#i will need CAFFEINE to survive d&d tonight | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

catholicdaredevil · 3 years ago

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newsflash asshole, chapter one || matt murdock

i'm really really so anxious to post and start this it's my fucking baby and i'm so excited for it i just hope it lives up to the hype in my head and in all of yours too

this is chapter one of twenty five and it's just setup for reader

words: just over 2k

ao3 link

series masterlist

gif credit: @saradanversrogers

“One of these days that nose of yours is gonna get you into more trouble than you can handle.”

“I’m not so sure about that dad, I can handle anything.”

“I know you think so goose, but be careful.”

Maybe he had been right. This kind of job didn't lend itself to early nights, or stress free weekends. No, it had you staring at your laptop screen, that burned your eyes after all of these hours, six cups of coffee in at three in the morning. This was a job that had you so stressed you felt like pulling out your hair, and giving up at least twice every case. A job that frequently gave you four new questions for every answer. That had you digging so often you sometimes worried you wouldn’t realize until too late that your hard work was only for it to be your own grave.

There was an answer there, somewhere simmering under the surface, you could feel it. All it needed was just a little more, and it’d crack open under your touch. At least that's what you told yourself, justification for the past couple weeks run ragged. Hours and hours spent doing research online, tracking down people and stories and any clue you could possibly get your hands on. You know what he’d say if he could see you right now, eyes sunken in dark circles, surviving solely off way too much caffeine for one person, and spite.

“Goose, you can’t find anything with your eyes half closed.”

“Half closed, dad, what does that even mean?”

All of your hard work leading up to tonight, you had almost all the pieces by now, just missing one final one. A big one, and the picture would be complete. Despite the low buzz of excitement from being close to the end you’d learned long ago to never take what you thought was complete to mean there was truly nothing left, too many times you’d almost put out a story to realize your picture was only done because you hadn’t bothered to zoom out and see the peripherals.

That was when you were young and foolish, running in thinking you could Nancy Drew a solution without a plan. You weren't nearly half as reckless as you had been, years of experience for better or worse had taught you an important lesson. Caution. Cutting corners was too dangerous, not when the stakes were this high and any misstep could mean lives on the line.

Like yours.

Yeah, something like that.

While the years might have taught you caution, they bred routine. Planted and watered, nurtured and grown until roots went so deep they wound into your core. You had a system for everything, a contingency plan for your contingency plan. Too often plan B turned C and D and you couldn’t afford to not be prepared. So you dug, shovel in hand, dirt caked under your fingernails, insistent to uncover every crack and crevice, leave no stone unturned. There was always more if you were willing to look for it. The most vital part of your customs was used when strings got too tangled, when clarity took too long, and answers felt too muddled. Pulling out a thick notebook and digging through the drawer in your desk it came from until you found a pen, the cap chewed to hell from last time. You began scribbling, writing out everything you knew, from the beginning.

It was simple really; write it all down. If you’d written it all down then write it all down again.

It helped to do this, to refresh the facts in your head to see the dots that needed connecting, be able to touch them under your fingertips in a way that a computer could never satisfy. Things that had made no sense before often clicked into place on this step, hidden carved-out pathways of connections buried so deep they were thought lost.

Once everything was written out you paused, pen cap once more finding a place between your teeth as you pondered. Lines connected pieces from one page to another, segues that wouldn't have made sense to anyone looking in on your work, a connect-the-dots with a picture only you could fully form.

It felt like several more hours that you scanned the pages methodically before the loud buzz of your phone startled you out of your focus. The muscles in your neck ached, making their annoyance at your posture very well known, you stretched them this way and that, listening to the crack of stiff joints as you snatched the incessant phone off the wood beside your laptop and checked to see who was calling.

Karen Page

“Hey Karen, what are you doing up?” Her soft chuckle came through the phone and you couldn't help but smile. She had become a really good friend in the year since you’d met, the news world a worse place for her leaving to go back to Nelson, Murdock and now Page.

“I might have something for you and I figured you would be up at this ungodly hour,” shit, she knew you too well.

“You figured right, whatcha got for me?”

Karen didn't hesitate to spin into her story, an informant she’d worked with a couple times back when she was at the Bulletin had heard that she and you were somewhat close and got a message to her. She couldn't tell for sure just how reliable his information was, it had been hit or miss before based on whether he was using, but he was right more often than not and any lead was better than no lead.

“There's just one catch.”

Your eyebrows raised and you leaned back in your chair. Now this was new, Karen had never withheld anything from you before, aside from that one time. Even then it was less her refusing to tell you, and more her asking you not to push. So if she had a string attached to this, it had to be important.

“O-kay, I’ll bite.”

“Go to a party with a friend of mine.”

“What?”

“There’s a benefit this weekend, stuffy and annoying, yes, but we’re all going. Join us, meet a friend of mine, the friend of mine.”

Ahh, there it was. The friend of hers, you’d asked her a couple months ago for an introduction. She’d agreed, but said it would take time, that he needed space for now. Stability. You of all people could understand that, so you thought no more of it forgetting you had even asked. This was an interesting turn of events, and you'd most likely be able to wrap everything up before then anyways.

“Does he know, or is it one of your and Foggy’s ambushes?” Karen hesitated with a sigh, you'd come to that conclusion a lot faster than she'd hoped. Not surprising, it hadn't taken you long to figure things out before why should this be any different.

“It's an ambush,” no point in lying now, and you hummed in thought. It sounded like a bad idea, ambushing a man like that but you'd really wanted to meet him for a long time, and how many chances would you get.

It didn’t quite matter, your mind made up before she’d even finished the offer. “Alright, deal. Now where can I find your little informant?”

Which brought you here, to a stuffy party you’d never attend of your own free will. Uninterested in schmoozing with rich annoying assholes, with rich annoying asshole interests. Having had to dig so far into your closet you weren’t sure how you didn’t get lost, just to find the one dress you had that semi fit the description of formal. One you’d originally bought for some date planned years ago, dark green satin that draped delicately across your chest, fabric ending just below mid thigh. The date had fallen through, and so had the guy, and the dress had sat untouched and forgotten until tonight.

It had felt weird getting ready, dressing up, like putting on a show. Putting on a costume and getting ready to play a role, the performance of pretending to care. About these people or their thoughts or opinions, especially the thoughts and opinions having to do with you. Certain you’d made unspoken enemies out of more than a few of the people bound to be in attendance, the rich socialite type did tend to like their business to be in the dark. In back alleyways, and small font, whispered catches and hidden traps. All things that were extremely difficult to do with a nosey, stubborn reporter shining light into corners, and hacking through endless red tape, broadcasting any and everything they found on their way to the bottom.

The whole situation had you anxious, out of your depth. Had you not agreed to this, had Karen’s information not been the final crack in the case that you’d needed to finish it out, you might not have been here. Yet here you were, a glass of wine in one hand trying to hide off in the back by the bar until your friend showed up. Eyes glued to your phone as you waited for her to text you, she’d promised to let you know when they got there.

Pulling up now.

You pulled in a deep breath, trying to calm your nerves and clear your head. When that didn’t work you quickly downed your drink and headed towards the doors. Skirting around people like a maze, trying to not get noticed on your way by. You didn’t want anything getting in the way of this meeting, you’d been looking forward to meeting him for so long, the idea of him so built up in your head from all you’d heard about him from Karen.

She thought the world of him, it showed in more than just her words too. The way she spoke about him, the conviction in which she defended his actions, actions that weren’t even publically attributed to him. It was hard to not wonder, not be interested in seeing for yourself if he was just as good of a person as she made him out to be. Not that you thought she would be lying, but sometimes it was easy to see the best in your friends, your family, and that they were.

Family.

The three of them so convoluted they were almost one being, Nelson, Murdock and Page. You’d met Foggy before, spent more than enough time with him and Karen back in the days where you and she worked more parallel than you did now. Hours of drinking and laughing and crying, they were great people, ones you cherished even from your distanced version of friendship. To be honest you were jealous of the bond they had, you weren’t always good at friendships or making connections, not long term ones. Sure you had tons of acquaintances, people who knew you and you knew but they almost never went further than surface deep. Karen had probably been the first person you’d officially called a friend in years, Foggy close behind.

You heard them before you saw them, Foggy’s boisterous laugh carrying into the party. “Come on, it won’t be that bad. Who knows maybe there will be someone who’s not an annoying prick.”

“Yeah, well I really doubt that Fog,” his voice was low, almost melodic in the way it washed over you. They finally stepped into the room, all huddled together and you froze.

Matt Murdock.

He wore the sleek black tux like he was born to, the sharp lines of the suit contrasting against the delicate build of his cheekbones. Small red sunglasses sat atop the bridge of his nose, and you studied his every feature. Watched the way his hands shifted and moved, holding his cane out in front of him to tap against the marbled floors. He was surrounded on either side by his friends, Foggy wearing a brown suit, one of the only expensive ones he kept after quitting Hogarth, Chao, and Benowitz. He had been weirdly fond of that specific one, though he refused to admit why, that it had been the suit he wore when he found out Matt was still alive. After that he couldn’t bear to be rid of it, selling all the rest in order to help fund the rebuild of their practice.

Karen’s eyes skimmed the room searching for yours, the long dark blue of her own dress accenting the slight red in her hair. When she picked you out, a small spread across her face and you saw her lean behind Matt to knock her hand into Foggy’s arm and once more you were reminded of what this was.

A set-up.

#matt murdock #matt murdock x reader #matt murdock x you #matt murdock x y/n #matt murdock fic #matt murdock fanfic #daredevil #daredevil x you #daredevil x reader #daredevil fic #karen page #foggy nelson #foggy nelson x you #karen page x you #foggy nelson x reader #karen page x reader #ezra writes #newsflash asshole

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pbandjesse · 3 years ago

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I was supposed to have a super chill day at the museum. But that was stolen from me. And instead I had to do three programs and work the desk for the last hour of the day. My skin is very painful and it's frustrating.

I slept okay but I kept waking up itchy again. It's not even spots I have psoriasis, I'm just itchy?? Allergies maybe? But it isn't fun. I hope tonight is better.

I got up at 7 and Jessica texted me that she needed to me lead a cannery and do D and then do a tour. When originally I was just shadowing and doing one tour. I wasnt thrilled. My throat hurt. I had a bad nose bleed and had blood down my throat and it made me feel raw. But I still said okay. And I wasn't in the best head space. But I got myself together and me and James headed to work.

Caffeine and food didn't even make me feel better. I know I wasn't myself. But it was tough. I had a little time to just sit and enjoy the quiet before my coworkers got in. But it would be okay.

The kids were sweet. It was a good group. And the program went well. I helped O'Malley with fixing up the chases in the print shop. The red press needs to be fixed, I hoped to have time today but I will try to do that Thursday.

The kids did a good job in the cannery. The first one I was just doing labeling and it was fine. Leading the second cannery was alright. I had written the steps on my hand but it wore away by the time I was supposed to go. And so it was a little rough.

But we made it through even if I wasn't exactly doing it in the correct direction. I would have to backtrack and fill things in but that is okay! The kids did a good job, we had some laughs. And soon we were done and cleaning up.

We had the tour next. And it was good. But there was some confusion with the timing and the other half of the class. But it ended up being fine and it was a pretty good tour.

I was glad to be done. After walking them to the first I went and took a little break. I had eaten my sandwich between canneries standing in the break room. But I sat and chilled with my coworkers and that was nice.

I would go check in with James to do some machine demos for the musuem guests. But then Mike asked if I could watch the desk for an hour while they all did a meeting. So I did the desk stuff.

I am not good at the desk stuff!! I don't know where anything is. Half our stuff in the gift shop doesn't have scannable bars. It's a whole thing. I had to call James to come back and help me when I couldn't find a tag. But for the rest of the hour it was all good.

I had some nice little talks with guests. And soon the musuem was closed for the day. And Kristen and O'Malley came up and we talked about the day. And then Jack was there. Jack would hang out with me until James came back from their meeting.

I was glad to be done though. I had to talk on the overhead thing and that is scary! But we finished up the day and I would wait outside in the sun and it was just. Really nice.

It was beautiful outside. It's going to be even warmer tomorrow but it was so nice today.me and James headed home. Their allergies were really bad and their poor nose was so runny. But we made it home and they were able to take an allergy pill and stop looking so sad.

James went for a bike ride while the laundry was finishing up. And I changed and did all my knitting from the weekend. It was nice and sunny in here and it was just really good.

I started not feeling good again. I had a snack but it didn't help a lot. And then once James got back and made us a beautiful dinner it just hurt my stomach. So I was pretty sad about that.

I laid in bed for forever. Just resting. I took a shower and that helped a little but my skin feels bad and very dry in spots and that is very frustrating. But I will be okay.

Now I am in bed. Sweetp is next to me making biscuits. And I am ready to sleep.

Tomorrow I am at the nursery. It is going to be a pretty full day I think. But we will survive.

I hope you all have a great night tonight. Sleep well. Take care of yourselves.

