#reverse hanahaki

[blue-logos]

Reverse Hanahaki famous/not famous AU, AO3-T

Dongmin/Minhyuk, 47k, 17/17 chapters

Lee Dongmin, known to the rest of the world as superstar Cha Eunwoo, has a crush on DJ Wolfboy, who runs an advice show and is good at handicrafts. Too bad all he can do is watch and listen and dream. Until he takes a chance and reaches out to DJ Wolfboy under guise of wanting to learn a new craft. Pining, deception, and stress ensue.

Park Minhyuk, university student, taekwondo instructor, and part-time radio DJ, suspects one of his regular listeners might have a crush on him. One of his new listeners wants to learn tatting from him, though. Minhyuk is always glad to teach someone else the joy of making things with their own hands.

Featuring established couple Jinwoo and Myungjun, and fellow superstars Moon Bin and Yoon Sanha.

[elliart7]

YOUR BRAIN IS SO HUGE-

Oh gosh I absolutely love your reverse hanahaki concept, would you be making more for it? I'm excited whenever you post any brinky things hahabjdjdsk

Thanks! I've drawn a few other scribbly things for it, yeah!

This is from a scene where they look up the definition of hanahaki and Pinky is understandably distraught. Brain is like "I'm very sure this doesn't fit the circumstances of that definition because uhhh, welll... you see... Look, don't ask me why, I just know."

There are some other things in my wip folder for this but they would probably Violate Tumblr Community Guidelines. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

(Links to previous reverse hanahaki stuff, since I don’t have a tag for it) https://toobadmice.tumblr.com/post/664605240936595456 https://toobadmice.tumblr.com/post/664695858027200512

[luka-is-slightly-odd]

Currently obsessed with the concept of mutual and acknowledged hanahaki. Like two people who both have hanahaki for each other, and who both know about it, who both know that the other loves them and still aren’t cured.

The flowers stay, not because their love isn’t reciprocated, but because they don’t belive in it, or because its temporary, because the other deserves better, because they have complicated history, because they both already have significant others, perhaps the love isn’t enough because they both can’t put that love first, maybe their ideals and lotalties come first for both. Its not unrequited love, but its not quite enough.

just kinda love the image of two lovers-but-not-yet-maybe-never-lovers sitting together, picking flowers out of each other’s throats.

[vasito-de-leche]

;R1999 - Self-Aware AU

Headcanons about an Alternate Universe in which everyone knows they're living inside a videogame. However, Vertin is the only one aware of the entity inhabiting her own mind, the real conductor - the "Player".

this is one of my favorite AUs to slap on whatever media I'm into so here we are <3 not sure if anyone's done this already, but PLEASE PLEASE PRETTY PLEASE link me if you've seen any other ppl write for this AU! this one and any actor AUs are my absolute fave

this is just a word vomit introduction for fun, to get the basic ideas out of my head, so I can start writing for characters individually!

Okay, okay! First of all, some context for the AU before I go deranged overexplaining my HCs!

Aside from the "Storm", there is something else that haunts the people of this world: the fact that their lives are nothing but a simulacrum, part of a game.

The requirements to obtain this "self-awareness" is unknown. Those within the Foundation believe it's related to their respective "roles", that only the main and relevant characters are given the chance to fully open their eyes to the truth. Those within Manus Vindictae claim that one must be strong enough to break through the fog of complacency and their assigned scripts, to have their full potential unleashed and obtain true liberation. Either way, similar to the "Storm", this is a well-kept secret for a very good reason - everyone wants to have the upperhand.

There is one outlier to this whole system. Vertin is not only aware of the truth of this world, but also of her duty as the eyes and hands of the "Player". She must experience it all for their sake. Or rather, whatever she experiences will be the story that the Player will see.

This applies to her suitcase, the place where the Player's influence increases tenfold, bending everything and everyone to their will through her own body and voice. The longer one stays within her suitcase - or within her general vicinity - the easier it is for them to become self-aware.

How does one become "self-aware" and what does it entail?

The requirements and the catalyst for a character to become self-aware are still a mystery. But that's mostly because I specifically wanted to keep them as vague as possible, to allow some flexibility for NPCs and other characters outside of Vertin's suitcase.

The whole process of gaining sentience or self-awareness is mostly described as waking up from a nightmare, or a very, very realistic dream. It's like a switch, something that happens in a second without any warnings whatsoever.

I like to think that most of the people who wake up are easy to spot, because it's a jarring experience and panicking is the most normal reaction - but that they're often taken care of by the Foundation or recruited by Manus Vindictae.

