#i was asking kira to make me ramen and had to explain that i didn’t like the broth because my first girlfriend made it without it

[rachelblairy]

settle a debate please :

[bunny-wk-fanfic]

19-'Do you believe in magic?' with L from Death Note?

Not my usual style, but it was an interesting request to fulfill!

Kagome was not one to judge, especially not after everything she had been through. So she didn’t even bat an eyelash at the unusual young man that sat next to her. Or when he slipped his shoes off. Or when he tucked his knees under his chin and began to chew on his thumbnail. She did when he turned to stare at her when she unpacked her treats.

Blue eyes lowered from his unwavering stare to her boxed gourmet cupcakes. After a few moments, she looked back up at him. “Did you want one?” true, they were a birthday gift from that new gourmet bakery everyone was going ga-ga over, but she didn’t mind sharing.

So lifting the cute little box, she offered him first choice, watching as he picked the one with the small strawberry on top.

“Thank you.” his voice was quiet, and his focus completely on the large cupcake.

“You’re welcome. Enjoy.” Kagome looked back down at the two left over and decided to go with the pale green one. Matcha melted across her tongue followed by a light and sweet nutty flavor.

The two sat in a comfortable silence, enjoying their shared treats until they finally stared down at the last baked goody. Chocolate. “Want to share it?” she could tell that he truly wanted it, but her friends praised the chocolate delicacies to the point that she wasn’t quite willing to pass it up. She was still hunting Naraku and the Shikon shards after all. There was no tell if and when she would get another chance.

He gave a single nod of his head, intently watching as she carefully split the cupcake as best she could in two.

Watching him enjoy it was the complete opposite of Inuyasha enjoying Ramen. Where her hanyou friend gorged on the noodles, this man was savoring every bite.

“Thank you.” he absently licked some frosting from his thumb. “Most won’t give food to strangers.”

“Most don’t accept food from strangers.” she raised a brow at him with a pointed look.

He shrugged his shoulders, either he didn’t care or was giving her that point. After a while, and picking up on his mutterings, Kagome turned back to him. “Is everything alright?”

“Why do you ask?” his dark eyes peered at her, the bruising under them becoming more and more prominent.

Kagome shrugged her shoulders. “You were muttering to yourself.” she smiled at the slight and subtle expression shift on his face. “Well, more like arguing with yourself.”

It took him a while to reply, as he had been assessing her for the longest time. But, he eventually did. “I’m working on a puzzle, and having difficulty proving my theory.”

“I, see…” not really, that was as vague as anyone could get. “And what… theory do you have that’s being difficult to prove?”

“A supposed… perfect criminal.” he had shuffled to face her a bit more directly, still hunched over his tucked knees though.

Kagome blinked at his hesitant admission, while her mind clicked with something she absently recalled. “Are you talking about those ‘Kira’ killings?”

He blinked, head tilting to the side slightly before offering her a single nod. “I am.”

Kagome faced forward, wondering what she could offer that could help him. She remembered the buzz and chatter about the killings whenever she was home for school. All were major criminals, all simply dropping dead of a heart attack and this Kira was taking credit. She was pretty sure their autopsies showed nothing; health wise or substance in them to cause the attacks. Otherwise, there would have been something in the news. And then there was the fact that the killer was never in the presence of those that were killed.

“Ah. So, you have a suspect, but no way to prove it.” it was more thinking out loud, but he nodded nonetheless. “I’m assuming you worked through your process… based on what you could learn with what was available…”

She trailed off, her mind going over what she was putting together from all that she knew, and could only come to a single conclusion. Turning back to the young man, she blinked once before asking him a single question. “Do you believe in magic?”

He gave a slow blink. “The concept of stage magic is not foreign to me. Though, I don’t-!”

“No. Real magic. The kind that comes from the bones of the Earth. The kind that often times calls for sacrifice. The kind that the people of this day and age think of as nothing more than silly superstition of the old or those from remote villages.” her interruption had him blinking as she continued with her explanation of what she meant. “The kind of magic I’m talking about has dealings with the dead and gods and usually has a steep price for those practicing it.”

“That sounds quite like one with ties to a cult.” it wasn’t an accusation, but more of a statement.

Facing forward again, Kagome recalled the type of magic that had to be involved with how Kira was pulling it off. “Not at all. But it makes sense if you’re willing to open up your mind.”

“No, it does not. Magic was the only logical way for how people could explain the natural world in ancient times.” he shook his head, blinking when he noticed her seemingly far away gaze.

“When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.” while she was still stuck seeing the past, she turned her gaze back to him. “Imagine the true dangers of one person using something as awesome and terrifying as magic in this day and age when the people have all but dismissed such. A truly dangerous foe to face when you, yourself, are unable to accepting the tools and means he is using.”

The silence between them was heavy with their thoughts. Kagome in her memories of the terrifying truth of Japan’s past that was drenched in magic, and a young man that was contemplating on both the sincerity of her words as well as her sanity.

“Well, I hope you manage to solve your puzzle and do so in good health.” she stood up and neatly tossed the cupcake box away. “You are playing a dangerous game if your opponent really is using magic. I pray that the Kami watch over you.”

L watched her bow and walk away. She truly was an odd young woman. Her opinion on the matter was definitely one that was extreme and unorthodox. But if one did believe in such means, it made sense. He would have to look up the young woman to learn more.

[setfiretothemoments]

I saw Twenty One Pilots twice in 2018. Extraordinary circumstances allowed me to see them twice from two different vantage points. Both were special for very different reasons. Both were unforgettable. One completely changed my life. These things are important to me, so I must document them.

