#fun fact of the post: slow blinking at cats is received positively by them

[deadlysmiles70]

More cat drawings !

[reifromrfa]

Our Gift, to You: Saeran x MC

I wrote this last year and with all the holiday festivities...forgot to post it ^^; It’s a gift for a friend (whose tumblr handle I can’t remember because we spoke on Discord ToT). But I hope you enjoy! Haha makes me miss writing for Saeran <3

Merry Christmas, guys!

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Our Gift, to You

This feels…weird. Unfamiliar. New. Not necessarily bad, just…

He’s never had a real Christmas before.

Saeran shifts his weight to his other leg uncomfortably, surveying the scene before him. People bustled about the square, setting up chairs, decorating the large Christmas tree, touching up the design of the stage. A group of children stands to the side, vocalizing —a chorale. And in front of them was his beloved, talking to the conductor.

Immediately a sense of calm washes over him, the relief of having her in his sight allowing him to relax, to ease the tension in his shoulders. MC laughs and unconsciously his body leans forward, yearning to hear her voice. But his attention is diverted when his older brother strides toward him, a huge goofy smile on his face. Despite being identical twins, everyone in the RFA always comments on how different they are. And it's true --Saeran can't imagine being as goofy as his brother. But after everything that happened, he's happy to see his older brother happy.

"Brother of mine! Where were thou? I hath been looking for thee!"

"Why are you talking like that?"

"Ah, I just felt like it hehe."

"...okay."

"Saeran ah," Saeyoung clasps his shoulder and steers him toward the stage. "We have to go somewhere."

"Wha--stop that. Where are you taking me?"

Saeyoung grins, his glasses glinting in the afternoon sun. Saeran scowls at him.

"Just trust me, brother."

"...but I don't trust you."

Saeyoung gasps loudly, a hand going to his heart as he dramatically turns to Saeran. "B-but! Little brother! Why!!! Why do you hurt me like this?! Could it be because you're a sadist too??"

"Shut up." Saeran mutters in a low voice, his ears burning with his brother's remark. "I am not."

Saeyoung laughs. "Of course you're not, Saeran. Hehe."

Saeyoung stops in front of a heavily tinted car and Saeran turns to him, confused.

"Wha--"

"No time to explain!" Saeyoung cuts in, hastily pushing Saeran into the car. Saeran tries to fight off his brother but the older twin is far stronger than Saeran physically, thanks to his training from his hacker days. Saeran is shoved into the car, the door slamming shut behind him. He mutters a curse under his breath but as he straightens and reaches for the door, the other door opens and he hears a high-pitched gasp. When he turns, he instinctively opens his arms as MC's body crashes against his.

"Have fun, you two! Merry Christmas!" Comes Yoosung's voice from outside. There's some aggressive yelling in the background, the actor's voice being carried by the wind. But as soon as Jumin closes the door behind MC, the locks click into place and the car starts to move.

"Wha...Saeran..?" MC asks breathlessly, looking up at him. The white-haired twin realizes how close she is, her hazel eyes staring into his mint ones. He feels his face warming but he gives her a concerned look, pushing the hair that had fallen across her face.

"Are you okay, my love?"

MC's face turns that shade of red that he loves so much as she adjusts into a sitting position beside him, fixing the hem of her skirt.

"Yes...I'm fine." She looks at the closed partition and back at Saeran. "Any idea what they're planning?"

Saeran shakes his head, his irritation apparent by the scowl on his face. "My brother never tells me any of his plans."

MC giggles. "Well, if Saeyoung's behind it, it can't be that bad."

"...you think too highly of my brother."

MC laughs and his heart calms, comforted by the joy she emanated. As long as she is by his side...Saeran knows everything will be alright. He reaches for her hand and gives it a gentle squeeze, making her inhale sharply before giving him one of her sweet smiles.

"Saeran..."

The way she says his name makes his lips dry, his eyes flicking to her lips. Immediately he feels the air around them shift, his longingness for her overwhelming him. MC has been busy with the preparations for the party that their times together had been brief, fleeting. Now that he's alone with her --even if they were basically kidnapped and being taken to God knows where --he can't help but want the woman sitting beside him.

Saeran leans forward...and then the TV attached to the panel in front of them sizzles to life, and a voice fills the compartment.

"DING DONG DING DONG MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!"

The two jump apart, the sudden outburst making MC squeak and Saeran hit his head on the roof. Thank God it was padded.

He glares at the screen, the face of his brother staring back at them.

