#ocean enthusiasts like hm not quite

[sodrippy]

they weren't lying, those lakes sure are great !

[sugar-plum-writer]

The Serene Peony Of Winter

Paring: Sukuna!King of Curses x Fem!Geisha Reader

Tags: Slight! mention of violence; Fem!reader; Sukuna!imagines; will be 18+ as more chapters come; slow!burn, [I want to have a good build up!], an ancient Japan romance through time with darling reader~

[If you all like it, please heart and reblog the post! to know you want to read more~ and follow for chapter updates! or leave a comment to tag you when I put out new chapters~ I will do my best to roll out UPDATES ASAP!] New Chapter! @naoyagasm @janeaugustine @teonawrites @periwinkless-universe @rosemaydone321 @may-machin @annoyingstrawberryballoon

CHAPTER - 7

Warm gazes of the sun poured in and illuminated the room, as a gentle breeze carried the air of summer. Laying beside him under the sheets you caressed his face with moments of the previous night playing in your brain.

"If anyone had told me this is what my geisha life would have come to…I would have ignored them and laughed"

Where is my life going?

Deep in thought, all memories of the past flooded your brain. It felt like a play of sorts, the only difference being that rather than a story with a happily ever after it had no route

It was like a wandering boat in the ocean-going where the wind led it.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Many days had passed, and now you were his lover, not just any lover, one of his most if not the only prized lover of the one and only Sukuna 'The King of Curses'.

Many things had happened, and many people had died. The Shogun was pressured by not only the Emperor but also the Big Sorcerer clans- Gojo, Zenin, Kamo, Fukiwara, Inumaki, etc to find who it was. You had stopped being a Geisha, as well he would have killed them if you had continued; accompanying him wherever he went in your Hikizuri holding your Wagasa above your head making the days pass by peacefully.

Recently you and Sukuna decided to go to a mountain. It was nothing too big, just a short walk to enjoy the scenery of summer, it was a bit isolated so that sorcerers would not track him down, he did not care- but well for your safety he kept an eye out.

"It sure is quite sunny today", you muttered as you walked beside him lifting the hem of your Hikizure to not stumble.

Unexpectedly he stops causing you to lift your head to where he is looking making your eyes widen in shock as the scene unfolding is unusual and it was quite peculiar.

Huge trees stood on both sides of an entrance, there were men bridal carrying their wives up the steep stone stairs, and many more couples shyly held hands.

"Hm…Interesting", he smirked curiously

As you and he stood looking at what was going on a couple approached you

"Excuse me? Is this the 'Sakurasou Ceremony' Shrine?", the man enthusiastically walked holding his wife's hand

"The, 'Sakurasou Ceremony', what is it?", intrigued you and Sukuna looked at the couple

"Oh! It's your first time here?"

"Yes"

"It's a ritual, where the husband carries his wife up the stairs of the shrine, it's a steep climb of 450 stairs, sincerely without stopping or any tricks! It's said that whoever completes this ritual has their souls forever tied together till the end of time!", chirping in the lady laughed

"It's a ritual that can only be done once in 100 years, to do it again you need to wait 100 years! Rarely have people been able to complete it because you cannot stop and even rest! once you start there is no stopping~"

Soon a voice is heard and the couple walks away happily, giggling and chatting

"Humans sure are unique, a ritual like this?", he laughed intrigued

"It is…can the people who complete it really have their souls… tied together forever?", giving him a small smile your eyes traced the stairs which looked never-ending in wonder

"Let's do it shall we?" with a smirk he grabbed your wrist

"W-Wait what!? Are you crazy!? we are not even married!", your eyes widened in shock as you implored him to think again, but he continued walking without hearing anything

"Sukuna!" with a scream you pulled your hand away from his grasp

"We are not…married, are you sure?" you gazed at him with your hands trembling protesting

"Does it matter? Is marriage needed for me to love you forever Y/n? And I am curious so what do you say?" Grabbing your wrist his eyes looked into yours unwaveringly

"Alright…", with a whisper you tried to hide your blush and your heart pounded in your lungs threatening to blow up.

This is crazy

Walking together you made your way to the entrance, your hand intertwined in his as the Sakura petals fell from the trees gracing a journey. Arriving at the entrance, the first step.

With a smirk he pulled you towards him, swooping you off your feet into his arms, with that the climb started; 450 steps non-stop.

Beads of sweat glistened and rolled down his forehead to his neck soaking him, the sun was scorching hot shining above both your heads with your hands wrapped around his neck.

Using his ability he would have completed this in no time but- to think he was obeying the rules and following the process of carrying you, him a god-like figure was obeying the rules of a mortal ritual.

With the sleeve of your Hikizuri, you wiped the sweat off his face with worry in your eyes.

"Sukuna…"

"What?" with a smirk, he kissed you

"No need to worry, what are you worried about?"

"I am The King of curses after all", picking up pace he continued climbing

Some hours passed and you both took the final step reaching the top, and completed the ritual. The priests were stunned to see someone being able to complete it and hurriedly rushed to offer glasses of water.

"To complete this you sir have gained my respect! haha!", one priest laughed as others chatted

He simply stood smugly beside you with pride bathing in the praises and his ego inflated to the moon.

His hands wrapped around your waist looking into your eyes, seeing him like this you could not help but smile and kiss him. It got a bit sensual as his hands started roaming around your body.

"So.." the head priest coughed, "How long have you two been married for?"

Before you could speak Sukuna spoke

"We are not married"

Causing the priests to gasp in shock as an old lady stepped in front of you both

"Would you like to get married?" with a warm smile she looked at you both holding her walking stick

"No-No it's fine" you chuckled nervously shaking your head

Your body shook, goosebumps spread across your skin causing your hair to stand on end. A shock so deep your bones felt rattled, feeling your legs give out hearing the words that came out of his mouth.

"Yes, we shall"

"W-Wait…Sukuna! I-"

The old lady went to fetch some items from the inner sanctum of the shrine with a smile as other priests began preparations for the ceremony.

"Y/n…I don't need marriage to know you are mine and I am yours, but..", he tucked a strand of your hair behind your ears smirking

"I found a wish list of yours, and one of them was getting married. Mortal rituals mean nothing to me but…since it's your wish I will grant it today"

Stunned feeling all air leave your lungs as you stood steeled on the spot looking at him; feeling time stop and the breeze coming to a halt.

Before you knew it the ritual had started

"Groom, do you Sukuna, marry this woman and become her partner. Will you in peaceful times, during sickness, love this person, respect this person, comfort this person, help this person, until death, do you promise to fulfill?"

"I do even beyond death"

"Bride, do you Y/n, marry this man and become his partner. Will you in peaceful times, during sickness, love this person, respect this person, comfort this person, help this person, until death, do you promise to fulfill?"

The shimmering sake poured from the Heavens down to Earth, overflowing with a fate sealed forever. No matter how many flowers bloom, wither, and turn to dust, this thread of fate has forever been tied even beyond the universe itself. "I do forever"

Footnotes: >Such a ritual does not exist in Japan the 'Sakurasou' is actually a flower meaning 'Eternal love' hence 'Sakurasou Ceremony Shrine' literally translates to 'Eternal Love Ceremony Shrine'. >But such a ritual does exist in India I stumbled across it as I was searching romantic rituals related to carrying brides and whatnot all over the world. It is their in a temple where the groom literally has to carry the bride 450 steps to reach the temple since many people are not able to do it 5 steps have been kept as minimum. If you wanna learn more just look it up lol I thought it was very romantic~ hehe~ I added some of my own stuff to the original ritual! So yeah! >The wedding vows written here are real that is done is Japanese traditional marriage~

>Check out my masterlist for all chapters and other works!

Authors Note:

[Sorry for the late update! My college is killing me lol but fret not! I now have study leave for my semester exams so! I will put out chapters frequently~ and thanks for more than 80 followers like damn...I am shook...I might do a q/a and open my asks for all of you! I will tell you all when I do! Might even do an introduction! haha!]

[wxndswept]

Hatred (prelude)

"Ah, Yuuki. Perfect timing. I have something I'd like to show you, as well as a pro... Hm?" Ruan Mei's unusually enthusiastic tone was shortened as her assistant stomped into the lab. "Is something the matter? You seem stressed."

"I need you to be honest with me. Even if this is a dumb question, I need to know. Did you do anything to my memories? Or.. my mind? These last few weeks, ever since I was in the Simulated Universe, I see... I don't know. I keep..." She sighed deeply. "I just need to know."

"No." She said simply. Oddly enough for Yuuki, that was good enough. "I will admit, I've thought about it quite a few times. I haven't even given you anything that affects your mind, not even the truth serum I made to ensure that you don't speak of me to too many people. Although... a part of me regrets that, with how you speak sometimes." Stepping close, she place her fingers to the back of Yuuki's head, then the temple, and finally her forehead. "Is this about those episodes you've been having? Are you ready to explain exactly how you're feeling?"

"Yeah." Yuuki ran a hand through her hair, taking a seat when Ruan Mei gestured. "I'm sorry. I'm not trying to accuse you or anything, I just, had to narrow down every possibility, you know?" Ruan Mei took out her recorder and set it on the desk next to Yuuki before taking her own seat. "I keep seeing things, like visions, or... memories. I can never do anything or change the outcome, it's like I'm in someone else's dream. Sometimes I'm back on my planet, speaking with a woman who looks just like my best friend. But I look down, and I'm a dragon. It doesn't matter though, because when I look at her, everything is okay. Other times I'm home, but the ground is burned and bloody. There are tornadoes everywhere, and the sky is red. There are monsters and people alike, but I didn't care. I was so... angry then. Like I myself was there. But the worst of them..." Yuuki's voice started to shake, tears forming in the corners of her eyes. "I'm in various places. An ancient temple, or an ocean, or even here. And every time, my friend Lyza is there, dying. Sometimes by my hand... I can't move, I can only speak, and I watch her fade each and every time..."

"I see. Do you believe these visions of yours will come to-" Ruan Mei was interrupted by an alarm suddenly blaring through the area. Stepping over to the console, she frowned in silence for a moment. "That is... Odd. There is an intrusion in the large incubation chamber." She turned to Yuuki. "I apologize for cutting this short, but could you check it out, Yuuki? And before you ask, no I have not created anything."

"I-I wasn't thinking that." Yuuki wiped her face and stood with a nod, heading to the elevator.

[mournus]

Tagged by @anedendarkly

tagging everyone who wants to!! <3<3

Character: Nachim (Mai & Sean under read more)

𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐍𝐄: 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄.  

Name: Kaho named him 'Nachimban' after the Korean word for compass.  

Eye colour: Grey

Hair style / colour: Constantly changing, he loves dyeing his hair and trying new things.

Height:  6'5"

Clothing style: DRAMATIC

Best physical feature: His body, his smile, his eyes, take ur pick

𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐎: 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄.  

Your fears: "Me? Ha. I have no fears." (Commitment. He's afraid of commitment.)

Your guilty pleasure: "Guilt is foreign to me. Just ask Leila."

Your ambitions for the future: "It's simple. I will be a pirate king, and the world will bow to the most powerful pirate crew of all time."

𝑻𝑯𝑶𝑼𝑮𝑯𝑻𝑺.  

Your first thoughts waking up: "I think of my plan for the day." 

What you think about most: "Where to go next, what to do next." 

What you think about before bed: "Tomorrow."

What you think your best quality is: "Ah... can you pick your favourite petal of a rose? Isn't it the way all petals come together that make it so beautiful?"

𝑾𝑯𝑨𝑻’𝑺 𝑩𝑬𝑻𝑻𝑬𝑹?  

Single or group dates: "Well... that depends on how adventurous everyone is."

To be loved or respected: "Isn't respect less fickle?"

Beauty or brains: "Surely it depends on the situation.

Dogs or cats: "I prefer cats."

𝑫𝑶 𝒀𝑶𝑼…  

Lie: "There is no reason to."

Believe in yourself: "Of course. What kind of fool doesn't?"

Believe in love: "I believe... in the choice to devote yourself."

Want someone: "The ocean is my first love. How will I find someone who can compete?"

𝑬𝑽𝑬𝑹 𝑩𝑬𝑬𝑵…  

Been on stage: "We have a stage on the ship, but other than that, no."

Done drugs: "I tried them when I was human. Not quite as exciting as they were made out to be."

Changed who you were to fit in: "That would be a fate worse than death."

𝑭𝑨𝑽𝑶𝑹𝑰𝑻𝑬𝑺.  

Favourite colour: "Maybe black? Or red."

Favourite animal: "I like sharks. Even if one left a mark on my leg."

Favourite movie: "I like Disney movies. Any Disney movie. They are all my favourites."

Favourite book: "I can't say I have much time to read."

Favourite game: "Any that involve drinking."

𝑨𝑮𝑬.  

Day your next birthday will be: "January the 10th, as it is every year."

How old will you be: "240. Don't ask me my skincare routine, it's a trade secret. Ha."

Age you lost your virginity: "Hmm... I can't remember. I was a teenager."  

𝑰𝑵 𝑨 𝑷𝑬𝑹𝑺𝑶𝑵.  

Best personality: "Vibrant. Enthusiastic."

Best eye colour: "I like Rak's pink eyes."

Best hair colour: "Something crazy."

Best thing to do with a partner: "World domination."

𝑭𝑰𝑵𝑰𝑺𝑯 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑺𝑬𝑵𝑻𝑬𝑵𝑪𝑬.  

I love: "My crew."

I feel: "Excited."

I hide: "Very little."

I miss: "Hm... my first crew. When I was human."

I wish: "For my adventure to never end."

Character: Mai

𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐍𝐄: 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄.  

Name:  Mai

Eye colour: Black

Hair style / colour: Black, cut short, either just above her shoulders or just below her ears

Height:  5'6"

Clothing style: A little plain but pretty, likes bright colours.

Best physical feature: Eyes or lips

𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐎: 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄.  

Your fears: "You're tryna open up a whole can of worms, huh?" Being imperfect. 

Your guilty pleasure: "Eating whole tubs of ice cream! ... I guess that's not really something to feel guilty about once you're dead, though?"

Your ambitions for the future: "I want to find out what makes reapers able to heal. I want to find a way to replicate it and make it accessible to humans."

𝑻𝑯𝑶𝑼𝑮𝑯𝑻𝑺.  

Your first thoughts waking up: "Five more minutes."

What you think about most: "Practicing my powers, or learning more about us."

What you think about before bed: "All the mistakes I made that day..."

What you think your best quality is: "I mean... I guess I'm smart?"

𝑾𝑯𝑨𝑻’𝑺 𝑩𝑬𝑻𝑻𝑬𝑹?  

Single or group dates: "Any date is a win in my book."

To be loved or respected: "Loved."

Beauty or brains: "Beauty comes with less responsibility than brains. So beauty."

Dogs or cats: "Dogs!"

𝑫𝑶 𝒀𝑶𝑼…  

Lie: "Not really. Not anymore."

Believe in yourself: "Probably not..."

Believe in love: "I really want to."

Want someone: "Yeah. A lot."

𝑬𝑽𝑬𝑹 𝑩𝑬𝑬𝑵…  

Been on stage: "I've performed on stage, yeah."

Done drugs: "No way. Don't do drugs!"

Changed who you were to fit in: "Yeah..."

𝑭𝑨𝑽𝑶𝑹𝑰𝑻𝑬𝑺.  

Favourite colour: "Purple."

Favourite animal: "Rabbits."

Favourite movie: "Twilight never gets old. Don't hate on me that."

Favourite book: "... Literally anything romantic is my favourite."

Favourite game: "Otome games for sure."

𝑨𝑮𝑬.  

Day your next birthday will be: "July 2nd."

How old will you be: "30... gross."

Age you lost your virginity: "18." 

𝑰𝑵 𝑨 𝑷𝑬𝑹𝑺𝑶𝑵.  

Best personality: "Warm and happy and inviting. Safe."

Best eye colour: "I don't really care."

Best hair colour: "Uhh. I'm not bothered."

Best thing to do with a partner: "Dance?"

𝑭𝑰𝑵𝑰𝑺𝑯 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑺𝑬𝑵𝑻𝑬𝑵𝑪𝑬.  

I love: "Making memories."

I feel: "... Nervous."

I hide: "My feelings?"

I miss: "The childhood I never got to have."

I wish: "I could start over." 

Character: Sean

𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐍𝐄: 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄.  

Name: Sean

Eye colour: Brown

Hair style / colour: Buzzcut brown

Height:  5'11"

Clothing style: T-shirt and jeans

Best physical feature: Jaw line fr

𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐎: 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄.  

Your fears: "Getting kidnapped again is pretty up there."

Your guilty pleasure: "Maybe I like... sucking dick a bit... too much."

Your ambitions for the future: "Jus' bein' happy is ambition enough for me."

𝑻𝑯𝑶𝑼𝑮𝑯𝑻𝑺.  

Your first thoughts waking up: "What should I eat?"

What you think about most: "What events are going on."

What you think about before bed: "The next day."

What you think your best quality is: "Oh - maybe... I'm pretty good at instruments an' DJing an' stuff?"

𝑾𝑯𝑨𝑻’𝑺 𝑩𝑬𝑻𝑻𝑬𝑹?  

Single or group dates: "Single for sure!"

To be loved or respected: "Loved, man, respect is so... parent and evil boss."

Beauty or brains: "Brains!"

Dogs or cats: "I like both. Maybe dogs?"

𝑫𝑶 𝒀𝑶𝑼…  

Lie: "Nah."

Believe in yourself: "Maybe a normal amount."

Believe in love: "Definitely." 

Want someone: "Of course. Love is nice."

𝑬𝑽𝑬𝑹 𝑩𝑬𝑬𝑵…  

Been on stage: "Plenty."

Done drugs: "Nope."

Changed who you were to fit in: "Back when I wasn't out, yeah."

𝑭𝑨𝑽𝑶𝑹𝑰𝑻𝑬𝑺.  

Favourite colour: "Grey?"

Favourite animal: "Snakes." For reasons.

Favourite movie: "Brokeback Mountain was pretty cool to me when it first came out."

Favourite book: "I don't read much."

Favourite game: "Charades? Pretty old school."

𝑨𝑮𝑬.  

Day your next birthday will be: "November 3rd."

How old will you be:  "A hundred and... fourteen. Yikes."

Age you lost your virginity: "Next question." Eight. 

𝑰𝑵 𝑨 𝑷𝑬𝑹𝑺𝑶𝑵.  

Best personality: "Someone always up for a good time who is kind."

Best eye colour: "Any."

Best hair colour: "Any."

Best thing to do with a partner: "Laugh and play." 

𝑭𝑰𝑵𝑰𝑺𝑯 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑺𝑬𝑵𝑻𝑬𝑵𝑪𝑬.  

I love: "Music."

I feel: "Chill."

I hide: "Regret."

I miss: "My family."

I wish: "I could see my ma' again."

[sirensea14]

My Royalty au part 3: the Enchanted Store

(How Siren met Holly*)

(incase u missed my cringy au, here's the parts:

Part 1 - VERY short comic of Cuphead seeing Siren

Part 2 - The Meeting (written)

And now part 3 will also be witten)

Siren took a stroll of the island. Alice Angel saw her walking along the street and decided to tag along. She was going to the Enchanted Store and Siren didn't really have anything to do so she agreed to go with her Despite the short time of her reign, Alice became immediate friends with her, even as her cold attitude prevails. They talked about their lives and got to know each other along their paths, and for some reason, Siren saw a familiar mermaid walking with a man with a mug for his head. She glanced away at her. They reached the front of the store,

"Welcome to the Enchanted Store! How may I help you?" a beaming voice said from the counter as she wiped the wooden surface.

"Well, Holly." Alice closed her palms and looked at her, Siren slightly raised her head to see a cauldron below, she then took note of Holly, the new girl she now met.

"Hm, the usual huh?" she smirked, Holly handed Alice some ingredients. Probably for cooking. "And you!" she pointedly looked at the confused Oceanic, "Who are you? You're pretty new for me."

Siren lingered for a second, "W-well I'm Siren. An Oceanic Ruler, or queen perhaps..." she muttered the last part. "Ooh! Queen? Cool!" she smiled at her face. No one has been this enthusiastic whenever they face her. Well Alice was bright but not like this.

They soon said their goodbyes for the girl, "Isn't Holly so amazing?" Alice stated. Siren's head was drifting away as she thought of how these social people were dropping her guard down. "She invents new weapons--Enchanted ones! Which is unique! Oh she also sells potions od her own and goodies for people! Isn't she wonderful?"

