#misaki / threads.

[zyzix]

Gift for Bboy Oats&Rice! in halloween exchange @twewyss

They wanted something "funny and up-Beat" so here's Shiki helpin him out of an experiment gone wrong.

[lgcminki]

zoomies.

there's a lot to do, all so suddenly. it's not that minki thought there wasn't always a packed schedule when he was still just a trainee waiting for debut, but now that he's a permanent member of a group that will most definitely make their debut sooner than later—well, it's different. it's busy, but with what feels like purpose, for once. it's a strange feeling, and the more he allows himself to ruminate on them ( which he does often, he'd always been a bit of a sentimental overthinker ), the harder it is for him to just relax and sleep.

it's not a good habit to have, nor is it something he should continue to foster especially because he'd be even busier down the road and should really fix his body clock. minki can't help himself though, quiet nights can be rather dangerous for his noisy brain. he had gotten into the habit of hiding away in one of the practice rooms late into the night, trying to shake things off.

this time around though, it sounds like there will be someone else joining him. misaki is a bundle of energy, so minki hadn't been surprised when misaki finds trouble simply falling asleep some nights too. that's exactly why when the door clicks open, minki expects to see @lgcsaem strolling in. and, to his credit, that's precisely what happens.

"good morning," he jokes slightly, pausing from his stretches. it's decidedly not morning, but it could be if they aren't careful. "experiencing one of your late night zoomies again?" he questions, although it doesn't sound accusatory at all, only slightly concerned. "me too."

he walks over to the speaker, attaching his phone to the device. "want to shake off some of your zoomies with me?"

[shiiikigami]

”it’s been an honour knowing you.“

#hello :3

that was very formal, very polite. it surprised him, pleasantly. he gave a small lowered head bow in return, wanting to make a better impression. "you're too kind. the honor is mine."

[universestreasures]

@universestreasures​ --> @crimsonkaiser​ --> @extremebattler​ 

They had all been silent since managing to get pretty far away from the village where they had that run in with the Pale Moon Circus. Misaki and Kamui still didn’t know what happened, even after having set up camp as they usually did. Kai had returned to them earlier with Aichi passed out in his arms with his disguise almost broken without saying anything more than what was needed for them to escape. Then again, it wasn’t in his character to elaborate needlessly, a trait she shared with him. 

However, now that they were settled in with Aichi having woken up and Kai’s pendent having been repaired, the half kitsune feels like it’s time for a chat. The embers of the fire crackled as the woman moved to stand up from her comfortable position on a log to address the group as a whole. She knows getting information out of the two of them, mainly the flame dragon, isn’t going to be easy, but it needed to be done. Misaki and Kamui deserved to know what happened. All of it.

“It’s been long enough. I think it’s time we address the...elephant in the room.” Her serious yet soft gaze shifts towards Kai, the one person who was conscious for the entire encounter. Aichi’s expression looked hesitant, but he chooses to not intervene on the converation. “Please, please tell us what happened, Kai. Tell us everything. This...This wasn’t a normal encounter with the circus, was it? That much is obvious by how you were when we found you and Aichi.” 

@crimsonkaiser​​​ you’re up! <3

~

[lgcsaem]

☆ ⸝⸝ 𝐓𝐄𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐒 , ft. @lgcminki.

moving homes has become something of a routine thing for misaki at this point, his long and arduous trip from the states to korea being the thing to spearhead it all once he'd first decided to become a trainee. change has never bothered him much, the world in constant motion alongside him as his skills ( as well as his general character, despite what many might think ) continuously grow, so this fourth change of scenery is one he hardly bats an eye at when management gives them the go-ahead to start packing their things. in a way, he's bummed to be losing noeul as one of his roommates, but that disappointment pales in comparison to the unbridled excitement he feels the moment he learns minki will be his new dormmate, light steps leading him into their new dorm— their official, permanent new dorm as the members of mzsd.

it all felt real from the moment the first five members had been grouped together, but now, everything felt that much more intense. misaki was buzzing.

despite the array of clutter and clothes he'd brought with him to help make the space truly feel like home, there's something of a method to misakis madness, his belongings finding proper places in hardly no time at all. all he has left? the plushies— almost a whole box worth still remains despite the many he's placed around the confines of his side of the room, overstuffed and overflowing. "hyung, do you have any space over there for a few more plushies? all my shelves are full, and there's no more room on my bed!" misaki whines, brows furrowed from her kneeled spot on the floor, body bent over the opened box as he takes stock of what's still left. "the rest of these will all get forgotten if i have to put them in the storage room on floor three!"

[snowonthebeaxh]

@sunshiinefades asked

“I believe in you.” misaki & anyone

"Well, maybe you shouldn't" Sabine was especially glum today. She'd made so many mistakes in her life. She didn't consider herself the best person. She had lost a lot of confidence, one she started her Jedi training. Sabine didn't have a strong relationship with the force, but she did come a long way. she deserved credit for that. "But I appreciate your belief. I'll try to be the person you believe me to be."

[koushirouizumi]

{Kuro+Shiro} circa 2k13 r.p {I'm Shiro} (the first meeting in a new {Place})

"I drew MYSELF" "and wrote" "I LIED."

{DO NOT re-post} {DO NOT re-purpose}

(I miss my old r.p. partners and cast-mates from this time, but at least I know most of my closest mutuals are doing well. Also I wrote semi-nice descriptions 10~ years ago, I should {keep} trying this again...)

[mohammedatallaah]

The Story of Mohammed and hope l Reuniting a Family🍉🇵🇸💔

My dear friends, imagine a little child dreaming of a safe life, treatment and the necessities of life, or a displaced family looking for a safe shelter. Can we make these dreams come true?"

Click here for the donation link please🔽🔴

Before you is a true story that carries within it a lot of pain and suffering, but it is also a story of hope and determination to live. The story of Muhammad, the young man who went to help his family and neighbors under a stifling siege, and was deprived of his right hand, and his future became hanging by a thread.

Imagine the moment the bomb exploded, the screaming, and the chaos that befell Muhammad and his family. Imagine the pain of the little boy Amir, who only knew life in the shadow of war and destruction, and the little girl Malak who was born in the midst of terror and fear. Imagine the father of the children, far away from them in exile, suffering from longing and nostalgia, and wondering how his children live under these difficult circumstances.

It is a story of human tragedy, but it is also a story of hope. Hope that Muhammad will be able to recover his hand, and return to his normal life. Hope that the children will be able to live a normal life, far from war and destruction. Hope that the family will be able to meet again, and build a new home.

My friends,

Helping Muhammad and his family is not just charity, it is a duty Humanitarian. It is an opportunity to change a person's life, and provide hope for him and his family. Every donation, no matter how small, can contribute to the surgery that Mohammed needs, and thus change his life for the better.

Let's extend a helping hand to Mohammed's family, and show them that we are with them in their ordeal. Let's contribute to bringing a smile back to their faces, and hope back to their hearts.

A prince's child who never saw his father, and a baby girl, an angel, who was born in the war at the age of seven months, and their father never saw them except for pictures.

To donate, please click on the link in the CV: ...

My account is verified and protected by @90-ghost @appsa @ibtisams-deactivated20241104

#Mohammed_Needs_Us

#Family_Reunion

#New_Hope

Thank you for your support and solidarity🙏🇵🇸🍉

[tag list under the cut]:

@one-cold-witch @d1anna @esoteric-brustle

@lpslover6669 @anakalos

@buildmeupbuttercup14 @skkfujoshi

@chaos-axolotl-reblogs @def-not-kaz-brekker

@invulnerable-vaguewomen

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@gryficowa @ocipiala @zaminami @mjthefaeva

