#thank you ren i got so carried away with the second one

[calypsocolada]

PRACTICAL | s. shinazugawa

synopsis: you work at the butterfly mansion and your least favorite hashira comes to visit.

authors note: this is my first fanfic so please be nice haha I kinda just wrote this without any direction. I know nothing about medical stuff so bear with me.

cw warnings: mentions of blood, some cussing, slightly suggestive. that’s it I think let me know if I missed anything!

wc: 2.5k

________________________________________

One word that you’d use to describe Sanemi Shinazugawa was cold. Cold like the icy morning air that stung your cheeks. That made you grab scarf and pull it up over your nose to hide from its sharp bite.

You worked at the butterfly mansion, all the great Hashira’s came through here. All of them so different. Giyuu was quiet but kind. Mitsuri outgoing and thankful (you always liked when she was around). Tengen was flirty, claiming that he had room for another wife before winking at you. And although that offer was tempting he was far too much for you, you did like his wives though. You never really saw Obanai much but on the off chance you did you gave him space, he didn’t seem much of a talker. You never met Gyomei. Rengoku was one of your favorites, he went completely out of his way to make you laugh, to share his food with you and sometimes while he was training, he’d teach you a few things. Tokito was adorable, he wasn’t around much but when he was you loved talking with him. Explaining things that he didn’t understand and smiling when he did. Now Sanemi, he was your least favorite hashira. He was rude, loud and obnoxious. You’d pray that you got someone else’s bedside to take care of when you saw him being carried into the mansion, bloody and bruised. He wasn’t even conscious this time and still you were annoyed.

You remember when you first met him, you smiled as you brought his food and medicine and although he didn’t return the sentiment you still were polite. You asked how his day was, he grunted. You helped him eat (both of his arms were broken) he gripped at you to go faster. You gave him his medicine and he laughed when you dropped the cap on accident. When he was a bit better to be able to stand and train his body back he was 10x worse! He called you healer girl even though you reminded him of your name countless times. He never left you alone, he’d follow you around and crack stupid jokes, he’d splash water in your face multiple times during the cup game and once when you were talking with another girl, he eavesdropped and laughed at something you considered a low moment in your life. Right then and there you decided Sanemi Shinazugawa was your least favorite person.

The next few times he came around you purposely made sure you were halfway across the mansion at all times, busying yourself with other things. You heard from some other healers that he was in bad shape after your second day of hiding. You felt terrible.

“Is he conscious?” You’d asked one of the girls.

“No! We’re all very worried!” She answered back. You sighed. You were the best healer and if you kept hiding out because of some stupid things you’d feel responsible for not helping. So you dragged yourself to Sanemi’s room. He was currently sharing a room with Rengoku. A smile lit up your face at the sight of him.

“Ren! What’re you doing here?” You exclaimed as you ran across the room, he jumped to his feet to meet you in a hug and spun you off your feet. You laughed happily as he sat you back down.

“Got here at the same time as Nemi here, I was in a bit better shape then him.” Rengoku fills you in. You turn to look at Sanemi. He was pale, his cheeks flushed, he had cuts and bruises littered all over his skin, his torso was wrapped with white gauze that clearly needed to be changed because some blood was seeping through. “Wondering where you were, thought maybe you were away or something.” Rengoku says as you walk over to Sanemi’s bedside. He was sleeping fitfully, obviously uncomfortable from the pain. You reached out, the back of your hand pressing against Sanemi’s forehead. He was burning up, his cheeks and forehead clammy.

“Don’t tell anyone,” you whispered as you reached for a cloth, dousing it in cold water and ringing it out. “I was hiding.” You told Rengoku. His brows turned in in confusion. You made a face and signaled to Sanemi. Rengoku’s eyes grew as he mouthed the word ‘oh’ as though he understood. You pressed the cold cloth to Sanemi’s forehead and he seemed to relax just a bit.

“I too like to hide away from my feelings.” He joked and your face instantly blushed.

“Negative feelings.” You corrected quickly.

“Negative?” Rengoku echoed. “You don’t have a crush?”

“No! Of course not!” You burned, trying to keep your voice as a hushed whisper. Rengoku cocked his head like a dog at you, you rolled your eyes, turning back to Sanemi. He’d moved closer somehow, clearly unaware of who was currently taking care of him. You pulled the rag away and rung it out with cold water again, pressing it to his cheeks as you pulled the cover from his body. He was radiating heat so before you could change his bandage you needed to get his temperature down just a bit. Rengoku watched quietly as you got to work. Slowly evening out Sanemi’s temperature.

“He likes you.” Rengoku whispers into the silence. Your eyes snap up to his, hand pausing before you checked his temperature again.

“I think you’re very mistaken, Ren.” You corrected as Rengoku squinted his eyes.

“He told me you were his favorite…” Rengoku trailed off, looking up as if trying to recall the memory fully. You shook your head with a laugh.

“Ren, please.”

“No it’s true! He asked for you before he lost consciousness.”

“He probably said healer girl, there’s tons of us.”

“He said y/n.” You paused, looking over at Rengoku.

“He doesn’t know my name.”

“Of course he does! He talks about you the most when he’s drunk.” You blushed deeply suddenly. There was no damn way Rengoku had this all right. The man wouldn’t lie to you but he must’ve misheard. “He talks about your hair, he likes the color, and your laugh and-“

“Shut your- damn mouth.” Sanemi suddenly growled causing you to jump, his eyes were narrowed at Rengoku. Rengoku held in a laugh as Sanemi starts to sit up.

“No, no. You can’t-“

“I feel fine.” Sanemi pushed your hands away but he was grimacing and getting paler by the second. You swallowed before pushing him back down by the shoulders.

“You are not well!” You snapped. He looked at you surprised. You’d raised your voice at him, your eyes like molten lava. He was quiet, didn’t push your hands away this time. Your jaw tightened as you backed up. “You never listen to me so I’ll call another healer to-“

“No.” Sanemi cut you off. You stared at him.

“No?” You echoed angrily. He didn’t look at you, his cheeks were turning red, he must’ve been heating up again from being awake. He didn’t look even when he talked to you.

“I don’t want anyone else to help, I want the best.” You felt every nerve in your body heating up, your throat dried. The once anger you felt slightly calmed in your chest. Replacing itself with embarrassment or something close to it. You’d forgotten Rengoku was in the room, observing this moment when he cleared his throat.

“I think I’ll go for a nice walk, leave you two to… this.” He said, leaving swiftly. When the door shut and silence prevailed you cleared your throat.

“I’ll help if you don’t fight me on everything.” You said in the silence. For a moment you think he hadn’t heard you until slowly he nodded his head. You sighed, grabbing the rag that had fallen and running it back under cold water. “Lay back.” You directed and just like he promised Sanemi laid back as you dabbed the cold water on his cheeks and forehead. This moment was silent and intimate and for once you didn’t dread being beside him. That was until Rengoku’s words drifted back into your head. About you being his favorite and how he talked about you often when drunk. You almost laughed out loud at the thought.

“What is it?” Sanemi asked and suddenly, you had checked out slightly but blinked and you were back to reality.

“Hmm?” You hummed in response.

“You look— amused.” He says. Your thoughts must’ve shown a bit on your face. You masked over it and shook your head. You reached back on your cart for some more gauze and some solution and when you turned back Sanemi was watching you, not angrily like usual but almost reverently, like he was interested in what you were doing.

“I’m gonna replace your bandages.” You said and he nodded his head. You helped him sit up, he shivered at your cold touch as you unwrapped his torso. It wasn’t terribly bad, but the stitches were coming loose which had caused some bleeding. “Did you try and get up last night?” You asked as you reached for you medkit. Sanemi cleared his throat and you looked at him. He looked guilty. “You did didn’t you.”

“I felt fine.” He says sheepishly. Then adds. “But I passed out in pain before I could get out of the room.” He says and this time, even though through a patient doctor relationship it wasn’t funny, you laughed.

Stubborn as hell Sanemi had passed out because of his stupid actions. Karma. Sanemi looked at you, watched as you softly laughed and slowly the smallest smile spread on his lips.

“That’s not very professional of you.” Sanemi said and suddenly you realized he was teasing. He wasn’t some angry hashira he actually had a personality.

“You’re right,” You start in doing his torn stitches carefully. “It’s not funny.” You said but you were still laughing. That was when like the world had tilted on its axis and flipped 180 degrees. Sanemi pushed up slightly, damning the pain in his torso to press a fervent kiss to your lips. You froze, the moment slowly dawning on you. Sanemi, who claimed to dislike you and not know your name, was leaned over, hand tangled in your hair as he kissed you as if you were going to disappear at any moment. It was odd, but not a bad odd, just crazy. You’d sooner think lightening would strike you inside rather than this man kissing you. And something even stranger was that you were enjoying it, it felt as though everything else in the world had paused around you. Allowed you to have this one moment to yourselves. He kissed you feverishly, like he’d die if he pulled back. That was until Sanemi cursed against your lips.

“Fuck,” he grunted, pulling back, pain splintering all through him. You blinked back to reality at the sight of fresh blood flowing from his wound.

“Oh-“ you gasped, reaching for a cloth, pressing it against the flowing blood. Clearly he’d lost his mind, so sick and riddled with pain that he kissed you. He probably had no idea he’d done it. You rationalized stupidly as you pressed the rag a bit more and slowly the blood cotted. You both didn’t say a word as you slowly stitched his wound back together, lifting him up to rewrap the gauze. When you laid him back down he weakly caught your wrist. His eyes were so soft on yours. You shook your head. Whatever he had to say it wouldn’t really be him thinking it.

“You’re not yourself right now.” You said but his grip tightened just barely.

“You think a little pain would make me kiss you?” He asks. You burn red all over, you open your lips to speak but he pulls you to him by your wrist, you mouth falling against his. He kisses you more desperately this time. A hand reaching up and sliding into your hair, pulling you even closer to him. You’re coaxed entirely to easy into his lap and you feel him whimper in pain against your lips. It’s a sobering sound. You pulled back, this couldn’t happen.

“Sanemi, we shouldn’t-“

“I want you.” He whispers into the space between you. Rengoku’s words coming to fruition right in-front of your eyes. You shook your head in disbelief. “I’ve wanted you since the first moment I saw you.” You laughed, fully pulling back from him.

“You’re sick.”

“I’m not that sick.” He refuted, you reached your hand out, pressing against his forehead, he was warm but not burning up like before. “Y/n-“

“No. I don’t want to hear what you have to say.” You snapped. Sanemi watched you curiously as you gathered up your things.

“Why not?” He asked as you looked at him in disbelief.

“Because I don’t believe you.”

“I kissed you twice, what’s not to believe?” He argued.

“That you kissed me in the first place! You— you hate me!”

“No I don’t.”

“Yes you do!” You threw back. Sanemi shook his head with some sort of finality.

“No. I really don’t.” You stared at him, anger bubbling up.

“Then why call me healer girl? Never using my name when I tell you too! Or annoying me and being rude? Is that how you treat people you care about?” Sanemi stared at you as you spoke. He swallowed and looked away. Nodding his head a moment later.

“I didn’t want to.”

“You didn’t want to what? Treat me like a person?”

“I didn’t want to fall for you.” Sanemi growled, eyes jumping to yours. Your mouth fell open with the confession. “I thought if I was rude to you that you’d just— that you’d stay away from me. But you didn’t. You kept showing up, being charming and unbelievably beautiful and stupidly funny I couldn’t— I couldn’t help it!” Sanemi growls, huffing. You blinked. You felt as though this was for sure a dream. You pinched yourself but you weren’t waking up. You were really unsure what to say. You’d spent so much time despising Sanemi and now you weren’t sure how to feel about him at all. Everything made sense now. He was always around, you were always trying to help. You tried to make him laugh and talk when he didn’t. He was falling for you all this time and you had no idea. “Say something.”

“I don’t know what to say,” you said truthfully.

“Maybe you feel the same?” He asks and you shook your head.

“You never really talked to me. I barely know you.” You said practically and he looked away from you embarrassed. But you were attracted to him, you felt something when you kissed. That had to count for something. You swallowed dryly and set your stuff back down. You walked and set on the chair by his bed. You went through the motions, checking his vitals and temperature. It was quiet and awkward. When you were done Sanemi caught your wrist as you stood.

“Let me apologize.”

“Apologize?” You echoed.

“For how I treated you.” He says and you roll your eyes.

“Shut up.” You said and when his eyes widened in surprise you leaned forwards and pressed a kiss to his lips. The kiss lingered this time, something fluttered in your stomach when you felt his hand just barely under your jaw. When you pulled back he huffed, his breath tickling your cheek. “You better be very nice the next time you see me.” You whispered in the space between you.

[kingdomhate]

They're Jealous Scenarios!

Han Solo: Maybe he was mistaken. He could've sworn he could see you speaking to one of the Resistance Pilots, a little smile cropped onto your gorgeous face. The same smile that you give him when he retorts with a snarky comment or a sardonic (playful) insult. And if that was correct, and he is 99.9% sure it is, why is it projected toward this bum?

With an adrenaline rush, he strides over to the pair of you, cutting your stupid conversation in two. Han's arm finds it's way to your upper back as he inserts himself into the interaction. He glares at the guy, his gaze too intense to match with that goofy grin on his face, which seems so out of place "I'm sure this is a lovely conversation, but we gotta go, bigger fish to fry. Don't we, sweetheart?" Then, he's tugging you away before you can reply. He wraps his arm around your shoulder, keeping you close to him.

The feeling that shot through him at the sight of you, so close to someone else, when you really did not need to be, it made his blood boil. "What kinda business do ya got with a guy like that, anyway?" Han's tone was firm, he really wanted to hear your answer. "None! I know that, it was just a conversation, Han." He scoffed and threw up his arms, almost defensively. "You just said it, none! You got no business talking to a bum like that! Come on, you're so much more than what you make yourself out to be, love." You frown but hug him anyways, sighing heavily.

Anakin Skywalker: He knew the feeling of jealousy well, too well. One might even call them friends and lovers. You, were his light, his angel, his sweetness. But he knew what was not what other guys saw in you, of course not, they saw you as something too low, a mere object. You were so much more, you had value, you had brightness, you shine, like the sun.

So when he could clearly see you being flirted with, flattered and random men in your vicinity, too close, and the clearly uncomfortable body language of yours, his mind went into husband mode, protectiveness, instinct to make you smile again, he moved over to the men. His gaze was like daggers, and threatening, those blue eyes that were the symbols of love, adoration, devotion and unspeakable, unwavering commitment to you, replaced by threats, searing jealousy and protection. He asked the men a simple question, "What do you think you're doing? Can't you see they are uncomfortable? Huh?" The men scrambled and spoke overlapping about their reasonings but Anakin couldn't hear more than, "We just wanted to show them a good time."

Within those few seconds, rage. All he could see was red. He used the force to send them flying back with ferocity. Once they hit a wall, he bent his fingers ever so slightly, force-choking them. But once you protested, he stopped. The men scurried off like mice. He turned back to you, seeing your face, no longer tainted by uncomfortability and now happiness, happiness because the guys were gone. "Thank you, Ani." He smiles, those pearly blue eyes melting into soft orbs of adorability. Oh, how, he loved you and it showed.