"Hehehe did I surprise you two? Were you about to have a special Christmas kiss~?"

Right now Saeran wanted to kiss his twin --Saeyoung's lips, Saeran's fist. He rubs his head and wonders what in the world his brother is doing. He loves his twin, but sometimes, the way he does things makes Saeran feel as though he's on a never-ending roller-coaster ride.

"Anyway! You two must be wondering what this is all about! UNFORTUNATELY!!! You'll have to wait! The car will take you to where you have to be so just sit back, relax, and~"

The Saeyoung on the screen makes a show of clearing his throat.

"Enjoy as RFA's best singer serenades you with Christmas songs!!!"

Saeran expects the screen to shift to Zen but he can't help but crack a smile when his brother starts singing Jingle Bells. MC laughs and Saeran sits back, listening to two of the most dearest people to him. His brother's singing, his beloved's laughter...voices that warm his heart despite the cold weather.

He feels her fingers intertwining with his own and Saeran closes his hand on hers, enjoying her warmth and presence. The rest of the car ride is silent, both of them listening to Saeyoung's singing. MC leans against him, the break very much welcome after a long day of making sure the party would run smoothly. Deep down, she still worries about the party, but if her friends planned this, then she knows they already have everything ready.

Finally, the car slows to a stop.

Good because Saeyoung has been singing like a deer for a while now.

"Oh!! It has been approximately 2527 seconds and you should have arrived at your destination! Please follow the snowflakes from here on and enjoy!!!"

The screen shuts off. The door is opened for them and Saeran steps out, offering a hand to MC and assisting her out of the car as well. Jumin's driver bows to them before heading back inside the car. Saeran and MC look at the tall building in front of them: one of C&R's international hotels.

The snow falls gently around them and Saeran wonders just exactly what his brother meant.

Follow the snowflakes..?

Saeran and MC climb the steps and enter the hotel and immediately MC bursts into laughter.

On the lobby floor is a sticker of a snowflake but with Yoosung's face in the middle. A few feet away, another sticker is there, this time with Saeyoung's face. Saeran has to hand it to his brother; the older twin definitely has some creative ideas under all the joking around and Honey Buddha Chips.

Saeran takes MC's hand and she leads him around the hotel, following the snowflakes stuck to the floors or walls. She giggles at the funny expressions on each of their friends' faces, even at the cute face of Elizabeth the 3rd. Saeran can't help but be drawn to her, this beautiful smiling angel.

Soon though, they stand in front of double doors, the handwritten sign on the wall saying 'Saeran and MC's White Christmas'. MC looks at him, her happiness and excitement making her glow; Saeran can't look away from her brightness.

"Shall we?"

Together, they reach for a door and push it open.

They are greeted by a flurry of snow and the soft dulcet tones of a piano. There is a table for two in the middle of the room, flowers adorning the table and intertwined onto the chairs.

Saeran blinks and his eyes go to the walls, which have photos projected onto them.

Photos of the RFA...of MC. Of him.

He hears his love gasping, hands going to her mouth as she takes in the sight before them. Slowly, they make their way to the table, each studying the photos. Saeran didn't even realize he had so much images of himself. But apparently, the photographer, Jihyun, has been taking candid shots. There were some cellphone photos as well...and blurry shots. But most of the images showed the RFA together, of happy moments they spent together.

A group photo during the summer. Photos of them eating ice cream. Of the actor sneezing due to his allergies. Of Yoosung Kim, beaming at the camera from the stage as he received his diploma. A photo of Jumin Han with his cat, sitting on a plane. Jaehee Kang tucking her hair behind her ear as she smiled at the camera with MC beside her. Even Jihyun had photos of himself.

But the best ones...the best ones were of his love. His loves, to be exact. The one who owns his heart...and the one who shares his soul.

Saeran's eyes scan the photos of himself with his brother; they weren't special. In fact, most of them were of the twins, arguing or laughing. Sleeping. Looking at knick knacks or the sunset. A smile graces Saeran's face.

That idiot.

He feels her warm hand going around his arm and he turns to look at her. The woman who taught him how to love, how to smile...how to forgive.

"Saeran..."

This time, he steps closer to her and captures her lips in his own, his love for her making his heart swell, his joy at simply knowing this woman overwhelming him already. To be given an opportunity to love her...well, that was greater than any gift he could ever ask for.

Her lips are soft and move against his, her arms going around his neck as she pulls Saeran closer, wanting more of the one she loves. Fake snow falls around them, instrumental Christmas songs serving as their background music. But they could be standing in an empty room, in silence, and everything would still be perfect. As long as she is with him...everything is always going to be okay.

