#image quality apology once again

[utterlybrainwrecked]

[you-have-made-a-fatal-error]

once upon a time, in about 2016, someone wrote HeR to find out where they sourced the images used to decorate Abby's room in MHM and were told that the art came from the Corel library.

this... was not true. obvs I don't think the HeR employee who answered that email was intentionally misleading/lying to this person, but it's bad info nevertheless. basically all the in game art from MHM/the early games came from the Mary Evans/Pictures Now collection, which I know because I've spent a buttload of time trying to id all the irl art used in the games.

so why bring up the Corel thing? because as it turns out that there is an ND game that almost exclusively* used art from Corel, but it's not MHM, or any of the early games. that game is in fact Warnings at Waverly Academy. seriously. easiest time I've ever had tracking down in-game art. (the corel art collection is waaay smaller than the mary evans/pictures now collection. like two orders of magnitude smaller. like 500 images vs 60,000 images. you get the picture.)

*and by almost exclusively I mean there is seriously one painting in wac that isn't on any of the corel art disks. and that painting? pictures now collection. why? why not any of the 450+ corel paintings that didn't make it into wac? the mind boggles.

[mic-check-stims]

Could i get some aroace ryou icons? Love your edits btw, thanks in advance!

You absolutely can. Hope these work anon this is my favorite request ever

[ruler-of-thorns]

Drown in sorrow

[6okuto]

UNIVERSITY WITH AKAASHI

gn!reader | no more posts set in high school!! time for everyone to grow up! /j

university student akaashi who you meet in an english/writing course. he stands in front of your spot and nervously fiddles with the sleeves of his jacket, hoping you notice him and look up. "um," he hesitates. "is anyone sitting next to you?"

maybe it's because he's just so pretty, but you think it's cute how he visibly relaxes when you shake your head and move to let him sit beside you.

university student akaashi who quickly becomes your go-to classmate after being paired for icebreakers and luckily exchanging contact info during your first class. you think it's too early to call him your friend, but he softly laughs at your explanation during two truths and one lie, and you hope that title will come easier by the end of the semester.

akaashi who, after a week, finally gains the courage to ask if you're busy after class today. a sequel he's been anticipating is supposed to be in stock now, and if you'd like to join him on a bookstore trip, he'd like the company. you, of course, agree, and he smiles and softly says, "thanks."

you ask him to explain the plot on your trip there and he's embarrassed, stumbling over his words and having to backtrack to explain lore, but happy nonetheless. he's going in-depth about his favourite character's development by the time you reach the store, and you don't think you'd ever have it in you to stop him from talking.

you wonder if it would be weirder if you looked for a copy of the first book yourself.

akaashi who always seems to have some sort of caffeinated drink when he walks into the afternoon class. he says he's tired by lunch time and it'll keep him awake. you nod. "what's life but treating yourself every once in a while?"

he snickers, even if he's making fun of himself when he asks, "you mean every day?"

"obviously. uni's hard, we deserve it," you tease with a nudge to his shoulder.

the next class, he's bought you a snack you mentioned enjoying. he fiddles with his straw, stirring the ice inside his cup while your face heats up. he repeats your words from a couple days before, "you deserve it."

akaashi who knows you despise the idea of peer reviews and having to read feedback. it's why you let out a breath of relief when the professor tells you you can choose your partner, and by the time you turn, keiji's already looking at you.

you quadruple check everything before sending the document, and take 30 minutes alongside coaxing texts from keiji himself before you manage to open the edited version the day after.

it takes you a second to realize, but your breath hitches when you do. he's taken the time to make a copy of his feedback with little compliments and doodles of him, like one doing a thumbs up next to a "great point :)", another clapping beside your conclusion saying "you did it :-) !", and one sitting on top of a paragraph just to make you smile.

when you thank him the next day, your face is warm, and his face is red. your eyes flicker over to him playing with the hair by his ear while he promises he'd do it again any time you needed.

akaashi who you've come to find out isn't just the quiet, pretty, smart guy in class. he's also the guy you often find yourself on call with at 11pm, hair messy and glasses drooping on his nose. he apologizes for his state and the fact that he's wearing a shirt with a sort of shitty collage of low quality cat images, and you’re barely holding in your laugh while you shake your head and reassure him it's fine.

you have to tell him to at least add something to the noodles he keeps eating during exam week, and threaten to block him when he teases you for the incoherent questions you stutter out at 1am. in return he checks on you when he sees you listening to your sad playlist, and lets you see the other shirts he's gotten over the past couple of years.

you beg him to tell you where he found the one of an english setter with "dog setter" written on it, and he asks why you want to copy him.

"i just...love your style so much, keiji. it's so bold and creative—camp, even."

and keiji laughs, really laughs, trying and failing to cover his mouth with the back of his hand. even with his smile covered, you watch his eyes crinkle and can't help but secretly raise your headphones' volume, just a little.

"yeah, okay, thanks." he laughs a little one more time. "if you do well on your exam, i'll bring it the next time we meet up so you can try it," he offers with an amused smile.

"really? you'd let me have the honour?"

keiji rolls his eyes and leans back into his chair, tilting his head while looking at you. he runs his fingers through his hair and it's really more attractive than it should be.

"yeah, of course," he promises.

it's a silly shirt, and a silly idea, but your heart rate quickens just a little at the thought of him sharing his clothes.

and keiji is glad you can't see his other hand fiddling with the bottom hem of his shirt, because secretly, he feels the same way, too.

sorry for the Blatant projection when i said u don't like reading feedback. that's actually just me. it's bad. whatever. this was actually fun OMG i love akaashi and hate uni fr . we as a community must talk abt charas in uni more. Please. for my happiness.

🏷 | @devilgirlcrybabiey @lordbugs @smiithys @xfangirl-trashx @passionateuchiha @scaramouchesfootstool @fifteenshadesofpinkk @chloee0x0 @kenmaslov3r @bakugosgrenade @dai-tsukki-desu @Thathoneybee3 @momoewn @aintgeluh @dazaisfavgf @simpforerenn @crystal-lilac @vhenis @omiigad @kur0-kawa @semispilledcoffee @idontlikeyourjob @sparrowb3nscloset @awkwardaardvarkforever @rory-cakes @prblmtic @dimslover @kuroaka @sunaslay @h0n3ysgh0st @lackey-laufeyson @bontensbabygirl @dira333 @Kamukayakmonyet @danyisapingu @isentsworld @lilithlunas @anime-ships-gay @todorokiskitten @kellesvt @curiouslilbeast @fiona782 @cvhenia @mitskiologist @libbyistired

[a-not-so-clean-blog]

Nu carnival boys with a s/o who has self image issues or is feeling unwanted. 🤍

Yakumo

If you are feeling insecure he will try to help. He's had similar emotions that he's been working through so he will try and help that way. If you tell him you're feeling unwanted he will feel hurt like he caused you to feel unloved. When you assure him it's not his fault he will still be upset that you are feeling bad. He will open up to you about his own insecurities so you know you aren't the only person who struggles with these types of emotions. He will make more time for you and make sure you have open communication when you're feeling like this again. He cares for you and wants you to know you're loved. This ends in more quality time together.

Edmond

It takes him some time to notice you are drifting away from him. Your own insecurities making you feel unworthy to be around him so you pull away. He's awkward when he asks you if he did something wrong, if he did something to upset you and that's why you're avoiding him. He was ready to take responsibility for whatever he may have done, but is taken off guard when you have to explain that you don't feel you deserve his love. He's not really sure how to handle this situation because he doesn't even know how to handle his own insecurities. He usually punishes himself with training when he feels inadequate and treats himself to sweets afterwards. For you he suggests just skipping to the treats and takes you out to his favorite bakery.

Olivine

Probably the smartest clan member on this list emotionally, he actually asks if there's anything he can do to make you feel better. He makes a fantastic therapist, always ready to listen and never judge you for your feelings. He has talked to people about this before so he will ask if you would like advice or if you just want to get your feelings out in the open so they are easier to handle. Either way he respects your decision and assures you that no matter how you're feeling that he will always be there for you.

Quincy

He's not a big talker but he will show you that you are wanted. Mostly through cuddles. Topper will also spend more time with you even if Quincy isn't around. Honestly he doesn't change much because he knows he can't really change how you feel, but he will always be near when you need him and he hopes that's enough for you to rely on him. He wants to be a pillar in your life but it's up to you to see that he's always there for you.

Kuya

Be cautious telling him about your insecurities. At first he doesn't think it's a big deal and will probably tease you about them. However, once he sees that he's genuinely upsetting you with his teasing he will stop. Once he realizes your feelings are actually hurt he won't bring them up anymore and will steer conversations away from topics that make you feel worse. He won't apologize but he will take away any triggers he can find for your insecurities.

Blade

He does not understand. He doesn't think he caused you to feel unwanted so he struggles to comprehend where these feelings of inadequacy are coming from. It breaks his heart when you explain your feelings come from self image issues. He will compare you to every cute thing he sees. Expect lots of little gifts because he saw something that made him think of you. He is determined to show you just how much he thinks of you and that you are always in his thoughts.

Garu

You tell him you are feeling bad about yourself and he nervously starts petting you. He knows he feels loved and happy when you pet him so he's hoping you can feel how much he cares for you by returning the affection. He's not good with his words so he'll try doing things for you to make sure you know you're appreciated and loved, even if you don't feel like you are.

Karu

Illegal. He straight up tells you that you aren't allowed to feel bad about yourself. Why? Because he has to fight everyone why thinks poorly of you, and he really doesn't want to fight you. He starts getting mad when you try to explain that you can't help how you feel. The reason he's mad is because your feelings are wrong. If he says you are deserving of his affection than you are. No if ands or buts.

Dante

He is definitely going to notice that you're acting strange. At first he will give you plenty of space, which definitely does not help the feelings of being unwanted. When he finds out the reason you are avoiding him is because of self image issues he all but scoffs. “Most people are unworthy of the sun lord, but you are not one of them.” He assures you that you are deserving of love, of his love, and that you have nothing to fear. He is always blunt and you know that if you really were unworthy he would never pretend or lie that you were.

