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pernesophe · 4 months ago

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P1: Timid Reader Defends Kaji

(Minors, Ageless and Blank Blogs DNI)

(I have no rights to these characters, the works they come from, or the art/screenshots/manga panels used in this post. Screenshots taken from pinterest or google, so if you know the creator please lmk! Updated dividers are from @sweetmelodygraphics )

Tag List: None so far, but lmk if you would like to be added for this series or my other Wind Breaker Works!

Synopsis: Kaji saves reader while she’s being attacked, and then walks her to school. Some of her classmates come to Furin territory to convince reader that Kaji is bad news on her way home, and he ends up hearing everything.

{TW: violence, biting and groping (violent / not sexual), angst, bodily injury and blood}

I really enjoyed writing this 3 part series, so I hope you like it: Timid Reader x Ren Kaji (ML, Part 1, Part 2 , Part 3 ). Also, here is my Main Wind Breaker Master List

Cold bricks press painfully into your back as the drunkard puts his full weight against you - pinning you against the wall. Luckily, in his inebriated state your uniform was giving his hands difficulty in accessing your skin. Alcoholic miasma encircles you as he slobbers a kiss against your neck. Pushing against him with all your strength - you’re only able to create an inch of space.

“Please! No, stop! Let me go-” Crying out to the alley around you, hoping anyone can hear you. Fortunately, somebody does.

Kaji is walking down the street, half expecting Risa’s owner to pop up to say she’s gotten out again. He scowls just from the thought. Then, he hears someone screaming “let me go” in a panicked, shrill tone before it is cut off abruptly, and he breaks into a sprint towards the alley the sound came from.

As he rounds the corner, a massive, bumbling man comes into view, holding a girl about Kaji’s age roughly by the shoulders. Slurring something that neither you or Kaji can understand, but he is obviously angry with you. Before Kaji can approach you, the man rears back and then bites into your neck with force. Searing pain shoots from the wound, and you feel something warm and wet trickle down your collarbone - too much to be the man’s slobber. He releases you after a moment - swaying backward to take a look at what he’s done.

Kaji watches your face contort from fear to pain and then shock as you slump back against the wall. His feet start moving before the thought fully forms in his head. The drunk, seeing that you are no longer resisting, reaches for the shirt of your uniform to tear it open. Before his cigarette stained fingers can even brush the fabric, something black streaks across your vision and delivers a swift kick to the man who was previously standing in front of you, but was now slumped against the wall across from you. Still in shock, you barely register what’s happened as you slump down the wall - finally free from the brute’s hold and no longer supporting his weight - your hands and lips tremble stubbornly.

Making sure the man doesn’t hurt anyone else, Kaji shoots a text to Kusumi and Enomoto telling them where to find him and that he’s taking an injured girl to Risa’s owner. After putting his phone away, he slowly crouches in front of you so as to not scare you. Slowly bringing your gaze up to finally see your savior’s face. He’s backlit by the sun poking over the top of the building filtering into the alley, his white hair almost looks like a halo shone around the top of it. Gentle, yet concerned ashen blue eyes peer back at you - taking in the tears wetting your face, yet the lack of any crying or sniffling coming from you.

“Uh, my name is Ren Kaji… Can I help you with…” Speaking cautiously as he awkwardly gestures to your neck. Reflexively, you go to put your hand over it, but he stops you - only brushing his fingertips against your wrist to do so - trying his best not to scare you any further.

“Uh, wait just a second for me… Here,” he says as he pulls a pack of tissues from his hoodie pocket. Layering a few together, he gently reaches forward and presses it to your wound. Flinching at the pressure you let out a small, pained squeak, and he shoots you an apologetic look.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you…” He says - genuine remorse in his tone. Why are you apologizing? You’re helping me? Wondering to yourself as he gently guides your hand with his fingertips to cover the tissues on your neck.

“Can you hold this here for me… please?” He asks awkwardly in a gentle tone, it sounded unnatural to his own ears, but you do as he asks before he straightens up and offers you his hands to help you get on your feet. Glancing towards the alley exit, then to you, then back to the exit of the alley - he gestures towards the exit nearest to you.

“Can you follow me around the corner? There’s someone who can take a look at that for you.” He says, persistently gentle, as he motions for you to follow him. Tears were still streaming down your cheeks, and your eyes looked distant, but you nod slowly anyway. As he starts walking, he feels a small tug at the elbow of his sleeve, looking back, he sees your thumb and index finger pinching the fabric lightly with your eyes cast to the ground. His heart clenches at the sight of you blindly following him without a second thought. Even in Furin, it wasn’t often people trusted him so easily or openly.

Trudging along behind him, you only barely peek up at your savior. He seemed calm and gentle to you, and then you remember seeing only a flash of his face as he came sprinting down the alley. It was terrifying, and - despite your shock - you’ve never felt more relieved when you saw it approaching. Part of you wishes the man had been sober enough to remember Kaji’s face too, maybe then he would be too afraid to bite anyone else.

Arriving at a little shop that sells hot food, Kaji knocks on the door frame and calls to the people inside that he needs some help. Immediately a short, older woman and a younger man - most likely her son - step out and beam up at Kaji. They waste no time in gushing over him and asking what they could do for him, before quickly steamrolling over his response to gush over him some more. A wave of annoyance wafted off of him, but he miraculously kept his cool.

“Kaji! It’s so good to see you! To what do we owe the pleasure? Oh, we just got our seasonal sweets in, would you like to try some?” The son asks with genuine excitement. The older lady comes straight up to Kaji and beams while patting his arm gently.

“Kaji! You’re growing into such a fine young man.” She gushes to him before he could reply to her son. Neither of them have seen you standing behind him yet. He grunts out a thanks to her and ignores the rest of their questions, before stepping aside to reveal you. Immediately, their faces contort with worry, and the older lady takes your hand and ushers you wordlessly into the shop. Throwing a questioning glance at Kaji over your shoulder, but the son already has his undivided attention as he is looking to Kaji for an explanation.

The son and Kaji stay outside to discuss what happened, and what the guy looked like in case the son may know of him. The kind, older lady didn’t ask you any questions, and used feather light touches to clean the blood from your neck, shoulder and chest. She uses peroxide to do a quick spot clean on the blood that has seeped into your uniform. Then, she takes extra time and care to wet a washcloth and pump some citrus smelling soap into it, so that she can wipe away the man’s slobber that had dried by now. By the time she’s finished, you have a clean white bandage wrapped around your neck, barely any blood left on your uniform, and you smell like citrus and bergamot rather than beer breath and cigarette fingers. Before she moves to get up, you take her hand gently with tears in your eyes and gratefully thank her for helping you. She pats your hand lovingly and tells you ‘no thanks necessary dear - any friend of Kaji’s is a friend to us’ before wiping away the last of your tears.

When she led you out of the shop - holding onto your hand as if you were something extremely precious - Kaji was still standing outside with her son. By now two other guys wearing Furin jackets had arrived as well. They look at you sympathetically - Kaji having already caught them up - and say their hellos. You quietly nod back and flash a smile their way as you will your puffy eyes to calm down.

“You were on your way to school, right?” Kaji says, and you nod silently. Sighing under his breath - earning a look from Enomoto - he gestures around him. While you were inside, Kaji had told them about the bite, so they suggested he walk you to school so you would feel safer. He was none too happy about the idea since he was certain your shock was wearing off, and it would only take that long for your perception of him to change from savior to beast.

“Which way? I’ll walk you there.” He more so states than offers to you, and you point in the direction of your school. He turns and starts walking without waiting for you, and though you’re a little stunned by how he is you don’t hesitate to follow. Just grateful you don’t have to make the trek alone. Kaji hid his disdain well since he already knew what school you attend by the direction you pointed in, and what your peers are like.

“Um, th-thank you, for…” You murmur gratefully as you turn to the woman and her son and gesture towards your neck. She just beams up at you like she did with Kaji and waves her hand. Her son smiles knowingly at you and waves as well, though you have no idea what is being implied.

“Don’t mention it! Any friend of Kaji’s is a friend of ours.” She repeats what she said to you earlier - almost giddily this time - as you tilt your head in confusion. But he doesn’t even know my name… you ponder to yourself before giving her a quick nod and smile. Waving to Enomoto and Kusumi - who wave back with curious looks on their faces, you couldn’t tell what for though - you bound over to Kaji and quickly fall in stride with him.

What Enomoto and Kusumi know that you don’t, is that Kaji rarely was the one to help people in the way he just did for you. Yeah, he’ll fight just about anyone who deserves it, but being gentle? Speaking softly? Handling you with Kid Gloves as the son relayed to them? Even though he is following someone else’s suggestion to walk with you, he is leaving his headphones off as he walks you to school? His seconds knew well enough that Kaji doesn’t put himself out there for others he doesn’t know like that, so what was so different about you?

The two of you walk silently to your school. Kaji wears his headphones around his neck, and you hear soft lofi beats drifting from them. You feel awkward that you haven’t said anything yet - least of all thank you. While Kaji was kicking himself for letting Enomoto and Kusumi talk him into this, because you’re in shock, scared and hurt, and he was the last person you need right now.