They both pull away, pressing their foreheads together as they stare into each other's eyes.

"I love you, Saeran."

"I love you, MC...so much."

Again, she beams. Her smile lighting up her face...and his world.

"Should we check what's on the table?" MC asks.

Saeran laughs. "Sure, my love."

They close the gap between them and the table and find a fancy set-up of cutlery. There are covered plates and MC reaches out for a lid, lifting it gently. A savory aroma wafts through the air and Saeran freezes as he hears his stomach grumbling.

MC's laugh echoes around the room and Saeran turns red, averting his gaze to the table. That's when he sees an envelope addressed to the both of them. Taking the letter inside, he unfolds it and reads the message out loud.

"Dear Saeran and MC,

Merry Christmas! You two have worked so hard on the party that you both deserve a break! And to be honest, we wanted to give you two a special gift, one that can't be bought or traded! So, here are our gifts:

The gift of food! Because you both need to eat better! Hahaha! And Christmas can't be Christmas without food!

We give you two the gift of time. Because time with our loved ones is always important, and should never be taken for granted. You two deserve your time together, and we hope you enjoy this special Christmas moment between yourselves.

We give you the gift of friendship. Lmao, everyone could use a friend, and guess what? You two have seven! We hope the photos remind you that you are never alone, that no matter what, both of you have friends who will always be there for you, with you.

And finally, we give you both the gift of love. Romantic love, friendly love, family love. We love you both dearly. To us, especially to me, Saeyoung...you two are the brightest stars in the galaxy.

Merry Christmas, Saeran and MC!

P.S. Do not worry about the party, it is all taken care of. Please enjoy your moment together."

"Those goofballs..." MC says, sniffing as she wipes the corner of her eye. Saeran can't help but swallow as well.

After being alone for so long...after harboring so much hate and doing so much bad...how did he get so lucky? Maybe...maybe later, he can pray with his brother and be thankful for his blessings.

For now, he takes the advice of his friends...his family.

He pulls out the chair for MC and helps her to her seat. With a graceful flourish, he takes off the lid of each dish, watching MC's expression as each dish is revealed. Finally, he takes his seat across her and gives her a tender smile...a loving look.

"MC?"

"Yes, Saeran?"

"Are you happy, my love?"

"Of course...of course, I am. This is more than I could ever ask for." She blushes. "You are more than I could ever ask for."

"I feel the same way, my love. You have been a beacon of hope...the light in the darkness I was in. And now you bring me happiness, in ways I never even thought possible. You can just sit...as you are right now. Happy...healthy...perfect. I would be the happiest man alive just to be able to bask in your presence."

"Love...Saeran. I love you. I love you so much."

"I love you too, MC." Saeran gives her a smile, a smile that's reserved for the one he loves.

"Merry Christmas."

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Check out my other Mysme writings here!

Mango Shake/Ko-fi is always very much appreciated (ᵔᴥᵔ)

I’d be honored to write your story <3

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[boysoverroses-blog]

Alyuin (1)

Alyiun Club:

You'd think that managing a business is easy and there are no troubles that find you, other than miscalculated reports. But not this one, for various reasons. One being, the business in question is a club and second, it is managed by 9 girls. It's safe to say they were pretty good at their job. The occasional fights break out and they resolve them pretty quickly, but this one needed a little more attention.

Sang Soo was behind the bar, bartending, it was her hobby and quite frankly she was good at it. It's also a great place to keep an eye on the customers. As she made drinks she surveyed the surroundings. Her eyes zeroed in on two guys, who were manhandling two of the waitresses that work there, Min Ji and Seo Yun. Sang Soo’s eyes were glued on the scene for a few minutes, her gaze hardening when she took in the girls uncomfortable state. She was about to ring the security when Yong Sang came out from the back.

“I see them but we can't do anything yet, they have already paid and should leave soon,” she spoke with a calm voice but you could see the hardness in her eyes. Sang Soo released a slow breath before turning her back to the crowd.

“If they don’t leave I am kicking them out. The girls are uncomfortable, they seem to know each other.” Sang Soo stated.

“Nevertheless I'll call Ji Mi out” Yong Sang threw over her shoulder as she made her way to Ji Mi’s office.

Sang Soo rolled her eyes and murmured, ‘I can take care of myself’, before huffing and finishing a margarita for a short blonde girl.

