#for bad pain days kind of guy lately? like my pain isnt too bad today and im like ok 😁 kitchen time :3. idk its nice and getting to use up

[volfoss]

First time doing a jumbo muffin w/o explicit package instructions for the time so um. Good god I'm a little scared about it....

[sunnyfoxsstuff]

New chapter guy's!! Bcuz i thought of it while dreaming 😌👌✨ (even if my Dreams are usually a Big mess of everythin-)

Chapter 8:a burst of wind

In the past few weeks he xuan would try training shi qingxuan but its never easy to train someone who Can quickly change their mind on somethin else at these Times he xuan would either pinch his ear's or throw some water on him but After some week's of that he xuan had to go back to his duties and by that he had to go back to his territory something was wrong he didnt know what yet so he would do round's of check up here and there in the day atleast it gave him more Time with his fish's of course it also meant that he saw hua cheng for some and hua cheng loooved trying to make him angry of course he would succeed and get kicked out

Since he xuan was busy shi qingxuan on his side was bored out alone so he'd go daily in the forest exploring it deeper everytime he'd go there of course he'd go visit xie lian sometimes but xie lian isnt a Ghost and probably never will be he has to attend to the mortal's and do his own thing's

After a while of exploring the forest sqx had found a small ravin it was deep but he could hear the sound of water down there guessing there's probably a river down there it was getting late though so he decided to go back home and rest for the night

The next day he went to the village seeing that their food storage was again getting emptyed we know by who but he couldnt just complain and tell him to eat less he has Always ate the amount of eight people if not more because of it he passed his morning to the beginning of afternoon getting food not because it was heavy but because he had again got caught by the clothe's and jewelry's

Complaining on his way back that he shouldnt have looked at the clothe's and jewelry's and that he shouldve just took the food and go back home not surprisingly the house was still empty when he got back to put the food in the storage imediatly After he took the fan and ran off into the forest once again

The Sun was still up enough when he got to the ravin he looked down wondering how he'd get down there before remembering that he is dead and that these kind of thing's were easy task's

So qingxuan jumped down but landed on his bad leg's which made him known that because of his decision he was now in pain and fell down it may be the only Time he wished he had a walking stick but he was on Sand it probably wouldnt have been very usefull

He got up and tried his best to walk despite limping the wall was a good help

After a little bit it was getting dark when suddenly he Heard a noise, a noise coming from the river he looked back stopping in his track it was a really Bad time to get attacked by something, he didnt see anything moving so he continued his walk finally seeing a way out even if he would have to climb a bit

When suddenly he heard the noise again and turned back this time he Saw it, it was one of he xuan's Big fish skeleton jumping at him mouth open ready to bite shi qingxuan, he closed his eye's and imediatly openned his fan swinging it once thinking he did nothing but a small breeze but when he openned his eye's again he Saw the fish getting pushed back in the river, taking his chance he ran as best as he could and climbed up, when the fish tried to bite him again he was too high up for him and fell back

Sqx imediatly went to the nearby Big tree sitting down before lifting his arm's up happy to have manage to get out of this situation on his own to then realise he really summoned the air again, it had answered him and protected him from this fish

Feeling too tired After all this and not wanting to bear the pain of his leg more he decided to rest there for the night

Earlier today on he xuan's side, while doing his round in and around the water checking the barriers he putted down

After that he fed his fish's and counted them noticing one was missing and wondered why he'd go off like that, there's only 2 river's connected to his territory following the first one he only stumbled upon a peacefull lake with normal fish's no Big skeleton one so he went back and followed the other one stumbling upon his fish, he of course took Care of it putting it back to his place and noticed footprint's on the sand to then be mixed with handprint's climbing not like he cared but he still went to check it out

Finding shi qingxuan near a tree sighing at the sight waking him up of course thinking he was getting attacked again he swinged his fan and projected he xuan against a tree, qingxuan got up running to he xuan forgetting his leg to then fall face flat on the ground

SQX:"are you ok? Im sorry i thought it was the fish again" he said lifting his body up to sit down looking at he xuan

HX:"dont worry im fine hua cheng does worse" he paused looking at qingxuan which his clothe's were dirty from the Sand but more importantly he seemed to hold his Bad leg "its hurting? What did you do this Time? I doubt my fish was able to bite you even just once."

Shi qingxuan chuckled a bit "well i- jumped down and landed on it so yeah it hurt's and are you kidding? Your fish almost bit me twice! If i hadnt the wind i wouldve got eaten! Im too pretty to die chewed up by a fish!"

HX:"well i took Care of him, anyway's Can you walk? I dont wanna stay outside like a poor man"

SQX:"is that a way to mock how i used to sleep on rock cold ground's before i die?"

HX:"kind of" walking away in the direction of the house

SQX:"hey! Wait for me!" Getting up flinching when putting pressure on the leg limping trying to follow he xuan

He xuan then stopped and looked back for once looking at shi qingxuan who was having a hard time walking

SQX:"sorry- i'll be there in some i just-.. hurted my leg, some dumb decision of mine again y'know how it is" laughing a bit embarrassed

He xuan stared for a bit before walking toward's qingxuan turning his back infront him and kneeling down "Come on get on before i change my mind."

Qingxuan hesitated but still got on he xuan's back "sorry i'll think more next Time"

HX:"you better because this is a one time thing, next time you'll use a walking stick" starting to walk back home "you should rest."

SQX:"but i'll bother you more then"

HX:"worry more about you less about me."

SQX:"...ok..but i'll still worry 'bout you weither you like it or not" yawning

HX:"whatever its not my problem" looking back seeing that sqx fell asleep pretty quickly, After some minute's of walking they got home and he xuan putted sqx to bed before going to sleep himself

Heyaaaallll i Hope you enjoyed Reading this New chapter which i legit wrote all day of course i took pause's but ye anyways cya next Time ;p

[sankttealeaf]

Do you have anym more modern au ruetash headcanons you might share? I love that fic too along with lsdl.

I love hearing your head canons about Rue and Gortash, they’re so cute and I just want to read nice things about them whilst they suffer and through lsdl😭

Also when I’m reading lsdl now I’m always like ‘oh my god no….this is terrible. The pain. The angst……can’t wait for the next chapter.👀’😂

THANK U!!! i love these two in any universe and i will make them suffer for it<3 anytime i think too hard about them i do feel a little sad. one day i'll be nice to them. not today, though 🤭

some silly modern au headcanons that have been floating around in my brain lately! (some may become proper chapters in that fic):

they first hook up at some big conference in waterdeep. theres only one bed in the hotel and both of them indulge a little too much in the open bar at the place they're at. its a one time mistake until they wake up in the morning and do it again

rue actually gets on really well with karlach and despite the fact she signed an nda about her and gortash hooking up, karlach is the first to know ("please. you can do so much better. look at my friend wyll, he's cute and single and so much better than gortash" - karlach, moments later)

rue has broken into gortashs apartment many times before. he expects to see her there now and its weird when she isnt

gortash ends up picking rue up from various nights out with karlach & the gang after shes drank too much and drunk-called him, saying how she misses him (they saw each other hours ago) and how she wants to go home (and by home she means his place). he does so every time and gets vaguely threatened by karlach to keep her safe

rue posts a photo of her sitting opposite gortash in a fancy restaurant with the caption "first date kind of nervous" and immediately deletes it. fans go crazy

i like to think theres full on conspiracy theories about them being together or not. people are piecing together a timeline. others say it doesnt matter, hes only using her because his policies are so bad. a small group of people write fanfiction (rue sends them all to him because she thinks its funny)

she really eggs on their followers to think theres something there. posting pictures of her wearing his shirts. tagging him in videos of her walking around the city. asking people for reccommendations on good places for dates. its a blast. shes loving it

theyre so silly to me!!!! ahhhhh losing my mind over these two guys!!!!!! thanks for asking about them! theyre the only thing in my brain ever

[evamoere]

A confession - after years

hey ovra, how you doing lately? havent heard from you for long and im sure im missing out a lottt

i think weve talked about our past a lot right bhahah and everytime we done that i felt extremely warmth so today tonight let me enjoy that for a moment, i wanted to get back to the past for just a bit more :)

we meet on a random quite night at engrp that time, i clearly remember i was just get into this world and trying to fit in badly i started sending bio a couple times and somehow somewhat i cant recall the memories about who reach one of us frist but im sure the thing that we talked about was music all the time. things were going smoothly we getting close we glued to each other so bad we goin thru downhill for years but here we are, we make it. even though it isnt that easy even though at the end we were nothing, just kind of accept each other the way we are.

but today perhaps id break your heart in the most painful way. all these time i wonder will i ever find a language to speak of the things that haunt me the most..now i have, i have found it. you remember when we decided to exchange each others real life identity? at that time i was really really excited and scared. im happy that id finally got to know you more and yeah im scared worried and anxious. idek what should i say to you about me, i clearly know that lying was not a good solution to make you stay but what can i do? im to scared to lose you im afraid id lose everything just because im trying to be my self. so then i decided to told you that yes i am the man that u wanted all along.

not a single word can explain my heart without yours. i go to bed and fall asleep wishing you were here all the time. yet i know u can only appear in my dreams. we’re happy in them. we can dance in the kitchen as much as we can we can read book together in the floor we can watch the show together we can stare to eachother’s eyes as much as we wanted too. my heart physically aches without your soul and my mind is full of the words i never got to say. the words i wish i can kiss onto your lips and engrave into your skin. i love you more than my body can take, for everytime i hear your name my heart breaks all over again. i think of you hundred and hundred times in a day. I suffer in my loving i hope you understand.

"My greatest pain is that you never got to know me and never wanted to know me."

what is done out of love always takes place beyond good and evil. i feel miserable ever since it takes me a while to gave you my ‘own’ picture, name and things cause i think about it more and more and yeah i told you that i was the boy from jogja who happened to live with her grand mother. i mean its all true the lies is that i was a boy and i ride a big big motorcycle daily. honestly i only use it a couple times cause it was my bff’s thing. remember the boy who i send it picture to you? it also was my bestfriend. the same damned person. cause you know i had no idea of who other person i should be.

pretending to be a guy was never easy for me, i feel like i was hurting my own pride and it breaks my heart in many ways cause man i swore i to you i wanted to be free free to tell you how my days really went thru how my friendships was really like i want you to know all of me but theres a wall that i made it self wich prevent me to be myself. i loved you like no other so i dont know where i went wrong my heart still yearns for you, the place that i belong.

for a long time i wanted you to know about me, and today the day has come.. i dont know how to feel about it. but the only thing i surely feel is relived. to be free is often to be lonely, this haunted me all the time.

i may not be that expressive, but i want to thank u for being my comfort person. you've been there for me when no one else was. you became more than everything that I've ever asked for, there is no one better than you because you bring the best in me, you became my home, my rest, my solace. you've helped me get through some tough times without u knowing it. you've been there listening to my rants and struggles without you invalidating my feelings. I really value and appreciate you more than u'll ever know. and if at some point, I'm gonna lose you, i will still be grateful.

because once upon a time, i had u by my side. and that's all that matters.

letting you ‘go’ was probably the hardest decision i ever made knowing well how much I still love you and how much i want "us" to work.

i know that i am ruined and that im ruining others.…. i am i am a bad person. please hate me i would like that more than being left in silent.

[arthurflecksgirl]

Nothing but clowns /Arthurs POV

My version of the scene when Arthur watches the news on tv

Making food for mum is always a bit complicated. Much to think of, because there are always two questions: Should I put some sleeping pills in her oath meal or not? And if yes how many? I check and notice that I am running out of meds. Shit.

The plan for today is:

Visiting Dr Kane, going to the pharmacy afterwards and then go to Pogos.

Today`s not a usual visit at the comedy club. Today will be my day! I will tell my own jokes up on stage. I`m no longer the lonely man sitting alone on his table with a glass of water in the middle of the room. I will be the star up there and people will have a good laugh. Even Sophie. And I just know she will be there to see me. I hope she will get my humor- I`m sure she does because she was digging it in the elevator- and maybe she`ll like me even more afterwards. I would love to leave Pogos together, take her out on a date, have a coffee or something. Talking about how I write my jokes and what inspires me to write them. How it feels like when funny thoughts cross my mind and how much of it is hard work and how much just comes to me. Maybe she`ll be interested in that after watching my performance. Interested in me. I`ve heard that humor is important in a relationship and that woman prefer men with a good sense of humor. So maybe I will have a chance after all.

I dont hesitate to take the last two sleeping pills and crash them to mix it in my mother`s bowl. No way I would give her the chance to ruin my afternoon. Everything is planned out and I know she would freak or do something unexpected as soon as she watches me leaving the house all dressed up. She would make a big scene as soon as I`m coming home after a long night out. And I just don`t have the nerves to deal with her shit. Besides that, it`s not good for her health to get all excited or angry about something. So a little sleep will help us both.She`ll be all save and sleepy when I come home, not a worry on her mind about where her son might have been.

"Happy look, Thomas Wayn`s on TV" My mothers voice echoes through the living room. her voice always feels like an echo to me. Because its always the same words filling the room, over and over again. Crashing against the heavy walls  without a sound but her thin voice .

"Happy Happy Happy. Thomas Wayne. " Two words that make my ears bleed in one sentence. How does she do that? It`s getting worse. Her voice just makes me feel bad sometimes. I really do care about mum a lot but some days I feel triggered by her talking and I don`t know why. Its like she says something and I immediately feel like I should eighter crawl under a blanked and hide or punsh a fucking wall.

"Yes mother!" I try not to sound annyoed. Not that she would ever notice if I was. Or hurt. She never does. Mum would have made a common therapist. Just sitting there, repeating the same three sentences for years while looking right through you.

Mum as a therapist would be like:

"Thomas Wayne will be major soon. How does that make you feel? Thomas Wayne does have some enemies lately. Does that change your own opinion on him? Did you noticed how skinny you are? Thomas Wayne gained some weight instead of losing it . How do you feel about that?  Are you sad today, Happy? "

And of course all my answers would also echo through the room. Unheard and without making a sound while crashing through the windows. Breaking glass. And I would cut myself on that glass. Over and over again. And Penny would call the doctors,telling them I tried to hurt myself again. Not realizing that she was the one hurting me.

My answer to her questions would be "Happy was always sad. Every minute of his life. How does that make you feel?"

I get the bowl and crush the rest of the pills. My wet hair is sticking to my neck. I`m freezing a little bit while wearing my PJ  pants only . It`s always cold in here. This apartment represents peoples hearts.

"They`re asking him about those horrible subway murders" she says.

What? Oh my god. This caughts my attention. Now I notice that I wasnt paying attention to the news for the whole time. Somehow it didnt cross my mind that there will be something about me on the news anytime soon. I was wrong!

They thank Wayne for being here, in these difficult times. Difficult for who? For him?  As if he would care about what happened or about anyone who isn`t like him. As if some dead guys on the subway would effect him personally. Does he know what it means to have a difficult life at all? I`m aware of the fact that money doesnt solve all problems. I dont even think about money. I think about so many other things Thomas does have and he is nothing but an arrogant prick about, Looking down on others.

I leave the kitchen and make my way to the couch "Why him?" I ask, placing her bowl of food on the table.

Why is Thomas the one talking about the three dead guys anyway?

"Look like he gained weight" .

I knew she would ignore my question and care about his looks instead. Seriously, sometimes I get the feeling like she has a crush on him or something. There must be a reason for her fixation on this man.

"Yes all three worked for Wayne investments. Good, decent, educated."

So thats why he is talking about them.  All about the money, Wayne huh? I run my fingers through my hair, getting nervous.

"Although I didnt know any of them personally, like all Wayne employees, past and present. They`re family."

There he said it. He didnt even knew them. He`s just using them to make it seem like he cares.

The tv screen shows three photos. Each one of them a face of the subway guys. It feels strange to see them now after I killed them. My memory of their faces slightly differ but I remember what they did and how it felt.  My mind is racing, all over the place. Memories of their evil laughter. Flashbacks of the pain they caused me. Physically and emotionally. Their photos might look innocent but I know what kinda guys they were. I experienced and wittnessed it. But what does Wayne know? Or the tv guy? Nothing. No one was watching them while they almost kicked me to death. I was alone. I`m always alone.

"Did you hear that I told you we`re family" my mum says.

"Shhhh shhh shhh!" I want her to shut up. I just cant stand her voice right now. Especially not now. She really does think Thomas thinks of us as family because she worked for him decades ago. I can`t listen to this. Its getting all too much. The only voice I have to listen to right now is the guy on tv. I take a deep drag of my cigarette. It feels like breathing is getting harder. Something is going on. Not just inside of me but in this city. In the world. And it started with me. Am I the center of something? The beginning or the end? Am I everything at once? Does someone notice its me?

"There now seems to b a groundsweel of ani rich sentiment of the city. Its almost as if the less fortunate resitends are talking the side of the killer".

Thomas talks about how much of a shame this is and that this is one of the reasons why he is running for major. Gotham lost its way.

Oh you notice now? Where have you been all these years?

Its hard. So hard to watch peoples ignorance and how they use things to make themself stand in a better light. A light of lies.

They now ask him whats up with the eye wittness report of the suspect being a man in a clown mask.

Now the walls are closing in on me. I`m terrified but at the same time I am not. Unsure of how I feel I smoke my cig, not being able to blink while starring at the tv screen. This moment feels so much more like a daydream than so many dreams did. Is this truly happening? Are they really taling about a murder a did on the news? Is this my first time ever being on tv? Well, I gotta be honest here I always thought my first time on tv would be a lot different. But here I am.

So seems like there was someone wittnessing it. I should be worried now. I should freak and I know that. But what is bugging me much more is the fact that Thomas Wayne says "It makes total sense to me, because what kind of coward would do something that cold blooded? Someone who hides behind a mask. Someone who is envious of tose more fortunate than themselves. That the`re too scared to show they`re own face."

Thats it. Thats when I lose it. I`m trying not to let it show because of mum sitting in the same room with me but it`s hard. I`m good at hiding my feelings in front of her or in front of anyone in general but this is too much. The news are making a total different  story out of this, As if I was hiding behind a mask to go out an kill people. It was self defense for gods sake. I was wearing that damn clown make up because I was on my way home from work. Some shitty bullies started to attack a man in a clwon costume and now they are making him the bad guy? This is sick.

I never cared about money. I just wanted to have enough to take care of mum and be able to pay rent. Even my dreams about being famous were never about being rich. It was about being seen and loved.  But what do they know?

I thought I was living an illusion but they are living their very own illusions.

I feel my body tensing up. Every muscle. Every inch. My skin is getting tight. I lean back on the couch. I dont know what to do. I wanna get out of myself. Being me is getting unbearable again.

Another time being missunderstood.

They dont even know it was me and they still don`t get it right,

"And until those kind of people change for the better,those of us who made something of our lifes, will always look at those who havent as nothing but clowns". Wayne adds.

My legs start trembling. There is no way to hold them still. Bad sign. Very bad sign. I laugh to myself as I stare at the ceiling. What a joke. Great punshline with the clowns. I bet you are proud of yourself, Wayne. I bet you are. Always glad to be able to help to tell a joke.

They thank him once again while my mum tells me that this isnt funny.

I wanna say something but I better don`t. It`s not a good idea to ruin someone else`s punchline.

I`m going to explode, explode, explode.

Until I feel nothing.

I inhale the smoke, the only thing that proofs that I am still breathing.

Because I cant feel it. The only thing I feel is rage and my left hand grabbing my right wrist.

And this god damn candle that looks like a ginger cat staring at me.

@impulsiveclown @will-you-be-there @jokerownsmysoul @missjoker96 @arthurskitten @lynnesm @nonnymousse @gwynplaine89 @ajokeformur-ray@damnrightobsessedwithim @sgtsavoytruffle  @duhliriouss  @flowerglitterwoman @thirstforfleck @spookyhome @iartsometimes  @you-cant-cry-in-here @bustafatclownnut @jokerismyhubbie  @check-out-this-joker @darknessisafriend  @arthurhappyclown    @neon-umbrella-for-stella   @call-me-harley-quinn  @arthurjokersgirl  @raven-romanoff @ajokeformur-ray​ @ivedescoveredheathsjoker​

@aarthurfleckk @mylovelycrazyworld @clownalog @ajokerfangirl  @the-one-who-is-chaos @sabrinaeileensnape

[fisherfurbearer]

fuck sam walmarts

and fuck management

I’ve had it. Left the store in tears tonight.

as some peoople probably/hopefully know. walmart closes at 6 pm on christmas eve. no one actually gets to leave at 6 becuase of shitty last minute customers. but it is what it is.

this. is really personal but im honestly SO close to just. killing myself? so who cares

basically. had a really really bad last few days. spent a lovely time with family (jessies family, his oma and opa and sister and parents and it was just a great time. theyre more family to me than most of my blood family) but it did make me Sad in Deep ways as we dont know if this is going to be our last christmas with his oma who isnt doing so good. and it just twisted me up a little but was othewrsiwse a great day. but then sunday i just...had a huge breakdown in the morning and decided to use my accomodation (i get 2 excused absenses a month) to cool down and gte myself together. slept a lot. woke up adn got a lot done, felt great, then i CRASHED really really bad, got really angry, lashed otu, took like...8-10 sleeping pills...theyre horrific things and im never doing that again...had to sleep for two days after that...felt horrifically sick, in pain, just awful. had repeating nightmares over and over. which has also been wearing me down recently. wasnt able to work monday either because i still couldnt stand and between the pills and the depression/anxiety and really just. felt like the world was ending.

decided sometime last night id just...try my best to make it in today, work my shift (really long 9-6, knowing i wouldnt leave on time nad htisis my first time working in 5 days now...which is rough...) and if i can get through this, i have another couple days off in a row after that (schedules fault, not mine...do feel awful i missed 3 days before that though...) and we can just. get back on track

today i DID go to work, jessie drove me in

i worked. a long time. im supposed to get a break every 2 hours and a 1 hour lunch

i gott my first break on timeish.

then i got my lunch 6 hours after i got in. at which time i got “locked out” for not taking my lunch and coudlnt do anything on the registers. i was supposed to get it 4 hours in. its christmas eve and excruciating and im still in pain and tired from my previous days breakdowns, but otherwise?? i did really good. i didnt mind at all that my lunch was so late. i was a little miffed, but its ok. i dont care, so long as i get it eventually. anyway they FINALLY noticed i was locked out and got me coverage and i ended my lunch at 4. things continued ok. worked on self checkout, met a lot of regulars i really like, prevented $200 of theft (HAHA WOW that was really really funny i love preventing petty theft. i prevent so much theft every week its my pride and joy) just did okay. then they had us close self checkout that took a little while. then at 5:00-5:10 or so i went to my Manager/Supervisor/”““People LEad” as walmart is now trying to call them, lets call her manager Y, and i told her i still need my break and will i get it before i leave. she said go to register 4. i asked again hey will i get my break though and she said yeah and i thought to mysel HAHA thats not going to happen but ok

really stupid that after bieng locked out the first time she couldnt give me my break before i openned a register with a line i cant get rid of

anywayy i did ok otherwise for a while

but at 5:25 or so i reminded a CSM “hey i need my break still can i get that?” and she just ssaid yeah well try to get someone and then more time passed so much time. i put through an ask on the register “assistance needed”. waited another 10 minutes. “assistance needed” again. starting to get anxious. its past 5:40. the line is so long. theres so MUCH NOISE. Its SO LOUD. the intercom keeps going off, no one is responding to me, i dont have a mat to stand on so my knees HURT,, im not doing okk

i switch my light to flashing/need assistance and start looking for someone to ask for help. its 5:45, i need my break NOW, i DESERVE IT for workng this long ass shift and they already missed several of my last breaks a week ago AND got me locked out today and im STARTING TO GET ANXIOUS PELASE I JUST WANT MY BREAK SO BAD

nnthgen a csm is passing by im about to lose it, so i tell her CSM J, please i really need my break now PLEASE and im starting to ccry and i try to tell her whats going on but she shushes me and goes and gets sometone

im full on tears at this point, im so strreesed out,,

manager Y and some other snooty manager come over andd. ffkcing. ask me whats wrong. im crying and i try to explain im really really stressed out, i havent had my last break, ive been trying to get someone for so long now, i just really need to leave im so sorry

and theyy just. fckkng

ffcking manager Y jjst ssays ok “ill give you your break” and “this is your last break” and i ssaid?? yeah i knoww?? andd she saidd “next time youre like this, just dont come in”

i quote that completeltyyy....i really lost it then...i cried som muchh

this isnt the first itme she said something like this to meee...

she asked me “why are you CRYING” When i had an anxiety attacki n the store once, when ic cloked in and couldnt get myself together,, she didnt give me time to calm down, she didnt listen as to why, she just said “why are you crying. this is a BUSINESS. you cant be CRYING Here.” and i just said ok ill go home bye and leftt

andd when i tried to get my availability changed from 7-9 to 7-6/7-7 because the random late shifts with 7 am shifts was messing me up really really bad and my doctor thinks i need to hcange it too, she just said “i cant do that. thisi sa BUSINESS.” and she wouldnt listen when i said i might have to quit because of this, this is for my health, im literally scheduled 7-2 every sunday in december, busiest day of the busiest month and you cant even chop TWO HOURS off my weekend availability????

andd i jjst

ive HAD IT with her

ive had ittt

im so ashamed and angry and anxious and i still havent stopped cryingg. she called me over to her again as i was leaving and she blamed me for it. she ssaid a customer was upset that i “Screamed” (ues i raised my voice a little but i wasnt screaming??? also the two customers i was attending to when this was going on and i cried were VERY KIND nad jjst said i was doing a good job and thanked me for being there) and called a manager over (but...csm J got them?? not a customer...??) and i cant be acitng like this, i cant do customer service when im stressed,, and d i should just STAY HOME If im going to be like that

then shee fufkcing toold me i DID IT WRONG, that i “shouldve called someone over” I TOLD HER I DID!!!!! I DID!!!!!!!!!! YOU NAIL INTO MY HEAD IM NOT ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE REGISTER SO I DIDNT, I DID EVERYTHING ELSE I COULD THOUGH!!! I REQUESTED HELP TWICE!! I TURNED MY LIGHT TO FLASHING!!! I TRIED TO CATCH A MANAGER WALKING BY TO HELP ME!!! N OONE LISTENED UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE, I DID EVERYHTING I COULD!! yet she seriously told me to my face that “you didnt call anyone”, “you couldve turned your light to flashing” WHICH I DID and sshee jjst said that i made customers uncomfortable and i cant work like thatt and just stay hhome

ii stayed home sunday because i was having a mjor mental emergencyy.

i came in today because i was feeling better and i took it eaasy and ended up doing a wonderful job and mad eso many people smilea nd fixed so many problems that wouldve otherwise upset a lot of folks and i met my regulars and made old folks smile andd i prevented a lot of theft that no one else wouldve caughtt and i jjstt broke down after 9 hours and not getting a last break and all the chaos of register (WHICH BY THE WAY THEY KNOW I DONT LIKE REGISTER!!! I THRIVE ON SLE FCHECOUT!!! THATS MY JOB TITLE!! THATS WHAT I DO!!!! THEY KNOW THISS!!!!) and HER AVOIDING GIVING ME MY FUCKING BREAK and NOT RESPECTING MY FFUCKING METNAL DISABILITIES LJNASDKAJHDBASJSDNAJSNDKANSD

I JJST DONT KNOW WHAT TO DOO

i really want to die and i really want to never go back but i really loved my job i loved helpting people ii jjst hate her so muchhh and i feel GENUINE DREAD/SEVERE ANXIETY jjst SEEING her nnow

she doesnt CARE about anyone but herself shes a horrible peson i cant tell the store manager though cause she wont care either and manager Y has more clout than me so shell just twist my words and make me out as the bad guy as hte “CRAZY ONE” who cries and gets stressed (FOR COMPLETELY VALID REASONS AFTER BEING PUSHED OVER THE EDGE) even tthough i work SO FFRIKCING HARD and do SUCH A GOOD JOB and asdjanjsdhajshdas

i d ont know what to doo

i cant work another job because no where else pays as much or will let me do self checkout only, because being a cashier stresses me so muchh

ii...really wanntted to grow stuff and make preserves and sell bee products and work with folks raising heritage sheep and make more fiber art andd open a little stall at a local market and sell all that,, and offer more online and do customs andd stuff

i know i could mkae money that wa ybut i ccantt start it so sudenly and im too Broken to do it seriouslyy and i dont even want to HAVE to quit because of ONE PERSON But shes done this so many times now and this is the nfinfal streaww

i jjst dont know what to doo...

i cantt stop cryingg

i cant even enjoy christmas nnow. wanted to see my stepdad and give him his presernt and maybe be ok.

last christmas we had to move because our house was condemned after a fire. now im going to have to lose my job because of a horrible manager who doenst respect my metnal health or anything about me reallyy. and unfortunately im such a failure that i cant. do anything else and if i lose this job ill lse my animla sand i wotnt be able to do anyhtingg andd im jjust fucking trash

goddammit i dont know what to do. i really dont. hhahaaa. i just really want to end it. ive come so far and none of it fucking matters because of thiss fucking horrible manager.

[itsdmod]

@letalisinsania submitted:

Hey :) I wrote something for you, nothing special. I was inspired by your headcannon with Kingfield in the coffeeshop and came up with this. So, this is for you, hope you like it, take care <3

Claudette yawned, laying her head from side to side, letting her neckbones crack. Dwight hissed „Can you stop that please, you know I hate that sound“ - „Well we actually all hate that sound“ Nea grinned, putting another stack of to-go-cups on the counter. Claudette yawned again, rubbing her eyes before looking back in her biology book. She had been up almost all night studying. Dwight saw the light in her room when he went to the kitchen twice, rumbling around in the fridge, trying to distract himself.He was someone who als always in his thoughts, thinking too much, but lately it got much worse. Not in a bad way though, but if your job requires you to handle coffee brewers, you better focus.

„Hey, the counter is clean enough“ he snapped out, his supervisor Jake pointing at the counter, that Dwight just cleaned for the fifth time. He sighted and put the cloth away. Almost 9am. He really hated this job, but he had to earn money to support himself for college. His parents didn’t do it, and they also didn’t really care if he went to college, or care in general, so he was on his own with that. Dwight hat gotten used to it since he was a kid, that his existence was accepted, but nothing that anyone seemed to enjoy or be exited about. He didn’t learn it any different, so he went along with it. He sighted, 2 more minutes till 9am. Was he unhappy? He couldn’t really answer that question. Sure there were people who had it worse, we wasn’t someone who complains, but he wished he could go out of his head sometimes.

The doorbell jingled, making Dwight leaving his trail of thoughts. He didn’t have to look up; the footsteps became familiar to him over the last few weeks, and even if that person would be floating into the coffeeshop; he would still knew it was him, since Dwight instantly felt the weird combination of his heart racing and his mind calming down.

„Good Morning Dwight“ he looked up. Hearing him say his name made his heart skip a few beats, every single time. „Good Morning David“ he said, and he was sure that his voice was shaking. „Damnit“ Dwight cursed at himself in his head.

„How are you?“ David smiled widely and sweetly. Good now that you are here. Great now that I get to see you. Tired since I usually spend my nights thinking about you. Hugging you. Your lips. Kissing you. Sad because I know you will never think this way about me….

Dwight cleared his throat. „Fine, how about yourself?“ David crooked his head, rubbing trough his hair. „I can’t complain.“ He was still smiling, a smile that could conquer a whole world.

Dwight remembered when David came into the coffeeshop for the first time. How he looked around, hesitant, and Dwight couldn’t take his eyes off him. That guy instantly fascinated him, and it wasn’t for his muscly arms, or that mischievous smile, not even the beautiful, deep eyes that were to die for. No, it was how David made him feel. How he stood there, at the other side of the counter, looking at him, and the carousel in Dwights mind stopped. All his thoughts were washed away. He just felt calm, comfortable..and peacefull. He couldnt stop staring at David and didn’t even mind if someone noticed. If someone talked about it. If someone talked about him at all. Nea tried to take Davids order but Claudette took her arm, talking about problems with the whipped cream, shoving her to the backroom.

David was still smiling at Dwight, didn’t make a move to order or say something. So Dwight just smiled back, feeling lighthearted and lightheaded. If it wouldn’t have been for Jake, who got impatient and forced Dwight to take Davids order, maybe they would still be standing there.

