#had a thought while in a class and wait- this hmm this HMMMM

[justasillywarlord]

So uh Detroit : Become Human jazzprowl? Anyone? No? Just me? Okay-

*run and hide*

[honey-milk-depresso]

Meanie (Azul Ashengrotto x Reader) (2)

Die with me please I need serious help-

My drafts are scaring me-

But ehhh, hope you enjoy!

Part 1, 

Part 2 

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8 (END)

“Hey! Rise and shine Mr Octopus!”

He groaned in annoyance and tiredness. 

“Go away...”

“Hey! You said to come to your room when I wake up!”

“Later..”

“Come on!!”

Azul isn’t an early bird when it comes to the weekend. You knew that, but he promised you.

“Okay fine, listen. Once you wake up, go to Ramshackle with me. I got headmaster’s permission to go explore other shops Twisted Wonderland has! And I’m not talking about Sam’s Shop. I’m talking about huge stores and many market places and stuff-!”

“Okay, okay I will. I’ll be there at 9. It’s 7 in the morning, y/n, not now. Geez..” he grumbled.

“Alright, alright. I’ll leave you be. But don’t keep me waiting~”

And you went out.

=============================================================

“Are you ready?”

“Yes I am.”

You and Azul were in casual clothing as you prepared to go into the mirror.

“You two remember to contact me, I’ll bring you back!”

“Thanks, Headmaster!”

Taking Azul’s hand to which he blush slightly at the sudden contact, you made a running start as you jumped into the portal with him.

“Slow down!”

“Okay, okay!”

You stared in awe. This looked like a real town.

Cobblestone pavements, many boutique shops ranging from bakeries to shoes to blacksmiths. Rose bushes and trees along the road together with the street lamps. Cottages and houses of all different sizes, the town brought about a tranquil presence.

“Woah..”

“Hm. So he brought us the Rose Kingdom.”

“Wait! Rose Kingdom?!”

You took his hand again and started trudging to the stores.

“Hey! What are you-!”

“Let’s find Trey’s family bakery, and other things to buy, too!”

“You’re lucky I brought my wallet...”

“Don’t worry, I’m paying!”

He jerked to a stop, which halted you too.

“Wha-”

“Didn’t you spend on going to the VIP room yesterday?”

“Yeah, and I did pay right?”

“You have enough money left?”

“Well, I mean, enou-”

“Forget it I’ll pay.”

“Wahhhh! Hey, Azul! You don’t have to pay! It’ll make me feel bad!”

“Feel bad then.”

“Meanie!”

He sighed.

“Don’t waste your money, y/n.”

You sighed in defeat. “Alright, alright..”

You walked around the wide variety of stores.

“Ooh! Azul, look!”

He turned around to face you as he walked over to you, your eyes glued to the window of a store.

“Look! Isn’t that pendent pretty?”

There lied a pendent with only one of its bead, the center of attention, a white pearl carved into a spiral shell, a small diamond placed in the very middle of it. It gleamed under the light.

“Yeah, it is.”

“Ooh, how much is it??”

You looked down to see the price label.

“Irk?!- $200?!?!”

You sweat dropped and sulked. Of course something so pretty would be expensive. 

“Never mind... let’s find something else..”

Azul glanced at you and looked back at the pendent.

“Alright.”

=============================================================

“Wah! Trey’s family is so nice!”

Finally found the bakery, “Clovers’ Bakery”.

His mother knew who you are since being friends with him, Trey talking about you over the phone with his mother. His entire family welcomed you and gave you and Azul a free drink of your choice. You got hot cocoa, while Azul got a hot cup of coffee.

“This coffee’s not bad.”

“I mean, Trey is a good cook on his own. What makes you think his family can’t do better?”

“Not necessarily.”

“Hmmmm. Anyways~”

You gulped down you drink and ate the last piece of your sandwich. 

“You ready to leave?”

Azul sipped his coffee. “Yep.”

“Alright! Bye Mrs and Mr Clover! Take care all of you!”

Azul stared at your huge cheerful grin as you waved goodbye to the Clovers.

Wonder how you’ll react to see his own family.

=============================================================

“Oh my shit, Azul. Look.”

Azul turned around to see a booth stand, children throwing rings, hoping to get them into the bottles.

“ $2 for 10 rings?? To win an octopus plushie??? That’s like 10 times more than that pendent.”

“100 times.”

“I’m lazy to math, it’s the frickin’ weekend.”

“It’s basic math, y/n.”

“Come on let’s go!”

You dragged him to the booth as the vendor smiled at you both.

“Hmm? Oh my! What a cute couple I see here!”

You and Azul blushed in embarrassment. “Oh, we’re just friends!”

The vendor sighed. “Aw. You’d two would be great together though. Ah well. 10 tries?”

“Yep!”

Azul paid the vendor as she passed him the rings. “Good luck!”

Tossing and tossing, you landed at least 4 rings. But... you only had one left.

“Hmmm I’m scared... One more ring in the get the plushie, but if I didn’t..”

“Don’t stress it, y/n. 10 rings for $2, remember. I can pay for another round.”

“Didn’t you always say never waste a cent.”

That’s true, he’s always been cost conscious, but....

“I won’t charge you or ask you to pay me back, okay?”

“Hmmm, alright! But eh, I don’t want to waste my luck here. And I don’t want to restart so....” you passed him the ring. “I put my faith in you soldier,” while playfully saluting. 

“Oh shush. And you don’t have to rely on luck.”

Azul closed one eye, concentrating. You held your breath as he planned.

Finally, after some meticulous calculation and planning he threw the ring.

It landed.

“YES, AZUL YOU DID IT!”

“DON’T HUG ME LIKE WE WON SOME MARATHON!”

“BUT WE DID!”

=====================================================

“Hey, y/n, give me a moment, I want to get something from a store I saw was interesting.”

“Alright! I’ll wait for you here!”

He got up from the bench he was sitting, leaving you alone.

You looked up to the sky as you licked your ice cream he bought for you in one hand, and another to clutch your octopus plushie.

Honestly, it felt kind of embarrassing to be spoiled by your best friend. Well, at least you thought he was your best friend, you hoped he felt the same way too.

You also felt a bit guilty he’s spending money on you and all you do is drag him to other places. But... you wanted to spend the most amount of time with him and all your other friends as... well... you were going to die. 

With a severe Huntington’s disease, you couldn’t think straight. The doctors in your world and twisted wonderland had been doing their very best to make sure they could manage your condition. You’re afraid that in two weeks time, you wouldn’t be able to walk, because you would forget how to.

 You were scared to tell your friends, especially Azul. You wanted to, but deep down you felt like death would really do each others friendship apart. You couldn’t tell him directly that you have problems remembering and doing simple math sums worse than Deuce.

You hated your incurable disease, but you learn to live with it and find joy in every thing in life the best you could.

The staff of NRC knew this, excusing you from gym classes, giving you extra help on homework, exempting you from examinations. You honestly felt like an oddball most of the time and just wanted to live a normal school life.

You stared at your plushie. What if you forget how to feel too? You don’t want to lose your romantic feelings towards the octopus.

“Y/n.”

“Hmm? Oh Azul!”

“Here .”

He handed you a box and opened it. You gasped.

It was the same pendent you saw early in the morning.

“I- Azul, you didn’t have to buy it!!!”

“Well, I’d be seeing you sulking all the time, would I? And I’ll look like a terrible friend.”

You rolled your eyes and smile.

“Whatever. Thanks a lot though!”

He smiled. 

“Your welcome.”

For now, you wanted to cherish the moments you spent with him.

===================================================

Part 3 anyone???

Or just me trying to get rid of many drafts as possible-

[lia-jones]

Growing Together - Chapter Twenty-Seven - Footsteps

Before you start:

This work is unbeta'd and English is not my first language. I apologize in advance for any mistakes you may find.

Victor sighed in relief as he placed his keys on the plate in the hallway, finally finding himself at home after a terrible day at work. It had been meeting after meeting, barely having time for lunch, his phone ringing off the hook, numerous emails waiting for him when he dared to look at his inbox.

To add insult to injury, his day wasn't exactly over. Victor couldn't wait to lie on his sofa and simply enjoy the evening nursing a glass of brandy with his wife in his arms, but he would have to spend it on his study instead, all alone, to attend a conference call with the team in Paris, who was in a different timezone.

His bad mood was somewhat eased with the aroma of delicious food being cooked, his heart taking solace in the sound of his wife and son's voices bantering in the kitchen. At least he was finally home, he comforted himself. For the time being, he would indulge in a hot relaxing shower and a nice dinner with his family.

Owen was always the first to notice when Victor or Andrea arrived, and as usual, he was the first to greet him, running to his arms. Although Victor had been feeling back pain pretty much all day, a customary symptom when he was overly stressed, such was immediately forgotten the moment he had his son in his arms. With heartfelt laughter, Victor threw the boy in the air, having him land safely in his arms with a very tight hug. And just like magic, Victor immediately felt better. His family was all he needed to recover from that awful day and get back on his feet to face another battle.

"What is your mother up to?" Victor asked, playfully disheveling the boy's red curls.

"She's in the kitchen, making dinner. I helped." He beamed at his father. "It's Mom's special fish and shrimp stew."

Bouillabaise, one of his favorites. Comfort food was exactly what he needed. Putting the boy down, Victor moved to the kitchen to find his wife minding the large pot on the stove. He hugged her from behind, his chin leaning on the top of her head.

"Hello, handsome." She turned her head to look at him.

"Hmm." He groaned, burying his face in the nape of her neck, taking comfort in her scent and the softness of her skin.

"Long day?" She reached back to run her fingers through his hair, slightly scratching his scalp, making Victor almost purr in delight.

"Hmmmm." He moaned, too entertained with how she was making him feel to form a proper answer.

"You’re tense." She declared as she reached back to feel his shoulders.

"Just a little tired." His arms circled her waist, as she turned to him.

"Dinner will be ready in 10." She spoke while she continued to work on the knots of his shoulders. "Get yourself out of that suit and have a shower. We got it covered here."

She playfully hit him in the chest, pushing him away from her. As revenge, Victor stole a kiss, a soft sweet kiss that made her sigh when he broke it. Feeling smug with her reaction, he left Andrea to her own devices, heading for the bedroom. A steamy shower definitely sounded very good. Despite Andy's massage, his shoulders still felt sore.

"Owen has some news for us today." His wife declared at the dinner table, winking at their son.

"Let's hear it." Victor lifted his eyes to his son, giving him his undivided attention.

"Next week it will be Career Day at my school." Owen said, excited. "They want us to bring one of our parents to class for Show and Tell, to explain to our classmates what they do for a job."

"What an excellent initiative." Victor nodded in approval, reaching for his glass of wine. "You could ask your mother, she will have a lot to talk about, between her study and LCG."

Owen didn't reply, looking down instead.

"I'm not the only option on the table here." His wife intervened. "You could go."

"Nonsense, you are clearly the best option." Victor retorted. "You could bring the GESA award to show the kids, talk about the study, your work at LCG, how your ideas may change the economy as we know it. Besides, you are practically their size. I bet they will find that both amusing and inspiring." He teased.

His wife was glaring at him, probably not happy with his witty remark.

"I think your mother should go, Owen." Victor concluded, trying to diffuse the tension his joke caused. "I'm sure she will do an excellent job."

"Would you mind coming, Mom?" Owen mumbled, looking down.

"Of course I wouldn't, Bug. It will be my pleasure." She caressed the boy's hair lovingly, a hint of sadness in her smile.

Victor watched both of them, somewhat intrigued. Why were both so morose? Weren't they happy with his suggestion?

"May I be excused?" Owen placed his napkin on the table. "I need to feed my ants."

"You may." Victor smiled. "By the way, how is the colony going?"

"Well." Owen left the kitchen without any other word.

Victor furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. When it came to his ant colony, Owen was usually a lot more talkative.

"What's the matter with him?" He almost whispered to his wife. "Did something else happen at school?"

"You are a clueless idiot." Andrea threw at him, irritated.

"What!? Why? What did I do?"

"Don't you think that if he wanted me to go, he would have asked me already?" She scolded him. "He wanted to invite you, and you shot him down before he had a chance."

"Me? You are obviously the best choice, why would he want me?"

"Because you are his father, you big moron!" She almost yelled, carefully adjusting her tone after. "Look, you are his father figure, his male example, the one that he looks up to. He never really had anything like that before. This is important for him, he finally has a father he can be proud of. Basically, he wants to show you off to his friends. God only knows why, you’re an idiot in a suit."

For a brief moment, Victor recalled the moment he sought out for his father's attention and approval, only to be met with closed doors and reprimands on how children shouldn’t waste an adult's time with trivialities. He remembered how much it hurt him to be ignored, to not be important, to be treated like a nuisance. Victor refused to let his son go through the same thing, but most importantly, he refused to be the one making Owen feel like that.

"I see."

"Finally. Now go fix it." She urged.

He found the boy sitting with his legs crossed on the floor, staring absentmindedly at his ant farm. He could see himself at that very same age, and almost guess what was going through his son's mind. Owen was probably blaming himself for not being interesting enough, trying to find a way to make his father notice him.

Victor sat silently on the bed, waiting for Owen to acknowledge his presence. The boy looked at him with sad brown eyes, deep and dark, making the freckles on his nose stand out.

"Is it bedtime yet?" Owen asked, getting up from the floor.

"No, I just wanted to have a word with you."

"Am I in trouble?"

"Do we only talk when you're in trouble?" Victor couldn't help but feel slightly offended. "Sit beside me."

Owen obeyed, sitting next to his father, an expectant look on his face. Victor took a moment to think about how he would approach the subject. He couldn't tell the boy about the conversation he just had with his mother.

"Maybe we made a hasty decision regarding who is coming to Career Day."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I did say your mother was the best choice. However, after careful consideration, I think I may be a very interesting choice as well. I mean, I know most of your friends from playing soccer in the park, I'm fairly popular already. One could even say I'm... cool."

"You want to go?"

"That is for you to decide. But I would be honored if you’d take me."

"I was going to ask you." Owen confessed. "I even asked Mom if that would hurt her feelings, and she said she would be happy if I chose you."

"Why didn't you say so, then?"

"Because I know you are very busy, especially now that you are opening that new business in France. I overheard Mom scolding you the other day for not getting enough sleep. I thought you were saying Mom could go because you were too tired. And if you are too tired, it's selfish of me to ask."

Victor smiled at the little boy as he pulled him into his lap. He was barely five, and he could be so considerate. He playfully poked his little freckled nose.

"Even if that was the case, even if I was too tired, I would still go. You know why?"

The boy shook his head.

"Because I love you." Victor replied in a soft voice. "You are my son, and there is nothing I wouldn't do for you."

Small arms wrapped around Victor's neck in a tight hug. And the sweetest voice spoke the sweetest words.

"I love you too, Dad. Thank you for doing this, it will be so cool!” He jumped excitedly. “I can already imagine what my classmates will say about the cool things you do at work! Do you know what you will bring to your presentation? Megan's father is a trainer at the zoo, she says he may bring a parrot!"

Victor's stomach turned cold. Only at that moment did he realize what he truly agreed on.

The task sounded fairly simple: to explain his job to a room full of five-year-olds. It turned out, it was a lot harder than he expected.

His job entailed many complicated concepts, like risk assessment and profit analysis, and had big words like enterprise value, equity, and horizontal integration. Those things were already hard enough to explain to a child, but worse than that, they were boring. He had to make his job look interesting, and although it would be fairly easy to seduce an adult by showing profit, children didn't respond to money. He had to make it entertaining, and simple. Yet, he had no idea how. Nothing about his job would seem entertaining to a child.

But then one day, while running, he recalled his Economics teacher’s words from one of his lectures: Economy has existed since primitive times, where things were much simpler, and an economic transaction meant trading meat for animal skin or a cutting tool. The act of trading baseball cards during recess could be considered an economic transaction. To explain it, he would just have to trade the fancy terms for things children could relate to.

Finally, he had a plan. A good one. That didn't mean he wasn't nervous.

“Do you want to call Mom and tell her to come instead?” The boy asked from the backseat as they were driving to school.

“What? No, I’m fine.” Victor gripped the wheel tighter, trying to steady himself.

“Are you sure?” Victor saw his boy frown from the rearview mirror. “You look like you have a tummy ache.”

Did he? He immediately relaxed his face, trying to remain expressionless.

“Mom told me you would be like this.” Owen smiled with a knowing look. “She told me to tell you that you just need to use the charm you used on her.”

Yes, Victor could do that, he had some good moments with Andrea. Well, apart from the interview, and when her car broke down, with the heavy rain and... nipples. And being so embarrassed he could barely speak. The memory only made him more nervous.

He marched bravely into school with a box full of containers with cherries and a bag full of lollipops. Owen was exhilarated to have his father with him, jumping happily in the halls, showing him every piece of art he had made that was on display. Victor, on the other hand, was sweating from nervousness, hoping the AC in Owen's classroom was freezing cold. The teacher jumped on the spot when she saw him.

“Mr. Lee?” She came to him hurriedly, looking puzzled when she saw Victor place the containers in one of the empty desks. “The Principal didn’t tell me you were visiting. By the way, where is he? Are you here unattended? Is this about a fund or something? How can I help you?”

“I’m here for Career Day. We still haven’t had the pleasure to meet.” Victor extended his hand to the teacher. “I’m Victor Lee, Owen’s father.”

“Owen, you didn’t tell me your father was Victor Lee!” She looked down on the boy, flushed.

“I told you my father was a CEO.” Owen quipped, frowning slightly.

“Well, still, how would I know it was Victor Lee?”

“My name is Owen Lee.”

The teacher fanned herself, eyeing Victor with a weird smile.

“Mr. Lee, I know that our installations aren’t quite what you are used to, but I hope you do feel welcome.”

“I’m sure they will do perfectly, thank you.”

Victor was wrong. The chairs were too small for an adult, especially one of his stature. However, standing up was also not an option, as he would be beside Owen and he would block the view, so he had no choice but to sit on the tiny chair, with his legs awkwardly crossed, looking like an idiot.

Megan's father was the first, and he did bring the parrot, making him do all kinds of tricks. The children and the teacher laughed at the animal's shenanigans, and Victor couldn't help but feel disheartened, knowing this presentation would be very hard to top.

Then came Caleb's mother, who was a physician. She taught the kids the many functions of the main organs in the human body, bringing with her a kidney in a jar. The class was rowdy as they passed the jar around, amazed to be able to see a real kidney, like the ones they had in their very small bodies.

"Next we have Owen's father, Mr. Lee, a very successful entrepreneur in Loveland. He will talk about his job as a CEO of an investment company." The teacher announced.

Victor faced the twenty children in front of him, who were looking at him with wide eyes, waiting for him to start. In almost 15 years of being a CEO, he had attended important meetings with notorious businessmen, oil tycoons, rulers and politicians. He had dinner meetings with the mafia and other shady characters, people that held incredible power and precious information, but could also kill him without a second thought.

He could conclude, without a shadow of a doubt, that children were scarier.

For a second he wished he could be like Andrea. She would know what to do. She would probably greet the children with a goofy gesture, making them all laugh. She was fun and witty, she knew what children liked. Victor paused, remembering his wife’s words through his son’s mouth. He could be funny too, he always made her laugh, it had become one of his favorite hobbies. Maybe she was right. Maybe he could do this. With a new sense of confidence, and with a side note to thank his wife for her encouraging words, Victor approached his audience.

“Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen.” He started, ceremoniously. “First of all, I would like to thank you for your time and attention, and the honor of your invitation. My name is Victor Lee, and I’m the CEO of Loveland Financial Group.”

Encouraged by their teacher, all the children applauded.

“Before I begin to explain exactly what I do, let me start with a question. Who knows what an investor does?”

All the children were quiet until a little girl spoke.

“Is it someone who goes to the market and screams ‘Buy! Buy!’ and ‘Sell! Sell!’?

“You mean the stock market?” Victor chuckled. “Yes, it can be, although there are many kinds of investments. At LFG, what we do is help companies grow by lending them money, which they pay us, but with interest. Does anyone know what interest is?”

Many kids raised their hands.

“Is it when things aren’t boring? Like, they are interesting?”

“Ha. No.” Victor forgot that the words would have a different meaning to five-year-olds. “For example, someone asks LFG for ten dollars. The company lends it but asks in return for eleven dollars. That extra dollar is the interest.”

“That’s not very nice.” A freckled boy raised his hand. “Sharing is caring.”

Victor felt himself blush slightly. The boy had made a perfectly logical remark that unfortunately didn’t fit in the financial world. And he didn’t have the faintest clue on how he could explain it better.

“It is nice, because my dad doesn’t just give the money. My mom and dad work with the companies to help them grow, and they get to keep the tools she gives them forever. My dad gives them the money and asks for more because he also helps them get better.” Owen chimed in, basically saving him. Although it wasn’t exactly accurate, it wasn’t wrong either. Victor couldn’t be more proud.

“That is correct and beautifully worded, Owen, thank you.” He smiled at his boy. “Now, to fully understand the kind of work that a CEO of an investment company does, I would like to invite you all to be, for ten minutes, CEOs.” He ceremoniously declared. “Owen, could you help distribute the boxes and the candy to your friends?”

Owen quickly obliged, and in a moment, all the kids had with them a box of cherries and a lollipop.

“Ok, imagine you are the CEO of an investment company-”

“What is the company called?” The freckled boy asked again. Victor suppressed a sigh of exasperation.

“Whatever you want to call it. It’s your company.”

“Can I call it Unicorn?” A little girl raised her hand.

“Yes, you can. Now…”

“Can I call it Wayne Enterprises? Do you think I could be Batman?”

Victor’s memory took another trip down memory lane, to the day his wife blackmailed him into making that ridiculous Batman recording. He felt his cheeks getting slightly warmer. Luckily, the teacher intervened.

“Alright class, it’s nice to see you this excited but we need to let Mr. Lee speak, alright?”

“Thank you. So, as I was saying, imagine you are in a meeting, as CEOs, and two different companies are asking for investment: a lollipop factory and an orchard that grows cherries. You can pick only one. Which one would you pick? Place your hand on your choice.”

Every single child, except for one, held their lollipops. He turned to the girl that picked the cherries.

“Interesting choice. Why would you invest in the cherry producer?”

“Because I want to invest in a company that makes a lot of money. Cherries are more expensive than lollipops.”

Victor smiled at her insightfulness. She was probably a CEO in the making.

“True, but cherries only grow in the spring, that’s why they are more expensive. The candy factory can make lollipops all year.” He retorted. “You still think the orchard makes more money than the candy factory?”

“Yes, because my mom will let me have cherries but won’t buy me candy.” A boy chimed in, and other children agreed.

“Demand, very good, we need to see what sells best. What else would you use to make a decision?” Victor was excited, watching the proverbial wheels turn in their little heads. “What does it take to produce each of the products?”