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lonelypond · 4 years ago

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Au Yeah August: Cafe Quarantine, Part I

NicoMaki, Love Live, 9.1K, 1/2

Summary: Nishikino Maki is working at the Nishikino Hospital's coffeeshop to learn customer service from her boss, Yazawa Nico. Then coronavirus shuts down the coffeeshop and they decide to quarantine together in the Nishikino mansion.

Cafe Quarantine, Part I

The small 24 hour coffee shop in the lobby of Nishikino Central Hospital was silent tonight, the lights lowered for a calming, post midnight atmosphere, everything serene until a loud groan echoed throughout the lobby.

“I’m in hell.”

Sure Nishikino Maki could do math, but math with her sexy spitfire “boss” present, whose glances lingered and practically licked? Nope. Inventory attempts were failing, boxes were falling, Maki was faltering.

“Throw the binary in the trash, along with that apron you just burned a spot through.” Yazawa Nico’s voice snapped.

“What?” Maki muttered through her fingers.

“That apron’s ruined. And no binary choices, no hell, no heaven, no good, no bad, no straight…”

Maki could get into no straight.

Nico continued, being unable to read Maki’s mind or face, “no crooked, no up, no down, and…” huge inhale, “don’t even get me started on black and white.”

Maki raised her head from the facepalm pose to stare, “What the fuck?”

“No binaries. Supports the oppressors. You know…” Nico winked, “the idle rich.”

Maki huffed and pointed the scanner in a random direction, “I am not idle.”

Nico stepped up to the counter, leaning forward until the scanner connected with her chest, “One Nico Ni, number one cafinista in the universe. And that’s not where Nico’s bar code tattoo is.”

Maki’s eyebrows scrunched at the same time as her mouth opened in shock, “You have a bar code tattoo?”

Nico rolled her eyes and grabbed the scanner, “Nico likes the morning shift better.”

Maki glanced at the wall. 2:07. “It’s morning.”

Nico shook her head, “Before your parents decided you needed customer service training, Nico had the morning shift. But you can’t be trusted with actual customers yet.”

“Yes I can.”

Nico put the scanner on the counter, “I had three complaints yesterday, one of them from a woman crying after you yelled ‘make up your mind, ditzy you’.”

“I didn’t say ‘ditzy.’”

“What did you say,”

Maki frowned, trying to remember, “Make up your mind, didn’t you…”

“Nico would have failed high school hwith grammar like that.”

“She cut off my sentence.”

Nico sighed, grabbed a cupcake, pulled down her mask, and sat at a table, pointing across from her. Maki sat. “Your parents think you’ll make a better doctor if you learn some empathy and basic courtesy.”

Maki kicked the table, not disturbing Nico at all, “How does pushing addictive substances on hyper caffeinated rude and rushing zombies teach me empathy?”

“How much coffee do you drink a day?”

Maki mumbled, her arms crossed over her torso, perpendicular to Nico’s glance.

“People might be inclined to forgive some awkwarrdness,” Nico licked icing off her finger, “I mean you’re super hot, so some of them probably aren’t listening…”

“What?!?!?!?!” Maki spun, angrily facing Nico, “how is that not sexual harassment?”

“Do you want Nico to say you’re plain?”

“Discussing my appearance at all is the problem.”

Nico leaned back and closed her eyes, licking some icing off her lips. Maki grimaced. This is why she was in hell. Nico. Tossing compliments like they meant nothing while doing extremely provocative things that shouldn’t register on Maki at all, because Nico was just her annoying, very temporary boss.

“Why do my parents like you so much?” Maki whined.

Nico laughed, “You think making me supervise you, o queen of cold, means your parents like me?”

“Ha. Funny.”

“Nico is good at her job, charming, and always helpful. Maybe they want you to be more like Nico.”

“No.”

“No?”

“I don’t want to be more like Nico. I don’t want to be anything like Nico. I don’t want to be here.”

“So go home. Nico was all set to have a doctor-patient role playing session so that once you go back to college and med school you’ll be able to talk to people without freezing or flaming up…”

Maki had stalled on role playing, “You wanted to play doctor?”

“No, Nico wants to open the coolest jazz cafe in Chicago, once coronavirus gets cured.”

“I like jazz.”

Nico sighed and pulled up her mask, “So leave big tips after you…” Nico’s arms swept out in an gesture that embraced the whole of the building. Nico’s demonstrativeness was one of the things Maki liked about her, there was no mistaking what she meant. “But Nico’s break is over. Go home. It’s a slow night. Nico will see you next week.”

Maki frowned. There was a lot to inventory. But she was all fumbling and grumping and Nico’s voice had started to tighten. And Maki didn’t want Nico yelling at her like so many of the customers did.

“I get a lot of things right.”

Nico nodded.

Maki slumped. “Can’t you teach THEM empathy?”

Nico patted Maki on the head, “Nico tries.”

###

Back on Monday. Nico had Maki cleaning every spare minute. There was an entire cleaning staff, with teams specifically assigned to the cafe, but Nico hadn’t been happy with their work for weeks. So Maki was wearing the apron she’d burned, her sleeves rolled up to her elbows, and was scrubbing metal racks while Nico flirted with customers. Amazing how much charm Nico could glow with in even 30 seconds of interaction. No one seemed to mind the slowness and the six foot gaps when Nico was the goal. Maki grumbled as she scrubbed. Med school was going to be easy after Yazawa school.

“Hey, Maki.” Nico called out. Maki spun. Nico pointed to the nose region of her mask. Maki breathed out and she felt fabric shifting. Hers was slipping. Damn. She put the rack down to dry and adjusted her mask. The behind the ears got painful so she’d found a style with a toggle and had her parents order them for the cafe. Nico had insisted they say “SMILE.”

“Hi, Dr. Nishikino!” Nico said brightly.

Maki turned to see her father walking in. He deliberately locked the door behind him. Maki could tell he was worried.

“What’s wrong, Papa?”

“The cleaners who work in here have tested positive. We’re going to close it for a week of deep cleaning. And all the employees need to self quarantine. We’ll also offer testing.”

“Ha!” Nico snorted, “Nico told you it wasn’t clean enough.”

“Is that really what matters?” Maki’s thoughts had started to race through had she had any symptoms, had Nico been almost coughing, was either of them running a fever.

“No, what really matters is that Nico might have taken the virus home to her siblings. And my mom. That would be bad...so bad...Nico’s going to have to stay away...and…Cocoro will have to cook and...Nico’s place is so tiny....”

Maki's suggestion was quick. “Stay at our house. We have extra rooms. I’m as likely to have been exposed as you.”

“So we give each other more germs?”

“All the space will help. Masks will cut down transmission possibilities. As will surface cleaning. And opening windows for ventilation.” Dr. Nishikino said, “As long as you both stay asymptomatic….although your mother and I aren’t really there much, Maki.”

“I know.”

Nico was surprised by the down note in Maki’s voice, but D. Nishikino just nodded as if it were a familiar one.

Nico was pacing, talking to herself, “Cocoro can cook a few things, Mama will be okay, if Nico thinks quarantining might be trouble, Cocoa will be so bad at it...uuugggh” Nico stomped, “Okay, but Nico cooks.”

“Sure.” Maki brightened at that demand.

“Good. That’s settled.” Dr. Nishikino pulled out his phone, “I’ll have the car drive you there and if you text me a list of food you need, I’ll have it delivered. And if you develop any symptoms, let me know at once.”

“Thanks, Papa.”

He smiled as he unlocked the door, “Just be careful, girls. I’ll call you, Maki.”

Maki waved. Nico was still pacing.

“What am I going to tell the kids…”

###

Maki heard a muttered “I’m in hell” and spun to be greeted by a Nico sparkle smile and the gesture.

“Nico Nico Nice place. Suits Nico.” Nico closed the door behind her. “Where does Nico stash her stuff?” Nico bounced her custom camo pink messenger bag on her hip.

“Um…” Maki hadn’t really been thinking about practical things. She’d spent the car ride over trying not to kick anything or fidget too much. No conversation. Anything she thought about saying involved the coronovirus survival percentages her parents had recently been obsessed with so she just hummed. Nico always had something to say, at least for the three months Maki had been working with her. Yes, for Christmas this year, Maki’s parents had decided to give her a demon boss while she took a sabbatical to decide on her degree path.

“It’d probably be easier if we were on a different floor than my parents, if we actually have it. Better for isolation.”

“Nico just needs wifi, her laptop, phone, and a Bluetooth speaker system. And your kitchen.”

Maki’s phone pinged, her father answering that where to sleep question.

P: Your mother and I are going to stay in a hotel suite near the hospital for a couple of weeks at least. We need to plan for a surge. The staff will be in to clean three times a day.

Maki sighed. “They’re going to stay near the hospital. They think there’ll be a surge. So you can just take the room down the hall from mine.”

“Thanks.” Nico sounded subdued, it was odd to hear her like that. “Is it really bad?”

“Well, you’ve been following the news, right?”

Nico shrugged, “A little. I know China and Italy are bad.”

“My parents have to plan for the worst case scenario so they’ve been paying careful attention.” Maki sighed, and turned into the media room, “Me being exposed…”

“Parents get extra worried.” Nico tossed her bag on an empty chair and stretched out her legs.

It was a much more complicated situation than that, Maki knew, with her father probably recalculating everything if the virus had gotten as close to their relatively safe social bubble as Maki. But Nico sounded sympathetic so Maki didn’t correct her.

“What are you making me for breakfast?” Maki

“A nap.” Nico stretched back with a huge yawn.

Maki laughed, “Good idea.”

“Always listen to Nico.”

“Can’t commit to that.”

“You will.”

“C’mon.” Maki grabbed Nico’s bag, “Let’s head upstairs.”

###

10 a.m. Four hours was a pretty decent nap. And nowhere to go for a couple of weeks. Maki grinned. Lots of time for piano. And whomping Rin in MarioKart. Thank you, online gaming. Was Nico awake yet? Maki glanced, the door to the room she’d given Nico was closed so no clue there. Maki could at least start coffee. There’d been donuts on the list so that was a breakfast start if the driver had come back.

Singing and talking were coming from the kitchen, as well as other noises. Maki stopped in the doorway, watching Nico chop and dance along the length of the counter as she carried on a conversation.

“So the rude smart doctor needs you to teach her how to cook?” A young voice sounded confused.

“That’s right. Dr. Maki can’t cope without Nico.”

“What happened to the last chef?”

Nico stepped back, arms crossed, and tilted her head toward the phone. Maki couldn’t see her expression, “Nico doesn’t ask.”

“Smart thinking, sis. This way the Nishikinos won’t make you disappear.”

“You got it.” Nico waved a cleaver at her phone. Maki assumed there was a “Nico has everything under control” wink involved. Then what the other voice had said actually registered.

“We’re not some kind of crime family. We own a hospital. It’s been in the family for more than a century. We save lives.”

Nico jumped, the knife falling to the counter, “Maki!”

“Hi, Dr. Maki. Nico’s going to fix you. You’re so lucky.”

Maki came up behind Nico and glanced down, a miniature Nico was smiling up at her and waving

“Hello.”

“Maki, this is my sister Cocoro. Cocoro, Nico has to finish Maki’s breakfast.”

“Don’t let her yell at you, Sis.”

“Nico’s got this. Don’t worry. Talk to you soon.” Nico closed out the call and spun to confront Maki. “Hey, it’s rude to eavesdrop.”

“I didn’t know I was walking into a call.”

Nico leaned back against the counter, “Well, if you walk into another call, don’t mention quarantine. I don’t want to worry my siblings.”

“But…”

“No buts.” Nico didn’t even let Maki finish her thought, let alone her sentence, “I told Mama, she’s going to keep them mostly at home, Nico didn't visit last weekend, it’s Spring break anyway, everything will be fine.”

Maki waited.

“So if you talk to my siblings, Nico is teaching you to cook.”

“What if…”

“We are not getting sick.” Nico turned and picked up the knife, pointing to a pile of minced white chunks, “Garlic, your new best friend. Every meal.”

Maki scratched her neck, “Shouldn’t you actually teach me to cook. Just in case…”

“Yeah…” Nico’s face jumped through all the phases of thoughtful, “Cocoro might quiz you. Okay, Nico will come up with a few simple things...I’m assuming by your inability to properly warm up cookies, you have no kitchen skills.”

Nico remembered every little incident, even from Maki’s very first week, when she’d been on the afternoon shift, the line of customers had gone out the door and everything she touched had shattered, imploded, or sprayed whipped cream over Nico’s apron. “The oven was broken.”

“Nico was almost broken, trying to cope with Maki’s trail of destruction, like Tokyo after…”

“Please don’t.” Maki raised a hand, interrupting what she was sure was a Godzilla reference. While definitely a Godzilla fan, Maki was not awake enough for a pre breakfast recanting of her inabilities. “What are you making?”

“Omurice, although no leftovers so instant rice. Do you want hot sauce?”

“Anything tomato will do.”

