the media will be camped out along the roads into those military boot camp facilities with their cameras set up on tripods waiting for the black KIA Carnivals to show up.

Just me typing this and posting it will add to the never-ending confusion. I would rather talk about Jungkook explaining how the buttons failed him onstage during Fake Love or the quantity of naked Jimin we've seen in the last few days...

One thing I will say with conviction is that they were committed to this plan. They tried to tell us that. They did their best to remind us that 2025 was the target. Yes, they had some things to wrap up, some important things to finalize this year and some stuff that was hard to pin down. But in their minds and on paper, they had the general plan.

And I will also say that when they are all discharged, they will hit the ground running. They didn't do all of this extensive planning to be discharged and sit on their ass for a while to get used to being a civilian again. They're gonna kick ass as soon as they land, shoot some footage for an MV and get the show on the road.

Next year (which is a month away) there will be a ramp up when its time for Jin to be back with us, then Hobi, and then we'll be on the downhill side of all of this enlistment business and the wheels will start turning to get us all whipped up again. Stadiums will have been booked years in advance (as we speak they are being booked). They've got this plan in motion already.

All that being said, I hope our men do well, stay healthy, safe and without drama until June 2025 when they will be discharged from active military duty.

[pyropsychiccollector]

Irina: Right! Now that Kayano-chan's back with us, we can get to that special training I promised last week. (❋•‿•❋)

Kaede: … What's Professor Bitch on about? >_>

Yukiko: Nobody knows. (✿◠‿◠);;; During our English lessons last week, she made some giddy announcement about training that none of us could get her to elaborate on…

Rio: She DID say we all needed to be here for it. (✿◠‿◠)(✿◠‿◠)(✿◠‿◠)

Nagisa: … I have a bad feeling about this… ಠಿ_ಠ

Karma: Aw, don't say that! (❋•‿•❋) Bitch-sensei must have a grand idea if Kayano-chan needed to be here~

Kaede: Why are you saying that so ominously?! (╬≖_≖) Now I see where Nagisa's coming from.

Rio: You WOULD. (✿◠‿◠)(✿◠‿◠)(✿◠‿◠)

Karma: (❋•‿•❋) shows pic of Nagisa kissing Kaede from last week

Kaede: Will you DELETE THOSE ALREADY?!?!?! (╬ಠ益ಠ)(╬ಠ益ಠ)(╬ಠ益ಠ)(╬ಠ益ಠ)(╬ಠ益ಠ)

Karma and Rio: No. (❋•‿•❋)

Irina: (✿◠‿◠)*** If the peanut gallery would kindly shut up, I would be glad to give you your instructions. Be good brats and take out a sheet of paper. You only need to write down the names of three classmates you would prefer to practice seduction lessons on. That's it.

Everyone: … ಠಿ_ಠ WHAT?!

Hinata: Seduction lessons?!?!?!

Okajima: You mean like taking babes' clothes off?! __

Isogai: (✿◠‿◠);;; This doesn't sound kosher…

Meg: Because it's not. (╬≖_≖) Who authorized giving Junior high kids seduction lessons?!

Irina: I did. (❋•‿•❋) Stop being babies and sack it up. You wanted to learn to be kickass assassins, and one of the tools you'll have is seduction~

Rinka: We're training to kill the Octopus, not drag him into bed. (╬≖_≖)

Irina: Yeah, well, you know how he gets all orgasmic about you kids pairing off. (❋•‿•❋) There's a good chance you can distract him with lovey-dovey shit, and the rest of you can go in for the kill~

Touka: Well… I guess that makes a weird sort of sense…

Hinano: Can we put down teacher names?! _

Irina: Meh, sure, why not?

Kaede: ……… This is because of last week, isn't it? (╬ಠ益ಠ)(╬ಠ益ಠ)(╬ಠ益ಠ)(╬ಠ益ಠ)(╬ಠ益ಠ)

Irina: (❋•‿•❋) The inspiration hardly matters. What's important. You don't have to worry about advanced techniques yet. Right now we'll only be practicing kissing.

Itona: With three people of our choosing?