“You need a factory to make lollipops. In an orchard, you just need to water the trees.”

“Very well, and you need sugar, and flavors and other ingredients, while in the cherries’ case, is given for free by nature. So, have we decided on the orchard?”

“Yes!” They screamed in unison.

“Seems like we have a unanimous decision. And for the record, what we just did here is a very simplistic version of a risk assessment, a study every investor needs to make to know if the investment is worthwhile. Of course, there are other things I do as a CEO, but I can’t possibly describe them in such a short time.” He paused for a moment, all the children’s eyes on him. “Does anyone have any questions before we finish?”

“Are all CEOs men?” A girl asked from the back.

“Of course not. Women can be CEOs too, my wife is a CEO from a different company. And if you ask me, she’s more successful than I am.” He made a silly face, and all the children laughed.

He couldn’t believe it was going so well.

“Anything else?”

“My father says businessmen are dicks in a suit.” A boy declared, while his father looked like he was close to infarction.

“Timothy!” The teacher chastised.

“Well, I can tell you that can definitely be true in some cases.” Victor spoke wholeheartedly. “In any area, you can find good and bad professionals. But let me tell you all about the three qualities I feel a good CEO should have.” Victor raised his hand, lifting his fingers as he spoke. “Intelligence, resilience, and responsibility. Intelligence because we need to know where we stand at all times and make quick decisions, and they better be the right ones, or else we can lose our business. Resilience because the financial world is a fluctuating one, and everything may change in a blink of an eye. We must be resilient enough to embrace the change, and make it work in our favor. And lastly, responsibility, because as we invest, we are not only dealing with our money or a faceless company. We can change the world with our choices, allowing technology, health, and education to evolve so there is improvement in everyone’s lives. I personally invest only in companies where employees are treated with fairness, and environmental rules are respected. We need to put the power we hold to good use and make this world a better place. If we all understand the smallest of our actions can impact the world tremendously, I’m sure miracles will happen.”

“Well, that was brilliantly said.” The teacher cleared her throat, starting to clap. “A big applause to Mr. Lee, thank you for being with us today.”

Victor returned to the car with a smug smile on his face, and a sense of accomplishment he hadn’t felt in a very long time. He had done well, he had honored his son and made him happy. However, as he started the car to leave, he saw his son through the rearview mirror, lost in thought.

“Everything ok back there?” He frowned at the mirror. “Is there something upsetting you?”

“No, I’m ok.” The boy looked up.

“You’re happy?”

“Yes.” The boy smiled.

“I think the presentation went well.” Victor started the car. “Your friends seemed to like it.”

“Yes, it was fun! And we had candy and cherries as a snack, none of the other parents brought snacks.”

Victor smirked, adding that point to his mental scoreboard.

“So why the long face?”

Owen seemed to momentaneously return to his thoughts before he answered Victor’s question.

“I don’t think I want to be an entomologist anymore.”

Victor gave his son a knowing smile.

“I knew the parrot would interest you.”

“No, parrots are dumb!” Owen seemed slightly offended. “I want to be a CEO, just like you.”

Victor could remember himself, at the same age, saying the same thing to his father, to get his approval.

“Owen, you can be whatever you want to be. I will still support you, no matter what you decide.”

“Then you’ll teach me?”

Victor smiled widely, his heart filled with pride.

“I will teach you everything I know.” He was about to offer the keys to his kingdom, but then remembered how he refused the same from his father, wanting to make his own path.

The epiphany came suddenly, clearing his vision and the fear he couldn’t shake from his heart: he had traveled a different road from his father in so many ways. He was a present and loving husband, with a healthy relationship with Andrea. And he was a present and loving partner, caring and supporting his son in every step of his life.

And that meant so much more than being a powerful CEO. Those were the footsteps he wanted his son to follow. The ones that led to happiness.

Author's Note: This project has been going for a year now (it started in February 2020) and it won't be over any time soon, so I would like to ask you, as much as possible, for your support, because we still have a very long way to go. So, if you enjoy the work, don't forget to comment and reblog. It gives it traction and enables other people to learn about it, and for me to get more excited about what I do.

[dancingthesambaa]

The Smell of Plum Blossom Tea Ch 2

Summary: Just like a butterfly wing, a single act of kindness can change the course of the future, it certainly did for MK as a black-furred monkey put out a hand towards him.

Rating: Teen and up

Chapter 2: What’s in a Name?

It was a week since Macaque had taken MK in and to the child it has been the best week of his life. When he woke up in the mornings he didn’t have to worry about there being no food as he smelt it as soon as he opened his eyes, he could play in the forest with all the monkeys as long as Mac was there and he even had clothes that fit him instead of the same stinky shirt on days end. Everything was just wonderful.

“MK, what should we do about school?”

Or at least it was, but as soon as the monkey demon asked that question, MK's whole body deflated. “Do I have to go to school?”

“Education is important shooting star,” he said as he diced up some plants. “It helps things we don’t know and things we want to know.”

“Okay, but it is really boring, I always lose all my stuff all the time, and the teacher always explains it so weirdly,” the child pouted.

“Everyone has a different method of teaching, so you may have a method of learning as well.”

“Oohh….what does method mean?”

“It’s just another word for way.”

“Oh okay,” MK then tilts his head, “so what are you doing anyways?”

“Well right now I’m cutting up some herbs so I can use to make medicine,” he explained in simple terms as he then picked up the diced up blue plant and placed it into a cauldron and began to stir it.

“I didn’t know you could make your own medicine from home!” He leaped up and tried to poke his head over the counter to watch, “I always thought that you get it at the doctor's office.”

“Well doctors actually get it from a lab where people make the medicine there, this space here is my own lab.” He gestured to the room that was filled with all types of different ingredients all placed in a package inside of one storage cabinet and in another was a cabinet filled with modern lab equipment.

“So you don’t have to be a doctor to make medicine?”

“Well for most yeah, but for me,” he grinned as he picks up MK with one hand and placed him on his hip as he continues to stir with his other “let’s just say that I have been doing this for a little over 500 years, so I have a tad bit more experience and knowledge than regular humans.”

“Can I try?!” He excitedly asked.

“Well I don’t know, sometimes it will be a bit too dangerous for you to even be In here, which by the way, do not enter this lab unless I am here,” he sternly told him.

“Okay, okay got it, but pleaseee.”

“I don’t know, think you can handle it,” he teased.

“I’m a big boy! I can handle anything!”

“Hmmmm,” he pretended to think before conceding, “Alright you persuaded me, so I’ll allow it this once,” he said as he put the spoon down, “so first we make sure we have our safety gear on.”

“Check! Check!” MK adjusted the goggles on his eyes and showed off his long sleeve jacket and gloves.

“Next, what you have to do is go slow and make large circles.”

“Slow and large circles, got it,” he then proceeded to pick up the spoon and do what he said as he stirred.

“Good job kiddo, but how bout we make that circle a little bit bigger,” he gently grabbed MK’s hand and made it a bit wider. Soon enough the medicine's previous light yellow had transformed into a dark green.

“Look, it changed colors!” MK pointed out.

“That’s the beauty of medicine kid,” Mac grinned as he set him down, “now all I have left to do is to let this simmer for a few hours and it will be ready to be bottled up.”

“That’s a lot of medicine, is that all for you?”

The demon shook his head, “no it’s actually for one of my regular clients. His students routinely injure themselves, sometimes in the dumbest of ways, so I usually make batches of this every month.” His ears then slightly twitch as he grinned, “speaking of students, MK come here. I have someone here for you to meet.”

“Who?” He tilted his head as the monkey put a lid on a pot, proceeded to put away both of their safety gear as they left the room.

“Hey old-timer, I know your hearing isn’t that bad!” A voice yelled from down below that MK could barely hear, “come grab me, I’m carrying too much shit to climb up!”

“Someone to help,” was all Macaque said before he leaped out of the open window and less than a few seconds later, returned with a short bluenette woman in his arms. “MK this is Yanyu,” he said. “Yanyu, this is MK.”

“Uhhh, he shuffled his feet awkwardly as he gave a slight wave, “hi.”

“Awww,” she cooed at him, “it’s nice to meet you MK. You're rocking a pretty cool shirt there.” She pointed to his solar system shirt, “it’s really far out man.”

There was a pause as MK stuttered out a thank you and Macaque put his face in his hands.

“That was terrible, I hope you know that,” he groaned.

“That’s what you say, I know my puns are rockin my world,” she smirked at the louder groans.

“Please stop, I beg you.”

“Then beg.”

“Are you human?” MK bluntly asked, which made the two pause.

“Strangely enough that isn’t the first time I was asked that, but yes I am fully human. Though a small percentage of me is most likely full of crazy,” she grinned widely.

“I think you have those backward,” he muttered and didn’t even flinch when she elbowed his stomach. “So your probably wondering why she’s here right?”

“Uhhh yeah,” he nodded.

“Well, I have come to the realization that despite my many years with humans, I have never actually taken care of a human child outside of giving them medication.”

“Which he means that he knows not a single thing about taking care of you tiny ones,” Yanyu butted in as she crossed her arms, “and this is where I come in.”

“Oh well that’s good...I think?” MK didn’t exactly know what she meant, but since they said it’s a good thing, he feels like he doesn’t have any complaints.

“Oh trust me, it will be,” she said as she put down the bag and it was filled with books when she opened it up. “I may be a big sister of five, but even I can admit that I don’t know everything, so I brought some parenting books, nutrition, school, and a lot more.”

He couldn’t help but deflate slightly at the last word, which the bluenette noticed.

“Don’t like school?”

“Not really, it's just that I can’t stay focused sometimes,” he admitted as he lowered his head.

“Hey now,” Mac kneeled and ruffled his head, “you don’t have to feel shame for being distracted sometimes.”

“Hmm, well if you have troubles with traditional school classrooms, then how about you try online schooling?” Yanyu said.

“Online school?” MK tilted his head.

“I didn’t know it was also available for the younger grades, I thought it was only for the college classes like you had,” he admitted as he used his feet to pick up one of the parenting books.

“Nah, it was incorporated for all years a few years back. It certainly helped a lot of students out and one of them being me,” she proudly pointed a finger to herself, “let me tell you, kid, it was the second-best decision to do online school. Made my life so much easier.”

“What was the first?” He curiously asked.

Yanyu walked over to Macaque and patted him on the shoulder, “begging this ol doc here to take me on as a student. It was the cheapest and most informative learning I ever had since high school.”

“Student? You were a teacher!” MK's eyes widened as he looked at the monkey demon.

“Kinda, though I did question my sanity during those times,” he said as he flipped through the pages.

“Oh shut up, if it wasn’t for me you would still know squat about technology.��

“I wasn’t that bad.”

“You were still using the Jiaguwen system when I first met you.”

He winced, “okay yeah you got me there.”

“Anywho, it’s gonna be a right pleasure working with you MK,” she held out a fist bump to him, “we’re gonna see a lot of each other.”

MK looked at the outstretched fist and gave a little grin as he fist-bumped her hand.

“Boom,” Yanyu made an exploding sound as she opened her fist when the two parted.

He looked at her strangely.

“Don’t worry Starbright, she’s just weird like that,” Mac patted his head.

“Hey!”

A few months have passed and MK has taken to online schooling like a fish to water. He found it much better to concentrate and while there were still a few issues over understanding the problem itself, he had the help of both Macaque and Yanyu. The last one herself was helping him with his writing.

“The girl is walking to the market by the river to get milk for her mother,” MK repeated to himself as he finished writing.

“Congratulations kid, you have finally graduated from Yoda writing to a regular language,” she gave him a little applause.

“Thank you, thank you you're too kind,” he also jumped out of his seat to give a mock bow.

“But for real kid, you have really approved with your writing,” she gave him a high five, “nice job.”

“I couldn’t have done it without you both,” he scratched the back of his neck.

“I know that you would have been just fine even without our help and I know your dad would agree.”

“Really!” Then MK realized what she said and backtracked as he flailed his arms about, “Wait dad?! I mean dad is kinda a big word and he just adopted me, so he probably doesn’t even see me as a son, more like a responsibility he has to take care-,” he was stopped by a hand gently covering his mouth.

“Whoa there little monkey easy, I can’t keep up that fast,” she lightly teased as she put her hand down, “now you want to tell me what that was all about?”

“Well,” he sat down and kicked his feet, “I-its just-I don’t really-.”

“Take your time,” the bluenette said.

“Well,” he twisted his hands “is it okay if someone-and I don’t mean me just someone I know-don’t call mom and dad, well, mom and dad.”

“Yeah,” she said easily.

“Wait really?” He was a little more than shocked at how easy she said that.

“Really. You, or my bad that person you know, don’t feel comfortable or don’t want to call their parents so that they don’t have to.”

“But they gave birth to me-I mean that person and they raised them, so shouldn’t they have that name?” He tried to insist but was shut down by her shaking her head.

“They don’t keep that name if they harm the child, no parent ever deserves that kind of title if they purposely try to bring harm to their child. It is wrong,” she stated.

“Oh...and what about those that do?” He shyly said, both knowing what he was implying but not saying it out loud.

“Then you say it when your ready,” Yanyu simply said.

“I don’t think it’s that easy?”

“No, but what is?”

MK just shrugged his shoulders.

“Now how about we put away this stuff for ten more minutes before we get into history,” she pushed away from the materials and made sure the laptop was charged up.

“Yes!” He fist-bumped the air as he then spotted the pencil on the ground and tried to pick it up with his feet.

Yanyu had to press her lips together to fight against the bubbling laugh in her throat as she watched MK struggle to pick the pencil with the socks on his feet.

“Oi bastard I need a little help ova here!” A rough voice yelled out as it was followed by a loud bang, which led to the eight year old flailing off his bed.

“How many times have I told you to stop that?” He heard Macaque's familiar voice being annoyed.

“Too many times to count,” another softer voice replied.

“But you think that gunna sticka?” The third voice laughed out loud. “That’s a laugh!”

MK slowly opened his door and crept quietly to the living room as the voices got louder.

“I guess it is too much to ask you to be quiet for once?” The monkey deadpanned.

“Now why would I do that?” The first voice said.

It was at this point that MK managed to poke his head into the living room and saw three different demons, he knows they are demons this time, and his da-Macaque.

There was one whose skin was dark brown, but lighter above the shoulders. The more he looked, the more he could see that they were actually feathers all along the body, and instead of hands, they had clawed bird-like feet and two large black wings protruding from the back.

Another one was softly glowing a light blue hue that matched the pale blue skin as the creature was gently floating just a smidge above the ground. They had almost a mushroom-shaped hat covering their eyes and dozens of dark blue and purple strings attached all around the bottom of the hat as they hung just above the demon feet.

The final one is something that MK could clearly tell what it was as he had seen a bunny before, though this one was way larger than the other bunnies he had ever seen. The demon had pure gray fur and large white fluffy paws, if he wasn’t so nervous right now he would ask to pet them.

“Well I was hoping that you would have kept it down for the kid that is currently living with me right now,” he cracked a smirk at their frozen faces.

“Huh?” They all said in unison.

“Speaking of kids, you can come out MK. Don’t worry bout them too much, they ain’t harmful, just insane.”

At the prompting MK slowly shuffled into the living room and he saw three heads swivel towards him.

“Uhhh hi,” he gave a little wave.

“You have a kid?!?” They all shouted either loudly or softly.

“It’s not that big of a shock,” he grumbled as he walked over to the child and threaded his fingers through his hair. “Sorry, these knuckleheads woke you up.”

“I know I have not been gone that long for you to have a chick without me knowin!” The female bird demon squawked as her feathers puffed up in indignation.

“Nah, adopted him a few months back.”

“And you didn’t tell us?!” The bunny huffed as they thumped his foot in agitation.

“Nope,” he grinned as he watched their growing frustration.

“There are times where you are the best of us and times you are the worst of us, I don’t know which one this falls under,” the mushroom head demon groaned as one of the strings was massaging the top of his head.

“Are they your friends?” MK loudly whispered to the monkey demon.

“I don’t claim these lunatics,” he bluntly said.

“I think you mean to say that we are your amazing, wonderful, fantastic friends that you hold dear,” the bunny demon pointed out as they put an arm around his shoulder.

“I was forced into this,” Macaque said as a wing wrapped around the two of them.

“Ah just admit that you have a soft fuzzy heart for us,” the bird demon grinned.

“Not even when my bones decay away.”

MK just blinked at the unprompted scene as he saw the glowing blue demon approach him.

“Sorry about my companions, they can be a little much sometimes,” he smiled softly to him.

“It’s fine, you're not the only ones who make a loud entrance,” he thought back to the times Yanyu would kick the door open when she walked in.

“I suppose not,” the demon then held out one of his arms to the child, making sure his tentacles were out of the way, “my name is Bohai little one.”

“I’m MK,” he smiled back and shook his hand.

“Oh, we’re doing introductions?! Well, I’m Daiyu chicky,” the female demon grinned or at least that's what he thought she was doing with her scarred beak.

“I’m Minsheng,” the bunny demon twitched their nose and gave a toothy grin, “you're so small that you remind me of my siblings when they were born.”

“How many siblings do you have?” He curiously asked.

“Pfft older or younger? I stopped counting after we reached the 200s,” they laughed.

His eyes widened, “over 200! That’s a lot of brothers and sisters.”

“Well, you know how bunnies are.”

Before MK could question that he felt two furry hands cover his ears.

“How about we don’t talk about that to a kid who has probably never had a crush before,” Macaque hissed to the bunny who had their hands held up.

“He’ll learn eventually.”

“But I would rather have that explained to him by literally anyone but you.”

“Fair enough.”

“Anyways,” the monkey took his hands off MK’s ears, “what were you screeching about earlier?”

“Oh well I got a bit nicked with some of dem cretins after a territory dispute you know how it is and,” Daiyu turned around and showed her back...which had a few knives sticking out of it. “I got a bit scratched up in the tussle.”

“At least you had the sense not to take it out,” he couldn’t help but sigh. “You at least win?”

“Who do ya think your talkin to?” She proudly puffed up her feathers.

“And people say I have too much pride, you damn vultures take the cake,” Macaque rolled his eyes as the two of them walked towards the infirmary room.

“You say that as if you never met Flicker before,” she chortled.

“Well there’s a stark difference between you two.”

“Wha that?”

“He actually has a brain.”

“Hey!” She attempted to pull his dangling fur, but he ducked away in time.

“Can I stay up a little longer!” The seven year old asked before the door could shut.

“Only for a little bit, but when I get back it’s straight to bed.” He answered back and then the door closed.

“Thank you!” He called out regardless as he fully knew that he could hear him.

“And that’s the whole lot of us kid, we're only half as insane as curly made us out to be '' Minsheng joked.

“Almost all of us,” the jellyfish demon said.

“Who you? Ha! Hate to break it to you, but the last time you lost your patience was when they didn’t make your starfish the way you wanted and you paralyzed the entire cooking staff.”

“You didn’t have to bring that up, but no not me,” he waved one of his tendrils. “I meant Ahmed.”

“I didn’t include him in the first place because that man does not even classify as insane,” he bluntly said. “He has the patience of a monk to deal with our brand of insanity which, in hindsight, is insane itself.”

“Whose Ahmed?” MK asked, “is he another friend of d-Mac?”

The two looked at each other before Baiyu spoke, “yeah, he’s a friend of Macaque.”

“Ouch, that’s a low blow for poor Med,” they grinned then winced as a tendril shocked their arm. “What? You know I’m right.”

“You know as well as I do that he can still hear you.”

“I’ve been craving death anyways,” they then turned back to the kid, “so you want to hear some crazy stories about your old man.”

Needless to say that Mac had tackled the bunny demon to the ground, with two violet glowing escrima sticks in hand, in the middle of their story on how the fierce monkey demon had to dance his way across a road of hot coal as he tried to outrun an angry herd of demon pheasant while wearing a rather beautiful kimono.

Macaque was reading out on the patio when his ears twitched as he heard a soft whimpering coming from MK’s room. He put the book on the table when he walked in and safely crept his way over his room and like many times before MK was crying in his sleep from a nightmare once more.

“It’s okay shooting star,” he gently began to thread his fingers through MK’s hair, “it's just a bad dream. You will be fine.”

At first, it didn't have any effect, but the longer he talked the softer the whimpers began to die down and the kid's eyes softly began to blink open.

“W-what's goin on?” He hoarsely said as he rubbed his eyes as he realized that he wasn’t dreaming anymore.

“You just had a bad dream kid,” he hummed as he continued stroking his hair.

“Oh.”

“Want to talk about it?” He received a firm shake of his head, “that’s okay, do you want to lie back down, sing, water, or want me to give you a little shadow puppet show?”

“Shadow show please,” he muffled out as he gripped tighter onto the blanket.

“One show coming right up,” he used a shadow clone to bring back a lantern as the room began to softly glow. When all was set Macaque began his tale in a low voice, “There once was an old man who lived in a shack.” He used some of his shadows to show a picture of an elderly man and wooden shack, “he was nothing special, did nothing extraordinary, and his life was simply normal. Until one day he happens upon the most peculiar thing.”

He continued to tell the tale of the old man even when he, unknowingly, had wrapped his tail around his child’s hand and MK, who was slowly drifting off into a deep slumber, held a tight grip upon it.

MK was currently sitting on the edge of a large lake as he kicked his feet in the water. He was alone at the moment as the monkey demon was tending to the plants that he needs for various medicines. The lake itself was a beautiful view filled with lily pads, reeds standing tall in the crystal lake, fishes and herons swimming in the water. Though he was trying to guess what that large dark shape was, it was nothing he has ever seen before.

“Hmmm I don’t think it’s a fish...maybe a duck?” He leaned in to get a better look and noticed. “Or maybe a turtle!”

The shape shifted as it appeared to be getting bigger and bigger as MK now noticed that he had never seen a turtle with long arms and claws before. He then saw there was long string hair upon what he thinks is its head until suddenly it disappeared and was replaced with two beady eyes. His heart dropped when the creature opened its mouth to reveal countless rows of sharp, pointed teeth. Then it began to rapidly swim towards him.

MK, frightened, fell on his back as he tried to crawl away, but it failed as the creature burst out of the water and onto the ground merely a foot away from him.

He let out a piercing scream, “DDAAADDDDD!”

At the same time the creature, with his mouth wide, said “hi there human child!”

“What?” He abruptly stopped his screaming right as an ominous force suddenly filled up the area as MK then felt two familiar hands scoop him up and hold him close as the voice spoke almost lowly.

“What happe-oh it’s just you,” Macaque let the pressure go back to normal once he realized that there wasn’t a true threat that was trying to attack his kid.

“Bwahahaha,” the creature let out a bellowing laugh, “sorry sorry. I must have scared your youngin.”