„The same as usual?“ - „Well you know me“ Dwight smiled, letting David pay for the coffee, waiting for Claudette to make it. There was no chance that he would leave the counter, letting this for him precious minutes pass until the order was ready. And Claudette made sure she was slowly. Very slowly.

„You have classes later?“ David asked. In the last weeks they both learned something about the other one every day. It wasn’t much, but Dwight clinged on every second, every word. „Yes, only afternoon classes today, after that, Claudette, Nea and I gonna go watch a movie“ - „Which one?“ David asked. „The new Thor one“ - „Oh thats cool, I wanted to see that one too“ - „Well, you should go see it, I gonna tell you tomorrow how it was.“ Dwight answered and smiled, not seeing Nea, who cleaned up a table, burying her face into her hands and shaking her head. „Order for David is ready“ Jake yelled a tone too loud. Dwight sighted, with Jake being here today, the time talking to David got a lot shortened. „Oh, seems like I have to get going.“ David said but didn’t make a move. „Dwight, there are customers waiting!“ Jake placed the to-go-cup in front of him, before heading to the backroom.

Dwight and David both reached out for the cup, their fingertips touching. It felt like a electric shock for Dwight, he pulled back, trying to cover up his feelings with a smile. David stared at the cup, just a moment too long, as he was about to say something. Then he cleared his throat. „Goodbye, see you tomorrow.“ He headed out, Dwight still looking after him after he was long gone.

„Youre such an idiot!“ Nea blurted out when they were on their way to the movies. „What have I done now?“ Dwight asked, already playing all kinds of scenarios where he could potentially have fucked up in his head.

„David!“ - „David?“ he asked. „Yes!“ She playfully hitted him on his chest „He wanted you to ask him out! He wanted to see the movie with you and youre all like „you should see it I gonna tell you how it was“ man, that was painful to watch. So, you’re an idiot.“ Dwight laughed fakely „If you really think he wants to go out with me, well, then clearly YOU are the idiot.“ She rolled her eyes. „Girl, back me up on this.“ Claudette layed her hand on Dwights shoulder. „Shes right, that guy is totally into you. We both watch this prancing that you two do every day. Just ask him tomorrow if he wants to see the movie with you.“ Dwight sighted „It’s nice of you to say that, but be realistic. A guy like that could never like me. Or love me. I can’t imagine how anyone ever could. Especially not if I like him back.“ Claudette stopped in her tracks „Stop talking yourself down like that, please. How come youre always at ease when hes around, you talk so freely with him, but after he leaves…“ - „I dont feel like going to the movies anymore. I wanna be alone.“ - „Dwight…“ but Dwight just walked away, heading home, leaving Claudette and Nea behind. Unfortunatly, his bad thoughts followed him, all the way home. Into his room.

Dwight layed on his bed staring at the ceiling. He played his meeting with David this morning over and over in his head again. Were the girls right? No it couldnt be. David was just a guy who likes coffee, not him. Who likes a nice conversation in the morning, not him. There was nothing special or interesting about him, no matter how often the girls told him. He rolled on his side, hiding his face in his pillow. Truth was, he wanted David to tell him. He always felt special when he was around him, special to David. But he knew, only because he was feeling like that, didn’t mean this feeling was mutual. He doubted that he was special to David. Or anything at all to him. Dwight laughed to himself. „Maybe I should just ask him to go see the movie with me. Whats the worst that could happen? I could never see him again. Never. And thats why I would never dare…“

When he got up the next morning Dwight felt really bad for ditching the girls like that. Thats not how he usually was, they were his friends, they wanted to help him, and he acted out on them. He wanted to apologize, but Claudette and Nea didn’t even let him finish. „No reason to apologize, we shouldn’t have pushed you like that, all right?“ Claudette smiled and them hugged him. Dwight sighted, that didn’t take away his guild but it made him slidely feel better. They opened the coffeeshop and Dwight found himself staring at the clock, getting more and more impatient each second.

„Calm down man, he will come“ - „Its almost 9:30, he wont come!“ Nea patted his back „He will! And Jake comes in later so dont worry, I will fuck his coffee up many times, you will have all the time in the world to talk to him“ she grinned. Dwights mind was racing. What if someone happened to David? That thought alone made his chest feel so tight that it was hard to breathe. Or what if he grew tired of coming here? What if he decided the good coffee isnt worth an annoying barista? What if he hates me? What if he really wanted me to ask him out..oh god what if he thinks I hate him? But well, what if he hates me?? And I never see him again?? He took of his glasses and a deep breath. He wouldnt have a mental breakdown right here right now. But what if David really hated him? It wouldnt surprise him at all. Maybe it would be for the better if he never came back. After all, Dwight was used to being let down, being alone wasnt make him happy, but at least it was a persistence in his life. „Good Morning Dwight.“ Dwight winced, quickly putting his glasses back on. He blinked. „Everything allright with you?“ Davids deep voice ringed in his ears. He could just nod, smiling, and feeling as reliefed as he never felt before.

David smiled, wearing a button uped shirt with short sleeves and Dwight almost forgot to start breathing again. „Yes, I am, how are you, anything new with you?“ Dwight asked, trying his very best to stop staring at Davids biceps.

„Our coffee brewer has some problems today, it will take some time, sorry“ Nea shouted and well, David didn’t really look disappointed about it.

He leaned a bit forward, propping his arms up on the counter. Dwight was damn sure David could here his heart beating. „How was the movie?“ - „Oh..I didn’t see it, something came up, another time.“ ask him to go with you! Dwight screamed at himself in his head, but he remained silent. David did the same, they just smiled at each other, and it was a comfortable silence. Dwights eyes wandered and he noticed the liontattoo on Davids arm. „Oh, cool!“ he breathed out, and, without thinking or doubting, he ran a finger over the outlines of the tattoo, not even realising he was touching him. „I like it.“ he said, looking up at David and smiling. Davids face was bright red, he pulled back his arm, and Dwight could swear he felt goosebumps on his arm. Then it hit him. He had touched David, and not in a -patting-on-the-shoulder way. Why, whyyyy…he cried out in his head. Why did I do it, where is my hesitation and selfdoubt when I really need it?? Dwight didn’t know how to react, or what to say. If he didn’t fuck it up before, he for sure did now. David didn’t move, he looked like he was glued in place.

Claudette was sitting a few metres away, acting so far like she was glued to her book, but always keeping an eye on Dwight. She saw how they both stood there, helpless, and although it was cute to watch, she wanted to help.

„Could you two help me? I am slowly close to despair. I can’t seem to memorize any of this“ She placed her book there where Davids arm leaned before. David seemed relief for the disturbance, Dwight still lost in a chain of thoughts racing trough his mind. David cleared his throat, face still red. „Sure, what can we help you with?“ - „Here, I need to memorize the meaning of the flowers, but its so hard.“ Dwight wanted to run away, just run and never look back, but Claudette made big puppy eyes, and he couldn’t say no to a friend in need. He bend over the book, reading a few meanings. Well he read them, but didn’t understand a word. David was leaning over the book from the other side and he could breathe in his scent. David smelled like a sunrise at the ocean to him. Like love. Like comfort. David cleared his throat, started to ask Claudette a few meanings of various flowers, but everytime Claudette just shook her head, sighting in frustration. Dwight had to admit that he found that quite odd, since he never saw her struggling with everything like that. „Maybe learning from hearing it is easier, you know, like memorizing the lyrics of a song.“ She said „Like here, you ask Dwight and I listen.“ Dwight had no idea were Claudette was going with that, but everything was better to him now than facing that stroking embarassment. Still he couldn’t get himself to look at David again. He heard Nea fumbling with the coffeebrewer. He wanted her to finish it quicker, but he also wanted her to take forever.

Claudette was still pointing to a specific flowers in the book. David cleared his throat again. „Uhm…lavender rose, what does that one mean?“ Now Dwight looked at him again, meeting Davids gaze made his racing and stopping at the same time. „I have no idea“ he said, laughing shyly. David looked back in the book, laughing nervously. „So, what does it mean?“ Claudette asked him. „It means…love at first sight.“ David coughed, his face still bright red or red again. Dwight didn’t know what to say, or feel, or do. He wanted to think about again how stupid the thought alone of David loving him was, but he couldn’t get himself to do it. Or how stupid it was to think about it just because David was reading something from a stupid book. He couldn’t do that either.

„Okay, now you!“ Claudette turned the book around, pointing at a certain paragraph „ask him.“ Dwight looked at the pointed at picture, it was a lily. He didnt read the meaning beforehand, otherwise he could never ask. „Uhm, the lily.“ - „You have to tell me, I don’t know that“ David smiled. „It means…I dare you to love me.“ Dwight read the words before his mind was processing what he was saying. He could feel his face heating up, his heart sank into the ground, his mind screaming, but when he looked up at David, he forgot all of it. He instantly was thrown back to the sunrise at the beach, the comfort, the calmness. David didn’t say a word, he just looked at Dwight, looked away, back at him again, smiling akward, then widely, and Dwight had to correct himself; THIS was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Maybe there was still hope, even for him.

„Thank you, I think I can handle it from now on“ Claudette took her book and sat down at the other side of the counter. Dwight wanted to say something, but even more, he just wanted to stare at David. „Your coffee!“ Nea placed the cup on the counter, grinning from one to another, Dwight thought about hitting her. David must have been deep in his thoughts cause he startled at the sudden interruption, looking at his watch „oh my, I am already way too late, I am sorry, I…see you tomorrow.“ he took the coffee and headed towards the door, running against it when he tried pushing instead of pulling it, almost dropping his coffee. Then he was gone. Dwight glared at Nea „why, Nea, WHY?“ she looked apologetic „Jakes shift started a few minutes ago he already gave me suspicious looks…but wow that was something wasn’t it?“ - „Yeah, he ran away.“ - „I don’t care, I watched everything, what do you think why I made you read that stuff about the flowers? If you say one more time he isn’t into you I gonna…“ Claudette was interupted by Nea who pointed at the door „Speaking of which“ Claudette and Dwight looked to the door. David was pacing back and forth outside, it looked like he was mumbling something or talking to someone. Dwight went around the counter to have a better few. What was going on with him?

David fumbled with the cup, Dwight still couldn’t see too much. David came back to the door, stopped in his tracks, waited, then he came back in. „Everything okay?“ Dwight asked, not knowing what else he could do. Maybe David came back to throw the coffee in his face, who knows.

David reached him, holding the cup tight. „Uhm yeah, here, take this back.“ Dwight frowned as he looked at David, holding the cup out to him. What was happening? „Why? Anything wrong with the coffee?“ - „Please, just take it!“ David came closer, putting the cup in Dwights hands. „Is something wrong with the coffee?? We will make you a new one, please..please don’t stop coming here every morning..“ Dwight wasn’t sure why he said that or how he build up the courage to do so, but he wanted David to know that he couldn’t lose him.

„I won’t stop…“ David took a deep breath, already half turned to the door, when he suddenly launched forward, hugging Dwight. It was a short hug, but a tight and gentle one. „Okay, bye!“ David let go and was already out the door before Dwight could breathe again. Neas cheering rang in his ears, he was gripping the cup so tight that he almost smashed it. „Wooow, Fairfield, good for youu!“ Dwight still stood there like a statue, he could still feel Davids embrace, never wanting to let go of that feeling again. „Nea, the customers are waiting!“ Jake yelled, and Nea was back behind the counter after she rolled her eyes. „Hey, you okay there?“ Claudette was beside him, laying an arm on his shoulder. Dwight nodded, looking down at the cup, when he realized, there was something written on it. He read it and smiled widely. „You know that feeling Clau, when someone hugs you so tightly, that all of your broken pieces get put back together?“ - „No, I don't“ - „Me neither, but I do now.“ Claudette smiled widely, rubbing his back encouraging before going back to her books. Dwight walked, no floated back around the counter, looking at his watch, waiting for time to pass, for his shift to be over. He also waited for his mind to feed him all kinds of doubts, sad thoughts and bad scenarios. But none of that happened. He looked at the cup again. Maybe there was still a chance for him being loved back after all. „[phone number] Call me tonight if you dare. I am waiting. David.“

[starkwhitestars]

i just realized i havent updated on my medical situation on tumblr recently, so

i guess the term for my situation is that i’m... in remission for cancer?? i need to get an ultrasound every 3 months to make sure nothing starts to come back. my situation is really lucky because we caught the tumor in stage 1 and were able to remove it immediately along with the cyst & the excess endometriosis i had, so my surgeon essentially took care of a shitton of problems at once in one swift movement with as fast a recovery time as possible

i was given the choice to have my ovary removed but the kind of cancer this is means that there’s a chance of a tumor showing up in the other ovary anyway so it’d be pointless, i’d have to have both removed to be sure nothing comes back at all and my doctors are... really conservative on that front; i tend to be as well, i think, because removing both would mean that i go into menopause at 22 and need to start estrogen hormone therapy, which, as a trans guy who isnt out yet, is frustrating.

i’m also... not sure yet if i’d ever want my own children, and even as a trans dude i don’t know if i want to lose that power yet. i know of a lot of trans guys who’ve experienced that and i dont feel wrong at all for possibly wanting it. i dont know if it’ll even be possible by the time i do want it (if i want it) considering my endometriosis and trauma to the area and everything but.. i kind of.. want to leave the option open, if i can. i don’t know. i’ve had to make so many difficult decisions lately regarding my health and if there’s a choice to just wait and figure something out later i am definitely going to take it.

i also just got my IUD removed today because it was crooked and causing me intense pain, and assuming insurance covers it, i should be starting injections to treat my endometriosis in about a week. from my understanding these injections will eventually stop my ovaries from releasing any hormones & put my body in a menopause-like state (totally reversible, though) to stop the growth of endometriosis & help stop the pain from it. my doctors also inject progesterone alongside it so my body won’t be totally without hormones & the worst of the side-effects will be alleviated. so it’s... kind of like hormone therapy & not having ovaries, i guess, but not the real deal, and it makes it feel less scary. i don’t know, maybe i’m just being stupid about it all.

anyway. i’m basically seeing a doctor every few days at this point & im tired as hell but, hey, it’s necessary. honestly i’m still just marveling at my luck & happy that something is being done, and the main doctor on my case is really great so it’s not too bad. medical rant over & out

[sapphyrelily]

Three - Never Grow Up

I return from the dead after 2 months with a lousy chapter in tow, bc I lost my original idea sigh

The buzzing from his phone is getting annoying, and he contemplates turning the vibrate off so he can study in peace. He twists to regard the device on his bed, the screen lighting up with yet another incoming message.

He sighs and picks up the phone.

[Kenjirou]: This was a bad idea

[Kenjirou]: Why did I let Futakuchi talk me into this

[Kenjirou]: Right cos im stupid

[Kenjirou]: Taichi save me

[Kenjirou]: We’re in the house

[Kenjirou]: This guy must be hella rich

[Kenjirou]: Holy shit this is Akaashi’s house

[Kenjirou]: I thought Akaashi was supposed to be all goody two shoes

[Kenjirou]: apparently mot

[Kenjirou]: thk god kuroo isnt here

[Kenjirou]: ohmygod its oikawa-san

[Kenjirou]: and his ace whatshisname

[Kenjirou]: iwa-chan? Tht doesn’t sound liek a name

[Kenjirou]: Right its iwaizumi

[Kenjirou]: hes hot save me

[Kenjirou]: taichiiii answr me

Kawanishi sighs and types a reply.

[Taichi]: r u drunk

[Kenjirou]: YOU FINALLY REPLIED

[Taichi]: answer the question

[Kenjirou]: oooooh proper spellinh, scarryyyy

[Taichi]: Kenjirou.

[Kenjirou]: maybe idk

[Kenjirou]: but iwaizumisan is jow

[Kenjirou]: hot

[Kenjirou]: im gonna talk to hik

[Taichi]: be safe

Kawanishi tosses his phone onto his pillow and picks up his textbook. Shirabu’s drunk self can’t do too much damage, he reckons. He can always check back after he finishes this chapter.

[Kenjirou]: taichi stop me

[Kenjirou]: hes so cute hwlp

[Kenjirou]: ah no he left

[Kenjirou]: I shld go chase him

[Kenjirou]: ohno the other seijou boys r hwre

[Kenjirou]: the pink one is hogging him

[Kenjirou]: I need to get him back

[Kenjirou]: oh good pinky left

[Kenjirou]: no oikawa-sam in aight

[Kenjirou]: ure nog here so I’m gonna do bad things

[Kenjirou]: HE SAID HELL WALK ME BACK

[Kenjirou]: SCORE

[Kenjirou]: wait till semi-san heres

[Kenjirou]: HE PATTED MW ON THE BACK WHAT DOES THAT MEAN

[Kenjirou]: AAAHHHHH

[Kenjirou]: semi-sans in my bed

[Kenjirou]: oh kenmaz in his

[Kenjirou]: eh whatever

[Kenjirou]: hes cute ill pretend hes iwaizumi-san

[Kenjirou]: nigghtttt

Kawanishi blinks at his screen and rereads the messages, squinting at the font as if it will change the contents of the messages. It doesn’t, so he groans and throws his phone back on the bed.

Goddamnit, Kenjirou.

x.x.x.x.x

“Kenjirou.”

No response.

“Kenjirou.”

“Mmphrgh.”

“Get up and drink some water.”

“No.”

“Get up, you sick pig.”

“No. Lemme sleep.”

“Do you want me to get Semi-san?”

The covers are pulled down a little, exposing an eye lined with deep bags. “You wouldn’t.”

“I’ll get Tendou-san too.”

“Goddamnit, Taichi.”

“Thank me later.”

He sighs and closes his textbook, looking at the time.

Oh. He studied through the night. That hasn’t happened in a while.

He groans as he stretches out his legs, reaching for his phone. No new messages, but he opens the application anyway, composing a new one and sending it off.

He may not be able to keep his best friend out of trouble, but he knows who can.

x.x.x.x.x

[Taichi]: panadol n h2o

[Semi]: What

[Taichi]: kenjirou

[Semi]: Sigh. Thanks Taichi

[Taichi]: punch him 4 me

[Semi]: Kay

Semi tucks his phone into his back pocket, picking the finished bentos up and heading back to his room. Once inside, he digs in his bag for his small medicine stash, cutting off two tabs of panadol to place on Shirabu’s side table.

The sky is getting brighter, but he decides to leave his roommate be until he refills their water bottles.

In hindsight, that was a bad idea.

“Shirabu.”

“G’way.” The brunet mumbles incoherently and tugs the blanket over his head. A few pokes to his back earns him nothing but some wiggling, so he sighs and sits beside him.

[Semi]: How well does he hold his liquor

[Taichi]: lightweight

[Semi]: K bad question. How much did he drink

[Taichi]: enuf to b angry if u wake him

[Semi]: gdi

Semi sighs and grips the edge of the blanket. “Shirabu, you have two seconds before I rip this off.”

No response.

He tears the blanket off, taking it to the other bed to fold, ignoring the indignant whine behind him.

“Lemme sleep– Oww.”

“Drink the water and take the panadol. You’re getting to class today, whether you like it or not.”

“I hate you.”

“You’re welcome, because that��s a lab you have in an hour.”

He hears a panicked curse followed by a pained groan, and shakes his head at the sound of pattering footsteps and muffled banging disappearing down the hallway. Setting the folded blanket on the correct bed, he turns to Shirabu’s closet and starts pulling out a lab-appropriate outfit, then packs his bag and places it next to his shoes.

[Semi]: He didnt seem very angry

[Taichi]: hes late 4 class

[Taichi]: d anger will b bck

[Semi]: Thanks for the heads up?

[Taichi]: ur welcome

[Taichi]: ull need it

He’s about to head out when an angry maelstrom crashes past him, diving about the room in a flurry before setting upon the things already laid out for him. Semi would love to stay and watch – Shirabu gets stuck in his T-shirt for a solid minute, how is that even possible – but he knows better than to take Kawanishi's advice lightly, so he clicks the door shut behind him just as an infuriated yell is birthed.

He sneaks off with a snicker, messaging Futakuchi to beware the monster in class.

He gets an extremely garbled reply, and sighs heavily.

Reckless teenagers.

x.x.x.x.x

“Taichi.”

It’s a hiss, a panicked call, and he peers blearily out of his blanket nest to raise an eyebrow.

“Come help me pick an outfit.”

“Why.” He thinks he mumbles it – he isn’t sure, there are just too many blankets – but Shirabu whines and drops onto the bed anyway.

“Semi-san asked me to help distract Ushijima-san while they’re out.”

“And what’re you going to do? Dress like a stripper?”

He doesn’t even mind the smack to his leg – the blankets absorb the impact – but he does mind his roommate lying across his stomach, because he can’t breathe.

“Kenjirou– Get off–”

“I need help,” Shirabu whines. “They’ll be going into town, and I need to keep Ushijima-san occupied while Semi-san and Tendou-san find him a gift.”

“And– This is– Important– Why?” He wheezes, trying to dislodge the dead weight, but Shirabu is surprisingly heavy.

“Because what if I don’t know what to say? What am I supposed to talk about? We’re going to be by ourselves, this is the opportunity of a lifetime–”

“You– See– Him– At– Practice– Everyday.”

“I don’t need to hold a conversation during practice!”

Kawanishi finally succeeds in shoving Shirabu off his diaphragm, and wheezes for a minute. When he finally regains his breath, his roommate is seated on his legs, bemoaning his predicament.

He sits up and pulls his legs back, dislodging Shirabu and sending him sprawling, but he can’t care less. “Just wear whatever. It doesn’t matter.”

“You’re so unhelpful.”

“Ushijima-san doesn’t care about appearances,” he tells him. “But think about it this way – anything you wear would definitely be better than what Semi-san is wearing.”

“Not if Tendou-san is picking it.”

“Well, true, but how often does that happen?”

He’s met with silence, and hides his small smile in the blankets.

“Okay, fine, I’ll just wear jeans and whatever.”

“As long as you’re wearing clothes,” Kawanishi drawls, promptly flopping back and hiding himself in the blankets.

“I’m not an exhibitionist or a nudist, of course I’ll wear clothes.”

Kawanishi doesn’t bother to reply him.

x.x.x.x.x

“Shirabu-kun.”

He turns around slowly – after too many near-vomiting experiences that day, he has resigned himself to the vertigo – looking up into a pair of familiar green eyes. “Iwaizumi-san.”

Iwaizumi looks kind of awkward, but he holds out a familiar-looking jacket – his, he realises belatedly.

“Thanks for your jacket last night. It was a nice gesture,” he says, a crooked smile lifting a corner of his mouth. Shirabu takes the jacket from him – no wonder he couldn’t find it – and returns his smile sheepishly.

“No problem. Sorry for the trouble yesterday,” he mumbles.

“It was no trouble at all. I’d be more worried if you didn’t get back safely.”

“You didn’t have to,” he mutters. “But thank you. I don’t remember anything about last night.”

Iwaizumi frowns. “Nothing at all?”

“I remember seeing the other Seijou boys in your year, but that’s about it. Everything after that is gone.” He tries not to blush – he is above blushing like a schoolgirl, damnit – but allows an embarrassed grin to show his sincerity.

The other chuckles. “You don’t remember giving me your jacket, then?”

“No.”

“You were very nice about it,” Iwaizumi tells him. “You said you couldn’t let me go back out into the cold without anything on and shoved it at me until I took it.”

Shirabu is stunned for a moment, before he chokes out, “I’m sorry I’m such a pushy drunk. That doesn’t sound nice.”

“You are very stubborn, but it was a nice gesture.” He starts to turn away, then whips back around, brow furrowed. “Wait. If you don’t remember anything, then why would you apologise for causing me trouble?”

“I, uh,” he fidgets uncomfortably, before softly admitting, “I’m always trouble when I’m drunk.”

Iwaizumi laughs loudly, and he’s stunned – he has such a beautiful laugh, but he’s also so embarrassed.

The older grins widely and claps him on the back, almost making him stumble. “Don’t worry about it. You weren’t that much trouble.”

“Really?” Shirabu’s sceptical – despite denying it, he does know a little of what transpired. His gushing messages to Kawanishi are proof enough of that.

“Well,” Iwaizumi pauses, “There is one thing I’d like to ask about.”

Oh no. Please don’t let it be–

“Shirabu-kun,” their eyes meet, bright green and nervous hazel, “You kept mentioning how ‘hot’ I was?”

Please kill me.

It takes him a few seconds to get his voice working again, but he manages to choke out, “I wasn’t lying.”

Iwaizumi’s expression softens a little, and he cracks a small smile. “I don’t think you were.”

“I’m sorry,” he bursts out. “Don’t tell anyone else, please.”

Iwaizumi looks confused. “Tell anyone what?”

“That I’m, you know,” he waves a hand, “Not straight.”

Some of the confusion clears from the older’s face, but he still sounds puzzled when he asks, “Why would I tell anyone that?”

“What?”

(He’s so confused.)

“It’s not my place to tell anyone else what your preferences are,” Iwaizumi says firmly, and he looks so serious, Shirabu actually believes him. “I wouldn’t want anyone doing that to me, and I wouldn’t do it to anyone else either.”

“I– Thank you.” He hesitates just a moment, before asking softly, “Can I ask? What your preferences are?”

Iwaizumi smiles a little. “I’m demisexual. You?”

“Pansexual.” It feels like a weight has been lifted when he says it out loud, and he lets out a small sigh.

He hears a laugh, looks up to see Iwaizumi grinning at him. “Never told anyone before?”

“…no,” he admits. “There wasn’t a need to.”

“Don’t I know how that feels,” Iwaizumi sighs.

There’s a beat of silence between them, before Iwaizumi says, “Well, I ought to be getting back. Thanks again.”

He can feel the opportunity slipping from between his fingers, breath catching in his throat as the words lodge themselves in the tight space, refusing to come out.

Last chance, the wind whispers as it brushes by.

His hand clenches around the jacket, turning fully to face his retreating back. “Iwaizumi-san!”

He turns, confusion playing out across his features, and he takes a deep breath, exhaling forcefully.

“I know you told me your preferences, but would you like to go out to dinner with me sometime? Tonight, if you’re free?”

The taller boy’s expression clears, replaced by a sort of wry smile. “I’ll agree on one condition.”

“What is it?”

“We’re going as friends. Don’t expect more.”

He bows sharply, hiding his smile in his collar.

“Of course.”

x.x.x.x.x

[Shirabu]: Won’t be back for dinner

[Semi]: again?

[Shirabu]: You’re not my mom

[Semi]: I pick up after yo u enough to be

[Shirabu]: whatever

[Shirabu]: I’ll be eating dinner on my own, relax

[Semi]: well, im glad you know what I’m worrying abt

[Shirabu]: IM NOT THT SKINNY

[Semi]: Yes you are

[Shirabu]: no

[Semi]: yes

[Shirabu]: No.

[Shirabu]: ps thanks for the shirasu-don

[Semi]: … youre welcome

[Shirabu]: I was bring sincere but guess I wont anymore

[Semi]: I was stunned, sue me

[Shirabu]: I’m not that ungrateful

[Semi]: o rlly

[Shirabu]: guess I’ll put the tekka maki back

[Semi]: WAIT

Shirabu snickers as he pockets his phone without replying, putting the packet of fish into the basket and nudging the person beside him. “Come on, let’s go.”

Kenma barely looks up from his game, but he does ask, “Do you have the apple pie?”

Shirabu rolls his eyes. “No. I’m going to make you apple pie instead of letting you eat the store-bought one.”

“Really?” It’s the most hopeful Shirabu has ever heard him, and he smothers a laugh.

“Yes, of course. You should learn how to make it too.”

“Lazy,” Kenma mumbles, trudging along behind him. “Kuro’ll get me some any time.”

“You treat him like a servant.”

“Like you’re one to talk.”

“Huh?”

“Eita spends half his time picking up after you.”

“I don’t ask him to.”

“But he still does, and you don’t thank him. At least I thank Kuro.”

Shirabu opens his mouth to refute, but finds his words gone, any eloquence dried up like an old well. He can practically feel the smugness radiating off his friend, and stews quietly – what else can he do?

They’re almost at the checkout when he thinks to say, “I do things for him sometimes too.”

Kenma doesn’t reply for a long while – he thinks he must have reached the boss stage – but when he does, it’s with a sigh and the blackened screen of his game. “Not as much as he does for you.”

Shirabu’s almost too stunned that he turned off his game to answer. “He doesn’t have to. He’s trying to be my mom,” he grumbles.

“He cares about you.”

“He cares about everyone.”

“Fair point.”

Shirabu props the basket onto the self-checkout counter, scanning in silence. Kenma helps to bag the items, remaining mercifully quiet until they exit the store.

“You know, there was a point in time where Kuroo told me he liked me.”

“Oh?” He is confused; what does this have to do with their earlier conversation?

“Yeah,” Kenma muses. “But now he has Koutarou, so I don’t have to worry about feelings I can’t return.”

“I see.”

(Really, what is he supposed to say to all this?)

“You don’t understand what I’m trying to hint at,” Kenma comments.

Shirabu feels relieved and slightly annoyed. “What gave it away?”

“Your face, maybe.”

“Maybe?”

“Maybe.” Kenma smiles, but it drops quickly, sighing. “Maybe Eita’s so caring because he likes you.”

He snorts. “As if Semi-san would ever like me.”

“Why not?”

“We just don’t like each other.” His tone is hard, trying to signal the end of the conversation, and he’s glad when Kenma doesn’t press further.

He doesn’t want to revisit those memories. After all, they’ve been locked away for a reason.

x.x.x.x.x

“You sure you'll be okay?”

“For goodness sake, yes. I’m moving to the city, not to another country.”

“Just checking. I–”

“Worry. I know.” His voice has softened, and he drops his bag, tilting his head back to regard him. “I’ll be fine. Really.���

His friend pulls him into a smothering hug, enveloping him fully in his embrace, counting, counting, keeping time until he has to let go.

“Be safe.” A whisper as he steps back, full of panic and worry and desperate, desperate wishes.

“I’ll do what I can.” It’s not a promise – he can’t promise this, definitely not – but it’s the sincerity of the sentiment that pacifies him, because now, it might take him a bit longer to do something stupid.

“Call me when you get there.”

“I’ll text you,” he offers. “You’re getting overbearing like this.”

He opens his mouth only to bite back the I worry that threatens to fall out, swapping it for an Okay instead.

This time it’s Shirabu who steps forward for a hug, whispering his goodbyes, shouting them in the strength of his embrace, lightly reassuring him in the soft touch on his hair.

And then he’s on the train, and the afternoon sun blinds him as he watches the train disappear.

x.x.x.x.x

[Eita]: Coming over?

[Kenma]: Nah. Kuros cooking

[Eita]: For Futakuchi too or no

[Eita]: ?

[Kenma]: ofc for futa too

[Kenma]: I am very kinf, u kno

[Eita]: how did kenma let you have his phone

[Kenma]: I have my ways

[Kenma]: n e way, kitten and futa r with me tonite

[Eita]: I had to stare at that for 5 min before it made sense

[Kenma]: Kuros spelling sucks

[Eita]: Tell me sth I dont know

[Kenma]: Futakuchi snores

[Kenma]: Dinner. C u tmr

[Eita]: See you

Semi places his phone at the edge of the table, lacing his hands behind his head. A slow grin spreads over his face as the reality of the situation settles on him.

No Shirabu, Kenma or Futakuchi tonight. Wow.

I can finally study in peace, hell yes.

He gets up to pluck a textbook from his bag, setting a timer on his phone before putting it in the dresser.

If he's to study, there can be no distractions. But he’ll have to get up and make dinner eventually, and he refuses to forget to eat just because he’s actually studying for once.

He flips open to where he left off, re-reading the familiar concept, sinking into the rhythm of absorbing information.

x.x.x.x.x

It’s 11pm when he stops, and as he gets up to brush his teeth, his eyes land on the empty bed next to him.

It’s a little worrying, but he reminds himself that Shirabu is old enough to take care of himself, pushing the thought out of mind as he leaves the room.

He writes a note and pins it to their corkboard, casting a last glance at the vacant bed before he turns out the lights.

(The emptiness rings in his head, a despondent purr throbbing in his mind. It prods at the gaping maw of his heart, reminding, reminding, of better times, noisier times, a time where there was laughter and table lamps and trundling snores–)

The room is too quiet, and he sighs.

He’ll never get used to sleeping alone.

x.x.x.x.x

Come home earlier next time, it’s not safe late at night.

