#in his vicinity 😐

[divorceblogger]

rereading the first book and book louis is such a cunt and an evil predator. and I was wondering why I came out of iwtv and just sort of put the book away and never thought about it again. it doesn’t really offer any extra insight into show louis except maybe the parts of his personality that they grab ahold of to enrich him as a character i.e. his love for his brother, his obsession with acquiring capital, etc

[dreamings-free]

.

[ckret2]

I'm not sure if this will come up and is therefore a spoiler. And I know it's not the vibe in the story right now. But is Ford more attracted to the triangle or the curvy blonde woman. Because I'm imagining he doesn't have a lot of breast experience and the like. Just by my vision of his whole deal.

I mentioned this in a billford headcanon post a few months ago but to copy paste:

This is a mutual monsterfucker 4 monsterfucker relationship. They look at each other and go “wow you’re such a weird-looking alien” and they’re attracted to each other BECAUSE of that, not in spite of that. I don’t want any of this “oh how could I be drawn to something so strange…” shame out of Ford, as far as I’m concerned his first crush was Mothra, a floating triangle is nothing.

Consequently, this means that if you take an AU where Bill gets stuffed in a human body, rather than making things easier, it ironically means that any PHYSICAL attraction Ford had for Bill instantly evaporates. A humanized Bill could be the sexiest damn thing in the room and everyone else in the vicinity is going 🥵💦 but Ford’s going 😐. If they hook up with Bill in a human body it’s in spite of Bill’s current appearance and it’s because Ford knows that, underneath the body, Bill’s still Bill. You could hand Ford a perfect Tumblr Sexyman supermodel and he’ll be fantasizing about a three-tiered pyramid with more teeth than a shark.

The human body does nothing for him. He'd have zero interest in the "curvy blonde woman" if they were anyone other than Bill.

(... well... maybe he'd still be a bit intrigued if said woman was a vampire. Or some kind of horrible shapeshifter in disguise.)

There's gonna be multiple people in town who are attracted to the Curvy Blonde Woman. Bill prefers the way Ford is interested in him. The other humans, deliriously attracted, can go "you have a beautiful body 💕" and Bill will go "yeah, sure, I know it is"; Ford dismissively & disinterestedly goes "it's too bad you look human" and Bill goes "THANK you, I KNOW right?!"

Thank god SOMEBODY sees him as a triangle trapped in a human prison rather than as a human. Thank god it's Ford.

[ourfag]

stede: where's goofy from?

ed, who was almost asleep: 😑...😑...😐

ed, slowly rolling onto his back so he can see stede's face: goofy. goofy the cartoon goofy?

stede, continuing to stare blankly at the ceiling: yeah where's he from

ed, who's not sure he isn't still a little bit asleep: where's—you mean—are you talking about, like, ethnically

stede: no, i mean, where's his character from? what was he in?

ed: he's disney, babe. he's one of the mickey mouse guys

stede, impatient: i know that, but where'd he get his start? we all know where mickey started, he was on that boat

ed: right. so goofy was like that, i bet

stede: goofy didn't come until later, though. i've never seen a black and white goofy. have you?

ed: mm. i don't really notice goofy. he's like pigeons, y'know? he's just kind of there

stede: they group him with mickey like he's got similar prestige. mickey and donald duck

ed: he's probably from...in the same vicinity as donald duck, i bet

stede: i've seen donald duck cartoons. i've never seen a goofy cartoon. he just started showing up.

ed: so wherever the first thing he showed up in, that's where he's from, yeah?

stede: but the first place i recall seeing him, it was already, "oh, look at that, it's goofy! we've added goofy for you! isn't it great to see him again?" i'd never seen that man before in my entire life.

ed: he's not a man he's a dog

stede: well—still, the point stands.

ed: babe. do you think maybe the first thing he was in was just a thing you haven't seen?

stede: that i'd believe. but you'd think it's something they'd market, wouldn't you?

ed: i dunno, maybe it sucked.

stede: but if it sucked, how could that have imparted him donald-duck-level status?

ed:

ed: you're leading up to something, aren't you

stede: i just think it's difficult to believe that that kind of success could have happened organically.

ed: you're saying goofy is an industry plant?

stede: well i don't think we should rule it out

[astrobuggy]

I really want Lunar to find stuff about himself now that he is living alone

For example(s):

□ They start to actually express themselves willingly now that they know nobody's in their vicinity that they could accidentally harm

■ Lunar starts to actually enjoy living by himself. Finding that there are benefits to it (he can finally have a whole room to nutella without being judged 😤🙌)

□ He finds a job he actually enjoys and is excited to go into whenever the hour comes

- Like an organization that helps teens (I saw this in a post, and I love that idea heavy!) with problems like emotions or family problems. And he's actually so happy to be there since now he can freely express himself since they aren't kids (exactly kids)

- Or Lunar opens up a small business that becomes a local store that the community he's built it around knows him and his store immediately whenever it's mentioned. Like a flower shop! Lunar does have nature powers at this point. Plus, it'd be such a great way to practice his powers

- Combined idea >:D! Lunar opens up a flower shop as a side hussle while his main job is the organization. And during his working hours at the shop, the teens he looks after come around his shop and just hang out with him there. Assisting him with the workload the shop provides. Lunar teaches them how to plant and take care of plants. Lunar does actually pay them a decent amount for the work they help him out with (I kinda see the business booming since Lunar can literally create flowers and change its colors willingly, only if the plant wants to). They come around so often that Lunar made them a hangout area at the back of the store. They appreciate it heavily (they try not to give Lunar such a hard time as payment)

■ Lunar finds a group of friends outside of the pizzaplex (FINALLY 😭🙏)

□ He starts to actually have a hygiene cycle. Lunar finds out he enjoys baths over showers. He finds bubble baths and bath bombs very enjoyable and fun to play with. And now he smells like vanilla with a mix of blueberries

■ They find hobbies other than gaming and watching shows (or nutella commercials 😐) Like gardening or even baking (shit, maybe even drawing, like how he used to during 2022)

I just need Lunar to be happy during this arc. PLEASE 😭🙏🙏 Ik I ain't getting that with the shit he's dealing (the astrals)

[meowzfordayz]

sledding

Author’s Note: feeling out of practice writing wise, but hope you enjoy this tidbit of wintery wonder nonetheless. 🛷❄️

sledding

Rengoku Kyojuro x Reader, Shinazugawa Sanemi x Reader, Tomioka Giyuu x Reader, Uzui Tengen x Reader

Word Count: ~700

CW: explicit language

~faqs~

“Are you ready to go sledding?!” 😁

“... sledding?” 😴

You’re still half asleep, Kyojuro’s cheerful voice matching the insistent sunlight streaming into the bedroom

“Sledding!!” 😁😁

Do you even own sleds? 🤨

“I made us sleds this morning!” 🤗

What time is it?? 🥱

Also-

Your eyes blink open

“You made me a sled???” 😳

You may be half asleep, but damn if you aren’t swooning out of bed and getting dressed to go sledding with your dream of a man 😍

“I tried to,” he amends, “They fell apart when I test rode them into town, but I found professionally crafted sleds after I arrived.”

“Kyojuro, I can’t believe you made us sleds.”

“Yes, well, they are fueling the fire now.” 😅

“That’s fine,” you grin softly, sleepy gaze finally focusing enough to take in the shimmering adoration of your lover, his enthusiasm rivaling—and beating��the coziness of your blankets, “Sledding in ten minutes?”

“Perfect!” ❤️‍🔥

“Knowing you, this is going to end with you sledding yourself into oblivion and me desperately scrambling to the bottom of a cliff in tattered hopes of saving you.” 😐

“How poetic.” 😌 … 😏 “I didn’t pin you as the desperate type.”

Sanemi growls, “Shut up.”

“In case you didn’t notice, this is a pretty mellow hill. Definitely no cliffs in the vicinity.”

“You’ll find one.”

“You’re being unreasonable.”

“Cautious.” 😒

“The Wind Pillar isn’t a cautious man.”

“Well right now I’m not the Wind Pillar. I’m Sanemi, and I love you.”

Awww 🥹

“Is the snow getting to your brain already?” 🧐

“You like when I’m all sappy and shit.” 🙄

“You are pretty cute when you’re worrying about me.” 😍

“No injuries,” he says sternly, “And no cliffs.”

“Got it,” you wink, “I love you!”

—

Sanemi might roll his eyes at you, but you know better

He was the one who invited you to go sledding 🤭

“What?”

You swallow a giggle, your sled halting beside Giyuu’s, his legs and arms tangled in brambles as flecks of snow float onto his head and shoulders

“What?” 🥲

“I thought you’d be a little more coordinated.” 😆

He blushes faintly, staring down at his knees with a quiet sigh

“But I guess all it takes to topple the mighty Water Pillar is a wooden sled.” 🤭

“I told you I’ve never done this before.”

You hate to see him so crestfallen ☹️

“You were doing so well.” 🥹

He smirks knowingly, “This is the third bush.”