Rei

He will talk about your emotions in the most scientific way possible. He explains that emotion often don't reflect reality and it's your perception that is skewed. Basically he uses fancy words that sound like he's calling you crazy and it's all in your head. Thats not his intention but it's how it comes across. When his explanation doesn't help he gives you a book on psychology to look through. The book is marked and annotated with chapters he thinks will help you. He put effort into trying to understand and help you, he just isn't good about expressing that he wants to be with you or how he loves all your ‘imperfections’.

Eiden

He has definitely gone through feelings of imposter syndrome and not feeling worthy of his power or clan members. He understands where your insecurities are coming from even if he knows you have nothing to actually worry about. Sometimes reality and emotions don't line up but he can try and help you see just how much you mean to him. He will talk with you about how you're feeling, and he'll share his own struggles. He will also bring you around the clan members more just so he can spend more time with you and you can see the effort he's putting into you. Actions speak louder than words but he's still giving you praise and words of affirmation whenever he can.

Aster

You feeling unworthy? Well he better show you exactly what you deserve. He takes you out on the biggest shopping spree you have ever seen. You deserve that world and he will give you whatever he can until you see just how much you mean to him. As for any other insecurities, if he can do something to distract from or help lessen the feelings he will. He's not good at expressing himself emotionally so this is the best he can do. He does hope it's enough to help at least a little.

Morvay

Don't tell him you have self image issues unless you want to be smothered in affection. He will literally list out every single thing about you that he loves, and he loves all of you so that's a long list. If you sell him about a physical insecurity he has a reason why it's beautiful. If you don't like your face “but your eyes are my favorite color, and your smile makes my heart flutter!”, or if it's about your size “but your the perfect size to cuddle with! You fit perfectly in my arms!”. He is very sweet and is ready to combat and doubts you may have. Also he knows you are weak to his fluffy form so he will use that as an excuse to cuddle with you.

[kumzorg]

Hi uh,, kumzorg. I watched your 'you're too much' video on youtube, and I think it is really cool. I am really interested on how you did the filters for the backgrounds, as in; what program you used and what filters you applied.

Thanks for your time reading this, bye :D!

ok, first thing i have to admit is im really bad with colors so i rely on effects very often, be it level correction or posterisation or whatever, but i hope my explanation will still be of value to you ^^;

long post ahead

for that video every bg except the first one was taken from google maps, so their quality was always high and crisp, which i DONT like

for example first one I took from Shinsei Kamattechan MV "Michinaru hou e": (神聖かまってちゃん - 美ちなる方へ (youtube.com), and the compressed quality looked very nice when applied with tons of effects on it (My apologies to Noko for erasing them (m > <)m

So I'll go with example of another picture I already used, and scale it down

First I correct the levels and contrast so that details that I need pop out more

Then I use krita feature called "Gradient Map", which has a really nice feature that lets you do dithering with transparency

I copy the original picture and now for the second one I simply posterise it

I join the two new ones together, I usually use whatever effect I feel like but I personally really like the one called "Combine Normal Map"

now i copy the original picture AGAIN, and blur it with different constrast levels this time

I use Gradient Map on it again, this time with different dithering settings and color

I combine it with the previous one whily applying effects like Overlay or Burn

Now i'm mostly done, i scale up this new image slightly so that pixels are blurred, for a more washed out effect (plus some additional effects if your heart feels like it)

I posterise it once more so that colors bleed together nicely and now im done!

Just put whatever 2d freak you want over it and what the hell is this now (ಠ_ಠ)

(My first inspiration was from Shizuku VN, it had really cool backgrounds which had dark uneasy atmosphere, so i can kinda understand the comments that said they got a mysterious and liminal feeling from the video lol)

[bgomtori]

☆ evening glow - c.bg

synopsis - where you and beomgyu are able to be natural around each other, and finding solace within one another.

-> idol! beomgyu x idol! reader

-> idiots to lovers, established relationship, comfort angst, songfic with lyrics(?)

-> WARNING! talks about mental exhaustion, burn outs, bad descriptions about idol life.

-> NOTES! w2e and beomgyu is just so 😓😓 and happy valentines day!! here's a vday post based on the poll i did recently

if i feel broken, you will find me.

being an idol was tough, busy schedules, having to put up an image for your fans, and not being able to have quality time with yourself. being an idol meant that you had to always put yourself out there, despite fans telling you that placing yourself first was the most important, it wasn't that easy. you couldn't be yourself, you didn't even know who your real self was at this point, you've had this bubbly, outgoing persona on ever since the start of your idol journey, the moodmaker of your group. you were constantly joking around, making the mood more lively and engaging, yet on the inside you knew that you were just someone who lost their childhood in order to pursue their dreams as an idol

that was when you met him, choi beomgyu, someone who was just like you. the moodmaker of tomorrow x together, the middle child of the group, and the one their members relied on. it was a mere coincidence, your groups had similar comeback dates, thus seeing each other backstage was normal. the occassional eye contacts and waves to each other were meaningful, dance challenges being the only times you two could fully interact with one another. it was normal to feel your heart beating against your chest rapidly, especially since you were standing beside such a pretty boy.

little did you know, beomgyu felt the same about you, he admired your vocals, and dance skills, so perfect in his eyes. he felt as if he saw an angel when he first met your eyes from across the stage at a big awards show, bowing to each other when your group was about to leave the stage. for the first time in a while, he felt his heart racing quickly, if this was still high school, he would have already ran up to you and asked for your number, but life was unfair, there were multiple cameras everywhere, they would have definitely recorded him and both of you would have landed yourselves in a scandal.

"and cut! that was a good take, good work for the day." one of the staff members announced through the speakers, you bent over, clenching your knees, panting heavily as you greeted your fans goodbye, your bandmates doing the same, walking off the stage.

"fuck why is today so much more exhausting than the previous weeks." yunjin complained, gasping for air.

"tell me about it. i feel like i fought 5 wars at once." sakura fanned herself, praying that it'll cool herself faster.

"after this, we're finally done with our comeback promotions." you exclaimed, looking forward to the well deserved break the group needed. your group bursted out in cheers, as if they were the only ones in the building, you could only giggle at their actions, clapping to yourself as you tiredly dragged yourself back to your changing room. however, the felt your legs giving up on you as you stumbled forward, you thought that you were about to fall onto the ground face first, until a pair of lean, yet muscular arms grabbed your shoulders. your eyes widened, looking up to see the man you've been eye candying since the start, choi beomgyu.

"oh, uhm sorry." you stuttered out an apology, stabilising yourself while you continuously bowed to him, your face turning red by the second. "no, it's fine, just be careful.. also your group did really well today." beomgyu reassured, complimenting your group at the same time, you thanked him with a bright smile on your face, "good luck to you guys too! i'm sure you'll do just fine. thank you again." waving to beomgyu, running back to your group who was giving you knowing looks.

you placed a finger over your lips, pushing them into the changing room, you took one last look at beomgyu, who was shushing his members, the tip of his ears turning red, before closing the door behind you.

those useless words were falling apart on me.

bumping into beomgyu in your company was more common now, hybe was big, however you two just managed to find each other no matter what. it wasn't long until you two became friends, hanging out at the cafeteria or cafe during your breaks in between practice, waving to each other excitedly, even having beomgyu drop you off at your practice room or dorm. it was quite obvious to everyone and their mothers that the both of you had something for each other.

"sneaking off to see beomgyu again?" chaewon glared at you, completely unimpressed by the way you tried sneaking out of the practice room. you laughed it off, "i'll be back quickly, you guys need a break too right?"

"fine, but be back by 3!" chaewon shouted, you gave her a thumbs up, closing the door as you started sprinting towards the lift. you had an hour before you needed to return to the practice room, that was enough time, right? after what seemed like forever, you finally reached the floor where the cafe was located at, you immediately spotted the brown haired male, his hair shorter than before, sitting infront of 2 cups of americano and a singular strawberry cake.

"sorry, practice took longer than expected." you sat beside beomgyu, startling him with the loud sound of your chair screeching against the tile floor.

"what the fuck, lift the chair up next time." beomgyu grumbled, covering his ears while glaring at you. you gave him a small apology, awkwardly sipping your americano

"this cake for me?" you smirked, nudging beomgyu's shoulder. beomgyu's face flushed, completely forgetting about the cake's existance until you noticed it, "yea.. i was planning to share it with you." beomgyu mumbled, hoping that you didn't hear the last part. you grinned, giving him a tight hug, taking the first bite of the cake.

"how's the preparation for your comeback?" you asked, nibbling on the cake that was laying on your fork. beomgyu swallowed the sweet treat before resting his chin on the palm of his hand, "it's alright, i guess?" beomgyu sounded unsure of his answer, making you slightly worried, usually he was more enthusiatic over his comebacks, excited to tell you everything about it, but this time it was different.

"are you sure? you don't sound like yourself when you answered me." you asked once again, your eyes landing on beomgyu's nervous state. the silence he was giving you made you more concerned, he has never acted this way before. "you know, you can tell me anything right?" you rubbed beomgyu's shoulder, your attempt in comforting him.

i'm struggling in my world.

beomgyu sighed, his eyes averting from your strong gaze. he bit the inside of his cheek, his mind going blank on him, he wanted to tell you, tell you everything he was feeling, including how he felt for you, but it was hard for him to do so. he didn't want to lose you, mainly because you were idols, and barely had time for one another, but still, would it be worth it? he's about to go to america the next week to work on the collab with the jonas brothers, he's been working non stop. beomgyu was tired, physically and mentally.

"you won't get mad?" beomgyu looked softly into your eyes, you nodded almost instantly, "i would never get mad at you." of course you wouldn't, he was basically the male version of you.

"i'm going to america next week, i'm working on another collab, but i'm not even done recording for the other songs in the full album yet." beomgyu admitted, stirring the remaining contents of his americano, waiting for your response, expecting you to scold him for always leaving you or something.

