#he's blowing her up in his mind

[mrgladstonegander]

yeah these are just my ocs and im playing dolls. i do not make things easy for oliver oca

[fromtheseventhhell]

I can tell I'm Arya-pilled to the max because I'll see other Arya stans talking about the questionable morality of her executing Daeron and I'm just like "That was so Lady of Winterfell-coded"

[blue-eli]

For the last day of pride month: sea salt family!

[poisonousquinzel]

Batman (2016) #100

the way it probably took him a second to find her after he abandoned Joker and chased after her. how the bomb evidently did detonate.

i'll ponder forever over how that moment went down and how he prevented the explosion from killing her, but not enough to save her from being severely injured & unconscious for a week recovering. how he spent hours at her bedside in case she happened to wake up that day, how he went to her hospital room on that day as well despite "I had to bury my father again today. I did it with my family." And having every beyond reasonable excuse to just not that day,,. he still made time and effort to check in on her.

the day dc treats harley's suicidal ideation as exactly what it is and let's the characters around her acknowledge it will be a glorious win for the community

[estellaestella]

Still not over this! I cant ever remember seeing the male and female leads of a movie wear the same outfit on a red carpet, albeit in different colours.

Such a clever way to do a nod to stillsuits. I even like that Law, Zendaya's stylist, got their custom JUUN.J jumpsuits in pink and blue (as all the articles described them; ignore that they look peach and grey in some photos.) He's making a statement about how future fashion will be more gender neutral but to make it palatable to us he put them in gender coded colours. That's both clever and funny. Also, bold move on Timothee Chalamet's part for wearing the same thing as Zendaya : how many people wd dare that?! Such a cool collab! Fashion history was made here!

[antianakin]

Satine fans: She would DIE for her beliefs.

Me: She'd also send innocent people to JAIL for her beliefs, so that doesn't really mean much, does it?

[rebouks]

Previous // Next

[Robin leaps in front of Courtney, blocking her exit before she can leave the room] Courtney: You know mama can’t pick you up right now-.. c’mon, back to bed. [Robin whimpers, though does as he’s told] Courtney: You can’t sleep in our room forever-.. even the twins are in their own cribs tonight. … Courtney: I thought you liked your new bedroom… Courtney: It’s quieter, right? [Robin remains silent, hugging his little knees] Courtney: Did you prefer it when your bed was in our room? Courtney: Are you feeling left out in here on your own? [Courtney huffs in frustration, instantly feeling guilty] Courtney: You need to talk to me sometimes, I can’t-… [Robin scrambles away from Courtney, standing before her indignantly] Robin: I talks to you all the time! Courtney: You don’t-… Robin: I do-.. in here! [Robin points toward Courtney’s head as though it were obvious] Courtney: You mean.. you’re thinking about what you want to say in your own head? [Robin nods, duh] Courtney: But-.. honey, I can’t hear you unless you say the words out loud. [Robin falters, his eyes mirroring Courtney’s previous confusion] Robin: You can’t..? [Courtney shakes her head as she pulls Robin close, wrapping him up in a tight embrace] Robin: You don’t hear my head words? Courtney: That voice inside your head is just for you, I don’t know what you’re thinking unless you tell me. [Dumbfounded, Robin’s eyes glaze over as he attempts to comprehend his mother’s words] Courtney: I’d never ignore you on purpose, I promise. [Courtney holds Robin tightly in silence for a while, eventually asking again..] Courtney: So, why don’t you want to sleep in here? Robin: I miss you and papa. Courtney: Awh.. I know you’ve never had your own room before, but you’ll get used to it soon. [Robin heaves a tiny sigh as Courtney tucks him in] Courtney: We’ll never be too far away, okay? Love you lotsies…

[mvshortcut]

I can’t imagine how Curtain must’ve felt when he found out that Constance telepathically told Mr. Benedict the location of the prison in book 3. Like in the cave scene she realizes that he secretly switched the vials, and he’s like well I’ll be damned…the evil toddler can recognize patterns and deduce meanings from minute body language changes…this could be useful someday… Fast forward six months later and as he’s putting the pieces together Kate’s cheerfully like “Read your mind? Yes she did :) Given the answer to Mr. Benedict? If you say so 🥰” like you anticipated treachery you anticipated double-crossing you anticipated EVERYTHING under the sun BUT did you anticipate Oh Whoops The Toddler Is Psychic Now? No? Psh. Amateur. I will say this only once. Genuinely props to him for not combusting on the spot.

