#sooooo i haven't actually been to most of these places and am very sorry if lots of details are totally off base!

[distant-screaming]

*waves apologetically at your sister*

Although I know next to nothing about your turn to die, the idea of putting the eclipse characters in that setting is quite intriguing 🤔 how do you think it could go? Who'd be the first to perish? If you haven't accounted for me as the second member of the audience of such a story, then I claim a third seat in the theatre haha

You have a 16 hour playlist? Shoot, mine is only 6-7 hours-ish, I need to stop hyper fixating on singular songs in my quest 😅 don't know exactly what kinds of music you enjoy, but if you want recs then I can share the song I've had stuck on my mind for the past two days - it's anberlin's "body language" and if you're as much of a goner over Ayan's emphasis on having open, honest communication with Akk, then you might see why I've been obsessing over it lol

//spoilers for YTTD + me rambling

Your Turn To Die is SUCH an interesting AU and I think it would go either really, really badly or really well, depending on your perspective. From a story standpoint I think the AU would be absolutely fantastic because in my opinion, most if not all of the characters from The Eclipse would be absolutely willing to lie and kill to keep themselves and/or their loved one(s) safe. (Also, in this AU, all of them already know each other (minus Ayan) so that adds another layer because in the actual game, most of them are strangers).

If we follow the actual game's thread, the first character to die in the actual Main Game is Joe Tazuna, who sacrifices himself for the player/Sara. In that sense, let's say we consider Akk to be the player character - I think the first to die would absolutely be Wat (my beloved I am so sorry). He's loyal to his friends and also smart enough to be able to maneuver the situation in (mostly) his favor.

But if we just look at the Eclipse characters, then I think the first to die would be Namo - because I think he would try to protect himself but ultimately, his admiration and loyalty to the others would win out and he would let himself be targeted.

In a typical death game scenario, who do you think would be the first to die?

Also anon, I would actually do anything for you <333 thank you sm for your support!!

I just listened to the song and. Y. Yeah. I'm going a little bit insane you're SO RIGHT this is sooooo Ayancore oh my godddd. Crying a little bit (affectionate) I'm going to go learn how to play this on the guitar. GOD.

As thanks, here's the first 5 songs from my Eclipse playlist! Hopefully you enjoy a couple of them :D

My music taste is all over the place osdkfjwefo

Two Birds (Regina Spektor) - very much kanthua song

Love Like You (Rebecca Sugar) - makes me ILL because every time I listen to it I'm just like 'omg this is just like akkayan' and then I get emotional for the next twelve hours

Cooler Than Me (Mike Posner) - um. Yeah

A Sadness Runs Through Him (The Hoosiers) - I'm actually like, I want this song to live in my bones. It's just. SO GOOD.

Love You Like That (Dagny) - I am possessed by Akk every time I listen to this song

[kusagrasskusa]

Hanzo Hisashi X Innocent! Reader

Thank you EzraPFoxglove01for requesting this adorable thing! I sorta changed a lot you asked for by making it go into depth, and it ended up being the longest story I've ever written lol. So I'm definitely gonna add a shorter, more cutesy version of this story soon.

Change her outfit all you wish; it doesn't have a big part in the story at all. Though due to where she lives, it sorta makes sense for traditional Japanese wear to be her attire. And this is the kimono I have in mind, but change whatever :D To be honest, it makes sense to change the look to be more suitable for fighting while still maintaining an innocent, feminine character.

Word Count: 6733

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hay....ya!" A feminine voice yelled out as she kicked a large hole into a tree. She didn't really have an specific training area so she often kicked and punched holes into tough looking trees, which proven to be as affective as training dummies and whatnot. She pulled away from the tree with a large smile on her innocent features.

She held her arms up to her chest with clinched fists. "Alright! Just 113 more to go," she reminded herself as she prepared for another kick. Yet just before she kicked the tree, she heard rustling in the bushes surrounding her.

She paused and looked around her everywhere. The wind began to blow which made it hard to hear whoever or whatever move again as the wind blew the all the bushes. She made a pouty face and walked over to where she heard the noise the first time. She had a bag that wrapped around her colorful kimono that contained kunai knives, and she pulled one out just in case. To be honest, with her small, airhead, and pouty form, she was the least intimidating person most people could ever see. And her small, F/C kimono with cherry trees on it added onto it.

The wind slowed down for a second and in that time, rustling in the bushes was heard again, where it did last time. "Huh?" She hummed as she slowly and cautiously opened up the bushes. "W-Who's there!" She yelled nervously as she parted the bushes completely. "Ahhh!" She screamed as she stepped back, tripping on whatever she stepped on. A baby bunny jumped on top of her from the bushes, it's guinea pig looking face staring boldly at her. Fuck it was frightening for a bunny to withhold so much toughness and boldness.

She whined as she pulled the bunny of her, causing it to run away quickly. She stumbled to her feet, barely managing to maintain her own balance for a moment. She watched the bunny hop away into the forest as she calmed her nerves. Once it disappeared, she sighed and opened her bag to put away her knife. Yet the sound of a voice behind her caused her to throw it towards the voice with perfect aim and fast speed. Yet as she turned around, she saw her kunai knife had been frozen but it wasn't frozen quick enough to prevent the one and only Kuai Liang from behind cut a little.

"Good aim," the Sub Zero complimented in his deep and husky voice, a smirk on his face. He pulled the kunai from the ice prison it was it and tossed it towards Y/N. Y/N's innocent E/C eyes widened as she gasped.

"Liang!" She ran towards him to hug him– but no, we can't have that without her tripping halfway. "Oof!" She hit the ground hard and whined as she slowly stood back up. She had cut her face on a rock but that wasn't good enough for her to not want to hug him just as hard. So once she stood up, she lunged at him and hugged him so incredibly hard. "I missed you! How are you!"

Kuai chuckled as he softly wrapped his arms around her. "I see you haven't changed one bit, dear friend." It's true that the two of them are close friends; although they don't have any fundamental qualities in common, they managed to meet one day and their opposite personalities captured each other's interest. And so here they are, together after departed months back. Right after Sub Zero and others were free from Quan Chi, the two got close again and only had a couple weeks to get close again before Kuai had to leave. Finally, months later, they're together again!

"I've been just fine, L/N. How about yourself?" He asked as he pulled his arms down. As expected, Y/N didn't let go and continued to sway back and forth.

"Oh, I've been good! Sorta lonely, yeah but I met this one guy! He leads an entire clan that let me in!" Y/N sweet voice called out in reply, her eyes twinkling. "I don't see him often but we've been talking a lot more recently. He's really nice...like a big, strong, teddy bear, hehe," she giggled as her legs went limp. Kuai chuckled at her dramatic description and pat her head; pushing the person she's talking about to the back of his mind. She got back on her feet again and pulled away from him. "Sooooo...do you have any combat stories to share? An adventure?"

Kuai shook his head. "Unfortunately nothing to tell now, but soon," he spoke as he looked up at the bright blue sky. It was maybe 8 in the morning  at the time. Y/N held her arms in front of her as she swayed back and forth as her head tilted in confusion.

"Okay...Oh! There's flowers growing around here and I want you to see it. They're so pretty- and pink," She emphasized as she took Kuai's hand and pulled him to a nearby pond. The trees surrounding the pond were waves with red and pink flowers ground from them. It's hard to tell, but in the distant was a village. And jn that village was, drum roll please, Hanzo Hizashi himself. As the two friends spoke about the scenery, Hanzo had just gotten ready for a day of training.

As he stepped outside, he took a deep breath and examined the place surrounding him. The birds were singing, the soft winds brushing past the trees and plants, the warm sun and clear skies. The sound of children playing can be heard from the background. It was pure bliss really. Yet even so, he had an uneasy feeling wash over him. The feeling that there could possibly be an unwanted visitor.

Hanzo walked closed the door behind him and walked out. He took his time going from his home to a place a little outside of the village; a more personalized dojo. It contained dummies and targets designed for his spear and fire. The little dojo was little ways across a pond near the village so that's where he was headed.

"And that's why that's my favorite color," Y/N said as she finished her story. Kuai Liang, to be honest, wasn't paying attention to her at all and simply nodded. She smiled at his politeness to at least pretend to acknowledge what she's saying; Y/N knows she can get really immature sometimes and right now really isn't her best moment. "Eheh, so what do you want to do?"

Kuai looked over at her with a soft smile on his features. He really was such a peaceful man at heart. "I believe I saw a few rare ducks fly into the pond. Would you like to go see them?"

"You're not going anywhere."