“The steering isn’t intuitive?” 😅

“The third bush in about five meters.”

You stand up, your sled in one hand as you brush excess snow off your pants with the other

“Do you want to ride together?”

Giyuu snorts, “Do you want to end up in a bush?” 🙃

“With you?” you grin, leaning down to kiss his cold forehead, “Absolutely.” 🥰

“What if I hit a tree?” you pout

The hill is very hilled, and the trees at the bottom look very… tree-y 😵‍💫

Tengen shrugs, “You’re not going to hit a tree.”

“How do you know?”

“Because you’re smarter than that,” he replies airily

You pause, “Am I though…?”

“... … …?” 😬

*cue indignation* / *cue instant groveling*

“ARE YOU KIDDING ME.” 😠 / “OF COURSE YOU’RE SMART! You’re SOOOOO intelligent!” 😭

“Tengen.” 😐

“Dig your heels into the ground.”

“How about we just sled together?” ☺️

For the first time in forever, fluttering your eyelashes gets you nowhere

“Pleeease?” 🥺

Nothing.

“Why nooooot?” 😢

He’s only a little pink when he mutters, “Then how are we gonna race?” 🤓

—

Unsurprisingly, Tengen wins the race by a lot

Also unsurprisingly, Tengen crashes into a tree

No pain, no gain

“ARE YOU OKAY?” 😳

“Are you okay?” 😏

????? It would appear that he is grinning

“Y’know, okay with being a LOSER?” 😎

To his credit, he carries you and the sleds all the way home 🫡

[car-o-line]

Can you do tpn hcs for a fem! reader that's extremely silent, very antisocial, and withdrawn and is a girl of very few words, but also intelligent on a terrifyingly dangerous level, and she often jump scares people due to how quiet she is?

A.N: I saw this comment on Isabella’s lullaby on yt and it said, “Gotta appreciate Ray for keeping his goth aesthetic despite the white clothing he wears all the time” and it was just really funny😭😭😭

WARNING: This has spoilers for TPN/ also fem!reader.

Tpn characters with a fem!reader of few words

Emma:

Sunshine and moon friendship for sure.

Though she was a bit intimidated by you at first.

She swore up and down that’d she’d make you open up to people more.

She doesn’t mind your silence really, she just wants you to learn how to express yourself!

And she also wants to hear you voice-

She’s probably only heard you voice a few times, but she cherishes them so much.

You probably spoke a bit more when Emma and Norman had found out the secret about the orphanage.

(You found out because Emma and Norman told you outside near the wall before they told Ray, but Ray was spying on you 3 so it doesn’t matter)

Your intelligence scares Emma tbh.

Like you’re probably on Mamas level of wits.

Honestly when you do talk she probably misses what you say because of how excited she gets when you do talk.

Sometimes she doesn’t even know that you’re in the same room as her, and it makes her feel really bad :(

Like sometimes you four will have a meeting and she’ll randomly be like,

“Wait, where’s y/n!? She’s part of the-”

“She. Is. Right. There.”

“What? looks beside her oh!”

You scare her so bad sometimes omg.

She has to constantly look around to make sure that you’re in or not in the same room she’s in.

Regardless she thinks that you’re the best sister ever, even with how quiet you are.

Norman:

You’re personal translator.

Somehow he knows what you’re thinking without showing it on your face, even if you tried to mask it. So after a while you just kinda relied on him to express what you’re saying.

It’s kind of scary actually.

He doesn’t mind your quiet nature, he thinks you’re calming in a sense.

When the secret was discovered he expected you to remain stoic, for an emotional y/n was uhm..unnatural.

In which you did, though he could see a bit of sorrow in those blank eyes of yours.

Like I said when you do speak it’s a surprise but he’s not like Emma where he’s too excited to hear you, he’ll think it’s nice to hear your voice but doesn’t make it a big deal.

Intelligence wise, you both are pretty head to head.

You both probably play chess a lot.

You like it because of the minimal interactions, he likes it because it’s a learning experience.

He’ll challenge you to more activities as well.

Especially tag.

Please stop scaring him though.

At least once a day he gets jump scared by you, during tag, in the halls, or even just standing he gets on edge.

So his solution? He asked you to tap his shoulder whenever you enter his vicinity.

It saves him lots of heartaches.

Ray:

Relates to you at a point.

You’re antisocial, he’s an emo. Same thing.

He wasn’t worried about your shipment coming early because you’re hella smart.

He honestly does not give af if you spoke or not.

Thought you were mute when you came into the orphanage but Isabella shut down that theory and simply told him that you didn’t like talking.

You give him heart attacks sometimes.

Like when everyone is playing tag while he’s reading, sometimes he looks to the side just to see you staring at him over his shoulder.

Please stop.

He loves you greatly but just stop.

“What are you doing, go play tag.”

“😐”

“I’m not reading to you.”

Honestly he’s surprised Isabella didn’t make you be the traitor.

But he wouldn’t want that burden on you anyway.

After Norman’s departure you became a little more talkative, not having someone to rely on translating for you anymore.

Don’t push it tho, a sentence per day.

“Emma, do you think I should wear a skirt or pants..?”

Those were literally the first words he’s heard you said since you found out the secret.

He hopes you’ll talk to HIM soon🙄

[thatdeadaquarius]

Okay so-- i was reading some sagau posts and came across this one where the reader was an army vet and my brain just Did Its Thing--

So now I'm here to inflict this on to you--

Would guns be considered as catalysts. And would they only do Phys Damage.

Me reading this ask:

😶 😐 🤨 🧐 🧐 😰 🥲 😭😭😭 💀

STOP YOU'VE INFLICTED ME WITH PSYCHOLOGICAL DMG FROM THIS ASK 😭

(Also srry took so long to respond, when i didnt realize how short this was/was just sitting over here 😓)

^ For the sake of gun imagery being a lot/maybe staff might hate me for it,

we'll put this gay shit instead (i almost mispelled to "gay shot" lmao)

☆

Sun: Army Veteran Reader, Gender neutral Reader (you/they/them)

Orbit: SHORT Headcanons

Stars: everybody bc i think itd be funny

Comets & Meteors: Content Warnings: gun stuff, mild violence, mild cursing & Trigger Warnings: Gun fun everywhere

THIS ASK HAS ME GIGGLING TO MYSELF LIKE A MANIAC

You're out here having a whole gun they let you take for off-base

And u ofc have a license so u can conceal carry

(idk how non-american gun laws work, but tbh ours are so fucked idk how they work here either, just that an army guy i knew once could have his gun when he got back home)

And ofc ur just paranoid enough (more like it just makes u feel safe)

That when u get yoinked into a portal to a silly little brightly colored gacha game fantasy world, the gun comes with 💀

Id like to add in my silly little "ur in a video game, so video game rules" AU version of genshin so:

The only other gun (ish) wielder (Mika) has unlimited bolts

Sooo I'd think your gun would be the same jfc lol

NO BC YOUD SCARE THE ACTUAL SHIT OUT OF EVERYONE IN UR VICINITY IN A BATTLE

BC GUNSHOTS ARE A DIFFERENT TYPE OF LOUD

When u first stumble into abyss monsters/hostile creatures of the realm, u nearly scare off a Lawlachurl bc every shot's like thunder to these bitches😭

So not only the monsters but the vision holders think u fucking summoned lightning

OMG THE BULLETS ARE SO FAST THEYD PROBABLY NOT SEE IT

ESP BC DISTRACTED BY GUNSHOT LOUDNESS

SO U AIM THIS LITTLE BLACK CROSSBOW (???) AND THINGS JUST DIE (OR GET RIDDLED WITH HOLES) WITH NO CLEAR ARROW STICKING OUT

STOPP- you're becoming a witchy god or smth to all of Teyvat bc it just looks like hella high level magic atp to them LMAOOO

Rumors of you get out of hand and say u just point or snap ur fingers and things get wounded/just die on the spot 💀

Oh another difference between Teyvatians seeing ur gun vs. crossbow (what they know)

Is that guns are wayyyy more destructive

Like an arrow would get shot but it'd bounce off of things like rock or wood or metal, maybe dent a little depending on how close

But a bullet goes thru that shit so easy, and leaves a whole little explosion behind, once again depending on range

(I once saw a Mythbusters episode? of them proving bullets would definitely go thru car doors, like movies lied to u, this is why drive-bys acc work like for gangs)

Lmao, the image of you in like full armor with a Teyvat made automatic gun after showing it to blacksmiths

Makes u just more convincing as a god, esp bc military training

(Ppl like Gorou and Kokomi begging for military tactics/training ur world has done)

...

....Ok.

I'll address it.

But only so u dont think im stupid later.

Yes, the Fatui have guns.

No, this not the same as having a glock LMAO

End of story.

(Also, urs runs on bullets, whereas the Fatui rely on magic/delusions to power theirs, plus they dont seem as fast or destructive as urs, more "explosions aimed at you" than real bullets)

Which,,, u leave the managing of ppl copying ur gun to ppl like the Qixing or smth, but make sure to give them advice on good gun laws if teyvat accidentally revolutionizes bc of ur advanced gun that anybody can wield (non-vision users)

Thats the best ive got abt that

Oh, also enjoy being praised as a War god now.

