#surprisingly the bunny designs were still more difficult than these...

[ohnoitsz1m]

What the hell, sure. Half Life but it's Guardians of Ga'hoole

Look at my owls.

[dreamii-yume]

When you said しし (shishi) I thought about a piss kink... Mainly because I used to say 'shishi' instead of pee when I was younger

LOL I FORGOT TO ADD THE THIRD SHI—

ALSO— WHY does my brain work better ideas once there’s that one questionable kink in an ask (● ˃̶͈̀ロ˂̶͈́)੭ꠥ⁾⁾I don’t even know if this was a crumb idea or— aaaaa

Ruggie is just that skillful guy who knows a lot about what he’s doing, doesn’t matter what it is, he’ll learn and master it soon enough.

The act of distraction by talking about topics that he knew you would be interested in, that’s also a piece of cake. His voice and seemingly genuine interest in the conversation had you so lost that you didn’t even notice how constantly he kept pouring drinks in your cup. Just as you would finish a glass, he’d rile the conversation towards himself and muses as he saw your eyes sparkled, before you know it, there’s a new batch of drink in your cup once again. He had to stop himself from chuckling out loud every time you would cluelessly down one glass, excited of how this outcome can do for you. Soon enough though, you started reacting as the liquid you consume began building up inside you and visibly froze in your spot.

Ruggie glanced down to see you fidgeting with your thighs squishing against each other, that blush on your face made you look hot and cute at the same time. You were trying to find an opportunity to excuse yourself in the midst of Ruggie’s words, not wanting to seem rude to cut him off mid-sentence. Being the little shit that he is, he purposely prolonged his point of the conversation, observing how you were more focus on keeping your bladder in control rather than actually listening to him now. When he finally finished talking, you hastily stood up from your seat the moment he breaths in, giving him a shaky smile and excusing yourself to the toilet. It was so funny how you didn’t even wait for his answer and just dashed away, Ruggie wonders if you even know where the bathroom is here in Savanaclaw but he guessed that was the least of your worries at that point.

Of course, like the little lost bunny that you are, frantically searched without a plan with Ruggie just watching you from behind. You look like you’re on the verge of tears, closing your eyes from time to time as a way to control your shaking legs. He noticed how you purposely avoided asking for guidance, probably because you didn’t have enough willpower to stomach in the nervousness and your impatient bladder at the same time, but surprisingly, you went and tap a Savanaclaw dorm member’s shoulder for instructions. Now, this made Ruggie tensed up since being a Savanaclaw dorm member himself, he knew their responses would either be as aggressive as he’d imagine, or reasonably rational. Luckily, with your pitiful appearance alone, the Savanaclaw dorm member just instead back down and pointed to the designated bathroom you were looking for.

This made Ruggie sigh, relieved yet disappointed at the same time since his little enjoyment of watching you struggle like a new-born fawn is reaching its end. However, as he trails after your dashing figure, one little fun yet cruel idea came to mind and he isn’t quite sure whether to be disgusted with himself or to praise himself for it. But if he was going to commit in such morbid kind of enjoyment then might as well just partake in it to the fullest, right?

Reaching the toilets filled with different stalls, you found yourself sighing a breath of relief since no one seemed to be around, too distracted by the party going on outside. You walked over to one stall and open it, revealing a perfectly clean toilet and you almost saw it as your bright savior at that moment. However, once you were actually ready to step in inside, a hand snaked its way around your shoulder, startling half of your soul out of you. Your heart began beating so fast once again that you thought your bladder had given out from that shock.

“Hey there, (Y/N)~” His playful voice rang out and you immediately recognized him, the arm began wrapping itself around your neck this time, preventing you from moving away any further. “Fancy seeing you here~”

“R-Ruggie-senpai…” You whimpered out, tears on the side of your eyes as the sight of the toilet in front of you had only urged the temptation of your bladder to just burst. “P-Please let go, I-I need to-“

“Mm-hm! I know, why else would you be here then?” He said in a mocking way, yet is making no actual efforts to comply with what you requested. Instead, you squeaked as his other hand moved up your thigh, brushing his fingertips so gently to create goosebumps along the way. “I just…kinda want to help you out, y’know?”

“Eh!?” You widened your eyes, gasping as his hand reached your clothed flower and started rubbing against it.

“…Oh, you’re already a little wet down here…” Ruggie said, blinking as he rubbed circles around the wet patch of your underwear before smirking right back at you. ”I wonder if you just couldn’t hold yourself longer? You’re such a baby, aren’t you~?”

“N-No, I- Aah…!” You tried protesting and struggling out of his hold, yet he already has your head in an inescapable arm lock and resisting could more or less choke you. He slipped his hand inside, his cold hands making you squeak from a single touch and tried to close your thighs to deny access. “R-Ruggie-senpai…!”

You whined, but Ruggie only hummed in fascination as his fingers rubbed up and down your slit, gathering your slick juices. You tried struggling forward, but that only got you in a more awkward bending position, which oddly worked on his favor. You gasped a shaky breath as his fingers began experimenting on your folds, occasionally pulling on your labia apart and stimulating your insides. The pressure inside you increases and you could only widen your eyes at it, especially when one of his fingers had slipped inside of you as a test. “You’re soaking up, and reallyclenching down on my finger, (Y/N)…Can’t take it anymore?”

You began to sob, mostly out of embarrassment as your nails dug on his arm around your neck, airy moans unconsciously coming out of your mouth as he began to pump in and out of you. You tried your hardest not to burst at that moment, too ashamed to do it in a position and place like this when there was a ready-to-use toilet in front of you, but it was getting more and more difficult at every second. But try as you may though, you couldn’t really control some small streaks of urine to come out of you, especially as he added another finger in. With thrusts that was getting faster and deeper, teasing your bladder out of its constricted binds to just let every dirty liquid you have to just flow in a messy impact. You heard Ruggie chuckling from behind your ears, likely really enjoying his little play and how it was affecting you.

Then, as the cold surface of his thumb came in contact with your sensitive clit, that’s when the last bit of your persistence suddenly crumbles away. Your voice cracked at how sudden the action was and your walls close in on his fingers the tightest it ever had. “Aah!” You exclaimed as a little rub on your nub was all it took for you to break down just like that.

In the midst of his brutal finger-fucking, a surge of liquid came bursting out of you, the relief of your bladder finally being released from the insane pressure had your eyes rolling to the back of your head. Streaks of yellowish liquid trailed down your thighs and stained your panties in an instant, squirting out messily on the floor as your legs shook. “Ah, there it goes!” Ruggie exclaimed but still lodged his fingers deep inside of you, as if curious to see how it flows out like this. It took a good five seconds for you to calm down on your high, there was so many emotions that came out of you; The relief, the pleasure, and soon, the humiliation, but most notably, the sudden exhaustion.

“Alright~ That’s a job well-done, (Y/N)~” Ruggie praised as he adjusted his hold on you as your legs were practically dying at this point. He pulled his fingers out that made you flinch and groan at the same time, and the next thing you knew, you were being hoisted up to the toilet. Sitting there listlessly, you finally saw your Hyena senior grinning smugly at you from ear to ear as if feigning innocence with that signature laugh of his. He looked down at your soaked panties and breath out. “Well, I can’t just leave you here like this, so be a good girl and wait for me inside this stall, okay?”

You groaned in response, not knowing what to actually say or even having enough energy to say anything at all. However, you squeaked as you noticed Ruggie was slowly slipping your ruined underwear off your legs and panicked. “You probably don’t need this anymore, right? I’ll bring you something else to wear so, just sit here and be pretty little thing that you are like always.” He said as he stood up, casually waving your panties around, causing more heat to spread in your face.

Of course, Ruggie noticed such thing and just grinned at your reaction, it’s really fun to mess with you like this. He stepped out of the stall and as he was about to close the door, he stopped and gave you one last look. “Oh, by the way-“ He called out, showing your piss-stained panties tangled on his fingers once again before chuckling. “This counts as a gift, right? Thanks, (Y/N)~”

Then, he finally closes the door, leaving you to contemplate on what the hell just happened.

Now I just need Jack to complete the “Helping-Darling-Pee” series and the Savanaclaw Watersports™ Event would be completed- Seriously, HOW did I end up doing this lol Yume's not even an extreme piss kink fan wtf ─=≡Σ((( つ＞＜)つ Happy fckin Birthday, Ruggie lol

[chronic-claire-universe]

HI CLAIRE!!! I AM COMING BACK AGAIN TO JOIN THE MATCH UP 😩 I hope you don't mind!

CONGRATS AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEAUTIFUL CLAIRE!!! I hope Ran always come to your dreams every single night 😌💖 We should discussing our fantasy about him again soon 😌

And here is me! (I edited this so I can give you a complete description about me)

I'm 8w9 INTP sp/sx sun: Leo moon: gemini, my height is 153cm and I have a petite body. Mentally ill? Yes, I am bipolar and having anorexia (more like relapsing again after surgery). When I am at my manic episode, I almost kill my family at the car-crash because I got too irritated that I pulled my sister's hair while she was driving—luckily she's a good driver or I am gonna be in jail rn 😩 When I was a kid, I used to get into some fights with boys (I won ofc) but since my father died, I tried not to get into fight ( I don't want to deal with my mother's dramatic and victim-mentality ass ) and I (gladly) never fight again after that 😌 That's why I really good at sport ( as a female I always got the highest point—even when compared to the male, I still on the top 5 on sport ) I really good on art ngl that's the reason I am at uni rn because I got scholarship (I won several art competition)! Also, I did english debate competition back then, but we were this ��� close to get into semi-final but bruh we defeated by 0.20 point! 🥲 I can do all those things by self-taught!

When I feel sad or miserable, I punish myself by starving myself lmao. Or I will usually get quiet and cut people around me. 

My social skills? Fine I think. I weirdly get along with a lot of people (everyone kinda knows me) but I never talk to them first. Even though I have a lot of friends, I only have one close friend ( tragic right:") )

My personality is rude—blunt in the rude way(?), I do whatever I want to because I seek freedom of expression, LOVE debating about certain issues, and surprisingly I'm quite a wise person. But, I have no jam. Right, I couldn't make any jokes since I usually use the wrong tone in my voice :( I prefer to keep my joke inside my imagination or write it down somewhere. I always try to dominate my man, but I want my man to dominate me too ( do you get what I mean here? 😭 ) I love to be alone too. I HATE loud voices, reptiles, and crowds. I'm not the type of person who easily shows my love to anyone. I think because I have a really high pride *sigh. I felt like my kin actually is Rindou Haitani. But when I took the quiz I got Kazutora, Getou, Mori, Eren, and Dio Brando (that's the funny one)

I'm working as a graphic designer. Which somehow makes me currently don't have any interest. But I love listening to music (pop-rock and r&b ) . I love watching wwe/mma and hate romance anime/movies.

I'd like JJK and Haikyuu match up, please🥺  NSFW and I want male!

—Sorry for long ask :(

Hey my sweet plum, I read your request thousand times, let me say that I got worried and a bit sad hearing what you had to face in your life. I hope your mental health, despite your bipolarism, it isn't too messed up, lot of genius such as Michelangelo suffered bipolar disorder and see what he was capable to create! Ran woke me up this weekend, he wanted company 😁

Anyway, here your escort for my birthday party:

Jujutsu Kaisen - Megumi Fushiguro

Babe it was him or Nanamin, I opted that Megumi could be better since he has more patience than Nanami for your bratty attitude.

Megumi has the sharp mind to get through your facade, to understand your struggles and cope without problems with your rythm.

When you're manic episodes appear, he knows how to support every idea you get, even the strangest one. The first times he was worried to see you this active and in the mood to do things but now he got used to it.

Talking about these episodes, he enjoys when you're in the mood to debate with him or others.

He often suggest to watch some educative documentaries or biopic movies especially the ones that involves human rights. You get in a fiery mood when you watch it and try to explain why the things that the characthers had to endure are atrocious and illegally and how we should fight to eradicate them from the society.

Going to the other facade of the your personality, the depressive episodes are quite difficult to handle, you stay a lot in bed, you don't want to do anything.

He always brings you a cup of tea and cuddles you for hour, sometimes he gives you a paper to let you draw.

He hates when he needs to get you up for work, he knows you struggle and sometimes even cry but in the end when you get a grip you feel a little bit better.

In these cases, he brings you out for a jog or just a walk with his divine dogs or the little bunnies ready to pet.

Overall Megumi has a lot of patience with you but he's repaid when he sees the portrait and the things you cook for him, the struggle worths the prize in the end!

Haikyuu - Daichi Sawamura

I decided you definitely need a calm but strict man in your life and Daichi is perfect for this!

In Haikyuu universe you definitely play in the female team and you met Daichi during a combined training! You're a middle blocker in your team and you can't get me think otherwise!

You are strong and Daichi is astonished to see this, but when Nekoma came for the second time in Miyagi and Kuroo got on you, to give you some advices for a better tecnique, that's where Daichi got really jealous! He saw you for first and he definitely doesn't want, that roosterhead to hit on you!

"Marv go out with me!" it wasn't a question, it was a statement "I guess asking isn't in your knowledge, but Daichi there are proper times when to ask me out. Not when I'm sweaty and in a middle of a training!" you say with sharp eyes, Kuroo laughed at your bluntness and went away, but Daichi reply "Yep, sorry I got carried away and I felt to say it know" you smirk and say "Jelous are we? Ne Daichi don't blush!".

Your relationship is pretty natural, your dates consist in training and homemade dinner

You're pretty active and energetic in Daichi's mind, that's why when you went in one of your depressive episodes he got really worried.

As Megumi he took a lot of care of you, but the difference is that he prefers that you recover from yourself, also, if you have a therapy it's really difficult for you to take it in these moments and he obliges you to eat something and help you bring down the pill.

Normally you would hate these moments, but Daichi knows really well how to handle them, comfort foods such as pizza, tacos, ice cream, sushi are there for you to help you improve your mood and somehow it helps.

When you get a bit better, you can't go out training but you definitely draw or play sports with the Wii at home, this is definitely quality time for him.

Overall it could sound strange but Daichi doesn't hate these episodes, because he can see that you can do chores or just have fun, and this is definitely a proof of strenght for him!

He definitely loves Marv the warrior girl!

I finished! Babe hope this wasn't too sad for you, but I figured out that seeing you needed fluff and comfort, thanks for opening up and join the event, if you want to help me with a little gift here this is my Ko-Fi!

[unfunny-quips]

Snippet from my (other) overly complicated Akeshu Time Loop fic where everyone except Akira (mostly) remembers the previous year:

Akechi Goro’s apartment was nothing like what Ann had expected it to be. Though admittedly her imagination had been a bit conflicted on what she should expect.

The shiny, polite Ace Detective facade he showed the world suggested she should expect a living space ripped straight out of a designer magazine. Attractive but stiff, nice to look at but difficult to actually live in let alone be comfortable in when visiting.

On the other hand, what she’d seen of his other side - the feral, blood thirsty and thoroughly nasty Black Mask - made her think of a dungeon like space. Chains on the walls, maybe one of those disturbing cluttered spaces shown on crime dramas when the heroes were hunting a serial killer. Pictures with blacked out eyes pinned to the walls, red string connecting disparate and terrifying thoughts and images, a collection of weapons on display.

What she got was…neither of those.

Shiho led her down the kind of pleasant residential area that put Ann in mind of the best kind of summers as a kid. A big park, open friendly faces, a community that seemed friendly and kind to each other. Shiho smiled and waved to a number of people on their way, the few they stopped to chat with for a bit telling her to give their hellos on to Akechi before letting them continue.

The apartment itself was the converted guest house in the back garden of what looked to be a cheerful family home. Ann counted no less than three fat cats lazing about and when they approached a delightfully plump old woman seated in a rocking chair on the front porch sat up from her reading to say hello and welcome Ann. Shiho called her Obaasan and rushed to give her a hug like she really was Shiho’s beloved grandmother before the old woman ushered them down the side path towards the back of the house.

“That’s Goro’s landlady, Shibata-San,” Shiho said as they walked the narrow path that led along the side of the house and through a truly beautiful garden. “She’s super sweet but has trouble with her arthritis sometimes. She gives Goro a deal on the rent since he helps her out so much around the house and with her gardening.”

Akechi Goro being nice to little old ladies. Ann wasn’t certain if that was exactly what she expected from the deranged killer pretending to be a charming teen detective or something so far out of the realm of expected as to be laughable. She chose to make a polite hmm noise of interest instead, not wanting to break the good mood Shiho was in by bringing up how very much Ann hated Akechi. She was rewarded by Shiho smiling warmly at her, which was really all the shorter girl would need to do to convince Ann to murder someone in Shiho’s name.

Shiho knocked at the door and Ann took a final calming breath to prepare her for the night that lay ahead of her. It was just a few hours, and she’d be there with Shiho and there would be plenty of other people to help buffer her from Akechi and Akira. Ann had helped shoot a god in the face once, she was ready for anything Akechi might throw at her over a few hours of talking about a book.

She wasn’t even close to ready, as it turned out.

The realization settled in the moment the door opened to reveal a yawning Akechi standing before her with messy hair and Featherman themed pajamas. Rumpled and clearly well worn Featherman pajamas.

Ann felt her eyes widen comically at the sight of the boy that had once been her and her team’s arch nemesis. A known and dangerous killer who had taken countless lives in the name of his twisted revenge scheme. 

He was wearing adorable unicorn slippers. Their horns were rainbow.

“Ah, Shiho!” Akechi said through his yawn, face stretching into a warm smile as he spotted the shorter girl on the other side of the threshold. “Just in time, I need help hauling Akira’s dead weight to the bedroom.” Ann watched him scratch lazily at his chin before blinking his attention over to her and offered another smile. It was a  brittle, plastic thing in comparison to the honest warmth he’d offered the shorter girl. All polish and teeth, no actual emotion. “And Takamaki-San, I’m so glad you could join us for the evening.”

He looked anything but, especially with the white knuckled grip he had on the door handle.

Ann offered a strained smile of her own. She’d made a promise to Shiho damnit and she’d see it through if it killed her. Or if Akechi killed her. Whatever. The point was that she was going to try damnit.

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world!” She said as Akechi stepped back to allow them inside. Shiho gave a faint wince at the overly perky tone Ann had and shoot she’d overshot the enthusiasm a bit. Oh well. Better to be too excited than not enough. She followed Shiho’s lead in taking her shoes off and slipping on a pair of house slippers before turning her attention to the apartment itself.

It was…surprisingly cozy.

Ann was surprised too by the amount of clutter taking up the apartment. A laundry basket of half-folded, clean clothes sitting next to the couch, a knocked over bag tossed on a side table by the front door, more pillows and blankets than Ann would have expected making it seem like a nice place to curl up and read in. The apartment still managed to look tidy despite the half hearted attempt at organization.

Most of the space consisted of a living room with a tiny kitchenette tucked in a corner. There was a small nook beside the cooking area likely meant for dining. The small table placed there was taken over by a nice looking chess set, leaving no room for any actual dining. A small blackboard hung on the wall beside it, tallying victories of each player - tied, from what Ann could see, between Akechi and Kurusu. Other than that there were a couple doors leading to what she presumed to be a bedroom and a bathroom. 

It looked so remarkably normal.

Hardwood floors, plush rugs thrown everywhere, overstuffed bookshelves, pictures on the wall. There was a larger one hung over the couch showing off the entire book club smiling brightly at what looked like a cat cafe. Shiho, Akechi, Kurusu, Yoshizawa, even Togo Hifumi and Iwai’s son Kaoru. All of them squeezed together to fit, hands up in peace signs or giving each other bunny ears.

They looked normal. Just kids hanging out, enjoying each other’s company and reading books. It was hard to reconcile the photo with the mental image Ann had of several of the members as potential agents of Yaldabaoth.

Seeing how happy Shiho looked in the pictures didn’t help.

Ann pushed the thoughts away as best she could and followed other two to where a half asleep Akira was laid sprawled half under a large kotatsu. The delinquent had his head thrown back on the couch behind him, one of the many throw pillows Akechi apparently owned curled in his arms. She was surprised to see his usual oversized glasses he so often hid behind tossed haphazardly on the kotatsu. His eyes were closed, but he cracked one open when he heard them come over.

“M’fine here.” He muttered, curling up further around his pillow.

Akechi rolled his eyes. 