P.S. It’s your turn to make lunch but I’m getting up early because I’m sure you won’t wake up.

He plucks the note from the board, smiling at the first part of the message, sticking his tongue out at his roommate's back at the latter half.

Grabbing a pen from the table, he scribbles his reply and sticks the note back on the board before grabbing his things to shower.

His phone lights up with a new message, and he types a reply with a small grin before leaving, closing the door quietly behind him.

In the silence of the room, the phone vibrates periodically, marking the pauses between the soft snores from the occupied bed.

1 unread message from Taichi

15 unread messages from Futakuchi

2 unread messages from Iwaizumi✨

[humanlyimprobable]

ok so im watching shane dawson’s video about eugenia cooney and i guess its helped me realize some things about my own weight? and mental health around it? im gonna put it under a read more so as not to accidentally trigger anyone hopefully, just know that nothings too severe, this is just some stuff i didn’t notice that i wanna get better with. 

ok so, for most of my life i’ve always been an incredibly skinny, small person. to the point where it’s the main comment i’ve recieved through out my entire life. “you’re so skinny!” “you’re skin and bone!” “you need to eat!” “you’re tiny!” and the like. my weight’s always been really down there, for most of my childhood i was in the 50s pound wise. when i was at camp as a kid two counsellors discovered they could play catch with me thats how small i was. and this stuff has been 99% of my entire life. the only time it wasnt this way was when i was a literal toddler and still had a lot of baby fat to the point that my sister would call me santa claus cus my belly stuck out, which i didn’t mind, in fact i actively enjoyed it because santa claus is the best hes just a sweet generous old guy who give magical presents on christmas whats not to love? 

anyways, im 18 and im in the 90s weight wise today. the most i have ever weighed in my entire life was just barely over 100 pounds. i still receive lots of comments about how tiny i am, to the point that most people dont take me seriously when i say things like “im gaining weight” or “my hips and thighs are bigger then the rest of me”. 

idk. moving on to the food related stuff i guess, ‘m a super picky eater, there are a lot of foods that i just straight up cant eat cus theyre so gross it can be physically painful sometimes? other then that though i do genuinely love food. food is amazing and wonderful and if i had the energy and not germaphobia i would be cooking all the time because i just love food so much, and i love to experiment some times, i like trying new recipes, i love adding new things to recipes and seeing how it turns out. but uh, growing up my dad was very strict about food. if it was on your plate you had to eat all of it. no matter what it was. and this was awful for me, especially as an undiagnosed autistic person. i hated a lot of foods that ended up on my plate, and i had so many meltdowns at the dinner table. i still panic today at the thought of wasting anything, even when im genuinely full or have no use for something or hate something. i still panic because of how guilty he made me feel. and its made me scared to try completely new things. 

but then there are other issues. germaphobia, general pickiness, lack of energy, so on that makes eating really hard for me sometimes. for those who dont know, my mom is a building manager, she is on call 24/7 pretty much, and she’s out most of the day. i feel bad admitting this but my mom is the main way i get food because my executive dysfunction, germaphobia, and fatigue issues make it so that the only things i can really feed myself are normally things like pizza pockets, rice cups, and cup noodles or ready made snacks like scones. i used to eat microwave meals for almost every meal of the day but i don’t want to live like that i want to eat real food, so i tried to cut down on it. everybody always talked about how bad they were for me so i tried to stop but its kind of left me in a worse off position considering the things i mainly eat nowadays (cup noodles are way worse for you then frozen spaghetti) but im scared to go back to the meals i ate before because im scared of being judged again. i wake up and maybe have a small snack if im able to tide me over till mom gets home and i can have something like a burger. 

but thats the problem. mom is out most of the day. from the time i wake up to the time mom is able to take the time to help me get actual food is at least around 5 hours or so, and thats a long time to go. not to mention that after work shes so tired and exhausted that i feel bad just asking for her help to get food. by the time her work is done all she wants and what she needs is to go to bed but if she does that before helping me then i might go without supper.

then there are other issues. i mentioned before how 99% of my life i’ve always been a very skinny tiny person, and thats kind of something that i was known for for multiple times in my life. im always the tiniest weighs the least of my friend groups. and im kind f scared of gaining weight because of that. that time  that i mentioned earlier where i was above 100lbs? it was scary. it was getting harder to recognize my body. i’ve almost always been able to see my ribs, but it was getting harder and harder to see them. my pants started getting too tight. and i was scared. i’ve lost other important parts of my identity before and it hurts. it hurts to go through that kind of identity crisis. and im scared of having another one. 

ive always been told that i should be proud of how i look, because im conventially attractive in a lot of ways. but im not. this might sound stupid but its hard. i want to gain weight i want to loook different, be different! but. im scared. im scared of being seen as gross in any way. even f its not true at all. im scared of people seeing me differently. i’ve worked so hard to be who i am today, and i want to work even harder to be who i really want to be. i was trained into a lot of things that people know me as. and some of it is purely automatic at this point. to the extent that there are some things that i physically am almost completely unable to break out of. i want to change those. i really really do. i want to change so much. but im scared. ik i’ve said that a lot but i am. who will i be? who would people see me as? how would i function? i dont know. i really dont. 

it actually makes me really uncomfortable when people talk about how skinny i am. i dont care as much about my height, though itd be nice to reach some higher selves i actually really like that part of myself. the weight is different though. its such a complex relationship that even this crazy long vent isnt an accurate way to sum everything up. im proud of it in a way, its something im known for, it makes me feel unique, and it is something unique about me right now. but in another way, i hate it. it makes other people see me as weak, defenseless, so on. it makes me a target of creepy men. its a product of abuse and disabillity in part. it contributes to my dysphoria. it contributes towards people not taking me seriously. its dominated part of my sense of identity in a way that i hate. 

and thats what the eugenia video helped me realize. i might not’ve caught any of this if it wasnt for that video. it helped me see that unhealthy feelings about this stuff doesnt need to be/start as this crazy severe thing. there have been times when i legitamately have thought “maybe its good i haven’t been eating much lately” and i didn’t catch just how potentially dangerous those thoughts were until now. and i cannot express how thankful i am to shane and eugenia for helping me recognize that. i want to work on eating more. as best as im able. i want to work on gaining weight. i want to be better. and im gonna try to be. 

[amazingviralinfo]

With three different projects launching in one day, including a virtual reality show, the comic actor who rose to fame in a drama is suddenly everywhere

With so many channels and websites hungry for original work and so many comic actors making a dozen or more projects a year, it was probably inevitable that Rob Huebel would have a multiple-personality moment like the one hes having today.

This Friday afternoon, Huebel and writing partner Paul Scheer will premiere Interrogation, their virtual reality comedy short, at the Sundance film festival in Utah. In the short, which is Funny or Dies first VR project, the viewer sees the point of view of someone accused of a horrible crime, and Huebel and Scheer play the extremely bad police detectives.

Then tonight Huebel stars in two TV projects that will air at the same time 11pm ET on competing comedy networks. Comedy Central will air Crash Test with Rob Huebel and Paul Scheer, a roving comedy special where the audience travels around Los Angeles on a tour bus to see impromptu skits like Rob Corddry having a late-night yard sale, Natasha Leggero walking her dogs and Aziz Ansari pretending not to be Aziz Ansari.

At the same time, Adult Swim will air the season premiere of medical farce Childrens Hospital, on which Huebel co-stars as Dr Owen Maestro. (There is no apostrophe in Childrens because the childrens hospital where the show takes place is named after Dr Arthur Childrens. Its that kind of show.)

Huebel isnt fazed by the clash, saying that he doesnt see projects or even actors competing with each other today like they did in years past. For my thing to succeed, your thing doesnt have to fail. Theres enough business out there for all of us. Theres a lot more cooperation and cross-pollination, and that coincides with the explosion across all of these platforms. Theres Amazon, theres Hulu, theres all these other platforms that are looking for content now.

Once, many actors spent nine months a year on a single TV series and then made a movie during the three-month hiatus. Over the last decade, the TV landscape has shifted from network shows that make 22 episodes a season, to shows on cable and streaming that have shorter seasons, indie films for outlets like iTunes and Netflix, alternative programming like comedy specials and digital shorts for streaming-video sites YouTube, Funny or Die, and Nerdist. For in-demand actors like Huebel, that means a dizzying and overlapping blur of projects.

Over the last year, Huebel has made four films, been a regular on Childrens Hospital (now in its seventh season), worked as a recurring character on FXs The League, made many TV guest appearances, appeared in numerous comedy shorts and developed a pilot for Comedy Central that will tape in the next few months.

For all his comedic output over the last year, it is Huebels dramatic work on the first two seasons of Amazons Transparent that has raised his profile. On the Golden Globe-winning series about a retired college professors transition to a woman and the lives of her three adult children, Huebel plays Len, a nice guy in an unhappy marriage to one of them, Sarah played by Amy Landecker who leaves him for a woman.

Interrogation, a virtual reality show launching at Sundance. Photograph: Funny or Die

Huebel is someone whos now starting to get more dramatic opportunities as he should, said Jon Stern, a producer on Childrens Hospital who is also producing Huebels upcoming Comedy Central pilot. He can be very vulnerable as an actor where thats called for, and we often write him full of attitude and bluster on Childrens Hospital because its fun to watch him do that too.

Midway through the first season of Transparent, there is a scene in which Huebels character picks up his kids from dinner and sees Maura played by Jeffrey Tambor for the first time as a woman. He mocks Maura, he shows irritation, then anger, then visible pain that his world has changed, and he apologizes for lashing out. Its a complex performance, and Huebel is convincing both as someone deeply altered by the changes around him and as a disinterested stand-in for viewers who arent quite sure what to make of what theyre seeing.

When Mort transitions to Maura, that shakes the whole family and shakes all of these secrets out of everybody, Huebel said. My character is one of those people who has never had any interaction with a trans person and is really thrown off by it. A lot of people fall into that category, and that was me during the first season.

Amazon picked up Transparent for a third season that will begin taping mid-year. Until then, Huebel will get back to being funny. Hes getting ready to shoot his Comedy Central pilot, which is based on a series of sketches he made several years ago for Funny or Die with celebrities like Ben Stiller and Deepak Chopra.

Every week, I take a celebrity on a quest to go find a dead body that I know about, Huebel said. Its like Stand By Me without the stupid kids like Jerry OConnell. (Hes kidding; Huebel and OConnell are longtime friends.) Its never explained how I know about the dead body. Its kind of an Easter egg hunt.

[arthurflecksgirl]

Subway scene /Arthurs POV

The subway is moving forwards, while everything inside of me is standing still. Frozen. Numb even. The numbness takes over me, except for the real bad headache. I shouldnt have done that. Hurting myself. But sometimes I just cant help it. Sometimes the sadness turns into anger and I dont want to hurt anyone, so I punish myself instead of anyone else. Instead of the people that hurt me all my life. I just sit there and take it, and try to cry my eyes out afterwards, but I cant even do that. Not a tear.

Silence. At least on the outside. Inside of me silence doesnt excist.

I don`t say much. I would love to talk a lot actually, but I gave it up when I realized that people won`t listen anyway. I prefer to write in my jornal nowdays. Its saver for me. My journal can`t missunderstand me. At least I hope so.

But yeah… if only they would give me the chance to explain myself. They would notice that I`m a good guy.  But they won`t. To them it doesnt matter how big my heart is or that is filled with lonelyness. I do write my jokes for OTHER people. To make them happy. To be seen as someone who want to spread positivity. But they remain unheard. My jokes are only scribbles in my journal. At least up until now. I`ve got the feeling that change is about to come. Like….I can feel soemthing growing inside of me. Not sure what it is though. Its just a gut feeling but trusting my feelings is another story...

I look outside the window. Graffitys on the dirty surface cover half of my reflection. Half of my face, a blurr. Funny because thats how I feel right now. I notice how worn out my face must seem to others. A sad eyed clown, abandoned from the rest of the world. I can`t smile for anyone today. Not after Hoyt fired me. How could I ever tell my mum when I get home? I just told her that she shouldt worry about money, or me. That my stand ups are ready for the big clubs. And now I got nothing left.  Not even my job, which I loved. Mum and I didnt had much money but it was enough to get us through. What now? She`ll be so dissappointed in me. I wanted make her proud. I wanted her to watch her son up on the stage, thinkng “I`m so proud of him. He really made it. ” But all she is going to say now is “Oh happy. I guess you just weren`t funny enough”.

I turn around and face the seats, trying to get eye contact with a lady. I crave human connection so much. It would feel so good if she would just look me in the eye for a second. It would be like a proof that I am here and people notice. But she doesnt. Maybe she`s too caught up in her own thoughts. Maybe she questions her own existence just like me.

The doors open, she gets up and leaves. A deep sigh is escaping my painted lips. Three guys are getting in, talking about a girl they danced with. The conversation caughts my attention. Sounds like they were at a dance club or something. I`ve never been at one, so I try to hear all the details about how a normal guy would manage to make out with a girl. I really could need some good advice, but after only a few seconds I realize that the guys must be drunk. One of them claims that the girl was in love with him, while his buddy says it aint true. Nothing to learn here.

It is now that I realized that there is a pretty girl sitting across me. “Want some french fries?” one of the drunk guys asks her and the way he does so makes me feel uncomfortable.  Him trying to get her attention feels wrong.

“Helloooo?” .

“No, thank you” The girl seems annoyed. “They`re real good!”  he says, before he starts throwing the food at her.  “C`mon” the other one says “He`s being nice to you”.

The girl just wants to read her book. Why would they even bother her? I have never been on a date before but this sure isnt how I woud treat a woman. I would try to be a gentleman. To become a beautiful memory which she writes down in her diary when the day is done. I want to become a romanic page in a womans diary. A poem. A lover.

I take a look at the cover of what she is reading. Alice in wonderland. I like that. Alice knew how to create a world of her own. Reality couldnt bother her anymore. But her dream world did. I guess there is just no way to escape your own mind.

I get nervous, noticing that she makes eye contact with me. I was longing for eye contact just minutes ago but now that this pretty girl looks right at me I`m sweating.  I guess she wants me to say something to them. To step in and tell them to leave her the fuck alone. The friendly clown looks like he could help her out. And I want to. I want to stop them so bad. I want to get up to those guys and tell them to fuck off. To leave the girl alone with her book, Alice and her imagination. But my body won`t let me. I am frozen. My legs won`t move. I`m just sitting there. What kinda man am I, to not help her out? Just a sad clown on the subway. Nothing more. All I wanna do is cry.

And there it comes….. hmmm... haha. I shake my head. No. please not now. Not in front of a pretty girl and some bullies. This is bad. I`m in deep shit now.  I can`t hold it back. The pain. The urge to cry, to shout out. To scream.

The laughter. Its making its way up my throath again. I want it to stop! At the same time there is something inside of me that acually thinks that this is funny. Those drunk idiots trying to impress a girl by throwing french fries at her and I`m actually hoping to learn something here when they came in. What a joke.

I can tell  by their dirty looks that I already caught attention . The wrong kinda attention. the kind of attention I`ve never asked for. Leave me alone to cry.

“Is something funny, asshole?” his voice is hurting me. I try to tell him that he should ignore my laughter by gestures, but he doesnt get it. I guess the girl is scared of me now which makes it all so much worse.. She passes me by,disappearing, as the guys throws stuff at her “Bitch!”

Hahahahhahahah. I reach the point of pain right now. My throath feels sore from trying to hold it back.  My heart tired from asking myself why I am still laughing.

And just as the pain starts to spread its fire on my insides, the guy comes up to me, starting to sing. I know that song. I know it well.  “Isnt it rich? Are we a pair? Me here at last on the ground. You in mid air. Send in the clowns.”

A chalkboard.  Chairs. That smell. My teacher looking at me like i´m a freak. Fists. And more fists.

With every step he comes closer I get flashbacks from getting bullied at scool. The look in his face. in his eyes. I know that kinda look. He`s a fucking bully. And I`m his victim.  Nothing new I know. But that song…it really gets me. I love Frank Sinatra. His music means so much to me. It hurts that this guy is using it against me like a weapon.

“Isnt it bliss. Dont you appprove? One who keeps tearing around, one who cant move?”

Yeah….thats right……hahahahhaah I CANT move while you are dancing around like an idiot. Hurting me. Do you have any idea how much you are hurting me? Look at my face. I´m hurt. I`m in pain. But people never notice and you keep on dancing. You`re the one who is laughing. Not me. I`m crying while I have to listen to your terrible interpretation of Send in the clowns.  You can`t even carry a fucking tune!!!!

“Send in the cloooooowwwnnnsss” he sings, his eyes focused on me in a disgusting way, while the other one is sitting down next to me. I feel intimitated as he grabs my Carnival wig, exposing my real hair , while I cant stop laughing with pain in my eyes. Not the wig. Please not the wig. I need it. I cant afford another one and I have to find a new job as a clown soon.

“There ought to be CLOOOOOOOWWWWNNSSS…..” the first one looks at me in anger, the second one putting my wig on, laughing right into my face. I can smell the alcohol in his breath. The way he laughs at me. So rude. Just like back in scool. I`m back in scool. This is a nightmare.  Why would they want to hurt me? Don`t they realize I just want to be left alone?  I wish they would go away. Why is no one else around? But I guess I dont deserve someone saving me. I wasnt even able to hold them back from annoying the girl.

“So tell us buddy. Whats so fuckin funny?”

“Nothing!”. Finally my chance to explain myself.

Hahahhahahah “I have….I have a condition” I try to catch my breath. Its so hard to breathe, so hard to talk between the laughs. My hand reaches for the card. I  have to read it out loud, so they know.

Its too late.

“I´ll tell you what you have, asshole” he replies, grabbing my bag. I try to get it back, but the other is fast, holding me back. Grabbing me violently from behind, while the first one tries to attack me. I cant belive this is happenening.

I cant use my arms. This is worse than being handcuffed. I kick the guy in front of me. Kinda shocked I was able to make a move.

“We got a kicker, huh?” he says. “Hold him steady, hold him steady” he screams, right fore he punshes me right in the face ,so hard that the other one lets go of me. The next thing I feel is hitting the ground. Hard.  Lying there with a sharp pain that makes its way althrouh my body. I lie on my right side. My ribs hurt´. My head is pounding, hands  touching the dirty ground, trying to figure out if this is really happening ? I cant move. Freezemode is taking over. . I just cant do anything but take it like a good, little boy.

I`m a kid. Just a kid again. And its dark. And I dont know where I am. Or what day it is.

“Stay down,freak!“

Happy

Freak

Arthur, my name is Arthur.

They kick me in the back.Harder. All three of them now.  

For a moment I am afraid they will kick me to death. Three guys and some clown, paralyzed on the floor? I could definitaly die in here and no one will ever know. I`m not afarid of dying. But this isnt how I want to go. Not on the floor. Not while getting kicked by some assholes. They would step over my dead body and I would remain invisible..I cant let them do this to me. Not again.

Is this my inner voice talking? The one I used to feel lately? Is this the blurry part of my reflection?

I feel my left  arm moving and  remember the gun. The fucking gun Randall gave to me. The weapon that brought me nothing but trouble. Maybe this thing will be good for something eventually. Maybe it will save my life. Well Randall. Sorry for ruin your plan.

Those guys will get what they deserve now.

Bang! Bang!

That was fast. One is already on the ground.

Bang! Bang!

I never thought it could be so easy to defend yourself.

The other one is hitting the subway door.

There is blood but  no time to take a look at it. The third one tries to run away as I fire the gun one more time. I only caught his leg. He`s liping, as I grab my stuff, trying to catch my breath. To get my thoughts straight. The gun in my hand. God. there is a gun in my hand. Still. For a brief moment I seem to lose all orientation. Did i just killed someone? What should I do now? What about the third one? My mind is all over the place.

Breathe, Arthur. Breathe. I have a lump in my throath. Not sure if from the laughing or from the panic.

The sound of the guy banging against the subway door awakens me from my thoughts. The door opens and he tries to get away. But he won`t. I`m a fast runner and he can barely walk. I have to finish this now. Just one more guy. I have to bring this to an end. One more shot. He falls to the ground.

How does it feel there, on the dirty ground? Can you taste the concrete? Because I did.

Can you feel the cold against your aching bones? Well, I did. And it was crawling up its way on my insides.

You killed me first.

Every single one of you bullies.

You killed my hopes and dreams.

My innocence.

This is what you finally get.

Do you see me now?

Can you feel, that I am real?

Because I am.

And so is this gun.

I ran up close to him as he screams, trying to crawl closer to the stairs.

No one heard MY whimpers when I thought I was  almost dying in the alley.

I fire the gun. Bang Bang Bang. Until there are no bullets left. Until he doesnt move anymore.

Freeze mode, huh? How does it feel?

One who keeps tearing around. One who cant move.

And then… silence.

Exept the noise in my ears. I take a short look at the body lying in front of me. He really is dead. Huh. . Kinda surprising what a gun can do.

I press my hand against my ears. That noise.  I hope there will be music again, soon.

I take a look around. No one is there. Time to grab my stuff and get gone.

I ran up the stairs as fast as I can and  feel myself changing with every step I take, with every short breath I become something.

There is a glow inside, as I run into an unknown desitination, my shadow ahead of myself

[elliotthezubat]

