#peacock duvet cover set | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

incandescent-creativity · 4 years ago

Text

Pre-Games: Olu and Mal

I. the big day

Mal shifts at the back of the crowd and picks at the pants she’s wearing.

“Don’t fidget,” Olu reprimands quietly.

“Easy for you to say,” Mal snaps under her breath. “You like wearing pants.”

“So do you sometimes. Why did you choose the suit when you’d rather the skirt?”

Mal scoffs. “It was hardly a choice. Barely more than tatters now.”

“My condolences.”

The reel ends, and the Capitol representative’s heels click as he moves back to the microphone. He’s saying something, but Maluka’s mind is still turning over. With such long hours in such different parts of the district, she hasn’t seen Olu in months. Now, today, in such close quarters, Olu stands at her side.

They’re just as tall as Mal remembers, which would be comforting if not for the fact that it just means their hand is close for the taking.

It wouldn’t be that weird, would it? Reaping days are exceptional, in the sense that they are exceptions to everyday life. Maybe Mal can’t see them every day while she’s busy with administrative work, and maybe she can’t hold their hand when Olu’s hands are raw from the rough scythes, but maybe today—

“And now, our first name.”

Crushing stray thoughts like dead leaves beneath her heel, Mal holds her breath with the rest of District 9.

II. the reaping

Olufemi prays.

They don’t know who’s listening. They’ve never known. It’s never mattered. Someone is, and that’s what matters.

With their eyes never straying from the glass bowl full of names, Olu prays.

Please, keep us safe. I know that two must be taken, but you have kept us from the jaws of death for so long. To your purpose, I’m sure of it. Let us serve that purpose still.

After all, the families that refuse to take tesserae subsist on the grain bars Olu sets aside for them. A monthly reprimand when the yield is lower than projected, for “unknown reasons,” is a small price to pay to ensure that District 9’s citizens do not starve.

It is a good purpose, and one that Olu intends to continue doing for as long as possible.

“And now, our first name.”

The man covered in green sequins and peacock feathers plunges his arm into the bowl, up to the elbow, and retrieves a scrap of paper.

Please. Your will be done.

“Maluka Samale, please come to the stage.”

The crowd begins to part, and the cameras begin to turn, but the only reason the name sinks in is a quick, brief squeeze of the hand. It is this moment of contact that triggers the realization: Mal—their Mal—is on her way to the stage.

Olu cannot breathe. Everything freezes up at once. Is this punishment? A prayer recognized for its selfishness, and thus realized through the taking away of their only companion in life?

By the time they think to volunteer, and ensure Mal’s safety, she is on the stage.

I’m too late.

Tears threaten to dampen round cheeks, but there is still one tribute to call. Then the visitation hours will start, and one last moment can be had between them.

A seed of resolve hardens in their heart. I will not let Mal away from me again.

The Capitol peacock already has his second slip of paper.

“Nora Collins, please come to the stage.”

Despair replaces resolve. The Collinses were the first family to approach Olu begging for an alternative to tesserae. Any other granarist would turn them in for attempted theft, they said, but Olu had a kind heart, they could tell. Would it be possible to spare some of their next harvest?

Nora, the Collins daughter, had grown up hale and strong as a direct result of the system they had devised together. She matured from a dead eyed child into an adolescent with the quickest weaving fingers around, and Olu watched it happen.

I cannot let her go to the Games.

Before the girl can take even her first step towards the stage, Olufemi fills lungs that call out over entire fields with the last free air they may ever know.

“I volunteer as tribute.”

All eyes turn to them, and they feel the weight of the crowd once again. An intimate knowledge of procedure and an increasing anxiety to escape the mass of people drives them forward.

“An unexpected twist here in 9!” the Capitol man narrates. “Here comes our lovely volunteer now—and just look at those shoulders! I think we have a contender here, folks, I daresay we do.”

He offers a hand to help Olu onstage, and they accept. Holding it delicately, he guides them both over to the microphone at center stage.

“What’s your name, tribute?”

“I am... Olufemi Abdalla.”

Turning away from them smartly, the Capitol man gestures for Mal to take his other hand. He lifts the two hands he has up in the air, though Olu’s slips out due to their height, and makes one final announcement:

“The tributes from District 9: Olufemi and Maluka!”

III. the visit

If I could have leapt off that stage and tackled Olu to the ground when Nora’s name was called, I would have.

As things went, all I could do was watch. They never even hesitated—as soon as her name was read, their voice spoke up. Credit where credit is due; they sounded strong. All confidence, no weakness. I’m not surprised the Capitol dude called them a contender.

That initial impression won’t last very long, though. There are no cameras in the visitation room, so nobody seems them hug the Collinses and put on a watery smile for Nora, but I don’t think Olu has it in them to be anything other than what they are: a good person.

