#or peco and smile

[peevishpants]

ping pong gamers Smile and Peco on the bus... gonna miss their stop

[kiokio012012]

[ella390-the-potato]

Best Christmas Scene in Anime:

Ping Pong The Animation (Ep. 6)

Song: Midnight Flight by Shougo Hamada

There's just something 'real' about this scene, that just hits the feels. How sometimes different situations in your life or work, mean that you're alone. Or how sometimes you simply just want to be alone like Smile. Or that you think you are alone, like Wenge, but your actually not. And then there's Yurie, who's hopes and wishes were that she wasn't alone on Christmas Eve.

[marcsnuffy]

I think I really started liking Peco (from Ping Pong the animation) when he declared out loud, out of the blue, in the middle of a concurred place to his best friend that his dream is to be the best player in the world and that he hates losing and doesn't care about how his opponents end up as long as he wins. This happens AFTER he lost 7-0, cried, said he wished he'd never been born (so he'd never have to go and lose 7-0) and said he'd quit the team, and BEFORE crying again after losing at a tournament and quitting the sport for real this time, almost killing himself then going right back to playing

[apileofprofiles]

Ping Pong the Animation

[sh0tarokaneda]

"We are all alive/

We're alive, that's why we sing/

We are all alive/

We're alive, that's why we're sad/

If I hold my palm up to the sun and look/

I can see my warm, red blood flowing/

Even worms and crickets and water bugs/

Are all alive like us, they're our friends/

We are all alive/

We're alive, that's why we laugh/

We are all alive/

We're alive, that's why we're happy."

[ilovechuuy4]

S/O gifting Chuuya a puppy for his birthday? ≧◡≦

I Was Meant For You, Baby. Being With You Makes the Flame Burn Good. ✧٭*꙳

Warnings; none other than thicker paragraphs

Description; Giving your boyfriend a pet for his birthday!

A/N; Sorry if this took so long! I wanted 2 wait till chuuyas birthday since it isn't too far from nikolai's! Hope you enjoy!! Also I was flooded out my house (literally) so please bare with me! (HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY BEAUTIFUL BEST WIFE!1!1!1!!1!2?2?2?2?1!1!1!1!) (F/N is friends name)

You glance at the clock on the wall, 5:23PM a nice Sunday evening on the 28th of April. You had a day until Chuuyas birthday but you already knew what you were getting for his present, that's why you were sitting in a pet adoption center right now. There were dogs barking, cats meowing and other animals noises. Needlessly to say, it was loud.

You were waiting for a specific dog to come out. It was the perfect one for Chuuya. You waited a bit longer until you saw the door open that led to the animals and there runs a puppy, it was a golden retriever. The puppy's coat was this bright shiny golden blonde with these soft brown eyes. Maybe the energy of the dog was different from chuuya's but surely it'll mix well no matter what.

The golden dog's tail was wagging frantically as the employee let go of the small leash, letting the dog go as it jumped in your lap, licking at your face. You laugh softly, running your nails in the coat of the new fluffy companion.

You reach into your pocket and grab your wallet and take out the money; paying the employee. They take the money with a soft nod and fill somethings out before letting you go. You had to keep the dog at a friends house for only a day since chuuya's birthday wasn't until the next day.

You drop the entergetic animal off at F/N apartment for the day while you not only go shopping for a cake but for the puppy too. You make your way to the closest store, making your way to the small bakery built inside. You talk to the baker who was at the front, telling her exactly what you want and what time I'd be picked up, around 3pm tomorrow; Monday, April 29th. You watched as she jotted the details down and she nodded. "Alright ma'am/sir, that'll be around $20 (around 335 in pesos and 3,086 in Japanese yen.) tomorrow when you pick it up." The kind woman said with a thankful smile.

Once you pre-ordered, you scurry off through the market, grabbing chuuya a new fedora to add to his collection along with a nice red wine. You then make your way to the pet isle. There was a lot but you got the essentials; dog food, specifically wet food since it was only a puppy, chew toys, treats, bowls etc. Then you walk your way to check out spending around a good $150(23,197 yen or 2,557 Pecos) you sigh, the hat was pretty expensive, it was around 80-90 USD. You rub the back of your neck as you leave the store, bags in hand.

You drive home, entering the house but keeping the bags in trunk of your car. Once you are inside the house, slipping off your shoes and coat, you are met with a slightly upset blue eyed man, your boyfriend. His arms crossed over his narrow chest, his bright blue irises dangerously showing his mood of anger. "Where were you? You're usually home hours before I am, but I'm here hours before you are home?" Chuuya questions, he was very serious.

"Well I was uhm.." You stamppered, you couldn't make up a good enough excuse. "I was at my friends house, F/N? them?" You said, rubbing the back of your neck. You were obviously lying, nothing could get past the ginger even if you tried. "I won't push, doll. But you gotta tell me when you won't be home. I was worried." He stated, he never pushed you to tell him where you were, he wanted to it come out naturally with no force, he didn't like trying to push answers out, it felt odd to him.

Chuuya walked forward and embraced you, holding you close, hands holding your hips. "Let's go order some food and watch a movie, yeah?" Chuuya recommended, gently grazing your lips with his. You smile and nod as you follow him to the couch. The night grew and the both of y'all became tired. "Let's go to bed, darlin'." He said, gently lifting your to red body off the couch and into yalls shared bedroo, laying you don't and slipping under the covers with you.

As the night wore and the day grew you shirt confortably in the bed, waking up with a yawn. It was 2pm, Chuuya had let you sleep in since you were out so late last night doing god knows what (or at least he didn't know what you were doing.) You yawn, stretching your bones as they pop and crack, the sounds sending shivers down your spine. You yawn onces more before getting out of bed.

You scurry around the bedroom, taking a shower, drying your hair and putting on your clothes you were going to wear to pick up and cake and the puppy. Nothing big, something simple. You grab your bag with your wallet and walk out the house, getting into your car and driving to the same store. You were only a couple minutes early but that was always a good thing as you walked to the bakery section. The same lady greets you with a welcoming smile as he walks to the back, bringing back the cake.

The cake with a simple French vanilla. Thick, swirly dollops of icing, boarding around the top and bottom. The bottom layered with dark chocolate shavings, those also layered at the top on top of the swirls of icing. In black icing, a neat, swirly cursive wrote; "Happy birthday Chuuya." You take out your wallet to pay the kind lady with a smile before taking your card back and walking out the store.

Once leaving the store, you stop by F/N house and pick up the fluffy compainion. It was jumping around, barking and other nonsense in the back seat of the car as you pull up to your house. You reach back, putting the leash on the collar and helping the puppy out the car. It runs inside the house as you squat down to feed it, pouring the food into the bowl in the back room where you sadly had to keep the cute golden for a few minutes more before your boyfriend came home.

You put the fedora and red wine in a small bag and stuff it with tissue paper. You gently place it on the marbled counter top as you take out the cake from the fridge and placing it beside the gift bag. Before you knew it, you heard the rustingly of keys and the front door unlocking, the hinges on the door squeeking as it opened, and there behold your beautiful boyfriend.

"Doll, I'm home. How ar-" his sentence cut off, his eyes going to the gift and cake, a smile spreading on his face as he looked at you. "You know, you shouldn't have?" He said with a chuckle, walking towards you and wrapping you in a hug, hands going around your waist. "I uhm.. I have another gift for you." You said with a nervous giggle before you could say anything else there was barking in the back ground, making chuuyas eyes widen.

"You got a dog?! Where?" Chuuya exclaimed, his eyes wide but he seemed excited. You gently pull away from Chuuya, scurrying to the room the dog was confined in, opening the door. You watched as the puppy hopped and jumped, running around before going to the taken aback chuuya. His eyes widden in gleam as he squats down to pet it was a smile.

"You really got a fuckin' dog?" He said unbelieved, running his hand down the dogs thick coat of fur. "I mean yeah. I know you wanted one so, what do you wanna name her?" You ask with a smile. "Princess." He said, he was straightforward with it and he meant it, this dog's name was gonna be princess and you were well aware it was going to be spoiled like one.

"Mhm alright, princess it is." You say with a slight laugh. You watch as Chuuya stands up and walks over to you hugging you tight. "You don't know how much you; and this. means to me, darlin'. I love you so much." He murmurs softly, kissing your lips slowly, Princess directly between yalls legs.

[kedsandtubesocks]

blood on your name

Cowboy!Ezra x F!Reader

summary: Texas 1885 - the town’s ranching competition brings in new souls out from the desert, one unfortunately happens to be a ghost haunting you & he’s still as handsome and dangerous as ever

warnings/tags: 18+ ONLY. MDNI, old Wild West AU, slight enemies to lovers, very morally!gray Ezra, fingering, oral (f receiving), pussy pronouns, one moment of spit kink, allusions to p in v, scoundrel but soft!Ezra, themes of violence & reader enacting violence on another, use of guns, blood & injury, morally!gray reader, time period views of marriage & shaming women (brief use of derogatory terms against reader), minor character deaths, light gender language usage, use of nicknames

word count: 7.2k

a/n: here’s to finally putting my 7th grade tx history lessons to some use plus I’ve been really missing west texas so here we are lol! Fun history fact - Pecos prides itself as the birth place of the rodeo so this competition is the inception of that! It took me a while to get here & this truly wouldn’t be here without @gasolinerainbowpuddles @julesonrecord & @perotovar i can’t thank you babes enough, and to you, if you decide to read this too, thank you so much ♡

The newcomers that blew into town stand around the edge of the fence.

Pecos had become famous for hosting this rope wrangling event, and you’re not surprised it’s brought others in to observe the spectacle. Just last week it seemed like more wagons wandered into the edge of town.

You’ve been living here among the desert’s harsh eyes with your aunt for a few years now. When your mother unleashed her wrath after she found you with an unmarried man who had drifted into town, you fled with the caravan heading out west. So far west it brought you to the Pecos River. You’re thankful your aunt welcomed you with open arms. The desert proved to be a harsh host. But you’ve managed.