As your school comes into view, you suddenly stop walking, knowing you’re running out of time to say anything to him. Kaji glances back at you, and then stops too. He opens his mouth to ask what’s wrong, a scowl forming on his face as he assumes your perception of him has changed in such a short walk.

“Um!” Blurting out quickly, so he doesn’t talk, but you’re afraid that you’ve been annoying him this whole time. He closes his mouth and waits for you to speak. Taking in your appearance, the best descriptor he could give is ‘mousey’ as you shrink under his stare, hands shaking, as you struggle for the words. Funny. Seeing as I’m a beast, and all… maybe you were right to be afraid. Kaji reminded himself bitterly.

“Um…” you try to speak up again, breaking Kaji from his thoughts, causing him to almost snap ‘spit it out’ at you. Luckily he is able to restrain himself for now.

“Th-Thank you!” You say suddenly - louder than you meant to - as you bow deeply and respectfully to him. He takes a step back, not really expecting anything but fear or general contempt from you - assuming you would perceive him the same way as your peers do.

“I’m sorry I didn’t say it sooner… I was a bit shoc-shocked…” Kaji’s brow raises suspiciously at your words - expecting you to judge how he protected you.

“I-I didn’t know what that guy had planned, but I was really, really scared to find out… So I’m just really grateful to you that I didn’t have to.” You say earnestly as you straighten up and look at him again, and he’s staring back at you with impossibly wide eyes.

“N-No problem…” He responds awkwardly. Kaji was convinced you were afraid of him too, maybe even staying silent so the walk would pass quicker, but the way you seemed breathless from just getting the courage to talk to him… you were just incredibly shy. A pang runs through his chest thinking back to how loud you were yelling - that must have been difficult for you to do at all - just for that brutish man to bite you for it. You nod quietly, after finally saying the thing you’ve so desperately been trying to, and turn back towards your school to continue walking. Suddenly, Kaji pulls a peach Chupa Chup from his pocket - he’s not sure why - and holds it up in front of you. Surprised, you turn to him again with a look of curiosity and amusement.

“Here… I hope you… feel better?” Kaji says slowly and completely unsure of himself. He wasn’t familiar with comforting people like this. Giving his friends a few harsh or blunt words of encouragement? Sure. But comforting someone who couldn’t fight, was just completely steamrolled by some brute, and got really hurt in the process? Nope, this one is uncharted territory for him to say the least.

Tilting your head slightly, you reach out and wrap your hand around the lollipop - your fingertips skimming where his wrapped around the stick. A warm feeling spread through Kaji’s fingers and up his arms towards his chest and down to his stomach where he felt a… fluttering? Slipping the stick out of his hand, you look at it for a beat before looking back up at him with bright eyes and a tickled smile.

“Thank you, it’s kind of like leaving the Doctor’s Office or something.” You muse with a small giggle - flashing a small grin at him as you do. Kaji blinks quickly as he processes what you just said. Doctor? I’ve been called a Beast. Short Tempered. Insane… but Doctor? They help people. I… Thoughts flash through his mind as it only half dawns on him that you - someone his age, who doesn’t go to or live around Furin - thinks he’s something other than a beast. Blinking again, he sees that you’re giving him a concerned look, he’s been very still for a few moments now.

“Uh-uh, ahem,” Kaji stutters before clearing his throat as he rubs the back of his neck bashfully. “Let me get you to school before you’re late, okay?” He says softly - similar to the tone he used with you in the alley. Nodding and following his lead, you completely miss the blush creeping over his cheeks - which subsides by the time you reach the school gates.

“Thank you again, Kaji!” You chirp gratefully as you bow again, he nods and offers a ‘no problem’ before you’re rushing through the doors as the bell rings. Unfortunately, Kaji is too focused on watching you get inside, and kicking himself for not getting your name, to see the three faces staring down at him from the window overlooking the entrance. If he had, then he probably could have anticipated what would come later that day.

When Kaji, Enomoto and Kusumi set out on patrol later on in the day, they made sure to thoroughly check over the area where you were attacked. Which is why they’re gathered in the alley that intersects the street where you walk home from school looking for any signs that the drunkard had returned, or any other riff raff. What they didn’t expect was to hear the voices of several girls on the main street.

“Y/N! Hey wait, we wanted to talk to you about something.” Someone’s calling out from behind as you’re walking home. Turning around, you see three of your classmates - out of breath - standing in a V formation behind you. Tilting your head slightly as you walk back towards them, it was weird, since they all live in a much nicer part of town and have never really been in the Furin area before.

“Oh, Yume, Kyoko, Mai - hey! What brings you to the Furin neighborhood?” Greeting them with a curious smile, the notch in your brow giving away the confusion you feel around the interaction in general. Yume fidgets uncomfortably before meeting your gaze with a fierce determination, though you know the fidgeting is an act, since it’s the same ‘determination’ you’ve seen when she bullies your peers. Bracing yourself for the worst, you turn to face her fully.

“I saw Ren Kaji walk you to school today… I just wanted you to know that he’s really dangerous!” Yume says firmly with a dark glint in her eyes, and the other two standing slightly behind her nod along quickly. Subconsciously, you take a step back, because honestly, this wasn’t what you expected, but you also know better than to let them get a rise out of you. At the mention of his name, Kaji and his seconds freeze in the alley, and peer inconspicuously around the corner to see what’s happening. When he sees the three girls, Kaji immediately recognizes them to be the younger siblings of some of his classmates' that he had beaten in middle school. His body tenses all over in apprehension of what they are going to tell you.

“I know.” You say matter of factly while nodding your head in agreement. Kaji’s chest clenches from the confirmation that your perception had changed of him in just a few short hours. Enomoto and Kusumi exchange an angry look that you could switch up so easily, and silently plot out how to get Kaji away from this. Yume fixes you with a suspicious look in her eye - the only one unconvinced by the reason behind your admission.

”So you know he’s a beast?” She asks in an expectant tone. Kaj’s fists clench at his sides as he fights to restrain his feet from carrying him back towards the school. Enomoto nods to Kusumi, signaling him to get Kaji’s attention so they can suggest getting out of there. Just as he reaches out to tap his captain’s shoulder, your voice carries into the alley once more.

”What do you mean by that?” Asking in a tone that indicates your genuine confusion by her question. Today was the first time you ever met Kaji and though the realization that her explanation would probably be pointless, you still want to know what she means.

Yume goes on to explain that in middle school Kaji beat her brother up as well as the rest of his class multiple times. She went on to detail that the gym teacher had to come to restrain him several times - she whispers it venomously like a dirty little secret she’s just been waiting to divulge. From where he is standing, Kaji can see your face remain unchanged by the ‘facts’ being laid out to you, so he ignores Kusumi, who is now motioning for them to leave before being spotted. He wanted to hear what you would say - the timid girl who fought to find the courage just to thank him this morning, and had been on his mind since for reasons he couldn’t quite pin down.

“He hasn’t changed at all since middle school. I just thought you should know.” She finishes her explanation pointedly, like she was really doing you some kind of favor. A pregnant pause passes as you stare her down. It’s so quiet that the trio on the alley hold their breath out of fear you all could hear them. Finally, your voice splits the silence like a cleansing bell.

“Oh… I didn’t know about any of that, and honestly I’m not sure if it really matters to me.” You say with a noncommittal shrug, but the glint in your eye says you’re just getting started. Kaji almost falls forward from shock - how are you just brushing all of that off without any doubt?? Pondering the thought with the intensity of a scholar as he silently watches the scene before him unfold - only now he is feeling hopeful for how it would end.

“I said I know he’s dangerous, because I saw him knock a guy unconscious with one kick this morning. This drunk guy cornered me in that alley.” Pointing towards the one where Kaji and his seconds are hidden - who all immediately suffer heart palpitations in fear of being found out. Luckily, the four of you are too absorbed to notice the Furin shadows eavesdropping within the darker shadows of the alley.

“He pinned me to a wall and was trying really hard to get in my uniform. Kaji showed up when the guy bit me for telling him no.” Saying in a tone of disbelief that it ever happened as you gesture to the bandage on your neck. Yume and the other two stay silent and wide eyed as they listen to your traumatic morning.

“I’m grateful he was there too, because I don’t even want to think about what that guy would’ve done if Kaji hadn’t shown up when he did.” You continue speaking earnestly as the fear from the earlier incident causes your pulse to quicken. Kaji is glad he stayed to hear you out - even if you didn’t realize he was there and listening with open ears and a softening heart.

”He wasn’t a beast.” You state defiantly. “He walked me to school after, and even offered me a lollipop like at the Doctor’s office. He seems, like, really nice, actually?” Inflecting your tone upward with utter confusion as to how they could even say these things. The silent girls behind Yume gape at you in shock, while Yume shoots you an annoyed glare for your stubbornness.