The levels of awareness also depend heavily on each individual - some only know that nothing is truly real, that everything they've done up until that point was just a carefully scripted lie, the most basic realization. Others can understand the rules that govern this game and use them to their advantage, either through observation and study or just inherently.

Overall, the experience of being sentient varies as well, with some describing a disconnect from their body, while others feel exactly the opposite. Again, keeping it pretty vague so that people can fill in with their own ideas!

I'll talk about Vertin's case in detail when we get to her specific bullet point, but the same way the Player is able to experience the "story" through her eyes, she's able to see the same things they do - this includes the UI, the menus and everything you can interact with in-game.

Vertin as a character and a vessel for the Player.

The most common thing I've seen in self-aware AUs in my years of fandom is to turn the player stand-in (the main character that serves for the player to experience the story through and/or project onto, depending on the genre of the game) into an obstacle, one that keeps the characters from truly interacting with the Player, capital P.

The second most common thing I've seen is to simply ignore the existence of this player stand-in and replace it with the Player themself, either through isekai methods or thanks to the customization the game allows, etc etc.

When it comes to Vertin in this AU, I know I want her to retain her role as the center of everything, instead of being sidelined by the Player. She's THE Timekeeper, after all.

There's still some details I'm trying to iron out, like whether she's always been self-aware or if she became self-aware at some point during her childhood at the St. Pavlov Foundation. But I like to think that her relationship to the Player is a parallel to her immunity to the "Storm" - neither of these two things are inherently good nor bad. Surviving the "Storm" is helpful, sure, but it's painful for her. Having an entity like the "Player" haunting her is scary, sure, but it can be an advantage. It's a matter of how she utilizes the assets she was given, since her adaptability and determination are big aspects of her character. Vertin makes up for her mediocre arcane skills with unconventional plans and strategies.

But this isn't to say that Vertin isn't affected by the presence of the Player. Ironically, she's the one person whose freedom is limited. During battles, her skills and Tuning are available to you, they can also prove to be vital to win a fight, but in the end you're still the one calling the shots and choosing when her friends get to attack. You're the one choosing the layout of the Wilderness. You're the one picking which one of her friends deserves to become stronger.

In the last bullet point I mentioned that some characters can understand the rules of the game - Vertin is the most extreme case, as she can see the same UI as you do. She learns the way you like to fight your battles, your own strategies, she can see this and more.

Overall it's a very complex dynamic. It's not as easy as saying that she likes or dislikes you, that she considers you a friend or foe. You're part of her, you influence each other in many aspects and are stuck together for reasons she can't even fathom. While you may be able to read her thoughts most of the time, she becomes invisible once you enter the suitcase - the main menu of the game. Sure, the character you selected to greet you every day is actually talking to her, not you, but she's out of your view and therefore, out of our range. That's when Vertin wonders the sort of person that you are, if you care about her friends as much as she does. Are you playing just to be entertained? Are you invested in these events? Will you be there for her until the end of her story?

Another detail I like to think about is that Vertin is the only one who knows your name. Because at the very beginning, you were asked to input a name and she was there.

[screenshot was taken from this video, since it's the first one I could find that showed this specific part of the game lol]

Well, "your name" not quite right - she knows that whatever you wrote there is the name linked to your account, at least. And that's the name she knows you as.

Those who take residence in Vertin's suitcase or spend prolonged amounts of time with her, growing closer to her and all, end up becoming self-aware. This is a direct side-effect of your presence.

I like to think that characters who reach the 100% Bond can begin to sense the Player, to see the world in a similar way as Vertin does. Maybe even feel their presence EXACTLY like Vertin does whenever there's a battle. There is someone else on the other side of this screen, the fourth wall, who watches over them.

To some, it's hard to differentiate Vertin from the Player, as they just go hand in hand - but Sonetto, for example, has the easiest time telling the two apart.

On the subject of freedom and acting out of script.

The Foundation, Manus Vindictae, Laplace... It doesn't matter if they're self-aware and acting outside of what their script dictates, because they're missing one key ingredient: you. No one else but Vertin and her group knows about your existence, after all.

They don't know that the only story that matters is the one that Vertin is part of. The one that the Player gets to see and read and experience. And because the game gives you a very limited view into the lives of these characters, you don't know what neither Arcana nor Constantine do behind the scenes. You and Vertin don't see that, therefore, it never truly mattered.

Those most likely to start "acting out" are the troublemakers within Vertin's suitcase. Characters who are too curious for their own good, who are more susceptible to supernatural entities, who are just too impulsive - they would start to test the limits and see how far they can go, how much they can interact with the Player. Can the game be broken should they end up shattering the fourth wall? Is there a way for the Player to communicate with them? What will happen to Vertin?