The actual event in town wasn’t taking place until the end of the week. Except so many already want to see the cowboys proudly warming up, showing off.

It’s why you even stop on your way home from the tailor shop.

Duke Williams currently tries his hand at practicing. The handsome young star all the way from Austin shows promise while he maneuvers his threadbare rope with ease.

He lands a solid catch against one of the practice sheep running around, and the crowd claps already impressed.

His bright face, angelic almost, brightens when he smiles triumphantly. When he spots you among the on looks, he beams even wider. You smile back politely.

However, Martha, the mayor’s youngest daughter, nudges you.

“I don’t know why you haven’t let that man swoop you up yet?” She giggles with a slight tease however, her words sting.

Duke’s been pursuing you ever since he came into town last spring. He reminds you of a newly built chapel, lovely coated in pristine and full of holy hope.

Yet, you don’t care for him.

You understand you should be married by now. Especially at your age, you’re becoming a dusting antique on the shelf by the town’s whispers. You even understood your mothers anger after discovering the man she caught you with had simply scurried away without another word.

Everyone in town seems to see Duke almost as your god blessed savior on a white horse sent to rescue you from a desolate destitution.

But you don’t hold any sense of attraction towards Duke. Even as you watch how handsome and sturdy he looks, a fierce cowboy among the other competitors, you simply admire his skills. And that’s it.

You wonder if you’re simply destined to the life of a happily secluded cactus like creature.

Something tickles against your skin, a sensation of being hyper aware of being caught in another’s gaze. Living in the desert has brought you a heightened awareness to make sure no critters lurking among can strike you.

So your eyes flicker around and find the crowd still enthralled by the sight of the cowboys.

Until you find one man isn’t.

One of the newcomers.

Sun kissed skin, an absolutely striking hawkish nose, sparse facial hair and then, the deepest dark earth eyes you’ve ever seen stare straight at you. The dusty black cowboy hat he wears casts a strange shadow across his features, cloaking him almost sinister.

Your breath hitches fast like it’s stolen from you.

You know this stranger.

One of the other newcomers nudges against him drawing his attention away from you. But your face stays stuck on him.

The men discuss with each other low and close, clustered together like a pack of desert weeds sprouting fast.

Except after the mystery outsider relays something back to the group, his eyes flicker back to you.

There’s a simmered wildness to him.

The commotion of spurs clinking comes and so many giggle around you, drawing your attention away.

Duke moves towards you with a shining grin on his face.

A desire to scurry away tugs at you. So with a polite smile, you silently duck away and decide to head home.

“Hey! Why ya leaving so soon?” He calls out. “Did you see me?”

His voice is so bright but also, so slightly arrogant, as if he can maybe keep you from leaving.

“Yes, you were incredible.” You’re truthful in your words.

Thankfully the others all around begin greedily vying for his attention.

As you turn to head home, that strange itch crawls over you again. Someone’s watching you.

So glancing around you think it must be Duke, but his attention is preoccupied.

However, it’s the handsome black cowboy hat stranger who again blatantly stares so direct at you.

A moment passes of you simply staring back at him.

However you break the contact first, needing to head home. But the entire way you sense his eyes blazing a hole on your back.

By the time you hit the edge of town towards your aunt’s cabin, the day creeps into early evening.

Above, vultures circle around high. However… there isn’t any sign of decay nearby.

- ☾𖤓 -

Your walk towards the tailor shop passes by the large stretch of land where the cowboys practice. Duke cries out your name excited. Politely you turn to greet him good morning only to find he’s not alone.

Other cowboys of course have come to wrestle in their skills. One of them surprises you.

The man you saw a few days ago is here.

His deep midnight eyes flicker to you immediately. That handsome face of his stays entirely composed.

Duke rattles on about his day. Yet you pay no attention as the new cowboy has stolen all your focus. The black cowboy hat he wears is dusty, weathered, and for some reason, you feel as if it both does and doesn’t suit him.

Duke chirps out your name again. Apologizing, you blame your dazed attention on lack of sleep.

Your night has been restless

“Hope ol’ lady Julie isn’t working y’too hard at the tailor shop.” He grins boyish and charming.

“Oh, Duke.” A smooth twang of a voice floats out. Waltzing in besides the cowboy, the newcomer arrives.

“You didn’t tell me your bird was so lovely.” His voice is curled with a smile and his voice, a deep drawl, draws an acidic venom in your mouth.

“I’m not his bird.” You politely reply.

“Not yet.” Duke adds warm, shy. But that only causes your stomach to squirm even more.

“Name’s Ezra, dear honeysuckle.” The newcomer introduces himself with a tip of his hat.

You nod back quietly giving him your name.

“Ezra came for the competition, traveled all this way just to try his hand at it!” Duke, ever the competitor, explains excited for the new competition.

Your eyes unfortunately stay on the newcomer rider.

Compared to Duke, Ezra’s frame is lithe. Then again, Duke with his incredibly tall stature is built like a terrifying boulder. Ezra’s broad shoulders and his striking sleek build makes you think of a river, fluid yet quietly powerful.

As unfortunately handsome as he is, his frame does not seem like a cowboy’s build.

Instead he reminds you of the traveling con man you once knew.

Duke continues rattling on and on about how proud he is to show off the town and this event.

You however hate the way Ezra’s eyes still on you make your skin tighten.

Excusing yourself with a soft nod, wishing them both well, you return on your way to the seamstress. Your body burns the entire way.

The day goes by slowly at the shop. After working on a few ruined blouses, Julie, the elderly shop owner, keeps you busy with tidying up. When the sun starts setting, the door clings open, and you wonder who’s coming in so late.

Ezra saunters in, and your throat tightens.

“Welcome in, newcomer!” Julie greets with a grandmotherly grace. “What can we do for you, good sir?”

Ezra smiles with all the charm of a gilded cactus.

“Seems I am in need of a new stitch for these gloves of mine.” Ezra explains pulling out worn gloves.

Leather frayed along the straps speak of the weathered and worn attention they’ve been given. But they seem too big for his hands. You even swear you’ve seen them before on his old business partner. But you don’t want to think too much on it.

Good dear sweet Julie chatters with the man. You simply stay quiet, not even turning to greet or address him.

You don’t even work on his gloves, deciding to let Julie handle them.

You even hide out in the back room, not even listening to when Ezra leaves.

Julie ends up heading home, and you’re left to close up. The sun sets a dusty fading apricot against the shadow of the tailor shop.

As you pass by the alleyway, suddenly you’re handed into the dark shadows. You’re about to scream, maybe even yelp, until a hand goes flying across your face, silencing you.

“Now now, pidge, don’t need you making too much of a holler.” Ezra.

Anger seethes in you, boiling. Violently and with a harsh yank, you tear yourself away from his grasp. You’re almost tempted to storm away.

“Didn’t think I’d ever be graced by your beauty again. That mother of yours still got that shotgun she threatened me with?” He smoothly asks with the amount of dangerous charm a rattlesnake would carry.

“What? This your last attempt at selling that watered down snake oil you call elixirs and tonics?” You snap back razor sharp.

When you first met Ezra, which now feels like lifetimes ago, he was a smooth talking traveling salesman. A drifter, as your mother so harshly called him.

Instead of the cowboy hat he wears now, he looked more stately in his bowler type cap.

He charmed so many of the women in town, trying to sell them the secrets to youth, vitality, beauty, and anything else he could promise in his elixir vials. You however, were not interested, saw right through his ruse.

Though, you realize now you were just as foolish as the others in town rapidly buying his lies. Because you had been just as charmed and fooled as they were.

This man, who’s sharp wit intrigued you, who spoke to you as an equal, became so dangerous because you were willing to give him everything.

Your heart, your body - all of you should have been reserved for your husband. Instead you freely gave everything to this thief.

The swindler swore he would take you with him, make you his wife. But when your mother’s fury came, he fled like a petrified jackrabbit.

You suppose he is more coyote than jackrabbit, greedily stealing anything he can then sneakily moving on.

Ezra’s composed grin on his face flickers, like all the history resting between you and him resurfaces within him.

“Didn’t you hear, pidgeon? My elixirs were plundered. Even my poor partner, god rest his dear soul, was shot down in cold blood!” Ezra explains with sorrow.

You had heard about that. At the edge of town, on the dirt road leading out into the hills, one of the sheriff’s found the large carriage and Ezra’s associate dead. The carriage crashed, run off the road. The damage screamed of the work of bandits. However, Ezra was nowhere to be found.

“I’m just supposed to believe you miraculously made it out of there alive?” You narrow your eyes suspiciously.

You don’t want to say it, but your instincts twist dangerously in your stomach. You wonder if Ezra did the deed himself, killed his partner and took the valuables.

Ezra shrugs sheepishly.

“That’s the way the desert works, honeysuckle. It’s a harsh landscape that only protects those who can survive its wrath.”

You forgot how much he spoke like a preacher sometimes, so elevated and otherworldly. You hate how badly your heart races just being this close to him again, hearing his voice again.

“So you’re telling me you came all the way here just to try your hand at the competition? Never even seen you ride, much less thrown a rope. Can’t imagine a con-man like you being a cowboy.” You reply skeptical.

He barks a laugh. “You'd be surprised. I’m a man composed of many unrevealed talents.”

You knew that very well.

Cautiously, treading like he’s approaching a mountain lion, Ezra steps closer to you. Out of instinct you step backwards closer to the other shop beside the tailors.

“Now don’t tell me you’re pondering the idea of telling everyone about my past life, pidge?” His voice is low, calm but brewing like an approaching storm.

“Because it pains me just imagining the repercussions that could arise if ya did.” He mutters, and your throat gets tight.

There's an underlying threat below his words.

Fiercely, stubbornly, you glare at him, refusing to speak. But you know you won’t say anything. He must know it too. You’ve left your past far back at home. And you don’t want him reviving your ghosts either.

