#japanese wave pattern

[thecutestgrotto]

The Great Wave — Hokusai

Another non-requested set 💗 I really like doing these sets based on famous art lately, I hope it’s not too repetitive if I make it a little collection.

Also in this collection: Starry Night and Irises

• More from the Famous Art Collection •

[borgspareparts]

(via "Mineral Sandy Waves retro vintage seamless pattern design" Chiffon Top for Sale by BorgSpareParts)

[tapeskingdom]

blue wave washi tape

[fashionsfromhistory]

Sashiko Jacket

1850-1899 (Meiji Era)

Japan

Sashiko is a quilting technique that uses a running stitch to reinforce and prolong the life of a textile or to join together recycled pieces of cloth into a new garment. Japanese farmers used the technique to create warmer and more durable fabrics, and decorative sashiko stitching developed from this practical function. This robe’s embroidered design is dominated by three variations on the pattern of interlocking circles, called shippō-tsunagi. The bottom band features a design of waves.

The MET (Accession Number: 67.172.1)

[clockwayswrites]

Like Betta Fish Do Part 25

WC: 3,537 Masterpost CW: Canon typical violence

“I can’t believe I’m in a custom suit,” Danny said as he admired himself in the mirror.

“It is really weird the first few times,” Jason agreed as he did up his own cufflinks.

Danny twisted so that the very faint blue on blue pattern sewn into the suit caught the light. It gave the impression of rolling waves. “So how many fish things did you manage to fit in?”

He watched the reflection to catch Jason’s lips tick up into a pleased smile.

“Well there’s the fabric itself, deep ocean blue.”

“And patterned like waves,” Danny finished. “I caught that.”

“Your shirt and tie are sea foam white.”

“Okay, that one might be a stretch,” Danny said, but he touched the fabric gently.

Jason rolled his eyes. “I’m counting it. The pocket square, very nontraditional, is a Japanese indigo linen in a pattern that is a historic representation of waves. The buttons are abalone, the cufflinks red coral, and the tie pin is mother of pearl.”

“Six, if I give you sea foam white.”

“You better, I worked hard on this. And it’s actually seven, one last thing,” Jason said. He picked up a blue velvet jewelry box off his side table and held it out.

Danny took it curiously. It was bigger than a ring box, but smaller than a necklace case. He brushed his thumb over the soft covering before he snapped the lid open. His breath caught.

Inside was a set of earrings. Simple silver studs for for his cartilage piercings, a pearl earring for his left ear, and then the show stopper: a crystal studded and delicate woven silver betta fish on a chain for his right ear. Its black pearl eyes were bright. They almost made it seem alive.

“Jason…”

“I tried to stay subtle with the rest, but this I couldn’t resist,” he said. “You’re my fish, and everyone at the gala should know that.”

Danny carefully closed the box before he flung his arms around Jason’s neck and pulled the other down for a kiss.

“Careful,” Jason murmured when the kiss broke, “if we show up late and mussed Tim will frown at us the whole night.”

“That would be a shame,” Danny whispered back before kissing Jason again.

“I can’t believe I’m being the voice of reason,” Jason said, “but you have to let me get dressed.”

“Fine,” Danny said, even if it made him want to pout. “Maybe… I can take it off after the gala then?”

The pink that Jason blushed was more than worth being bold and Danny took a moment to admire it before he turned to put in the earrings.

Behind him, Jason knotted a white (or sea foam, Danny supposed) tie and shrugged on a matching jacket. The suit looked bright, almost glowing, against the rich blue dress shirt that complimented Danny’s own suit. He couldn’t be sure what it was from this distance, but Danny thought he saw the glint of white on white embroidery on the cuffs and lapels of the suit. It was the silver fish bone tie pin that made him laugh.

“People are going to have questions.”

“Let them,” Jason said with a cheshire smile.

“I’m starting to get what going to a gala with you will be like,” Danny said.

“Oh, this is tame for me,” Jason said. “I’m behaving.”

“I know, it’s part of your charm.”

“If only the press thought that,” Jason said, grabbing his phone as it beeped. “That’s our car.”

“I wish we could just take your bike,” Danny said, watching Jason put his phone back down, “and our phones.”

“Suit lines. I’ve got a connection to the family,” Jason assured Danny.

“Still. But I guess those suit lines do really great things for your ass and it would be a shame to ruin that,” Danny agreed with a put upon sigh.

“You’re incorrigible tonight,”Jason said (not that he seemed to mind if his smirk was any hint).

“Maybe it’s just that new years mood,” Danny said with a little shrug, lacing their fingers together as they left. “This year turned out pretty great, and I bet next year is going to be even better.”

“Yeah? Any reason for that?”

“Well, I happened to move to a city that’s pretty weird but also pretty awesome,” Danny said.

“Good reason,” Jason agreed. “What else?”

“I’m finally in the degree for what I want to do, and I’m kicking ass at it.”

“Of course you are, you’re brilliant,” Jason said, holding the door open to the town car after he subtly checked the plates. “Nothing else?”

“Well,” Danny drew the word out as he slid into the car. “There’s this guy I met, maybe you know him? Tall, dark, and handsome?”

“I don’t know, he doesn’t sound real,” Jason teased and leaned into Danny’s space.

Danny leaned up and pressed Jason into a light kiss. “He is pretty magical.”

-

“The red carpet, less than magical,” Danny said once they were through the sea of reporters and photographers. “I’m going to be seeing camera flashes for weeks.”

“Only a few hours at most,” Jason said.

“I can’t tell if you’re joking or not, your whole being is just one blinding white blur,” Danny said, motioning at Jason, who laughed and caught Danny’s hand.

Jason pressed a quick kiss to the fingertips. The cameras went off in another round of flashes, apparently not having enough of the lost Wayne and his boyfriend. “Come on, let’s head further in away from this circus.”

“Is your family here yet?” Danny asked as they headed into the gala proper. Jason was skilled at keeping them moving without getting caught up by any one group, even as he greeted some of them.

“Bruce, Damian, and Duke arrived pretty on time so Bruce could greet people. Tim is around here somewhere too, networking I’m sure unless Bernard has distracted him. He’ll have arrived with Cass and Steph, who you haven’t met. Steph isn’t family, but she’s family, you know?”

“I think so?” Danny at least assume that meant she was in the Bat life.

“And Dick should be around here or will soon, likely with Barbie.”

“Barbie?” Danny took one of the drink glasses that Jason had snagged. The tart tang of cranberry bloomed across his tongue followed by the burn of alcohol and lingering taste of sugar. It was good.

“Yeah, but don’t call her that. Her name is Barbara, but she goes by Babs.”

“But you can get away with Barbie?”

“He was a very cute kid,” a voice behind them said. “Somehow he convinced me to let him.”

Danny spun and then had to look down to meet the gaze of the red headed woman in a wheelchair. He couldn’t help but feel a pang for Jazz, but it was softened by the fact that he’d get to see her soon.

���Bull,” Danny said with a smile, offering his hand. “I refuse to believe that Jason was ever not a little shit.”

“Oh, no, he was still a little shit,” Babs said, returning the handshake firmly. “But he was a cute little shit.”

Danny sighed dramatically and looked over at Jason. “Where did you go so wrong?”

“Hey, I believe it was you who were extolling the virtues of my ass in this suit not that long ago,” Jason said with just the hint of a pout.

“I think most of the press will be doing that too, so I’m not sure how much weight that has,” Babs said, painted lips ticked up in clear amusement.

Jason just sighed while Danny laughed.

“I like you, Babs. Is Babs okay for me to call you?”

“Of course, you’re Jason’s man, so you can call me Babs. And I really do prefer it to Barbara. The name is just a little old fashion, you know?”

“And you’re a modern kind of woman?” Danny asked with a smile.

“In so many ways,” Babs said. “But I better go make the rounds, or at least find where Dick is. He got distracted.”

“Isn't he always?” Jason said and bid Babs farewell.

“Are they together? Dick and Babs?” Danny ask as he watched her wheel away.

“Not anymore, but they were,” Jason explained. “They’re still really close. And Babs has been close to the family for a lot of years, so she’s special to all of us, you know? She’s a real inspiration to Cass and Steph.”

Oh, that sort of friend. “Wait, was she?”

“Yeah. So you know.”

“Yeah, I bet,” Danny said. The wheelchair meant something a little differently now. He took a breath and looked around the gala, which was already swarming with beautiful, laughing people. He felt out of place without Babs’ friendly face distracting him.

“Come on, I bet we can find some family to talk too,” Jason said, taking Danny’s hand and giving it a squeeze. “There are a few people who I’ll need to hit up tonight for the Foundation stuff, you know, try to get some donations from them or build up the start of that, but you don’t have to hang with me during any of that. There's plenty of siblings around for you to chat with and use as a distraction. Hell, could always introduce you to Lucius or some of the other inventors we have and you all could talk nerd shop.”

“Nerd shop,” Danny repeated with a sigh. “You say Lucius who I’m going to assume is the Lucius Fox and call it nerd shop like that man is not out there breaking barriers and changing the world with his inventions? And that’s just the stuff that’s been announced to the public! Who knows what else he’s been doing behind closed doors! It must be mind blowing.”