I like to think that Vertin probably supports this, as she's rather curious herself, prone to questioning everything. She would also like to learn more about the Player, to truly tear into the game and see the full extent of your influence and her freedom.

Sometimes, Regulus and X will change their usual voicelines, just enough to be noticeable if one pays enough attention. Characters like Sotheby or Leilani might slip up and address the Player, rather than Vertin. Lilya, Pavia, Bkornblume have new animations and different expressions, ones you've never seen before - they stare ahead, as if searching for something, and then smirk or hum to themselves, deep in thought, like they realized something you're not privy of.

Sometimes, if you leave them as your selected assistant on the main menu, you can catch them muttering to themselves - idle quotes you never heard enough, about the outside world. Diggers does this the most, it's almost embarassing how easy it is to catch him talking nonsense, followed by Sonetto. If you leave Medicine Pocket alone for too long, you might come back to a screen covered in weird scratch marks.

On the subject of these characters being curious about the outside world and all, I think that a good chunk of them are generally content with the way things are?

We have to remember that in-universe, they're arcanists displaced from their respective eras. Their best chance at surviving is siding with Vertin, and if Vertin is content with the way things are, then there's no point in trying to disrupt what they have right now. They're curious enough to prod, but only as far as Vertin allows it.

And I think that's it for the word vomit!

There are some details I didn't know where to fit in, like the possibility of the fourth wall slowly dissipating the more time the Player invests in the game, leading to some characters being able to directly hear you if you talk while playing and whatnot. Or what would happen should someone outside of Vertin's suitcase figure out the existence of the Player, let alone interact with you in some way.

Or the concept of death being meaningless, unless it was pre-established by the game itself.

In Borderlands, there's this game mechanic where you can just be revived over and over and pay a percentage of your money as a fee, even though the canon that's established is that you play through the whole story without dying a SINGLE time - because the revival mechanics aren't canon. There's the divide between story and gameplay. That's pretty much the standard. But what about the deaths in battles in R1999? The amount of times I died to 1.3's UTTU's Flash Gathering is insane. How do self-aware characters feel about this, now that they know that they're bound to die over and over and be brought back because you have to do your Pneuma Analysis or reach the final stage of Limbo?

But that's pretty much it for now, I think I got most thoughts out of my system! Thank you for reading!

[tennessoui]

The Force as meddling parent in the Hanakhi AU: I was trying to set you two up! To HELP. Anakin, to Yoda: The Force is not invited to the wedding. >:(

honestly the amount of times in my fics that the Force steps in and everything just gets worse 🥴 The poor Force is just trying to help out favorite child Anakin and the weird lil guy Her kid picked up on his way home lmao

[vanilla-poisons]

Yeah reverse hanahaki is funny in theory but also imagine that with Kalijami where it’s-

(Angst under the cut)

TW // self destructive behavior / harm // emetophobia // sort of eating disorder adjacent

Kalim madly in love Jamil but knowing he hold nothing but hate in his heart for him. So he gets reverse hanahaki and starts craving flowers. He turns away the food Jamil has prepared as it no longer feels good in his mouth. He just devours these plants while with stems and thorns and petals getting stuck in his throat. He ends up having the throw a lot of it up but feels empty. The flowers don’t taste good but eating them distracts from the pain of having to acknowledge his unrequited love. He does it more and more until he’s almost choking himself with the feeling of sorrow.

…sorry this was so angsty for no reason

[manitapaleta]

nark hanahaki fanart i made before the fic was released bc the nark server does not let me rest!!!/pos

[the-illiterate-pirate]

Hi I have some brain rot for la squadra. Reverse hanahaki au.

The stand user la squadra failed to kill accidentally or not targeted you, so the guys now see flowers on your head. At first they were jealous and angry to find out you have a crush.

Until they saw you pink carnations on your head whenever you talk to either or all of la squadra

AWWW

Hear me out

Before the attack, Reader has confessed about their crush, La Squadra is devastated, but after Darling is attacked by the same Stand user they were, they decide to take her out on the town, secretly hiding their true intentions (of finding out who their crush is) as a little shopping spree to help them feel better.

They think their plans fail when it doesn't work, until they take Reader home. Darling thanks them for making her feel better, a crown of carnations growing around her head while they look up at (La Squadra character of choice) with a look of adoration<3 they all immediately think "OH SHIT" and retire to HQ to figure out their next game plan like nerds

[enby-mushroom]

Cringetober dia 17 - hanahaki

Meu favorito até agora

Eu queria desenhar o X-

Eu teria terminado antes se a prr do meu celular não tivesse começado uma atualização do nada (VTMNC SAMSUNG)

[nejishadow]

PART 3 of Kenjikoto / makokenji drabbles and general Kenji ramblings from the Kenji discord. Plus one about Kenji and Daisuke being half brothers to end it off!