Kylo Ren: Supreme Leader Kylo Ren had faults. Flaws. Everyone knew that. To name a few: Anger issues, possessiveness and protection-issues and jealousy. He trained himself, he had such discipline and a higher goal to be like Vader that he always found himself being told off by you to slow down. Not work too hard.

You resemble to him, his mother. You carried such qualities of determination, hope, gentleness but a tendency to become firm if need be, and you always remained honest to him. Always.

However, that did not mean that everyone saw this in you. Frequently a group of women or men would hit on you, and it always ended in a fight. Because someone said something biting to him or you, and Kylo lost it. He always promised to you that he couldn't help it, and you knew this. The situation now with one of your higher ranking officials was getting out of hand and you were solving it, your own way. And you knew if Kylo had seen, it would become worse and violent.

The officer of yours seemed to not be getting the hint from your calm and collected words and you felt the anger boil in your blood and the officer said something insensitive and in a blinding flash, something black soared past you and knocked down the officer to the floor like a bowling ball hitting pins. It happened so fast, the officer couldn't even let out a scream, or a yelp. And when the moment past and your mind caught up to the situation, it was Kylo. You were frozen, and did not react immediately but when you did, Kylo was heaving, the officer's face was like something a scene from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, but you scrambled to take Kylo away before the officer was dead. You called a medic and ran away. You did not even have to ask him what the hell that was, he was already talking.

"I can't believe the disrespect and vulgar language you get. They are tools, but they think that they are have potential to be more. My love, you're no object, you know? Not for anyone's pathetic usage, you're a person, and you're mine. My love, my beauty and my life. Always." He says before capturing your lips in a fierce kiss, with an underlying tenderness.

.

.

.

[mosaickiwi]

momoo auugh i had another idea a bit ago but i forgor </3 totally not self indulgent but could i request an angel who's normally very touch-aversed (with gloves n all) carefully reaching out to redacted to just hold their hand or something small without their glove(s) 👉👈 a quiet, tender moment with angel and redacted. i need the comfort lol

hope that made sense, i love your work sm!!

hiii hiiii shalls <3!!! Immediately started on this when I got it for no particular reason hehehehehe :3c happy birthday!!

14 Days With You is an 18+ Yandere Visual Novel. MINORS DNI

~Touch Averse Angel~

“Ren?”

[REDACTED] perked up beside you at the sound of your voice. You’d been quieter than usual, milling from store to store lost in thought as he trailed not too far behind along the pier. It was meant to be a simple shopping date. But you were too distracted to even remember what you'd bought despite the bags at your feet.

You were staring out at the ocean, trying to work up the courage to hold his hand. It had happened a couple of times before. Only with your gloves on, once you'd mentally prepared. Never for too long, either. You wanted it to be different this time.

It took a second to realize they were still waiting, patient for whatever you wanted to say. The silence had lasted longer than you meant it to. 

“Can we...” you began, unsure if you could even say it. You weren't prepared just yet as you turned to look at him. “...Can you go get me something warm to drink?” you asked.

Their response came with an amused smile, snake bites tugging up with the corners of his mouth. “Sure thing, Angel. Guessin' you want the usual?” You silently nodded. “Be right back.” 

He obviously knew you meant to ask something else, but he didn't pry. Instead, he sauntered off towards a brightly patterned stall further down the pier.

You immediately fussed with the fabric of your gloves, hurried to pull them off and shove them away in a coat pocket. An embarrassed huff escaped as you turned to lean forward on the wooden railing, arms crossed to stave off the cool breeze that came to brush at your fingertips.

Maybe you were overthinking it. You didn't need to announce that you wanted to hold their hand. They'd get the message loud and clear if you just went for it.

The old wood of the pier barely creaked under his boots as [REDACTED] came back. A tall cup was set on the railing next to you, scarred fingers wrapped far at the bottom to hold it steady.

“Thanks,” you said as you reached for it. He let go as soon as you securely grabbed the top. 

His blue eyes seemed to zero in on your hands. They took a sip of their own drink before asking, “Gloves bothering you?”

“Something like that,” you mumbled as you mustered up the courage again. Steam from the drink wafted into your face as you took a few sips to warm up and think it over. He wasn’t quite in reach anymore, but you’d take the next opportunity as soon as—

“I have another pair if y'need ‘em,” he said softly. 

The dark-haired man pulled a set of gloves out from his jacket. They weren’t in his style, nor his size. You watched as he placed them on the railing, just as he did with the drink. Had he always been carrying around an extra pair for you? He wasn’t even wearing any of his own.

“Um, thank you,” you repeated and fell silent, a little caught off guard. You took the gloves and fiddled with them for a moment. The fabric felt softer than your other ones, and a lot warmer from being hidden away in his coat. It was comforting.

The gloves had to be stashed in another pocket for now. Yet again he didn't question your actions, despite how odd you were being—how odd you'd been all day. You drummed your fingers on the styrofoam cup as you glanced at him from the corner of your eyes.

For once, he wasn't looking at you. He was leaning back, one hand dangling off the edge of the railing while the other held his drink close to his mouth. Every so often he was biting his lip as he swallowed with a tiny wrinkle to his brow.

You shifted closer and began to reach for him.

They were quick to notice once you moved, eyes widening and darting between your face and your hand—your bare hand—that was slowly inching towards theirs on the wooden surface. There was clear anticipation in the way his fingers curled and uncurled, though he otherwise held still. Somehow his patience to let you take your time helped calm your nerves. It took a few more seconds until you eventually felt the warmth radiating from their hand.

His skin was a little rough in some places. You delicately traced over the faint veins running along the back of his hand before tucking your fingers in to touch the softer side of his palm. The angle seemed awkward, but you were determined to see it through. They slightly turned their wrist to make it easier for you to hold on. 

Neither of you spoke while you settled into the feeling for the first time.

Everything about it felt different without the barrier you normally had. It was new, but comfortable. You didn’t mind how cold [REDACTED]'s fingertips were compared to the rest of him, or the way his thumb draped loosely over your unsteady knuckles. A silent sort of reminder that you could pull away whenever you needed to—except you wanted to stay like this.

If it wasn’t for the rather hasty swig of his drink that he took once you carefully tightened your grip, you would’ve seen the beginnings of an uncontrollable smile on your partner’s face.

[celestie0]

I’m using this ask to flaunt how much I love Kickoff! Choso 🥰😋 I know he had like two canon appearances but still 🩷🩷

Something about a silly spacey goalie just 🫶🏽🫶🏽

I just wanna know more about him, I need to take him on a date and get him talking so he can see that I’m the one for him and he’s the one for me 🥺🩷

Anyways (⁠ =⁠｀⁠3´)♡(´ε｀⁠= ) thanks for listening

KICKOFF CHOSO LORE INCOMING JUST BECAUSE BERRY ASKED FOR IT!!!

AAHHH im glad you enjoy kickoff choso :”) yea he has not many appearances but he’s always a vibe xD i actually have a reader on ao3 that asked me if they could write a kickoff choso fic sooo 👀 i’m really looking forward to see what they come up withhh aaa

pls kickoff choso is a very simple man, he had no clue about anything going on when reader slapped tf outta that ren at the bar n splashed kai w alcohol but he wanted to trip some bitches regardless ✋🏼😭 he just wanted in on the fun HAHAHAHA

i looooove the concept of choso being goalie bc he 100% just spaces out 90% of the game when the ball is nowhere near him and then he instantly locks in once he needs to HAHAHA he be LUNGING for the ball. i like to think the reason he became a soccer player and goalie in general was because one (1) person told him he had good reflexes once when he was a kid n he just RAAAANNN w that compliment ✋🏼😭 (omg now what if kickoff choso x reader childhood friends to lovers where reader is the one that said that to him when they were both like five or sumn 🙈) and he’s never been able to forget it since ehehe i’m getting so ahead of myself here pls)

yea i’ve also hc that he doesnt wear his pigtails or hair down on the field but he does like a very low short pony/bun with some layers of his hair falling out of it as he’s playing bc not all of his hair is long enough to tie back. also he’s verrrryyy particular ab his soccer gear, i think most particular of all the players on the team. like he takes his gloves n shiii very seriously haha and sometimes when he’s just chillin off the field, his hands out of habit attempt to fasten velcro over his wrists when he’s not even wearing his gloves bc he’s just so used to doing that all the time on the field ✋🏼😭 i think it’s become a nervous tick for him hahah

OKAY LAST ONE IM PROMISE i think i also hc this before but he’s the second sluttiest of the four soccer boy groupies (choso, nanami, gojo, geto), but he’s kind of aloof n isnt TRYING to get laid so often but he kinda has that mysterious & cute vibe going on that makes him easy target for extroverts 😔😔 poor thing. he’s not complaining though. but also he’s the type to 100% lead you on without realizing it and then be really confused when you think yall were in a relationship the whole time HAHAHA

he thinks kickoff reader is really badass 👍🏼 he doesnt really fw her all that much cuz he doesnt rly know her like that, but he thought her slapping the shit outta ren was hella dope

I GOT CARRIED AWAY W THIS SORRY BAE!! BUT THANK YOU FOR LIKING HIM 🫶🏼💕 HES JUST A LIL CUTIE I ADORE HIM

[pilot-boi]

Can you pretty please write Ruby having to tell Ren and Nora why Jaune isn't with em after coming back?

(Get ready for pain y'all. Also included Oscar, because he deserves it.)

The journey back to Remnant is not pleasant, and Ruby would not recommend it.

Sure, she’s had her fair share of de-materialization, probably more than most people due to the nature of her Semblance. But this is a new flavor of awful. 

She feels like she’s being squeezed down a very thin tube, the pressure crushing all the air out of her lungs. Darkness presses in on her eyes like a weight, and after the sensory overload of the Ever After her head pounds from the deafening silence and blackness. 

Just when she’s sure she’s going to suffocate, the pressure releases. Light and sound come rushing back. And Ruby falls in a shaking heap in a dune of sand.

For a split second she’s horrified. Her stretched thin hope takes another blow as her exhausted mind is convinced that she’s back on the beach. They’re never going to make it out of here.

At least Jaune won’t be alone.

Ruby coughs out a lungful of sand and the spell is broken. Precious oxygen fills her brain with thoughts. The sand isn’t gold enough, the sky isn’t blue enough. There is only one sun shining down and that gods damned tree is nowhere in sight.

Just the forever rolling dunes of the Vacuo desert.

She smiles weakly. “We made it…”

And her head thuds into the ground as her second interdimensional travel in so many days takes its toll.

“Holy shit, Ruby!” A familiar and welcome voice reaches her, bubblegum pink. The sound of shifting sand accompanies rapid footsteps. “Ren, get over here! I found Ruby!!” 

She should respond, probably. “Mmmphhh.” Yes, great job, Ruby. Perfectly articulate.

“Nonono shhh shh,” Nora coos, Ruby’s brain catching up enough to identify the voice. “You don’t need to talk, I’ve gotcha.” Her body is rolled over, her head cradled in Nora’s lap. 

Ruby’s eyes crack open, and the blur of orange above her eventually resolves into Nora’s smiling, exhausted face. “Heyyyy... You’re fine, you’re safe.” The sky behind her is dark, the familiar shattered moon creating a halo of glow through her friend’s orange hair. Nora turns to holler over her shoulder.  “REN!!!” 

“What?” Ren’s distant voice sounds from over a dune.

“Get your ass over here!!”

“I’m helping Sun with Yang!”

Ruby’s eyes fly open, though she isn’t exactly sure when they closed. Where the heck is the rest of her team? “Yang?” she slurs adrenaline fighting dizziness as she attempts to struggle upright. “Where’s-”

“She’s fine, so’s Weiss and Blake,” Nora reassures her. “Here lemme just-” One arm slides under Ruby’s legs and the other nestles her head against Nora’s shoulder. “Don’t want you hurting yourself,” Nora explains as she lifts Ruby and begins trotting off towards Ren’s voice.

It feels like a lifetime ago that Nora was the one being carried, but it can’t have been more than a few days. Gods, how much time has passed for team ALPN while RWBY has been trapped in the Ever After?

Nora explains about Sun finding Blake first when he was on patrol. Neptune found Weiss while his partner was calling for assistance. “We got here just as they started digging Yang out of the sand,” Nora says. She sounds exhausted, and now just because she’s carrying Ruby. “I found you, and here we are.”

“They’re okay?” Ruby asks, thankful for the strength returning to her voice.

“Yeah, they’re all fine. Yang’s still half buried, but she keeps asking about Blake so we’re taking that as a good sign.” Nora snorts. “You should see Weiss. Covered in sand.” Ruby watches as her smile fades away. “I just sort of hoped that if you guys were back then maybe-”

“Oof!” Nora’s words are cut off as Ruby’s vision fills with fluffy brown hair and Oscar Pine envelops them both in an awkward yet crushing hug.

“We thought you all died,” he sobs into her shoulder. Ruby distantly realizes she’s shaking. Huh. That’s new.

“Ruby.” Ren jogs up to them as Oscar finally releases them. “Thank gods.”

Behind him, Sun and Blake are digging Yang out of a dune, and Weiss is wrapped in Winter’s arms. Ruby’s heart feels tight at the sight, and yet lighter than it’s been in recent memory. Ren helps her down from Nora’s arms. Her legs are shaky as a newborn calf, but she’s standing. Nora and Oscar keep an arm around her shoulders to keep her upright.

Or maybe to keep her from vanishing again. 

Ren’s smile is warm and more genuine than she’d seen since before Atlas. “It’s… I’m glad you’re back.” His voice is thick with unshed tears as he wraps her in a hug.

 “I’m glad to be back.” And it’s sort of shocking when she realizes that… she is happy to be back. “Sorry for worrying you guys.” Ren pulls away and holds her at arm’s length. His eyes flick over her, focusing on something she can’t see and Ruby shifts awkwardly. “What’s uh… what’s up?”

“He’s not here, is he?” Ren says it quietly, almost whispers, and Ruby jolts.

“It has to be me, you’re all the ones who matter.”

“What?! That’s bullshit, Jaune, what about your team?!”

“They don’t need me, not anymore. Or at least not as much as Remnant needs you guys.”

“You can’t believe-”

“You’re okay with just staying here alone?!”

“Of course not. But I’ve been here the longest and… I’ll be fine.”

“Your family, you can’t-”

“You guys are my family, too! Guys please don’t make this harder than it already is-”

“No! We’ll figure out another way, we just need-”

"There isn’t another way! Please just… tell Ren and Nora I love them. And Oscar too. And tell them I’m sorry.”

“Jaune…”

“It’s what she would do.” His voice is thick with tears. He's shaking, and for a moment Ruby realizes that Jaune doesn't want this any more than they do. There just isn't another choice to make.

He’s looking at Ruby through the door. His hand is on Pyrrha’s sash and he’s smiling even as tears run down his cheeks. “Bye guys.” 

And the door closes.

Ruby sucks in a gasp and stumbles back. Oscar catches her, already blurting worried assurances, but Nora looks sharply from Ren to Ruby, all her happy-go-lucky masks gone in the face of her partner’s soul-searching truth.

Distantly Ruby realizes that the sounds of digging have halted and the occupants of the sandy valley are all watching their exchange.  “No. No that’s not true,” Nora insists. “That’s impossible!” But Ren’s expression is stony, and Ruby’s eyes are welling with tears. 