Y/N sharply turned her head towards the pissed looking man walking towards the duo and gasped. She stood up, saying, "Kuai, this is the man that let me into his village! Hey Hanzo, this is Kuai‐"

"He already knows who I am," Kuai cut her off coldly and stood up. "Hanzo, I mean you no harm; had I known this was your territory, I would not have come." Hanzo pulled a sword from his back and held it up in a firey fists once he got close to them. Y/N stared idlely at them with growing anxiety. The two picked up on that quickly, making Kuai speak up again before Hanzo could. "The girl does not know of our rivalry. Don't punish her for my mistake, Hanzo‐"

"Do no speak to me like that. Leave at once!" Hanzo may be alive, but that doesn't mean he can't revert his voice back to his hellish Scorpion one. Kuai took a few steps back before turning around and disappearing. Hanzo and Y/N watched the whole way through in complete silence. Once Kuai was gone, they silence broke.

"I–"

"And you," Hanzo walked up to her and grabbed her by the collar of her shirt. "Exactly what made you think bringing a guest without permission was anywhere near exceptable? You endanger every one of us at this village that way." Y/N could feel his fire-hot breath against her as he spoke. A shiver fell down her spine as looked him right in the eye. She didn't respond, but rather bow her head. Hanzo scoffed, flames igniting from his fist that began to burn her clothes, making her whimper beneath him. She felt the flames heating up her neck, which made her whimper more as the pain wasn't something she was exposed to often. "Part of me wants to kill you right now. You are very lucky to have caught me in a better light."

Hanzo let go of her, stepping away. Y/N bowed her full body lowly, hands to her knees. "I'm deeply sorry sir, I really am. I promise I will never bring another guest again. I knew not of Kuai and your's relationship and if I had known when I met him in the woods a little bit ago, I would have got him to leave. It was foolish of me to have not stayed in the village and possibly risks a bloody situation. For that, I am sorry." As Y/N finished, she heard nothing but the sound of a sword being put away.

"As long as this never happens again, L/N," he spoke coldly. "I forgive you. You may continue what you were doing before he arrived here."

"Thank you so much, sir!" Y/N called out happily as she stood up straight with a smile on her face. "I promise you won't regret it!" Hanzo remained quiet and simply glanced down instead. A more calm and positive feeling took over his previous anger quickly, leaving behind a little bit of confusion. Y/N took a few steps back over to where that tree she was kicking earlier was before Hanzo spoke up again.

"I apologize for being so harsh, as well. You said you met you here; was this planned?" He asked her as he his fists were undone. Y/N shook her head when she turned back towards him. Hanzo examined her face for a moment before sighing, then a smile grew on his face. "Very well. I appreciate your honesty. Actually, would you care to join me for tea later? As leader of this clan, it feels right for me to know all my people, whether they are a weary traveler or blood."

"Of course I would," she said softly. "What time?"

"Tomorrow at dawn."

"So be it." And with that, Hanzo began to walk towards his dojo and Y/N walked towards her special tree. The two of them had that tea on their minds as they practiced whatever it is they were practicing. How would it turn out? Would Y/N innocent immaturity get her in trouble? Would Hanzo appear too serious? Will they make up and gain trust? Maybe something else? We'll see in the next paragraph.

Time flies by quickly when you're having a good time, and for Hanzo, he was quite happy about the thought of getting to know Y/N more. And also to learn more of her relations with Kuai. As for Y/N, she was nervous as all hell since she knows she can be a handful sometimes. To be honest, a simple deep breath was able to calm her down and bring the adult side out of her. So here she was now, looking at herself in the mirror of her guest cabin and taking deep breaths to calm her nerves.

"You got this Y/N," she told herself as she took her final deep breath. The kimono she was wearing was different as it was longer and above the wrists, meaning she was unmarried. It still had a pretty design on it, with the colors overall being F/C, pink, yellow, and blue. The had her H/C hair up in a bun with two strands falling over her shoulders. She had a pin that kept her hair up with a beautiful flower attached to it. To contribute to her Japanese asthetic, she had a folded fan that was black with red cherry trees designs in it in her hand.

She smiled at herself in the mirror one more time before she turned to face the door. She slid open the door to the guest home and put on her shoes before walking outside. She closed the door and prepared to head off the selected location. On the other hand, Hanzo was sure to be formal as well.

He wore a montsuki, which is a formal black kimono worn over a white under-kimono and hakama, which are traditional Japanese trousers. It was common for samurais to wear this underneath their armor, so it suited him well. After all, he was both ninja and samurai; he kept his hair in a man manbun as well. He was very good at maintaining a formal way of speaking and acting, yet he knew Y/N isn't all that. Someone as free spirited and naive really isn't all that capable of it, in his mind.

He was sitting down in a chabudai; one of those short legged tables that have cushions to sit on your knees on rather than to sit on chairs. At the moment, in another room of his lonely home, was a kettle that was boiling water. Authoress is not a Japanese fanatic who knows Japanese and is basing these designs of real Samurai and Wife dolls by their bed, I swear. It was perhaps halfway done by the time he heard a voice call from the outside of the front door; "Hello, it's Y/N. May I come in?"

Hanzo smiled softly to himself as he stood up and walked over to the door, sliding it open. To say he was shocked to see the free spirited girl in such a good-mannered attire was an understatement. "You look lovely tonight," he stated as he looked Y/N head to toe. On Y/N's side, she noticeably blushed and gave him a sweet look.

"You look lovely as well, truly."

Hanzo raised a brow and stepped aside for Y/N to step inside. And rather than her normal fast walk with swaying arms side to side, she slowly walked in with her hands held together in front of her. "I haven't yet seen this side of you, Miss L/N. I am a proper kind of person so don't think I won't hold it against you if you act unmannerly," he teased as Y/N giggled to herself and took her shoes off at the front door.

"I thought that maybe I should act a bit more, I guess, fancy in order to match you. As long as you don't believe in the whole women are beneath us bigger men and shouldn't talk unless spoken to thing, then this shouldn't be too hard, hehehe," Y/N said as she was lead to the chabudai by Hanzo. She sat down on her knees on side and he on the other.

"Of course I would not act on such a thing. We are all human with equal rights," Hanzo replied as he sat his hands in his lap. His looked down at Y/N'a hands, which were on the table, before shooting her a look that told her that she was doing something wrong. Y/N hummed in confusion before gasping lightly. She put her hands in her lap and smiled innocently, creating a chuckle from Hanzo.

Come to think of it, the hone hasn't yet been described. It's easy to imagine the paper and wood that made up the walls and doors, and the warm light that shun over the two people. The carvings on the wood above them and around them, the large pot with a bonsai in it in the corner of the room. The little wooden seats with drawers distilled in them built into the walls of the home. The wooden tables with traditional statues and little plants in pots across the home. The sword holder near the front door, the mats across the floor to give the unique taste. In the kitchen had built in furnaces where people would burn a fire in the wholes on the bottom and put cooking appliances and kyūsus on top of it. If you don't want to imagine that, here's something help.

"Have you ever studied Japanese arts? Surely you must have had some experience in a place like this, or perhaps a friend to lecture you on what to do," Hanzo explained his thought process as he looked interestingly at the smaller girl.

"Actually, I had Kuai teach me a lot about Chinese culture. But when I met a swordsman named Kenshi, I learned more of Japanese tradition. I may not be the best, but I tried to use my knowledge of both cultures to act as good as possible! Um, I mean," she paused as her face lit up red. "To act as good as possible." She but the inside of her lip nervously as she grew more and more embarrassed of her voice level as she spoke. Hanzo chuckled.

"I'm glad I invited you here. You are very knowledgeable it seems. Plus quite entertaining," he complimented. The kyūsu began to steam loudly, meaning it was finished. Hanzo glanced over to the kitchen.

"Heh, I wouldn't say knowledgeable," Y/N replied, "but thank you." Hanzo stood up, nodding his head towards her as he walked put of the room.

"I apologize but the tea must be attended to. I will be back in a few moments," Hanzo explained before he disappeared behind a wall. Y/N nodded in understandment and began to fight with her hair, kimono ends, fingers, and whatever else she could once he walked out. When Hanzo walked into the kitchen, he felt heat rise to his face. He leaned onto a little table with his hand on it to keep his steady and his other hand over his chest. Oh kami, he thought, she gets cuter each time I see her. Whether she's trying to be like me but failing miserably or being her bubbly self does not matter; she is perfect.

He did his best to calm his nerves before grabbing the kettle from the furnace and grabbing a kyūsu, an appliance for making tea, and slowly pouring hot water into it. He made a kind of sweet green tea, one that many foreigners don't know about, called Sencha. It has to be made with the coolest kind of hot water, basically, otherwise it will turn bitter. He made sure the watch it carefully for about half a minute before grabbing two cups and pouring the tea. He then picked up the two cups and headed back to the chabudai. Yet before he got to the room, he paused.

