#this can be a turbulent time and that means trying to see exactly what will work for you

[uncanny-tranny]

Advice on dating as an early trasition closeted trans guy (As in, still presenting as a girl)? I feel like I can only do casual stuff and with bi ppl, but it still feels almost unethical lol

I think my advice is to not overthink it. It's fine if you have a preference for bi people, and it's also fine to not date or to date often. It's okay to want casual encounters, where there aren't as many expectations. As long as you and your partner(s) are in on it, then there isn't anything to feel guilty about, really. If you are all in agreement and are comfortable with said agreement, then all I can hope is that you are all happy, honestly.

It's hard enough to be in the closet, let alone dating while closeted, so I can totally understand your point of view. It's hard navigating the dating world when you're trans, believe me, I am aware of that issue. However, it isn't a bad thing, necessarily, to have certain preferences. You might find that as you transition (if you are wanting to do so) that your preferences might change, and that's okay, too. You are going through a process, and that comes with certain things and that is okay. How you feel isn't inherently unethical.

[mintmatcha]

The Inevitable Things: chapter four

aizawa x reader fic

cw: cisfem reader, no quirks, office au, miscommunications, slow burn. full tags available on AO3 (linked in masterlist)

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Five messages. 

Four texts, one video. 

The message preview stares back at you, the LED screen aglimmer in the morning sun, screen bouncing with the tremor of your hand. You're breathing, you're sure of that, but you also think you may have died; no matter how hard you breathe, your chest feels like a popped balloon, deflated and too ripped to hold air. The rush of something whizzing past your ear must be blood, it's too resonant and all encompassing to be anything else--

Five fucking messages. 

You can’t bring yourself to open any of them.

You stand there for longer than you’d like to admit, trying to process exactly what you’re looking at. Maybe it’s a glitch, or a typo, but when you turn your phone off and back on again, the unread messages pop up the same. Five unread messages from Aizawa Shouta. It makes sense logically; Aizawa is right above AVOID AT ALL COST in your contacts, you must have just clicked the incorrect thing in your drunken stupor--

But what doesn’t make sense is the fact that he replied-- and he replied positively. Aizawa Shouta does not respond positively to anything. Not the first cup of coffee in the morning, not his interns, probably not even kittens and rainbows, and yet he messaged you back. I’ve always wanted you. You refuse to reread anything from last night, but that sticks in your head.  

I’ve always wanted you. 

You think about it the entire train ride, nibbling on the edges of your nails to kill the anxious buzz that builds in your jaw. Maybe you should quit. You could change your name and move to some mid-sized city; that’d be easier than the inevitable mess you're headed towards.  Suddenly, you miss yesterday, the yelling, the aggression-- 

It goes back to Touya. You know the question on everyone’s mind when they see you together, when they hear about the fights and the tension and the isolation: why? Why him, why stay, why wait, why, why, why? The answer is as simple as it is stupid: you stay because it's what you know. The turbulence feels like home. 

It's like sea legs. When sailors are on boats for a long time, they stop feeling the rock and roll of each wave. It becomes easy to walk straight, to live life like normal, until they return to shore. There, on level streets, long after the tide has pulled away, is where the waves hit.

You've learned to live in rocky waters- you’ve practically perfected it. Touya is your ship and you know his yaws and keels better than you know stability. 

 This whole situation is the equivalent of stepping ashore and being immediately hit by a semi truck.

The train pulls into your station and you debate staying on for a moment too long. I’ve always wanted you. That sentence makes your stomach turn. What does that mean? Is it solely physical? Is it more?

No, it can’t be. This man hates your guts; there’s no feelings between you other than mild, stupid lust.

Which makes you debate your own feelings. He's certainly… well, he’s not ugly. You’d even say, maybe, perhaps, in the right angles, he’s attractive, especially with this thick thighs and thicker cock-

The train doors almost close before you can scuttle out. Focus, girl, focus. Fighting through your surprisingly aching body and returning headache, you briskly walk the rest of the way to work, trying to think about anything other than the shitshow you’re about to walk into.

Prome is a half mile walk from the station, with only one tiny dash across a busy road. It’s not ideal, but it’s the only option you have right now. The interns have started a carpool, but you’re too old to be riding with them. Besides, Bakugo Katsuki’s car is nice. It’s embarrassing the have worse things than a college student-

  A familiar dented, red car squeaks to a halt inches from your ass, so close that you can feel the wind displaced. The squeal of tires steals your breath away and your body clenches in fear, so hard that your muscles scream. You jump and start blabbering in surprise, shouting out unearned apologies as you skitter back. It takes a second to gather yourself, but, when you do, you see a boy jut his head out of the window, all toothy smiles and bleach blonde hair.

“Hey!” he shouts. “If it isn’t my hero!”

“Denki?”

Kaminari Denki waves to you, sunshine personified behind the wheel of a truck without a bumper.

“Hold on, lemme park!”

The red monstrosity barely fits in a space. In its prime, it was probably a pretty car, but being owned by Denki clearly took a toll. The inside is littered with empty energy drink cans, clinking and sloshing as he throws the car into park and launches himself out. There's a reason he's not a part of the group's carpool.

“I could fucking kiss you right now!” He envelopes you in open arms, manhandling you side to side over and over in an overly friendly display. 

“Oh, please don't-- Denki!” 

He smashes his face into your cheek with a chaste, yet somehow wet smooch. When you try to squirm away, he doubles down; his lips actually make contact with yours, just for a moment, awful and impossibly damp. 

“Ew, gross! Get off!” You pry him off and wipe the slime off of your lips with the back of your hand. “Don’t do that!”

“Sorry, my bad, I’m just--” he laughs,  “Izuku told me you saved my ass!”

   You don’t mention the fact you’re the reason he was in trouble in the first place because you're too busy processing this information.

“Aizawa rehired you?”

“He called me yesterday and apologized, which was, holy shit, it was insane,” Denki says, with a wave of his hands, like it isn’t a shocking turn of events. “What did you do?”

“Nothing, I just, uh--” You grimace at the thought. “I talked to Toshinori. And cried a little.”

In retrospect, it does seem like overkill, but it worked.

“Do that more often!” He goes in for another hug and you reluctantly let him. He smells like axe body spray and cheap deodorant. God, he’s so young-- even the accidental kiss feels dirty. You have to remind yourself that he’s early twenties, really only a couple years younger than you-- wait, no. You’re thirty.  “I owe you my life! And my diploma!”

You still can't believe it. Aizawa, hard ass Aizawa, changed his mind? That couldn't be because of you. He's made people cry before, why would you be different-?

Oh. I've always wanted you.

That thought hits you like a punch to the gut.

Maybe it isn't just physical.

You have to shake your head to clear away that thought. You brush your clothes off and adjust yourself. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”  

“I’ll buy you a coffee.” He coos as you walk in. The security guard gives you both a curious look, eyebrows wiggling conspiratorially. You just ignore that and focus on getting to your desk. It's almost nine; you're both late.  “And anything you want-- alcohol, weed-”

“-We drug test here?”

“We do?” Denki gapes. “Fuck, good to know.”

Maybe saving him wasn’t a good career move.  You make it to your desk and drop your stuff on the group. Denki has been following you like a puppy, nipping at your heels the whole way.

“Just… please don’t get fired again." You jerk a head towards his department. "Go do your work."

“Absolutely!” He prances down the hall, wrinkled tie flapping in his wake.  “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

You can’t believe he’s here. Truly. All of that worry and stress yesterday feels worth it as you settle into your desk. You clack a couple of keys to wake up your screen-- but there’s no response. After a moment, you try again, then again. A wiggle of the mouse does the trick, but the keyboard still doesn’t wake up when you try to type in your password. 

Crap. You split that coffee yesterday. The circuit or whatever must be fried. Great. Today is going to be pretty unproductive if you don’t solve this issue.

Engineering probably has a couple of extras, but you aren’t sure you’re ready to walk straight into the lion’s den, especially now that you aren’t sure how you feel about it all. The fact he rehired Denki does make you feel a bit better; maybe Hizashi and Nemuri were right and he’s actually a good guy. And, you can’t deny that you’re a tiny bit attracted to him now that you’ve seen… everything. 

Ugh, you need to make up your fucking mind and decide how you feel about all of this--

At that moment, Aizawa Shouta stomps down the hall, expression as flat and hard as ever. He looks the same as he always does, stupid yellow sweatshirt, messy black hair, under eye circles deep enough to worry about, but your chest hiccups at the sight. You don���t have a plan for this, no prepared speech or anything. For a moment, you wonder if he’s coming to kiss you or ravage you, like in one of those romance novels that are popular online-

And then he passes you and heads straight for the coffee machine. Relief washes over you, then confusion.  Not even a hint of attention thrown your way. That’s fairly strange-- you usually get at least a nod or a lukewarm greeting. You push off of your chair and join  him the the station.

“Hey, um-” Your idle hands dig into the sugar packets, jostling them side to side. The pitch of the coffee hitting the inside of his mug changes as he pours, pitch creeping higher and higher.  His jawline is dusted with a five o’clock shadow, flickers of salt and pepper across his skin and down to the curve of his adam’s apple. You said something about shaving last night, you think. You wonder if he listened or if this is how it’s always been-

“Do you need something?”  He interrupts your thoughts, not even looking away from the station.

“I-” What do you need? Confirmation? Reassurance? An explanation? “Uh-”

You suck in a breath and steel yourself, legs shoulder width again from that extra boost of stability. Your voice comes out as a whisper, much shakier than it should be.  I've always wanted you. You don't feel the same, but maybe, just maybe, you could learn to.

“Yesterday-- or, uh, last night- I just want to--”

“Let’s save each other the embarrassment and forget everything that happened yesterday.” The coffee pot clinks back into place, only the legs of droplets left to cling to the glass. “We’re out, by the way.”

And with that, he’s gone.

And a second truck has sideswiped you.

[cafeleningrad]

Ohtori is such a disorienting place. It's so emblematic that none of the actual needs of the people in it are met. In fact it gives answers but none actually are satisfying for anyone yet the answers are presented as only alternative. ("You have to revolutionize the world (by participating in the duels that ensure the world continues to run on the same old dynamic.)"

What system Ohtori, Akio by proxy, proposes is the idea of power over another. It's very gendered power as we learn later. Women's power exists either as extension's of a man (Nanami's high social status by virtue of being Touga's little sister), be inspired to have power by extension of a man (Wakaba), surrendering to a man (Kozue), or can be easily taken away power if a man decides that the woman had enough power (Juri,Utena). In the instance a woman has power it's also used to dominate others just like men do. (Nanami being cruel to others, to Tsuwabuki in particular, Utena treating Anthy her a puzzle piece to her princely identity.) In the end there is an idea how someone who should hold all the power should be like (the Prince), and they're given free reign. However that's not what the characters need.

Touga is entirely helpless to his paternal CSA. Akio's proposition is to become, for once, the one in charge of others so none can exploit him again. And Touga fails to see how Akio still exploits him by directing Touga, with quiet implicit imagery stressing that dynamic. What Touga would have needed was protection and a trusting family.

Nanami grew up so isolated and shamed for diverging from the norm, she is entirely dependent on external subjects and objects to define her. Either it's being defined by her relationship to Touga which is the entire basis of her social status, and her only hope for affection. Nanami can only define herself by traditional feminine and classicist means like her perceived ideal femininity, and brand-name jewelry which can easily turn on her, if external voices tell her that she should wear something. Nanami is so desperate for affection, being cared and loved for but the only language she is given is Ohtori's language of "men and women are only corresponding romantically". She can't express her need for familial proximity to Touga. The only other form of gaining adoration she knows is by violence, be it Touga's kitten, Tsuwabuki, or beating her three nameless underlings into submission.

It's not until the third arc that we learn about the Kaoru twins are in the middle of their parents separating. Their childhood is getting disrupted. Both of them are longing for time of connection and chance to hold onto each other. But Ohtori tells them that Miki can only adore Kozue as innocent and helpless. Kozue, like Nanami, gets told that her only chance to express affection to her male twin is by a sexualized, romanticized interaction. For two characters who're living through turbulent times, and need some stability in the other, twisting their chance of proximity is exactly the wrong answer.

Saionji really wants to remain friends with Touga he admires so much. (If not being in love with him.) Even more than Juri, he knows that the duel platform is just a set up, he swallows Touga's poison of "true friendship doesn't exist" again and again. The only chance of proximity to Touga is to disrespect others, demonstrate superiority over them, especially Anthy, as best proxy to a close male-male-dynamic. Saionji's only given path is to delude himself further and further.

Juri pushes so many people away because she's afraid her homosexuality will be revealed. Ohtori as a place does punish homosexuality severely, see Mikage's twisted memory, Ruka trying to converse Juri. This place convinces Juri over and over again that she's wrong for loving Shiori. But the truth is, Shiori is so much in love with Juri that she will resort to abuse her emotional power as long as it serves the purpose of Juri remaining close to her. What they would have needed is the chance to know that actually they're safe to be honest, at least to each other.

Utena is deeply grief-stricken by her parent's death. As a child the idea that everything will fade is terrifying. The only alternative she is shown is that Anthy's suffering is eternal. She wants to help. But the only path for being admired and adored is becoming a prince. The only agency to help and save others is by exercising the prince's power over someone. Akio becomes even crueler by trying to convince Utena that a girl's actual aspiration is romance (with a man). What else should she want? It also distract her from her genuine compassion for Anthy, and wishing for Anthy's happiness.

[the-meat-machine]

dirkuu is pale

I see a lot of people assuming that Dirk/Caliborn is blackrom. In fact, I used to think so too. But the more I've thought about these two, the more I've come to realize that there's a different quadrant that describes their relationship much, much better: moirallegiance.

I want to preface this by saying that neither of these characters are trolls, so one can't expect their feelings to map 1:1 onto troll quadrants. But if you are looking for a quadrant to characterize their relationship, I think that pale romance is a much closer analogue for what's going on here than troll kismesissitude -- and certainly far more on the mark than cherub kismesissitude, which is a whole other can of worms.

So let's start with that. Caliborn is from a species that "naturally" experiences blackrom, so why don't I think cherub-style blackrom is what's going on here?

Cherub vs. troll kismesissitude

We get a fair amount of information about troll blackrom throughout Homestuck, but one thing I want to highlight about it is that it's not just pure, vitriolic hatred. There's a core of respect there, of wanting your kismesis to be better than they are. Karkat explains it well when talking to John about his black crush on Terezi (emphasis mine):

JOHN: i'm just saying i find her, like, somewhat annoying, and REALLY aggravating a lot of the time, but that's it! KARKAT: BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE FEELING IS! KARKAT: IT DOESN'T START OUT AS FULL BLOWN ANTIPATHY, AND IT RARELY EVEN REACHES SUCH AN EXTREME LEVEL OF HOSTILITY EVEN OVER LONG TERM BLACK RELATIONSHIPS. […] KARKAT: WHAT YOU'RE *TRYING* TO SAY IS, YOU HAD FRUSTRATED, NEGATIVE EMOTIONS TOWARD HER, BUT THEY DON'T COMPREHENSIVELY ACCOUNT FOR YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARD HER. KARKAT: MEANING, THERE ARE SOME THINGS ABOUT HER YOU ACTUALLY LIKE, BUT THE NEGATIVE FEELINGS MAKE IT HARD FOR YOU TO PUT YOUR FINGER ON THEM, OR EVEN WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEM. KARKAT: THAT IS ABSOLUTELY STANDARD. WHAT GOOD WOULD IT BE HAVING A KISMESIS WHO DIDN'T POSSESS QUALITIES YOU ACTUALLY ADMIRED ON SOME LEVEL? KARKAT: THAT WOULD BE BORING, AND IT WOULDN'T EVEN WORK. THERE'D BE NO TENSION, NO PUSH AND PULL IN THE TURBULENT EMOTIONAL LANDSCAPE. THE SUBTLE POSITIVES ADD FUEL TO THE NEGATIVE FEELINGS, OFTEN GIVING THEM A REASON TO EXIST AT ALL. THEY INFLAME THE AGGRAVATING FACTORS, REMINDING YOU DEEP DOWN HOW MUCH YOU WOULD LIKE AND ADMIRE THIS PERSON IF IT WASN'T FOR ALL THEIR INFURIATING FLAWS, AND THE INCREDIBLE SENSE OF FRUSTRATION THAT CAUSES ALONG WITH ALL THE ASSOCIATED HOT-HEADED FEELINGS, THAT'S THE ESSENCE OF BLACK ROMANCE.