Nora’s grip slackens on Ruby and she falls to the ground. Her fists pound the sand, and she screams until her lungs have no breath, until the air is filled with sobs. Ren is a statue, and she doesn’t have to have his Semblance to see the emotions whirling in a tornado within him. Oscar’s teary expression is distant in that way it always is when he’s talking to Ozpin. Eventually his face tightens and he sinks slowly to the ground, his face in his hands.

“Jaune wanted…” Ruby swallows thickly, tears threatening to steal her words. Somehow her eyes find Yang's, she can't look at the remaining members of ALPN. But this was the last thing her best friend ever asked of her, so she has to try. “He wanted me to say he loves you guys… more than anything.”

“And he’s sorry.”

[stardust9905]

Hi there!

Would you mind to write a drabble about Tech and Echo? I have seen many fan arts where Echo has his hair back and I would be glad to see Tech's reaction to it. Would he feel happiness? Would he help Echo with styling or choosing a new haircut?

I just think it's cute.

Echo & Tech "Haircut":

Synopsis:  Tech notices Echo’s insecurities over his lack of hair and head implants.  How will he help Echo cope?  Will the Batch be supportive in the end?

WARNINGS: Minor insecurities and mentions of past trauma for poor Echo, and a bit AU where Crosshair is back with the Batch. No clonecest. (Otherwise just fluff)

Word Count: 938 ... got *slightly* carried away hehe

A/N: Hey there @witch-ren!!  I’ve seen many fanarts with Echo with his hair back and I think that this is just such a cool idea!! ... So much of a cool idea in fact that i *may or may not* have written a *wee bit* more than a drabble.. — Thank you so much for your request!!! :) 

Masterlist

Echo stands with the fresher door open, one hand lightly brushing over the cybernetic implants in his head, staring at the transparisteel mirror thinking.

Since being rescued from the Citadel back in the Clone Wars, he had been keeping his hair close cropped, even closer than Captain Rex, more often than not choosing to go completely shaven.  

It was different for his vode (siblings).  Wrecker chose to be bald since he didn’t want to deal with the work it takes to maintain hair.  Jesse and Hardcase had chosen no hair because they had tattoos that were worth showing off.  Echo didn’t feel like the implants were worth showing off.  Just another reminder of all the time he lost and pain he went through.

All his other siblings didn’t have implants to affect hair growth.  Echo finds that he’s more comfortable with letting his 5 o’clock shadow grow in occasionally, given that he doesn’t have to worry about how the hair will look growing around his implants. 

“Your insecurities will not decrease by continuously scrutinizing them.” Tech comes to stand a few feet behind Echo, nose still buried deep in his datapad. 

Echo gives a sheepish look while Tech points a finger in the air.  “I was thinking—”

“When are you not thinking—” Echo smirks.

Tech takes half a second to look indignant. “As I was saying.  If you’re okay with it, we could research potential hairstyles for you.  Perhaps it would help you regain some confidence, a piece of your old self if you will.”

Echo looks a little uncertain, but slowly nods.  “I trust you.”

… 

A few months ago, Echo remembers being so glad to have a brother like Tech, sitting up all night making an entire moodboard of hairstyle choices that would help his black curls grow around and cover the circular implants on his head.  Over the time of growing out his hair, he kept his helmet on most times, opting to “hide” the awkward stages despite the reassurances from his brothers and baby sister.

Now Echo stands in the mirror again, Tech helping him to style it for him with a comb.

Tech gives one of his signature small smiles, “It looks good on you.”

“You sure?” Despite the uncertainty in his voice, Echo also has a small smile on his face and a genuine shimmer of pure happiness in his eyes.

“Of course, I merely stated the truth”, Tech says matter of factly. 

Echo lets out a soft laugh and slight shake of his head, leaving the refresher to make a ‘grand entrance reveal’ in the cockpit.  As Tech watches Echo humbly show their siblings, and the others give their compliments, he feels happy that he is able to help his ori’vod (older/big sibling).  From freeing him at the Citadel, to how much Echo has grown and rehabilitated since, Tech loves that he is able to bond with Echo.  

Retrieving a couple tubes of hair gel, and one bottle of cobalt blue hair dye, that he saved up for with help from Hunter, Tech headed to the cockpit.  After bending down to whisper to where Wrecker and Omega were sitting on the floor, he turns to Echo and tells him to sit in the co-pilot seat and close his eyes.

When Echo gives a confused, skeptical look, Hunter quietly smirks from where he’s sitting behind the pilot’s seat.  Crosshair lets out a smooth chuckle from against the wall, telling Echo to relax. “It’ll be fine, we'll behave”.  Echo wasn’t convinced in the least, but listened regardless.

He could hear Wrecker’s loud steps and Omega’s light pitter-patter, only opening his eyes once he felt something gently nudged into his hand.  A scrap of flimsiplast signed by each Batch member.

“Wrecker and I thought we could do a before and after group photo!” Omega continued to excitedly explain how she wanted Echo to know that she loves him no matter how much or how little hair he has.  “You’re my big brother either way. I mean Hunter has lots of hair and Wrecker has none-”

Crosshair and Tech start coughing to cover their laughter, while Wrecker and Hunter do a double take and blanch at Omega.

“-and Cross and Tech have a medium amount of hair- Actually wait, Crosshair doesn’t have as much hair now… Anyways, just know that I love you no matter what!”

Now it was Crosshair’s turn to blanch and narrow his eyes at Omega.  “Alright kid, give someone else a turn.” Crosshair steers her off with a hand to the top of her head, while Omega starts trying to paw his hand away.

The tubes of gel and dye land in Echo’s lap next.  “Hunter thought you could use the gels to style your hair.  I know I’m not one of your old 501st brothers, but I thought a streak of blue in your hair might help you feel like you still carry them with you.”  Tech sheepishly scratches the back of his neck, nose still buried in his datapad again.

“Last but not least-” Crosshair starts.

“Well-” Hunter smirks.

“Hunter I swear-” Hunter laughs, only stopping after getting flicked in the back of his head with a toothpick.

Crosshair tosses a foldable comb to Echo.  “Thought you could tame your hair better than Hunter.” Crosshair gives a self-satisfied smile to Echo, dodging a jab from Hunter.

“I don’t know what to say, thank you guys”, Echo says through trying not to cry.

“Let me know if you need help with the dye!” Tech states without looking up, going to the pilot seat to prepare for their next mission.

***Reblogs keep posts alive, hashtags help the post continue to garner love. Feedback through comments is always welcome, and of course, likes are appreciated too. Thank you so much for reading!!! ☆♡☆ ~Ka'ra

[shiningwonderland]

Ren Jinguji (Repeat)

Translator: Becca (Twitter: futureduelistgx)

Proofreader: Lala (Twitter: i_am_gamer), Raz (Twitter: agnadance), Nadie (Twitter: nmoniag)

Editors: Snail (Twitter: herbert_snail), Lacey (Twitter: fairyharp), Mae (Twitter: itoshikimaegirl)

QA: Rei (Twitter: wolfe_raine)

April — Clumsy Étude

You reall~y are a dazzling person.

People that aspire to be idols really are different.

Ren Jinguji: Hm, what’s wrong, My Lady?

When he notices that I was staring, Jinguji-san smiles back at me.

Haruka Nanami: It’s nothing... Um, well...

Oh wow, he’s too dazzling. The more I look at him, the more I feel as if he's someone from another world, so I turn away.

Ren Jinguji: Oh, stay right there. Don’t move...

Huh?

He puts his hand on my face and gently traces my cheek with his finger.

Ren Jinguji: Your exquisitely beautiful face is marred by this dirt.

Dirt? Oh, perhaps some got on me when I was looking for the key…

Ren Jinguji: There, perfect. Hmmm. You are indeed beautiful.

While he's staring at me, he smiles.

Select the Phrase!

ごめんなさいっ！I am t-truly sorry! (+20 Love +0 Music)

Ren Jinguji: What are you apologizing for?

Haruka Nanami: Ah, well, I troubled you... and for that I sincerely apologize.

Ren Jinguji: Not at all. I would have done it without a second thought.

Haruka Nanami: Ah, um… You said that too, that moment at the car, when you helped me… I don’t know what to say...

Haruka Nanami: Also when you found and returned my handkerchief… Jinguji-san, you are really kind... I wonder if I can repay your kindness somehow.

Ren Jinguji: Don’t worry, it wasn’t a problem. I couldn’t stand around doing nothing after seeing you being so charming...

Ren Jinguji: Come on, let’s go. We’re going to get scolded by the Boss if we’re late.

As he casually holds my shoulder, we continue to walk.

He gently guides me as a gentleman would escort a lady.

He is a complete natural at this, acting as if this is something normal, however…

Haruka Nanami: Oh, u-um...

H-his hand... i-is resting on my shoulder... my heart is beating so fast... will it ever stop?

Is this really okay…?

Ren Jinguji: What is it, My Lady? Is something wrong?

Wow... His smile is dazzling.

Haruka Nanami: ... Oh, it’s nothing.

You don't have to walk with me. It’s okay. I want to say that to him, but no words come out.

My heart continues to pound in my chest until we arrive at the assembly hall.

I’ve never been this close to a man before, especially one so gentle... there are so many first times occurring today that it’s making me dizzy.

Jinguji-san... Not only is he beautiful, but he is also very kind... and his voice...

A unique, seductive voice with a strong presence, but with a bit of melancholy buried within.

I want to hear him sing. I want to feel his music.

Even though you’re not doing anything... your very existence inspires me to create something. You’re an amazing person.

I'm pretty sure we'll never talk like this again.

He is a person whose existence is far beyond my reach.

Nonetheless, I think it’s a miracle that someone with such a brilliant aura would want to talk to someone like me.

Oh, thank goodness! This school has many wonderful things in store!

After that, the entrance ceremony ends and I find myself walking alone in the hallway...

???: Oh, oh no. Uwa...!

A girl carrying a bunch of flyers falls right in front of me.

Haruka Nanami: U-um... are... you alright?

I hold out my hand for the girl.

???: Yeah. I guess I’m okay. Thanks... Gosh, how am I the one forced to do these tasks as soon as I get to this school?

Haruka Nanami: Ah, let me help you.

???: Really, are you sure? Thank you. You’re a nice person. What’s your name?

Haruka Nanami: Um... I’m Haruka Nanami.

Tomochika Shibuya: I’m Tomochika Shibuya. You can call me Tomochika. And I’ll call you Haruka.

Haruka Nanami: Okay... then, Tomo-chan.

Tomochika Shibuya: Tomo-chan... huh. That’s fine too. Well? What class are you in, Haruka? I’m in A Class by the way.

Haruka Nanami: Oh... I’m in S Class.

Tomochika Shibuya: Really!? Wow. Are you in that course as an idol?

Haruka Nanami: Actually... I’m in the composition course.

Tomochika Shibuya: You’re joking! Really? You’re even around the same age as me... Wow, you’re impressive! ...

After that, we talk a lot and I discover Tomo-chan and I are in the same dorm. On that day, we become good friends.

For the first time in my whole entire life...

I actually made a human friend!!

Ah! I’m being blessed by so many happy things! ! I’m glad to be alive. Thank goodness!

From there, we deliver the flyers safely to the staff room. However, while we're walking down the hallway back to class...

Female Student A: Ah~. Jinguji-sama... I just watched that TV special ‘The World’s Amazing 100 Richest People’!

Female Student A: Of course, the interior of your home was beautiful, but I became a fan immediately after seeing you give the viewers a tour.

Female Student B: Ah, about this... I heard Jinguji-sama was enrolling in this school, so I baked you cookies...

Jinguji-san is surrounded by many girls.

Ren Jinguji: Thank you. I’m flattered.

Female Student A: Well, I-I brought a lunch box. If you want, maybe we could have lunch together...

Ren Jinguji: Did you... make the lunch box yourself?

Female Student A: Y-yes!

Ren Jinguji: That’s wonderful. I’m honored to receive your affections. Okay, let’s all go to the rooftop at noon.

Female Student A: O-okay. Thank you very much.

The girl stares at Jinguji-san, mesmerized.

Tomochika Shibuya: Whoa... Look at that crowd! And in the center of it... Ren Jinguji...? I listened to their conversation and... Wow.

Haruka Nanami: Tomo-chan, do you know him?

Tomochika Shibuya: Yeah, well, he’s famous. He’s part of the Jinguji Group, right?

Haruka Nanami: Yes.

I think the Jinguji Group is a huge Japanese company whose corporate power rivals the Hijirikawa Group.

Tomochika Shibuya: He’s the third son of that family and incredibly wealthy. Moreover, because he’s good-looking with that demeanor, girls naturally flock to him.

Tomochika Shibuya: If one’s selling point is being a celebrity, as long as they got good looks, the mass media and the entertainment industry will latch onto them.

Tomochika Shibuya: Lately, he’s been in specials about celebrities and appearing on TV and in magazines, so he’s pretty popular. That’s why he’s got fans right after he enrolled.

Tomochika Shibuya: But with family connections, he should just go ahead and debut. Why did he even bother coming here?

Huh? What’s that about? For some reason, she seems pretty irritated.

Haruka Nanami: ... Tomo-chan, do you dislike Jinguji-san?

Tomochika Shibuya: I don’t hate him as a person, it’s just troublesome how girls around him start bickering with each other when there’s somebody like him around.

Tomochika Shibuya: I've only heard rumors, but he really is impressive. It bothers me that he seems naturally that way.

Tomochika Shibuya: However, even though everyone knows that there’s no hope if you end up liking that sort of person, people end up getting serious anyway.

Tomochika Shibuya: In the end, you only wind up with a broken heart and being completely hurt, but of course it usually ends up being my job to comfort for some reason.

Tomochika Shibuya: I would be fine if it was just that. I don’t mind mediating fights between girls or saying complaints directly to whomever, but...

Tomochika Shibuya: People called me a meddlesome hag behind my back when I was in middle school and it was just sooo annoying!

Haruka Nanami: That seems like it was d-difficult.

Tomochika Shibuya: Yeah, it was difficult! That’s why I don’t have a good impression of that type.

Tomochika Shibuya: And, because they’re kind to everyone, you can't monopolize their time.

Tomochika Shibuya: If you can enjoy it for what it is, it’s fine, but if you get serious with that sort of person, then you’ll just suffer.

Tomochika Shibuya: You don’t seem like you would get involved with that type and that’s okay, but I still think you should be careful.

Haruka Nanami: T-there’s no reason for me to be careful, I am not worthy for Jinguji-san, I feel like I shrink whenever I try to talk to him...

Haruka Nanami: I think Jinguji-san is kind, charming, and wonderful, but...

Haruka Nanami: We come from different worlds. I admire his brilliance and aura, but he is unreachable like the sun.

Tomochika Shibuya: So... you admire him? Everybody suffers because it doesn’t end with just admiration...

Haruka Nanami: ???

Someone appears.

Ren Jinguji: Hi, ladies. You two look like you’re having fun, what are you talking about?

Haruka Nanami: Oh. Jinguji-san. We were talking about you just now...

Tomochika Shibuya: Ah, you dummy!!

Suddenly, Tomo-chan covers my mouth. Why?

Tomochika Shibuya: Er... yes, actually, I was just talking about how Jinguji-san is really popular. Must be hard to be surrounded by girls every day, right?

Tomochika Shibuya: But with excellent looks and substantial wealth, it’s probably not easy for you, right?