@nako-funky @kenniex2 @hananono

@centi-pearl@corpsenurse @vita-e

@guiltycrunch @onetruesirius

@gaysebastianvael @inplodinggofer616

@d3lph1unkn0wn @confusedsheepsblog

@p33rpressure @ahperrytheplatypus

@your-13th-suffers @hericanee @murderbot

@arceusbeta @tam-shade-song @coleheinous

@diberhaze @space-batzz @devilmeows

@gizdathemxel@wild-forest-bee @rsquid2

@faerie-lights @lapastelr0sa

@allegedlysicktomystomach

@number-1-carrie-white-fan @adept7777

@cam24fan @strflwers

@tremendousdreamtragedy @soullessjack

@backgroundcharacterno15 @west-of-the-styx

@apocalypsegay @something-writing

@suburbananarch @fr0gie

@stretchedbumhole201 @exltwounds

@cori-randomstuff@slowbrobutch

@hotsugarbyglassanimals @dubiousyuri

@pinetreesdoodles @mores0

@suzu-by-starlight @sparky-is-spiders

@hellotheretraveler @hahvdh @archferret

@softeninglooks @moronic0xymoron

@darthferbert @virgincognito @animebabe55

@profoundlyscreechingkryptonite

@princessnessa2017-blog @neptuneschaos

@the-mold-under-your-bed123

@ropes3amthoughts

@that-one-vangogh-painting @sappy-asphie

@lotionlamp @kenniex2 @yeskhya

@hyper-fucks-sake-tion @jauximeowmeow

@lady-misaki @reymcmuffin @sufferswallow

@thequeendied @a1m3v @parkerpresentz

@extremereader @thetwistedarchives

@absolutedoorknob @worowelf

@hold-me-till-winter @beeware-of-lulu

@littleladybaker@wild-forest-bee @rsquid2

@faerie-lights @lapastelr0sa

@allegedlysicktomystomach

@number-1-carrie-white-fan @adept7777

@cam24fan @strflwers

@tremendousdreamtragedy @soullessjack

@backgroundcharacterno15 @west-of-the-styx

@apocalypsegay @something-writing

@suburbananarch @fr0gie

@stretchedbumhole201 @exltwounds

@cori-randomstuff@plswtfdontdoitagain

@footlongdingledong @cherrraty

@heheheeheeh @fleurxduxmal

@pintrestparasite @louisblue02

@clowdwatching @eldritch-something-or-other

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@mininightmare2 @strawberryglitterkiss

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@bolas-de-berlim

@therearenonutsforsomeendermen

@noxumblog @ashkaranast @donationsmatter

@punkeropercyjackson @callie-flower

@patchoulitoes @stonedustghost @ofishally

@stellaristcs @redmystery314 @asquidnotkid

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@thingfromanoutherworld @ak1w1i

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@sentienceoverload-29

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@aldryrththerainbowheart @mochipuppy16

@darinaethelaianprophet@this-deadgirlwalking

@rob-os-17 @moonbisexualsharktamerr

@screamnpatches @luvdisc69 @ghostb3loved

@fuckcapitalismasshole @no-clue-just-vibin

@twashcat360 @amythestvaporeonbackup

@lazy-but-amazing @dusty-brain

@loucygoosey @bichi2004 @stalinistqueens

@wynsummers @rottingoranges

@thingfromanoutherworld

@ashkaranast@wetccarpet @chthonianalacrity

@samurotting @aldryrththerainbowheart

@mochipuppy16 @darinaethelaianprophet

@rob-os-17 @moonbisexualsharktamerr

@weakestwarrior @v1rtualv4mp @fiapple

@tryna-sleep @snapcracklepop-myjoints

@l-art-stuff-l @minosbull @duskstarshit

@cosmicgamerboy @squidkiddoesstuff

@attaboy-art @fireflyingaway@blackcrystalball

@lookineedsleep @lampthehealthminister

@therealdjpocky @holyeaglecupcakesposts

@amberspacedf @teeethbrush @bunnannie

@lesbitching @lonelypotato23

@swaggy-hairy-thang @murenaaaaa

@karlmarxmaybe @littlegaypancake

@zimislockedinthefreezer @catboywillferal

@yetisidelblog @tspicer23

@galax-dragon@redpinejo @orphancat

@sea-200 @literally-one-million-bees

@aroacedisasterr @blvvdyindustries

@sunmooneclipseandstars

@theandroidsentbycyberl1fe

@reblogingstuffrandomly @animatorfun

@r4yt0r0f4nb0y @fazar234 @mstormcloud

@theguiltygearheritageposts

@doubleedgemode @millionthcephalophore

@white-mirrors @cherubsaliaa @ash24601

@willhelmthewhale@cipherinator @sister-lucifer

@missivorystone @4de2ssy0 @alpabett

@99orangeblossoms @totally-six

@sematary-drive @knittedquails

@masterofthepistachio @gagreflexoxo

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@patzweigz @papus-clown-enclosure

@montewave @chilewithcarnage @leftyreea

@quesofromagecheese@spookygayferret

@cloudy-osc @thatonedemon @hellswolfie

@hungee-boy @thenamelessdepths

@courtly-kenzie @funnypickle3

@wompwompwoooooomp @ashytheslashy

@magnuficentwo @thatgothicgirl @geodetojoy

@feelo-fick @herondale-infj @nerdytextileartist

@queencantaloupe @clownbugg-ie

@xxhalfempty

@ransiquack@rowletlittenpopplioteam

@the-coley-zone @furrysinthematrix @frograaa

@mattsinclairvo @snufkin1970 @bi-worm

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@starshinesparkle

@commersons-fucking-dolphin

@soulessdeadpool13 @kasthejackass

@icaruslore @maln0x @fancylittleworm

[guroseinsei]

@k-aez thank you for the tag :3c

tagging (feel free not too ofc): @squerunit @itshomobirb @s-misaki @fadinggalaxysalad @mandalora @rinn-e @pi-ppi @quartzguts @askebjoners @nnoneprobably @thebeingofeverything

[keithisbae1]

Fanfiction Masterlist

I decided to make a master list of all my stories you can find on Ao3. They are put in alphabetical order. Not all my snippets/threads are on Ao3, but I am trying to post as much as I can. If you would like to read them, you can go to my twitter profile and type #sssnippetaday or look at my pinned tweet which should have everything.

I hope you enjoy reading.

~~~

A Different Kind of Threesome (Complete, Rating M)

Sasuke and Sakura have a different kind of threesome and try something different with a clone. [Sakura/Sasuke/Male Sakura]

~~~

A Different Time (Complete, Rating G)

“There are worlds, universes out there each living their own lives. One thing they have in common is the same people, they may live different lives but anyone who you know there will also be with you somewhere else.”

“So, I should have my own Sasuke?”

“Ah, you should.” [SasuSaku]

~~~

A Heart to Heart (Complete, Rating G)

Out of all people Kizashi would never expect Fugaku to come to him for advice. [Kizashi & Fugaku]

~~~

Baby Sarada's Adventure (Ongoing, Rating G)

Little Sarada gets transported back to the past and meets all the different versions of her Papa from Genin Sasuke to Shippuden Sasuke and even angsty/revenge Shippuden Sasuke.

Can she find her way home to her parents? [Sarada & Sasuke]

~~~

Confession (Complete, Rating G)

With encouragement from his two teammates, Sakura decides to confess his feelings to Sasuke. [Male Sakura/Sasuke]

~~~

Day Off (Complete, Rating M)

Sakura just wants to spend a lazy morning in bed but with Naruto on the phone, Sakura has to make sure he doesn't hear things he shouldn't. [Male Sakura/Sasuke]

~~~

Exes and Crushes (Complete, Rating G)

How long have they have been doing this? Five minutes?

Not that he had any complaints; Sasuke was very skilled with his tongue. Electing a moan out of him every now and then. However, it didn't help how his legs were straddling him and he could feel the Uchiha smirking every time. [Male Sakura/Sasuke]

~~~

Hidari & Misaki (Drabble/One Shot Collection, Rating G)

Hidari struggles with the emotions of Uchiha Sasuke, as such he comes up with a plan that maybe having his own family will help him understand Sasuke better. [Juubi Sasuke/Juubi Sakura]

~~~

His Family (Complete, Rating G)

“Normal couples don’t act like this.” He was referring to the ones on the TV. Ah-ha, so he was paying attention to the shows she watched, even when he tried to deny it.

“Since when has that bothered you, and besides they aren’t even ninjas. It’s hardly a fair comparison.”

“It doesn’t… not always.” But it did get to him occasionally.

It was rare for Sasuke to be back home, at least now he'll be able to spend some time with his family. [SasuSaku]

~~~

I Like You (Complete, Rating G)

Sakura starts to feel jealous and wonders if there's something more going on between Satsuki and Naruto. Based on Pumpkinfriend's Fem SasuSaku comic [Fem SasuSaku]

~~~

Idol AU (Ongoing, Rating G)

Sakura and Satsuki are from different J-pop Girl Groups. Satsuki has been Sakura's fan from Day 1 and has developed a heavy crush on her. Now with their new group being the latest hit, Tsunade and Orochimaru have an idea to join the two together. Satsuki and Sakura develop a bond but can Satsuki confess her love to her?

Oh yeah and Karin is also their biggest shipper because why not?

Idol AU suggested by Mikan. Hope I did it justice [Fem SasuSaku]

~~~

Insecurity (Complete, Rating G)

“Your so dense. You think your Sasuke’s friend well when has he asked about you? It’s only been Naruto and him, the only reason he puts up with you is that Naruto considers you a friend.”