A feminine voice sung a soft song as she waited for Hanzo to return. Hanzo felt his cheeks heat up again and his chest felt warm. He could recall this feeling but from where he first felt it is unknown to him. The ready may be able to assume that he was thinking of his first love, his wife, and how he felt when he fell in love with her. But that idea hadn't even crossed his mind as he felt there was no way he could ever feel such an extreme emotion towards anyone else. And marriage isn't even a question since she isn't from the clan. He took a deep breath before walking back into the room.

Y/N stopped singing and she smiled widely as she saw him. "Hey Hanzo! Or, um, sorry, haha. The tea smells very nice," she complimented as she gripped the sides of the cup with her little fingers. Yeah, there was definitely a way he could feel such an extreme emotions towards anyone else. Hanzo sat down on his knees on the other side of her, mumbling a quick thank you to Y/N and a thank you to the Gods' gift of tonight. And in his mind, a thank you for what to him felt like a gift from the Gods' to end his grief from his early wife.

"Mm! This is really good!" Y/N gasped after tasting it. "This is the best tea I've ever had!" Her eyes were wide in awe and her expression showing her impressment. Hanzo chuckled at her adorable reaction as he took a sip of his wom drink. It's been maybe 8 minutes since Y/N got there and she already forgot to remain all traditional and civil. It was adorable to him; she was so precious really.

And throughout the night, the two of them talked and laughed and jokes and got close. They remained at the chabudai most of the night, aside from when Y/N asked for a tour. She adored the bonsais, scenery that can be seen from outside the window, paintings around the home, and everything. She was so naive but to Hanzo, that wasn't particularly a bad thing. It made her all the more fun to be around. And because of how great of a night they were having, they even agreed to meet up the next day.

"Excuse me, Miss Y/N," Hanzo said as he stood up from the chabudai. "I will be back in one moment. Please help yourself to more tea if you'd like."

"I will," Y/N responded sweetly. Oh, on a side note, Y/N completely forgot about the traditional thing completely so don't expect her to stay put in the few minutes Hanzo was gone. Actually, by the time Hanzo came back, Y/N had her head in her arms on the table her body slowly rising and falling with the rhythm of her breaths. Hanzo couldn't help but find himself smiling down at her. He got that warm feeling in his chest again though it was different this time. It wasn't as unfamiliar as before. He knew what it was; it was love slowly blossoming.

He sighed softly before picking up the sleeping girl's tired form and carrying her against his chest. She shifted a little bit in his grasp and ended up being hudled against him more, making that warn feeling in Hanzo's chest grow more. Such a sweet, innocent creature. He slid open his door and brought her back to her guest home, where he laid her in bed and brought her hair down from its updo in order for it to not be as bad of a mess tomorrow. He kissed her forehead and then left to sleep in his own bed until the next morning.

The next day was the same as the previous. And then the day after that, and the day after that day, and so forth. But one day was a particularly cold day and a cold blanket of snow began to cover the land. Y/N was at Hanzo's place, watching the snow fall through an open window with her E/C eyes wide in amazement at the beauty. Hanzo was standing behind her with two cups of tea in his hand.

"Would you care for a drink?" He asked, making Y/N turn around.

"Thank you, Hanzo!" She said as she took the drink from him and took a big sip. It tasted sweet, as it was the tea she had when she came over for the first time. "Say, I sorta wish we could have gone outside today. I noticed that you like to fight in that place by the pond a lot; which is really great to watch! You're so strong, hehe. But you've never actually seen me fight before," she explained right before she took a sip of tea. "Y'know, I'm painfully aware that people view me as an immature, innocent, naive girl who isn't the most aware of her surroundings. But I think you'll be impressed to see what I can do," she said confidently as she hummed.

Hanzo took a sip from his tea and nodded. "Perhaps. When it gets warmer out, I'd love to watch what you can do," he replied with an extra caring tone with his voice. He caught onto his tone quickly and blushed a little bit. "But there is something we can do outside," he started.

"What is it?" Y/N asked, standing up.

"Well, there's a hotspring nearby. We can swim in there if you'd like. However be sure to dress in something not too revealing if you would like to."

"There is? I'd love to!" She exclaimed as she bounced up and down. "I'll dmgi get dressed now," she eagered on as she put her shoes back on before leaving. Hanzo grabbed her up of tea and brought it to the kitchen. It's a shape it would go to waste, but he can always make more. He returned to his bedroom to grab something to put on while swimming but please, just imagine what he'd wear to swim. Traditional swimwear is too nasty to be used in this book, but swimming trunks are too modern. As for Y/N, considering she never had a particular home or culture, it made sense for her to just wear a full body suit she could have gotten from anywhere in Earthrealm.

Of course, the both of them were sure to bathe before hopping into the hot spring. Well, Hanzo slowly got in whereas Y/N jumped in without any care. It was warm, shocker there.

"Ahh...Thank the Elder Gods for getting me here before I froze to death," Y/N shuddered as chills ran up her spine. Though those chills were disappearing as the warmth of the hot spring washer over her soon enough. Hanzo rested his body against the large rocks around the hot spring and found a seat-like area. Y/N swam around happily and sung to herself.

Oh, one thing worth mentioning for the sake of the next paragraph is that Y/N had a necklace around her neck. Hanzo had never noticed it before as it was always under her kimono or shirt. However that necklace had a great significance go it; she was told that with that necklace, she would be able to find her parents who seemed to have lost her at birth. That necklace was the only thing that remained of them and hopefully destiny was kind enough to help her find her parents.

"Kyaa–" shrieked as a splashing sound was heard. Hanzo stopped daydreaming and looked over at Y/N, who's hair covered he face and arm frantically tried to keep her body floating. She quickly pushed her hair out of her face and whined over and over again worried. Hanzo instinctively swam over there as fast as possible, grabbing ahold of her gently yet sturdy. "Where is it!" She cried out, feeling her body and looking around the waters.

"Where is what?" Hanzo asked in his husky voice that was now in a confused tone.

"My necklace! I can't find my necklace!" She replied worriedly, tears swelling in her eyes. Hanzo looked at the tears forming and felt his whole body shiver woman's his heart drop. "I can't see it anywhere!" Hanzo began to swim towards the rock formation he was against earlier, making Y/N cry out, "wait!"

"Y/N," Hanzo sternly spoke. "I will find your necklace and return it. Worry not, please, dear friend," he reassured, taking her hand in his. She shook nervously and wiped her tears. Slowly, she nodded which told Hanzo he could swim away now. And so he did; he headed towards the stop where she cried out and with one deep breath, he went underwater. He had to hold his nose for warm waters were very dangerous to go under as dangerous fungi grow in hot waters. Yet even so, he swam to the bottom of the hot spring using one hand to stir around to look for the necklace.

Y/N waited on the rocks, sniffing and whimpering. She hasn't told Hanzo the origin of the necklace, but he could tell it was important to her. When she was little, she was handed the necklace and was told it would help her find her missing mother as long as she stayed pure. What that means is that Y/N had to remain free from murder, theft, and other ways of sin. Not only that, but she could not ever preform certain adult actions as then she would never find her parents (I say that because Y/N never had a parent figure to teach her what nono stuff is), which is her number one goal in life. She grew up going from city to city, state to state, country to country, and even had been in Outworld before. She grew up with so many cultures and had never found someone that was like her in any way. It felt like she didn't have an identity as she had nothing to trace her orgins to.

Splash! Hanzo took a deep breath of air as he finally reached the surface again, with a silver necklace with a S/F/C gem inside it that's carved to show an unknown design. "Is this your necklace?" He asked as he held it up. Y/N gasped, lunging back into the water and swimming towards Hanzo. Once she got up to him, she wrapped her arms around his muscular figure and cried.

"You found it! Thank you so much!" She cried out happily, pressing her body against him. Hanzo blushed at the sudden affection and slipped the necklace back onto her. He adjusted the back of of it so it wouldn't fall off her so easily again. "I love Hanzo... You're the best friend I've ever had... I really mean it," she whimpered out. Hanzo began to swim towards the rock formation again and once he did, Y/N let go of him.

"I appreciate it, Y/N. I love you as well, you're the closest friend I've ever had," he said back to her with a warm smile on his features. Y/N smiled back at him before examining her unharmed necklace.

