#how do i imagine pretty and whimsical lighting

[jules-ln]

Ok, I've seen too many people bring drama from the bad bad place (Twitter) to the slightly better bad place (tumblr) and at this point my eye is just twitching

So I guess it's time for me to be controversial yet brave again and talk about racism and Jayce

Lemme bring my DEI points out before anything because I guess that what's important with you gringos

I'm Mexican, I was born and raised in Mexico and I've never lived anywhere else but Mexico; I'm brown, my grandfather was an indigenous purepecha man, I don’t identify as indigenous because I don't know anything about the culture, but I do look indigenous and so I've been discriminated because of it, I'm also a trans man

So now, about the racism of making Jayce hypermasculine. I don't think there is any, or at least not a lot that I've seen

Because while yes, that is something that tends to happen with dark skin people in fandom. Jayce doesn't have very dark skin

Now, lemme explain

As someone who is a few shades darker than Jayce; Jayce is light Moreno, Moreno indeed, but light

I was talking the other day with my friend about this, saying that I have the headcanon that because he probably spends all his time inside the lab with Viktor he doesn't tan, so he's pretty much a light Moreno

Why does this matter?

Listen, I know Gringos and Europeans hear people say "Latino" and they immediately imagine brown, it doesn't matter if the Latino in question is the whitest person to ever white (like look at Kevin Alejandro, if I remember correctly, his parents are Mexicans, but my man over there has blue eyes), but in reality, specially in places like Mexico where most of the population could be considered PoC; there's the very big problem of colorism and that plays a role in masculinity

I've seen it every day here in Mexico, where the men who have lighter skin tones are allowed to be more emotional and vulnerable without such harsh consequences and the men with darker skin tones have to be a lot more masculine in a toxic way or they get judged by it

And while I do think that depictions of Jayce within the Fandom suffer from racism, it doesn't show in the same way it would in a character with a darker skin tone; it shows in sexualization and objectification kind of way

Like I've seen many art and posts that make me feel weird as a Latino where gringos make the point that Jayce being Latino is the hot thing about him, like they mention "Oh Viktor likes Jayce because he likes Latinos" and I'm like "how the fuck did you thought of that and didn't find it extremely weird"

Because I'm a Latino, and it's like, "Just for that? You haven't even seen my comic collection"

Or I've also seen MelJay fans (do you think I was going to let you off the hook? No baby, we're calling out eveyoneeee) post things like "I don't really care about Jayce, I just want a dick for Mel smut" how the hell did you think of that and didn't find it racist like, sure let's objectify the Latino man, why don't I just throw myself out of a window arrr arriba y arriba pa adelante Ñ or whatever

And this has a lot to do with colorism, where Jayce is Moreno enough to be "spicy" but not Moreno enough to be "undesirable"

Because people complain a lot about fans making Jayce Hypermasculine, but Jayce does dress and looks traditionally masculine, he has the proportions of a superhero and goes with suits to fight, that is masculine. But I have yet to see somebody making Jayce a typical mexican macho, like most of the time he's vulnerable, emotional, cries, shows his love openly, that isn't something that fits into the category of mexican macho

But you know what character gets the hypermasculinity treatment on top of the adultification treatment? Ekko

That's right, like he's 19 I think, he's still very young, and yet I have seen waaay more fanarts of Jayce being whimsical and having fun than of Ekko

I've also seen like a lot of post calling Jayce cute and almost none of Ekko? C'mon guys Ekko is cute

But, curious curiouser curiousest that this kind of issue only gets brought up with Jayce, a Moreno man that, let's be honest, under the right lighting could pass as a white man with a tan

(And funny that Mel fans only ever bring racism in relation to Mel and let Ekko get the brunt of it, hmmm, I wonder whyyyy)

Also, my hot take about that Tarzan art? I don't think it's racist, like we are talking about the quintessential white savior story where the protagonist gets to be better than than the natives at living in nature and gets all those muscles and locs? The Tarzan story it is racist, but not in the way you are thinking

Besides, hottest take: if you don't find all that art where Jayce gets treated like a dog racist, you shouldn't think of the Tarzan art as racist, just saying

Aaaand, just as the cherry on top? as a trans man, feminine Viktor is such a non issue, like no, it isn't fetishizing trans men, there's not a right way to look like a man or a woman; like what, are you going to start saying that Viktor wouldn't be a trans trender and he would be a trans man in the right™️ way or??

Don't like it? Grow up and learn to block people babyyyy, it's that easy

But yeah, Viktor looked weird in that Tarzan post because his head was way too big, I think that's more a Disney's problem than anything else because that person was tracing over the movie lmao

[rom-e-o]

The idea of Manfred just, innocently as can be, ruining surprises and secrets between Papa and Mama. Like any little kid.🤣

Example: Guinevere making herself a custom lingerie set decorated in choice grave gold pieces Emmrich has lavished upon her. She plans to surprise him on his birthday night. Manfred finds it first, is drawn to it because of the glitter and shine, of course, and assumes it's some sort of special mage armor. Cue him rushing out from the house's interior somewhere to greet Emmrich dressed in a glittery, jingling lingerie set bearing a train and dripping in gold.🤣

What does he ruin for Belismrich?

HELLLP, that's is so precious. Manfred having these silly, whimsical little moments of pure joy as he explores the world fills is so wonderful to imagine. He's a spirit of Curiosity, after all! It's only natural that he seek out treasures and oddities and then share them.

Like you said, I'm sure this leads to a few spoiled surprises, haha. The little guy has hones his exploration skills from helping Emmrich explore the Necropolis, so you know he's got some experience sneaking into places and training his eyes on details.

OHHHH MANFRED, DARLINGGG LMAO.

Listen, you know ... sometimes you find armor while hunting in dungeons. It's gold. It's shiny. So, he finds this set, and his first thought is that it's very rare gear. It's gold, too! Gold is valuable! Papa taught him that.

So he dons it and parades out joyfully, arms raised happily. "Look! Treasure!"

Emmrich, who was browsing his library for books, practically drops the stack at the display. "M-Manfred! Where did you...?"

"Grave gold!" He does a twirl to emphasize the train. "Pretty! Like Mama!"

"V-Very much so, my dear boy, but..."

He has to fight back a laugh and try very hard to be stern, but ohhhh, it's so hard. He can't stop grinning.

"Manfred? Where did you find that?" He knows from where, of course. It's not his or Manfred's after all, and let's just say he's familiar enough with that cup size to know it from a glance, haha.

"Wardrobe! In back!"

"Oh, dear. I'll have to warn G'iney to not hide her projects there."

He tells G'iney, of course. To keep an honest dialogue between them, but also ... because it is pretty hilarious, haha. He does ask Manfred to apologize, and promise to not go through people's clothes anymore. Chests in a home are not the same as chests in a dungeon, haha.

"I'm sorry, my dear," he tells her with a bashful smile. "I'm sure you were hiding it for a reason. I took care to avert my gaze as much as I could, but from what I saw? You have outdone yourself again."

He'd still very much like to see her in it for the occasion she had planned. "If the mood still moves you, my beloved."

And thanks to Manfred? He already has some knowledge of how to take it off~ Which will come in handy. Well, at least, after a few rounds. ;)

Oh, what does Manny do for Belismerich?

Hmmm ... okay, remember my hc that Emmrich really enjoys studying Isma's form? Especially while she dances, he loves to observe her muscles and anatomy at work. Each movement of hers is pure art to him, even on an anatomical level.

He sketches her often. While she dances, relaxes, etc.

Well, let's just say, perhaps Manfred finds these sketches? And he likes them. ("That's Mama! Pretty!")

What does Emmrich do when Manfred gets positive marks? He posts the paper for all to see.

So...later that day, Isma and Emmrich are returning from a ritual one day, and Emmrich sees a familiar drawing on a light post. Emmrich recognizes it, and grabs it before Isma can see.

"What was...?"

"N-Nothing!"

Then, one light up, there are two more. And more drawings are on the fence leading to his lodgings. The papers have drawn some small, inquisitive crowds of students.

"Are those me?" she asks, very confused.

Emmrich, who knows that they are but is VERY confused as to what they're doing pasted across the city, just keeps grabbing them while leading Isma home very quickly.

Whey reach the front door, Manfred throws it open happily. "Surprise!"

The intimate drawings were (thankfully) placed indoors only, haha. Ones of her laying supine, breasts bare, lips parted, long hair flowing unbound. Some of her sleeping. Some of her arms, her legs; all the finer points of her anatomy.

"Yay! Proud!"

Poor Emmrich can barely stay conscious from the rush of blood to his cheeks, all while Isma coos and gently thanks Manfred, urging him to bring his papa his chair while she desperately tries to calm his blush.

"F-Forgive me, darling. I-I intended to show them to you for our anniversary."

All is well, as Belisma is so honored by his devotion, that she vows to give him much more source material in time for their celebration. And for that day, Emmrich keeps the drawings in a locked drawer.

[new-tella-us]

Seduce Me Situations!

Cause I'm bored!

Jesus, it's been a while. I wanted to do a lighthearted one before I answer some of the ones I've been asked.

So, I imagine that after a while of living in the mansion, Mika would want to redecorate. Maybe by then she's got her mans so how would they redecorate?

Something different about this ask is that it's not completely boy centric. This is still Mika's house and I imagine she'd have some differing opinions on how the room is styled so this would actually be a combination of Mika's style (which I'll say from now is whimsical and cozy) and the style of the boy she's with.

Mika and James- I see James's style being either minimalism or dark academia though seeing that there's an entire library, maybe minimalism with a couple of bookshelves. I imagine that his room just wouldn't have many knickknacks. Combine that with whimsy and cozy and we got Simple light academia! Yknow, light sheets, brown wood, books, plants, a muted to pastel color palette for the walls. The compromise on James's end is accepting that there will be plushies. He cannot escape the squishmellows. He must accept the bubble tea squish on his bed every night. But on Mika's end of the compromise, she's gotta scale down. Not too many knickknacks, don't fill up the entire room. Let the room be light and airy.

Mika and Erik- I always headcanon that Erik was a space boy. He likes astronomy and astrology and myths related to the stars as there were no stars in the abyssal plains. I can also see him liking the more royal looking rooms. Being second in command, his room was probably pretty nice afterall. Combine that with Mika and we get a galaxy room. During the day, it looks like a generally luxurious but relatively simple bedroom with nice purple sheets and a thin, mini chandelier but at night, the magic happens as with the activation of the fairy lights and the use of a prism that turns the dark room into a galaxy, they have a magical looking room that makes you think of the night sky and the stars. Also plushies because Mika.

Mika and Sam- Sam seems like the kind of guy to have very little in his room. Not because he's intentionally minimalistic like James but because he doesn't get attached to made things. His room is less aesthetic and more empty and disjointed. Even in the Abyssal Plains, he really didn't have much. If he didn't need it, he usually didn't want it. Combine that with Mika and you get simple whimsy. The room is generally not too decorated but what decoration is there hits hard. The bed had to have some fluffy sheets, there are plants everywhere, and there's one of those hanging chairs in a corner that both Sam and Mika frequent when it's time to teach Sam how to read. And, of course, plushies. Can you tell that none of the boys are escaping the squishmellows?

Mika and Matthew- Unlike two of his older brothers a minimalist Matthew is not. Things must be everywhere. Color is mandatory. There must be more pillows than people in this house. None of this white room minimalistic BS. If there aren't knickknacks from ceiling to floor, Matthew hasn't finished decorating. Combine that with Mika and you got whimsical maximalism! Fairy lights adorn the walls and ceiling in intricate patterns. A canopy is held above them. The sheets are that loose, soft kind that fold around themself easily. So many pillows. So many colorful sheets and lights. And of course, say it with me now, PLUSHIES! But instead being like the rest of his brothers and accepting the plushies' presence with a sigh, Matthew is adding to the plushie collection. Simon is technically included in the plushie pile.

Mika and Damien- Damien never really gave decoration a second thought. He never thought he'd have a room much less one he can decorate. So I think his style would be relatively simple and cozy. He's more concerned with having a calm and comfortable place to rest at night than he is with how the place looks. So think neutral tones, airy room, floofy sheets and pillows. Curtains with a focus on the sunlight being able to beam through in the morning so thin and translucent. Combine that with Mika and you get simplistic whimsy. So, once again, fairy lights but much less of them and not in a bunch of colors. Maybe a plant here or there for some greenery. A soft pastel set of bedding with a focus on comfort than design and the bed is right next to the window for that extra sunlight. The hanging chair returns and Damien always loves sitting on it with Mika. Plus plushies but Damien likes the plushies. Very simple, very cozy.

[ranna-alga]

I think about this conversation between Ellie and Tommy in TLOU2 a lot, particularly this line, because what if it was Ellie that died instead of Joel?

(Disclaimer: this text will make absolutely zero sense probably since I put very little thought into it and there are likely some plot holes. You can choose to dislike it or not but this is all hypothetical so let me have my depressingly whimsical wonders here)

Imagine it this way: Joel's death scene pretty much plays out the same way as it does canonically, except that the roles are reversed: Joel is the one who is pinned down and forced to watch Ellie be brutally murdered in front of him. Perhaps, in whatever way, Abby's group discover that she's The Immune Girl™ that Joel killed almost the entire Saint Mary's hospital for - the reason why Abby's father was murdered. If she's here, and is still as close with Joel as Abby may assume, then he couldn't be that far (say that members of the group saw Joel and Ellie moving together for a while before taking separate directions for whatever reason or something). The plan was to originally kill Joel, but Abby can't help but think: why do they get to live a picture-perfect life with each other as father and daughter, when he was the one who robbed me and my actual father of that life and she was the reason my father was in that position in the first place? How can he commit the sin and live without consequence after? Knowing that Joel would be looking for Ellie, the attack on her would start and continue even when Joel finds her and is made to watch - a sort of 'you took away the thing I cared about the most in this world, so now I will do the same to you and make you feel the pain I felt' message to Joel from Abby.

This would have been the second time he watched his daughter die. The second time he lost the one thing he lived for. The second time he's failed - as a protector, as a survivor, as a father. He had only four years with her, two of which was lost due to her anger towards him for what he did at Salt Lake City. And only the night before her murder did she confide in him about possible forgiveness, only for that to be taken from him? For her to be taken from him? After everything he did for her to ensure her safety, even if it meant the cost of her trust in him. Every part of him that died alongside Sarah was brought back to life slowly but surely thanks to this girl who stole his heart in only one year after two decades of being an empty shell of violence and resentment towards the world and himself.

His biggest fear came true - losing Ellie, failing her too - and it happened right in front of his eyes, just like Sarah.

Remember when it was heavily implied that both Tommy and Joel had a very violent and vicious past during the early years of the apocalypse where they were their darkest selves? Joel would have likely reverted back to that in this scenario. Absolutely nobody in Seattle will be safe. That man would turn that militarised city into a fucking ghost town, no doubt about it.

As for Tommy... Would he have been the same? Would he also want vengeance for Ellie as much as Joel did? Or would the pain of having another niece die + watching his brother descend into bloodlust and resentment again be simply too much to bare? Could he tolerate losing his brother and not get him back this time ever again?

It took twenty years after Sarah's death to find solace in life thanks to Ellie. He can't wait another twenty for another one - he can never go back, never again. He failed to save the lives of those he cared for (Sarah, Tess, Sam/Henry) and he feared the same for Ellie. But at least they made it into Jackson, their new home, alive and safe. But now? What more does he have to live for? How much more stronger would his self-hatred become for failing again and again and again where he can no longer see the light Ellie brought to him?

Knowing now that the surgeon he killed was Abby's father, he probably thinks it was an error to kill him instead of just knocking him out so that this WLF ambush costing Ellie's life wouldn't happen. But one thing he's certain he doesn't regret? Dooming humanity of a cure, because taking both of his daughters away from him proved Joel's decision to save Ellie from the Fireflies: to him, humanity didn't deserve to be saved, not anymore.

TLDR; I may be aromantic asexual but I'm still a proud Joel Miller simp who loves the thought of Joel in the bloody Santa Barbara appearance Ellie had in the canon TLOU2. No shame.

[krylljoy]

Muse - Loki x Artist! Reader (Part 2)

For so long, the love of art has been lost on Reader, but it is rediscovered through the form of Asgard’s second prince, Loki.

For the continuing weeks, you followed the same path you took. It was hopeful thinking that made you take the same journey, hopeful you would see the prince again and his wonderful magic. Each day was fruitless but you were nonetheless content to sketch the All-Mother’s flower beds, even if they weren’t as whimsical as Prince Loki’s lights, the flowers still evoked beauty, something that could never be taken away from them.

It was strange. You had come to gardens more times than you’d ever done in the last couple centuries and all for what? The second prince? As an Asgardian it was your duty to revere the royal family, however, it was the first time within your life that you’d ever caught yourself actively admiring the second prince. Even though he stood out amongst his family with his darker demeanour, you found no reason to look his way, a sentiment shared by many Asgardians. Now, you found this sentiment unfortunate. How could anyone overlook such a wonderful creature? The man who had the imagination to evoke constellations even in daylight. It was a tragedy—a slight! You found yourself hastened to rectify the centuries worth of admiration lost and your sketchbook was beginning to suffer the weight of your appreciation, every other page overtaken with the image of Prince Loki amongst his lights. The sight had truly bewitched you. It left your mind wondering what other sorts of magic was possible. What kind of art could spring and innovate with the use of magic?

You were back in the garden, as you were the day before and days before then. Walking the routine path, you idly took in the same trees, same bushes, and same flower beds, a sight that you’ve become well acquainted with.

You pause at the slightest sliver of movement in the corner of your eye.

It was a black snake slithering into the bushes. Seemed your presence had startled it into hiding for its pace quickened with your approach.

“Why, hello,” you greeted quietly, as to not startle the creature, and kneeled down to get a better look at the scales. The snake’s scales glistened in the sun, revealing a green chromatic glint. “Aren’t you a pretty thing?“

The snake’s retreat slowed and lifted its head to your direction. You took your pencil and sketchbook out, eager.

“The All-Mother’s garden is certainly home to the loveliest things,” you said, pencil gliding across the page to replicate the snake’s elegant curvature.

The snake seemed to somehow preen under the praise. In fact, it felt as though the snake had begun posing under your careful gaze, curling from one pose into another whenever you finished one sketch.

You laughed to yourself and the snake looked up at you with what could only be referred to as offense, however, you weren’t entirely sure if snakes could feel that sort of thing. Well, if they do then this one seemed to be intelligent enough to express it.

The snake pressed you with an unfixed glance, almost demanding an answer for your sudden amusement.

“I wasn’t laughing at you. Well, not precisely.” The snake flicked its tongue, agitated. You hurried to elaborate even though it was silly to entertain a conversation with an animal. “I was only thinking about how cute you are. I have never met a snake as expressive as you.”

The explanation seemed to soothe the snake, it taking its pose once more. It perked its head back at you, looking to see if you were drawing again. You stifled a laugh and returned to sketching the vain creature.

As you finished up your sketch you noticed something peculiar, a detail that reminded you why the garden has become a part of your routine. The snake’s eyes were the loveliest hue of green, greener than spring. They were the same as Prince Loki’s. That gave you pause.

The snake peered up at you, noticing the lack of pencil scratching against parchment. It jerked at your intense stare, breaking your trance. You smiled.

“You have such beautiful eyes. They remind me of the second prince. I met him here, you know. His eyes were radiant with magic.” The snake blinked up at you, still. You huff a laugh at the snake’s stiff posture. “Don’t worry, friend. Yours are just as wonderful, if not more. If only I brought my coloured pencils. I’d have captured your eyes better.”

Together, you and your new serpentine friend stayed, content to play artist and muse. It was when the sun was at its highest in the sky that the snake finally slinked away. You went home satisfied. Despite not having found Prince Loki, there was something rewarding in befriending a creature of the All-Mother’s garden.

—————

1 2

[lthienofdorthonion]

The Alchemy Between Us: Draco and Hermione’s Tale

CHAPTER II

Author Notes:

I’m so thrilled with the amazing response to part one of this story! Honestly, I didn’t expect much interaction, so seeing your comments and support has made me so happy. Writing this has been such a joy—I wanted to include moments and conversations I’ve always imagined Draco saying or doing at least once. Thanks to your encouragement, I’m continuing the story, and I’m super excited to dive deeper! I’m not sure yet how long it’ll be or how many chapters there’ll be, but I’ll keep you updated as I figure it out. Things are about to get pretty emotional, so get ready! Before I leave you to the next chapter, I wanted to share a playlist I put together just for this story—if you’re into music, you might enjoy it!

These songs remind me of the characters and really help me tap into the emotions I’m writing about. I hope they do the same for you.

Try playing it on shuffle for a different vibe each time you read. I’ll keep adding songs as the story grows. 😊

Here’s the link:

..............................................................................................................................

II

When two unexplained forces collide, that's when the alchemy between misunderstood souls becomes magic.

The morning light crept into Hermione’s flat with a soft insistence, its golden rays filtering through the curtains to rest gently on her face. She stirred, slightly scrunching her nose as the brightness coaxed her out of sleep. Her hair was a wild halo of curls, tangled from tossing and turning, and her head throbbed faintly—a dull ache left behind by the previous night’s drinks.

She groaned softly, shielding her eyes with one hand as she swung her legs off the bed. The chill of the wooden floor against her bare feet made her shiver, but she didn’t bother grabbing her slippers. The only thought in her mind was water—cold, clear water to soothe the dryness in her throat.

Hermione shuffled into the kitchen with slow, deliberate steps. The soft padding of her bare feet broke the quiet of the morning. She moved with a kind of practiced efficiency, her movements unhurried yet intentional. Reaching for a glass in the cabinet, she filled it with water from the tap. The coolness of the drink was a balm, soothing the dryness in her throat as she gripped the glass tightly, savoring each sip.

Despite having fully integrated herself into the wizarding world after the war, Hermione’s home was a striking contrast to the enchanted, charmed spaces so common among witches and wizards. Her house was entirely Muggle—manual in every sense. No floating teacups, no self-dusting furniture, no magical cleaning spells humming in the background. It was a deliberate choice, a quiet tribute to the world she had come from, a place that still held pieces of her identity.

The kitchen, much like the rest of her home, was beautifully decorated in a way that was cozy and unpretentious. Natural wood tones complemented soft, earthy colors, while sunlight poured through large windows, highlighting the thoughtful simplicity of the space. 

The living room, however, was the heart of the house—a library that felt more alive than any room she’d ever been in. One entire wall was taken up by a curved bookcase that stretched from floor to ceiling, spanning ten levels high. The shelves were filled with books of every imaginable kind—different authors, colors, sizes, genres, and ages, some with spines cracked from frequent reading, others pristine and waiting to be discovered. Each one seemed to tell a story beyond its pages, a life touched by her insatiable love for knowledge.

Integrated into the bookcase was a ladder mounted on a moving rail, allowing access to even the highest shelves. It glided smoothly along the curve of the wall, a practical yet whimsical addition. Interspersed among the books were plants—trailing vines of Devil’s Ivy, their leaves spilling gracefully over the edges of the shelves. The vibrant green of the ivy brought a softness to the space, contrasting with the sharp lines of the books.

Dried flowers were arranged in small, glass vases along the lower shelves—lavender sprigs, preserved roses, and delicate bunches of baby’s breath. They added a touch of nostalgia, their subtle fragrance mingling with the faint scent of aged paper.

Opposite the towering bookcase stood a sturdy wooden desk, its surface rich with the patina of age. The desk, clearly antique, bore the marks of time and use—scratches, faint ink stains, and smoothed edges from years of work. It was where she spent countless hours immersed in her writing, research, or correspondence. Above the desk hung a collection of photographs, arranged with deliberate care, each one telling a chapter of her story.

There was a black-and-white photograph of herself as a baby, her curious eyes wide and her wild curls already untamable. Beside it, a photo of her parents, their arms wrapped around her in a warm embrace, radiating the simple joy of their family life. Scattered among these were pictures of her Hogwarts years: laughing with Harry and Ron, sitting by the Gryffindor common room fireplace, and a group shot of the Gryffindor first-years, all impossibly young and bright-eyed.

In the center of the display hung the most distinctive photograph of all. Framed in silver—a stark contrast to the gold frames surrounding it—it was a black-and-white image of Hermione and Harry. They stood side by side, their smiles soft and unguarded, the connection between them palpable even in stillness. Attached to the frame was a dried lotus flower, delicate and preserved. Its placement was deliberate—a symbol of resilience, growth, and finding beauty in the midst of adversity.

This wall, like the library opposite it, was a testament to Hermione’s journey—a tapestry of moments that had shaped her, woven with love, loss, and triumph. Every time she sat at that desk, surrounded by those memories, she felt grounded, reminded of where she came from and how far she had come.