Settling against a wall opposite their little gathering, I try not to be bitter. Unfortunately, I knew it. I knew that dumb heart of theirs was going to get them in trouble eventually, I knew it from the day I discovered their haphazard attempt to smuggle grain foodstuffs from their quota to the needy.

Their stupid “production” never would have gotten off the ground if it wasn’t for my insider access to the records, fudging the numbers to make sure they weren’t missing as much as they actually were. Olu would be stuck with the hard labor of the fields—there’s no chance of promotion with those numbers—but they also wouldn’t hang.

And now we’re tangled in another mess.

Maybe they could have managed it on their own if it were just the Collins family, but Olu never figured out how to say no to the other folks that approached them. People took to calling them Angel as a codename: “Go and see the angel if you’re in need of food.” “The angel will help you.”

If they’re an angel, what does that make me? Hiding in the background, covering tracks, lying on every paper I fill out every day?

A shadow falls over me, and I look up to see Olufemi approaching.

I drop my arms out of their somewhat aggressive position across my chest. “What?”

They freeze, a minute tic I’ve seen before that means I’ve completely misinterpreted the situation.

Hesitantly, they answer, “I... they just left.”

“So?”

“So, wouldn’t you like to trade spots to afford you a bit of privacy, as you did for me?”

I smile and shake my head, but I can’t force myself to put any warmth into it. “Nobody’s coming to see me off, Olu. My people are long dead, and I’ve pissed off everybody at work at least once before.”

They shift their weight back, now awkward with the weight of what I said. “Ah.”

“Yeah, I know. At least it simplifies things, right?”

“Of course,” they say delicately.

Letting myself slip down to sit on the floor, I sigh. “God, I wish I had a drink.”

Olu folds their long legs and drops to the floor, as well. Perfect posture, as always.

“I’m sure they’ll have alcohol on the train.”

“They better.”

IV. the train ride

Unfortunately, my prediction regarding the train’s alcoholic stores is an accurate one.

Mal proceeds to get “properly plastered” over dinner. I’ll admit that the wine is incredible, the finest I’ve ever tasted, but I sip at it only to complement the meal. She downs cups of it like its sole purpose is to intoxicate her.

As a result, I am the one to take her to her quarters. I suppose the Avoxes could, or perhaps the Peacekeepers, but I can’t convince myself to find either of those appropriate. The Avoxes have enough cleaning to do in the dining car, and the only danger Mal presents in her current state is to herself.

The doors slide open smoothly, to reveal a room decorated in dark tones. The bed has a dark grey duvet and its posts are made of dark wood, and the rug is a plush navy blue color. Even the lamps and lights along the wall are muted.

“Finally, a place that isn’t so fuckin’ bright,” Mal mutters as I guide her towards the bed.

“I didn’t think the rest of the train was too bright,” I say by way of making conversation.

“It was,” she says, with all the confidence of a child. “This is nice, though. Like you.”

I’m unsure whether she means that I am nice, or I am dark, but I suppose she is right either way. Regardless of meaning, it seems an appropriate moment to withdraw my hands from her arms. After a brief pause to ensure she doesn’t immediately fall over, I start setting aside extra pillows and pulling back blankets.

“You takin’ me to bed, angel?”

I huff out a laugh at the codename turned nickname. “In a sense.”

“Awesome,” she mutters. “You’re sexy as fuck.”

I could handle the first comment, but this second one prompts heat to my face. “Sorry?”

“Ah, don’t apologize. I’m just glad you’re finally actin’ on it.”

I’m running out of pillows to keep busy with. “On what?”

“On our undeniable chemistry,” she answers, using a tone that implies I should have known this already.

“I mean, fuck,” Mal continues, “I’ve been trying to hold your hand for, like... years. Figures I’d have to get reaped for it to happen.”

This last sentence is muttered, and the sorrow that overwhelms me over our circumstances closes my throat. All I can do is step back and gesture an open arm to the ready bed.

Mal dutifully crawls in, brushing a hand against the skin of my arm in thanks as she goes. Perhaps it is just her recent words echoing in the room, but the touch does incite nerves in my stomach and chest. Hasn’t it always, though? Or is that her point?

“Olu,” Mal mumbles, one arm up in the air. “Stop thinking.”

This command, at least, is familiar ground. “Sorry.”

“You don’t have to sleep with me,” she promises. “I’m clearly not all... here.” A yawn interrupts her speech.

“Clearly,” I say gently.

“But I wasn’t kidding about sleeping with you. I mean—”

She buries her head into the dent of the pillow for a second, and a frustrated noise is muffled by it.

“I do want you to sleep with me, but like, sleep next to me. I don’t... want to wake up alone like I have every day, for years. This place already sucks. I don’t need that on top of it all, you know?”

It appears that Maluka has forgotten that I also live and wake up alone, but all that means is I understand the loneliness she is speaking from. And as such, I can hardly deny her.

Adjusting the blanket she is under one last time, I circle over to the other side of the bed and crawl in beside her.