“No!” MK instantly said, but then he wilted and nodded, “just a bit.”

“Sorry about that little child, I just get a bit excited when a new face comes around my lake and all,” the webbed creature gave a toothy grin. “I know I startled the pant off Minzhe when I first met him.”

“Your lake? You live here?” MK, after being let down, carefully tried to examine the waters closer.

“Right on the mark, since being a Shui Gui and all.”

“Shui Gui,” he drawled out as he thought about that familiar name.

“Or Kappa, our damn naming changes so often that at this point I just go with the flow.”

“Oh! I know what a Shui Gui is!” MK brightened as he began to tell what his...mom used to tell him. “Aren’t they vengeful demons that have drowned and are bent on dragging helpless victims underwater, drowning them and finally eating their...flesh to…to...” his face took on a look of horror as he realized what he just blurted out. “I am so sorry!”

Luckily though the two demons chuckled, or at least Macaque did as the Kappa was holding his stomach. Though this did make MK’s face flush in embarrassment, he should be glad that the demon wasn’t angry, but he didn’t find any humor in what he said.

“Well I’ll give you credit,” Kappa said as his laughter died down, “what you said was mostly true, except I’m not a demon, just a ghost.”

“And let’s be clear he hasn't eaten people since two-maybe three millenniums ago,” the monkey demon intruded as he knew what MK was gonna ask next.

“You humans have become much too stringy for my taste,” he joked, but it served the opposite purpose as the small child paled even further.

“And this is why your only friend is an adrenaline junkie who has a taste for his own death,” Mac deadpanned as he soothed MK down.

After his heart stopped thrumming in his ears the human managed to look up at his guardian and his eyes widened as he noticed that Macaque suddenly had three pairs of different colored ears: red, blue, and purple. “When did you get three ears?!”

“You just now noticed?” He raised an eyebrow.

“Did you have them all this time?!?!!”

“Not all the time, but I do when it’s quiet usually.”

“Cooolll!” He attempted to climb the monkey to get a better look, “Is this how you're able to hear things from so far away?”

“Yeah,” he lets him examine his ears as only his eye minuscule twitch when MK accidentally pulls it too hard. “Be careful now, only have three pairs of them you know.”

“Right, sorry.” He apologized as he became gentler with his touches. He couldn’t help but gently drag his fingers through the oddly pointed ears and he smiled, now he understood why some of Mac's clients called him the Six-Eared Macaque. He eventually got down and faced the spirit once more, who was just looking at the two of them with amusement. “I’m real sorry for screaming at you.”

“Water under the bridge young child,” he waved him off, “least you apologize for it. I know that half the ones in these woods won’t even say sorry for ramming into you.”

“There’s more of you?” He tried to look in the lake, but he was once again met with only fish and water.

“Me specifically no, but spirits, demons, and other whatnot. Oh yeah there's hundreds of them dwelling in this here forest.”

“Wowww,” his eyes sparkled, “so does that mean that we are all neighbors.”

It was stunned silence before the Shun Gui began laughing once more as he bends down, “PFFTHAHAHA!”

“Did I say something funny?” MK looked towards Mac who was pinching his nose once more.

“No, he’s just obnoxious, that’s all.”

“You know what I like you kid, yeah we’re all neighbors, man even Ping would get a laugh out of this,” the water spirit said after his laughter died down. “Welcome to the neighborhood MK!”

“Thanks...umm what’s your name again?” He embarrassedly asked as he realized that he never got a name throughout this whole interaction.

“Oh here we go,” Mac sighed as he got comfortable and plucked up a Ravenna grass and began to chew on it. He grimaced as he realized that he had plucked up a weed again.

“Eh, you can call me Kappa if you want, don’t care for the whole naming thing,” he shrugged as he got back in the lake and laid there.

“Why not?” He curiously followed him.

“Why should I?” He shot back with a grin.

“Huh?”

“Why should I care for my name? It’s my name and I can do whatever I want with it, so I just choose not to care.”

“But don’t you like your name,” he was very confused about how this conversation came about.

“Oh I do, but truth be told, most of the time I forget others' names, so one day I just thought ‘you know what, what if I just don't use my name all the time’ and I didn't,” he finger gunned at the blank face child.

“You're kinda weird,” he bluntly told Kappa.

“I’m sorry,” Mac spoke up in disbelief, “You met a trio of lunatic demons that are a hot mess in general, an insane human who likes to add too much ghost jalapeño to her food, one of my clients who have their organs outside of their body and this is where you draw the line of weird?”

“I just wanted to know his name!” He threw his hands up.

“Just whatever is fine,” he laughed.

“Well fine! Your name is Whatever now!” He said in a fit of frustration before he realized what he said, “wait! I didn’t mean-,”

“Pfthahaha!” The spirit once more threw his head back in laughter.

“...what is even happening,” MK deadpanned.

“Welcome to my life Starchild,” Mac said as he ruffled his hair.

“That’s an interesting one, alright Whatever it is then,” he gave him a toothy grin.

“Wha-no please no,” MK almost begged him. “I didn’t-,”

“Nope too late, I won’t respond to anything else but Whatever from you. Hope to see you around short stack, you really know how to bring a laugh to a vengeful spirit face,” he let out a bark of a laugh before diving down deep into the lake.

MK blinked for a few moments before turning to Macaque, “is he really gonna-,”

“Oh yeah he is only gonna respond by that name,” he cut him off, “called him a Kappa once to his face and that slimy frog hasn’t let go since.”

“...I think I want to go back home dad,” said MK as he leaned into his fur. “I think I’m done for the day.”

Macaque’s breath hitched as he then gave him a gentle smile and scooped him up in his arms. “Yeah, I think I am as well.” And with that, the two mentally exhausted people made their way back to their warm home.

MK, who proudly turned nine as of a few months ago, was playing in an arcade as his dad was grocery shopping. He stuck out his tongue as he attempted to repeatedly punch the monster in Monkey Mech, but he keeps getting beaten right before he can land the final punch. He mused up his short ponytail out of frustration that was held by a red ribbon, “Oh man! I swear this guy cheats, alright seventeen times the charm.”

“I thought it was the third time the charm?” He turns around at the voice and sees a pigtail girl around his age looking at him.

“It is, but I lost sixteen other times, so this time I will win,” he confidently said as he put another token in, and just like before he lost. “I almost had it!”

“Move over,” the girl pushed him aside and took over the controls, “let me show you how to really play.”

MK's jaw dropped when the Winner title popped up after she managed to land the final triple axel uppercut to the enemy. “How’d you do that?!”

“Oh just a lot of practice, and searching online, to find the right moves to slain the beast,” she bragged.

He went down on his knees and bowed to her, “oh teach me your ways oh wise one.”

“You may refer to me as Master Mei,” she deepened her voice to sound elderly, “and who shall I call my young student.”

“Call me MK,” he followed along with glee, he hasn’t played with a kid his age in so long.

“Well then let me show you the ways of Monkey Mech,” and with that the two proceeded to play the game, playfully pushing each other as they double battled in a co-op mode. It wasn’t until a few hours had passed, and they had long passed Monkey Mech and went into all the different kinds of games in the arcade when MK noticed the digital clock behind the counter.

“Aww man, it’s getting late,” he pouted as he didn’t want to end, “I have to meet up with dad.”

“Awww,” Mei's shoulder slumped as they walked to the prize area, “that sucks.”

“Yeah,” he slumped his shoulder, as well as the two, looked through the prizes available, which did brighten the mood a bit as Mei left with a strange mutated stuffed dog that had three eyes, a few pieces of candy, and three bouncy balls, while MK was sucking on a swirly lollipop, pieces of chocolate in his pocket, and a sticky hand sling that he is slinging everywhere.

“So you like racing?” MK asked as they left the arcade, besides the Monkey Mech he noticed that Mei tended to go to the racing games more often.

“Yes! One day I will have my own motorcycle and I will be faster than anyone, even the Monkey King!” Mei declared.

“Even the Monkey King? Wow that is fast,” he said in awe, he read the story of the Journey to the West from the library. He was quickly enamored with the story the more he read and he soon began to idolize the great Monkey King. To think that such a being could ever exist in the first place was amazing! He did find it funny that the great Monkey King rival was named Macaque, it was hilarious to think that his dad could ever have powers to fight on equal standing with a god-like immortal. Grumpy? Sure! Easy annoyed? Oh yeah definitely, but scary? Ha! The scariest thing Dad has ever done was glare at his patients when they were being too noisy, but for some reason it always works as they shrink back in fear. He mentioned it to Yanyu and the demon gang one time and well-

“HAHAHAH/PFFTTTTT/SQUAK SQUAWK SQUAAAKK/SHEHEHEH,” Yanyu was rolling all over the floor as Minsheng was banging his feet, Daiyu was slamming the table with her wings, and Bohai was using all his tentacles to wrap himself.

-they burst out laughing when he mentioned this to them. He still hasn’t gotten a full answer for that one, all they told him was to wait.

“I wonder how far that can go?” Mei curiously asked as she watched the green sling attach itself on the top of the door that they were exiting.

“Not far, how high can your bouncy ball bounce?” He asked as he then watched her bounce the ball and saw it soar a bit high above their heads.

“Not that high either...how about we combine them,” she gave a mischievous grin as MK followed suit as he used his sticky sling and attached it to the ball.

“One,” Mei started.

“Two,” MK raised his hand in mid-air.

“Thr-”

“Ready to go kid.”

“AH!” They screamed and watched the sling and ball slip from his hand and instead of bouncing, it was thrown in Mac's face, who easily caught it.

“Not the first time I had something thrown at me,” he didn’t even blink at the outburst, though he did take a second glance at the other child next to his son, “though your new, made a friend Stardust.”

“Her name is Mei!” MK excitedly said though it didn’t look like Mei was paying attention to him at all as her focus was all on Macaque, or more specifically, his head.

“What?” The monkey demon raised an eyebrow.

“You have the longest hair I have ever seen,” her eyes sparkled as she instantly zoomed behind him and started to pull on his fur. “Can I braid it?!”

“It’s actually fur,” he corrected her.

“Can I still put it in a braid?”

“Sure.”

“Then I don’t care!” She happily proclaimed and pointed to one of the benches. “Sit.”

“...” he looked towards his kid who just shrugged his shoulders, “well I guess this is happening,” he sighed as he got a clone to take the rest of their groceries back home.

Needless to say that Mei very much enjoyed putting the demon fur in a messy, but still manageable, braid.

“You know if I had some Morning glories, they would look amazing in your hair,” she mused.

“You know their weeds right?” He pointed out.

“So? They look awesome.”

“You got me there.”

“There!” She proudly finished her creation with her green ribbon tied up at the end, “you have very fluffy hair.”

“Fur,” he once more corrected her.

“Eh fur, hair there the same thing,” she turned back from the monkey and to MK with a nervous smile, “you will definitely come back right? I haven’t finished playing all the arcade games with you.”

MK looks towards his dad with puppy dog eyes and Mei easily follows suit.

“You know those don’t work on me right,” he deadpanned and smirked at their hanging heads, “but yeah, I’ll drop him off from time to time.”

“Yes!” They both jump up in cheer, only for some of their candy to fall out and onto the floor.

“My babies!” MK rushed to pick up his pieces of semi-melted chocolate.

“Noooo!” Mei quickly began to grab as many of her jawbreakers as it rolled away.

Macaque watched them in amusement at their mad scramble to save their sugar fix.

[purvishraick]

A TALE OF ALWAYS AND FOREVER

CHAPTER 7

Fanfiction : Bloodbound (Choices)

Pairing : Adrian Raines x Amy Richard Parker (MC)

Warning : none

Rating: Teen

TAG LIST : @otherworldlypresents ​  , @evelynistic ​   , @silma-words ​ , @fireycookie , @lauren-raines-x , @nala-raines

If anyone wanna be tagged in future do let me know….

read previous chapter here ….. Chapter 1 , Chapter 2 , Chapter 3 , Chapter 4 , Chapter 5 , Chapter 6

So here i promised this last night but sorry it got delayed ...got stuck in some important work .... now here i am .... i hope u like it

Amy had to forcefully cut the call, in order to shut her brother and she new that this will make him angry. But she didn’t need a pep talk for not getting wasted in the club before her interview. She could handle her brother afterwards and the interview was important. She wandered here and there and settled on the bench. She felt like she is being watched from behind but didn’t find someone. Just then a stunning woman with an icy demeanor came towards her.

“Amy?” stern woman said .

“ yes that’s me “ she replied .

“I am Nicole Anderson, VP of operations at Raines Corp. I will interview you . “ she said .

Amy was surprised to see that she was going to be interviewed by someone so high at post but her queries were eased when she reminded her that they take their hiring process very seriously and she followed her in the conference room keeping her confident look .

“ now then. The Raines Corporation is a global leader in technology and innovation . Why exactly are you interested in being the executive assistant to our CEO ? “

“well…” Amy took a deep breath and continued , “ I’d love to help make the world a better place . what I admire most about the Raines Corporation is your dedication to global innovation and improvement. The clean – water initiative …the vaccine for the cerella virus …the green energy project… you guys aren’t just getting rich. You’re trying to help people, to make technology that’ll save the planet. I can’t think of anything better than being a part of that.”

“hmm……a good answer. A bit cloying , perhaps, but Adrian might actually like that “ Nicole said with an appreciative look.

Just as she was going to speak the next thing , the door at the back of the room swings open , and a handsome man in a perfectly – tailored suit strolls in.

Intelligence sparks through his eyes . He was extremely charming , with his black obsidian eyes assessing her , her already killer nervousness now peaked a whole new level.

“ Adrian I wasn’t expecting you…” Nicole asked unable to hide the surprise in her voice .

Adrian as in Adrian Raines …well all escalated very quickly for her .

“ I had a free minute. Is this the candidate ?” he asked taking the authority in his hands as he decided.

Professionalism and seriousness reflected in his voice .

“ yes …but I’ve just started the interview and—“ Nicole asked stammering .

“ I’ll take over from here “ he cut her off not wanting to take any excuses .

“……of course sir , go right ahead “ she surrendered .

Adrian sat across Amy , eyes burning right through her . He has never seen such a beautiful person in his entire existence , god knows how would she be as a person .

Amy’s nervousness grew even more when his eyes bore through her but she remembered once more , she is Amy Richard Parker and nothing in this world ever scares her , she remembered her brothers’ advices on professionality and confidence and recalled her dad’s proud thought about her and her mother’s loving smile . Now that was enough to calm her down , so she put on the brave and fearless smile again on her face and straightened her back.

“ Amy , is it ? “ Adrian looked at her and saw her hazel brown eyes which her so hypnotizing , with all his strength he prevented himself from being lost in them .

“ that’s right “ she said interrupting his thoughts .

“ tell me Amy , what do you desire ? “ he asked her and she was surprised at the question .

Amy was already so mesmerized from him that this question surprised her.

“ You mean ……why do I want this job ? Because I – “ but was interrupted by Adrian .

“ I didn’t ask why you want this job. I asked what do you desire . “ he asked seriously and professionally.

“ I desire ……PASSION “ she answered after thinking fir a while .

“ oh , really ? “ he asked , his brows raising , he was in true sense intrigued by her answer .

“Sorry , if that is too personal but I am just being honest . I want to feel deeply. I want to experience life , live every moment like my last. We never know when is our last moment , it is better to live our life to the fullest than to regret it afterwards . That���s what I desire “ she answered honestly and it was the true answer she saw what happened to her family everything was good and happy then suddenly they lost everything , she do not want to regret anything .

“ I can relate“ Adrian was impressed internally but didn’t expressed it. He supressed a smile to reach his face. He was truly impressed by her desire to live and feel and experience. He now looked at her resume .

“ lets see here … graduated college 3 years ago …masters in communication …interned at Mannon financial…volunteered in San Torbida and France abroad for a year “ he read out and again was impressed from her but wondered why it took her an extra year to sign up for this interview or for that matter any other one .

“ yep that’s right “ she said .

“ well , how was that tell me in three words “ he asked .

“ difficult. Enlighting. Rewarding. “ she replied easily .

“ good , this job can be challenging and unpredictable , are you comfortable running unusual errands ?”

“Absolutely “

I have been doing them since a long time now , she thought to herself , smiling .

“ Handling confidential information ? “

“ I can keep a secret “

You wont even realise how many I am keeping right now too , she thought again and smirked .

“ Working nights ? “

“ Always been a night owl “

Okay , I atleast told him one thing fully without strings attached , she smiled while thinking .

“ Good , Anything else I should know about you ? “

“ Hmmmm …… I have got WORLD CLASS people skills “ , she said with a proud smile .

“ Oh , really ? “ he asked with questioning eyes .

“ I was voted ‘ most likable ‘ in my high school class . Also ‘ most popular ‘ and ‘ best smile ‘ . Technichally you are not supposed to win in multiple categories , but I was able to persuade them . And also the cherry on the top I was the PROM QUEEN “ , she stated out all of her achievements proudly and remembered how happy and proud her father was to see her that day . She and her brothers has always been the brightest in the whole family , anyways. Suddenly feeling nostalgic and tears building in her eyes she averted her gaze on the floor.

“ Thus proving your point “ said a grinning and impressed Adrian , but he saw a glint of sadness in her eyes and he doubted that he saw tears too , and was unable to understand why counting her proud moments made her sad .

“ exactly” Amy said after controlling her emotions and forcing a smile.

“ one more question “ Adrian leaned forward hands folded on the table and with an intense expression , told her the story of a man who got a genie lamp and destroyed everything , and then finally asked her about what should his final wish should be .

“I think his final wish should be to undo his first two wishes “ she said after thinking for a while .

“because ?” Adrian asked curious to know her theory .

“ because he already had everything he could ask for a family and many friends …what could he ask for more it was more than enough …all he wanted or ever needed was right there in front of him …this is a story of temptation and greed …he should have never played this game …all now he can do is making things as they were before “

Her answer was something totally honest … Adrian glanced at her and then noticed how true each and every word was . she was not only beautiful but also quite intelligent …in true sense beauty with brains.

She was quite interesting too …Adrian personally never saw such a person in his entire life … and he needed to know her …he knew that it is a huge risk and a mistake but he already did that when he decided to interview her himself …now he couldn’t resist her … so then he does the only thing he could do …he knew that Nicole will be a big trouble after this but guess he was okay with that if it was what would keep this girl around .

Then he grins brightly at Amy and says

“ You’re hired “

“wait what ? …seriously “ Amy asked with wide eyes , she was surprised , how in world is it possible that someone gets hired so fast …this was weird to her … but of course she was happy .

Adrian left an inside giggle watching her surprised reaction …she looked adorable with those wide eyes …his smile grew even wider … and he extends his hand …which obviously she took .

‘ oh my god …his skin is impossibly smooth…and hold so firm …wow he is really handso-……no no no …stop brain stop thinking …no eyes …don’t look in his eyes for too long … fuck …, I am a disaster …stop cheeks don’t turn red …god please ‘ she thought .

Good god if god wanted to kill her please kill her in this exact moment …someone save her from this embarrassment …she was a disaster with wide eyes blushing cheeks …FUCK.

Adrian saw her flustered reaction which was by far the cutest thing he saw in his life … his vampire senses made her blushing cheeks clearly visible …the dark pink tint on her cheek made her impossibly adorable.

“welcome to Raines Corporation “ , he said with a bright smile

They made eye contact for just moment but everything stood still for that particular moment …it was mesmerising .

In that moment Adrian didn’t knew about Amy but he knew that they were going to go a long way .

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

@choicesficwriterscreations

[chestnut-b]

Himawari Chapter 11

Just like Iruka had, he stared at the dish in his hand. A firefly was resting on its edge, and its glowing reflection on the shining surface of the sake reminded him of a freezing, cloudless night on the northern coast, when he’d watched a full moon rise above the sea.

He remembered thinking; Iruka would have liked to see this.

After a silence that felt like an eternity, Kakashi heard a drip, followed by another. It wasn’t the kind produced by flowing sake, or the ones that signalled the arrival of a blessed rain after a drought.

It was a lonely, hollow sound.

Chapter 11 of a Demon Slayer AU

“Honestly, Iruka-sensei, I’m disappointed in you.”

“Hmmmm?”

Kakashi had moved through the forest with little trouble, much like Iruka had told him the first time they met. The Hashira had even bypassed the formalities at the gate, avoiding any manner of children or slayer on his way in.

He’d so looked forward to springing a surprise on the teacher, only to find him under the shade of that familiar tree, lying on his back with a book covering his face. The dappled light of the late afternoon sun that fell on his figure danced in tandem with the breeze.  

“I come all the way here hoping to catch you off guard, only to find you sleeping on the job.”

“I’m technically on my break, Hashira-sama.” his voice was muffled under the book, but it did nothing to hide his amusement. 

With a hand braced on the tree, Kakashi leaned over, plucking the book from where it rested.

Eyelids fluttered open, revealing a pair of dark eyes filled with mirth, along with lips that stretched into a wide, pleased grin. 

“Welcome back, Kakashi-san.” 

Without thinking, he replied.

“Ah, I’m back.”  

Kakashi offered a hand to Iruka, who took it after only the shortest pause, and he was pulled to his feet. The man favoured Kakashi with a curious glance.

“Quite a bit of luggage you have there. If I didn’t know better I’d have thought you ran away from home.” He teased.

“Not quite sensei, but someone told me that might have been your kind of thing.” 

Iruka looked at him with dawning realisation, but then had the sense to look a bit embarrassed about it. His cheeks, along with the tips of his ears, took on a reddish tint as he straightened the last of his uniform.         

“So you did meet sensei.” 

“I did.” Kakashi confirmed, beaming. He reached a hand out, fingers brushing the side of a reddening ear. He felt Iruka jolt slightly at the contact, but he quickly withdrew it, twirling a freshly plucked leaf between his fingers. 

“Thank you.” the teacher murmured, flush deepening. 

Well, Kakashi thought, at least he’d gotten one of the things he came for.

“You’re so lucky, sensei. Not everybody gets the chance to have a Hashira serve as courier for them.”

Iruka blinked at him.

“I come bearing gifts.” he announced, with an air of grandeur. 

“Wha-”

His query was cut off by a deep, gruff bark, and the sound of delighted, squealing children. 

“Senseiii! There’s a new dog come to visit!!”

Soon a hulking brown mass in a blue happi appeared, trodding its way towards them with Naruto and Lee clinging to its back. 

“Wow.”

“That’s Bull, isn’t he adorable?”

Iruka nodded dumbly, a little stunned, but his expression quickly grew stern.

“Naruto, Lee, off. Right now.” 

There was a petulant whine, but they did as directed. Bull looked a little relieved, and blinked at Iruka expectantly. 

“Word gets around sensei. He wants to know what the fuss is about.”

Iruka laughed as he crouched, circling his arms around the dog’s neck.