“Well, thank you, but I have a lot of very smart people working for me, so it’s hardly just my work that’s out there making waves,” a silky voice said from behind them.

Danny spun and couldn’t help the little squeak he gave.

Jason chuckled and reached out to shake the man’s hand. “Lucius, how are you doing? Did you manage to drag any of your family to tonight’s event?”

“Just my lovely wife. The rest found excuses, you know how it is.”

“I do. Sadly I’m in a position of note now,” Jason said, the words practically had air quotes around them, “so I’m afraid that my days of excuses are gone.”

“Oh, I’m sure that you can still find a few when you truly need them. You’ve always been mighty good at that.”

Jason just shrugged with an unrepentant grin. “Well, you know. But anyway, Lucius, this is my boyfriend Danny. Danny, this, as I guess you know from that sound you made, is Lucius Fox.”

“Of course I know. Really, sir, the work you and your teams have done… amazing.”

“Just Lucius, Danny,” the man said, reaching out to shake Danny’s hand. “If you’re dating Jason I expect that we’ll run into each other from time to time and I am too old for formalities like that.”

“Alright, just Lucius then. I can’t wait to tell my friend Tucker I met you.”

“Another one for, what was that you said Jason, ‘nerd shop talk’ like you are?”

“Totally. He’s in computer sciences, but he’s not bad at engineering some hardware when he needs to. Mostly to be able to get his software to run on, but I always make fun of his soldering.”

“So you must solder a lot then?”

“Yes s— er Lucius. Aerospace engineering, but I grew up always tinkering and things. I still do it some, but it’s harder here when I don’t have the space, you know? First dibs on tables and tools go to the other majors, which I get, since they need them more than us.”

“Still, hard not to be able to get your hands dirty when you want to. Are you going to be in Gotham for the summer? Not sure where you call home.”

“Well, at the moment, home is Gotham. I want to visit some friends and my sisters, but I’ll be here, yeah. I might take a summer course and get an advanced math knocked out or something.”

“A good plan. You should reach back out to me around early May then. I bet we can find a corner of one of the labs for you to at least use on the weekends when no one is around doing work much.”

“Really?” Danny said, hands twitching at just the idea of getting into a space where he could do some inventing. He had so many new ideas from his time at Gotham U on to improve some of his parent’s inventions or even make new things.

“Really. There will be the usual red tape and all, background checks and paper work and hours you’re allowed in, but those things can be worked out. Can’t keep a curious mind and skilled hands stagnant, now can we?”

“I know I can’t,” Danny said with a little laugh. “Thank you Lucius, really, I’ll definitely take advantage of that again. And start planning! I mean I have plans, of course I do, but a lot is just rough sketches, you know? I need to do some proper diagrams for a few things.”

He didn’t want to waste a moment once he had access to tools again— especially not the tools that were available to him at a place like Wayne Enterprises. Danny idly wondered if it would be out by summer that he knew about the Bats. Lucius had to be involved in that work and it would be so cool to take a look under the proverbial and the literal hood of those gadgets. Did they store the Batplane here?

Lucius chuckled and smiled. “Yes, I think you’ll fit right into that corner. You two boys behave now.”

“Never,” Jason said with a laugh and shook Lucius’ hand one more time as they parted ways.

The night turned into a slew of little meetings like that— people coming up to talk to Jason. Some of the conversations were enjoyable like with Babs and Lucius (Steph was overwhelming, but cool), some were with the many family members Jason had, and some were with the tpyical the socialite crowd. Those people seemed either to be there to get their claws in Jason or to observe Danny like he was some curiosity. Danny really could do without that type. Luckily, Jason seemed to know this, and Danny was passed off to Dick a few hours in and then freed to the food table after some teasing.

Really, even with the gawkers, the night was pretty fun.

-

“Hey Barbie, have you seen Danny recently?” Jason asked as he crossed her path at the party.

“No, but I’ve been talking tech. Have you tried over by the food?”

“That’s where I just came from,” Jason said with a little frown. These things were really too busy, one of the many reasons that he hated them. “I guess I’ll go try another sibling. Dick hadn’t seen him in a bit either, he got distracted by one of the people from the foundation that works with kids.”

“I keep waiting for him to join you there, you know. You could try Tim if he hasn’t been co-opted by Bernard yet,” she suggested. “How long has he been schmoozing?”

“Too long, Tim is worthless to me I’m sure. Cass would be—”

Jason dropped instinctively to cover Babs before he even registered the sound of shattering glass.

“Jason—”

The all to familiar muzzle of a gun pressed into the base of Jason’s head. “Turn around slowly. Try anything and I’ll shoot through you to get your lovely friend.”

Jason locked eyes with Babs, a thousand messages passed in that look as he slowly raised his hands and turned around.

It was one of the waiters.

Okay, it was a number of the waiters, Jason mentally corrected as he took in the room. Each of them with a gun pointed at some portion of the party. Jason spotted Bruce and Damian where they were being rounded up and Steph over on the edges of the room, but he couldn’t find Tim, Dick, or Cass on the quick glance at the space.

He snapped his focus back to the gunman at a popping sound. The man raised his left hand to his face and smeared the popped paint pellet across his face, coating half of it in a splotchy blue.

Guess they knew what Two Face was up to now. Speaking of the man of the hour, Two Face walked through the shadowed window, black and white suit spotless and fit for the event, and flanked by henchmen. He was clapping. Head tilted so that the bright lights caught his good side.

“Lovely event Bruice! Really, a shinning light in Gotham to ring in the new year. Don’t mind us, please, we’re just here to pick up the usual, jewels, watches, money clips, wire transfers. I’m afraid we need the extra funding…” He twitched, twisting so that the scarred side of his face was tilted forward. “Because the damn Bat made sure we lost it all! I’m hoping he shows tonight. I’d like to make sure he doesn’t make it to the new year!”

Dent cleared his throat; his right hand smoothed back his hair, tipping his head back the other way. “Sorry about that. Just some… linger resentment. You all know how it is. But let’s not get too serious yet! Brucie! And his adorable little spawn! Some of our guests of honor too! Behave if you don’t want to be shot in the head.”

Jason watched helplessly as Bruce, Damian, and several other social elite like the mayor were lashed together with rope. Two Face walked over after they were trussed and slapped a bomb to Bruce’s chest. While the the henchman secured it, Two Face turned to the crowd.

“Where is he? Our darling lost prince of Gotham?”

The gunman stuck the cold metal back to the base of Jason’s neck and pushed him forward.

The bomb started ticking down.

“There you are! When I heard you returned to us, my heart swelled, truly,” Dent said, looking up with his good eye as if praying to heaven. “And now! Now I hear you’ve found love!”

Dent bent over, cackling. The enlarged, yellow eye looked up at Jason from under the white bangs. “So let’s play a game while we count down to midnight.”

Two Face’s goons dramatically rolled out a podium. Two bright red buttons were mounted to it, right below a large television.

Danny was on the screen.

He was tied to a chair in some building’s basement. A bruise was already blooming to life around his right eye, deep blue as his suit. He had clearly caught a fist to the lip too. The fish earring was bright silver, catching light reflected from the pool of water that the chair was sat in.

“As you see, we’re giving your boyfriend some hospitality,” Dent said, smooth side of his face to Jason as he walked around the podium like some perverse Vanna White. “So you have a simple choice: decided what type of love is more important to you. Do you press the left button and save your boyfriend, letting your family and these other lovely people die to the bomb…”

He rounded the screen, scarred open eye starting at Jason accusingly. “…or do you press the button on the right and save the people in this room, but fry your boyfriend to death with electricity?”

Two Face snapped his fingers.

Danny’s head jerked up, unfocused eyes staring just to the right of the screen.

“Hey, dead boy,” Danny rasped. Just talking made the split on his lip crack and bleed again, adding another line of blood to his chin. On the screen the red was bright, bright, bright—

Jason clenched his hands. He was going to kill Two Face. “Hey, fish.”

“You know, the irony of this whole thing is that it does make me realize I'm pretty sure I'm in love with you.”

“Yeah? That's convenient. I've been in love with you for weeks.”

Dent cackled and motioned grandly at the trussed up people. The bright, bright red of the bombs’ timer counted down another tick. “Looks like you're all out of luck! True love always wins.”

He twisted to Jason with the scarred side of his face and growled, “Forty-five seconds left.”

“You know what you have to do, don't you?” Danny asked.

He was smiling at Jason, a soft calm thing. But Jason didn't know if he could trust it. He didn’t know Danny's limits. He didn’t know if this would kill him the rest of the way.

But he did know what Danny would never forgive him for. He knew he didn't really have a choice. “I do. I'm sorry.”

“Don't be.”

Jason lunged and hit the right button. On the screen, the wires sparked bright with electricity, lighting up the pool of water. And Danny screamed.

And screamed.

And screamed.

The camera cut out.

---

AN: We're finally here! To the scene I wrote last year! Aaaaaah~

I would say I'm sorry, but this time I truly am not. (Please don't stab me.) ._.

