#vice and Ire

[kailysander]

The Left Hand of Darkness

[cow-and-chicken]

how I picture our current vice presidential candidates right now

(idiot always getting jealous of someone who is more successful, favorable, and normal than him)

[luxurysystems]

...N O W L O A D I N G....📼

Money Inc. x GTA: Vice City AU headcanons- IRS

Codename/Alias: The Kangal. The Kangal is a breed of dog renowned for its protectiveness and shepherding qualities, but must importantly, the Kangal is feared for having the strongest bite force. Ted lovingly gives Irwin this nickname. Initially hesitant in being likened to a guard dog, Irwin starts to warm up to it...

Irwin, by day, works as an accountant in Downtown Vice City's business sector (mainland). At night, he works as a hitman/bounty hunter, accepting jobs from clients on both the Mainland and Beach/Nightlife area. Most of his clients come from the more affluent sections of the city. Once he starts working with Ted exclusively, he stops all contract work but still keeps his job as an accountant.

Famed (or infamous, depending on who you ask) for having an amazing work ethic in both jobs.

His last contracted bounty job didn't go as planned.... (x) (x)

Used to have a mullet; cuts it off once he joins Ted.

His original kit included the following: Col .45 (handgun), Ithaca 37/Chromed Shotgun, and his trusty Remington Model 700 (sniper rifle).

Ted gifts him with more weaponry, specifically a submachine gun (MP5), and an AR (the M4)-- for those tougher jobs.

Favorite radio stations: Emotion 98.3, VROCK, and VCPR. He enjoys listening to talk radio on the way to work.

Favorite vehicles: PCJ-600 and the Sentinel XS

His apartment is located in Vice Point (away from the mainland/downtown area). Although his apartment is a mere minutes away from the prolific Malibu Club, he prefers quiet nights at home watching Yuppie and the Alien or Just the Five of Us.

Doesn't smoke during the day, only when he's on the job--especially if there's a lot of waiting. It calms him down, allegedly.

After work, you can catch Irwin at Umberto Robina's cafe in Little Havana enjoying a coffee. Considers Umberto a friend and likewise Umberto considers Irwin a real man with "big cojones."

"Balances" the books for Ted's other money laundering businesses.

He also balances Ted's boisterous personality-- Irwin is very cool, calm, and collected. The poster child for the strong, silent type.

Has been known to crack a smile at times-- Ted can vouch for it.

During a meet up, Irwin acts as Ted's back-up if things go south. He is often seen carrying a briefcase- filled with either money or "goods."

If Ted insists on going to a meet-up alone, that doesn't necessarily mean that Irwin isn't there. You may not be able to see him, but he can see you....

Is a superior marksman. One shot to kill if necessary, never maim- he makes sure all of his shots are clean. If someone gives Ted a hard time, Irwin gives them a corpse worthy of a closed casket funeral.

Often refuses Ted's other lavish gifts like expensive suits, cologne, watches, etc. Will take the gifts after much insistence, but will be shy to use or wear them. Plus, Irwin feels like if he does wear any of Ted's gifts at his day job, he'd stick out like a sore thumb. What's an accountant doing with a $75,000 Rolex, anyway?

[irlkisukeurahara]

if you censor a ship name purely because you don't like it (I don't mean incest or minor×adult or anything like that. I mean generally harmless pairings) or because you ship one of the characters with another character...you're sensitive as fuck lmao

[whats-in-a-sentence]

The Institute of International Bankers in New York, of which Tony Walton was vice-chairman, had addressed the problem in an April 1991 paper submitted to the US Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service, and continued to raise the issue in meetings with Treasury and IRS staff. The institute noted:

The key issue affecting the international banks arises in the context of cross-border interbranch transactions. For example, a US branch of an international bank that has entered into an interest rate or currency swap with a customer will often enter into a cross-border interbranch swap, the terms of which mirror the terms of the swap with the customer. The US branch's counterparty in such a 'mirror' interbranch swap will often be the bank's head office or another branch responsible for managing worldwide swap risk. The result is that the US branch has hedged its position economically through the mirror interbranch swap, and the bank's head office will be in a position to hedge the bank's overall position.

However, the IRS position is that US tax law does not recognise interbranch swaps or other interbranch transactions (although many countries treat branches of American banks as separate entities). Accordingly, a US branch of an international bank that hedges its swap transactions in this way will be treated by the IRS as if it held an unhedged position for federal tax purposes, even though the US branch is fully hedged economically. As a result, the back can have US taxable income far in excess of the bank's hedged economic income depending on the movements of interest or currency exchange rates. Likewise, depending on these market factors, a bank can generate a substantial tax loss in the United States, even though the bank has economic income on its hedged transaction.

The IRS has attempted to address the cross-border interbranch transactions arising from global trading operations by offering to enter into so-called 'advance pricing agreements' . . . between the affected taxpayer, the IRS and the home country tax authority of the taxpayer.

"Westpac: The Bank That Broke the Bank" - Edna Carew

[hxvphaestion]

HRIWJDJJE maybe this is normal maybe im just inexperienced or whatever. But. Someone someone i talked to one summer over a summer program like 6 years ago. Messaged me to ask. Hey is this other person u posted on ur insta (Who I Don’t Know) single she’s cute. Haha?

THIS KIND OF CRAZY BEHAVIOUR? TO ME?

Men live like this????? PPL DO THIS?????

[cow-and-chicken]

how I view this vice presidential debate right now.