"Hmm... Ever since I could remember, I would move from every country in the world to another. I've been to Paris, Beijing, New York, London, Los Angeles, a few different places in Mexico and Colombia, Holland, Tokyo, Osaka, and many more. I was carried from place to place by various of adoptive mothers, and each of them left a bit of their culture and identity with me by the time I left.

"But I had one that was a fortune teller and psychic. She was incapable kf having kids and didn't want to go through the trouble of raising one, so she took me, an 11 year old girl. She gasped when she saw me and took me in immediately. Before I left her, she gave me this necklace. "Y/N," she said, "you have the potential to see your real parents again. Train, grow stronger, read, grow smarter, listen, grow wiser. Stray away from the evil in the world and remain pure from your soul to your body. This is how you'll find your mother.""

Y/N paused and looked up at the larger male. He seemed intrigued with her story and made sure to listen carefully to her every word. So she continued, "as I grew older and began to travel on my own, I thought of her words every single hour of every day. I had no reason to live as I ever did was travel and meet new people, only to leave and never see them again. Just knowing who I really was became my only reason for existing. To this day, I bet the relief of meeting my real mom will feel like being deaf and hearing music, or being blind and seeing color, or being able to walk again after being paralyzed. But now," she paused.

Y/N smiled and looked up at Hanzo. "It's strange to feel so in place, so correct. I-I know I never felt this way about any place before! But I really think that as long as you're around, my chances of meeting my mom are good! Just being with you gives me hope for the next day, truly. It's like being with you is my reason to exist."

Hanzo closed his eyes and smiled back at her. He wrapped his arms around and embraced her warmly, his head being filled with nothing but pure bliss. Y/N hugged back tightly, feeling just as happy as he is right now.

And just as soon as it came, the day was over and the two had to return home and sleep. But this particular night, their dreams were better than usual. And two days later, the snow had cleared up and the ground was dry! That meant Y/N could go train today! Unfortunately, with her absent-mindedness, she forgot she wanted Hanzo to watch her so she remained in private as she kicked thicc ass trees down in two strong kicks and crushed stones into bits by simply punching it once.

"Hai...ya!" She called out as she forcefully brought her first to a stone celler that was abandoned randomly in the woods. But hey, no one was using it, so who's gonna cry about it being broken? The impact of her punch brought a giant circular impact onto the wall, and bits and pieces of it fell down. "Hehehe! 22 more to go!" She thought out loud as she pulled her fist back again. She wasn't alone in these woods, no, as there was a particular ninja/samurai person thing, idk, watching from the nearby bush. Not to be creepy of course! He was on his way to his dojo but heard noises, and discovered it was her after checking it out.

And d a m n. If Y/N saw his shocked face the first time he saw her punch the wall with that much force and endurance, she would laugh and tease him about it for a long time. He didn't expect her to be so quick in her movements and to cause such force. Like, a short little bebe in a pink, cutesy kimono with cherry blossoms being able to cause a fucking massacre to the wall? How could you blame him?

"Hmm... that reminds me!" Y/N exclaimed as she spun around to look at Hanzo. "I told you that you should watch me train! Is that what you were doing?"

Hanzo blushed heavily and was unfortunately incapable of hiding it in the direct daylight. "Indeed, Y/N. This is truly a wonderful sight to see," he replied as he looked away for a moment. Y/N gasped and ran towards him. He took a few steps back when he noticed how close she gotten, which caused him to get a little bit more flustered.

"You're sick? You're face is all red, Y/N whined as she pulled Hanzo closer. "You should be inside, mister, getting better! Not out here watching me fight when it's colder out here! Let's go bring you inside," he said as she grabbed his muscular arm and held it close. She turned towards the village of the Shirai Ryu and began walking towards it, pulling Hanzo along. How bold.

Hanzo but his bottom lightly and remained as flustered as before. "There really is no need, Y/N," he replied back.

"You're being quite irresponsible for a ninja, y'know," Y/N replied as she continued to walk him home. Hanzo sighed and just let her pull him along. He knew she would question him if he told her he wasn't sick so he choose into except it.

"Thank you for your concern," he replied lowly. Y/N giggled proudly and nodded.

"The best for you!" They arrived to the pathways of the village and began their walk. There was a few pedestrians walking by, including a dad and daughter and a separate woman. "I'll make you some tea and you can go to bed, okay?" Hanzo nodded, smirking to himself about how funny the situation really is.

"How caring," Hanzo spoke as they arrived at his home. The got inside and took their shoes off at the front door.

"Of course," she replied before heading towards the kitchen to make tea. Hanzo wasn't sick but he's been tired lately and what's wrong with sleeping in for one day? When he got the tea, it no doubt tasted way too bitter as Y/N doesn't really know what she's doing to be honest. But hey, it's the thought that counts.

Hanzo lied in bed, with an empty cup by his side and an small girl on the other. She sat on the bed, talking to him quietly about a bunch of random things until she said something strange. "To be honest, I know this is weird, but it almost feels like we're married sometimes. I mean, we're together all the time and have a very close friendship. You let me drag you in here and give you bitter tea even though you didn't want to. That's really nice, hehe," she giggled as she looked over at Hanzo. Her eyes shun something different from simply joy this time. Instead, it showed rather care. And potentially something more.

Hanzo felt a shiver go down his spine as he looked deep into Y/N's eyes. Emhe had to examine them to ensure that he wasn't just crazy or actually sick, but no, it looked like she really did care about him more than a friend. After all these months, it was officially, wasn't it? It was mutual. Hanzo smiled as he sat up on the bed. Y/N's cheeks lit up a little bit as he stared down at her with that look.

"Sometimes it really does feel like that, does it not? I can see as a good pair to be truthful. What about you?" Hanzo asked softly. Y/N cheeks flushed pink and her expression softened.

"I agree, definitely. I mean, how can I not, heh heh. You've been there from the very beginning and I've always seen you as this big, strong teddy bear of sorta. So sweet, so nice, so caring," she replied. Hanzo leaned in, making Y/N want to lean in too. And slowly, the pair came together and finally...they kissed. It was soft, tender, and it felt like it was meant to happen. Y/N's face turned red and Hanzo's tense emotions he felt disappeared immediately.

Heh, you know what? To be honest, they lady next door was known to be crazy about losing her baby girl a very long time ago. They had matching necklaces that were bought from a village far away from their's years ago when the Shirai Ryu was attacked by Quan Chi's forces. She escaped and went into hiding, and then found a man to marry to. Her child was named Y/N L/N, and whether she's not fully Japanese or fully related into the Japanese clan, she is blood and therefore she is capable of being the love of Hanzo Hisashi. Maybe the two of them will meet some day, huh?

[summerfitzy]

the places you’ll go

Fandom: Skam Ship: Noora x William Summary: In which Noora and William really like traveling together. ao3

GDANSK

“What if we went away for a weekend?” Noora asked in bed one night as she drew her fingers through her boyfriend’s dark, scrambled hair.

William tilted his head against her palm, consideration curling his lips. “A vacation?” Then a wry look at her bedroom door, through which they could hear Eskild belting the lyrics to a particularly upbeat pop song with his latest fling, all the way in the living room.

“We haven’t gotten much time alone since you moved in.” Her fingertips fell down his forehead until she was brushing the hair from his eyes with absent strokes. “It could be nice to get away.”

His smile reached up to touch the heel of her palm. “Where?”

Noora shrugged, running her fingers along his cheekbones. “I don’t know,” she said through a breath of laughter. “Somewhere cheap? Somewhere neither of us has been, maybe. Somewhere we both want to go.”

“We’ve never gone on a vacation together.” William kissed her palm one more time, dragging his lips along its deep lines. “I’ll go anywhere.” (The with you went unsaid.)

 *

Skyscanner had cheap, non-stop flights to Gdasnk later that month, so Poland won.

 *

Before they left, Eva predicted they would fly to Poland just to spend the entire weekend in their Airbnb bedroom.

Noora couldn’t say that Eva didn’t have some evidence—namely, the frequency with which she and William had taken to sneaking away into closets and his car lately—in her favor.

But Gdasnk was beautiful, even more so than Google Images had made it look. All cobbled streets and narrow buildings and blue water. They walked through Długi Targ with the other tourists, taking in the stalls and bright colors that marked the marketplace. Soft blues and reds and oranges and purples. When they stopped in front of the Neptune Fountain, William nodded towards the bronze statue that rose behind its iron gate.

“Do you know the story?” he asked her.

Noora canted her head up at the sea god. “No.”

Knotting their fingers together, William rubbed his thumb up and down her knuckles. “The locals think the fountain used to run with liquor from Neptune. That the gate,” he gestured towards its iron curls with their twined hands, “is to protect the fountain from all the drunks.”

