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sylvie-writes · 4 years ago

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Evans Family Christmas

pairing: chris evans x reader ft. Dodger hehe

requests: I need all the ugly Christmas sweaters, hot cocoa, Christmas cookies, everything in my life with the avengers or with Chris and his family 🥺 -anon

2. Just imagine that you and Chris are spending your first Christmas together and you’re decorating cookies and singing Christmas songs together and dancing around the living room with the fireplace going and of course hanging a stocking for Dodger. @aubreeskailynn

warnings: just chris being the dirty minded man that he is

word count: 2,079

author’s note: pardon any mistakes! this is also for @fangirlovestuff‘s birthday challenge! I’m so sorry for the long wait :(

challenge prompt: 25. that couple where one cooks and the other can’t cook for shit

PART OF MY CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION (check the tag for the masterlist)

gif below was found on giphy

From your spot in the kitchen, you could hear the deep chuckle of the man you have loved for the past two years. He was currently on the phone with his mother who you assumed was inviting you both to the annual Evans’ family Christmas get together.

Chris rushed into the kitchen a giddy smile on his adorable face and fists excitedly curled into his chest like a small child. You didn’t even need to hear the words spill from his mouth to confirm your suspicions that the two of you were, in fact, going to the party.

One who cared for Chris as much as you did, could easily tell that the bright grin on his lips was the genuine one he sported when around his family. A career such as his, made time with family limited and you were always more than happy to go along to any event with Chris’s family. Even if that meant you’d see them once a year or twice a week.

The Evans family truly lived it up on the holidays, something definitely instilled in your boyfriend who acted like a frat boy at parties. (You have many videos of him being the happy drunk that he is, to say so.)

With this being your first Evans Christmas, Chris literally went all out once his mother called him that week before. You were unaware of this until an ugly Christmas sweater was laying out on your side of the bed just the day before Christmas. As you had been working all day, Chris had run out to accomplish some errands but you had no clue it actually meant this. With a small giggle, you decided to amuse yourself and try on the sweater. The sweater itself looked like it had been pulled straight out of any cheesy 90’s holiday movie you could imagine. Decked in lights attached to a battery pack and lots of gaudy tinsel, the sweater was the literal embodiment of any office Christmas party attire. Even the Grinch would have turned his head at all of the very questionable, yet somehow eye catching, components of the knit top.

You decided to venture down the stairs in the sweater to surprise Chris, but oh how the tables had turned. Instead of surprising the man, he shocked you first and not for a good reason. Jaw half dropped, you slowly walked into the mess of a kitchen. Various cookie making ingredients spilled among the counter and you found the culprit’s back turned your way. His entire black sweater was covered in flour and somehow even the back of it. At the mess you let out a tiny, but very audible, shriek causing the man to cautiously turn.

A nervous smile graced his lips and he held up two mugs of hot cocoa.

“Heh heh. Your sweater looks nice, honey...” There was no sign of amusement on your face, and you just horridly stared at the colossal snow storm of flour in the kitchen. “...hot cocoa?”

You just slowly turned your head in his direction and if an eye can invisibly twitch, then yours was doing so. An insane chuckle left your mouth and you just walked closer, snatching the mug from him. The last thing you wanted to do was clean this damn kitchen, especially after a long day at work. You loved Chris, but that man never followed through with things. Of course it wasn't intentional, but if you did wait for him to do said things, they’d never get done in a timely manner.

A timer sounded from the oven breaking your small staring contest with the man who nervously gulped from time to time as you were yet to say a word since entering the kitchen.

“Sounds like your cookies are done, lover boy.” You turned on your heel heading to the living room, but not without looking over your shoulder to utter a quip.

“Wouldn’t want to burn those things. Especially after the mess you’re going to have to clean all by yourself.”

Chris knew you were teasing, as confirmed by the discreet wink, and he just shrugged his shoulders, laughing. He had already planned on cleaning the kitchen, but this time he actually meant it.

An hour later, Chris joined you on the couch, a plate of decorated cookies in hand. He threw an arm around your shoulder and kissed your forehead. You decided to take a cookie and hummed in approval when the sugar dissipated on your tongue.

“My, my, Chris Evans. If you weren’t an actor, I’d say you could become a baker!”

In thanks, he once again kissed you, but this time on the forehead, making you crinkle your nose a bit. A few seconds of silence passed before he spoke again.

“I see you found the sweater. Do ya like it?”

You looked up at him with a dazzling smile and pecked his lips.

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

Against the plush lips of the man you murmured, “I hate to ruin the moment, but is the kitchen clean?”

Chris pulled back with a deep chuckle that seemingly lasted for minutes. He tried to speak between the choppy laughter, but failed and instead gave you a simple nod of his head. Leaving the man to his giggles, you quickly snuck off and then rushed back into the room in no time as Chris was finally ceasing his howling.

Arms secretly folded behind your back and a large, corny grin on your face, Chris’s eyebrows raised in suspicion. He cautiously reached out to pull you closer to him, pretty much to the point where you dropped to sit on his lap.

Once seated, you brought your arms around to your own lap and opened the glittery Christmas gift bag. Just as you were about to pull the final piece of tissue paper from the sack, you called Dodger who loyally came running in from the next room. At the point Chris was so utterly confused that he wasn't even aware Dodger had joined you both. Although, the man did wear a smirk that was borderline concerning.

The pup then curled up next to you on the couch after venturing in. Finally, you started to rummage through the gift bag, revealing its contents that had suspense looming in the air for a good while. Honestly, as you pulled out a beautifully embroidered stocking, which was for Dodger, Chris released a shaky breath that he had been unknowingly holding in.

You turned to see his reaction and instead started laughing at his tremendously cherry red cheeks. His smirk had also dropped and he now partly resembled a sad puppy. Even though he looked downcast, you could spy a sea of playfulness in his eyes.

“Oh my gosh, babe! Why are you so red?” It was now your turn to try and talk in between laughs.

Chris shook his head in a manner of disappointment, dramatically sucking in air and widening his eyes as one would do when traumatized.

“Let’s just say I had assumed there would be stockings in that bag, but...not that kind.” His ears were all red now and the two of you were cackling loudly, causing Dodger to leave the room.

“You dirty man! I swear for a few seconds I thought I was looking at Clifford the Dog!” you continued to tease him for a good five minutes and Chris just accepted it until a feel-good, Christmas classic came on the radio and he scooped you up.

For a quick second you squealed in shock, but then the man set you down on the floor in the middle of the living room. He held out a hand and you accepted it.

Of all the songs that could have graced the radio, it had to be Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You. Thank the heavens the blinds on the windows to the house were shut or the whole neighborhood would have seen you and Chris dancing like fools. The two of you energetically bounced around the living room. Your hair was flailing around as Chris’s arms madly waved up and down. Off key singing resounded from the you both and poor Dodger became the unsuspecting victim to the horrid sounds. Regardless that he was all the way in another room.

From then on, you and Chris spent the rest of Christmas Eve alternating between decorating cookies and doing some Christmas themed karaoke. The night ultimately ended when the both of you crashed from your sugar highs on the couch, not even waking until Dodger came and nudged you in the face, annoyed.

----

Christmas morning came quick and unfortunately that meant both you and Chris had to be up bright and early for the party at his parents house. It had been a good couple of months since you’d seen them all last.

After a couple of groans and tossing around, you managed to find the legs to leave the bed as Chris did the same. The two of you went your separate ways and did the necessary tasks before you later met at the front door. You and Chris both had your ugly sweaters on, even Dodger had one on as he was coming along too. In your hand, you held a bin of the cookies from the night before and in the other you held dodger’s leash as he practically pulled you out the door. Chris, who was chuckling at the dog’s excitement, trailed behind with the many gifts for his family members.

The Evans clan greeted you both with open arms, quite literally, as you were engulfed by all of his siblings at once. Poor Dodger was thrown into the mix and got a bit squished, but he enjoyed the embrace nonetheless.

As soon as you and Chris stepped foot into the house and the door shut behind you, Chris’s sisters ushered you into the kitchen where you just looked back to your boyfriend who gave you a thumbs up and a cheesy grin. Little did you know that you were about to learn the most sacred thing about the family, which is their gingerbread recipe. For a good couple of hours, you chatted with the ladies and helped tediously decorate gingerbread while Chris and the guys were in the other room. Occasionally he’d pass by and steal some cookies to which you’d smack him. The man would quickly retract his hand and like a child in a cookie jar, he’d dash away, but not before placing a kiss to the crown of your head.

Once dinner was served, everyone sat around the table, quieted down, stomachs full and feeling a food coma from the endless amount of servings. You and Chris managed to fight the urge to rest and instead collected dishes to wash. Just as you started scrubbing the dirtied plate Chris had handed you, he nudged your hip with his own. In confusion you turned to the man who motioned for you to look up.

Resting above your heads was a tiny piece of mistletoe, delicately hanging by a little silk ribbon. You lowered your gaze back to the man who had turned and now placed his hands on your hips. Pulling you flush against his chest, Chris kissed you deeply, prompting you to wrap your arms around his neck. Suddenly, you heard some cheering and could feel a protruding smile on Chris’s lips. Looking towards the direction of the sound, you saw the shutters on the kitchen pass through open, allowing everyone in the dining room to peek in.

“I was just about to give you guys some more dishes, but I should’ve known you both were up to no good. Thankfully your niece and nephews are in the other room!” Scott then set down the dishes and dramatically shut the mini doors making both you and Chris laugh.

“I’m hoping you won’t remember your first Evans’ Christmas for this.” Chris still had his arms wrapped around your waist and smiled down on you with a glimmer of hope.

Letting out a breathy laugh, you replied, “You and I both know I will, but hopefully there will be plenty more of these to come.” With that, you trailed your fingers up to his hair and gently tussled the locks, earning yourself a soft kiss on the temple from the satisfied man.

taglist: @memissbee @tricereads @buckybarnesthehotshot @bval-1 @tonystankschild @just-one-ordinary-fangirl @turtoix @kelbabyblue @jakiki94 @aubreeskailynn @calirindo @lady-elena-adeline @siriuslyslyslytherin @sushiinmidnight @patzammit @iwik3it

#Chris Evans #chris evans fanfiction #chris evans x reader #chris evans imagine #chris evans oneshot #chris evans x female reader #sylvie writes christmas celebration #fangirlovestuffbdaychallenge

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enjennie · 4 years ago

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The Dreamies as types of dates

Mark

Carnival piers, ice cream and stuffed toys.

The shy date who planned and overthought things beforehand. Simple things like a date by the pier, winning you stuff toys at the carnival and stopping by the ice cream shop are the small things in which Mark would like to spend his day doing with you. Would most likely end the day with a ride on the Ferris wheel because he wanted to see the sunset from up high with you, but didn’t realize how crammed the carriage is, which means awkward glances and accidental hand brushes. He’s debating if it’s the right time to hold your hand, and panicking deep inside. In the end, he takes the leap and places his hand on top of yours, looks at you if it’s okay, before knitting your fingers together. He smiles to himself when you lie your head on his shoulder. “Is this okay?” “It’s perfect,”

Renjun

Museum and art gallery dates, pottery places or just somewhere to get your creative juices going.

Renjun’s the type to make up stories about the paintings displayed on the wall, claiming that the man in the canvas was a spy for the government, or that the picture of the chapel was an old cult gathering place. You think it’s definitely dorky, but don’t hesitate in joining in on making up the stories with him and by the end of the date, you’ve made countless of inside jokes and a bunch of plots you both made up, calling for a memorable date. Renjun would probably walk you home afterwards, and try to steal a kiss on the cheek (or on the lips if he’s brave). “Goodnight, I had fun today,” “I didn’t, the terrible fate you gave old man Harris in that one painting was harsh,” “Can I kiss you to make up for it?”>

Jeno

Karaoke, photo booths and record stores.

The date who surprises you with his singing skills at the karaoke/coin noraebang. Belting out to ballads as if his wife and three kids left him. Spontaneous plans and being pulled into every photo booth he sees, where you make kissy faces and silly expressions for the camera. Jeno wouldn’t want to pressure you in dressing up, insisting that you look lovely in anything you put on. At the vintage record store, he’d pick out his favourite album and put the headset on for you as you both listen. On the way home, he’d share his earphones with you and play the playlist he made for you while playing with your fingers and drawing on your palm. “Guess what I’m drawing,” “A flower?” “It’s my cat bongsik, but okay,”

Haechan

Amusement parks, rollercoasters and street food.

Extremely loud screaming that turn into high notes at the rollercoaster, almost punching the haunted house actor for being too scary and several failed attempts at the claw machine. These are some of the many things that goes on in a date with Hyuck. He wants to try every ride with you, and taste all the food the park has to offer. Won’t leave the claw machine alone until he gets you one of the ‘special’ prizes, which turned out to be a blender. “Seriously, who gives away blenders as prizes in an amusement park?” “Hey if you don’t like it then I’ll give it to my mom,”. The laid back date who treats you like a bro, but offers his jacket to you when it gets chilly at night accompanied by a scolding as to why you didn’t bring your own, then takes you to a 7/11 to eat ramyeon because he wasted all his money on the damn claw machine.

Jaemin

Puppies, charity work and coffee breaks.

The date with the biggest heart who takes you to the puppy adoption center to volunteer because he wants to share his happiness with you. Stealing glances at you as you play with puppies and bathe them, seeing you being loving to the animals makes Jaemin fall deeper in love with you. You almost don’t want to leave the dogs and almost took one with you at the end of the day. Once you finish up, he takes you to a neighboring café and talk about the fun day you’ve had. Jaemin can’t keep the smile from appearing on his face, hearing you say how much fun you had and seeing how happy you are doing the thing that brings him the most joy. “I already miss the pups,” “What do you say we come back again tomorrow?” “Are you asking me for a second date, or do my ears deceive me?”

Chenle

Lightsticks, concerts and being the only person he sees in the sea of people.

You can never tell what’s coming next with Chenle. When he says he’s taking you to a concert, you have to ask if it’s a recital, orchestra or a band because you really don’t know what to expect from the boy. Chenle would buy the tickets on a whim and would be at your front door an hour before it starts. Screaming over the music, or whispering into your ear as you both danced together. Chenle the type to keep his eyes on you while you have the time of your life, spinning you around and asking for your hand to slow dance when the band plays a romantic song. Afterwards he’ll take you home and cook you dinner as you both recap the night you spent together. “I don’t even know the band,” “You’re kidding,” “I wish I was,”

Jisung

Arcades, dance machines and afterschool dates.

The type to hold your backpack for you and awkwardly walk with you. Lots of back of the head scratches and lame jokes to fill the silence between you both which still makes you laugh anyway. Challenges you to the dance machine but loses on purpose. He wants to break the record for the basketball machine to impress you, but gets pressured with you watching him, therefore only getting a certain amount in. Very student friendly budget date, he probably saved up his allowance weeks before. “I’m sorry, I’ll take you on a proper date next time,” “Are you kidding? I’m having so much fun,” hearing you say this would really boost his confidence, and he’d ask for a second date before this one even came to an end. Would take the bus home with you, offer you a hot pack to keep you warm and get flustered when your hands come in contact with one another. Shy side glances and a lot of blushing. You end the night eating snacks in a minimart and you listen to him geek out about the latest released video game.

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barnesandco · 5 years ago

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Spies and Secrets

Bucky buys a new jacket that is... uncharacteristically bright. Sam ribs him for it, and you- you don't know what to do with yourself.

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader

Warnings: Language. Heavy makeout session.

A/N: Inspired by Sebastian Stan’s 2016 photoshoot - more specifically that yellow jacket - for August Man Malaysia. Written for @redgillan . Hope you like it, Maisie! It was so much fun to write lmao.

“Hey, hey, hey! Look at you!” Sam exclaims, jumping to his feet. Steve and Bucky stand in the kitchen, arms laden down with shopping bags. The object of Sam's attention, however, is the mustard-yellow jacket Bucky is wearing. "What, were they all out of decent, normal outerwear at the mall?"

“He looks good, Sam.” Steve defends, putting his bags down by the door, and heads over to the fridge. Finding what he was after - a beer - he sits down at the kitchen table, and looks back at his teammates. Sam splutters indignantly, hands on his hips. Bucky looks like he's ready to high-tail it back to his room.

“Really? You, Mr. I-only-wear-plaid-shirts-and-vintage-jackets, are giving out fashion advice. No wonder he bought that monstrosity.” Sam gestures to Bucky, who has thus far remained silent, but is now struggling to rein it in. He was hesitant about buying it - not his usual color - but he thought he looked good in it. He knows Sam's joking - it's just banter, Nat calls them an old married couple - but he's so out of his depth when it comes to the new millennium, and everything that is associated with. Everything except making women swoon. That’s stayed the same since he fell off that train in Austria.

“Shut up, Sam.” He says gruffly, shuffling to grab his own beer and return to his spot in the doorway, ready to leave. Sam ruffles Bucky's hair, flings his arm around his shoulder, grinning madly.

“I'm only messing with you, Bumblebee. Lookin' like a real lady-killer in that thing. Bet the chicks dig it. Matches their fur and all.” He laughs.

“Ignore him, Buck. You look great, trust me.” Steve says earnestly, beer bottle resting on his thigh.

“Sure, sure, trust the centenarian when it comes to 21st century fashion.” Sam waves his hand dismissively, biting into an apple from the fruit bowl on the kitchen island. Bucky picks his bags back up, and heads for the elevator.

“Whatever, Wilson.” He throws over his shoulder.

-----

“Is Sergeant Barnes going to be here?” You ask, eyes flitting around to see if he’s here yet.

“He said he was coming. Why? You can barely speak when he's around. And now you're eager to see him?” Nat says, leaning her elbows against the standing table they're at. She looks at you intently, fiddling with the umbrella from her cocktail.

“Not eager, Nat. Just curious.” You answer, turning away from her sharp gaze to survey the room. She does the same.

“Speak of the devil.” Nat says, jerking her head towards the entrance, where Bucky has just arrived.

“Dear Lord.” You whisper under your breath, grateful for the hubbub of the crowd. It disguises the words, but not the sound and Nat turns to you.

“Did you say something?” She wonders.

“No, I- nothing, nothing.” You excuse, coughing as the man in question approaches. He looks good. So good that it takes all of your willpower not to physically drop your jaw. All black - his jeans, his t-shirt, his shoes - with the exception of a delicious mustard yellow jacket. Out of character, possibly. Hot as hell, definitely.