#whg #ship: malufemi #star crossed lovers #my writing #prompt response

19 notes · View notes

lockhcrts · 4 years ago

Photo

i shouldn’t have to say that gilderoy is a man who enjoys expensive things this is one of the few things i completely embrace from his canon and which i cannot remove from him in any way shape or form. this man is without a doubt a #richbitch

gilderoy clearly enjoys expensive things from clothes to perfume, everything needs to be either designer or handmade for him. he owns an expensive apartment and generally lives a rather lavish lifestyle. from jewelry to his peacock feather quill. everything is over the top and worth a lot of money. he was raised with this mentality ; his family ( both paternal and maternal ) rather well off, he never had to wait for anything as a child. he never had to ask for something because it would already be his, and even when he did ask he did not have to wait long until it was given to him. gilderoy is very much aware of this privilege and does try to give back to people he cares about with the act of giving gifts.

although he recognizes his privilege, that does not mean that he cannot be stuck up when he is offered something that would usually be below his means of living. the only exception to this is when he’s traveling for the writing process of his books and when the experience is shared with someone he loves. but if a fan was to give him something, lets say something simply like a piece of chocolate, he would not eat it unless it was the best of the best.

gilderoy comes from money and he has made a lot of money in his lifetime. he likes the comfort that comes with this especially in his house and will absolutely make use of this think about duck feather filled pillows, handwoven rugs , silk sheets and embroidered duvet covers. he probably only uses clive christian cutlery ( 85 piece set will cost about £2,148.00 ) and anna weatherley tablewear ( a set of 4 dinner plates will set you back around £1,252.00 ) walking into his apartment would not feel like this expensive, because the place fits the academia aesthetic quite well. but if one has a bit of knowledge about brands in this sector they would be floored.

same goes for his robes, all of his robes are handmade and he has no problem with sending an item back if it isn’t exactly what he wants. jkr has mentioned that he at least on one occasion wears robes that match the colour of his eyes exactly. you know for a fact that there were at least three robes that were made for him that he refused because while they did match his eyes, they did not match exactly like he wanted them too.

this can be quite shocking for those that get close to him while this also attracts a certain kind of people who assume that he will buy them expensive gifts ( he will ) he still does not stop from giving gifts that are extremely unreasonable to give. because while he has long since lost any interest in the meaning of money, that does not mean that those around him have.

#ᵗʳᵘᵗʰ ᶠᵒᵘⁿᵈ ⁱⁿ ᵗⁱᵐᵉ ᵃⁿᵈ ˢᵖᵃᶜᵉ // headcanon / meta #god this man is so ...... rich ?#and this gets only worse in modern verses I HATE HIM

6 notes · View notes

greenelijah76181 · 4 years ago

Text

DUVET COVER

Seems like the word duvet spread just flew into our dictionary around 15 years prior. Prior to that, we simply had blankets, covers, and sofas. A duvet spread is just a spread for a sofa-bed or blanket - much like a cushion spread covers a pad, permitting you to effectively wash the cover and secure the pad, a duvet spread ensures and encases your sofa-bed, guarding it from stains and spills. With costly down sofas, a duvet spread is a smart thought for security.

Notwithstanding, most duvet covers are really utilized as a plan frill, carrying shading to a room, permitting you to change the vibe of a room. There are modest duvet covers you can purchase for a children twin bed for just $20, you can pick from strong hues or examples add some style to a children room.

Purchasing Guide - Duvet covers are made to fit explicit estimated sofas - twin, sovereign, lord, and so forth. Ensure you get the correct size, else it will be excessively loose or excessively close. A typical grumbling about duvet covers is that the sofa inside shifts everywhere like a sandwich in a free sack - it packs up in this corner, hangs to the base of the spread, and so on. The answer for this is either self clasping pins or duvet spread clasps, that work like little forms of those clasps you use in your wash room to keep packs close, aside from they have cuts on the two closures.

You connect one finish of the clasp to within corner of the duvet spread, at that point the opposite end to the edge of the sofa that you need to remain adjusted in that corner. Do likewise for the other 3 corners, and your sofa ought to stay pretty much set up inside the duvet spread. You can get them at Bed Bath and Beyond, store or on the web, look for "sofa cuts" - they cost about $6 for a lot of 4. As far as retailers that convey duvet spread sets - look at Linens n Things, Ikea, Macy's, Pottery Barn, and Target. You can peruse the top selling duvet spread sets online here.

For the greatest choice, you should peruse and search for a duvet spread on the web. However long you realize the size you need, and your duvet spread store has a decent merchandise exchange, you can securely shop from home and return whatever doesn't seem as though it did on the web.Adecent online determination of duvet covers in all sizes. They have strong duvet covers, print duvet covers, jacquard duvet covers, wool, Thomasville, and the sky is the limit from there.