"you're travelling again? didn't you just come back from your tour in the US–" there it was, you were probably about to blame him for always not being able to spend time with you, "that's crazy, like are you not exhausted? did they even give you an off-day? i'll fight your management for you." oh, that was different, beomgyu had a funny feeling in his stomach, it wasn't a stomachache or anything, it felt nice. butterflies in your stomach, was it? it was nice.

"it's ok! we can always call or text when we're away from one another." you beamed, waving your phone infront of his face, his contact on your phone shoved into his face. he took this chance to read what you named him, and that was when you immediately pulled your phone away, you face flushing red. you fucked up.

"your pretty boy huh?" beomgyu teased, his ego going through the roof after realising that there was a chance that you reciprocated his feelings too. you covered your ears, blocking out any teasing beomgyu has directed to you. "shut up, shhh, i gotta go now, bye. i'm gonna be late. don't look for me." you quickly got up from your seat, making a run for it, apologising to the staff you accidentally bumped into.

beomgyu chuckled to himself, unable to ignore the burning feeling on his face, he hid his face in his hands, screaming to himself internally, a giddy smile appearing on his face as he kicked his feet around like a teenage girl in love. he has a chance, he actually has a chance with the girl he has been pinning over. what a dream come true.

"beomgyu? are you drunk or something?" a voice knocking him out of his giggly thoughts, he eyed the person down, only to see soobin hovering over him. "shut up, let's go, i'm gonna kill this next recording." beomgyu almost shouted, pushing away his chair, causing soobin to jolt from the sudden action. beomgyu returned the tray, walking towards the recording studio, soobin swore he saw beomgyu practically bouncing at each step he took.

i might be full of flaws,

you sprinted as fast as your legs took take you to the practice room, gasping for air as you dramatically fall onto the ground. your heart still pounding over the fact that beomgyu basically found out about your mini (huge) crush on him.

"you look like you just saw a ghost what–"

"BEOMGYU KNOWS THAT I LIKE HIM." you screamed, shaking the closest person to you, which was eunchae. the girls turned their heads to you so fast their heads could fly off. even the staff were stunned. "you what!?" kazuha almost jumped, she wasn't believing what she heard.

"i accidentally showed him what i named him in my contacts, and i just ran away.." you added, answering what the girls were probably thinking.

"you just ran? are you an idiot? you didn't even care to hear what he has to say to you?" you groaned at the questions being thrown at you, rolling on the ground like a child, you grumbled, "i wasn't thinking straight ok? either way, i think he's gonna pick me up from here after my practice, you guys know how it is.. we'll probably talk."

speak of the devil, your phone vibrated in your shorts, you felt yourself flinch at the feeling before pulling your phone out.

gyu : i'll see you later at 6, you can't just leave me hanging like that ;)

oh my god, you hated him, you felt like dying right there and then, the way he teased you made you blush.

"come on yn, we still have to practice, let's go." sakura pulled you up, pushing you to your starting position in the dance. you sighed, your mind was too noisy to dance right now, but maybe this would keep you distracted from your thoughts.

but you will crave my heart.

"yes perfect! that's it for today girls, you guys did amazing." the dance coach complimented, clapping for your group's efforts. you cheered, plopping onto the floor, catching your breath.

"yn, your man is outside to collect you." your dance coach joked, pointing to beomgyu who was peeking into the practice room. you flew up from your current position, immediately packing your bags.

"i'll see you guys later in the dorms, love you guys." you blew them a kiss, winking at them while they cringed at your actions, even gagging. you opened the door, almost bumping into beomgyu's chest, luckily you stopped yourself before you could even collide into him.

"let's go talk somewhere." you mumbled, dragging beomgyu to the elevators. the silence was deafening, your eyes constantly flickering from beomgyu to the ground beneath you.

"staring at me wouldn't help with anything idiot."

"i wasn't, i'm just thinking about how to not make this awkward ok." you retorted, crossing your arms against your chest, waiting for the elevator to arrive. beomgyu chuckled, "how long?"

"what do you mean?" you stared at him confused, walking out of the elevator first while beomgyu holds the door for you before following behind you.

"how long have you liked me?" beomgyu clarified, his eyes never leaving your figure. "a really long time, you know when we first saw each other at that award show, i felt a connection. then i guess from there those feelings grew." your voice was barely above a whisper, kicking the rocks you found on the pavement.

"really? i felt the same when i made eye contact with you." beomgyu's lips tugged upwards, happy that you've felt the same since the start.

"wait so you like me too?" you turned back, stopping in the middle of the pavement, seeing beomgyu give you a sheepish smile, rubbing the back of his neck. "you're kidding, are you serious?"

"of course i am, you're the first person that could understand me for me, so naturally i fell for you." beomgyu confirmed, the apples of his cheeks turning red. "i thought i was obvious with my feelings.. i swear all the little things i've been doing for you wasn't just platonic."

"fuck, i am so dense." you came to your senses, remembering all the times yunjin would almost scream at you about beomgyu being head over heels for you, but you were too stupid to think that your friendship was more than just platonic.

"then now what? are we dating or..?" you asked, you leaned your body closer to beomgyu, wanting an answer out of him while he leaned away, avoiding your eyes.

"if you want to we can.." beomgyu mumbled, his eyes looking down at you for a reaction, only to be met with the most radiant smile he has ever seen, sparkles in your eyes when you heard his answer. he could feel himself melting from the sight of you beaming in happiness, if he was this mushy already, dating you would be ten times worse.

"alright! now let's go to the convenience store and eat something, i might die from starvation." you stretched your body, intertwining your fingers with beomgyu's as you pulled him along with you. beomgyu stared at your interlocked hands and covered his face, heat rushing to his cheeks. he's finally dating you, like officially, something he has been dreaming off since you guys became closer.

i'm broken.

it's been a few months since you and beomgyu have gotten together. it has been a crazy few months, weird sasaengs catching you guys on a date, causing the media to go crazy over this newfound information which eventually led to hybe releasing a statement, announcing that everything was real. after that incident, you two have been hanging out openly, holding hands and hugging each other, a dream come true.

however, being idols meant that you guys had hectic schedules, you were preparing for your new digital single release while beomgyu was releasing a full album. his workload piling up especially since he had just ended the world tour in japan. you barely saw beomgyu, you were losing it, you missed him so much, calling him through the phone wasn't enough. you missed him so bad to the point you started scrolling through beomgyu's hashtag on both tiktok and instagram.

beomgyu, on the other hand, felt the exact same, he missed your soft kisses that tasted like peach, he missed your head pats which reminded him on his childhood, everything reminded him of you, leading him to buy many items for you. he walked out of the practice room with the rest of the boys, smiling and laughing about different topics that they were discussing, trying to keep the mood up, but once he reached his room, he immediately fell onto his bed, letting out a huge sigh. he was tired out of his mind.

gyu : i'm coming over.

yn : what, why?

gyu : just wait for me :'

beomgyu threw on his coat, quietly unlocking the door to prevent the rest from hearing him. he regretted not wearing gloves, the cold air immediately hitting his skin when he stepped out of his dorm, swiftly, he made his way to your dorm, taking every single shortcut that he knew could take him to you quicker.

beomgyu knocked once, no answer, twice, no answer, thrice– the door opened before he could even knock for the third time, revealing a stunned kazuha standing infront of him.

"oh, yn's boyfriend, what are you doing here?" she stared at him from top to bottom, inspecting his posture.

"i want to see yn, also i have a name kazuha." beomgyu rolled his eyes subtly, making sure that it wasn't obvious. kazuha gave him one last look before yelling your name through the dorm. it was so loud it shocked you, you scurried to where the voice was coming from, only to see kazuha holding the door to a shivering choi beomgyu.

"oh my god, beomgyu come in." you invited, pulling him in by his coat, kazuha closed the door, telling you a quick goodnight as she went into her room.

"how long were you out there, jeez you're freezing." you sighed, rubbing your hands together with beomgyu's hoping that it created some type of warmth for him.

so take me to the evening glow.

"can we go to your room instead of standing here..?" beomgyu whispered, placing his hands on your lowerback as he pushed you towards the direction of your room. you led him to your room, locking the door behind you while beomgyu removed his thick coat, revealing the thin sweater he was wearing. you yelped quietly when beomgyu dragged you down onto the bed with him, his arms instantly snaking around your waist, nuzzling his face into the crook of your neck, his shampoo engulfing your sense of smell, bringing you comfort to a certain extent.

"is something wrong?" you whispered into his now long, brown hair. beomgyu was quick to shake his head, "missed you." you smiled at his response, knowing that this wasn't the only reason why he was overly clingly to you. beomgyu didn't like to voice out his concerns often, bottling them in as if they didn't mattered. you understood how he felt, since you do the exact same, thus giving him the affection he needed was the most that you could do to comfort him from his spiraling thoughts.

you rubbed the back of his head, playing with the ends of his wolfcut, placing kisses on the top of his head occassionally. beomgyu hummed contently, burying his face further into your neck, if it was even possible.

"am i.. even worth being an idol?" beomgyu suddenly asked, your hands coming to a halt as you looked at beomgyu's doe eyes. you could hear your heart shattering at the question, beomgyu, out of everyone, shouldn't think like that.

"of course you are, you're like the best, have you seen yourself on stage? you're literally amazing." you conplimented him as much as you could, trying to boost his self-esteem. beomgyu sighed, his grip around your waist tightening. "don't force yourself to tell me, i know it's hard for you to open up, i won't make you tell me everything you're concerned about." you reassured beomgyu, pushing him away to look into his watery eyes.

beomgyu whined, being away from your touch felt like he was going to die, he pulled you back into his embrace, "i want to tell you, you're the only one who understands how i feel." you nodded your head, listening to what beomgyu has to say, from him being physically and mentally exhausted from all the schedules to him getting mistreated by the company. even if you didn't say much, beomgyu knew that you wouldn't judge him for how he felt, he felt as if he could be himself around you, instead of being the rowdy, mischievious member he was, he could be quiet and calm around you.