“It’s my pleasure to meet you, Bull.” he greeted cheerfully, giving the scruff of his neck an eagerly awaited rub. The hound made a low, pleased sound.

A bell began to ring in the distance, diverting Iruka’s attention. He returned to the tree, grabbing the wooden sword that had been resting against it before directing a slight bow Kakashi’s way.

“My apologies, Kakashi-san, I would have offered you some tea, but it’s time for class. You’ll have to excuse me.” 

Kakashi waved a hand. “I’ll catch you later, sensei.” 

He walked up to the man, and leaned in close. He could feel Iruka’s wariness skyrocket, along with Naruto’s annoyed stare boring into his back.

With a cupped hand, he whispered into the teacher’s ear. 

“Just so you know, we’re drinking tonight.” 

“Eh?”

“What are you two whisperin about?!”

Kakashi turned to Naruto with a finger over his lips.

“Oh, it’s a secret between us adults, sorry!” He winked.

“Please don’t tease him like that.” Iruka sighed.

He turned to the boys. 

“Quickly, or we’re going to be late.” 

Lee sprinted ahead with gusto, and Iruka followed soon after, albeit at a leisurely pace by comparison. Naruto stayed just long enough to stick a tongue out at Kakashi before running to catch up with the other two.

The Hashira watched them disappear around the corner, and heard his hound, who must have been left feeling a little deprived, let out a soft whine.

“Bull, don’t get greedy.”

The hound’s only reaction was to blink at him slowly, clearly skeptical, and most definitely unimpressed.

-------------------------------------------

Dinner was just as he remembered, a rowdy affair. 

Kakashi took his usual seat beside Iruka, and though he’d smelled it first, his hopes were confirmed when he found grilled mackerel, and a steaming bowl of eggplant miso soup waiting for them. Nothing extravagant or fancy, but they were his undisputed favourites.

“I may have told them to prepare a little something to welcome you back, Hashira-sama, we hope it’s to your liking.” said the voice next to him.

In between regaling the corp members with stories of the past year, or indulging them with bits of harmless gossip about the other Hashira, Kakashi, for all his dignity and restraint, couldn’t find it in him to refuse the bowl that was casually nudged in his way. 

-------------------------------------------

Before they’d parted after dinner, he’d told Iruka to come by when his young charge was finally asleep. Even the assurance of a Hashira’s presence a room away wasn’t quite enough to dispel his worried expression, which he found a little odd, but eventually he gave in, nodding awkwardly.

So Kakashi waited. He’d sent Bull off earlier on another run, and now that he was alone, chose to bury his nose in a fresh manuscript that had been generously left behind for his perusal.

It was fairly late in the night when the silhouette finally appeared outside his room. 

“Come on in.”

“Please excuse my intrusion.”

Iruka stepped in, sliding the door shut behind him. Kakashi was suitably amused to see his friend grimace upon spotting the orange book in his hands.

He grinned in return, and gestured to the open doors at the other end of the room. It led to what was once a lovingly tended garden, now overgrown and wild. He heard Iruka’s breath catch when he finally spotted the light of dancing fireflies among the weeds and bushes.

“Take a seat, sensei.”

“All right. But just so you know, I make for terrible drinking company.” He warned, stepping outside. 

Kakashi soon settled beside him with a tray and the bundle he’d been tasked to deliver. He offered the teacher a wide, but shallow sake cup of a fine make, and Iruka’s eyes widened in recognition. 

“Isn’t this Kotetsu’s?”

“I might have borrowed it…...without asking.” 

Iruka shook his head, smiling. He took the small dish from his hand, the tips of their fingers brushing in passing. It was left by his hip before his attention was directed to the bottle that remained on the tray. He reached for it, intent on carrying out his serving duty.

Or at least, he’d tried to, before Kakashi grabbed his wrist in a gentle hold.

Iruka glanced at him, confused.

“I believe it’s a subordinate’s duty to pour for his superior.” 

“Well, technically speaking, I’m not your superior.” he explained, releasing his arm.

The teacher placed his empty hands in his lap with a muted smile. 

“Ah...I suppose that’s true.” 

Kakashi felt the sudden urge to kick himself. He didn’t need to ask to know what was probably going through Iruka’s mind. 

I’m not even a real member of the corp. 

Even though that really wasn’t what I meant. He thought regrettably.

“I hate to disappoint, but I’ll be doing the pouring tonight. You can relax, sensei.”

Between them, there was a brief silence.

“Kakashi-san, I didn’t get to ask, but what’s the occasion?” He asked softly.

It was here that Kakashi paused. To say something like “We’re celebrating your birthday” to a man who was so keenly aware of his waning mortality seemed...inappropriate. 

He hoped Sarutobi had a better idea.

Kakashi reached into his haori and fished out a sealed envelope, which he then passed to Iruka. He watched him unfold its contents, and as soon as he’d read the last of it, his lips quirked into an amused smile.

“Be sure to make good use of the time afforded to you, he says.”

Nope, the old man was not helpful, not in the least. 

This is going just swimmingly isn’t it.

“How late am I?”

“Hmm, about two weeks.” 

Kakashi sighed dramatically as he picked up the bottle. He could feel Iruka watching intently as he poured for the both of them. Clearly, it was not something he was used to seeing.

Iruka said his thanks before taking the cup in his hand. Kakashi nodded, taking the other one. 

“To eighteen years of dodging fate.”

“That’s just depressing, sensei. How about, ‘To not dying?’”

“I suppose I could drink to that.”

They toasted and took the first drink in one go. 

“Mmm, delicious.”

Iruka hummed in agreement. 

For a while, they drank in companionable silence, with Kakashi pouring dutifully. But Iruka was not an experienced drinker by any means, and so took his slowly, gazing at the fireflies in the garden between sips. 

“I wonder if sensei’s still mad at me.” 

“He did mention something about ulcers, but no, I didn’t get that impression.”

Iruka laughed. The scar on his face was now stark against his slowly reddening cheeks. Looking over the rest of him, he realised even his signature red cord and earrings were nowhere to be seen. Tucked behind an ear, his dark hair was loose, spilling past his shoulders in gentle waves over the top of his yukata and haori. 

It was still Iruka, and yet not the one he knew. 

There was a stirring in his chest, a feeling that he might have labeled unease, but he wasn’t so sure. It might have just been the sake, warming his blood. Before he could come to a conclusion, Iruka’s eyes flicked, catching his, and instinctively, he looked away, with the odd feeling like he’d been caught doing something he shouldn’t have.

Not long after, there was a fond sigh. 

“Konohamaru’s going to be a handful.” 

“Troublesome sons seem to be a running motif in the Sarutobi clan.” 

“That does seem to be the trend.” he mused with a measure of self-awareness, taking a noticeably larger sip. He then turned to Kakashi and presented the empty dish, which was filled once more. 

“You’ve known Asuma a long time?”

“For as long as I’ve known their family.” 

“Hmm...I must say, you looked pretty cute as a kid. With that hairstyle and all.” Kakashi chuckled. 

It induced a strained, throaty sound, and he turned to see Iruka rub the bridge of his nose along the scar. 

“So you saw that one.” 

“The Senju have their share of odd traditions, but so do many ancient bloodlines, I’m sure.” He said in consolation. 

Kakashi briefly recalled what Tenzou had shared; that the Senju women generally lived longer, and were believed to be stronger. Thus, the act was seen as a prayer for health and vitality. All their descendants would be dressed as girls till the ages of seven or eight.

A tradition that Iruka’s mother carried with her, even as far away from home as she was.

“It seems Asuma hasn’t been back in a while.”

It made Iruka grow quiet, and he looked down to stare silently at his cup. It took a while before he spoke again.

“No, not since he found out about Naruto.”

“Ah.”

Then Iruka whispered something under his breath. It was so soft, that Kakashi wasn’t entirely sure if the man had meant for the words to leave his lips.

He suspected it had to do with how Asuma had acquired that knowledge.

Kakashi knew that not everyone was as open-minded as Hiruzen. He’d taken the child in, despite the fact that his wife had lost her life on the battlefield that day. She’d insisted on accompanying the Kakushi, providing aid on the sidelines.

Their squad ended up being ambushed by a Lower Moon. 

“Kakashi...is he doing well?” 

He might have raised an eyebrow at the lack of honorifics, but he ended up attributing that to the sake too.

Normally, he didn’t make the effort to keep up with the rest of the Hashira, and so whatever he knew, he knew from quarterly reports, or the squawkings of Gai’s occasional messenger.

“Well...Asuma’s keeping himself busy. I heard he’s taken on apprentices of his own.” 

Yes, and unlike Kakashi, the Flame Pillar was very much dedicated to keeping the rank and file members on their toes, the Kakushi included. If the slayers in this outpost thought he was bad, well, they clearly hadn’t gone through one of Asuma’s training sessions.

Or Gai’s, for that matter.

“I think Sarutobi has plenty to be proud of.”

“......Thank goodness.” Iruka said quietly, with obvious relief. 

Kakashi thought it a good time to bring out what the elder had saddled him with, if only to lighten the mood a little. He reached behind him, and handed the bundle over to Iruka, who put down his dish before taking it from him. 

The Hashira silently hoped its contents would fare a little better than Sarutobi’s greeting had.

“Don’t keep me in suspense now.” 

“Mmm.” 

He watched Iruka’s fingers, just slightly clumsier than usual, undo the knot of the furoshiki. Soon, like the petals of a flower, the bundle was soon open in his lap. 

Carefully packaged were some finely wrought throwing knives, a few books, a generous package of tea, and lastly, a shallow paulownia box. 

The teacher removed the lid, revealing another envelope. There was not a single crease, but it had started to yellow at the very edges. Clearly, it had been written years ago, and stored with great care.

The words “To Iruka” were brushed in a graceful, elegant script.

Iruka inhaled sharply, almost as if he didn’t dare release his next breath. 

Slowly, he ran his fingers down the characters almost reverently, and picked up the letter in his hands. They were trembling, If not due to the sake, then at least, from the wave of emotion that clearly overwhelmed him. 

“I’m sorry…...could you?”

“Of course.”

Kakashi took the envelope from his hands, gently undoing the seal and removing the contents. He handed the folded paper to Iruka, who held it in his palms just above his lap. When he finally gathered the courage to unfold it, Kakashi felt the need to look away, and so he did. 

Just like Iruka had, he stared at the dish in his hand. A firefly was resting on its edge, and its glowing reflection on the shining surface of the sake reminded him of a freezing, cloudless night on the northern coast, when he’d watched a full moon rise above the sea. 

He remembered thinking; Iruka would have liked to see this.

After a silence that felt like an eternity, Kakashi heard a drip, followed by another. It wasn’t the kind produced by flowing sake, or the ones that signalled the arrival of a blessed rain after a drought. 

It was a lonely, hollow sound.

“Iruka?”

There was no reply to the call of his name. Kakashi watched as the man rose shakily from his seat and walked barefoot into the grass, the fireflies shifting to allow him passage. He gazed at the floating beads of light wordlessly, the letter in his hand hung limply at his side. But his shoulders started to shake and without warning, the teacher dropped to his knees. 

Kakashi had already sprung from his seat, ignoring the spilled sake and fallen dish he’d left behind, but it was the sound of crushing, tearing paper that froze him.

The next instant, he was crouched before the man, gripping his trembling wrists with a strength he’d not fully intended, causing Iruka to drop the torn pieces in his hands. Even then, his head was bowed, eyes hidden behind a curtain of dark locks. 

When he finally spoke, it was with a voice so pained, Kakashi couldn’t will away the ache that gripped his chest.

“For all the pain my family’s caused…everything I’ve done...”

“There’s no way I’ll be going to the same place as them.” He whispered mournfully.

Iruka leaned into him, resting his forehead on Kakashi’s shoulder. The Hashira released the hold on his wrists, and with some hesitation, wrapped his arms around the teacher’s back, drawing him closer. He was now keenly aware of the cheek resting close to his ear, the warmth of the body and beat of the heart against his chest. 

It was the first time in living memory he’d held anyone this way.

“Even now...I’m still wanting to go back…” his voice had lost its strained edge. 

A place to return to...

“So why not go then?” 

“...Can’t. It’s so...incredibly far...” 

Kakashi moved to gather the man in his arms, and lifted him as he stood. Iruka was so far gone, that instead of bristling or fuming like he’d done the last time, he seemed to lean into his hold.

“Maybe we can go together one day.” 

There was no reply, but he seemed to feel the cheek resting against him rise in a small smile.

Kakashi wondered at the words that had just left his own lips. He wasn’t in the habit of making impossible promises, or any kind of promises for that matter, but then again, it seemed to be a night of many firsts for him. He found that the prospect of seeing the same view his father had, when he still lived, was not something he minded.

Not wanting to risk waking the man up, or worse, having to answer to Naruto, Kakashi settled for placing the man in his own futon. With the back of his hand, he cleared the bangs from Iruka’s  tear-streaked face, flushed and still warm. When he reached to move Iruka’s wrist under the blanket, his hand was caught by warm, gentle fingers.

“I did...try to warn you.”

“Maa...you’re probably better at tea anyway.”

There was just the tiniest, sleepy laugh, and Kakashi smiled. He returned the touch with a gentle squeeze of his own, before lifting the covers over his shoulders. 

Kakashi stood and walked to the open doors, but before he stepped back out into the garden, he turned to look over his shoulder, and whispered under his breath.

“Happy Birthday, sensei.”

-------------------------------------------

Iruka,

If you’re reading this, you must have just turned eighteen, the same age I was when I met your father. 

Happy Birthday. 

Up till now, you must have suffered, not just because of the karma our family has wrought, but because I’ve always known your path will not be an easy one. It will always be our greatest sorrow, to know we cannot walk beside you through it all.

The night I finally met you, a firefly landed on your cheek. If you’d been born a girl, I would have named you ‘Hotaru’, and your father would have scolded me, but he would have been happy all the same. In all the years I’ve known him, he’s never smiled like he did that night. How cruel he was to have hidden that from me. 

Really, the two of you will always be my most precious gifts. 

Fate has dealt us a difficult card, Iruka, but you’ve been blessed with a strong body and a kind heart. We know you will use them well. 

For you and I, our lives are much like the fireflies, painfully short, but beautiful all the same. Don’t be afraid of happiness. Whatever path you choose, your future is your own. Cry, smile, laugh, and live a life you can be proud of at the end of it.

But take care, not to rush to meet us, for we’ll be waiting patiently, however long it takes, for the day we see you again.

Know that we love you, and that you will always be our pride and joy.

Also, don’t give Jii-ya too much of a headache. 

A small one is fine, but remember to be kind to the elderly.

Your mother, 

Umino Kohari

-------------------------------------------

At the edge of his awakening consciousness, he’d registered the sounds of soft breathing at his side. 

When he opened his eyes, he was met with a sight that was familiar, and yet not. Instead of a snoring, blonde child, there was instead a head of mussed light hair and a set of closed eyes. The one normally hidden by an eyepatch was bisected by a long scar that ran from the top of his eyebrow, down his cheek, and under the mask. So close, he could see the long eyelashes, dusted in silver.

Moving silently, Iruka sat up in the futon that he knew now, was obviously not his own. He rubbed at his forehead, hoping to dispel the last of the lingering headache that plagued him. The room was thankfully still dim. There was only the barest beam of light entering the room from a gap in the doors, along with a small draft of cool morning air that smelled of grass and dew.

He turned to look at the man beside him. Kakashi lay on his side, curled on the bare tatami and covered only by his haori. That he’d not stirred from his slumber the moment Iruka awoke was a testament to his exhaustion. 

He didn’t realise the trip back had taken so much out of him. 

Iruka gazed at the Hashira’s face for a moment longer, before the sound of shifting paper brought his attention to the low table across the room. 

Shifting the blanket from his legs, he rose slowly and walked towards it on the pads of his feet, passing by the wrapped furoshiki on the way there.

His eyes traveled across the desk.

A candle that had long burnt out.

An ink well and brush, still wet.

A stack of writing paper. 

An envelope, gently opened. 

Lastly, torn pieces of a letter, smoothed out, and put together like a puzzle. 

Iruka’s head started to pound as flashes of the night before started to play in his head. 

That’s right. I’d destroyed it with my own two hands. 

Reaching over, he picked a few sheets from the stack, his hands freezing as realisation dawned on him.

They were copies of his mother’s letter.

He picked up the envelope, thinking it looked strangely full with its original contents displayed on the desk. 

Iruka pulled out the sheet, briefly registering another smaller piece that had dropped onto the floor, but he’d ignored it, choosing to unfold what was already in his hands.

He took in a sharp breath.

Aside from the age of the paper, every stroke and character was an exact, perfect copy. 

I heard the Sharingan could copy techniques almost flawlessly, but this... 

He turned to look at the man behind him, and felt a surge of fondness blossom in his chest.

What did I ever do to deserve this? 

Placing the copy back into the envelope, together with the torn pieces on the table, he bent over to pick up whatever had fallen moments ago.

Familiar, frayed yellow edges of one of Sarutobi’s photographs. 

He flipped it over, and immediately, his lips stretched into a smile as he ran his thumb over the face of the sleeping toddler in the picture.

You’re so lucky, sensei.  

Iruka thought of Naruto, and he thought of Kakashi. 

He thought of his parents, and he thought of Sarutobi. 

I hate to admit it, but you win this time.  

Walking back to the futon, he slipped the now sealed envelope into the furoshiki as he passed. 

Iruka picked up the comforter from where it lay, and placed it gently over the sleeping Hashira. Silently, he kneeled beside him, taking in the scar, and the lines of exhaustion that ran under his eyes.

Later, he would ask himself what possessed him to do what he did. 

Perhaps he’d blame it on the lingering effects of sake, or the fact that once again, he’d been gifted the chance to hear his mother’s voice, even if it was just in writing.

Iruka ran his fingertips through the silver hair that covered Kakashi’s scarred eye, and carefully, silently, leaned over.

When he’d finally stepped out into morning’s first light, he didn’t notice the hooded, mismatched gaze that followed. 

-------------------------------------------

End of Chapter 11

-------------------------------------------

Author’s Notes:

Ahhhhhhh! A nice meaty chapter to chew on. (almost twice as long as usual!)

These things just end up writing themselves after a while, seriously. 

If you feel like, there’s a great song that I essentially wrote this chapter to (and also essentially a theme song for the entire story), I’d implore you to check it out. It’s “Moratorium” by Omoinotake > listen here <

Enjoyed the chapter, art or the song? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Terminology & Fun facts:

‘Hotaru’ - The Japanese name for fireflies. The other fun fact is that fireflies are also called “lightning bugs” *coughLightningHashiracough*

See you in the next chapter!

[skyemisc]

Silver Ceremonial Robes Translation

My translation may not be 100% accurate but it should give the general gist ;;;;

Under the cut!

EP1:

“I want to return their kindness”

Courtyard

Idia: Ahh~ I don’t wanna. Why does the magical shift tournament have to be on TV?

Idia: They show my face in some pretty shameful replays. I’d like to avoid that…

Idia: Right now is 7:00PM… The school store should just barely be open.

Idia: I’ll buy a welding mask, then tomorrow I can hide my face the entire day��!

(rustle rustle)

Idia: Hii!! S-S-Something moved--!

Silver: You there! State your name at once!

Idia: Hii?! I-I-I-I’m no one! Ah, Ahhhh, I’m not anyone suspicious…!

Idia: I-I-I-I’m Ignihyde’s I-Idia Shroud!!

Idia: So, please, put down that baton in your hand…!

Silver: Ahh… Idia-senpai. That would imply you are not anyone suspicious then.

Idia: (whisper) I-I think the one popping out of nowhere brandishing a baton is a lot more suspicious though…

Silver: Anyway, what are you doing wandering around here at this hour? Usually, you’re at your dorm eating dinner at this time right?

Idia: I-I was on my way to go buy a welding mask…

Silver: Do you need it for a mechanical engineering-related experiment?

Idia: Urgh… Well what about you, w-w-w-why are you walking around in ceremonial robes…!

Silver: These clothes are most suitable for slipping around during the twilight.

Silver: It inhibits my mobility, but due to certain circumstances I don’t have my dormitory clothes available.

Idia: Eh….Eh? Like a stealth move?

Idia: S-Silver, are you actually some sort of ninja?

Silver: Hmm…. What’s a ninja?

Idia: They’re rumored to come from a far East country. They are people who conduct covert actions, intelligence assessment, and other dirty work.

Idia: Have you never heard of shuriken or fire jutsus before?

Idia: It’s a popular theme for anime and in games their jobs are on-par with that of samurai!

Silver: Idia-senpai… You’re suddenly talkative.

Idia: Ah… Sorry ‘bout my otaku rambling…

Silver: I understand you explanation… But unfortunately I’m not this ‘ninja’ you speak of.

Idia: Seeing you deny that with such a straight face kinda makes me embarrassed on my part though…

Idia: Wait… Silver, what are you aiming at, wondering the courtyard at night…?

Silver: Tomorrow is the Magical Shift Tournament. The school will be open, and immoral people will be among the crowd of normal people from different countries.

Silver: Undoubtedly, assassins will take advantage of the crowds to slip in and look for any possible openings.

Silver: The safety of Malleus-sama is of the utmost priority.

Idia: That’s overreacting! Besides, Malleus has a strong high rank cheat, isn’t that overprotecting him?

Silver: I serve Malleus-sama, who will someday become king of the fairies and rule over the Valley of Thorns.

Silver: Before coming to this school, if he took one step out of the castle, he had guards with him.

Idia: Hmmmm…

Silver: If by any chance something happened to Malleus-sama, there would be diplomatic discourse

Silver: This is in no way overprotection.

Idia: W-W-What’s with this heavy scaled topic…

Idia: I’ve only heard about assassins and diplomatic discourse in games though…?

Silver: This is no game. This is our reality.

Idia: W-W-W-W-Wow…! There’s always, always been lines I wanted to try reciting  during these times…!

Silver: …? If you want to say it, why not go ahead?

Idia: Nah, if you were to say it it’d probably fit but if I tried I’d probably look like some sort of wannabe.

Silver: I see… I don’t quite understand it all, but I apologize.

Silver: Well then, I will return to my station. Be careful not to get mistaken as anyone suspicious.

Silver: Currently, I, along with Sebek and Lilia-senpai are patrolling the school after all.

Idia: R-Roger… I’ll follow your example and use my stealth mode where I can. L-Later.

Silver: Yes, see you.

Silver: …I should meet with Sebek and Lilia-senpai and let them know about Idia-senpai wandering around the courtyard area.

Silver: It’ll be a huge commotion around the area if he runs into Sebek.

EP2:

Courtyard

Idia: *sigh*… Finally class is over. Really, today’s weather is too nice… It’s rough for a shut-in like me…

Idia: On days like these, I’ll quickly confine myself and return to my room and complete my daily quests.