If you could see Kaji, you would see he is staring at you in shock as well. He could accept that you thanked him, and even that you didn’t view him as a beast. But nice?! You think he’s nice… Kaji subconsciously reached and gripped his hoodie strings, head dipping as he listened closer to you standing up for him. Enomoto and Kusumi make nor further efforts to push him to leave. He needs to hear someone other than us say some good things about him. They think between each other exchanging knowing looks and hopeful smiles.

”He hasn’t changed one bit since middle school - when he beat my brother - you have no fucking clue what you’re talking about.” Yume spits her points from earlier at you, curling her fists at her sides to match the curl in her lip.

”You’re right. I wouldn’t know about anything other than today - because I just met him - but if you say he hasn’t changed since middle school, then it seems to me he only fights people who deserve it. So, answer me this, what did your brother do to earn a beating from Ren Kaji?” Speaking through gritted teeth, you cross your arms for emphasis as you rub salt right into her wound. Kaji’s head pops up at your words, and he can’t help but peek around the corner to see the timid girl from this morning all but disappeared. In her place was a girl who had the same hair and nose, but her eyes were set ablaze and the way her arms were crossed gave her an air of an impenetrable wall. He steps back into the alley when your eyes darken even more, and an irritated notch forms in your brow as you open your mouth to speak.

”No response? That’s okay, because I’ve met your brother and I have to say - he’s a terrible fucking person. You know that he tried to take a photo up my skirt, right? That’s why I petitioned the administration to let me wear pants.” Taking on a matter of fact tone as you gesture to the chinos in your school color. Yume shakes her head quickly, confused by your accusation.

”I don’t remember anything being said about that…” She scoffs with a disbelieving shake of her head. Tilting your head as if to say ‘you really wanna do this?’, you continue as you dig your heel into her cheek next.

”That’s because it was kept ‘hush, hush’ so as to not ‘embarrass him’, but he was transferred to a different class under the guise that he wasn’t being ‘challenged enough’, when really he was moved to an all boys class for the safety of his female peers.” As you say this, realization dawns on the girl’s face as she remembers her brother coming home utterly enraged about the transfer even though everyone said it was really good for his transcript.

”Look, all I’m saying is you can’t blame me for taking your words with a grain of salt. Honestly, I think you may just be bad at reading people seeing as you barely know who your own brother is even though you two literally live together. So I can’t just take your word when it comes to Kaji, it’s really not fair to him.” The taunting tone from earlier ebbs into a more earnest one as Yume’s bottom lip quivers from her brother’s misdeeds being outed. Embarrassed and at a loss for words, Yume turns and flees with her friends on her heels. Turning your gaze to the sky, Kaji and his seconds watch as you let out a tired sigh with a shake of your head before bringing your gaze to eye level once more.

”That’s not how you make friends Y/N.” Speaking to yourself in a faux chastising tone.

”Oh well,” you add with a shrug, earning a silent chuckle from Kaji, and as you turn around to head home again, your eyes flit across the alley. As they do, Kaji grabs Enomoto and Kusumi and slams them back against the wall so you don’t spot them. He crunches an aluminum can in the process - catching your attention - but the alley is too dark to see down. Taking one cautious stop forward, and narrowing your eyes - the three of them hold their breath. Suddenly, you release a deep breath you had been holding and let your shoulders droop as you drop your head. The trio don’t dare move.

”Don’t go down the spooky alley Y/N - that’s how you get into ‘dangerous situations’ - as mom would say.” Chastising yourself once more before you straighten up and continue walking home.

After you’re out of earshot, the trio can’t help but to start rolling with laughter. Kaji was surprised that the timid girl from this morning - who sniffled pathetically the whole way to Risa’s owner, and could barely strike up a conversation with him - was able to tell off a group of girls that had Kaji’s blood pressure rising out of fear. It was amusing to him that you were able to hold a full conversation with yourself in the middle of the street, and such a contrast from who he met and walked to school this morning. The fact that you were comfortable enough with yourself to fill the quiet was an added bonus - to him. Maybe if you grew to feel comfortable with him, then you could fill the quiet spaces in his life too. Enomoto and Kusumi watch as their captain shakes himself of his revere, and that typical expressionless look returns to his face, but his eyes weren’t as apathetic as usual. They held a deep longing as he sadly watched you walk away. The two seconds share a plotting look - this time for entirely different reasons - instead of shielding him from you, they are gonna figure out how to push Kaji towards you.

After Kaji witnessed you defending his reputation to your classmates, he doesn’t make much effort to involve himself in your life, or you in his. Consciously, that is. Subconsciously, he is always offering to patrol the area around where you were attacked. So he would be close by if ‘something like that’ were to happen again. Risa’s owner often stops him outside her shop to tell him little details about you - from things as trivial to your new haircut, up to her informing him of the things you’ve been relaying to her that causes you stress as of late. Though he never comes out and asks for details about you, he also never tells Risa’s owner to stop divulging them - often walking away from the encounters with his headphones around his neck on the off chance that the shop owner would have more to say.

Enomoto and Kusumi notice the change in their captain’s behavior - the fidgeting when he comes near the alley where he met you, maybe hoping to just get a glimpse of you, to the way that his face is relaxed and the corners of his mouth tug upwards slightly whenever Risa’s owner comes to talk to him about you. Eventually, they ask Nirei to get some more information on you, and some kind of contact information for you, if possible.

It only takes the dutiful first year a couple of days to know your name - Y/N L/N, age (17), and relationship status (single). He wasn’t able to get your contact information, but he was able to get your friend’s information - Hana Kim - who said that a few local bands would be playing near the canal this weekend. More importantly, she said that you would be there. Enomoto raises a quizzical eyebrow at the blonde boy before asking the most pressing question.

“Did she say anything about-” Closing his mouth quickly, not wanting to divulge that event, then starts again. “Do you know if Y/N has mentioned Kaji to her at all?” He asks directly this time - not so secretly hoping for an affirmative. Nirei’s eyes lit up as he nodded happily, and went on to explain that Hana mentioned that you’ve been talking about him a lot, so she was hoping some of Kaji’s Furin friends could make sure he was at the concert too. Kusumi and Enomoto shared triumphant looks before they scurried off to convince their captain to go out this weekend.

That weekend, Kaji agreed to go out to the concert with Kusumi, Enomoto, and for some reason a few of the first years had tagged along. Wearing his typical scowl as he moved through the crowd, headphones on his head because he honestly could care less about the concert. The other second years in his class pointed out that he needs to try and enjoy life a little more, and to satiate their constant pestering - he showed up. Apparently, he had been looking extra gloomy lately, to them, but he didn’t feel that way. Most of his thoughts were filled with daydreams of you - how you’re doing, what you’re doing, who you’re hanging out with. As well as imagining what all of those things would be like if you were to spend your time with him. It wasn’t gloom he’s been feeling, just plain old longing. Which he’s felt for suckers, music and friends, but never for a person in the way he’s been longing for you. It’s unfamiliar, and has been leaving his head messy with emotions.

Honestly, with everything going on, he was planning on leaving the concert after the first set and just telling his friends that he has a headache. That’s when Nirei, who for some reason has been forcing his friends to stick close to Kaji’s group of three, suddenly points a couple of girls out in the crowd. He waves excitedly at a girl with long black hair and green eyes who begins waving back just as excitedly. Kaji wonders why he’s there for a first year meet-cute, but then his eyes travel to the girl next to the one waving - she was facing away from his group, but he recognized the back of her head almost instantly. The raven haired girl suddenly grabbed her friend’s arm and turned her around as she pointed to Kaji and the rest of his group.

As Hana grabbed your arm and spun you around while excitedly squeal-whispering ‘look who’s here!’, the last person you expected to see was your snowy haired savior standing across the venue. The second your eyes met his beryl colored ones across the crowd you could feel the air in your lungs dissipate and your face grow hot. Luckily you weren’t flooded with too much embarrassment, because even from where you stood you could see Kaji’s blush crept all the way down his neck and disappeared into his hoodie. For a second, he takes a slight step back and you can feel your brow raise in question - is he gonna run away? - when his friend, who you recognize as Enomoto, claps him on his back forcing him to take a step forward. The snowy haired male shoots a glare at his stylish friend, but when he turns back to you - you’re already waving and smiling at him shyly while Hana drags you towards his group. He didn’t have any time to prepare before you’re suddenly thrust in front of him by your raven haired friend, who - being the more confident one - is already introducing herself to him before turning her attention to his friends. The two of you are stuck silently staring at each other while Hana is making quick conversation, and then dragging the rest of his group away from the two of you. Both of you whip your heads in unison with mouths opened in protest, but Hana just throws you a sly ‘have fun!’ over her shoulder while pointing the rest of them towards a booth on the opposite side of the concert. Turning back to meet each other’s gazes again, and you both immediately turn bright red and swiftly avert your eyes.

“Um,” finally breaking the silence as you look back up at him through thick lashes. “It’s really good to see you again… I’ve been hoping we’d run into each other.” You admit with a shy smile, a little embarrassed, as you fidget with your sleeve and continue to peer up at him with those big, beautiful eyes that leave him speechless. Kaji’s face softens as he regards you with an adoring look - a long moment passes before he realizes he hasn’t spoken.