"thanks for listening.." beomgyu pecked your lips multiple times, smiling into a longer kiss. you hummed into the kiss, tilting your head slightly for better access. beomgyu soon pulled away, placing his forehead on yours, "i love you."

you giggled, pulling him back into a tight hug, "i love you too beom."

and lay me down,

on the sun, the tender sun.

perm taglist! (send an ask to be added) @mrsyawnzzn @tinyelfperson @woncheecks @boba-beom @naveries @be-argyu

[mhsdatgo]

Do you think the show is biased against the Greens vs. Team Black? If so, how should the show have demonstrated that both teams are awful, in your opinion?

Hello anon!

I've got a lot to say on this one.

First of all, yes. I totally think that the show had some obvious kind of bias towards the Blacks. Not necessarily with the way the Greens were treated as devils with no likeable qualities except for Alicent (even if there are several instances of them doing so) but more because of the way the Blacks were whitewashed.

Rhaenyra.

Look, you'll never catch me not expressing my contempt for this woman, no matter the fact she was brought up by a man who did nothing but spoil, enable and indulge her in everything and anything she says and does. I can see the path they're taking in the show by adapting her as an irresponsible woman who flees at the minimal inconvenience and cowers to her dad at any minor inconvenience, but literally everything that makes her Rhaenyra Targaryen, Rhaenyra Targaryen, is removed.

She just looks like the next girlboss Targ Dragonrider queen after Daenerys. They basically made GOT season 8 and sent show!Rhaenyra as an apology. But in doing so they basically made her... Boring. Her and her children, which I don't love or hate. (The closest one I am to "liking" is Jace, I guess, but the leaks are just making me rethink everything again.)

I would've loved it if they had given us ONE pre-Dance book!Rhaenyra scene that would've made her appear more ruthless than what we have on the show, and not just the time when she offered 10 year old Aemond to be tortured. Make her ask Daemon to go after Vaemond (sorry pookie) like she did in the books, make her feed his corpse to her dragon. Sure that wouldn't have made me change my mind about how much I dislike her bUt it WOULD'VE made me go "damn she stands on business."

I wanted her to act out of grief and insist on going to war when she miscarried Visenya and lost her father, because although I don't think that the Greens did kill that poor little girl (she had dragon features and was likely going to die anyway) I do think that Rhaenyra should've been allowed her pain and the irrational and impulsive thinking that comes with it.

Alicent.

OH BOY.

Where do I even begin with this one?

Olivia Cooke SLAYED. Lemme just start with that. She took the whole cake and ate it too and left no crumbs. The direction they've taken with her is a realistic one, at least for the actions and decisions she's taking. Reckless, for sure. Risky, deathly even. Her fear is realistic, even for someone as Alicent Hightower no matter how much determination had protected her from dread.

What I don't like is the way she was treated as everyone's object and her shutting up about it. From Rhaenyra to Larys, everyone uses her for their own disgusting pleasures or outlet of frustration. And she's made to take it without fighting back even once. The one time she does, bless her, she's treated as a woman who's gone mad.

Now, I would've been fine with her taking all these hits if only they knew how to make Alicent change properly and completely from there. If it was me, the incident at Driftmark would be my start to revenge. No longer would I look at Rhaenyra with hope to reconcile with her. No longer would I bear any more of Viserys' shit when it's clear his first daughter (the image of his first wife) bears way more importance to him than me and all the four kids he forced me to have combined.

They'd have to nightly talk me out of suffocating him with my pillow a minute more for every wince and ache my now eyeless son suffers, for a month straight if not more. I wouldn't eagerly stand by his side and listen to his last words only to mistake them for permission to go along with my plans. I'd stand there passively at best, waiting for him to be done, before leaving the room.

Everything else can just be left the same way it was. Her fear when she realizes the effect Viserys' death has on her and her children is realistic. I'd break down for a moment too. I'd act as soon as I could too. I'd cry tears of relief, dread, grief (depends on how you interpret that scene) too. After letting his stinky ass rot for a fortnight. I would've preferred this to be a "there was a plan, but we weren't ready to act it out" situation more than a "what the fuck is going on" situation.

I'd also slap that "you toil in service of other men" dialogue from Rhaenys right back in her face (sorry grandma) since if we're talking about the show, it's literally the only thing she has done throughout the season.

House Velaryon.

HEAVY on this one. They have been done so wrong on so many levels. Every single one of them.

Laena was made to "pursue" Daemon, she changes from a precious, small and shy little girl to a confident, seductive young woman (teenager for fuck's sake, screw everyone who thought making her change this way would've been good) and later on a side piece, "the one Daemon settles for because he can't have Rhaenyra" even if it was known that she was the only one he was never unfaithful to, "she's made her peace" (WTF???????).

It apparently never hits Corlys that the bitch who he believes has made him childless (I AM TALKING ABOUT DAEMON) deserves no support from him and his house or that Luke should actually become a ward there at Driftmark if he's so adamant on keeping this farce that he's a Velaryon and the next Lord of the Tides.

Vaemond is seen as the odd, evil and power hungry one for pointing out that his house is falling into an OBVIOUS bastard's hands whether this kid likes it or not (even as my support for this claim goes as far as questioning Luke's parentage) and to add insult to injury he's made to say Rhaenyra is a whore, which never happened in the books.

The Silent Five are removed completely, Vaemond's sons as well (@redrosesandcharmingsouls knows I was FROTHING at the mouth waiting for Daemion Velaryon to make an appearance but the motherfuckers couldn't even give me that) so that we don't have any kind of reason to believe an execution so brutal and unjust had any repercussions on the support House Velaryon has on the Blacks overall. They are made into Rhaenyra's cheering squad through and thorough, even if they have every reason to be anything but.

The Laenor situation is actually really fucking funny. They made him leave instead of killing him to not bury the gays and they aren't aware that this has totally fucked everything up. Like thanks for telling me ALL of Rhaenyra's children are bastards. Cool, HOW THE FUCK TO YOU HANDLE SEASMOKE NOW?

Aegon II.

No this isn't an apologist post. I'm actually slithering on the ground on my knees for TGC daily but Aegon is a clusterfuck right now, no matter how you look at it. They tell us he's a psycho drunken rapist and he likes to watch children fighting every Sunday and when you actually see his adult version he's a crying love starved bitch of a man and he winces and frowns when Vaemond's head is cut off.

Instead of taking the throne to protect his children, he takes it because he's forced. And that makes Alicent the villain in everything once again. Now it doesn't matter if you look at the book version or what we see of the show version, everywhere you look this is just out of character.

It's inconsistent. He's made the worst thing ever so people can say "See??? They believe a rapist is better to put to the throne than our girlboss virtuous heir!!!" you either make him a psycho or a touch starved baby, why make both?

So yeah, I think this is all. For now. We'll have to see how this show progresses to see if I change my mind in any way.

Thanks for the ask!!!! ^_^

[ms--lobotomy]

Thanks again to my enabler @angronsjewelbeetle

Summary: Reverse cockwarming. Ferrus. AAAAAAAAH

Word Count: 754

Content Warnings: SMUT, the Iron Hands being kind of mad about their step-parent, reader doesn't use gendered terms but they do have 2 holes,

Image Credit: @squishyowl

"I'm... here to help," said Ferrus, a little awkwardly from underneath you before he got to work.

...

The desk was huge. You didn't normally use his desk, and you had to prop up your chair with an ungodly amount of boxes and cushions, but the man under the table was worth it. Sometimes your hands twitched as you typed, and sometimes a small noise would escape your lips. You gripped the side of the table, shifting on your chair to give him a better angle.

"Ferrus..." you mumbled, fingers weakly reaching back for your keyboard.

You heard a chuckle from under the table. Your legs were wrapped around his head, pulling him in as he feasted. He pulled away for a moment, if but for a second. "What is it?" he asked, a rare playful quality to his low voice. His head pushed your pants and underthings back against your ankles, threatening to push them all the way off of you.

"I..." you started, fumbling to type out your next few words. "I just think you're doing great, darling."

"Mmm," he mumbled, his head moving back between your legs. You cried out, your hands balling up into fists as he worked, his tongue finding places inside of you that you'd never imagined could be tasted. You began to shiver, getting worked up to a climax again. This would maybe be your third one this session, you'd lost count. That was until you heard the clanging of ceramite against wood, and a knock at the iron door.

"Oh, what is it?" you asked, clenching around Ferrus. He didn't stop; rather, he worked his way towards your clit.

"Is Ferrus Manus present?" the voice at the door asked, cold and mechanical.

Ferrus began to swirl your clit in his mouth, and you had to stifle a moan before you spoke. "Ferrus is... occupied!" you exclaimed, clutching the sides of the table. "Maybe try again a bit later?"

As the voice paused, you felt a palpable dread. This very well could be one of Ferrus's sons, and they were less than favorable about their father's partner. You couldn't tell by listening to them, but their expressions were unmistakably dour when you came across them. The voice sighed.

"Very well," he replied, the sound of ceramite against wood getting further away.

You breathed a sigh of relief as he kept stimulating your clit, grabbing onto your thighs as he rolled his tongue around it. His grip threatened to bruise you, but he knew how to grip you just hard enough that it wouldn't mark. You climaxed on him a few moments later, shaking and moaning his name on him as you worked it all out. "Ferrus--!"

"Do tell me what you need," he said once you'd calmed down on him.

"That... that was your son, right?" you asked, your breath still coming in and out in ragged spurts.

"Yes," he said, feeling for your hand and interlacing his fingers with yours to the best of his ability. Your fingers barely made it through the slits between his, but you felt his hand clasp around yours. "I do apologize for their behavior. They can be a little..." he paused. "Unpleasant."

"I didn't notice," you said with a touch of sarcasm. He chuckled, maneuvering himself out from under you. The space between your legs, while wet, was dreadfully empty before he pulled your clothes back onto you.

"Was three times enough?" he asked. There was a little bit of an anxious expression on his face when he emerged from under the table, picking you up from your chair.

"But Ferrus, this sentence!" you cried out, looking back at your computer.

"You can finish it later," he said. You could feel his hearts beat in his chest. "Was three times enough for you?"

