#we are all fish in god's koi pond

[anamelessfool]

So many people in the last hour called me just.....aggh I'm so sorry they are feeling bad.

And one was my mom who lost all her gorgeous koi fish I just was crying on the phone with her what do you even say to something like that

I've lost beautiful fish before it's so heartbreaking and you feel so personally responsible for their deaths

[creamhoodie]

First Time

A/N: Written for the person who requested it, I hope you enjoy it! synopsis: After you both confess that you are virgins in a game of truth or dare, Gojo offers to take your virginity. (afab reader, aged up characters, set during Gojo's Jujutsu High days)

You still remember the moment you fell in love with Satoru Gojo. It was when you had joined Jujutsu High and met him for the first time. You had met him outside by the koi fish pond. Coming from a non sorcerer family, you didn’t know anything about him then. Not that he was the strongest, a practical God on Earth, the honored one. 

Not a damn thing. 

All you had known then was that he was handsome and so you had made small talk to him the way you would anyone else as you two sat and watched the fish swim in circles. You enjoyed his kind and witty personality and had immediately felt at ease with him. 

It was such a small thing but it had meant everything to him as well. You had seen him as simply Satoru and had spared him from all the usual awkward ogling. He had hoped as time went on that you wouldn’t change in your behavior with him as you learned more about him. 

He was grateful when you still treated him the same and as a result the two of you had become close friends. Of course neither of you had crossed that bridge regarding your mutual feelings out of fear of rejection and ruining the dynamic the two of you had going. 

Still, it was evident to anyone that knew the both of you that there were feelings there: mutual yearning and longing looks that when called out would be denied. Perhaps the two of you would have continued that way for who knows how long if it hadn’t been for Geto and Shoko that had suggested playing drunk truth or dare one night after coming back from a mission. 

“Wait so you’ve never had sex?” Shoko had asked you as that had been your truth question to answer. You had foolishly believed that choosing the truth would spare you from any embarrassment. 

“I told you the truth. I’ve never done that,” you had said, face hot. 

You hated talking about this in front of Gojo. Both Geto and Shoko admitted to having lost their virginity, the former bragging about just how many women he had been with from the sister school. 

“Well why haven’t you done it, yet? You’re very pretty I’m sure lots of guys would want to,” Shoko continued to press the issue. 

Though you knew she didn’t mean for it to be embarrassing, the spotlight on your lack of sexual experience was growing humiliating. Luckily, Gojo, who seemed to always be in tune with your feelings, spoke up. 

“So what if she hasn’t had sex? Leave her alone. It’s nothing to be embarrassed of,” he said. 

You gave him a wry smile as thanks, the heat from your cheeks dying down. 

“Well don’t leave us hanging, Satoru. You’ve been awfully quiet, what about yourself?” Geto asked.

You found that odd. Surely the two would talk about these things amongst each other, but Gojo was ever the mystery. 

“I haven’t had sex either if you must know,” he said. Unlike you there was no shred of embarrassment visible in his demeanor. 

“No way! But what about all those girls from the other school?” Shoko asked. 

Gojo shook his head.

“I said I didn’t have sex not that I didn’t do anything at all. Now can we please move on to something else?”

Luckily, the alcohol in everyone’s system kept the mood light hearted and the other two were easily derailed to other topics.

Afterwards, Gojo walked you back to your room. He had his hand resting on his neck the way it always did when he was pensive. He stopped in his tracks causing you to do the same.

“Listen what I said back there, I meant it. You shouldn’t be embarrassed just because you haven’t had your first time yet,” he said.

“Thanks for that,” you replied a little unsure of why he was bringing it up now. His cheeks seemed a little pink but perhaps that was the alcohol?

“I just think your first time should be with someone special, don't you agree?” he continued. 

“Yeah I feel the same,” you said. His next words caught you by surprise. 

“So I want you to know even though there’s nothing wrong with it, if you- you know don’t wanna be a virgin anymore I’d be cool with helping you out with that,” he said. His stuttering was unusual for him, especially since he was usually so confident and well composed. He was a young man of conviction and that’s why earlier he hadn’t been embarrassed to admit he was a virgin because he believed in the sentiment of the first time being sacred. 

“Are you offering to have sex with me?” you asked slowly, your mind not fully registering his words yet. 

“If you want to. I just- look, you’re special to me. You’ve always seen me for me,” he said, closing the slight gap between the two of you. His hand cupped your cheek before adding, “am I special to you?” 

Him touching you wasn’t unusual, as your close friend he had hugged you, ruffled your hair, and laid his head on your shoulder. All of these actions had always made your heart react and now was no different, in fact it only raced more alongside the question he had asked you. 

“Yes you’re special to me Satoru,” you said in almost a whisper. 

“Well I want you to think about it. My offer always stands. Shoko is right there’s no shortage of guys that would want to be with you, but I wanna be your first. You’re so special and important to me I wanna make sure you’re well taken care of.” 

He planted a kiss on your forehead and wished you goodnight then, leaving you to stay up restless considering his offer.

First, your mind thought about how he could possibly be a virgin as well. He was a known flirt and had flings even if not serious girlfriends, but he wasn’t a liar so you knew when he said he was a virgin he was telling the truth. 

Second, you wanted to be with him. You had always known that you had feelings for him so why deny him when he was offering it with good intentions? Despite it being the middle of the night, you called him. He answered on the first ring.

“What are you still doing up?” He asked, though his voice sounded just as alert with no hint of sleepiness.

“Couldn’t sleep,” you replied.

“Same,” he said laughing slightly and you were glad to know at least he was in a similar position.

“Listen about your offer. I agree,” you said.

“Holy shit, really?” He asked in both shock and excitement. 

“Yeah, I just thought about what you said..” you paused, chewing the inside of your cheek before continuing.. “Am I really special to you?” 

“Of course you are. I’ve never lied to you and I’m not going to start now,” he said seriously, and you believed him. You were silent for so long he spoke up again: “so do you want me to come over now or..”

Your cheeks felt on fire as you realized you hadn’t exactly called with a plan of action other than telling him you agree. 

“I hadn’t thought that far,” you admitted. 

“It’s okay. How about tomorrow night? That way we have time to prepare and think about it and everything,” he said gently and you were grateful at how he was trying to accommodate you. 

“Yeah tomorrow night sounds good,” you agreed. 

“Cool, so you wanna do it in my room or yours? I have no preference,” he said. 

“My room if that’s okay,” you replied. Your reasoning was you’d enjoy the familiarity of your room and your own bed would allow you to relax without having to worry about somehow ruining his. 

“That’s okay. I have some errands to run tomorrow but we’re still good for the night and I’ll text you to confirm,” he said. 

“Sounds good, well goodnight,” you said a little hurriedly.

“Goodnight,” he said before hanging up. 

Unbeknownst to each other, the two of you both struggled to get sleep that night as anticipation for the next night’s engagement. 

— 

“What’s that?” You asked Gojo as he showed up at your door at the time you had agreed upon with a medium sized pink paper bag in hand. 