This one focuses almost entirely on the AUs I've had thoughts on, because kenjikoto has none of the staples! That needs to be remedied!!

Wanna see me ramble about them in real time, bounce ideas, think way too hard about Kenji headcanons and generally just wanna talk about Kenji?? Join @bakafurai's Kenji Discord! Link in its' bio!!

Like the other two posts, you're free to be inspired by these ideas for this ship, flesh them out, fanart / fanfic whatever! I encourage it because I haven't written fic in years! Just tag me, link me, something, because people being inspired by my work is the biggest boost to my productivity ever.

Everything below the read more! This one is long and I mean LONG so be ready for that!

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General drabbles

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

Kenji and Makoto sharing their music and earbuds with each other. Back and forth of more energetic and ambient. Stay With Me (Miki Matsubara) comes on. Makoto getting a kinda melancholy look, a tiny chuckle. Leans back and relaxes, shuts his eyes, the smallest smile on his face. And Kenji realizes he suddenly can't look away. He really hopes Makoto doesn't open his eyes because he can't even seem to move, he can only admire Makoto's smile, and that's dangerous with this song playing

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

Kenji Link and Makoto Shiek going to a con. But Makoto keeps delivering wrong lines in the flatest tone

"Hey, watch out. It's dangerous to go alone." "He doesn't say that… Why'd you agree to come with me again? Besides teasing me?"

Shrug. He was just curious, honestly

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

Sick Fic

Written for @bakafurai lol

Maybe Makoto and Kenji planned a hangout but Kenji never showed.

Makoto gets his address (he has his ways) to make sure he's ok and Kenji Is Not, it turns out

Kenji being stubborn, "I'm fine man it's just a pressure headache just let me lie back down." Makoto Does Not let him do that.

Maybe it's best post-makoto's-flu so he can kinda remember what everyone did for him. Or is it extra funny if he spam calls Shinjiro just to get recipes for good food for this? Both?? Both.

Then you just have the soft domesticity of them tucked into the couch watching TV while Makoto keeps him from trying to sneak off (no you're not fine, stop moving)

Kenji apologetic that he ruined their previous plans for the day, Makoto shouldn't be wasting his time dealing with this, with him

Makoto firmly grabbing Kenji's head to look him in the eye, very serious - "I wouldn't be here if I didn't want to be. Besides, if you don't get healthy, you can't make up for it, Tomochika."

Kenji shocked. Oh. That's… so nice to hear him say. If he's sniffly he can blame the sickness

Then they can marathon Kenji's fav shows and eat so much soup, and Kenji can fall asleep tucked into Makoto's side. Soft

Extra soft for Makoto to also relax enough to lean back on Kenji and take a nap

If they're on a living room couch (or if she's just the type to waltz into his room unannounced) you could also have his little sister come home and assume they were having a date at home + nobody is awake to correct her, and Kenji gets teased forever about it.

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

Had the vision of Kenji trying to do pocky game with Makoto. Kenji's the one who suggests it, but he's also the one to break the pocky, bluster, and generally be a mess. But wants to keep trying! Meanwhile Makoto just munching through the sticks on his end, he knows Kenji's working through it, he'll get there… hopefully before they run outta pocky * shakes box *

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

All Sorts of AUs

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

Hanahaki AU

More fitting that Makoto is the one with hanahaki. I think he's more likely to recognize his feelings but deny / ignore them, versus Kenji who just doesn't easily recognize what he's feeling is romantic.

Potential flowers for Makoto:

white violets (taking chances [but he won't])

yellow tulips (love that's hopeless)

blue tulips (trust)

scabuis (unfortunate attachment)

maiden's blush rose (you'll know I love you, if you love me [in his case it's outta fear])

blue roses (yearning for the unobtainable)

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

College AU

Super loose ideas for a College AU

Kenji going into fashion / design

Makoto going into photography (maybe minoring in something more "practical" because he's always told to?)

Fashion majors need nice photographs for a show / exhibition they're planning. Only Makoto is free for the entire ongoing period (or if others are, just don't wanna do it)

Can't decide if it's better Makoto's reputation precedes him so the department has preconceived notions, or if he's so lowkey nobody really knows him so is offput by his attitude.