I like the Pure Luxury Roma Black Velvet Collection (which is really cotton, notwithstanding the name!). "Dark and Gold chenille textures sumptuously woven for unadulterated tastefulness. Organizing weaves make a sensational sheet material troupe fit for sovereignty. The duvet spread highlights Italian rennaissance weaves of sensitive grape leaves and plants planning with the jewel weave bedskirt. The duvet is completely managed with gold twist and tassles on each corner.

The dark and gold colorway is both a sensational and ageless brightening blend. Converse to gold grape leaves on gold ." It arrives in a 230 string check cotton and requires cleaning because of the fragile edges and tassles. A Custom Cover Flutter Duvet Cover model sovereign size was $129, $139 for a ruler, in a splendid spring flower design. Most duvets they offer likewise accompany coordinating bedskirts, at extra expense obviously (about a large portion of the cost of a duvet spread).

was another site we preferred. They offer more than 80 examples of extravagance duvet covers, from any semblance of Tommy Bahama, Peacock back street, Signoria, Mystic Valley Traders, Homestyle, Legacy Linens, Sferra. They have a lovely Lotus Pond duvet spread by Tommy Bahama, $340 for a sovereign size. We likewise enjoyed the lighter shaded Island Etching , a material pen and ink propelled planned on Italian cotton - additionally $340 for a sovereign size duvet spread.

They offer an astounding Touch and Feel program, that lets you test items in your home in the wake of buying - no danger and no transportation costs in the event that you have to restore it (multi day bring period back). Indeed, even offers a nice assortment of duvet covers, including the mainstream Isaac Mizrahi photograph reasonable material printed duvet covers - $89 for a jumbo blossom design - accompanies coordinating bloom cushion tricks. They likewise convey Fieldcrest and Simply Shabby Chic plans. The Fieldcrest exemplary blue and white duvet spread set runs $119-$129, 300 string check 100% cotton, two coordinating cushion tricks.

Some better quality destinations will attempt to sell you $500+ extravagant duvet covers, yet you should ask yourself whether the protecter/spread for your sofa should cost more than your sofa-bed inside it! You can pay more for extravagant textures and creator names, yet you won't generally get any greater usefulness for your cash - on the off chance that you burn through $100-$200 on your duvet spread, you ought to be upbeat. Look at the most well known duvet spread sets online here.

They don't have a colossal determination of duvet covers, yet we love their down sofas and have extraordinary encounters shopping with them before. They offer an assortment of sofa-bed blankets - their Vintage Linen Duvet Cover is exceptionally exquisite looking yet just $119 for a jumbo. They even accompany a CaptureClose plan that holds your sofa set up inside the duvet spread, and a SimpleSnap highlight for effectively fixing up and shutting the base of the duvet spread. You can't turn out badly with any of their moderate, elegant duvet covers.

1 note · View note

rugstresor · 6 years ago

Link

Mandala Bedding Set Duvet Cover

#mandala #mandala bedding #mandala duvet cover #quilt cover #donna cover #doona cover #comforter cover #bedroom decor #bedroom #bedroom essentials #mandala bed cover #mandala bedspread #bohemian bedding #wedding gift #fair trade

1 note · View note

phamios · 2 years ago

Text

Flower Peacock Print Queen Bedding Set Rabbit Rabbit Monkey Pattern Duve Cover Set Soft Durable Comforter Covers Pillow Cases

Product Details 1.Please Carefully read and check the detail size before purchuse. 2.The bedding set do not include any fillers! If you have any questions after receiving the goods or are not satisfied with the quality, you can contact us and we will give you a satisfactory solution. Products included in each size: Excluding bed sheets ————————————— EU 135x200cm 3 pcs size: EU Single Duvet cover…

View On WordPress

0 notes

powereddonut · 3 years ago

Text

“Kujaku”五

Nora groans in her sleep, flipping around only to sink deeper under her duvet, "Keep it down," she grumbles.

Suzume giggles once more before crouching down and reaching her hand towards Nora's head. She caresses her soft, ginger locks, allowing the girl to lean into her touch.

"It's fine if you wanna oversleep, but today is the day we head out for Beacon," she assures, her smile becoming more earnest when Nora cracks her eyes open. She bolts up from her resting spot, throwing the covers off her legs.

"Then what are we waiting for!?" she exclaims earning a grunt from the boy laying on the futon to the left. He seems to curl in on himself, not wanting to accept the time of day. Michael internally rolls his eyes and crosses his arms.

"They better get up. You have a week's travel if you wanna get to the airships on time," The god scolds, and Suzume furrows her eyebrows at his comment. She doesn't disagree with the fact as it was discussed heavily over dinner last night. With that in mind, she goes to wake up Ren next.

He isn't as stubborn as Nora, but that doesn't mean he wants to get up in the morning either. Then as Suzume tries to coax his eyes open, Ren eases the duvet off his shoulders but doesn't sit up. He instead sports a small simper, playfully plastering it on his pale white face. Suzume sticks out her tongue yet still complies. She sets her hand on Ren's forehead and sweeps his bangs to the right, gently patting down any strands of bedhead.