“Good. Nico doesn’t like spicy so this way we can share.” Nico grabbed a nearby bowl and whisked the eggs. “What do your parents eat?”

Maki shrugged, “Fast things. Breakfast sandwiches. They’re usually gone when I wake up.”

“Well sure, you work the night shift. You probably go home and go right to bed like Nico, then see people when you wake up.”

Maki opened the refrigerator, not replying to Nico. Fresh squeezed orange juice. She took the carafe out, “Want juice?”

“Yes. And you can set out plates wherever you want to eat.”

“Okay.”

“Nico will find you.”

Maki perched on a stool, pouring juice into two glasses, “Here’s fine.”

Nico glanced over her shoulder, “Makes it easy. Nico doesn’t have to look.”

“So do you see your siblings often?”

“Spend weekends there sometimes. Nico’s not dating anyone so…” Nico wiggled the spatula to the right, Maki not able to read her expression.

“Me neither.”

Nico whistled and waved the spatula to encompass the kitchen, “Somebody’s missing out.”

“Kitchens are usually a third date thing.”

Nico laughed, “Morning after, right?”

Maki considered, realized, and blushed…”no, uh….I didn’t mean that...three’s just a number I picked...I didn’t….”

“Calm down, Maki. Nico is teasing, makes the food taste better.”

“Doesn’t.” Maki muttered, still blushing.

WIth a flourish, Nico flipped the omelette on the platter and spun, presenting it with a wink and a sparkle, “Taste it and see.”

Nico had expected more enthusiasm. Maki was spinning her fork and almost pushing the omlettle.

“Something wrong?”

“You shouldn’t call me Dr. Maki.”

“But you’re going to be a doctor, right.”

“I guess.”

“So what’s the problem. Cocoro’s not going to ask you to take out her appendix.”

Maki stabbed the food, her stubborn glance confronting Nico’s curious one, “”Doctor is a title you earn.”

“You’re smart, you’ll get there.”

“That isn’t the…” Frustration darkened Maki’s eyes as she shook herself and ate a forkful of breakfast. “Thanks. This is…” She paused, swallowed, and took an ever quickening series of bites, “amazing.”

“Nico is number one at everything she does.”

Maki hoped that wasn’t true about catching novel coronaviruses.

###

Maki and Nico were in the music room. Nico had poked her head in there and insisted Maki play some jazz records on the cabinet sized record player. Looked retro, but all the best tech. Maki had opened the windows for ventilation and Nico was lounging on a chaise, singing along with Carla Cook. Maki had chosen the piano bench, but not to play. She faced Nico, not the keyboard.

“So why a jazz club?”

Nico tapped her fingers along with the beat, humming, then swung into her answer, “Nico decides things, NO AUDITIONS, classy, good story for Nico to sell, rich people like jazz and will buy expensive things, Chicago native, hint of blues...Nico’s a people person, the best cook you’ll meet, and the number one ‘interpreter of a lyric.” Nico feels what the audience feels…”

“Didn’t they say that about Carmen Macrae?”

“Dee Dee Bridgewater, Ella Fitzgerald, probably Sinatra, if you like that type,” Nico paused to glance at Maki who raised an eyebrow, “Sarah Vaughn, Meloney Collins, Diana Krall, Nancy Wil...”

“Okay, I got it. Nico knows jazz.”

“Nico knows singers.”

“So how’d you end up managing my parents’ coffeeshop?”

Nico sat up, “It’s a good gig. Nico’s saving lots of money. Always make the bonuses. Well,” And Nico glared, “at least until nepotism kicked Nico out of ‘exceeded expectations’.”

“Surely my parents aren’t blaming you for my…”

“Nah, nah, don’t worry. Nico’s a master negotiator. Your dad’s promised to help me when I’m ready to step out on my own. I’m learning a lot about running a business, inventory, managing difficult employees.”

Maki ignored the tweak. “If it’s your jazz cafe and you’re planning to perform, wouldn’t you hire people for the practical things?”

“If you can’t do it yourself, how are you going to hire the right person?”

“So do you get any practice performing?”

“Open mic nights mostly, weekly TWIG lives. Nico was pretty serious in college, sang with a concert band, chorus in a few musicals, helped out a jazz trio a few times, but they broke up when the drummer took a studio musician gig in LA.”

Maki was watching as Nico’s eyes sparkled, obviously remembering some of her experiences onstage.

“We had to play through a Wisconsin blizzard one Halloween, five hours, no power, just a huge fireplace in this ski lodge until they plowed people out and got them to their buses. Nico slept for three days after that, under a HUGE pile of blankets.”

“You sang for five hours?”

Nico leaned forward, her grin the most natural Maki had seen and the most luminous, “Led singalongs for a lot of it. 90’s boy bands always a hit.”

“So not always jazz…”

Nico raised a finger to her lips, winking as she air kissed. “Shush.”

Maki forgot what her question had been.

“Oooh, this is a fun one…” Nico bounced up, “Tulip or turnip…”

“Sounds like a bad recipe.”

Nico waved Maki off with two fingers and continued to sing, “Sapphire or sawdust, champagne or just home brew, tell me tell me tell me, dreamface, what am I to you? Rosebud or rhubarb, diamond or doorknob, filet or plain beef stew, tell me tell me tell me, dreamface, what am I to you?”

Nico stopped, ruby eyes demanding a reaction from Maki, who began to feel feverish. Probably not a virus though. Just needed a little more air to move through the windows, cool things off.

“Am I Dreamface now?” Maki drawled.

Silence for too long and Maki started twirling a strand of hair by her ear, then Nico doubled over with a huge laugh that echoed, even in the open room, “Sure, Ms. Modesty, you can be Dreamface.”

“So what would you be?”

“Bankroll.” Nico echoed a word as Carla Cook continued.

“Pragmatic.”

Nico started going through albums. “So are we just going to listen to jazz for two weeks.”

“Sure.”

“That was way eager.”

“But you like jazz.” Maki left the “and I like jazz” unspoken.

“Jazz isn’t the only thing Nico likes. Nico didn’t even like jazz at first. Nico likes sunshine and movies and K-pop and K-dramas and Nintendo and talking to her friends and cooking for her family and dancing and cute girls and…”

Maki would have listed jazz, long bubble baths, taking flower photos, and staring at the stars, but that just sounded like cliched, boring please date me desperation that would be laughed off any dating app.

“Hey, Dreamface, Nico asked what you like. Besides jazz.”

“Tomatoes.”

“Tomahto.”

“Either will do.”

Nico giggled.

Maki, suddenly bold, decided to share the thought that had just thudded into her head. “Let’s make a Quarantine Cafe.”

Nico tilted her head, “Explain.”

“You sing,” Maki turned to the piano, “I play, we stream on TWIG…”

“And Nico gets so many new fans…”

“Yeah.” Maki found her enthusiasm fading at that thought, but Nico was spinning around the room.

“This is a great space. The acoustics are amazing, Nico will find the perfect spot for lighting….don’t have the right clothes, but maybe Eli could bring my things over, yeah, we could definitely start something…”

“Eli?”

“College friend. We took dance classes together. She’s great. Her wife’s so nosy it’s in her name, but Eli’s a sweetheart. Let me text her.” Nico pulled out her phone, typing quickly.

Maki decided it was time to switch albums, no lyrics, just Ahmad Jamal and his piano.

“Eli’s in. She’ll drop a few things off when she gets off work so we can start tonight…” Nico paused, “if you want.”

Maki turned, leaning back against the cabinet, flexing her fingers. “I’ll check my schedule.”

With a laugh, Nico sat on the couch, patting the seat next to her, “Tell Nico what you like to play.”

###

“You’re a loser!” Rin shouted in headset as King Boo sped by Cat Peach.

“Just crossed the finished line, how is that a loss?”

“You had to shell me. You can’t win without shelling. You suck on turns.”

“I do fine.”

“You never brake.”

“You never beat me.”

“Play me with no shells.”

“You got it. Pick the course.” Maki flicked through screens. She and Nico had developed afternoon habits. Nico would sit at one end of the media room and video chat with everyone she had ever met anywhere and Maki would be at the other end of the room, playing Switch games with Rin. Maki hadn’t heard Nico say anything for awhile though so she turned around. Nico was lying back, staring at the ceiling, rubbing her forehead. Maki whispered, “Hang on, Rin. Gotta check on something.”

“Ooohh, Maki’s scared.”

“I am not. Go get a drink. I’ll be back.”

Maki slipped her headset off her ears, and went halfway to Nico, “Nico? Were we too loud?”

“No. Nico just has a headache.”

Maki tensed, “That’s a symptom, take your temperature, are you feverish, do you need…”

Nico sat up, almost smiling, “Calm down, not a doctor, Nico is fine. I just haven’t been sleeping well.” She looked around, “This place is too big.”

“You are too tiny.”

Nico frowned, blinking slowly, her face suddenly drawn and tired, “Nico is perfect and cute and adorable and not up to teaching lessons about how not to be rude right now.”

Maki shoved her hands in the pocket of her sweatshirt, “I can race Rin some other day. Do you need something?”

Nico stood, wincing a little, her response sounded automated. “Nah, you kids are fine. Nico’s going to take a nap.”

“I’m not a kid.”

Nico just shrugged and shuffled to the door, looking smaller. Maki fought the urge to galumph after her. Knocking Nico down because of worry would have been a fail.

“If you order a pizza or something for dinner, save Nico some slices.”

"Okay.” Maki tried for cheerful and just hit loud.

Nico waved, “Win your race for Nico.”

Maki put her headset back on, “Rin?”

“Ready, loser?”

“Nico’s sick.” Maki heard the panic in her voice and hoped Nico was already up the stairs.

Rin whistled, “That’s bad, isn’t it?”

“Maybe.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Talk to Papa.”

“Good idea.”

“Yeah.”

“Text me if you need anything. Kayo-chin and I’ll drop it off.”

“Thanks, Rin.

“Don’t let the Rona getcha.”

“I’ll shell it.”

Rin’s laugh was infectious as the call cut, although Maki added undertones of nervous to hers.

### Nico had looked pale when she’d joined Maki in their #1QuarantineCafe livestreaming set up in the music room, the microphone set in front of the open windows, but as soon as Nico hit record, it was all pep and personality.

“Anybody remember the 50 Shades Of Grey soundtrack?” Nico asked the audience. “So many songs that deserved a better movie.”

True. Maki thought.

“Nico’s going to sing two for you tonight, that Maki and I worked super hard on. So forget Sinatra and Annie Lennox, and definitely forget Mr. Grey and let Nico enthrall you.”

Maki snorted. Nico had been having fun at breakfast running through all the synonyms for magic, but vetoed Maki’s “Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered” suggestion, which is how they got on to songs better than the play they’re written for, which is how they got to soundtracks and Fifty Shades of Grey” since Nico also vetoed the Madonna songs from Dick Tracy. And Nico would have totally killed “Sooner Or Later.” Maybe another night.

Maki must have heard her cue and started playing automatically because when she came out of her segue, Nico was halfway through.

“I put a spell on you Because you're mine You're mine

I love ya I love you I love you I love you anyhow And I don't care If you don't want me I'm yours right now

You hear me I put a spell on you Because you're mine”

And then Nico was leaning on the piano. And Maki made the mistake of making eye contact and froze. Nico’s face was layers of expressions, masks sliding on and off one after the other, over a foundation of pale, amused, tired. Mischievous flamed to flirty, flashed to fathomless, smooth sped into spellbinding, charisma crashed through charm, and then curious connected and Maki could speak, stretching her arms across the keyboard.

“Nope. Piano. Mine.”

Nico chuckled, “Not really what Nico was aiming for, goof.” Then the aggressive charm flipped back on for their audience, “And now that we have Maki’s attention again, we’ll give you another track, one so many famous people have done, but Nico will do it better.” As Nico headed back to “center stage,” she tossed a smirk back at Maki, “try not to get so distracted. Nico can give you a private show later.”

Maki blushed and focused on the keys, the frisson down her back making her want to actually bolt. What she really had to concentrate on was NOT listening to the lyrics.

"Those fingers in my hair That sly come-hither stare That strips my conscience bare It's witchcraft And I've got no defense for it The heat is too intense for it What good would common sense for it do?"

"Yeah, that." Maki thought.

###

Nico crashed on the couch as song as she turned off the video.

“Nico?” Maki put the fallboard in place.

“Nico’s fine.”

“Don’t believe you.”

“Did Nico teach you how to make tea yet?”

“I already knew how to.”

“Make Nico tea. Something…”

“I’ll make you the tea I make when I’m getting a cold.”

“Works for Nico, if you don’t get the colds. Is it tasty?”

“Little minty. Kinda bitter.”

Nico clucked. “Bring Nico a cookie too.”

“Okay.”

Time to text Papa. Maki wondered if their tests had come back yet. Surely Papa would have said. Nico had worked all weekend so more potential exposure. Hydration. Maki would bring water. And check Nico for a fever and…

Maki shook herself and sat at the kitchen table, head in hands. What if Nico wasn’t all right?