“There is a bed literally right there.” he pointed at one of the two closed doors for emphasis, mere steps away. Akira was already turning away and wiggling further beneath the kotatsu blanket. “Just go to bed Akira, no one else is even going to be here for another hour at least.”

Ann blinked. “What?” She turned from the drowsy Akira to Shiho, the shorter girl giving an unapologetic, challenging smile.

“Goro said we could come over early so you could get settled in!” Shiho said, chipper and all too aware of the fact that Ann had been banking on keeping her attention on other people in order to ignore Akechi. She really shouldn’t have been surprised. Shiho really did know her too well.

Akechi offered another brittle smile before turning his attention back to Akira, his expression softening again. Ann watched as the detective attempted to scoop the dark haired boy up, only for Akira to slip out of his grasp by going boneless, earning an undignified swear from the detective. 

Ann watched as the detective attempted to drag the delinquent away by an arm, amused as Shiho strolled over casually and hauled Akira up over her shoulder - pillow and all - in a fireman’s hold. She did it with such ease that Ann was a left little breathless at the show of strength. Akira wasn’t heavy by any measure but he was tall and she’d seen him working out at the gym the one time she went with Ryuji. The boy had muscle and that couldn’t be light. It didn’t matter to the short girl and her exceptional strength and well… Ann was weak to Shiho in so very many ways.

A few minutes later Akira had been safely stowed in a proper bed, the faint sound of soft snores heard from the dark haired delinquent before Shiho had even made it through the door. Which just left the three of them standing awkwardly in the living room.

Joy.

“I’m not nearly as good as Akira or Boss,” Akechi began, “But I can make a passable cup of coffee with what I’ve got here. Would you like one?”

There was a very real chance he might poison it. Ann nodded anyway to appease Shiho, resigned to the fact that she really was willing to do anything to see the shorter girl smile. 

Akechi shuffled towards the kitchenette in his ridiculous fluffy unicorn slippers and began fussing with the various coffee supplies that took up almost all of his very limited counter space. He was even nice enough to pull out a container of some cookies - a favorite brand of Ann’s on top of it - that hadn’t even been opened yet from a cupboard. She felt secure in the knowledge that those at least hadn’t been tampered with as she began happily devouring them.

“He’s still refusing to move in?” Shiho asked Akechi softly as she settled on the plush loveseat adjacent to the couch, tugging Ann down beside her. The dark haired girl pulled her feet up and under her, Shiho’s expression turning concerned as she watched Akechi work.

Akechi gave a soft sigh as he began boiling some water for the coffee. “He’s just so damn stubborn.” The detective said, shoulder’s drooping as he measured the freshly ground coffee out. “That place is killing him, but every time I bring it up he digs his heels in.”

Shiho gave a soft sigh before turning her attention to Ann to explain. “Akira is…” She paused, frowning, “His living situation is…bad.” Ann flicked her attention to Akechi as she heard him mutter a faint fucking understatement of the year under his breath. “Goro has offered to let him stay here but Akira’s worried that his record would hurt Goro’s reputation.”

“Oh,” Ann said, turning her attention on the delicate chocolate dipped cookie she held. Akira’s criminal record, that had been made public and well known by Mishima at Komashida’s request. Because Akira had stepped in and kept the teacher from getting to Shiho. Something Ann should have done. “Isn’t there something he can do? He’s staying with a guardian right? Couldn’t he just request to be moved under someone else?”

Akechi snorted bitterly. “Great idea, so that scam artist can report him as being “dangerous” and get him sent back to Juvie?” Red eyes turned to Ann, pinning her in place as Akechi’s mouth twisted into a sour frown. “You know about shitty adults. You know there really aren’t options like that for people in Akira’s position.”

Ann was struck again by the strange clash between what she expected from Akechi from the last run of the game and what he was showing her in this one. 

A facade of niceties for the camera, a howling soul of insanity for anyone who got in his way. Where, exactly, between those two extremes lay concern for a friend in a difficult position? Where did friends lay in that mess at all? Where did the cozy apartment, helping out an arthritic old lady, the weekly book club, the Featherman pajamas? Was there a graph somewhere that might map it all out? Or was she just supposed to guess at what was a real glimpse at the boy that had once murdered her friend’s father and what was an act to get what he wanted?

“Here,” Akechi said, and for a moment she half expected him to hand her the answers she wanted. He didn’t, of course, instead handing her a cup of coffee resting on a matching saucer. Both cup and saucer had cute chubby cats on them. “Cream? Sugar?”

She blinked and nodded, watching as he turned on his heel to get her what she asked for. Shiho beside her shifted where she sat, butting their shoulders together gently. Her face, when Ann met her gaze, was thoughtful. Considering Ann as if she was the puzzle and not the serial killer juggling a carton of cream and an oversized container of sugar across the room. Trying to stow her apprehension away for the night, Ann offered her friend the best honest expression she could while knowing how many lies she’d given the shorter girl over the past months. 

Shiho’s expression shifted slowly, the look in her dark eyes difficult to read. Ann watched as the other girl turned to sip at her coffee. Shiho didn’t even wait for it to cool. She always liked her drinks hot enough to scald.

“You know, maybe it’s the way you’re asking.” Shiho said, the complicated emotions Ann glimpsed the moment before shuffled away as the dark haired girl turned a devious smile on Akechi.

The detective looked weary and wary all at once. “Shiho…” His tone had something like a weak warning to it, though the bite Ann was used to hearing from him was absent.

“I’m just saying,” Shigo said, looking delighted, “You’re asking him to move in with you as a friend.”

“Don’t.” Akechi said, it might have been sharp and snapping if it wasn’t for the color rising high on the boy’s cheeks. Ann blinked in bewilderment. Was Akechi Goro blushing?

“Just ask him to be your boyfriend already!” Shiho said, all cheer and delight with an undercurrent of something challenging directed at the now definitely blushing Akechi. “We all saw you two kiss at the ice rink! It’s not like the thing between you it’s a secret!”

Ann choked on the cookie she’d just popped into her mouth. Akechi - so red that Ann was fairly certain he was going to turn purple soon - made a high pitched squeak and buried his face in his hands.

Well that put a new light on things.

“You kissed Kurusu?!” Cookies crumbs went flying as she spoke but Ann didn’t care. The news was just too big to be taken in calmly. Makoto had suspected that Kurusu, a known criminal, was a pawn in Akechi’s devious plan and the rest of the group had been thinking the same. Morgana suggested that the dark haired boy might even be the new player they’d been warned about.

At no point at any of them considered Akechi could be so human as to simply just like Kurusu.

“It’s not that - you’re taking things out of context!” Akechi almost wailed, not a psychopath ready to kill at a drop of a hat but an embarrassed teenage boy being teased about his crush.

Shiho laughed, “You two held hands!” 

“I didn’t know how to skate! Kurusu was helping me balance!”

“You stayed on the ice during the couple’s song!”

“We just didn’t want to get off the ice!”

“You stopped, in the middle of the rink, looked deep into each other’s eyes while holding hands and kissed.”

As if to drive her point home, Shiho lifted her phone to show a picture - a bit blurry at the edges but clear enough to make out - of Akechi and Kurusu definitely having a sweet, romantic kiss on the ice. Clearly completely oblivious of the world around them as they did so. It was possibly the cutest thing Ann had ever seen.

Any idea Ann ever had of Akechi Goro being intimidating was thrown right out the window.

[sombreboy]

Mused obsession (1)

Written by @sombreboy​ as Jungkook & @chimoona​​ as Jimin Banner by @carly-bean-blog​​

[ masterlist ]

⇢Explicit (18+) ⇢Pairing: Jungkook & Jimin ⇢Genre: yandere, smut, mxm ⇢Word count: 7.4k ⇢Ch.warnings: (Does sexual tension count?) None.

Industry famous Jeon Jungkook of GJK photography takes an interest in a model and up-and-coming fashion designer, Park Jimin. After an opportunity to study the man behind his trusty lens, he thinks he may have just found his new muse.

Jimin shifts in his chair to find a comfortable position. He’s about half an hour into hair and makeup and already itching to get in front of the camera. It’s day one of promo shots for a clothing line he’s actually passionate about—his own. He’d come far in his career, gaining traction for his unique look and alluring personality. Now it was time to get the recognition he deserved, as a model and a visionary. He powered through a couple solid years of being a nobody, doing whatever gig got his foot in the right door. Today is the beginning of his new chapter, a rebranding milestone. He only hopes he has the right crew to make his vision a reality. 

Jungkook is a famous photographer, widely known for his brand name ‘GJK’ within the industry. Having a photoshoot with him was rare to come by, not because he is difficult to reach, but because he is extremely picky with whom he works with. Only the best of the best gets his lens pointed at them, and it just so happens, Jungkook found Jimin among many possible clients to work with.

The fashion itself wasn’t exactly what Jungkook cared for, but he had to admit that it was eye catching, fresh, and modern. However, what truly caught JK’s eye was the man behind it all, Park Jimin. He looked deeper into who this man was, and was impressed with how he’d worked his way up from nothing to where he’s at now, Jungkook himself being a large stepping stone for the young man.

Kook could see himself in him in a way, having worked his way up by being dedicated to his hard work, and at his young age—being known as the highest profile photographer in the industry.

He’s busy, setting up the studio lighting, making sure his camera is in place before roaming the room, one hand held out as his staff brought him his banana milk. A guilty pleasure. He hates coffee—but loves overly sweet drinks.

‘‘Where’s Jimin? Shouldn’t he be here by now?’‘ JK glances at his staff, who bows in apology and makes their way to call for the model that it was time.

Jimin’s heart pounds in his chest at the shaky sound of his name being called by a spooked PA. 

“Showtime, Sir,” she mutters. “Mr. Jeon doesn’t like to be left waiting.” 

The makeup artist snaps to attention and gives a final spot-check for imperfections while the hairstylist fluffs his soft hair for a “just woke up” look. 

“Who’s running the show here?” Jimin asks quietly, feeling a little cocky, but not enough to ever say it in front of the high-profile photographer. The man makes him nervous, he hates to admit. He’s still trying to wrap his mind around how he scored Jungkook for his promo shoot, but didn’t think to ask out of fear he would back out. Jimin admires Jungkook’s tenacity and work ethic, despite being the younger of the two. He had to make sure everything was perfect, knowing very well how he liked his subjects to be of visual perfection and grace. “Please tell him I’m on my way.”

Jungkook sighs when the PA comes back with the news, sipping his artificial drink with one hand firmly placed on his hip. His eyes roam the room, making sure everything is the way he wants it. Normally, the staff would do the work, but being picky as he is, he prefers to set everything up himself. That way, if something wasn’t up to par, it was all on him.

‘‘Alright everyone, when he arrives, you know the rules. I want utter privacy.’‘

Jimin steps into the studio, dressed in his first look—a clean form-fitted blazer and tight black jeans, paired with genuine leather ankle boots. He didn’t want gaudy accessories but couldn’t resist slipping slim silver rings over his delicate fingers to match his signature silver hoops. His public persona until this point has been very bubbly and light—the typical boy next door. Now he wants to flip the industry on its head and feature an aesthetic of dark neutrals with metallic accents.

He was too busy smoothing over his blazer as he approached Jungkook to realize it was just the two of them. When he looks up, he notices just one set of eyes staring back. No PAs, no stylists. Just the undivided attention of Jungkook as he sipped his sugary milk. 

“Oh—uh...hello, Jeon. I appreciate you taking on this project at such short notice,” he nods politely, reaching out a hand to shake. “Is the staff off for lunch? Will they be returning?” 

Jungkook glances down at Jimin’s delicate hands, observing the small rings adorning them. He was a man of detail, taking notice of every single piece the elder was wearing, the colours, even how every strand of his hair was placed. Letting his gaze dissect the man for a moment, still sipping his drink, he finally releases the straw with a pop as he reaches out to take the smaller hand in his. Call him rude, or maybe socially awkward, but instead of a normal handshake, he simply pulls the hand closer to his face to inspect the jewelry.

‘‘No, I asked them to leave.’‘ Jungkook simply states before releasing Jimin’s hand, ‘‘I prefer to work with my clients in privacy.’‘

Jimin swallows audibly, watching the photographer as he inspects his hand. He didn’t find it odd that he was engrossed in his appearance, however, a shiver ran down his spine at Jungkook’s reply. A new wave of anxiety washes over him at the revelation they were alone and would remain that way for the duration of the shoot. 

“I, uh, I see,” he says, eyes roaming over the younger’s meticulous setup. “You never cease to amaze me, Jeon. You think you can handle this all on your own?”

With one eyebrow raised, Jungkook tilts his head as his eyes travel back up to meet Jimin’s.

‘‘Do I think I can handle this on my own?’‘ He repeats softly, a smile pulling on the corners of his lips. He brings the straw back into his mouth before motioning with his hand for Jimin to follow him onto the set, pointing towards the spot which he wants the elder to stand on. He turns around, waiting for Jimin to follow his silent instructions.

In the back of Jimin’s mind he couldn’t help worrying how it would all turn out. He has a lot riding on this, yet he knows Jungkook is a man of his word. His portfolio is anything but defamatory and unprofessional. He truly is an artist of taste. On top of that, Jungkook’s calm and nonchalant attitude was surprisingly alluring, easy to follow. 

“I hired you for a reason,” Jimin replies, belated, “I trust your judgement.” After stepping on his marker, Jimin takes in the ironed backdrop and pristine lighting structure. Jungkook seems to be more than prepared without assistance, which puts him at ease. 

Jimin falls into his role of model, standing in contrapposto with his shoulders held back proudly. “How would you like me?” he asks, staring into the photographer’s dark umber eyes. They caught him by surprise, how focused they were on his every movement.

Jungkook’s eyes never wavered from him, observing every single movement of his. He would be lying if he said he wasn’t entranced by the elegance that oozed off of the elder. His movements were so delicate, as if every step had purpose. It made him smile.

‘‘Just stay like that.’‘ Kook threw his finished drink to the side before getting behind the camera, able to properly focus on every detail through the lense as he adjusts his angle. The man in front of him is photogenic, that’s for sure. He’s gorgeous. Before Jimin was even ready for the shoot to begin, the sound of the camera going off a couple times echoed; JK withdrew a bit to check how the first series of photos turned out with a content expression.

This is one way that he likes to do it to warm up, to see how the model would react to his sudden actions. Would they be anxious? Would they get mad? Or something completely different?

Jimin pushes his hair back with his ring-clad hand, getting lost in the moment. It’s flattering to see just how eager Jungkook is to begin. Granted, his rapid test shots are more than he’s used to. He’s always ready to adapt to a new situation. 

He runs through his series of standard poses, leaning into them harder because it seems to please the younger man. If he’s enthusiastic about the process, Jimin is positive it will shine through in the final product. 

“How is it turning out?” 

Jungkook removes the camera from the tripod stand he originally intended to use, staring down at the screen on his camera while flipping through the images,

‘‘It’s okay.’‘ He nods to confirm his own words, checking before bringing the camera back up in front of his face and snapping another photo of Jimin while he was speaking. He went back into his own world of checking his latest photograph, a nodding hum in thought as he stared at it. 

‘‘The camera loves you.’‘ 

As Jungkook thought, this man truly was photogenic, and the fact that he knew how to be on camera only made the photos more beautiful. Even if he wasn’t prepared for his latest shot, it turned out to be his favourite photo of them all. His eyes fell back on the elder before he spoke. 

‘‘Grab that chair and sit on it, please.’‘

The flash of Jungkook’s camera caught Jimin off guard while he was mid-speak, but it must have turned out well. It brought a smile to Jungkook’s face as he stared down at his display screen, endearing bunny teeth peeking out from his rosy lips. He must be going for a specific style, trying to capture the feel of his clothing in a candid moment. 

God, he really is a genius. 

At Jungkook’s command, Jimin pulls over a chair and sits on it, draping his arm over the back casually.

Jungkook approaches by a few steps, crouching on the floor as he points his camera towards Jimin. This time he gives him an opportunity to be ready for the photo. However, before snapping the photo, he whispers out a few words with his sweet voice.

‘’You’re a beauty,’’ –To trigger a reaction, whether it might be a smile, a face of shock, or a pair of furrowed eyebrows, he loves to spur expressions that weren’t simply a model’s pout. Of course, he would need a few photos like that, but this part of his session was his favourite. It was like a little game, and Jimin was fun to play with so far.

Jimin’s nerves skyrocket as Jungkook compliments him. He’s used to photographers giving praise, but this felt very intimate as the younger’s voice was sweet and seductive. Then again, he probably just read the gesture incorrectly. Jimin is beautiful and he knows it well. It shouldn’t feel odd to hear those words pass Jungkook’s lips. Jimin stares back at him wide-eyed, mouth parted, trying to calm his nerves. 

Why is Jeon making him so nervous?

“Uh, t-thank you,” Jimin replies weakly. He looks around the room to read the crew’s expressions but is quickly reminded that he’s all alone, aside from the man on his knees, just a short distance away now. “That’s kind of you to say,” he confesses, cheeks warming. He swivels one of the silver rings around his finger until he can focus again. He’s probably reading too far into it.

Jungkook takes note of every little detail of Jimin’s expressions, movements, even the small stutter rolling off his plushy lips. It’s cute, he was definitely worth his time. He inches closer, getting a nice low angle of the beauty. The way the light bounces off the apples of the elders cheeks truly come into view, along with his small hoop earrings shining.

‘‘I bet there’s not a single angle you can’t pull off, Jimin.” He uses the model’s name casually, as he normally would any other client. But this time it felt a little more intimate, the way ‘Jimin’ felt on his tongue as he worded it out. He never wanted to stop saying it. However, there’s a job that needs to be done, whether he wants to play or not, so he continues to find various angles before standing back up. ‘‘Good job, now, let’s move on to the next look. Your stylists are waiting.”

Jimin hurriedly walks to the back room to change, a sigh of relief escaping his chest to see that the next outfit was laid out and ready. On his lean frame, it looked devastating. Head-to-toe worn black leather with silver trim and sparkling crystal accents, pulled together by a thin raw leather choker. “I almost want to steal it off your body,” the makeup artist comments, “it’s not fair you look this good!”

Jimin smiles back, fluffing his hair. “Maybe after the shoot. We need to get it on camera first.” 

The artist dabs a pretty red stain on his plushy lips and gives it a little gloss to shine under the lights. “He’s perfect,” the lead stylist confirms, waving off the others. She prompts him to enter the studio alone, which he does with confidence. 

His boots click on the hard floor, announcing his presence. He found himself expectant of how Jungkook would react.

Jungkook changed up the lighting a bit, dimming it ever so slightly to get a darker effect, knowing Jimin’s next theme would be something a little sexier. What he wasn’t prepared for, however, was just how well Jimin would pull off the look. But then again, he really should’ve been.

Kook’s eyes widen momentarily as he sees the elder stride in; the echoing sound of his boots giving his aura an amplified effect of power. It’s such a contrast to the previous outfit.

“Wooow,” Jungkook can’t help but let his jaw fall open with a smile, not hiding how impressed he is with the look, clapping his hands together in a childish manner, “I like it, I like it!..” His hands remain clasped, approaching Jimin to circle around him, inspecting everything from the diamonds to the small choker on his neck. Without hesitation, he reaches out to brush his fingers against the material.

Jimin hadn’t put much thought towards the banana milk, but the animated way Jungkook clapped at his arrival just added to the photographer’s rare childlike mannerisms. It counterbalances his stern professional side and warms Jimin to see. 

“My photographer approves?” Seems so, especially by the way the younger’s long fingers graze his choker, tickling his neck with goosebumps. “I’m pleased I could deliver.” His eyes scan the dim room to find his mark. “Where would you like me for this portion?”

Jungkook’s eyes subtly fall on Jimin’s lips—the glossy red looks really, really pretty on him. He was pretty sure Jimin could be a doll, prettier than every single male and female he’s ever worked with. A joy for his camera lens. 

Withdrawing his hand from the choker, he delicately grasps onto Jimin’s wrist with one hand and his camera in the other before he guides him towards the second area of the studio, prepared for the darker theme. It was prepared by a large window ledge, painted in black like the walls around that specific area to give it a gothic vibe. This was also the very reason he’d chosen for the shoot to be done late in the evening, as he did not want any sun from the outside while doing this certain photo. Call him meticulous, but he just wanted things to be done his way.

“Sit on the ledge.”

Jimin allows Jungkook to guide him by the wrist, gradually becoming comfortable with the tactile way he likes to work. Jimin does as he’s told and sits, crossing his legs to rest an elbow to his knee. 