Suddenly the back of Ezra’s hand gingerly, barely touching your skin, grazes against your cheek. He whispers out your name.

“The years out here have made you bloom, like a beautiful desert petal.” He mumbles with hazed eyes.

Out of spite you snap your face away and scowl even harder at him.

“I have to get home.” You snap angrily, managing to finally remove yourself from him.

“The motel houses me for the time being,” he declares from behind in the shadows.

“Unless that blonde Galahad cowboy of yours is keeping your bed warm now?” Ezra adds almost amused.

Rage bursts a furious fire in you, and it consumes you in its heated path.

“Rot in hell.” You snarl whipping back to him.

“As long as you keep me company, beautiful.” Ezra replies coy.

You’re about to curse his soul when he stomps towards you, fast and steady. His hand flings to your face, pulls you back to the shadow of the tailor shop.

He kisses you with the fierce intensity of a sudden dust storm. It even shakes your soul, spins you around, as if you were caught in an actual twister.

He tastes like the faint hints of a cigar, but something still so deliciously sinful and him. Your knees want to buckle when he easily slips his tongue inside and immediately coaxes his against yours.

You whimper, don’t even realize he’s maneuvered you to the wall of the shop, until your back gently hits the cool wood building.

It’s like your body is imprinted to his, completely answering his call, willingly and wanting to be closer to him while your hands clutch at his broad shoulders.

His body pins you firm against the building, and already he grinds his hips into you.

Then the laughter nearby bursts the bubble, snaps your attention clear.

You scramble and rapidly shove Ezra away. You don’t say another word and simply walk away.

However your lips continue to sting, as if bitten by a bee. Your hands ache empty like they’re missing the presence of his body in their grasp.

You can’t fall for this trap again.

But by the time you arrive back home, greet your aunt warmly, the lie spills from your lips before you can stop it.

“Julie wants to start the inventory sooner. So I’ll be heading back and staying over at the shop.”

Your aunt doesn’t question you, simply grins sweet and wishes you a safe trip back to town.

The sun barely sets in for the night over the horizon. The sky is a dusty blue, the softest color before bleeding into a dark midnight. The desert at night is another creature entirely. Even as you walk into town, you try to stay aware and low from any curious eyes.

The motel approaches fast. The caretaker gives you a curious look but before he can, he’s called away.

Ezra already waits for you at the top of the stairs, hidden in the shadows but still so distinct among them.

He doesn’t tease you, doesn’t even greet you. His presence seems so different with how intense he stares at you. Simply moving to intertwine his hand with yours, he guides you to his room. Inside it’s like the world melts away. It’s only you and him.

He devours you, ravenous, like trying to both make up for lost time and also feel like not a day has passed. Your hands run through his hair, knock off his cowboy hat.

You hate how badly you’ve missed this, missed him. He’s the only man your body has known, and the nights you’ve ached for him your fingers never did him justice.

When you’re bare among his bed, and his fingers slide into your wet core, you whine against his lips.

“This cunt still mine, pretty girl?” He asks mutter.

You wearily nod then all thoughts shatter when he rubs against that certain spot you can never reach. Your body crashes in a climax so shakily fast you have to catch your breath against him.

Ezra kisses the top of your head over and over.

“That’s my sweet peach,” he says in awe.

You greedily now pull him towards you, aching even more for him to be inside.

But he’s not finished with you. Ezra greed swallows your sigh before his lips move down your bare body to your core and kisses you with reverent devotion.

Your body melts into the sheets feeling his tongue trace paths among your wet cunt.

Ezra firmly calls your name. It sounds like your soul is being brought back. Wearily you sit up to see him peering up at you between your legs. Slowly he lifts himself away from your cunt, his face glistening with your arousal.

Those obsidian eyes of his blazing in the candlelight lock you in their gaze. Keeping eye contact with you he suddenly spits down to your wet aching sex, and your mind spins.

It’s obscene, you should be disgusted and horrified. You even wonder if you’ve been transported to the brothel a few ways down the road. But it feels absolutely divine especially when he does it again.

“Oh she likes this.” Ezra coo’s then presses ever the softest kiss against your soaked throbbing pearl. “This pretty little cunt, my lovely lady, ache for me huh?”

You don’t argue with him. You don’t want to. He makes you come again and a creature raw and hungry awakens in you. You claw at him, now needing him inside.

It’s like a piece of yourself returns when Ezra slides into you. It’s hot, heavy, frantic but feels sacred.

Ezra must sense it too, because he doesn’t last long. When he spills over your tummy, his hands become claws and keep you caged in his grasp. Your con artist kisses every inch of you he can.

Sweaty and tangled in him, you still feel a tinge of sadness creep in.

“You left me.” You whimper against his lips.

“And it will haunt me until my dying breath.” Ezra sighs back, his voice weighing heavy. “I was planning to come back for you, my bird. But your mother…”

She had put a bounty out on your drifter, managed to get the sheriff on her side. You knew even in your anger at Ezra leaving, it was smart of him to escape.

His hand cradles your face, and his thumb strokes your cheekbone. Those endless eyes shimmer in the low light.

“But I’m here now, pidge.” Sincerity radiates from him.

You’re now able to bask in his beauty - his gorgeous jaw, his beautiful nose, the striking streak of blonde hair that has been hidden under his hat and you’ve been dying to see.

You nuzzle your face into his palm.

“What are you doing here? Truly?” You ask.

“I told you,” Ezra says, drawing your face towards him to kiss you tender again. “I’m here to try and prove myself victorious.”

You’re not sure you believe his words.

But you end up staying with him. Early morning, before the sun reaches over the desert, his fingers trace your face waking you up.

“Dawn bathes you in her glory.” He mutters. Embarrassed at his words you burrow your face into the pillow.

He doesn’t chase you, but instead lets his fingers draw aimless shapes against your shoulder.

“There wasn’t a day where you did not occupy my mind, even after all these years.” Ezra admits low, as if he didn’t realize those words escaped him.

Slowly you turn towards him and discover those deep eyes hazed over staring at you.

“I hate you.” You tell him without any malice. In fact an emotion something very opposite of hatred soaks your words.

“I know. I’d hate me too.” Ezra agrees muttering then leans down to kiss you gingerly.

You have to leave before the town wakes up, and to seal your alibi.

With a final kiss goodbye, you head to the tailor shop.

Julie finds you in the shop when she arrives and applauds you for your diligence and wanting to get a jump start on inventory. You’re thankful the lie worked out this way. You even manage to convince her to let you finish inventory the rest of the week. Of course she happily agrees.

Ezra drops by to pick up his riding gloves and winks at you shamelessly. You roll your eyes but hate how badly you fight against a grin.

The next few days are spent between the shop and the motel. You already brace your heart for Ezra’s departure approaching once the tournament is over, but you try not to face that.

“You’ve been in a rather good mood.” Your aunt notices when you stop by to drop off goods for her.

“Thought you hated inventory.” She comments.

“Guess not.” You reply with a shrug.

This blissful cloud you’re walking in however does cloud your mind. It makes you sloppy. Instead of taking the longer path to the motel, the one that kept you away from the views of the main road and town, you walk straight into town.

Running right into Duke Williams.

He says your name bright and clear. Dread dawns on you fast.

“Haven’t seen you ‘round. Heard Julie’s got ya working extra hard.” Duke smiles.

You hate this small town and the small whispers that spread like wildfire.

You reassure Duke you’re fine and are even glad you can help Julie.

All his friends, in their sleek cowboy hats, and dusty spurs, stand off to the side snicker. They crowd around each other like an ominous pack of wolves.

One of them even calls your name.

“Might wanna enjoy this freedom while it last!” He proclaims, and your stomach twists.

The other guys snickers, shushing him playfull, and even Duke turns around to reprimand him.

“What does he mean by that?” You cautiously question.

Duke simply waves the conversation off instead offering to walk you to the tailors.

You politely decline.

“Aw come on, sweet thing like you shouldn’t be walking alone at night.” Duke smiles but even with his sweet eyes you’re reminded of a crocodile now.

“Well gentleman, that’s why i’ll accompany this lovely bird to her destination.” Emerging from the shadows Ezra grins warm.

He must have come to find you after you hadn’t shown up at the motel.

The men including Duke go eerily silent. Ezra is older than Duke and the younger men. So he holds seniority now. But besides that, Duke now seems wary, and you don’t blame him. Ezra is a man that radiates a sort of unpredictable energy.

“You sure you don’t want me to walk ya back now?” You almost appreciate the slight genuine worry leaking into Duke’s voice. But shaking your head you move to walk with Ezra by your side.

You do hate how all eyes are on you, even walking away from Duke and his mindless followers.

“Just remain calm.” Ezra mutters.

You do especially with him by your side. By the time you open the tailors you thank Ezra, worried Duke and his men are still watching.

You whisper for him to meet you behind the shop, and he does. Your swindler willingly steps into the back room with you.

“Not my ideal choice for our evening, but I do love a good change of scenery.” Ezra comments amused browsing around the storage. Playfully, you throw a ball of yarn at him.

You’re surprised he even helps you with the small bit of inventory you do.

“That young buck…” until his voice comes out low. “He’s fond of you.”

“Unfortunately.” You reply back unamused.

“Earlier at the saloon…he was boasting.” Ezra continues with the same serious tone.

“About enjoying the last days of being an unmarried man.”

That causes you to pause.

“Must mean he’s gotten over me.” You sigh, thank goodness.

“No pidge…” Ezra stops to turn towards you. “He was proclaiming how you were to be his bride.”

Your stomach drops.

You think of the way the boys just now snickered almost knowingly, and that strange comment one of themselves said -

All of it makes your stomach sick, and you have to sit down.

No. There was just no way.

“I’d never accept his proposal.” You snap out hating how badly your body feels frantic, almost skittish like a cornered road runner.

Ezra kneels before you rubbing your hand with his, a strange solid comfort.