[maegalkarven]

No, but really, Gale and Astarion as a couple are just:

The man who is very easy to manipulate AND the man who is trying to manipulate him.

And in the end both of them end up being fools while Tara curses and hides her face behind her paws on the background.

[killjoy-prince]

DAYBREAK MENTION FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 65 CHAPTERS!!! BABYGIRL I MISS YOUUUU

[bumblingbabooshka]

Picturing Tuvok spending every second of the Seven years it takes to get back home going "Melding with T'Pel again will fix me" whenever he notices he's doing or thinking something (he perceives as) out of character, strange, ignominious - and then when he finally gets back and melds with her he realizes that nothing's been fixed per say and is like ":/ Fuck."

[laugtherhyena]

Playlist listened to while writing; https://spotify.link/WzxvdTKBCJb

Holy shit dude, the ceo of rei angst wrote some rei angst what the HELL!! We have to kill her guys she cant keep getting away with this.

Anyways im gonna be writing about a lot of these nerds. I just love rei. This is really rushed and I am really sleepy so it is not my best writing.

Also i cannot write teruya so you will habe to ppppUT UP WITH IT.

Warnings for like. Violence and my attempt at writing a breakdown.

-

Rei held the rusty pipe like a baseball bat, swinging for a homerun as she smacked off the head of someone she once knew. Someone who had abandoned her long ago.

The rotting head of what used to be her mother rolled on the ground, sickly green skin squishing against the ground and stared up at her with lifeless eyes.

“I didn’t want to see you again like this,” Rei hissed as her chest heaved, “i wanted to see you staring with regret as you saw your daughter on top of the world. I didn’t want to kill you or see you dead.”

That had been the second time she had run into her zombified mother. The first, she had been a coward, unable to kill her and her father– the two people she hated most, the two people who had abandoned her and left her on the streets.

Where had all her rage gone that time. When had she become soft.

-

Midori clung to Ryutaro with all the strength in her frail body. “My brother,” she whispered, “i saw my brother’s corpse down there. Kakeru… he… they got Kakeru… they killed Kakeu…”

He didn’t say much in return, but he did pat her hand briefly– the only comforting action he could manage while carrying her.

“I see a store up ahead. Let’s stop by there for supplies.” Keisuke pointed out to the leader of the bunch.

Setsuka patted the clown on the back and gave him a smile. “Sounds good, lead the way. Maki, do you need me to carry Yamaguchi for a bit?”

Midori wrapped her arms and legs around Ryutaro a bit tighter at the suggestion, very much attached to the guy who had found her and saved her from zombies.

“I’ll be fine until we reach the stop.” The blonde nodded his acknowledgement to the bluenette, forcing a smile as he struggled to catch up.

The group walked in silence for a bit, the only sounds being the orchestra of distant zombie groans.

“Miss Yamaguchi,” Hikaru said after bit, his tone fatherly like usual, “may I check your pulse soon? And may I check if the swelling on your ankles has gone down?”

“Yeah, that… sounds good. Thank you, Uncle.”

-

Kanata removed the bandages from Ayame’s arm gradually.

“There isn’t any sign of infection, Hatano. Kinjo and Maki are still out, so… uhm… can I get you something to eat?” The surgeon spoke softly as she stared at the sprinter.

“I’m not hungry…” Ayame mumbled.

“Inori!” Tomori slammed the door open, her eyes sunken from lack of sleep, “i think i got bit. Check! Check, please!!”

Kanata bit back a sigh of exasperation and forced out her cheerful smile. “Of course. Where do you think you were bit this time?”

“My ankle. They went after my ankle so I couldn’t run! They’re going to eat me. I’m going to die, aren’t I? Oh, god, I’m going to die!” The cheerleader’s words were jumbled together and practically nonsensical. She grabbed onto Kanata’s shoulders as she spoke, her nails digging into the other’s lab coat and pressing her skin uncomfortably.