[luxurysystems]

If I'm gonna do this Vice City AU any justice, you know I have to give Irwin the loading screen treatment.

[batboyblog]

Things the Biden-Harris Administration Did This Week #33

Sep 6-13 2024

President Biden marked the 30th anniversary of the passage of the Violence Against Women Act and highlighted efforts to stop gender based violence. the VAWA was written by then Senator Biden and he often talks about it as his proudest legislative victory. The act transformed how the federal government dealt with domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. In part because of the connection to Joe Biden, President Trump and the Republicans allowed the VAWA to expire in 2019. President Biden passed a new reauthorization, with new protections for women against cyber crime, in 2022. On the VAWA's 30th anniversary President Biden announced $690 million in grants to support survivors of gender-based violence.

President Biden and Vice-President Harris announced a new rule to force insurance companies to treat mental health care the same as medical care. The new rule takes on the use by insurance of restrictive practices like prior authorization, and out of network charges, it also closes a loophole in the law that allowed state and local government health insurance not to cover mental health.

The Biden-Harris administration announced that 50 million Americans, 1 in every 7, have gotten health insurance through Obamacare's marketplaces. Under Biden a record breaking 20.8 million enrolled this year. Since the ACA was passed by President Obama and then Vice-President Biden it has transformed American health care bring affordable coverage to millions and getting rid of "preexisting conditions". During the Presidential debate Vice-President Harris defended the ACA and the need to keep building on it. Trump after 9 years of calling for its repeal said he only had "concepts of a plan" on what to do about health care in America.

The IRS announced that it has recovered $1.3 billion in back taxes from wealthy tax dodgers. For years Republicans have tried to underfund the IRS hindering its ability to police high income tax payers. President Biden in his Inflation Reduction Act ensured that the IRS would have the money it needs to chase high income tax cheats. In February 2024 the IRS launched a program to go after over 100,000 people, making $400,000 or even over $1 million a year who have not filed taxes since 2017. The IRS also launched a program to collect from tax payers who make over $1 million a year who have uncontested debt of over $250,000. Between these two efforts the IRS has collected over a Billion Dollars in back taxes from the richest Americans, so far this year.

The Department of The Interior and White House Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi highlighted green energy efforts on public land. Highlighting two projects planned in Nevada officials talked about the 41 renewable energy projects approved on public land under the Biden-Harris Administration. These projects over 25 gigawatts of clean energy, a goal the Administration's climate plan set for the end of 2025 but met early this year. With the new projects in Nevada this is enough energy to power 12.5 million homes, and the Bureau of Land Management is another 55 utility-scale project proposals across the West.

The Department of The Interior announced $236 million to help fight forest fires and restore landscapes damaged by recent wildfires. Under President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Administration has spent nearly $1.1 billion dollars to combat deadly wildfires which have over the last 10 years grown in size and intensity thanks to climate change.

The Department of The Interior announced $157 million in wetland conservation. The money is focused on protecting bird habitats. It will protect and preserve thousands of acres of wetlands across 7 states.

The US Senate approved President Biden's nominations of Adam Abelson, Jeannette Vargas, Mary Kay Lanthier, and Laura Provinzino to federal judgeships in Maryland, New York, Vermont, and Minnesota respectively. This brings the total number of federal judges appointed by President Biden to 209. When Biden entered office 318 district judges were Republican appointees and 317 Democratic, today 368 are Democratic appointments and just 267 are Republican. President Biden is the first President in history to have the majority of his appointments not be white men and he has appointed more black women to the bench than any President ever.

[ninibeingdelulu]

How he kiss you ft. levi ackerman

When he’s happy/content :

For the normally severe and closed-off Levi, expressions of pure, unbridled tenderness are few and far between.

So when those rare, unguarded moments arise where genuine warmth ghosts across his features, you can expect his kisses to match that soft vulnerability.

He'll initiate them slow and sweet, cradling the back of your head with featherlight reverence as slate strands of inky fringe brush your flushed cheeks.

Levi's firm mouth melts into a lingering caress, each plush sweep cataclysmically gentle like trying to imprint your very essence into his soul.

His free hand maps up the dip of your spine in a scorching brand, fingertips searing through thin fabric as he coaxes your bodies flush.

Levi's kiss deepens into a drugging exploration, savoring every breath and hushed mewl spilling from your conjoined forms.

Each openmouthed sip of your lips oozes with visceral reverence - he cherishes and covets you with the same impassioned ferocity he gives everything worthwhile in this cruel world.

By the time Levi finally breaks away, his gunmetal irises glimmer like molten silver, pupils hazed and swallowing you whole in their infinite depths.

When he’s angry/frustrated :

When Levi's ire reaches its infamous boiling point, you can expect his mouth to convey the same scorching intensity smoldering behind that piercing glare.

He yanks you forward with punishing force, bunching fists in the front of your shirt until your chests collide in a stinging impact.

The initial crash of Levi's lips carries a searing bite, teeth clashing as he snarls hot and unchecked into your trembling mouth.

There's no tenderness or romance to this ravaging embrace, only venting catharsis as he pillages your willing form.

Every caress of his questing tongue tastes of woody cedar smoke and black tea - his unique flavors mingling in a headier, more primal musk swirling between your interlocked frames.

Each time you attempt to match his furious pace, Levi growls in dominance and silently demands your full submission.

Only once his smoldering temper has been spent through a blistering whirlwind of plunging licks and nips does his grip finally loosen, tapering into several shuddering inhales through flared nostrils.