Cherub romance, on the other hand, is much more vitriolic. Here's Aranea explaining it (typing quirk removed for legibility):

Like humans, cherubs perceive romance through only one quadrant. Unlike humans, their relationships are exclusively black. But their mating ritual is much more violent than any practice trolls would, or even physically could engage in. And though it is critical to the perpetuation of their race, the confrontations can sometimes be lethal to one or both cherubs. Regardless of the outcome, the stakes are always high. The winner of the duel will assume control of the other's territory, while the loser will slink away to bear the offspring. So as she toured the planetary wreckage, she knew her quest for a mate was not just about the propagation of her species, but the liberation of billions from a monster.

For cherubs, there's no question of wanting your mate to be "better". There's no core of admiration. Your mate is a bitter enemy who needs to be eradicated -- perhaps one only you can eradicate (ah, romance). Cherub mating is a life-or-death battle where the only possible outcomes are defeat or conquest. No one will be waxing red for their mate afterward. That simply isn't a thing, in the cherub understanding of romance.

Furthermore, a cherub's mate is their opposite, in every way possible. They have diametrically opposing goals, temperaments, and philosophies of life. There's no possibility of seeing eye to eye with your mate. They're simply everything you aren't, and you despise them for it.

Caliborn's feelings towards Dirk

So. Does Caliborn have blackrom feelings towards Dirk? And I mean cherub blackrom, in its full, vitriolic glory. Does Caliborn despise Dirk, and think he's a threat among threats who needs to be eliminated at all costs?

Well. He wants to kill him, sure. But of all the people Caliborn wants to kill, he wants to kill Dirk the least.

IT'S THE DIRK HUMAN. HE IS SOMEWHAT TOLERABLE. I MEAN. AS A STRONG AND COMPETENT MALE. What. So you're down with the Dirk? NO. ALL I'M SAYING IS. THE DEATH I WISH ON HIM DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ESPECIALLY PAINFUL. IT COULD BE LIKE. GOING TO SLEEP. WITH MAYBE ONLY A SHORT SCREAM. I think you want to be bros with him. SHUT YOUR MOUTH.

So right off the bat, we can see that Caliborn does not at all have the sort of hatred for Dirk that cherubs have for their mates. He barely even thinks Dirk needs to die. Furthermore, he sees himself and Dirk as philosophically aligned in some ways, both being strong, competent males who like to fuck shit up. Hardly the sort of diametrically opposing role that a cherubic mate would fill.*

Now, what we do see here is some of that admiration that you see sometimes in troll blackrom. And there's a bit more of that in Caliborn's masterpiece, when Caliborn says of the fight between himself and Dirk:

IT WAS A PRETTY GOOD FIGHT BETWEEN US. BECAUSE HE'S STRONG, AND I ADMIRE THAT. WHY SHOULDN'T I LET A BATTLE HAPPEN FOR LONGER, WHEN TWO TOUGH DUDES ARE INVOLVED, STRUTTING THEIR STUFF.

So, okay. Maybe there's something here a bit akin to troll kismesissitude, if not cherub romance. But I still don't think that's the quadrant that matches best. Because, to be honest, there are a lot of people Caliborn wants dead, and several he sees as rivals (e.g. Jake, Dave). But there's only one person he's said anything like this about:

uu: BuT. THE DIRK HuMAN IS A PRETTY COOL GuY. uu: HE GETS THINGS DONE. uu: AND ISN'T AFRAID TO FuCK SOME SHIT uP. uu: LIKE. HE ACTuALLY LISTENS. uu: TO STuFF THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR A DuDE TO GET OFF HIS CHEST. uu: YOu KNOW. HE *GETS* EXACTLY THAT WHICH THE BITCHES CAN NEVER uNDERSTAND. uu: I GuESS WHAT I MEAN IS. HE REALLY KNOWS WHAT IT MEANS. uu: TO TRuLY BE A BRO.

Yeah. Caliborn likes talking about his feelings with Dirk. To be frank, this is an unprecedented admission from him. There are a few people he'll admit to not entirely hating -- mostly his lackeys -- but no one else he sees as a bro.

And why shouldn't he see Dirk as a bro? After all…

Dirk likes Caliborn

Yeah, so, here's the thing: Dirk simply does not hate Caliborn. Like, at all. In fact, he thinks he and Caliborn are friends.

TT: Surely there must be at least one of our virtues you admire. uu: YES. AMBITION. THAT'S THE ONLY GOOD ONE. uu: AND I THINK YOu GOT THAT. WHICH IS MAYBE WHY. YOu'RE THE ONLY ONE I CAN PuT uP WITH FOR ANY DuRATION? uu: LET'S CALL IT A GRuDGING RESPECT. WHICH IS THE ONLY KIND THAT'S EVEN WORTH A FuCK. TT: I'll take that as a rare overture of friendship.

He thinks Caliborn is "fascinating".

TT: You're a pretty fascinating guy, in a way. I can't really figure you out. TT: In case you're wondering why I put up with you more than my friends do.

He's entirely willing to help Caliborn and seems to enjoy talking to him. He made Caliborn's robot leg for him. He very memorably drew a whole bunch of custom "porn" for him, and was entirely willing to do so for no particular reason other than that he thought it was fun.

But more to the palerom point… Dirk tries to pacify Caliborn.

TT: I thought the point was to cooperate with your coplayers to achieve an objective. TT: Not compete with them or try to kill them. I don't think we've had one conversation where you didn't express the desire to kill her. uu: I GuESS WE'LL JuST HAVE TO SEE. WON'T WE? uu: I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY A DIFFERENT KIND OF SESSION. uu: ONE WHERE THE PLAYERS FIGHT FOR SuPREMACY. RATHER THAN WORK TOGETHER. uu: I THINK THAT IT MuST BE THAT WAY. uu: BECAuSE THAT IS HOW I WANT IT TO BE. uu: AND IF I WANT SOMETHING TO BE TRuE HARD ENOuGH. THEN THAT MAKES IT SLIGHTLY MORE ABSOLuTELY IRREFuTABLE. uu: ARE YOu FEELING ME, FuCKER? TT: Maybe you're right. TT: But since that's how you feel now, maybe the truth is that the game is challenging you to overcome those feelings? TT: What if your real quest is to put aside your differences and work together, if you want to both survive, and grow as a person?

He tries to get Caliborn to get along better with Calliope.

TT: Does your sister even know you're into this sappy shipping stuff? TT: You berate her constantly for everything, and I know she likes to write and illustrate romfics and the like. […] TT: I'm just saying, it's an interest you have in common. If you told her you liked her romantic artwork, maybe you could bond over that?

Frankly, these are some textbook pale overtures on Dirk's part.** If they were trolls, there would be no question that his feelings are the palest of pale.

And, look, Dirk is not at all successful in pacifying Caliborn, and to be honest I don't think he ever fully took Caliborn seriously as a threat. But still, if you're looking for a quadrant to describe these two, I'd say moirallegiance is it.

But then again, they aren't trolls. They're a human and a cherub. So in the end, maybe it would be more suitable to just call them exactly what Caliborn is so tsundere about admitting that they are: bros.

-----------

Footnotes:

* If you're looking for someone Caliborn does feel cherub-style romantic hatred for: Calliope. It's Calliope. It's always been Calliope.

** Actually, now that I think about it, they're arguably ashen overtures where Dirk is attempting to mediate between Calliope and Caliborn. Which itself would be a fascinating ship. But let's not get too into that here.

[itsdeniini]

OMG, hi!! I've become a huge fan of your work, it's so pretty the aesthetic and everything, I really enjoy reading your posts 💕

Can I ask for a twin flame reading for Jungwon?

˚୨୧ 🍵💭 ⊹ ࣪ ˖ hi c: ty for ur kind words boo ! here is the : JUNGWON'S TWIN FLAME TAROT READING >ᡣ𐭩<

໒꒱🌱⠈⠂. n 0 t e 〃

♡1: i am a self-taught tarot reader, and the interpretations i provide are personal. if anyone would like to share their own insights, i would be more than happy to hear them! please be kind <3

♡2: in this reading, I will be talking about a person from the future and how their relationship will progress at the moment when they are already know each other; that's the twin flame that he's yet to meet.

GENERAL READING 𓆤

Jungwon's twin flame is currently trying to work with him on how to mold their lives together to be one in the physical aspect. There could be talks to meet up, important phone conversations, being honest, open, and vulnerable with one another. And part of Jungwon is ready to accept this, but part of him is hesitant due to the turmoil in the past; he doesn’t want to repeat another cycle and end up with The Ten of Wands, and that's the only thing that's holding him back. At the same time, I feel Jungwon has successfully broken through any negative thought patterns that prevent him from moving forward in his own life because I pulled out all the other 10’s of the tarot deck here, EXCEPT for the Ten of Wands, so that's very good! The only ones here are the wands, but this is recent past energy he has either finished moving through or will be moving through. Next in his current energy, I have The Knight of Cups, The Ten of Pentacles, and The Eight of Swords, so this really tells me he has a slight fear of this connection finally taking off because it would mean that it enters into a new cycle that he doesn’t know exactly how it’s going to go because it won’t be easy because his twin flame is a mischievous and unpredictable person, and this scares him beyond anything. What he doesn’t see with this is that on the other side of fear (the moon) is the Ten of Cups. This is quite literally everything he's been wishing for and manifesting. And this is something that will be in balance, indicated not only with the Six of Pentacles but also with the Temperance right next to it and the Nine of Cups. He will keep pushing through his fear; the turbulence of separation is falling away naturally, and this is meant to let it fall gracefully as he sheds previous layers to move into your true divine happiest self. They’ve had or will have breakthroughs that will be long-lasting and will bring happiness and the opportunity for new beginnings.

Now on to the near portrait of Jungwon's twin flame:

☀️ In Cancer

First of all, she is a girl and is a very intuitive person with a lot of knowledge. Her intuition comes naturally. She likely relies on her gut feelings and has a strong inner knowing that guides her decisions. When she is off her professional field, she is often sensitive, emotional, and deeply connected to her home and twin flame. Being a water sign, she can easily pick up on Jungwon's emotions, understanding him like nobody else.

Influences: 🪐♅

Saturn’s influence suggests that she's a person who values hard work, has a strong sense of duty, and approaches life with a mature and realistic attitude. Uranus’s influence indicates that she's a person who is original, forward-thinking, and possibly unconventional. She may embrace new ideas and technologies, often standing out for her uniqueness. Also I can associate her overall energy with the Solar Plexus Chakra from the 7 Chakra system, it is associated with personal power, self-confidence, and control. A strong Solar Plexus Chakra suggests she is someone who is confident, has a strong sense of self, and can assert her willpower effectively.

Personal Style:

She has a preference for classic, elegant, and professional attire, like suits and ties for example. She values a polished and put-together appearance, likely reflecting her disciplined Saturn influence.

Interests and Passions:

EDM/Dubstep Music >.< This genre of music aligns with the innovative and unconventional traits of Uranus. She's into Enhypen music a lot; that's just her style. Her favorite song could probably be Go Big or Go Home or any other song that Enhypen will release in the future with this sound. Additionally, she may be into self-care and exploring new technologies that could make her appearance better; she is most likely attending cosmetologists and facial massages quite often, not forgetting also about make-up and hair salons.

Career:

She's most probably not from the showbiz field, although she may actively run a page on Instagram or any other social media; I would say she is implicated in the medical field, or perhaps she is an educator or teacher.

Personal Traits:

Dark hair

Dry sense of humor

Family-oriented

Egotistical (mostly at the work place)

Materialistic

Protective

Tan Skin (she may be of a mixed race or have it naturally)

[doodle-pops]

˚*ೃ༄When You Argue With Them˚*ೃ༄

Headcanons: Turgon, Aegnor, Rog, Thingol

Synopsis: In which you decide to sleep on the couch during the argument.

. ˚◞♡ *ೃ༄ Turgon — arguments with Turgon are never peaceful, more turbulent than ever and it sometimes takes more than a week before the two of you can come to terms. The heat is high when he braces you, towering mighty tall and fiercely with arms firmly planted at his side and face screwed with rage.

Your attempts at getting him to leave his silver-haired cousin alone whenever he made jabs at him were futile. Another dispute between the both of them led to Turgon attacking first and Celegorm following suit to defend. You could no longer take it, you’d been at it for hours, attempting to prove yourself right and for him to humble his pride.

All you wanted was for him to understand that he was wrong and Celegorm was simply egging him on for entertainment. He should understand his cousin’s intentions by now.

Deflating as you stood closer to the door of your room, you sighed and trudged over to your bed, prying your pillow and sheet off and marching out of the room.

“Where are you going?” he puzzled.

Shaking your head and marching down the staircase to enter the living room, you heard him trailing behind. “What are you doing Y/N?”

“Sleeping on the couch Turgon.” Your voice was empty, hiding your rage behind each syllable. “I have no energy to sleep in bed.”

His shoulders and face fell at the awareness of the meaning. Even when you argued in the past, it never escalated where you slept elsewhere; this was a first. Not liking the sensation of guilt settling in his chest, he stepped forward to cut off your actions. A hand reached out to take the pillow out of yours. “Please don’t…I’ll sleep outside if that’ll make you feel better.”

“Káno, you’re too long for the couch; you’ll feel uncomfortable,” you scolded.

“As will you…” he hesitated, playing around with the words in his mouth before spitting it out, “…I’m sorry. You’re right and I’m wrong. Just come to bed please.”

Staring at him contemplating, you sighed. It wasn’t often he openly apologised, so this was a first from your stubborn husband. “Fine…but we’re settling this properly in the morning.”

. ˚◞♡ *ೃ༄ Aegnor — he hates arguments with you because he gets lost in the moment and heated. He’s trying his best to state his point across and justify why he was right to confront his cousins, but you weren’t pleased with his reasons.

Aegnor didn’t want to keep arguing, but you weren’t agreeing, so he was relentlessly attempting to get you to see his point of view. In his eyes, the punishment that arise from his feud with Caranthir was simple one and he was right to start it. He could be so hard-headed at times, and it made you want to pull your hair out.

“Aegnor, you were wrong to engage in the argument, you should have walked away. You know you don’t have a wholesome relationship with them, but take the risk,” you fired and watched as he stopped his pacing to give you an incredulous look.

“How could you say that after they murdered our people? They deserve being incriminated; they’re just lucky that the King was compassionate to just ban our tongue.” You had marched over to stand at the bedhead, ripping the sheets off the mattress and rushing to get into bed and end your dispute.

Refusing to comply, you turned to the wardrobe and grabbed a pillow and quilt before stomping out of your chambers. It didn’t take long for Aegnor to rush after you, shouting your name. When he did catch up, you were spreading the quilt over the sofa in the lounge and placing your pillow at the head.

“…Y/N?”

“I’m sleeping outside Aegnor. We just don’t seem to be on the same page right now,” you quietly respond, not sparing him a glance. He was torn between feeling guilty and wanting you to settle your thoughts out and understand. Not sure what to exactly do, he walked over and aided you in settling down.

“What are you doing?”

“Helping you so you can get a good night’s rest if this is your decision.”