‘Clearly, you forgot about the in-ear piece because you didn't even try to hide your growling’ Rae Jae’s voice rang through Sang Soo’s right ear. She swore in her head and let out a ‘sorry’.

“It’s fine, I see them too, and it’s disgusting, I can’t wait for the show”

“There won't be one” a voice cut in before Sang Soo could reply with an eager ‘hell yeah’. Sang Soo’s eagerness died in her throat as she realized that Ji Mi had decided to join their conversation but was nowhere in sight.

“Somehow you manage to ruin my fun without even moving a finger,” Sang Soo grunted under her breath while shooting a customer a friendly smile as they decided to leave in favor of the dance floor. She turned at the call of another customer,

“Blue Martini” his voice cut through the loud music. She nodded and started making the cocktail before turning her attention back to the two guys. Je Ki’s voice cut through the earpiece asking whose voice is that and why it was that deep, but that was the least of Sang Soo’s worries right now, the situation wasn't looking very good.

“Do something or I’ll be kicking their asses out of here!” Sang Soo growled as she watched Ji Mi approach the two guys that were holding the two struggling girls. Sang Soo kept her eyes on the scene while also making the guy’s drink. When she got the hint that they weren’t budging and decided that it was the last straw.

“I am going in” she murmured before turning to the cat-eyed deep voice customer. He looked at her with an interested smirk.

“Excuse me, I'll have your drink ready in a minute, but I have to deal with a mild inconvenience first.” she excused herself before taking off her apron and sliding over the counter, making her way to the two guys she's been wanting to beat the whole time they've been here. The cat-eyed customer turned to watch what the cute bartender was going to do to the two gorilla-sized men.

“Is there a problem?” she menacingly asked. Ji Mi turned to her and said that they refuse to leave.

“She asked you politely to leave” she repeated with a glare.

“I see no reason for us to leave when we’re not done,” one of the buffoons said, still holding on Min Ji, who up close looked like she wanted to cry.

“Please let go of my employees and escort yourselves out before I call the security guards,” Sang Soo said sharply to the two men. Seo Yun literally looked so done, she tried to rip herself out of the man’s grip but he tightened his hold and she scrunched up her face in pain.

“It's against regulations to harass the waitresses,” Ji Mi said with a deadpan voice, her patience running thin.

“They’re not waitresses here, they quit.” the man holding Seo Yun spits out with a disgusting smile.

“You have no right to say that. You have no power over me anymore, we broke up. Get it through your thick dumb head” Seo Yun raised her voice, while Min Ji nodded her head.

‘‘How the fuck did you even know that they knew one another, Sang Soo?” Yong Sang asked her through the earpiece.

“Clearly, they’re uncomfortable and have already ended things with each other” Sang Soo said matter of factly and looked the intruders straight in the eyes “so, you should either get out on your own or I'll have to kick your asses out myself.” Sang Soo threatened.

The cat-eyed customer raised a questioning eyebrow. His attention shifted when someone took the previous bartenders’ position. Her name tag said, Hyo Gun. Her attention was on the scene before them. He turns back to see the two men face to face with Sang Soo and the brown haired girl.

“And how are you going to do that, bitch?” he spat in her face.

Sang Soo smirked at the curse word and buffed her chest even more “Well, you see, the security guard will take around 30 seconds to arrive here and in those 30 seconds I can dislocate both your shoulders and break your nose without breaking a sweat.” she nonchalantly said staring intently at them.

“You think you can take us?” the other one responded to her threat.

“Just try me.” she challenged. She could beat them up if she wanted to, but she doesn't want to start a fight. That would just end with her getting in trouble for initiating a fight with a customer. It would be better if the customer throws the first punch. Everything after that would've been a self-defense act and if anything she could get a bonus or a raise.

“Please, remove yourselves from the premises immediately.” she tried again. In a blink of an eye, one of the men threw a punch her way. Fortunately, she caught it with ease. “You leave me no choice.” she sighed, her face showed disinterest before it morphed into hatred.

The customer at the bar was caught off guard when she easily twisted his arm behind his back. He could vaguely hear the girl, Hyo Gun, behind him calling for the security guards.

Once the other guy processed that a fight had started, he turned to Ji Mi and moved his first in her direction. She easily avoided him, as he was more wasted than the man Sang Soo was handling. She hit the side of his head to disorient him. The two waitresses had already left the scene and gone to the back to report to Soo Mi since she's kinda in charge of damage control.

The two girls had kicked their asses when the security guards finally showed up. One of the two men was passed out cold while the other one had a busted lip. To say he was pissed would be an understatement.

