#this chapter is quite bleugh

[koji-haru]

Time Travel AU Part: 23

A slowly warming blanket of light graced over Adam’s skin, still cool from the night’s embrace; the increasing soft shuffling and sweet melodies by birds attempting to hush the starved cries of their chicks delivered the news of the incoming day. Adam shifted in his sleep, the day’s brightening rays kissing his eyelids to open and welcome the morning. With fluttering eyes preparing to greet the morning light, Adam slowly woke up, but instead of meeting the garden of paradise’s pink-blue sky, soft feathery clouds and silken morning rays, he was instead greeted by a pair of bright green eyes staring curiously down at him.

“Oh, you are quite pretty!” 

Startled by the new and unfamiliar sight in front of him, Adam jolted up right from where he lay down, colliding his forehead hard with the new person above him. He let out a pained hiss as he felt the throbbing pain on his forehead with careful fingers, which no doubt looked very red at the moment and was most likely going to bruise. It was as if he had collided with a solid brick wall, with the other party seemingly unaffected by the accident while he carefully nursed his quickly bruising forehead.

“But very jumpy and clumsy,” the other person continued as if they hadn’t just collided quite literally head first with the first man. 

“Who..?” Adam was about to ask, but knew who the other person was as soon as he looked up and finally got a good look at them. Short, silky hair that flowed like caramel, sparkling green eyes always full of curiosity, enhanced even more by long feather-like eyelashes of brown and gold. It was another angel, specifically, the messenger of God, the archangel Gabriel. Or, as Adam used to call him: ‘the annoying, but fun parrot’.

“Hello Adam! I’m Gabriel! It’s nice to finally meet you,” Gabriel greeted eagerly as he moved closer towards Adam, firmly shaking his hands with an enthusiastic smile. 

Adam hummed in response, pulling one hand away to tend to the still painful throb on his forehead, already feeling a small bump forming on it. “Nice to meet you too, Gabriel,” he mumbled, quite annoyed to have been woken up like this.

“Oh, that looks painful. Here, allow me…” Gabriel leaned forward, placing a careless hand over the bump on Adam’s forehead, causing the first man to wince a little. A soft golden glow emitted from his hand, leaving a brief cool feeling over Adam’s forehead, and just like that, both the bump and the throbbing pain were gone. “Better?”

“Better,” Adam slowly nodded. 

“Good!”  Gabriel said as he plopped down onto the grass, patting the space beside him, an expectant look directed at the first man. 

Meanwhile, Adam remained standing in front of the eager angel, looking at him knowingly as he contemplated whether or not he should put on a nice facade in front of the angel. Unlike with Michael, Adam actually knew quite a few things about Gabriel in his previous life. God’s messenger was a curious, fun-loving angel who liked to stick his nose in everyone’s business - the gossip. In a way, Gabriel was quite similar to Lucifer; the carefree and whimsical attitude, the love and curiosity for new things, even with some of the childish antics. Unlike Lucifer, however, Gabriel was extremely loyal to Heaven; most things he tolerated until it went against Heaven, then he would be terrifyingly stern and uncompromising. For all his happy, cheerful attitude, Gabriel could be one of the more terrifying archangels when the situation called for it. 

Hence, here was Adam, carefully thinking about his next words and actions in front of the angel. Still, he reminded himself, Gabriel was generally friendly and tolerant of most things, except for disloyalty against Heaven, and was definitely way more casual than Sera. In fact, he did enjoy the few times he had Gabriel’s company back when he was an angel. 

Adam mentally took a deep breath, having made up his mind; he hoped that this Gabriel was still mostly the same as he had known before. For now, he decided to play along with the angel’s curiosity without revealing much with his words until the angel expresses knowledge of certain things. And so, he followed suit, sitting on the spot the angel had reserved for him as he met those bright green eyes with an outwardly suspicious, yet curious look. 

“So,” Adam began, “what brings you here? I haven’t seen you before.”

A small look of surprise sparked in the angel’s eyes before being quickly replaced by intrigue as a pleased grin formed on his lips. “Ah, quite the shrewd one, huh? I can see why my brother has taken a liking to you!”

Oh. A small wave of relief, that Adam didn’t even know he needed, washed over him over the knowledge that Gabriel knew of him and Michael and yet seemed to have no problems over it. Adam shuffled on his spot, slightly leaning back on his arm, now more comfortable with the angel’s presence. Still, one question lingered in his head.

“Um, how many angels know about..?” Adam asked.

“Oh, a few angels here and there,” Gabriel casually revealed with a nonchalant wave of a hand. “He’s not really one to outwardly share his privacies, but it’s not like it wasn’t obvious anyway. Especially with how eager he always seemed to visit the garden and the little trinkets he always brought back with him.”

Oh. Wonderful. Perfect. Fantastic, even. Really, it was good news for Adam to hear that Heaven seemed to permit whatever was between him and Michael, however, he also wasn’t too keen on the idea of a few angels knowing of his ‘thing’ with Michael because then that would lead to many curious eyes just like the one currently before him. 

“So!” Gabriel clapped his hands together as he leaned towards Adam, curious sparkles shining brightly in his eyes. “I’m here to see the human that got Michael so preoccupied!”

A certain kind of numbing, yet bothersome denseness already began to form in Adam’s head as he foresaw the nuisance this revelation brought to his future in the garden of paradise. He really didn’t want to deal with pesky, nosy angels…

—-

“I am not answering that,” Adam replied adamantly, an appalled look all over his face as he paused midway reaching for the teapot.

“Why not?” asked Gabriel, a disappointed pout on his lips, brows furrowed as he seemed genuinely confused. 

“Because no, and I’m not changing my mind,” answered Adam, absolutely resolute in his decision, as he offered to pour another serving of hot tea into Gabriel’s wooden cup. 

“But you skipped so many of my questions already!” Gabriel tried to argue whilst handing over his cup to Adam. “You’re too secretive!”

Far too absorbed in their back and forth, the two hadn’t heard the fluttering of wings going down from the sky nor had they noticed another presence making its way towards them until finally a calm voice called out to them.

“Gabriel, you really shouldn’t pry into others’ business,” Michael said as he made his way towards the two. “Especially if they don’t want to share,” he continued, tilting his head slightly to the side as he gave a quick look over to his younger brother. “What are you doing here anyway?”

Gabriel flashed him a grin, “Oh, I just wanted to see what got the usually stolid Michael so happily preoccupied lately. But I see it now!” He quickly finished his remaining drink and gathered the ‘supplies’ Adam had packed for him before abruptly standing up, brushing the invisible dirt away from his robes, and patting Michael by the shoulder with an annoyingly proud look on his face. 

“I’ll be leaving, then! Thanks for the restock, Adam!” he said as turned back towards Adam, both waving the pouches of tea he received and waving the human goodbye before turning back to Michael with a teasing sparkle in his eyes. “I don’t want to intrude on your privacy.”

Then, with strong flaps of three pairs of copper and teal wings and gusts of wind, Gabriel had left the garden for Heaven, leaving a very much puzzled Michael still standing on the same spot, and an Adam relieved of the burden of having to dodge unnecessary and odd questions. 

“Well that’s a relief,” Adam said as he released a tired sigh, plopping down onto the grass, feeling its soft freshness against his skin as if draining the exhaustion away from his body. It wasn’t as if he disliked Gabriel, in fact he found him and his stories rather funny, but the ever constant curiosity about him as a human was quickly draining Adam, especially when he tried so hard to evade certain questions that might reveal his secret or were simply too prying. 

“I’m assuming he talked your ears off,” commented Michael, amusement in his voice as he glanced over Adam’s dramatically supine form on the ground. 

“Ughh, I don’t want to remember,” Adam groaned in an exaggerated manner as he waved his hand randomly in the air before letting it fall back on the grass, patting the patch next to him.

“Yes?” wondered Michael as he made his way closer to Adam, looking down at his dramatic display of exhaustion. In response, Adam simply wordlessly motioned for him to come even closer, and so he did, wondering what his human wanted to tell him. And as he leaned down, Adam quickly grabbed his arm and pulled him down into a warm embrace, his face buried between the human’s chest and arms causing his pale face to become tinted with a faint gold.

“You’re late today,” mumbled Adam. 

While Michael couldn’t exactly see Adam’s expression with the way he was held, he was almost sure that his human was sulking. A gentle warmth blossomed from his chest, spilling out as a small smile gracing his lips, at the idea of Adam possibly missing his presence. 

“Sorry, I was kept busy with the mess I–,” Michael suddenly gasped, pushing up away from Adam’s embrace as he remembered what Gabriel had left with – lots and lots of pouches full of a variety of teas and maybe even more. “Adam, how much did you give Gabriel?”

Adam looked up at Michael, a little surprised by the sudden change of the atmosphere, but decided to answer the question anyway. “As much as he wanted, why?”

In truth, Adam knew precisely why Michael had asked as he watched dread creep and slowly overtake the expressions on his angel’s face. He understood from Michael’s account last time that many angels didn’t take the sudden caffeine consumption too well, and that there was a bit of a chaotic mess in Heaven as a result. But really, he just thought it would be funny if he gave them even more choices, with some containing more caffeine in them; he even taught Gabriel how to brew them so that he could get the most ‘boost’ out of them. On the bright side, at least he felt nice enough to not have provided Gabriel with coffee, not yet anyway – he wanted Michael to try the new things first. 

“Oh Father…” sighed Michael, already feeling tired just thinking of the consequences of Adam’s generosity. He couldn’t, no, he didn’t want to even think about the chaos that it would bring, especially knowing Gabriel and his tendency to somehow be everywhere and share everything.

“Is something the matter?” asked Adam, feigning innocence.

“...maybe…” was Michael’s defeated reply. 

“Aw, come here,” Adam pulled the angel back down to him in an embrace, petting his head gently, his long fingers threading between the soft wavy locks, caressing him in a way he knew soothed the angel. Did he feel bad? He did a little bit, but he just couldn’t help but want to stir a little trouble in Heaven, even indirectly. But he supposed he should ease up a little for a while, otherwise he would exhaust his angel a little too much; though he wouldn’t mind if Michael escaped to the garden more often, it should be fine to escape from one’s duties once in a while, right? Adam would know, he did it a little too often during his time as an angel in Heaven.

Adam shuffled a little bit, one hand fishing for something in one of the pockets of his new robe. He knew just how to cheer the angel up. “Here, something I made for you,” he said as he placed a small charm shaped like a star on Michael’s palm. 

On Michael’s hand glistened a star shaped charm intricately carved out of opal and carefully decorated with small sapphire stones with a fine silken thread looped around the bail. 

“Just something I thought you might like…” Adam explained, his gaze shifting randomly as a warmth crept up his cheeks and his heart began knocking against his ribs. 

“I love it,” Michael said, his voice as tender and warm as the morning rays, his blue eyes shimmering with sincere joy and appreciation like an ever expansive ocean under the bright sun as he handled the small charm with all the care and tenderness in the world. 

“It’s nothing really…”

“Thank you, Adam,” he said with a smile like the loving kiss of dawn as it brought about promises of a new day. And without even realising it, Adam slipped and fell further down.

Part 22

Part 24

[valiantstarlights]

[The Proposal AU] The Bachelorette Party

Previous Chapter: The Babymaker Blanket

I told @valeriianz I imagined Corinthian being the stripper character in this AU, and this is me having no self-control because I just started writing about it as soon as I said it. 😂 (Also tagging @voukkake because this AU is inspired by her art. 😊)

The song playing at Dream's bach party is Pony by Ginuwine because it's the most stripper-y song I could think of rn 🤷‍♀️

CW: Stripper Corinthian, strictly hobsexual Dream, tabletop games, and as a treat, seductive Dream (towards Hob) 😏

"Bye, Hob!" Jo calls as she drags a very confused Dream behind her. "We're going to see Cori for Dream's bach party!"

Dream hears a crash from the kitchen as Hob rushes towards them, still holding a potato peeler, looking wild-eyed and frantic. "You're going to see Corinthian? For Dream's bach party?"

"That's literally what I just said," Jo says as she starts to put on her shoes. Dream just stands between them, baffled at Jo's flippancy while Hob looks increasingly apprehensive. "You gone deaf or something?"

"Absolutely not," Hob says. "Dream--"

"--is allowed to have a bach party organized for him even when you declined to have your own," Jo continues. "And besides! I wanna get some calamari from The New Inn after. We'll be back soon." She glances at Dream and smiles innocently. "Or maybe it's just me and Gran who will be back soon."

Dream turns to Hob. "Corinthian?"

"He's a part-time stripper," Hob says.

"A very sexy one," Jo adds. "He might make you rethink marrying my brother, actually."

Dream doesn't know who this Corinthian fellow is, but he definitely, definitely thinks he's not going to cheat on Hob with him. Even if he and Hob aren't actually a real couple.

"I doubt it," Dream says to Jo. "I am quite set on marrying your brother." To Hob, he says, "I will be back soon, my love. Do you wish for me to get you anything while we're out?"

"No," Hob says. There's an intense look in his eyes that Dream doesn't know how to decipher. "I don't need anything else. I just want you to come back home to me."

Dream...doesn't quite know how to handle that, but he's pretty sure the tips of his ears are getting redder by the second.

Jo makes a retching sound. "Both of you are disgusting, but I'm still taking Dream to his own bach party. Now come on! Even Gran is already there!"

"I'll see you soon, love," Hob tells him, and leans forward to place a gentle kiss on his cheek. His eyes are dark, and more than once Dream sees him glancing down towards his lips.

He nods mutely, wishing he had the courage to reciprocate--for pretend purposes, of course, since Jo is considered part of the audience they're trying to sell their romance to--but in the end, he does nothing and just puts on his shoes before turning around to follow Jo out of the house.

--

Corinthian, it turns out, is the flirty waiter from the welcome party.

"I thought you were a waiter," Dream says as Corinthian slowly stalks towards where he's sitting in the middle of the stage, sexily taking his shirt off. Around them, people (mostly the women of the town) started hooting and hollering as Corinthian's muscled upper body is revealed, and he bodyrolls a little to the music, one hand on the backrest of Dream's chair.

"I can be anything you want, dreamboat," Corinthian says huskily. Dream cringes at the nickname, but allows Corinthian to dance nearer. "No? Too on the nose?"

"Quite," Dream says. "Do you really have to do this entire routine?"

Corinthian shrugs, but even that looks seductive when paired with his half-lidded eyes. "It pays the bills better than being a part-time waiter."

Dream sighs as Corinthian starts grinding and humping the air in front of his face. Dream understands that he must endure this for the sake of wedding traditions, but the music playing over the speakers irritates him, with the hook sounding like someone saying 'bleugh' over and over again.

"This doesn't do anything for you?" Corinthian asks. When Dream shakes his head, he chuckles but still very professionally continues his routine. Dream blanches as Corinthian moves his pelvis closer to Dream's face--still not making physical contact, but definitely too close for comfort. "A pity. 'Cause, not gonna lie, dreamboat, you're pretty cute."

Dream lifts his left hand where Hob's fake engagement ring sits prettily on his ring finger.

Corinthian just lifts both his hands up in a peaceful gesture, then starts unbuttoning his trousers and swaying side to side, his long legs straddling Dream's thighs. More hoots and cheers as Corinthian unzips and teasingly runs the tips of his fingers over his bulge.

"Noted," he says, as the song keeps 'bleugh'-ing in the background. "But feel free to spank me anyway. It'll get me extra tips for the night."

Dream doesn't like the way Corinthian winked when he said the word 'tips,' but what he says next is even worse. "And hey, I promise I'll try my best not to cum when you do. Your fingers look so pretty I want to choke on them."

"This is sexual harassment," Dream says futilely as, with a single rip of the fabric, Corinthian tears his trousers off completely and throws the ruined clothing towards the crowd, where Grandma Johanna successfully catches it one-handed.

"Spank me," Corinthian says to Dream as he starts to gyrate in front of his face again, this time while running his hands over his abs and pecs. "Before they inevitably peer-pressure you to do it."

"What?"

Right on cue, a large beefy guy in the crowd yells, "Spank him!"

"Smack his ass!" an old lady's voice adds. Dream recognizes it as Grandma Johanna's friend Betty's voice.

"Give him a proper lap dance, Cori!" Jo shouts.

Corinthian helpfully turns around and bends over, looking over his shoulder coquettishly as he gives Dream quite the view of his toned legs and shapely buttocks. His black thong doesn't really leave much to the imagination, especially when he's bent over like this. "Go on, dreamboat," Cori says, smiling widely and lasciviously. "It's a show. But if it makes it easier for you, spank me like how Hob spanks you."

And. Of course, Dream thinks. Of course it's a show. This entire trip is a show, and he's supposed to be acting like his life depends on it. Because it does. His life--everything he built for himself away from his toxic parents, depends on how well he acts like the beloved fiancee of this small town's golden boy.

Dream imagines Hob, with his lazy morning smiles, and his strong arms, and his capable manner in the workplace. If Hob ever spanks him, it would be because of something Dream had done. Something unforgivably naughty. If Hob ever spanks him in a sexual way, it would be like--

Dream lifts his dominant hand and strikes Corinthian's ass like how he imagines Hob would spank him if he had been a brat all day. It's easy to imagine, because Dream often feels like a brat, especially when he orders Hob around unnecessarily, asking him to get complicated coffee orders and making him work overtime even when Dream is fairly sure he can get the work done by himself. It's just, Hob is so competent and amazing at what he does, and surely two heads are better than one. And if Hob sometimes unbuttons his cuffs and rolls his shirt sleeves up, exposing his forearms--

The sound echoes throughout the room, and Corinthian's small moan of "oh fuck," and "Daddy," is lost as the crowd goes absolutely wild.

--

"Hey," Hob says as Dream enters his bedroom. He's sitting on the bed with his back against the headboard, open book held in one hand. He doesn't look like he has made much progress. "Welcome back."

"You shouldn't have stayed up," Dream says as he looks at the wall clock pointedly. It shows that it's well past midnight. He and Jo just got back, with Grandma Johanna returning hours before they did.

Jo had dragged him over to The New Inn to get her calamari and, as luck would have it, it turns out that tonight is game night at the inn--a fact that Johanna definitely knows--and Dream was roped into playing Cards Against Humanity and half a dozen other tabletop games with names like Carcassone, which was probably inspired by the French city with the same name, and Tsuro, which means 'route' in Japanese.

(Jo called him a nerd when he took out his phone to get the English translation of the game's name.)

(And yes, apparently, Corinthian also part-times at The New Inn during game nights, where he becomes the DM to a group playing Dungeons and Dragons. Dream was mortified when Corinthian saunters up to him and leans over to whisper in his ear, "Fancy seeing you here at my other workplace, Daddy Dreamboat.")

(He's pretty sure Jo and everyone at their table heard everything.)

"Yeah, well," Hob says, which isn't much of an answer at all. "How was your party?" he asks, when Dream takes off his coat and hangs it on a coat hook behind the door.

"Exhausting," Dream replies honestly. He didn't think Jo would have that much energy in her body, but apparently, he was wrong. She must have drank more than ten cups of coffee before they went out today.

"Yeah?" Hob says, his voice sounding strangely tight.

"Yes," Dream says. "Your sister has too much energy and the appetite of a blue whale. She must have eaten three family-sized plates of calamari by herself, and beat me thoroughly at Sheriff of Nottingham. It's a pity The New Inn doesn't have Scrabble, or I would have decimated everyone at the table."

"Oh," Hob says, and now he sounds relieved. Dream is too tired to parse out what the tone of his voice meant at the moment, but he will definitely be examining it at a later time. "Yeah, no. I can't beat Jo at Sheriff of Nottingham either. She always knows when I have contraband cards."

Dream huffs a laugh as he goes to the ensuite, keeping the door cracked open a little as he changes his clothes and does his nightly routines. "I managed to smuggle golden apples past her tonight, and she accused me of trying to start a war, which was very nice of her."

"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself," Hob says from the bedroom. "Game nights at The New Inn are really fun."

Dream hums and starts washing his face. "I saw a game that looked promising on the shelves, but the owner wouldn't take it down for us to play because Jo already borrowed too many."

"What was the game?"

"Betrayal at House on the Hill."

Hob laughs a full-bellied laugh at that, and the Dream in the mirror blushes and ducks his head at the sound. "Of course it's Betrayal," Hob says. "Remind me to bring you to the New Inn next game night, and I'll play with you."

Dream's hand pauses as he applies his night cream on his face. He knows Hob meant 'I'll play with you' in an innocent way, but the note of warm laughter in his voice made the chill from Dream's bones melt entirely.

It's a sensation he did not feel even when Corinthian explicitly told him he wanted to choke on his fingers while dirty dancing in front of him.

He hurries to finish his nightly routines.

"So?" Hob asks, when Dream had been quiet for too long. "You interested?"

He is, but perhaps not in playing the horror-themed game they're currently talking about. Still, he says, "Yes," and is glad that his voice does not shake, even when his hands do as he arranges the creams and serums in his travel toiletry bag. "The game looks very intriguing."

"If you like that, then I think you'll love the other dark or horror-themed games available at The New Inn. Like Nemesis, which is...a lot, or Gloom, which I think you'll win every time. Or, hey, maybe they still have Unspeakable Words. It's not quite Scrabble, but Jo will agree to play because she adores the little Cthulhu minis."

Dream re-enters the bedroom just then, clad in Hob's old university shirt and his own side split shorts, and watches as Hob's Adam's apple bob as he takes him in. "Will you play with me?"

Hob blinks and his eyes lift from looking at Dream's legs to his face. "Wha--huh?"

Dream smiles. "All the games you mentioned," he says, then crawls into bed--not seductively, he doesn't think he can quite manage that, but slower than usual. More intentional. "Will you play all of them with me? Teach me all the rules and go easy on me?"

