#probably wont finish act two until sometime tomorrow

[thinking-through-some-things]

Curious about your EPIC rework because I was also disappointed by it

like i mentioned in my other post here (before i gave up), this definitely isn't the only possibility; you could focus the musical around something else. for my version, though...

as i said, i would build the musical around the idea of duty vs desire, and tie that into mercy vs ruthlessness. i think it would focus less on odysseus's guilt overall, which seems to be the real focus of the musical, and focus it more in this direction. still plenty of angst, but a little more pointed.

a lot of my changes probably take the musical further away from the odyssey. i'm actually not too concerned about trying to faithfully follow the source material; i think it's more important to actually tell a coherent story, and when you're abridging the material, you need to cut stuff. just be clear that's what you're doing.

(also i'm not going to cover everything i think needs to be fixed. mostly just elements to support my theme.)

i think it's a given that the saga format doesn't work for the final draft of a musical. no shade, it was a really smart way to gradually release the musical. ultimately though, it limits the story because then they were blocked into sticking with a theme, and you end up with too many epic finale songs... but i'll stick with it to help organize here. i'm just not sticking with a "theme". mostly because i'm getting rid of the wisdom saga to better distribute its songs.

unsurprisingly, i've written far too much and it's poorly organized, so this is just act one. i'll reblog with act two.

act one

overall, i would say act one is by far the stronger of the two. i'm probably going to cut at least 30% of the current act two, but act one mostly just needs editing. some songs might need more work, but mostly they still get to stay in the same place. add some spoken dialogue and you've got a pretty decent start.

the troy saga:

most of the troy stuff is fine. i think it helps to set up this idea of ruthlessness, and shows the peacekeeping side of odysseus. could it be stronger? yeah. but i like it setting this whole thing up. i have 2 main changes here.

1) every time odysseus mentions penelope and telemacus, he needs to mention anticlea. the musical has a bad habit of not introducing characters/elements until they're relevant, and i think it suffers for that. including odysseus's mother in the list of people he wants to get home to makes her death more impactful. i was so confused when she showed up the first time; she needs to be in here from the start.

2) to go with my theme, i would do this: the reason odysseus needs to kill the baby is because the baby would grow up to kill him; however, that doesn't necessarily mean ithaca would suffer. zeus can word it really carefully - i don't think that distinction needs to be immediately clear to the audience, but after you know how the story ends you can go back and realize that when you re-listen to it. this doesn't require much tweaking, but it helps to really set up the idea of making decisions for the greater good vs for selfish reasons (maybe he could have raised the kid? and only he would have died in the end? i want the audience to question this!)

moving into the second half of the saga, i think we need to introduce odysseus's men earlier. maybe a scene of him commanding them in troy? since i'm talking about a full musical instead of the current format, this might just be dialogue, not a song. but i think we definitely need a little more of polites before he dies. i don't really like having odysseus start out untrusting and jumpy, which is how he comes across to me in open arms. it doesn't make sense for this to be a lesson he needs to learn now, after being king of ithaca for well over a decade. originally i was just going to cut him, but my fiance persuaded me to let him stay. plus his death to polyphemus is a very brutal turning point.

instead, i would have a song/scene where we set up eurylochus and polites as odysseus's two advisors, two different sides of his leadership. you could rewrite open arms to fit here. polites argues for presuming peace, and eurylochus views things with suspicion and wants to attack first to keep the men safe. this really helps set up mercy vs ruthlessness. it shows odysseus is already a leader who balances peace and action, and it makes polites's death all the more tragic, because he represents the death of odysseus's inclination towards peace.

finally, i find athena's introduction and focus on being ruthless in this and the next saga confusing. she's mad at him for not being less emotional and more ruthless, but i don't see what that has to do with him being a "warrior of the mind". instead, i would make it clear that she thinks he isn't being cautious enough. she's mad because she thinks he isn't being shrewd, not because he's being nice.

athena and eurylochus should be coming from the same place: we need to be overly cautious and strike first, because that's how you stay safe. and rather than having a jumpy odysseus being taught to trust people by his soft bestie, i think he should be a general, exhausted from fighting for 10 years, jumping on the idea of relying on trust so he can relax and not feel so jumpy. his duty is to balance these two ideas, mercy vs ruthlessness, but because he chooses only mercy without remaining vigilant, polites dies and now he only has eurylochus to give him advice, meaning no one else is trying to suggest mercy. (i don't think eurylochus is bad - actually, he clearly prioritizes the crew and is always suggesting whatever is best for them. but often what is best for you isn't the best for those you come across, which is why it's the leader's job to balance those two things - again, the theme i'm going with in this version.)

anyways, athena needs to focus on pushing odysseus to be more suspicious and calculating, not more ruthless. she scolds him at all the same points, but now it actually makes sense. i don't love their flashback, but i don't have suggestions to fix it, so we'll leave it alone for now.

the cyclops saga

not too many notes here. getting to see the crew more gives it a little more weight (the stage production needs a tiny dialogue scene where you get quips and comments from nobodies so they're a little more recognizable when they die! make people even sadder!), but this is a really chilling series. the exposition bits need rewording (and again, a stage production has the benefit of 1) spoken word, and 2) stage directions so you can just show things happening).

odysseus's convo with athena needs work. as is, this doesn't seem like a good place for "what good would killing do when mercy is a skill more of this world could learn to use." this is supposed to be the stance athena takes at the end of the musical, but this particular act of mercy seems to lead to the death of most of his men in the very next act - which really makes it weird that athena apparently agrees with that sentiment.

i don't hate everything about this line, especially if we actually see athena ruminating over the line over the next 10 years. but it needs to be clear that it is not mercy but pride that leads to the death of his men. or, if we want to make it about mercy instead of pride, it shouldn't be as the sort of threatening brag that it currently is; instead, frame it as "even now, when we've beaten you, we're still choosing to let you live. because i, odysseus, king of ithaca, have chosen to show you mercy." obviously yes it's still his pride, but then when everyone blames his "mercy" for getting his men killed it makes more sense.

(coming back to really hone in on the idea that mercy isn't the problem here - maybe eurylochus notices something is off before polyphemus starts singing, tries to point it out, and gets brushed off as being too suspicious and bloodthirsty? yet again, i find the musical's stance on mercy confusing. is it good? they seem to want it to be - that's definitely what open arms implies, especially since it gets repeated so often. except the musical stresses that mercy is *why* everything went south here, and it rarely actually shows mercy working. it's confusing. i think this whole thing should feel more like odysseus was reckless, the only thing athena calls him that actually makes sense, and that's why this didn't work. the characters don't need to say it directly, but the musical needs to better frame it that way.)

(an aside, but they still grab sheep on their way out? obviously they're still starving but like. i'm side-eyeing the way everyone (in the musical) acts like he was so "merciful" for leaving polyphemus alive, but even after he learns the sheep are polyphemus's friends and their deaths are what drive him to violence, he still makes a point of stealing and killing them... this isn't a serious criticism i'm just poking fun at it. but hypocritical much?)

athena's anger in my goodbye makes no sense to me - not that she's not justified, but that her reasons make no sense. she calls him "sentimental" and "soft", but that's absolutely not the problem here. she should yell at him for being prideful and cocky. accuse him of sparing polyphemus just to feed his own ego, or of being short-sighted - she mentioned the danger of leaving him alive in the last song, why not bring that up again? why doesn't she scold him for foolishly giving up his name? it's really weird that she keeps harping on the idea that he's "emotional".

odysseus's retort is good, but also a bunch of people just died so it's weird that he's so confident about how right he is. "my friend is dead, our foe is blind. the blood we shed, it never dries" from the last song, and "unlike you, every time someone dies I'm left to deal with the strain" in my goodbye are really good lines. more of his position needs to come from his exhaustion, because odysseus is smart. he's a brilliant general. this does a better job of explaining why he's making so many mistakes early on, and why he's pushing back against athena so hard despite the fact that he just fucked up real bad. he was wrong. he should have acted faster like she warned him to. but making him a man, exhausted from a decade of fighting, desperately trying to grant mercy where he can? his pushback makes more sense.

also, him jabbing at her for wanting "to be known" and being alone? really weird. the musical frames athena as this loser whose only friend was odysseus. i don't get it. especially when you're calling her a goddess who doesn't understand feelings right before that? which is she, a powerful goddess or a lonely girl? stick with him accusing her of not understanding human emotions and interactions. it still gives her a reason to stick around - she can be offended by the insinuation that there's something she doesn't understand, and it gives her a reason to dwell on his comments and eventually change.

the ocean saga

eurylochus needs to call odysseus out; if he'd listened to him, if they'd acted faster against polyphemus, they might not have lost those men, including polites. obviously that might not be true, but it feels like that's what his position should be. it's really weird that they're nervous about the wind god because "your luck might run out" rather than "you did just make a bad call that got people killed". especially when odysseus says "i took 600 men to war and not one of them died there." sure, not there, but you just lost a couple to a cyclops. this more deliberate questioning makes the sidebar with "i can't have you planting seeds of doubt" a little more serious. it's not just "what if you're not lucky," but also "what if you're not as sharp? what if you're making mistakes and bad calls?" the luck thing works for the rest of the crew, but eurylochus's role in this musical is to question odysseus and challenge him as a leader, to make sure odysseus is doing what will keep the men safe.

eurylochus questioning odysseus more pointedly makes the betrayal in the next song make more sense. we should already have the sense that he's starting to doubt odysseus's judgement. his "luck running out" doesn't really explain why you're doubting him with the wind bag; but if you think he's hiding things or making bad decisions, suddenly it makes a lot more sense. i think the implication in the show is that it's just curiosity, and we don't even hear eurylochus asking about it. now, if we have already established eurylochus is already questioning odysseus's judgement, it's a little less weird when we learn he's the one who opened it.

again, we need a mention of anticlea, and she should sing with penelope and telemacus.

honestly? basic take here but i like ruthlessness. i'm fine with not changing my theme to use a better word because this one is a banger. and the one animatic with him as a creepy horse? more horse poseidon imagery, please.

i think poseidon needs to call out specifically how hypocritical odysseus is more. lean into that "false righteousness". the problem is that he isn't being "nice" or "merciful", at least not in those moments, not in how he's currently behaving. most of this interpretation is already there; honestly, just changing the delivery of some of the lines would go a long way. "you are far too nice" needs to have the last word almost spat out - poseidon doesn't actually think odysseus is nice; nice is just a word odysseus is hiding behind to justify his actions. i'm sure it could use more work, but at a glance i really like this one.

it goes without saying that the ending sucks ass though.

i can't imagine anyone thinks that was a good ending. idk how to fix it because the current one is so bad it's hard to think of any way to have something good there. you just can't have the jaunty "open this bag" music in there at all. i know they like to mix in motifs and call back to other songs, but it fucking kills all the momentum in what is otherwise a very dramatic song - and we need to be able to take this song seriously, because it's what the entire rest of the musical is based on. i'm open to a completely different ending, but if you want it to stay relatively close to the current staging: poseidon and odysseus stare each other down. poseidon asks "any last words?" and you think odysseus is about to say something dramatic and instead... he yells "eurylochus!" poseidon is confused, but eurylochus responds with "captain!" and, understanding what he's asking for, throws odysseus the wind bag (he helped odysseus close it, so maybe he got it then, or at some other point, idk). and then odysseus opens the bag in poseidon's face. then everything poseidon does is the same, the effect is the same, you just don't get the musical equivalent of a wet pool noodle slapped across your face.

the circe saga

first! an addition! the musical wants athena to be a foil to odysseus, but they do such a poor job of exploring her character or logic at all, it just doesn't work. her character revolves way too much around odysseus. she says goodbye, and then we see her 4 sagas later (half the musical) where, apparently, she's decided odysseus was right because... maybe if she'd agreed with him they would still be friends. and then she defends everything he's done... look, i'm getting rid of god games, so i won't go into that now. yeah, odysseus is still what prompts her to change her mind in my version, but he's just the start of that journey. she's going to have other reasons. i want to add in a couple songs throughout the musical, just to show the transition a bit. additionally, they can help show time passing in odysseus's story by breaking it up a bit.

this first song is a small one. it's just telling us what athena is thinking and what she's going to do. it's basically her mopey and angry that odysseus insulted her. but she's a goddess of wisdom and intellect, so she's kind of intrigued - maybe there is something to learn about leading with kindness. i haven't decided how she ends up back in ithaca, but she's decided to investigate this. i know the popular (not academic, more fandom-related) interpretation of greek gods is that they're all stubborn and that's the whole point, but for the sake of this story and the theme (and also the character), i think athena should take the stand that if there is wisdom to be gained, it is her duty to learn it. again, this one is pretty short - a verse of angry, and then she talks herself down, and then she's setting out to investigate - a little bit to learn something new, maybe a little bit to prove odysseus wrong.

the athena song can also go at the end of the circe arc. i was going to put another one in there, but the pacing and time line don't match well, and monster is definitely the finale to act one. i wanted to fit something along the lines of the start of the wisdom saga in here, but i think i'm going to put it at the beginning of act two, so. only one extra song for now.

onto the actual saga: i think it's done pretty well. some of the phrasing is awkwardly fit into songs, but that might just be me, and it's overall not egregious. i will confess that "she had us in just two words" "come inside" "damn" does make me giggle every time like a 12-year-old boy. i didn't mention it in my post on the musical's women because i don't think the text directly addresses it, but there's a definite implication that circe is as harsh as she is to protect her nymphs from sexual assault, which they might have faced before. removing the undertones of that from her relationship with odysseus was the right call - i don't think that's a conversation this musical actually wants to have, and it muddles her justification for how she handles the men.

circe is also gives us someone to compare odysseus's leadership to; she's basically the only other leader of a cohesive group that we see. her harsh policy stands in direct contrast to odysseus's earlier choice to start with unchecked "mercy". in turn, her nymphs are safe. we see her later learn that there are times where you can extend mercy and trust, so she even has character growth. (you could make a very interesting comparison between circe & her nymphs and the sirens, but that's a discussion for outside of the musical, so i'll leave it for now.) i wouldn't be surprised if other people have criticisms, i just haven't been able to find basically any critical discussion of the musical, so.

you could mostly leave this saga alone, but i'm inclined to take my red pen and make some bigger changes. i'm just not sure how to. i really don't like hermes and the flower being inserted here - again, i think there's too much bloat in the musical of "oh here's a thing that's in this specific bit, clearly just because that's what happens in the odyssey, and then we won't talk about it again." hermes does appear in two songs, but actually, does he need to? i'm of the opinion that the musical needs fewer characters so that it can better focus on developing the ones that actually need to be in here. the only problem is that odysseus needs the flower from hermes to explain why he has magic in the next song. okay, so what if no magic is used, and he just uses his wit to convince her? except that's basically what the plot of the next song is. so at this point i've basically gotten rid of two songs and completely changed the third, and that doesn't really work. or need to happen.

i stand by wanting to remove hermes. i think you can just give odysseus some line to eurylochus about having heard about a plant on these islands that makes one immune to being transformed by magic for a time. i don't think it's important - it's literally a small, one-time detail just to explain why circe doesn't immediately turn him into a pig. he doesn't need magic in done for - he can just fight with a sword while circe is slinging spells at him. and then you can still go into there are other ways.

the one change that i think does need to be made is that odysseus needs to spend a year on the island. he needs to be stuck here. it does mean you have to basically cut the song in half, but that just means the second part, where circe decides to help odysseus, needs to be a reprise. i think you have circe trying to seduce odysseus, and then she's shocked when he rejects her. the difference is that he doesn't fully win her over; instead, she decides to give him and the rest of his crew one year. for one year, his remaining crew recovers on the island and rebuild the ship, helping the nymphs with whatever tasks they ask and basically proving "not all men" are terrible. finally, odysseus shows that there's payoff to being a merciful leader! he saves all of his men! as they're finally preparing to leave, penelope shows up, we get the reprise, and she sends them to the underworld. all is well!

the underworld saga

or, all is not well.

this is where i spell out my theme: while a good leader is merciful, mercy takes time. and that extra time can be detrimental to personal goals.

this is why it's important to mention anticlea earlier, and why the crew spends an extra year on circe's island trying to save the rest of the men. taking a year to save his men makes odysseus a good leader, yes, but it might have cost him a chance to see his mother before she died. it doesn't matter when she actually died in the odyssey - what matters is that this is really what makes odysseus question the cost of mercy. this is where he starts to put his own desires over the safety of the crew, because the cost of taking too long is suddenly real - as is the cost of taking time to be merciful.

i actually don't have too much to add. some edits might need to be made to fit with other changes, but overall it's fine.

okay, there's act one! this is definitely long enough, so i'll reblog with act two. suggestions and conversation are welcome; again, my fiance already changed my mind on one part. i haven't actually see any discussion on changes yet, so i'm happy to consider other changes, or for mine to be challenged (by something other than "actually this is perfect").

[witchcraft-in-wonderland]

Circus of Carelessness (Pt.2)

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

"What'd you mean? You saw both of us last night didn't you?" Remy said, tilting his head slightly.

"Nope, never met you in my life," Virgil replied, tapping his fingers on the table in front of him. Remy's face fell slightly behind his glasses.

"Well I uh, sorry for bothering you," he said, looking down slightly before walking away.

Virgil sat at his booth, giving out fortunes and talking to the occasional decent costumer.

That night there was no sign of Remy or Remus, so Virgil walked to Drew's cabin alone, took his pills, and fell asleep.

The circus was busy today, spring break had started and parents wanted an excuse to tire their children out before they got to much energy. Virgil didnt mind, he'd sing and dance for the children before showing them card tricks and giving out fortunes. He'd watch their tiny little faces light up with awe at the sparkles and ribbons and showmanship of his act.

But today, today was different. There were children, yes, but there were lots of men in suits and glasses and hats.

One of them approached Virgil's booth, a man with brown eyes that glinted yellow in the light and his hat covering the side of his face.

"Mr. . ." The man stopped to look for a sign of identification.

"Whitlock," Virgil offered.

"Whitlock, yes, I believe you remember me from yesterday? I asked about those two boys?" Said the man, showing Virgil the picture of Remy and Remus.

"I dont recognize them, and I don't recognize you, and I'd appreciate if you'd leave me alone," Virgil said.

"Very well, but I do have a few questions for you first," said the man.

"Fine, ask me your questions," Virgil said, crossing his arms and propping his boots up on the table.

"Can you tell me what your day here usually looks like?" Asked the man, there was a slight glint in his eyes.

"Well I wake up, then I get ready to come here and give out fortunes, then I do aerial performances in the main show, then I come back here, then I go home and take my pills and the Ring Master or one of my uncles takes me back to my cabin to sleep," Virgil said, as though he'd told this story a thousand times.

The man raised an eyebrow at him "And what kinds of pills are you taking?" He asked.

"Anti-depressants, birth control, anxiety medication, and sleeping pills," Virgil stated.

The man's eyes went wide "what do these sleeping pills look like exactly?" He pressed.

"They're sort of a pinkish color, I put them in my water before I take any of my other meds and I use that water to take them," Virgil said.

"Can you tell me more about these uncles of yours? How many are there? Where do they come from?" The man said.

"Oh they're not really my uncles, I just call them that because it's easier than learning there names, they've been helping the current Ring Master and his father take care of me since I got dropped here when I was seven," Virgil said, pausing to take a breath "they dont do much, they're in the shows of course but they mostly work as clowns or do the concession stands, though sometimes there'll be uncles that come from somewhere else," he finished.

"And what about this memory loss of yours, do you know what might be causing that?" Said the man.

"Its probably an ADHD or anxiety thing, isnt memory loss supposed to be common with those?" Virgil responded.

The man merely nodded and walked away. A few moments later Drew had run up to Virgil's booth, yelling at him about talking to people who were clearly not to be trusted and asking what all he told them.

That night Drew wasnt at his cabin, instead three of Virgil's uncles had come to visit him, Virgil took his pills and he went to bed, closing his eyes and hoping whatever was going on would be over by tomorrow.

It was about three in the morning when a chorus of sirens broke out over the cabins and tents. Virgil jolted awake, pulling his sleeping mask off and peaking through the window. He barely had time to register what was going on before he felt an arm around his waist, and felt something slip over his mouth. He tried to struggle against it, but he was much to tired at that point.

He woke up in a place he didnt recognize, laying on a cot in a dark room. He sat up and looked around, all that was there was a closet containing his work costume, his binder, a few t-shurts, and a few jeans; as well as a table with a lamp on it, a bookshelf, and a chair.

Virgil stood up and walked to the door, pulling on it in an attempt to get it to open.

"That wont work," the voice of the man from earlier sounded from under the door.

"Where am I! I havent done anything wrong! Let me out!" Virgil said, banging his fist on the door.

"You're not in jail, you're being kept here for your safety, the Ring Master of your circus, Drew Clairmont, as well as these uncles you've referenced, have been making and distributing illegal drugs, those things you call 'sleeping pills' are actually memory altering, and meant to make you forget specific occurrences, it's likely that these uncles were there to tell you exactly who and what to forget before you woke up," Virgil stepped back from the door, eyes wide.

"You'll be here for a few weeks, it seems as though you've had them in your system for nearly fifteen years, much longer than the other members of your circus," said the man.

"So what's going to happen when I get out? Huh? Where are you gonna take me?" Virgil said, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Once you're better you'll have free range of Remy and Remus' house, they've offered to let you stay for as long as you need," said the man.

"I dont remember who those are!" Virgil said, he was shaking, his legs felt numb.

"Let me handle this Jan," Remy's voice sounded from beside the door. The door opened and he stepped inside, taking Virgil's hands in his own.

"Follow my breathes Virgil, you're going to be ok, we're going to help you," Remy said, Virgil merely listened for his breathing patterns, watched his chest rise and fall and followed along.

"There we go, now it's late, you should get back to bed," Remy drowned Virgil's protests out with soft whispers as he lay him back onto the bed, running his fingers through Virgil's soft hair, singing quiet lullabies until Virgil was fast asleep.

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

Tag list:

@meowthefluffy

@thecolorfulolive

@spooky-scary-virgil

@youtuberswithalex

@misunderstoodshadowling

@nerosdayinhell

@fangirlfiles1

[flowerslightning]

The OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) in FF7

This thing actually caught my eyes while reading a few theory about FF7R and the word OCD appear in their certain analysis, in IG, youtube comments and some posts in tumblr too. Dunno why but they always relate Biggs with OCD. I looked back to the scenes where Biggs appear and... Okay, i understand why they thinj Biggs has OCD or perfectionist

A lot of people, including the psych students themselves easily confused with OCD and perfectionist (I got confused by it quite often too). Now, is Biggs OCD or is he just a perfectionist? Let's take a deeper look at it

Biggs is not a famous character. So fans dont really care about him, but I do

Disclaimer : i'm not a psychologist. Im an intern and still studying. Psychiatric is not my major field but i got assigned there as an intern for quite a time and we got exposed a lot about psychology too. We didnt learn them professionally like the real psyche students, we learned (and still under training) through real life experience + a little bit from the books.

So there might be wrong interpretation here and there. Pls correct me if I'm misleading u. And pardon my english. Pls dont use any of these terms to diagnose urself. Remember, I'm a student, not a professional.

I kins of blame the social media for portraying OCD in such a nasty way, when someone with OCD is actually suffering inside.

OCD is not just about 'clean clean, must clean this place till squeaky clean' and OCD is not about being perfectionist. OCD and perfectionist are two different thing.

Perfectionist is more to a demand demeanour, eg "I want the cake to be like this. I want it to be pink. No, not that pink, it must be neon pink with slight purple. Do it again. No, i dont want that pink. Do it again. Ahhh yess, nice pink." Someone with perfectionist, after they got their result, they will immediately bcome calm and satisfied. Perfectionist is obviously different from OCPD (Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder). OCPD falls under Personality Disorder and it is different from OCD. Im not going to talk about that

Credit goes to crazyheadcomics.

Look at how OCD got spoken from the media perspective. It is very much resemble to Biggs, dont u think? In reality, someone with OCD always feel stress about everything around them, and they will find it hard to complete their task.

OCD has two components - Obsessive and Compulsive

| 1. Obsessive. It is a repeating thoughts about something and often occur until it makes someone feel stress about it. Eg, u think that ur hand will get bacteria infection if u touch a chair, door, fridge or when holding someone's hand. This thought always appear in ur mind everytime u touch the door, chair, fridge or somebody's hand, but when u touch ur shoes, u never think about the bacteria (in certain cases, some patients become scare of everything they touch)

| 2. Compulsive. It is a repeating of the same actions to fulfill the 'obsession' in order to reduce the stress acted upon them. Usually the 'action' has a specific ways in which the patient believe he has to do it like this or that way or else he will fail. Eg, after touching the chair, he will immediately wash his hand 10x from left to right. He believes the hand washing wont be effective if he starts from right to left

Another sign of OCD is when someone re-checking the door lock few times. Its normal for us to re-check once/twice the door lock for confirmation, but for people with OCD, they will re-check the door lock for about 6-10 times and still not feel satisfied and later they stress out. And also the OCD people, they tend to get annoyed when something is not in particular order and they will immediately fix it eventhough they know they're wrong.

I met a funny woman at the hosp arranging our students' books according to its thickness, when I asked her why did she arranged our books like that,

She replied : "Doctor said I have CDO"

Me : "Sorry, CDO? Never heard of it"

She : "It is actually OCD but I feel so stress hearing that term so I put it in alphabetical order. CDO, much better"

We both had a good laugh. Her case was not serious though, but she was feeling miserable with her thoughts and decided to meet a psychiatrist. I would say she was still in early stage for someone with OCD, but may lead to severe if left untreated

It is really hard to satisfy and convince someone with OCD and they always feel stress about something they shouldnt care too much about. U can say OCD is a fastidious type, and they're actually more than that

If we want to relate this condition with Bigg's case., urmm. The only time where I can spot him being different than the other characters is when he's busy sweeping his front house and when he pat Cloud's head during the Sector 7 plate fall.

The cleaning stuff isnt exactly weird thing for a human to do. But it is something odd, I mean, he just finished his mission with Jessie and survived a jump from the plate, and yet he still have the energy to sweep dry leaves, AT NIGHT! He can wait till tomorrow though and should get himself a proper rest.

Wedge says Biggs has a habit of overthinking stuff

And there we see Biggs sweeping the dry leaves. It might be because he is trying to distract himself from doing his bad habit - overthinking. But urm , i think there'll be higher chance for someone to overthink when doing house chore like Biggs is doing. This is where lots of people say Biggs cleaning the house at night is bcause he has OCD or he's a perfectionist.

But I dont think thats the case. For real, he is completely normal. No sign of him acting weird in that scene. If he really does have OCD or he's a perfectionist, we'll see more of him arguing with Barret about unnecessary stuff. He cant become one of Avalanche's strongest member (not exactly strong, but hey, he's trustworthy). Also, if u notice, Biggs have one earring on his right ear. Someone with OCD will feel irritated by it bcause his ear doesnt look 'balance'. OCD people, even in mild case, they want everything about them to be balance and in good order.

After trying to understand Biggs way of thinking and style through his short screentime, I strongly believe this guy has no such thing as OCD or being a perfectionist. Biggs just cares tooooo much about his friends, he thinks 10 times ahead from the bigger picture in which it frightens him about the bad consequences that will occur to people he cherish.

He is the type that always have a back up plan in his mind. He thinks of 5 possible bad things and comes out with 10 solutions. That's the power of an overthinker like Biggs I'll tell ya

Biggs probably cleaning his front house area at night bcause the next early morning, he will need to leave his house for the bombing mission. Better take care of things the night before the big day. He can ditch the cleaning work but he wont do it, not bcause he's a perfectionist/OCD, but try to imagine this, if ur front house is full with dry leaves and rubbish, it will be unpleasant for the neighbours next to ur house to see. Living in the slum means higher chance for u to get sick if u dont take care of ur surrounding hygiene. Biggs is a kind man, and I believe he doesnt want to upset his neighbours

He probably has overthink this matter like "If i dont do this now, I probably dont have time for doing it tomorrow. Maybe I'll broke my leg from the mission and this trash will be left untouched, then there'll be high chance for the children around here to get sick. What if they get infectious disease bcause of this dry leaves? And then the parents will be worried and the Sector 7 Slum will be in chaos etc etc. Time for plan A. Let's clean this place"

Besides, remember the post where I mentioned about Mental Health First Aid? Biggs, as the side character gives the best MFA to Cloud even without knowing what Cloud had gone through. Biggs is just toooo kind with his friends, he cares too much causing him to overthinks about his friends conditions. He can notice even the slightest change in his friend's behaviour and with his own instinct, he cheers for them

Aww man, how can u not love his personality? He's the sweetest side character ever (and kinda hot too).