“This really goes beyond what I expected, Jeon,” he says, neck craning to take in the entire scene. “Do you put this much detail into all your projects or am I just a special case?” He smiles at the younger, trying to lighten the mood before he transitions to his dark persona.

Jungkook brushes his dark locks away from his eyes, bringing the camera up to check the scene through his lens.

“If you’ve seen any of my work, you’d know.” He says with a low voice, aiming to keep the elder on his toes with his comments. Kook knows he’s of a higher profile, and sometimes that makes people act cautiously around him—he finds it hilarious. 

He snaps a few shots of Jimin, satisfied with how effortless his beauty is. These photos are almost erotic, and that was just by looking at his face.

“Slide the leather jacket down your shoulders and keep it that way,” Jungkook instructs once more. He had simple requests, but they changed the entire photo.

Jimin smirks at Jungkook’s comment. 

Cocky, isn’t he? 

Of course he’s familiar with his work—he’d be living under a rock if he wasn’t aware of Jungkook’s tastes. His change in attitude catches Jimin’s interest and pushes him to deliver facial expressions and casual poses he’s recognized as the photographer’s preference, using his knowledge to his advantage. When he’s asked to bare his shoulders, he does it seamlessly, letting the fragrant material rest against his biceps. 

There’s something about this outfit that brings out his confidence tenfold. He hasn’t even seen the photos but he can already hear the positive reviews from competing fashion critics. In this setting he feels now more than ever that it’s his time to shine. 

“Is this edgy enough?” He asks, knowing Jungkook would be the right one to judge. With affirmation shining in his eyes, Jimin is ready to show the world what he’s capable of.

“Bite your lip.” He instructs again, a smile on his lips as he manages to get some really, really, gorgeous shots. 

This guy is ethereal. 

As the elder did as instructed, it sort of did give Kook a sense of…power. He’d never actually admit it though, it would be unprofessional… But, he likes this. He hasn’t enjoyed a photoshoot as much as he’s enjoyed this one—probably ever. He really doesn’t want the session to end.

But like any other, it was bound to happen. 

It’s late. So, Jungkook finishes off his last closeup of the choker part of his outfit before letting his camera fall, caught by the band attached around his neck. His eyes are glued to Jimin, a content sigh pushing through his lips, 

“That’s a wrap. We’re done for today.”

~~~

Back in the dressing room, Jimin peels himself out of his clothing, reflecting on the day. He’s positively elated by the way everything turned out, desperate to get on to the next set and see what Jungkook prepared for him. After experiencing the younger’s 5-star treatment, he knows he made the right decision in hiring him. A seasoned photographer like Jungkook was exactly what his team needed. He only hopes the feeling is mutual, and gets a sense that perhaps it was. 

“You’re a beauty”— Jungkook’s own words repeat in his mind over and over, making his heart throb at the memory. The praise meant a lot coming from his lips, not only because of his prestige but because he too was incredibly beautiful. It probably wasn’t the wisest thing to think of his photographer, but he couldn’t help noticing. Tonight, he doesn’t think he’ll get much sleep, too excited for the next round.

The feeling is indeed mutual, Jungkook feels so satisfied with how his photos turned out, unable to contain the way his body almost vibrated with excitement while he was seated in the studio. 

The staff slowly came back, breaking his previous privacy to ask how the photoshoot went. All Kook gives them is a wide grin, which definitely serves as more than enough of a response—considering the way he’s always been quite the odd guy.

Everyone slowly starts to wrap up and go home for the night, however Jungkook remains at the studio, already preparing for the morning by taking down the current setup. Everything is done with Jimin in mind. He won’t be able to sleep anyway, rarely does—if the dark circles adorning his eyes are anything to go by. 

Some would say it suits his look.

~~~

The next morning, Jimin started his day like any other, but with more urgency. He took a brisk shower and awakened his smooth skin with a coffee mask and soothing cream. There really was no room for error, and Jimin felt the pressure mounting, knowing that the studio was already set and waiting for his arrival. It didn’t help that his morning copy of Fashion Times magazine had the largest photo of Industry Genius Jeon Jungkook staring deadpan into the lens as if to say “My time is money. I’m waiting.”

~~~

Having a session during the evening and continuing the following morning could be seen as hectic, but to Jungkook, it’s perfect. He can’t imagine having to wait longer than necessary to work with Jimin again.

Slowly, staff came early to help with the rest of the preparations—not that it needed much, Kook had done it all by himself during the night. 

He starts his routine with a drink—the sugary mixture—his favourite way to start off the morning as the PA places it in his hand.

“Jeon, did you even get any sleep? Your eyes…” The PA hesitantly asks, worried for his health more than anything.

“I’m great,” Jungkook ignores the question, a content smile on his face as he brings the straw to his mouth. He gives a thumbs up towards the PA, “Thank you for the drink… Also, when is Jimin coming?” He glances down at the expensive clock adorning his wrist. He was getting impatient, even if Jimin technically had time left to get ready.

Jimin appeared at the makeup artist’s station fresh-faced with an iced Americano and fluffy hair. He sat and let her work her magic as he caffeine reinvigorated his muscles. 

His first look was going to be on the soft yet sultry side—eyes framed with a slightly smudged layer of eyeliner and wisps of peachy pink eyeshadow. It would compliment the lighter spectrum of his collection, with touches of stark white juxtaposing the reoccurring dark neutrals and metallics.

In his mind it represents his old self and the self he hopes to be. The patterns and shades don’t clash—they create depth to his character. He can hear the wardrobe stylists fawn over his first outfit as they steam the fabric to perfection, giving him the boost of confidence he needs to approach Jungkook’s set. If yesterday was any indication of the photographer’s commitment to the project, Jimin was in for a shock. 

Jungkook is on his second drink by now; the sugar is very much needed after all the hard work he spent figuring out the set for the first outfit. To start, he wanted to keep it plain and simple, a metallic background to put the focus on Jimin entirely. But– no, it wasn’t good enough. Now, the idea he went for wasn’t revolutionary per se, but the way he set it up could be. He prepared a separate, smaller room by decorating every single inch with mirrors in different angles. Ceiling? Mirrors. Walls? Mirrors. Floor? You got the jist of it. Mirrors.

Kook had an additional idea, but he wasn’t sure whether or not to go for it yet. He wanted Jimin to shatter the glass– but he wouldn’t make the elder do it if it was deemed too much.

The younger was excited, anxious to see how Jimin would pull off his next look. It was almost unhealthy, the way the JK already felt like there was nothing else he could think of than Park Jimin and his beauty.

‘‘Noona!’‘ Jungkook whined as he strolled out of his mirrored room to find the staff, ‘‘Time?’‘

The way he whines is almost childish, however, the PA used to it. She knows this means his patience is running low, but merely out of excitement. His dark circles indicate hard work, and he wants to finish what he started.

“He’s on his way, Jeon.”

Just then, Jimin’s familiar footfalls echo off the studio walls. 

“Just this way,” another PA instructs him, bringing him into Jungkook’s view. “Follow him into the mirrored room. That’s where you’ll begin.” Jimin nods and follows him into the small room, intrigued by her words. He wasn’t sure what she meant, but it really was a mirrored room—top to bottom, mirrored fragments, deliberately placed. 

“Oh my—“ It was all he could muster, overcome with wonderment, seeing every angle of himself in the blink of an eye. “H-how did you—“ He turns to face his photographer and instantly notices his sleep-deprived state. His shining doe eyes narrow under dark lids, still alert despite his lack of rest, but visibly affected. Did he sleep for even a minute last night? 

“Jeon, I’m breath-taken, honestly. This is just absolutely stunning.” He can’t stop looking at Jungkook as he inspects the room and can’t decide whether to comment on his appearance or carry on. He decides the latter, respecting his process.

Jungkook’s smile widens at the praise, his bunny-like front teeth on full display, nose scrunched up, “Thank you.”

He moves to shut the door behind Jimin before placing his hand on the small of his back, guiding him towards the wall. Kook’s eyes wander over the puzzled pieces of glass, doe eyes sparkling at the sight. He turns his attention towards Jimin, his smile falling back into a more neutral expression.

“This is a very special shoot, Jimin. This will be the breakthrough concept. But you have to trust me…” Kook pauses to sip the last of his drink, shaking it lightly to confirm that it was indeed empty. “Do you trust me?”

Jimin nods. The words ‘breakthrough concept’ is exactly what he wanted to hear. He’s dying to know what the visionary has in mind, and almost thinks to order a banana milk for himself to keep up with his pace. 

“I trust you,” he confirms. “Whatever it is, I’ll do it.”

Jungkook’s hand reaches to brush a stray hair away from Jimin’s forehead, putting it properly in place before grabbing the camera that was hanging around his neck.

“Okay. First, I need you to look at the ceiling, at yourself, with sadness and frustration.” He takes a few steps back, angling the camera to his liking. “Then, you can improvise if you’d like… A few of these shots are needed. When we’re done, we will move on to the climax of the concept.” He peeks over his camera to make sure Jimin is keeping up with his instructions—a smile on his lips growing when, of course, Jimin kept up. He was made for this and followed Kook’s orders perfectly.

There’s not a moment of hesitance from Jimin as he falls into a rhythm. It was odd at first, looking at himself, seeing his own expressions as they formed on his face. Sadness, frustration, shock, anger—it was all for the climax he patiently awaited. 

He caught Jungkook’s pleased smile in his peripheral and knew his plan was falling into place. As odd as the photographer seemed, he exuded a sense of comfort and understanding that Jimin hadn’t felt in any of his other partnerships. 

He discovered exactly what Jimin wanted with very little direction, almost expounding upon a base concept and unfurling it like a flower. Jimin got on his knees, arched his back, contorted his body to discover disjointed versions of himself that made the clothing pop. When he was finished, he looked up at Jungkook with tiny droplets of sweat gliding down his bare neck. 

“How did I do?”

Jungkook almost had a dumb look on his face. He was in such deep focus, observing the small droplets of sweat glistening on Jimin’s flawless skin. His grip tightened around his camera without realizing, veins popping underneath his tattooed skin.

“Beyond expectations,” He finally replies. His tone might’ve seemed too neutral, but he meant it. Slowly, he starts walking towards the door to leave the room, but before he does so, he glances over his shoulder at the elder.

“Short breather. I’m gonna grab what we need for the next part. ...Want something to drink?”

Now was his chance—“Banana milk,” he replies, breathlessly. He had never tried the stuff. Never had the desire. However, the way the younger sucked it down made him more than curious to try. “I’m parched.”

Jungkook nods, a little surprised that Jimin would want banana milk. It’s a very sweet drink, and every single one of his staff often questioned how he could drink such ‘pure artificial sugary crap’—of course, not to his face.

He left the room, leaving Jimin by himself for a few minutes as he approached the mini fridge placed in the middle of the mess of his things, filled with his favourite beverage. He grabs two, whistling casually while grabbing the prop he needed for the next step in his photoshoot...A sledgehammer.

This was going to be the best part of it all.

Jimin stands to his feet and walks over to one of the mirrored walls. He dabs at his glistening sweat, readying himself for the grand finale. He almost stepped away to ask for a touch up from the makeup artist but heard Jungkook approach the doorway. A chill of excitement cooled his burning blood at the sound of a metallic clang.

Jungkook waltzes in with a smile, the two beverages in his hand and a sledgehammer in the other. His muscles strain, veins popping on his lower arm as the muscles flex. He carefully places the tool on the floor, letting it lean against the wall before approaching Jimin, handing him the banana milk.

“I’m surprised you asked for this drink, anybody else would simply ask for an iced americano.” But he was pleasantly surprised, nonetheless, curious as to what the elder would think of his favourite thirst quencher. He didn’t pay attention to how it probably looked when he walked in with a...hammer, but he surely will be anticipating the response when he finally asks him what to do with it.

Jimin swallows his first sip and shivers when the artificial flavour hits his taste buds. 

“It’s great,” he lies, “love this stuff.” 

He took another sip and let the creamy liquid pool in his mouth, beginning to savour the sweetness. It would take some getting used to, but he was already beginning to feel the effects. Just like the photographer, it grew on him. 

He’d become so engrossed in the beverage that he didn’t even process the sledgehammer Jungkook heaved into the room. In fact, he was a little too distracted by the younger’s strength to notice what he was carrying. The way his muscles flexed did not go unnoticed by the model. Not at all. 

“Wha—,” He chokes, swallowing another mouthful. “What’s the hammer for?”

Jungkook was emptying his drink at an inhuman speed, the slurpy noise of him sucking the straw until every last drop is gone serving as a childish reply until he puts it to the side with a lopsided smile,

“That depends if you’re willing to do it,” He counters, keeping the mystery for a mere moment. He’s intrigued, excited to see what Jimin would do about it. He seems strong enough to handle it, but just in case he’d picked a slightly less heavy version of the tool. Kook approaches the hammer once more, picking it up with one hand before bringing it over to the elder,

“I want you to hold it up, like this,” He grabs the hammer with both hands, demonstrating the motions of swinging the tool, ‘‘And shatter the mirrors!’‘

He turns back to Jimin, offering the sledgehammer for him to take.

“It will be extraordinary. What do you say?’’

Jimin takes the tool into his hands, feels the weight of it, turns it over and inspects it closely. His upper body strength isn’t matched to Jungkook’s but the hammer is light enough to swing, even for him. It seems a little dangerous, but what kind of impact would this project have if it didn’t involve a bit of danger? Jimin took a couple practice swings to make sure he was capable. Once he’s comfortable with the motion, he smiles at the photographer for confirmation—“Get ready, Jeon.”

He’s almost vibrating with sugar-fueled energy, harnessing it to throw the first blow. He jumps back and watches the mirrored shards fly across the room. It’s…liberating. He starts to feel weightless, drunk on power as he swings the hammer, posing between blows. Down to the floor, against the wall and back down to the floor. He demolishes the room until he’s completely exhausted, on his knees, sweat gleaming off his angelic face.

Jungkook didn’t utter a single word throughout, merely fixated on the moment, snapping image after image of the scene unfolding in front of him. He was in complete awe, as if in a trance. Jimin was absolutely perfect for this, and it went beyond his expectations, above anything he could’ve ever imagined. The glass flying as it shattered, surrounding Jimin like glitter—sparkling due to the flash of Kook’s camera.

As Jimin sank down to the floor, this was the absolute perfect ending to the collection, the elder shining in sweat, cheeks glistening with his eyes closed, a complete divine angel captured on camera. Jungkook had to put his camera down when he was finished and adore the scenery with his bare eyes, roaming the room with his gaze until they fell back on Jimin with a lopsided smile.

“Felt good, didn’t it?”

It felt...he feels... Jimin can’t put it into words. His hands shake from the adrenaline coursing through his veins; heart beating in his ears. He wants to feel like this every day—high on endorphins, full of courage. He nods in agreement, eyes still closed. 

“You’re a fucking genius, Jeon Jungkook.” That’s how he felt. Every bit of effort the younger put into this project only made Jimin more drawn to him. 

When he pushed him out of his comfort zone, it only solidified an inseparable bond Jimin began to feel forming. He opens his eyes and looks up at the photographer, matching his smile with a dazzling one of his own. 

“May I see the photos?” If they turned out as well as he imagined they would, there’s no way he’s letting him go.

Jungkook smirks at the praise, approaching the elder as he towers above him, eyes still just as fixated on the blonde. From this angle…Jimin is almost delicious…no, he definitely is. Shrugging his thoughts away, he offers a hand to help the man below him to get back up on his feet.

“Follow me then, we can sit outside of this room, because—well, glass.” He smiles, guiding Jimin with him with one hand, camera in the other to guide them towards the couch that had served as a prop. He slouches down on the soft cushion without second thought and pulls the camera up, flipping all the way back to the very beginning where Jimin had just walked into the room—photos that weren’t part of the shoot. Just, the look of wonder and awe in the elders' eyes was too good not to capture. “Come sit.”

Stick tacky with sweat, Jimin pulls off his jacket and slings it over the couch arm. He takes a seat next to Jungkook and leans in close to see the screen. His heart rate maintains a strong pace as he’s a little distracted by their proximity. He focuses his attention as the younger begins flipping through the camera and gasps, gawking at the shots of him walking onto the set. 

“I didn’t even think of doing a behind-the-scenes!” Even off-set, the photo composition is pure art—light illuminating his face and clothing stunningly. He leans in closer to see the fine details, balancing his hand on the younger’s firm thigh. 

Jungkook presses his lips together tightly—Jimin wasn’t supposed to see those photos. Honestly, they were more for him than the actual shoot. He just really likes the way Jimin looks when he’s not aware of the camera...

“Yeah,” He breathes out, pretending that they were indeed for the shoot, relieved that the elder did see them as behind-the-scenes.

Once Jimin got closer, feeling his petite ring-clad hand on his muscular thigh, Jungkook’s breath stopped. He let Jimin look through the photos, mindlessly flipping through them for him. Kook’s focus was somewhere else entirely—fixated on how beautiful Jimin was this up close. 

Jungkook inhaled deeply through his nose, catching the scent of the elder; sweet, with a hint of the musk of a tiring session. It was stirring something inside of the younger that he knew was already there, an interest...A very intense interest.

“Jeon?” Jimin grips his thigh to get his attention, pressing his rings into the taut muscle. “Hey,” he laughs, eyes narrowing to focus on the screen, “Slow down, yeah?” 

Jungkook was cycling through the photos a little too quick for him to keep up. All Jimin could see was the first flash of his garment or a close-up of his face before they were onto the next set.

Jimin looks up at Jungkook and notices he’s barely even looking at the screen. His eyes keep wandering to Jimin, looking him up and down. Jimin’s eyes flick to his, then down to his lips which are bitten raw and parted. Jimin wets his lips at the sight, becoming all too aware of how close he is and how hot he feels under the photographer’s gaze. 

“Jungkook…what’s wrong?”

Jungkook’s dark eyes quiver as they meet Jimin’s, blinking hard once, then twice until he’s brought back down to reality. 

How is it that he is so enchanted by this man? It’s ridiculous. 

Kook bit the inside of his cheek, feeling the blonde’s rings digging into his thigh did nothing but feed into his growing infatuation with the man. Because that’s what this is, right? Infatuation? It must be.

“N-nothing, nothing’s wrong…” He stutters out his words, gripping onto his camera as he skips to the last scene, trying to avert the question any further. The images are of the mirrors surrounding the angelic model just moments before he shattered them. Kook leans in closer to Jimin to show him properly, his own smile growing at the perfect visuals. “What do you think of these?”

Even in their raw format, Jimin falls in love with the photos. The multi-dimensional element that the mirrors provided made it look as if he was appearing and disappearing at the same time. It wasn’t until he began smashing the mirrors that Jimin came into focus as one complete person, surrounded by fallen shards. 

“They’re absolutely perfect,” he breathes, catching a glimpse of Jungkook’s shimmering eyes. His lithe body presses against Jungkook as he studies the final shot. He feels him inhale sharply at the contact, tensing even more. 

Based on how intimately the photographer captured him in those last moments of their set and how he stuttered earlier, Jimin gets the sense he may be teasing the kid. It wasn’t his intention; he can’t help the way he looks. He also can’t help the way Jungkook looks—childlike innocence, masked by deep lust. 

“Do I make you nervous?” Jimin asks, plump lips curling to a timid smile.

The grasp around his camera tightens, and he’s sure that if the material wasn’t of such quality, it would burst like an apple in his hands. A short breath pushes through his lips; a breath he wasn’t even aware of holding until Jimin’s smile forced it out of him,

“No…” Jungkook isn’t nervous, but he won’t easily admit his growing attraction to the elder. Flustered, perhaps? Or, something like it...

To continue to avoid the question, he turns off the camera and shuffles away a bit, giving himself the much needed space between their bodies. It’s too much, he isn’t used to feeling this gravitation towards somebody else.

“Good,” Jimin replies, smiling wider and straightening his damp white shirt. “You’ll need to have nerves of steel if you’re going to accompany me to my mini fashion show tomorrow.” He nips his bottom lip at how cute the photographer is being, shying away so quickly after his question. “I do hope you’ll come, it wouldn’t be the same without the infamous Jeon Jungkook.”

Jungkook straightens his posture, head turning to look at Jimin with raised eyebrows. Oh, right—he was informed about this, but he had almost forgotten. But only because he was informed about this before even meeting the angelic man next to him. Now, he definitely wouldn’t miss the chance of seeing this show,

“I’ll be there,” He simply confirms with a small smile. Before he’s able to say anything else, his PA approaches, telling the two of them that it’s time to wrap up. 

It was done, their partnership was done. Now, it was fine for the real work, Jungkook had to perfect the photos before sending them in. Even if, in his own opinion, they could be used in their raw state, he knows there are pieces that need to be polished into his perfection. 

He turns to Jimin once more as he stands. “You did great...It was a pleasure working with you.” 

And he hopes—no, he knows he has to do it again.