???: ……

Idia: …Hm? Someone there?

Idia: S-S-S-S-Silver?! Why’s he collapsed in the courtyard?!

(leans in…)

Idia: Oh… maybe he’s just sleeping…? Sheesh, I was so surprised I took damage…

Idia: …Though, he’s got some good features. No doubt he’d be popular~

Idia: His face when he’s sleeping looks like that of a prince, so dazzling. There’s even small animals around him…

Idia: He seems so different now compared to the day before the Magical Shift Tournament

Idia: I was scared of getting hit with that baton too…

Idia: Now seeing him like this, I wouldn’t believe he would be the type who likes to get involved with anything.

Silver: Hm… Nn…

Idia: Hii! I-I-Is he w-waking up?!

Silver: *yawn*… I thought I sensed someone. It was you, Idia-senpai…

Idia: Y-Y-Y-Y-You got it all wrong! I wasn’t at all staring at you while you slept!

Silver: ? Please settle down a bit before you speak. Everytime we’ve met you lurch in surprise.

Idia: That reaction was more due to my anti-socialness…

Idia: B-B-B-Before you were brandishing that baton. Anyone would be shocked from that.

Silver: Now that I hear it aloud that sounds only natural… I apologize for my actions last night before the Magical Shift Tournament.

Idia: Urgh… I feel bad seeing you sit there and apologize so sincerely…

Idia: S-Silver, you’re a bit of a strange one… To have such students who are so straightforward and loyal…

Silver: …Is that so?

Idia: Y-Yeah. To go to such an extent to go on night watch for their dorm leader, the students at Ignihyde would not ever do that.  

Idia: …Hwah! M-M-M-Maybe The Dorm leader Malleus at Diasomnia dorm is one to rule with an iron fist?

Idia: I-If that’s the case, I can understand. Are you forced to do stuff like the night watches?

Silver: Such acts of reign of terror is not necessary at Diasomnia dorm. Just as the other night, the night watches of are our own volitions.

Silver: I’m not sure what all goes on with the students at Ignihyde dorm but, I will do what I can for the one I’ve sworn my loyalty to.

Silver: Right now, the reason I am alive today is all because of my father and Malleus-sama.

Silver: I want to someday return their kindness towards me.

Idia: Ohhh… The expression on your face was so cool, and for an otaku like me, I could feel the passion from your tone.

Idia: I can kinda sympathize.

Silver: In addition, I prefer to avoid any trouble for Malleus if any conflict were to arise between the human land and Valley of Thorns.

Silver: My power is nothing fancy, but I want to do what I can.

Silver: I was told many times by my father to avoid any warfare growing up…

Idia: Ohh… Such profound words.

Idia: That ‘father’, he must be a strong man with a steel-like body and mind.

Silver: Yes. My father was a guard who served as a lord of the Valley of Thorns.

Silver: I’ve heard he earned the queen’s favor due to his ability to fight in battle.

Silver: At this time he is retired, but he was a warrior who has been rewarded medals due to his actions of throwing himself into battle multiple times.

Silver: I’m sure I cannot begin to imagine the harsh experiences he had…

Idia: W-What is this. This is starting to sound like an open world RPG…

Silver: Open world?

Idia: I-Internet thing. Sorry, it’s something you commoners wouldn’t understand.

Silver: No, I know about online games. My father often stays up late to play such games.

Idia: Hm?! Your father just suddenly turned degenerate?!

Silver: My father has always liked those sort of trends. Recently he’s been getting into MagiCam it seems.

Idia: E-Ehhh?! He just went from a retired strong Royal guard to crumble down from there…!

Lilia: Heeey Silver. What are you doing sauntering around there?  

Lilia: You promised to accompany me after school for an uber difficult quest.

Silver: Fath… Lilia-senpai. Sorry. I’ll be there right away.

Lilia: Hm…? I was wondering who it was there, and it happens to be Idia. You two are a rare combination.

Idia: Ah, ah… L-L-L-Lilia, this is, uh…

Silver: I had dozed off here earlier and met him by chance.

Silver: Idia-senpai, see you around.

Idia: Y-yeah, see you…

Idia: …Talking with Silver about his dad was interesting.

Idia: Even though he was an honored warrior from the Valley of thorns he’s a heavy internet user and uses MagiCam lolol

Idia: If someone like him really does exist, even me, who hates people, would wanna see him with my own eyes…

Diasomnia Dorm – Hallway

Lilia: I’ve gathered materials to implement my new items. Next week is this season’s event. I’ll be so busy~

Silver: You really seem like you’re having fun when talking about those games.

Lilia: When I was a youngin we didn’t have these online games.

Lilia: Dwellers from all around the globe can cross borders for entertainment. It has become quite peaceful times.

Silver: That’s true. For you to live in a peaceful time where you can enjoy games…

Silver: We definitely must protect it.

Lilia: …Look at you talk so cheekily

Lilia: Now then, let’s ride on that sentiment there Silver and dive into my games to my heart’s content. They’ll be no sleeping tonight~

Silver: P-Please give me a break, father…

[neo-shitty]

toffee!

ah yeah, i think quarentine has given people some opportunity to actually just sit with the person they are, rather than be rushing around for the person they want to become. its good you got smth good out of isolation! ah thats great! hope you had fun and ur partner in crime speeds back home so you can get out more hehe.

ah yeah ty, good suggestions.

hmm good point, i was sort of putting it separate to the whole not-sexualising thing, but yeah. mmm yeah i totally agree, some of the enhypen fics/imagines *shudder* and even reading innie stuff is just a bit *icky* cos everyone still thinks of him as our agi ppang. yeah def would be good but sadly this just seems to be the world we live in. :(

ah yes the holy masterlist (not sarc) i have actually read in the rain and gladius maximus before, but ill go look for in class! oooh thats good! character development lol. hmmmm yes champagne problems was the angst to end all angst, that shit hurt. it was actually one of the first of your fics i read and i recall almost crying over the whole thing, it was so heartbreaking, i can see how it almost made you want to drop angst. good that youve allowed yourself some lee-way tho :)

hehe thats so cool. okay here we go, ill try not to be mortally offended (/hj)

cheese - yes same, i liked it but that was all there was, it wasnt a super standout track. it was rlly underwhelming for me but some of the hook is super catchy so there is Redemption (tm) in store for cheese maybe

thunderous - mmm, yeah at first i totally agreed, i think they suffer from too much good music syndrome, that all their other tracks are such fucking bops its hard to stay at that level of perfection. the choreo was beautiful tho and tbh, the track has grown on me since ive been watching all the vids abt it. its my brothers favourite track

domino - YES GODAMMIT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE TITLE TRACK. the raps, the vocals, the vibes, the fucking domino sound in the back? i would have streamed that shit on repeat. but tbh, as good as it is, it doesnt have that sort of grandness/oomph that skz seems to like in their title tracks so i can see why they chose thunderous (tho domino would have been so good) *sigh*

ssick - yeah same, not my fave track by a long mile, the crowd cheering was a ?strange? choice and the chorus was a bit bare/empty, plus like i mentioned earlier, it was kinda funny to me for some reason but ill still play it if im playing thru the whole album

the view - ahh one of those not like other girls (/j) i honestly think its just a good party song, just a bop to play in the background when nobodys rlly paying much attention. its pretty generic pop music but catchy

sorry, i love you - hehe yeah i thought it was going to be sadder as well, but i rlly loved the fact that they all just got to sing, which almost never happens, i dont think ive heard felix sing for a long time, so i enjoyed it. wasnt rlly a standout track but i just casually like it. looking forward to the fic haha

silent cry - this song i swear, some bits are rlly good and then others are just? why?? it does sound like a dance song tho idk. definitely not one of my faves either

secret secret - YES its so good! its such a chill song and i love their vocals in it. the combination of lo-fi/fake strings backup stuff and their heavenly vocals just makes it *chefs kiss* im listening to it rn and just... its so beautiful. it gives me pumped up another day vibes ya know? like my pace is edgy get cool, this one is energetic another day i feel like. overall i love it

STAR LOST - ah thats so cool! i didnt know that! on first listen this song had a similar vibe to secret secret but then the beat came in and ahh its such a good song. i can totally imagine them putting this song to a concert footage vid, this song is so sweet.

red lights - LMAO YES ITS SO AWKWARD WHY DOES IT GO ON FOR SO LONG ah thats good! yeah good point, its quite intense hehe. but that is my fave trope and this is lowkey my favourite track on the album so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ just the combination of hyunjins and chans voices, the backing music, the lyrics ahh red lights my beloved

surfin’ - yes lmao its always a shock, i feel like they should have put gone away in between them, but its such a fun cute song, i cant get rlly mad. yeah, as an aussie i think im contractually obligated to like beaches lol. sand im not such a fan of, but my familys rlly into fishing and my brother loves bodyboarding so we stay at a beach house at least twice a year and we live like 5 mins from 3 different beaches (hehe all aussie cities are on the coast lol) so thats cool. do you like beaches?

gone away - ah gone away my beloved, i love this song sm, its just so pure and showcases their vocals and lyrics so well. yes the pitch change is very out of the blue, i feel liek they went directly from seungmins soft vocals to hans powerful ones which was an interesting choice, but hey, im not complaining

wolfgang - YES IKR ah im so happy he got to be included in that era and song. yeah its such a full on song i cant rlly listen to it if im in a quiet mood but its very motivating :)

hehe mood, i hope they do! ahhh no rest, but at least you wont have to pull a blink and wait a year for any word from the group lol. im not rlly into nct but im excited for them! ah hopefully youll be able to sneak some rest into that chaotic schedule, with enhypen (idk if u stan but yeah) squeezed into it haha

<3 w.a. 🐺

i wheezed at partner in crime, it reminded me of smth. i have a lee know fic in the drafts that i wrote 'in honor' of him (and his departure-ish). i'll tag you when i finish it, if you want. it's a rather hilarious one.

oh my god. based on my experience on the collabs i've joined before, writing explicit shit for '01 & '02 is not accepted (nct's maknaes) but with enha's hyung line '01 & '02 somehow it's okay? i do a double take every time i see fics like those i mean, technically, it's legal but still what the fuck. maybe it's just not for me at the moment. not at us venting our frustration about this. it's just something that's so accepted here that i am (in all honesty) slightly uncomfortable about. but oh well. that's kpop writerblr for you.

man i could've linked all the fics in the ask instead so you wouldn't have to go looking for them! i think i saw you like in class the other day (the fic i renamed into sharp-tongued, god it took me a while to remember the new title). describing champagne problems as an angst to end all angst is one way to put what i was feeling back in december. it just hurt to write and admit?? if that ever happened to me i would prolly cry :d

okay back to the album talk! i love how you answered with more thoughts. i love exchanges like these! i am a victim of the cheese hook and it's now one of my favorite tracks in the album. PLS, TOO MUCH GOOD MUSIC SYNDROME. that's on our self-producing kings 😌💅 also, your brother has taste! as i am typing this, domino's currently playing in my head and i realized that too, that it doesn't have that 'vibe' of a skz title track. honestly, this could be a title track of another group. ssick is starting to grown on me because i found the beats cool kdjsk not the not like other girls 😭 the view is the generic pop that i don't like but i get why a lot of people enjoy it. sorry i love you scratches a certain itch that i find myself singing the first few lines every time i remember it. i too would want to hear felix sing more!

> a mini junction on the album talk bc i got side tracked. on that topic, i want skz to switch positions at some point like i know those allrounders are capable of doing so. specifically, i want to hear seungmin rap!!!! (yk in the recent weekly idol he talked faster than changbin in a challenge and changbin is like the fastest rapper in kpop that's active atm if im not mistaken. my dandy boy has some potential and i want it UNLEASHED.)

back to album talk. silent cry is basically sad music to twerk to. secret secret is definitely one of my favorite tracks :( i loved how you compared the tracks HAJSAH i burst out laughing bc yk what, you're right! i want to make a star lost edit of skz but i simply do not have the time i want to cry. i love the song so much. ok, my dreaded track, red lights. idt i have played the track since we last talked. my friend sent me the lyrics tho and i'm itching to write a twisted au out of it. idk if you're comfortable with yandere but somewhere along those themes. the obsessive type of love that's sweet at first but turns rotten. IMAGINE IF THEY PUT GONE AWAY BETWEEN ASHJA it's like going from 50 shades to the notebook.

i was about to ask if you lived near the coast and you literally mentions it here god im so stupid. yes i LOOOOOOOOOVE beaches so much. living in an archipelago is fun :( i live in a part of the country that's more island than city so every time i want some vitamin sea it's accessible. i heard the waves in australia are great :( anYWHOOO gone away :(( every time it plays im compelled to skip it because it makes me sAD AND NOWADAYS I DONT HAVE THE TIME TO BE SAD. contrary to you, i dislike my quiet moods because i tend to overthink a lot.

i have this little analogy about how there are stays that enjoy songs the generic pop + mellow songs and then there are other stays that enjoy the noisy tracks. in my mind, it's like a perfect balance that makes me feel like all the tracks are loved in the end. just by different people.

PULL A BLINK. bro i fucking hate yg entertainment. they have the biggest kpop girl group LOCKED in their basement when they could be (and i mean this in the most business-like way not morally) milking money of the quad. they're yg's biggest hope at not being bankrupt atm so it's a damn fucking mystery to me as to how they aren't doing anything. (jk i just realized lisa solo album soon, but i still need a ot4 cb hELLO)

i stopped looking forward to the teasers. rest > kpop boys. i don't want to sound like a cult member but have you tried checking out nct? are they just not your thing? (i get it tho, that's one hard group to get into). and yes i do stan enhypen!

wow i love how long these asks are! they're like online penpals. but i also want to ask about you! how have you been lately? are you feeling okay both mentally and physically? how's the weather there? do you have anything that you want to talk about? maybe an interesting book you read? feel free to bring up anything you want to share! i'm getting conscious about talking about myself HAJHSJ

and yet another long answer B) i am sooo sorry T___T should these ask exchanges feel draining to you, feel free to stop sending them in AAAA

[lunasilvermorny]

Christmas party - Truth or Dare (Year 5)

Luna spent most of the Christmas holiday at the Weasleys’, but since her mother and little sister were in the US and her father was in Germany, Luna decided to take the opportunity and have a party at her house.

Invited and showed up: Rowan, Bill, Charlie, Penny, Ben, Tonk, Tulip, Barnaby, Andre, Jae, Badeea, Liz, Diego and Chiara.

Uninvited but still showed up: Merula and Ismelda. (Barnany brought them along.)

Haven’t showed up: Talbott (doesn’t like parties), all the Quidditch characters (Orion, McNully, Skye and the rest of the team.)

They spent most of the time playing Truth or Dare.

Rules: if anyone lies or doesn’t agree to answer a question or do a dare, they have to drink. Rowan, Badeea and Liz have a special permission not to drink alcohol.

Self-appointed judge: Penny.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

But before we start, this post in a nutshell:

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Round #1 – Penny asks Jae:

Penny: Oh, look at that. I get to ask first.

Luna: Have you rigged-?

Penny: Jae, truth or dare?

Jae: Is that even a question? Dare, obviously.

Penny: Kiss the most beautiful girl in the room.

Jae leaned over to his right and gave Chiara a kiss on the cheek. She smiled while blushing and put her head on his shoulder. He let out a giggle and hugged her with one arm.

Penny: Are we first graders? French her!

Chiara turned even redder.

Jae: Next time, be more specific.

Luna: Okay, I think we can all agree that people will kiss however they like, Penny.

Penny: Cowards.

Round #2 – Liz asks Badeea:

Liz: Truth or dare?

Badeea: Truth.

Liz: Who do you think should have all of Luna’s pets-?

Luna: Hey!

Liz: Me or her?

Badeea: I would like at least one night of sleep without chaos.

Luna: This question is obviously about me, I call foul! Liz should drink!.. Water, I guess.

Penny: What do you think?

Tonks: Boo!

Tulip: You’re a crybaby!

Andre: The question is fine by me.

Everyone seemed to agree.

Penny: Overruled.

Luna: What?

Andre: I think Luna should drink for interrupting the game.

Luna: That’s not a rule!

Andre: Judge?

Penny: Drink!

Luna: Fine!

Liz: Back to the question…

Badeea: Ah, let Luna keep them.

Luna: Thank you!

Penny: Do you want another drink for interference?

Luna: Yes.

Penny: No, It’s no fun if you’re enjoying it. Every time you interrupt, you don’t get a drink.

Luna: Boo!

Round #3 – Tonks asks Ben:

Tonks: Truth or DARE?

Ben: *slightly terrified* Truth.

Tonks: Seriously? You’re a Gryffindor!

Bill: Don’t be mean.

Jae: She has a point.

Bill: Jae.

Jae: What? You can’t take house-points from me now, hot-shot.

Tulip: *turns to Luna* Same for you!

Luna: Do I look sober enough to take points?

Tulip: Yes.

Luna: Low blow!

Tonks: Whatever… Truth? What should I ask?

Tulip: I’ve got one – do you sleep with any stuffed animal?

Ben: W-what? No!

Jae: He’s lying. He has a teddy-bear.

Ben: That doesn’t count.

Tonks: DRINK!

Ben: But-

Most of them started chanting- “Drink! Drink! Drink!”

Penny: Sorry, Ben. Those are the rules.

Ben: But Tulip asked the question.

Tonks: And I accepted it. Drink! Drink!

Penny: Drink up, Ben.

Ben took sip of beer and looked disgusted.

A round of applause filled the room.

Luna: Welcome to adulthood, kid!

Ben: No thank you.

Round #4 – Diego asks Chiara:

Diego: Truth or dare, beautiful?

Jae frowned.

Chiara: Truth.

Diego: Who is the best dueler in this room?

Luna: Seriously?

Chiara: Hmmm….

Tulip: She’s too nice for this question!

Penny: She’ll live.

Chiara: Hmm… Barnaby?

Luna and Jae burst into laughter. Barnaby looked excited.

Diego: Are you sure-?

Merula: She gave her answer, move on.

Diego: But she’s obviously mistaken.

Merula: Obviously. Everyone knows that-

Penny: Everyone, take a shot whenever Merula says the thing!

Merula: Very funny. But I am the most powerful witch at Hogwarts.

Everyone raised their glasses and drank.

Merula: Ismelda!

Ismelda: What? That’s the rule.

Round #5 – Tulip asks Ben:

Ben: Oh boy.

Tulip: *with a vicious expression* Truth or dare?

Ben: T-truth?

Tulip: Have you ever farted then blamed someone else?

Ben: *turned red* WHAT?

Tonks and Tulip burst into laughter.

Penny: Answer the question, Ben.

Ben: No!

Jae: I don’t know, feels like a lie…

Tonks: Judge?

Penny: *rolled her eyes* Overruled. Next.

Tulip: No fun! This was a classic question!

Jae: No doubts.

Tonks: I’ll drink to that!

Tonks, Tulip and Jae raised their shot glasses and drank their content.

Round #6 – Andre asks Rowan:

Andre: Truth or dare?

Rowan: Hmmm… Hmmmm…

Penny: Just pick one.

Rowan: It’s not an easy decision to make. On the one hand, truth has the potential to be less embarrassing, because it doesn’t involve any physical action. On the other hand, a question can be highly personal and the if you ask the right one, it might be even more embarrassing than a simple-

Tonks: Boo! Drink!

Penny: But he doesn’t drink alcohol.

Tonks: Boo! Disqualify!

Rowan: Fine! Dare! *he regretted it immediately* I mean, truth!

Andre: Too late! I dare you to drink from your butt.

Rowan: WHAT?!

Tulip: Wow.

Tonks: Amazing.

Penny: Definitely too far.

Bill: That’s disgusting, Andre.

Luna: I think I speak for everyone when I say – no one wants to see that.

Jae: Let the man drink!

Penny: No, too disgusting.

Andre: Seriously? Fine. I dare you to put one of Luna’s mum’s dresses. Fair enough?

Penny: Sounds fair to me.

Rowan: Luna!

Luna: Those are the rules, mate.

Rowan: Then I’ll drink.

Everyone Booed and Tonks threw an empty can of beer at him.

Rowan: Fine, fine! I’ll wear the dumb dress.

Everyone cheered.

Tulip: You are one of us now, Andre.

Andre winked at her.

Tulip, Tonks and Jae: One of us! One of us!

---

There is much more, so if you like it - keep reading. (They’re basically getting more and more shit-faced, so... Yeah, fun!)

Round #7 – Jae asks Ben:

Ben: Why always me?!

Jae: Truth or dare?

Ben: Truth.

Jae: Are you sure about that?

Ben looked nervous, but after he took a peek at Andre, he said- “Yes!”

Tulip: I have a good one!

Ben: Please, not you again.

Penny: Tulip, let other people ask embarrassing questions.

Tulip: But mine are the best.

Jae: If you had a love potion, would you use it on your crush?

The room fell silent. Ismelda turned red and lowered her head.

Luna: What the-?

Liz: That’s horrible, Jae!

Tonks: It’s a question.

Liz: A very morally questionable one!

Penny: It’s just a question. Proceed.

Liz: Really?

Ben: No, I would never do that.

Luna: Of course you wouldn’t.

Liz: Get your shit together, Jae.

Tulip: Would you relax?

Liz: Hey, Jae. Here’s a question. Would you force yourself on anyone-?

Penny: All right, that’s too far. Let’s move on.

Jae: What’s your problem?

Liz: That’s what love potion does!

Bill: Let’s all calm down, it’s all in good fun.

Penny: Yeah, he didn’t mean anything by it, Liz.

Liz: I hope not.

Jae: It was just a question, you’re reading too much into it.

Luna: All right, Let’s move on-

Ismelda: Yeah, lay off him, Liz! Thinking about something is not the same as doing something!

Liz: Why, have you ever thought about it?

Ismelda: No!

Liz: Really? Because it sounds like-

Merula: Would you back off?

Penny: Enough! Everyone, take three shots and cheer for the next round!

Round #8 – Badeea asks Charlie:

Badeea: Truth or dare?

Charlie: Is it about dragons?

Bill: Really, Charlie?

Charlie: I’m just checking my options.

Tonks: Just answer the question!

Charlie: Okay – dare.

Badeea: I dare you to tell your most embarrassing story.

Charlie: Yes! It is about dragons!

Bill: Oh, come on.

Charlie: So we were in CoMC class-

Round #9 – Chiara asks Barnaby:

Chiara: Truth or dare?

Barnaby: What’s the one with the cool things?

Ismelda: Dare.

Barnaby: Dare!

Chiara: Umm.. I dare you to dance while you balance a glass of water on your head.

Jae: Good one.

Barnaby: That sounds like fun!

Ismelda: Just don’t spill it on me.