Soo as the conclusion for my post here, Biggs does not have OCD. He's a side character with a big heart who cares tooooooo deeply about his friends that leads him to overthink too much.

However, if the devs say Biggs really has OCD then my statement about him will be invalid. I'm sure they have put everything in a very close detail look.

Btw, I personally think Biggs kind of portrays the other small side of Cloud, the overthinking part for their romantic partner. But Biggs express his worry through words while Cloud express it through his actions, eg - like how he always keep an eye on Tifa. He never speak it directly like "I'm worry about Tifa, I must help her", he just simply be with her either she needs a help or not. While Biggs clearly says "Jessie been acting weird, I should go if she needs any - help -"

Action speaks louder than words but sometimes our eyes failed to listen.

Alright, that's it. Thanks for being with me till the end.

[itsybitsylemonsqueezy]

So I finished watching Yakuza 7: Like A Dragon. Spoilers under the cut. 

(Mainly positive take, some criticisms. C+/B I’d give it.)

So, first of all, I didn’t play it, I just watched people on youtube so my perspective of gameplay should be taken with a grain of salt. But I really liked the turn taking fighting style! Like a real JRPG, I thought it was fun, it seemed fun anyway, and the strategies to JRPG make more intuitive sense to me than fighting games, which I don’t know at all. I did end up missing the hand-to-hand combat like... aesthetically and it kinda breaks universe rules a little. But, like, Ichiban seeing combat as a sort of heightened fantasy reality actually helps with that and the plot still treats us like average combatants. Like, there’s still no murder, despite a lot more weapon use, including guns. So... it’s a little sad and weird universe-wise, but seems fun to play. 

Ichiban is a great protag! Definitely not Kiryu! He has two dads, like 8 spouses, a lot of hair... He’s only 7 years younger than Kiryu and that’s... that’s a choice ^^; But he’s got a lot of good things going for him and I like his build. Interesting rage-grief he has going and a thing about revenge that Kiryu never had. And I like that actually, I like that Ichiban gets hit with different things than Kiryu did, but he still has flaws. Kiryu was never blind with rage the way Ichi got, but then, Kiryu also didn’t save his brother. Like, they have VERY different shit going on, which is GOOD. So I’m kinda annoyed that in the end we took Ichi’s dad and brother, just like Kiryu’s? Like... damn :/ Lame. Lazy. 

I love Ichi’s team! I love Adachi, Nanba, Saeko, Joon-gi, Zhao. Top notch peeps! I like that they all just like him and are here for a fun adventure with him. They’re all here for something different, which is also really cool. Zhao is sort of redefining who he is in... retirement I guess? Trying out being a companion rather than a leader. Saeko is longing for family, connection, a place to belong. Adachi was here to accomplish a goal, to restore his honor and provide justice. And Ichi’s been a big help to that. Joon-gi is... a whore. I’m sorry! He’s just this beautiful, obedient man who’s just here on lend and he does whatever the fuck you say. Do not put him in charge of decisions, he’s terrible at them, but he knows a lot and has a vast network. But he appears just to be here to serve everyone’s needs, so to speak, and to moon after Ichiban like everyone else. And Nanba. Nanba hates adventures. He hates germs. He hates people and friends and danger and doing things. But he’s here. Because Ichi makes him hate things a little less. Nanba is a cynical, cowardly bastard, and Ichi’s a fucking sunshiney idiot always trying to fix shit that isn’t his problem. And he makes Nanba get up and fight. He makes Nanba believe in tomorrow. Nanba doesn’t trust people, Nanba doesn’t hope. He’s a pessimist and lives only to complain. But he is first in line to get shot for Ichiban every fucking time. He’s always the first to Ichiban’s side when he’s in trouble. Leaving and betraying Ichiban broke his fucking heart and my ship is probably showing A LOT here but I don’t care. I fucking love Nanba, I love his arc, I did NOT see it coming. And they are definitely my ship out of this. The fact that Nanba without fail is always the first to put himself in danger for Ichiban guts me. With how much he doesn’t believe in good things ever happening, it destroys me that he’ll dare it all for Ichiban. Fucking wild. 

I thought it was cool to bring up a political villain, but... we didn’t really carry through on Bleach Japan’s thematic importance. We revealed them to be cruel and hypocritical, but we didn’t end up actually saving the slums or proving why the slums needed to be saved and that’s... kinda lame :/ 

I was really hoping that we might make a stand on why grey spaces were needed, on why organizations like the yakuza are needed but instead we... disbanded? And I don’t even know why? 

Like, it was to fuck over Ryo Aoki. But... he was a TEMPORARY problem. All you had to do was move the organizations underground until he was unseated, which the Tojo already was??? 

But instead... we brought down Tojo and Omi and... WHY?! Like, SERIOUSLY, can ANYONE tell me WHY! Because I have a LOT OF FEELINGS about why that’s a BAD CALL.

What are all those guys going to do now? “Oh, we’ll just make a security company” YOU’LL WHAT?! THOUSANDS of guys used to shake downs will now be hired to patrol rich estates and cover banks and business buildings?! Fighting WHO, themselves?! A LOT of that job is just watching some fucking cameras, what... what the fuck are you talking about Watase?! 

But I guess that’s still better than Daigo’s “I have no fucking idea” plan

NO WONDER Majima’s depressed at that funeral you JUST TOLD HIM his new job is BABYSITTING SOME RICH FUCK’S BUILDING. Fuck you guys! 

And HAVE WE LEARNED NOTHING ABOUT POWER VACUUMS?! CRIME doesn’t disappear just because there’s no one there to manage it! That just means it gets worse! And rasher, crueler people grab power in the interim. Smaller but rougher groups will appear. More and worse crimes will happen now. You just disenfranchised thousands, not all of them are going to come with you to play security detail and not all of them WANT to. So why EXACTLY did we disband the yakuza? What problems did that solve??? 

What about all that shit about the yakuza being a home for people who didn’t fit in? What about people who fell through the cracks in the system, who don’t have anywhere else to go? 

If the yakuza, as an idea, was so fucking bad, WHAT WERE THE LAST SIX GAMES ABOUT?!

You can’t have an established series that accepts the idea that crime and violence are sometimes necessary or are even good things and have a compelling protag who does that, ONLY to turn around at the last second and pretend like it was always wrong!

If you were gonna act like the idea of organized crime is a Bad Thing, THEN THAT NEEDED TO BE A CONFLICT FROM THE BEGINNING

But you didn’t even do that!

We DIDN’T disband the yakuza because organized crime is inherently morally corrupt, no we disbanded because some prick thought he could use us! A PRICK WHO IS NOW DEAD! THE FUCK?! 

And DON’T GET ME STARTED on how this reframes Kiryu’s narrative. KIRYU WASN’T RIGHT FOR LEAVING YOU FUCKING BASTARDS. 

THE WHOLE POINT OF KIRYU’S ARC WAS THAT HE WAS FUCKING WRONG TO ABANDON HIS RELATIONSHIPS I- *screams into pillow*

AND why does Kiryu need to be dead now?! There is no more yakuza! Who does he need to hide from?! 

OH no wait, my mistake! We didn’t disband ALL the yakuza, just Omi and Tojo! You know, the two biggest cities in Japan. I’m sure THAT won’t have Fucking Consequences. But Kiryu still has to be dead for uh... Reasons.

This was just such a fucking dumb universe-building move. It’s not been thought through, it betrays the whole point of the franchise up until now, and I’m honestly just mad that they didn’t even feel the need to address it? Like, the yakuza’s just gone now, but it’s whatever. Who would even care about that. Like, that’s not going to be a plot point next game. It won’t matter, at all, I promise you. All of the in-universe implications this has, none of it matters. And I’m not even mad I’m just... tired. And annoyed a little. that you can’t be bothered to tie up your own rules. You won’t give your own writing decisions weight and that’s just... kinda sad. It’s just lazy and sad that they don’t care enough to connect the pieces. But I’ve had my heart broken enough by yakuza writing decisions. Of course they would do this, of course they haven’t thought enough about their own series to really consider what ending the yakuza would mean. Why would they? 

I’ll still watch the next game. Like, Ichiban is likeable enough and I’m interested in his arc enough that I’d play or watch next time. But... *sigh* We’re the Yakuza series with no yakuza. And y’all gonna act like that’s a good thing or pretend it doesn’t even matter. And I really don’t know what to do with that since you haven’t bothered to examine it either. 

On a nice Kiryu note, I did like that he was scaled appropriately, I like that Ichiban is Wiped Out after almost every fight. He’s a good fighter, but he has human endurance. Kiryu’s still god. He hits the hardest out of anyone you fight and you Don’t win and that’s As It Should Be. I’m REALLY glad they at least let me have that. I’m glad they let us fight Kiryu and we passed and it was a cool passing of the torch. I was so worried they were going to destroy Kiryu’s legacy and at least they didn’t do that. 

The coin locker baby thing... it was cliche and convenient, but in the way that Yakuza is cliche and convenient and melodramatic and over the top. It was sort of fitting and familiar that way. Shame we ended Swashiro like that, I think we could have done more and cooler shit with him but, eh. 

SPEAKING OF MORE AND COOLER SHIT

...all that effort, just to kill him? Alllllll that long time, that hard conversation, that break down with Ichiban... just to kill him. Just to make him Nishiki, all over again. 

I... fuck you. 

Why do you refuse to write a goddamn redemption arc

Fuck, you don’t even have to write it, have it happen off-screen if you’re so fucking afraid of it. Just have him recuperate in a goddamn hospital and, I don’t know, by next game just show that he’s doing better and is getting therapy and whatever.

Jesus fucking christ, he doesn’t have to MATTER in the next game just... don’t kill him. Jesus. Please.

All that fucking work and you’re STILL going to give Ichiban the trauma of losing someone he was trying to save. 

I just... it’s really gutting how much you don’t like your characters and you don’t like to write and you’re cowards. You won’t take risks. You’re too afraid of fucking up so you won’t do what the narrative calls for. 

Killing Masato was lazy-ass, punk-ass, coward shit and I wont’ stand for it. I did not expect to care about his ass by the end but you guys REALLY made an effort in making him a three dimensional character there at the end and explaining why Ichi would care about him and I was willing to come with you! I was willing for us to invest in this dumbass. We walk him all the way up to the edge and step him back. We let him let go. And then you just. fucking. gave up. You goddamn cowards.

I’m so tired of this shit

For all that, it was genuinely a really fun game and a really fun story with a lot of likeable characters. I think a solid C+, even a B. I really did enjoy most of it. It’s just... in usual Yakuza style, they only fucked up 2 things but they were a REALLY IMPORTANT 2 things. 

Oh and I did like the fact that Ichiban Still Doesn’t Know. No one tell him.

[brushes-of-sage]

Alchemy. It was the only thing that was uniting the princes of Arendelle. While a door had separated the two brothers for the past five years, Hugo found a way to still stay connected to his brother. It all started three years ago, when Hugo realized he was running out of things to do. Oh sure, there were plenty of things in the castle, but that number reduces *significantly* when you realize there’s no one to do these things with you. So, Hugo decided to take up alchemy again. (1/?)

Alright lemme try to see if the keep reading works:

He had stopped working with alchemy when Varian had disappeared behind that cursed door, since alchemy was just another painful reminder of the brother he felt he lost. It was one of the brothers' favorite things to do, along with… along with... well, Hugo couldn’t really remember. The more he tried thinking about things he did with his brother that wasn’t alchemy, he got nothing, just laughter and a small headache. But, the number of things to occupy his time were getting thin.

So, he decided to give alchemy a try. This turned out to be a great decision. Not only did it serve as a distraction, but it served as something to keep his mind going. This distraction worked well for a few weeks until he hit a roadblock. He was trying to perfect an alchemical ice bomb that he had started when he was younger, but could never finish. But nothing seemed to be working. After staring at his disaster of a note pile for the better part of an hour, a little voice in his head said,

“You could go to Varian for help”

“No,” he snapped back, “If Varian wanted to help me or be there for me, he would leave his room. Clearly he doesn’t want to talk to me, or anyone for that matter.” Hugo didn’t want to admit it, but he was starting to get a bit mad at Varian. They were the best of brothers for years, and then just one day, Varian just shuts himself in his room, without a single word as to why. He laid his head on his desk and sighed. “Ah, who am I kidding? I’m going crazy just sitting here, I need to talk to someone, even if its nothing more than alchemy notes.”He gets up, grabs his notes, and starts to make his way to a door he passed by and stared at a million times before. On the way though, his mind is going through a back and forth battle: He wont wanna talk to you! Yes, he does, we havent spoken in forever! I wonder why? Besides its just some alchemy help, I’m not asking anything too extreme! All he has to do is fix a couple equations! What if he tears it up and ignores it, just like he has you these past few years? After this comment, Hugo ended up backtracking back to his room. He’d go tomorrow. Right?

Wrong. It took him three weeks before he found himself staring at the door that plagued his existence for two years now. He raised his hand to knock, and before he could back out, knocked twice and slid the notes through the crack under the door. He started anxiously pacing, his mind going back to the constant battle in his mind that had been raging for the past 3 weeks. After a couple minutes of pacing, Hugo was just about to leave when he heard 2 knocks, and paper slide back under the crack. Instantly, the flurry of anxious thoughts started up again, worrying it would come back blank or with a note saying Varian wouldn't help him. His hands shook as he opened the notes to reveal.. the completed solution. He read the solution 2 3 4 times before a huge smile spread across his face and he laughed a huge genuine laugh he hadn’t used in two years. These notes meant 2 big things: One, he finally had a solution to an alchemy problem he’d had since he was nine. And two, the more important one in Hugo’s opinion, is that his brother doesn’t hate him. That scary thought had crossed his mind multiple times and he had always quickly shot it down, but there was always that one tiny voice who would always say, “But, does he though?” Now, that voice was as good as dead. Varian didn’t hate him. He wasn’t giving him the *total* silent treatment. Maybe he could work up from here, have conversations through the door, send notes, maybe even ask why he was doing any of this in the first place.Just as he’s about to leave for his lab to finish the ice bombs with the now completed formula, Hugo heard two knocks on the door and stopped. He wasn’t expecting anything else. He looked at the bottom of the door and saw a small stack of papers slide under and he picked them up. It was a stack of alchemy notes titled “Melting Bomb” The notes were full of blank spaces and question marks and there was a note attached that said:

Hugo-Please assist me in completing this formula for a melting alchemy bomb. I have been on and off of this project for the past few years, and some assistance would be much appreciated. Thank you.-Varian

As excited as Hugo was that his brother was reaching out to him, and actively looking for his help, he couldn’t help but feel a bit…disappointed at the formality of the note. As if Hugo were some stranger that Varian had just met and had to put up formalities and not his own brother. Nevertheless, he shouts a quick “Be right back!” and dashes off to his room to grab a quill and inkwell. While he runs, he reads over the notes and finds the answer fairly quickly. It wasn’t all that hard, it just was in desperate need of a fresh set of eyes. He scribbled down the answers as quick as possible, not wanting to keep Varian waiting. He runs back to Varians room, knocks 2 times and slips the notes under the door. After a couple of minutes, he hears a soft gasp, the quick scratching of a quill, and a new note being shoved under the door. Hugo picked up the note and stared at the messy handwriting and smiled. This was the big brother he remembered. Thanks for the help! Now go work on your project! This went on for the next few months with notes. Sometimes it wasn't just alchemy they talked about. It started simple, like “How’s your day going” and things like that.

Then it slowly evolved to things like “Get some rest Haristripe” and “You haven’t eaten yet today have you, Hugo?” (Both weren’t exactly the best at self care, especially when they were caught up in their work). The day Hugo finally heard Varian talk was one of the best days of his life. Obviously, he had heard his brother talk before, but it had been years since they had spoken, and as the time passed, Hugo’s memories of Varian’s voice faded. Plus, with the time passing, he knew his voice would have changed. So, when Varian finally said a soft “Thank you”, Hugo’s face lit up with a huge smile. He didn’t talk much, but when he did, Hugo treasured every word he said, committing them to memory. For a while, things were going great. Until one fateful day, when Hugo pushed his luck just a *bit* more than he probably should have. The day started out normal enough, Hugo worked on some experiments he didn’t finish last night, ate some lunch, and then after lunch he grabbed his notes that needed Varian’s help, and started making his way to his room. However, on the way, he realized that as happy as he was to be able to talk to Varian, it didn’t feel *right*. A relationship based solely on notes slipped under a door and minimal verbal talking felt like a false one. What Hugo wanted to know more than anything, was *why*. Why had Varian shut him and the rest of the world out? If it was so necessary, why hadn’t he at least attempted some form of contact? This one word question had plagued Hugo’s mind ever since the door had closed, and he had never really had the confidence to ask it: until now.

So, he went back to his room and wrote out a letter. It was simple, a little more formal than usual, but to the point. It read: Varian- We’ve been talking with each other for a while now, and I feel we are at a point where I can ask this question: Why? Why have you locked yourself in your room and away from the rest of the world? Was it something I did? You can answer as vaguely or specifically as you like, I just would really like some answers. Thanks, Hugo

His hands shook as he folded the letter and slid it under the door. He knew to give Varian a little extra time, this wasn’t just a simple math problem. So Hugo waited. And waited. And waited, until it was dinner time and his stomach forced him to get some food. The whole time, his mind was at war with itself once again: See? You just had to push your luck, didn’t you? He’s giving you the cold shoulder ‘cause you couldn’t leave well enough well enough. No! He’s not giving me the cold shoulder, he’s just taking his time to formulate a response. It’s probably a really long story. Keep telling yourself that. I will! ‘Cause it’s true! If the positive side of Hugo was right, Varian sure was taking his sweet old time, because it was 3 weeks before anything happened. Three weeks of absolute silence from the older prince. The only reason things changed was because Hugo took the brave first step of sliding alchemy notes through the door. Five minutes later, it came back with notes and edits. There were no additional quips, remarks, or any explanations like he had requested three weeks earlier, but this was better than silence. They soon fell back into the routine they had before: notes, minimal verbal communication, and various quips. It felt good to get back to that routine, but a small part of Hugo still ached for answers that he feared would never come. But he never acted on this, fearing that Varian would once again give him the cold shoulder, and this time would ignore him for good.(20/20)

((And there it is! The final part! I hope u enjoyed reading it, this is the first time ive really written something i didnt hate *and* am sharing this with someone. Thank you for taking the time to read this, this means more than u know. Thank you also for letting me take over ur inbox😅Next up im doing this story but w/ varians pov, which ive already started. Thx again! -💙

Ahhhhhh, first off, sorry for getting to this later than I usually do!! These past few weeks have been hectic and I’ve been needing to take a step back and focus more on school and classes and stuff, but I finally got to reading this and OMIGOSH I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!!

(Hope you don’t mind if I just added in some italics and kinda changed the formatting to make it easier to read - didn’t take anything off or anything, but the way tumblr formats asks is a bit weird lol, hope that doesn’t offend you! - also number 7 somehow went missing? 😅)

But OMIGOSH YO - just my heart akfjajdjaj 🥺 The two of them building their relationship slowly through passing letters underneath the door? Oh my heart, and the way you can just feel them getting closer and happier because of it?

But then Hugo asking Varian the why - why did he shut him out, why was he behind the door, why can’t they see each other - and then Varian just suddenly going back to that stiff and formal demeanor after that akfjakfjja I cry ahhhhhhh-

“But he never acted on this, fearing that Varian would once again give him the cold shoulder, and this time would ignore him for good.” - JUST RIP MY HEART OUT BLUE NONNIE AHDKGKAKJD

I absolutely loved seeing Hugo’s hesitance then excitement and eagerness to get closer to his brother whom he barely even knows besides a few memories (and ha, I see the headache there 👀) and only to see that he went too far and the fragile bond they’d forged again had melted and akfjakfjaj the FEELS-

Thank you for sharing and for letting me read your writing! I’m excited to see what you’ve got next for Varian’s POV!!! 😱

[robronsecretvalentine]

for @iwantmessedup

happy valentines day, bella ❤️

where you lead | 6000 words, t

if your teenage son has to explain to you that the fit, grumpy bloke who keeps you in good coffee and thick-cut bacon just asked you out, you probably need to take a good, hard look at yourself aka the gilmore girls au you didn’t know you wanted

:::

Robert’s dying. There’s no other explanation. Head pounding, vision blurred, limbs heavy; he can feel himself weakening with every step.

This is so unfair. There were so many things he wanted to do, so many things he never got chance to say. He was fine when he left the house, he can’t believe this is how it’s going to end for him. The only silver lining is that at least he’ll get to see Aaron one last time.

Somehow, and he really has no idea how, he makes it through the door. Manages to collapse into a stool, drapes himself dramatically across the counter, and closes his eyes to wait for death.

There’s a cough.

Robert prises open an eye. There’s an arm, soft orange plaid rolled at the elbow, forearm corded with muscle, a dusting of dark hair. It’s a perfect arm, Robert likes it very much. Especially when it plonks a cup of steaming coffee right under his nose.

��Drink that and stop whimpering,” the arm says. “You’re scaring all my customers.”

The arm is rude, so Robert ignores it in favour of burying his face in his cup until he comes back from the brink.

When he’s finished he holds his it out for more, musters up a sunny smile.

Aaron eyes him with disdain. “You’re an idiot,” he says, like he does every day.

Robert flashes his teeth. “But I’m your idiot,” he says, like he does every day.

He’s not, obviously, but he likes the way it makes Aaron go pink.

Aaron puts his cup back down in front of him, full again, and hurries off to take someone their breakfast. Robert puts his elbows on the counter, cradles his cup under his nose and breathes. That’s better.

“No Seb today?” Aaron asks, coming back just in time to slap Robert away from the dome of muffins on the counter.

Robert rubs his smarting knuckles. “Revising, not long til exams, is it?”

Aaron leans to fold his arms on his side of the counter, it puts his face close enough to Robert’s that he can smell him; rich coffee and bacon fat. Robert lets his mouth water.

“Yeah he was in here last night, books all over the place, taking up my best table.”

Robert glances over his shoulder to the table in the window, with its bench seat and plump cushions, sunlight falling across it in disjointed rectangles. “You should have told him to bugger off,” he says. “Did he even buy anything?”

Aaron shrugs. “He looked busy, it was fine.��

Aaron always gets sort of misty-eyed whenever they talk about Seb. Ever since Robert fled to the village when Seb was barely walking and Aaron was just a kid. Back when he thought Robert, seventeen and carting a baby round on his hip, was worthy of hero worship. Aaron, gruff and grumbling at the best of times, has doted on Seb, like the rest of village, for as long as Robert can remember, and Robert’s always poked fun at him for it.

“You’ve gone soft,” Robert tells him, sipping at his coffee.

That gets him a glare. “Do you want the bacon sarnie I’m about to put on for you or not?”

“Yes please.”

“Then shut your mouth, you talk too much.”

Robert mimes zipping his lips closed, goes back to his coffee while Aaron does his actual job.

The butty Aaron brings him is dripping with butter and brown sauce, bacon still bubbling. It’s a work of art.

“God,” Robert says vaguely, gazing at his sandwich, “Sometimes, I could actually kiss you.”

Aaron pauses where he’s making someone a drink, sugar skittering across the counter top. He coughs, sweeping it off the edge into his cupped hand and his voice, when he speaks, is frayed around the edges. “It’s just a butty.”

Robert eyes him while he takes a bite. There’s always been something addictive about flirting with Aaron, maybe because Aaron never seems to know what to do with him. Lately, Robert’s been wondering if there might be more to it, but he’d be risking a lot to ask, maybe too much. And the likes the gentle hum in the air between them as it is. Seeing Aaron in the mornings is a treat, something to file away to keep himself going.

Maybe that’s enough.

:::

“I wonder what this is about,” Seb says, jogging a little to catch Robert up.

They crunch up the drive together. Robert still isn’t used to it being light out at this time of night, barely any chill in the air. Summer seems to come earlier every year.

Jesus, he’s starting to sound like his dad.

Robert shudders, passes it off as a shrug. “No idea. When did we last even have a village meeting?”

“After the daffodil incident,” Seb reminds him, and they both a take a second to appreciate the fact that Robert never got caught for that.

“Maybe it’s an Easter thing then?” Robert suggests. “Hey, maybe Pollard wants you to wear the bonnet again.”

Seb bristles. “He can do one. Anyway, I’ve already told him how upset Isaac was to be left out last year, so I think I’m in the clear.”

Robert has to laugh. “You realise Isaac’s going to murder you?”

Seb shrugs, elbows waggling outwards. “Worth it.”

Isaac’s twice Seb’s size, all shoulders and hair to Seb’s coltish limbs and freckles. If Isaac didn’t swallow his tongue every time Seb so much as glanced his way, Robert would worry. As it is, he’s pretty sure Isaac would wear the bonnet without fuss, if Seb asked him nicely enough.

Not that there’s any need to tell Seb that.

The village hall is bustling with people but they manage to snag a pair of seats near the back. Robert catches a glimpse of Aaron on the other side of the room, mussed up hair and the dark of his beard. He’s got his arms folded and a tea towel over his shoulder, obviously wanting to get back to work. Robert stares at the back of his neck, pale and vulnerable above his collar, until he starts to feel weird about it.

Pollard waits until everyone’s seated, before he hops up on the stage. “Good evening, everyone,” he says. “I know it’s unusual to call a village meeting at such short notice but-”

“Mate,” Aaron calls out. “Can you just get on with it? Some of us’ve got businesses to run.”

A murmur of agreement ripples through the room and Pollard puffs up like a blowfish, mouth opening again.

Robert slumps down in his seat and tips his head on to Seb’s bony shoulder to close his eyes. He’s been awake too long for this.

“Wake me up if anything exciting happens,” he says, already tuning out Pollard’s droning voice.

:::

He comes to, when Seb shrugs him awake, to an empty room, only a few last stragglers shuffling out.

“Is it over?” he asks, wiping at his mouth. There’s a patch of dribble on Seb’s shoulder that Robert hopes he wont notice.

Seb stands up, stretching his arms out. “It’s been over for a while. Aaron brought us food.”

There’s a bulging paper bag, rolled at top, and a takeaway cup on the seat beside Robert. Of course Aaron brought them food, Aaron’s perfect.

Oh god, what if Aaron saw all the dribble?

Robert grabs them both, sipping at the coffee as they start the short walk home. “Did I miss much?”

Seb shakes his head. “Plans for a new gazebo by the church, something about the playground, Rodney calling Eric a tiny dictator, the usual. Aaron said you’ve been looking tired and not to tell you that that’s decaf.”

Robert drops the cup he’s holding straight into the bin they’re passing. “He’s really got to stop doing that.”

Seb shrugs. “He worries about you.”

“He doesn’t need to,” Robert says, even though it makes him feel soft inside, like a bruised peach, every time Aaron tries to take care of him. Robert’s been taking care of himself and Seb for so long, he’s always an arse about letting someone else take a turn.

“So you didn’t pull an all nighter at the B&B on Saturday?” Seb asks, eyebrow quirked.

Robert sighs. “You don’t need to worry about me either. There was a leak, someone had to sort it.”

“I know, you said.”

Robert slings an arm around his shoulders, feeling guilty, in spite of himself. Seb’s a good kid, the best. Maybe Robert has been leaving him to his own devices a little too much recently. It’s hard, sometimes, to balance his new manager’s position against the fact that Seb does still need him, even if it isn’t like it was when he was little. “What do you say to movie night tomorrow night then? Just you and me.”

Robert doesn’t think anything will ever compare to the feeling he gets when Seb looks up at him with those big blue eyes, all lit up like that. He wishes he could bottle it, he’d make a fortune.

“Back to the Future marathon?”

Robert nods. “Obviously.”

:::

Robert’s cup is already waiting for him on the counter the next morning, steaming away. There’s a chocolate muffin sat on a little square napkin next to it.