###

Nico was napping. She'd been keeping to her room. Maki had called Rin, who had jumped at a chance to kick around a soccer ball in the backyard. No hands, masks, no tackling, but at least Maki would be out in the sun instead of waiting for Nico to wake up or her father to call. And then he walked into the backyard.

“Papa.”

“Hey, Dr. Nishikino!” Rin waved and started to juggle the soccer ball.

“Hi Rin. Good to see you being careful.”

Rin saluted, losing her rhythm and chasing after the ball.

“So, positive test, right.” Maki reached down and pulled up her sock.

“Nico, yes; you, no. We should move her to the guest house.”

Maki had already had this conversation in her head, “No. She’ll be lonely. She already misses her family. I’ll be careful, Papa.”

“Has she been wearing a mask?”

“Yes.”

“Is her family quarantining?”

Maki nodded, “But Nico was too busy last weekend to see them anyway.”

“That’s good.”

“Yeah.”

“Has she contacted everyone she interacted with?”

Maki was tired of all these practical questions, like Nico was some impersonal puzzle, “Yes, Papa. We did everything on your list.”

Maki’s father raised his hands, “I’m sure you did, Maki. I just want to keep as many people as possible safe.”

“So do we.”

A long pause, “How is Nico?”

Maki kicked her heel into the grass, “Headachy, tired, feverish sometimes, doesn’t want to eat, no cough.”

“Good. We’ll hope it’s a minor case. But make sure she stays isolated. She should see a turnaround in the next few days. If she doesn’t...”

Maki didn’t want to talk about that. Of course Nico was going to get better. “How’s Mama?”

“Busy, lots of meetings. Making me listen to operas.”

“Rossini?”

“Wagner.”

“Oh.” Everyone was worried, Maki thought.

“We’re proud of you. You’re staying calm.”

He hadn’t seen her up all night, pacing in the hallway, frantically trying not to open Nico’s door to check for breathing or suddenly wide awake wondering if the slight scratch in her own throat was going to lead to endless, racking coughing,

“You always do.”

“It’s what doctors need to do, especially in situations like this. So we can help people.”

Maki nodded, and waved to Rin, who was waiting for a cue and kicked the ball in her direction.

Dr. Nishikino recognized he’d lost his daughter’s attention, “Well, I have to get back to the hospital. Give Nico my best. We reassigned those cleaners outside the hospital. I should have taken her complaints more seriously.”

“Give Nico my best.” After suggesting Nico move to the guest house. And ignoring her concerns about the cleaners. If he’d actually listened, Nico might not be sick. Nico who had this irresistible energy, a spark that made Maki almost cheerful to be spending hours working in her company, was now a Nico who dragged herself from bedroom to kitchen or media room. And crying. Nico shouldn’t be crying. Nico shouldn’t be sick. Maki shouldn’t be feeling this worried, this useless. But instead of accelerating her medical training, to feel less useless, she just wanted to spend more time playing piano for Nico, to make Nico smile, like Nico wanted to make their audience smile.

“Talk to you tonight. 9 o’clock.”

“Yes, Papa.”

He left with a wave, and Maki flumped into one of the lounge chairs, Rin flumping next to her.

“So…”

“Nico’s got it.”

“You’re fine?”

“So far.”

“Did he want to take you off somewhere?”

“Wanted to put Nico in the guest house. He knows I won’t leave the piano.”

“You said no.”

“I said no.”

“That’s nice.”

“She misses her family. She was crying yesterday. I didn’t know what to do.”

“Hug her.”

Maki turned to look at Rin. “Don’t be stupid.”

“Oh.”

“Yes, oh.” Maki threw her hands out, “And I’m useless.”

“You’re here.” Rin reached out a hand and squeezed Maki’s bicep, “It matters, Maki. You know it does.”

“Thanks.”

“We forgot to bring out drinks.”

“You forgot to bring out drinks.”

“It’s your house.”

“You want a serving of Rona?” Maki teased.

“Ha! I’ll out run it.”

“You outrun everything.”

“But Kayo-chin.”

“Smart.”

“Yeah, I’m trying to get her to do 5Ks but she won’t.”

“Don’t blame her.” Maki was starting to get cold, even in her hoodie. March wasn’t really outdoor weather, but she was enjoying just hanging out with Rin.

And then Rin did the Rin thing.

“So you going to tell Nico about your crush on your hot boss?”

Maki slapped at Rin. Rin giggled.

###

“Fever.” Nico grumped, her mask covering most of her face. She sat at the kitchen table. The windows were open and Maki was staying more than 10 feet away.

“Tea?”

“Yeah. The elderberry stuff?” Nico asked.

Maki glanced at the box, “That and a bunch of other stuff.” “Put in a little honey.” Doorbell rang. Maki left the electric kettle to do its job and went to answer. No one there, but a big box. Addressed to Nico. With hearts and bunnies scrawled in marker everywhere. Maki took it to the kitchen. Nico had pouring her own tea. “Better leave before I pull down the mask and drink.”

“Yeah.” Maki put the box on the table. “It’s for you.”

“Really!” Nico spun with a smile, then winced, “ah, maybe Nico needs to take things slower.”

Maki took the step back from where she’d reached out to catch Nico.

“Looks like someone had fun decorating the box.” “Oh, that would be all of them. Hey, wash your hands after touching this. If you’re going to catch the coronovirus, catch it from Nico, not being careless.” “Is that supposed to cheer me up?”

Nico shrugged, cutting the box open with her tea spoon. Maki washed her hands, watching Nico, who was giggling and happy as she pulled out containers and cards. “Nico’s favorite cookies, thanks Mama. And Cocoro made Nico some muffins for breakfast. Cocoa probably put extra berries in them...and what’s this…” Nico pulled out a large card, “This is for you, Maki.” She slid it across the table. Maki saw her name on it and lots of music notes and hearts.

“They’ve been watching you play piano for Nico.”

Scrawled in children’s handwriting were “Thanks for taking care of our Sis,” “Hi,” “Don’t get sick” and more carefully written, “I hope Nico has helped you learned to cook well enough that you can survive while she gets better.” “I’m not a child.” Maki growled.

Nico snorted, “What did Cocoro say.” “Never mind.” Maki took the card, “Better have your tea.” “What are you going to do?” “Practice piano for tonight….” “And…” Nico went through the optimal handwashing sequence. “You’re not my big sister.”

Nico laughed, “Nico might manage one song tonight.”

Maki hesitated in the doorway, “You should rest.” “You’re not Nico’s doctor.”

Maki’s jaw clenched. Then she started to speak a few times, breathed out fiercely enough to flare her nostrils, and stomped away.

###

Nico believed in theme weeks so they were still on songs better than the shows they were in. Which meant Pal Joey.

Nico managed to sing, barely getting to the end of “The Lady Is A Tramp.” It didn’t sparkle.

Maki played a very gentle “I Didn’t Know What Time It Was” as Nico snored on the couch.

Then the song was over and it was Maki alone with the camera. Twisting a curl, she glanced at Nico, but no help there. Even alone by herself, the mood was elegiac. She shook herself, flexed her fingers, and started singing the song that had been looping in her head.

"If they asked me, I could write a book

About the way you walk and whisper and look

I could write a preface on how we met

So the world would never forget

And the simple secret of the plot

Is just to tell them that I love you a lot

Then the world discovers as my book ends

How to make two lovers of friends”

Maki looked straight into the camera, raised a finger to her lips, winked, and shushed the audience.

###

Nico was feverish and obviously sleeping through all of the day. Maki had managed to get her to sip some soup.

So Maki had her phone out.

M: She needs to sleep. What do I do about the Café?

R: Play something.

M: What?

Hanayo frequently “eavesdropped” on their text conversations.

H: Keep the theme going. Songs better than the plays or movies they're in. M: With what?

R: Kayo-chin’s looking up stuff.

M: Does she want a job?

R: Looking up stuff?

M: Handling the social media.

H: ＼(★^∀^★)／

H: The Bodyguard.

M: No. I was trying to talk Nico into Madonna and Dick Tracy the other day. I’ll do something from that. Right feel. I can wear my fedora.

R: We should have a double feature night. Dick Tracy and Who’s That Girl. Kayo-chin wants a mountain lion. H: Just text me the TWIG password.

R: Can you sing “always get my man” with a...straight face (∩╹□╹∩) Won’t Nico get the wrong idea.

In her head, Maki could hear Rin giggling until she couldn’t breathe.

Maki spoke as she typed, “Shut it, Rin.”

“Maki?”

Maki yelped and jumped, her phone flying out of her hand.

Nico laughed, then coughed and couldn’t stop. Maki froze, her phone lying forgotten as she stared at Nico.

Cough finally quieted, Nico grimaced, then winked at Maki, but it was a wan substitute for her usual flirting, “So what’s the verdict, Doc? Got a cure or am I gonna die?” Maki couldn’t handle the surge of anger and sadness at Nico’s question, the two huge forces that grappled on her like riptides and started to tear her in opposite directions. And the tears, why were there tears? There must be a lot of tears, Maki could feel them running down her face, sliding into the side of her nose, blurring her vision so she didn’t have to see the shock and exhaustion on Nico’s face above the mask.

Maki ran out of the room, to her bedroom, to a pillow, to hide her face, to soak her scaredness and sorrow into something, to scream out frustration.

###

Maki must have fallen asleep at some point. Achey too. She raised a hand to her forehead. No fever. Probably just dehydrated from all the crying. And hungry. Maki rolled out of bed. First, wash face, then change into pajamas. It was still dark out. Then grab cereal and curl up and watch She Ra until she fell asleep again. Serious plan. Don’t think about anything.

Maki stared into the refrigerator, deciding between chocolate milk and milk. The most serious question she wanted to deal with today. Chocolate, along with some super cinnamony cereal with a hint of apple. Yep. That was a breakfast win. Grabbing the milk, Maki turned to get her bowl and there was Nico in the door. Maki jumped again, the milk hit the ground, Maki’s slippers were a fashionable new chocolate brown, and Maki couldn’t hold back a whine.

“Aw c’mon. Why?”

Nico snickered, but carefully. “Does this only happen in the kitchen? Cause it’s too adorable to hide in just one room.” “Be quiet.” Maki picked up the carton, grabbed paper towels, raised them as a shield when Nico stepped forward, “I’ve got this. Why are you up anyway?” Nico breathed out, a dry, raspy sound, “Nico is too dry.”

“Oh, I’ve got a Thermos somewhere. You can take tea back to your room with you.”

Nico’s mask had sparkling strawberries not nearly as bright as her eyes scattered all over striped pink fabric, It was so very Nico. Maki’s mask was functional, hospital issue.

“Where did you get that mask?”

“Mama sent some cute ones, along with fabric and elastic in the care package. She’s got the girls making them for the neighbors. Does Maki want Nico to make her a cute mask?”

Maki shrugged, “Maybe when you’re not exhausted.”

“Hey, Maki?” Nico's question was so quiet it amped Maki's uneasieness. “Yeah?” Maki was making the mess a little messier, but eventually absorption would work. Physics always won, right?

“Why do you freak out whenever Nico mentions doctors?”

Maki froze.

“Are you allergic?” Nico was trying to keep the conversation light, but Maki could tell her tiny, too frail interrogator was fading.

“Kind of.” “Maki.” A demand for more. Maki finished cleaning in a blur of motion, then stood, “My parents are glad to be medical professionals, continuing our family tradition, they love what they do, it’s all they do…” Maki tossed the sodden towels in the sink and sighed, “That’s a lot sometimes.”

“Yeah.”

“Now I’m going to go watch cartoons and eat cereal. You should, in my I-spend-so-much-time-adjacent-to-doctors-I-know-EVERYTHING opinion, go to bed. Immediately.”

“My little brother is probably up watching cartoons.” “Cotaro is a wise man and will grow up well.” Maki declared with a nod, tucking the cereal under her arm, and picking up her bowl, spoon, and milk, stopping before she stepped into the Nico bubble they’d gotten used to keeping between them. “May I?”

Nico stepped out the way, with as grand a flourish as she could manage, grabbing the back of a chair when her legs wobbled, but not until Maki was safely down the hall.

###

Nico was still sleeping. Day Seven of the Quarantine Cafe. Hanayo had kept insisting that finishing Nico’s theme week was important. And teasing the next one on TWIG. Maki had spent most of her afternoon, after a brief mid morning nap, arranging two of Madonna’s songs from Dick Tracy into piano arrangements.

Now Hanayo was on a video feed arguing with her.

“It’s about branding, Maki. Nico’s been wearing cocktail dresses, you’ve got gowns, wear one.”

Maki froze. She had propped her phone up on a shelf inside her walk in closet. “I don’t want to.”

“Pretend you’re in a movie, Maki.” Rin chirped.

“That’s a great idea, baby. Rin’s right, pretend you’re in a movie. Channel your inner Madonna.” “I don’t have an inner Madonna.” “Channel your inner Pearl.” Rin crowded next to Hanayo. “She wore a suit.” Maki twirled a curl, biting her lip, “I’ve got a tux.”