Gapping at how innocent he was to the experience of arguments, instead of swelling with rage, you snickered at him. “Aegnor, you’re supposed to say that you won’t allow me to sleep outside on the sofa, not help me.”

Breaking out of his focused state, wanting to still please you through your displeasure, he sheepishly laughed and scratched his head. “Oh, I didn’t know you wanted me to say that…I’m new to all this you know.”

Sighing at his innocence, you’d admit that despite the frustration you were experiencing currently, his helpless state was humorous and adorable. “You’re so clueless Aengor…”

. ˚◞♡ *ೃ༄ Rog — he hates arguments and never liked the idea of going to bed displeased. If he as to stay up all night to settle the dispute so you and he can have a good night's rest, Rog would. He wants you to know that even though you both have your options, he still loves you.

Rog would get lost in spending hours, even days in his forge, leaving you in solitude. Not being able to take it, it led to a one-sided argument between the both of you. Rog understood your frustration and his lack of care and attention towards his spouse, hence his reason for remaining silent and taking in your disputes.

Ranting to him about how he doesn’t come to bed anymore or make time to have breakfast, lunch and dinner with you or even take a walk, caused tears to flow from your eyes. He rushes over to meet your broken figure but was met with the force of your hands pushing him away and whispering to leave you be; you required time to relax now that you were a mess.

Rog watched with furrowed brows the entire time you shuffled out of your shared chambers to sleep on the sofa in your nightwear. His heart clenched at the barrier you were building after you demanded his time. Being a pleaser, he was not standing for your separation and waited for slumber to kick in before making his move.

Waking from your slumber, you turned to adjust yourself on the sofa and rolled into a firm chest with steel arms around your waist. Looking up, you noticed Rog was awake and staring off into space. “Dearest why am I in bed? I thought I was sleeping on the sofa?”

“I couldn’t allow you to. No matter how upset you were with me, I couldn’t bring myself to let you,” he whispered. He could see the anger behind those sweet eyes he fell in love with.

“Well…I’m still displeased.”

“I understand and I am sorry… But I’ll be out of the forges for the rest of the week. I would like to talk this out to not repeat it again.” His eyes held sorrow the longer he gazed at you.

“…You still could have allowed me to sleep on the sofa.”

“Not a chance; if anyone’s doing that, it should be me since it’s my fault.”

Softly smiling at his sincerity and nobility, you leaned forward and nuzzled into his chest, relishing in his warmth. “Why don’t we stay in bed a little longer and then decide who sleeps on the sofa?”

“Deal,” he laughed.

. ˚◞♡ *ೃ༄ Thingol — arguments with him also feel one-sided because, at certain times, he ignores your complaints, but you both engage in a level-headed match, it’s mostly him taking the lead with his anger. It wasn’t often the King was seen fuming.

Tired of having Thingol dictate your every decision, even after he made deals with you to give you free time, it always came back to bite you. You should know that as his lover, he wants to keep you safe from the harm and danger the world contains. If he doesn’t allow his people out of the borders, then you’re not departing either, even if you wanted to see the rest of the world.

“Thingol please, all I ask is to see the world. I can even take our Marchwarden with me!” you fumed. Still, your response wasn’t enough to convince the King. He was finding all sorts of ways to prove you wrong until he couldn’t.

“Beleg is needed in Doriath to train our troupes, I cannot simply allow him to run off with in into the wilderness meleth-nîn,” he reasoned, taking a step closer to you with his hands out.

Sighing at another attempt at denying your request, you hmphed and zig-zagged out of his grasp, making a beeline for the bed. The argument was going on since this morning and he had yet to let you have your way or provide a reasonable excuse. Not wanting to be in his presence for the rest of the night, you snatched your blanket and pillow off the bed and paraded out of the room.

Behind you the entire time, Thingol was following and asking you what you were doing while you continued to ignore him and look for a suitable place to nap. Passing all the spare rooms since they required a key, you wedged yourself through the library entrance and plopped onto the sofa beneath the eastern window. Frowning in disgust at the location of choice to rest your head, he tsked. 

“If you are going to be upset with me and sleep elsewhere, might as well sleep somewhere decent and lavish.” He gave you no time to respond, scooping you from the sofa along with blanket and pillow, and filed back through the corridor of empty chambers.

“Thingol put me down!”

“Your wish, my command, but at least let me find you a decent sofa…ah!” Returning to his chamber, he walked over and placed you on his bed-like sofa, ignoring your protests. “There, better!”

“You’re not supposed to…this isn’t what you…Thingol, you’re supposed to be displeased that I’m choosing to sleep on the sofa,” you huffed, crossing your arms and glaring at his overly large frame.

Puzzled, Thingol cocked his head to the side. “I thought you wanted me to agree with your decisions?”

“Yes, er…I meant with Doriath, not with the…never mind. You’re so confusing at times. We’ll discuss this some other time,” you sighed with an amused grin on your face, inspecting the curious one on Thingol’s face.

“As you wish meleth.”

Masterlist | Underrated Character Event Masterlist |

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[thestarofhermes]

Behold! ‘Tis I, Fischl, the Prinzessin de Verurteilung! ‘Twas fate that led our paths to cross during one’s most turbulent of eras, and now one must test your knowledge of arithmetic to see if you are indeed worthy of the glories sung in your name! Should you succeed, one shall grant you the divine privilege of stepping foot into one’s beloved Immernachtreich!

10^x + 11^x + 12^x = 13^x + 14^x

X=?

Oh! It seems I have neglected this app for quite a while. I'm sorry for my mistake, please do not take this as an offense. I've been so busy trying to get used to life outside the island.

Fischl, the Prinzessin der Verurteilung? An introduction I'll most likely remember for some time. And you've given me a test, too! Wonderful. You've sent this question 4 days ago.. Hmh, I'm not sure if you still require an answer, but just incase:

Based on the given question:

"10^x + 11^x + 12^x = 13^x + 14^x"

I have calculated that x holds the value of 2. I'll provide a detailed explanation for further comprehension!

The first and foremost step to uncovering this equation, you must evaluate the behaviour of both sides of the equation as the x varies!

For x = 2,

10^2 + 11^2 + 12^2 = 100 + 121 + 144 = 365

13^2 + 14^2 = 169 + 196 = 365

Thus, 10^2 + 11^2 + 12^2 = 13^2 + 14^2 proves that x = 2.

Of course, with every equation, it is natural for us to question whether we have calculated the accurate result! This part is what most people find less important, but, it really is as important as the fun of finding solutions.

We can analyse the functions on either sides,

The left-hand side, f(x) = 10^x + 11^x + 12^x, is an increasing function since the sum of exponential functions with bases greater than 1 is increasing. The right-hand side, g(x) = 13^x + 14^x, is also an increasing function, with the same explanation why.

Since both functions are increasing, they can intersect at most once. From our methodical calculation, we have made it clear that x = 2 is the most reasonable conclusion because the functions f(x) = 10^x + 11^x + 12^x and g(x) = 13^x + 14^x are strictly increasing due to the derivative of each term being positive for x > 0. The most the can intersect is once. Since we found a single intersection at x = 2, it is the only solution.

Thus, the value of x is 2.

I don't exactly understand what you meant by an Immernachtreich, but from the formation of the word as a whole, I assume it is some form of Germanic language.

...

All right! I have successfully googled the meaning, and your offer seems tempting! Well, I hope my explanation has served some use to you, and everyone else. I'm still figuring out how these applications work, so there's definitely a high chance of me not responding as conveniently as you wish. I'll check if there are any other questions I've left unanswered—

Farewell! I'd find it nice to talk with you again.

[youroomwasquare]

Hey just wanna pop into your inbox and say: I think your analysis for Marcy really understands the core of Amphibia's theme (change) and the basis of Marcy's arc. I could nitpick with small details I don't agree with (saying that Marcy doesn't have confidence issues (Marcy tends to overcompensate thus coming off as confident but really they're a scared kid) or Marcy doesn't have control issues (Marcy has control issues in the sense that they did feel the need to drag their friends into another dimension (those these control issues do mostly come from a lack of agency in Marcy's life)) but honestly the core of the analysis is spot on. You entirely understood exactly why Marcy's arc went like it did! And I really liked you pointing out in your response to an ask about it that escapism is not inherently bad rather how much we let it take over our life is when it becomes an issue!

It was really refreshing to see someone take a look at the end of Amphibia, and realize that it really did do Marcy justice and personally I feel that it does justice to people who have those same issues in life AS Marcy. Showing us that change will happen showing us that we will never be alone even if there is physical distance even if our relationships change even if things change that doesn't mean that life is over. The end of Amphibia I feel like a is a love letter to the fact that life is not stagnant, change is not an ending it's just a new chapter. And we see Marcy after the time skip have that agency in a world that isn't Amphibia by Marcy CHOOSING what they want to do in life. Hell we see that set up for that agency when Marcy rejects the CORE. Marcy finds healthy coping mechanisms Marcy finds a way to indulge in fantasy that isn't being consumed (or assimilated). It's something that's so wholly them how can you possibly be upset that that's what they did with their life! It's looking kids like Marcy in the eyes and saying "things get better. Throwing your life into fantasy will not save you from change but that does not mean you are doomed."

Marcy's sort of "unfinished arc" is a beautiful love letter to growing up. Just like how Anne and Sasha's arcs are love letters to growing up in their own ways.

I just wanted to say thank you for such a refreshing take :]

this is so 🥺🥺. THANK YOU SO MUCH!! I read your message and was on cloud nine the entire rest of the day, this message warmed my heart SO MUCH. aaaa I cannot thank you enough for connecting with it and sending such a lovely piece of writing in response :,) looking back on my analysis, I do agree that some of my points were a bit off ahaha. especially the point I made where marcy was 100% self confident in herself.. oof. during her stay in amphibia, while marcy DID grow into herself, and was truly able to see the extent of her skills and knowledge, she still had a ways to go when it came to other aspects outside of her intelligence. and you brought up a very good point, in that marcy does tend to overcompensate in order to be well liked!! but I've never even thought of the idea that marcy could have control issues. and I love this point!! you're SO right-- marcy had a lack of control when it came to what she truly wanted, so sending them to amphibia was her way of trying to gain back control & not feel extremely helpless. agh, I love how all the girl's issues seem to bleed into one another. I'll definitely think more about this, thank you for the amphibia brain food :) your whole last paragraph, yes, this, exactly. marcy's journey IS a love letter to all those like her-- kids who are (or have been) terrified of all the change that comes with growing up. kids who retreat back into their safe spaces-- the things they've known their entire lives-- for comfort amidst all the turbulent times. kids who will eventually learn, through one way or another, that change will always be present. but that it doesn't have to be a bad thing!! "even if things change that doesn't mean that life is over"-- this, to me, perfectly encapsulates the entire message of amphibia. the epilogue showed that life goes on. amphibia healed-- the amphibians healed, grew into themselves, and finally got the chance to live the lives they wanted to. amphibia honored the impact the girls made on them, and mourned their absence (and still mourn in some ways). but they still kept living. and they still carry all the memories, experiences, lessons, and love as well. the girls continued to live as well-- and they still honor amphibia in their own ways. we see it so much in the epilogue!! to me, it shows that nothing truly ends-- even worlds apart, they all still live on and still continue to love and still let new people in, and are able to let them go if needed. because of that experience they all shared together-- they all still trickle into every friendship, relationship, and connection the others have.

***

the girls learned through their experiences in amphibia that change IS scary. and that it's okay to acknowledge that. and that there are so many people going through the same thing as them. and in that way, they will always have a connection. the girls are not connected forever because of their experiences in amphibia-- amphibia ended. what they are connected by though, is the fact that they will always have a place in each other's lives. and the love that radiates out of all of them-- for each other, and for their friendship as a whole.

"The end of Amphibia I feel like a is a love letter to the fact that life is not stagnant, change is not an ending it's just a new chapter"-- I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH THIS!! and it's actually how I view the marcy from the end of the show. one of the beauties of marcy's unfinished arc is that marcy now has all of the time in the world to choose who she wants to be and what she wants to do with her life. she has so many lessons to learn, people to meet, tears (both happy and sad) to shed, smiles to make and love to share. amphibia may have ended, but for marcy-- it's a whole new beginning. the possibilities are so endless.. and that's such a good feeling!!

growing up is hard to do. we see that all the time in media, reflected in our own experiences of growing up. I'm so happy the calamity trio exists. I relate to them so much already-- I cannot wait to see the ways I'll continue to relate to them as I keep growing.

[phantomlemon348]

Ok, I've only just watched Broadchurch and haven't even finished it yet but I said this from the first episode.

Ellie and Alec's relationship. It is very divided, a lot of people ship them, then again a lot of people don't.

But this is my theory: Since the first episode, when they started working together, you could see they don't stand eachother but at the same time get along great, but never would either think to admit it. A sassy duo, inseparable but can't stand eachother. Always fighting and throwing around pointed spiky comments. But you see how much they actually care for eachother.

Especially in the last episode of season 1, when he directed the phone signals to his mobile. Ellie just thought he was being a dick, like he always is, and I missed it at first too... But he directed the signals to his phone because he already had a suspicion who it was, he was quite certain and he wanted to be the one to tell her.

In season 2 as well, he tries to warm up for her.

When he offers her a hug, Alec is not a huggy person, we all know that, he will go out of his comfort zone for her.

But Ellie said no and it made him more cautious I find. In several scenes you can see the look he gives her. You can see it makes him unhappy to see her sad, but all he does is ask if she's ok and nothing more because she rejected him last time and doesn't want to make it awkward again.

Ok but I just want to say, I don't ship them too hard, romantically. They are best friends, Ellie's a person he trusts completely, someone who shows some fondness and affection for him. And she's grateful for him being there, especially during the trial in season 2, when Beth, who she would have usually talked to, turned on her, she had someone to talk to -(who wouldn't always listen and be a bit of an arsehole but generally, he was halfway understanding).

And aaaaaaarrrrrggh, the last episode of season 2. I think we can all agree here the "I'm not hugging you" hit hard. You could see he wanted a little bit more, maybe...? We all know our man Hardy is awkwardly affectionate, it's not exactly his strong point now, is it? But y'know, if he's leaving Broadchurch, maybe never to return (we know that he does, or at least they meet again. There wouldn't be a season 3 otherwise but we're thinking in-character here) he might want something more because she does mean more to him. She helped him find himself again, showed him some affection or fondness when he needed it most and nobody else would. She helped him back onto the path when he was alone aimlessly wandering through the foggy woods.

And when Ellie said: "Don't be kind to me, that's not how it works." That was cute how she didn't want to leave yet, wanted to wait for the taxi. Yes, that is what friends do. But my theory (could be just a hope cuz I ship them a bit and they need to be fucking fluffy or I will not survive) at the moment is: Ellie is used to him being an arse and she won't admit it, at least not to him but she will miss him. And I think she doesn't want him to be nice because she's trying not to show how much it means to her. Cuz that's I dunno, how them two are. Slightly confused, huh? Oh ye, can say that again. But he has been nice to her in subtle ways that she hasn't noticed and vice versa.

I'm sorry to all the non-shippers but I do think there have maybe been a few sparks between them. You can't deny it.

Alec is touchstarved. He loved Tess you could see that. They still care for eachother and he wanted to go back and tried to fix it. Stitch it up because he wanted someone to love and someone to love him. He fell for Tess and was happy falling. Would've loved to fall forever. But Sandbrook brought by some turbulence on the way. And it was like Tess smashed the ground into him. It came too soon. He wasn't looking. He wasn't expecting it. And it left a bloody mess on the floor and a broken man recovering from it.

But this accident leaves him scarred and he's scared of falling again. He is literally dying of a broken heart.

But I see him wandering towards the edge for Ellie. He's close, I think. But not wanting to, not letting himself make the same mistake again.