:)

☆

... dammit i had smth i was gonna tell u guys-

Uh what tf was it, it was important

OH

Next post is the Eldritch God Oneshot! Look out for it :) !!

☆

Safe Travels Kid,

💀♒️

♡the beloveds♡

@karmawonders / @0rah-s / @randomnatics / @glxssynarvi / @nexylaza / @genshin-impacts-me / @wholesomey-artist / @thedevioussmirk / @the-dumber-scaramouche / @chocogi / @fallen-starr / @areaderofbooks

If you wanna join a taglist, DM me what for! "Pspspsss, please tag me for [All SAGAU posts, Only SAGAU Language AUs, diff fandom, etc.]!"

(If you ever wanna drop, just DM me! "No more taglists/[specifically this AU/fandom] please!")

[hazbinhappy]

If you’d like, what about Vox x a reader who’s very wary of men and it took Vox a long time to gain their trust because of this. - @am-i-interrupting

A/N: felt this in my damn core

You drop into hell and I won’t lie I think hell’s gender population is definitely more men ✋😐🤚

Anywho! You drop for whatever reason probably a dumb one because the Divine Judge was feeling silly and nitpicky

You work for Velvette in this case!

It’s not like you work for her because she’s nice, no it’s for the pay and there is wayyyyyy less men than anywhere else in Hell and that’s a win

One day she mentions that they’re doing a “Vee’s Specialty line” and that she needs you to help design the outfits

you were originally wary of this and when it came to designs you simply just emailed them solely to Velvette, but she texted explicitly "These are shit!! Vox is on his way to "consult" be here ASAP don't want him here longer than he needs to be"

you kept your distance, but quickly took the clothes he gave for inspiration

you vaguely heard Vox speak to Velvette about your weird behavior, but she was half listening

Vox checked in occasionally about how the designs were coming along because he's a damn control freak

you barely responded, often in short words or sentences

actually requesting that he emailed you instead (which he actively ignored and kept coming in person)

if you've played animal crossing new horizons think of Sable! you have to keep talking to her daily for her to open up

now i'm not saying that works here obviously (if it was me i'd be pissed off)

but occasionally he'll get a full response from you

you find it odd how interested he is in the clothes that are based of his likeness (Valentino just gave his designs the okay and left it at that)

soon enough you come to feel weird when he doesn't visit you at his regular time and feel sad and like something is missing

once the clothes are finally out to the public he has no reason to visit you until Velvette excitedly (while still being mean) that Vox is finally upgrading his wardrobe like the old man he is and that you're in charge of it

....yay more work

jk you're not ecstatic about the work in the slightest, but it means your routine is back to normal

he's probably the guy who is allowed within a normal vicinity of you that actually can get a full conversation

i wouldn't say y'all eventually date, but you guys definitely become borderline friends/acquaintances!

probably would take an eternity to date each other

but guess what! y'all have that

[bun-bun07]

Why do people hate Jean Moreau?

Does anyone else as a AFTG fan just go on to social media, AND get slapped in the face with a realization that people actually have the time and energy to hate on jean? No just me ☹️

Jean did not have enough lines in the book for me to hate that boy like I went through all three books and was just like there's nothing I really hated about jean if anything he was less noticeable at times, the more he spoke the more I loved him and the little things that were mentioned about him made me worried for that boy safety 😭

Like I truly did not believe that jean Moreau who was barely mentioned in the book was a bad person 🙌

Like when I go back I really don't think Jean went through the trouble of searching up neils past just because he pissed off Riko☹️ bro does not have enough freedom or time for that the only way that boy would actively go searching for information was if Riko told him and let's not forget get that the only why Riko could get close to Neil without causing an uproar/problem with the rest of the foxes was using jean as his little warning like I just knew Riko put him up to that no one's that level of petty🤣

And all of my time reading the book I didn't even think Jean was even rude 🥲

It felt like during the whole book he was trying too hard to be mean like in front of Riko, if it was up to Jean himself he most likely would blend into the background and wouldn't even speak the whole dinner.

Like jean actually research anything on Andrew's past? Jean does not care. Jean is too busy just trying to survive in the hell that he's lived in for years now.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Jean: welcome to the Ravens cort..

Neil:... You mean Cult?🤨

* jean who doesn't even bother to correct him*

Jean: .....child anyways😐, aS I WaS saying-😒

----

Neil-menace to society-josten :*breathe in Riko's general vicinity*

Jean -just trying to make it- Moreau:*gripping the seat* Have mercy😰....

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Like bro was really just trying to make it unnoticed during this whole book but ended up just catching strays 🤣 I was just feeling bad for him doing the whole book 🙌

[11queensupreme11]

What would the yanderes do if Percy was on the receiving end of that trope in anime where an attack either she released or was unleashed onto her just completely ripped her top open and the only thing between anyone and an eyeful of Percy's breasts is like convenient smoke or hair placement 😂

LOL????

loki wouldn't get horny simply because he's too busy laughing his ass off and making fun of her 😭 then he'd realize other ppl are looking and get jealous and take her away (he'll come back to kill the dude who caused it tho)

poseidon is immediately interfering to cover her up and kill each every witness in the vicinity. no one but him is allowed to see his precious daughter-wife in such a vulnerable state 😐🔱

hades is another that won't get horny. he'll be more concerned over percy's wellbeing. he'll quickly lend her his coat to wear (which is soooo cute cuz he's huge so percy's definitely gonna get swallowed up by it 🥰). her attacker has a good chance of survival; while hades is focused on her, they could make a run for it but they better hope hades doesn't come after them later

this is one of the rare cases beelzebub would actually be shocked. he'd definitely stare at her naked body, and then wonder how on earth the other guy managed to do this (and can he teach him too??). then he would step in to help her

apollo would get a boner immediately 💀

[wonusite]

spooki szn nerd!josh (nerd joshie AGAIN because 1) I feel like that's just my Brand™ at this point and 2) I cannot get this bitch out of my head!!! Gonna have to start charging him rent at this point) headcannon since is officially October

.

.

You dragging josh to a halloween costume party and surprise surprise, he's unimpressed and like 😐 the whole time. You probably had to wrangle him into some costume because "it's crucial we dress up joshie!!" and you being you, of course it's some kind of couples costume. You're probably dressed in something slutty because of course you are, and the constant male attention you're getting is starting to piss josh off. Even though you stay tethered to him the entire night (really, you might as well just be a hyperactive puppy he's holding the leash to. You excitedly hop from group to group, seeing and talking to everyone but you're always looking back, making sure he's within hand holding vicinity. fucking simp) the amount of wandering eyes over your body, the predatory gazes of the men (and several women tbh) trying to get a peak at a flash of your panties when you turn a little too fast, they're all starting to cause jealousy to settle in Joshua's bones (especially the one in his pants AYEEEEE).

Usually when you drag him to your frat parties you have a little more class when it comes to hooking up with you boyfriend, typically waiting until you get home to go at each other like feral rabbits. This time though, josh can't seem to push down the annoyance that fills his entire body at people seemingly challenging his claim over you, so as soon as he gets a chance to, his dragging you upstairs and into some poor guy's bedroom, not even giving you a chance to speak before he has you bent on all fours, roughly grabbing your panties and pulling them down, giving you a few harsh spanks to your ass before delivering a couple to your sopping wet cunt.

Of course, you're already wet for him. It's not like you can be blamed, he's your boyfriend and you're ferociously down bad for him. At this point I'm almost sure he could turn you on by taking a shit but I digress!! He's been hard since he first had the idea of fucking you at the party, and wastes no time rectifying that. He slides in without warning, knowing you love when he's rough with you, treating you like some insatiable slut (though tbh you are, just like, exclusively for him).

You've taken his cock hundreds, no, probably thousands of times at this point (it's actually quite impressive, you'd probably have a Guiness world record if that kind of thing existed for sex) and you moan at the sudden intrusion, clenching wildly around his cock. He starts thrusting almost immediately, forcing every last inch of his big cock into your tight little hole, groaning when you whimper and cry out for him. He grabs at your hair and encourages you to cry out for him, to moan his name, to make sure everyone at the party knows who exactly it is that's making you feel so good, that he's the only one who could ever fill your pussy up like this. Like the absolutely angel you are, you obey his every command, preening at the cooing and attention he gives you when you listen to his instructions.

It's not long before he cums, filling you to the brim and bringing you over the edge with him. You think it's the end and start to make yourself presentable to join the party again but Joshua roughly throws you back on the bed, your pussy clenching involuntarily at the motion. The smirk he gives you as he turns you on your back to stare at him tells you you're in for a long, long night.