Sakura hadn’t thought about her friendship being one sided but maybe they had a point. [SasuSaku]

~~~

Is It Real? (Complete, Rating G)

Everywhere he goes people ask him about his hair colour. Sasuke decided to do something about it. Short and PURE CRACK!

[Male Sakura/Sasuke]

~~~

Matchmaker (Complete, Rating G)

Karin decides to play matchmaker with Sasuke, especially since he's not going to make any effort himself. It's up to her to do so.

[Male Sakura/Sasuke]

~~~

A Mermaid and Her Princess (Ongoing, Rating G)

Being a Princess wasn't all that that's it cracked up to be. On top of that being an Uchiha, a family that goes around hunting for mermaids/mermen. Life really couldn't get any better.

[Fem SasuSaku]

~~~

The Mershark & Mermaid (Ongoing, Rating T)

The more they pushed each other away the more they gravitated toward each other.

They both knew it would end horrible but fate is a funny thing.

(First chapter in SasuSaku Month Day 1: Connected Feelings)

[SasuSaku]

~~~

Nerd Sasuke X Jock Sakura (Complete, Rating G)

How do you ask your crush out? By being complete dorks about it. See what Naruto and Ino have to put up with? [Male Sakura/Sasuke]

~~~

The Pink Hokage (Drabble/One Shot Collection, Rating G)

Being Hokage was stressful work but someone had to do it. At least Sasuke took care of her.

Hokage Sakura/Anbu Sasuke [SasuSaku]

~~~

Room 304 (Ongoing, Rating M)

It all started by accident of going to the wrong room. Sakura's client was in room 204 yet she had walked in at 304. It really was a mistake. So when she went in only to see four maybe six of the same man fucking different women at the same time her eyes widen and all she could focus on was the way he moved his body against her colleagues. [SasuSaku]

~~~

Sasuke's Fanboy (Ongoing, Rating G)

Sakura likes Ino, but Ino likes Sasuke and Sasuke likes Sakura? Well, at least Naruto thinks so. [Male Sakura/Sasuke]

~~~

SasuSaku Month 2021 (Complete, Rating M)

My first go at SasuSaku Month. Let's do this! [SasuSaku]

~~~

SasuSaku Month 2022 (Ongoing??? Rating G)

My collection of stories for SasuSaku Month 2022

Hope you enjoy! [SasuSaku]

~~~

SasuSaku Snippets (Drabble/One Shot Collection)

Random snippets and AU ideas that I just need to write down.

[SasuSaku]

~~~

SS Angst Day (Complete, Rating M)

For #SSAngstDay. Sasuke is the gang leader and has Sakura as his right-hand man. Sakura does everything as she's told and does her job well, it just annoyed her how he constantly flirts with other women in front of her but won't even look at her. [SasuSaku]

~~~

Training (Complete, Rating M)

Sasuke asks Sakura to come over for some 'training' ;) Short drabble [Male Sakura/Sasuke]

~~~

Welcome Home (Complete, Rating E)

Sakura didn't expect to get a welcome home present despite Sasuke being the one who was returning home.

Base on Shannaromie's M/M SasuSaku art on Twitter.

~~~

Other Ships:

Dinner for Four (Complete, Rating M)

With Mebuki determined to play matchmaker for her daughter, Sakura finds herself turning to her friend Angel for help. As in 'hey I need you to pretend to be a guy so my mother thinks I have a boyfriend.'

After all, that was what friends were for right? [Itachi/OC, SasuSaku]

~~~

The Three of Them (Complete, Rating M)

They were in love with each other, it was as simple as that.

College AU (NaruSakuSasu)

~~~

The Three of Us (Drabble/One Shot Collection, Rating G)

Snippets and prompts for my NaruSakuSasu college AU on Twitter.

(NaruSakuSasu)

~~~

Klance Prompts (Drabble/One Shot Collection, Rating G)

A list of prompts I've found on Tumblr (unless I think of one myself) to practice writing for these two. (Klance)

[lgcsaem]

an unfathomably cheeky expression grows across his features, stretching the muscles of his cheeks widely as his lips continue to take on a grin, whisps of overgrown fringe falling in front of his eyes as misakis head tilts slightly. admirable— that was certainly a word, one he'd never heard in regards to himself. during his time as a trainee ( hell, even going as far back as his schooling years, far more boyish and unrelenting in energy ), general descriptions bestowed upon him tended to fall under the same umbrella; wild, random, adorable.

little, immature, loud— under hushed breaths, a talent who could easily be held back by his own personality. misaki had heard it all, attentive in a way many seemed to undermine at times, but in his opinion, that'd been the biggest help during his more formative years. he'd learned for himself quite early that he'd never be able to please everyone, that he'd never be able to please everyone completely, so why try? why bother molding himself into something he'd eventually hate when he could make people simply like him for who he was?

there was no satisfaction in that. uncaring and bold, the thought of compromising his own character has long since been thrown out the window, and thus far, things seemed to be working out. here he was, a fairly seasoned trainee with a promising path to debut, surrounded by others who seemed to value what he had to offer.

admirable.

yeah, misaki knew wenjun was good.

"the second you count yourself out, you've already lost!" the words leave him without hesitation, grin thinning out into a displeased line, brows furrowing. "if there wasn't something good about you, you wouldn't have made it this far, so no bad thoughts from now on!"

misaki, for once, doesn't wriggle around as he pulled into a hug. in fact, he's quiet content, happy to let himself slump into the older a little after a long day of hard work. his cheek smooshes into wenjuns shoulder, slurring his words a bit. "i can be smart and cool sometimes, i just like being fun more." pulling back slightly, misaki points at wenjun. "you're already high on my roster!"

it's always been in his nature to be a little timid – a little quiet. wenjun has never thought of himself as the 'ideal' person one would think of when they're faced with the word idol. if anything, wenjun was more or less used to hiding behind a crowd, to taking a step back because he never really was the type to typically shine under the spotlight. at the very least, that was what he believed in.

and yet here he was, a trial member for a group, a group that legacy had plans for debuting. a group filled with members that were crazily talented, that had charms that wenjun could only dream of. in truth, he still couldn't believe it. his anxiety ran high and he was faced with disbelief. he'd been plagued with thoughts of whether he deserved it, this spot, deserved even being considered for the lineup.

but misaki's words seem to spark something within him. should i be scared? wenjun blinks. because fear had been the only thing he'd been feeling for a while. no, fear and excitement. but perhaps wenjun had spent too long dwelling unease, that he didn't allow himself any time to feel... happy.

misaki says that wenjun is good, and wenjun smiles. he thinks he hasn't heard that in a while. or maybe he hasn't heard that at all. he can't remember. ah, i might cry, wenjun thinks, his heart swelling. he moves closer to misaki.

how is it that misaki is younger, but here he is – giving wenjun support, advice even. "you're admirable," wenjun laughs, but he's thankful for misaki's words. "i never thought of it that way... i guess... i always thought about what would happen if i failed. no... i always thought that i would fail, so i never sat down and wondered about what it would be like if i didn't," he says slowly, as though coming to terms with his own feelings.

he gives misaki a hug, and squeezes him just slightly. "i must be really lucky. i hope – no, i know we'll debut together. i'm glad we're debuting together. you're younger than me, but you're so much more mature. i should learn from you," he nods his head and balls his hands into a fist, determined. "i'll try to be a good hyung to you too!"

[phantom-z0ne]

"A bright flash of light blinded him as he landed on his feet, bending his knees to brace for the impact. The first thing he noticed was the sound of wailing and the wetness beneath his shoes. There were small, child sized shades reaching toward a group dressed in black robes, hoods obscuring their faces. The hooded figures whispered between themselves after he arrived, seeming delighted when they saw him. Their souls ballooning in anticipation and fervent joy. Distantly, he could tell the robed figures were asking something of him in excitement, but Polka was focused on the group of shades crowding around him. They latched onto his clothes, crying thick black tears. ‘Help us’, they asked, pawing at him, ‘Save us!’" Or, Polka and Corpse God are summoned into the DCU and give more than a few heroes headaches.

Chapter 1: Promises

CW: Minor Character Deaths, sacrificial murder, cults, blood and ghosts

The faint tugging sensation in his gut was what tipped him off that something was wrong. Even the real Polka seemed to understand something was off, his plush body moving from side to side, seeking out what he previously detected. Polka scanned his surroundings, Takumi typing away on his computer while Misaki chatted away with Sayo. He could sense Xiaoyu toiling away in the kitchen, Civil and his friends training in the basement. Nothing was out of place and yet he still felt apprehensive.