Second show: November 7th, 2018

It started with a message to a stranger on the internet. Words cannot express how thankful I am to a girl named Kira from Austin, Texas, for giving me this opportunity. She posted that she had an extra ticket on a Twenty One Pilots group I was a part of, and I, having started to panic that I had missed my chance to see them up close by getting seated tickets to the show in October, went out on a limb and messaged her. I told her that I was from Minnesota, but was more than willing to fly down to Texas and wait however long we needed to to try to get up close. And she, just as trusting as me, agreed! So I bought a ticket to Texas that day for the date, and then the waiting began. Over the next couple of months we got to know each other over messages and shared our love for TOP and the excitement for this show and what it would mean to both of us.

As it got closer and closer, my brain started to frazzle. I had never been in the pit of a stadium show. I don’t listen to a lot of mainstream bands, so most of the shows I go to are mid-size at best. It’s never terribly hard to get up close or to the barricade with those. I had always figured it would be nearly impossible for a band such as Twenty One Pilots. They were huge. The screaming teenagers would devour me! But we were going to try anyway! But I knew in my heart that I needed to be in that pit. I needed to be down there. I needed to be part of the bigger whole.

After a delayed flight and hanging out at an airport for 7 hours, I finally arrived in Austin. Kira showed me around even though it was late. We explored a sweet park covered in graffiti, stopped at her apartment, and then started our 3-hour trek to Dallas.

All my insecurities melted away once I got in the car with Kira. Our love for TOP made us instant friends, and our dual need to be up front and the little bit of insanity it took for us to want to get there at 5am united us. Flying hours away to meet an internet stranger is a huge risk, but this one was most definitely worth it.

Started by being 194th in line (got moved back to a little over 200th when we finally went in), and the tension was paramount. When we got into the stadium we were about six rows back. It was a good spot; I was pretty pleased with that. Inevitably when the surge happened we got even closer. I’d never been part of a crowd that massive before. When they started, I barely remember Jumpsuit because I got lost in it a bit. I wasn’t in control of my own body as I was pushed and shoved around as people tried to get closer. I almost started to fight it, but then let things just take me away. When I was finally able to refocus on what was happening in front of me, I was taken away to another world.

It’s impossible to describe how their music feels when it so envelops you unless you’ve experienced it with a band that means that much to you. There were realizations in there for me as well. I could not take my eyes off of Tyler. He was mesmerizing and I realized, wholeheartedly, how inspiring this man was to me. How completely changed my life has been because of him and his music and his genuine character. He was a speck at the show in October, but here he was alive and in front of me. I could see every movement, hear every word, feel every beat completely surrounding me. I already knew the setlist, enjoyed every single second of every single song, cried and cried during the B stage set, and then something amazing happened.

I had moved around so much during the whole show, what with them getting in the crowds and whatnot, the surging and waving of the crowd was constant and I was never in the same place for long. That’s why it is so magical, so fateful, so downright perfect that I happened to be exactly where I was when “Holding On To You” started.

There aren’t words for what “Holding On To You” means to me. That song is what got me into Twenty One Pilots, that song perfectly encapsulates so many emotions and feelings and situations for me, and it is just one of the most “me” songs I can possibly think of if someone were to ask me to describe myself using music. I can’t explain it only to say that it means everything to me.

I knew Tyler went into the crowd for this song, but I never thought in all my life that he would suddenly appear right in front of me. He was directly in front of me for the beginning of “Holding On To You,” and I couldn’t even scream. I didn’t realize until he left that I wasn’t even breathing. I could just look up in admiration and awe as this man who has influenced me so much, who has meant so much to me from just the things he has created, and have him look right into my eyes and sing to me. I barely managed to snap some photos before left because I just had to take in what was happening in front of me. Hearing the screams of that first verse all around me, Tyler in front of me, during my absolutely favorite song by them; there are not words to describe this moment, but it made this night the best night of my entire life. I know he makes eye contact with so many people, I know he doesn’t remember this moment specifically, but all that matters is that that moment happened and it meant everything to me. I will never forget it. I was healed, I was lifted up, everything bad or upsetting was lost and forgotten in that moment. He went back up on the stage and continued the show and I had to catch my breath.

I could go through every song and what it meant to me, but there aren’t enough words and it would just be me babbling at that point. This show was perfect, the crowd was perfect (besides some scary moms with 11-year-olds who thought that there wouldn’t be any sort of pushing happening), Kira was perfect, Tyler and Josh were perfect.

I really just needed to document that moment for my own sake, but here’s what I wrote in my phone immediately after the show again, for fresh raw emotions:

November 8th, 2018, 1:00am

During “Taxi Cab,” when I started to cry, the two girls who just held my hands and leaned on me and the guy who just sung with me during all those songs. Hugging them after the show; hugging everyone after the show. The girls we met in line who were absolute sweethearts. All the lovely people. The boy named Jeff whose first TOP experience we helped make wonderful. The instant friends we made. Tyler fucking looking at me. The first tears as the petals came down during Jumpsuit, when I realized that no matter what, no angry or rude people in the pit could take these moments away from me. The entirety of “Holding On To You.” Tyler right in front of me, right in fucking front of me, singing my favorite song. The fact that I was totally enamored with him. The confetti, the smoke, the fire, the lights. In and Out afterwards, animal-style fries and burger. The ramen beforehand. The realization that I’m in the city of Fair To Midland. The split second decision that put me where I was for the show and put Tyler right in front of me. The cavalcade of random stuff and choices that led me to these moments.

Click on the pictures above to see them better. 

Long story short, this was the best night of my life. Thank you, Twenty One Pilots. Thank you, Kira. Thank you, universe for allowing this to happen to me. I couldn’t have asked for more.

In Trench I’m not alone.

Holding On To You Part II: The Twenty One Pilots Experience I saw Twenty One Pilots twice in 2018. Extraordinary circumstances allowed me to see them twice from two different vantage points.