Tomo-chan talks smoothly while putting on a face.

It’s true though. If you are surrounded by so many people then you will surely have no time to relax.

Ren Jinguji: That's not true! It pains me to think that I am unable to pay attention to all girls equally.

Tomochika Shibuya: Hmm. So what you mean is that you love everyone equally?

Suddenly, Tomo-chan's eyes narrow.

Ren Jinguji: Of course. You two as well~.

He winks while saying that. Every single one of his gestures are so beautiful that I find myself gazing at them.

Tomochika Shibuya: When you take your equal love for everybody too far, don’t you get tired of all the trouble that follows you?

Ren Jinguji: I spare no effort to make sure that doesn’t happen. I don’t want to cause unhappiness for any of you lovely ladies.

Tomochika Shibuya: I see… It seems you’ve been thinking about this, more or less. I guess you’ve got it all worked out for yourself.

Ren Jinguji: Thank you. I’m pleased that you approve. I certainly want to get along well with you both.

Jinguji-san looks at us and smiles.

Haruka Nanami: Eh, ah, well, that’s more than enough. Because Jinguji-san’s existence is... already like a miracle. So, um...

Get along well?! I’m fine just gazing from afar from a corner of a room!!

Haruka Nanami: You have a brilliant aura, especially your voice! Your voice is so lovely… and your singing voice... I think it’s very dazzling…

Haruka Nanami: Your tone is brimming with confidence, sophistication, and is on point, but it’s not just that. There’s a depth there as well, tinged with a little sorrow.

T-this is strange. Usually I don’t talk so much. Now I can’t seem to stop.

Haruka Nanami: From when we first met, there is this melody still playing in my head, so… what I mean is… that you’re just that amazing of a person...

I want him to sing this way. This melody would suit him. These thoughts keep looping in my head.

But I'm sure I won’t be able to make the most of his talent, with my current ability.

However, I am very drawn to him. My wish to create a song for him is unreachable and yet grips my heart.

Haruka Nanami: I’m not the kind of person that should come close to you...

Ren Jinguji: That is completely untrue… And this is the first time I’ve been praised for my voice. Thank you.

Haruka Nanami: Huh!! Really? Even though it’s such a lovely voice...

I wonder why?

When I tilt my head while thinking that, Tomo-chan looks at me with a strange look on her face.

Tomochika Shibuya: Wow, an ordinary girl would pay attention to looks or the status of being the son of a distinguished family. Rather, people not interested in those things are rare I think.

Haruka Nanami: Well, because, I think voice is important! A voice this wonderful is rare!!

Ren Jinguji: I’m pleased to hear you being so passionate about me. But, is my charm... only in my voice?

Jinguji-san, amused, smiles at me with a slight chuckle.

Haruka Nanami: Of course, that’s not all. There are lots of elements that provide excitement musically, such as your presence, atmosphere, and aura.

Haruka Nanami: I feel like all of these things are part of your voice, and thinking about how many different expressions your voice is capable of is so exciting.

Ren Jinguji: Musically...? I guess the voice is the most important part.

Haruka Nanami: Yes! I don’t understand anything other than music.

Ren Jinguji: Is it possible you don't understand love either?

Haruka Nanami: Love?

Ren Jinguji: If that’s the case, shall I teach you?

He smiles sweetly at me and entwines my hair around his finger.

Select the Phrase!

はいっ、お願いしますっ！Yes, please do! (+20 Love +0 Music)

I nodded cheerfully.

Ren Jinguji: You’re rather enthusiastic.

Haruka Nanami: Yes, I’m happy that you’re teaching me things I don’t know. I should listen carefully because you’re going out of your way to teach me. Oh, let me take some notes...

When I take a notepad and ballpoint pen from my bag, Jinguji-san laughs at me for some reason.

Ren Jinguji: I’d rather you write in the notepad of your heart.

He says that and takes the notepad out of my hands.

Tomochika Shibuya: Ah! Erm, u-uh... We have to go do a thing.

Haruka Nanami: Huh?

Tomo-chan pulls me away to the other side of the hallway.

Tomochika Shibuya: Phew, that was a close one. I told you to be careful earlier and yet that happened. You’re too careless.

Haruka Nanami: Wait? What?

Tomochika Shibuya: To someone that's honest and inexperienced in love, the more dangerous someone like him is...

Tomochika Shibuya: I think he was simply teasing you a bit, but... That was dangerous. This is less about him and more about you...

Haruka Nanami: Um... what do you mean?

Tomochika Shibuya: I’m telling you not to fall in love with him.

Haruka Nanami: I’m not in love with him, I just think he’s wonderful. Is it bad that I think that? People with a voice like that are so rare!

Tomochika Shibuya: It depends on the type of love but... it’s probably pointless to say this to you now, but you shouldn’t get too close to him.

Tomochika Shibuya: Judging by our conversation earlier with him, he’s far more talented than I thought, and well, I guess he’s doing a fine job. I wonder what would happen… when he’s up against an airhead...

Tomochika Shibuya: Actually, you’re an unknown variable. Even if he plans on going about doing his usual thing, there is a chance that you would fall in love with him unexpectedly.

Tomochika Shibuya: Well, I hope you won’t get heartbroken...

Haruka Nanami: Thank you, but don’t worry about me. Jinguji-san is such an admirable and dazzling person that I’m afraid to get close to him.

Tomochika Shibuya: Really? We’ll see, but... if something happens, tell me.

Tomochika Shibuya: Taking care of you is a piece of cake for me!

Tomo-chan pounds her chest while saying that.

Haruka Nanami: Thank you!!!

Tomochika Shibuya: Well then, my class is here. I’ll see you later.

Tomo-chan says that while waving goodbye and enters her classroom.

Haruka Nanami: She was such a nice person… We’re going to be roommates for this year… I’m so glad.

As long as I’m here at this academy, I feel like I can finally fulfill my wish to have a normal school life.

???: Hey you guys, get seated.

The teacher comes in as soon as I get to the classroom.

Ryuya Hyuga: I think some of you already know, but I’m the homeroom teacher, Ryuya Hyuga. I’m currently an active idol.

Ryuya Hyuga: Well, right now I’m taking more acting roles. I’m not really the type to be an idol to begin with.

He says that with a shrug.

Hyuga-sensei is an amazing person who is also a director of the Shining Office while actively working as an idol.

He is a person with a very strong sense of justice who won’t overlook wrongdoings and slams them down with the hammer of retribution.

And, it is said that a person will not be able to work in the entertainment industry if he dislikes them.

Ryuya Hyuga: There’s a reason I’m not doing singing work now, but I do have a track record as a singer.

Ryuya Hyuga: Also, I’m familiar with the sound equipment around here, so you can always come and ask questions if you don't know something.

Ryuya Hyuga: Don’t be shy, and don’t think about procrastinating either. Just confront it head-on.

Ryuya Hyuga: Your future will be determined by how hard you work this year. Don't cut corners, and put all your power into learning. Got it?

Hyuga-sensei starts explaining about Saotome Academy and how to use the facilities on campus.

Although our school is an idol training school, it specializes in developing idol singers.

That’s how, by providing a composition course alongside, it becomes a way for idols and composers to debut immediately after graduation.

From this time starting in April, composers and idols form a pair, aiming to debut together.

And in most cases after debuting, the idol will sing the songs made by the composer who teamed up with them.

Of course, the composer creates songs, but the singer must produce them.

A person's life will be in my hands. That thought scares me a little.

Everyone who came to this class is highly talented, it wouldn’t even be weird if a lot of them debuted right away.

... Am I really good enough though...?

Ryuya Hyuga: Well, that's enough explanation.

Ryuya Hyuga: Starting today you should decide on a partner to compete alongside you for this year… no, for even after you debut.

Ryuya Hyuga: Of course, you won't understand everything about each other after just one self-introduction.

Ryuya Hyuga: With that, only "luck" can tell if you get along with your partner or not.

Ryuya Hyuga: However, you can increase the probability of your "luck."

Ryuya Hyuga: That doesn't mean you can slack off in your introductions. You all have a choice, but don’t forget that you also have to get chosen!

Everyone in the class responds Yes! with a loud voice.

And so, the introductions begin.

Tokiya Ichinose: I’m Tokiya Ichinose. 16 years old. My special skill is... well. If I had to pick one I guess it would be singing.

Ichinose-san doesn't say anything that seems to self-promote but only mentions his age and name.

However, immediately after, he sings a song a capella. That song is just too wonderful.

Everyone understands that he doesn’t need to say anything more after his song.

His skill as a singer to firmly captivate the listeners would put even professionals to shame. I think it's strange how he hasn't yet debuted.

And then there's Syo-kun.

Syo Kurusu: Alright. Yours truly is next.

He declares that he will become a big idol in the future and for some reason begins to perform karate.

I don't really understand the relationship between idols and karate, but Syo-kun's movements are still amazing.

At first, Syo-kun shows off his stances by himself, then all of a sudden Hyuga-sensei gets interested and joins in with Syo-kun's movements, so the tension increases.

It isn’t a match, so their moves aren't used on each other.

But…

I think for a moment their fists will collide with each other’s faces if they stop just a second too late.

Everyone in the class gulps as they watch their dueling performance unfold.

The two don't exchange words, but when everything is finished, they smile with satisfaction at almost the same time.

There is a special air between the two of them, as if they were old friends.

And then, it's Jinguji-san’s turn.

Ren Jinguji: My name is Ren Jinguji. I’m an Aquarius, blood type B, 17 years old. My hobby is...

While saying that, Jinguji-san takes the hand of the girl who is sitting next to him and kisses it.

Ren Jinguji: Pleasing women~.

Uwaaa!

High-pitched squeals resonate throughout the classroom.

Ren Jinguji: And my special skill is... the saxophone.

Ryuya Hyuga: Ooh, the sax, huh? Can you play it right now?

Ren Jinguji: Of course. I thought something like this might happen so I brought it along~.

It is a very sexy performance. Maybe one could say that there is mellowness in the sound?

In Jinguji-san's case, he has an amazing presence and he is naturally sexy to begin with. That is also reflected in every note he plays.

Besides, his face while playing the saxophone is very serious, it's very... very attractive.

His voice is so enthralling too but... the way he makes that sound.

His presence, aura, voice… and this expressiveness and musicality.

It’s as if he was really born to become an idol.

Stealing everyone’s hearts. Like a true idol that everyone can’t help but worship.

Then, as I watch Jinguji-san intently, he seems to notice my gaze and winks at me.

... Ba-dump.

My heart thumps. For some reason, it’s beating really fast...

Ren Jinguji: How was it? Did my melody reach your heart?

Select the Phrase!

かっこよかつたです.　That was cool. (+20 Love +0 Music)

Haruka Nanami: T-that... was so... cool.

Ren Jinguji: That’s good to hear. It looks like you were pleased with my melody of love. What I played just now... was dedicated to you, My Lady.

With that said, Jinguji-san’s smiling face looks really happy.

Haruka Nanami: T-thank you very much!!

Ren Jinguji: You’re very welcome.

Jinguji-san smiles brightly with a slight bow of his head, looking almost like a divine being.

Wow, a supreme smile.

And then... Finally, it's my turn.

W-what on earth should I say in front of such a large number of people...?

Haruka Nanami: Hu...h, uhm...

Ryuya Hyuga: What’s the matter? Nanami, hurry up.

A-anyway.

Select the Phrase!

作曲のことを. Talk about composing. (+0 Love +10 Music)

Haruka Nanami: Y...yes...well, I’m...

I came to this school because I want to be a composer.

Why can't I just say that?

Ren Jinguji: It’s at times like these when I have to step in, right?

Suddenly, Jinguji-san smiles and stands up.

Ren Jinguji: This Lady is Haruka Nanami. She's a lovely girl who desires to become a composer.

Haruka Nanami: Ah, o-oh no, I’m sorry I made Jinguji-san go through that trouble...

I need to do something myself before making any more trouble.

Haruka Nanami: U-um... I’m Haruka Nanami. I am 15 years old. I-I look forward to working with...

Whack.

I bow so vigorously that I hit my head on the back of the chair of the person seated in front of me.

H-huh...? I feel... so... dizzy.

Haruka Nanami: Hngh...

Ren Jinguji: Good morning. Are you finally awake?

When my eyes open, the first thing that jumps into my view is Jinguji-san’s smiling face.

Haruka Nanami: !!!

I am so surprised that I jumped out of bed.

Select the Phrase!

…夢？...Is this a dream? (+20 Love +5 Music)

Ren Jinguji: Why do you think that?

Haruka Nanami: ... I-I should have been in the classroom, but now I’m here in my room... with Jinguji-san in front of me...

Ren Jinguji: I see, so you even want to meet me in your dreams. I’m charmed, actually. But this is no dream.

Ren Jinguji: You hit your head and lost consciousness so I got worried. Are you feeling better now?

Haruka Nanami: Y-yes, somehow... B-by any chance, did Jinguji-san carry me here?

Ren Jinguji: Yes, that’s why I’m in front of you right now.

Haruka Nanami: O-oh, I am very sorry. Thank you very much for that!!

Haruka Nanami: Um. I'm all right now, so we should head back quickly. I mean, there is also the thing about choosing a partner after all...

Haruka Nanami: I don’t want to cause you any more trouble...

Ren Jinguji: You don’t have to worry about that. Because you’re my partner.

Haruka Nanami: Wha...? What did you just say?

Am I getting deaf? I feel like he just said something really amazing.

Me, Jinguji-san’s partner? No way! No way! No way!

There is no way something straight out of a dream like that would ever happen!

I'm sure I misheard him. That is what I’ve decided.

Ren Jinguji: Idols and composers are of one body and mind. Two as one precious whole. That is me and you.

Haruka Nanami: ... Oh? R-really... B-but why?

So I didn’t mishear?? Is this really real?

This is impossible... Jinguji-san and I are like the day and night.

Our entire existence is too different. Standing next to each other cannot be good.

Ren Jinguji: If I had to say a reason then maybe "fate"?

Haruka Nanami: F... fate?

Ren Jinguji: You and I ended up like this because of "fate." You don’t have a reason to object to what the gods have decided. Am I right?

Haruka Nanami: ...

Is there really such a convenient "fate"? I wonder if this is a dream and I will return to yesterday once I wake up.

Ren Jinguji: I have decided on the Little Lamb...

Jinguji-san says this while gently narrowing his eyes.

Haruka Nanami: ...

Why did Jinguji-san choose me? There is not even one thing I have to offer to make this fair...

While I'm deep in thought, Jinguji-san sighs deeply.

Ren Jinguji: What more can I say to convince you to believe me...? While I was carrying you, Ryuya-san asked me what I’ll do about my partner.

Ren Jinguji: So I told him, “I've decided that my partner will be this girl, you know.”

Oh, I see... so that’s how it happened.

B-but, putting that aside, I don't think it's a good idea to decide on an important partner like that.

Not to mention, it was my fault...

Haruka Nanami: T-that would cause a lot of trouble for you... but, you know you can still change...

Ren Jinguji: A man doesn’t go back on his word. You are my partner, Little Lamb.

Ren Jinguji: Besides, I couldn’t just leave you after you had collapsed.

While saying that, Jinguji-san kisses the back of my hand.

Ren Jinguji: And to tell you the truth, you saved me a bit. If we had begun to select partners there would have probably been a fight to a greater or lesser extent.