“Miss Tomori,” Kanata winced, “please let go of me. I will check your ankle, but I am sure you are fine.”

“I’m not fine!” Kizuna wailed before glaring accusatory daggers at Ayame. “If you… if you hadn't gotten yourself bitten! If you had just seen that bitch for what she is! We wouldnt be doomed! You’ve doomed us all!”

Ayame took the words without fighting back. What had been the point in fighting anymore? Kizuna was right. She had doomed them all.

“Miss Tomori, please… Taira had us all fooled… if Miss Hatano is to blame, then so are the rest of us…” the blonde murmured. “Please sit down so I can check your ankle…”

-

Mindless. Kinji was mindless. His faith had only been able to spare him for so long.

His teeth were decayed now. His skin was green and purple and yellow. His eyes were dull. His cheeks were sunken.

It was incredible that his mind stayed intact long enough for him to bury as many as he did. The only bodies he didn’t put 6 feet under, the only bodies he couldn’t handle burying, were those of the people he knew.

But what was the point?

-

Yuki held his stomach as he choked up and spat out the last meal he had, beans that had barelt even begun to digest.

“Urgh… gross…” he mumbled to himself.

Shinji was away at the moment, scouting out for the next safe place for them to go and likely trying to find his family in the process.

The lucky student fought back envious tears. At least they knew there was a chance that Shinji’s family was alive– they found his mother, Aiko, brutally murdered in the Maeda household. Her corpse was bloated and rotted when they found it.

The sight still haunted his dreams. He couldn’t even keep.meals down since he saw it.

-

Mikako peered into her brother’s lab. He hadn’t eaten in quite some time, nor had he slept.

“Yamato…” she whispered hesitantly.

He spun around with a dart ready in his hand. He only lowered it after he registered it was her.

“Mikako, I’ve told you to leave me alone. I need to find a cure, or no one will be safe.” The inventor turned back to his work and threw a crumpled up piece of paper to the side.

“I’m sure someone else is searching for a cure, Yamato. Why not try to make a vaccine? Some sort of immunity would help while someone else finds a cure.” The exorcist suggested.

Her brother didn’t seem to have heard. That, or he was ignoring her.

“Ah… nevermind.” She straightened her back and spun on her heel to hunt down their other classmates.

For the newcomers, Satsuki was putting on a performance– juggling empty bottles and broken gadgets whilst telling jokes. That could not be safe, but Haruhiko seemed to have his eyes on her.

The bunker door heaved open, and Teruya’s team came in, carrying boxes full of food and other supplies.

“We’re back with dinner!” The merchant shouted.

Mikako rushed over to take the box from him.

“Thank you, Otori, this should be good for at least a week. You and your scavenger team did good.”

He grinned at her and handed his box over. “Thanks! We uh…” he hesitated, “We saw Taira and Maeda… err… Utsuro? On our flight back… they looked like they were heading somewhere… dunno where…”

She bit her tongue and nodded thankfully at him. “Thank you for telling me.”

-

Thats it. Im hungry good bye.

Aw yeah infection Au moment! I do remember you saying a while back that you wanted to write something about Rei in this Au and MAN her part has gotta be my favorite out of these little snippets.

I really like taking a look at how a bunch of the cast is doing, seeing the way you wrote them in those situations was pretty fun! It reminded me how much i like the idea of Setsuka's like group with the 6.5 cast and how Kanata probably wishes she has a degree in psychology to properly deal with Ayame and Kizuna (she may feel as if she's not doing enough for them seing as her kindness can only bring her so far when dealing with their turmoil)

[softquietsteadylove]

Hello birdie 🖤✨

I've got something for the Life Interrupted AU.

Thena isn't feeling well lately and is considering to go back into this hellhole where she's getting drugged to unconsciousness. She's packing her stuff when Gil shows up. He's trying to talk it out of her.

(And I definitely didn't had this Idea because I'm stuck in one of those hellholes, lol)

✨🖤Hugs an Love🖤✨

"Going somewhere?"