I see them as being fluffily awkward and sassy to eachother. But maybe - just maybe - in one scene where Alec says: Oh, Miller, I could kiss you. Yes. I admit, I was hoping for something.

They would kiss like once or twice but find it fucking awkward and never do it again.

As in besties but a slight bit more? But not too romantic?

I don't know if that makes sense but that's how I would describe their relationship.

My sister and I have come up with a simple way to put it: platonic romantic.

[megidonitram]

Everyone's Running From Something

(ch. 6)

A Baldur's Gate 3 University Professor AU

Rating: M

Quick Summary: Astarion and Gale are two University English professors precariously mentoring a troubled 19-year-old and falling in love.

💖Main Pairing : BloodWeave,(Astarion/Gale) 💕Side Pairings: Shadowheart/Nocturne, Karlach/Dammon, Wyll/The Dark Urge, Tav/Tav 💔Past Pairings: Gale/Mystra, Astarion/Sebastian, Astarion/Tav

<=Previous Chapter | Master List | Ao3 | Next Chapter =>

**Please see Master List Entry for Full Content Warnings**

⏰Chapter Warning⏰

none

Gale stepped into the administration office on the second floor to find a severe woman with slicked-back auburn hair typing away furiously at her computer. Her attention immediately snapped to Gale when the door swung shut.

“May I help you?” She sounded pleasant enough, but Gale couldn’t shake the feeling that he was annoying her.

“Yes, I, uh, I’ve locked myself out of my office, I was told to come find…” Gale looked back down at his phone for the name ��Mizora?”

The woman smiled like she had scented blood and rested her chin on her hand. “Speaking.”

“Oh, excellent. Can you help me then?”

“Hmm, I don’t know…” she slammed one of her desk drawers open and pulled out a ledger. “Name and office number?”

“Um… Gale Dekarios, office B126.”

Mizora gave him a dubious look as she flipped rather leisurely through the yellowed pages of her ledger. “Hmm… That name doesn’t sound familiar. What subject do you teach exactly?”

“English?”

Mizora nodded, skimming down a line of office numbers with her finger. “…B1 is the English office block, but I can’t say I recognize you.”

“Well, I just started this semester…”

"Likely story." Mizora looked up from her sheet with narrowed eyes. “I’ll need your faculty ID card.”

“I’m, uh, afraid that’s with my office keys…” Gale admitted sheepishly. He held up his briefcase. “I’ve still got a few syllabi with my name on them, that should prove-“

“As an employee of Balduran University, you are required to keep employee identification on you at all times.” She snapped. “I have to assume all other forms of ID are fabrications.”

“I clearly didn’t mean to leave it in my office.” Gale let out an exasperated sigh. “What if you came with me, and I showed you my ID once you left me in my office?”

Mizora put a hand over her chest as Gale had just said something absolutely precious. “Dr. Dekarios… If that is your real name-“

“It is.”

“We’ll see.” Mizora flicked her wrist dismissively. “But if you are who you say you are, then surely you understand the particular faculty member you're sharing a space with is… shall we say, rather prone to turbulent romantic entanglements.” Her eyes shined with strange glee. “Surely you understand that I can’t just let a stranger into his office- That could be incredibly improper.”

Gale flushed an indignant shade of red. His heart jittered with some strange emotion. He didn’t much appreciate hearing these kinds of things about Astarion behind his back- it felt indecent. “I don’t know what you’re trying to accuse me of exactly, but I assure you we are just coworkers.”

“Not that it’s stopped him before… but you’re right, I suspect you’re not much of his type.” Mizora looked him up and down with appraising eyes that made Gale feel wholly undressed. “… You seem a bit old.”

A strange pit formed in Gale’s stomach, something like shame. “I don’t see how any of this is appropriate or relevant to the matter at hand.” He huffed. “Can’t you just-”

The office door swung open, and a young man with neatly laid braids cautiously stepped into the room, a manilla folder in one hand and a coffee cup carrier in the other. Mizora’s demeanor somehow got even more foul at the sight of him- a feat Gale wouldn't think her capable of if he didn't see it happen.

The young man glanced over at Gale. “Am I interrupting?”

“Oh, no-”

“Well, you’ve already barged in, Wyll. You might as well get it over with.” Mizora snapped.

He held out the manila folder, and Gale spied a sticky note stuck to the top of it that said, ‘Distribute to ALL liberal arts department chairs.’ “Dr. Silverwarden just wanted me to drop off the schedule for the athletics study hall-”

Mizora curled her nose like Wyll had offered her a dead squirrel. “Oh, is that harlot making students do her busy work for her now? Had a baby, and now she’s too good to walk to another building?”

“I was just- I offered-” Wyll opened his mouth to stammer out an answer, but Gale stepped in between the two of them before he could chicken out.

“That’s hardly an appropriate tone to take with a student.”

Mizora’s eyes flashed incandescent, and she fixed Gale with a look that probably should have turned him into a pile of ash. “Oh, are you going to tell me how to do my job now ‘Dr. Dekarios’? After you locked your keys in your office like an utter moron.” She snatched the folder out of Wyll’s hand and tossed it on a surface behind her. “Why don’t you leave before I call security and tell them that a strange man is trying to get into a department chair’s office?”

Gale threw his hands in the air like he was being held at gunpoint. “Alright, alright, I’ll leave.” He exited the office with Wyll hot on his heels.

He scrubbed his hands over his face, daunted by the prospect that he would have to track down Astarion somehow when Wyll tapped him on the shoulder. Gale startled like a trapped hare.

“I’m sorry, but are you trying to get into a locked room?” Wyll asked a trimmer of something tentative and excited in his voice. “Because I can help with that!”

Gale raised an eyebrow. He probably shouldn’t be asking a student to break the school code for him, but it wasn’t like he had any other options. “Alright, do you have a spare key?”

Wyll smiled precociously. “Something like that.”

Ominous. But Gale led him back down to his office nonetheless.

“So, you’re the new English professor?” Wyll asked. He handed his tray of coffee to Gale as they reached the office door so he could rummage around for something in his backpack. “If I’d known I was going to run into you, I would have gotten you a coffee too!”

“Oh, you don’t have to do that. I can’t, with good conscience, ask a student to pay for my coffee.”

“I don’t pay for it!” Wyll assured him as he pulled a small nail file and a mangled bobby pin out of a side pocket. “I worked at the campus coffee house a couple of semesters ago, and the manager never deactivated my free drink code.”

Wyll wiggled the bobby pin into the lock, and Gale looked around frantically as he realized what was happening.

“Wyll, are you sure about this?” Gale muttered as a random student waiting in the hall glanced at them curiously.

“Yeah, it’s fine. Dr. Ancunín's the one who taught me how to do this!” Wyll stabbed the nail file into the lock and turned. There was a loud pop as the lock disengaged. “If you ask, he’ll probably teach you too. He says all the locks on campus were bought in bulk, so they all have a similar flaw that makes them easy to pick.”

“Why does Dr. Ancunín know how to pick locks?”

“He wouldn’t say.” He dropped his lock-pick tools back in their side pocket and pushed himself off his knees, brushing his pants off. “But it keeps me from having to ask Mizora when I need to get into a classroom.”

“She’s charming, isn’t she?” Gale handed the coffees back to Wyll. “Does she talk to everyone like that?”

A bitter laugh escaped Wyll’s lips. “No, I’m just her favorite, I guess.” He checked his watch and started a little bit. “Oh, I’m going to be late!” He slung his backpack over his shoulder and half-jogged back down the hallway. He paused before he stepped into the stairwell. “It was nice to meet you, Dr. Dekarios!”

***

G: What the fuck is her problem?

Astarion had to stifle a bark of laughter in front of the students trickling in. Xenia had slipped in at some point, settling in her usual spot: The back corner of the classroom, far from the notice of her peers or teachers. She was trying to skirt around Astarion’s notice too.

A: Did you get back in the office, at least? G: No thanks to Mizora.

Wyll stepped into the room with a sheepish smile and handed him a lukewarm to-go cup of coffee. “Sorry, I’m late.” He whispered.

Astarion took a long sip of his coffee. It was a blonde roast with a splash of milk -he wouldn’t usually bother with the milk, but the teenage baristas tended to burn their shots. “I suppose I can forgive you this once.”

Wyll laughed, but he was already scanning the classroom for someone else. Xenia looked up from the notebook she was pretending to scribble in and gave Wyll a little wave, a tentative smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.

Ah, so that was it.

Wyll sidled past the students in the front row to hand Xenia the second cup in his Coffee tray. They beamed at each other the way only school kids could as they talked about something mundane, like the weather or the walk-up from the dorms. Xenia toyed with the end of her braid while Wyll leaned closer and closer over the desk.

He would be good for her.

Better than the crowd Astarion had thrown himself into the instant he got out from under his dearest father’s thumb, at any rate.

Astarion conspicuously cleared his throat and motioned for Wyll to take his spot at the front of the classroom. “This is 1204 Sophomore Survey of Modern British Literature.” He fixed Xenia with a hard stare that she desperately tried to ignore. “If that is not the class you are expecting to be in, I highly suggest you make a swift exit now.”

A different student dozing off in the back of the class startled and ran out of the room.

There was always one every semester.

Astarion went through the same monolog he did at the beginning of every class. The rhythm and cadence were as familiar as a hymn. He grew up in London and graduated from Cambridge. His office hours were posted on the syllabus, but please try to schedule appointments beforehand. This course required a textbook, but most of the readings could be found online for free.

He turned the floor over to Wyll for about five minutes so he could explain what a supplemental instructor was, then closed out by letting a few students speak on what British literature they were familiar with, and as usual, most of them grumbled about how they had to read Shakespeare in high school and how much they hated it because they couldn’t understand the language. One girl threw up her hands in despair when he informed her that she would have to read Romeo and Juliet for a second time, but she was placated when he promised her there wouldn’t be any Chaucer (He wondered what sadist of a world lit teacher she had in high school that made 16-year-olds read middle English). One boy had a Welsh grandmother who loved T.S. Eliot and read him Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats when he visited in the summer. Astarion refrained from informing him that T.S. Eliot was actually an American.

But for the most part, the class had very little love for British authors—which wasn’t much of a surprise for a mixed major intro-level course—and nearly everyone was here because they had a humanities credit to fill. Really, the only one who wasn’t was probably Xenia… who was here because Wyll was here.

Astarion closed the class by assigning a short reading on the importance of literature studies that he already knew no one would read and dismissed the class. Xenia went for her usual speedy exit from the room, but Astarion headed her off at the pass.

“Just a moment Ms. Bellona, I need a quick word.”

She froze like a statue, and the football player behind her nearly tripped over her.

“I really don’t think I have the time,” she said smoothly. She was learning that she didn’t have to yield to her professors the way she did her high school teachers, but she didn't quite have the courage to openly disobey him yet. Ah, sophomores were his favorite.

“I won’t take up too much of your time.”

Xenia’s shoulders slumped, and she skulked over to his lectern, grumbling something under her breath.

“Oh, don’t be so sour.” Astarion scoffed. “You’re not in trouble.”

“Then why do you make it sound like I am?”

“That’s just his accent,” Wyll explained as he organized his stack of availability surveys to stick in his bag. “It makes everything sound more severe.”

Astarion rolled his eyes. “I will see you tomorrow, Mr. Ravengard.”

“Alright, alright. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Wyll made his way out of the room and paused at the door. “By the way, Lydia wanted me to let you know the study hall schedule is posted.” He said before disappearing into the hallway.

“Since when is he on a first-name basis with Dr. Silverwarden?” Astarion mused.

Xenia shrugged. “He calls Professor Cliffgate by her first name, too.”

“Yes, well, they’re technically colleagues now- It’s no matter.” He switched gears. “Xenia, dearest, why are you in another Sophomore literature class? You technically haven’t completed the first one.”

She went steely. “I’ve been thinking about picking up an English minor. My advisor said that it would go well with my current degree plan.”

“The advising office might be fighting over a singular brain cell, but I’m almost certain they would have told you to take a technical writing minor for a psychology degree.”

“What if I took up a literature minor because I like literature?”

“Then I’d tell you you shouldn’t waste your time.”

“Isn’t that a little hypocritical of you?”

“No, because I was already independently wealthy outside of my education choices. You should focus on a field where you can get a job.”

“Aren’t professors supposed to encourage students to follow their passions?”

“If you’re trying to follow your passions, my dear, there are easier ways to spend time with Wyll.”

Xenia turned red from her neck to the tips of her ears. “I- I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She huffed, zipping up her jacket as if Astarion could literally see into her heart. “We’re just friends- He’s helping me get back on the fencing team in the fall, that’s all!”

Astarion raised his coffee cup to his lips, swallowing back the dregs at the bottom. “Does he buy coffee for all his friends, then?”

Something vexed and nervous swam in Xenia’s dark eyes, and she hurriedly tossed her cup into a nearby trashcan. “He bought you coffee too, by that logic-”

Astarion held up a hand to silence her. “Don’t even imply that.” He scolded. “Wyll brings me coffee because I’m technically his boss, and he likes going above and beyond. I suspect he brings you coffee because he likes to see you happy.”

“I think you’re just reaching.” Her voice wavered in a way that made Astarion feel a little guilty for pushing.

“Maybe, but I’ve watched a lot of students catch crushes in my tenure.”

Her jaw tensed, and her gaze drifted out the window for a brief moment. “Is this all you wanted to talk about?”

“You’re already in a precarious situation regarding your student finances. I just thought I should say something.” Astarion shrugged. “I’m not trying to upset you.”

“Thank you for your concern, but I can take care of myself.” Xenia’s voice was flat and irritated. She slipped her finger under the pad of her messenger bag’s strap and adjusted it into a more comfortable position on her shoulder. “I guess I’ll email you if I have any questions about my work.”

“Alright, have a good afternoon.” Astarion let her leave, then let out a deep sigh.

Idiot kid.

He went to gather his lecture notes when Gale called. He thought about letting it go to voicemail -whatever it was could probably wait the 5 minutes it would take to get back to their office- but something about the situation nagged him a little bit.

He picked up.

“Do you miss the sound of my voice this much?”

“I- uh, what?” Gale sounded panicked on the other end.

“Is something wrong?”

“The faculty lounge is flooding.”

Shit.

[bam-stroker]

Transformative

@betweenblackberrybranches - was telling me about trans Raleigh from Pacific Rim and it opened up my mind to: What if Mako was nonbinary??? So here's a little transgender drift realization drabble

Baggage, that's the thing most people feared the most when stepping in to drift with a new pilot. The thing is, for Raleigh - he hardly saw it as such. At least the part that scared him the most. What happened with his brother practically the entire world knew about. He'd made sure to download every browser extension possible to filter any mention of that day or his brother from suddenly appearing in a quick tabloid just because he wanted to watch the news. He'd certainly avoided all live television for years. He may always struggle with the fear of seeing deep dives appearing while morning talk show hosts gossiped about the people who felt more like ideas then people to them.

Raleigh's baggage was wide open, practically a museum exhibit for anyone who'd want to go looking.

The thing that scared him the most was the thing his brother had known. Had been so earnestly open to. What do you do when such open acceptance could be replaced with new found disdain at the revelation? Raleigh had been born a girl. In time realized he was a man and transitioned. Even before the drift, when he'd opened up to Yancy about it - his brother had hugged him tight. Smile a mile wide as he said, "How lucky am I to get a brother like you!" Such undeniable acceptance in the drift was like nothing he'd ever known.

With Mako - everything was on a tight timeline. His own vulnerability a small cost in the price that could be all of humanity. Funnily enough, during their time early in the drift not a single thing was focused on that part of him and instead he was the one holding on to Mako's mental hand. If she registered the whole trans thing, well, she didn't say anything. It just simply was another fact that existed in the background of the two of them saving the world.

