#okay but what will the cover be after lang's key art on the next one

[rose-madder-gaze]

"The cover of Episode 5's recording script is, of course, this person."

Dubbing has started on Thunderbolt Fantasy Season 4!

[a-simple-gaywitch]

Locked Out

Spencer Reid x Reader

Summary: Spencer gets locked out of his hotel room in his rush to talk to you, and overhears a conversation he was never meant to hear. Word Count: 1182 Warnings: None, I think? A/N: this is more of a blurb than a full fic, but I saw this gif and it gave me this idea

“More the hurry, more the obstacles.” -Welsh Proverb

~

You were sipping your crappy motel coffee and reviewing the case files when there was a knock on your door. You opened it to see Spencer Reid. 

Your best friend. 

In nothing but a tiny pink towel.

“Hey,” he said, clearly out of breath. “I had a breakthrough about the case.”

You cleared your head and looked at Spencer’s face. “And the reason you’re in a towel…?”

“Oh, I thought of it in the shower and needed to tell you right away.”

“You didn’t have time to put clothes on?” He shook his head and you said, “Okay, well get in here before someone we don’t know sees you.”

“Thanks. Okay, so I was thinking about the connection between the victims and-”

“Spence, I’d love to hear your thoughts but I’m concerned about that washcloth around your waist.” You dug through your go-bag and grabbed a pair of old sweats you’d stolen from your dad for sleep pants. “Put these on.”

After you turned around and covered your eyes, Spencer started explaining. “I was thinking about how there’s no obvious connection, such as appearance or age. You can turn around now.”

You turned back around. “And?”

“I had Garcia do a little digging. At first it looks like they’re victims of choice, but that doesn’t account for how they were killed in their homes.”

“So there must have been some other common factor. The geographic profile is too spread out for it to be the school district and all the women worked different jobs all over town.”

“Exactly. But Garcia looked at their credit card records for me.”

“What did she find?”

“They all went to the same salon within a month of their deaths. But they all went for different treatments. Emily Green went for a nail art treatment, Jody Summerfield went to get her hair dyed, Regina Allen got her eyebrows waxed, and Vanessa Lang went for um…” Spencer’s face turned as pink as the towel he was still holding. He cleared his throat, “She went for something called vaginal steaming.”

“So the salon is the common factor,” you said, choosing to ignore the awkwardness that Spencer was exuding. “Did they go on similar days or at similar times?”

“That’s the thing,” he said, going over to the desk where you’d put the files. “The only commonality is the salon. None of the employees overlapped and they all went at different times of day.”

You hummed, looking at the crime scene photos. “Maybe we should talk to the rest of the team, see what they think.”

Spencer nodded. “Yeah. We can go to the station and-” He stopped. 

“What?”

“I left my key in my room. I locked myself out.”

“What?”

“I locked myself out of my room. God!” He flopped down onto your bed. “I’m an idiot.”

“Hey, Spence,” you said, getting his attention .”Breathe. It’s okay. I’ll go to the office and get a spare, okay?”

He smiled at you. “You’re my savior.”

You scoffed, trying to hide the blush on your cheeks. “Sure. I’ll be right back.” You grabbed your keys and a jacket before walking across the dingy motel parking lot to the office. After grabbing a spare key from the bored teenager at the desk, you headed back to your room. Before you got to the door, you ran into Morgan. 

“Hey, Pretty Girl,” he said. “So, I noticed Reid sneaking into your room earlier. You finally decide to bone down?”

You punched his muscled shoulder. “Shut up, Morgan!” you hissed, your face flushing. “No, that’s not what happened. And that’s not going to happen.”

“Come on, (Y/N), we all see the way you look at him. We all know you love him.”

“He’s my best friend, Derek. I can’t screw that up because I have feelings he doesn’t. I can’t lose him.”

“So, you’d rather live in the misery of not knowing?”

“If it means I don’t lose him? Absolutely.”

~

Little did you know, Spencer heard the entire conversation you’d had with Derek. And he had been madly in love with you since you joined the team.

He knew you didn’t want to mess up your relationship with him, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t let you know how he felt. 

When the team got to the station to meet with the local officers, he brought you coffee- not crappy precinct coffee, but good, expensive coffee-shop coffee, made exactly to your liking. When he noticed you shivering in the cold of mid-November, he pulled off his jacket and draped it over your shoulders. When you lost your favorite pen, Spencer went out to the nearest office supply store and bought you a box full of replacement pens.

After the case was closed and the team boarded the jet to fly home, you decided to ask Spencer why he was being so generous over the past few days. After the rest of the team fell asleep, you sat next to Spencer on the sofa, tucking your legs up under your body. 

He smiled at you, setting his book on his lap. “Hey.” When you stayed silent, just looking at him, he said, “What are you thinking?” 