Noora squinted at the fountain for another second, and then at William. “You just happen to know that?”

William shrugged, and took a step away from the fountain, the pad of his thumb still massaging her hand. “I read it somewhere.”

Of course he had. Noora wondered just how much he’d ‘happened to read’ about Gdansk after booking their tickets. “Did your fan club at Nissen know you were such a scholar?”

“I’m not a scholar,” he replied as they wove around the meandering groups and flashing cameras.

Noora rolled her eyes. “I’ve seen your law school reading.”

“Don’t mention that,” he said, turning a look of mock warning on her. “No law school this weekend.”

And even though that was highly irresponsible… “Okay.”

(No law school. No articles. Just them.)

*

They toured the Artus Court Museum next, staring up at its Gothic vault and scanning its list of famous, royal visitors. Then they walked by the statues waving from the Golden House before stopping for lunch at a small, nearby restaurant—where Noora convinced William to sneak into the single-person restroom with her.

"A restroom?” he repeated, almost laughing. Noora loved that sound. The pure, open delight in it. During their worst days in London, William’s silence had struck her hardest. Noora realized he’d thought she wanted space—but all she wanted now was for him to never feel so unreachable again. So untouchable. William’s reserve hadn’t extended to her since long before they’d started dating; you could tell by how poorly it fit.

She needed to be able to reach him, touch him. Always.

So Noora leaned across the round, two-person table, careful not to brush her striped sleeves into their brimming glasses of water. “It looked clean.” She wrapped her fingers through his.

He pulsed their grips and gave himself over to a breath of laughter. “Fucking hell, you’re amazing.”

Her quiet laughter blended with his.

 *

They spent the rest of the afternoon walking through an art museum, where William took too many photos of Noora staring at the paintings.

“You’re not supposed to be taking pictures of me,” Noora reminded him when she heard the camera click again.

He shrugged. “I can take pictures of whatever I want.”

“What if I want to make a photo album?”

His free arm wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her close enough for his smile to land in her hair. “I’d like a photo album of Noora.”

She rolled her eyes up at his. William’s brown gaze just kept glinting down at her.

(When she managed to steal the camera later, she didn’t use it to immortalize any of the sculptures they passed; only him squinting at them.)

 *

“Newlyweds?”

The river wavered around them with reflections of the city’s lights and sunset as they cruised by the harbor. Standing against the rail of the tour boat, Noora looked over from her spot against William’s chest, within William’s arms. Her head tucked against his. It took her a moment of scanning before she realized the English-speaking, Keds-clad tourist standing to their left was talking to them.

“Yes,” William answered, before she could clarify that no, we’re just vacationing. “Touring Europe for our honeymoon.” His lips curved a peck into her hair.

Noora didn’t have the heart to contradict him when the woman—older, curly haired, and British—sighed: “So romantic. You two make me think of my honeymoon.”

She could feel William’s smile, still lurking among her blonde locks, growing wider and wider as they stared out at the water.

 *

"Newlyweds?” Noora asked him later, splayed out across the cream sheets of their Airbnb bed, their clothes strewn across the carpet.

William just brushed his fingers along her cheek. “We will be.”

Arcing against his pale fingertips, Noora raised her eyebrows at him. “I’m not getting married in high school.”

Trailing his thumb down to her collarbone, then to the rise of her chest, William raised his right back. “Little presumptuous of you, assuming I was proposing.”

“You’re the one assuming I'll say yes!” For old time’s sake, she bit her smiling lower lip and added, “Willhelm.”

Then he was pulling her closer to him, whispering “Noora,” pressing his hips against hers, and—“Say my name.”

She shook her head, still smiling as he pretended to growl. Make me, her bright eyes dared.

(He did.)

 *

"Noora,” Eva said when they got back, scrolling through their camera roll, “you know I love your face, but did you take any pictures of the actual city? These are all artsy shots of your profile.” She clicked next. “And the back of your head.” The camera beeped next one more time. “I can almost see the building you’re looking at in this one.”

Emptying a box of pasta into one of Eva’s kitchen pots, Noora shrugged. “Biased photographer.”

When she turned around, holding back a smirk, Noora saw Eva’s phone out and her fingers darting across its screen. “I’m texting Chris,” she said, “to tell him that his best friend is ridiculously sappy.”

Noora tilted her head, and then nodded. “Yeah.”

NOREJFELL

"William, we can’t go on a ski vacation.”

“Why not?”

Sitting beside him on the living room couch, Noora glanced away from the movie they were ostensibly watching to roll her eyes at her boyfriend. “Because”—her boyfriend who was currently booking a room at the nearest ski resort—“I don’t know how to ski.”

“You will.” A few locks of hair slipped past William’s eyes when he looked up from his laptop screen. “I’ll teach you. Anyone can ski.”

Which was probably true if you’d spent your high school years vacationing at a russ friend’s Swiss Alps chalet. “You want to spend your birthday watching me fall all over a mountain?” Leaning back against a fringed pillow, Noora crossed her arms.

William’s lips twitched. “I’ve already seen you fall.”

"No, you haven’t.”

“You fell for me.” Humor tugged at the corners of his lips.

It prodded hers too. “Are you trying to get me to call you a cliché?”

“No, I’m trying to distract you into agreeing with me. Say that it’s working.”

Feet away, the TV, which neither of them had bothered to mute, burst with swelling, superhero music and super-villain explosions. Feet away in the other direction, Eskild’s voice pitched into the room.

“Oh my God, Noora.” Eskild himself followed, clad in a silken robe, though the clock had just struck noon. “When your boyfriend says he wants to take you to a ski resort, you don’t whine that you can’t ski. Think of all the hot, ski condo sex you’ll be having.” On his way towards the kitchen sink and a glass of water, he leered at William. “If she won’t go, I will.”

Her boyfriend answered Eskild’s teasing with a smirk that sent her straight back to all his light first year flirting. “See?” he said to her, not bothering to lower his voice or look away from their roommate. “You have competition.”

Noora patted his shoulder. “I’m sure you two will have a very cozy time together.” William stole her palm barely a second later. His fingertips drawled questions across her palm lines until she finally interrupted another television screen explosion. “Okay. For your birthday.”

(He booked their flights with one hand, kept stroking her mound of Venus with the other.)

 *

Their first day at Norefjell brought sheets of snow down from the sky and sheets of ice across the slopes.

The hotel room was small and rustic—clearly more so than William was accustomed to, despite the months he’d spent living without his father’s money now, if his raised eyebrows were anything to go by—but that stopped mattering the minute they fell onto the bed. Fell on top of each other. Stayed there all day, only untangling their limbs for food and water.

“You like ski vacations,” William said, late into the night as snow continued to fill the high-altitude air beyond their window.

Noora shook her head into his palm. “No,” she denied, grinned.

“You like laying here with me then.”

She turned her cheek just enough to press her lips against his wrist.

*

The second day pulled them out of bed and onto the ski lifts. Noora had expected the world to loom impossibly white around them, yet, for every layer of powder, there were a dozen skiers to muddy it with ski soles and poles. Even now, sitting as close to William as the ski lift chair allowed, their knees touching and skis tapping, patches of snowboarders kept speeding beneath them to remind Noora that they hadn’t left reality for a snow globe.

(One of the speediest of those snowboarders wiped out right below them, a flailing mess of white snow, black snow-pants, and bright red sleeves. Noora winced.)

"You’re cute,” William said when she adjusted her goggles and helmet.

“Mhm.” The only headgear he’d donned was a grey hat—not even a particularly thick one. “We could be cute together if you’d wear a helmet.”

The cold breeze brushed the ends of his hair. “You’re cute,” he repeated.

* 

The third day, William had a newly rented ski helmet and a confession.

“I’ve been here before,” he told her that evening as they walked around the resort, limbs sore from two full days of skiing. (Noora’s legs were sore, anyway. William had made it up to her with frequent hot cocoa breaks, all over the mountain.)

Noora’s hair slipped past her ears when she tilted her head, baring their cartilage to the night’s frosted breeze. “During Nissen?”

His own hair shook past his forehead when he shook his head. “When I was younger. Eight maybe. Before the accident.”

Her throat dried of sound, her tongue of words. Noora pulsed her fingers with his, swallowed, and managed, “With your family?”

Noise hummed from the bars and restaurants dotting their stroll. William’s silent nod felt louder in her ears, her eyes, her chest. Or maybe just weightier.

“My mom spent the day in the spa, of course. No interest in stepping outside, never mind onto skis. And my dad liked the harder slopes, so we went into lessons.”

We meaning Nico and Amalie. Names he almost never said.