“Ahem,” he clears his throat, trying to recover some of his composure. “I’ve been hoping to run into you too… I think our friends may have noticed, and set this up.” Kaji remarks with an amused, wistful smile gracing his lips - allowing himself to feel more relaxed after hearing he’s been on your mind too.

From afar, Hana is huddled inconspicuously at a booth with the Furin guys crowded behind her, all of whom were spying on the two of you. Though your friend is used to your shy, blushing nature; Kaji’s friends are not used to his - Kusumi, Enomoto, Nirei, Suo, Sakura, and now Tsubaki and Hiragi too since they happened to hear about the event - all gasped in unison at his relaxed expression. Glancing back and forth at each other, they all share a silent thought - that they relay to Hana later on - Kaji has never smiled like that before. Sakura is blushing so badly he’s basically a taillight at this point as he picks up on the romantic implication between you and Kaji.

“I’m grateful for them.” You blurt out without thinking which causes you to start blushing once again - Kaji is just as surprised by your admission as he starts blushing again too. Suddenly, the first band starts to play and the crowd surges forward and starts pressing into both of you. Without thinking much of it, Kaji grabs your hand so you don’t get swept away before pulling you closer to his chest where you grab onto the front of his hoodie for some stability. The two of you stay frozen like that as the first notes of the song ring out in drones from an electric guitar. It was getting too loud for you, and Kaji seemed to notice as he leaned down so his lips brushed your ear, and spoke up so you could hear and feel the full baritone in his voice.

“I’m not great in crowds - do you mind if we move towards the back?” He asks, then leans back to look for any signs of dissatisfaction on your face. To his delight, you looked relieved that he offered as you nodded eagerly - also itching to get away from all of the people.

Enveloping your hand in his, just like the first day you two met, and then he leads you to the back of the crowd. Luckily, due to his stature and severe scowl, people jumped out of the way to make room for the two of you, so he was able to beeline to an empty spot in the back that still allowed a good view of the stage. Coming to a halt, the two of you turn towards the stage and stand side by side, but Kaji doesn’t let go of your hand. In fact, he held it through the entire first set, and as more and more people filtered into the area you were eventually forced to stand basically pressed completely into his side to avoid being shoulder checked by others. Though Kaji enjoyed you being so close, and all the warm buzzing in his veins from your proximity - it started to annoy him deeply how close people were to bumping into you, though his face didn’t show any of his annoyance. As the second set starts and even more people start showing up, you reach out with your free hand and grab onto his upper arm to avoid a large guy (who probably couldn’t see you) about to step on you. Then, you hear Kaji speak for the first time since the show started.

“Hey. Careful man, you’re about to step on her.” He shouts over the music loud enough for the approaching guy to hear, but he wasn’t screaming by any means. Regardless, when the substantial man turned around to see you pressing into Kaji to avoid being stepped on accentuated by Kaji’s deep set scowl directed at him and the way his cerulean eyes flicker protectively towards you - he jumps out of the way and throws an apology your way before heading in the opposite direction completely. Just as quickly as it showed up, his scowl vanished as he turned to look at you with the most relaxed expression again. ‘Are you ready to go?’ He mouths at you, and you nod gratefully up at him. Incredibly relieved to finally get out of there. You enjoyed the music, but concerts weren’t really your scene - you had actually only come at Hana’s request, funnily enough.

The two of you exit the crowd near the lines of booths selling food, drinks and merchandise. Off to the far end, Hana is sitting with the Furin group where you had last seen them. Before Kaji can start leading you towards them, you tug on his sleeve quickly, and as he turns to look at you - you already have your phone open to ‘New Contact’ ready to put in his number. He blinks down at you dubiously as you hold it up to him.

“Can I get your number… Please?” Asking shyly, as you once again look at him bashfully through your lashes, which makes him feel breathless and a little lightheaded. Slowly he nods, taking your phone out of your hand and inputting his information. He goes to take out his phone to hand to you, but then he receives a text from an unknown number. After opening the message, he sees:

xxx-xxx-xxxx: Hi it’s Y/N! I had a great time tonight, can we hang out again soon? :)

“Yes.” Kaji says before looking up from his phone to see you blushing and fidgeting with your sleeve again - nervous of his rejection. So cute, he thinks to himself while fighting the sudden urge to bend down and kiss your forehead. “Are you free this weekend? Maybe we can go somewhere quieter this time?” He asks quickly, pushing his thoughts aside, and then blushes as he reels a bit at his own eagerness.

“Absolutely!” Chirping back, as you beam up at him. “There’s this pop up art show on the edge of Furin territory this weekend, and while there’s a music component, it’s more like a ‘silent concert’ vibe. They provide headphones, or you can bring your own, but all of the pieces are connected to a song or album…” Your eyes light up as you explain the event, but then you realize you don’t know Kaji well enough to know if that’s what he enjoys.

“If that’s something you’d be interested in? Obviously we can do something else if you want!” Quickly, you offer an out or an alternative - apprehensive that that’s the last thing he’d want to do.

“That sounds pretty cool, but if it’s like… nice art, then I may not fit in.” He says cautiously as he gestures to the clothes he’s currently wearing - he’s also feeling apprehensive, but for a completely different reason - but you immediately perk up at that as you grin up at him again.

“It’s all modern art made by local university and high school students, so it’ll be a really casual event. Honestly, you’ll fit right in.” You assure him quickly, and he smiles despite his nerves. He didn’t know why, but when you said he’ll ‘fit right in’ a warm bubbly feeling pumped through his veins making his heart stutter slightly.

“Cool.” Kaji breathes out with a small, relieved smile. “I’ll take you out to lunch afterwards.” He offers smoothly, and now your heart is stuttering. This was starting to sound like a date.

“Aw-awesome! I’ll send you the address and meet you there around noon?” You ask, trying to iron out the details without giving away that you’re trying to clarify exactly what this hangout is.

“You live close to that shop I took you to the first day we met, right?” He asks with a curious tilt of his head, and you nod in response. “Okay cool. I live pretty close to there too, so I can just come pick you up around noon, if that’s okay?” He asks, oh so nonchalantly. Despite his poker face, his heart is going a million miles a minute while he waits for what you’ll say.

“Um, yeah, of course! That would be great, thank you!” Blurting out quickly, and smiling giddily despite your attempts to stay cool, but then he ruins all of your efforts with his next words.

“Okay cool. It’s a date.” He says while taking your hand and starts leading you towards your friends once again. “Also, you don’t need to thank me for something I want to do.” Turning slightly to add over his shoulder, his pale ceruleans capture your gaze and pierce you through the heart right then and there. The tips of your ears start burning as your unruly heart hammers unsteadily against your chest, and the air is punched out of your lungs completely.

If he didn’t look away soon you feared you might die on the spot, but honestly a part of you wouldn’t have minded - the way you feel when he looks at you is exhilarating. It’s like you were tandem skydiving for the first time, and just when you were convinced that you were done for as the ground rushes towards your face, he finally releases the parachute by breaking eye contact and your senses return to you - but you still feel flustered and hot all over by the time the two of you reach the booth.

Despite his friend's immediate silent teasing - trying to not give it away to you, but you’re perceptive enough to see the winks and wiggling eyebrows shot his way - Kaji remains the king of nonchalance around them. Introduces you to the few of his friends who you haven’t met yet, and then your blended group takes a few moments to shoot the breeze. It seems like Hana has enjoyed conversing with Tsubaki, Enomoto and Kusumi - though you realize that they have certainly been discussing you and Kaji this whole time. Even though you’re feeling shy around all of the new faces, they all seem thrilled that you’re here and are extremely welcoming to you. Eventually, everyone has to say their goodbyes as the concert comes to a close. Kaji and you bid each other a good night, and as he’s turning to leave he says ‘see you Saturday’ and you smile and nod before repeating the same back to him. Both of you were teased incessantly by your friends on your separate walks home, but neither of you seemed to care - too excited over what Saturday, and whatever follows, will bring.

Not long after the concert and art pop-up, you and Kaji start hanging out on a regular basis. Soon after, you both come to realize that you have the same taste in music, both enjoy Peach Chupa Chups, and though you probably like coffee more than Kaji - he at least enjoys going on coffee dates with you. Though he’s partial to Pothos, and has convinced you to become partial to them as well - especially since he knew you would thoroughly enjoy Kotoha’s company once you met her.

Only a couple months later you receive a playlist named “Please Be Mine <3”. It was rather forward for Kaji, but he wanted to be as clear as possible - following the advice of Hiragi and Umemiya since he didn’t want to mess this up. The playlist was filled with songs directly and indirectly speaking of love. Just to be thorough, he follows it with a message:

Kaji: Hey, do you have time to talk after school today?

Y/N: Of course! I love the playlist by the way! :)

Kaji: Kaji loved a message.