Aaron’s in the corner, taking an order, and Robert ignores him when he looks up, just to be an arse.

“You can’t eat my apology muffin, if you’re not going to forgive me,” Aaron says, going behind the counter to tap away at the till.

Robert shrugs, stuffing some more muffin into his face. “I think it’s the lack of trust between us now, that hurts the most-”

Aaron cuts him off. “Oh fuck off. Tell me you didn’t sleep better last night, tell me.”

“Like a baby,” Robert says, giving up the act. He can’t even pretend to be mad at Aaron these days. “And thanks for the burger.”

There is it, that little flush in Aaron’s cheeks that makes Robert’s heart thump illicitly.

Aaron fidgets adorably for a minute. “You didn’t exactly look up to cooking. What with the pool of dribble and all.”

Robert absolutely does not go red himself, that would be pathetic. “You know how restful I find village meetings.”

“Don’t even get me started on that.”

“As if I would.” Aaron’s disdain for village meetings is well known. Robert’s pretty sure it’s been a literal agenda item on at least two occasions.

Aaron starts wiping the counter down, even though it’s already sparkling. “So, what are you up to this weekend?”

It’s a weird question. Not the sort of polite small talk Aaron usually makes with him. Robert’s spidey sense tingles.

“Friday night tea up at the farm, you know the drill. Then nothing, actually. Nicola and Jimmy are on holiday.”

Aaron nods rapidly, like this is riveting stuff, and Robert turns his weird up to fucking bizarre.

“Are you alright?” Robert asks, because Aaron’s still nodding.

“Fine, yeah,” there’s a pause. “I’m going to a wedding on Friday,” Aaron says brightly, apropos of nothing.

“Are you? Whose?” The B&B is booked out all weekend but he hasn’t heard anything about a local wedding.

“Old school mate,” Aaron says. “They’re having some big marquee do up at Home Farm, hell on earth probably. But I quite liked her at school and we sort of bumped into each other on a night out a few months ago, got to catching up. I got the impression someone had left them a couple of empty seats or something and I couldn’t think of a way to get out of it.”

“Right,” Robert says warily. That might be the most words he’s ever heard Aaron use at once. He hopes he’s not winded.

Aaron looks vaguely embarrassed, like he knows exactly what Robert’s thinking. He’s gone really red as well, hands tapping at the counter. “Don’t suppose you fancy keeping me company? So I don’t have to sit next to an empty chair all night?”

“Or take your mum,” Robert points out.

Aaron laughs loudly enough that an old woman at the end of the counter drops her fork. “Yeah, exactly.”

Robert shrugs. He can think of worse ways to spend an evening than with Aaron. It getting him out of Friday night tea is the cherry on top really. “Why not? Everyone keeps telling me I’m due a day off work so, yeah, sounds like fun.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, course. I’ll come with you.”

Aaron looks baffled, as though this wasn’t his idea in the first place. “Okay,” he says. “Great, thank you. That’s great.”

“It’ll be fun,” Robert tells him, going back to his muffin, mentally sifting through his suits to find something that wont clash with whatever Aaron might wear.

Aaron hovers for a second, mouth open, but the bell dings in the kitchen hatch before he can say anything else.

:::

Seb’s on the settee when Robert gets home, feet up on the coffee table. He’s barely more than a tuft of ginger hair and green socks, hidden behind the giant book he’s got his face buried in.

“Grandad rang,” he tells Robert, voice muffled.

Robert makes a face. Great. “You’re going to have to go for tea by yourself on Friday,” he says breezily.

Seb appears from behind his book, visibly suspicious. “Why?”

Robert busies himself putting the kettle on. “I’ve got a thing.”

“What sort of thing?”

“Just a thing,” he doesn’t actually know why he’s being so cagey until Seb speaks again.

“A date thing then. You can’t swerve Grandad’s for a some woman. Or bloke. He’ll go mad.”

“It’s not a date.”

Seb’s eyes roll. God, sometimes he looks so much like his mother. “What then?”

“Aaron’s friend’s getting married, I said I’d go with him, that’s all.”

Seb’s face splits open, grin rising like the sun. “Finally.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’re going to a wedding with Aaron,” Seb says, speaking very slowly, like Robert is very elderly and perhaps hard of hearing. “As his date.”

Robert shakes his head. “It’s not a date.”

It definitely hadn’t sounded like a date when Aaron had asked. If Aaron was going to ask him out, if they were actually going to go there, Robert would have noticed.

“Dad,” Seb says, climbing over the back of the settee because he’s an animal. “Of course it’s a date. You’re going to wear a suit and eat food. That’s a date.”

“What would you know about it?”

Oh god. Aaron’s going to be wearing a suit.

Seb folds his arms. “You let me watch too much TV.”

“That’s definitely true,” Robert scrubs a hand through his hair, stomach knotting up when he thinks about Aaron, pink-cheeked and stuttering, asking him to fill a chair. “Oh god. It’s a date, isn’t it?”

Seb’s face is sympathetic, which is nice, but his nod is still smugger than Robert appreciates.

“Does he know it’s a date?” If Robert didn’t notice, maybe Aaron didn’t either.

“Make me one,” Seb says, nodding at the coffee cups sitting forgotten by Robert’s elbow. “And don’t be ridiculous. Aaron’s been in love with you ever since he worked out how his personal parts worked.”

Robert goes hot all over, can’t do a thing to stop it, he has to turn away to hide whatever his face is doing. “No he hasn’t. And please never say personal parts again.”

“Dad,” Seb says, stepping up behind him to squeeze his shoulders. “Everyone knows you like each other. You don’t have to stay single forever just for me, you know? I like Aaron, and I want you to be happy. Plus, you’re not exactly getting any younger here, are you?”

Robert resists the urge to check his reflection in side of the toaster. “Thanks for that.”

“And Aaron’s pretty okay looking, right? And he owns his own business. You could do a lot worse.”

“Please stop talking.”

Seb wanders back over to his books when Robert hands over his coffee, and Robert’s left at the kitchen table with nothing more than a churning belly and too many wrinkles.

Fuck. It’s a date.

A date.

He’s got a date with the only person who’s ever made his breath catch and he hadn’t even realised it was happening. He’s a fucking idiot.

He’s fucking fucked.

:::

Aaron looks good enough to sink ships. Of course he does. It’s actually unfair how well he’s filling out that suit jacket, Robert’s fingers are already itching to touch and they haven’t even made it out of the car yet.

To make matters worse, all Aaron had done is give Robert a once over when he’d opened the door, nodded, said, “You’ll do,” and turned to go before Robert could even pocket his wallet. He’s barely said three words since.

When they pull up outside Home Farm, Robert stops him before Aaron can get out of the car. “Are you alright?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

Robert gives him a look, watches a woman totter past the window in uncomfortable looking heels when Aaron wont look at back him. “You just seem a bit on edge?”

Either that or he’s regretting the whole thing.

Aaron scrubs both hands over his face, grinds the heels into his eye sockets. “Sorry,” he says, sounding pained. “I’m no good at all this.”

“All what?”

“This,” he waves a hand between them, and at the marquee set up on the grass, brightly coloured bunting fluttering in the breeze. “Weddings and that. I don’t know half these people, it’s just-”

For someone who works in customers service, Aaron is terrible with people, that’s always been true. It’s sort of one of Robert’s favourite things about him, that he gets to be on the inside of all that, see the marshmallowy centre.

Robert nudges him with an elbow. “Well that’s what you’ve got me for isn’t it, like, a buffer or whatever,” Aaron frowns at him, like Robert’s missing the point completely, and Robert hurries to continue. “You don’t have to talk to anyone except me, if you don’t want to. Pretend it’s just the two of us.”

He watches, fascinated, as Aaron’s ears turn red. “Just us,” Aaron says, nodding slowly.

Robert feels the air turn syrupy between them when Aaron doesn’t look away, and he’s half a breath from doing something ridiculous, like trying to hold Aaron’s hand, when a car pulls into the space beside them, blocking out the light, and the moment drops away.

:::

The wedding is beautiful; Aaron’s friend Bella looks amazing, her fella looks at least half as good, and the ceremony is as moving as it can be, given that Robert hasn’t got a clue who these people are or how they met or if they’re even a good match. But the bloke gets properly choked up during his vows, enough that one of the bridesmaids leans over to offer a tissue, which even Robert can’t pretend wasn’t pretty cute.

The marquee is decked out with wild flowers and fairy lights, pops of colour everywhere. Robert and Aaron share an impressed look as they’re herded in to find their table.

Aaron doesn’t seem to know anyone at the table any more than Robert does, so they mostly keep to themselves. The soup is a bit shit and the chicken is dry but they get sticky toffee pudding for dessert and Robert doesn’t drip anything down his front so he can’t really complain. Plus it was free.

He watches Aaron scrape his final plate clean with his spoon, watches his lips go sticky sweet, and has to fight down that urge again, the one that’s been popping up all day, wanting him to put his arm across the back of Aaron’s chair, lean in to drag his nose up that soft looking patch of skin behind Aaron’s ear. The one that wants to overstep the mark, just to see if Aaron will let him.

He pinches the tip of his tongue between his teeth instead and keeps his hands to himself.

They toast the bride and groom about forty times with bitter, wedding package cava, and when Robert excuses himself to head for the makeshift bar, to get them both a proper drink, he’s not exactly surprised to find Aaron at his heels.

“Let me get them,” Aaron’s saying. “You’re only putting up with this for me.”

“Oh yeah. Spending an evening with you looking like that,” Robert says, eyeing Aaron up and down. “What a hardship.”

Aaron rolls his eyes. “Shut up.”

“I mean it,” Robert leans up beside him while Aaron orders them both a beer. “You should wear a suit more often.”

Aaron’s tongue appears, wetting at his lips. “Shut up.”

“You know, you really need to learn how to take a compliment.”

Aaron’s eyes cut to him, and Robert keeps his gaze perfectly steady even though the intensity there is something he wants to shy away from. This is him and Aaron, there’s no reason for his heart to be racing. “You look good too,” Aaron says.

Robert strokes a hand down his tie, says, “Of course I do,” like he isn’t preening under the attention, like he hasn’t spent the last couple of years looking at Aaron just to see if Aaron will look back.

They find a corner to drink their pints, and then another, and another. By the time they’re both loose enough in the shoulders to be laughing together, pointing out who’s probably having an affair with who and speculating about how long the tissue bridesmaid has been round the back of the tent with the best man, Bella and whateverhisnameis are twirling around the makeshift dance floor to Toploader. Which Robert privately thinks is a bit naff, given that it’s not actually all the way dark out yet. Also it’s overcast.

“Maybe it means something to them,” Aaron says, because Aaron’s a sap at weddings, apparently.

Half the place rushes the dance floor for the second half and even Robert’s foot is tapping by the time the song ends, eases into something softer that he remembers from when he was a kid.

“Come on,” Robert says, making the decision for them. He pulls at Aaron’s arm until he’s got no choice but to join the throng of people swaying away.

Aaron’s got his hands up, protesting. “What are you doing? I’m not dancing.”

And he isn’t really, it’s embarrassing, so Robert takes him by the waist, dragging him in until their bellies bump and Aaron has no choice but to hang on to Robert’s arms for balance. “There you go, that’s better.”

Aaron’s scarlet, shaking his head. “You’re mad, you.”

“When in Rome,” Robert says, has to speak right into his ear to be heard. And he’s immediately aware of how close they are. He can see the jackrabbit of Aaron’s pulse in his throat, can smell the woodsy heat of him, the inescapable musk of coffee underneath it all.

It catches Robert’s breath in his chest, both of them stilling when their eyes meet. Aaron’s gaze dips down to Robert’s mouth and then skitters away again, enough to make Robert’s lips buzz with awareness.

It’s overwhelming, suddenly, how much he wants to press kisses to Aaron’s beer damp mouth, take his time with it, see how far down his chest that blush goes. He wants Aaron as breathless as he feels right now. Robert has never want to kiss someone more, and Aaron isn’t even doing anything, he’s just frozen, staring back at Robert like he wants him to take.

Robert’s not like Aaron though, he’s not a particularly good person at all, and he’s self aware enough to know that the only thing holding him back is that he’s afraid of what might come next. Even if Aaron doesn’t push him away, Robert hasn’t been with someone for more than a handful of nights since he knocked Rebecca up in the toilets of her sister’s engagement party when they were 15. He’s never taken any one home to Seb before.

And he knows Seb approves, but that just makes it even more messy. Seb loves Aaron, just as much as Robert does. Seb’s the one who talked Aaron into buying the cafe five years ago, making a real go of it, eleven years old and mouthing off at Aaron about taking risks – God, it was hilarious.

But there are risks and then there are risks, aren’t there?

Seb has been the axis around which everything has turned for half of Robert’s life. Seb is everything. If Robert messes this up it’s not just his own heart he risks breaking.

So he ducks his head, breaks eye contact to tuck his chin down into the juncture of Aaron’s neck, breathe in what could have been. He holds Aaron as close as he dares, feels the hot press of Aaron’s hands across his back, thinks I’m sorry, I wish as hard as he can, and prays that Aaron can hear him.

:::

Robert has his coffee at home the next morning, nursing his hangover on the comfort of his own settee.

“It went that badly then?” Seb asks, hovering.

“It was fine,” Robert tells him.

Seb pulls a face. “Just fine? It was your first date.”

Robert feels prickly and tender about it all, still smarting from the look Aaron gave him when they went back to their drinks. There’s a good chance that Robert will never get to be that close to him again and he isn’t sure the sense memory will be good enough to keep him going.

“It wasn’t a date,” is what he says to Seb, because he might be pretty switched on for sixteen but he doesn’t need to hear all that.

Seb huffs, face screwing up again. “I don’t get you. You have the chance at something really good here, with like, the perfect guy, and you can’t be bothered? What happens when I go to uni? Are you just going to rattle around here all on your own until you die?”

Robert’s mouth drops open and it takes every ounce of not his dadhe’s got in him not to bite back. “Go to your room.”

“What? You can’t-”

“Go to your room,” Robert repeats, voice low and deadly. “And don’t you ever talk to me like that again.”

Seb’s eyes go watery, like they always do when he gets told off, and he slinks upstairs with his tail between his legs.

His door slamming makes Robert flinch, even though he was bracing for it.

:::

It’s mid afternoon before Seb shows his face again.

Robert takes one look at him and drags him in for a hug. He’s been feeling like an arsehole for about twelve hours total now, he deserves a hug, and Seb owes him.

Seb puts up with it for a couple of minutes, and then fights his way free. “Are you ready to talk about it yet?”

Robert shrugs, goes back to his pile of blankets, still feeling sulky. “There’s nothing to talk about.”

“You’ve been crying.”

“I have not,” so he watched this week’s DIY SOS, sue him.

Seb sighs deeply, put upon. “Dad, you know that I love you, even though you’re an actual idiot, right?”

Robert gives him a look. “Yes.”

“So I mean this in the nicest possible way, alright? Please get your head out your arse.”

“Excuse me?”

“You’re in love with Aaron.”

“I think that might be an exaggeration,” Robert says. It’s not, it’s totally not. He keeps thinking about Aaron’s face, so close to his, sparkling in disco colours and watching him like Robert was the only person in the room. It’s making him feel like someone’s scooped his heart out with a melon baller.

“And Aaron’s in love with you.”

“We don’t know that.”

Seb throws his hands up. “Oh for God’s sake. What the fuck is wrong with you?”

Robert’s too stunned to tell him off for swearing. “I don’t want to mess everything up,” he says, sort of meekly, he has to admit.

“Who cares if you do?” Seb asks, face crumpled up and baffled, with all the bravery of someone who has never had their heart broken.

Robert braces his arms across his knees. “Aaron’s very important to you,” he says. “And to me. He’s one of our best friends, and he’s a really big part of this village. If I do something to ruin that, it just…it wouldn’t be good.”

“So that means you don’t get to be happy? Either of you? Just in case? That’s stupid.”

Robert huffs a laugh, can’t not. “Being a grown up’s a bit like that.”

Seb comes to sit beside him, elbow digging in to Robert’s arm like always. “Well it shouldn’t be.”

“When your mum gave you to me-”

“She made you promise to take care of me, I know,” Seb looks up at him. “But you have, you do. I’m not a little kid any more, dad, look at me. This isn’t about protecting me, this is about you being too scared to go after what you want. So what if it goes wrong? Aaron’s not an arsehole, he wouldn’t stop being friends with us over something like that. Isn’t he worth the risk?”

Robert would never tell Seb this, but he fucking hates it when the kid’s right.

:::

He manages to avoid Aaron for a couple more days, before his need for decent coffee gets the better of him and he has no choice but to stop stewing on it.

Aaron’s closing up, because Robert’s a wuss and has dragged this out for as long as he possibly can.

“We’re closed,” Aaron says, he doesn’t look up from where he’s upending chairs on to tables.

“I’ll have whatever’s left in the pot,” Robert says. “I’m not fussy.”

He watches Aaron’s shoulders still. “I think we both know that’s a lie,”  he says, but he goes and makes Robert a proper drink anyway, because he’s Aaron.

Robert sits in his usual seat and drinks it. “So how have you been?” he asks. “I haven’t seen you for a couple of days.”

God, he sounds like a total wanker, no wonder Aaron’s looking at him like that.

“Are we really doing this?” Aaron asks.

“Doing what?”

Aaron gapes at him for a minute, then shakes his head and turns around to start wiping down the coffee machine. He doesn’t say anything else but Robert can feel the frustration vibrating off him, thick enough to shake the air between them.

He watches the shift in Aaron’s shoulders, thinks about the strength of them under Robert’s hands in the middle of a crowd. Thinks about everything else, about how it was Aaron who drove Seb to the hospital when he broke his wrist last year and Robert was stuck in traffic an hour away, thinks about the way he scowls at every tourist who comes in this place, and how they all leave loving him anyway. He thinks about all the stupid, pointless flings he’s had, men and women that have never stuck and never meant a thing, thinks about the couple of boyfriends Aaron has hung on to for a while, and how it had seemed like a weight had lifted every time he was single again. He thinks about how much worse his life would be, without Aaron in it. About how he’s been falling for him for years, and how he didn’t even notice it creeping up on him until it closed over his head.

He thinks about Seb, and the nice little life Robert has managed to build for them, from ashes of everything else. The life that wouldn’t exist if Robert hadn’t been brave enough to take it.

He did not work this hard, for all these years, to live half a life.

He follows Aaron behind the counter, gets a hand on his shoulder to turn him around.

“What are you doing? You can’t be back-”

Robert takes Aaron’s face between his hands, drags him in until their foreheads touch. Aaron stills in his hold, eyes fluttering shut when his brain catches up to what’s going on.

Robert gives himself a minute, to take it in, making a memory because he has a feeling he’s going to want to remember this. “You talk too much,” he murmurs, nonsensically, before he tips their mouths together.

There’s an almost overwhelming feeling of finally, and then Aaron’s coming back to life in his arms, fingers creepy crawling up over Robert’s shoulders and into his hair. Robert gathers him close, makes fists in the butter soft flannel of his shirt to keep him where Robert wants him.

He tries to keep the kiss soft, as romantic as it had seemed in his head, but then Aaron’s mouth is opening under his and his tongue is in Robert’s mouth, and suddenly he’s half hard in his jeans, trying not to ride Aaron’s thigh. He gives up trying to control it and just kisses back, keeps kissing for as long as Aaron will let him, until his mouth feels sloppy with it and his chin is burning from the rough of Aaron’s beard.

They’re both breathless when they finally part, and Aaron looks about as shell shocked as Robert feels; like the ground has shifted under him, like he can’t believe they haven’t been doing that the whole time.

Aaron’s hands slide down Robert’s chest. “What are you doing?” he asks, and he sounds suspicious enough that Robert laughs.

He gathers his courage into a ball. He’s a grown man, if Aaron worked up the nerve to ask him out, Robert can do this.

He keeps hold of Aaron though, so he doesn’t get any ideas about moving away. “So, I had a word with Seb, and it turns out I’ve been a bit of an idiot.”

Aaron gives him a look like, you don’t say, but he doesn’t say anything so Robert keeps going. “It also turns out that I’m sort of massively in love with you, so.”

It’s quite cute, the way Aaron’s mouth drops open and just sort of… stays that way. “You what?”

Robert looks him right in the eye. “I love you. And I have it on pretty good authority that you feel the same way?”

He doesn’t mean to make it a question but it happens anyway. Aaron’s frowning, sort of kneading at Robert’s chest with his fingertips like a kitten, but he’s nodding.

“Yeah?” Robert prods.

Aaron rolls his eyes. “Obviously, yeah. I though you weren’t interested. After wedding, when you – I thought you weren’t-”

Robert cuts him off. “I’m interested. I’m…more than interested.”

“So why did you…”

“I was scared,” Robert admits, grudgingly. “I think I’ve been trying to tell myself I was looking out for Seb, but that’s not it. I’ve never felt like this before, I’m bloody terrified.”

Aaron’s nodding. “Same here.”

“Seb reckons you’re worth the risk.”

“That does sound like him,” Aaron says. “Also he’s right.”

Robert strokes his hands up Aaron’s back, feels the push and pull of them breathing together. “So, I’m in. If you’ll have me.”

Aaron’s eyes are the bluest thing Robert has ever seen. “I’ll have you,” Aaron says, voice a murmur, and it’s him who leans up this time, kisses Robert until his head’s spinning. Until it feels like this could actually be his life.

Aaron fits against him like he was made to be there, and Robert lets himself imagine, for the first time, a world in which he doesn’t fuck this up.

[kanasmusings]

[Translation] TsukiPro Special CD - Starry Sky Collection Track 2

Yay~! This time, it’s VAZZROCK!! Next one is Mamoru and Koki’s and then the rest of the Yaminabe series dramas ww

Thank you once again to Deea for the files~! Please don’t ask her as per her request, thank you!

Also, Sho briefly mentions the story behind Lyra the constellation so, please do give it a read to understand it completely ^^

※ Please don’t re-post these translations without permission. Instead of reposting, please just like/reblog instead ^^

Under the cut, enjoy~!

Track 02: [心揺さぶる音楽を -こと座 ベガ-] “Music that Shakes the Heart – from the Constellation of Lyra – Vega”

Mamiya Takaaki, Kira Ouka, Onoda Sho, and Nadumi Ruka

[0:00]

  MAMIYA: Everyone, thank you very much. We’ll leave the rest to you.

SHO: We’ll leave it in your care.

SHO: We’ll be taking our leave now.

OUKA: Thank you very much for today.

RUKA: Thank you~!

  SHO: Now then, thank you for the hard work once again.

MAMIYA: Good work.

OUKA: Great job.

RUKA: Yay~! We all did well!

SHO: With this, VazzRaji’s first season recording is now finished.

SHO: Our party with the staff is over as well and now all we need to do is return to the dorms.

SHO: I heard that if we go straight home from here, it’s not that far but…

SHO: Takaaki, do you want to call a taxi?

MAMIYA: Ah, that’s right. Let’s call for one by the main street.

MAMIYA: But, uh… Can I ride a different one (from yours)?

OUKA: A different one? Where do you plan on going?

MAMIYA: Don’t look at me with such cold eyes~ I just feel like going for a little walk.

MAMIYA: If I walk from here to the dorm…

RUKA: If we’ll trust the map application, it’d take about 10 minutes!

MAMIYA: See? That’s what he said. It’s not really that far.

MAMIYA: I was just thinking of walking around to feel a bit refreshed.

MAMIYA: That much is fine, isn’t it?

RUKA: Ah! Then, I’ll do the same~! I don’t really like the smell of taxis and I try avoiding them as much as possible.

RUKA: Also, I ate a looooott of meat and rice so I wanna exercise a bit!

RUKA: And so~ Takaaki-kun, can I go with you~?

MAMIYA: Of course, you’re welcome to~! Let’s take it easy together, ‘kay?

RUKA: Alrighty~!

OUKA: (sighs) Ruka, if you walk back to the dorms from here, won’t it override your calorie intake?

RUKA: Non, non, non, Ouka-kun~ Doing things when you feel like doing them is important, too!

RUKA: In other words, there’d be no feelings of guilt lingering!

OUKA: Is it like that?

RUKA: Yes, it is! It’s kinda the same as when women go shopping.

RUKA: “Oh, I might find some use for this,” they say and then they end up buying more than intended~

RUKA: In my case, I say “I’ll lose it all in practice tomorrow” and then I eat as much as I can!

RUKA: If you say that, you won’t feel as guilty! Doing the things you love sometimes is important, too~

RUKA: It’s essential, right~?

OUKA: I see… That’s deep.

MAMIYA: By the way, I only want to walk, okay?

SHO: Yes~ I don’t really have any feelings of guilt but, can I join you for your night walk?

MAMIYA: Oh~ Sho, you wanna walk, too?

SHO: Yes, I’m the same as you, Takaaki.

SHO: Heading straight back to the dorms feels like a waste and somehow, I’m in the mood to walk, too.

SHO: I had so much fun a while ago that I feel like wanting to enjoy your company for a while longer.

MAMIYA: In Sho’s case, isn’t it just because you had too much to drink?

MAMIYA: You’re looking quite pale, y’know~? See? (Mamiya touches Sho’s hand) Your hand’s a bit warm, too.

SHO: (chuckles) Is that so? Well, maybe it is, since Takaaki’s hand feels cool and nice.

RUKA: Were you bad at handling your alcohol, Sho-kun?

RUKA: Like, your head feels floaty whenever you drink?

SHO: Hmm… I don’t think I’m particularly bad or good.

SHO: Though, it’s true that my head feels kind of floaty but, it doesn’t really go beyond that.

RUKA: Heh~ I’ll remember that~

SHO: Hm? Why would you want to remember that?

RUKA: When I know what my friends’ limits are, I can help them when they’re troubled about what to drink next or when they’re about to pass out, right~?

RUKA: I can handle my alcohol well so don’t hesitate to rely on me, ‘kay~

SHO: Thank you. Ruka’s very kind and reliable, huh?

MAMIYA: ROCK DOWN’s bonds are so dazzling~

MAMIYA: Alright! Then, Ouka will go home first in a taxi and then—

OUKA: Wait. Do you really think I’m that much of a loner to go home by taxi when you’re all walking?

MAMIYA: Yeah.

OUKA: (Ouka grabs Mamiya by the necktie) You should at least lie in a situation like this.

MAMIYA: (with a pained voice) O-O-Ouka-kun… Ouka-kun? Don’t pull my necktie…! My neck’s gonna fall off…!

MAMIYA: My neck’s gonna snap…!

RUKA: (smiles) VAZZY’s bonds are so tight, huh~!?

SHO: Ouka, calm down~

OUKA: Tch.

RUKA: So, that means~ Ouka-kun’s gonna walk with us?

OUKA: I am. Now that that’s decided, let’s get going.

OUKA: Let’s go. Hurry up and go.

RUKA: Yes sir~

MAMIYA: Y-yes…

[05:00]

  RUKA: (singing) ♪ Let’s go on a walk, let’s go on a walk~! ♪

RUKA: (singing) ♪ I am the great Ruka-kun~! ♪

SHO: (chuckles) Ruka’s in a good mood, huh?

OUKA: I’d understand if that was his energy after drinking but, I’m surprised that he’s naturally like that.

OUKA: In a way, he’s pretty energetic.

MAMIYA: That’s to be expected. Ruka’s a stage actor after all.

MAMIYA: I think he’s got more energy than a certain someone here~ He’s got pretty great stamina.

OUKA: I see.

SHO: I’m so sorry, Ouka. We ended up going home by walking.

OUKA: Ah, no. If I’m being honest, I was the same as everyone else. I felt like going for a walk.

OUKA: That’s why you don’t have to mind it.

MAMIYA: Oh my~! You’re quite honest with Sho, aren’t you, Ouka?

OUKA: If someone tells me something directly, I answer as honestly as I can.

OUKA: That’s all there is to it.

MAMIYA: In other words, you’re rebellious when it comes to me?

RUKA: (smiles) Walking like this together with everyone feels kinda nice, huh~?

RUKA: The food and alcohol during the staff party was great, too! I’m extremely satisfied~

RUKA: I’m super happy!