“You're banned from coming here ever again.” Ji Mi calmly said. Sang Soo waved her hand sarcastically before returning to her post behind the bar. Hyo Gun helped around for a while before going to the back.

The handsome stranger was surprised, as he didn't think that this would happen. They were very intriguing. He turned to Sang Soo, who looked as if she didn't just beat a man twice her size. He had very good attention to details. He was watching the fight and he knows for a fact that Sang Soo received one of hell of a punch to her left side, which was unprotected. She had a blind spot, she didn't protect her left side. But he’ll give her props, she knew a lot based on her performance, and so did the other girl, which is weird. He knows for a fact that when they’re hiring they don’t look for a specific requirement, like knowing self-defence. He would know this since he co-owns this club. He isn't surprised that they don't know who he is, because frankly, he doesn't know them either, but they made an impression, so he's going to make Kyungsoo and Jongdae dig.

“I am sorry, can you repeat your drink again?” she asked him.

“Blue Martini” he repeated. She nodded and finished his drink a lot faster than before.

“I think you need to take your break” Hyun Jin came out, tying her apron and taking over.

“I know you say you’re fine, but Sang Hee wants to check on you, you were sloppy and he got a hit on you.” she continued knowing that Sang Soo was going to argue.

Cat-eyed stranger, Minseok, lifted his head slightly. He looked around and saw the security cameras that were stationed at every corner, then back at the new bartender. He could see the earpiece in her left ear through her hair. He may not know who he hired, but he does know what they provide to workers, and it's definitely not earpieces. He paid for his drink and made his way to the house. He needed to do some research, this wasn’t over.

“Fine, but he really was tipsy so his ‘hits’ were even that hard” she excused herself and made her way to the back only to meet Sang Hee half the way.

“You worry too much” Sang Soo muttered to Sang Hee, who was already peeling a bruise patch.

“And because I worry too much I saved you from internal bleeding last month, which means that you shouldn't have fought at all!” she huffed.

“I couldn't help it, besides I was itching for a fight. I haven't punched anything in the last three weeks.” Sang Soo whined.

“You’re a bartender, you shouldn't be fighting at all, we have security guards for that,” Rae Jae stated coming in the locker room.

“How come no one is scolding Ji Mi?” Sang Soo whined looking at a crossed arm upset Ji Mi.

“Oh, come on, not you too!” Sang Soo whined again.

“Control your anger” she commented. Je Ki came in and had a piece of paper.

“Well, congratulations! You kicked ass in front of the owner of the club.” she fake cheered.

“Look, I know we won't get fired. she sighed. “I think it was the blue martini guy” she added, catching their attention.

“Why?”

“The letter said, he’ll order a blue martini if he's satisfied.”

“Hey at least he was still satisfied.” Hyun Jin said.

“Fun” Sang Hee uttered. Soo Mi came in and looked at the scene and sighed before sitting down.

“The girls are okay, we’re relocating them to Love Shot just in case.”

[athyrabunlord]

So I’m having major LLSHP AU withdrawal symptoms so I was wondering whatever blip you choose it could be from that universe? first choice is: 8. “Your smile is not as bright as it used to be.” Kanamari after Mari was attacked in Hogsmeade and her power had been drained Or either: 45. “I think I made a mistake.” (Kanan) 46. “Shut up, I am a delight!” (Mari)- Kanamari prequel When they first started dating if possible? As I’m desperate to know how their relationship started! Thank you!

“Shut up, I am a delight!” [Prompt List] (closed)A/N: I skipped 6 asks to do this one sorry XD;; Don’t worry, I’ll do all the existing asks. As said in this post, I’m glad to be asked about this AU Anon! A/N2: This would be a teaser from the prequel-Interlude “Delphinus”, which is about kanadiamari’s Hogwarts days prior to the main story, told in Mari’s POV.Words: 2,696As usual, “italicized words” = Mari’s Engrish

“What’s up with her…?”

Mari lowers her Omnioculars and fiddles with the buttons on the side before looking through them again. Her objective is jogging at a decent speed, not at all deterred by the bumpy and uneven shore around the Black Lake. The girl’s expression is one of utmost concentration, her dark-indigo ponytail fluttering behind her like a, well, pony’s tail. Dressed in jeans and a shabby hoodie, Kanan Matsuura looks like a lost Muggle who somehow wandered into Hogwarts grounds.

Alas, the carelessly strewn Gryffindor cloak and scarf beside a rock remind Mari that Kanan is indeed a fellow student, Muggleborn or not.