Spencer knew your mind better than anyone. You were his other half, the two of you being connected on a level no one else could match. 

“You’ve been weird,” you finally said. 

“What do you mean?” he asked. 

“The $5 coffees, the new box of pens. What’s going on with you?”

He looked over the jet to double-check everyone was asleep. “I, uh, I heard you and Morgan talking outside the motel.”

Your face drained of color. “Spence, I-”

“(Y/N), please,” he said, cutting you off. “I know what you’re going to say, and you don’t need to say it.” He took your hand in his, rubbing your knuckles with his thumb. You watched his hands, not wanting to meet his gaze. “I love you too, (Y/N),” he said, his voice just above a whisper. “As so much more than a friend. And the idea of you being miserable hurt me. It physically causes me pain. You understand me in a way no one else does. I fell for you the first time I ever heard your laugh. I never told you because, well, because I had the same thoughts you had.” He squeezed your hand. “I never want to lose you, (Y/N). I love you.”

You smiled, your eyes welled with tears. “I love you too, Spence.”

“Well, it’s about damn time!” Morgan said as the rest of the team started clapping. 

You felt your face heat up and you hid your face in Spencer’s chest. 

“None of you were actually asleep?” Spencer asked, his eyes wide.

“No, we wanted to see if the two of you would finally own up to your feelings,” Emily said. “It was getting painful to watch.”

You just held up your hand that wasn’t laced with Spencer’s, flipping the team off.

~

“Vulnerability is the only bridge to connection.” - Brené Brown

[writer-and-artist27]

White Rose of Gratitude

An informal sequel to With a Lancer and a birthday gift for @raspberryusagi / @technicallynonexistent, one of the first Fate franchise fan-artists I got exposed to, and I’m more than glad I did because her art is adorable. So, a small dedication to Usagi-san. :)

I don’t own anything but the writing and Hoshino Tomoko, my SI-OC. Usagi belongs to @raspberryusagi, any mentions of Gekkō Keisuke goes to Lang ( @langwrites ), drops of the Narutoverse to Kishimoto Masashi, and Diarmuid Ua Duibhne and Arturia Pendragon belong to Kinoko Nasu and those at Type-Moon.

The song that is mentioned in the story is Let’s Just Live, from RWBY. I personally recommend Goldwin Productions’ Acoustic version of the song on YouTube since the strings and piano come together really well. And personally? After so much darkness from the original Fate/stay night and Fate/Zero, I felt like this song was fitting. There’s only so much apathy and darkness that goes on before something has to be said.

Please enjoy. And since I know you’re reading this, a happy birthday to you, Usagi-san. I wish for your happiness and joy this new year. :)

In a change that was surprisingly for the better, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne was starting to become a constant companion in my dreams. Before he came around in that white space, my nights were usually split into three categories. Peaceful dreamless sleep, memories of Saber’s past life as King Arthur, and flashbacks of my time as Vy. Before meeting Diarmuid, I probably would’ve told you that dreamless sleep was my way to go, because it was better to see nothing than to be forced to watch memories that weren’t your own all over again. More so when you didn’t even have a choice in the matter.

Now?

His company was a lot better than any of the previous ideas.

This night didn’t change that fact, because once I closed my eyes, I found myself in that same flowing white dress again, looking out towards the white space from before. And, well? Diarmuid was still clad in green armor and wielding those two lances of his, so he stood out quite a bit against the white.

“Hello, Diarmuid!” I waved at him.

Once I got his attention, he turned to me with that same smile. “Good evening, Tomoko.” He bowed his head towards me in that same Knight-ly manner once I ran over. “It is good to see you again.”

I couldn’t help but smile and curtsey in return. Formalities had long faded for that friendly affection that nestled in my heart for the Lancer. “It’s good to see you, Diarmuid!” I stood back up and reached over to poke his nose once he straightened himself. “Boop.”

“Pft,” Diarmuid gently pushed my hand away to lightly poke my forehead through my bangs in return. “Boop,” he echoed.

I leaned back to cover my mouth, feeling the grin stretch my cheeks. It didn’t even matter that he aimed for that one spot on my head. It was just all Awww. This marked the first time he said it back. Progress! “Hee hee hee, you’re catching on quick!”

“With such a spontaneous lady as my only companion, it was expected, Tomoko.” Diarmuid’s ash gold eyes were sparkling in return, though, and I held back the pout towards the formal title to instead sit down on the ground. “Are we to talk as always?”

“Unless you want to do something else, yes?” I answered, patting the white space while folding my dress under my legs. “I could change the background! Dream and all!”

Diarmuid chuckled but shook his head, sitting down next to me. “The white is sufficient, Tomoko. I…” He paused, and his smile dropped for a quiet frown. His shoulders tensed, along with the grip he had on his nearest lance, and from the feeling alone, I waited. “I was simply hoping to consult you for some advice. If that is alright.”