"Yeah," Hob says, and shifts a little to make more space for Dream on the bed. Or perhaps to shift the fall of the blankets over his covered lower half. Dream unconsciously licks his lips. "I'll...yeah."

"Then I'm looking forward to it," Dream says. Then, with the courage he lacked earlier that evening, he leans closer and kisses Hob's cheek. "Good night, Hob," he says, lips brushing against Hob's stubble, their breaths mingling together.

"Good night," Hob replies belatedly, when Dream is already lying in bed and has turned on his side so he's facing the windows. He turns off the lamp on his side of the bed and says in the dark, "Sweet Dream."

Dream smiles and subtly nuzzles against his pillow--Hob's pillow, which smells like Hob, and pretends that he's actually resting his head against Hob's strong chest.

He falls asleep with a small smile on his face.

[dingbatnix]

Blob

Chapter 2

Chapter 1

Ok, so filler chapter, yup, I wanna get the story rolling and don’t really wanna struggle through writing ‘bonding moments.’ Bleugh.

Anyway, enjoy!

Word Count: 1,419

Warnings: Mentions of abuse, general exile arc stuff, ect.

Blob was an…interesting creature, Tommy had realized over the past few days. It didn’t seem to need, or particularly want, to eat or drink, even when Tommy tried everything he knew to get it to do so. He had been worried, because Tubbo had told him once that smaller animals could starve to death in about a week if they didn’t eat anything, but that didn’t seem to be the case with Blob. Whatever the little creature was, it just…didn’t need sustenance at all. It didn’t quite seem to breathe, either, at least, not in a way that Tommy could tell. Its body never moved as if it were inhaling air, and it could chirp and make noises constantly without pause.

It could also communicate with Tommy. Not like, with actual words, of course, but more like with…intent. Tommy didn’t know how else to describe it, but sometimes he could just get a feeling from Blob, to do this, or don’t eat that, or sometimes even just a general fuck you feeling, whenever Tommy was particularly annoying towards the creature.

It was the weirdest feeling for Tommy whenever he did something like skipping a meal (look, he just didn’t feel like it, okay? There was nothing wrong with that) or when he forewent sleep, (There wasn’t any point to it, really. He didn’t like subjecting himself to the nightmares) because Blob would churr sharply at him, and a vibe of disapproval would just surround the tiny creature until Tommy took care of himself. Tommy tried to ignore the blob whenever it did that, he really did, but…Blob was really persistent, and it was nice that something other than Dream seemed to care for his general wellbeing.

Speaking of Dream…Tommy grimaced. The man still came to visit everyday, and the first time the admin had shown up, Tommy had nearly panicked and had to stuff the creature into one of his pockets before Dream noticed it. Blob had squeaked angrily at the action, but went deathly still when Dream had said hello. Tommy was very thankful for that. He guessed it knew the danger that Dream posed.

It had taken all of Tommy's acting skills to successfully hide the fact that he had the blob from Dream. For whatever reason, Tommy really, really didn’t feel like letting Dream see Blob would be a good idea. Unfortunately, Dream had noticed the teen acting strange, but Tommy had been able to play it off as him getting sick. It wasn’t too hard. He already looked the part.

Since that first day, Tommy had prepared for Dream's visits, and had a bunch of small boltholes to hide Blob whenever it was time for the man to show up. Oddly enough, Blob seemed to understand what Tommy was doing, both when he was making the boltholes, and when he was hiding it from Dream, and would sit, perfectly silent, in the hiding spot, until Tommy came back to retrieve it.

It was just another thing to add to the list of Blob’s oddities, Tommy figured.

Currently, he and Blob were deliberating over what type of wood Tommy could use for a new build he was working on. (It would probably be destroyed soon, but Tommy needed something to do, before he went nuts.)

“What do you think, Blob?” The tiny creature squeaked, butting its head against his neck. Tommy nodded, humming in agreement. “You’re right! Dark oak would look awesome. But…where would we get it?” 

He gently scooped the blob off of his shoulder, cupping it between his hands as he thought. “I know there’s some spruce in the tundra up north, but, ew, spruce.” Blob squee’d in agreement. Tommy grinned softly and brushed his thumb over its smooth head. “We could always sneak back to the Smp. I know there’s a dark forest over there. How, though…?” He paused, trying to think. Absent-mindedly, he squished Blob between his hands, eliciting a soft, alarmed chirp from the creature.

Tommy didn't notice, speaking over the small noise. “Do you think I could find a ruined portal to use to get over there? Or just, use it to go somewhere else? Cause I don’t think there’s any dark forests near here.” He gently squeezed Blob, deep in thought. It squealed, loudly, and started writhing between his hands. Tommy looked down, concerned. “Blob…? What’s wrong?”

It didn’t answer him, continuing to frantically struggle between his palms. It seemed like it was trying to get away. Like it was almost…scared. Of him. 

Tommy’s eyes widened, and he quickly dropped to his knees to set the blob on the ground. It hopped about a foot away from him before shuddering and seeming to sink in on itself. Tommy raised his hands uncertainly, guilt blooming in the pit of his stomach. “Blob, I…” He fell silent for a minute, mouth working mindlessly.

Finally, he spoke, having gathered enough of his thoughts. “What–what did I do? Was it–did I squeeze you too hard? Is that it?” Tommy shifted, shame worming its way into his chest while he watched his friend shiver on the ground. If he had hurt Blob because he wasn’t paying attention, because he was distracted, he couldn’t forgive himself. He wouldn’t.

Blob seemed to get a handle on itself, forcing its trembling to stop. It turned its head, slowly peering up at Tommy’s worried face. It meeped softly and bounced a little closer to the teen.

“Blob, I-I’m so sorry, I, I didn’t mean to squeeze that hard, I-I wasn’t thinking–” The blob meeped louder and hopped right up to Tommy’s knees. It meeped twice more, catching all of his attention. His brow furrowed as he watched it. Its body seemed to contract in on itself, and it shook its head.

“I…didn’t hurt you by squishing you?” Blob’s little eyes slanted, and it chirped loudly at him. It drew its sides in once more, until its body was about half the size it normally was. It trilled disapprovingly, shaking its head more vicariously. Then, it took a moment to reinflate back to normal and glared up at Tommy with slanted, angry-looking eyes.

It took Tommy a few more moments of thinking before it finally clicked. “Oh! You don’t want me squishing you? Like, at all?”

Blob chirped happily and bonked its head against Tommy's knee, happy that it had  gotten its message across. Tommy was bewildered, but nevertheless, he understood, and complied with the creature’s request. He didn’t want to hurt it, physically or mentally, after all.

Tommy learned a new thing that day. Blob had triggers. It had trauma. It was like an overly-abused dog it was like Tommy and if Tommy did the wrong thing, like squeezing it or raising it too close to his face or even gently scrubbing it with a damp rag so it could be cleaned, Blob would shut down for a good couple of hours, and on the worst episodes, for a full several days. Apparently, Blob squealing the first time was a one-time occurence.

Whatever had happened to the creature before Tommy had found it had been bad. That much could've been evidenced by the fact that it was being kept in a glass bottle, Tommy supposed, but not much else could lead him to that assumption. There weren't any physical markings of old wounds, not even where it had been impaled by the shard of glass.

That wound had all but disappeared. It was just a faint grey line now, and it would probably fade completely in the next couple of days. Blob healed fast, and apparently didn't scar at all. That fact gave Tommy a very disturbing thought. It had obviously been through some really awful stuff before he had found it. How many unseen scars did it really have? How much had it suffered?

Tommy didn’t think he wanted to know. The thought of someone hurting such a harmless, defenseless creature made his blood boil, in a violent way he shied away from. He tried not to think about Blob’s past too much.

They never did sneak into the Smp for the wood. It was too dangerous, or so it was implied by Blob. Tommy was still in slight disbelief about that, that the little thing had enough autonomy to warn him about things like that, but he wasn’t going to question it. The creature’s concern was nice.

It was nice that someone cared about him, even if that someone was a weird creature of unknown origins.

[sothischickshe]

talk about a notable time a narrative or character has looked you dead in the eyes and said “fuck your plan, here’s what we’re actually doing.”

👋💖😊

Oh gosh, I feel like one or both happens practically every time! Beth & rio are both so like unequivocally lame that however I try to write them they end up fundamentally less cool. And, I know I've complained abt it a lot already but, I thought Shattering was gonna be relatively short (when did I start thinking of like 30k as shortish?! 🤯) and mostly smut but then the narrative spiralled and it's like 140k and there's (ew) kinda plot (???) bc i. they're not cool enough to just get to it but also ii. I'm blaming the source material for giving me so much I wanted to fix n heal bleugh

But OK a notable time... Idk if it's quite an example of what the question is asking, maybe more like the narrative of my life intervening but fun fact so let's allow it?

I was gonna take a chunk of the ~needy rio pov of Shattering (mm, maybe chapter 2 or 3, idk yet) out bc i was finding it tooo ott, but then I was at a comedy show and jamali maddix got on stage (don't think he was on the bill, and he did seem to genuinely be having a really bad day) & basically did that bit almost word for word (just less American & thus more like how I'd express it out of voice, if that's in any way a term) so I was like OK, this can stay!

writey asks

[lyra-swan]

Hiiiii I know you're offline as I'm writing this but nevertheless I still felt like jumping into your inbox and word-vomiting for a second because I've been following Mechanical Angel for quite some time now and picked it up again recently and I just made it to part IV, god I'm having a blast. I can't wait to put all my full, extensive thoughts out there once I'm done but for now I need to stress that I'm just super impressed with both your writing style and the tone/ character development as a whole but the world-building in particular got to me gooood.

Am I right to assume that a lot of research went into this???? Because you can genuinely tell, to the point I literally felt transported to the places as you described them every time and the details are just so captivating to witness. It really feels like I'm reading a ww2 novel, I feel transported back into German literature class on occasion and it's just. Impressive???

Anyway thank you SO MUCH for putting this out there, I'm so happy Mechanical Angel (and all of your works) exist!! I've already noticed that there's another story focused on Natsume/Sora set in the same universe and I can't wait to finally jump into that one too once I'm done with MA. (Especially since Natsume is in my top 4# favorite characters but that's only a bonus)

Last but not least I am very mentally ill over Eimika now, congrats, I'm rotating them in my brain a very normal and totally not concerning amount, haha

May you have a wonderful day!!

Oh hi thank you so much!! I both loved and struggled with Part IV so much, but it was extremely fun to write, especially that dumb part in ch.38... I dunno if you've reached ch.45 but that was also very fun. I hope you continue to enjoy the rest!

I'm going to ramble like an old grandma again, adding a read more thingy so the post won't be a bother to scroll past for others.

In my opinion I don't think I've done enough research! But I'll always feel like that no matter how much I do so bleugh, nevermind. The scenery is typically based on my own surroundings but changed slightly to match an European feel... I think I wrote more in the last ask answer but it has a tiny bit of spoilers, I believe. The setting is a bit of amalgamation of my own country and europe because my own surroundings is what I'm familiar with, and of course although it's supposed to be inspiried by Germany everyone drives on the left side (I think I mentioned it in a chapter note) because I didn't want to accidentally trip over myself from a simple description of where a character turns their head. It's the Little Details that are important!

I say, as if I also didn't mess up a few details here and there because I started posting before finishing the first draft and so I couldn't edit the way I used to do for my previous longfics... But yes, it was very fun adding random bits from what I learned into the story because I used to love watching WW2 docs and laughing every time the nazis messed up and suffered a crippling defeat.

Like, I'd read about how they lied to their citizens that they were doing just dandy, and then have Wataru ask Eichi if he wanted more 'false reports of our so-called victories on the battlefield' to be published in the newspapers. Because that's the funniest shit ever to me...

Then one day I'd read about the nazis being among the first to connect smoking to bad health, and I'd add something like that in a conversation between Eichi and Tatsumi, they're not nazis obviously but because of the setting's inspirations that's where I got a lot of information (but you'll have a scene later on that's more Britain than Germany, so the fic truly is a amalgamation of different european settings during WW2). And of course, people are sceptical of new medical findings, that was mentioned. And the part where Eichi mentions 'common people are suspicious of IV drips' to Mika, that was a thing in the real world too.

I wonder if there is a single medical invention that wasn't regarded with suspicion by at least one person at first.

I kind of wish I had Eichi offering gold watches to anyone who quit smoking, it would've been funny, but eh.

And of course there are some things that don't make sense because this IS an alternate world so I DO have freedom. Like, even though this takes place generally in 1930s-1940s time, tranquiliser guns weren't invented until the 1950s (by a NEW ZEALANDER!!! Colin Murdoch. He's also the genius behind the modern day syringe, if I recall correctly), but you know, I added it in anyway because alternate world, alternate invention timeframes. I wrote that fog scene where Mika is shot by Midori while also sitting outside one dark foggy morning, and I liked the scene so much I kept it in.

Anyway I'm so happy you like the world-building! It was super fun to work on! I really like rural settings for world war stories... one of my favourite authors, Michael Morpurgo has that kind of vibe going on too, my bookshelf has a few of his books. So many dog and animal stories with themes of war lingering in the background if they don't directly deal with war and I love every one of them. They're all so full of emotion, they'd always make me cry. I love the stories that can make me cry and look back and think it was the most beautiful thing I've ever read and Morpurgo's works can do that A LOT. But also I'm very emotional...

And thank YOU for this! I'm always so happy hearing someone enjoyed what I wrote!

I still need to finish that natsusora fic. It was supposed to be a part of the main story itself but because it would've taken so many chapters, I was worried about 'forcing' readers through a side story that had no bearing on eimika. So I posted it as a separate fic! It takes place during that last chapter of Part IV so you can actually have a look whenever you've started Part V.

Natsume is very out of character, however. He's in his 30s and not really the cute feminine witchy boy that he truly is in canon (at least, that's how I see him), he's an engineer and really logical... but he hates Eichi with a passion, that's VERY necessary. Nevertheless, I try to write him as close to his canon self within the au that I've shoved him in and told him to survive in. Totally fine if you end up not liking it!

Excuse the rambling!! Thank you! You have good day!!

[collectionoftulips]

Just as a head's up the upcoming chapter of BSN isn't going to go up this evening the way I had planned. Partly because real life commitments but also, honestly, my mental health hasn't been great and I wanna make sure the second last chapter is as close to what I want it to be before I publish it. Right now, I could be writing anything and just feel 'bleugh' about it.

I know that the deadline I had in my head was just my internal deadline, but I've already started getting comments asking for me to keep writing and produce the next chapter etc, which is nice, but I just thought I'd give you a head's up to pre-empt (hopefully) any more. I'm still writing but the output is just a little bit slower because my real life commitment are currently in a phase where they are demanding more of my time (plus, the last couple of chapters, I think, have been quite taxing to write and I haven't really realised until now a bit after the fact).

I know you all are OK with things taking a bit of time, but I thought I'd let you know either way because I do like writing these mini updates (though I know there haven't been as many of them of late)

[writergeek]

It’s hard for Damian not to feel like the ride back to the Cave is triumphant. Like he’s a Roman General returning after conquest.