After school, Kaji took you on a coffee date and officially asked you to be his girlfriend. Beside yourself with happiness, you of course accepted, and then kissed him on the cheek without warning. Kaji’s face flushed a light pink at first, which quickly deepened to a rich red as he pulled up his hood and yanked the strings taught to hide his face. Shocked at first, you gently shake his arm, but he just shakes his head and murmurs something you can’t hear. Leaning into his arm, you ask him to speak up.

“I-I can’t look at you after that! Wh-why did you kiss me?” He asks in a stilted whisper as he pulls his hood back slightly to peek at you despite his words. Even though Kaji has held your hand with ease, or even maneuvered you around in times of danger, he has never been on the receiving end of such open physical affection and didn’t quite know how to handle it.

“Because you’re my boyfriend now.” Taunting him with a mischievous smile as you quickly grab the edges of his hood so he can’t hide and plant a kiss squarely on his lips. Kaji is relieved he just freezes under your touch and somehow blushes an even deeper red, rather than reflexively hit you like he did to Furin’s Leader when Umemiya hugged him. That is the only time you push the line with Kaji when it comes to PDA, and after that the two of you really only hold hands in public. Even when the two of you weren’t holding hands, it would still be clear to everyone by the way Kaji always has his headphones off around you that the two of you are together.

#SP’s Headspace #pernesophe #wind breaker x reader #windbreaker x reader

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mcx7demonbros · 8 months ago

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All Catholic References with Sunday (that I could find)

Well, for starter, I found lots of Catholic references with Sunday, and by extension, some elements in Penacony and even Xipe the Harmony. I feel like I have to write this down and post this. It's the reason this post exists.

Warning, this post will have extensive Bible quotes and religious references. If you are uncomfortable, please ignore this post.

Also, because I could only play the story only once and cannot go back to re-read the story, there will not be screenshots to everything.

Finally, spoilers of the newest Penacony trailblaze quest ofc

1. The name

Sunday's name is Sunday, and as you know, this is the day that is dedicated to God and most Christian (including Catholics) go to church to worship God. Sunday, right before he called upon the machine that he rode to become the weekly boss for the first time, he called it "Dominicus". This comes from the Latin word for Sunday "dominica", which means "the Lord's day". "Dominica" itself came from "Dominum, which means "Lord" or "the Lord". Even though the data bank calls the boss "Harmonious Choir" the Great Septimus, the detailed description of the boss still says "Dominicus".

If you search on the internet, you may find that the Latin word for Sunday is dies solis (which means the day of the sun). But that word was used in the pre-Christian era. Dies solis was changed to dominica after Christianity became the state religion of the Roman Empire in the 4th century. Till this day, English and other Germanic languages still call the first day of the week "day of the sun" in their respective languages, while other Romance/Latin languages call the first day of the week "the Lord's day", such as Portugese - domingo, Spanish - domingo, Italian - domenica, French - dimanche, etc.

2. Sunday's physical angelic features

Sunday was born a Halovian, a species in Star Rail universe well-known by their angelic iconography, having "halos" over their heads and white wings on the back of their heads. Although currently, only Sunday and Robin are shown to have wings, while other Halovian NPCs don't have them.

3. Confession

This one, I believe, is quite obvious, with Sunday acts like a priest hearing confessions of the people who came to him for guidance and a free-from-guilt conscience in what seems to be a confession booth.

4. "The creation of Adam"

Remember the cutscene with the boss in 3rd phrase reaching out the hand and touches another hand coming down from the sky.

It''s inspired by this

"The Creation of Adam" or "The Creation of Man" is a fresco painting by Michelangelo for the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in early 16th century. This painting depicts God outstretching his right hand and finger towards Adam, the first man. This is mirrored and reversed by Sunday outstretching his right hand and finger from below toward the hand appearing from the sky. It is mirrored because in the original fresco, it is God reaching out for human with his right hand and Adam reaching out with his left hand, while in the game, the mysterious hand is a left hand while Sunday reaches out with his right hand. It is reverse because in the fresco, it is God who reaches out for human, while in the game, it is Sunday, a mortal, reaching up for the deity. However, we still don't know to whom that hand in the cutscene belong, I have compared that hand with both Xipe's and Ena's in their models, and it doesn't seem to belong to either of them, although the hand looks more like Xipe's than Ena's.

5. And on the eighth day

"And on the eighth day" is the name of the last quest of the trailblaze mission/main story quest chain of Penacony that was released in version 2.2.

In the quest, we hear Sunday telling us what Ena the Order did within the first seven days of Their existence. This is based on the narrative in the first chapter of Genesis, the first book of the Bible, God created everything in six days and He rested on the seventh day. If you have done the side quest to find clues about Sunday's whereabouts for Robin, you will get a notebook with the account of what Ena did in the seven days, the notebook is also divided into numbered chapters and verses, like the Bible.

Now we come to "the eighth day". In the 3rd phrase of the boss fight, each time the boss's turn comes, it doesn't attack but count the 7 days with its turns, corresponding with the narrative of Ena's first 7 days. And even on the 7th turn, the boss doesn't attack. It attacks on its next/8th turn after the cutscene, representing the eighth day.

Now in Catholicism, the day that Jesus rose from the dead is Sunday, the first day of the week. But Sunday is after the seventh day of the week, Saturday, so it's also called the eighth day.

"The eighth day, that is, the first day after the Sabbath [loosely corresponding to Saturday], was to be that on which the Lord should rise again, and should quicken us, and give us circumcision of the spirit." St. Cyprian of Carthage

"God brought it about that Christ’s body rested from all His works on the Sabbath in the tomb, and that He rose from the dead on the third day, which we call the Lord’s Day, the day after the Sabbath, and therefore the eighth day." St. Augustine of Hippo

6. Penacony's Phonograph soundtracks

I said that I also found some religious elements with Penacony. And I found those references with many of Penacony's phonograph soundtracks.

City Upon a Hill - the name is deprived from Jesus's words in Sermon on the Mount. You are the light of the world. A city seated on a mountain cannot be hid. (Matthew 5:14)

The Strength of Sin is the Law and The Sting of Death is Sin - now both of these came from the words of St. Paul the Apostle in his first Epistle (letter) to the Corinthians in the Bible, words for words. The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. (1 Cor. 15:56)

Infirma Nostri Corporis - this is a phrase from traditional Catholic hymn Veni Creator Spiritus - Come, Holy Spirit, Creator. The phrase is an invocation of the Holy Spirit to strengthen our mortal body full of frailty and weaknesses.

Requiem Aeternam - eternal rest, this is a introit (hymn that is sung when the priest enters the church at the beginning of Mass). This introit is used at a Requiem Mass or Mass for the deceased or funeral Mass, a prayer to ask God to grand eternal rest to the deceased. Mozart wrote his own Requiem, which I believe to be the direct inspiration for this soundtrack and the next four. That means the original Catholic hymns are indirect inspirations.

Confutatis - confusion, this is a part of Sequence Dies Irae (Day of Wrath), which tells us about the Last Judgement. Confusion here means the confusion of the reprobate if you want the full context of this particular phrase. Also a part of Mozart's Requiem Mass.

Hosanna in Excelsis - Hosanna in the highest (hosanna is a word that expresses adoration, joy and praise). This originally came from the words of the crowd when they acclaimed Jesus at his Entrance into the city of Jerusalem. (Matt. 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19). This was later incorporated into the praise Sanctus, which is sung at every Mass. Being an ordinary part of the Mass, the Sanctus is also a part of Mozart's Requiem.

Agnus Aeon - Lamb of Aeon, this is inspired by Agnus Dei - Lamb of God, another hymn that is present at every Mass. The hymn itself was inspired from the Bible, when St. John the Baptist called Jesus "the Lamb of God" (John 1:36). In Star Rail universe, when saying "god", the Aeons come to mind and the soundtrack's name was subsequently adopted to fit in the story. Also a part of Mozart's Requiem, same case with Sanctus.

Lux Aeterna - eternal light, the name comes from the hymn that is sung at the end of the Requiem Mass. The whole context is a prayer to God to let eternal light shine upon the departed.

7. Xipe - the Triple-Faced Soul

One of Xipe the Harmony's titles is the Triple-Faced Soul, and you can see They have three faces (or heads?) from Their model. They are also called "thousand faces", but here I'll be discussing the Triple-Faced only.

Now Xipe's three faces reminds me of the Holy Trinity, especially the depiction of the Trinity as Trifacial.

This kind of depiction of the Holy Trinity is not allowed anymore after the 1628 ban of Pope Urban VIII, who feared the depiction could make the people confused about the doctrine of the Trinity.

While the Trinity in Christianity is Three Distinct Persons but one God, one Divinity, Xipe is one person with three faces as symbolism.

I do know that gods in Hinduism have multiple heads, but I have only seen gods with 4 heads, 5 heads or even 8 heads. The only time I see a three-head god is when they depict Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva together as the Trimurti.

Well, those are all the Catholic references I could find and remember. Feel free to tell me if I missed something :3

#honkai star rail #hsr sunday #sunday hsr #penacony #hsr xipe

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equipment-manifest · 3 months ago

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What do you think of these axon looking things?