~~~

Later that evening, Jimin fusses over prep for the following day, moisturizing his flawless skin and pressing his suit for perfectly clean lines. It was going to be a short show, but the turnout was predicted to be A-class. The industry’s most trusted brand ambassadors secured seats to the event, not to mention a handful of fellow celebrities. He had to be fully prepared to present his line with passion and charisma—practicing in front of the mirror until he couldn’t keep his eyes open.

When his body couldn’t keep up with his mind, he flopped onto his bed half-clothed, drifting to sleep. Running the promo shoot and fashion show back-to-back was a tiring and somewhat unrealistic undertaking, but so was the rest of it. 

He wonders as he drifts to sleep, if perhaps the photographer would like to finish what they started. Maybe then he’d get to know the man behind the lens. 

Meanwhile, Jungkook was finally able to go home for the first time in days. It’s just the way he is, completely indulged and tunnel-visioned on work until it was finished. There’s nothing else that can possibly exist in his world until he feels satisfied. Now that this part of the job is over, he feels...empty, in a way. 

He wants to work with Park Jimin again. Just the thought of any other client seemed dull in comparison. 

After a long, well needed shower, he lays down in his grand bed and stretches his body out like a starfish with a content groan. 

The next morning he stood by his closet, humming in thought. He was definitely not going to miss out on Jimin’s fashion show, especially not when he was a big part of the upcoming collection. Not to mention, Jungkook knew that his presence would draw attention, and he wanted that. He wanted Jimin to get more recognition, and what better way to support this by simply showing up?

Jungkook figured he wanted to bring his camera. He surely could get some fantastic shots of Jimin—and the show! He took a long time of considering what to wear, almost texting his PA for help, but opting to simply do it himself. He ended up with...well, the obvious if Jungkook were the one picking his own outfit: Black dress shirt, black dress pants, black shoes—topped with a black suit jacket, embroidered with patterns of sparkling threads to give it a little dazzle.

He nodded, satisfied with what he saw, ruffling his mess of a hairstyle—dark curls flowing freely as he received the call that his car had arrived.

He couldn’t wait to see Jimin...

...and Jimin couldn’t wait to see him either. 

© sombreboy 2020. Do not repost, edit or translate.

[keyofjetwolf]

Bonus Question Answers! (non-anime heat 1)

I asked a silly question! You gave me incredible answers. SO VERY MANY INCREDIBLE ANSWERS. Now, I present my favourites!

Another that was so so so hard to narrow down. I did have to make special mention, though, at the sheer volume of you who (correctly) pointed out Haruka and Michiru either spending their quarantine fucking, or frustrated at being unable to fuck. Thank you, heroes.

If your answer is listed below, you’ve earned an entry in a random draw to win a GIFTENING liveblog OF YOUR CHOICE

—

Q:  The Senshi are all quarantining together! Describe what a wonderful/terrible/wonderrible idea this is. (YOU CANNOT BE TOO DETAILED)

~~~

*  First things first: if the Senshi are all quarantining *together*, then they must be old enough to be not living with their parents (or lack thereof). Furthermore, they must be living in a place big enough to accommodate all of them. Now, the Outers already have a huge fuck-off house, so if we're cheating and saying ALL the Senshi, not just the Inners, then we can say that Usagi and the girls moved in with Haruka and the girls after high school. Usagi and Makoto and Minako have almost certainly snubbed college; Ami and Rei not only attending, but Ami is aiming to get her Master's, so both of them have to take online courses. Setsuna is teaching them. Haruka and Michiru graduated from college *ages* ago. Hotaru also has to take online courses, but for high school since she'd be about that age at this point. Chibs is not here because she's smarter than to travel back in time to when there was a GLOBAL PANDEMIC. Now then! Usagi is moping because she can't see Mamoru or Chibi-Usa, so she reads manga and watches TV to distract herself. As per her usual she mostly shoves her nose into what everyone else is doing, then gets distracted by a passing butterfly and chases it until she finds something new to stick her nose into. She's honestly taking the quarantine the hardest, even though she's living in a house with all her closest friends. The delivery guy knows her by name and by her super-cute hand-sewn (by Makoto) pink-and-white bunny mask. Makoto has sewn everyone custom masks, actually, which brings us to... Makoto naturally is doing the cooking and cleaning and laundry, and while she does love doing these things, she's now doing them for NINE PEOPLE, and Usagi has never learned to fold a sock in her life, and Ami folds socks but is crazy busy with her coursework, and Minako/Rei/Michiru/Haruka can't be bothered for one reason or another, and Makoto is about to explode because everybody assumes she'll do everything and do it smiling and normally they wouldn't be WRONG but COME THE FUCK ON YOU GUYS. She is in a constant state of being two steps away from an explosion. The only saving grace is Setsuna, who does actually help out in between teaching online courses, and who patiently listens to Makoto vent, because she understands that if Makoto melts down, so will the rest of the household. Makoto has a pink-and-green rose mask; Setsuna has a wine red mask with black stitching. Ami has vanished into her room. STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY. She is literally taking four courses at once because with a global pandemic, a) what else is there to do with one's life b) the rest of the household is utter chaos c) MUST DEVELOP VACCINE. She has actually be helping researchers online with this under an anonymous name. She *wants* to go out and volunteer, but understands that the best thing she can do is quarantine properly. She is constantly lecturing everyone about Best Quarantine Practices, to the point that the others mostly tune her out now. This is only piling onto her constant stress. Hotaru visits her occasionally with tea and textbooks so they can study and destress together. It's good for both of them, especially since Hotaru, with her health issues, is the most at risk of all of them. Hotaru's also used to isolation, so she's a surprisingly stabilizing presence for everybody. Ami and Hotaru both have standard hospital red-lined white masks along with their custom masks (Ami's is light blue with dolphin clasps on the side; Hotaru's is designed based on that optical illusion that's either a lamp or two people facing each other), because you need one for when the other is in the wash. Minako has become a Twitch game streamer and beauty YouTuber and is updating both CONSTANTLY, with YT guest star appearances by Michiru (who is always effortlessly and flawlessly beautiful) and Rei (who is using Minako to promote her own YouTube channel). Minako tried to get Usagi to be the camerawoman for her YT show but Usagi wanted to be the star too much, so now Minako as strong-armed Haruka into doing it. Haruka is bored out of her mind because she can't go out on drives, so she helps Minako out without complaint. Sometimes she even guest-stars on Minako's Twitch streams, depending on the game. Getting to film beautiful girls making themselves even hotter? Sure, she's into that. Minako's mask is glittery gold with red ribbons for cords; Rei's mask is black with flame decals on the sides; Haruka's is a solid black, tight and sporty; Michiru's is seemingly plain white, "coincidentally" complementing Haruka's, but is made of fine linen and silk. Rei meanwhile doesn't actually know what her channel is about and didn't give two shits about YouTube until Minako started doing it, but Minako is actually raking in a stupid amount of cash from doing this, so Rei figured, how hard could it be?? Right now she's somewhere in between doing her own beauty channel, doing paranormal investigations, cooking channel (she proudly presents instant meals as time- and money-saving masterpieces without an ounce of self-awareness. Haruka has had to hold Makoto back from suplexing her more than once), and a video review column where she tries things out and gives her opinions on them. She's *absolutely furious* that her channel is not as popular as Minako's. She's also strongarmed Haruka into being her camerawoman. Michiru allows this because watching Minako and Rei fight over their respective channels is the most amusement she's had all year. Ami asks Rei when she finds the time to study. Rei ignores her.  -- @ayu-ohseki  [I said spare no detail, AND YOU DID NOT. Thoughtful, considered, and a fun read start to finish, amazing.]

~~~

*  It is the best. Minako has a captive audience, Makoto has everyone to cook for, Rei has taken charge of how to Do Everything, Ami can hole up with her books and tutor Usagi, Usagi has all the time to play games and read comics. It is the worst. Minako has a captive audience and they want new stories faster than she can make them. Makoto has everyone to cook for and they eat so much all the time. Rei has taken charge of how to Do Everything but no one will listen. Ami can hole up with her books but that doesn't mean its quiet enough to read, and she can tutor Usagi but that doesn't mean Usagi is even making a small attempt at listening like in the group study sessions. Usagi has all the time to play video games and read comics, but no one will let her, especially Rei. -- @cakeandpi  [Loved the Dickensian Best of Times/Worst of Times structure, precisely the level of epic this clusterfuck needs.]

~~~

*  In the best of situations, it is difficult to find housing for nine people on short notice, and these are not the best of situations. Given that she had, from at least the age of four, been bound to the moon by a curse of blood, it should not have come as any grand opportunity to Michiru that the opportunity to recuse herself from larger society life would be immediately and aggressively offset by Haruka's invitation for the Senshi to come quarantine at the Kaioh beach cottage. 

One might assume that perhaps Usagi's parents, or Ami's mother, or Rei's grandfather, might have objected to their children being out of their sight in such a time, but that is to discount the general narrative inconvenience that seemed to pursue Michiru to the last. "Babe, there's like 6 bedrooms in the place," Haruka has said, quite missing the point entirely that Michiru had made it her goal to make use of everyone one of them. And so, here she was, where one might be sipping a glass of champagne on the veranda overlooking the sea, lover at her side, instead she was listening to the endless sniping between Rei and Usagi as they pattered about the house, there was no lover next to her, but only Ami with her endless piles of conspicuously books that Michiru felt quite certain had been selected for the view their covers provided others, Mako sending away the cook for what were noted to be COVID concerns but Michiru felt were more the concern of her longing for the spacious kitchen. Her mind preserved her enough not to speak of Minako, nor of the fact that the one she would have beside her was currently playing Mario Kart with such. Hotaru and Pluto were there, also. Michiru took another deep drink of the wine. With the volume she was consuming, she would have to switch to boxed wine. At this rate, she may qualify as hand santizer herself, which nearly stayed her hand. Usagi wailed loudly at Rei. Michiru took another drink. No Matter, she thought, for I will not die before my appointed time. The Moon will certainly see to that.  -- @docholligay  [You absolutely catered this to me and you know it, you whore. Hilarious AND beautifully written, I detest you.]

~~~

*  Usagi is thrilled to have all of her favorite people in one place. Mako will cook! Ami will read to them! Mina will write and Rei will direct plays for them all to perform! Haruka will make sure they stay fit! Michiru will teach them etiquette! Hotaru and Setsuna will also be there! Her favorite cats will be there to purr and offer guidance without actual knowledge and nagging! Yay! After a week, Usagi is still relentlessly happy. To be otherwise would be to admit that her friends are not perfect, perfectly suited for each other, and perfectly happy. She hasn't seen Haruka and Michiru at all in days; they commandeered the back bedroom with it's own bathroom and the others only know they're still in there by the noises *ahem*, by the food delivery people who keep coming to the door, and the empty food containers that appear in the hallway. Mina and Rei are not speaking to each other after the Hair Clip Incident. Ami is still diligently serving as a go-between, but Mako refused and will not give either of them any of her cooking, so Rei keeps making Hello Curry and leaving the kitchen a disaster, while Mina somehow keeps convincing Haruka and Michiru's uber eats drivers to give her stuff. There is only one litter box for the two cats, and that is not enough. And Artemis keeps leaving the seat up on the toilet. No one knows how, or why, but he does. Hotaru and Setsuna are also there. Worst (best?) of all, Usagi doesn't miss Mamoru at all, and hasn't actually noticed his absence. He's been missing for three days. -- @incorrecttact  [I ADORE the little touch of Usagi having to aggressively fake it because even she is struggling THIS CANNOT BE ALLOWED. You made me bark laugh at the end. Glorious.]

~~~

*  Rei's Journal: It's day 8 under lockdown and I have somehow managed to retain my sanity. It has not been easy. By day 4 Minako and Makoto were at each other's throats because Minako tried to clip her toenails in the kitchen, due to Ami holing herself up in the bathroom. Makoto threatened to make Minako eat a toenail burrito, and by God I think Minako actually would eat it just to show Mako up. It has been a struggle to keep Usagi from eating all the food, and I fear she is contemplating the idea of eating Luna and/or Artemis. Ami is retreating further and further into her shell. She has solved every math problem in every math book she had at her disposal, and is now showing withdrawal symptoms. The walls of her room are covered in math equations. I am doing as best I can; my rations of "Here!" Quarantine snacks have been balanced to last me for at least the next week, but after that point I am not sure what happens. As a shrine maiden, I'm used to long periods of silence in my meditation. It's been difficult keeping my focus with Usagi and the others slowly losing their minds, but I am a survivor if nothing else. If I could survive D-Point, I can survive this... Wait I didn't survive D-Point FUCK.  -- @judedeluca  [Rei’s journal, yes, thank you for catering to me directly, I appreciate your service and killer ending.]

~~~

*  Everyone's locked into separate rooms by day 2, or make-shift rooms with blankets taped to the ceiling. By day 3, there's lines on the floor. Ami makes a timetable for when everyone can go to shared spaces like the kitchen or bathroom. Usagi is distressed that all of her friends can't get along, even as she has an existential crisis about not wanting to be around them herself. Rei is suddenly the mom friend, when Mako realizes that trying to help everyone leads to her stress-baking leads to her taking too much time in the kitchen leads to everyone more pissed off. Minako is alternately drunk off her ass and egging everyone on, or making notes for pressure cooker situations to add to training. Haruka gets more sullen than anyone's seen her, Michiru loses some of her polish as her nerves finally fray by the end of the week, and is cussing people out by day 9. Setsuna immediately regrets her decision not to hunker down at the time gate. Hotaru's glad to be included but so anxious she starts collecting the house's lamps in her area. Ami has to make a timetable for using those as well, so Hotaru doesn't call death to them all. Somehow, they survive. When things let up, they all promise not to speak of it again, at least not directly, and then immediately all take at least 3 days to be by themselves in their own spaces. -- @katrani  [Usagi’s existential crisis, yessss. Hotaru stress-hoarding lamps though, everything I never knew I wanted.]

~~~

*  Ordered in Michru's least loss to greatest, or conversely, Usagi's greatest loss to least: 1) they stay at Michiru's mansion. It's huge. It's spacious. Michiru disappears within minutes and isn't seen again until 14 days later. Pluto finds her easily enough for tea, Rei does so out of dogged determination, and Haruka doesn't have to try. Usagi does, but she gets lost easily and there are so many snacks everywhere, she gets distracted. what's that? A room filled with tvs? another with comics? Mako worries about her getting cavities and uses the greatest kitchen ever to cook things up. She almost never leaves there. Ami poisons the pool every time she leaves as part of the great Hatemace. Chibs and Hotaru get a chance to be kids and actually play. If the starlights are there, Seiya and Haruka have a dramatic face off. Mina makes sure to leave graffiti everywhere. Despite her best efforts, she can't find Michiru's weakness. Artemis and Luna take a vacation. 2) They stay at Usagi's, Minako's, or Ami's. They do not stay at Rei's because Grandpa is old and Rei has put the fear of god in anyone who dares come to the temple. The houses/apartments are small and cramped with just the five inners. With everyone else? Chaos. Artemis and Luna are glad they aren't affected and escape. Chibs conveniently stays in the covid-free future/"look, I already have teh vaccine! I don't have to stay here with you". Hotaru contemplates reincarnating again. Mako enjoys time with Usagi's mom, cooking together (no, she isn't crying, you're crying). Minako takes extremely long showers to piss Michiru off. Michiru is not sure how she got forced into this, she feels the hand of god in play and curses the writer internally. Pluto unravels the mystery of super!spy!Usagi's Dad but no one will ever know the answer to that. Ami escapes online and plays sims where they all have their own rooms, with Jet's help. Rei turns on the stove and pretends its the great fire to meditate. Haruka likes this long sleepover! She's never got to do one before! Usagi agrees and they plan horror movies and games and fast food. If the starlights are there, Seiya plans an even greater slumber party. Usagi helps both because more parties are always better. 3) They stay at Mako's two-room apartment. Chibs doesn't even step into the past, she's heard the horror stories from her aunts. Hotaru begins the sequence for the end of the world. Word of god or no word of god, Michiru refuses to go. When the narrative railroads her into it, she claims the balcony for herself, furnishes it, and locks the door so no one else can come. Pluto stays in the void, unreachable by all. Mako has never seen her apartment so filled and noisy and she's both elated and afraid for her plants. Her plants are terrified and tremble the entire time. Rei lives in the oven. Minako claims the bathroom--a toll is required for anyone else to enter. Ami puts all her brainpower to finding a cure to escape this hellhole. The bedroom is a nonstop competitive slumber party, and  Minako, Haruka, and Seiya have a song off. A toll is still required to enter the bathroom. Usagi breaks onto the balcony once to hug Michiru.  -- @kumeko  [I love the different branches, ALL THE SHENANIGANS]