After 4, or maybe 5? more rounds, you're thoroughly fucked out and Joshua's finally beginning to feel spent. He figures he'll get you home so he can quite literally fuck you through the rest of the night, so he grabs your discarded panties and winds them around his index and middle finger, slowly starting to push them into your ravaged cunt that's still leaking his cum. You babble, an incoherent mess of "yes joshie", "please baby" and "give it to me please" spilling from your lips. And just because he's a generous man, Joshua, the ever so sweet gentleman, starts rubbing your clit, making you cum around his fingers and your panties.

You're absolutely delirious at this point, needing his help to stand up. And luckily for your boyfriend, when you're fucked out you're needy. The whole time he's trying to get the two of you dressed and presentable-ish so you can leave, you're whining, clinging to him, sucking hickey after hickey into his neck to try to leave your mark and stake your claim on him, though it's not really necessary. His hair is a mess, a light sheen of sweat making stray hairs stick to his forehead. Both your lips are red, swollen and now, courtesy of you not being able to keep your hands to yourself, you both have an array of red and purple bruises all over your necks (he leaves quite a few on your hips and thighs too, but he'll be damned if anyone else gets a glimpse of that). You, even after Josh's fruitless attempts, look like a hot fucking mess. Your makeup is smudged beyond salvation and your hair is a knotted mess thanks to round 3 where he came all over your face and made an absolutely sloppy mess out of you.

You start making your way down the stairs and out of the party, Joshua careful to shield your now bare ass and pussy from onlookers from below. Getting you to do anything when you're this cock drunk isn't an easy feat, with you clinging to and kissing Joshua at every single opportunity you can find. Some party goers that have only heard rumours about you being enamoured by the stoic nerd are slack-jawed, unable to comprehend that you, the hot, bubbly, outgoing, popular cheerleader is this much of a simp for someone who they can only describe as an attractive brick wall. Paying them no mind, your boyfriend guides the two of you out of the party, pressing kisses on your lips and whispering I love yous into your ear periodically.

The rest of the night is a blur of sex and aftercare in your shared appartment, with you falling asleep almost instantly the second you feel Joshua's big arms wrap around you as the two of you finally settle down for the night. Waking up in the morning, the previous nights events flood your memory, and Joshua wakes up to you with your big bright eyes happily blinking up at him, a wide smile on your face.

He looks at you with an inquisitive look, a "can I help you?” slipping out with a chuckle.

You shake your head with a smile, leaning up to press a sweet kiss to his lips, leaving him with nothing but a "happy Halloween baby" and a mischievous twinkle in your eye.

.

.

hehe this was supposed to be a short little headcannon oops I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless :')

[ckret2]

Why do you ship billford? i want to hear all ur handcanons and reasons hehehe

ALL of them? My friend I do not think you comprehend the magnitude of the task you have requested. I can tell you some of them.

Here's a post I already wrote listing why I like them, and here's a post about what Ford thinks about Bill, and I just made a post about what Bill thinks about Ford because I've had it typed up on discord for ages and decided it needs its own post.

So, some headcanons:

⭐️ While most people who ship it headcanon that they had a romantic relationship of some kind pre-betrayal, my default headcanon is that they DIDN'T have a relationship—mainly because I enjoy making Bill, specifically, miserable, and I like headcanoning that Ford violently lost interest in Bill at the EXACT moment Bill developed a sincere interest in Ford.

Meaning that Bill "LOOKS LIKE MR. BRAINIAC FINALLY GOT SMART" Cipher destroyed his own chances five seconds before going "no no wait I actually want to keep this one," and that's SO funny. I made a graph!

⭐️ From Lost Legends we know that Ford used to date a siren. In the original Greek mythology, sirens didn't woo sailors by singing prettily; sirens offered knowledge about distant and future events. Sailors wrecked their ship upon the sirens' shores and starved to death at their feet just to listen to them sing about the secrets of the universe.

What I'm saying is: Ford has a type.

⭐️ This is a mutual monsterfucker 4 monsterfucker relationship. They look at each other and go "wow you're such a weird-looking alien" and they're attracted to each other BECAUSE of that, not in spite of that. I don't want any of this "oh how could I be drawn to something so strange..." shame out of Ford, as far as I'm concerned his first crush was Mothra, a floating triangle is nothing.

⭐️ Consequently, this means that if you take an AU where Bill gets stuffed in a human body, rather than making things easier, it ironically means that any PHYSICAL attraction Ford had for Bill instantly evaporates. A humanized Bill could be the sexiest damn thing in the room and everyone else in the vicinity is going 🥵💦 but Ford's going 😐. If they hook up with Bill in a human body it's in spite of Bill's current appearance and it's because Ford knows that, underneath the body, Bill's still Bill. You could hand Ford a perfect Tumblr Sexyman supermodel and he'll be fantasizing about a three-tiered pyramid with more teeth than a shark.

⭐️ Bill WILL play Dungeons Dungeons & More Dungeons with Ford, voluntarily, for fun. However he always wants to DM and he's brutal.

⭐️ I think that the majority of the Henchmaniacs used to be like Ford: young, naive, USEFUL aliens that Bill was trying to manipulate into getting access to their universes, probably by trying to get THEM to build portals. None succeeded, but they got far enough along that either they chose to join Bill, they were forced to flee their dimension and join Bill—or, due to Bill, their home no longer existed, so they might as well join him. I think that every one of them was once his ✨favorite✨ person. I think he sealed the deal in winning their friendship & loyalty with a calculated, scripted display of vulnerability—the exact same one he tried to use on Ford: I liberated my constricting, flat world; I want to liberate yours...

He may have dated some of them, too, especially right after they joined. Because he wouldn't have recruited them unless he thought they were JUST ♥ LIKE ♥ HIM. They're special, they're important...

... and after a few years, Bill realizes they're not that much like him after all and loses interest, and they sink down into the rank-and-file with the rest of the Henchmaniacs. The Henchmaniacs are FULL of people who were once Bill's Favorite—his best friends, his confidants, his lovers—and most of them are desperate to catch his eye and be that important to him again. They gave everything they had to Bill only for Bill to get bored.

So when he shows off the human who enabled Weirdmageddon and invites him to join the gang, they know EXACTLY what they're looking at: Bill's newest favorite. They know how this goes, he'll be gaga over this earthling for the next 5 to 500 years and then Ford will be just another regular Henchmaniac. The fact that Ford doesn't seem eager to join is no problem. Ford isn't the only soon-to-be Henchmaniac whose world Bill ended; some of them had to be talked around into joining, too.

⭐️ I think that, if you took Bill with his canon personality, didn't give him any character development, and then made him GENUINELY fall in love with Ford, and had him SINCERELY try his hardest to be a good, loving, healthy partner... he would still be toxic as hell for Ford.

Part of what draws Bill to Ford is that he sees SO much of himself in Ford—some accurate, some just projection. (You who crave power and fame and fortune like I do; you who also hunger to be all-knowing; you who would also sacrifice your world and your family and everyone you know and love to get what you want; you with an ego the size of the moon, oh, you deserve an ego the size of a star.) And so he assumes that what Ford really wants is what BILL would want in Ford's shoes.

And if Bill was Ford, what he'd want is to REALLY be the man who changed the world. Bill thinks he's fulfilling all Ford's wildest dreams if he gives that to him. Naming Ford the orchestrator of Weirdmageddon is the most generous gift Bill could ever offer.

Even if Bill is Really Really Trying and accepts that okay Ford doesn't want his world invaded: his idea of showing Ford love will be pulling the strings to get Ford fame & fortune. Teach him secrets of the universe that he can publish in a dozen groundbreaking scientific papers, arrange meetings with politicians and celebrities, get him a Nobel, get him an Oscar-winning bio pic, get him a billion dollars, get him EVERYTHING Ford's ever imagined as a marker of success and then double it.

When Bill's manipulating Ford, he offers praise and approval in little drops periodically leaking from the faucet, to keep Ford thirsty for more. When Bill's LOVING Ford, he just breaks the fire hydrant and lets it flood the street.

But the thing is, that's not good for Ford. That'll never make him truly happy. Ford's only ever learned how to measure his success by external markers, but the more external markers he collects the more he'll feel like he hasn't Made It yet. It's even possible that knowing Bill's helped him get this far will make him feel like he hasn't really EARNED it. He could have the whole world handed to him and he'll feel just as dissatisfied as he was on the day he first summoned Bill.

And Bill, even if he's trying his HARDEST to do this right, wouldn't be able to understand why this isn't working. A trillion years old and the only way he knows how to show love (or to receive love) is by showering someone in praise and gifts and favors. If that doesn't work, he doesn't know what's left.