"Yeah... She is." Siren responded coolly. Alice told her how they were friends for quite some time, and also about what's bothering Holly. Siren listened attentively this time. Alice trusted Siren so she told her that ever since Holly moved in the Inkwell Isles, there has been someone tampering peace asode from monsters. People have heard cackles and saw a person flying on the moon by a broom. Now ain't that weird. Only a witch can do that.

Siren collected all the information Alice told her (gossiper XD) , it might be Holly, or a double. Now we can't jump to conclusions can we? No of course not, especially that now they saw Holly talking to two cup headed men, eventually Siren became familiar of them; Cuphead the Ace and Mugman the Beast Tamer. The earlier mermaid is also there, Cala Maria the Mergon.

_________________________________________

Next:

Ms chalice and the cups

Mayhem the witch of distress(includes backstory of how Holly became her)

[ask-carrier-kaiju]

June 3, 2024 (aka: Ivory)

Emergency situation. Mangrove tidal barrier compromised. Coastal defense walls 84, 85, 95, 98, 111, 112, 113, 119, 120, 129, 131, 138, and 148 breached. All fleets within 20 kilometers of -

click

"It's around the Bunker 8 area this time. Who's on patrol right now?"

"E13S-4, E2C-17, Ce11L-3, Ce11L-4, and Mauve, it looks like."

"Only one carrier? That's…rough. Any Rotocarriers available for support?"

"…one should be in the Bunker 5 area, last I checked."

"B7R-3. That's…Ivory. I'll page Bunker 5."

…

…

"Hey. What the hell."

"What? What's going on?"

"Where's Ivory?"

"You mean they can't find her?"

"She's completely AWOL. 5, 8, NOBODY knows where she is. She's supposed to be right there, but she's just…somewhere else, I guess! And nobody knows where! She's still on Darkworld somewhere!"

"Yeah, that's weird. It's not like a 1000-ft sheep Kaiju could just wander off unnoticed. So…"

"Where the hell is Ivory?"

Ivory looked around. Beach that way. Beach the other way. Sand as far as she could see.

Where the hell was she? This is… a desert. And there's the ocean here, so…

How did it get like this? She just wandered off for a second.

'// Ok', she thought. '// Don't overthink this. There has to be a way to remotely get in contact with someone. // Wait, Saffron! Of course. She got a new job recently.

"// Communications centre; left roto-partial. Can you connect me to the satellite messaging network?"

A second or so passed. The aircraft-carrier platform on her port side stirred with human activity for a moment, then a message from its air traffic tower.

"That's out of our range, sorry."

"// Hm. Maybe I could do it?"

"Oh, right, we can fly you up. 3 kilometers off the surface should be enough for you, correct?"

"// It's worth a shot. Thank you, admiral. You are the smallest and best human. End transmission#"

The rotors flared to life, propellors spinning with immense force, kicking up sand below. She felt the numerous invisibly small grains fly every which way, some creeping into her joints. Ick. Gross. She'd need a shower later.

She flew upwards, lifted by what to her were handbag-sized flying aircraft-carrier platforms along her sides, feeling the desert heat and wind give way to cooler, clearer air above. About six times her height in the air, she felt a tingle along her ears.

"There you are!! Ivory, you missed a battle, we were looking for you!"

"// Oh!! Oh no, super sorry. Nobody got hurt, right?"

"Thankfully not. We…got Amber to pick up some of the slack. She's going to be quite…enthusiastic about her performance for a while."

"// Thank goodness. I hope you don't mind me asking, and this might sound weird, but…do you know where I am?"

"…well, I can check your positioning signal, and - you're on the opposite side of Darkworld. How did you get over there? That's obscenely far away."

"// I suppose my mind just wandered while I was on patrol. I was thinking over some of those experiment results from the other day. Say, so I don't get lost on my way back, can you patch me through to Saff's Media Shift satellite relay?"

"I guess so."

"// Just trying to be courteous."

"Ok, it's done. Try not to wander off again, okay?"

"// Yes, sir! Of course, sir! #"