Given the similarities to axon terminals I was wondering if they were for delivering information/status report of their surrounding equipment

But the one at moon's gravity disruptor feels more like its sampling data from the engine (the last few times I went through that room it ragdolled very hard upon entering due to the gravity lol)

And looking at that screenshot I just took from the map website, it also has the "reading halo", so it probably is catching on information rather than relaying it

Ah, these things - there's not a lot to go on with them, but they're certainly interesting. I'm going to use the game's internal nomenclature and call them "coral stems" for clarity.

Coral stems seem to interact with an Iterator's internal biota in much the same way as their more common cousin, the wall mycelia. Both organisms sprout from the Iterator's internal walls, attracting to their hyphae neuron flies and the free-floating hyphae of coral neurons and inspectors. The sparking effect produced upon contact with these organisms is identical to that seen between interacting overseers, so I'm inclined to believe it represents the exchange of information (rather than say, energy or nutrients) between an Iterator's stationary machinery and its free-floating organic parts. The question then is how the role of coral stems in this interface differs from the role of the wall mycelia.

As you implied, the segmented body of a coral stem closely resembles an axon wrapped in a myelin sheath, the part of a neuron that transmits signals away from the cell body. In such an analogy, the cell body would have to be the machinery the coral stem is anchored to. The wispy mycelia growing from that machinery would then seem to fit the description of dendritic branches, thin growths that receive signals from other cells. So one interpretation could be that the coral stems and wall mycelia perform opposite functions, delivering messages to and receiving messages from the free-floating biota respectively.

Another possibility is that the wall mycelia and coral stems are both sensory organs, but with complementary roles. The mats of wall mycelia are not especially dense, but their hyphae extend into a large part of an Iterator's internal spaces. This makes them well-adapted to sensing macroscopic organisms like neuron flies or coral neurons. These organisms are unevenly distributed in a way that requires hyphae to be able to reach them no matter where they are in a room, but their large size and weight ensures that any nearby hyphae will certainly be disturbed by their presence and brushed against them. In contrast, small particles like microorganisms or chemical traces in the air would be unlikely to collide with the scarce hyphae of wall mycelia, and too light to be reliably detected when they do.

The bundled hyphae of coral stems could act like scent traps for these particles—when one happens to wander into a coral stem's bristles, it's likely to become trapped and bounce around among the dense hyphae for a time, the repeated collisions ensuring that there are many chances for it to be detected. Of course, coral stems are distributed much more sparsely than wall mycelia, but that would be just fine for this purpose. Diffusion ensures that the distribution of small, light particles is relatively homogeneous throughout a space: the air in one part of a room is about the same as the air in any other part, so there'd be no need for too many coral stems close together.

I hope this provided some food for thought, thanks for the ask!

#rain world #iterator anatomy #mebis-art-dump

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comatosebunny09 · 1 year ago

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with a pretty bow on top | astarion a.

summary: you’ve never been particularly good at wrapping things. but you want to ensure your friends have the best gifts of all, including a certain snarky elf who’s difficult to please. genre(s): romance, fluff, modern au, friends to (possible) lovers warning(s): alcohol, profanity, mentions of blood, mutual pining notes: merry chrysler! i hope everyone has a lovely christmas! thank you so much for reading! screenshot credit

For the umpteenth time, the paper rips.

And for the umpteenth time, you feel this is a lost cause. Deflate like a balloon, a sigh rushing past your lips.

You’ve never been particularly good at wrapping things. Usually had your mother or roommate to carry that burden.

You routinely opt for gift bags. Easier to drop a present inside, dress it up with pretty tissue paper and a witty card, and go about your business.

But you made a terrible mistake, forgoing the convenience store in your haste to get to your Airbnb.

It’s a tucked-away cabin in the woods. Secluded and ominous, shrouded by the night. The pristine blanket of snow building outside makes up for its creepiness. It’s nice to be away from the city, too, surrounded by people you adore. People who’ve filled the space between your ribs for years.

On cue, their merriment reaches your ears, streaming from the kitchen.

They’re hammered. You should be, too. But you want to ensure your friends have the best gifts of all. Wrapped neatly and tucked beneath the Christmas tree, waiting to be ripped open come morning.

You huff, balling up another sheet of paper and chucking it.

Errant pieces of tape litter your clothing. Strips of foil wrapping paper gleam in the light emitted from the fireplace. The ribbons you haphazardly cut shift in the ceiling fan’s breeze. Your battlefield.

The medium-sized box sitting between your spread legs leers at you condescendingly. You fold your arms, nudging it with your foot.

“I’m not your bitch,” you mutter, turning your nose up with a scowl.

“Well, that’s no way to greet an old friend.”

You start, your attention pilfered by the man wandering towards you.

He paints an ethereal picture in the firelight, curls flouncing about and glowing like a halo around his head. A bottle of wine and two Bordeaux glasses greet you from between his fingers. He wears that effervescent smirk beneath round frames. Brow pitches up with amusement, gait flamboyant whilst the kitchen blurs behind him.

You swallow, your lips trembling around a greeting when he plops down beside you. Cross-legged, scooting closer like a friend bearing gossip. Fills your lungs with the smell of brandy and cracked vanilla beans. He’s naturally corpse-cold, but the slightest bit of warmth radiates off his skin, permeating through the layers of your clothes.

Must’ve fed on something viscous wandering the woods before he found you.

He brings you back when he pushes a glass into your hand.

“I was wondering where you’d wandered off to,” Astarion purrs, his tone colored with alcohol. With your breath held in your esophagus, you watch as he pops the stopper off the bottle with a pointed tooth. Spits it out. “Mind if I impede on your party of one?”

Your lips twitch. Like you’d ever say no to him. “Course not.”

And no, you do not nearly jump some 50 feet out of your skin when limber fingers curl around yours, bringing the glass up for him to fill it. He catches your stare over the rim, scarlet spun eyes alight with mischief. You look away as heat branches up your neck.

The dark liquid sloshes about as he fills his own glass. Fizzles, the sweet fragrance curling around your nose. “Finally, some good shit,” you breathe, taking a sip. Release a content sound as it bubbles on the back of your tongue. The burn of it washes over your nerves, loosening them.

Astarion scoffs, leaning back on the hand he positioned behind you. Adam’s apple bobs in your peripheral as he takes a swig. He redirects his attention to you, something of a pout occupying his lips. “Darling, you wound me. As if I would bring anything worse than that cheap excuse for booze you lot rave about. Four Loko, was it?”

You snicker, nursing your glass. Turn the stem between your fingers, examining the hardwood floor beneath.

Sure, he’s always had this thing with you. This way of squeezing himself beneath your skin where no one else could, turning you into some flustered mess. But you can’t deny you’ve missed his company. His eccentricities. His smell.

The years have dragged you all apart. Pushed you in different directions, your careers casting you out to sea. But like driftwood, you all floated back to shore. United under the same roof to celebrate Christmas and usher in the new year.

It’s a pleasant sensation, idling with the wine warming your veins.

The hum of his voice eases through your musings. “Mm, what’s this about?” Astarion queries around another mouthful of wine, signaling to the massacre at your feet.

You shrink. An uneasy smile rounds your cheeks. “Yeah, about that. Kinda got carried away.”

“Carried away? By the hells, it looks like you got into a fight with a pair of scissors and…lost. Abysmally.”

You snort. “Alright, alright. Take it easy. We can’t all be gifted with our hands like some people, Mister Art Teacher.”

Your stomach plummets. Blood turns to ice. The double entendre hits you like a sack of coal. You bring your glass to your lips to mask your unease. To mask the shakiness of your limbs.

Astarion exudes smugness, admiring his nails with a flourish of his fingers. “Well, these hands aren’t just made for sculpting works of art, my dear.”

You sputter, speckles of wine flying everywhere.

Astarion chuckles, the sound of it smooth as velvet. Leans closer, his elbow brushing your thigh as he reaches for something in front of you. You stiffen, biting the rim of your glass. It’s almost like you two haven’t been friends for years. Haven’t seen each other bleed, cry, piss, for God’s sake.

“Come,” beckons Astarion, taking up a roll of wrapping paper and plucking the box from between your legs.

You huff a disbelieving laugh. “What are you doing?”

He scoffs. Side-eyes you as if it’s as apparent as night and day. “Well, clearly, no one’s taught you the art of wrapping a bloody gift. I mean, look at this. A child could do better.”

Your shoulders touch your ears. Astarion’s disapproval is akin to upsetting your parents. Even after all this time apart, he still knows how to lay the insults on thick.

It’s kind of comical how he grumbles like an embittered old woman, unraveling some of the paper. Still methodical in everything he does, positioning the box in the center. Concentration pulls his brows together. “Fetch me that tape.”

You give him an incredulous look. “You’re lucky you’re cute,” you relent before doing as he demanded instructed. His fingers ghost over your hand in pursuit of the tape, and you bristle.