Eventually he gathers you into his arms and calms you with soothing soft words.

“We’ll figure out a solution.”

You still don’t know if you can trust his words. But that's all you have. Your drifter stays with you overnight in the tailor shop. You even feel sinful fucking him in the back room but it’s deliciously sinfull all the same.

Sitting and resting against the work desk you fade in and out of sleep. Tender fingers brush against your fingers, ghost like. Ezra is gone by the time you wake up and Julie’s entering the shop jolts you awake.

Her eyes are frazzled.

“Did you hear? Mister Johnston’s eldest son was shot down early this morning.”

You hadn’t heard. Dread fills you fast when you realize Johnston's boy was the one who had made the joking comment to you last night.

There’s talk about postponing the competition. But others in town, especially Duke, argue to continue the tradition in a way to honor the fallen young man.

An ominous terror looms in you.

Later that night, you return to the motel. Too many thoughts swarm in your head, and Ezra even seems distant. He even slides his duster jacket one before kissing you.

“I have some personal matters to attend to, pidge. Get some respite here.”

His boots echo down the hall and then down the stairs.

You can’t sleep. So you move to slide open the window and let some of the night air in.

The faint mutter of discussion very close outside in the alleyway floats into the room.

It’s muffled at first, but once you step closer and concentrate, you pick up the very familiar cadence of a certain drifter.

“No no, I have it covered. As long as you make sure to double the bets on me tomorrow.” Ezra explains in a hush.

The others with him explain the different amounts they’ve collected, and it hits you.

He’s gambling on the competition.

That’s why he’s here.

You knew the men at the saloon often bet, but this feels heavier.

A new clicking of spurs arrives.

“Y’know, you fellas look like a dangerous bunch all here hidden in the shadows.” Duke.

Panic prickles all over your body.

“Now young buck, we’re just here partaking in a fun and friendly wager.” Ezra with his smooth talking skills deflates the tension easily.

“Waggerin’ on what?” You’re surprised Duke immediately quickly jumps in to gamble.

Ezra and the other men begin conspiring on how to make sure Duke wins to favor the odds of their bets.

“I like the sound of that.” Duke grins.

He makes a hefty wager on himself to win, the price even makes someone whistle.

They offer to place their wagers on him as well and with Ezra even in the competition, he’s argued to be an even better reassurance that the outcome falls in their favor.

Ezra even swears by this.

They’re fixing the match, going to cheat. You don’t know how to feel about any of this.

They end their discussion, and you quietly slide back into bed. Before long Ezra returns, the smell of tobacco and the cold air lingers in the room.

His fingers dance against your shoulders while your back stays to him.

“You’re only here… to make money, and cheat.” You mutter hollow.

His fingers stop.

“You overheard.”

You don’t reply to him. Ezra sighs.

“Indeed I am. But I’m no different than the gentlemen that place simple wagers on a game of horseshoe.” He explains low, under the whisper of the candle flicker.

“But it’s like you’re wanting to play with a weighted or lighter horseshoe.” You argue back.

“Is it not in our best natures to make sure Lady Luck favors us by any means possible?”

You don’t know how to reply to him.

“…I’m doing this for you, for us.” He adds.

You turn to him, your face scrunching up in fury.

“Bullshit.” You tell him.

“Believe me a liar, but I’m honest in my endeavor.” His face becomes a firm steeled frown.

You can’t look at him anymore, turning your back again to Erza in bed.

“My hope was to gain enough funds to pay for the bounty your mother placed on me, return for your hand, and make our way into a new life together.” His voice is steady.

“Unless you wish to stay here and wed that Duke.” He offers.

You whip back to glare harsh at Ezra.

There’s a silence heavy and ancient like the desert that settles between you. But it doesn’t last long before Ezra leans down and sweeps in to capture your lips

The discussion dies immediately as passion burns in its place.

You don’t think of gambling cowboys, or of your mysterious drifter, only of the moment consuming you now, and you almost pray you never leave it.

- ☾𖤓 -

Late in the night, wearily half sleep, the bed shifting jolts you awake, and you even hear the door creak open. Before you can ask Ezra if he’s alright, your eyes so sleepy flutter close for a moment. Then he’s sliding back into the warmth pulling you close into his arms. You fall right back to your dreams.

In the early hours of the morning, Ezra kisses your jaw.

“My lucky charm, are you going to observe our tournament today?” He mutters.

The competition was today.

“You nervous?” You had never seen him ride much less try ranch hand work.

“Never.” He says smoothly.

Eventually he slides out of bed and lets you get ready. But soon Ezra walks over and places something in your hands.

The pistol weighs heavy, cold. And your eyes snap open wide now fully awake.

“Why-”

He cuts you off gently. “You know how to fire, yes?”

You nod weakly.

A small smirk tugs at his handsome lips. “Figured as much, after seeing your mother.”

It’s an attempt to tease, but too much terror bubbles in you.

“I just need to know you’re protected.” Ezra reveals, but with a croak you ask why.

“Cause unfortunate as it might be, it’s even more dangerous for a criminal like me to cherish something.”

Your eyes water. There are too many questions in your head, but the day will be starting soon. You need to leave before you’re spotted.

“Tell me you have another gun.” You snap at him.

Ezra simply taps the side of his head. “Don’t need another firearm when I have this weapon.”

You angrily throw the pistol down back to the bed, refusing to take it. That’s when he snaps your name, hard and serious.

You’ve never heard his voice raise like that.

“Take it.” He grabs the firearm and hands it back to you. His midnight eyes are ominously serious with no room for argument.

His hand grabs your face firm in his hand. Your eyes search his endless midnight lake eyes.

“I call you pidge, my little pigeon bird. But I’ve known right from the start you’re a fierce creature. Don’t ever forget that.”

Ezra’s words are beautiful but barbed. They rip up tracks in your heart. He kisses you quick, fierce and short. You hate how it feels like a goodbye.

With shaking hands and confusion, you slide the gun into your satchel. You walk back to your aunt's cabin in a daze. So much so that you barely notice she’s already awake when you sneak back in.

“You have fun at the motel again?” She asks, and fear freezes you.

“I wasn’t-”

“Mac, your uncle’s good friend, gave me the heads up.” She cuts you off softly.

Mac, the innkeeper. God damn this small town. Venom, anger, indignation, they all swirl violently in you.

“Whatever you’re doing there, you’re only gonna find danger.” She says somber, and you stay quiet.

Your aunt sighs.

“You’re lucky this hasn’t gotten out yet. What would young Duke say if he found out?”

Frustration bursts in you, and you snap furious about why would you even need to care about that man’s opinion of you.

“Because he plans on weddin’ you, and I plan on letting him.” Your aunt fires back and her words shoot right through you.

Your legs feel like they’re about to give out, even have to steady yourself against the nearby chair.

You thought your aunt understood. She’s been alone, a widow since she was around your age, longer than your mother had been a widow. You thought she’d never fall into the trap of forcing marriage.

“It’s for your own good.” She argues, watery urgent m. “You need protection, a home, a husband to provide for you.”

You rush out of the house even ignoring the screams from your aunt.

You’d have to think of a plan fast. Maybe leave with Ezra once the competition ends today. It’s all too much. You swallow back a sob and walk back into town.

The competition was today after all.

The day at the shop is very short. Julie doesn’t even notice your somber atmosphere as she’s completely caught up in the excitement of this day. So many more wagons stretch around the edge of town.

Pecos flutters alive with life.

But there’s already commotion, a dangerous kind that chokes the competition tense.

Duke yells loud and furious. The sheriff along with his deputies are nearby. Thankfully you spot Martha and quickly move to ask her what’s going on.

“Duke’s horse is missing.” She whispers.

From what Martha says, when Duke went to the stables this morning the gate was open and his horse was nowhere to be seen. His trusty companion, you even knew how serious an issue this is.

“Well young buck, if you’re that upset then maybe you shouldn’t partake in the festivities.” Ezra, out of thin air, offers.

He looks confident as he strolls up.

“Or you simply ride with another mare?” He proposes with a coy optimism.

“Fuck you!” Duke snaps at Ezra and even looks as if he’s going to lunge.

Your heart hammers hard in your chest. Thankfully the sheriff settles the commotion down.

Angered but stubborn, Duke declares he’s staying to compete and will simply use another horse. He is favored to win after all.

Other cowboys from out of town have blown in like packs of tumbleweed. So many of them are excited to participate and try their hand at showing off their rancher skills

Some are good.

But it is Ezra who proves to be the dark horse, the surprise underdog.

Watching him on his stallion, your throat goes dry seeing how effortless and strong he manages his horse. You never knew he could ride. The way he maneuvers and stays a quiet presence, he reminds you of an outlaw.

“Moves like a bandit.” Someone in the crowd even whispers.

His rope throwing skills however surprise everyone, including yourself. The calf he manages to wrangle takes you by shock. A dangerous lust slithers over your body watching him wrangle the animal with his strength and sturdy form.

But you realize -

This wasn’t what had been planned. From the discussion given last night, Ezra was meant to perform poorly to make sure Duke did better.

But this is exactly the opposite.

He’s the lead runner for champion of the competition.

And then Duke’s turn arrives. The crowd mummers curious, on edge waiting for the favored cowboy to make his move.

The horse he uses is not cooperative. Duke screams, unable to hide his frustration in wrangling the creature.

But once he stabilizes a manageable ride, he goes to lasso the calf. His rope lands and the crowd cheers. He’s already faster than Ezra.

Until the frayed rope snaps and the calf yanks itself free.

The crowd gasps.

It’s not an immediate disqualification, but it doesn’t look good. Duke argues that his rope was frayed and that someone must have slowly started cutting at it. However it’s a long shot argument. There’s no way to prove that and even the sheriff seems a little wary of the accusation.

“That’s just the way rope is son, you just gotta keep an eye on it.”