Irina: Yup. Gotta be fair and spread the love around~… Well. It's more practice than anything else. Get you used to kissing fast. (❋•‿•❋)

Kaede: (╬≖_≖) Three names, you said?

Nagisa: (✿◠‿◠);;; … Why me…?

Irina: The only rule is NO BLANK PAPERS! Everything else goes! (❋•‿•❋)

Yukiko: … Oh. Okay. (✿◠‿◠)

Rio: I like this. (❋•‿•❋)

Yuzuki: Loopholes are great. (❋•‿•❋)

Irina: … Eh? Why do you brats look so smug? (╬≖_≖)

Kaede: ≖‿≖ Just because YOU'RE a bitch, doesn't mean the rest of us are.

Irina: Will you all cut that cheeky crap out?! Turn your papers in if you're done!!! (╬ಠ益ಠ)

~*~

an awkward hour of kissing later, end of the day

Nagisa: (✿◠‿◠);;; Not to sound ungrateful, Professor Bitch, but why can't I go home?

Irina: pinches his cheek Because, my dear sweet Casanova, as you might have noticed you didn't get any action during that practice session. (❋•‿•❋)

Nagisa: Well, yeah. I mean, I was hardly the only one. Okajima only got to kiss the three he wanted to. A lot of the guys were like that. ಠಿ_ಠ

Irina: (❋•‿•❋) Ah, but they DID get kissing. YOU didn't even get the ones on your list.

Nagisa: … I just figured we were out of time. It's not that big of a deal. (✿◠‿◠);;;

Irina: On the contrary, it's a very big deal. ≖‿≖ Turns out you were quite popular on the surveys. Some smartasses even listed you thrice. ≖‿≖*** Well, it was my fault for not considering repeats as a way for people to get out of spreading the love around. Oh well. You got a long afternoon ahead of ya. (❋•‿•❋)

Nagisa: You could list repeats?!?!?! (⊙▂⊙✖ )

Irina: (❋•‿•❋) Thank YOU for being a better sport and listing three different girls~ Gave me plenty of data. (❋•‿•❋)

Nagisa: ……… I need an adult.

Irina: I AM an adult. (❋•‿•❋) slides open the classroom door, hauling Nagisa back in Okaaay~ Everybody here? counts off … Yep, all nine of you. Fantastico~… (❋•‿•❋)(❋•‿•❋)(❋•‿•❋)

Nagisa: (⊙▂⊙✖ ) staring … H-How many of you guys listed…me…?

Kaede: head buried in arms to hide her crimson face, raises hand

Yukiko: shyly raises hand

Rio: shamelessly raises hand

Rinka: awkwardly waves hand

Yuzuki: proudly waves hand Loopholes! (✿◠‿◠)

Touka: chirps brightly, waves hand After seeing you put Kayano-chan out of commission, I just had to know! (✿◠‿◠) ignores Kaede's indignant squawk

Hinata: meekly raises hand

Hinano: waves hand guilt-free I didn't know about the loophole, but Mister K said I only got one chance anyway! (✿◠‿◠)

Ritsu: raises hand with a dead serious expression No one else struck me as attractive with kissing.

Nagisa: (⊙▂⊙✖ ) All of you…?!

Irina: (❋•‿•❋)*** Yup. And just about all of them listed you three times. Kurahashi only gets the one, Hayami twice, but everyone else was a smartass. Though if this training goes well, you might have a promising future ahead of you. (❋•‿•❋)

Nagisa: P-Promising future?! (⊙▂⊙✖ ) doesn't want to hurt any of their feelings, he's nervous as hell

Irina: Let's get that hit rate up, okay? pinches Nagisa's cheek No excuses this time~

Nagisa: … mutters I'm so dead by the end of this. ಠಿ_ಠ

~*~

Hinata: D-Don't get any weird ideas!! >////////<* I picked you because you and Isogai were the least troublesome boys, and I figured Isogai was gonna have a line a mile long… I never pegged YOU as a womanizer! >///////////<*

Nagisa: I'm not!!!!!! (⊙▂⊙✖ ) God's honest truth, I didn't even WANT to put names down, but Professor Bitch said no blanks…!