[morroodle]

Something funny about a Morro who stops giving any fucks. Like before Harumi chills out and has her redemption or whatever, I think the contrast is funny because a Morro without all his drive and anger as furious as his winds is just :/ okay, nothing more to do here. He's at peace now, so he's like Grumpy Cat or Miette. He deserves to laze around and be bored and ^_^ "Sensei!!" as Wu hands him a bag of chips and all the Ninja are like 😐 also the imagery of someone going @/him with a spray bottle is funny, the hissing cat energy...so yeah, more villains trying to incite him to feel that anger again and join them and he's just, done. He wants a break and live with his dad again. Get to be the person he was before his obsession with becoming the green ninja changed him. It's like when someone goes to therapy or finally stops clenching their jaw so hard and they turn into pudding like "woah" everything you pent up inside just melts away and now you need some floor time. Bring a board with red strings connected "here's why you should join my evil army" *munching chips slowly, throws away the empty bag* "enlightening" *crosses arms behind head and leans back for a nap* *gets woken by loud banging noises* ok now u made him mad. Morro is on his retirement now. Fighting villains? Ninja training? Trying to destroy the world and get revenge? Sounds exhausting now. But if someone tries to disturb the peace that's when he'll do something and it's SPOOKY because he's like jelly or draped like a boneless cat over furniture but then someone's about to fuck shit up in his general vicinity and he opens one eye to glare at you and it's paralyzing so hey at least the Ninja know he cares somewhat on his own terms. Also he would like more snacks pls.

Hes retired but he does in fact still have rabies

[pinkpinkmermayyy]

Me: where's my friend pinky I haven't seen them on my dash

**goes to bother you sees that I must have hit unfollow last time I came to mass reblog** 😐😐😐

BUT HI YOUR BIRD IS SO SO CUTE She looks so bright and happy 💖💖💖💖

OMGG I HATE WHEN I ACCIDENTALLY UNFOLLOW A MOOT AND REALIZE A LONG TIME AFTER SKFHSKFHD 😭😭😭🤪

thank you, but little do you know, she’s not really happy, she’s hissing at me because I have the absolute audacity to exist within her vicinity /j (it was the first time I held her and since I am a Stranger she did not like me at first, this is her now though)

[imnobodyuknow]

Surprise!!!

Well, I hate to tell y'all this, but...

I wrote another fan fiction!

Yep... And if that wasn't cringey enough, it's one about my favorite Ace Attorney ship!

And did I happen to mention I'm a bit of a hopeless romantic?

Dang, I'm just diabolical today. 😐

But for those of you who don't mind fanfiction, ships, and a bit of non-canon romance (and have played through both of the Ace Attorney Chronicles games), please enjoy a brand-new short story featuring two characters from my first one -- Ryunosuke Naruhodo and Susato Mikotoba!

I was hoping to have it ready by Valentine's Day, but I don't mind having a little extra time to polish things, so I'll just say "oh, well" to that. 🤷‍♂️ Now, without further ado...

***The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles Spoilers Ahead!!!***

A Moment of Warmth

A short story by the Co-Mod

Dedicated to anyone struggling to stay positive (and every hopeless romantic out there)

5th December, 8:08 pm

McGilded Park

(Ugh…  We sure picked a lousy time to visit this place again.  London winters are the worst.)

The young man slumped over on the bench in his brown wool coat, crossing his arms and hating the bitter cold with every fiber of his frigid being.  He was grateful to be able to rest after the long trip from Japan to Great Britain, which had ended with a loud greeting and a sorry attempt at playing the violin from his eccentric British detective friend.  He was also grateful to be in an open space with no sound, save for that of a light wind blowing.  And at the moment, he was especially grateful to be alone.  He had met many friendly people here in London, but as a defense attorney, someone who had to deal with some of the worst cheaters, liars, and cold-hearted murderers on a regular basis (and had already seen more than his fair share of them), he was all too happy to be the only person in the vicinity.

He wished he knew of a better place to find solitude, though.  The only other quiet locations he could think of were the office of Prosecutor van Zieks and the house of the Garridebs, and he was never one to intrude unnecessarily.  Much as he loathed the biting cold, he preferred it over the chaotic company he was accustomed to here.  Being a Japanese in the Great British Empire had brought about a number of bizarre events in his life, some good, others not so good.  He was grateful to have established a reputation as Ryunosuke Naruhodo, a skilled defense attorney, and was equally grateful that his close friends Kazuma and Susato, also Japanese, had themselves achieved good standing with the people of London.  He was well aware that respect and social standing were often difficult to come by for outsiders to this nation.  All things considered, he and his friends had been truly blessed during their time here.

Even so, he was struggling to feel grateful for much else at the moment.  The cold weather and the dark sky above him reminded him of how cold and dark the human soul could be.  In just a single year as a defense attorney, he dealt with criminals liars of many different sorts—one of which had tried to frame him for murder—and he was well aware that this was only the tip of the iceberg when it came to the evil still lurking in Great Britain, his home country of Japan, or any other land populated by people.

“Haah…  People…” he muttered to himself.  When he was younger, he’d read all about evil villains in books, both real and fictional, but seeing them with his own eyes had been an entirely different experience.  Not only were they less fun to observe in person, but they often had a way of leaving one with a somewhat less hopeful outlook on life, as well as the future of the world and humanity.  And then another thought came to him – with all the new gizmos and gadgets being invented that were making possible things that were previously impossible, who could say what would happen if one of them were to fall into the wrong hands?  What new sorts of horrible crimes would be concocted and executed, and how many would suffer for it?  The thought made him shiver…although it didn’t make much difference in the cold winter weather.

On the other hand, he had been lucky enough to become someone who, with the help of friends, both old and new, was able to stand against the evil schemes of the wicked and put an end to them.  He’d never thought of himself as a hero, but somehow, he’d found himself in the position of being one now, at least in the eyes of his clients.  The smiles on their faces and words of gratitude always seemed to make everything he’d been through for them feel less like a trial and more like the end of a thrilling adventure, or like reaching a long journey’s destination.  It was those bright moments that truly made his efforts worthwhile in the end.  But even so, unlike the fictional heroes he’d read about, he knew he would never save an entire town or city from a dastardly villain’s evil plot.  Whether in Great Britain, Japan, or any other nation, all he could do was save one person at a time, and often only by sheer luck.  He was simply a cog in the machine known as the legal system, and one cog could never be strong or efficient enough to keep the machine from breaking every now and then.

But regardless of what he was able or unable to do, he knew one thing for sure – he needed a break from people.  Why else would he be out in the freezing cold, if not to get away from society and spend some time by himself, after all?  Sadly, he couldn’t say that he felt much better now that he was alone.  All he felt was the coldness of his surroundings, which only served to remind him of the coldness in the world and in pe-

“Naruhodo-san?”

He turned his head quickly in the direction of the familiar woman’s voice he’d just heard.  Standing only a few feet to his left was the concerned face of his judicial assistant and friend.  She wore a pink wool coat with the same design his coat had, though a bit fancier.

“Susato-san? Wh-What are you…?”

“I…could not help but worry when I saw that you had come out here by yourself.  And in the freezing cold, of all places.  Is there…something wrong?”

“Er…  N-No, of course not!” he answered with a sheepish grin. “I just…wanted to be alone for a moment, that’s all.  Heh…”

Her face grew more concerned.  “I see…  But…why out here?  You could catch a cold in a matter of minutes!  And besides, isn’t it rather uncomfortable?”

“I…  Well…  Uh…”

He paused for a moment, trying to collect his thoughts.  Why was he out in this frigid park?  Sure, there were no people here, but it hadn’t done much to relieve his inner stress.  And it wasn’t doing much for his outer self, either.  What had even been the point?

“…There is something wrong, isn’t there?” Susato asked with even stronger concern in her voice.  “What is it, Naruhodo-san?”

He struggled to find an answer.  She certainly wasn’t wrong, but what could he possibly say?  That he was sick of people?  That he’d rather be alone in the frigid cold than be near even one of them?  He wasn’t sure if he even had a good reason, for that matter.

“I-It’s nothing…  Really…”

He turned his face away, hoping she would believe him.  After hearing nothing from her for a few seconds, he assumed she’d decided to leave him alone and rejoin their friends in the comfort of their warm and cozy flat.

(Haah…  I hope I didn’t leave her feeling too concerned abou—)

“Naruhodo-san.”

“Ah—!”  He jerked his head up and saw her standing in front of him, looking down at him with an unsatisfied gaze.

“I have never known you to do something so rash without a reason.  Will you kindly tell me what it is that has brought you here?”

Realizing he had no choice, he let out a deep sigh, a large white cloud spewing from his mouth.  “It’s…sort of hard to explain.”

He paused for a moment to collect his thoughts before looking down cheerlessly.

“I guess you could say I’m…feeling overwhelmed right now.  I can’t put a finger on why that is, but…I thought it might help if I could just get away from the clamor of people talking, laughing, and shouting…”

He heard Susato’s shoes in the snow as she gently stepped closer to him.

“I’ve never really been someone who hates being around others, but…I guess they get to be too much to deal with sometimes.  It’s almost like…they wear you down over time, like a horse that’s pulling a heavier load than it’s used to.  Does that make sense?”

“Yes, I think so.”

“Gyuh—!”  He jumped as he noticed her sitting right next to him.  How had she done that so quietly?

She remained in silent thought for a moment, looking out into the distance, before turning to face him again.

“Is that all?”