When Suzume stops her coddling, Ren peaks a fuchsia eye open and stares at the female, "Morning," he greets then brings himself up.

"Brat..." Michael seethes within Suzume's mind, which she promptly ignores. The god's emotions sizzle on her tongue and just below the surface of her skin. It dares to mix with her rousing rhythm, but she doesn't let it - having been already used to the overwhelming feeling.

Suzume shakes her head before standing up, "Ohayo," she responds and picks up her clothes. Nora had already left the room, presumably headed for the bathroom. Ren is folding his futon by the time the bluenette slides open the shoji, and she grins back at the black-haired boy, "An adventure awaits!" she goes out of their room, guiding her way to the bathroom.

Suzume comes out of the washroom sporting a short, peafowl kimono. She adjusts the string of her obijime, bringing the obidome accessory to the middle of her golden obi. The obi-age is jade green with the edges being folded as the ohashori has a lighter shade of golden. The silk is layered, the piece under the obi starting as blue-green and fading into a muted blue, as the kimono sits below that with blots of peacock feathers. The base color is dark blue, and the muted blue lines the bottom edge of the kimono. Lastly, Suzume fixes her white haneri, and then carefully pats down the hair near her kanzashi. It has the same theme as her kimono, the accessory having folds of golden, blue, and green fabric. Some beads hug the clip and sit atop her hair along with blue feathers that stick out behind the folds.

She grins down at her black geta, enjoying the dark blue straps that surround the mantis-green stockings she has lifted just below her knees. Suzume doesn't mind how the kimono stops at her mid-thigh, finding it easier for maneuverability when in combat. She deems the outfit as cute, especially as her knee ornaments jingle as they collide.

When done admiring her handiwork, the bluenette makes her way to the kitchen. She walks through the doorframe to see her mother pouring milk into a glass cup. Ren and Nora are at the table, the ginger impatiently waiting while the ravenette is trying to keep her still.

Suzume turns to her mother and smiles, "Ohayo, Mama," she briefly hugs the older woman then walks to the dining room and takes a seat.

"Ohayo," the raven-haired woman says as she goes to the table as well and gives Nora the glass of milk. She sits at the head of the table, and as she does, Suzume and Ren clasp their hands at their chests.

"Itadakimasu," they chorus before picking up their chopsticks and beginning to eat.

Suzume starts with her rice, enjoying the soft texture as it enters her mouth. She glances to her other companions, observing Ren's more dignified manner compared to Nora's. It makes her feel at home knowing the habits of her friends are still the same. Her mind then drifts to the events of the day, going over the list they prepped yesterday.

"So after breakfast, we're supposed to meet otousan at oji's shop to get our weapons," the bluenette starts, gaining the attention of those at the table, "Then after, we have to say goodbye to obaasan. Nora, did you finish packing?" Suzume points an accusing chopstick to the ginger.

Nora abruptly stops drinking her miso soup. She takes one final gulp before setting it down. Giving Suzume a salute, she grins widely, "Yes ma'am, I did."

The other nods in approval and continues eating her breakfast. Within the next ten minutes, the three teenagers have already finished their meal and are at the front door. Suzume is scrounging through her pack, being sure everything is in place before slipping it on over her shoulders. She jumps, scooting it further up her back to secure it in place. Looking to her companions, she sees them also getting ready and waiting at the door.

Turning back to her mother, she briefly hugs her with a smile, "Ittekimasu," she mutters into the raven-haired woman's shoulder. Pulling back, Suzume falters at seeing the reflective look upon her mother's face.

"Itterasshi," the woman responds. Suzume falls into the embrace one last time before going to the door.

"I love you, Mama," she says as she walks out of her home. Her mother stands with her hands clasped at her front, a meaningful glint in her eyes.

"I love you too, Ana," the older woman waves as her daughter leaves their yard and starts walking down the street. She sighs, her breaths coming out shakily as she wishes the best for the youthful girl.

Suzume grips the straps of her pack tightly. Her thoughts remain reluctant on leaving her mother alone in their home -- she's even reluctant to leave the village. Never has she stepped past the threshold of the Forest of Hinoki. Suzume knows of the Grimm, having taken many lessons from her father on how to successfully immobilize them. She has trained hard to get up to this point, so she has put in the effort to make her family proud.

"Everything will be fine," Michael reassures, breaking his host out of her endless doubts.

"I know, it's just a bit nerve-wracking to finally have the opportunity to be outside the village," the bluenette confesses now fiddling with the chord to tighten the straps of her pack. Michael has always been there for her and they've learned about trust between sharing one body. The god will ask to take control and Suzume will grant him her seat. The first time, she was in awe about her appearance including the horns that were attached to her scalp. They figured out a way to make them disappear, but it was still fascinating knowing that Michael took part in being a Faunus.

Michael yawns, leisurely staring through his host's point of view, "It'll be a nice change of scenery for us both."