Hinata: … huffs I guess that's true. You're like the opposite of that idiot Maehara… >///////////>*** Let's just get this over with. Can't believe I had to put you down three freaking times……..

one lengthy session later

Irina: Alright, break it up~ You can go home, Okano-chan. You're done. (❋•‿•❋)

Hinata: (⊙▂⊙✖ ) Wh-What do you MEAN done?! W-We only just got started!!

Nagisa: ಠಿಠ zoned out after three kiss sessions went by in a barely lucid haze Tha… ಠಿಠ struck speechless at how much he liked it

Hinata: Youuu…! >///////////////<* F-Fine, but we're practicing later, you big perverted j-jerk!!! @/////////////@* runs out the door, steam whistling out of her ears, beet red face

Nagisa: ಠಿ_ಠ

Irina: Ufufu. Seems Kayano-chan wasn't an accident. (❋•‿•❋)

~*~

Hinano: I don't expect too much from you. Mister K will always be my #1! (✿◠‿◠)

Nagisa: Th-That's fine, Hinano-chan. (✿◠‿◠);;; We only have to do it the once.

Hinano: Just pucker up already. (๑•́ ₃ •̀๑)

a couple minutes later

Hinano: Wha?! It's over?! Σ('◉⌓◉’)

Irina: You had to come up for air sometime, sweetie. (❋•‿•❋) You can go home.

Hinano: Σ('◉⌓◉’) looking very conflicted at Nagisa

Nagisa: ಠಿ_ಠ I-Is it over yet? glad he only had to kiss Hinano once, but it was a kiss sessions he didn't want to end

Irina: Not even close, dear. (❋•‿•❋)

Hinano: Σ('◉⌓◉’) nudged out the door and questioning whether she liked kissing Mister K or Nagisa more

~*~

Ritsu: I have performed the necessary research while awaiting my turn. I am reasonably confident practice will be a nonissue. (๑•́ ₃ •̀๑)

Nagisa: … (✿◠‿◠);;; You…studied? Like, watched clips or something?

Ritsu: nods sagely Clips. Read up on specific techniques. I am certain I will "wow" you, Nagisa-kun. (๑•́ ₃ •̀๑)

Nagisa: ……….. doesn't want to be hearing this right now Let's… just get this over with. (✿◠‿◠);;;

three lengthy, dizzying rounds later

Ritsu: Over? (☉_ ☉) This cannot be. I swear to you, we only just got started. (☉_ ☉)

Irina: (✿◠‿◠)** Yeah, well, hate to break it to ya, computer junkie. But you were about to go for Round 4. I can't let you do that… Wouldn't be fair to everyone waiting.

Ritsu: Impossible. (☉_ ☉) My mind went blank and I forgot everything I learned. I merely reacted to Nagisa-kun… This is troubling. Nagisa-kun seduced me. (☉_ ☉)

Nagisa: I'm telling you, it was as much of a blank for me!! ಠಿ_ಠ

Ritsu: Untrue. You were singularly focused into overwhelming my senses. (☉_ ☉) Do not lie to me.

Nagisa: twitching violently, unable to deny that he was…focused…on the exercise after Ritsu promised she'd studied up ಠಿ_ಠ I was hoping to learn a little bit more than that… You said you studied! DX

Ritsu: (☉_ ☉) We will have to save it for…next time…

Nagisa: ಠಿ_ಠ twitching

~*~

Rinka: I did kiss Chiba earlier, just as a head's up… >///<***

Nagisa: That's…okay? ಠಿ_ಠ I mean, if you like Chiba, I'm not going to tear you away from him…

Rinka: huffs It's not like that. >///<* I mean… He's a good friend. But I don't honestly know anything about this lovey-dovey stuff. I put you down twice cuz you obviously had the skills, knocking out Kayano… But I didn't know if Professor Bitch would allow that. So I put Chiba down as a fallback. >///<* Should have just went with my gut.

Nagisa: … ಠಿ_ಠ Everyone keeps bringing that up, but I was just saving her life… Anyone would have done the same.

Rinka: groans Just come here. I'm tired of hearing you all down in the dumps. >///<***

couple rounds later

Rinka: >///////////////////<*** Just blind luck, my ass.