Duke screams in anguish canyon splitting anger. You’ve never once seen him like this. It’s like it’s a whole new man, or maybe, his true self being revealed.

He’s offered another rope, but it’s almost horrifying to watch that one as well snap. The crowd again gasps.

This wasn’t the outcome meant to happen.

“Duke’s cursed.” Someone mumbles.

The crowd is in disbelief, you even are. The last remaining competitors try their luck, but none can beat Ezra’s speed.

You can’t believe it. But he won.

And Duke is livid. The crowd tentatively applauds Ezra’s win because of the somber mood clashing.

“You bastard! You goddamn cheated!” Duke screams at Ezra while the deputies try settling him down.

“Poor boy,” Ezra says sympathetically before turning to find you in the crowd.

There’s a gleam of something proud shimmering in his dark eyes.

You don’t question it, don’t want to.

Ezra truly is a man of many facets, dangerous ones, like looking at a raw gemstone that could cut your fingers.

The competition spills into the nearby saloons, and the festivities only seem to intensify as the sun starts setting. You can’t even reach Ezra from the groups swirling around him and want to get as far away from Duke as possible.

So you return back to the tailor shop. Julie urges you to join her and the other women at the mayor’s large property, but you decline.

You simply sit in the store trying to muster up a plan. But in a blink, the night arrives and you have to find Ezra.

So after locking up the shop, you head to the motel.

Until the sound of Duke’s screaming and the rage of violence roars nearby.

You freeze, terrified.

Until someone wearily coughs. “That’s what ya get for gamblin’ with bandits, boy.”

Your swindler’s distinct twang drawls smug and now your body rushes to the secluded alleyway.

You swallow back a scream at the sight you stumble upon. Duke with blood fists has Ezra pinned against the wall, like a mythological creature, terrifying and large looking over with violence in his wake.

Ezra’s face is bloody and one of his arms even hangs limp.

“Pidge.” He coughs, and your heart aches.

Duke whips around to see you and barks for you to leave.

Shakily you snatch down to your bag, and whip out the gun to point it to him. Duke’s face falls a bit confused.

“Honey this man wronged me, I’m only enacting my justice.” He argues.

You snap at him to let Ezra go or else.

That’s when a sinister evil darkens Duke’s golden boy face.

“So, ya little god damn whore…you’re workin’ with this man aren’t ya? I knew I should’ve listened to all the rumors about a slut like you.” He spits with venom leaking from his voice.

“Don’t you touch her.” Ezra snarls, but Duke pays him no mind keeping his sinister eyes on you.

“What?” Duke slowly mutters. “Do ya really think you’re gonna shoot me?”

Tears fill your eyes. You don’t want to, but the way your heart races like a terrified Jack rabbit it screams at you to flee. But… you also wonder if your heart races because it’s urging you to attack, to bare your fangs.

Instead of releasing Ezra, Duke moves to grip his coat harder. He slams your drifter hard and fast against the wall. A painful crack-like smack comes, and you scream.

You fire the gun instantly.

Duke blinks, you even wonder if you landed a hit.

Until deep dark crimson, almost the color of dark sludge, leaks across Duke’s side. He crumbles like a fall leaf.

You cry scrambling to Ezra who thankfully is still standing. Duke wheezes out obscenities and even tries hollering for help. You’re however too worried about Ezra.

“M’fine,” your drifter reassures with a wheeze.

“Hand me the gun, dearest.” Ezra somberly mutters. When you do, without hesitation Ezra fires the gun point black down at Duke. And your eyes shut hearing the pistol strike. Duke goes quiet and stays silent.

“Come on, we gotta hurry.” Ezra urges.

Supporting his body, you manage to get him into the tailor shop to tend to his wounds.

Ezra coughs out your name. “M’dearest, I need to make my escape out of town once more.” His breathing his heaved, he needs to rest.

“Don’t leave me.” You cry sharp, unable to focus on anything now.

His hand slides to your face and he cradles you tenderly. You clutch at his wrist as you blink back tears starting at him now.

“It will not be a pleasant life, staying with a devil like me.” He mumbles.

Doesn't he realize, you’re just as tarnished as him now? Blood is on your hands. You simply turn to kiss the palm of his hand feeling more reassured than ever.

“I’d rather be with the devil than live without him.” You speak soft into his skin while tears dry on your cheeks.

He barks a hollow but watery thick laugh as he says your name. “You foolish bird, my lovely dangerous creature.”

The desert is unforgiving to those who do now learn to grow fangs or become just as fierce as its landscape. You wonder if that’s what has become of you. But you don’t question it. You simply gather all you can, steal one of the horses from the saloon and keep Ezra close to you on the saddle.

If Ezra is a devil, then you’re grateful he saved you from your hell. And for him, you will gladly stain your soul.

Under the eternal eyes of the desert, you wander into the night keeping your bandit close to you.

In the distance a lone coyote howls aching at the moon.

You don’t look back once.

[best-underrated-anime]

Best Underrated Anime Group C Round 4: Ping Pong the Animation vs White Cat Legend

#C6: Ping Pong the Animation

Sports anime for people who prefer bildungsromans to sports

#C8: White Cat Legend 2020 (Dali si Rizhi)

Government employee and his white cat boss investigate crimes

Details and poll under the cut!

#C6: Ping Pong the Animation

Summary:

Despite being polar opposites, Makoto "Smile" Tsukimoto and Yutaka "Peco" Hoshino have been best friends since childhood. Although the overly confident Peco strives to be the best ping-pong player in the world, he often skips practice, earning the ire of his fellow teammates on the Katase High School ping-pong team. Meanwhile, Smile—in spite of his innate talent for the sport—cannot help but hold back his full strength when playing against others. Through their mutual love for ping-pong, the two have developed a bond that is seemingly unbreakable.

When Peco hears that an ex-national team player from China is coming to Japan, he drags Smile over to rival Tsujido High School to observe them. The subsequent trip leads to a clash between Peco and Kong Wenge, who overwhelmingly defeats the former in one game. Stunned by such a comprehensive loss, Peco finds himself questioning why he plays to begin with. Seeing his potential as a player, Katase's coach begins to train Smile to overcome his hesitation, but he is reluctant to play if it is not for enjoyment.

As the two struggle to find meaning in the sport, a plethora of stronger players—each with their own internal strifes—await them at the inter-high tournament, where only the very best can persevere. But when these young athletes let their unbridled ambition go unchecked, the hardships they face paint a somber reality as they pursue glory.

Propaganda:

An experimental director (Masaaki Yuasa) adapting a work from a very stylized and emotionally-focused shonen mangaka (Taiyo Matsumoto). This is an anime that feels more like watching an indie arthouse movie than a shonen anime. Featuring characters and arcs that subvert standard anime tropes, it gives an incisive picture into youths on the verge of growing up and learning responsibility. If you want to watch a short anime (one 11-episode season!) which will include cool sports action (and that’s coming from someone who is not generally into sports animes) the matches given weight by the primary use of them in narrative being as checkpoint in the characters’ growths.

I tend to prefer shojo over shonen for being more introspective, with the emotional arcs developed slower and more subtly, but for me this shonen hits a sweet middle ground of having that more internal feel, while getting to do the shonen things of having cooler, action-focused animation and character relationships which are about friendship rather than romance, and character arcs that are about trying to strive hard to achieve a dream. The show is quite well critically regarded, but a lot of anime fans get turned off by the unusual art style, and there isn’t really a fandom for it, so I think it counts as underrated anyways! Anyways, I think it delivers a really impactful and complete story-arc in a short time, and it leaves you feeling like you’ve grown alongside the characters, no matter how old you are (no seriously, my 50-year-old mother walked away saying she didn’t know anime was such a profound genre when I made her watch this).

Trigger Warnings: None.

#C8: White Cat Legend 2020 (Dali si Rizhi)

Summary:

Chen Shi, a young man from the countryside, journeys to the capital in search of his missing older brother, whose existence he has only known about upon his mother’s death. He knows neither the name nor face of his brother, and after finally arriving at the capital he runs out of money as well. One thing led to another, and he finds himself employed at Dali Court, working for Vice Minister Li Bing, a large white cat.

On the other hand, Li Bing is of royal blood who was imprisoned because of his family’s treason. Now, he has to work in the government to atone for the crime.

At Dali Court, they review court cases from all over the country. And when an incident involving the esteemed ministers of the royal court breaks out, Dali Court is called to help—only to find themselves entangled in political threads and hit heads with an eccentric demon.

Li Bing is determined to get to the bottom of this, but how far can he go when he could turn into a real cat at any time when left unchecked?

Propaganda:

Intriguing plot? Check. Complex and interesting characters? Check. Comedy? Check. Drama? Check. 

The blend of comedy and drama is just so good. I started the show because I love cats and supernatural stuff. Who would’ve thought it would pull me into an abyss of despair and political intrigue. The cat demons turned out to be just the icing on the cake. 

We have all these different characters brought up in different ways that their ideas of what is Right conflict with each other. None of them are exactly Wrong or inherently Evil (except for one guy), and this makes it so much more difficult to choose who to root for. You’d think everyone against the protagonists are the Enemies, but turns out even the protagonists are limited by their biases and unintentionally harm others. The two protagonists themselves get into arguments because of their different standpoints.

And I just love this because it makes them realistic, you know? The characters don’t always agree with their friends, and their enemies are not completely hostile either. It really all boils down to what they believe in. Sometimes their beliefs align with existing comrades, and sometimes they find it on the other side.

Production-wise, this show also gets a check on everything. As an adaptation, it’s amazing. The original manhua has quite a simple style—kind of like comic book drawings, and panels are all rectangles in one straight line. Storytelling is also simple and straight to the point. 

But the 2020 donghua? God, it went far and beyond that.  The animation team does not cut corners at all, which is a feat considering the show has a low budget from what I’ve heard. 