“Hello, Barnes. New jacket?” Nat greets cheerfully, taking a sip from her drink. Bucky swallows, Adam's apple bobbing, and puts his hands in his pockets, drawing attention to those muscular thighs that have fueled your thirstiest dreams for weeks now. He nods, and a strand of hair falls in front of his eyes. You resist the urge to tuck it behind his ear.

“Yeah. Went shopping a few days ago. How are you lovely ladies doing?” He asks, running his hands through those chestnut brown locks you want to use to tug him down till your mouths meet. You touch your lips subconsciously. Is your mouth watering?

“I'm good. I think our resident IT genius could use some help, though.” Nat says delicately, glancing at you from her peripherals. You cough again.

“No! Help with what? I'm fine. Totally fine.” You say, hands flailing. Broken-record repetition must worry them further instead of alleviate their concerns. Behind Nat’s cocktail glass, you can see a thinly veiled smile. "It's good to see you, Sergeant Barnes."

“Bucky, please, doll.” He smiles at you, and your heart skips a beat. Another one. Butterflies turn to elephants in your stomach, and you shift your weight.

“Right. Uh, you- um, you don't normally come to these things.” It’s a statement, but you trail off at the end, leaving room for a question he could answer. You rest your chin on your fist, trying desperately to look casual.

“Didn't have anything better to do tonight. Why, you wishing I stayed home?” He jokes.

“No, no! I mean yes. I mean, I'm-”

“It's okay, I get it.” Bucky reassures you. He looks around, and seems to spot somewhere else he needs to be. “It was nice talkin' to you, I'll see you 'round.” Saying this, he pecks your and Nat’s cheeks, leaving you blinking and dazed.

“Bye, Barnes.” Nat is unfazed. Your shoulders drop automatically, releasing the tension - and the breath - you weren’t aware you were carrying.

“What the hell was that?”

“What was what?” You say innocently, praying she drops the subject. You’re a terrible liar, and Nat’s an excellent spy. The two factors combine to make for the fact that it is damn near impossible to hide something from Natasha Romanoff if she doesn’t want you to. You’re proud that you’ve managed to for as long as you have.

“You, all stutter-y and flustered. Do you have a crush?” She says conspiratorially. That glint in her eye is back, and that’s bad news for any and all of your secrets regarding Bucky Barnes.

“You're crazy, Nat. Bat-shit insane.” You dismiss, finishing off your drink. She doesn’t let up.

“You have all the symptoms, you know.”

“No, I don't know. All I know is that you're crazy, and I need another drink.” You push away from the table and head for the bar, hoping you don’t run into Bucky again. Heart attack sounds preferable to dealing with him in that outfit.

Two hours later, and you’re sitting with a group of Avengers who have just started a round of poker. The company party is in full swing, S.H.I.E.L.D. employees taking full advantage of the bar, both for alcohol and karaoke. Thank goodness that the latter is in a faraway corner of the room, because while most of these people know more ways to kill a man than there are grains of sand on a beach, none of them can stay on key to save their lives.

“Where did Barnes run off to?” He asks. Maria Hill snorts.

“Why, you miss your boyfriend?”

“Ha. Ha. Ha.” Sam responds mockingly. He has an excellent hand of cards, though, so the joke is on Maria really.

“Said he needed a break.” Steve pipes up, preparing to lose, good and righteous as he is. Can’t lie to save his life. Sam is gleeful, unaware that Nat has the best hand out of the lot of them. You’re not playing. S.H.I.E.L.D. pays well, even to non-superheroes, but you’ve never been much of a gambler. And it’s far more entertaining observing everyone, occasionally whispering suggestions to Nat - not that she needs them - hands on her legs draped over your lap. But your attention has been diverted to a certain ex-assassin, who plays your heartstrings like a guitar. You wait five minutes - five excruciating, torturous minutes - before yawning and pushing Nat’s legs off you.

“I- uh, I think I should head back. I'll see you guys on Monday.” You say, waving feebly to the group, and leave the room to echoes of goodnight and requests to drive safely. Little do they know you’re not leaving yet. You consider the floorplan, and try to figure out where he might be. Eventually, you recall Bucky’s preference for the stairwell designed as an exit in case of emergencies. He mentioned briefly how it was the quietest place in the Compound. Peaceful. Serene. Not to mention the open top means he can smoke.

“Hey, Sarge.” You smile shyly as you lean against the door, hands behind your back. As expected, he’s sitting on the stairs, jacket falling open to reveal a shirt stretched taut over those pectorals you long to touch. You haven’t had an opportunity to rendezvous in weeks, between his missions and your new research project. It’s not like you’ve gone all the way physically even when you do have the opportunity to see each other like this, but the way he’s looking tonight makes you want to change that.

“Was wonderin' when you'd show up.” He says around the cigarette between his lips. The serum stops it from affecting him, so he feels comfortable maintaining this particular habit. Gives him something to do with his hands. Avoids it around you, though. Tonight is no exception. Removing it from his mouth, he exhales one last time, and stomps out the half-burnt blunt under his leather boot. Passive smoking isn’t fun.

“How did you know I'd find you?” You ask, standing between his bent legs, carding your fingers through his hair. He nuzzles your stomach, nips at your dress.

“I'm magnetic, baby.” He smiles up at you, then stops when he sees your facial expression. You’re torn. “Why're you lookin' at me like that?” He asks, holding your hands, rubbing your knuckles gently with his thumb.

“Like- like what?”

“Like you don't know whether to eat me alive or run for the hills.” Bucky is apprehensive now, worried he’s done something wrong.

Your gaze moves from his concerned eyes, to that damn jacket, and back up to his lips. Something shifts inside you, and you tug him to stand upright, fists clutching the lapels of his jacket. You pull him down to meet your lips.

“Shut the fuck up, Barnes.” You murmur, mouths grazing against one another before they press together fully. He gasps at the pressure and passion behind your movement, and you take the liberty to engage his tongue in a dance with yours. His arms wrap around your waist, bending you backwards a little, but you’re too occupied by the taste of chocolate and whiskey on his breath. Too surrounded by everything Bucky. The feel of his hair between your fingers, the scent of his cologne enveloping you like his embrace. Panting, you pull away, moving to his neck.

“Hey, woah, what's gotten into you?” Bucky’s gasping for air, hands moving up and down your sides, like he doesn’t know what to do with them. He settles for resting them over your ass, and nips at your earlobe.

“You complaining?” You ask, hands on his chest. He shakes his head, and that’s all the confirmation you need as you resume your task, sucking a hickey onto his collarbone, fingers curling in the loops of his belt. He tries to continue speaking, muttering in your ear.

“Hell no. But you're always so shy, and - oh, jeez, sugar.” His sentence falls apart as you rake your nails gently down his abs. You stop at the exclamation, also intrigued by the new pet name.

“This stupid fucking jacket.” You say, pecking his lips chastely. You lean your forehead on his shoulder, unable to look him in the eyes after your outburst. Everything is hot. The air, filled with palpable electricity between your bodies. Your body itself, on fire from head to toe, concentrated on a spot between your legs. Legs that are shaking as you strive to stay upright.

“You don't like it?” He asks, holding you to him. All shyness or shame dissipates into thin air, as your head snaps up to meet his insecure expression incredulously.

“Are you shitting me? It's the hottest thing I've seen all week.” You tell him, pushing up on your toes to kiss him again. And again. And again.

“I think I can top that.” Bucky says between kisses, cradling your face in his hands, yours clutching his sides.

“I'm sure you can.” You answer, smiling wolfishly at the double entendre.

“You know what, I have a better idea.” He pauses, waiting for your signal. You give it.

“Yeah?”

“Why don't we go up to my room, and you try on my jacket. Just my jacket.”

Taglist: @buckyreaderrecs @corneliabarnes @mermaidxatxheart

#bucky barnes fanfiction #bucky barnes x reader #bucky x reader #bucky fanfic #bucky x you #sebastian stan #ayesha writes

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xxgoblin-dumplingxx · 4 years ago

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Do it Again... Please?: Two

“I really hate Karaoke night,” you grouse, taking the shot of whiskey that Nat had set on the bar in front of you.

“Cheer up, Y/N,” Steve said squeezing the back of your neck, “Or I’m gonna tell Stark to make you sing a song you hate.”

“And that,” you tell Natasha, “Is why I hate Karaoke night. Everyone really fucking loves making me sing songs I hate. And I’m the asshole if I don’t do it. Because team bonding or whatever shit.”

“Jeeze,” Steve said wincing, “You okay?”

“Ugh, I’m fine,” you sigh, resting your forehead on your arm.

“Sure,” Nat snorted, “You’re fine. And a lousy fucking liar for a spy.”

“Can I just have another shot before I go wallow?”

“Why are we wallowing?” Nat asked poring the shot.

“I really don’t wanna talk about it,” you tell her, voice muffled by your arm.

“Steve, scram,” Nat murmured, jerking her head towards the party and away from the little corner of the bar.

Steve nods, brow furrowed. You never wallow. Or get quite so... irritable. You’re usually good-natured and even tempered. Nothing rattles you. Not Alients. Not Thor exploding a microwave. Nothing. So when Natasha told him to scram, he took the out. He was 100% certain that anything that was making you outwardly grumpy about potentially having to sing a Taylor Swift song was probably something he shouldn’t be hearing about. It fell firmly under the purview of “Girl Talk”. And that was NOT something he was comfortable with. Even if he knew you well enough not to be remotely phased when you asked him to hand you a tampon out of your gear bag. Bodily functions were one thing. Emotional turmoil was another. He couldn’t do feelings.

Natasha watched Steve’s retreating back for a second and grabbed herself a beer before hoping up on the bar to stroke your hair, “What’s up, puddin’ cup?”

“I just-” you exhale slowly and thud your head against your arm. “It’s complicated.”

“Who’s out of jail?” she hummed.

“That’s not the issue,” you murmur, “I just... It’s just a bad day and I don’t wanna be here. I don’t wanna be around all these fucking people. And I don’t wanna fucking sing.”

“So don’t-” she started, breaking off and giving Sam and Bucky a warning look as they approached the bar. You were in a mood. The kind of funk that would probably be easily lifted if you’d just let someone love you. Or at least be a part of some little platonic cuddle pile. Something. So she rubs the back of your head gently. And desperately tries to stop the coming onslaught of testosterone. And awkward flirting.

But she doesn’t get the chance.

Bucky nor Sam seem to be paying attention to Nat. they hurl themselves on either side of you, “Hey, gorgeous,” Sam said, “You pregame too hard?”

“No,” you murmur, sitting up, “I was just leaving actually.”

“But the party just started,” Bucky protested.

“And I’m not really in a party mood,” you say stretching, turning to get off the barstool. “Thanks for the drinks, Nat.”

“Anytime, babe,” she said, kissing you on the cheek. “I’ll check on you later, yeah?”

“Yeah. I’ll have snacks.” You shoot a backward glance over your shoulder with a fond smile. And then like a spy, you slip into the shadows and out of the party. Without anyone being the wiser.

Bucky looked after you frowning and Sam looked at Natasha in askance, “She good?”

“Just a bad day,” Nat said, taking a pull of her beer. “They happen.”

“She coming back?” Bucky asked, accepting a beer.

“Probably not,” she said smiling a little, “She said she was gonna go wallow. So I’d imagine she’s snuggled into her bed with a bottle of Wild Turkey and some Netflix.”

Sam whistled softly and Bucky shook his head, “That doesn’t sound okay,” Sam murmured.

“For her?” Nat said, “It’s pretty standard. Strategic retreat.”

“It really is,” Steve added, taking a sip of beer.

Sam and Bucky looked at each other and back to the elevator you’d slipped into. Despite Steve and Natasha being so... blase about your present state of mind, it rubbed both of them the wrong way.

They really didn’t like the thought of you getting drunk alone in your room. And it doesn’t take long for them to decide to do something about it.

#sam wilson #Bucky Barnes #Sambucky #Cold War #natasha romanoff #Captain America #sambucky x reader #sam wilso x buckyx reader

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peterstanslizzie · 5 years ago

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Reacting To: Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts (Season 2 Episode 4)

Episode Title: To Catch a Deathstalker

Spoiler Warning: Kindly proceed if you’ve already seen the episode or are able to handle spoilers.

1. Episode 4 opens up with an action scene already! We see two of the ModFrogs, Harris and Kwat chasing after Wolf who stole a heart-shaped box of chocolates from them. I believe this is a flashback to a time when Wolf hasn’t met Kipo yet. Wolf manages to escape by crossing into Deathstalker territory, which is basically where the giant scorpions live.

2. However, she’s being hunted by one of the scorpions, which is able to detect Wolf’s heartbeat. She realizes this and is able to calm herself down and the scorpion leaves eventually. But Wolf seems fascinated by that same scorpion and goes to sneak up on it herself. As the opening credits start of roll, we can hear some noises, which sounds like Wolf attacking the scorpion. I guess that’s how she got Stalky? Cool throwback lol.

3. We get back to the present and we see Scarlemagne’s Nobles flying through the city, looking for Kipo and the others. The coast is clear and Wolf tells Kipo that the fastest way to her parents’ old burrow is by passing through Deathstalker territory. She also warns the rest about making sure their heartbeats don’t go too crazy when they’re there.

4. Even making it over to the entrance of Deathstalker territory is already so difficult with the Nobles patrolling the area. Benson and Dave both come up with a distraction called ‘Flaming Phantom’, which involves some cheese and an explosion, giving Kipo and Wolf the clear to head over to the entrance themselves first.

5. At Scarlemagne’s Court, we see a brainwashed Hoag filling up a wine glass with nectar bomb. Scarlemangne then orders his “soprano”, who is basically a mute who can sing really high, glass-shattering notes to use her singing to break the wine glass, resulting in an explosion that breaks open the door of a massive safe.

6. Inside the safe is revealed to be massive stacks of what it appears to be gold bars that once belonged to the humans who were the rulers back then. The scene then cuts over to the Nobles walking on the street and carrying the gold bars with them.

7. The same cloaked individuals we saw at the end of the first episode are overlooking the area. I still have no clue as to what they are. Back to Kipo and Wolf; they’re now walking all stealth-like through the territory but Kipo is struggling to keep calm. Wolf advises her to inhale for four counts and exhale for eight, which seems like solid advice to me. Who else actually tried doing the same thing? I did lol.

8. They eventually come face to face with a scorpion and it appears to be the same one that Wolf attacked and chopped off its pincer. Both Kipo and Wolf try to keep their heart rate on the low but it’s too difficult because there’s a bunch of scorpions all over the place. So the scorpions start chasing them and they climb up to one of the buildings’ balcony. And it’s revealed to be where Wolf’s old home is! That’s cool and all but why did she choose to stay in such a dangerous place lol. I guess the scorpions can’t feel her heart beat at higher altitude places probably?

9. Kipo is fan-girling over Wolf’s apartment and the different toys/apparatus she’s been using incorrectly as weapons instead. Kipo then finds a karaoke machine to which Wolf refers to it as a Hoot-hoot; Reminds me of the Pokemon lol. According to Wolf, scorpions are afraid of owls and she usually says “hoot-hoot” to scare them away.

10. Wolf wants to make sure Kipo is able to keep herself calm for when they go back outside. But after an hour of attempts, Kipo feels discouraged and is beating herself up for letting her people down. After telling Kipo to take a break, her demeanor immediately changes and she turns her attention to the catalog of karaoke songs.

11. Kipo puts a duet song into the system and starts singing a song about being heroes. And because it is a duet, she wants Wolf to join her but Wolf is not down on singing. But as she continues to sing and gets into the lyrics, Wolf is starting to let her walls come down and is even willing to stand beside Kipo whilst she’s singing.

12. And just like that, Kipo is able to learn how to calm herself down and that is by singing! It’s just like how she was able to calm down the Mega Monkey by singing to it too. Anyways, this means that they’re both ready to continue on their journey.

13. They’re walking outside but a scorpion is sneaking up from behind them. Wolf notices this and tries to warn Kipo but she’s too focused on calming herself down that scorpion rushes in to make its attack. Wolf tries to defend Kipo but she gets stung and taken away by it.

14. Instead of transforming into her jaguar-form, which I actually predicted for her to do, she goes back into Wolf’s apartment to gather all her “weapons” and goes to the scorpion’s den to save Wolf. She manages to temporarily restrain it with the jump rope but it manages to break through it shortly. Kipo is doing a good job defending herself and in the end, she got the scorpion to stab itself. Nice job!

15. Unfortunately, more scorpions are on their way and they are doing the best they can to keep their cool, once again. They eventually sneak past them and they make their escape. I actually just realized how come they didn’t try to make owl noises to try to scare them away? Didn’t Wolf tell Kipo they’re afraid of owls?

16. Meanwhile, Scarlemagne is overseeing his Nobles building a structure made out of the gold bars. Lemiuex arrives to tell him that had lost Kipo’s trail much to Scarlemagne’s disappointment. However, he did come back with some findings of his own and that is discovering the destroyed mind-control collar that was once around the Mega Monkey’s neck. Scarlemagne is angry to find out that the Mega Monkey is free and he demands for his followers to find both Kipo and the monkey immediately.

17. In the distance, the three cloaked individuals are spying on what’s going on and they find out that Scarlemagne’s is going after the Mega Monkey. So one of them announces that they need to find her first. I wish I’d knew who these people/mutes are lol.

18. Wolf is proud of Kipo for handling herself well back there. In fact, her spirits are really high right now to the point that she’s even humming! OMG, I never thought I’d see her acting to chilled like that. Kipo is obviously taken aback by this but she’s not satisfied and persuades Wolf to actually sing this time:

19. And she does sing! Aww and she’s blushing...that’s so cute!

20. Oh look! Benson, Wolf and Mandu finally reunite with them; I was beginning to wonder if those three were okay lol. But why are they dressed like that? Anyways, Benson also knows the song and he starts to sing too. We basically are treated to a group performance of the very same song, including Wolf! I have a question; Is the name of the song, “You’re Not Alone”?

21. That’s the end of my review of episode 4! I hope you guys enjoyed reading it. Please be on the lookout for my review of episode 5 tomorrow. Thanks for all your support and likes. Bye!

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samwrights · 5 years ago

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A Part of Me - Punk!AU [Makki]

Ah, the (second) song to inspire this entire series. This song is very near and dear to my heart as it is one of the few songs I regularly duet with people at karaoke. Because of that, this chapter is very very fluffy, cutesy, and almost vomit inducing. If you’re unfamiliar with the premise of this series, that could be because this is the second installment of Makki’s route and you may need to read the first which can be found here! Artwork is not mine so if we find the artist, please let me know so we can properly cite them.