“Of course it is.” You’ve helped me out more than you know. I kept my voice soft and the farthest away from an excited high-pitch. This was already a rare moment and this wasn’t the time to squeal or ramble. This was his moment. “What is it, Diarmuid?”

He turned his head away, letting me only see the back of his head and his messy black hair. “…”

He’s hesitating. I tried again. “Dia?”

The nickname seemed to have done something, because Diarmuid swiftly turned around to meet my eyes, and his cheeks were tinged a slight pink. “T-Tomoko, that title—!”

“I-I mean, we’ve been talking together for so long, Diarmuid, so, uh, I thought a nickname like ‘Dia’ suited you.” I pressed my fingers together while trying to keep up a smile. The blush on my face was probably really obvious to him now, because the heat was flooding my cheeks whether I liked it or not. “If that’s okay? We’re friends, so we can talk, y’know. If you don’t want to, then that’s okay too. Just take your time?”

Diarmuid blinked slowly at me, those ash-gold eyes searching and unsure before focusing. “If that makes you feel more at ease, Tomoko.” He bowed his head yet again. “My apologies for not responding immediately. I was simply at a loss for words. I…” He raised his head to meet my eyes again, a small and shaky smile on his face. “I have never been called so affectionately like that aside from my own current Master. So,” he lowered his head, “thank you for your kindness, my lady.”

Oh my gosh.

“Dia…” I reached over to gently move his head up, booping him again, this time on the head. “That’s one more boop for you, for calling me a lady.” The heat was still sticking to my face, but I found myself laughing softly anyways. “I’m glad you like the name then. But enough about that.” I pulled back right after patting him softly on the head. “What advice do you want? Is it about your current Master?”

To my surprise, a darker pink overcame his face as Diarmuid scratched his cheek with his free hand. “To be concise, yes,” he said quietly, and the soft twinge of emotion in his voice conveyed everything. “My current Master’s birthday is coming soon, and…” he took a deep breath, his fist clenching around his red lance. “I am unsure of what to give to her. My personal feelings aside, she has many other Heroic Spirits around her to care for her, and yet she takes so much of her energy to care for me.” I didn’t miss how his free hand reached up to lightly touch the mole under his right eye. “To even try overcoming my curse.”

Oh. This was something new. Hell, this was a side I had never seen of the Lancer-class Servant until now.

Had anyone else seen him this vulnerable?

But yep. The pink on his face, the small gestures, it all came together into one thing. It reminded me of how Kakashi looked at Kei. The signs were all there, but the hesitance was obvious. I kept my voice quiet and honest, because there was no other way to properly approach such a situation but in that manner.

“…Do you love her, Dia?”

The pink turned into a soft red. “Yes,” he admitted with a wry smile. “With all my heart and being as a Heroic Spirit. But,” he turned away, the smile turning into a deep frown. “Th-This is merely a what-if, Tomoko, but if my king heard of this—”

Wait, what? No!

“Dia, you don’t have to overthink this!” Without meaning to, I reached over and grabbed his free hand in mine. No backtracking was going to be allowed in this space! “It’s not your king you should be worrying about!”

“…Huh?” Diarmuid turned back to me with wide eyes. “Then, what is it?”

I shook my head and squeezed his hand in what I hoped was the most comforting squeeze I could give, smiling. “Just let me get this straight. You love your current Master, don’t you?”

The red was back. “Yes.”

“And you plan to serve her with all your strength, right?”

The blush had receded for a battle-ready expression as Diarmuid nodded.

“Then, why do you worry about your past king, Diarmuid? Your current Master is your lord now, isn’t she?” I squeezed his hand again, because the look on his face paralleled both Saber and Kei all at once. I couldn’t deal with that. Dia deserved better. My friend deserved better. And whoever was his King in the times before needed to apologize now, or, hell, grovel in front of Dia — no, Diarmuid for whatever past transgressions happened. All thanks to the simple fact that Diarmuid, right now, was still hesitating because of that King, even with his own heart crying out.

I didn’t know the full story. I don’t even know if I ever will get to know that story. But still. I’d be damned to let someone I care for lose something precious before they even realize it again.

“Dia.” I pulled him in by the hand to lightly bonk his head with mine. “If there’s anything I know as both a civilian and a woman, I don’t think your Master will reject you. If she cares for you enough to try overcoming your curse and keep being with you in spite of the other Heroic Spirits as you say, you just need to tell her how you feel. She’ll be alright with you.” I bonked him again. “She’ll accept you and whatever you have to offer.”

Kei and the others were alright with me. So, why not you and your Master?