Either way, Kenji is gonna try to be friendly because no one else seems to be trying

(the guy's fashion being nonexistent might play a tiny role, he really wants to dress the guy better)

Makoto allows them to talk as he walks around, getting the first things everyone needs. Kenji is then appointed as Makoto's contact (he doesn't mind, but does no one else seriously wanna talk to this guy??)

They stay professional for texting and calling. For a short while. Kenji quickly breaks and asks him to be his model of sorts, let him plan one of his big assignments around him

Makoto shrugs. Sure. Long as it doesn't interfere with his own classes

as time goes on school work hangouts become more casual hangouts, to mostly just going out to have fun.

trying to decide if this is the funniest AU to have Makoto think they're dating, and Kenji isn't aware of this, since these hangouts are pretty much dates anyway

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

Soulmate AU

Soulmates identified through matching marks.

Kenji and Makoto aren't soulmates but fall in love anyway.

Soulmates aren't inherently romantic in this universe, but possibly seen as odd to not stay with one who's love is romantic in nature

Rio and Kenji platonic soulmates. They have a matching mark on their lower backs, possibly a constellation? Kenji isn't aware of this, and Rio is in denial over their bond not being romantic for a bit. She was hoping for a fairytale romance like some get, but comes to her truth that she wanted the grand feeling over a real thing.

Makoto and Ryoji are close to literal soulmates, not romantic ones. Their souls just match each other. Their mark is a mole under the right eye. A very understated mark due to how strong their synergy is, this isn't a thing that's common at all. Makoto assumes he just doesn't have a soulmate and everyone thinks it's a regular mole

Thought of a scene where Kenji and Makoto go swimming (because they deserve to), and Kenji realizes he's been looking all over Makoto for… something, maybe to indicate they're the same (not soulmates haha, how crazy would that be!), gets the slightest disappointment when he doesn't see anything. Makoto can tell the mood shifted down a bit for whatever reason, gets Kenji's attention with a head tilt. And promptly shoves him in the water Kenji quickly forgets what he was being moody about

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

Role Reversal AU

Unlike Makoto, who seems to draw people in for bonds somewhat, Kenji's bonds are formed by him going out of his way to interact with people.

Junpei could be his magician, like he is for FeMC, because the Magician card doesn't fit Makoto.

Kenji's not a great leader -- maybe not even good at first -- but he's tenacious and passionate enough to make up for it.

Since Ryoji looks the same for Makoto and Kotone, possibly looks the same for Kenji, presumably the Nyx influence gives Ryoji his palette.

Kenji uses a dagger. He also customizes his S.E.E.S uniform beyond the norm for both comfort and fashion. He convinces Mitsuru to let him do it because if he's not comfortable he can't lead well.

"If I have to wear it all the time, it needs to be comfortable! I can't be doin' moves or commands on clothing that's making me chafe."

… Mitsuru can't argue against that too hard. As long as he can properly fight, she concedes.

Makoto most likely the Tower Arcana. Resistant to change due to past trauma and bad coping mechanisms + trying to avert further issues by being overly passive. But there were 3 or 4 cards he could feasibly be instead, this is possibly up for change

Trauma probably stemming from same thing as canon, parents lost in a car crash

So unlike Kenji who is overly friendly and a bit blind to others feelings, Makoto is insanely passive and seemingly uncaring. This leads to him being bullied or pushed around a lot because he won't fight back and people think he's a freak for being so blank.

Maybe he tried fighting back for a little bit in the past and it didn't help, so he gave up. And nobody will risk helping him now because they don't want to be lumped in with him.

Kenji, new to this school, doesn't have any of these predispositions, starts his SL with Makoto by scaring off some of those people (partially just wanting to flex his SEES training). This event probably doesn't happen at school, they don't want to risk disciplinary committee catching them possibly?? Big Maybe

Makoto shocked that this just happened, something like this would never happen to him. Won't tell Kenji anything about why this was happening or who the people involved were, but Kenji manages to at least weasel times and places he's consistently at school to see him again.

General SL about getting Makoto to see that this isn't what he deserves. The people that want to hurt him don't deserve a chance to do it. He deserves to feel the same things others do.

Extra Stuff

Makoto's hangout spot would probably be the library, quiet and people leave him alone. That or in front of the bookshop. Bonus hangouts at the music store and karaoke.

Rank 10 item a matching MP3 to his. Kenji asked about his music so much he thought it's the least he can do.

Kenji convincing him to hang out the first few ranks by studying at the library and then inviting him out to eat. This also means Makoto is alone less, smaller chance of someone causing issues

Makoto's fav gift to receive possibly food? Maybe it's easier for him to show appreciation for it.