(accidentally skipped posting this chapter, so.... bonus chapter time!!!)

~~~~~~~

It’s hard for Damian not to feel like the ride back to the Cave is triumphant. Like he’s a Roman General returning after conquest.

Finally, he is contributing, instead of being stuck in school or reading cold case files. Bleugh. He hates cold case files. He’s not quite sure what lesson Father is trying to teach him by making him read them, but he does know that he is not learning it.

They only frustrate him, and so he sees no point in continuing the torture.

Instead, coming back to the BatCave feels like he is an ancient Roman General, bringing back the spoils of war. He is all-conquering. He is mighty. He is brave. He is—

Oh.

There’s just Drake in the Cave.

He has an audience of one to his triumphant return.

Whatever.

He can and will milk this audience for all it’s worth. This is a triumph worth celebrating.

Continue on AO3 or read the whole thing from the beginning.

[banalbones]

The Petite Prince: Chapter 2

Chapter 1, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, 7, 8

Chapter 2: VeeVee and Mama

Summary: Roman is a child. Virgil doesn’t know how to deal, and apparently, neither does Logan.

Words: 1227

Genre: Fluff with a side dose of angst

Warnings: A few swears, falling, arguing, tell me if there’s any more!

Taglist: @pricklyfish777, @sunflowerblondeuwu, @itriedandimtired

                                     ̴

Logan felt a tug, intent on pulling him to Roman’s room.

Ugh. What do these ignoramuses want now?

He straightened his tie and sank down, ready to deal with yet another idiotic confrontation.

They’ll use me to prove a point, or something of the sort, and then I’ll be pushed aside.

Like usual.

He rose up in the princely side’s room and caught sight of Virgil.

“What do you need, Virgil? Also, why are you in Roman’s roo- Holy shit.”

Because there in Virgil’s arms, was a small child of about three years of age, happily tugging at the emo’s hair.

Logan tended to avoid being near the sides when they regressed, for fear of dealing with emotions.

“Is that Patton?” Logan queried, before spotting the pile of princely clothing on the floor.

Well shit.

“No, it’s, ah, it’s Roman,”

Logan’s eyes widened and he opened his mouth to comment.

Virgil beat him to it. “I know, I know. I don’t know why either.”

Virgil then proceeded to shake his head about, causing Roman to squeal in delight.

“Look over there Princey. It’s Logan!”

The creative side turned his head to see him, and smiled brightly, a small gap showing between his two front teeth.

 He looked to Virgil.

“VeeVee!” He pointed at Logan. “I wanna go t’ Mama!”

Logan’s brain short circuited. Mama?

Oh no.

Cuteness.

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

Virgil almost squealed (almost did, but not quite. He had a reputation). VeeVee? That’s the best nickname the prince had ever given him by far. Also Mama? Logan was going to shut down, for sure.

He glanced over to see an astonished looking Logan. If only he had his phone, that picture would have been excellent for blackmail.

“VeeVee! Mama!” Roman repeated, his voice whiny.

Right, giving Roman to Logan. He didn’t really want to. What if Logan dropped the precious bean he was holding?

“VeeVee!”

Virgil inwardly sighed. Oh well.

“Yeah, yup, don’t worry, giving you to Logan now,” he muttered, reluctantly passing the child to Logan.

If he does anything to hurt him, even accidentally, I will kill him myself. Somehow. After making sure that the bean is safe.

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

Logan held Roman.

“What. The. Heck. Why is he so small? And why on Earth did you call me for this?” he hissed to Virgil.

“Cause I don’t know what I’m doing!”

“Me neither!”

All the while Roman was nibbling at Logan’s tie.

“Bleugh!”

Both side’s heads turned to face the Prince. Well, at least Virgil’s did.

Logan looked down to find the three year old grimacing in disgust, and then his tie covered in drool. He sighed. Disgusting.

“Why did you attempt to eat my tie? It’s made of fabric. It was sure to be unpleasant. Did you not know it was inedible?”

“I dunno. Why d’you ask so much stuffs?”

Logan, for a moment, was speechless. Though it was a terrible sentence, it was surprisingly adorable.

He looked to Virgil, who smirked and shrugged.

Logan took a breath and sighed.

“Because there is an infinite amount of things in this bizarre, massive universe and I would like to know as much as I possibly can before my inevitable end.”

A bit morbid, but it was the truth.

“Fair ‘nuff.”

A bit simple, but it was enough.

Roman then giggled at Logan’s expression, and snuggled his face in Logan’s chest.

“’Kk Mama.”

Logan and Virgil stared at each other. Then at the petite prince in the logical sides arms. Then back at each other.

What did they do now?

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

Roman, after snuggling into his Mama’s chest for a bit, got bored. Sure, affection was nice and all, but the floor! It was so red! And it looked reeeeeally fluffy. Why did big him never want to touch it?

He wriggled his way out of Logan’s arms, seeing that he and VeeVee were staring at each other so intently.

He landed on the floor with a soft whump. The fall had been higher than he anticipated, but it was fine. He wasn’t dead.

He then sat down and poked the red stuff. It was super soft, but it wasn’t that interesting.

Roman giggled as he got onto his feet, stumbling slightly as he struggled to regain his balance. Time for an adventure! He hoped that VeeVee and Mama would join him.

Off w’go!

The small royal toddled away, completely unaware of the havoc he had caused in the room behind him.

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

Virgil heard the soft whump as the child hit the floor, his gaze immediately latching onto the prince.

“Logan!” he called menacingly.

“What? Oh.”

The logical side looked away from Virgil to the lack of child in his arms.

“Should we go after him?” Virgil asked expectantly.

But…then again, what if Roman didn’t want them to follow him? What if he wanted to go on a solo quest? Would he cry if they followed him? But what if he hurt himself- what if he fELL DOWN THE STAIRS?

Quickly deciding that the pros outweighed the cons, he looked back to Logan who had seemed to come to the same conclusion.

They nodded and glanced back to where Roman had been.

Wait- Had been?

Oh shit, we lost him. It’s been like less than ten minutes and we’ve already lost him. We must find the bean!

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

Logan could scream.

Thank god he was only a metaphysical human being, and not a real one. Taking care of children was harder than it seemed.

“Virgil. Where did he go?”

“How should I know? He was just there a second ago!” The emo replied, gesturing anxiously to the empty space where Roman had been.

Logan rolled his eyes.

“I knew that. We need to go after him. He could get hurt.”

“I’d already thought of that, specs. Thanks for reminding me.”

“Did I identify a hint of sarcasm there?”

“Yes, you did. But- whatever! We need to get Roman, remember?”

“Of course I remember! I’m not a chimpanzee.”

“Chimpanzee?”

“They are extremely forgetful creatures.”

“I thought that was goldfish.”

“No. It has actually been proven in a study by-”

He was cut off by a loud wail.

How had he forgotten about the Prince so quickly? It seemed he did actually have the memory of a chimpanzee, which shouldn’t be all that surprising given that it is a species of macaca fascicularis-

“Lo, snap out of it.”

Ah. Yes. Time to find the now sweet, lovable Roman.

Oh dear.

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

Virgil sighed as he saw Logan’s eyes glaze over. If he went too deep in thought they might never find Roman.

“Lo, snap out of it.”

“I believe the sound came from the bottom of the staircase.” He responded automatically

No. Nope. Not the staircase. Please not the staircase.

The two rushed out of the room and down the stairs, their steps echoing throughout the mindscape. But when they reached the bottom of the stairs, no one was there, lest not the minuscule royal.

Well, shit.

“Virgil, I believe we have majorly fucked up.”

“Ya think?”

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

The two were so focused on looking for the Prince (or in Virgil’s case, planning on the most inconspicuous way to murder Logan and then himself for lOSING THE BEAN- (Excuse that.)) that they completely missed it.

Because there, on the edge of the bottom stair of the staircase, was a small blob of shiny green slime.

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

[talesfromthecycle]

Vengeful Chapter 3: “Outburst

Nessa jolted awake with the sound of metal clashing and echoing from beneath her in the tower’s floors below. With a glance over she saw that Mair’s bed was already empty and a clear mess had been made on the path to the stairs. Without a second thought, she leapt out of bed and rushed down the spiral stairs until the context of the situation revealed itself. 

Mair stood poorly fitted into a chestplate with a clutter of ornate decorative weapons strewn across the stone floor in front of him. He looked disheveled and energetic as he held a silver tipped pike in one hand while struggling to adjust the unfitted armor that he wore.

Nessa sighed both with relief and annoyance. She glanced out of an open slit in the tower wall to see the crystal lights of the city were still fairly dim, “What are you doing messing with all of this stuff so early in the morning?” Nessa lightly scolded through a yawn as she stepped down the stairs approaching her little brother.

“Sorry sorry, I just couldn’t help myself. You said we could go to the guild on your day off and I couldn’t sleep last night and-” Mair lit up with excitement, interrupting himself as he tripped over the clutter around him, undoing a majority of the straps on his chestplate.

“I know I know, we’re going. But we can’t just take anything from the manor. If someone recognizes anything from here, we can get in trouble. Besides, the guild will provide what we need for the exams.” Nessa calmly explained as she tied her long hair into a ponytail and proceeded to clean up the mass of decorative weapons that littered the floor.

Mair stood, eventually sitting down on the cold stone floor to undo the rest of the straps of the armor hanging off of him. Prying the plate of metal off his chest, he brought his knees up to his chest and studied the point of the pike. The carved designs have long since faded. The only discernible mark were a pair of initials carved in the elvish language, KM.

His sister looked up from the cleaning up to see him sulked upon the ground, she quietly released a sigh under her breath and stood over Mair nudging him on the shoulder, “You can bring the pike.” Her brother returned to his lit up expression which infectiously spread to Nessa, “Just don’t break it again, I’m going to start charging you for mending that thing back together.”

Mair leapt to his feet and gave Nessa a quick hug before rushing down the stairs, “Thanks sis! I’ll be careful this time!”

Nessa was left alone in the middle of the tower with the scattered armor and weapons still surrounding the floor. Mumbling to herself, she settled to deal with the mess later as she returned up the stairs to get ready to leave for the guild. Before she made it up the stairs, she noticed an armor stand that her brother had dragged in and knocked over. An idea popped into her head as she quickly gathered her tome and wand from her satchel and headed back down to the cluttered floor.

Deep breaths, in and out. Nessa flipped through the pages of her tome as she stumbled down the stairs above the room. She ended her search near the beginning of the tattered book and kept her finger locked to the page. She held the tome in one hand while the other guided her through the details of the spell, her wand forced to remain held in her teeth while she situated herself. Finally she grounded herself and held the tome open while her wand aimed to the knocked over armor stand.

Nessa’s gaze nervously shifted from her target to her tome until focus finally found her and her breathing slowed. A violet shine radiated from her wand and wrapped the magical apparatus and her wrist in a faint glow, wavering and encompassing like a bubble blown in a slight wind. The purple glow slowly crawled from the point of the wand through the air, approaching the armor stand like a snake to its prey. The glowing cloud of mana swallowed the wooden frame little by little until it too was encompassed by the faint fog.  

Her hands shook ever so slightly as she raised her tome hand in an arc, her breaths became more erratic as she made the motion. With her motion, the armor stand slowly picked itself up with a slight tremble. Nessa’s grip tightened over her wand as she noticed the slight trembling grow fiercer. Struggling to correct the situation as she failed to find breaths. Her focus was lost in an instant as the armor stand dropped back to the ground, with the violet mist fading away into the air.

Silence fell over the room, the page of the tome crinkled slightly and the grip on Nessa’s wand tightened to a near snapping point. In a lashing outburst, Nessa whipped her arm as a threat to throw her wand against the stone wall. In the same moment, a scarlet and violet flash of energy washed over her hand, the armor stand was thrown across the room at the wall.

Nessa jumped back as the wooden frame shattered against the wall. She briefly stood in confusion and awe at what she did before a stinging feeling stung at her wrist. A shallow scar started at the base of her palm and ran down her wrist with intense pain. With a swear mumbled under her breath, Nessa covered the strange scar and returned upstairs to prepare, silently vowing to clean up the mess later without a word to her brother.

In less than a half hour, Nessa stepped outside ready to join her brother on the short trek to the guild. She pulled back the long sleeve of her jacket and checked the scar on her wrist, it had faded surprisingly fast but a faint outline of it still remained. 

“Gods, what took you so long? I felt like I’ve been waiting forever.” Mair complained leaning onto the metal fence with the pike slung over his back. He opened the gate and kept the lead throughout their walk across the system of bridges to reach the heart of Eil’Drawwt.

“Quit your whining,” Nessa playfully shoved him forward and adjusted her newly repaired satchel, “I have much more to worry about than just lugging around metal on a stick.”

“Psh, Whatever.” Mair scoffed and rolled his eyes, but got distracted as they approached the first bridge. He sped ahead and leaned over the ledge to look at the guildhall down in the ravine. “I still can’t believe we’re gonna get an apprenticeship at the guild.” He remarked with giddy anticipation.

“You’re awfully confident, just do your best in whatever test they throw at you and it should work out just fine.” Nessa giggled and continued past her brother.

“You think they’ll actually extend the invitation for the both us, sis? I’d feel pretty bad if I just swooped in to take your chance.”

“Didn’t I tell you not to worry about that? Hell, I think you’d be lucky without me constantly fussing over you.” Nessa shifted to a babying voice to tease her younger brother.

“Bleugh, you’re right. You’re better off as a mom than an adventurer.” He teased back as they both laughed over the exchange. Playfully bickering as they made their light trek through the morning traffic of the city. 

In a matter of time they arrived at the main entrance of the guild hall. The bridge led forward through a path lit with mana fueled flames to an opened grand door made of an olive colored wood framed with silver edging. A flank of armed and helmed guards checked the emblems of each soul passing through. The traffic picked up to an extreme hustle as the hundreds of adventuring teams awoke to set upon what quests were laid before them for the next day, week, or even few months.

Nessa paused briefly which inclined her brother to stop and check as well, “Everything alright, sis?” He asked with a hint of concern.

“Yes yes, I’m alright.” Nessa laughed it off and continued forward towards the entrance, keeping a tight grip on her satchel as the guards took notice of the two visitors without emblems. 

The guards were lightly armored from the shoulders down, but the steel helms they wore formed the visage of a surface beast that gazed diligently as if prey stepped before them. The grip on their spears remained firm as one had approached to address the two strangers. “Hail, what business have you sought?”

Nessa froze for a moment, before finally clearing her throat and responding, “We were invited for an apprenticeship opportunity. Specifically by a demifai named Hela.”

Silence fell over the conversation for a mere moment, the guards looked to each other as if confused, “You said you were invited by Hela? As in the leader of the Crimson Shield?”

The elven half siblings’ hearts stopped at the same moment, they remained stunned until Nessa finally snapped back and responded through nervous stammering, “Uh, well yes. We met a few days back, and um, she failed to mention her status at the guild to be entirely honest.”

“Ah, right.” The guard remained stalwart but spoke with slight doubt in his voice, “Follow me and I’ll set you up to meet with Director Veridan to sort this all out. He handles the apprenticeship program.”

The guard waved the siblings forward and they both nervously nodded and followed several paces back.

“Are you serious Nessa?” Mair leaned in and whispered to his still panicked sister, “What could you have done to impress the highest ranked adventurer around these parts?” He pressed on with shock and denial with hidden fascination.

“I didn’t do anything I swear,” Nessa whispered back, matching her brother’s tone of bewilderment, “I didn’t even piece it together that she was from Team Crimson Shield, gods I had no idea. I should’ve seriously noticed.” 

The two continued to wrap their heads around the situation but Nessa’s attention is turned away as they traverse through the guild hall. The brick stone floors echoed with their footsteps as their paths were lit by sapphire flames from the torches on the marble walls and pillars. The duo made their first steps into the main hall which expanded to connect the entire guild. A spiral staircase led down through every floor of the fortress as the bustle of workers, guards, and guild members all worked to form the perfect image. Cogs in an efficient machine, the portrait that matched the wild expectations of the life of adventure Nessa had dreamed of since she was a little girl. She stood in the middle of it all, a moment she had dreamed but never expected.

“Hey, you good?” Mair had snapped her out of her daydream.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Nessa smiled back to him and gestured to the scene around them, “It’s just a little surreal this whole situation is, I still can’t believe I’m standing here right now.” 

Before Mair could respond, the guard had stepped aside as he led the others to their destination. Standing confidently and with his hands delicately and politely held behind his back, a night elf man who looked to be in his 15th decade, yet still possessing of a fierce glare and fit form. The individual kept a stern stare focused on the two siblings as he took notice of them.

“I am ecstatic to hear of your enthusiasm over The Hidden Star guild,” His words were kind but they were spoken with a lack of intent and emotion that failed the impact of his greeting, “I hope you enjoyed your tour, unfortunately it appears there was a mistake. I’ve heard nothing from the Guildmaster or Lady Krisofft about such a circumstance. Go ahead, on your way now.”

“What!? My sister was invited by Hela to join the guild, you can’t just send us away without confirming anything!” Mair retorted back, upset by the older elf’s rude attitude.

“I have all the confirmation I need, every morsel of thought and information passes through me first you see,” The Director continued to talk down to Mair as Nessa stood in a nervous silence, “I hope this misunderstanding can be swept under the rug and forgotten, completely. Now shoo.”

“Please, sir,” Nessa spoke up but choked up slightly as the full attentive gaze of The Director shifted to her, “We’ll be willing to leave as you wish, but if you could give us any benefit of the doubt, we’d be immensely appreciative.” She concluded, waiting to be shut down when his response was cut off by a shout from across the grand room.

“Hey Saul!” A cheerful voice rang that turned the conversation in its direction. Hela had waved and greeted the group from afar and approached alongside a short and stout old dwarf dressed in a long coat and a braided black beard that reached down to his chest. “Oh cool, looks like you met Nessa already. And this must be her brother, now the both of you can join in. A pleasure to meet you dude.” She waved to Mair who stood starstruck but ended up nervously waving back to her.

The Director cleared his throat before addressing the intrusion, “Forgive me Ms. Krisofft, are you saying that you recognize these two?” He shifted to a much more polite tone as he spoke to Hela.

“Well duh, I already told Guildmaster everything.” She obliviously responded with a grin on her face while the dwarf next to her nodded.

“Guildmaster,” The director’s voice heightened in pitch with disbelief and annoyance over the situation, “Is it true you knew of this and did not inform your trusted advisor?”

The dwarf scratched at his head for a moment and pondered, “I think I might’ve forgotten to ol’ chap. No harm done in the end, start some trials for these youths,” The dwarf turned to face Nessa and Mair, “Hela here told me the two of you couldn’t make it to the last apprenticeship exams, the least I could do to alleviate the incredible debt we owe to her is to give that chance to you both.” The Guildmaster laughed heartily and offered a handshake to the two siblings, both accepted graciously. “Good luck on your trials, I’m afraid I have an unimaginable and taxing duty to attend to. Paperwork.” He laughed once more and left on his own path.

Director Veridan stood silently during the exchange. He sighed and addressed the siblings once more with a seemingly forced smile on his face. “It looks like there was a lack of communication in the end here, follow me to the guild’s training grounds. There we can test your mettle to see if you’re both a fit here at our guild as apprentices. I hope we can put this misunderstanding behind us.”  

Mair scoffed and rolled his eyes but Nessa accepted the apology with a smile and half bow. The director led the way through the winding halls of the guild as the siblings followed with Hela close behind to observe the trials for herself. Passing the personal quarters of the guild members and the multitude of facilities available, the group eventually reached an open aired battleground that led to a beautiful underview of the city built on the ravine. 