OUKA: Ruka, your voice is too loud.

RUKA: (laughs) I’m sorry, Ouka-kun.

RUKA: I’m feeling good and the wind feels so nice~ I just got taken in by the atmosphere. (to Sho) Right~?

SHO: Hm? Yes~ (to Mamiya) Right?

MAMIYA: (to Ouka) Right~?

OUKA: Ruka and Sho aside, when Takaaki does it, it’s disgusting.

MAMIYA: So mean!

RUKA: Alright~! Sho-kun and I passed!

MAMIYA: Discrimination is not good, Ouka.

OUKA: Don’t hold on to me, you drunk.

MAMIYA: I didn’t drink any though~

MAMIYA: I only drank like, one beer and about two or three ciders.

RUKA: Me, too! Normally, I’d drink so much more but, I have to wake up early tomorrow.

RUKA: Hm… But, Takaaki-kun, Ouka-kun, Sho-kun, and I are kinda a rare combi so—

RUKA: Going home so early just kinda feels like a waste…

SHO: Even though you say that Ruka, Gaku asked me to take you home safely.

RUKA: Ack! That bastard…!

MAMIYA: As expected from his partner! He can read you like a book~

OUKA: You laugh at him and all that but, you need to wake up early for filming tomorrow, too.

OUKA: Walk properly, get home, and then go to sleep.

OUKA: Don’t tell me, “let me watch one video before going to sleep,” got it?

MAMIYA: (groans)

SHO: (laughs) Looks like he can read you well, too~

SHO: Although Takaaki takes his work seriously, there are times when he indulges himself, huh?

SHO: Just like me~

RUKA: I-I don’t think that’s something you should be smiling about, Sho-kun… (laughs nervously)

OUKA: Good grief… So, our leaders have the same weird tendencies.

SHO: Please don’t abandon me.

[08:19]

  SHO: (gasps)

RUKA: Hm, what’s wrong, Sho-kun?

SHO: Look, Ruka. Since there are no buildings around, you can see the stars properly.

RUKA: Ah! It’s true!

RUKA: Woah~! Since when did I last see the stars like this~?

OUKA: We might have seen them but didn’t really notice them much.

MAMIYA: So, they can be seen properly even in the city, huh~!

OUKA: The stars I saw from my relative’s house when I was younger were even more amazing.

MAMIYA: Heh~ In the countryside?

OUKA: In Okayama Prefecture’s prefectural border.

OUKA: I was in elementary school back then probably. I went there about 2 or 3 times during summer vacation.

OUKA: In any case, the stars were so beautiful that I’d lay down and look up at them until my mother came to scold me.

OUKA: It’s such a vivid memory that when I close my eyes sometimes, I feel like I can still see them.

OUKA: The scent of incense, the squeaking of the wooden floorboards, the sound of the wind chimes, and the starry sky spreading from the night sky.

RUKA: When I imagine Ouka-kun with stars, it makes for such a perfect picture that I get scared~

RUKA: Ouka-kun, you really love stars, huh?

OUKA: I guess. I love them.

OUKA: Not just the stars but the universe in general. When it’s shown on T.V. I end up watching it completely.

MAMIYA: This is my first time hearing that~

OUKA: Have I not told you…?

OUKA: Don’t you generally prefer conversations where you can talk of anything compared to half-hearted ones that don’t fit your interests?

OUKA: It feels good to be able to talk about what you love, doesn’t it?

MAMIYA: I see~ That’s such a great reason that’s so fitting of you, Ouka.

RUKA: I love stars too but, not on a realistic scale, I guess.

RUKA: I love things with star designs! They can be cute or cool~!

RUKA: Oh, and they’re good luck~!

MAMIYA: Oh! Now that you mention it, I feel like a lot of your t-shirts and bags have star designs on them!

MAMIYA: Don’t you have shoes like that, too? Ya know, the ones designed with stars for buckles and stuff?

RUKA: As expected from Takaaki-kun! You’ve observed well, huh~? Those are my favorite~

RUKA: It’s the one I decorated with the make-up artist backstage! It’s the only one of its kind in the world~

RUKA: I wear them to feel in the mood before a play!

SHO: You really take acting seriously, huh~ Leaving it to luck is not manly, was it?

SHO: Though, you give me the impression that you would leave it to your own abilities.

RUKA: (laughs) That’s correct! That’s exactly it!

RUKA: Whether it’s luck or abilities, the one that wins in the end is the me who practiced a lot.

RUKA: The only superstition I believe are good luck charms, I guess.

RUKA: I usually feel like giving it my all when I’m acting since I can~

RUKA: Though, there are a lot of people on stage who believe in superstitions.

SHO: True. I think I have the same way of thinking. The world is not so simple that we can win on luck alone.

SHO: But, we can’t completely undermine luck and being lucky. That’s about it, I guess~

RUKA: Yep~! Samesies~

[11:43]

  SHO: (chuckles) Hey, does everyone know the legend of Vega from the Lyra constellation? It’s one of the brightest stars in the Summer Triangle.

MAMIYA: That’s pretty sudden~ The Summer Triangle constellation is uh… Altair, Vega, and… Ah, Deneb! It’s that one, right?

MAMIYA: The only thing I know about it are the stars’ names.

OUKA: I’m the same.

RUKA: Wow, you’re amazing! I didn’t even know the stars’ names!

RUKA: I only know the words “Summer Triangle”.

SHO: (chuckles) That’s exactly it.

SHO: Lyra is the constellation that’s shaped like a musical instrument. It’s the lyre that appears in Greek mythology.

SHO: The story goes is that it’s Orpheus’s lyre up in the sky.

SHO: The legend says that Orpheus went to the Underworld to reclaim his departed wife.

SHO: He offered his music to the King of the Underworld and managed to charm him.

SHO: Though, it seems like he failed with his initial plans of bringing his beloved back.

SHO: I’ve been told this story when I was young and I remember admiring the music that was supposed to have swayed even the King of the Underworld’s heart.

SHO: I just remembered that suddenly.

RUKA: I feel like Sho-kun’s violin can shake the heart of the King of the Underworld, too~

SHO: No, no. I still have ways to go.

SHO: I think that the violin is something that I still have to learn for quite a long time.

SHO: It’s never-ending and it makes me feel a bit scared but, it has its own charm, too.

OUKA: It might be quite similar to the reason why I admire the universe.

OUKA: Something that we want to chase for an eternity.

RUKA: Ah, that kind of phrasing is perfect for my ideal stars!

RUKA: Something that we admire for eternity is something that we’d yearn for for a long time!

RUKA: Isn’t that cool~?

MAMIYA: I feel you. Though, it’d be a plus if I can make mine shorter.

MAMIYA: See? Just like those stars spreading above our heads right now.

MAMIYA: I can see them all the time and I feel like I can reach my hand out to them. They’re always watching over us.

MAMIYA: I was just thinking that it’d be nice if the fans thought of us like that, too.

OUKA: “Watching over” is so like you.

MAMIYA: Right?

SHO: Right now, we are the ones being watched over by the stars, huh?

SHO: Let’s continue to do our best so that we can become those kinds of admirable people~

RUKA: Yeah!

RUKA: (singing) ♪ Let’s go home, let’s go home~! I am the great Ruka-kun~! ♪

OUKA: Like I said, your voice is too loud.

MAMIYA: Alright, let’s sing together in a moderate tone then~

MAMIYA: Alright, Ouka, you too~!

OUKA: I won’t sing.

  SHO: (chuckles) We’ll continue to make music that will shake your heart one day.

SHO: Beautiful and dazzling music just like the stars that’s dedicated for you.

  ==END==

※ Please don’t re-post the English translations without permission.

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[wordsaresimple-imnot]

War meets Death - Ch. 2

This is an AU!AHS with Michael as the son of the Greek gods, Hades and Persephone.

Pairing: Michael x O/C Female (Emersyn)

Rating - eventual NSFW (not super slow burn but wont start for a few chapters)

Type- multi-chapter story

Chapter 1 

***********

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

Emersyn rolled over and looked at the clock on her night stand. 7:00 A.M. With a groan she hit the snooze button and curled deeper into the bed. 

It was Thursday morning, just a few days after she’d been accepted as part of the Langdon staff and given a room in their mansion. Each morning she got up around 7 o’clock, got ready and met Ms. Mead down in the kitchen no later than 8 o’clock.  

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

7:15 A.M. A louder groan rippled through the room. Emersyn shut the alarm off and sat up in the bed. The sun was starting to peak through the curtains in her room illuminating parts of the room the dying fireplace could not. 

Forcing herself out of the warm cocoon she’d made, she shuffled her feet across the room to the joining bathroom. As the sink water warmed up Emersyn looked at herself. 

Well that’s attractive, she thought dryly. Half glazed over eyes and tangled bed head stared back at her. Even with that she felt good. Lighter. The only way she could describe it was like getting to breathe after being denied air for so long. Deciding she needed to shake a leg, she brushed her teeth, smoothed her hair some and started the shower. 

She still couldn’t get over how big and fancy her room and bathroom was. Same walls and floors as the rest of the house with black furniture laid out. Her bathroom was sleek and beautiful, with an extra large tub and separate large shower with a rainfall shower-head. Emersyn could stay under the hot water forever but knew Ms. Mead would have her hide if she was more than a couple minutes late, so she forced herself to leave the warmth yet again.

Wrapping her body and hair in a towel she left the homemade sauna and went back to her bedroom. Turning on her bedside lamp, she glanced at the clock. 

7:40 A.M. Shit.

She quickly stepped into her walk-in closet and started grabbing things to wear. Most of the closet was empty as she had only brought about half of her clothes. She’d left in the dead of night from her mother’s house so she had to limit what she could carry in one trip without making a lot of noise. A few bags of clothes and some precious momentous she couldn’t bare to leave behind was all that left with her. 

The season’s had started to change so to fend off the chill rising in the air she put on some skinny jeans, a loose grey and black sweater, and combat boots. Rushing back into the bathroom, she quickly applied some concealer under her eyes to try and hide her lack of sleep. Knowing she was running out of time she yanked the towel off her head, brushed the tangles out and threw it up into a messy bun. 

That’ll have to work, not like I’m trying to impress anyone. She thought when a picture of Michael flashed into her mind causing a blush. Stop it. That’s not why you’re here. 

Pushing his image from her mind she tossed the wet towel in the hamper and sprinted out of the room. Moving as fast as she could without actually running she went down the hall and  staircase, to the back of the house where the kitchen was. Emersyn had just sat down and started nibbling on the left over breakfast when Ms. Mead entered the room. Raising an eyebrow, she glanced at her watch then back at Emersyn. 

“8:05, cutting it close. Between you and Michael waiting until the last minute I’ll be sent to an early grave.” She grumbled as she started cleaning up. 

Emersyn cleared her throat, “Well I can’t speak for Michael but I’m working on being more on time. I’m not a morning person.”

“At least one of you is working,” Ms. Mead responded. 

“What do you mean?” Emersyn got up to help clean-up. Ms. Mead nodded in thanks, sighing slightly loud. 

“Have you started any of the books I gave you?” 

“I started the one about the three main families and all the sub-families. I’m halfway through Zeus, he’s got a lot of...connections.” Emersyn decided that sounded better than bastards. 

“Alright, well this is how the Langdon’s, meaning Hades, runs their family. Most people have a particular God or Goddess they worship, but whether or not they worship Hades they have to figure out what awaits them in the Underworld. That’s where our business side comes in. For the right price one can ensure a cushy place, regardless of bad actions done when they were living.” 

Emersyn thought on that for a minute. “So basically they buy to have their “sins” forgotten?” 

Ms. Mead shrugged, “In a way. The ones that use it for that the most are the elite of Zeus’ followers. Debauchery and little to no morals runs in the group like an STD. Some people use it to ensure their whole family will be together in a happy place, sort of an eternal reunion. Then there’s the one’s that pay so that a loved one can get a “pass” to visit the living so to speak. Maybe for a business deal or family event, we don’t care really. Makes sense?” She watched Emersyn as she digested it. After a couple minutes of silence Emersyn turned towards her. 

“It does. Some of those I can understand and even see it as a good service. But not everyone should be able to throw money or whatever into the pot and get the same treatment as people that legitimately work to keep a good soul their whole lives. It’s a business and feelings shouldn’t be a huge running factor, but that doesn’t feel right to me.” Ms. Mead gave her a half smile. 

“You and Michael both it would seem.” Emersyn gave her a puzzled look, so she elaborated. “One of the duties of being the King of the Underworld is to keep the business, meaning payments, flowing and balancing the relationships within the families. If a family feels their worshipers are being snubbed then they feel snubbed. It’s a constant balance of politics with them. And when you have worshipers that don’t pay that becomes a delicate issue to address.” Ms. Mead motioned for Emersyn to sit back at the table with her. 

“Michael has to learn the balancing act.” Emersyn knew she’d guessed right when Ms. Mead nodded her head. “Can’t his father help him?” 

“This is his way of helping him, by making him figure out for himself. He has to have a proposition ready by tomorrow morning and he’s no where near done. He’s too worried about screwing up that he can’t pick a path and follow it.” 

They sat in silence for a couple minutes until Emersyn found herself speaking before she could stop herself. 

“Could I help him? I mean maybe come up with a few suggestions or a pro/con list. A fresh pair of eyes might see something he’s overlooked.” She felt her cheeks grow red from the scrutinizing look Ms. Mead was giving her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think before I spoke. I’m still learning and even if I wasn’t it’s not my place to-”

“I think that’s a wonderful idea.” Ms. Mead cut off her rambling. “Go to my office and I’ll meet you there with the spare files.” Emersyn sprang up and flew out of the kitchen doing as she was told. 

Ms. Mead chuckled at the girls enthusiasm as she left the room at a slower pace.

***********

Hours went by before Emersyn decided she was done with her evaluation of the files. She grabbed everything up and went in search of Ms. Mead. She found the older woman in the kitchen once again. 

“Are you done?” Ms. Mead asked, not turning away from the oven to look at her. Emersyn nodded anyway.

“I think so. Wanna look at it?” 

“No. Go talk to Michael about it and I’ll finish making lunch.” When she didn’t get a response, Ms. Mead turned around and saw Emersyn staring at her like a deer caught in headlights. 

“What? Why can’t you talk to him?” She gripped the edge of the table to try and calm the sudden burst of nerves. 

“For one, I’m cooking lunch for all of us. And most importantly, if you’re going to take over my position you have to become comfortable talking to Michael about all of this. He’s stubborn so the more practice figuring out how to do that, the better. Go on.” Ms. Mead’s voice left no room for argument and Emersyn didn’t bother trying to come up with one. 

Taking a deep breath in she gathered her thoughts and papers and walked out. Sooner than she wanted, she stood in front of door to Michael’s office. Emersyn bounced on her heels a couple times trying to calm her nerves. She thought about just turning around and coming back later but knew Ms. Mead would raise hell if she did. Before she could talk herself out of it Emersyn knocked on the door and waited. A moment passed then she heard a low “come in” from the other side. 

Emersyn quietly slipped into the room, closing the door behind her and let herself take the room in. The walls were darker than the rest of the house, everything was black and gleaming in the light making it slightly intimidating to be in there. Probably the point, she thought. The fireplace was going with a coffee table and two chairs in front of it. Michael sat at the desk on the other side of the room, curtains open behind him to show the balcony over looking the grounds. Cerberus got up from his spot next to Michaels desk, walking over towards her with his tail wagging. 

For being one of the most feared creatures in the world, he sure was nice to her. Emersyn couldn’t stop the smile on her face at his greeting and bent down to reach him better. 

“Hey, who’s a good boy?” She spoke lowly, still trying to stay unnoticed. Cerberus gave her a lick in return and kept wagging his tail.

At her low murmur Michael looked up from his laptop. He’d thought it was Ms. Mead with lunch, but did a double take at seeing Emersyn crouched down petting Cerberus. The way the Underworld protector took to her still surprised him. Michael was certain it was connected to the fire he’d sometimes see in her eyes and the simmering feeling he’d had the first time they’d touched. He was determined to figure out what it all meant when he got some free time. 

“He’s usually not that much of a good boy,” Michael spoke startling Emersyn to look up and make eye contact with him. 

Cerberus was not pleased at having his pet session disrupted and gave Michael a side-eye. As the dog went to lay down by the fireplace Emersyn laughed. 

“I think you offended him.” She smiled, standing up. 

Michael gave a small laugh. “He’ll get over it. I’ll give him a treat later.”

“Ah, bribery. Works wonders.”

“You have no idea,” Michael made eye contact with her again and they just stared smiling at each other for a moment. Once he realized what they were doing he cleared his throat and stood up, motioning to a chair in front of his desk. “My apologies at not greeting you. I thought it was Ms. Mead.” 

Emersyn nodded in thanks as she took a seat. “It’s okay. She should be up here in a bit with lunch. She, uh, actually sent me here to talk to you.” 

“Is everything okay? Do you need something for your room?” Michael gave her a slightly worried look as he sat back down. 

“Oh, no! Everything is perfect, thank you. I love it. It’s, uhm, actually about...well...these.” She hesitantly sat the files on the desk, pushing them towards him. 

He grabbed them, scanning quickly. His curiosity gave way to confusion as he realized these were copies of the files he’d been working on for weeks. Trying to keep his voice neutral he spoke, “How’d you get these?”

“Ms. Mead gave them to me.” The look Michael gave her made her hurry along her explanation. “She was teaching me about the business of  being Hades and your family so I could understand it better. And then she mentioned you’d been struggling a little with some things and I asked if I could help, so she gave me these and then told me to talk to you.” Emersyn started to feel warm from the heated gaze he was giving her, as if he was picking apart every part of her soul. 

Finally he sat the files back down, leaned forward slightly and cocked his head to the side thoughtfully. “And what do you need to talk to me about, concerning these files and my family?” 

Gulping down her anxiety she dove straight in. “Well I understand that each account has to be handled tactfully because of who they’re connected to, however that can be used to your advantage. Now these two families, they’re only a couple weeks behind and not high in status. And this other family is lower than them and roughly a month behind. They’re connected to your uncle, Poseidon, and just seem like decent people. Their accounts are so they can have certain family members visit for whatever occasions. Now I’d say charge them a fee, like three percent of their late balance and give them a hard deadline with a payment plan or something. They don’t need to be cut off because if you look at their records they pay 95% on time so it’s probably some type of work or economy issue for the lateness.” Emersyn paused in her presentation, hand hovering over the files she’d opened and laid out in front of him. Michael’s eyes flitted over them, taking in her words and then looked up at her silently telling her to continue. 

Getting a small confidence boost from not being told off yet, she grabbed the other two files. “So then we only have these two. They’re connected to your other uncle, Zeus, and in the super rich category. The families are actually cousins so it kinda makes sense that they’re pulling the same crap. They’re several months behind on all accounts. They pay for the cushiest spots in the Underworld and visitation services with old family members. I’m assuming it’s for company deals because they still have things signed by members of the board that have been dead for several years. I say cut them off, completely. Put their accounts totally on hold and don’t allow any lee-way. Tell them they have to pay all their past debts, plus a high late fee, otherwise all previous wrong doings in their lives will be accounted for when they cross over. They have a huge merger deal coming up in a couple weeks and by not having the rest of their board members there to sign off on it, it would cost them billions. That should motivate them to pay up the few hundred thousand they owe. By making an example out of them you should be showing that no matter the status or connections, everyone needs to keep their agreements in this life or it’ll effect their afterlife.” After finishing her speech, Emersyn sat back in her chair and waiting for Michael to say anything.

Silence stretched between them. Emersyn had to focus hard on not fidgeting too much as Michael kept glancing over the files. Finally he gave a loud sigh, sitting back in his seat. 

“You’ve definitely put a lot of thought into this. I’m impressed, honestly, and even agree with some of it. But why should I come down so hard on these two and let the other three slide?” He crossed his leg, propping his arm on the armrest with his head in his palm. 

“You aren’t letting them slide. You’re just taking into account their good payment history and the fact they’ve never given you problems before. You’d still get paid, but you don’t need to go to such an extreme length to get it. I’m sure your uncle would appreciate the thoughtfulness.” 

“And my other uncle? I don’t think he’d appreciate the heavy handed approach much. And that thoughtfulness would be perceived as weakness.” 

Emersyn sat up a little straighter and had to tone down her voice some. “No disrespect to Zeus, but the people that follow him are use to always getting their way. Of never having any consequences for their actions. By being “heavy handed” you send the message that even the most elite can’t wave a hand and get whatever they want. Honestly that might be a good message to send to your Uncle as well. That the future King of the Underworld wont be pushed around by status and wealth. And showing some compassion and understanding is not weakness. Weak people who can’t form true connections to others use that as an excuse to be mean and unjust.”

On the outside Michael kept his expression blank, while on the inside he was all over the place. He was agitated at how simple this all seemed to her, not because she was wrong. Oh no, she knew the game quite well for having never played it. Michael was agitated because she came to this conclusion as if it was the easiest thing in the world and didn’t consider any other outcome. It was so black and white to her and he envied that. He’d come to that option days ago, but knew that there were repercussions to going along with that. This would be one of his first decisions on the way to becoming the new King and he had to play it cool, not go in blazing on two elite families connected to his uncle. 

Along with agitation, Michael was also feeling admiration. He could feel her nervousness when she’d started talking but the longer she went on, the more confident she’d become in her plan. She stood firm when he’d questioned her and didn’t show any weakness at his scrutinizing gaze. It honestly reminded him of the few times he’d seen his mother and father have a sort of stand off on this issues when he was younger. With a small sigh, Michael brought himself back to the present. 

“I thank you for your time and dedication to helping with these issues, but I’ll have to look deeper into these and find a more tactful approach. You’re still new and I’m sure with time you’ll get a better handle on the politics of it all.” Michael have a tight lipped smiled and turned towards his laptop, signalling to Emersyn it was time for her to leave. 

She gave a small nod and got up, making it half way to the door before she stopped and turned back towards him. Emersyn didn’t know what came over her, but she felt a huge surge of confidence and that tingling feeling that made her speak her thoughts without thinking first. 

“Excuse me, sir, but I think you’re wrong. You know my approach is the best one to ensure the higher classes don’t jerk you around later down the line and so the lower classes don’t look at you as a greedy monster.” 

Michael gave her a hard look. “I appreciate your input, but I think I can figure out the best decision for myself and my family’s image. I have been in this world longer than you and there’s always more than one way to handle something.”

“Then why has it taken you weeks to come up with one and it only took me a few hours?” If Emersyn didn’t have whatever these feelings were coursing through her, she knew she’d have ran out of that room once those words left her mouth. However she stood her ground as he got up from his chair and walked around to lean on the front of it and stare at her. 

“Maybe because I know there’s more things to consider than just setting examples. This is my family’s image we are talking about. Something you are not a part of.” Michael bite out, being harsher than he meant to be but also trying to retain some of his bruised ego. 

“That’s bullshit. You’re not worried about your family’s image. That’s been cemented for centuries. You’re worried about your image. You’re scared that you’ll be seen as weak and will be biting off more than you can chew You’re scared of failing.” Emersyn crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. Michael mirrored her, before pushing off the desk and stepping closer. 

“I’d suggest being careful what you say. You’re in my house and in my house it’s my rules.” Michael saw the fire spark in her eyes. As the flames grew, the room also grew warmer. He realized the heat was coming off of her when she stepped closer to him. 

“I wont be intimated by a bratty prince throwing a tantrum. You know I’m right. You’ve come to the same conclusion but are too scared of what your father and everyone else will think. You wont be a true King until you realize that following your heart and doing the right things are what makes a King worth following. Until then you’ll just be a boy playing dress up.” 

They stared at each other, neither willing to back down. Emersyn felt like someone was in control of her body, but also that she was actually free of whatever usually held her back in confrontational situations and loved it. Michael was pissed. Pissed because how dare someone that didn’t know him speak to him that way. But also how dare she hit the target dead center. He was scared of disappointing his father and not being able to handle the pressure of being King. And he was slightly scared that this girl could see through his facade so easily. Instead of admitting she was right, he held onto the anger. It was easier for him. 

Moving right into her space, Michael stared her down. “I wont be spoken down to by someone who’s only good enough to be the help. Learn your place and leave. Right. Now.” His voice was lowly and dangerous. A few pieces in the room started to shake from the energy radiating off of him. The room became more heated as the fire raged on in Emersyn’s eyes. The other thing Michael would never admit was how badly he wanted to ravish her in that moment. Worship her and rule her all at once. 

Cerberus stood up and started growling, looking at both of them. A warning that someone needed to back down and step away. The noise reigned Emersyn in slightly, as the flames and heat lowered some. She gave Michael one final hard glare and spun around, slamming the door after her. Michael closed his eyes and focused on his breathing to calm down. Slowly lowering the energy levels of the room back to normal, he noticed how she seemed to have taken all the warmth from the room with her when she left. 

Michael turned the fireplace up a notch, trying to get the chill out of the air and then sat back at his desk. Feeling eyes on him he glanced over at Cerberus. The dog, wise beyond Michael’s few years, gave him a look that could have passed for disappointment at how that situation was handled. Michael ignored the look and turned back to his laptop. He deleted the proposition he had started and sat staring at the blank page until another knock broke the silence once again. 

“Come in.” He half hoped it was Emersyn so he could apologize but also not, because he wasn’t ready to admit he handled that badly. Instead it was Ms. Mead and from her look he knew he was in deep. 

However instead of saying anything, she sat the tray of food on his desk and just looked at him. Michael shifted in his seat a couple times, trying to ignore the woman’s heavy gaze. Finally he couldn’t take it anymore. 

“You going to yell at me too or what?”

Ms. Mead shook her head. “No. I think whatever she said was enough, probably more than was needed.” 

Michael scoffed, “So you’re siding with her?” He crossed his arms and looked at her. He knew he looked like a toddler pouting, but he didn’t care. Ms. Mead had known him his whole life and had seem many tantrums. 

“I’m not siding with anyone. From the energy I felt I think you both crossed some lines, but that had to happen at some point. You will have to learn to rely on her like you rely on me, and I’ve never sugar coated things for you Michael. She has a good eye for these and seems to have the same idea’s as you on how to run it. Trust her and trust your gut. Even your father wasn’t always as intimidating and deadly as he could be.”

“That’s because mother nearly skinned him to make him do something different.” Michael rolled his eyes. 

“The right woman can bring out a better side from the darkest of places. But only if the man is willing to listen.” Ms. Mead left after a final hard stare. 

Well what the fuck? Michael resumed staring at his blank screen, replying everything that’d happened in the last hour. After deciding what he wanted to do, he started typing the proposition once again. 

Time to sink or swim...

***********

I’ll get started on the next chapter in a couple days but I’d love to hear what y’all think! And if you want to be added to the tag-list! Thank you to everyone that reads and enjoys, I’m having a blast writing this. 

Requested tag-list: @jamesbuckybarnes13 @frozenhuntress67

[clans-of-the-sea]

Tomorrow Comes Today

A small black kitten padded along the alleyway, the round stones under paw making him wince. Tiny claws clicked against the ground, and it was a bit reassuring. He could always defend himself. Ears flattened as he tried to see if there was any movement around here though, a crow nearby or even other abandoned unfortunate souls. So far, he saw nothing…. though he wasn’t dumb enough to think he was ever alone.

Ears perked as he heard a small clicking noise. Eyes caught lamp light, a bright emerald green and a curious baby blue turned and looked up at the small No-Fur sitting on a box and moving their paw awkwardly. Slowly, the small kit bumbled forward. This was what he had been waiting for! He let out a tiny cry and walked around the giant hind paws of the No-Fur, looking up as a gentle brown hand leaned down and ran down his back. It was…. comforting.

There was a garble of words, and he perked his ears to focus.

“…. Murdoc…..” That was a word he didn’t recognize. But he knew it, it was his name….!

——+——

Awkward long legs chased after the Cloud before him, the smaller tom trying to speed up whenever Marley hopped over a branch or log that littered their forest. “Marley…! Wait up…!” He huffed, losing his breath.

“You’re going to need to get faster Murdoc. Your brothers and sisters are training just as hard, and your Royal isn’t that far away. You’re still smaller then them!” Marley slowed though, waiting until the Shadow caught up to him before nuzzling the top of his head. “…. You can’t afford to take it easy Murdoc. Not if you want to make it past drawing First Blood.”

