#my premium subscription ends tomorrow thank fuck

[snixx]

last day of spotify for meeeee what music service should I switch to from tomorrow

[thighzp]

Camboy!Henry WIP

At work yesterday all I could think about was Camboy!Henry and Alex being his favorite customer. Enjoy the little bit I typed out over my lunch break and look forward to more (coming tonight or tomorrow)

*** The clink of Alex’s keys in the bowl echoed through his empty apartment as he slammed the door behind him. 

Finally some peace and fucking quiet. 

He was on deadline at work and spent the day rushing to and from his bosses office with revisions of the same draft over and over again. With the promise of making partner at the law firm if he assisted his boss in closing this case, he was putting in overtime and kissing some serious ass in the process. She never thanked him; she would merely dismiss him for the day when she found his edits satisfactory. 

Alex opened the fridge to find something for dinner. He was definitely too tired to cook, and was in such a hurry to get home from his hellish day that he did not care to stop for takeout. He pulled out a container of leftover Chinese food (he thinks it’s still good), gave it a sniff, and popped it in the microwave. 

He had the perfect plans to wind down for the evening. 

Step 1: eat suspicious Chinese leftovers

Step 2: take a shower so hot it would melt satan 

Step 3: log onto his favorite camboy website for his favorite weekly stream

He had been a paying member of this particular camboy website for going on a year now, and he had racked up a few subscriptions on his monthly credit card bill. He only found the website in the first place, however, because of one camboy in particular. While scrolling a different (free and totally legal) porn website, he found a video with a snippet from the man’s stream. Alex was transfixed by the beautiful blonde boy, all blue eyes and plush lips and innocence. 

The free sneak peek to the man’s stream provided Alex with enough jerk off material for a week, before he finally caved and visited the website. He wasted no time punching in his credit card info, agreeing to give the man $20 a month to watch his streams. That $20 a month quickly turned into $50, which turned into $100. 

Which is also how Alex ended up with a premium membership that allowed him to personally ship gifts to the boy in exchange for a private chat alongside tonight’s stream.

[justine-the-guillotine]

I saw on your profile status in ikerev you said it deserved better and I agree but why do you personally think that

It's no secret that IkeRev is my favorite Cybird game but I'm gonna preface this by saying I also really enjoy IkeVamp and I spend money on IkeVamp just like I spend money on IkeRev, so I don’t want anyone to think I’m hating on the game or on Cybird (because I owe Cybird my life and sanity to be quite real with you) when I say what I’m about to say.

But the way Cybird treats IkeVamp is wayyy different than they treat IkeRev. Please note, I only play the EN versions of these games, so I cannot in any way speak on how the JP versions are treated. This is just based off my experience as an EN player.

Also as another note, I have been playing IkeRev since only a few months after the release date, and I have been playing IkeVamp since the minute it was released, so I have been playing a looong time.  I also consistently rank in the top 100-150 in IkeRev events. I feel like that's probably relevant for credibility's sake.

So the short version of this is... comparing IkeRev to IkeVamp, fuck yeah I think IkeRev deserves better and I think it should be treated as IkeVamp's equal rather than it's fucking step-sibling.

For starters, it is cheaper to buy premium currency in IkeVamp!! Yeah, IkeRev does that Secret Tea Party thing which is a great deal and I do religiously purchase it every two weeks. (I budget it as another one of my subscription services tbh). However, only the first 200 crystals count as paid and the rest are free (I know this isn't uncommon, just saying). With IkeVamp, if you buy the most expensive premium currency package, YOU GET MUCH MORE THAN IF YOU COMPARE IT TO WHAT YOU GET FOR THE SAME PRICE IN IKEREV. Plus, in IkeVamp, you can watch ads for free diamonds. When will we ever get this option in IkeRev.

Anyway, this makes premium stuff much cheaper in IkeVamp overall.

In my opinion, IkeVamp - I don't know that it will stay this way, of course, because IkeRev has been out longer- gives more equal opportunity to their suitors than IkeRev has done in story events and side stories.

IkeVamp has the gacha library where you can revist old gacha whenever. Where is this in IkeRev.

IkeVamp, so far, gives better opportunity for lucky times and also includes TRIPLE lucky times. Which yeah, IkeRev has its "super lucky time" but is it better to be guaranteed a win or is it better to get more points per win??? Not really sure tbh but I feel like it wouldn't hurt to try it out in IkeRev

YOU CAN BUY EPILOGUES IN IKEVAMP. I am so, so tired of having to clear 8 endings to get Ray's fucking epilogues every damn event. Obviously this is only an issue if you stan Ran (or Sirius, as he is I believe the next most expensive guy after Ray) but unfortunately for me he is my #2 after Fenrir. And yes, of course, I do NOT have to play the events and I do not have to get the epilogues. What I am saying though is it is easier for me to get all the event stories and epilogues for my #1 in IkeVamp (Leonardo) than it is to get all of that for my #2 in IkeRev (Ray). IkeRev ONE TIME let us buy epilogues and you know what?? I actually fucking bought all of 4 of them that one time they let us do that so... I dunno maybe they should just let us buy the epilogues LIKE YOU CAN IN ALL THEIR OTHER ENGLISH GAMES.

Again, this is all my opinion, and if you have a different opinion that's cool man that's fine that's whatever but also, in my opinion, I feel like the way events and releases are handled in IkeVamp are overall just better than how they are handled in IkeRev. I don't know if this is because IkeVamp is the newer game but like I really feel it is because IkeVamp is EN Cybird's cash cow right now so they spend more focus on it.

ALSOOOOOOO SAVE ROOM FEATURE WHEN IN IKEREV??? I love that I can create an avatar look I absolutely adore, SAVE IT, and then create a whole new other look AND SAVE THAT AS WELL ugh I know these are just minor nitpicky things but really I just love IkeRev soooo much and I want it to be treated well and I don't want people to hate on it.

Thank you so much for your ask I'll reblog this tomorrow in case you miss seeing this. <3

[ruffsficstuffplace]

And The AWRD Goes To... (Part 28)

Friday evening, Weiss got out of the ICU.

She lay in her new bed, alone in the spacious room, just a handful of tubes attached to one arm this time, no sound but the hum of the machinery, echoes in her head of what the doctors and nurses said while she was slipping in and out of consciousness from a drug-induced haze.

“… Patient is prone to swift and dramatic swings in mood...”

“… Semblance may activate in times of extreme emotional distress, or perceived danger to self and others…”

“… Highly destructive… treat with extreme caution… potentially lethal to both user and others if left unchecked...”

She couldn’t get up, her ribs hurt, and unlike Nick, her Aura could only heal so much damage so quickly.

She didn’t have access to her scroll, for fear that news of the aftermath, or even her attempting to talk to others might set off another episode, cause her semblance to reactivate and who knows what to happen to her, her surroundings, the staff.

And honestly, given her personal experiences, she couldn’t blame them for the extreme caution.