Lyrics that are bold are sung by Makki and the very few lyrics that are italicized are sung by you. If they are both, then they are harmonized.

WARNINGS: Language, implied NSFW, indirect use of marijuana, and mentions of nicotine use.

Word count: ~4k

Song Used: A Part of Me by Neck Deep

A complementary setlist for Elixir can be found » here

Despite the cool November air filtering in through your open bedroom window, you were warm—much warmer than normal. Did you grab extra blankets before going to bed? What the fuck happened last night? You weren’t nauseous, per se, but it almost felt as if you were casually swaying on a rocking boat albeit you were laying still. “The fuck...” you mumbled, squeezing your swollen and puffy eyes shut even tighter than they already were in an attempt to shut out the permeating sunlight. That, and to hopefully quell the strange feeling of floating and moving mixed with exhaustion.

“What’s wrong, baby?” At the sound of an all too familiar voice, your eyes snapped open to see your bassist, best friend, and asshat that you’d been pining over for the last ten years in your bed, resting on your headboard, with no visible clothes on.

“Dude, what the hell are you doing in here?!” You howl, suddenly feeling very, very bare and vulnerable, you pull your covers to your naked chest, noticing the shift in the covers revealed Hanamaki’s nude hip. Instead of answering, a laugh rumbles in his chest. Saying nothing else, his lanky arms wrap around your torso and pull your chests flush beside each other.

“Say sike right now. Like, please tell me you’re joking and that you do remember last night.”

“Wait, that wasn’t a dream?”

“Aw, you dream about me? Cute.” He teases before pressing his thin lips to yours forehead in a chaste kiss before he pulled back and resumed his resting position, allowing you to see his tight grimace. If you disregard that small detail, he looked incredibly relaxed; like a healthy glow gradiated over his pale skin or like he finally had found peace for the first time since you’ve known him. “Seriously though, you don’t remember anything from last night?”

“I’m not gonna lie, I’m pretty sure none of this is real.” You retort. The strawberry-brunette rolls his eyes and throws one of his legs over you while gripping each of your wrists, pinning you down to your mattress. The sudden movement confirmed your earlier suspicions of the fact that Takahiro Hanamaki was indeed naked in your bed on this beautiful November morning. Dammit, he’s even prettier when he’s naked. “Can you please catch me up to speed?”

“I love you.” His response is as quick-witted as ever, as if he were finally free to say it and he no longer had to swallow the words like a bitter medicine. “Always have, always will.” Regardless of the fact that his shale stone eyes were locked so intently with yours, you were not entirely convinced. Makki could tell by the way your lips remained parted and brows furrowed that you couldn’t come to terms with reality. Rather than words, the bassist latched his lips fully and unabashedly into yours, his tongue working its way into every crevice of your cavern as if he trying to coax your memories of the previous evening. Jagged thoughts of nude, sweaty bodies flooded you, along with crying in the car and lots of kisses you don’t ever remember taking place.

“Dude, what the fuck did we smoke last night?” The only response Makki could offer to that was laughter as he once again resumed his position of resting on your headboard. This time, he pulled you tightly, as opposed to the previous languid nature, to his chest as his arms encircled you.

“To be fair, you only ever smoke when you’re with me and we haven’t gone for a cruise since—“

“—since you started dating Momoka.” Speaking her name brought the remaining missing pieces of reality set in. “What are you going to do about that?” Your voice is quiet as the two of you stare out the window together, seeing the gentle shaking of tree branches before you in the November wind as your own thoughts consume you.

“What do you mean ‘what am I going to do about that’, break up with her, obviously.” There’s a bit of a sour note in his tone as Makki spits out the words. In a way, you felt a bit bad for her. Mostly because she didn’t necessarily do anything to warrant a sudden break up after a seemingly peaceful last eight months.

Then you remember she laughed at you last night, which partially prompted the fight between the two of you.

Fuck her.

“What time is it anyway?” You ask as a yawn leaves your mouth. Takahiro quirks a brow for a moment, the two rings surrounding the bone moving in a funny motion as he does so, before checking his phone. You definitely didn’t miss the multiple missed texts from your bandmates and Momoka on the screen, not that you were snooping or spying. Aside from that, you shifted slightly to reach for your own phone to check any missed messages. “We should probably at least get up.” It was already past noon, after all. Carefully peeling back your comforter away from you, you start to move to get up and go about your day.

“Look at me, babe.” The urgency in Makki’s voice doesn’t go amiss. As you look over at him, stopped in your tracks, you realize his expression is entirely devoid of its usual playfulness. “Ten years, we’ve been waiting for this. Why are you acting so...” the strawberry-brunette struggles to find the word he’s metaphorically searching for in his head, “distant?”

“Because ten years or not, you’re not technically mine.” You say it so quickly, like you’d been dying to blurt it out because it’s the only thing that’s been on your mind.

“I’ve always been yours.” Makki says it like it’s so simple—like everything was supposed to work out the way it did. Maybe it was. “I love you.” He says again when the two of you fall quiet.

“So you’ve said.” Pushing yourself out of bed, you let the comforter fall off from around your body before gathering a fresh towel to bring with to your bathroom so you could shower.

“Don’t believe me?” The man in your bed asks, sitting up to lean over a little either to attempt eye contact with him or so that he can get a better look at your bare ass. Knowing him, it was probably the latter. When you don’t respond, Makki does the same as you, pulling himself out of bed, and unzipping a backpack that you swear he didn’t have the night before and pulling out fresh clothes. He makes it apparent that he’s not letting the conversation go, you learn, as he joins in the bathroom, running the water to make sure it’s warm enough for his liking. “Seriously, babe, talk to me.” He doesn’t care that you’re peeing or brushing your teeth and, while it should be uncomfortable, it doesn’t bother you in the slightest.

“Doesn’t this feel wrong to you?” You ask finally as you both enter the shower. Despite the verbal and metaphysical distance between you two, you huddle closer to Hanamaki to stay under the spray of warm water. “Like this shouldn’t be happening at all or—“

“No,” his voice is firm, “it feels like we’ve wasted a fucking decade when we could have spent a decade fucking.”

“Wow, I hate you.” You quip immediately at his lewd statement. You turn away from him, letting what little drops of water that were coating you keep you warm. An audible groan rumbles in his throat before you feel his arms and chest wrap around you for what feels like the umpteenth time already.

“Does this feel wrong to you?” His lips are at your ear and, despite the hot water and the man holding you, a shiver runs down your spine.

“It just doesn’t feel real, like it genuinely feels like I’m going to wake up alone then start crying because this is all a dream.” Hanamaki sighs as he rests his forehead on your shoulder, not caring if the water is annoyingly running over his eyes in rivers. Honestly, he’s not sure how to fix this or how to make you believe because he can’t believe it’s happening either. Reality has yet to set in for him as well and the fact that the two of you were standing together in your shower with your bare bodies pressed against each other was making it more unbelievable by the second.

“I get it,” he says quietly, “trust me, it’s disorientating. But I promise, this is all real.” A small choke leaves his lungs, like he’s gasping for air, making you glance at the wet man resting on your shoulder. You can’t see the way the his eyes are welling or feel the heat behind them as he’s praying silently to a god he doesn’t believe in that this is his new reality.

Believable or not, happening or not, this moment—this life—was something the two of you had been unintentionally, or intentionally depending on how you looked at it, working towards for a decade and there was no reason not to enjoy and appreciate it while you both had it. Similarly along the lines of “better to have loved then lost” or some other bullshit, you internally mused. But that thought drove you to swallow whatever crumbs of this situation you could get.

“Hey, Hiro,” you turn around cautiously to stare at his slight sunken in eyes, making sure not to make any sudden movements that could potentially startle him. “I love you.” For a moment, he doesn’t respond to you but you know exactly why because it’s the same reason you’ve been so on edge. Hearing you finally say it back, despite being the first one to admit it the previous day, quells the bubbling fear he felt in his chest. His estranged face finally softens, as if he could finally relax because you’re bringing him back to the world. “And we’re being dumb again.” You point out, making Makki flash his teeth weakly in a smile that brings you more warmth than any fire.

“Yeah, you’re right.” The two of you become quiet, though this time the silence doesn’t thicken the tension already in the air, allowing you take in tiny doses of your surroundings. Takahiro Hanamaki was here, in the shower with you, after you blew up at him during practice and confessed your feelings the previous night. And, after ten years of mutual pining and blunt cruises and writing sad songs about each other, the two of you slept together for the first time.

Not exactly the romance you want to sit there are tell your future children about, but it’ll have to do.

“Last night,” you start off slowly as you’re towel drying your hair after the two of you migrated back to your bedroom to get dressed. The mention of the previous evening catches Makki’s attention. “You said that you always want to sing the songs you wrote because they’re about me, right? That Growing Pains is about me?”

“Yeah?”

“What else have you written?” Besides backing vocals for you, he didn’t sing any other songs entirely except for one other song that Kuroo wrote and he sang solely on the fact that “Kuroo doesn’t sing”. Or so he says. Something wasn’t adding up here.

For awhile, he doesn’t say anything as he’s slinking into his ripped jeans and rolling on a thin, black Henley for contrast. Simple, straightforward, and clean much like Hanamaki himself, until he tousles his natural pinky brown locks.

“Ah, don’t ruin the surprise, babe.”

Just what in the fuck is Makki planning?

The two of you head to Terushima’s house in his car, which you learned that he had parked down the street two blocks away as a preemptive measure just in case you tried to blockade him out of your apartment—and yes, you are that dramatic. But at some point in the night, Makki moved his car to the shared driveway of your flat. It feels like home.

Being in the car with Makki, singing along to the same acoustic duets you always listened to, but rather than a blunt in your hands, it’s him—all of it feels like home. The smoke billowing away from your lips as you exhaled and how each breath drove away your worries of whether or not this was reality along with the wisps; throwing French fries at each other after you had stopped at a local drive thru to grab lunch for you and the band. This was real.

The way the calloused pads of his right hand are rubbing over your knuckles while you go back and forth singing and harmonizing melodies, or the way he brings the back of your hand to his lips when a particular line in a song feels relevant to him. The peace and ease that smoothed out the usually present tension his skin and the way his two signature eyebrow rings keep moving up in down because of the myriad of expressions he’s showing you. Even the typical, bruising bags under his eyes seemed a little less pronounced than usual. All of this was real.

There’s a strange sensation in the air when you enter Yūji’s house. Relief? No, that didn’t quite cover it. You tossed three bags of fast food on the kitchen island, both out of courtesy and knowing that probably none of you had a decent meal yet, as you studied the face of your bandmates. Relief was one emotion, but there was a strange, mischievous air to them as well.

Additionally, they didn’t even bat an eyelash at the fact that you and Makki came into the kitchen holding hands. “Alright, you guys are plotting something, I know it.” You deadpan, staring at the three very suspicion men gathered around the dining table with crumbs all loitering their cheeks and chin. But there’s no response or denial—not even a reaction. Not even when Makki lets out a chuckle and presses his lips to your forehead.

Like it didn’t even phase them.

Or like it was just always meant to be this way.

“Looks like you guys are having a good time, am I right?” You ask the rather large audience; larger than normal, anyway. Typically, the four of you would be lucky to see more than thirty people gathered at one of your shows. Tonight, the turnout almost packed the venue, even with small bodies pushing up against the barricade that separated the stage. Among the crowd, of course, was Momoka and the two other girlfriends. Apparently someone who shall not be named, Takahiro Hanamaki, forgot to tell her even a semblance of the events that occurred within the last twenty-four hours. Like, the fact that you and Makki confessed to each other and fucked last night.

Oh well. You had faith that Makki would rectify the situation after the show and you would be lying to yourself if you said that the mere thought of him dumping her caused excitement to pump through your veins.

After playing Love Bites, the fourth song in the set, you always had to give a brief intermission so that Kuroo could switch from his signature Stratocaster to his prized acoustic guitar—a gift you’d gotten him after he had gotten his own promotion at the coffee shop years ago. You’re pacing around the stage as the transition goes on, occasionally waving to audience members and saying hi. Part of you has the passing thought to wave to Momoka and the others, but it’s a passing thought that is interrupted with an astute ‘fuck you’ before continuing with your theatrical monologue. “We’re gonna slow it down just a little bit. This next song—“

“Actually, [name], I have an announcement to make.” Your head snapped so fast that it could have given you whiplash. Your bassist who is now adjusting Kuroo’s most prized possession over his long torso, is slightly hunching over his own microphone stand as he speaks, giving the guitar a couple strums, before his eyes move from you towards your rambunctious audience. “So this next song was something I wrote for someone special and,” the strawberry-brunette squints just a tad, holding his hand over his head to filter out light before he finds who he’s looking for, “no, Momoka, it’s not for you. We’re done.”

Your mind is blank. Well, except for the reverberating internal chant of ‘what the fuck’ before Makki interrupts your thoughts from going any further.

“I wrote this song for our lovely vocalist and I hope that you guys have someone special with you tonight so that you can share this moment with them too.” Without saying anything further, Hanamaki begins strumming the familiar rhythm to one of the few acoustics songs in your set. Kuroo, who normally played it every other night of the week, was holding a tambourine that was dwarfed by his large ink-covered hands, smacking the instrument into the heel of his other as he kept tempo with Makki. For now, you were going to ignore the fact that Kuroo had apparently stolen one of your jobs for the track. Somewhere in the background, Terushima is only hitting his bass drum with his foot to keep the impromptu guitarist in check, simultaneously leading the crowd interaction.

I’ll paint you a picture with words, “I miss her”

That left you to simply receive whatever the hell was happening right now. Oh shit.

How were you supposed to focus on singing a song dedicated to you when you were two busy watching the way Makki’s veins and vocal chords struggled underneath the skin of his neck as he sang to you? Or that twinkle in his shale colored eyes that gleamed in a way that made it seem like this were a conversation between the two of you, rather than a performance? Vaguely buzzing in the ambience, you can hear the clapping of the audience as they swayed back and forth. Some of them holding up their phones and lighters to add warmth to the moment, some were kissing lovers they had attended the show with. But the only thing that you could see right now was the soft, yellow stage light illuminating Hanamaki’s gaunt frame as he smiled brightly.

I’ll move on and forget you We could never see eye to eye

You could cry, were it not for you fighting every fiber of your being from doing so. The bassist to your left gestures with his head for you to step closer to him as he approaches the chorus. And while you did make hesitant steps towards him, occasionally remembering to chime in with your backing vocals, Makki continued making the gesture until you were as close as the two microphones you both had would allow without feedback disrupting the sound. While he’s still hunching over his own and strumming away at Kuroo’s guitar, his profile is to the audience as he locks eyes with yours. The audience isn’t even there anymore—it’s just the two of you.

Don’t let me go down this road again

The telepathic link that you believe was once long severed is reconnected with every vibration of strings and chords, with every letter that passes his teeth. His words, Makki’s words, were threaded and earnestly laced with honesty and love and it was the most overwhelming feeling you’d ever experienced. You swear your voice cracked at some point when you tried to back him and Makki only confirmed it with a soft snort accompanying his vocals.

If only I could find the words or muster up the nerve to tell her I’ll never forget her and she’ll always have a part of me

The bridge was coming rapidly as the two of you were met with one more repeat of the chorus. The bridge was born of delicate single string plucks and a crescendo of cymbal rolls and harmonies that diverged into yours and Makki’s parts in both perspective, skill, and personal story. It should have been a dead giveaway, really, when you first heard this song that he had written it for you with the way these verses were coordinated. But you were so far in denial that you may as well have been born and raised in Africa.

Now all I can do is lay in my room, fall asleep, dream of you Then wake up and do nothing about it

Sometimes you easily forget just how creative the strawberry-brunette could be. The way he curated the end of this song was a masterpiece that only someone of his caliber and twisted mind could create. Not just in the way he wrote the track, either, but the way he has the two of you telling a story to your audience and to each other and the way he ties it up neatly like a Christmas present—it meant even more now that you knew it was for you.

I fell for a boy who could never ever let me walk home that way Cause you gotta be safe

The way he created the only song in the entire setlist that highlighted the more delicate tones of your vocal range, as opposed to your brash tune from previous tracks.

She hates it when I shout these words but I’ll still for you So hold back your views, we’re both leaving soon

The way he tells you he will always be there.

I can’t fall back on you I’ll still sing for you

The way he tells he loves you has always been right in front of your face.

I’ll still sing for you

The way his hand gingerly cups your cheek, his words trailing off and the way his lips press to yours despite the environment, affectively knocking down the last of your resolve and letting a single tear fall from your eye.

[ Growing Pains « A Part of Me » Still Into You ]

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moonlightwinterdxxix · 5 years ago

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Lullabies of the Eldest Brother

An Osomatsu-san/kun 2020 birthday special, inspired by Takahiro Sakurai’s (Osomatsu’s VA) renditions of ‘Lalalu’ and ‘When You Wish Upon a Star’. You can find the covers on Youtube.

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At a young age, Karamatsu Matsuno had learned the art of theatre, and it was common to overhear him singing around the house when he was alone. Might one of his brothers be playing with some toys, having a game of baseball, or snacking on something without Matsuyo’s knowledge, once Karamatsu enters his mood, everyone would have a chance to hear him from wherever room he was in. And due to his status as a theatre kid, it became automatic that the vocals drifting in the wind had a pleasant quality, a peaceful tonality, and a kind aura that served as some sort of gentle lullaby.

And that made the sextuplets happy to call him their brother.

But there was more in the intentions of his older brother Osomatsu.

Unlike Karamatsu who had his entire objectives set on presenting a captivating performance for the school play, Osomatsu had secretly tried testing his singing voice in the toilet, where his voice could perfectly bounce off the walls, and where he would have privacy, absent from the plausible laughter he was going to receive at his off-notes and fault-of-puberty voice cracks from his brothers. But Karamatsu’s influence had flooded inside him, and it came with being a child, to want to be more, to want having competition with his brothers to prove that he earned the position of eldest. And how was he supposed to do that, when he was the one who couldn’t sing?

He began his practices silently, almost whispering the words of the songs he had become familiar with when Karamatsu belted them out. And as he whispered the words to himself, he always had a reason to flush in humiliation, almost cry, for how stupid he was, to get so many notes wrong even if he was muttering. It was to the point that he was almost cursing himself for being an untalented brat, too focused on causing havoc for their parents and Iyami and Chibita.

But as the days and nights went on, Osomatsu slowly found himself improving, his notes reaching their proper octaves, his voice less quivery than when he began. He imagined the sound emitted once a finger presses on the keys of a piano, when guitar strings are strummed, and tried to let the beat of it take his singing to where it needed to go as he tapped his hand over his baby-blue pants.