“Just some things to set the mood and things we may need,” he said walking past you into the room. 

You closed and locked the door behind him watching as he started taking out white candles from the bag and placing them on your nightstand.

“That’s so thoughtful of you. I’m sorry I didn’t think of it before,” you said, shifting slightly. 

Your prep had consisted of taking an ‘everything shower’ earlier and making sure your body was moisturized and groomed to your liking. 

“Don’t worry about it. I want you to be comfortable,” he said, lighting the candles then going to turn off your electric light. 

“Should we use a condom?” you asked suddenly, remembering.

“It’s your decision. I brought some in the bag if you want me to wear one,” he said. 

He seemed to have thought about everything. You were grateful for his efforts to make you comfortable. You weren’t sure if you wanted to use a condom for your first time as you did want to be able to feel everything and you knew where you were in your cycle so the chances of pregnancy would be very low. 

“We can start with one if that’s okay and see how it goes,” you offered. 

“Sure, whatever you want,” he said, seeming indifferent about it.

You stood there and shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. He smiled at you and went to sit at your bed, motioning you to come sit with him. You did so. 

“Sorry if this is awkward,” you said shyly, not meeting his gaze.

He lifted your chin up gently so you were forced to meet his eyes.

“It’s a learning experience for both of us. Don’t worry. Can I kiss you? That’s how it usually starts anyways,” he said. 

You gave him consent by nodding and his lips were on yours. At first the kiss was soft and gentle, sweet light pecks that allowed you to get used to the taste and feel of him. They soon grew more feverish as you kissed him back. His tongue entered your mouth, lightly grazing the roof of your mouth. 

“You taste good,” he whispered as the kiss broke apart a faint trail of saliva still connecting the two of you. 

“You do too,” you said, already feeling a pool of arousal forming between your thighs. His lips moved down your neck, and it felt so sensual and eventually he traced that path back with his lips, his destination being yours once more. You felt him smile against your lips. 

“Are you comfortable?” he asked, pulling away gently, his eyes ever so soft. 

“Yeah, you’re a really good kisser Satoru,” you complimented him. He shrugged it off but you could tell from his smile and the blushing of cheeks that the praise meant a lot to him. 

“Would it be okay if I took your shirt off? You can take mine off too,” he offered. 

“Yeah that’s fine,” you replied and held your arms up as he helped discard your lounge shirt leaving you exposed in your bra. 

“Wow you’re incredible,” he whispered in awe. 

“Thanks,” you said, hoping he didn’t notice how red your face was getting before you added,”let me help you now.”

His white cotton tee was soon discarded, revealing his muscular torso. Instinctively, you reached out to touch his six pack and he shivered a little at the touch.

“Sorry,” you said, quickly dropping your hand. 

“No,” he replied, taking your hand and placing it back where it had been, “it’s fine I like when you touch me.”

The sincerity in his words gave you courage and so you let your hands run down his chest, taking in the firmness of his sculpted figure. 

When you looked up at him he was watching you intently with fondness in eyes. 

“Can I touch you as well?” he asked. 

You nodded.

His large hands went to cup your breasts, the nipples were almost seeping out of your bra from this gesture, and it was alluring to him. He wanted to take his time though, and cherish every moment with you. 

You felt the same, and no words were needed as he kissed you again, still cupping your breasts through your bra. You sighed in pure bliss and you were really enjoying how you were both taking the time to become used to each other’s bodies and touch. Losing yourself in the feel of him, your hand rested at the front of his pants and you could tell he was hard already.

“Fuck,” he groaned, breaking the kiss apart as he felt your hand palming at his front. 

“This okay?” you asked innocently. You knew he had done stuff before even if he hadn’t had actual full on sex so you were trying to lead by his example, not wanting things to be so formal or awkward.

“It’s more than okay, baby. I’m just worried I won’t be able to last long if you keep at that,” he said laughing a little before continuing,”here how about I start to prep you a little, yeah?” He tugged at the drawstring of your matching lounge pants. 

You nodded but then felt embarrassed at the immense pooling you felt in your panties. 

“Wait, Satoru-“ you said as he undid the tie of the drawstring.

“Something wrong?” he asked with genuine concern.

“I’m just really wet down there, forewarning,” you said. 

He smirked at that.

“Good you’re supposed to. It’ll feel better for you that way, trust me,” he said. 

When he felt your body relax, he undid the knot now fully allowing for you to pull your pants down. You appreciated how he allowed you to do it yourself, letting you make the decision. Your pants fully discarded, you were exposed to him in the matching baby blue set you had chosen specifically for him. 

For Gojo, the curved shape of your ass and the soft supple skin of your exposed thighs were driving him crazy. 

“You’re perfect,” he told you. He positioned himself so he was on his knees in front of you. “I’m gonna try something, let me know if you want me to stop.” His hand went to your sex, cupping it briefly before moving the fabric of your underwear to the side so he could feel and see your pussy. 

“Satoru..” your breathing hitched, you weren’t sure why exactly you were calling his name but you knew you needed more of him. He seemed to understand. 

“Fuck-you’re soaking,” he exclaimed. His eyes were fixated on your pussy and he was biting his lip. Taking one finger, he pushed through the folds gaining entrance. 

You winced a little and he paused. 

“It’s okay, just getting used to it,” you said, relaxing your body to make it easier. You felt long his finger gain full access to you and the sensation of it being inside you felt interesting and new. Yes, you had explored and pleasured yourself before, but it was much different when someone else did it. His digit felt much more prominent. 

“Good girl, you’re so fucking good. I had brought lube in case we needed it but it seems like you have plenty of your own,” he praised, entranced by how you pooled around his finger, “let’s see if you can take another.” He took another long finger and put it inside of you next to the former, gently stretching you as he did so. Determined to make this a good experience for you, his free hand searched and easily found your clit, a bud behind the rose petal folds of your pussy. 

“Oh my god,” you moaned as you felt him stimulate your clit and begin to buckle his fingers inside of you at the same time. 

“Feels good?” he asked for feedback, though from the way your eyes rolled back in pleasure he was sure he knew. 

“So good, Satoru. How are you so good at this?” you asked, succumbing to moans as his free thumb stroked your clit. 

Truth was, he had spent his prep time reading up on female anatomy. Sure, he had messed around with women before but he was still a virgin and as a man he felt it fell on him to make the first time perfect for you. He had also watched some porn but when a lot of them seemed catered to men with unrealistic expectations and regard for the women he had turned to amateur couple porn and read erotica. 

Of course he wasn’t going to tell you any of that though, despite what you may have thought he also got flustered around you. 

“Gonna give you another,” he said, turned on at how putty-like you were becoming for him. The third finger didn’t go in as easily as the first two. “Shhh come on baby you can do it. Need you to take them, otherwise we can’t fuck.”

To help you relax, he inched up closer to you until his face was in front of yours, kissing you sloppily. Your hands went to his snowy hair, loving how soft it felt and earning you a moan from him. When the kiss broke apart, you felt more turned on. 