Ivory lowered back down to the ground, impacting the sand, and beginning her slow, meandering trek back, stepping over artificial riverbank encampments and manmade oases as she went. Kind of a big desert, even for her.

~~~

Let’s zoom out a bit.

Ivory, otherwise known as Unit B7R-3, is a ‘Rotocarrier’, a classification given to Kaiju that haul ships designed for autonomous flight. Given they approximate the size of certain aircraft carriers, these ships are the largest flight-capable vehicles mankind has ever created. To separate them into clean halves, and sandwich a Kaiju in the middle makes their feat of flight even more impressive.

There are more interesting things about Ivory than just that, but a picture is worth a thousand words. We'll uplink you with Ivory shortly. During this time, both Ivory and Saffron will handle Media Shift communications. Get along.

[restlessfandoming]

“family holiday” (pt. 2) (chilumi fic)

[SPOILERS FROM 1.1 STORY QUESTS]

Lumine finally arrives in Snezhnaya and takes Childe’s offer of visiting his home (mansion). 

(EVEN MORE DOMESTIC FLUFF OWO)

[part one here]

so it’s come to my attention that childe has older siblings too so OOPS MY BAD LOL

ill just finish up this story with the headcannon that he’s he oldest and prob incorporate the older siblings in future works :p

thank you all for your patience! 

[Fic Masterlist]

“family holiday” (pt. 2)

Lumine stood speechless as Childe spoke to the old toyseller about their “family.” The children were too preoccupied with their new toys to even pay attention to what their older brother was saying. Soon enough, the transaction was done, and he was walking away from the counter. 

The old woman waved goodbye cheerfully. “What a wonderful husband you have,” she said. 

AH? She couldn’t find the words to answer her. 

“Sweetheart? We’d better go—the children are already in the street,” Childe called to her from the doorway. The old woman nodded enthusiastically, and Lumine gave her an awkward smile as she turned away. 

Lumine practically stomped her way to Childe, and would’ve grabbed him by the collar if Teucer hadn’t fallen asleep in her arms. “So care to explain what you were doing back there?” she whispered aggressively. 

“Tonia! Anthon! Stay close!�� he called after the children who were showing off their toys to each other down the street. He turned to Lumine. “What was that?”

She glared at him. “Telling that old woman that we’re,” she took in a sharp breath, “a family?” Heat crawled into her cheeks. She hoped Childe wouldn’t notice. 

He shrugged. “It was just easier to avoid explaining the whole situation; I’m not a fan of dragging an innocent old woman into our business.” 

Ahg...he’s not wrong… “You didn’t have to be so enthusiastic about it,” she mumbled. She buried her face in Teucer’s hair, embarrassed as she recalled his words about her as his wife and mother of his children. Him agreeing that she was so beautiful. 

She shuffled away from Childe as quickly as she could with Teucer in her arms. Her whole body was rolling with heat. At this point, I won’t need a coat…

“Something the matter, Lumine?” Childe’s voice rang out next to her. She nearly jumped out of her own skin. Damn him and his long legs. 

“Absolutely not,” she lied. “Just cold.”

“Your face looks quite warm.” She could hear the beginnings of a smirk in his voice. “Do you have a problem with us being a couple?” 

She stopped in her tracks, and faced him. “We are not a c-couple.” 

He took a step in, closer, towering over her. He leaned down. “Do you want to be?”

...

?!

Is he serious?!

His ocean eyes held a steady, intense gaze with her, and Lumine didn’t find herself saying no. 

...Do I?!

She hadn’t ever thought of it—them, together—save for a few fleeting thoughts when they spent a lot of time together, ones she didn’t ever take seriously. But did Childe actually like her? 

Do I actually like him?

Lumine blinked. “I—”

“Brother! Lumine! Hurry up!” Tonia shouted from down the road. 

Childe let out the smallest of sighs. He gave Lumine a strained smile before taking Teucer from her. “Thank you for carrying him.” Then he walked past her, towards his siblings. 

Lumine stood there, frozen by their exchange. 

What was she going to say? She had started speaking before her mind had even come up with an answer. She glanced down the road, at Childe lovingly taking care of his brothers and sister. 

Was I going to say yes?

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

“Big brother always makes the yummiest food!” Tonia said with a mouthful of chocolate cake. 

The family was all sat around the dining table, eating the cake Chlide promised Tonia.

Paimon nodded, wiping the corners of her mouth. “You have lots of money, you can make really good food...Paimon might be warming up to you, Childe.”

Yes, he does cook really well surprisingly… Lumine thought while chewing through her own cake slice. He just keeps surprising me today… She shoveled more cake in her mouth when she remembered what he had asked her earlier. 

“I’m glad you like it,” Childe said, then stood up. “Looks like everyone is almost done; let’s start cleaning up, okay?” 

The children nodded, beginning to pile their plates and utensils in the sink, and wiping down the table. 

“Thank you.” He pointed to the mess of supplies they had used to make the cake earlier. “Can you guys clean this up too?” There was a unanimous ‘yes’ as Childe started washing the dishes. 

Watching all the siblings made her heart ache for Aether even more. She wished he could be there, in the kitchen with her. They didn’t even have to be travelling worlds anymore; she wished he was there for something as mundane as baking a cake together. 

She walked up next to Childe at the sink. “I’ll clean up everything. You should spend time with your siblings.” 

He scoffed while continuing to clean the dishes. “I’m not going to let you do all that work.” He looked around the room. “Plus they’re cleaning up with me anyway.” 

She frowned. You’re missing precious time with your family. “But—”

He held out a washcloth. “Or how about you help me and it’ll go twice as fast?”

Lumine sighed and took the cloth, starting to wash the plates next to Childe. Their elbows bumped into each other every so often. 

Soon, the children were done with their tasks, all chatting while waiting for Childe and Lumine to finish the dishes. 

“Lumine?” Teucer asked shyly. 

“Yes?” she answered while wiping a glass cup. 

“Do you think you and Big Brother could give us another sibling?”

CRACK. The glass in Lumine’s hand shattered. 

Childe froze, then let out a nervous laugh. “Teucer...why are you asking that?”

“Well...I don’t want to be the youngest anymore. I always get babied!” he whined innocently. 

Tonia jumped up. “I want a younger sister too! I’m tired of being the only girl!”

“Yea!” Teucer jumped up with his sister. “And Anthon said that babies only come from a grown-up boy and a grown-up girl!”

Anthon put his head in his hands. “When you asked me, I didn’t think you’d ask big brother…”

“Teucer, we don’t go around asking random adults to give us siblings, right?” Childe said. 

“And, I’m not your mom, Teucer,” Lumine explained. “Even if we had a kid, it would be your niece or nephew.” 

“Oh,” Teucer said, thinking. “Well, can we have one of those?” 

Childe and Lumine looked at each other—briefly, accidentally—and quickly broke their shared gaze. Lumine turned her attention to the ceiling while Childe looked down into the sink. 

“You’re bleeding,” he said. Huh? Lumine looked down to see her ring finger had been cut from breaking the glass cup. 

“Bleeding?” Teucer and Tonia gasped. 

“Bandages! We have to find bandages!” Paimon shouted, flying out of the room. Anthon stood up, dashing out of the room as well with Teucer and Tonia following; all four were soon screaming around the house for bandages. 

Lumine held her hand up. “It’s not too bad.” She looked at the shattered glass pieces. “Sorry about the cup.”

“Don’t worry about the cup,” he said. He gently took her hand to examine the cut. “Hm. You’re right it’s not too bad.” The blood started trickling down her finger. “Ah—” 

Before she knew it, Childe had her finger in his mouth, sucking the blood away. 

“What are you doing?!” Lumine asked, panicked, lightly pulling her hand away from him. 

His hand still gripped hers. “What?”

“I—” She had a flashback to earlier. Do you want to be? 

“About earlier,” he said, his voice dropped. Lumine felt his grip tighten. 

“Did you mean it?” she interrupted. A look between the two.

“That depends on your answer.”

Down the hallway, they heard the rumble of the children’s footsteps approaching. Both Lumine and Childe grimaced slightly in annoyance; Childe’s eye twitched. Interrupted once again.

“Bandages! We have bandages!” Teucer announced, running into the room. 

“I have bandages,” Anthon corrected, coming in after him. “They all just yelled and screamed while I actually found them.” The two other children and Paimon smiled sheepishly. 

“Thank you, Anthon,” Childe said, patting him on the head. He took the bandages, and began wrapping it around Lumine’s finger. Lumine hoped the children wouldn’t question why her face was so red. 

Then, Tonia came close, and kissed her bandage. “Big brother always does that to my bandages; he says it helps!” 

Lumine smiled softly at her. “Yes, thank you, Tonia—it feels much better.” 

“Okay, well, I think it’s time for bed, everyone,” Childe said, rather quickly.

“Bedtime? But it’s so early…,” Teucer said. 

“It’s been a long day,” Childe countered. He started hurdling the children upstairs. “Bedtime!” 

“Paimon would rather fight a gang of hilichurls than look after them all the time,” Paimon said, sighing heavily. “They’re so much work!”

Lumine raised a brow. “You didn’t do anything except eat.” 

“That’s still tiring!” She yawned. “Speaking of which, that chocolate cake really made Paimon sleepy...Goodnight, Lumine!” She disappeared into her world in a blink. 

Lumine let out a small chuckle. She could always rely on Paimon to lighten her mood. She then went up the stairs to find Childe. 

She found him in Teucer’s room, saying goodnight and tucking in the youngest brother. 

“Goodnight, Lumine!” Teucer called to the doorway. Lumine waved in response. Soon, Childe came out and shut the door behind him. 

“I’d better head out and find a nearby Inn or something,” Lumine said. 

“You’re not serious, are you?” Childe asked. “You think I’d invite you to my home and not even offer you a place to stay?” 

“You’ve already done so much.”

He gestured around the large hallway. “We have plenty of room. Save yourself a trip out into the cold, and some Mora.”

Lumine bit her lip. “Okay, fine.” 

“Good,” he said, before heading into Tonia’s room. Lumine followed, watching him say his goodnights to his sister and tucking her in for the night. 

“Noo, please don’t go yet!” Tonia whined under the blankets when he started to leave. 

“Okay, okay,” Childe conceded. He turned to Lumine standing in the doorway. “Sorry, could I ask you to check on Anthon and make sure he’s getting ready for bed as well?”

Lumine nodded. She walked down the hallway and entered Anthon’s room. He was sitting up in his bed, playing with his new Lawachurl action figure. 

“Hey, Anthon,” Lumine said. “You ready for bed?”

Anthon nodded, then put his toy on his bedside table. He sat near his pillows, then looked at Lumine, waiting. 

Oh. She walked over to the side of the bed, and helped Anthon get under the blankets, then awkwardly tucked him in, remembering how Childe did to Tonia and Teucer. 

“Hey Lumine?” Anthon asked. 

“Hmm?”

“Are you and my brother going to get married?”

Lumine choked on her spit. What? “Why—why do you say that?” she asked, attempting to maintain her composure. 

He tilted his head innocently, confused. “Well he’s never brought someone home before. So that means you’re special, right?”

She thought for a second. Everything that had happened today. “I don’t know. But I am glad I got to come here, and meet you and Tonia.” She smiled at him. 

Anthon smiled back. “I’m glad I got to meet you too. I hope you stay with my brother.” 

“Me too,” she found herself saying. Staying with Childe...wouldn’t be so bad…

“Goodnight, Lumine,” Anthon said, closing his eyes. 

“Goodnight, Anthon,” she said back to him, then left his room, closing his door quietly. 

...

“You are,” Childe said behind her. 

She jumped slightly, turning. “You have to stop sneaking up on me like that.”

He chuckled. “Sorry, a habit of mine.” He locked eyes with her. “But you are. You are special.”

She swallowed the lump in her throat. “So what you asked me earlier? You meant it?”

“Did you mean what you said to Anthon? That you hope to stay with me?”

“Stop answering my questions with more questions.” 

“How about we both say our answers on the count of three?” 

“Why are you always so weird?” 

A small smile from Childe. “One.”

“...Two,” Lumine murmured. 

“Three.”

…

…

… 

“Yes,” they both said. 

A pause. A breath. 

Then, Childe grinned. “What’s this? The traveler has fallen for me?” he teased. 

Her cheeks burned. “I could say the same thing to you.” 

“Seeing you get flustered so easily...It’s hard to believe you’re the strongest person I’ve ever faced.” 

“Shut up,” Lumine said, grabbing his collar. 

He smirked. “Or what? You’ll fight me—?”

She stood up on her tip toes and kissed him. 

Then, she pulled back, and saw his eyes were wide, his face flushed. Her turn to smirk. “Hm. Nice to see you’re the one who’s flustered now.”

“Uh-oh, you’re making this into a competition,” he said. “And you know I always have to win.” He cupped her face in his hands, kissing Lumine until she was weak in the knees. 

And for the first time in forever, Lumine felt a warm happiness—true happiness—radiate from her soul. 

Yes, I want to stay with Childe.

[hermannsthumb]

As per our convo, Newt getting set up with Hermann via Hermann’s father’s binder full of pre-approved suitors for his son...

(from @k-sci-janitor 👀) easily one of our funniest concepts yet. I was going to end on newt coming over for dinner scenario but I like the ominous open ending. I'm not actually sure when kaiju attacks fall in the PR timeline so excuse my handwaveyness, LOL

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hermann’s relationship with his father is what one would call strenuous at best, but—Hermann must admit, to the man’s credit, and in spite of his many flaws—he took the news of Hermann’s sexual orientation as unflinchingly as if Hermann had told him the day’s weather. It was a bit annoying, in fact. Hermann had agonized over the proper way to breach the subject for months, certain it spoke to some sort of personal ruin (whether ostracization from the Gottliebs or being forbade following through on any attraction he may feel whilst still living under the family roof, he wasn't sure), before finally simply announcing it one day at the breakfast table on a whim.

It had been a long-standing tradition that Hermann’s parents compile a binder—effectively of dossiers—on all the most eligible bachelors (for their daughter) and bachelorettes (for their sons) to aid in the choice of the latest Gottlieb mate. It was easiest this way, or so Hermann and his siblings were told. Parental approval was already secured. The histories of each were already secured, which bypassed any nasty shocks that might emerge in the courtship stage. Most of them were children of his father's colleagues or bright minds in their own rights: surgeons, and dentists, and mathematicians. Poets were strictly forbidden.

The occasion of Hermann’s breakfast table announcement had also been the day Hermann’s father presented him with his very first binder of prospective mates—a few days after his eighteenth birthday, and shortly before he was to go off to begin work on his PhD. His father had slid him a hand-written binder of names, no more than a dozen, and all with accompanying photographs. “All are accomplished young women,” he assured Hermann. “We can arrange any meetings of your choice over your winter holidays.”

Hermann glared down at the row of frozen smiles. He stabbed his fork into his cooked tomato wedge. “I don’t want to marry any of these women,” he said, and turned his glare on his father. He still had a rebellious streak in him at that point, something nurtured by a charismatic young man he used to trail after in boarding school, who pierced Hermann’s ear with a sewing needle in the boys’ toilets and listened to songs about setting things on fire. In late this streak had manifested itself in Hermann in nicking packets of cigarettes from his father’s study, one of which was in his pocket now. The weight of it made Hermann feel bolder. “I don’t want to marry any woman,” he continued. “I like men.”

The binder was drawn away in silence, and Hermann was free to eat his toast and tomatoes. The next morning a binder of young men was in its place.

(In a way the acceptance infuriated Hermann. It meant he could not blame his father’s obvious dislike for him on an unfounded, homophobic prejudice; rather, it was a result of Hermann’s own personal failings.)

The binder was placed at Hermann’s breakfast plate every day until he left for his studies. It was placed at his plate when he returned from them five years later. Not even the emergence of the kaiju from the bottom of the ocean shortly after Hermann turned twenty-four dampened his father’s hopes, nor turning all their scientific efforts towards the new jaeger program: some names were removed from the binder (the reasoning Hermann shudders to think at), more still were added, though Hermann is expected only to consider it once a week now on account of his busy schedule. This was one of such days.

“Your brother is very happy with his wife,” Hermann’s father reminds him. “She was one of my first suggestions for him, in fact.”

Hermann is not fond of his sister-in-law. Too rude—too cold. Though perhaps that makes her perfect for Hermann’s brother. “Haven’t we got bigger things to worry about these days than whether or not I’m going to marry?” Hermann says. He adds milk to his tea. “I’m sure they’re all, er, marvelous selections, only—”

“Your sister, too, with her husband,” father says.

Hermann sighs. He hasn’t got much of the rebellious streak he used to in him anymore—too stressed. Not fancying a fight before they’ve even begun today’s coding work, he picks up the binder and begins flipping through it. Sons of engineers working on the jaeger program with them, prominent young chemists, many of whom Hermann has been presented with since he was eighteen. Plenty of them are even handsome. Half of Hermann wonders if he should just pick the least-unappealing one of the bunch and be done with it already. He turns the page over and freezes. “Oh,” he says. “This one is—new.”

“Hm?” father says.

Hermann holds up the binder, tapping at a new entry. “Newton Geiszler.”

“Dr. Geiszler,” father says, nodding. “A child prodigy from Berlin—he’s made tremendous strides in kaiju science in such little time. And,” he adds, “three PhDs. Two of them before he even turned twenty.” The unspoken implication was that Dr. Geiszler far surpassed Hermann in intelligence and Hermann should feel ashamed for not skipping as many grades as Dr. Geiszler.

Hermann feels he ought to resent Dr. Geiszler for it, but he's finding it difficult to summon up any animosity towards him. It's likely because Hermann finds Dr. Geiszler to be strikingly handsome in his photograph: cheeks which haven’t quite lost their baby fat (giving him the appearance of being a scruffy hamster), large, thick glasses, tousled hair, an easy grin. Three PhDs, and German at that. And a child prodigy? “I’m surprised you haven’t mentioned him to me before,” Hermann says. He seems precisely the sort father would. Geiszler’s photograph is black-and-white and a bit grainy, but Hermann swears he could make out the lightest bit of freckles across his cheeks.

“I’d not heard of him until he published an article last week on kaiju biology,” father says. “Besides—he’s moved to America.”

Geiszler has three piercings up the side of his left ear. “I am going to write to him,” Hermann declares.

Father nods, and picks up his newspaper, clearly already disinterested. They speak no more of it that day.

It is not hard to find Dr. Geiszler online (his name is not the most common, and his field of study certainly isn’t), nor is it hard to match his photograph to his faculty page on MIT’s website. From there, Hermann retrieves Dr. Geiszler’s email address. He takes the evening to read over Geiszler’s publications spanning back to 2003 before he gathers up the courage to type out an actual email.

Dear Dr. Geiszler,

You do not know me, but I have recently been made acquaintance with your work and find it—Hermann pauses—scintillating. My father and I are—Hermann backspaces this—I am currently working on the development of the jaeger program…

There’s a response waiting for him the next morning. It’s as enthusiastic as it is brief. Dr. Gottlieb- That’s so awesome!! Believe it or not I’ve been following your work too. I have a million questions for you about the jaegers. If it’s classified info I promise I won’t tell. -Newt

It makes Hermann smile like nothing ever has before.

Hermann’s correspondence with Dr. Geiszler does not transgress beyond the professional until the following January. By that time, Hermann and his father have successfully completed the coding for their first jaeger prototype, and Hermann has been offered his fair share of tenured university positions to pick from as he likes. He finds himself oddly disappointed that none of them are in America with Dr. Geiezler. This, which leads to the realization that he’s grown rather fond of Dr. Geiszler, is perhaps what drives Hermann to uncharacteristic sentimental extremes on January 19th: he orders Dr. Geiszler a birthday present. The first email Dr. Geiszler sends him after that addresses him as Hermann. The first email Hermann sends Dr. Geiszler after that addresses him as Newton. Things move rapidly after that.

“Are you still writing to that young biologist?” Hermann’s father asks him in March. Hermann has spent the last two months devouring every bit of information Newton has seen fit to divulge about his personal life: his dexterity with no less than three different instruments, his favorite loud monster movies, how he’d love to get a kaiju tattooed on him one day. Hermann suspects he might be falling in love with Newton. In hardly five months! These are war times, Hermann supposes, so it would make sense. People are meant to do such extreme things.

“I am,” Hermann says.

“I’ve asked around about him,” Hermann’s father says. His expression is stern—unimpressed. “About his character. I’m not sure it’s wise to continue your correspondence.”

The reasons are this. Dr. Geiszler’s methods are unorthodox. Dr. Geiszler is loud and uncouth, and has little respect for his intellectual superiors. Dr. Geiszler was thrown out of a convention once for storming up on stage and stealing a microphone from an engineer to shout about the destruction coral reefs. Dr. Geiszler was in a distasteful band for several years. Dr. Geiszler was once arrested for egging a politician’s house. Dr. Geiszler has gone on record as describing the kaiju as “kinda cool”. Almost none of this is news to Hermann; in fact, that which is only causes Hermann’s affection for Newton to grow. “I will consider your advice,” Hermann says, knowing he won’t. Besides, it's not as if his father really has Hermann's interests at heart—Hermann knows he merely wishes to preempt any scandal Newton Geiszler could possibly bring upon the Gottlieb name.

In April Newton goes on television and declares that he’s sure the kaiju are extraterrestrial in origin, on account of their great size and his brief examination of a sample from the second kaiju to make landfall. He’s laughed off by his older peers before he can get another word out. The email he writes to Hermann afterwards is furious, capslock-heavy, and expresses that Hermann is the only one who takes him seriously in the whole world. It leaves Hermann certain that he is in love with Newton.

“Dr. Geiszler was interviewed on some American television program,” Hermann’s father says a few days later.

“I know,” Hermann says, proudly. Newton was on television. “I watched it.”

“He made some extraordinary claims,” Hermann’s father says.

But Hermann is thinking only of the outfit Newton wore (skinny jeans and an oversized leather jacket, so out of place compared to the suited other scientists sitting around him), the shade of his eyes (hazel), his short stature (hardly taller than Hermann), and the cadence of his voice (high, but not unappealing). He’d been so confident, and carried himself with a self-assurance that was foreign to Hermann. It was marvelously attractive. “I’m sure they're correct,” Hermann says. "Every single one. Newton is a terribly brilliant scientist." All bold claims are met with derision at first, are they not?

Newton’s theory is proven correct after the next kaiju attack, when experts other than him get their hands on kaiju samples and validate his claims. The general consensus after that is that the kaiju are not of this world. And Newton was the first to propose the theory! Hermann sends Newton an email full of congratulations, and Newton responds with a heart emoticon in his sign-off. Newton isn't just a brilliant scientist. “Newton is a genius,” Hermann tells his father, dreamily.

The binder reappears on Hermann’s work desk a few months later, Newton’s page torn conspicuously from it. Hermann tips the whole thing straight into his trash can. He has more important things to worry about—arranging a meeting with Newton, perhaps. Hermann ought to have him over for dinner.

[cutesy-pink]

Photographic Memories

(i.e me giving out an excuse to show you what they look like)

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

Yuu Ai (Xiangling!MC)

It was a hot day outside and Yuu thought it would be a good idea to gather some ingredients. Fortunately (or not), your last class for today was finished. "Yo, (Y/N)! Wanna grab some ingredients with me? I'll cook your favorite dish in return!" Yuu said enthusiastically. You look around, pretending to think.

"Hmm.. I'm not too sure, Yuu. It seems pretty hot today.." Yuu pouts, crossing their arms. "C'mon! Please?" You chuckle and pat their head. "Sure, why not." They beam at you.

"Thank you so so much!" They cry before engulfing you in a hug. You pat their back. "Anytime, Yuu."

-+-+-+-+-

You sit down at the grass Yuu pulls out their polearm. A few agonized screams later they bring some slimes with them. "Today's special shall be.. hm.." They look around for a few minutes, tapping their foot for a while. "Aha! I know!" They say as they set the poor slimes on the table before grabbing a knife.