Thena sighed, setting down one of her shirts and staring down at her bed. "I was thinking about it."

Gil walked further into her room, having just arrived. "Druig texted me. Really surprised me to hear from him, but he said you've been acting weird--wants me to 'talk to some sense into you'."

Thena let out a humourless chuckle. "I'm surprised he decided to entrust you with that task."

"Gotta say, I am too," Gil agreed quietly until he was standing behind her. "I have to agree--you seem a little anxious lately."

She had been nervous, jumpy, and Gil knew it. They hadn't been able to go out on a date in weeks because she felt on the verge of a panic attack at the thought of having to navigate crowds or risk running into someone. "Maybe...maybe I should consider-"

"Don't," he whispered, placing his hand gently over hers. Her bag was already half full. "Don't say you're going back to that place."

Thena squeezed her eyes shut, tears already burning the insides of them. "Where should I go, Gil?"

"Anywhere else," he concluded. He pulled her hand away from packing up as if she were sailing off into the horizon. He moved slowly and gently until he could sit on the chair in the corner of her room and look up at her. "Please, Thena, just talk to me."

When he was seated lower, she had no excuse not to look at him. But she stared down at his hands, holding hers so, so gently. "Druig and Makkari have been looking at places again."

Gil raised his brows. "That...that's good...right?"

It was. It was what she wanted. She wanted their lives to continue on after the ugliness of the last year. She wanted her brother to feel free to settle down and marry the love of his life. And he could do that without worrying about his sister, she was determined.

"He keeps asking me to see them," she admitted quietly, as if Druig had his ear pressed against the door and would be wounded by overhearing her. "He keeps picking rooms that he says can be mine--if I so choose."

"So," Gil prompted, giving her hands a little squeeze, "what's so bad about that?"

Thena shook her head, looking up around the ceiling of her room to keep her tears from falling. "I'm not some child he has to drag around with him. He should be choosing a home to suit him and his wife, not worrying about his burdensome sister."

"Come on," Gil whispered, his eyes drifting downward from the sheer weight of Thena's discouragement. "You know he doesn't think of you like that."

Thena sighed, pulling her hands from Gil's and plopping herself on the corner of her bed. She pressed them to her head, trying to keep them from shaking. "I know he doesn't. That is exactly the problem."

"Okay, so you don't want him worrying about you," Gil shrugged, turning in the chair to face her head on again.

Thena stared down at her knees. She wasn't wearing her work dress and stockings with a tight ponytail. But she couldn't bring herself to wear soft sweatpants anymore, opting for athleisure leggings and a cardigan at even her most comfortable.

"What else?"

She toyed with her fingernails. "I don't want to live here alone."

Gil nodded again, leaning back in the chair.

She hunched over herself more, despite her sore back. "It's not about the cost, it's...I can't be here by myself, thinking all these...things."

"Okay, so we'll find somewhere else for you," Gil leapt at the opportunity to suggest an alternative. He leaned forward again, even scooching toward the edge of the seat. "I'll help you look."

She smiled, although she still wasn't feeling the intent behind the action. "Druig offered the same. Even Makkari--but that's not the point."

Gil seemed to understand what she was getting at. And of course he did, it was Gil. He was sweet, and understanding, and he always seemed to know what she was trying to say, even if she didn't have the words. "You want to find a place for yourself."

She sighed, looking at her hands again. "I don't seem capable of anything these days."

Gil took her hands in his again, rubbing his thumb over her skin. "You know that's not true."

She wasn't as sure as he was. She never was--never had his confidence, or positivity. It was something she both envied and admired about him. She loved it about him. "Maybe-"

"No!"

She blinked, taken aback by his outburst. He was always so soft spoken, especially with her. She had never heard him so much as raise his voice. The only things he did loudly were laughing and sneezing.

"Maybe nothing!" he pressed, standing from the chair. "That place never did you any good. I don't think it does anyone any good! And I will not let you go back to that misery!"

Thena's eyes fluttered, her back straightening. Her heart began to squeeze at the sheer volume of things, but this was Gil--she was safe with him.