His next smile looked painful. Like it cost his mouth something to wear. “Amalie fell on one of the easy runs and hurt her knee. The instructor said she was fine, but I saw her face. So when we reached the next lodge, I took her in for cocoa and refused to leave.”

“I can picture that.” Vividly. William, tiny of frame and skis, staring down a fully-grown instructor to declare that he was going to take care of his little sister, rules be damned. (In her head, he’d still worn his hair long enough to need comb it out of his eyes as he said it.)

“My father was furious.” She could picture that too. “But it was worth it. We just sat there, drinking cocoa for the rest of the day. We probably had eight cups.”

Noora held his hand even more tightly through her red mittens. Ever the protector.

William didn’t say anything else as they searched for a restaurant, just tightened his grasp on her hand right back.

*

The third night, they only slept, faces buried in each other in lieu of the pillows.

*

The fourth day—

"Happy birthday, William.” The fourth day, they stayed in bed again to celebrate his birthday. She managed to find him a chocolate cake at a local bakery, decked with frosting white enough to match the snow.

“I couldn’t find any plates,” Noora apologized as she lifted the small bakery box onto the comforter, above their knees. “We might have to improvise.”

William grinned at her. Raked his eyes over her body, naked save for the wrinkled sheet. “I’ll manage.”

(She'd really thought she was growing out of blushing for him.)

BARCELONA

When they went to Barcelona, Chris and Eva came too.

"Chris and I have never gone on a vacation together,” Eva explained, spread out across Noora’s bed and looking up at the ceiling. “We can’t go alone.”

From her cross-legged spot packing on the floor, Noora glanced up to point out, “You’re alone all the time.”

“Not in a foreign city! I need someone to hang out with if he ditches me for a hot Spanish girl.”

“Eva. Chris wouldn’t take you to Spain just to hit on other girls.” Honestly.

“And if I want to ditch him for a hot Spanish guy,” Eva carried on, unperturbed, “he’ll have William. It’s a good plan.”

 “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.” She knew from William that Chris hadn’t even looked at another girl since he and Eva had officially started dating—that his fuck up with Emma back at Sana’s Eid party had provided him with a steady source of miserable regret, and that he had no intention of repeating it. (That William had no intention of letting him repeat if it meant he had to deal with that much whining all over again.) “Neither of you is ditching the other for anyone.”

And Noora knew from her friendship with Eva—not to mention basic observation—that she’d never cheat on anyone again. Ever. Let alone Chris, who Eva had spent the entirety of her (short-lived) second attempt at a relationship with Jonas missing. Who she was clearly crazy about.

Eva strained her chin to meet Noora’s exasperated stare. “Then we’ll party with our best friends in one of the best clubbing cities in Europe. It’s still a good plan.”

Biting her tongue, Noora rolled her eyes.

* 

"We don’t have to be here,” William said into her ear, his voice raised, but muted by the club’s blaring techno heartbeat. “We can leave.”

Pasted against his side, a club soda in her hand, Noora shook her head into his button-up white shirt. “No. This will be fun.”

Taking a swig of his beer, William squinted down at her. “Really.”

Okay, maybe not fun. The club was crowded, loud, and frantic with pulsing lights. But they’d spent the day touring all the packed museums and Gaudi architecture she liked. No one had even complained when she nominated a—mostly vegetarian—restaurant called Flax & Kale for lunch.

(Well. Chris might have complained a little, but William and Eva had glared him into shutting up.)

Even though Noora firmly believed that no one should visit a foreign city without seeing at least its very most famous sights, she knew that she’d dominated the trip itinerary so far; that the city was known for its clubs and that William didn’t get to party nearly as much as he once had. As much as their best friends still did.

She blinked up at him. “How else will I meet a hot Spanish guy?”

William nipped her ear. “There will be no meeting of hot Spanish guys.”

“Dance with me then.”

And he did, all night.

*

(There was in fact some meeting of hot Spanish guys, later, when Eva begged her to use her language skills to flirt their way into free drinks. Technically, Noora didn’t believe in the exchange of flirtation for beverages—the objectification and commodification of it.

But Eva was tipsily, insistently persuasive. And the drinks were insanely overpriced.

William and Chris both looked distinctly put out when they returned, Eva with a hot pink cocktail, Noora with a clear one that she immediately handed off to her boyfriend.

“We could have bought you drinks,” Chris said, the laugh lines on his face torn between offense and amusement.

Eva shook her head, offering him a sip of her cosmo. “Oh, that’s no fun.”

Meanwhile, Noora relaxed into William’s arms.

“No more Spanish guys,” he kissed the letters into her neck.

She turned to pat his chest. “Enjoy your drink.”)

 PARIS

During Noora’s first year at university, William informed her that she should plan on missing at least one day of classes during her birthday week.

“You can’t just tell me a day,” she said as they strolled down the city sidewalks beneath the cool winter clouds. “Which day?”

“Friday. Monday. You choose.”

(She didn’t realize at the time that she was choosing which day they’d be flying to Paris.)

*

“Pick for me.”

William frowned. “You don’t want to pick your own macarons?”

Standing in line at Laduree, surrounded by pastel decorations and pastries, Noora leaned a kiss into her boyfriend’s cheek. “Surprise me,” she challenged.

He narrowed his eyes at the display case. (Noora debated telling him that he didn’t have to look so serious—as though her first trip to Paris might implode from one badly chosen dessert.) (She’d obviously say if he skipped any of the flavors she wanted.)

When he glanced back at her a moment later, William immediately caught the smirk tempting the corners of her lips. “I’m winning this game,” he informed her, more amused now that he realized the rules.

"We'll see," she teased.

William knew enough French to order in the language when they reached the counter. He didn’t falter when the slim cashier asked him which six he’d like:

Chocolate. Easy, but yes. Lemon. Yes. Raspberry. Yes. Vanilla. Yes. Rose. Yes. Lavender.

“Six out of six,” she murmured against his earlobe as the man behind the glass display case packaged them into a long, light purple box.

 “Of course,” William said, raising a brow and a smirk for her. “I know you.”

She might even let him steal of one of her macarons.

*

Later, among the packed shelves of Shakespeare and Company, William swerved around the readers and tourists to wrap an arm around her waist.

“Want to play another game?” she asked once she’d strung her fingers through his.

His mouth, his eyes, his entire face seemed to arch. Noora rolled her eyes, swatting his chest. “Not that kind of game. Not here. Where would we even…” she shook her head.

William shrugged, unashamed and unfazed.

“No. Our games don’t all have to be about public sex, William.” Noora looked up at the ceiling, and shook her head again. (Even if most of the ones she’d suggested lately, admittedly, were. Finding somewhere closed off enough, staying quiet enough, returning without raising eyebrows and questions.) “I’m going to find a book for you, and you’re going to find one for me.”

William tilted his head at her, his look intent.

Pressing her curved lips together, she shrugged.

He kept staring at her for another second, and then turned around. “Noora Amalie Sætre,” he said over his shoulder, “I’m going to find the best damn book you’ll ever read.”

She already had one in mind for him.

*

"Very funny,” he said outside the store fifteen minutes later, when he pulled the new, store-stamped copy of Pride and Prejudice she’d bought for him out from its paper bag.

(Eskild had nominated the 2005 adaptation for a Kollektivet movie night a few weeks before—which had resulted in his enthusiastic declaration that she and William were a complete Lizzie and Darcy romance. “You know, if Darcy gave up all the insane money and moved in with the Bennets in the end.”

“Who does that make you?” she’d teased from her spot on William’s lap.

“Jane of course. Your sweet, universally loved older sibling. Linn can be…” he waved a hand at their blanket-laden roommate. “Who do you want to be, Linn?”

“No one.”

“Linn can be that extra. The sitting one, who looks like she’d rather be in bed.”)

Now, in an effort to avoid milling tourists, Noora leaned against the fountain that stood outside the bookshop. “You haven’t read it,” she accused. “You can’t be a scholar and not read Jane Austen. People will call you a misogynist.”

William brought his face down to hers so that he could murmur, “I’m not a scholar” right into her mouth.

She bit his lower lip in reply. Then kissed it. Then kept kissing it until she felt the edges of a hardback poking her palm.

“The Little Prince?” she read the title, slanting her chin down as she opened the front cover.

“It’s French. And it was my favorite when I was younger.” As soon as she opened her mouth to reply, he had two fingers pointed at her. “Don’t call me a cliché.”

But Noora just brought the book to her chest. “It was one of mine too.” Hugged it for a blink. “My parents donated my copy during a spring cleaning purge.”

She could feel his beam, strong as the sunlight. I know you. He didn’t have to say it aloud this time.