A sharper tug stole a gasp from him, the background noise of talking paused as his friends turned to look at him. It was as if there was a string tied to his ribs and someone pulling, trying to attract his attention. The longer it went on, the more painful it felt.

The soft body of his brother rubbed against Polka’s cheek, aura conveying the real Polka’s worry and slight curiosity. He softly petted the shark body in reassurance, turning to his friends to do the same when a harsher yank arrived, shoving him to his knees. He turned his gaze down, noticing the magical circle beneath his feet that definitely wasn't there a moment before. Was he being attacked again? By who?

Takumi and Misaki stood with a shout of his name, beginning to approach him. He splayed his hand in front of him, “Don't get closer!” They paused.

Who knows what this magic circle would do, he didn't recognize what its purpose was and didn't want his friends to be caught up in it. How he was connected to it was a different story.

Turning his gaze inwards, Polka took a good look at his soul. His soul was standard looking for a necromancer, a grayish silver color, almost like mercury. There was a thin yet steadily growing thread binding him to the magic circle. It didn't appear to have much power over him but the little it did wanted him to complete its purpose. From what little of the archaic runes he could interpret, this was a type of transportation array. It would bring him to a specified area the creator designed it to. 

Unfortunately, there was little he could do in this situation. He couldn’t shake this circle off with what little magic he had remaining after the fight with Civil, but he also didn't want to just go wherever he would be transported. 

The circle pulled more insistently, Polka sinking slightly into the magic circle. He wouldn't be able to resist much longer at this rate. The real Polka wiggled frantically, his friends also in various states of alarm.

“I’ll be back soon.” Polka reassured his friends. He wasn't planning on sticking around the area he would be transported. It would be better to conserve his magic and use it for defense then just use it up resisting. If he had more magic, he would have been able to sever the connection between him and the magic circle.

A shout of ‘Wait—’ hit his ears as Polka let go of his tight hold on his magic, letting the magic circle overwhelm his form, encasing him in thick black strands. It pulled him into the circle, darkness surrounding him on all sides. 

Weightlessness came over him before he was quickly pulled downward, his clothes whipping around in the non-existent wind. It felt as if he was falling down a vertical tunnel. He had to grab the shark plush his brother was housed in before it was blown away. It stayed like that for a while, Polka falling for an indefinite time, waiting to finally land.

A bright flash of light blinded him as he landed on his feet, bending his knees to brace for the impact. The first thing he noticed was the sound of wailing and the wetness beneath his shoes. There were small, child sized shades reaching toward a group dressed in black robes, hoods obscuring their faces. The hooded figures whispered between themselves after he arrived,seeming delighted when they saw him. Their souls ballooning in anticipation and fervent joy.  

Polka pulled his attention back to the spirits. They were new, probably created at most an hour ago. Their expressions were full of grief and confusion. They solidified the longer he stared, likely realizing he could see them. 

Distantly, he could tell the robed figures were asking something of him in excitement, but Polka was focused on the group of shades crowding around him. They latched onto his clothes, crying thick black tears. ‘Help us’ , they asked, pawing at him, ‘Save us!’

Looking around the shades, he saw a small pile. In the dim lighting, it was hard to make out. Taking a step closer, his shoes squelched from the sticky floor. He was stepping in a dark puddle, the overwhelming scent of iron revealed the liquid as blood. Tracing the blood with his eyes, it led to the pile. The pile of deceased children. Oh. The shark plush on his shoulder shivered, obviously unsettled from the image.

“Oh Great God of the Dead, Corpse God, Devourer of Souls. We summoned you here today to ask of you to fulfill your glorious purpose.” Polka snapped his attention back to the robed group. One of the figures was a few steps ahead of the rest, speaking as the head of the group.

“My purpose.” Polka said flatly. The shades gathered around this person the most, anger and sorrow warring in their auras as they clawed at the figure’s robes. 

“To rid the world of impurities, of course!” The robed figure responded, clasping their hands fervently. The other members of the cult—it was quite obvious that it was a cult now that he took a closer look—bowed behind their leader, rubbing their hands together in prayer.

Polka narrowed his eyes, scanning the scene before him. The cultists surrounded him semicircle as he stood in a summoning array made from the blood of children. It was sickening.

One of the spirits, this one slightly older than the rest, lightly poked his shoulder. When he turned to them, they pointed to the side of the room. A young boy dressed in bright colors lay motionless, tied to the pillar. A steady stream of blood was dripping to the floor from a head wound.

He would have let them go had they not harmed children. Had they not sacrificed them in his name. He wouldn't kill them but let them live in agony. Let them think about what they’ve done, Polka thought vindictively.

“I see.” The leader’s hood rode up, showing an ecstatic smile that dropped when Polka lifted his hand towards him. Behind Polka, an unnaturally white skeleton arm came through a black dripping magic circle alongside a duplicate of it.

The arms crushed the leader, twisting his body into knots. A shrill scream signaled the rest of the cult to run for safety, Polka looked on unbothered as he gave the cult the same treatment as their leader. Eventually, the only sound in the warehouse was the faint breathing of the injured boy and moans of pain, though many of the cultists had already fallen unconscious from pain.

The spirits swarmed him after he dispelled the skeletal arms. Their aura’s lightening, some giving him a quick smile and a ‘Thank you’ before fading. He had gotten their revenge for them, it wasn't surprising that they decided to go to the beyond. 

A few shades held their hands out to him, feeling satisfied. He grasped their hands, feeding on their staying energy as they said their goodbye to him. The staying energy he just gathered replenished the magic he used earlier from his small reserves. Finally, it was just Polka, his brother, and the injured boy in the warehouse. 

The boy’s dark complexion was covered by the blood pouring from his head wound. Polka wouldn't be able to heal it without turning that part of his body into a corpse and he wouldn’t do that without the boy’s consent. 

Though the boy felt different from a regular human, a heavy sense of death covered him. He was most likely a revenant, he could still feel the aura of life in the boy. The energies were twined, both life and death mixed together in his aura.

Polka untied the boy, catching him when he fell onto him. The boy blearily opened his eyes, unfocused as he asked, “Grayson?” The shark plush looked away from the mess made of the cultists and towards the boy, finally taking the time to observe the young boy. He was worried, the feeling emanating from his aura. There was also a faint recognition.

“No.” Polka answered calmly.

The boy was alarmed, Polka noted, sluggishly struggling to extract himself from Polka’s hold. 

“Rest.” Polka placed his hand over the boy’s forehead, the boy’s eyes going wide before he slumped back into Polka’s embrace, eyes fluttering shut.

Polka took the time to assess the rest of the boy's wounds, checking him over and finding that the head wound was the only injury the boy had. It was sluggishly bleeding still.

Polka conjured a roll of gauze, applying to the boy’s wound and taping it closed. Now, he needed to figure out what to do with the boy. He couldn't just leave him lying unconscious in this warehouse for anyone to find.

The buzz of a comm answered that problem, a deep voice questioned “Robin, report. What is your location?” He paused, likely waiting for a response before repeating the message. Clearly, the boy, Robin, knew this man which meant it would be safe to hand responsibility of Robin over to him.

Polka plucked the comm from the boy’s ear, asking, “Is this comm trackable?”

“Who are you?” The voice demanded, on the edge of hostility.

“You can call me Polka. I'm not sure of the location but Robin is unconscious. We are in a warehouse.” Polka responded calmly, not taking the hostility to heart. The man was clearly worried about Robin being in the presence of a stranger.

“Stay where you are, I’ll be there shortly.” Polka shrugged and sat down against the pillar, placing Robin’s head in his lap. He fiddled with his brother’s plush boy, speaking with him. He wondered what the relationship between the man and Robin was. Were they father and son? Related? Or just had a mentor-mentee relationship? He shared his thoughts with his brother, who responded as best as he could.

In no time at all, a large man cloaked in black emerged from a shadowy corner of the warehouse. If he didn’t know better, Polka would have thought the man was using shadow magic. He was a bit surprised that the man was another revenant. The way life and death swirled around him was similar to Robin’.

He could sense the presence of four more people surrounding him, but couldn't see any of them. They hid themselves well, but unfortunately for them he could see their souls. They were obviously worried about Robin and wary of him. 

Polka stopped stroking Robin’s hair as the man strode up to him, looming over him menacingly. The man was quick to scoop Robin up and distance himself from Polka. Although Polka couldn’t see his eyes, he could tell that they bore into him intently. Polka stared back at the man impassively, tilting his head slightly. 

He felt a strange aura surrounding the man, a mixture of malevolent and benevolent emotions. Stretching his senses, he could feel it from the other four presences, though there was a higher amount of malevolence surrounding two of the presences. Had someone cursed them?