DEATH CITY DAYS CHAPTER 49

camping trips, three way wars, and general chaos

Anne #2: *roars, coming from the floor* atsushi: !! shitshitshitshitshitshit! *runs* Anne #2: *clutches Atsushi, wrapping him in ribbons* atsushi:.... ah biscuits. Lucy: *waves* "Toodles." *The door opens, pulling Atsushi in* atsushi: FUUUUUUUUUUU- *Door slams shut* Lucy: "And now, that just leaves the doctor..." *smiles* "You're free to go~ Fitzgerald told me I only had to take care of the Man-Tiger, not some dotting middle-age tired old fart--" White Coat: "..." *smiles* Lucy: "???" White Coat: *creepy face* "Why don't you give it a try, little girl?" Lucy: "!!!" *feels a chill run up her spine* atsushi: *ahem* White Coat: "You can't...because you have lost." Lucy: "???" *looks* "Man-Tiger?! How are you--" atsushi: the game...isnt over...just yet... Lucy: "How?! The door was shut! I saw it!" atsushi: seems the plan worked then... this was a two against 1 battle. *White Snow dissolves...The door was a fake* Lucy: "B-But how were you able to resist being pulled?!" atsushi: sheer willpower and the help of a friend. you know, there's one thing you got wrong. im not the most strong or popular of people. in all seriousness, i bring misfortune by being alive, so i can understand why you resent other people. in all honesty, i dont want you to fail and be abandoned. but i have to protect the people close to me! Lucy: *shaking...tries to step back but feels like she's being pulled forward* "What?!" atsushi: gotcha. *yanks on the ribbon* Lucy: "AAAHH!" *pulled towards Atsushi* atsushi: *catches her* please, deactivate your ability and let everyone go. if not, you'll get dragged in with me and we'll all be trapped! Lucy: "I-I can't be defeated! I mustn't--" atsushi: please hurry, i cant hold on forever. *slipping* Lucy: "..." *sobs, de-activates...* atsushi: *blinks.* -everyone is back outside- ???: *crying* atsushi: *turns to see naomi comforting a crying lilac* naomi: it's ok, we'll find your friends soon. naho: LILA! *hugs him* I WAS SO WORRIED! Lilac: *holding on* "I was so scared!" Tanizaki: "Naomi!" naomi:.. BIG BRO~! *HUUUG* atsushi:....*notice someone*...hey...s-sorry about that....but if you need somewhere to stay, maybe the agency- *PUNCH* atsushi: X-X ok...i deserved that....*nosebleed* Lucy: *runs* White Coat: "Oh dear..." atsushi:... elise: what, did you look up her skirt or something? atsushi: w-what?! N-NO! THAT ISNT- I-I WOULDNT- White Coat: *shiny eyes* "Elise! You're safe!" elise: yeah, i thought it would be funny to see you freak out if i went missing, rintarou. atsushi: !! oh! you're that guy from the hotel the other day! is this your daughter? White Coat: .w.; "...What?" elise: nah, rintarou just makes me call him 'daddy'. atsushi:........................... White Coat: OWO;;; *Someone hugs Atsushi* atsushi: eh- kyouka!.... owo; kyouka, i think we should go away from this man. i get the feeling he wants bad things for you. White Coat: O____________O Kyoka: "...I was worried about you..." atsushi: well, im here now, but we really should be getting far from this weird guy. White Coat: Q~Q "...I'm just a middle-aged nobody who works at a small company..." *clears his throat, smiles friendly at Atsushi* "But I would like to give you advice, young man." atsushi: if its on how to pick up young girls, i'll pass thanks. Kyoka: *protective tug on Atsushi's arm* White Coat: (thinking: "ENOUGH WITH THE FUCKING JOKES YOU LITTLE--") *serene smile* "No matter how dire the circumstances seem, every problem has a solution. Don't forget that." Kyoka: "..." *realization* O_O atsushi: yeaaah- HOLY MOLEY WHAT IS THAT?! *points to something, then picks up kyouka and runs* Kyoka: *clutching Atsushi, partially to protect him, partially in fear* White Coat: "??? ...Well, that was fun!" elise: come on rintatou, lets blow this popcicle stand! atsushi:...*phew* its ok kyouka, that creepy guy wont hurt you now....kyouka? Kyoka: *collapsed to her knees, shaking* "N-No..." atsushi: ?! kyouka? kyouka what's wrong?! -down the road- White Coat: "..." ???:.....ugh, you know, the stubble makes you look like even more of a disgusting creep, sir. -_-; White Coat: "You think I need a shave, then?" elise: yeah, you look like an old man. ???:.....*cringe* aaanyway, you might want to take a look at this. *walking into an alley* White Coat: "???" -several mafioso's are surrounding a dead man- mafioso: eyyy the boss is here! *White Coat is now in a dark coat...Mori...* Mori: "...Who did this? An assassin from the Guild?" mafioso 2: actually, i think this guy _was_ from the guild. mafioso 3: hey errand chick, here to get screwed by the boss again? rain: FUCK OFF, JERRY! Mori: *stares at Rain* "...Late." rain: D8< i lead you here! sir! Mori: *looks down upon her* "You were not when I needed you...You will make up for that today." rain: !!!..... TT~TT yes, sir... Mori: *smirks, before looking back at the dead man* "The Guild...The Agency...This is quite a problem...But no matter how difficult the problem, a solution will present itself. A solution bathed in blood." -elsewhere- Lucy: *shaking* -elsewhere- lilac: *shaking* Sakuya: "It's okay...You're safe now." naho: i know, it sounds ridiculous, but it really happened! >n< Sakuya: "I believe you! I'm not doubting that...Not like we haven't seen other people make it look like we're somewhere else..." naho: i guess.....*slight pout* Sakuya: "..." *holds her hand* naho: to be honest, im a bit jealous. i mean, higan can use fire, lavender can paralyze people, otogiri can use her strings, but i cant do anything. even lilac has a cool ability, and he's younger than me! Sakuya: "...Maybe you just haven't discovered your own ability...And I think you already have one." naho: you think so? Sakuya: *nods* "You got a level head that keeps a lot of people here sane. Including me." -elsewhere- Rin: "Think I over-packed?" kyouko: ... *sweatdrop* Yukio: "...You're not taking an entire television set with you." Rin: "Then what do I watch out there?" kyouko: im sure they're letting you bring your phones with you, right? Rin: "I think so...but I like a big screen--" kyouko: maybe someone is bringing an ipad? Rin: "..." *pouts* "Okay, fine." *hands the TV to Yukio--who collapses under its weight* Yukio: >__< kyouko:...oh! that's right, uncle shiro told me to give you this. *it's bug spray* just in case. Rin: "Oh, sweet! That'll help!" *smiles* -elsewhere- Kid: "Feeling okay?" stocking: yeah. Kid: *smiles* "I'm glad. Busy few days ahead..." stocking: yeah. Kid: "...That camping trip?" stocking: not that exactly, but just work in general. Kid: "...The woman...?" stocking: i think her name is michelle? .....i kind of feel bad for neuhaus... Kid: *nods* "...Is True Cross pursuing any actions against him?" stocking: i havent found out yet. but if i were the one in charge, i'd say the pain he's going through is punishment enough. Kid: "...Have you said so to your father?" stocking: yeah. he said he'll see what he can do. Kid: *nods* "...This is sad." -elsewhere- Kunikida: "...You're late." atsushi: well, we ran into a bit of trouble on the way. Tanizaki: *protective of Naomi* Kyoka: "..." Kunikida: "...Evidently. What happened?" -atsushi explains what happened- Kunikida: "...Fitzgerald, making a move." atsushi: what do we do? Kunikida: "...Keep an eye on their locations as best we can. Anticipate attacks. Arm ourselves." atsushi: .... Dazai: "...Too bad I wasn't there. I bet I would've been some help." *friendly smile* -elsewhere- Fitzgerald: "I think someone else may need to visit the Mafia and the Agency." louisa: w-w-who do you suggest, lord francis? Fitzgerald: "Maybe Steinbeck?" louisa: r-right. i'll inform him right away! Fitzgerald: *nods* "Thank you." -elsewhere- tall man:......... Shorter man: "Why are the roads here so narrow?!" tall man:....we should just walk.... Shorter man: *pouts, as he puts on his hat* "It'll be a long walk to deliver the package..." *stares the car* "My poor steed..." -elsewhere, in a garden- ???: .... Mori: "Are you ready?" ???: *she nods* dont worry kyouka, mama will be there soon.... -the next day- Kyoka: "..." atsushi: hey, we got ourselves a job today! *hands her a stun gun* here. Kyoka: "...What is this for?" atsushi: so you can protect yourself. (thinking: without using her ability...) -and so- Kyoka: "...This errand..." atsushi: all we have to do is deliver this evidence to a court judge. *shows her a picture* here's what he looks like. think you can handle this? Kyoka: "It's fine. I will definitely succeed." -and so- guard: sorry miss, but a permit is required. Kyoka: "I am from the Detective Agency. I am here to deliver." guard: just the same, you're just gonna have to wait, i dont make the rules i just enforce them, ok? Kyoka: "..." *walks back to Atsushi* atsushi: darn. we'll need to get past him somehow. Kyoka: "Finish him off." atsushi: we're not...gonna kill him. *sweatdrop* Kyoka: "...I could seduce him away." atsushi: we're not doing that either!! (thinking: that would just be weird!) Kyoka: *pouts* *then sees someone walking to a side entrance* "...There." atsushi: ?? perfect. -it was the judge- atsushi: !! come on! Kyoka: *follows* atsushi: you head in, i'll keep watch. Kyoka: *pulls out lock-pick and opens the door to enter* Kyoka: *holds her stun gun, aiming as she passes through hall* atsushi: ^^; y-you could just knock. Kyoka: "...Then it would not be infiltration, would it?" Kyoka: *spots a janitor's locker* "..." *light bulb* -and so- Kyoka: *in janitor's uniform, pushing cart up to a guard* "Judge wanted his room cleaned." guard: um...ok... Kyoka: *nods* "Thank you." *quickly goes to judge's office* judge: ye-? Kyoka: *hold up envelop* "Delivery." judge: oh, why thank you. -later- atsushi: i got crepes! Kyoka: *shiny eyes* "Yummy..." atsushi: so how did it go? Kyoka: "I did not have to electrocute anyone...mostly." atsushi: ah. that's....good. ^^; Kyoka: "...Why did you have me go with you?" atsushi: i guess to train you? show you the ropes? m-metaphorically speaking. Kyoka: "...'Ropes'?" atsushi: n-not actual 'ropes' per say, i-its a metaphor. like a figure of speech. Kyoka: "...I'd rather see actual ropes. They are useful in missions: infiltration, asphyxiation--" Kyoka: *holds her cell phone* atsushi: *sweatdrop* Kyoka: "...I learned many ways to kill." -phone buzzes- atsushi: !!! Kyoka: "?!!!" ???: demon snow. punish the man who brought kyouka into this world of lies. -shink- atsushi:.....*collapses, bleeding* Kyoka: *frozen* "..." ????: there you are, kyouka. *she smiles* Kyoka: "...No..." kouyou: i was so worried when you didnt return home, and here i find you, playing with this monster. *steps onto atsushi's back* atsushi: *yelps in pain* Kyoka: "How...You...The phone?" kouyou: simple, i just got a new phone~ it's ok. mama will protect you. atsushi: k-kyouka, run! Kyoka: *tries to move...trips backwards* kouyou: it's alright now. im here to help you. Kyoka: *can't move* kouyou: *she hugs her* you poor thing, deluded into believeing this world is one of light. but i know one day, these knaves will exploit you and your ability. i promise, i wont let that happen... if i must eliminate them, then i shall do so. atsushi: tch-...that's rich coming from the mafia. -he charges at her, but is slashed- atsushi: ?! Kyoka: *shocked* Kyoka: "St-St-" atsushi: *he looks up to see an entity, similar to demon snow.* w-what? kouyou: golden demon. finish him off. Kyoka: "STOP!" kouyou: ?? Kyoka: "Do not hurt him." kouyou: ....*faux smile* oh you poor naive girl. im afraid its not that simple. you see, mr mori has issued an execution notice for all members of the ADA. i was able to convince him to spare you, so come home with us. a flower born in the dark, can only survive in the dark, after all. Kyoka: "You're wrong!" kouyou: ?! Kyoka: "I am not a flower of darkness." kouyou:....*glares hatefully at atsushi* this is your fault, boy. you've tainted her with your light...but i can still save her. -she aims her sword at his neck- kouyou: if he dies under your care, the agency will surely abandon you... Kyoka: "Stop!" *quiet* "...I'll go." atsushi: !! kouyou:...good girl. Kyoka: "..." *walks to Kouyou* kouyou: *opens her arms to hug her* *STAB* kouyou: ....*sneers, holding the blade to keep it from piercing any further* well done, it seems i have taught you well... Kyoka: *holds up a phone* kouyou:....!!! Kyoka: *flips it open* kouyou: dont do it! if you do, you'll- Kyoka: "Demon Snow!" -elsewhere- toru: *crawling* chie: *smiles* Yohei: "That a boy!" toru: guu! Yohei: "Good!" *claps his hands* "You're moving so fast, kiddo!" -he tumbles and falls on his side- toru: ah....hehe. chie: aw, you're ok buddy. Yohei: *smiles* "He's in good spirits--'cause he's going to keep trying 'til he gets it." chie: *smiles* just like his daddy. Yohei: ^\\\^ *smooch* -elsewhere- -slash slash clang- kouyou: do you see now?! this is the nature of your blade! killing all in your way without hesitation; just like a demon! Kyoka: "You're wrong!" kouyou:.... please, its not because i do not sympathize with you...however, some things are not meant to be. a flower that blooms in the dark can only survive in the dark. if it touches the light, it will burn... Kyoka: "...Even if that is the case...how can I forget this wonderful dream--now that I've seen it?!" kouyou:...please come home, my child. your true nature can never change. if that was not the case, you would not be able to use the demon as a weapon. after all, it was that demon who killed your parents. atsushi: !!! Kyoka: *struggles to look back at Atsushi* "It's not true...It's...not..." *drops her cell phone* -several mafia cars pull up- atsushi: (thinking: ah biscuits) Kyoka: *looking around, fearful* -suddenly, a car gets straight up flung into the air- kouyou: !!! what the ever-loving fuck?! atsushi: kenji! Kenji: "Howdy!" *adjusts dress* mafioso: who's the strong chick? Maifioso 2: *heart eyes* she's gorgeous! Kenji: "Hee hee..." *winks* mafioso 2: PLEASE GO OUT WITH ME! atsushi: -__-; (thinking: he's enjoying this way too much...) kouyou:.... (thinking: an onnagata?) Kenji: "We can talk about dinner and gifts later. First, I have to do this--" *picks up a car and holds it over the Mafiosos' heads* mafioso: hot dam- -KO- atsushi:....oh, kunikida! Kunikida: "We followed a signal on Kyoka's phone--" *picks up Atsushi by the head* atsushi: ow! kouyou: why you vermin....kyouka, come here! Kunikida: "..." *sets Atsushi down* "Dragging us into this, because you can't fight your own battles...But if it is a war this monster wants..." atsushi: kyouka, its ok, we'll help you! mafioso 3: wa, wa, waaaa.... Mafioso 4: "What the hell, Frank?" mafioso 5: uh....who're those guys? ???: "Ooooo! A fight!" Kunikida: "???" tall man: itchy....*walks over to the fountain...and sits in the water*....better.... Shorter Man: "...The Guild is not paying you to bathe in public water! And little kids could've spit in there!" atsushi: o-o;;;; ooooohhhh shiiiitake mushrooms. Shorter Man: "Besides, we're here to deliver a package--" *looks at Kenji* o\\\\\\o "Daymn." Kenji: "Hee hee...You make me blush." atsushi:.....do you want to tell him or should i? Kunikida: -_-;;; "We have bigger worries...Like a three-way battle between the Mafia, the Agency, and now the Guild." frank:....um...does anyone hear- -CRASH- ???: *cough cough* ???: "We have arrived?" ???: well i do believe so. ??: 'bout time. i was gettin' bored up there. ???: well, it is a shame poe and alcott arent here, they're afraid'a heights you see, but they're better off dead. ??: yeah, real damn sha- *spots kenji* !! *slides on up to 'her'* well hello there, good lookin~ Kenji: "??? Man, I am really pulling this off!" *waves* atsushi: *JAWDROP* Kenji: "What's your name, stranger?" ??: the name's twain, but you can call me, *winks* anytime~ *hands kenji his number* tall man: *has birds all over him like he's a statue* steinbeck....twain's hitting on your date. Steinbeck: (ಠ_ಠ) *grabs Kenji's hand* "I saw her first!" Kenji: *blushes* twain: steinbeck, do not cockblock me here, i havent had a date since getting here. kouyou:... shoot them! mafioso: no way, this is getting good! Kenji: "Boys, boys! This is no way to behave! The proper way is with bribery!" -DOUBLE WHACK- ???: i do apologize for these two hooligans. they dont know how to mind their manners, miss....? atsushi: toshiko! her name is toshiko! Kenji: owo; "...Toshiko is my name-o!" ???: i see. atsushi: *looks at kunikida* Kunikida: "..." *sigh* "I have to do everything..." *pulls out a smoke bomb* -BOOOOOOOM- Steinbeck: *cough cough* ???: !!!! *uses the windy thing to blow the smoke away. both the agency and mafia have escaped* hmph. they got away. Steinbeck: D:< "Including my lil apple dumplin’!" twain: damn. well, i got to give her my number~! -thunk- twain: ow! Steinbeck: >_< ???: now you just keep your lil snake in your pants mister. Steinbeck: "...Ha ha. 'Little.'" twain: tch-, at least i know how to show her a good time, unlike you, farmer boy. Steinbeck: "I know how to please a woman! Farms teach you lots of stuff!" ??: reeeeally hoping that isnt relevant. Steinbeck: "...So, what now? We report to Fitzgerald while I find the Agency and my sweet cherry pie darlin’?" twain: why dont you leave that to me~ and i'll take her out to a nice dinner to boot! Steinbeck: "I'll take her dancing!" -the squabbling continues until the tall man picks them both up and holds them away from each other before clunking their heads together- tall man:...too noisy. ???: thank you, lovecraft. lovecraft:.... Steinbeck: X_X twain: >-< ow! -elsewhere- Mori: "...Failure." mafioso: w-we're really sorry sir, and we dont know where the boss lady went. kyouka ran off in all the chaos and she followed after....she kinda vanished.... Mori: "...None of you followed her? Or could find her? Then what good are you?" mafioso: there was too much smoke and screaming sir! Mori: "If you could not handle the Agency _and_ the Guild, then I need someone more powerful to face them..." Mori: "And that means targeting the Director of the Detective Agency!" *smiles brightly* "Elise! New dress time!" -elsewhere- Yosano: "Time to heal injuries?" kouyou:....do your worst. *smirks* atsushi:....(thinking: kyouka vanished during all the commotion...) Yosano: *smirks* "Yay! New plaything..." *pulls out chainsaw* Dazai: "??? ...Maybe call her, Atsushi?" atsushi:... if i do that, i risk activating demon snow... Dazai: "Then that would get a report out...and either we would find her...or the Mafia would first." atsushi:.....this would be easier if she wasnt a wanted criminal... Dazai: "...Hey. We'll find her. Just have to keep searching." -later- kouyou:.....*smiling, but trembling* dazaaaai. how...nice...to see you.... Dazai: "...Big sis. Long time." atsushi: wait, she's your sister? kouyou: it's a figure of speech, rememeber? atsushi: ....... Dazai: "Now, kouyou, let's chat: where's Kyoka?" kouyou: that's what i would like to know myself.....*looks at atsushi* boy. atsushi: i have a name! kouyou: a name i do not know, nor do i care to. atsushi: D8 atsushi:....you... you scared her off! kouyou:...*chuckles* atsushi: WHY THE HELL ARE YOU LAUGHING?! *claw arm* Dazai: *puts out his arm* "Atsushi, no." atsushi: b-but- Dazai: *takes him by the shoulders, spins him around* "Leave her to me. I got this." atsushi:..... -elsewhere- Steinbeck: "Aim..." *BANG* Steinbeck: "Good shot!" louisa: *holds up a card that says '10'* ???: mr fitzgerald, we've recieved a report that the agency has vacated their building. Fitzgerald: "..." *smiles* "A hunt is no fun without the challenge of finding your prey." louisa: t-the mafia is making they're move as well, sir. Fitzgerald: *stares* "...I had to work two whole years to buy a gun of this model." Fitzgerald: *fires multiple shots at the target, demolishing it* -elsewhere- atsushi: i didnt think there was a seminar hall underground. yosano: well, death city is just full of surprises, as well as underground passages. there's even rumors of an ancient inventor living within the catacombs. atsushi: *gulp* creepy. Kunikida: "I assume we will be dividing up our resources effectively now." atsushi: i guess.....oh, looks like the boss is here. mr fukuza- Fukuzawa: *holds up a hand* "Listen, everyone. A few days ago, war was avoidable. That option is no longer available." atsushi: ?! d-dazai? Fukuzawa: "Dazai will lead the discussion about where we go from here." Dazai: "Call me Professor Dazai!" *stands behind teacher's desk* atsushi: *sweatdrop* [thinking: i fear to imagine what school would be like with him as a teacher...] Dazai: "The Guild has a lot of money, the Mafia has a lot of troops. Therefore, if we fight either one head-on, we'll end up a beaten pulp of blood, tendons, and bones!" yosano:.....*griiiiiin* atsushi: o.o;;; (thinking: having these guys as teachers or classmates....would be terrifying) Dazai: "That means guerrilla tactics are our best options--dividing up our members into defense and offense. And that means you in defense have one objective: protect Doctor Yosano!" yosano:...for some reason i am tempted to hit you. but then again, i am your only medic, so... Dazai: "And with the Doctor protected, you'll all be able to go all out in battle without worrying about the deadly injuries you will surely experience!" atsushi: (thinking: im not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing) yosano: and we also have a one-up on the guild. our secret weapon; kenji! or rather 'toshiko'. Kenji: "Huh? Oh, thanks!" *smiles* atsushi: (at least kenji is having a good time...) Dazai: "Offense will divide into two teams: me and Atsushi, Kunikida and Tanizaki." atsushi: *points to self* me? o-o; Dazai: *nods* "You'll need my power nullifier." atsushi: then everyone else is defence, right? -elsewhere- Chuuya: "Hmph. I said we can't trust outsiders..." *dials up Mori* *Phone dials...* Chuuya: "Come on...Someone, answer." elise: giddeyup horsey! rain: TT_TT Mori: "Rain, get the phone, please." rain: eliiise, please get off me TT-TT elise: but im not doooone yeeeet. *kicks her in the hip* rain: ow! Mori: "Rain. Now!" rain: alriiiight! *gets up, dropping elise* elise: owie! rain: *answers the phone* yes? Chuuya: "Oh, Rain. Hello. Is Mori there?" Mori: *gasps* "Elise!" *runs to her* "Are you okay?" rain: m-mu-chu-mr nakahara! h-he's right here! Mori: *glares at Rain* elise: rain bucked me off! *faux crying* she's so mean to me! rain: D8 Mori: "Then she will be punished." *takes the phone* "Elise, continue your play while I speak with Nakahara~" elise: ok~ *kicks rain in the shin* rain: AH! *falls* Chuuya: "Boss, the attack failed. Even though I had men tailing him--" Mori: "Relax. It is to be expected of the Detectives' leader. Carry on with the plan. The thing we planted on the Assassin's sleeve--how's the scan marker?" Chuuya: *checks* "...I got a signal." Mori: "Follow it. That is where we make our first attack." Mori: *looks to Elise and Rain* rain: please stoooop TT-TT Mori: *smiles* "Having fun, Elise?" elise: *kicking her in the stomach* you hurt me dummy! *looks at mori* yeah rintarou. ^^ Mori: "That's good! Elise, keep playing. Rain, stop screwing up." rain: TT____TT -elsewhere- *A man is seated, reading, as a woman stares at him* Man: "...Stop looking at me." woman: i wasnt. *looks up* i cant wait for autumn to get here already. Man: "Why, so you can see things die?" *flips a page* woman: well arent you gloomy. but no. its i may finally be free from this stiflin’ heat. Man: "Then go into the shade." *continues reading* "I cool my blood..." woman: hmph. tell me, father, does the term 'ashes to ashes' ring any bells? *cue the windy thing tearing up his book* Man: *stares at his broken book, then up at the fragments of pages* "...Genesis 3:19." woman: hmm... just dont ya'll forget why we're here now. this here hotel room is now our base of operations. Man: "I think you have forgotten God's mission to me: pass judgment on sinners. Those would be our enemies. Unless you want to atone as well, Margaret Mitchell?" margaret: oh please, ya'll arent even worthy of polishin' my shoes, hawthorne. guild worker: oh for the lovva god, just kiss already! margaret: LESS TALKING MORE MOVING Hawthorne: "Hmph." guild worker: oh and another thing. you've been kinda treating us like dirt since we got here. this isnt the civil war, ma'am. so we decided to form a union! Hawthorne: "...A union? Seriously?" margaret:... *windy things him off the roof* guild worker: *SCREAMS* -crunch- Hawthorne: *looks around* "Anyone else in this union?" -silence- Hawthorne: "Good. Now, give us our mail." guild worker 2: you got a letter, just came in this morning. margaret:....is this..crayon? Hawthorne: *reads it* "Looks like an adult's handwriting, though." *reads it* " 'Dearest sir and madam: Seeing that you came all this way, I am sure you may feel out of place. My little lady as well feels confined and wishes to play outside. Even as she is so boisterous, she is still so adorable I could die!'" *looks at Margaret* "...What the devil is he prattling on about?" margaret: seems they dote on their daughter quite a bit. Hawthorne: *continues reading* " 'But I digress. I write about our recent military conflict. Below is the list of the Guild's assets we will destroy--'" margaret: .... O_O they're going to attack the hotel?! this is a public facility! they must be nuttier than a squirrel's thanksgivin'! Hawthorne: *reading* " 'First, your hotel. Second, Mr--'" *pauses* "...'Mr. Hawthorne's life.'" margaret: ...miss mitchell's life?! c-clearly this is some kind of a joke by some petty immigrants. guild worker: woooow. not okay! guild worker 2: hey! we got an intruder! Hawthorne: *stares at the man* "...What kind of eyepiece is he wearing? And are those...lemons?" margaret: must be some homeless vagabond. Hawthorne: "Now I recognize him: that insane bomber on the train a while back--" Motojiro: "I'M NOT INSANE!" Hawthorne: "And the Detective Agency easily defeated you." margaret: we should just turn him over to the authorities. Hawthorne: *takes his cross in his hand* "Not the best plan, as he has already planted those 'lemons'--bombs--around our building." margaret: you're telling me those lemons are bombs? *laughing* Motojiro: "Sh-Shut up! My plan was genius!" Hawthorne: *cuts into his own hand* margaret:.... Motojiro: .____. "You're a cutter and calling me insane--" *SLICE* margaret: ......*sly grin* Motojiro: *gasps, shuddering in pain* "WHAT THE HELL?!" Hawthorne: "Will you not atone, you boring bomber of the Mafia?" Motojiro: "I-I-I'm not with the Mafia! I'm the ambassador of the universe! Here to bring a message of...um...love?" margaret:...he must have been snorting something before he arrived here. Motojiro: .w.; "...Did that excuse work, pretty lady?" margaret:........father, if you would so kindly proceed. Hawthorne: *takes a lemon* "You have your scarlet mark now upon your body..." *points to the A carved into Motojiro* "Now, without your penance..." *tosses the lemon at Motojiro* Motojiro: "!!! No--" *BOOM* Hawthorne: "...God's grace." -a helicopter flies over- Hawthorne: "Let's hope they are careful with the supplies--" ???: " 'God'?" margaret: ??....!!! h-how?! Motojiro: *grins* "You think God speaks to you? Ha! You call me insane, you crazy preacher?! The language of God is science!" -beep- Motojiro: "And science means always questioning...And you didn't question what was in that shipment on your helicopter..." margaret: what was that? *looks up*.... oh ya'll have to be shitting me. Motojiro: "My actual ability is not making bombs--it's surviving _lemon-shaped bombs_!" person on the streets below: are those....lemons? Hawthorne: "...That's still asinine." Motojiro: "Say that to your God when you're dead!" margaret: EVERYONE OFF THE ROOF! -BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM- lana: !?!?! w-what the heck was that? Bellhop: "?! An explosion?! Is that...fire?!" lana: *goes to call the fire brigade* -on the streets below- margaret: *landing via the windy thing* what on earth is this place?!?! guild worker: the whole roof is in flames....good thing there's steel keeping it from spreading....i think that's how steel works...right? Hawthorne: "The letter referred to destroying three items on their list. We are Numbers 2 and 3. I suggest we escape." margaret: indeed. *they run into an underground tunnel* Hawthorne: *follows--and sees someone* "??" margaret: oh, that's the senior secretary, isnt it? ......w-wha... Dead!Secretary: *mouth opens...then rips the face apart, revealing...lemon bombs* Hawthorne: "Mitchell!" *tackles her out of the way* margaret: ?!?! *BOOM* margaret: !!! are you alright? Hawthorne: *covers her, as building around them collapses* -elsewhere- Burns: "...You finished?" dia: we've detained the culprit. Burns: "Bring him here." foien: *has his hands ziptied and sits him down* there you go. Motojiro: "Ow! Hey! I know my rights! You can't just--" Burns: *holds up a flame to his face* Motojiro: ._. dia: you'll have time to explain during the trial. -elsewhere- Mori: *playing chess with himself* "The Guild has formidable people. Difficult to take down." *picks up the Rook* "We'll have to send our most spirited piece..." -elsewhere- -shink- margaret:...ah....*coughing blood* Hawthorne: *stares in shock* "Oh no..." Akutagawa: "This is stifling--" *SHINK* Hawthorne: *wide-eyed, as he sees himself stabbed* Akutagawa: "Let's get this over with." Hawthorne: "..." *smiles, laughs* "Here to test me, Examiner?" Akutagawa: "I shall test you, yes." *sends his tendrils at Hawthorne* Hawthorne: *blocks with his blood* Akutagawa: "?!" Hawthorne: "You can't shake my faith so easily, demon." Akutagawa: "...Rashomon." Hawthorne: "SCARLET LETTER!" *CLASH* Hawthorne: *his attack is sliced down* "?!!" Akutagawa: "Pathetic. Fight me with all you have, Brother, or this assassination will be for nothing." Hawthorne: "Do not call me that...I don't need to fight with all I have--when this fight is already over." Akutagawa: "???" *sees his own blood on his coat* "You cut me. Congratulations--" *The blood leaps up* Akutagawa: "?!!!" Hawthorne: "Not your blood." *The blood circles around Akutagawa* Hawthorne: "I was wrong, though. You are not a demon: you merely feast on prey weaker than you." -a breeze is blowing- margaret: nng... Akutagawa: "?!!" Hawthorne: "Mitchell...?" margaret:...the mafia...war...all meaningless...the only thing that matters to me is restoring my family's reputation. how could the likes of you, who has never known humiliation or defeat, ever beat me?! *The ground starts to shake* margaret: ....wha-....ah..... *SLICE* Hawthorne: "!!!" Akutagawa: "_I_ have never known defeat? No. Defeat has been my constant companion." Hawthorne: ("He's broken free of my technique! I can't run--") Akutagawa: *rushes at Hawthorne--* *COUGH* Akutagawa: *collapses to his knees, clutching his stomach* Akutagawa: "...What are you doing? I said I would battle you. So fight me with all that you have!" Hawthorne: "...Why do you persist, despite your injuries?" Akutagawa: "..." *steps forward* "I want to hear something from someone..." Hawthorne: "...You have faith." *slices his hand* "I have changed my mind: I will fight you with all I have--" Akutagawa: *leaps* Hawthorne: *fires at him* margaret: *attempting to break free* *pained scream* Hawthorne: *spots her* "Mitchell, stop!" margaret: it...hu..rts... Hawthorne: "Don't! Just stay--" *SLICE* margaret:.......no... Akutagawa: *shot...but smiling, as Rashomon slices through Hawthorne* Hawthorne: "..." *shudders, collapsing to his knees* Akutagawa: "To finish this..." *releases his last attack* margaret: !!! nathaniel!! Hawthorne: "..." *smiles peacefully* Akutagawa: "?!!!" *Akutagawa pictures Dazai smiling at him...and Atsushi...* *The blood of Hawthorne slices at Akutagawa, ripping at his body...* Akutagawa: "N-No...No! Rashamon! Destroy him!" *Rashamon reaches for Hawthorne...* -SHINK- margaret:....*impaled, holding hawthorne* Hawthorne: "!!! ..." *sobs* "M-Margaret...Why?" margaret: i....lo..lov....*collapses* Hawthorne: "...Margaret!" *SLICE* *BOOM* Akutagawa: *stays back, as he sees the ceiling fall onto the couple* *Blood pools under the debris* Akutagawa: " 'It's okay...to live'..." -elsewhere- Kenji: "But I have a date!" yosano: no butts, it's too dangerous right now. that goes for you too edogawa! -morning- chie: good thing they finally caught that bomber... Yohei: "...Can't have more of them. Not again." chie: *she nods* Yohei: "...Maybe I should help. I mean, I'm sure I have something that could detective explosives..." -elsewhere- higuchi: motojiro is requesting a lawyer to bust him out of prison. Mori: *pouts* "That's troublesome. Can't someone else do it?" higuchi: well, ryunosuke recently became ill and has confined himself to his room... Mori: "...Fine. Send Q. Oh, and tell Ryunosuke to get better immediately. RAIN! BRING HIM HOT SOUP!" higuchi: !!!??? q?! y-you cant be serious! Mori: *stares* "You think I'm not a serious person?" *he's writing letters with glittery crayons* elise: im gonna want those back when you're done, rintarou! >n< higuchi:....im on it then....*shudders* -muttering amongst the mafiosos- mafioso: is he out of his mind?! Mafioso 2: you saw what that...that _thing_ did to ted...poor, poor ted. Mafioso #3: *sniff* "Ted still owed me $20..." TT_TT -elsewhere- kirako: hi there mii-chan. i know you must be so lonely right now. but dont you worry, the pet sitter is taking good care of you. naomi:.... kirako: EEP! n-naomi! i-i was working! i swear! naomi: i didnt say anything, im just standing here. but look at this. *puts a newspaper on the table* kirako: *reading* 'explosion at local hotel, mad man in ski goggles held for questioning'. -meanwhile- yosano:....!!! we have someone on the cameras Fukuzawa: "...One man." Chuuya: "..." *grins at the camera* Fukuzawa: "Yosano, activate the guns." -vreeeeeen- -the camera disconnects- yosano: ?!?! Fukuzawa: "?!" *The bullets bounce away and off each other, missing Chuuya* Chuuya: "If you're still alive, come on out, Detectives." yosano:....director? Fukuzawa: "..." *looks at Rampo* Rampo: *nods* -and so- Chuuya: "How insulting. The Agency sends only two?" yosano: sorry hun, but you're gonna need an appointment first~ Chuuya: "Ha ha ha...You think the Mafia needs an appointment to tear down your base?" Kenji: "I don't think you need to!" yosano: if you want to, be my guest. but i have the feeling you arent here for that. Chuuya: "??? You think so?" yosano: we _are_ detectives after all. if we cant deduce the reason for a client's visit, then what kind of detectives are we? -elsewhere- lovecraft: ...... Steinbeck: "So, as I was saying, that's the way to properly farm and sell your produce." lovecraft:....there's the lodge. -quite a bit of flowers growing here- Steinbeck: *shiny eyes* "Flowers!" Steinbeck: "Sunflowers! And flower crowns! Woo hoo!" lovecraft:....how nice. Steinbeck: "I'll grow her more flowers!" *pulls out his sack* lovecraft: the secretary? Steinbeck: "??? I don't know--I wasn't up for getting her flowers--" lovecraft:.....*already walking ahead* -fantasy!toshiko: teehee~ oh john, you're such a sweetie pie~<3- Steinbeck: =\\\\\= "My darling clementine, I will make you a thousand flower crowns..." *stabs his neck* lovecraft: .... Steinbeck: *plants flower seeds...which grow out of him* -inside- naomi: *running with kirako* this way! kirako: why are we going through the staff passage? naomi: the enemy will most likely be there. i sent a request to have your car moved in here. kirako: wow... -VRRRRRRRR- -halfway down the road, and a noise is heard- kirako: EEK! naomi: the door is stuck! *A vine appears* naomi: this is bad, they're gonna break the car! kirako: nooooo! i just got this car! *The car is lifted into the air...the vines crush the car a bit...then stop* naomi:....*looks out the window* O_O are they....growing out of his body?! Steinbeck: *waves* "Hi, ladies! I should've expected the best from your Agency." naomi: doesnt that hurt?! Steinbeck: "A bit. The biggest pain is picking pieces out of my skin. And I think I got grape leaves along my spine...Wait, what were we talking about?" lovecraft:....we're here to make a request of you. naomi: 'request' basically means 'dispose after use' to villains like you. Steinbeck: "??? I'm not a villain. I got a sister about your age, back home." naomi:.....