Nagisa: ಠಿಠ I'm pretty sure you were pretty… experienced… Yourself. ಠಿಠ

Rinka: No. >/////////////////<*** I'm a damn greenhorn, and I just refused to roll over for you. That's all. This is supposed to be practice, so I have it my all, too. Thanks for not holding back, but I've got a long way to go.

Nagisa: ಠಿ_ಠ I don't think that at all… W-We can try again later?

Rinka: Goes without saying. @/////////////@***

~*~

Yuzuki: Fufufu. My time to shine! (＾ω＾)

Nagisa: ಠಿ_ಠ I'm surprised you wanted to kiss me, Yuzuki? I mean, I'm not even that good.

Yuzuki: That's not what Kayano-chan's starstruck face said. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) And I'll have you know I came prepared! I rewatched a bunch of lovey-dovey anime that featured this very type of scenario!! You have no chance! (＾ω＾)

Nagisa: huffs out a sigh I keep telling you guys, it was no big deal… (✿◠‿◠);;; But if you think you're prepared, I'm…happy for you? I'll try and learn from you, Yuzuki-sensei.

Yuzuki: Don't patronize me! ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) I'll have you roll over and beg me for more!!

A few heated sessions later

Irina: Alright, break it up, you two. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) Fuwa-chan, you look sweaty~… Your shirt is not doin' so hot. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Yuzuki: It's…….over? (☉_ ☉) No. No, no, no!!! It can't be over!!!!!! (☉_ ☉) shakes Nagisa like a ragdoll Gimme back my three lives, damn you!!! I didn't get to show you anything!!!!! (⊙▂⊙✖ )

Nagisa: (✿◠‿◠);;; still kinda spacey I think you showed me p-plenty, Yuzuki-sensei… G-Give yourself more credit. (☉_ ☉)

Yuzuki: @~~~@*** Unacceptable!!! It can't be over…! getting yanked by Irina to the exit I-I still have my Ace to play! J-Just gimme one more chance!! DX

Irina: Nope… (✿◠‿◠)*** swats Yuzuki's hand away before she can strip off her soaked, sweaty jacket Advanced techniques come LATER. What part of that do you not understand?!

Nagisa: watches them go, shivering (☉_ ☉) Can I go home yet? doesn't know how much more he can take

~*~

Irina: (✿◠‿◠)*** Touka, dear. Clothes stay ON, you got that?

Touka: (＾ω＾) Of course, Sensei! I am a professional!

Nagisa: (☉_ ☉) I know you're besties with Kaede, Touka… But you wanted to kiss me, too? Seriously??

Touka: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) After seeing the mess you made of Kaede-chan, I just had to see how I stacked up~ You're pretty formidable, Nagisa-kun. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Nagisa: (✿◠‿◠);;; You guys give me too much credit… I have nothing to offer…

Touka: We'll just see about that! (＾ω＾)

a few steamy sessions later

Irina: ………… (✿◠‿◠)*** Right. You guys are done. Touka. Go home.

Touka: was prevented from removing her sweat-soaked shirt every time throughout the sessions >:[ Mean, Sensei. It's getting hot in here. Just let me-

Irina: I SAID GO HOME!!!!! (✿◠‿◠)*

Nagisa: (☉_ ☉) feeling sooo conflicted about Irina interfering in Touka's attempts at "cooling off" Actually… It is p-pretty warm in here…

Irina: (✿◠‿◠)*** Nagisa, don't think I didn't notice how you kept groping where your hands didn't belong.