Several teams of adventurers gathered together there to spar and practice drills in the expansive space provided to them. Nessa observed in awe at the battles that raged on the field before her. The combatants for the most part fought with wooden training weapons except for a couple that caught Nessa’s eye. A demiserpus with a copper blade held in one hand while the other was held behind his back sparred and kept the defensive against a full blooded serpus, a scaled snake like man with a long tail, who pursued his target with a steel two handed axe. The two battled with ferocity and without fear of the sharpened weapons they lashed at each other while the group approached them. 

 “You two!” Director Veridan yelled over the commotion of the training grounds at the serpus and demiserpus. The two stopped their duel and as they paused, a green glow visibily radiated from their weapons. Nessa recognized the magical glow as a dulling enchantment that was customary for adventurers to use to spar or to spare their opponents. 

“What’s the deal, Director? I was just about to close that victory out.” The demiserpus snarkily complained while resting the copper sword on his shoulder casually. 

“A momentary interruption, I need one of you to spar this one here,” Veridan motioned to Mair who gripped at his pike ready to prove himself, Veridan’s hand waved over Mair and his weapon, the ring on The Director’s hand flashed with green sparks as the weapon was bathed in the same enchantment that the others possessed, “I’d prefer these makeshift trials are over quickly to not hinder my schedule. A short round of sparring will be enough for me to judge your potential.”

“You can do it, brother,” Nessa encouraged him before he stepped forward, “Do your best, and it’ll be enough. I’m sure of it.” Her brother gave a confident smile and nod in thanks as he stepped up to the snake-blooded duo. 

The demiserpus sheathed his sword and stepped away from the soon to be battlefield, “Sounds good, boss. Go ahead and make it quick, Kross.” The serpus nodded and held his axe up with a deep breath.

The director stood off to the side as judge to the battle, his hands rose and he called for the duel to begin. Despite the command given, both combatants remained still. The serpus observed Mair for an opening while Mair waited for his opponent to make the first move. In a spontaneous moment, Kross pounced with his axe held behind him ready to swipe at his target. Mair lunged in response and jabbed the pike into the serpus’ open chest. Both of their weapons connected with their targets with a field of verdant aura that halted the blades from striking at their skin. Yet the concussive force of their attacks knocked each other back to square one.

They traded blows, back and forth, avoiding the clashing of their blades in favor of landing the strike that would finish the battle without care of the damage and wounds that would follow onto them. A vicious offense against unfailing counterattacks as each warrior refused to fall until their target was already on the ground. 

“Gods, it’s like a wolf and its reflection. They keep going but just don’t make any progress but wear themselves out.” Nessa sighed and watched as the serpus and her brother both ended up going for an overhead strike, only to meet their blades and immediately disengage to go in with a new approach.

“That’s Kross for you,” Hela responded while keeping her gaze fixed on the battle, “He’s one of the apprentices that joined last year, he’s prone to going all in as you can probably tell.”

The fight approached its conclusion as Mair stumbled back with gasping breath. His grip loosened as he struggled to remain standing. Kross stood in a significantly better state and prepared to finish off the duel. He approached and reared back with his foot raised to kick Mair down. 

Mair saw his opening and reached for it, his grip on his pike was released completely as the kick struck directly into his gut. Just before Mair was sent collapsing to the ground, he grappled onto Kross’ leg and tripped him off of his balance. The two of them crashed onto their backs at the same time with a loud thud.

“An impressive display,” The Director interjected as the two struggled to rise to their feet, “Once your sister finishes her part, I’ll prepare the written segment for the both of you. As for you Kross, and by extension Rex,” Director Veridan addressed Kross and the demiserpus on the sidelines, “Keep up with your training, I haven’t forgotten your recent failures.”

“Come on boss. You can’t hold this against us, that was a total fluke.” The demiserpus named Rex rebutted through gritted fanged teeth. Kross simply kept silent with his head low and returned to his teammates side.  

“We’re not discussing this now.” Veridan dismissed the apprentices and led the group to an empty corner of the training grounds. “Now then, Nessa was it? I can sense the residue of mana on you, I can only assume you’re expecting a test of magic?” 

Nessa paused while Veridan continued walking and stopped several meters away from her, “Yes, what should I do sir?” She stuttered slightly in her question as she reached for her tome and wand in preparation. 

The Director raised his palm as a cyan bubble formed a shielding ward around him. The magic pulsed from the ring on his hand to form the abjuration in front of him, “I’ve created a weak shield around myself, cast against it from this distance to prove yourself.”

Nessa nodded and gazed at the target in front of her. She flipped through the pages of her tome and found a simple spell she could use to attack the ward The Director had put up. She raised her wand out in front of her to aim and focused to create a bolt of mana to fire off. Sparks and flashes of violet energy coalesced at the tip of Nessa’s wand to form an orb of erratic mana convulsing and ready to burst. With a deep breath and a moment of hesitation, the bolt of mana was loosed from her control and was flung at the ward. The bolt whizzed forward but lost its path and ended up careening into the air until an outside force suddenly paused its momentum completely. The bolt fizzled out in its paused state into nothing.

“Thank you Master Wright,” Veridan addressed someone near Hela and Mair that Nessa had not noticed. She turned back and saw standing close to Hela was a black coated human with curly scarlet hair and an eyepatch concealed over his right eye. The man said something to Hela but the words were blocked out as panic set in for Nessa. “Try one more time, Nessa.” Veridan waited for another attempt as Nessa’s hands began to shake. She struggled to find her rhythm as her wand rose once more and attempted to charge the bolt of mana. Nessa felt the whispering voices of those waiting for her to either pull through or fail miserably. Her heartbeat escalated to cloud her hearing as she felt the eyes of the entire training ground on her. Her focus was erratic and lost, the orb of mana she sent without consciously thinking had faltered in its path and hit Veridan’s ward with a pathetic gasp as it sizzled out of existence.  

In an attempt she made without realizing, Nessa had failed and watched as Veridan’s ward was cast down. He said something and shook his head disappointingly. Nessa could not hear over her heartbeat. She believed to have seen Hela and the stranger turn their attention elsewhere to ignore the scene and saw her brother’s admiration burn away. Yet her head was locked forward and her focus could not leave what was in front of her. The dreams and hopes she carried through her life shattered and fell away into the abyss of doubt and failure.

The eyes that stared and looked down upon her seared upon her skin as a surge of mana rushed through her arm. Only her body knew what to do as her wand was dropped and a continuous beam of scarlet and violet magic poured out from her hand and pulsed towards Veridan like a bout of raging flame.   

Veridan had barely noticed the beam approaching and recast the ward to shield himself. A flash and cloud of smoke enveloped the area. Nessa came back to her senses as the dust settled. She quickly pulled her now burnt sleeve up to reveal her scar had reformed and traced her veins all the way back to her upper arm. With quick movements she attempted to conceal the damage as she shifted her attention back to The Director. He stood shocked and yet wearing a smirk on his face. His ward was almost completely shattered from the devastating spell.

“Well done. You had me worried there for a moment, in more ways than one,” The ward dropped as he put his palm down, “Let’s move onto the written segment, afterwards I can show you to your new living quarters.” He added on confidently.

Nessa nodded and kept her arm pressed to her body hoping no one had noticed. Mair had rushed up to his sister with a tackling hug and lifted her up happily, “That was awesome, sis! I didn’t even know you could do something like that.”

“Yeah I have to say, I wasn’t expecting something like that at all,” Hela praised, “Even my teammate was surprised by that.” She attempted to refer to the man beside her, but he wasn’t anywhere to be seen. “Huh, strange of him to disappear like that. Well good luck on the boring part of apprentice exams, I think I’d fall asleep if I tried to support you through that.” Hela giggled and waved goodbye to the siblings.

Nessa was put down by her brother and they both waved off Hela, “Thank you again for this opportunity.” Nessa showed her gratitude sincerely which warranted Hela’s fanged smile to shine through as she gave a wink of understanding before finally exiting.

The siblings proceeded to follow where Veridan had left off to but Mair suddenly paused in a panic, “Crap! I left the pike over on the battlefield, I’ll catch up just keep going!” He ran off which led Nessa to chuckle briefly as she left into the halls of the building.

Just as she was about to turn a corner, she felt a grip on her arm as her burnt sleeve fell to reveal her scarred arm. Nessa snapped to the assailant, the scarlet haired human who stood at Hela’s side. She jerked her arm away but the damage had already been done. The man with the eyepatch saw the strange scar in its entirety.

“Hey! What’s your problem?” Nessa attempted to hide the scar once more by crossing her arms and stepping away.

“Just confirming my suspicions,” The man who was called Wright answered, his voice was soft yet threatening as he brushed aside his blood red hair out of his good eye, “Don’t be so stupid in the future. What you pulled was no correct or effective way to cast. You could hurt yourself.”

“Thanks for the warning.” Nessa sarcastically dismissed the man and turned to walk away, she briefly looked back to find he had disappeared just as before. Nessa took one last look at the burning scar that traced her veins before finally leaving to follow The Director. The sting of the scar on her arm followed her throughout each step into her new life.

[s-horne]

Bedtime story (Steve/Tony)

(I reached a mini milestone and I thought I’d celebrate with a little fluff piece of Howard Stark’s a* parenting and Steve being a cutiepie)

Tony yawned, curling further into Steve’s side as he sighed contededly. Sam laughed and reached his leg out to kick at Tony’s side. 

“You young things, can’t stay up past 9.”

Tony stuck his tongue out when Steve chuckled along with him. It was a running joke that Tony was the baby of the group, despite being a month away from 21. Everyone else in their little group of friends was at least 26, having graduated college and settled into jobs and apartments already. 

Steve and Tony had met completely by accident when Steve had gotten lost looking for Bucky’s little sister on the college campus and had run into Tony. Quite literally run into him, actually. Books and papers had gone flying as Tony hit the floor. Steve had held out a hand to help Tony up and that was it; they’d been inseparable ever since.

“‘M not young,” Tony muttered. Steve bent and pressed a kiss to the top of his head. 

“No, you’re not,” he said placatingly, smiling into Tony’s messy hair when Tony preened. 

“Anyone want a beer?” Bucky called from the kitchen, poking his head out and around the door. 

“Me,” Sam said, holding his hand up when Bucky threw a can at him, pulling a face when condensation dripped on him. “Thanks.”

“Tony?” Bucky asked. 

Tony mumbled something into Steve’s shoulder and Bucky laughed. “I’ll take that as a no.”

Steve grinned. “I think that was a no, you’re right. I’ll have one – a real bottle though, I’m not drinking that cheap crap.”

Sam rolled his eyes and Bucky disappeared back into the kitchen. “Sorry, your highness. I enjoy this cheap crap.”

“And that’s fine for you. I, however, value my tastebuds.”

“Here you go,” Bucky came into the living room handed Steve his beer, dropping down onto the couch and throwing his legs up into the coffee table. “Anyone want chips?”

“What did you bring? I only want salt and vinegar.”

“Oh my god,” Bucky muttered, chucking a pack at Sam and reaching for another. “I live with a bunch of divas. Any other requests?”

“For you to be quiet,” Tony muttered into Steve’s armpit, startling a laugh out of him. 

“Sorry, sweetheart.”

“Yeah, sorry,” Bucky said with a roll of his eyes, “you big baby. Do you need me to read you a bedtime story?”

“A what?”

Steve looked down at Tony and repeated what Bucky had said. Tony lifted his head and scrunched his face up. 

“A what? A story about a bedtime?”

Steve’s expression dropped into one of confusion as Bucky furrowed his brow. “A bedtime story.”

Sam set his beer down on the coffee table, shoving Bucky’s leg out of the way. “You never had a bedtime story?”

Tony’s gaze flickered between the three of them and something shuttered down. “Am I meant to have had one?” He felt like getting defensive, but he didn’t know what he was getting defensive about. “What...”

“It’s a thing for kids,” Sam said slowly, far too gently, “when they’re in bed, you read them a story.”

“Like a, a book?”

“Well, yeah.” Steve stroked his hand over Tony’s hip softly. “A kid’s book. They’re short and full of colours, not much plot but happiness and warmth. Meant to send the kid off to sleep happily. They usually fall asleep half way through.”

“And the kid reads it? Like, a novel?”

“No. The parents read it.”

Tony’s head turned to Bucky and his face was utterly crushed. “The parents? Your parents read it?”

“Well, yeah.”

“They’re only short,” Sam said and Tony turned away at the look on his face. “Not novel length. But yeah, our parents read them when we were kids.”

Tony looked up to Steve. “You too?”

“Yeah.” Steve swallowed and let out a sigh. “Ma would tuck me into bed, pull the blankets right up round my chin and put my teddy by me. Then she’d sit next to me on the edge of the bed and I’d cuddle up to her side. When I was a little bit older she’d sit by the side of the bed instead, and she moved onto longer books. A chapter or so a night of things like Harry Potter.”

“Huh. Well. How about that?” Tony made to stand up. “Well, I’m gonna–”

Steve hooked his arm around Tony’s waist and pulled him back down, holding him close until he relaxed and fell into the embrace. 

“You never had one, huh?”

Tony shook his head at Bucky’s question, dropping his gaze to the rips in his jeans. “I never really had anyone to read one. There was always J, but he wasn’t allowed to spend too much time with me. Not in private at least – I wasn’t to be coddled. We were always in the kitchen or in the garden with Ana, but I put myself to bed most nights.” He paused and shrugged. “From the sounds of them, Howard probably would have said they were too babyish anyway. I should have been reading a textbook, if not writing my own.”

“That’s stupid,” Bucky said angrily, “you were a kid.”

Tony turned even more into Steve’s body, shoulders tensing as he tried to hide himself. Steve waved off Bucky’s sheepish look and the way he opened his mouth to apologise. 

“Hey, sweetheart,” Steve murmured to Tony, “Ma still has all of my old books in the loft. She said she needed to keep them for any grandkids I was gonna give her, but I know she’s been itching to get them down for months now. She’d give anything to go through them again – bet you she’d even pull out the albums too.”

There was a moment of silence before Tony’s soft voice, so timid and quiet. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“She wouldn’t think it was stupid?”

Steve scoffed and Tony huffed a tiny laugh. “When does my Ma think anything you do is stupid?”

“Will you ask her before we go on Sunday?”

“Sure, babe.” Steve dropped a kiss to the top of Tony’s head. “I’ll ring her tomorrow. Now,” he turned to Bucky and held up his hand. “Chuck me a bag of chips. Which ones do you want, Tony?”

Tony sniffed loudly and took another second to collect himself hidden in the safety of Steve’s side before he lifted his head. “Chicken. Always chicken.”

“Bleugh,” was the only warning Tony got before Bucky lobbed a bag across the room. “Chicken sucks.”

“And yet you bought them,” Tony snapped back cheekily, discreetly sniffing again as he repositioned himself. Steve lifted his arm and let Tony curl underneath it as he pulled open the bag, holding it between them. 

“Yeah, well, I…”

When Bucky trailed off, seemingly having no response to that, Tony let out a bubble of laughter.

“Want one?” he asked Steve, taking a handful and offering the bag up.

Steve smiled and bent to eat a chip from Tony’s hand, laughing when Tony pulled away in disgust.

“Hey! Those are mine,” Tony said, but relented when Steve pressed a line of kisses down his face, starting at his hair line and finishing just under his chin.

“You two are disgusting,” Sam said, chucking chips across the room at them when Tony turned to connect their lips. “Get that out of here.”

“Oi! I bought you those – stop wasting them!”

Tony blushed as he pulled away and Steve rolled his eyes fondly when Sam and Bucky started to bicker. They sat there quietly for a moment just watching as the other two poked and prodded each other, Steve reaching out and munching on chips every once in a while.

“Hey,” Tony whispered, pressing closer to Steve’s side but not looking up at him, “Thank you.”

“No need to thank me,” Steve said just as quietly, not drawing attention to them as he pulled Tony almost onto his lap, “you deserve the world.”

[galactic-pirates]

WIP Wednesday

OMG I nearly forgot again!

I super want to do this because I’m hoping I can pump myself up, you know get pumped! Because I want to do all the things but just bleugh heh, the old fake it until you make it right? :)

So let’s do this thing!!!!

Ok friends, what shall I talk about this week? I mean it’s super tempting to blather on about everything that I really really hope is upcoming but hey let’s not split the focus too much, let’s bring it down.

PAINTING LAYERS OF LOVE

Ok there you go, that’s my thing, that’s what I’m going to try and get pumped about this week, whoop whoop!

Guys, guys, guys, I can’t say it’s been 84 years because it’s been 2 years or longer, quite frankly I have lost track at this point but but there has been movement. End of October I planned out probably around the next 5 chapters I think I reckoned. Then beginning of THIS month I wrote the first half of the next chapter.

Yup that’s right, there is half a chapter after 2 years *rolls eyes at self*

No, no, no negativity self, glass half full and all that, half a chapter is better than no chapter. So what’s upcoming? Let’s try and get excited! But without spoilers! Yeah this is hard.

Ok so we left things with a looming trip to an art studio. Actually considering it’s been so long should I do more of a recap? Hmm ok. The story - Neal made a deal with Gold that if his dad took a 3 month sabbatical off work, then he would go back to college and finish his degree and let his dad pay for it. So Gold moves into the cottage next door to Belle in the picturesque countryside of an indeterminate location (there are lavender fields and that’s kinda it, pick your country of choice *cough*).

Belle was in a car accident a couple of years ago, she lost her mother and her eyesight. Her dad was driving and couldn’t take the guilt and she hasn’t seen him since shortly afterwards as he can’t face her. She vacationed in the cottage as a kid and moved in and basically never left. She spends her days painting and reading, in a nice little bubble where nothing upsets the controlled environment she has created for herself - but then Gold arrives.

Gold’s arrival makes Belle confront issues she had been avoiding, and she in turn makes Gold take the sabbatical more seriously. He had just been doing it to pacify Neal but he starts to realize that maybe Neal had a point. Anyway change is hard, there are arguments and meltdowns and lots of tears and tea. Both Belle and Gold decide that they want to try to face what scares them and personal growth. Hence Belle’s decision to take Gold up on his offer to go to this art studio, which is where we left things in Chapter 10.

As for what happens next? Shall I try and do an episode tagline thingy because #NoSpoilers. Erm ok - next time on Painting Layers of Love Belle’s world threatens to shrink even further, Gold calls Doctor Hopper and makes a mistake which will echo out for the next few chapters probably (I have a sort of arc planned).

So yeah this is still a thing. Coming ‘soon’ TM, to a screen near you :)

[yuuana]

GOOD THINGS:

new liquid cooling system for Ryu’s CPU arrived today, its packaging is quite shiny

I finished the first draft of chapter 9 of SWG

I don’t have to go anywhere today

Less good things:

my outline for SWG stops three scenes into chapter 10

I’ve never actually installed a liquid cooling system

it’s still raining and damp and bleugh outside

[elliotthezubat]

DEATH CITY DAYS CHAPTER 58

fuuuck yoooou kohaku aanbaaaaa~

and the impure king

also papa chuuya is best chuuya