*lightbulb* say, you know that girl 'toshiko'? Steinbeck: owo;;; "...Yes. That's one reason I have this job. I get paid well to support my family--and I hope to impress her!" naomi: if you let us go, i'll set you two up on a romantic date! Steinbeck: owo;;;;;;;;; "...But if I did, I wouldn't be able to support my sister!" *slight crush of the vines* "I-I can just convince Toshiko I did what I had to do!" lovecraft:....??...it's snowing...in july? *BANG* lovecraft:...oh. ok. Steinbeck: "???!" *BANG* Steinbeck: *Blocks with a vine* ???: "Naomi! naomi: !! big bro! Tanizaki: *helps her and Kirako down* "Get to the railroad tracks--there's a train waiting for you!" naomi: right! Kunikida: *aims at Steinbeck* ("Just need to keep him from the girls--") *Vine whip* Kunikida: "!!!" -elsewhere- -pine acres train stop- atsushi: *looking around* (thinking: death city is such a big place...it's almost like a small country...) Dazai: "Look it the tiny creature!" dog: *bark bark* Dazai: *holds up doggie treat* "Hello!" dog: *wags* Dazai: *hides the dog treat--and it vanishes* dog: *head tilt* Dazai: "That's the difference between our status: I WIN!" dog: ?? Dazai: *suddenly, the treat appears back in his hand--and he eats it* dog: D8 atsushi: D8 -on the train- kirako: *phew*...that was a close one... Naomi: "..." kirako:..chin up, im sure you're brother will be fine. ??? *sniffling* -a young boy is seated in one of the seats, holding a doll and crying- Naomi: "??? Oh dear...Are you okay?" boy: i-im just scared and l-lonely. mommy and daddy had a fight, and im mad at them so i decided to run away to live with my grandparents in pine acres. but this is my first time on my own and im scared. kirako: aww. boy: will you two go with me so i wont be as scared? Naomi: *smiles* "We're getting off at Pine Acres, too." boy: r-really? kirako: it's alright. we'll help you find your grandparents. boy: thank you. you seem like really nice people. -at the station- Dazai: *tenses up* atsushi: dazai? what's wrong? Dazai: "I-I just remembered: doggie treats give me the shits!" atsushi: THEN WHY DO YOU EAT THEM?! Dazai: *hands him the bag of treats* "I must take care of business! The fate of the Agency rests in your hands! Do not fail!" Dazai: *runs* atsushi:.... random person: your friend seems like an interesting person. atsushi: you have no idea. Dazai: *running* "..." *looks back* gin: *holds a blade up to dazai's neck* Dazai: "...Ginny! You've gotten taller!" gin:... higuchi: *aims her gun at me* start talking. now. Dazai: "...Oh, please. I developed your surveillance techniques. I could smell you a mile away." Dazai: "And you really intend to kill me? Just you two?" higuchi: *nods at gin, who puts her weapon away* we have a message from the boss. Dazai: "From Mori? Hmm...A threat? Complaint? Murder notice? Hard to guess..." higuchi: i'll just summarize the point; are you interested in returning to the mafia as an executive member? Dazai: o__o Dazai: o_____o "...BWA HA HA HA!" higuchi: w-what's so funny? Dazai: "Ha ha! What a serious offer! I'm overjoyed!" higuchi: i've seen the records. your methods, the sadistic way you hollow your enemy’s hearts. you have a heart of darkness, and blood as black as ash. Dazai: "...People change, Higuchi. Why, I remember when Gin here was just a tiny cute little girl before she grew up to an androgynous ninja warrior. Still a hot look, though." gin:....do you want me to kill you in your sleep? higuchi:......................................................................................................wait what? Dazai: "With that cute voice of yours, sure~" -train arrival sounds- gin: you better go. q is on board. Dazai: "...What?!" higuchi: i tried to talk mori out of it, but... Dazai: *already running* -meanwhile- atsushi: naomi, kirako, glad you're ok. boy: miss naomi? who is this? atsushi:...same question for you. Naomi: "The poor dear was all alone, so we offered to accompany him to this stop." boy: *trips* ah! atsushi: *catches him* boy: *whimpers* owie, my ankle! you hurt me! atsushi: n-no i didnt! i helped catch him! Naomi: *glares at Atsushi* boy: no.....you....hurt....me.... *pulls up his sleeve to reveal a bunch of razors taped to his arm, cutting him up* atsushi: ?!?! kirako: !!! *covers her mouth in shock* Naomi: "What?! K-Kid! Who did this to you?" boy: her mister....wanna plaaaaay a gaaaaame~<3 ? -his doll begins to laugh- Naomi: "...Oh fuck no." -the doll rips its head- kirako: ......*strangling atsushi* Naomi: "K-Kirako! Stop!" atsushi: im really sorry about this! *grabs her and slams her into a wall* Naomi: "..." atsushi: !!!! -several people are screaming and fleeing from the scene- Naomi: *rushes at Atsushi with a pocket knife* -outside- -more people fleeing- Dazai: *running* (" 'Protect me,' they said as I was running off...Protect me from what? From--") "!!!" atsushi: NAOMI! SNAP OUT OF IT! *strangling her* kirako: *crying as she has broken her arm* Dazai: "No! Atsushi! _You_ snap out of it! Now!" Naomi: *crying, gasping for air* atsushi: ?! d-dazai wait! *backing away* p-put the knife down! Dazai: "??? 'Knife'? Dude, chill...You're being manipulated..." boy: oh hiiiii mr dazaaaaai~<3 ! Dazai: "...Goddamn it, Q..." Q: oooh you said a bad woooord, hug time! *tries to leap at him* Dazai: *dodges--and seizes Q's doll* Q: hey! give it back meanie! atsushi: *fetal position and screaming* Dazai: "...Dissolve, you abomination." *nullifies the doll* atsushi: w-wha?...!!! Naomi: *cowers, trying to crawl away from Atsushi* Q: boooo, you're no fun. but i had a good day today. atsushi: n-naomi i- Naomi: "Stay away from me, you monster!" atsushi: *his heart drops* naomi no i...i was just..i i didnt mean... Q: heehee~ thanks for showing me a good time everyone. im gonna go cause trouble somewhere else. *the train begings to leave* bye bye dazaaaaai~! Dazai: *watches Q's escape* "..." ("The Mafia will do anything...So will I.") *turns to Atsushi* "...Come on, buddy. We're going home." atsushi: *hic* im..s-so...rryy-yy.... Dazai: "...Atsushi..." atsushi: *winces* Dazai: "..." *hug* atsushi: ?! w-why are...y-you... Dazai: *mini-chop* atsushi: >.< Dazai: "I can't change your past. But as your senior, I have advice for you: stop it with the self-pity." atsushi: .... Dazai: "Self-pity is what makes life a nightmare. Don't do that to yourself.") atsushi: *looks at naomi and kirako*.... kirako: *winces* ow! Naomi: *glares at Atsushi* "It's okay, Kirako..." atsushi:......... Naomi: *helps Kirako along* "Let's get home..." -elsewhere- q: *humming to himself* *RING RING* q: ~? Mori: "How did it go?" Q: i broke the weretiger reeeeally good. he broke the lady's arm and tried to choke the other one. she was nice. if i was older, i'd probably be her boyfriend then i would get to tinkle in her! Mori: *chuckles* "One thing at a time, Q. Just get back here, and you'll get yummy cake and toys!" Q: yay! rain: you're awful mori! elise: we can beat up rainy together, too! rain: I HATE YOU BOTH SO MUCH! Mori: *chuckles* "Elise, go play for a bit. Rain and I have an important task to finish." rain: TT-TT -elsewhere- louisa: *breaths* (thinking: remember to breathe when you talk and you'll be fine...) Bellhop: "May I help you?" louisa: EEP! *runs into a wall then flees* (thinking: that was too close!).....*about to knock on the door* ???: "Stop dawdling and get yourself in here." louisa: !!!! -creeeeak- Fitzgerald: *staring at the door* louisa: l-lord francis? i-i have another s-strategy proposal. Fitzgerald: *flips through pages* "I am impressed how quickly you write these reports--but must they be so long?" louisa: s-sorry...i-i can...abridge it for you..i-if you like... Fitzgerald: *takes the report and walks to the door* "Forget it. I'll read it while we walk." -elsewhere- Kid: *hug* stocking: well arent you cuddly~ Kid: *purrs* "Indeed." *smooch* stocking: hehe~<3 Kid: "How are you?" stocking: doing well~ Kid: *smiles* "I'm glad...You know what may be better?" stocking: what~? Kid: "How about a specially made dinner, with dessert, and dancing?" stocking: sounds wonderful~<3 Kid: "Good, because I already made the reservations~" stocking: and tonight, maybe we can enjoy a night to ourselves~? *tracing a finger down his chest* Kid: .\\\\w\\\\. "Of course...But that's the next surprise..." *smooch on her cheek, before whispering* "A hotel room." stocking: oh~ *kisses his nose* Kid: *blushes* "Stocking, you're so loving." stocking: mmmm~ *nuzzle* Kid: *nuzzles* "I love you." stocking: thank you kid.....thank you for meeting me. *smiles* Kid: "..." *holds her hand* "Thank you for letting me into your life." -elsewhere- Giriko: "..." *loud laugh* "What happened to you?!" kirika:....*covered in tape, ribbons, and feathers* you wont believe us. even if we told you. Gopher: .\\\\^\\\\. *he's missing a shoe, a pant leg is ripped off, and he is shirtless--with paint slapped across his chest* -elsewhere- Sakuya: "...Lilac? You there, buddy?" lilac: .....*shivering* Sakuya: "...May I come in?" lilac:...if you...want to... Sakuya: *opens the door, looks inside* lilac: *curled up in the futon*...... Sakuya: "..." *sits by the futon* "...You get any sleep?" lilac:....would i...have been better off....staying in that place? Sakuya: "??? 'That place'? ...You mean...not here?" lilac: it was.....peaceful....i didnt...feel anything....am i...a bad person for thinking that? Sakuya: "..." *swallows* "If...I had that chance...yeah, I'd consider staying there, too." lilac:....oh.... Sakuya: "So, no, I don't think you're a bad person for thinking that. But I also think it would be a mistake for you to have stayed there." lilac: ?? Sakuya: "Because you would miss so many opportunities in front of you." lilac:...sakuya....why did you start dating naho? Sakuya: "..." =\\\\= "...'Cause I like her." lilac:....what about her do you like? didnt you also say you liked mahiru? Sakuya: "!!! Um...I mean, yeah. I just...There are different things I like..." Sakuya: "...Just...happy being around her." -elsewhere- Mori: "Good meeting." higuchi: ...... gin:....*nods* Mori: "Higuchi, please see to Akutagawa. And someone, give me an update on the Agency's location." higuchi: right.....*knocks on akutagawa's door* ryunosuke? are you alright? Akutagawa: "..." *shivering in the corner of his room* higuchi:....may i come in? Akutagawa: "..." *silence* higuchi:...*turns the knob* Akutagawa: *tries to cover his head* higuchi: ryunosuke? are you doing any better? Akutagawa: "...What is wrong with my brain?" higuchi: ?? Akutagawa: "What does it mean to fight for something you believe...if you believe nothing?" higuchi: ....? Akutagawa: "That smile...Get it out of my head..." *fetal position* higuchi: ryu- *puts a hand to his shoulder* Akutagawa: *pulls back* higuchi:..... -elsewhere- Rin: "Hello, everyone!" konekomaru: hey rin shiemi: hi there rin! izumo: hey. Bon: "..." *goes back to what he was reading* Rin: D:< "Bon! Look at me, man!" shura: yo. Rin: "Oh, hey, Teach. What's up?" shura: you kids ready for this thing? Rin: "...Well, no use waiting around." -elsewhere- Kid: *adjusts his tie* stocking: looking good~ Kid: *smiles* "Just matching you~" stocking: *smooch* you flirt~ Kid: *blushes* "I only speak the truth." *offers his arm* "Shall we?" stocking: indeed~ Kid: *takes her inside to the restaurant* "I hope the menu will be to your liking." *leads her to their table* -early morning, a parking garage- Dazai: *shiny eyes* "Ango!" ango: it's been quite some time, dazai. i see your eye is doing better now. Dazai: "You know it!" *walks by him--pats his behind* ango: ..... -the two other agents hold their weapons up at dazai- Dazai: *Has removed the handgun from Ango's back, aiming at him* ango: you know you wont actually shoot. i did clean your ledger after all. you still owe me back, correct? Dazai: "..." *returns the gun* "I know that. And you knew what I would do--hence why you didn't load your gun, huh?" ango: seems you're right on the mark. now, if you arent here to catch up with an old friend, what is the point of this meeting then? Dazai: *points to Ango's car* "You can't bring this shiny vehicle here and not offer me a ride!" ango: please stop rubbing my car, you'll get fingerprints all over it. Dazai: "I will if you give me a ride." -and so- ango: ah, so this 'guild' has arrived in death city then? Dazai: "Yeeeeep! So, you better get to investigating." ango: *glasses shine* rest assure, the death city council's gifted’s department has been more than aware of this. Dazai: "So...What're you all doing?" ango:....do you know what kind of an organization the guild is? it's a secret society. each member has an identity of their own outside the organization. their influence isnt just limited to the eastern states, they are possibly capable of eating their way into this very city. Dazai: "...That's an odd turn to this discussion." ango: it would appear they've been granted diplomatic immunity. being that death city is considered a city-state, there isnt much we are able to do. it's more than likely they will abuse this power. unfortunately, even this meeting is being monitored as well. *he stops the car* dazai. run. warn your coworkers. Dazai: "?!!!" -CRASH- -elsewhere- atsushi:....dazai's late..... *thinking back to wat kouyou said* [kouyou: please, take care of kyouka..] ???: "Sorry to keep you waiting." atsushi: took you long enough daza-.... !!!! Fitzgerald: *smiles* "One thing money cannot cure: boredom." atsushi: *backing away* ???: *from behind him* "That's a typical reaction." atsushi: ?! !!! *attempts to punch him* Fitzgerald: *catches the punch* atsushi: !!! -kicks him in the fitz-junior- Fitzgerald: "..." *tenses...then smiles widely* "What a kick! Worth $10,000!" atsushi: o_o (thinking: aaah biscuits) Fitzgerald: *Million Dollar Kick* atsushi: NYEEEEEEEEEEE *CRASH* fuuuuuuuuuck..... Fitzgerald: *picks Atsushi up by the head* "We put a bounty of 7 billion on you. If this is all you got, you're not worth that much. But don't despair, old sport: your worth lies elsewhere." atsushi:...*spits in his face* Fitzgerald: "..." *wipes away the spit* "Ha. There's the fight I wanted--" *Footsteps heard* atsushi:... !!! -a wild kyouka appears- Fitzgerald: *snaps his fingers* "Oh! The lower-rank Mafia girl!" Kyoka: "No. I am Kyoka of the Detective Agency. It is nice to meet you." atsushi ... Kyoka: *leaps, slashes at Fitzgerald with a knife--but he dodges* Fitzgerald: "My, such a barbarous child to attack without giving off any murderous intention." Kyoka: "..." *takes Atsushi's wrist* atsushi: woah! Kyoka: *leaps up and over the barrier--towards the water--pulling Atsushi with her* Fitzgerald: "?!!" atsushi: YOIP! -splash- Kyoka: "...You can swim, yes?" atsushi: i think so. i did help you swim to the short that one time... heh, hard to believe that was almost a month ago now... Kyoka: "Less talking, more escaping." *doggie paddle* Fitzgerald: "...Huh. They're getting away." *opens notebook* "What am I supposed to do...Ah, here it is! 'Do...nothing.' ...Okay!" *smiles* -elsewhere- shura: gooood morning campers! Rin: *groaning* "Five more minutes, Mommy..." shura: ooooi. Yukio: "..." *dumps bucket of cold water onto Rin* Rin: *gasps* "Wh-What?!" shura: time to get up. we got a big day ahead. Rin: "..." *grabs a towel to dry off* "What's the first lesson, teach?" -elsewhere- Kid: *purrs* stocking: good morning honey~<3 Kid: "Morning~" *smooch* stocking: god, you were amazing last night. still are~ Kid: *smiles, blushing* "I can say the same to you..." *traces his finger along her arm* "...Stocking?" stocking: yes~? Kid: "...It felt so good without protection." *blush* stocking: *blushing and nuzzles* Kid: *holds her* "...You know...We're not always going to have this kind of time to ourselves in the future." stocking: yeah. that's why we got to enjoy it. Kid: "...We have the room for a few more hours...How should we enjoy this time?" -elsewhere- Mori: "Late again, I see." rain: my alarm clock needed batteries! Mori: "Well, that's no good. You didn't have extra batteries lying around to use?" rain: i thought i did, and i went to check but i was all out, so i had to go to the convenience store and buy some more. Mori: "What, none in your smoke detectors? And let me guess: then you missed your bus, yes?" rain:... yes. Q.Q Mori: "..." *sigh, walks around her* "What am I to do with you..." rain: im really sorry sir! im doing my best, really! Mori: "And you missed the memo." rain: memo? o-o; Mori: "The memo. The one about coming in late for work?" *sighs, hands her a sheet of notebook paper--written in crayon* rain: um... *examines it* 'those who arrive late will be made to play the 'punishment game'..... Q_Q Mori: *nods* "Follow me..." rain: TT~TT Mori: *opens the door* "Enter..." -elsewhere- atsushi: *pants* alright...we should be safe here....kyouka, where did you run off to- Kyoka: "In the darkness. Where I was from." atsushi:.....kyouka... Kyoka: "...I didn't belong there any more." atsushi: ......!!! hide, it's the police! Kyoka: "..." *hides* "...I called them." atsushi: ??!! Kyoka: "The Guild will not attempt an attack with police in the open. Let's go." *starts to move* atsushi:....why did you come back? why get involved in this war? Kyoka: "...Because the Detective Agency is the only place where I belong." Kyoka: "This is the first time I have ever wanted to be somewhere, be something. I will fight for it, I will resort to anything--even the monstrosity within me." atsushi: ........ Kyoka: "Now, let me carry you...And exaggerate your limp." atsushi: um ok?....ooooooh. oh the paaaaain! my ice skating careeeer! Police Officer #1: "???" Kyoka: "...Help. We were attacked by people with weapons." -elsewhere- Victor: *sitting in front of Hot Wheels toy cars--which are now on fire* "..." nozomi: !! *getting the extinguisher* Victor: "Why do cars hate me?! I just am trying my best with them!" -elsewhere- atsushi: *running with kyouka* (thinking: im glad i stopped her before she hurt anyone...) !!! Kyoka: "Let me go." atsushi: um....we have company. old man:.... Fitzgerald: "Hello, old sport." atsushi: why you son of a bi- *BANG* ACK! owwww...fuuuuck. twain: *from a roof* bulls eye, baby. Kyoka: O_O Fitzgerald: *on incom* "Good work, Mr. Twain." *picks up Atsushi by the neck* Kyoka: O__O Fitzgerald: "Well, then, little princess: I will be taking your boyfriend--" Kyoka: "...My what?" atsushi: HUH? o-o; -rumble rumble- -whale noises- atsushi:....what the fuck. melville: hello, old friend. moby dick: ^o^ Fitzgerald: *carrying Atsushi to the whale* "I have only known you for a short time, princess. But please, listen to my experience: saving people does not suit you. But you already know that." Kyoka: "..." *crying* "Why...? Then...Then why show me the light?" atsushi: *trying to reach her* kyouka! run! Kyoka: "..." *shakes her head, starts to run at Fitzgerald* Fitzgerald: *entering the whale's mouth* -police sirens- officer: hands in the air! atsushi: !!!! no.... Kyoka: "..." *turns and sees police behind her* officer: you're under arrest under the suspicion of murder. atsushi: KYOUKA!!! Kyoka: "..." *crying, looks up* "...Goodbye." -elsewhere- Relan: "..." *holds his hand* shinra: ^^ *hug* iris: *hug* Relan: "Feel better?" shinra: yeah. Relan: "That's good...Anything you wanted to do today?" -elsewhere- Mori: "Have you learned your lesson?" -elsewhere- judge: court will now come to order. the case of motojiro kajii vs public welfare will begin. is the plaintiff here? Motojiro: *playing a 3DS...in handcuffs* hirotsu: *facepalm* lawyer: yes, your honor. judge: and the defendant? Hirotsu: "Here, your honor, defending Motojiro Kajii--" Motojiro: "NO, I WON'T TRADE MY SAPPHIRE FOR YOUR SANTA COAT, YOU ASS!" judge:...mr kajii! do you mind saving the game and paying attention? Motojiro: "Huh? Oh, fine." *closes, folds his hands together* "I plead not guilty. Now, let's get this show on the road!" -elsewhere- ???: *wheezing* -beep. beep. beep- ???:.....rn....mr hawthorne? Hawthorne: *inhale, wheeze* nurse: mr hawthorne? Hawthorne: "Wh-What?" nurse: i see you're awake. ^^ Hawthorne: "Wh-Where...?" nurse: you're in the hospital. you and the lady next to you were found badly injured. it's amazing you're still alive.. Hawthorne: "Lady...!!! Mi-Mitchell?" nurse: she's right next to you....she's in a bad state....we arent sure if she'll ever recover. margaret: *no reply* [margaret: i....i lo...lov-....] Hawthorne: "...Margaret..." nurse:.... nurse 2: mr hawthorne? there's a phone call for you. Hawthorne: "...Who would know I am awake?" nurse 2: i guess it was good timing? *hands him the phone* Hawthorne: "...Hello?" Fitzgerald: "Hello, old sport." Hawthorne: "!!!" Fitzgerald: "Report. What happened to you on the front lines--?" Hawthorne: "..." *laughs* nurse: ?? Hawthorne: "Foolish...She was so, so, foolish!" *crying laughing* nurse:...*backing out of the room* Hawthorne: "To sacrifice one's safety...Ha ha..." *stops laughing, now stone-cold serious* "Mitchell...She wanted to salvage her family's legacy. So why did she--" Fitzgerald: "She joined this war to pay off her family's debt and to re-establish them. That dream is now gone with the wind." Hawthorne: "..." *shaking, gripping the phone harder until the plastic around it is chipping off* "No..." nurse: !! Hawthorne: "With all due respect, Lord Fitzgerald: _you_ left her to the winds." margaret:.... *no reply* Hawthorne: "You led her down a path of no return...with your damn money. Sacrificing what she had for a pittance!" Fitzgerald: "What?!" Hawthorne: "...I will restore her honor." *hangs up* Fitzgerald: "???" nurse 3: letter for you, sir. Hawthorne: "...What is it?" -no address or name, just says 'mr hawthorne'- Hawthorne: *struggles to open it...* note: dearest mr hawthorne. i can help you save her. upon your discharge, meet me at the following address. with love, FD. -the note has what looks like a demented mouse logo- Hawthorne: "..." *sets the letter aside* "..." (" 'FD'?") -elsewhere- shiemi: look, i found margie! *holds up some wild flowers* Yukio: "...Maybe try the common name for them?" konekomaru: *writing down notes* Rin: "That one kind of looks like an ardvark." *points to the sky* takara: ..... Shima: "..." *pokes Takara's shoulder* takara: ?? Shima: "Are you still asleep?" takara:.... Shima: "...YO! DUDE! WAKE YOUR ASS UP!" takara's puppet: I AM AWAKE, MCSHITLORD! Shima: "EEK!" *falls back--and down a hill* -splash- izumo:....*soaked*.... Shima: O~O "...I will be running now..." -elsewhere- Kid: "We're home." liz: hey, welcome back! Patty: *hug/tackle* "You're back!" Death the Kid: Kid: "Unf!" stocking: ^^ Patty: *sitting on Kid's chest* "What'd you bring me?!" Kid: -_-;;;; -elsewhere- Shotaro: *looking through the phone book* nea: looking for something, kiddo? Shotaro: "Just wondering something: are there more of us? I mean, in my family and other Dokeshi." nea: what brought this up? Shotaro: "Just...wanting to do a good deed, I guess. After what some of us have gone through..." *glances at Emine...who is seated under a tree...in shadows...just staring* nea:.....what exactly are you looking for? Shotaro: "Just anyone whose name sounds like a Dokeshi name...Oh! Like this one! 'D. O. Keshi'! Actual name in the phone book!" nea:....*sweatdrop* -elsewhere- Rin: *staring at his scabbard* shiemi: did you want to toast marshmallows? Rin: "Huh?" *forcing a smile* "Y-Yeah, sure..." shiemi: have you ever roasted marshmallows before? Rin: "Not very well: they always melted too fast." shiemi: aw. Rin: "I guess I added too much heat to them..." shiemi: ^^; izumo: yukio told me that you and your cousins roasted marshmallows once before when you were kids, right? Rin: "Yeah. Dad wanted to do some 'great outdoors' thing...in our backyard." shiemi: that sounds like fun. ^^ Rin: "It was...until I shook that tree with the beehive..." shiemi: oh no! Rin: "Those suckers sting..." -elsewhere- naho: we're baaaaa...... O_O; Higan: *gyrating his hips to music* "...Oh. You're back early." naho: *covers her eyes and screams* Higan: "??? What? I'm wearing boxers and a shirt." -elsewhere- Mr. Tsubaki: *stunned* "...I now have the urge to pour bleach into my eyes." reimi: ?? Mr. Tsubaki: "...Sorry. Just had a mental image that was most unpleasant." *sips his tea* "...How are you?" -elsewhere- Vulcan: "..." *burns a sheet of paper* -elsewhere- Bakugo: *tugging at his collar* mama bakugou: nervous, kiddo? Bakugo: "No, I'm not! It's nothing, right?!" -elsewhere- yuuji: ...... Aizawa: "...You're quieter than usual." yuuji: sorry just....not good with social situations. *looks out at all the people on the dance floor* Aizawa: "...Join the club." *sips his punch* "...Heh. A club of asocial people." yuuji: talk about irony... Aizawa: "Just take it slow. No rush trying to get used to this setting..." yuuji: ....why did you decide to become a hero? Aizawa: "...We want to see people with quirks looked upon in a better light. I think being a hero is one part of that." yuuji: hmm....i guess that makes sense....there are some parts of the world where they're still frowned on... Aizawa: "...I had hot coffee thrown at me when I was 12." yuuji: ....that's rough, dude. sachi....*tenses* she had it a lot worse. back in our hometown, sachi didnt have the best home life. she lived in a 'religious' household. and im talkin the bad kinds too. they treated her like absolute shit, all because she had a quirk. she became resentful, bitter. she wanted to make the world pay for the hell she was put through. all i wanted was for her to be happy...*tearing up* Aizawa: "..." *offers a napkin* yuuji:...*sniff* thanks... Aizawa: "No problem...What do you want now in your life?" yuuji: ...i dont really know. i never really thought about it. Aizawa: "You got time. You're still pretty young...but make it something that is meaningful and helpful." yuuji:...right. -elsewhere- Jacqueline: *collapses on the couch* kim: rough day? Jacqueline: *groan* "My eyes are buggy from staring at books." kim: aw. Jacqueline: "...It could be worse." *turns over* "...Your day go alright?" kim: *she nods* Jacqueline: *yawn* "That's good...Kim?" kim: hmm? Jacqueline: "Do you like this?" kim: what do you mean? Jacqueline: "Are you happy...with your job? With this home? ...With me?" kim: yeah. life's pretty sweet. *smiles* Jacqueline: *smiles back* "Yeah..." *reaches out to Kim* -elsewhere- izumo: so how are we doing this test then? Yukio: "You'll be divided into teams." izumo: *nods* shiemi:... konekomaru: will they be equal teams or randomly decided? Yukio: "More or less equal. Shura will announce Team #1." shura: team one will be kamiki, takara, and shiemi. Rin: *raises his hand* "Which team am I on?" shura: you'll be on suguro's team. konekomaru: then i guess that just leaves shima and i on the last team. Shima: "Woo! Team Best Team!" Rin: "..." Bon: *serious look at Rin* "...Don't screw up." Rin: D: shura: whoever brings their lanturn back first is the winner and recieves a mystery prize. may the best team win! Shima: "!!! Come on, Konekomaru! I know exactly what I want that mystery prize to be!" Rin: "Is the mystery prize food?!" shura: on your marks......*looks at yukio* Yukio: *lets off a party popper* "Go!" -as they begin running in, several moths begin flocking to them- Rin: "Ah, look at the pretty butterflies--" *they swarm his face* "...AH!" izumo: *summoning familiars* Rin: *spots Shiemi* "!!!" shiemi: eep! nii-chan we- -one of the moths rips the paper- shiemi: D8> Rin: "Shiemi! Watch out!" shiemi: EEP! *ducks from a big ass moth creature* Rin: *swings at the moth* "Back, Mothra!" moth: SCREEEE! Rin: "I said--" *flaming up* "--back!" moth: *hisss* 'child....of satan....' Rin: .///.;;;; "Wh-Where?" -elsewhere in the woods- Rin: .///.;;;; "Wh-Where?" -elsewhere in the woods- maid: *panting* l-lord amaimon...can..can we...go back now? *carrying him piggy-back stye* Amaimon: "No. I want to piggy back a bit longer." *pats her* "Onward." maid: *grumble* why did you make us come out here in the middle of the night? Amaimon: "Big brother asked me to." maid: then why doesnt _he_ monitor the brat? Amaimon: "Because something about me not getting out of the house enough. If you're tired, we can take a break." maid: yes please. Amaimon: *pulls up on her reins like a horse* "Wow, there. We can graze over yonder." maid: why did you put this on me -_-; Amaimon: "It's what a horsie needs." *gets off of her, stretches* "You can go drink at the stream." maid: *mumbling* cant believe i left my home in gehenna for this...*mumble mumble* Amaimon: *picking berries* "...Are these poisonous?" -fwoooom- maid: what was that?! Amaimon: "...Huh. So that's why brother wanted me to check..." maid: shall we investigate then? Amaimon: "..." *grabs a handful of berries* "Let's go, horsie." maid: *sighs and sprouts wings, flying over* -back over- shiemi: niiiii... Q~Q Rin: *whapping away the last moths* "...I'm sorry, Shiemi." Bon: *having arrived* "...Just make a new paper." shiemi: *sniff* Q-Q Rin: *glares* Bon: ._.;;;; "...Just being honest--" *Light flashes in Bon's eyes* Bon: "AH!" shiemi: ah! oh no, i got seperated from my team! ???: "INCOMING!" shiemi: ?!?! Shima: *waving flashlight at moths, his other hand waving his staff* "Back off, you stupid bugs!" konekomaru: *reciting the moth demon's fatal verse* Shima: "...Oh! You guys are all here--" *spots Shiemi* "!!! Shiemi! Are you okay?" *gets down on one knee* shiemi: i-im fine. my neck is a little itchy though... Bon: "...Mind if I check?" -one lantern acquirement later- Rin: .___.;;; "...I thought it'd be a tiny little paper lantern..." izumo: took you guys long enough. Bon: "Delayed on account of moths." Shima: *moves up to Izumo* "They didn't come this way, did they?" izumo: the circle would have kept them out. *staring at her prize; a pen set* Rin: "...Yukio picked out the pen set, huh? I was hoping for food..." shiemi:....*walking into the woods* Bon: "???" Shima: "Yo, Shiemi! We're over here!" shiemi:.... Rin: "Shiemi? Shiemi!" -something is squirming in the back of her neck- Rin: "!!!" izumo: gross! ???: "Found you all." shura: ?! Yukio: "What on Earth?" Amaimon: "Hello." *waves Shiemi over to him* shiemi: *walking over* Yukio: "Shiemi!" Rin: *follows Shiemi* "Hey! Get back here--" shiemi: *not responding* -in the trees- maid: oh nooooo this is bad. lord pheles is gonna kill me TT-TT Rin: *takes Shiemi's wrist* Amaimon: "Hey. No. Don't do that." behemoth: *GROWLS* Rin: "...Please tell me that was my stomach..." behemoth: *GAAAAOOOOO!* Rin: *leaps out of the way* "AH!" Amaimon: *gestures to Shiemi* "Come to me." izumo: !!! shiemi: *walks over to him* izumo: on no you dont! *summons familiars* Amaimon: "Why can't you let my bride and me go off on our honeymoon?" izumo: O_O maid: *JAWDROP* Amaimon: *picks up Shiemi, bridal style* "Do you take me, in sickness and health--" -doink- konekomaru: *tossing pebbles at him* >-< *The pebble hits the top of his hair and--* *POOF* Amaimon: "..." *pat pat* Shima: "..." *snort* "Broccoli head!" Amaimon: "..." *vanishes with Shiemi* izumo: dont let him get away! maid:...WHY?! WHY WOULD YOU THINK THIS IS A GOOD IDEA?! ???: "Who said I was going away?" maid: *SCREAM* l-l-lord pheles!? w-when did you- Mephisto: "I was finished handling the sundaes and thought I'd take in some entertainment." maid: b-but he's going against orders! he wasnt supposed to attack! Mephisto: "Oh, don't worry. Just a small hiccup to this exam." maid: hmm... -back on the ground- Shima: "Where did he--?" *KICKED* Shima: *sent flying* konekomaru: SHIMA!! Amaimon: *stares at Konekomaru* "I had my hair just the way I wanted it..." konekomaru: um..*sweating* Amaimon: *taps the tip of his finger on Konekomaru's forearm* konekomaru: *screams of pain* Bon: "!!! Konekomaru!" izumo: what the hell did you do to him?! Amaimon: "I broke his arm. My hair is very important." izumo: !!! Amaimon: *grabs Bon by the throat, lifting him up, while he's holding Shiemi in his arm* Bon: "URK!" shiemi: ..... Bon: "..." *cough* "If you're blaming anyone...don't blame me! Blame Rin Okumura!" Rin: ._. "...Wha?" Bon: "Always running off. Always being a mystery. This isn't just our fight, Okumura--it's yours too! And you're just going to sit on the sidelines?!" Rin: "..." *takes his scabbard* shura: !!! rin dont do it! Yukio: "Stop!" Rin: "...I'm sorry. But I have to use these flames for kindness..." *removes the sword* shura: oh my god. *A bright light shines* Bon: "?!!!" Amaimon: "..." *puts on sunglasses* konekomaru: t...thats.... maid: *JAWDROP* oh fuuuck. Rin: *covered in blue flames* "I am your opponent!" Amaimon: "...Ha ha ha!" *hands Shiemi to Izumo* "Hold my bride." izumo: !!! *squished* oof! h...heavy...... Amaimon: *leaps at Rin* "Whee!!!" Rin: *blocks* Bon: *staring, shaking* shura: come on, we need to get shiemi to safety. Bon: "Demon sword...Rin...What the hell is going on?!" Rin: *summons flame along his sword, sending it in a wave at Amaimon* Amaimon: "Shiny!" maid: sir, is this REALLY a good idea?! Amaimon: *leaps behind Rin--tugging on his tail* Rin: *howl* Mephisto: "How else will the boy learn?" maid: oh this is a bad idea, if the order finds out about this- Mephisto: "I'm not telling them." *stares at Maid* maid: i guess all we can do is hope it works for the best.... Mephisto: *shrug* "What's the worst that can happen?" *holding a bowl of ice cream* -back on the ground- Yukio: "Shiemi!" *trying to examine the wound on her neck* "We have to get this poison out..." izumo: *getting the medkit* Yukio: *examining Shiemi's eyes* "Chuchi sting. We'll need the holy water, too..." Rin: *screaming as he slices at Amaimon, cutting his arm* Amaimon: *howl, as he continues swiping* Mephisto: "?!" maid: shouldnt we be doing something?! Rin: *burning trees, as he flings Amaimon across the sky* Mephisto: "..." Amaimon: *bounces back, coming at Rin* Rin: "AAAAH!" Amaimon: "GRRRR!" Mephisto: "...ENOUGH!" *catches both of their fists* maid: eep! >.< shiemi: ...nn.....nhuh? Yukio: "??? Shiemi?" Mephisto: *smiles* "There. Dawn has come. Time to go home." shiemi:..yu...ki? Yukio: "I-I'm here...Are you back with us?" shiemi: i...i think so...my neck itches... Yukio: "Easy...We all need to evacuate..." shiemi: whats...going on? *BOOM* Yukio: *shields her* shiemi: ah! izumo: ?! konekomaru: bon...thats- Bon: "...Blue flames..." Amaimon: "Brother! You told me if I followed your instructions, you'd give me infinite play!" Rin: *growling--being held back by Mephisto, who merely holds the palm of his hand at Rin's forehead* maid: im so confused. Mephisto: "I also told you not to damage the school..." *holds up his cell phone--showing a photograph that a tree from the forest flew all the way from and smashed into Mephisto's True Cross office* Amaimon: .____. Mephisto: "And you fail to recognize, Brother: this child has more power that exceeds your abilities--" ???: you also damaged the shower, that i was using~ ^^# Mephisto: "..." *turns around* o\\\o Rin: *confused grunt* Amaimon: "...Hello." felisia: ^^# *heavenly bitch slaps rin and amaimon into the ground* Rin: O______O *face-plant into the ground* Amaimon: "Aaaaaaaah--" *butt-crash into the ground* "...I'm stuck." Mephisto: "...Oh my." shiemi: !!! Yukio: D: "Rin!" felisia: *cracks knuckles* well, my frustration has been vented. ^^ Mephisto: "...You are so amazing when you're furious." izumo: ....ugh. i can almost smell the second-hand embarrassment. Mephisto: "Now, where was I? Oh, yes! I think Rin should come along with me--" Rin: *growling* -chop to rin's head- felisia: down you. Rin: *collapses, flames dissipating* Shima: .\\\\. "So cool..." izumo: shima, pay attention! *chop* Shima: "I was! She knocked out Rin!" shiemi: ..... shura: oooooi. you alright there? Yukio: "Shiemi...Do you need to sit?" shiemi: *staring at rin* Rin: X____X shura: ok, i didnt want to have to do this.....*licks finger and sticks it in rin's ear* Rin: >_____O "WHAT THE HELL?!!!" shura: oh good, you're still alive. Rin: "Yeah, I am--and you didn't have to--" *looks around...sees burned forest...and his classmate* Yukio: "..." konekomaru: ... izumo:.... Rin: "...Oh man..." *tries to look at his classmates* "Guys, I...I just--" shiemi: do you really think this is funny?! *tearing up* Rin: "!!! I-I wasn't making any joke! Shiemi! Are you okay--" izumo: ...??!! *notices something in the trees* ???: "Son of Satan! Prepare to meet your executioner!" Shinra: "What the hell?!" shura: ahh hell. Triple A: "The son of Satan will be killed by Arthur A. Ang--" shura + felisia: *swords out* Triple A: "...Hell. Hmph. Stand aside. I am executing the Son of Satan--" shura: like hell you are, baldy. Triple A: "Then I will have to get by you--" *dashes at Shura* -clang- felisia: how about no. Triple A: "?!!! You want to fight as well? Fine!" *aims at her* shura: ok kids, get back to the campsite and pack up. we'll handle this one. Yukio: "...Come on, Shiemi." Rin: "...Shiemi. I...I..." Bon: *glaring* shiemi: .... *looking away* Rin: *holding out a hand* "W-Wait! Just..." Bon: *muttering* "Goddamn son of Satan..." Rin: "..." *just stares at the ground* felisia:...*pitiful glance at rin* Rin: *avoids eye contact* *sniff* Triple A: "Have at thee, fallen angel--" -morning- Akitaru: "...Blue...flames." *pauses* *goes back to reading his newspaper* "Out of my jurisdiction. Not getting involved in that again." shinra: sir? Akitaru: "Long time ago. Don't want to get into it." *tries to keep reading the newspaper...then puts it down* "I've seen some shit, man." shinra: i could only imagine... Akitaru: "If you ever see the blue flames...you're gonna need more than just someone to purify the soul--you're going to need an exorcist." shinra: *opens mouth to say something, but decides not to* Akitaru: "Something you wanted to ask me, son?" shinra: nothing, just thinking. Akitaru: "..." *pats his shoulder* "Okay." shinra: ....*hug* Akitaru: "!!! ..." *hug* "You're okay." shinra:......thanks dad... Akitaru: "..." *smiles* "Sure, son." -elsewhere- -later, after the trial was concluded, and rin asked shura to train him- madoka: *knocking* excuse me? is rin home? Fujimoto: *smiles* "Yes, he is." *stands aside* "Please, come in." madoka: *she nods and leaves her shoes at the door* Fujimoto: "It'll be good for him. I'm sure he wants to see his girlfriend." madoka: *she smile and knocks on his door* Rin: *inside* "Go away." madoka: rin? it's me, madoka. may i please come in? Rin: "..." *whimpering sound* madoka:...