~~~

*  (Putting Inners in college so Ami isn’t on call as a doctor) The good news is that the Outers’ ridiculously spacious mansion is, in fact, ridiculously spacious enough to accomodate eleven people (I’m certain Mamoru was not in your intentions, but it was agreed that Mamoru is a good quarantine podmate who will follow all necessary rules, and also Usagi would be insufferable if he’s not there and Mako points out that he lives alone and the social isolation would be killer) and three cats. Haruka’s happy to have Minako around all the time, and Pluto and Hotaru are thrilled to have Chibs. (Rei asked why Pluto and Chibiusa can’t just go back to their own times. Pluto gives a lengthy explanation about past and future virology that may or may not be total bullshit. No one really knows with her.) Ami is continuing her studies, as she does, and has a consistent schedule involving Study Hours and Socializing Hours. She does, however, make sure to swim in the Outers Mansion Pool every day at the same time Michiru customarily does. Neither of them says anything about this. Their rivalry continues. Michiru knows every nook, cranny, and secret passage there, and can easily avoid anyone who’s gotten stir-crazy should she so choose. Mako has taken command of the kitchen, and cannot be talked out of doing all the cooking. The food is delicious, nutritious, and is basically Quarantine Baking Times Twelve. Her skills are appreciated by all. Mamoru is likewise well-behaved, and mostly spends his time being quietly useful, spending time with Usagi, and listening to classical music with Michiru without otherwise interacting with her, making him the one man whose presence she will tolerate. The cats are well-behaved. They are the ones who are quarantining well. Minako, of course, is dying of boredom by the month and a half mark, and proceeds to take up a wide variety of hobbies, only to move on when they turn out way less fun than the video suggested. She annoys the others to show her how to bake tarts, or paint, or whatever it is Pluto does all day. Eventually she does find something she enjoys enough to stick with - wirework. While her preference is for jewelry, she does work with larger scale stuff just enough to present Mamoru with her masterpiece - Chicken Sculpture 2.0. (He seethes.) Rei, meanwhile, has also taken up new and exciting hobbies, but she will determinedly stick with each one until she has reached an arbitrary goal of Accomplishment. Even when she hates them, as is the case with birdwatching, Zumba, Mako’s attempts to refine her sense of taste, and trying to follow professional wrestling. She does take to cross-stitching once she discovers it’s basically stabbing something until it’s art. Felting, too. Between that and cleaning she’s a delight when she and Minako are not grating against each other. Which is frequently, with them both taking up all these new hobbies. (When assigning rooms, Michiru thought ahead. Rei’s and Usagi’s are next to each other, at the end of the hall. They bicker as much as ever but everyone else can get distance when really needed.) Usagi is happy to be somewhere with all her dearest friends, all the time! She is VERY BAD at waiting patiently until everyone else’s Productive Hours are over, be they online classes and homework or painting or quietly stealing Mamoru’s abstract mosquito coil shirt and throwing it through the Gate of Time and into a void where it will never again darken their sight. (Pluto isn’t a monster, and replaces it with a similar but less incomprehensible white T-shirt with a pattern. Mamoru assumes this was Minako’s doing.) Artemis assigns himself as resident Blonde Disaster Watcher, while Chibiusa - currently visiting as a roughly 14-year-old, matching Hotaru - smugly points out that she’s handling quarantine just fine. This prompts a round of furious research by the rest of the house as to whether or not cats can drink alcohol. Haruka’s practically run down a path around the Sprawling Kaioh Estate on which the mansion sits. How can she angst gaily without a mission? Sure obviously staying home and keeping safe is the most important thing and she will do her part, but that’s not nearly dramatic enough to hate herself for if she decides she’s quarantining inadequately! Michiru decides the best thing for this is to take her, Usagi, and Minako and sit them all down with empty scrapbooks. Usagi and Haruka emerge after the pandemic with eighteen volumes of Important Friendship Scrapbooks. There’s an adorable doodle of them high-fiving on the title page of each one. They designed it themselves. Despite this all, quarantine does actually pass without any of them killing each other, though Haruka and Michiru do strongly consider sending the others to Hikawa Shrine instead. Grandpa Hino can manage all this energy. No one except Chibiusa thinks to ask how Hotaru’s doing. They forgot to check her room.  -- Regalli  [I know legit sadness in my Senshi Heart that I cannot see Haruka and Usagi’s scrapbooks with my own eyeballs. Loved this whole thing, but fucking Hotaru at the end hahahah]

~~~

*  It's all a matter of perspective. Mako and Ami will keep themselves consistently busy with cooking/baking, plant caregiving, reading, eating sandwiches, etc. Mako will eventually cave, after like, day 6 and there are 3 dozen scones, they lost count of cookies, and they've got frozen meals for weeks. Rei keeps telling her to stop cooking because she stumbled into Mako's apartment with armfuls of Here! Curry! and convenience store meals. Usagi is sooooo boooooored all the time and that's a dangerous combo with Minako being soooooo booooooored all the time. The Rube-Goldberg machines, the destruction, the pranks. More about Rei sadly as I know you don't particularly care for her at all whatsoever: she is a rollercoaster. Every day is too different but it's also always the same. Usagi is eating too much of her food but nobody else is eating enough. It won't go bad this way, but Usagi STOP I GOT THAT KIND OF CHIPS FOR ME. She finds some peace with Michiru who herself trying to keep a grasp on her ~*ara*~ ness but won't admit that by day four has been wanting out. "The girls are sweet" she convinces herself as she listens to another screaming match between Usagi and Rei while Minako snapchats everything. Haruka lost it by the second day, she can't stand not doing anything and not being in motion. At first this was channeled into doing small workouts that Mako sometimes participated in from a distance, but those have stopped. How long have you been laying on her floor today, Haruka? You gonna get up and have something to eat today Haruka? Hotaru and Chibs keep themselves busy with games and movies (Chibs and Usagi fight over the TV), Setsuna plays sometimes but is just happy to watch and enjoy these moments of peace. Chib's pride is on the line because she is getting bored by day 5 but she will not be sooooooo booooooored like Usagi. Mamoru begins to bring them all takeout by day 10 and slips Michiru a bottle of wine when she comes down, she is grateful, the label brings a tear to her eye, he knows good wine. Luna and Artemis are there. They sure are cats, and they can come and go if they want. They are envied. At some point they are all laying in the living room together. They don't know how long, someone's playlist is playing in the background. They don't care. It's the longest anyone has gone without talking. It's the one of the few times they've truly felt connected with one another as a team. Minako then asks, "If I ate myself, would I become twice as big or cease to exist?" It was nice while it lasted.  -- @thatonemoonie  [Every detail is divine, but oh my god Minako’s question at the end, THANK YOU.]