She sure can run… ugh, stupid tree in the way.

Mari narrows her eyes and shuffles from one hiding spot to another. They say curiosity kills the cat, but she happens to be quite resilient! Each and every one of her adventures make her into the shiny person she is today!

Once an idea has taken root, Mari is sure to follow it through until boredom wins and sends her elsewhere. So far, her observation of Kanan is, frankly, tedious. Other than learning her peer has seemingly inexhaustible stamina and appears to be unaffected by the cold weather, nothing exciting has happened.

Mari grumbles under her breath as she reapplies the Hot-Air Charm for the umpteenth time. Waking up at the ungodly hour of 5AM is horrible already, let alone on a friggin’ Sunday! And Kanan’s done nothing but jog around the Black Lake for over an hour now! After the first twenty minutes, Mari had given up sneaking around the bushes and merely settled for perching on a high vantage point so she could oversee the Lake’s perimeters.

Sighing, Mari uses the Omnioculars to slow down Kanan’s movement and watches the replay to see if she could find anything interesting. As expected of binoculars specifically made for Quidditch games, she could see every single detail clearly, such as how Kanan’s sweaty bangs are messy and her cheeks flushed from the jog.

Mari blinks, noticing a particular detail for the first time.

Is she… smiling?

She considers herself an active person, having flown around on her broom and her precious Hippogriff since she was a little girl, but all the fun had been obtained through magical means. She doesn’t understand what could be so enjoyable about something as mundane as just… running. It’s not a game of Tag, and there is no goal, no incentive as far as she can see.

What’s so fun about this?

Sure, Quidditch players are known to train around the Black Lake, but even they would not wake up this early on a Sunday (she really can’t get over this fact). At least, such outdoorsy and tenacious spirit fits the Gryffindor stereotype. Mari has always wondered why Kanan got Sorted into Gryffindor - she isn’t rowdy and prone to mischief; while she appears smart enough in lessons, she isn’t academic like the Ravenclaws; she certainly exhibits no ambition whatsoever like the Slytherins.

Really, Kanan should be an easygoing, peaceful Hufflepuff. From weeks of observation, Mari decides that most of her peers fit the norm, and everyone seems to be mingling just fine. It’s only their First Year at Hogwarts after all, so it takes a different amount of time for an individual to find his or her niche.

Mari herself is quite friendly with her fellow Ravenclaws, finding their intelligence on par with her own and thus making it easy to strike interesting conversations. And, if she gets a little bored, she would challenge the Gryffindors to Exploding Snaps or even secret duels (she has yet to get caught!). Chilling in front of the fireplace or enjoy the rare afternoon sun? No problem, she has a few Hufflepuff buddies to share that lazy but content sort of joy too!

And there’s always Dia Kurosawa to tease and prank. Really, the only reason Mari even tries so hard in tests is just so she could flaunt her scores over the studious Slytherin. They’re evenly matched so far, with her being slightly ahead at Transfiguration and Dia at Potions. Like the rest of the students, other Muggleborns have more or less settled in the daily routine of school life here at Hogwarts.

Yet, why does this Kanan Matsuura still seem out of place? It’s not like she gets ostracized in lessons, and she sometimes participates in class discussions or naps through droll lectures. She’s like any regular teenager, so why is there something off about her?

Chartreuse eyes blaze in determination. That’s why she, Mari Ohara, is here to solve the mystery! The Sorting Hat must have placed Kanan in the House of Gryffindor for a reason, surely not just because this jogging-maniac has muscles!

Oh, she’s finally stopped. Hmm, what’s she doing now?

Kanan has returned to the boulder where she had discarded her cloak and scarf earlier. Instead of donning them, she simply stands there with her hands in her hoodie’s pouch and is looking out towards the Lake. Since her back is facing Mari, this only gives the blonde Ravenclaw two options: go around the trees to another vantage point, or just go over to confront the girl in question!

Smirking, Mari nimbly hops down from a branch, utilizing Sticking Charms and other small tricks to muffle the noises from her movements. She’s tired of all this spying (totally not stalking) and is ready for some action!

She casts a few more Charms to ensure that her approach inaudible. She does hesitate for a moment when she notices the slightly forlorn expression on Kanan’s visage, but she quickly steels her resolve.

Eheh, I bet you weren’t expecting any spectator, are you, Miss Ponytail?

Mustering all her energy, Mari darts out from the bushes and leaps for her target when she’s close enough.