In the quiet of the toilet, he would face the mirror, watch how his expression followed the words of the songs. Karamatsu, a master of acting at ten-years old, was familiar with all the expressions needed to form realistic dramatizations, things Osomatsu barely knew. But for a beginner, a self-taught one, all he did was picture that the face staring back at him was Karamatsu’s, and that wasn’t too difficult for him. He tried recreating Karamatsu for the actions he had when he was on stage, getting into the character before breaking out into the most believable dialogue one could imagine. But Osomatsu didn’t have that skill set.

He stuck with singing.

And kept getting better. More confidence seeped into him the more he let his voice echo in the four corners of the bathroom, growing louder and louder and stronger and stronger until he was certain that he wouldn’t let his parents down anymore with another C-. He found his singing prowess increasing with each stanza he sung, the chords audible in his voice, and the acapella satisfying enough that he had to shout out happily with a fist in the air when he finished singing. Jyushimatsu had shouted for him to quiet down from the opposite side of the house. Would he have said the same if he heard what Osomatsu had been doing prior?

Probably not, and Jyushimatsu definitely didn’t say anything when Osomatsu first showed what he had learned when they had music class again. One by one, the students were tasked to sing the national anthem by group. For this, the sextuplets were intentionally split apart, so it gave Osomatsu that golden opportunity to watch their faces when he first presented his practices. And it was worth it, as when his portion for their group’s rendition came, it took all his effort not to laugh, especially at Choromatsu, who had the face saying, We’re a team, we tell each other everything. Why didn’t you tell me that you can sing so well?

He didn’t. That day, Osomatsu had surprised himself as well. It was the first time that he had heard himself in this specific volume, dominating over the nervous energy he was releasing before they presented. When they were done, his group along with the group containing Karamatsu got the highest scores, stunning the remaining four of the sextuplets until they were repeatedly bugging Osomatsu during the entirety of their lunch break, including Jyushimatsu.

After that, Karamatsu had requested that Osomatsu help him while he practiced some of the songs required for the musical. Brightly, Osomatsu obliged, and the two of them would spend hours in the shared bedroom running through the lines of the second-born, Osomatsu reading through the dialogues and lyrics in the script for Karamatsu to bounce back from. At the end of one of their sessions, Karamatsu had wiped his sweaty forehead saying, “Wow, Osomatsu! When did you learn to sing like that? Maybe I can learn some tips from you too!”

Osomatsu shrugged, flustered. “Oh, it’s nothing really. But thanks for the compliment. I appreciate it.”

“You know what’s better, Osomatsu?” Karamatsu reached into the back of his pants, maliciously pulling out their father’s phone from his back pocket. “I snagged this from Dad while he was snoozing in the living room. And these too.” From his pocket, he had pulled out a pair of earphones, familiar as Matsuyo uses them while washing their dishes. “How about we listen to the original movie renditions of the songs and try singing along to them? That way, it’s like practicing with the instruments. Then we can search-up a karaoke or instrumental version. Whaddaya think?”

“Yeah! Let’s do it!”

They would lock the door, ignore if Choromatsu, Todomatsu, or the others tried bothering them, and hum and sing along for another hour or longer. Then when their vocal chords are completely tired out, that was when they would go out with their respective pairs—Karamatsu with Todomatsu and Osomatsu with Choromatsu—to play games on the streets and bug their friends. This was how it was for a long time.

Then Karamatsu and Jyushimatsu had a fight. Ten years-old, but the shouting created between the two were like adults, and the sextuplets began taking sides on the matter as the argument grew and ripped them apart. Osomatsu remembered being in such a tight space, being forced by Choromatsu to take Jyushimatsu’s side even when he felt that it was Karamatsu who was right. Osomatsu’s action opened up a field of betrayal between the two oldest Matsuno brothers, resulting in the end of private toilet practices after that. It was terrible. Osomatsu and his brothers all reported to school without looking at one another, going off with whoever they wanted except each other. Choromatsu had been cheerful, saying to his oldest brother, “What’s wrong? It’s fine, you did the right choice.”

If that was the case, then how come Karamatsu had been so emotional during his rehearsal that day, when Osomatsu chose to sneak a peek at what was going on inside the Akatsuka Elementary School’s theatre room? It was as if his brokenness was real, that he really did have a shattered heart, and that he was at one of his lowest points. He was. Osomatsu had been a part of it, and he blamed himself for his childish stupidity and insensitivity.

They did reconcile, all of them, but Osomatsu no longer had the heart to walk up to Karamatsu with a cheery “Let’s practice your lines together” smile. They became close again, but he never tried, never even attempted to. And it wasn’t because he was too used to the songs and had grown bored of them, but because he felt that there was a permanent tear through his relationship with Karamatsu, and to him, travelling close to that rip did nothing but open up sealed wounds. He didn’t want to risk that happening.

He didn’t try singing with Karamatsu again after that.

But he had been very happy when the day of the presentation came. Often enough, he and Choromatsu had to scold Ichimatsu and Todomatsu each time they stood up to play I-Spy on the stage, but it was a mirthful little thing that lit sparks up in Osomatsu’s heart. When Karamatsu finished the play with their schoolmates, the entire theatre was on its feet to applaud them, others tossing flowers onto the stage. It didn’t take long until they realized that Todomatsu was no longer next to them, as he had run off towards the stage enveloping Karamatsu in a huge hug when they were under the shades of the red curtains. The celebrations that night were memorable, and the sextuplets were at their best again after what seemed like ages.

Osomatsu still didn’t sing.

Until one night.

It was just after a few months had passed. And that night, it was a stormy night. The rain pummeled down on the roof of the Matsuno household like a billion furious drums, thunder rumbled in the distance like a demon that had broken out from centuries locked in chains. Lightning flashed the room from its blue and black hues into blinding whites, setting off the impression that the house was struck somewhere and a fire was to begin in any second. And the clattering of the wind against metal, it was disturbing. Terrifying. Like a hundred footsteps of ruthless burglars against the shingles of their roof, like ghostly duplicates of a specific lodger hiding before jumping out of the shadows to send a stab to their chests. It was that kind of night, haunting and loud, full of all the noises one could imagine in a nightmare.

And that night, Karamatsu was sick. It was good for them that the presentation was already concluded when this happened, for his hoarse throat stopped him from singing and speaking for a long time. His nose was runny, his face was pale, and he was coming down with a slight fever. Matsuyo and Matsuzo had as one decided to make him stay in bed that day, even when he wanted out to play alongside his brothers. Todomatsu suggested staying with him, but their parents couldn’t let him get Karamatsu’s sickness. They kept the other boys out of the room the entire time.

On the other hand, Osomatsu had been tired that day. He had a long round of baseball, having scored several home runs out of his successful bats. He was lucky, for sure, having the pride to mock and tease his brothers each time his team won a round. It was supposedly the older three against the younger three brothers, but since Karamatsu was absent, then the stakes for winning by the elder two weren’t supposed to be so high. But they won, multiple times, so Ichimatsu, Jyushimatsu, and Todomatsu weren’t so happy about that. But either way, Osomatsu got tired after the entire afternoon of intense physical activity, and was ready to end his day with a bang, prepared to collapse on his futon and have a long night of pleasant dreams filled with Totoko and himself.

But then there was a bang. Cruel thunder like the demon unleashed. Then it was lightning striking against something in the distance, somewhere in Akatsuka Ward, and the commotion of its screeching and the light bouncing in reply resulted in a horrified, shriek from Todomatsu. The youngest was against the wall in a cower when Osomatsu and the rest got up, partly startled but mostly concerned for the youngest of their family.

“Todomatsu!” Of course, it was Karamatsu to first have a vocal reaction as he got up from his futon and went straight to his trembling youngest brother. Sickness wasn’t going to stop him if one of his siblings weren’t in high spirits—it wasn’t part of his character. “It was just the lightning. Don’t be scared, we’re all okay.” He coughed a bit before he continued. “You’ll be fine. C’mon, lie down. Just close your eyes. Picture your happy place.”

Todomatsu shook his head, which had his hands plastered over either side of his ears. His lips shook, his body hunched, and he buried his head between his knees, drawn up to his chin. “I can’t…! It’s so loud and scary…! And the dark’s just horrifying...! Wh-What if the lightning reaches me? I don’t want to die!” His voice was quivering, thick with upcoming tears.

“You can’t die!” Ichimatsu supplied, more puzzled than concerned at this point. “It’s me and Choromatsu closest to the window, so if anyone’s dying first it’d be us, right?”

Everyone else turned towards Ichimatsu, unamused. At first Ichimatsu looked dubious as to why they were staring at him that way, but he quickly got the gist of it the moment Todomatsu began to cry. It accompanied the rain outside, added sound to what would’ve been a quiet room, and butchered the mood until it was everything but peasant. It wasn’t a good sign when Todomatsu was crying.

No matter the seconds separating their age gap, the youngest still had the tendency to scare himself the most, easily crying over spilled ice cream, or when he gets scolded by their parents. And to Todomatsu, that was something he felt embarrassed about. He was ashamed of that part of himself, his ‘inability to grow up’, in his own words. How much of a child he could still be behind the scenes, even when he was almost as much as a copy of his older brothers. Osomatsu had heard Todomatsu mention so once, when the youngest boy had involved himself in a little quarrel with Ichimatsu and was muttering alone in their room.

And his shame was visible tonight like in the other nights as he tried to turn away from them, his hands swiping aggressively at his eyes, but his wet hiccups proving otherwise. Ichimatsu was sent a glare by Jyushimatsu as Karamatsu sighed, trying his best with soothing words to calm their little brother down, having a hard time doing it without touching him. But as the sound of the rain strengthened and the ticks of the clock resumed, it was obvious that Karamatsu wasn’t going to be successful anytime soon, especially not when the thunder resumed its rumbling and the lightning continued its strikes.

Thunder crashed. Todomatsu flinched, ducking his head between his knees as his sobs tore out, a wailing sound that broke their hearts. But nobody had the strength to move, not when they weren’t sure what to do in that type of situation. None of the Matsunos were particularly good in offering comfort, and with Karamatsu himself trying his best, there was nothing the others could do.

“Oh, Todomatsu,” Karamatsu sighed, slumping down on his knees. He so desperately wanted to reach out his hands to run them through Todomatsu’s hair, but his illness told him to do otherwise. It was obvious how hard Karamatsu was trying to restrain himself. “I wish I could hug you. I want to sing you a lullaby if I could, but…” He broke into a coughing fit, and he turned his head away, coughing into a fist. He didn’t need to finish his sentence after that.

Choromatsu blew out a breath, taking his blanket off him. The light of the outside cast his shoulders and hair-tips in white light. “How about you come here? Maybe I can help you, rock you or something.” He sounded hesitant, but it was better he spoke up than no one else offering anything.

Todomatsu sniffed, taking the idea into consideration. He managed to get on his knees, moving forward on them and passing Karamatsu, when thunder and lightning made another massive collaboration. Todomatsu screamed yet again before burying his face into the chest closest to him: Osomatsu. Osomatsu immediately felt his body rattling where Todomatsu was pressed against it, felt the little one’s tears soaking his clothes as his terrified sobs filled the room. And as thunder moaned again, Todomatsu’s grip went tighter, more firm, but at the same time unstable. Fearful.

Osomatsu went still, completely caught off-guard by the sudden attention sent to him. He might be the oldest, but he was also almost the biggest troublemaker. If any one of them were to be able to offer the least effort in calming their little brother, it would be him. But the situation all came down to this, to Todomatsu’s initial reaction to grab onto the oldest, wishing for someone to hold on to in the midst of terror.

Awkwardly, Osomatsu wrapped his arms around Todomatsu’s body, one almost completely like his, from its structure, to the genes making it, to the blood flowing under its skin. It racked, throbbed under his stable arms, and it was as if they weren’t sextuplets anymore. To Osomatsu, it was like being an older brother to a baby, so horrified by everything that it couldn’t do anything but call for someone to grasp. Someone they respected, and someone that they know will save them from their agony. Osomatsu was that in this moment, youth clinging onto him so tightly, and his instincts kicked in, like they should.

He did what Karamatsu can’t do, running his fingers through Todomatsu’s hair, matted with sweat despite the cool temperature inside the room. Todomatsu tensed at the action, relaxing slightly in Osomatsu’s grip, his fingers losing their weight against his sleeves. His sobbing subsided until they were whimpers, and the heaviness pressed against Osomatsu’s chest decreased as Todomatsu pulled away ever-so-slightly, his wet cheek the only thing now against Osomatsu’s heartbeat.

No one else spoke, only watched the oldest and youngest in silence.

Thunder and lightning sounded.

Todomatsu’s fingers curled.

“Nope, that’s not necessary,” Osomatsu soothed, lightly resting the bridge of his nose to Todomatsu’s hairline. “Onii’s got you. Don’t be afraid. As long as we’re together, there’s nothing that can take us alive.” He adjusted his position so that both of them could be more comfortable, and like Choromatsu mentioned, began rocking. Back and forth. Slowly.

With a light chuckle, Osomatsu said, “Wow. This feels nice. I know we’re too old for this stuff, but don’t you like this? It makes me all warm and fuzzy, it’s like the bad things are going away.”

Todomatsu’s voice was breathy. “I think s-so. “B-But I still hear the rain, a-and it sounds so—”

“Shh…” Osomatsu adjusted Todomatsu’s head against his chest, where his heart thumped in a steady rhythm, a slow lullaby. Then not knowing what had come over him or how the inspiration reached his mind, Osomatsu hummed quietly, trying not to let the other hear the melody Karamatsu had been so busy perfecting over the last few months in preparation for his play. He still wasn’t compelled to sing, but the humming was working rather splendidly, calming the hitches of the sixth son, and the harshness that whitened his knuckles.

And Osomatsu felt the familiarity of the song overwhelm him, an old longing he had not so long ago, and a wave of nostalgia washing over him at the tune he was oh so familiar with. He didn’t even know he had developed such a connection to it until he was hearing it again, the melody diminishing as well the fight with Karamatsu that had halted his love for musicality in the first place. The melody came out, brushing against Todomatsu’s ears, and for Osomatsu, he felt so much older. He couldn’t say why, but maybe it was because this moment treated Todomatsu like he was so much younger.

When Osomatsu was at the chorus of the song, Todomatsu looked up, eyes watery but expectant. “Can you sing the song, Osomatsu?” he requested.

“Hm?” Osomatsu laughed lightheartedly. “I’m humming for you, aren’t I?”

Todomatsu shook his head. “No, Osomatsu. Sing. Like, actually sing the song with words instead of humming it.” More thunder, and Todomatsu gripped his shirt harder again.

But Osomatsu’s cheeks colored in surprise, completely appalled by the suggestion. “Eh? No-no-no, I can’t do that. I barely know the words of it, a-and it’s Karamatsu that’s—”

“You know the words—what are you talking about?” Karamatsu interrupted, a smile spreading over his pale face. Apparently he had heard it, as well as Osomatsu’s feeble attempt at a lie. “And I’m sick. I need a substitute, and who could do that better than everyone’s Onii-chan?”

Osomatsu shook his head. He didn’t want to, and it was getting harder to grasp that this was the situation that was happening. What was so wrong about wanting to get some sleep after a long day of baseball? “I can’t, I really can’t. C’mon, guys. We all know that.”

“Can I hear it too?” Jyushimatsu asked, coming closer to them with Ichimatsu and Choromatsu, the former fascinated and the latter intrigued. Soon everyone was surrounding Osomatsu and Todomatsu, leaning around in a circle in anticipation to hear the first-born sing a song to drown out the storm. “Please, Osomatsu?” Jyushimatsu begged.

“Yeah, just one night!” Ichimatsu added.

“Then we won’t bug you to do it again,” Choromatsu supplied.

“Just this once. Please, Osomatsu-niisan?” Todomatsu finished.

Osomatsu took a moment to decide. The guilt trapped inside him wasn’t a comfortable feeling, but he remained uncertain if letting it out was the best way to get rid of it. Let it out in a sense that what gave him guilt was brought forth for them to remember, for them to recall the rift that had ruined part of their relationship as brothers. For the longest time, it was what Osomatsu didn’t want to happen, but this moment here, with five pairs of eyes like his looking at him with the same levels of expectancy, it was difficult to say no. And with even Karamatsu there, a second-oldest waiting for the lullaby of his only older brother…

What to do?

Osomatsu flushed again, hoping the darkness hid it well. He leaned forward, almost cloaking his face behind Todomatsu’s hair, and Osomatsu was almost a breath away from Todomatsu’s ear. Then aware again that there were four more heads lingering, Osomatsu straightened up as best as he could again, lowering his gaze into Todomatsu’s hands, firm against his arms. Osomatsu signed. Both shame and shyness darted back and forth inside him like a stray ping-pong ball, but Osomatsu tried to ignore it as he let a whisper of the song pass through his partially-parted lips.

“La-la-lu, la-la-lu, oh, my little star-sweeper~”

Todomatsu’s lips slightly curled up, and he pressed his head gently over Osomatsu’s collarbone. Tear tracks remained plastered on his cheeks, but it was obvious that none were to be coming out again any soon. And as Todomatsu relaxed, so did the others. Ichimatsu crept closer, nestling his head on Osomatsu’s thigh and shutting his eyes as Jyushimatsu followed, resting his chin over Ichimatsu’s shoulder. Choromatsu went to the other side of them, lowering his head onto Todomatsu’s arm as softly as he could. And Osomatsu stiffened at the unexpected bundle of his brothers surrounding him that his singing stopped.

Karamatsu smirked at him. “Why are you stopping? They obviously want you to continue.”

Osomatsu looked down at them, at the peaceful boys so free from the terror of the storm, only because of the coziness that escaped from the protection of their oldest brother. Maybe he should, he decided, if he wanted them to remain in this state as the horror of the weather continued its rampage towards those who lacked the walls of solace that Osomatsu gave them. And this was perhaps, the way that his guilt could leave them alone, by getting over it and moving on, using it as a way to step further from the past.

That might be it. So as Osomatsu smiled back at Karamatsu, he used a free arm to reach out towards a blanket, pulling it over Ichimatsu and Jyushimatsu as the two waited again with soft smiles and closed eyes. Osomatsu opened his mouth again:

“La-la-lu, la-la-lu, oh my little star sweeper, I’ll sweep the stardust for you~ La-la-lu, la-la-lu, little soft fluffy sleeper, Here comes a pink cloud for you~”

As Osomatsu hummed, Karamatsu began moving, grabbing another blanket and draping it over Choromatsu and Todomatsu before pulling out another one for himself as he positioned his head by Choromatsu’s hips. He put his arms together, trying not to touch them, still cautious with his light fever. Then he closed his eyes too, as eager as the rest to hear Osomatsu sing them their lullaby and close out the terrors of the storm.