A short, simple scene in the manhua becomes an emotionally-devastating experience in the donghua. The animation choices, angles, music, and just everything else blend so well to deliver a STORY. This adaptation does not just copy frames from the source (like Blue Lock) or cut/reorder some of the scenes (like Horimiya and Sasaki to Miyano). White Cat Legend 2020 understands the material so well that it can creatively use the advantages of the animation medium to deliver an experience that exceeds even that of the source. Think Mob Pyscho 100 or One Punch Man s1 level of creativity. It even has mini stories at the end of the ending song. For s1, the mini stories are in stop-motion, while for s2 it’s formatted like a video game. You gotta appreciate the effort.

When reblogging and adding your own propaganda, please tag me @best-underrated-anime so that I’ll be sure to see it.

If you want to criticize one of the shows above to give the one you’re rooting for an advantage, then do so constructively. I do not tolerate groundless hate or slander on this blog. If I catch you doing such a thing in the notes, be it in the tags or reblogs, I will block you.

Know one of the shows above and not satisfied with how it’s presented in this tournament? Just fill up this form with your revisions, and I’ll consider adapting those changes.

New: Starting round 5, screenshots will be included in the poll post. You can submit screenshots through the form linked above, or through here, via ask or dm.

Guidelines in submitting screenshots:

No NSFW or spoilery images.

Pick some good images please. Don’t send any blurry or pixelated ones.

You may send up to 9 screenshots, but not all may be used.

[kiokio012012]

[dream-meister-translations]

100 SLEEPING PRINCES & THE KINGDOM OF DREAMS

WALK WITH A SMILE - PART 1

━

I find myself drifting in a blissful slumber, swaying gently amidst the tranquil haze.

Within my hazy consciousness, what comes to mind is the scene when Navi reported that the preparations for the festival were complete.

KAIRI : Thank you. You've been a great help.

NAVI : P-Prince Kairi! 

NAVI : Princess Emma and Prince Kairi of the Ruined Country of Calavina, for both of you to host a festival in Calavina together is a significant advancement for the dream world. I'm certain it will be a wonderful celebration! 

Kairi and I discussed, and the festival to be held in Calavina was deemed essential to signify the new beginning of the dream world. After overcoming numerous obstacles, the preparations for the event were finally complete.

(Yes. It is finally time...)

A bright and joyous feeling fills my chest.

(Once the festival begins, this land will be filled with smiles...I wonder if the people of Calavina will also be pleased...)

A fleeting image of someone I thought I saw crosses my mind...

(I need to wake up quickly.)

(To take the first step towards my dream.)

Suddenly, an unfamiliar light flickers before me, starting to shimmer.

(This is...)

(Like the Moon Road, but slightly different?)

As I reach out, the light brushes against my fingertips.

In that moment of feeling the warmth and gentleness of the light, my consciousness is swiftly pulled away.

EMMA : Ah...

As I open my eyes, the morning light streams through the gap in the curtains.

(Was that dream just now...)

NAVI : Princess, are you awake?

Accompanied by a light knock, Navi's buoyant voice reaches my ears.

EMMA : Yes, I'm awake.

NAVI : Good morning! It's a beautiful day today! 

As Navi enters the room, still smiling, he approaches the window and pulls aside the curtains.

Outside, lies a clear blue sky with pure white clouds drifting.

(Truly, such lovely weather...)

NAVI : Finally, the day has arrived, Princess.

As the window opens wide, a refreshing breeze flows into the room.

(Though I can't shake off the thoughts of that dream earlier.)

EMMA : You're right! I must get ready quickly!

With a sudden surge of excitement, I quickly get out of bed.

━

Ruined Country - Calavina

After getting myself ready, I step out of the lodging where I've been staying, feeling a bit nervous.

NAVI : Princess, how are you feeling?

EMMA : Uh...I'm starting to get nervous...

Placing a hand on my chest, I exhale softly.

I am to celebrate the opening of the festival and deliver greetings as a Princess. 

(It's not just mine and Kairi's, but the hopes of many others that are poured into this festival...)

(I must do a good job.)

Trying to calm my racing heart due to nervousness, suddenly...

??? : Hey, Emma! Good morning!

Turning around, I see Prince Peco of Orangette, waving his small hand as he runs toward me.

EMMA : Good morning. Are you headed out already, Peco?

PECO : Yup! Peco woke up early and everything! Because today's a really important festival!

SAIGA : Haha, that's a good attitude to have.

Walking leisurely behind Peco is Prince Saiga of Irogu, the country of the great fox spirit.

EMMA : Good morning, Saiga.

SAIGA : Good morning, Emma.

PECO : Oh, Saiga also woke up early? Just like Peco!

SAIGA : Yes. It seems we're not the only ones.

Following Saiga's gaze, I notice other princes who are dressed for the festival approaching us.

EMMA : There's still quite a bit of time until the opening...

SAIGA : Everyone must be excited for the festival. And they know how important this day is to you, Emma. 

Soothed by Saiga's calm voice, a gentle smile forms on my lips.

(So many things have happened...)

(Once it was deemed impossible to hold a festival in this country, rejected by the spirits of Calavina's royal family, I even lost the ability to smile.)

(But with the help of many people, by showing our determination, we eventually gained acceptance from the spirits and I regained my smile.)

EMMA : It's thanks to all of you that we've managed to reach this day.

SAIGA : We're all here today because of you.

With a satisfied smile, Saiga lowers his gaze.

WILL : Hey hey, good morning Emma~! It's such a nice day, isn't it? This is a scene you'd never see in one of my movies.

Drawn by a new voice, I turn my gaze and see Prince Will of Kenal, the movie country, and also a director of horror films, standing there.

EMMA : Good morning, Will. Oh, Lecien and Sky are here too.

LECIEN : Ah...Good morning.

Showing a puzzled expression, Prince Lecian of Arbitro, the country of judgment, walks up to us.

SKY : Yo morning, Emma. 

Sky, the former prince of Daten, the country of magical science, stands beside him. Wearing a carefree smile as usual.

EMMA : Those two make quite the unusual combination, huh?

WILL : They were lurking in the shadows over there this whole time. Observing you while you spoke. I was hoping they were planning to scare you~

SKY : Wha!? It's not like that at all. This guy just seemed nervous to approach.

Saying that, he directed his gaze toward Lecien. 

LECIEN : I was planning to approach you after your conversation ended.

WILL : If you live life that way, you'll never get a chance to talk to her. After all, she's the star of today! 

PECO : That's right! We should all hang out and talk to each other!

Peco took my hands and pulled me into the center of the princes, before giving Lecian a look.

LECIEN : Do...You know me?

PECO : Yeah, you're Haru's friend! He called you "Rustle!" 

LECIEN : His...Friend...?

Perhaps reminded of Haldine, the prince of the Country of Black Tea, Ticha, Lecien's expression softened if only slightly.

(Everyone seems happier than during the preparations.)

(Are they looking forward to the festival?)

Seeing everyone engaged in lively conversation fills me with joy, and I glance to Navi who is beside me. 

NAVI : Today seems like it's gonna be a lot of fun, huh?

EMMA : I was thinking the exact same thing.

Laughter spills forth from us both, as I gaze up at the clear sky, taking in a deep breath... 

The beginning of a new day.

[withered-rose-unbreakable-lotus]

Random favourite visual kei musical moments 3

The madness that AND were, man. AND was that kind of band that reached a specific high and then haunted its members for the rest of their career to be fair, but well...part of me wishes all 6 of them can still look back at it with a smile. Maybe cause it was my first vkei band I dunno. It still means sth to Ken and Peco for one but I never learnt how the rest see it.

One of my favorite things about them was the synchronicity they had on stage. They were chaotic, but somehow like one whole being...This part right here might be translating well what I mean. Their performance and chemistry on stage were electric to me and I really wish they could have made it longer. I never understood why they took their separate ways, they all seemed to regret it afterwards and so much was said back then, I no longer know what's true or not. What I know though is that somehow, even though they never became that of a big name, pretty much everyone I've spoken to from the western fandom knew who they were, even those that never became their fans. Also most musicians in the scene knew them. I was pwoud. :P

I miss my agents. :/

Song title: Trigger (if you've been searching vkei on YT around 2012 like me, you probably came across this one a lot, along with Diaura's Lost November and a couple more songs)

[tokuteasings]

Dating - Zack, Minato Yoko, Oren Pierre Alfonzo

Phew~! Finally rounding out the Gaim dating headcanons with the good boi, the QUEEN, and the chef~!

Thank you all ever so much for joining me on this ride~!

Warnings: Me talking about Gaim, angst, i miss yoko bc i love her and zack deserves better. Also Knuckle Gaiden spoilers, Gridon spoilers,....Gaim spoilers in general

Zack

Sunshine. Literally just sunshine. Zack is a young man who knows what he wants and how to get it…most of the time. See, he may claim to have this confident swagger but in reality he’s just a big fucking dork. But here’s the thing, he’s YOUR dork. So, legally, he’s your problem now. It’s not that he’s a tsundere (ever so slightly) but it’s more so there are so many nerves within him that are just threatening to burst that he has no place to put them. But his heart is just oh so full of love that he can’t help but put it all on to you~! By that, I mean that Zack is a learner. He does his best in every single little thing that he does for you that you can’t help but be floored by his earnest and honest affections. It’s almost like he’s taking baby steps into this relationship. He’s not stepping on glass but taking this into leap and bounds with you.

Zack is a beautiful man and while he is aware of this, he is humble about it. He doesn’t mind that you watch him but there’s this adorable little blush to his cheeks that just…spreads down to the tips of his chest. Also!!! You should kiss his chest! It’s like the fastest way to make him laugh and giggle but also the best way to initiate sexy times if you’re into that. If anything, you need to get used to seeing Zack half naked because he’ll just…walk around half naked in the home you spend together! He gets hot really easily and hates it, so he does this to quickly cool down. You tend to keep your home cold as hell because of this. 