Touka: Pshaw. They were right where they were supposed to be. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) Let's meet up later, Nagisa. Alone. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Nagisa: (☉_ ☉) hardly has willpower to refuse such an invitation

Irina: For the last time, you knuckleheads…! Advanced techniques…….ARE FOR LATER!!!!!!!! (╬ಠ益ಠ)(╬ಠ益ಠ)(╬ಠ益ಠ)(╬ಠ益ಠ)(╬ಠ益ಠ)

~*~

Yukiko: (✿◠‿◠);;; I didn't think my turn would ever come…

Nagisa: (✿◠‿◠);;; I'm pretty sure Professor Bitch was always going to make us see it to the end… B-Besides, I did put you down on my list…

Yukiko: Really? (❋•‿•❋) I-I was afraid I'd be too…plain for you… >w<*

Nagisa: N-Not at all!!! (✿◠‿◠);;;;;;; You're amazing, Yukiko… I know probably every guy in class had you on their list…

Yukiko: Well… I suppose there's some truth to that… (๑•́ ₃ •̀๑) But even if I'm considered… popular… I don't think that about myself at all. >//////////////<* A-And besides, I was curious why you never got a turn… I'm glad you ARE appreciated, even if that means a wait time for me. >///<*

Nagisa: Honestly, this is surreal for me… I'm not that special at all… >///<***

Yukiko: Not true!!! ٩(๑ `н´๑)۶ You're VERY special!!!

Irina: Could you two lovebirds get to it already? (╬≖‿≖) As much fun as this is, I'd like to go home, too. (╬≖‿≖)

Yukiko: L-Lovebirds?! Σ('◉⌓◉’)

Nagisa: B-But Yukiko's way out of my league!!! (⊙▂⊙✖ )

Irina: Just shaddup and pucker up already!!! (╬≖‿≖)

a few dreamy sessions later

Nagisa: (☉_ ☉)

Yukiko: short-circuiting from how happy she is (✿◠‿◠)

Nagisa: unable to tear Yukiko off from her adoring hug she's got him trapped in (☉_ ☉) … Not sure if he wants to be free

Irina: Time to go home, Yukiko-chan! (✿◠‿◠)*** picks her up by the back of the neck like a kitten and scootches her to the door

~*~

Rio: (❋•‿•❋) Myyy tuuurn~

Nagisa: (⊙▂⊙✖ ) B-But I got done with Touka…! I was supposed to be safe from hereon. Σ('◉⌓◉’)

Rio: Oh, I'll keep you safe, hubby. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) I'll blow all those others away~…

Nagisa: staring horrified at Irina (⊙▂⊙✖ ) N-No crossdressing allowed, right?

Irina: (❋•‿•❋)*** Clothes stay on, Nagisa. You know the drill by now.

Rio: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) I'm cool with clothes on. We can get nice and oily just like this~… rubs up against Nagisa sensually

Irina: Advanced techniques…LATER. (╬ಠ益ಠ)

a few steamy sessions later

Rio: standing over Nagisa faceplanted on the floor I'm the best~ (＾ω＾)

Irina: sighs Yes, yes, Rio darling. You can continue your kissy obsession later. (╬≖‿≖) Nagisa still has one more to get through.

Nagisa: …

Rio: I'll wait outside~ (＾ω＾)

Irina: HOME. (╬≖‿≖)

~*~

Kaede: >////////////<*** I was hoping Professor Bitch would get bored by now…

Nagisa: sighs (✿◠‿◠);;; She's not. She's filmed each one.

Kaede: WHAT?! (╬ಠ益ಠ)(╬ಠ益ಠ)(╬ಠ益ಠ)(╬ಠ益ಠ)(╬ಠ益ಠ)

Irina: (✿◠‿◠) For feedback purposes~ Relaaax~

Kaede: I'M GONNA MURDER YOU!!!!! (╬ಠ益ಠ)(╬ಠ益ಠ)(╬ಠ益ಠ)(╬ಠ益ಠ)(╬ಠ益ಠ)

Nagisa: (✿◠‿◠);;; L-Let's just get this done and go home, Kaede. I won't let her humiliate you.

Kaede: E-Eh…? @///////@*** W-Well… If… If you don't mind, Nagisa…

Irina: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) starts filming

a few hot minutes later

Nagisa: (✿◠‿◠);;; Professor Bitch, Kaede passed out… Again…

Irina: I saw. (❋•‿•❋)(❋•‿•❋)(❋•‿•❋)(❋•‿•❋)(❋•‿•❋) You were a real stud~… All that practice paid off~…

Nagisa: (✿◠‿◠);;; Can you…take her home?