It will be fiiiiiiiine... right?

[liabutterscotch]

“Let my flute be the last sound you hear”

My Kny Oc, Naila Hano, (or Naira for Japanese pronunciation) I drew her years ago and came back to tweak up her design a bit bc the idea of her controlling vines made me giggle silly me (but I did rename her last name to “Hano” which means leafy fields and also drew a leaf earring to compensate it✨) Her family also lived besides a farm and grassy fields so ig imma say

Lore (which no one asked for and in which I’m still working on):

She’s a demon slayer (not a Hashira cause I degrade my ocs originality lol) with Resonance Breathing as her ability. It was derived from Thunder Breathing!

The breathing style would be to harness the power of vibration, frequency, pressure, and sound in her combat techniques with the custom made flute katana! I wanna include her whistling high pitch vocals, but she’s still training her lungs to reach that level lol.

Her 4 breathing technique forms are Acoustic Waves, Resound through Declaration, Vibrations of Fate Reverberate, and Echoes of Rippled Vengeance.

I’m gonna flat out say her ability is almost similar to Uzui Tengen’s sound breathing style, and Zenitsu’s capability to hearing from a distance, the only difference would be that she can use her flute to detect wavelengths from almost a kilometre away.

The Sword/katana has holes patterned across it, so when she swings it horizontally the holes create Rythm and whistles.

Her personality is passionate yet quiet, she’s determined but chooses not to speak when not necessary if that makes sense (think of un-depressed giyuu ig). It would fit her reasoning to not speak so frequently and loudly too as her vocal/breathing training consists of her screaming (to the point you can’t hear it, like a dog whistle) 💀💀

Lastly (from what I conceptualised) I’m still thinking whether I should make her a Shinobi, or just a demon slayer who got inspired by theatre and opera singing? Hmmmmmm yes decision making we love 👵

IF YOU READ ALL OF THAT TY 😭💐✨💓

[limited-hero]

Can we see all the references you've made for the characters in your au??? I adore the ones I've seen but I'd like to see all of them. I'd also like to ask your process and ideas behind the designs!

I adore your art style sm. ✨️✨️

This is the whole gang! (except for some exceptions) I can't say much about their designs, since it contains heavy spoilers for some of them! But here's a quick run down! Minish: he's wearing the Roc's cape as a hoodie instead! His design is pretty simple tbh Past: I didn't want to make him a typical bunny like everyone else does. In Limited hero, he'll be a full grown man with rabbit features! Warrior: He was pretty simple as well. I wanted to keep his blue scarf, as well as the guard look. Ravio: I wanted him to have a merchant kind of look, mixed together with Japanese inspired clothing and some patterns resembling a bunny! Twilight: I wanted him to look like a goat-herder! Turning into a wolf so often had a side effect on his body, and he's slowly turning back to human, with some wolf-like features still remaining Wild: His clothing was inspired by a cosplayer named @/polarcadia He has burn marks from head to toe, from burning himself on the gloom. Time: He's wearing the fierce deity armor, equipped with several bottles with fairies in them, and a chain-ball looking tool to catch fairies with. Sky: He's wearing the clothing of the guardians from the silent realm Zelda: She's wearing an phantom inspired armor Wind: He's wearing a pirate inspired outfit, with tattoos all over his body resembling the waves and the red lions neck patterns. He's carrying Tetras sword and has a glass eye on his left eye Thank you so much for the question! I hope i could answer it! (The designs might change at any point!)

[rumade]

Making a quilt for my babby, who's due in early October, so I went with some Autumnal prints:

We got:

interacial bear couple with baby bear

dark hedgerow

Japanese stamps (I had my husband check these to make sure they weren't anything inappropriate

green arrows or possibly trees

squirrel

squirrel 2: now he has a mushroom

orange background white leaves

yellow Japanese traditional (waves?)

Piecing finished yesterday. The pattern/instructions are from the channel Just Get It Done Quilts, it's one of her quilt in a day stash busters

Bit bigger than I was expecting because I can't visual large numbers in inches and I was too lazy to convert to metric. Whoops!

[wherefancytakesme]

After 10 years of craving it, I now present to you... the triple pickle cream pie!

I haven't thought about it for a long time, but then I learned recently that a (terrible) recipe for a pickle cheesecake exists, and I was reminded of the pie in WOY that looked impossibly good to me, and thought if I could make an actually good pickle pie. Two weeks ago I finally got started, and now here we are.

I found a recipe for cucumber-lime pie and mixed it with cream pie instructions.

I made it "triple" by putting pickle in the filling (plain cucumber), pickle in the cream (sour-- not salty-- pickle juice and a TON more sugar mixed in), and pickles on the side (Japanese sour ones just as removable garnish).

Then I used a graham-cracker pie crust because looking at the pies in the show for some reason always made me nostalgic for those Hershey's sundae pies you could get in slices at certain restaurants-- and they both work better once frozen.

I also made the wave pattern with a rubber spatula.

I had two different people try it and they said it was honestly not bad! (I thought it tasted pretty alright.)

Anyway, it's not perfect, but I'm sure you can all try and experiment with it yourself if you're ambitious and hungry for it enough, haha.

Sorry for the varying lighting on the pictures, the kitchen lights bleached the irl colors on-camera and I had to retouch most of them, hence the mild saturation.

[wildbeautifuldamned]

Japanese Vintage Beaded Evening Bag Qinghai wave Pattern Light Green 8x5 inch ebay meg.kamakura

[the-final-high-noon-rings]

art for day 2 of dr.carmilla appreciation week!

cat/transformation !!! @drcarmillaappreciationweek

[Image ID: A digital drawing, bust upward, of Maki Yamazaki as Dr. Carmilla, a skinny Japanese woman, with her head turned towards her left shoulder, creating a side profile, while her body is still facing the camera. She has messy, chin-length dark red hair, and a little bit of the eye patch on her left eye is visible. She has pointy ears, defined cheekbones, and several visible piercings. Carmilla is wearing a grey-and-white striped shirt, with a dark red-purple vest over top of it. There is a purple-black cat perched on her right shoulder, which has eyes very similar to her own, except for sharper pupils. The cat has its head turned in the same direction as Carmilla, and its tail can be seen swishing near Carmilla's right arm. On her other shoulder, the top of a ukulele is visible. The entire drawing except for the background has a slight purple-pink undertone. The background is stock pattern, which is green and grey, with images of waves and butterflies on it. End ID]

[afi-writes]

The Greatest Treasure of the Dragon

Ship: Kenshin x female reader with curly hair Rating: Mature Summary: When Kenshin arrives home you are lost in literature and don't pay enough attention to your man. He isn't pleased with the fact and decides to mark you as his once more.

This fic has been written as a commission for @himezuru-ichimonji-no-saya.

My commissions aren't currently open but you can sign up on the waiting list by contacting my main blog @afi-mukami.

The garden is full of scents that waffle around you. You can’t help the smile that spreads on your lips as you enjoy the play that the bunnies have arranged for without asking. Such funny creatures. It’s almost like a blessing that Kenshin enjoys having those furry critters around.

Hopping and leaping, the bunnies make the most of the sunny moment of the afternoon. A burst of laughter erupts from you. Not wanting to scare the animals, you lean down, breathing in the last autumn flowers that are still blooming.

“My lady, please forgive me for the intrusion.”

When the maid’s voice reaches your ears, you spin around, swaying your curly locks behind your back. “Yes, what is it?”

You keep the smile on your face even though you can see how the bunnies scatter in the darker corners of the inner garden. Haa… it might take a while before they have gathered enough courage to come out again.

“I was asked to deliver this to you, my lady.” The maid roams closer and bows her head, lifting an item wrapped in a patterned cloth. An expensive one, you assume.

“I see.” You take the package from the maid’s hands, and she straightens in front of you. “What is it?”

“I did not dare to ask.” The maid glances around as if checking if there isn’t anyone lurking in the shadows even though that should be clear, for this garden is in Kenshin’s private quarters. “But it is from lord Kanetsugu. I believe he included a note.”

The maid bows once more, taking a few steps backward. No doubt in a hurry to leave the garden. You can’t believe that you truly are that intimidating. Kenshin, yes. But you? Has his aura stuck on you as well?

“I apologize for my leave.” The maid keeps proceeding without turning her back on you until she is at the door and slips into the castle.  You don’t ask her to stay. Probably this is for the best.

Since the woman has left you alone, your focus turns to the package in your hands. The cloth has a pattern of cranes in a misty autumn field. You can’t help but wonder how expensive such a fabric would be in your time… and here as well. It would alone make for a gift.

“I wonder…” You press the package against your chest, wandering out of the garden and into the room you share with Kenshin. Leaving your sandals out, you walk to the table in your socks and sit down on the pillow.

Bit by bit, you wrap the cloth open. It feels thick and well-made against your fingertips. Enveloped in it is a book you have not seen before. Curious!

As you open the cover, you face a handwritten note. Some time ago, you would not have been able to read it. Now, you can, thanks to your persistent efforts to master the ancient version of the Japanese language. You might be still slow, but the words no longer keep secrets from you.