She could only really use a remote to toy with the temperature, the lights, open and close the curtains so she could decide whether to stare out the beautiful, vibrant world beyond the walls of her room as conscious and aware as she could be, or sit in complete darkness with nothing but the lights of the machinery, maybe pump some more painkillers in if she wanted to drop back into that barely-conscious fog.

The latter seemed like the better, less painful option, so of course Weiss chose the former, reflecting on where it had all gone wrong, what she hadn’t done right, how she’d royally screwed things up this time, independent of her family’s infamously fickle luck.

Nurses came in regularly to break her out of her thoughts. They were kind, caring souls, understanding, well-spoken, and educated about her condition and so many other matters, and she could feel the warmth, the sincerity behind their reassurances and well wishes. But she could also see the carefully measured responses, the swift and graceful redirection and dodging of her loaded questions, like professional dancers weaving their way across a treacherous stage.

“Yin and Yang, two opposing forces existing at once in perfect harmony... nurses like that are just one of the many reasons I do not like being stuck in hospitals,” Nick had once said, a sentiment that Weiss shared wholeheartedly.

Now, though there was nothing she could do but wait, wait for the next nurse to come along to record her vitals and get a bead on how she felt, wait for someone decide what in the hell her fate was going to be, wait for who was going to come through that door next.

It opened, Weiss looked up.

“Lower, vnuchka.”

Weiss looked down, and found Freya carefully slipping into her room, a smile on her lips, but the wrinkles on her face deeper than they usually seemed, the slate blue of her eyes looking more gray than anything else.

“Good evening, Weiss,” Freya said as a nurse followed shortly behind her. “Feeling like complete and utter shit, I’m assuming?”

“Yep, but at least it’s better than nothing,” Weiss muttered. “You know the old saying in Mantle...”

“Suffering is how you know you live still, that there is still yet more to live for,” they both said in Vox.

Freya smiled as she stepped up, the nurse quietly and discretely pulled up an ornate chair beside Weiss’ bed for her. “It still surprises me you speak the words so well,” she said as she clambered up the seat, perched on the side of Weiss’ bed. “It’s been over a decade since Nick taught you that, hasn’t it?”

Weiss smiled back, if only a little. “What can I say? They really do help get through hard times...” she sighed, and looked away. “Kind of like right now...”

The nurse began to speak up, Freya held up her hand. With silent, meaningful looks, the nurse bowed and left the room, Freya reached out and touched Weiss’ arm, the one without tubes running from it. She waited for the almost silent click of the door closing, before she spoke.

“Weiss… this will pass, just like every other dark period of your life.”

“Yeah, and things will get better for a little while, they’ll look on the up and up, then I’ll find some way to screw it up all over again, it’ll all go straight to hell in a hellbasket, and the shitty cycle of never-ending suffering that is my life will start anew!” Weiss cried, her arms shaking as she balled her hands into fists.

Freya frowned, and gently squeezed her arm. “Weiss...”

Weiss sniffed, tears welling up in her eyes as she looked at Freya. “Grandma… before I was born, you, grandpa, and the doctors all tried to fix me, didn’t you…? But why does it feel like I was still born broken…?”

Freya pulled out a handkerchief from her pocket, gently dabbed Weiss’ eyes dry. “Not broken, Weiss: sick. You’re just sick, and you’re going to get better, just like I did, and just like your mother did...”

“But what if I don’t, huh?!” Weiss snapped, a fresh round of tears pouring from her eyes. “What if I never get better, what if I’m just permanently sick, till the day the universe decides it’s finally gotten tired of having me around?!”

“Then we’re all going to love you, and take care of you, and be here for you, just like we always have, just like we are right now, just like we always will be…” Freya said as she gently shifted about, and hugged Weiss.

“It hurts, Grandma...” Weiss whimpered.

“I know it does, Weiss, I know it does...” Freya whispered, tearing up herself. “But it’ll pass, it always passes, I promise!”

“No, my ribs—your hugging—it hurts...”

Freya swore in Vox then pulled away, eyeing Weiss up and down. “Sorry, vnuchka! Better now...?”

Weiss coughed, and sniffed. “Getting there...”

Freya wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, then held Weiss’ arm again. “Here’s something to apologize, then, Weiss...”

Weiss eyes widened as she saw Freya start to glow slate blue, her own body a lighter shade. “Grandma…?”

“Silence, please, Weiss...” Freya whispered as she closed her eyes. “Grandma needs to concentrate...” she muttered, before she recited in Vox, “For it is in giving to others that we gain true wealth. Through this, we become a paragon of generosity and mercy to soothe our shared suffering. Greater than we are alone, I relieve your soul, and by my shoulder, ease thine burden.”

The pain rapidly faded as a warmth flooded Weiss’ body, the distress and gloom she felt washed away, her tears gradually slowing down till they stopped altogether.

Freya let go, her movements careful and slow, taking in deep breaths, and exhaling them as long as she could.

“Are you okay, grandma?” Weiss asked as she carefully put her hand in Freya’s.

“I’m fine, Weiss...” Freya said as she quietly as she entwined her fingers around Weiss’ own. “I’m just old… really, really fucking old.

The nurse returned some time later, apologizing profusely as they explained that it was 9PM and visiting hours were over. Freya and Weiss bid their farewells and made their goodbye kisses on both cheeks, before the nurse helped Freya out of the room, her movements quite a lot slower than when she entered.

“Would you like a cart to take you to the transport hub, Dr. Schnee?” the nurse asked.

“The cart, yes, to the hub, no,” Freya replied. “Per chance, would you happen to know if Director Lashkari is in tonight?”

The nurse nodded. “That she is, Dr. Schnee. I would assume you would like to schedule an appointment with her?”

“Yes, please, and thank you.”

Elsewhere, in Haven, Nick was in his office arguing with some senior Haven students over a project proposal.

“Look, I understand the necessity of it—believe me, the old-fashioned versions were some of the most valuable commodities you could ever have on an expedition where you’ve been out in the wilds for months, you want to keep morale up, and keep people from doing something desperate, or worth much more trouble than those.

“But I’m sorry, I can’t, in good faith, allow your research to be about the effectiveness of giving active huntsmen subsidized subscriptions to premium pornographic CCT sites, and how that might help contribute to reducing stress, and avoiding potential mental health and morale issues out in the field.

“I think it’s worth exploring, honestly! But you’re going to run into problems as soon as you try to get the Atlesian Council to sign off on this, and unfortunately, it’s all four or nothing.”

He and the group of assorted logistics, IT, medical psychology, and HR majors continued to argue and debate, until their time unfortunately ran out. Nick bade them farewell and good luck with figuring out a new project proposal as they packed up or returned their presentation tools, before he shut the door behind them.

He sighed as he pulled up his scroll, found that Focus mode had already expired, and the flood of requests, direct messages, and notifications resumed in earnest. Nick quietly thanked his former students who had designed a sorting algorithm for his device long ago as he checked the only item in the “Priority 1” tier:

A message from Akko.

His eyebrows rose as he read their plans, frowned as she mentioned Weiss, before he nodded and sent them a message back: “Sure, you all go right on ahead, I’ll even help set it up on Saturday. Hell, I’ll just call Snowie and say I’m staying over for tonight, we can all ride together tomorrow morning so I can get Rose and Cavendish briefed, show them the sights.”