“Hold on to me if you need to,” he said, pushing the third finger all the way in. Your hands gripped his shoulders and you sighed feeling the fullness of his three long fingers inside of you. “Good girl, I knew you could do it.” He began to thrust his fingers inside of you, mimicking the action of what was to come. All the while his free thumb stroked your clit. 

Your moans became gurgle-like and you couldn’t believe how good he was making you feel from just fingers alone. 

“Satoru, I feel-“ 

“You’re close, baby I know. I can feel it from how your pussy is gripping around my fingers,” he said. Your toes curled and you felt your orgasm coming as he kept the steady tune of stimulation. 

“Ahhh..oh fuck,” you moaned, your words slurring as you hit your peak. 

He chuckled as you laid back, breathing heavily and trying to collect yourself. You watched him suck on one of the fingers he had put inside of you. 

“Want a taste?” he teased. 

You shook your head, still breathing hard. That was so good.. too good. You hadn’t even orgasmed that good on your own. 

“Satoru, promise me you’re a virgin too,” you said. 

His eyes lit up at that. 

“Was it that good? I promise I’m a virgin. I just read up on stuff. I want it to be good for you,” he said. His skin became rosy and you believed him, noticing his bashfulness. 

You watched as he walked over to the pink bag he had brought with him rummaging through it. 

“What are you doing?” you asked. 

“Getting a condom,” he replied. 

You had nearly forgotten about that. You remembered how good it had felt to feel all the ridges and skin of his fingers, suddenly you couldn’t think of anything worse than having that skin to skin contact blocked. 

“Wait Satoru, I changed my mind. We don’t have to use one,” you said. 

“Really?” he asked, excited. 

“I just want to feel all of you,” you said shyly. He came back over to you, bending down like before to kiss you. 

“Thank you for trusting me with that honor,” he said afterwards, his lips still lingering inches from yours. The intensity of his gaze and his proximity made you feel faint. 

“Shut up, Satoru,” you said giggling both from nerves and at how serious he sounded. 

“I mean it. I’ve meant every word of what I’ve told you. You’re special to me,” he said, then you felt him hook his thumbs underneath your bra, “let’s get you out of this pretty thing, yeah?” 

He undid your bra easily and you helped him remove it, placing it on the floor. Your underwear soon followed. 

For Gojo, it was everything he had ever fantasized about, having you laid bare before him. 

“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered in awe but it was enough for you to hear. 

Laying there completely vulnerable to him, you didn’t feel as embarrassed as you thought you would have. You chalked that up to him having taken various measures to make you comfortable. 

He began to undo his pants, unzipping the front and pulling them down alongside his boxers to reveal his hard, long length. 

You gulped at seeing how big and thick he really was. It was also veiny and the head was plump and pink.That was supposed to go inside of you? 

“Don’t worry, baby. That’s why we prepped,” he said, seeming to read your thoughts. 

“It’s so big, Satoru,” you said astonished, but you supposed it made sense he was just tall and big in general. 

He seemed smug at that and came over to you again lining up in front of you. 

“You ready? Just relax, we’ll go nice and slow,” he said. 

“I’m ready,” you said. 

You felt a slightly brief discomfort as his tip fettered through your folds into the plush entrance. 

“Shh, how are you doing? Just relax like you did for my fingers,” he said gently, almost nurturing. 

This was so much different than a finger however, it was thicker and wider and to think this was only the tip. He shoved a little more then sighed, a laugh of relief falling from his lips as his full tip was in. 

“You feel really warm,” he said. He craved more of it, wanted his full length soaring inside of you already, but he knew in order for the sensation to feel good and be non invasive to you he had to take his time. 

As for you, you enjoyed this new feeling of the sensitive skin of his head soaking inside of you. 

“I want more, Satoru,” you whined, desperate to find out how his full length felt. 

“Yes ma’am,” he chuckled at your mutual enthusiasm. With that, he gave you another, inch adoring the way your lips let out a delicate little ‘o’ as he did so. All the while you soaked him more and more as you grew more excited. 

Another inch, another moan, all until his full length was finally resting inside of you. 

You felt each unique ridge and curve of his penis and it felt amazing knowing you were the only one who had ever felt him this way. 

“Satoru, it feels so good,” you whispered. 

“You feel incredible too, like you were made for me,” he said, amazed and enthralled at how you fit perfectly around him. He bent down and kissed you passionately, still in this missionary position. The skin to skin contact with him felt divine, incredibly intimate as his chest smushed against your breasts. When the kiss broke apart he added: “To think it feels this good just to soak and I haven’t even started thrusting yet. I suppose I’ll start now, but please don’t hold it against me if I don’t last too long.” 

“It’s okay, Satoru,” you said, assuring him. After all, it was his first time as well, you wouldn’t possibly hold anything against him performance wise. 

With your reassurance, he began to thrust his length, giving you steady rhythmic strokes.

“Fuck, you’re so fucking warm,” he groaned. Never had he felt a pleasure this good. Your soft walls engulfed him in their warmth, the sensation could only be described as the same soothing feeling one got from standing near a fireplace. Your pussy was greedily clamping down on him and your bed had begun to squeak at the back and forth motion. 

“Yes Satoru oh yes give it to me,” you whined, your legs wrapped around his waist bringing him even closer still and your hands went to his back desperately clawing at him. 

“Fuck, don’t think I can last much longer even though I want to- ah oh you’re so fucking hot,” his voice sounded so animalistic as he was losing himself in the feel of it. 

You moaned as he continued to fuck himself into you, his length hitting your sensitive spots. 

“I’m close we never discussed it- where do you want me to finish?” he asked, voice pained as he tried to be considerate despite being completely out of his mind. “Baby, baby tell me where you want me to cum,” he continued, urgency in his voice when you didn’t answer him. 

“Inside, Satoru, I want it inside,” you replied at last, forming words out of your moans. 

“Ahhh fuck so good to me,” he praised. The sounds of wet skin slapping against each other, the bed spring creaking and your shared moans was enough to set him over the edge. 

His hot fluid shot into you and he collapsed on top of you, careful not to crush you with his full weight. You stroked his hair as you both tried to catch your breathing. 

You weren’t a virgin anymore, you had sex with your best friend who you’ve been crushing on for so long. It was enough to make your head spin.

“Did you like it?” Gojo asked, lifting his head to look at you. His eyes were vulnerable and you could tell his mood relied on your answer.

Luckily, you had enjoyed yourself and could tell him just as much.

“It was perfect. You really made our first time so special, Satoru,” you said truthfully. 

“I wanna sleep here with you tonight. Would that be okay?” he asked. 

You couldn’t think of anything better than having him sleep between the sheets with you. It would add to the intimacy of it all. 

“Yes I’d like that,” you replied. 

“Cool,” he said. 

The two of you laid like that a little while longer. You traced shapes into the skin of his back and felt the rise and fall of his chest against yours. 