And to this, Osomatsu obliged, his lost confidence coming back, and he smiled softly as he rubbed the heads of his little brothers one by one, singing.

“La-la-lu, la-la-lu, little wandering angel, Fold up your wings, close your eyes~ La-la-lu, la-la-lu, and may love be your keeper, La-la-lu, la-la-lu, la-la-lu~”

Later, Matsuyo and Matsuzo had to help get all the boys back to their respective futons and assist Osomatsu after his entire body went numb. But to Osomatsu, it was all worth it.

--- --- ---

“Oi, Ichimatsu, this is all your fault!”

“HUH?!!”

“You’re the one who volunteered to babysit this stupid baby!”

“SO?! I didn’t know the cons in doing it would be so hard, Fappymatsu!”

“Well look at where we are now!”

Even if he wasn’t Ichimatsu, Osomatsu looked. And on a normal day of their NEET life, he would have laughed because of how common and uncommon it was at the same time. Common, in the sense that their room was a complete mess, and uncommon in the sense that it was baby food, diapers, powder, and more coating every inch of the area. Their couch was an indescribable mangle of mysterious yellows and browns that were certainly meant for a restroom. The bookshelf was dusty with baby powder, covering up almost all the books there that they were all lookalikes. And the floor…The floor wasn’t pleasant either.

Who knew how much of incompetent NEETs they were, to be so quick to ruin the day. Babysitting isn’t exactly a difficult thing if you knew what to do, but for the sextuplets, they were clearly oblivious. But it wasn’t exactly Ichimatsu to blame for the scenario either. He did bring in the suggestion to look after the child for a couple that he had befriended over Christmas, but it was the fault for everyone else for taking on the challenge. Osomatsu knew up the bat that it wasn’t going to end well, so he excluded himself from the discussion and went straight to the horse races while they decided on it.

He wasn’t surprised upon arriving home that late afternoon.

It wasn’t even an ugly baby. Its face had the features of both its parents, with its starting hair strands the color of its mother’s hair, and eyes the same brown color as its father. And its top was a nice, Celeste hue. But none of that seemed to be applicable in terms of cuteness, not as its presence itself drove the last five members of the Matsuno household crazy.

And as his brothers strangled each other, obviously players in the blame game, Osomatsu had chosen to isolate himself from them on the roof with a very immature and inappropriate manga. He found his nose bleeding multiple times as pictures showed a bit more than an average lady in a bikini, and Osomatsu wished to identify Totoko with a pair of magnifying glasses in order to take a peek at her if she had an open window at the ready. Too bad they weren’t equipped with such an expensive item.

It wasn’t until a few minutes later did he find the urge to return inside the room, finding the baby pulling out Karamatsu’s hair and the others trying to stop him from doing so, except Ichimatsu who had Todomatsu’s phone and was busy snapping pictures of it. Karamatsu looked exactly like a rope would at a tug of war, the only difference that he was a human and that the opposing team had only one player: Todomatsu at his feet. Choromatsu and Jyushimatsu were too concerned about removing the baby from the blue-clothed boy’s hair.

Osomatsu stood watch for more than a few seconds when he approached, having enough of hearing his brother’s agonized wailing. He had stepped in front of them when Todomatsu said, “We’ve got it, Osomatsu-niisan. You don’t need to help.” He exhaled, pulling harder, and Karamatsu began screaming again.

“OW-OW-OW-OW—TODOMATSU!!!”

“NIISAN!!!” Jyushimatsu cried, pulling harder.

“I think help’s all you need,” Osomatsu commented, pointing. Karamatsu’s scalp didn’t look like it was going to last long. For a baby, this one was pretty strong. How his little hands could remain attached for so long with three people trying to stop him was another miracle of living in Akatsuka Ward.

“We’re fine. Don’t do anything stupid,” Choromatsu had added, backing Todomatsu up. But as they heaved harder, Todomatsu’s grip on Karamatsu’s feet slipped, and Karamatsu’s sock sailed off to the other side of the room as everyone buckled down. The baby let go of Karamatsu’s head, and was now safe in Jyushimatsu’s hands as Karamatsu lurched forward, massaging his head. His hair was as messy as Ichimatsu’s.

And speaking of Ichimatsu, Ichimatsu said, “If only we could post this on the internet…” He snickered maniacally, like the villain that he was.

Osomatsu chuckled himself, sticking his hands in the pocket of his red hoodie as he browsed over the mess he called his brothers in front of him. “Look at you, so pathetic. What even made you think you can handle taking care of a baby?”

Choromatsu huffed. “We want to get paid, Osomatsu-niisan. And once we’re done with this, none of the payment will be split for you. You haven’t done anything since you got here.”

Slyly, Osomatsu shrugged. “Eh. I kinda thought I wasn’t pleasant company. I didn’t think it really mattered.”

“Yeah,” Todomatsu agreed, surprising Osomatsu. “Has he even touched a baby before? I’d think all the babies he’s ever touched just cried upon contact.”

“Hey! He hasn’t seemed to have smiled at all either,” Osomatsu said, looking at the baby. It was sucking up its thumb, eyes pinned on Karamatsu as he fixed his hair in front of a hand mirror. The baby wasn’t smiling in the slightest, merely fixated on whatever kind of madness it would’ve cursed them with might he managed to hold onto Karamatsu a little longer. “Now that you mention it, I don’t think I’ve seen him smile or laugh the whole time I was here too. What have you even done with him already?”

“We’ve fed him!” Jyushimatsu brightly answered, sitting up as he held the baby in his arms. He bounced the baby, but it didn’t emit the usual reaction one would have when Jyushimatsu held it. And that on its own was a very odd thing. “But that didn’t end so well. We gave him milk, but that didn’t go so well either. We tried changing his diapers, but—”

“Let me guess—it didn’t go too well too,” Osomatsu guessed, smirking in derision.

Karamatsu snapped his fingers before sending them towards Osomatsu’s direction as a finger-gun. “Bingo.”

“Then what would you tell his parents?” Osomatsu asked, putting his weight on his left leg as he tilted his head curiously. “And how would you explain the mess of our room? If they see this, then I don’t think you guys will earn anything too high from them. You’d still be as poor as me when it comes to the greens of our wallets.” He had lost quite the amount today at the tracks, but if his brothers messed-up this process, there was no doubt that the money they would get to what was left of his wouldn’t even be doubled. “Want some help? I could grab ya’ll something from the shop. Maybe more milk.”

Choromatsu turned red. “We don’t have money to buy milk,” he admitted sourly.

Osomatsu laughed, the only one with the ability to do so, when Jyushimatsu began having trouble as the baby began climbing up his arm. “Then I guess you should start by giving him something to play with,” Osomatsu said. “If he likes Karamatsu’s hair so much, you should give him a wig or something. You’ve got one, don’t you, Totty? You used it to dress up like a chick once, when we needed to audition in order for you to invite us to the mixer. Just give that to the baby so you can start cleaning up or whatever.”

“Are you serious? Ugh, I’m not giving away that wig,” Todomatsu grouched, cringing. “Do you have any idea how much that costed? Besides, as if I’d give away something as special like that for the sake of a dumb baby’s entertainment.” He shot the child a sharp glare, as piercing as an arsenal of knives.

Osomatsu scratched his head. “You don’t even use that thing anymore,” he said.

“I don’t care.”

“Then what about its diapers?” Osomatsu gestured to the baby, which wasn’t wearing any, and was a bit too exposed than needed. It was a miracle Jyushimatsu’s long sleeves were still clean, unlike Karamatsu’s, whose arms were literally messed with what Osomatsu didn’t want to mention. He cringed greatly just at the sight of it, and he pitied his brothers for their unfortunate luck. “Don’t you think you can get him still enough for one of you to slip those on him? There are freaking five of you, come on.”

“As if I’m touching his ass,” Todomatsu growled, crossing his arms. “And there’s no way anyone would persuade me to hold on to him for even a second. Just imagining holding the arm of a farting toddler while my brother changes his diapers… Shoot! That’s sickening, holy jeez!” He turned away, making a belting sound that was too close to what might’ve been actual vomiting.

Osomatsu rubbed his nose, getting peeved. “Then what about his food? Or his milk? Ichimatsu, surely his parents gave you something to feed him, right? And gave you instructions on how to sit him straight on a baby chair, or even the dining table! Didn’t you do the choo-choo train with him? I’m sure that usually works with kids.”

“Choo-choo train?” Ichimatsu looked down, thinking. “Ah, sorry. I think I got too distracted thinking about getting hit by one than using it as a method for feeding him. My bad.”

Exasperated, Osomatsu’s head dropped. “Cod, you’ve got to be joking—you guys! It’s a baby! Why are you all having such a hard time with him? There are five of you, one of him, and you’re all seven times his size! If you wanted, I might offer you a little assistance if you wanted—”

“It’s fine, Osomatsu,” Karamatsu said, standing up and putting down the mirror. He looked better, at least, though his hair was still pretty matted. “We’ve got this under control. If you want to do something else, then we would be glad if you did so. You do not have to bother yourself with the complications we have given ourselves. Please. If you want to resume reading your manga, or decide to visit Pachinko, then you may. We’d be glad to let you go and release you from any sort of struggle we have plagued ourselves with.”

Osomatsu snorted. “I love how you call the baby a ‘complication’ and a ‘struggle’.” He sighed, walking over to the couch to take a seat on it, but thought otherwise upon seeing something yellow staining it. And its scent wasn’t at all nice, the aroma a sickening thing that made Osomatsu want to throw up. He turned back to his brothers. “Are you sure you don’t want any help? Because, what if that’s what I wanted to do? What if I wanted to help you? Would you let me do that?”

“You really don’t have to, niisan,” Jyushimatsu said, but it was a mystery if he meant it. The baby was at his back now, with one of his legs hooked around Jyushimatsu’s armpit to keep him from falling. Jyushimatsu was having a hard time maintaining his balance, but tried his best before the baby could fall. He had an arm stretched out behind him, serving as some kind of catcher. But with the way the baby was interested in studying the back of Jyushimatsu’s shorts, it was going to be a while before that outstretched arm was to be useful.

“Look at him.” Osomatsu gestured to Jyushimatsu and the baby. “He’s troubling himself. At least let me get it off him and set it down on a chair.”

It was Choromatsu’s turn to snort, but it was sarcastic and humorless. “As if. I don’t think you’ll be much help in this, Osomatsu-niisan. You’d scream like a girl once it bites your fingers.”

“Yeah. And knowing you, you might just make it worse,” Todomatsu agreed, bobbing his head.

Osomatsu spread out his hands. “How would I make it worse? You literally have pee and poop on the couch! Do you think I’m that much of a black cat to ruin it more?! What, am I some sort of psychopath that would crash all your plans?!”

“You could be,” Ichimatsu replied.

He sighed. He should have expected this, like normal. “Well fine. Be that way.” Osomatsu faced away, going over to the manga he had set down on their windowsill. “I’ll be on the roof. Don’t call me if you need anything, since you’re all so good already.”

He went straight and climbed out of the window, going directly to the roof and settling himself there. He didn’t hear when Jyushimatsu attempted to call out for him, only hearing the wind as it struck against his face. He felt the sensation of upcoming rain, based on the temperature and the grayness of the sky. Such a shame that it diminished what might’ve been a beautiful dusk, but this wasn’t bad. And it was a good idea to read here in peace while that wasn’t the case yet.

He opened his manga, began browsing through the right-to-left frames on the page, ignoring the constant yelling coming from his room, and the occasional shatter of glass. He kept reading in the lovely, chill air of the weather, his mind filling with images of bedroom scenes with tongues sliding too aggressively. Osomatsu grinned, savoring the inappropriate scenes with each page he flipped to, until he was completely distracted from the randomness escalating from the bedroom. He lived his seconds here on the roof, doing what he wanted, not wanting to worry about his NEETy baby brothers and their brimming pride.

Minutes passed, then an hour. Osomatsu felt incredibly relaxed, and he came to think why he didn’t do this activity very often. It had to be a result of the weather, he thought, since a cool temperature acted well enough as some sort of variable to improve his entity. He liked how the wind seeped into his sleeves, ruffled his hair, and kissed the skin slightly peeking out from between his pants and his socks. He enjoyed not having to worry about his debts, the money he had lost, and the responsibilities he assigned to himself as their big brother. The time he spent on this roof with that peace was extraordinary, and it was difficult imagining a life without it.

But at some point, the beginning stages of a downpour began, and tiny drops of rain pelted against his head, rolling down his face until the realization of the starting drizzle hit him. He looked up from the novel, watching the silver skies above him with its thin streaks of the rain, coming down slowly over the rooftops of a few of Akatsuka Ward’s buildings. It was nice, Osomatsu thought, to see a place under the mists of the sprinkle, bathing in a gentle stroke before it turned into a full-on shower. And it was fun to get drenched, Osomatsu thoughtfully added.

He pulled on his hoodie and slipped the manga inside it until it was hidden from the rain. And just in time too, as the redness of his top went redder as it was splotched with small circles. Osomatsu felt the droplets ooze through the cloth, dampening his skin underneath, and it tickled him, causing a cute smile to spread over his face. He inclined his head up as he let more drops of the rain smack against his face, some catching in his hair, and onto his legs, spread out in front of him as he pressed his palms behind him. It was nice.

And for a while, this was how it was for him, the rain acting as his playmate, and him acting as its playmate. He chuckled on his own as he let the waters of the sky slip over him like a child bathing in the rain. And he could even say he was a child, one in the body of a man. But that was what a basic description for a NEET was, wasn’t it? Being an irresponsible loser that society treated as nothing? Yeah. And he carried the title with pride.

But it was a depressing thought to imagine that the last time he had sat on this roof, he carried anything but pride. It had been dusk as well, but that time the world was colored with red and orange instead of the grays surrounding him now. And in that lone moment, he didn’t have to be alone on the roof, for the house itself had been void of the tomfoolery of his brothers. He remembered the blankness that had been his life as he slowly watched them leave, a curse bestowed on the first-born. And in the bedroom window, all he saw was the moon against the blue, just as lonely as he was.

Nah, now wasn’t the time to think about that depressing junk. It was raining and he was in his freedom! Osomatsu let himself laugh, shuddering at the wet drops that prickled against his skin, stuck to his clothes.

The rain strengthened, and Osomatsu lifted his hood. He could feel his marginally-wet hair pasted on his forehead, but he ignored it as he continued watching over Akatsuka Ward’s streets. The mist was thickening. Thunder began sounding, discreetly in the distance. And people began rushing about, briefcases rising to their heads as they darted around in search for vehicles or shelters that would shield them from the rain. Yet here Osomatsu was, absorbing the playful splatter of it.

Then he saw it. At the street was a rushing woman, carrying in her arms a little boy, no more than five years old. Without an umbrella. The child was getting wet, the mother was drenched, but she kept looking around, desperately trying to find the best place for them before either of them got too wet, or even worse, sick. She proceeded under the shade of a closed, little parlor, where she bounced the child on her arms in an attempt to remind him that she was there, and they were safe.

Osomatsu watched them pensively.

The mother shushed the little boy, because that’s what it looked like she did. Then she leaned him closer to her lips, and she pecked his cheek. The boy laughed, chuckling at the sign of affection, and the mother laughed along with him before cradling him to her chest. She swayed softly, and if Osomatsu was sure of what he was seeing, she began singing to him. It wouldn’t have worked, not when the sound of rain crashing against the sidewalk deafened the sound of everything else. But it seemed to work as the boy slumped in her arms, his face at the crook of her neck, finding slumber through their previous difficulty.

Heh. If only his brothers could do the same.

“Stupid, Karamatsu-niisan, get him to stop!”

“I’m trying!”

Ah, speaking of his brothers, they still weren’t through. And Osomatsu wasn’t in his mood to assist them. But even if he wanted to keep out of their problems…The downpour was getting stronger, his clothes were getting darker, and his hair was getting heavier. With a sigh, Osomatsu brought himself up from the roof and crawled back towards the window, where the scent of poop drifted heavily in the air. He flinched, coughing in repugnance, and Osomatsu dropped off his manga at the one corner of the room that didn’t seem affected by powder of baby food. He raised an unamused brow seeing his brothers’ states.

Karamatsu’s clothes were definitely peed on, and his face was covered with baby food. Choromatsu’s was the same, except it was food that coated his clothes instead of Karamatsu’s calamity. Todomatsu had rubber gloves on both hands, a hygiene mask he might’ve borrowed from Ichimatsu, and his old Sutabaa apron on, which was covered with all things baby-related save for the toilet stuff. And Jyushimatsu was trying to get closer to the baby which lay on the couch, his clothes completely stained that it was hard to tell that he was wearing yellow.

And the baby...its crying and continuous kicking drew him back, he looking like he had no idea what to do. Its arms waved frantically and harshly, and it was like getting hit by them might result in an unexpected fracture. So as much as Jyushimatsu strived to help him, the baby’s deranged movements stopped him from doing so. At least the baby had diapers on now, that was a relief.

Unimpressed, Osomatsu lowered his hood, saying, “What’s the update?”

“It won’t stop crying,” Choromatsu reported, not bothering to look at Osomatsu as he said it. “And unsurprisingly, Karamatsu’s lullabies can’t help him in the slightest.”

“What do you mean ‘unsurprisingly’?” Karamatsu croaked, hurt.

Still uninterested, Osomatsu looked around. “Where’s Ichimatsu?”

“Calling its parents,” Todomatsu answered, voice muffled by the mask. “I dunno how much he’s telling them, but I hope he doesn’t make us look bad.” He shrugged. “Well, it was his idea. Maybe he wouldn’t. And he’s just as much as a liar as the rest of us, so we’ll be totally fine.” He angled his eyes at Osomatsu. “What’s with you? You’re all wet.”

Osomatsu grinned wolfishly. “The weather’s nice out. That’s what happens when you aren’t stuck babysitting for someone.” A minute or so passed like this, with the baby continuously crying, with Jyushimatsu trying (unsuccessfully) to calm him down, and all the others standing to watch. The sound of its wailing corrupted the air, interrupting the drops outside, and with that, Osomatsu’s sanity. His brothers were enough to ruin his day, but for that to be worsened by their inabilities just through everything off the rail. This needed to stop. Now.