“Ah…  Mostly.  There’s also…”  He gave another deep sigh.  “…the bad feeling I get when I think about the malice and cruelty people are capable of.  It’s not as though I wasn’t aware of it before, but…it just makes me wonder…if…”

“If…?”

“If…there could be malice and cruelty inside everyone, only a few layers deep?”

“Inside of everyone?”  Her eyes widened at his words.

“Well…maybe not a lot of it, but…enough to make anyone resort to criminal deeds, given the right circumstances.  Enough to change them from a person to a heartless beast.”

She stared at him in silence, not moving a muscle.

“Look at Kazuma, for example.  He said himself that there was a demon inside him.  One that almost drove him to murder.  He said that it nearly consumed him, in fact.”

“Well…  Yes, he did, but…he managed to conquer that demon in the end, didn’t he?  At least temporarily?”

“Sure, but…”

“But what, Naruhodo-san?”

He thought for a moment.

“I…used to think there were some in the world who had no such demon.  I’ve come to terms with being wrong about that, but…”

He let out another deep sigh.

“…I never suspected there would be so many whose demons had conquered them.  It almost seems like a disease that no one is immune to.  I suppose that doesn’t necessarily mean everyone will catch it, but…to realize that even those with strong hearts and minds can be overpowered by the evil inside of them…”

He glanced over at Susato, who was still giving him a motionless stare.  Looking toward the ground again, he continued, “I do apologize for sounding so gloomy.  I’m not usually this negative, am I?”

“I was just about to say that,” she answered in a harsher tone, now wearing an unhappy glare.

He turned his head to her, wondering where this sudden tone had come from.  “Eh?”

She put a hand on her hip.  “I have seen you pout, slouch, groan, and sigh on many occasions, but not once have I ever seen you speak in such a horribly negative tone.  And I must say, it does not suit you well at all!”

He stared at her for a moment before sighing again and slouching, “Sorry…  I can’t help it if I’m overwhelmed, can I?”

“And now you’re doing all four at once!  Will you kindly get ahold of yourself, Naruhodo-san?”

“…You make it sound so easy.”

“It has never been too challenging for you in the past, has it?”

“Hm?”

“As I recall, you have been overwhelmed on several occasions before now.”  She held up a pair of tightly-clenched fists as she continued, “Yet you have always been able to pull yourself together when it counted, even when it seemed as if all hope was lost.  And that is precisely why you are known and loved by so many today!  Surely you haven’t forgotten?”

“…”

“…”

“…I…guess that’s true…”

“Then prove to me that you have not lost your resolve,” she shouted.  “And do it now!”

Her words shook him out of his depressive state, if only slightly.  But he knew he couldn’t disappoint Susato, no matter how pessimistic he was feeling.  Sitting up straight, he paused, took a deep breath, and vigorously slapped his cheeks.

“Hah…  That’s a little better.”  He looked at Susato again and saw that she was still wearing the same glare, apparently still not satisfied.

“O-Oh, right!”  He quickly stood up and, with a look of confidence and determination, pointed his left arm straight in front of him, as if accusing some invisible witness of lying.  “OBJECTION!!!”

Susato giggled.  “There it is!  I was sure your resolve hadn’t left you entirely.”

He sat back down with a satisfied smile, feeling refreshed, and a bit warmer than before.  “Thank you, Susato-san.  I think that was just what I needed.”

She smiled sweetly.  “Do you understand now, Naruhodo-san?  Overcoming your negativity was as simple as that.”

He grabbed his chin and thought for a moment.  “I suppose so, but…what else did that achieve?  My mood might be a bit better now, but it’s not as if I’ve slain anyone’s inner demon by doing that, is it?”

“Oh…!  There you go again!” she groaned.  “And you were looking so content just a moment ago.”

“Ah…!  Sorry.”  He grinned at her again, unsure what to say next.  She closed her eyes and huffed through her nose, looking almost like a dragon exhaling smoke.

After a few moments of awkward silence, she spoke up again.  “I’m not unfamiliar with being overwhelmed myself, you know.”

(I can see that...) Ryunosuke thought to himself.

“And do you know what I prefer to do in those instances?”  He turned and gave her his full attention.  With a warm smile, she continued, “I prefer to be around familiar faces.”  He gave her a look of uncertainty, wondering what she meant.  “Being among company reassures me that I am not alone in dealing with my inner struggles, and it reminds me that I have people to help me calm down should my frustration ever get the better of me.”

(Assuming you don’t execute a Susato Takedown on any of them, that is,) he thought with a smirk.

Her eyes fell as she placed her hand on the bench next to her and added with a frown, “I suppose that’s a bit easier for us women, of course.  We’re more social creatures than men, after all.”  She looked up at him plainly.  “But if you prefer to be alone, it would worry me much less if you were to do so indoors.  I believe I speak for Sholmes-san and Iris-chan as well.”

He looked at her idly as he considered what he should do.  He doubted his mood would be improved much, if at all, by rejoining everyone inside the flat, but he hated the thought of making them all worry about him, and his solitude didn’t seem to have helped much, either.  If anything, it had only made his inner turmoil even worse.  But he still wasn’t sure what choice would be the better one…or at least the more tolerable one.

He sighed and muttered, “All right, I’ll go back in.”

She smiled.  “Thank goodness!”

“In a few minutes, though.  I still need some time to think.”

Her face dropped as she gave an unhappy sigh.  She looked down and saw his bare hands resting on his legs.  “Well, you certainly won’t be letting your hands freeze solid in the meantime!”  She quickly grabbed his hands and clasped her gloved fingers around his bare ones.  (Honestly…) she thought.  (How can you manage to be so careless?)

He stared at her hands, taken off guard by her sudden gesture.  Looking up at her face, he saw her staring down his hands as if trying to win a staring contest.  Even more alarming, though, was the strength with which she was gripping his hands.  He knew she had strong hands, but he was sure he’d never seen her grab anything so tightly or focus so intensely.  What on earth could have brought this on?  Was she afraid he might get frostbit if she didn’t squeeze hard enough?  Whatever her reason was, the warmth her hands provided was both comforting and pleasant, so he decided he may as well let her continue until she was satisfied.

But then he noticed something different.  The coldness he’d been feeling in every part of his body seemed to be slowly dissipating, starting with his hands.  It was almost as if he were holding them in front of a warm fireplace.  Almost as if…Susato’s hands were a warm fireplace.

He gazed at her hands.  He began feeling nostalgic and thinking of all she had done for him with those hands – helping him find clues during investigations, searching through evidence to help him put together the truth in the courtroom, taking careful notes and finding just the right information at just the right time, and writing letters to him when they were separated, using the most beautiful calligraphy he’d ever laid eyes on.  She’d also used them to flip him upside-down on several occasions, of course, but he’d gotten used to it over time, strange as it was.

And now here she was, using them to create warmth, both in his hands and in his heart.  It dawned on him then that he’d been spending so much time thinking about the cold and cruel people in the world that he’d forgotten about the ones who made the world a warmer place – those who gave of themselves without expecting something in return, those who used their talent and skill to benefit others rather than only themselves, and those who dedicated their lives to fighting crime and protecting those who fell victim to it – fighting the coldness he’d been so focused on earlier.  He’d been lucky enough to meet and befriend so many of those people: the professor at his university, Dr. Mikotoba, his famous detective friend, Herlock Sholmes (also known as the Herlock Sholmes), Sholmes’s brilliant daughter Iris, the pickpocket turned detective-in-training, Gina Lestrade, and even his close friend Kazuma, whose heart may have been tainted by bitterness, but who had changed course in the end and become someone for him to look up to and admire once again.  And, of course, his trusted friend and judicial assistant, Susato Mikotoba, who was now putting all her focus into warming his hands, as if it was her job.

A smile slowly spread across his face.  A moment ago, he’d been talking about malice and cruelty existing inside of everyone, but after knowing, befriending, and working side by side with this young woman for almost a year, he struggled to recall her saying or doing anything malicious or cruel at all.  She was certainly far from perfect, and even had a bit of an aggressive streak at times (one he had been on the receiving end of quite often, in fact), but if there was anything evil in her, it must have been buried under so many layers that no one would be able to dig their way through to it in a hundred years.  What was easy to detect in her, on the other hand, was an extraordinary collection of good and noble traits: kindness, grace, humility, respectfulness, virtue, faithfulness…  Not to mention, she was certainly rather beautiful.  In short, she was the personification of an idealized Japanese woman, or as they said in Japan, a Yamato Nadeshiko.  Now he was beginning to wonder…just how on earth had he found and become such close friends someone like her?

He became nostalgic once more and remembered a more recent moment between the two of them at Port of Dover, just as he was preparing to begin his trip home.  It was a moment he could recall with perfect clarity, as if it had happened yesterday.  He remembered the sun peeking over the horizon behind her as she asked him, firmly but hesitantly, “Um…Naruhodo-san…”  He had looked at her quizzically as she mumbled, “…the path you’re going to follow from now on…  I wonder if I might follow it at your side.  Un-Unless I’d be a burden?”