Gunmetal irises cool from raging hellfire into glassy, sated pools as his searing rage finally ebbs to a low simmer once more.

When he’s desperate/anguished:

Under the most dire of circumstances, when humanity's peril appears bleakest, a frantic mania sweeps over Levi's typically dispassionate steel - manifesting in a volatile desperation to connect with the solace only you can provide.

It's in these most distressed spasms of isolation that he seizes your mouth with absolutely zero preamble, instantly delving past plush barricades with voracious hunger.

Levi's quaking digits cup your cheeks in a vice grip, crushing his lips against yours with bruising pressure like trying to meld you into one eternal existence.

Plaintive keens rumble in his chest, reverberating into your intertwined forms as Levi tamps down every frenzied shred of restraint - violently plunging and devouring like parched for even a drop of your essences.

There's profound lashing need in each greedy swipe and inhale scattering your gasps across the static-charged air between trysts.

His battle-roughened hands scour your body, roaming up ribs and spanfall in aching desperation like charting every curve and hollow to swathe himself in you.

Only once Levi grows utterly lightheaded and staggering does his manic ardor lose any fever, wilting into several stunned snaps for air as his fringe hangs in inky disarray.

When he need comfort :

During those most vulnerable stretches when the horrific cost of their impossible fight wears Levi to haunted breaking, he craves the purifying balm of your affection to recenter his fractured spirit.

On these evenings, the Captain seeks you out silently - slate irises dimmed to liquid mercury as you immediately gather his compact form against yours in a shielding embrace.

Levi burrows into your protective circle with a hushed, rattling exhalation that seems to bleed out lingering shades of his inner anguish.

As you card soothing sweeps through his undercut, he tilts up towards you with unhurried grace - silvery lashes hooding to veil those usually piercing irises for once.

A skated whisper of his firm lips fleeting across your own serves as the tremulous catalyst before Levi leans in with profound intent.

His mouth melds to yours in a plush, indolent persuasion - feverish and potent yet profoundly fragile.

More a molten vow of surrender and pouring himself into your steady channel of light to be buoyed from drowning shadows.

Levi winds his arms around your torso in an anchor, plastering as much of his weary form to yours as humanly possible.

You can taste the notes of Earl Grey and bergamot saturating his every shuddering inhalation - each sweep of his velvety tongue reverent as monastery prayer against the holy seal of your enjoined frames.

The very air hangs suspended in beatific tranquility encapsulating you both, Levi silently drinking down every measure of your serene affirmations like a man perishing.

By the time he finally diffuses into a loose, simmered husk cradled against your chest, that gunmetal gaze has regained some starlit embers of its formidable gleam - bolstered from your ministering grace once more.

[starry-bi-sky]

changeling danny has his wretched little claws in me so here's some AU fey lore

Okay so, i've got a lot of ideas for the Fey Lore in this au. But to start out what may become a sling of posts: a simplified set up of the Infinite Realms. I think I mentioned it before in a reblog of the original changeling danny post, but the fey wilds exist in the IR. In most fanon I see the same scale as the rest of the realms, however i have a different idea for it.

In simplified terms, the fey wilds and the ghost zone are two different things. They both exist in the Infinite Realms, however, they exist on different planes of existence. In simplified terms, there are three separate planes in the Infinite Realms.

The Long Far: Highest realm in the infinite realms. Home to most, if not all, the Ancients. Beings that reside in The Long Far are eldritch abominations, gods, personifications of concepts, and other celestial-type beings. The only way to access the Long Far is through the Starflare Currents in the Feywilds. Which are a nebula of stars that work similar to the ocean currents in Finding Nemo. They are a rapid vortex full of stars that pass over the feywilds that can be seen at night. In order to reach the Long Far, one must fly up to the Current and latch onto one of the stars rapidly flying past. And then they must stay on the star until the currents begin to ascend rapidly upwards. This is harder than it sounds. Ever been indoor surfing? Where you lie on your stomach on a small board and try not to get flung off? Exact same concept. It’s basically the world’s most terrifying escalator to the gods.

The Fey Wilds: The Fey Wilds isn't exactly strictly home to the Fey, however for convenience sake I'm calling it the Fey Wilds. This is the home to fey and other folklore and mythological creatures that may not want to reside in the Ghost Zone. There are no Fey in the GZ. It's not that they hate being down there, but. well.. they hate being down there. They think the place is ugly. The Fey Wilds has ever shifting, expanding amount of biomes. These biomes range from massive redwood forests, to swamps, to essentially Pandora from Avatar. The place can look almost entirely human one moment, and then like a different planet the next. Fey and other inhabitants know how to navigate this easily -- but ghosts? Not so much. There are currently two known ways to reach the Fey Wilds from the Ghost Zone and vice versa: Lake Portals, and Cave Tunnels. Which I will expand upon in a moment.

Ghost Zone: Exactly how it sounds! The Ghost Zone is, well, the ghost zone! It's essentially the same as canon. Same looks, same everything. This is the home of mortal souls and the occasional mythological creature or two, as well as weaker concept spirits. By that I mean like, ecto-octopi. Concept spirits can manifest in both the GZ and Feywilds. Ghosts tend to stick inside the Ghost Zone and avoid venturing into the Fey Wilds because, well, they're still mortal souls. They're gonna get jumped by a fey looking for a new decoration or a new pet/servant/whatever. Best to honestly avoid the fey wilds as a whole.