So when the dust settled, and the funerals were held, people packing up, the collective of humanity looking at the wreckage together and stepping forward. Well, that's when it finally had time to come up.

"Raleigh... I think I have something I'd like to discuss with you." He knew the other shoe was finally going to drop but turned to her. Staying friendly and open, "Had a feeling that might be the case. You wanna grab a drink while we do?"

And that's where they find themselves, huddled together at a table overlooking the calm waters of the shatterdome bay. Most of the remaining team members already cleared out, what used to be a raucous spot now one of the most serene in the whole place. Taking a sip of his drink Raleigh leans on the table, not yet ready to meet Mako's ever scanning gaze. She always did that. Always looking, trying to dig deeper. Even after drifting and literally seeing all of each other - she still was searching for more. "Haven't had to have this conversation before so... Sorry in advance if I'm not the best at-" he waves his hand in an unsure circle, "Well any of this. Yancy already knew before."

Mako's hands hold steady to her drink. Taking the time to gather her thoughts. They were an interesting pair. Raleigh verbally dumping out his mind as he tried to figure out what he even might be saying while she already had 100 conversations in her mind. She takes in a deep inhale, looking to the water, "How did you know?"

He looks up at her, slightly confused on what exactly she was going for. From how he knows her though, the way her eyes are searching the horizon he can tell one thing - she has no problem with him and what he is. What ever she's got going is now a question for herself more then him. A pleasantly surprised smile quirks at the end of his lips, "I mean, you've felt it in the drift. Just kind of knew. Like I knew right away you and I were a good team."

Her fingers idly catch the condensation on her glass. Swirling patterns to steady a turbulent mind. "I have. I find them hard to.. Hard to grasp as some of the other feelings. Those I have better language for." Wind blows her hair gently and she looks back at him. Their eyes locked now, "I find that certain parts are.... relatable. While others are not. I had hoped you might be able to give words to them. To help me."

He nods his head, taking a moment to try and do it a little more the Mako way. Think first - words second. "Well, I felt pretty uncomfortable when ever I did the whole 'be a girl' thing. The dresses, the makeup, hell the way my body looked. Yeah, knew that wasn't it. As I got older the things my brother and I used to share became separate. Girls do this, boys do that. Hated that. It just kind of hit me one day of - I'm not a girl. So, if I wasn't that... then the only other option is I'm a guy." He shrugs. Was it the most eloquent explanation in the world? Absolutely not. But it was straight to the point.

She looks down to watch his hands wrapped around his glass. Thinking. The cogs moving in her mind as she finds her words. Slowly she starts, "The parts where you say you were not a girl... I can understand that." She looks up, and there is that open vulnerability to her gaze he'd seen before when Pentecost had snatched her jeager pilot position away. That same broken hope in her voice now, "But what if someone is neither of them?"

So that's what it is.

All of the tension that might have been hanging on to his shoulders eases up as he smiles warmly. A softness as he says, "O, Mako. Yeah. Yeah, there's absolutely a place for neither. I don't really fit into the nonbinary label, personally, but I've got a friend who is that I think you might be able to talk to a little better about what it's like." He reaches out to offer his hands up for Mako to hold.

A million questions must be flipping through her mind but she reaches out. Tethered to the affirmation and acceptance he has to offer. A strong grip pulsing back and forth to each other as they hold hands. He quirks his head to the side, giddy with the sudden excitement of being able to celebrate this new path in Mako's life, "Hey, whatever you need I've got you. Never knew I'd get as lucky as I did to have you as a co-pilot. I'm proud of you, and all the versions of you I get to meet as time goes by. Ok?"

Tears well and slowly fall down her cheeks. A quiver to her smile as she nods, "I do not know where to begin with thanking you for coming in to my life. I... It doesn't feel real. To be this happy? For something like this to be allowed."

Standing up to pull Mako into a hug, Raleigh cradles her head to his shoulder. A rumbly murmur, "Mako, we got a whole life to accept it. The future is ours now. We do what we want with it, and be who ever the hell we wanna be." Leaning back they smile at each other and he gives her a wink, "If that ain't worth celebrating - I don't know what else is."

[cirilla-fiona-riannon]

Kicho's Main Story Ch. 12 Part 1 Romantic

These translations are not intended as a replacement for the game. Please support cybird by buying their stories. Spoilers under the cut. Expect mistakes

Mai: “I want to see you again.”

As I blurted these words weakly...

???: “That’s what I thought too.”

(There’s a voice from outside again...!)

When I opened the door, no one was there.

Mai: “Huh?

???: “Nice try, Mai. The correct answer is...”

Mai: “Up!”

Sasuke: “Down.”

Mai: “Waah!?”

The tatami mat was lifted, and Sasuke appeared in a flash.

Mai: “That surprised me. Can a ninja come out from anywhere?”

Sasuke: “I don’t know. I’m just the type of guy who likes to stick to variations.”

Mai: “I see. You’re very dedicated to your work.”

Mai: “By the way, what are you doing here? I thought you’d gone home.”

Sasuke: “Yeah, exactly. I received an order to return home, so I went back to Echigo, but there’s something I have to tell you, and I really wanted to see you.”

Sasuke: “You escaped from the trading post and came back here safely, right?”

Mai: “Yes. Things happened, but I guess that’s how it turns out.”

Sasuke: “I’m glad to hear that. I was worried that you were suffering from that weird disease too.”

Sasuke: “You feel dizzy and suddenly can’t breathe.”

Mai: “Is that...!”

Sasuke: “You know anything about it?”

Mai: “Yep.”

I remember how hard it was to breathe and involuntarily clutch my chest.

Mai: “I think it’s the effect of history and the future being changed.”

Sasuke: “I knew it. I had the same guess.”

Sasuke: “Actually, my stuff disappeared.”

(It’s the same as mine.)

(I still don’t know where my handkerchief is, but other than that...)

I glanced at the bag I had left in this room when I left for Sakai.

(Right. There was something that had disappeared in the same way!)

I rushed to it and pulled out the travel guide.

Mai: “What? No way.”

Most of it was supposed to be blank, but the contents were slowly returning.

Mai: “What does this mean?”

Sasuke: “It’s the same for me. My stuff that has disappeared is coming back one by one.”

Sasuke: “And this is the most important thing.”

Mai: “What is?”

Sasuke: “The wormhole. The only way for us to return to our original time.”

Sasuke: “Mai. We might be able to go back in the future.”

Mai: “Does that mean the future is back?”

Sasuke: “Yeah, but not completely.”

Sasuke: “For example, the travel guide is partially back to normal, and I no longer feel any pain these past few days.”

Mai: “Same with me.”

(I was able to live a normal life and was so preoccupied with other things that I forgot about it.)

Sasuke: "All I can say is that I'm sure it's coming back."

Sasuke: "And the next time the wormhole will appear is in three weeks."

Mai: "So, less than a month. That's just too sudden."

Sasuke: "I was surprised too, but that's what my observations show."

Sasuke: "I can't say for sure that it'll show up because of what happened last time, but if there's a possibility, I think we should believe in it."

Sasuke: "Besides, this might be our last chance."

Mai: "Really?"

Sasuke: "Yeah, if we miss it, who knows when the next one will appear."

Sasuke: "So if you want, I can bring you back to our time."

Mai: "I see. Thank you."

(I guess it's Sasuke's way of being nice.)

(I'm sure he knows I'm feeling lost.)

If you ask me if I have any regrets about my original time, I don't.

Everything I hold dear is out there. It's where I lived as myself long before I came to this turbulent world, but一

(Too many important things formed in this era, and some people I want to be by my side for the rest of my life are here.)

Sasuke: "I'll be back again next week in the evening."

Sasuke: "The wormhole will appear at Honnoji Temple, just like last time, so we have to leave early, or we won't make it in time."

Sasuke: “I’m sorry I haven’t given you enough time, but please think about it.”

Mai: “Okay.”

Sasuke: “See you later. Good night.”

Sasuke said this gently, and the next time I blinked, he had disappeared.

(A week, huh? I really don’t have much time.)

(More importantly, why do I have a bad feeling about this?)

I frowned as I looked at the guidebook, which was returning to its original state.

It was my and Kicho’s hope to return to the future, where the turbulent world would end as it should have, but before I could be happy, I felt a great anxiety that crushed my heart.

(I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep tonight.)

Mai: “I have no choice. For now, I’ll just work.”

Sighing, I took my sewing kit out again and pulled the new fabric closer to me.

Townsman 1: “Hey, what’s that?”

Townsman 2: “What you ask? It’s the usual. You’ll know it when you see those fancy outfits.”

Townsman 2: “It’s a troupe parading and dancing through these streets.”

Townsman 1: “No. That’s not what I mean.”

Townsman 1: “Don’t you think it’s weird? It’s already midnight.”

The group, which always moved along with lively music, proceeded silently and glided in the darkness.

Seeing this, the witnesses felt as if they had stumbled upon a procession of ghosts.

Man 1 in the group: “Are you sure about this?”

Man 2 in the group: “Of course.”

Lifting their foreign-style hats, Kicho and Motonari gaze farther down the street.

Kicho: “First, we must take it back from the Oda.”

One week later一

(I think Sasuke is coming this evening.)

I paced down the hallway as I checked the date in my head.

(I know I said I didn't have much time, but I didn't need it.)

(I already had the answer in my head.)

(No matter what happens, I want to stay by Kicho's side.)

(I want to stay in this era and hope to meet him again.)

(I want to see him no matter how long it takes.)

The more I put the words in my heart, the more I wished for it.

However, as if to crush my positive attitude, no new information had come in yet.

(Maybe I should ask around while I send off the kimono.)

Ranmaru: "Lady Mai!"

Mai: "Ranmaru."

Ranmaru: "Everyone is coming back. Come with me!"

Mai: "Everyone? Whoa!"

He grabbed me by the arm, and we ran outside the castle.

(Ah...there they are!)

As soon as we stepped out of the castle gate, I saw the Oda army and immediately noticed that everyone was acting weird.

(What's with all the tension?)

(Wait, Mitsuhide is not here again.)

Hideyoshi: "Oh..."

Hideyoshi, who was talking with Nobunaga, noticed me from his horse and waved me over.

Mai: "Welcome back. Um, is something wrong?"

Hideyoshi: "Yeah, a lot's going on."

(A lot, huh? It doesn't sound like good news.)

Nobunaga: "Hideyoshi, we'll begin the war council immediately. Gather everyone in the hall."

Hideyoshi: "Yes, sir."

Mai: "Um, Nobunaga. Can I join you?"

Nobunaga: "Oh? You're curious?"

Nobunaga: "I suppose you want to see if the plan worked."

Mai: "Plan? Huh? What are you talking about?"

I tilted my head, not understanding what he was saying.

Nobunaga, seeing my reaction, looked away and continued on his way into the castle.

(Maybe he was just confirming something?)

Mitsunari: "Lady Mai, there's no need to look so anxious."

Mitsunari: "We're already aware of it, but we wanted to be on the lookout."

Mai: "What do you mean by that?"

Hideyoshi: "We can't say it here. I'll tell you the details in the hall."

Keiji: "Mai, Ranmaru, thanks for welcoming us! Let's go."

Ranmaru: "Okay."

Mai: "Got it."

As Nobunaga had instructed, everyone, including the warlords already in the castle, was gathered in the hall, and a war council was immediately held.

I also took a seat at the end of the room and checked on everyone.

(This tension reminds me of the war council after the bombardment of Azuchi Castle.)

(I’m scared to listen to them, but I can’t just turn and run away.)

I pushed down my unpleasant feeling and looked at Nobunaga.

Nobunaga: “I have news from Mitsuhide concerning the whereabouts of Kicho and Motonari.”

Nobunaga: “The trading post in Sakai has been attacked and is once again in their hands.”

Mai: “----!”

(Does that mean they took it back by force?)

Nobunaga: “I heard that a group dressed as a famous troupe broke into the trading post at night.”

Ieyasu: “Was it poorly guarded?”

Mitsunari: “I’ll answer that myself.”

Mitsunari: “First of all, we both inspected the trading post and the port.”

Mitsunari: “When we took over, they already moved all the weapons to another place.”

Mitsunari: “Therefore, we decided that it would no longer serve as a base, so we chose not to place more troops there.”

Masamune: “We’re still short-handed, so I think it’s a good decision.”

Masamune: “But that was not the case on the other side. They wanted to take back the trading post at any cost.”

Hideyoshi: “I don’t know what they want, but one thing is certain.”

Hideyoshi glanced at me with the slightest hint of hesitation.

Hideyoshi: “Kicho turned his army against the Oda.”

Mai: “............”

(Kicho was a man of convictions.)

(If he really went to talk with Motonari, he wouldn’t bend himself even if it failed.)

Mai: “So you’re saying that Kicho’s purpose was this all along?”

Mai: “To join forces with Motonari again?”

Hideyoshi: “Yes, that would be the case.”

Keiji: “But it’s weird. What the hell did he do that for?”

Keiji: “Taking over the trading post is like going out of your way to let us know where he is.”

Keiji: “I don’t think it’s worth the risk of taking it back.”

Ranmaru: “It’s as if he’s asking us to take a shot at it.”

Ieyasu: “What do you mean by that?”

Ranmaru: “Normally, I think it’s impossible, but I heard it in the reports.”

Ranmaru: “I heard that the movement of the rebels has started to change.”

(Ah...)

------------Flashback------------

Ranmaru: "It's like they have some other goal than destruction."

Ranmaru: "But we still don't know what that purpose is."

---------Flashback Ends---------

Hideyoshi: “Are you saying he’s doing this to direct the resentment and anger at him?”

Hideyoshi: “If that’s the case, I’m not sure what he’s after anymore. What does he want with it?”

Nobunaga: “Nonsense. You can ask him about his motives directly from his own mouth.”

Nobunaga: “If he dares to expose his location and point a gun at us, we know what to do.”

(Is that...?)

The hall fell silent, waiting for Nobunaga’s words.

Nobunaga: “Prepare for war. Next time, we will capture them.”

Everyone: “Yes, my lord.”

After the war council was over, I ran out of the castle feeling empty and found myself in the castle town, wandering through the streets with no place to go.

(I thought for sure I wanted information, but now I’m even more confused.)

Kicho knows about the future.

If that’s the case, he knows there’s no need to clash with Nobunaga.

(I can’t believe the words and feelings he exchanged with me were lies.)

(I wish I could meet him in person so I could hear what he has to say.)

Mai: “Hmm?”

I looked up in surprise at the scent wafting through the air.

(This smell...no, it can’t be.)

My legs started moving, even though I was denying it in my heart.

I ran into a back alley, where I found a person waiting for me, clad in a white haori.

The person then lifted his hat and slowly turned his eyes toward me.

Kicho: “Mai. It’s been a while.”

Mai: “Kicho!”

Mai: “Why are you here?”

Kicho: “I wanted to see you. That’s all.”

Mai: “I don’t understand what you mean by that.”

(You suddenly disappear with no explanation, reappear as an enemy, and now you're throwing something like this in my face as if it's normal.)

Several words float and burst out, finally coming out to my throat.

(I...no, I also...)

Mai: "I missed you so much."

I found myself jumping into his chest.

Kicho: "Mai."

Mai: "Please. Let's stay like this for a while."

I found his scent behind the sweet aroma and couldn't resist burying my face in his chest even more.

It was a fleeting scent I would forget as soon as I left. But as I touched the person I loved, it sank deep into my memory.

Mai: "Please don't tell me you just wanted to see my face."

Mai: "I wanted to see your face, talk to you, and touch you."

(I don't care what it takes to feel him.)

(No, I want it all.)

Kicho: "I see."

Kicho: "Then I should be a little more honest with you."

He took the bamboo hat he was wearing and hid both of our heads, blocking the light coming in from the main street.

Kicho: "I've always wanted to see your face, speak to you, and touch you."