Diarmuid gaped again, jaw so slack to the point where I reached over to lightly push it closed. “Tomoko…”

“How about this?” I let him go to lean back on my hands, looking up towards that same ceiling of white. “Find her flowers. Show her something in those blossoms that’s both simple yet symbolic of your feelings for her. Simple does it better than expensive these days.” I winked at him. “After all, it’ll be from you, Dia, and you are the charmer.”

“Tomoko, I respect your opinion, but to be brutally honest, is that…” Dia paused his current deadpan inflection, averting his eyes. “Would that really be enough?”

“It’s enough, Dia,” I insisted, turning back to him to poke his cheek. Were all Knights this emotionally closed off? Because really, Saber worried me enough. As well as Kei, Team Minato, and every other ninja friend I grew to love. “But if you’re still worried, I can give a recommendation?”

He flushed a light pink again as he opened and then closed his mouth. “…If that is alright,” he acquiesced.

I smiled, looked up towards the ceiling, and decided. Singing seemed like a better option to get my point across.

The song was fitting for a Knight that needed to learn how to value his own life alongside his new Master’s. For a Knight that needed to have love returned with love for once. Platonic, romantic, or familial. Anything worked.

I just had to say it.

The lyrics came naturally.

“It used to feel like a fairy tale, Now it seems we were just pretending We'd fix our world And on our way to a happy ending.

Then it turns out life Is far less like a bedtime story Then a tragedy with no big reveal Of the hero's glory. And it seems we weren't prepared For a game that wasn't fair. Do we just go home? Can we follow through? When all hope is gone, there is one thing we can do…

Let's just live! Day by day, And not be conquered by our sorrows. The past can't hold us down, We must break free. Inside we're torn apart, But time will mend our hearts. Move onward, not there yet, So let's just live!”

Dia needed to hear this at least. As a Servant, he experienced death before, and if our previous conversations were any indication, he wasn’t unfamiliar to the sensation of dying again. That was hard. I didn’t know what his previous Masters were like, but I still sang anyways. In the hopes he could find happiness with his new Master. In the hopes that he could start valuing himself too.

There was only so much negativity that one could spread.

There was only so much self-deprecation I could see when I was still guilty of that quality myself.

“When it feels like there's nothing worth living for. Everything is broken. The light's not there anymore. And the story takes an unexpected turn A friend is suddenly gone. We can cry our lives away, But if they were here, they'd say, ‘Go forward, you must keep moving on.’

Let's just live! Just one day, Let's forget about our problems. Let's fall in love with life, And just be free.

The sun will never fade, The night won't steal our day. Let's dance and love and laugh and let's just live!”

Once I finished and turned my head, Diarmuid was staring at me with the warmest expression on his face. “Tomoko, that was…” he shifted, and I tried not to lurch back once he got on one knee and bowed his head in that Knight-ly way. Just like Saber. “As a proud knight, I am both humbled and happy to have heard you perform. Such a song warmed my brutish heart. I shall take your words to memory for as long as I live again.”

Just in case, I opened my mouth anyways. “Are you really going to live, Dia?”

He raised his head, confusion in his eyes. “Tomoko?”

I withheld a small sigh and reached over to pull him into a hug. Of course. It hadn’t stuck yet. No one had told him yet. Why were warriors not reminded of their humanity sooner? “Just promise me one last thing, Diarmuid, please?”

The space around us was moving. Either I would wake up soon, or he would. Our time tonight was coming to an end.

He tensed underneath my hold, but it lasted for a single second as a hand proceeded to gently rest atop of my head. “Anything.”

“Please, Dia. Please live. With your Master, live and please be happy in your new life. It’s not all about fighting, y’know.” Because I’ve seen Kei’s eyes go dark already. I’ve seen Obito, Rin, Kakashi all steel themselves trying to protect me. I’ve seen my own blood. I’ve had enough of bloodshed and death for an entire universe. I pulled away, deciding not to voice the last part and instead gesturing to my dress. “And try white roses. I think your Master will like that.”

The last thing I saw before the white space fell apart was Diarmuid’s surprised ash-gold eyes.

“—moko, Tomoko.” A hand was shaking my shoulder. “It is morning. Please get up.”

Saber’s voice. I forced my eyes open to blink, feeling both parched and exhausted. Still, I rose up from my futon to give her a smile. “Hi, Saber.”

The King of Knights smiled back before pulling me into a warm hug. “Good morning, Tomoko. Did you rest alright?”

“I-I think I did, but why?”

Saber pulled away to look at me, her green eyes searching and concerned. “You were shifting in your sleep. And, there was one more thing. I found it at your bedside when coming in today.”

I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes. “What is it…?”

All desire to speak words left my mouth once Saber reached from behind her back to pull out a single rose.

A white rose.