When he at last spoke again he said: “I don’t just want to be your first, I intend to be your one and only.” 

If your heart could smile you know it would at his words. You watched the wick of the candle drop the flames, an ever present reminder of the passion between you two. 

“I was hoping you’d say that.”

[jadeschambers]

Intro: Trueform!Sukuna x Isekai!gn!reader

(reader has no gender but has f genitals.)

Parings: Ryomen Sukuna

Tags: Slow burn, eventual Smut, god/godess demigod reader, sukuna needs his own warnings, huge!size kink (that man is like 8 ft tall), mentioned cannibalism, noncon? (just beware, reader ❤️ him/ don’t read if it makes u uncomfy), cunnilingus, breast play. Some cursing n crack.

original idea, chapter 1

Winter in japan a was harsh punishment served by the mother of all to those who could not afford the kindness of warmth. everything was pure white, preserved by the snow that fell from the sky above.

Sloshing of water could be heard against the stones that Sukuna rested on. A towel resting on his forehead as he leaned back. The king of curses almost looked nearly peaceful.

“My lord, if I may, what are your plans with the Gojo clan?”

Uraume asks from behind him. Sukuna raised his head, cracking his shoulders. Before he could open his mouth to respond to his subordinates question, the loudest crash known to man was heard right outside his estate. Sukuna removed the towel from his eyes, unaffected by the disrupting noise.

“Go check what that was, and report back to me”

The curse scowled, the Gojo clan had been on him for years now, as the most powerful sorcerer of his era he seemed like a target for nearly all sorcerers. but in Sukuna‘s point of view everyone was a prey to him.

Uraume stepped out from the shadows. The ponds that once trickled with fresh spring water and koi fish were now gone, instead lied a huge crater. Uraume could feel their eye twitch in irritation. The Gojo clan have never directly tried to strike Sukuna’s estate before so what the fuck was this?

As they stared in contemplation, they however did not notice the figure behind them slowly stalking towards them.

You could feel your stomach churning as you were tossed down the portal, being blinded completely. before you could ground yourself, the entirety of your body felt like it was being crushed and ripped into a hundred shreds. what the hell was happening?

When you opened your eyes, you were in a completely different place, the buildings looked..really old. Everything around were all trees and fields. The surroundings were completely different, yet it seemed like Inazuma’s architecture came alive around you. Climbing out of the ditch, you cautiously stood. Using the remaining energy you had left you conjured your pole arm, ready to strike. Looking around, there were carts, and horses. No cars, not even bikes. Were you somehow sent back in time?

The hairs on the back of my neck stood as you quickly hid behind a tree. Although you were heavily injured, your senses were still keen. A person appeared right as you hid myself, wearing robes and a pair of geta’s, So you were right, it wasn’t currently the modern day era.

Slowly standing on your hind legs, pole arm tightly secured in your hands ready to strike. Just before you could land strike on the white haired individual two large hands lifted you into the air. As you screamed and struggled, your sight was blinded by a thick cloth.

“h-hey! what the fuck! let me go!”

you squirmed and struggled, the pole arm once in your hands dropped to the ground in a failed attempt to strike.

“And what do we have here? A little sorcerer spy sent by the Gojo clan?” A deep unfamiliar voice sent shivers down your spine.

“Gojo clan? What?! No! I just want to get back home!” the bindings around your wrists broke as you ripped the blindfold off your eyes. looking up to see possibly the biggest, scariest man you’ve ever laid eyes on, your feet stumbled. He had four massive arms, and his skin was layered in black tattoos. the muscles in your jaw struggled to contain your shock.

“what are you?” you whispered, wide eyed and in awe. The man smirked smugly, crossing two of his arms against his chest.

“Oh? enamored already?”

You shut my mouth and glared at him. Before Sukuna could even blink, you were on top of him, the shark blade inches away from his face. Uraume quickly tried to pull you off but Sukuna raised his hand towards them. He was extremely intrigued by his new visitor.

“I-I dont know who the fuck you are- but im not… not trying to hurt anyone here! I just woke up and found myself in-“ as you turned your head, the now gaping crater by the looks of it was possibly a pond.

“I woke up and found myself here”

The man slowly sat up, placing his hand on your shoulders. you slowly lowered my weapon, giving him a confused look. Was he not going to kill you?

“You are not from here.” From the looks of it, Sukuna could tell that you were definitely feisty, maybe a little trouble some. Something was off about you, from the clothing you wore to the way you looked it was as if you weren’t from here. But the king of curses could handle anything, right? Lowering your guard, he looked like he didnt want to hurt you, and you desperately needed help on how to get back— but maybe not from him.

Getting you into his estate was exasperating. Not only were you stubborn, but you were also abnormally strong. “Little one I assure you we dont bite.” sukuna insisted as he walked towards the large double doors. “Are you even human?” trying to match his huge strides, you quickly caught up him, the pole arm once gripped in your hands disappearing into dust. Sukuna cocked a brow, smirking at the quite stupid question. So you really weren’t from around here.

To say his estate was huge would be an understatement, it was fit for a king. Appearing in front of you were presumably servants of his, and by the looks of it they were not human. Maybe Sukuna wasn’t human? Many had disfigured faces, and they smelled of rot. Only some that kneeled in front of you looked human. you scrunched your face, avoiding looking at any of them.

“Whats wrong? Never seen a curse before?” He chuckled darkly, crossing his huge arms. You rolled your eyes, his world was getting weirder and weirder by the minute.

“You have four arms” you retorted, observing the way his muscles bulged through the fabric of his tunic. Did he really have two sets of everything or.. Shaking that thought of mind, a hand immediately covered your mouth to hide the immature smirk on your face.

“Have you a place to stay?”

He turned to look at you, he was so tall he was basically towering over. you stepped back, shaking your head at his question. Obviously not, but as someone invited into another’s home manners were essential. Sukuna smirked, oh was he going to have fun with me.

“Please, make yourself at home.” Sukuna turned and walked away, leaving you alone. Although he and his world was extremely weird, he was welcoming enough to allow your presence. “w-wait! you’re letting me stay here?!” it was as if the sun disappeared like the clouds became hungry. “what kind of curse would i be to leave a little lamb like you all alone?” Oh sukuna was going to have fun.

guys this is so shit 💩 bc I totally forgot all abt this ☹️

@maskedpacific @kbirdieee2540

[akirathedramaqueen]

Okay, that's probably completely random, and way too philosophical, but hear me out.

Stolas pushes forward. Blitzø pushes away.

Stolas longs for connection; Blitzø is scared of it.

Stolas is a flow. Blitzø is an ebb.

Stolas reaches for the shore; Blitzø runs back as soon as the wave gets too close to it.

Stolas is Yin. Blitzø is Yang.

Stolas is passive and introspective, while Blitzø is active and extroverted. Though the pattern is different, it still holds true due to the different perspective.

But the idea is the same. Together they are whole.

They are literally designed to be like that. Their traits complement each other perfectly - the weaknesses of one are the strengths of the other.