At long last, Osomatsu gritted his teeth and walked towards the couch, towards Jyushimatsu and the baby. “Let me try. Move aside, Jyushimatsu.”

Todomatsu eyed him skeptically. “What are you doing? Trying to make him cry more?”

As Jyushimatsu stepped back, Osomatsu looked down at the baby, at the mess of limbs it was flailing as it wept and wept, high-pitched wailing tearing out of its tiny, little throat. But more than anything, Osomatsu studied its movements, and he found a solid way on how he could work his way around it. Plus the glittery blue handkerchief that it was lying on top off was certainly going to help Osomatsu pick it up easier.

To Todomatsu, he said, “No, trying to make him cry less,” then he swooped low and scooped the baby up by starting off with wide arms before his hands went to the center, meeting at the baby’s back behind the handkerchief. Osomatsu lifted the child from the sofa, but it still cried and wiggled, its movements supplying for the lack of weight it was in Osomatsu’s hold.

It flailed, tiny hands striking against Osomatsu’s jaw, kicks slamming against his shoulders—he hoped it had nothing to do with him being wet. Osomatsu stepped back flinching, but tried to maintain keeping the child in his arms the best way possible, finding the best way to hold him for both the comfort of the toddler and his own. He slid his hands underneath it, trying to use his arms in a way that they acted as a barrier, slightly knocking against the baby’s sides until it decided not to move as much anymore. He adjusted the handkerchief, overlapping its corners over the baby’s body, its celeste top. This helped trap the baby’s arms until it wasn’t flinging as much anymore.

Jyushimatsu breathed, “Niisan?”

Though the baby was no longer thrashing, it was still sobbing uncontrollably. Osomatsu bit his lip, imagining what the best move to make was. But recalling the mother he had seen earlier, he decided to begin swaying, humming lightly until the baby quieted down slightly, still sniffing and whimpering, but no longer filling the room with deafening howling.

Choromatsu sounded stunned. “How?”

“Shh…” Osomatsu didn’t know if that was meant for Choromatsu or the baby—probably both. Osomatsu stepped away from the couch, keeping his eyes on the whimpering child even when he was aware of his brothers trying to make eye contact with him. “Hello there,” Osomatsu soothed, lightly rubbing his thumb against the baby’s blanketed waits. “I dunno ‘bout the others, but Osomatsu’s got you. Are you hungry? Or do you want to play with someone’s hair?” He chuckled lightly before turning to his brothers. “What were you supposed to do?”

“Um…” Todomatsu brought out his phone and swiped on the screen after peeling off one of his gloves. “Oh, it’s his nap time. We were trying to make him sleep.”

Osomatsu dipped his chin. “I see.” I can’t believe you need to check your phone to remember what you were just doing. He brought his focus back on the small child, so petite and little that it was hard to imagine the fight he had put up against his brothers. “So you need to sleep now, don’t ya? Do you sleep in a cradle often? Or does mommy need to sway you in order for you to fall asleep?” When the baby didn’t change his motions, Osomatsu reached towards one of the strings of his hoodie and inserted it in between the fingers of the child. And he had to admit how surprised he was to see the size difference of his hand to this child’s. How very far it was.

The child slowed its crying, bringing its eyes to the string in its hand. It began tugging, at first startling Osomatsu, but he managed to harden himself enough as the baby continued pulling on the string with as much force as it could. It was making these confused, baby noises that they made when they discovered an interesting toy, unaware of how to use it, so they just kept touching it to figure it out. He had to admit that its innocence and lack of understanding was cute.

Osomatsu chuckled. “Like the string? It isn’t hair, but it’s soft and thin. W-Wait, don’t bite it. It’s dirty.” Osomatsu adjusted the string, pulling on it a bit from the baby’s mouth. It came out with tinges of saliva, but to his surprise, he didn’t recoil at the sight if it. “When you’re a big boy, I bet mommy and daddy would treat you to some spaghetti. They’re long and squiggly too, and you can eat them up. Won’t you like that?”

The baby looked up at him with its big, watery eyes. Osomatsu felt nostalgia coarse through him, but he shrugged it off as he walked them over to the window, at the rain sailing down from the sky. “Look at that, little guy. Know what that is? It’s called rain. Osomatsu loves the rain. It’s very cold and nice, perfect if you wanted to sleep.” He bobbed the baby. “At this time, some say that the moon could be up. But it’s hiding behind the clouds, see? And the stars are too. But I love the stars, you know why? They remind me of my brothers.”

Now he wanted to slap himself for his big mouth, for his unexpected slip, and for his lack of awareness. He was certain that he was being watched so closely now, his movements being studied, and it made him tense as he refused looking behind him.

“Bu…”

Osomatsu looked down at the baby, its tiny voice forcing its way out. “Huh? Boo?” he asked, adding effort to pronounce the toddler’s attempt.

“Bu...ra...za…” it released.

Karamatsu gasped from behind.

Osomatsu let a moment of stunned silence pass before he spoke again. He tried keeping a soft timbre to his voice as he resumed, hiding his surprise. “Yeah. Buraza. Do you have any? I have five of them, and all of them have been trying so hard to take care of you. The same way that I, as the oldest one, takes care of them.” He returned his gaze to the window, at the pouring rain. “And I can’t imagine what it would be like if I couldn’t take care of them. When I was lonely once without them, all I could do was look out for stars. But I only saw the moon that night. It was lonely like me.”

He reached towards the glass of the window and pulled it towards them. When one side of the window shushed a part of the rain, Osomatsu said, “When I see the stars outside with the moon, it awakens mirth in me because they give the moon company. And for me, that’s what my brothers do to me when I feel alone. If it weren’t for them, I’m the one left casting the world with my purpose while they do theirs. But what’s the point of that if I wasn’t with them and they weren’t with me? We’re supposed to be together forever, aren’t we?” He chuckled, because if he didn’t he was surely going to get choked-up. “Do you feel lonely without your parents with you? Do you wish you were with them?”

The baby opened its mouth. “O...Ah?”

“Well, if they aren’t here with you now, they will be soon.” Osomatsu pulled the other glass towards them, and the sound of the rain lessened in volume. “Just like I’m back with my brothers, right? Everything works out in the end. If you’re lonely, you can always find your way back to someone you love when the time comes. So, I hope you can carry out this teaching I gave you when you get older. From the looks of it, you’re a smart and very tough baby. When you’re older, you’d be one to kick some ass if someone tries to mug you.”

Choromatsu startled. “O-O—!”

Todomatsu elbowed him, effectively shushing him.

Osomatsu ignored them, but he was aware of his younger brother’s intention. “Um, forget I said the A-word, ‘right? That’s inappropriate for someone like you. Stay with what I told you about time instead, okay? How patience is a virtue, and you’ll always end up with the people you love at the end of a dark tunnel.” He arranged the baby into a more comfortable position. “But first, before you can do that, I think mommy and daddy would like it if you took a nap. And for our sake, maybe we would too. Can you do that for me?”

The baby cocked its head. “...uwa?”

Osomatsu smirked, pulling it closer to his chest. “I heard Karamatsu-chan’s lullabies don’t work on you. Would you mind if I were the one who tried? Hm?” He placed the boy’s head to where his heart was and rubbed the salty trails on his flabby cheeks. “I don’t really sing, and usually, I suck when I do. But would you care if I tried? Here? With you?” When the baby made a small sound, Osomatsu took that as a yes. He looked back up at the storm clouds outside their window, searching for the moon and stars hiding somewhere behind the storm as he began swaying his arms.

“When you wish upon a star, Makes no difference who you are~ Anything your heart desires, Will come to you~”

He felt the baby slacken in his hold, a small yawn growing on its mouth as its little eyes fluttered shut. Osomatsu continued his swaying, grazing his thumb over its vulnerable little fingers. “You like that?” he whispered, the softest he’s ever whispered. But it felt natural, the tender longing of it captivating, and he sighed, resuming,

“If your heart is in your dream, No request is too extreme~ When you wish upon a star As dreamers do~”

The sliding door of their shared bedroom opened, and Ichimatsu slipped in. “Oi,” he announced with regular volume, “I called his parents. They’ll be here in about an h—”

“SHH…!” the remaining four hissed; Osomatsu merely turned towards them partially, the corner of his mouth raised in a half-smirk.

“Quiet. The baby’s sleeping,” Osomatsu told their reddening fourth-born.

Ichimatsu’s lazy eyelids weren’t lazy anymore, and his eyes went as wide as his brothers’ were earlier; everyone was watching Osomatsu now. Jyushimatsu was smiling brightly, hugging Karamatsu’s body brightly, ignoring the pee stains as the second-oldest rubbed his eyes with the back of his wrist. Choromatsu remained as boggled as earlier as he stared at his eldest brother, his angular mouth hanging open. And Todomatsu was pleasantly filming the scene with his phone, having removed his gloves and tossed them off towards their ruined couch. When Osomatsu remained staring at the five of them, Todomatsu mouthed a Just continue to him alongside a swift hand gesture.

Osomatsu glanced back at the baby, cuddling lovingly by his chest. Todomatsu was right that it wouldn’t be wise to stop now, not at this perfect moment, and for their selfish sake—the chance that they actually managed to check something off from its parent's bucket list. So returning to the window, watching the raindrops pass by, Osomatsu continued lovingly.

“Fate is kind~ She brings to those who love, The sweet fulfillment of, Their secret longing~

Like a bolt out of the blue, Fate steps in and sees you through~ When you wish upon a star, Your dreams... come... true~”

Later when the baby’s parents returned, Osomatsu was the one who received the biggest payment, just to lose it all when he went to the Pachinko Parlor the following day. It was expected—what would change with the Matsuno family’s eldest son after all?

#osomatsu-san #osomatsu-kun #osomatsu matsuno #karamatsu matsuno #choromatsu matsuno #ichimatsu matsuno #jyushimatsu matsuno #todomatsu matsuno #matsuyo matsuno #matsuzo matsuno #oneshot #fanfic #osomatsu fanfic

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spyritevesta · 5 years ago

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i am nobody (are you nobody too?)

Jack mourns. He lives and laughs and does his duty, all while he grieves for a life lost and his joy burns all the more strongly because of it. But the intangibility is still there.

The Guardians treat the intangibility as a disease. They try to heal it, to cure it, to fix him.

She knows better.

This isn’t something they can fix, because there’s nothing wrong with him. Well, nothing other than the silver strands of celestial energy that tie him to that body. But even now the winter of his soul is breaking through it, no matter how much binding they rewrap. (no matter how big you build your snowman, spring will always come.)

Emily sees how this will end. Jack will return to the past, to his family, and finally be happy. The Guardians will worry, and panic, and finally have their flaws shoved straight into their faces.

Good.

Besides, it’s not like they won’t recover. Historically, they’ve been incredibly good at supporting one another in times of crisis or emotional distress (excluding jack of course, because if his core is joy, of course he must be fine. ugh). They’ll be alright.

The Seven Brightest Lights will notice him leaving, of course. But again, they have each other. They have their own goals, a common purpose to work towards. And they’re Jack’s kids; they know how to find joy despite pain.

So all the loose ends tie up.

Emily sighs a little and leans back on her hands, idly kicking her feet back and forth. She’s craving something sweet. Maybe a crepe. The question is, does she really want to go to the effort of making herself visible?

“Hey Rapunzel. What’s got you looking so mopey?” Cold wind curls against her face in a hello, as blue appears in the corner of her eye. Jack sits himself down next to her, legs swinging out into open air as he peers down at Tokyo.

“What makes you think I’m mopey?” She looks at him from the corner of her eye, raising a thin eyebrow

“C’mon, you’re sitting in the highest spot you could find, you’ve been sighing--more often than you usually do, that is--”

“Ha, ha.”

“--and you’ve got that look on your face. The one where you’re sort of scowling, but more sad than angry. All… somber-y.” Speaking of looks on faces, his has that dumb look where he gets all concerned and his eyes start shining.

“I don’t.” She can see him deadpan and start to retort, so she groans and finally turns to face him. “Look, if I do look mopey, I dunno why. It’s not like I can think of anything to be sad about. Honest.”

His mouth twists, but he takes her at her word. Out of the two of them, she’s always been the one who’s found it harder to deal with negative feelings. As soon as she feels bad, she starts isolating herself and pushing people away. And then it just ends up being a vicious cycle of her feeling alone and awful and like everything is horrible.

But hey, at least now she can acknowledge that and stop herself from continuing to do so. Jack just never tells anyone that he’s feeling bad, and buries the pain underneath laughter and smiles, until someone finally sits up and notices.

Sometimes no one does.

Not anymore. She thinks, feeling her lip curl to reveal teeth. I won’t let my anger stop me from reaching out.

A cold finger touches her cheek, making her flinch back reflexively. Jack is looking at her with fond amusement coloring the arch of his smirk.

“Cold!” She snaps at him, shoving his shoulder (but not very hard. he’s made her soft, the little shit).

“That’s better! Now your scowl is back to normal!” He laughs and flutters his eyelashes exaggeratedly. “Filled with rage~!”

“I’ll show you rage, you little shit--!” She grabs for him, and he lets himself fall forward into the open air, laughing. She jumps after him, warm wind swirling around her form, propelling her after him. He’s faster than her, barely, but he’s still laughing far too hard, so she catches up easily.

“Tag!” She cries, and immediately dives down into the buildings below, to try and lose him. They both know this dance, and they’ve spent hours like this before. Just chasing one another across a city.

She loses him near Harajuku, and doubles back to hide near the cherry blossoms that are beginning to bloom in Naka-Meguro. Gods, she’s going to miss this once he’s gone. Laughing as she flies above the trains, she feels something wet on her cheeks.

Rain?

Pausing in midair, she looks up, even though she can feel how clear the sky is. Touching her face, she looks at her fingers, and yeah. They’re wet.

What?

She sniffs her fingertips, smelling salt.

Wait.

Is… is she crying?

Touching near her eyes, Emily realizes that yes, she’s crying. And she has no idea why. It’s not like anything is wrong. She’s not an expert at emotion, but she’s pretty sure this isn’t happy crying. Unless it is. Jack would probably know; he may not cry often, but he’s almost constantly on the verge of tears.

“Emily!” He almost slams into her, but pulls up at the last second. “Wind sounded worried--are you crying?!” He places his cold hands right on her face, wiping away the tears with his thumbs.

“Are you okay?”

“I don’t know.” She says, the words coming out small. “I just started crying without realizing it?”

It comes out as a question, but she’s confused. And feeling kinda shitty now actually, now that she’s been crying for a minute or so.

Gods she could really go for a crepe now.

“Ok. Do you want to talk about it, or do you want a distraction?” He asks her, shoving hands into his hoodie pocket. He rifles for a second, then comes back with a tissue.

“Distraction.” She takes the offered tissue, scrubbing the tears off her skin. It’s getting close to sundown, which means Tsar Asshole’s ship will be visible soon, ugh. Concentrating slightly, she gathers some of the water vapor into clouds. She feeds a little power into them and they rapidly begin to expand over the city.

Try to spy on us now, bitch. She thinks, not a little vindictively.

“Emily.” Jack lightly scolds, but there’s too much buried amusement for her to take him seriously.

“What? You know I don’t like Tsar Asshole.”

“Look, Manny has his flaws--”

“I mean, he completely left you--”

“--but the pressures of his position--”

“--completely alone, without a word--”

“--so we can’t judge him too unfairly.”

“--three. hundred. years.” She finishes, jabbing her finger into his shoulder with each word for emphasis.

“Alright, alright. Let’s not argue about Manny again.” He grins at her. “How about we sneak into a karaoke place, and have some fun?”

“You had me at karaoke.” She grins back, and follows him as they flip through the streets towards their destination.

She’s gonna miss him.

…

Oh.

She’s gonna miss him. Because Jack is her best friend, and without him… she’s alone.

Shit.

#i wrote a thing #oops #bless silverlysilence #sleepless squad #emily jane pitchiner #jack frost #this is a hoads headcanon drabble #heart of a dragon's soul #HoaDS #me: furiously shoving all my headcanons into one drabble #look i have some feels about emily ok?#IT'S TOTALLY FABLLAMA'S FAULT #I PLACE THE BLAME THERE!!!!!#gods we don't even know if silverly is gonna have her character in soag #or if she'll be like our headcanons #AND YET I'M ALREADY ATTACHED #FABLLAMA!!!!!!! *shakes fist*

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philosynphonie · 5 years ago

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What musical songs would the Bad Kids sing at a friendly karaoke night (+ Tracker, Ragh,... (Ayda ?)) ?

I can't get the image of Fig singing "Don't lose your head" from SIX out of my head (also her singing "All You Wanna Do", but that's far less funny and much darker and more tragic).

I can imagine Fabian just belting out the most sincere ballads, like for example "On My Own" from Les Mis, and making everyone (especially Ragh) tear up. Or he would sing High School Musical.

Ragh would definetly sing "I Don't Dance" from High School Musical 2, aka. The Gayest Sports Song Ever.

Riz would probably have memorized something that is very fast with many text, maybe a rap (I can imagine the same with Adaine). Part of me just wants to see him sing songs from Spies Are Forever, like "Spy Again" or maybe Adaine singing "Pay Attention".

Kristen might sing something from The Book of Mormon (I haven't actually seen it, but from what I've read it yould fit).

I'm not sure what Gorgug would sing. Maybe "Drive" from The Lightning Thief Musical, that song has such an "I believe in you! Spring break!!"-feeling.

"Requiem" from Dear Evan Hansen fits Adaines relationship with her family/Aelwyn so well.

The ultimate Angst Factor would be someone singing "Empty Chairs and Empty Tables" from Les Mis... and I curse myself for ever having had that thought.

Anyone have some other/additional/different takes?

#fantasy high #the bad kids #bad kids #fig faeth #figeroth faeth #fabian seacaster #fabian aramais seacaster #riz gukgak #ragh barkrock #adaine abernant #kristen applebees #gorgug thistlespring #musicals #headcanons #headcanon #dimension 20

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jaebaebie · 5 years ago

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SKZ as your high school boyfriend (part ii)

If it seems like I got a bit carried away, it’s because I DID get carried away (IM SORRY THEYRE BOTH MY BIAS/BIASWRECKER, I couldn’t help myself)

Hyunjin

ok so hyunjin would be P O P U L A R ,, no doubt

good looks + talented dancer,, everyone obviously fell for him the minute he stepped foot into school

everyone except for you,, ofcourse

you assumed him to be arrogant and narcissistic

because him having a nice personality would just be too good to be true (like come on,, no guy can be that perfect)

you were so sure you were right about him

WRONG

it took you a hit in the face to realise that,, LITERALLY a Volleyball to your face thrown by Hwang Hyun Jin himself

it was just a volleyball game between his class and yours,,

and you were simply judging your female classmates as they were squealing over Hyunjin who was right across the net

then suddenly a ball whacks your face

and you somehow wake up in the nurse’s office with a very handsome and very frantic guy beside you, grasping onto your hand

“Oh my— thank god! You’re not dead! I’m really sorry,, I really didn’t mean to hit you. I swear! I just— I didn’t even— I’m so sorry!”