Possible Sunday hangout playing Innocent Sin Online.

I cannot decide what the theoretical romance trigger would be, if I think of something interesting I'll eventually put it in a post.

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Coffeeshop AU

Coffeeshop is such a staple. But not having solid ideas of when to place it. Most likely it's also a part of "No Personas / Everyone lives - nobody dies". But I can refine the big sweeping stuff later! Possible they're also in diff classes due to Butterfly Effect

Since it's a No Personas world, Makoto's parents live, possibly still a car crash to keep timeline mainly intact? But everyone survives.

Current time, Makoto works at Chagall as his main job, mainly to have spending money and get outta the house.

Kenji knows vaguely about Makoto, hasn't interacted with him much -- no one has -- but still recognizes him when he goes in one day to get the highest calorie custom coffee in existence to ease his pain over recent test scores (I strongly believe Kenji would have a trashy sweet tooth at times like these)

He doesn't wanna be Too Awkward, but they do go to school together, so he should be a bit casual right…?

Makoto just nods along, putting in his order, Kenji swears it's different than what he asked but. He's not about to correct the guy

Makoto gives him the drink. Yeah it's not at all what he ordered. Did he offend the guy? He decided to sit down and try it, in case it's awful…

It's dang good. Zones out just enjoying it until he's done. Gonna compliment the guy's skills on guessing drink taste, but looks like he's gone. Lunch break? It'd be weird to stick around.

So he comes back next day, less weird to thank him at work then to wait til they're back in school… right?

Makoto is there, good! "Hey, I wanted to just thank you for yesterday. That drink you gave me? Best thing I've had in awhile, can you make me that again?"

Makoto looks at him a bit confused, a bit blank. Oh yeah… Kenji's a stranger he's not gonna remember everyone who walks in here.

"I'm the one who ordered the [sweetest coffee you can possibly think of]. I'm guessing you don't like stuff like that cause you gave me something totally different. It was really good."

"Oh… that one. Sure, if you want. It's nothing special."

Kenji hasn't actually ever heard him talk before. Calm voice for a scary looking guy!

This then evolves into Kenji coming in way too often to get what he starts calling the "Yuki Special" (he only gets it when Makoto is there), and Kenji being Kenji starts wiggling himself into becoming Makoto's friend ("acquaintance" according to Makoto at first, if you asked)

Kenji tells anyone who asks that it's because the guy makes a mean coffee, and is actually a great conversationalist!… when he can get him to talk

No other possible reason! It's not odd in the slightest to only ever order one item from one person, it's because Makoto's the only one who can make it right

(he tried to get it from a different barista one time… didn't taste right)

They're unique guys so they just have a unique way of bonding. A one of a kind friendship!

If anyone asks Kenji why he's learning to make coffee as a hobby he will never admit it's to impress Makoto who seems to know all there is to know.

Makoto starts making the drink ahead of time and planning his breaks around when Kenji comes in, since Kenji wants to talk to him while he's there anyway.

Eventually Kenji plucks up the courage to ask him for his number - "so we can talk anytime! That way I don't always take up your break, how 'bout it?"

Makoto finds himself easily agreeing, surprisingly. They text a lot, much easier for Makoto than calling, though Makoto still takes his break when Kenji comes in.

One day Makoto makes the drink and plans everything ahead like usual. And Kenji doesn't come in. He shuffles a bit - what is he supposed to do…? He waits, keeps scanning, did he miss him come in? He's never done that before, Kenji's got a very unique presence.

After awhile boss makes him take his break, he brings the drink with him, no use wasting it. What did he do before this whole routine started again…?

Remembers he can contact Kenji… He tries to call… voicemail. Is it because he called? He's never called, he supposed. Sends off a text - are you ok?

Takes a sip of the drink. Yep, too sweet. He keeps drinking anyway, no point in wasting it

(Either Kenji studied way too hard and slept through his usual visit time, or he's sick, or got dragged off to karaoke something, but he's ok. No bad!!)

Aka I feel Makoto learning that he is getting attached and he's a person who feels things should be explored more

Whenever Kenji gets back to his text, assures he's ok! Sorry for not warning ahead of time. Makoto releases tension he didn't know he had, that's good. He's fine, sorry for trying to call out of the blue. Kenji assures him he can call anytime, it's what best friends do right?