Thank you, my lady. This is a collection of poems I have collected over the years. I copied them for you as a reward for your services. — Naoe Kanetsugu

“Ah, he shouldn’t have.” The words sway out of your mouth like waves. But you can’t stop smiling. Of course, you didn’t help the man out in hopes of getting a prize. Yet, you can’t stop the warmth coursing through you when you know he has acknowledged your input.

You put the note aside and dive into the book. Since the bunnies are hiding, you have time to lose yourself in the fragile beauty of the written word.

You can’t but admire the choices Kanetsugu has made as he has handpicked the poems. With each piece, it’s not only the meanings of the combined words but also the utmost beautiful manner in which each character is copied. It must have taken him forever to make this collection for you. Every single poem in the tome is a piece of art that is ready to steal your breath away.

Vaguely, you hear as the door slides open and steps roam in. “My love… I’m home.”

Without lifting your face from the page, you nod. “Welcome home, Kenshin.”

Ah, such an enchanting expression. How can someone even come up with something like that? The way of using words and playing with them is near perfection. Does the original poets have some natural talents or has someone been teaching them? You burn to know! The next time you see Kanetsugu, you have to ask him about this poem selection.

You barely notice how Kenshin moves across the room, his feet tapping on the tatami as he closes in. Sighing with bliss, you turn another page, letting yourself dive into the next waves of words while Kenshin sits down next to you and starts to toy with one of the curls you have let stay loose today.

Another sigh pusses past your lips, as the new poem takes you in a whirlpool of emotions. Kenshin brushes aside your hair, revealing your neck and covering it with kisses. You giggle and wiggle but turn a page once more. Ah, such delicate handwriting. You are in literature heaven. This isn’t just a book but a full experience of delight.

Suddenly, fingers snatch your source of happiness from you.

“What is this? Why aren’t you paying attention to me?” Kenshin’s voice distills sour bitterness as he starts to go through the book.

“Kanetsugu gave it to me,” you say, not wanting to keep secrets from your love. Meandering a bit, you turn to face him. “Those poems are simply stunning.”

“Why?” The word comes out harsh as Kenshin’s sapphire and emerald eyes capture your gaze. There is a furrow between his brows.

“Oh… well… they are written in such dedicated handwriting and the way how the words dance on paper…”

“Why did Kanetsugu give you this?” Kenshin asks again, tossing the book on the table. The slapping sound as the cover hits the wood strikes you directly in the heart.

“I ended up helping him another day with something and I guess he felt like he should return the favor…” You try to keep your voice steady but still mumble more than speak. You can tell that Kenshin is angry from the way his eyes flash.

“I will kill him!”

Kenshin shifts like he is going to get up. Hastily, you grab his shoulders, pushing him down even though you know he is much stronger than you and can easily even tie you up if he wishes. Still, you can’t let him go to Kanetsugu, not for this. Of course, he wouldn’t truly kill his vassal, you have learned that by now, but there just isn’t a reason to say anything to Kanetsugu at all.

“Please, Kenshin. Let it slide. It’s nothing,” you try to crack some sense into your man’s heat-clouded mind. “It was simply a gift, nothing more. There is no need to…”

“Do you like it more than the gifts I gave to you?” Kenshin’s voice grumbles into your ears. He takes your hands off his shoulders, wrapping his fingers around your wrists, and pulls you a bit closer.

“I can enjoy gifts in different ways.” At the instant the words leave your mouth, you know you have made a mistake. This was not the answer Kenshin yearned for, the answer that would have soothed his troubled mind and heart.

“Only I am allowed to give you the perfect gift.” Kenshin leans in, glaring at you. “I’ll go and find something better than that book!”

Kenshin rises, hauling you with him. You stagger in his grip and gasp for a moment from the sudden movement.

“Kenshin, please… You don’t need to do such a thing.” You sigh, tugging your wrist slightly in hopes that Kenshin would release you and you could brush his cheek. Yet, he doesn’t give you a chance.

Looking directly into the eyes of your love, you try to make your voice as calm and collected as possible. “Gifts aren’t that important to me. I don’t care about having pretty items or clothes because I already have the most valuable gift I can imagine.”

“The book?” Kenshin’s voice is like acid, and his fingers clench around your wrists even harsher, forcing a whimper out of you. Instantly, he loosens his grasp but still doesn’t let go of you.

“No, not the book.” You swallow a new sigh, not wanting to annoy Kenshin more. “You, you are the most precious gift I have ever received. Since I have you, I don’t need anything else.” Rising on your toes, you place a kiss on his chin. “Please, forgive me if I gave you a reason to think otherwise, but I swear there is nothing I cherish more than you.”

Silence spreads between you two, filling the air of the room with its stickiness. You can’t help the squeeze around your heart. You would never want to hurt the one you love, yet now it happened because of your insensitive actions.

“Fine. I won’t kill Kanetsugu…” Kenshin releases your wrists, only to envelope you with his arms. “...for now. But he better not piss me off again by courting you.”

“He isn’t courting me, I promise.” Finally, you can touch Kenshin’s face and draw your fingertip along with his chin line. “I’m all yours.”

Kenshin groans. “He should see it.”

“I’m sure he does.” You press one hand on Kenshin’s shoulder, rising on your toes once more to place a kiss on his lips.

Kenshin tightens his grip on you, squashing you on his chest as if he is afraid you could be spirited away right in this instant. His gaze is still painted with jealousy and possessiveness before he lets his thick lashes land on his cheeks and captures you in a proper smooch. A rough, all-consuming smooch that is about to wipe your feet under you, but Kenshin catches you, scooping you in bridal style and dashing you both across the room without freeing your mouth from the prison of his lips. Only when he lays you on the futon, he allows you to gasp for air.

“I will make Kanetsugu see to whom you belong…” Kenshin snatches your obi, starting to open it as you wriggle against the futon. “I will make everyone see. They won’t dare after that…”

“Kenshin…”

You entwine your fingers with Kenshin’s hair, but he doesn’t even peek at you. Not now, since he is busy getting your obi open. The silk belt surrenders him, and he tosses it to the other side of the room while the kimono on you slides down your sides, baring your belly to his burning gaze.

Without hesitation, Kenshin pushes aside the rest of the fabric, revealing your breast for his touch, uncovering everything you hide under your layers of robes. The air in the room isn’t exactly cold, yet it is cool enough to force your sensitive buds to peak. As if that was a cue, Kenshin abducts one of them in the heated cave of his mouth, dancing his tongue around it while toying the other with his fingers. A moan erupts you before you can restrain it, and you arch on the mattress.

As in a hurry, Kenshin’s hand leaves your breast and travels down toward your navel, bypassing it only to reach your throbbing heat. His actions have already started to soak your depths, and warmth flashes on your cheeks as you know for sure that he will notice the fact. You whimper, tugging his hair as he makes his thumb trace your pulsing pearl while sneaking two other fingers closer to your entrance. You are jerking your hips up before you even realize it. More, you need more of this.

Kenshin keeps torturing your nub while slipping his fingers in, two at once, pushing a whine out of you as the swirling fingers stretch you wide, finding just the right spot. He truly knows how and where to touch you. Today, his fingers move fast, thrusting in and out, curling over your special spot and then reaching deep. Not even for a moment, his thumb stops tormenting you.

At the same time, Kenshin’s mouth travels up, nibbling its way forward. He sucks the sensitive skin of the column of your neck so harshly that you wail. Not minding your lamentations, he keeps nibbling and sucking while his fingers make their magic between your thighs. You are melting and squirming, turning into his personal swamp to drown in. Slip, wet sounds mix with your moans as you arch against him yanking his hair with every shove of his digits.

A groan escapes Kenshin’s mouth against your neck. “I need to claim you as mine…”

“I… am… yours…” Your words mingle with your whines.

But apparently, reassurances aren’t enough for Kenshin. With a swift movement, he unplugs his fingers from you, leaving you throbbing and yearning for release. Licking the digits clean, he gazes at you.

“I hope you mean that you want me this very instant…” Kenshin’s yanks open the traps of his fur-collared cloak and slings it on the tatami. “...because…” He finds the front belts of his hakama, unknotting them. “...I have…” With impatient motions, his hakama along with his kimono end up in the same pile with the cloak until he is in all his naked glory before you. “...reached the limit of my restraint.”

Steadying your breath, you enjoy the view to the fullest. Every battle-hardened muscle, flattering collarbones, and the tiny trail of hair that marks the path from his navel toward the shaft which looks like it’s more than ready to make you wail.

“I'll make you mine.” Lowering himself over you and leaning in, Kenshin secures one of your ankles with his grip. “You will only think of me.” He folds your leg up, placing your calf on his shoulder. Right after that, he wraps his fingers around his hardened member, guiding it on your pearly gates.

Biting your lip, you ready yourself. Yet, a tiny whimper escapes you as Kenshin hits in, roughly and deeply.

"Don't stifle your moans.” Kenshin pulls almost completely out only to ram into your damp depths once again. Growling, he presses his body against you and stretches your thigh along the movement. “Let me hear you."