A sinister smile shadows over their face as soon as they face you. "How would you like to try some slime parfait?" You pull out your camera.

"Sure, but smile for the camera first."

"Okay!"

-+-+-+-+-

To this day, you still felt a little sorry for the slimes, but they taste too good.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

Yuulius Ark (Dragon!MC)

It was a chilly afternoon, you decided to go to the library to read a few books to pass the time. As you walk your way towards the library, you see Yuulis sitting under a tree, reading a book as piles of other books surround them.

You sneak behind them before tapping their shoulder. They flinch before turning around and see you looking back at them. You smile mischievously. "Hello, Yuulis-senpai!" You say as you move a pile of books to sit next to them. You lean your head on their shoulder slightly.

"What are you reading?" Their eyes light up as they began to passionately explain the book. "It's about the daughter of a marine biologist who ends going to prison because she was framed! She meet several people who become her ally in the next chapters. I remember feeling so shocked when I saw the father! He was the same person as the main character in another book! Not to mention, how sad the ending was it felt so surreal when I-" They stop when they heard you giggle.

"What is it, (Y/N)?" You chuckle before waving your hand. "It's nothing, really, you just look so cute when you talk about something you love." They cough, a pink tint decorating their face. "A-ah, I see.." They stutter.

"I even got it on camera!"

"Oh my, a mischievous little thing, aren't you?"

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

Yulia Ocean (Con-Artist!MC)

You let out a low whistle as you see Yumiya running down at the halls. "What'd they do this time?" You ask amusingly. "Just a lil' party trick, like the usual~" You would've screamed if it weren't for the hand on your mouth.

You rip their hand away from their hand and hit them on the head. "Ow! What was that for?!" They cry out in pain, clutching their head. "Well, my dearest Yumiya.." You coo with venom laced in your tone.

"It's not really polite to treat someone as if they're a hostage, you know~" You sigh as Yumiya tries to reason with you. "I mean, I will get found out very soon if you were to scream, so.." They laugh awkwardly as you massage your temples for the incoming headache.

A crash was heard a few miles away.

"Uh oh~" They giggle. "It seems as though I've been found~!" You chuckle. "50 madol you get stopped at the cafeteria." They pout, but smile smugly after. "50 madol I won't!" You let out a sigh, but cover your mouth to hide the smile.

"Yeah, yeah, now smile for the camera. The newspaper club said they needed fresh pics for the new headline."

"Oh dear~! I seem to have gotten quite famous~!"

"Oh shut it, now 3, 2, 1.."

"Ehe~!"

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

Ayumi Trese (Trese!MC)

It was early in the morning when you decided to stop by Ramshackle. As you open the door, you're greeted by Ayumi sitting on the couch with a mug on their hand.

"Oh, hello there, (Y/N)." They yawn, stretching their legs for a little. You laugh. "Just woke up, I'm guessing?" You mused leaning on the doorway and crossing your arms.

"I.. guess you can say that.." They sip from the mug. You got out your phone quietly and took a picture.

-CLICK!-

Too bad you forgot that the sound was on.

Ayumi slowly turns their head towards you. You back away slowly and shut the door right before sprinting.

Good thing you managed to take a picture

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

(OKAY I'M FINALLY DONE, WOOH, THAT WAS EXHAUSTING BUT WORTH ALL THAT EFFORT ＼(^o^)／ but sadly tumblr won't let me cut the post so I'm so sorry-)

[solartranslations]

VF Profile

Liberta

Introduction (Introduce yourself): My name is Liberta. I’m 18, and I like the sea and swords!

Affiliation (What role do you have in the organization?): I’m in Intelligence, so if you want to know something, ask me!

Talents (What are you good at?): You mean like how I can move easily on ships too? Ah no, there’s more!

Arcana (Use your Arcana Powers): It’s alright. I can do it. Make it happen! Pensiero Realizzare!

Ultimate Technique: Burn….! With this power, I’ll take the future…and light it up with hope! Fiamma di Meteora!

Comment (A few words to the heroine): If you ever need help ask me, er, I mean the people around you. That’s important. I’m always happy to help you

ED Bonus 1 (Birthday celebration): This is like a dream. I can’t believe you’d celebrate my birthday. I get to celebrate my most special day with the person who’s the most special to me. I’ll never forget it. I’ll make sure your birthday is something special that you won’t forget either, so look forward to it!

2 (Good night): If you can’t sleep, I know a special spell that’ll help. You’re getting sleepy~, very sleepy~… Oh, it’s not working? Then…*kiss*…… Uh, g-goodnight Ojou! See you tomorrow!

3 (Good morning): It’s morning, Ojou. Haha, you still look sleepy. Ah, you have a bedhead. I’ll fix it, so face this way. Let’s see…hm, alright! Perfect! I mean it! …It’s cute, isn’t it?

Special 1 (Your nicknames): Nicknames? Well first there’s Hero Liberta, right? Hero Liberta and…well the rest are Chick Head, Foolerta, Ocean Idiot…aggh! I’ll never accept those!

2 (Favorite women’s hairstyle): Huh!? My favorite women’s hairstyle? W-well, whatever’s fine if it looks good on her. Y-yours really suits you, Ojou… Your long hair is nice…and it smells good… Uwah!! A nosebleed!?

3 (Favorite word): Speranza! It’s such a nice word. Hehe, it means hope after all! If you have hope you can keep trying and never give up! I’m going towards the future with Speranza! You’ll be with me then too, right Ojou?

4 (First impression of the heroine): I think I was around 12 when I first met you, Ojou. I was so nervous back then. I don’t think I talked at all the whole day. It feels strange that it’s so natural that you’re beside me now

5 (Looking back on the incident): After going back to normal, that incident almost feels like a dream. But I know you and me both have memories from the ghost ship. I’ll ask Ash to let us on the ship sometime. Then we can remember all that happened together

Free talk (Liberta’s CV, Jun Fukuyama): Arcana Famiglia Special Episode: Vascello Fantasma no Majutsushi. Hi, I’m Jun Fukuyama and I played Liberta. Thank you and congratulations for clearing it! So, how was it? Oh, yeah! No no no, really? Wow, seriously. Liberta really, ahhhh. I’ll tell you now, but I wasn’t prepared at all. Well anyway, it’s great that I’m able to talk to you, or for you to listen to me again like this. I was in the main Arcana Famiglia game that came out October 27th 2011. And then right after that, the special episode, Vascello Fantasma no Majutsushi. Vascello Fantasma no Majutsushi. Vascello Fantasma no Majutsushi. Wow, it was so fast. And I was so excited! Anyway, I’m always super sweaty and going to the cooler when we’re recording. Well, summer started when we were recording. And now it’s winter. It’s been that long. Er, not summer, I mean autumn. Well anyway, in this special episode a character named Ash gets involved with Arcana Famiglia. We have a new friend in the Family now, and I think that’s great. So I sure hope you keep playing and spend time with all the characters in the Family. I think that’d be great. And also it’d be nice if you could all find a family like this one. I’m sure there’s one out there for you. Bye!

Nova

Introduction (Introduce yourself): My name is Nova. Is that all you wanted to ask?

Affiliation (What role do you have in the organization?): As the Executive of the Chalices, I’m in charge of the mansion’s security and patrolling the town. They are not just walks

Talents (What are you good at?): I’ll say one thing. Following the rules is not a talent, it should be a given

Arcana (Use your Arcana Powers): Sleep. La Tenebrore Addormentato!

Ultimate Technique: Heavenly wind, grant power to my blade! Fuuka Renyu!

Comment (A few words to the heroine): Don’t forget. Now that you’ve joined the Family, you have to work hard. Learn from me. It’ll help you

ED Bonus 1 (Birthday celebration): When my birthday comes around, I look back on the past year, reflect, and set new goals for myself. I know what it’ll be for this year. I want to be able to express my feelings better. First of all, thank you for celebrating my birthday. It made me happy

2 (Good night): You can’t sleep? Then, would you like to talk? You might start to get sleepy that way. There’s no need to thank me. I couldn’t sleep either. We can make some sweet café and talk in the dining room. Tell me anything you want

3 (Good morning): It’s rare for you to come to the garden this early in the morning. It was raining hard yesterday, so were you worried about the roses? They’re fine, and blooming nicely. The morning sun reflecting off the dewdrops on their leaves looks beautiful. I’m glad I could see this scene with you

Special 1 (Your nicknames): Listen to this. It turns out I’ve gotten even more nicknames. It’s Soybean now, but why is it always beans and peas! I’ve been called a little kid, “shrimp”, “chickpea”…I’m…I’m…not that short!

2 (Favorite women’s hairstyle): I think anything’s alright as long as it’s appropriate for the occasion. I do think yours looks hard to take care of since it’s so long. But, it’s not bad. I like the way it looks on you

3 (Favorite word): I like the phrase “make good on your word”. It’s a saying from Giappone that means you should always do what you say you will. I think promises are important. Especially the one I made with you

4 (First impression of the heroine): The day we first met… I could never forget that. I remember being nervous about meeting my fiancée, but I really didn’t need to be. We were able to talk naturally somehow. That might have been thanks to your personality

5 (Looking back on the incident): There haven’t been any big incidents at the harbor or surrounding seas since then. Except Regalo now being home to Ash’s ghost ship, anyway. What happened on that ship caused me to change, so I don’t think I’ll ever forget it

Free talk (Nova’s CV, Tsubasa Yonaga): Well, were you able to find happiness with me? …Anyway, hi! I’m Tsubasa Yonaga and I played Nova! Congratulations to all of you for clearing the game this far! Um well, so I got to play Nova-kun again, how was it? In comparison to the first Arcana Famiglia, Nova’s love level? Love level? Affection level? I guess it would be affection level for Nova. I think it was way higher now. What did you think? While I was playing him, I thought he’d gotten way, way cuter! I-I might think of him like my son now, haha. Well, Nova-kun’s 15 after all. 15 year olds get all embarrassed like this when talking with the person they like, and you got to see a lot of that with this special episode of Arcana Famiglia. He’s still lacking a bit, but I really hope that you all stick around and watch how Nova keeps on growing! Haha, into a really cute kid. He’s only 15, so he’s got a lot to learn! I personally would want to teach Nova a lot of things if he was real. So don’t think badly of him, ok? He’s not a bad guy. He’s just not that honest. It’ll be fine, he’ll be able to express himself even better from now on. I promise! Hahaha. That’s what he said to all of you who played his route, so look forward to it! And keep supporting Arcana Famiglia from now on too! Let’s meet again somewhere. Take care!

Debito

Introduction (Introduce yourself): Nice to meet you, Bambina. I’m Debito. You can remember that, right?

Affiliation (What role do you have in the organization?): I let my subordinates do most of my work with the Coins. But, I do what I have to

Talents (What are you good at?): I can tell if someone’s cheating. It’s boring to win like that anyway

Arcana (Use your Arcana Powers): See if you can spot me. Tra Coppo Scomparire…!

Ultimate Technique: Freeze…freeze everyone over! Odio Freddo!

Comment (A few words to the heroine): If you want to learn about a proper Regalo greeting, come see me. I’ll make sure teach you everything I know

ED Bonus 1 (Birthday celebration): Having you celebrate my birthday isn’t so bad. It makes for a rare and valuable experience. Or maybe not. You’ll be celebrating it every year, right? Then this happiness will always last

2 (Good night): What good timing. I was going to come see you before I went to sleep. They say the person you think about a lot will appear in your dreams. But that’s just a superstition. I prefer the real thing to a dream though

3 (Good morning): You’re going out early today? Me? That’s obvious, I’m taking a siesta. Hm, why’d you grab my arm? You’re quite enthusiastic today. Haha, alright. I’ll go along with the whims of our young lady for today. Let’s go, Bambina

Special 1 (Your nicknames): Nicknames, huh…well putting being called an “eroticist” and “obscene” aside, I don’t mind “Orion of Regalo”. Why don’t you try calling me that in that cute voice of yours, Bambina?

2 (Favorite women’s hairstyle): Hairstyles…are you saying you’ll do yours in a way I like? Then maybe try taking off your ribbons when we’re alone. I like seeing you look more grown up than usual

3 (Favorite word): My favorite word is siesta. There’s nothing else. So I’m going to my special place for a siesta right now. Oh, you want to come too? You’re always welcome, Bambina

4 (First impression of the heroine): I could never forget when we first met, Bambina. Luca just wouldn’t stop talking about what a cute little creature his Ojou-sama was. He wasn’t lying though. You’ve charmed me ever since

5 (Looking back on the incident): We’re finally back home. Ugh, I’m so tired. It’s weird though, it never really felt like home before. But I guess it’s because you’re here. Ha, you really are a fine woman, Bambina

Free talk (Debito’s CV, Hiroyuki Yoshino): Hello, it’s been a while. This is Hiroyuki Yoshino from Sigma Seven and I voiced Debito. So anyway, this is the special episode for Arcana Famiglia, but I guess you can just call it the second one? I think everyone who played the first one understood exactly what was going on, but if you just started with this one uh…yeah, you should probably go back to the first one… I don’t think it’s a good idea to go in blind here. Yeah? Anyway, this is set in an Italian-like…or I guess it is Italy? Well an island on Earth somewhere. I think that’s what it is. But all the characters, the members of this Family are here for the player, you, that’s right, you, to enjoy! So how was it? I hope you enjoyed it. Okay, bye-bye! What was that…

Pace

Introduction (Introduce yourself): There’s no restaurant on this island that doesn’t know the name, Pace!

Affiliation (What role do you have in the organization?): I’m the Executive of the Clubs and the Deputy Chief Executive. Basically I’m really important, trust me!

Talents (What are you good at?): Eating a lot is…just normal for me. Uh, what else?

Arcana (Use your Arcana Powers): I’ll entrust everything to my fists. Porci Tutto Trapassare!!

Ultimate Technique: The earth gives rise to strength…a power that dominates everything…! Mamma Mia!

Comment (A few words to the heroine): Ojou, look at all the plates on the table! Of course I saved some for you! Let’s eat together

ED Bonus 1 (Birthday celebration): My birthday present was a giant lasagna! Everyone really gets me~. Ojou, there’s actually one other present I’d like, is that okay? Can you come closer… Hehe, you’re mine, Ojou~

2 (Good night): I got to see you before I went to sleep, I’m so lucky! I tried making a wish to the moon earlier that I could see you. Then I ran into you, Ojou! So can you stay with me a little longer?

3 (Good morning): I think I’ll have a freshly baked lasagna for breakfast~. Hehe, I get so excited just thinking about food. Huh, you don’t? I feel the most happy when I’m eating meals with you

Special 1 (Your nicknames): Debito called me an idiot again! I’m not that much of an idiot. Luca also says my glasses are wasted on me, isn’t that awful!? My glasses are useful! They let me see how cute you are, Ojou!

2 (Favorite women’s hairstyle): I think I like scents more than hairstyles. Your hair always smells so sweet when I hug you, Ojou. I guess that’s something unique to you

3 (Favorite word): Lasagna! I get motivated when I yell “lasagna”. I guess that’s because it’s my favorite, and it reminds me of my mother. Ah, but I like calling out “Ojou” too! Ojou~! Haha, I’m so happy!

4 (First impression of the heroine): When I first met you? Of course I remember! You were so cute. I just wanted to touch your face so bad. …Ah, I did didn’t I? O-Ojou~!? Please don’t kick me!

5 (Looking back on the incident): I still can’t believe we were actually on a ghost ship. But I still have the injuries I got as proof that I protected you from the tiger and skeletons. You even treated them for me, and I got to see my mother. They were good memories

Free talk (Pace’s CV, Tomokazu Sugita): Lasagna. I’m Tomokazu Sugita and I played Pace. I did all my recording in the morning this time, so I would become this cheerful Italian idiot first thing in the morning. It was hard. But it was worth it. I think it’d be nice to have someone so happy and positive like him around, especially when he’s eating lasagna. So I think people like Pace are important. He’s also good friends with Debito and Luca-kun, and the balance between the three of them is really interesting. Besides their romantic feelings for Ojou-sama, I really felt like they also valued their bond with each other. But it really was hard. The producer was all like “and for this part you have to blah blah blah” and I was like ahhh this is so hard. And when I looked at the script it was all “ahh!” and “waaah!” and “gyaaah!” and “lasagna!!” so I had a hard time making them all sound unique. I tried really hard. But I wonder if you all could tell…this is the clear bonus now, right? How was it? There’s only one answer…I’m hungry! I’m going to have ravioli tonight and pretend it’s lasagna.

Luca

Introduction (Introduce yourself): It’s me, Luca. Did you call for me, Ojou-sama?

Affiliation (What role do you have in the organization?): I’ve been serving as your attendant for the past 13 years, Ojou-sama. And I still am!

Talents (What are you good at?): I like sewing and I’m good at it, but… I’ll answer alchemy here!

Arcana (Use your Arcana Powers): Fire, water, earth, sky, I seek the harmony of light in all elements… L’Armonia della Luce!!

Ultimate Technique: Light calls for happiness, and exists together with the people…! Quattro Felicita!

Comment (A few words to the heroine): Whether isn’t about your morning schedule or today’s dolce, you can ask me anything!

ED Bonus 1 (Birthday celebration): My birthday this year feels special. It’s my first one since we became a couple! Ojou-sama…can I ask something from you? Please spend all day tomorrow with me. I want time alone together to be my present

2 (Good night): *laugh* You look sleepy. You can go back to your room early. You’ll wait for me? Alright, thank you. I’ll make some tea so you’ll have a good dream as thanks

3 (Good morning): I’m happy being able to see your cute sleeping face like this but… Ojou-sama! It’s time to wake up! I’m making breakfast today! If you don’t hurry up, a certain glutton is going to eat it all!

Special 1 (Your nicknames): Ojou-sama, you don’t think I’m a “stalker attendant”, do you? Ah, no! It’s completely untrue! But everyone keeps calling me that. Even Ash underestimates me. Huh, what does Ash call me? …Oh… “useless hat guy”…

2 (Favorite women’s hairstyle): I think straight long hair is the best! It looks great on you, Ojou-sama! It’s part of my job…but I wish I could always brush your hair

3 (Favorite word): My favorite word would be…hmm. “Cooking is alchemy”, I think! Using things that go well together is what brings good results. Maybe it’s because I like both cooking and alchemy

4 (First impression of the heroine): You’ve always been as cute as a doll, Ojou-sama. I can’t believe I didn’t notice it back then. Huh? …Why are you giving me that fed up look? Ah, wait, don’t go, Ojou-samaaaa!!

5 (Looking back on the incident): We’ve finally returned to Regalo, but I’m still sore all over. But I’m proud of it because it shows I was able to protect you. I promise I’ll protect you if something like this happens again. So you can count on me

Free talk (Luca’s CV, Yuichi Nakamura): To everyone who cleared Luca’s route, hello. I’m Yuichi Nakamura, his voice actor. I’ll be taking up about 30 minutes of your time with this free talk section. I won’t actually talk that long. So what should I talk about? Um let’s see…my impressions while playing him? Um it was just Arcana Famiglia as usual, I think I talked about that already. My feelings about the Arcana Famiglia series, uh I think I talked about that too. You can listen to that if you clear the first one, so please do that. Uh, I’ll get yelled at if I end it here…but what should I say… This one is the special episode? Story? It sort of continues from the first one but not really. It’s kind of like a story within the first one but a different setting? Well it did feel like the romantic-ness has really gone up from the first one. Since it’s after they’d already gotten together and…are thinking of marriage maybe? It’s something in that direction. There were some scenes like that. That…kind of hard, huh? Well, being with someone does make some things easier, but this is a game, so you can’t really do that. But all of you who play are in the place of the heroine, in the context of the story. Anyway, this fandisk was made through the hard work of not only me, but a whole bunch of other people. Maybe you’ll realize some new things if you play it again? I’d be happy if you all enjoyed it. Anyway I hope we can meet again somewhere…er, it’ll be in Arcana Famiglia I guess. Oh right! We have drama cds! I’ll look forward to seeing you all again with those. This was Yuichi Nakamura, bye!

Dante

Introduction (Introduce yourself): My name is Dante. And my trademark is just as you can see!

Affiliation (What role do you have in the organization?): Leading the executives and Intelligence Division is my job as the Chief Executive

Talents (What are you good at?): I have the best sense of humor on the island! I don’t know if that’s why, but a lot of people look up to me

Arcana (Use your Arcana Powers): You will obey me. Atlantico Vortici!!

Ultimate Technique: Let all be swallowed by the storm, and return to nothing… Dare un Ordine!

Comment (A few words to the heroine): I become very aware of my age when I’m with you, but the happiness I feel is much greater

ED Bonus 1 (Birthday celebration): Thank you, Ojou-san, for celebrating my birthday again this year. The party Intelligence throws me has gotten even bigger than last year too. Ojou-san, will you celebrate with me next year too? Ahaha, that smile makes me excited

2 (Good night): Good work today, Ojou-san. Everyone at Intelligence was very impressed with you as well. It’s a waste for you to be the Executive of the Swords. They all wish you could be the madonna of Intelligence, and I’m starting to feel the same. Then I could spend more time with you

3 (Good morning): Ojou-san, it’s rare for you to come to the harbor this early. How about some breakfast at the ristorante over there? I’m asking you on a date. Ahaha, I’m feeling nervous now. Let’s go then, Ojou-san

Special 1 (Your nicknames): I don’t mind being called an old man, but I’d rather not be called an old baldy. It’s gotten better now that Ash understands, but it’s embarrassing to be called “Strawberry Head’s Amore” while in town… not that I don’t like it

2 (Favorite women’s hairstyle): Women’s hairstyles? Well…whatever suits her is fine by me. I was always picky about my hair before, but how I am now isn’t bad, right? Your twintails really do suit you, Ojou-san. I’m happy how that’s never changed about you

3 (Favorite word): I often tell Liberta, but mine is “perseverance”. You can’t accomplish everything right away. The hard work and practice you do every day is important. Well, Vascello Fantasma also taught us that we also shouldn’t endure too much

4 (First impression of the heroine): When we first met, I thought you were a very lovely young lady. I always thought you would grow into a beauty that resembled Sumire. Well, my prediction was correct, wasn’t it? Hahaha. There’s no need to be modest. Anyone would call you a Regalo beauty

5 (Looking back on the incident): The ghost ship incident has finally settled down. I’m just glad we made it back to Regalo safely. To me, this incident was just full of surprises and discoveries. Ojou-san, I’m sorry for making you wait. I will be sure to convey my feelings to you as a man from now on

Free talk (Dante’s CV, Jurota Kosugi): I’m Jurota Kosugi, and I played Dante. This is the special episode following the main Arcana Famiglia game that came out fall of 2011. How was it, everyone? So thinking back on the recording, it was a little more serious than the main game. And I feel like this special episode had more romantic parts too. Plus of course, Dante’s sillyness in this game is just as usual. Anyway there were plenty of exciting parts as well, so I’m confident that this special episode was something you all enjoyed. I’d be really happy if you all had fun with the main game and this special episode as well. That’s right, all of you who played this game are already a part of our Famglia. Let’s always stay together! Okay then, yay for Arcana Famiglia! Dante-ne!

Jolly

Introduction (Introduce yourself): They call me Jolly

Affiliation (What role do you have in the organization?): I’m the Family’s advisor, but I don’t get many consultations for some reason. Hmph

Talents (What are you good at?): My talents? If you’d like to know, then come to my laboratory

Arcana (Use your Arcana Powers): I’ll make you go mad. Luna Pienna Sonno!

Ultimate Technique: Sink, into the inky darkness. Tenebra mundus

Comment (A few words to the heroine): There are many rumors about me. You should just trust the version of me that you see

ED Bonus 1 (Birthday celebration): When your appearance doesn’t change, you don’t really feel like you’re getting older as time goes on. But I do treasure the once a year occasion where you celebrate my birthday. Today is my day. So, what will I receive from you, Ojou-sama?

2 (Good night): If you can’t sleep, you can come see me. I don’t mind making you some of the usual herb tea. We can also make conversation until you feel sleepy. What? It’s just because I feel like it