If they were gods in their world, they would represent different polarities, with contrasting pantheons, but only with them together the universe could possibly exist - there is no light without dark, no fire without water, no life without death.

But they are out of balance. Their pasts threw them off their true selves, made them people they are not meant to be. It's as if the moon's gravity suddenly became too strong, causing tidal waves to destroy everything around instead of being an essential part of the ecosystem. It's as if they were koi fish swimming in the pond in a perfect circle, only to be caught and damaged, disrupting the harmony of the flow because of broken fins and gills.

They hurt each other and disturb the world around them because they are traumatised. They were created to be whole, but with chipped parts of their souls, they no longer fit.

The tradegy is that by the time they met, they still attracted each other, but they could not stand their new personas. And even more depressing is the fact that they desperately need to reconnect; without it, they self-destruct even more.

They need a lot of reflection and healing to recognise how perfect they are together, if only they give it a chance.

And we all wait for that moment to happen.

[echo-goes-mmm]

Divine Intervention AU #9

Masterpost

Previous

Next

Warnings: none

Ambrose had transformed his fabric front door into a solid wooden one, and in hindsight that was a mistake. It was juicy bait to his more… nosy neighbors. 

“Ambrose!” called Emry from the door. “Open up, kiddo! We haven’t seen you in weeks!”

Ambrose sighed. He opened the door to find both Emry and Mael on his doorstep. Emry threw his arms around Ambrose. Okay, he couldn’t turn down one of Emry’s hugs. They were just so nice.

“It’s been a week, if that. And you’re not that much older than me.” 

“Oh, Ambrose,” said Mael, smiling. “You’re never going to win that one.”

“Mhm. What brings you both to visit?”

Emry grinned. “I heard you brought home a friend. Can I meet him? I brought a present!” He procured a stuffed mouse toy from his pocket.

“Emry, did you think I got a cat?” laughed Ambrose. Emry pouted.

“Well, Cato wasn’t really specific.”

“Does that mean I won?” interrupted Mael. He held up his hand, which had a dog chew in the shape of a bone. “I totally called it.”

“No way! Ambrose is totally a cat person,” argued Emry.

“Well, both of you are wrong. Elliot is a mortal. And yes, you can meet him, but he’s skittish, so tone it down a little. And no weapons!” Mael vanished his sword.

He led them inside, where Elliot was working on a jigsaw puzzle. He looked up at them, startled.

“Pet, this is Mael-” Mael waved- “and this is Emry. They’re friends of mine.”

“Well hi there, kiddo!” 

“Um. Hello.”

___________________

The two gods, Mael and Emry, looked very different from Cato and Ambrose. Their eyes were a normal brown and so was their hair. Mael was muscular and toned, and he looked like one of those old statues in his white and red toga. 

Emry was short for a god, and was the opposite of lean and lanky. He also wore a toga, but his was powder blue and he had freckles all over. 

Elliot wasn’t sure about Mael, but he immediately liked Emry. 

“I’m going to make some tea,” said Ambrose. He disappeared into the kitchen, leaving him alone with the others. Uh oh.

“So,” said Mael, flopping down on the couch. “Where ya from?”

“Uh. Azoth, sir,” He made a face.

“Don’t be rude, Mael,” Emry chastised. “I’m sure it’s a very nice place.”

“It’s a slaver’s country, Emry.”

“Oh.” 

Emry sat on the nearest armchair. “How did you meet Ambrose?”

“I was about to be sacrificed on his altar, and he didn’t want me to die.” 

“Oh.”

They lapsed into silence. 

“So do you like living here?” asked Mael.

“Yes. It’s very nice. I like the koi pond,” he said.

“Oh!” exclaimed Mael, “I conjured that. The fountain took a bit of work but I think I blended the stone in well. What do you think of the colors on the fish? I picked the color pallet from mortal fish of course-” Mael went on about the fish as Ambrose brought in the tea.

“He can go on for hours,” stage-whispered Ambrose. Emry snorted into his cup.

“Hey!” said Mael, in what was clearly mock-offense. “He brought it up.”

“It’s a very nice pond, sir. And the fish are very pretty.”

Mael beamed. “At least someone appreciates what I do.”

“We all love your creations, hun,” said Emry. He turned to Elliot. “I’m glad you’re here. It’s nice to see Ambrose making new friends.”

Ambrose sputtered. “I have plenty of friends!”

“I didn’t mean that,” said Emry, “just that you don’t branch out much. You don’t see the gods outside our little villa very often, and you restrict yourself to the people who come to your temple.” Ambrose frowned.

 “Not that there’s anything wrong with that!” he added.

“Nice save, Emry,” said Mael, dryly.

They chatted over his head for a while, and they did include him in conversation, but Elliot just wanted to do the puzzle Ambrose had gotten him. But he was polite, and soon enough Master Ambrose’s friends left.

Master poured himself another cup of tea, and sat quietly for a while as Elliot worked on the puzzle.

“What are you thinking about?” said Ambrose.

“Not much,” he said. But there was something Emry had said that stuck in his mind. He called the place they were living in a “little villa”. And there were even more gods outside of it. He shuddered at the thought. If Ambrose didn’t know all of them, like Emry said, there was nothing between him and getting snatched up.

“Master?”

“Hm?” 

“Could… could I have a collar?” Please say yes, he thought. Master Ambrose put down the teacup. Bad sign.

“Why would you want a collar?” Master uncrossed his ankles, leaning towards him.

“I- I just.” He took a deep breath. “Um. There’s a lot of people around.” He fidgeted with the puzzle pieces. 

“Do you feel unsafe?” asked Ambrose.

“A little,” he admitted. “Not everybody knows I’m yours.”

Master hummed. “And will a collar help you feel safe?”

Was this a trick question?

“I think so? I could take it off if- if it doesn’t work.”

“Well… I suppose I did promise you could wear whatever you wanted. If you want a collar, I’ll get you one.”

___________________

Ambrose thought it over. He wouldn’t go back on his word, it wouldn’t be fair. Some part of him worried what the others might think, but fuck it. They knew Ambrose better than anyone, and Cato probably already knew he was Elliot’s Master. He overheard Elliot tell Mael and Emry that he was both a sacrifice and from a slaver’s country. It didn’t take a genius to guess what that meant.

No one would think poorly of Ambrose if Elliot started wearing a collar. And aside from Mael, his brother Maelys, or maybe Valerian, no one would comment on it. 

If Elliot wanted a collar, Ambrose would get him the best damn collar he could conjure.

___________________

It took a few tries to get it right, but Ambrose was confident Elliot would like it. Soft black leather with a fur lining, it would be comfortable. He made the brass buckle as lightweight as possible, and there was a brass o-ring in front. It was a collar, after all.

 He did take the liberty of making the stitching a burnt yellow, so it would blend better with the black. Yellow was his color, and with the serpent sigil carved into the leather, no one could claim they didn’t know Elliot was under his care.