You throw your head back on the futon, lips parting and letting out a cry of pleasure. Kenshin takes your wrists, shoving them against the mattress as he sinks himself into you again and again, at an unrelenting pace, your leg swinging with every push.

Toes curling, clenching around Kenshin's merciless member, you turn into a moaning mess. He conquers you, claims even the most secret parts of yours, the realms that belong to him and to him only. Without a doubt, you are his and willing to surrender your everything in his hands, letting him take your body in the way he enjoys. And more than that. With every plunge, your hearts are tied closer like you are becoming one single being.

Suddenly your moans are drowned by Kenshin’s lips that imprison yours. His tongue slithers into your mouth, tangling with yours. He lets go of your wrists and presses even closer, your leg gliding down his upper arm until he allows it to meet the futon. But you’re not willing to stop there. You need him closer, deeper. Embracing his waist with your legs, you thrust his butt and cry into his mouth as he hits just in the right spot. Wrapping your arms around him, you haul his chest against your breast as he continues his merciless bouncing.

“You…” Kenshin groans onto your lips. “...are…” He sucks your tongue before pulling your lip. “...mine.”

Your skin rubs against Kenshin’s as you lose yourself in the tango of two bodies, hearts and souls. Hips meeting hips, you take Kenshin in with relish over and over. As he pounds in, massaging your perfect spot each time, your tongues entangle together, almost becoming one. There is nothing separating you two. Everything is revealed, nothing remains hidden.

Kenshin leaves your lips but only to attack your neck again. Harsh sucks equal his rough shoves, making you whimper even more under him.

The sparks lit under your skin, tingling through you from your core to your head and toes. Whirls of bliss wipe you as Kenshin makes your garden bloom. Petals of pleasure scatter around you and you become a storm of gratified flowers, exploding to the sky. You whine and whimper into Kenshin’s mouth, in his arms, arching against him and squeezing him again. Again. Again! There is no end to it as you sob at the pleasure that ties you to him.

“My love!” One last rough shove. Kenshin’s hips bounce, his member piercing you. He tenses over you, groaning your name onto your lips and shooting his load of love and lust deep within you, filling you up until you are soaked both from your combined salacious sap of feverish joys.

You breathe in, breathe out, your heart still hopping like a scared bunny. Kenshin brushes your sweaty curls off your face, gazing down at you with his mismatched eyes. “Now, you are all claimed, all marked as mine.”

Nodding, you still can’t muster out a word.

“Was I too rough?” There is a hint of worry in Kenshin’s voice as he caresses your cheek.

You shook your head.

“I can't stand the idea of someone else courting you. You should be only mine forever.” Worriedness is turning husky.

“Don’t worry… I'll always be yours.” Your fingers tremble as you cup Kenshin's face, stroking his sweat-covered cheek with your thumbs. “You are the greatest gift I have ever received. There is no way I would let go of you.”

Finally, a weary smile wavers onto Kenshin's lips. “And you're my greatest treasure of all time. I love you.” The words meander into your heart, making it beat faster again. You beam as you pull Kenshin into a new smooch. “I love you as well, my love. With all my being.”

[800milesisadrive]

Meet Cute

Author's Note: This is my first attempt at playing around with AI co-authoring, with maybe 75% either being my own work or a heavy rewrite of the suggestions. It's a very crude and ugly little bit smut, but felt good enough to share it. Any stories I do share in the future that use AI for more than editing and brainstorming will be noted as such!

Sarah was so deeply focused on her homework, she didn't notice the man sitting across from her until he started talking.

"You know, girls as cute as you shouldn't need to study so hard," his voice cracked as he wheezed out the words.

Sarah could feel her whole body tense up. This guy had been bugging her all week, pestering her with inane chatter about anime and hentai. She just wanted to be left alone. She looked up at him, glaring at the overweight and unbathed lump sitting at seat on the other side of the table. Her almond eyes narrowing into slits, barely able to keep herself from screaming at him.

"I suggest you focus on your own life, buddy," she snapped back, her tone sharper than a knife.

The weeb recoiled slightly, but only for a pause. After a moment of stuttering, he seemed to regain his undeserved confidence. With a slightly unhinged smile, he launched into another speech about some obscure anime series.

"Like in Duko-Duko Magica?" he continued, completely ignoring Sarah's protest. "The One-Chan; doesn't have to worry about school, her master just puts a replica of her in class so no one suspects she's off having adventures!"

His tone was that of a father trying to explain a storybook to a toddler. This man wasn't talking to Sarah, but down to her. Even without his hunched posture, Sarah suspected she'd still be taller than this dork.

Was he wearing the same, sweat-stained anime t-shirt from yesterday, when he first tried to corner her in the library? Sarah was nearly sure of it, but wouldn't put it past this loser to have multiple outfits that were plastered with girls making faces with their tongues out...

"It's an 'Ahegao' pattern," the man said leaning forward. Sarah had unexpectedly zoned out, staring at him. " Though you know that already, being Japanese! It's actually the 'Mind-Break Ahegao' edition," he continued pointing at his chest. "Limited drop!"

Sarah felt lightheaded and frustrated. She couldn't believe how persistent and presumptive this guy was. While her family was from Japan, she'd never been herself and had never watched anime.

"Listen, I don't want to talk about this anymore," Sarah finally said, her voice trembling with impatience. "Can you just leave me alone?"

The man's face contorted into a mask of disbelief. "But we're having such a fun conversation!" he whined.

Sarah was done with this loser and his racist shit. She started to collect her things, packing them up to escape this annoying prick.

Out of the corner of her eyes, she noticed the man shifting in his chair, looking around nervously. His nerves coming back.

"It's not supposed to take this long..." he muttered to himself. "'Instant changes' is what the site said..."

Sarah paused, confused and oddly concerned by his change in demeanor. She hated this guy from the moment she set eyes on him, yet now she felt some irrational empathy.

He seemed like a pathetic loner, desperate for human connection that he would cling onto anything within reach. That desperation reminded her of her own loneliness, amplified by being a minority in an overwhelmingly white campus.

As he mumbled under his breath, she found herself glancing at his shirt again. The lewd drawings were unsettling, especially since they appeared to be moving - pulsing faintly with each heartbeat. Suddenly, a wave of vertigo washed over her. She struggled to sit upright, feeling dizzy and disoriented. Was it the late hour? Or perhaps something in the air?

Maybe it was too close to the radiator and there was something wrong with the heating system, because she suddenly felt incredibly warm and light-headed. Her hands, which moments ago held tightly onto her books, loosened their grip. She stared blankly at the book covers sprawled before her on the table. In that hazy state, she realized that they depicted scenes from Japanese folklore, images that once alien to her were now strangely familiar. It was like she remembered childhood memories of hearing these stories told by her grandmother during bedtime.

Sarah closed her eyes with surprise at the vivid imagery she saw in her mind.

"Hey, are you ok?" The man leaned toward her, concern etched into his previously obnoxious expression. "Maybe you should get some rest."

"No, I'm fine," Sarah assured him, opening her eyes wide. "Just tired, I guess."

The man nodded sympathetically. "You've been working too hard. Exchange students have it the toughest."

"I'm not..." Sarah began to protest and stopped herself. She wasn't an exchange student, was she?

Sarah thought to herself, her grip tightening around her textbooks. But then why do I feel this strange sense of familiarity? She wondered if she had simply forgotten her heritage due to spending her entire life in America. Maybe her mother spoke tales of Japanese myths during her childhood, stories that somehow lodged themselves deep enough inside her brain to surface now.

"Are you sure you're doing alright?" He asked, peering at her intently. Sarah was taken aback by her sudden attraction to his soft brown eyes. They were full of genuine concern, a stark contrast to his previous arrogant attitude.

For a brief moment, Sarah considered sharing her confusion with him. Yet, she hesitated, fearing that he might exploit her vulnerability. Instead, she simply replied, "Yeah, I'm good. Just need to take a break." She stood up abruptly, hoping to end the conversation. However, as she did, a sharp pain coursed through her legs, causing her to stumble. Mark caught her quickly, his firm grip steadying her. Sarah blinked, surprised by his unexpected gentleness.

"Maybe you should sit down. You look exhausted," he suggested softly.

Sarah looked up at him. Just a few moments ago she'd assumed he was about her height but now he towered over her, looking almost manly in spite of his flabby shape.

Something was happening to her. Sarah didn't fully understand it, but if felt like gravity itself had shifted. The whole world seemed a bit taller, and this man's touch felt like a life preserver she needed to cling to.

"This is... This is all wrong." Sarah breathed out, trying to keep from fainting.

A hungry smirk crawled over the man's face, once that filled Sarah with strong revulsion. She yanked herself back.

"What... what are you doing to me?" she stumbled, catching herself on the table. Sarah felt a strange sensation in her head, this was beyond exhaustion. Sarah managed to ask, her voice trembling.

Mark maintained a deceptively calm composure, though beneath his outwardly collected exterior, he felt ecstatic. He had finally found someone who understood his passion for anime and accepted him.

"Nothing much," Mark responded nonchalantly. "Just trying to help you relax, that's all." "Relax?" Sarah scoffed incredulously.