Irina: Nope! I've got business to attend to. Don't worry, you can ask Karasuma where she lives. (❋•‿•❋) Don't do anything I would~ leaves a deeply disturbed Nagisa holding a limp, unconscious, but content Kaede in his arms

Nagisa: Professor Bitch!!! (╬ಠ益ಠ)(╬ಠ益ಠ)(╬ಠ益ಠ)(╬ಠ益ಠ)(╬ಠ益ಠ) Grrr… walks into teacher's lounge … (☉_ ☉) does an about face when he sees that Mr. Karasuma has gone home for the day, and instead all the other girls are sitting in there waiting for him

Rio: You're not getting away that easily! (❋•‿•❋)

Nagisa: gets yanked back into the office with Kaede in tow, door sliding shut (⊙▂⊙✖ ) I need an adult…!

[raphael-angele]

Nico is a Baby, Bianca is Alive (The Separation)

Before the cabins decided they'll take turns watching over Nico while Bianca is away, Percy and Annabeth were the only ones Bianca trusted to look after him.

Bianca: And make sure he eats his vegetables.

Percy: We know, Bianca.

Bianca: If he eats sweets, make sure that he drinks water after.

Percy: *repeats what she's saying* Yeah, yeah. We know. You already told us like 15 times

Bianca: *sigh* Sorry. I never left him for so long.

Percy: He'll be fine with us. We promise. Annabeth will give him a one-on-one teaching, I'll make sure he wont get hurt during training.

Bianca: *narrows her eyes*

Percy: And we'll both see to it that he eats healthy and gets enough sleep.

Bianca: ...Uh huh

Nico, running to them: PERCY! PERCY! C'MON! You promised to play Mythomagic wirh me *drags him off*

Percy: *dragged off* Ok, ok

Annabeth, walking up to Bianca:

Bianca: Hope he wont be too much work.

Annabeth: Eh, he's been a delight so far. He's kinda like a mini Percy

Bianca: Now that kinda worries me

Annabeth: *chuckles*

Bianca: Maybe I shouldn't go. I'll just tell Lady Artemis that I'll go next solstice.

Annabeth: Are you kidding me? Bianca, you get to travel the whole entire world. You shouldn't miss out on that, especially after spending 70 years in that hotel

Bianca: I know. It's just...I'm starting to think that maybe I rushed into the decision.

Annabeth: Hey, you have every right to be join out of interest. And Nico's happy for you. Sure it took some time but he is. Sone time apart will do you two some good.

Bianca: You really think I'm doing the right thing here?

Annabeth: I think you deserve to find out who you really are. And that's not gonna happen if you're always gonna be concerned with the well being of other people over your own.

Thalia, entering: Bianca. Ready to go?

Bianca: *looks at Annabeth*

Annabeth: *smiles*

Bianca: ...Nico!

Nico: *goes over to her then sees Thalia* You have to go now?

Bianca: Yeah.

Nico: *hugs her tightly*

Bianca: *hugs back*

Nico: Is there anything I can do to make you stay?

Bianca: ... *slowly pulls away* Nico. You know that I can't always be by your side, right? I can't always look after you.

Nico: Yeah, but-

Bianca: You need to be a big boy, now. You need to learn how to do things without me.

Nico: B-but, I don't know how to be a big boy.

Bianca: That's why people here will help you. People like Annabeth and Percy will help you.

Nico: But why can't you teach me?

Bianca: ...because I need to grow up, too.

Nico: *hugs her again* You'll come and visit me right?

Bianca: Of course I will. Every chance I get.

Nico: And you'll send me post cards?

Bianca: I'll try to send you one every week to tell you where I am and what I did.

Thalia, putting her hand on her shoulder: It's time to go.

Bianca:

Nico: *lets her go*

Bianca: Tell you what? How 'bout I let the trainers teach you how to shoot an arrow?

Nico, sparkle in his eyes: REALLY?!

Bianca: Yeah, it'll be good on you to know how to fight monsters. And if you guys beat us in Capture the Flag next time, I'll let them teach you how to use a sword.

Nico, sparkles in his eyes: *gaaasssp* Percy! Annie! You heard that? I get to use a sword!