Stein: *sips* valentine: *writing down notes* Stein: "Okay..." *draws a line on the chalkboard* "That's it." valentine: hmm? *The chalkboard has a few symbols: a flame, a foot, a soul...* valentine: what's that? Stein: "Biology. An understand of so many abilities..." valentine: ah. Stein: "...Just about there...and then...then... valentine: hmm Stein: "...Something is missing. There is this connection between these abilities..." valentine: how so? Stein: *taps the chalk between the soul and the fire* "Weapons and fire users seem to draw upon similar energies in similar ways..." valentine: ah. like elemental alignment? Stein: "Yes..." *opens an exorcist book* "...There has to be a connection..." -elsewhere- Chuuya: "Hmm...What'd you get for #4?" ochako: great wall of china. Chuuya: "Yes. But I can't get the year on it..." ochako: what about you, iida? Iida: "7th Century BCE." ochako: ah. mikami: i-i guess that makes sense? ryuuko: hmm... Iida: "And who was blocked by the Great Wall?" sayu: the hunny nut cheerios! Chuuya: ._.; sayu:...sorry~ i forgot breakfast this morning. ^^; Chuuya: "Order something?" mikami: i-it's ok sayu. you can have part of our bento. sayu: awesome! thanks mikamika! mikami: ^^ *her smile is soft, almost like rain's had been...* Chuuya: Q\\Q *covers his face with his book* ryuuko: *staaaaare* Iida: "...Close reader." ryuuko:...*holding mikami close* mikami: eh? r-ryuuko? .///.; Chuuya: *sweating, still staring at the book covering his face* -elsewhere- Tsukiyo: "Commander still under the weather?" fang-hua: a bit. Tsukiyo: "D'aw, that's too bad...Doc saw him?" fang-hua: *nods* Tsukiyo: "Hope he recovers soon--Konro seems stressed." -elsewhere- rowena: well, that should be everything. Poe: "..." rowena: hmm? is something on your mind? Poe: "I-I don't know..." ???: well, look what we have here? freak one and freak two out an about~ rowena: ??? *turns* kohaku: heh. Poe: O~O kohaku: out in the middle of the day? im kind of shocked. rowena: you're that aanba girl i've heard about, arent you? kohaku: holy shit she got it. someone give this bitch a fuckin medal. Poe: "..." *stare* kohaku: nyeh? the fuck are _you_ staring at? trying to think up some riddle to stump me? yeah, from what i hear, you try to do that to that detective, but it never works~! rowena: ?! Poe: *opens a book...* kohaku: and what about that clerk? do you really think she gives a single ounce of a shit about you? you're just a pathetic loser who only has a raccoon for a friend! how about you do us a favor and just drop dead? Poe: "I-I could suck you into a world of your worst nightmares!" kohaku: oh? and what will that do? nothing. because you're still going to be a piece of shit who cant even beat one of the greatest minds he's ever encountered! Poe: "I-I-I can suck you in!" kohaku: i can see you trembling, and you're stuttering. you cant do a single thing to me. you're nothing. nothing but a waste. rowena: ....*gripping fist* Poe: "I-I-I am-" kohaku: you're a freak! a freak of nature who couldnt even win the attention of his childhood sweetheart. you're going to die alone and unloved like the filth you are. rowena: stop it... Poe: … *trembling* *drops his book* kohaku: look at you. a pathetic mess. do us all a favor and die <3 Poe: *falls to his knees* kohaku: heh~ rowena: *slams kohaku against the wall, strangling her* kohaku: grk- rowena: insult me all you like....*glare* but dont you _ever_ insult my brother... Poe: QWQ -after that- rowena: are you ok brother? Poe: *sniff* "I-I hurt..." rowena: .....lets get you home... Poe: *sniff* *holds her hand...* rowena: .... lana: ?? edgar, rowena, hey! rowena: !!...good evening. Poe: "Eep!" *hides under his cloak* lana:....?? edgar? are you ok? Poe: *shakes* lana: ??... rowena: .....some rude person said some rather cruel things.... Poe: "I-I-I-I'm worthless..." lana: ...edgar.....*holds his hand*.... -after dropping them off at his house, rowena went back to the dorm- lana: .....*holding his hand and patting his back* Poe: *whimper whimper* "So pathetic..." lana: you arent pathetic edgar. you're sweet, smart. Poe: "I-I-I couldn't even attack her..." *holds up his book* "I was going to pull her into this tome of ceaseless torment* lana: .... Poe: "Th-The old me would have trapped her in a book and let her die in it..." lana: *stroking his back* -you're no better than when you were young- Poe: "I-I-I should be alone...That's all I deserve." lana: ....you got it all wrong! just because some asshole told you that doesnt mean it's true. they dont know a single thing about you. who you are and what you want in life... to be fair, i dont entirely know either, but i want to. Poe: "...I thought I wanted t-to make the best d-d-detective story ever..." lana: you will someday. Poe: "I-I can't even make one that Ranpo can't solve..." lana: well, he did say it was fun, from what i recall. Poe: "...Is that really enough?" lana: i believe in you, edgar. *smiles and hugs him* Poe: o\\\\o "..." *pat pat* lana: .....was there anything else bothering you? Poe: "...I don't know...So much..." lana: im here if you want to talk. Poe: "...Have I gotten worse?" lana: ?? Poe: "I-I feel ill, I sweat more, I write more poetically..." lana: ?? edgar.... Poe: "...Since I met you, I...I..." lana: ??.... ./////. Poe: "...I have felt weird..." lana: .... *brushing his bangs away from his eyes* Poe: *stares at her* "...L-Lana?" lana: ...your eyes are... ./////////. Poe: "..." .\\\. "Y-Yes...They have been this way all my life..." lana: ..... beautiful. *blushing* Poe: "???" lana: *smiles* *kiss* i love you. Poe: o\\\\\\\\o "...I love you, too." (*screaming internally* "I JUST SAID WHAT I WAS FEELING WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?!") lana: *blushing* >////////< Poe: "...Am I still alive?" lana: hehe, yes edgar, you're alive. Poe: "..." *smiles* "I am glad." lana: *smiles and hugs him* Poe: *hug, soft sigh* =w= lana: this is nice... Poe: *nods* "You hug well." lana: ^///^ Poe: "..." *closes his eyes, letting out small pleased murmur* lana: *nuzzle* u////u Poe: *lies back, letting her head rest on his shoulder* =\\\\= -elsewhere- Akitaru: *sips coffee* iris: late night? Akitaru: "Yeah...kinda nervous about this mission..." iris: hard not to be. Akitaru: "You got the supplies ready?" iris: *nods* Akitaru: "Awesome...Well, get some sleep. I have to finish these papers." -elsewhere- Kepuri: *inhales deeply* akaderu: doing better? Kepuri: *nod nod* "I'm fully over this stupid cold." *sips orange juice--then grimaces* >___< -morning- Kid: *sits up in bed, stretches* stocking: zzzzzz..... Kid: *smiles...grabs his robe...* stocking: *shivering* Kid: *tucks her in...* stocking: =u= Kid: *goes to the kitchen, turns on the stove* stocking: *yaaaawn* Kid: *enters with a tray* stocking: aww~ *The tray has a heart-shaped pancake* stocking: cute~ Kid: "Suits you~" -elsewhere- Poe: "Zzzz..." lana: *yawns and smiles* Poe: *small grumble noise* lana:... ^///^ (thinking: cute) *small forehead kiss* Poe: "Hu-wha?" *opens one eye* o///- lana: morning, edgar. Poe: "...Dream wraith?" lana: *small giggle* nope. just me. Poe: "...Oh. That's...pleasantly surprising." lana: sleep well? Poe: "Yes. My dreams were quite satisfactory. And you?" lana: yeah. same here. .///. Poe: .////. "...So..." lana: ....did you want breakfast yet? Poe: "..." *stomach growls* .////. -elsewhere- Akitaru: "Rise and shine!" shinra: *yaaaawn* Arthur: =-= "Kill all...*yawn* dragons." Victor: owo *shaking violently* tamaki: zzzzzz...... Relan: *nudges Tamaki* tamaki: n-nyeh?! whodat? Relan: "Commander said to wake up--" tamaki: im up im up! Takehisa: *cooking breakfast* Vulcan: *thumbing through phone* maki: mornin'! karin: mornin’! Vulcan: "Hey, Doc, Maki." yu: *yawn* nozomi: good morning. Victor: "MOAR COFFEE." -elsewhere- Meme: *singing to herself* "La la la..." mio: zzzz Meme: "???" *leans down* mio: *mumbling incoherently* Meme: *smooch* mio: O///////////O MIIIIIIIIII! M-m-m-mEME! Meme: "Good morning!" mio: ./////. m-morning... Meme: "Ready to start today?" mio: yeah. *streeeeetch* -elsewhere- mito: *licking chuuya's face* Chuuya: *small grumble* "Huh? ..." *pets Mito* mito: mew~ Chuuya: *yawn* "Some night..." *gets out of bed* mito: ^^ Chuuya: *drags himself to the kitchen, looking back to see whether Mito is following* mito: *yep, she's following him* Chuuya: *sets down plate with food, refills Mito's water* mito: ^^ Chuuya: *pets Mito before pulling out a bowl and pouring in cereal* *checks his phone* -one text from kouyou, one from naoya, and one from an unlisted number- Chuuya: *goes to Kouyou's first* kouyou: [did you sleep well?] Chuuya: [woke up exhausted but got studying done] kouyou: [that's good] Chuuya: [thanks] *looks at Naoya's texts* naoya: [not comin in today. feel like shit -_- bleugh] Chuuya: [sick?] naoya: [ya] Chuuya: [feel better. want anything while i'm out?] naoya: [nah. hirotsu's got it covered] Chuuya: [cool. feel better] *looks at text from unknown number* ochako: [hey ozaki! U hyped for the sports festival? \(^o^)/ ] Chuuya: "???" [hadn't thought of it] ochako: [it's gonna be epic! i can feel it!] Chuuya: [okay?] -elsewhere- Mori: *tossing half-asleep* miura: good morning, sir. Mori: *wakes up with a start* "DON'T PUT THE BOW ON ME!" miura: i had no intention of that, sir. Mori: .____. "...Thank goodness--it was just a dream..." miura: likewise. anyway, i have your schedule for today printed out. Mori: "What's on it?" *gets out of bed, shaking a bit* miura: the usual, executive meeting later at 4...sir? Mori: "What? What is it?" miura: you seem uneasy... Mori: "Just a...bizarre dream." miura: hmm. Mori: ("Why did I look like...that?") -elsewhere- Shotaro: *eating cereal* nea: *yaaaaawn* Yohei: "Long night?" -elsewhere- todo: mamushi. get up. it's time. Mamushi: *groans* "Wh-What?" todo: it is time for us to begin. i trust you know the way. Mamushi: "..." *points into the forest* "That way..." todo: *nods and follows* Mamushi: "..." *stares at the trees* "I used to play here." todo: *saying nothing* -up ahead is a deralict building- todo: is this goma hall? Mamushi: "...It's seen better days." *rubs her eye* todo: then we must hurry. we've been wasting enough time as is. Mamushi: "R-Right..." *pushes away a large plank of debris from the entryway* todo: *entering* Mamushi: *looking around* "It's...all demolished?" todo: *peeeeek* hmm? Mamushi: *spots a light underneath debris* "...Wait..." *moves aside some debris with a grunt* "...A flame?" todo: how peculiar...im sure there is a secret entryway somewhere.... ah! there we go. Mamushi: "I do not understand. Why is there a cellar down--*cough cough*" todo: are you alright, miss hojo? Mamushi: "It-It's nothing I can't handle." todo: perhaps let me hold onto the right eye? Mamushi: "What?! But, teacher...you said it was dangerous to have both in your body." todo: it's alright. we're just about there. right now, im more concerned with your well-being... Mamushi: "..." *reaches a hand to her eye* todo: there we go...*small smile* -after busting down the door- -inside the room, a strange thing is suspended by chains and ofuda- Mamushi: *stares in confusion* todo: so this is the 'impure king'.....in 1858, the monk known as 'fukaku' made a deal with karura, a spirit that possessed the kurikura blade. but even with that, he was unable to fully defeat the impure king, so he subdued him by removing both the 'eyes' and sealing them away... *smirks* so this is what the myoda has been hiding for all these years...i wonder....if we return the eyes....will that revive the impure king? Mamushi: "Wh-What? But that--that idea is monstrous..." todo: then again....i am a monstrous man. Mamushi: "...What the hell are you?" -FWOOOOOM- tatsuma: ... todo: well, i was wondering when you would show up… Mamushi: "High priest!" tatsuma: not to worry mamushi, we'll finish this and get you home safe and sound, ok? Mamushi: *stares in shock* tatsuma: i will make sure this ends with me, and i wont let it plague another generation. -a bird like entity appears besides him- todo: the vermillion phoenix karura....what a splendid familiar... Mamushi: "High Priest...?" tatsuma: now, put the eyes down...and begone! -several fireballs shoot at todo- todo: *rushing at him* -FWOOOOOOM- tatsuma:..... !!!!! todo: heh... *removing the left eye* wakey wakey~ tatsuma: NO DON'T- -too late- Mamushi: *shudders* tatsuma: hold on mamushi, we need to go warn the others! Mamushi: " 'Hold on'?" -BOOOOOOOOOM- juzo: ?!?!?! w-what the? tatsuma: right on time, get mamushi back to the inn. juzo: w-wha? -a cancerous blob bursts out of the shrine- juzo: ???!!!! w-what is.... tatsuma: the impure king. -back at the inn- madoka: *walking through the halls, but hears two members of true cross* ???: they're seriously gonna kill the kid? madoka: ?? *listening in* ???: "He released his power. What else can be done?" ???: not sure what to tell fujimoto... ???: "...Wait until the task is completed." madoka:.... *her heart sinks and she sneaks to rin's room* rin...rin get up! Rin: *sleep talking* "I can't eat another bite..." madoka: *shaking him* rin get up! we need to go, now! Rin: *eyes snap open* "...Madoka? Why aren't I at dinner?" madoka: come on, we need to go, it isnt safe here. *getting her jacket on* Rin: "..." *grabs his sword* "Explain on the way." madoka:.... -elsewhere- uwabami hojo:..... !!!!! is...is that-? kinzo: HOLY FUCK IT'S THE BLOB! Bon: "...Oh no..." izumo: i-is that.... shura: motherfucker! uwabami hojo: everyone! front and center now! Shima: Q~Q konekomaru: what do you think is going on? shiemi: *going to check on rin and madoka* rin? madoka? are you in he-.... !!!!! Shima: "...They doing the nasty?" izumo: SHIEMI DONT LOO-....where the fuck are they? -they flew the coop- shura:.....fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck. Bon: "...Damn it. What the hell did he do now?" shura: of all the times to go awol! *grumbles* did he find out about the execution notice? shiemi: EXE-WHAT!?! Shima: "Oh, man! If they weren't going to kill him before, they're going to now--" -shura's phone rings- shura: WHAT. IS IT? Mephisto: "Guess who it iiiiiiis~." shura: -_________- what the hell do you want? Mephisto: "I have a fun little document. Guess whose name is on it." shura: ....is this about rin? Mephisto: "Bingo! Give the lady a prize!" felisia: *clapping* shura: can you get to the point? we got kind of a situation here called THE IMPURE KING IS WAKING UP! D8< Mephisto: "Short version: Rin's gonna die." shura: I GOT THAT PART! and, spoiler alert, he and kaname flew the coop. Mephisto: "Oh! Where are they registered?" shura: we're trying to find that out! shiemi: w-we can help look for them! Shima: "Rin's pretty fast, though..." shiemi: he and madoka can help us fight the impure king, then that will clear his name right? Mephisto: "How am I supposed to know--I'm not Head Pope." "...Okay, sure." shura:.....we're on speaker mode, arent we? felisia: yep. shura: -__________________-;;;;; Mephisto: "So, have Rin defeat the Impure King, or kill Rin. Take your pick." shura:....*siiiighs* alright then kids, you heard the man. go find rin and madoka, then kick some impure king ass. shiemi: oh thank you miss shu- shura: just keep this under wraps for now, ok? shiemi: *nods* konekomaru: but....where are they? Bon: *stares at Shura* shura: that's the problem... *notices something on her phone*...............mephisto......why....DIDNT YOU TELL ME....there was a GPS tracker?! Mephisto: "I put those things on so often I lost track." *holds up his map--and sees 40 different color spots on it* "...Huh. Why did I put a tracker on _that_ person?" shura: can i narrow it down? Mephisto: "The blue dot." shura: right. *hands her phone to bon* you guys find rin and madoka, i'll help subdue the impure king. Bon: "How are you going to do that?" shura: just leave it to the pros kiddos~<3 -in the woods someplace- madoka: .....*uneasy* Rin: "..." *hugging his legs, turned away from her, seated in the tree branches* madoka: ....rin?... Rin: "...How high are we?" madoka: im not sure.......rin.....am i....being selfish? Rin: "...How?" madoka: when i heard they were going to kill you....i was so scared....and i made you run away with me because i wanted to keep you safe.....i dont want you to get hurt, rin....*trembling* Rin: "..." *hug* "Love is selfish--because the person you see completes you." madoka:...*hugs him* i guess....t-that makes sense... Rin: "...Where are we going? We can't just..." madoka:....im not sure.... -creeeak- madoka: WOAH! -CRASH- Rin: "Ow..." madoka: ow....a-are you ok? *she landed on top of him* Rin: .///. *nod nod* madoka: t-thats good... *blush* konekomaru: ._.;;;; um..... izumo: there you are! madoka: O-O;; Rin: o\\\\o madoka: w-w-we-we werent doing anything lewd!! >////< izumo: um...i didnt say you were? madoka: *realizing...and grabs a branch* im not letting you hurt rin! *her hands are shaking* izumo: *facepalm* oh for the love of. we're here to _help_ him. Rin: " 'Help'?" *holds his scabbard* "Funny way to 'help' when I got a death warrant." izumo: listen knuckleheads. do you want to stay on the run forever, or do you want a chance to clear your name? Rin: "..." *puts down scabbard* "What're you thinking?" shiemi: *turns him around.....to face part of the impure king* that. madoka: ....how did we miss that? -shiemi and the others explain the situation- Rin: "...So, it's weak to fire?" izumo: *nods* madoka: you're able to control the flames better now, right rin? Rin: owo;;;; "Kinda?" izumo: good enough. let's go! Rin: "Well, I'll need something to get up there--" ???: *cough cough* madoka: ?? izumo: ??... !!! bon! isnt that your dad?! Bon: "!!!" *runs to him* "Dad? What happened?" tatsuma: s-son? is...that you?...guess...i didnt die... -a small bird appears- karura: i have healed your wounds, but you must take it easy, or else you will certainly die. Rin: "...Why is that bird talking? And on fire?" karura: i am known as karura. once upon a time i was servant of the myoda dharmani, but when the secret was exposed, that pact was anulled. i am now bound to tatsuma suguro by a personal agreement. Bon: "So Dad can stop the Impure King--" tatsuma: i cant....im already spent. but i can tell you how to beat the impure king. it will continue to grow until it is the size of a fortress. then a large spore sack will form in the center. Rin: "...Then we just got to burn this mushroom. Where's the weak spot?" tatsuma: inside of the sack. but should it rupture, it will release a deadly miasma. Rin: "Right, that thing!" *starts running* tatsuma:....15 years ago, i made a deal with karura to use the aeon wave flame. it converts one's lifespan into flames. i was planning to use it to defeat the pure king, but i was only able to hold it in place. Bon: " 'One's lifespan'..." *looks at his dad* tatsuma:...rin...i want you to use the kurikura to cleave the impure king's core like fukaku did many years prior...then i will use the remaining aeon wave to finish it off... Bon: "And what will happen to you?!" tatsuma: *smiles* the lives of hundreds are more important than the life of your good for nothing father. karura: oh? you are tatsuma's son? Bon: "...Yes, I am." karura: i am able to transfer the aeon wave to one of the high priests blood. tatsuma: NO! bon's still so young, you musnt get him involved!! i swore on my life this plague would end with me! Bon: *bites his finger, revealing blood* tatsuma: !! karura: so that's how it is then? Bon: "It is. Give it to me." karura: so be it... -a flame appears from the blood- Bon: "!!!" tatsuma:....*sigh* i never wanted you to bear this burden... Bon: *stares at the flames* "...Just have to stop this miasma before it's too late." tatsuma:...listen close son. im going to reach you a barrier sutra. listen well... izumo: .... konekomaru: .... Bon: "Barrier...How?" tatsuma: should the spore sack burst, this will prevent the miasma from escaping....so pay close attention... Bon: "Right..." *watches* -elsewhere- shura: *slicing* damn! they keep multiplying... uwabami hojo: how are things on your end, mr okumura? Yukio: *firing shots* "Trying to hold the line--with little luck!" ???: mr okumuuuuraaaa~ Yukio: *freezes* -a red light is seen in the distance- Yukio: "...!! A fire!" myoda: good! bring it over here! Yukio: "I-I don't think that's an ally coming..." Yukio: *runs towards it* -a young man with feathered ears is staring up at the sky- Yukio: "!!! Todo..." todo: *grins* lovely evening, isnt it, mr okumura? -elsewhere- tatsuma: do you get it now son? Bon: *nods* tatsuma:...you're finally becoming a man. Bon: -___-;;; "...Whatever. Let's go kill this thing." madoka: we're right behind you, bon. *smiles* Rin: *nod nod* "Let's get going!" -back with yukio- todo: come on out boy, i just want a friendly chat <3 *throws a fireball* Yukio: *dodges, fires a shot* todo: ah, there you are. you look tired. busy night i take it? Yukio: *firing more shots* todo: tsk tsk, so violent. *It's coming down onto Todo* todo: *dodge* phew. that could have gone badly. i just want to talk. so tell me, how is your brother these days? Yukio: "Nowhere near you." -elsewhere- madoka: it almost looks like a real fortress... Rin: "With a giant mushroom in the center." kuro: rin! there's a really stinky monster around! Rin: "?! Which direction?" kuro: *points to the impure king* Rin: "...Oh. Um...Well, spores kinda smell, and you got a strong sense of smell..." madoka: kuro, do you want to help us get up there? kuro: NYEH?! rin! you guys cant be serious! Rin: "Well, yeah! We need your size and great leaping ability to get us up there to squash that thing!" kuro: *sigh* alright then. *POOF* madoka: thanks kuro! ^^ Rin: "Yay!" -elsewhere- todo: *dodging bullets* my my, what got into you tonight? Yukio: *silent, firing more shots* todo: did i touch a nerve? how's your dad? Yukio: "Quiet!" *shoots at Todo's feet* todo: i heard he's in weak condition. who knows how long the old codger has left- Yukio: *leaps at Todo, firing* todo: *punch* oops. Yukio: *knocked back* "Ugh..." todo: you must be so stressed from your family holding you back. i understand that completely... -he grins- todo: you're a doctor, correct? Yukio: "Yes...and you'll need one..." todo: from what i heard, fujimoto was also a skilled doctor. as well as a skilled dragoon, but such is to be expected of a former paladin....he always gave your brother the better treatment....and what of you? you were trained to be a weapon. his replacement, so to speak. Yukio: "Quiet..." todo: you think to yourself 'this isnt fair'....admit it. you hate your brother, dont you? Yukio: "N-No! I don't--" -elsewhere- kuro: *running along the 'walls' of the impure king* madoka: woah! Rin: *hanging on* O_O -tendrils shoot at them, but madoka shoots at the tendrils with her arrows- Rin: *flames along his scabbard, as he tries to swing at them* kuro: rin! i see a bolder down there! Rin: "To land on, or toss at this thing?" kuro: to land on! Rin: "Okay! Then do it, buddy!" -nice landing- Rin: "Okay! Now, point me to it's soft spot!" madoka: bon, get ready. -a large round shape is in the center- Bon: "Okay...Just got to prepare the incantation..." madoka: we'll hold off the enemy. Rin: "Right!" *holds the scabbard on fire* madoka: *shooting arrows* Rin: *striking at flames* Bon: *inhales* -elsewhere- todo: already tired? Yukio: *panting, struggling to stay standing* todo: *smirks*.....?? oh? what's this now? Yukio: *aims again--but stumbles, firing just past Todo* -several magic circles begin to glow- todo: so you werent just aimlessly shooting....clever boy. Yukio: *smirks* "You will be contained now..." -several watery creatures appear, some female looking, some male looking, some resembling children- Yukio: "Naiads..." todo: *smirks* water beats fire....well im right in a pickle, arent i? Yukio: *gets on his knees, panting, exhausted* todo: heh. you cant even keep up...so much for in your prime....*lunges and pins him to the ground* how boring...perhaps i should kill you here and now... Yukio: "L-Let go!" -inside the impure king- madoka: rin! look out! *shooting arrows* Rin: *dodges, still trying to unsheathe his sword* "Damn it..." -elsewhere- shura: ..... !!!! oh shit- everyone! outside the barrier! now! Monk #1: "!!!" -the spore sack twitches violently- Monk #2: "That d..."Monk #2: "That ain't good..." -BOOOOOOOOOOOM- Monk #1: !!!! -elsewhere- todo: *pulls back fist* good night, yukio okumura~ *about to punch* Yukio: "NO!" *he's feeling warm...