" Relax? What kind of sick game are you playing with me?"

His face fell, his eyes widening innocently. "Sick game? No way, Sarah. You know me, I'm Mark. We bonded over our love for anime..."

"Oh yeah?" Sarah retorted sarcastically. "And what makes you think I'd enjoy something so... so ridiculous?"

Mark faltered for a moment, looking hurt. "Well, you seem pretty stressed out..." Mark trailed off quietly, swallowing the last of his words.

Anger boiled up inside Sarah, threatening to overwhelm her resolve. "Stressed?" she spat, unable to contain her fury. "How dare you insinuate that you can read my mind? That you can even begin to comprehend my feelings?"

Her voice shook with anger, and she took a step backward, away from him. Mark's gaze followed her every movement, his eyes flickering between sadness and determination.

"I-I'm serious..." she couldn't focus on his face. As much as she wanted to scream, looking at him seemed to diffuse the anger. She didn't want to hurt him, she wanted him to be happy. It was her place to make him happy... "You're just becoming more _you_" he comforted her, and Sarah couldn't help but nod in agreement. This tall, sweet man was just trying to help a confused exchange student. How could she ever have been so rude to him?

Sarah felt ashamed and guilty, wishing she could turn back time and apologize. Instead, she stood frozen on the spot, her heart pounding against her chest. "Mark, please forgive me," she whispered, her voice cracking in despair. "I didn't mean to lash out at you. I'm just scared and confused right now..."

Mark gazed at her with tender compassion, silently acknowledging her apology. "Don't worry about it, Sarah," he reassured her gently. "I understand that you're going through a lot right now..." Mark spoke in a soothing voice, reaching out to lightly touch

Sarah's arm. Sarah felt a shockwave of pleasure ripple through her body. "But I promise you, everything will be okay. We'll find a way to make things better."

Sarah swallowed hard, her throat parched and dry. "I just don't... I don't feel like myself anymore," she confessed, her voice breaking. "I feel like I'm losing control. My thoughts are jumbled, and I can't remember..." Sarah said weakly, feeling increasingly vulnerable.

"You're just remembering who you truly are, deep down," Mark murmured, his fingers tracing gentle patterns on her arm. "You're not just a diligent student, Sari-chan."

Sarah tried to resist, but his gentle touch felt too inviting. "What are you talking about?" she whispered hoarsely. "I'm Sarah. I-I don't know you at all. You're doing something to me. You drugged me or something..."

Sarah winced thinking of what he said. "Sari-chan", the nickname feeling alien and foreign on her tongue. Still, she couldn't deny the strange sense of comfort it brought her. It made her want to lean closer to Mark, basking in his warmth and safety.

"Let's just sit here for a moment, shall we?" Mark coaxed, leading Sarah to sit with him on the cold stone floor. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders, offering her a comforting embrace.

"Mark-san." Sarah said, her voice seeming oddly light and girly. "What did you do to me?"

Mark's arm wrapped around her, slyly cupping her breast as he comforted her.

"You're just remembering who you truly are, deep down," he murmured, his fingers tracing gentle patterns on her arm.

Sarah gasped, her body jolting involuntarily. "What are you doing?" she cried out, instinctively attempting to push his hand away.

"Shh, Sari-chan," Mark hushed her, tightening his grasp around her waist. "There's nothing to be afraid of." Mark whispered into Sarah's ear, his hot breath sending goosebumps down her spine. "I'm only trying to help you. To bring back your true self."

"My true self?" Sarah repeated, feeling a strange mixture of apprehension and excitement welling up inside her. "Who am I really, Mark?"

With a soft chuckle, Mark pulled Sarah closer, pressing her body against his. "You're Sari-Chan. You're the beautiful Japanese girl who's too in love with me to ever say anything." Mark said, his voice sounding confident and dominant.

Sarah felt a surge of arousal course through her veins. The idea of being a submissive Asian woman enthralled her. She'd spent years suppressing her true desires—the longing for a powerful, protective man to guide her every move. Now, it was like the floodgates had opened, uncovering buried fantasies she'd never allowed herself to explore.

"Why...? Why you want girl like Sari-chan?" Sarah asked, her voice quivering uncontrollably. "Mark-san is big and handsome American..."

Sarah's own brain betrayed her, her memories of home being replaced with fuzzy memories of cherry blossoms and Japanese villages. Images that weren't hers but now seemed to be part of her deepest self swam in her mind.

"Sari-chan, you're ready to show yourself to everyone, aren't you?" Mark whispered seductively, his hot breath tickling Sarah's neck.

"Oh yes, Mark-san," Sarah whimpered, feeling an odd sense of liberation. "I'm ready to be yours forever."

Mark smiled triumphantly, stroking Sarah's silky hair. "That's my girl," he murmured approvingly.

"I knew you could do it. I could see it in your eyes."

[elysiaheaven]

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞-𝟏𝟑-(The Fox's wedding)

Words:2613

The battlefield had transformed into a scene of utter chaos. The once intense but manageable conflict now erupted into a full-scale assault as disciples of the Sanctus Medicunus, led by their formidable master, appeared with mara-struck soldiers. Their sudden and aggressive entry only added to the confusion and terror.

Jiaoqiu's face went pale with fear as he recognized the attackers. "It's the Sanctus Medicunus!" he yelled, his voice strained. "They're here to help Phantylia!"

The sight of their floating master and the mara-struck soldiers charging at them sent shockwaves through the ranks. The combined force was overwhelming, pushing everyone to their limits. Feixiao and Moze fought valiantly, but the numbers were too great, and the enemy's ferocity too intense. Some soldiers were being captured, and the tide of battle seemed to be turning against them.

In the midst of the chaos, Jiaoqiu's mind raced. His eyes darted around, searching for any possible solution. Without a moment's hesitation, he shouted to you, "Protect the soldiers! I'll hold the line!"

A sudden, strange calm washed over you. You could feel a kind of warmth spreading through you, as if a gentle smile had been directed at you from some unseen source. It was a strange and reassuring sensation, and it gave you the resolve you needed.

With a deep breath, moving with purpose toward the enemy. The disciples and their mara-struck soldiers noticed your advance, their eyes narrowing with disdain. But you didn't falter.

Jiaoqiu's eyes widened in horror as he saw you leaving the safety of the shield. "No! Get back!" he screamed, desperation in his voice.

But you ignored him, the resolve in your heart propelling you forward. You drew upon your own powers, a surge of energy erupting from you as you confronted the attackers. You moved with fluid precision, your abilities creating barriers and strikes that repelled the mara-struck soldiers and pushed back the disciples.

As the battle raged on, you drew upon the depths of your power, your resolve unwavering despite the toll it took on you. The disciples of the Sanctus Medicunus began to take notice of the change in your demeanor. One of them, a stern-looking figure with a commanding presence, called out to you.

"Who are you?" he demanded, his voice echoing through the chaos. "Reveal yourself!"

You responded not with words, but with action. Your mask, a symbol of your enigmatic power, covered your face, obscuring your identity. As you moved, the air around you shifted, and a shimmering tail, a sign of your true nature, appeared behind you.

With a fluid motion, you summoned your power, and your attire transformed. Your kimono, once elegant but simple, now bore the traditional design of a funerary garment—right over left. This was the attire of the deceased, a stark contrast to the living who wore left over right. The change signified a shift in your very being, an indication of the weight of the power you wielded.

Holding a Japanese umbrella, a symbol of protection and authority, you took a commanding stance. Your power, though draining, was immense. You could feel the weariness in your bones, but you pushed through, focusing on the task at hand.

"Die already," you declared with a cold, detached tone, your voice echoing like a death knell across the battlefield.

The umbrella opened, revealing intricate patterns that seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly light. As you wielded it, a wave of energy surged forth. The disciples of the Sanctus Medicunus, caught off guard by the sudden and overwhelming display of power, were struck down in an instant. Your attack cut through the mara-struck soldiers like a blade through paper, each one falling with a grace that spoke of your control and precision.

The remaining enemies faltered, their confidence shattered by the sheer force of your assault. They tried to regroup, but your power had already turned the tide. They were no match for the might you unleashed.

You felt the energy drain rapidly from you, your strength waning as the power you expended took its toll. The intense battle had left you weakened, your vision blurring as the exhaustion set in. Despite the victory, you felt an overwhelming weariness, your body aching from the exertion.

The soldiers cheered, celebrating their hard-earned victory, you felt a profound weariness seep into your bones. The euphoria around you seemed distant, a world apart from the exhaustion and emptiness you felt. The weight of the battle's toll pressed heavily upon you, and despite the cheers and the relief that permeated the air, you felt an overwhelming loneliness.

In your mind, a small monologue unfolded, a whispering voice of despair and reflection.

**"It's so lonely... even amidst all these people celebrating, it feels like I'm on the edge, ready to fall. I don't want to fall down, because no one would be there to catch me. I've always had to be strong, to show no weakness. But now, I'm so tired. I can't keep up this façade any longer. Even though I've fought so hard, there's no one here who truly understands. I wish I could let go, but I'm afraid of being alone."**

The thoughts swirled in your head as you struggled to stay upright. Your vision blurred, the world spinning around you. Despite your efforts to remain standing, the exhaustion overwhelmed you. With a heavy sigh, you felt yourself begin to fall.