Hopefully it would help Elliot feel protected.

“Treasure,” he called, before stepping into the room, “I got you a present.”

Elliot looked up from his bowl of pasta. His eyes focused in on the leather in Ambrose’s hand. He put down the fork.

___________________ 

“Is that for me? Really?” he whispered. 

“Of course.” Ambrose sat in the chair next to him. Elliot looked closely at it. A snake was carved into the side, and it was so pretty. Intricate and detailed, he could see each scale, and the brass of the ring and buckle was so shiny. Master looped the leather around Elliot’s neck. It was so soft on the inside. Master Ambrose’s fingers brushed the nape of his neck as he fastened the collar.

“How is it?” he asked. He slipped two fingers underneath to test the fit. “Not too tight?”

“It’s perfect, Master. Thank you.”

taglist: @cupcakes-and-pain @secretwhumplair @paintedpigeon1 @whump-blog @whump-em @thingsthatgo-whump-inthenight @starfields08000 @littlespacecastle @mylovelyme @whump-cravings @zeewbee @just-a-whumping-racoon-with-wifi @fanastyfinder @roblingoblin285

[the12thnightproject]

Chapter 37: Schrodinger’s Kat: Too many things might not be what they seem. Or they… might.

Mitsuhide x OC; Hideyoshi x MC (Mai)

All Chapters Archived on Ao3 

Logline - With Mai, Hideyoshi, and Aki missing, Mitsuhide and Katsuko reluctantly team up. Disguised as a merchant and his concubine, can they outsmart the man known as the God of Deceit?

CW: Battlefield scene

Mitsuhide did indeed let me grab my fur cloak (ok, my borrowed Imagawa cloak) and went so far to make sure that my feet were well covered. Then, he urged me outside, into the garden, where it was once again snowing and the sun had already set. In the glow of the lanterns, I could see that the snowflakes collected on top of his head, turning that salt and pepper wig into a semblance of his normally silver hair.

We came to a halt just past the ice covered koi pond. I didn’t check whether or not the fish were still in there somewhere. I didn’t want to see if they had frozen to death. Schrodinger’s fish. “I was going to send you a message.”

“Were you indeed? Where would you have sent it from? Here? Or would you have waited until you settled in Kasugayama with the Imagawa?” Before I could respond to that odd line of questioning, Mitsuhide pulled us into the shadow of the wall, rendering us less visible from above.

Kasugayama? What was he talking about? Not willing to spend the mental energy trying to read his expression, I shrugged and continued my original explanation. “From here. I planned to flag down that spy who followed us from Sakai. To let you know what Yoshiaki was doing… that Kennyo is still alive. But I guess since you’ve been here all week, then you’re already aware. And if Nobunaga is not aware, he will be soon…?”

He acknowledged that with a brief nod. “I’m also aware that it’s an open secret that Yoshimoto has taken his page as a lover. His vassals are –“

“Idiots.” And causing Yoshimoto more trouble than he could handle.

“That is not the point. I’ve witnessed your relationship for myself. Watching as he takes your hands and touches your face.” Mitsuhide brushed his hand over my face, much the same way Yoshimoto was wont to do. Unlike Yoshimoto’s touch, Mitsuhide’s burned, even though, as always, his fingers were cool.

Unable to stand that internal heat, I stepped back. “That’s just Yoshimoto… he’s a touchy-feely person. It means nothing. But even if it meant something, that’s no longer your business.” You let me go.

He closed his eyes. When he opened them again, when he finally spoke, it was a return to that teasing tone. “You are correct, Brat. No business of mine, save for my ego. It was simply meant as a warning. The ex-shogun is a vengeful man. One full of petty jealousies and complex plots.”

“Yoshiaki has no idea that I even exist.” I was sure of that. “Servants are simply part of the scenery to him.”

“As I was saying before you interrupted-.” Mitsuhide put his finger on my lips to ensure no additional interruption. “Imagawa’s vassals haven’t ceased complaining about how their lord is obsessed with his new page. How he fondles you in public, and holes up in his room with you for hours.” He shot another glance up toward the castle walls and pulled me further into the gloom. I suddenly realized that the person who had been watching me for the past few days was Mitsuhide himself. “If Yoshiaki hasn’t already heard of this, he will soon.”

“Why would Yoshiaki care?” And then the recollection of that first day here returned. Of that possessive, slighted tone in the ex-shogun’s voice when he spoke to Yoshimoto. “Oh. He’s the one with the obsession.”

“Indeed. He is the one with the obsession.” Mitsuhide took a step back, as if he were evaluating the nature of the word obsession. “I find it somewhat… ironic… that in my attempt to get you out of the line of fire – for Yoshiaki would also be happy if a woman important to … to the Oda were to fall into his hand – you jumped right back into it.”

There was a lot to that statement, and I wished I had the time to parse it out, to discover what those odd pauses in Mitsuhide’s speech meant, but as it was, all I could say was, “I’m not important to the Oda.”

He merely looked at me. His face was shadowed in the dark, but for a moment, he half turned and his eyes gleamed in the lantern light.

Am I important to him?

Did he truly push me away to keep me safe?

There were a hundred questions I could have asked at that moment.

I said nothing.

It was not the time.

It was certainly not the place.

He reached out, took both my hands in his, carried them to his lips, and kissed my knuckles. The gesture was oddly reminiscent of Yoshimoto’s and I wondered if he was doing so to place a claim of possession on them… to erase any memory I might have had of Yoshimoto’s touch.

My silence was enough of a response. He pulled me closer, pressing me into the wall, and kissed my forehead – almost a benediction. That gesture of peace became one of passion, as he melted into my side, nipping at my neck, biting my ear –

I groaned… I would always be weak to that… to him, my need for his touch rushing through my veins. Until he spoke. “Goro – my spy – is waiting on the other side of the wall. Leave. Leave now. I will explain it to Yoshimoto.”

Stung by reality, I yanked myself out of his embrace. Had all that been just to distract me? Even now was he still trying to force me to his bidding? Was this another feint, another character, another act? I imagined that my very existence here, in proximity to Motonari, who knew of the Kaya identity, was interfering with his own mission for Nobunaga. The mission that brought him here to begin with.

Of course… it had never been about me.

“No.” I scooted further away. “Iekane knows where Aki is. I’m sure of it. Don’t worry. I will keep far away from your investigation. You won’t even know I’m here.”

“You’re impossible to ignore. I couldn’-“

“Just. Don’t.”

Before he could grab me again, I hurried out of the garden. He wouldn’t be able to follow me without giving himself – or me – away. I didn’t look back this time either, and stopped only to steal the bucket from beside the well. The well water was already frozen – no one would miss it. I filled the bucket with snow, knowing that if anyone questioned me on my way back inside, I would have a built in excuse for my absence.

Then I casually walked back into the castle as if I had every reason to be there. I even nodded at one guard at the main door. He returned my nod, then returned to his business.