He keeps the relationship on the downlow most of the time. It’s not that he isn’t happy to be with you! He wants to shout it to the world but there is a part of him that worries…Kaito or Peco may not approve. Peco finds out super quick though and is more than happy to support you two! If anything, he probably set you two up. But Kaito honestly could not care? What you two do is your damn business. It’s a load off of Zack’s shoulders. Team Baron are exceptionally supportive whenever they can on the lowkey than Team Gaim. But listen, they are thankful that Zack keeps coming towards the base with the brightest of smiles and the biggest pep in his step…it’s a good look on the leader besides, he deserves it. 

It’s not that PDA is lowkey, it’s present but it’s so natural that Zack doesn’t really think about it. It’s a comfortable sense of PDA that was probably present from when you two were friends and it passed into the romantic sense. It’s simple hand-holding, loving hugs, side hugs, head pats and now it turned into kisses and longing gazes - hands unwilling to let one another go and cling to each other for as long as you two can. He always has this sweet and sappy smile upon his lips whenever you two are holding hands; like a giddy child or a boy with his first crush. He never fails to lace his fingers with yours because it’s comforting, it’s his rock. Thus, I firmly believe that he loves hand and finger kisses.

Zack knows he isn’t the strongest Armored Rider out there, but he is also one of the Riders who takes time out of his day to train with you. This world is going to shit, and he only wants to return this city back to the way it was. He wants to live out his life with you (if such a thing is even possible) in this city that he has come to love. These training “dates” are not often, but are a way for Zack to blow off steam that isn’t dancing. If anything, if he asks you to train with him, you know he has something on his mind. He’s keeping it bottled up because he doesn’t want to bother you, Peco, or Kaito with it and it’s not that you can communicate with fists with him…it’s more so Zack wants to let his mind clear up before he thinks about it. IT’s best to listen to him during these times, come with plenty of first aid kits, and kisses. He’s also just a normal person thrust into this war…the both of you were just normal people yesterday. He may put on a brave face in front of you, but these are the times when he is the most vulnerable. He always thinks ahead that it scares him, what if the worst things come true…? If something happened to you, he wouldn’t be able to forgive himself. 

Zack is such a people person that most of the time, dates are probably going to be in a public space like a restaurant where he’s best friends (lowkey adopted by) with the owners and staff or at a club. He understands if you’re not the kind of person who likes going out and he has back up plans for that! Zack is a very go-with-the-flow sort of person so he’s happy just spending time with you in any capacity. It’s hard for him to pick a good date idea (has to ask Peco or even Kouta for ideas) but really as long as you two are having fun, he’s happy! More often than not, he enjoys spontaneous dates. So randomly he’ll show up to take you out somewhere because he noticed you’re feeling down and he refuses to see you frown! More often than not, you two will just go walking down the street trying to figure out what to do for the day, let your heart take you!!! But if he had to pick, Zack’s fave dates are the ones when you two are outside and doing some sort of physical activity. Be it a walk in the park, or ice skating, or a picnic in the park. 

Zack’s love language is physical touch, verbally, and time together. He has to have his arm around you in some capacity. Around your waist or your shoulders or just holding your hand. Zack never fails to tell you at least one compliment or that he loves you every single day. Of course, as stated before, Zack spontaneously likes to surprise you with random dates just to take your mind off of things. In a way, Zack is just the boy next door - the perfect guy to take home to your parents. Listen, he can’t cook for shit but he knows his way around with at least picking out the delish places around Zawame City. He tends to bring you food from the best places that he knows, the hole-in-the-wall places with the best foods. More often than not, Zack greets you with the biggest of hugs and may pick you up and spin you, lol.

What happened to Zack when he lost the use of his leg was devastating. You stayed by his side as he was recovering, as he traveled to New York to dance again and eventually when he came back to Japan and his…perhaps “final dance” with Kaito. You could have sworn to see the former leader dancing with Zack and giving him strength. Or was it Kouta? Either or…but still, what amazes you is his strength. How he keeps on going despite everything that happens to him. Zack wants to be your source of strength so he never fails to try to cheer you up as you have done for him during these…dark times, even during the Inves invasion you two were each other’s source of light. 

Dancing!!! Zack loooves dancing! It’s his favorite form of exercise and Zack tends to dance with you randomly around the house. He knows freestyle dance, yes, but he knows ballroom dancing as well. He tends to randomly grab you during calm moments in the home with the radio on or something playing in the background and just…almost break out into song with it and dance with you. It’s like living in a musical because Zack loves musicals! Music and dance are such a big part of his life and don’t be surprised if Zack actually composes a song for you. He isn’t a good composer but he knows how to play piano so he WILL sing you to sleep and will have an entire fucking playlist of songs you two have designated as “your songs”.

Loving Zack is a dance. It’s sweet, eventful, full of ups and downs. It’s the ballroom dance and the orchestra combined into this sweet symphony that will never ever stop. In fact, Zack is one of the few Riders that actively thinks about marriage if the time allows. If you are not ready for that, it’s fine. He wants to let you know that he loves you, and will get you a promise ring. It’s not just a promise to be together but…a promise to be there for each other. A promise to help each other when you two are done. A promise to be each other’s strength, the other leg or other arm to support each other with. But you two have a set of separate dreams, whatever those may be, and it’s important to chase those too. So Zack will be supportive of whatever you do, and you will be supportive of him. It’s a calm and loving cycle of affection between you two.

Minato Yoko

One of the most dangerous of people to date, not only because of her past (and has a huge target on her back) but because you can never truly know what the hell is in Yoko’s head. Perhaps there is a permanent sort of maze, a labyrinth you cannot escape no matter how hard you try. She has you captivated, trapped, and you honestly wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. But Yoko is strangely soft around you and she isn’t emotionless just…keeps them on the downlow. She shows affection in different fashions and isn’t the most super verbal person, but Yoko loves you - adores you, and she is fiercely loyal to a fault. There are days when you think she doesn’t love you but she surprises you with a random peck to the cheek or lips and perhaps your favorite meal. Yoko shows her love in the littlest things. 

As such, her love language is time spent together, gift giving, and acts of service. She’s generally rather a reserved woman and she is a bit of a homebody. She doesn’t mind going out on a fancy dinner date with you (she loves dressing up and who could blame her) or even something simple like getting junk food together. But to Yoko, she’s simply elated to even just be in the same room with you, texting or just cuddling. She is fine with not being uber clingy (she’s here or there with clinginess) but simply existing in the same space as you. Acts of service is more so along the lines of the fact she isn’t so verbal most of the time but aligns with the idea she shows love in gestures. It’s sometimes as simple as a hand in yours and a squeeze, or having cooked you a quick meal before you two go to work, or delivering lunch to you during your breaks together. If you do the same to her, Yoko will joke that you’re trying to butter her up but very much loves it when you do so. 

Yoko keeps her personal life and work life very much separate. If you two work together in Yggdrasil as Armored Riders or otherwise, Yoko doesn’t interact with you much in the buildings. In fact, she even keeps your relationship a secret…especially from Ryoma. She doesn’t trust his ass for shit and knows he’ll use the two of you against each other somehow. So she would rather be safe than sorry. This means PDA during work does not fucking exist and you two have to keep a very professional sort of lie around one another. Ryoma does eventually find out and teases her for it, which ends up with a smile and a threat to his life. Once you two are no longer working with Yggdrasil and are working to starve off the Inves invasion, Yoko is a lot more open with her relationship with you. Everyone is surprised that Yoko was even in a relationship in the first place. It’s really none of their damn business and she could honestly care less if you two are found out by them. She’ll actually be slightly more open with you during these times, letting her hands graze against yours and a bit more of the cheek kisses she’s almost signaturely known for. 

PDA is not often either. It’s not like you’re loving a stone wall or something but more so Yoko prefers her own bubble of space. She’s fine with simple hand holding on her off days (you see hints of her happiness every now and then, with wistful smiles and collected giggles under her breath) and prefers small pecks on the cheeks and lips whenever she can. There are moments of passion whenever you two are alone, however, just simply being in the same space together. Her kisses sometimes…knows she won’t make it through a fight and when those moments happen, she kisses long and slow. She pours out every ounce of love she has for you into these kisses, what words cannot fill in. You two are always left breathless after these kisses and Yoko has this smirk to her lips. It’s confident but loving, her eyes shimmering with a light you cannot put your finger on. It’s during these moments when Yoko will whisper out a rare but warranted, “I love you,” and press her forehead against yours, holding your fingers tightly. 

Yoko knows her strength. She is also going to use you as a sparring partner whenever possible. However, she also takes time to teach you new things and correct your posture. Yoko is the most physically capable of all of the Riders and next to Oren, she has the most battlefield experience. She is a bit sneaky and teasing during these times, seeing your blushing face during these moments make her laugh and it’s a rare and wonderful thing to hear from her - tingling and bell-like, from her chest and she lost her burdens. She prepares plenty of after-sparring kisses and foods and drinks of course. But Yoko always gives out pointers at the end. But sometimes she brings homemade items for you and it’s those rare days you know Yoko is saying, “I love you” to you in a nonverbal way. She has seen death, she’s killed and has almost been killed. Life is short and finite and she wants to spend even the littler moments with you whenever possible. 

Shopping dates are something Yoko enjoys and it’s one of her favorite ways to show affection to you. She can give gifts, spend time with you, blow off steam, and look good all the while! Yoko knows she’s a fucking vision and sometimes she may tease you every now and then but she likes dolling you up. She tends to pick out things that remind her of you, things that would suit your wardrobe or things she finds in the spur of the moment. She tends to personally attach things to you (not just to have her hands on you but to feel a simple connection with you and tease you lol) and always gives out compliments. If you have low self confidence, Yoko will take you on shopping dates more often and make you stand in front of a mirror and point out every single little thing she loves about you. Do not fucking fight with her on this, Yoko will say these daily if she must.