Ren Jinguji: Seeing a hurt woman is a painful thing. However, if I make the decision before they ask me, then I’m sure they shouldn’t object.

Ren Jinguji: I imagine walking out of a classroom with an unconscious girl in your arms would leave quite an impression. In any case, that should’ve convinced everyone.

Haruka Nanami: But is it really okay if it’s me? Jinguji-san’s idol aura is amazing, so will my song live up to that...

Haruka Nanami: O-of course, I will do my best! But... I don’t have much talent... so I’m sorry…

Haruka Nanami: You could choose a more talented person, if you wanted to...

Ren Jinguji: I don’t care about that actually. I'm not interested in music or idols.

Ren Jinguji: I came to this school because of family circumstances. It was never my intention to come here. It’s fine, even if I don’t become an idol, I don’t care about music either.

Ren Jinguji: So, the Lady shouldn’t worry about me and just write a song she likes.

Haruka Nanami: ...

He doesn’t care? About music?

Haruka Nanami: Um, I can’t do anything other than write songs but... If you reject music, I think I can't be of any help so….

Ren Jinguji: Don’t say that about yourself. There is infinite potential hidden in you, Lady. You will surely blossom someday.

Ren Jinguji: There is no guarantee that the talent heaven granted you is only one. You should know more about your own charm, don’t you think? Anyway, I look forward to this next year with you.

Haruka Nanami: Oh… I'm an incompetent person, but I look forward to working with you as well.

I reply, kneel and bow while lightly touching the floor with the tips of my hands.

Ren Jinguji: Me too. I have high hopes for you. For all sorts of things… okay?

As he says that, Jinguji-san smiles sweetly at me.

Even so, is it really okay for someone who has such a great presence to team up with me who is so extremely plain?

Jinguji-san told me it would be okay, but I must do my best to not drag him down.

Mini Game

Ryuya Hyuga: Alright, let’s start this private lesson~. That’s right. We’ll test your sense of rhythm before starting the composition class.

Ryuya Hyuga: For composers, rhythm is the most basic of basics. From here on out, study hard and learn all you can!

Ryuya Hyuga: First I will show you the pattern. After that, you’re gonna continue.

Ryuya Hyuga: So, let’s begin.

S Rank

Ren Jinguji: Amazing. I don't think it's mere coincidence that I ended up choosing you. With your compositions and my singing put together, don't you agree that we're unstoppable?

When I tell Jinguji-san about my test results, he's very happy for me. I want to get good results next time too.

Chapter End

[asanjou]

review of my ryuki wmguessing from like two weeks ago now ive finished it

ryuki endgame spoilers ⬇️

He did do this

We didn't have to wait for ex aid we find out he survives in the next episode. No word yet on the third car explosion however

When I describe a character as "running into traffic" what I mean is that they're prone to reckless self endangerment, generally for the sake of other people, but he did die tragically on a car so I guess it was more literal than intended

He definitely did pass away emotionally in Gorochans arms but it happens offscreen and we get a poignant scene of Gorochan carrying out his final wishes instead. Also I feel bad now for saying he didn't deserve a beautiful emotional death scene he kind of tones down the bastardry towards the end of the show. Sorry to yaoi man for it

This suprised me!! Ren was not the one who got him. It was random bug mook

There WAS a second car explosion but it didn't even kill the bastard

Well he was definitely more upset about it than his outward behaviour towards Shinji throughout the whole series would have you expect. Classic Ren move to only express how important someone is to you when they're bleeding out on someone's Toyota Camry

Thank god the shinjiless world never became real... Literally uninhabitable circumstances. He didn't kill Shinji but I'm sure he's got a beautiful helping of survivors guilt on there. Also I think it's ambiguous whether or not he remembers Shinji in the new timeline or if they just get deja vu when they bump into each other

He didn't do this at that point in time but he did show up in the corner a lot throughout the show. Also he wasn't really the one who got into the psychological experiments... he mostly just says tatakae

i hadn't met professor kagawas teenage girl killsquad yet at this point hence my confusion. but i was super wrong about this one re the mirror beasts. they're friends! to yui and shirou at least

[jaliensims]

Sweet Beginnings Tag

Thanks or the tag @tedsies!

“This tag is all about looking at your past. All you need to do is to find one of the first screenshots you ever took (preferably also published), and post it beside a recent one! And tell everybody when you took that first picture! Oh, and don’t forget to tag your posts! #sweet beginnings tag”

"The supernatural Legacy"

Year 2022

The moment I started to share my sims in my personal twitter until the save was corrupted, it was my first attempt to play a legacy, and they are the second gen of the "Supernatural Legacy". I lost them but they have a place in my heart because they relationship was so fun

They started as childhood crush and then they went for a full friend to enemies to lovers.

Im sorry I got my self carried

"The siren song" - Year 2023, October.

A little side story playing with the last pack and testing the expanded mermaid mod and to be honest I have a lot of fun and some chill gameplay away from the legacy because im feeling stuck there.

And I love the friends Ren make: Paka U`ha, Lilith Vatore and Circe, his girlfriend.

Im not going to tag anyone because Ted alredy did hahaha

[ruby-red-inky-blue]

random notes on naddpod c1 ep 70-100

part three of the list of personal highlighs, shared here in lieu of chewing my very indifferent friends’ ears off irl. For whom it may concern.

spoiler warning! you will get no context but still, massive massive spoilers ahead

That moment where Hardwon almost came back as a gnome tho, right after Murph explains how he left that option in as a joke

The wrestling! Jake and Emily rolling the exact same three times in a row!

so much good parents content in this episode! Also Melora is back, I adore her. The concept of an anti-authoritarian deity is so funny. “No don't listen to me! But do. But don't!”

I’m with Emily, Murph doing Elvish is the actual worst thing to ever happen

“I’ve hit a bit of a rough patch in my relationship but that’s okay because I found a book that lets me kill my dad.” “Everything’s coming up Beverly!”

“You can’t tell us your character’s name, Zac, because they haven’t met you yet.” “And they never will!” “Yeah, I kept telling you they’re not going to the Frigid North but you wouldn’t listen.” “I keep heading north.” “I keep telling you, they’re south, they’re so far south -”

Zac’s characters gaslighting an NPC is always funny. *badly tells a bold-faced lie* “Why would I lie about that?”

“Unsheep him immediately!”

Ren’s laughter is INFURIATING

“Yeah, he lost both contacts. Both contacts just shot out of his eyes when he was giving the speech earlier.”

I cannot for the life of me figure out if any of them are actually good singers or not

Pursuit of Dragon Eggs

Zac “unofficial King of the One-liner” Oyama at it again with the perfect character intro: “Mavrus the Unschooled who… forgot this assignment”

Genuinely I just want to be as effortlessly funny as Zac for a single day. Just to know what it’s like to live like that.

Finally a realistic magical tournament - now with bathroom breaks!

-

Mawmaw is back! I love her so much

Lucanis doting on his newfound daughter is so sweet

“We shall meet at dawn!” “That’s so early, can we do like nine?”

Murph doing out of touch aristocrats (the “SilvONE percent”, Caldwell is on FIRE) is GOLDEN. “Ren, keep working on yourself.” “I won’t.”

The Boobs getting Balnor a mechanical tuna that sings Chasing Cars

Also this might be the first time I’ve seen the DM carrying on a bit for so long it actively stalls the plot, and I loved every dumb second of it

Murph trying to introduce Cooter’s new high eleven girlfriend, fucking up and calling her his wife instead, and having to take that in stride

“Nice cape, my champion.” “Oh, do you like it? I got it expressly to impress you.” HARDWON

“It’s fourteen platinum. I know you have many slides to build.” “Yes, this will go a long way to build the parliamentary water park.”

-

Progressively useless shop links

The bit about them trying to get Murph to give up the cliffhanger while on tour is so funny because a) the idea that Jake would be the one to go looking for Murph’s notes while Emily and Caldwell keep him busy when they are literally IN EMILY’S ROOM and b) that he’d somehow have to try to break in when it is LITERALLY ALSO EMILY’S ROOM

Caldwell calling Murph “Daddy Murphy”, “Daddy DM” and “Teacher” in quick succession while trying to get away with some Classic Beverly Bullshit absolutely sent me

“I’m just gonna keep stabbing at the slit… and think nothing of the implications.” “Thanks, I hate it.” Well so do I, Murph, but you’re the one who gave this group an environment with a slit in it that people can push a sword through so. should have seen that coming a mile off

Of course I’d reach the extremely horny part of this episode while I’m standing in line at the supermarket 🙈

I was starting to think that maybe Murph had finally shaken his dice curse, but then he’s rolling for that fight at the casino with the bullywog and the enchanted sword and I think it’s been going on for like five rounds and neither of them has hit the other

“We should play this for real money.” “Have you seen my husband roll dice?!”

“You killed my beautiful boy!” “Mrs. Rosell?” “No, it’s Ilsed! Context clues, everyone!”

“Poetry or whatever the next level of hell is”

Hardwon’s flashback 😔

BABY PAWPAW

“Moonshine, there’s something about you. Things that don’t belong just… find a way of belonging when you’re around.” is such a knockout of a line. It’s so sweet, it almost made me cry.

Followed directly by “Pawpaw shits into your bib,” of course

“Fungus can’t eat plot armour, right?”

CALDWELL. Hot damn the man is too good at this.

“You killed me, Murphy!” “I have to take a bath! I need to go on a long walk! You ruined my night, Brian!”

“This is the hardest work it would be to bully anyone.” “I wrote a tragic backstory for you, loser!”

Running all three one on one encounters as one encounter is such a good move

“Hey what’s up with your hammer?” “The hammer’s gotten bigger, I have NOT gotten smaller!”

“How far were you from the edge, Moonshine?” “Forty feet. […] You gonna take me to the edge, Hardwon?” “I’ll do my best to get you over the edge, Moonshine.” “…what would you do if you were having sex and they were like, I’m forty feet away?” “I’d be like whoa, that’s pretty far.” “But I can get there with a full dash!” And then nobody, DM included, manages to get through a single sentence including the word edge for the next couple of minutes…

Murph’s gleeful “you guys are pissed at me”

“Hardwon, make out with him!” “I’m recording it on my recording orb.” “…who is this for?”

“I’m a falcon. Can I lift Bev up?” “Absolutely not!” “I’m gonna try anyway.” “You are like Link holding up a chicken. Just running with a flapping bird in one hand.”

Not Murph opening the Ilsed flashback with a full minute on cyclical aesthetic trends in architecture?

“Please don’t be hot, please don’t be hot…” “… a young, hot Ilsed -“ “No!!!” Same Bev. Same.

“You wanted to be special, and you are! It’s rare to find someone stupid enough to make a deal with me but with enough potential that I could still do something good with your body, we’ll done.” That’s brutal

Murph slowly losing his mind as his players debate whether hell is really all bad (“the first layer is like super rad”) and what the purpose of hell is “the purpose is for bad people to torture other bad people and it’s bad and it sucks and it’s hell??”

-

I too am weak for a loyal knight and I melt into a puddle every time Jake and Murph run through their Hardwon and Mawmaw routine

Also this seems as good a time as any to give a round of applause for the “dwarphanage” and “dwarphan” puns. It’s so funny it just never gets old

so amused by how both Jake and Caldwell have called Murph Brian to signal anger

41 to hit?? Is that even a thing?

“Well, my cat was sick and I’m feeling spicy”

“This is an insane dynamic for a twenty-five-year-old to be in the middle of.”

Cooter the Berry Boy

“…did you just quote Lin-Manuel Miranda? […] You shoot this beam of red hot light and it hits this thing and it begins to melt away as you give an insane speech that you took from someone who does not exist in this world.”

Jake’s quiet sob of “that’s plagiarism” in the background

“Yes, my name is ‘Luke Earthier’.” 😬

Murph giving his elves super ridiculous names but then hating when the PCs make fun of them is so funny. He fully played himself

But it’s also very sweet how he will just fully accept their dumb nicknames. Lucanus is Daddy Luke now. Pendergreens hasn’t been called by his actual name for weeks.

Zac, who obviously came in without a prepared intro, trying to come up with a two-liner on the fly and somehow deciding the word he’ll be trying to rhyme with is “Juiblex”

“The thing is, Zac, I wrote sketch with you for like a year, and -“ “We know you’re smart. Is the disappointing thing.”

Random flashforward to Apple and Cooter, lone survivors of the apocalypse, in a Denny’s in Shadowfell

“Trees are beautiful and cool, that’s one of the first things you learn as a Green Teen!” “He’s right! Trees are cool and you suck!”

“You get non-lethally Boromir’d”

absolute cruelest answer to whether the NPC was deceived by a 13 deception check: “Hey, man. Maybe.”

Emily forcing ridiculous world building on her DM, truly The Axford Move: “Take that hat off and debate me!” “Alright, you take that vest off!” “…do I have a vest on?”

*threatening reer* is an underrated Pawpaw noise

That cliffhanger at the end of Ep. 88 and the outrage

“We’re all gonna jump you after this!” “There’s so many of us here, man!” “We’re gonna box your ass, we’re gonna mail it to… to Spain!”

“You can listen to people threatening to put my ass in a box on the Short Rest -” “Hey, no. I’m only gonna celebrate your ass.”

“Murph. My hat has telekinesis, right?” “Yeah?” “Can I use my telekinesis to control the sphere that we just received from Akarot?” “…Yeah.” “Okay, sweet, I’m going to fling this Sphere of Chomping Shit Up with my telekinesis.” Murph, apparently remembering in this very moment he’s DMing for Emily “I disguise myself as him” Axford: “Oh no.”

Bev and Erlin pull a full “here at the end of all things”

Jeez this episode is just the Emily and Murph drama hour. She’s leaving her possum! I am upset!!

Cobb’s “would this be a bad time to invite you to my improv show” was perfectly timed

“I assume the horse of Famine is stalking me, so I put out a plate of food for it every night. To be hospitable.” EMILY!!!

“It’s this vendetta that this horse has for me.” “...do you think maybe the rider also has something to do with it?” (this in reference to the Fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse)

I love how Murph is making progressively scarier villains and the boobs just flatly refuse to take them even a little seriously

“Everybody wake the fuck up, Death is here! Like actual fucking Death?!” is almost as funny as Bev’s “Rise and shine, we’re in the shit again!” from the Galaderon arc

“The horses we ride were all killed by you!” 10/10 callback, no notes

“The end is nigh! Bird for sale! The end is nigh!”

Jake asks Murph to rate everyone based on looks, immediately regrets it when Murph ranks him fourth, after himself

Emily plugging the podcast itself on its 96th episode

Them workshopping Caldwell’s intro rhyme on air for several minutes, then finally getting the recap started only for Emily to interrupt Murph after half a sentence to point out he “says ‘dragon’ cute”

I’m still not over the shock that the “what an honour. what an injustice.” quote is from this podcast. Damn. (Also I somehow really expected that to be a Caldwell line.)

“You must understand, I’m under a tremendous amount of pressure, I can’t tell when people are joking.” Oh the line between Murph and Melora is growing thin

“You see yourself outsmarting Josh and turning his entire army against him, you turning Akarot’s steed into a dolphin, outing Balnor as the witch in the Autumn Court trials... Just a supercut of Murph whomps.”

“Hey man, I know I haven’t said this in a while, but fuck you!”