“What intentions do you have with Robin?” the man asked.

Polka shifted to his feet, placing the shark plush back in his hood as he stood, “None, I just happened to find him. Who are you?”

The man gave him a long look and said curtly, “Batman.” Polka felt his brother perk up at that. 

“Happened to find him?” A voice behind him asked, a man in a skintight black suit with a blue emblem stood behind him, smiling as he rolled two escrima sticks in his hands casually. “How exactly did you find him? We can't be sure you weren’t the one who abducted him, after all.”

Polka hummed, thinking on how to explain this. He can't expose his magic, that would be disastrous, but he isn't sure how to say he got here without magic. Plus, he was a terrible liar so he couldn't do that. But what he could do was shift the blame and tell the truth. Only, he would be omitting some details.

He pointed to the blood, balled up cultists, “They kidnapped Robin, me, and a couple other kids.” He pointed at the mountain of bodies, “They killed the others. Who are you ?”

The two men slightly softened at that, grief and guilt coming off of them in waves once they saw the children’s bodies. He sheathed his weapons as he walked to stand closer to Robin and Batman and asked, “I’m called Nightwing. Can you tell us why you and Robin are unharmed?” Polka’s brother was clearly excited, did he know these people?

“They already summoned the God of the Dead, or Corpse God, by then. It wasn't needed.” Polka replied evenly.

“They summoned what they called the God of the Dead?” Batman asked, his voice softer than before. 

Polka nodded, “That's what they called him. He’s the one who did that to the cultists.” He mimed balling up a paper. The man frowned while Nightwing looked thoughtful.

“Did you see where the God of the Dead went?” Nightwing asked after he plastered a warm smile on his face and bent down to be closer to Polka’s height.

Polka bit his lips, thinking of a way to phrase it without lying. Polka slowly nodded, eyes darting around as he feigned nervousness. He leaned towards the younger man and cupped his hand to his mouth, loudly whispering, “He’s still here.”

Alarm filled the warehouse sharply, the two men tensing. In contrast, his brother was gleeful, probably finding humor from him lying by omission to these people, though he was a bit apprehensive with the situation.

The interrogation was broken by Robin stirring. Robin quietly uttered, “Father…?” His voice was hoarse. So Polka’s theory was right, they were father and son. 

“Robin—” The man began, maneuvering Robin to a more seated position.

“Can I go now? I was with my friends before this. They’re probably worried.” Polka interrupted, sticking his thumb towards the exit.

“Sorry, you’re coming with us.” Nightwing said, giving him an apologetical look. Polka pursed his lips, not wishing to stay any longer. He had to get back to Takumi and Misaki. They were undoubtedly searching for him and probably worried out of their minds.

“Why?” Polka asked, crossing his arms. 

The three presences exposed themselves, walking towards their colleagues(?). One of them, dressed in a red and black suit with a long cape, answered, “We need more information and to verify your story. And for your protection.” 

The other two hovered around Robin and his father, one dressed in a full black suit, her mask stitched together over the mouth. The other was dressed in a leather jacket and had guns holstered on his thighs, a red helmet covered his head. It was clear that he had killed many, the heavy stench of death covered him. From what Polka could feel, he had probably taken hundreds of lives.

What Polka wasn’t expecting, though, was for him to be a zombie. Was there another necromancer around who resurrected him? It would be troublesome if they turned out to be his enemy. What was the coincidence that three people, probably family from the looks of it, all died and came back? Not to mention all of them having some connection with death?

If he went with them, the holes in his story would be blown wide open. He couldn't have that.

Polka tore his eyes away from the zombie and towards the one in red and black who was looking over the cultist bodies. “Won't that be kidnapping? Since I don't want to go to a secondary location with strangers? Kidnapping is illegal, you know.” 

“Well, it's a good thing the law is more like suggestions to us.” The zombie huffed, his voice coming out distorted, likely from the helmet. Polka paused, worried about what he got himself in. He should have just left the moment they arrived.

“What do you—” Polka started.

“They're alive!” The one dressed in red and black exclaimed, claiming the room's attention. 

“How.” Robin’s father growled. Robin looked on curiously, though obviously still out of it.

“I'm not sure. Their limbs are broken and twisted into knots but they’re obviously still alive. From the amount of blood spilt, they should be dead.” He replied, poking one of the cultists' body and earning a groan in return.

That's true, a regular body shouldn't have survived. Polka had just made sure that they would survive and face the consequences for their actions. They shouldn't have slaughtered so many children, Polka thought coldly.

“Black Bird, call the hospital and alert the police of what happened. Let's go.” Robin’s father barked.

Black Bird nodded, quickly typing away at what appeared to be a small computer embedded in his glove. Once he was finished, he stood and walked towards Robin's father and the one in blue, talking in hushed whispers with them. They gestured between him, the pile of children’s bodies, and the cultists as they spoke. 

Polka was left standing near the other two strangers, studying them once more as gestured towards one another. “What are your names?” He asked, looking between the one in a red helmet and the one with a stitched mouth mask.

“Never been in Gotham, kid?” The zombie questioned, sounding a bit incredulous. Polka shook his head, earning a huff from him. The one in black tilted her head curiously.

“I'm Red Hood and that's Black Bat.” Red Hood stuck his thumb at Black Bat who waved at him. Polka waved back.

“What's its name?” The zombie pointed to the plush his brother was stored in after a lull in the conversation.

Polka paused. He hadn’t ever thought of a name to present to others when asked. He blurted out, “Polka Jr.”

His face heated, a little mortified that was the first thing he thought of. 

The zombie snorted, or at least what Polka thought was a snort. It was hard to tell with the helmet's distortion. “You name all your plushies after yourself?” 

“No. Just this one.” Polka answered as he was led towards the back alley behind the warehouse. Robin’s father said earlier to ‘Report back to the cave’ after a couple minutes of casual conversation. 

Polka was surrounded by the strangers, the zombie and the one in all black behind him and Robin, Robin’s father and the one in blue walked in front of him. If he wanted to escape without ruining his cover, he would have to take a chance soon. 

They walked down the winding alleys, anyone standing in the alleys would scramble away the moment they saw the group. He could see a sleek black car parked just around the corner. If he used his magic at the right time, he could conceal himself and make a run for it.

It was when he turned the corner and the ones behind him had yet to do so that he had the chance. He deployed his magic, covering himself in shadows and augmented his body. He dashed towards an empty alleyway and stuck to the shadowy walls, hearing shouts of surprise behind him.

It was only after evading the group for twenty minutes straight that he slowed down, reasoning that they were likely off his trail already. He came to a stop near the opening of the alley, leaning on the wall after he dispelled his magic, panting as he let himself regain his breath. 

He had noticed this already, but there seemed to be a higher amount of mana here than in the real Polka’s world, almost rivaling his homeworld. Not to mention the amount of spirits he passed along the way. There were way less spirits in Japan than wherever he was now.

Even now, he could see a ghost across the street from him, haunting an apartment building. What had happened in this city for there to be so many spirits?

Once he had finished resting, Polka raised his hood, gently pushing the shark plush to his shoulder. 

He spotted a payphone not long after he joined the rush in the streets, and was reminded that he didn't have his phone on him. It was on the table back home and he didn't have the time nor energy to grab it before he was taken.

What he did have, though, was his wallet. He should have enough money to be able to make a call with Takumi or Misaki. Polka entered the booth and followed the instructions printed on the wall. Entering Takumi’s number, Polka waited for the call to connect.

What came instead was an automated message that said ‘The number you have tried to reach does not exist. Please check the number you have typed in and try again.’ When he tried Misaki’s number, the same message popped up. 

Polka frowned, he’s called both Takumi and Misaki’s number with different phones before and this had never happened before. Which means it wasn’t a problem with their phones, it was a problem with where he was summoned.

From the feel of the mana in the air and the strangely large amount of spirits, it was safe to assume that he was in another world. If this had happened before he was reincarnated, he wouldn't have come to such a conclusion. It's only because he was reincarnated that he knew that other worlds were possible.

Polka looked to the sky after he exited the booth, it was getting late and he’d need a place to stay for the night. Not to mention a large reservoir of magic to create a gateway back to his home. With the amount of spirits around, he doubted he would have much of a problem with gathering magic.

He decided to follow the largest signature of negative energy, there were most likely going to be spirits there. Usually when there are a large amount of spirits, the building is typically abandoned. 

He was right, pursuing it led him to an abandoned warehouse next to the docks. The amount of spirits was a bit astonishing, the last time he saw such a large quantity of ghosts was when he visited the mass grave of a town murdered by demons.