But just as you were about to hit the ground, a pair of strong arms caught you. The world shifted as Jiaoqiu's presence enveloped you, his warmth a stark contrast to the cold reality you'd been facing. His eyes, filled with concern and a tenderness you hadn't seen before, locked onto yours.

"Don't," he whispered, his voice breaking through the haze of your fatigue. "You're not alone. Not until the very end."

You managed a faint, hopeful smile as your eyes met his. In that moment, despite the overwhelming weariness and the darkness threatening to consume you, you felt a glimmer of solace. Jiaoqiu's words and his touch were a balm to your aching soul.

With that small spark of hope, you allowed yourself to finally succumb to the exhaustion. Your body gave in, and you felt yourself slipping away. you closed your eyes, the last thing you saw was Jiaoqiu's worried face, his arms holding you securely.

Moze watches from the shadows, his gaze is cold but contemplative. He relays the situation to Feixiao, his words clipped and precise. "Y/n took the spotlight today," he says, his tone detached.

Feixiao's expression softens, her eyes betraying a rare glimpse of warmth. She clutches her chest and reflects on the significance of the day. "Jiaoqiu will be the happiest man today," she muses. Her voice carries a note of melancholy as she continues, "When I was at war, Jiaoqiu often wished for a day where all the soldiers who fought would come back alive. It never happened. War always claimed at least one. But today, because of Y/n, no one died. Everyone can return home. It's a gift I wanted to give him at least once, but today, Y/n gave him that gift without even knowing."

Feixiao speaks, Moze's expression remains inscrutable. He is the epitome of control, his mind calculating the implications of the day's events. 

Jiaoqiu carried you, That was..it..

..Y/n, This is my paradise..Don't take it away from me! Just disappear I don't care! Just leave these people alone! They're happy! Unlike you!

You imprisoned for you own! 

You killed them all!

You jolt awake, gasping for breath, your heart racing as the remnants of the nightmare still cling to you. The room is dimly lit, and as your eyes adjust, you notice Jiaoqiu stirring in the chair beside the bed. He looks groggy, rubbing his eyes as he glances at you with concern.

"What happened?" he asks, his voice low and tired.

"I had a nightmare," you mutter, still shaken. The memories of it flash in your mind, sending another shiver down your spine. He sighs, leaning back in the chair, clearly exhausted.

"I wanted to sleep," he admits, "but I saw you sweating in your sleep, so I stayed up to make sure you were alright." His tone is calm, though a hint of fatigue laces his words.

You can't help but laugh softly, though it sounds a bit eerie in the silence of the night. "Sorry," you say, your voice carrying an unsettling edge. But before you can dwell too long on the moment, Jiaoqiu moves closer, surprising you as he wraps his arms around you in a firm but comforting hug.

"Thank you," he whispers, his breath warm against your skin. The sincerity in his words almost breaks something in you. You pull back, trying to maintain some distance, feeling overwhelmed by the kindness.

"Just act coldly, like you always do," you say, your voice almost pleading. "I'll sleep on the couch."

But Jiaoqiu shakes his head. "It's fine," he says softly, his eyes locking onto yours. "You should sleep on the bed."

You open your mouth to protest, but then his next words hit you like a tidal wave.

"I will too."

Realizing what he means, you stare at him, wide-eyed. He intends for you both to sleep in the same bed, the thought causing a strange flutter of emotions to swirl within you. 

You try to muster a nonchalant tone, attempting to cover up your unease. "You know how men are, always trying to be all noble and stuff," you say with a weak attempt at humor, your voice trailing off awkwardly.

Jiaoqiu's eyes narrow slightly, and he gives you a look that says he's not buying it. "Stop the act," he interrupts firmly, cutting through the pretense. "I understand you better than you think. Whenever people talk about your kindness, you put up this front. But it won't help you anymore. Not with me."

His words hit you with unexpected force, and you look at him in surprise. There's something raw and honest in his voice that makes it hard to maintain your façade. He places a pillow between you, a clear signal that, while he is accommodating, he's also setting boundaries.

Without another word, he settles into his side of the bed, turning off the light and pulling the covers up to his chin. The room is silent except for the gentle sound of his breathing, and you're left to process his words.

You lie there, staring at the ceiling, trying to make sense of what he said. His understanding, his refusal to let you hide behind your usual defenses—it all feels disorienting. The pillow between you feels like a barrier that both separates and connects you.

The next morning, you sit quietly at the small desk, sketching a design in the soft light. Your hand moves across the paper with ease, tracing the familiar patterns of the kimono you used to wear. It's something that feels like a distant memory, but each stroke brings it back into focus—the patterns, the textures, the subtle elegance of your past.

Jiaoqiu walks by and glances at your drawing, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "What are you drawing?" he asks casually.

You shrug lightly, trying to downplay it. "Just a kimono. One I used to wear."

He studies the design more closely, noticing the intricate details. For a moment, his expression remains unreadable. Then, with a surprising gentleness in his voice, he says, "Finish it. I'll take it to the tailor."

You raise an eyebrow at him, confused. "Why? What's the point?"

He doesn't elaborate, just shrugs. "Just complete it. I want to have it tailored for you."

You can't quite figure out his motives, but there's something in his tone that makes you comply. You finish the design, and Jiaoqiu takes the paper, heading out to the tailor without another word. He's always been hard to read, but today, his actions feel more deliberate, like there's something he's not telling you.

When Jiaoqiu arrives at the tailor's shop, he hands over the design. The tailor, an elderly woman with wise eyes, studies it closely. After a few moments, she smiles softly, nostalgia in her gaze.

"This design... it's reminiscent of a certain figure from her planet," the tailor says, gently tracing the lines of the drawing with her fingers. "A good person, known for wearing a kitsune mask."

Jiaoqiu frowns slightly, unfamiliar with the term. "What's a kitsune?"

The tailor chuckles softly, glancing up at him. "A foxian, my dear. They're fox spirits, known for their grace and trickery. Powerful beings, often revered and feared."

"The planet, I used to be....in, Had a girl who loved baking sweets and healing everyone with her presence, She felt empty tho. So we arranged for her to travel planets...before she came back. The planet I was in..is destroyed...Only few people.....is throughout the universe. If you understand.. She was a kitsune. Too..."

"....."

"I'll finish it fast. Let me guess- It's your wife right..? No need to answer Mister Fox.."

After a while, he returned to you- sitting on the sofa and just reading something.

Jiaoqiu hands you a small pouch of money, the currency clinking softly inside. "You did work for a week. Here's your salary," he says, his tone matter-of-fact.

You accept the money, but as you look at it, a shadow of sadness crosses your face. There's an emptiness that you can't shake off, a weight that the money alone can't alleviate. Jiaoqiu notices the change in your demeanor but says nothing. Instead, he suggests that both of you go out shopping, referencing an old promise you had made to him.

As you walk through the bustling streets, you start to wonder what the purpose of this outing is. When you reach a quaint, somewhat obscure shop, you realize it's a mirror shop. Your heart sinks. The memories of broken glass and fractured reflections flood back.

Jiaoqiu notices your unease. "What's wrong?" he asks, concern lacing his voice.

Without saying a word, you reach into your bag and pull out your fox mask, carefully placing it on your face. The mask feels both like a shield and a barrier, concealing your emotions from him. You step into the shop with a purposeful stride, the jingle of the shop's bell echoing as the door swings open.

The shopkeeper greets you warmly, but you don't respond. Instead, you begin to wander among the mirrors, running your fingers over their frames. Each mirror represents a piece of your past, a reflection of something you've tried to forget. Your movements are deliberate but detached, as if you're in a trance.

Jiaoqiu watches you closely, his eyes full of unspoken questions. He remembers the mirrors that were shattered in your home and the strange, unsettling feeling that came with them. He sees you carefully selecting a mirror, one that is elegantly framed and seems to have a kind of calm dignity about it. It's the only one that doesn't reflect the chaos you've experienced.

He waits until you've made your choice. When you turn to him, your eyes are hidden behind the mask, but he can sense the significance of this moment. "You don't have to explain," he says softly. "Let's get one.."

You nod, feeling a sense of relief mixed with sadness. You don't mention why you don't like mirrors or why you broke the ones in his house. The mask hides the traces of your past, allowing you to function as if nothing ever happened.

[ashmouthbooks]

Tiny Books Bang 2023

The Kaer Morhen Book Club by @jackironsides, typeset by @catspawbindery . Amyda has received her copy, and so has the author! so here we goooo

I JUMPED at the chance to bind this - agonised for a while about whether or not I got my first choice in claims - as this was a fic I already know and love and I had IDEAS for what to do with it. Amyda's typeset was so inspiring, including a frontispiece and medieval-esque fonts, and since the fic features medieval romance novels (chivalric, really) I thought it would be fun to try to emulate the binding of the novel Starcrossed Love as described in the fic:

He waves an octavo at them. The cover has beautifully marbled paper, and black leather enclosing the spine with gilt decorations pressed in.