Good. I hurried up the stairs toward Yoshimoto’s quarters but, just a few meters away from being home free, I nearly barreled right into Motonari. Shit. I bowed low, keeping my face turned away from his. “My apologies Lord Motonari.”

He grunted in response, and hurried past… then he stopped. I sensed him whirling back toward me. “How did you know my name?”

My face stayed averted. I was good servant, not allowed to gaze at one of a higher caste. “Lord Imagawa requires I be able to identify all the daimyos and warlords and not offer any insult or impropriety.”

“Humph.” After another excruciating pause, he continued on his way.

Had he recognized me? I… couldn’t be certain that he hadn’t.

Without taking time to sigh in relief, I hurried into Yoshimoto’s room, where Yoshimoto was kneeling on his futon, his eyes closed.

As soon as I entered, he opened his eyes and looked at me. "Katsu, that seemed longer than it ought to have taken to-"

"Get you your water? My apologies Lord Yoshimoto." I handed him the bucket full of rapidly melting snow. "Your drink."

Yoshimoto blinked. "Snow?" He kept his voice low.

“You did say you wanted to taste the pristine moonlight touched flakes." I winked at him. "This is the coldest freshest water in the area."

A slight smile touched his lips. "That does... sound like something I would say." He drank from the bucket. "You are frighteningly good at that." He dropped his voice lower, below the threshold of what someone listening in the next room or the corridor would be able to hear. "And your search?"

"Inconclusive." Then, in order to give him some better news, I added. “The correspondence we previously discussed is on its way to its intended target.”  At least Mitsuhide had hinted as such. I ought to tell Yoshimoto about Mitsuhide being here. “Well, the second target. As it turns out-“

Yoshimoto had stopped listening. "I'll be happier when we can be on our way, too." Our way? Was that for any spies?Or was Yoshimoto assuming that we would continue travelling together? I couldn’t think that far in advance. Perhaps anticipating my thoughts Yoshimoto asked, "If it turns out your father is dead, what will you do next?"

Though I didn’t want to imagine that prospect it was a fair question. "Return to his manor and try to salvage his... interests."

"If you want or need another option, you are welcome to return to Kasugayama with me." He smiled at me, but with the resignation of someone who didn’t have any expectation of success.

"There you go again, inviting me to be a guest in someone else's home." The home of a person whose disdain for women was pretty common knowledge.

"As long as you can fight, Kenshin won't care." He took a sip from the container of now melted snow, "It is really good water."

And in about 450 years people will have to pay one hundred and fifty yen for a bottle of something this fresh.

For a long moment, he was quiet, thinking those inscrutable Yoshimoto thoughts. Finally, he sighed. “Katsuko, you must know that-”

That was as far as he got before the sound of shouting and running feet reached our ears. Before I could do more than grab my sword, the door to the room slid open and four of the Kanamori vassals rushed in. Their weapons were out, so I presumed they aren't joining us for the fresh mountain water.

Yoshimoto was already on his feet. "What is the meaning of this insult?"

"We are taking him into custody." That was apparent. They had me surrounded. “Lord Motonari’s orders.”

Dammit. I guess he had recognized me after all.

“Unacceptable. Katsu is a valued member of my household." Yoshimoto threw on his clothing faster than I thought he could move. "I refuse to part with him."

"You'll have to discuss that with Lord Iekane.” Without another word, they confiscated my sword and "escorted" me through the corridor, with Yoshimoto protesting at their heels every step of the way. The darkened stairwells and hallways were no less forbidding in reverse as we were marched out of the castle altogether.

Outside.

Outside is bad. It means they think there will be blood and they don’t want to clean it off a tatami mat. (Actually you can’t really get blood out of a tatami mat). At least I hadn't had time to take my cloak off, but Yoshimoto had to be freezing.

The vassals rushed me through the gardens, and to a stairway that led to the top of the castle wall.

Iekane and Motonari were waiting for us there, along with more of the Kanamori guards… including, I noticed, Mitsuhide. His disguise was still complete and he appeared to be regarding the scene dispassionately.

So far, Motonari hadn’t realized he was here, but if he did, especially when we were this badly outnumbered, it would be the end of both our missions.

Making sure not to look at him, not even look near him, I tried to mentally broadcast an apology to him. This… was probably exactly what he had been afraid would happen.

Before I could begin to formulate a way out of this, Yoshimoto addressed Iekane, "Master Iekane, what is the meaning of this insult?"

"This doesn't concern you, Lord Imagawa," Iekane said in that ingratiating tone that … really didn’t go along with the role he was playing as the acting daimyo of Genba. Then again, Yoshimoto was an Imagawa, and Yoshiaki revered him, so maybe that tone was real. "Motonari has a problem with a member of your household."

"I don't see how. My page has devoted his attention to me since the moment we arrived. Any insult would have come about because he was merely doing my bidding." In other words Yoshimoto was insinuating his own servants were more important than Motonari - which is not how I would have chosen to play this, but now it seems we were committed.

Motonari stepped forward and looked me over from head to foot. "Lord Imagawa, yer page is a spy who works for Mitsuhide."

With, people, with. And not any longer.

Yoshimoto whipped out his fan and semi-concealed a theatrically fake yawn. "Of course she's a spy. But she works for my cousin, not Mitsuhide."

Takeda Shingen? Wait. Yoshimoto if you're going to change the script, it would be nice if you handed me the updated sides first.

Iekane started to speak, but Motonari got there first. "Shut up."

Oooh. Someone doesn’t like Iekane. I... think I can work with that.

He turned back to me. "Yer one of the Mitsumono? Why’d ya help Mitsuhide?"

Um… I did a rapid revision to Kaya's backstory. I didn’t dare look at Mitsuhide. Did he believe I was a Takeda spy? Maybe… that would be for the best. It would be the easiest and fastest way for him to wash his hands of me and continue on his mission.

“The best way to gain his trust was to help him.” Ok, think think, what else? “And of course once he pulled us off your ship, I figured the only way I was going to get back to Kasaguyama was to work with him."

“By burning down my camp." Motonari’s words came out as a growl, but there was a different kind of light in his eyes.

"Next time tell your men not to store, the gunpowder so close to open flame.” Hoping that I had judged his character correctly, I added a purposeful careless shrug. "Hell of a fire though."

He looked startled for a moment, then his laughter rang out across the dark night. "Hell of a fire."

Behind me, Yoshimoto shifted uneasily. Yeah so I had flipped the script too... but we were going to need Motonari to defuse this Yoshiaki mess, and the only way that was going to happen would be if we eliminated Iekane’s influence. One way or another.

The Kanamori guards seemed not to know what to do with Motonari's sudden outburst. Once again Iekane stepped forward, but no, I couldn’t let him take control this narrative. His, for want of a better word, superpower, was the long con. It had to be for him to have been able to fool Aki for so long. I gestured to Iekane. "Lord Iekane knows this, because he and I were both originally trained by the same spymaster." I glanced over my shoulder at the Kanamori guard who was still poking me with a sword. "Just a suggestion, but you might want to get a food taster in for Mozumi's meals and drink."