Murdoc was catching his breath, looking at awkwardly large paws and licking his maw. “…. It’s just because I was the Easy Blood.”

“There’s no ‘was’ about it. You’re still the smallest one…” Marley shook his head as he flicked the smaller with his tail. “…. You’ll have to keep working harder then the others, you know that, don’t you? You’re smart, but that wont be enough.”

Murdoc scrunched his nose, mismatched eyes looking up at Marley. “…. Can’t we just take a small break? We can go back out later….”

“…. Okay.” Marley sighed and started back towards the camp. He looked sad, like he was seeing something bad far far away…. Murdocs tail twitching, and he tried to think about the Royal he would be in. Danny wasn’t much bigger then him, she would probably go down really easy. Cassy wasn’t a big fan of Dommer, she would probably go for their longer brother first and he’d let her. …. Hannibal was the biggest of them all though.

The tom padded into camp with his tail trailing behind him. A large dark molly pushed his way past Murdoc to head out for hunting and he jumped aside. Stormy grunted on her way to hunt, ignoring her kit completely. Which shouldn’t have been surprising, she had never really doted on any of them but… there was something about it that felt wrong.

“Don’t worry 'bout it Murdoc. Go get some rest.” Marley purred as he nudged his little Shadow, pointing to a good shaded spot. He curled up tight, feeling some glances his way but ignored them until he drifted to sleep. He was sure he’d get chance to rest for awhile, but woke with hardly any time passed to two large figured in front of him.

“Get out of my spot!” Murdoc bristled, hissing as one of the offender swiped a massive paw at him. He was knocked back, pinned between the two toms and the wall behind him.

“I was here first!”

“Well I was born first!” The second figure, hardly any smaller then the first, jumped forward and scrabbled with the smaller black cat, hind legs kicking into his lower belly and knocking any remaining air out of him when he dragged Murdoc from the nest.

“Enough!” A she-cats voice called out, a fluffy dappled coat and small ears ran forward, Sally grabbing Hannibals scruff and pulling him off his smaller brother. “That’s enough! Shadows still in training are not to fight! Not until the Royal!”

Hannibal growled at the Night Consort, turning and looking to the tom who had egged him on. Sally knocked her shoulder into the Shadow though, snapping at him to find another place to rest. “Murdoc, go see Lana. No need get an infection this close to your Royal.”

The dark tom glared at the large tabby brute who was Hannibal’s Cloud before bounding across the camp. Lana was there waiting for him, small ears perked and short tail twitching. “….. Pay no mind to Salem, Murdoc.”

“It’s not fair! He shouldn’t be training Hannibal!”

“Anyone is allowed to choose a Shadow.”

“He shouldn’t! He’s spiteful and cruel!”

“…. That’s why he had first pick.” Lana shook her head, sighing as she looked the scratches down his side over. “… You’ll leave. Keep them clean and you’ll be fine.”

——+——

“Murdoc, you’re late.” Marley was sitting in the woods near one of the beaches, ears perked as his Shadow padded towards him. “Where have you-….” He frowned, growing silent as he saw who was walking with the lanky black tom.

Jitterbug was escorting the small tom, grumbling. Marley knew that Murdoc was supposed to be training with the Moon Court this morning, to prove he was ready for his Royal tomorrow and shouldn’t just be chased out now. However the weird angle the young black toms nose pointed made him shiver.

“Your Shadow…” The Half Moon was clearly trying to restrain his anger. “Was truant, tried pulling a prank on Archer, and has the behavior of a Forgotten Blood! He was trying to mock animal noises, scared them away, and has a pointless, malicious humor.” He reported, claws digging into the ground. “He’s an appalling Shadow, and a stupid imbecile who hardly paid any attention!”

“He… has wonderful charisma. He’s bright - he’ll make a good liar!” Marley attempted to stand up for his Shadow. A good liar had a good poker face, could make good bets!

“Sounds more like skills for the Forgotten.” Jitterbug threatened, fur fluffed as he walked away from the two.

Marley turned on the young tom, eyes closed. “…. What happened?”

“It was all Curly!” He was quick to snap, fur bristled. “He called me useless, and a waste of space! Said I’d be better off in the No-Fur place!” He was talking funny, and the Cloud looked over his muzzle closely.

“Did Lana see this?” Murdoc snorted.

“She said it looked funny, and to keep it out of everyone else’s business….”

Marley did seem upset by this, but only shook his head. “…. Lets see what we can do…”

Murdoc followed the tom closely. “One day I’m doing to be the Moon Father, and I’m not gonna let my kits run a muck like Jack does!”

“You’ll be lucky to live past your Royal at this rate. No doubt by now Salems caught word. He’all be training Hannibal with extra hard. And Curly will make sure Dommer is going to handle you.” It wasn’t malicious, it was a warning to be on guard. Even still, Murdoc did not seem swayed.

“Well I’m not going to die! If anything I’ll get off this island and be free of all these dumb rules and the dumb Moon Court.”

——+——

He had been lucky. That’s what everyone was saying anyway. Lucky. Lucky that he had taken injured Cassys leg so she’d be weak the rest of the match. Lucky Danny took Cassy out. Lucky Danny saw him as a force to team up with. Lucky the two of them killed Dommer. Lucky Hannibal went to finish Danny off. Lucky Hannibal had been too tired from fighting Dommer and Danny to kill Murdoc right away. Lucky.

Seemed like an awful lot of luck for coincidences. Marley even looked proud as he brushed his muzzle a last time. The boat was taking off, and he had to be on it. The Waxing Moon Peanut had given him his mission; to meet with the older Forgotten Bloods and check in on the mainland Skies, or nicknamed “Storm Clouds”.

The ride across the water was soothing. He had lived. He had healed….. sort of. During the fight against Hannibal his nose had gotten messed up again - and after he and his littermate regained consciousness Salem had made it worse by batting him across his snout. It still stung but the fact it could sting - the fact he was alive - was amazing…..!

Billy Boy, a much older Forgotten, met him when the boat docked and led Murdoc into the town they’d be residing in. He seemed to be ‘in charge’, and even invited Murdoc to watch a fight sometime. It seemed rather boring, following and listening to Billy Boy; it was hardly a change from the island…

So Murdoc invested in other ways. The young tom moved among the crowds on nights of the fights, making bets and showing a move or two that was meant to kill quick and efficiently. Apparently these mainland Storm Clouds didn’t get training, they were merely recruited…. So his offers were taken with a grain of salt. Some even spat at him for acting better than them. Which he was. He knew a good many ways to kill them and they’d just bat at his face!

Even still, he managed to find a group he did like. Tiny, Crunch, Rocky, and Munch seemed to know the best way to enjoy freedom. Fight, find pretty she-cats in fancy fenced yards, make smaller cats catch your food for you, and find the places that had that really good smelling plant!

All good things had to come to an end though, and Murdoc wasn’t any happy when one morning some broad Watchman dragged him to the island. He wasn’t sure what to expect; he was sure he was supposed to make some sort of plea to Jack and Sally, but he didn’t think he wanted to come back…

He froze when he padded into camp and spotted Hannibal, the big dark cat dragging Jack out of camp. Dead. His eyes turned to spot a small molly, belly a little bigger to show how well fed she was, clean and looking pleased with herself as she looked around the camp.

He remembered her as a kit. Her litter had had a Royal before his. Normally Stars did not have Royals but Sally’s last litter had a lot of stigma of not being Jacks, and a point had to be made.

Binx was that point.

She had been an Easy Blood like him; runt of the litter and all three of Sally’s kits had been tormented by the Moon Court, Jack included, leading up to their Royal. It appeared the molly had ended Jacks reign over her…. in a way he that as almost proud. Good for her.

Mismatched eyes followed to where Lana, Curly, Archer, Jitterbug and Peanut stood. Sally was nowhere to be seen….

“Murdoc.” The dark tom turned and looked to where Binx was, spotting the ghostly white figure next to her. Casper. “Murdoc, I hear Billy Boy is dead.”

“Word travels fast for you.” He snorted. “He only passed last night. Old fugger.”

She didn’t seem amused. “…. We’re sending a young tom named Titus with you back to the mainland. You’ll be leading the Storm Clouds.”

Well this ceremony was certainly short. Wasn’t he supposed to greet the new Moon Bitsh by name and see who she chose as her Court? Though looking at how relaxed her older ‘siblings’ looked they would probably remain as her Court for now….

“Don’t worry Murdoc. We’ll invite you back when the court is properly filled.” Binds smirk made him roll his eyes. He crossed the camp and spotted the fluffy tom who would be joining him on the ferry. At least he could get out of here.

[c-rankin93]

SHE'S NO YOU - Ch.9

A/N: I actually finished this sooner then I thought I would have and is half way through the next one.. so I thought I'd post it. I hope you enjoy my little twist. These next few chapters will be shorter because I won't be merging the chapters anymore. I only did that so you could find out quicker about the Rae and Finn divorce reasons. But this is where the story gets... heated? And like all my tumblr work, it's not edited :) -- CHAPTER NINE: WHAT DO WE DO NOW? -- RAE POV: I broke away from the kiss reluctantly. I still didn't feel good about doing this behind Gregory's back. "Finn, we have to stop. I'm still with Greg" I didn't want to detach, but I couldn't bare the thought of hurting someone like Greg. "Who cares about him. You know I didn't cheat on you... You can come back to me, we- we can be a family again". If only it was that simple. I had been with Greg almost a year, and in that time he has help me with my children, spoilt me, and done nothing but treat me with dignity. I didn't ask him to do it, he just did. As much as I still loved Finn, I also had a place in my heart for Gregory. I respected him as a man, and he deserved more then this. "Finn, it's not that simple" I sighed. I knew this was going to be difficult to explain. "Then tell me why is what were doing wrong? We were together 12 years Rae" Finn stood confused. I didn't blame him, I too didn't have a clue what clog was turning in which direction. My brain was a mess. "Almost two years ago he walked into my office. He was late for our meeting by 12 minutes and looked disheveled. I, of course berated him about his tardiness the moment I saw him, but he didn't seem to care. You see, the night before our meeting he got nervous. So nervous he decided it would be a good idea to drink his body weight in vodka to calm himself. He woke up late, with a massive hangover, and by the time he reached the office he forgot the excuse he used to be able to see me..." Finn just stood still, intently listening to my story. He didn't give away any emotion. I pressed on, desperate to finish. "A week before I had met him at Izzy's bakery. I was a mess, our divorce was just finalised, but he didn't seem to care. So, we had talked a little whilst I was waiting for Izzy to finish her shift. We had parted ways with only a first name and an occupation known about each other. Out of the thousands of people in New York City he found me. It was the first time I had laughed since leaving you when he told me that story. I cancelled the rest of my day and he took me to lunch as friends. After he got cleaned up. So you can understand why I can't just break his heart. We were good friends for a year before it progressed. I know what it feels like to get hurt, and I can't do that to him". He probably won't understand what I'm trying to say, but he will have to except it. I need to think about what I'm doing, and what I'm risking. Greg and I had a weird kind of relationship, but I can't deny the man knows how to adore someone. "Do you want to be with him?" Finn croaked the words that I didn't want to hear. "I don't know what I want to do, but I don't want to hurt anyone" I admitted truthfully. "Your hurting me, right now. You're killing me". "I'm not trying to hurt you Finn. Believe me that's the last thing I want to do. But until I figure out what's going on in my head, we can't do this". I pointed to our close proximity. He looked devastated. I thought he would be mad, maybe yell and scream at me but he didn't. Instead he smiled softly. It was barely there, but it told me he understood what I was saying. "I can't say that I agree with your decision, but I'll respect it. I will do everything in my power to make this right Rae. Everyone that did you wrong will pay I promise you that, and you wont be able to stop me". And I didn't want too. I could care less about the repercussions those people will be going through. Knowing Finn it won't be pretty. "I understand and I won't ask questions" I smiled. I'm glad that we have come to an agreement. We are parents first, then we sort out everything else. "What's the time?" He suddenly asked. I looked at the clock on the wall to see that it was 7pm. The kids where meant to be home now. "Shit Finn it's already 7pm". "Crap! Atchie said that he was going to bring the kidsc around if I was not back by 6.30, but I don't even think I gave him your address". Finn pulled out his phone, and cussed under his breath whilst he rebooted it. The phone went crazy with messages. One after the other, they started flowing in. I was started to panic. I hoped everything was alright. "Its alright most of them are from Patricia. She's basically having a one sided conversation with herself" he sneared putting his phone to his ear. "Hey! I'm so sorry I forgot I turned my phone off before coming here. Are Ruby and Joshua alright?" He smiled a little and turned to face me. Finn help up a finger, telling me he'll be a minute. "Yup, ha! Well tell him I said no, the game is way to violent for him. Ben shouldn't even be playing that shit in front of him the dick... Haha very funny... Ohkay I'll let her know and get her to call you... tell them we love them and that I'll see them soon... Ohkay, see you tomorrow" I listened to Finn phone conversation slightly confused. "They're at Archie's house, Ben is currently playing C.O.D in front of our naive son- who now wants the game. They have a set of uniforms each and are happy to have them overnight and take them to school. But if you don't want them to stay Ben is happy to drop them off tonight". I panicked slightly. Joshua and Ruby were a nightmare in the morning and I didn't know if Archie and Ben could handle them, plus Sophie. I guess my eyes said a thousand words because Finn rested his hand on my shoulder, his thumb rubbing small circles. "They will be Ohkay Amelia" The words were simple but I believed them. Even though I didn't like them out on a school night, I nodded. I had to let them loose sometimes, experience their crazy families. They can't always be coddled by me. "Ohkay. They can stay, just make sure Sophie doesn't take to long having a shower. She tends to think she's the headlining act at Madison Square Garden when showering, so she gets a bit side tracked". Finn's eyes sparkled in delight before the roaring sound of his laughter filled the air. It was contagious, I couldn't help but join mimicking one of Ruby's favourite moves. "Yes I know, I stood at the bathroom door the other week listening to her do an acapella version of One Direction. I banged on the door for 10 minutes" Finn laughed trying to catch his breath. Our children were characters. But I wouldn't have it any other way. "So what are you going to do tonight?" Finn asked suddenly. He seemed to have recovered fast from his laughing fit. "Uh- I don't really know. I'm thinking about calling in sick tomorrow if I'm honest. I'm pretty intent of having a movie marathon or something tonight" I walked over to my phone on the kitchen counter. The battery had died, so I quickly put it on the charger and sent Chloe a quick text. I may have extended the truth a bit, but in the 3 years not once have I taken a day off. I worked my ass off, and Chloe knew that better then anyone else. So why not live a little. I mean, I just found out that I divorced my husband for no reason. Pitty party for one coming right up. "Can i join you tonight?" What? Was he seriously asking to stay here.. With me? "Finn.. That doesn't sound like a good idea" I sighed. I was scared we would cross those boundaries again. I had already cheated on Greg once before, maybe even more if you counted the kisses Finn and I had shared. I felt guilty enough as it was, imagine the devastation he would feel to see us alone- naked. "Just hear me out Rae. I promise I won't kiss you, touch you- anything. I will just be your friend. I really don't want to go home to the women that destroyed everything I've ever cared about. If I see her now I'll be sent to jail". His eyes pleaded for me to understand, and I did. I wouldn't want to see Olivia right now. She was out of her mind if she though her stupid secret would be hidden forever. She didn't even try to hide her tracks. Everything pointed to her. "Ohkay! But you can sleep in Josh's room or on the couch and do not steal all my popcorn! It's bad enough I usually have the kids eating it all, I don't need you to do it as well". I was glad that we were finally something more then enemies. I didn't exactly know what to call us, but we were talking so that was a start. Where will it go from here? I didn't know. I know that I first had to work out if I truly wanted to stay with Gregory. Whether it was Greg or Finn, Someone was getting hurt and for my sake I hope it wasn't me. "Deal. But I get to choose what movie we watch first.." "Deal". - UNKNOWN POV: The temptation to bite the apple was too strong and the sweet aftertaste only made me stay. The feeling and emotions I experienced that night were overpowering. It triggered a memory so sweet I couldn't stop, even if I tried. Beleive me i tried, my inner self failed to pull my body back, away from the deceit, it was impossible. I couldn't think or feel anything past that moment right there. I felt love. The way we ravished each other, tearing each other apart in the process. It didn't matter that there was alcohol flowing in our systems, it didn't waver our judgement at that time. We wanted each other, on that bed until the sun shone brightly in the sky Sunday morning. Naked, sweaty and absolutely exhausted. And we did just that, but instead we followed through to late afternoon. The moment we separated for showers the guilt kicked in. Me, of course first. It didn't matter how many times I scrubbed my body, I just didn't feel clean. I cheated on the one I loved, the one I feel madly in love with. I fucked up. The repercussions were going to be lethal, my world will fall apart. For one night- that as much as I feel guilty about don't regret. That night was something I would never be able to forget. It felt different to the previous times we had cuddled under the sheets. It was more mature. Maybe because we were. Little did I know that the repercussions for that night would shake my foundations more then i could of ever imagined. People's lives were about to change, starting with me. --- So who do you think the unknown pov was by? --- If you want to be tagged please let me know :) @lily-pop-2 @mmfdfanfic @milllott @hey1tskat1e @l88cym @i-dream-of-emus @arathewallflower @milymargot @tinakegg @eveerez @lurkernolonger @luly310

[elliotthezubat]

DEATH CITY DAYS CHAPTER 117

 Duncan: *approaches the library desk* "..." *rings the bell--*

Poe: "EEEEEK!" *falls back*

Duncan: "..." *drops a pile of books* "Isn't there usually another librarian here?"

rowena: she's currently out on a mission.

Poe: "S-She's on a mission?" *picks himself up*

Duncan: "..."

*the books seem to be about weapon abilities...*

Poe: *flipping through the books, and as he scans one--*

Duncan: *spots an image of something called the Holy Sword* "What is--"

rowena: isnt that-

hiro: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!! *KICKS THE BOOK INTO A WALL*

Duncan: "?!! I was reading that--"

Poe: "THAT IS DAMAGING LIBRARY PROPERTY!"

rowena: 0____0

hiro: trust me, the less known about that-...that THING...the better!

Duncan: "..." *wipes his eyes*

EF: *enters, panting* h-hiro..h-how do you even run that fast?

hiro: sixth sense.

Poe: "Oh, that's fascinating! Look, Rowena--psychic abilities..."

Duncan: *grabs the books, hugging them close as he walks away*

EF: *notices him* ??

rowena: is that true?!

hiro: only in regards to this subject.

rowena: is that so? could it be....you're a descendant of king arthur pendragon himself?!

*loud steps are heard running into the library*

rowena: hmm?

*the doors kick open--as Arthur slams his foot into Hiro's head*

EF: D8

hiro:......HOW DID YOU GET HERE ALL THE WAY FROM THE 8TH BRIGADE BASE?!

Arthur: "I AM THE KNIGHT KING--MY SPEED IS LEGENDARY!"

Poe: >3< "Shhh!"

EF:.....perhaps it's best not to question it anymore. *sweatdrop*

-elsewhere-

present mic: you guys ever think about having kids?

midnight: *SPITTAKE*

blood king: what brought this up?!

present mic: *shrug*

Aizawa: "...I already have cats and 2 morons."

midnight: oh, i could never have kids. i mean, i could, but i dont think i'd be able to look after small children. they may be cute, but they're crafty little buggers.

present mic: is it cuz your paranoid they'll get into your stash of stuff?

midnight: YOU DONT HAVE TO BE SO BLUNT ABOUT IT!! DX<

Aizawa: -_______-

*knock on the door*

blood king: ??

Shinso: *slides the door open...he's with Yuuji*

Aizawa: "Oh, there you are. Finish cleaning up?"

yuuji: yeah.

Shinso: *writes on whiteboard* <I can keep them quiet.>

yuuji: well, i've had several younger siblings during my times in foster care, so i think i can handle them well enough.

blood king: *ahem* as i myself was about to say, my sister sometimes asks me to look after her little ones. *shows a picture on his phone of two young boys and a young girl, all with the same hair color and fangs as him*

Aizawa: "..."

Shinso: <Strong family resemblance.>

blood king: they certainly are popular among my students.

{pony: SO CUUUTE!!}

{itsuka: they look just like you!}

{shouda: i wonder if their quirks will be the same as his.}

{kinoko: dude, that's rad}

yuuji: i see.

Aizawa: "You stop class to show baby photos?"

blood king: -_-; this was during homeroom.

Aizawa: "Still class."

blood king: >n<

midnight: boys, just because we're talking about children doesnt mean you should be acting like children.

Shinso: <Ha.>

-elsewhere-

Chuuya: *lying back in a beach chair* =u=

miyuri: *pokes a hole in the sand with her shovel until a crab comes out* oh!

Crab: "..." *steps to the side*

miyuri: *staring intently, with shiny eyes*

Crab: "..." *steps again to the side, picking at the sand*

sonia: *collecting rocks and shells*

*there's a shiny rock by the tide*

sonia: *picks it up*

*it sparkles like diamond under the sunlight*

sonia: *puts it into her bucket and walks over to chuuya*

Chuuya: *stretches* *looks* "Hey! How you enjoying the beach?"

sonia: pretty good. i found this.

Chuuya: "Wow, that's shiny!"

-near the rocks, the sound of a little girl crying can be heard-

miyuri: ??

sonia: do you hear that?

???: *sniffle* waaaah! mamai! w-whe-where are you? *crying*

miyuri: *goes over*

sonia: miyuri!

miyuri: *peeeeeeks*

-there's a young girl sitting on one of the rocks, her lower half not visible from where miyuri is standing-

miyuri: HI FRIEND!

girl: ?!?!?!? *turns to look*

Chuuya: "..."

sonia: are you alright? we wont hurt you, promise.

girl: um..i-i...i got lost a-and i-i cant f-find my mu-mama. *hic*

Chuuya: "Where did you last see her?"

girl: w-we were going t-to the docks b-bu-but then i got s-swept up in the current.

sonia: ?? !!! papa....her lower half....

-the girl has no legs.....but a tail?-

Chuuya: "...Forgive me being obtuse, but are you a mermaid?"

girl: *nods* i-i came with mamai for her job. sh-she trades pearls with the land people. b-but i-i dont know where she iiiis! *crying*

miyuri:...it's ok! we'll help you find your mommy!

girl: y-you will?

Chuuya: *looking around* "Maybe the docks, but that's some distance."

miyuri: miyuyu....ah! miyuri has an idea! *drawing something in the sand*

sonia: ??

-miyuri has drawn a walking bathtub full of ocean water-

miyuri: TADA!

girl: oh!!

Chuuya: ._.; "That's something alright. Let's help you in, um...What's your name?"

girl: my name's Elodie.

Chuuya: "Okay, let's help you in, Elodie."

-elsewhere-

Crona: *lying down* "..."

mami: *sitting next to them* how are you feeling?

Crona: "I feel wiped out--like every bit of energy pulled out of me."

mami: i could imagine.....im just....so glad you're alright....

Crona: *weak smile, sniffles* "I-I'm not sure what to feel."

mami: well. im hoping for the best...*pats their hand*

Crona: "Hee..."

mami:...*gently kisses their knuckles*

Crona: =\\\\= "Mami..."

mami: ^////^ your blushing is different now.

Crona: "Wh-What?!" O\\\\o

mami: *hands them a pocket mirror* the color's different now, see? it's more of a pink color now.

Crona: "... ... ..." *crying*

mami: !!!!

Crona: T~T "I-I can't believe all of this..."

mami:......*hugs*

Crona: *hugging her* "I-I am happy but scared...Mami..."

mami:....it'll be ok....its going to be ok.....

Crona: *nod nod* "*hic*"

-elsewhere-

Asher: *sitting at a fast food restaurant with a box of chicken nuggets in front of them* "..." *has been dunking one in ketchup for a minute*

izumi: hey, you ok?

Asher: "Hmm? Yeah. Why?" *the entire nugget is just ketchup now*

izumi: your nugget....

Asher: "...I was wondering why my fingers felt gross." *wipes them on a napkin* "Distracted."

izumi:...wanna talk about it or...

Asher: "...Just the training camp..."

izumi:.......

Asher: "...You could've gotten killed."

izumi:.....

Asher: "...I wasn't of any help."

izumi: that's not true, you helped zeke.

Asher: "But not to you. I don't know what exactly a weapon is supposed to do when--whatever that thing was attacked..."

izumi:......

Asher: "I don't know that I could've done anything...You seemed to reach her well enough."

izumi:....i guess so.....i could have easily just left her behind, after everything she did......

Asher: "But that's not who you are."

izumi: if i did leave then, i wouldnt have been able to forgive myself...

Asher: *nods* "That makes sense...You're a good person."

izumi: so are you.

Asher: "...Thanks."

-elsewhere-

sonia: there's the docks.

Chuuya: *guiding the bathtub* *looks around*

-a woman in the water is talking to a man in a boat, she seems frantic-

elodie: !!!! mamai!!

Elodie's Mother: "?!!" *turns* "Elodie!" *swims towards them*

miyuri: *waves*

elodie: *jumps into the water and hugs* TT~TT

Elodie's Mother: *stroking her head* "My poor baby! I was scared to death!"

miyuri: miyuri, sonia, and papa found her by the rocks and helped her find you! ^^

sonia:..........

Elodie's Mother: *shaking, looking at them* "Th-Thank you..."

miyuri: you're welcome. ^^

Chuuya: "Y-Yeah..." ("Didn't think I'd see a mermaid.")

-elsewhere-

Monica: -_-# "So, you going to rat me out to Mom and Dad?"

lorenzo: well, obviously they need to know what happened, right?

Monica: >_<# "You don't have to narc on me to them about a two-week suspension! Just make something up!"

lorenzo: hmmm. how about we break your leg?

Monica: "?!! YOU WOULDN'T! R-Right?"

lorenzo: <chill sis> im bluffing.

Monica: -~-; "Ha ha..." <Asshole.>

lorenzo: well, mom and papi are probably still at work, so you want something to eat in the meantime?

Monica: "Duh--I was stuck in the desert and then getting poked and prodded at school all day--I'm starving."

lorenzo: anything in mind? *putting on the apron*

Monica: "Whatever is fastest--even leftovers."

-elsewhere-

Saria: *texting* [i think i'm on house arrest for the next millennium. : p ]

hibiki: [ouch, that bad huh?]

Saria: [the dads were not pleased. but i think they'll calm down with time. how are u?]

hibiki: [death by lecture from the fam via phonecall #riparroni]

Saria: [oh no! i'm sorry. are u alright?]

hibiki: [it's cool. axel + zeke got a lot of shit from their mom, tho. other than that, all good]

-zeke joined the chat-

Saria: [speaking of which...]

zeke: [axel's writing his will as we speak. he wants the space jam theme played at his funeral]

hibiki: [is that meme still a thing? wtf?]

zeke: [memes R forever]

Axel: [it makes my heart soar. like that song]

hibiki: *she sends a pic of herself facepalming*

Saria: [ ^^; i see u 2 are in well enough spirits]

Axel: [i am happy not to be dead]

-elsewhere-

miura: sir? are you drunk? -_-;

Mori: *hic* "I'm so lonely!!!"

elise: sucks to be you.

Mori: TT~TT "So mean!"

miura: -_-; why not call up an escort?

Mori: *sniff* "My favorite blacklisted me."

elise: not surprised.

Mori: "I need to find an-an-another..."

miura: then why not try a dating site?

Mori: "R-Really?"

miura: it's worth a try, isnt it?

Mori: "...Elise, bring me my laptop."

-elsewhere-

higuchi: ...gin, did you feel that too?

Gin: "Oh, yeah."

higuchi: *urk*

Gin: -~- "I'll get the ginger ale."

-elsewhere-

Kid: "Stocking, come to bed--you can continue tomorrow."

stocking: just...a little....*yaaaaAAAAWWWwwn* more....

Kid: *holds her up* "It'll be here tomorrow. Let's get you some sleep."

stocking: =~=

Kid: ^^; *walks with her*

-elsewhere-

Kau'i: *crushes a soda can on his forehead* "That was insane! What the hell was that black stuff?!"

dagon: i'll start looking into it now, sir.

audrey: Q~Q i've never been so scared in my whole life!