Hanayo kept pressing. “Wear a gown, like Adora, Maki. Nico will see it when she gets better, but for you it’ll just be playing dress up alone.”

A gown like Adora. Maki had a white and silver gown that she’d bought for some New Year’s Gala and hadn’t had the courage to wear. Nico was feverish, sweating through clothes and now just muttering things that made no sense whenever Maki cautiously cracked the door open to check on her so she probably wasn’t going to be awake for the livestream.

“Like a movie set, Maki.” Rin rolled away from the camera. “Like a movie set.” Maki set her shoulders, “I can do that.”

“That’s great, Maki.” “I recorded ‘Sooner Or Later” so I can just sing.” “Good.”

“Yeah, Maki, don’t think, sing. You can do it.”

“You can do it.”

“I can do it.” And that wasn’t just an empty echo of her two best friend’s confidence boosting. Maki could do it. She could see the scene in her head, just like a movie. And Nico would see it later, maybe like it a little, maybe that wouldn’t be so bad. Maki was positive about the music going well. That confidence made the thought of boldness easier.

“Sooner or later you're going to be mine

Sooner or later you're going to be fine

Baby, it's time that you face it

I always get my gal

Sooner or later you're going to decide

Sooner or later there's nowhere to hide

Baby, it's time, so why waste it in chatter?

Let's settle the matter

Baby, you're mine on a platter

I always get my gal

But if you insist, babe, the challenge delights me

The more you resist, babe, the more it excites me

And no one I've kissed, babe, ever fights me again

If you're on my list, it's just a question of when

When I get a yen, then baby, Amen

I'm counting to ten, and then

I'm going to love you like nothing you've known

I'm going to love you, and you all alone

Sooner is better than later but lover

I'll hover, I'll plan

This time I'm not only getting, I'm holding my gal”

Maki finished with a wink, said “see you tomorrow” into the lens, and reached to turn off the camera.

Nico’s voice, at a third of its normal volume, sounded behind her.

“That was…”

Maki whirled, “Why are you here?” “Is Nico under house arrest?” “Yes.” It was a shout, a panic shout, an attack of embarassment.

“Nico is surprised you didn’t go full be gay, do crime and s and m by singing ‘Hanky Panky.” Full flaring blush, Maki reached for a throw, wrapping up, trying not to notice too obviously that Nico looked disappointed. Nico also looked gray. “You said you’d never heard of Dick Tracy.”

“Nico got bored sometime between shivering and hallucinating and looked it up.”

“You’re hallucinating?”

Nico grimaced, “Maybe right now. It’s hard to tell.”

“No, this is real.” “Good. Because Nico likes this part.” But there was an odd tone in her voice and she suddenly leaned forward, coughing taking over and shaking her tiny frame. Maki instinctively reached out, but Nico batted away her advance, forcing out words, “Don’t get near me.”

“But you....” “Keep away.” Nico hissed, falling into a chair as the coughing continued.

Maki opened the windows, sorry she didn’t have a mask handy.

“I’ll get a mask.” “Yeah, we need to keep spares handy.”

“I’ll be right back.”

When Maki returned, Nico was curled up in a ball.

“You’re probably shedding less virus now than before you had symptoms.” “Did your doctor parents tell you that?”

“Yes.”

“Did they tell you how long Nico was going to feel like Godzilla’s tail was on her chest?” “No.”

“You should leave.” “No.”

Nico rolled her eyes, and coughed into the couch.

“I’ll tell the staff to clean thoroughly in here.”

Nico raised her thumb, but refused to turn over.

It wasn’t silence, was Nico...crying? “Nico?”

“Nothing tastes right.”

“It messes with your sense of smell.” Nico flipped, “DON”T BE A DOCTOR, NOW!”

The NOW echoed for a moment. Maki was briefly glad that Nico had that much air in her.

“Sorry.”

Nico turned away again, definitely crying.

“What’s wrong, Nico, what do you need are you in pain do I have to take you to the hospital should I call…” “Stop.” It was soft, but Nico meant it.

“But you’re cry…” “Nico is scared okay. This is scary. Nico wakes up at night and…” Now silence. Maki had had panic moments too, some of them triggered by the sound of Nico coughing down the hall. So she imagined the panic moments for Nico, who was actually coughing, would be worse.

“I’m sorry, Nico.” “‘S not your fault.” “You’ll be fine, Nico. You’re going to get better. I know you will.” Maki sat in the window, throw falling off her shoulders, staring at the moon.

“Thanks for letting me stay here, Maki.” Maki smiled, “No reason for us both to be lonely and scared in two different places.” A pause, “So Nico is doing Maki a huge favor.” “Sure.” Nico’s eyes couldn’t stay focused on one spot, Maki felt like Nico was memorizing the details of her dress. “Nico always takes care of pretty ladies.” “Sounds a little pervy.”

“Shut up. Nico was paying you a compliment.”

“Compliments usually start with “Wow, Maki, you’re…”

Nico inhaled deeply and Maki held her breath, but no coughing.

“Wow, Maki, you’re a pain in Nico’s…” Maki laughed, “I’m going to heat you up some food. I’ll leave it outside the door here. Or by your room, if you want. If you have enough energy for this, you have enough to eat.” “But Maki....” “Nope. You’re eating.” “Make it sweet.” “I’ll think about it.”

###

Korean again, really loud. Maki wasn’t sure if Nico was awake or asleep. But Maki was sure that Nico was addicted to multiple Korean dramas. Nico had texted her the list when Maki got curious about why Nico had created a portal to Seoul in the Nishikino’s guest bedroom. There were half a dozen, all with very convoluted plots, mostly involving rude, spoiled, handsome, rich heirs to corporations and the women they refused to admit they were crushing on and let their mother-in-laws harass. At least most of them were hard workers, not propagating the ‘idle rich’ slander. Although, Maki did have a few distant cousins who started partying in high school and hadn’t stopped, even after children.

She flopped on her bed and texted Rin.

M: Why does she keep watching these stupid Korean dramas with these stupid pretty boys.

R: R U jelling? M: No, I just want to know if the coronavirus damaged her brain.

R: Maki, don’t lie.

M: Rin, don’t nag.

R: Maybe her mom watches them…

M: Hadn’t thought of that.

R: Or maybe… M: What? She wants a rich, pretty FICTIONAL Korean boy to marry her?

R: (*＇Д＇)ﾉｼ)ﾟﾛﾟ) M: ◔_◔

R: Or maybe…

M: (¬_¬)

R: SHE CAUGHT A REALLY SCARY DISEASE AND WANTS TO NOT WORRY ABOUT IT.

M: oh

M: She’s been crying.

M: I don’t know what to do. R: Play music for her.

M: She’s in the guest room. R: TAKE YOUR MIDI KEYBOARD AND RECORD SOMETHING.

R: ‾͟͟͞(((ꎤˋ⁻̫ˊ)—̳͟͞͞o

M: oh

R: (っ⇀⑃↼)っ

R: You got this. Don’t be scared.

M: Thanks.

M: Good night.

R: Get some sleep. I’m bringing donuts in the morning ~(=^‥^)_旦~

M: (•’╻’• ۶)۶

R: (≧ω≦)ゞ

###

The next couple of days for Maki were a blur of really random text conversations, SheRa, and music.

N: Nico’s really bored.

M: It’s 4 a.m. try sleeping.

N: 4 a.m. means coughing so Nico’s sitting up.

M: Need tea?

N: Nico’s fine. Today was better.

M: Good.

N: What do you do when you’re bored?

M: Play music, play video games, listen to music….

N: No talking to cute girls? M: At 4 in the morning, no.

N: You used to be working at 4 in the morning, like Nico.

M: So you were talking to cute girls.

N: Nico still is ღゝ◡╹)ノ♡

M: Was it really a better day? N: Yes.

M: Are you really watching ALL those Korean dramas or is it just background noise?

N: Nico takes fashion notes. Want to see? M: No.

N: Nico’s watching an old one, Tomorrow’s Cantabile, to get better at piano players.

M: Tired of rich, pretty boys already?

N: Oh, Maki, Nico watches the ones where they have sexy, snarky friends who are girls.

M: So what’s Tomorrow’s Cantabile? N: Bunch of weird, music geniuses at college and one pretty boy pianist with emotional scars. You might like it. The music is beautiful. M: You never watch that one when I’m upstairs. All I hear is pop stuff.

N: Do you listen at Nico’s door?

M: Go to sleep Nico.

N: You too.

M: (-_-) zzz

N: ( ˘ ³˘)♥

Maki woke up to Nico’s ringtone.

N: Why did you give your friend the password?

M: When people talk about “K-Pop hacker-stans” on TWIG, they mean Hanayo.

N: So she didn't really need Nico’s password ; )

M: Isn’t it our password? N: Maki wants ownership? Okay, 70-30, Nico is always the tie breaker.

M: 70-30, me. My house, my piano, my idea…

N: But Nico’s dream. And Nico’s dreamy. I bet you’re dreaming about Nico.

Well, yeah, about Nico unconscious and being swept away in a flood of donuts, coffee, and Korean zombies. Rin really deserved to be kicked for suggesting Maki learn about Korean culture by watching Train to Busan.

N: Nico can do 60-40. And let you pick the next theme.

M: We already did.

N: Shouldn’t you have told Nico? M: You can sing?

N: Nico is better.

M: ( ¬_¬)

N: I’ve got six hours.

M: You can’t have a fever.

N: I know. What’s the theme, Maaa-ki?

M: *drumroll*

M: Coffee.

N: Jerk.

M: (⊙_◎)

N: You’re trying to get Nico back to work.

M: There’s not going to be any work to go back to for awhile. N: Your dad’s going to keep it going for the doctors. So Nico’s good.

Maki frowned. Papa hadn’t said anything about that to her. She’d have to talk to him.

###

6 hours, no texts, no Nico. Maki was looking at herself in the full length mirror in the closet. Tonight, she’d chosen a black dress with slashes of lilac across the torso. She’d gotten many compliments at last year’s Halloween fundraiser. She was going to skip the delicate lilac butterfly mask. Hanayo, of course, wanted to see the look. Maki told her she’d have to wait. Rin laughed. But Maki was glad Hanayo had pushed her into dressing up. Maki adjusted where the waist sat, smiling at herself. It added an extra thrill, plus she’d seen, last night, that as tired as Nico was, she’d still been paying attention to every detail of Maki’s gown. And there had been all the text exchanges, with a new level of flirty.

Maki inhaled. She was confident about the instrumental version of “The Coffee Song.” She liked how sprightly it was. But then the mood switch to “Black Coffee.” Hanayo had sent her texts with comments and emails 1Café Quarantine had received. People who were worried about Nico, young men and women who appreciated the mix of upbeat and melancholy, older audience members who were enjoying songs they remembered hearing, a couple of huge Dick Tracy fans who asked if Maki had seen Ishtar. There were even a few musicians who wanted to jump in on the livestream and collaborate. Nico’s dream was working, even without a physical location or selling “expensive drinks to rich people.”

Time to stream. Maybe tomorrow, she’d invite somebody in so that duets could happen again. Hanayo probably already had someone in mind. She was also working on a logo. Maki’s cheer up Nico suggestion was a snowball gathering momentum on a downhill jaunt.

Sitting at the piano, Maki crossed her legs, straightened her posture, and smiled. Just talk to Nico. Nico will eventually watch this. Maki shivered. Wrong thought, that almost made it worse. Okay, channel that thrill, that love, that draw that music had, just let the song flow.

“Hello, welcome to tonight’s Café Quarantine.”

A/N: Well, the wife requested a coffeeshop AU this @auyeahaugust so I was thinking about how different the coffeeshop experience is now, thanks to Covid-19, and started writing this monster of a fic that just took over everything. Some liberties have been taken with isolation protocol. And the story has reached intermission, but don't worry, Nico's on the upswing.How you?

#NicoMaki #Love Live #Coffeeshop #Coffeeshop AU #Quarantine #Nishikino Maki #Yazawa Nico #Hoshizora Rin #Koizumi Hanayo #RinPana #Au Yeah August

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verfound · 5 years ago

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WIP Wednesday: 1/1/20 (MLB)

I wasn’t gonna post a WIPW today, because the fic I would be posting from is gonna be here soon enough, but then 2019 wrapped up with some anonymous hate from Adrienette shippers on the Pit, and what the hell. (Anyone else get really annoyed by anonymous hate? Like there’s something about a hate-filled Anonymous review that just makes my Irish flare up with a “SAY THAT TO MY FACE YA LIMP NOODLE!” Anyway. We’re gonna ship who we ship. I’d just appreciate if you’re bringing Ship Hate into my fics at least read the fics instead of just blasting me because I happen to think Luka is Best Boi. 🙃)

Which is all to say here, fellow Lukanette Dumpster Dwellers, have some fluff from the pending Valentine’s Groundhog Fic, because nothing makes me want to put more Lukanette out there than five-year-olds telling me I shouldn’t. (Why yes, pettiness is an excellent motivator, thank you. 😁)

Pffft y’know what? Screw it. Have a third of the first chapter, apparently. This dumpster is my home now.