She glanced at the clock on the wall. Past ten. She let out a long breath, leaning against the counter. It was her day off, but the list of things she needed to accomplish was already forming in her mind: groceries, laundry, and more importantly, finishing the report she had promised herself she wouldn’t bring home.

The sunlight streamed in through the windows, wrapping the room in a golden glow. Her gaze dropped to herself, and she realized—she was still wearing the clothes from last night. She looked down at the deep burgundy dress she’d worn to the pub, the fabric now slightly wrinkled from sleep. A faint smudge on the hem reminded her of a spilled drink she hadn’t bothered to notice at the time. Her fingers moved absently, brushing against the fabric draped over her shoulders.

Malfoy’s coat.

The realization hit her with surprise. The coat was heavy and warm, its dark material contrasted against the deep red of her dress. She lifted the collar slightly, inhaling the faint scent that lingered on it—woodsy, clean, distinctly him. It was subtle but unmistakable, and it pulled her back into the night before: the low hum of the pub, the flickering candlelight casting shadows on their faces, the way they had spoken with an honesty she hadn’t expected. Her heart fluttered as she remembered the moments they had shared—his quiet revelations and unexpected humor.

It felt unreal. Malfoy—Draco—sitting across from her, with measured and thoughtful words and a graze that was steady and almost kind. The same boy who had once sneered at her in hallways and hurled insults as naturally as breathing. They had spent years in opposition, and yet, there they were, two adults who had stumbled into each other’s lives again after five years of silence.

Shaking off the thoughts, Hermione reached for her favorite mug—a light pink porcelain cup with delicate stars etched into its surface, its glaze cool and smooth under her fingertips. She poured herself a cup of strong, black coffee, watching as the dark liquid swirled into the cup, the rich aroma spreading through the kitchen like a balm.

She straightened and the coat slipped slightly from her shoulders, and she adjusted it absentmindedly. The scent still clung to her, grounding her in the present moment. She thought of his parting words, his quiet nod, the way he had draped the coat over her as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

Shaking off the reverie, she pushed herself away from the counter. There were things to do, and she couldn’t afford to lose herself in thoughts of Draco Malfoy, of all people. But even as she moved about her flat, she couldn’t quite shake the warmth that lingered—not just from the coat, but from the memory of the man who had given it to her.

The warmth of the coffee lingered on her hands as Hermione set the mug down on the counter. She exhaled deeply and moved toward her room with a clear intent on stepping into the shower and washing away the last remnants of sleep—and the strange, electric thoughts of the previous night. But as she reached for the faucet, a dull thud against her living room window made her pause.

Curious, she retraced her steps and opened the window. A sleek black owl was perched on the sill, its feathers glinting faintly in the light. Around one leg was a delicate silver chain with a pendant engraved with the letter "M." The owl’s piercing yellow eyes remained fixed on her, unblinking and eagle-like, as it extended a letter clutched in its right leg.

Hermione hesitated for a moment before taking the envelope. It was blank, with no name or markings to indicate its sender. As she examined it, the owl remained unnervingly still, its eyes watching her as if it were waiting for something. Owls typically departed once their deliveries were made, but this one seemed intent on lingering.

She broke the seal, unfolding the parchment within and began to read:

Outskirts Brew. 8 PM.You’ll be met. Dress with care.Bring your storm, and I’ll bring my resolve.

It was signed with a simple "D."

Her heart stuttered, and she lifted an eyebrow, her gaze moving between the signature and the pendant on the owl’s chain. On the back of the small silver medallion was the unmistakable etching of a serpent.

“Malfoy” she exclaimed in surprise. Her cheeks flushed as memories of the previous evening rushed back.

Flashback “Coffee,” she had said abruptly, her words tumbling out before she could stop them.

He had raised an eyebrow, his expression one of mild amusement. “Excuse me?”

“Tomorrow,” she clarified, her cheeks burning. “If you’re free. I... I’d like to talk more.”

Draco had studied her for a long moment, his face unreadable, though his silver-gray eyes softened just enough to make her heart skip. Slowly, he nodded. “I’d like that too.”

End of Flashback

She remembered blurting it out, feeling drunk on courage but strangely liberated. She definitely hadn’t thought it through before saying it. They hadn’t agreed on a time or place, so she had convinced herself it wouldn’t actually happen.

But now... the note.

It felt real.

She glanced back at the owl, its piercing gaze fixed on her with an almost unnerving patience. The note felt heavier in her hand now, the weight of his proposition pressing against her thoughts. Should she even consider it? After all, it was Malfoy. They weren’t friends. They had never been friends. And last night? That was the first real conversation they’d had in—well, forever.

She frowned, her fingers twitching as if to dismiss the owl and the idea altogether. It was easier to let it go, wasn’t it? Easier to avoid opening a door she’d never thought to approach, let alone knock on.

But just as she moved to shoo the owl away, her mind pulled her back to the night before.

Flashback

“People like me don’t get to just start over, Granger. No one wants to forgive, no one wants to forget. Even now...” He trailed off, his eyes flickering across the room, where a few wizards were still casting sideways glances at him, their disdain as palpable as the stale air in the pub.

He gestured toward them with a faint smirk. “See? Even now, they still can’t let it go. And I don’t think they ever will.”

End Flashback

Hermione blinked, the memory as vivid as if it had happened moments ago. She looked down at the note in her hand again. What was she doing? This wasn’t just some trivial decision. But as much as she tried to ignore it, the memory of his raw honesty clung to her, his words and the quiet vulnerability in his eyes whispering louder than the doubts in her mind.

She exhaled, the tension easing just slightly. Maybe—just maybe—she owed it to herself, and perhaps even to him, to see where this led.

“You won’t leave until I send my reply, will you?” she asked, meeting the bird’s piercing gaze.

The owl gave the faintest nod of acknowledgement, its sharp, eagle-like eyes never leaving hers.

“Fine,” she muttered.

With a resigned sigh, she crossed to the desk, tore a small piece of parchment from her notepad, and grabbed a quill. Her hand hovered over the blank space for a moment, her mind whirling, before she began to write:

Wear your best shoes and the finest suit, but not in black, green or gray—choose the colors within you, the ones you rarely show.And I, too, will wear the opposite of myself, to reflect the duality within me.See you at 8. H.

She read it over, the words feeling both poetic and deeply vulnerable. Folding the note carefully, she reached for a thin red ribbon from her desk drawer. With precise fingers, she scrolled the note tightly and tied it with the ribbon, creating a small but elegant bundle.

The owl tilted its head, watching her as she approached. Its sharp eyes followed her every move as she knelt in front of it. Gently, she secured the note to its right talon, ensuring the ribbon was snug but not too tight.

“Make sure he gets this.”  she said in a barely audible voice.

The owl ruffled its feathers slightly, as if to say it would fulfill its duty, and then stood perfectly still, waiting. Hermione hesitated, unsure why she felt the need to linger.

Finally, she turned away, her steps quick as she headed to the bathroom. The sound of the faucet turning on filled the flat, but her thoughts remained on the note, the owl, and the man it was meant for. Even as the hot water washed over her, she couldn’t shake the feeling that this exchange was the start of something she couldn’t quite define.

It was unexpected, yes. But perhaps the most beautiful things in life always were.

..............................................................................................................................

A few hours later, Hermione was walking briskly toward the Ministry Library, her arms full of books and an overstuffed bag slung over her shoulder. Her attire reflected her practicality: muggle jeans tucked into worn, brown, knee-high boots, a beige coat that matched her snug bonnet and gloves. Her hair, tied in a haphazardly high ponytail, had loose curls escaping and framing her face, which was tinged pink from the cold. Snowflakes clung to her coat as the heavy snowfall blanketed the streets, her breath visible in the frosty air.

Pushing through the library doors, she exhaled in relief at the warmth that enveloped her.

"Afternoon, Mrs. Greenspindle," Hermione greeted warmly, shaking snow from her coat. "I’m back."

Mrs. Greenspindle, an elderly witch with silver-streaked hair tied into a low bun, looked up from behind the counter, adjusting her crescent-moon glasses. She arched an eyebrow.

"Miss Granger, I thought today was your day off," she said, her tone carrying a mix of surprise and amusement.

"It is," Hermione admitted with a sheepish smile, shifting the bag on her shoulder. "But I needed to return some books—and I need to borrow a few others."

Mrs. Greenspindle let out a hearty laugh, shaking her head. "You’re going to work yourself into an early grave, you know that? Running to and from the library on your day off!"

"Stop it," Hermione said with a lighthearted chuckle, placing the returned books on the counter. "I’m fine. I just like staying productive."

The librarian smirked knowingly. "Productive, she says. You, Miss Granger, are a force of nature."

The brunette laughed again, brushing away the comment as she turned her attention to the shelves. "And I’m bloody proud of that."

As she moved deeper into the library, the sound of her boots clicking against the polished floor echoed softly, accompanied by the familiar rustle of pages and the faint scent of parchment. For a moment, Hermione felt completely at ease, surrounded by the sanctuary of books and the quiet bustle of the magical library.

She needed very specific books to complete her report, a task that felt as pressing as the snowflakes accumulating outside. The report was crucial—its success would play a key role in ensuring that the upcoming negotiations with the French Ministry went smoothly. With representatives arriving next week, every detail had to be flawless. The Gryffindor refused to leave anything to chance, knowing the stakes were far too high for anything less than perfection.

As she walked deeper into the rows of towering shelves, her mind churned with everything she had to do. She silently mapped out her strategy for presenting the information as her hands brushed over the spines of books until she found the ones she needed.

The weight of her responsibilities pressed heavily on her, but what truly tipped the scales was her recently appointed boss, Roderick. He was insufferable—constantly nitpicking her work, second-guessing her decisions, and micromanaging every detail of her already meticulous reports. His lack of trust felt like a constant slap in the face, and it only added to the ever-growing stress gnawing at her.

Hermione exhaled sharply as she pulled a particularly hefty tome from the shelf, gripping it tightly as if the act could somehow steady her nerves. Her mind raced with thoughts of how to deal with Roderick’s incessant questioning. No matter how flawless her work was, he always managed to find something to criticize, as if his entire purpose was to make her life more difficult.

She glanced down at her ink-stained hands as a faint scowl tugged at her lips. She’d poured herself into this project, sacrificing sleep and time off, and still, it never felt like enough under his scrutiny. As she added another book to her growing pile, she muttered under her breath, “Honestly, the man wouldn’t recognize thorough research if it hit him in the face.”

“Want me to throw a book at him and find out?” a familiar voice chimed in from behind her.

Startled, Hermione turned around and was greeted by a familiar freckled smile. It was Ron.

“Hey, Ronald,” she said as she smiled. “Working on a Saturday and poking around the library? Didn’t think that was your scene.”

“Come on, Hermione. it’s Ron, not Ronald,” he said with a dramatic groan. “Hearing you call me that feels like Mum’s about to give me a lecture about eating all the biscuits again.”

Hermione couldn’t help but laugh. “Who says I’m not about to give you a lecture?”

“Are you, though?” he asked in a playful tone as he leaned slightly closer, taking on a flirty edge. “Because if you are, I might just enjoy it, pay attention… depending on the topic or how close you are.”

Hermione’s expression immediately frosted over. “Don’t,” she said flatly.

The smirk faded from Ron’s face as she straightened and added, “You know I don’t like it when you act like that.” Without giving him a chance to reply, she turned her attention back to the books, dismissing the conversation entirely.

“I just had to come because I forgot something in my office,” Ron said, breaking the silence. “Thought I’d say hi to Mrs. Greenspindle before heading out. Glad I did.”

Hermione nodded, her lips forming a tight smile. “Well, I must head back home,” she said, stepping toward the library’s entrance. “See you on Monday, Ronald.”

“Wait,” Ron called after her, taking a step forward. “Have you eaten? I was thinking we could grab lunch. There’s this new place—”

“I ate 30 minutes ago,” Hermione interrupted smoothly, not missing a beat. “Sorry, I’ll have to pass on that one. But make sure to eat something warm. It’s freezing out.”

Ron frowned but quickly recovered. “Alright, then. How about dinner? We’re all meeting up. Ginny and her... husband,” he added, the word laced with obvious disdain.

Hermione’s brows knit together in frustration. “Ron, really?” she said sharply. “It’s about time you grow up and show Theo some respect. He loves your sister, and he makes her happy. Isn’t that what matters?”

Ron crossed his arms. “I’ll never like him. Or his kind,” he said bitterly. “Death Eaters don’t change, Hermione. You of all people should know that.”

Hermione’s eyes flashed with anger. “He’s not a Death Eater anymore and you’re being unfair, Ron, and you know it. You’re hurting Ginny by acting this way, whether you realize it or not. One day, you’re going to regret this.”

Ron’s scowl deepened, but Hermione didn’t give him a chance to argue further. “And I can’t make it to dinner anyway,” she said in a firm tone.

Ron looked surprised. “What? Why not? What are you up to?”

There was a brief hesitation, a flicker of something unspoken in her expression, before she finally replied, “It’s personal.”

Ron opened his mouth to press further but didn’t argue further.

She glanced at him briefly and caught the flicker of disappointment that crossed his face. His shoulders slumped ever so slightly, and his hopeful expression dimmed.

“Next week then,” he said, fixing his blue eyes on her.

“Maybe,” she replied in a polite but firm tone, as discomfort crept into her demeanor.

“I can work with maybe,” Ron said, his eyes brightening slightly.

“See you on Monday, Ronald,” Hermione said curtly, adjusting the strap of her bag. She turned to Mrs. Greenspindle with a nod. “See you on Monday too, Mrs. Greenspindle.”

Without waiting for a response, Hermione exited the library, the snow crunching under her boots as she stepped back into the cold. The chill on her face was a welcome distraction from the lingering awkwardness of the encounter.

As Hermione stepped away, Mrs. Greenspindle, who had been quietly observing the exchange from behind the counter, raised an eyebrow at Ron. “You don’t give up, do you?” she remarked, her tone was dry but not unkind.

Ron shrugged with his lopsided grin firmly in place. “I know that ‘maybe’ will turn into a ‘yes’ soon enough,” he said confidently, folding his arms.

Mrs. Greenspindle gave a soft, skeptical hum, but Ron didn’t seem to notice—or didn’t care.

Outside, the snow crunched under Hermione’s boots as she stepped into the biting cold. The chill on her face was a welcome distraction from the lingering awkwardness of the encounter, her breath forming little clouds in the frosty air.

..............................................................................................................................

The kitchen was bathed in warm light, the scent of herbs and fresh vegetables filling the air. Ginny Weasley, now 26, stood by the hearth, her vibrant energy undimmed by the soft wear of adulthood. Her copper-red hair, cut short to jaw-length, framed her freckled face in gentle waves, with a few unruly strands escaping to brush against her cheeks. Her bright brown eyes, still as fiery and determined as ever, glinted in the glow of the firelight, though they carried a touch of warmth that softened her intensity.

Her left hand, which hovered over the edge of the cauldron to feel for warmth, caught the light of the fire, glinting against the simple yet elegant wedding ring on her finger. The band was thin, made of gold, with a subtle engraving along the edges that resembled intertwining vines—delicate and natural, perfectly reflecting her earthy spirit.

“Honey!” Ginny called, glancing toward the open window. Her voice carried over the sound of birds chirping outside. “Five more minutes, and it’ll be ready!”

“Coming!” Theo’s voice responded from the garden, bright and eager.

Ginny smiled to herself and turned back to the cauldron, stirring the ingredients slowly. Despite her use of magic to handle the heavy lifting, much of the preparation had been manual—a skill Hermione had taught her, calling it a "grounding" way to cook. Washing, chopping, and peeling by hand felt like a meditative ritual now, though it had taken her some time to appreciate the process. It seemed almost prehistoric compared to the convenience of magical cooking, but the results? A taste unmatched.

She leaned in slightly, ensuring the water began to boil, her wand tucked behind her ear. Suddenly, she felt a firm, warm grip around her waist, and before she could react, strong arms pulled her back into an embrace.

"Theo!" she gasped as a trail of soft kisses warmed the base of her neck, sending a shiver through her. “You scared me! I’m cooking here.”

“When you said five minutes, I thought you meant to be ready for me,” Theo murmured, his tone playful and low as he shifted to kiss her jawline. His arms tightened around her, pulling her snugly against him.

She laughed, though her cheeks flushed with heat not from the fire. “Not now,” she said, her tone teasing but firm. “My parents are coming.”

Theo groaned softly, pausing his affection as though hit by a sudden downpour. He rested his chin on her shoulder, exhaling dramatically.

“Oh yeah,” he said, his voice dripping with mock annoyance. “I forgot.”

Ginny turned her head slightly to glance at him, catching the pout forming on his lips. She gave him a light tap on his arm. “Behave,” she said, smirking. “You know how Mum gets when the food’s not ready on time.”

He sighed, loosening his grip but not entirely letting go. “Fine, but I’m stealing you the moment they leave.”

“That sounds like a challenge,” he added, his lips curling into a mischievous grin.

Ginny’s eyes sparkled with playful defiance as she glanced over her shoulder. “You think you can handle me after a whole family dinner?” she teased, stirring the cauldron with an exaggerated motion. “Better start training now.”

Theo’s grin widened, and he pulled her closer, his lips brushing the back of her neck. “Oh, I can handle anything you throw at me,” he murmured in a low and warm voice. “Besides, I’ve had practice.”

Ginny laughed softly, the sound filled with affection and mischief. “You think so, do you?”

“Oh, I know so,” he replied, his hands tracing the curve of her waist under the guise of a casual touch. “But I’ll take my time with you, Gin. All the time in the world, if that’s what it takes.”

She paused, leaning back slightly into him. “You’re really laying it on thick today, aren’t you?”

“Only because I know you’re enjoying it,” he said, his lips grazing her ear as he spoke. “Can’t resist me.”

Ginny shook her head, trying to hide her smile. “You’re insufferable.”

Theo chuckled, the sound vibrating through her as he squeezed her waist playfully. “You love it.”

“I’m beginning to wonder if you’ve got a spell on me,” she quipped, eyes glinting with teasing mischief.

“Oh, I do,” Theo said, his tone turning serious for a moment as he met her gaze. “A spell I never plan to break.”

Ginny felt her heart flutter slightly, despite herself. She turned in his arms, narrowing her eyes as she leaned in closer, her lips brushing against his cheek. “Keep talking like that, and I might just believe you.”

Theo smirked, pulling her in tighter. “I’m counting on it.”

Ginny smiled softly, but then glanced toward the clock on the wall. “You should go change. They’ll be here soon.”

Theo hesitated, his playful demeanor faltering for a brief moment. He bit his lip, looking a bit anxious. “Do you think one day they’ll like me?” he asked, voice softer now.

Ginny turned to face him and her expression softened as she placed a reassuring hand on his arm. “I’m certain they already do.” Her smile deepened. “Just ignore Ron. He’s difficult with anyone I’ve dated, but he probably dislikes you more because you’re my husband but If he wants to keep being my brother, he’ll learn to like you.”

Theo’s shoulders relaxed a little, and he gave her a grateful smile. “Thanks, Gin. I’ll try not to let him rattle me.”

Ginny nodded, squeezing his hand gently before stepping back. “I know you will. Now, go get ready. I’ll make sure dinner’s still on track.” She gave him a playful wink.

He chuckled and gave her a quick peck on the lips before heading toward the stairs to change. 

..............................................................................................................................

It was past 6 when Hermione finally walked through the door of her apartment, and the sky outside had long since darkened, the cold evening air creeping into the hallway. As she stepped inside, the weight of the books she had been carrying shifted, and several of them tumbled to the floor with a loud thud.

"Damn it," she muttered, crouching to gather them. Her arms were full and she made her way to the sofa to set them down with a slight groan of frustration.

She paused for a moment, letting the warmth of her home settle over her before heading toward her bedroom.

Her room was a soft haven of lavender, the walls a pale light purple that gave the space an almost ethereal feel. The scent of fresh flowers lingered in the air, and delicate curtains swayed slightly with the breeze outside. A small vanity sat in one corner, cluttered with a few beauty products, while the bed was neatly made, the comforter adorned with soft lace details. The room was undeniably feminine, serene, and cozy, filled with personal touches that made it unmistakably hers.

Hermione moved towards her closet, running a hand over the various clothes hanging inside. She felt a flutter of nervousness in her chest. Was it a date? No, definitely not. She scolded herself for even entertaining the thought. It was more like a social reunion with an old acquaintance. That’s what it was, nothing more.

He’d mentioned dressing up. But what did that mean? The place he’d invited her to—was it elegant? Casual? Somewhere in between? She had no idea. Never heard about the bloody place before. She let out a long sigh, still unsure as she continued to sift through her clothes.

Then, her mind flickered back to what she had replied to him earlier. She immediately dismissed her usual attire—too laid-back, too predictable. She didn’t want to appear too casual. After a moment’s hesitation, she picked a black, long-sleeved, turtle-neck mini dress. It fit her like a glove, hugging her curves in all the right places. She paired it with sheer illusion fleece-lined tights and matching black black boots just below the knee.

With a quick flick of her wand, she styled her hair into a high ponytail, carefully curling a few loose strands to give it a soft, polished look. She added a ribbon, tying it into a neat bow, and finished with a touch of blush and gloss on her lips, giving herself a final look in the mirror.

Hermione carefully slipped on her light pink coat, the soft woolen fabric feeling warm and luxurious against her skin. It was her most elegant coat, the one she reserved for special occasions, and it hugged her frame just perfectly, finishing at her knees. She paired it with a set of delicate silver earrings—small, tear-shaped opals, their iridescence catching the light with every movement. They shimmered with a soft blue hue, the color reminding her of the calm ocean just after dawn.

Despite the care she’d taken in her appearance, Hermione found herself still debating whether to go at all. She had replied to the owl—was it out of politeness? Or had she simply succumbed to a moment of delusion, thinking that meeting him again would make everything feel more real?

Was what had happened yesterday even real? The thought swirled in her mind as she adjusted the collar of her coat. She was about to meet him again, and for some reason, she was nervously wondering if she looked good enough. She had never cared about that before. But now… now it felt different. She felt different.

With a soft sigh, she grabbed a small, elegant bag to complete her outfit. From the chair by her bed, she carefully picked up Malfoy’s coat. Folding it with precise movements, she made sure it would stay neat until she could return it to him. Before placing it into the bag, however, she paused for a moment. She couldn’t help herself. She lifted the coat to her face, inhaling the familiar scent that lingered on the fabric. It smelled of him—subtle but distinct. And for a moment, she found herself lingering in the memory of that moment, a bittersweet feeling settling in her chest.

Just as she placed the coat inside the bag, a sharp knock at the door startled her.

"Who's there?" she called out, her heart skipping a beat.

"Your driver, Miss Granger," came a raspy voice from the other side. "I was sent to pick you up and drive you to Outskirts Brew at the request of my master."

Hermione quickly turned toward the door and opened it to find a tall, older wizard standing in the hallway. He was dressed in a traditional chauffeur's attire, complete with a black waistcoat and a silver chain dangling from his pocket watch.

"I..." she began, glancing at the clock. She was running a bit late.

"Please, go ahead," he urged, his voice gentle yet firm. "The carriage is waiting."

With a quick nod, Hermione stepped out of her flat, feeling a sudden rush of anticipation. The chauffeur led her down the hallway toward the front door, and there, just beyond the entrance, stood a magnificent carriage. It was unlike any she had ever seen. The carriage itself was crafted from gleaming, polished wood, its frame adorned with intricate silver filigree that shimmered in the dim light. The windows were etched with delicate floral patterns, and the roof seemed to glimmer with a soft, almost ethereal glow.

But what truly caught her attention was the creature pulling the carriage. It was a magnificent magical animal—unlike anything she had ever encountered. Its body resembled that of a large, sleek panther, but with wings—long, feathered wings that sparkled like the night sky. The wings were black, edged with silvery-blue streaks that caught the light as the creature shifted on its feet. Its eyes glowed with a soft, golden hue, and as it spread its wings to lift the carriage, it let out a low, melodic hum.

Hermione frowned, her mind racing as she tried to recall what kind of magical creature it was. The description tugged at the edges of her memory, but frustratingly, she couldn’t place it. She had read about countless magical beasts, yet this one eluded her. The hum resonated in her chest, pulling her thoughts further away from logic and deeper into awe.

The entire scene was stunning—otherworldly and beautiful. Hermione found herself briefly caught in awe before she was gently ushered into the carriage by the chauffeur.

As she climbed inside, she was surprised by how elegant the interior was. Soft velvet cushions lined the seats, and the air was infused with a gentle lavender scent, soothing and calming. The golden chandeliers above glimmered with soft, flickering light, and the carriage seemed to hum with a soft magic that made the entire experience feel dreamlike. The space was more than a mere mode of transport—it was a small, enchanted haven, made just for the occasion.