Suzume perks up at that realization, her mind now drifting to plentiful landscapes and new biomes for them to explore, "You're right. We have to make the best out of the moment." There's now a skip in her step as they walk into the marketplace.

Nora and Ren are already used to the inner conversations Suzume and Michael constantly have, so they aren't bothered when their companion casually speaks out loud. The familiar stalls stay in view as they ignore the wares but still greet the townsfolk.

Soon, a small building comes into view; a sign hanging from the door has a picture of an anvil. Nora enters first, pushing the door open with enthusiasm. Suzume and Ren hurry after her feeling giddy as well but keeping themselves restrained. A man with a dark gray apron comes out of the back of the shop, his arms filled with gleaming weaponry. The three teenagers wait with anticipation as Suzume's uncle sets each piece of machinery on the counter.

The older man huffs as he plants both fists on his hips, "Well, what do ya'll think?" he inquires yet stays confident with his handiwork.

Nora squeals as her hand yanks on a metal hammer. She effortlessly lifts the heavy weapon into the air, admiring the intricate details embedded in the barrel of the hammer. She presses a button and the weapon retracts, becoming a grenade launcher with a revolver-type rotating cylinder.

The ginger hugs her weapon to her chest lovingly, "I'll call it... Magnhild," she says with a dreamy sigh. Suzume giggles, happy for her friend's beaming spirit.

Ren is next to grade his weapons, choosing to pick up emerald pistols with sickle blades attached to them. The barrel of the guns collapses in on themselves as he spins them around on his fingers. The magenta-eyed boy hilts them onto a spot on his belt, turning to Suzume after.

"I think I'll call them StormFlower," he states, solidifying his decision with a firm nod. The bluenette stays supportive by giving her friend a thumbs up. She looks back to the counter to find it empty causing her grin to falter.

Her uncle chuckles gaining her attention, "Your father wants to give it to you himself. He's with obaasan," Suzume's uncle goes back into another room, continuing his work.

Nora comes behind the bluenette and slaps her back, "C'mon! We don't have all day, right?" she muses, hopping in front of Suzume's view. The other's lips upturn to form a smile, her features brightening once more.

"Yeah! Let's go!" Suzume chirps, pointing up and in the direction of the door. She takes the lead by running out of the shop and onto the dirt streets. Her ginger-haired companion is following behind, giggling whilst Ren is scolding the two girls, worried about their luggage.

They make it to Suzume's grandmother's house in record time. The smell of azaleas wafts into the group's faces. There are purple bushes that line the crease of the humble abode, adding a bold appearance. There's a spicy fragrance that welcomes Suzume and she feels giddy as she peeks her head through her grandmother's open door.

"Ojama shimasu, Obaachan," the bluenette announces as she enters the quaint household. It's always refreshing to see the amount of greenery that climbs the inside walls. Some vines creep along the entrance to the open kitchen, and nearly every table or countertop has a single potted plant.

Suzume waves to Nora and Ren. They each switch their shoes out for slippers before traversing further into the household. It's quiet, but that's how it has always been. Suzume's grandmother is a silent, elderly lady. She always has this wistful look on her face; that neither judges nor desponds people.

They walk through the halls subtly, paying extra attention not to make any sudden noise. Surprisingly, even Nora hasn't burst into excited chatter. There's always respect that you have to show when being in an elder's home.

It gets confusing, however, when Suzume doesn't find her grandmother in her garden. The mantis-eyed girl stops looking out a window to stare at her friends. Her eyebrows are visibly scrunched together, so Ren and Nora begin exploring.

"Papa?" Suzume inquires as she rounds a corner into her grandmother's room. The shoji has been partially slid open, and through the crack, Suzume sees her father. Dark blue bangs shadow his face as he kneels on the floor. His expression remains unreadable to his daughter, and apparently, he didn't hear her either.

Suzume frowns before carefully sliding the shoji off to the side. Her eyes slowly widen as the sight in front of her makes her them well up with tears, "Obaasan?" she wonders, her voice trembling as she drops her pack to the ground. The heavy thump makes Suzume's father jolt from his position.

He panics as he sees the teenage girl bound over to her fallen family member, "Suzume, wait--!"

Suzume's definition of silent is different from anything typical. Silence to someone without her type of semblance can be compared to a gentle breeze. Yet, the way she sees it is almost like crunching leaves. As you walk through the forest, you'd inevitably step on a fallen leaf. It's the same for Suzume. With her semblance, she'd inevitably be able to hear heartbeats or the sound of pumping blood. When she walked into her grandmother's home, she only heard one heartbeat - and that belonged to her father. She ignored this, of course, thinking her grandmother was just out of range.

"Suzume, calm down. It's gonna be alright," Michael tried to reassure. He kept his tone level in order to soothe his host as she slowly began panicking. The god attempted because he knew of the tragedy that took place in the room.