"Thena," he finally quieted again, kneeling in front of her. "You never have to go back to that place, okay? I don't care if you have a nervous breakdown--I'll take care of you. I'll take better care of you than they ever would in there. Just--just promise me you won't go back there because you're worried about burdening people."

She blinked, those tears she was trying to hold back finally falling. It was completely dark outside, her small bedside lamp offering minimal lighting. But it caught Gil's features in just such a way that made him seem so beautiful. "I don't want to go back there."

"Good," he nodded, turning her hand so he could press his lips to it.

"But," she gasped, her lip wobbling. She clung to him. "But what if I'm not me, anymore?"

"You're exactly who you need to be," he said without a hint of doubt in his voice. "You're Thena."

So completely unwavering, her Gilgamesh.

"You're my Thena," he repeated, softer this time, kissing the back of her other hand before pulling her up to stand with him. His hands slipped around waist to rest at her back. "That's all you need to be."

She wasn't sure who 'Thena' was, at times. At least, not as she knew herself before all this. Gil kept saying that the past year was a part of her, for better or worse. But she just wanted to leave it behind--to revert to the version of her that had existed before it all.

"Look," he whispered, still holding her so gently. "Maybe that's easy for me to say. I didn't know you before. But the Thena I know is pretty damn amazing."

She let another laugh, still not humoured in the least.

"She is," he chuckled, though, and he did mean it. He leaned closer, touching his forehead to hers. "She's this badass translator, works in a big, fancy office. She's actually pretty funny, if she's in a good mood. Kinda likes messing with me."

"I do not."

"Just a little," he contested, scrunching up his nose faintly. "But I think that side of her is cute. And she's tough--way tougher than she thinks she is. And she's an incredible sister, even when her brother is being a pain in our ass."

"Our?" she interrupted.

"Our," he confirmed, touching the tips of their noses together to silence her. "And I know he's just worried about you. That's why he keeps saying you can stay with them if you want. But I guess he doesn't really know it's stressing you out."

Thena sighed, dragged back into the depths of her problems like plunging into ice cold water. "How do I tell him?"

Gil skipped over that question, still busy holding her, almost swaying as his weight shifted from foot to foot. "So, this Thena--I mean, to me, she's the most incredible woman in the world."

"Gil," she sighed, trying to pull him from his reverent description of her.

But he nudged her head until he could kiss her lips, also gently. As gently as everything else about him. "She's the woman I love, plain and simple."

Oh, did she ever love him. She had gone from being someone who probably didn't really believe in love for herself at all to being head over heels for her sweet, gentle giant.

She sighed as she kissed him again, leaning up on her toes to loop her arms around his neck. Kissing Gil always made her feel more human--more grounded and real. It took away the buzzing in her head and replaced it with with a heavy and pleasant sedative that could spread through her veins.

Gil stayed close, his forehead against hers, lips still faintly puckered. "Better?"

"Hm," she sighed. She didn't need to explain herself--not to him. She ran her fingers gently through the hair at the back of his head. If only she never had to go to work, or take public transport, or go to house viewings where the realtor would look at her oddly. If only she could stay in Gil's arms every second of every day.

"Good," he sufficed to say, tapping his fingers against the back of her sweater. He moved his hand to her hip. "So, about this living situation-"

"Right," she sighed the heaviest she had yet (which was saying something).

"Hey," he nudged her gently, pulling her eyes up to him. "A unit in my building is going on the market for next month. It's the one above mine--sweet old guy is moving out to be closer to his grand kids."

Oh. Living that close to Gil--being neighbours?

"I can always ask him if he'd be open to a lease trade-off," Gil suggested, although he was unable to hide his excitement at the prospect in his smile. "What do you think?"

Being that close to Gil? Being his upstairs neighbour?

His smile wobbled faintly, turning sheepish as he looked away. "It's a little more modest than this place. But it's a one bedroom, and it's not a bad location. And-"

Thena stood on her toes, pressing her lips to his, even with a cliche 'mmwah' sound. He looked dazed after the firmer kiss, which made her smile genuinely for the first time that night. She leaned against him heavier, but he steadied her without a second thought. "I think that sounds perfect."