Next day at school, Kenji finally tracks Makoto down, vaguely knows his schedule but wants to catch him before day ends (why doesn't this guy look at his texts before lunch??). Wants to apologize for making Makoto worry in person

He feels a bit awkward. They hang out, kinda, all the time right? They're friends, so it's not weird to approach him… he realizes that they've never hung out outside of Makoto's work, that explains it. He's gonna change that

So he sits with him at lunch naturally just like he'd do at the coffeeshop, and does just that. Apologizes for making him worry and invites him out to make up for it, he never sees Makoto around town anyway, it's a chance for them to have fun!

Makoto slightly surprised. Nobody had invited him out during high school. Maybe he even had a thought deep down that Kenji was only hanging out at work cause it was convenient, and he'd finally gotten bored. But he still agrees. He didn't have anything planned anyways. Best friends do fun stuff right…? He thinks they do, at least. It'd been a long time since he had a friend so involved in his life

Insert a long and fun montage of them trying to do everything, since Makoto says he hadn't really gone on an outing like this anywhere in years. They go to the arcade, Kenji is horrible at claw machines. Makoto wins a ton. Kenji beats him at the fighting games, Makoto dominates at the zappers.

They chill at karaoke, Makoto impresses Kenji so much he immediately drags him to the music store so Makoto can point out what music he recommends, buys several of them. End it off with eating so much Wilduck burger both vow to not come back for a long time.

Neither realize or even think about how a lotta people would perceive this as a date. They're both just having fun getting to do stuff with someone else, though Kenji may be ignoring how much his heart seizes up seeing every happy expression or soft blink Makoto gives him, new expressions he's not used to seeing - definitely not like this at least. And Makoto may not be bringing up just how much Kenji is looking at him when there's so much else to look at... and how he doesn't mind, all that much.

Discord message hit max characters for the 4th time and I didn't wanna type more then and there, this is already edited to add a bunch, but I'm sure I'll expand on this one!

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

Separated Family AU

The thoughts may be a bit scattered because @bakafurai chipped in a lot on this idea so I have to summarize / rewrite their thoughts

@Shadowfreak98 said Daisuke Nagase sometimes gives her the vibe of "could be related to Kenji, like an older brother. Well he can't be older but you get it, brothers" (< recalling best I can) Could I make the most nonsense idea that they're half brothers due to marriage / divorce?? Their personalities also contrast super interestingly There's so much room for ideas there, but it means more brain power

Daisuke would be around Kenji's sister's age, since Kenji mentions her starting high school next year, when he'll be a third year, so it lines up timeline wise. Possible Kenji's mom and dad separated before either was born, Kenji's dad possibly unaware she's pregnant. So Kenji's mom goes to Inaba to settle in a quiet place, while Kenji's dad stays and remarries. They have Kenji's sister shortly after

Kenji doesn't know Daisuke well at all. If they've ever met, it was only at a few small family gatherings, both probably more think of the other as a distant cousin, if at all. Daisuke in general is a guy who doesn't bring up private stuff unless he really thinks it'll help with something, and Kenji barely mentions his own little sister, so it's just never brought up. Who talks much about the equivalent of a mystery cousin??

Possibility for some interesting interactions during the Iwatodai trip. Kenji not able to leave the island after the events of P3, attached to this place too much. Maybe works at Hakegure. Kou and Daisuke go there to see if they're as good as Aiya... little bit of an awkward family reunion. Chance for Kenji to try and establish bonds, like Makoto showed them they're important and powerful (could be in a Kenjikoto "Makoto lives" au as well).

[hibiscuit-rose]

next days of cringetober, had some fun with these haha

day 16: objecthead- used one of those reversible octopus toys for it

day 17: fake anime screenshot- og is from veggietales, i didnt watch it as a kid but it seems silly

day 18: old art redraw- i used to use da muro like a decade ago (anyone remember that?) og is under the cut

day 19: dolls/puppets- combined them into kermit the frog as frankie stein

day 20: hanahaki- phoenix wright with irises and dahlias..

this was from 2015ish, a scene drawing from power of three (i dont remember which book but its with sol)

[sukusweetsb]

Omg yessss he forces the reader to stay close to him to try to alleviate the pain. Like he’ll randomly summon her and make her sit in his lap for a moment of peace and comfort 😩😩😩

now you're making me want to write reverse comfort or fluff 😂 but I'll keep the forced part in because I think it's cuter that way. Sukuna wants comfort but doesn't want to say it cuz he's embarrassed.. so cutee and who wouldn't want to sit in his lap? Sure you might get crushed but it's fine.

Which! is making me think of him laying his head on top of yours and dozing off a lil~ dare I say he's a cuddler for this scenario

[rosesinbloom7love]

Random Thought/Idea Prompt

Does anyone know what the name for a reverse hanahaki au is?