Barnaby danced around the room while balancing the glass on his head for 30 seconds before it fell and spilled on Ismelda.

Ismelda: Of course.

Round #10 – Penny asks Bill:

Penny: Always asking, never answering. Such a cruel fate.

Ben: Want to switch?

Penny: Truth or dare?

Bill: Dare.

Penny: I dare you to kiss your crush – on the mouth this time. We’re not 12.

Penny winked at Luna that in return made an “abort” move with her hand.

Bill: I can’t, she’s not here. *his tone was cold*

Luna blushed and took a long sip directly from the wine bottle she was holding.

Penny: Okay, then. Next, I guess. I was just trying to spice things up a bit… Excuse me!

Round #12 – Barnaby asks Ismelda:

Ismelda: Truth.

Barnaby: But I didn’t-

Ismelda: Truth!

Barnaby looked at Penny and then smiled.

Barnaby: Tell us who’s your crush!

Penny: Finally! Thank you, Barnaby. I was getting bored.

Luna and Ismelda exchanged looks.

Ismelda took a shot glass and drank its content as fast as possible.

Penny: Oh, come on!

Round #15 – Ben asks Diego:

Ben: Finally! I don’t have to answer embarrassing questions!

Tonks: Just you wait, boy.

Ben looked terrified again.

Ben: *without looking away from Tonks* D-diego, truth or dare?

Diego: *grinned* Dare, of course!

Ben: Hmm… I dare you to… to… I- I don’t know.

Penny: Make it about his crush, you fool!

Luna: Woah, there.

Penny: It’s like you guys never played this game before!

Ben: I dare you to… say if you have crush?

Penny: No! That’s a truth question!

Luna: Judge, maybe you should take it down a notch.

Penny: *sighed* I’m cool, I’m cool.

Diego: Penny is right, give me a spicy dare.

Diego winked at Ismelda that looked confused and disgusted at the same time.

Ben: I dare you to… have a drink?

Penny: Goddammit, Ben!

Diego: What a waste… *he took a sip of beer*

Round #22 - Luna asks Merula.

Luna: Nope.

Merula: No way.

They both took a shot.

Penny: Okay, moving on…

Round #26 – Barnaby asks Tonks:

Barnaby: Dare or truth?

Ismelda: Close enough.

Tonks: DARE!

Luna: We are way too drunk right now.

Barnaby: Kiss a girl!

Penny: Yes, good job, Barnaby!

Tonks: But which one?

Barnaby looked at Ismelda, she shrugged in return.

Barnaby: Tulip.

Tonks: Okay.

Tonks kissed Tulip.

Penny: And that’s how you kiss on Truth or Dare!

Luna: Yep, definitely too drunk.

Round #35? – Diego asks Andre:

Diego: Dare or dare?

Andre: Dare!

Barnaby: That wasn’t one of the options!

Diego: I dare… dare you… to fart!

Andre: On who?

Liz: You guys are too wasted-

Tonks: Disqualified!

Most of them yelled: Disqualified!

Diego: I dare you to kiss… Me.

Andre: Okay!

Badeea: Maybe we should lay down the-

Another roar of- “Disqualified” filled the room.

Round #? - Charlie asks Ismelda:

Charlie: What is your favorite dragon?

Ismelda: Truth.

Tonks: Disqualified!

Badeea: We should stop it.

Rowan: I don’t think we can.

Round #??!

Andre: Truth-dare or dare-truth?

Luna: DARE!

Tonks and Tulip howled.

Andre: Go to… *he pointed to the 3rd floor balcony that face the living room* there! And jump!

Rowan: Oh, no way. NO WAY!

*Luna stood on the sofa and then jumped on floor*

Luna: Yeah!!!

Andre: She did it! She actually did it!!!

Rowan: Oh, thank Merlin.

Badeea: This is too much.

Liz: Guys, enough is enough.

“DISQUALIFIED!”

Round ??!?#$@

Luna: Hey! Hey! HEY!

Merula: What?!

Luna: Dare!

Merula: Dare?

Luna: Dare!

Merula: Dare.

Luna: Go to hell!

Merula: I’ll meet you there!

Luna: AHH!

Merula: AHHHHHHHH!!

Barnaby: Who, me?

Ismelda: You ever thought… though we…be more than friends?

Barnaby: Another round of shots!

Everyone roared in excitement.

Round “why is this still a thing?”

Rowan: Truth or dare?

Liz: Truth.

Tonks: Drink!!

Last round

Luna: W-who’s still conscious-conscientious-contra-concon? *she giggled to herself* Nailed it.

Rowan, Liz and Badeea looked at her with their arms crossed.

Luna: Except for the nerds!

Silence.

Luna: Truth or dare?

Silence.

Luna: Drink!

A faint response from everyone who drank: Drink…

----------------------------------------------------------------------

:)

[doc-pickles]

it’s nothing funny just to talk (p. 1)

What happens when you text that random number graffitied on a bathroom stall in your favorite bar? Jo Wilson is about to find out. - In which Bar Princess and Doctor Evil Spawn meet via text.

More Jolex on your timeline because y’all seemed to love what I posted before! Also I’ve posted this whole piece on AO3 as well so it might look familiar.  

this idea came to me in a fever dream and i am not sorry that y'all have to deal with it. 99% of this fic will be in "texting" format, so be prepared for that. 

Jo is regular Alex is italics

Saturday 11:04 PM

heeeeey is thiss doctor evil?

I gotta say ur phone sex namee needs sum weerk

u soud like a comic book village 

fuck

village

VILLAIN

Who the hell is this? And how did you get my number? 

i’m just a girl at thee bar!!!! 

Joe’s Bar?

noooooo

i’m at enerlad city bar

You didn’t answer my question. 

u asked a quesitoon?

whata was it?

i’m goos at takifjg tests 

How’d you get my number?

it qas in the bathrooom!!!

it said “for a good tiem txt dr evil spawne” 

so I did

I am ready to havee fun

You’re drunk, obviously, and I’m going to have to kill Cristina for putting my number up. 

ooooooh is thatt ur girleifnd?

hirlefiend 

girlfriend**

Wow you’re really gone. And hell no, she’s my roommate. One of them. 

ooooh how many do u hav

roomees not girlfriends 

Three. Two girls and a dude. 

intereeesting...

well it’s tome for fireball shoots

steph is yeeling at me 4 txting too much

goodbey doctor eviel apawn!!

Oh lord. Tell Steph you need water. Or an IV. 

I’ve got her. she’s throwing up on her shoes. thanks doctor. - steph

  Sunday 10:11 AM

You know you’re pretty funny, Bar Girl. 

jesus christ what fucking time is it?! 

10 AM

I’m assuming you have a massive hangover. 

hold on I can’t hear you over the sound of me vomiting

TMI as the kids say these days. 

what’re you a grandpa or something?? 

No I just don’t know how to use text lingo. Except WTF. I know that one very well. 

quick question

who the fuck are you?

Dr. Evil Spawn. You found my name graffitied in the bathroom of Emerald City Bar. 

holy shit

I thought I dreamed that... WHAT THE FUCK

Nope. I’m real. 

holy shit i’m so sorry

my texts were so annoying

Who hurt you? I mean you were shitfaced, I’m assuming someone broke your heart into tiny pieces. 

the opposite actually, I was at a bachelorette party

not mine, i’m so single it hurts

Ahhh that makes sense. So you got shitfaced in solidarity? 

exactly you get it

you seem like you’d be the DD at a bachelorette party

Well seeing as I’m a dude I don’t do Bachelorette parties. 

Well I did go to one, but that’s a different story.  

hmmm you seem like a very interesting man doctor evil spawn 

going to bachelorette parties, living with women who aren’t your girlfriend 

OMG ARE YOU DATING THE GUY YOU LIVE WITH?!

George? No absolutely not. And before you ask, my other girl roommate is gay. 

so you’re single?

i’m only asking so when you murder me the police have as much information as possible

Haha very funny. I would be a terrible murderer. 

you didn’t answer my question

Fine. Yes I’m single. 

i’ll note that in the “serial killer file” i’m building 

gotta go, I have to do work :/

Have fun, don’t die. 

  Sunday 8:38 PM

Arizona is trying to set me up on a blind date. 

who’s arizona?

My gay roommate. She wants me to meet this “bubbly blonde” she knows from her pilates class. 

ahhhh. why don’t you go?

Bubbly blonde is not my type. Sounds like she’ll spend the whole date talking about how much she loves dogs or her knitting hobby. 

Plus she does pilates, that tells me more than enough. 

you’re making some good points. I don’t pity you. 

You better not. How was work?

the longest day of my life

it was just paperwork, I don’t actually work on the weekends

What do you do?

hmmmm that’s exactly what a serial killer would say

i’m an elementary school teacher

Oh so you sing and dance and paint pictures all day?

what school did you go to?

were working on multiplication tables and basic photosynthesis tomorrow

Wow that sounds like a lot.

it’s may, ive got three weeks of school left so I have to cram all the crap we didn’t cover into these last few weeks 

Ahhh that sounds more accurate.

and what do you do? 

besides text strangers that you don’t know

I’m a pediatrician. 

oh so you make kids cry and wipe snotty noses all day? two can play at that game

Well we both have to deal with snotty noses sooo...

I GET IT!! Doctor Evil Spawn!! 

why evil spawn though? 

I wasn’t this nice when I started med school. My personality is an acquired taste. 

ha! that’s a funny joke. 

so if you’re a fancy schmancy doctor why do you live with three other people?

I’m only a resident, not making the big bucks yet. Everyone else is a doctor too. 

are they all pediatricians?

No. Arizona is too but Cristina is a cardiologist and George is a trauma specialist. 

interesting!! I too live with my coworkers. it’s not fun. 

the table is always covered in craft supplies. 

Well I can never read the grocery list on the fridge. Stupid doctors script...

oh that’s a classic. you’re pretty funny Dr. Evil Spawn

Thanks Bar Girl. 

I gotta go. monday tomorrow and you know how fourth graders can be. night!! 

Night . 

  Monday 9:47 AM

there’s not enough coffee in the world for monday mornings. 

  Monday 10:52 AM 

Sorry I was yelling at the interns. We have a decent coffee cart here. Keeps me alive. Are you texting in class?

no it was recess

now they’re at spanish class

i’m not totally irresponsible 

Oh good to know the future of America is in good hands. Teacher Princess is “not totally irresponsible”

teacher princess?

Well, Cinderella lost her shoe, you puked on yours. Same thing. 

wooooooooow

that was so uncalled for...

I thought it was funny. Gotta go set a broken arm. 

broken arm vs. adverbs... can we switch? have fun lol

  Monday 3:26 PM

I don’t even think I know what an adverb is. 

how did you become a doctor??

Don’t need to know adverbs to fix a couple broken bones and snuffy noses. 

oh darn I should’ve gone to school for seven more years then

Haha. How were the adverbs?

better than expected, grading papers while I wait for my roomies to be done

we carpool, saving the environment and shit

Okay Eco Warrior.

you text like a 60 year old man

you’re not a 60 year old man are you?

No I’m a 28 year old man though

28 a doctor and you’re single? your personality must be worse than you described 

I’m a busy man, I don’t have time to settle down. And I have no desire to. 

yet you have time to text a complete stranger? 

hmmmm interesting...

Ouch, that one hurt Princess. 

steph is making me socialize with the other teachers

if I don’t respond, they killed me or dragged me to an essential oil party

Hahahaha

  Monday 5:18 PM

Did you get roped into a pyramid scheme?

nooo but therew as wine

I should sotp drunk texting you so often 

It makes your presence that much more entertaining. And bearable. 

woah woah dude

i’m a gem 

I can tell. Elementary school teacher with a heart of gold. 

awwww your too sweet tome

It’s a Monday. Who the hell gets drunk on a Monday?

teachers

we deserve it

You’re a teacher and you’re single and still going to Bachelorette parties. You’re what, 23? 

i’m 25 and i’m doing greta thanks you very nuch 

cnat believe that i’m supplying my perosnal info to a serial killer

What makes you so sure that I’m a mass murderer? 

ur weird nickname and ur intimate knowledge of the himan body

Mmm yes well a good amount of women do find themselves screaming around me often. Or under me. On top of me...

omg are you sending me dirty jokes

you’re crazy 

What can I say. 

Gotta go, I’m on call tonight. Get to bed safe, Bar Princess. 

mmmkay thanks Doc

  Wednesday 11:29 AM

What do you think is worse: School lunch or hospital food?

hospital food, no doubt

thursday is mac and cheese day here... I could bathe in that stuff

We have Spaghetti Wednesday but that’s the only good thing here. 

mmm how depressing

the teachers do a pot luck once a month and that’s always good

the art teacher next door to me makes the BEST blueberry muffins. 

Lucky. All I get here is vending machine cookies. Anything interesting happening in the elementary world? 

a first grader got lice last week so naturally we all have it now

I had to chop off six inches of my hair

Holy crap. Lice can be vicious, be thankful you didn’t have to shave your head. 

it feels like I did, my hair hasn’t been above my shoulders since the backstreet boys were still touring

Wow. I’m glad to know you’re well cultured. 

of course I am

gotta go, kids are back from music class

Don’t be too hard on them, they deserve a break every once in awhile. 

  Thursday 3:06 PM

Incoming Voice Call

“Jenna you forgot your lunch pail. Have a good day!”

“Hello?”

“Hi Mrs. Peters. I didn’t grade Henry’s test yet, I’ll have it tomorrow. Thanks bye!”

“Helloooo?”

“Steph I gotta grab my things, I’ll be there in a seco- oh shit. Hello?”

“Bar Princess?”

“Doctor Evil Spawn? I must’ve butt dialed you, I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay I... I don’t mind the interruption. Are you leaving work?”

“Just about, we’re wrapping up the solar system and I have to bring home the diorama.”

“I was never good at the models, I prefer working with the real thing.”

“Oh ho, a man that works with his hands. I can appreciate that.”

“You know now we’re officially talking and we still don’t know each other’s names.”

“Well around here I’m Miss Wilson, but you can call me Jo.”

“Jo. Hmm I like chicks with dudes names. I’m Dr. Karev but you can call me Alex.”

“Well nice to kinda meet you Alex. I’ll talk to you soon, I gotta get out of here.”

“Talk to you later.”  

  Thursday 4:34 PM

I wouldn’t mind if you were my teacher.

how did I know you’d send me something along those lines

I’m predictable. I’m still calling you Bar Princess. 

as you wish doctor evil spawn

I get to assist on a surgery today. Tonsillectomy. 

like removing tonsils? that’s awesome

for you, not for the kid

Oh she’ll be fine, she gets ice cream and jello for a week.  

okay yeah I might be jealous of her now

id love to be off work for a week and have you waiting on me hand and foot

the ice cream is a nice bonus

You think that’s my job?

well you said you aren’t making the big bucks yet so.... yeah 

Keep dreaming. I’ll talk to you later, gotta scrub in. 

have fun!!!!

[nattikay]

It's a bit late for an initial reaction, but what ARE your thoughts about the episode "Ladybug"? (I really like reading your opinions whenever episodes come out)

Hmm...well, like you said it’s a little late for a post like my normal First Thoughts posts. First Thoughts is just a list of impressions I had watching an episode, almost like an after-the-fact liveblog. So the longer I wait after and episode to write it the less there’ll be as I forget details and such. In this case I watched the episode right before I had to leave for my Aikido class and by the time I got home nearly two and a half hours later I forgot about the post and at this point I don’t actually remember a lot of my impressions. ^^”

That said though, here are some general thoughts:

-This could have been said repeatedly throughout the episode so I’ll just say it once and be done: I am more than ready to smack Lila straight upside the head, good golly gracious screw her >:(

-On a related note, I hope this episode puts an end to the “Adrien doesn’t stand up for Marinette” nonsense that had the fandom so incensed for a while. Adrien has always stood up for Marinette. He stayed on the sidelines in Chameleon because 1.) he didn’t know that Lila had directly threatened Marinette and 2.) Given that at the time he thought she was no more than an attention-seeker (again: he didn’t know about the threats), he genuinely thought that leaving her to undo herself in her own web of lies was the best option. You don’t have to agree with his line of thinking, but that doesn’t make it unreasonable. 

Now that it’s becoming clear that Lila is going after Marinette specifically, he IS taking more of a stand. And so far, at least for this particular situation, it’s been effective enough. So let’s stop bashing him for “not standing up”, please. 

-Sentimoster!Ladybug redefines the scope of what we know about sentimonsters and what they can be/do/etc. This has given rise to the “Adrien is actually a sentimonster” theory in the fandom but personally I don’t buy it. To be fair I am not super well-versed in the theory but a piece of evidence I’ve seen a lot is Astruc saying “Adrien is perfect” and using that to possibly imply that it’s because surprise he’s not a real person but I feel like that misses a major factor If Adrien is a sentimonster, then so is Chat Noir. And even the people who claim Adrien is “perfect” don’t say the same about his alter-ego. 

idk man the theory has some interesting ideas and potential evidences but it just doesn’t quite add up properly imo

Hmmmm I think that’s all I can think of for now. Hope that satiates your craving for Thoughts haha

[your-grand-adventure]

Buster World Chapter 1: Welcome to your new life

Floor 1

One-two-three. One-two-three. Martial Arts class was great. One-two-three. One-two-three. Especially when you get to stay a bit late and learn how boxing works. One-two-three. One-two-three!

“Sorry kid, I can’t stay out here for much longer. Do you want to go to my house?” Captain said.

“Sorry Mister, Mom and Dad say I can’t enter the apartments unless one of them has taken me there”.

“Sad, I would have taken care of you”.

“Bye, Captain!”

“Bye Maxie!”

I walked away from the gym, and into the darker than normal mall. Dad was always late. Mom couldn’t pick me up because she was sick. Sick with something I wasn’t allowed to know about. I don’t like that. I need to know. I could help. So why doesn’t anyone tell me about anything big or important? I made it to the exit my dad always grabs me from.

I sat on the cushioned bench, waiting for my father. Sunshine Mall was built over an old market place. There were a few legends about said marketplace. It’s said that during the solstices and equinoxes, the marketplace would be closed. Monsters would then use the marketplace as a playground. It’s probably just a legend. But I would like to meet some monsters. Preferably nice monsters.

Ding-

The pit had an elevator now? Nice. Was wondering when people would finally clean it out. They never said anything about this.

Maybe I could go on a real quick adventure.

The inside of the elevator was tinted a slimy green. Not sure if it was the light or from there being actual mold inside. I was much too bored to care about that, however. The seats are really cushiony. There were buttons up to 3 and down to… Holy Toledo. Last I remember, there was only 1 basement floor. Does… Does that mean that… Oh! Maybe the monsters are real!

I press B10.

That was a mistake.

The elevator creaked. I sat down on the middle seat. *Crick, Creak*. The elevator dropped like the Tower of Terror. I passed out.

Floor B11

I woke up in agony. I’m so sorry. I sobbed. Someone please make the pain stop. I pick myself up, piece-by-piece. I want to vomit. I stagger out of the elevator and into a cave, wheezing and choking. Snot is dripping out of my nose. I closed my eyes.

“Hey, Kid!”

My eyes popped open. Someone was here! Please help! I collapsed onto my knees.

“Can you heal yourself?”

“No! *cough* I can’t!” I sputtered, “Please helb me!”

I saw a pair of red glowing lights. I whimpered.

“Shush… Get up”.

I forced myself up.

“Why?”

And then the thing grabbed me.

“Please be quiet. I didn’t think I would have to take care of you”.

He picked me up, bridal style.

“You are awfully weak. That’s suspicious. I’m not taking you to the doc… We’re going home”.

He got a blanket out of nowhere and slowly wrapped it around me. He then walked away, carrying me off as if I were a child.

“Say, would a lullaby soothe you? I can feel you shaking”.

I nodded, hacking quickly.

“Hannata no zouko, atashi no zou”

“Amera no yakou, Zakashi no rio”

“Ameragi toya, toya, toya”

“Atashi mayagi”

I slowly closed my eyes. I wanted to go home. I regret trying to go on a ‘little adventure’. I wish I could have just stayed on the first floor.

“Don’t cry. Please don’t cry. They don’t like to hear you cry”.

“Who’re ‘they’?”

“‘They’ are the ones who got powerful and lucky enough to be able to hide away from the other floors. They’ve long stopped considering humans to be worthy prey, instead terrorizing below average Demiurges”.

“What does that make you?” I was just curious.

“I am the servant of the Lesser Demigod Flicker, Being of Communication and Electromagnetism”.

“Why did you save me?”

“If you got down here, then you must be very powerful. Be it strength, intelligence, constitution, wisdom, or charisma, you must be powerful”.

He could force having any form of constitution off of that list.

“When pushed down to nothing, even the most enduring would cry”.

“Did… did you just…?”

“Yes, I did just read your mind. Don’t worry. Everyone who has lived on a mortal plane for their younger years has had trouble hiding thoughts and defending their mind. I’ll teach you. I have to teach you”.

We kinda stopped talking after that. And I kinda fell asleep.

Grimward’s Home

“Hmmmm, hmmmm hmmm. Hmm Hmmm Hmmmm Hmmmmmmm”.

The Grim Reaper was right there, humming to himself, knitting a black scarf.

“Hmmm? Oh hello Emmy. Why are you so surprised?”

“Who’s Emmy?”

“Oh, you don’t remember? Do you know who Gunshot is?”

“No”.

“How about Cat?”

“No”.

“Starstorm?”

“No? Why are you asking me about these people?”

“Just checking if you are who you think of yourself. Do you know about someone who calls themself Underworld?”

“No, but he sounds like a prick”.

“AH-HA! You are but an innocent victim of a man who exploited the reincarnation system. His name is Emmy and he left you early. Underworld is/was his lover an-”

“Underworld is-slash-was his WHAT?”

“Have you not thought that men could commune with each other? Or even that women could commune with each other”.

“I… I didn’t know people could do that. I mean how would they do that?”

“You will learn that when you grow up. Can I continue?”

“Yeah. Just kinda weirded out. I was a guy and I liked men”.

“Gunshot was his second-in-command. Cat was his second lover. Starstorm is a random chick that he liked for a reason I have a pet theory on that I’m not telling you”.

“O.K…. Sooo what does that mean to me?”

“It means this is a safe place. Nothing to worry about here. Talk to me about anything you have a problem with”.

“I want to go home”.

“Yeah… About that. Someone stole all 13 of the buttons from the elevator’s panel. Yes, some asshole wants you to stay down here. Hmmmm”.

“Why would someone want me to stay down here?”

“Because they want you to go mad. Yes. I think Emmy isn’t too happy that you haven’t died”.

“How the hell does that even work?! Did he possess my body?”

“No. When he lacks a body, Emmy watches and follows his incarnations. Sometimes he takes physical form to gaslight, lock things up, and make damn well sure they either die or succumb”.