"Really?" he asked, beaming like a dog about to receive a treat with a wagging tail.

She took his cheeks in her hands, "it sounds wonderful, Gil."

"O-Okay," he laughed, sounding near hysteria. But he pulled her against his chest in his arms, even lifting her off the ground slightly as he spun them. "This'll be amazing, sweetie, I promise!"

He needed no promises. The thought of having him a mere flight of stairs away was already comforting, in a sense. And she had been to his flat plenty of times. He was right, it was in a good location, and it wasn't any further from her office than she was now, all things considered.

Gil set her on her feet once more. "I'll talk to him tonight."

"Don't get too ahead of yourself," she advised gently. It wasn't often she was able to offer a calming voice of reason these days; it felt familiar, even soothing. She toyed with some some stray hairs of his. "I may have to apply, like everyone else."

"Peh," Gil waved in dismissal again (making her laugh, again). "The old guy loves me. And that's before I tell him some sob story about wanting my girlfriend to move in so we can be closer."

Thena blushed softly, toying with the hem of her cardigan. Sometimes she had to remind herself that Gil wasn't just 'someone she was seeing', and actually the man she had known for more than half a year and had been dating for more than half that time, now.

"It'll be great," he whispered, pressing a kiss to her cheek. "We can carpool to work, I'll be right downstairs if you ever wanna talk--or cuddle."

"Gil," she admonished, but it came out as a light and air whisper as he kissed her cheek again, his five o'clock shadow against her skin.

He stopped nuzzling her just to look at her more solemnly. "You should tell Druig."

"It was your idea."

"Exactly," Gil made a face, shrinking somewhat. "He'll kill me."

Thena rolled her eyes, her spirits lifting by the moment. "It's not as if you're offering to shack up with me yourself."

He didn't laugh at her joke. He didn't even seem to realise it was a joke, just shrugged one shoulder. "I mean they're both only one bedroom units. Plus, I imagine you want some space for yourself for a little. Feel like you have some more control?"

Well, he was exactly right about that, as always. Although she hadn't expected his rebuttal to be that they would need a larger space if they were to live together. She just blinked, "precisely."

"So it's decided," he grinned again, and gave her another kiss for good measure. "I'll go talk to Karun, you talk to Druig. He really is worried about you."

"I know," she mumbled, feeling properly chastised. She unlinked her hands from behind his head and squeezed his forearms. "I'm sure he was desperate to call you."

"And I'm suggesting you move into my building instead of in with him?--he's gonna have my head."

Thena laughed genuinely for the first time that night. "Don't worry, I'll protect you from him."

Gil stared at her in a way that made her toes curl. He bent his head down to sneak into the crook of her neck under her jaw. "I know you will."

She shivered as he left a kiss on her pulse point.

But he left it at that, pulling away and standing to his full height again. It left her feeling chilly, needing to pull her cardigan tighter around herself. "Okay."

Thena nodded, letting him take her by the hand. She did have to talk to Druig--about everything. About moving and also about how she would be okay without him hovering over her shoulder. She would be okay without that hell hole and its medication and she would be okay even if she felt like this different version of herself, possibly forever.

Gil grasped the doorknob with his other hand, the door not fully closed and letting in just a sliver of light from the rest of the house. He held her other hand, giving it a squeeze. "Ready?"

She nodded, holding his hand tighter, just in case she needed it. But she smiled, "ready."

[goldieclaws]

'Nother fanfic drawing, this time based on chapter two of my rewrite where Ghirahim is forced to be nice to Zelda and he hates every single second of it.

You can read the first two chapters HERE.

Reblogs appreciated, thank you! 💖✨

Patreon | Tw//tter | AO3 | Itchio | Commissions | Webcomic

[tenok]

.