To her shock, Kanan somehow detects her pounce and dodges to the side. Their mutually startled eyes meet for a brief second before momentum pulls Mari towards the rocky shore.

“Shit!”

Though confident in her own swimming ability, Mari could feel her limbs cramping up under the icy lake water. Bubbles burst from her mouth as she panics, her uncooperative fingers unable to reach the wand in her pocket.

A muffled splash later, she glimpses a dark silhouette diving towards her. Strong arms wrap around her waist behind her and she faintly feels propelled upwards where the light is. As soon as she breaks the surface, she gulps for air and tries to swim but only ends up flailing about.

“Be still! You’re in no shape to swim. Try to relax, I’ll get you to shore.” A calm yet firm voice stops her movements.

With her mind muddled, Mari could only nod and allow her savior to lead. She struggles to drag herself ashore, though the drenched clothing is weighing her down more than she could ever imagine. Again, strong arms haul her up and soon, she finds herself seated atop the boulder where the Gryffindor cloak and scarf remain rumpled in a pile nearby.

“Just what were you thinking! Do you have any how dangerous that was?!”

Kanan looks and sounds furious, wearing a dark expression never before seen and thus surprises Mari into silence.

After opening and closing her mouth a few times, she could only mouth a word. “Sorry.”

Glaring, Kanan is probably about to scold some more when a chilly breeze blows past them, making Mari shudder and her teeth chatter.

Wordlessly, Kanan wraps her cloak around Mari and begins to dry her in brusque movements.

“Erm, you should dry yourself first-?”

Indeed, the soaked ponytail is plastered to Kanan’s equally sodden hoodie. A scowl is all Mari receives as Kanan continues to wipe at her head.

Honestly, Mari feels like a little kid under reprimand and in no position to argue.

Resisting the urge to roll her eyes, Mari retrieves her wand and gives it a complicated wave. Kanan recoils, her amethyst eyes wary and her fists clenched even as Mari calmly directs the wand’s tip over her.

Her stance only relaxes when it’s obvious that the magic is simply drying her clothes via controlled hot air. Smiling, Mari then dries herself with this nifty Hot-Air Charm and holds up her hands akimbo.

“Tada~ See, no need to manually do it. It’d take forever to wring out the water, yes?”

“Right, what was I thinking. You’re a Witch and we’re at Hogwarts.” Kanan’s tone is oddly aloof, as if she doesn’t consider herself a fellow Witch as well.

“Yup! I can do this too,” she utilizes one of the more advanced Transfiguration spells and manages to conjure a jar from a piece of the Omniocular. Under Kanan’s watchful gaze, Mari smoothly aims Bluebell Flames into the container. “See? You can even carry this around if you get cold!”

“Useful, I suppose.” Again, Kanan’s voice is rather flat, not in a dismissive way but more like all of this has nothing to do with her. Her eyes are still trained on Mari, scrutinizing at her from the top and down to her feet.

“What?” Though unabashed most of the time, Mari feels quite self-conscious under such an intense gaze. “Am I so pretty that you can’t look away?”

Ha, she couldn’t help but add that cheeky remark.

Kanan, as expected, ignores her and points at her leg. “You got a spell for the cramp too?”

“Damn, you got me,” Mari playfully holds up her hands. “That’s for a Healer’s level.”

At last, Kanan’s hardened expression is replaced by a small smile. “See, it’s still necessary to do it yourself, rather than rely on magic.”

“U-um…” Again, Mari finds herself rendered speechless as Kanan begins to massage her leg. Her hands are well-practiced, as if knowing exactly where and how much pressure to apply.

“How do you feel? Does anywhere else hurt?”

Blinking out of her daze, Mari shakes her head. “You seem knowledgeable about this. Do you do this often? Is this a way to hit on girls?”

Kanan gives her a blank look. “Huh?”

Mari rolls her eyes. “Never mind that. So, this massage, the swimming, and all that, you seem like a professional-?”

At this, Kanan holds her head a bit higher. “I already have my lifeguard license, back in the Muggle world I mean. My grandpa… well, I used to work at a diving shop,” her voice falters a little but her enthusiasm quickly takes over again. “See, I live at this small town by the sea and-”

Always ready to learn new things, Mari becomes absorbed in Kanan’s story and especially her passion about the sea. Despite having quarter Muggle blood, the Ohara ojousama grew up in a magical community and mostly interacted with Pureblood peers. As she grew older, her father would take her around the world to build connections with foreign communities, hence she has some pen pals from Beauxbatons, Durmstrang and even Ilvermorny. The acquaintances she does know from the Muggle world all have power and position, so she has yet to befriend a Muggleborn like this.