*opens the door just a creak* rin? *noticing kuro by her feet* Kuro: *meow* Rin: *hiding under bedcover* madoka: rin...im not mad at you. i dont have any reason to be. Rin: "...I'm a monster." madoka:....*sits on his bed* rin....*light hug* Rin: *shakes* "St-Stop..." madoka:...... Rin: "They hate me." madoka:....*holds his hand* i dont hate you. Rin: "...Why not? You know what I am." madoka: *she smiles* because i know that you're still a good person, despite what you are. Rin: *shakes his head* "...Did you know?" madoka: ...yukio told me. Rin: *squirms, pouts* "I wasn't ready to tell you...Were you mad I didn't?" madoka: well...its a scary thing to live with... if it were me, i'd be scared too. Rin: "...When I first had the blue flames...Dad..." madoka: *holds him* Rin: *sniff* "I-I didn't want people to know, just for this reason...They're going to want to kill me." madoka: its ok. we're still here for you, rin. me, your brother, your dad, kyouko... Rin: "...Promise?" madoka: *kisses his forehead* always. Rin: *sniff* *holds onto her* madoka: *hums a bit* Rin: *closes his eyes...* "Hmmm..." -elsewhere- Belkia: *blindfolded, holding a knife* "Now just stand still, and I will make sure the knife does not hurt you." naho: are you sure this is a good idea? o-o; Belkia: "Of course--after all, it's my idea! Now, let's get ready...Get set..." -elsewhere- Rino: "Your kid made a mess of your office." Hibana: "...How big a mess?" hanako: *crying* -some pens fell over- Hibana: "Oh, sweetie." *picks her up* "It's okay." -elsewhere- Jacqueline: *holding her hands together* "Please? Just turn into your tanuki form for a second." kim: for five dollars, yes. Jacqueline: "..." *sigh* "Fine." *hands her a five* kim: thank you~ *poof* Jacqueline: *smirks, as she holds up a tanuki-size doll outfit* -elsewhere- Kunikida: "..." kirako: ...... Kunikida: "Still no idea where they are." yosano: where do you think they might be? Kunikida: "Dazai had said he was meeting with a friend. And he dragged Atsushi along." -someone has arrived- yosano: ?! kirako: mr dazai! Dazai: *his arm is in a sling* "Yo." *tries to wave--then cringes* Q~Q yosano: *smirks* need some help, dazai~? Dazai: O_____O;;;; "I think I'll run now--" Kunikida: "Hold him!" -LE TACKLE- -too graphic- yosano: *cracks knuckles* now that wasnt too difficult, was it dazai? Dazai: Q~Q "...You're too rough." yosano: daawwww, does baby want a wowwypop? Dazai: "...Lemon, pwease." yosano:... -throws a lemon lollipop at his face- Dazai: *Lemon lollipop sticks to his face* "...Thanks?" Kunikida: "Kirako, get Dazai's report." kirako: right. -elsewhere- lana: did you see that guy with the raccoon here? Bellhop: "...What?" lana: yeah. one of the guys in the executive suite had a raccoon with him. Bellhop: "...Huh. Weird. Well, not the weirdest thing to happen here--" ???: *animal screech* lana: gah! *A raccoon leaps at Lana* lana: *SHRIEK* ???: "Karl! Stop that!" lana: eh? *Picks up Karl* ???: "My apologies. He got off his leash." lana: i-its..fine. ^^; Karl: *growling at Lana, sticking out its paws again* ???: "Karl, no!" *bonks his head with a rolled up newspaper* "Bad Karl! Bad!" Karl: Q_Q -elsewhere- Jacqueline: *chuckles, looking at the photos* kim: -_-; Jacqueline: "Five dollars for some juicy blackmail." *shows off pic--of Tanuki Kim in an adorable dress and bow* "Cute!" kim: you're evil. Jacqueline: *smiles* "You taught me well." *pats Kim's cheek* -elsewhere- Wes: "Want a drink?" liz: sure. Wes: "Wine? Beer? Water? Juice?" -elsewhere- Yumi: "Where is everyone?" lord death: kirika's in the den, studying. Yumi: "Kid, Liz, Patty?" -elsewhere- Konro: "Meal's about ready." kabuki: *smiles* Tsukiyo: *stomach growling* "Looking forward to your good cooking, Captain!" -elsewhere- Kishiri: "Here you go." *hands her an ice cream cone* vivian: thank you~ Kishiri: *smiles* "Feel like forever since I saw you. You're looking good." -elsewhere- Gopher: *reading* "I think I know the answer to Question 5!" -the next day- Rin: *deep inhale* "Okay...I'm ready." shura: ok. *hands him a wooden sword and some candles* Rin: "...The heck is with the candles?" *sniff sniff* "They scented?" shura: its to help you control your flames. if you can light the two at the ends at the same time without lighting the one in the middle, you'll be able to use the kurikura again. sound easy enough? Rin: "...I burned down an entire forest." shura: thats why we're training. to help you control it. Rin: "..." *sighs* "Fine..." *sits down in front of the candles...points at them...and bites his lip* "HMMMMMMMPH!" -FWOOOM- shura: .... *licks fingers and puts out a small flame on her hair* -tsss- Rin: ._.; "Oh, snap. Sorry!" -elsewhere- Mr. Tsubaki: "??? What's all this?" -a few days later- Q: *humming* ???: *aimless* "Itchy..." Q: ~? hey misteeeer~ im bored, humor me! ^w^ ???: "Humor...a child...I'll make you a balloon animal...But I have no balloons..." *tentacles crawl out from under his sleeves* Q: *squicked face* ew. what is this, motojiro's DVDs? ???: "??? I just...think of these things." Q: how lame. *puts on barbed wire fisticuffs and punches, causing his hand to bleed* -a handprint appears- Q: that mark appears on anyone who hurts me. teeheehee~ i wonder how it will look when you break down~? ???: "...I don't know...what you mean by 'break down...'" *His arm twists a bit, a gurgling sound coming from his throat* Q:............................. *a puddle has formed under him* -several civilians scream in terror- -elsewhere- Yohei: "And this is your thumb..." *taps Toru's hand* toru: ah! Yohei: "And here is your little pinky..." *taps his pinky* -elsewhere- Stein: "How is my patient?" valentine: they seem to be doing much better this morning. Stein: "Let me meet with them..." -elsewhere- Steinbeck: "Howdy!" louisa: eep! g-good morning! Steinbeck: "What're you up to?" *picks up a file* louisa: lord francis asked me to get a plan together. h-ho-how is your mission? Steinbeck: "All tied up!" louisa: goodness, that busy, huh? Steinbeck: "No, I just meant I tied up the target in vines and keep him locked in a room." louisa: o-oh... right... ._.; Steinbeck: "Is the boss in?" louisa: i believe he- Fitzgerald: "EMERGENCY!" louisa: EEP! Steinbeck: "... Fitzgerald: "Give me the EMERGENCY plan!" louisa: b-but lord francis, i-if we use that, it would lead to collateral damage! Fitzgerald: "It is direct, is it not?!" louisa: y-yes, b-but if we go forward with it, the city council is certain to take notice. Fitzgerald: "Let them!" *spots a snow globe with a piano inside* louisa: oh, we'll be in so much trouble Q-Q Fitzgerald: "Every single thing here belong to me! Down to the blinds on the curtains! And that includes you and all my subordinates!" *brings down the snowglobe* louisa: lord francis.... Fitzgerald: *stops at that phrase...calmly sets down the snowglobe* "So, from now on, I will not let my subordinates die." -elsewhere- Shouto: "...This is embarrassing." eijiro: what is, man? Shouto: "Getting coffee with someone." eijiro: oh cool, who is it? ???: ok, i got the coffees. hmm? oh, is this a friend of yours, shouto? Shouto: -_-; "Fuyumi, this is my classmate, Eijiro Kirishima. Eijiro, this is my sister." fuyumi: hey there, nice to meet you. ^^ eijiro: oh, hey! i heard you were a teacher, is that right? fuyumi: mmhmm. Shouto: "..." *cough* "We were here to get coffee." eijiro: neat. -elsewhere- Dazai: "..." yosano: hey, we'll find him, alright? Dazai: "I hope so--for his sake, and whoever gets in his way." yosano: ...*small chuckle* he's only younger than you by a few years, but you've kinda become like a dad to him. Dazai: *shrug* "Someone has to keep an eye on him. What, you'd rather Old Man Kunikida do it?" yosano:....do you want a honest answer or no? Dazai: "I'd go for honest--he may be eavesdropping, so it'll irritate him." yosano:....*casually sips coffee* *shrugs* *An annoyed grunt is heard behind a door* Dazai: *smirks* -elsewhere- Belkia: *sitting in the corner* tsubaki: have you learned your lesson now? Belkia: "I should use rubber-tipped fake knifes?" tsubaki: *nods* Yukio: "How goes training?" shura: it's a work in progress. Yukio: "...How much did he burn?" shura:......well good news is the buildings are still standing. Yukio: *sigh* "Rin? Maybe I can try helping--" Rin: Q~Q "It's all on fire..." kyouko: *extinguishing it* phew... Yukio: "...Rin, come on. You have to get this under control...Shura, any alternative lesson?" -elsewhere- Arthur: "I CAN'T KEEP WAITING!" -elsewhere- Mori: *putting an x across faces of Guild and Detective members in photos* rain:....Q still isnt back yet... Mori: "Then call him." rain: alright. *dials phone* -somewhere- -pon pon pon plays as a ringtone- Q:...hnnn? Steinbeck: "Howdy!" Q: nhh? rain: !!!! w-who are- Steinbeck: "Someone who's got your boy." rain: i dont know who you are...but if you do ANYTHING to hurt him- Steinbeck: "Please. You won't do anything--because you won't be able to." rain: what do you mean? *tense* Q: *screaming* it hurts! it hurts! i'll kill you! i'll kill everyone! Steinbeck: "Raze the earth...eat the grapes of wrath..." -elsewhere- atsushi:....what do you want, you pompous sack of jerknuts? Fitzgerald: *smiles* "What would you do for your friends?" atsushi: what kind of question is that? Fitzgerald: "The only question, because everyone has a price--something to sacrifice to earn something back in exchange. And as payment to you, for what I need from you, I'm going to tell you why I took you. We are seeking...a book." atsushi:....thats it? cant you just go to the library or something? Fitzgerald: "It's the only book of its kind. Tell me, how many books do you know that can withstand fire and almost all forms of destruction?" atsushi: um...magic books? maybe? Fitzgerald: "_One_ book. And that's why I need you, tiger beetle." atsushi: im not a beetle. what the hell is with that weird nickname? Fitzgerald: "You are valuable--and I can't afford to lose such an expensive acquisition. After all, to get this book, I am about to take drastic actions." atsushi: something about the threatening vagueness of that statement has me worried. Fitzgerald: "Needle. Haystack. To find a book that can survive fire, there is only one logical conclusion: burn down the entire city." atsushi:....are you absolutly insane? Fitzgerald: "Of course not! If I was, I would be using my vast wealth for therapy." atsushi: you know if you pull a stunt like that, the whole city will be after you! Fitzgerald: "Who would be left to stop me?" atsushi: ....*notices something*.....ooooh frick. -its a doll. a very creepy doll- Fitzgerald: "Recognize this little fellow?" atsushi: that's- Fitzgerald: This doll, with its head ripped off, will curse about 20 percent of the city's residents." atsushi: !!! you cant! -meanwhile- rain: *still on the phone* you're insane!! Steinbeck: "Maybe. But I'm just following orders." Q: *whimpering* i-i never asked to be born like this... w-why do bad things happen to me?! *crying* rain: ....kyusaku... Mori: "..." Steinbeck: "Child, you should be happy! You're going to be part of something bigger than yourself." Steinbeck: *serious face* "That's what I'm supposed to tell you." *sits down* Q: *hic* i wanna go home. i wa-i want my mother! Steinbeck: "There are those with power. There are those without power. Your lot in life was determined before your birth. You have this power? Then you have no choice but to die with it, too." Steinbeck: *smiles* "Your mother isn't here. God is here. And He doesn't love you." Q: *tears streaming as he screams* AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! I'LL CURSE EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU! I HATE THIS! rain:...*heart cracking* -elsewhere- chie: mono, where did you get that bruise? mono: what bruise? -several marks appear on several people, including eternal feather, shouto, and kunikida- kyouko: ...yukio, what happened? Yukio: "???" *looks in the mirror* "Where did this...?" -on the moby dick- Doll: "Ha ha ha ha..." Fitzgerald: "Activated. Now all that is left is to damage this doll--" atsushi: how about this, the agency will help you look for whatever you're looking for, ok? that way you find your book, and no one gets hurt. its a win win! Fitzgerald: "...An interesting proposal. Very well. I'll accept--" atsushi: great! so where do we- Fitzgerald: "--with anyone who survives this." -riiiip- atsushi: ooooooh fudge. -on the streets- sancha: see anything? Tsukauchi: *staring at one person walking down the street* "...Is that a zombie?" sancha: maybe hopped up on something. try pulling ov- -the person is screaming and lands on the car- sancha: HOLY FRISKIES! -in the office- kirako: ..... yosano: feel anything yet, kunikida? -a ghostly woman appears in the corner- ghost: do...ppo.... -on the moby dick- atsushi: this is bad. think man, think! ???: "You? What can you do?" atsushi: ??! ???: "You would bring only misfortune. You dragged them into this--those young girls." atsushi: i was...just trying to help them! ???: "And that's why...You thought you were their hero." atsushi: just stop it! *punches the door* agh! dammit! ??? (a different voice): "...Who are you talking to?" atsushi: huh? *peeks* oh! you're that redheaded girl. Montgomery: "Yes, me. Serves you right..." atsushi: are you still mad at me im guessing? *notices the doll* that doll! Montgomery: "Yeah. It's trash, so it goes in the dumpster." atsushi: please, you have to let me out. if we dont do something, the whole city- Montgomery: "By 'everyone,' you mean your 'champions'? So, not me, huh? Sorry. I want to see you survive this, alone. Then you'll know how I feel." atsushi: listen, i understand how you feel. i was all alone before too- Montgomery: "Don't patronize me! How can you understand?! The Guild is all I have left! Have you been stuck with the same leftovers for a whole year?! Been hit with a hot iron poker?! Washed dishes all day with frostbitten and bleeding hands?!" *pulls up her sleeve* atsushi: !!!! Montgomery: "This is my mark!" *the burn of a poker* atsushi:....the first time is always the most painful. but the third time is the worst... *pulls up his shirt to reveal a similar mark* Montgomery: "!!! Wh-What...?" atsushi: i lived in a pretty bad orphanage too. so i know what its like to be alone and afraid. but that doesnt mean we can let it control us as adults. when i joined the agency, i finally realized that. i guess im pretty dumb for not realizing it sooner... Montgomery: "..." *shaking* "...'Too late'..." atsushi: ?? -they are now in 'anne's room'- Montgomery: "It was too late for you...It was too late for me...It's too late for them. Can't stop it." atsushi: ...no. there is a way. dazai's ability. if he touches the doll, it will deactivate the curse. he did it one before when it affected me... Montgomery: "... *glares* "How is that supposed to work? We're in the air! You don't know where he is!" atsushi: well, i read something once; 'not once have i regretted the things i did, i only regret the things i didnt do'. it was from a book in the library orphanage, i dont remember the authors name, but it stuck with me. Montgomery: "..." Anne: *roar* atsushi: !! Anne: *hands bag to Atsushi* atsushi: um...what is this? Montgomery: "A parachute." atsushi: so then, you're helping me? Montgomery: "..." *points to a door* "This door bridges you to the walls of Moby-Dick to escape." atsushi: thank you so much....what made you change your mind? Montgomery: "...Solitude is my life." atsushi: .... Montgomery: "Maybe that is the problem. Maybe if the Detective Agency and the Mafia had collaborated..." atsushi: *light bulb* thats it! *hugs her* you're a genius....um...did i ever get your name? Montgomery: o\\\\o "G-Get off of me! You have to get out of here!" atsushi: ah! right...are you sure you'll be ok in here? Montgomery: "...No. But I'll survive. And you better--because I'm going to need someone to get me out of here." atsushi: right. i'll be sure to come back for you. and if things dont work at the guild. you can always join the agency! Montgomery: "...I'll be waiting." *push* "Now get going!" atsushi: OKAAAAAYYYYYY!!!! -inside- guild member: the weretiger has escaped! twain: *smirks* alright, my time to shine~ -outside- atsushi: *falling* (thinking: i just have to get to dazai at the new base, then i can-) *notices something* eh? that's....the port mafia! -not just the mafia, but also the DWMA, pro heroes, true cross, the brigades, the whole 9 yards- -BANG- atsushi: ?! what the- -inside the bullet is a little boy?- boy: gotcha! -the bullet continues downward- atsushi: *gulps and activates the parachute* Chuuya: "Guard the traffic network!" gin: *nods* -elsewhere- shura: alright, lets keep civilian casualties to a minimum! all those unaffected get indoors! adrian: understood! shura: gilda, get into the shop and treat any wounded. gilda: *nods and goes to do that* Rin: " 'Casualties'?" shura: just get back inside and focus on your training, leave this one to the adults, m'kay? seiya: i dont know if you noticed, but things have gone kind of nuts out here. momo sakura: *sniffs* *hugs shiro* uncle shiro, im scared. Fujimoto: *pat pat* "I know, kid. Just stay behind me..." kyouko: ... *checks the shed* yukio? feeling better yet? Yukio: "Let me go!" *rocking in the chair* kyouko:...guess not... *closes the door* -elsewhere- -a tiger lands on the ground- -nice landing- atsushi: oholycrap i cant believe i didnt just die! oh shit! right! doll! to dazai! gotta hurryyyyy! *runs* -bullets shoot down from above- atsushi: FUUUUCK! *running. the whole city is in chaos. he can see a baby about to fall into traffic* !!!! *grabs the stroller and makes a run for it as bullets tail behind* oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck! -he keeps running until...- -squish~- rain: !!!! o///o atsushi: .__________.;;; IM SO SORRY MA'AM HERE, PLEASE WATCH THIS KID I GOTTA GO THANK YOU! *runs* rain: ah...what just.... -in the moby dick- twain: oh, dodging and hiding, eh tiger boy? classy. but i'll come out soon enough... -on the ground- atsushi: *noticing easter eggs as he runs* -a wave of ice shoots out, with him barely dodging it- atsushi: HOLY CRAP! fuyumi: shouto, calm down! he isnt here! Shouto: "GET AWAY FROM ME!" *summons a sharp icicle in his hand* "Take another step, and I'll kill you!" eijiro: dude, chill! and i dont mean that as a pun! fuyumi: shouto... atsushi: *still running* -BOOM- atsushi: *sent flying* oh fu- *crash* nnng...ow... cant stop now...got to....keep going... *trying to reach the doll* *BOOM* *BANG BANG BANG* atsushi: come on...come ooon... *someone approaches* ???: "VICTORY!!!" atsushi: ...!!! dazai! -atsushi cries tears of joy- atsushi: oh thank fu-huuuck... TTuTT Dazai: "??? What's wrong? You hurt?" atsushi: they're shooting at us from above! Dazai: "..." *looks up* "Huh. I forgot to set off the smoke screen..." *pulls out a giant remote control, pulls the antenna up* -fwoooooom- twain: D8.....ok. i'll give them that one. -on the surface- Dazai: "Come on...Lean on me...Subway station is right here...Watch the step..." atsushi: um, the doll? if you would please?! Dazai: "Oh, super! With this we will save everyone!" atsushi: yeah, could you please do that like, um, NOW?! Dazai: "...Well, here's the thing: it's not going to stop the major problem." *picks up the doll head--which stops laughing* atsushi: ?? Dazai: "As long as the Guild has Q, they can re-use his abilities in new ways. Unless I'm right there with him to neutralize him, I can't do anything." atsushi: but you dissolved the doll before! Dazai: "And what do I do then? Dissolve the doll again? And again? And again?" atsushi:....when i was on the ship, the red haired girl gave me an idea. now, this is going to sound insane but... they are one of the most powerful organizations of gifteds in the whole city. Dazai: "...'They'?" atsushi: ....the port mafia. Dazai: "...You hit your head pretty hard." atsushi: i'm serious! true, they might not be the most trustworthy, but they're the best we can work with right now who are aware of this whole guild thing. besides, Q is one of their members, isnt he? Dazai: "...Have fun talking to the boss." -elsewhere- Shotaro: "Oh no..." mono: *passes out* mana: i think she's ok now... mono: nnnh... huh? Shotaro: *frowning* chie: feeling better? mono:.....*shaking* -elsewhere- Rin: "Bro?" Yukio: "..." kyouko: ....*pats his back* you ok? Yukio: "...I lost control..." kyouko: i dont know what that was...but maybe you should take a break today. maybe some rest will help you out. Yukio: "...I...don't feel like resting--" Rin: *shoves a copy of manga into his hands* "You haven't read this yet! Get on it!" kyouko:...*small smile* (thinking: im glad he's in good spirits again....) {kyouko: YOU CANT JUST KEEP BEATING YOURSELF UP OVER THIS! if you want them to forgive you, then prove it to them! prove you're a good person!} Yukio: "..." *opens it* "...The art isn't as good this week..." -elsewhere, somewhere in true cross district- guard: *whistling* hmm? hey, this is a restricted area. you arent allowed to be in here! *A figure in a gas mask is seen* guard: freeze! Gas Mask: *holds up a hand...and some black drips from it* guard: !!!! Gas Mask: *the drips accumulating into a blob, which they hurl at the Guard* -early the next morning- Rin: *nod nod* "Yeah! I am! See?" *holds up one paper* "This one is only scorched along the edges!" shura: *nods* Rin: "Hee hee hee...I did good!" -phone rings- shura: hold up...yo.....what?...ok. oi kiddo, we got a mission. Rin: "???! A mission! Sweet!" *takes his sword* -snatch- Rin: "HEY!" shura: uh-uh-uh, until you can control your flames, and i mean it, this baby's stayin with me. Rin: *pout* "What if there's an emergency?" -and so- Yukio: "I am Yukio Okumura, Middle First Class Exorcist." exorcist: i've heard about you. mr todo, mind explaining the situation? i'll tend to the wounded... Yukio: "We heard reports of a theft: the Left Eye." shura: ..... woman: please, they took my son! i dont know what i'll do if something happened to him, he's all i have left! Rin: "Don't worry, ma'am! With Rin Okumura, Exorcist No Class--" Yukio: -_-; Rin: "--on the job, I'll save him--" Yukio: *pushes Rin back* "We cannot ensure the safety of your son." woman: !!! Rin: "Dude! That's not very encouraging--" Yukio: *drags Rin back by the back of his shirt* woman: *crying* exorcist: we'll do what we can ma'am... Rin: "What the hell do?!" Yukio: "You cannot make promises for things you cannot predict!" Rin: "So I'm supposed to make her feel badly?! And I will save that kid! Just get out of my way and--" *takes a step forward* shura: *grabs him by the collar* come on kiddo. we got stuff to do. Rin: "Let go of me, Boob-zilla!" exorcist: mr okumura, we got the hazmat suits out. Yukio: "Thank you." *accepts his, starts to put it on* todo: please, allow me to come with you. im partially responsible for this, after all. Yukio: "Okay. Get on a suit, and you can guide me to the suspect." -inside- todo: so, i heard you're quite the prodigy, mr okumura. im certain your father is proud of you. Yukio: "...Thank you. I hope he is." -the bird is still chirping- Rin: "So, what's the bird for, Mr. Todo?" Yukio: "???!!!" Rin: "Yo!" *stares at Mr. Todo* "...Do I know you?" todo: im sabutora todo, from the order's deep keep, where i serve as the warden. Yukio: "Why are you here?! Where is Shura?!" Rin: "I ditched her. Kind of surprised how easy that was..." todo: ah! there he is! Gasmask: *holding the boy* Yukio: *aims--fires* Gasmask: *dissolves, dropping the boy onto the floor* Yukio: "?!! Todo, cover me--" boy: *wheezing* Rin: "I got this!" *leaps over to the boy* -the eye of the impure king lays on the ground- Yukio: "Rin! What did I tell you--" *spots the eye, grabs it* -squeeeek- Rin: ._. Yukio: "...It's a fake!" ???: oops. seems my cover's blown. -todo rips his hazmat suit off.....revealing goat like horns- Rin: "What the hell?!" todo: *smirks* boy: *coughs* Yukio: "Rin! Get the boy out of here!" *fires at Todo* Rin: "Right!" *picks up the boy, starts running* -todo sends smog at rin- Rin: "Ha! A little smoke ain't got nothing on my flames!" *flame on* boy: *SCREAMS* Yukio: "Rin, stop!" Rin: "!!!" Yukio: "He's infected! The miasma off Todo was enacted by your flames!" Rin: "Oh no--" todo: *tackles yukio* heh, y'know, you remind me of myself when i was younger. my family planned my whole life for me as soon as i was born. i wanted to be just like my father and brother, and what do i have to show for it? nothing, thats what. i decided then that i should be honest with myself, and the truth is; i hate all of it. my father, my brother, this whole organization. hell, this whole world! Yukio: *trying to push him off* "N-No! I am not like that..." Rin: *holding the kid, looking at the spreading infection* "...Kid...Come on, hold on..." todo: every heart has its darkness...i wonder..what is it you're so afraid of... *checks watch* oops. time for me to go, glad i had this time to chat, yukio. *vanishes* boy: *breathing hard* Yukio: *staring at where Todo was* "..." Rin: "Yo, bro! The infection!" -they were able to treat the child and bring him back out- boy: mommy? woman: satoru!! *hugs him* oh thank god... Yukio: *smiles...his arm is bloody* "He'll need additional medical treatment. Please follow the Exorcists to our EMT unit." woman: r-right! shura: there you are!...jeez, always playing the hero. what do you think this is brat, a shonen manga? Rin: *crosses his arms* "Just trying to help! So, you find what it was you were looking for?" *smirk* shura:..*rolls eyes* well, bad news, seems the real eye is long gone. i have my familiar tracking it now. Rin: "...What's the good news?" shura: well- Mephisto: "Ice cream!" shura: *facepalms* sir? the right eye? Mephisto: "Fine. I--" Rin: "Sweet! Cherry!" Yukio: *slaps the back of his head* Rin: -3- Mephisto: "The Right Eye of the Impure King was stolen. Now it is your task to retrieve it." shura: it was the left eye that was stolen. the _right_ eye almost got stolen, but the attempt was thwarted. i swear, you're going senile. Mephisto: -w-;;; "_I was busy_. Maybe if someone--or someones--hadn't lost one of them..." Yukio: ._. Rin: *nom nom nom* *mouth full* "Huh?" shura: *facepalm* unbelievable. come on, we got training to do. *drags rin off* Rin: *still having his ice cream, as he's pulled away* Mephisto: "Well, time to get back to work." *pulls out a 3DS* -elsewhere, in a park- cat: *walking along a brick wall* Fukuzawa: *holds up small fish* cat: 83 *nom* ^w^ atsushi: .... Fukuzawa: "..." *turns, spots Atsushi* "???" -elsewhere- rain: -_- .... at least that child was returned to its mother. Mori: "The baby probably took to you because of your large breasts." rain: *jawdrop* (thinking: HE ISNT EVEN BEING SUBTLE) THEY ARENT THAT BIG YOU DAMN BASTARD! 737 you arent even into that... Mori: *grabs her breasts* "Feel big." ???: *aHEM* if you're done harassing the poor girl... Mori: "??? Kouyou? Pleased to see you return." *lets go of Rain* kouyou: likewise. *hands him a letter* as it would have it, the leader of the agency has scheduled a meeting with you. rain: TT~TT why is it always me? curse this ability of mine... Mori: "..." *smirks* "So, it's come to this...A reunion." Chuuya: *walks in, notices Rain* "???" kouyou: indeed. shall i get a team to go with you? *smiles at chuuya* Chuuya: "!!! Kouyou? When did you--" Mori: "Please do. Rain, gather the ones I want." rain: understood. -that afternoon, at a park- Mori: *waves at Dazai* Dazai: "..." rain: O-O; >->;;; Mori: "Four years, yes? Do you have my coat--" Dazai: "Burned it." *spots Rain* "!!!" *winks* rain: *half glare* Chuuya: *furious face at Dazai* rain: ah, seems he's here! Fukuzawa: *enters* *The two men approach* mafioso: wa wa waaaa kouyou: again? seriously? Mafioso: "Frank, I swear to God..." Kunikida: *stare* Tachihara: *stare* -the tension is so thick, you could cut it with a knife- Tachihara: *takes Gin's knife* gin: -_-; hirotsu: *observing* Mori: "The powers-that-be would not be happy that two such powerful organizations meet--" Fukuzawa: "I'll get to the point: one of our newest members proposed our organizations form an alliance." Mori: "...Interesting." Fukuzawa: "I am against it: we should not work with an illegal organization." atsushi: ..... Fukuzawa: "However, given how often and brutally your organization has injured this newest recruit--" Tachihara: "HA!" gin: *elbows him* Tachihara: "Ouch!" rain: *observing* Fukuzawa: "--it is shocking how poignant and eloquent he was in making this proposal." Mori: "Ha! Quite interesting indeed." higuchi: ... Fukuzawa: "Even if we cannot form an alliance, I want a detente." Mori: "..." Tachihara: *whispers* "What's a 'dee-ten-tee'?" hirotsu: i believe he refers to a temporary truce. Fukuzawa: "I have many reasons to pursue this plan. First--" Mori: "Have you ever read Thomas Schelling? Or Nash? Or Kissinger?" Dazai: "...War strategists. Schelling looks at game theory--" Tachihara: "Like 'Battleship'?" higuchi: ....were you dropped as a child? Tachihara: "Why do you think I have this bandage on my nose?" Dazai: "...You just want to shove more war theory into my head. _Both_ of you..." Fukuzawa: "I read 'The Art of War.'" frank: yeah, thats where the guy puts all the animals on a boat and beats the shit out of 'em. and thats why whenever any group of animals is together its called a zoo! Tachihara: "..." Dazai: "..." frank:...unless it's a farm. Mori: "...And I think that the war between nations is not so different between the war between organizations. Let's say we pursue this alliance. What happens if someone breaks it? Who enforces any rules?" Dazai: "So, if you don't trust us...and we don't trust you...this falls apart." rain: .... Mori: "And many of us do not trust you at all." Tachihara: *cracks his knuckles* rain: .... atsushi: *gulp* Fukuzawa: "My subordinates were also attacked by your people." Mori: "But no one died--to our embarrassment." Fukuzawa: "Then...we have one solution before we may proceed--" rain: a-and that is? Fukuzawa: "Settle our scores, right here, right now." rain + atsushi: oh no. Fukuzawa: *leaps at Tachihara and Gin* gin: !! Tachihara: "Oh, hell no--" *SLICE* gin: !!!! *her sword broke* D8 Tachihara: "MY GUNS!" Fukuzawa: *in front of Mori, sword at his neck* Mori: *a scalpel slides out of his sleeve, at Fukuzawa's neck* rain: why does he have a scalpel?! Fukuzawa: "Your 'medical ethics' have not changed, Dr. Mori." rain: wait he's a doctor?! higuchi: well, he was our medic before the previous boss passed away. Fukuzawa: "And I assume you still have a fetish for young girls." rain: DOES HE EVER! *WHOOSH* *Another scalpel sails past the side of Rain's head* rain: O-O;;;;;; *quivering* Q-Q Chuuya: "..." *pat pat* Mori: "Still whispering to cats, Silver Wolf?" Fukuzawa: "..." Mori: *gestures to Mafia to turn to leave* atsushi: wait. i have....an offering......*teary eyed and hands mori a shopping bag* Mori: *looks into the bag* "???" -it was a doujin....a hentai doujin.....a _loli_ hentai doujin- rain: D8 gin: O_O higuchi: D8 hirotsu: -_- Fukuzawa: "...What the fuck?" atsushi: *crying* do you know...how AWKWARD it was to make this purchase?! IM NOT PROUD OF THIS! I DID WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE! with all due respect mr mori...you are a sick. sick. man. Dazai: *pat pat, smiles widely* "You did good! I wouldn't have done it." Kunikida: "You sick brat." atsushi: *whimpering* i need a cold shower for about 10 years. TT~TT Mori: "...What's the catch?" atsushi: maybe we can work on an agreement? please?.....we'll help you get Q back? Mori: "...Ha. The Guild is too powerful for the Agency to defeat. You don't stand a chance." -at the hospital- nurse: *working on things* hmm? oh hello sir. ???: "Good day." nurse: are you here to make an appointment? ???: "Here to meet with two patients." nurse: ah i see. which room? ???: "The one with Hawthorne and Mitchell." nurse: ah. right this way sir. ???: *follows* nurse: mr hawthorne? you have a visitor. Hawthorne: "??? I expected no--" ???: *holds up a piece of paper with a rat drawn onto it* Hawthorne: "?!!!" nurse 2: who was the foreign guy? he's cute. nurse: honestly zoey... ???: "Hello, friend. We have much to discuss." Hawthorne: "...We are not friends--" ???: "Would I be, if I did something about her?" *points to Mitchell* Hawthorne: "..." ???: "The second half of a man's life is made up of nothing but the habits he has acquired during the first half--and you have a habit of following someone. So, follow me." Hawthorne: "...I struggle to hold onto hope, God--" ???: "To live without Hope is to Cease to live. Live, Hawthorne--live! And I will make her live..." zoey: what do you think they're talking about?...i wonder if he's single? nurse: -_-; you're shameless. zoey: come on veronica, you only get to say that cause you're engaged. Hawthorne: "And how do you intend to have me released from this hospital?" ???: *waves to Veronica and Zoey* "Hello. I have spoken with Mr. Hawthorne, and he has agreed that he and Ms. Mitchell will be taken released into my care." veronica: ah, i see. zoey: soooo....you seeing anyone~? veronica: *facepalm* ???: "..." ???: "No, I'm not. For to love someone is to see them as they really are--and few ever see me as I really am." Hawthorne: *raises an eyebrow* zoey: aww. maybe i could try? veronica: (thinking: are you that desperate for a relationship?) ???: "...Oh? Are you busy this weekend?" zoey: nope! ???: *smiles* "Care to walk with me and talk about when and where to go out?" -elsewhere- stocking: how was the meeting, kiddo? Kid: "Disconcerting, as you can imagine." *sits* "This is an ability like none I have seen." stocking: it wasnt the kishin... Kid: *shakes his head* "What the victims had in common was not a proclivity to madness." stocking: oh? Kid: "It was almost like chance, like if they...just happened to bump into the wrong person." stocking: that's a scary thought. Kid: "Yes...How are your colleagues holding up?" stocking: yukio's doing better now. i got some news that some guy named todo went rogue, but it was unrelated to the incident. Kid: "What did Todo do?" -elsewhere- Vulcan: "At least the cats finally calmed down...Whatever happened freaked them out." lisa: no kidding... Vulcan: "Glad Giovanni didn't come over--he'd probably toss one of you little guys away for bothering him." lisa:... -elsewhere- shinra: how's the commander? nozomi: resting....whatever he saw must have really shook him... Takehisa: *slight shiver in his sleep* maki: .... -elsewhere- naho:....sakkun? you awake? Sakuya: "Hmm? Wha--" *opens an eye* "...Naho?" naho: *hugs him* i was worried about you... Sakuya: "..." *hugs* "...What happened?" naho: you just...broke down and screamed... Sakuya: "..." *memories hit him all at once--and he is frozen* naho: ......*holds him close* Sakuya: *not responding, just still, eyes wide* naho: it's ok now....we're here... Sakuya: "...I was so scared. Angry. Felt my brain exploding." naho: *rubs his back* -in another room- lavender: how is he? Higan: "Not great. Temperature still not going down." lilac: *shivering* lavender: poor kid....it was like he couldnt breathe... Higan: "Happening to both him and Sakuya? Doesn't seem right...I'm not a medical professional, so I wasn't sure what he needs: food, water." lavender: ....maybe i should schedule a therapy appointment for them. Higan: *nods* "Given his health, maybe the therapist should come here?" lavender: maybe. -elsewhere- fuyumi: hmm? oh. are you shouto's classmates? ochako: yep. took us a while to find the place. Izuku: "...We heard what happened..." fuyumi: ah...he's in the guest room. he hasnt come out all day. Izuku: "..." *looks at Ochako* "Did you want to talk to him first?" ochako: i guess. *knocks* todoroki? its us. Shouto: *silent* ochako: ..... Shouto: *turns over in bed* "Leave." ochako: .....well, we brought you lunch. we'll leave it on the table for you. or by the door....i'll just put it by the door. Shouto: "..." *pulls covers over him* "What is in the lunch?" -elsewhere- Kunikida: "..." *taps his fingers on the table* atsushi: dazai, are you sure you'll be ok going by yourself? Dazai: "Just think of it as a milk run: in-and-out, fast." atsushi: um....phrasing? i think? Dazai: "...Need I remind you what book you bought?" atsushi:....*tearing up* *shame corner* -mushrooms sprouting- atsushi: im the scum of the earth, i should just die in a hole. Dazai: "Not before me! I still need a cutie for a suicide pact--" yosano: just get this done with already. -_-; Dazai: *pout* "Fine. If I'm not back in an hour...wait longer." -that night- Dazai: "Hmmm...Cozy house. Lots of plants." -rustle rustle- Dazai: "!!" ("Please be a squirrel.") lovecraft:.... Dazai: "...You aren't a squirrel." lovecraft: .....steinbeck? *looks around* *zip* lovecraft:...... Steinbeck: *zipping up his pants* "Sorry. Drank too much juice." lovecraft: 7_7 Dazai: "Gross...So, you the two who kidnapped Creepy the Kid?" lovecraft:..more or less. Dazai: "Super! I'll just pop inside and take him--" -BOOOOOM- Dazai: "?!" lovecraft: *faceplanted*...ow. Chuuya: "I have arrived." Dazai: "...SHORTY!" -in the parking lot- rain: ...