His rambles went on and on, which DIDNT help with the throbbing pain in your head, so you shut him up, “Hyunjin, it’s okay. Now will you please just keep it down? I’m okay.”

that didn’t make him feel better, so he offered to drive you home, glancing at you from time to time, making sure you were okay

shyly smiling when you called him out

when you parted ways, you thought that that was the last time you’d ever have to speak to him

surprising you when you found him to be waiting for you right outside your class, leaning against the wall beside the door

he’d ask you if you were okay and apologise for the millionth time

it was kinda cute because he was an absolute softie and sweetheart,, nowhere near the selfish monster you assumed him to be

“How many times do I have to tell you it’s okay?”

“I don’t know. I still feel bad.”

and somehow these types of conversations diverged into many more as he walked you to your next class

and these conversations continued in the days that followed as he constantly appeared to ‘pick you up’ from class, making sure to help you carry your books if you were carrying any in your hands

And like , TADAH, like all the other girls, you had fallen for the one and only Hwang Hyun Jin… OOOOOPPS

you thought he acted this way with every girl, but like,,, he was crushing on you real hard sis and you never noticed

he’ll confess first out of frustration because you never took the hint,, even when he was making it VERYYY obvious

as a boyfriend, he’ll be the kind to pick you up every morning, honking from his car with his signature eye smile

he’ll have some kind of breakfast ready for you, knowing that you were NOT a morning person (worse than him tbh)

he’ll interlock his fingers with yours or have his arm slung around your shoulders as the two of you walk down the hallways

occasionally kissing the back of your hand/ temple when he feels you tense up from the jealous looks of the girls around you two

which is why during lunch breaks, the two of you choose to hang out on the rooftop where no one’s focused on you two

he’d listen to you talk about your day, smiling lovingly at you with his handsome face

sometimes, you’d get distracted and completely forget which part of your story you were in

because how can one function when someone looks at you like how Hyunjin does

“And then Changbin —….” your voice would trail off, falling for his eyes as he gave you an expectant look, waiting for you to continue

“Wait, where was I again?”

He’d laugh and his eyes would crinkle into little moons (you know how it is)

then he’d give you a short kiss, before helping you out “You were talking about Changbin.”

“Oh. Right!”

you’ll be the first he shows his new dance routines to

you two take LOTS of selfies together #reallycuteIGprofilewithreallycutephotosofyoutwo

he’ll be the kind of boyfriend who gets pouty when you don’t give him enough attention during your study dates,,

would start clinging onto you/playing with your hair/ hugging you from the back/ being all cuddly and cute until you finally give him attention

surprise back hugs when he sees you by your locker in between classes

all in all, he’s a very sweet and cuddly and touchy boyfriend

Jisung

let’s just say you and jisung were already bestfriends with very fun and loud personalities,, aka crackheads

so obviously you two were setting up a kind-of-harmless prank to pull on Felix involving a water bucket and a door

how were you supposed to know that your teacher had forgotten his water bottle in class?

so,, major oops when your little prank resulted in an extremely drenched, raging teacher who sent the both of you to detention

you had to clean and arrange your school’s library,, which you got bored of within the first 15 minutes, choosing to throw yourself into one of the bean bags Jisung was on

“so, now that Jinyoung has graduated, have you found a new guy to crush on yet?”

you rolled your eyes, throwing a pillow at his face because you were NOT gonna have this conversation with him AGAIN

one, because it was annoying and two, because you didn’t want to risk him finding out that HE was actually your crush

you went back to rearranging books, telling him that you wanted to finish the task fast and get home,, so he FINALLY helped you manage the other side of your bookshelf

not long after, you noticed him talking to ryujin

obv you eavesdropped on their conversation through the little gaps in the bookshelves (though you barely heard anything)

you rolled your eyes,, its hard to like Han Ji Sung

because the boy is so sweet and nice and friendly to everyone

it just makes you crazy because there was a tiny part of you that wanted him to be sweet and caring ONLY to you.

your little spy mission was interrupted by Minho, a friend from dance, who started a conversation with you

little did you know, it was now jisung’s turn to eavesdrop

“What were you guys talking about?” Jisung asks through the gap of the bookshelf, following you as you went along the aisle

“And why does it concern you?” You ask back.

“Because I’m your bestfriend.”

“Okay then. Tell me what you and Ryujin were talking about first, since I’m your bestfriend too.

“Ryujin and Minho are completely different. Tell me yours first.”

you scoffed, offended by his words, “You’re being unreasonable! Why are you acting like you’re twelve? Are you like jealous or something, Han Jisung?”

he got cut off by the librarian, shutting the two of you up

by the time you reached the end of the aisle, he was there too, allowing the two of you to directly glare at each other face to face

you crossed your arms, staring at the stack of books behind him and avoiding his glare

“Fine, I admit. I’m jealous.” He confesses, “Are you?”

Your eyes widened, your arms fell down to your sides as you slowly nodded, “Me too.”

Is jisung’s part too long? Yes. Am I gonna keep writing? YES.

so, I guess you can say that’s how the two of you indirectly confessed to each other

you guys have a really nice and envy-worthy relationship because your boyfriend’s your bestfriend after all

you’ll have LOTS of FUN,, having after school dates at a fair, karaoke club

you guys have the same group of friends, and the two of you would sit in the same table during your breaks

sometimes, you’d sit on his lap and his arms would just be around your waist, cuddling you with his chin rested on your shoulder

whining for you to feed him a bite of your food,, which you teased him about but absolutely loved

concerts in empty lecture theatres you sneak into,

he’d have the mic, you’ll be sitting in one of the chairs pretending to be an obedient student

he starts rapping or starts advertising a random vitamin bottle he found on the floor

your stomach would hurt so much laughing,, just WHOLESOME

study dates with him would probably turn into a party as you guys start screaming your lungs out to Frozen

sometimes, when he’s having anxiety, you’ll skip school to stay home with him, making sure he was okay and well fed.

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nobodies-png · 5 years ago

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may i get headcanons for how Ephemer and Skuld would each react to accidentally stumbling upon the normally quiet Player singing freely (thinking no ones around to hear) and actually having a super good voice? please and thanks! :)

Ephemer :

Ephemer rubs his eyes, wondering if he’s seeing things - this HAS to be one of the very first times he’s heard your voice, so give him some time to process it. Once he’s done though, he’d be pretty conflicted about what to do next. Should he walk up to you and strike a conversation ? Compliment your singing ? But what if you think he was spying on you ?

Seriously considers recording you, just so he can brag to other wielders and maybe prove that you’re not actually mute - but that would also be bad on the long run. But then again, you have such a nice singing voice, it would be a shame if he were the only one to hear you ! In the end, Ephemer would muster the courage to go and talk to you.

In his brain, he’d be like please don’t mention the singing, don’t mention the singing, don’t mention the- “OH HEY Y/N. I HEARD YOU SING, WAS THAT YOU ? YOUR VOICE IS LOVELY !”. His Chirithy facepalms behind him. Your own Chirithy facepalms behind you. He facepalms as well. It’s all very awkward.

Before the silence settles, Ephemer would immediately apologize wholeheartedly for listening to your clearly private karaoke session, promising your talent a secret. All in all, he’d try to use this situation to try and get to know you better, joking about how you should give him singing lessons in your free time.

Skuld :

Skuld is s h o o k t too, but would totally handle it better than Ephemer. She’d find a spot to sit down and take a break from her missions, but also to listen to your singing without interrupting. That way, if you stumble upon her, she’ll have an excuse to be there, maybe even pretend she didn’t notice a thing if you really hate the idea of others hearing you sing.

Ngl, there’s a chance Skuld might fall asleep, her Chirithy would have to make sure she doesn’t. But she can’t help it ! Your voice is so soothing and calming - Oh, there she goes closing her eyes again. Although reluctant to leave, Skuld isn’t one to ignore her responsabilities, so she’d return to collect Lux - except this time, she’d have a subtle pep in her step.

The following day, she’d approach you just to see if she can befriend you - maybe throw in a sneaky comment like “Oh, the other day I heard someone sing by the stairs. They had such a lovely voice, I wonder who it was.” before judging your reaction. If you seem panicked or distressed, she won’t insist or press on the issue. Everyone’s entitled to their privacy, after all.

B U T if you admit it was you, Skuld would drop the act and shyly admit she knew, but she didn’t want to scare you. The two of you would spend the rest of the day, talking about what kind of music genres you like !

#kh headcanons #reader insert #ephemer #skuld #Anonymous

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medea10 · 5 years ago

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My Review of Aggretsuko

Her one bright spot in this day-in, day-out hellhole is her mic, a karaoke business, a solo room, and blazing death metal. Once she’s singing some hardcore death metal and unleashes her fury of her hectic workday, she’s ready to take on the world again. And just like with the Hello Kitty world, this series has many animals with quite the interesting line-up of quirks. For example we’ve got a sly fox who monitors Instagram, a suck-up dog, a hygena who is into rock, a fashionable gorilla who’s friends with a bird, a hippo that’s a spy, and yeah, the chauvinistic pig who’s also the boss. BETWEEN THE SUB AND THE DUB: So this anime is sort of exclusive to Netflix in every aspect (that includes in Japan). I’m noticing a lot of popular anime titles are being exclusive to Netflix. I mean, if they’re able to air them weekly as they air in Japan, I have no problem. It’s just the waiting for something to air and then they decide to bundle everything so you can binge watch is where I have a problem. Believe it or not, I’m not a binge-watcher. Every now and then I can breeze through at the most 6 episodes in a whole day, but a whole series or season, no! Yeah, Medea has a life outside of anime reviews (shocking)! I only did that once and that was a good eight years ago. But I digress! I will say that Netflix got their shit together better than Amazon. Anime Strike was such a major fuck-up from day one. Thank God it’s dead. Anyways, this does include an English dub. By the looks of all the Netflix exclusive animes, they all seem to be dubbed by VSI in L.A. (I guess a smaller version of Bang Zoom productions) with Patrick Seitz doing a lot of the casting. This was a very well casted dub (which is more than what I can say about a certain redub they did recently). But I really do love this dub with Erica Mendez, G.K. Bowes, Ben Diskin, Ray Chase, and many others. And oh my God, Jamison Boaz is like the best with the metal Retsuko moments! With the sub, you will not find much info on the voice of Retsuko. Rumor has it that she’s married to the guy who does the screaming death metal for Retsuko (who is also the director of Aggretsuko). Here’s what you might recognize these folks from. JAPANESE CAST: *Retsuko is played by Kaolip *Retsuko (metal version) is played by Rareko (director of Aggretsuko) *Haida is played by Shingo Katou *Fenneko is played by Marina Inoue (known for Aria on Pokemon XY, Armin on Attack on Titan, Yoko on Gurren Lagann, Jessica on Umineko, Kyouko on Skip Beat, Wataru on Hayate, and Rei on H.O.T.D.) ENGLISH CAST: *Retsuko is played by Erica Mendez (known for Ryuko on Kill la Kill, Haruka/Uranus on Sailor Moon redub, Emma on The Promised Neverland, Nico on Love Live, Yuuki on SAO II, Tsuruko on Anohana, and Tsubaki on Your Lie in April) *Retsuko (metal version) is played by Jamison Boaz *Haida is played by Ben Diskin (known for Sai on Naruto Shippuden, Satoru on ERASED, Joseph/Jojo on Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, Umino on Sailor Moon redub, and Numba 1 on Kids Next Door) *Fenneko is played by Katelyn Gault (known for Prof Badcock on Little Witch Academia) FAVORITE CHARACTER: I’m a Fenneko fan. What’s not to like? Her mischievous behavior, her social media activity, and that freakin’ laugh! DISLIKED CHARACTER: It’s hard to find characters to hate here! Believe it or not once you get past the debut episode of an asshole character, you see them for more than just an asshole and think, maybe they’re not that much of an asshole. Yeah, in all good conscience I can’t really add Ton even if he’s a sexist pig. And Anai just needed to be pushed in the right direction so he can succeed. I don’t fully hate Anai…I fear him. Wait a second and I’ll talk a bit below! Then there are those characters who still rub on me the wrong way and those characters are Tsubone, Tsunoda, and Komiya. But I’m laying off Komiya. I don’t know why! Maybe it’s because Todd Haberkorn plays this little brown-noser that it makes me laugh to a point where I can’t hate on him. Yeah, Haberkorn is that good! Tsunoda knows the game and does what she has to do in order to survive in the office and on social media. I’m not thrilled to witness females put on the charm at the workplace the way she does, but you know it happens. Tsubone just seems like such a bitch so for the moment I’ll leave her on my dislike corner. Okay, anybody else? Shit. Retsuko’s mother!