The next morning, Marinette awoke feeling confident. Birds were singing outside her window. She could hear cheery voices from the street below, smell the scent of fresh bread and candy apples wafting up from the bakery below, feel the warmth of the sun as it shone its welcoming light into her room. Everything felt like a Disney movie come to life – like she was Giselle waking up for the first time in New York, terrified out of her mind but ready to take on the day with her plucky, can-do attitude (she even had a box full of kwami friends to help her along, she thought with a giggle). She felt refreshed, determined, ready to take on the world…ready to confess to her crush on Valentine’s Day. It was going to be a good day. It was going to be a successful day.

By the end of today, she was going to be Luka Couffaine’s girlfriend!

…or at the least his Valentine, and that would be good enough for today. They could tackle the girlfriend part tomorrow.

She sang along with her radio as she dressed, ignoring her giggling kwami when Jagged’s new single came on and she tossed her pencil case aside to shred an imaginary guitar. With the perfect Valentine’s outfit on, her bag packed, and Luka’s present carefully tucked away with Tikki in her purse where it would be safe, she made her way downstairs. Her mother handed her the box of macarons she had baked the night before, and her father kissed her cheek as he handed her two candy apples and wished her a good day. When she inquired after the two apples, he looked past her to the door, smiled, and again told her to have a good day.

She didn’t have to wonder long as she stepped outside and the box of macarons was immediately lifted from her arms. She turned away from her parents’ knowing grins to find Luka smiling at her.

“You mentioned you were bringing these today,” he said in lieu of a greeting, “so I thought maybe you’d like a ride?”

His bike was parked on the street behind them. She felt her face warm as she looked back at him and nodded.

“That would be great, actually. Thank you,” she said as she followed him over to the bike. When the box was secure on the back, she held up the extra apple. “I’m assuming Papa gave me this for you.”

“And here I was hoping you’d made me something special,” he teased, reaching for the apple. Her breath hitched and her fingers tightened on the stick, and he frowned when she didn’t release the apple. “Marinette? Are you ok?”

“Y-yeah! Fine I’m! I’m fine!” she yelped, yanking her hand back as if he’d burned her. She laughed nervously, rubbing the back of her neck as she looked at the street. “W-why would you think that? I mean I made something for everyone – macarons, remember? Just not you. Not just you!”

He chuckled, and she groaned as she glanced up at him. He was already on the bike, the candy apple in the basket. He patted the seat behind him.

“We should probably get going if we’re gonna make it on time,” he said.

“Right,” she said, putting her own apple in her bag before she climbed on behind him.

“Hold on tight,” he said. She rolled her eyes and wrapped her arms around his middle, but he chuckled and looked back at her. “You can hold me tighter, you know.”

She met his grin with one of her own and leaned against him, tightening her grip as she rested her cheek on his shoulder.

“Like this?” she asked, peeking up at him from under her lashes. His chuckle cut off abruptly, and he coughed as he looked back to the street. The next thing she knew, he was pedaling towards the school. She couldn’t get a great look at his face from behind, but she thought he was smiling. “Sooo…did you end up making any plans?”

“Sorry?” he asked. He kept his eyes on the road in front of them, and she closed her eyes as she rested her head against his back.

“Valentine’s Day? You said yesterday you might make some plans,” she said. She felt them stop, and when she looked up she saw he had stopped at a corner and was looking back at her.

“…not yet,” he said after a moment. He looked like he wanted to say more, but he didn’t. She pulled her lower lip between her teeth and took a steadying breath.

“It’s just that I was thinking…you know, if you don’t have any plans, and I don’t have any plans, and we’re both plan-less…” she trailed off, wincing as she realized she was rambling. She took another breath and sat up straighter. He stayed on the corner, waiting for her to say whatever it was she was trying to say. “That is…maybe we could make plans…together?”

“I wouldn’t be opposed to that,” he said. He smiled softly at her before looking back to the road. He crossed when it was clear, and she leaned back against him as he continued to pedal. “What did you have in mind?”

“Nothing big,” she said. “Maybe coffee? After school?”

He nodded, but he didn’t exactly say he’d like to go. When he stopped outside the school, she bumped her nose against his shoulder.

“So?” she pressed. “What do you think?”

“I think I’d like to get some coffee after school,” he said once she’d hopped off and was standing in front of him. He turned to unlatch the box of macarons, missing the wide-eyed stare she gave him. When he turned back to her, he was still smiling. He leaned in over the box of macarons and winked at her. “Actually, I’d like to get coffee now, but school’s going to start soon and I’ve already had a cup this morning. I’ve got Theory first thing, and Belcourt will kill me if I drink that much caffeine before class.”

“Well, we can’t have that, can we?” she giggled. He was still smiling, but there was a definite blush on his face – and he still hadn’t leaned back yet. She darted forward and pressed her lips against his cheek in a quick kiss before she could second-guess herself. “Thanks for the lift, Luka.”

“Anytime, Marinette,” he said. His blush was definitely darker. She held the box of macarons up for him.

“Go on, take one,” she said. “You’ll need all the energy you can get to survive Theory.”

He chuckled and snatched up an off-white macaron. It was one of the toasted marshmallow ones she had made just for him – they were his favorite, after all. She smiled when he bit into it.

“Candy apples and a macaron before lunch? I’m starting to feel spoiled,” he said. They both jumped when an arm landed heavily on his shoulders, and Marinette quickly closed the box as Dingo reached around for a macaron.

“That’s because you’re her favorite – oi!” he whined when she wouldn’t let him get a macaron. “See? She won’t give me one!”

“Because you didn’t give me a ride to school,” she said, sticking her tongue out at him. He propped his sunglasses on his head, nestling them behind the first spike of his lime green mohawk. He leaned in and winked at her.

“No, chérie, it’s because he’s your fav-ouch!” he whined, leaning back as another hand slapped him. He rubbed his cheek and looked up at Brielle, who had walked up with Rose and Juleka. “Bri!”

“Don’t make me regret agreeing to go out with you tonight,” she said with a glare. Her expression immediately brightened when she turned to Marinette. “Those for us?”

“For lunch, yes,” she said. She shot a pointed look at Dingo. “Luka only got one early because he gave me a ride.”

“So that’s where you disappeared to,” Juleka muttered. “Figures.”

Marinette and Luka both shot her a look, which she pointedly ignored.

“Anyway,” Luka said, grabbing his backpack from the basket of his bike before any more fighting could break out. He slipped it on and looked back at Marinette. “I might not make lunch today, but I will take you up on that coffee, if the offer’s still good?”

They both ignored the gasping, squealing sound that came from Rose.

“D-definitely, I’d love you!” Marinette said. She realized what she’d said a second too late, her eyes widening in horror as her face started to burn. Dingo and Juleka started snickering as Rose squealed again, but Luka was just watching her with a startled – pleased? Did he really look pleased? – expression, the lock for his bike hanging forgotten in his hands. She gulped and shook her head, fighting the spazz that would have sent the macarons flying. “TO! I’d love – I’d love to get coffee with – oh, hey, bell! C’mon, Rose, class! See you later bye!”

“W-wait! Marinette that was so good!” Rose squealed as Marinette grabbed her arm and drug her into the building. Juleka glanced back at Luka as the warning bell continued to ring, a smirk on her face.

“She loves you,” she said, a wicked glint in her eye. He still hadn’t moved, his wide eyes locked on where Marinette had disappeared into the building. Dingo snickered and laid his arm across his shoulders again. Juleka rolled her eyes and grabbed the lock, chaining up his bike before she ran after Marinette and Rose.

“C’mon, Romeo,” Dingo laughed as he steered him towards the school. “The last thing you want is to be late to Belcourt’s on a Friday.”

“I think we lost him,” Brielle mused, waving a hand in front of Luka’s glazed eyes.

“Oh, we lost him the minute he landed eyes on her,” Dingo said, shaking Luka slightly with the arm on his shoulders. “This boy’s been hopeless for months now.”

“I’m going to kill you both,” Luka said, though he was grinning like an idiot when he said it, “and bury you in the park, and take Marinette on a picnic date over your grave.”

“Dark,” Brielle said, smirking. “I like it.”

“She said she loves me,” he said, his voice as dazed as the look on his face, and his friends laughed as Dingo pushed him towards the door to their Theory class. He pecked a kiss against Brielle’s cheek, making her roll her eyes. She didn’t reach up to brush the kiss off, though, and he considered that progress.

“See you in history,” he said. Belcourt was already shouting for them to get inside, and he sighed as he followed Luka into class. Theory was going to be more fun than usual if Luka didn’t snap out of it.

…he couldn’t wait.

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mendesmakesmenervous · 6 years ago

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Brothers best friend - Shawn AU

A/N: Let me know any feedback and reblog if you like it!

Triggers: None, not even any smut

Today wasn’t a good day. There was no reasonable explanation for the overwhelming feeling of sadness undeniably intertwined with anger at the day slowly drawing to a close, it was just there. Despite the bitter taste in your mouth, the weather decided now would be a good time to come into its own and produce one of the most beautiful days imaginable. With the heat at nearly record highs and not a cloud in the sky, Geoff my older brother by merely a year had jumped at the chance to go to the nearby beach with his friends. Although as they all rushed out the door this morning to pile into his tiny car, the glint in their eyes hinted at its hidden (yet definitely doomed) aim of picking up girls’ way out of their league. With a scowl etched on my face, air con blasting, my day consisted of binging the new OINTB season questioning why I even bothered to watch it past the second season in the first place, it seemed as though nothing could brighten my mood. Shuffling around on my bed in an attempt to get out of the sunlight it was like every new movement was a plane trip to the Sahara, the sun following my every move. Groaning loudly I rolled out of bed, dragging my heavy feet along with me to the curtains.

“Fuck you sun.” I angrily spluttered as I pulled them across tightly “why couldn’t you have appeared on a day when I wanted to leave the house” leaving my room in total darkness.

“Jeeeeeez, who pissed you off today? I don’t want to break it to you y/n but it might take 5-7 working days to get a reply from the sun” a loud voice proclaimed across the room with a laugh almost resembling a giggle following shortly after. That voice. I didn’t even need to turn around to know who it was.

“Shawn, if you’re going to try and sass someone, don’t laugh afterwards, you lose any respect of credibility you had” I grumbled loud enough for him to hear. Spinning around on my heel I finally looked at my brothers friend….

Oh wow.

His toned torso glistened with light from the water still left on his tanned skin as he shook his soaked hair out of the way of his vision, his curls lightly sticking to his forehead. I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t stare as his unclothed biceps moved while he slowly leant on my doorframe.

“Ever the charmer, Y/N” he said as his mouth spread open to reveal his breathtaking smile.

“As much as I adore your company, Mendes” I spoke with sarcasm highly evident “why are you in my room? I’d much rather be alone”. Just because there was an incredibly good looking boy in my room, it didn’t change the fact that I was in a foul mood.

Raising his free arm to his chest he pouted dramatically “that hurt y/n. Really hurt me. I thought we were friends. I guess I won’t tell you that we brought food ho-”

Shoving his body out the way, without saying a word, I quickly bounded down the stairs to see whatever food they’d bought. Used to having my brothers friends round when my parents went on one of their many ‘romantic getaways’, I knew the fight for food was really a survival of the fittest. Long past hungry I really wasn’t in the mood to take the risk, my body long since hungry and the walk from my bed to the kitchen way too much effort throughout the day in this mood.

“Hey y/n” my brother said as I grabbed my plate, nudging my elbow with his he almost made me drop the rice I was currently piling onto my plate. Giving him a sharp glare which he seemed barely phased by, he continued to shove food into his mouth whilst attempting to talk, chicken bursting out as he asked ‘we’re going out tonight. Will you be alright on your own?”. Nodding a reply I made my way into the kitchen from the dining room to grab a cold drink from the fridge I was met with Shawn washing his hands at the sink.

‘Oh hey, sorry, I, um’ he muttered out quickly turning back to face the running water ‘just washing my hands, I couldn’t really get the sand off from the beach’. Grabbing a tea towel off the side he turned to face me, his broad body lounged against the work top, managing to even make drying his hands look like a calvin klein ad campaign.

‘I don’t need to know your life story’ I spoke moving around him to bend down to the fridge to find what drink I wanted, hiding my blush in the cold air blasting from the door. As Shawn lightly hit me with the towel, I gasped standing up straight to look at him, eyes wide with confusion

‘hey, don’t be arsey with me, what have I done wrong?’ he softly said, eyes boring into yours

‘nothing I’m just not really in a great mood today’

he raised his eyes quizzically, querying how much he believed you ‘hm, anything you want to talk to me about, you know you can always talk to me about anything’

Smiling slightly I nodded ‘I know that Shawn, I’m fine honestly, just one of those days’

‘come here chicken’ he said, pulling you into a hug, remembering the nickname he’d given you for no apparent reason since you were kids. Wrapping your arms around his wide frame, he pulled you close into him, his hands hanging low at the base of your back, his heat a contrast to the cold air still seeping from the refrigerator.