Kicho: "Always."

Mai: "Mhm."

Standing on my tiptoes, I welcomed the warmth I'd been waiting for.

The happy moment almost made my body hot, and I felt like I could do this forever.

Previous Part╏Masterlist╏Next Part

[slytherinqueenrose]

Total bastard |Percy Hynes White|

Pairings: Percy Hynes White x Polish!F!Reader

Warnings: bit of cursing, stereotypes about cars, mentions of Harry Potter, let me know if I missed something. It’s shitty by the way.

Additionally: Y/N - Your name, Y/L/N - your last name, Y/F/N - your friend’s name, Y/C/B - Your car brand/car of your choosing

A/N: Hello! That’s my third writing here on Tumblr and I must apologise for the grammar! I’m Polish so English is not my first language and don’t feel too comfortable using it. I’d be very grateful for any feedback about it because I truly don’t know if it’s even comfortable for you to read 😩

———————————————————

You may be wondering how does working on Wednesday set look like and the only word that comes to my mind and describes it perfectly is MAGICAL.

That was my first - let me call it - serious job. I took part in few other productions as an intern mostly and I played a background character only once before getting the role of Wednesday’s cousin. Coming back to the topic - even though I have some experience in films and I know exactly how everything looks behind the scenes, the set of Wednesday was something totally different and new.

Maybe it’s because most of the cast was young and not too popular (not counting Jenna and some other actors of course). That was the first place where I felt like I belong there.

But I also met somebody who desperately tried to break my heart or so I understood it.

Let’s start with a quick introduction. My name is Y/N, I was born in 2000, in Poland which makes me different from my movie character all the way. I was kind of stressed about joining the cast mostly fearing that I won’t be accepted. I mean, they all have became really good friends and what if I they treat me as an intruder ?

The trip to Romania was excellent even though some turbulences happened during my flight. Firstly I was wondering about driving a car (which would take about 12 hours but I thought of taking some stops in Slovakia and Hungary). I love travelling to new places but I decided that buying flight tickets and rent a car while in Romania definitely will be a better option. I needed some way of transport and I truly hated the public communication.

I did as I said, I rented a car and was heading straight to the hotel. The atmosphere of Romanian forests was just wonderful. So mysterious yet so beautiful. I couldn’t get enough of looking at the surroundings and I took few stops on the way to take pictures of as many views as I could.

After an hour or maybe a little bit longer I finally arrived at the hotel. It was just a simple building, not too pretty nor ugly. Cozy actually. It’s totally fine though. I don’t feel too comfortable in luxury places.

“Shitty drivers.” I muttered while trying to park my car on a parking lot. I have to mention that I’m a pain in the arse if it comes to driving. I always stick to the rules and rarely try to break any which often makes other people go insane. I remember my very first time in the US. I rented a car with my friend and she was laughing her arse off almost every time I drove. The only text a remembered after coming back home was “we’re driving with a very sick Jaguar. Almost dead”. And to make it even funnier, I have been overtaken by a bicycle.

Minute of silence, please.

But coming back to my thoughts.

After seeing this one black BMW parked totally wrong, I got a clever idea. What to do to piss off its driver? I parked my car correctly so there was no option for whoever owned that black car, to get inside. Sorry not sorry. I left the car and took my luggage and just when I was heading to the building, someone called after me.

“What do you think you doing? I can’t get into my car, you daughter of the devil!”

I quickly turned around to see a young man opening the black vehicle with his automatic pilot.

“Fly then.” I said with a grin.

“May you move your shitty Y/C/B so I can leave the parking lot?” He added visibility furious.

“Shitty Y/C/B you say. Well, does your BMW have working indicators or they are to cause a huge explosion if you use them?” I asked and raised my brows at him.

Before you’ll start hating me for this I must explain something. Polish people truly hate BMW drivers. It’s not like we don’t buy those cars - we actually do and they are very popular. However seeing a BMW using indicators is something worth celebrating. Does not happen too often, tho. If you happen to see a BMW with working blinkers, you can be sure it’s police driving it.

I didn’t even wait for his response, expecting it to be rude, and just turned around again and that’s when I noticed a certain boy that was portraying Ajax in the show. He was laughing his arse off while leaning against the hotel entrance.

“Well done, whoever you are. Jake is a total shit and makes everyone go crazy with his behaviour.” He said while extending his hand to me which I gladly accepted. “Georgie Farmer, Ajax Petropolus, call me whatever you want.”

“Nice to meet you, Georgie. I’m Y/N Y/L/N. I’m going to portray Wednesday’s cousin, Verity.” I replied with a smile.

“You have a funny accent. You’re not American for sure, aren’t you? I didn’t mean to offend you, of course.” He added.

“Don’t worry about that. English is not my first language so I’m not a mistress of speaking it. The truth is I usually fail doing so.“

„Stop saying so. You speak very well. I like the Brit or Australian sounding. But what’s your nationality then?”

“I come from Poland. Not too far away from here actually which I’m pretty glad about. At least my flight wasn’t tiring.”

“Woah, is that the country which is famous from pierogis?” He gasped visibly amazed and just when I nodded, he grabbed my hand and pulled me after him inside the hotel. I started giggling like crazy. I was totally over the moon because someone seemed to like me and that felt incredible.

“So I suppose you’re pretty stressed now before meeting the rest of the cast but there’s no need to worry. We are all very friendly and really excited to meet new cast members. Some of us are also pretty insane like Percy for example or Oliver but I’m sure that you’re gonna feel comfortable around them.” He said with a pure excitement, opening one of the doors for me. ”I believe that Emma dreams about giving newbies a hotel tour just like Enid would but what about me being your guide today? She’s rambling too much while showing people around.” He said. Well, isn’t it like he was rambling too?

“As long as you keep smiling and being all excited.” I replied winking at him.

And honestly that was the best beginning of a new friendship in my whole life. We spent around an hour running around the building while he was trying to show me everything. And I mean totally EVERYTHING. He even showed me a secret underground room where he, Percy and Oliver meet from time to time to gossip about what had happened during their day. Boys.

“And so this is the last room of ours. We call it a freak day room because we spend most of our free period here. A lot is happening here everyday so don’t be scared seeing whatever is going on there right now.” He said less enthusiastically.

“I’m prepared to see the worst.” I replied giving him a reassuring nod. I could already hear laughter coming from there and I felt sick from fear. I’ve never used to be too confident, not even mentioning popular. I was just a plain, grey, unknown and the least liked person in my school years. I’ve never had real friends. All of my “friendships” usually come to an end after few months.

“Guys, guys, guys, attention please.” Georgie spoke while entering the room. All the laughter stoped and everyone looked at him at once. “Percy, may you please stop this ungodly singing?” He added. “So I want to introduce a new person to all of you and-“

“You met someone new and didn’t tell us sooner?”

“I’m sorry, Emma but I needed to give her a quick tour and talk a little bit. Whatever. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Y/N, Polish miracle with a funny accent.” Georgie chuckled pulling me into the room. I almost fell noticing all those glances.

“Hiya, nice to meet you!”

Let’s say that the very first day with the whole cast was just amazing. Everyone had a lot of questions, some simple, some weirder. We had a lot to discuss and considering the fact that the boys opened a champagne and then another and another, it resulted in a killer headache on the next day.

But it doesn’t matter.

Percy does.

Since the very first time we laid our eyes on each other, there was a sort of a weird tension between us. I felt pretty shy for no reason and he seemed to judge me. Or so I understood because I usually think that people are gossiping about me which never happens actually.

The thing is that he was acting different in my presence. For example this one time when he was listening to music and singing in a tent, he stopped immediately after I joined him and few other cast members. His face expression made me feel sorry for interrupting their fun time however was it my fault that I was just being curious about what was going on in there? Oh, ok. I’m a bit nosy but IT WAS OUR TENT and I had a full right to go in there.

The second time I felt bad was the Halloween day. Emma and I were simply preparing our costumes in our “freak day room” when Percy came. He just leaned on the doorframe with his arms crossed on his chest and was looking at what the both of us were doing. Then, he chuckled and raised his eyebrows.

“What?” I asked confused.

“Well, don’t get me wrong but wouldn’t it be just enough if you would have gone to the festival right after waking up? You know, all sleepy and messy.” He said with his characteristic grin. What was that supposed to mean?

“I was thinking about that actually.” I replied a bit upset forcing a small smile. Yeah.. He basically thought I was ugly. I can’t say I wasn’t though. At the age of 23 I had a lot of insecurities which may seem to be odd for many people.

“What are you planning to wear, Percy?” Emma asked.

“A beautiful smile and my fave hat. Enough to make all ladies gasp.” He chuckled and then left.

“He’s unbearable.”

That definitely was true. The way he laughed at me made me go insane every time. When I couldn’t hold the arrow properly, there he was, laughing his arse off. Same after all my bloopers. We also had a pretty heated argument scene one day and he couldn’t hold his laughter. I didn’t know what was going on. Was I truly this bad at acting? Not even mentioning the way he used to mock my accent and made me feel sorry that it was more British than American. Well, it’s not my fault! Polish schools ONLY teach British vocabulary and accent. It’s more familiar to all of us and additionally I used to grow up only having British or Irish idols. Who doesn’t remember One Direction for example? I was a number one fan and honestly I wouldn’t make it with my English without them. Before I met Percy I thought that the way I spoke didn’t matter but it clearly did. I truly started to have enough.

I can’t not mention the fact of being a Potterhead which was for some reason too funny for him. He used to walk around pointing at me with his fingers and go with “expelliarmus” or “abra cadabra” which wasn’t even a Harry Potter spell (and he knew that but wanted to see me explaining it to him and getting embarrassed). At this point I was truly frustrated.

“I’m so glad I have a bit more free time today. I was thinking about visiting the nearby shopping centre. What about you, Joy?” I said while eating lunch. That was the first day after a month of shooting when I was needless on the set. The most of my scenes have been recorded already and now it was only Jenna and her serie family time.

“I was there loads of times and I never get bored of going there. I will for sure keep you a company. I need to buy some stuff especially after Georgie ate almost all of my candy!” She laughed with pure happiness on her beautiful face.

“What are we doing today ladies?” Percy asked, putting his hands on Joy’s shoulders.

“We plan on escaping and doing some illegal stuff. Wanna join?” She replied with a smirk knowing just well that he definitely would accompany us if it really meant something illegal. He was overly confident and usually into rebelling.

“Does it mean few hours of shopping in cosmetic stuff which I ain’t understand? Then thanks.”

“We’re definitely planning on robbing a jewellery shop.” I said winking at him.

“Would be such a reward to have some new shiny necklaces, wouldn’t it? I bet it could ease your embarrassment after yesterdays fails on set. I really think you’re shitty sometimes.” He chuckled and made my heart shatter.

“Yeah. You’re right. So what about leaving soon, Joy? I think I’ll go to take my phone and car keys now.” I added not looking at him.

“I need to take a shower before we leave. Give me at least an hour, is that fine?” She asked smiling friendly.

“Sure. Take your time.”

As I said I went to my room and just sat there, looking at the wall. I’m shitty. That’s what he thought. How cool is that?

But no. It wasn’t what made me sob. Just not yet. The real reason of my future tears was much worse.

About a week later, just few days before Christmas, we all decided to have a lovely, friendly free period after work without caring about the job, without rehearsing, basically it was supposed to be just a chill out. Eating, doing nothing, maybe dancing a little, you know just a normal evening with friends. I was heading straight to our day room when I heard something what broke my heart into millions of pieces.

“What about you and your screen lover, artist?” Georgie laughed. Gossiping about me then. Fine. I just stood there behind the door to hear more and that was a mistake I wouldn’t make twice if I could turn back time.

“Y/N is… well, let’s say that I really couldn’t get more fantastic partner.” Percy scoffed, purest sarcasm in his voice. “I thought they’re going to hire a hot Latino chick for this role but then she came and I’m… huh. Can’t get over this. It’s a simple misunderstanding. You see, someone like her and someone like me. Not to mention that she’s one or two years above, isn’t she? Like a mama.”

“Oh yeah, I can totally agree, mate.” Olivier replied chuckling.

With that I didn’t even bother to listen to them anymore. I headed back to my room where I decided to call my bestie via FaceTime to let all of my negative emotions out. I sobbed hard for another half an hour and she was just there, looking at me and simply not talking. She was wonderful. She had no idea what happened but was waiting until my cries died, giving me some time before finally listening to the story and starting comforting me.

„Naprawdę nie wiem, co takiego mu zrobiłam.” („I literally have no clue what I’ve done to him to deserve it.”) I said, wiping the tears out of my face.

„Moje biedactwo. A przedstawiają go jako aniołka. Posłuchaj, siostra. Może i traktuje cię w taki a nie inny sposób, ale czemu to ma dla ciebie takie znaczenie?”

(„Poor little thing. Can’t believe he’s portrayed as such an angelic person. Listen to me, sis. He may be treating you like this but why does it actually matter to you?”) Y/F/N replied but just after that we heard my door being opened. I didn’t turn myself in the sound’s direction because I could clearly see in my phone screen who entered my room.

Percy himself.

But what the fuck did he want? I decided to stay unbothered and show no emotions at all. At last I didn’t want him to know that I was eavesdropping. Happily he does not know my mother language so it wasn’t too difficult to continue my conversation without his suspiciousness.

“Wiesz… Podłapałam małego crusha na tym dzieciaku. Nie wiem czemu. Zazwyczaj zachowuje się jakby się naćpał, ale jest dość uroczy i…”

(„You know… I might have fallen for him a bit. I know it’s ridiculous but he’s usually acting high like shit but he’s cute at the same time…”) I replied and saw a clear disbelief in my bestie’s face expression.

“On ci rujnuje samopoczucie z dnia na dzień coraz mocniej, a ty się w nim zakochujesz. Powinnaś się przebadać.”

(„Can’t believe it. He’s making your self confidence fall more and more everyday and you’re just casually falling in love. You should go and see the doctor real quick.”) She added visibly angry.

As we continued discussing this and that, I felt a movement on my bed. Percy sat cross legged behind me with a faint smile on his face which made me truly uncomfortable.

“Jak on w ogóle może tak o, wparować do twojego pokoju i gościć się w nim jak u siebie? Zwłaszcza po tym co powiedział.”

(„It’s so bold that he’s able just come to your room like nothing happened and simply feel like he’s being at his own place. Especially after what he said.”) Y/F/N said looking him straight in the eye. “Wydaje mi się, czy zaraz rzuci na mnie klątwę? Może Avada Kedavra?” (“Is he trying to hex me right now? Or maybe he’s planning on using Avada Kedavra?”)

„Możemy zmienić temat?”

(“May we stop talking about him?”) I asked with a forced smile.

But then I felt a very delicate tapping on my shoulder so I finally turned around to face Percy.

“You didn’t join us. Something’s wrong?

Yes, Percy. Yes. You happened.

“Powiedz mu co o nim myślisz i daj znać jak poszło.”

(“Tell him what you think about him and let me know how it went.”) My bestie added before ending the call.

“I don’t feel too well today so I just decided to stay here and spend some time alone.”

“Come on, sweet things, I know you’re lying.”

What did you call me?

“No idea what you’re talking about. I have a right to feel bad”.

“Something is clearly bothering you”.

How come that he was able to read my mind?

“Well maybe you wouldn’t need to worry about such a shitty thing if I was a hot Latino chick.” I retorted not daring to look him in the eyes. It took him off guard immediately.

“Wait, what?” He asked confused and then his face dropped. “Y/N, have you heard what I said down there in our day room?”

“Obviously. Look, I’m sorry that I got the role and you have to look at my Polish shitty face. I wish I looked different but I can’t. Also sorry for being shitty on set. And additionally I’m sorry for talking the way I do and I’m extremely sorry for liking what I like. I-“ I was cut.