The chauffeur closed the door softly behind her, and the magical creature let out a soft growl, its wings lifting as it began to soar into the sky. The carriage swayed gently with the rise, and Hermione settled back into the plush seat, feeling a strange sense of anticipation—what would the evening hold?

Hermione watched in awe as the world below her became a blur, the city lights fading into the distance. The stars above twinkled brightly, their shimmer reflecting in the creature's wings as they glided through the cool, crisp air. The full moon illuminated their path, casting a soft silver glow that bathed the sky and the ground below, turning the world into a dreamscape.

The Gryffindor felt the rush of excitement building in her chest, but there was also a flutter of nervousness. What the hell was she doing? Why did this feel so different? She glanced out the window, watching the sprawling landscape below, all while trying to ignore the tightness in her stomach and the anticipation coursing through her veins. She was nervous, but also undeniably excited, unaware of what could happen next.

After a while of flying high above the city, the hustle and bustle of the urban life faded away completely. The streets and signs of civilization were left behind, and soon, Hermione found herself gazing down at a darkened expanse where no more businesses or lights could be seen. The only thing that broke the darkness was a small, glowing patch far below. It was illuminated by soft golden lights, nestled against the backdrop of a mountain covered in a blanket of pure white snow.

The creature descended toward the ground, wings beating softly as it brought the carriage down in a graceful arc. Hermione’s breath caught in her throat as they landed smoothly just in front of a small, elegant building, nestled within the snow-covered landscape. The place looked almost otherworldly, like something straight out of a fairy tale. The soft glow from within seemed to call to her, offering warmth and shelter from the cold.

The chauffeur opened the door and stepped aside, allowing Hermione to exit the carriage. As she climbed out, her boots sank slightly into the soft snow, and she adjusted herself, feeling the cold air nip at her face and hands. The snow crunched beneath her feet as she stood still for a moment, taking in the beauty of the snow-covered landscape. But before she could do more than admire it, she heard a voice that made her pulse quicken.

"You came," said Malfoy, his voice smooth and low, the words dripping with an almost amused surprise. "I thought you were joking."

Hermione turned to face him, her breath catching as she finally laid eyes on him. He stood tall, a presence that was impossible to ignore. His outfit was unlike anything she’d ever seen him wear before—there was no black, no grey, and definitely no green. Instead, he wore a deep burgundy coat, the color of rich wine, which contrasted against the crisp winter air. The coat was long and perfectly tailored, the fabric soft and thick, protecting him from the cold. Beneath it, a dark cream-colored sweater peeked out, its warmth apparent. He looked stunning—elegant, effortlessly handsome. His silver blond hair, usually perfectly styled or left to fall carelessly, was tied back in a low ponytail, the sleek strands catching the moonlight as they framed his sharp features. The understated elegance of the look only added to the overall refinement of his presence, giving him an air of effortless sophistication that was impossible to ignore.

As he shifted slightly, the moonlight caught on his neck, and she noticed a faint glimpse of his tattoos curling just above the collar of his sweater. Black ink against pale skin, the lines were intricate, deliberate, and hinted at stories untold. 

Hermione held his gaze, trying to steady her breath, and couldn’t help but feel the tension between them. He had always been attractive, she realized that now, but now, in the stillness of the snowy night, he seemed to carry a magnetism she couldn’t ignore.

"Didn't seem that way," she said, her voice steady but with a hint of teasing. "Sent a chauffeur for me and everything."

Malfoy smirked, taking a small step closer. "Just in case," he said as he laid his eyes on her.

Hermione raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "What would've happened if I didn't answer the door?"

"But you did," he replied in an even tone, but his eyes were intense, scanning her features as if searching for something deeper.

She stared at him for a moment as her breath formed visible clouds in the air as she responded. "But what if I didn’t?"

Malfoy’s smirk deepened, and his gaze darkened with something like amusement—and maybe a little something more. "Then it would’ve been a boring and lonely night," he said decisively.

Hermione’s cheeks flushed, and she quickly averted her eyes, feeling the heat of his gaze lingering on her. 

"Let's go in, okay?" she said slightly breathless with her arms instinctively wrapping tighter around herself to fend off the cold. "I’m freezing out here."

Malfoy’s smile widened, his eyes never leaving hers. "Thought you'd never ask," he replied.

With that, he led the way toward the entrance, and Hermione followed closely behind. As they entered the Outskirts Brew, the warm glow of the interior enveloped them.

The moment the brunette stepped inside, she was greeted by an atmosphere that felt almost ethereal, like stepping into another world entirely. The Outskirts Brew was far more than just a restaurant—it was an experience, a beautifully crafted space where magic and elegance intertwined seamlessly. The air inside was warm, carrying with it the soft scent of delicate flowers and an underlying hint of something sweet, like the promise of a dessert yet to come.

The floor was made of polished stone tiles, each piece smooth and cool beneath her boots, reflecting the soft light of the lanterns that floated just above, glowing with an iridescent sheen. The walls were draped with sheer, sparkling curtains that shimmered with a faint, otherworldly glow, their movement gentle, as if caressed by an invisible breeze. Twisted vines, made of what appeared to be living crystal, snaked up the walls and across the ceiling, their edges sparkling as if dusted with stardust, giving the whole place a fairy-tale ambiance.

The long dining tables were crafted from polished wood, their surfaces rich and dark, adorned with intricate carvings of mythical creatures and flowers that seemed to come to life in the flickering candlelight. Each table was set with fine porcelain, gold-trimmed plates, and delicate glassware, but there were no customers in sight. The restaurant was perfectly still, a quiet elegance filling the air, as if the place was waiting for something special—perhaps, for her arrival.

Near the far end of the room, a large fireplace crackled softly, casting a warm golden glow across the room. The hearth was flanked by two tall, slender statues that looked like guardians, their stone faces serene yet watchful. The firelight flickered off the glass baubles suspended above, catching the light and reflecting it in a thousand delicate rainbows.

In the center of the room stood a grand staircase, spiraling upward toward a second floor, where faint voices and the soft clink of glass could be heard, though no one could be seen. The walls surrounding the staircase were adorned with vines that seemed to move in the light, and magical chandeliers hung delicately overhead, their lights casting an enchanting, warm glow on the entire room.

As Hermione marveled at the breathtaking beauty of the place, a soft, yet confident voice broke the silence.

"Welcome to the Outskirts Brew. Always a pleasure to greet you, Mr. Malfoy."

She turned to see a tall, dark-haired host standing near the entrance, dressed in elegant, flowing robes that were deep indigo, embroidered with silver threads that shimmered like moonlight. His face was sharp and handsome with welcoming eyes, and he carried himself with an effortless grace, as though he were born to command attention.

Malfoy smiled slightly at the host's greeting, nodding his head in acknowledgment, though his attention never wavered from Hermione. The host's eyes flickered briefly to her, but he remained composed, maintaining the dignified, serene air that seemed to be the essence of the Outskirts Brew itself.

Hermione, still taking in the beauty of the restaurant, couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed. The place was exquisite, and the fact that there were no other diners only made the experience feel even more intimate, almost surreal. She glanced at Malfoy, who seemed perfectly at ease, and for the first time that evening, she wondered exactly what she had gotten herself into.

The host, Marco, stood tall and elegant as he led them through the restaurant, his dark robes flowing as he moved. The soft glow of hanging chandeliers bathed the room in a warm, ethereal light, casting long shadows against the walls adorned with intricate paintings of far-off places. The air smelled faintly of fresh flowers and wood polish, mixing with the aroma of the hearty meals from the kitchen.

He guided them to the table at the center of the restaurant, a large and opulent piece draped in white fabric that shimmered in the soft lighting. The table was set for two, with fine china, crystal glasses, and polished silverware gleaming under the light. The silver cutlery gleamed like stars, perfectly placed, waiting for the meal to begin. The seats were plush, with deep burgundy cushions that invited them to sit and relax, though there was a certain tension in the air.

As they settled into their seats, Malfoy across from Hermione, his eyes studied her silently. His gaze, piercing and intense, lingered longer than necessary, making Hermione feel a subtle heat rise in her cheeks. It was impossible not to notice the way his eyes skimmed over her, the sharp, appreciative look making her heart race a little faster.

“Your coats, please,” Marco said, interrupting the moment in a smooth and courteous tone.

Hermione nodded, swiftly removing her coat and handing it to the host. She felt the cold air of the winter night briefly rush against her skin, but the warmth of the restaurant soon enveloped her. As she adjusted herself in her seat, she caught the way Malfoy’s eyes scanned her again, this time slowly, as though measuring every detail. His eyes traveled from her face down to her boots, before slowly returning up to her face, making her flush under his gaze.

“As requested,” Marco said with a slight bow, “the restaurant is reserved in its entirety only for you two. No one will bother you.”

“Thank you, Marco,” Malfoy replied smoothly, his tone as composed as ever.

The host nodded once more and excused himself, leaving the two of them in the solitude of the empty restaurant.

Hermione finally broke the quiet, unable to suppress her surprise.

Her brows furrowed slightly as she processed his words. “You... reserved the whole restaurant?” she repeated with a note of disbelief in her voice. 

Malfoy met her gaze with a cool, unwavering look. “Yes,” he said in a quiet and firm voice. “I don’t feel like dealing with anyone’s stares or their unwanted attention tonight. Just you and me.”

Hermione blinked, trying to make sense of it. The idea of Malfoy reserving an entire restaurant for the two of them felt... odd. He wasn’t the type to do things like this unless it served his own interests, and yet, there he was, sitting across from her with that same calm, collected expression.

“I didn’t expect this,” Hermione said in a soft voice, betraying the confusion swirling in her mind. “This isn’t what I thought our meeting would be.”

Malfoy’s lips quirked into a faint, almost imperceptible smirk. “I don’t do things halfway, Granger,” he replied with a shrug. He leaned back in his chair, stretching out comfortably. “Not when it comes to avoiding... people.”

Before she could ask more questions, the host returned with a decanter of deep red wine, setting it down carefully along with two glasses. With a courteous bow, Marco placed them on the table and began to retreat.

“Your wine, Mr. Malfoy. Miss Granger,” he said smoothly before excusing himself.

Malfoy didn’t hesitate, immediately reaching for the decanter and pouring the wine into both glasses. His movements were precise, confident. He glanced at Hermione with a barely noticeable smirk. "To a quiet, distraction-free night," he said, his voice carrying a light edge of amusement.

Hermione, unsure of how to respond, took the glass from him and her fingers brushed against his for the briefest moment. She could feel a small shiver run down her spine at the touch, but quickly tried to push the sensation away, bringing the glass to her lips. The wine was rich, smooth, with layers of flavor that lingered long after she swallowed.

"It’s exquisite," she remarked, lifting her gaze to meet his.

Malfoy studied her for a moment. 

“Just like the company,” he murmured as he took a sip from his own glass.

Hermione felt her pulse quicken slightly at his words, unsure of whether he meant to compliment her or simply tease her. Either way, she couldn’t ignore the tension that was slowly building between them.

"I thought we were meeting for coffee," she said, trying to deflect, seemingly nervous.

"They have the best coffee here," Malfoy replied, without missing a beat.

"But you just ordered wine," she countered, unable to resist. "Malfoy, this is a fancy restaurant."

"And it has the best view," he replied smoothly, not at all perturbed by her surprise.

Hermione exhaled softly, glancing around the empty room, her voice quieter now. "It’s just us."

Malfoy’s expression darkened slightly, a flicker of something deeper crossing his features. “Yes,” he said, his voice dropping a notch. “Pretty rare, don’t you think?”

She blinked, her mind racing to keep up. “You reserved the entire place for us tonight?” she asked again, unsure whether to be impressed or confused.

“I wanted to avoid distractions.” Malfoy leaned back in his chair, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp. “I want to listen to you, Granger. Only you.”

The flush in Hermione’s cheeks deepened at his words. It felt oddly personal, but not in a way she could immediately comprehend. Was he doing this for her—or just because he didn’t want anyone else around? It was hard to tell, and even harder to decide what it meant.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The silence between them grew heavy, filled with unasked questions and unspoken truths, leaving them both caught in the moment.

After a while, Hermione looked up at him with a steady gaze. “I thought you wouldn’t do it,” she said in a soft voice and her eyes fixed on his.

“Do what?” he asked, raising an eyebrow in amusement.

“Wear anything other than green, grey, or black,” she replied, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

He smirked, the expression almost teasing. “Well, I’m supposed to do my best tonight and be good,” he said with a mockingly playful tone. “Though I’m not sure I can be good.”

The comment sent a strange flutter through her stomach, and she couldn’t help but blush again.

“Well, burgundy and dark cream colors suit you,” she said quickly, trying to deflect the tension that was beginning to build between them.

“And black fits you perfectly,” he replied smoothly, as his eyes scanned her slowly, taking in every detail of her appearance.

Her breath caught slightly, a wave of warmth spreading through her chest as she felt butterflies stir in her stomach at his words. It was the way he said it, as though the words held more weight than she could easily decipher, that made her heart race just a little faster.

"Shall we order? Excuse me!" Hermione called for the host nervously, her voice slightly shaky as she tried to regain her composure.

Malfoy’s lips curved into a small, knowing smile as he watched her. He leaned back in his chair, his gaze never leaving her as she fidgeted with the edge of her napkin, avoiding his stare.

Marco appeared almost immediately, a soft swish of his robes as he approached the table. "Yes, Miss Granger? Mr. Malfoy?" he asked politely, his hands folded neatly in front of him.

Malfoy, however, made no move to look at the menu. "The usual," he said simply.

Hermione looked at the menu briefly, still flustered, and then back at Marco. "The same as he," she said

Marco nodded and bowed respectfully. "Very well. I’ll have your orders ready shortly."

Hermione straightened in her seat, her fingers grazing the stem of her wineglass as she gathered her thoughts. She could feel the weight of Malfoy’s gaze, steady and unwavering, but there was a softness to it that unsettled her—not because it was unwelcome, but because it was unfamiliar.

“Why tonight?” she asked after a moment, tinged with genuine curiosity.

Malfoy tilted his head slightly, considering her question. His fingers traced the edge of his glass, the movement slow and deliberate. 

“Why not?” he countered with a faint smirk. “We had a proper conversation yesterday, and you said you wanted to talk more. So here we are.”

Hermione blinked, caught off guard by his straightforwardness. She felt a faint blush creeping up her cheeks but quickly brushed it aside.

His smirk softened into something less guarded and his silver eyes catched the warm glow of the room’s light. For a moment, she found herself captivated by them, their color unlike anything she’d ever really noticed before. They weren’t just silver—they were flecked with hints of stormy grey, framed by lashes that softened their intensity. 

Beautiful , she thought fleetingly, before shaking the idea away. But the realization lingered, as undeniable as the man himself.

“I’d like to think this counts.” He continued. “Though, I admit, I didn’t expect you to agree to meet me.”

She shrugged. “I didn’t expect you to ask.”

They sat in silence for a moment, the hum of their surroundings fading into the background. Finally, Hermione leaned forward slightly and her expression turned serious. “Malfoy… I need to ask. Azkaban…”

Malfoy’s demeanor shifted almost imperceptibly. The playful glint in his eyes dimmed, replaced by something heavier—something raw. His hand tightened briefly around his glass before he let out a slow breath. “What about it?”

His jaw tightened and his hand paused mid-movement around his glass. For a moment, he didn’t reply and he dropped his eyes to the table. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, almost hoarse. “It’s exactly what you’d imagine, Granger. Cold… bone-deep cold that doesn’t just seep into your skin but seems to crawl inside you, like it’s trying to hollow you out.” He hesitated, the flicker of something raw passing through his expression.

“Empty,” he continued in a quieter tone now. “So empty that you start forgetting what it feels like to be… anything. But it’s loud, too. Loud in the way silence can be. Just… unraveling.”

He finally met her gaze and his silver eyes shadowed, haunted. “It’s the kind of place that strips you bare, makes you face everything you’ve ever done—no lies, no excuses, no escape.”

Hermione’s throat tightened as she watched him. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“Don’t be,” he said as his lips curled into a faint, humorless smile. “It was deserved.”

Hermione’s heart ached at his words, but she stayed quiet, giving him space to continue if he chose to.

He didn’t. Instead, he shrugged, a bitter smile ghosting his lips. “It’s not a place anyone comes out of whole. But you already know that, don’t you? You’ve read the reports. You testified.”

“As I said yesterday, I testified because I believed you deserved a second chance,” she said firmly.

He looked at her then, his expression unreadable, but his eyes spoke volumes—tired, remorseful, and tinged with gratitude he seemed hesitant to voice.

“I know,” he said finally. “And for what it’s worth… thank you. I don’t think I ever did say it. Not that I deserve it though.”

Hermione opened her mouth to argue, but his gaze shifted, and she followed it to the faint black ink peeking from the collar of his sweater.

“I’ve been meaning to ask…” she began, hesitating as she studied him. “Your tattoos. I noticed you have several.”

Draco’s lips curled into a small, guarded smile, though she didn’t miss the flicker of discomfort in his eyes. “Perceptive as always, Granger.”

“What do they mean?”

He leaned back slightly, the shadows playing across his face as he considered her question. “They serve as a reminder,” he said in a quiet voice.

Hermione frowned. “What do you mean?”

“A reminder of who I am,” he replied. He reached for his wineglass, taking a sip before adding quietly, “A reminder of what I’ve done.”

The weight of his words hung in the air, heavy and unyielding. Hermione wanted to press him for more, but the look in his eyes stopped her. It wasn’t that he wouldn’t tell her—it was that he couldn’t. Not yet.

She settled back in her chair, her gaze lingering on him. “And what are you now?” she asked softly.

His lips twitched into that faint, self-deprecating smile. “That,” he said, lifting his glass in a mock toast, “is a question I’m still trying to answer.”

The brunette watched him feeling her thoughts like a storm of questions she wasn’t sure she had the right to ask. 

For a moment, silence settled between them. Then, unexpectedly, Draco leaned forward slightly and his sharp gaze locked onto hers. “Now tell me, Granger,” he said in a softer voice but no less intense, “who are you?”

Hermione blinked, caught off guard. “What do you mean?” she asked with caution.

He tilted his head, studying her as though she were a particularly intricate puzzle. “You’re not the same girl I used to know. Ten years ago, you were all rules and certainty. Now…” He gestured vaguely with his hand. “There’s something different. I see it in your eyes.”

She hesitated, feeling her pulse quickening. “People change,” she said, deflecting, though her voice wavered slightly.

“They do,” he agreed with an unreadable expression. “But the question is—what did you change into? Or maybe… who did you have to become?”

Her breath hitched at the bluntness of his words, she could feel the weight of his self-loathing tangible. “Malfoy…” she began, but he shook his head slightly and a humorless smile tugged at his lips.

“It’s true, isn’t it?” he pressed, his tone calm yet edged with vulnerability. “Back then, I wasn’t worth your time—or anyone’s, really. But here you are, sitting across from me, giving me… what? A second chance? Or is it just curiosity?”

Hermione straightened in her seat.

“I’m here because people deserve a chance to prove they’ve changed. You’ve changed. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t believe that.”

Malfoy’s eyes softened. “You’ve always cared too much about people, haven’t you?” he murmured, though there was no malice in his tone.

“Maybe,” Hermione replied, her lips curving into a small, tentative smile. “But I think it’s working out so far.”

The bottle of wine between them seemed endless, their glasses never staying empty for long. With each sip, the liquid's warmth spread through Hermione’s veins, loosening the tension in her shoulders and softening the sharp edges of her thoughts. The effect was familiar—she’d felt it the night before as well—but tonight, it was different. It wasn’t the wine alone that made her feel at ease; it was the quiet presence of the man across from her.

Just as the conversation lulled into another comfortable silence, the host arrived, carrying two plates of food. The aroma of freshly cooked steak filled the air, accompanied by tender potatoes and a colorful medley of vegetables. It was simple yet exquisite, and the warm plates were a welcome distraction from the intensity of their conversation.

They spoke, yes, but not constantly. There were silences—more than the night before—but she didn’t mind. In fact, she found comfort in the lulls between their words. The pauses were not awkward but deliberate, like a shared understanding. As she looked across the table at Draco, she thought about a line she had once heard in a Muggle film, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind : “Constantly talking isn’t necessarily communicating.” It felt true, here, in this space between them, where words weren’t needed to fill every second. Just being present was enough.

And in that moment, the truth of it struck her. Silence sometimes spoke louder than words, carried more weight than a conversation. It wasn’t about filling the space; it was about sharing the space. That’s what they were doing now—sitting across from each other, wineglasses in hand, exchanging occasional words but mostly allowing the quiet to stretch between them, binding them in a way neither of them could explain.

The candlelight flickered, its glow reflecting in their glasses and casting soft shadows across the table. She watched as the blond poured another measure of wine, his movements unhurried, as though they had all the time in the world. He handed her the refilled glass without a word, their fingers brushing briefly and he looked at her in the eyes, making her blush.

Her thoughts felt lighter and her mind hazy but clear in the ways that mattered. The silence felt like a conversation in itself, as though they were saying, I’m here. You’re here. And for now, that’s enough. It wasn’t forced or filled with the need to impress. It was two people who had once been enemies, now sharing a bottle of wine and the quiet understanding that sometimes, being present was the best gift they could give each other.

When she glanced up, she found Draco looking at her—not with expectation or judgment, but with something softer, something unspoken. She gave him a small smile, and though he didn’t smile back, the slight relaxation of his features told her he had understood. 

But as the evening wore on, she couldn’t help but notice something else. It was in the way Malfoy’s smile never quite reached his eyes, in the way his gaze lingered on the table when he thought she wasn’t looking. There was a weight to him, a heaviness he carried, and she could tell it stemmed from a profound loneliness, an alienation that was understandable after everything he’d been through.

He shared, cautiously but genuinely, about how he avoided people these days. “I prefer the quiet,” he admitted in a low voice. “The solitude of my home, or sometimes I go to this lake by the forest. You can hear the wind in the trees, the water lapping against the shore… It’s better company than most people.”

Hermione listened, her heart aching at his words. It didn’t seem like he had friends—not real ones, anyway. And she realized that he had no one he could truly confide in, no one to help shoulder the burden he carried. The sadness in him was palpable, a deep, unrelenting sorrow that hung over him like a shadow.

“You don’t talk to anyone?” she asked softly, hesitant to pry but unable to stop herself.

He shook his head, a faint, humorless smile crossing his lips. “Not really. It’s easier this way. People… they tend to expect things. Judge things. I’ve had enough of that to last a lifetime.”

Hermione met his gaze. 

“You’re talking to me now.” She paused, letting her words settle in the air between them. “I’m here.”

He took another sip of wine, letting the glass settle in his hand as he glanced at her. “You know,” he began in a quieter voice now, “you’re the first person who’s asked me anything in years. Most people... they wouldn’t care. Or they’d just want to fill the silence with their own noise.”

His silver eyes met hers, and this time, his gaze held her in a way that made her breath catch. There was a flicker of something softer there, something that made her heart beat just a little faster. The intensity of his stare seemed to see through her, unraveling her in a way she hadn’t expected. She tried to look away, but it was impossible to pull her eyes from his. She felt as if she were caught in the weight of his silence, and yet, in that moment, it didn’t feel suffocating—just raw, like they were standing on the edge of something neither of them fully understood.

“But you...” he continued in a softer voice now, almost as if he were confiding in her. “You’re different.” He let out a breath, almost a quiet laugh, but it was tinged with something heavy. “Maybe it’s because you’re not expecting anything. Maybe it’s because you’ve seen enough to know what really matters, even if you don’t say it.”

There was a weight to his words, like he was saying more than he intended, but he didn’t press further. He simply let the moment hang there, the silence between them feeling a little less heavy than before.

He didn’t look away, his gaze intense, as if searching for answers in her eyes. Then, his voice lowered, taking on a more serious tone. “I noticed it even back at the trial, when you testified. Hell, maybe even before that. But I didn’t want to admit it. And to be honest, it scared me a bit—realizing I’d noticed those things about you back in Hogwarts.”

"I was worried about you, you know? When we were in sixth year." She said hesitantly, and her eyes dropped for a moment before lifting again to meet his. "I knew something was different about you. You looked troubled, and I tried telling Harry and Ron, but... they wouldn’t listen. And I didn’t dare to approach you… I regret it now. I could’ve done something."

Malfoy’s expression flickered and something unreadable passed through his silver eyes. He leaned back slightly, as if weighing her words. For a brief moment, silence hung between them, charged with unspoken memories.

Finally, he broke the tension with a laugh, though it was laced with a bitter edge. "I probably wouldn't have let you, either way."