Now, I just mentioned that there were two known ways to reach the Fey Wilds from the Ghost Zone: lake portals and cave tunnels. I made goofy little visual aides which I will attach below, and then I will explain how they work.

I'll start with the Lake Portals. They are, well, as the name suggests lake portals. Not every lake in the fey wild is a portal to the ghost zone, and vice versa. They're rather uncommon to find in both planes, but it's not like they're hard to recognize.

In the Fey Wilds, lake portals will have a sheen over the water like an oil spill. But instead of the regular rainbow-y colors, it will instead have the ghost zone's colors swirling in it; green and purple. The water will have that sickly green tint to it, and have a slight glow. The plant life surrounding the water are not typically what you'd find in the Fey Wilds, but might in the Ghost Zone. They look different from the regular noxious swamp bogs in the wilds, so its easy to tell that they're lake portals.

In the Ghost Zone, the lake portals will instead be shimmery and blue like a tropical ocean. And just like how there are GZ plants in the fey wilds surrounding the water, there's fey wild plants on the island where the lake is.

How these portals work is rather simple. You dive in and begin swimming down. It's a long swim down, but that's all you gotta do. It will get dark, as there are no plant life in these portals, and no aquatic life either.

It starts getting complicated when you reach what I like to call the border. The border is as the name implies; its a border between the planes. In the lakes it's not physical, however you will feel when you've reached the border and crossed it. Intense vertigo washes over you as your sense of gravity begins to shift and flip; up is becoming down, down is becoming up.

Your goal at this point is to try and push through that vertigo and discomfort and make it to the other side of the border, without getting flipped upside down and swimming back to the surface you came from. This is harder than it sounds as you become dizzy underwater, and since there's no light anywhere, you will try and instinctively seek it out and follow it. You're down too deep to know where that light is.

Once you've reached the other end of the border successfully, your gravity will have flipped without you needing to do anything. You are now swimming up to the surface, and once you do, boom! You're in the ghost zone! Lake Portals are faster to use than tunnels, but very disorientating.

Now cave tunnels are longer, but simpler. Essentially some caves have tunnels that lead into the ghost zone, similar to how in greek mythology there are random entrances to the underworld in the mortal world. I haven't exactly figured out what the tell is for when you're in a tunnel leading to the Ghost Zone, but I know that when it's the other way around it's rather easy -- as you start to climb up.

It's a less complicated explanation: essentially you are descending into the ghost zone through this tunnel. You are on your way down like Orpheus in search of his wife, or like Heracles doing his twelve labors. It can get claustrophobic and of course there is the border.

Unlike experiencing a shift in gravity, you're instead hit with the intense vertigo and an intrinsic fear to turn around. It's an instinctual response to your surroundings changing on a molecular level, and your body in response is telling you to Flee. Basically, you've taken a rip of the Cave Gasses and you feel like you're losing your mind. Once you exit the border its smooth sailing.

Sometimes you get unlucky and there's a Pit Drop and you're suddenly Alice in Wonderlanding your way down to the Ghost Zone. But hey! At least you're not swimming.

those are currently the only two ways i've come up with for traveling between the GZ and Fey Wilds. But all in all, it's meant to be very disorientating stuff; vertigo and nausea-inducing, with just a dash of Existentially Terrifying. Traveling between planes usually is.

[neill-san]

The Yuu Effect

Riddle Rosehearts x Reader

Summary: Everyone knew their personality took a 180 whenever you were around. But they never quite realized how strong the effect of your presence really was, until you put it to use. Not Proofread

The students in the yard quickly fell silent, learned fear clawing at them to run away. Their Housewarden's enraged voice echoed in the open space and the student who earned his ire was on the ground trembling like a newborn lamb. "H-Housewarden-" he stuttered, digging his nails into the soil to steady himself. Riddle didn't let him speak again, his red face contorted in rage as he shouted. "Are you daft?! How dare you try to complete this so sloppily and expect to get away with it!" He bellowed, his voice rough and shrill, "You must think me blind to think I'd miss this mess!" Some students had been quick enough to leave before shit hit the fan, but the rest weren't so lucky. They could only hope one of the students who fled decided to report the situation to their Vice Housewarden. Trey was often the one the students of Heartslabyul fled to, to evade the cruelty of their Housewarden. However this time around, it seemed Trey's intervention wasn't needed. "I should have your head for this!" Riddle raised his staff prepared to punish the disobedient student when a call had him abruptly pausing. "Riddle?" The Housewarden's breath hitched and his body visibly reacted to your sudden appearance. Riddle whipped his head around to face you, the anger that was boiling over quickly fizzled into nothing. The only evidence of his explosive emotions was the red of his face that was ever so slowly fading. "My Rose." The Heartslabyul students eyed each other, attempting to make sense of the shocking change in their Housewarden's demeanor, but Riddle paid their mutters no mind, not when you were now standing in front of him. The tension quickly left his body as your hands cupped the soft cheeks of his face. His pupils blew in his adoration of you and it was clear to everyone present that they didn't exist to him anymore. His world narrowed down to you, and they'd be fools not to escape in his distraction. They quickly scurried away, beyond grateful for your interference. The student on the ground scurried to his feet with trembling legs and ran off, desperate to avoid punishment. Riddle whipped his head around to demand them to return, but his attention was quickly pulled back to you when you cupped his pretty face to turn his gaze back to you. "Riddle," You say his name, your voice as gentle as a rose's petal and he's drawn back in to the magnetic force of you. You massage your thumbs under his ruby eyes and down to his soft pale cheeks. He leans into your warmth, all previous anger forgotten in the face of your affections. "There," you cooed and pressed a chaste kiss to his forehead, "What has my Riddle in such a tizzy?" Riddle flushes a pretty rosy hue and hesitates to speak, "It's nothing of consequence." You smile softly, a bit disbelieving considering he was about to punish someone over it, but you let it go. Riddle would speak his mind when he wanted to. "Is that so," you tease and bring him into your embrace, ever grateful that the yard was now deserted. Riddle melted against you, a tingling warmth spreading in his chest at your loving attention. When you held him like this, there was no place else he'd rather be. (All of Heartslabyul quickly learned of your power over their Housewarden and your visits soon became far more frequent.)