[dnangelic]

＂ DAAAAI-CHAN !＂ a bright & cheery call toward daisuke as she trots to catch up with him, always so warm & filled with energy even so early in the morning. once the distance was closed she moves to walk in front of him spinning on her heel before presenting from her schoolbag a little bundle wrapped in a cute cloth in red hues of which inside holds some homemade fudge & cookies. ＂ my dormmates & i made a ton of treats for all our pals for valentine's day so here is your share !＂

a grin before she plops the bundle within his hands with a sense of pride. her cooking was not something to bat an eye at after all ! each little piece of fudge was shaped into little hearts & stars, decorated with white or milk chocolate & even confetti ! the cookies as well all had little decors of various sorts. all from scratch made with love borne from minako's ever abundant wealth within her.

for a moment, however, her mirth is dropped & her voice low. reaching once more in her bag to procure a matching small bundle( one would note just as cute, though the cloth of which the confections within was a swirl of blue & purples. ) that she tosses over toward daisuke with much less enthusiasm. ＂ oh, right. this one is for him.＂ && within seconds after the second gift was passed over she's back to being all smiles, ＂ anyways i hope y'all enjoy ! happy valentine's day dai-chan !＂

@foolshoujo

' arisato-san ... ? ' wow . she sure is lively , isn't she ? try as he might , he's never been a morning person . abrupt ( and deadly ! ) awakenings in tandem with his regular nocturnal excursions only made everything worse . the fatigue of a heist still weighs on him ; in the ache at his calves , or heavy on his shoulders , itching down the now empty space of his back . between trying to keep up with his homework and his family sending out one card after another to keep him occupied , he's been so busy , that valentines ---

' ah ... w-wait , it's today ?! ' already ?! the panic doesn't take long to reach his expression . his cheeks flare like he's been caught marching to school with no pants on , which , thankfully , even in a post-heist grog , he had at least managed to remember for himself . ' i mean --- w-wah , you guys did all that together ... ? ' and she was willing to bring even him something ?

there's a little longing , a strange blend of emotions --- for an instant he could have confessed that he never had even imagined that chocolates could have been made as a group , rather than a solitary , intimate endeavor wherein one person alone tried to make chocolates for others . daisuke can't help but wish that he could have gone with her and learned to make something more himself , but it was impossible , wasn't it ?

he might have been nothing more than an awkward stranger . he had his own isolating curse . moreover , besides the likes of his family , the artworks , himself and just a few others --- he wasn't sure that he even had enough friends to possibly hand out chocolates to .

nevertheless , minako's gift drops itself into his hands . ' this is ... ' even without any talent , he still had an eye . for skill and luxury , red irises shimmering the instant he peeks through the cloth . ' you made these , arisato-san ?! ' it's something that should have been obvious by now , but if anything , his vocal disbelief should have served as a compliment . ' they look amazing ! i've never seen anything like them --- '

... ah .

it's a second bag . ( uh oh . ) a purple one . ( oh --- oh no !! ) where minato's enthusiasm seems to shrivel up and die in an instant , daisuke's own speechless alarm and hidden , not-so-hidden anxieties elevate themselves into a pale stare . although a hand readily , instinctively snatches the tossed bundle out of the air without at all rattling or cracking its contents , he still really can't believe it ! it's just as shocking to be the recipient of two valentines gifts as it was to realize and acknowledge that minako had actually given something to --- to 'him' ?!

'his' face flashes in the boy's mind . it's one he desperately hopes his own wasn't already changing into as he balked and stared . ' the ... wuhhhh ? ' he doesn't really want to assume , but it's kind of obvious who it should have been for , right ?! but what was he supposed to say ?! what would anybody have said in this kind of situation ?! thank you so much ?! i'm sorry ?! actually , he's never even told her about being dark , so what exactly was this for ?!

' you --- i ... ! ' was it just because he was from azumano , and she decided it would have been nice ( huh ? ) to lend him something to throw onto the offering pile that every other student was practically foisting all sorts of chocolates and alluring gifts onto ? he clutches both of the bundles in his hands ; watches as minako waves and sparkles in the morning sunlight , no doubt ready to skip away to her next delivery . dark himself might have been sleeping , always a drowse in daylight hours , but even so ... ' uh , thank you , arisato-san ! i ... i'm sure he appreciates it ?! i mean , i'll do my best that he gets it ?! i mean , i really like what you've given me ! thank you ! thank you --- ! '

just maybe he should have shut up already .