Hermione felt a knot tighten in her stomach. His words stung more than she expected, but she couldn’t quite place why. There was something almost... resigned in his tone. She bit her lip, unsure of how to respond.

His smirk faltered slightly as he studied her in a quieter voice now. 

"I wasn’t exactly... easy to approach back then, was I? I built walls. I pushed everyone away.”

"But... there's something I don't regret." She said with hesitation, taking a steadying breath and tracing her fingers on the rim of her wine glass.

Draco’s brow furrowed slightly, intrigued, as he leaned forward with his silver eyes fixed on her. "What?" he asked, as if he wasn’t entirely ready for her answer.

Hermione’s lips quirked, then a small, almost imperceptible smile pulled at the corners of her mouth. She met his gaze, unwavering. "Stumbling upon you at the pub yesterday."

The room seemed to grow quieter, the air between them thick with something unspoken. Malfoy took a moment with his expression unreadable, before he let out a soft chuckle. There was no malice in it, just a hint of something warmer than usual.

"Really?" he asked, raised an eyebrow, though there was no mockery in his tone. It was genuine, something different from the teasing she’d come to expect from him. "Well, I suppose I can’t say I regret it either."

He leaned back in his chair with a smile lingering on his lips, though it was softer than it had been before. His gaze softened just a fraction, but the tension remained between them felt thick and palpable.

Hermione’s lips quirked again, a small, almost imperceptible smile tugging at the corners of her mouth as she met his gaze, unwavering. She stood from her seat with steady movements yet slightly uncoordinated from the alcohol. Malfoy’s brows furrowed in surprise as she moved toward him, her steps purposeful, yet with a lightness to them that caught him off guard.

She could feel her heart beat a little faster as she stood there, so close to him. She didn’t have a plan for this, not really. But she was tired of the distance, of the old animosities, of the past that clung to them both like a shadow.

"Let’s start over," she said softly despite the thudding in her chest.

He watched her closely and a flicker of uncertainty crossed his expression as she stopped right in front of him, standing close enough that he could feel the subtle warmth radiating from her. The air between them felt charged, thick with something unsaid, something delicate.

"Granger. Hermione Granger," she said, holding out her hand to him, mirroring the way Draco had introduced himself to Harry all those years ago, but this time, it was her turn.

There was no mockery in her voice, no edge, just something genuine, like the weight of everything between them had led to this simple but significant moment. She didn’t wait for him to make the first move. This time, she was the one extending the olive branch.

Malfoy's eyes flickered between her hand and her face, surprise evident in his features. The memories of their past, of Hogwarts and everything that had come before, seemed to rise to the surface all at once. His chest tightened slightly, but this time, the tension felt different—more like a door opening, however cautiously.

After a beat, he reached out and his fingers brushed against hers. It was a simple gesture, but one that carried more weight than either of them had anticipated. As he gripped her hand firmly, his voice was quieter than usual, but there was a depth to it that made her heart skip.

“Malfoy,” he said softly as his eyes locked onto hers. “Draco Malfoy.”

The words were so familiar, so reminiscent of their past, but they also carried a new meaning now. Something unspoken passed between them in that moment, and despite everything, it felt like a beginning.

“Now come with me,” she said. “There’s something we need to do. Don’t let go of my hand.”

Draco’s brow furrowed in confusion, but without thinking, he followed her with his fingers still wrapped around hers. The gesture was instinctive, almost as if he were anchoring himself to her in a way he couldn't fully explain. They apparated, and when they landed, he found himself standing before an abandoned house, isolated and forgotten. It looked as though it had been untouched by time, with ivy creeping up its crumbling walls and windows that had long lost their glass.

Hermione smiled softly. 

“This is one of my favorite spots to vent,” she said. “Come on.”

She tugged at his hand, pulling him forward without hesitation. Malfoy allowed himself to be led. He couldn’t quite figure it out, this pull he felt toward her, this quiet certainty that even though he didn't know what was coming, it was exactly where he needed to be. His grip tightened slightly, grounding him, but he followed her into the house.

Inside, the air was heavy with dust and the scent of long-abandoned memories. The brunette did a quick charm and he could now see faint beams of light filtered through the cracks in the walls, illuminating the space with a dim, melancholic glow. The place felt both eerie and familiar, as though it had witnessed countless stories—some forgotten, some never told. Hermione moved effortlessly through the space, unbothered by the disrepair, until she stopped in the center of the room.

With a flick of her wrist, a bat appeared in her hand, its worn handle smooth from years of use. She handed it to Malfoy and her eyes met with a quiet urgency.

“Here,” she said in a soft but firm voice. “Your turn.”

He blinked, taking the bat as if it weighed more than it should. His confusion was palpable. "What’s this about?" he asked in a low voice, but there was no edge to it, no sarcasm. It was genuine confusion.

Hermione’s gaze softened and her lips curved into a small, knowing smile. 

“Let it all out. It’s your turn.”

He didn’t understand. But she was right, wasn’t she? There was something in him, something gnawing at him, that begged for release. He shook his head slightly, as if trying to shake off the thoughts that clouded his mind. 

“Break the window,” she instructed in a steady voice.

“But—” he started, but she cut him off before he could finish.

“Just do it,” she said, her tone gentle but unyielding. “Trust me.”

For a moment, he stood frozen and the bat in his hands felt heavier by the second. He could feel the weight of the years pressing against his chest, the anger, the bitterness, the hurt, all coiling within him. The whole situation felt foreign. But something in Hermione’s presence—something in her quiet understanding—made him feel like he should do as she said.

He swung the bat and the crack of glass broke through the air. The sound rang in his ears in a violent release, and for the first time in years, he felt something shift within him. The tension, the tightness in his chest—gone, if only for a moment. His breath came out in a ragged exhale as he swung again, and again.

Each strike of the bat against the window was like a release of all the things he had kept buried for so long—things he hadn’t been able to say, things he hadn’t even allowed himself to acknowledge. Anger, regret, frustration—all of it, pouring out in one violent motion. He didn’t speak, didn’t need to. His body moved instinctively and his muscles burned as he continued to swing, each impact a small act of liberation.

Hermione stood silently, watching him with an understanding gaze, a softness in her expression that conveyed more than words ever could. She wasn’t judging him, wasn’t expecting anything from him. She simply watched, knowing exactly what this moment was for him. For both of them, perhaps.

Malfoy’s breath became ragged, and his body trembled with the weight of the release, but he didn’t stop. Every swing of the bat felt like it was breaking something within him, something heavy he hadn’t known how to carry. The tension, the anger, the things he had never said, they all poured out with each strike. His muscles burned, sweat dripping down his face, but in the chaos of it, there was a clarity that made everything else fade away.

He didn’t notice the passage of time, too absorbed in the rhythm of destruction. The sound of shattering glass was like music to him now, echoing through the room, through his chest. His arms grew leaden, his breath shallow, but still he kept going, until the air around him seemed to hum with the aftermath of everything he had let go of.

He stopped, finally, panting, the bat still heavy in his hand. The wreckage around him felt symbolic, like a physical manifestation of all the weight he’d carried inside. Broken glass, splintered wood, the remnants of something that had needed to be undone.

And then, as his breath slowed, he turned to Hermione. She had watched him without judgment, without expectation. There was a quiet understanding in her gaze, something steady and constant. It wasn’t just the shattered house that connected them in that moment. It was the shared experience, the unspoken recognition that they both understood what it was like to carry burdens, to hold things inside, and to need a release.

For a moment, there was nothing more between them than the silence, thick with the weight of what had been let go. But in that silence, there was something beautiful. Something delicate. An unspoken bond, woven from the smallest of moments.

There is a word in Korean, In-yeon, that carries with it the weight of countless lifetimes. It speaks of connection—not the grand, sweeping gestures of destiny, but the quiet, intricate threads that bind us to one another in ways we might never fully understand.

In-yeon is not about love alone. It is about every shared moment, every glance, every word that passes between two people. Each interaction, no matter how small, is a thread. And with enough threads, woven over time, a bond begins to form—a tapestry of connection that may stretch across years, or even lifetimes.

Some threads are fleeting, delicate strands that brush against us and drift away. Others are strong, enduring, and impossible to ignore. They pull us together in ways that feel inevitable, as though the universe itself has conspired to make us collide, over and over again.

The beauty of In-yeon lies in its mystery. It doesn’t demand understanding, nor does it promise permanence. It exists simply as a reminder that we are never truly alone in this vast and chaotic world. Even the briefest of encounters leaves an imprint, a mark on the soul, as if to say, You were here. We were here. And it mattered.

Draco and Hermione would not have known the word In-yeon. But somewhere, in the quiet spaces between their thoughts, in the stillness that followed the wreckage of shattered glass, they might have felt its truth. In the unspoken understanding between them, in the shared silence, there was something that transcended mere coincidence. Something that spoke of a connection not defined by the past, but by the present—the threads that had woven their paths together, thread by thread.

The idea that every moment, every glance, every shared breath, carries with it the weight of possibility—whether we recognize it or not. Perhaps it was not love they shared yet, but in that moment, amidst the quiet aftermath, there was the unmistakable sense of a connection that had always been there, subtle but undeniable. A bond formed not through grand gestures, but through the smallest of actions—the weight of their presence, the shared quiet, the shared understanding.

The universe had conspired in its own way, bringing them to this point. And though they might not fully understand it yet, they both felt the pull of it—of the threads that had tied their fates together, gently, over time.

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Author Notes:

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. It is long, I know, but I hope I made your time worthwile. This is a slow burn but don't worry, it will turn into something deeper with each chapter. Any comments are more than welcome ♥ In-yeon concept idea from Past Lives (2023), A24, directed by Celine Song. I highly recommend it. Beautiful, sad, filled with love movie.

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CHAPTER 1:

READ AND SUPPORT THE STORY IN AO3:

[kooki914]

We all know how you feel about chapter 2, so how would you "fix" the issues with the chapter?

This is the kind of ask that would've made me go apeshit in excitement a few years ago. TL;DR, I made an AU specifically addressing all my issues with Chapter 2 (and the future of deltarune as a whole), it's called Kingdomrune and you can find it here.

If you want the in-depth explanation, continue under the cut.

First and foremost, visual overhaul of cyber city. It kills me because the concept art for the city that was released recently looks gorgeous but something is just lost in translation when trying to make the concept art a playable area rather than just a purely visual piece of art that you can take in at your own pace. Limiting the palette and making it a bit more muted is the option I pivoted to for Kingdomrune, but I'm admittedly not very good with colours, so make of the result what you will

(Added bonus - there's a parallax effect in the windows of the buildings that reflect the rest of the city, what would usually be street lights is replaced with wi-fi antennae that visually call back to the cliffs, a lot of the floating ads are, instead, replaced with "bug checkers" and loading icons which are animated but not so fidgety to be distracting, and a lot of the "blocky" looking items (trash cans and balloons) are more just stylized in-universe rather than actually clashing with the rest of the environment.) (Also, I hate "WELCOME TO THE CITY" so just imagine "a cyber's world" being the theme of the city instead)

Additionally, the city shouldn't be 90% of the chapter, it just gets boring after a while. My solution to this is splitting the City into two parts, the iconic Cyber City as the second of the two, with the lead-up to it being a place called Hardware Outskirts. I don't have spritework for it, nor presentable concept art sadly, so just imagine a cross between old soviet brutalist buildings and old yellowed computer hardware, and you've pretty much got the mental visual for it. The music I associate with it is anything by Molchat Doma, but more specifically This Song, which adds a necessary tonal contrast to the City's vibrant feel.

Second of all, SOME KIND of conflict in the wider world outside just the kids' adventure. There's hints scattered throughout the game that Queen is planning something big in the city and that nothing's running on time because of it, but we don't get explicit payoff for that. My way of resolving this, and tying it back to the light world, is that Cyber City is essentially at war with the rest of the library.

The new tech is trying to conquer and replace the books and stories that have been there much longer, and the Bookbound Kingdom (in my version of events, at it's head are the card queens that are missing in chapter 1) is fighting tooth and nail to keep the "Evil" Queen at bay. The Bookbound Kingdom is themed after fairytales and textbooks and stuff, the kinds of things kids would most often check out at the library, and it would provide a very necessary tonal and visual contrast to the Cyber City that actually makes it's GOOD aesthetic and thematic choices pop. Where the Bookbound kingdom is wild and whimsical and outdated, Queen's kingdom is rigid and complex and new.

It also gives Queen a reason to ransack the first area like we (implicitly) see her doing in the game. She's actually, violently trying to take over Bookbound and that's when she found Noelle, and decided to kidnap her. Sweet Cap'n Cakes get a bit of a rewrite as well, originally Queen's scouts and allies until the protagonists befriend them through dancing during their battle, which causes them to turn on Queen because their new friends treat them better than she's treating them at the moment (giving us in-universe characters reacting to Queen's change in character caused by the fountain that, in-game, is just told to us rather than shown).

Thirdly, write out Berdly. Entirely. This is probably a controversial take, but I genuinely think Berdly's arc would benefit from having his OWN chapter dedicated to HIM specifically (one I dubbed chapter 2.5 in my AU), instead of him being at odds with Noelle for screen time. Setting up a context where Berdly's the character very clearly out of his own depth and not thriving with people claiming to be helping him, is a much more compelling way to get (me specifically) invested. Put emphasis on Berdly and Noelle being friends and him overcoming his comphet crush on her, no more weird love triangle shit with him inserting himself into Susie and Noelle's business, and most of all, Ralsei and Kris bonding with him in their own ways. Give Kris a REASON to forgive Berdly for the way he treated them, give the two common ground and let Berdly GROW into someone who WANTS to be nice to Kris, rather than whatever the hell happened at the end of Deltarune's chapter 2.

And lastly, I need to talk about Noelle. Like, a lot.

While she was (and still is) my favourite part of Chapter 2, there's still improvements to be made. For one, going from "freezing up completely at conflict" to "ACTing with kris to spare enemies" after just ONE conversation with Virovirokun that completely breaks the flow of battle is... kind of odd to me. In my rewrite, Noelle's first escape from Queen is with SCC involved, they target Noelle as a lightner they can beat (because they can't beat the heroes) and in doing so essentially open her cage. Queen is furious with them and while Susie tells Noelle to get the hell out of there, Queen is trying to coerce her to stay, and Noelle is frozen in place. She doesn't WANT to stay with Queen, but she's rooted in one spot and can't move. When something loud/startling happens, it FINALLY makes her budge and she's able to run away.

Freeze -> Flight

When Noelle first joins Kris' party in Hardware Outskirts, it's not because Susie and Ralsei ditched Kris out of nowhere with weird traffic cones to block them (??? im still salty about that), rather it's because there's a two-way puzzle (kind of like the December puzzle) that makes Kris' team split up in two, and Susie chooses to go with Ralsei because she trusts Kris'll be fine on their own. For context, in my AU there's also chapter 1.5 where the team more firmly learns how to work together, specifically through Kris learning how to bond with them one at a time, so Kris trying to cling to Ralsei and Susie in chapter 2 is weird from those two's perspective because Kris should know by now that a team of two will be fine, the three of them don't need to stick together like glue all the time. Susie and Ralsei aren't completely out of the picture, for the record, they're still checking in on Kris and Noelle and making sure they're okay, even distracting Queen to give them opportunities to get out of dodge. (again, instead of the weird love triangle stuff, I still don't know why that's there in-game.)

Noelle at first runs from every battle that happens. Kris has to fight every darkner on their own, leaving them at a huge disadvantage, because Noelle is too scared to fight them. As you may have guessed, this makes the snowgrave route not possible the moment Noelle enters your party (I'll get to that). Noelle eventually gets forced into battles with Kris during a car chase minigame, where they compete with Ralsei and Susie to see who can take out more enemies in a semi-enemy rush. The problem is, Noelle still doesn't contribute, and when the teams get separated, Kris ends up encountering WareWarewire, who they can't hope to defeat on their own, and at THIS point Noelle runs away again, which opens up the option for KRIS to flee as well (essentially unlocking a new mechanic). Once they're both safe and enter Cyber City, Noelle starts to feel bad for constantly leaving Kris on their own, and asks them to tell her what to do next battle, because she wants to be stronger.

Freeze -> Flight -> Fight

THIS is where the snowgrave offshoot can happen. Once Noelle is with you during battle willingly, she listens to your every command and that can include freezing/killing enemies if you so choose. You can completely erode the positive aspects of her development and ingrain "fight" as the only valid response to stress to her, which undermines the journey she went on for the sake of making battles more convenient for the player. This entire portion of the game after Noelle joins your party would be specifically curated to not make it feel bloated when seeking out enemies and doing puzzles no matter which route you take.

On a normal route, Noelle's character continues to progress steadily, but the one thing she still refuses to do are spelling puzzles, with a bit of emphasis put on it. Her and Kris bond for the first time in a long time without being interrupted by Berdly or Queen, and in the end, she's able to help you do the December puzzle. Together, Noelle and Kris are able to move past their trauma, at least partly, and become closer friends than they were before.

Before the December puzzle, though, there's a miniboss, and instead of a Berdly, this section would actually feature Rouxls as a miniboss. In my mind, he's using the boat as a way to traverse a minesweeper puzzle and tries to stop Kris and Noelle in order to give them over to Queen. On a normal route beating him always leaves him somewhat injured and fleeing, with Noelle worried about his safety. In a snowgrave route, Rouxls is painfully outmatched and while Noelle isn't particularly invested in his safety as an individual, after being forced to do Snowgrave she's in shock, both because of what she did, but also because Lancer leaves your inventory to check on Rouxls.

Oh yeah Lancer, remember Lancer? He was here the whole time!!! Your actions have consequences.

He's very clearly distraught and doesn't fully understand what happened to Rouxls, and his distress at his "lesser dad" being unwell and dying without him being able to do anything rings a little too close to home for Noelle, who's losing her own dad to illness that she can't really stop. She leaves the scene, feeling responsible and out of place, while Lancer stays by Rouxls and refuses to go back to Kris' pocket. Kris enters the mansion without Queen trapping them and encounters Susie and Ralsei inside, grateful Kris caught up to them but confused at Lancer's absence. The rest of the snowgrave route would play out as expected, Spamton taking over the mansion and Susie trying to help Noelle even if she doesn't really know what's going on. Same with the light world, except Noelle doesn't have an "oh Berdly, you overwork yourself too much" moment, rather she has an imposter syndrome moment with Kris and Susie coming to the library together and, apparently, being there long enough that its late in the day and neither of them bothered to wake her up to hang out with her. She's glad the dream is over, but the waking world isn't much better.

On a normal route, though, Lancer helps get you out of the cages and rooms Queen put everyone in. In my AU, he doesn't turn to stone (lore bending go brrr) and instead lets the team do their own thing and find Noelle and the fountain while he goes and looks for his lesser dad. And then there's the mansion. God the mansion. This is such a nitpick but I hate that in-game it geometry makes no sense, so I literally devised a map in which the progression essentially stays the same but the building kind of actually makes sense.

(Bonus - specifically mapping out how her giant robot body upholds the mansion/where each body part is referenced and is most visible)

Once Noelle is rescued, she briefly joins the rest of the team before deciding to help them in her own way, disabling security that Queen has around the fountain in order to grant them access from the inside (because she's still scared of confronting Queen). There's only one fight against Queen, also, none of the giant mecha stuff. She has her speech about the Knight as the protagonists approach and Noelle is already caught on her hand. Noelle is essentially stuck and forced to watch the whole fight as the gang try and fail to set her free, or beat the shit out of Queen. Either way, when they seem to have the upper hand, Queen pulls out a second giant hand and knocks them all down. Tired and almost defeated, Queen turns to Noelle and releases her from the hand, telling her to make another fountain, just like in the base game, threatening Susie if Noelle doesn't comply. Noelle turns around and stands up to Queen, just like in the base game, and in response Queen rethinks what she did. She tells Noelle to choose the world that makes her happy, and uses the giant hands that kept the kids trapped as a makeshift throne that she sits down on and gets carried out of the scene with.

On their own, the kids slowly recover while Susie and Noelle still muse about how much better the dark world is compared to the light world. When Susie offers they open a fountain on their own terms, Ralsei stops her and explains the roaring. Essentially the same as the base game from here on out, except Noelle comes with Kris and Susie once the fountain is closed, filling in the gap on Kris' right when closing the fountain that Ralsei will (hopefully) one day fill.

The rest of what I'm about to lay out is pure wish fulfillment and is less "fixing" chapter 2 and more just adding things I want to see:

Susie tells Noelle the dark worlds are real after she wakes up on a normal route, and offers to take her to Castletown since that's basically a permanent dark world without any of the immediate danger. Noelle promises to keep it a secret, visits her dad at the hospital, then visits Ralsei with Kris and Susie. While those two eventually leave to explore Hometown, Noelle decides to stay in Castletown with Ralsei for the rest of the day. She has a lot to learn from him when it comes to magic and the dark world, and I just want them to be besties.

There's explicit references to Berdly in Cyber City mostly as an homage to the fact that he was once part of the story line of it. They reinforce that Susie and Kris don't like Berdly (kind of like how some of the Hometown kids talk about not liking Susie, it's framed as kind of childish and closed off), while Noelle kind of defends his intentions as positive at their core. It's entirely setup for ch2.5 where Berdly is slowly redeemed not because Noelle holds his hand through his character development, but rather because Kris and Susie are antagonists that want better for him than his so-called allies of the chapter do.

Ralsei and Noelle also have a brief bonding moment in Cyber City, mostly revolving around Noelle being curious as to who Ralsei even is, and him genuinely not having an answer to that question. It reinforces Ralsei's identity crisis during the chapter as well as shows why Noelle is so well liked by other kids in class (she's perceptive and tries to get everyone involved even if she doesn't know them that well).

All in all I think most of the things that would "fix" the chapter for me could genuinely take a lot of the whimsy out of it for other people. I prefer more sombre and subtle emotional beats, but the original chapter 2 was very clearly not aiming for that, and people enjoy it for its peppiness and hype in a way that I just can't. To me it feels forced and unearned, to other people it feels entirely natural and warranted. There's no one way to appeal to everyone and, outside of the structural problems of the chapter (not idiot-proofing the maps so I got lost and frustrated for a while, no save in front of Berdly's fight for snowgrave reasons and not taking into account that the battle is difficult on a normal playthrough and quick resets would be necessary for people not that great at the game, the general unnecessary fluff around that weird teacup puzzle where Noelle is there in the party as well and it's just a very confusing portion of the chapter that doesn't even lead into anything later on that unironically made me scrap the idea of the teacups for Kingdomrune altogether, etc) that could be fixed with trimming fat or just quality of life small tweaks. There's nothing Fundamentally wrong with chapter 2, it's just not what I wanted out of the game, personally. So, if you don't like my rewrite, more power to you. It's literally meant to appeal to just me and no-one else lmao

[pomniegranate]

It wasn't Sora's first venture into the digital realm that had occurred ages ago. As he pondered this, a wave of nostalgia washed over him, sparking his curiosity about how Tron was faring these days. The sharp, pointed ears atop his head twitched at Pomni's soft, hesitant voice. She was a whimsical jester, her eyes resembling colorful pinwheels that spun with every expression. Among the eclectic inhabitants of this vibrant world, she had fallen into the role of being his guide, as Ragatha encouraged Pomni to show the new guy around.

Stepping outside the expansive digital circus tent, Sora was momentarily blinded by the sun's warmth mingling with the Moon's cool glow, hanging in the sky as if frozen in time. Sun and Moon felt excited and unashamed to inquire whether Pomni and Sora were experiencing a romantic escapade. His large, clawed hand scratched the back of his head, revealing his bashfulness, a trait that never failed to amuse, while his other hand waved dismissively. A sheepish chuckle slipped from his illuminating maw.

To steer Pomni away from the teasing antics of the glimmering sun and the playful Moon—two lively orbs of light that seemed to revel in the chaos—Sora gently redirected the conversation. "How about we make our way to the lake?" he suggested casually, his voice warm and inviting. "I've been curious to see the boat there; it reminds me of home." The memories it evoked filled him with a longing for familiarity amidst this amazing digital circus.

And she was fine with her role; there was something about him that catches a person's eye without meaning: be it his aura, appearance or personality to choose from. He helped her and the others out of a rather sticky situation, so it was the least she could do for him. She didn't really need the push from her friend to do so. Though, Pomni isn't much of the guide type, she'd still do her best to get him accustomed to the world.

A nudge of her head and she led him towards the grounds just located outside the main tent. Sometimes she forgets just how expansive this digital circus actually was; little time was spent actually outside the large canopy, most of it was parading through games the host throws them in and being too tired afterwards to really travel outside. Some polygon food, maybe some time hanging out in the common area then the rest is spent in her room.