Derek: "Quite scary indeed." *shivers* "I don't think that was what Mr. Barret was anticipating on this trip."

lumina: do you think it could have been related to the moon incident?

nisha: that's a possibility.

Kau'i: *suddenly has a giant muffin in his mouth* "Huh? What Moon thing?"

lumina: didnt you see the news? *pulls up an article*

Kau'i: *munch, chew, swallow* "I don't read the news. That's how you end up having to debate people who really think the Earth revolves around the Sun."

Derek: "..." *opens his mouth...then just shuts up*

-elsewhere-

Ragnarok: *gobbling Jell-O* "OH MY DEATH, MY TASTE BUDS ARE INCREDIBLE!!!" *shakes an empty glass* "MORE MILK!"

nurse: how much is he going to eat? .____.;;;

Blair: *hiding behind the nurse* "I don't know--and I'm really scared!" >~<

Crona: .______________.

mami: oh dear.....

Ragnarok: *staring at Crona and Mami* "...Dang, Crona, you look scrawnier from this angle!"

Crona: >_<; "It's not my fault that I had to eat for both of us all this time!"

mami: hmm. that just leaves the rooming situation...

Ragnarok: "... ... ...I don't think the bed is big enough."

mami: you're on the couch.

Ragnarok: "WHAT?! We're not even going to flip Crona for it?!"

Crona: "Flip a coin!"

Ragnarok: "You heard what I said!"

mami: *protective hug for chrona as she GLARES at ragnarok*

Ragnarok: *frowns...then opens his mouth, a giant slithering pink tongue blowing a raspberry and revealing rows of teeth*

mami: ._.;

Crona: O_O; "What the heck kind of body did they give you?!"

Ragnarok: "...The kind that lets me lick the peanut butter out of the bottom of the jar now--WOOT!"

-elsewhere-

Black Star: *holding the broken sink...as the pipe that once connected it is leaking water* O_O;

himawari: D8

tsubaki: what on earth??

Black Star: "I DON'T KNOW MY OWN STRENGTH RIGHT NOW, AND IT'S FREAKING ME OUT!" *steps forward--and his foot falls through the bathroom tile* "SHIT!"

tsubaki:....im calling stein.

Black Star: "This can't get any worse--"

*Black Star crashes through the floor*

Black Star: "AAAAAAAH--"

*BOOM*

-elsewhere-

Chuuya: *studying a string of pearls*

miyuri: *asleep*

sonia:......

Chuuya: *sets them down* "Did you have fun, Sonia?"

sonia:....*nods*.......

Chuuya: "Same. We'll have more tomorrow."

sonia:....im glad....we helped elodie find her mama......

Chuuya: "..." *nods*

sonia:.....it must be nice. being hugged by a mama....

Chuuya: "Sonia..."

sonia:....am i a bad person? for being jealous of her?

Chuuya: "No--feeling that way is completely normal. What we do with those feelings is what matters."

sonia:.....may i have a hug?

Chuuya: "Always..." *hug*

sonia: thanks papa.....

Chuuya: "You're welcome. I love you."

-elsewhere-

Harvar: "Ugh, no one here sees anything..."

kim: they seem a bit hesitant....

Jacqueline: "Give them time to get used to us..."

kim: what are we even supposed to be doing on this mission again anyway?

Harvar: "Locals and their livestock and crops have gone missing."

kim: ah.

Jacqueline: "Disappearances tend to happen overnight, so we'll need shifts to be nightguards."

ox: right.

Thunder: *yawns* =A=

-the next day-

suzune: *yaaaawn*

arisa: wakey wakey! we have a busy day today!

Chisato: *making breakfast*

suzune:.....how long have we been in kamihama now? -_-;;

Matsuri: "Quite a while, actually." *sets out a cereal bowl*

-elsewhere-

Kid: *yawns...reaches across the bed--and finds it empty* "???" *sniffs*

stocking: *looking exhausted* good morning darling. =u=

Kid: "??? Hey. Were you working again?"

stocking: yes.

Kid: ^^ *leads her to bed* "Now, lie down, and think of pleasant, happy dreams."

-elsewhere-

gin: ryuu, its time for breakfast!

Akutagawa: *grumbles*

gin: we're making omurice!

Akutagawa: "..." *walks out* "Coming."

higuchi: looks like theres going to be a night market at the park tonight.

Akutagawa: "Hmm." *nom* "You going?"

higuchi: yeah, might find some nice deals. ^^

Gin: "We could use something to make the living room look a bit more complete. Maybe a sculpture."

-elsewhere-

Black Star: *sticks out his tongue*

Stein: *looking in his mouth* "Well, it's not fuzzy..."

nurse valentine: *taking notes*

Stein: "Well, it's obviously a soul strengthening that is channeling your latent and trained muscular power to exert greater force."

Black Star: "... ...Obviously. Now put it in a way I can understand."

Stein: "Whatever has altered in the atmosphere is giving your soul more power, which is strengthening your body."

Black Star: "..." *rubs his eyes, then looks at Valentine--* "?!!!!"

nurse valentine: what he said.

Black Star: "Nah, nurse--what the hell is that stuff on you?!"

Stein: "..." *looks* "There's nothing on her."

*Black Star is seeing...something glowing around her and Stein...*

nurse valentine: what exactly do you see?

Black Star: "It's all glowy and wavy!"

nurse valentine: *glances at stein*

Stein: "I see...Your soul perception up to now has been pathetic. Now this power boost is letting you see them--"

*SPLASH*

Stein: *dripping wet* "..."

Black Star: *holding an empty glass* "...IT'S STILL THERE!"

nurse valentine: -____-;; i see his mental perception still leaves much to be desired...

Stein: "Small miracles..." *takes a surgical cloth to wipe his glasses, while looking at Black Star...he sees his soul* "But it is as I said: his power is increasing. And given what happened to Crona, I would not ignore the common cause."

nurse valentine: meaning this is related to what happened with the moon....

Stein: "A power...out of madness."

-elsewhere-

atsushi: *yaaaaaawn* -~-;;

Kyoka: "Good morning."

atsushi: i see you're already awake.

sylvia: *resting on the couch*

Kyoka: *sets out rice* "Yes. What would you like to drink?"

atsushi: some milk would be fine.

Kyoka: *nods* *walks to the fridge, looking out the window* "...Oh."

atsushi: *goes over to look*

*Dazai is setting up bricks in the yard*

atsushi: *sigh* i'll go check it out. i'll get the mail too while im down there. *exits and heads over to where dazai is* do i even want to know?

Dazai: *sets a board over the bricks* "Good morning, Atsushi! I'm making a see-saw!"

atsushi: for...?

Dazai: "The baby, of course!" *stands on one side of the board* "See? Then I add the hinge to let it swing up and down."

atsushi: i see. *examining the see-saw* points for innovation, but im not sure it's exactly....child safe. *sweatdrop*

Dazai: "Fortunately, I have determined a good way to test this." *looks up to the tree* "Okay, Kenji--let 'er rip!"

kenji: *waves*

atsushi: O____O;;;

Dazai: *readies himself*

kenji: *drops an old car onto the board*

*Dazai goes flying up--and crashes into barrels behind him*

atsushi: *wince*

Dazai: "I'm okay! ...Oh, I found a mouse--AH, GOD, MY FACE!"

-elsewhere-

chie: *filling up a kiddy pool*

Yohei: "Looking forward to this, kiddos?"

io: yappi!

toru: ah!

Tool: "Careful with that--maybe a floatie is needed..." *holds up a rubber ducky to Io*

io: *squeaks it* *laughs*

Yohei: "Cute." *picks up Toru, carefully putting him into the pool*

toru: *splashes his hands on the water*

Yohei: *rubs his own arm* "You seem pleased."

Tool: "Up you go..." *lifts Io and puts them into the pool*

-elsewhere-

Chuuya: *looking under the bed* "??? Um, Mito? Mito? Where are you..."

mito: *mrrp* *sitting on the couch*

Chuuya: *stands up--and hits his head under the bed* "OW!" *looks at the couch* "Ugh...There you are."

mito: *purrs*

Chuuya: *strokes her back* "Where did you run off to?"

-elsewhere-

Crona: *looking out the window*

lord death: good morning.

Crona: "Oh...Hello, sir."

lord death: how are you feeling?

Crona: "Okay...A little different."

lord death: *nods* i see.

Crona: "...Thank you for this. I never felt I deserve this..."

lord death: it's not about 'deserving' or not.

Crona: "I-I'm sorry--I'm not used to thinking that way."

lord death: it's quite alright. have you had breakfast yet today?

Crona: *shakes their head* "Still getting used to adjusted hunger--as I'm not two people now."

lord death: ah... well, im going to be doing a soul scan for you now, to see how the proporties of your soul have changed.

Crona: *gulps* "I-I see...Or don't. Should I be worried?"

lord death: not to worry, this will only take a moment, and it's painless.

Crona: "..." *nods* *sits still*

-later-

lord death: hmm, interesting.

Crona: .~.;

lord death: seems you have magic potential within you. although given your parentage, i suppose this is unsurprising.

Crona: "...It's a little surprising!" *looks at their hands* "I never tried..."

lord death: never to late to learn, i suppose.

Crona: "Who would even teach me?"

lord death: i can think of a few people...

-elsewhere-

Kimizuki: *staring at his phone*

hyakuya: *taps her foot as she stares out the window* boooriiiiing.....

Kimizuki: "It's called off-time. Enjoy it."

Yoichi: *reading a newspaper*

mitsuba:.....how about we go over to the batting cages?

Yoichi: "Oh, fun!"

Kimizuki: "Hmm...Could be good for aim."

hyakuya: sounds great!

-and so-

Yoichi: *puts on the helmet--and it's too big* ._.;

mitsuba: ^w^ not to brag, but i _was_ on my elementary school's baseball team as a kid.

shinoa: i think i remember that. you were known as the blonde ogress who made 5 boys cry.

mitsuba: >n<#

Yoichi: ^^; *backs away*

Kimizuki: "Checks out."

mitsuba: HEY! D8<

hyakuya: loser buys lunch! *takes her stance*

Yoichi: "Good luck!"

-the ball is thrown-

hyakuya: *swings....letting go of the bat and getting hit in the face* GRF-

Kimizuki: "..." *facepalm*

Yoichi: D8 "Oh no!"

hyakuya: *nose bleeding* IM OUT OF PRACTICE! CUT ME SOME SLACK! >n<

mitsuba: that.....that was the worst baseball fail ever......in the history of literally everything.

hyakuya: YOU ARENT HELPING!!

Yoichi: *offers tissues*

-shinoa's phone dials-

shinoa: ?? *answers* hello~? ^^

Guren: "Mission briefing in 10 minutes."

shinoa: ok. we got a mission

Kimizuki: "Oh, joy. So much for rest."

mitsuba: *pouts*

-elsewhere-

chess: hmm.... im soo booooored!

crowley: *checking his phone* ooh! text from ferid!

chess: oooh! what'd he say!

crowley: you know that guy shahal?

chess: he's in charge of keeping livestock, right?

crowley: well, apparently he's been neglecting his duties as of late, and several humans have escaped.

Horn: "Oh, that's no good. Is our priority to retrieve the humans, or punish Shahal?"

crowley: given how often humans make more humans, i say our main priority for now is shahal.

Horn: "...Flawless logic. Very well."

-elsewhere-

stocking: *checking recipes*

Rin: *tapping his fingers* "So what're you thinking?"

stocking: im thinking a brownie coffin filled with little candies for the desert.

Rin: "Oh, creative! Would definitely appeal to the Death Children..." *opens a book* "How many courses is this again?"

-elsewhere-

Giriko: "Then the entire blob thing went *BOOM* and took out Gruk, too."

arachne: hmmm....this is rather concerning...

Giriko: "What you think it was?"

arachne: *takes out her journal* since i've lost most of my old spellbooks, i've taken notes in here......just as i suspected. it's likely black blood.

Giriko: "Uuuuuum..."

arachne: what?

Giriko: "Isn't that what your dipshit sister worked on?"

arachne: *nods* according to lord death, she's still at large somewhere, supposedly....

-elsewhere-

Medusa: "... ... ..." *rubs her nose* *looks along the forest path*

-it's surprisingly dark and a bit foggy-

Medusa: *holds up a small orb...something shines inside, pointing to the left* "..." *turns left*

-elsewhere-

shinoa: *takes a seat*

-at the other end of the table, a woman seems to be distressed. -

Kimizuki: *holding a notepad* "We received initial details. Tell us about her."

woman: *sniffles* y-yes. about two weeks ago, my daughter, riko was abducted by a vampire.

shinoa: guren told us that one of your maids made a sketch of the vampire, correct?

Kimizuki: *looking*

riko's mother: of course. *hands them the sketch* i-i-im not sure how accurate it is, but-

Kimizuki: "No, this is useful."

hyakuya: hmm. how exactly are we going to find him?

Kimizuki: "Good old fashion sleuthing."

-elsewhere-

-in a room in an old cathedral, a young girl is looking out the window-

girl:......

Shahal: "Back away from there."

girl: *looks over at him*

Shahal: "You don't want to fall down--it's not the best window." *holds up a plate* "Sugar cookie?"

girl:....um....*gingerly takes one*

Shahal: "I hope they're okay. You need milk, Lana?"

girl: t-they're alright....a-and i already told you, my name isnt lana, it's riko.

Shahal: "??? Since when? Is this some phase? Like when I insisted on wearing my shirt backwards--"

riko: erm.... ^^;

???: "Oh, wow--a pet?"

riko: ??

Shahal: "?!" *stands up sharply*

horn: so _this_ is why you've been abandoning your post, shahal?

chess: aww, she's so cute! *grabs her*

riko: *yells*

chess: she's so adorable, i could just EAT HER UP! *bears fangs with a feral fervor*

Shahal: *grabs Chess by the neck--and tosses her into the wall*

horn: !!!!

chess: OWIE! >n< ugh, so RUDE!

horn: such ungentlemanly conduct...

Shahal: "Back away from her. She is not a part of this."

horn: oh? it looks to me that she's the reason for our little visit.

riko: *trembling*

Shahal: "State your business and leave us be."

chess: jeez, if you're gonna be so hostile, maybe we _wont_ tell you that an extermination group is coming for you tonight~ whoopsie~ i let it slip~ *cute fist bonk on her head as she winks with her tongue out*

Shahal: "What?!" *looking out the window* "..." *studying different escape paths*

horn:.....unless you're going to return to your post and hand the girl over as livestock-

Shahal: "Lana stays here!"

horn:....very well, you've made your decision. but when death is at your doorstep and that girl is taken and drained of every last drop of blood in her, dont come crying to us. come chess, let's go.

chess: yes ma'am!

Shahal: "..."

riko: *still trembling*

Shahal: "Hey, it's going to be okay."

-elsewhere-

Crona: *buttoning up*

mami: *waiting outside the room*

Blair: *brings up the wheelchair* "Crona almost done?"

mami: i think so....

Crona: *buzzes the button* "I'm done"

mami: *opens the door*

Crona: *in jeans and a black t-shirt...smiles*

mami:...*hug*

peg: we got this one too. *brings out ragnarok...strapped to a gurney a la hannibal lector*

Crona: *holds Mami close* "Don't look behind you." ^^;;;;;;

Blair: O_O;

Ragnarok: "Hello, nurse." *slithering tongue noises*

mami: ......

peg: mister dont _make_ me put the mask back on. -_-#

Ragnarok: "Look, I just got this body, and I got years of experiences to make up for it. I've already exhausted myself on 2 out of 7 deadly sins--want to go for 3 more?"

mami: *GLAAAAARE*

Ragnarok: "?!!!" *looks away* >_>;;;

-elsewhere-

Black Star: *meditating--under a giant waterfall*

child: mama, what's that guy doing?

Mother: "Oh, I think I saw this in a kung fu movie once! Warriors do that for training to improve their minds."

child: wow cool!

Mother: "I wonder whether it's working--"

Black Star: *collapses under the water*

-elsewhere-

Chuuya: "Careful not to tap on the glass." *looking at the fish tank*

miyuri: *face plastered against the glass* oooooh!

Fish: O_O *swims away afraid*

sonia: *looking*

*there's a hermit crab on the tank floor, changing into a new shell*

sonia: .....

Chuuya: "Really surprising creatures, aren't they?"

sonia: yeah....

Chuuya: "...I think they let you hold a sea urchin..."

sonia: ??

Chuuya: "Those little spiny sea creatures."

sonia: wont they hurt?

Chuuya: "The trainer shows you how to cup your hand so it won't."

sonia: ....

miyuri: WOOOAH LOOK AT THAT THING!

Chuuya: *looks*

-seems to be some kind of whale-

Chuuya: "?! Wow!"

miyuri: IT'S HUUUGE!! IT'S LIKE A WATER ELLYFANT!

Chuuya: "Y-Yes, indeed..."

-elsewhere-

Mori: *seated at the outdoor cafe table, sipping a coffee* "..." *looks around, then at his phone* *texts* [she's not here]

miura: [perhaps give it some more time?]

Mori: [it's already been 20 min]

Waiter: "Refill, sir?"

Mori: "...Check, please."

-elsewhere-

tomura: *SCREECHING* IM MISSING ONE OF MY HANDS!!

Kurogiri: "Okay, take a deep breath, and let's retrace your steps."

Dabi: *whistles* "Yo." *waves a hand...holding a hand*

tomura: *looks*

*two of the fingers are curled into a circle*

tomura: FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF-.....one day i will kill you in your sleep.

Dabi: "Sure." *tosses it*

spinner: bold move, my dude.

shaula: AW SHIT SON HE ACTUALLY DID IT THE ABSOLUTE MADLAD!

Kurogiri: "...I'm confused."

Dabi: "Please, I'm no hero. Literally."

banshee:.....we _are_ professional villains, arent we? -_-;

Kurogiri: "We try."

-elsewhere-

*knock on Kanin's apartment door*

amelia: *peeks out the peep hole*

*looks to be Genny, Duncan, and some others*

amelia: kanin, we have guests.

free: *wave* ^^

Kanin: *cooking* "??? Oh...Hello." *aspects of his werewolf appearance remain but have gradually reverted back to slightly more human*

lei-lei: how're you feeling? we brought some ingredients for a hotpot! ^^

Kanin: "...I'm fine." *takes the ingredients* "...Um...Amelia, can you see about more chairs?"

amelia: *nods*

Kanin: "...I-I'll be busy cooking. Help yourselves to..." *gestures to an old-fashion candy bowl full of what can be described as grandparents' candy choices, as he hurries away*

genny:....

Duncan: *picks a piece of candy--that is stuck to the top of the pile of them* -_-; "Old fashioned... ...You know, maybe he needs help in the kitchen."

-elsewhere-

hyakuya: .......

Kimizuki: *looking through binoculars*

mitsuba: see anything?

Kimizuki: "The door looks like it was forced open."

mitsuba: should we go in?

Kimizuki: "I think when it gets darker."

hyakuya:.....(mika……)…..

{Mika: *sad smile*}

hyakuya: *bites her lip*

shinoa:...akane?

hyakuya: !!!...im fine. dont worry about it....

Yoichi: "..."

-that night-

Shahal: *standing guard*

riko: *asleep*

{???: big brother?}

{Shahal: *shivering* "Yes?"}

{girl: will we be able to eat soon?}

{Shahal: "Yes, soon...Just be patient. Please..."}

Shahal: "Not again...I'm protecting you this time."

-meanwhile-

shinoa: *looks inside* ok, this should be the back entrance...

Kimizuki: "How reliable was your intelligence?"

shinoa: i chatted up some urban explorers for advice. ^^

mitsuba: so far so good.....

Yoichi: *looking at the stairs...they look rotted*

hyakuya: this place sure has seen better days....

Kimizuki: "So keep an eye for debris used for this vamp to hide."

shinoa: and keep silent. our primary objective is to retrieve riko.

Yoichi: *nods*

-crash-

hyakuya: ????

Kimizuki: "?!" *aims*

???: spread out, he should be here somewhere.

???: of course, lady enacotta.

rubile: *grins* (once i claim that traitor's head, i'll go up in the ranks for sure!)

mitsuba: *whisper* shit, vampires? here?

shinoa: this is bad. if they're here for shahal, then riko's at risk as well...

Kimizuki: "...Then we need to find her first. With the stairs broken, he's likely holding her upstairs to discourage people following up."

hyakuya: i'll look for a way up.

Kimizuki: "While we keep the vampires away..."

hyakuya: *nods and heads off*

Kimizuki: *following the vampires' path*

vampire: *looking around*

Kimizuki: *hides behind the vamp...readies his sword*

vampire: ?? *turns*

*slice*

vampire: GRK-

Kimizuki: *stabs them through the chest*

vampire: *SCREAM*

Kimizuki: *beheads*

Shahal: "?!!!"

riko: hnn??

Shahal: "Shh."

riko: what's going on?

Shahal: *quietly* "Come on. Hide in here..." *leads her to a wardrobe in the attic* "Stay here."

-meanwhile-

rubile: *slashing with her sword*

mitsuba: *blocking with her axe*

Yoichi: *behind debris, aiming*

shinoa: take this! *SLASH*

vampire: GRAHH!

Yoichi: *fires off shots*

-outside-

hyakuya: *looking around* (come on, there has to be something...)

*a brick in the side of the building falls, rolling down to her feet*

hyakuya: !! *looks up*

*a vampire can be seen scurrying down the hall--then blood splatters against the hallway wall*

hyakuya: .....*looking around for a way up*

*there are missing bricks in the wall--and a buttress above the window*

hyakuya:...that'll work. *spits on both her hands and rubs them together* here we go. *starts climbing*

*a window she passes breaks, as a vampire is tossed out of it*

hyakuya: OxO;;

*the noise seems to have stopped...*

hyakuya: *keeps climbing*

-inside-

rubile: tch- damn...you humans dont know when to quit...*she's holding her arm, which has been cut along the bicep*

Kimizuki: "Call us stubborn." *aims*

rubile: *lunges at him*

vampire: lady enacotta! we need to retreat!

rubile: NO! we've come this far already, im not going to leave without our prize!

Kimizuki: *sweeps his leg at hers while he swings his blade at her neck*

rubile: !!! *dodge*

*there's a wardrobe*

hyakuya: *looks inside*

Riko: *curled up in the corner*

hyakuya: ...hey, it's ok.

Riko: "Wh-Who are you?"

hyakuya: you can call me akane. *small smile*

Riko: "...Are you a vampire?"

hyakuya:....no, im human, like you.

Riko: "...Like Shahal was."

hyakuya: shahal, that's the one who kidnapped you, right?....wait- so he wasnt born a vampire?

Riko: *shakes her head no* "He keeps calling me Lana. His sister. She died."

hyakuya:....how did you figure that part out?

Riko: "I-I kind of read his journal...Don't tell him I did that."

hyakuya: i wont...did he try to hurt you at all?

Riko: "No--he really misses his sister, and he keeps treating me like her."

hyakuya:.......(mika..........) do you miss your mom and dad?

Riko: *nods*

hyakuya:.....dont worry riko, i'll help you get back to your parents. you can count on us. *smiles*

Riko: "A-Are you going to hurt Shahal?"

hyakuya:....i'll try to talk to him.

-downstairs-

mitsuba: WOAH!

Kimizuki: *crashes into furniture, collapsed*

mitsuba: *charges at him, yelling*

rubile: there you are! *charges at him as well*

Shahal: "..." *leaps just as they are close to him--*

rubile: *has her arm hacked off* *SCREAMS*

mitsuba: *gets her side sliced* GAH!!

Shahal: *grabs Mitsuba by her wrist* "Now leave."

hyakuya: HEY YOU!!

Shahal: "..." *holds Mitsuba up by the arm* *looks at Hyakuya* "Leave, before there is more bloodshed."

hyakuya: let her go!

Shahal: "Of course--" *and flings Mitsuba at Hyakuya*

mitsuba: oof! nngh....

hyakuya: mitsuba, are you alright?

mitsuba: bleeding, but otherwise just peachy.

Shahal: *aims at Shinoa*

hyakuya: leave my friends alone!

Shahal: "Leave my _family_ alone!"

hyakuya: your ‘family’ is dead!

Shahal: "?!!" *rushes at Hyakuya* "What did you do to Lana?!!"

hyakuya: i didnt do anything to her! that girl riko, she's not lana! i dont know what happened or how she died, but your sister isnt here anymore!

Shahal: "WHY DOES EVERYONE KEEP LYING TO ME?!" *swings the blade at her head*

hyakuya: !!! *blocks with her own sword* im not lying!

Shahal: "Yes, you are! Everyone is trying to confuse me! But I remember what was done--and I am not letting you take Lana!" *presses the sword forward*

hyakuya: listen! i know what it's like, to lose a loved one. i've lost my parents, and my adoptive family, and every day it hurts thinking about what i could have done differently to save them, but the past is in the past, isnt it? the only thing left is to go forward. accept what's happened and move on, so quit living in the past and face reality already!!

Shahal: "..." *just staring at her* "...Lana..."

shinoa: *charges*

Kimizuki: *follows Shinoa--*

Yoichi: *gives them cover*

Shahal: "?!"

shinoa: take this!

Shahal: *tries to block--*

-SLICE-

Shahal: *howls in pain*

hyakuya: please listen, i dont want to fight you, but if you dont stop this, i wont have any choice! you were human once, remember??

shinoa: (what on earth has gotten into her...?)

Shahal: *holding his arm* "Lana...stop this. I'm not human anymore--but I need to protect you!"

hyakuya: im not lana either! if you keep deluding yourself like this, you're only going to hurt yourself even more!

Shahal: "I'm willing to get hurt if it means my sister can live! I can't let her die!"

hyakuya: she's already dead!

Shahal: "She can't be!" *approaches Hyakuya* "Stop lying!"

-SLASH-

Shahal: *stares wide-eyed*

riko: *collapses*

hyakuya: *stunned* !!!!!

Shahal: "N-No!" *cradles her* "Why would you do this?!"

riko: i-it's ok....it wasnt that deep of a cut...

hyakuya: riko....

Shahal: "...Riko..."

riko: *smiles* im not mad at you, shahal. because i think, despite everything...you're still a good person.

hyakuya:....*shaking slightly* mika.....

Shahal: *crying* "How can you think that? I thought..." *holds his head* "I'm so confused."

riko: you took care of me and made sure i was safe, and you never once bit me or drank my blood.

Shahal: "...I just wanted my sister back."

riko:....but im not her. i dont know how she died exactly, but im sure she misses you too...

Shahal: *sobbing* "I can never see her again..."

hyakuya:...........yuu.....chihiro....ako....kouta....fumie....taichi.....

Shahal: *looks at Hyakuya* "Who...?"

hyakuya: my siblings....ferid killed them....i was....the only one who got away.....(liar...mika was.....)

Shahal: "...Oh God...I'm sorry..."

hyakuya: ever since then, i've hated vampires....and wanted nothing more than to kill every last one....but after seeing....my one sibling....mika....turned into one of them....and seeing this...i....i dont know what to think anymore...

riko:.......

Shahal: "...You end them."

hyakuya: ??

Shahal: "You don't leave one standing that can and will hurt humans, eventually."

hyakuya: ......

Shahal: "You can bring them peace...to let them die and reunite with their lost family."

hyakuya:...are you...asking me to kill you?

Shahal: "...Yes."

hyakuya: but what about riko-

Shahal: "She deserves to be with her family."

hyakuya:.....*bites her lip, clutching her sword*

-as the sun rises, hyakuya screams out, piercing her blade into shahal's heart-

Shahal: *shudders, coughs...starts to disintegrate at the heart...looks at the sun with a smile* "Lana...Thank you."

hyakuya:.....

lana?: big brother!

-a spectral girl seems to be waving to him-

Shahal: "?!!!" *reaches up, his hand disintegrating as he does...*

lana?: i've been waiting for you for so long now! come on, i have lots of people to introduce you too!

-soon enough, they are both gone....-

hyakuya:.............

mitsuba: hey....akane....

hyakuya: hehe...hehehehe....hahaha..HAHAHAHAHA!! *cackling madly*

Kimizuki: *grabs her by her shoulders* "Hyakuya! Hyakuya! Damn it, Akane, get a hold of yourself..."

hyakuya: *sharply inhales and starts hysterically sobbing into his chest*

Kimizuki: "..." *holds her, letting her cry*

mitsuba:.....

shinoa:.....we should probably give riko first aid.

mitsuba:...yeah....