3 (Good morning): You’re here to see me this early in the morning? What a turn of events. I was just about to have a light breakfast. Would you like to join me? Come sit next to me. This is a seat just for you

Special 1 (Your nicknames): Nicknames? You mean like “that Marchen guy” and “senile alchemist”? Being called many names is a good thing. It means you’ve made an impression. I don’t even mind being called odd. *chuckle* I’m actually quite proud of it

2 (Favorite women’s hairstyle): I have no particular preferences about women’s hairstyles. Actually, I prefer when it is tied up. Hair hides one’s skeletal structure when it’s let down. *chuckle*

3 (Favorite word): The words I like are “alchemy” and “results”. Alchemy often results in failures, but you can’t let that be the end of it. You must continue your research until you get results. That’s what I do as I strive for perfection

4 (First impression of the heroine): My first impression of you? Well, what did I first think of you? Oh, there’s one thing I remember. You were looking up at me with wide eyes and red cheeks back then as well. Hmph, you look so dissatisfied even though I answered honestly. What a difficult Ojou-sama you are

5 (Looking back on the incident): It’s hard to believe, but you did save me during the incident. We actually both acted in order to protect each other. It was quite a lot of trouble, but things like this aren’t bad once in a while

Free talk (Jolly’s CV, Koji Yusa): *chuckle* Did you enjoy Arcana Famiglia: Vascello Fantasma no Majutsushi? … Hello! I’m Koji Yusa and I played Jolly. Did you have fun? This was a special episode, so it was uh how do you put it? I think there were a lot of scenes where you were alone together. What did you think? Hm? Did you think of something bad? How improper of you, Ojou-sama… Uh, anyway. I think the routes for the other characters are enjoyable in their own way too, but for Jolly there’s a lot of scenes where they’re alone together in the dark cabins of the ship which I think were really the highlight. And at the beginning there was a bit where Jolly used “ore” for himself and I really made sure that part stood out. Well, I’m looking forward to where Arcana Famiglia goes from now on. I hope I get to hear more of your thoughts since there’s going to be much more to come! This was Koji Yusa and I’m looking forward to playing Jolly some more!

Ash

Introduction (Introduce yourself): I’m Ash. The alchemist who inherited the power of Vir Ingeniosus

Affiliation (What role do you have in the organization?): I don’t remember joining Arcana Famiglia!

Talents (What are you good at?): Being alone. I’m a proud alchemist after all

Arcana (Use your Arcana Powers): Da Mero, Trasformarsi in…!

Ultimate Technique: I’ll unleash the power of the great Vir Ingeniosus. Miracolo di Nascita!

Comment (A few words to the heroine): You mean about how you’re hair’s like a strawberry? Apples are red too, but a strawberry is more accurate for you

ED Bonus 1 (Birthday celebration): It’s been a while since someone made a cake for me. Nobody was around who wanted to celebrate my birthday after my dad died. The cake you made was delicious. Thanks Strawberry Head

2 (Good night): You’re alone out here? You can talk to me if you can’t sleep. And tell me more about this mansion. Like about your overprotective dad and clingy attendant. There’s no reason, I just want to know more about you

3 (Good morning): An apple pie? For me? Alright, let’s eat it together. And do you want to go somewhere afterwards? It’s an equivalent exchange for the pie. Got anything you want?

Special 1 (Your nicknames): I like thinking of names for people, but I don’t like being called them. Like “Tarocco thief”, or “imposter guy”. I don’t like those. So, what do you want to call me? I don’t mind if it’s coming from you

2 (Favorite women’s hairstyle): Your hair? I don’t know, I’m not an expert on women’s hairstyles. Just do it however you like. I do like your strawberry colored hair though

3 (Favorite word): My favorite word? Just “equivalent exchange”, I guess. If you want to ask me something, you have to give me something in exchange. I’ll answer you for free though

4 (First impression of the heroine): My impression of you? I thought you were stubborn, reckless, and never thought things through. Also that you were a good person. You trusted me even though I was your enemy and even saved me. It’s nice. I like your personality

5 (Looking back on the incident): If I never went to that mansion to take back the Tarocco, I’d never have met you. I’m with Arcana Famiglia now, right? It’s kind of odd. But, it also feels right that I met you

Free talk (Ash’s CV, Nobuhiko Okamoto): Hello, I’m Nobuhiko Okamoto and I played Ash. Well then, first I’d like to say thank you. Ash is a new character that was added in this game, and I’m sure all of you who’ve went through the routes of the other characters know this but, Ash has the role of the one takes the heroine away from home. And Ash also sees the relationships between the heroine and the other characters too. So what was the hardest thing about playing Ash? It was hard watching everyone else being lovey-dovey with each other. Yup. So thanks to you all, er I mean you, you! For playing Ash’s route. I’m glad you did. I think he has a lot of cute parts to him too, but I’m sure you all know that already. Anyway I hope to see you again soon! I love Ash! Thank you!

Mondo

1 (Use your Arcana Powers): The world has been completed. Spaziale Partecipe!*

2 (Ultimate Technique): Everything is within my hands. Giuradio Finalizzare!*

3 (Comment): I heard about what happened on the ghost ship, Vascello Fantasma. But you can’t get on such a dangerous ship, my beloved daughter! If you must then take me as well!

Free talk (Mondo’s CV, Fumihiko Tachiki): I’m Fumihiko Tachiki and I played Mondo. Good job! You’re done now, right? But this might be just the beginning. Of what? I don’t know either. Well I’m glad you enjoyed being in my arms, wait that’s not right. You’ve all had fun playing with a bunch of different characters, er I mean you, you have. So since I played Mondo, um how was it? How was the ghost ship? My role was pretty much just the judgment and trial parts this time, how was it? Maybe you didn’t notice me that much. That’s not true, right? I’m Mondo, you know. I look forward to seeing you as Mondo again sometime. Anyway, see you!

*Had an Italian speaker who also knows Japanese check and these two don't actually make sense. The first one may be something like "space participation". For the second, I guessed on "Final Oath" previously, but he says it may have been intended to be "Gladio Finale" or "Final Sword".

Sumire

1 (Use your Arcana Powers): Behold, you are within my cradle. Culla Protezione! (TN: Cradle protection)

2 (Ultimate Technique): Even a grain of sand can become a mighty boulder. Nehan Jyakujo! (TN: Enlightenment leads to serenity)

3 (Comment): I know of a ghost that sinks ships by filling them with water. I heard they do that to increase their numbers, but I wonder what the purpose of Vascello Fantasma is?

Free talk (Sumire’s CV, Kikuko Inoue): I’m Kikuko Inoue, 17 years old, and I played Sumire. Mhm, yup, yup! Anyway thank you all again for playing this game. How was the special episode? While we were recording, I just really enjoyed the world that this game is set in. It’s really complicated and interesting, I feel like the world keeps getting bigger the more we learn. Yeah, it’s great! I love Arcana Famiglia! I’m looking forward to seeing more! Thank you!

Joshua

1 (Use your Arcana Powers): Aaaaaahh!

2 (Ultimate Technique): Find your way to despair…Un Labirinto Atmosferico

3 (Comment): Bow down to the scales of justice…Chiedo alla Giustizia

Free talk (Joshua’s CV, Yuji Ueda): Um I’m Yuji Ueda and I played Joshua. When I received the script there was a whole lot, so I was really excited for it. Uhh, but I disappear at the end of the scenario, or rather I went to the afterlife, so I guess you won’t be seeing me anymore…Bye

~*End of Scene*~

(Back to Directory)

[possiamo-andare]

Invisible String: JJ Maybank

JJ x OC

MASTERLIST

word count: 9.9k

summary: based off the lyrics from Taylor Swift’s song “Invisible String”, this story follows an original character named Charlotte “Charlie” Summers, a hopeless romantic who unfortunately falls in love with JJ Maybank. At first, he wants nothing to do with her but after one night, he realizes that maybe he was wrong about love after all. 

a/n: I was writing this while I wasn’t feeling myself and because of that, it’s not like my usual stories. The ending is hopeful but open ended and it’s very angsty. I know some people don’t like Taylor Swift but this song off her new album is seriously so amazing. Try to be open minded while you listen to the album and I promise it won’t disappoint. have fun reading :)

~ 

Green was the color of the grass

Where I used to read at Centennial Park

I used to think I would meet somebody there

She had enjoyed sitting in parks and reading the Feminine Mystique while the only time he sat to read was when he was in school, if he ever showed. She was a hopeless romantic, pining and obsessing after every long haired, rebel without a cause she saw. There was a new boy every week. Not that she ever dated them. No, she only watched them from afar, wondering what shampoo they used or how their eyes would crinkle when they laughed. There was something beautifully innocent about these attractions and so, for a very long time, she just sat on the same park bench from afar and watched a number of beautiful people pass her; they were completely oblivious to the fact a girl was admiring them only a few feet away.

He was the polar opposite. It was not that he didn’t believe in love because he loved his friends but JJ never wanted anyone to love him. And, unlike many teenagers, he was okay with not being loved. Love was for the weak, for people who needed validation from others. He needed none of that. If a girl ever liked him, he would use and lose them quickly, making sure they hated him by the end of it. Love weakened him and he didn’t have the time to be weak when everyone around him expected him to be strong.

Teal was the color of your shirt

When you were sixteen at the yogurt shop

You used to work at to make a little money

She had asked him when they first met if he liked the colour teal. Random yes, but it wasn’t a meaningless question. Men associated teal with feminine activities, such as braiding hair and dressing dolls and any man who recoiled at that answer meant that they would not be compatible. When he didn’t recoil and instead vigorously nodded his head, she knew he was the one. JJ thought of how the waves felt between his fingers and his mother’s eyes when he thought of teal. Subsequently, the colour teal would rear its head in their relationship many times. For it was the colour of his favourite shirt and the colour of the ocean where they met.

His answer, although enthusiastic, was about the only interesting thing he thought she had said. When JJ first met her, there was no undeniable pull. Unlike her, he just saw a plain girl. Pretty, yes, but plain. She was the type of girl he could learn to love in time, but he was not interested in waiting a few months to feel something for her. Instead, he wanted carnal and immediate affection. He wanted to feel the pull instantly. Realistically, the relationship with instant attraction lasted only a few weeks until it wore off but JJ was not looking for a realistic love. Not at first anyways.

Time, curious time

Gave me no compasses, gave me no signs

Were there clues I didn’t see?

He wondered, later on, if his instant distaste for her was the reason the universe made them stumble in and out of each other’s lives for so long. He thought it was the universe trying to teach him a lesson. The lesson being a person that you think is insignificant, could actually turn out to be the most important person in your life.

They saw each other for the second time at his job. To try and get some extra money, JJ decided to get a job. Unfortunately the only job he seemed he could find was one at an ice cream parlor. It was embarrassing for him but he had to wear a teal shirt (his favourite colour), so he swallowed his pride and started at Figure 8’s only ice cream parlor. Unfortunately for him, JJ hated Kooks. This hate only grew when every customer he served was a Kook. They were all obnoxious and rude, two qualities he suspected they would have. But he bit his tongue and served even the people with the worst attitudes. Two weeks after she and JJ met at the beach, she entered the same ice cream parlor with her friends. Sarah Cameron, along with her boyfriend Topper and her brother Rafe, were all too preoccupied with their difficult decision on what to order to notice that their friend was acting oddly.

Oddly would be an understatement. She was mortified. Not only was her hair matted because she was surfing all day, but she was also wearing no makeup. These two things, along with the fact she was completely caught off guard that JJ was an employee at this parlor made her disastrously nervous. As they waited in line, she asked Sarah for her mirror.

“Mirror? Why the hell do you need a mirror?” Sarah questioned, a confused look written over her face. When her friends didn’t answer (or was too embarrassed to do so), she followed her eye line to the blonde boy who was scooping ice cream. “JJ? Really Charlie?”

Charlie frowned, her face hot. “He’s nice.” She said this so casually, it almost seemed as if she had known JJ her entire life.

But Sarah, although spending a limited amount of time with JJ, knew more about him than Charlie did. “No, he’s not.”

“Who’s nice?” Rafe butted in, only hearing Sarah’s last words to Charlie and trying to catch up on the conversation he missed.

“No one!” Charlie rushed, glancing at Sarah for her to play along.

The last thing Charlie wanted was for Rafe or Topper to know about her crush on JJ. Although she hung out with these boys, it was only to be polite. If Charlie had to choose, she would rather solely spend her time with Sarah. Although weary on why this already weird girl was acting even more so, Rafe was too tired to press for more and instead gave Charlie a puzzled look and turned back to face Topper, who was too busy deciding on what to order.

“Charlie’s gonna order for us.” Sarah announced, watching in amusement as her friend’s face contorted in fear.

“Hm?” Charlie gulped, glancing at the line that was coming dangerously close to JJ.

Sarah grinned. “We’ll pay for it as long as you order for us.” Sarah paused for a moment, a mischievous grin on her lips. “Or are you too scared?”

Charlie shook her head, indignant. “I am not.”

Sarah nudged Charlie forward, watching as the girl came face to face with JJ Maybank.

JJ was surprised to see her here. Of course, he knew he would have to see her eventually. He worked in the only ice cream parlor for miles and it was only a matter of time before the pretty girl with a name he did not remember finally stumbled across this parlor. As he watched her stumble over her words as she ordered, his heartbeat picked up speed. He swallowed harshly, wondering why a girl who only a few weeks ago he could care less about was now making him feel nervous.

“I’ll have t-two, um, rocky r-roads…” Charlie scrambled to remember the order her friends listed off to her, her mind running faster than her brain.

JJ nodded, looking up every so often to indirectly tell her he was listening. Her wet hair stuck to her cheeks, clearly drying in a matted way. He had a strong urge to reach out and push the hair behind her ears, something he never wanted to do before now. So what changed? JJ shook his head, trying to clear his mind as he wrote the order properly. Nothing changed, he convinced himself. He was only caught off guard by her presence.

“That’s it?” JJ calmly said, thanking an omniscient being that he had not acted as nervous as she was. He had a growing suspicion that this girl had a crush on him which only made him embarrassed since he didn’t want to believe he felt anything for her.

Y//N nodded, wanting to pinch herself just so she could calm down. “Yep.”

“Okay,” JJ ripped off the note from his pad and stuck it on the board where a bunch of his co-workers were ready to scoop. “Your order will be ready soon.”

Charlie nodded, forcing her head to move smoothly as to draw attention away from her shaky hands. “Thanks.”

Before she had time to move farther down the line, JJ spoke again. He wanted to put these feelings down to rest, proving to himself that he did not feel anything towards a girl he barely knew. “I think I’ve met you before. What’s your name?”

JJ knew this would hurt her feelings because they had met quite recently. Although it did hurt her feelings, she knew not to take it too personally because she was a girl hardly anyone noticed. “It’s Charlie.”

JJ nodded, smirking as he remembered the name. His heartbeat finally slowed down. Maybe he really felt nothing and it was only the embarrassment of seeing her again that made his heartbeat pick up. “I’m -”

“JJ. I know.” She interrupted him, watching as her friends slowly started to move farther down the line. Before she held up the line any more, she sweetly smiled at JJ and said, “I remember because you’re named after the producer of Lost.”

With that last comment, she walked farther down the line and closer to her friends. As Sarah asked her what happened and Charlie soaked up the embarrassment she felt, JJ wanted to laugh. She had just confirmed his suspicions; she had a crush on JJ. This did not seem to matter to JJ all that much since numerous girls in OBX had fallen victim to his blue eyes and cocky smirk. Although she wasn’t the first girl to ever have a crush on him, she was the first he could care less about. Usually he would use these infatuations to his advantage but this time he had no interest in Charlie. Although this was true, he was also bored out of his mind. He hadn’t been laid in a week or so and that was a long time when you were JJ Maybank. He knew how easy it would be to invite a girl that acted like that back to his home and, against his better judgement, he decided to do it.

This was mostly against his better judgement for two reasons. One, she was a Kook and JJ hated Kooks. He rarely slept with any of them, annoyed by their very presence. He usually went for Pogues or tourists, two kinds of girls he got along with better. Two, she seemed to have some type of infatuation with him which was dangerous territory. The girls that JJ slept with liked him, but it never went past the surface. Those girls didn’t give him the heart eyes she was giving him and that’s why he spent time with them. He knew it was cruel to sleep with a girl that felt so strongly towards him, especially when he felt nothing towards them, and that’s why he rarely slept with those types of girls. But he was willing to break that rule for some fun.

You might be thinking right about now that JJ Maybank is a miscreant and for that, you would be correct.

As he watched her pay for her order and get her ice cream, he seemed to be in a daze. As he watched her talk to her friends, her mind elsewhere, he thought of how he would ask her out and inevitably sleep with her. I’m warning you now, you won’t like JJ for most of this story. He’s greedy and selfish. Like a hurricane, he sweeps up whatever is around him and destroys it. And he has a fun time doing it.

Just as Charlie and her friends exited the parlor, his boss told him it was time for his break since he seemed ‘a little out of it.’ Without so much as a nod, JJ made his way past the line of customers, watching as Charlie closed the door behind her.

“Charlie!” JJ raised his voice, catching the girl’s attention.

“What does he want?” Rafe asked, stepping forward and trying to grab onto Charlie’s hand and pull her away from a Pogue he hated. Although Rafe would only admit it if there was a gun to his head, he had feelings for Charlie that he knew she would never reciprocate. Seeing JJ chase after her and seeing her stop, only added to his heartbreak.

“Let’s give them some privacy…” Sarah whispered as JJ approached them, confidently staring at Charlie who was averting her gaze. She was too embarrassed to watch JJ step closer and closer to her.

Just as Sarah pulled her boyfriend and brother away from Charlie, JJ finally stood in front of Charlie. He never asked girls out. It usually was implied that he wanted to spend time with them because if he didn’t, he would just avoid them like the plague.

He would admit to himself, as he approached Charlie, he felt guilty. She seemed like a sweet girl but should be with someone who could give her everything. That also begged the question in JJ’s mind; what did she want from him? She was a Kook after all and if she genuinely just liked him, that would be the first time a Kook was ever genuine about anything. Surprisingly, it made JJ feel better about using her if she was a Kook. He hated Kooks, especially Rafe, and sleeping with this Kook Princess was definitely going to piss off some Kooks.

“I have the first season on DVD at my house. Wanna come over some time and watch it?” JJ looked at his hand, watching as he loosened his grip on the ends of his teal shirt.

Charlie was surprised but did her best to hide it. She thought she was successful but JJ could see right through and it only added to his ego when he saw her bewilderment. Slowly but surely, Charlie finally answered with a nod. JJ nodded back, waiting for her to say something and when he realized she wouldn’t, he spoke again.

“What about tomorrow night?”

She only nodded again, her heart thumping in her chest. She was afraid JJ could hear the beat of her heart because it was so loud in her ears. Fortunately JJ did not and instead turned around and made his way back to the parlor. He felt a slight squeeze around his heart but ignored it, thinking it was because he had just asked a girl out and was feeling guilty about it. Charlie felt the same squeeze but did not dismiss it as JJ had. Instead, she saw it as an invisible string finally tying around her heart and connecting to JJ’s.

And isn’t it just so pretty to think

All along there was some

Invisible string

Tying you to me?

For her, that night couldn’t come fast enough. For JJ, he could care less. Not that he wasn’t excited to get laid but that seemed to be it for him. It was nothing more than a hookup and he promised he would explain that to her when she got to his house. Thankfully his father was gone for the weekend, leaving JJ to be at his house for as long as he wanted to.

As Charlie sat at Sarah’s vanity, letting her friend pluck her eyebrows and blend her makeup, JJ was sitting on his couch and watching tv. He was less than nervous. Yes, he was nervous when he first was speaking to her but her adorableness had caught him off guard. Now, he was ready for her. He would always be ready for her now.

As the time came closer and closer to their ‘date’, Sarah felt obligated to inform her friend on who she was about to go on a date with. She loved Charlie like a sister and wasn’t about to let a boy she knew to be a troublemaker and a womanizer destroy her friend’s perception of love. Her friend had never been in a  relationship and had a limited experience with boys which meant she didn’t understand how cruel some of them could be. To settle the arguments in her mind, she decided to just advise her friend to be careful. Although Charlie understood her friend’s apprehensiveness, she thought she understood JJ like the back of her hand. He had a tough exterior but on the inside, he was just as fragile as any other person. She was willing to meet the real JJ. Unfortunately, what she didn’t know yet was that her heart had to break first before she met the real JJ.

Although JJ had a number of girls come over at his house, he rarely asked them out days before. Usually they would come home with him the same night he met them. To say JJ was underprepared was an understatement. He only realized he had a date that night when she rang the doorbell. In a hurried mess, he threw on the cleanest shirt he had and rushed to open the door. Tripping only once, he successfully made it to the door. When he opened the door, all his worries melted away. And no, it was not because she was breathtaking but because he remembered it was only Charlie. Plain Charlie.

She was considerably more nervous than him, being as it was only her first date. But she took a deep breath and took everything one step at a time. She felt pretty, her hair done in a nice braid and wearing her favourite shorts, and pretended as if she was one of those girls who carried themselves as if they were an angel that graced everyone’s presence. She saw her walk as dainty but JJ barely noticed, distracted by her bare legs. They were virtually smooth (meaning she shaved) and tan.

“Where’s your tv?” Charlie asked, watching as JJ looked up from her legs and to her eyes.

JJ’s house, although not anything like hers, was cozy and she liked it. There were beer cans thrown everywhere and she knew JJ had made no effort to clean anything up but still, his house looked as if someone lived in it. Granted, it was a messy individual but nonetheless, it was a home. Her house was always too clean and looked deserted.

“In my room.” JJ stated, walking in front of her and opening the door to his room. He looked behind him, watching as she did not make any movement towards him. Just as he began to get confused he remembered that she was deathly awkward and might not be okay with being in his room. Showing an ounce of concern for someone other than himself for the first time in weeks, he said, “Is that okay?”

Charlie cleared her throat, nodding quickly before picking up her feet and walking through the threshold of JJ’s door. She wanted to seem nonchalant about being in his room but JJ saw right through her. Either she was just nervous or she had never been in a boy’s bedroom. The latter was true. If JJ had known that, he would have never let her in his room. He had always believed he was not good enough to be anyone’s first for anything, including a small thing like that.

Charlie softly sat on the edge of JJ’s bed, watching as the boy bent down and put the DVD through the DVD player. When his back was to her, her eyes finally drifted to his right wall where a small picture of him as a child, hugging a woman who shared the same features as he did. She had stuck two fingers, which were supposed to be bunny ears, behind his head and plastered on a huge grin. JJ, oblivious to the fingers behind his head, only gave a toothy grin as he looked into the camera.