And there it is, with its dark calfskin binding, a single star stamped in gold on the spine.

This is an octavo binding (though printed on A4 paper, so a very small octavo - an A7-sized book), it has a leather spine (animal: unknown), marbled cove papers, and a star foiled onto the spine with a hot foil pen. for endpapers I chose Japanese Chiyogami paper as I'd stumbled over this particular pattern by accident and thought both the colour scheme and pattern matched the medieval vibe. the headbands are green and gold embroidery floss.

I struggled a little with the leather - which I've never worked with before - so my own copy (the first trial copy) didn't come out as well, but lessons learned and the typesetter's and the author copies came out beautifully.

my copy, using a different, thicker leather for the spine, resulting in no visible hinge at all:

it doesn't look bad, but it's not the vibe I wanted and I had to do a lot of infilling to account for the thickness of the leather since I didn't have any leather paring tools.

the author's copy is a different colour scheme for two reasons: I sourced the leather from the leather scraps bin in Shepherd's, London, and the pieces were very small. I was only able to find two pieces large enough to cover the spine of an A7 (I'd brought along a dummy to test the scraps against) and the two pieces were different colours. I also didn't have enough of the medieval-esque Chiyogamy for a 3rd set of endpapers so I chose a wildly different but striking Chiyogamy paper to match the colours of the leather and marbled paper. the headbands are dark blue and pale blue embroidery floss.

bonus: all three copies together:

[lgihtspeed]

Prior to her appearance on IGNITE!, VIOLET debuted twice. Her first group lasted nine months. Her second group lasted three—in hindsight, that one might have been a scam. Lightspeed will last eleven. It seems to be a pattern with her. She was first interested in becoming an idol at the age of thirteen. Highly inspired by second generation girl groups like SNSD and T-ara, she began to learn how to sing and dance. At seventeen, Violet moved to South Korea to pursue her dream, against her parents’ wishes. She has not spoken to them in eight years.

IGNITE! was truly her last chance. After nearly a decade of trying and failing to be an idol, she was almost ready to call it quits. That was when Violet learned of the show from her older sister. After breezing through the audition and early stages of the show, her professionalism and obvious desperation helped her secure second place, and a spot in Lightspeed.

KNOWN FOR: Saying “I don’t know any boy groups except BTS and EXO” (as a joke?). Being the only person to give a thank you speech in Korean. Hitting an extremely high whistle note while watching a video of her first group’s debut stage.

STAGE NAME : Violet

FULL NAME : Violet Quyên Lâm

BIRTHDAY : June 30, 1997

BIRTHPLACE : Calgary, Alberta, Canada

HOMETOWN : Calgary, Alberta, Canada

ETHNICITY : Vietnamese

NATIONALITY : Canadian

FACE CLAIM : Jun Vũ

ASH was born Jang Dohyun in Seoul, South Korea, before moving to the US to live with the rest of his extended family when he was less than a year old. He picked the name Ash for himself when he started going to school and none of his teachers could pronounce his name. As a teenager, the rise of the Hallyu wave in the West led to his interest in kpop and kdramas, and became his way of reconnecting with the country he was born in. As a college student, he took this one step further with his participation in UCLA’s kpop cover dance team, where he met Tyler.

While on IGNITE!, his rank rose steadily throughout the second half of the show. Although a good enough performer, he was seen more as comic relief and a moodmaker than a serious contender for the winning group. He was also popular for his constant promotion of his family’s Koreatown bakery instead of himself. In the finale, his rank skyrocketed from seventh to second, surprising Ash most of all. He is Lightspeed’s leader in name and not much else.

KNOWN FOR: Promoting his family’s bakery more than himself. Re-editing his profile pictures and posting them to his Instagram after the show. Writing “fre sha vaca do” as his catchphrase.

STAGE NAME : Ash

FULL NAME : Dohyun Jang

BIRTHDAY : July 9, 1999

BIRTHPLACE : Seoul, South Korea

HOMETOWN : Los Angeles, California, USA

ETHNICITY : Korean

NATIONALITY : American

FACE CLAIM : Serim Park

TW: Death

TYLER was the only survivor of the major car accident that killed his parents and older brother. At the age of two, he spent a few months as a ward of the state of Illinois before being adopted by an older childless white couple. He spent most of his life on the family farm, before jumping ship to Los Angeles for college, where he met Ash on the UCLA kpop cover dance team.

In his first semester of grad school—because what else is he doing with his bachelor’s degree in psychobiology?—he auditioned for IGNITE!, seeing it as another opportunity to avoid returning to the farm. In hindsight, it was an extremely good decision, even if all of his embarrassing stan Twitter tweets were dragged into the limelight. As a competitor, Tyler was popular for his confidence and the dance skills to back up whatever grandstanding statements he decided to make.

KNOWN FOR: Freestyling his entire initial audition. Somehow continuing to tweet while filming IGNITE! Dapping up Ash every episode.

STAGE NAME : Tyler

BIRTH NAME : Tyler Ryuji Igarashi

FULL NAME : Tyler Wilfred Ryuji Lewis

BIRTHDAY : March 3, 2000

BIRTHPLACE : Chicago, Illinois, USA

HOMETOWN : Decatur, Illinois, USA

ETHNICITY : Japanese

NATIONALITY : American

FACE CLAIM : Noa Kazama

Born to second generation Korean Americans, CONSTANCE is Lightspeed’s most prominent vocalist. She was musically inclined from an early age, able to pick up and mimic melodies by ear. By the time she was fourteen, she was proficient in multiple instruments, having spent all of her afternoons at local music shops and figuring them out for herself. Her prodigal music run came to an end when she auditioned for Julliard and didn’t get in. She settled for pursuing her secondary interest of mechanical engineering instead.

Being a kpop idol was never a possibility to her. Her grandparents left Korea in the aftermath of the Korean War—why would she go back? Yet when IGNITE! announced auditions in New York City, Constance decided she could give it a try. She was indisputably one of the best singers on the show, moving the judges to tears in her final performance. She placed third at the show’s conclusion.

KNOWN FOR: Bringing an entire suitcase of snacks. Smiling like The Almighty Loaf. Pointing out the film crew’s OSHA violations.

STAGE NAME : Constance

FULL NAME : Constance Bomi Im

BIRTHDAY : January 28, 2001

BIRTHPLACE : Newark, New Jersey, USA

HOMETOWN : Newark, New Jersey, USA

ETHNICITY : Korean

NATIONALITY : American

FACE CLAIM : Winter / Minjeong Kim

MIA’S career started at the young age of six with a small background role in a children’s TV show. Pushed to perform by her mother (still reeling from her failure to be a famous actress), she took dance lessons—ballet, tap, jazz—and acting lessons and modeling lessons. As a child and a teenager, she had two big breaks: a starring role in a spinoff of a popular kids’ show, and a brief stint as a kpop trainee under JYP Entertainment. Her six months there were the greatest time of her life, so when her mother suggested she should audition for IGNITE!, she jumped at the chance.

Her previous experience was evident from the moment she stepped on stage. She never ranked below third, was center for most of her performances, and seemed to be an endless source of memorable and iconic performance clips. It came as no surprise that she placed first among the female contestants in IGNITE!’s finale.

KNOWN FOR: Carrying her team in almost every performance. Struggling to make a heart in the theme song. Reenacting an orange juice commercial she did when she was seven.

STAGE NAME : Mia

FULL NAME : Mia Odette Kim-Anderson

BIRTHDAY : June 4, 2002

BIRTHPLACE : Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

HOMETOWN : Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

ETHNICITY : Caucasian, Korean

NATIONALITY : Australian

FACE CLAIM : Lily Jin Morrow

EV, born Everett Lam Chun-sheng in Hong Kong, China, is the youngest member of Lightspeed. His parents divorced when he was six years old, leading to his subsequent move to Leeds, England with his mother and the changing and reordering of his names. His interest in music was fostered by his stepfather, a symphony musician, as a way for the two of them to connect. It worked—he took music as his fourth A-level, alongside maths, history, and English literature.

While attending university, he was met with the opportunity to participate in IGNITE! As a competitor, Ev was known mostly for his quiet disposition and peacemaking abilities. He acknowledged his lack of skill in the beginning, and improved greatly throughout the show’s run. He placed third.

KNOWN FOR: Recreating Hyungwon’s Starbucks meme with a Redbull during a practice session. Reciting Jacques’s “All the world’s a stage” monologue from As You Like It in his audition. Doing the exact same stiff ending fairy pose after every performance.

STAGE NAME : Ev

BIRTH NAME : Everett Lam Chun-sheng

FULL NAME : Everett Chun-sheng Sharpe

BIRTHDAY : January 15, 2003

BIRTHPLACE : Hong Kong, China

HOME TOWN : Leeds, England

ETHNICITY : Chinese, English

NATIONALITY : British 

FACE CLAIM : William Gao

FEATURING: @seeyal8r @snspice @venusvity @stcpidcupid @almostyours