* todo: hmm? *FWOOSH* todo: *jumps back* well, this certainly is a game changer... Yukio: *trying to look* ("Everything's dark...No...Blue?") todo: seems i underestimated you...those eyes.....they arent your own... -POW- todo: *knocked back* oof- Yukio: *vision slowly returning* "Wh-What?" todo: well, fancy seeing you here mr shima. juzo: word to the wise, it's not a smart idea to go flaunting your flames about like that if you're trying to hide. Yukio: ("...Flames...") juzo: after all the lives you have ruined, there wont even be ashes left of you, todo! -inside the impure king- madoka: *cough* rin! bon! are you guys ok?? Rin: *forcing a smile, as he swings his sheathed sword at tendrils* "Just fine!" Bon: *focusing the fire* "..." kuro: *looking at a large entity* t-that's- impure king: *ROARS* -outside the barrier, rain begins to fall- Bon: "...W-We can't stop this thing...It's not possible..." -elsewhere- Yukio: "..." *light bulb* todo: *still battling juzo and the others of the myoda* Yukio: "Um, excuse me? I think I have an idea..." juzo: eh? monk: you want to make a strategy now?! Yukio: *shrug* "It's that or Todo keeps gaining ground..." juzo: ....alright. what do you have in mind? todo: done already? awww, but im just getting started~ Yukio: "So you'll hold him while we let Mother Nature weaken him..." juzo: right. narumi! shishamo! take the lead! Narumi: "Have at thee!" todo: *battling* *smirks* have at me all you like, i'll just absorb the weaker flames anyway. it's almost like trick-or-treating! juzo: TRICK OR TREAT THIS! FIRE LIFE SAMAHDI! *throws a bigass fireball at todo* -BOOOOOM- Yukio: *watches* "Just a bit more..." todo: fighting fire with fire? despite how the saying goes. it wont work-...urk-...w-what? Yukio: "Over-working yourself in your old age, teach?" todo: ....clever boy... -FWOOOOOOM- *Everyone is blown back, Yukio having to hang onto a boulder...* juzo: is he....dead? Yukio: "He's ash." ???: huhuhuhu~ Yukio: "!!!" todo: *getting up, his body ash and crumbling* making me overheat. not a bad plan...however, dont underestimate the healing abilities of a phoenix... Yukio: "No..." todo: *crumbling in the rain* oh...i forgot its raining...this might....make recovery difficult... -inside the impure king- madoka: *panting* this is bad... Rin: "J-Just have to keep going...as long as we can..." madoka: r-right. cant give up now... Bon: *stumbling, his finger still pressed to the ground* kuro: *clawing at tendrils* Bon: *panting, staring* "How much longer...?" karura: with thing going the way they are, the barrier may not last if you continue to be exposed to the miasma. Bon: "I'm fine--" *cough cough* madoka: !! Rin: "Bon! Hang on! Let us protect you like those princesses in fairy tales!" Bon: "...The hell you just call me?!" madoka: ^^;; dont worry, we got you covered! Rin: "Yep! Shining Knight Madoka and Rin to the rescu--" *cough cough* madoka: rin! Rin: *waves his hand* "I-I can do it..." *smiles* "Just trust me..." madoka: *nods and keeps shooting arrows* Bon: *on his knees and hand, trying to keep a hold...* Rin: *knocking down tendrils* impure king *ROAAAAAR* Rin: *thinking, as he sees a small flame on his shoulder* "...Could I...?" madoka: *nearly about to collapse* Rin: *remembers...* "Do these flames only burn humans or..." *spots Madoka* "!!!" *catches her* madoka: *pant* t-thanks.... RIN! BEHIND YOU! Rin: "?!" *turns* -a large tendril is coming down onto them- Rin: *tugging at his sword* "Come on, come on!" -why was i saved?- Rin: ("...I just wanted to be a hero...But then...I'm...") -why did fujimoto save me?- Rin: ("Because...Because...I...don't know.") -why are you alive?- madoka: RIN! Rin: *flames are along his back* "..." madoka: ....*holds his hand* Rin: "!!!" madoka:....*smiles* Bon: "Urk..." *falling down* madoka: !!! Bon: *he lets go* Rin: "Oh crap..." shura: *fighting off tendrils* GUYS! NOW ISNT THE TIME FOR MAKING GOOGOO EYES AT EACH OTHER! D8< Rin: "THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE DOING! I'm trying to figure out how to burn these things!" shura: USE YOUR SWORD THEN! PROVE FUJIMOTO HE WAS RIGHT TO RAISE YOU! Rin: *tugs on the sword from its sheathe* -why did he save me?- Rin: *removes the sword* "So I can do this!" *ignites in blue flames* madoka: !!! *smiles* shura: *grins* raise hell, kid. Rin: *leaps and slices at tendrils* ("This is too slow...") ???: good grief. this is pathetic to watch. Bon: *lying on the ground* "Wh-What...?" Rin: "?!" -a large bird like creature has appeared besides rin- bird: i am ucchusma. the impurity kongo. the impure king is my age old foe. the blade you wield was once our lord's weapon. if you desire to defeat the impure king, i will teach you how to guide the flame. Rin: ._. "...'Kay. What's Step #1?" -the bird has now possessed the koma sword- Rin: " So, you gave me a power-up?" ucchusma: more or less speaking. i will call forth the fire life samadhi, a flame with the power to burn anything in the material world. with that, i will purify the impure king and the whole mountain with flame using your flames of satan. Rin: "Wh-What?! By 'material,' that'd kill everyone on this mountain!" ucchusma: so? it is of little consequence. all those who entered the impure palace and were touched by its servants are contaminated. the impure king can come back from even a remnant, therefore each one must be purified. let us go. Rin: "...So, just need to burn away impurities...even those attached to living flesh..." *small sneer* ucchusma: *chanting the sutra* Rin: *repeating the chant* ("So what do I do...") madoka: *running up the steps, shooting at tendrils as she does* Rin: ("Just need to burn...") impure king: *ROOOOOOOARS* madoka: RIN! Rin: ("Burn it all...Burn it all!") -CLANG- ucchusma: ?? why do you hesitate? Rin: "...Because...I can't kill them..." -its in your nature- Rin: ("No...I mean, I know I am...Satan's son...") madoka: *jumps* -BURN IT ALL! BURN IT! SCORCH THEM! THEY WANT YOU DEAD! KILL THEM BEFORE THEY KILL YOU!- Rin: ("...I want to...") -hug- madoka: *she had jumped onto his back, and is holding him* it's ok rin... Rin: "...What do I do...?" madoka: *holds his hands* we got this. all of us. *smiles* Rin: *inhales* "O-Okay...I just have to focus--* *FWOOM* *Flames cover Rin and Madoka* madoka: !!!....*closes her eyes* it feels warm... -a large wave of blue flames appears- uwabami hojo: !!!.... wha? monk: hey, only the fungus is burning off... monk 2: feels kinda nice actually... Yukio: "...Rin...What the hell have you done...?" monk 3: LOOK! THE IMPURE KING! -the impure palace is vanishing- Shima: "...Wow..." konekomaru: he...he did it! shiemi: *smiles* i knew he could do it! izumo: well i'll be... true cross member: wait, satan's son is...helping us? true cross member 2: am i tripping balls right now? Monk #3: "Not exactly proper language..." -the impure king has vanished, and rain still falls- Rin: *panting* "...Damn..." madoka: ha.....we....*she hugs rin tightly* we did it!! Rin: .\\\\. "...We did?" *looks around...then smiles widely* madoka: ^////^ *tears falling* Rin: "???" *hug* madoka: im so proud of you rin. Rin: "...You are?" madoka: ^^ of course rin. *smiles* shura: great job, kiddos. the three of you are heroes. -several people come running up- konekomaru: okumura! Bon: *struggling to stand* Shima: "What the heck did you all do up here?!" madoka: well...we beat the impure king. ^^ izumo: *JAWDROP* she says it so casually....are you _sure_ she's a rookie? shiemi: wow! so brave. madoka: oh, i was terrified! but i couldnt let that stop me. Rin: "Always brave is more like it..." *rubs the back of his head* ^\\\^ shiemi: ?? yuki? Yukio: *grim stare, as he marches up the hill* Rin: "!!! Bro! Look what I did! I told you I'd do this!" shura: ?? Rin: "I said I'd be the hero you wanted me to be, who Dad would want, who could leave you eating my-" Yukio: *Punch* madoka: !!! shiemi: YUKI! Rin: *stunned, down on the grass* "...What the hell?!" Yukio: "I told you not to use those flames!" shura: those flames just saved our asses! Yukio: "And what if he got out of control? He is Satan's son! The powers that be could still kill him! I told you to keep control of him, and you just did not list--" Rin: *Punch* shura: *grabs him* RIN! YUKIO! CALM DOWN! *clunks their heads together* Rin: X_X Yukio: X_X madoka: D8> shura: -_-; -later- Rin: *snoring* madoka: zzzzz....*asleep next to him* Rin: *yawns, opens his eyes* "..." o\\\o madoka: *yawn* hmm? hey rin....how's your head? Rin: "..." *touches his head--and winces* "Gah! Man...The Impure King must've hit me hard..." madoka:..... rin... Rin: "??? A-Are you okay? Did we win?" madoka: *she nods* yeah. we did it. we beat it. Rin: "..." *hug* madoka: *smooch* u/////u i love you. Rin: .\\\. "I-I love you...And I...I..." Shima: "OooooooOOOOOOOOoooo..." madoka: O////O s-sh-shima?! shiemi: oh my. .///.; Rin: o\\\\\o "WHY ARE YOU ALL IN MY ROOM?!" izumo: this is an inn, remember? Rin: "THEN CAN'T WE BUY EXTRA ROOMS?!" Shima: "So you can do things alone in this room?" madoka: eh......EHHHHHHHHHHHHH?!?!?! O///////////////////////////O *KO* awawawawawa -elsewhere- yaozo: and that's what happened. felisia: ... Mephisto: "...So, I guess we can't kill Rin?" yaozo: the boy is a hero. Mephisto: "So, no killing, got it." *sips his drink* "Sweet." yaozo: right....i'll just be going then. Mephisto: "So soon?" yaozo: *nods* if the vatican needs me to give a testimony, i shall do so. *exits* felisia: well.....*cuddles up to mephisto* seems we have the room all to ourselves now~<3 Mephisto: "Indeed~" felisia: i brought something special for the trip. so im just gonna put that on real quick, ok~? Mephisto: *chuckles* "Alright..." felisia: i'll only be a moment~ -after a short moment, something is felt pressed against his back- Mephisto: "...Oh. You." shura: *holding a kunai to his neck* alright. start talkin... Mephisto: -_-; "...Fine. So, the key is to use honey, not sugar--" shura: just what are you planning to use rin for, huh? Mephisto: "..." *smiles at her* "You know what would be a shame?" shura: is this going to be some vague threat? Mephisto: "Not vague. A promise." shura:.....*removes the kunai and heads for the door* i got my eye on you.........oh...and tell felisia i said congrats on her pregnancy. *exits* Mephisto: "...Huh." felisia:....*hug* i trust your judgement...call it instinct i guess.... Mephisto: "..." *hug* "So trusting..." felisia: *crawling onto his lap* now, where were we~? Mephisto: *smirks* "In the best place possible..." *smooch* felisia: ah~<3 konekomaru: *opens the door* mr yaozo are you-............. O____________________O;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; *closes the door* felisia: OuO;;;; Mephisto: "...I usually enjoy audiences, but not like that." -morning- izumo: finally, we're heading on home. unagi: *peeeeek* Shima: .\\\. *waves* unagi: <um....shima-kun.....you'll....write back....wont you?> Shima: <Of-Of course!> o\\\w\\\o unagi:....t-thank you....renzou. uwabami hojo: ..... renzou. a word with you for a moment. Shima: "??? Um...Yes?" uwabami hojo: im fine with you having unagi as a friend, but that's as far as i can allow your relationship to go. Shima: "Huh? I mean...Wait, why not further? I mean, if I wanted something more--" uwabami hojo: *grabs shima by the shoulders and looks him straight in the eye* renzou. unagi is 12. Shima: “Eh-…….EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH?!?!?!?!” -on the plane home- Rin: "..." izumo: koneko, shima, you guys look awful. konekomaru: i saw nothing...i saw nothing... Shima: Q____Q "The universe hates me as much as I hate myself." izumo: good. madoka: *holding rin's hand* Rin: "..." *pat pat* -upon arriving to the airport, several people are there with a sign that reads 'welcome home exwires'!- adrian: well if it aint the heroes of kyoto! seiya: congratulations. gilda: ^^ Rin: owo kyouko: oi! rin! yukio! Rin: *waves, smiling* kyouko: you....*shaking him* YOU ALMOST DIED MORON! D8< madoka: ^^; ???: -aAAAAADOOOOKAAAAAAAAA!!!! *TACKLES HER* madoka: AH sayaka: I MISSED YOU SO MUUUUUUUUUUCH! TT~TT Rin: X____X Bon: "..." sayaka: hey guys! how was kyoto? did you see kyoto tower? did you take pics? we got new students at school! one girl considers me her senpai now! kyouko: sayaka, inhale. sayaka: *BREATHES IN...then out* sorry. im just so hyped! Yukio: *grabbing his bag* Rin: "That's great news!" *shaking still from Kyouko's attack* -elsewhere- ???: right....i see.....i'll keep an eye on them....understood lord lucifer... -elsewhere- ango: ._.; um.....this is.....er...... Kunikida: "...Why?" ango: exactly. dazai, what are you trying to do here? Dazai: "You two have so much in common!" ango: i dont see it. Kunikida: "Agreed." Dazai: owo;;; "...You both can't stand me.* ango: .... Kunikida: "...He is quite annoying." ango: what you mean to say is 'neither of you can stand me'. Dazai: -3- Kunikida: "His grammar is atrocious." ango: isnt that the truth. -_.-; Dazai: "See? You're getting along great!" ango: -_.-; Kunikida: "...I'm going to need more alcohol." ango: tomato juice please. im driving. Dazai: *pouts* "Fine...I'll get your drinks." Kunikida: "...Was he always like this?" ango:....to be honest, he has improved quite a bit....thought that's a stretch. Kunikida: "...I'm reticent to admit the same. I can only imagine how worse he was before the Agency." ango: ......you're better off not knowing... Kunikida: "Perhaps. After his behavior at work..." ango: ....being in the mafia...can mess a person up...a lot...especially under the care of the mafia's boss... Kunikida: "Hmm...I cannot imagine." ango: .... Kunikida: *holds up glass* -elsewhere- Rin: "I just want to sleep for days..." kyouko: i can imagine. we got your bed all set up for you. oh, and you start classes again the day after tomorrow, just to give you a day to get your bearings back. Rin: "...Only a day?" Q_Q kyouko:....rin? are you sure you're alright? Rin: *nods* *yawn* "Just exhausted..." kyouko:..well, if you need anything, let us know, ok? Rin: *weak smile* "R-Right...Thanks." -elsewhere- Kid: "Feeling better?" stocking: yeah. *yawn* Kid: *rubs her back* "Need more sleep?" -elsewhere- Relan: *kitten yawn* shinra: zzzz Relan: "..." *hug* shinra: =///w///= Relan: "Feel okay?" shinra: yeah. Relan: "..." *rubs his hand lightly through his hair* shinra: =/////= Relan: "It's soft." -elsewhere- keek: Q_____Q Hawthorne: "..." barkova: *growls* heheheh~ Hawthorne: "Stop that noise, you mutt." barkova: *snarls* Hawthorne: *glare* barkova: *snarling* FD: "Down." barkova: !!....*silences herself, trembling...almost as if afraid* FD: "Corner." barkova: *crawling to a corner and curls into a ball* .... Hawthorne: "...Disgusting." yana: ... keek: Q_Q FD: "??? Why are you crying?" keek: THIS PLACE IS TERRIFYING AND I WANNA GO HOME! FD: "..." keek: i-i never asked to be brought here. i just want to go home and see my mom again... FD: "I can arrange that." keek: r-really? FD: "Yes. She would look nice with a bomb along her neck as well." keek: !!! no please! dont involve her in this! i-i'll be good! just dont hurt her! FD: "Then do as I say, before I get angry." keek: o-ok.... FD: "Zoey, what shall we do with them..." zoey: whatever you see fit, master fyodor... FD: "..." *smirks* "Care to have some fun?" zoey: for you, anything! FD: "Good. Take the pastor and get him to change that expression. Make the girl watch." -elsewhere- Yohei: *shivers* chie: everything ok, honey? Yohei: "...Fine. It's fine." chie: yohei...i can tell when something is bothering you...*hug* Yohei: "...Don't tell the others. Not yet." chie: *nods* is it....him? Yohei: *nods* chie:....*rubs his back* Yohei: "...New info at work. Just...Why?" chie: ....... medea: ....... *walking back to her room* ..... Shotaro: "G'morning Medea!" medea: !!! Shotaro: "Ready for breakfast? ...You okay?" medea: just....just tired is all....i think...i will sleep in today... Shotaro: "...Well, feel better soon." medea:.....right...... -elsewhere- Lucy: *grumble* anne: *poke poke* Lucy: =_____= "Stupid sleep..." -in another room- kirako: zzzz.... Dazai: *whistling in the kitchen* mii: *mreeeeeow* Dazai: "???" *looks down* -it appears to be a mouse.....with a camera inside it?- Dazai: "Hmm..." kirako: *yaaaawns* morning... *in a nightshirt and panties* Dazai: *kicks the mouse behind him* *smiles* "Hey there." kirako: making breakfast? Dazai: "Surprised?" -elsewhere- Hibana: "And pancakes are done!" *sets down...very burnt pancakes* mikami: um...thank you commander ^^; gabriella: ^^; hanako: yay! Hibana: Eat up~ -elsewhere- Meme: *puts on her sweater vest* mio: *yaaaawn* -at school- atsushi: *working hard* Kyoka: "Impressive." atsushi: *hella focused* Kyoka: *looks over his shoulder* -elsewhere- tsuyu: seems they're setting up for the sports festival more and more each day. Izuku: owo *shaking* ochako: this is gonna be so exciting! Iida: "An important moment to demonstrate our improved skills since last time we engaged in competition!" Bakugo: -____- ochako: what do you think, todoroki? Todoroki: *staring at an envelope in his hands* "..." ochako: >w> what's that ya got there? Todoroki: "Nothing." ochako: hmmm... Iida: "That looks like the envelope of tickets that were distributed to all students. ... !!!! You mean you haven't given your tickets to anyone?!" Todoroki: "Quiet." ochako: .... Bakugo: "What, you don't want your mom going?" Todoroki: "..." Izuku: "..." *light bulb* "!!!" eijiro: what about your sister? Todoroki: "...I haven't given her a ticket yet." eijiro: planning on doing that when you get home? Todoroki: "...I don't know." -elsewhere- Student: *running, tossing off his jacket--which is on fire* "Get away from me!" shinra: ?!?! Student: "They're not leaving me alone! Call the cops!" shinra: oi! the hell are you guys doing? girl in glasses: nyeh? who's this brat? Student: "Th-They wanted money! I gave it to them! Then they burned my jacket!" TT~TT girl in glasses: yeah, it wasnt enough brat. shinra: *KICK ATTACK* girl in glasses: tch- oh, you really want to go up against an oni? heh, be my guest. *holding a die, and rolls it. 3* -BOOOOM- shinra: *has already ran with the student* girl in glasses: !!! fuck! -elsewhere- Arthur: *puts on a mask* "..." mina: is that a welding mask, boyle? jirou: nice. Arthur: "I thought if the new recruit Vulcan can do it, so can I..." mina: like from star trek?! *shiny eyes* Arthur: "...What is this 'Trek in the Stars' of which you speak?" mina: dude, have you been like, living in the middle ages or something?! Arthur: "No era in this world ever dies, so long as it lives on, in our hearts and minds!" *holds up blow torch* -he was put on janitorial duty- Arthur: *holding a plunger* "...Vile toilet. I will be the end of you." marie: *SCREAMING* -BOOOOOOM- Arthur: o____o "...Truly, you are an expert..." -elsewhere- Kunikida: *holding his head, groaning* -the apartment is empty- Kunikida: "..." *stumbles out of bed* "Medicine..." -elsewhere- Benimaru: "Right there." kirei: *rubbing his shoulders* Benimaru: =\\\= "That's good..." -elsewhere- Poe: *humming* rowena: doing well, i see. *smiles* Poe: .w. "...Maybe?" rowena: how is lana? Poe: o\\\\o "...Lana-y?" rowena: ...brother? are you ok? Poe: *nod nod nod* rowena: ....did something happen? *worried* Poe: "...I have a girlfriend. I'm scared." rowena: !! brother, im so happy for you! Poe: .\\\. "I'm going to screw this up." rowena: o.o; why do you think that? Poe: "...Because I'm cursed." rowena:....brother.... Poe: "I'm not worthy..." -elsewhere- FD: "You completed punishment?" zoey: yes.... keek: *still shaking, horrified* Hawthorne: ………. FD: "Good..." *pats Zoey's head* zoey: ah~ sonia: *peeking out her door, just out of sight* FD: "..." *spots Sonia* "..." sonia: *has already gone back inside her room* ...... FD: "...Zoey, perhaps you should punish the other one..." *walks to Sonia's door* keek: *already hiding in her room* zoey: open up.....OPEN THE DOOR! keek: *whimpering* sonia:....... FD: *knocks on Sonia's door* sonia: .... FD: "Sonia? May I enter?" sonia:......... FD: *opens the door* sonia:....*stares at him* ....... FD: "...Are you hungry?" sonia:.... yana: not much of a conversationalist, is she? FD: "No. But she looks hungry. Might as well give her something." sonia: ...... -elsewhere- Bon: "..." *tosses a ball against the wall* konekomaru: *already catching up with school work* Shima: "..." *headdesk* konekomaru: ?? Shima: "I'm an idiot." konekomaru: is this about unagi still? Shima: *nods* konekomaru: ^^; well, to be fair you never actually asked. Shima: "She looked like her older sister!" konekomaru: *sweatdrop* oh, by the way, night market is open tonight. did you want to go? Shima: TT~TT *nod nod* Bon: "..." -elsewhere- Vulcan: *pouts* nozomi: everything alright? Vulcan: "Just thinking...about those Hoods..." nozomi: ....oh.... Vulcan: "Yeah. Just nervous about this mission." -elsewhere- Anya: *looking up at the sky* bailey: thinking about stuff, princess? Anya: -_-; "Don't call me that." bailey: isnt it true though? O.O; Anya: "...I just don't like being called that while I'm here." bailey: oh. im sorry. D8> Anya: "It's fine. Just don't make a habit of it, please." bailey: noted! -elsewhere- Giriko: *holding a ping pong paddle* "Ready!" -elsewhere- Gopher: "SMASH IT!" kirika: *squish* freaking roaches... Gopher: *huge sigh of relief, as he leans against Kirika* "So grateful..." kirika: -_-; Gopher: "I hate those tiny creatures, with their antenna and legs and...and..." o_____o kirika: what? Gopher: "...What if there are more of them?" -elsewhere- Medusa: *sips juice* neian: zzzz Medusa: "..." *rocks the crib just a bit* neian: =w= Medusa: *content sigh* grimoire: seems the child has mellowed you out after hundreds of years. Medusa: -_-;;; "I have not changed that much." -elsewhere- Yumi: *making Shiori's bed* shiori: zzz lord death: ^^ Yumi: *whispers* "She's growing so big..." lord death: i know. Yumi: "...Death?" lord death: hmm? Yumi: "...She's going to need you." lord death:....i know...hey shiori.. shiori: *yawn* pa! pa! lord death:...*craddling her* Yumi: TTWTT stocking:.....*walking away*....