Hardwon fighting Jaina, Mawmaw and Old Cobb but barely fighting back is just plain tragic

“Peepaw, is this another lesson? Is this a lesson I’m not understanding the meaning of?” “Moonshine, this is because I’m disappointed in you!” Murph is taking no prisoners this ep, noted.

“It’s good. I think you’re good. You’re smart, you’re a great storyteller, and you’re mean! You’re a bad guy.” I love that this is both a joke and the greatest praise a writer can receive

“That is the wraith on the red horse’s turn. He is a dolphin. The dolphin on the bigger dolphin flops. In Hell.” again, NO respect for Murph’s apocalyptic riders

a brief and nearly incomprehensible aside about Meatloaf songs (whose political views WERE problematic but whose songs 100 percent occupy the exact aesthetic of this batshit insane scene)

Murph picked the worst Meatloaf song tbh

honestly my main gripe with Pendergreens is I cannot fucking understand him and that hurts my pride. please this is my second language

.

i love how religiously Emily is keeping Deadeye’s memory alive throughout this, it’s so sweet

Moonshine and Meemaw on the grandma tree </3

“I didn’t have you until I was 350 years old. By that time, I had already lost Marabelle. And here, now I got you. Now I got another sister.” this whole conversation is so perfect, but I really really love this part, it’s so lovely to acknowledge how your relationship to your parents can evolve over a lifetime (especially one as long as this)

Emily’s delight at finding the critter refugee colony in the grandma tree is so pure

Murph bringing back Caldwell’s worst Green Teen creation as a wholesome jamboreen campfire memory

and one last Cawcaw sighting

what is it with the entire d20 cast and fem characters with that half-shaved/undercut hairstyle. legit every time they want to make a fem character particularly cool they give them that haircut

not Murph trying to sus out Hardwon’s deal with Moonshine once and for all in the penultimate episode by any means necessary

“’I’ll just... get another brewsky, and then I’ll meet you... behind the tree in... t -5.’ And then Hardwon does a weird moonwalk away.”

Bev goofs one last time and once again falls from a great height

I want Denny’s “whelp, I’m alive!” as a soundbite

“What are the others up to? Are they in danger?” “... how old are you?” “Sixteen!” “.....they’re hangin’ out.”

"Can we say that what I did to Jaina was a sort of religious experience and counts as a zealous trance” is definitely one of the funniest things Murph has let Emily get away with

“Congratulations, y’all. You fucked in DnD”

.

Jake almost crying in his (presumably) last intro as Hardwon

Murph laying it on unexpectedly thick and Emily struggling to follow that up with the very silly intro she prepared

“One hour [of going down on someone] isn’t taking your time??”

One last Somber Boy Song! and what a song it was, damn, Caldwell!

“He has such a haunting boy voice! It feels like he’s just alone in an abandoned church.”

“No, I don’t intend to join you [in your fight against a god], mylady. You are a demigod. I am a butler.”

“Do you guys think the Gods were scared when people looked to them?” “If they weren’t, they weren’t doing it right.”

“Here’s what I’d like to do, Murph: I would like to blow the Horn of Valhalla, bring out these berserkers, and then I would like to, on the thinking cap, cast Conjure Woodland Creatures and conjure eight pixies, and I’d like to put four of them in the Bag of Holding and use four of them to cast Fly on four of the berserkers which then I will cast Animal Shapes on, using my own concentration, to turn them into elephants, and we can go into battle on flying elephants. .... Just let me know if you want to leave me.” I have found my new favourite Emily moment. Jesus Christ. Her getting through that wild plan so businesslike and then “just let me know if you want to leave me” in that defeated tone took me OUT

underrated reason to bring back an old enemy for the finale: he’s the most annoying and everyone hates his guts

“Hardwon, you take a sick 69 psychic damage”

“The actual God looks hurt. She’s upset, I’m upset. But don’t worry, everyone, it is my turn.”

“That brings me down the same way my old man went down.” aka Jake sends the DM into an emotional crisis with a single sentence.

“You briefly fix his deviated septum.” now that’s just cruel

Handy Andy playing a vital role in the final fight makes me so happy, Deadeye helped! Posthumously!

“Hardwon, you struggle, but you get through the words… Table… of… Contents” cause of death: this

“Your god is a pro wrestler” OH MY GOD OF COURSE HE IS. Emily cracked it

“It’s okay, Balnor. Like all the most powerful things in the world, I knew I was only borrowing you.”

Hardwon coming into Shadowfell with unimaginable amounts of dirty laundry: “Moooooooom!”

Hardwon meets his dad :(

Murph really has the “emotionally repressed Dad” routine down pat

“Thank you so much, I sent [the Thinking Cap] through the dry cleaner’s, so it should be all good.” “Dijuana was killed by the dry cleaners.” “You were not supposed to get it wet.” “Yeah, something screamed in there they said, I don’t know.”

Another Jamboreen! And it’s about to probably get cancelled again with another Pebblepot in charge! Time is flat circle

“You see Cran grabs the counsellor, ‘Are you a Pebblepot? You have to tell me if you’re a Pebblepot!!’“

“I cast Conjure Animals and create... what would a dragon eat?” “It would for sure eat like a sheep?” “Oh no, that feels so cruel!” “But you’re creating it, it’s like... it’s a Beyond burger. Beyond Sheep.”

Of course Moonshine accidentally created a Crick dragon

Hardwon gets a fixer-upper in the Crick

I cannot believe Murph managed to pay off that horrendous hotel room scene, and how! Incredible. No notes.

-

This doesn’t strictly go here but if you go on IMDb, everyone but Zac is officially credited with their silly homebrew DM titles. Like Murph is credited as “Direct Messenger (Dungeon Master)”. I discovered this on a very stressful day and it delighted me to no end.

[incineraryperiphery]

I’m v late but got the fake title game: The Munchies

&

Sleeping on the Floor

not late!! i just fell asleep aha

The Munchies

okay, this is definitely a late night/early morning convenience store run with Aizawa, who just got off a night shift patrol and wants to Eat, and a very, very tired Yamada who absolutely insisted on coming with him. 

It would also probably be told from the clerk’s POV because i adore the image of this serious-looking dude in a death glare/staring contest with the ice cream freezer, while his girl boy...friend?? who brought a whole ass quilt into the store is teetering on the edge of unconsciousness beside him. They’re also fairly certain the blonde one was drooling on the other’s shoulder, and it takes them literally half an hour of standing there without moving to figure out which one they want.

This probably happens like, twice a week, until all the workers know them by description if not by name.

Sleeping on the Floor

This is gonna be extremely au and only tangentially related to the title, but. 

A hero au where, instead of all that fuckery with All for One, Tenko’s picked up by a newly graduated Hound Dog - who’s not quite a hero yet, just a part-time sidekick while he goes through university, but there’s no way he can leave a kid on their own, y’know? 

It’s rough as hell for both of them, at first. 

Ryou’s juggling work and school and childcare all at once, desperately trying not to step on any of the kid’s triggers or make him feel trapped enough to bolt. And Tenko’s waiting for the other shoe to drop - this is a hero sidekick helping him out of nowhere when he’s been told all his life that heroes are selfish pricks, and it really doesn’t help that Ryou absolutely towers over him. 

(Hound Dog is 196 cm, Ren. 6′5″. More people need to know this.)

There’s definitely more than a few missteps, more than a few times he’s gotten angry at something unrelated and had to coax Tenko out from whatever small space he’s shoved himself into later. 

The first time he feels safe enough to throw a tantrum, though, Ryou’s torn between frustration and pride - partly because, while he’s extremely glad he can rectify the situation by just talking calmly with Tenko until they figure out what the issue is, he also has to replace a handful of furniture that got disintegrated.

I think, in this au, Tenko doesn’t want to become a hero. At first.

He doesn’t have the patience for it, or for dealing with other heroes like Ryou has to, nor does he want to accidentally hurt people with his quirk. (Again. That’s probably his biggest fear and worst nightmare, one he’s only vaguely alluded to despite how often he has it.)

He’s homeschooled right up until the point where UA gets its hands on Hound Dog, and Ryou asks if he wants to try school or continue as they are. And Tenko, right on the cusp of high school, decides to try. He applies for the general education course at UA and a few other nearby schools - some reject him out of hand for not putting his quirk down, others have their tests on the same day at the same time.

Tenko does get into UA and it’s far, far easier than he expected. He likes learning, likes most of his classmates, likes being able to excuse himself to go sit in Ryou’s office and calm down or grab a spare pair of gloves. It’s nice.

Until some prick runs into him in the hallway and he’s gotta go see Recovery Girl for the hopefully not-broken nose. (And so he isn’t tempted to use his quirk on the hero student, that’s a terrible idea, and yet-.)

Only, Recovery Girl isn’t in, because that’s just his luck. 

Tenko’s thinking about just risking the walk to Ryou’s office instead, sitting there with blood soaking into his glove, when the door slams open. It’s another student, with a long coat over his uniform and swearing up a storm - and, honestly, he’s ready to just ignore him until she gets back. But then he gets right up in Tenko’s face with all the tact of steel wool and next thing he knows the blood’s stopped, he’s being handed a rag to wipe his face off with, and told to go replace his gloves because that’s fucking gross.

He later learns that the student is Recovery Girl’s apprentice, in the 1-B hero class aiming for underground heroics, and just as much of a dick outside of the office too. It gets to the point that they begin sitting together at lunch just to argue and Ryou isn’t very much help when he complains at home - he’d much rather snicker at him than offer solutions, unfortunately.

The sports festival just exacerbates it.

It starts when Touya (just Touya, it’s weird that the school accepted him without a family name but that’s really none of his business) not so subtly implies that he’d just wash out of the hero course. To which Tenko says, fuck you, no I wouldn’t. And Touya’s like, oh yeah? Prove it.

That, of course, leads to Tenko fighting like hell through the festival out of pure, unadulterated spite. Does he expect to win it by the skin of his teeth? No. Does he expect to qualify for a transfer into 1-A? Also no.

But, hey, he beat Touya and that’s what counts here.

(It also means new teacher Aizawa has a veritable headache to deal with, but that’s secondary to the sheer rivalry developing between 1-A and 1-B now.)

[howlingday]

tragic backstory (tm) au) after being rescued by her brother cin-cin is even more devoted to him. and so now every chance she gets she likes to spend time with him.

but she also knows her brother is a bit dense when it comes to girls and it's her job as little sister to pick the best ones for him.

she's narrowed her choices down to yang (the family needs another stacked blonde and she'll fit right in with the others) much to yang's chagin

ruby, (she's got good asethetic sense and she seems like she would be fun to hang out with) who blushed and smiled when she heard that she would make a good girlfriend for jaune

and pyrrha (she gives really good hugs! also she seems nicer than scarlet.) who hugged her really tight and decided that cin-cin was now her second favorite person right after jaune.

now this is the first time cinnamon has played match maker and so she's invited the three candidates out to a lunch to discuss how someone should go about dating her brother.

mean old hags (weiss) and gold digging home wreckers (scarlet) are not invited!

Making A Matchgirl

Cinnamon Roll Arc was a happy child. She loved everything in life, nature, the city, and everything that filled it. But that was all before the attack on Beacon. She still woke up screaming to the nightmares, sobbing into her mother and father's arms as they consoled her. She refused to be alone for anything.

Jaune: Are you ready go go, Cin-Cin?

Cin-Cin: Mhm.

Jaune: I promise I won't let go, okay?

Cin-Cin: Mhm.

Jaune: Do you want a soda?

Cin-Cin: Mm-mm.

Jaune: Okay.

Pyrrha: Jaune's little sister is on her way here. Now remember, she's still struggling after the attack, so be gentle around her, okay?

Ren: Understood.

Nora: You got it!

Pyrrha: That means not being loud, Nora.

Nora: (Whispers loudly) You got it!

Jaune: Oh, hey, it's Scarlet. You remember her, right, Cin-Cin?

Cin-Cin: (Hides her face)

Scarlet: The poor dear is still recovering?

Jaune: Yeah, but she's a tough kid. She'll be back on her feet in no time.

Scarlet: Did she drop out?

Jaune: For now. If she feels up to it, she can take summer classes to help catch up. Until then, she'll stay with family until she feels better.

Scarlet: Such a brave girl, just like her brave brother.

Jaune: Oh, well, uh- (Feels a tug, Looks down to Cin-Cin's pouting face) Oh, okay. I'll talk to you another time, Scarlet. Cin-Cin really wants to get to the dorm.

Scarlet: Oh, of course! (Crouches down) Take good care of your brother, Cinnamon.

Cin-Cin: (Hides her face)

Jaune: Let's go, Cin-Cin. (Walks away) Tell you what, I'll carry you the rest of the way. Does that sound good?

Cin-Cin: Mhm.

Pyrrha: Can we get you anything? Juice? Water? Soda?

Nora: Syrup?

Cin-Cin: (Shakes her head)

Nora: Oh, thank goodness! (Chugs syrup bottle)

Jaune: Anything you want to talk about, Cin-Cin? Pyrrha used to go to Sanctum, too.

Cin-Cin: ...Really?

Pyrrha: Mhm, I did. And if I didn't, I might not have gone to Beacon and met your brother.

Cin-Cin: ...Can I have juice, please?

Pyrrha: Of course.

Yang: Remember, Jaune's sister is still sensitive right now, so let's try to keep ourselves on eggshells, okay?

Ruby: Got it!

Blake: Understood.

Weiss: As if it needs to be said. The poor girl probably doesn't even want to think about that horrible night. So we just won't bring it up. (Yang knocks on the door)

Pyrrha: (Answers) Hello? Oh! You're just in time for the finale!

Ruby: The finale?

Ren: (Wearing two hair pins) Blargh. You have defeated me. I can feel my coolness fading away. (Falls over)

Jaune: Ha ha ha! No one can defeat an Arc!

Cin-Cin: Definitely not two Arcs! (Stage laughs with Jaune, Giggles with Jaune)

Pyrrha: Oh, did I miss it?

Nora: Don't worry, Pyrrha, (Holds up her scroll) I got it all right here!

Cin-Cin: Can we watch it?! Please, ease, please!

Ren: (Sits up) I'll set up the camera.

Jaune: Whatever you say, Mr. Taurus. (JNPR laughs with Cin-Cin)

Weiss: What the-

Violet: Hello? Oh, Cinnamon! I'm so glad to hear from you! Are you doing okay?

Cin-Cin: Uh-huh! Jaune and I are having a lot of fun right now!

Violet: Really? Jaune? Fun?

Jaune: (Distant) Ha ha. Very funny, Vi.

Cin-Cin: This is sister talk, Jaune! No brothers allowed!

Violet: Ooh, this must be important if you're making this a sister talk. So, what's on your mind, Cin?

Cin-Cin: (Looks around, Whispers) I found who I want to be Jaune's girlfriend.

Violet: Ooh! Do tell! Wait, let me guess! Mm, is it Ruby?

Cin-Cin: Uh-uh. She's too young, but she's a lot of fun. I'd like her to be my friend.

Violet: Okay, then what about Weiss? He likes her, doesn't he?

Cin-Cin: He shouldn't. She treats me like a baby.

Violet: Well, you are his baby sister.

Cin-Cin: Sh-Shut up! I am not a baby!

Violet: (Thinking) Sheesh, still so sensitive? (Speaking) Okay, then what about Blake?