He sent it out, moved down to the much more populated “Priority 2” tier.

Ding!

He was in the middle of reading about “potentially suspicious movement of large fleet of cross-continental transport airships in Solitas wilderness” when a brand new P1 pushed it back down. His eyes widened as he saw it, before he sighed, and opened his messenger again.

“Scratch that, kiddos, Uncle Nick’s working for the weekend. Looks like you’ll have to get there yourselves, but I’ll tell Snowie for ya,” he said to Akko.

To his daughter, he sent this: an emoticon of a generic, four-man team of huntsmen; “AWRD”; an emoticon of a Mistral airship; a custom-emoticon of their home in Hoshiko; a bright shining sun; a calendar with the word “SAT” on it; and a cartoonish “X,” followed by custom-emoticon faces of himself and Weiss.

Snowie’s response were emoticons, also, of a check-mark and a heart.

Nick sent a heart back, smiled and wiped a tear from his eye, before he put his work face back on and started sending automated messages, cancellations, and apologies to everyone else he was supposed to meet that night.

Back at Ōkuninushi, a motorized cart stopped in front of Dir. Lashkari’s office. Freya let the nurse escort her through the waiting room, and to her office proper, where they found the llama Faunus busy in the middle of a video conference call, her whole body obscured by floating holographic screens.

“… And there’s my emergency appointment,” Lashkari said. “My apologies, everyone, I wish you much luck with this endeavour; please send me a report come morning, and I will add my input to it.”

The host sighed. “Very well… good day, Dir. Lashkari.”

“And good night to everyone,” Lashkari said, before she shut off her projector. She deliberately looked higher than she needed to, pretended to scan the room, before she looked down and smiled at Freya. “Ah, hello, Dr. Schnee! I almost didn’t see you there,” she said calmly.

Freya’s mouth twitched, but she kept the polite smile on her face. “And hello to you too, Dir. Lashkari! I hope I wasn’t intruding much on your business,” she said as she was helped into one of the chairs across Lashkari’s desk.

“Ah, it’s really no problem, Dr. Schnee.” Lashkari said, before looked at the nurse. She bowed, and silently excused herself, Freya and Lashkari waited until the latter remotely locked the door behind her, before their postures quickly relaxed.

“You know, Lambchop, one of these days, I really just ought to stay outside your door, have you actually looking around and wondering where the hell I am,” Freya said.

“Please don’t, Frosty: it’s hard enough to find you even when I know you’re in the room with me,” Lashkari replied flatly.

Frosty glared at her, before she sighed. “I need a favour from you.”

“Is it getting your granddaughter released early?” Lashkari replied. “Because I’m afraid I don’t have nearly as much sway anymore this high up on the chain of command, and the people that do don’t have the personal experience of watching a supposedly bedridden and securely confined patient falling past their window, followed shortly by their accomplices and the escape rope.”

“You know she’s only going to get worse the longer she’s in here...” Freya muttered.

Lashkari sighed. “I know. But much as I’ve tried to convince them that steel-toed boot or crystal-glass slipper, a Schnee will walk as soon as they’re able to, they insist on keeping her behind a glass case. Frankly, I can’t blame them—and before you rail on me, if it was still my decision, you would have already been on an airbus heading back to Hoshiko with her.”

“But surely there’s something you can do!” Freya cried.

“That I can,” Lashkari replied. “But it’ll come at a cost, and and a great one at that; I’m sure you know how thin a rope those at the top walk, what sort of safety net will convince us to risk losing our balance.”

“Name your price.”

“Poppy owe you a favour?”

“Better yet: Nick.”

Lashkari looked wary. “Are you sure they’ll be able to do it?”

Freya shot her a look. “Lambchop, let me ask if you a question: if Nick came up with a total stranger, tossed you a loaded gun, and told you to shoot them, would you?”

“Yes, because I assume he would have a good reason to make me to do it, as he did every other time he’s asked me to do something that was questionable, at the least.” Lashkari replied as she pulled out her personal scroll, fiddled with it for a moment. “No guarantees, all right?” she said as she slid it over.

“Please, Lambchop,” Freya said as she started reading. “Since when have we ever dealt in absolute certainties?”

“Since we agreed never to call you ‘short’ to your face?” Lashkari replied flatly.

Freya’s ears and tails twitched. “True, and if you had actually done that, I would have replied that I’m not short--”

“--This whole world is just biased towards freakishly tall people, like myself,” Lashkari finished, allowing herself a small smile.

“Exactly,” Freya huffed. She slid back Lashkari’s scroll, and the two of them started negotiating.

“Alright, that should settle it,” Lashkari said as she closed her personal scroll, slid it back into her skirt pocket. “You should see some results as early as eight tomorrow, though realistically they’ll probably agree to release her by Monday.”

Freya sighed. “Good enough, I suppose… call me a nurse and a cab to get me back to Haven, won’t you, Lambchop?”

“Will do, Frosty,” Lashkari said, before she did just that. “Oh, and Frosty?” she asked afterwards.

“Yes?”

Lashkari’s eyes softened. “No more aura transfers in the next couple of weeks, alright? Three at a minimum, six to be safe; I hate to sound like a broken record--”

“--But I’m probably going to actually end up killing myself for real this time, I know, Lambchop,” Freya said, before she gave her a warm look. “Thank you, the concern is appreciated, honestly.”

Lashkari sighed. “You know, times like these I really understand what my mentors meant by ‘Once you become someone’s doctor, you’re always going to be their doctor...’”

Saturday morning, approximately 7:00 AM in the city of Mistral.

At the city’s public airship docks, Diana cringed as she, Akko, and Ruby passed by yet another delivery of live hogs, goats, and other assorted livestock coming in. “I’m really starting to see why you insisted we skipped bathing this morning...” she muttered as she pulled her suitcase away from the snout of a curious goat.

"Don't worry, Diana, you'll get used to the smells long enough!” Akko said as she hauled several duffel bags, some filled with books from the library, the rest with her belongings plus the Shiny Rod. “Or maybe your brain will just start learning to shut your nose off whenever you're near here by habit, but either way, it won't always be this bad!"  

“Thank you for the comforting thought...” Diana replied sacrastically.

“You’re welcome!” Akko said, oblivious.

Diana opened her mouth, but closed her mouth immediately after.

At Ōkuninushi, Weiss sighed as she was wheeled down the halls of the hospital, to one of the transport hubs on the side. “Thanks for getting me out of the hospital again, Grandma...” she muttered. “Sorry you had to do it twice in the same week.”

“Think nothing of it, Weiss, you just focus on getting better,” Freya said as she walked beside her. “Excited to see your mother and brother again...?”

“Well, yeah!” Akko replied. “I mean, I had really hoped the reason we were going home wasn’t as bad, but it’ll be good to see them again, especially after this super crazy, super awful first week we’ve been having.”