But she remembers the sun and moon partnering together simultaneously in the sky. The two AI's in the sea of blue didn't often talk to the players, so she found it odd, standing in place for a moment with an acute raised brow in confusion. Was it something about Sora that made them want to interact? And what were they going on about? A romantic escapade? It was just a little tour guide session!

The jester almost wanted to ask and see if they'd humor her with an answer, but it seemed the other took better at their teasing than she did. She was just kind of ... confused? But the spiked haired man was quick to deter her thoughts into another direction. Pomni was almost grateful for it, her gaze returning to the two brightly lit rocks in the atmosphere as she walked, but allowing her pinwheels to greet him once more. An easier tone shifted back onto her features, focusing solely on Sora and his little musings towards her. She always did like when she made anyone feel comfortable enough to open up about themselves.

⸺ ❝ Oh, the lake is pretty .. nice, I guess? Very digitalized, you know. I haven't actually been in it myself yet. ❞ Her head cants at him, curious to know more; just from his avatar, she guessed she never connected that possibility to him. ❝ Oh really? Do you .. remember your home, any? I always get a calming sense when I'm by the water, but .. I often have to close my eyes and use my imagination to get a more clear picture of what I'm trying to picture. ❞ Her gloves found themselves fidgeting at the yellow puffballs at her chest during the whole duration of their shared experiences.

[amaiguri]

Worldbuilding My Magic System FOR REAL

So Yssaia has HAD a pretty developed magic system for a while. And to recap it for you... I'm going to paste my half of me raving about this on Discord (thank you to @zebee-nyx and @galacticsand and @reaperofcrows for being so cool and letting me be an unhinged worldbuilding mad lad XD):

"What is Ysse?"

So the way Ysse works is its basically invisible dust floating in the air. And if it hits itself at certain velocities and in certain volumes, "spontaneous effects" happen -- like water materializing out of "nowhere" or fire exploding or wind gusts. You're limited a little by Avatar Last Airbender bending logic (you can't summon fully sapient creatures, you can't teleport, you can't control people's minds unless you're like... touching their nervous system, etc.)

So Mages invented the first writing as a way to record what patterns of movement did what. And eventually, used them to communicate these patterns as a shorthand for more generalized concepts...

So writing also got invented sometimes BEFORE agriculture...

"How precise do these movements/velocities need to be?"

It needs to be PRETTY precise. And this is why the average person CAN'T learn magic -- because Ysse in low amounts is invisible to the average person

But mages can see Ysse, which helps a lot. And they can see these shapes OCCURING in the natural world too -- when the wind blows, its because Ysse particles FORMED the Wind Rune/Sigil in the sky BUT this still doesn't guarantee that they cast any spells if they don't have the physical discipline too

So, in theory, "anyone" COULD move their hands PERFECTLY to spontaneously start a fire. But they PROBABLY won't

"How does this impact the natural world?"

This is also how animals and plants can do magic too. Tree roots in the north have roots that have specific patterns that warm up the soil, so snow can actually MELT and give them water and the tree doesn't die

And this is also my excuse for why so many things have bunny ears -- normally, long ears in colder-than-average climates (i.e. All of Yssaia) would be bad. But in Yssaia, these long ears are convergently evolving to channel Ysse. What they channel, exactly, I haven't decided (probably heat lol or something to increase air density so sound travels farther???)

AND all this is ALSO why the Demons are such an abomination -- because their Blood Magic doesn't obey particle physics, they just fucking do whatever they want

"Why do you need to know all this?"

The question at this point, I guess, is basically "How do I make fantasy technology that looks whimsical but also looks at least hypothetically functional under closer scrutiny?"

Yeah, and the full Answer TM to that right now is just <insert the entire design philosophy I haven't discovered yet here>

"So how IS magic going to shape technology, when you design it for the Untitled Yssaia Video Game?"

...Yeah, okay, after brainstorming all this, I think here's my strategy for how I'm going to tackle technology:

Step 2) Create a master list of technologies I will worry about/actually visualize in the game I will want to keep an OPEN LIST so I can add more things to it as I do research/find really specific use cases (such as scrollcases or chopstick holders)

Step 1) Establish symbols for a handful of common things in both the North and the South that at least vaguely make sense with the concept of the particles. So things like: - Fire/Heat - Water/Melt - Ice/Slow - Wind/Quicken - Earth/Apply Force - Sun/Light - Moon/Closing/Locking (Thanks to @zebee-nyx for this one!)

Step 3) Design simple sprites for things that can later be shrunk down and used as set-dressing for maps BUT at a little bigger in scale so they can be shown to other people sensibly (maybe on the same sheet at the walking animations for scale?)

AND WITH THAT, after 5 years of only vaguely imagining all this, this is what I designed, using a combination of symbols I had already designed and dice that I pushed around on my desk to see what kind of patterns they'd make:

Are some of these a little funky and don't really work with real particle physics? Yeah, fair. I'll take notes, if you got 'em. I'm open to critique, if you wanna lol

Last comment that didn't make it into the big discussion with my buds tonight: Ysse particles are how temperature is distributed. So, hot areas have fewer, cold areas have more. I know that isn't how thermodynamics work but does anyone else really?

(Something something eldritch horror thermodynamics post... And my magic-god is an eldritch horror! See? It's perfect!)

Thank you for coming to my #WorldbuildingWednesday post! If you liked this, don't forget to REBLOG and follow the #Yssaia tag or something🥰 (Are calls-to-action cringe? Publicly shame me, if so)

[mscapgras]

does anyone have any neat headcanons about pyrovision? i'll start.

i like to think of pyrovision as the lasting effects of medicine the medic is prescribing to pyro, think like quaaludes. medic implies that they're to help pyro's manic tendencies, but really it's extremely experimental medicine that makes pyro even more manic.

SUPER HEADCANON TERRITORY but i imagine pyro was one of the first mercs hired to work for mannco. whisking her away from the mental hospital she was put into after burning her husband and two kids alive, the company expected to have a easy, gullible psychopath that they wouldn't have to convince to light people on fire. The exact opposite happened, and Pyro was TERRIFIED once on the battlefield. Engineer's response to this was to be friendly! allowing pyro to stick around his buildings and help defend. Medic though was asked by higher ups in the company to develop some kind of mood stabilizer to make pyro essentially a zombie who would follow orders, and ofcourse medic agreed to this, even if he might have gone a little overboard.

It basically makes all their emotions go to extremes. Pyro sees something boring? Blech! they're all just grey blobs. If she hears anything they have no interest in it just becomes white noise. this part of the comic highlights this pretty well

If Pyro is engaged with something they like though, it becomes much more fun and whimsical. Fire is most often the thing that triggers this response. similar to this following part in the comic.

i imagine what we see in "Meet The Pyro" is the medicine doing its absolute most. Pyro's completely gone, can't even recognize the other team as human beings, and is seeing all sorts of things. She's essentially a helpless passenger in her body in this state.

I do think that, either from the general experimental nature of the medicine, or from pyro just neglecting to take it, they probably have varying degrees of sobriety in short bursts. she still doesn't remember who she used to be, or what she's doing at Mannco. , but she can more properly engage in discussions with her friends, like engie and pauling.

there are a lot of holes in this headcanon i'm aware, like how was pyro still high out of her mind after being fired and no longer receiving pills from medic? but idk, i just like this idea. feel free to ask any questions about it since im sure ive messed some stuff up. i'm not great at writing as you can tell.

Overall, TD;LR, Medic is using pyro as a guinea pig for medical experiments with cray cray drugs.

[raw-law]

Just curious....what is your favorite book? Fiction and/or non-fiction

Light:

Well, my favourite fictional book probably's got to be Someone Who Will Love You in All Your Damaged Glory, by Raphael Bob-Waksberg. The name may be a mouthful, but I quite enjoy his whimsical collection of short stories. They're imaginative, and provide a much-needed break from the world with their creativity and resonance with many people. Personally, I really enjoy it, and you might wanna check it out someday!

My favourite non-fiction book, on the other hand, has been a book I've read recently: How to Be Perfect, by Michael Schur. It's a beginner's guide to philosophy, in easy-to-understand language, and it's the perfect guide--if I do say so myself--if you're looking to get closer to the subject.

There's another one which I also find rather interesting: Why Politics Fails, by Ben Ansell. The title is pretty self-explanatory, and he talks about five main political 'traps': the democracy trap (no will of the people), the equality trap (equality of rights being undermined by equality of outcomes), the solidarity trap (what we want for ourselves not being what we want for others), the security trap (wanting protection but not at the cost of our freedoms) and lastly, the prosperity trap (what we want now shortchanging the future). I heavily recommend this comprehensive guide to politics if you're interested in that kinda thing!

Sorry this turned out a little long---hopefully the bolding, italicising, and text colour helped with comprehensiveness---but thanks for the ask all the same, Anon. I quite liked answering your refreshing question.

L:

... this might be where i have to admit that i prefer my non-fiction media in video essay form... because the only books i can think of are fiction. and even then, they're more on the shorter or childish side. i guess i'm not that much of a reader, at least in the sense of seeking books out on my own accord.. whoops.

my favorite book might just be If You Give A Mouse A Cookie. yes, i do know it's a child's tale, but it's the only book i can think of that i really enjoyed. i also remember being fond of Margaret Haddix's The Missing series. i only read the first book and never picked it up again, but i did like it when i was younger. so i guess there's that too. hopefully that counts..?

light wins on this ask. like i said, i prefer things in video form. but thank you for the ask anyhow, anon.

[uriekukistan]

hello hello!! Here with some asks for you ^^ !!

What is your favorite thing about Megumi? Like a trait or maybe a certain thing he does :)

Who were you rooting for while Watching Death Note? :D I see a lot of people that say they were rooting for both L and Light so I'm curious!

What is your favorite thing about writing?

What are some musical artists you listen to! :D ( list as many as you want!)

Did you know that you're a great fic writer? Cuz you are!! >:3 ( I feel like I tell you this almost every time I interact with you but you actually are like my favorite itafushi writer) (I'M SO HYPED FOR SUMMER LOVIN' CHAPTER 3, WHENEVER YOU RELEASE IT!!)

What is the fandom you're most active in besides JJK? :)

How do you describe your fashion sense? :3

I'll probably ask more another time!! If you don't want to answer some of these you don't have to! Answer the ones you want :)

Don't forget to take care of yourself!! <3 Take breaks and just breathe ^^

<3!

hiii thank u sm for the asks :3 hope youre doing well !!

1 - hmmm this was hard to narrow down so i'll talk abt a specific scene that's been on my mind. okay ig honestly the detention center is Always on my mind because it's the first time we get a really good look at megumi's character and what he values. but mostly i was thinking abt the part where megumi takes the name tag from the guy he was so adamant about not saving for his mom. i don't think he changed his mind, but to me, it just shows how much he cares about his friends. like i think when he originally took it, it was so he could give it to yuuji so he could give it to the guy's mom, but then when he thought yuuji was dead, he delivered it as a way to pay respect dkfgjhd idk current top megumi moment

2 - nowadays when i rewatch it im team near & mello actually🤞 and pretty anti-light, but i think the first time i watched it, i was so wrapped up in the back & forth between light & l that i probably did root for both this was like 10 years ago tho so i dont remember fs 😭

3 - ooh i think like. in terms of writing fanfic its like when i was a kid & played w dolls like it gives me the same type of feeling, but also i've always been the type to use imagination as escapism, so being able to bring the things in my head "to life" is really satisfying as well

4 - kfgdjdkg theres so many im like always listening to something different. recently i started listening to this artist called juliet ivy, her songs are all super relatable and have a rlly whimsical sound too. another artist i'll always promote is dream, ivory, i've been a fan for a while. i've also been into deftones recently. generally im more the type to listen to random songs rather than specific artists

5 - THANK UUU im always a bit hard on myself so its nice to hear that (new summer lovin' chap july 10! i think)

6 - tokyo ghoul probably? i used to be suuuuper active but im more passive w it rn...i need to do a reread of the manga soon (<- been saying this since my jjk era started sorry to my tokyo ghoul oomfs i love u all)

7 - wait this is so hard...ig like misa amane if she was on tumblr in 2016?

thank you againn for the asks <3

[your-local-uwu-artist]

how's the smurfing going?

it's going good! my google doc is at over 5 pages, I got some nice sketches and the responses have been very helpful and fun >:D (shout out to isopod guy) the only problem is trying to not make my bias of who's my favorite smurf to be tooo obvious fndkjsa

plus the constant struggle between needing to do research and rewatch episodes and read wikipedia articles and the fact that i get what i call 'withdraw-l'... bassically I can only go so long before I just gotta doodle fdnjak

anyway: I SUPPOSE i might as well explain what the fuck I've been doing (if anyones noticed a lack of posts in the past handufl od days: the reason for my absence is that I was busy iwth my smurfing fdja )

bassically I've always had a LOT of questions regarding the smurfs, (many of which I've had sense childhood) and it's been plaguing me because nobody else seems to care to answer these questions, I'll be like 'what chemichal do you think makes them blue?' and 'what form of asexual reproduction do you assume they use' and 'i don't think it makes sense that they'd crush on smurfette, i'd imagine their mono-sex mono-gender society wouldn't really have those concepts or well, be heterosexual for that matter' and everyone responds with 'what aere you on' (the autism spectrum) 'why are you asking me this?' (i want to here your answer) and 'it's just a cartoon' (AND SOMETIEMS YOU GOTTA ASK SCIENTIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT CARTOONS) so I decided if I must do everything myself so be-it.

essentially I'm planning to make a very silly half video essay half my nonsense 'if i was in charge of a smurfs reboot' video. heres some of the doodles so far!

vanity's always been my favorite so i'm having a hard time convincing myself to draw some smurf other than him fndasjkfnask (Azrael has always been my second favorite lol) I'm really excited to draw more fo smurf village! mushrooms houses my beloved <3 tbh the village is def a plus for the live action films, while giving the smurfs eyelids and lashes and pecs did not work I do enjoy seeing cute fantasy mushroom village in a photorealistic style <3

anyway one very fun thing i learned about while researching is about these really pretty very epic and pog mushrooms that are native to new zealend and just the most brilliant shade of blue

these things are blue-tiful! And there are actually pigmented! (a lot of things in nature aren't actually blue and rather the structure of it refelcts light and shit to give it a blue appearance) the thing that gives em the blue pigment is a kind of 'azulene' but somehow just a brighter varient: they're so whimsical looking!

a funny thing I've found just through research is that a LOT of people aren't aware of smurfettes origin story, or thought that the origin story was from the live action films, this is so strange to me cause like ????? it's been there sense the begining comics, and theres plenty of episodes where it's mentioned

I'm also suprised by how many people seem to be fond of the new female smurfs: so I guess I'm on the unpopular side here, I've always imagined them as sorta sexless and generless, and that female smurfs (excluding artificially made ones like smurfette) just discovered and decided they preferred feminine gender expression/presentation. (i do wish i included a question asking if people as kids assumed them sexless, cause i always have)

idk I'm still working through the new cgi series and my cartoon pirating site doesn't have the second season, so maybe I'll change my mind on them

ufdnsjafnsdk sorry for rambling the hyperfixation has taken hold lmao

[only-lonely-lovers]

09.06.2022

tags: blowjobs, public sex, pantomime, kissing

notes: notably sentimental ~first time~ for twins. this is PART 1, there's a little more in PART 2

つ：-pretends the white line continuing up isn't just lighting but is amane's yukata parting all the way up his leg showing up to his thigh-

あ：Just a little flash for you all a taste

つ：licks from your knee to your hip in a long line

あ：so that's what we're doing…

つ：HIEEE

あ：I'm listening though

つ：we're getting... cotton candy.....

あ：sounds nice… Are you excited?

つ：hai it comes in two colors

あ：It's whimsical like that. all colorful and fluffy. really food meant for an event like this

really just suits the night. It's like how it's exciting to just get a little of everything, the yakisoba is more exciting to have on a night like this. and we can meander with it or sit down and eat in da grass….

つ：un un

あ：and we get to do this all for… hours…!! into the night

You really get the impression Amane was in a good mood all night

つ：yes.. so pep in his step, loving another year's tanabata festival….

a boy with no problems, nothing on his mind but enjoying the night. it must have been so exciting to see the dinosaur masks among the options and both get one. i wonder who saw them first

whether amane sees them first… and buys 2, places one on tsukasa… or whether tsukasa sees them first, and is so excited, while amane simply walks to the vendor and pays for 2 while he's ogling them excitedly and rushing to put it on…

saying something like "we have to pay for it first….!"

あ：either is kyooot… you could imagine Tsukasa spotting it first and being simply overstimulated by his own excitement on Amane's behalf

it-- it's am… it's amane's favorite thing out of all themasks here… he would definitely want this one!!!

Amane handles the transaction… but after taking a sec to look it over, it's like hell yeah though aw, tsukasa these ARE cool…

つ：THESE WEREHNT HERE LAST YEAR THEYRE NEW

あ：an emotion like. nods. that's right sweetie. [puts it over face for a sec] [poses] RHHH….

つ：RUSHES TO PUT ON HIS fumbles a little. gets it on. it crunches a little in his hands, the thin plastic, indents from how he holds it firmly RRRURURUR!!!

あ：[peeks one eyeball out] Woow…. [this is exactly what i wanted yes.] Pretty good though i think mine was better. still good though. [leans in and tonks the noses together]

つ：nuzzle nuzzle nuzzle nose [guy at booth staring] [wishing you'd move and make room]

あ：obnoxious children time [throws head back] [headbutts]

つ：POH nearly falls into the booth display. Amane catches his wrist quickly. NOW the festival stall vendor shoos them out for being troublesome and we run out, holding hands. skeedaddle style

あ：deemed pests… appropriately…. i bet they really are like rats running around, to many people. weird bug eyed twins

つ：you do not like to see two unattended kids….

a funny trajectory for the night is actually like. SEEING some young couple doing stuff behind a booth while trying to just like running away from the vendor all silly. youve got your masks on half-way falling off and you stop and pant, pretending you've been like, running from something more dangerous cuz its exhilarating. then you stop and look up and theres some blowjob teens staring at you where you wandered to.

tsukasa is just like looks cluelessly. amane is like OBSERVING THE HAPPENINGS COHERENTLY WITH BRAINCELLS

あ：experiencing . the sight

very much like hyuEUGH but also i think its like. stands there completely silently like . when griffin is like we're in enemy territory

つ：maybe a good vibe would be to… grab tsukasa's wrist and run in opposite direction like a madman, and be like. . . [gets.. manic actually] HA HA HA HAHAHAH!!!

HAHAHAHA!!!! running like madman thru tanabata with tsukasa dragged along cluelessly

the adrenaline of having already been running, and then…. this…. its way too funny. overstimulating. horny

あ：sounding hysterical for a sec lol. just really like… going to run into your lungs burn and you're catching your breath loudly scampered away from the crowds

つ：got yourself sequestered away… then clamp your hands on your knees for a second.. then maybe, on tsukasa's shoulders….? just to be like HAW HAW in his face a little kflsd;g blast him with your hot breath

i think seeing amane out of breath and running so hard always makes tsukasa feel feelings…

あ：wait its like my drawing. this emotion

crazy guy voice UAHHHG FJKDGH

つ：JUST HORNY AMANE THINGS!!!

あ：ahaha… I C.. i cant believe w- hhh….[ruffling own hair fervidly]

but you know ithink amane is weird and genuinely also likes feeling like wheezy and his body burning in a moment like this… you can feel a bizarre nostalgia somehow, for coughing heavily and being all hot in the face well, you just feel GOOD rn….

つ：TSUKASA! THOSE TEENS WERE…. having… ………………. [quiet] s*x……….! …… hahahahaahaAHAhaha ears burning, hot across face mmm… tsukasa just likes to observe him like this….

あ：sucking in breath in sharp gasps sometimes. swallows audibly. wipes sweat off face. grabs tsukasa by the front of his yukata, rocks from side to side, like bouncing on either of his feet makes you wobble

s-- ss*x…… ah ah, i bet they had to, ah, sneak to do it, they probably cant do it anywhere else, this is probably theirbest chance huh…. hahah….

つ：best chance? sneak?

あ：gets like this

well yeah… I mean, there's no way their parents would let them do it Otherwise, they'd just be doing it at home, right but -- but you're not supposed to til you're older… And all that.

You know how people are about, sex, don't you…? [uncontrollably] baka. ww [grabs either side of cheeks and plays with face]

つ：un…. [thinking, while amane holds him] [sticks tongue out, thoughtful, looking around] is it fun to do it at Tanabata? [thinking about 'cant do it anywhere else' and 'sneaking' and stuff… but does that mean it isnt fun?]

pulls candy apple he's been holding up to his mouth and starts mouthing it, stimming, hardly meaningfully eating it

あ：Ohhh… [releases, just rests a hand atop his head] it's fun. It's fun anywhere.

[thinking more himself… hums.] I mean, if they're doing it in the first place, they must at least feel like it's worth it. The risk might make it more fun…

I bet they feel… clever, like "oh, everyone thinks we're just out here playing games… but really… we're…." [sticks tongue out]

つ：amane is thinking so abstractly to tsukasa, tsukasa is like. thinking. is the weather nice for it. like is it warm. are the lights nice and the fireworks. like is it a good environment for that. much like one would wonder if its good to like do any activity in any random place

people probably do it inside but is it nice feeling outside. he's thinking but amane's answer addresses none of this, so he's like hmmmmm…. it's fun anywhere…? wow….. thinking …. risk? more fun? trying to compute….

[stupidly] are they gonna do it all night? or do they stop

あ：poor tsukasa. Your brother jumps to thinking about… things like underhandedness. gomen.

gets kinda spaced out thinking all night like geez… [8 yo thinking] Iii…. [voice gets smaller] i dunno if you can do it all night… maybe. if it's good. if they're good at it. ?

つ：[sortof thinking] [mouthing apple] should we do something we can't do at home? [amane's so interested….]

あ：uh…………………… ah………………………………. m………….. [feels . confused. ] ….. like what…?

its suddenly like. wait. what can we do that we cant do at home. [is like horny so these are difficult things to parse]

つ：ah, I dunno, something…… [literally thinking completely vaguely, brainless] like that? or something you wanna do?

あ：[just stares]

つ：[receives nothing, has no empathy, just looks around mouthing apple]

あ：… [shakes head] [stretches arms behind back] Ah… Sorry. I'm just still thinking about it. [quickly] the sex. stuff.

I can't think of anything that exciting anything, AS exciting, you know? Mnn. [crouches. flops back onto the ground. sticks legs up]

つ：looqs gets on hands and knees to join, observing

あ：ahh, it's not fair though, those kids were older… [rambling, mind wandering] it's always, like high schoolers doing stuff, you know. or middle schoolers. but we're not there yet… [sighs]

つ：[leaning on elbows, on stomach, looking at Amane] but its already not allowed, right? you said. for them. you have to wait to break rules? but people can't know theyre doing it, you said?

あ：Huhm. well, no, that's not it. chigau chigau. um, I think it's just easier, cuz…

つ：may as well tell tsukasa you cant steal until you are 16.

あ：………………………………………………. [talking out his ass] cuz………. there's more uh. there's more people who wanna do it…? you need two bodies. [seriously] at least.

つ：oh.

あ：i guess… i guess i don't know if our classmates ever think about this stuff… [makes a face, like ew lol] but uhh, it's not like we even know anyone…. so it wouldnt matter… its uh, complicated, i guess

つ：we gotta know someone? [tilts head] we're two people thats enough, the amount? isn't it?

あ：[it's so direct that. like amane actually cannot even feel anything about this. it's just like, tilts head and kinda lopsided smiles] Tsukasa…

つ：[mouths]

あ：like: oh honey…

つ：he's comically direct… thinking so simply about the rules of this

あ：It's enough, yeah. hahh. [just laughs. but like rolls to his side.]

つ：rolls with him, opposite way, just enjoying the grass… the, candied apple gets grass stuck to it…. he looks at it, then abandons it sortof carelessly….

あ：but like. [you know what? i'm not even going to address the fleet (brothers. incest. 2 boys)] … Tsukasa. are you really thinking about it

[almost like, i gotta own you a little bit about that thing you said actually]

つ：[very simply] I wanna have fun at the festival [picks some grass, looks at it]

あ：Don't we all.

つ：[the grass has become candied a little, some red off the apple melted off onto it… candied grass… wow]

I want you to have fun at the festival, Amane [looks up from grass blade]

あ：[i face you seriously and i grab your face] but think about it You remember what you saw right. yeah? [nods your head for you]

つ：looks into eyeballs

あ：Do you really think we could do that?

つ：ueh-- [i mean he didn't see it well or coherently. its like. a kinder version fo birds blurry memories of wieners all sortof distorted]

did they have something we don't? [like… a tool or toy… thinking] you dont need anything else, right? they didn't have anything else?