Yoichi: *holds up the kit*

-elsewhere-

Kid: "Absolutely adorable."

shiori: *in a new little jumper* lookie!

Kid: *shivering* "IT'S SO CUTE I COULD DIE!"

stocking: ^^

lord death: TOO CUTE FOR WORDS!

Yumi: *snaps a photo* "Indeed."

-elsewhere-

Monica: *buried under blankets* =_____= "I'm boooooooooooooooored!"

mrs ramirez: mija! your friends are here!

Monica: "... ... ...YOU DIDN'T CHECK THEM FOR KNIVES AGAIN, DID YOU?!"

mrs ramirez: first thing i did, honey!

yolanda: jeez mrs R, have some faith in us. -_-;

Zarya: *grunts*

Monica: -_-; "You here to rub it in before you go off to school?"

yolanda: just wanted to see how you were?

Monica: "Bored out of my f--" *spots her mom* "...freaking skull. I need to dunk someone's head into a toilet now!"

mrs ramirez: that reminds me, that nurse from the hospital, mrs albarn, wanted to have coffee later and to chat. she's your friend izumi's mother, isnt she? ^^#

Monica: "... ... ...She's not my fucking friend."

Zarya: "... ... ..." *takes one giant step back away from Monica*

mrs ramirez: .........

stephanie: welp we're totes late, bye! *RUNS*

Monica: "?! YOU TRAITORS--"

mrs ramirez: monica, i'd like to have a little talk with you. in private. ^^#####

Monica: D8 *loud whimpering noise*

mrs ramirez: monica rosa-marie ramirez, you arent going anywhere! *smiles with a demonic glare*

-elsewhere-

Asher: "... ... ..." *small smile*

cassidy: asher? you ok?

Asher: "...I think I feel lighter."

cassidy:...

-elsewhere-

kyouko: hey rin, is shiemi doing alright? last i saw her, she seemed kind of down.

Rin: *sighs* "I think she's trying to figure out some stuff with school."

kyouko: hmm....is she having problems?

Rin: "Kinda. She's leaving the exorcist class."

kyouko: wait really? what happened?

Rin: "She said she wanted to focus on what she can do for now--without getting in over her head. It's rough when you really want something but are not sure you're ready."

kyouko:.....

-rin's phone starts going off-

Rin: *checks*

-text from renzou-

Rin: *reading* "...??? It's from Renzou Shima. He's...ranting about diapers?"

kyouko: i'd rather not know -__-#

renzou: [CODE OMEGA! I REPEAT! CODE FUCKING OMEGA!!]

Rin: "Neither do I . But now he's yelling 'Code Omega.' I think his bro told me that means to meet up." *looks at the key hooks* "Tell the old man I'm stealing his keys."

kyouko: ._.

-and so-

Bon: *holding his stomach* "Ugh...I hate traveling with keys." >~<;

izumo: you guys got called too?

Shima: -_-; "Yep..."

Rin: "WOOOOOOOW! It looks so different at this time of year!"

izumo: we were here last year around summer, in the longest fucking summer ever -_-;;;

shiemi: im surprised we were invited to juuzo and mamushi's baby shower.

unagi: it'll be nice to see my family members again.

Shima: "Don't curse in front of my fam, Izumo--I want to keep a good impression with them."

shura: yeah, so behave yourself.

izumo: sure thing-....wait.

konekomaru: how long were you-

shura: kunoichi skills bitches.

izumo:.....-___-;

Bon: *shoves Shima* "You're one to criticize anyone, spy."

Shima: ^^; "Former spy?"

shiemi: well we better find the restaurant then.

shura: you kiddos go on ahead, im gonna have a quick chat with the okumura bros for a minute, kaaay~?

Rin: "What?! But I'm starving!"

shura: *waits for the others to go* welp, now we can talk.

Yukio: "What is this about?"

shura: yuri egyn. your mother.

Yukio: "?!"

Rin: "...What?"

shura: it was around the time i met shiro...

{-knocks-}

{yuri: who is it?}

{shura: *flailing* putmedown! pummedown!! >n<#}

{yuri:.....is...is that a kid?}

{Fujimoto: "Um, no. It's obviously a new species of mountain rat. A smelly, dirty mountain rat--"

{yuri: .___.;}

{shura: I'LL BITE YOUR ANKLES IN HALF!}

{yuri:....why dont i make you something to eat? ^^;; }

{Fujimoto: ^^; "I actually have some tasks to attend to, so that would help me--OW! DID YOU JUST BITE ME?!"}

{shura: *HISSSSSS* *STOMACH GURGLE*.........food please.}

{Fujimoto: T^T "What do you even eat, kid?"}

{shura: squirrels mostly. sometimes birds. hachirou got me a boar once.}

{yuri: .______. shiro....where did you find this girl exactly?}

{Fujimoto: "In the mountains. Meet the fabled wild child of Towada. I've named her Shura."}

{shura: offer me food, mortal!}

{-...-}

{yuri: eat up!}

{shura: *ravenous eating*}

{Fujimoto: ^^ "Better than tiny squirrels with hardly any meat on their bones, right, kiddo?"}

{shura: *pulls the food closer and snarls* MINE!}

{yuri: goodness, she's got an appetite. ^^; }

{Fujimoto: "And needs to learn some manners..." *sniffs* "Ugh...and a bath."}

{shura: a what?}

{-...-}

{shura: *asleep*}

{yuri: so, what are we going to do about her?}

{Fujimoto: "Mephisto ordered me to keep an eye on her, and after seeing that Hachirou thing, I don't want her going back to it. After that? I'm not sure..."}

{yuri: maybe she could stay here? it gets lonely up here, so it'd be nice to have some company. ^^}

{Fujimoto: "??? For real? Mephisto was pretty insistent on not letting her out of my sight..."}

{yuri: you could stay here too, if you'd like. it'd be like a family.}

{Fujimoto: "..." *pulls out a cigarette, lights up* "Don't say it like that."}

shura: from what i remember, she was a really kind woman, she had eyes like yours, rin. and lots of moles, like yukio...and that concludes story time with shura for today!

Yukio: "..."

Rin: "...YOU COCKTEASE! DON'T STOP THE STORY THERE! TELL US MORE! What did she sound like?!" *grabs her by the shoulders* "Why didn't you tell us this before?!"

shura: now if you boys excuse me. im gonna go hit the bar. cheers! *walks off*

-later-

torako: <enjoy your stay with us.> *walks back to the front* !!!! <ryuuji!>

Bon: <Hey...>

-a child runs up and tackles shima-

child: <ANKO WENZO!>

Shima: <OW! ???>

woman: <ten, sweetie, there you are! what did mama tell you about running off?>

ten: <sowwy mamai>

woman: *looks* !!! <renzou!>

Shima: <?!!>

izumo: you know this woman?

woman: <oh, you must be renzou's friends. koneko and bon know me already, but im Jun Shima. renzou's sister.>

unagi: <a pleasure to see you again, ma'am'>

jun: <unagi! i was surprised to hear that you enrolled in true cross. how are you doing?>

unagi: <im very well. i've been learning a lot of english.>

???: <UUUUUUNAAAAAAAGIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!>

-a woman comes barreling down the hall and clutches unagi-

woman: <MY SWEET BABY GIRL! ARE YOU ALRIGHT?! HAVE YOU BEEN EATING?! IS YOUR TEMPERATURE WELL?! DO YOU HAVE ANY INJURIES?!>

uwabami hojo: ^^; <easy now, orochi, she's just fine.>

Bon: <We've been keeping an eye on her, ma'am.>

unagi: <hello mother, hello to you too uncle.>

Konekomaru: *sad smile, steps back*

girl: <hey sis, do we have any more- !!!! k-k-k-k-KONEKOOOOOO~<3 > *TACKLE* >///w///< <3<3<3<3

Konekomaru: .\\\\.; "Um..." <You can let go now?>

girl: <KINZOU TOLD ME YOU WERE HERE _LAST_ YEAR TOO! WHY DIDNT YOU TELL ME? I WOULD HAVE BAILED ON THE CLASS TRIP TO EUROPE IF I KNEW!!>

Konekomaru: ^\\\^; <We were a little busy on an investigation and--well, things got away from us. Sorry.>

Rin: -_-; *has a big handprint slapped on his face* "Freaking boobzilla..."

Yukio: -_-; "Please don't embarrass us more while we're visiting someone else's house."

jun: ?? <more friends of yours?>

Rin: <He gets that a lot.> *waves at the child*

girl: <hey. you smell different koneko, are you using a new bodywash?>

Konekomaru: >\\\\\\< <Wh-Why would you sniff me?!>

ten: <mamai! this guy has a tail! is he a kitty?>

Yukio: *facepalm* <Oh good lord...>

jun: .....^^; <why dont we help uncle gozo with the garden, ok?>

ten: <ok!> *runs off*

Yukio: <I am so sorry.>

-outside-

nishiki: *eating watermelon shaved ice*

???: <over here sir?>

Tatsuma: <Yes, that's a good spot for it.>

???: *sets the statue down, wiping sweat from her brow* <yep, i reckon that's a mighty good spot for it>

Tatsuma: <Looking good! ...Maybe rotate it a bit more towards the morning sun.>

torako: <tatsuma! yoshikuni! bon and his friends are here!>

yoshikuni: <REALLY?!>

Tatsuma: <!!! My baby boy!> *gets up quickly--and throws out his back* >n< "AH!"

torako: D8

Bon: *steps out* <?!! Old man!> *runs up*

yoshikuni: <LIL RYUU! long time no see!>

Bon: <?!! Yoshikuni?!>

izumo: another friend of yours?

yoshikuni: <im his fiancee~>

izumo: O/////o W-W-WHAT?!?!??!

Bon: -_-; <Yoshikuni, please.>

yoshikuni: <LOL! JK JK! it's just a joke!>

izumo: *beet red* <I SHOULD THINK SO! WHO'D WANT TO MARRY A STUBBORN OX LIKE HIM!?>

Tatsuma: *trying to sit up* <Ha ha ha! ...I don't know what 'luul' means.>

Bon: <?!!! I will have you know I am desirable to people who like men with a strong will, you stubborn mule!>

izumo: <BEEF HEAD!>

Bon: <POLKA-DOTTED MUTT!>

izumo: <ROOSTER HAIR!>

Bon: <HA! I STOPPED DYING IT, SO YOU CAN'T EVEN USE THAT ONE ANYMORE!>

torako: <my my, they're acting like me when i was that age.>

{young!torako: <GET BENT, BALDIE!>}

{Young!Tatsuma: <Babe, I _shave_ by choice because it makes me look cool!> *wink*}

torako: <so persistent.> *sigh* <i feel so old.>

Tatsuma: <And yet still so beautiful.>

torako: >/////< <oh stop!>

Bon: <OW!> *slapping his hand on the ground* <I YIELD, I YIELD, YOU SHRIMP!>

-elsewhere-

Kanin: *puts bento boxes of leftovers into their lockers* "Okay. I'll see you for lunch after morning classes."

genny: *nods*

Kanin: "... ...Well..." *rubs the back of his head...he's managed to revert almost back to human appearance*

genny:....i-if you want to talk...a-about anything, you can-

Kanin: "I-I appreciate that...M-Maybe later..."

genny: .///. r-right...see ya! *runs*

Kanin: "..." >\\\< *knocks his head against his own locker--and instantly hulks out into werewolf form, ripping his shirt* "...Aw, man..."

marie: kanin? are you alright? ._.;

Kanin: "?!! S-Sorry, Miss Marie! I'm fine, really! I'm not going feral..." *struggles to slowly revert to human form, as he takes off the torn shirt and opens his locker to retrieve a new shirt* "J-Just, you know, typical teenage hormonal stuff..."

marie: do you want to talk about it?

Kanin: "..." *nods* "Did other students ever deal with this kind of thing?"

-elsewhere-

arisa: so what do you guys want to check out next?

kanami: im kinda hungry, maybe we should get lunch?

suzune:..... !!!

arisa: suzune? you oka-....OH.....MY....G!!

kokoro: hmm?

masara: *looks* !!!!!

arisa: Y-YOU'RE KOKORO AWANE!!

kokoro: yep, that's me alright.

arisa: do you remember me? im arisa narumi!

kokoro: oh right! you're that girl from back then!

arisa: you were so cool and inspiring that i became a magical girl too, see? my friends are-

-CLANG-

suzune: *blocking masara's knife with her sword*

masara: what are _you_ doing back here, magical hunter?

suzune: im not here to fight, honest.

masara: a likely story. im not about to let you hurt kokoro.

Chisato: *gestures to her own weapon* "Let's all calm down. This is not a place for any fight."

masara: how can you be so calm when a murderer is among you?

suzune:.....

Matsuri: "This is about giving people another chance, you know?" ^^ "She may have done bad things, but that doesn't make her a bad person!"

suzune: matsuri....

Matsuri: "Just give her a chance."

kokoro: easy there masara. sorry about my friend, she can be a bit protective, but she means well. ^^;

arisa: i take it you met suzune before?

kokoro: yep. say, you mentioned being hungry, right? it just so happens we know a great restaurant called 'Walnuts'. ^^

-elsewhere-

Monica: *glare*

izumi: .___.;;;;;

Sachiko: ^^ "I always come by here--I didn't know you managed it!"

mrs ramirez: well, assistant manager, but still. ^^

Monica: *takes her drink, sips--and crunches on the ice loudly*

izumi: ._.;;;;;

mrs ramirez: mija, dont you have something to say to mrs albarn's daughter?

Monica: "..." *mutters something*

mrs ramirez: speak up honey, no one can hear you when you're muttering.

Monica: *inhales* "I SAID 'I'M SORRY'!"

izumi: um...thanks..f-for apologizing...*shifts in her seat*

Sachiko: *uncovers her ears* "Y-Yes, thank you...How about you kids get a treat?" *hands Izumi some money* "The cookies looked good."

-elsewhere-

Rin: "So, Konekomaru, who's the girl?"

girl: *clinging to his arm* ^////^

konekomaru: this is yumi, shima's younger sister.

Rin: "Ah, so you all grew up together?"

yoshikuni: pretty much. <so you guys really defeated the impure king last summer?>

Bon: <We...did the best we could.>

Rin: <Well, us and my girlfriend, too.>

konekomaru: <come to think of it, where were you?>

yoshikuni: <i was at a convention in tokyo.> ^^

Juzo: *fretting back and forth in front of the building*

gozo: <easy bro, she's not due for another two months yet.>

Juzo: <I know! I keep reading the books--did you know you're not supposed to put a blanket over the baby?! THEY COULD SUFFOCATE! HOW WOULD THAT LOOK IF MY CHILD SUFFOCATED?!!>

gozo: <take a deep breath and chill.>

kinzou: <yeah, you're gonna give yourself a hernia!>

Shima: <Yeah, don't think of dead babies--that thought'll stay in your head forever.>

Juzo: *GLARES AT SHIMA*

-elsewhere-

Kanin: *staring at the tea* "I don't know. I never had these problems controlling my appearance. But since that...thing got in my head and down to my soul..."

marie: perhaps it was an effect of madness from that clown.

Kanin: "I think so...But it hasn't gotten back to normal. I don't know when it will, if ever."

marie:.....

Kanin: "I don't know who could even help."

marie: i can think of a few people...

-elsewhere-

mami: lunch is ready!

Crona: "Smells great."

mami: the doctors recommended this to help you regain your strength.

Crona: *nods*

Ragnarok: *has on a bib* "AND FOR ME?"

-elsewhere-

naoya: how is he?

kouyou: still locked up in his office, crying. how unprofessional. -_-;

miura: -___-; *patting mori's back*

Mori: *head resting on a pillow* TT~TT "It's like I'm cursed."

elise: wouldnt be too shocked if that were the case.

Mori: "I need some good luck..."

-elsewhere-

Kimizuki: "..." *sets down a bottle of water*

hyakuya:.....thanks....

Kimizuki: *nods* "You're welcome...The ride will be here in another hour."

hyakuya:........

Yoichi: *packing the first-aid kit* "Any more cuts and bruises?"

riko: i-im ok....

Yoichi: ^^ "That's a relief."

riko:.....

Yoichi: "...Happy to go home?"

riko: i guess so....

Yoichi: "That man...did release you."

riko:.....do you think....he's in a better place?

Yoichi: "...I like to think so."

-elsewhere-

arisa: mmm~ this is so yummy!

kokoro: i know right?

masara: *eating, not taking her eyes off suzune, staring intently*

suzune: *looking down at her plate, sweating nervously* ._.;;;;;;;;;

Chisato: "...Masara, how is your meal?"

masara: *nom, still staring at suzune* delicious.

suzune: *gulp* ._.;;;;;;;;;;;

Chisato: "...So, what are everyone's plans this afternoon?"

kokoro: well, masara and i were going to go hiking for a bit later.

Chisato: "Ah. It'd be good to get into the outdoors."

-elsewhere-

Guren: "Welcome back."

hyakuya:...*nod*

Guren: "We'll begin debriefing...You look like a mess. Go lie down."

hyakuya: *grunts and walks off*

Guren: *looks at the others* "Shinoa, walk with me. I'll start the debriefing with you."

shinoa: right.

Guren: *walks with her into the interrogation room* "What happened to Hyakuya back there?"

shinoa: she took the vampire down...

Guren: "I've seen her take down vampires--I haven't seen her acting like this."

shinoa: i'll speak with her about it when i can.....she has been different since our encounter with ferid....

Guren: "And that can be a liability. We need her in the field--and if her head is not in this, that will be a danger."

shinoa:....understood.

Guren: "Tell me about this vampire and child. Why did he take her?"

-shinoa explains the situation-

Guren: "Hmm...I knew vampirism can do things to the brain, but this is something else entirely."

shinoa:...perhaps vampirism has nothing to do with it....

Guren: "??? Explain."

shinoa: based on my observations, his reactions seemed rather human. perhaps relating to his previous life. sadly, without any official documents on him, we can only go by word of mouth for information.

Guren: "Hmm. So, what, he got confused, had memories of his pre-vampire life, and those influenced his mind? That still sounds dangerous."

shinoa:......

Guren: "I'll ask C3 to check on this--they may have a bit more information on neuro influences after the transformation."

-elsewhere-

Rin: *pats his belly* =w= "Tasty meal..."

torako: <you seemed to enjoy it. ^^>

orochi: <will you be staying the night?>

Rin: <I should probably get back to the old man.> *pats Bon's shoulder* <But I'm sure Bon would be happy to stay with family for the night!>

Bon: -_-# *twists Rin's arm* <We're studying for exams right now.>

Rin: Q_Q *slapping his hand down on the floor*

shiemi: ....

Shima: <I mean, some of us don't need to worry too much about studying! And how often do you get to see family?>

izumo: *GLARE*

Shima: "?!!!!" *averts his glance* <Granted, that also depends on whether your own family wants to see you...> >w>;;;;;

-elsewhere-

higuchi: *washing Q's hair*

Q: >~< *whining*

higuchi: ^^; the water wont hurt you, and that visor is supposed to keep the shampoo out of your eyes.

Q: "It feels slimy!"

higuchi: ^^;

Gin: *sets out a towel* "It's that, or your hair will get covered in dirt, disease, and fall out, leaving you as the youngest bald person on this planet."

Q: Q_______Q "What?"

higuchi: .-.;

Q: *flailing* "AAAAH! PLEASE WASH MY HAIR, MOMMY!"

higuchi: *getting all wet from the splashing* ah! ok! ok! >-O;;

Gin: "My work here is done." *turns away*

Q: =~= *relaxes*

higuchi: *sigh* *mutter* next time _you're_ in charge of bath time...

Gin: *walks into the living room* "Kuniko, Ryu, your chores?"

kuniko: dishes are about 78% done!

Akutagawa: *uses Rashomon on a dish towel to dry*

Gin: "As for homework?"

-elsewhere-

Mephisto: "Then we use this key to open the closet, and..." *opens the closet to reveal Death City from the top of a building*

shion: bwoah! *shiny eyes*

Mephisto: "Impressive, yes? You can see our house from here! And there's Mephy Land!"

shion: ^o^ dada! dada!

Mephisto: "Hee hee--that's my head on that ferris wheel! But you need to be a bit taller to ride the roller coaster."

-elsewhere-

sonia: *eating ice cream*

Chuuya: *hands out napkins*

miyuri: *LICK LICK LICK* >~< GYEEK!

Chuuya: "Brain freeze?"

miyuri: miyuri's head feels bad! >A<

sonia: you shouldnt eat it so fast.

Chuuya: "Try putting your tongue on the roof of your mouth to warm it up."

miyuri: *does so*

Chuuya: "Feeling better?"

miyuri: *nods*

Chuuya: "That's good. Now, eat more slowly--we got plenty of time."

-elsewhere-

Hibana: =_____= *sneezes*

mikami: are you feeling alright, commander?

Hibana: "No--I haven't been sleeping."

ryuuko: do you need to see a doctor, or would that be too much?

Hibana: *groans* "Why would I need that?"

ryuuko: it's important for one to look after their well-being. perhaps some tea and meditation might help? that's what my father does when he's stressed.

Hibana: "I already do that--I set aside 5 minutes for meditating in-between the 10 AM and 11 AM meetings, and some tea when I get home at 9 PM."

Rino: *holds up a schedule* "She's booked solid 8 AM to 8 PM. She's killing herself. _It's not going fast enough_."

mikami: rino!

gabriella: princess, please rest.

Rino: >_>;

Hibana: *slams her fists down* "I have work to do! I have some genetic experiments out for my head! I have to figure out what the hell Haijima is doing with those kids! I--I--... *collapses*

gabriella: D8>

Rino: "?!!!" *tries to hold her up* "Jeez, she's heavy..."

Hibana: *unconscious*

-elsewhere-

sasori:....

nana: so, is sasori your actual name?

sasori:...not really.

ivy: is that right?

ria marcelo: yeah.

Joker: "Well, a lot of people change their names. Take Red for instance."

scarlet: ........

nana: and my name is seven.

Joker: "Nana, what did we agree? Your name is Nana now."

nana: EAT SHIT.

ria marcelo: .....she seems to have high regard for you.

Joker: *sniffs, wipes his eye* "I know--makes a father proud."

scarlet:.... -_-;

Joker: "So, Ria, ready to scope out Hibana's latest work?"

ria marcelo: im listening...

-elsewhere-

Hajiki: *somehow stuck behind the vending machine*

hito:......why.

Hajiki: "I don't know--I was trying to get food, then I forgot what I was doing, and I ended up here."

hito: have you tried shimmying out?

Hajiki: "Let me see..." *shifts--and the vending machine starts rocking*

-elsewhere-

Asako: *runs out of a patient's room* "EEEEK!"

vivian: ??

*fire shoots out of the patient's room*

vivian: !!!!

Patient: *frowning, lobbing another fireball* "THAT THERMOMETER WAS COLD AS HELL!"

vivian: OwO;;;

Asako: >~< "That's only if you pursue the Dantean understanding of Hell--"

Patient: *throws another fireball, this one nearing at Vivian*

vivian: *dodge* gyah! how rude!

Patient: "I didn't want to be some fucking second generation flame person!"

Asako: >~< "Third-generation pyrokinetic, sir!"

Patient: "SHUT UP!" *tries to get out of bed--and falls face-first into the bedpan*

vivian: ._.;;

tao: owo~? what's going on here?

Asako: *sigh* "We've had more patients coming in awakening pyrokinetic abilities. And he's been the nicest of them..." -_-;

-elsewhere-

Kimizuki: *carrying a tray of food to a room* *knocks*

hyakuya: it's open....

Kimizuki: *enters* "Hey. Brought your dinner."

hyakuya:..thanks...

Kimizuki: "I wasn't sure what you would like, so if you want more of anything, I got more on the stove to heat up."

hyakuya: *nods*.....kimizuki?

Kimizuki: "Yes?"

hyakuya: did i do the right thing?

Kimizuki: "...Our job is to neutralize vampire threats. Who knows what he would have done next."

hyakuya:.....i saw mika in him.....

Kimizuki: "...So when you see Mika again..."

hyakuya: NO! i cant....i have to get him home....i just.....ever since that day my head's just been all tangled up...

Kimizuki: "How do you convince him? He's not the same kid you knew back then."

hyakuya: what would you do if you were in _my_ position? if it were mirai that was a vampire? would you just kill her without a second thought?!

Kimizuki: "?!! Okay, that's a low blow! It's not my sister that is a vampire, now is she? This is your friend who is suffering--and that's the reality you're dealing with!"

hyakuya:.............

Kimizuki: "...I'm sorry. I don't know what I would do either."

hyakuya:...h-he's my family....*curls up into fetal position* i already lost him once....i cant lose him again....

Kimizuki: "...Then let's bring him back."

hyakuya: *looks up at him*

Kimizuki: "We figure out how to convince him, we figure out what C3 has already done about containing vampires without imprisoning or killing him. If he's that important to you, then I'll help."

hyakuya:...thank you......sorry....about what i said-

Kimizuki: "It-It's fine. If it was me, I would've said something as...passionate.”

hyakuya:...heh...you jerk...*wipes her eyes*

Kimizuki: "Me, a jerk? You're a jerk yelling at me like that..."

hyakuya: *laughs a bit* yeah, got me there....

Kimizuki: *small smile* "Then I win."

hyakuya:....*hug*

Kimizuki: "... ..." *pat pat, hug*

hyakuya:....*looks at him for a bit*

Kimizuki: *looks into her eyes*

hyakuya: kimizuki...i-

shinoa: *opens the door* hey guys~!

hyakuya: *YELLS AND PUNCHES KIMIZUKI IN THE FACE*

Kimizuki: "?!" X_X *knocked to the floor--flipping over the food tray onto Hyakuya*

hyakuya:......

shinoa: oh goodness. was i interrupting something~?

hyakuya:....nothing. nothing at all. -_-#

-elsewhere-

Jeje: "Johannes has not left the basement in days."

metsu: should i check on him?

Jeje: *hands her a taser* "Stay armed."

metsu: *nods* i need to bring him his dinner anyway.

Jeje: *nods, as he rummages through a box of vials*

metsu: *heading downstairs* johannes?

Johannes: *curled over his desk, looking at blood samples*

metsu:....i brought your dinner. *sets the tray down and collects the dishes from the last meal*

Johannes: "Huh? You say something?" *looks up--and has a long white beard*

metsu: ......... ._______.

Johannes: "What's with that look? ..." *glances down* "Oh, right--" *grabs the fake beard, rips--...then covers his mouth to let out a tortured scream* "I forgot the glue!!!"

metsu:........im not even going to ask. *heads upstairs*

Johannes: "Thank you for the meal! Bring down body wash!"

Jeje: *pulls out a vial...swirls its contents into a mug of hot chocolate*

-elsewhere-

Rin: *lies down*

-knock knock-

shiemi: rin? may i ask you something?

Rin: *sits up* "Hey, Shiemi--what's up?"

shiemi: well, pardon if it's intrusive, but i noticed you and yuki werent talking much during dinner....you two didnt have a fight, did you?

Rin: >_>; "That's...kind of personal. It's nothing..."

shiemi:....ok. well, good night.

Rin: *grunts* "Night..."

{Rin: "What brought this on?"}

{yukio: dont you want to know about our birth? according to the knight of true cross, she was the one who bore satan's sons, and most information on her is classified. but i want to know more about her...}

{Rin: "After what we've heard so far, and what we've gone through? No, it can't be a good story. Just knowing that she was a kind person is enough for me."}

{yukio: why are you trying to avoid this? dont you even care? this is our mother for god's sake!}

{Rin: "..." *frowns* "Why are you needing this so badly?"}

{yukio:......he...heheheh...haha...AHAHAHA!!}

{Rin: "?!!! Yuki? Wh-What's wrong?"}

{yukio: HAHAHAHA.....that's right....we can never truly change how we think, right? we're both right and both wrong......it's funny.....we're twins, yet we're total opposites....well....just....just forget we had this talk, ok? come on...the others are waiting...}

Rin: "...What the hell, bro."