“Kinda tipping between sad and relieved Akko, Ruby, and Diana won’t be coming with us, though,” Weiss said. “On the one hand, I want to talk to them and finally tell them everything, on the other hand,  it might not be such a good idea when we’re in such close proximity to each other and can’t get any sort of distance.”

“Hey, did you tell her we’re going back to Hoshiko?” Ruby asked.

“No, actually,” Freya replied, “I wasn’t sure about if you’d be released today, so I didn’t want to get anyone’s hopes up only to have them dashed. Maybe we’ll just make this a pleasant surprise.”

“We could totally make her a get-well video with Whitley and Aunt Snowie!” Akko said. “That’ll cheer her up.”

“Yeah, that’d be nice...” Weiss muttered, smiling, before she noticed the vehicle waiting for them. “Private airbus ambulance? Really...?”

“It was the only way I could afford all three of us, sorry,” Ruby said as she, Diana, and Akko found a spot in the flat, unfurnished “free seating” section of a passenger airship, thankfully without animals.

“Look on the bright side, vnuchka: at least we’ll be together,” Freya said as nurses helped Weiss inside.

In two different parts of Mistral, two very different airships set off to the skies, both with passengers unaware of the impending collision.

[lumiolivier]

Chapter Twenty-Six:  Serving My Nickel

Word Count: 6174

Chapter No. 26/?

Notes:  I was going to have this up earlier, but an anxiety fit and a depression spell fucked that up for you.  I’m sorry.  Also, there’s a bit of violence in this chapter.  Just so you know.  Also!  There’s a little bit of fan fiction in this chapter, too!  For Free!.  A part two of the first part that you can find here.

Chapter Twenty Five:  Hello Kitty

I’m up way too damn early…and empty.  Five o'clock, how I hate you so.  I’m not even working at the café anymore!  Come on, body…But I didn’t really have much of a problem with it.  I knew what was waiting for me down the road. I didn’t even bother with a shower yet. Instead, I threw my clothes in an overnight bag and took off for Julian’s.  I opened his front door and threw my bag on his couch.  When I peeked into his bedroom, Julian was nowhere to be found.  Where the hell did he disappear to?

 Oh well.  I pulled his blankets over me and made myself comfortable. He’s still here.  His car was anyway.  His keys, phone, and wallet were still on his nightstand.  I did hear the shower turn on.  At least someone didn’t come and steal him in the middle of the night, so that’s a plus.  I rolled over and shut my eyes for maybe a minute or two.  Next thing I knew, a warm body pressed up against my back.

 “Good morning, sweetheart,” a pair of lips grazed my temple.

 “Good morning,” I rolled into Julian’s chest, “Tell Griffin to fuck off and stay with me.”

 “I’d love to,” he assured, “Believe me.  But I can’t do that.  You know better.  I’d like to keep my Crunchyroll premium account and the couple of subscription boxes I get once in a while.  Not to mention, I got a thing tomorrow.”

 “Friday already?” I groaned.

 “It is,” Julian held me tight, “And I can’t wait for you to see what tomorrow holds.”

 “You could just tell me now,” I suggested.

 “Where’s the fun in that?” he poked at me, “I’d love to stick around and cuddle, but I have to go do your old babysitting job.”

 “I do not miss that,” I drawled, “Kyle being a pain in my ass is no longer my problem.”

 “No,” Julian grumbled, “It’s mine.  I’ll see you when I get off, ok?”

 “Ok,” I sighed out as he pulled the blankets back over me.

 “Might not have gotten to tuck you in last night,” he gave me one last kiss, “But I’ll be damned if I don’t get to now.”

 “Are you sure you can’t stay?” I whined.

 “Positive,” Julian cradled my face in his hand, “Go back to sleep.  And when you wake up, get some work done.  I want a notification in my email saying you updated today.”

 “I will,” I shut my eyes again.

 “I love you, Mimi.”

 “Love you, too,” I fell back to sleep.  Sleepy time. Nighty night.

 I fully believed Julian’s bed had magical powers.  No one could convince me otherwise.  Never have I ever slept so hard and so soundly since I started sleeping here. Five stars on Yelp.  However, when I woke up, I had to knock that rating down a star.  Woke up alone.  Dislike. Four stars.  Until I walked into the living room.  Three stars.  Can’t tell Julian and Paul were playing last night.  Controllers thrown haphazardly on the living room floor.  Dorito crumbs and empty soda cans everywhere.  

 How did I not see this when I came in?  In my defense, I was still half dead when I came in, but still, this was ridiculous. I love Julian with all my heart and Paul was getting there, but I never would’ve guessed two adult men were playing video games in here last night.  I couldn’t leave it like this.  I had an update to work on, but there was no way I could do anything in a painfully and unnecessarily cluttered workspace.  And I’m starting with these damn cans.

 I busted the tabs off and threw them in the key bowl.  One never knows when these come in handy.  I’ve heard of cosplayers using them for chainmail.  Although, the average person uses them for hangers. That’s the beauty of being a creature like myself, like Julian.  One learns to MacGyver like a machine.  Once the cans were taken care of, I swept the Doritos in the living room.  At least there’s no carpet to contend with.

 I put the controllers in the drawer of Julian’s entertainment center and was finally left to create.  All I needed was a quick booting of Julian’s laptop.  I’m sure he didn’t mind.  I just wish I had saved the beginning of the Free! fic on the site.  Unfortunately, I didn’t have that much foresight.  When I started writing it, I didn’t think I’d start dating someone.  Let alone a Julian.

 I could do this.  I had to post this one-shot today.  If I didn’t, I’d self-flagellate to atone for the great sin that would be.  It had been so long since I worked on it, I didn’t even remember what was happening. I knew the mermaid was in Rin’s bathtub. Haru had a shit fit about getting a mermaid tail.  Rin yelled at him for being weird.  Maybe I’ll skip to the part with Rin’s sister Gou.

 “We can’t leave her here, Rin,” Haru pouted, “You think we should take her to the pool?”

 “Because taking her into public would be a great idea?” Rin sassed, “No. We’re not taking her to the pool or anywhere until she gets her land legs.”

 “I’m sorry,” Naomi apologized with such a sadness in her voice, “I didn’t want to be this much trouble.  Maybe my father was right and I should’ve stayed in the water.”

 “Your old man sounds like a smart guy,” Haru grumbled.

 “Haru,” Rin snapped back.

 “I’ve always dreamed of the surface,” Naomi sighed dreamily, “I heard of my older sisters coming up when they came of age.  They’d meet people and fall in love.  One of my sisters married a human and never found water again.  I miss her…”

 “What’s her name?” he tried to comfort her.

 “Elizabeth,” she smiled a little, “She and I were quite close when she was under the water.  Our mother got caught in a fishing boat when we were young, so Elizabeth practically raised me.  I’d give anything to see her again.”

 “Anything?” Haru grinned darkly, “Would you give your tail for it?”

 “Haru,” Rin gave him a swat upside his head, “We talked about this.”

 “But he’s right, Rin,” Naomi admitted, “I’d give my tail to see Elizabeth again.  I’d rather have my legs, so she and I could never be apart again.  I could meet her husband.  Maybe she has children.  I’d love to meet them, too.”