When JJ finally got up from his seat on the floor, he sat right next to Charlie. She was right on the edge of his bed, sitting very close to the tv. She seemed a little stiff and JJ hoped she would relax soon. Although her body was in front of the tv, her head was turned elsewhere. When he realized what picture she was looking at, he immediately felt embarrassed. That picture was usually never hung but JJ had felt nostalgic last night and hung it up to look at but never took it down.

Before he could speak, she did first. “Is that your mother?” This was the first clear and confident sentence she had spoken since they met and JJ was almost surprised to see that her regular voice was lower than he first thought.

JJ nodded for a second, grasping to find a subject he could change to. He looked at the tv screen and handed the remote to Charlie, finally knowing what to say. “What episode?”

Charlie scrolled down, through the first season before deciding to pick the first episode. As the opening scene started to play, JJ chuckled to himself, scooting closer to the edge of the bed to get closer to Charlie. He saw that this movement made her nervous but he only scooted closer.

“Why’d you laugh?” Charlie asks, her voice once again softer. She seemed to be nervous again and JJ only found it adorable. “You don’t like the first episode.”

JJ knew it was going to be more difficult to get this girl to kiss him since he doubted she’d ever make the first move. Indulging her, he answered her question. “It just tells me a lot about your personality.”

Charlie’s face contorted in confusion, her eyes off the screen and on JJ now. “What does this tell you exactly?”

JJ smirked. “That you’re a real neat freak. You need things to have a beginning, middle and end. Probably a hopeless romantic. You love the stories of girl meets guy, they fall in love and get married. The end.”

Charlie, a little upset he read her so precisely, only rolled her eyes and tried not to be too offended. “And what episode would you have chosen?”

JJ shrugged, thinking for a moment before answering. “Probably the last one.”

Charlie nodded, scratching her chin. “Probably means you hate to follow the norm. You hate beginnings and middles and the end. You don’t like structure and you probably think love is a little dumb.” When she sees JJ’s smirk falter, she continues. “How right was I?”

JJ was slightly surprised at how accurate she had been. Yet again, he found himself trying to remain calm. “Pretty right.”

Charlie smirked, bowing her head. “Thank you.” Her eyes turned back to the screen, watching as a scene unfolded in front of her.

JJ wasn’t done with the conversation though, upset that a girl he thought he had figured out turned out to be not what he expected. She was shy, he thought. In some ways she was, but at the same time she wasn’t going to let JJ shamelessly make fun of her. She had some type of backbone, however small. He watched her instead of the screen, so confused how he had gotten her personality so wrong. Eventually, she saw he was not paying attention and she looked back to him, sheepishly making eye contact. JJ was confused again. How could she be outwardly intelligent one second and shy the next? This girl was more complicated than he thought.

On your first trip to LA

Bad was the blood of the song in the cab

You ate at my favorite spot for dinner

“Is there something else you wanted to add?” Charlie innocently asked, embarrassed that JJ was watching her so intently.

JJ shrugged, glancing at the screen before looking back at her. “Wondering if the rest of my profile is correct about you.”

He watched as Charlie chuckled at the word profile. He suddenly felt embarrassed, realizing it wasn’t the coolest thing to say in the moment. She shrugged and said, “I don’t know. What is it?”

JJ wanted to say so much but he couldn’t. She wasn’t what he thought she was. She was multifaceted, shy and confident. Meek and talkative. Instead, he felt himself more interested in what she thought about him. This had never happened before. JJ never thought they would do this much talking. He never thought their conversations would get this deep this fast. Especially with a Kook.

“I don’t know. What about me?”

Charlie smiled, glancing at that picture on the wall before speaking. “Definitely a mama’s boy. She probably taught you how to surf.” As she talked, JJ’s heart rate picked up pace. She was getting close to dangerous waters. No one talked about his mother. Not even his closest friends. “That photo tells me two things. One, that she was the heart of the family because she knew how to be goofy. Two, she left because there’s no other pictures of her in the house. Your dad -”

JJ had heard enough. It was too much. She was right about too much. He rarely spoke about his mom, too many buried memories. Without allowing her to speak any longer, JJ got up from his seat beside her and stood by the door. His hand was on the knob, watching as she stopped talking and a concerned expression crossed her face. JJ rolled his eyes, her fake sympathy only angering him. The last thing he needed was an empathetic Kook going around telling everyone his sob story. He didn’t care how needy he was, he was not going to sleep with her now.

“I want you to leave.” JJ said hoarsely, his throat closing as he tried to hold back tears.

As he said this, Charlie’s heart thumped in her ears. She quickly got up from her seat and slowly moved towards an angry JJ. With his hand still clutched around the knob, she slowly approached him. “JJ… I didn’t mean -”

“No,” JJ tensed up again as he saw her approach him. “You Kooks never do.”

Charlie stops in her tracks, soaking in his last words. “Kooks?”

JJ rolled his eyes. “Yeah, you Kooks. You wanna hear a real profile? All you Kooks are so fucking unhappy with your shitty lives you have to bother us with your bullshit. Well, I’m not gonna sit here and let you make me seem like a little poor boy who misses his mom.”

Charlie stays still and waits for JJ to finish before she speaks. “I’m sorry if I hit a nerve, I didn’t know I would be right.”

JJ cackled sarcastically, the door still not open. “Whatever.”

Charlie frowned. “JJ, I’m sorry. You’re right. I am a Kook and I couldn’t possibly understand -”

“Shut up.” JJ hisses, finally taking his hand off the door knob.

He does not move it again and for a minute, Charlie thinks he might not let her go. Then she sees why he’s moved his hand. His hand moves to his chest where she realizes he is having a panic attack. JJ falls to his knees, clutching his chest and heaving. Charlie rushes forward and wraps her arms around him, trying to get him to calm down. She feels like this is completely her fault. She opened a wound that hasn’t fully healed. It was all a joke but she took it too far.

“JJ,” Charlie said as she grasped onto each of his shoulder blades. He made eye contact with her, his face beat red from lack of oxygen. “Try and breathe.”

This had never happened to JJ before, let alone with a girl in his room. Yes, he would have a couple of panic attacks every couple of weeks but never in public and never in front of a girl he wanted to sleep with. The embarrassment only added to the inability to breathe. His mind raced a mile a minute, screaming for him to just breathe. But it was easier said than done. His chest rose and fell rapidly, his breath coming out in large heaves. His chest was hurting and he honestly believed he was going to die. In front of a Kook, nonetheless.

JJ shook his head at Charlie, trying to tell her he couldn’t. Charlie nodded, holding eye contact. “Yes you can.” Her hands moved from his shoulders to his face, gently cupping both sides of his face. “Breathe in.” Charlie instructed for JJ to copy her as she took a deep breath. “Breathe out.”

At first, it was so difficult for him to do but Charlie was not about to give up on him. As minutes passed, she continued to breathe with JJ and help him through his panic attack. Soon, his breaths became even again and only when she was sure he was okay, she let go of the sides of his face. They didn’t speak for many minutes, the both of them not finding the right words to say. They were only fighting ten minutes ago and just now, she had helped JJ through a difficult time where he couldn’t breathe.

Finally, Charlie was the first to speak. She stood up first, reaching out to help JJ up. When he got to his feet, his mind still a little foggy, she spoke. “JJ, I’m -”

“Shh.” JJ quieted her by shushing her.

Charlie instantly stopped speaking, looking directly at JJ. She was mortified because of what had happened and wanted nothing more than to apologize profusely. When JJ wouldn’t let her, she instead waited until he said his peace. She knew some bad words were going to be exchanged but she accepted that. After all, she had basically given him a panic attack. Instead, JJ did the exact opposite. He said nothing for a while. It seemed like he was debating something in his mind and when he finally had made his decision, he looked at Charlie. She was about to try and speak again but she never got the chance; JJ’s hands quieting her. He reached forward for her and cupped her face in his hands before pulling her forward into a heated kiss. This kiss had caught her off guard and she barely had time to react and kiss him back before his lips were off hers again.

JJ felt how hot his cheeks were becoming as he watched Charlie look at him in awe. He had never felt so embarrassed to kiss a girl before but now, he was. He tried to convince himself it was because of his most recent episode, his whole body was weak and was mistaking weakness for nervousness.

As if that wasn’t embarrassing enough, JJ finally spoke. “Sorry.” JJ wanted to slap himself. Why in the hell did he say sorry? He watched as Charlie shook her head, a smile on her face.

“It’s okay.” She whispered, her lips tingling. That was her first kiss and it felt wonderful. And this time, the feeling was mutual.

With a huge surge of confidence, Charlie grabbed JJ by the collar and pulled his forward. When he was only inches away, she leaned in close and kissed him. JJ reacted quicker than her, kissing her back almost instantly. Although this was only the first time she was kissing a boy, JJ would have never guessed that was so. She kissed very passionately, even knowing when to break for air. Slowly, as their kisses deepened, JJ guided her to his bed where he wanted her. This time, he had no ill intentions.

Bold was the waitress on our three-year trip

Getting lunch down by the Lakes

She said I looked like an American singer

JJ never lay on his back when girls kissed him. Instead, he always took charge, hovering over them. His hands would be on their belt in no time and the rest was easy. This time, however, he lay on his back and allowed for Charlie to hover over him as they kissed.

This part was supposed to be easy for him. This was his specialty but, as he kissed Charlie with his hands still not moving from her face, he seemed to forget. It was as if the last years of sexual escapades had never happened and he was a virgin again. This only annoyed him. He wanted to impress her. He wanted to show her how skilled he was but his arms seemed to be limp as Charlie’s hands dropped lower and lower, caressing his body. JJ almost felt embarrassed. He had been waiting to sleep with Charlie ever since that day at the parlor and now, he seemed like an innocent virgin who was scared to make the first move.

Charlie lay on JJ, her legs entangled in his. “JJ, you can touch me, if you want.” She felt slightly embarrassed by what she said but she had a feeling JJ was too nervous to notice. He seemed to be frozen in place, an awkward boy who she knew was experienced.

JJ nodded, glancing at her lips before connecting them once again and kissing her. He felt even more embarrassed now. A girl, who he knew to not be as nearly as experienced as he was, was now telling him how to make out. The world had obviously turned on its axis. There was no way he wasn’t in an alternate universe. Still, he nodded his head and finally moved his hands from her face to the end of her back. As they continued to kiss, his hands lay there and he made a point to softly caress them back and forth.

JJ had never felt as embarrassed as he did then. Not only was he acting if he never touched a girl before, but his heart beat was thumping so loudly in his head, he thought he might faint. This had never happened and he wondered why, out of all the girls, was it happening with Charlie? He had hooked up with girls hotter than Charlie and they never scared him but now, this plain brunette had changed something. As their kissing developed into more, clothes thrown haphazardly all over the floor, JJ asked himself if maybe it was different because he had never met a girl like Charlie ever. Finally, he felt the same string Charlie had felt before and it knotted around his heart, pulling him closer to Charlie.

Time, mystical time

Cutting me open, then healing me fine

Were there clues I didn’t see?

When it was all said and done and Charlie lay beside him, tired and naked, JJ knew he’d never be the same. Everything was different. The kisses had become more intense. The heat of adoration radiated from her body, and for the very first time, JJ made love to someone. It was so overwhelming, particularly for someone who had never been handled like this before. As Charlie snuggled closer to JJ, her eyes ready to close any minute, JJ started to get scared. 

“You okay?” Charlie asked, even though she was in more pain than he was. She had just lost her virginity to JJ and he didn’t even know. She decided against telling him for now, scared to ruin the mood.

Although still in a lot of pain, she couldn’t be happier. She had always wanted to feel loved when she lost her virginity and she finally had. Charlie never took sex too seriously, even though she was a hopeless romantic because most of the time, it was never how you imagined it. She had been warned that it would be dull but that was not her experience at all. She felt safe and protected. JJ had barely said more than a word or two to her during but she could tell how nervous he was, which only made this experience more lovely to her. She was utterly happy beyond belief in that moment.

JJ couldn’t speak, his throat rough. Instead, he nodded slowly and mustered up enough strength to say only one word. “Sleep.” And so she did.

You have to understand where JJ is coming from before I tell you the rest of the story. He grew up with an abusive father, one that would hurt more than he loved. His mother was his shining light, taking any bad situation and turning it into a good one. She loved JJ but was mentally ill herself and the more violent his father got, the more her mind would deteriorate. Sometimes, his mother would be so depressed, she would forget to feed him and JJ had to make his only lunch at six years old. Although his mother tried her best, JJ spent most of his childhood alone until he met John B., Kiara and Pope. And he only met them after his mother left when he was six. JJ grew up in an unstable home where the people that were supposed to love each other, didn’t. He grew up not believing in love and in turn, never experienced love. Of course, he loved his friends but that was a different kind of love. Every girl he was with was just another way to fill the void where he knew romantic love was supposed to be. That’s why he never felt guilty about inviting Charlie over; he was sure nothing would come out of it. But here he was, feeling the emotion he had thought never existed. So, in order to protect himself from what he knew to be the scariest thing to happen to him, he decided to never talk to Charlie again. 

She was the only girl to ever change his mind about love so, instead of facing his feelings head on, he hid from her. After that day, she tried to call him but he never answered. Everytime her number appeared on his phone, he felt the string connecting him to her tug a little but he never answered the phone. He was scared and people who are scared do stupid things.

Charlie had no experience with boys before JJ so at first, she had no idea he was avoiding her. At first, she suspected he was busy. He did have a job and it took up most of his time. Although she tried to be positive, as the days progressed into weeks, she soon realized he was not busy but in fact avoiding her. It came to her after two weeks of leaving messages on his phone and silence. She was with Sarah and Rafe, watching the sun set as they made s’mores. It came to her all at once as she watched the sky get darker and when it sunk in, she burst into tears. At first, they were silent tears but the second Sarah noticed and asked her if she was okay, she started blubbering like an idiot. Sarah had suspected something was wrong but wanted Charlie to come to her organically, not forcing her to tell her what was bothering her. Rafe wanted to stay, due to his feelings for Charlie. Sarah would not allow him to be around and only when he left, did she finally ask Charlie to tell her the entire story.

And when she did, all Sarah saw was red. Charlie was the sweetest person she knew. When they were eight years old, Charlie had introduced herself to Sarah by kissing the paper cut on her thumb and praying for a speedy recovery. Everyone loved Charlie; it was hard not to. She was good to every person she met and to see JJ disregard her like this upset Sarah in so many ways. 

“You should just march right up to his steps and give him a piece of your mind.” Sarah frowned, wrapping her arms around her crying friend.

“Y-you know I c-can’t.” Charlie sobbed, hiccups interrupting her words.

Sarah leaned back, making eye contact with her friend. “And why not?”

Charlie shrugged, wiping the tears from her cheeks. Her cheeks were stained black from her running mascara. “I’m embarrassed.”

Sarah stood up from her seat beside Charlie and scoffed loud enough for Rafe to hear on the other side of the door. Although he had left the room, he wanted to eavesdrop and find out what was wrong with Charlie. The more that was revealed, the angrier he got.

“Charlotte!” Sarah sang, only using her first name when she was upset with Charlie. “You are not the embarrassment in this situation. That Pogue is.”

“I just don’t think I can. I’m not that type of girl.” Charlie shrugged, sifting through her bag to find the makeup wipes and extra tube of mascara she keeps in there. “I’m not a confrontational girl.” She started wiping the black stains off her cheeks, glancing up at Sarah who was pacing the room back and forth.

Sarah crossed the room once more, kneeling in front of Charlie. “You can be.” She grabbed the wipe from Charlie’s hand and started to help her clean off the black stains. “You should be.”

And so, with a little extra mascara and confidence thanks to Sarah, Charlie decided that for at least today she would be that kind of girl. The girl that stands up for herself. She had hated confrontation but she knew Sarah was right. This was the type of situation where anyone should stand up for themself. JJ couldn’t use her anymore than he already had. She wouldn’t allow it. She was stronger. 

As Sarah drove to JJ’s house, Charlie in the passenger seat, Charlie kept trying to convince herself to be mean. Being mean never came naturally to Charlie but JJ had broken her and he deserved a little rudeness. It was hard though, for a particular reason. Everything had seemed so real. He really seemed nervous and it seemed like he truly cared for her. He had acted cocky at the beach when they first met and even when he was asking her out but never when they were alone. He was way more vulnerable with her. Sarah had said that maybe that was his plan and how he got so many girls to sleep with him but Charlie didn’t believe it. Not only because she loved JJ, but because if he was acting the entire time, he had to be the greatest actor in the world.

As Sarah parked in JJ’s driveway, the nerves finally set in for Charlie. She finally realized that this was actually happening and soon she would be confronting the boy that had hurt her so deeply. With a deep breath, she turned to Sarah and gave her a weary look.

“What do I even say?” Charlie asked, holding onto the door for balance. She felt light headed. 

Sarah shrugged. “What you feel.”

Although vague, Charlie understood what message her friend was trying to convey. Charlie had to speak from her heart and let JJ know how much he had hurt her, She didn’t know if he would try to apologize for his actions but she didn’t care. She was not looking for an apology. She loved JJ, she was not afraid to admit it, but she was not going to be dragged around like a lost puppy and made to look foolish. She had more dignity than that. She wasn’t sure why JJ did what he did. Maybe he was scared, or maybe he did it for fun but that wasn’t why she was upset. She was upset because he had not let her know what his true intentions were. Charlie believed in honesty before anything else and if JJ wasn’t going to be honest with her from the beginning, maybe he wasn’t the type of guy she thought he was. 

As she climbed the steps to his house, she thought back to when she first saw him. She had known the rumours about him before and she was warned by many people, Sarah included, but there had been something about him that was so magnetic. It was as if there was a small string connected to him that was pulling her forward. Looking back to their first encounter at the beach, she could see how uninterested he was in her. Hindsight is 20-20 though because in the moment she didn’t realize. She blamed herself in some ways . Maybe if she hadn’t been such a hopeless romantic, none of this would have happened. 

She stopped in front of his door, making no effort to knock on the door. Suddenly, relief washed over Charlie and she realized something. She was better than this. She didn’t need or want an explanation. The people that are nice to her, loved her. The people that went out of their way to help her are the people that love her. She was so in love with the idea of love that she forgot to remember what the reality was sometimes. The reality was that although everyone should be loved, some people don’t want that. Maybe JJ was one of those types of people or maybe not. It didn’t matter. She knew she deserved love and she didn’t need to yell at JJ or give him a piece of her mind to remind herself that she was worthy of love. She knew she was already. She took some comfort in knowing that she would not feel like this forever and soon, that string that had tied them together would break.

Without knocking on his door, Charlie turned right back around and made her way back to Sarah’s car. As she got in, she smiled for the first time in weeks. She felt better and she didn’t even need to talk to JJ.

“What happened?” Sarah questioned, watching as her friend who was now smiling buckled in.

“I just decided I’m better than that.” Charlie explained, finally looking to her friend. She was scared to see her friend’s reaction to this sudden realization but Sarah only smiled. 

As Sarah put her car in reverse, slowly moving farther and farther away from JJ’s house, she felt the invisible string around her heart loosen.

And isn’t it just so pretty to think

All along there was some

Invisible string

Tying you to me?

Sarah had not been looking as she was pulling out of JJ’s driveway. She was too focused on her friend’s newfound confidence that she almost completely disregarded the blonde boy riding a skateboard behind her car. When she finally registered JJ in her rearview camera, she slammed her foot against the break and let out a loud gasp. JJ, who had been thinking of Charlie ever since he saw her last, looked up and, to his surprise, saw a red caravan two inches from him. He frowned, thinking it was one of those loudy child services social workers coming again unannounced. He got off his skateboard and trudged up to the drivers side of the car to tell them off. When he saw Sarah Cameron instead, his eyes widened. What the hell was she doing here? When his eyes shifted to the passenger’s seat, he gasped. 

Charlie, who was gripping onto her seat at the abrupt stop Sarah had made, had not looked up to see JJ on the outside of the car until Sarah called her name.

“Charlie?” Sarah squeaked out, looking to her friend who was trying to catch her breath.

“Hm?” She looked up, her eyes already wide with fear but when she saw JJ, she let a small gasp out as well. 

When her and JJ made eye contact, she knew she couldn’t avoid him any longer. She had to end this; she had to close this awful chapter out her life. So, with her hands shaking, she grabbed onto the ledge of the door and opened it. She swung her legs over the seat and shakingly placed them back on the ground. With a deep breath, she walked to the front of Sarah’s car, where JJ was waiting for her. 

“Charlie…” JJ sighed, seeing the girl he hadn’t stopped thinking about since he first met her. He had been lying to himself for too long. He had loved her the second she had asked him if he liked teal.

Teal. The colour of the shirt she was wearing now. Teal. The colour of his newly painted nails.

“I was gonna yell at you.” She said calmly, her eyes watering as she watched the boy that had caused her so much pain. It seemed that his eyes were watering too now but she wasn’t going to fall for it again. She couldn’t let herself fall again. “But I can’t be anyone but myself. We have to be who we are in this world. And if you wanna be like this for the rest of your life, please leave me out of it.”

“I’m sorry.” JJ blinked fast, not wanting to cry in front of her. He had caused her too much pain, his own pain seemed miniscule now. “I don’t even know who I am. People expect me to be so many things, I don’t know.”

Charlie shook her head. “Forget about what everyone else wants, figure out what you want.”

JJ shrugs. “I don’t know yet.”

“When you know, find me.” Charlie raises her hand to cup one of his cheeks. He rests his head against her hand for a moment but she pulls away too quickly. 

She starts to back away from him but before she can enter Sarah’s car again, JJ speaks. “I hope I haven’t changed your mind about love, Charlotte.”

The way he says her full name tells her everything. She gives him a small smile, shrugging. “Don’t worry, Maybank, I’m still a hopeless romantic.”

A string that pulled me

Out of all the wrong arms, right into that dive bar

Something wrapped all of my past mistakes in barbed wire

Chains around my demons

Wool to brave the seasons

One single thread of gold

Tied me to you

Days turned into months and before they were both ready, JJ and Charlie graduated. They had seen each other on a few more occasions, such as at his work or at a party, but it was only ever a passing glance. People say time is the best healer and that much was true. For Charlie and JJ, they both felt better as time passed. Although time had passed and somewhat healed, they were not the same.