Saber gently tugged on the single tag tied to the rose’s stem via red ribbon. “Do you know these people, Tomoko?”

I took the rose from her hands to read the tag.

My lady Tomoko, you have my eternal gratitude. It worked.

— Dia

Oh my god.

Thank you for everything!

— Usagi <3

Oh my freakin’ god.

My eyes were already watering.

“T-Tomoko?! Are you feeling unwell?”

I shook my head, feeling the smile cover my face before anything else. The dorks. It was just one song, what else could I have done? Hell, how did they drop that off? That was so much better than anything else I prepared.

“I-It’s nothing, Saber. I’m just happy.”

“Because…?”

“I made a faraway friend happy. And that’s good enough for me.”

I tucked my nose in the petals and felt a laugh start to bubble up in my throat. Huh. The rose had a scent just as sweet as the wind coming in through my open window.

[writer-and-artist27]

10Q x a billion

Tagged by: @owlsofstarlight

Put under the cut for the sake of not being long.

1. What’s one genre you really love the idea of, but are disappointed when you go to read/watch it?

Romance, because so many harem shows and so on just make it way too dramatic and painful to get through. Aside from Cardcaptor Sakura and stories like @langwrites‘ Catch Your Breath, which did amazing Slow Burn, I rarely go into Romance genre stuff.

2. Feelings about fire in general? (where my fellow pyros?)

Neutral. As long as it can help keep the house warm and cook food, I’m good.

3. Which of your OCs is the kinkiest?

In terms of hints/innuendos? Hikari, since she does tease Judai on occasion when they’re alone. Of course, this happens when Tomoko is not around. Hisako does troll Tomoko a little bit herself, but not in that category since sex-related stuff is very iffy for Tomo in general.

4. What is the one thing you most want a fan to say someday?

“Could I draw fanart for you?” or “I was hoping if I could write a fanfic of your fanfic?”

I’d be squealing all day if that happened.

5. Which OC do you think readers will like the most?

From personal opinion? Tomoko, Hisako, and Hikari, since those three ladies stand out so much in CP and in S&S. From what I’ve seen of FFN reviews though, Hikari’s the Ensemble Darkhorse, and that’s awesome.

6. Were your OCs born naturally, with pharmaceutical assistance, or via c section?

Aside from Hisako, because Nobody status for Tomoko, all my OCs were born naturally. I honestly think Judai was the only one that came from c-section, because his mother (and in turn, Tomoko’s paternal grandmother) suffered from some health problems. I can’t expand on it aside from that because I haven’t exactly thought about Judai’s parents. For as long as Judai himself knew, he was an orphan.

7. What is the single emotion that is the absolute hardest for you to write? (loneliness, loss, hopelessness, joy, etc)

Seething anger to the point of extreme action. I can get close with my empathy and sympathy to many different emotions, but anger in that level (where a character might even kill or something) is something I can’t imagine. Nor the simple mess that is Orochimaru’s craftiness, because all he is in my head is a pedophile snake that deserves to die.

8. If your OC were a cookie, what sort of cookie would they be?

Tomoko would be a sweet red velvet cookie. Hikari would be macademia nuts, Judai a chocolate chip protein cookie (because ninja status), and Hisako would be peanuts and M&Ms.

Tomoya, on the other hand, I see being birthday cake, because she’s still figuring out who she is past her assigned male gender.

The Hitoshi family would all be oatmeal cookies that got badly burnt in the oven. :d

9. How important do you think it is to describe a character’s appearance?

Pretty important, but not so much to where you dedicate entire pages to them. The reader should get an idea of how they look, but also leave some room for interpretation/fanart opportunities. Hence why when I do describe appearances in writing, they’re simple and sweet so that art has a leeway to come in.

10. And, spitballing off that, which OC do you think is the prettiest?

Right now? Hikari, since she can rock almost any outfit. Also helped by how she makes her own clothes. Tomoko is still growing, but she’ll get there.

11. Your absolute most evil OC is startled by a toaster popping. What happens next?

Mamoru (the original Drunk Guy) would kinda smash it with an alcohol bottle. Only for Natsumi to go on and yell at him because that was still a perfectly okay toaster. Satoru would be rolling his eyes and heading out the window to avoid another argument on his parents’ parts.

12. One of your OCs is in a Disney animated movie. What’s the “big” song of that movie? (Pocahontas’ was “Colors of the wind,” Aladdin was “A Whole New World,” Hercules was “Zero to Hero” etc.)

If it was Tomoko, the song would be Let’s Just Live from RWBY Volume 4. Simple as that.

For Hisako, it’ll be Neon, also from RWBY, this time being Volume 3.

For Hikari, it would probably be Taylor Davis’s violin cover of My Heart Will Go On from Titanic.

Judai naturally gets Teardrop by BOWL.