Entering the building, the ghosts crowded around him, some begging for help while others simply curious. Many of the ghosts were on the younger side, young adults and children, their faces bleached and mouths forced into a bloody smile.

He gave them a sympathetic look and asked, “Who did this to you?”

A cacophony of voices answered, many simply saying ‘Him’ while others repeated one name over and over. Joker.

One man killing this many people was troublesome, especially when they were so young. Polka hummed, coming to a decision and raising his hand towards the ghosts, “I’ll find him and avenge all of you. In exchange, I need your energy.” 

Many of the ghosts wailed, their aura fluctuating between happiness and wariness, obviously overjoyed that someone would avenge them but not quite trusting him yet.

“It's a promise.” Polka said, stretching his hand out more. Many of the ghosts looked between each other. Some came to him quickly, accepting his offer and passing on to the other side. Others deliberated, hesitant to believe him yet yearning to trust his promise if not him.

Eventually, Polka grasped their staying energy, watching as the final group of ghosts faded. He closed his eyes and let out a breath, letting the converted magic flow through him. He made a promise and he would act on it, he never broke a promise.

But first things first, he needed to rest, he was tired. Polka searched the warehouse and found a secluded room, no one would be going in without him knowing. 

He conjured a mattress with a couple of blankets and pillows and placed them in the center of the room. Setting up a protection and surveillance array, Polka flopped onto the mattress and placed his brother next to him. 

Polka is lucky that the world he was summoned to was so similar to his new world. Having to navigate a completely unfamiliar world would be really troublesome, he didn't want to deal with that again. 

Polka turned to his side. He needed to rest, he’ll have a busy day tomorrow. He had a killer to hunt down after all.

Happy (very late) New Year! Enjoy the chapter!!

Masterpost | Chapter 2 >>

[jessenigma]

My Favorite New Manga Reads of 2023

For the past few years on twitter, I've made threads of some of my favorite manga and light novel reads from the past year. This year, I decided I would move it over to two tumblr posts.

After the cut are some of my favorite titles that I picked up for the first time in 2023.

Talk to My Back, Yamada Murasaki

I like to pick up something a little more unusual at least once a year and so at the beginning of this year, I picked up this 1980s alt-manga title about the life of a Tokyo housewife played out in short vignettes. It's a frustrating read because of how real it feels and how much it feels like things haven't changed as much in the last 40 years as I'd like, but it's all the more fascinating for it. The essay at the end discussing Yamada Murasaki's work and placing it in context was a nice bonus too.

When a Cat Faces West, Yuki Urushibara

I love Yuki Urushibara's Mushishi (slow though I have been to actually finish it), so when Kodansha announced a license for Urushibara's much shorter series, I was there for it. It has a cool concept - there are areas of "flow" that will pop up out of nowhere and shift people and places out of time and space and one guy has tasked himself with helping people fix issues caused by it - but mostly it feels like Mushishi but set in the present day. I love a series that's just vibes all the way down.

Skip and Loafer, Misaki Takamatsu

I was absolutely smitten with the Skip and Loafer anime, so when it ended with what felt like a pretty definitive "we are not making a second season of this" final episode, I started the manga. A high school slice of life series lives by its characters and Mitsumi is the more adorable dork ever. The other characters are equally delightful, even when I don't necessarily like them, and I'm so eager to dive deeper into their lives.

Associate Professor Akira Takatsuki's Conjecture (light novel), Mikage Sawamura

This series feels a bit like what you'd get if you crossed The Case Files of Jeweler Richard and The Night Beyond the Tricornered Window: a college student with a supernatural ability to hear lies that alienates him from everyone meets a folklore professor with a mysterious past fascinated by mysteries, and together they investigate possibly-supernatural events. It's a bit silly, but the relationship between the leads is interesting and there's a lot of fun urban legends in the mix. There's also a manga adaptation that I haven't yet picked up, but maybe one day...

March Comes in Like a Lion, Chica Umino

I was curious about this one from the second Denpa announced the license just because of how much I'd heard about the series for years now, and it did not disappoint. I love a good story about a depressed and lonely teenage boy sublimating his feelings into an obsession with a uniquely Japanese pastime, especially when there's so many people around him wanting to help him stop being alone. Now I just wish that the release wasn't quite as slow as it has been, even if I know the many reasons why...though at least I still have the anime to rewatch while I wait.

Don't Call It Mystery, Yumi Tamura

After reading Basara and Wild Com, I was eager to get my hands on a newer series by Yumi Tamura, and the fact that it's a modern-day non-fantasy series made it all the more interesting. Totonou's incessant observations about the things going on around him are delightful, especially when they lead him straight into all kinds of dangers or even just leave everyone around him wishing he'd stop talking for about five seconds. I just want to pat him on the head and ask him to make me some curry.

After the Rain, Jun Mayuzuki

I got a card for the Japan Foundation's ebook library not too long ago, which has been great for picking up a lot of books that aren't available in my local library's collection, including this series. I had heard about it but was a bit hesitant because it's about a teenage girl who gets a crush on her much older boss...but hey, why not give it a try from the library? I'm glad I did because there was such a sweet relationship between them that ultimately helped them both out of the ruts they were in with their personal lives and dreams.

River's Edge, Kyoko Okazaki

I still can't decide if I actually enjoy Kyoko Okazaki's work or not, but I got a little closer to it with River's Edge. It's a harsh story about disaffected teenagers who find a dead body, but somehow it feels less depressing than the other works of hers I've read because they're teenagers and there's still the possibility that they can escape the lives that are dragging them down. I will say this - Okazaki's stories are never boring, whether I enjoy them or not.

Her, Tomoko Yamashita

I got a little overambitious this year and ordered the Italian release of a Tomoko Yamashita title I've been wanting to read for years. Can I read Italian? No. Did I think maybe I could figure it out kinda okay because I've studied French and Spanish? Yes. Did I end up reading everything through a translation app? Also yes. But this collection of interconnected stories about women and relationships was excellent despite the language barrier. I was thrilled to finally see the context for the kiss between a younger woman and an elderly woman that I so admired in Yamashita's 15th anniversary artbook, and its story was a touching exploration of what "normal" means. I would love to see this in English, but unfortunately I can't see it getting picked up.

Glitch, Shima Shinya

I was thrilled that Yen Press decided to pick up another title from Shima Shinya after Lost Lad London, and Glitch has been well worth my time. While it is a fantasy story about a town full of glitches in reality that I'm excited to see play out fully, what really caught my eye is the sheer amount of diversity in the characters - one of the leads is nonbinary, there are mixed race characters, there's a lesbian couple, etc. It's all part of the story but not in a didactic way, which I appreciate immensely. Shinya's art also makes me so happy, and I hope Yen continues to get more of their work.

Lilies and Voices Born Upon the Wind, Renmei

Speaking of diversity in characters, I enjoyed this series not only because it was a nice yuri with a motorcycle lesbian (always a bonus in my book, the motorcycle) but because it had some really thoughtful discussion of asexuality in multiple forms. I wish I could've gotten one of the printed copies that were available for purchase at one con, but alas.

Witch Hat Atelier Kitchen, Hiromi Sato & Kamome Shirahama

Did we really need a cooking series spinoff of Witch Hat Atelier? Probably not. Am I glad we got it in English anyway? Absolutely. This is basically an Olruggio/Qifrey slowburn domestic au fanfic and I adore it. And I love that they keep up the conceit about magical ingredients in each chapter's recipe, even though they are legit recipes you can actually make with the real ingredients recommended as substitutions. What Did You Eat Yesterday? but with witches, clearly an ideal combination.

Scribbles, Kaoru Mori

I am not actually a diehard fan of Kaoru Mori's work - I drifted away from A Bride's Story when I ran out of volumes at the library - but I do unabashedly adore her art. Scribbles is just perfect for me with its pages from her sketchbooks and her commentary about things like the ideal skirt tightness. I bought this in hardcover and all and will continue to get the other volumes in hardcover even though I almost always get Yen Press titles digitally because it's so much cheaper that way, that's how much I like it.

Innocent, Shin'ichi Sakamoto

I've had my eye on Shin'ichi Sakamoto's work for a while because I saw a bunch of panels from Innocent on here and fell in love with the art. What I did not expect was that the violently erotic story about a French executioner would actually get an English license. It's gorgeous and violent and weird and I am so here for it. Now, if I could just be sure that Dark Horse actually plans on releasing the whole thing...

Barbarities, Tsuta Suzuki

Much like with Innocent, I saw panels from Barbarities on here ages ago and wished I could read it without much hope, given the lack of other licenses for Tsuta Suzuki's bl since SuBLime's relicense of A Strange & Mystifying Story ages ago. But thankfully I am getting to read this nebulously historical drama with all of its social machinations and pretty men getting flustered by other flirtatious pretty men. And such nice clothes!