"I..." you started, relaxing in his arms as he carried you to your shared bed. "Yes, darling, it was."

He stroked your hair as he lay you back in bed. "I'm glad, my angel." He wasn't in his armor right now; a rare sight most beheld by you and maybe his brother. The short sleeves on his linen shirt exposed his iron arms, cool on your back as they wrapped around you. You shivered again, and he tightened his grip.

"I've got you," he mumbled as his eyes slipped closed.

"Thank you," you replied, your own closing as your head lay against his chest. You felt his heartbeats even out as you drifted off to sleep on him.

Taglist: @bispecsual @justeverythingnothingelse @bleedingichorhearts @nekotaetae @historitor-bookshelf

[lindseybots]

“I was worried I was going to wander alone forever… unseen, unheard… but then you found me. You even agreed to help me so easily. No matter what happens, you’re already a hero to me.”

I know y’all have been waiting. Here is the reference sheet for Zelda in The Wind’s Track AU. (As always, you might need to click the image to get better quality.)

Keep in mind that this AU is still early in development. Things seen here are subject to change. (Also, I, once again, apologize for my awful handwriting.)

[a-salmon-good-time]

How do you nail that movie screencap effect thingamajig?? I'm a sucker for VHS-animation looking stuff but sometimes fiddling with blending modes, gaussian blur, noise, ntscQT etc. just doesn't feel right.

For me, I love experimenting with a mix of using blending modes and using ntscQT, but I definitely get the feeling of it still not feeling right despite using those methods!

I'll do my best with explaining how I go about achieving the look! The art software I use is Paint Tool Sai 2 (but any art software with blending modes + layers will do!). Apologies in advance if this is too wordy haha

1.) I draw the usual setup- a background with a character or so. I usually flatten all the layers into one but, for this case, I just only flattened the layer the character's on:

2.) I duplicate the character layer, blur it, set its blending mode to "Lighten", and adjust the opacity as needed before merging the two layers together. I duplicate again, blur again, set the mode to "Darken", adjust opacity, and merge again!

3.) (1st pic) Once I do that, I duplicate & blur the character layer again, then move it a bit to the side (any direction is fine; for this I moved it to the right). Then I set the moved layer's mode to "Color"! After that, I add a drop shadow behind the character layer to give it the look of a traditional animation cel being used.

(2nd pic) Next, I flatten ALL the layers now into one layer, duplicate it and blur it greatly + set blurred layer mode to "Saturation" & move it in any direction before merging all layers again!! lots of duplicating and merging LOL!!!

4.) OK THE LAYER DUPLICATION + MERGING PROCESS IS FINISHED FINALLY! Now we just adjust the colors!

I like to lower the Contrast and raise the Depth, though the adjustments can vary with each piece, depending on how much of a effect you want! Image on right includes the settings I used for this. (I also added a noise layer, but that's optional)

5.) And for the final step.... make the image a smaller size and save as a JPEG/JPG file!!! This should somewhat achieve the low-quality crunch look!

This step is entirely optional, but you can take the JPEG image and add it to ntscQT to mess around with different settings! Here's one I put together:

[atsadi-shenanigans]

What Shall We Become 15 - Sharing

The rogue makes a connection.

On AO3.

“Why in the sweet hells would I have a rock?” Astarion says.

The bag of sparkpowder makes sense. It’s hard to screw that up. But then she wants a stone, and while he pilfers nearly anything he can get his hands on (to sort through later, mind you) that doesn’t extend to rocks.

“I need to test my theory,” she hisses back at him.

The underground beastie lurks beneath the dirt. Its heart beats slow and strong, and he can’t help but wonder what it’s blood would taste like. It seems simple enough to him: light the bomb, throw it, and run in the opposite direction.

But his illustrious leader keeps mumbling something about “tremors rules” and it makes absolutely no sense to him, but when has that ever mattered.

“Throw one of your own trinkets,” he says. She’s even worse than him about grabbing whatever isn’t nailed down.

“That all got washed off.”

Ah. Right. That. The little, inconsequential thing he might have had a hand in.

Gods. Her and her theories. He knows she’s got at least one, phallus-shaped trinket she could sacrifice. But it’s too much fun to tease her about it, and honestly, it’d be a shame to lose such a quality item.

Of all the things in all the planes, this weirdo beside him took her phallus when she was kidnapped. It’s hysterical.

So he sighs and reaches into his pack. Rummages around until he finds something cool and smooth. One of his empty blood jars—they’re all empty at the moment. He hands it over.

And she leaves him holding it. In silence. Is she judging him? Because it feels like she’s judging him.

“Ahem,” he says and jiggles it.

“Huh,” she says. Articulately. And finally takes it from him. “You have gotta take better care of your stuff.”

The beastie shifts down there. He can imagine it eyeballing them.

“Really?” he says. “You’d like to discuss sanitation right now?”

“I’m just saying. Between this and that bed plank…”

“The one you’ve been sleeping on with no complaint so far? Having ousted me? You’ll have to forgive me, darling, for wondering what your point is.”

He’s…aware all the others sleep on bedrolls. He knows they exist, and that they’ve run into plenty more. He could have plucked one up for himself. But sleeping in comfort was for that bastard’s favorite. Or for when Astarion was put to work. He complains about the lack of a feather bed because it’s expected for the image he’s built for himself: the decadent hedonist. And in truth, he thinks it might very well be nice to rest in one fully clothed for a whole night.

But camping in the wilds with other monsters and an illithid parasite, with the lingering fear of being hunted. No. That’s a luxury he hasn’t been able to afford.

She’ll be wondering about that, however. Even if she never complained, he knows she must have questions. And…he…he almost wants to tell her? For some boggling reason. So he hedges, reveals only part of it. “I don’t like bedrolls. They’re, ah, too soft. The dormitory beds were little better than wood anyway, and those were a luxury compared to the kennel floors.”

“Kennels?” she says, with a strange tone.

“Oh yes. Whenever any of us earned punishment, Cazador sent us to the kennels for correction.”

She silent for a long, long time. During which her heartbeat spikes almost louder than he’s ever heard it. It’s a pathetic excuse, he knows. He shouldn’t have told her. It’s not worth her fragile, mortal back pain to tolerate his sleeping arrangement just because it sends his reverie to places he’d rather not go.

Then she says, “Your plan for that fuckface. Do they include ripping off his head to shit down the back of his neck.”

“…no?” he says. But it sounds incredibly delightful. And vulgar. Maybe once he’s pulled that bastard’s intestines out and draped them around his neck like a festive garland?

“Right. I, uh. Sorry. For snarking at you.”

Again with apologies. It does strange things to him. Things he can’t trust and doesn’t like.

“We,” he says. Trails off. Has to clear his throat for some reason. “You could, ah, lay a bedroll down for yourself. If you wanted.”

There. A compromise. Prevent her frail back from splintering to pieces since they’ll have to keep sharing until they find a bloody waypoint stone.

Then, very softly (and not just in volume, as they’ve been whispering the entire time) she says, “If you’re okay with that.”

And everything in him is unsettled, so he reaches into what he knows, splays a hand over his chest, and says, “Well, I was born for decadence, darling. We’ll just have to make do until then.”

He’s beginning to feel strangely…exposed on the inside. As if he sits in that blood-soaked clearing, in flickering torchlight, with an oozing hole in his chest large enough she can see straight into his lungs.

He needs to paper over that hole with his usual charm, in hope she’ll stop looking into him.

She hums. Then, in an atrocious mimicry of his accent, says, “As m’lord requests.”

He ought to bite her for that level of cheek. But they’re rather stranded and low on medical supplies, and if one of them stumbles and falls off, they’ll be eaten by some huge, armored monster.

So he lifts his eyebrows and drops his lids in the way that almost never fails to bring the first soft brushing of a blush to some tipsy tavern-hopper. “You know, my dear, I could grow very used to the sound of that.”

Without the accent, preferably.

But she continues to drive a wedge between herself and most of his marks (the successful ones, anyway) and instead of leaning in or sliding her fingers across his own, she only snorts and says, “Yeah yeah, y’big dork.”

Which doesn’t translate as anything, but the shape of that word sounds ridiculous and she’s certainly mocking him. Only, once again, her tone carries a smile, and not a trace of coldness or cruelty or disgust.

Something shifts below them. The beastie stirs. And it must be visible enough for his leader to catch, because her fingers start drumming on her thigh.

“What’s the plan, darling?” He’s close enough the warmth of her skin almost soaks into his cold cheek.

But she doesn’t shiver or shy. She’d focused on a murder, which means she notices little else, despite her earlier flinching away. He tilts his head to try and better hear what’s behind them. Someone needs to watch her back. Or listen, anyway.

“So,” she says. Pauses as she does, while her fingers slow to a rhythmic ta-tap-ta, ta-tap-ta. “So I’m thinking we chuck that blood jar as far as possible to the left.”

“We?”

“I’ll get to that. We throw it—”

“Why can’t you throw it, darling? On account of having functional eyes.”

She takes a breath in through her nose. Which she does when she’s annoyed and trying not to show it. He’s fairly certain she thinks she’s being subtle when she does it.

“Astarion. You’re an archer. Your biceps is bigger than mine.”

It’s not the time. He knows that. And yet…?

“You think I’m big?”

It’s hard to describe the sound she makes. It’s rather like an artificer automaton plowing into a shrub, all of it somehow emerging from low in her throat.

“Would you just—”

He’s already standing and slipping in front of her (finding the ledge with his booted toes). “Go on and aim me, then.”

In between all the mortal peril, he’s gotten somewhat used to her bare palm on his. She’d had no qualms about grabbing it an hour ago. But the monster hides below, and she’s back to plucking gingerly at his armor. He nearly says something about it, but in a rare burst of generosity (she’s been through a lot) he lets her turn him in the direction she means him to throw without making any kind of comment.

She hands him the emptied blood jar. “Think you can toss that a hundred feet out?”

He can do a lot better than that. And then another, even rarer flash of planning comes to him, and he finds himself saying, “And after that?”

“If it goes after that, you throw the grenade. Um. In the same spot?”