Tomoya would probably get something like Mirror Mirror, Part 2 from RWBY Volume 3.

13. Do you think having to write while stuck out in the wilderness by yourself (in a heated cabin, food and water but no wifi, tv, or phone service) would help or hurt?

I think it would help for a while, since I get peace and quiet, not to mention my laptop already having offline editing accessible. But after a few weeks, I would just get worried about how to get back to my family, since I’m still living with them and I love them very much.

Leo and Josh would probably be the first ones to blow a gasket out of worry about me, aside from my Mom and Dad.

14. You have written or thought about writing dirty fanfiction. What is it?

…Really? You’re asking this? From the sex-repulsed, demiromantic?

Well, I thought of fanfics where an adult Tomoko and Kakashi went and did it, but got too much second-hand embarrassment to even think of writing. I’m not even going to bring Kei into this, because Lang kinda had to witness my reaction to the revelation of Kei and Kakashi’s relationship going sexual by OSF firsthand last year, and it’s sorta painful to look back on because getting triggered sucks.

15. Someone offers you thirty million dollars to ghostwrite a book about how Hell is real and all dogs go there, good or bad. Do you do it?

Nope. My uncle has a sweet Corgi dog by the name of Yuko, and I do not want to think about a story where all dogs go to Hell. Yuko deserves better, and I can get the money elsewhere. If anything, I’d just point at that person with a blank face, say, “You’re just a scam,” and walk off.

16. You will automatically get a million dollar contract for anything you write, but it has to be at least five thousand words long AND you can only use as many letters of the alphabet as complete pullups you can do. How does that work out?

I’d have to exercise more, because I do more push-ups and rollerblading than pull-ups. So no. I’d prefer writing for fun, not for the money.

17. Your dog turns into a person and writes a book about your lives together, and it gets turned into a movie. During the premiere of the movie, your dog turns to you and tells you that Hell is a place of our own making. What kind of popcorn do you order?

I would order a medium popcorn with extra butter. And I don’t think I should worry about the dog part since I actually don’t have a dog. The only dog I interact with is the aforementioned Yuko, and she’s too sweet to say something like that.

18. What’s a genre of fiction you don’t think you’d ever get the hang of writing?

Smut, because sex-repulsed demiromantic here. And any despair-inflicting stuff since I know fluff runs in my veins so much better, hence why I’m still surprised about the Danganronpa crossover that’s been going in my head. Hell, the things my head has come up with for S&S Tomoko past the Memory Arc have been less than cheery, and I have to thank Lang and by extension, Os and Abalisk for getting me out of that mindset many times, because the things she has coming up hurt.

19. How similar is your story world to the Earth we live on?

Aside from the ninja and feudal Japan-like aspects, pretty similar. The only thing Tomoko misses is freedom of speech and democracy, because despite America’s flaws, it did allow Vy’s parents to immigrate and find better lives to meet each other.

20. What inspired any of your WIPs?

Catch Your Breath. I’ve said it enough already, and owe Lang many things.

21. What song best explains the squad in your WIP?

Let’s Just Live from RWBY. Because it’s the main theme for CP in my opinion, and going onto S&S, the message of moving forward is something I think everyone in the squad tries to aspire towards.

22. Do you use Pinterest for your characters/stories?

I have a Pinterest account, but I don’t use it. It’s kinda clunky, and Tumblr and FFN has been shown to be better in my opinion.

23. Do you have an Asshole character?

The entire Hitoshi Family. Even if Satoru hasn’t shown up in S&S (because all the flack surrounding him in his initial arc in CP was bad enough), the family’s bad.

24. What superhero is similar to or is idolized by your OCs?

I feel like Tomoko would idolize Starfire and Wonder Woman, since both had to deal with coming to new worlds and adjusting to life with new people. Not sure on the others though. Judai might sympathize with Batman, but aside from that, I’m blanking.

25. Do your protagonist and antagonist get along?

Nope. Tomoko would probably want to yell her head off at Madara for being so stupid in her opinion, and grab her Wayfinder to slash Black Zetsu with. Hisako agrees with the Zetsu sentiment, but would probably want to kill Madara more than yell at him.

Danzo on the other hand, is someone Tomoko and Hisako haven’t exactly encountered. Judai, though, would want that bastard as far away from his family as possible, since Danzo has offered Judai a place in ROOT back before he met Hikari. It was not pretty, to put it lightly.

26. How many of your current WIPs do you plan to publish, if you are publishing?

I’ve published most if not all of my WIPs on FFN. I don’t know about cross-posting on AO3, since it’s a pain in the butt, but yeah. The Danganronpa thing should come out when I get more chapters of S&S done, and when I finish the anime.