Astarion goes into full scholar mode hereon, paper rippling around him as he cuts away. Moves like a butler masterfully laying out a tablecloth. No trace of inebriation lies in the shift of his fingers. It’s as if he hadn’t polished off a bottle of brandy before finding you.

“Typically, wrapping paper comes with a template. A set of squares or lines you can use to gauge where you need to cut.”

He gestures for the scissors. You scramble for them like a student eager to please their instructor.

“Depending on how precise you want the wrapping to be, you must trim off as much excess as possible whilst ensuring you have enough left to cover your parcel.”

“Interesting.”

You angle yourself closer, sitting up on your haunches. The bulb of your glass grows warm, stained with your fingerprints. You nod, genuinely intrigued. Chin finds the pocket of his shoulder—an affectionate gesture amongst longtime friends.

Astarion tenses. You wince, flinching away.

“Sorry.”

“No, no. It’s quite alright, darling.” He clears some phlegm from his throat. Squeezes your kneecap, presenting you with a fraction of a smile. Dragonflies tickle the lining of your stomach. He resumes his lesson as if his muscles aren’t pulled taut.

Your lips twitch. Seems Astarion’s not the only one capable of disarming those around him.

You cant your head along the slope of his shoulder, watching him work with the curiosity of a child.

“It helps to tape here.” Carefully, he layers a strip of tape near the edge of the box where paper meets cardboard. “So as to keep your paper from shifting.”

As Astarion leads on, you find yourself terribly distracted. Your vision ebbs and flows. Body buzzes. From his proximity or the wine, you’re unsure. It’s a pleasant sensation, nonetheless.

The cacophony of the cabin and your friends fade into a dull hum. Only the rumble of Astarion’s voice fills the wrinkles of your brain. He’s surprisingly nurturing despite how he outwardly projects himself to the world. Soothing as he speaks to you, gaze occasionally flitting your way to ensure you’re still with him.

Try as you might to focus, you find your lids drooping, your vision blurred around the edges. An inebriated smile teases your lips. You could fall below the inky depths of sleep like this, led into it by his voice. Still would feel perfectly safe on your descent, knowing he’d be there to haul you back to the surface.

You sit up to take him in. To observe the furrow of his brows, the coil of his lashes. The gilded lenses perched on his nose like a librarian. His mouth pulls into a tight line while he focuses. Plump and petal pink. Skin’s still smooth and dewy, glowing in the firelight like he’s descended from heaven. His hands move seemingly of their own volition. Caught in a dance he knows all too well, still pretty and delicate-looking, untouched by time.

You imagine what they’d feel like, clasped in yours. Thumb cruising over the grooves of your knuckles, pushing reassuring beneath your skin. How he’d look with a careless smile, whispering the sweetest supplications into the crown of your head.

Reality comes pitching forward, the moment ending too soon.

You blink out of your reverie as Astarion slides the box toward you. It softly thumps against your leg. Expertly wrapped with a bow in its center and ribbons waterfalling down its sides. You stare in awe. You could never master something so intricate.

“And that, my dear, is how you wrap a present.” Astarion pats your thigh with finality before leaning back with a sigh. Looks smug as ever whilst taking a sip of his forgotten wine.

You smirk. Offer Astarion a half-hearted applause, and he eats it all up.

“I envy whatever bastard receives this, honestly,” he croons around the mouth of his cup. “I outdid myself.”

You chuckle. Your inhibition is thrown to the wolves. You eye the present, your body vibrating with anticipation. Maybe it’s the liquid encouragement urging you forward, loosening your tongue. Whatever the cause, you push on.

“I mean, I’d hope he likes it. He took his time wrapping it, after all.”

Astarion casts you a sidelong glance. Snorts into his glass. Realization gradually descends on his features. It’s funny watching his face morph into something akin to a confused puppy.

You shrug, caught like a child rifling through a cookie jar. It takes a moment, but his brows finally lift with an unasked question.

Seriously, they ask. For me?

You reach for the box, pointedly avoiding his stare. The heat of bashfulness inhabits your cheeks as you carefully slip the box into his lap. Your hand lingers. Fingers tenderly grip the meat of his quad, stars dancing across the stratosphere of your eyes when you muster the courage to look at him.

“Merry Christmas, Starry.”

He sputters. Sits up. Glances between you, the box, and the clock perched above the mantle. It’s midnight. Tradition dictates you open one present at the cusp of Christmas day.

Astarion laughs, something airy and pleasant. His hand closes over yours, and he squeezes. He’s beautiful like this. Youthful as he glances up at you, his mouth working around a reply.

“You cheeky little shit. Making me wrap my own gift. The gall.”

He acts offended, but you know that couldn’t be further from the truth.

“Would you rather I have wrapped it?”

You both warily eye your shit attempts at wrapping his gift.

“Fair enough,” he jests with a resigned drop of his shoulders.

You share a laugh, the air between you charged with affection. Through it all, you note Astarion’s hand has yet to leave yours. Thumb kneads reassuring circles into the clutch of your hand. Your heart thrums a war cadence in your ears, blotting out the sound of his wine glass clinking against the floor as he sets it down.

He releases a breath. Observes you a moment longer with a warm smile on his lips. Shifts his gift onto the floor beside him. “Come here,” Astarion murmurs, saturating your vision with nothing but him as he leans closer.

You heed his request, and your lids lower, a pleasant shiver sifting through your bones at his glacial fingers at the nape of your neck. You have but seconds to appreciate the flutter of his lashes before he closes in.

He fuses his lips to yours with such precision. Tender, supple. Just like you always dreamed they would be. He’s frigid, but he scorches you from within. Gently takes possession of your cheek, coaxing your lips to part with the slide of his tongue after your body relaxes.

You grant him the entry he requests with an abrasive sound easing from your throat. Warmth pools in the chasm of your belly whilst your tongues intermingle and the maple taste of brandy pushes into your mouth.

His voice vibrates in your mouth as he chuckles something satisfied. He breaks the kiss with a soft click, and you chase his mouth in pursuit of another.

“Don’t be greedy, darling,” he husks with a teasing tap to your nose.

Your eyes cautiously slide open. Lips still pursed, head still swimming. “What was that all about,” you breathe into the space between your mouths.

Astarion chuckles, all fangs and mirth. You follow his gaze skyward, a blur of forest green and red nestled between the space of your lashes. Slowly, the distortion works itself into discernable shapes. You laugh at the telltale plant dangling above your head. Held by him.

“Mistletoe,” he croons as if it’s the most obvious thing.

You giggle, your nose brushing along the peak of his whilst you draw him in to press your foreheads together.

The time eases by with you sitting together by the fireplace, your cheek resting on Astarion’s shoulder as you regale stories of a childhood once passed. Hardly notice when you’re beckoned to sleep by the pretty girls of slumber.

#astarion x reader #astarion x you #astarion x tav #astarion fanfic #bg3 fanfiction #softstarion #bg3 fluff #astarion fluff #mutual pining #friends to lovers #christmas fluff #christmas fic #holiday fic #astarion x gn reader #tw: alcohol #tw: profanity

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scottmemelordstrashpile · 7 months ago

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I just realized The Master Chief Collection version of Halo: Reach lets you cosplay as Master Chief even better than the original since you can have his 117 ID tag as your emblem, meaning it'll be visible on your armor like some depictions of Chief have it.

#halo #halo reach #halo: reach #master chief #master chief collection #the master chief collection #john 117 #spartan 2 #spartan ii #video game screenshots #game screencaps #game screenshots

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mbangelofdeath · 1 year ago

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Armed & Dangerous

Some simple Halo Infinite screenshots I’ve taken last week. Enjoy

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kystral · 6 months ago

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#halo reach #halo master collection #Screenshot #game

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flame-resistant · 9 months ago

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He felt sick. Why did you look at him like that? Why were you being so nice? Why weren't you scared of him like everyone else? It made his skin itch just enough; he needed it to stop.

Content: stalking, death threats, yandere

He remembered you well, the look you gave when you offered him the soda. How you said it was an extra by mistake, a kind gesture that just didn’t sit well with him. What was your game? Didn’t know who he was? Even if you didn’t, how could you not see he was bad news, how disgusting he looked. A bitter feeling entered his chest as Shigaraki watched you leave, off to do God knows what, just a stupid little civilian who didn’t know any better. You made him sick.

It didn’t take him long to find your social media, only a few days of trying to fish for information. The area the two of you met in was near a university, you looked about his age, so a student fit and damn was he correct. Even there you presented as this kind individual who could do no wrong. Helping with the needy and deprived like some saint, an obsessive thought edging its way into his mind. What would happen if someone made you snap? A grin crossed his dry lips as the bright screen created a halo around his thin figure, but he was far from angelic, and he was damned to prove you weren’t as well.

“Hey who is this loser posting hate comments in your posts?” A friend had asked after you received a few hate comments, while cyberbullying and trolling wasn’t a new topic, it was odd that your small blog would be hit. Shrugging your shoulders, eyes skimmed the words from the anonymous user: “fraud”, “die in a hole”, “you think this makes you good?”; it almost seemed this user was taking everything personal. Though you couldn’t figure out just what you did to them specifically.