あ：no, that's not it… Wait, I'm wording this poorly. Let's try again I think you're thinking too much about , like technical stuff … but would you like it?

つ：[thinks… about how excited Amane's been… about this, how much he was laughing… it's like he saw people playing a really exciting game and got excited…] [nods, nods, nods, nods]

あ：[walked tsukasa all the way here himself but feels like. a little slow when he just nods.]

つ：I'd like it! Amane would like it?

あ：[covers face with hands] [turns away wordlessly]

つ：[its funny, the other foible is they dont know what side of it the other is imagining…] it might be a lil complicated for amane, lol

あ：We're not discussing it no. its like eughdfjkghdf

つ：like . you dont wanna-- 'do' all of it

あ：[dramatically] I'd only like it ONE WAY though [crosses leg] [is in denial about this conversation like. i've mentally filed this away as , just some silly weird convo we're having]

つ：[oh no, i made Amane… mad?] we can do it your way you can show me what to do! [PROPS self up on palms over him, giiiiiiiiiiii's down]

あ：[face starting to burn again… but it's not, uh, exhilarating this time. it's… embarrassing.]

No, iii don't gotta do that. i KNOW for a fact actually, you-- you must be imagining it wrong… you don't really know what you're talking about, you wouldn't like it

つ：[spiritually, ears going down. then springing back up] But I would! … and Amane can teach me! [thinking… very hard… touches, own lip] [trying to visualize] it was… a kind of…. 'chu'…. right? [there was a mouth thing going on…. and a kissing face]

あ：ohmm time to . blood pressure drop. hmm…. mouth dry… but kinda like. braindead. nods

in own mind, replaying it. seeing the… the silhouette… fsszzzz…. echoing words of tsukasa earlier, proposing they do something they can't do at home. pulse getting louder between ears. starting to feel like… suspended

つ：Its a secret thing, right? [looks around] I won't tell anyone. it can only happen at the festival, right?

あ：blinks heavily. nods.

つ：we should do something we can only do at the festival!

あ：looks around. we are indeed, away from everyone and everything. and no one is going to come looking for them.

つ：and maybe amane can even think.. that... he'd... do a better job playing it off/recovering, than those stupid teens.....

あ：my little pea is sizzling. my own stupid thoughts. of like. who would even expect it. we were supposed to just be playing games. blah blah…

つ：they're brothers, so visibly, and young, it… maybe it would be even easier to pretend anything else was going on indeed, who would… suspect it

あ：it's like everything he said is loaded into a gun who would… who would…? think….?

つ：you see one teen girl on her knees before a boy… you know what is going on… but….. …… it wouldn't… 'look like' anything… ….if it is only teens who do that stuff… not…. little kids adults would just think they were sneaking some cookies or something

あ：temptation and impulse… it is descending on him like a cinder block on the chest but I like the atmosphere of going from being so foosy and like ugh to like. just getting 100 yard stare and silent has no instructions

but … clutches . the front of yukata the… PLACES FINGER OVER OWN LIPS AND THEN OVER TSUKASA'S LIPS. WORDLESS SHHHHHHH.

つ：STARES

あ：Ehmm you like the reality of Amane having NO GRACE... fumbling mentally, like, pos.. positions....

つ：suddenly its like cant talk gotta steal gotta steal fast

あ：its descending upon me how easy it is for my yukata to shuff out of the way like oh my god i'm just wearing little boy shorts [ahmm my tummy is so tight from da apprehension ohhh]

つ：tsukasa is like ouhh the quicktime event uhmng. ? raises to, raises onto knees-- oh-- wait one was standing, one wasn't, amane.. is standing, so I……

あ：I think at least, Amane assists, like… going to pat Tsukasa's head and kind of, indicate, knees yeah… this height…

つ：crawls to... closer... thinking like ah, it IS familiar... it WAS like this [picture in brain becoming less fuzzy]

あ：[grabby hands... give me your face]

つ：ooouhh… I get to…. ….. I get to be the …. 'chu'…. one…..? little sparkles in eyes, thinking this….

あ：kiss boy….

つ：amane really feels excited….. grabbing him so much, wao… its really that kind of hands-on sortof game…! ahhhh as nearing the yukata happens, its so warm…. its like a window in summer, with the curtains drawn, when you can feel the sun baring down on the back of the curtains….

あ：radiating heat, like a beacon…

つ：thoughtlessly, he rubs his face into the material of the yukata simply 'cuz he's nuzzly…. and its warm

あ：heep-!!! sucks in a sound. gets really STIFF, and more on toes, like standing to-attention. if he weren't so tongue tied, he'd be like tsssuuuKAS!A!! but I think Amane really has a lump in his throat. hands grapple around restlessly on tsukasa's head, pattapatpat

its just like jesus…. tsukasa is really bringing his face closer…?? is he really that ready… i mean, what if he didn't like it…. [suddenly] oh but, i'll, kill him, he'll have to deal with it djkshg IDC…..

つ：I'll make fun of him for it being his idea if he doesnt like it i'll be like. well what did you think, baka i warned you!

あ：I told you so.. ugh… you owe me!!

つ：you should think before you talk, when you don't know what you're talking about!

あ：[thinking all this but looking like a scared rabbit slipping hands under own yukata]

つ：contentedly rubs head against amane's warm thigh while amane's hand fiddles under the yukata…

after a beat is like oh, [distantly] right, it's…. sex… so it involves his…….

あ：it is such a can't talk gotta steal sitch… ughh i gotta… i gotta….

lol the thought of tsukasa being like 💭I will help! reaches under and tugs down shorts but to Amane it feels so. like being pantsed. but sexual

つ：suddenly becomes proactive

あ：😭like what the hell

つ：RIGHT THAT PART…! suddenly thinks harder about what sex is just reaches under bottom of yukata and tugs. like s. so firmly that amane's cock catches on the fabric and it pulls against it, which is like HIEIEIKGHK. Amane makes a noise and Tsukasa quickly puts a finger to his own lips🤫

あ：…….💢 ugh this is going to make him impatiently grasp for his own cock and grab tsukasa by the jaw and cram a thumb in to pry mouth open. SHOVE.

つ：get back at you!!!! you cannot outpace me DONT YOU TELL ME TO BE QUIET finger in mouth does shut tsukasa up. chuu….. slides tongue against thumb while hooked forward

あ：, experiences this. ah tongue across finger sensation, distracting in its own way. like a little zap

つ：gazing up at Amane's response…..

あ：actually cute to think abt just getting distracted for a sec…

つ：is this part of… sex…? don't know…. are fingers involved? he doesn't remember…. rolls tongue over knuckle…… salty… a little grass-blood, a bitter hint of that from amane rolling around…. scent of dirt on his palms

ah, can feel his fingernail, smooth… traces tongue over that, it glides so smoothly…. ah, wait… chuuu… its a chuu thing…. wraps lips around… kisses, they make you pucker… like you're eating lemon!

あ：Ah, it's cute, it's like even this little gesture could feel complex to Tsukasa, such a tactile experience. many senses stimulated Amane watches… rubs the pad of his finger against seam of gums and teef…

つ：and from the mouth of his yukata, the sleeve, blooms the heat of Amane's body, with every movement of his arm.. its like being in front of a very dull, dying hairdryer, sometimes a hot breeze puffed out as the sleeve sways or compresses

tsukasa looks at the patterning on it, the nice dark colors…. Amane was suited to the dark color

あ：Everything scarily oscillates between feeling like it's happening in a rush, to achingly slow, grinding to a halt…

Thoughts race, as much as they are just vanished, head is an empty auditorium, silence. Just having a moment where he is touching the inside of Tsukasa's mouth. It's so weird… this doesn't feel too unlike… an interaction they could have, outside of this

…. tugs Tsukasa forward, and more decidedly positions finger to prop his mouth open. get it… get it over… Bring your mouth over, upon..

つ：ah, this isn't the final kiss, right, right…..

あ：Going to feel scary, once the wetness from Tsukasa's breath is felt, the humid exhale… reigniting that sense of-- heep-!!

つ：it smells so different from the rest of Amane…. not only unfamiliar, but not an everyday scent… not the usual sweaty scent, not like his body, nor his hair…

not even like when his arms are held over his head sleeping beside tsukasa in summer… not even that scent.. a really different scent. audible sniffs.

feels like the cloud of his own breath meets the cloud of amane's… body part, it's vaporous all around

あ：s-sniff?? smell??? smelling it-??? the sm.. the smell...??

つ：the inside of his yukata…. also is a prison of the smell, and every movement wafts it out, too.

hard to believe he couldn't smell this before, actually, even standing beside him

so distinct, and so much of it. hot in the air. maybe the yukata traps it all…. oh, his shorts, too

あ：An extra layer, hugging it all against his body… Accumulated scent….

… Tsukasa surely doesn't mean to but, lingering and drinking in details really leaves Amane feeling teased, like, mhgh…. he's really not… uhh, mentally prepared for this sort of thing, hasn't actually thought hard about self IN sex, it's only just starting to crystalize you know… puberty… so i don't think he can repress a whine… but it feels unfair.. like.. ugh but it shouldnt be me who needs to be reminded to keep quiet… YOURE. ..,, why i cant … if you just. hhurried up…

つ：like what, aren't you, serious, about doing it….

あ：[hissing whisper] Tsukasa…! … just put your mouth on it….

つ：[snaps out of the haze] [goes to say 'hai' but realizes he's supposed to be quiet] [simply, ………… kisses it] … and then rolls tongue out under it, peering up at Amane

well, the finger…. he was touching my tongue….. that was like an example, I get it the finger is like a thingie

あ：The foolish thing was, thinking that this would 'help'. Amane nearly has to bite his tongue to choke back more sound -- LOUDER too, crackling up his throat. body shivers…

ahm, but, his eyes roll back dramatically too, it's like sss..

つ：WHOA--! looks possessed!! whoa!! what'd his eyes do……

ah, wraps lips around it, wait, kiss, proper…. the kissing motion naturally sucks amane a little further in ah, how much goes in, I don't know… --AH it tastes, saltier than his finger, ah, it's really, really warm……

the skin, smoother than the ribbled divets in his knuckles, pliable, moves over the shape of it.. right, right! [forgot. he has one of these] yea the skin does that sortof thing, it can move… sortof…. experiments with it, right…. it's this part…. slides tongue firmly over and back, feeling skin tug……

あ：It f. It feels good. It feels good. Unfathomable, the immediacy of the intensity, it's-- he's just not ready to, feel so much, concentrated, feeling, in his cock. Everything at the tip feels like it sends pulses of heat, p.. pain? to the gut, up your spine, you can't stop fidgeting!! A-ah. Hot. the mouth his hot. It feels like Tsukasa drank tea. but he didn't… that's just, that's just the mouth, lips… Sssoft. Soft? Never really consciously thought a boy could have a, nice soft mouth, it's not what you think. [stupid, reductive]

Shifting weight on feet, it kind of makes Amane pivot, sway like he's in a dance -- it pulls himself out of Tsukasa's mouth a bit, rests more against the edge of his mouth. Brushes against lips lightly, side to side… but even that feels really good, since… when does it feel this good. It's a body part that's always on him, it's always been known to be like, sensitive, taxonomically, yeah, it is… But what is this-? Scary. But magical…

つ：pauses, letting Amane move it against him as he wishes, imagining its another tutorial, just like the finger….

あ：It's a magical sort of evening, actually, isn't it…? Beautiful sights and… exciting moments, ah, so much fun had… with… Tsukasa… [reduced] It felt good, to be with Tsukasa, all evening, never wanted to be too far away. It's… it's nice to have… this focused attention, time… It's like, they're in their own little bubble.

Shakes head. Trying to gather self, ah, eyes squint. It's like there's a warm fog… Ruffles Tsukasa's scalp. … what a familiar gesture…! Astounded by it, dumbly. Ruffa ruffa ruffa

つ：oouuuo i like a ruffa IT MEAN I DO GOOD??? wiggles a little. tugs hands on the draping cloth of amane's parted yukata, against his either thigh. he's having fun, isn't he…?

あ：Maybe this is fine… Mmmaybe Tsukasa could just, grant him this little taste of excitement. Why wait… and ah, why not… like this, what more trouble would there be to get into-? Right? [not thinking very logically…. getting wrapped up in own pleasure]

つ：nobody has to ever find out, and its only for Tanabata....

あ：Tries to focus… Slooowly… pushes hips forward… Like the- like… hump gesture… yeah… Pull hips back… move them forward…

つ：like the colored chicks and the masks, it'll go away after today, when the stalls disappear in the morning….

あ：An indulgence… like, as much as maybe mom or dad wouldn't like how much food you guys bought and ate really or, this and that, too many sweets… but who needs to know…

つ：tsukasa tries to keep up… take the hint, of pressure, as it pushes against lips, I'll kiss it into my mouth, again, then…..

あ：Catching up mentally for a sec like, ugh , wait, s. sex. SEX motions… mghh… shove.. ah, wanna do it… like, like TEENS do it, not tepid!! but n. but no, I could do it more…

つ：what is even the point of doing a risky thing carefully

あ：I could do it better [has nooo metric for what that would even mean]

つ：a risky thing. it's already a risk whether it's full force or weak, it's the same degree of risk, it's the same--! he could do it better than teens

あ：all this swirling around in his head… while he clutches at Tsukasa's face, two hands planted firmly. and bucks forward -- though.. for all the resolve, it's quite clumsy, he's not… thinking to make sure they're lined up. but it's probably entirely exciting for Tsukasa -- Amane seems so purposeful nonetheless

Cock kind of crushes against outside of lip, clumsily bumping up Scent is coating Tsukasa's skin…

つ：scent is so strong…. all he can smell anymore, the grass is gone, the festival booths are gone, the fried oil scent and the candied apple nearby, gone, nothing but this new fog….. pushing into his skull, vision blurring, it's like a steaming window inside of his head

exciting to be held, to be directed-- want to be directed.. please show me don't have to be polite while showing me, can always push me around, just want to know what to do, don't want to mess up, don't want to be called stupid….. want to do it well, make it nice, it's only for Tanabata

why did Amane want to know if I'd like it… it doesn't matter does this mean Amane is liking it?

so purposeful-- is it because-- he is frustrated, or, because it's good… these thoughts finally make tsukasa's throat make a small noise, which buzzes around amane

mysteriously… more overwhelming than usual, and he doesn't know why… the feeling of wanting to do something well, for Amane

the feeling of anxiety inside of him, is not unusual…. but it accosts him differently. pulling his chest a little… its like all the things that can't fit in his foggy hot brain are tangling in his chest with nowhere else to go

あ：Focused boy… just really thinking about… his performance. Ehmm, wanna be impressive… Shuffling about, adjusting his posture ever so slightly, trying to adjust how he's balancing his weight. Scuffing zori against the ground. Bump, bump… He has the looping gif of the teens in his head, though they're comically becoming less vivid in Amane's mind, like guff, like your brain can't retain too much about them. They've given you the information you need… becoming slippery in your mind… Just reduced to silhouettes, motions. But it's also being used to think about what the two of them must look like right now…

The idea of discretion is actually carelessly discarded, in favor of obsessing over how much their postures, everything, must undeniably resemble sex right now. Tantalizing. Looks just like it….

This is all occurring before Tsukasa makes a sound, I think. Because that sensation is a new thing to feel overwhelmed about -- vvv… vibrations…!!

BUz..z… buzzing…!! All around…!! Feels like Tsukasa hummed all throughout his body…!! it reverberates… creates a shiver, while he really leans on his tippy-toes. startling… but ah, sssso cool. [braindead] h.ttt..t. h… hot. hot hot. It's muffled, because… cock is in his mouth… blocking the sound…

Pat pat pat pat pat… Pets hair, dances hands all around. Uahhg.h….

つ：uueuueee hhhe feels excited, Amane, he doesn't move like that any other time….

WISH I KNEW WHAT INCREASING THE THING MEANT, how to do it more harder better…. doing something so cluelessly is difficult for Tsukasa!!! the feeling in the chest is so much!! like worms wriggling tickling his lungs and heart, hah, haaahhhhg.. whines again, like an overstimulated puppy

he likes it he likes it, right? not, , impatient because i'm-- too slow, it's because Amane is excited?? I don't wanna be quiet--!! pulling at his yukata…. mmm but i gotta be quiet… thats the only thing he told me

あ：Ugh… Amane is just soooo… pleased, on this evening, he's more open and receptive in ways. He's also just so young, and sexuality is so new… I think the end result is feeling like UAHHh uahhh i wish i could hug tsukasa right now. you're doing me such a favor lol-!!!

ah poor Tsukasa though… Even experienced adults can struggle during sex, and they have more communication going on….

つ：amane's role is simply to feel like god this is fucking awesome tsukasa is such a trooper i would not do this AOAUooo hmmmmmm

あ：your brother is no help… He thinks that, maybe you, somehow understood the noises were hot-? doing them more…? feelszzlzz goood hhghhgf.g…

つ：he really isn't getting grossed out and stopping

あ：shoves harder…

つ：can't help but make a sound in surprise, O-okoh, faster, or, d, deeper!! its nto deep enough-- ITS SUPPOSED TO BE IN ALL THE WAY, IS THAT IT? SWALLOWS TO BASE, closes the small gap until his face is pressed flush to amane's torso before him

あ：this is awesome > this is agony cock experience. but its still awesome. I think he comically was not going as 'deep' bc of like, already overwhelmed with it all. but mgngh but also oh god all the mouth… scrabbling, clawing hands grasping at Tsukasa and tugging at the fabric of his own yukata. Let's out his own whine… starts out quite strained, but is finally a sound that really escapes him. mirroring your overstimulated puppy status

really. coughs. slaps palm over own mouth for a sec.

つ：--AMANE MAKE SUCHA SOUND TOO ARE WE FEELING SAME THINGS KINDA?

あ：panting heavily into his own sweaty palm… feeling the way moisture just traps against…. feels like if you both peered at each other, you'd be… pleading eyeballs

つ：looks up so quickly with such thoughtless ferocity that Amane's cock pops clean out of his mouth with a noise that rivals the fireworks, then feels like AHH OH NO and immediately swallows it back down

あ：angh, [rub rub rub rubs own face]

つ：when your cock is small. it easily pops out and back in. such is the way of the little boy didnt think about that when you decided to have preteen sex

あ：I did not remember my baby cock.

hmm thinking… I kinda like the thought of like. amane genuinely starting to buckle so much it slike gdhf.gh. fumbles backwards to rest back against the back of a stall… or some sort of structure… but this is like a. [grabs tsukasa by the hair and moves him with me] deal

つ：need support oh god the blowjob has become dangerous and life threatening can 8 year olds die from blowjobs

あ：ahmm but you like the look… shoulders pressed back, legs more out.. chest rising and falling quickly

but i st. but i still push into mouth god help me continues whining. hiccups. maybe this is a way to die

つ：ah… agog… it. really looks like amane is…. feeling the same things….

i wish i could tell amane, that i like it and it feels good and he smells nice. can we talk now? he's talking. sortof . i want to let amane know!! I-- !!! [BRAZEN IDIOT WILLL] "Ahmah-- ne," cock drapes, drags, against his lower lip as it slips out, but he keeps it close, as close to it as he can, muffling just a little, "Ilike, it--feels, good! its good! you-- aha--!" aaouhh my head is so dizzy…. "I-- I like it, Amane!" he was worried he wouldn't, right? ah.. and tsukasa…. he wasn't even thinking about liking it, that wasn't … why…

あ：Watches on, feeling awed genuinely, at the look of it all, Tsu... Tsukasa just talking around, it, and ah, as it's out in the open air... it feels cooler, because it's wet... from Tsukasa's spit... Tsukasa's words pelt him, the tone makes him blink slowly. It takes longer to process what is being said

Tsukasa stopped to, breathlessly tell him that he liked it…? Mmh… Such a, such Tsukasa thing to do, really, get all caught up in the moment and stop what he's doing thoughtlessly. He's out of breath too… well, that makes sense, aha… Marvels as well, at the ways they feel similar. Tsukasa's face is flushed too… [reaches out and touches it compulsively] It's so much hotter than his palm… His bangs are sticking to his forehead from the sweat. The hair has gotten more ruffled, from all of Amane's grabbing and tousling… Looks fluffier… It's honestly, a messiness that suits him though. What a picture this is-! Framed by the pale of his yukata, so pristine by comparison, bright and light and delicate…

[exhales] this is, a safe space and also this Amane cannot read the commentary. but i think you could describe him as feeling something like, love struck… ugh, but he's really feeling it all, you know!! A night with your best friend. It's like fireworks in your chest!! And then getting to do something like THIS, this thrilling, and, Tsukasa likes it… ahahah…

laughs aloud. Aha….! Offvvv. Of course-! you do…

eyes squinch I was overthinking it….

つ：its simple, finally the familiar feeling of comfort comes into play, just hearing him talk as simply and directly as always....

あ：mm mmm…. crouches! touches foreheads rubs… back and forth

つ：LEAAANSS!! M!!!! "Amane….!"

あ："… haha. You smell like me." [voice low]

つ：>:o "I DO!!"

あ："It's weird…"

つ："its really strong" "its everywhere"

あ：…………………………………… [closes eyes.]

つ：[dumbly] "it all smells more right now." [beams, pleasantly]

あ："You're smelly too." defensive. "It's hot out." what do you want from me!!!

つ："I am?! oh."

あ："Yeah. I can smell you alot." [inhales.] [gets. dizzy.]

つ："I can't tell." "I can only smell you"

あ：imagine he tucked his face closer to like, crook of neck to whiff

つ：stiffens a little at being sniffened like a dog at a dog park

あ："Well, I'm letting you know, your stink is in there too."

つ：ah. well. brazenly nuzzles against Amane's cock, because there's no reason not to. feeling so pleasant. I like that Amane said he could smell himself on me… mmmm…. mmm i want. smell….

あ：cough cough ahghh ahckg hacl hakc

つ：as amane is crouching the idea of getting even lower to do this is funny tbh

あ：you duck between his legs like a cartoon ostritch

the way the dynamic simply seamlessly continues. even if you make me horny sighs. but like gets back upright pat pat.

つ：its just tsukasa…… amane while he isn't literally immediately experiencing the blowjob: it's no big deal amane in 2 sevonds experiencing the blowjob: AHAOUEUGOHGG

あ：OOO UUHE AHHH OUHGHH ouhghh eve six. somehow haughtily is just like eh whatever…. Oh it's just messing around. like whatever.

つ：tsukasa is just having his simple little good time isn't he…. hehe

ah but so pleased to have talking confirmed okay…. "Amane..!" nuzzle, nuzzle ahhh anxiety gone resolved amane… love meeeee, happy with me, playful, we are having fun

あ：rubs your shoulders "Tsukasa." curtly.

つ：SHUDDERS BUT DOESN'T KNOW WHY

あ：[tilts head.]

つ：why things feel different right now is an enigma….!

あ："…? Tsukasa…? You… okay?"

つ：laughs, breathily, "uh huh! un" paws at Amane's yukata… "I wish it was OK to do this at times other than a festival." matter of fact

あ：[looks at you with immense pity] [but then the concept like stirs around in his skull and a tumbleweed blows through amane's brain] opens mouth closes mouth opens mouth

つ：tsukasa thinks but oh well, and licks your cock

あ：aghh fh oh not again

Tsukasa you don't know this but that's actually well played. i think amane was just going to be enigmatic and quiet but feeling tongue on cock again is like ohg of hgjfkd

"Ahhgh mmmmaybe wec an just get good at sneakingg" like oh my god im not ready to leave it "It'ss hgjust gotta be a secret"

つ：mouth is hung open w cock resting on tongue, tsukasa doesn't understand what he is quite hearing. hm?

あ：hic

つ：….. …. "ih-- duhn't havf be , fessval….?"

あ："Maybe there's other eventssor….g h…." [feeling like lungs are filling up with water] "or….f fffff….. no one sns… home….?" [bumps hips]

つ：for the first time of this event simply holds amane's cock with his hand like he's never thought of this, to lift it a little away but. ilke keep it. warM? held? odd impulse and not thinking about it

ah, he bumps into tsukasa's hand…. wah, the skin movement, felt it there--! so interesting

あ：simply keeps dipping in and out of Tsukasa's palm, even as he is trying to pause

つ：…. "… we can do it at home?" wide-eyed, head tilting. hand pumps a few times on sheer instinct

あ："Mhm mh mhmh" voice gets unflatteringly high. OH ANYHT GUIHNF stamps feets

つ："really????" pumps cluelessly, its like momentum more than conscious action at all

あ："Un, un, home… at home wh. i m. ah. if we're alone and…" [eyes rolling] "I dunnno maybe w'ell just get good at it..g…h…" teeth chattering holds tongue between teeth pads out the motion

つ：ouuhhhg also feeling gassed by this..a aaouuhh…..? gets… visibly dizzied "good at it… I wanna be good at it…." wobbling a little "for Amane…."

turns… back to his cock in his hand, thinking about this simple phrase, which is satisfying to think about…. ah, a skill… something to do, beyond just… existing, with Amane, something he could practice…. that Amane wanted to do, mentioned, first….