The blue-haired girl doesn't listen as she takes quick steps to her grandmother. She falls unceremoniously to her knees, her stockings scuffing against the hardwood flooring. She doesn't care as she, instead, takes to tending to her grandmother.

Her dainty fingers grasp the duvet that hides the woman's face. It feels cold as she pulls back the soft cloth, and her stomach flops at the elder's parted lips. Suzume gapes like a fish, searching her grandmother's face for any signs of life. The wrinkles that line her cheeks and eyes have settled as her lips lay in a thin line. Her skin is snow-white, unlike its usual peach glow, and her lids cover the generous, green irises that usually greet Suzume every morning.

The young girl trembles as she grasps the white kimono that graces her grandmother's motionless body, "Obaasan?" her bottom lip quivers as she croaks out her plea, "Wake up, please. I-I'm here with Ren, a-and Nora. You said you'd be there when we left. Y-You said--you said--" Her words die on her tongue as a sob racks her body.

A warm embrace blankets Suzume's shoulders as coaxing words are whispered in her left ear: "Breath, Suzume. C'mon, breath with me."

Suzume's head is tilted into the crook of Nora's shoulder and neck. The ginger-haired female rests her rosy cheeks against Suzume's head as she tries to soothe her grief-stricken companion. Ren is at the entrance watching the whole ordeal. He's just as stunned as the rest, and a lump gets caught in his throat when he hears Suzume cry out. Ren glances at her father who is silently crying and clenching his mother's hand desperately.

The pale white boy decides to rush out of the house and call for help. In a matter of five minutes, the villages' medical team show to take a look at the body.

One doctor, a female, kneels behind Suzume. She places two fingers on the pulse point of the deceased woman. Shaking her head, she scoots away from the family members, "Gomennasai, but your okaasan has deceased. My condolences, Suzume-san." The doctor slowly stands and bows to the group before respectfully leaving the room.

Suzume's breaths come out labored as she hears the final determination. She clenches Nora's vest, her tears soaking through the fabric but the aqua-eyed girl doesn't mind. Nora lets Suzume find comfort in her arms as she speaks quietly into her ears. Ren finally decides to kneel next to his friends, and he allows Suzume to pull him into her arms.

The three stay like that until more family members enter the room. Suzume's mother goes to her husband to comfort him as he continues sobbing. Then as time passes, the morning becomes a bustle of arranging Suzume's grandmother and gradually taking away her body.

"I wanna go home..." Suzume whispers to Nora, her voice hoarse from the amount of crying.

Nora nods, "Yeah, okay. Ren?" she looks at the black-haired boy expectantly. Ren gently pries Suzume out of their hold and then loops her arms around his shoulders. He grips her thighs as he stands up, so Suzume is pressed against his torso safely. They walk out of the house -- Ren and Nora greeting those who sympathize with Suzume's loss.

When back at their own home, the trio heads towards their room immediately. Nora rolls out Suzume's futon, laying her duvet down next and allowing Ren to place their companion on the mattress.

The bluenette curls in on herself, her kimono, in turn, becoming ruffled as she hugs her legs. Nora carefully sets the oceanic duvet over Suzume's shoulder, and the latter proceeds to hide under the comforter. It's quiet for a moment before more crying fills the room, and it, once more, feels gray.

孔雀

"I think you two should leave," Suzume abruptly announces, her voice muffled by her covers.

"What?"

There's shuffling before the oceanic duvet is pushed to the side, and Suzume emerges from underneath. Her once prim and proper form has now been disheveled. Strands of her hair fall messily on her forehead, and her kanzashi sags, bringing more locks of her short hair with it. The sleeve of her kimono is tugged as Suzume sits up, making the edge near her neck fall, revealing the rosy hue of her shoulder blades. She appears indecent, showing how bothered she is by the day's events.

Ren and Nora sit on either side of Suzume, and they observe her dull, mantis eyes. She keeps them trained on her hands that fiddle with the seams of her blanket.

"I've been thinking about it, and I want you two to leave for Beacon," She finishes, still not wanting to lift her head.

Nora shakes her head, eyes blown wide out of bewilderment. For years they've been planning to become huntsmen together. They had a set path that the trio would walk on, but the death of Suzume's grandmother was a misfortune. That part wasn't accounted for, so now they have to make a new plan. Yet, what the mantis-eyed girl said stunned both Ren and Nora.

Ren scoots closer to Suzume to gain her attention, "We're not going, especially with how you're feeling," he states, his tone sounding assertive.

Suzume shakes her head, and the pin in her hair finally falls out, "I can't hold you guys back. We've talked about this for so long, and finally the day has come," she decides to lift her head at that moment. Her eyes start to gleam due to brimming tears, "It hurts knowing I can't be with you two, but you can't just give up."