A YouTuber I follow recently did a video on Hanahaki Diease (channel is called ColeyDoesThings. She mainly does skits & commentary pertaining to things in a variety of fandoms. Love her) and while I was scrolling through the comments, I came across one that mentioned seeing a prompt/ idea that was similar to Hanahaki Au, but more fluffier.

For this concept, instead of a person coughing or throwing up flowers due to an unrequited love, a person will have flowers growing (harmlessly) on or around them whenever they feel mutually loved.

I haven’t seen anyone using this prompt and that’s honestly a shame. This sounds like such a cute and wholesome Au!

Don’t get me wrong, I do like Hanahaki au in all it’s tragic, angsty glory. The concept art alone is amazing! But, I’d be lying if I said it was my favorite au...

Regardless, if anyone knows the name of this particular au, i’d be really grateful! If this concept does not have an official, someone needs to get on that.

Could we just call it, Reverse Hanahaki Diease Au...I mean, yes? But that’s sooo boring and uncreative! We can come up with a better title than that!

[brotherslayer]

reverse hanahaki would be an absolute horror scenario. imagine when someone falls deeply in love with you and you won’t reciprocate their feelings you are the person suffering and coughing up flowers as punishment for putting them through so much pain and heartbreak (even though it really isn’t your fault for how you feel). you either have the choice to ”fall in love” with them or get sicker and sicker until you die

[renegadesfic]

I did another thing. I'm sorry.

[sharkiegorath]

bleugheugheughugh

About two weeks ago, my reverse hanahaki story was accepted by a magazine I really like. I was happy about it for about a week. Yet I'm stuck in a doom loop over a different story's revision and resubmission, for a different magazine. Insane behavior. Anyway.

GOOD THINGS:

The editors are kind and experienced. The edit letter is really nice. It stresses that they don't want to make changes that I don't want, etc. I've only ever heard good things about them. They even had the opportunity to act Twitter brainpoisoned at one point, and they didn't.

The editors' questions are thoughtful. And I'm one of those writers who enjoys analyzing their own work and talking about it.

This story is special to me in an unhinged way and I want it to be its best version.

I like the magazine. I love one particular story they've published. In all its years of existence I've never read a story in this magazine where I've seen glaring issues and went "why was this published at all????", unlike one or two big names.

The pay is not only the recommended rate but higher than the standard (and through developmental editing I'm adding to the word count, on their suggestion.)

I like the assigned editor as a person and they're from a similar background, which is pretty crucial to the story. I actually briefly spoke to them during a volunteer thing in April so I 'know' their vibes.

There's no real deadline, just a January goal to work towards.

It's good to have new experiences!!!

NEGATIVE FEELINGS:

General imposter syndrome feelings of "it seems this wasn't perfect, looks like I have to crawl into a hole and die now".

It's taking up time and mental energy I'd prefer to use to write other things, especially with important deadlines mid-December and January.

There's no guarantee the story will be accepted for publication even if I spend all that time and effort revising.

It's a story ABOUT alienation and the cycle of abuse OF COURSE I'm going to feel fucking weird explaining and dissecting it, especially parts I wrote as The Point, which apparently weren't clear enough.

I feel bad about being told it's "not ready to publish" because this exact version made it to the final round of a dream magazine I love, with no feedback, overseen by a guest editor I wanted to impress.

I've never done something like this before. The first time I worked with an editor, I reverted almost all of his changes because they were objectively wrong. My second piece was barely edited and I didn't even have to look at it before publication. And I don't like having new experiences in November. The last time I enjoyed a new experience in November was 2011.

I absolutely hate feeling like I'm being guided or mentored, because throughout my childhood, adults failed to do that, and as an adult I've done most Meaningful Tasks on my own. I automatically feel patronized and condescended to when someone wants to help me from a position of perceived power. The advice I've received, while not always hurtful or dangerous, usually wasn't useful. It ranges from overall positive relationships (parents, first boss) to neutral (first editor, volunteer work supervisors) to outright bad (teachers, church, adult fandom BNF's as a teen????) My absolute first knee-jerk response to unsolicited or 'mandatory' guidance is "oh, great, another fucking problem"

Because of this particular magazine's mission and history, I cynically wonder if I'm being viewed as a charity project or scrappy underdog or something.

oh yeah sure I'll analyze my work but I HATE BEING PERCEIVED I HATE BEING PERCEIVED I HATE BEING PERCEIVED NO PERCEPTION ONLY THE ART DO NOT LOOK AT ME DO NOT TALK TO ME

Basically it's become a locus of negative feelings about community and culture and The Industry, through no fault of the magazine's own.