Even she seems to realize how challenging that’s going to be. Tossing a jar into the distance is nothing. But hitting the same spot again? Blinded? He can’t help it. “Bit of a long shot, darling, even for me.”

He’s certain she’s staring at him. Then she sighs. Doesn’t roll her eyes (well, she probably did) or call him an idiot or order one of his siblings to slap him.

Just says, “Mmm. I…might have an idea for that?”

And oh, does she sound ever so tentative.

“We can, y’know, share thoughts and all with the brainworms, huh? And I saw bits of where the others were that one time. So…?”

Oh dear. She’s actually suggesting what he thinks she is. She’s going to let him into her head.

It’s a double-edge blade, he knows. An opened door with an open invitation can let anyone or anything through. Both ways. And he’d felt her horror when he slipped into her mind that night. When she panics, she curls herself into a tight, impenetrable ball to their shared illithid connection. To say she’s wary would be one of Astarion’s greatest understatements, and he has many.

She’s suggesting she lower her defenses (and his). Maker herself (and him) weak.

“Are you certain?” he says. While he collects the weaknesses of others—it never hurts to have too many weapons in one’s arsenal—he’s aware of a certain…similarity (how disgusting) between them in that respect.

“I mean,” she says. “I got enough water for another day, maybe. What’re the odds of the others finding us within three days of that?”

So she’ll be letting him in, then.

There’s a joke, there. Inviting in a vampire and all. But her voice is tense enough he keeps his tongue behind his teeth and only says, “If you’re sure, darling.”

“This’s probably gonna be fast. Got no idea if it’ll even work. But I’m thinking we pull a Kevin Bacon on it—you chuck that jar, see if it goes after, and then light and toss that bomb right on top if it does. How long do them things burn?”

The wick is short. “Not long.”

“Mmm. So the second it swallows that shit, we book it for the crevasse.”

“And if it chases?”

“Run faster?”

“And if it catches up?”

A pause.

He swears.

“It wouldn’t cross to this mushroom we’re on and that was something I could hop. If we can reach that crack, I think we’ll be good.”

Astarion sighs. “Well, I suppose that’s better than sitting here and drinking from your corpse.”

Even though he could, technically, survive well until the others found him. Whether or not they’d put much effort into it—especially after he sits and watches their glorious leader die—is up for debate.

And…the thought of sitting in the dark silence again is wretched. Especially the thought of listening to his only companion’s heart race, weaken, and then stop.

Dead blood is disgusting.

(he doesn’t want to listen to her die)

Astarion rolls his shoulders. Flexes his fingers. Readjusts his grip on the bottle. Then, “Whenever you’re ready, dearest.”

She takes a few breaths, this time. Rustles quietly. Mutters so softly he only picks out bits of words. Then the brush of her mind against his own.

He leans into it.

It’s rather how he imagines swimming (having no actual memory of the deed). A sort of weightlessness and jostling about. Two people trapped in a very small pool trying not to slosh each other too much.

It’d be easier if they’d just grab each other (we are one, the tadpoles yearn; become Us, become Whole). But the both of them can only pluck at the others’ clothing in an attempt too steady themselves.

Until Astarion loses his patience and finally reaches for her.

Outrage. Fear. Teeth, teeth BITE IT.

Yet his leader manages to reign in her more feral instincts. Begrudgingly lets him ease into her until their outlines blur—

Astarion blinks. It takes a moment to make sense of anything. A new body, a new sense.

He’s…seeing, in a fashion. Shapes and colors. Blue and black. So much black. They’re shadows, he realizes. The dark of the Underdark.

He blinks again, only it’s her blinking and turns his head—

Their bodies revolt. Not one, but two and that’s wrong, it’s not how it’s meant to be, they are a Whole. The moving throws off that synchronicity.

“Jesus fuck!” they say and their stomachs give a queasy flop.

But they need to see around them, so they try again, and they’re angry about it; so, so scared about it. But they got to. It’s a necessity. There’s a birdshark (a what?) waiting to bight off their feet and leave ragged, spurting stumps at the ankle.

“You are a morbid thing.”

“Fuck off.”

More gloom. Details lost. A darker slash to the right (think it’s a crevasse; lord jesus please be a crevasse).

“Darling, your eyesight is shit.”

“Just fucking throw it!”

To the left, then. A dark gap between two, soaring mushroom stalks. They’re rather beautiful, like this. Shining softly in the dark.

They lift an arm, the glass cool in their grip (it’s crusty inside?) (of course, that’s what blood does, darling). It still smells faintly of said blood (that clawing, biting hunger that never goes away) (a spike of something disgustingly soft and they both shove that down in mortification).

Take aim. Feel their own doubleness. Test their arm a few times. The disorientation settles faster each time as they adjust. Cock their arm.

Throw.

The bottle goes spinning off. They already hold the grenade in one of their hands, which they pass to themselves. Eyes move when the other commands to look down. The gap between the mushrooms and the boulder. Track down to the ground below. Along the route they’ll need to run—

Movement.

A surge in the dirt. That low thrumming noise—

“Holy fuck you hear everything—”

Of course they do. Poor, deaf thing she is.

The birdshark surges towards the clank of the jar. Fuse. How short? When?

They gauge the distance. Peer with eyes that fail far too quickly. They have to blink several times. Look around the churning dirt because their sight is atrocious.

“I got perfect twenty-twenty vision you ass.”

Now. Now.

“Ignis!”

The wondrous magic leaps to them. A cat after a string of yarn. An opened valve. Rushes to them and fills them and surges along their arm to ignite a ball of flame in their palm and it really is magic, fuck me.

They light the fuse. The birdshark closes in on the decoy.

“Throw it!”

So they do.

And then there’s no time to untangle themselves because they need to run and they didn’t think this part through, didn’t know they’d be so enmeshed (it’s terrifying) (it’s glorious) (oh god).

They have to run.

Their feet move. All of them. Two pairs and two bodies of a whole running, sprinting, stumbling. They reach out to steady themselves, the cavern rumbling as the birdshark plows on.

As the birdshark stops. It’s tremors rules. It’s gotta hear their pounding footsteps oh sweet hells fuck.

The bomb goes off.

Slaps them stupid. One of them falls, hands cradling ears that hurt and hurt. Claws at them, even. Have to get up, have to go, go!

Scrambling and kicking. The birdshark is quiet. They must have blown it to pieces! It never works in the movies, fucking run.

What’s a movie…? Oh. A wonder. They want more, want to delve in and view the memory of them all—

Get your fucking ass up and moving!

They close the distance to the crevasse. But they’re already flagging. A body unused to this: impact lancing up shins, air clawing at their throat and a cramp stabbing them in the side and they can’t, they can’t go any more. You have to, darling. Up! Get up!

Then. Oh then.

A hissing and rumbling anew. Not towards their distraction, but towards them. It’s failed (told you!) The bomb failed (fucking horror movie rules you fucker) and now it’s coming for them and it’s real fucking pissed.

That puts a pep right back into their step. They’re closing. Even as their body screams. As their feet drag and their lungs burn and they force themselves on. They run. They run for their lives.

Closer. Closer.

They can feel the birdshark now. The ground shivers right on their heels. Right beneath their feet. It’s going to come up right between their legs and chomp off their bullocks—

The ground ends. Drops off in a sheer cut.

They leap.

One lands badly. Feet slide out and their battered and abused left knee twists and pops and gives out. They barely manage to catch themselves on bare palms that rip open on hard stone.

The other doesn’t land. They hit. Fold over a ledge of stone that knocks the air out of them and knocks their thoughts with it. They hit so hard they become two for a moment. His leader scrabbling for a handhold as her feet kick in the terrifying nothingness of the crevasse.

She’s going to fall. Be swept away because he cut that rope and let her.

Shock. Horror. She can still hear him. She can see that memory, the knife sawing through that straining rope and the way he knew it was damning her and he did it without a thought. They stare at each other through her eyes.

Something flashes orange to his left. Some fungus. It throbs once. Twice. Swells up shockingly fast. Oh. That’s probably bad.

“Ast—” she starts and their fear is a shared thing, a rampaging beast thrashing in both their minds.

The mushroom explodes.

He sees it. The flash. And barely registers that before the blast swats him. His leader yelps and her legs flail. She’s going to slip, going to fall and it’ll smash her leg bones up through her pelvis and shish kabob (what?) right through her bowels and into her liver.

But it’s him who feels the ground fall away. Who tumbles, is blasted right off their little ledge.

He falls.

And he falls.

And he falls.

Everything in him goes rather numb. Goes still and silent. But something else rages up inside him and it takes him the span of a thought to realize it’s her, his illustrious leader: her panic. Her terror.

Not because he’s leaving her to die again (as she feared he’d do, oh, he’s really failed hasn’t he). It’s not for her. She’s horrified…for him. His safety. His unshattered (for the next few moments) body.

She’s afraid for him. Despairing, because she cannot reach him, cannot stop this, can only watch him fall.

“Astarion!” she screams.

It’s honest. It’s genuine. No guile or secondary motivation. She reaches out through her tadpole as if to hold him, shield him somehow simply because…because she wants him to not be—

He hits.

[shy-urban-hobbit]

Collab with the wonderful and crazy talented @elmonstro . It was so much fun working on this with you!!

Lambert absolutely hated markets. As a general rule they were noisy, crowded and more often than not at least one merchant would try to rip him off once they caught sight of either his medallion or his eyes. Aiden however, had no such hang ups and loved to people watch and talk to various merchants about their wares, the stall owners scents turning to just a general wariness which was easier to ignore as he complimented the quality of their wares or charmingly haggled over price in a way Lambert never could (whether it was due to his schools teachings in getting certain humans to lower their guard or if it was just Aiden, Lambert wasn't quite sure).

He found his gaze wandering as he stood listening to Aiden get into an animated discussion about a spice he'd never even heard of, nevermind tasted. Some of the merchants looked to be packing away for the day, a mother pulled a fussing child away as they made grabby hands at a stall selling various sweet treats and he was pretty sure that young woman just pickpocketed the old man she'd bumped into but Lambert decided he probably deserved it, if the name he called her in response to her apology for running into him was anything to go by.