-elsewhere-

gozo: <tatsuma, sir, are you in?>

Tatsuma: *reclining in a chair, a book resting on his lap* "???" <Yes?>

gozo: <i wanted to talk to you about that one matter.>

Tatsuma: "..." <I see. What have you found?>

gozo: <nothing much yet, but we are researching it at the india branch's underground library. sadly, we havent yet found a way to summon a demon possessing another person.>

Tatsuma: <Hmm...> *holds up his book* <I'll have to finish this reading on exorcising Karura from Todo so to resummon...>

gozo: <there is a problem. based on renzou's observations from aomori on todo's appearance, it seems karura is bonding to its new vessel...>

Tatsuma: *sighs* <Then it is up to me to hurry. Thank you for this information. Please, continue your investigation.>

-elsewhere-

Fire: *yawns* *gets out of bed, looking out the window*

kim: .....

Jacqueline: "??? Fire?"

Fire: "I think I see something."

kim: ??

Fire: "I saw something glowing and moving in the forest."

kim: *looks to the others*

Jacqueline: "...Maybe wake the others." *nudges Kilik*

-elsewhere-

Kanin: *tucks Amelia in*

amelia: good night.

Kanin: "Good night, Amelia. I'll see you in the morning." *walks away...*

amelia:.......

Kanin: *gets to the door* "...Should I leave a light on, or...?"

amelia: im fine.

Kanin: "O-Okay...Good night." *closes the door*

-elsewhere-

Crona: *lying awake in bed* "..."

mami: *asleep*

Crona: ("It's so quiet now...I used to hear his voice even when he wasn't talking...It's hard to get used to.") *looks at Mami* "..." *hug*

mami: *she seems quite relaxed*

Crona: *closes their eyes, sighs quietly*

-morning-

Bon: *walking through the temple*

izumo: *cleaning*

Bon: "??? What, Mom has you working?"

izumo: i volunteered, for your information.

Bon: -_-; "Well, thanks--it's looking better."

-elsewhere-

Relan: *walking with his shoulder in a sling* *cringes*

iris: how are you feeling?

Relan: "The meds help, but it still hurts a lot."

iris: hmm...

Relan: "Enough of that--another day is ahead of us...How did the talk go with Mr. Fulham from the 1st?"

iris: well....

-she explains what happened-

Relan: "I'm so sorry. This can't be easy on everyone in the Church."

-elsewhere-

Yoichi: ^^ "Welcome back to work!"

hyakuya: morning.

shinoa: oh, that reminds me, riko's family invited us to their mansion for a celebration. ^^

Kimizuki: "What's to celebrate? We did our job..." *awkward glance at Hyakuya*

shinoa: they wanted to celebrate the return of their daughter, of course. so get your formal wear~

Yoichi: "Yay! ...I don't have really good formal wear, so I may need to shop a bit."

hyakuya: i dont have any formal wear!

Kimizuki: *sighs* "Looks like a few of us are shopping."

-elsewhere-

Monica: *in the cafe uniform* -_-# "Welcome. May I take your order?"

girl: i'll have a Frappuccino.

guy: do you still have the shamrock shakes?

Monica: "...It's June. Not March. So no. Is there something else you want to order?"

guy: can i have a mint green mocha then?

Monica: "..." *writes it onto a cup* "Sure. Name?"

-elsewhere-

Harvar: *looking at footprints* "Well, someone was here."

ox: or something....

Fire: .~.; "Like the thing we're supposed to find?"

kim: most likely...

Jacqueline: *following the steps' path--that lead to the edge of a cliff* "..."

-elsewhere-

*a man in a monocle opens his car door*

???: mr dragulsec i presume?

Dragulsec: "???" *turns--*

-WHAM-

*Dragulsec is knocked to the street*

Dragulsec: *groans, sitting up* "L-Lighting?!"

lewin: salutations, doc!

Dragulsec: "What the devil is wrong with you?!"

lewin: word on the street is you've got connections to the illuminati.

Dragulsec: "Balderdash! Your 'word' would tell you I already entered a contract that would prevent me from cooperating with them!"

lewin: but that's the mystery i need to solve. after all, not many people can get away with a massacre and stay in the same line of work for over a decade...

Dragulsec: "Absurd! Hollow reasoning! You have no idea how such a massacre continues to affect me!"

lewin: talk is cheap, doc. but i'll still need a bit of proof. teyonebuse and so on...

*something buzzes around Dragulsec, striking him*

Dragulsec: "GAAAH! Stop this!"

lewin:...mortem.

Dragulsec: *screams, as his collar is ripped*

lewin:....so _that's_ it, huh? welp. thanks for your time, doc. im gonna vamoose, as it were.

Dragulsec: *coughing* "Y-You won't get away with this! I'll report this! They'll lock you away, Lightning, you madman!"

lewin: funny you should say that. i intend to have you prosecuted~

-elsewhere-

Lucy: *waves to the cafe manager* "Hello!"

manager: good morning, lucy. ready to start the day?

Lucy: *smiles, nods* "Ready!" *grabs the apron* "I wonder how busy it'll get."

*the door opens*

manager: welcome.

Q: ^w^ *waves his doll's hand* "Hello!"

higuchi: *nods*

Lucy: ._.;

-elsewhere-

kirako: ok, i brought everyone's orders. ^^

Kyoka: "Thank you." *smiles*

Kunikida: "Thank you very much. That was very kind of you."

fukuzawa: .....

Kyoka: "...Sir? You aren't touching your food. Do you anticipate it is poisoned?"

fukuzawa: im more concerned for miss haruno.

kirako: sir, im fine, really.

Kunikida: "Did you make sure to buy a meal for yourself?"

kirako: just something light.

Kunikida: "I see..."

Kyoka: "Can always have my fortune cookie." *holds up hers*

kirako: thank you kyouka.

sylvia: *noms her food* t-thank you!

Kyoka: ^^

Kunikida: "How did your check-up go?"

kirako: well, i did get a good report.

Kunikida: "Oh? That's great."

-elsewhere-

nana: *intently staring at a book*

Ria marcelo: "It's okay--try saying it aloud."

nana: hmm......aaa....pp...ley?

Ria marcelo: "Apple?"

nana: yeah, this thing. *points to a picture of an apple in the book*

Ria marcelo: "Right. It's a fruit that comes in a variety of colors and flavors varying by sweetness and tartness."

nana: uhhhh.....huh?

Ria marcelo: "It's food."

nana: oh. ok.

Ria marcelo: "And it's a common word when learning English and other languages because it starts with the first letter in the alphabet, 'A.'"

nana: ah...which one is 'A'?

Ria marcelo: "The first letter." *circles the "A" in "apple" with her finger*

nana: oooh! i see.

Ria marcelo: "..." *small smile* "There are some other words that start with 'a,' too."

-elsewhere-

Kimizuki: *looking at ties* "Hmm...Red may be too intimidating."

shinoa: alright, we've picked out our dresses.

hyakuya: 7,7;

Yoichi: "Great! This'll be fun, like playing dress up!"

mitsuba: wouldnt be my first formal dinner party.

shinoa: same.

Yoichi: ^^; "I'm out of practice on formal dining etiquette."

mitsuba:...*glances at kimizuki*

Kimizuki: "Hmph. I'm familiar enough with the dining practices." *picks out a black tie*

-elsewhere-

Saria: *walks up to the counter* "Hello! I'll have--" O_O; *hides behind Lukas*

Monica: -_-# "Just give it to me."

lukas: um... ._.;

Monica: "SPIT IT OUT! I DON'T HAVE ALL DAY!"

Saria: >_< "Iced tea, please!"

-elsewhere-

kyouko: ......

Fujimoto: *reading, looks up* "Hey, kiddo--feeling a bit bored?"

kyouko: a bit stressed from studying and work, i guess. *sigh* i havent been this exhausted since working to pay off your medical bills.....

Fujimoto: "...You know, you had been saving up some money for a bit of travel..."

kyouko: ?? are you sure?

Fujimoto: *nods* "I think you need a break. Maybe I can help with your trip..."

kyouko: hmm.....

-elsewhere-

mami: feeling any better?

Crona: "Still lethargic, but less affected by whatever happened...Ragnarok has been a bit more unhinged but nowhere near as mindless when we were together."

mami: i see. do you need anything at the moment?

Crona: "...I'm kinda hungry." ^^; "Maybe pudding?"

mami: ok, two puddings coming up. ^^

Crona: "Thank you..." *looks out the window* "Maybe we could go out when I'm a little stronger."

mami: *nods*

*giggling is heard in the hallway*

mami: *looks*

Ragnarok: *in the apartment hallway, talking to a neighbor* "--then I said, 'It's supposed to be flat--it's roadkill!'"

old woman: ._.;;

Ragnarok: "So, how long you been living here? Since Peloponnesian or Trojan War?"

mami: hello mrs onozuka. he isnt bothering you is he?

mrs onozuka: hello mami, dearie. is he a friend of yours? ^^;

mami: more of a permanent house guest. 7_7;

mrs onozuka: that reminds me, how is chrona? i heard they were in the hospital.

mami: they're doing much better. i was actually about to make some food for them.

Ragnarok: "Not since they pulled me out of Cro--"

mami: *shoves ragnarok back inside*

Ragnarok: >_<# "You jerk! I'm making headway with that octogenarian!"

mrs onozuka: if you'd like, i could bring over some of my homemade ohagi. ^^

mami: that would be lovely, thank you. ^^

Ragnarok: "MAKE ME SOME TOO, MRS. O!"

-elsewhere-

kim: ugh...feels like we've been walking forever!

Jacqueline: *looking at the trail* "Maybe they are trying to confuse us--meandering."

kilik: ......

ox: *shivering*

Harvar: "This is the part in the horror film where someone gets pulled away screaming to their death."

ox: can you not? im cold enough as it is!

Thunder: *striking a stick along the trees*

-something growls-

Fire: O_O;

ox: EEK!

kim: ?!?

Harvar: *gets in front of Ox*

-something comes charging at them-

kim: jackie!

Jacqueline: "Right!" *transforms*

kilik: fire, thunder, let's go!

Fire and Thunder: *transform*

-a large green creature charges-

creature: *GRRAOOOOOOO*

Jacqueline: "!!!"

Fire + Thunder: "HOLY MOLEY!"

Harvar: "??? Are we in The Green?"

-the creature swings a fist at them-

Jacqueline: *lets out a fire in the air* "Get back, Kim!"

kim: *jumps back* jackie, blast it!

Jacqueline: *blasts it*

creature: *SCREECHES*

Thunder: "??? Are they upset we're on their land?"

kim: why dont we try asking it. OOOI! WHAT DO YOU WANT!

creature: *SHRIIEEEK*

ox: *dodging* ?? hey! there's something in it's back!

Harvar: *looks*

-in the creature's back is a black shard that looks like glass, but has an orange glow to it, similar to the creature's eyes-

Harvar: "Looks magic-y."

kim: *looks* !! we need to get it out!

Jacqueline: "Touching it directly may be dangerous. It may be safer to use a weapon to dig it out. I suggest using Harvar."

Harvar: -_-; "Thank you for your concern."

kim: and after we get it out, we need to destroy it.

kilik: you recognize it?

kim: *nods* it's a binding shard. witches use them to control living beings sometimes.

Jacqueline: "Who wants to be the distraction?"

kim: hey you big lug! over here! >XP

creature: *ROARS and attacks*

Jacqueline: "Oh boy..." *blasts up to let Kim fly over*

creature: *swings a fist at them*

Fire + Thunder: *charge up*

kilik: *runs at the creature*

Fire: "FIRE FIST!"

Thunder: "THUNDERSTRUCK!"

-SHAFWOOM-

creature: *SCREEEEEEEEEEEE*

Harvar: "Ox, now!"

ox: HYAAAH!!

*direct hit*

creature: *SCREEEEEEEEE*

Harvar: "Now get back!"

ox: *jumps back*

Jacqueline: "Kim, what happens now to it?"

kim: we need to smash the shard!

Fire: "Punch it!"

-POW-

-SHATTER-

Thunder: ^o^

-the beast stops. then a blue light appears in it's eyes, staring at them-

Jacqueline: "Did it work?"

Harvar: "No, the beast got contact lenses."

Jacqueline: -_-#

-the creature looks at them, letting out a low growl, as if to say 'thank you', then walks off-

Fire: "Bye bye!"

kim: well, i think that's case closed...

kilik: guys....i think that thing may have been the forest guardian...

Thunder: "Huh--that would make a lot of sense."

kim: i thought forest guardians looked like huge bucks?

kilik: in some cases, they do. the appearance of the guardian changes depending on the state of the forest it protects.

Jacqueline: "So this mossy forest..."

kim:...we should probably go now.

-elsewhere-

Black Star: *huffs, puffs* "...OKAY! AGAIN!"

Hyde: *operating a wrecking ball* "Okay!" *swings the wrecking ball--*

Black Star: *stares...pulls back his fist, and--*

*CRACK*

tsubaki: what on earth?!

licht: idiocy. idiocy is happening.

Black Star: *knocks the freaking wrecking ball away--as it flies off the chain and towards Licht and Tsubaki*

ochako: *gravities the chain and sends it up*

Hyde: "Woot! Look at that sucker fly!"

Black Star: "Damn! I can't believe I knocked that thing away! Looks like I'm getting this strength thing under control!"

Fitzgerald: "THE HELL ARE YOU PEOPLE DOING WITH MY WRECKING BALL?!"

Hyde: "..." *runs for it*

ochako: YEEP!!

Mr. Uraraka: "Oh, hey kids! Careful on the equipment."

Fitzgerald: *picks up a pebble, throws it--and it smashes Hyde into the ground*

ochako: D8>

licht: ?!?!?

Hyde: *buried*

Fitzgerald: "Hmph. Not even worth $25."

-elsewhere-

Tetsutetsu: *staring at the list* "So many flavors...So many desserts..."

pony: they all sound so delish!

Sen: "Hmm...Maybe just something simple--like fudge ripple..."

Tetsutetsu: *staring at the sundaes*

Yosetsu: "Just a little bit before our training kicks into high gear!"

nirengeki: maybe i'll just get something small.

reiko: i suppose i'll treat myself to the chocolate fudge.

tokage: you sure, yanagin? it's a bit pricey.

reiko: *nods*

Hiryu: "Ibara, you want anything?"

ibara: i'll just have vanilla.

kinoko: dude, that's rad.

Hiryu: *nods* "That red velvet is calling my attention..."

-elsewhere-

mina: you think horses have dreams?

Jirou: "??? Probably. Animals make noises when they sleep and all..."

mina: what do you think they dream about?

eijiro: horse stuff i guess?

Hagakure: "Like winning the Derby?"

mina: maybe.

-elsewhere-

Todoroki: "??? What happened to your friend?"

Hyde: X___X

ochako: antics happened. ^^;

licht: *staring at todoroki*

Todoroki: "...Oh. Hello, um, 'bro.'"

licht: hello again brother, angel of the frozen flame.

Todoroki: -_-; "Not the moniker I intend to use for superheroism, but poetic."

-elsewhere-

Rin: *sitting under bamboo, has a monkey on his head* "I don't see what the big deal is..." *hands a grape up to the monkey* "The baby isn't out yet, so you still got time..."

Monkey: ^w^ *eating*

izumo: i guess they wanted so celebrate anyway.

Rin: "Yeah, but I mean his panicking over something that isn't happening yet--still got time to learn diapering, burping, cholic, warming up milk--"

izumo: how do you know about all this stuff?

Rin: "The old man kept seeing mothers all the time, so someone had to look after the kids while he was doing whatever with them."

izumo: i see...

Bon: "What a mother."

-elsewhere-

[themoneybuff-blog]

Mastering the abundance mindset (and changing your money blueprint)

Shares 531 Old habits die hard. When you get to be a middle-aged man like me, you have forty-nine years of learned behavior to guide your actions and decisions even when you know your choices arent necessarily for the best. Our mental blueprints (including our money blueprints) are deeply ingrained and tough to change. Dont worry. I havent turned into a spendthrift or anything. But Ive been thinking a lot lately about how certain parts of my past continue to affect me, sometimes in huge and annoying ways. For instance, I fight an ongoing battle against a scarcity mindset. I havent been able to master the abundance mindset.

Scarcity and Abundance Ive been reluctant to talk about scarcity and abundance because the terms have been co-opted by Law of Attraction types who use them to encourage magical thinking. I hate the New Age-y approach to these concepts. I want to discuss them from a psychological perspective. With a scarcity mindset, you believe that everything is limited. Time is limited. Money is limited. Love is limited. This causes you to worry about the future. Youre consciously or unconsciously more concerned with what might go wrong than with what could go right. You make fear-based decisions. Youre afraid of missing out. Youre afraid of not having enough. You have trouble with moderation and often exhibit all or nothing behavior.With an abundance mindset, you believe theres plenty for everyone. Theres plenty of wealth, prestige, and happiness to go around. Youre optimistic about the future. You think things will work out even if there are bumps along the way. You make decisions based on the Big Picture rather than a single snapshot in time. Its easy for you to balance tomorrow and today. Ive written before about my trouble with impulse control. In the past, Ive had problems with overspending, overeating, video game addiction, alcohol consumption, and borderline hoarding behavior. (Im a compulsive collector of Stuff.) All of this the collecting, the addictive tendencies, the lack of self-control stems from a scarcity mentality. But I didnt realize it until a few years ago when my therapist helped me see the source. Because my family didnt have much when I was young, I find it difficult to defer gratification. My default mindset even when life is grand is that if I want something and its available, I should get it now. Somewhere deep inside, I feel as if there wont ever be another chance. My father had this mindset. My mother had it. My brothers have it too. (Like me, Jeff and Tony have both learned to fight the feeling of scarcity in their own fashion.) A Real-Life Example of the Scarcity Mindset Over the past year, my deeply-seated scarcity mindset has begun to manifest itself in another annoying way. Since moving into our new house last July 1st, weve had to make tens of thousands of dollars worth of repairs. About $56,000 of these costs came from the sale of our previous home, but that still leaves us on the hook for $30,000 or $40,000. We have one last project to do before we believe were finished: We want to replace the rotting back deck and install a hot tub. (This was the first project we had planned to tackle when we moved in, but we had to put it off for more pressing priorities.) Kim and I know without a doubt that well use the deck and hot tub nearly every single day of the year. (TMI: Currently, she and I both take several hot baths each week. If we had a hot tub, wed be able to soak together.) Its not a question of whether well get value from building an outdoor oasis. No, the problem is that Ive reached some sort of mental breaking point. Im reluctant to spend another penny on home improvement. Im over it. I hate the idea of cashing out yet another chunk of my index funds. Hate it, hate it, hate it. I feel like thats money Ill never get back. (I feel this way despite the intellectual understanding that wed recoup maybe 80% of our costs if we were to sell the home in the future.) I recognize that this is my scarcity mindset kicking in, yet I cannot shake these feelings. Theyre a part of my money blueprint. Heres the thing: In so many ways, financial freedom depends on casting aside this scarcity mentality and embracing an abundance mindset instead. Financial well-being is fundamentally tied to positive expectations of the future. Lets look at three ways the scarcity mindset can manifest itself and how to embrace abundance instead. Jealousy and Spite For some, the scarcity mindset manifests as jealousy and spite. These folks resent the success of others, financial and otherwise. They find it tough to be happy when something good happens to a friend or family member. Theyre territorial, reluctant to co-operate toward a greater common good. Heres how Stephen Covey describes this flavor of scarcity in The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People: People with a scarcity mentality tend to see everything in terms of win-lose. There is only so much; and if someone else has it, that means there will be less for me. This type of scarcity mindset is the source of the average Americans love-hate relationship with wealth. Most people want to be wealthy but are suspicious of those who already are. They typical person believes that when she makes money, its a result of hard work and skill. But others who get rich? Theyre lucky jerks who dont deserve it. People with this form of the scarcity mindset dont just hold back themselves but they keep down the people around them. This usually manifests as gossip and griping. Sometimes these people keep score. In extreme cases, they actively work to sabotage the success of others. People with this type of scarcity mindset are a drag on life, a net negative to the world at large. What if you suffer from this sort of scarcity mentality? Train yourself to be happy for others. Recognize that my success does not diminish you. Life is not a zero-sum game. To that end: Dont compare yourself to other people. Focus on yourself, on your own goals and accomplishments. If you must compete, compete with yourself. Strive for constant self-improvement.Practice a win-win approach to life. Look for ways to improve your own situation while also helping those around you. When faced with a conflict, dont try to be the victor; instead, work toward a solution beneficial to both parties.Teach yourself to share. Force yourself to give things time, money, resources to other people. When you have a surplus of something, spread the love. (More on this later.) Jealousy and spite can be overcome, but it takes work. Making the effort is a great way to change your outlook, creating a better life for yourself and the people around you. Never Enough

For others, the scarcity mindset manifests as fear of the future. These people think and act like children of the Great Depression. Theyre so worried about how bad things could get that theyre unable to recognize and enjoy what they already have even when they have a lot. Let me give you an example. I once met with a woman who had over $6 million in the bank. She was my age mid forties and lived a modest lifestyle. She wasnt overly frugal, but she didnt spend a lot either. Plus she had just landed a job that paid half a million per year. Nice position to be in, right? Not to her. She was scared to stop working because the didnt want to run out of money. Based on standard assumptions about inflation and stock market returns, this woman could probably spend $240,000 per year for the rest of her life and still die rich. (Thats without taking into account her new $500k per year position!) Her spending was closer to $50,000 per year, yet she fretted about not having enough. Other folks are more extreme. Ive known retirees who have millions in the bank but who are so frightened of the future inflation! peak oil! stock market collapse! that they wont spend on needed home repairs and health concerns. What good is all of that money if youre dead or your house falls down around you? These folks arent harming anyone else (at least not directly), but theyre doing severe damage to their own well-being. They sacrifice happiness today in order to have more tomorrow but they never enjoy tomorrow. People with this type of scarcity mentality never have enough. No amount of money will allow them to sleep soundly at night. What if you feel like youll never have enough? Unlike those who suffer from jealousy and spite, you should keep score. Do this in two ways: First, keep a journal a standard daily diary. It doesnt have to be detailed. Write down the most important events from your life. And every day note at least one thing for which you are grateful. At the end of each year, go back and re-read what youve written. (This exercise will increase in value the longer you keep at it.)Second, track your net worth and spending. Know how much you have and how much you need. Remember this rule of thumb: For every $25 youve saved, you can probably spend $1 each year without worry. (If youre really nervous, you might change that to $1 for every $30 or $40 saved.) If you have more than enough stashed away and still fret about the future, force yourself to spend. Im dead serious. Pick something youve always wanted to do or have, and go get it. Money is a tool to build a better life. If the tool sits unused, whats the point? Instant Gratification Finally, there are the folks like me, people who find it tough to wait for what they want. Were shopaholics and compulsive spenders. With our flavor of the scarcity mindset, were so skeptical about tomorrow that we enjoy too much today. We want it all and we want it now. A decade ago, when I still struggled with money, I had nothing saved. No retirement, no nothing. What I ought to have been doing was paying down my debt and building a foundation for the future. Instead, I was spending everything I earned on books, comics, and computer games. It never occurred to me to wait. I wanted things now, so I bought them. As I mentioned at the start of this article, my therapist helped me to understand that growing up poor had given me a loathing of uncertainty and an inability to delay gratification. My money blueprint was largely constructed around a fear of missing out. During my transition from spendthrift to money boss, I learned to put off potential spending. I learned to wait for the things I wanted. Like the last group, people with this sort of scarcity mentality never have enough. But the lack manifests in a different way. Instead of needing more money, we need more Stuff. We buy and buy and buy and are never satisfied. Theres no amount of possessions that will make us happy. What if a feeling of scarcity drives you to always want more? Practice the art of deferred gratification. I learned this skill by using the 30-day rule. Heres how it works: When you see something you want, make a note of what it is, where you saw it, and how much it costs. But dont buy it yet.Over the next 30 days, be on the lookout for free or cheap alternatives. Does the library have that book? Can you borrow that tool from a friend? Could the local thrift store have a similar shirt?At the end of 30 days, if you still want the item then consider buying it. In most cases, however, youll find the urge to purchase has passed. Also practice moderation. Recognize that most things in life dont require an all or nothing approach. You can have some, and thats okay. Finally, keep a gratitude journal. The fundamental problem with this type of scarcity mindset is not appreciating what you already have. Force yourself to catalog the good things in your life. From Scarcity to Abundance A scarcity mindset leads to self-defeating behavior. It sabotages your chances for future financial success. Even when a Depression-type scarcity mentality helps you accumulate piles of cash, youre unable to enjoy it. Youre afraid to. Fear is always at the heart of scarcity: fear of failure, fear of the future, fear of missing out. Those with a scarcity mindset cling to the notion that theres a limited amount of everything, and theyre afraid they wont get their share. Well talk more about fear (and overcoming it) next week. For now, you should recognize that in order to achieve financial freedom, you must adopt an abundance mentality. If youre worried about lack, you arent free.

Ive already suggested several ways to fight specific flavors of scarcity. To finish, lets look at a technique anyone can use to move from scarcity to abundance: To get what you want, give what you want. What do I mean? In an amazing article from the academic journal Psychological Science, researchers suggest that giving time gives you time. The authors found that spending time on others (instead of yourself) boosts how much time you think you have in both the present and the future. Many of us feel pressured by the modern world. We feel rushed, as if theres never enough time to do what we want. We feel a lack, a scarcity, of minutes and hours and days. To cope with this, we tend to turn inward. We watch TV. We play videogames. We get a massage. But studies show that wasting time like this truly is a waste. When we spend time on ourselves, we feel like the time is lost. On the other hand, when we give our time to others helping friends or volunteering in the community, for instance we experience feelings of time affluence. Plus our time seems fuller. We feel better about ourselves and what weve done. And as a bonus: Giving time to others not only increases the givers sense of subjective time but can also increase the recipients objective amount of time, such that giving time contributes to the well-being of both the self and others. That, my friends, is abundance in action. The bottom line? When individuals feel time constrained, they should become more generous with their time despite their inclination to be less so. The same idea applies to other areas of your life in which you experience feelings of lack. When I started giving away and selling my Stuff several years ago, for example, I came to realize just how much I had. Before, when I was constantly in acquisition mode, I felt like I had very little. I was wrong. I had mountains of things! If you feel a lack of respect from others, give respect to others. If you feel a lack of compassion from others, be compassionate to others. If you feel like people dont love you, love other people. If you feel broke, donate time and money to the poor. If you feel like youll never have enough wealth, systematically give away some of what you have. In The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey writes: The abundance mentalityis the paradigm that there is plenty out there and enough to spare for everybody. It results in sharing of prestige, of recognition, of profits, of decision making. It opens possibilities, options, alternatives, and creativity. The abundance mindset comes from understanding theres plenty in the world: plenty of money, plenty of love, plenty of time. Theres plenty for everyone both for you and for others. Theres plenty now and therell be plenty tomorrow. Enjoy it! A Real-Life Example of the Abundance Mindset While we were wintering in Savannah two years ago, Kim hustled to get her dental hygiene license for the state of Georgia so that she could earn some money. She spent a couple of days driving across the city, dropping off rsums and speaking with doctors. Soon she started getting calls asking her to do fill-in work while other hygienists were sick or on vacation. She also got an offer for a long-term position at a big office in town. Kim could have taken the long-term gig. In fact, she was tempted. What if I cant find any other positions? she asked as we talked through her options. This is a sure thing. Maybe I should take it in case nothing else comes along. After a few days of internal debate, Kim decided not to take the long-term offer. Im getting plenty of calls from other offices, she reasoned. Ill bet I can stay busy just with the short-term stuff, and thatll give me greater flexibility. Sure enough. Because she refused to make a fear-based decision, because she chose to believe shed have more opportunity rather than less, she was able to pick and choose when and where shed work. She had more offers than she had time. She constantly got new calls asking her to fill in. When we returned to Portland, she used the same experience to find permanent dental hygiene positions. She cast her net wide, then waited for the offers to come. And they came. By exercising patience and an abundance mindset, she landed two gigs that she loves. (Plus, she still gets fill-in offers all of the time.) Shares 531 https://www.getrichslowly.org/abundance-mindset/