[kaijunouhhhhhhhhhhummmm]

Share With Me

4.4k/ Reader pov x soshiro build up/ reader has a big family/ it's chaotic but in a good way/ some drama with soshiro/  angy soshiro/ trying my darndest to be gn with my reader POV but im sure i missed somethin/ i guess hurt and comfort?/ where are all my ppl with loud and invasive families at haha

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Soshiro has yelled before. “Get those legs up!” “More! C’mon I know you got more in you!” “Ten more reps then we’ll call it a day!” all commands in training or shouting orders when on a mission. Sure, he’s yelled and shouted at all of you a whole lot. But always in your best interest. For your protection, strength, encouragement, to make you better. But this time was different. 

It got very silent after he did. This time he wasn't shouting from his usual place of care. He was angry. Almost menacing even. Worse, it was directed at you. 

You dropped your staff in the middle of armed combat training. It happens. Not a big deal. Usually. People drop staffs, swords, guns, all the time and then everyone corrects form and  moves on. Not today. 

You’re frozen in place. For the first time you find yourself afraid of the vice captain. There is always the knowledge that he could kill you if he really wanted to. He is extremely talented and could take a whole school of trainees. Of course. There is the reverence of his ability at all times. But to feel like it could be used against you? You’ve never felt fear quite like that sink into your bones. You’re sure your skin has gone pale and your basic bodily functions like breathing and heartbeat faltered. Everyone else feels it too. His eyes, a brilliant violet, are staring into yours and you can't move. The strength you were using a moment ago vanishes.The tension in his body seems ready to pounce on you. What did you do wrong? You couldn't understand. You go through all your movements in your head. Everyone drops fighting props. What did you do wrong? He berated you infront of everyone and internally you're doing it to yourself now too.

Kafka breaks the silence in the room and the panic in your head. “Hey, uh, vice captain, I’ll work with them.” He puts his hand on your shoulder and with a tug pulls you out of your frozen state and guides you away from Soshiro’s glare to a far corner of the gymnasium. Soshiro doesn't argue and you feel his eyes on the both of you as you’re guided away. The tension is still heavy in the air as you both walk. 

Practice continues quietly and with hesitancy from everyone as they avoid being on the receiving end of any more of his ire. You can feel eyes on you and murmurs of “Shit, that was intense.” “They okay?” “I wouldn't be.” You're still shaking a bit as Kafaka tries to guide you through the movements. A pitying look on his face you're half grateful for. You’re still trying to figure out what happened. What did you do that was so incorrect? Maybe something you did before this? 

“Hey.” Kafka’s low soft voice snaps you back from your spiral again. “Keep your eyes on me okay?” 

You nod trying to steel your nerves but you’re too afraid to look back at the vice captain. God, you think you’re going to cry actually. His anger is so frightening but more so is the thought of disappointing him. Kafka is fighting you with the same gentleness he would use on a kitten. 

Practice ends and your friends practically run to you. You're grateful for the shield they provide as you all put your weapons away and leave the gym. You still don't dare to look at the vice captain. Embarrassed, hurt and tired you let them guide you to the cafeteria. 

“Okay what the fuck was that?” Iharu asks once you're all out of earshot from Soshiro. 

“Yeah, that was a bit much.” Reno says.

“A bit? It was uncalled for.” Kikoru says, noticeably upset. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for berating people when it's called for but (y/n) wasn't doing anything wrong. We all drop our staff sometimes.” 

“Yeah, especially during sparring.” says Reno

“You didn't do anything to piss him off before training did ‘ya?” Iharu asks you.

“No? I don't think so?” It's not like you havent been thinking about it. It's all youve been thinking about. What did you do that was so wrong? 

“Hey, even if they did, that kind of reaction is uncalled for.” Kikoru says.

“She’s right.” Reno says. “Even if (y/n) had, vice captain still has to be mindful of how he carries out punishment. Obviously after he did that it affected morale.”

“Was he acting a bit off to any of you before training started?” Kikoru asks. 

“Nah, I didn't notice anything.” Iharu says. 

“What else is new?” Reno remarks. 

“Hey!” Iharu says, punching Renos arm. 

“Yeah, way to have self awareness, Iharu.” Kikoru adds. 

You all laugh at Iharu’s expense and his many failed objections to having some level of self awareness. 

Kafka sighs “I don't know what that was but I bet it's got nothing to do with you, yeah?” he rests a heavy arm over your shoulders as you all reach the cafeteria. “At least you won't be here for the rest of the week.”

“Oh yeah, your big family gathering and all.” Iharu pinches your arm.