The telltale flash of sunlight on metal coming from the end of the row caught his attention. They'd done this enough times now for Lambert to know he'd probably be back before Aiden even noticed he'd gone and if he wasn't, the Cat would have no problem finding him again.

The stall had a surprisingly wide array. Lambert spotted wicked looking punch knives with engraved blades alongside the usual vegetable and carving knives. A couple of ornate daggers which were definitely more for decoration than practical use if the fancy handles and sheaths were any indication took pride of place front and centre. No swords but judging from how old and stooped the smith looked, Lambert took an educated guess that the heavier stuff was back in his workshop. Lambert was about to turn around and make his way back to Aiden when he spotted them. Nestled towards the back was a pair of daggers. Small enough to be easily concealed but the blades looking wicked sharp nonetheless. One had a slight curve whilst the other was straight as a rod. The handles had the exact same simple ornamentation - a line of gold filigree winding around and up the steel like a vine whilst the accompanying sheaths were the exact same shade of royal blue. A matched set then.

He was suddenly struck by images of those blades being cradled in dark skinned, long fingered hands. The sheaths complimenting blue armour and green eyes.

"Can I see those?" He asked waiting for the smiths nod of permission before he reached over. The balance was good and there were no visible imperfections.

"My son does all the leatherwork for the sheaths." The smith piped up, a note of pride in his voice, "Treats it right and proper so it won't fade or crack." Lambert nodded as he smiled. They were perfect. At least, they were until he saw the price. There was no way he could justify spending that much, not when they didn't know how far they'd need to make their coin stretch; even with half of their earnings going into a shared purse (which he wasn't going anywhere near. That was for emergencies and besides - it wasn't much of a gift if Aiden ended up putting money towards it too).

Trying not to let his disappointment show too much, he placed the straight blade back on the stall, "How much for just the one?"

Aiden ended up meeting him halfway, smiling when he noted the direction Lambert was coming from, "Why am I not surprised you got drawn in by sharp, pointy things? Get anything?"

Lambert thought about the dagger he'd managed to tuck away into the top of his pack. The smith hadn't seemed too pleased about separating them either, but a sale was a sale. He shook his head, wrapping an arm around Aiden's shoulder, "Just looking. You done?"

Aiden stared at him briefly before nodding. If Lambert's emotions were showing on his face, he was gracious enough not to mention it.

Aiden wrinkled his nose at the slop that was passing for stew in the inn's main room and Lambert found himself sharing the sentiment. It was to be expected really; the room was barely the right side of habitable. They could put up with worn, dirty mattresses and sour ale for a night but they drew the line at meat which smelled like it was about to turn, even under all the spices and gravy the cook had tried to disguise it with.

"Ugh. I'm going to go see if I can catch that vendor we got those pies from earlier before he closes up. I'll be right back." Aiden said, draining the last of his drink and dropping a couple of coins, leaving Lambert at the sticky table before he could reply. Not that he'd been a great conversation partner since they'd left the market.

Neither of them were overly materialistic: both literally and figuratively, they couldn't afford to be and Aiden had always placed more value on the thought behind a gift rather than its worth anyway. Lambert knew logically that Aiden would love the curved blade that was currently burning a hole in his pack as he was both excited and slightly ashamed to hand it over. The incident with the smith incessantly poking at a certain sore spot. They risked their lives day in, day out and for what? The cheapest rooms they could find and having to constantly compromise on little indulgences. He knew there were plenty of others in the same situation and worse but still. It made him question sometimes if the scars and constant vitriol were worth it.

He was pulled from his thoughts by a familiar head peering around the doorway, making a 'follow me' gesture before disappearing back outside. He wordlessly allowed Aiden to lead him to the back of the building where he used an empty barrel as a boost to start scaling the outside wall. Lambert followed easily, the old stone providing plenty of hand and footholds where parts had been worn away or broken off completely over the years.

"Here." Aiden said handing over one of the still warm pies once they were settled on the sloping roof of the Inn, "I grabbed a couple for breakfast too."

They ate in an easy silence, Lambert enjoying the taste of the tender rabbit and vegetables as he people watched. Once he'd finished, he stripped down to his tunic and lay back on the sun warm tiles, watching as the sky gradually turned from various reds and oranges to a deep blue as the sun started to disappear behind the mountains which dominated the horizon on one side of the town.

He turned his head slightly to look at Aiden when he felt eyes on him, the Cat was giving him a fond look which never failed to make Lambert feel like an awkward teen with a crush.

"What?" He huffed, giving a small smile in return.

Aiden shrugged, "You look good like this is all. Relaxed suits you." He shifted his weight slightly and as he tucked a piece of hair behind his ear - something Lambert knew was a nervous habit, "I got something else while I was out. For you."

"Me?" Lambert sat himself up as he watched Aiden start rummaging through his pack before pulling out something wrapped in plain brown cloth.

"I saw it and immediately thought of you and I was going to wait for a better time. But you seemed like you needed cheering up and besides, I don't think you can get any more romantic than a rooftop at sunset."

As if on queue, a musician started playing somewhere, the sound of soft fiddle music drifting over to them through an open window. They locked eyes with each other briefly before bursting into laughter.

"I stand corrected.' Aiden said as his laughter died down, taking the strange tension that had fallen between them with it as he held the small package out to Lambert, "Go on. Open it."

Lambert couldn't place why the weight and shape felt vaguely familiar until he revealed a royal blue sheath. Oh, sweet Melitele this couldn't be happening.

"The guy said that it was part of a set," Aiden started, looking apologetic, "But he'd sold the other one earlier. I-" His expression turned to one of complete bafflement when Lambert started chuckling quietly. Those chuckles quickly morphing into full belly laughs.

"Uh, Lambert?" He asked, trying to tamp down the hurt that was rising up at his gift being laughed at.

"Shit. I'm sorry Aiden. I promise I'm not laughing at you it's just...I got something for you too."

He reached into his own back and held out a package of similar size and shape, wrapped in the same cloth. Aiden took it, eyes widening as he seemed to piece things together, "Is this-"

"Yep."

Aiden's smile rivaled the sun as he admired the blade Lambert had handed over.

"You know." Lambert said as he attached his own to his belt, "I'm pretty sure there's some places where this means we're married now. Or at least betrothed."

"Do you want it to?"

"Huh?"

Aiden looked uncharacteristically shy, not quite making eye contact, "What you just said... about the...do you want it to mean that?"

Lambert's heart started doing somersaults, "That we're married or we're betrothed?"

"Either. Both?"

It felt as if the whole continent was holding its breath waiting for his answer.

"Yes. Both. Yes."

He suddenly found himself with a lapful of Cat who seemed fully intent on kissing him stupid until the need for air became an issue.

"You?" Lambert asked, looking directly into Aiden's eyes from where their foreheads were pressed together.

"What do you think?" Aiden asked with his familiar smirk, raising Lambert's hand to his lips and kissing his knuckles, something that never failed to get Lambert flustered.

"Let me hear you say it?"

Aiden shifted so his mouth was grazing the shell of Lambert's ear, "Yes. To both."

Their mystery musician switched to something more lively, not that the two of them were paying attention. Wrapped up in each other as they watched the last sliver of sun disappear.

[daily-ish-syndicate-headcanons]

UH. I AM ONCE AGAIN APOLOGIZING FOR NOT POSTING HCS FOR A FEW DAYS MY DAD GOT MAD AT ME AND TOOK MY ELECTRONICS. TAKE TECHNO ART AS AN APOLOGY.

TUMBLR STOP DESTROYING MY IMAGE QUALITY CHALLENGE (IMPOSSIBLE) IM SO SORRY ABOUT THE QUALITY IT AINT MY FAULT AAAA

[silbeni]

Rohan apologizes?!

In which Rohan is mean to Ryoma and regrets it, which turns into him begrudgingly asking Reimi for advice about how to make amends.

Characters: Rohan Kishibe, Ryoma Román, Reimi Sugimoto.

Pairings: Ryohan

Genre: Fluff? It's lighthearted idk

(A/N): No art for this one sadly (yet) since art fight just started, but! There's a little something extra at the end.

For the last fifteen minutes, Ryoma had been rambling on without end. He had made the mistake of mentioning insects, unaware about how passionate they were for the subject, which had triggered this bout of chattiness. He liked bugs as much as the next guy, but Ryoma was on an echelon of their own. He didn't know how much of this he could take. They were usually very attentive to his signals, but he guessed their love of arthropods had blinded them.

His patience was wearing thin that day, he wanted nothing more than to work on his manga, but unfortunately, they were getting in the way of that. He stared down at the nearly blank page before him. He was only able to get a few lines in before Ryoma had stopped him. At his wits end, his irritation fired off an instinctive response.

"Don't you ever shut up?" He snapped.

He didn't immediately realize the impact that simple phrase had left. Once the room fell silent, he was just happy to finally begin drawing. Tunnel vision clouded his judgment significantly, thoughts about his work filled his head and left space for little else. He only recognized something was off when Ryoma spoke up once more.

“I'm.. sorry. I won't bother you anymore.” Their voice was notably quieter than before, stripped of its cheerful quality.

He put down his pen, and turned to look at them. He caught only a glimpse of their face as they turned to leave, but that was enough for him to immediately regret his words.

…

For the remainder of the day, he waged a losing battle against his brain. Now, he was again unable to get any work done because of his own actions. As hard as he tried, he couldn't scrub Ryoma's sad visage from his mind. He dumped another ruined manuscript into the trash, joining the other dozen from that day, and cradled his head in his hands.

The sound of someone coming up the stairs pulled him out of his stupor. Suddenly, he was electrified. In a flash, He pushed that day's failures deeper into the bin and fixed his hair. He spent the next seconds trying to too hard to seem nonchalant as he waited for Ryoma's eventual arrival.

They passed by without a word. Sparing not even a glance in his direction.