Nora grabs Suzume's hand, hiding it between her own, "But now it's like you've given up. All three of us can still become huntsmen. We just have to wait until next year--"

"No!" Suzume yells, yanking her hand out of the ginger's grip. Angry tears hang on the tips of her bottom eyelashes, and she furiously wipes them away, "We've waited far too long for this moment. It isn't fair that because of my grief, you two have to be held back," She takes a moment to collect herself by sucking in a deep breath, "My grandmother was also your family, but I just-- I can't... okay?"

Suzume's words held a bit of reluctance, Ren notices. She doesn't want to be left behind, but she also wishes the best for her friends. It's hard to think of a solution to this situation.

"The only person you're holding back is yourself." Michael objects, "You need them. This isn't a time for you to be alone. The pain is just going to hurt more if you let them go."

Suzume clenches her duvet in a tight fist. She watches as her knuckles pale before she contracts her fist, "I'm not letting them go -- I'm letting them have their opportunity," she responds to the god before glancing at Ren, "If not for yourselves, then please do it for me."

He's the only one who hasn't spoken, his emotions too caught up in his throat. Blinking away the daze in his mind, Ren sets his lips in a straight line, "Fine," he says before standing up. Stretching his legs out, he looks down at Suzume, keeping eye contact, "We'll leave this afternoon."

Ren's words stung but Suzume didn't contradict them. She asked for this and she tried to ignore the quick beats of the ravenette's heart.

Nora tries to protest as Ren leaves the room. She looks at Suzume who stays in her spot, but her eyes stare out at the paper windows.

"I--" Nora pauses, deciding to keep her opinion to herself. She shakes her head, then stands up and walks to the open shoji, "Ren!" she calls out before leaving the room.

It's quiet, and Suzume hates it. She can hear several heartbeats, the thumping of heavy footsteps, and the consistent flaps of free birds. Even though she has all of this, there is still silence. There aren't any voices, and that's the one thing she hates about her semblance.

"Why are you giving up?" Michael inquires, finally breaking the bluenette out of her stupor. Despite the god talking, she still feels lonely. This could be because he's not physically in front of her.

"I'm not giving up. I'm just being patient," She mutters, then there's a moment to wait before Michael speaks again.

"You'll grieve, then we'll get through it together," he says firmly with a specific undertone that Suzume can't decipher, "Now you have to change to meet Ren and Nora."

Suzume hums as she looks down at her clothes, "I put a lot of effort into this outfit," she muses and pulls at the edge of her kimono. She lets out a dry chuckle, wincing slightly at the heave she half lets out. Wiping her eyes once more, she slowly stands, "Alright, let's do this."

孔雀

Ren and Nora watch as the forest stares back at them. They both let out shaky sighs and have to force smiles on their faces as the townsfolk stay for their departure. The aqua-eyed girl has to push away another bento box, giving the excuse that they have enough food.

It's all mundane as the person they were hoping for hasn't shown up yet. Suzume is running late, and soon it will be past noon. There wasn't a time given, but there was an expectation.

Suddenly, the townsfolk surrounding Ren and Nora, part down the middle. They allow for two people to pass, both of which being Suzume and her mother. They wear matching yukatas -- pastel purple with black and yellow peonies -- and have their arms looped together. Suzume holds a heartfelt expression, specially given to her companions.

She still looks so beautiful too. Despite her bloodshot eyes and the sullen appearance of her emerald orbs -- Suzume has a way to retain balance. Her geta digs into the dirt, but she doesn't mind the mess. Suzume's mother ventures forward to cup Ren and Nora's cheeks in either hand.

"You two have grown so much," she begins. Nora grins, leaning into the older woman's warmth. Ren chuckles under his breath, reminiscing every moment they had together, "Just remember that this will always be your home," she then sets her forehead against theirs before stepping back with a quiet sniffle.

Suzume takes her mother's place, staring at her friends with an unreadable expression. With another beat of her restless heart, the mantis-eyed girl surges forward and leaps onto Ren and Nora. They wholeheartedly embrace their eccentric friend, purely content with just holding her.

"You have to come back, alright?"

"We will."

"And you need to be healthy without any injuries."

"We promise."

"And don't forget to bring friends."

"We won't forget."

"You gotta bring back souvenirs as well."

"We know."

There's nothing else spoken for a while, Suzume keeping her head buried between her friends.

"And you have to remember..."

Please don't say it.

"I love you guys."

Now they wanted to stay, and it took everything in Ren and Nora not to look back as they left Tancho village.

孔雀

"We'll see them again."

It's the middle of the night and Suzume stands near her bedroom window. The square shoji is pulled back so the blue-haired girl could gaze up at the moon.

"I know," she says with a deep sigh. She wonders what the duo is doing. Surely, they've already encountered Grimm, "They've probably set up camp by now."

"I bet they've covered a lot of ground, too," Michael adds.

Suzume hums as her response. The stars flicker in the midnight sky, hundreds of stories being told in a single moment. The blue-haired teenager closes her eyes and clasps her hands together. She whispers a wish that gets lost under the twilight and then it washes away in the stream with the swimming koi.

0 notes