That brings a smile to your face. You haven't seen your family in months, much less extended family and you're excited to have some home cooking and for your parents to buy your dinners for you when you all go sightseeing. You appreciate your friends so much for trying to make you feel better. A family away from your own. Kafka is probably right. Maybe something did happen to Soshiro before training. It still stung though. 

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Five days go by in a very turbulent cyclone of hugs, sometimes the bear kind, kisses, hand shaking, other times straight up picking you up and shaking your whole body greetings. “Cousin!” “Sister!” “Mom!” “Uncle!” “Dad!” “Look at you! You’re real strong now, huh?” “Can we fight?” “How many kaiju have you killed?” “Any cute guys you got your eye on?” “Do you travel a lot?” “Do you get to keep body parts?” “Where can I get their body parts?” “Gross.” “I bet it's fun.” “I bet it's gross.” “Stop talking about it. I hate thinking about my baby in that situation.” “They arent your baby anymore!” “Yeah they are. Just a bigger baby now.” And on and on like that constantly for days. It doesn't particularly end at night either. 

You’ve all gathered at your grandfather's house managing to squeeze something like 15 people (with more coming and going) into four bedrooms, two living rooms, four closets and some even camping in the kitchen. Still more come for dinners and outings but do not stay the night. At night you can hear your mother and aunts cackle and chat about old boyfriends, girlfriends, some information you could have gone your whole life not hearing about your uncles and who in the family died recently. They talk outside for hours and still get up before everyone else to make breakfast. Your uncles outside talking about work and how their jobs are treating them. Maybe find new contacts through each other. Not everyone could take the time off for the reunion. Some come and go for work. Some drop by for lunch. Some relatives you only see briefly, some you spend the whole week with. Your grandfather half heartedly watching the kids with your other grandfather. Your afternoons with your cousins are left chatting about who's dating who, who's going to work where, accepted to what school, marrying someone here, going on a trip elsewhere. 

Long walks, shopping trips, hikes, several grocery runs, long drives, sleeping in cramped seats, lots of cleaning after dinner, arguing about bathroom order. You figure every single minute was used for something. It feels like a lof once you reflect on it but it's familiar and comforting even if stressful at times. Finding the quiet moments to speak in the silence of a tired house late at night are some of the best conversations you ever have. They happen in bedrooms, on the patio, in the backyard, in the kitchen, outside past the gate on the sidewalk, the bathroom. Whispers of gossip, your aunt's new young boyfriend, your cousin's way too expensive car that has your aunt shake her head when mentioned. Tense moments that are forced to pass, laughter that hurts your sides when you breathe, honestly that brings some to cry, reminiscing of days that make everyone silent and listen intently. Understanding this is passed wisdom you may not get the chance to hear again. Sometimes this all happens at once in the same room.

Your mom announces she wants to have a big dinner tonight since most of your family will leave the following day. All day all hands are helping cook, clean, shop, set tables, chairs, speakers, putting on makeup, doing hair, choosing outfits and shopping some more.

Finally everyone is in for the evening and once again settling down for long conversations, drinking, playing games, eating and dancing. You are often on your feet getting this for that uncle, helping an aunt with that, giving a cousin this, talking to grandma about some other thing you haven't thought about since you were eight. 

You finally get a chance to sit at a crowded table breathing in for a moment. So many family and friends showed up that the dinner had to spill out to the patio from inside. Then more friends and family arrived and then it spilled out into the front yard. All the young, too cool teens in the backyard, your cousins closer to your age crowded around you talking, well, more like yelling but that's just how they speak. Your older aunts and uncles half singing half telling stories to laugh at each other too. Some others helping set up hanging lights on the trees. Soshiro casually speaking with one of your uncles by the gate. The kids chase each other with toys or beg for a water slide. 

Wait.

Soshiro casually speaking with your uncle by the front gate?

No, you weren't drinking unlike your other cousins so you definitely were not imagining Soshiro casually holding a conversation with your uncle. Now one of your aunts is walking towards him with a drink. Oh god what is going on. 

You shoot up to your feet and try as fast as you can to get to him but have to shove past chairs and tables set tightly by each other. Push by family standing and talking. Squeeze around others carrying food and barely managing not to trip past spatially challenged adults and children. 

“Vice captain!” You shout although you don't mean to be so loud but you are still not convinced this is really happening. You’re actually not sure if you didn't drink something earlier while being tossed around for chores and taking a sip from anything to quench your thirst and forgot. 

Soshiro turns to you with his usual unreadable expression. He’s holding what looks like orange soda in his hand. “Hello (y/n). I hope you don't mind my intrusion but I really wanted to talk to you-”

“(y/n)! Why didn't you say you were going to have guests come today?” your aunt that handed him his drink asks.

“I didn't know I had any.” you say to her confused, worried, and maybe a little embarrassed. “I’m sorry I wasn't expecting anyone from the division to show up. What are you doing here?” you ask him. A million scenarios of how this evening could go horribly wrong play out. You're suddenly very self conscious. 

Before Soshiro can say anything you see one of your uncles walk towards you and give you both a look. You know that look. It's the look every family member in the history of family has always given when they are about to ask the dreaded question. You are too late to stop him from asking: “Boyfriend?” 

“NO!” you shout just as the word comes out of his mouth. But now you’ve managed to attract everyone's attention within earshot. You hope the music drowned out your uncle asking that. You dare a quick look at Soshiro’s face but it's unmoving. Thank god he's always had such a good poker face. 

Cousins begin to walk up “Hey, there (y/n)’s friend that is definitely not a boyfriend! What's your name?” 