Amane really seems to like it… I don't see him like this….. it's so different. it doesn't have to be just Tanabata….? thats so much to think about….

あ："You…" swallows, squeezes eyes tightly, before opening them, and they're less hazed and lost but more… focused, suddenly, affixed. Staring down at him. Thoughts were swirling, trying to conceptualize… variables of, house, home, hours? School… time alone? Parents? How does it all come together…

But-- it all gets knocked out, hearing that reply. Squints… "Tsukasa." swallows again, licks teeth. "You… you'd really like that…?" voice getting quiet. "This…" punctuates, sliding in and out of hand…

つ：mmmmezmerizing…. looks at hand like oh i didn't know i was doing this. whoa whats going on here. watches wetness bead out… leans forward to lick it on instinct, just as he would tears

あ：breath quickens… sounds like he's hyperventilating…

つ：doesn't taste too dissimilar from tears….. saltiness…..

ah, distracted by the taste hitting and buzzing brain/tastebuds, so he forgets a question was asked, falling out of time, instead getting back to putting it in his mouth, thinking: wait, its supposed to be mouth…

i got distracted talking… supposed to…. do this, right now

becomes very focused, for the first time in all of this, for some reason. perhaps doing a few pumps taught his hindbrain something intuitive. bobs on his own, over it, in-out

fingers still wrapped around the base a bit, but more out of thoughtlessness-- like holding something while you leave the room unnecessarily….

brain is…. leaving…..

i really wanna be good at something. for Amane i really want to be good at this, if he likes it

あ：It's just so easy to derail one another, mutually. It's all so pressing and distracting, isn't it? Watching Tsukasa's mouth enclose around it, the motions, feeling… graceful…. Stomach-turning kind of grace… It looks natural. ah, it's pretty….

Isn't it weird to think… pretty… But, ah, what about it isn't pretty…. Like the yukata… It's made of nice fabric, print… Our shared face, there's nothing wrong with that… Look at it, all day, don't we.

つ：its the serene devotion emanating

あ：Having focused more, Amane's able to drink in more details… The concentration… the lack of hesitation… … there's no way the people earlier were experiencing something like this, actually… [becoming strangely certain…]

つ：probably just some . fffucking…. stupid teens, barely know each other barely doing anythin,g, barely wanting it

あ：What, some classmates? If, even that

つ：no way. no way she. told him shelikes it no way

あ：She couldn't have looked so into it. Must've felt like a chore… her mouth would just get tired and… that'd be that…

They aren't going to go home, to the same house, at the end of the day. They're not going to take a bath together.

つ：they are not in matching yukatas amane i assure you that

あ：[exhaling] "You really do. You just do like it…" muttering… fills in the blanks himself…

つ：humms in reply… feeling serene being told a plain fact

ah, i do like to think it's… somehow become bizarrely graceful bobbing. hit a stride… reached pure bliss

あ："If you could do it more… you'd do that?" ah, squeezes pea. mnn wait ugh… "For me? Like you said…."

つ：comprehend the rhythm-- motions-- experienced it enough, subconsciuosly logged it

あ：ugh, chest squeezes to see…

Unfiltered admiration… It's, it's impressive. Tsukasa is being impressive. Fff… feels good… ahh… teeth what to chatter, feel overwhelmed. Tingling all across the skin.

つ：humms... "for Ahmma-ne"..... thinking the words to self. ah, feels good to do things for Amane.... swirls tongue around

あ：Chases after, trying to sync rhythm with own motions now… though, they're understated, slow pumps… He's trying to not lose his thoughts. Though, what comes out is less… thoughtful than he means

"It'd have to be for me. Like this. Iiii. I wouldn't wanna do, what you're doing." huffs…. "- ssso… you'd have to keep doing it…" "Like this…"

つ：ah can barely understand but is a dizzy mess and nods obediently. heard 'you'd have to keep doing it like this' and that sinks in. feels like a bell rung.

あ：presses palm heavily against one of his eyes

つ：wants me to do something....

あ：… can't help but get severe, suddenly… "If we do this, you couldn't back out. O-kay. It ff… itffffeeels really good, it wouldn't be fair. You can't. Say you're gonna and then… change your mind…"

Muttering under breath at times, rubbing own mouth. it's not liable that tsukasa will hear or understand all of it, but Amane is moreso talking to himself

つ：its so high concept. its unthinkable for tsukasa to even consider the imaginary concept of changing his mind or backing out

あ："Seriously…" sucks in saliva. "If this is… going to happen outside of Tanabata…" still struggling with such a thought. looks down. "It's only fair…" huffs. "You're." huffs…. h-hhaha…? "You're."

"You're already good at it…" losing. faculties.

つ：aaoaooguooououououawo whiiiines WANNA BE GOOD A T SOMETHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

あ：heep…. eyes roll back again -- do eyes DO that this often?? feels like they are spinning… can't- can't even control them… do they just DO that… what the hell… why would your eyes do stuff…

つ：ahhh overstimulated but determined to not stop but struggliiiiingggg, whines.... whiiiines

あ：Starting to open-mouthed pant…

つ：aahhh good at it. . not only for tanabata. going to be good at something. pppraised. aahhhhh please

あ：Ohhm… he's freaking 8 years old…

"Tss…. tsu.. tsukasaa…." whines back… parallel… IT'S OVERWHELMING, WE'RE ALL OVERSTIMULATED ACTUALLY BY THE THOUGHTS. feels a LITTLE nauseaous. but also it's the. feeling close. to coming. antsy.

つ：I MUST KEEP MY MOUTH ON HIM NO MATTER HOW DIFFICULT IT GETS

degrading into just whining… back and forth. ahhh name is, love to, hear it, like this, why?? what does it mean, if amane whines it? mm nn no, wait, ah I'm whining rn, ah… didn't notice, oh, it's the same feeling again….

there's. no way amane feels like this….. the same, really?! nnn.. bbbut he's the one saying good things. whiiiness

to tsukasa he's, on the better end of things. spoiled here praised, played with, tasting smelling so much…. a dream

あ：There are ways it feels like a whoole experience surely, hard to imagine what Amane is getting out of it, by contrast… Not being talked through the experience or pet…

つ：FEELS LIKE THE LITTLE PRINCESS HERE CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT AMANE IS GETTING FROM TSUKASA JUST DROOLING ALL OVER HIM AND WHINING

BUT IF IT COULD BE SO SIMPLE I CAN DROOL AND WHINE ALL DAY

あ：But that's just the bias, feeling like Amane is all enchanting… on Amane's end I think at this point Tsukasa is lke scary, my scarily capable and sexually potent otouto actually, i'm starting to preemptively feel afraid at the thought of experiencing a taste of this and somehow this not going well later. DON'T YOU DO THIS TO ME. THIS IS RUINING ME AND IF EEL IT SO HELP ME…

I think it'd be cute actually if he came while rushing to cover his own face… hide… and then also immediately FALL. slide down to the ground. lays on the ground like a rabbit shot with an arrow bleeding out

つ：tsukasa would be so shocked by fluid and dealing with that WHOA if its dry though its like what is happening i dont know excessive twitching and squeezing and then amane dying

あ：one likes either option… romantic first fluid nut on tanabata

つ：destiny

あ：ohhhh ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh the moon and stars

つ：either way its like its suddenly become more alive than ever which is startling and slightly scary. like its doing everything. then spits in his mouth then just slips clean out as Amane flies away to the ground

left on hands and knees processing liquid in mouth, dripping down chin….. takes a second before moving it around with tongue, feeling odd thickness to it, no idea what it is at all, spit? it spit in me? it did something…..

kiss me… back? i drool all over it it drooled in me

あ：whoa. so mysterious feeling bodies can do so much

つ：uhm uhm… swallows it.

あ：amane is kind of writhing. i think the mania is also getting to him like thrashes kicks legs

つ：licks lips. looking like birthday table boy swallowing licking and then looqing

あ：hmmm. this is one of those. like. post nuts that just isnt graceful. GROANS AND KICKS. and moans. OHGHHGH

つ：watching amane like a very interesting bug. whoa

あ："FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

つ：!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW WE'RE REALLY NOT BEING QUIET ANYMORE

あ：rolls over and rips up grass claws at the dirt

つ：blinks. whoa! "whoa….."

あ：somehow im thinking about him getting up though and looking at tsukasa like. flushed. panting. about to cry. and yet menacing. "YOU'RE going to keep doing that later."

つ："yes."

あ：[closes eyes] "Good." keels over again

つ：[stupid] "…. do you want more now?"

あ：hm……. "I w…" [quiet] "………. yeah………….. b-but."

つ：crawls towards accidentally menacingly

あ：HIEHYGF crawling backwards like its a zombie movie MATTE MATTE matte matte matte ahh nnn TSUKASA!!!

つ：tilts head. why go

あ：My st. my tu… my tummy hurts. w.. wait!!! wait aminute

つ：sits

あ：and my… **** feels sore.

つ：!! ah!!

あ：[holds hand over it like its a wound] s…. so… not right now…

つ：IT SPAT something at me, is that 'cuz it got hurt??

あ：…………………….. I GUESS? [RUBS FACE] chigau.

It um… [i dont fucking know the science of come.] It did the thing Cuz it felt really good, actually. Umm… Like.

Well it was all good. [serious.] but that part.. um… [looks around] like.. LIKE!! like the "pop" [hands close and open] part of the firework

つ：whoa…..

あ：… it felt like… it felt like that… I think… even the.. the part like.. up up up… going higher… [frazzled, ruffling own hair] like, uh… yeah… and then… pwhhh…

つ：[listening to attentively]

あ：[wiggles fingers]

つ：…… oh its a thing you can do too much. like eating or running. or something. are you tired?

あ：………… nods.

つ：we could go home now

あ：… aren't you tired…

つ：NO!!

あ：… Your mouth isnt tired…?

つ：[WIDE AWAKE] [sortof. testing jaw out. messing with it] …. no!?

あ：mh. [… well then i wont feel bad about anything wtf…] Sure… okay, then. Let's just go home. =,= ……………………………………………… i wanna bath….

つ：beamssssss we'll take a bath!!!!

あ：you run it…. [yawns] saying this and dusting self off… settling things back in place.. ah, but mindlessly hold hands at the end of it all

つ：as we always do. walk home hand in hand

あ：Gonna sleepily slump on tsukasa in da tub Gonna be like mghh tsukasa….. Get me… a snack… Before bed… fetch

つ：he will be so fetcheth you things master. and amane will feel so justified the penis incantations i have been weakened. tsukasa is fine. i almost died. inch of my life out there on the grass

あ：You got allll hot and sexy sucking coxk for no reason and it almost killed me. i need to learn to forgive you for that

____________________

つ：Tsukasa: [laying on tummy, idly asking after a few sessions] does it really feel good for Amane…. ?

Amane: of course it does [annoyed]… it's you who's the confusing one… [defensive] what do you even get out of it…

Tsukasa: ? you pet me and tell me i did it good, i always like that!

Amane: [got so horny hearing that he got nauseous-- yeah you like that, don't y-- but then recovered quickly and doesn't like the statement anymore, in a pragmatic way] is it really like anything then? for you? it's not different? [sortof … a little reserved about this… suddenly like: wait I…. maybe don't like it if Tsukasa isn't horny whatsoever and its just me]

Tsukasa: …. [no mouth] no its different from stuff [no idea how]

Amane: ok. it feels different, right. but how. I'm not touching you. you know?

Tsukasa: no, you pet me [literal]

Amane: NO-- I mean. y. [sighs] okay … do you… does it feel like… [realizes this takes more.. braincells, to talk about. and that he has a real question in his heart right now! how to tackle it…] [clutches…. own shirt] like here… it goes fast [heart] … and. it's hard to breathe…

Tsukasa: [mystified that Amane is confirming, aloud, the synchronous feelings] hai….

Amane: [nods] and… its. tingly. All. over.

Tsukasa: IT IS TINGLY!

Amane: [doesn't like this conversation but does] [you dont' like Tsukasa Not being horny and you also don't like him being confirmed horny.] yeah, and. and it's different. it's different. uhm. its even different-- hearing. listening. to. uh. each other. like- like, say, names….

Tsukasa: whoa, you're right. [staring at nothing]

Amane: [also staring at nothing] yeah. [shakes head, knocks out of it] wait, so you really feel that stuff? just doing it? I thought it was just, what you did to me that made me feel that. I don't get it.

Tsukasa: why not?

Amane: [frustrated] its like if-- I ate a sandwich and YOU got full! or something! like why would that happen? m- [struggling] my body. feels new. and weird things. 'cuz of. you know. you're. touching it.

Tsukasa: mhm.

Amane: but why would just you touching it make you feel weird

Tsukasa: I dunno. It's special?

Amane: [flinches. mrngh ugh no… lame, to say that. ew] I guess…

Tsukasa: [simply] I've never heard you make noises like that. Or look like that

Amane: [feels called out] you make new noises, too…. [defensive]..

Tsukasa: [oh true, the whining is so new-feeling] do you like them?

Amane: ………………….. [puts a pillow over Tsukasa's head] [has no pupils or mouth]

just like thing in my brain last nite/this morning the way convos could be so casual and so stupid is funny to me, the charm of being way too familiar

あ：kawaii… Whimsically I was enjoying the thought of, like later just getting to rap about stuff, talk about the details i was thinking of Amane just being like. so……….. what's it. taste like. [uncontrollably curious] Like… is it just, whatever. is it neutral. or is it a little ah.. weird but…. like Tsukasa just is good at working past that.. or.

つ：Tsukasa the world's biggest freak: oh it reminds me of your tears! but its a lil different [touches finger to lip] bi..tter? like… [thinking] … tea? [thinking] if you put tea and sweat and crying together ina cup

あ：LOOKS………………….. [but says nothing.]

so if you put all of those in a cup, you would drink that.

つ：if Amane wanted me to

あ：oh one of those moments where Amane just pities you. like, Tsukasa… clicks tongue

I worry about you, you know. [holds your face condescendingly though]

Would you really drink anything if I made you. [going to get horny about the sureness of tsukasa's reply]

つ：hai.

あ：ooooooooooooooooooooh youve made me so. [redacted]

I was really enjoying thinking of the immediate aftermath of this sitch where. They have almost like an entirely normal night and Amane passes out so hard snzzzzz…. And we just fall into our routine so normally it's like w/e, we have breakfast, oh another day. Like Amane's brain just suspends from the events and you're just eating dinner with your parents. I actually was kind of thinking about, like a whole 2 days passes by or something, a lot of time just doing normal stuff. but then you're both alone in your room and you process your parents went to do some errand, or you're not going to be really bothered for hours, and it's like …………………………………. [the room darkens]

Looks around

つ：darkness descends upon you

あ：Sensing… opportunity its like ah god i wasn. i wasnt really thinking about it

つ：you have blowjob vessel with you at all times

あ：Tsukasa innocently fiddling with some toy has a plastic dinosaur wordlessly walk up to and be like. tug tug. but after this it's really like the cumrotting. OHH ITS JUST SO EASY!!!

つ：for tsukasa it is also like oh fell out of my head haven't been sminking about it but its like-- THE SMELL is back

whoa i can just smell it again. though i do like to think after blowjob tsukasa is suddenly vaguely atuned to cocksmell wafts when they happen. like you guys get into the bed and the sheets plume as they do and youre like snf.

あ：There's a good smell here :) I'm sure it's just ilke a-ah… there it is…! It actually exists normally, I just didn't know that was the smell…

つ：now i recognize a new color

あ：And the world. became a little MORE special of a place.

____________________

つ：

あ：I actually had a bunch of miscellaneous thoughts within this scenario… like, random little conversations where Amane is curious what Tsukasa is experiencing/feeling, but also since the "nut and keep sucking" experience is on my mind, thinking about Amane dealing w frustrations of penis limits. feeling like, but i want it more and longer. trying to overcome this. it's also like, he doesnt like feeling as though someone Tsukasa has more stamina, it's always me prying Tsukasa off… huff huff. [want to be impressive]

Just bemoaning to Tsukasa outright, about wishing it could last longer. which could be interesting for Tsukasa to hear bc. [memories of Amane ripping him off abruptly] its just interesting these desires could exist, conflictingly

つ：oh. then why do you pull me off. sortof mindset about it

あ：[finger to mouth innocently] Especially when its like. pries off. AND. is like. dont touch me ouhh dont lay on me

Amane both petulantly, flippanyly huffing about wanting this outside of it happening, but then also agonized whining for it during… Much for Tsukasa to digest

Tsukasa, who always wants Amane to get what he wants. like hueue…. how do i halp…

つ：its like awe… what do do i keep going or not…..

あ：Which Amane do I listen to…😰 But one day Amane just humbles himself and tasks you with a mission Sits on my knees in front of you we are facing each other sitting

つ：tsukasa listening to this like. hmm…. so. I listen, to the Amane, now but I don't listen to the Amane, later. but what if the Amane later wants me to listen to him….?

あ：Like Amane is underestimating his own reaction here I'll just power through it I'll just…. want it

つ：when the time comes he's going to get scared when tsukasa doesn't stop easily and does indeed just bare down and continue

あ：The resistance. It can be scary We make, some new noises today

Thinking about the Amane tasking Tsukasa with this like. Trying to emphasize, like, we'll just experiment. I wanna see what it feels like… maybe we could just make it last a bit longer… I'll just like… try and focus. But if you're not tired, you should just keep at it [not expecting to tear up from fear]

つ：brain is like nOOO I'M UNDER ATTACK HELP!!

あ：you cave and are just like ST. STOP!!! STOP!!!

I actually like the dramatics of saying "stop" and "no" aloud its really ilke. well its the part where its noncon

i think it would be interesting whether or not tsukasa listens… like i think it's cute if he's just so good boy brain and like :< about it and does let up… but then you have amane meditate on it and is like. wait. no. i mean. i thibk. i think we're ontos oemthing [hand over mouth, thinking]

つ：i imagine the first 'try' tsukasa doesn'thave the werewithal to continue ignoring once he keeps pulling and asknig stop and sounding upset

maybe only lasts a little while… then is just like…. amane….. do you really want me to stop….. i know what you said before….

あ：He's just so programmed to listen…. er, and, I mean, the second Tsukasa lets up, amane will shove him awayand pull his hips back like. >_< [wheeze] So… its not like… reassuring at first

つ：just be like.. mm. p. pets. pets. you… did it good…. tsukasa [straining] uhm, i just wanted to. uh feel it. right its … hard…

あ：mutter an apology. its like. sorry… its confusing…. but you were doing what you were supposed to

つ：you just want to do what I say, don't you…… 💭I… need to get better.. at not saying…. no, or stop….

あ：See i like the thought of Amane having to problem solve actually you meditate on it… it was an educational experience

Actually i think a babystep could be like… just… staying completely still… and letting it rest in Tsukasa's mouth… we just breathe here

Maybe if we go… reeeally reeeeeeally slowly…. but I think this is more soothing for Tsukasa as well, like. just getting pet repeatedly. Amane can have more mental faculties to be like. [swallowing] "um, you're doing fine…"

つ：when he starts hissing and flinching, having a mind to pet

あ：Maybe you still just have to tap out, but you feel better about how far you got… crawls over and just nuzzles

… without all the primal terror… you can report that this time it was um um… interesting… it's, it's nice, it's.. intense but. like… feels good still….. It was better that time…

つ：fidgeting. I like that it lasted a .. a long time. tsukasa is just wigglewiggle uuuu ah good…. did it good…

あ：[quietly] It's fun.

つ：I'LL DO IT AS LONG AS YOU WANT! we'll get really good at it!! we'll do it for hours! I know you can, Amane! if you want it you're good at difficult stuff

あ：chokes coughs blood spiritually. ohhh you think i can be your little blowjob champ get real good at getting a blowjob. help

つ：a part of amane like . we shouldn't ought have hadsex at the tanabata

あ：I have a feeling it was a mistake.

つ：meestake

あ：I think this is why. People don't have sex. With their siblings It's too easy, isn't it Teens need… to sneak out of the house to do it It must be good for you. Growing up

つ：to have to wait for the festival times and then to sneak theres gonna be a day. in the middle of the night amane is like. wait it could happen now. if we're quiet

あ：That's when you'll really be broken I also feel like. when you discover. just pantomime. its over part 2 invent humping. uahhhhhhh [brain disintegraets]

つ：ahh i was thinking about inventing humping… to one day be like. tsukasa. there's something else we can… do. like what we've been doing. something. teens typically do if we're already doing this…. i figure why not…. if we don't like it. we just won't try it again

あ：Scuffs shoe It's whatever you know. Just. We'll take our temperature on this

[the air increases humidity as you both feel the, like vibe of 'marking property' that humping gives]

つ：something neither of you can begin to articulate, to yourselves or each other. amane would see it as simply a physical transaction-- like the BJ, it's just about acquiring a sensation and being horny….

there's some subtle feelings of ownership to a BJ, but not too much, and its easy to handwave, I feel.

あ：The ahh part where, cock makes you weak, a blowjob makes you feel. weak.

being so young and tender too, you're more often just whimpering and clinging while getting sucked off

つ：it's the act of it all, you cant have many thoughts during.

あ：it can often feeeeel like tsukasa is just doing you a favor…

つ：he is fanning you with a big leaf now and again

when you get into…. baring down on Tsukasa…. grabbing him in place, squeezing him steady, pushing him against the floor, humping….. it feels… different….. and tsukasa feels it, too. it's just… visceral. forceful.

あ：It is simply different to… grab, move, squeeze, shove against Tsukasa's whole body… pin him against a surface… You're also more ah, coherent. for it

In the first place, I think instructing Tsukasa to get into position already feels like "."

つ：face away from being the logical first attempts.. lets not make this awkward

amane also like. fidgeting. look. if you dont like it-- or wahtever-- just. tell me later okay. and don't. laugh or…. I'll do something

あ：Eheh yes, especially since we're trial running… Can't deal with Tsukasa having his very focused little pinpricks. dont look

つ：I don't want you to talk. just-- put up with it. for. this first time.

so awkwardly…. having tsukasa maybe palms against a wall. standing or on knees, i wonder…. but its comforting to have tsukasa pressed to something, so he really can't move much….

あ：I like the vibe of against a wall Let me… approach this

つ：holds.. hips hips. i imagine it would be like… mmm… awkward. just looking, thinking. but actually starting is like. ffffine ok ok here i go uhm. just. does it

grabs. bumps against… more uh, cartoonishly at first pull to, and away from not knowing the actual hip-movement

あ：A lot of it just feels awkward and, like "is this anything"… is it going to feel like anything, for either of us.. but some part of you vaguely is like, interested, seeking something. so…. persist

Kawaii. like approximations it really takes a second to figure out how. like. to get a rhythm It can feel sort of wrong… like… isn't it smoother… it should just be like. bump bump bump

End up feeling like, it was essential to instruct Tsukasa to not look or say anything. Feel like he would turn around and leave , to be interrupted rn

But mm… I believe in Tsukasa's gracefulness and , also eagerness, just going to be receptive and quiet. Maybe wiggle… Whatever Amane is doing is interesting

つ：bumpbumpbump.. it feels interesting… more of his body is involved in this….. can feel that thang up against him. amane wants to rub it places….

あ：It is interesting to feel it like this. Something you've been getting familiar with Can't see it but know it…

I think any sort of… like, receptive, or playful sort of wiggle/sway from Tsukasa is good incentive. it ah. make you horny to feel/see [grips tighter]

… it's all… not nothing… I always think the way a curved spine contours very artfully against the chest, when you're looming from behind. it feels so neat. like ah, bodies… its nice to rest your face against shoulders/back too…

つ：i like to think of amane getting an increasing urge to press closer…. pull harder… at first being sortof like, ah, at a distance-- more similar to like, how we casually hump at fridge

bump. bump…. not wanting to immediately be too overinvested, a reserved amount of involvement like if you did just this and felt really embarrassed you could just, forget about it…

あ：Uhuhm… noncommittal enough. not even holding onto Tsukasa that firmly or anythin…

Light pressure. just ah, getting a feel for the territory but as a result it's cute, the spike of interest and intensity…

thinking about him really leaning face against and rubbing between shoulders. i always feel like this is just comforting. inhale Traps hot breff against Tsukasa's back

つ：feels tsukasa shudder from the breath and feels sadistic

あ：Man when I remember how little self control we had before though. how much it felt like goootttta do it... gotta hump until we're sore

つ：my creep goosebumps are manifesting m.mmm

oh yeaaahh babyyy. my spine and his muscles and hips.. unlike BJ you can really hump for a long time, especially if you dont really have apointed goal to it and aren't coming….