(thinking: mr nakahara...please be ok...) *BOOM* rain: !!! Dazai: "Watch where you leap, shrimp." Chuuya: "SHUT YOUR PRETTY BOY MOUTH!" Steinbeck: *sends vines at Chuuya* "Not getting away, lightfoot--Lovecraft, go!" lovecraft: ..... Dazai: "You've gotten lazy, shrimp. How am I to land a punch and nullify if you don't--" *BAM* Chuuya: "*holding a tree* "DON'T MAKE FUN OF ME!" Steinbeck: "...I thought they were fighting us." lovecraft:...zzzz... guild member: *knocked into the trees* oooow Dazai: "Why are you getting mad at me?" *knocks down another Guilder* Chuuya: "Because you abandoned us!" Steinbeck: *pokes Lovecraft* lovecraft: zzzzz Dazai: "You didn't witness what I did! If you did, maybe you'd leave--" Chuuya: "I ain't leaving! I want power! The fine things! Wine! Money! And--" *Vines encircle them* Chuuya: *vines cover his mouth* Dazai: "...Huh. Not my first choice for dying. Or my first choice in a lover's pact--" Chuuya: 0////0 *muffled screams* -one pwning of steinbeck later- Steinbeck: x______x lovecraft: zzzzz Chuuya: "...He's just going to sleep? Jeez, this mission is stupid." Dazai: "Worst day in years." *Both reach for the door* Chuuya and Dazai: "?!" Dazai: "Step off." Chuuya: "Don't walk next to me." Chuuya: "Look, if this isn't wasn't a mission, I would have blown you--" Dazai: "..." Chuuya: "--away." Dazai: "Suit yourself..." Chuuya: *enters* "Have you heard of Petrus? It's a wine so expensive that your eyes would pop just from looking at the price. When you left the organization...I opened a bottle to celebrate. I hate you that much." Dazai: "Funny. When I left you, I celebrated by rigging your car with a bomb--" Chuuya: "FUUUUUUUUUU--" Chuuya: *kick* Dazai: *dodges* "Please. I know everything about you, down to your breathing." Q:..... Dazai: "Oh. I found sleeping beauty." Chuuya: "..." Dazai: "I need to cut off the roots. Give me your knife." Chuuya: "Fine. Here is--" *checks pockets* "!!!" Dazai: *holding it up* Chuuya: "...Motherfucker." Dazai: *takes knife...up to Q's neck* Q: .nn...mo...mmy.... Dazai: "..." *sad frown, before smirking at Chuuya* "Won't stop me?" Chuuya: "The boss said I had to bring him back alive. But there are two problems. First, you are too far from me to reach in time--" Dazai: "Obviously." Chuuya: "And I could care less. I still see the people he murdered. My colleagues. Friends. Let him meet his mommy." Dazai: "Then..." *stab* -the vine begins to wither- Chuuya: "Tch. Goody two-shoes doesn't want to kill?" Dazai: "...You kept Q around because you always had me as a check, to nullify his abilities." Chuuya: "So?" Dazai: "So whether he lives or die doesn't matter to me--he's not my problem, he's yours. The only problem I have is Kunikida's yammering." -Elsewhere- Kunikida: "!!!" *punches a wall* -back at the little house- Q:....zzzz.... Dazai: "You carry him." Chuuya: "Wait, why?!" Dazai: "You got anti-gravity abilities and child-bearing hips--" Chuuya: "!!!" Q: zzzzz... Dazai: *takes the doll* "And I'll keep this out of your hands." Chuuya: "Bondage freak." Dazai: "Petite mafia." Chuuya: "Death lover!" Q: *snore and hugs chuuya* mama.... Chuuya: .\\\\\. "N-No..." Dazai: *smirks* "Mama..." Chuuya: *grunts, kicks down door* "Let's just get out." -creack- Dazai: "...?!!" Chuuya: "What?" lovecraft: i've been....stiff lately......have i been working too much? Chuuya: "??? What did--" -TENTACLE PUNCH- Chuuya: D: *knocked back into a tree* Dazai: *catches Q* .___. Q: zzzzzz Chuuya: *marches back to Dazai* "Huff...Huff...Okay...Why is this guy now all turned around with his head snapped back?" Dazai: "Nah, don't worry! I'll just catch his tentacle--" Chuuya: "I bet you will." Dazai: "--and nullify his ability." *hands Q back to Dazai* "Put them here, buddy!" *holds out his hand at Lovecraft* -WHACK- Dazai: *bounce bounce along the ground--into another tree* Chuuya: D: "Crap!" *jumps to dodge another tentacle* lovecraft: that was...a heavy punch. Dazai: *coughs up blood* "D-Damn...My power nullifier isn't working..." Chuuya: "But you can stop any ability! The only way that could happen is if it...wasn't...an...ability...Oh, fucking hell." lovecraft: so tired....starving....got to....FiNiSh ThE jOb...ThEn I cAn...Go BaCk... Dazai: *gets up* "Okay...Operation 'Shame and Toad.'" Chuuya: "No! 'Rains Falls Outside the Window Frame'!" Dazai: "...Oh, please. Have I ever picked the wrong strategy?" Chuuya: "...Damn it. Fine!" Chuuya: "Sucking people dry..." Dazai: "..." *LOUD LAUGHTER* lovecraft: complete the mission....then go home.... Dazai: *holds up his hands, smiles* Dazai: *ducks* Chuuya: *stare* -a barrage of tentacles shoot out- Chuuya: "Gravity manipulation..." lovecraft: a decoy? Chuuya: *GRAVITON PUNCH* lovecraft:...heavy.. Dazai: *claps* "Nicely done." Chuuya: *glare* "Stop treating me like your pet dog." Dazai: "I'd have a dog do tricks to stop this guy--but since I don't, I settle for you." Chuuya: *glare* Chuuya: "I HOPE YOU CATCH AN STD THAT ROTS YOU FROM YOUR BOWELS UP TO YOUR HEAD!" Dazai: "I hope your big hat eats you from the head down." Chuuya: "IT'S NOT BIG!" Dazai: "You're over-compensating." lovecraft: what a chore....but the contract....needs to be fufilled... Chuuya: "YOU KNOW YOU'RE LYING!" Dazai: "Maybe ask your girlfriend." Chuuya: "...What?" -SLICE- Chuuya: "!!!" Dazai: "...Huh. That was my favorite hand." Chuuya: "..." *turns around* D: -churning noises- Chuuya: .______. "Do...not...want..." a horrific monstrosity is standing before them- rain: *looks in her rear view* O_O !!! Chuuya: *runs away* Dazai: "Ouchie...Chuuya...Help me..." Chuuya: "H-How can I help you...?" Dazai: "Pick my nose." Chuuya: "...What?" Dazai: "I can't reach my nose--" Chuuya: "USE YOUR OTHER HAND!" Dazai: "Please...Make it my last wish." Chuuya: "...Fine." *moves his fingers to his nose* Dazai: *snatches his fingers--with both hands* :D "GOTCHA!" Chuuya: "I WILL RIP OFF YOUR HANDS AND WEAR THEM AS MY MITTENS!" Dazai: "In other news, we're going to die." Chuuya: "...What?" Dazai: "...I suppose there is one thing we could do. Or you could. 'Tainted.'" -in the parking lot- rain:....*overwhelmed with a feeling of dread* -back with them- Chuuya: "...Like I have any choice..." Dazai: "Go to it, tiny!" Chuuya: "You're tiny!" Chuuya: *steps before Lovecraft...inhales...* lovecraft: *growls* Chuuya: "O, grantors of dark disgrace...Do not wake me again!" Steinbeck: "Ouchie...What happened?" Dazai: "You got a knife at your neck--and get to witness Chuuya's ultimate ability." Chuuya: *vibrating...as blood drips from his limbs* *BLAST* rain: !!!!!! *getting out of the car, locking it, and running towards the clearing, though she has quite a ways to go* Dazai: "Chuuya can manipulate gravitons, increasing the density of his body--and the projectiles made by the compress gravitons consume all matter, like black holes." Chuuya: *launches a compressed graviton at Lovecraft* -FWOOOM- lovecraft: *SHRIIIIEK* Dazai: "So, why are his limbs regrowing, Grape Boy?" Steinbeck: "...I have no reason to tell you. And it looks like your friend has exceeded his abilities--he could only hurt Lovecraft from inside--" Dazai: "..." *smirks* *holds up remote control* Steinbeck: "?!!!" -beep- -BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM- rain: AH! *falls, scuffing herself up in the process, as she keeps running* -back with the others, a large crater is left in the ground where lovecraft had been standing- Chuuya: *staaaaaaare* Chuuya: "...Hee..." *covered in blood* Chuuya: *summoning more gravitons...* "Hee hee hee--" Dazai: *smacks Chuuya upside the head* Chuuya: "?!" -tainted's marks fade away- Dazai: "Hey, Chuuya." *smiles* Chuuya: "...Dazai? I...I..." Dazai: "It's okay, buddy. Let it out--" Chuuya: *BARF* Dazai: .w.;;;; "...This was a new shirt, you dick!" -a few minutes later, and rain meets dazai on his own on the path- rain: you! mr nakahara, where is he? Dazai: "...Oh, hey!" Dazai: "Um...He's dead." rain: *drops to her knees, teary eyed* no....no no no no.... Dazai: "Yep. The gravitons just ripped his body apart. Limbs went flying. Head popped off like a broken Pez dispenser. Pancreas stuck in a tree branch." rain: *breaks down sobbing* Dazai: "Yeah. Sometimes, if I close my eyes, I can still hear him--" Chuuya: "Moron! You almost sent me into poison ivy! I can't wipe my ass with those!" rain: !!!! .......*she looks at dazai, and slaps him across the face. hard* Dazai: *hit hard* "WORTH IT!" *lands face-first in the dirt* Chuuya: "...Rain? Your eyes are red..." rain: HOW CAN YOU BE SO GODDAMN RECKLESS YOU IDIOT! *hugs him* i was....so worried that you'd....please....dont scare me like that anymore.... -she's shaking- Chuuya: .\\\\\. "I-I wasn't trying to scare you! I had a mission and wanted to end it quickly so I could get you out of here--" rain: *pulls back, slightly blushing* m...mr nakahara? Chuuya: "...Chuuya...Rain..." Dazai: *standing...and...PUSH* -squish- rain: O-O.... o////////o KYAAA!! Q: *yaaaawn* hmm? im....outside? Chuuya: "Ah!" *tripping and--SMOOCH* Dazai: "Oh, hello, kiddo." rain: O//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////O Q: ....eeeeew. cooties! Chuuya: o\\\\\\\\\\o Dazai: "Ha ha ha ha! Congrats on moving on from me, Chuuya! I give you up to your new girlfriend." Q: ??? rain: w-wha-wha?!! O////O;;; Chuuya: o\\\\\\\\\o "I-I-I--" *gravity powers kick in--as he is floating* rain: m-mu-mr nakahara!! Chuuya: "I AM JUST EXCITED THAT IS ALL!" Dazai: *nudges Rain* "You make something rise in him." rain: .....you're terrible. but even with all that....you're still better than that walking scumbag, mori. Dazai: *serious face* "Yes." Q:.....im confused. can we go home now? rain: r-right! my car is this way. Chuuya: *trying to swim through the air, he's floating so much* "I can't get down!" Dazai: "Think of baseball and take a cold shower." -in the car- Chuuya: .\\\\\. rain:....so...mr dazai...do you want me to drop you off at the agency building then? Chuuya: "..." *shakes his head* Q: *clutching his doll, asleep* Chuuya: "...I want to go to a bar." rain: tomorrow. but right now, you need rest...i worry about you, you know. Chuuya: "..." *looks away* "Thank you. I...worry about you, too. I didn't want you...hurt." rain: *small blush* mr nakahara... Chuuya: *at a stop light* "..." *puts his hand on her shoulder* rain: ah...*blushing* Dazai: "You two going to neck?" rain: will you just keep quiet?! >n< Dazai: "Nope! This is too much fun! So, when's the baby shower?" rain:......... -she doesnt reply- Chuuya: "..." *punches Dazai in the mouth* Dazai: "Oh! I was just teasing! I know you and Chuuya haven't boinked yet. But I would get on that--Chuuya doesn't last long--" Chuuya: "DO YOU EVER SHUT UP?!" Dazai: "...Rain? Please promise me you will make my little Chuuya the happiest man on earth." rain: do you mind? im trying to drive... Dazai: "Well, you can drop me off at my place, then you can get the kid home, then you two can...you know." rain: ....we're here. -she parks in front of the agency building- Dazai: "Oh, super! Well, good--" Chuuya: *punches him out of the car* rain:...*sighs* look...mr nakahara. i am so sorry about....what happened. 7///7; Chuuya: "...I'm...not." rain: e-eh? Chuuya: "...You are an incredible woman, Rain. And I...I..." rain: mr nakahara- Chuuya: "!!!" *reaches over and slams his foot on her brakes* rain: ah! h-huh? wha? *blinks* was i...dozing off? Chuuya: "J-Just a stop sign you missed..." *his arm also reached out across her to block her* rain: r-right...thank you....mr nakahara... Chuuya: "A-Any time..." *looks at her* "I..." rain: ?? Chuuya: "...I would prefer...that we...that you..." Q: keep your damn pickles to yourself, monkey man...zzzz rain: ....see you at work tomorrow then? Chuuya: "...Yes..." *sad frown* "Sleep well, Rain." rain: *she parks the car and nods* good night, mr nakahara. *walking back to her apartment* (thinking: i've been feeling out of it the past couple of days....i cant be...right?...i'll just....check first thing tomorrow...) *An image of Chuuya's face comes to her* rain:...*faint smile* ???: do you really believe you have a right to speak with him? -a small, black cat like creature is by her feet- rain: just leave me be. cat: but technically, i am you. and you are nothing but a magnet for misfortune and humiliation. rain: you think i dont already know that? cat:....im curious as to how this plays out for you. and as they say, 'curiosity killed the cat', rain. or should i say- rain: dont. -elsewhere- Mori: *sips his drink* kouyou: *on the phone* i see....a job well done.... *hangs up* Q has been returned. elise: yay! Mori: "...Hmm. Dazai did that?" kouyou: or rather, team 'double black' did that....onto other matters. we've had reports that a member of 'the rats in the house of the dead' has made themselves known in death city. Mori: "...Troublesome." -elsewhere- FD: "Enjoying this?" zoey: this is really nice. *she smiles* FD: "I'm glad." *puts a hand on her shoulder* "Nights back home...could be so cold." zoey: ...*holding his hand* FD: *takes her hand up to his lips* zoey: *blushing* FD: "my dear..." zoey: yes? FD: "Close your eyes..." zoey: *does so* *She feels something wrap along her wrists and ankles* zoey: ah- *riiiiiiiip* zoey: !!! .////. FD: *holds up a camera* zoey: um....k-kinky much? owo; FD: *puts it on a tripod* "Very..." *presses record* "Now...I want to start with a few questions..." *his hand slides down her stomach* zoey: l-like what? FD: "Your patients..." *his finger slides under her panties* "Hawthorne and Mitchell..." zoey: a-ah! w-what about them? FD: "I want them." *rubbing his finger along her* zoey: *soft sigh* f-for what? FD: "I'm looking for something..." *his other hand rests along her leg* "If you give me the answers I want, you'll be happy." *slides his finger slowly into her* zoey: *soft moan* FD: "I want them released into my care. Okay?" zoey: r-right. FD: *slides a bit deeper* "And you will delete all records you have on them from the hospital files." zoey: y-yes! >////o FD: "Good girl...Because if you hadn't, I would have to punish you." *takes her bra--and rips it off* zoey: *squeak* FD: "I need them to find me a book...Maybe you know where it is?" *continues fingering her, as his lips kiss lightly along her shoulder* zoey: w-what ki-ind of a-ah, a book? FD: "It can survive anything...even fire." *coaxes her back up, as he fingers deeper into her...he kisses lightly on her neck* zoey: *loud moan* FD: "But I don't hear an answer from you..." *tightens one strap* zoey: i-im not sure...this is..the first i-i've heard of something like that. FD: "Not the answer I wanted. I have to find that book--" *tightens more* zoey: mmmn! FD: "Answer, damn it--have you seen it?" zoey: i-i dont know what it is! FD: *smiles* "Good girl." *gentle kiss on her cheek* "Next question..." *his hand is along her breast* "Who admitted Hawthorne and Mitchell to your hospital?" zoey: a-a man by the name fitzgerald... FD: *gropes her breast, his other hand sliding lightly along her hip* "And where does he reside?" zoey: h-he's been staying at a hotel. FD: *light pinch on her nipple* "The name of the hotel...?" zoey: a-ah! FD: *leans to her other breast* "The name...Give it to me..." *the tip of his tongue rests along her nipple* zoey: *shivering* FD: *suckles on her nipple--then bites* zoey: ah! *wince* FD: "The name, you bitch--the name of the hotel..." *his nails scratch along her side* zoey: i-i didnt get it! h-he didnt t-tell me! FD: "And how will you find it for me?" *his hands hold her hips* zoey: i-i'll f-find out..s-somehow... FD: " 'Somehow'?" *massages her hips* "That's a start...Good girl..." *lets go, removing his shirt* "Are you turned on, dear girl?" zoey: y-yes. FD: *smiles* "Correct answer. And I believe you..." *unbuckling his belt, pulling down his pants* "You know what I want to hear now?" zoey: w-wha? FD: *pulls down his boxers* "I want the passwords to the hospital's network..." *he grinds along her* zoey: a-ahh! i-its... 151-KNTO. FD: "Is it?" *grabs her cheeks, squeezing* zoey: y-yes! FD: "Good..." *guides himself into her, holding her hands* "Because if you lie, do you know what I'll do?" zoey: w-what? FD: *thrust* "That video? It's uploading right now into my secure account." *thrust thrust* "If you fail...that video is emailed to your boss." zoey: !!!! FD: *scratches his fingers along her hips as he continues thrusting* "Problem?" zoey: *too shocked to say anything* FD: *frowns, as he digs his nails into her* "Speak." zoey: ah-ah!! FD: "Not enough!" *pulls back his hand and slaps her face* zoey: *winces, whimpering a bit* FD: "Speak, goddamn you!" *thrusts into her* "Or I'll give you something to cry about!" zoey: t-that is the passcode! really! FD: *smiles, polite* "Thank you..." *nuzzles against her breasts, as he thrusts* "God, you make me so hard...You're so tight." zoey: its....my first...actually... FD: *smiles* "I have lots of practice. I'll make it good for you..." *strokes where he slapped her* zoey: *slight wince* FD: *frowns* "Give me a smile, dear girl." zoey: .....*trying to fake a smile* FD: "...You're almost there..." *thrusts deeper into her* "Mmmm...Ah..." zoey: *panting, shivering* FD: "my dear, you're amazing...And I know we're going to get along so well...Ah! Oh...Do you think about this kind of thing when you're touching yourself?" zoey: ..... FD: *warning tone* "Zoey. Answer." zoey:...*quietly* s-sometimes... FD: *his hand pulls on her hair* "Louder." zoey: s-sometimes! FD: *smiles* "Good. You'll think about this more after tonight...Now, what would you say if I came into you?" zoey: ?! FD: "I am not hearing you say 'no'..." zoey: w-wha? FD: " 'Yes' or 'no': two syllables. Say one." *thrusting faster* zoey: aH! y-you- FD: *grunting* " 'You' what?" zoey: you wouldnt- w-would you? FD: *smirks, still thrusting, his member twitching inside of her* "Answer me..." zoey: *screams* FD: *cackles--as he pulls out--and cums onto her* zoey: >///o ah.... -she's bleeding slightly- FD: "..." *taps his fingers along her blood...and licks it* zoey: *trembling* FD: "Shh...It's okay, Zoey. I'm going to remove the straps...give you a bath...bandage you...and you won't tell about this to anyone..." zoey: *small whimper* FD: *small kiss on her lips* "Thank you..." *loosens her wrist straps* -elsewhere- Mori: *in front of his chess set* "Tomorrow, we make the next move." -elsewhere- Chuuya: "..." *staring at a photograph* kouyou: hmm? *It's of a night at the bar--him, Higuchi, Gin--and Rain* kouyou: oh i know where that is. the bar lupin, correct? Chuuya: *nods* "Good spot...Memories." kouyou: *she nods* from what i recall, dazai, sakaguchi, and oda were frequents there a few years ago... Chuuya: *frowns* "Dazai...He ruins it all..." -elsewhere- shura: ooi, rin. ever been to kyoto? Rin: "...No?" shura: well that's about to change. so get your stuff packed and ready to rumble. we're heading to the airport as soon as the sun rises, ok? Rin: "!!! B-But what will I pack?!" -early morning- Rin: *yawn* -at the airport- madoka: *hugs him* be safe, alright? Rin: *nods* "...I wish you were coming." madoka: yeah...but this is an exorcist only trip... i'll be sure to talk to you over vid chat. *smiles* Rin: "..." *leans, kisses her forehead* madoka: ^///^ Rin: *pats her head, giggles* shura: come on loverboy. *drags him off* madoka: ^^; *waves* be safe! Rin: *waves back, smiling* Rin: "I'll bring you a souvenir!" -on the plane- Rin: *sitting in the front seat, stretches out* "Ah...Leg room!" shiemi: .... *sad frown* Rin: "Oh, hey, Shiemi! Where're you sitting?" shiemi: ...... (thinking: why cant i say anything?) Bon: "Yo, Shiemi! Get in your seat! We got luggage to store." shiemi: ah! r-right! konekomaru:.... Rin: "Hey, Bon! Konekomaru! Shima!" Bon: *growls* konekomaru: ....*looking down at his feet* Rin: "??? Um...Guys? I--" Bon: "Just go, Konekomaru. Got to get going before flight attendants yell at us." Shima: "Hey, buddy, just calm--" Bon: "Now!" konekomaru: *taking a seat* Rin: D: "What the heck?!" izumo:......*grumbles and takes a seat in the same row as him* Rin: -3- "Oh, what, you're going to be pissy at me too?" izumo: im not- Rin: "Not what? Not happy sitting next to Satan's boy?!" shura: *blows a whistle* ok, listen up everyone. i take it you all know who i am, but for those who dont, i'm shura kirigakure, the one forced into leading this op. Shima: "Hi, Ms. Kirigakure!" shura: hello shima. anyway. as you know, two days ago, during the mass hysteria incident, the left eye of the impure king was stolen from the true cross deep keep. it's been confirmed that the former warden, sabutora todo, was part of the incursion, but at the current moment, his reasons and accomplices remain unknown. Rin: *crosses his arms* Bon: *listening* shura: at the same time, a similar attack was made at the kyoto field office, which fortunately was averted, but their goal was undoubtedly the impure king's right eye. izumo: *raises a hand* just what is the impure king? we havent gone over the lesson yet. Bon: "..." ("Dad...") shura: *looks at another teacher* care to explain? Teacher: "The Impure King was an upper-class demon during the late Edo period--causing the spread of fevers, epidemics, 40,000 deaths. His power was suppressed by his eyes, which were removed by the monk Fukaku--" Shima: *snort* Teacher: "Each eye is dangerous enough on its own, releasing a large amount of miasma." Rin: *muttering* "Monk Fukaku just had to show off..." izumo: *elbows him* pay attention. Rin: "Ow!" shura: our main objective is to tend to the wounded and strengthen their defenses. all exwires will assist as well. now lets work together on this and make it easy on me, got it? Rin: "Ow!" shura: our main objective is to tend to the wounded and strengthen their defenses. all exwires will assist as well. now lets work together on this and make it easy on me, got it? -ding- Rin: "???" intercom: flight 117 to kyoto, japan now departing. -the plane begins to move- Bon: *grips the armrests* Rin: *looking past Izumo and out the window* shiemi: .... -that awkward moment when you've grown up in a japanese home but never set foot in japan before- Rin: "Oh? Really? Huh." izumo: what? Rin: "...Why are you not scared sitting here?" izumo: psh- me? scared of you? as if. having demon blood isnt too uncommon, even amongst exorcists. hell, one of the teachers in training is a half demon half angel. Rin: "...Well, when you put it that way...Yeah, I guess. So, why are so many people still being all pissy at me?" izumo: it's probably because of you being satan's son. i know its harsh, but that's just how it is. the only reason you havent been killed is because the order doesnt know if this is a good thing or a bad thing. Rin: "..." *nods* "Th-Thanks for cheering me on, Eyebrows." Rin: "I knew you were a nice girl!" izumo: w-who the hell are you calling eyebrows?! Rin: "??? What? Friends give friends nicknames--" izumo: what makes you think we're friends, huh?! my name is izumo kamiki! >-< Rin: "Thank you, Izumo." izumo: >n< d-dont get so casual! Rin: "...'Miss Kamiki'?" izumo: ....say, you've never been to japan before, right? Rin: "Nope! I'm super-excited! Did you know Kyoto has a tower?" izumo: yes, i know that. i've seen it. Rin: "Really?! What's it like? How tall is it? You ever spit from the roof of it? Can you see Tokyo from the top?" izumo: -_-; -elsewhere- Ranpo: "HA HA HA! Challenge accepted!" lana: may i help you, sir? Ranpo: "Hello. I am here for a game of wits against a worthy opponent." lana:.... yosano: *shows her the letter* lana: ah i see. i'll bring you two right up. Ranpo: "And soon the game of deduction will commence!" -ding- lana: here we are. Ranpo: "A note on the door...Hmm...Doctor, a pen, please." yosano: *hands him one* Ranpo: "Same words must appear in X and Y...Got it!" Ranpo: *writes the answer, rips the paper from the door* "We enter!" -creeeeak- yosano + lana: *peeek* *seated at the table is a tall, gaunt man--with a raccoon on his shoulder* lana: (thinking: so they're friends with that weird guy?) Poe: "Hee hee hee...Have you solved the puzzle, Ranpo?" Ranpo: *holds up the puzzle* lana:.. 'this puzzle has five words' 'this puzzle does not have five words'. oh, so one of those brain teasers? yosano: (thinking: jeez, dont you have anything better to do?) Poe: "I should expect nothing less of my rival." Ranpo: "Now I have a question for you!" *dramatic glasses removal* yosano: ? Ranpo: "...Who are you?" Poe: *falls out of chair* lana: he's been staying at this hotel for a while with his pet raccoon. Ranpo: "...Oh! Karl! What up?" Karl: ^W^ Poe: "!!!" yosano: so i take it this scruffy haired weirdo is with the guild then? Poe: *muttering* "How? I planned for Lord knows how long...Came all this way to this city...I wrote that letter in my own hand, decorated this room as based on the lengthy domestic ideology texts I wrote..." Ranpo: *smack* "SPEAK UP!" lana: D8 Poe: "R-Right...I am Poe. Detective, luminary author. But...I lost to a certain detective in a contest six years ago." Poe: "Such humiliation! It will not stand! I--" lana: oh, you're a detective? Poe: *turns to Lana, smiles* "Why, yes, Ligeia, I am." lana: it's lana, actually. *sweatdrop* Poe: "And so I used my powers of observation, critical thinking, and a Death City phone book to track my opponent to this very--" Ranpo: "BORING!" *tosses papers away* "Where's the game?" yosano: *sweatdrop* Poe: "OUR FATES ARE INTERTWINED! Much as the Earth revolves around the Sun, we are pull at each other! And on this day, it will be the sun that revolves around the Earth--I WILL BE VICTORIOUS--" Ranpo: "Shhh...I just want the game. I don't really care about you." Poe: D: *collapses* "Karl...Save me, my sweetie..." lana: *sweatdrop* Ranpo: "Could you get on with this? I have a client waiting for me..." yosano: yeah, anyway. Poe: *holds up a book, crying* "Our competition *sniff* requires we read this mystery novel to find the serial killer--" Ranpo: "Minus one point." Poe: "YOU AREN'T THE REFEREE OF THIS GAME! LIGEIA IS!" lana: it's lana! la-na! Ranpo: "Ligeia is right: a fictional work is hardly a challenge for a real-life detective." lana: you too?! Poe: *smirks* "I thought so..." *pulls out a stack of papers* "Which is why, if you win, you'll learn the Guild's weakness. How about that?" yosano: wow. is that right? Poe: "I will show you how to take down the Guild's fortress, the flying Moby-Dick." lana: ....what? Ranpo: "..." *points at Poe* "Plus one point to you." *points to Lana* "Two points to Ligeia." lana: who even is that?! yosano: im as confused as you are, lana. lana:...you're officially my favorite person in this room. Poe: D:< *continues* "The Guild's fights are all about money, violence--which bores me to death. The only thing worthy of admiration and awe in this world is..." *points at Ranpo* "...your ability, 'Super Deduction.'" yosano: *sweatdrop* Ranpo: "..." *snatches the book* "Plus five points. Let's begin the game!" *sits down in a chair* Poe: "I picked that chair out myself. You see, when the room is oblong, you want to have a chair that suits the curvature of the walls--" *rambles* yosano: how do we know this isnt a trap? Poe: "If you are concerned, doctor, please, join the game: the rules permit other members of the Detective Agency to collaborate." yosano: and lana? Poe: *looks at Lana* "...Do you like murder mysteries?" lana: well, i did attend a murder mystery theme party during senior year. Poe: "Perfect! Well, then, read along with them!" lana: *looking* Ranpo: *reading* Book: "Our story begins on a night, in a certain era. A few guests were trapped into a mansion due to a blizzard. Our main character, a private detective, must stay overnight--when he is roused from his sleep by a strange noise next door." -a bright light fills the room- lana: ?! -you awake in a mansion- lana: w-wha? where...? Poe: *heard throughout the room* "My ability...to transport readers into any book..." lana: w-what?! what is he? a dokeshi? yosano: not exactly. Ranpo: "He has an 'ability,' like my ability of deduction." lana: like a quirk? yosano: somewhere in the middle i guess. Ranpo: *looks around the room for evidence* -elsewhere- Kunikida: "They are late." atsushi: i just hope they're alright... Kunikida: "They'll be fine--physically, at least." -back in the hotel room- Poe: *staring at the book with a smirk* -a light shines from the book- Ranpo: *holding up his hands* "So bright...Where am I? Why do I feel like I'm in a different set of clothes?" lana: *SCREAMS!* yosano: !!!! -a dead corpse is in the middle of the room- Ranpo: "What?! What happened? I don't have my glasses." -4 other individuals are there- Ranpo: *feels his foot hit something* "???" yosano: *looks* Person #1: "That man...Is he dead?" girl: what happened? Ranpo: "I'm...not sure myself." victim: *handing ranpo a key and pointing to a door* ah... Ranpo: "Wh-What?" *looks at the door* "Is that how the culprit escaped?" *walks to the door, inserts the key, opens--* *There is a wall, with something painted...in paint?* Person #1: *reading* " 'Welcome to'...Does that say 'Locked Room' or 'Locked Poem'?" lana: whats with the cat missing an eye? Ranpo: "Hmm...The creepy guy said if we face a serial killer. Therefore, if we fail to solve the mystery...we die." lana: seriously?! Ranpo: "Doctor, please use your ability on the dying man." yosano:...!!! what? my ability doesnt work in here! Ranpo: "..." *holds his head* "Nor will mine..." lana: then we're basically fucked. Ranpo: "Hmm...Locked room. No exit. Victim murdered. But without my ability...to solve this case...would be...BORING! DULL! FOOLISH! A great detective does not investigate--their superpowers just solve the case for them!" lana *face plants* yosano: (thinking: are you fucking real?) Suspect #1 (the gambler Kizaki): "Hey! Can I leave now?" Ranpo: *head slammed against table* "Zzz..." girl: -_-; Suspect #3 (Ukai, journalist): "Interesting how quick everyone here is to deny before they were accused...But I didn't do it either." -one session of questioning and investigating later- Ukai: "Allow an actual journalist to investigate!" Ranpo: "What, you're going to do a list of the worst 5 moments in anime that you totes never noticed?" -AAAH!- Ukai: "?!!!" -they follow the scream to a room....where yosano has an axe in her stomach- yosano: i messed up... lana: !!!! Ranpo: "Doctor! What happened? Oh no...W-We need a doctor!" lana: SHE IS A DOCTOR! Ranpo: "ONE WHO IS NOT DYING, YOU IDIOT!" yosano: i didnt see who did it....but i know you can solve this. number one detective...... -back in the hotel- Poe: "Hee hee hee...This was the mystery all along: you can't solve it, and if you try, you'll discover only something about yourself that you don't want to know, Ranpo...I WIN! Ha ha ha!" -flash- Poe: .w.;;;; *turns around* lana: *mortified* yosano: eh, getting axed wouldnt have been the worst thing to happen to me. Ranpo: *waves* "I win!" Poe: D: "B-B-but how?!" lana: what he said! Ranpo: "??? That I won, or that the Doctor survived?" lana: YES! Ranpo: "Well, the Doctor can heal injuries if the person is to the point of dying." *holds up an axe* "Want to try?" lana: but i thought that abilities didnt work in the book? Ranpo: "When released from the book she must've been able to heal herself immediately." *hands axe to Yosano* lana: but who was the killer then? Ranpo: "...Me." lana: ...EH?! yosano: and what brought you to that conclusion? Ranpo: "I was the only person in the room. The book has to have a narrator--and if the detective is themselves that narrator, then they are an unreliable narrator." *stares at Poe* "You must use those a lot in your works." Poe: D: lana: clever. Poe: "B-But--she was murdered! How did that happen when you weren't there?!" lana: that is true. Ranpo: "Magnets." lana: ......huh? Poe: "Ha! Like such a thing is possible--" Ranpo: "In that setting? The hints were everywhere in your story. Advanced medical appliances. Clothes provided by the mansion itself. The novel was actually set in the year 2050, where the house is an entertainment facility within orbit--that is its secret, is it not?" lana + yosano:....what. Poe: "...Alright, yes, it's true! You got it all!" *covers his face, whimpering* lana: i-its ok sir! but....why did you do all this? what did the guy do to you? Poe: "What did he do? ...He is my rival! He--" Ranpo: "I solved a mock-murder he designed in this very room a long time ago." lana: eh? O-O Poe: .w. "...You remember?" Ranpo: "Of course! I had to expend all of my ability to solve it." yosano: i'll be giving you two your moment and just wait outside. *exits* Ranpo: *smiles* "The one and only time another detective pushed me to my limit!" Poe: QWQ lana: ^^ (thinking: i have no idea what is happening) Ranpo: *picks up stack of papers labeled 'Moby Dick'* "I'll just take these and be on my way. Keep writing, Detective: I need you to work for my brain's sake. ^^ " lana: *watches them leave* .....do you need something to drink, sir? Poe: "...Amontillado." lana: ah. -elsewhere- Dazai: "I guess we'll need Light Snow and Man Tiger on this one." atsushi: *gulps* Dazai: *holds up the plans to the Moby-Dick* "We can't let that giant whale crash into the city below." atsushi: *nods* Dazai: "Now, if you excuse me, I have a friend who was stuck in a car accident--" atsushi: what?! Dazai: "Oh, he's fine. Lucky bastard. I wanted to die in a car crash with an attractive woman..." atsushi: *sweatdrop* (thinking: you have some weird goals.) Dazai: *pinches Atsushi's cheek* "And you hang tight, and if you behave, I'll bring you back something you like." ("Or someone...") -and so, in the helicopter- atsushi: you sure you're ok, tanizaki? Tanizaki: "Piloting..." atsushi: *sweats* intercom: now entering the moby dick's field of vision. Tanizaki: *focusing* Tanizaki: "Light snow..." Tanizaki: "Atsushi, go!" atsushi: *nods* -on the moby dick cargo hold- guild worker: !!!! w-what the hell?! Guild Crewperson #1: "I told her not to go out with him--but she's in her rebellious phase." guild worker: NOT THAT IDIOT! I MEAN THE DEAD BODIES! Guild Crewperson #1: "...?!!" Akutagawa: "..." *cough* guild worker: *running* Akutagawa: "Rashomon..." -SLASH- ???: you go on ahead, mr akutagawa.... rain: *looks up and smiles, but her eyes are dull and lifeless* i'll catch up. Akutagawa: "...Very well." *walks* -elsewhere- atsushi: im in. Dazai: *on radio* "How is it?" atsushi: quiet....and as cliche as it sounds....too quiet. ???: "I hate that cliche, too." atsushi: ACK! oh jeez, dont give me a heart attack like that! ???: "Ha ha ha...I'm older than you, and you worry about yourself having a heart attack? That's no way to live. I suggest a cruise. Very relaxing." atsushi:...a little birdy told us you were going to drop the whale onto the city. cant you stop it? Melville: "...Whoever is left on Moby Dick should have taken the next freighter off by now. You know why, kiddo? Because this war is ending." atsushi: how do we stop it from falling though?! Melville: "...This last act will obliterate the Guild's enemies...and...Moby Dick." atsushi: how do we stop it?! *shaking him* JUST TELL ME, DAMMIT! Melville: "With 70 percent of Moby Dick weaponized, I no longer control it enough." atsushi: isnt there an off switch or something?! Melville: "...The control terminal. Heavily guarded." atsushi: right. thank you sir!....wait...why are you still here if everyone else left? Melville: "Why? Well...Moby Dick once roamed the skies, before it was altered into a Guild fortress. If it is to go down...I should as well." atsushi:.....*nods and runs* .....!!!! Akutagawa: "?!! Man-Tiger?!" atsushi: OH COME ON! listen akutagawa, i'd love to stay and chat, but i have a very urgent thing that needs to get done pronto and i would appreciate doing it in one piece, thanks! Akutagawa: "..." *black energy swirls around him* atsushi: hey. im on the line with dazai, he said he has something he wanted to tell you, sounds important! Akutagawa: "...Dazai wants to speak with me?" atsushi: yeah! *tosses the communicator* Akutagawa: *pants like a dog, rushing to catch it* atsushi: *runs* Akutagawa: "Dazai! I'm here!" -the number you are trying to reach has hung up. if you would like to try again- Akutagawa: "..." *black flames around him* -elsewhere- atsushi: *opening the door* Fitzgerald: *holding a phone* "Hi, Zelda. It's me, Francis." atsushi: *sneak sneak* Fitzgerald: "I'm almost done--What? No! I could never forget my wife." atsushi: *reaching for the terminal* Fitzgerald: *spots a reflection on his wedding photo* "Sorry, I have a guest coming. I'll call right back. I love you, Zelda. Goodbye." *puts down the phone* atsushi: *grab* (thinking: got it!) *FLASH* -BANG- atsushi: oooow... wha?... O-O;;;;; hhhheeeeeeyyyy siiiiir. ^^;;;; Fitzgerald: "Hello, Tiger. You thought you hit the jackpot?" atsushi: listen. i kinda left my phone at home, and then i lost my communicator, soo...imgonnaborrowthisnowthankyou! *running* Fitzgerald: *already in front of him--tripping him* atsushi: !! oh shi- *notices something coming at them from the hall* Fitzgerald: "???" Akutagawa: *glare* atsushi: owo; *backing away and RUNS* Fitzgerald: "I'm sorry, Mr. Akutagawa, but I am occupied right now." Akutagawa: *practically passes through Fitzgerald* -in one of the halls- atsushi: *panting* just got to get someplace safe, then i can-