*

On the actual day of her birthday, they drank hot chocolate at Angelina in the 1st arrondissement.

“Better than mine?” William asked through a crooked smile, rubbing a dash of chocolate from her mouth.

“No.” Her tongue swept across the skin just above her lip, brushing his thumb tip on its quest for misplaced cocoa. “Not cold enough.”

Angelina's hot chocolate tasted like actual melted chocolate, and definitely should have ranked above any hot cocoa he’d ever made for her. (Noora wasn’t entirely convinced that she wasn’t drinking melted chocolate.) It didn’t matter. William’s was William’s, and she’d never forget sipping it from the thermos he’d given her on their first date. Sipping it through those first moments of understanding him, of realizing, dreading, that she could like him.

Laughter haunted William’s next breath. “Happy birthday, Noora.” 

 MADRID

The next time they looked at flights, Madrid was the cheapest option.

“Here?” William asked.

Sitting beside him on her fully made bed, her laptop propped between them, Noora pressed her lips together. She hadn’t been to Madrid since moving to Oslo. Hadn’t particularly wanted to. None of her friendships there had been strong enough to last the distance, and her memories there hadn’t been bright enough to bring her back.

Objectively, Noora knew Madrid was a beautiful city. Vibrant. Lots of culture, lots of people, lots to do. It wasn’t fair that her memories of living there all echoed in shades of grey and isolation.

“I don’t know.”

Without raising his head from her shoulder, William met her eyes. “You never miss it?”

Noora leaned her head against his. Considered that. Madrid had meant a lot to her at the time—would probably always mean a lot to her, in some ways. Independence and freedom and loneliness and new beginnings. “I like where I am now.” Her eyes fell back to the screen. “But maybe I miss a few things.” A few restaurants and parks and sights. Not the guarded pieces of herself that might still haunt its streets.

"Will you show me?”

She didn’t answer aloud, but knew he could feel her nod.

*

Madrid should have been just as she remembered it. She should have gotten deja vu or maybe even nostalgia, walking the same routes that she’d wandered at age fifteen.

Fifteen. So young to be so alone. Noora realized that now, even if she hadn’t at the time.

“I’m picturing you living here,” William told her, scanning their every surrounding. The open apartment windows, the beaming sun, the rushing traffic.

Noora shook her head. “I know it was only a few years ago, but it feels like another life.” Another city, now that she has longer hair, a lighter smile, a phone buzzing with missed group message texts from her friends, and William’s arm around her. William’s hand in hers. William with her.

He could have mocked for the cliché of that sentence, but didn’t. “I like you in this life.” Instead, he stopped looking around the city, at least for a moment, to look at her.

So much lighter. “Mhm. I’m likable.”

William grinned into her hair.

 *

On Sunday, they lay on a blanket at Parc du Retiro, the grass sunlit green around them. Empty, takeaway salad containers sat forgotten at their sides as Noora breathed into the crook between William’s neck and shoulder, his fingertips long lost in her hair.

They had a night flight. Only a few more hours left here.

"What do you want to do before we leave?” William mumbled, his eyes half-closed.

Noora turned her cheek slightly, until she was peering up at the blue sky. They’d already taken the Teleférico to look over the whole city. (The bird’s eye view from the cable car had been beautiful; the promised food at the top had not been. Just frozen restaurant meals and vending machines, no fruit whatsoever. She’d made it up to herself by insisting that they go to her favorite hummuseria for a late lunch.)

They’d done other things too: the Temple of Debod, desserts at Chocolatería San Ginés, the stalls at Mercado de San Miguel.

All terribly touristy. All the best times she’d ever had in Madrid.

She reached up to press her lips into her boyfriend’s cheek. “Can we just do this?”

William’s hands kept up their rhythm in her hair when he nodded. “Anything.” Then when he kissed her.

(The with you went unsaid.)

[cquackity]

THES HI HIYA :D!!!! sorry this took so long T_T however i finally listened through to all the bauhaus you recommended :D i listened to the full of mask and in the flat field, i actually wore my bauhaus hoodie to school last thursday and i felt like the coolest #girl. In the world

IN ANY CASE THOUGH; my favorite songs (in no particular order) are probably kick in the eye, in the flat field, and telegram sam. i think bauhaus's music caught me so off guard at first because their music truly just does not sound like anything else i've ever heard — most of their songs took me a few listens to even get in to, actually, their sound is just so affectionally bizarre and hollow and. well. Goth. BUT I DO REALLY REALLY LIKE IT A LOT......... thank you very much for the recommendations cause i enjoyed them so much and cannot wait to listen to more :'D my favorite song overall is probably mask's title track.. it makes me feel like i'm in a different Dimension. i love it so much

do you have any other music you'd like to share :O if you still want c!dream songs i'd like to suggest pet by a perfect circle, another apc song i know BUT I JUST. I PROMISE!! THIS ONE IS LITERALLY PERFECT I SWEAR

HELLO CALLIZINC MY ESTEEMED MUTUAL CALLIZINC!!!!!!!! HELL YES NO #Poser BEHAVIOR HERE

VERY BASED FAVORITES!! kick in the eye is just. an Absolute banger. i love the guitar in it especially id love to learn how to play it. and his voice is fucking perfect. 1000% one of the best bauhaus songs ever made. and in the flat field is def one of my tops too if not my #1 song.. it's just. so fucking cool, always gets stuck in my head. my name is dropped in it AND it reminds me of blorbo from my shows.. Has to be my fav <3 When he yells "I DO GET BORED!!!!" Like if you agree❤ personally im never bored listening to bauhaus tho Like you said i really hadnt heard anything like that song Ever before, it was my first bauhaus song and still stands out to me. Its unique they're just such pioneers of goth music it all holds up so well!!!! and Yas telegram sam luv when he howls in it........ think im just a huge fan of howling and wailing

and YAYYY i am always looking for more canon accurate c!dream songs‼️‼️‼️ YOURE SO RIGHT TOO PET IS PERFECT IMMEDIATELY ADDED TO MY PLAYLIST FOR CDREAM.. "THEY DONT CARE ABOUT YOU LIKE I DO" the way he whispered it genuinely gave me goosebumps. Can anyone hear me This is just like discduo for real. Also my favorite APC song you've sent me so far this one is sooooo fucking good..

putting my personal reccomendations below the cut so this ask doesn't get too long :]

hm hmmmm... if you're looking for more older goth rock music i like siouxsie and the banshees. they're similar in style to bauhaus for sure !!! this one especially is comparable, and it reminds me of post death c!q. obsession is my favorite by them (both the one with vocals and just the instrumenal), its a c!dream song I Love It. haven't listened to a full album by them yet but i rlly want to listen to all of A Kiss In The Dreamhouse because cascade is another rlly good one.

and if you're looking for something more like modest mouse/chasing around men with a garden house/indie rock which. i have been absolutely MESMERIZED by the beauty of indie rock lately calli. its kinda ridiculous how into this genre i am but. i've been listening to this band called Wolf Parade and I'm In Love with their album Apologies to the Queen Mary. if i could make a two part pmv!!! to Dear sons and daughters of hungry ghosts and I'll believe in anything that's c!wilbur centric... well. Im giving storyboarding a shot because those two songs are AMAZING and the way the transition is between them is on the album is SO SO SO rot inducing. something in my brain changed when i listened to this album all the way through i think. out of all the reccomendations i've handed you please place this one very gently in your pocket bcause there is just something So special about this album