 “Maybe,” Rin took her hand, “Haru, I need you to do me a favor.”

 “What?” Haru looked over at him with great skepticism.

 “I need you to call Gou,” he begged, “I’m sure she could help.”

 “Gou?” Haru whined, “I can’t call Gou.  She’d get a nosebleed.  You know she’s nuts for me.”

 “Please?”

 “Dammit!” Haru stormed out of the bathroom, already dialing Gou’s number.

 “Um, Rin,” Naomi chimed in, “Who’s Gou?”

 “My sister,” Rin settled her, “Once you make it out of my bathtub, you’ll have to blend in with regular humans.  And we still have to find Elizabeth, right?”

 “That’s right,” her face lit up, “Maybe she’s around here. You found me on these shores. Maybe Elizabeth is here, too.”

 “How can we tell humans from mermaids?” Rin asked, “Is there a way?”

 “A mermaid can sense another mermaid,” Naomi told him, “I can tell you who’s naturally born human and who isn’t.”

 “Ok,” he still tried wrapping his head around everything that’s happened, “We should get you a wheelchair, though.  At least while you have your tail.  You can’t walk yet.”

 “I haven’t tried,” she slapped her tail on the side of the tub, “I washed up on the beach and you’ve carried me everywhere.  Maybe if I try…”

 “I don’t know if that’s such a good idea, Naomi,” Rin stopped her, “I don’t want you getting hurt.”

 “Gou’s on her way,” Haru came back into the bathroom, “I didn’t tell her Naomi was a mermaid.  All she knows is your girlfriend needed some clothes.”

 “You told Gou she was my girlfriend?!”

 “I had to get her off my back somehow!”

 “Please,” Naomi shut them up, “Don’t fight.”

 “Thanks, Haru,” Rin scoffed, “Now, I have to deal with that fallout.”

 “Rin!” Gou squealed through her brother’s apartment, “Where are you?”

 “That was quick,” Haru chuckled under his breath.

 “Rin!” her voice sang.

 “Play nice,” Rin shoved his finger in Haru’s face, leaving the bathroom to contend with his sister, “Hey, Gou.”

 “When did you get a girlfriend?” Gou freaked, “I thought you were doing the whole unattached thing.”

 “She’s not my girlfriend,” Rin clarified, “She’s this girl I rescued on the beach this morning.  It’s been a long, taxing day.”

 “Haru!” she squealed, “You’re so mean!  You lied to me!”

 “A little secret between you and me,” Rin smirked, getting his revenge, “That’s almost like him telling you he loves you.”

 “What?” Gou’s heart stopped, “Really?  You’re not just saying that, are you?”

 “No,” he assured, “That’s the way Haru is.”

 “Where is he?” Gou asked.

 “In the bathroom with her.”

 “Haruka!” Gou snarled, storming to the bathroom, “You two timer! You can’t be with a girl in the bathroom!  That’s just weird!  What the hell is going on in here?!

 “I probably should’ve told you,” Rin braced himself, “Gou, this is Naomi.  She’s a mermaid.”

 “Hi,” Naomi smiled sweetly, “You’re Rin’s sister?”

 “Yeah,” Gou gave her a mistrusting look, “Of course he’s cheating on me with a mermaid.”

 “Cheating on you?” Haru worried, “We’re not together, Gou. No matter what Rin said.”

 “Sure,” she nodded in disbelief, “Our love life can take a backseat for now.  Rin, how do you end up with a mermaid?”

 “She washed up on the beach,” Rin explained, “She’s looking to find her sister.”

 “She can’t walk on land, though,” Gou pointed out, “She’s got a tail where her legs should be!”

 “Rin,” Naomi interrupted, “I really want to try walking.”

 “You think you can?” Rin wondered, a little nervous.

 “I can try,” she shrugged, “Maybe you could help me out of the tub first?”

 “Sure,” Rin took her hand and sat her on the edge, “Are you ready?”

 “I just move one side of my tail like…this…” Naomi twitched her tailfin, “And this one goes like this…”

 The scales on her bottom half started fading away and her tail split in two.  Rin held Naomi’s hands, helping her walk, “You got it.  Just keep moving.”

 “Is this walking?” she wondered, her legs taking shape and her fins becoming feet.

 “This is walking,” Rin beamed.  He couldn’t have been prouder, “You may want to take it easy your first time out of the gate.”

 “Does this mean you’ve lost your tail?” Haru sounded so disappointed.

 “Not permanently,” Naomi promised, “All I need to do is jump back into seawater again and my tail comes back.  Then, once I return to land, I’ll have my legs.  I guess it took me a minute to get mine.  Let’s go outside.  I want to feel the sun on my skin and see so many new things.”

 “Sure,” he agreed, “We can go outside.”

 “And we can look for Elizabeth?” she hoped.

 “Of course,” Rin nodded, “One step at a time, ok?”

 “Ok…”

 I’d say that’s pretty sufficient for a day’s work.  A good cliffhanger to pick up with another one.  Dammit.  I wanted this to be a one-shot.  Looks like it’s having multiple chapters.  I needed to get back to my house and put the first half on my flash drive. That way, I can upload today.  My numbers were starting to fall a bit. Although, before I do that, I should probably write a proper send-off.

 Author’s Note:  Hi, guys! This is going to be a multiple chapter series.  In all honesty, I wanted to see Rin with a mermaid.  Next chapter, I’m sure we’ll have more hijinks and shenanigans.  I’m sorry this wasn’t up sooner, but things have been a whirlwind lately.  I’m sure you’ll see soon enough.  See you later!

 That should be good and vague enough to get the reviews in.  Although, my viewers were pretty good about my privacy.  Just like how I was with theirs.  If they wanted to come to me with their problems, I kept them to myself.  I loved each and every one of my fans like they were my own.  On Mother’s Day last year, I had people telling me I was more of a mother to them than their own.  So, I had to satisfy the masses.  And if I were to quit now, I think that’d crush them all.  That’s why I keep going.

 I’ve thought about giving up the fan fiction racket so many times.  Mostly because it wasn’t getting me anywhere and it was a waste of time. But I was venting these things to a fan of mine once that I had gotten pretty close with.  She told me to write one more chapter.  Just one.  Like it was going to be my last.  That so-called final chapter intended to be my swan song ended up spawning a million other ideas for it.  And I never looked back.  

 I ran back to my house to set up my flash drive, keeping my fingers crossed no one was home early. Julian’s right.  He’s my mistress.  Only instead of worrying about my husband, I was more scared shitless of my parents pulling in at the wrong time.  They thought I gave this up.  They didn’t know I was still writing fic or cosplaying or obsessively watching anime or ordering figurines on Amazon at two in the morning because I couldn’t sleep. Hell, they thought I got involved with children’s community theatre!  They still thought I had a job!  But here I was.  I got the first half of “Heart of the Ocean” off my computer and went back to Julian’s.