A Home Far Away, Teki Yatsuda

Kuma really gets some stellar licenses and A Home Far Away was especially good. Set in 1990s America, it reminded me of nothing so much as My Own Private Idaho crossed with Banana Fish and made me weep absolute buckets in the end. I don't think it's for everyone, but if you were ever an aficionado of depressing 90s queer cinema like I once was, this might be one for you.

À vos cotés [Tonari ni], Basso

I was shocked when the announcement for the French release of this title crossed my twitter timeline earlier this year - France has even less by Natsume Ono than the US does, but one of their publishers managed to get one of her actual bl titles published under her bl penname? So naturally, I had to get it. It's super sweet, about a young man who likes to take photos of horses at a racetrack who meets a much older man, and I swear reading it was just like reading her non-bl work only this time the two characters actually got to say their feelings out loud. This would be a perfect addition to several mainstream US publishers' bl lineup, and I would be the first in line to buy it if they did license it in English.

Dear, My God, Nemui Asada

More by Nemui Asada in English! I love Asada's work for its unique storylines and this one didn't disappoint, with a story about a priest having sex with a cult member to help save him and another story about a guy who ends up with a talking plant. It's a bit disappointing that it's only available on futekiya - when will we get some of these titles in print already?

Ikigami & Donor, Hiko Yamanaka

Hiko Yamanaka is another one whose work is always a bit outside the mold, and Ikigami & Donor is an interesting sci-fi bl about powerful "living gods" who have tremendous abilities but can't heal from injuries without blood, bodily fluids, or tissues from one specific donor. It's a fascinating concept and the way the relationship between one ikigami and his donor played out made for an interesting story. I hope to see more from Yamanaka one day.

[heartlessfujoshi]

a good feeling pt 5 - a k project fanfic

Title: A Good Feeling Part 5 of 5 Title: Alone Fandom: K Project Pairing: MikoIzuTotsu (Mikoto Suoh x Izumo Kusanagi x Tatara Totsuka) Rating: General (Angst with a Happy (?) Ending) Word Count: ~2,245

Summary: It’s been a few weeks since the battle on the island, and Izumo is trying to find his way - alone.

A/N: Here’s the final update to this story for @kresurrectionfest! It’s been fun writing for this fandom again. :) Please enjoy!

Pt 1 - Pt 2 - Pt 3 - Pt 4

---

Izumo is struggling. He is grateful that he has to adhere to a routine for Anna’s sake, but at times, the routine is stifling. He’s barely keeping it together, hanging on by a thread as he goes through the motions, keeping his clan members upbeat and cheerful when they’re anything but not, and keeping the bar open for business. 

It’s been two weeks since Mikoto met his demise at the hand of the Blue King. Izumo knows that it’s better that Mikoto met a peaceful ending, as his Weissman levels were out of control, but that doesn’t make the pain any easier to deal with. He’s comforted all the members of HOMRA, including his precious princess Anna, who didn’t deserve to have two men taken from her so quickly. If Mikoto hadn’t done what he’d done, Izumo knows that the city would have been annihilated by his powers. 

It had been the right decision. 

But that doesn’t make it hurt any less. 

“Take the night off.” He looks up, and sees Eric standing by the bar. “We can handle things here tonight, Izumo.” 

He shakes his head. “No, I need to stay.” 

“Go.” Anna tugs on his jacket, staring up at him. “You need to go, Izumo.” 

“No, I don’t.” He kneels down to her level. “Who will look after you? Where would I go?” 

“Go somewhere where their ghosts can’t haunt you.” Anna looks at one of her red marbles, as Izumo’s eyes widen at her suggestion. “I will be okay.” 

“She will!” Misaki appears on the other side of the bar. “We’ll keep her safe, won’t we?” 

“We will.” Rikio nods his head. “You can trust us, Izumo. Go. Get out of here.” 

He sighs. “Fine. But I won’t be gone long.” 

“Stay out all night.” Misaki holds up his pinky to Anna, who hooks her own pinky to it and they shake, laughing together. 

Looking around the bar, he sees his fellow clansmen all looking to be in better spirits than he is. They had a connection to their King, but his was different. His connection to Mikoto had always been different. He feels that now, more than ever. “Fine.” He grabs a fresh pack of smokes from behind the bar, and puts his coat on. “Lock up at midnight.” He tosses the keys to Misaki, who catches them with one hand. “I’ve got another set on me.” He taps his pocket. “Make sure Anna eats, and gets to bed at a reasonable time.” 

“Yes, Izumo!” Yata salutes as Izumo puts his coat on, and walks out of the bar. 

It’s snowing, light soft flakes falling from the sky. His feet crunch the soft snow on the ground, his hands going into his pockets. He isn’t cold. With Mikoto gone, he still has the red flame inside of him - his flame refuses to die out. His hands stay deep in his pockets, keeping his head down as he travels across the city, his feet going on their own journey as he stays locked inside of his own head. 

A half hour later, he notices he’s in Scepter 4’s territory. Figures. He sees that there’s a bar across the street that looks quaint and quiet. There’s a set of cameras on a lamppost, which he waves to, knowing that Scepter 4 is monitoring him. He crosses the street and heads into the bar.

It’s quiet inside the establishment, a jazz trio playing off to the side of the bar, only a few patrons sitting at tables and even fewer are at the bar. Izumo approaches the bar and takes a seat on the end, pulling his pack of smokes out to rest them on the bar. An ashtray is put down in front of him by the bartender, who asks what his drink of choice is. He rattles off a top shelf rum. If he’s going to drink somewhere else, he’s going to pay for it. 

A glass is set down in front of him, the golden color liquid poured in front of him. The bartender pours a double shot, then waves his hand when Izumo tries to pay. “Your money's no good here, Mr. Kusanagi.” 

“Fine. Be that way.” He rolls his eyes, picking up his pack of cigarettes. He lights one with a snap of his fingers, the sparks from his power enough to ignite the tobacco. He takes a deep inhale, and then blows the smoke up towards the ceiling before picking up his liquor. He savors the first sip, this particular brand much pricier than most they serve in the city. 

The stool next to him moves. “You seem to be lost.” A feminine voice speaks to him with the authority he’s come to know and despise over the years. 

“Seri.” He turns and looks at Scepter 4’s lieutenant. “What brings you to this bar on this beautifully warm night?” 

“How much has he had?” Seri asks the bartender. 

“A sip.” The bartender shrugs. 

Izumo grins, and picks up the glass. “Cheers. Whatever the lady wants. I insist on paying for her, since you won’t take my money. Asshole.” He mutters the last word under his breath, Seri shaking her head at him as she’s heard him.

“You’re a real treat tonight, aren’t you?” Seri shakes her head. “A glass of wine. And he does not have to pay. I will pay for myself.” She puts her card on the bar, and the bartender takes it without a word. “Why are you here, Izumo?” 

He drops the grin, his shoulders slumping. “I don’t know.” 

“Come with me.” Seri picks up both of their drinks, and makes her way to a corner of the bar where no one is sitting, and the jazz music can barely be heard. 

Following her, he waits for her to take a seat before sitting down across from her, his back now towards the bar. Showing her that he trusts her to not be luring him into a trap. Not that HOMRA has any misgivings about what Scepter 4 did, but still. It takes a lot for him to be sitting in this vulnerable position, which Seri can see. 

“Why are you here?” She asks him again, lifting her glass as he takes his own sip of rum before taking a drag on his still lit cigarette. “And, why haven’t you offered me one?” 

He pulls his pack out, and offers her a smoke, lighting it the same way he did his own. Once upon a time, the two of them might have had a different relationship, but after one or two nights with her, things became serious between him and Mikoto, and then Tatara. It works better this way, if they remain confidants to one another, rather than the messy entanglement sex tends to bring. 

“Anna told me I needed to leave, to get away from the ghosts.” 

“Mikoto and Tatara?” 

Izumo nods, dropping his head as he feels tears well in his eyes. “I hate that they’re both gone.” 

“I know.” She puts her well manicured hand over his, and squeezes it with a fondness Izumo doesn’t know he needs until it appears. He holds tight to her hand, keeping his eyes on his knees as he lets the overwhelming sadness pass. “It isn’t going to be easy. But that doesn’t mean you have to do this alone, Izumo.” 

“I’m not alone.” 

“You know what I mean.” 

He glances at her, before returning his eyes to the table. “While that offer is very tempting, I’m afraid my poor broken heart would be no good in bed right now.” 