He slouched back down. There was no point in pretending he wasn't moping. Ryoma was consciously avoiding him. Truthfully, they had no reason to be in his art room, they had already finished cleaning there when they started raving about bugs. However, Ryoma would regularly come up to see him several times a day, if not to chat then to ask if he needed anything.They were friendly like that. But after what he’d said, it made sense how they wouldn't want to do that anymore.

He was used to people like his editor, his rude remarks would bounce off her like it was nothing. Or Koichi, who was meeker but would still fight back when he disagreed with him on something. People that couldn't deal with his attitude wouldn't last long around him, and he preferred it that way. Usually. But gentle, doe-eyed Ryoma, they cared too much about what people thought. With their heart on their sleeve, it was obvious when they felt hurt.

Their words echoed in his mind, bringing with it the image of a forlorn Ryoma.

He groaned and laid his head on his desk. He had to fix this, but he didn't know where to start. It wasn't in his nature to admit fault. He was going to need to, he shuddered, ask for help.

…

A cold breeze swept the ground as he stepped into the mysterious alley. Koichi was unfortunately out of reach. Something had come up, family matters. He could've waited, but the guilt was eating him alive and he refused to spend another moment agonizing over it. If Tamami was to activate his stand on him, he was sure the resulting pressure would be deadly.

So, he begrudgingly decided to ask Reimi. As an adult, he had only spoken to her a couple times, but she seemed reasonable, and most importantly, unlikely to spread the news of his plight. Admittedly, he wasn't close with many people. He could count two people who liked and talked to regularly. One being the aforementioned high schooler, and the other being the reason he was seeking help in the first place.

He called into the empty alley. “Reimi? Reimi, are you here?"

It only took a moment for the ghost girl to materialize in front of him, Arnold in tandem. "Rohan? What is it? Did you find out something about Kira?”

The shock had long worn off, but it was still surreal to witness. The midday sun illuminated the wounds they wore, reflecting shades of orange on the ever flowing droplets of blood. Such a ghastly, mesmerizing display. It occupied his mind for a moment, but he quickly remembered what he'd come for.

"...No, not yet. I…" Rohan's face burned with embarrassment. Verbalizing his predicament was difficult for him, but he would need to swallow his pride if he wanted to fix things with Ryoma.

“I need your advice.”

“Oh?” Reimi raised her eyebrows, curiosity fully piqued. It even seemed like Arnold had perked up a bit.

After a deep sigh, he began to detail what had been ailing him.. “So, there's this... ‘friend’.” He was unsure if they were close enough to be labeled that but he continued. “They were over today as I was getting ready to work. I happened to briefly mention one of their interests and they went on about it for a whole fifteen minutes.” It's true, he'd counted.

Reimi nodded attentively, prodding him to go on.

“As you probably know, like any good artist, I require my full concentration to work, as well as a keen eye, and I can't have that if I have someone talking at me. They kept prattling on and on without end, so I got irritated, and…lashed out at them. I'll admit It wasn't my best moment, but now they've been avoiding me and I'm not sure what to do.” At first, he muttered his words, but the farther he got along with his explanation, the easier it got to stomach. The initial embarrassment gave away to reveal a dull shame lying underneath.

“By any chance, Is your ‘friend’ Ryoma?” Reimi copied his stilted pronunciation.

Rohan's alarmed expression confirmed her suspicion. He had been vague on purpose, but for Reimi, it was easy to put two and two together. Just because she was trapped in an alley didn't mean she was completely shut off from the outside world. Word travels, even to places such as the intersection between the dead and the living.

Being called out so plainly took him out of the conversation for a moment. “...Yes, but how did you know?”

She smiled coyly at him. He didn't know what to garner from that. “Lucky guess.”

“So, can I ask what you told them exactly?” She took advantage of the brief silence and took charge of the conversation. She was ready to crack into the details, hands clasped. Beside her, Arnold blinked slowly, curling up at her feet.

A familiar ache filled his chest as he replayed the events in his mind for the hundredth time that day. “It was a rhetorical question… ‘Do you ever shut up?’ Those were my direct words.” He couldn't help but cringe at himself.

“I'm guessing you didn't quite say it like that.”

Reimi would've perhaps scolded him, if it didn't seem like his mind had already punished him enough on its own. He looked as if he was ready for the earth to swallow him whole, so she held back. Plus, doing so now would probably discourage him from seeking help again. For Rohan to go so out of his comfort zone for the sake of someone else… Now that was something special. It meant he was making real connections and she was happy for him.

Rohan said nothing, so she piped up again. “Yeah, hearing something like that would definitely hurt them. But you're lucky, knowing Ryoma, it's nothing an apology can't fix. Just be honest, and lay out where you messed up.”

Rohan still looked a little worried, she continued.

“Ryo is one of the most understanding people I know. They're not the type to hold things against you, so don't worry, okay? You'll be just fine.”

She watched, amused, as the relief washed over him. The change was almost comically drastic.

“Was that all?”

“Yes, that was it.”

There was an awkward silence. Arnold yawned.

Rohan cleared his throat uncomfortably. “Farewell then, Miss Reimi.” He didn't know how to make a graceful exit after being so vulnerable with her. His usual aloof demeanor wouldn’t do after that. He began to quickly reverse out of the alley.

“Little Rohan?”

At the sound of his pet name, he stopped to look at her. He didn't know why she insisted on using it, there was nothing little about him anymore. “What is it?”

“I'm glad you're finally making friends. Come visit me anytime, okay?”

He didn't know why, but the combination of her words and her wistful smile struck a chord deep inside. He couldn't think of anything to say, so he offered her a weak smile before he left.

…

When Rohan returned to his house, they were mopping the kitchen. Rohan noticed her head flick in this direction, but they made no effort to acknowledge him like they usually did. So, he approached them, instead.

They softly sang a poppy tune to themself as they made quick work of the kitchen floor in a state of utter focus. “♫Y al final, ni hablaaaar. Los dos nos destruimos, y al final, que taaaaaaal—♪”

He spoke up just as Ryoma vocalized a rising note.

“Ryoma.”

Startled, Ryoma emitted a quick, high-pitched noise, akin to what a small animal would make. Ryoma fumbled to put down their mop, nearly dropping it in the process. They popped out their wired earbuds. “Uh, y-yeah? what's up?” They bit down on their bottom lip, exposing their two front teeth. Although they were a full head taller than him, they shrunk under his gaze until they were almost eye to eye.

Rohan swallowed thickly. The moment of truth had arrived and he was ready, yet still nervous about the outcome.“...Listen, I would like to apologize for what I said the other day. It was quite rude of me to tell you to shut up like that, and for that I'm truly sorry.” The words felt strange coming out of his mouth, but they were genuine.

“Oh, no, no! It's okay!” They frantically waved their hands at him, furrowing their eyebrows. “I know you're very serious about your work, and It's my fault for distracting you like that.” They casted their eyes down in an obvious, yet earnest display of remorse.

The way she flipped it on herself made that ache within his chest return ten-fold since he was sure they truly believed that.

“No, Ryoma. I was wrong for snapping at you. You did nothing to deserve that.”

Ryoma was about to utter a rebuttal, but the way Rohan held their gaze so firmly made them choose otherwise. They conceded, a soft, sweet smile on their lips.. “...Well, I accept your apology.”

Rohan couldn't help but offer them a small smile of his own. “Good.”

They shared a pleasant moment where no words were spoken.

“Well, back to work!” He clapped. Can't have them getting too comfortable now. Ryoma nodded and went to pick up their mop once more.

After that, they both resumed work on their respective tasks. Rohan, newly reinvigorated, finished several chapters in a single sitting, meanwhile Ryoma finished cleaning up early with a cheerful spirit. Mission accomplished.

---

Reimi teases Rohan about Ryoma

A deviation from the scene with Reimi and Rohan!

* Ryoma's legal last name is Román, but they've unofficially started calling themself a Higashikata. After spending 5 years together, Ryoma is considered part of the family.

"Do you think I should get them a gift?" Rohan's head buzzed with all the possible gift ideas he could get them. Insect merchandise, tickets to a show, a bulk order of their favourite candy...

He wasn't sure his words would be enough, and he wanted to ensure forgiveness.

"I don't think that's a good idea, it would make her feel like she owes you."

He supposed that was true. They'd been very hesitant to receive any material goods from him before. If ever he'd offer, they'd vehemently decline. Once, they'd borrowed a pen from him, and had forgotten to return it. The next day, they attempted to give it back to him, but he assured them they could keep it. They borrowed it often, so he considered it theirs, anyway. When he wouldn't budge, they slipped it into his pocket along with a new one without his notice.

They were very particular about not receiving anything from anyone, but he was unsure how Reimi knew about this quality of theirs. To his knowledge, they'd only met briefly.

Rohan raised an eyebrow at her.

Reimi answered his unspoken question."They told me. We're friends, you know?"

That was a reality he hadn't considered. If he'd known, he might've not seeked her help. It was possible the word of this would get back to Ryoma, how he was looking for advice on how to reconcile with them. He wasn't sure he could survive the resulting embarrassment.The thought shook him, and his mind was flooded with countless possibilities.

Technically speaking, he could've used Heaven's Door on her to guarantee confidentiality, but doing so would feel wrong. Selfish as he was, he refused to use his ability so callously, not on her.

Then, a curiosity creeped up on him, one he couldn't shake. "Have they ever... said anything about me?" He didn't know what made him ask this, but he wasn't proud of it. Caring about what other people thought of him was something he didn't do.

The way her smile grew made him regret ever asking. So terribly smug. "Are you asking me if they like you?"

He was set alight with a reactive anger. No, that wasn't what he'd meant at all! He just wanted to know if... she had ever talked badly about him behind his back. It made no sense, It's something he could never picture Ryoma doing, but he wanted to convince himself that had been his reasoning. The great Rohan Kishibe cannot have feelings for Ryoma Higashikata.

"Nevermind, I don't need your help." He huffed and turned to leave. He had no tolerance for disrespect such as this. What a preposterous suggestion.

"Wait! Come back! I'm sorry, I won't tease you anymore!" She laughed, running to stop him before he could get far.