 Part one, successfully uploaded.  Not even three o'clock.  Good for me. In that case, I should probably shower and get dressed today.  I wasn’t even sure who I grabbed before I left this morning.  I checked my overnight bag and pulled out a purple tank top. Already loving it.  Black leggings.  Promising.  A beaded bracelet in various shaded of blue.  Alright.  And a light blue hoody!  I grabbed Haru!  Perfect! And a little silver dolphin to go around my neck.  Cute and comfortable.  And I had a short, black wig, too!  I really could go full Haru.

 I got in and out of Julian’s shower and went on a walk.  What’s with me visiting the boyfriend at work lately?  Then again, it was a Friday afternoon.  I had an outstanding date with a young lady on a regular basis. Like Julian tucking me back in bed this morning, I’ll be damned if I miss that just because I didn’t work there anymore.

 I walked into the café like I owned the place again and stood at the counter, waiting my turn like a civilian.  Once I got to the front of the line, Julian stood behind the register, “Hi.  What can I get for you?”

 “I only get one thing, Julian,” I smiled, “What do you think that is?”

 “Oh, shit,” he put two and two together, “The hair threw me off.  I’m sorry, baby.  Green tea? Honey?”

 “Please.”

 “So,” Julian looked me over, “Haru?”

 “Yep,” I nodded, feeling my wig slip a little.  I thought I had pinned it better between the netting on the wig and my wig cap, “You get your email yet?”

 “Did you post?”

 “Yes, I did,” I beamed, “I’m proud of me.”

 “I’m proud of you,” he awed, “Do you want anything else?”

 “No, I’m good,” I sipped on my straw, “I haven’t missed her yet, have I?”

 “No,” Julian eyed the door, “But throw your hood up, keep your head down.  Griffin’s coming.”

 “Good call,” I did as I was told.  I’d rather swallow thumbtacks than see Griffin.  At least I was a little unrecognizable.  Thank you, Haruka Nanase.  I grabbed the register table and watched the shit show unfold.

 “Russell!” Griffin chimed, “How are things?”

 “Super,” Julian matched his enthusiasm, “Same old, same old, Mr. Griffin.  Nothing exciting.”

 “Not with that kind of attitude,” Griffin scolded, “What’s with you being so negative?”

 “I’m sorry,” he slapped a fake smile on his face.  I could see the vein sticking out in his neck, “I’ll be better.”

 “Just out of curiosity,” Griffin wondered, “Has Mimi been back in here?”

 “No, sir,” Julian shook his head, “Haven’t seen her since Tuesday.”

 “She said she was moving,” he rolled his eyes, “Yeah.  Maybe from her parents’ house to a box.”

 “Excuse me, sir,” Julian stopped him while I set up the video camera on my phone.  Something in my gut told me that things weren’t about to get pretty, “But that’s selling her a little short, don’t you think?”

 “That’s going to be the next step,” Griffin went on, “There are a few strip clubs in Kansas City. Maybe I should stop by one of them and visit her at work.”

 “At least she’s making money,” Julian grabbed a hold of the counter, keeping his anger under control. He wanted to call Griffin every name in the book in as many languages as he could.  And I couldn’t blame him!  This asshole thought I was stripping!  Even if I was, there’s no way in hell I’m giving him a dance, “A job’s a job.”

 “But one so unsavory?” he cringed, “Besides, she doesn’t have the body for that.”

 “I don’t know,” Julian gritted his teeth, “I always thought she was pretty cute.”

 “Oh, yeah,” Griffin confirmed, “She’s got a pretty face, but that’s about it.  But if the opportunity arose, I wouldn’t say no to her in the car broke down, needs to use the phone sense.”

 “With all due respect,” Julian’s lid was about to blow and I was about to throw up, “I really don’t appreciate you talking about her like that.  I’m sure I’m not the only one.  Probably not even the only one in this café.”

 “Everyone’s entitled to an opinion,” Griffin shrugged.  But people seem to forget there’s a difference between having an opinion and being a dick on purpose, “Besides, there are three people in here.  What are the odds that one of them cares enough about her?”

 “One in three,” Julian glanced over at me from the corner of his eye, “I’m pretty sure this particular customer wouldn’t appreciate it either.  Aside from me, of course.”

 “Who are you?” Griffin looked over at me, making my skin crawl.

 “Who else?” I threw my hood down and peeled my wig off, “You really think I have that low of self-esteem?”

 “Well, well, well,” Griffin sounded like a shitty movie villain, “Look who came crawling back. Ready to apologize and beg me for your job back?”

 “I didn’t come crawling back to anyone,” I snarled, “And I’m not the one that needs to apologize.  I was completely in the right.  Did you see me grabbing all over you?”

 “Excuse me?” Julian chimed in, “He was doing what now?”

 “Yeah,” I nodded, “I’m not apologizing for anything.  I could yell so many different things at you at the top of my lungs, but quite frankly, you’re not worth it.  So, no. I’m not begging you for squat.  I have one that I love very much and I’m loved for more than my body.  Which is perfect the way it is, thank you very much.

 “Really?” Griffin chuckled, “You have the audacity to come in here and say that to me?”

 “Is it true that I quit Tuesday?”

 “No,” he hushed me, knowing damn well I did, “I fired you.”

 “I told you I was quitting because of a better opportunity,” I explained, “You told me I wasn’t going anywhere.  True or false?”

 “You weren’t going anywhere.”

 “You,” I pointed toward Julian, “Did I get a better opportunity?”

 “Yes, you did,” Julian confirmed.

 “Did I not have plans to move?”

 “Yes, you did.”

 “Sure,” Griffin rolled his eyes, “Take her side.”

 “The right side,” I defended.

 “You don’t even have the right to be here,” he snapped, “If you quit, then why would you want to come back here so bad?”

 “Because it’s a small town and I’m short on options,” I argued, “I have the same right as anyone else.”

 “I picked a bad time to come in here, didn’t I?” Veronica…Dammit.  She didn’t need to be here.

 “Go back to class, Roni,” I demanded.

 “How cute,” Griffin awed sarcastically, “You’re trying to protect her.”

 “Of course I am,” I said, “I care about her and her well-being and she doesn’t need to see this.”

 “What?” he chuckled, “You being the bitch you are?  Trying to be all tough?  Trying to stand up for yourself?  Adorable. I should throw you out on your ass right now.  If you were my kid, I’d be slapping the shit out of you right now.”

 “Was that a threat?” I asked.  

 “It was a certainty,” Griffin promised, “You asked for it, sweetheart.”

 I sent Veronica some mental telepathy to grab my phone while Griffin pulled his hand back.  As much as I didn’t want this to happen, I let Griffin whip my hand across my cheek.  Damn. Mother fucker had a mean swing.  I saw Julian jump across the counter as I dropped to my knees, but I stopped him, “No.”

 “No?!” he squeaked.

 “No,” I gave him my Haru wig, fighting the sting on my face, “Hold my flower.”

 “You sure?” Julian worried.

 “I’m sure,” I got back on my feet, “Trust me.”

 “Alright,” he let me go, “Kick his ass, baby.  I got your flower.”

 “What did I walk in on?” Veronica freaked a little.

 “Justice,” Julian assured, keeping her back, “Tap me in if need be.”