“Bed?” Seri laughs. “No, you idiot. I meant as a friend.” She takes a drag on her cigarette. “You and your one track mind. No wonder you’re in such a bad mood. When’s the last time you got laid?” 

“The morning Tatara died.” 

“You and Mikoto?” 

“If you recall, things were pretty bad after that happened.” He gives her a look, and she instantly apologizes with her eyes. “It’s fine. It’s no big deal. Now, we have to figure out who our next King is going to be.” 

“Sounds like a challenging task.” 

“I think I might go to Germany.” 

Her eyebrows raise up. “Really? For the slates?” 

He nods. “Yes. Plus, maybe what I need is a change of scenery.” 

“What about Anna?” 

“I’m sure Yata and the others can keep her safe while I’m gone.” He finishes his rum, and sighs. “Maybe it’s the need to chase something. Get answers.” 

“Like what?” 

“Like, why did Mikoto’s powers have to spike like that? What was different about him?” He takes one last drag on his smoke. “Don’t tell your boss.” 

“I won’t.” Seri lifts her head as he stands up. “Are you leaving?” 

“I should go.” He puts his hands back into his pockets. “It was a pleasure sharing a drink with you, Seri.” 

“Stick around for a while, Izu.” She reaches for his hand, and pulls on his wrist, trying to get him to return to a sitting position. 

He shakes his head. “I won’t be good company right now.” He gives her a sad smile. “I’ll reach out when I return, okay?” 

“You better.” Seri drops her hand, and then raises her wine glass to him. “Be safe out there, Izumo.” 

“I will.” He turns around, and heads back out of the bar. 

His feet take him to the building where Tatara had met his untimely end. He hadn’t been back to this place since it had happened. The pain is still raw, and his heart is breaking inside of his chest as he sees the spot where they’d found him. Snow is covering the roof, any sign of mayhem no longer visible. 

Sitting against the ledge, he looks at the spot and can feel his heart pumping faster. “Damn it.” He whispers, the tears that had first appeared in the bar returning full force as he stares at the ghost he knows isn’t there. “Why did you have to leave?” 

No one answers. Because of course there would be no answer - ghosts aren’t real. Izumo lights another cigarette, and stares out at the night. “You should be happy. We took our revenge, but it cost us Mikoto’s life.” His fingers push through the cold snow, holding onto the ledge as he looks over at where HOMRA is. “I bet you two are having the time of your undead lives together.” 

He sniffles, shaking his head. “Damn it.” He crushes his cigarette, then uses his powers to incinerate it. “You two weren’t supposed to leave me.” His voice breaks, as another deep sob leaves his mouth. “Stupid assholes.” 

The tears continue to fall for a good ten minutes, while he allows himself to grieve. He hasn’t had the chance to do this, as he’s been too busy with making sure that Anna is alright. She’s his number one priority, as she was Mikoto’s. They had taken her in, and now he has to make sure that she’s cared for. For her to tell him he needed this time away, it makes her mature beyond her years. And he hates that. She doesn’t deserve this life. She deserves to be a child. 

Finishing his cigarette, he stands where Tatara took his last breath. “I miss you. I will always miss you. Please, take care of Mikoto, would you? I’ll be there, in time. Not yet, though. I’ve got people that need me.” He blinks away a few more tears, and heads down the stairs. 

Had he turned around, he would have seen two red auras close together, his two friends who had left him alone in this world watching over him from a different plane. Their red auras fade, the door closing to the roof as Izumo heads back to his bar. 

He unlocks the door, and sees that everything is still in order. Thankful for that, he then heads upstairs to his residence, and sees Yata has a book in his hand, with Anna sleeping against him. It appears that Yata has fallen asleep while reading, as he’s snoring softly. 

Izumo carefully pries the book from his hands, and rustles his hair. “Hey, Misaki.” 

“Wuzzit?” Misaki blinks, then yawns. “Shoot, did I fall asleep?” 

“You did.” Izumo smiles. “You can go. I’ll look after her now.” 

“Feel better now, Izumo?” 

“Yes, I believe I do feel better now.” He smiles, and helps Anna get into a better position on the bed, before leaving her room with Misaki in tow. “Listen. I think I’m going to be taking a trip soon. Will you keep Anna safe while I’m gone? The others…” He sighs. “They can do as they please. We have no King.” 

“Of course!” Yata nods his head, but then shakes it. “We’ll make sure she’s safe. But Izumo, about our King, we-” 

“Thank you.” He walks Misaki out, then heads back upstairs, not interested in hearing what he was going to say about their absent King. 

He has taken to sleeping in Mikoto’s bed, as it still smells like him. As he lays down, he surrounds himself with memories of his lovers. He cries again, but the tears don’t last as long as they did before. He knows that both Mikoto and Tatara are together, and that brings a solemn comfort to him. One day, they’ll be together again. For now, though, he’s alone. 

Alone, and at peace. 

With a smile on his face, Izumo falls asleep, hugging Mikoto’s pillow to his chest. The two red auras return, and watch over him as he slumbers, disappearing in the morning. His lovers will always be there for him, even if it’s only in spirit. 

[lgcminki]

minki thinks he's doing this right—that's what he likes to believe. he knows they don't have a lot of time, can't get into deeper questions that inspire thought or instrospection. so, they should be quick but interesting, short but jam-packed with unique tidbits that could get a viewer to stop scrolling and watch. something like that, right? truth be told, minki doesn't consume a lot of short-form videos. he tried to download tiktok, but got scared off by booktok in the end. misaki's younger—he should know more than him.

so, it's a good thing they're paired together. from what he knows, misaki knows exactly how to gain attention. misaki's doing just that now, throwing in quips here and there.

particularly about minki's age.

he doesn't mind—in fact, he laughs. "hey! i'm not that old yet, you know!" but there's not a single scolding tone in his voice when he speaks. "i don't know any dinosaurs, but it'd be nice if i did. maybe they can tell me what to do with my old man bones." as they segway into the next question, misaki finally takes a step back. he wonders how the previous shots looked, but decides not to ponder over it too much. "what i thought about yesterday... well, i was thinking about nknd, actually. how it would go, what kind of people i'd meet, what positions would be there... whether i can make it—ah, am i rambling already?"

as the older dives right in, answering misakis flurry of questions without missing a beat, the younger boy finds himself amping up to an even greater degree— he likes the rhythm they've already set, fast-paced and action-packed while still offering enough information that was bound to get their future fans intrigued. these videos were meant to be introductions, so it was only natural for misaki to want to capture minki not only as authentically but also as cooly as he possibly could.

if that meant throwing his own little quips in here and there to help keep the older boy on his toes, well by jove, misaki was gonna crowd work like no tomorrow!

"twenty-three— did you know the dinosaurs?" his poorly whispered question is one part jest, one part genuine, eyes wide just above the top of the camera as he peers up at minki. as quickly as the words leave his lips, his mind recenters, words forgotten as he bulldozes into his next barrage of inquiries. "speaking of dinos, you must have a lot of thoughts for someone who's lived so long!" finally taking a step back and allowing minki some space, misaki continues. "what's the last thing you thought about yesterday?"

[your-sweet-cookies]

Test Muses

OOC: So, as mentioned a while back, I am fancying the idea of turning this blog into a multimuse, since I do enjoy experimenting with various character archetypes and story plots, but I am unsure if I could manage working with multiple Muses at the same time. For this reason, before I will be taking a final decision, I've came to the conclusion that I should test out working with a Multi-blog to see how I do, and thus, decided to temporarily add 4 new test Muses to this blog, for people to interact with and create new threads. Kukki will still be the main Muse of this blog (she's not going anywhere), but since the Multi is just a test, for the interactions with the test Muses, please add their names in the asks you send, otherwise they'll be automatically considered as directed to Kukki. With that out of the way, here are the 4 new test Muses and some basic information on them:

Name: Cheng Face claim: EXO's Baekhyun Age: 25 (turning 26 in July) Occupation: Hacker and mobster Characteristics: Very confident, prideful and really stubborn Orientation: Homosexual, submissive

Name: Jun Face claim: TXT's Yeonjun Age: 24 Occupation: Florist and aspiring idol Characteristics: Shy, sweet, kind and usually very friendly Orientation: Pansexual (leaning more towards men), switch but prefers to be submissive

Name: Taemin Face claim: SEVENTEEN's The8 Age: 26 Occupation: Coffee shop barista Characteristics: Punctual, very polite, professional and kind Orientation: Bisexual, switch

Name: Misaki Face claim: Blackpink's Jennie Age: 21 Occupation: Works at a maid cafe and wants to enroll into med school Characteristics: Sweet, kind, shy and somewhat clumsy Orientation: Unknown (she's in the experimenting phase)