Cin-Cin: She's quiet. I like her, but she's kind of scary.

Violet: Well, what about that Yang girl?

Cin-Cin: I like her a lot! She looks just like Mom!

Violet: Hmm, I thought so, too.

Nora: So, how are you girls holding up?

Ruby: (Pouting) I am not too young for Jaune...

Weiss: (Weeping) At least she likes you! She hates me!

Blake: At least she isn't scared of you. Right, Yang?

Yang: (Somehow pale and flushed) Y-Yeah, totally. (Thinking) Of course I look like an Arc; I am one!

Nora: I bet you girls are so embarrassed right now!

Violet: Hm, what about his teammates?

Cin-Cin: I like them a lot! Ren is so nice, and sweet, and cool, and pretty, and nice-

Violet: So I've heard. Something tells me he's not for Jaune.

Cin-Cin: He can be Jaune's best man.

Violet: (Giggles) So, what about Pyrrha? Do you like her?

Cin-Cin: Uh-huh! She's really nice, and she went to Sanctum, too!

Violet: You don't say? She's probably perfect for Jaune, huh?

Cin-Cin: Uh-uh. Jaune should be with his partner instead!

Violet: Huh? I thought Pyrrha was his partner.

Cin-Cin: Uh-uh! Jaune should marry his partner, the pink, fun one who likes sweet, Nora!

RWBY: (Look to Nora with surprised expressions)

Pyrrha: (Glaring at Nora with swords in her eyes)

Ren: (Looks at Nora with a smirk)

Jaune: (Looking away from Nora with a blush)

Nora: (Embarrassed) W-Why is everyone looking at me?!

[heliosthegriffin]

Damn magicians....

“Jaune, why are you looking so nervous?” Pyrrha pushes Jaune forward to the auditorium. “We’re just going to support Velvet.”

Jaune pushed his heels against the ground in a futile attempt to resist going to the magic show, but his partners strength was superior to his, merely creating a rut in the ground behind them.

“I don’t trust them, not a single one of them! They’re are unnatural, they’re weird, all of them are witches and warlocks to be burned at the stake like they belong!”

Nora pokes Jaune’s cheek while pulling his hands forward with one arm. “That’s a little harsh, fearless leader. Magic shows are fun!”

“I never been to a magic show that I loved! They always embarrass, abuse, or scare me! Back me up, Ren! Remember that time I told you about the scorpion faunus and his ten hats, ten rabbits, and one machete trick, right?!”

Ren stoically walked beside him. “I thought you were joking, it was pretty fun how unsettled you seemed.”

“The blood was stuck in my hair for days, Ren, Days!”

Pyrrha sighs. “Your overreacting Jaune, just because you’ve had a few bad experiences with magic shows, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t support Velvet. I’ll have you know she’s been working very hard for this performance, and by goodness you are going to be there and support her!”

“Seventy-two! Seventy-friggin-two magic shows, Pyrrha! Not a single one after the first, have I willingly gone to! This is cruel and unusal punishment! I’ll sue, I’ve got the best laywer that the Schnee’s don’t own, Namor Wicktorch!-”

Nora slaps a hand over Jaune’s mouth. “Shhh, buddy, we’re here. So sit down, relax, and enjoy the show.”

Jaune whimpers and starts to tear up.

“Ah man, Ren. He’s doing the thing.”

Ren comes up to Jaune. “I got this.” Then backhands Jaune. “Man up! It’s just a damn magic show, not the end of the world.”

Jaune’s head twists with blow, then unwinds to look at Ren in directly in the eyes. Ren feels a uncomfortable feeling in his gut as his leader crack’s his neck and scowls at him, his pupils staring in to his own, then twists his neck to look at Pyrrha directly in the eyes, then slowly turns to look the rest of the team in their eyes. “I will remember this.” He hisses. 

Nora shrugs. “Sure you will buddy, you’ll remember what a great team you have that took you to an awesome magic show, and you’ll be so grateful you’ll take us to an all you can eat Pancake Bar, and oh look we’re here.”

Jaune freezes in abject horror, then begins bucking and struggling against his friends strength, as pure adrenaline surges through him, nearly throwing them off of him.

Only to stop as something is shoved in his mouth, his energy disappearing, and his eyelids starting to sag.

Jaune turns to culprit. “What, did you do to me?”

“I gave you a sedative.”

“You drugged me.”

“Velvet, is a good friend and you’re overreacting, it’s nothing that your aura can’t handle, but until your body filters it out you will behave and watch the show. “My vengeance will be the written in my family annuls, the kind only we will remember, for how terrible it will be.” Jaune then shut his mouth and sat on the floor. “I won’t resist, but I’m not walking in there, pick me up, drag me, whatever.”

“That’s the spirit!” Nora grabbed Jaune by the shoulders and put him over her shoulders in a efforless shoulder carry.

The team then walked into the near pack auditorium, Ruby waving them over.

“Come on over, already! The show is almost about to start, what took you all so long.”

Pyrrha shook her head. “Sorry, Jaune was being incredible stubborn about not going.”

Ruby pouts at the simmering Jaune. “Jaune! Come-on, Velvet has been working hard on this performance, can’t you show a little support?”

Yang perked up and look at Jaune. “Huh, I thought a guy like you would be all over stuff like this, it just seems like your kind of thing.”

Jaune looks darkly at them, saying nothing.

Yang frowns, then points at him. “What's his problem.”

Ren sighs. “He insist that every magic show he’s been to has scarred him, a ridiculous claim.”

Yang chuckles. “Huh, I guess you weren’t feeling the magic were VB?”

Blake looks at Jaune curiously. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look so unfriendly, it’s weird.

“Quiet, the show is about to begin.” Weiss says, a pointed look directed towards her team. “And stop making a scene, Arc. It’s unseemly.”

Jaune bares his teeth in a growl at the short heiress, who raises a eyebrow in confusion.

“Did he just growl at me?”

His team merely looked at each other.

Nora stuffs him in a chair and grabs one arm, so he can’t escape, while Pyrrha grabs the other one. “Nope, I don’t think I’ve seen him do that. Doesn’t matter though, because he’s not going anywhere.”

Jaune then freezes as the curtain rise, “Oh no, oh no, oh no, it’s too late.” Then sinks into his chair in defeat.

The group of friend look at each, before Weiss clears her throat. “Well, it seems like he won’t be a problem now, so let’s watch the show.”

The rest of them shrug and turn to watch.

-------

It was quite the performance, Velvet performing her act with near perfection, It was hard even for Pyrrha to see through her tricks at time, but that was part of the appeal to not be able to understand what she was doing.

The rest of team CVFY helping behind the scenes or as part of the act, doing the best they could, sure they made some mistakes here and there, but they recovered fast and sometimes included them in the show.

Even Jaune seemed to relax, but more in a accepting of the inevidable than actually feeling relaxed.

Finally Velvet pefromed the last trick of the night before bowing.

“Thank you all, for coming to my show, It has been a pleasure to perform for you all, and I hope you all enjoyed it!”

A roaring aplause was her answer.

A deep crimson blush wrapped around Velvet's face. “Thank you! With such approval, I must ask, how about one more trick?”

Another roar of approval.

“Alright, now watch, as I make this man disappear!” Velvet points her wand at random into the crowd, landing on Jaune.

He smirks and he turns to look at his friends as his body starts to fade away,  holding a middle finger to both his team and Team RWBY as he disappears.

Then he’s gone.

The two team stared in a mixture of shock, horror, and disbelief.

Velvet stares in shock. “Um, I don’t think that was supposed to happen...”

Nora was the first to speak. “Oh shit, this means Jaune was right. He’s gonna be pissed.”

--------

With one last haunting moan the monster that had been attacking him for the last couple hours since he first appeared in it’s lair finally succumbed to him. As Jaune’s stamina and skill let him survive, no, overwhelmed the white-skinned black veined woman who jumped him the second he appeared in her room. 

Salem fell exhausted on the chest of the one who had defeated her, succumbing to a pleasant fatigue she hadn’t felt in millennia, feeling positively glowing.

Jaune lay naked on the bed, with the monster woman entangling him, scowling. “I swear, when I get back there is going to be hell to pay.... At least it’s not Vacuo this time.”

[deannaroxannewrites]

Tropetember Day 12 - Getting together / Love confession / First kiss / Break-up/Make-up / Fix-it

Limp away with me

Pairing: Armitage Hux x GN!Reader

Fandom: Star Wars

Rating: Teen and up

TW: Injuries, implications of rough childhood

AN: Day 12 of @tropetember. So, this is quite rough and holds a lot of potential for fleshing out into a proper story, whether that's just a longer one or a multi-chapter. Is that something anyone would be interested in? Fix-it fic cos they did General Hugs dirty

Allegiant General Pryde has shot General Hux. Lucky you're the Surgeon General really.

Find this story on Ao3 here.

Word Count: 1.6k

“Allegiant General Pryde just shot General Hux.”

Your breath catches and you allow yourself a moment to close your eyes. Next moment, you’ve grabbed your bag and are focused back on task.

“Collect the body,” you direct them, “and bring it to the medbay autopsy lab. Carefully.”

You and Armitage had prepared for this eventuality. One of the advantages of having a partner in the medical core was that the chances of surviving treason were much higher.

Whilst neither of you had entered First Order service willingly (no matter what Hux said, you had both been forced into it), Armitage had quickly excelled and embraced his duties in an effort to outshine his father. To try and prove himself as worthy. You, on the other hand, had enacted the only act of rebellion against your family that you would be able to survive. You had chosen to enrol in the medical core rather than aiming for command. If you had to be a part of this monstrous cause, you would try to save as many as you could.

You’d worked your way quickly up to the rank of Surgeon General and had been stationed on the Supremacy for a number of years. Thankfully, you’d survived the reign of Snoke and, so far, had survived Ren’s reign of terror. It had been a blessing that Hux had been reassigned to the vessel from the Finaliser. You enjoyed each other’s company and it was helpful to be able to train on your self-defence with someone who wasn’t trying to beat the stuffing out of you to make a point. He was a good outlet for a lot of energy in other ways too.

You glance up from checking you have all your equipment when you realise the orderlies haven’t moved. You turn your most piercing stare on them.

“Did I stutter?”

They look at each other until one of them pulls up their big boy panties and says “he was shot for being a spy.”

You laugh. Mostly at the fact that one looks like he wants to cry and the other like he’s about to collapse. They don’t need to know that though.

“Yes, by Allegient General Pryde who is well known for being a thorough and competent leader. Oh wait. No, he’s not. He’s had a grudge against Hux since he reappeared from whatever hell hole he had been hiding in. I said go fetch me the body! Now!”

They scarper out and you take another deep breath to centre yourself before busying yourself again with grabbing supplies and the emergency make-a-break-for-it kit you stored in your office. You then straighten your uniform, brace yourself and head out into the chaos of the medical bay.

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

Armitage is deathly pale when he finally is brought down to you but you swiftly move into action, infusing blood and bacta and checking the depth of the wound. You’d both known that, were he to be discovered, the weapon he was likely to be shot with would pierce the thin body armour he wore beneath his uniform. Unfortunately, it was the maximum thickness he could get away with before it became noticeable but you had both agreed that some bleeding would sell the ruse. You just didn’t like it.

Checking out the wound, you sigh out a quick breath of relief when you realise it is not too deep and hasn’t damaged any of the major blood vessels or organs. Though gruesome to witness, it was mostly superficial.

You lose yourself in your efforts, remaining undisturbed in the autopsy room, until you’re happy that he’s stable for travel. It’s at that point that you revive him, despite the fact he’s going to be in a world of pain.

He slowly blinks into reality with a scowl and a hiss of pain. You try to soothe him as best you can but there isn’t much you can do right now. You need him mobile to get to the shuttle and someone would notice you carrying him.

Gently running your hand through his hair you tell him “come on sweetheart. I know it hurts but we’ve got to move.”

Despite the pain, he seems alert and nods, letting out a grunt of agreement as he allows you to help him sit up and then stand. You gather the spare stormtrooper armour you’d pilfered a few months ago and quickly get him dressed up in it before leading the way swiftly to the small landing bay where Armitage’s private shuttle was stored.

You whisper a thanks to whatever Gods there are that the chaos on board the vessel means that there is noone around and you manage to get the pair of you on board with little drama. In fact, the whole escape into hyperspace is amazingly smooth and once you’re away with your course set, you sag a little in relief.

Or at least, you do until you see Armitage’s slumped frame and quickly grab him and get him moved to the small bedroom to continue his care and knock him back out while he heals.

You’re just about to inject the sedative when he grabs your hand, making you look at him.

“You know you are my world, don’t you?” he asks quietly.

You smile softly and lean forward to press a gentle kiss on his lips. You smile again as you feel him smile against you.

“I do, I wouldn’t have committed treason for anything less.”

He rolls his eyes before pressing another gentle peck to your lips and releasing you to get back your work. You take the opportunity to knock him out for now. It’s how he’ll be most comfortable.

And if you’re grinning so hard your face hurts, noone in deep space can see it. They can’t see you internally debating whether it’s ethical to dope someone up to get soppy confessions from them in the future either.

---------

It wasn’t often that General Dameron of the Resistance found himself in the Outer Rim.

Even 3 years after the end of the war, he was still mostly stuck to the core planets and mid-rim in efforts to support the Senate and help guard the peace which had settled upon the galaxy.

He’d been on a training mission with a few new recruits for Green Squadron when they’d been ambushed and they’d all received some pretty injuries despite eventually winning the battle. Injuries that required attention sooner than they would be able to if they headed back to base.

After a quick argument with Finn via the comms, the squad set course for a local med facility that was gaining a reputation for it’s high quality care.

Poe made sure all his squad were checked out before himself and he was happy that they were all being looked after so well. It was strange. The lead Doctor seemed familiar.

It wasn’t until you met his eyes that he realised.

You calmly continued his consultation, gently palpitating the wounds and collecting dressings, something you appeared to be doing more quickly than he was able to collect his thoughts.

“You!”

You snort. You can’t help it.

“Yes, me General Dameron.” You gently dab some bacta on some of the smaller cuts. “Did that break heal up correctly?”

He nods a bit dumbly. You’d been responsible for his care after Ren and a couple of the Stormtroopers had tortured him. You’d been a welcome relief, if he were honest. In fact, apart from the fact you’d worked for the First Order, he wasn’t aware of any accusations against you.

“I’m glad.” You finish wrapping his wrist and nod. “All done. Your pilots should be ready to go in around 2hrs, just to allow any drowsiness to wear off. I have some spare rooms if you need to stay on planet tonight?”

He thanks you profusely but explains that they are expected back tonight as you head back into the main waiting area. You shake his hand before leaving him and approaching a tall red-head across the room who instantly wraps his arm around your waist and drops a quick kiss on your head. You whisper to him for a few seconds and blue-green eyes suddenly lock with Poe’s before his face breaks out in a smile.

“General Dameron” Armitage says, approaching slowly and holding out a hand to a shell-shocked looking Dameron. “I’m glad you won. You and your squadrons are welcome to drop in here for treatment if you ever require it and are close by. Free of charge”

Poe, for his part, has a LOT of thoughts at this moment. Part of him wants to jump up and arrest him immediately whilst another screams that he was a spy and was seriously harmed because of it. It’s neither of these things that eventually seals his reaction though. It’s the loving glance Armitage throws your way as you offer them both coffee, the expression rendering him almost unrecognisable when juxtaposed against the version he used to know.