*sigh* Kid: *whispers* "Found you..." stocking: !!!! kid! jeez, i nearly jumped out of my skin! Kid: ._.; "S-Sorry..." stocking: *sigh* i-it's fine... Kid: "...What's wrong?" stocking: just this whole sibling thing im trying to get used to....it feels so surreal. Kid: *nods* "I have...some familiarity with that." stocking:...s-sorry... Kid: "It's fine...I have a sense how you may feel...but maybe I could ask, do you feel badly about this?" stocking:....how so? Kid: "Are you upset with the situation?" stocking: i wouldnt go that far. i mean, i am shocked, but im not mad or anything. Kid: *nods* "Any sense how you'll react when your parents have this child?" stocking: i dont really know....i'll just have to take it in stride. Kid: "...I think...your sibling will have the best sister possible." stocking: ^^; Kid: *pats her hand* -elsewhere- ebie: maaaaaail caaaaaaall! oscar: *looking at a letter*....i'll read this one in secret~<3 Steinbeck: "...We get mail?" ebie: yep! oh, and your sister sent you a letter! Steinbeck: *takes it* "..." rosasharn: [dear big brother, how are you doing? we're all doing well so far back home. midge is growing up so quick, she looks just like her papa. ruthie and winfield ask about you every day, as does ma. you know how she worries, haha. write back soon, your sister, rose of sharon.] Steinbeck: "..." *his hand shakes slightly* twain:..you ok? Steinbeck: "Fine! Just...fine." twain: ok then. Steinbeck: "..." *folds the letter, puts it in his pocket* -elsewhere- Lucy: "Another!" clerk: ma'am...you've had 9 shots of orange juice... Lucy: "A. NOTH. ER!" atsushi: OwO;;;; Lucy: *stares at Atsushi* "...Be my drinking buddy." atsushi: um... okaaaay? OwO;;;; odasaku: *sweatdrop* Lucy: *leans forward, holding the glass up to him* atsushi: here i go! *takes a full chug* haa... Lucy: "...I like a man who can hold his juice..." atsushi: ^^; (thinking: at least it isnt something like alchohol, i would die) odasaku: you and ango would get along great in that aspect. Lucy: *leans against him* =w= atsushi: O////////////O um... odasaku: .... 7.7; Lucy: *holds his hand, breathes calmly* "..." -a shiver goes up atsushi's body....and his tail pops out- Lucy: *feels the tail hit her* o\\\\\\o atsushi: O/////////O;;;; Lucy: O\\\\\O "...It's big." odasaku: you two um....need a moment alone? atsushi: yeah... Lucy: o\\\\\o "...Have you always been able to have that...tail?" atsushi: since this summer, yeah....i think? Lucy: "...What about..." *pats his head, rubbing his hair* "...ears?" atsushi: uhhh...... o/////////////o *sweating, tail twitching all over* Kyoka: "Is there sinning here?" atsushi: O_O;;;; odasaku: busted. ._.; Lucy: -_-; "Not now..." o\\\o "I mean...no?" atsushi:.... *atsushi.exe has stopped responding* Kyoka: "..." *takes Atsushi's hand* "He's going home. He is not feeling well. Goodbye." Lucy: D:< -outside- naoya: tough break, kiddo. Akutagawa: *clawing a pillar* naoya:...say, something rather funny happened the other day! Akutagawa: "ThERE'S NOthing fuNNY..." naoya: O-O;....well i was hiking through the woods the other day, and guess who i ran into... Akutagawa: "Dead hiker." naoya: no....mori. *she cracks up laughing* Akutagawa: "...Ha ha ha..." naoya: *grins* see, there ya go! Akutagawa: "..." -\\\\- "Let's just go." -elsewhere- akaderu: *in a fast food uniform, collapsed on the couch* X_X im dead.... -elsewhere- miura: ... Mori: "Well? What is it?" miura: no comment, sir... Mori: "Hmph. Not much of a conversationalist..." miura: -.-; Mori: "Can't you tell a joke?" miura: you mean besides kajii's 'sex life'? Mori: "...High five?" miura: *high five* Mori: "Good one!" miura: thank you sir. Mori: "You're welcome....You drink?" miura: im not physically able to sir, given that, in case you forgot, i'm a goddamn robot. Mori: "Motor oil?" miura: hah. funny. Mori: "...Do you do anything for fun? I mean, if you can't drink, what do you do?" -elsewhere- Mephisto: "How are you~?" stocking: doing well dad. how was the trip? Mephisto: "Illuminating." *holds up a gift bag* stocking: oh? Mephisto: "Something sweet for our sweet daughter~" stocking: *shiny eyes* felisia: hope you like it. stocking: *HUG* TTuTT Mephisto: "!!!" *pat pat* "Are you okay?" stocking: just happy... -elsewhere- Dazai: "Where did it come from?" atsushi: i think it just popped out cause i was nervous... i mean, i know it's a side effect of my ability but.... ./////.; it's still awkward... Dazai: "...Maybe see a doctor? Or...a vet?" atsushi: -_-; odasaku: that...actually is kinda funny. atsushi: no one is asking you od- Dazai: "??? 'Odd'?" atsushi: ._.; oddly enough? OuO;; Dazai: "...Okay. But maybe it's tiger puberty." atsushi: =////=; what was it like for you?.....when you started having those.....weird feelings that make you feel funny? Dazai: "...You mean when I noticed how attractive certain people were?" atsushi: i guess? Dazai: "...I think I lost my virginity before I realized how attractive people are." atsushi: O-O; um- Dazai: "It didn't feel like anything. Maybe other people's first time is good. But it felt empty. Just happened." atsushi:.....oh... Dazai: "With time, I had good experiences, and bad experiences. I screwed up, a lot." atsushi:....*pats his back* Dazai: *small smile* "You're going to be fine." atsushi:....t-thanks... odasaku:....*pats his back* Dazai: "And hey, you're getting sex education at school, so just be smart." atsushi: o-of course! .... .//////.;;;; Dazai: "??? What, you need some more sex ed?" atsushi: im fine thank you! Dazai: *nods, pats his head* -elsewhere- Jacqueline: "!!!!" *holds up the newspaper* kim: what happened? Jacqueline: "Doesn't this surveillance photo have someone who looks familiar?" kim: *examines* ?? *squiiiint* *It looks like her mom* kim:...*her stomach drops* Jacqueline: "...What is she doing?" -elsewhere- Todoroki: *holding the envelope* fuyumi: more fan mail? ^^; Todoroki: *holds it to her* "Take it." fuyumi: oh? um... *opens it* !! Todoroki: "...Will you be in attendance?" fuyumi: *smiles* it'd be my pleasure. -elsewhere- Meme: *frowning* tsugumi: is everything ok, meme? mio: you look uneasy... Meme: "Just tense...irritated...Want to punch something..." mio: did someone say some shit to you? Meme: "..." *nod nod* mio: want me to beat them up? Meme: *shakes her head* "...I want a punching bag. Can you hold it for me?" -elsewhere- eijiro: SPORTS FESTIVAL HYYYYPE! atsushi: ???? i am so confused. Lucy: "That thing where the Quirk students compete against each other?" momo: not just quirk students. over the years, it has grown and expanded to various types of students. Kyoka: "Such as ability users?" momo: i dont see why not. ^^ Kyoka: *looks at Lucy* Lucy: *looks at Kyoka* Lucy and Kyoka: "..." *look at Atsushi* atsushi: um.... ^^; ochako: deku. iida.....*her face is intense* LET'S DO OUR BEST!! Iida: ._. Izuku: o_o "Y-Yeah..." mina: its like she's possessed all the sudden. ._.; Izuku: "M-Must be pumped up?" ^^; Todoroki: "..." ochako: IM TOTALLY GONNA WRECK THIS! YEEEEAH! Izuku: o_____o Todoroki: "..." -later, at lunch- Izuku: "...So, I was wondering..." ochako: hmm? whats up? Izuku: "I'm sorry if this seems intrusive, and you're totally free not to answer. I mean, I wouldn't want to look like I'm delving into other people's business, but at the same time I think learning more about my classmates can help me rationalize what is--" Iida: *slaps Izuku upside the head* Izuku: *focused* "Why did you want to become a hero?" ochako: oh! um...well...uhh....i-if i tell you, you promise you wont look down on me? Izuku: "O-Of course I won't!" Iida: *nod nod* ("...Although I am taller than you.") ochako: well.....*sigh* im doing it for money. ^^;; Izuku: "!!!" Iida: "...Well, why is that wrong to seek a more comfortable lifestyle?" ochako: it's just...well, my family owns a construction company, but we dont get much business, so we're kinda broke. Izuku: "...Oh." ochako: thats why i want to become a pro hero. i can earn lots of money so my family can live easier lives! Iida: "That is quite noble!" Izuku: "Yeah! It's what anyone would want..." Todoroki: *around the corner* "..." -elsewhere- Yohei: *flipping through documents* coworker: oi, nanami. how's the fam? Yohei: *smiles* "Quite well. Kiddo will be doing computer coding in no time." coworker: haha. Yohei: *points to a pic on his desk* "Looks like his mom." coworker: he's got your eyes though. Yohei: "...A bit gentler than mine." -elsewhere- Hibana: *mixing chemicals* -elsewhere- Bakugo: *drinking milk--looking around him* "..." eijiro: you excited man? Bakugo: "...Just something to do. Got to show this class is the best. And that I'm the best." eijiro: yeah! ....you feel like someone is staring at us right now? Bakugo: "Every. Damn. Day." eijiro: almost feels malicious. creepy. *shivers* Bakugo: "..." *hands Eijiro a knife* "Toss this." eijiro: HUEH?! O_O; Bakugo: "He'll dodge it. He always does." eijiro: uuuuhhhh ._.;;;;;;;; Bakugo: "..." *takes the knife back* "I'll do it." *tosses it into shrubs in the cafeteria--and a loud yell is heard* eijiro: HOLY SHIT! Mineta: *sits up out of the bushes* Q__Q *he's holding a camera...* eijiro: oh. it was nothing important then. Bakugo: "Yep." Mineta: "YOU COULD'VE KILLED ME!" student: so? pony: *gives him a cup full of ice* Mineta: TT~TT "Thank you, Pony." pony: yeah, ya needed some ice for dat burn. Mineta: Q_______Q "EVERYONE IS SO MEAN!" -elsewhere- Stein: "...What's security like at this festival?" marie: they've strengthened it up five times since last time, given the incidents that have been occurring recently. Stein: *nods* "Gonna be loud...but it'll bring in ratings." marie: remember how fun it was when we were taking part? Stein: "...I was just there to win." marie: ...still, it was fun. Stein: "Hmm...It was kind of funny seeing Spirit lose." marie: yeah. kami was so pissed off at him for that. kneed him right in the balls. Stein: "...Ha." Spirit: *flames around him* "..." marie: OuO; Stein: "Oh. Hello, Spir--" Spirit: "LET ME TELL YOU ONE THING! THIS COMPETITION IS GOING TO BE MASSIVE! AND I'M GOING TO RECLAIM MY CREDIBILITY AT IT!" marie: are you...saying you're going to compete? ._.; Spirit: "...Sure?" -elsewhere- Master: "Put that banner up higher." miranda: *nods and putting it up* Master: *thumbs up* "The Sports Festival should be a killer for business." miranda: yeah. *smiles* remember that year i was in the olympics? good times. *smiles* Master: *nods* "We are still proud of you." miranda: ^^ -elsewhere- Hyde: *drops a TV into the living room* licht: *raises a brow* romina: ooh. Hyde: "Guess who's watching the festival?!" julian: us? Hyde: "Yep!" *hands Julian a bowl and a bag of microwavable popcorn* julian: ._.; Hyde: "I got plenty! So keep making it!" -elsewhere- Izuku: o_______o *looking into a shop window* "New...alternative...action figures...of All Might..." *grabs his wallet--and sees the cash* "Aw...I don't have enough money." ???: *hands him some cash* Izuku: "?!" *looks* ???: here. take it....dont worry, its not stolen or something, haha. Izuku: "I-I can't take your money! I mean, I didn't earn it. And it could be a poor example if I wish to be a model superhero. Furthermore--" -she smiles- yana: easy kiddo. im just trying to be a good Samaritan here. ^^ i can tell you really want it. if you want, you could pay me back some time later. Izuku: "..." *nod nod* "Th-Thank you! Um...Where do I send you the money?" atsushi: !!! here! let me! yana: ... Izuku: "???" atsushi: it's this one, right? -elsewhere- Iida: *doing squats* -elsewhere- Meme: *pants, pants...takes another swing at the punching bag* mio: *timing her* Meme: *punch punch punch* -elsewhere- Kepuri: "We're home." nea: welcome back! medea: *still in her room* ... Kepuri: "...Where's the psychic?" mana: she's in her room. she hasnt left since this morning... Kepuri: "..." *takes bags of fast food, hands them to Mana--then takes out a bag labeled 'Medea'* "Give the rest to everyone. Tell Shotaro I got him the Happy Meal he wanted." *walks to the stairs* mana: ok....medea? we got you lunch. medea:...not hungry... Kepuri: "Come on--you need to eat something." *shakes the bag* "We got you fries!" medea:...*takes the bag and closes the door* Kepuri: -_- "...You're welcome." medea:..*silently weeping* -elsewhere- Kunikida: "Report." atsushi: *hands it to him* Kunikida: "...You have not let this work get in the way of what you need to finish in school, have you?" atsushi: no sir. Kunikida: "Even that competition?" atsushi: *nods* Kunikida: "...Then wear this." *holds up a uniform* atsushi: oh.. um... ._.; Kunikida: "Promote us." atsushi: .___.; this is...um.... *The uniform has the Agency's name in big letters* Kunikida: "Is there a problem?" atsushi: not at all sir! Kunikida: "Good. Then get back to training. Dazai said something about sparring--" atsushi: *looks at the door* Dazai: *opens the door* "Meet your sparring partner!" *Someone seven feet tall is behind Dazai* atsushi: O_O;;;;; um...who is that? Dazai: "Meet Winnifred! She's a great compet--" Winnifred: *grabs Dazai by the head--and tosses him back like a ragdoll* -elsewhere- Kid: *sips his hot chocolate* kirika: *playing her game with mocha resting on her head* Patty: *collapsed on the couch* "Zzz..." liz: peaceful. Wes: *sighs, smiles* "Yeah." lord death: ^^ my precious family. Yumi: *small smile* "Indeed." *sets down drinks* -elsewhere- Bakugo: "I'm home." mitsuki bakugou: welcome back kiddo! so i heard you're takin part in the sports festival? Bakugo: " 'Course I am. Got to make an impression." -elsewhere- himiko: *watching tv* fang: guuba! guubaguu! Dabi: “…” compress: the joys of fatherhood? Dabi: "...Kill me..." compress: no help there. Dabi: Q_______Q -elsewhere- FD: "And done." yana: *takes a peek* huh. FD: "...'Huh'? I only get a 'huh'?" yana: i mean, what kind of reaction are you looking for here man, like 'woooah that is so cool!' or 'eeew what the fuck man?!' FD: "...Drive the fear of death into people." yana: ...dark. FD: ^^ "Thank you." yana: no probs. FD: "Now, I have to complete a task for our 'guests.' Care to assist?" yana: sure, got time to kill. FD: "Take care of the children. I'll deal with Hawthorne." yana: yep. sonia: .... barkova: 8D keek: Q_Q FD: "Have fun~" *closes the door* yana: alright brats, listen the fuck up. it's story time. FD: *approaches Hawthorne's room--and spots blood under the door* "..." *knocks down the door* "...What fun is this if you're going to torture yourself?" Hawthorne: "..." mitchell?: h e  a s k e d  y o u  a  q u e s t i o n... Hawthorne: "I...am not here for anyone's amusement--" FD: "Really? Because this is rather amusing in how pathetic you look." Hawthorne: "..." zoey: he is pathetic, isnt he master fyodor? FD: "Indeed. Zoey, he is filthy. Remove those rags from him." zoey: *tearing them off* Hawthorne: *does not resist, stares at the floor* FD: "Look at me." Hawthorne: "..." FD: "...Zoey..." zoey:...*slaps hawthorne* he gave you an order. Hawthorne: *swallows...looks up* FD: "I need you at your best. This is not it. Your mind is like clay, which we will mold. But your body...Zoey will now do what is necessary to fix you up. Fix his wounds and heal his scars as well as you can." zoey: of course, master fyodor. FD: *nods* "I will leave you to it." *turns to depart* Hawthorne: "Will you give me what I ask?" FD: "...And more." *departs* -elsewhere- Chuuya: *looks at the poster* " 'Sports festival'?" kouyou: i even went and got you some new gym clothes~ *holding up a green track suit* Chuuya: "...Green?" naoya: she said something about it bringing your hair out? kouyou: ... Chuuya: "...F-Fine..." -elsewhere- Mori: "Now, get some sleep." elise: zzzzz =u= Mori: *small smile, as he tucks her in and exits* -...- Mori: *sighs* ("Too quiet.") -....- Mori: *presses a button on the intercom* miura: yes sir? Mori: "Come here." miura: do you require something, sir? Mori: "...Someone to speak with. I...want company." miura:...are you requesting anything lewd of me, sir? Mori: *shakes his head 'no'* "...I don't want to be alone tonight." miura:...very well then, sir. Mori: *nods* "Thank you...Do you...drink tea?" miura: no. Mori: "...Do you have more jokes memorized?" miura:...sir.. Mori: "...What? Are you suggesting _I_ am a joke?" miura: not at all sir. Mori: "...Do you dream?" miura: surprisingly, no. i do not dream of electric sheep. Mori: *smirks* "And that, Miura, is a joke." miura:...ah. Mori: "...Do you like it here?" miura: it's the only place i really know, so i suppose yes. Mori: "You can always see more places." miura: i have no particular interest at present. Mori: "But is there anything keeping you here?" miura: simple. i have a job to do. Mori: "...What if there was more to keep you?" miura: if you're suggesting anything sexual, im afraid i will have to decline. Mori: "...Not what I..." *sighs* "Nevermind. But promise me, you will consider not some_one_, but some_thing_, that fulfills you, makes you want to stay other than work." miura:...i'll consider it. Mori: *nods* "...May you sleep by my side tonight? Nothing sexual. Just to know I am not alone." miura:...very well. Mori: *opens the door to his room...stays dressed, just lies down...* miura:...*pats his head, like a mother would to her child* Mori: *small shake...* miura:.......*small humming* Mori: *closes his eyes* "M..." miura: .... Mori: "Zzz..." miura:...sleep well sir.... Mori: *sleeps* -elsewhere- Giovanni: "Unacceptable." lisa: .... Giovanni: *holds the photo up to her* "You took this from the workshop, didn't you?" lisa: ..... -elsewhere- Relan: *shivers* shinra: *hug* ^^ Relan: *calms down...* "Zzz..." -morning- Motojirou: *snoring* ayako: WAAAAKEE UUUUUUUP! *banging pans together* Motojirou: O___O *falls off* "Ouch!" ayako: YAAAAY HE'S UP! Motojirou: "...What now? I was having good dreams." ayako: we got stuff to do today! Motojirou: -____- "Can I at least eat first?" -elsewhere- Mori: *snoring* miura: .... (thinking: he was...almost like a child in that moment....) Mori: *turns over, yawns, opens his eyes* "...???" miura: good morning sir. Mori: ._. "...Good morning. Did you sleep?" -elsewhere- atsushi: .... odasaku: nervous? atsushi:...i dunno.... odasaku:....*head pat* atsushi: thanks. odasaku: no probs. *Knock knock* atsushi: it's open. Lucy: *pops in her head* "Ready?" atsushi: yeah. *smiles* Lucy: "...You look better smiling." *smiles back* atsushi: .///////////. Lucy: "Now hurry up." -elsewhere- Kid: *hums* stocking: =////u////= Kid: *smiles* "Well, look at that..." stocking: hmm? what? Kid: *small smooch on her nose* stocking: hehe~ Kid: "And what are you up to today?" *hug* stocking: not much, you? Kid: "I have the day off..." stocking: ah. Kid: "May I spend my day with you?" stocking: it would be my pleasure~ Kid: *offers his arm, smiles* stocking: *smooch* ~<3 Kid: ^\\\^ -elsewhere- Todoroki: *jogging* ochako: *whistling* Todoroki: "???" ochako: hey todoroki! training hard? Todoroki: "...Oh. Hello. Yes." ochako: this is gonna be eeeepiiiic! Todoroki: "...It will be an opportunity for true heroes to rise to prominence." ochako: i know! >u< Todoroki: "...Well, good luck." ochako: you too, todoroki! ^^ Todoroki: -\\\\- "...Okay." ochako: ^^ Todoroki: "...Are you jogging as well?" ochako: yep! im pumped! Todoroki: "...I was taking this path..." ochako: cool! i think the observatory tower is up ahead. you can see a huge part of the city from there! Todoroki: "Oh. I have not been there." ochako: eh? for real? well, death city is a huge place. maybe we could stop by? Todoroki: "...If we can climb the stairs." ochako: you're on! Todoroki: *follows...small smile* -elsewhere- FD: "And did he learn his lesson?" zoey: yes... FD: "Very good...What is he doing now?" zoey: healing for now.... FD: "Good...Because you and I must speak." zoey: what is it? FD: "Are you happy here?" zoey: of course i am! if i can be by your side, i'm more than happy! FD: "Because I would hate to think you are as miserable as others occupying this location...After how Hawthorne behaved, I cannot afford to have you be unhappy." zoey: *blush* FD: "How may I improve your mood?" -elsewhere- Relan: "I can't imagine being in that festival..." shinra: i think you could have the potential. Relan: "When the competitors include...that explode-y guy?" shinra: we could take him on! >u< Bakugo: "...Really?" Relan: Q_Q shinra: JEZZUSFUCK! iris: how long was he....? Relan: *hides behind Iris* -elsewhere- Dazai: *staring at the dish in the oven* "..." *in an apron and with oven mitts* "...Just a bit more." -ding- Dazai: ^W^ *opens the oven removes the dish* "..." *inhales* "Ah, good..." -elsewhere- Akutagawa: "This outfit is stupid." gin: well it's practical. Akutagawa: "I fail to see why I must wear this." naoya: ceremonial. i wore the same kind of outfit when i was in high school. Akutagawa: "Yours was this goofy?" naoya: eh. i had no real opinion. could have been worse, you could be down to practically your underwear! Akutagawa: "...I'm debating that point..." higuchi:.... ._.; Akutagawa: "I have no more time for this. Are the measurements sufficient on this attire?" -elsewhere- Akane: *speaking to security* "Be sure to check in and check out when you finish your shift." guard: *salutes* sir. Akane: "...Interesting cape. Your name?" guy: they call me 'the crooster!' clay: ACK! Akane: *writing down the name, then looks at Clay* "???" clay: MY EYES BURN DUDE! namiko: TT_TT *hiding under the bleachers* Akane: *sighs, puts on goggles, tosses bottle of drops to Clay* "At least we have 'tear gas' as a superhero this year..." namiko: that's fair. midnight: it's 'teary blue' actually. Akane: "Just describing the practical technique...So, all exits are guarded. After the last attack on students, whether by villains or rogue witches, I'm happy to have most preparations completed." clay: and protection from giant whales falling out of the sky! Akane: "...I told you, they don't migrate here." clay: then explain the one that fell into the lake then a few months ago, huh? Akane: "...That was a whale commandeered by electronic implants." clay: so like a robo whale? Akane: "Yes." clay: oh. Akane: "Professor Midnight, who is your biggest hero, height-wise?" midnight: in terms of height? as in all the time or maximum growth? -elsewhere- Iida: "...Brother? It's me..." tensei: oh, a pleasure to hear from you, tenya. what's up? Iida: *small smile* "I'm preparing for the festival. I've been improving my training. I...just want..." tensei: hmm? Iida: "...bring honor to our family." tensei: *smiles* i think you already are. Iida: "..." *manly tears, bows* "THANK YOU, BROTHER!" -elsewhere- Hiro: *looking at festival schedule* "Some musical performances on some evenings..." EF: ah. Hiro: "You get tickets?" EF: yep. Hiro: "Same. Guess I'll see you there! I hope I can actually see it this year--usually, someone is blocking my view..." -elsewhere- Reporter: *waving at teachers* "Excuse me! An interview, please!" marie: oh. you're ann terveau, from the news station? Reporter: *beaming* "Yes, I am! And you...Mjolnir, correct? The student from an earlier festival and now a teacher here, correct?" marie: that's correct. and dont forget that im a death scythe~ ^^ *wink* Ann: "...O-Of course not." ^^; "I wanted to ask about the upcoming Festival. Who are the students favored to win this year?" marie: well, as a teacher, i shouldnt really be picking favorites out of fairness to the others. Ann: "Aw, come on--there has to be a few you're mentoring for this event." -elsewhere- Stein: *falls down onto the couch* valentine: long day? Stein: "Security protocols, stocking the medical offices...Will be over-time at the infirmary during the games." valentine: ah. Stein: "...Could I have your assistance in the infirmary during the games?" valentine: already way ahead of you. Stein: "Thanks, Val..." *lies back* -elsewhere- Mr. Tsubaki: *whistling, as he sets out a photo...showing some students in sports uniforms* reimi: that's...watanuki, isnt it? Mr. Tsubaki: *nods* "Sakuya, yes. And Naho. And Lilac." reimi:...you miss them, dont you...? Mr. Tsubaki: "..." *nods* -elsewhere- Shamrock: "Eat well. You'll need the energy." lilac:...t-thank you. Shamrock: "You're welcome." X_^ tsubaki: ^^ Sakuya: "Could someone pass the salt?" -elsewhere- Todoroki: "..." ochako: wooooah! the view is awesome from up here! Todoroki: "...There is a lot to see." ochako: *smiles* can you see your house from here? Todoroki: "..." *points* ochako: woah! Todoroki: "And yours?" ochako: oh, it's on the other side of town. Todoroki: "Point it to me." -elsewhere- Yohei: *sips coffee* chie: *kiss* Yohei: ^\\^ "What's that for?" chie: love you~ Yohei: *smiles* "Love you, too." chie: ^///^~<3 Yohei: *puts a hand on her hip, letting her sit in his lap* chie: o///o Yohei: *rests his head along her shoulder* chie: *hug* Yohei: *hug* chie: =////= Yohei: "Are you...okay?" chie: yeah. of course i am. Yohei: *nods* "I'm glad...Toru sleeping okay?" chie: *nods* Yohei: "...Want to lie down for a bit?" chie: ....yeah. Yohei: *picks her up, takes her to their bed* -elsewhere- Hawthorne: *in a suit again...but his eyes look out, dead* "..." zoey: well?.....say something you.... Hawthorne: "...What would you have me say?" zoey: ..... Hawthorne: "...Why are you here?" zoey:...it's simple. im here only to serve the man i love Hawthorne: "And what if he does not return those feelings?" zoey: *grabs him by the neck* YOU DONT KNOW A THING ABOUT MASTER FYODOR!! HE LOVES ME MORE THAN ANYONE!! Hawthorne: *choking, but smirking* "Love...Hate...Same emotion...I see how he looks at you. He has no love for you. Just hatred..." zoey: *grabbing tighter* SHUT UP! SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!!!! Hawthorne: *grabs her wrists, trying to pull them away, bringing up his knees to push her away* "Yes, woman, suffer as I have suffered, in sight of me, your worst enemy...No friendly hand pulls at his heart-strings, for he has no love in his heart. How could he love a monster like you, who murders her only friend?" zoey: he...hehehe..AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! ahhh~ i only....did...what master fyodor...asked of me... Hawthorne: "And you killed your friend. You killed your friend because a madman told you to. You killed your only friend because a madman told you to. You killed your only friend because a madman told you to--then defiled you, from the inside out, like the base whore you are--" zoey: *slaps him...with a lead pipe* Hawthorne: *knocked to the floor, bleeding from the head* zoey: ......