“Well that’s terrifying”.

“Don’t worry. He prefers to watch. I don’t know what sets him off anymore. It appears we must part. Farewell Miss, see you tomorrow night”.

“Wait! Wait!”

???’s Farm

“Good Morning to you, Good Morning to you, Good Morning La-dy~ Good Morning to you”.

Fudgesicles. This was real. That guy was real.

“Welcome to the land of the wake. Can I know your name?”

“Y-yeah? I guess? My name is Maxie Theseus. I’m just a kid. I don’t have the power you want me to have”.

“Cute~. Say, would you like to take over my farm after you heal up? I’m moving on to something better in existence”.

“I-yeah. I’ll take it as long as you can help me find a way home”.

“Sure Maxie, why not. I’ll also have to find someone else to take over the farm after you leave, so that will take a while. Why don’t we go and explore the farm?”

He helped me up. I’m different. It… it hurts. He forced me to walk. 1-step, 2-step, 3-step, 4-step, 5-step, 6-step, 7-step, 8-step, 9-step, 10-step. 10 steps to get from the bed to the door. He picks me up.

“Stop crying. You’ll have to walk more later”.

Suddenly, those words were more intimidating. I could tolerate the guy. But now, he was terrifying.

“Good to know you’re not crying anymore. Now, all you have to do is stop being so scared, and you’ll be fine. Everyone in town will like you”.

“There’s a town down here?”

“Yes, we’re going there tomorrow. I’ll have to dress you up a bit, but you’ll be fine”.

He opened the door, revealing a normal grassy pasture, a normal bright blue sky, and the sun. The sun looked like a child had drawn it. Orange triangles floating only a few inches away from a yellow circle. A yellow circle with a sideways diamond shaped eye. A sideways diamond shaped eye with three simple pupils. The middle one long, the two side ones short.

“You’re scared of the sun? Maxie, the sun is one of the few things keeping this farm going”.

“Yeah, I just… I don’t want to be impolite but the sun kinda freaks me out”.

“Don’t worry, It’s fine. You seem to be new here. [Farmer], did you bring her in during the night?”

“Yes, yes, I did. Are you angry at me for being a good person? I saved her from bleeding out, unknown and unremembered. Is that not good enough?”

“I know you better than to believe that. I’ll keep a sky high eye out for you doing bad things towards her”.

“Fine, we’re here. Welcome to the barn… Goddamnit”.

The barn was a bizarre sight. As it was on fire. A group of tiny sheep were trying to put out the blaze, with buckets on their backs and intensely panicked expressions. A small red, furless, woolless ram sat inside the barn, with a face best described as blank. Not literally, but it’s face betrayed no emotion.

A gust of wind forcefully blew the fire out.

“I’m sorry about this. My Putto are less than competent, and my Imp is a troublemaker. NOW FIX THIS!”

The small sheep bounced over to another building, one lost it’s bucket.

“Can you grab that?” the [Farmer] asked me, “I’ll put you down, you walk over and pick it up. I’ll pick you up if you can’t walk anymore”.

He put me on my feet. They still felt raw, but I could do this.

1-step, 2-step, 3-step, 4-step, 5-step, 6-step.

That wasn’t bad. I turn around. The guy has disappeared.

1-step, 2-step, 3-step, 4-step, 5-step, 6-step.

I’m just going to explore the barn. A small stable and a chicken coop. With a burnt hole in it. I leave the barn. I’m going back to the house.

1-step, 2-step, 3-step, 4-step, 5-step, 6-step, 7-step, 8-step, 9-step, 10-step, 11-step.

Almost there.

1-step, 2-step, 3-step, 4-step, 5-step, 6-step, 7-st-

“Hey kid, do you know where Boss is?”

The Ram was right there. Right next to the door. And he was speaking to me. Was he what Boss/the [Farmer]/That guy meant by ‘Imp’?

“I don’t know. He just disappeared when I went to pick up this bucket”.

“Bastard. He left you to suffer and your wounds to fester. I will never allow him to return in the daytime without apologizing”.

The Sun sat low on the horizon.

My stomach growled.

“I’m going inside. I need to get some rest and eat some food”.

I pull the door open. I slowly walk in. I am safe. I’m O.K. Today was rough. I hope this all was just one long stupid dream. I go to the other side of the house. It had a kitchen. I open a cabinet. There’s a little packet that says it has noodles. I open another cabinet. A pot. There is a sink in front of the window at the back of the house. I fill the pot with warm water. I sat the pot on the oven, put on the boily thing, and walked over to the bed side of the house.

I sat on the bed. I finally decided to look myself over. Bandages covered my legs. I won’t be taking them off. Not yet. My arms are also covered in bandages. Bandages are rapping my ch-

There’s a hole in my abdomen, stretching from just below my belly button to just below my boobs. Not good. Not good at all. I can see the bones. I seal the hole with the bandages.

My head aches. I grab my head. It’s not the one I had yesterday. It’s-It’s not. My chin’s spiky(two spikes, to be exact), my teeth- my lips are gone. There are only cinderblock teeth. I reach for the bridge of my nose and almost poke myself in my eyes. My eyes are bigger. I tap the tip of my nose-tik. It’s a metal rectangle. I rub my temples. Eyelashes that feel like felt protrude from the sides of my eyes. My hair is really soft and really fluffy. Except in two little areas in the back. I had horns. Hair horns.

The water is now bubbling. I go over to the pot, break the noodles, I pop the noodles in. I check the packet. 3 minutes, stir once for slightly soft noodles, stir twice for medium softness, stir three times or more to make edible for mortals. I’m so tired. I need a wooden spoon, a bowl, a pot holder and a fork. I open the cabinet above the oven, there’s the bowls. I open one of those sliding cabinets. There’s a nice collection of silverware, a wooden spoon, and a bottle of some liquid. I grab a fork and the wooden spoon. I. do. NOT. touch. the. Bottle. I place the bowl and fork onto the counter that juts out towards the bedside. I stirred the pot. Just a bit longer. I poke the noodles with the wooden spoon. Definitely soft enough. I turned off the boily thing. I’m doing great. I poured the noodles and some water into the bowl. I got the flavor packet out. Dumped it in. frick, some of it is on me. I’m just going to eat and have the consequences follow me later. I’m so tired. The noodles are too hot but I’m eating them right now just to get them done.

The taste is good. It’s chicken, but not quite. The noodles are just the right size and softness to be slipped between my teeth. The taste is good. It’s chicken, but not quite. I eat more and more and mor and mor and mr and mr and-

The bowl is now empty. It was so nice to eat. I’m even more tired now. But it’s a happy tired. A kind of tiredness that says I’ve accomplished something. Even if this is real and I haven’t actually done anything, I feel good.

I place the bowl, the wooden spoon, and the fork into the sink. I’ll wash them tomorrow.

I walk over to the bed and get in. It creaks beneath me. Strange. It held me well in the morning. 1-sheep, 2-sheep, 3-sheep, 4-sheep, 5-sheep, 6-sheep, 7-sheep, 8-sheep, 9-sheep, 10-sheep. It takes a while for me to start dozing. I can normally force myself to go to sleep. Why isn’t it working? Why can’t I sleep? There is something watching me. Who is watching me? I’m scared. I want to go home. Let me try again: 1-sheep, 2-sheep, 3-sheep, 4-sheep, 5-sheep, 6-sheep, 7-sheep, 8-sheep… 9-sheep…… 10-sheep.

[spiritmaiden23]

something something question meme i picked up from old blog

tagged by: me tagging: whomst ever...

1. What is your name?

“Zelda! Just Zelda! … it’s a bit odd how I don’t have a last name, huh? It’s common where I’m from though certain islands do have people who use last names.”

2. What is your real name?

“… ah? Real name? Heh~? What do you mean by that? I’m still me after all, I’m still Zelda.”

3. Do you know why you were called that?

“My father told that mother loved this name after reading it in a book and wanted to name me that once I was born. He respected her wishes and gave me that name. I can see why she loved it though, I feel pretty attached to this name myself. I don’t see that changing any time soon. Zelda… has a nice, friendly ring to it! Wouldn’t you say so?”

4. Are you single or taken?

“That answer should be clear, no? I’m single! I never really had the chance to even consider dating. I was always looking after Link and focusing on my studies when I lived in the skies. Then… I arrived to the surface and… hm, that doesn’t matter. Right now, I’m adjusting to life here and protecting the Triforce. I don’t mind being single because I feel satisfied enough with this.”

5. Have any abilities or powers?

”Yes! I’m somewhat handing with using a sword! I may not be as good as Link or the other knights but I’d like to think I’m ok enough with sword play! My stamina is nearly endless and I can lift people like Link very easily! Aside from that? That’s pretty much it! None whatsoever. Huh? How am I protecting the power of the gods? … er… best to not think about that one too hard!”

6. Stop being a Mary Sue.

“Huh? A what? Isn’t that a name? Didn’t I just say what my name was? Oh, never mind.”

7. What’s your eye color?

“Not a special color, it’s just blue! It’s a bit on the common side but it varies from island to island.”

8. How about your hair color?

“A total blondie hee hee! I don’t mind being called that it sounds pretty cute to me! Plus, it’s a warm enough color, how can I not like it? Father says that my mother had the same color… it kinda makes me wonder what his hair color was before it became all grey…”

9. Have you any family members?

“Father! My mother passed a long time ago and while there are other family members, I feel like my only family is father. And that’s ok!”

10. Oh? What about pets?

“Hmmm, I think? I’d consider Mia one but she’s more like my father’s remlit. She’s super sweet and very loving!♥ I can’t imagine her being anything otherwise!”

11. That’s cool I guess, now tell me about something you don’t like.

“Just one? That’s a bit hard because we have so many things we don’t like. I’ll give it shot and name at least one thing. Erm, gods, there’s a lot, this is harder than I thought it would be. I guess the number one thing that comes to mind are people who don’t believe in themselves and give up rather than trying their best. Everyone has the potential to do something. Just have faith in yourself. And things will turn out fine!”

12. Do you have any hobbies/activities you like doing?

“Tons!! Knitting is very relaxing! Not to brag but I can knit some nice sweaters! And I can’t wait once winter comes around because then it means I can finally bundle up with the heavier sweaters I don’t really have too much confidence in this one but I think I’m ok with cooking! I picked up a thing or two whenever I offered to make lunch for Link! It’s relaxing enough and I enjoy it whenever I can cook. Reading will always be my favorite activity! My nose is always in a book and it wouldn’t be farfetched to call me a bookworm. My friends already do, ahaha!! Let’s see… what else… oh! Flying, of course! There’s no better feeling then having your head high up in the clouds and looking down at the world below. I love the skies, I love it more than anything! Though I’ll always prefer to be on the earth looking up to the skies. I do have more but gosh, we’ll be here the whole day if I list all of them!”

13. Ever hurt anyone before?

“A few times, by accident that is! I would never want to hurt anyone intentionally. It’s something I can’t stomach very well just thinking about it. During my adventure down here, I had no choice but to run away from the monsters. I couldn’t hurt any one of them, not because I didn’t want to, but because I couldn’t. I was without a weapon, they’d capture me in an instant if I so much as glance at them. That’s where running comes in handy, hee hee!”

14. Ever….killed anyone before?

“… next question! By the gods that’s such a dreary question! Let’s change the subject, hm?”

15. What kind of animal are you?

“Ah? That was a pretty quick change, though I did ask to change the subject. A bird! I feel like a bird would be the sort of animal that represents me best!”

16. Name your worst habits.

“Hee hee.. well, it’s a little embarrassing to admit to any bad habits but some consider me to bit on the… stubborn side. Once my mind’s made up, it’s almost impossible for me to stop it. I like to see things through the very end, or at least try. Whenever I want to do something that’s a bit more on the risky side there have been people who would stop me. N-not that I’m reckless! I just… wanna protect people I care for. I’d do anything to keep them safe!”

17. Do you look up to anyone at all?

“Mmhmm!! Of course! Impa!! She was an amazing teacher throughout my journey, so wise and imparting a lot of helpful advice. When I first started out, I was a little naive. Now, thanks to her, I feel a bit more mature. Hmm… but considering my last answer, sometimes I do find myself wondering about that.”

18. Gay, straight, or bisexual?

“That’s something I never really thought about before. I was too focused on so many things, I rarely gave any attention to romance. I don’t really know but maybe someday I might! And then, I can answer this question as honestly as I can!” (Demisexual for those wondering at home)

19. Do you go to school?

“I was in my last year! I don’t see myself going back anytime soon, however.”

20. Do you ever want to marry and have kids one day?

“Would you believe me if I said yes? Not right now, there’s too much for me to do to even consider dating let alone marriage! Who knows what the future will bring me. Having a family of my own though… it sounds nice! Comforting! And it makes me want to work extra hard to make these lands safer for the future generation!”

21. Do you have any fanboys/fangirls?

“Hee hee!! That’s more Karane’s department than mine! She even gets a ton of love letters, it’s always so funny to tease her about this! On the other hand, I don’t think I had any fans, I can’t really imagine I did. See, I was as ordinary as you can get back then. Karane, is an amazing knight and super beautiful. How could she not have a fan club of her own?!”

22. What are you most afraid of?

“Losing my friends. Hurting any more people I care about. Whether or not certain decisions are for the good of others, it still doesn’t make it right or lessen the pain someone might go through when using them for your plans. I can’t do that. Not again. Not ever.”

23. What do you usually wear?

“I don’t mind pants but I prefer skirts and dresses! There’s no reason why aside from me liking how cute they make me feel! I love wearing bright, soft colors like pink or light blue! Colors that feel warm and refreshing to me, you know? Sometimes I do change things up a bit and wear darker colors. Ah! I also love wearing bracelets or necklaces, I don’t like going overboard with jewelry.”  

24. Do you love someone?

“What a funny question, of course I do! Some might even say I’m too loving to everyone around me. And I guess myself too! There’s nothing wrong with self-love, be kind to yourself!!”

25. When was the last time you wet yourself?

“Eh? What…? What’s with this question?! That’s not very nice to ask you know.”

26. Well, it’s not over yet!

“Huh… it isn’t? Whew, this is getting long, don’t you think?”

27. What class are you?(High class, middle class, low class)

“Middle class. Sheesh… high class? That’s something I don’t think will ever happen to me. Hopefully to my family ages from now. Oh, but I’m getting ahead of myself there hee hee!”

28. How many friends do you have?

“A ton? I can’t really give you a good enough answer for this one, or a certain number. Aside from that: a ton!”

29. What are your thoughts on pie?

“I love it! All the better if it’s pumpkin pie!”

30. Favorite drink?

“I like sweet things, mostly! Tea with cubes of sugar! Fruit juices! Of course, nothing beats water!”

31. What’s your favorite place?

“That’s a no brainer! Every inch of the surface, I adore! Wherever my feet takes me will always be my favorite place! With how big this place is, there’s no way I can just pick one spot and leave it at that. I love this land, all of it.”

32. Are you interested in someone~

“Hmmmm? Why~? Are you asking for some reason I don’t know about? Oh, don’t tell me! You’re interested in me?! …Ha, I’m kidding of course! There’s no one that comes to mind.”

33. What’s your bra cup size and/or how big is your willy?

“Hey, hey, hey!! This question is not very appropriate to ask! Do you know how rude it is to ask someone this?! It’s too personal for many and they don’t owe you an answer to this one! Much like how I don’t owe you an answer! Hmph!!”

34. Would you rather swim in the lake or the ocean?

“I’d like to say lake, I’ve seen a lot around here and on Skyloft. I haven’t seen the ocean yet, I want to! Maybe I’ll like the ocean better than the lake!”

35. What’s your type?

“My type? That’s tricky. Hm… persistent kind of people? I think…? What I’m trying to say here is that I like people who have a lot of courage! Believing that everything will be alright in the end! I think…”

36. Any fetishes?

“… moving on…”

37. Seme or uke? Top or Bottom? Dominant or Submissive?

“Didn’t you listen to a word I said? Do I have to give you another lecture?! Do you actually enjoy getting scolded by people?! Geez, you remind me a little too much of another certain someone who doesn’t listen to my scoldings.”

38. Camping or indoors?

“I don’t want to answer after your last questions but to make things end quick: both.”

39. Are you wanting the quiz to end?

“Yes!! Hmph!!”

40. Now it’s over! Tag five people: take it... pls..

[woojinieemoved]

alpaca boy saves the day ―

member: im youngmin || mxm

genre: fluff

writing type: paragraph

word count: 3.5k

summary: you’re forced on a blind group date by your friend and you run into trouble || college!au ;; warning : minor assault (nothing too bad really)

a/n: so i dont really remember everything i write so im reALLLL sorry if they kinda bad lol

my masterlist

It was morning and you were sluggish from staying up finishing assignments for your classes. You got up from your bed doing your usual morning routines so that you didn’t look like hell and looked into the mirror satisfied with your work. Before leaving your apartment, you grabbed all of your things you needed for today’s lectures and headed off for college, locking your door behind you. Since it was still morning, the weather was still cool to where it felt nice on your skin, but you frowned at the thought of it reaching high temperatures later in the day. You arrive at the bus stop, the bus getting there a couple minutes after you do. You recognize a couple of people already in the bus, but they weren’t really acquaintances of yours so you found a seat by yourself and listened to music on the ride there, looking through social media.

Time passes by and the bus stops near the college and you get up to get out of the bus and other college students that were in the bus did as well. Your earbuds were still playing music as you were walking towards the college, nearing the entrance when you felt someone jump on your back. You quickly turned your head to see your friend Yoojung and you pulled out one of your earbuds.

 “Hi Y/N!!!” she said excitedly and jumped off of your back and started walking beside you. You smile to see your happy friend and pause your music, putting your phone and earbuds back into your bag.

 “Hey Yoojung. Glad to see you’re still your happy self.” you say and nudge her a little. A voice calls for the two of you from a distance and you both turn to see your other friend Somi running towards you. “Y/N!! Yojung!! Wait for me!!” she yelled, huffing as she ran towards you guys and once she caught up with you, she bent down to catch her breath, holding onto Yoojung's shoulder. You and Yoojung greet the friend catching her breath and Yojung helps her up with her arm, the three of you heading off to the first class that you have together.

The lecture ends and you sigh, stretching your arms off, popping your back and a little bit of your fingers after sitting and writing for so long. “Y/N are you free tonight?” Somi asks you as you’re putting your stuff back in your bag. “Yeah.. Why?” You were suspicious of what Somi was gonna make you do this time because she always forced you along with her and the rest of the group to go places. 

“Well I already tried asking other people, but they weren’t free, so I was wondering if you could come on this blind group date with us.” She said with a smile and making that same begging puppy face. You sighed and looked at her with a frown on your face. “Please please please!!!” she begged, clapping her hands together and bowing, waiting for your response. You just rolled your eyes and smacked her head lightly. “Fine.” 

To be honest, you only agreed to these things to look over her in case she or any of your other friends were to get into any trouble. She quickly lifted her head up ignoring that you hit her and hugged you tightly saying, “Aah thank you!!”

“Who’s even going to this thing anyways?” you ask while waiting for Somi and Yoojung to gather their things too. “Some girls from the other class” Yoojung replied, pulling out a small mirror to check if her makeup still looked nice.

 “Do you know any of the guys that are going?” Somi looked up at you and smirked a little. “Why? Are you actually interested in dating someone Y/N?” she teased and poked at your arm softly, giggling. You brush off her comment and roll your eyes again.

 “Not at all. I’m just curious since you basically force me to go to these kinds of things.” you asserted being more concerned what kinds of guys were going to this group date. “Hmmmm well I think some of Donghyun’s friends are going. Oh! Some of Ong’s friends are coming too.” Somi responds finally getting all of her stuff together.

“Donghyun and Ong’s friends? Hmm. I don’t think I know all of them too well,” you thought to yourself, trying to figure out who all of their friends are.

“Are you sure all of them aren’t idiots? Especially being friends with Donghyun and Ong.” you say, your comment making both Somi and Yoojung laugh. 

“Not all of them are like that! I’m pretty sure some of them are actually nice in a non-goofy way. I think.” Yoojung adds, ending up with a puzzled look on her face. She snaps her finger and points at you.

“There’s Im Youngmin!” You stood there looking confused and looked up trying to figure out who that is. “Im… Youngmin…?” you say slowly still trying to figure out who it was. Yoojung spun you around and got close to you, pointing to a dark red-haired boy standing in a small group of guys.

 “That one. The one with the reddish hair.” she whispered discreetly pointing her finger. “Yah Y/N how do you not know who Youngmin is? He’s in your class” Somi said and you just shrugged. You didn’t pay that much attention to who was in your class, but as you look at the red haired boy, small memories of seeing him in the class start to come back to you. 

“Ohhh… Don’t you guys call him an alpaca boy?” you say, laughing a little at the cute nickname. “Shhh!” Somi clamps her hand over your mouth. “You said that really loud you know!” All three of you glance over to where Youngmin was standing seeing if he heard what you said. Thankfully, he didn’t hear you and he seemed to look unbothered, continuing to talk to his group of friends. Even though you knew he didn’t hear you, you blush a little because you felt flustered.

“Woops. Let’s get out of here before we do anything else dumb” You say and hold onto Somi and Yoojung's hand, leading the way out of the classroom passing by Youngmin and his friends. You didn’t know, but Youngmin glanced at you as you left the classroom and smirked to himself. “Alpaca boy? Seriously...:” he thinks and continues with the conversation he was having. 

“Hey aren’t those three going to the group date tonight?” one of the guys in the group says, tippy-toeing a bit to see the three of you leave the classroom. “They aren’t that bad looking.” the same guy says and smiles. “Don’t be a creep already. Keep that in you.” Donghyun says and smacks his arm. The group laughs at them and they all leave the classroom a couple minutes later to their next classes.

Later into the day after all of your classes:

You feel a pair of hands on your shoulders and you jump a little. “Pffft. Hi Y/N. Are you prepared for the group date?” It was Somi along with a couple more girls who you assume were also going to this group date. You got up and nodded at her with a small smile on your face. 

“Yeah. Let’s go. Where’s Yoojung?” you say trying to find her in the group of people behind Somi. “She’s already outside waiting for us along with some other girls. We’re gonna meet the guys at the restaurant so hurry up!” she said tugging at your arm and linking hers with yours. You’re a bit hesitant about tonight because you don’t know if how things will end up, but you calm yourself by convincing yourself to try to have a good time.

You and the group of girls see the other group of guys waiting outside the restaurant and Somi calls out for them. “Hey guys! We’re here!” she yells and most of the guys turn around and check out the group of girls. You were relieved you brought some of your makeup in your bag so that you could freshen up a bit before coming and you started to study the group of guys, seeing who came. You could recognize some of Ong’s friends and Ong himself, of course being loud as usual. 