“It’s a misunderstanding, sweet things. Let me explain, please.” He pleaded taking my hand into his and I just nodded. “I didn’t mean anything bad by saying all that stuff earlier. It might have sounded bad or so but I am very happy to have an honour of working with you. What I said about your acting was just a way to tease you. I like when you get flustered. I’m not laughing at the way you sound. I find it extremely attractive. I have a weakness for girls speaking languages and changing accents. Harry Potter is absolutely fine and I like it too. I mean, I like it a lot and even have a Dark Wand somewhere at my house. And what I said today… Sweet things, it was all positive. You see, I truly couldn’t get any better person to portray my lover. You’re just perfect doing your job. I also didn’t mean anything - I swear - anything bad talking about you and I feel like I wouldn’t be enough for you. So that’s why I told that someone like me couldn’t be with someone like you. You’re just much more mesmerising and too good to ever be mine. I’m so sorry about making you feel bad all this time.” He added with a pure sadness in his eyes.

This time I was taken aback.

“Wait, does it mean that-“

“I like you and truly wish we could start all over again. If you want of course. I get it if you don’t feel like being with someone younger.”

“You know that the age doesn’t really matter?”

“So is that a yes?”

“It doesn’t hurt to try though. But don’t you dare calling me “mama”. Like ever again.”

“Of course not. Never.”

Yeah, he was absolutely going to call me that. Seeing his little grin made me realise he’s not the one to trust at all.

To: Bestie 😈

Percy and I got together.

That might piss her off.

From: Bestie 😈

HAVE YOU GONE NUTS!

_____________________________________

A/N: I really am going to shit myself not knowing your opinion 🥲.

[nyxrev]

Tsukuyomi Trilogy

Chapter II: Icarus

A boy who flew too close to the sun

………….————- *Moon Craters Highway radio,

Welcome back. Last time we left off at eugenics and esp tricks. Buckle your seatbelts folks we're about to go downhill. Full throttle ahead with an Eastward turbulence.

“From our surveillance data…” *!!!* **red flag**

…eh? we could't even grasp the battle situation (much less catch any data) on our end though?

With the sisters held hostage, our moon agent releases Demon level monsters from the floor below. Now, exactly how much he knows about the HA floor plan idk, but the extent to which he is familiar with mechanisms of what we can see should already draw concern, if earlier mention of their “data” did not already perk up our ears.

Unfortunately, though execs felt brief confusion they brush off their uneasy sentiment, and soon forget about it as the agent thanks them for the valuable “specimen” and their focus is drawn to money matters.

The fact they don't immediately feel suspicious, nor try to discreetly ask an outsider about how they acquired such extensive data on what was supposed to be so secretive an operation, even their own people could not get data, and are so gullibly unwary of the outsider with undisclosed data to proceed “trades”, not only exposes how desperate for funds they are, it also exposes their catastrophic lack of critical awareness. Smb boutta get caught for gross negligence, except them execs will prolly get let off easy.

See, the world runs on money most luxurious of which often acquired through nefarious means. Sure, money can buy you comfort and security, but comes with an equally expensive cost. Well, you could buy comfort, but you might soon find out you pay for it… For example, perhaps we are already *quite very* familiar with circumstances of compromised critical security… You see…we can't let you have both at once now, can we…

The agent prepares to make his grand exit, and as he juggles the psychic sisters he declares all smug, “nobody would question the de*th of the witch sisters anytime soon, now would they?”

Excuse me young man I wholly disagree. In fact everyone who knows them would question their de* th more than anyone else's for no one would believe they'd go down so easily to some caged monsters. You should know better by now, what with Tatsumaki as an indispensable pillar of HA, and Fubuki an influential figure.

Cosmic Mad Hatter and the Oreo Hoops Boy

…A new party emerges from the suited group…and leaves the fray. Eyelashes shouts, enraged, “so You're the bastard…” who dr—gged Fubuki. Outrageous. Traitor. I mean, can you really call him traitor when he'd always been a spy?

It'd do well for Blizzard regulars to stay together get to know each other well so they can discern who (among them & out) is trustworthy.

Furious, they attack n I realized it's the first time I've seen Eyelashes' we.*pon, I always wondered how he'd fight with a pair of eyelash curlers. Not so benign a cosmetic tool now, eh?

But they're no match for psychic retaliation…Oh and doesn't Mad Hatter look like Choze there? Eyes of eugenic superiority complex.

Fubuki cares about her subordinates and I hope she cares about them as people and not assets, as I'm sure they each can learn and grow strong enough to hold their own, to truly help her grow as a person as well.

At the critical moment, Saitama crashes out of the monster den with his usual punch, shock on every face present, but distraction is fatal for an agent on mission and Tatsumaki seizes an open defence to strike. As expected, she would never let herself be compromised for naught.

“Found it” she reclaims autonomy…and oh how the tables have turned. All while she was bound, she located the p!ll. Smart.

silent agent panic “the capsule won't react…!?” Of course not, once Tatsumaki has control, you will never be able to reclaim control over it. Behold her power and precision, amateur.

What happens next, we all know. He gets gently poked 3x by 1 lil p!ll n-—-dle.

Excellent now your brilliant plan backfired most disastrously, you*&*your cult is humiliated, and I'm stuck here with you for the next 24hr as you try to rush to a psychic hospital if it even exists.

Why did he turn two shades darker as he teeter-totters two steps away from de*th, oh pois0ned bl*-*d mb. Tbh, at first I thought mb the p!ll was just sleep, and he said it had poison to bluff, but his pitiful state now, doesn't look too well. Hope you not allergic or got antidote for whatever it is

“Look I'll have you spit out all you know about Tsukuyomi later, you hear me” Now you rly see and feel the terror of tornado, right next to you.

I, too, want to t0rment you gently, for you made the most careless mistakes and lost your prizes.

Fly next to the Sun too keen and get burnt.

As Tatsumaki, at full threat, makes our poor fool of an agent spill the beans I can't help but recall an uncanny similarity between Apollo and Amai when he got poked by Do-S. Look at him, vessels emerged, almost monstrous.

Makes you wonder what they did to them, what happened under the kn!fe to get their artificially activated psychic power and how they maintain or strengthen it, right? I wouldn't be surprised if they did contact God on the Moon to get power or try to anyway. Maybe some of them, artificial psychics, are even monsterized for their hunger for power. Just a stray thought but I do wonder.

Now Apollo's mission to the Moon is honourably jeopardized, his failure might get him fired who knows, but Tatsumaki rightly spares no pity nor mercy and not only keeps enemy compromised but gets the job done thorough and through, all the way to the last precautionary step.

The spy, he manages to slip out of house arrest, but gets no pass and is thrown on the wall most gracefully as he makes meagre attempt to run.

My humour is broken as Garou's hut but I found it funny he just went “Bu-” … if you squint extra hard his knocked out form might even look a lil bit like the shape of ぶッ bahaha

On a serious note, I didn't expect Tsukuyomi to get their prizes or even escape unscathed, but I did wish they proved trickier to defeat, not* bc I want to see Tatsumaki suffer (MA was :'|) but bc I want to see her be decently challenged, not to traumatic extent, but by what challenges her to problem solve and use her smarts as well as but more than brute strength. To see her grow from catalytic challenges or experiences, so she is no longer so stubborn to fend for herself, her sister & co. alone, but can learn to work with and trust others, like we saw with Genos.

Let's stop here for now. Next chapter will be the last. It is short, but I should like to address what will prompt more questions than answers.

…^^^vroom vroom zoomies on highway to hell*

Pardon my weird amount of text censors. It got flagged or whatever it's called last time n idk what triggers the algorithm so. I had to crop out the first two panels of the scene where he got backfired literally cuz idk if photos also trigger the system. But the first two were most obvious similarity to Amai's broken mask so ifykyk

[believingispowerfulmagic]

Miracles Can Happen

Summary: On July 16, 2013, Regina Mills and her son Henry boarded Storybrooke Airlines Flight 815 from Orlando to New York. Robin Locksley boarded the same flight. During the flight, a moment of bad turbulence rattles the passengers. But it gets worse when they land and find out that they’ve somehow flown five years into the future.

Now the passengers must navigate a world that has moved on without them and find where they belong in it. While they started as strangers, Robin and Regina soon find themselves relying on each other as they try to figure out what happened to them. And as they do, they start to wonder if maybe it all happened for a reason.

Chapter 1: FFN | AO3 | Wattpad

Chapter 6: Issues

FFN | AO3 | Wattpad

Excerpt:

Robin moved in with Regina. Her father was still wary of him as his first impression hadn't been the best but her son was thrilled to have Robin with them. Their experience on the plane and their stay at Stewart Air Base really bonded them all. And though David still played a role in Henry's life, Regina was glad he had another male figure to look up to.

He was also able to spend more time with Henry than David could for now. Robin only worked part time and when he wasn't working, he often took Henry to different places. Sometimes they went to the movies together, other times to the park, and sometimes to the rec center so Henry could play basketball. Robin also started to teach him how to play soccer and Henry had quickly picked it up, even considering playing it in the fall. Regina was glad to see him adjusting and being hopeful about something.

She also started to get to know Roland as well. Robin had him a couple afternoons a week and every Saturday. He was a sweet little boy and it seemed he felt freer to bond with his father now.

Robin had told her the whole story when he returned to her house after his meeting with Marian. Her heart had broken for him, thinking of the weeks lost with his son because of Mulan. She was not a fan of her or Marian, feeling both had treated Robin poorly - difficult and unprecedented situation understood. Watching Robin with Henry and then Roland, it was clear he was a natural father and Mulan had been wrong.

At least Marian was giving him time with his son. It was a start.

"Have you and Marian agreed on a therapist yet?" she asked him, sitting down on the couch as they watched TV together.

He nodded. "We're going to see Dr. Hopper. He already knows about what happened with the plane and so that's one hurdle already cleared."

"Dr. Hopper seems to be good," Regina replied. "I like going to him and I wasn't one for therapy before all of this."

"I never thought I'd be in therapy or need family counseling, but here we are," he said, sighing as he ran his hand over his hair. "Hopefully, he can help me make sense of all this."

She nodded, lowering the TV as she angled her body to face him. "Did you know that Marian had an interest in women?"

"Yes," he replied. "I actually met her through one of her ex-girlfriends. I told you I don't care that she's with a woman and I mean it. My problem isn't with who Mulan is but what she did."

"I didn't think so. I just thought that maybe if this was a side of herself that she had discovered while you were gone, maybe she had been hesitant to tell you that she wasn't exactly straight. It's hard to come out to people," she said, tucking some hair behind her ear as she thought about when she told her parents about her own sexuality.

Robin tilted his head as he studied her. "You're bi too?"

She nodded. "Though it's been a while since I dated a woman. My last two relationships were with men."

"Doesn't matter," he replied. "Or at least that's my understanding of it. You're bi no matter who you're dating."

"You're right. There are lots of people who don't seem to understand that," she said.

He shrugged. "Fuck them."

That caught her off-guard and she let out a little laugh. "What?"

"They don't want to understand so fuck them. They aren't worth any of your energy," he told her.

"You're right," she said, smiling. "I knew I liked you for a reason."

He chuckled. "Thanks."

They lapsed into silence as they turned their attention back to the TV. It was a comfortable silence, though, and that surprised Regina. She usually did not handle silence well and often tried to fill it with chatter. But with Robin, she didn't feel that urge. Or maybe it was just another way the flight had changed her as well.

She moved closer to him and rested her head on his shoulder. He patted her knee before leaving his hand there. They continued to watch the episode, just content to sit there with each other.

"Regina?" Daddy's voice made her jump and she moved away from Robin as she looked up to find her father standing in the doorway. His head was tilted and he frowned.

Tucking some hair behind her ear, she asked: "Is something wrong, Daddy?"

"I just wanted to let you know I was going to bed," he said, his gaze hardening as he looked at Robin.

"Goodnight, sir," Robin replied, trying to be as polite as possible.

Annoyed, Regina got up from the couch and ushered her father out into the hall. She stood there, crossing her arms. "Will you stop glaring at Robin like he's some sort of criminal?" she asked.

"I am not doing that," he protested. At the same time, though, he refused to meet her eyes.

"Yes, you are," she said. "This is his home for now and I want him to feel comfortable here."

Daddy sighed, looking up at her. "There's nowhere else he can stay? He has no other friends?"

"It's a bit complicated. His trust in them is a bit strained because they knew about his wife's new relationship and didn't tell him," she said in a low voice. "So he feels comfortable with me. And I'd like it if you didn't run him off."

He sighed. "Sorry, honey. I'm just worried."

"Why? I know he didn't make the best first impression but he just found out his wife was lying to him since he returned and he's not an alcoholic…"

"I know he's not an alcoholic," Daddy replied, frowning. "True, he didn't make the greatest first impression but I realized it was a once in a blue moon bender."

That surprised her and her arms dropped to her side as she tilted her head. "Then why are so hostile toward him?"

Daddy sighed. "You two are pretty close."

"Yes, we are. What we went through really bonded us. Robin was there for me and Henry both on the plane and in the bunker," she replied, not sure where her father was going with this.

"And I'm grateful for that," he insisted. "I just worry. You both feel betrayed by people you love and just had significant relationships end."

She frowned, trying to figure out why her father brought that up. It then clicked and she blinked a couple times. "You think we're dating?"

He shook his head. "I don't think you're dating but I do think you two have already bonded over a shared trauma and that you two are getting closer. I just want you to be careful and not to rush into anything before your hearts have time to heal."

"Daddy, we're just friends," she stressed. "Nothing more."

"And I'm not quite ready to throw in the towel on my marriage," Robin said, standing in the doorway. He held up his hands. "Sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop but you weren't as quiet as I think you thought you were."

Both Daddy and Regina grew sheepish and he held out his hand to Robin. "Sorry. For talking about you behind your back and for being so cold to you. While I was concerned for my daughter, it does not excuse my behavior."

"Thank you," Robin said, shaking his hand. "And I understand. You're just protecting your daughter. I promise you I have no intentions of hurting her."

Daddy nodded. "I know. Thank you."

He then stepped back. "Sorry to disturb your night. I'll see you in the morning."

"Goodnight, sir," Robin said. Regina echoed that and kissed her father's cheek before he headed upstairs.

She then turned to Robin, feeling awkward. "I'm so sorry about that."

"It's okay," he assured her, gently squeezing her arm. "Why don't we finish watching that show?"

"That sounds good to me," she replied, following him back into the living room.

They settled back down on the couch and he wrapped his arm around her. She rested her head against his shoulder once more. Friends could sit like this, she told herself. Especially if they were comfortable with each other. It didn't mean anything more than that.

She let out a contented sigh and pushed away the awkward feelings her father's conversation brought up. It was likely more people would wonder if there was more between her and Robin in the coming days once they learned where he was living now but she knew she just had to stick to the facts and the curiosity would fade away.

Hopefully.

[theonceoverthinker]

Summary: When Luigi and Bowser find themselves stranded together in the Lost Kingdom after a turbulent windstorm sends them flying off Bowser’s airship, a busted up Odyssey becomes their unlikeliest of saviors. Now reluctant traveling companions, doomed to remain marooned without the other’s help, the two gather power moons and embark on a globe-trotting adventure home. However, as they fly and hunt for moons together, encountering and overcoming any and all conflicts in their way, their reservations about each other wither away while a fondness forged through their travels grows into something neither of them ever thought was possible. 

1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, 1-6, 1-7, 1-8, 1-9, WZ 1-1, 1-10, BS1-1, WZ 1-2, 1-11, 1-12, 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4, 2-5, WZ 2-1, 2-6, BS 2-1, 2-7, 2-8, 2-9, 2-10, 2-11, BS 2-2, 2-12, 2-13, 2-14, 2-15, 2-16, 2-17, 2-18, 2-19, BS 2-3, 2-20, 2-21, WZ 2-2, BS 2-4, WZ 2-3, 2-22, 2-23, BS 2-5, 2-24, 2.5-1, 2.5-2, 2.5-3, BS 2.5-1, 2.5-4, 2.5-5, WZ 2.5-1, BS 2.5-2, 3-1, 

()()()()

WORLD 3-2

Some decisions in life aren’t as hard to make as others.