 “I got this,” I threw a heavy fisted right hook to Griffin’s jaw, letting out all the aggression I’ve kept inside for way too long.

 “Where the hell did that come from?!” Griffin screeched as I got on top of him, “Someone call the cops!”

 “I’m not your princess,” I threw another few blows to his face, “I’m not your girl.  I’m not your anything.  You didn’t deserve me and you’re a sad, miserable man.  The hatred I have for you would be enough to put me in an early grave, but you’re not worth it.  You sicken me.”

 I got up and spat at his feet.  As soon as I walked outside, two nice police officers waited at the door to put some shiny bracelets on my wrists and in the back of a squad car.  I guess someone did call the cops, but I wasn’t worried. Little did Griffin know, not only did I have a support system to bail me out, but I had evidence and witnesses. If he was smart, which God knows he isn’t, he’s not pressing charges.

 “Ms. Shepherd,” one of the younger cops came into the interrogation room.

 “That’s me,” I chirped like nothing was wrong.  Just had been served, “But you can call me Mimi.”

 “Hold on,” he looked me over, “Mimi Shepherd?”

 “Yeah.”

 “I think we went to high school together,” he assumed, “Are you from Lenexa?”

 “Born and raised.”

 “Yeah!” he sang, “You were dating Miles Mills, weren’t you?”

 “Were,” I cringed, “But yeah.  What’s your name?”

 “Robbie Day,” he told me, “I hung out with Miles a lot.”

 “Robbie!” I remembered him. Out of all of Miles’ friends, he was the one I wanted to punch less, “Hi, honey!  It’s been a while.”

 “Yeah, it has!” I’ve never been so relieved in my life “I know I should be asking about the café incident, but how’ve you been?”

 “I worked the café,” I explained, “But my boss is a sexist pig and I got a better job, so I quit.”

 “Do you have any proof he’s a sexist pig?” Robbie asked.

 “My phone,” I pointed out, “As soon as I knew he was coming in, I turned the video camera on.  I also have two witnesses that saw Griffin hit me first along with a threat before the actual hit.  Not only that, but I have in the same recording some lewd and disgusting remarks he made about me.”

 “Do you know where your phone is now?”

 “Either Veronica or Julian’s got it,” I figured.

 “I need full names.”

 “Either Julian Cooke Or Veronica Masterson has it,” I clarified, “Julian was also a witness to the atrocities that happened to me.”

 “Alright,” he nodded, “I’m in your corner, Mimi, but unfortunately, we’re still going to put you in a cell for a bit.”

 “Day,” another cop came in. One that I knew.  Craig Ford was a good dude.  He’s known me since I was in the womb, “She’s made bail.”

 “Already,” I gasped, “That was quick.”

 “You got someone you can call, Mimi?” he asked, “A friend?  Your parents?”

 “Yeah,” I nodded, “I got someone.”

 “Go take care of her paperwork, Day,” he let Robbie go.

 “But sir,” Robbie stood, “She was acting in self-defense!”

 “Robbie,” Craig gestured to the door, “Don’t worry.  I’ll keep an eye on her.  Go run paperwork.”

 “Yes, sir,” Robbie followed orders, “It was good seeing you again, Mimi.  Despite the circumstances.”

 “Thanks, Robbie,” I smiled.

 “You don’t strike me as the violent type, Mimi,” Craig sat across from me, “When my guys told me they brought you in, I thought they were screwing with me.  What happened, peanut?”

 “Jeffrey Griffin is a disgusting human being,” I snarled, “He backhanded me, so I fought back.”

“He did what?” Craig’s eyes turned red.

 “Is the red mark proof enough for you?” I wondered, “It still feels pretty warm, too.”

 “You want me get you some ice?” he offered.

 “No,” I brushed him off, “I’m fine.  Sure, it hurt like hell, but I’ll live.  You should see the other guy.”

 “I did,” Craig told, “Black eye and a couple chipped teeth.”

 “Damn,” I grumbled, “I was going for broken nose, but I guess chipped teeth will do.”

 “This is serious, Mimi,” he giggled a bit.

 “Sorry,” I joined him, “I had to make light of a dark situation.”

 “Hey,” Craig gave me the biggest hug, “It’s alright now.  We’ll take care of it, ok?  Come on. I’ll walk you to your cell.”

 “Such a gentleman,” I reveled in his embrace.  Craig was practically family.  If getting Robbie as my interrogating officer and Craig taking care of me wasn’t a good enough sign that things would be ok, nothing would be.

 However, I still had to spend time behind bars.  Because of one asshole that wasn’t worth the hassle.  At least it was only me in here.  Yet, no one gave me a harmonica.  I feel so let down.  My image of sitting in jail was forever shattered.  But I sat and twiddled my thumbs, waiting for someone to come and pick me up.  Come on, Julian.  I know you’re the one that paid my bail.  

“Mimi,” Robbie came and got me, “Ride’s here.”

 “Awesome,” I got up, “Is it either my mom or my dad?”

 “No.”

 “Dark hair, pretty eyes, glasses?” I assumed.

 “Yep!” Awesome. Robbie led me out to reception.  I was about to walk out of here a free woman and with a well-deserved sense of justice.

 “I’m in town for two whole hours and I have to bail you out of jail?” a familiar voice chastised, “Honestly, Mimi.  Glad I got off the crazy train before this happened.”

 That voice…I knew that voice.  That voice sent my stomach into instant knots.  I spend maybe forty-five minutes in jail and kicked the shit out of Griffin. I didn’t even have an adrenaline buzz anymore.  But just one voice was enough to make me want to throw up violently.  And it was his.

 “There you are,” Julian pulled me into his arms, protecting me from…That, “You alright?”

 “I’m fine,” I buried my face in Julian’s chest, “What are you doing here?”

 “Who do you think paid your bail?”

 “Julian?” I looked up at my boyfriend, my heart in my throat, “You didn’t take care of that?”

 “When I got here,” Julian told me, “I had the money to get you out, but they told me it was taken care of.”

 “You forget who the chief is?  Your name came up on the scanner.”

 I was ready to punch another face in, “I appreciate it, but please…Leave me alone.”

 “I came back to see you. You can’t even bother to say hi?”

 “Mimi,” Julian asked, “Who is he?”

 “He’s my Roxanne,” I kept my voice down, “That’s Miles.”

 “Oh!” he chimed, “You’re her ex-boyfriend!”

 “Guilty,” Miles shrugged. I didn’t want to see Griffin today, but out of everyone in the world I didn’t want to see, Miles was at the top of the list.  If I never saw him again, it’d be too soon, “Mimi, who is this guy?”

 “I’m Julian,” he held me a little tighter, “I’m her current boyfriend.  I’ve heard about you.”

 “Julian,” I stopped him, “Please don’t.”

 “What?” Julian chirped, “I’m sure he’s a good dude.”

 “Yeah,” Miles nodded, “I’m a pretty decent person.  What have you heard?”

 “Just the way you ended things,” Julian threw his arm around me while the three of us left the station, “What was that reason again?”