Her question had left him almost speechless.  He’d been under the impression that she would stay in London with Kazuma and the friends they had made there, and instead she wanted to go back to Japan with him and remain his judicial assistant?  Not only that, but she’d already discussed her decision with Kazuma, who fully supported it?  And she had waited until just now to ask what he thought about it?  What was he to do with this situation?

Oddly enough, however, his response had come to him quite easily.  Without thinking, he had answered, “With you by my side…no trial would seem too daunting.  So, if you’re willing, I’d be honoured if you’d come with me.  Together we can take on the world!”  Her response had been a sweet, humble smile – a smile he had come to love seeing every time it appeared on her face.  It was one he had seen on no other face but hers.

Now it occurred to him just how different his outlook had become between then and now.  It was almost inconceivable that the man who had just been brooding over coldness and cruelty was the same one who had once believed he could take on the world with his trusted judicial assistant by his side, and that no trial would seem too daunting.  Those words repeated in his mind as he stared at Susato’s hands, still linked with his.  “We can take on the world…”  “No trial would seem too daunting…”  It seemed like an era had passed since he’d spoken them.

“Ah…  Thank you, Susato-san,” he whispered.  “I believe my hands are warm enough now.”

She loosened her grasp and gently pulled her hands away from his.  “Then I trust you will keep them firmly tucked into your coat pockets until you come inside, yes?”

“O-Of course.  Thank you.”  Without hesitating, he slipped his hands into his coat pockets, fearing something much worse than frostbite if he disobeyed her.

Now he was utterly perplexed.  His ponderings about the evil in the world had all made sense, he thought, but why on earth had he been so fixated on them?  Why had he completely forgotten about the good he’d seen in others, and acted as if he was entirely unfamiliar with love, compassion, virtue, and everything else that made life and people enjoyable?  Why, he was sitting next to someone who exemplified those things almost perfectly!

That’s when he realized what it was that had kept him from falling into sorrow and despair as he had traveled the bleak road of the defense attorney – it was her.  Well…her and those like her in his life – his family, his friends, and the strangers who had shown him compassion and courtesy.  Even if such people seemed to be few and far between right now, he couldn’t deny that he had the pleasure of knowing quite a few of them – people with warm, friendly attitudes, whose very presence could melt even the coldest of hearts, if only for a moment.  Perhaps this is what Susato had meant by being “among company”?  That the antidote to being overwhelmed by the coldness in people was to be around the warmer ones?  If that was true, then…perhaps being alone had only served to make things worse for him.

Turning to Susato, who was focusing her eyes on his hands as if preparing to shove them back in his pockets should he dare to take them out, he smiled with gratitude as he realized she had done him yet another great favor.  His thoughts took him to the past again as he remembered Kazuma’s words: “Ah hah hah hah hah hah!  Your fine judicial assistant has everything in hand as always, I see.”  He chuckled to himself.  Was there anything she couldn’t do?  It was now clear to him that of all the people who had made his life warmer in one way or another, none had done so quite so well or so consistently as Susato Mikotoba.  She was truly someone special.  A “special someone” in his life, as he’d heard some of the children of London say.

(Special someone…) he repeated in his mind.  His smile slowly disappeared as his thoughts started taking off in a new direction.  He could easily describe Susato as his trusted assistant and close friend, of course, but…could it be possible that she had become something more to him?  Someone he could see himself sharing the rest of his life and career with?  Someone…he could marry?

(Ah…!  Slow down, Ryunosuke!  Don’t get carried away!)  Without thinking, he placed a hand on his forehead and grabbed his temples, and was soon met with an icy stare and a gloved hand grabbing his wrist.  “Ah, s-sorry!”  Instantly, he put his hand back where it was and resolved not to take it out even partially until he was back indoors.

Special someone…  This wasn’t the first time the thought had entered his mind, but…would it be practical to enter a courtship with his own judicial assistant?  There were no laws against such a thing, as far as he knew, either here or in Japan, but would it be proper?  Would anyone object to it or find it strange?  Would a judge find it problematic for future trials?  And most importantly, what would she think?  Would she be comfortable being known as his “special someone”?  For that matter, would he be comfortable with that title?  Even if it was mostly used by children, he had to admit it had a rather nice ring to it.

(Special someone…  Special someone…)

“Special…someone?  Who is that, Naruhodo-san?”

“Agh—!”  (Do my lips still move when I think?)

“I’m afraid so, Naruhodo-san,” she answered with a giggle.

“Haah…”

Now he was faced with a new problem – should he try and come up with a bluff about what he’d meant by those words, or consider sharing his true thoughts with her?  He wasn’t sure how well he could pull off the former, but the latter sounded a bit improper, to say the least.  She did seem to be in a better mood now, but even so, if he were to suddenly bring up the subjects of courtship or marriage, it would sound like something straight out of the blue to her!  The question now became one he had often dealt with in the courtroom: What was the most prudent way to continue forward?  His eyes darted between her and his lap as he pondered.

Suddenly, his questioned was answered when he noticed her smiling warmly at him again.  He could almost hear her saying through her expression, “You don’t have to answer if you would prefer not to.”  And once again, he could feel the warmth inside him that was somehow ignited by her smile, melting away every worry and care that had plagued him.  With his mind now put at ease, he decided upon a solution that would let him express himself honestly to her – rather than discussing the subject of courting her, he would simply express his gratitude for all she had done for him.  She deserved it several times over, after all.  There was no harm in letting her know how much he appreciated her as a judicial assistant and friend, was there?

“S-Susato-san…  I…  Th-That is…”  She looked at him intently, waiting patiently for him to gather his thoughts.  He cleared his throat and tried again, “I…just wanted you to know that I…I’m very grateful for everything you’ve done for me.  I mean…truly, very grateful!”

She giggled and tilted her head cutely.  “How nice of you to say, Naruhodo-san.”

He took a deep breath, now feeling grateful to the cold weather for making his cheeks flush so that Susato was unaware that she was making him blush.  His words gradually started to flow better as he continued, “I…really owe a lot to you.  You saved me from a Guilty verdict…you helped me grow as a defense attorney…and you’ve provided so much help and moral support for me along the way.  I…”  He glanced at her for a short moment.  “I feel very blessed to have someone like you in my life.”  His eyes popped open as he realized how that last part could be easily misconstrued.  “Erm…  As a friend, I mean!  Ha ha!”  He took another glance at her and saw that sweet smile again.  (That was a close one…)

“Hmm…” she answered, sounding just as pleased as she looked.  “I appreciate that, Naruhodo-san.  Truly!”

His fingers tapped inside his coat pockets as he wondered what he should say next, or if he should say nothing at all.  He’d already told her all he had to say…or at least what he felt comfortable saying.  Should he leave it at that, or add a few more words of gratitude?  She surely deserved more than that much, didn’t she?  But what could he possibly add to that without venturing too close to the borderline of confessing his love?  And for that matter, was he even sure he was in love with her, or was this just a passing fancy?  Bringing up the subject without 100% certainty could lead to disaster…

He thought for a moment before finally deciding to leave well enough alone.  Besides, Susato had been completely silent for the last few seconds, so it was probably safe to assume that she wasn’t hoping for anything more.  If she was, then she surely would’ve—

“Was…that all you had to say, Naruhodo-san?” she asked curiously.

“Uh...!”  His body tensed up as he struggled to come up with an answer.  And just when he thought he was home free!  Now what was he going to say?

“Ah…  I…”

“…”

“…”

She looked away for a moment, closing her eyes.  What Ryunosuke saw next, he would never forget as long as he lived – as she opened her eyes and looked directly into his with a peaceful, inviting smile, she appeared to him like a sunrise in human form, dazzling him with its beauty, brightening the world around him, and filling him with the warmth of the morning sun.  Once again, her expression seemed to speak to him, saying, “I know you have more to say…but you may feel free to take your time saying it.”  (Could it be…?) he wondered.  (Does she know what my true feelings for her might be?  Does she…  Does she feel the same way?)

And then he heard another voice – it was his own this time, or rather, the voice of his instincts, speaking the same words he had heard many times in the past, especially in court.  Words that had never led him astray.  Words that had often given him just the push he needed to make it through to the victory he’d been striving for.  Words that, when he chose to listen to them, had made all the difference in his life: “This is it, Ryunosuke.  It’s time to move forward.”

His doubts melted away once more, giving way to numerous new feelings – excitement, anticipation, gratitude, disbelief, and overwhelming joy.  Could this really be happening?  Could a day that had been so dreary become one of the best days of his life?  Or perhaps the best?  Was this the day fate had chosen for him to discover his ultimate soulmate?  His “special someone”?  Before, he might have laughed at the thought of it, but could it really be possible?  Was it no longer just a fancy?  Was this woman…his destiny?

All he knew for certain was that his instincts had already spoken their peace, which could only mean one thing: There was no going back from here.  The only question now was, how should he take the first step in this unexpected journey ahead of him?  He took one more deep breath and thought carefully about what to say.

“…”

“…”

“…Do you…remember what I told you…the day you offered to go with me back to Japan…as my judicial assistant?”