[becomingstrong1289]

5/17/17

Ive been sad lately. I’ve been sad for a long time. Years i think. Maybe decades at this point. Life is so hard. This bipolar thing is really starting to make sense. Its like I’m so depressed and then i get an energy about me and i want to do everything all at once and then i get too overwhelmed and irritated and go right back down to depressed. Is it normal to feel like this. It surely is affecting my life. My job is on its last leg, my relationship with Shawn is all over the place, i lose it with the kids and dont have enough energy to be what they need. But this is who ive always been. In highschool i was a depressed mess. Growing up the way i did really didn’t give me a good baseline. is that possible to not have a healthy baseline. 

Work: My plan has been for awhile, go to coding and find a job in that. Annie said it started at $17/hr. Eventually figure out how to go home to work. Once Owen is in school go back for nursing at Saint Anthony’s for my bachelors. It seems so easy. Cardiology is just a cluster fuck with a lot a lot of attitude. I hope this new girl comes in and makes it back to the way it was. I was thinking about attempting to take over putting on holters. Maybe that will get the nurses off my back. Its just unfair to me that i spend so much time on something that isnt necessary and then on a whim get asked to do something for someone else when no one is willing to help me. They only room pts if it is absolutely necessary. I guess nursing is all in the computer now. They cant even look away for a moment. i know there are better ways to deal with things. Today i wanted to figure out how i was going to take a lunch break. That meant asking Tana for help. But she had a meeting at noon and wouldnt be back until 3. So i thought i was fucked. She said i could go at 11, i was so negative and pessimistic i didnt see any other option. I feel like ive been sick for 3 weeks and its bringing me down. I got strep, the antibiotics affected me very negatively, and then i thought i was pregnant for like 2 weeks. One test even came out slightlly positive. Then i finally get my period and it is awful. The pain today was almost enough to make me go home. My body is throwing me for a loop. Im scared to take this stupid medicine for my thyroid, i feel sick, i have a fever constantly, my head is crazy, i have depression and anxiety, this divorce is killing me, i dont want it, i never did but its just happening anyway. i got the paper work. josh is starting to become a stranger to me. its just the weirdest feeling i hate being a single mom of two kids. im so tired and stretched thin. i put all my effort into things like cooking healthy and making sure they bath and brush their teeth twice a day correctly and doing natalies hair nicely and keeping my house clean for us. i see other people who dont do these things. Jodie said i should be more proud of myself for what i do. its hard to be proud and exhausted. is it worth the effort. are there things my energy could be put forth. is health and hygiene and cleanliness so important. Im so down, its getting harder and harder to see the joy in things. im so scare of getting on antidepressants. i dont want to be a zombie. i dont want the sexual dysfunction that comes along with that. I guess i just need to get through work and do everything i can. if someone asks me to do something, just do it. if i get behind on charts, just work until i get it done. if i have to not take a lunch break to get it done, then thats how it will be. a new coworker and a new boss might help the situation. who knows. im scared of the future i have there. i know i had it cushy with jeanette. i dont see it being like that with Laura. Bosses named laura are always “fun”.... just work hard. get yourself out of this rut. stop talking about outside life too. just focus on work. stop with your phone. i deleted fb off my phone. i need a break from that. dont let them see me on my phone. be perfect so theres nothing they can say. fake it til you make it i guess. 

Kids: Owen is thriving i think. Hes a good little boy, eats well, understands and communicated well, funny and loving. Natalie is a ball of anxiety. i want so much to get into her head. my goal was to always have an open relationship with my kids that they would be able to tell me anything. that is definitely not the way it is. She doesn’t tell me anything. Its all a secret and then i get made because its a secret. Today she had an accident and tried to hide it from me. she trashed my bathroom. Im not sure why my 6 year old is having accidents. thats scary in its own right. i am perpetually scare my kids could get molested or something without me ever knowing about it. anyway, i got mad when i went into the bathroom and saw what she had done. there was shit everywhere. just everywhere. Later when things were calmed and she did her punishment i asked her why she has been getting in trouble at school. she opened up when i asked if she needed more attention. she actually got emotional about it. she doesn’t think her teacher spends enough time with her, she doesn’t get enough play time, and the recess people are mean to her. She genuinely teared up over it. i asked her what she needed from me. she wants me to play more games with her. i bought a deck of cards a few days ago, i was going to teach her how to play some games. its so hard to fit all of it into a night. i get home at 530. i have to make dinner by 630. its been nice so weve been spending a little time outside. soon ill have my garden i would like to stop there a few times a week before we go home. anyway. 645 is bath time. They stay in there for about 30 mins 715. then its time to relax. I guess this is a good time to read books. Im so freaking tired by this point. but 715 to 730 would be good for books. and 730 to 8 would be good for games with natalie. sometimes they have been going to bed later. for 730-45 for books and 745=815 for games. by 83o everyone is in bed. i guess ill see how that goes tomorrow. i want the one on one time with natalie and owen. i enjoy it so much. i love friday afternoons with owen. its amazing to have him all to myself. and then when me and natalie are alone its really nice too. we need more of it. i dont know how to be someone she can come to honestly and authorative. i want a relationship that she knows the rules but stays open about if she broke them and takes responsibility for it. I have no idea what any of that looks like in real life. Maybe that kind of thing only exists in movies and adulthood. im her mom, not her friend, i know that but i need her to feel comfortable talking to me and she isnt. The mental health group class i went to talked about “has anyone taught you how to deal with being sad”. No one taught me. it was looked down upon if i was sad or emotional. it annoyed my mom and she made me go away. i remember when my aunt died. i was fine until i saw her daughter and realized she didnt have a mom anymore and i wanted to cry but i had to excuse myself because i was taught inadvertently that is how you deal with sad. i didnt even feel comfortable crying at a funeral. thats sad. and even now, my sadness is isolation, crying alone and hiding everything. and how guilty i feel, just this weekend natalie got sad that we were going to pull out her tooth with plyers, we said it as a joke, and she started crying. i asked her why she was crying but she just clammed up. i was so frustrated i sent her to her room. im my mind i thought it would be a way for her to cool off but now i think if i would have just given her a hug and reassured her we were just kidding she may have opened up to me. im going to put more effort into her. 45 mins per night will be directly spent with them and only them. Im not going to take it away if they were bad. we need time together whether they misbehaved or not. i need to research better discipline methods. besides beating children i was never taught how to properly discipline a kid. time out was good before but natalie is too old for that now. i know things like cleaning and going to bed shouldnt be a punishment because then cleaning and going to bed normally will always be a punishment. i take away her snack but that makes me scared she’ll see food as a reward also. just how the fuck do i discipline a kid that doesn’t affect the rest of her life. one guy i knew made his kid run when she was bad. well i bet exercise will be a punishment when she gets old and shell die of heart disease from being sedentary her whole life. im going to bed. i hope getting some of this out of my head makes for a better tomorrow. 

[arthurflecksgirl]

Darkness caving in *A look into ARTHUR FLECKs journal

I wrote something darker today. Its a short story which contains Arthurs writing.

Disclaimer: Suicidal thoughts & attent ,mental illness

Arthur was sitting at the table in the corner of his dark apartment. The smoke of his half gone cigarette filled the dark room. Only the dim blue lights from the kitchen made it possible to see something.

Arthur inhaled the smoke as he turned the desk light on.

Almost empty bottles of serveral different medication lying between an ashtray and his wrecked journal.

He was topless, in his pj pants and started to get cold. But he didnt had the time to get a shirt. There was no time to waste.

He had to get all of these thoughts out of himself. On the paper. Maybe then they would leave him at peace. At least for the rest of the night.

His therapist recommented it to him. Writing a journal. So he did. He wasnt sure if it helped in any way but it was easier tokeep all his jokes together this way, so he kinda started to appriciate it.

Dr Kane never really read the words he had written. She told him she would but her eyes always skipped the most important parts. She just looked over it. No real interest.

Althought the content of his diary was pretty personal, he wished someone would read it. Not only skipping though the pages.

The thought of someone paying attention to his words made made him feel warm inside. He wanted to be heard. he wanted to be listened to. Even if some of the stuff would be truly embarrassing. It would be worth it.

He was always alone with his thoughts. So alone that it felt like his own mind was attacking him sometimes. It just wouldnt leave him alone.

Every night, when he was lying on the couch, staring at the ceiling, darkness was caving in, coming closer. Smothering him. Not only the darkness of the room. But the darkness inside of him. It grew within him like a creature of its own. Like something he lost control over it. Day by day.

The seven different medications he took should keep the darkness from taking him in compleately. But he wasnt sure for how long this would work out anymore.

Last night he felt hands all over him.

Not hands of a beautiful girl, like he wished for.

Shapeless hands, darkness itself.

It made him shiver under his blankets and he closed his eyes and tried to imagin something that would bring him back to a better state of mind.

Your hands.

Soft and warm.

The hands of the girl that just moved in across the street.

He could see though your window when he stood behind the curtains in his kitchen.

He watched you serveral times now. When you changed your clothes. You were so beautiful. He thought about you a lot when he felt the hole in his lonely heart.

It was your hands he imagined as he shivered at night.

He has never been touched by loving hands before.

Never been hugged by anyone exept his mother.

All he ever wished for was someone to hold him at night.

Someone to keep the shapeless , grabbing hands of darkness away from his fragile body.

And your hands seemed just right for it.

He saw them when you opened and closed the window.

But deep down he knew it was only a dream to feel them across his face.

To feel them in his hair, after you kissed passionately.

It was only daydreams. Hallucinations, visions even like Dr Kane claimed.

Arthur put the cigatette down in the ashtray and started writing:

"Today I woke up and wanted to die. I don`t even know why. It was just a gut feeling that has been growing inside of me over the years. I can feel it every day. Its sitting right there on my shoulders when I take a walk outside. Its is sitting beside me when I am on the subway. Its watching me with his ugly eyes when I make dinner for my mum. Its always there,its arms tight around my feet, kicking and screaming for me to give in.

It wants me to give in. I just know it. Any maybe I should.

But then I start hearing other voices again.

Soft whispers of a girl, her breath hot against my ear. She tells me she loves me and convinces me that everything is going to be okay.

I know she isnt real but it still holds me back from doing what I should.

I mean...she is real actually. She lives across my street but she has not noticed me yet. I guess she never will. No one ever does. Not even my mother. She just keeps on talking about Thomas Wayne, thats all she seemed to be interested in. But she is in a bad condition and I guess its okay. I don`t wanna be another burden she has to carry. I guess she would be better off without me. Another reason why I should quit.

I should be used of being lonely. But its something I never get used to. It gets harder every day actually. It gets harder with age. I turn 36 soon and I feel even more miserable than ever before. I should end it. I should really end it all.

Lets be honest. The girl across my street will never even look me in the eyes. She might see me leaving the house some day, but she will just walk on by, like I wasnt even there.

Would she walk over me if I would lie there on the sidewalk?

No I guess she wouldnt. She looks very nice and caring.

Maybe she would help me get back up if I was lucky.

But thats it.

The touch of her hand helping me up would be the only chance to ever feel her soft skin on mine.

Maybe I should go out and threw myself on the street.

Hoping that she will see me from her window, before I will get hit by a tuck.

Or even better. maybe I should get hit by a fucking truck and she will see the bloody mess when she is about to go out to buy some food.

She would see me lying there and would get to me in a hurry.Trying to wake me. It would be too late but I guess she would shed a tear over me.

I know she doesnt even know who I am but she looks like someone who would shed a tear over a dead stranger, lying in front of her house.

And her empathy , her salty  tear falling upon my bloody forehead would be worth it.

Anyway.... yesterday I couldnt even distrakt myself by daydreaming about her.

So I wanted to give it a tray and made myself a hot bath.

I waited till Penny was asleep.

I even checked twice if she was.

I mixed her dinner with some of my sleeping pills, to make sure she won`t wake up and use the bathroom while I was trying to kill myself.

I couldnt handle the thought of her seeing this.

It would look like I am asleep when she finds me in the morning, so this should be okay.

I didnt wanted to break her heart but as I said, she is better off without me. Everyone is.

I can`t connect to other people. I tried it all my life but it just won`t happen.

I try to make them laugh, tell them jokes, bring them flowers,...

But it never works.

So why try over and over again?

I am just sick of this.

And a bathtub full of hot water would do its duty.

So... I tip toed to the bathroom, shut the door quietly and got rid of my clothes.

A last look into the mirror.

My skinny  body is starting to freeze. The room is cold.

My ribs are popping out where my skin is bruised all over.

They kicked the shit out of me a week ago.

The good thing is... it won`t happen again.

My fingers wandered across my hollow belly.

I havent eaten for days.

I looked fragile.

How could the girl ever love a man looking like this?

I bet she gets laid with some kind of buff guy, with stong arms.

Its hard to look at my own reflection.

Green eyes starred back at me.

Kinda intense.

I expected them to look empty.

They didn`t.

The look I gave myself scared me in a way.

Like my very own eyes are asked me what the fuck am I doing here.

That I shoud turn off the water and get back to sleep.

But sleep would not happen.

Only shapeless , cold hands again.

Black shadowns against my pale skin.

The only sleep I could ever find is right there...

I looked at the bathtub, which I could also see in the mirror. It was almost filled now.

It was time.

The last look I dedicated to the scar on my upper lip.

My cheekbones.

My brown, sweaty hair.

Bye Arthur Fleck.

I turned around and  put my right foot into the water. It was painfully hot.

Pain is good. I wanted to feel something.

The left foot followed, so as the rest of my bony body.

I layed down.

The hot water like an embrace.

The warm embrace I never experienced with another person.

With the girl I love.

It felt like a thousand hands loving me all at once.

"Love me" I whispered into the dark bathroom.

I took a close look at my own hands.

I think I never looked at them closely before.

They were destined to touch someones body.

To hold someones face between them. Gently. While kissing the one that lets me love her.

But i just couldnt make it happen.

I`m a freaking looner.

Nothing more than that.

A freak maybe. First of all a freak.

A silent whimper escaped my lips right before I let my head sunk under the water.

The feeling of being under water gave me comfort.

Even more comfort than crawling into the fridge.

Its like being locked up.

The outside world cant hurt you anymore.

Thats why I actually liked being at Arkham.

A cage can be comforting.

But you don`t need a cage anymore, after you left your body.

I would be free soon.

I felt the urge to get up.

Now comes the hardest part I thought.

I felt the pressure in my lungs.

But I would`t get up.

I wanted it to end.

My ears shut. So as the voices in my head. It became quiet now.

So quiet.

Is this what peace feels like?

My chest started to hurt

And as the burning sets in I heard her voice calling me.

"Arthur, come back!"

No, I wont listen to another hallucination again.

"Arthur, please! I need you to notice me"

I know how it feels like to remain unnoticed.

Bubbles coming out of my mouth.

"What if I could actually love you, Artie? What if I would hold you in my arms forever and I can`t cuz you had to kill yourself first?"

Sounds convincing. I had to admit.

"What if I was just as lonely as you and we are meant for each other?"

What if actually?

The burning gets worse. My lungs feel like they are about to burst.

More bubbles.

I open my eyes underwater.

And there she was.

I saw her beautiful shape standing in fron of the bathtub. Her arms streched out for me.

My vision was blurry but I still saw that she looked WORRIED.

Because of me.

I could tell she was about to cry.

The tear came into my mind.

The tear falling upon my bloody forehead.

The one I couldnt  have felt anymore.

Whats the point of a tear you cant feel anymore?

The point of being loved when you never knew you were loved?

What if there is the slightest chance that someone sees me?

I felt her arms grabbing me, lifting my tiney body out of the bathtub.

I was gasping for air, coughing.

Her face above me as I lay on the cold floor.

"You`re cold,Arthur" she smiled in the cutest way and covered my shaking body with a bathrobe, stroking my wet hair out of my face.

"You`re beautiful" I whispered with shaking lips.

"So as you, Arthur. I`m glad you?re back!"

"You are?"

Silence.

Black out.

I woke up naked on the bathroom floor.

No bathrobe to protect me from the cold.

The bathtub still full of water.

I felt weak while I stood up. My skinny legs unstable.

Then I started to remember it again.

I wanted to end me.

But there was this girl.... the girl from across the street.

She...

I guess it was just another vision i had.

I put my underwear  and PJ pants back on, walking into the kitchen, made some coffee. Light a cigarette and watched out the window.

Same old world.

But then... the girl just left the house.

I dont know why but I headed out of the house in a sec, still in my PJ.

I stood across the street and watched her.

She looked like an angel.

So soft and beautiful.

There was something about her smile.

"Sir?" my heart skipped a beat as I realized she was looking at me.

"Sir, can I ask you something?" she walked towards me, bright eyes.

"Y....yes sure?!" I mumbled.

"I dont know if you are aware but I just moved in some weeks ago and I dont know anyone here in the neighborhood..." she seemed kinda shy, which i really liked.

"I dont usually do this... its kinda embarrassing" she laughed.

"No...no...its okay... what is it?"

"Well... I was watching you for quite a time now...." she was looking at the ground, then back into my eyes  "And... well... I´d love to get to know you better. I was dreaming about you yesterday.... oh god I shouldnt have said that.... I am so sorry.... but I couldnt get you out of my mind ever since." she blushed.

"Are you....serious?"

She smiled "Yeeahhh. Oh yes I am. I just wondered if you would go out on a date with me. there I said it"

She offered me her hand  "I am Y/N"

"I`m Arthur"

I touched her hand.

Her hand !

Skin on skin.

I felt a tear running down my cheek.

A tear I could still feel.

Just like her hand.

"Arthur? Are you crying?"

I sqeezed her hand and felt happiness for the first time in my life.

"Oh Y/N .... Don´t you worry about that!"

THE END