27. Is there a song that inspires you to write, or inspired any of your WIPs?

Let’s Just Live comes up yet again in this long post, but I also have to credit many of Kyle Landry’s piano covers of Kingdom Hearts, because his work on the already great soundtrack gave me the idea to make Tomoko into a pianist in the first place.

28. What trends do your OCs use/wear/etc.?

Anime-inspired kimono stuff. And casual, comfy wear that’s simple and pleasing.

29. Do you listen to music or ambiance while you write? Or just silence? If it’s music, what genre?

When I need to write somber moments, I use silence while sitting in a corner of my room. For everything else, I bring up piano music to keep up the theme of CP having piano themes.

30. Are any of your characters sassy?

All of them can be sassy in some ways, but the people that really dominate the “sassy” category have to be Hikari, Tomoya, and Hisako. Those three can really rip into someone if they want to.

31. How did you come up with the idea for your current WIP?

For CP? The simple question of, “What if Kakashi had a best friend from the near beginning?”

For S&S, though? “How would things be better or worse for Kei if she met Tomoko and they worked together?”

32. How long have you been working on your current WIP?

CP: a little over a year.

S&S: nearing a year, since its first anniversary is coming up in 2 months.

33. Are you planning to publish your current WIP?

Uh, they’re already up on FFN if that’s what you mean. Because honestly, I don’t see myself writing past fanfiction.

34. If your MCs were youtubers, what kind would they be? (ex. vlogger, artuber. booktuber, comedy, etc.)

Tomoko would be like Kyle Landry in putting up various piano covers of the songs she finds.

Hisako would be half comedy, half vlogger/booktuber as she comments on the many things she sees in Tomoko’s head and through Tomoko’s eyes. The booktuber part comes from Hisako’s home being Tomoko’s mental library, so she might be reviewing the books/memories that come her way while in front of the camera.

Hikari would probably be another musician, teaming up with Judai on occasion to be like the real life Videri String Quartet, only as a duo because they both handle stringed instruments.

Tomoya would probably put up piano covers like Tomoko, but also film advice videos for those who are trying to transition like she is.

35. What season do you associate with each of your characters, and why?

Hikari is spring, since she brings along the most cheeriness in the house when Tomoko can’t.

Tomoko is autumn, since she picks up the pieces after summer passes.

Tomoya is winter, since she’s still unsure about herself and trying to find her way in the world.

Hisako and Judai both share summer, since they can be pretty hot-headed when it comes to people they care about.

36. Is there one scene that you are particularly excited to write, or had a lot of fun writing?

In terms of scenes I’m excited to write:

CP has me waiting for Kakashi’s ANBU arc to come by, since Tomoko and Kakashi are already in a relationship at this point, and I’ll be able to flesh out both civilian and ninja sides since the two are going to be kinda separated as a result of ANBU forcing Kakashi to get his own apartment in the ninja barracks for security purposes.

For S&S, I’m looking forward to the Commencement and Memory Arcs, since October Tenth and Sorayama were two events that really impacted Kei’s life originally in CYB. Tomoko being there will lead to significantly different emotional aftermaths, so exploring that has me shaking in my shoes (in the good way).

In terms of scenes that I had fun writing…

CP had Kakashi buying his signature outfit for Kannabi in Chapter 42, because Tomoko (the innocent dork) is finally starting to recognize for real that she loves her best friend and honestly doesn’t want him to die while in the field. Also for Hikari being that fashion badass that I wanted her to be.

S&S had Tomoko’s bulging duffle bag of things in Chapter 16, since that was something I had in mind since the beginning of the brainstorming stages for the story, because Kei’s shown that she can be reckless already. Our civilian pianist, on the other hand, takes things to a completely different level, and I’m kinda sad no one commented more on that scene in the reviews anyways.

37. What would the ship name be for your favorite romantic pairing in your WIP?

For CP? KakaTomo, taking the first 2 syllables from Kakashi and Tomoko’s names to get this.

For S&S? It’s a crack and sunk ship at this point, but KeiTomo kinda grew on me since writing S&S.  More so since Tomoko has been shown in S&S to be very dedicated to Kei in a way that’s different from her CP counterpart’s love for Kakashi. It would’ve been pretty interesting to explore, but talks with Lang confirmed it wouldn’t exactly work (as KeiRin shippers from CYB can probably attest to), but thoughts of it are cute to think on.

38. Are you a planner, or a pantser, or in the middle?

In the middle. I plan, but also leave enough holes for the characters to fill in with their actions.

39. What’s your favorite detail that you put into your worldbuilding?

All the family relations between the characters and how a simple network of loved ones can easily make so many changes in the Narutoverse. I’m still happy about how everyone on FFN was so receptive to the CP version of Kannabi, because that was planned from the very beginning of the story. To know that all the build-up, family and fluff moments and all, showed the natural progression of how a canon-doomed mission turned into one that was mostly heartwarming and partly bittersweet.