JJ, for one, had not slept with a single girl since he was with Charlie. He was utterly broken and for months, he refused to even go out to parties. But, with the persistence of his friends, he finally tried to get back into his old rhythm. And, with his old rhythm, came a slew of girls at his disposal. Surprisingly, JJ actually dated a few of them and decided against sleeping with them. Charlie had changed him in the best way. He no longer was fulfilled by one night stands and instead dated girls for weeks. This might not seem like much but for JJ, it was progress. None of them were like Charlie but, with each relationship, it taught him how to be a better person. For one of the first times in his life, he felt whole being by himself. He even got a scholarship to a college on the mainland for the Coast Guard Academy. JJ was beginning to find himself.

Charlie was different too. She grew more confident. She now could recognize when people were taking advantage of her and, instead of ignoring it like she usually would, she would face them head on. She also confronted Rafe with his infatuation with her, something she inadvertently knew about for a while now. They remained friends through it all and she actually respected Rafe even more after it. She also joined the debate team and found her calling; law. She loved debating and began her interest in law by reading tons and tons of textbooks for law school. After months and months of trying to get over JJ, she finally felt herself start to move on. That’s when she finally went out with David, a guy on her debate team. They went out for a couple of weeks and when it ended, it was amicable. Her love for David was nothing like JJ’s but he made her feel secure in her feelings and she appreciated his support. Towards the end of the school year, she had got accepted to Yale, the ivy league school of her choice. She would be away from her friends and family for four years or more but she was excited to start studying law. 

At their graduation, they both saw each other and, for the first time since they spoke, they smiled at each other. This smile was bittersweet considering they both still loved each other, but they were glad that life was going well for the both of them. They had grown and found themselves.

Cold was the steel of my axe to grind

For the boys who broke my heart

Now I send their babies presents

One night, after classes in their respective schools had started, JJ had a revelation. He had returned to OBX for the weekend and found this revelation in his enemy; Rafe Cameron. 

JJ and his friends had promised each other to always meet for the weekend in OBX so they never lost touch but Pope and Kiara had been accepted in schools on the west coast so they were hours and hours away. John B and JJ kept their promises while Kiara and Pope skyped them and spoke all night. They were all still close, maybe even closer, since high school. One night, after Pope and Kiara had signed off, John B and JJ were still not tired and wanted to go out. Sarah had started dating John B only a few months before their graduation and although she was rude to JJ at first, he had grown on her. She wasn’t here this weekend so the boys were bored without her rambunctious ideas. John B had proposed they went out for late night ice cream and since JJ had no other ideas, he agreed to go.

As they waited in line, speaking amongst themselves, Rafe was waiting in line behind them. They had not seen him for months and, at first, they did not recognize him. Only when he tapped JJ’s shoulder, did their eyes widen at the sight of their old enemy. The first thing JJ saw was his teal shirt. His mind went to Charlie.

“What do you want?” John B was very aggressive when he first made eye contact with Rafe but JJ could see what John B didn’t. He wasn’t here to fight. His eyes were soft, almost said to see JJ and John B again.

“I wanna talk to JJ.” His voice is just above a whisper and somehow, JJ trusts him.

Before John B can defend his friend, JJ puts a hand on his friends shoulder. John B looks to him in confusion but says nothing and waits for JJ to speak. “Let’s step outside.”

Gold was the color of the leaves

When I showed you around Centennial Park

Hell was the journey but it brought me heaven

Rafe and JJ had never had a heart to heart. The only choice words they ever spoke to each other was when they were beating eachother up. Now, as they stood outside the ice cream parlour where JJ had previously worked, they seemed to be standing in a comfortable silence.

“What’s up man?” JJ asked, looking to the window where he saw John B ordering his and JJ’s ice cream.

“I want to let you know you’re a complete idiot.” Rafe swallows harshly and steps closer towards JJ. 

For a moment, JJ thinks he might punch him by the anger in his eyes and how his fists are clenched tightly together. But the moment passes and Rafe remains quiet until JJ speaks. “Why?”

“She’s completely in love with you and you’re still here, ordering fucking ice cream.” Rafe spits, unclenching and then clenching his fists.

JJ’s shoulders slump. He wondered how the hell Rafe knew but he didn’t want to dwell on that. “Rafe, it’s complicated.”

Rafe shakes his head, a little calmer now. “No, it’s not. I loved her so much and when I told her, you know what she said?” He paused and only when JJ shrugged, did Rafe continue. “She told me she was waiting for a guy to find himself. So, have you found yourself?”

JJ nodded. “Yeah, but it’s been too long. She probably told you that months ago. My windows closed. Besides, she’s at Yale.”

Rafe shook his head incredulously. “She told me that last week dude.”

JJ felt like he might faint right there at this news. He felt light headed and he held onto Rafe’s shoulder and he tried to find his balance. After all this time, it wasn’t too late. After all this time, she still loved him. He looked back up to Rafe with a smile on his face. He stood straight back up, knowing what he had to do next. 

“Rafe, if John B asks where I’ve gone, tell him sorry, but I have to go see about a girl.”

Time, wondrous time

Gave me the blues and then purple-pink skies

And it’s cool

Baby, with me

Charlie had begun a running regimen when she started at Yale. They had a beautiful track on campus and before every class every morning, she would run for two hours, shower, and then go to whatever class she had that day. On days she had off, she would take her time and on Saturday mornings, when no one had classes, she took extra time. She would sprint for a couple moments, then jog and walk and start all over again. Since she started this exercise, she could see an improvement in her health and stress. Whenever her mind brought her to places she didn’t want to be, she would run. Running had begun to become her therapy, along with her actual therapy.

On that particular Saturday, she was running late; figuratively of course. She had slept through her 6am alarm and, by 7am, she was rushing out her dorm to get to the track. She had tried to always get there extra because after 8am, it got too crowded. But, as she rushed down the steps on her campus dorm and out into the crisp autumn air, she came face to face with a certain blonde boy.

When she finally recognized him, a gasp left her lips. He looked disheveled from his journey and while half of her wondered what he could possibly want from her, the other half was crying with joy because she knew.

JJ walked up one step of the stairs, the closest he’s been to her since all those months ago. “Charlie, I -”

“No speeches.” She cuts him off, wanting to know his answer but too impatient. “Just tell me if you know.” She can’t wait any longer. All of these months of waiting and praying and now he’s here. She forgives him. She forgave him months ago. But now, she needs to know if she’s wasting her time all over again.

“I know now.” JJ looks at her, breathless.

The smile on her face tells him everything he needs to know. She knows too.

And isn’t it just so pretty to think

All along there was some

Invisible string

Tying you to me?

~

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[flowerbloom-arts]

Diggory Hodgkins ran up to his older brother, Samuel, after school had ended, he was rather excited because Samuel seemed to have been working on a new thing they'd be doing come after school on a Friday.

"Hullo Samuel!" He cried "We ought to do that thing we spoke of doing on this fine day?"

And a fine day indeed it was, not a single cloud in the sky, though the skies never seemed to appear that clear blue hue as depicted in illustrations or paintings, still, it was better than totally grey, atleast the sun was quite visible. Diggory would often get excited whenever the weather was anything other than dreary, though pathetic it may sound to some people, he enjoyed what little sunshine the heavens gave them.

"Hmh!" Samuel hummed with a nod.

"Yes!" Diggory exclaimed with a sense of victory, the two brothers started walking out of the school's campus, with Samuel in the lead "So what is it, might I ask? Excuse me! I know you like keeping secrets until the right moment but could you atleast spare a morsel of detail about it? My mind has been racking at what it could possibly be! But of course, one could never figure out what may be going on in that head of yours, oh goodness no."

"You'll see." Samuel stopped to pick up a wooden plank and some rope that he hid in a bush.

"Oh! Are those what you'll be using for the project?" Diggory guessed rather quickly.

"Yes." Samuel confirmed.

"Oh goody!" Diggory clapped "Perhaps I could guess what it is?"

"No." Sam answered harshly "How was school?" he asked and continued walking.

Diggory seemed a little deflated but understood that he shouldn't pry for answers to something he'll see quite soon, he adjusted his school satchel in a huff "Well." he started before following behind his brother "Quite the same actually, you know how it is. Teachers rambling academic nonsense for hours on end, peers picking on eachother, bland everything else. Seriously, I'm sorry but school is just so boring, yeah? How could anyone manage to sit down and listen and expect us to pay attention when there's nothing that even could be interesting!" He started to complain "What could possibly be so enticing about figuring out the third angle of a triangle? What would possibly motivate me to be invested in figuring out such a trivial conundrum to me personally? The teacher certainly never provides a solid motivation, it all becomes forgettable hogwash that has nothing to do with what I want out of life. Though I may possibly be rude, I'm sure you found that sort of thing fascinating given it may pertain to engineering in some way, right?" He paused for an answer from Samuel but then continued anyway "I guess you always were the academically inclined one, I'm over here 'daydreaming my school days off 'and 'being distracted' and whatever else people might say. It's interesting, really, how unlike eachother we are despite sharing the same blood, so to say." Diggory crossed his arms and started kicking a small pebble as a temporary companion on their journey "Some might even use the word funny. All I know is that we're stuck together until something or other separates us, and I believe that's what brothers ought to do. Shame we have a four year difference between us, wouldn't it be cool if we were twins instead?" He looks up at him eagerly, but then looks down again "Ah, you probably find it ridiculous that such a thing would be important. The prospect is rather poetic in my mind but I don't suppose you would endorse it, sorry. We do appear to live in two separate bubbles that might converge into a venn diagram with little in common... Excuse me, we must've had this conversation before, I must sound like a verbal equivalent of a merry-go-round... Have we had this conversation before?" Diggory paused a little for an answer "Samuel, I am genuinely asking this time."

"Ah. Yes, I think so." Samuel said thoughtfully, sometimes it was hard to tell when Diggory was actually looking for an answer or just pausing before continuing his rants, so it was often that he needed to clarify so Samuel can answer. Samuel stopped at a tree in front of a cliff side view and laid down his wooden plank and rope.

"Oh, all right, I suppose that sounds correct... Goodness these aren't actually conversations, really, I should stop calling them that." Diggory saw that Sam had stopped and looked at the sea "By my tail, that looks gorgeous! Does the ocean always sparkle like that?" He said in awe.

"Only in shining daylight, I believe." Samuel replied, inspecting the branches of the tree.

"Well, that's simply another reason to hate the drowsy weather. I can not wait until we get to travel across the ocean and get to live in country where there's more sun and less imbecilic grey clouds overhead, oh, the dream." Diggory continued staring at the sparkly waters before the pebble he was kicking before had landed on his head, thanks to the aim of his brother no less.

"Think you can climb?" Samuel asked, pointing a thumb at a nice-looking tall branch of his tree.

"Oh yeah! Hold on just a moment!" Diggory dropped his satchel and took off his shoes in a hurry. He ran up and started climbing the tree "It's a real shame you can't do this sort of thing, brother."

Samuel leaned against the tree and made a disinterested hum of confirmation, he didn't actually care much for it. He lifted his ears up as he waited, ready for another rambling.

Diggory continued climbing "Like in all seriousness, climbing trees is rather fun. You get to the tippy top on a tree and you get to see the world from a whole new perspective! Everything is alot smaller and perhaps at the right view you could pretend everyone is a tiny little creature that you can squash between your index and your thumb," he reached the last branch of the tree- the one he needed to get to, of course "Like this!" Diggory closes one eye and pretends to squish his brother's head between his fingers "But I suppose someone of your size already gets that sense, big blue."

"Yep. Which is part of what drives everyone away, I suppose." Samuel looks up at his brother and throws the rope up to him.

Diggory catches the rope in his paws "Well it's not just that, atleast from what I hear of you from others." He looks down at the rope "What am I to do with this, exactly?"

"Tie it to the branch." Samuel says as he takes out a knife from his own school satchel.

"Hm." Diggory ties a knot and started pondering what this latest contraption could possibly be again. "Is this another one of your 'practical joke' inventions for your enemies?" Samuel always liked building pranks for anyone he happened to dislike, it used to be a big habit years ago but later the amount of them dwindled as he matured, but even at his current age it's still not out of the realm of possibility.

"Nnnnnope." Samuel said, he put up the wood plank against it at a certain height and chopped off the rope with his knife accordingly, then threw the cut off rope up at his brother again "Tie that one about..." He uses the plank as a reference and placed his hand at a certain spot "Here."

"Well if it isn't a practical joke then what else could it possibly be?" Diggory adjusted the position of his rope to his brother's hand placement and tied a knot on the branch.

"Be patient, will you?" Samuel cut off the excess rope, he put the knife back in his satchel and took out a hand drill to use it on the ends of the plank.

"You know carrying those sorts of things on you is part of the reason why everyone thinks you're weird, right?" Diggory said.

"Mphm." Samuel replied as he's finished drilling the holes of the plank "By the by, you can come down now." he put one of the ropes through one of the holes and tied a knot under it, he did the same for the other one. After he was done he put his hands on his hips rather proudly.

Diggory climbed down enthusiastically to see what his brother had just created "A... Swing?" his enthusiasm seemed to turn into a rather puzzled expression toward his brother "Sam, I love you dearly, but I have to admit you have created far more impressive things than this. Unless this isn't all of it?"

"Eh. That's just about it." Samuel answered with a shrug.

"Really? But- why?" Diggory was absolutely bewildered by this.

"It's for you. You like looking at the sea, thought you'd like something a little more convenient." Samuel was still relatively proud of this small achievement.

"Ah, for me?" Diggory lightened up a little and went to sit on the newly built swing "Hm! I guess it is rather convenient for me!" He started swinging on it lightly "Such a nice view today, too. Suppose I should thank you, then!"

"No need." Samuel sat on the grass next to him and took off his own shoes "Rather exhausting. School. Possibly other things aswell. Nice to take a step back and make something like this with you." He slouches over and rested on his knee to view the ocean.

"Heh. Yeah..."

The two brothers sat with eachother until the sun came down, it was rather peaceful that day, the greyish blue skies just seemed to look like regular blue.

[gerberbabey]

cocaine | kiara carrera

madison bailey rlly met her gf ON TIKTOK, thats wild and now i see that my chances arent as low as i believe. anyways love that for them.

writing this made me so damn depressed. like if anyone would like to fall in love w me, im just here...chillin.

masterlist | cocain series: 2 | 3 

summary: Kiara falls in love with someone who isn’t willing to love anymore (story inspired by the mentioned song and this scene).

warnings: that gay shit, cursing, angst, underage drug use, underage drinking, mentions of dying, unrequited love?

♫ Cocaine by Pink Sweat$ ♫

Kooks could talk as much shit as they wanted but it didn’t exactly stop them from showing up at the boneyard for a kegger. They whined and complained about Pogues but still came around to the other side of the island because they knew they would have a good time.

“It’s like watching National Geographic,” Kie winced and you sputtered out a laugh, stumbling back as you tried to keep the water from dripping onto your clothes. There was a pocket of Kooks jumping around to the music, moving in a weird sort of unison that was both stiff and awkward.

“Ew,” Kie laughed as you leaned forward to spit out the water that you had been trying to drink. To be honest it wasn’t that funny of a comment but you were also high of your ass so everything was hilarious.

“I can’t breathe,” you huffed out and Kie had to hold you steady when you stumbled into her. You were laughing so hard that it was at that point where you weren’t even making any noise. She couldn’t stop herself from laughing because of how hard you were laughing.

“Oh my god (Y/N) it wasn’t even that funny!”

“Then why are you laughing?!”

“Because you’re laughing!”

The two of you burst out into another fit of giggles as you wrapped your arms around the girl, resting your head on her chest as she wrapped her arms around you and struggled to keep the two of you standing.

“Are you two ok?” Pope walked up to the two of you just as you stumbled into the sand in a laughing heap. You let out one giggled and took in a deep breath as you stared up at Pope, your head hazy and heavy.

“Chillin dude,” you drawled out and Pope shook his head before he helped the two of you up. Kia brushed off the sand from her curls and you gave an aggressive shake of your head as you brushed out the sand from hair at the same time. Kie let out a noise and Pope stepped back to avoid any sand flying at him.

When you stopped you stumbled to straighten up. Everything around you was moving fast and yet slow at the same time and you let out a laugh.

Kie couldn’t help but look at you with a dopey look on her face. She wished she could tell you just how much she loved you. The day Kie had realized she was in love with her best friend was a bit of a stressful one. Kie was a firm believer of the “No Pogue on Pogue macking rule”. Not only did she believe it would change everything if broken, she also didn’t want to have a reason to be tied down to the Outer Banks. She loved her friends, her family, and her life on the island but she knew she was capable of so much more. Deep down in her heart she knew that she was meant to travel the world. That the best way for her to succeed was to get out of the Outer Banks and into the world.

But then one day she looked into your eyes and knew she loved you. That she was in love with you.

You were friends with the Pogues before she’d joined the group but you were the first one she met. You met the rest of the Pogues through JJ, and then had integrated Kie into the group after you started working at The Wreck.

After the betrayal of Sarah Cameron and the pain she went through being ostracized by her entire school, meeting you and then the boys had been her saving grace. Sure you weren’t jumping to your feet to try and help baby sea turtles into the ocean, but you always listened to her. You understood her.

“I mean everyone’s freaking out about plastic straws but the cups are like...more plastic,” you added to her rant and she nodded enthusiastically.

“That’s exactly what I’m saying!”

She was pretty much convinced the two of you were soulmates the day you had played her a playlist that you made just for her.

Yet even though she was so head over heels in love there was too many reasons why she couldn’t tell you.

One of the biggest reasons was your lack of faith in love and relationships. Convincing you that falling in love and being in love was a good thing proved to be a difficult feat. You’d been hurt so much by the concept of love that you’d moved past the point of thinking you’d ever fall in love. You left it behind and believed wholeheartedly that it wasn’t something meant for you. You didn’t believe in marriage and didn’t believe that you would ever find that person. You’d stopped looking and that meant that you couldn’t and wouldn’t see Kie in the way she wished you would.

“Yo (Y/N)!”

You and your friends turned at that and Kie watched you grin as you ran up to the boy who called you. You jumped into his arms and Kie bit her lip.

“Dude! What the fuck is up?!” You yelled as the boy laughed and let you down. You were jumping around excitedly, “Yo when did you get home?”

“Yesterday.”

“Who’s that?” Kie asked JJ and the boy turned to look at what she was talking about.

“Huh? Oh that’s Quincy, he graduated last year I think? Went to the Navy or something, him and (Y/N) were really close.”

“Oh.”

Kie wondered why she never heard about Quincy.

“Kie!!!” You waved her over and Kie pushed down that weird feeling that was rising up and hid it with a smile. She moved to stand by you and tried not preen when you took her hand in yours, intertwining your fingers and holding on tight. She hoped that Quincy would conclude that she was yours. (You may not have been hers, but she was wholeheartedly yours).

“Kie this Quincy. He was my fuckin plug before he left,” you laughed and Quincy crossed his arms and gave you a look. Kie felt a little relieved but then thought about this.

“Didn’t you start smoking when you were like...in middle school?” Kie asked and Quincy laughed while you shrugged.

“Yeah, can you imagine how I felt seeing this 12 year old asking me if I sold?”

Kie tried not to cringe. You’d been smoking for way longer than she’d known you. Your tolerance surpassed JJ, likely because of your lack of tolerance breaks. Kie could argue that at least you’d only smoked weed and hadn’t dove into other, harder drugs. The one time you had, Kie nearly had a heart attack and the boys almost killed a boy for urging you to take it.

You’d told her once that you just really liked how being high made you feel. The strain you smoked made you feel relaxed. It eased your mind and your body.

You told her that you started smoking after your parents separated. They’d fallen out of love and decided that rather than being adults and dealing with their issues themselves, they’d put the weight and stress of their problems onto your shoulders. A year later you had decided you were going to quit because you’d fallen in love with your boyfriend of a year and a half. You nearly did stop getting high, but then your boyfriend broke up with you, didn’t tell you you why, and then ghosted you.

3 days later he’d posted about his new girlfriend (he’d reassured you nothing was going on between them when you were together. The time stamp of the filtered picture told you and everyone else otherwise).

Kie wanted to spite the people who’d led to the walls you built around your heart.

You had guided Kie and Quincy back over to the other Pogues and Kie couldn’t help but cling to you that night. She didn’t like Quincy’s familiarity with you. It was kind of childish really but it’d been a while since you’d looked eager to interact with anybody who weren’t the Pogues. Kie’s heart skipped a beat when she realized how absolutely ok you were with her holding and touching you.

“Hey...(Y/N)?”

“Hmm..?”

The two of you were laying in her bed. The kegger had ended some time ago and though the two of you would’ve usually stayed at the Chateau with the boys, she’d decided she wanted to spend the rest of her night alone with you. She’d appreciated Quincy taking the two of you to her house.

“You really don’t think you’re going to get married?” she questioned quietly and she watched you open your eyes and look into her own.

“Hm...Yeah. Probably not,” you told her honestly.

“Why not?”

“...I don’t know. I don’t think I’d want to commit to someone that much. Plus...I don’t think anyone would wanna commit to being with me either.”

Kie would.

“But what if someone loves you...so so much, but you just won’t open yourself up to them? Would you really risk losing that before you even know it?”

You stayed silent at that. This was something that constantly went through your mind. sometimes you thought about those “what if” moments constantly. What if you’d given that boy a chance? Would you be in love with him now? Would the two of you be happy?

Yet you also thought: but maybe the two of you would be miserable instead. Maybe it would just lead to more pain.

“I don’t know if I could deal with being hurt because of love again.”

“...Ok...”

The two of you eventually drifted off to sleep. Kie’s chest hurt but she dreamt about kissing you.

Kie sometimes wished that she could be the one to bring your heart out of its hiding place. She wanted to be the person that you were willing to finally love. She wanted you to toss aside the risk of getting hurt because she’d make it clear to you that she would never hurt you.