あ：Oh you can feel like such a creep all loomed from behind. tbh the quality where you can't see the other's expression….

つ：first session could get pretty ribbled and last a long time.. despite the start. wrap arms around his waist. really make him feel like. fklsgjlfh….

oh, this one really involves more than, just my mouth or something….. if the other thing is a kind of kiss, this is like a kind of hug

あ：oughh. the way you see the world but youre not wrong

つ：more firm…. shallow… quicker humps. i dont need to pull away all the way, he thinks… ah, its like the BJ…. its nice to do it shallow and stuff…. it doesnt have to go in-out full length every time….

あ：Sometimes doing staying really close and against is nice… mm…

つ：… but it is fun sometimes….. mmm… experiments with shallow, short humps close to tsukasa's body… then pulling away, holding him by a hip at more distance, and slamming into

あ：Really exploring the territory hmm i fjsdgh i do think it's just easier to feel like. egotistical about it. maybe its hard to leave it due to this as well

つ：stands still. like ah hm, wait a minute... he moves his head to me sometimes.... hmmm.. grabs tsukasa and pulls HIM towards, but keeps himself still.. moves tsukasa to his hips. brain pops fizzles

あ：Drags you upons… the collision can feel so dramatic!! impact…

つ：tsukasa himself easily sorta wobbly and not sure wtf is happening, trying to stay steady, has to get a better stands on the ground to not be shaken

あ：All the partition of clothes and stuff really helps keep it from being as, overwhelming and raw as a bj. but still very satisfying

つ：amane can see the utility of it all…. that you can be harsher, and the 'target' is so broad, its not like trying to aim for mouth… so you can really pull away, and pull back, and slam….

it all feed into itself though-- doing this like. mmm but i should try to do some slam with the other thing too, can't i do some…. not exactly like this, but…. more than I have

あ：Getting more comfortable and aware of yourself. yabai

つ：[pulls tsukasa over harshly a few times repeatedly, until tsukasa is panting trying to stay steady, and jostled] Amane, despite being the one requesting silence as always, is like…… [way too careless, because he expects how tsukasa will answer, by now] you really don't mind even if it's so rough?

shakes his head. he's try to be GOOD BOY UNLIKE YOU and was told to be quiet again…

[sneering behind him] can I get even rougher. [knows how you willl answer but wants to fuck with you] …. tsukasa nods, of course

あ：He is shitty like that

つ：horrible brain: i will make you regret agreeing so easily

あ：Maybe you should think twice. sticks tongue out

つ：finally a situation where maybe i can make tsukasa blanch first really awful harsh slamming repeatedly awful porno manuevers and he's amane, so he really can be tongue out THIS . HO

あ：Making Tsukasa pant is exciting… any involuntary sounds made are, like. It makes Amane feel like he "won" =,= he sucks

つ：little stops and hiccups and ah-- hhg--khk-- scritch scritch, feet unstable on the floor hands scratching the wall….

あ：Squeezes your middle so hard you squeak… and so on fucking. he's amane also so. he laughs

つ：tsukasa is . very surprised just by all the-- roughness. amane isn't really such a… ah, he's not your, jock brother in such a way, you know, he's not like headlocking you or something….

he's not. wrestling you to the ground typically…you have your little games, and when younger you had some rowdy ones, but…. he's not a frat boy! he's not usually just. i mean hitting you or something. just slamming is wild!

tsukasa thinking… so he wants to be rough….? he wants to be this rough….?

あ：We're.. weird little guys, we're typically sentimental and hand-holdy, the familiarity just lends to some playfulness, but… I think even the rougher rowdier games were under the pretense of, some RP or imaginative play. we're at most liable to get wily in the pool or something

I think the lack of proxies is really interesting… it means, Amane, just wants to be rough with, Tsukasa so Tsukasa has to process…. you want to do that to me…? He wants to hear me make these sounds…?

つ：its all so. very blank while this is all going on. despite panting physically mouth open stares at the wall

あ：… I think it's uniquely overwhelming for Tsukasa to process…. simply because it is not typical of Amane to do this… Like mnn… because it's not just in his general nature to be aggressive like that. What is this… [radio static]

つ：i think it would be really funny if Amane was having fun being really gnasty tongue sticking out snarling a corner of his lip slamming tsukasa and then unexpectedly comes and is like. stills.

forgor it could happen. didn't. wasnt trying dont feel strong anymore

あ：How do you play this off You feel the come leaking down your leg

つ：going from crushing it to just still is incriminating

あ：the wet spot. its just like. i mean theres no good options bc weakly bumping and then being like hue is also like. i think tsukasa understands What happened

You simply linger. still. hand on tsukasa. and then cough. [jenny's awkward christian grey voice] Well, that was great. (edited)

つ：maybe its just like. walks. away. goes to bathroom to like. handle this. like. wipe cock down just came all over yourself. its just. covering your cock in your shorts. soaking

sssmmmmallest spot of soaked-thru come on tsukasa…. he simply rubs his hand against the spot and brings it to his nose while amane is gone, licks it tooo…. like ah. it is the stuff.

あ：incriminating… It's interesting to think, that even without umm… mouth stuff… wetness… it could happen just force… rubbing against…

つ：he liked it as much as the other thing…..

a dokis moment alone against the wall still, unsure also if he should move or not.. its cute for amane to come back in and tsukasa has not moved an inch.

dokis of. ah he-- mm… we'll do this more, then… if he liked it.. we might start doing this too…. regularly… whenever we can…

あ：[gets dizzy]

つ：and... if we dont have to take off any clothes or, get anything out...... that seems easy

あ：[rubs face.]

つ：really don't understand his own feefee, but it's the odd ownership feeling of it… feeling, branded… roughed with treated like his… just can't have that thought formed, yet

あ：This stage where everything is just percolating…

Ah for the humble little Tsukasa I think there are dokis to be had, also, at like -- oh, yay, another thing I can do… that Amane likes… two whole things. a frog in a well like me… maybe feel a little spoilt. How did I get here…

つ：and, uhmmm it was my, suggestion sortof in the firstplace… that we could do it… so….

あ：._. me do something good 👉👈💦…

つ：i do think dryhumping is a new problem eventually, but at least at first maybe amane is a little like. avoidant of doing it again for a Second

like i. cant think about how i was there immediately >> whyd i come so hard so suddenly

あ：It's kind of embarrassing. To reflect on.

つ：and you gotta come back into the room and be like-- … tsukasa…. tugs pulls him away from the wall its over, tsukasa…

you. [through teeth] did good… pets…. ruffles hair.

あ：Trying to balance, wanting to breeze past this/move on but affirm it was good >> Like ah. that was good. maybe it's something we can do together, too. Oh uh, you can talk. now.

つ：[EXHALES LOUDLY AS IF HE WAS HOLDING BREATH] turns around and beams at Amane

あ：[looking put off] ….

つ：...... [OPENS MOUTH WIDELY] [has nothing coherent to say immediately] [looks around] [thinks so hard]

あ：............................................................. [im choosing to not be mean.... so i wont tell him to actually be quiet again....]

つ：HOLDS amane's hand in both of us suddenly it-- was-- fun! really fun! [SHAKES HAND AROUND]

あ：[resigned] Mhm…. [sigh] Good to hear you had fun. [but like… stretches leggy out] It was… interesting. [kinda kickin leg out, crosses it behind other] It gave me… ideas~ ^^

つ：sparklinggggggg

あ：[feeling smug again finally] So, look forward to.. the future~ [tongue sticky outy face]

this does feel like. its time for sadist brother to percolate thinking about. fucking you hard. sorry here it comes

つ：going to dream about slam now that i know the slam going to bleed this into the BJ stuff its like. but tsukasa has been such a good sport. and he doesn't. mind so. why should I… hold back

あ：going to treat you worse during it

つ：start really moving tsukasa's head forcefully. get more creative with positions.

あ：if tsukasa likes it so much…. really. grab by the hair. freely move you over cock the… objectification

つ：like moving over top of m.

____________________

あ：Hm the appeal of this scenario is like watching Amane like, real-time evolve into horrible pervert naturally as he gets more confident and acts rougher its like… gets more talkative during.. starts. dirtytalking. im sorry tsukasa.

つ：ITS GONNA BE ROUGH FOR TSUKASA!!!

あ：Like oh. he's saying so much Since this stuff started so 🤐 its … an unexpected shift but also its like wjfdgjhf when the dialogue is like [warped voice] you like that don't you, you little

つ：oh its all gonna be. tell me you like it. wanna do it. more tell me don't you wanna do this for hours?

あ：I can tell you're thinking it [out of breath]

つ：you like it more than you can say. i can tell. cuz of how you. hhlook at me

あ：you should tell me though. how you want it. don't you think i should hear it. it's just you and me here. why hold back

つ：LIhkKE-- [Amane hooking a thumb in his mouth to make it harder to talk. kind of just as a bullying thing. coming out.]

あ：hooking thumb in mouth, tilting head side to side

つ：Wannit! Wanna-- lihkk-tt do it! aaahahaaa.. I liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiike… I lliiiiiiiiike when… Amane…. ♥ isssz, rrrough, haha like this… he's rougher when we do this, you don't hold back

あ：Mmm oh he loves to hear it…. it's just like [nastily] That's right The way you are means, I don't have to hhold back. at all! aha You're easy like that

つ：I want, to be the person Amane neeverr holds back with.... [dazed, out of it...]

あ：Hahaha… hahah, aww, Tsukasa… [mock scandalized tone] You want to be special-? You want to get what no one else can… ?

つ：eeouuuhhmm… squints one eye . kicks at floor nnhnnnn.

あ：[tilts head] Hmm, it would be nice, wouldn't it…

つ：it sortof hurts to hear….

あ：[going on] getting to be special… mmm… I can see why you would want it…

つ：Amane…. I like when, Amane looks at me… [wobbly] you look at me more since starting this I like that

あ：[simmers…]

つ：touch… [paws at a sleeve] me more…. since….

あ：Amane is stupid, he doesn't expect to have words pain him… but it's like ahh.. The sincerity… I think it's a real balance of being horny about it and getting chest pain

つ：and feeling condescending, as he does amane with his capacity to pity the little creatures

あ：Yes. like ah. Tsukasa is… being pathetic….💔 Holds face in both hands

つ：is that what's under tsukasa's surface… tsk tsk… hold my little dummy

あ：[lower voice, pitying] It's nice to be looked at, and touched, isn't it…

つ：nodddddd… no mouth gazing at. pitiably

あ：Well, as long as you always listen to me… if you keep being, just like this. [pat pat] Thennnn why would I ever hold back…? You got this far, right?❤️

つ：mmmmm. nuzzles into hand for a moment, sortof restlessly. presses face into palm by turning himself

I WANT Amane to do whatever he wants!! I want [thinks about these words.. Amane was asking him about whwat he likes and stuff…….. its so hard to think about things in terms of whatever he's wanting…]

I want… Amane [gets still and looks around at the floor] I do like it [thinking harder.] it tastes good because it's you and it all smells good I like it.

[very simple. but it is going to sound the way it does] I like that I can swallow something from Amane and put it in me and I have it in me all day

あ：It's so simple and yet. amane really needs it to be so blunt. rghhhg…. that IS what's hot about it, isnt it…!?! rhgh

You like it cuz its me… JUST me… it. [becoming severe] it couldn't be just anyone, right-? You wouldn't like just any person… You wouldn't get on your knees for someone else. right.

つ：[FLABBERGHASTED] NO!? NO ONE?! no….! no….. no one else-- ?! no! [getting caught in it] I dont wanna smell like someone else!!!! I dont wanna put someone else in me!!

あ：spiritually Amane is steepled fingers pleased and simmering thats right…………………….

つ：only Amane!!!

あ：but you know like. thinks about it for 1 second as well and is like ugh. no. fufjghf.g never anyone else's come. oooh. OOOH. ONLY me. Never anyone else, okay?

つ：possessive guy discovers an inch of his fetish

okay!! yes! never ever! never!

あ：I don't want you to smell like anyone else either

つ：no! gross

あ：You don't need that

つ：no! never need it!!! [very definitive. firm] only AMANE. [but childishly so.]

あ：Good, good. I like the sound of that

つ：if Amane stops doing it it'll never happen again [surprisingly intense statement but said very plainly]

あ：Im-impressive… this is actually kind of high concept for amane. the future? houh….

つ：never ever. not even at a festival [as if festivals are places you just have sex. tsukasa's conceptualization of being a teen]

あ：Never... ever, even if years pass...? [quiet]

つ：never ever til I die [so easy for tsukasa to say things like this]

あ：impressive good boy otouto wtf… ah. kinda got blasted with a beam by this [breathing 1 inch from your face] That… that is how it should be… why- why should it be any different? Til.. til we die We'lllll [getting manic] WE'LL JUST do it lotssss then cuz whoo.. who cares !!

つ：oh in his miasma. staring. breathing shallow uh. uh huh.

あ：Who cares… who cares!! It's just us… hhahaha-!! ah…

つ：hehehe.hahahhehehaha.

あ：but it's always just us… isn't it?

つ：mhm.........

あ：mm…. [rubs face on face]

つ：!!!!! RUBS FURIOUSLY

あ：ohmmm my amane brain. im inventing the thought of kissing its happening what are we doingggggg [tongue lolling] its almost funny we havent gotten here but if i have your undying loyalty. idk lets fuck around

つ：its always funny how its not a thought between them it has to be like, amane thinking like….. ah. i always feel like… it's amane…. pitying tsukasa…. in a way… in the way he pities yashiro for clearly being into him…. the feeling of ahh… poor little thing…. really likes me, huh? hmm..

あ：ah, if the only way you're going to experience anything is through me… I grant you a little somwthing

つ：the easiest way to crack into it isn't as an earnest confrontation of his own love, but pitying tsukasa for being. madly in love with him it would seem

I like the thoguht of it being like a little pin drop for Amane… like ah Tsukasa… is a little weird about me.

あ：i think he's sick

[suddenly entering a 1000 yard stare state as i think harder about kiss] … ah, but I do like it being out of some sense of pity, ohhhh pity for your circumstance… In the middle of nuzzling their faces together, it occurs to him suddenly, the impulse. A real spur of the moment thing, where Amane holds Tsukasa's face and tilts it, firmly, aligns their moves. Soft press for a second, while Amane peacefully lids his eyes shut, then swipes his tongue out, over Tsukasa's mouth. Kisssss with tongue… that real stuff, like teens do. Won't be satisfied until it feels properly 'adult', tongue meets tongue. Though it doesn't end up lasting very long (still childish in this way) — it's exciting nonetheless… makes it feel like there are sparks in Amane's throat, very low in it. Crackly. Exhales heavily into Tsukasa's face.

"A little something. Siiiince, you won't be kissing anyone else, either." laughs. evilly. "I don't want my little brother to die a kissless virgin though." [you have my pity voice]

i am, throwing you a bone.

つ：stares with tongue barely poking out. aohhh ppooor tsukasa…. little brain obliterated

you're talking to him from the other end of a wide expansive gymnasium. its like that hannibal scene though where theres two hannibals and one is right next to his ear. saying the words.

kiss. kissing….. mouth to mouth. he kiss me…. kissing? kissing…. a kiss. amane… kiss me? does not say anything but starts wide-eyed leaning closer to amane again….. o 3o

あ：………………….. [looks at you.] [but like lol. yeah let's do it] [like the kombucha girl like AHAH.]

つ：oh sure. so pitiable…. are you so eager for it… lol

あ：in amane's perspective, he is giving you an extra 5 kibbles. cuz he feels so sorry for you.

つ：just a little something for my hungry pet

あ：leans in

つ：makesa tiny noise ah

あ：Wow. it is like kissing a virgin tho licks

つ：VIBRATES LIKE CHIHUAHUA

あ：it must feel so strange right. like tsukasa is usually the one whomst licks. for tsukasa it's like mgahhh lick ME? but this is a context where amane is like. oh i know people use that thang. tongue.

つ：HE LICK MEEEE!!! drool on. me i want to have amane's drool in me

あ：desire unlocked

つ：more. substances this time i wil focus on the taste of it very very very hard

あ：moar… it is of course, not fair if amane walks out of this fine, so he should have to deal with being miserably horny about kiss. even if its delayed. like you walk yourself this far out of a sense of, i'm pitying my poor lil brother lol. but it is you who is lying in the middle of the night on your futon like . wish i was making out rn [arrested by it]

つ：I would like him to suffer despite it all. Eventually should roll over in the night get on top of Tsukasa to kiss him in a wild impulse. Had a boner for so long its painful. But fsr instead of protocol drag tsukasa to cock the makeout urge manifests. but then you're on top of tsukasa who is groggily startled and gasping confused for hair and. you realize. through the force of your hips moving on their own while these responses arouse you. that you can. make out and hump at the same time

あ：it doesn't have to stop…. [math equations flying aruond] Actually everything at once

つ：eventually going to crawl over tsukasa's head to put dick in mouth its going to be everything all at once like ughruhgjgh ouhhg wait waaait wait mm wait i canmm

あ：yes chasing it like…. AND, I WANT -- THIS its like unlocking a skill tree i can think of.. POSES Ah the intensity of like. cocksuck while straddling face though. hueee….

つ：getting all the way to humping down into face. its gotten as bad as it can get for Amane

あ：ooo eee ooo. In a way this is actually the worst timeline zim voice worse…….. or better

(~link to PART 2 down here for convenience~)

[kazuyummy]

AK anon is here -again- 🙊💛. I really wanna request a matchup with Amahisa but i have never done that before so kinda unsure how to do so but i will give it a go:

1- weak. 2- strong. 3- Insightful. 4- Cool (im not tho🤦‍♀️)

Orange (🍊): I am not very creative like you -🥺- so my ideas are very basic, but something like how he would approach a person like me ? I really can't imagine myself being with somebody like kousei who is so opposite. (personality wise). Ppl around think im cool, strong, independent women, laid back, chill etc .. but really im not like that, and i usually admire ppl who are like that (and like Kousei too). But what ppl see from outside is way different from inside ~~~ but ~~~~~ yeah ~~~~~ god i feel shy idk why 🤦‍♀️🙊🙈💛. Also, thank you for writing for DNA. I really enjoy my time on your blog.

omg no worries! usually in matchups you would give your info and then i would choose who to match you up with - but don't worry, i'd be happy to write one for you and amahisa (plus i can't see you with anyone else now LOLL)!

i think you and AMAHISA KOUSEI would be a perfect match particularly because you're opposites! he's a walking contradiction - whimsical but observant; carefree but invested; nonchalant but hardworking. so i think he'd really appreciate you being a bit of a contradiction yourself! sometimes he's so honest to the point that people can't tell if he's joking or not - so i think he sees your struggle in that area with being misunderstood or seen differently than you might think you act. and even if you don't think you're cool yourself - he certainly would, but not necessarily in the way others might perceive you. i think he'd want to get to know you at a raw, deep level - it might take you a while to be that vulnerable with him and open up, but he's determined to crack that shell and support you. and for someone who may get bored with one thing and move on to the next - he'd find you so interesting that he'd never get tired of you.

bit of drabble / headcanon under the cut! a bit longer than i usually do too ehehe 💕

❀ FIRST IMPRESSIONS

amahisa kousei is certainly one to say what he means, and you don't exactly understand that at first

his pickup lines aren't suave or clever - he'll literally tell you that you're pretty, smart, beautiful - with such a nonchalant face and then go back to doing his own thing

while you think you're gawking and panicking over what he's saying, you're really just staring at him with a straight face and a slow nod

"amahisa's always trying to get your attention... how are you always so cool about it? isn't he like, a big star on the baseball team?"

your friend taps your shoulder as you leave class, and you mumble back,

"he can't be that good at baseball if he has time to flirt like this all the time..."

your face is burning, but you play it off - sure, he's pretty handsome and charismatic. a bit of a mystery, even - but you do tend to wonder why he focuses on you specifically

it isn't until after you've parted with your friend and walked ten minutes to the bus stop that you realize something very important

you forgot your freaking laptop.

huffing, you start a light jog back but pause when you glance at your watch - there's no way you'll get there and back in time, and the next bus after that is in another half hour

and you definitely needed to grab your next batch of textbooks from home, or you'd miss your next class

"hey! you're pretty fast, you know? practically sprinted out of the classroom!"

when you look up, who else do you nearly run into but amahisa holding your laptop?

you blink once, twice. then you blurt out,

"you're a lot more thoughtful than you let on."

he lets out a full laugh, "and you're a lot less scary than you seem!"

you frown, asking what he means - to which he responds,

"everyone always says how intimidating and strong you are. but you're getting flustered right now, aren't you?"

"i- i- no i'm not! and i don't mean to look scary at all! that's just how people see me for some reason..."

you're feeling self-conscious, even when he gives you an easygoing laugh, and you're certainly thrown off when he ruffles your hair,

"you shouldn't care so much how people see you! except for me maybe, because i see you as pretty interesting."

you roll your eyes, taking the laptop from him, but can't seem to hide a slight smile from his watchful golden eyes

"see you later then, yeah?"

"we'll have to see about that. but i guess i owe you for this - so thanks... amahisa."

"it's kousei," he smiles before waving and taking off

"how am i supposed to talk to him if he doesn't even ask for my number..." you grumble

but when you pull your laptop out next class, a sticky note tumbles from it with his phone number and a "coffee soon?" on it - that boy certainly is full of surprises.

hope you enjoyed, i'm so happy i finally got to write for you and kousei - i love getting asks from you and think the two of you would make such an amazing couple ehe 💕

read completed matchups here 💫

[shamsabaddai-ardn631]

(Wk3 SDL Self Portrait Photographer Blog #9): Rosie Hardy

Rosie Hardy is famous for her imaginative, surreal, fantasy, cinematic portraits of herself...well at least she started off that way, and now she does portraits and weddings for other people as well, using the skills that she has gained over the years.

At first her images look like they're all to do with her epic Photoshop skills, she stresses that is definitely not the case; the reason her photos are so impactful is because she makes sure that she captures as much as possible in camera, in real-life, and does a few touch ups later where she blends the images together.

Now, I admit I cheated a little bit with the link I posted above, because it very clearly states what she uses and how, (and its very much an ad for Canon, but it's full of useful informational tidbits for newbie photo elf, such as myself) it was a great learning. Here's some takeaways about her tools and methods, and all the jazz she uses to make all that pizzazz! (Did you like that? I'm a poet...you know the rest. It's fine, I won't pause for the applause. )

Ok so, where was I?

As I stated above, I learned that her process is to have everything as real as possible, so she makes sure to collect whimsical props wherever she finds them. She also keeps an eye out for stock images, that she feels inspired by, and sets a scene based on the image, and she'll blend the whole thing in together in post, afterwards.

In terms of her camera work, I initially thought she wanted to control the environment my guess was that she works with studio lighting, but nope, she prefers ambient natural lighting, which is my favourite too. She doesn't use artificial and she doesn't use flash. She keeps the ISO super low for the super sharp images (I'm finding that this is a theme, ISO 100 is where it's at for all the Greats of photography apparently, I too shall aim for as low ISO as possible). She takes photos with soft backgrounds, so she prefers a super shallow depth of field, she uses a 50mm & 35mm, most of the time, and she uses the lowest Fstop she can get to, f1.8-f2.8, which produces that dreamy soft background, and she'll stand out. So to get the most light (like the one created above) is done with a slow shutter (to get the light in), I think she goes between 1/200 to 1/400. Though honestly with a tripod she can get away with slower...but she's probably going to have to be very still, so I guess that won't work if she wants to move.

She also uses her camer's AF , which helps her heaps with taking a self portrait and still being in focus. [This is a big conundrum of mine as I take my own self-portraits since I'm currently working with Fred Flintstone's camera, but it's better than nothing. I've also learned that Rosie started with a cheap camera, and look at her being great, so I've got hope].

I do like that her surrealist, Alice-Lost-In-Wonderland portraitures, are rooted in reality, I did initially think that a lot of it was faked in photoshop, and but they somehow had so much depth, and now I know why, and appreciate it. She has also helped me learn/remember about the basics of 'pretty' portraits. Low iso, medium shutter speed, lowest stop, in her case 50mm lens [...though I do prefer yours Natalie of 105mm Prime lens, I looked it up, it's insanely stunning, and the face does look very identical, I think a 50mm gives the face a slightly narrower and flatter shape? but anyway, the 50mmPrime is more affordable, so maybe that first on the Wishlist and then 105mm one day, I digress]..

I've also just learned about Prime lenses. I had no idea. Now I understand about how good they are for clarity, and weight wise, and I get why photographers love them.