“Thank you.” He finally chokes out. “I’m assuming you’re not known by your old names?” Given the whole living in peace and not being turned into the authorities and all that?”

Hux just laughs.

“You would be correct. We’re both going by Y/N’s mother’s maiden name.”

“Oh?”

“Yes” Armitage says, looking far too amused. “We’re Armitage and Y/N Organa.”

Poe’s jaw drops to the flood. How on EARTH was he going to explain any of this?

Turns out, after it became the top recommended med centre by all members of the Resistance, he didn’t have to. He just had to keep pretending he didn’t know Hux had survived and not let Finn anywhere near. Poe was good at keeping his mouth shut.

Strange galaxy you live in really. And you couldn’t be happier

[shera-dnd]

Here it is! Me and @midnightechoes Beeunion comic! A bit late, but I assure you it was worth the wait.

First I just wanna thank everyone who's donations made this all possible, and Midnight Echoes for being the fantastic friend and artist that she is

Now put on Treasure in the background and enjoy

~~~

Waves. Blake always loved the sound of waves. It calmed her, reminded her of her childhood, of Menagerie, of her family. Not now, not here. Here the crashing waves sounded like a clock, ticking on the back of her head, counting away the seconds, hours, days spent trapped on this island.

How long had it been? She didn’t know. She didn’t want to know. Because that meant knowing how small her chances got with each passing day. The chance of finding her friends again, Ruby, Weiss, Yang… Yang. So she blocked away the sound of the waves, and forced herself to continue her search.

The first few days had been a frenzy. Blake had run and screamed their names until her legs gave out under her, and her voice failed her completely. But still the waves crashed, and still time passed, even as she was too exhausted to keep searching.

The days that followed were more subdued. She had taken to pacing herself better, and focusing more on her own survival. Yet she could feel her anxiety growing with each passing hour, and with each wave that washed ashore, so grew the fear that one of her friends’ bodies would be carried in by the tides.

Blake had been avoiding the beach for a while now, taking to the jungle instead. Her voice hadn’t returned to her, and she had yet to find Gambol Shroud, so it was hard to signal her position to her friends. She had tried starting a fire to draw their attention, but this island was massive, and the gigantic tree at its center must have blocked the view. After a few days of that failure she dragged herself through the jungle once more.

After a while the days had begun to blend with one another, walking, scavenging for scraps of food, more walking, setting camp, staring up at the sky until exhaustion took her, over and over again. It was easy to lose track of time.

But not this time. Not today. Today, amidst her countless hours of walking, she finally heard something besides those accursed waves. She recognized that sound, but part of her feared it was her imagination, and another yet hoped that it was. So she froze in place, ears perked up in attention.

And then she heard it again. Like fire, like the roar of a dragon, a burst of sound that had grown so familiar to her. The sound of Ember Celica.

Yang was here, and she was in danger.

Blake ran, like she hadn’t since those first few days, like her life was on the line, because to her something just as precious was at risk here. Her legs burned, her feet ached, but as much as her muscles hurt, and her body complained, she forced herself to keep running forwards, to keep chasing that sound.

And just when she feared her body would give out on her once more, she broke past the treeline and into those damned shores. The light of the sunset shining on the water, but its fiery glow could barely hope to compare to what stood before her.

Blake leaned in, forehead pressed against Yang’s, and let out a shuddering sigh of relief. She found her, she really found her. Now she wouldn’t be alone anymore, left to wander with nothing but her thoughts.

But she would still wander, they still had to. Ruby was still missing, and they had to find her before Neopolitan could. And what of the others? Had Weiss fallen too? Or was she left to fight Cinder on her own? What about Jaune? Ren? Nora? Penny? How many had been swallowed by the void, just to be spat on this accursed island?

How many of them were left behind to fight for their lives?

How many had survived?

She could feel the panic set in, her heart racing along with her thoughts, every scenario more terrifying than the last, dread building and building until--

Yang wrapped her arms around her, pulling her close into her comforting warmth. She was sweaty, dirty, and a bit smelly, but she was still Yang, so there was no place else Blake would rather be than in her arms. It grounded her, brought her back from her panicked state and into reality once more. And just like that, the sound of the waves was gone, drowned out by the steady beat of a loving heart.

Everything would be alright now, she had Yang with her after all, and they would get through this mess together.

And so she pulled herself a little closer and hugged her back.

Because Yang had her too.

[cherrycocaineee]

11. Tony Stark - Moving in Together

    Placing the last cardboard box on top of the others, I turned around and grabbed the thick, black sharpie to label it “bathroom necessities.” Huffing quietly to myself, I wiped the sweat off of my brow and went into my now bare kitchen. Pouring myself a glass of tea into the plastic cup that I had bought at the store for this exact day, and leaned against the countertop so I could cool off. I gulped down the entire glass of tea within seconds just as my apartment door opened. Tony Stark, my boyfriend, walked into the building and smiled at me when our eyes met. I smiled back while pouring myself another glass of tea.  “Sweetheart,” he hummed, “you were supposed to wait for me to finish packing.”  Tony leaned down and pressed a tender kiss to my forehead while wrapping his muscular arms around my waist. I giggled, touching my empty hand to his chest, feeling the hard metal that was under his shirt. “I know,” I said, “but I saved the best part for you.”  “Oh, and what’s that?”  “Carrying them to the car.” A deep laugh shook his chest and he pulled away from me. Before the two of us started carrying the boxes out of my old apartment, Tony called some friends to meet him at his place so we could help carry the boxes inside. I’d never met any of Tony’s friends before and the thought of meeting them sent me into a bit of a nervous panic. Trying to keep my growing anxiety to myself, I carried the last box out then closed the door behind me. Tony practically jogged up the steps and grabbed the box out of my hand, nodding his head to the side, gesturing for me to go first. Sighing in relief as I got in the car, I let my head lean against the seat taking in the nice breeze from the air conditioner. Tony slammed the trunk shut and joined me in the car.  “You good?” He questioned, putting his seatbelt on. “I’m fine,” I replied, doing the same, “why do you ask?”  “Normally, you only shake your leg when you’re feeling nervous or thinking. I noticed it while watching you do your homework.”  Tony and I had met two years ago before we started dating a year and a half ago. He had come to my University to give some speech for all of the new freshmen college students and I had bumped into him. However, I never thought I’d be dating him only a year later. And since we were faced with the ultimate age gap, me being only twenty and him being almost forty, I constantly worried about people thinking I was a gold digger. Truth is, Tony offered to help me pay for my schooling and I declined every time.  “I just worried about your friends helping us carry the boxes in,” I admitted, “I’ve never met your friends before. What if they don’t like me? Everyone at school already calls me a gold digger, what if they think the same thing?”  Tony slipped his hand onto my thigh and leaned over so that we were staring at each other. “Serenity,” he whispered, “my friends are going to love you. What’s there not to love: you’re sweet, smart, beautiful, and charming. And I promise, if they don’t like you, then I’ll personally deal with them.”   Still not sure about it, I nodded anyway so the conversation could end. I wanted to try as hard as possible not to think about it. The entire drive to Tony’s house, my new home, I napped after a long, hot day of packing. I didn’t realize we were there until I started hearing the sound of three men speaking, two of which I didn’t recognize. Opening my eyes, I saw two tall, muscular men standing in front of Tony. One of them had a metal arm while the other had his hair styled as if he was going to a fancy dinner. Though I wouldn’t doubt it if he was. Tony reached over to my door and opened it for me, smiling down at my exhausted frame that was still hardly awake. Though having just woken up, I unbuckled myself and climbed out of the passenger’s seat. My boyfriend wrapped his arm around me.  “This is my girlfriend, Serenity Arrow,” he introduced, “Serenity, these are my friends; Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes.”  I held out my hand, feeling it shake as I did so, “nice to meet the both of you.”  Steve was the first one to take my hand and shake it, “it’s nice to meet you too, Serenity. Tony talks about you all the time.”  “Practically have to beg the guy to shut up,” Bucky chuckled, shaking my hand next, “but now I can see why he was always bragging.” “Hahaha,” Tony sarcastically laughed, “paws off. We’ve got boxes to take inside.”   Bucky, Steve, Tony, and I started carrying in all of the boxes. There weren't really that many, but they were pretty heavy considering I practically crammed as much of my stuff inside as possible. In the end, I ended up packing twelve boxes and a single bag. I was only able to carry one box in at a time, however, the other three were able to carry in multiple. After setting down the third box I had carried in, I was heading back outside when Tony grabbed my waist just as he was passing me.  “Bucky’s got the last two,” he said, “let’s go inside.” I nodded my head and let him pull me back inside. The nice feel of the air conditioner smashed against my sweaty skin causing me to shiver. Tony said I could take a shower real quick if I wanted, so I grabbed an outfit out of one of the boxes that was labeled “clothes” then headed to the bathroom. The water was nice and relaxing against my knotted muscles. I soaped up my body after washing my hair and started rinsing off when I heard a female voice come out of nowhere.  “Ms. Arrow,” it said, “would you like the floor heated for when you get out?” I covered myself with my arms and pulled the curtain open to see who was there. But there was no one. I blinked a few times, feeling like I was going crazy from the heat. I wasn’t though, because the voice appeared again. “I’m sorry, I should have introduced myself first. I’m F.R.I.D.A.Y, Tony Stark’s computer program. It’s nice to meet you.” A small sigh left my lips as I relaxed and felt much more safe than I did a second ago. “It’s nice to meet you, F.R.I.D.A.Y,” I muttered, feeling my heart still slam against my chest, “and you don’t have to worry about heating the floor, I’ll be fine. Thank you.” “Of course.”   After my shower, I dried off and threw on my clothes before walking out of the bathroom. Tony was sitting in the living room with Steve and Bucky. They were chatting away while drinking some beer. I figured I’d let them be and just start unpacking some stuff, starting with my clothes. When I went to grab the box filled with them, Tony called my name.  “Ren,” he said, using the nickname he’d given me after the first time we met, “don’t worry about unpacking now, come sit.”  Part of me wanted to decline the offer, not really feeling like socializing. Not because I didn’t like the two people I had just met but because I didn’t want them to learn how old I was or the school I went to. Just didn’t want people questioning me about why I was with Tony. However, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that declining the offer to sit and visit may seem like I was too good for them. So I went over there, ignoring the thousands of thoughts and nerves itching at my brain. I plopped down next to Tony and he placed his hand on my thigh which always made me feel better.  “So, Serenity,” Steve said, “tell us about yourself.” “O-oh, uhm, well, what do you want to know?” I asked.  “Tony says you go to college,” he started, “what year are you in?” “I’m a sophomore.”  Bucky had taken a large gulp of his beer before replying, “what are you studying?”  “Medicine. I want to be a surgeon.”  Tony patted my thigh and smiled. When I told him the first time that I was studying to be a doctor, he had joked about coming to see me when he got injured on his missions. It was a nice, little laugh that the two of us shared when we first spoke. “How did you and Tony start dating?” Steve asked, smiling. Now that was a funny story…  “He showed up at my dorm a year after we first met,” I informed, “he was beaten up and bloody from a mission, asking me to patch him up since I was studying to be a doctor.”  I started seeing flashbacks from that day. I could hear the knocking on my thick dorm door, me catching the scream I almost let out in my throat so I didn’t cause a lot of noise. All of the bruises, cuts, and blood that adore his skin as he limped into my room and collapsed on the floor. I stitched up his gashes, patching him up the best I could with whatever knowledge I knew from both my parents, who were both doctors, and my studies. It had been horrifying but at the same time a great learning opportunity. Who would have thought that I’d end up dating him.  “Serenity.”  I blinked a few times before looking at the three of them. Tony’s eyes were filled with worry but I just smiled and waved it off. “Sorry,” I laughed, it came out more dry than I meant, “I was just remembering what had happened that day.”  They looked at me with understanding eyes and I continued telling them about the day we started dating. “Anyway, after patching him up, he offered to take me to dinner since I helped him and it just went from there.” I purposely left out the two of us having sex inside my dorm room after he dropped me off after dinner, but from the smirk on Tony’s face, I figured they’d gotten the hint. Two hours later, Steve and Bucky decided to leave us for the evening. After showing them out, Tony walked over to me and picked me up from the couch, keeping a firm grip on my thighs as I wrapped my legs around his torso. He carried me into the kitchen and set me down on the counter, the coldness from it going through my sweatpants. He placed both arms on either side of me and leaned forward, our lips almost touching. “What are you hungry for?” He questioned. I shrugged my shoulders and smiled, “don’t know really. I’m not very hungry.”  “Oh. I won’t accept that for an answer. You need to eat.”  In the end, he decided to order fish tacos from a local place near here. While we waited, Tony and I began unpacking to get a head start on it. While I did my clothing, Tony did my study things. We got through the two boxes just as the doorbell rang, signaling the food was here. Tony climbed off the ground and went over to the door as I finished folding the last of my jeans. When I was done, I went into the kitchen and saw him coming into the kitchen with a paper bag in his hand.  “Foods here,” he hummed.  The two of us sat at the counter and began eating. I wasn’t a large fan of fish in general, but these tacos were great. The taste was fresh and was bursting with zest. After eating, we unpacked a few more boxes and then decided that was enough for the day. The clock said it was almost midnight. I was sitting in the living room on the couch, drinking some tea when Tony came in with a blanket in his arms. I smiled at him as he sat down next to me. He draped the large, fluffy blanket over the both of us, grabbing my tea and set it on the table. Wrapping his arm around me, pulling me into his body, the two of us cuddled together and watched whatever was on television. However, Tony couldn’t seem to keep his eyes on the show and was looking at me the entire time, running his calloused fingers through my light, ashy brown hair that went to my shoulders.  I looked up at him. His deep, brown eyes stared into my own soft, brown eyes. He was utterly handsome. Tony leaned down and pressed his lips against mine. Despite his lips being chapped, they were still warm and welcoming. And they molded themselves to fit my plump, soft lips perfectly. Tony grabbed my waist and pulled me into his lap, humming softly as I rested my wait on him. He traced his hands against my smooth skin as he kissed me patiently, yet hungrily. When we pulled away, I saw the small stain of Doused Rose lipstick. He just chuckled, causing his chest to rumble. His laughter was contagious, making me quietly laugh as well. “Looks like I’ve smeared your lipstick,” his husky voice whispered. “Seems you have,” I whispered back.  His large, rough hands moved from my hips to my squishy thighs and then to ass, gripping it hard.  “I love you, Serenity Arrow,” he said.  “I love you too, Tony Stark,” I replied, sweetly.  Pushing himself off the couch, Tony carried me all the way to our newly shared bedroom. I wrapped my arms around his neck for better support until he dropped me onto the mattress. The satin sheets hugged me as we sunk into the bed. Tony’s fingers grabbed the rim of my sweatpants and he began pulling them down; I bit my bottom lip softly, keeping my eyes on his. My deep red, laced panties started to show.  “How about we put that pretty rose lipstick to good use in our new bed,” he growled.  My only response was a small nod as I allowed Tony to become the dominant one. The role he normally took when we were together, the role that I’ve come to enjoy. Tony smiled down at me one last time before delving into his lust, mixing with my own.