*exits the room* ......... FD: "..." *steps out, looks at Hawthorne...follows Zoey* zoey: master fyodor...? you...dont believe him....do you? FD: "Of course not." *rests his hand along her cheek* "I love you." zoey: ahhh *blush* FD: "But there are two problems." zoey: w-what is it, master fyodor? FD: "First, you have damaged one of our members. He will need your medical treatment." zoey:....understood. FD: "Second, you will treat him..." *turns her around--and slams her against the wall* "...after your punishment." zoey: ah! *pant* m-master fyo- FD: *slaps a hand over her mouth, as he leans onto her* "I can't have you killing my soldiers..." *jams his nails into her side* zoey: *letting out a muffled moan* FD: *rips her skirt with his nails, tearing it off of her* "You like blood so much?" *digs his nails into her bare leg* zoey: a-ahhh~!' FD: *grabs her underwear by the edge--tugging on them until they start to tatter* zoey: *blush* FD: "Are you really so embarrassed, Zoey, at being in a state of undress before me?" *turns her around, lifting up her shirt over her head* "You have no reason to be ashamed, before the man who loves you, who has seen all of you." zoey: it...f-feels good... FD: *grabs her bra--and rips it down, his mouth reaching her breast* -elsewhere- Spirit: "Hey, Kim. How're you holding up?" kim: good. you? Spirit: "A'ight. Just working out for the Festival..." kim: you're...taking part? sachiko:.... >////>; Spirit: "Yeah. What's wrong with that?" kim: no, nothing at all!....hey sachiko. sachiko: miss diehl. Spirit: "We're getting items for dinner. You hungry?" kim: eh, sure. Spirit: "Feel free to invite Jackie--plenty of food tonight!" kim: cool. Spirit: "And bring dessert!" -elsewhere- Kepuri: "What is her deal?!" chie: im not sure....she seems....hurt. Kepuri: "Then go to a doctor!" chie: i dont mean physical hurting. -_-; Kepuri: "Then a head doctor! You know, a shrink!" chie: perhaps... -elsewhere- Izuku: *sets his new action figure on the shelf* "...I'll make you proud, sir." -elsewhere- rowena: *reading* Poe: "Sister? I finished the cookies." rowena: *smiles* that's great. ^^ lenore: *casually perched on her head* Poe: *offers a cookie to Lenore* lenore *nom nom* Poe: ^^ "Glad you like it." -elsewhere- Todoroki: "I'm home." fuyumi: welcome back! Todoroki: "May I provide any assistance with dinner?" fuyumi: sure. Todoroki: *grabs an apron* "...Anything interesting happen?" -elsewhere- Mr. Urakaka: *asleep on the couch, still in his work clothes* "Zzz..." ochako:...*smiles and puts the blanket over him* -elsewhere- Black Star: *snoring* kilik: guess he's crashing here tonight then? soul: seems like. Black Star: *swings his arm* soul:...whatcha think he's dreaming about? kilik: *shrug* Black Star: "Give it to me..." kilik:...*smirks, pulling out shaving cream and putting it into the palm of black*star's hand* Black Star: "Yeah, that's it...Big burger..." *moves his hand up to his mouth* "NOM." kilik + soul: *holding in laughter* Black Star: *muttering* "Tsubaaaaaaaakiiii....I told you I don't like whipped cream on my burger." -they just lose it- Black Star: *wakes up* "..." *growls* -elsewhere- kenji: *humming* Kunikida: "I have an errand for you." kenji: okay! what is it? Kunikida: "Delivers this package to the police." kenji: okay! hey kyouka, lets do our best! Kyouka: "Yay." -elsewhere- yana: *checking the cameras* *Dazai is washing dishes, Lucy is...holding up a sports uniform?* yana: *yawn* uuuugh. so laaaaame. are we ever gonna get this damned plan going? FD: *enters, buttoning his shirt* "What do we need to move forward?" yana: *looks back at him ala shaft head tilt* well, for starters, we need to finish contacting that guy, but it may take months. FD: "Can you make it 'weeks'?" yana: i could try, but i cant guarantee it. -_-; FD: "Please do." *adjusts his tie* yana: *nods* *glances through the door* zoey: *panting, laying on the floor* yana: *cringe* FD: "...I'll be done in a few minutes. Tend to the children." yana:....right. -elsewhere- Tsukiyo: *hands out towels* -elsewhere- kenji: ^^ Kyoka: "...There it is." -after that- kenji: what do you want to do now? ^^ Kyoka: "Crepes." kenji: that sounds yummy! Kyoka: "Good. I hope you have money." ???: hueeeee....the city is so big and scary. i wish i could go home... kenji: !!!! ???: *a young boy, around 14, looks up* ueh? k-kenji? kenji: *HUG* NANKICHI!! Kyoka: "???" kenji: oh! kyouka, this is nankichii, he's from ihatov like me! nankichii, this is kyouka, she's one of my coworkers! nankichii: e-e-ehhh? coworkers? what? *confused* Kyoka: "Student employee." nankichii: ehhhh??? -elsewhere- hirotsu + naoya: *belting out an epic enka duet. it is a marvelous sight to behold* higuchi: ^^; Gin: "..." *downs another shot* higuchi: wait, where did tachihara and ryunosuke go? Gin: "??? ... Oh no." clerk: sir. you're drunk. go back to your room please. -_-; Tachihara: "No, you go back to your room!" Akutagawa: *shivering* -a voice can be heard singing in one of the rooms...atsushi's voice- Akutagawa: "..." *follows the voice* atsushi: *singing karaoke* Lucy: QWQ Akutagawa: *staring from the window* Q~Q kirako: *claps* naomi: ^^ Lucy: "Bravo!" atsushi: aw, shucks guys. ^^ *scratching the back of his head, blushing a bit* Lucy: "Encore!" atsushi: well- *notices the window* *SCREAM* Lucy: "!!!" Akutagawa: *face pressed against the glass* naomi: WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?! Akutagawa: *smashes the window* -he got tazed- Lucy: o_o; atsushi: that was terrifying. -underground- RHOD member: <boss, we have a problem. someone leaked our location. we'll need to move to the secondary base.> FD: *sigh* <Begin.> -elsewhere- Mori: "???" miura: someone sent us the location of the rats... Mori: *smiles* "Send our team!" miura: understood. -and so- naoya: look out fuckers, pest control is in town! hirotsu: *approaching the door....he sent it flying back* -silence.......no one is here...- Akutagawa: "..." Chuuya: "Damn it." *sniffle* naoya: ??? -a small child can be heard whimpering from one of the rooms- Chuuya: "???" *follows the sound* -the room is empty, save for two beds....the sound is coming from under one of them- sonia: *whimpering, clutching a stuffed bear* Chuuya: "..." *approaches one bed* sonia: ??? .....*staring up at him* Chuuya: "...Hey." sonia: .....are you....going to kill me? Chuuya: "No...Why would you think that?" sonia:....are you....an angel? Chuuya: "No. Human. Like you." *removes his glove* sonia: ....... *staring out the door* Akutagawa: "...Why is there a small person under that bed?" sonia: ......they left me in this place.....told me i was nothing more than dead weight....*crawling out and going out of the room* Chuuya: "...What is your name?" sonia:.....sonia.....*points to the incubator* i came out of here....from a dead thing.... naoya: the heck is that? hirotsu: an incubator? *examining it* nirvana corporation...? how long has this been here...? Chuuya: ("...Dead thing?") higuchi: *checking rooms*.... ?? *spots a box with 'to mr nakahara' written on it with a letter* what the....?......hey chuuya? you might want to see this. Chuuya: "??? ..." sonia:....*points to the box* mommy in there. Chuuya: "...What do you mean--" sonia: mommy in there.....she died.....i was supposed to be dead too.....but then they grew me in the tube...and now im here.... naoya: that's pretty freaky.... Chuuya: "..." *opens the box* -rain's body is left inside- higuchi: *screaming in horror* hirotsu: !!!! Chuuya: "..." *turns his head--and vomits* naoya: what the fucking shit?!?! sonia:....mommy in there. naoya: w-what the fuck does she mean 'mommy in there'?! Chuuya: "..." *looks up, cleaning his mouth, stares at Higuchi* "...No..." higuchi:....*realization* ......*her face went pale* Chuuya: *stares at Sonia...* naoya: t-the fuck did they do?! th-they turned her into some fucking doll.....what kind of sick fucks are we dealing with?! sonia:.....mommy died..... Chuuya: "..." *sobbing* higuchi:.....chuuya....we should probably leave now....we should bring her with us... Chuuya: "The...The..." naoya: h-h-hey, g-get a hold of yourself! Chuuya: *crying, walking ahead* hirotsu: ..... -in the mafia office- kouyou: !!!! miura: .... elise: EEEEEW SO CREEPY! Mori: "...Uuuuuuuuuummmmm..." hirotsu: and that's the report. naoya: what the hell kind of sick, deprived bastards are we dealing with, mori?! Mori: "...Truly disturbing ones. Poor Rain." higuchi: .........*hard stare at mori* hirotsu: what do we do with her now? *glances at chuuya* Chuuya: "...Sonia? Are you hungry?" Mori: *calm smile before Higuchi* sonia: *hugging his leg, as if hiding from mori* ...... kouyou:..... Mori: "???" Chuuya: *pats Sonia's head* "Come along. I'll make you something good to eat." sonia:....*holding onto the back of his shirt and following* Mori: "At least someone here is good with children." kouyou: .....*small smile* Chuuya: "You like pizza?" sonia:....what's that, papa? Chuuya: .\\\. "...Um...I'm not...Um...It-It's bread with cheese on it..." sonia: *imagining a bread loaf with a slice of cheese on it* oh. Chuuya: "And tomato sauce." -elsewhere- keek: *terrified* FD: "Which of you told them our location?" -no one says anything- keek: *tears falling* FD: "...Keek. Child. Come here..." keek: *trembling* FD: *approach Keek...and hugs her* keek: ??? zoey: .....*malicious glare at keek* FD: "You know who did it. And I promise, if you tell me, I won’t hurt you." keek: i-i dont.... ???: it was me sir! -a young lady approaches- ???: im the one who told the mafia our location FD: "...Why?" ???: i thought......if we lured them into a trap...we could....kill them.... FD: "And so you risk our location on that gamble? What is your name?" ???:....sasha...sir.... FD: "I appreciate your honesty, Sasha. Thank you." sasha:..... FD: "I would like to reward you. Zoey, if you would be so kind..." zoey: *goes up to sasha......and slits her throat* sasha: !!!! *choking on her blood and twitching.....before finally dying* FD: "Oh, you've made a mess, Sasha." sasha: ........ -no one says a thing- keek: *tears still falling* FD: "Well, now that this task has been taken care of, I want all but Zoey and Keek to begin the clean up, unpacking, and organizing. Dismissed." -they all go about their business- keek: ......... zoey: *glaring at keek* FD: *pats Keek's shoulder* "And this is what happens...to anyone who goes against my wishes. Do you understand, Keek?" keek:....*nods. still whimpering* FD: "Good. Now get Sasha out of here. Zoey and I must talk." keek: ......*staring at sasha's corpse* -sasha's eyes are wide in shock...- zoey: ...... FD: "...Zoey? Will you miss Sonia?" zoey: ......will we.....retrieve the new child soon...? FD: "When you wish me to do so, I will." zoey: ah~ FD: "..." *pats her cheek* "That's my girl." zoey: ^^ FD: "...I think I can help you with the new child, too." -elsewhere- Chuuya: *staring at Sonia* "..." sonia: *nom nom* *shiny eyes* delicious! {higuchi: i think....this kid is rain and mori's child....they must have revived her with the incubator....} {Chuuya: "...Same."} {higuchi:....what do we do with her?} {Chuuya: "...Keep her away from Mori."} {higuchi: no arguments from me on that...} {Chuuya: "I just...think that look on his face..." *shudders* "I don't want to know what is going through his mind."} {sonia: *holding her stuffed bear* .....} {Chuuya: "...Hey, Sonia...Does your bear have a name?"} {sonia:....*shakes head* i hid my dream drawings in it...} {Chuuya: "...Drawings?"} {sonia:....i have.....dreams about mommy. about papa......about the demon....} {Chuuya: " 'Demon'?"} -tug tug- Chuuya: "???" sonia: are you ok, papa? Chuuya: "...Fine...Why do you call me 'Papa'?" sonia:....*pulls out a drawing of herself, rain....and chuuya* Chuuya: *holding back tears* "...Oh." *small smile* sonia: you look like the same papa in my dreams..... Chuuya: "In these dreams...what is your mama like?" sonia: mama's really nice....she gives the best hugs. Chuuya: "...Yeah." sonia: ......where are they gonna put mommy now? Chuuya: "...They're...going to let her rest." sonia:.....oh....i wish mommy wasnt dead. Chuuya: "...Me too, Sonia." sonia:.....*hug* Chuuya: "!!! ..." *pat pat, hug* -elsewhere- Gin: "How is Chuuya dealing with all of this?" higuchi: im not sure.....i think....taking sonia in might help him.....god....i can still see her in there.....she looked peaceful... Gin: *nods* "...That they would do such a thing to her...is mortifying.” higuchi:......why would they.....is this some kind of sick joke to them? Gin: "Likely. And to send a message, not only to Mori...but to Chuuya." higuchi: .....*trembling* she never deserved any of this.... Gin: *holds her hand* "No. She did not." higuchi: *hugs and whimpers* Gin: *hug, strokes her back* "..." -elsewhere- Mori: "But Elise, aren't you happy to have another child here to play with?" elise: i gueeeesss... she kinda looks like you a bit. how gross. Mori: ^^;;;; "...Just your imagination." elise: and i think she already hates your guts, rintarou. Mori: ^^;;;;;;;;;; "...I'm sure we'll get along when we get to know each other." -elsewhere- Rin: "How's your mom doing, Stocking?" stocking: doing well. im gonna help set the nursery up later. Rin: "D'aw! I can't imagine how they'll set it up...Your dad's going to add any of his otaku stuff?" stocking:....*excalibur face* that's a scary thought. Rin: "Maybe you could get some candy-shaped plushie for your future sibling." stocking: that would be cute ^^ Rin: "Darn right it would be!" *opens another can of soda* "So, how long before you have a kid?" stocking: RIN! D8< Rin: "What? I thought that's what would happen next after the wedding. I already have a bet going how long before--" izumo: *tapes his mouth shut* stop. Rin: OXO "Hmph?!" Yukio: -_-;;; "My apologies." -elsewhere- Ann: "Thanks for your time!" *turns off her recorder* "Great interview." -elsewhere- Arthur: -_____- "It's him..." tamaki: ??? *excalibur face* dear god. Aoyama: "Bonjour, chaton! Hello, Boyle." tamaki: *siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh* hello aoyama. -_-; Aoyama: "You look in fine form today. Excited for the upcoming Festival?" tamaki: yeah, i guess. (thinking: knowing my luck, im gonna be humiliated most likely...) Aoyama: *takes her hand* "Then I wish you the best of luck. And I hope you will be cheering for me." *kisses her hand* Arthur: "..." tamaki: .......... nozomi: oh, hello mr aoyama. it's been a while since we spoke last. Aoyama: "Ah, Miss Nozomi! Hello. You are looking well." -elsewhere- Lucy: *sigh* "Craziness." atsushi: yeah, no kidding. odasaku: .... Lucy: "..." *hug* "Don't get killed by that weirdo." atsushi: !! *hug* i wont... Lucy: *pat pat* "Good...Good." *leans her head on his shoulder* odasaku:...i'll just....*ahem* let you two have a moment.. 7.7 Lucy: "...Atsushi...Thanks." atsushi: *smiles* you're welcome. Lucy: *pulls back, smiles--and pats his head* "Good boy." atsushi: >///<; Lucy: *stretches* "Well, I'm starving. Make me something~" -elsewhere- Hibana: "Mmm~" *smooch* gabriella: *smooch* ~<3 Hibana: *lies down* "Did you ever think it'd be like this?" gabriella: no....but im so happy it is... Hibana: *hug* "...Thank you, for not giving up on me." gabriella:....*hug* Hibana: "I love you, so much... -elsewhere- FD: *seated, in front of a white wall...just staring at it* "..." yana: im back! i got you a housewarming gift. *hands him a mug* FD: "..." *blinks* "Huh?" *looks around, then at the mug* -it has '#1 boss' written on it- FD: "..." yana: im gonna go set my room out. FD: "...Thank you." -elsewhere- Sakuya: *pouting* naho: you ok? Sakuya: "Just...irritated." naho:....*hug* Sakuya: "..." *sniff, hugs* naho: do you want to watch some movies? Sakuya: *nods* "Something...kind of light." naho: ok~ ^^ Sakuya: *sits on the couch* "..." naho: ^^ -elsewhere- Benimaru: *staring up at the Moon* kirei: *asleep, resting her head against his shoulder* Benimaru: *glances at her* "..." ("The Moon only makes her look more beautiful.") kirei: =///= Benimaru: "..." *cheek smooch* -elsewhere- Medusa: -___-; "She's drunk again." shaula: awwwcumooooon im not daaat druuunk. Medusa: "Do I need to show you what you have been shit-posting during your video game playing?" -elsewhere- Emine: *picking a lock* *whispers* "How is this a 'good deed' again?" Shotaro: "Shh!" -elsewhere- Kid: "Welcome home.” stocking: hey kiddo~ *hug* Kid: ^^ *hug* "How was it?" stocking: today went pretty well. Kid: *smiles* "I'm glad." *smooch* stocking: mmm~<3 Kid: *rubs her arm* "All finished for the day?" stocking: yep. shiori: stocky! stocky! stocking: *picks her up* hey to you too, kiddo! shiori: ^o^ Kid: *smiles* "...Perfect." stocking: ^^ Kid: *takes his phone--and snaps a pic* -elsewhere- Vulcan: o_o;;; "...Why does this new robot have...ostrich legs?" karin: we got a commission for a promotional poster by the UA. one of their students is gonna pose with this thing to promote the sports festival. Vulcan: "...That is so rad. Have you named it?" -elsewhere- PlushFix: *shudders, covered in blood* hina: *whistling and playing with a butterfly knife* that was fun, right guys? saku: ... PlushFix: "...I need a bath." *shakes like a dog* hina: *picks him up and throws him into the washing machine* PlushFix: D: "At least let me take a bath with someone hot!" hina: *tosses in a plush toy of a fire ball* PlushFix: -___- "...Cute. How am I supposed to fuck this?" -elsewhere- Anya: *snores* -elsewhere- Jacqueline: "Thank you for the meal, ma'am." sachiko: no problem, kiddos ^^ kim: ^^ izumi: jackie, how do you like working in the library? Jacqueline: "It's enjoyable enough: quiet, get to keep things organized...But I do not like the rabies shots." izumi: O-O; eh? Jacqueline: "...I was kidding, about Poe's raccoon in the library?" izumi: oh, i see. i think i've seen that raccoon. Jacqueline: "Cute enough--but kind of noisy." kim: from what i've seen in pictures, he's kind of become the library mascot, haha! Jacqueline: "And leaving his fruit-juice footprints everywhere..." -__-; -elsewhere- Stein: *sips a beer* -elsewhere- Akitaru: "Zzz..." -morning- sonia: zzzzz.... Chuuya: "..." mito: *sleeping next to her* Chuuya: *steps away to the kitchen* -there is a few texts, from kouyou, naoya, hirotsu, higuchi, and akutagawa- Chuuya: "?!" *pulls up Kouyou's* kouyou: [how did sonia sleep the first night?] Chuuya: [a bit of adjustment but okay. had her take my bed, i took the couch] kouyou: [i'll be buying her some new clothes today ^^ #proudgrandma] Chuuya: -_-; ['kay] *looks at Hirotsu's* hirotsu: [congratulations on parenthood. if you ever need a nanny, let me know. im already taking care of four children as it is. ie tachihara, naoya, and the akutagawas] hirotsu: [*congratulations] Chuuya: [lol. thanx] *pulls up Higuchi's* higuchi: [u feeling any better? if u want to talk about it, let me know, k?] Chuuya: "..." [thanks.] higuchi: [ok] Chuuya: *pulls up Akutagawa's* Akutagawa: [how is the child?] Chuuya: [sleeping. seems to be resting.] Akutagawa: [good. let me know whether you need me to pick something up.] Chuuya: "..." [okay] *glancing at Naoya's text* naoya: [eyyy congrats on the kid!] Chuuya: -____-;;; [i'm just watching her today.] naoya: [u on parental leave or somethin?] Chuuya: [i don't know. i may have to ask akutagawa for class notes] naoya: [ah.] Chuuya: [can you cover for me at work?] naoya: [are you asking me to play 'executive'? like? for legits?] Chuuya: "..." [no. i am asking you to take on some of my lesser tasks. i have kouyou covering executive duties] naoya: .... [oh. can do] Chuuya: [thanks. make sure akutagawa doesn't do anything stupid] naoya: [*thumbs up emoticon*] Chuuya: *small smile...sets down the phone, opens the fridge, removes some eggs and milk...* sonia: zzz.... mito: *yawns* =w= Chuuya: *pours some milk into Mito's dish, then starts mixing items into bowl...* sonia: *waking up* ??? Chuuya: *already pouring pancake mix into skillet* sonia: *walking into the room and looking around* Chuuya: "...Good morning, Sonia. I'm making breakfast for us." sonia: .....*trying to get up onto the bar seat* Chuuya: "..." *sets down skillet, removes oven mitts* "Here, let me help you up." sonia: ... Chuuya: *picks her up with his hands to drop her into the seat* sonia: thank you. Chuuya: "You're welcome! So, what do you like on your pancakes?" sonia:...? Chuuya: "Maybe banana slices? Chocolate chips? Berries?" -elsewhere- Takehisa: *loading his rifle* -elsewhere- Kid: *yawns* stocking: morning~ Kid: *smiles* "Good morning, Stocking." stocking: *smooch* Kid: *small giggle* "Aw...How was your sleep?" -elsewhere- Vulcan: *staring at an octopus plushie* "..." nozomi: is everything ok? Vulcan: "Y-Yeah...This plushie just...looks familiar. Whose is it?" -elsewhere- Akutagawa: =_= teacher: mr araragi? Akutagawa: "...What?" teacher: please pay attention.