“Yes,” she answered with enthusiasm.  “I remember those words quite well, in fact: ‘With you by my side…no trial would seem too daunting.  Together we can take on the world!’”

“Yes, that’s it!”  He knew there was a bit more to what he had said, but this was hardly the time to worry about details.  “I…  I’m…”  She gazed at him with the eyes of a child listening to a fascinating story.  “I’m starting to believe that…maybe…those words have taken on a new meaning since then.  Th-That is…  I…”

He looked down toward his hands, which no longer had one bit of coldness left in them.  “Um…  Do I have permission to take my hands out for just a moment?”  She looked toward his hands, then back up at him…and gave him a silent nod.

In one quick motion, he took out his hands and gently placed them around hers.  Lifting them up slowly, he looked directly into her eyes.  “I love you…Susato-san.  You’re the sweetest, kindest, most admirable young woman I have ever met.  You’re…truly very beautiful, inside and out!”  She gazed at him silently, still holding her gorgeous smile.  “Perhaps…if you’re interested, we can be by each other’s side in a different way?  Perhaps we could…take on more than just trials in the courtroom together?  I’d…  I’d be truly honoured…!”  He took a moment to admire the warm light that seemed to be shining directly on him from her lovely eyes.

Unsure of where to go next, he waited in silence for a moment before suddenly letting go, tucking his hands back into his coat, and turning himself forward.  “That was…all I had to say.”  He was overjoyed to have finally gotten these words off his chest, but now he wondered if he might have said the wrong thing, or picked the wrong time to say it…or how he could even be sure one way or the other.  But just then, he heard a sigh from Susato that seemed to blow these worries away, followed by a light giggle that slowly grew louder.  His muscles tensed up as she opened her mouth to speak.  (Here it comes…  The final verdict…)

“I…”

His heart skipped a beat.

“…would be truly honoured as well, in that case...”

(…Did…  Did she really…?)

“…Ryunosuke.”

(She…  She just called me “Ryunosuke”!)

He felt her hand on his lap.  “I’ve had the thought cross my mind occasionally, too…especially since that day.”  He slowly turned toward her, giving her his full attention.  “I…knew you were only speaking to me as a friend and colleague at the time…but there was still a part of me that wondered…if there was even a small chance that those words might be prophetic…  A sign of things to come...  If perhaps…there could more between us than a close friendship and a shared passion for justice.”  She giggled with a wide grin.  “I…always felt so silly when I let myself entertain those thoughts.  But now…”

She found the part of his coat containing his hand and gently grabbed onto it.  “…I see that my intuition was right…once again.”  Her warm smile returned as she looked deep into his eyes, making his smile grow like a rose unfolding in the sun.

“Was it…everything you were hoping for?” he asked.

“Hmm…  Yes, it was.”  They gazed at one another for a few seconds, although it seemed more to them like a few hours.  “Well…” she added, dropping her smile and touching a finger to her chin, “That is, until you lost your nerve and put your hands back in your pockets.  That part was a bit unexpected.”  They shared a nervous but hearty laugh.

He looked down for a moment, then back up at her.  “I’ll…try to do better in the future, then…”

She closed her eyes and sighed contently before looking him in the eyes once more, and finally, she spoke the words she’d only been communicating through her warm smile until now.  “I love you as well…Ryunosuke.”

He looked into her shining eyes and returned her smile again.  “It seems as if my intuition was right as well, then,” he whispered.  “I truly am blessed to have someone like you in my life…Susato.”  He gasped lightly as the shared warmth between them suddenly became a fire burning deep inside them.  At that moment he knew this would be a day he would never forget – the day when a moment of warmth sparked the beginning of a lifetime of pure joy.

(Hmm…  So this is love, is it?  A feeling this warm could bring us through even the coldest of London winters…)

Their special moment lasted for another minute or two until Susato quietly broke the silence.  “It’s getting rather late, Ryunosuke.  Shall we head back now?”

He nodded.  “Yes, let’s.”  They rose from the bench together, still holding their mutual gaze.  Ryunosuke began shivering a bit as the coldness caught his attention again.

“Ah--!” he shouted lightly, quickly straightening himself.  “I almost forgot to make it official, ha ha!”  He pulled his hands out once more and gently took her hands again.  Focusing intently on her eyes, he asked her tenderly, “May I have the honor of courting you, Susato?”

She gave a heartfelt smile and answered plainly, “Yes, you may.”

His heart and soul filled with warmth as he pictured the romantic endeavours awaiting him and his incredible new lover!  What adventures would they share as a couple, both in court and elsewhere?  Where would they travel together?  What engaging conversations would they have about their likes, dislikes, and interests?  What did the future hold for the two of them as they took on the world together?  Just the thought of it all lifted his spirits to heights he’d never known before.  All he knew for certain was that they had much to look forward to as their separate lives became one life shared between them.

His thoughts turned to the present as he began wondering what he should do next.  His plans for beginning a courtship with Susato had stopped short of anything beyond gaining her approval, unfortunately.  “So…um…” he muttered, looking away awkwardly.  “Do you suppose we should…do something to signify our courtship?”

“Hm…  What sort of something, Ryunosuke?”

“Um…  P-Perhaps…”

“…”

“…Perhaps a kiss?”

She jumped back a bit in surprise.  “Kiss?”

“Y-Yes!  Only a short one, of co--”

She pulled her hands away and placed them on her hips, giving him a dissatisfied glare.  “If you think for one moment that we are going to do that before we have had at least three outings…!”

“Ah, s-sorry!  I…guess I got a little ahead of myself there!”

She responded with a huff.  “Honestly, you men…”

(I must be sweating bullets right now…) he thought.  (I sure hope it doesn’t freeze.)

She softened her expression and spoke quietly, “You needn’t worried about that, Ryunosuke.”

“Huh?”

“Sweat doesn’t freeze in this sort of weather.  You’d have to travel somewhere much colder for that to happen.”

“…”

“…”

“Haah…  I did it again, didn’t I?”

She giggled loudly.  “I’m afraid so.”

He scratched the back of his head for a moment.  Looking at her apologetically, he asked, “…Perhaps a hug, then?”

She nodded and stepped closer to him, her smile becoming warm again.  “That I will gladly accept.”

As they fell slowly into a loose but heartfelt embrace, Ryunosuke began to feel as if, somehow, everything was right with the world.  But even it wasn’t, he felt more prepared than ever to face whatever challenges lie ahead for him.  No…not for him.  For them.  With this courtship, they had become one singular force for good in the world, whose strength, wits, and passion would make them practically unstoppable!

(Perhaps it’s only wishful thinking,) he thought, staring at the snowflake-filled sky above him, (But I’m beginning to think that perhaps…miracles do happen.)

5th December, 10:15

Sholmes’s Suite

The door creaked open as a half-frozen Ryunosuke shivered his way into the flat, holding tightly to a warm-faced Susato.  Looking at them, one might have thought they were drawings in a children’s book depicting the difference between cold and warm.

“Good heavens!” Iris shouted, jumping back and placing her gloved hands on her cheeks.  “Is Runo all right?  He looks like a walking iceberg!”

“He’s all right,” Susato answered calmly.  “He just needs a moment to warm up by the fireplace.”  She turned to him.  “And perhaps a few blankets as well.  Will that help?”

He nodded slowly, teeth chattering loudly.

“Well, I hope you’re happy now.” Iris grumbled as she crossed her arms.  “Your tea and cookies are stone cold, and I baked over three dozen cookies, so you won’t be getting any warm ones for quite some time!  Honestly…what were you thinking?”  She glared at the two of them as they hobbled their way to the fireplace.

“W-W-Well…” he began.  “I-I j-j-just n-need…needed a bo…a bobent t-to…”

Susato chimed in with a sad smile, “I’m afraid we’ll have to wait until he’s completely thawed out before he can answer properly.”

            “R-R…  *ACHOO*  Right…”  Susato pulled off his coat as he gently sat on the floor, inches from the glowing fireplace.

“Well, I hope he stays a bit closer to home the next time he wanders off,” Iris huffed.  She turned to Ryunosuke and added, “And I also hope you don’t expect me to be your nursemaid while you’re recuperating from your cold.  Hmph…”  She walked off with a pout, leaving them with their plates of cold tea and cookies.

Susato went to hang up their coats and fetch some blankets as Ryunosuke sat waiting for the fire to put an end to his shivering.  He heard her gentle footsteps as she approached him and draped several blankets over him.  Her presence next to him seemed to add to the warmth he felt from the blankets.  She sat down on the couch next to him before placing a hand on his shoulder and rubbing it tenderly.  He gave a quiet sigh in response.

“We seem to have left a bee in Iris-chan’s bonnet, hm hm!” she quietly remarked.  They chuckled softly.

He gazed at the small dancing flames in front of him, smiling as they warmed his face.  Turning to see the glowing face of his “special someone,” he admired the reflection of the fire in her eyes.  (It was worth it,) he thought to himself.

THE END