‘What on earth’ pulled you out of the embrace, your brother wandering into the kitchen with a scowl on his face, foreboding eyes judging the lack of distance between his little sister and best friend.

Quickly slamming the fridge door and grabbing my plate of food from the side I quickly shuffled away from the two of them up to my room ‘have fun tonight guys’ I managed to mutter before any questions at what just happened could be raised, my feet not quick enough to miss my brothers ‘dude, what the fuck’.

*******

The next morning my eyes shot open as sweat dripped down my face. I was far too young to be having hot flushes. Someone, I’m assuming my brother, had opened my curtains wide and as the sun shone through it heated me up, along with the mountains of blankets and duvets on top of me. I checked the clock next to my bed, and after straining my eyes to focus on the small letters I saw it was only 7 in the morning. Oh God, no one should be up this early in the day, no chance of getting back to sleep at this rate. Begrudgingly hopping out of bed dressed in only a large t shirt I strolled down the stairs, feeling in a much better mood than yesterday, even whilst waking up early. and strolled down the stairs. As my feet hit the cold tiles of the kitchen from the air con blasting all night I felt my routine cup of tea calling my name, I can never understand how people can survive the day without at least some type of caffeine to get them started. Swinging open the cupboard door, I quickly scanned the shelves to find my favourite mug my family in Ireland had given to me last time we visited. Oh for fuck sake, finding it on the top shelf I stared at it whilst mentally hitting my brother who always puts it right at the top just for a laugh. Pushing myself up onto my tiptoes and reaching as far as my arms would allow I felt my fingertips hitting the side of the cup. Sighing to myself I tried one more time, certain I was going to be able to grab it I felt myself being lightly pushed against the counter as I felt a warm body behind me, reaching up to easily grab the mug I struggled so hard for.

“You look really hot in my clothes, y/n” a familiar voice said as he spun me round, still keeping my body close to his.

“I could have reached it myself, I don’t need a knight in shining armor” I rolled my eyes ‘what are you even still doing here Shawn, and besides this isn’t even yours, I took it from my brothers’ cupboard’ I proclaimed as I stared into his eyes pulling the top down as far as the material would allow to attempt to make up for the fact I wasn’t wearing any bottoms.

“He got smashed last night so when I took him back I just decided to stay here” he spoke as he briskly looked me up and down “and I accidentally left it here a few months ago and kept forgetting to pick it up every time I came round. You can have it though, I think it looks a hell of a lot better on you than it did on me” he said with a small smirk pulling at his lips as he stared down at me, moving his hand from the counter onto my hip, raising the material a bit up my thigh.

It was undeniable how attractive he was but he was my brothers friend and I was the little sister so there was no way anything could happen.

“Shawn…I…um-” he shushed me by pressing his lips to mine. What a cliché. But there was no way I was going to stop him, as I ran my hand up his bare chest

“Do you…ever…wear a shirt” I breathed out in between hot kisses that left my heart pounding out of my chest. He moved his lips to my neck, kissing it lightly all the way up as he reached just under my ear

“Don’t complain, I saw you stare yesterday” he chuckled out

“I was not staring I wa-”

“Shut up and kiss me y/n” he huffed out as he stared into my eyes “I’ve waited for this forever”

I ran my hand up the back of his neck until my hands were in his hair and pulled him forward till my lips were connected to mine, lifting me slightly off the ground he rested me on the edge of the counter. Unfortunately, the heat of the moment left us carried away as the mug clattered to the floor smashing into pieces everywhere.

“Shit” Shawn cursed as he bent down to start picking pieces up “stay up there I don’t want you to get hurt” he said lightly touching my exposed thigh.

“I think I can pick up a piece of china, Mendes” I laughed out, my breathing still erratic from the previous moments

“No please don’t. Stay up here. For me” he smiled brightly, his wide grin and pleading eyes softening any resolve that I had

“You know exactly how to get what you want” I spoke as I kissed him lightly.

“That I d-”

“WHATS ALL THAT NOISE” my brother hollered as he stumbled down the stairs, you could basically hear the hangover following him.

“Let me take you out” Shawn whispered, as we were running out of time before my brother would appear. I nodded hastily with a bright smile as I dropped to my feet starting to pick up the broken mug as Geoff dragged his wasted body into the room with no recollection of the young love shared between hot lips just seconds before.

#shawn mendes #shawn fanfic #shawn imagine #shawn mendes imagine #shawn mendes imagines #shawn imagines #shawn au #college! au #college! shawn

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vacationcalendar · 3 years ago

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8/26/21

Hey boyfriend, I’m back, and I only barely still have shingles, so... Hurray!!

Holy fucking shit what a time to be alive. I hate all of this. I am coming to you today having stayed up the entire night in a bold attempt to depart from this depressive state these past few days have left me in. So far so good, actually! POUNDED coffee like I’m a detective cracking a time sensitive case, but the only case in this instance is the case of why I feel like shit all the time and can’t seem to do anything ever! This mystery will remain unsolved for now, but I’ve still got a couple leads to follow up on.

Oof, BIIIIG Break from the last section to now. Just daydreaming mostly. I don’t think I’m quite right for this yet. I’m close, I think. Just not quite there. The real goal is to finish the hard reset tonight and hit tomorrow with some oomph. Come in and properly write to see what’s good. This is more of a “I’m carrying some manic energy over from last night and Idk I might as well write I’ve got like 6 hours left in this day and I’ve gotten almost all the shit I needed to do done.”

What else, what else? Housekeeping: I broke my phone :I

I pulled a grade A bonehead move two days ago. I was wondering over to a pizzeria for dinner. I was picking up a carryout order at like 6pm. I had checked the weather channel earlier that afternoon and it had said *maybe* storms from like 7-9 or something so I didn’t think anything of it. But when I went outside I noticed that it was already spitting. I worried a little bit, Like, erg, if only I had gotten it together and picked this thing up 30 minutes ago. But I didn’t really want the pizza thirty minutes ago, so sue me. But I see it’s spitting, and I had already committed to walking and I thought I’m not going to carry this pizza AND hold an umbrella, the logistics are too fraught for me in that moment. So I grab my weatherproof jacket. Perfect. Foolproof. I desperately needed a shower anyways, if I catch a little drizzle, no biggie. So I leave the house with all my shit like I usually do. Wallet, headphones. phone, keys, mask, that stuff. And about 100 steps from my house it starts to come down. Raining for real, not spitting. Oof, good thing I don’t give a shit about rain, I’ve got the jacket and a hat; get fucked rain. I actually kind of like it. Another hundred steps, it’s pouring. It’s REAL bad. Sheets. I remember distinctly thinking, “I can and maybe should bail on this pizza. I didn’t actually pay yet, these suckers allowed me to *bring in a credit card*”. But I thought, that’s not nice, they’ve definitely already made the pizza, or at the very least it’ll be ready in like 8 minutes, which is too late still. So I hung in there, but now I knew this wasn’t going to be a pretty walk. I had to bank on it lightening up by the time I was leaving with the pizza. I needed it to be one of those flashes where it rained like crazy but only for like 4 minutes then it went back to normal. It didn’t. Then part of me realized that it was actually get so rainy that my phone and headphones might actually not be safe in these conditions. Aha! Not to fear! The weatherproof jacket provides. I has a single pocket just for such an occasion. One back pocket that zips closed, right above the butt. Bingo, phone and headphone case in there. Everything else is gonna have to take a little soak unfortunately.

I make it 75% of the way there. My podcast I’m listening to cuts out. “Signal lost” says the headphones in my ear. I check my back pocket. It is still weatherproof, but I come to find that the zipper part at the top of the pocket.... is absolutely NOT. The entire pocket has filled with water, and since it’s weatherproof, the water never found its way out the bottom. It formed a miniature pool right above my ass, and the only two members were the two items that absolutely could not afford to be there. Now the headphones were completely fine. They are advertised as waterproof, not that I factored that into my orignal purchase, but hey, we’re here and I have to practice a teensy tiny bit of gratitude for that. But the phone is, well, buh-bye. As I type here it’s currently sitting in some special phone repair studio or some shit and I’ll be receiving an email within the next 16 hours telling me it’s either fixed for a modest sum of cash, or fucked and will be replaced for a slightly less modest sum of cash. Se la vie

Honestly the only thing I really want to survive this whole incident is my voice recordings I had left on that thing. Everything else I’m almost positive is internet based. Podcasts, banking, my Wendy’s points. But I don’t know about the voice recordings. It’s probably the only place I have a lot of that material saved. And if it’s gone, I’ll probably have to just admit that it’s gone for good. And that sucks. I’m not mentally prepared to do that. But who knows? Maybe that’s based on my google account or something that I didn’t even know? It seems possible. Yeah ok, I just looked it up, and it is literally “Google recorder” So it might be “cloud based.” Ugh. Either way, it’s just a little more financial pain in a time where I am just sitting around and poking myself with a financial pain swtichblade just to see if it hurts me. A morbid curiosity to see if I can break the skin with how sharp the pain of watching my bank account shrink is, while I try to find my purpose on the nasty blue marble. So far I’m like, whoah, I’m bleeding, that’s crazy; but it doesn’t actually hurt. It’s weird. I 100% have less of an idea of what the fuck any of this is supposed to be than when I started, which is.... Idk. Surely this is what I was afraid of at the start of all this? I’m not a fucking idiot. I had to know that through all the ups and downs, across all the bullshit variables (trip, getting sick), I would potentially burn the fuck out. Say what you want about work, it gets you out of bed in the morning (or eventually). But I have to remember that getting out of bed most of those days fucking sucked. The feeling of leaving the house filled me with dread. I’m sparing myself that feeling every day that I keep this hiatus. And no matter how unproductive or sad I feel on these days, I am completely unburdened with the feeling of dread. I am spared that singular burden. I don’t know what that means ultimately, but that’s a pretty meaty truth to hang my cross up on.

Ok, I’m spiralling. My hands are heavy as hell on the desk, the meat under my palms is aching from sinking into the desk in front of the keyboard. I’ve got a pretty tricky few hours left to pull off here so wish me luck. I’m going to KFC to get a chicken sandwich! :D

Sandwich and a PINCH more caffeine just because I can. I can have caffeine bitch. Today is mine. I guarantee I will see you tomorrow even if only for a moment. We are back and our journey to finding out what on fucking earth will keep us from lying awake at night wondering what the fuck am I doing here continues forever onward!

Godspeed. Love you

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captainschmoe · 7 years ago

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I Will Survive [Beta] - Chapter 5: Flash of Fire

[A/N: It’s going to get violent. I mean, it’s an Anti fic. Of course it’s gonna get violent at some point. The Nice Guy GlovesTM are off. Also, I’m going to give myself extra time for the next chapter. I need to both write it and also figure out some background/spoiler things. :D]

[Summary: In which somehow Bio Inc. gets uploaded anyway. Neurological violence ensues.]

[Previous - Next]

Beepbeepbeepbeep!

“Gah.” Sean floppily rolled over and gave his alarm clock a good whack. He lay with his arm dangling over the edge of the bed. Ugh. He did not want to be awake right now. He had to be, of course. Always shit to do. A good cup of the ol’ dirty bean water should help refresh him. As it always does. As should some breakfast. He was starving, hunger shakiness and all. Well, of course he was fucking starving, he never got to digest that sandwich.

Hopefully he could digest the eggs he could smell from the kitchen. So hungry. So caffeine-deprived. His feet automatically carried him there, where he found Signe, already dressed to take on the day, doing exactly what his nose predicted she was doing. Ooh, were those sweet potatoes getting put into the other pan? Yeeesss.

“You want some?”

“Yes, please.” Sean groggily started up the coffee pot. He leaned against the counter, hands at his sides gripping the edge. His eyes drifted shut. Mmm. Such good smells all around him. And sounds - the whirring of the coffee pot, and the sizzling of breakfast in the pans. It helped his eyes flutter back open for a moment.

“You feeling okay?”

“Yeah, just super hungry. Puking didn’t help.” The coffee started flowing into the pot with its signature satisfying babbling.

“I’m sure this’ll help wake you up, too.” She transferred half the contents of each pan onto each of the two plates she’d set out on the counter. Sean wasted no time grabbing a fork and scarfing down half of his serving right then and there, to Signe’s shock and amusement. “Oh my God. Don’t choke.”

“I wasn’t kidding,” he said with a little bit still in his mouth. Wow, he felt better already. Maybe he could slow down now. He swallowed what he had. “Plus eggs get cold fast.”

Signe started on her portion, too. Probably figured might as well, as long as Sean was eating here. She shook her head and laughed. “Not that fast.”

Sean took the initiative to grab mugs as the coffee pot finished filling. “Want some?”

“Sure. Just a little.”