~~~

*  Michiru does not have enough wine and the Moon will pay for what she has endured. -- the Lord of the Sea  [Summing it up in the perfect single sentence, brilliant.]

~~~

*  It's Usagi's idea, really. Quarantine procedures are announced and she can't help but imagine what it will be like for all her friends. Minako, stuck with family she doesn't get along with. Ami's mom under even more stress as an essential worker, probably avoiding her daughter to keep her safe from the virus. Makoto, completely alone! Rei, probably regressing from not seeing other people! This cannot stand. Usagi has visions of Mako making gigantic family style meals and keeping things scrupulously clean. Ami contentedly petting Luna and Artemis and keeping them all up to date on how things are progressing. Minako livening the mood by driving Rei insane. And all is right in Usagi's world. It IS like that... sometimes. Being stuck together 24/7 has its ups and downs, and there has never been a situation as prolonged as this one. There are tense moments, and fights over silly things like toilet paper and Usagi running up the phone bill by calling Mamoru so often. It's cramped. Ami tries to keep them up on their distance learning, and checks temperatures daily. They try some disastrous DIYS and recipes when supplies get low. Usagi and Rei have an emotional moment when one night, she tries to secretly use Moon Healing Escalation on the city. In the end, they come through stronger than ever, like always. Just with a lot more appreciation for distance and personal space.  -- @yunyin  [All incredible, but you absolutely fucking GOT ME with Rei catching Usagi trying to heal the city, DELICIOUS ANGST]

---

I’ll be drawing for the bonus liveblog around the start of THE GIFTENING 2020 (currently looking to be Monday, 11 January 2021). Each bonus question is another chance to earn an entry! I CAN ABSOLUTELY AND SHAMELESSLY BE BOUGHT.

[mythgirlimagines]

It’s time for a brand new talentswapped Myth for this Tuesday! Brimming with passion,  good sportspersonship, and boundless optimism, is Myth Anon, the Former Ultimate Team Manager!

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BACKSTORY AND TALENT

In her elementary and middle school years, Myth had an unbridled passion for sports and athletics, despite her scoliosis making heavy movement difficult for her, and in her middle school years, she even managed to secure spots in prestigious sports teams. Unfortunately though, all those dreams were crushed once she reached her high school years, when a freak accident costed Myth her legs and thus, her ability to walk and run. But the optimistic Myth wouldn’t let this sudden accident qstop her, for she decided to switch her career plans from improving herself to improving others, and that was how Myth became a team manager. Renowned amongst her students for her optimism and motivational spirit, she’s able to turn a ragtag bunch of amateurs into experts within a single season. In fact, Myth even managed to create Lil’ Ultimates and Jr. Ultimates within her career. Now that she is in her adults years, she is currently working with high school athletes and even created actual Ultimate athletes thanks to her stellar coaching.

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RELATIONSHIPS

Wyre Anon, Former Ultimate Lucky Student

As the reckless childhood friend of Myth, Wyre is always getting into all sorts of trouble and is lucky enough to get out of trouble, with the help of Myth. Unfortunately, when one of Wyre’s little shenanigans cost Myth her ability to walk, Wyre still feels guilty about it, even to this day, despite Myth’s constant reassurance. Wyre acts like a bodyguard of sorts to Myth, scaring off anyone who dares to pick on Myth’s handicap. Imagine Myth and Wyre’s mutual joy when Wyre was chosen via the Hope’s Peak lottery to attend Hope’s Peak alongside Myth. They both act like cheerleaders for each other.

Outfit: Bandages wrapped around her forehead, arms and hands, a green tank top with a darker green clover design, tan cargo pants, white socks and scuffed-up green high tops.

Anon Scar, Ultimate Traditional Dancer

Famous in certain circles for her dramatic stage presence and her beautiful dance moves, it was no wonder that Anon Scar joined the Hope’s Peak roster as the Ultimate Traditional Dancer. Myth may not be an expert in choreography, but even she can tell just how amazing Scar is at dancing. Myth quickly realized just how how seriously Scar takes her craft, underneath the whole “Queen of Yokai” schtick she developed for stage performances. The two girls quickly bonded over their motherly natures and overwhelming concern for others. Myth is currently planning on arranging an oendan group to cheer on Scar.

Outfit: A dark purple kimono with a red flower petal design on the bottom and a matching obi, flower decorating her side bun, white socks and brown geta, always carries a fan, has an oni mask on the side of her head. 

Fusion Anon, Ultimate Gamer

While Myth normally views video games as health-sapping distractions for lazy layabouts, she can’t fault Fusion for his hobby. Myth noticed that in MMOPRGs, Fusion usually acts a lot like Myth in the game world, healing his teammates and sending encouraging words via the game’s group chat, and he acts equally paternal in real life. Myth also notices that Fusion gets very hyperactive and passionate when talking about video game lore. Myth thinks that if Fusion applied that energy and paternal nature to sports and had a proper sleeping and eating schedule, he could potentially be an awesome team player and a star athlete. 

Outfit: Black and red headphones on his ears, a hoodie colored like a Nintendo Switch over a black shirt with the GameCube logo on the front, black pajama pants with a white stripe on each side, white socks and red slippers with Pokeballs on the front, glasses from original design. 

Fusion Anon II, Ultimate Animal Breeder

As much as Fusion II tries to act like an apathetic and snarky delinquent and claim the scratches she gets are from gang scuffles, she is actually a regular volunteer at animal shelters and has a particular soft spot for cats, to the point of keeping a chubby black one named Cheezburger. As Myth eventually figured out, all of Fusion II’s snark and apathy are just a cover-up for her less-than-stellar social skills and desire to be seen as cool by her peers. Myth realized eventually that both of them have slightly-similar talents, with both of their talents involving caring for others: athletes for Myth and animals for Fusion II.

Outfit: A red shirt with a pawprint design on the front under a black sleeveless leather jacket, black fingerless gloves, brown cargo pants that hold pet care supplies, red shoes with a paw print design on the soles, scratched up arms and one scratch on her face hidden by a bandaid, sunglasses from original design.

Just Anon, Ultimate Animator

Despite Janon’s chronic procrastination, Janon’s fans claim that his animated works are worth the very long wait. Now this is one Anon that the normally kind and optimistic Myth has a serious grudge against. The lazy and cynical animator, who wants nothing more than to sleep all day long, would of course clash with the energetic and optimistic team manager who wants people to improve. Unlike the other Anons, Janon isn’t even trying to improve himself, and that just drives Myth up the wall. But Myth heard rumors that Janon has a particular soft spot for children, which would make sense, given Janon’s talent.

Outfit: A pink ski cap with cat ears and an adorable cartoon face, a white face mask with a cat’s mouth and whiskers, a blue denim jacket with several patches and pins over a white shirt with Mickey Mouse on the front, colorful pajama pants, pink bunny slippers. 

Sparkle Anon, Graduated Reserve Course Student

Despite being passionate about both acting and puzzle-sloving, neither of those skills were enough for Sparkle to garner Ultimate status. Her rich parents managed to scrape enough money for her to take the test and get accepting into the Hope’s Peak Reserve Course though, and now that Sparkle graduated, she is currently chasing her dreams of becoming a top performer, despite her non-Ultimate status. Never before has Myth ever found someone with an even louder voice than her, but Sparkle‘s loud and dramatic voice made Myth consider starting an oendan group with her, and Sparkle was happy to oblige. Outfit: A white dress shirt and a sparkly pink tie, a skirt that matches her tie, knee-high socks, brown slip-on shoes, glasses from original design.

Egg Anon, Former Ultimate Princex and Wet Sock Anon, Former Ultimate Nurse

Egg is the current crowned princex of Desruc, a cursed locale in the middle of nowhere, and Wet Sock is the skilled field medic and excommunicated/exiled-royal-twin. But it seems their inventive customs don’t cross cultural boundaries, for their odd idioms and sayings just wind up grossing anyone willing to strike conversation with the foreign and cursed twins. Interacting with the Freak Twins may be internally painful for Myth, but she managed to power through and found out that the two are surprisingly caring, despite what their cursed dialogue would suggest, with Wet Sock being especially maternal in particular.

Egg’s Outfit: A green gakuran with golden details and shoulder pads, a red feather cape and matching earrings. 

Wet Sock’s Outfit: A ragged black gakuran with blue details and shoulder pads marked with a Red Cross design, a black cape and hood.

Curious Anon, Jr. Ultimate Swordfighter

As the adopted child of a yakuza family and the loyal bodyguard of a yakuza heiress, Curious has been raised with one and only goal and purpose in mind: prevent Young Mistress Iris from ever getting harmed by foes. Just like with the other athletes on the Kibo-Con roster, Myth feels her maternal instincts kick into overdrive when she’s training them, probably helped by Curious being the youngest of the athlete roster. Despite being famed by Iris’s rivals as an emotionless brick wall, Curious is surprisingly impressionable and gullible, probably due to his less-than-stellar upbringing as a servant.

Outfit: Hair in a small ponytail, a black t-shirt and a red tie with Iris’s family logo on the front, black pants, always carries their sword in a black and red scabbard, shoes from original design.

Anon Nerd, Former Ultimate Musician

Famous for his loud vocals, his vulgar lyrics, and the pessimistic worldview of his lyrics, Nerd is the head of the infamous metal band, “DEBATE”, a band intent on showing people just what’s wrong with the world we live in, using nothing but the bare-bone facts. Just like with Janon, Myth has some serious beef with Nerd, thanks to their conflicting worldviews. Myth can’t stand Nerd’s constant and vehement negativity, and Myth’s stubborn optimism just nauseates Nerd. They get into regular shouting matches, that always have to be mitigated by the Brain Cells, much to the irritation of said Brain Cells.

Outfit: Wilder hair that covers his left eye and hides his scouter, a spiky black leather jacket over a white turtleneck, a red and black guitar slung over his back, black polished nails, torn black pants, spiky black boots.

Eldritch Anon, Ultimate Gymnast

Originally from the wrong side of the tracks, Eldritch taught himself parkour and gymnastics to avoid both muggers and bullies. Eldritch’s small and light form makes executing high-flying flips and rolls a cinch for him. Despite having never entered a single competition, talent scouts have noticed Eldritch’s mad parkour skills. Myth really wants to train this young athlete to his full potential, but for some reason, Eldritch shows a vehement distrust for just about everybody, and given his backstory, who can blame him? But Myth is determined, and she will show the tiny gymnast that people can change and are worth trusting. 

Outfit: A black tanktop, a camo jacket tied around his waist, blue jeans, black ankle socks, white and blue sneakers.

Dream Anon, Ultimate Mechanic

Despite motorcycles being her main speciality, Dream can fix just about any mechanical device you throw at her, with her signature sunny smile. Despite not being an athlete, Myth quickly established Dream as one of her all-time favorites of the Kibo-Con roster. Dream and Myth quickly bonded over their overly optimistic and energetic personalities, and the two girls act like each other’s cheerleaders. Dream seems to show fascination with the mechanics of Myth’s wheelchair, and yearns to tune it up and soup it up with some rocket boosters or something, and Myth surprisingly doesn’t mind.

Outfit: A blue bandana wrapped around her head, a black tank top, orange and oil-stained gloves, a pink jumpsuit tied around her waist, an orange tool belt, tall black boots.

Iris Anon, Jr. Ultimate Yakuza

When Myth first found out that she was going to be chaperoning the heiress of one of the most dangerous yakuza families in all of history, she was prepared to be on her beat behavior, lest the heiress calls her folks to feed Myth to the fishies. But as it turns out, Iris is really friendly and superbly optimistic, despite what her upbringing would suggest. Iris is up there with Dream in Myth’s favorites list, and for the exact same reasons. But as it turns out, for all of her optimism, Iris is also really clumsy and falls, trips and bumps her head all the time. Myth is currently working on improving Iris’s balance and coordination.

Outfit: An entirely black gakuran with a red ribbon and her family logo in the form of a badge, black stockings and red shoes, glasses from original design.

Purple Anon, Ultimate Chef

Purple commonly cooks and caters for fancy high-class banquets, and her food is beloved by every upper-crust family that she serves. Purple’s work is commonly behind-the-scenes, and for good reason, because Purple is supremely timid, and often hides behind bigger Anons, when not in the kitchen. Purple is Myth’s go-to-Anon when it comes to nutritional advice, even if Myth needs help translating Purple’s overly-formal dialogue. Sometimes, when Myth is off to train her students, Purple stocks Myth up with crudités or finger sandwiches to give to the young athletes, in between or after practice.

Outfit: A white chef’s top with a purple cravat, black pants, shoes and beret from original design.

This series centers around an optimistic and hot-blooded team manager, trying to train her con-mates into only the best versions of themselves, and battling a couple of Negative Nancies (read: Nerd, Janon and Eldritch) in the process.

——————————————————-

APPEARANCE

Myth has shoulder-length brown hair with an ahoge on top and black sports glasses. For her clothes, Myth wears a red and cream colored tracksuit over a white tanktop, and matching high tops. Around her neck is a red megaphone, a golden whistle, and a golden necklace with resin in the middle that is colored like the bisexual flag. 

——————————————————-

PERSONALITY

Myth carries herself with a loud voice and motivational words. Myth might just be one of the most optimistic people in the entirety of the Kibo-Con, for she can find the good points in just about anybody, and knows exactly how to weed the good points out of them. Despite being confined to a wheelchair, she has energy that is very contagious, which assists her in pumping up her students. But for all of her optimism towards other people, she doesn’t quite feel the same way about herself, feeling like the accident squandered her own potential and she advances other people’s development at the cost of her own. But Myth refuses to be seen as weak, so she never opens up about her actual feelings.

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I hope you like this talentswap, and please let me know what of this Myth! Don’t forget to watch out for brand-new content from yours truly!

[sylphidine]

[RotGSecretSanta] Centres Small And Still

@rotgsecretsanta

The merriest and happiest of holiday wishes to you, @lunarlittlelight!  I am your RISE OF THE GUARDIANS Secret Santa this year, and I have written you some fluffy fanfiction which I hope you will enjoy.  It is mostly movie-based, with a few hints of bookverse thrown in.

It’s a fairly long story, so please make sure to keep reading under the cut!

Title: Centres Small And Still

The feathered coordinator found it much more difficult to sit than to hover.

The lagomorph artist sighed and resigned himself to eating more chocolate.

The golden dreamweaver pored over a heavy tome.

The ruffian designer turned his attention to the tresses between his fingers.

The flighty mirthmaker screwed his eyes tightly shut and murmured to himself.

_______________

The looks that went around the room, from Guardian to Guardian, ranged from bewildered to downright panicked.

Jack Frost had guessed their reactions before he’d even voiced the question, but even he was discouraged. One would have thought he’d asked them all to slice children up and roast them on a spit, rather than asking Sandy, North, Tooth and Bunny if they had any hobbies.

He sighed internally, and forged ahead.

“I know ‘serious” isn’t a word that you usually associate with me, but I’m serious… doesn’t ANYBODY in the spirit world know how to relax?”

"Jack, you need to understand that we've been doing our jobs for centuries…" That was Tooth, ever the mediator.

Jack countered, “That’s exactly what I mean, Tooth!  Your JOBS.  Why are you - all of you - denying yourselves the chance of a little fun?  Something just for you.”

"What we do takes all our energy, all our brain power.  The Man in the Moon didn't entrust the kids to lollygaggers." Of course Bunny would bring that up. Even though they'd made a lot of progress towards friendship in the years since Jack became a Guardian, Jack still felt an undercurrent of wariness from the Easter Kangaroo in most of their interactions.

Surprisingly, both Sandy and North were silent.  Well, of course Sandy was silent.. He was always silent, in the literal sense. But he was listening earnestly to what Jack was saying, and listening to the others’ replies, without interjecting any of his sand-signs as either protest or affirmation.

North’s silence registered more loudly to Jack’s mind’s ear than Bunny’s bluster.  The winter spirit began to wonder if he’d offended the big Russian somehow.

Fortunately a booming laugh burst forth from the Guardian of Wonder’s vaunted belly, and Jack relaxed a touch. After a moment, North said, “Ah, Jack. Again, you get straight to point. You don’t let us forget how to make time for children, and for this you are good Guardian.”

“Yes, but That’s only half of it, you guys.  Haven’t you ever heard the expression, ‘you can’t take care of other people if you don’t take care of yourself?’  And that means doing something completely unrelated to your job.  Pastimes, hobbies… doing something to recharge your batteries.”

His voice dropped into a lower register. 

“ ‘You may grow old and trembling in your anatomies, you may lie awake at night listening to the disorder of your veins, you may miss your only love, you may see the world about you devastated by evil lunatics, or know your honour trampled in the sewers of baser minds. There is only one thing for it then — to learn. Learn why the world wags and what wags it. That is the only thing which the mind can never exhaust, never alienate, never be tortured by, never fear or distrust, and never dream of regretting. ‘ “

Across the room, Sandy nodded, sending up sand-sigils of birds and fish, wizards and knights.

Tooth let out her breath in a long exhalation.  “Jack, that was beautiful.”

“Oh, it’s not mine,” Jack replied.  “I have a lot of stuff I’ve memorized… books, poems, songs.  There are worse hobbies to have.” He rubbed one thin hand over his hair and along the back of his neck. “Kind of helped pass the time over the centuries when no one could see me.” 

He had all their attention on him now; Jack could practically hear the wheels turning.  He kept going in order not to lose the momentum. “Kids’ belief is wonderful, it really is. But believing in yourself, your strengths, knowing your center… that sometimes means surprising yourself with accomplishing something you didn’t know you could do.”

“And your suggestion is for each of us to stop doing what we’re supposed to be doing, and do something we… enjoy?” Bunny interjected.

“Got it in one, Cottontail.”

Bunny scowled, but didn’t argue.  Encouraged, Jack continued.  “Look, it’s July.  North’s got six months until Christmas, Bunny’s got at least eight months before Easter, Tooth’s got to be slightly less busy if she’s not collecting teeth from winter-based accidents, and Sandy can take it easier in the Northern hemisphere at least, with shorter nights…there’s no better time that any of us are going to have where deadlines aren’t creeping up on us.” He held up his hand to stave off their protests. “I mean it.  Stop thinking about deadlines.  Just try it.  Set aside some time every day or every couple of days.  Then when we all get together again, we can show off what skills we’ve picked up or hobbies we’re doing to relax.”.  

After a bit more back-and-forth, the Guardian meeting broke up, each heading back to their realms and duties, four of them ruminating on the “fun times versus deadlines challenge” issued by their newest member.

Said newest member muttered to himself regarding said challenge as he flew towards the Andes for his next round of winter weather delivery, “t may live to regret this.” 

____________________

Four months later, the aurora borealis signal went out over the night sky in the Northern hemisphere.  Jack was in the middle of bringing an early storm system to the Eastern United States, but was happy to let Wind carry him away to North’s Workshop.  

A little prickle of worry crept into his mind as he flew.  It was November.  Wouldn’t North be too busy with Christmas preparation to be holding a Guardian meeting?  Was he, Jack, about to be put back on the Naughty List?

He needn’t have worried.  They were all gathered in the great Globe Room, the lights of believers twinkling merrily on the surface of every continent.  Bunny stood next to the fireplace, arms folded, but his eyes were fond instead of scoffing.  Tooth and her mini-fairies darted to and fro, but their movements were far less frenetic than usual. The Sandman raised a tankard of eggnog in salute.  North bellowed “Jack Frost!” in the same hearty fashion as he had always done.

“Hey, gang.  What’s the emergency?”

“Is no emergency.  Is progress report!”

Jack couldn’t help but grin.  “So you really did it?  You all took my advice? Tell me, tell me, although I might not be able to hear you over the sound of how awesome I am.”

“Jack, behave!” interjected Tooth in a voice that was half-shocked and half-amused.  “Yes, if you must know, you were absolutely right.  And we all want to show you HOW we’ve been spending our…” she looked at the others as she fumbled for the unfamiliar term, “our downtime?  If that’s the right word.” “Yeah, downtime is right, sheila,” said Bunny.  “But yours and my little projects aren’t exactly portable.  So we’re invitin’ ya, snowflake, along with everyone else, to see what we’ve had going since we last all met.”

“Now?  Right now?”  Jack flipped himself over in the air in delight, missing Baby Tooth’s chirrup of alarm, Sandy’s miming of fastening seatbelts, and Bunny’s crafty grin as he tapped his hind paw on the ground to make a tunnel.  With a whoosh, all six found themselves in the lush gardens of the Warren.

“Down time, ha, ha. Very amusing.” North growled and then muttered a few choice words in Russian.

While the pile of Guardians plus one mini-fairy was disentangling themselves, Jack noticed a structure next to the egg-colour river that had not been there on his last visit.  It looked to be an open shed, with a firepit in the middle, and… was that an anvil?

Tooth fluttered forward and beat Jack to the question by exclaiming, “Bunny!  You really did it, you took up blacksmithing!”

Once they were all back on their feet, North slapped the Pooka on the shoulder, making Bunny stumble.  “How many arms did you grow this time, old friend?”

“Just the four,” was the terse reply as the Guardian of Hope led them to his forge.

“THIS time?” Jack asked, but no one paid him any mind.  They were too busy looking at the beautiful wrought-iron objects hanging on the shed’s walls.  The frost spirit was equally impressed, letting out a heartfelt “wow” at the craftsmanship.

Bunny looked Jack in the eye for once, rather than the side-eye Jack was used to, quite gratified at Jack’s admiration for his work.  “I’ll bet you thought yerself clever as a dunny rat when you came up with this ‘relaxation’ scheme, but I’ve got to admit that it’s definitely been fun.  And since fun is your department… well, yeh, I’ll say it.  You were right, mate.”

Jack let out a whoop of joy and fist-bumped Sandy, then Tooth, then North.  “You all heard that, right?  I’m not imagining it?”

They all laughed.  Baby Tooth flew to his shoulder and started to preen his hair.  

“I’m anxious to show you MY results,” said Tooth.  North grinned at that, saying, “Trust Toothie to think of hobby as science.”

“Now really, North… I think both your project and mine are artistic as well as practical.”

North put a finger to the side of his nose, eyes twinkling, and pulled a snowglobe from his pocket.  In a caressing tone, he murmured “Tooth Palace.” They all stepped into the swirling vortex and came out into an empty room.

Or nearly empty.  In the middle of the floor stood a foot-treadle loom with a low bench built in.  The loom was strung with brightly-coloured yarns.  The Tooth Fairy was in a flutter to show them how it worked.  Placing her hands lovingly on the shuttle, she said, “It’s going to be either a blanket or a wall hanging, I haven’t made up my mind which.”

Sandy floated over to get a better look, his face wreathed in smiles.  With one chubby finger, he pointed to the strands of gold, red, blue, violet and green, and then at each of them in turn.  Tooth blushed. “Well, yes, Sandy, you do all inspire me.  And it feels good to be using my sword-muscles for something that’s creative rather than destructive.”

She flew over to sit at the bench, which had been lowered so her feet could reach the treadles.  Her wings were folded at her back, but her hands and legs were a blur of motion as the warp and weft took shape before their eyes.  

North sniffled and wiped his eyes.  “Ah, Toothie, you remind me of old times and old friends.” Jack was struck by a memory of something he’d read long ago about the patron saint of weavers, and resolved to ask his fellow Guardians about it at a later point.  For now, he applauded, and Bunny and Sandy joined him.

Eventually, as was the wont of Guardian gatherings, Tooth and Sandy needed to leave on their nightly duties, and Jack felt the pull of more snowstorm-wrangling in Canada.  They all left the Tooth Palace with promises to regroup at the North Pole on January 7th.

______________________

They congregated in the heavily-timbered Great Room at Santoff Claussen, with its two roaring fireplaces and its comfortable chairs and settees.  North was garbed in his Ded Moroz robes of blue and white, and bade them all welcome.

Sandy, however, seemed unable to restrain himself from bobbing up and down.  He gestured at North impatiently, and North replied with a laugh, “Very well, very well!  We shall bring forth your discoveries!”  At some silent signal, four Yeti came into the room, each bearing a pile of books and journals, which they spread out on a long table in the corner with Bunny’s help.

Intrigued, Jack and Tooth hovered and gazed at some of the titles… three volumes of BURNHAM’S CELESTIAL HANDBOOK… Douglas Hofstader’s GODEL, ESCHER, BACH: THE ETERNAL GOLDEN BRAID… a treatise called “Revealing the Mass Loss Structures of Four Key Massive Binaries Using Optical Spectropolarimetry” by Jamie Lomax… UNDERSTANDING STELLAR EVOLUTION by Emily Levesque… a lovingly bound and rebound leather book that turned out to be the “Almanac Arzachel” by Abū Ishāq Ibrāhīm al-Zarqālī.

Sandy looked ready to scowl at his fellow Guardians if they should make any derogatory statement about his tastes in “light reading”.  When only admiration and interest greeted him, he began to cheerfully describe his findings in his own unique way, with Bunny and North taking turns translating.

It turned out to be quite the lesson in history as well as in astronomy; Guardians and Yeti all found it surprisingly enjoyable. 

The Yetis all had braids and beads woven into their long mustaches, making them look particularly festive; North noticed Jack observing his helpers and forestalled the question by saying, “Ah, I see you find hint of my project.”  He got up from his massive armchair and started to pace.  

Jack raised an eyebrow; Bunny’s ears twitched; Sandy sent a question mark sigil upwards; Tooth grinned, as she alone had an inkling of what the former bandit king had been up to since July.

North’s expression was unexpectedly grave as he spoke. “I must confess, I cheated. I learned one pastime not enough for me, I must find way of doing more and more. First pastime turned into new project for Christmas holiday, but the second… ah, that became true hobby.”

He waved at his hirsute colleagues. “Phil and Henrietta helped me find man who makes wigs for sick children; I thought to take up hair styling. Something different from toymaking.  But more wigs I work on, more sick children I find, and…” He spread his  hands to demonstrate the sheer scope of what he was trying to convey.  “Too much.  Too many children who need many things!  Time to get help, and Yetis happy to help… as you can see from their decorations.”

North sighed.  “So good idea, but not what I set out to do for relaxing.”  

Jack scratched his head.  "You said that there was a second pastime?"

And, like the sun coming out from behind the clouds, North's smile dispelled any remaining worry.  "I find my old gusli!"

He slammed his great hands together like a thunderclap, causing the more intrepid elves who were trying to snag unguarded refreshments to scatter.  One of the Yeti lumbered out of the room, bringing back a nine-stringed instrument shaped like the wing of a bird, with a soundhole between the fretboard and the head where the strings were tightly wrapped.