40. How long are your chapters, usually?

From 5k to 10k words on average. The most I’ve done, I think, is 14k words.

41. If you could meet one of your characters, who would it be?

Tomoko, since I’d be able to assure her that everything will be okay and that she doesn’t have to worry too much.

42. If you could meet any fictional character (not yours), who would it be?

Kei, since Kei’s a dork, and I think I’d be able to get her to relax a bit more by introducing all of RWBY to her and updating her on what’s happened since her past self’s death.

43. Which character is the most fun to write?

Hisako, because she’s a nicer version of Monokuma. She can say so many things that Tomoko just doesn’t say, and without any consequences.

44. Which character is the most painful to write?

To be honest, Judai, since I’m still lurking on his Interlude that expands his backstory leading up to Tomoko’s birth, and trying to make all the Yugioh GX elements transition into Naruto-terms hasn’t been easy.

45. What are some of your favorite tropes?

You Are Better Than You Think You Are, You Are Not Alone, Glomp, and True Companions.

46. What genre is your favorite to read? What genre do you usually write?

Hurt/Comfort as well as a good Mystery mixed with Fantasy are my favorites to read. For genres I write, it’s obviously Friendship, Hurt/Comfort, and Fluff.

47. Earbuds or headphones?

If given an absolute choice, earbuds because portability, but both are fine.

48. What made you want to write what it is you’re currently writing?/ What was that first spark of an idea?

As I’ve said many times before, Catch Your Breath from Lang. The next spark was actually Inoue Shiori by Hermionechan90, since her take on civilians and their relationship with ninja got me thinking.

49. What are your project’s main themes or undertones? (Yes, I do really like this question)

“Keep Moving Forward for Yourself and the People that Care for You.”

“Don’t give into your own doubts — use them as a motivation to improve yourself.”

Also, quoting Madoka from the last episode of the TV series:

“If someone tells me it’s wrong to hope, I will tell them that they’re wrong every time.”

50. Which of your characters do you relate to the most, or has the most of ‘you’ worked into them? And what aspect of you is this? (If you’re comfortable with sharing).

Tomoko obviously has the most of “me” worked into her, because of her status as an SI-OC. The biggest aspect though? Her heart, emotions, and desire to help others. That’s something I still share with her greatly, despite maturing, so seeing her grow as been a wonderful thing to witness.

51. What are the main points of inspiration/original concepts or aesthetics behind your main characters?

There’s a reason why I keep turning back to Let’s Just Live, because it shows just how much aesthetic these characters take from the song and in turn RWBY. You shouldn’t give up just yet, even when life is unfair. You have to keep moving forward, because the ones who have passed on and loved you would’ve wanted you to. If you can’t live for yourself, live for the people that are still alive and that still love you. That’s why I believe Chapter 13 of CP and Chapter 9 of S&S are still so powerful, because it’s something that Sakumo and everyone else needed to hear, and why it still stays despite all this conflict.

52. What’s your favorite quote from your project so far?

From Tomoko herself:

“Don’t take the coward’s way out. Face your pain, your mistakes, head on, and recognize what happened. You can’t change the past, but you can change the present. The future. Don’t start to cherish something when it’s long gone. Recognize what you have now, and treasure it with your life. Remember all the positive moments you’ve had, all the people you’ve loved, and just live. Don’t fear loss or pain. Take it in, endure it, and use it to help others. Because in the end, life is a gift, but short, and with the world the way it is, wouldn’t it be better to impart love and care to our loved ones before the inevitable?”

53. What’s your favorite book and why?

Don’t know if I have one aside from manga and fanfiction.

54. Do the books you like/ genre you read influence your writing style at all?

Yep. Cardcaptor Sakura was all about fluff and positive relationships, for one thing. I can’t list more off the top of my head right now, but that’s a big one.

55. Do you have a weird writer thing? Like a habit or obsession or something that’s just generally unusual when it comes to scribbling words?

Sometimes, when I’m really stressed, I just put on my headphones and pull up hairbrushing ASMR videos, because the sound of hairbrushing is surprisingly relaxing and nice when I need to get into the right working-mood.

56. Are you a hand-writer or a screen-typer?

Screen-typer.

57. What’s your favourite character from a text you’ve been forced to study and why?

Surprisingly, even though I haven’t finished the book yet, Werther from Goethe’s The Sorrows of Werther stands out, because he’s the first male protagonist I’ve seen in historical texts that is so emotional and open, and considering how my HUM professor likens his development to that of the Romanticism Movement that I already unconsciously took from, all the right bells were hit.

Tagging: No one. Whoever wants to do this, go ahead! Just pick 10 from the questions up above. :)