“It’s probably just someone mad and taking it out on random blogs, no? We never interacted before so we can’t possibly know each other. Look, we don't even follow the same accounts.” That was a good point, your friend mumbled in agreement. Perhaps it really just was some spam account, they only told you to be careful in case it got more extreme.

“Just be sure to take screenshots if they threaten you.”

And you did, the comments not stopping only growing by the hour. It got to the point you had to block the account, something you usually didn’t do but felt pressured due to the volume of spam comments and your friend saying they deserved it. A part of you was tempted to just reach out and ask what their problem was, an idea that was dropped when mentioned in your social group. Brows furrowed as the others called you too nice, that people don’t think like you, that some are just fucked up.

It seemed to be going well, after the block the hate comments stopped, and things started to go back into the boring norm of college classes and hanging out in your free time. A notification on your phone distracted you from the recent discussion with your study group. Blood leaving your being as you read the message sent to you, a new account, but the same words.

“Did you really think blocking me would help? I knew it, you’re just like the rest of the trash in this world. One day you’re going to wake up and everything around you is going to be dead, that goody-two-shoes attitude won’t be able to help you either. You’re all going to die and I’m going to do it.”

All attention was back on you when your phone dropped to the floor, your face pale from the feeling of anxiety growing inside you. Saying a quick “excuse me”, they watched you leave to the bathroom in a fit of paranoia. The mirror staring back at you showed a reflection that was never crossed before; widened eyes and mouth agape as you caught your breath. Mind raced with thoughts as you moved to check the stalls behind you, a breath of relief seeing that you were alone.

After the lovely encounter with your new pen pal, your friends convinced you to go to the police in hopes of finding the creep. Though it was shown they couldn’t pinpoint a good enough address, something about a VPN, your mind distracted by other things than computer tech. Looking out the window, every person became a possible threat. Was it the guy in the hoodie getting into a cab? Maybe the woman who was screaming at her phone while ordering a coffee. Your trust in humanity slowly dwindles, a hand on your shoulder breaking those negative thoughts as your friends give a few reassuring smiles. You weren’t fighting this by yourself, you had support.

Taking the police’s advice on blocking the account and switching your social to private, you had a bit more hope that maybe this would end. The small group headed back to your apartment as your friends discussed how crazy the person was. Your mind once more lost in thought on trying to figure out just what you did. The person said you were a goody-two-shoes, maybe they just meant your social media likes and posts, though something in your gut said it was more than just that. It was like they took your existence personally, as if you had truly offended them. A part of you wanted to at least try and apologize for whatever the fuck you did, but the other part knew it would anger the anon more. For now, you decided to push it aside, you did what you could.

Again, things seemed to be calming down, while it was frustrating to be on private, you knew you had to wait it out until things died down. A few weeks, maybe a month or two? God, you just wanted this to be over with, surely the person must have moved on by now, right? Someone couldn’t be that obsessed with freaking you out. So, after a month and a half you opened up your social to the public again. A few happy comments from some mutuals on seeing you back, glad to hear you were doing well. It felt good, almost therapeutic to have that control back.

Another week and still no hate comments from random accounts, maybe they really did give up? You could be so hopeful. Checking your phone for a notification at the store entrance, you moved to place it back in your pocket before being hit by an oncoming person’s shoulder. A quick apology was sent their way as you fumbled with your phone from almost dropping it. Not receiving a reply, you figured the person was just in a rush. The dark hoodie blending in with a crowd of bystanders. Hearing your phone beep caused your eyes to leave the crowd and until the new notification. A simple sentence message from a new account: watch it.

“So, the creep really does know you? We need to go back to the police!” After the encounter, you booked it to your friend’s place, not feeling safe going shopping alone. Shaking your head, you knew it would be pointless. You didn’t get a good look at the person; from what you could see they looked male but that was just a hunch. The police would just shrug it off like they did before, not enough evidence did nothing to help them possibly hunt down a culprit.

“They’ll just blow it off again, tell me to put my blog on private again. It was torture not getting to talk to my friends outside of our group, I don’t want to do it again.”

“Yeah, but this creep saw you! They literally shoulder bumped you!

“But I didn’t see them.”

The two of you fell quiet, a huff from them knowing you were right despite how annoying and stressful the situation was. “So, the guy can just keep stalking you and the police won’t do shit, ridiculous.”

It was, but it was also legal. An agreement came after this that you wouldn’t be left alone if it could be worked out. More eyes meant more chances of seeing who the guy was, which made sense. Part of you felt bad that your friends made sure to be around before and after your classes and even walking you home. They would reassure you it was fine, that they rather do this than hang up missing posters.

Every now and then a new message would surface from a new account, statements about what you were wearing, even pictures taken of yourself and your friends. Screenshots saved before blocking the next account. It was almost starting to feel normal, as if on cue you knew he would send you a new notification on the dot. And one of those days you finally felt bold, what could he do anyway, you weren’t alone so he couldn’t exactly hurt you, besides you almost wanted him to do something in public to put an end to this and call the police.

moth.eater sent: You should try the mountain dew, maybe it would give some spice to your lame life. netizen.55 sent: Why are you doing this? What did I even do to you? moth.eater sent: I just want to see you tick.

That was it, all he wanted was to piss you off? He was doing a shitty job at that, if anything he was just scaring you into a corner. A phrase you remembered from your psych class came back to your mind, anger was a secondary emotion usually from rejection or fear. This guy was trying to scare you to the point of anger, the thought alone didn’t settle well with you. That rush of adrenaline hitting you once more before you could rationalize your response.

netizen.55 sent: I’m not scared of you.

That seemed to do it, it was the first time he blocked you. A feeling of pride filled your lungs, it’s been a while since you felt this satisfied. You won this weird argument; the block proved it enough. He should leave you alone now.

It itched; his skin never stopped burning despite how much he scratched. Red eyes stared through the screen; past the words you so bluntly wrote. You weren’t scared of him? Maybe not right now, but you would be. Every single person in this stupid world would be, sensei said so after all. The chair rolled back behind Shigaraki as he grabbed his old hoodie.

Final exams were nearing, but now that your number one hater had been leaving you alone it seemed less daunting. Your friends were even able to do their own things again which helped the guilt die down, no more being some protected being. Picking up the last textbook from the library, it was a straight direction back to your apartment. The time showed just past 7:15pm meaning a few hours of studying before crashing. Sounded like a good Thursday to you, especially with no notifications! A need to skip home almost overcame you, though the look of bystanders kept you in check.

With the apartment door shut and books tossed on the desk, it was time to get to work. Cracking your balcony door just a bit to let a breeze in, your eyes moved to observe the text. It was a relatively quiet night, not yet the weekend in which other college students would be howling below after a few drinks. Sometimes a police siren would go by, nothing too dangerous from the sounds of it, besides a few heroes were patrolling the area. Getting up to take a break, the clock now showing 8:43pm, it didn’t hit you how long you had been reading for. A hand moving to massage your face and wake up. One more hour you told yourself as you walked towards the kitchen for a drink.

Weird, did you leave the kitchen sink on? Brows furrowed as you tried to remember each step you made when you got home but couldn’t really focus due to being in a slight daze. Maybe you washed a dish and forgot to turn the faucet off. Shrugging it off, you turned the handle and moved to the fridge. Cold pizza and a few beers stared back at you, a mental note to get more groceries this weekend was made as you went back to the sink. Maybe past you knew what they were on about with the sink being on.

Cup in your hand, you stopped dead in your tracks, eyes widening from what was staring back at you. The hallway that faced the sink was empty, a window at the very back that usually helped you see what was going on in the dark apartment was now blocked by the figure. Red eyes stared back at your own, each step you took to move back was followed by another from the person.

“You said you weren’t scared of me; you look like everyone else who sees me.” The voice sounded scratched, like he hadn’t drunk anything in years, as if he was the embodiment of a desert. If it didn’t hit before, it hit now on who it was. Quick to run to the bathroom door, the closest one that would get you away from the stalker, you let out a strangled grunt when you were shoved against it instead. Face now pressed into the wood as the palm of his hand kept you in place. “I knew it, once that little facade breaks, you’re just as shitty as everyone else.”

“Let go!”

Not caring about the panic in your voice, you tried to turn around or at least get him to move, a “tsk” was heard as the hooded man showed you the cup you were once holding. Confusion turned into fear as the cup began to turn into dust just by his touch alone, a silent warning that you would be next if you kept it up. Still processing everything that was going on, the only question that could come to mind was asked, your nervous system in full overdrive with logic out the window. “Why?”

“I told you; I just want to see what’s under that mask. You should really think twice on who you offer free drinks to.”

Darkness was the final reply you got, the world shutting down around you. If you survived this, you would keep the extra soda for yourself.

#flameresistant #shigaraki tomura #shigaraki imagine #shigaraki bnha #shigaraki my hero academia #shigaraki x y/n #yandere shigaraki #poor reader just had an extra soda

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