This is gonna be a long evening. 

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

You're both sitting next to each other. It's been something like three hours and they have not stopped asking Soshiro questions. It's not everyday a famous kaiju killing officer shows up to a family gathering. You’re exhausted from trying to protect Soshiro from evasive questions but he takes it all in stride. He answers all questions promptly and gives just the right amount of information. He’s so tactful with your rude family it's admirable. There's no point in you telling them not to ask something because Soshiro has already responded. You stop trying to stop it. He's perfectly trained in combat and intrusive family conversation too it seems.

“So vice captain, is (y/n) any good at what they do?” a cousin asks with a baby on his lap. 

You’re about to say something but then remember the last training session you had with your division. You’re actually not so certain yourself. 

“(y/n) has exceeded all of my expectations.” he turns to you. “I couldn't have asked for a better officer to be in my platoon.” 

You search his face for a clue of him joking or waiting for a punchline. But his smile is sincere. You want to be moved by his response but you think he's probably just trying to make you look good in front of your family. 

Your cousins murmur their comments of approval among themselves. “Hey, vice captain, would you like something else to drink?” one of your cousins asks from further down the table. 

“Please, I’ll get my own drink. Don't trouble yourself.” he stands and turns to you. “Would you like anything?” 

You're still not quite sure what to make of all of this. A refill is not really a thought you're having. 

“(y/n) probably wants some of the cake we have at the table by the drinks.” someone else chimes in. 

“I can get that myself.” you do want the cake but having your superior serve you is too weird to handle. You start to get up from your chair when he interjects. 

“It's okay. I’m happy to. Enjoy your time with your family.” he says smiling then scooting past everyone towards the drink table.

“He’s nice.” “Yeah, I figured defense force officers were kinda meat heads, you know?” “He has real good manners.” “He's sitting so straight.” “I didn't know they made them like that anymore.” your cousins comment. 

One of them shoves your shoulder playfully. “He’s super cute!” she gestures to Soshiro speaking with your lively little cousin swinging a stick like a sword. “Why didn't you say you were inviting someone?” 

“I didn't.” you continue to watch him making sure nobody is being rude towards him. Who knows how this is going to affect your job if your family does something offensive or stupid. 

“He just showed up?” 

“Yeah. I mean I have to report where I’m going to be but I didn't invite anyone.” 

“He just wanted to show up?” another cousin asks. 

You nod. They give knowing looks to each other. 

“What?” you ask firmly. Who knows what mischievous things they're communicating with each other telepathically it seems. “Don't say anything stupid in front of him please.”

“Hey, we aren't gonna have you lose your job.”

“Does he do this a lot? Just show up to officers' houses unannounced?” your cousin who asked about inviting him wonders. She has a tone that you can tell is heading this conversation somewhere you don't want it to. 

You sigh irritated. “It’s not like that.” 

“Why not?” another cousin asks. 

Some of them are giggling now. They are enjoying this excruciating line of questions. 

“Because.” you say wanting this conversation to end before he comes back. 

“Are you not allowed to date superiors?” 

“No- I- well, I don't know.” You shake your head frustrated that they're leading you on the exact conversation you're trying to avoid. “It doesn't matter, okay! It’s not going to happen!” 

“Do you want it to?” someone further down the table asks. You had no idea the conversation had reached that far down. You can feel your face start to burn and you don't want to give them anymore ammo. It's time to make your escape before they realize your face is a giveaway. 

You stand up. “I’m gonna check on him.” you begin to walk away and some of them start to whistle a love song, giggle or whisper little comments. They definitely saw your face turn red. 

You get to Soshiro as he was about to head back to the table. He's holding your cake and his drink “You mind if I eat that somewhere else? It's getting stuffy at the table.” 

Soshiro smiles, not looking eager to return to his interrogation. “Sure. I’ll follow your lead.” 

“Let's go out to the sidewalk.” You both begin to walk towards the gate. You wish you could shrink your head into your body like a turtle. The looks you both are getting as you walk out is enough to make you want to disappear. 

You give a long exhale when you're both finally out the gate. You lean against the wall that borders your grandfathers home. The music and noise from the party faded considerably behind the brick. Soshiro hands you your food. 

“Thank you for getting this for me.” 

“Of course.” he takes a drink from his cup. 

“It's been such a whirlwind I didn't ask you why you're here.” you cut a smaller piece of cake to eat. 

“You did. Earlier. I just didn't get a chance to respond.” 

You stop chewing. “I did?” 

A smile grows on his face. “Yes. But I understand. I’m so sorry for showing up like this. I just needed to speak with you about last week.” 

“Last week?” 

He nods. A pained expression taking over his face. He places his cup down on the sidewalk. “(y/n),-” he faces you with a determined look. His voice is serious. You tense up not sure why he suddenly had to put his cup down for whatever he's about to do. For a moment you think hes going to kick your ass for having such a loud fucking family. He bows. “Please forgive me for my extremely rude behavior.” 

Your brain stops. “What?” is all you manage to squeak out. 

He rises up. He’s looking down but you can tell from his face that he means this. “Last week. I lashed out at you. It was uncalled for. I immediately regretted it after it happened.” 

You think for a second, still trying to catch up to the fact that Soshiro Hoshina just bowed to you. Then you remember. “Oh!” 

He gives you a look that says ‘Seriously? I’m trying to apologize and you don't even remember?’