North returned to his armchair and cradled the gusli gently on his lap.  Bunny, Tooth, Sandy and Jack gathered round to sit on the rug near his booted feet, poking out from the white fur-trimmed hems of North’s blue robe.

For more than an hour North played, plucking the strings with love and care.  Old holiday carols, sings of battle, songs of romance, some hummed, some sung lustily.  His fellow Guardians were too enraptured to applaud, but when the gusli’s strings stopped vibrating and North sank back tiredly in his chair, Jack felt something bubble up in his heart, like a wave crashing over the banks of a river.

Jack closed his eyes and began to recite, the Finnish names tripping surprisingly easily off his tongue:

“Some bones were left on the crag

     fishbones on the rock.

Steady old Väinämöinen

     at that looks at them —

looks at them, turns them over;

he uttered a word, spoke thus:

     “I wonder what these —

     these pike-teeth, this wide

     jawbone — could become

were they in a smith’s workshop

with a skilful craftsman, in

     a mighty man’s hands?”

The smith Ilmarinen said:

“What’s nothing becomes nothing

     a fishbone no tool

even in a smith’s workshop

with a skilful craftsman, in

a mighty man’s hands.”

Steady old Väinämöinen

     put this into words:

“But surely these could become

a kantele of fishbones

were there someone who knew how

who could make an instrument of bones.”

When no one else came forward

and there was none who knew how

who could make an instrument of bones

steady old Väinämöinen

made of himself a maker

took the shape of a shaper:

he made an instrument of pike bones

produced a joy forever.”

No one spoke after that.

As the moments of silence stretched awkwardly on, Jack was afraid to open his eyes.  They popped open involuntarily when he was suddenly wrapped in arms furry, feathered, and fabric-clad, in the best hug he’d ever experienced.

He had a family again.

[toaarcan]

I think you're putting too much on Fiona's "purpose" being in relation to other characters. A big complaint was that she wasn't really ANYTHING. She was resentful about Sonic and Mighty, and then next time we see her she's part of the FFs with no explanation or role. She was sometimes a medic, and then part of the Brain Trust for no reason (never really showing those skills), and then she was suddenly Sonic's gf...while he was still saying he and Sally were meant to be. Villain = direction.

I mean, there was an explanation for her, but it came almost two years after the fact: Her belief that Sonic was a selfish glory-hound was rattled by his selfless sacrifice to save the world, something that she personally witnessed, and therefore, she tried to make amends. Not only that, but it was a quick moment too, with her even attending Sonic’s “funeral” in Issue 125.

The problem with the story is that it was written by Bollers, and unfortunately that means that Penders completely ignored what happened in it no more than two issues later. 

Bollers’ Fiona: Not interested in Sonic, but trusts him and respects him, though she acknowledges that he isn’t perfect and does have a selfish streak. Made aware of Tails’ feelings for her, and chastises “Sonic” for hitting on her despite that knowledge. 

Penders’ Fiona: Very much interested in Sonic, completely unaware of Tails’ feelings, completely uncaring about the whole debacle.

Her position as a medic is likewise something that was there with Bollers, and then absent once Penders took over. Admittedly, a medic is a somewhat difficult character type to use in a book where characters don’t regularly get injured, so I can see why it could fall by the wayside, but one must keep Penders’ inability to keep anyone consistent in mind. When it comes to Fiona, Penders couldn’t even keep consistent with himself. Look at the very-obviously-preteen Fiona from the Knuckles book vs. the sixteen year old he portrays her as in the main title.

Believe me, I’ve done this song and dance many a time. There’s this perception that the villainous version of Fiona is automatically a better character because Ian did something with major with her, but the fact of the matter is that it’s entirely possible to do something major with her without taking a torch to everything except that one single issue of the Knuckles comic where she was kind of a jerk to Mighty for mostly understandable reasons.

It’s been a long while since I’ve reread any of the comic, and I’ve been immersed in the fandom’s perception of things a whole lot more than that, so I legitimately forgot a lot of  what was there, but one thing that sticks out from seeing the old stuff again on Thanks Ken Penders is how compassionate Fiona is, she’s portrayed as very frequently being the one to voice concern for her comrades’ safety (A fitting trait for a medic character), and it jars so heavily with Ian’s decision that she should be a self-centred, “Survival of the best” character who cares about nobody except herself and her abusive boyfriend.

As I said in my post “Fiona Fox: Depth vs. Prominence”, summing up Fiona’s personality before she was sacrificed on the altar of Sleazy the Recolour takes a whole lot more than summing up her personality afterwards, and even then that relates more to her relationship with Scourge than it does to herself.

Now that’s not to say that Fiona as a villain couldn’t work. In my most recent post on this topic, I even said directly that she could’ve been a really darn good villain, if her status as a traitor actually mattered. A traitor should be an intensely personal antagonist, someone who can get inside the heads of the heroes and damage them emotionally just as much as they can physically. The interactions between her and her former friends should be brutal, knife-twisting, and send them reeling. The fact that Fiona’s villainy is arguably something that Sonic created can only add to that, as she is living proof that sometimes the hero can fail.

Buuut she’s none of that. Sonic is more bothered about her harming Tails than anything she does to him directly, and the second (and final) time they interact, Sonic dismantles her arguments without flinching and leaves her to run off crying. 

Tails’ faith isn’t shaken at all by her, he finishes 172 stating unflinchingly that she’s wrong (And her philosophy never made sense anyway, so Tails is correct there), and within six issues he’s physically attacking Sonic primarily out of envy over the Fiona situation, and outright states that he doesn’t care that she went with Scourge. 

Sally... never liked her in the first place, but gets no vindication from it. She neither gets a moment where she feels explicitly proven right, nor is frustrated that the others went to bat for Fiona and had that trust rejected. Like with Sonic, it seems to be way more about how Fiona treated Tails than it is about how Sally herself was affected. 

Amy actually gets the most out of it, with Fiona’s mockery of her at the start of Issue 172 being used as motivation for her to train to be a better fighter... but... it’s all positive. The idea that the other FF don’t take Amy seriously is barely relevant, and it’s used as motivation for her to improve herself, and then that’s it.

None of the other characters get any word on it, save for Antoine using it as a prompt to skip over all that emotional development and reconciliation after a year apart and immediately propose to Bunnie, because Ian’s got to cram something happy into this set of issues before he blows up Knothole, plays the “Villain could win whenever he wants, he just doesn’t want to” stupidity card, and gives Charmy brain damage to make him more like SEGA’s version.

And that’s it. Fiona exists primarily to be Scourge’s girlfriend. In a way, it’s fitting that Amy is the only character that gets an appropriate “Hero vs. traitor” scene, because like the then-current official depiction of Amy, Fiona’s life is defined entirely by her relationship to her respective Sonic.

Ian’s Fiona is, in every sense of the word, a satellite love interest for Scourge. Even the sole arc she has apart from him is spent building a team to get him back. 

She’s just Scourge’s girlfriend, despite him yelling at her, screaming at her, resoundingly failing to live up to his own promises, undermining her, and, if her reaction to his threats in Issue 190 is anything to go by, physically attacking her as well. 

I won’t deny that Fiona, as a character, had become listless, and needed a strong new direction. She had a lot of substance to her, and a surprisingly uplifting story when stripped down to the basic structure, but she was being painfully underutilised. 

I will, however, strongly oppose the idea that Ian’s decision on that front was the correct one. It was a lateral move at best, a step backwards at worst. He didn’t really fix her as much as make her a different brand of underdone, and that uplifting story was gone. Now all it said was “If you did bad in the past, you’ll always lapse back to it and nobody should trust you”, combined with none-too-subtle abuse (In a ship that Ian made popular with thousands of teenagers, very smooth) and a new design that sexed her up for no good reason. 

Good Fiona had all the ingredients and not enough time in the oven, but villain Fiona was missing half the recipe.

[forallyourikemensengokuneeds]

Marriage warlords

Warlords and marriage

Nobunaga

• Marriage to him would be difficult

• The guy is trying to conquer and rebuild a peaceful nation

• Getting alone time would be hard

• Along with the separation during battles

• You wouldn't lack for anything though

• You want he gets it

• He is surprisingly sweet at times when he knows you need that

• He tries to be understanding when you just want to be alone with him

• He really tries to do little things for you

• Tea for two on the balcony

• Dinners alone

• Small quick trips to his favorite hot springs to relax

• He loves you too much to let you suffer his departures

• He will always try to be home as quick as he can

• He is really trying

Hideyoshi

• His devotion is undeniable

• He worships you

• When you two are together, you share all the household chores

• He won't let you over task yourself and gets frustrated when you do

• He knows that you run the household AND the castle, so he doesn't want you to do too much

• Sometimes his hovering is annoying

• He also annoys you with his fawning over Nobunaga

• Sometimes you really hate Nobunaga

• You plot his death more the Mitsuhide ever supposedly did

• Hideyoshi tries to do other things for you like day trips

• He has cut most of his ties with his fan club stating he only needs one woman now

• Time together is great and helps with his time going for battles

Ieyasu

• This porcupine of love adores being married

• He will never admit it though

• He enjoys the idea of every day and night you are there somewhere close by

• He is a neat freak so some things you just don't touch

• He loves those little touches of you throughout his manor house

• It feels better now

• Since you have learned to speak Ieyasunese life is better

• It is even more attentive then Hideyoshi

• He is spot on With your wants and desires

• He takes you nearly everywhere with him as he enjoys your company

• You want something he gets it

• Do you need it? It's there

• He even tries to understand your friendship with the enemy ninja who is weird

• Life is completely full for both of you

Mitsunari

• Sweet Mitsubun would be probably the most adorable husband

• He beyond worships you

• He can be annoying when he gets lost in a scroll as your speaking

• However, he doesn't get mad when you lose your temper

• Half the time he doesn't realize your mad because he is lost in a scroll

• He does all the accounts even though you are more than capable

• He just likes math

• He helps clean but fails when it comes to picking up his books

• He needs more shelves

• You need a bigger room

• However, when he snuggles you, it is the most wondrous thing

• Of course, waking up with an angel isn't bad either

Masamune

• Married life with a tiger or dragon can be tricky

• You find he has some major quirks

• He does everything at the speed of light

• Almost everything some take a really long time

• He takes over when it comes to cooking

• He likes things in certain places as well

• He, however, would do nearly anything for your smiles

• He really is a big playful child most of the time

• When he isn't, you just wait and let him deal with his issues

• He takes his time now explaining things

• He is trying

• So are you

• Marriage is learning those quirks and still loving that person

Mitsuhide

• He was shocked when you said yes

• He never ever thought he could be married

• He outright worships your body and soul when you're alone

• He is a different person than when he is being Mr. Sneaky pants

• He loves whatever you do

• You could literally spend every cent he had, and he would say "I will make more."

• He encourages your designs even though he can get slightly jealous when you take to much time

• Forget about other men

• You married the torturer of the Oda forces

• He can be quite jealous if he see you speaking to his "friends."

• He will take it out on you but not in a bad way, just expect to be tired the next day

• However a marriage with a trickster leaves you wondering what exactly he is doing half the time, he won't tell you ever

• He does have guards around you all the time

Kenshin

• The fluffy bunny lover would be a caring husband

• Yes Kenshin and caring are in the same sentence

• He loves everything about you

• But mostly the fact you accepted him as he is

• He would give you the world

• He is actually trying to

• He shocks everyone from vassals to villagers whom he could be yelling at or to until you walk in and distract him

• No one recognizes him when he is in husband mode

• Though often short-tempered he isn't with you

• Ever

• You also curb his desire for battle as he doesn't want to leave you behind nor take you with him

• He shares completely and you do as well

• What some would call a marriage made in hell is actually heaven

Shingen

• Worship? Really this one can't leave you alone

• He knew you were his other half the night you met

• You had no idea

• He stops flirting with other women and turns it all to you

• Its overwhelming

• He doesn't want you to work in the castle any longer

• However you argue and of course get your way

• You could say the sky is green and he would fight anyone who said otherwise

• He doesn't want to battle anymore

• He wants to bring you to Kai and rebuild

• Of course you are willing

• He wants till its started though as you deserve a roof over your head

• He tries to be understanding when you speak to other men but doesn't care for it, even Sasuke

• You laugh at that

• I mean Sasuke is no threat.

• Marriage would be fun for the most part

Yukimura

• Ah no not boy wonder here

• He understands the concept of sharing lives but it is completely new to him

• He tries to make time for you but he is wearing himself thin

• He is so battle ready and constantly training it is hard for him to break away

• He tries though

[crazyrandomfucker]

Adrien Augrestre: Cardboard

Adrien was definetly determined to set up Adrienne and Marin. He know they both liked eachother, Marin even loved her Kitty Noire side. Frustrated he couldn't reveal her identity without getting in a serious trouble, he had plotted to let the lovebirds alone for a bit so they could just confess their feelings and start to go out. The problem was, of course, Marin and his insecurity that couldn't manage to get the courage to ask her out. The model also couldn't tell Adrienne that Marin had feelings for her as her civilan self and as her hero self, since he wasn't completely sure of how would Adrienne react to that information or how'd Marin react if Adrienne confessed her love. The only possible way that it would be a success it was for Marin to tell her his feelings, all of them. He had even told Marin to prepare his confession because he was going to create the perfect chance for it.

The problem with his plan was how and when. It was crucial that he could set the cheesiest and most romantic atmosphere by choosing the right time and place, to give Marin a little push, but he needed help to make the others scatter at the right moment and to keep the bodyguards busy, most likely femenine help. He didn't know if the girls knew about Adrienne's feelings, except for Nina. But Nina was too obvious when she tried to set Adrienne up with Marin. Alya had something that Adrien couldn't quite explain that gave him shudders from time to time, not to mention that her personality was somehow similar to Nina's, but more mischievous. So he'd have to ask Mari for help.

At the first chance he had, he explained Marinette the details of his plan and was so delighted to hear that she would take care of taking the others far and also help him in setting the mood. All he needed now was to inform and convince the bodyguards to convenintly go to the figurine store when they saw all of the teenagers scattering. Once that was done, he payed atention to the shopping mall map to find a good spot to let the magic of love work. He found a little unkown square that had a sort of hidden exit to the main street. That'd be useful if he wanted to spy and see how everything would go.

Almost at sunset, they headed to that secluded little square and it was honestly beautiful, with some trees and bushes and a nice bench. Marinette told Adrien and Adrienne to wait there for Marin, who had just gone to the toilet, because she wanted to go with the others to find a special surprise. Before Marin could arrive, Adrien faked getting a call and told Adrienne to wait for Marin while he attended some business with the bodyguards. As soon as they were out of sight, the bodyguards left and Adrien run to the street to spy Marin's confession throught the hidden connection with the street or even the bushes.

Surprisingly for him, he found Marinette next to the entrance holding some cardboard boxes that were big enough to hold a fridge inside. Adrien approached the bluenette to ask her what was she doing and was surprised when she told him, stuttering a lot as always, that she managed to make sure the others were occupied for a while and also thought on a plan to watch the confession without getting caught. They'd use the cardboard boxes to hide and would see through the small hole they had. If the put the boxes near a wall with other boxes, it could pass as something a store had thrown away. Impressed by the idea, Adrien carefully placed the boxes without making a noise and hid in a shorter cardboard box, thinking about how much that resembled to the Metal Gear saga. Mari hid in a fridge-sized one and kept quiet as Marin returned and found himself alone with Adrienne, mentally cursing Adrien.

"Oh, you're back, great" said Adrienne with a tender smile on her face. "I guess we should go meet the others, but I think they were preparing a surprise for Adrien and me, so it'd probably better if I waited here". "I'll stay here with you then, we can't let such a beautyful lady alone at this time. Speaking of which, where are the bodyguards?" asked Marin, already feeling the pression of what Adrien expected him to do. 'Coward' thought Adrien. "They went with Adrien to attend some business or something, he seemed to be in a hurry thought" said Adrienne sheepishly. "Then I guess we'll be alone for a bit" commented Marin nervously "I guess so" "Anyway, how's today been?" asked Marin with a faint blush on his cheeks. "So smooth brother" whispered sarcastically Marinette. "It's been amazing! I've had so much fun shopping, walking with everyone, playing at the arcade and I loved the bunny. Thanks for getting it for me" says Adrien with happiness sparkling in her eyes. "It's nothing, I'd have gotten you a few more if you had asked" said Marin. Adrienne smiled gently. "Thanks. I'm also glad you've made a truce with Adrien, it's been funnier today when you weren't competing against eachother". "We've just come to an understanding, it's definetly not that much" says the designer boy rubbing his neck nervously. "Still, I'm glad to know that my two favourite boys are getting along. It's nice to see Adrien happy with friends that don't mind our surname" confessed Adrienne, making blush Marin. "Um... Adrienne?" asked Marin nervously, surprising Adrienne and the hidden ones because of his embarrassed tone. 'Is he going to do it?' thought Marinette and Adrien. "Yes? W-What happens Marin?" asked Adrienne blushing. "I've got to t-tell you something... I-I've known for a while that you're crushing on me a-and the thing is t-that I also h-have a crush on you..." says Marin with his face redder than Ladybug's suit, leaving everyone speechles as he mentally cursed Adrien for putting him in such situation. "But... " "But... ?" asked Adriennne fearing the answer. "I-I also have a crush on K-Kitty Noire... I know it's unfair for you t-that I also love someone else... But if y-you don't mind it... I'd love to g-go out with you..." says Marin sweating bullets. "I..." began Adrienne with a big blush. "Of course I don't mind! Kitty is one of our protectors and she's a badass. I'm glad that you see me as highly as her..." "Is that a yes?" asked the designer, silently praying for a yes. "Didn't you said you knew my feelings for you?! Yes! I'd be more than happy to be your girlfriend" said Adrienne, jumping at Marin and hugging him tight. 'They did it!' thought happily the hidden teens. "Now tell me" said Adrienne still hugging Marin. "If you knew how I felt, why didn't you asked me out before?" "Y-You see, it's been really difficult to gather up more courage that I have to ask you out today. In fact, most of it it was you brother pressuring me and even creating a chance to confess... Before I was conflicte because I loved two incredible girls and felt rather nervous I guess insecurity runs in the family..." said Marin in a rather apologetic way. "I see... Guess I'll have to fix that from now on~" said Adrienne, booping Marin's nose teasingly. "That's not fair..." complains Marin, redder than red itself. "Well, I don't also love Lordbug, do I?" said teasingly Adrienne. "I need to make you only mine~ So we'll have to talk to my father, for approvation and all stuff. But he likes you and your designs, so it won't be a problem I think. Just in case, we'll say I confessed and you accepted". "Congrats then girl! shouted Alya, standing up from behind the bushes and surprising everyone. "Well, I guess the cat is out of the bag now. Congrats thought" said Alen standing up next to his sister. "I'm glad you two are now together" said Nina, standing up while drying fake tears. "Our angel is now with a sunshine girl". "Congrats dudes" says Nino. "Is there anyone else?! Why is everybody here?! How embarrasing..." said Marin hugging Adrienne, trying to hide behid her. "Well, we knew Mari and Adrien where up to something and we came, but we were surprised when we actually saw them here. Perhaps they are giving you privacy..." said Nina. "Wait, that can't be, my brother is hidden somewhere, for sure. And Mari is likely to be hidden too" said Adrienne. "There's literally no other place to hide around here aside from this bushes and those.... Those cardboard boxes..." said Alen. Adrien stood up and threw away his box. "Guilty as charged. I'm the only one here thought, Mari is with the bodyguards" said the model boy laughing sheepishly. "Riiiiiiiiight. The you certainly won't mind to go inside that refrigerator box, as there's noone in there" said Adrienne. "Or is there someone, brother". "Pshhhh, of course I don't mind" said nervously Adrien and opened the box from it's behind to enter it, but Mari came out all red. "Double busted..." "You two are going to have a looooooong talk with us" said Marin clearly annoyed. "Oh shush, if it wasn't for them we wouldn't be a couple now" teased Adrienne. "Okay..." accepted the designer.

Adrien called the bodyguards back and everybody went to their respective houses, except for Marin, who had to go throught an embarrassing car time, an embarrassing talk with one of his fashion idols to ask for permission to date Adrienne, another embarrassing car trip and an infinitely embarrassing talk with his parents to present Adrienne as his girlfriend, being subjected to the classical parental torture of embarrassing past stories and photos. By the end of it, Adrienne was certainly blushing like crazy, but Marin's blush was evolving into a whole new color. Meanwhile, Adrien and Marinette had their share of laughs from their twins' despair, but also because they had picked up the cardboard boxes as a memento of the day and Adrien was totally not in full Chat Noir mode sitting in the boxes and playing with them.

[nuravity]

The other students did everything they could to keep Bakuzilla busy. Even though their quirks don't seem to hurt him, they did annoy him enough to distract him from Ochako.

"Fine! I'll tear you pests apart first!"

Fortunately, what the giant nightmare robot had in power he lacked in speed, so avoiding him wasn't too difficult. When it was finally time for everyone to move out of the way, Bakuzilla would discover that his lack of speed would lead to his downfall. The moment he notice the giant makeshift, it was already too late, for he couldn't move out of the way fast enough. Seeing how futile it was to avoid it, Bakuzilla screamed before the makeshift smashed him to pieces.

"YEAH!! BAKUZILLA IS HISTORY!!" Mineta cheered.

"Duuuuh..." Denki said while giving a thumbs up.

However, as they were celebrating, some of the scrap metal left behind began to merge again and form a body.

"Fools...! You can't stop me! I always come baaaaAAAAAAAHHH!!!"

The scrap body suddenly screamed as if in pain. It looked like it was malfunctioning. Soon after, it fell apart again. Before anyone could say anything, a hologram that took on the form of a little girl appeared from one of the eyes of the scrapped parts.

"Do not be afraid," the hologram said, "I am the Hikari Vaccine, an antivirus made to fight against the Baku Virus."

Hikari... That was the name of Maika's sister. Perhaps the antivirus was designed to look like her.

"I am not yet complete, and therefore can't be spread globally right now. But with the power I do possess, I have put an invisible barrier around U.A. and made it a safe haven for you. You may come and go as you please, but any robot infected with the Baku Virus that tries to enter will be instantly purged of the virus. While we wait for my completion, I will help fix the school."

The hologram raised a hand, and as if she had telekinesis, the scrap metal raised in the air and began to form into smaller, cuter animatronics that looked like adorable animals such as kittens and bunnies, each one dressed like butlers. Other than being animals, they all resembled Toy Deku from Ochako's dreams. The small robots were surprisingly strong, as they were carrying supplies at least five times their height. They began work on fixing the school right away.

"Anyone who feels like they need rest can do so," the Hikari Vaccine said, "But if there's anyone who still has some strength left, I ask that you help as many defenseless people as possible and bring them here so they can be safe. I may not be able to save the entire world right now, but I want to save as many people as I can while I wait for my upgrades."

Many students took the offer to rest after the Bakuzilla fight that took a lot out of them. There were some, such as Izuku, who chose to go out and bring people to U.A.

Her wall came down on the gigantic virus and there was a moment of relief as Ochako smiled. They had beaten it! She turned to the others to give them a thumbs up but then, the voice of the Baku came from beneath the rubble and the heroine watched in horror as he began to reassemble himself.

But mid-sentence, he began screaming and to everyone's surprise, a hologram suddenly appeared - it was of a girl. Ochako stood on guard but recognition flickered in her expression when she said her name. Wasn't that Maika's sister? Also, vaccine was a rather fitting last name for her. She explained that she put up a barrier over UA and destroy any remaining robots if they try to enter.

Then, she raised a hand and Ochako took note of many different animals working to fix any damage right away and she looked away with a slight blush, realizing that they all had Deku's face similar to Toy Deku.

Getting over her embarrassment and listening to Hikari's next words, she quickly made the decision to continue to work with helping to bring infected and non-infected people to UA. But after she went out for the third time, she collapsed on the way to more civilians, exhaustion taking the better of her.

[marigoldbaker]

regarding honor and honesty in the workplace (15/?)

read on ao3!

this chapter: jenny takes faith and tara out, and runs into an old...well, “friend” definitely isn’t the right word.

from the personal files of Jenny Calendar:

I know that things with Lilah are very obviously more complex than they seem, and I know that I should give her the benefit of the doubt, especially since she was the one who hired me. I guess it’s just difficult for me to handle the fact that Lilah’s guilt doesn’t seem to weigh her down as much as I think it should. It’s not fair for me to make those arbitrary decisions on how she should and shouldn’t behave. I know that. I’m going to call her in a little bit and apologize, and maybe we can talk this out, because we both want the same thing in the long run.

Right now, though? Right now I’m taking a much-needed, much-deserved day away from case work. It’s been a long and exhausting few weeks.

“Yes, I am relaxing, but I can’t relax when I’m being fussed over,” said Jenny patiently, sticking her head into Faith’s room (Faith and Tara were doing a jigsaw puzzle on the air mattress and giggling at how difficult it was) and giving both girls a big grin. “And if you want, you can come over and relax with us. Isn’t Dawn off school early today?”

“You Americans have too many holidays,” said Rupert matter-of-factly. “And if I come over, we’ll just start working on the case again, and I want you to have a truly relaxing day.”

“So what, I can’t relax around you?” Jenny laughed incredulously. “Rupert, you’re the most relaxing thing in my entire life right now.” Behind her, Faith started making kissing sounds. “Stop that,” Jenny added over her shoulder.