Bianca: *soft smile then looks at Thalia*

Thalia: Let's go.

Bianca:

Nico:

Bianca: *kisses his forehead* Arrivederci, soldatino.

Nico: Arrivederci, amata sorella

[harunayuuka2060]

*Timeskip: Just one week remain until Princess Aoife's birth*

Baby Liora: Aoife! Aoife! Helloooooooooo~! *his head on Leona's tummy*

Leona: Seriously this kid- You will not hear your baby sister by doing that.

Baby Liora: No?? Where?? Dada!

Leona: *points at his chest* Here.

Baby Liora: *moves and places his ear over his father's chest* AOIFEEE!

Leona: Ugh. My ears-

MC: *walks in* Liora, what are you doing?

Ruggie: Shishishi! He's excited to meet his sister!

MC: Ruggie, take Liora with you and see Kifaj.

Ruggie: Right, right. *approaches Liora and picks him up* Come now, Your Royal Highness.

Baby Liora: Want see Aoife...

Ruggie: You're going to see her after this week.

MC: Yes. For now, you should play with Kifaj.

Baby Liora: *sad frowns*

MC: *walks up to him and gives him a peck on the cheek*

Baby Liora: *giggles*

Ruggie: We'll get going now. And rest up, Leona!

Leona: Yeay, yeah. Just leave.

Ruggie and Baby Liora: *has left the room*

MC: How are you feeling, Leona?

Leona: It's a bit uncomfortable. She can't seem to wait.

MC: You must be feeling excited about her arrival.

Leona: Are you going to take her now?

MC: Yes.

Leona: ...

MC: ...

Leona: Why are you not kissing me yet?

MC: You're looking forward to it?

Leona: *annoyed* Of course. That's what I waited two years for.

MC: ...

MC: You are making me speechless.

Leona: I demand minutes of it. This is the only time I could get affection from you.

MC: ...

MC's father: I want to witness the birth of my granddaughter.

MC's brother: No chance, father. I'm afraid you'll just have to watch on the side. *sips his tea*

MC's father: It's been years. Haven't they forgiven your sister yet?

MC's brother: MC is not a saint, father. And can you stop playing favorites already? This is why she grew up spoiled.

MC's father: ...

MC's former attendant: *walks in* Sir? You have a visitor.

MC's father: A visitor?

*MC's mother enters*

MC's father: What are you doing here?

MC's mother: Why? This is my estate too.

MC's brother: *his eyes widen in interest as he continues to drink his tea*

Ruggie: Are you two done now?

MC: ...

MC: Leona will give birth to Aoife.

Ruggie: I- Why?

MC: Our daughter of mine refused to be transferred. I'm afraid Leona would have to endure the process.

Ruggie: ...

Ruggie: Well. He wouldn't mind being asleep for days.

MC: *looks seriously at him*

MC: He wouldn't just be sleeping for days. He will be escaping nightmares and illusions.

Ruggie: ...

Ruggie: That doesn't sound too good. What are you going to do now?

MC: I will never let anything happen to him, of course.

Ruggie: ...

Ruggie: You're so sweet to him, master-

MC: Ruggie.

Ruggie: Don't set me on fire.

MC's mother: MC has two children?

MC's brother: About to be two, yes.

MC's mother: ...

MC's mother: How are they? Didn't they struggle?

MC's brother: No worries, auntie. Your solution worked. They didn't get to inherit the bloodlust.

MC's mother: Oh... That's a relief.

MC's brother: *smiles* Auntie, don't you want to visit them in the Royal Palace?

MC's mother: ...

MC's mother: I am not sure if they would want to see me since I abandoned them the moment they were born.

MC's brother: Eh? But Auntie, wasn't MC aware of the reason?

MC's mother: ...

MC's mother: Would they have remembered?

MC's brother: Well... You do have a point. I mean, it's better than them having killed because of your bloodlust. Haha-

MC's mother: *feels saddened*

MC's brother: Sorry. By the way, why did you return, Auntie?

MC's mother: ...

MC's mother: I want to bid farewell to MC for the last time.

MC's brother: What?

MC's brother: ...

MC's brother: Are you dying?