Well, she’s always been fascinated by Muggle contraptions anyway, so this could be her chance?

“Hey, teach me more!”

“What-?”

“Like, what were you doing around the Lake? Can’t be only jogging! It’s a Sunday!”

Kanan’s relaxed expression tenses again in annoyance. “I was just exercising! I do this every day, and that reminds me, what were you doing spying on me and-”

“Don’t mind don’t mind~ At least we’re talking now right? You chat with your Housemates and other students just fine but I notice you always pull away before the conversation gets any longer.”

“That’s- I was just-” Kanan furrows her brows. “How long have you been watching me? And why me?”

Honestly, Mari doesn’t know. She tends to go with her instincts and just rolls with it. Some would argue that is actually a Gryffindor trait, but hey, a shiny and creative mind like hers could only belong to Ravenclaw! Everyone has bits of qualities from each House, sì?

“It’s a secret~ To find out, all you have to do is teach me more about Muggle life style~” Mari ends her sentence with an award-winning wink.

Needless to say, Kanan appears unaffected. “I don’t really… besides, I can see that our personalities don’t match and-”

“Shut up! I’m a delight!” Mari pats Kanan’s shoulder and gives her a thumbs-up. “Stick with me and I promise your life here will be shiny every single day~”

Reluctance oozes from Kanan’s body language. “Surely there are other choices? Aren’t there some Muggleborns in Ravenclaw and I bet they’re smarter than me-”

“Nope. I’ve picked you, and that’s the end of the discussion.”

Kanan lets out a quiet and contemplative hum. “You sure are headstrong. What do I get out of this then?”

Shrugging, Mari glances at the blue fire flickering in the jar. “Hmm, I could teach you cool tricks like this? Whatever I can think of to help your daily exercise or something?”

“That… could be helpful,” Kanan mumbles and seems hesitant for the first time in their conversation. “Well, being a Muggleborn, there are some stuff I don’t quite get about the magical world, and I do have trouble with some of the assignments and spell works, so, um…”

“No problem!” Eager to be of help, Mari shakes Kanan’s warm hand and grins triumphantly. “Deal! We help each other out and, well, we’ll go from there, Kanan!”

“We’re on first-name basis already?” Kanan’s lips twitch in a hint of a smile, which Mari takes as a good sign.

“Of course~ We’re gonna be spending a lot of time together, so get used to it!” The blonde pauses when a thought occurs to her. “But, huh, I thought Gryffindor Lions would take you under their wing. Pride of Lions as they say, no?”

Kanan does not reply to that, her expression rigid. Mari puts that away to her To-Investigate List and waves it off.

“No matter, I’ll be a much better influence than those rowdy Cubs anyway, hehe. Oh, actually, I have a better idea.”

“What?” Kanan asks warily.

“I’d love to be the one tutoring you but my attention span isn’t long enough for that~” Her dear acquaintance and perhaps the only person she considers a friend would surely accept. Dia’s outstanding achievements in every class have already made her famous in the school, on top of her prestige as the heiress of an ancient Pureblood family. However, such distinguished status causes a distance between her and her peers, even her Housemates. They don’t dare to approach her out of reverence, and Dia likes to keep her personal space anyway.

Until Mari Ohara comes along, that is.

“I have the perfect candidate in mind. Why don’t we go to her right now?” Grinning, Mari tries to stand up but almost stumbles when her cramped leg refuses to cooperate. She could support her own weight, though the sensation of weakness is disconcerting enough to make her growl in frustration.

Where is her broom when she needs it!

Suddenly, she is lifted up as if she weighs nothing.

“First, we need to go to the Infirmary. Your leg still needs to get looked at properly,” Kanan says evenly, not at all out of breath as she begins to walk towards the castle.

It takes several moments for the gears in Mari’s head to resume functioning. Didn’t her morning start with trailing after this ponytailed Gryffindor? How did that lead to her being wrapped in the said Gryffindor’s cloak and carried like a princess?

“Okay, giddy-up!”

“I’m not your horse.”

“Go fetch!”

“I’m not your dog either.”

“What are you then?” Mari peers up at Kanan, fluttering her eyelashes theatrically.

Kanan looks down and huffs in exasperation. “I suppose, we’re… friends now?”

“Good answer! Ten points to Gryffindor!”

Kanan sighs and Mari giggles to herself. Perhaps, by sticking with Kanan, it is her life that will be shiny every single day!