Speaking of arguments…it’s a terror to get into an argument with Yoko. She’s so quiet most of the time, and you can never tell if she’s angry (kind of because she has furrowed brow and twisted lip) and how she will strike back. Yoko normally will tell you if she has some sort of problem and it takes a lot for her to get mad but arguments will mostly be about safety, each other and how to make ends meet, and perhaps…Kaito. Yoko has this strange interest in him, in his strength and it makes you feel inadequate. Yoko doesn’t pop a vessel at this but more so that she’s insulted that you don’t trust her. She understands where you are coming from, however, but Yoko is an enigma. But she becomes better, she states each of her boundaries and Kaito can never measure up to you. She may find interest in him, but you are the person she would lay down her life for without a doubt. 

Yoko is beyond protective. Despite her short self, she is found glaring literally at anyone who looks at you funny. It’s doubly so on the battlefield. Because of the fact you two know how each other works, you two are perhaps beyond deadly. You are constantly tossing each other’s weapon back and forth, or rushing to each other’s rescue. You two can communicate with a simple glance and have this practiced sort of dance between you. A queen and her beloved, the royal who protects the queen with their life and she with theirs. Yoko also doesn’t get jealous but more so protective, and tends to wrap her arm around your waist whenever she does so. It’s not to stake her property but more so to ensure you’re safe and she can pull you out of danger. Maybe you’ll get a kiss too. 

One thing Yoko enjoys doing during her down time is doing her nails. It’s calming to her and precise. She knows style when she sees it and she loves it if you two do it together! The two of you pick out things for each other and Yoko likes tickling you a bit whenever she’s doing your nails. Your laugh is one of her favorite things in the world, as is your smile and your words for her. Plus, at the end, she gets to hold your hand all the time! Sometimes you get hand and knuckle kisses for free. Actually, those kinds of kisses are her fave. She uses those hands of hers so much to harm others that seeing them loved is such a change of pace for her and she’s not complaining. 

Loving Yoko is as dangerous as she is. She knows more than anyone that they might not make it out of this Inves invasion. She is a warrior at heart, she is not meant to settle down. But with you…she can forget that. She can be herself, not a killer, not a mercenary, just Minato Yoko. She is allowed to live for herself and not for others. So it hurts the most when she dove in front of you to protect you, the promise to stay alive still burning on her lips and tears streaming down both of your faces as she is slowly fading into the darkness. Kaito lets you grieve as Yoko spills out those words she could never say but wants to. She tells you how much she loves you before she passes and presses a strange little letter into your hands as her pulse fades. It’s a paper full of affection, adoration, and everything in between. It’s apologies and supports and love most of all. You live on in her name, in her honor. 

Oren Pierre Alfonzo

Ohhh loving Oren is an adventure. This man lives and breathes drama and will fucking ham it up whenever he can. Sometimes he likes to randomly and dramatically drape himself upon furniture like a faint Victorian maiden or just upon you so you can catch him! It’s kinda hilarious when he does this because he makes up silly excuses such as, “Oh my darling~! I feel faint~! Catch me!!” or “My beloved! Oh you won’t believe what has happened!!!” but Oren does this outta love and gives you kisses whenever you do catch him. 

Also does not hesitate to carry you in a bridal style. This motherfucker is jacked and he will not hesitate to randomly pick you up and spin you around! He’ll sling you over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and just take you wherever! Though if you are able to lift up Oren, this man is over the moon!! He’ll pepper your face with kisses and call you his knight in shining armor! Though, honestly, because Oren doesn’t sleep often (he does, he promises, he just works late as a chef and all) he tends to come home later. He tends to carry you into bed and cuddle the ever living shit outta you. Sometimes you don’t even make it to bed and just have a blanket around your shoulders. More often than not, you tend to stay up waiting for him to come home. Though there are times when you catch Oren asleep and he won’t wake up. He’s a naturally deep sleeper and you will put a blanket over him. When he finds out, Oren peppers you with kisses~!

Oh this man will cook everything and anything for you. There’s a dish you’re craving? Oren will order the ingredients in one-day shipping and cook it for you right away in the kitchen! Oren’s biggest love language is food itself and he memorizes your likes and dislikes. He tends to follow through with food trends and sometimes you come home to like…the most whack ass but delicious food you have ever had. Oren is a firm believer in the fact if you pour love into your cooking, it’ll taste good. He pours ALL of his love into cooking for you! Also he gets up super early in the morning to make like the fucking most ass expensive bentos for you with the best ingredients. He leaves a note for you inside as well. It’s always these sappy little notes with stickers and drawn on hearts and maybe a lipstick mark. 

God, Oren is the most clingy bitch known to man. He’s obnoxious about this and tends to send you videos and texts and calls like every 6 seconds telling you how much he misses you~! He knows how to turn off his clinginess if you need some alone time or are doing something busy and then will switch to support mode with an excessive amount of emojis, stickers, and kaomojis. Oren’s basically your biggest hype man and he’s going to ensure that you know he loves you. The videos sometimes are him (and a very reluctant Jonouchi) holding pom poms and doing a dance to cheer you on! Listen, Oren may b e over the top but he loves you he swears. 

Speaking of Jonouchi, he’s nothing but supportive for you and Oren. Sure he may give his mentor gripes (or is scared to) but you think of him as a sibling more than anything. If Oren is the high, then Jonouchi is the low. He often complains that Oren is being annoying and you should come shut him up. But really, he knows the two of you can and will take care of each other. He doesn’t have to like play threaten you two or anything. If anything, it’s Oren threatening him. “Don’t look at my beloved too much, because you’ll become blinded, boy!” “Ahuh. Sure.” 

Oren tends to call you by all sorts of nicknames! In English, French, and whatnot. He tends to call you: “royal” “darling” “beloved” “mon amour” etc etc. Though he will use your name or your Rider title and twist em up to make cute little personalized nicknames!!! If you call him nicknames too, Oren will be over the moon! It’s one of his ways of showing affection for you. But he adores your name just as much as making up nicknames and pet names for you. He gets really sappy whenever he says your actual name and he’s letting down his guard so it’s sweet to see him like this. He’ll hold you hand and whisper your name into your arm as you two sway to this music in your heads and it’s calm and it’s perfect.

Like Yoko, Oren will not hesitate to use you as a sparring partner. He will not hold back just because you’re his significant other! Though, he has this ritual before he spars with you. He gives you a quick peck on the lips, “No hard feelings, okay, my love?” and then off you two go to beat each other black and blue respectfully. Oren gives out a lot of pointers, more so than Yoko and he is a loooot more handsy. He is a super physically affectionate person so of course he’ll help position you better. Sure it can lead to sexy times and Oren may tease a bit but he’s deadly serious about making you stronger and stay alive. It’s a hint of vulnerability because he’s seen so much death and a single careless mistake could cost you your life. He’s not going to let that happen. When you two are done, it’s nothing but comfort kisses and feeding each other post-workout snacks! Oren also always compliments you on your job well done. 

As said, Oren is your biggest hype man and this extends to out on the battlefield. Oren is super protective of you during fights and you can always hear him from across a fucking lake of how proud he is of course!!! Oren will also literally come barreling outta nowhere if you call for him, outside of the suit or inside. Oren adores you and not many people expect him to be absolutely fucking terrifying. One time you got hit on by a drunk person and Oren fucking threw them across a whole ass street and berated them for trying to harm his beloved and beautiful partner!!! Yeah don’t make Oren angry. Like ever. But he tends to run over to you to check your safety more often than not. You’re his biggest priority! Fuck all the people around him. 

Arguments with Oren don’t really exist because Oren is so honest and truthful that he will tell you right away with no hesitation. He is very verbal about his wants and needs and he wants to tell you things right away if something is an issue. However, if you’re not confrontational like he is, Oren will be a lot more gentler with his approach. People fear the “can we talk” notes but Oren is more along the lines of, “I want to find a solution with you, because what we have is worth every single little thing we get into.” and Oren will fight for this relationship. Many will think he will let it drop at the drop of a hat but he wants this relationship more than anything. He’s never physical with these kinds of things and wants to come to a peaceful solution more often than not. He also hates raising his voice and having people shout at him in return. It’s from his military training and Oren hates raising his voice towards you. You deserve better than that and it’s unbecoming of the two of you to get into screaming matches. SOmetimes if Oren gets too heated, he’ll walk away from the argument and stress bake in order to calm down. He’ll share these treats with you and discuss even more solutions. 

Loving Oren is like the pastries he cooks, sweet as sugar. Oren is nothing short of a supportive partner who wants the best for not only himself but for you! As one of the few Armored Riders left in Zawame City, Oren has taken it upon himself to be a figure of justice alongside you! Alongside Jonouchi, you were beyond worried when he was controlled by the Hellheim fruit and went on a rampage but he never would (and never could) harm you in any sort of capacity. Oren loves you and you alone. He wouldn’t mind settling down but it’ll take Oren a while for him to think about it. He’s busy, yes, but it’s along the lines of he wants to take it slow. Marriage is not an end goal but something you two can achieve together if you two wish. Of course, his proposal will be the most over the top thing but for Oren, as long as you’re by his side…he’s the happiest person in the world. 

[yugiohz]

I love smile’s and peco’s friendship so much #love

[extremeconsumption]

Ping Pong: The Animation, episode 4

Sports anime is my "I've done everything I need to do for the evening, it's time to wind down" consumption lately. I find them relaxing and the plot is usually not as involved as more action oriented anime.

Ping Pong, a story about the cocky and rambunctious Peco and his more mild mannered friend, Smile, hits the right spot for me.

[hatomadaistheonlytruth]

Okay but where’s the version of Ping Pong the Animation where Peco’s knee *is* permanently fucked up and Smile has to come to terms that the one he wanted to be the hero is no longer there, and hiding behind the cold shell of the robot no longer flies, and he realizes that *he* has to become the hero of his childhood tune? Not saying I don’t love Ping Pong the way it is—I absolutely do and wouldn’t change anything about it. But that’d be a different cool story. Someone should tell it.