Sean could feel the steam kissing his face as he poured her cup. Way too hot to drink right away. Signe agreed, blowing tiny waves into her drink, and flinching away when her efforts proved fruitless. She set it aside for now - as did Sean - picking up her plate and finishing her food. She leaned back against the counter, casually engaging in conversation.

“I think I’m going to go out today. It might help clear my head.”

He nodded, polishing off his last bite and setting his plate in the sink. “I think that’d be good for you. Where were you thinking?”

“I don’t know. Probably nowhere specific.” Signe finished her food and set her plate down on top of Sean’s. “I’ll know where I want to go when I see it.” She picked up the coffee mug again, blowing on it again and taking a tentative sip, and drinking more now that she was able to. Sean tested the temperature of his with the tip of his finger, not wanting to burn his lips or tongue. Still a tad hot. Would take a while longer since there was more in his mug.

“Even better. Just wandering around the city. It’s nice.” Sean took a test sip in the pause. Still pretty hot, but tolerable. “You heading out right now?”

“Yeah. I’ll be a couple hours, probably.”

“Well, you know where you’ll find me. Screaming my fucking head off.” He leaned down for a goodbye kiss. “See you later, babe.”

“Bye. Love you!” She set off with one of her classic cute waves that never failed to bring a smile to Sean’s face.

“Love you, too.”

Once alone again, Sean’s gaze drifted out the window, which he opened to let the breeze in. Nice and warm, but not too hot. Not bright or sunny, but that was okay. That was normal. He drank up his coffee, taking a bigger mouthful now that it cooled off enough for him to not scorch himself. The familiar comfort of the bitterness on his tongue and the heat expanding in his belly helped wake up and raise his spirits. Maybe he could make today a good day despite Anti’s fuckery.

...

What if it was all just a big prank?

If Anti followed the rules of Sean’s characterization of him - which may not be the case, he was willing to accept - then the possibility that he was merely out to fuck with everyone rather than actually harm them was a possibility that existed. What if he was getting worked up over nothing? What if they just warned dozens of people, who had little to nothing to do with any of this, of worse things to come that was actually coming? Felix and Marzia, at least, seemed to take it pretty seriously. Not the Felix would ever admit it, but Sean could hear the slightest twinge of fear in his voice as they talked. Normally he’d poke fun at him for it. This wasn’t a normal time.

It was weird, as scary as the whole thing was, no one had actually gotten hurt. Yet. As far as he knew. There was still that doubt with Mark, gnawing at the back of his mind, to consider.

He suddenly remembered that odd... dream? From last night, that conversation with that voice. Who were they? Anti? No, they didn’t seem malicious. He couldn’t remember all of what they talked about, but he did know that it was pleasant and calming. Nothing at all like Anti. Sean tried his best to remember what the voice sounded like - if it was identifiable to one he knew in real life. He didn’t remember it sounding like Anti’s, either. But he didn’t remember it sounding like anyone’s he knew. Maybe his memory was just bad. Didn’t they say they’d see him again soon? Maybe they’d show up again tonight?

Sigh... There was nothing he could do about any of this. Nothing beyond taking it one step at a time. One day at a time.

One recording at a time.

It’s time to start the day.

Whoa, look at this! Whoa, look at that!

That was pretty much all this recording session was going to be. God damn, this community made so much good shit. Look at all this art of him, of him and the Whoosh, of him and his friends, of all the egos...

“Aw, we should make a video game with them all, with all the characters.” That would be amazing. Especially an RPG, seeing how the community fleshed out and developed and interpreted the characters.

Who was this guy on the far right-hand side?

Jack the Magnificent, huh? He never gave the magician guy a name, did he? It felt a little weird, though, having three characters with “Jack” in their names. Jackieboy Man he could leave alone, since that was already a name he’d officially given him. Well, back in the video he showed up in, the name “Marvin” was the name that was given, right?

“That’s his name! That’s what we’re gonna call him from now on: Marvin the Magnificent! You all helped, ‘cause we did Marvin’s Magic.”

This was fun, making more characters! The community was gonna love this, having a new little baby to call their own. So was Sean!

Sean gradually sidled up next to Signe on the sofa. Bit by bit. Inch by inch. Until he was practically merged with her. While she let the game she was playing keep running - she could afford to, it was the middle of a Pokemon battle - the visible pause in her hand movement served as her acknowledgement of his playful pestering. She slowly turned her head towards him. Sean gave a wave, a smile, and a “Hi.”

“Do you mind?”

“Nope.” He peered over her shoulder. “Did you catch ‘em all yet?”

“Getting there.”

“What do you mean, ‘getting there?’“ He leaned back out of her personal zone, opening up Twitter on his phone. “You should’ve finished that a long time ago. You’ve been playing nonstop for, like, a month.”

“Have not.”

“You put in, like, three hours an hour.”

Signe flung her arm towards the window. “I went outside earlier! You saw!”

Sean shook his head and started scrolling through Twitter. “Probably out trying to find Rowlets on a power line.”

...Wait, what?

“You can’t get Rowlet in Pokemon Go.”

Hang on.

“I’m happy with my little Cyndaquil, though.”

This conversation was going to have to be dropped. Something was horribly wrong. These tweets...

Towards the end of the new Bio Inc I was getting migraine headaches. lol what if Anti’s real?

> same here??????

> Thirded. Like really bad too. And double vision.

“What the fuck?”

“Sean?”

“God,” he muttered under his breath, “the ride just doesn’t fucking end.”

Signe shut her 3DS and leaned over his shoulder.

“I never fucking finished it,” Sean said, largely to himself.

“What’s going on?”

“They’re all talking about Bio Inc. And they’re all getting, like, headaches and shit from it, apparently.”

> My sister had a literal seizure after watching it!!! No family history of epilepsy or nothing, shes never had a seizure before!!

> headaches with aura and nausea. the fuck is happening Jack!?!?!

> wow everyone’s feeling like that? holy shit im scared D:

Sean opened Youtube in a new tab. There’s no fucking way. There couldn’t be. He was more willing to believe that Anti was making shit up on Twitter than actually uploading an entire nonexistent video to Youtube and giving millions of people migraines and seizures from it.

And yet, there it was. The newest upload. Not Suicide Guy as was intended, but rather:

KILL JA̠͎̭̕CKSEPTICEYE | Bio IN҉̱c. RedempT̡͟I͘on #5.

Then again, he had to admit, Anti uploading a video wouldn’t be the craziest thing to have happened thus far.

“Wa-pssh! Top o’ the mornin’ to ya, laddies! My name is Jacksepticeye, and welcome back to Bio Inc. Redemption!”

So at least it started off normally. Jack quickly became nauseated, desperately trying to hold back vomit, and ran off camera, with Dr. Schneeplestein appearing in his place. All as Sean originally wanted. It looked as though it was genuinely edited from what he did manage to successfully record. Even the mini bloopers with his face mask. But Sean knew better. Something had to be different.

Something such as the Anti moments that rapidly filtered in. Sean had planned for them, he did. But of course... it wasn’t finished. He didn’t record the little blips yet. Robin didn’t edit the Anti moments yet. There’s no way they should have been there. Yet they were. Sean’s head and vision pulsed with every blip.

Or another something such as Schneeplestein taking off his hat at the end, and Anti’s evil laugh filtering in. As if taking over the doctor’s body. Sean didn’t plan for that.

“I need your help!” Schneeplestein cried. “Save him! Save Jackse-”

“Anti.”

“I’m feeling dizzy,” Signe said. Sean wrapped his arm behind her, stabilizing both of them. Her breathing turned quick and shallow.

Schneeplestein suddenly tried to strangle himself with the headphone cable, correcting himself with a “What am I doing?” For a moment, Sean swore he could feel his own throat closing on itself.

His heart raced.

As Jack’s condition worsened, the screen decolorized. It was growing more and more obvious that Schneeplestein was operating under Anti’s control, with Anti breaking through as his name was inadvertently mentioned within “antidepressant” and “anticoagulant.”

Jack ultimately died - as planned, Sean wished he could say. And in his place...

“Ẃell, ͜lo͢o͘ḱ ͏who'͞s͡ ba͟çk!”

Sharp ringing pierced Sean’s ears and black splotches formed and disintegrated in his field of vision. Signe flinched as well. Jesus Christ. The community weren’t fucking kidding.

“I’m tired of playing pr̸̨ȩt̀en͠d́! Sick of it!” Anti’s hair started flickering between green and red - giving Sean a bit of a headache - gradually remaining red for longer blips of time as his demonic speech carried on. “And y̴ou th̶òug͝h̵t ͏you h͠ad ͡h̛i̕m ͝b҉ac̡k͜...” It reverted back to green.

“What the fuck is this?” Signe cried. She doubled over, hands clamped over her ears, breathing quickening even more to the point of hyperventilating. She ripped herself from Sean’s grip and took off before saying anything more, and before Sean could stop her and ask if she was okay.

“ I've k̴e͢p̶t͏ c̛ontr̀ol all this time.” Anti ran his fingers along the edge of the blade. Almost... seductively. Sean felt like he was suffocating. “N̨͝o̡̡͜͟t̵h̛́͟i͡҉͠n̷̷̢g̸̷͞ gets rid of me!” A shock blasted up his spine, throwing his head backwards against the back of the sofa and sending the phone flying out of his grasp. He may not have smacked against a wall, but it still hurt like a bitch. From the other room, he heard a thud and Signe yelping in pain at the same time as his head smash. Please be okay... Vertigo kept him trapped in place, and his vision turned dark again.

Anti’s voice continued, now seeming to come from within Sean’s own head as much as from the distance. “Mo̡c͞k̶i̛n͜g̢ ̢m̸e with your ‘glitch bitch’...” One of his evil laughs followed, and shocks ran through Sean’s body again, this time pinning his limbs down. His jaw, too, locked shut. Was this what having a seizure was like?

“P̨̛ò͘w͟͜e̷̷͘r͜le̕s̸s̴̸̷!̸͢͢”

“Sean!”

Signe’s shriek made his blood run cold. He desperately wanted to respond. He couldn’t.

“Wh̵o͝ do̡ you̡ ͏th̴i̕nk ͢y̷o͘u̧'̵v̴e ҉be͜e͠n҉ ̶w̸a͝tch͜in͢g all̸ t͞h͟is͡ tim̷e? My p̴̨u҉͟p̷͜͝p̛è͘t̷s̢.”

Fuckfuckfuck... Let me up! Signe, no...

“I̧f͏ ́y҉ou ̕wan̶t͡ h͠i͠m̕ b́a͝c͟k̀ so badly, then why don’t you ̶sav̸e ̵hi̵m̛?”

“Sean, hel-” She was silenced mid-sentence.

Signe! He tried with all his might to break out of his locked joints. To no avail. No!

“There are no̢ s̛tr̛i҉ng̸s͞ on me.”

His brain was screaming. Ringing. Pulsating.

...

And then all was silent.

“And for you! This isn’t over.”

Sean couldn’t get up. His joints felt released. Relaxed. His breathing and heartbeat slowed to a crawl. Too relaxed.

“I wonder what will happen to your favorite boy next time.”

Why did Sean feel so calm?

“See you soon.”

...

God damn, Anti was pissed this time around. All of the fun of his last two appearances was gone. Despite being a fictional character, Alyssa felt a significant quiver of fear in her chest after watching Bio Inc. Or maybe it was the drugs the doctors ordered for her. Who knows. It wasn’t pleasant to watch either way. Not that it was bad. The video was phenomenal, as always. A ray of sunshine on her fourth gloomy day in the hospital. It was so obvious that Jack and Robin had a blast creating this character, and the fun really rubbed off on Alyssa.

One, two, Anti’s coming for you~

It was Anti’s voice, unmistakable. But it sounded like it came from within her own head? Her eyes flicked around the room, scanning every corner; her ears opened in a vain attempt to catch another sound from him. Was she just going crazy? Was it just a side effect of whatever drugs they gave her?

Suddenly her nose and throat were forcefully blocked by a searing mass of thick fluid. Black mist flecked with green spanned across her field of vision. Something grabbed and squeezed her whole body like a giant’s hand, even holding her a few inches off the bed. Shocks shot through her spine and head. She needed to scream, but couldn’t. The fluid was real. Her arm was pinned to her side, unable to reach the call button that was otherwise right there...

It felt like the fluid in her lungs burst out and ripped down through the rest of her insides. Like her body had been hollowed out and filled with magma. Her spine bent backwards farther than she’d ever thought possible. The pain was mind-shattering. So much that she couldn’t even think about her imminent demise.

The first nurse on the scene about fainted at the sight. Staff crowded around, speechless. Alyssa’s father waited just outside the door, receiving no words of comfort about his baby girl.

This was no mere code. There was no resuscitating this one.

The next thing Alyssa knew, she was somehow alive, but alone, greeted by a gray, twilit sky and the hospital’s equally-monochrome edifice.

#jacksepticeye #antisepticeye #wiishu #fanfic #z write #not a reblog for once #I will survive #hehehehehe #htl alyssa

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