“Sorry, it's just, well, this week has been so busy I kinda forgot about that. I mean until you showed up anyways.” you clear your throat. “I didn't expect you’d apologize for it. Much less show up here to do it.” 

He pinches the bridge of his nose. “I shouldnt’ve’ shown up.” 

“No! Its fine that you did! It was just shocking.” 

He takes a deep breath and exhales. “I wanted to talk to you the next day but then I was told you were on break for a week. And, well, I didn't want to wait any longer. It was…” he trailed off before starting again. “It was botherin’ me too much. You looked real hurt so… I’m sorry.” 

A pause between you two follows and the only sounds are the nighttime insects and your family's music and laughter that echoes past the wall. Then it hits you. You're five hours away from Tokyo right now. Your vacation ends the day after tomorrow. He could have waited another day. He could have called. Even a text if he really wanted to apologize that way. But more importantly you never expected he’d apologize to begin with. It hurt and you were scared but you figured that was just part of the territory of being in the defense force. You get your commanding officers ire sometimes. 

“... I accept your apology.” You say looking at your half eaten cake suddenly too shy to face him.

He sighs in relief. “Good.” 

Another pause. 

“You came all this way to apologize?” you ask, looking at him. Searching his eyes. 

He looks at your eyes in return and doesn't respond for a moment. “Yeah.” he smiles. “Can I have some of that?” 

“Huh? Oh, yeah but I dont have another fork-” He steals your fork and takes a piece of the cake. 

He chews and swallows. “It's good.” 

You watch him chew. Stunned that he just did that. “Yes.” 

“Homemade?” 

“Yes.” 

“You like it a lot too, huh?” 

“Yes.” That's the only response you can say apparently. 

He chuckles then his voice drops when he speaks. “I have so much fun with you. I didn't want what happened to affect us.” 

You watch him not sure what to think right now so you say the first thing that comes to mind. “I have fun with you too.” You suck your lips into your mouth directly after saying that because never would you have imagined you'd have the bravery to say something like that to him. 

He laughs. “What's with that face?” 

You pretend not to know what he's talking about, raising an eyebrow still sucking on your lips. 

He laughs more and you try to hold your lips in but end up bursting out in a laugh too. It's so good to hear him laugh. It's so contagious. It always makes you smile without fail. You both go on until the laughing subsides on its own. You now remember what happened after the training session. 

“Can I ask you if something happened before the session that made you do that? I was afraid I did something to disappoint you.” 

His expression visibly shifts to a serious one as you say that. His eye brows furrow slightly like he's mad at you for saying that. “You could never disappoint me.” 

You once again are at a loss for words so you give a nod instead. 

He joins you leaning on the wall. He silently looks down at his shoes for a moment as if thinking of what to say before facing you. “I don't want to give you excuses.” 

You shake your head slowly. “Not an excuse. We were wondering if something had happened. You're not usually like that.” 

Soshiro looked hesitant to say anything. He seemed to look everywhere except back at you. He opened and closed his mouth several times before speaking. “My family isn't like yours ya’ know.” 

There had always been whispers about the Hoshina family. Not very good ones. Soshiro also doesn't often volunteer information about himself. But maybe tonight he's making an exception because he feels guilty. 

“My brother called me and…” he sighs irritatedly and drags a hand across his face. "I'd rather not bore you with the details.” he says with a breathy half assed laugh. “It’s a nice night with your family. I dont wanna ruin that.”

He's uncomfortable and you can see it. It stings a little bit that he won't tell you. 

He picks up on changes in your facial expression as you look away. “Sorry. I know I just spent the whole evening with your family but…” he sighs. “It’s just a lot that you really don't need to worry about.” he’s trying to sound like he's doing you a favor. 

You give him a sad smile. You want to know. You want to know everything about him. “I understand.” You understand that he's your boss and there's always going to be an invisible boundary between the two of you because of that. Can't get too close. That's always it isn't it? You both can laugh, joke, he can show up to your family gathering unannounced, charm all of them, get you cake, but no. You can't get too close. “But I want you to know you don't have to keep it to yourself. I mean you tried that and look where you are now.” 

He snorts. “Yeah you’re right.” He looks at the top of the wall then the gate. “It's not such a bad place to be though.” A sudden wave of laughter comes from behind the wall. Your family's joy makes you smile. 

“Yeah I guess they aren't so bad.” You eat more of your cake. “But it's not always like this, you know.” He looks at you curiously. “I just want you to know families are complicated. But I'm sure you know that.” 

He nods knowingly. “Yeah. I get it.” He stretches and takes the fork from your hand, swiping the last piece of cake for himself before you can say anything. He picks up the cup and chugs down his drink. He grimaces “Yeah your uncle for sure put somethin’ in that.” You laugh. “Well I'm gonna head out.” He checks the time on his phone. “I’ll catch the last train to Tokyo if I leave 10 minutes ago.”

You start to panic. “Are you gonna be able to get home?” 

He shrugs and starts to walk away. “If anything I’ll stay at the nearest base.” He waves as he walks backwards. “Thank your family for me! They were great! I’ve never heard someone be asked if they were my (girlfriend/ boyfriend/ partner) sa’ many times and be so cool ‘bout it!” 

You blush. You become the shade of a ripe strawberry. The inside of a watermelon perhaps. “What!?” 

He chuckles. “I’ll see you back at base soon!” 

You watch him walk away casting long shadows by lamp posts as he passes them. You ask him in a whisper “Why didn't you just wait until I got back?”