Yeah, as I mentioned recently in my Top 10 Worst Anime Mothers list, I had to put Retsuko’s mother on there. She was such a pushy mama that she did so much damage to her daughter’s life. Okay lady, lay the fuck off! Your daughter is not living with you at home, she has a stable job, and she’s making the most of her life. She doesn’t need you giving her embarrassing clothes to wear, hooking her up with random bachelors, flat-out lie to her with photoshopped photos, force her on speed-dating, break into her apartment, and just be a complete hypocrite! SHIPPING: Retsuko has had quite the romantic cycle throughout the 20 episodes. Let’s go down this list, shall we? Retsuko x Haida: Ah, the little ship that can’t even leave port. Haida has had this humungous crush on Retsuko throughout the entire series. However this love is unrequited. Retsuko just sees Haida as a workmate and a friend, nothing more. Haida has been friend-zoned so many times. Even when he tries to release his feelings towards Retsuko, most of the time it would fall on deaf ears or in the case of season one’s finale/Christmas special, a rejection. Then again, it came right after a break-up and no one wants a rebound! But I do find myself rooting for this little ship to one day set sail. I know one day they’ll be together and I will await for that to happen. Retsuko x Resasuke: I really don’t know what drew Retsuko to this pot-plant. Yeah, I call Resasuke a pot-plant because of his nothing phases him attitude, his abundance of plants at home, and monotone voice. IT DOESN’T HELP THAT HE’S VOICED BY SAITAMA! It was pretty clear that there were a lot of loose connections between this couple that despite both Retsuko and Resasuke having some things in common, not going to work. It was not the best of ships. Retsuko x Tadano: Tadano was the man in Retsuko’s life that could have given her anything her heart desires. Everything except a family since Tadano doesn’t want to get married or start a family. Retsuko always dreamed of having a sugar daddy of a husband so that she could quit her soul-crushing job (at least that’s what she wanted in season one). But in season two she realized that she likes her job and wants to be with someone that resonates with her. As for wanting a family, Retsuko kind of grew to the idea of one day becoming a wife and mother. But Tadano wants nothing to do with that. Retsuko x Shirota: Aw, this was kinda cute even though these two were totally hooked up because of their nosy mothers. Retsuko at the time was scared at the prospect of getting married and Shirota completely understood. But when Retsuko asked about Shirota after some time had passed, Retsuko’s mother said that he was hooked up with another girl and it’s going well. I felt that sting all the way over here. I know he was the right guy at the wrong time, but I felt for Retsuko. Second place for me in the shipping department. Retsuko x Anai: GOOD FUCKDOM NO! Who would ask for this to happen?! TWO THINGS THAT FRIGHTEN ME: Yep, two things frighten me quite a bit. First thing would be whenever Ton smiles. I know most of the time when he’s smiling, it’s one of those fake as hell smiles, but they are frightening to see regardless. And the whole floor agrees as seeing that scared the ever-loving crap out of everyone there. And second…Anai! When you first meet him, you think he’s a positive go-getter. But when he’s behind his cellphone, he is downright scary. He ends up cyber-stalking half the office including Retsuko, Haida, and even Ton. ENDING TO SEASON ONE: We all know how much Haida has a this huge crush on Retsuko right? Let’s add a new love interest to spice things up! An absolute space cadet by the name of Resasuke! Retsuko has seen him around the office and on the train when she’s on the way to work. The only problem is, no one is able to get through to him…he’s so spacey! So one night, Retsuko gets roped into going on a speed date with some of the girls in the office. And the men they met are also some men from the office. And Retsuko surprisingly wound up having a meaningful conversation with Resasuke. Through text messages. Even though they’re right in front of each other. Sighs in disgust because I really hate that in real life as to showing my real age. Actually, I probably shouldn't scold the boy as he could be on the Autism Spectrum and has problems communicating normally with people in social interactions. Unfortunately, Retsuko winds up drinking too much alcohol that night and forgets key parts of what happened. All she knows is that when she woke up, her heart was all pitter-patter. It must be indegest…no, it’s love! Retsuko definitely sees something in Resasuke that no one else can see. Not even Washimi or Gouri can see it! But the important thing is that Retsuko is on cloud nine that nothing gets her down and when nothing gets her down, she’s not going to go “metal”. However, the “metal” side was ready to peak out. It’s clear that Resasuke doesn’t know much about relationships or other social interaction for that matter. He can’t tell when Retsuko is in pain and isn’t that considerate to her. Plus he wasn’t really the one who wanted to go on the dates. He was always put up by one of his co-workers. Meanwhile, Haida (who has had a major crush on Retsuko from the beginning) has been super moody. He gets so drunk one night and ends up the hospital because dumbass injured himself accidentally. So the following day at work was hectic for Retsuko, Fenneko, and Ton. During that long day of work, Retsuko’s boss (while always grumpy and insulting to Retsuko) made a little sense to her today. His words kinda hit Retsuko in the terms of the relationship dilemma. I know he meant it in terms of the accounting job, but I think it struck a nerve with how Retsuko is in her relationship with Resasuke. “If you keep giving out more than what you’re getting back in return, eventually there ain’t gonna be anything left” So…Retsuko took Resasuke to karaoke and expressed it all out. In the end, Retsuko and Resasuke split up. But could there be hope for Haida now? Well, we close things out in Haida’s hospital room and Retsuko visits him. And surprise, surprise, it looks like a love confession! What will Retsuko say? Tune in next ti…end of the season now! CHRISTMAS SPECIAL: Unlike all the other episodes (which are 13 minutes long at most), this one is a full 22 minute special. We start the Christmas special with what Retsuko said to Haida. It was a rejection. So you know Haida was going to be a depressed basket case for a while. But let’s not worry about that now, it’s Christmas time! And the episode focuses on what everyone around the office is doing for the special holiday. Tsunoda’s going out with a guy (no surprise there). Kabae is spending it with her husband and three kids (and also hide the presents so the kids won’t find them). Before Retsuko could figure out what she wants to do, in comes Ton with paperwork that needs to be done by the end of the night. Retsuko still put up a brave front finishing her work and also fooling social media that she’s having a fabulous dinner. But Fenneko knew that was a lie when she saw the picture and told Haida that she’s at work suffering through paperwork. And being the hopeless romantic, Haida tries to get to the office to help her, but found she was no longer there when he arrived. After Retsuko finished, her friends Gouri and Washimi swooped in and treated her to dinner. But after dinner, Retsuko bumped into Haida…so Haida got a little lucky there. And he got to spend a few moments alone with Retsuko. SEASON TWO: After the success Aggretsuko made in 2018, strike twice while the iron is still hot! Season two dropped this June with brand new characters, new love interests, and so much METAL! Actually, not as many metal moments as season one, but still there. Retsuko had her hands full all through this season with her mother setting her up with “eligible” bachelors, work still giving her the business, a new guy at work who’s possessed by Beelzebub’s cellphone, getting her driver’s license, and possibly meeting the man of her dreams. And with all those, Retsuko’s going to need some time in the karaoke booth to let out this pile of rage. And this season we meet Retsuko’s mother (a different shade of panda than her daughter), a woman who is way too invasive of her daughter’s privacy and home life. Then we have Anai (a badger), a straight out of college newbie at work. If even one thing is said to him that even seems 1% offensive, he will break out his phone and cyber stalk that person and threaten them with a harassment charge. And then there’s Tadano (a donkey) who Retsuko meets in a driver’s education course. Oh, wait until you meet Tadano! END OF SEASON TWO: As it turns out, Tadano (the guy Retsuko meets at Driver’s Ed) isn’t really a slacker like she thought at first, but a multi-millionaire with his work in A.I. He’s a major celebrity in the tech world and Retsuko’s company wants to partner with him. Meanwhile Tadano has eyes for Retsuko…as a love interest! This could be it! This could be Retsuko’s chance at absolute happiness, where she can have anything in the world with this sugar daddy. There’s a drawback to this. Recently, Retsuko has been thinking if she’s really wife/mother material after seeing some of her coworkers (like Kabae and Ton with their families). Plus the whole marriage conversation with her mom probably got to her too. So she’s thinking more and more about starting a family. However… Tadano has NO interest in either marriage or having kids! For some time, Retsuko and Tadano were seeing each other privately. But somehow, someone got pictures of them together and it spread throughout the internet. And everyone, including Retsuko’s mother, friends, and co-workers were blown off their asses when they saw pictures of Retsuko with Tadano. Meanwhile, Haida got drunk and wound up on his back again! Retsuko tried her best to see the bright side of all this. But she kept running into hate-filled posts bashing her for dating Tadano. And the whole dilemma that she and Tadano aren’t on the same wavelengths when it comes to marriage and family is digging at her like a shiv. Add to that, Tadano wants Retsuko to quit her job since he believes her job will be obsolete once his A.I. business takes over. After some soul searching, Retsuko came back to work after a few days of being AWOL and was ready to hand Ton her resignation letter. Ton sat back and watched all this happen and wouldn’t accept this. He gives her shit literally every day of her job, even giving her the nickname “Calander” because her “days are numbered”. But he knows that all of this isn’t even her deciding. Tadano is doing all the talking and actions for her. Once again, Ton was able to reach Retsuko with his words. So Retsuko knows what she must do. Retsuko’s friends Washimi and Gouri put aside a heated fight they previously had in order to help. So they ambushed Tadano, had Haida take care of his entourage, and have Retsuko hijack his limo. Their destination, the karoke bar! And that’s when Retsuko released out everything through METAL! In short, Retsuko and Tadano split up. So she’s (once again) back at square one. But it was fun, right?! Wow, this is pretty…real to me. In fact, it’s almost on Bojack Horseman levels. Yeah, you can tell I’ve dived into Netflix. Cartoons with cute animals in it…but they deal with adult issues. Yeah, animation’s not always for kids (otherwise I would have watched a lot more Ralph Bakshi when I was 7). Anyways, this anime does speak to me and just about anyone with a job that causes you immense stress. Retsuko gets the shit-deal at her work which causes her to vent it out in a karaoke booth. A job that chips away at you every single day you’re there. Disappointment of every variety when some shred of hope pops through. Workers who take advantage of the hard work you put in. Drunk boss that stumbles into work late and passes out hungover. Working 10 hour days with no overtime pay! Having that drunk idiot boss always calling in sick because he’s hungover from the night before. Whoops, those last three were my bad experiences with a bad job. The working world can be cruel. I’m glad I left that nightmare job for the good old store that rhymes with Mole Goods. It has its ups and downs but it’s been kind enough to me for me to stay in the company for almost 12 years at this point and time. But everyone has their own reasons for staying at a job that abuses you. Mostly survival! Retsuko wishes that she could find a rich husband so that she could quit this horrible job. Don’t we all? Sadly things can’t be like the way they were in post-war era United States (or so I imagine). In my case, the middle class is a gangrene arm ready to be chopped off, cost of college is expeninential and I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to pay off my student loans 30 years after I die. Depending on what economic world you’re in, it’s almost impossible to quit your stable job to be a housewife. Unless you’re Marge Simpson or part of the elite 1% there’s no fucking way. And then Tadano shows up! But funny thing, money can’t buy you happiness! Sure it’s great if you could find a sugar daddy husband, but if there’s no real love or compatibility, it’s not gonna last. The love issues Retsuko had these last two seasons…I can’t really relate. Thankfully, my mother is not as neurotic about me finding a husband. As I have been butt-fucked in the relationship department, I don’t give a shit about finding a mate (at the moment) and my mother has accepted that. And I’ve never really felt anything for workmates nor have I ever met a young entrapeneur. I’m sure other people can relate to some of these issues, but not me. Thankfully we see different views on marriage from different characters. Fenneko believes people her age don’t even think about it and hopefully they’ll be the generation to kill the idea of marriage, Haida is still a hopeless romantic when it comes to Retsuko, Gouri will get back up after being heartbroken time and time again, Washimi thinks marriage isn’t worth it and even sheds light on an old marriage during the second season, Ton is married and has two kids (though he seems pretty put-off by them), and then you have Kabae who has a husband and three little kids and she’s happy with her family every single day! Back to the working world topic, Aggretsuko showed how much the working world impacts us. Without having a character say it, this anime brought out many thoughts when we see many of these characters. For example, Anai! Many fans hated this guy the second he started cyber-bullying Retsuko. But others see Anai as a guy with the adult world finally crushing down on him. An ugly glimpse at how life can be (particularly in Japan). He’s fresh out of college and sometimes college does NOT prepare you for the real working world. And as we all know this cruel statistic, Japan has the highest rate of suicides in several age brakets in the world. Including young teenagers! An atmosphere of failure can cause one to do that or act erraticly. Aggretsuko doesn’t necessarily say this, but it’s very much felt that it’s implied if you think about it. Yes, I still find Anai to be a bit of that millennial shit that feels offended by anything even when a co-worker is trying to help them. But if you think about it, all of this feels new and scary. I’m sure everybody in the office at the beginning of their job experience had felt this scary feeling before. Man, these shows really get me to think a bit! I do recommend this anime to just about anyone. Just note that this anime is NOT as depressing as Bojack Horseman. But it can get real at times that makes you step back and say, “Wow, I can totally relate.” And to anyone who is a total metal-head (like me) might enjoy those parts when Retsuko screams into a microphone. This anime is only available through Netflix. It shouldn’t take you too long to finish though as each episode is approximately 15 minutes each and there’s only 20 episodes overall (+ one special). Okay, now that Aggretsuko is done...what's next?

Little Witch Academia it is!

#aggretsuko #aggresive retsuko #anime review #retsuko #haida #tadano #resasuke #fenneko #director ton #anai

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danwhobrowses · 5 years ago

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Tinfoil Discussions: My Hero Academia - The UA Traitor

I guess I’m late for the height of this debate, but I might as well throw my hat in. I will begin with this though; I’m not caught up with the anime or manga. I am waiting for Season 4 to finish up so I can binge it, so everything I say below is from memory of seasons 1-3 (which I had really enjoyed having binged for 3 days, they really do the ‘punch the air in victory’ moments well), so some of it might be wrong through hindsight I don’t currently have (and please don’t let me know, I’ve done my best to limit the spoiler content as much as youtube keeps suggesting me thumbnails of s4 moments and manga chapters)

So for anyone farther back than I am, spoilers for Seasons 1-3 and general speculation below

There is a Traitor Among Us Said by Present Mic after Bakugo was taken in the Forest of Beasts, it became all to apparent that someone had been leaking information to the League of Villains. The idea of a traitor is an uncomfortable one, since it means that someone in the loveable cast is not genuine and what’s more is perfectly willing to allow heroes and students alike to die in order to simply get at All-Might. Now, I don’t think I know who the traitor is, but I do have theories and options. Suspecting the Students The students are the first to be suspected because they’re the new blood, all this has happened from the start of the semester and the young are influenced easier. With kids having constant access to their phones there is an easier possibility for a leak, and the traitor could be the following people Hagakure - Perhaps the one everyone seems to be looking to, it is quite easy to point the finger at the Invisible Girl. Hagakure is an expert in stealth and her personality is bubbly enough to be seen as a facade, being unable to keep track of her is the main reason people could suspect her. However, I really don’t like this option; it’s too easy you know? And you’d have to pull out a hell of a lot to explain multiple things. For instance, Hagakure can’t make objects invisible as shown by her clothes, where would she keep a phone? At USJ they were in their Hero outfits and if I remember rightly the Forest of Beasts had no phone signal, it’s possible that there’s like a tracker under her skin (a decent way to have the league bug the class but also have her be a victim) but even then that’s just location. Another qualm would be bastardizing her friendship with Ojiro and the people who actually see her (despite being invisible), if she wanted intel surely she’d get closer to the people of interest to the league, there’s also her desire to stand out, a spy would not be so flagrant about standing out. It could just be that I don’t want to suspect any of the Class 1-A students, but it does seem too obvious to make Hagakure the traitor. Monoma - on the other side of the coin there’s Monoma, who I really dislike. Mr ‘Ohmygoshclass1Ahasflawstoo’ is someone very obsessive over hierarchy, the line of superior and inferior. You also can’t deny that he has been trying to sow seeds of disarray by putting 1-A and 1-B against one another. Like Tobi in Naruto, it serves well to be wary of joke characters, and let’s not forget that Monoma has a dangerous quirk. His copying may not switch by touch, or deplete over 5 minutes without use, it could be that the ability disappears after 5 minutes of full use (or it’s just a flat out lie). His quirk is the worrisome thing, remember how he first met Midoriya? He intentionally bumped into him, if he’s able to copy One for All that could be extremely dangerous for the villain’s side right? Monoma being the traitor does require a bit of stretching though. it rides a lot on 1-B having been to USJ before 1-A (which is possible since Midoriya would have to recover from his broken arm on the combat training) and someone letting slip where the Forest was (since 1-B got there after 1-A, giving him opportunity to contact the league), he also got the information that 1-A would be at a different stadium for the license exams, allowing Toga to get some blood and pose as Camie for 3 days. He’s also someone who has had direct interaction with Bakugo and seen firsthand his potential, but he was also safe and sound in the Forest’s extra-curricular base (where Dabi just happened to know where Aizawa, Vlad and other students were). Monoma may be overboard, but it could just be his villainy seeping out, we cannot forget that Monoma is a formidable strategist as shown in the Calvary Battle. Mirio Togota - put down those pitchforks! I will immediately say that this is highly unlikely. But Buff Tintin just seems off to me, nobody can deny his strength or the refinement of his quirk but again it’s silliness as a front. He uses nudity as a distraction tool but we’ve seen him effortlessly use his quirk to stick his face out to Midoriya. Togota knows little about 1-A so that adds to his unlikelihood, but being closest to Number 1 and then to see All Might take on the first years? That could sting, and his quirk does allow him a strong capability for infiltration, all he has to do is poke an ear out somewhere hidden or phase through a locked room to look at documents. I heavily doubt this is where we’re going with him, but he is an option nonetheless. Suspecting the teachers While it’s difficult to accuse the students, the teachers are easier to accuse but harder to prove. Every teacher knows that All Might is weakening, but every teacher also knows about USJ and the Beast Forest’s location, so they have access to betray, it all then comes down to motive. Nezu - the principal is the heavy long shot, we know he has his manic times but it’s a matter of whether he would subject his fellow heroes and students to death. It’s a shallow motive that I don’t see, but you have to suspect the guy with all the information, especially now that he managed to put the students immediately under the eye of Big Brother. Ectoplasm - The man who can clone himself is definitely someone who can wander off. I remember them saying that he was able to clone himself more while drunk at karaoke, but is that simply a hint that Ectoplasm has at least 2 clones he never accounts for hero work? Judging by the peg leg he is certainly experienced, and I’m sure he ranks high on the ‘Heroes that look most like Villains’ list that Gang Orca is on (Endeavor’s Number 1 right? Has to be, only thing he would earn the Number 1 spot for besides World’s Worst Dad XD). Ectoplasm’s clones allow him to easily spy, steal and have an alibi all at once, his interaction with the students and knowledge of the class protocol do mean that he has the sufficient knowledge to leak to the league. Snipe - Snipe out of the teachers would be my likely pick, Gas Mask McCree here could’ve easily tapped Shigaraki with his quirk, but he went for the arm and leg even though he was going straight for Midoriya and All Might. The fact that he always wears a mask does open the door for him being a replacement as well, All for One having stolen his quirk and bestowed it unto a spy or simply that Snipe isn’t all that good. He was the first to quickly turn the finger pointing to Present Mic when he brought up traitor talk. Like the other two teachers, he’s able to access information without getting involved in the league’s matters, but it has to be really suspicious that he could headshot grunts at USJ but shot Shigaraki in spots he could survive in. Suspecting an outsider Just because there is a traitor leaking UA info, doesn’t mean that they have to be in UA, parents must have forms to permit their kids to go out in these things, and people can sneak into the premises in different ways. Currently though there is only one outsider I can suspect Endeavor - I can’t have been alone when the moment I saw Endeavor I thought ‘that guy’s a villain’. Since Season 3 I don’t believe he’s in league with the villains so much, his reaction to being Number 1 does slightly protect him from accusation, but not entirely. While he may be the Number 2 Hero, Endeavor is a horrible person, using money and influence to get what he wants and what he wants is to be treated as better than All Might, this coincides with the league’s goal to remove All Might as the Number 1 Hero and Symbol of Peace. Motivation for treachery would obviously be jealousy, and he’s only angry about the One for All incident because All Might still triumphed, so his ultimate victory is actually tainted, he didn’t want to win ‘this way’. The matter of him getting the info could require more traitors within UA, but someone of Endeavor’s status definitely has the funds to bribe or the influence to have access to security cameras, under the guise of a ‘parent keeping an eye on his child experiment’ (after all, wouldn’t want him to go like that other child with fire powers, Endeavor’s blue eyes and who’s obviously one of his previous failed experiments). Power and Influence allows people to get more things and being a UA alumnus also has small benefits to elbow in some spying. We were never told that Todoroki was on the list, but Endeavor would surely want to write Bakugo - the guy who beat his son at the Sports Festival - out of the way, even at USJ putting him in an area where his son could easily handle himself while Nomu ‘dealt’ with All Might. Suspecting someone new While the idea of a traitor means that you have to look at the characters you know, this could also be a red herring. One of UA’s current strengths has been the ability to trust one another in their ability, be it between classes or schools in the license exams. So to sow distrust means they break the foundations of the future. I believe that the endgame of the manga isn’t just having a ‘Number One Hero’ but a group of heroes who can all dispatch and work well together, it does look like that’s how we’re building with Midoriya, Todoroki and Bakugo getting some diverse team ups with the rest of their class. If that is the case, then this is the moment where the unity has to be reinforced, which’d mean identifying that a villain is causing this traitor talk. Besides, 3 people calling themselves a ‘league’ is rather underwhelming, most of their influence came post-Stain so maybe there have been people we’ve yet to see. A Mind Reader - We’ve had telepathy in Mandalay (low suspicion on her, since she knows nothing about USJ) going outwards but she was unable to actually read minds, we also have a brainwasher in Shinso. So right in the middle would be someone who can read people’s thoughts, a mind reader easily has access to read the thoughts of teachers to relay back to the league. A Bug - we know that there are animal-kind quirks (oh yeah Koda’s quirk could be treacherous, but he’s too wimpy for me to suspect him) in Tsu, Pony, that OVA Lizard girl, Tokoyami, Spinner, Selkie and Gang Orca, so what if there was a villain with a quirk of an insect. We had a small nod to insects in the exam Kyoka and Koda had, showing how they could sneak into other places - or people in Present Mic’s case. If there was someone with an insect quirk they could literally be a Fly on the Wall. A Body Swapper - I mentioned earlier that Snipe could have his body swapped because he’s hidden under the mask, but we could go deeper. Citing Naruto’s Yamanaka Clan jutsu, DBZ’s Ginyu or DC Comics’ Jericho, there could be someone with the quirk to basically take over someone’s body for a short while. This could be a way to have characters be unknowing leaks. Like how a mind reader goes between Mandalay and Shinso’s quirks, a body swapper would sit between Shinso and Toga’s quirks so it’s not entirely out there for a quirk like that to exist, let alone for nobody to notice that quirk exists because they don’t ever recall their body being taken over. Conclusion So yeah, those are my list of suspects. As stated before I’d rather it not be a 1-A student, the art of these things is to use it as a twist and if you can immediately guess the twist then it’s not a good twist. Granted I’m sure delivery can better a obvious twist, such as when we finally get told that Dabi is related to the Todoroki family or when Stain gets released and fights alongside Midoriya but in terms of the UA Traitor - a lingering plot line that has spread through half the series - you need a big drop to validate the wait. Personally I would like the traitor to either be a teacher, Endeavor or someone we’ve not seen before that builds to a big bad. Regardless it’ll probably be years before I find out, much shorter for Manga readers, but when it does happen I hope the reveal is satisfying.

#tinfoil discussions #bnha #my hero academia #ua traitor #theories

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