JJ had gotten too high once, and had told her that you and him sometimes went to the dock and just sat there in silence. That the two of you would allow your worries to ease just by being beside one another and that you both knew that even without talking, or venting, or even smoking, you understood how JJ felt and JJ understood how you felt.

Kie wanted that.

She wished she didn’t have to push so hard for you to feel comfort in her, but she would continue pushing nonetheless. Despite how close the two of you were as friends, vulnerable moments were rare with you. 

“Kie, I need you to leave this alone ok? It’s seriously not any of your business,” you’d tried to shake her off and she only became angrier. The boys had shuffled out of the room the moment you’d walked in with Kie yelling at you.

She had went to pick you up and caught you snorting a line of...something, in your room.

“None of my business!? I can’t just let you hurt yourself like this (Y/N)!”

“Kie you smoke with me! Fucking weed is killing me just as much as any other drug would! If you cared so much then don’t cherry pick what you decide to care about!”

“Don’t ever tell me how I feel!”

“God you’re not my fucking mom Kie, just stop!”

“No (Y/N)!”

You’d stormed off after that argument. Out of all the people in your life you thought Kie would be the last person the chastise you for anything you did. You thought she understood. Kie felt terrible when you didn’t come around to the Chateau or even talk to her and the Pogues for the rest of the day. Kie’s heart was in your hands and you were squeezing.

The next day, Kie had bursted into your room crying.

“You can’t be mad at me for just wanting you to be ok...” she sobbed and you held her tight to you. 

“I know Kie, I know. I’m sorry,” you mumbled into her hair before you gave her a kiss on the forehead. She pulled back to look at you and she took in the worried expression on your face. She was hyper aware of the feeling of your thumbs stroking her cheek. Kie shut her eyes and leaned forward to press her lips onto yours.

Her heart broke into a million pieces when you gasped and backed away.

“Oh my god...” Kie sobbed and stood from where the two of you had clung to each other on your bed, “I’m sorry-I just..I’m gonna go-” 

You couldn’t say a word as you watched Kie rush out of your room.

“Fuck!” she yelled before the door slammed shut.

part 2...?

[amerrierworld]

Just Pretend (pt 2)

Ocean’s 8 fanfiction

Pt 1: x

For anon

Summary: you go out for drinks with Lou, and introduce her to your friends for the first time

Characters: Lou x fem!reader, your friends, a cameo by Daphne

Word Count: 1,520

Warnings: Steamy fluff?

You stood, staring at yourself in the mirror, chest heaving with excitement. You still had a couple hours until your official date but you didn’t have the capacity to focus on anything other than spending time with your friends. And Lou.

“Hey, airhead, you still with me?” Daphne asked from the big walk in closet. “I’ve got a few things you could try on- I can’t guarantee they’ll fit, but I asked Rose to send all kinds of pieces.”

Daphne, bless her, was helping you get ready. After your little incident at the loft, with everyone watching, she was right up there with wanting to get involved and help you. It was just in her nature.

“Don’t you think it’s a little over the top, Daphne? I mean- it’s just a drink with some friends.”

“Uh, just a drink? Do you even hear yourself? Y/N, you’re going on your first official date with Lou. You think you can just whip out some sweats and call it a day?”

She was right, Lou liked being over the top. Her fashion sense alone showed that.

“Now, try this stuff on.” She chucked a load of clothing articles at you and you caught them hastily. You’d been wearing a thick, white bathrobe while waiting for Daphne to show you her collection and you'd been waiting for what seemed like hours.

You immediately flicked through some patterns you considered ghastly, despite Daphne’s tutting as you removed some of her choices.

After some negotiating and huffing between the two of you you came out wearing a turquoise floral dress; simple but alluring. The shade was just right to fit your skin tone and made you look even brighter than before.

Daphne gave a girlish squeal at the sight of you, a hand coming up to her mouth, almost tearing up.

“Oh, Y/N, you’re so cute. Gosh,” she grinned. “You look good.”

“Thanks, Daph,” you muttered, blushing. “It’s not, you know, too much?”

“What? Of course not. Here.”

She handed you a pair of pale blue heels that matched the lighter shades in your dress. Red lipstick and a curled hairdo; you looked like something vintage met up with something daring. You felt powerful.

Daphne kept gushing over you as you hurried to finish up. A text flew by from Lou, saying she was there to pick you up.

ready? ;)

“And if that idiot blonde leaves you on the curb you know where to find me, honey,” Daphne winked at you. Your cheeks flamed but you still hugged and thanked her for all the work she did before rushing outside where Lou was waiting for you.

She was clad in classic leather pants, a black button down and deep purple velvet blazer. Heels, always. Jewelry, always. Your heart fluttered at the sight of her, but Lou could hardly believe how you looked.

“Y/N? God, you look...”

She trailed off, looking you up and down and you giggled. 

“It’s not a usual outfit for me, I know,” you shrugged a little, arms wrapping around your middle protectively. “Daphne helped me.”

“Of course she did, but... god, really. Y/N. You’re stunning,” she pried your arms loose and her long fingers wrapped around yours. You felt giddy.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“The bar just two blocks away. It’s our go-to.”

“And you really want me to be- you know..”

“My date? Duh.”

“No, not just that, Y/N. Like...”

“Like, my actual girlfriend?”

Lou was nervous, you could tell. You’d never seen her nervous before. She was all coy and suave with your friends and now she was jittery right before your eyes as she nodded to your question.

“Of course, Lou. I like you a ton, why else would I have agreed to do this?”

“To please your nosy friends?”

“Well, yeah, that too.”

Lou looked unconvinced and you leaned forward to press a kiss against her lips. She melted instantly. When you pulled away she was back to smouldering eyes and her quirky smirk. Her hand gripped you tighter and you smiled happily. Now to face your friends.

-

They’d gawked when you came in; a couple fit for the cover of Vogue. You felt somewhat confident at their reactions, but also self conscious. This wasn't usually how you were with your closest friends if you just grabbed a beer on a Friday night. But this was with Lou, so it had to be special.

Your small group huddled around a high table with stools, so you could ease the pressure off of your feet. 

They immediately interrogated Lou in a light, bantering way. Looking out for you, while also being captivated by the hot, captivating woman you got to call your girlfriend. She easily spewed the fake identity of a mechanic at them rather than a con who once robbed an entire gala with you by her side, which was easy enough to believe with her expert opinions on bikes and the sort. 

“Well, Y/N, I must say we were all a bit worried when you were off to God knows where, but...” one of your friends commented. “We now know where you’ve been hanging out. It’s nice to properly meet you, Lou.”

“Likewise,” Lou said, winking at you from the corner of her eye as she sipped her beer. You could feel yourself falling more and more in love with the woman by the second.

“I’m sorry for stealing her away from all your outings,” Lou continued. “She’s just really been enjoying my... teachings in mechanics.” 

Your face burst into a flaming blush as she glanced over at you, the twinkle gone unnoticed by your friends who cackled at the joke. 

“Really? Motor bikes, Y/N?”

You shrugged, playing along after a deliberately harsh pinch to Lou’s thigh under the table as a retort for dragging you into her schemes and white lies. 

“Yeah, why not? There’s always new stuff to learn and experience. Bikes are cool.”

They prodded a bit more for updates between the two of you, and it all went  surprisingly swimmingly.  Lou had put a hand on your knee, warm and reassuring, sometime during the night as she got to know all your friends. 

When it was considerably darker outside and the clock began ticking into the AM, you all said goodnight, promising to call, text, whatnot. Lou slung an arm over your shoulder and you leaned into her touch as you left the bar. They’d invited the two of you to go drink at a friend’s place, but you knew from the way Lou had been looking at you all evening that was the last thing you wanted to do. 

The two of you hailed a cab back to the loft, Lou mentioning how next time you all spent time together she’d drive you fashionably late on her motor bike, no matter how close it was. It warmed your heart, how easily she got on and enjoyed your friends’ company. Whether she did it for you or she actually wanted to didn’t matter. Point is, she did anyways. 

In the car Lou snuggled into you, hot breath in your ear and you giggled. The cab driver seemed to disapprove but one glare from Lou at him made him quiet. You made sure to tip him extra. 

When you entered the loft, Lou held your hand and spun you around, making you slide along the floor on your smooth heels. 

“My beauty,” she grinned. “The mechanic enthusiast.”

You laughed as you pulled her closer. “The only mechanic I’m enthusiastic about is you.”

Lou lowered her hands to your waist and the two of you swayed to a non-existent waltz, the dimmed lights of the loft making for a vastly romantic spectacle. 

You both looked at each other with utter adoration and all your initial stress and butterflies from when she kissed you, met your friends and went out with you had disappeared. 

“You know, this is about the same spot where I kissed you the first time,” Lou mused with a flick of her locks over one shoulder. You surveyed the loft around you; abandoned but never lonely. 

“Hm, I suppose you’re right. Isn’t it terrible it was only the one time, though?” you teased, your hands trailing up from Lou’s shoulders to her neck. 

“Quite,” she said, feigning poshness. “Maybe we should rectify that error.”

“By all means,” you murmured. 

Her lips pressed against yours like a lock and key and you curled your arms around her neck to hold her closer. Her hands trailed down your back, over your  ass and down your thighs to tease at the hem of your dress before tapping your hip.

Taking the cue, you hopped up in Lou’s arms, who held you firmly and securely. You were amazed by her strength but didn’t relent as you leaned down and continued to kiss her lovingly. 

Lou probably had some intention of bringing you upstairs to the bedroom but your incessant kisses on her face proved too much for her. 

You barely even made it to the couch that night. Oh well.

A/N: Here ya go folks. I wrote this during a much-needed break during all my real-life commitments and deadlines (ugh) Let me know what you think, I’ll hopefully be opening up requests again soon so any other Lou-centric ideas you wanna throw my way I’m more than happy to take on ;)

[beckzorz]

The Perfect Date

Prompt: [image: Sebastian Stan, captioned with “She was just so stunning.”] + “A Bucky POV prompt: Bucky telling everyone at the compound about the most perfect date he’s ever had (with you, of course).” Pairing: Bucky Barnes/f!Reader. | 1.2k A/N: Happy Valentine’s Day! Thank you so much @sallycanwait68​ for such an adorable prompt! Sad news: I definitely did NOT write this in Bucky’s POV XD Hope you like it anyway!!! Thanks also to @kentuckybarnes​ who always inspires xoxo And a huge thanks to @the-ss-horniest-book-club​ for hosting this Week of Love! Love to all!

“That does sound pretty sweet,” Bucky says nonchalantly. He take a final slurp of his iced coffee.

Sam smirks. “Yes she sure was.”

“Fireworks, flowers, lingerie, a gunfight… How are you going to top that, Bucky?” Natasha asks. She drapes herself on the arm of Sam’s chair and raises her eyebrows.

“Well,” Bucky says, “easily.”

You roll your eyes, a smile tugging at your lips as you start unloading your tray of clean glasses at the bar. The worst thing about your job on the housekeeping staff at the compound is that you can’t tell anyone what hilarious bullshit comes out of the Avengers’ mouths. The other staff, sure, but not your friends on the outside.

Well, insofar as you’ve got friends on the outside. Which… not really.

“Well, we got started at a little bar in Minsk,” Bucky begins.

Your eyes widen as you slide a wine glass into its upside-down holder under the overhead cabinet. In Minsk?

Uh oh.

“Nice and dim, a couple booths… Kinda a mix between classy and not.”

You steal a glance at Bucky. His eyes, bluer today with that fitted turquoise shirt he’s wearing, are sparkling in the sun streaming in from the giant windows. He’s not looking at you—why would he be?

Okay, enough dreaming, back to the tumblers.

“There’s this table of middle-aged guys hitting on the waitress,” Bucky continues. “It’s normal stuff there, y’know.”

“Normal here too,” Natasha says drily.

“Well. Yeah.” Bucky shifts in his seat. “Anyway, so in walks this woman with a long coat and tall boots—”

“How do you know her boots were tall if she was wearing a coat?” Sam interrupts.

“Cool your tits, I’m getting there,” Bucky says. “Anyway, so I was at the bar, getting intel, and this woman struts in—no, she wasn’t strutting, she was… stalking, I guess. Like Nat stalks.”

You have you bite your tongue. Comparing his date to Natasha? He’s cutting it close.

“So she stalks over to the bar, orders a drink, and heads straight for the dart board at the back.”

There’s a particular glass that you don’t recognize. It’s beautiful—nearly paper-thin, with a detailed pattern of air bubbles caught inside the glass—but sturdy enough to survive the dishwasher. Asgardian, maybe? You tilt it to catch the light, and the air bubbles inside glitter like gold. Gorgeous.

“And you’re just watching her?” Sam asks.

“If you were there, you’d’ve been watching her too,” Bucky assures him. “Trust me.”

“So… did you play darts with her?” Natasha asks.

The Asgardian glass can go in the display against the wall, you decide.

“Not exactly.”

You can hear the glee in Bucky’s voice, and you let out a slow breath as you turn back to face the room and get another bunch of glasses to put away.

“She grabs all of the darts in one hand and immediately comes back to the bar, takes a swig of her drink, and then turns around and whips a dart at this blond guy sitting at the other end of the bar.”

“Shit,” Sam says; in the same breath, Natasha says, “Good for her.”

Bucky’s quivering in his seat. “Hits him straight in the cheek. So the bartender yells, the middle-aged men yell, and I have to duck because the blond’s friend—I think his name was Zhuk—pulls out a gun and shoots at her, but she’d already moved and it would’ve hit me if I didn’t get outta the way.”

“Shit!” Sam exclaims. “The fuck! What kinda crazy—!”

You grit your teeth, hard, as you slide champagne glasses into their slots hanging under the counter. It’s so hard not to speak, but you’re gagged as thoroughly as if—well, hm. You squeeze your eyes shut for the barest moment to contain your latest urge to grin. Not quite as thoroughly gagged.

Still, you can’t butt in. Bucky has to tell this tale on his own.

“My kinda crazy,” Bucky says smugly. “Smart crazy.”

“Funny,” Natasha teases, “that’s my type too.”

Bucky stretches out his leg and nudges her knee fondly with the toe of his boot.

“Anyway she throws the rest of the darts at once, then she just Obi-Wan Kenobis her way out of her coat and she’s fucking draped in weapons. Real beauties. Pistol between the shoulder blades, holsters at hip and thigh, knives in her belt…”

“Are we on a date with her weaponry or with her?” Sam says.

You’re finished putting the glasses away, and you’ve got to leave. You grab the tray, stuff it under your arm, and as you leave, you hear Bucky’s voice get louder with excitement.

“Both! She was just so stunning! She took them down to perfection, and I just sat back and watched. Maximum pain, non-lethal, the perfect take-out if you wanted to get…”

Not until you’re on an elevator do you break out laughing.

—

“So who won?”

Bucky blinks at you, confused. You’re in a tiny round booth, and he’s as close to you as he can be without actually dragging you into his lap. Arm twined through yours, hands clasped, fingers interlinked, your ankle crossed over his.

“In the best date ever battle,” you explain, and he cackles.

“I did, of course,” he says, looking for all the world like the Cheshire Cat. “I mean, first of all there was the spree through the back streets, then the disabling of a neighborhood power grid, a break for soup—”

“That was really good soup.” You sigh wistfully and lean your cheek on Bucky’s shoulder, smiling.

“Hah, yeah. What can I say, I’ve got good taste.” He squeezes your hand.

“Yes you do,” you declare.

“Where was I?” He clicks his teeth. “Oh yeah. Soup, you pretending to be a prostitute extremely enthusiastically—”

“Anyone would be enthusiastic if they got to hump your thigh and make out with you, even if they weren’t getting fake-paid for it,” you point out, squeezing his leg for good measure. “Anyway, don’t forget the fact that you made a damn convincing client.” Your fingers dance towards his crotch.

He glares at you, but he’s grinning, and those sweet lines around his eyes and lips make your heart dance.

“Yeah,” he says. “Guess I did.”

You kiss his cheek and pick up your glass. “Here’s to—let’s see, convincing people we like each other—”

“And don’t,” Bucky adds.

“—taking down a HYDRA sleeper cell with darts and daggers, and me not cracking up while you told that story to your hopefully oblivious teammates,” you finish.

Bucky snags his glass and clinks it against yours. “I’ll drink to that,” he says. “But first, I’d rather drink to us.”

“Just us?” you ask.

He smiles and leans his forehead against yours, pulling your clasped hands against his heart. “Yeah,” he murmurs.

You stare, eyes fixed on his, your heart pounding and toes curling and breath catching. The restaurant sounds—clinks from the kitchen, other couples’ voices, the orchestral music piping in above your head—all fade as you drown in his ocean-deep eyes.

“Yeah,” he says again. “Just us.”

[jokertrap-ran]

(未定事件簿) EVENT!「致斯卡提的情诗」 [Tears of Themis] EVENT: A Love Poem to SKADI Translation (Chapter 1-01 奇怪邀约 : A Strange Invitation)

*Tears of Themis Masterlist / Mobile Masterlist *Spoiler free: Translations will remain under cut *The tracking tag for ALL Event Stories will go under: #Tears of an Event *(y/n) is your name when in direct referral; otherwise referred to as MC.

Location: Home

MC: Hm… So, you’re saying that you want me to go to Skadi Island with you?

Yao Yu: Yup! Please? You’re the only one who can help me!

The person on the other end of the line was Yao Yu, a friend that had been in the same Club as me back in University, who now works as an Editor for a Geographic Magazine Publisher.

She’d recently planned to write an article, a Travel Guide, on the popular Skadi Island.

Skadi Island was located at the junction where the North Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean met; the Island itself was home to many volcanoes, hot springs, and a large number of beaches along the coastline with black sand. The temperatures were moderate, and they had a strong culture related to elves. The island was also located within the Aurora Belt, so it was a place that was very popular with the younger people since the Auroras could be seen all throughout the area...

MC: But there are so many other sights to see on the Island… Why choose to go to a haunted place of all things…?

Yao Yu: Here’s what you don’t understand; articles of those scenic locations have already been repeatedly written god knows how many times now! But! How many articles have you seen that describe this island as haunted?

Yao Yu: I spent a great lot of effort getting this information out from a friend of mine, you know?

Yao Yu: It’s said that almost no one knows about this, apart from a few locals on Skadi Island.

Yao Yu: I’m sure the magazine’s sales will definitely increase again if this article gets released!

The place she was referring to be the abandoned mansion near the Golden Waterfalls.

Rumor has it that this mansion was the “Fiend’s Tomb”, where the “Malevolent Lord of Evil”, who had tried to destroy Skadi Island, was put down. Every time a Polar Night occurs, the “Malevolent Lord of Evil” would wander the mansion, dressed in all white, in search of a face.

It is said that your soul will be snatched away by him, if you accidentally approach this area during those nights.

Yao Yu: How about it? Can you really not consider it? I’ll foot all the expenses for this trip so long as you agree!

Yao Yu: All you have to do is to accompany me to that mansion and write a travel diary of your experience; that’s all!

Yao Yu: You get to travel abroad for a small holiday; all for free! Don’t you think it’s very worth the price?

MC: ……

Yao Yu: Please! Pretty please? This is my once-in-a-lifetime request!

MC: ...Fine...

Yao Yu: Thanks! I’ll end off here for today and let you know once I’ve arranged everything!

☆⋅⋆…⋅─────────── ⋆⋅✾⋅⋆ ───────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

Location: Vikya City

MC: …...

???: What’s the matter? Are you unhappy to have come here, to Skadi Island?

MC: It’s got nothing to do with the Island, per say. I'm just wondering why I'm so stupid…

Yao Yu had sent over a complete itinerary plan not too long after her call, to invite me on a trip, had ended.

But what I didn't expect was…

That Yao Yu would suddenly contact me, saying that she couldn't take the same away flight together with me because of work, on the day of the flight itself where I had arrived early at the airport.

She'd entrusted me to a friend of hers who was at Skadi Island, telling me that I could go check out the Mansion first; and to complete the travel diary that was part of the deal.

???: Hearing you say that makes this development… A little awkward.

The person in front of me was Johnny, Yao Yu's friend. He was the owner of a guesthouse and also operated a Bar of his own.

He seemed to have quite the reputation here, for there were always locals enthusiastically greeting him as we went along our merry way, ever since we'd entered Vikya City.

Mostly female locals, though.

Johnny: But really, you don't have to worry that much about it. Although the Manor of Hermes is deemed as something very strange by the outside world…

Johnny: It's still essentially just an abandoned house, so there isn't really anything to be scared of, apart from the dust.

MC: The Manor of Hermes? Is that the name of that Mansion?

Johnny: She didn’t tell you anything about these either?

MC: She told me that she'd explain in more detail when we were on the plane back then, so she'd only given me a simple explanation about the Mansion.

MC: I did do some homework before coming here, but any information on the Mansion here can't really be found online...

MC: And what should I do now…? I've come all the way here without her; and am completely clueless to boot.

Johnny: ……

Johnny: If that’s the case here, then I'll give the beautiful lady here two suggestions. Perhaps they may be of help to you.

MC: What do you suggest?

Johnny: Lady Yao Yu isn't here with you; and you know nothing about that Mansion.

Johnny: That means that if we take safety into consideration, you shouldn't be entering that Mansion rashly like that.

Johnny: If your job here is to compile and write a travel diary about the Mansion here, then...

Johnny: I can just tell you what's inside that Mansion; and I'm pretty good at telling stories, myself.

MC: So, you mean… You're familiar with that Mansion?

Johnny: In a sense, yes. But you'll have to pardon me, because I can't disclose much more about it.

MC: ...And your other suggestion is? You did say that you had two, right?

Johnny: The other suggestion is for you to enter the Mansion and explore its secrets, of course!

Johnny: Sit on the thought for a while; what do you want to do?

MC: …...

⊳Choice: Go myself

MC: I've decided; I think it'll be better for me to investigate it by myself.

Johnny: Why?

MC: How do I put this… Well, I mean this IS an article that might be published after all.

MC: So, I have to be responsible about the things I write.

MC: I mean, how will the travel diary I write have any element of persuasiveness to it, if I've never actually been to the place myself?

MC: Plus, Yao Yu's paying for this trip— Which means, I must treat this seriously!

Johnny: I'm glad that this was your choice

⊳Choice: Listen to Johnny’s stories

MC: Could I bother you to tell me about the stories of the Mansion?

Johnny: Of course; but are you sure about this?

Johnny: This is just my personal thoughts on this, but...

Johnny: There are some things in the world which are only more interesting if you explore them, and personally experience them yourself, no?

MC: You do have a point…

MC: And thinking about it, Yao Yu's sponsoring this trip of mine, so I have to be more serious and responsible about it.

MC: I think it'll be better to write the Travel Diary after I've actually been there myself.

MC: That's what I say, but I still know nothing about that Mansion… So just how am I to explore that place?

Johnny: Then how about asking around for information on it, for starters?

Johnny: Don't the people of your country often say that "Good Generals don't fight unprepared battles"?

MC: Where can I get more information? I can't find any on the net...

MC: If you told me everything right from the get-go, then it wouldn't be considered as me having explored anything at all.

Johnny: Alright, beautiful lady… Say, do you mind doing me a favor?

MC: What favor?

Johnny: I'm planning to hold a party at my Bar soon, and I'm still lacking in a couple of things to make that happen.

Johnny: So, it would be of great help to me if you could go to some of the surrounding Cities and pick them up for me.

MC: But what does this have anything to do with me exploring the Mansion?

Johnny: I'm not the only one here who knows something about that Mansion. They're scattered all over this Island, and they might even be located in the places you're going to be visiting.

Johnny: Observe the surroundings carefully enough, and you might just make an unexpected discovery!

☆⋅⋆…⋅───── ⋆⋅A Love Poem to SKADI⋅⋆ ────⋅…⋆⋅☆

Next Part: (Chapter 1-02: The weirdness intensifies)