[dingyuxi]

replying directly to ur reply: ofc + THANK /YOU/!! my majors are media & cultural studies + asian studies so nothing as intense as pharmacy but one project was sooooo stressful, i'm glad the semester is over with! ahn bohyun kind of has a punchable face................. i mean i think he was even a boxer or smthn but ..yh i get what u mean. most of the time i can overlook what i think abt actors' visuals unless they're a trashy person like lee byunghun or yoo yeonseok. watching through gifs though is the best way to enjoy a drama sometimes, especially when they're your gifs ;) and YESSS LINK!!! i agree that their visuals look good together and it's refreshing that gayoung is the older one of the two, they had table reading clips out and she seemed like an older friend that teases him !! it'll be interesting to see how they incorporate crime into the drama tho!! also if u have time pls give from now on showtime a chance! it's sooo good ik i said this in the last ask but i look forward to it the most each week out of korean dramas airing rn! i do think to my star had v natural chem and also their visuals were nice together, i'm a sucker for people who have compatible faces..ok that sounds weird but ygwim! SKIPPING THE SECOND COUPLE IN PLUS & MINUS?? *insert kermit falling off building gif* but yh.. fu ligong is my beloved. king could've hidden it anywhere in his apt but decides on one of the most open places 😭i love how cheng isn't rejecting his confession but needs time to think about seeing him romantically, super realistic and sweet! i'm still SOOO behind on lap but junyoung.. all i've been seeing is that she's starting shit like u said. she would've been better off in spainnnnnn. WAIT U THINK ONE SPRING NIGHT IS SUPERIOR TO HALF OF HALF?? i could go on for days abt half of half. the fact that it was shortened 4 eps still makes me MADDDDD. but one spring night is <333 tbh i haven't watched more since i sent u the last message but i wanna savor this haein x jimin magic. kp ep 6.. was amazing.. v obsessed w the ep!! also i only knew about alchemy of souls because of minhyun 😋i have one song saved from both flor and the band camino!! i've never heard of vinyl theatre or gentle bones so i'll definitely check out their musiccc!! also gaho!! <333 i almost saw plt in chicago when they came but i had gone to too many concerts at the time and another ticket was not in the budget 😭i haven't listened to gaho since 2020 but my fave songs are still then and pink walk!! also lucyyyyy, i need to stan them more as a band but i really liked flowering!!! gwangil's cover of 난춘 is also in my favorite videos playlist for youtube, and i very rarely hit the like button on vids but that video is liked!! also umm i saw ur carrot cake post the other day. um. ummmm. sammmm.. how can u like carrot cake ??? after all these times i've said u have superior taste w dramas i'm afraid u don't have superior taste w desserts 😥:( it's been a stressful week but hopefully next week i'll get some answers and have less stress! i'm sorry you tested positive for covid tho :( i remember at the start of the pandemic my mom's son invited my sis and i to decorate his christmas tree and then i went back home and not soon after my mom's son tested positive and my mom blamed me for possibly getting it :)))))))) but i hope u aren't feeling too sick and resting up!! i hope u are having a lovely day as well despite having covid!! - z anon

don't demean the arts like that! your studies are just as vigorous and important <33 asldkjf HE DOESSS (I don't find him hot either :D) sometimes I am a very vain individual and like to watch pretty people being pretty on my screen..."especially when they're your gifs" Z PLEASE. awww that's cute I actually haven't watched the table reading but I've seen the trailers and short clips of them. I totally forgot how old gayoung is lol but they seemed similar in age so I rolled with it. also I think they were both child actors? I know jingoo was, I think gayoung was too but I could be wrong. ahhh I'm glad you're enjoying itttt I've been kinda in a kdrama/cdrama slump since none of them are really hitting for me rn (even of the ones I am watching I'm not like SUPER invested in). kinnporsche sustains me at the moment. I'll keep showtime on the list and try it out if I have time ^^ omg is skipping the second couple a controversial take oops. I don't even want to talk about junyoung...she gets my blood boiling. UMMMM YES?? (ngl I had to google half of half because I forget apoym was also called that lol). Don't get me wrong apoym was soft and cute, but idk own just hit me more with them mature characters and themes. the episode cut our the drama I think, it really could've been better if they'd gotten the full 16 eps. omg PLT in concert! that would've been fun I'm sure. ohhh what concerts have you gone to? I've actually never been to any lmao. gaho my vocal king, love all his covers/arrangements he does with his friends KAVE. love LOVE flowering, the taste! NO DON'T YOU DARE COME FOR CARROT CAKE LIKE THAT. what did carrot cake ever do to you. I actually made carrot cake the other week, cream cheese frosting and all yummm. what's your favorite dessert then? thank you for the well wishes! I was well other than a slight sore throat and sniffles, but they only lasted for a couple days. it just sucked having to isolate myself for the whole week. I'm all better now!!

[an-exotic-writer]

(1/?) Okay so I've heard this is a good way to give feedback and love back to a writer and like last night I nearly spent the whole night reading your namjoon fics. LEMME TELL YOU WHEN I WAS READING YOUR WRITING I WAS ACTUALLY CRYING BECAUSE OF HOW GOOD IT WAS?!?!! WHICH I HAVEN'T DONE TO ANYBODY'S WRITING IN A WHILE!! And like I compiled a kind of long list of my favorite lines so here they are~ Summertime sadness - "the curve of your smile that emphasizes the swinging of a pendulum matching

(2/?)his heartbeat - Namjoon wants to stop time" this line made me cry because it described how namjoon was feeling and I love it when writers do that?!?! Also the description of how it made him feel?!? Like what! My smile made you feel like that!! Okay wow nice to know namjoon!! Thx I'm crying Not again- "because he remembers your eyes that deem so familiar that would light up for him but stopped. he once touched your hands like they meant the world to him that suddenly didn’t anymore....his

(3/?)heart, felt like it was tied to yours from the moment he first saw you, which was roughly two or three lives ago." I don't even know what this series was but this was sooooo good, like. If this was a fic I would read the fuck out of it. Also like again, the description of how namjoon is feeling but like specifically how you do it. I love the way you describe things because it's very crystal clear to me while also not being??!?! Idk. It feels like a blurry Wes Anderson movie if you get my

(4/?)drift. Beautiful, with a tinge of sadness. The scenes that you make vividly appear in my head but also make me feel so many things. "For once, I need you"- "you’re coming face to face with the boy you love, drenched in rainwater and tears, soaked in pain and hurt, drowning in the whirlpool of his own emotions so intense he can’t control himself" THIS WAS SO SAD I WAS JUST!!!!!!!! Again, I pictured this in my head like a movie scene with like a blue filter over it(I'm emo I know).

(5/?)Also specifically the lines "soaked in pain and hurt, drowning in the whirlpool of his own emotions so intense he can't control himself" I love this line so much because it made my heart break. I feel like I was him or that I was actually there with him and I just. Man, I've been in that place before and then imagining namjoon there too? Heart: torn into a million pieces. Dating Kim namjoon - "He grins, so dashing it’s making you hard to breathe, so warm it feels like a summer morning

(6/?)so genuine it makes you feel like the luckiest girl alive having being in this moment" I love this line because it perfectly encompasses his smile like I KNOW THIS EXACT SMILE THAT YOUR WRITING ABOUT!! AND IT MAKES ME FEEL THE EXACT SAME WAY!! IT DOES MAKE IT HARD TO BREATHE!! And then also your most recent "awful weather" one - "with a hint of gentleness from Namjoon when his fingers stroke your skin, his lips humming in your neck to replicate the motions from up above, brought down below

(7/?)when his legs are tangled with yours" and "A hand of yours cups his cheek and he leans into your touch despite being so close, so connected to you, it’s almost never enough". YOU ARE TALENTED!! Like the set up in the first line with the weather outside and then you followed up with that line. Wow. I'm amazed and in shock. Also the second line, for the billionth time: I love how you describe how namjoon is feeling and the feeling that it gives off. Like I really feel like I am there with him

(8/8)Like I really feel like I am there with him and I just. Am crying. Anyways, Sorry I'm really bad at describing things but I just had to tell you how much your work affected me because YOU! DESERVE! IT! Honestly there are more but like, I would be saying the same thing over n over again. Funny thing is, namjoon isn't my only bias in bts and now I have to read all of your other fics. I'm sweating.

can i just say when i woke up and opened my tumblr i saw about 8 asks and i was squinting at it because i was wondering who’s going to hurt me with their imagines or who is out to get me today because i don’t usually get a lot of asks unless i write full blown scenarios so i kept staring at it until i clicked on it.

i scrolled to read your first message and i was just ;; - ;; MY HEART IS NOT READY FOR THIS AND NOW I JUST COMPILED IT ALTOGETHER INTO ONE ASK AND I’M GONNA READ IT WISH ME LUCK

i just read everything and let me just say i have TEARS in my eyes now. i’m just here sitting and rereading this message again and again because it makes me so happy and i’ve been frustrated with things outside of tumblr as of late and reading this just throws off all the bad feelings and someone shoved a pillow of love in my face - THAT WAS WHAT YOU MADE ME FEEL WITH YOUR WORDS

I DON’T KNOW WHO YOU ARE BUT I WILL FIND YOU, HUNT YOU DOWN AND TACKLE YOU WITH MY LOVE AND SMOTHER YOU IN MY EMBRACE UNTIL YOU CAN’T BREATHE BECAUSE THAT’S HOW YOU MADE ME FEEL WITH THIS AND THAT’S WHAT YOU MADE ME DO WITH YOUR KIND WORDS.

seriously though, thank you so much for this. i do get lovely messages and encouragements from people from time to time but this, THIS MY FRIEND will be stored in my file of screenshots of my fave compliments that i read whenever i’m down so thank you.