 “She wasn’t the girl I thought she was,” Miles explained, “It was a little much for me to handle. Have you seen her body pillow?”

 “Body pillow?” Julian toyed with him, “What body pillow?”

 “Did you get rid of your weird body pillow?” Miles shot me a look, “Congratulations, Mimi.  She used to have this body pillow.”

 “Miles…” I winced.

 “She’d sleep with it every night,” he went on, ignoring me completely, “Some guy half naked, pulling a glove off with his teeth.  It’s forever burned in my brain and just...weird…Then, I saw the stuff in the closet and I wasn’t having it, so I left.”

 “Her little quirks like that made you leave?” Julian asked.

 “You two must not have been dating long,” Miles figured, “Wait until you go to her house.  Check under the mattress and the closet. Unless that’s all gone, Mimi.”

 “Miles,” I repeated myself, “Please stop.”

 “Just saving him time.”

 “It’s funny,” Julian giggled a little, “We’ve been dating almost a month.  I’ve been to her house.  Hell, even stayed the night once or twice.  I’ve seen her costumes and Sebastian.  All her little quirks are what I love most about her.”

 “Good for you, man,” Miles gave a sarcastic thumbs up, “You want a medal?”

 “No,” Julian let out a little sigh, “I already got my trophy.  She used to be yours.  You wanted to get out of here, right, baby?”

 “Yes, please,” I begged, almost desperate at this point, “It was nice seeing you, Miles.”

 “You, too,” he parroted, “You haven’t changed a bit.”

 Those five words hit me harder than I thought.  A year and a half I don’t see Miles and the first thing he does is pay my bail? Maybe he was hoping I had changed and came around to the thought of the silver spoon life.  Miles’ dad was the chief of the Lenexa Police Department, but his mom was born into old money.  His dad took the cop job for something to do.  While we were together, Miles wouldn’t hesitate to spoil me.  It was like having my own personal member of the Ouran Host Club.  Only Miles couldn’t even aspire to be like them.

 “Well,” Julian broke the uncomfortable silence, “Since my little hardened criminal has served her nickel, you want to into Kansas City and get dinner?”

 “I’m not a hardened criminal,” I giggled, rolling my eyes at him, “I spent an hour and a half there. I wouldn’t call myself a hardened criminal.  Think you still have a job?”

 “Doubtful,” Julian shrugged, getting off on the interstate, “I’m sorry.  I never got an answer out of you.  Just assumed it’d be a yes.”

 “Yeah,” I let him go, “I could stand the road trip.”

 “Here,” he rolled his windows down, “Something tells me you could use a jam.”

 “God yes,” I confirmed, “Loud music and some time to forget the world.”

 “Well then,” Julian gave me his phone, “Take your pick.”

 “Ok,” I scrolled through his music.

 Wow.  Julian’s playlist was pretty diverse.  A lot of anime themes.  Surprise, surprise.  Miku’s entire catalog.  Yet another shock.  A lot of the other vocaloids.  But then, he had a lot of normal shit, too.  A lot of Death Cab for Cutie.  A little Postal Service.  Some Owl City and Jack’s Mannequin.  Some of Andrew McMahon’s solo stuff.  A few harder bands, both old and new.  Then again, there were also a few video game soundtracks and the Studio Ghibli soundtracks. Too much to pick from.  Let’s pick one we’ve never heard before, “This one.”

 It started with a weird mix of banjo and guitar.  Ok.  It sounded kind of weird, but I liked it. Julian looked over at me with a little smile on his face, “Excellent choice.  You don’t strike me as the City and Colour type, though.”

 “I’ve never heard it before,” I admitted.

 “Listen closely,” he took my hand.

 “I wish I could do better by you ‘cause that’s what you deserve,” the singer melted out of Julian’s speakers, “You sacrifice so much of your life in order for this to work. While I’m off chasing my own dreams, sailing around the world.  Please know that I’m yours to keep, my beautiful girl.”

 In that sweet, heartwarming moment, I wanted to cry.  And it only got worse as the song went on, “What was this called again?”

 “It’s ‘The Girl’ by City and Colour,” Julian gushed, “I love this song.  Just wait, though.  It’ll pick up and be a little less melancholy.  I found it about three months ago.  I was in a bar in Nashville, Tennessee, of all places.  This came on and I fell in love with it.  And with the band.  They’re not bad.  Most of their stuff is acoustic like this, but this song?  I told myself if I ever decided to get married again, I’d want it played at our wedding.  First dance.”

 “If that’s going to be me,” I caught myself, “Not saying we’re NEARLY ready for that yet, but I’m just saying if it’s our wedding, I had something else in mind.”

  “Oh?” I had his interest, “And what would that be?”

 “Really?” I smiled, “You have to ask?”

 “Is it the theme to Fruits Basket?” he assumed.

 “Right church, wrong pew,” I corrected him, “Anymore guesses?”

 “I’ll get this one,” Julian thought a little harder, “Monochrome Kiss?”

 “No,” I shook my head, “I don’t want to be thinking about demons and earls making deals during our first dance at our wedding.”

 “Alright,” he guessed again, “I got this.  It’s an orchestrated version of ‘Again’ by YUI.”

 “No,” I was ready to beat him with a wrench, “Not the Fullmetal theme either.”

 “Well, shit, baby!” Julian whined, “I got nothing.  Is it from an anime?”

 “Yes,” I nodded, scrolling through his Ghibli collection, “But it’s not from a series.”

 “I got nothing,” he gave up, “What is it?”

 “This one,” I started playing the theme to Howl’s Moving Castle, ‘The Merry-Go-Round of Life’.  It had been my favorite Ghibli theme for as long as I could remember.  I just thought of Howl and Sophie in an abandoned ballroom, walking through the air, dancing the most beautiful waltz on the ceiling.  And it made my heart feel so full.

 “Oh my god,” Julian smacked his forehead on his steering wheel, “I feel so stupid.  Howl’s Moving Castle, though?  Really?”

 “Yeah,” I beamed as Joe Hisaishi’s glorious creation played around us, “You can’t tell me it’s not a beautiful song because I’d break up with you over that.”

 “It is,” he agreed with me, “It’s a beautiful piece of music.  There’s no doubt.  First dance, though?”

 “Yes,” I put my foot down, “If it’s not ‘The Merry-Go-Round of Life’, I swear to God, Julian, I will raise hell.”

 “Alright,” Julian settled me, “That’s fine with me.  But ‘The Girl’ will happen.  Sometime in the night.  It will happen.”

 “Fine,” I agreed, “I’m glad we got that out of the way now before it actually mattered.”

 “And if we do end up getting married,” Julian teased, “We can look back on this moment with fond nostalgia.  The day you got arrested for punching your former boss.  Maybe even our former boss.”

 “How romantic,” I giggled, laying my head on his shoulder, “Thank you, Julian.”

 “For what, koibito?” he wondered, pulling into the Haven Tavern parking lot.

 “For taking care of me,” I wrapped my arms around his.

 “My pleasure,” Julian stole a quick kiss.  Dinner?”

 “Starved.”