You spot Im Youngmin standing next to Donghyun, easily seeing him stand out with his red hair. Not realizing you’ve been staring at him for a long time, he glances up and you meet eyes with him. Immediately flustered, you look away and follow Somi into the restaurant. This kind of restaurant had big rooms depending how many people were there and there were low tables and you would sit on pillows.

Everyone got inside the room they reserved, squeezing everyone together. Music was playing in the back and there was a big tv hanging on one side of the wall playing a sports channel. You look around to try to find Somi and Yoojung but they were talking to a guy already, smiling and laughing at whatever they were talking about. You seated yourself near the corner, looking around at everyone already warming up to each other. 

“Hey y/n. You look like a loner already.” A voice said behind you. You turned around and looked up with a slightly annoyed face already recognizing the voice. “Shut up Donghyun. It’s not like I even wanted to be here” You said looking up at him and smacking his leg. He laughed and ruffled your hair, walking away to go sit down. You watch and see the familiar red hair boy again following him and then seeing him get slapped in the arm by Donghyun telling him to sit somewhere else. You laugh a little to yourself and looking away when he came towards your direction. He ends up sitting on the other side of the table, a couple seats away and you felt sort of relieved, yet disappointed. 

Some other guy sits down next to you and strikes up a conversation, introducing himself and all that. The party goes on and everyone is drinking and eating food. You glance over to try to see how much Somi and Yoojung have drinken and checking if they were drunk or not. Ong was making the party real lively, making jokes and having everyone play games. The guy that was sitting next to you was still talking to you, mainly talking about himself, trying to show off to you. You weren’t really that interested in him but some of the stories he told were a bit funny so that kept you occupied. 

The thing that was bothering you the most was that you always end up finding yourself looking at Youngmin, noticing little actions and behaviors, learning little bits about him. Every time you feel like he was about to look in your direction, you would look up and pretend you were watching the tv or you would look down to take a sip of your drink (which wasn’t alcohol because you wanted to stay sober in case Somi or Yoojung got drunk). 

After the date goes on, you find yourself actually having fun, laughing at whatever dumb thing Ong would start up with his friends, occasionally having a little bit of alcohol to loosen up a bit. You find that you needed to use the restroom and you get up, walking out of the room to find a bathroom.

Youngmin purposely chose a seat that wasn’t too far or too close to where you were sitting, observing you as well. He notices throughout the time that you would also look at him and he thought that it was cute that you sneaked looks at him. Ever since he noticed you call him alpaca boy out loud, he’s been keeping an eye on you since. He observed your behavior, smiling at how you would always pull some of your hair behind your ear and how you would cover your mouth sometimes whenever you started laughing, appreciating the moments when you don’t cover it. He was drinking some of his beer when he noticed at the corner of his eye that you got up and left the room. 

He looked around to see if anyone noticed if you left and even glanced at the guy that sat next to you to see if he even noticed. The guy was actually chatting up this other girl and Youngmin frowned at the fact that he switched girls so quickly. He waiting a little bit before getting up from his spot to leave the room as well. 

“Youngmin where are you going?” one of the guys asked, looking up at him as he adjusted his clothing. “Bathroom.” quickly replying and left the rowdy room full of college students.

You were done using the toilet and was just touching yourself up with makeup before leaving the bathroom. You grabbed your phone out of your bag just to scroll through social media for a bit as you exited the bathroom, suddenly running into someone in front of you. 

“Ah, I’m sorry-” You were cut off by the person you ran into. He seemed completely intoxicated, his clothes looking a bit rustled up as well. You knew exactly what kind of person you just run into and there were basically multiples of him, his other friends just as drunk as him. 

“Hah? Little lady watch where you’re going!” he yelled and grabbed your wrist. “Hey this chick isn’t that bad looking.” One of the other guys beside him said, eyeing your whole body. You glared at him and looked at the person who grabbed your wrist. 

“Can you please let me go?” You ask politely, yet sternly, keeping a dead stare into his. The man scoffs and looks at his other buddies. “You’re gonna have some fun with us little lady. Isn’t that right guys?” He said with a smirk, his friends agreeing with him and looking at you. 

You felt really disgusted being looked at these people and you tried to figure out what you should do to escape the situation. Just before you were about to let out a shriek, you hear someone yell from behind them. They all turn around and you see Youngmin standing there with an angry look on his face. Your eyes widen a little seeing him and you look up at the drunkards who were harassing you.

“Let go of her. Now.” Youngmin said with a stern voice, looking dead serious. You saw that his fists were clenched tightly, seeing the muscles of his arm and hand tense up and the little veins that popped up. 

He walked towards you guys and grabbed the wrist the drunk guy was holding and brought you close to him with his arms around you. You blushed a little at the swift action and looked up at him confused. You honestly thought that being hugged by him felt so nice. You could feel his warm arm around you and you could smell his cologne, the smell getting stronger as he brought him closer to you. 

“Who the hell are you? We were just gonna have some fun with her until you came over here and ruined it!” the man yells, his face getting even more red than before from anger. “I’m her boyfriend. You obviously don’t know how to handle women properly.” Youngmin said, holding you tightly. 

“Boyfriend??? What the hell is he saying?” you think, panicking in your mind, but you just go along with what was happening. You look to the side to see a worker of the restaurant comes and sees the commotion going on and separated the drunk men and the two of you, kicking out the men for causing a disturbance and apologizing to you and Youngmin.

After that commotion settled down, you sighed and ruffled your head a little bit. “Seriously… What was all of that commotion for… “ you said and leaned against the wall, closing your eyes. The event replayed in your mind, still feeling disgusted by the man that grabbed you and the other ones looking at your body. 

“Hey, are you okay?” Youngmin says and scratches the back of his head looking a bit nervous. “Sorry for uh, grabbing you and saying that I was your boyfriend. I saw that you were getting harassed by them and I didn’t know what else to say.” He chuckled with a shy smile, looking at you. You stand up straight and brought your hands close together and started fiddling with them. “Oh, yeah. Thank you for helping me..” you say and start you blush when you remember him bringing you close to him.

There was an awkward silence for a couple of seconds until Youngmin said something. “Y/l/n/ y/n/, right?” You look up at the red haired boy and nod, smiling a little at the fact that he knew what your name was. 

“I’m Im Youngmin. This was a weird first meeting, but it’s nice to meet you.” he said with a big smile, the corners of his eyes creasing a little bit. “Should we go back to the room?” he said and pointed down the hall with his thumb, looking at you for your response. 

“Y-yeah. People might think something weird might’ve happened after been gone for so long.” you stutter and start to walk slowly. “They’re all probably distracted with whatever Ong or Hyunbin is doing. They’re both idiots but they really know how to grab attention.” Youngmin laughs a little and looks down at you. 

“Pppft yeah. You’re right.” you laugh and look up to see him staring at you. This time he didn’t stop looking at you and you both blush, turning away once you got to the door of the room. You both could already hear Ong doing a loud announcer's voice and you rolled your eyes, opening the door. Luckily, everyone’s attention was fixated on Ong and you both sneak back onto your seats. Youngmin ends up sitting next to you and you both talk the night away.

The group date ends with a bunch of drunk people and others hanging onto others. It looks like Somi and Yoojung weren’t completely trashed and that they could handle getting home by themselves. You walk out of the building with Youngmin tagging beside you. 

“So… y/n. Is it okay if I get your number?” Youngmin says shyly, trying to look you in the eyes again but keeps looking away. You could see under the street light that his face was a bit flushed and you smiled. 

“Alright. Bring out your phone and I’ll type it in for you.” You say and watched as Youngmin grew a huge smile on his face and scrambled to pull his phone out. You receive a text from him to check if the number worked and you snuck a photo of him to use as his contact photo. He ends up doing the same, sneaking a picture to set it as your contact photo and smiles seeing that you look cute even under this street lamp lighting. 

He waits with you until you grab a taxi home, his reasoning being “What if you end up getting involved with guys like that again? It’s dangerous to stay alone y’know.” You end up talking even more before your taxi arrived and you felt a little sad that it arrived so early. Youngmin waves to you as you get into the car, smiling and pointing at his phone signaling that he would text you. You nod and give him a final wave goodbye and the taxi drives away from the restaurant, dropping you off at home where you collapsed onto your bed being exhausted from this whole day. But being exhausted didn’t stop you from not texting Youngmin all night, exchanging funny stories and learning more about each other.

Somi texted you asking if you actually hooked up with anyone at the group date and you tell her everything that happened with Youngmin, causing her to spam you with super happy texts and congratulating you. The next day when you get to the college, you see Youngmin standing near the entrance looking around and his face brightens up when he finally sees you. He waves and waits for you to catch up to him. 

“Youngmin? Why are you waiting for me at the entrance?” You ask while you both start to walk inside and towards the lecture that you have together. 

“You favorite alpaca boy just wanted to see their new favorite person.” He said and ended up covering his face in embarrassment, his cheeks and ears flushing red. You burst out laughing and you start blushing as well at his comment. Somi and Yoojung were watching from afar, basically becoming you and Youngmin’s #1 fans and teased you about him in the group chat that you guys were in. Eventually, Youngmin gathers the courage to ask you out, doing what he called was his alpaca dance, ending it with heart, trying not to collapse in embarrassment. You clapped at his little performance and kept calling him cute, running up to him and hugging him accepting his confession. You become a happy couple, going on dates often and texting nonstop, the two of you embracing every single thing about each other.

[crushxreader]

College AU - CrushxReader

I sat at my table, my cheek resting in my palm as I concentrated on the paper in front of me. 15 minutes before class started, and my desk partner was yet to show up. He was normally here by now, in fact, this may be the first time he's been this late... where is he? I looked up and scanned the room for any signs of him, and saw him walking through the door. I quickly looked back down at my desk, and started fidgeting with my pencil. He sat down next to me, setting his bag on the floor. "Hey, Y/N." He said, grabbing his supplies out of his bag. "Oh, hey!" I said, pretending not to notice his presence. "Why are you so late?" He scoffed, and then smiled. "I just got a letter back from a college. They said when I graduate, which graduation is in 5 days... to send them another letter and they would look at it." He seemed so excited, I couldn't help but ask him,"So... what college?" I asked, smiling. "Harvard." He grinned widely. I drooped, realizing he wasn't going to any college around here. "Law school?" I asked, trying to keep it light and cheery. There was no way I was going to follow him to a law school because he's my 'true love' and stand him up by finishing a case and getting honored for it, and him realizing he loves me and I'm not the dumb blonde stereotyped by people like some cliché musical plot in high-school theaters across America. Oh, wait.... nevermind. "Yep. Massachusetts!" He sounded so ecstatic, it was impossible for me not to get excited. "Well I'm happy you're going to pursue your dream!" I stated with a smile. "Where are you going?" He asked, setting his supplies on the desk. "Oh-uhmm.." I stuttered, my face growing red, "I don't know yet, but I'm sure I'll be accepted somewhere." He grinned, agreeing. "Yeah, you will. You're pretty smart." I darkened as he said that, smiling. "Thanks." I nodded, and the teacher went to the front of the room to start one of the last lessons of our senior year. ~~~~ It's been a few years since highschool got out, and I had just landed a new job a week ago. I became a journalist for the local newspaper, and published my first article today. I'm pretty proud of it, too. I called my best friend, (F/N), to tell her about it. The call went to voicemail immediately. I checked the recent messages. 'Hey, sorry, I'm going in for an interview I was just informed about. Can't pick you up, try calling others. My phones being shut down. Can't respond.' Shit. I called another friend, but this time it just rang and then went to voicemail. I guess I'm taking the subway. I walked to the station and bought a ticket, stepping into the subway. I sat down and glanced at people around me, before I realized I was in the same train as (C/N) back from high-school. "Hey." I said, and he looked in my direction. "Oh my God... (Y/N)?" He gasped, smiling. His face lit up. "Hey! What are you doing in town...?" I asked, rubbing the back of my head. "Oh, um, visiting family on the holidays. What're you up to these days?" He asked, blushing a bit. God, the years did him well. "I got a job as a journalist a week ago, I published a new article today actually." I smiled, looking up at his face. "Really? I always knew you'd be a great author of some sorts. Your notes flowed effortlessly." He blushed a bit deeper at this, but hardly noticeable. "Oh.. really? Thank you." I grinned back it him. "Its been so long since we last spoke..." He sighed, looking at his hands. "Yeah.." I agreed, flickering my eyes up at him and then my hands. "I-uh... I had this huge crush on you back in high-school." He admitted, his face growing red. My eyes lit up. "Wait really? So did I!" I paused for a moment... "Wait- no.... I meant... I meant I had a crush on you not me thatwouldbeweirdifihadacrushonmyselfimean-" He laughed at that, placing a hand on my shoulder. "I get what you're saying." He looked out the window, realizing his stop was coming next. "Can I see your phone?" He asked, and I handed him my phone with hesitation. He typed something quickly and then gave it back to me as the door opened and he walked out. "Call me sometime!" He called out, as he stepped out the subway. I looked down on my phone and saw his phone number in a new contact folder. Its name was "(C/N) 💞💖)" and I blushed at it for a second, before realizing this was my stop as well. I bolted out of the subway moments before the door closed. I exited the station and walked to my apartment. I flopped inside on my couch as I screamed into my cushion. I texted my friend, (F/N), 'I'm eternally thankful you couldn't pick me up. I'll explain later.' ~~~~ A year after seeing him for the first time in a while, late night facetime calls and texting, I got a text from him. 'Hey, what's your apartments address?' I responded with it, and a 'why...?' he quickly dismissed it, saying 'oh just wanted to know if you were in the same apartment complex that my brother was in.' Minutes later, there was a knock on my door. Suspiciously, I opened it to see (C/N) there with his hands behind his back looking sheepish. I gasped, hugging him with my arm around his neck. He hugged back with one arm, the other still behind his back. "Hey oh my God it's been some time!" I smiled, I couldn't stop smiling. "Uh... yeah. These are for you." He grinned, holding out a bouquet of assorted colored roses, smiling. "Oooh!! Thank you so much. I love them." I said, standing on the edge of my feet to kiss him on the cheek. He blushed furiously, as I left to put them in a water jar. "You can come in if you'd like." I call, and he walked in the apartment. "It's.... you." He smiled, as he looked around. Planted pots in white ceramic jars, pictures of family and a quilt tossed messily across a white couch. "Thanks?" I smile, setting down the roses. "Sooooo...... what did you come here for??" I questioned suspiciously, and walked closer to him. "Uh... I wanted to know if you wanted to go on a date with me?" He smirked, walking closer as well. "A date huh?" I asked, putting my hands up to my chin and looking up questionably. "Hmmmm... I'll have to check my schedule." I looked at my phone and say, "Hmm..... sorry. It looks like I'm completely booked spending my night with a really hot guy." I say, monotoned. "W-what? Oh.. okay.." He said disappointedly. "Yeah, his name is (C/N), he's really cute." I smiled grabbing his hands. "Ohmygod I actually thought you were shutting me down." He said, smiling and blushing furiously. "Never." I smiled, looking up. "I've waited five years, I would never shut you out." He lifted me up to kiss him, setting me on the counter. Sometimes, the best things in life are worth waiting for.

[sanctferum]

Time for chapter 2

Well then. Now that Player 1 has gotten a game over, it’s time for player 2 to take the spotlight.

A memorial to Kaede?

...With 15 blank spots for the other Ultimates...

Wait, shouldn’t Rantaro be in one of those spots?

Wait who the hell is talking...

That group? Is there a group behind Monokuma?

“They should have lived...They had to. For this world...”

Is it true, then? Has the world ended, and the Ultimates were the only hope of restoring it...?

Chapter 2: A Thin Line Divides Heaven And Hell

And we begin the actual chapter with Gonta searching for bugs, and not finding any. No bugs...which is weird. There’s all the right conditions for bugs. Why are there no bugs?

What Gonta does find is a strange thing written on a piece of pavement...”horse a”

Someone’s ringing the doorbell to Shuichi’s room, but he isn’t answering. Also, as I thought, the hidden Monokumas are displayed in his room.

Kaito?

First let’s check out the shelf...we missed Monokumas 1 and 5 last chapter.

Ah, we slept in and Kaito didn’t want to eat breakfast without everyone.

Huh? There’s something Shuichi doesn’t need anymore...his hat, perhaps?

Checking his profile, he has no friendship fragments...

Inside the dining hall, people are discussing the weird writing Gonta found.

Yup, no hat. And he’s got the protagonist ahoge.

Tsumugi says that if she takes off her glasses, her true form will be revealed and anyone who sees it will pay a terrible price. Is this another reference to something?

As a maid, Kirumi is experienced in making delicious food.

Keebo can’t eat. Robot and all. Too bad.

Shuichi also can’t bring himself to eat...everything seems so normal, but it’s just a way to distract themselves from Rantaro and Kaede’s deaths...but then Kaito tries stealing his food and Shuichi grabs it back and eats it.

Talk turns back to the graffiti. “horse a”. I’ve heard of the game horse, but there’s no letter A involved.

Huh? Gonta saw a tiny bug and it lead him to the graffiti. But then he didn’t see the bug anymore, no matter how much he searched.

Kokichi starts being a little shit again...and then things turn serious when he suggests that gullible people will be killed first.

Yeah, the killing game is still in effect...

Monokuma played us like a damn fiddle! Well, Kaede, at least.

I get the sense Kokichi is thinking about becoming the next blackened...

speak of the devil! Monokuma arrives, talking about how bullying is bad and that it’s the fault of the bully’s parents for bringing them up wrong. And he bears a gift for surviving the class trial...lemme guess, the Second Memory?

The Monokubs arrive as well. Monophanie, Monotaro, Monosuke...they seem to be frightened shitless of Monodam, each one worrying they could be next.

Himiko can sense that they’re being bullied, because she was bullied in the past.

If the Monokubs are bullying each other, then by Monokuma’s logic, he is a shitty parent. Get rekt.

The gifts for surviving the trial are...a tag of some sort, an ocarina, a crank handle, and a ball?

Ah, a Dragon Gem, an ocarina, an Ancient Passport, and a Hexagonal Crank from some zombie game. ????

They can be used without knowing how to use them...?

The Monokubs accidentally reveal that their weak point is the nape of their necks.

Oh shit. I forgot about the weird indentations and stuff all over the Academy. Now we can open the castle door, right?

Let’s check out the dragon statue first.

Kirumi will fulfill any request given to her...and that includes Kaede’s. Kaede’s wish lives on.

We gotta put the gem in the dragon’s eye, I think.

Doing that breaks the statue, and the wall it was leaning against, revealing a new area.

Kirumi thinks that no one’s been past the wall in a long time.

There’s an Ultimate research lab. It’s Kirumi’s, looks like.

Shuichi bought up that Jack the Ripper was from the Victorian era. Oddly enough, the phrase “Jack the Ripper” was in yellow, which indicates importance.

I mean, the last two games had a serial killer involved in chapter 2, and one of those games had the serial killer be named after Jack the Ripper. Could be a red herring though.

Kiyo has a tale related to the Victorian era to tell us! A gentleman pledged in service to the queen and a lowly maid fell in love. I’m not sure if this is at all important.

There’s a closet door, concealing laundry machines, vacuums, and pressure washers.

Back in the hall! At the end of the hall is another room, a set of stairs leading up, and a treasure chest.

Inside the chest is a weird flashlight. Could it be the Flashback Light from the prologue?

Angie runs off with it to inspect it, and we turn our attention to the room, which looks like it could be Gonta’s research lab.

Bug specimens everywhere! Are there any live bugs, though?

There are bug eggs and larvae, but there were being refrigerated to preserve them. Gonta thinks he can revive them and hatch the eggs. Shuichi is reminded of the story of Noah’s ark. Humanity was destroyed by a great flood, and humanity and animals began anew. Hmmm. HMMMM.

The insect samples were created by someone using love and care. I wonder...could Gonta have made them, and due to amnesia plot stuff doesn’t remember doing so?

Not much else we can do in here. Up the stairs!

Ryoma’s research lab, looks like.

There’s a weird machine serving tennis balls back and forth...Miu wants to midfy it. Into a sex machine, most likely.

Ryoma doesn’t care for the lab, or tennis. That was in his past. That man is dead.

He thinks if he gets out of here he’ll just go straight to jail anyways.

Despite his harsh words about tennis and his past self, he appears to be looking at the court with longing...

There’s a shower room in the back of the tennis court. We can’t go in right now.

There’s another research lab on this floor. I can’t tell whose...

Ah, it’s Maki’s. But she won’t let us go inside. Kokichi shows up to investigate as well, and Maki threatens Shuichi, should he try to go inside. Hmm. What could be in there...?

Next area-unlocking item! Let’s try the othello-themed door. There doesn’t appear to be anything nearby to help unlock it, though...Tsumugi and Himiko are also here, being suspicious of it.

Wait, there’s grooves on the wall, three of them. And two of them have passports inside. Well, OK. Putting the Ancient Passport into the middle groove collapses the wall. Behind it is exactly one room. An Ultimate Research lab. It’s door is covered in strange sigils. Good thing Himiko is right there, cause I suspect this lab is hers.

Himiko is none too happy about a lab with magic trick items and no authentically magic items.

A sword-stabbing box? If those are real swords, they could be used by a potential blackened...

Himiko’s familiar is a tiger cub. That’s a bit harder to take out of a hat than a dove...

A body-sawing box. Hmmm. The things in here could definitely be of use to someone determined to become the blackened...

A guillotine...see above.

A saw...Tsumugi is fearful of the same thing I am...

A water tank. For a Houdini-type trick, I imagine.

Tsumugi wonders why some of the labs were hidden and others were open from the start...the conversation gets derailed by the awkwardness of bringing up Kaede, but the question still stands. Semi-related, I wonder what Rantaro’s lab will reveal about his talent?

Shuichi can’t help but wonder what is up with this Academy...

A cauldron. A pot collecting mana, according to Himiko.

Now for the castle gate and the plant-covered door, both of which are outside.

There’s less plants outside, and the Exisals are still renovating the area.

The ninja cat statue in the courtyard didn’t have anything that we could use a crank or ocarina on, so...castle door next?

Let’s crank this up...

I’m still not sure what the writing on the door means...

“Courtyard - Nightspot” what

Why is it night in this area when it’s day outside?

There’s a “hotel Kumasutra” and a casino...

The casino has a rockin’ remix of the Danganronpa main theme playing inside.

OH. According to Monodam, this casino can be used to get prizes...which must be why the Monomono Machine only had about half the gifts in the game.

Oh my god the music is called “DANGANVEGAS”

You can buy presents and skills with the casino coins.

Kaito is downstairs winning big. But he pushes his luck and loses it all while Monokuma mocks him.

I gotta go, so we’ll check out the hotel and whatever the ocarina does next time!