“No,” said Faith.

“That’s—very sweet,” god, it was a mark of how well they knew each other that Jenny could hear Rupert cleaning his glasses, “but still—I don’t want to run the risk of distracting you from relaxation with case work.”

“Then I will just keep you on the line for six hours,” said Jenny promptly.

“Jenny, you are supposed to be taking a break from being a detective—”

“And what, just because our breaks coincide, we’re supposed to spend them apart?” Jenny immediately volleyed back.

There was an awkward pause. Then Rupert said, “Considering—how things are going with Lilah, Jenny, I rather want to become a bit more used to being by myself. You, ah, take up a significant part of my life without realizing it, and, and goodness knows I prefer it that way, but your life seems to be going in a different direction, and I want to make the transition easier on me.”

“Nothing with Lilah is even close to set in stone right now,” Jenny pointed out, not sure why she felt the need to clarify that to Rupert, who should know that fact better than anyone. “I mean, god, the woman on a so-called path of redemption still hasn’t called Professor Burkle back to tell her—”

“You should keep in mind that Lilah is still at great risk,” Rupert reminded her gently. “It seems more than likely that personally notifying all these people of her change of heart isn’t something that she can easily do while she still works for the company that hurt them.”

Jenny exhaled. “Yeah,” she said, “but why are youthe one telling me this? Why not her?”

“Because I am significantly more in tune with the way your mind works,” said Rupert simply, “and because I know what you need to hear in order to understand. Lilah, unfortunately, doesn’t have the same luxury.”

Jenny felt a warm flutter in her chest. “Thank you,” she said softly, almost without thinking. “God, I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“I’m sure you’d manage,” said Rupert awkwardly. “I think you’ll do quite a fine job of managing with Lilah, once you two get over the new-relationship bumps in the road.”

Something about his answer made Jenny feel disappointed; she’d been waiting for some kind of reciprocation, or at least some warmth in return. “Yeah,” she said, laughing uncomfortably. “So, um, I should get back to actual relaxation, huh?”

“I expect so.” Rupert sounded a little sad too. “Take care of yourself?”

“You bet,” Jenny agreed, and heard the dial toneless than a second after she’d finished speaking. “Gonna be hard to relax now, though, now that he keeps on hanging up on me,” she muttered.

“Hey, Mom, does this puzzle have all the pieces?” called Faith from the bedroom.

Jenny, very grateful for the opportunity to be a mom and not a disaster detective, entered Faith’s room. Faith was lying on her stomach, staring with a frown at the half-finished jigsaw, while Tara hunted through the puzzle box. “You know,” said Jenny, “it might help if you guys didn’t do the puzzle on an air mattress. Just a little.”

“Takes all the fun out of it,” said Faith. “Besides which, we didn’t want to bother you if you were on the phone. Tara’s idea,” she added, nodding to Tara, who looked up with a small smile.

“Yeah, that doesn’t sound like you,” quipped Jenny, sitting down next to Faith and looking down at the puzzle. “Are you two already committed to this puzzle, or do you both want to go out somewhere?”

“Oh, I’d love to go out!” said Tara excitedly. At Jenny and Faith’s surprised looks, she blushed. “Um,” she said, “I really like your apartment and all, but hiding out in here is getting a little bit—and Faith keeps telling me about how nice LA is—”

“I gotcha,” said Faith, who was blushing too, though Jenny suspected that it mostly just had to do with Tara’s soft, reassuring smile. “That actually sounds pretty cool. Where’d you have in mind, Mom?”

“Honestly?” said Jenny with relish. “Absolutely no idea.”

Faith and Tara were in the backseat of Jenny’s Bug, watching cat videos on Faith’s phone and giggling. Tara was wearing her hair up and tucked under a large sun hat, as well as a pair of quite nice sunglasses that Jenny was pretty sure had once belonged to Buffy. Technically, it was something of a risky move, taking Tara out of the house, but Jenny was very much of the mind that the girls needed an outing, and there wasn’t anywhere safer than the Magic Box.

From behind the counter, Anya looked up, surprised, when they entered the shop, beamed at Tara, and then scowled at Jenny. “This isn’t safe,” she said, “you all should know better, and that disguise is absolutely pointless, I can already tell it’s you, Tara. You have a very distinctive mouth—somewhat pointy but still round.”

“More soft than pointy,” said Faith, realized what she’d said, and winced.

“I missed you,” said Tara affectionately to Anya, crossing the room and ducking behind the counter to give her friend a hug. Anya hugged Tara back, sending Jenny a death glare that most likely held the power to murder someone and then smirking at a now-visibly-blushing Faith, who busied herself with examining some of the novelty magic items.

Jenny decided to take this opportunity to step outside for a breath of fresh air, trusting that Anya would keep her eagle eyes trained on the girls and knowing that Tara could probably use a little bit of space to enjoy time with her friend. It was sunny out, and warm, and it felt incredibly wonderful to not be worrying about a case or a girl and just be Jenny. Rupert, frustratingly, had been right about her needing a day off.

Smiling a little to herself, Jenny gazed across the street. The Magic Box was in a surprisingly nice part of town, complete with hipster cafés and an expensive-looking clothing store right next door, out of which was exiting a well-dressed blonde who almost looked like—

Holy fuck.

Jenny should have backed off and away and gotten back into the store, because that would have drawn less attention. But she couldn’t handle the thought of just hiding in the Magic Box with her girls, and if she blocked the door, there’d be no way for anyone to get to her girls anyway, so she flattened herself against the front door and hoped like hell that she wouldn’t be noticed.

Over the tops of her expensive designer sunglasses, Darla looked up, smiling in that slow, predatory way that Jenny was pretty sure neither she nor Rupert had ever forgotten. “Goodness me,” she said. “You’re like a scared little bunny rabbit, Calendar. Calm down.”

“Don’t tell me to calm down,” snapped Jenny, crossing her arms tightly against her chest and glaring at Darla, “the last time we saw each other in a non-court scenario, you tried to shoot Rupert’s daughter.”

“Purely personal,” said Darla, waving a hand. “Besides which, that little tiff didn’t involve you in the slightest.”

“Buffy was in therapy for almost two years after that stunt you pulled—”

“Are we really going to rehash all the stuff you already yelled at me in court over?” Darla asked with a long, irritable sigh. “Because I was hoping I’d be able to manage a few more shopping excursions before the day’s done.”

“Get out of LA,” said Jenny.

“Oh, sweetheart, you can’t keep me out of the city,” said Darla, sounding genuinely amused. “You more than anyone should know now that Wolfram and Hart’s protection can let me do absolutely anything I want.”

Jenny, very ready to come up with another angry retort, froze. Not at all willing to admit that Darla had caught her off guard, she said coolly, “So you know I’m working on a case involving Wolfram and Hart.”

Darla snorted. “Please,” she said. “You’re on Wolfram and Hart’s payroll, Calendar, and I don’t like that at all. That’s why I’m here.”

“Your intel fucking sucks,” said Jenny matter-of-factly, then remembered belatedly that no one but Lilah Morgan (and Calendar-Giles Investigations, plus kids) actually knew about the plan to take down Wolfram and Hart. It did seem possible that Lilah might have come up with some kind of cover story for all the time she was spending with Jenny.

Darla, surprisingly, didn’t look fazed. “She told you some sob story about how you’re not like the other girls, huh?” she said, smirking. “Told you that you’re the only detective she trusts to help her take down Wolfram and Hart?”

Jenny faltered. “I don’t—”

“Amazingly,” said Darla, “I’m here to help you. Hard as it is to believe, I don’t want you up in arms against Wolfram and Hart once this thing with Lilah inevitably breaks bad.” She waited, but when Jenny (still unable to find words) didn’t respond, she continued, “You’re a dedicated detective, and even though Wolfram and Hart is obviously going to rip you and your cute little family business to shreds, you’re definitely going to do some serious damage to them before they manage to take you down. Hell, the only reason I didn’t get jail time was because Wolfram and Hart bribed the judge, the jury, and some of the witnesses—I don’t want to see what you can do to that firm with some actual evidence from honest people.”

Jenny stared, then scoffed. “You’re trying to cover your own ass,” she said, half-relieved by the revelation. “You just want me to drop the case so that Lilah and I don’t destroy the only thing keeping you out of jail.”

Darla didn’t look troubled by Jenny’s statement. “Ask yourself this,” she said. “How much of herself has Lilah Morgan really let you see?” Without waiting for an answer, she swiveled, turning on her heel with the shopping bags and striding gracefully away.

[chiimei]

Our Bloody Hell Fate - Chapter 1

Recently I came across @gosshiku-hime-wa-yami-san amazing fanfic “Fire Safety is Important at a Blood Moon Ball”. (Go check out this fanfic as well, it’s worth your time!) It was such an amazing fanfic that it inspired me to write my own Tomco fanfic with the blood moon au! Not only that, I also found @shittyloops  badass demon!Marco design. [here] So about the fanfic, this will be a story about Marco and Tom standing under the blood moonlight and Marco becoming a demon. I hope you would like this story! Enjoy reading~

Short Story Summary: Marco decided to go to the Blood Moon ball after all. He knew Star wouldn’t like it, but he can’t trust that demon ex-boyfriend of hers. He wanted to save Star, but... he didn’t know this ball turned his life upside down instead. For good or for worse.

FF | AO3 |  Wattpad

He can’t believe that Star honestly left him to go to the Blood Moon Ball with her demon ex-boyfriend, Tom. He just can’t trust that guy, not only because he’s Star ex, but he’s also a demon for God sake! He’s from the Underworld, not some rainbow paradise. He can’t help but worry about Star, though he also knows that she could take care of herself. However, that’s about fighting, this is about dating. That demon doesn’t seem like the type of guy who would change easily and would be bad for Star to date again. Besides, it’s more fun to stay here at home.

He sighed loudly and sunk deeper into his chair, sulking about the fact that Star chose her ex above her friend. He grabbed a handful of nachos to stuff them in his mouth while listening to Mexican music. With a mouthful he held his fingers up, pretending he has a ton of fun.

“I’ll have my own Blood Moon Ball in Star’s bedroom. Where it’s always funnnn...”

He even wore his special black tuxedo for this evening. Now Star’s not here, it all feels meaningless. He planned to have a lot of fun without Star, so he could brag to her what she missed out. However, in reality, it’s impossible to have fun without his best friend. He glanced quickly at the Blood Moon, wondering if Star was having fun without him. 

“...”

He looked back in front of him and grabbed another handful of nachos, stuffing his mouth full of it. He should really stop worrying about Star. It’s not like anything could go wrong at a demon prom… It’s not like anything could go wrong since Star has her wand with her to protect herself. Besides, if Tom really changed for Star, then he could protect her in case some other demon wants to hurt Star… Yeah, these thoughts are totally reassuring to him. Totally.

“Blood moon tonight.”

Did Marco hear that right? He looked around but saw no one standing close to him, yet he heard a voice. He glanced at a portrait of an old sea captain. It couldn’t come from him, could it? He quickly glanced at his nachos. Maybe he ate too much from them or they are expired. Or he just felt so lonely without Star that he’s hearing things. Well, whatever it might be, he will just shrug it off and continue with chewing his nachos.

“The moon of lovers.”

“Okay, now I clearly heard it,” Marco thought and was truly weirded out by it as he jumped out of his seat. He looked suspiciously at the sea captain’s portrait again. What does it even mean by ‘the moon of lovers’? Marco ran his eyes over Tom’s bell and the hammer. Could it be some kind of evil spell to trick Star? Something that will make Star love Tom? Or maybe there’s some other dark magic going on? Who knows what Tom might be planning. By all means, his gut tells him something will happen and he doesn’t want to find out what that might be.

As he looked how the bell’s red crescent moon ornament shimmers, he remembered again, it was a demon prom in the Underworld. Not a great place for a human to walk around. So he decided to go in a Día de Muertos disguise. Well, he basically just wears a skull with a mustache mask, but that should be enough. At least he hopes that would fool the demons. Once he put the mask on, he gazed at the bell again. 

Three full seconds of air in, then a deep breath out. He knows Star wouldn’t be happy about this, but his gut tells him to go to Star. He needs to take her away from the ball. As he slowly took the bell and the hammer in his hand, he closed his eyes, rethinking if he was making the right choice. Once his eyes opened, they were full of determination. “This is for Star’s sake,” he convinced himself in his mind as he hit the hammer against the bell.

“Whoa, wait a second. Are you getting angry?”

Star asked, slightly surprised, not that it was a total surprise since its Tom after all. She knew he still has a short temper and-

“No.” Tom denied while glaring at Star.

And he’s a liar as well. Him frowning in anger wasn’t convincing his ‘no’ at all, which only annoyed Star more. She doesn’t want to deal with Tom’s temper again, so she will leave him be. Maybe he could cool down that way, though that might be difficult for a fire demon.

“Look, you do you, Boo. I'm gonna go get a drink.”

As Star walked towards the bubbling punch bowl, Tom kept petting his bunny till the fur goes straight up. He can’t help but feel so frustrated about Star’s behavior. He knows he needs to do his best to win her over, but not only did she not accept his spider hair thing. She also didn’t appreciate what he does for her. He kept everything low-key for her, which made the rest of the guests bored. As a prince, that’s quite a sacrifice. Actually, he doesn’t care about his image as the demon prince of the Underworld, if that means having Star back as his girlfriend. He even hired a life coach, which made other demons look at him like he lost his mind or look at him with pitiful eyes. Of course, they still behave well-mannered when they face him if they consider their lives as precious.

“Hm? ...Oh no, he doesn’t.”

Tom noticed some demon offering Star to dance and no way in hell will he make that happen. She’s his date for tonight after all. 

So this was a demon prom huh. Marco actually expected it to be more...gore? Or at least more horrifying. For now, it reminds him of some Halloween party. Maybe the Underworld wasn’t so half as bad as he thought it would be. Even though those are real demons that are walking around, instead of children in costumes.

He shook his head and slapped his hands on his cheeks. He shouldn’t get distracted so easily. He needs to find Star and get away. A human isn’t supposed to be here, after all, so he needs to be quick.

While searching for Star, he bumped into someone… or something? For a split second. he was sure he saw something black in front of him. Like some black fire? Or black energy. He wasn’t sure what it was, but when he bumped into it, it gave him a grim feeling in his stomach. However, that awful feeling disappeared in an instant, like it never happened before. Now, in front of him stands a girl with long red-orange hair who seems to be around his age. She wore a short white dress with sleeves that go wider to the end. She also has a white mask on the top of her head, it looked like a shape of an animal’s head, but he couldn’t clearly see what kind. The young girl, who surprisingly looks very human, smiled sweetly at him as she walked around him out of curiosity.

“You know, humans are like food to demons.”

She whispered in his ears and smiled smugly at him, while her eyes are glowing red. She took a step back while holding her hands up in defense. She chuckled as she saw the horrific look in the boy’s eyes and him suddenly striking some fighting pose.

“Don’t worry. I’m not going to hurt you. I’m not one of those human eaters after all. Instead…”

She firstly rolled her eyes and then she glanced around to see if someone was paying attention to them. When the coast was clear, she grabbed a transparent small bottle with strawberry-pink liquid out of her sleeve. She took a step closer to the boy while pushing the bottle in his hands.

“Drink this before someone else notices you’re human. You may ‘disguise’ as a demon, but you still smell like a human. Once you drink this, your human scent will disappear.”

Marco suspiciously examined the bottle, even smelling if it doesn’t smell like poison. Instead of some poison-like or disgusting smell, it has a sweet scent, like strawberries. He gazed from the bottle to the girl.

“Why are you helping me?”

The girl chuckled once more and turned around, holding her hands on her back. Her eyes were directed to the ceiling for a second. She then turned around to face the boy again and smiled brightly at him.

“Let’s just say I want to see a special dance before it becomes a slaughter party. Anyways, you don’t have to drink that bottle if you don’t want to, it's your choice. Well, good luck for now and in the future, boy.”

She patted him on the shoulder when she passed him by. Marco didn’t quite understand why she was wishing him good luck, so he wanted to ask her what she meant by it. However, by the time he turned around, a crowd was gathering as a demon, which looked like the ball organizer, asked for attention when he tapped the microphone.

“Hey, is it just me, or do I smell a human here?”

A demon asked who stood quite close to Marco, which startled Marco so badly that he breaks into a cold sweat. While his heart was almost leaping out of his chest, the demon next to him laughed and slapped on the back of the other demon’s back.

“A human? Here? Ha! You must be crazy! Maybe you drank some of that unicorn blood, makes you imagine things you know. There’s no way a human could come to the Underworld. Doesn't princess Star reek of humans? She’s living on Earth now, right? So maybe it’s coming from her.”

Marco was half paying attention to what the ball organizer is talking about while listening more to the demons close by. He glanced at the bottle before glancing quickly at the demons again.

“Maybe I should drink this just in case… if something bad will happen to me, I’m sure Star will help me. Better safe than sorry.”

He mumbled softly to himself while finding some courage to drink this mysterious drink. It didn’t seem dangerous, but one doesn’t judge a book by its cover either. That girl,  who looked more like a human than demon, seemed kind enough. He sighed slightly and gulped the liquid in one shot, hoping no one else would notice that there’s a human in the midst of them.

“...Hm, I feel nothing.”

Once he drank the bottle empty, he looked at himself. At least he doesn’t feel weird or any pain. His body didn’t change into anything as well, his arm appeared to be fine too. He even sniffed at himself, but he doesn’t notice anything. In fact, he still smells like nachos. Maybe that drink didn’t work on humans? He shrugged as he was at least relieved nothing bad happened. Since nothing changed, he will just continue searching for Star once the speech or something was done.

“...binding them together for eternity in its hypnotic, ruby, brodum.”

The demon ball organizer finished his talk. The light of the blood moon covered the skylight opening as the eerie organ music started to play. While the music started to play, the demons started to dance. 

“Ugh! That's the wrong piece of music! This is gonna drive me crazy. Alright, don't go anywhere. I'll be right back.”

Tom shouted loudly enough for Marco to hear. Thanks to him, he found Star right away. Besides, Tom was even walking away from Star, which gives him a great opportunity to take her away from this ball! At least that was the plan before Star started to aimlessly wander around. He even called after her a couple of times, but she didn’t seem to hear him. Just when he was almost able to grab her arm, someone else grabbed his hand and pulled him towards them.

“Hey, do you have some business with my date?”

Tom did not want some demon stalker to follow his date. He won’t let anyone ruin this dance with his date. When he saw some demon going after her, who was also inches away from grabbing her, he couldn’t stand still and do nothing. He grabbed his hand and pulled the guy with the skull mask towards him so he would face the mighty demon prince. He asked the skull demon with a fierce tone what his business was with Star, trying to suppress his anger. Just at that moment, the light of the blood moon shines on them, drowning the ballroom in red light.

[Next Chapter]

[cutiecrates]

Cutie Reviews: Kawaii Box August 19

It’s time for another Kawaii Box review! I meant to do this one at least a couple of days ago, but it felt like every time I was about to work on it something else came up. But I’m here and ready!

Word of the month: Gakkou - School

“Everything you need to hit the books in kawaii style!“

Shimmery Mt. Fuji Pen & Donut Bunny Pen

I usually don’t start with the pens, but sometimes it can be fun to shake things up. So to start off a brand new school year, we’re lucky enough to get 2 adorable pens instead of just one~

One pen features a vibrant pastel bunny-shaped donut on top of the cap and blue ink. These come in a variety of colors- and despite how I feel about yellow, I still think this is pretty cute. The ink is blue which is quite unusual as we usually only get black ink. It’s a fine tip and it writes wonderfully and appears to only smear a small amount if you use a lot of it in one spot or thickly applied it and don’t give it a moment to dry. You can also remove the bunny donut and put it on other pens or pencils, or the “pen butt“ rather than the lid.

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Meanwhile, our other pen is a pretty and sleek, clear tube in comparison to the vibrant plastic-ness of the other one. These are also available in several colors, each topped with a clear water-filled Mt. Fuji filled with shiny stars and a decorative flower. This one is also fine tipped but has typical black ink, and it works the exact same as the other.

Honestly either pen would be nice to have :3 they’re both cute in different ways but they both also have a problem that bugs me. The fact the pen caps can’t be put onto the back of the pen. It’s not a deal breaker or anything, but its a little inconvenient.

Lollipop Highlighter Set

Besides our fun pens, we also have a set of cute highlighters- another semi-essential item for school. It seems like if you don’t buy them then you end up needing them, but then when you do buy them you probably never use them. But it doesn’t hurt to keep some on hand, and because they come in a little pouch they’ll be easy to locate. 

The highlighter is in the rounded base of the lollipop, and these are unscented.

The highlighters work well. I thought the awkward shape would make them difficult to use, and it did a very little bit, but they weren’t impossible to use. I’m a little disappointed they weren’t scented though, because as lollipops I think it would have been cute.

Shibanban Sticky Notes & Nekoni Mini Puffy Stickers

These next two items were a variety and somehow I got 2 sets of doggies. Our first is a 50-sheet set of doggy themed pieces of paper. The booklet says they are sticky notes, but this is more like a notepad. They’re not sticky at all. But its still useful as a notepad, and its double-sided; the front has these cute doggies print on it while the back has rows of lines.

There was a variety of dog designs from the brand Shibanban, and I think I got a cute one just in time for cooler weather~

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Our next item is also dog themed (in my case), a set of small, adorable puffy stickers by the brand Nekoni. The irony of seeing dogs on anything with the word neko in it always gets me; for anyone unfamiliar, Neko means cat.

This sheet consists of 24, 3-sets of stickers :3 the doggies are so CUTE! Cat person or not, I can still appreciate an adorable puppy- and these pups are beyond adorable! As much as I dislike repetitive stickers, I think I actually prefer it here because I’m more likely to use them due to the repetition. The stickers are slightly softened and squishy.

Kawaii Dessert Erasers

Next up is an adorable set of erasers x3 my elementary self who collected erasers fell in love with these, and my teenager self who collected those dessert puzzle erasers adores the plate they came on!

These erasers are available in a few varieties and colors, each ranging from sweet snacks to drink, cakes, and other desserts. I look at my set and it screams creamy, with the exception of the heart, which I think is supposed to be a box of chocolate? It might be a cake though. I like how they all seem to have some little details in common too, rather than being a whole mish-mash of random colors, which tend to make some things look cheap.

They feel very smooth, almost plastic like. But they seem to work well and didn’t give me any problems. If you like erasers as much as I do (and have some pencils or erasable tools) I’d recommend picking up a set on the Blippo.com website.

Fluffy Bunny Dancing Ears Hat

This is another item perfect to cooler weather, it’s very fluffy to help keep the head warm, and when you squeeze the bottom of the ears, they pop up!

I have to admit that despite how cute this is I was a little disappointed to see it. In a box I got some months back prior to this one (I believe it was a Yume Twins), we got this exact same hat. It’s only a coincidence though, and there is good news to this; if something were to happen to the one I now have a replacement, or I could give this one away to someone else.

Morinaga Green Tea BAKE

This next item was a mystery snack, and being the BIG fan of Green Tea I am (sarcasm I’ll have you know) I was dreading this. But I figured if it has Hello Kitty on it I should give it a chance, and I did have these before in a chocolate blend, with mixed opinion. So I figured this could be a win or lose.

SURPRISINGLY I’d actually give this a win! I was very shocked to discover I actually like this. Yes, it does taste like green tea, but it’s also a sweetened and light green tea. It has a lovely soft and crumbly texture too, and the entire pack is only 18kcal.

School Girl Aiko Notebook

Out of everything we got, I feel like a notebook is one of the most essential- next to writing tools anyway. You need something to use them in don’t you :P and this month features an exclusive Kawaii Box/Blippo.com notebook featuring Aiko in a Sailor fuku, or school uniform. She’s surrounded by typical Kawaii Box designs, and the background features a pretty pastel gradient.

The pages are blank design wise, but each features lines and a section on top for the name and date. The book itself is semi-sturdy, but it’s not extremely full. So if you don’t want to use it to take notes, you could just use it as a diary or makeshift planner, drawing pad, vocabulary sheet, etc. It’s very cute, if I was still in school I’d definitely bring it with me!

♥ Cutie Ranking ♥

Content - 5 out of 5: The items are very basic and typical of what we get in these boxes, so on one hand I was kind of bored with it and wanted to move on. But they’re also very sweet and cute, and practical so I don’t think they’re necessarily bad items.

Theme - 5 out of 5: There’s no way they could have failed this honestly.

Total Rank: 9 out of 10 Cuties. So, basically this box didn’t have a summer theme, which is okay because a lot of people begin school at the end of August or beginning of September- but at the same time, in doing a school theme I was completely bored with the items. A lot of these things we get normally, or on semi-occasion, and for me personally they’re not necessities because I already have so many. When I get a box, I really like the feeling of “ooh, I can’t wait to use this!“ and I didn’t get that.

♥Cutie Scale ♥

1. Mt. Fuji Pen - I’ve always loved liquid-filled items like these, they’re so pretty and a lot of fun to watch.

2. Dessert Erasers - These are very cute and detailed, the only thing I dislike is that after you remove the plastic wrap from them then they won’t stay on the plate. It’s fine if you’ll have it in a stable place, but it kinda loses meaning if you plan to put them in a pouch or something. 

3. Puffy Stickers - These are so cute, I don’t know which I like the most!

4. Donut Bunny Pen - I like how I can put the donut bunny on various other pens or pencil, but I dislike its yellow coloring- and the lid not being very useful is kind of a pain.

5. BAKE snacks - I was extremely surprised with these, they’re probably the only green tea item I ever liked up until now!

6. Aiko Notebook - I have a bunch of these but I do prefer the bigger ones to the much smaller hand-sized ones. They’re easier and can hold a lot more.

7.  Lollipop Highlighters - I’m not sure I’ll use these just yet because I have so many, but it could be fun to make a “highlighter assortment” with the various other ones I have.  

8. Bunny Hat - Only because I have 2 of them now. It’s very snuggly and sweet~

9. Shibanban Notes - They’re kind of cute but the design isn’t my favorite.