When one finds themselves caught in a blizzard with no end in sight while practically spitting distance from a means of safety from its wrath, the best choice for what to do next isn’t hard to spot.

Luigi and Bowser barely need to check with each other to know the other’s thoughts on how they should proceed before doing so, heading straight back to the Odyssey as soon as it becomes clear that any trying for moon collections in the face of this storm is naught but a fool’s errand.

It’s pretty clear that they’ll need to wait out this storm, that until then, they’ll need to stay holed up inside the ship. 

The prospect isn’t great – in some ways miserable, in fact. Staying cooped up in the Odyssey – for as safe a barrier as it creates between the storm and themselves – makes for a full half of a day of no moon collecting, and that will lead to having an extra full half day of moon collecting to make up for it before they can go home. 

However, it can’t be helped, can it?

They can’t see anything – that’s the fact of the matter.

That’s the rotten, rotten fact of the matter, and that rotten, rotten fact is far from a morale booster.

Bowser doesn't look angry, per se – Luigi knows what an angry Bowser looks like – but his jaw is clenched and his eyes stare straight at his destination, not drifting one bit. It’s not hard to guess what his mood is. Luigi, while unsure of exactly how he looks, is confident that the corners of his frown could touch the deepest of seafloors and his eyes could join them down in the freezing, watery sand.

Needless to say, neither his nor Bowser’s moods create the decent conditions for engaging in a friendly – if not somewhat pretty competitive – game of poker.

No, this environment – dark, morose, chilly – begets a degree of quietness, maybe some space from each other as they both absorb their impromptu increased bout of detention.

They’ll talk soon enough, he’s sure, likely when it next comes time to eat.

Well, that’s one good thing; thanks to how they packed, particularly their stock of pizza, the two of them have enough food to last the rest of today as well as some of tomorrow, should the storm persist.

Luigi hopes to the lumas above that it doesn’t.

The anticipation of that particular unknown makes Luigi’s stomach feel like it’s flipping; it’s a sensation not helped by the cold air.

Even inside the Odyssey, the Snow Kingdom’s chill persists, the freezing outside perpetually caressing the metal walls to make for a cold inside.

The temperature is nothing he can’t tolerate, but at the same time, it’s not exactly pleasant.

Remembering his plan from before leaving for his round-trip trek from the Odyssey, Luigi gets back into his clothes from earlier, and sits down in the ship’s rightmost chair.

A longing comes over him, one subtle in its source, but powerful in its memory and now craving.

Luigi finds himself wishing that before they left the Metro Kingdom, he’d invested a couple of coins in a pack of hot cocoa mix. 

Ah, hot cocoa…

Luigi can recall the sensation of hot cocoa as if he just had it yesterday – the smooth flavor of liquidy chocolate, the subtle, yet unmistakable smell of cocoa, the feeling of tasting the leftover packet powder touching his tongue like a chocolate-flavored meeting of sand and sea…

Hot cocoa always makes him feel better, and especially in this kind of weather, it would be perfect. He could dip his cookies in it, feel his stomach warm up like he imagines Bowser’s does when he prepares his fiery breath, and…be reminded of home.

Days like this remind him of snow days in the past spent at home with a nice steamy mug of hot cocoa, harmonizing moans of delight and laughing at the sight of marshmallow mustaches…with Mario.

Luigi sighs. 

He misses Mario. 

All he wants to do is get back to him, or even just to know that Mario is alright and have him know that he’s alright in turn.

The vision of his last moment with Mario presses itself in Luigi’s mind, but Luigi pushes it back through sheer force of will until it returns from whence it came.

It’s not a permanent solution – he’s not even sure how long it will work for, if he’s being honest – but Luigi will take what he can get.

Luigi knows he wouldn’t mind a distraction, but doesn’t feel like either seeking one out or asking Bowser for one.

It’s a weird contradiction of feelings, a sentiment he’s been encountering a lot lately.

Unghh.

Maybe he can kill some time with a nap. He always sleeps well on snow days. It’s the same thing with rainy days – something about being just on the other side of wet, less-than-hospitable weather makes him feel secure enough to take a deep rest.

There are worse ways to deal with the situation at hand.

Luigi closes his eyes, and for a moment, he finds the prospect of sleep physically beckoning to him, drawing him in as if to a pool on a hot summer’s day.

It’s almost enough to work. Luigi feels his breathing slow, his thoughts quiet, his body truly relaxing itself.

However, sudden sounds of strong, familiar footsteps deprive Luigi of that final push to fall into slumber’s embrace.

Luigi opens his eyes, preparing himself to ask Bowser to quiet down a bit.

That, however, is when he sees what Bowser is doing.

Bowser’s in the kitchen area. Luigi would find that none too weird – Bowser does love pizza, as should anyone who’s the least bit sane – but he’s holding a bowl, a big metallic bowl.

Luigi’s seen Bowser use a plate plenty of times since their first slices of pizza in New Donk City, and they both know there are no shortage of plates left of what they got back in the Metro Kingdom.

He sees Bowser inhale, through both his nose and mouth.

Then, the spot of orange by his throat glows, his scales made practically transparent through its brightness.

Luigi’s up in a flash. 

He yells at Bowser to stop, and is just fast enough to get Bowser to abandon his fire breathing before a single flame is released. Luigi grabs the bowl in Bowser’s hands, and by some miracle manages to remove it from his grasp, tucking it under his right arm.

With the Odyssey saved from danger, Luigi calls on Bowser, nearly yelling as he does so, to explain exactly what it is that he thinks he’s doing. Bowser, seemingly not the least put off by what was just barely avoided, simply shrugs and says that it’s cold, speaking of it as if blowing fire in a bowl is the most natural thing in the world before asking Luigi what’s the problem. 

Is he serious?

Bowser can’t be, and yet his expression – confused, perturbed, and looking at Luigi almost as if he’s crazy – quite clearly states otherwise.

Luigi, still yelling – albeit in a way that reminds him of his mother’s voice when she used to catch Mario sneaking in stray pets – argues that lighting a fire inside their only way home is hardly the best remedy for a chill!

Albeit undeniably annoyed, reluctantly, it seems, Bowser abandons his plans for the bowl, walking away from the kitchen area; for that Luigi gives an unashamed sigh of relief.

Maybe now he can get his nap up and running.

However, before he can do more than hope for that, Luigi sees that Bowser, while leaving the kitchen, doesn’t return to his seat on the bed.

No, Bowser instead approaches the closet, and Luigi realizes in a second that this isn’t the end of this matter.

Oh, no. 

Is Bowser going to throw his outfits out of the ship to the vast unknown of the stormy Snow Kingdom as revenge for stopping him from possibly lighting the Odyssey on fire?

That’s not fair!

Bowser takes one of the outfits out of the closet – the brown suit.

No!

Luigi wanted to wear that one! Why does Bowser have to destroy it?

However, within seconds, Luigi sees that that’s not what Bowser does.

No, Bowser doesn’t toss the outfit outside – he instead tosses it onto his bed.

It’s not the only outfit to meet such a fate. Once he’s done with the brown suit, Bowser next takes another outfit and then another, with yet another quickly joining the fray. 

One by one, Bowser takes them off their hangers and throws them onto his bed until the closet is empty.

Luigi opens his mouth to ask Bowser why he's doing this -- it's been well established by now that no clothes in the closet fit Bowser and that unless the Odyssey has a trick or two left unshown up its propellers, that’s not about to change.

Then, something hits Luigi with the force of a diamond bullet train hitting a brick wall.

He feels like an idiot for not realizing it sooner.

Bowser is a reptile.

He’s a magical, talking, fire-breathing reptile, sure, but he’s a reptile nonetheless.

Outside of the ones he’s faced in this realm, Luigi doesn’t know a lot about reptiles.

That said, even he knows one of the cardinal rules of basic reptile biology.

Reptiles are cold-blooded.

For as uncomfortably cold Luigi is now, he knows that there’s a world of difference between how his own warm-blooded body reacts to the cold and how Bowser’s cold-blooded one does.

A literal kingdom of snow is incredibly dangerous for a Koopa like him on a good day, and the continuing storm means that this near-evening is fast proving to be as bad a day as days tend to come.

The knowledge makes Luigi’s next deduction pretty simple.

Bowser is using the clothes as essentially a collection of miniature blankets. 

The Odyssey isn’t packed that well for certain weather; its warmest offerings are the light blanket on Bowser’s bed, and some of the closet’s outfits, neither of which can do much in the face of the Snow Kingdom’s wrath, especially for someone Bowser’s size.

Luigi's sure that the combined forces of the blankets and the outfits are helping, but they also don't look to be enough. Bowser, now sitting on the bed once more, has covered himself with the blanket and is hugging all of the warmth that it and the clothes provide close. However, despite what looks to be Bowser’s best efforts not to show it, he’s still clearly shivering his scales off.

It’s a helplessness that’s different from what he saw back in the Lost Kingdom, when Luigi found him trapped on his back. This helplessness is more prideful, more dignified, and theoretically better concealed. 

Unfortunately for Bowser’s ego, it’s not concealed well enough.

They have to do something about this. 

Bowser’s condition is serious and can’t be ignored, no matter how much Bowser might – and no doubt will – try to do just that.

Luigi still insists that lighting a fire in the Odyssey is too dangerous. If one thing was to go wrong – one slip of the bowl, an errant foot against its metal, a guard too lowered – he and Bowser would find themselves stranded indefinitely in a kingdom whose very climate is hell-bent on Bowser’s demise.

It’s not happening.

Fine, but then what else can warm Bowser up, at least enough so that he survives until some more proper means of warmth can be procured?

And then the idea strikes.

…Oh.

This idea, this insane idea…it could work – it will work, he’s sure – but Luigi is terrified of implementing for fear of…well, fear of everything, he supposes. Of course, Bowser’s response or even retaliation to it makes up a good chunk of the reason for his reluctance. However, it’s not all that. 

Just the thought of enacting his idea with Bowser…it makes Luigi’s body feel like it doesn’t notice the very chill that’s necessitating this plan in the first place, like bursting into flames is a very real, and frankly presently very welcome possibility.

Still, it is a practical idea, Luigi’s not about to combust any time soon, and given Bowser’s condition and the all of nothing that they have to work with on hand until this blizzard clears, it’s Bowser’s only real means of safety.

Of all of the things that he could ever expect to do with Bowser for their team up…this certainly is beyond even the wildest of possibilities his brain could come up with. 

Mamma mia!

Bowser’s going to kill him. 

He’s going to die.

…

Well, if he’s going to die, it’s at least going to be from doing something heroic.

Mario will be proud of him…maybe.

No, he will be, even if it does become moot once Mario kills Bowser for killing him.

Is a circle of death what he wants?

Luigi takes another look at Bowser, clothes tattering his body as if patches on the blanket, shivering.

He’s pretty sure he heard a clack of his teeth.

It looks like the risk of a circle of death is one he’s just going to have to take.

Here goes nothing.

With a small stutter, Luigi calls Bowser’s name. Not a beat passes as Bowser looks at him, his ruby-colored gaze intense. Luigi can’t stifle the gulp he lets out, but still approaches. Bowser’s making a futile attempt to hide how cold he truly is, putting up a neutral front of an expression despite clinging to his cloth-based sources of warmth. 

Bowser repeats that he’s cold, though minimizes how cold he is through an aloof shrug, telling Luigi that he’s just going to have to deal with him using his clothes for the time being, but Luigi waves it off, telling him that it’s fine. A low inquisitive hum comes out of Bowser.

When he’s right in front of him, Luigi implores Bowser to not get mad at what he’s about to suggest.

Bowser stares at him, confused and skeptical, but a firm look from Luigi that he’s, to no one’s surprise more than his own, able to muster up states his insistence. Bowser huffs, but doesn't say anything, though not removing his eyes from Luigi’s. It’s a little…no…very intimidating, but Luigi takes that as as good of a sign as anything else and goes to say his piece.

Luigi takes a breath and opens his mouth.

Nothing comes out.

Anghh!

Fine, he knows he’s a little worried about how Bowser will react to this, but it’s to the point he can’t even speak?

Oh, this is awful!

Luigi tries to talk again, but the results are the same.

Bowser prompts Luigi to speak, giving him an inquisitive, yet still intense stare.

Doesn’t he know that’s not helping?!

Luigi gives verbal communication one final go, only to hear his silent failure repeat itself.

This can’t be happening.

But he can’t just not say or do anything!

Well, if he can’t say anything.

Oh, no…

So, with three unsuccessful attempts at his back to explain himself and a panic at the pressure from Bowser as well as himself to do something, Luigi just decides to do what he has approached Bowser to do in the first place.

Here goes nothing.

Turning around so as to have his back to Bowser, Luigi gets on the bed and sits directly in front of him. 

Luigi’s back just barely touches Bowser’s belly before the retaliation starts.

Frankly, Luigi’s surprised that it took even that long.

Perhaps he should’ve given a verbal explanation a fourth try.

Four is a magic number, too, right?!

Bowser yells to Luigi to explain what the hell he’s doing while trying to push Luigi off of him. Luigi, fighting the paws attempting to pry him off via his shoulders, finds himself finally able to summon words – groaning internally about how they couldn’t come out earlier – as he tells Bowser to listen to him. Bowser tells him that he tried to, and instead of saying something, he just sat in front of him. Luigi says that he knows that, but now he wants another chance to explain himself and that this is important!

It takes a few seconds for Bowser to stop pushing him, but he soon enough does, growling that this better be a good explanation before allowing Luigi to properly make his case.

Luigi, grateful for the return of his ability to speak, wastes no time; he points out that Bowser’s cold-blooded. Bowser, smirking so hard that Luigi doesn’t even need to see it to sense it and even giving a little dark chuckle as he speaks, tells Luigi that he’s obviously cold-blooded. 

Sighing, Luigi elaborates that he means cold-blooded biologically, bringing up the dangers of a reptile being in the cold with little heat available, that he's already showing signs of chilling, ergo his use of the clothes and shivering. Luigi interrupts Bowser’s clear attempt at defending himself by saying that he’s not just cold, but freezing, and he knows that, no matter how much Bowser tries to hide it, earning a low, yet weak snarl from Bowser in return. 

Continuing, Luigi says that his body heat, as reluctant as the two absolutely are to both share and accept it, will keep Bowser from freezing out overnight. He tells Bowser that it’s just until the storm clears. Then, he’ll go get him some warm clothes or blankets so they won’t have to do this again. For now though, they’ll need to share body heat, and that's the simple reality of the situation.

Looking at Bowser, Luigi can tell that he’s searching for an argument to counter Luigi’s, but is blustering. 

He can’t help but relate – it’s not like he didn’t try to find alternative solutions; they’re just without the means for any of them.

Bowser starts stumbling over his words. 

Knowing what that means, once more, Luigi finds himself relating. He’s fighting the urge to put his face in his hands from the sheer embarrassment of what he and Bowser need to do – he has no idea what Bowser wants to do, outside of pummeling him into a green smoothie. 

If not for the pain, he would almost invite him to do it.

Finally, after a long, long minute, clearly resigned to his fate, Bowser growls to Luigi that no one is to ever know about this. 

That’s no problem whatsoever for him.

They both agree to Bowser’s condition, and Luigi, heart thumping into his and Bowser’s settled choice as he does so, scoots further back in Bowser’s direction.

Some decisions in life aren’t as hard to make as others.

And some decisions, while not difficult to make, can feel nearly impossible to handle once they’ve been made.