I wasn't going to outright accuse Iekane of anything, especially since I hadn’t found any evidence that he was responsible for Mozumi's condition, but all I needed was for them to hesitate before acting.

Iekane put his hand to his heart. "Are you accusing me of harming my dear father? The man took me in, saved my life. I'm devoted to his health."

"Yes, of course you must be." Finally Yoshimoto picked up on the good cop bad cop routine. We really should have rehearsed this. "A poor orphan is always grateful to the rich man, especially if he has no other living offspring."

The Kanamori guard became less poky with the sword in my back. So that's one thin-

"Heh. This is all very interesting." Motonari's tone said it was the complete opposite of interesting. "I don’t care if Iekane is offing his Pap, it all ends up the same in the end. Imagawa ya in for destroying Nobunaga and getting this party started or not?"

Crap. Iekane was my goal, but if I could throw a bit of help toward Mitsuhide’s mission, it would be a good thing too.

"The desire of my vassals is clear." Yoshimoto snapped his fan shut. The metallic clang was like the locking of a cell door. "That said, I do not agree that Sakai is a worthwhile target."

Ok, good, he'd given me an opening. "Iekane when you caused the cart accident, was your target me... or was it Hiko?"

"Accident?" Iekane’s laugh was on the disbelieving side of sarcastic. "Kaya, you've always been clumsy. And little boys, well, they can get into so much mischief."

And… that was an unforced error to Iekane.

"Lord Motonari." I turned and directly addressed the pirate. "Has Iekane ever met Hiko?"

He frowned, either at the non-sequitur, or because he might have figured out where I was going. "No. He ain’t been to Sakai. Do you have a point, spy? Or are ya wasting time waiting for reinforcements?"

Reinforcements… well, that would have been a good idea. Too bad none of us thought of that.

"How does Iekane know Hiko is a little boy?" Before Iekane could formulate a bluff, I kept going. "Hiko is in danger, from Iekane. Before my former master disappeared, he sent me a letter, asking me to find Hiko and protect him from Iekane."

Don't ask me why. Don't ask me why.

"Why, why would I care about some street kid?" Of course Iekane asked.

"Because," Yoshimoto took up the thread of my logic and embellished it into a telenovela. "Hiko is actually Mozumi's son. His blood son."

Yoshimoto, WTF? Then… I considered. Oh…that's actually… pretty good.

Since Yoshimoto had his bard on I kept quiet and let him continue. "Hiko's mother was one of Mozumi's concubines. But Mozumi's second wife Osumi was jealous of Niwa, and arranged for an attempt on her life. Frightened for her safety and realizing she was carrying a baby, Niwa decided to fake her death, at least until the child was born. Unfortunately, during childbirth, poor Niwa’s death became a reality. This was when her sister decided to raise Hiko as her own. She already had a daughter, Sho, and the children were devoted to each other."

Yoshimoto finished his epic with a flutter of his fan, and I could tell he was holding back from actually bowing. Ok, a little over the top, but at least he had remembered to account for the existence of Sho. Mozumi's vassals might not remember all of his former concubines, but they might remember the existence of a daughter.

"And that is why Iekane plans to attack Sakai. It would be easy enough to kill one small boy in the confusion and make it look like an accident of war." In fact, that probably was why Iekane had chosen Sakai. Or at least one reason. Once again I was glad that Yoshimoto, or rather the Takeda mitsumono, had taken Hiko to Kasugayama.

"That's ridiculous." Iekane addressed Motonari, "Lord Imagawa has spent so much time on the arts that it’s rotted his brain. No true warrior would believe such a fanciful tale."

I heard a whisper from the direction of the Kanamori guards. A rather familiar voice, in fact. “Mozumi did have a concubine by name of Niwa.”

And thank you Mitsuhide for backing up Yoshimoto’s flight of fancy.

Iekane took a nervous step in that direction, trying to read the Kanamori guard’s faces.

Another voice, from one of Mozumi’s vassals. “Lady Osumi was the jealous type.”

That… had also been Mitsuhide, once again employing that ventriloquism trick he’d used back in Sakai.

“Are you really believing this nonsense?” Iekane looked around. But he was nervous. As he spoke, fumbled for something he had in his kimono. Something black and shiny. A pistol?

In that moment, I didn’t know who he planned to shoot, but only Mitsuhide would be familiar with the quicker action of a western pistol. But if he acted, it would be the end of his mission – because Iekane wasn’t his target. Iekane was mine.

I allowed myself a fast peek at him, trying to determine whether he had something in mind. He looked, for the first time in my memory, agonized. Indecisive. If this incident deterred him from his mission, I knew he would hate himself forever.

And so before Iekane could even point the thing, I jumped at him, hoping to knock it out of his hands.

Instead of pushing me away, Iekane grabbed my wrist. Only then, I could see it wasn't a Nanban pistol at all. It was dark and oblong, gleaming of some unfamiliar material.

Our action carried us backward, and then, rather than twisting, or braking, Iekane let us continue to fall backward, over the wall of the castle entirely in front of the started gazes of Yoshimoto and Motonari… and though Mitsuhide leaped forward, his hands reaching for me, he was not in time to prevent us from sailing over the edge.

Oh shit, this is going to hur-

We never hit the ground.

There was a flash of light, and I felt a bit of a jolt of electricity, and then the world was replaced by stifling grey.

Fog.

I've been here before.

“You are indeed stupid, putting me right where I wanted to be.”

It was as if I were back in that crate, as closed in and impenetrable as a coffin, yet without any physical walls that I could pound on or kick. I tried screaming but nothing came out of my mouth.

Wormhole?

Find a piece of yourself that you can hang onto through all of the roles you play. Some thing. Some goal that’s more important than who you are portraying at that moment in time.  If you lose that piece, you’ll lose yourself in the game. You might never find your way out again.

The memory wasn’t of the wormhole that pulled Toshiie and I into the Sengoku. No it was of a thick endless grey. A grey where time had ceased to exist. Iekane had pushed me and I’d become trapped, alone, dissolving…

No… not me.

Someone else’s memory?

And then I felt Iekane grab onto my wrist, as I could tell he was preparing to throw me off him. Fling me somewhere.  Somewhere into the grey. Again. His voice was harsh in my ear. "Give my regards to your father."

“Oh no you don’t. Not this time!”Mine or not, that vision was a warning of what could happen if I allowed him to throw me deeper into the wormhole.

I grabbed onto his arm, snatched that odd device from his hand. The wind whipped around us, pulling us in all directions, as we battled over it. Lightning crackled in the distance and Iekane yelped as if he'd been shot.

I tightened my grip on the thing, kicked out, and in the weird gravity field of the wormhole, we ricocheted away from each other. With a howl of rage, Iekane disappeared from my view, spinning, tumbling head over heels, his hand still reaching for the device.

The fog faded, pushed away by a fetid heavy breeze that carried a stench of blood and ash and decay.

As the wormhole gave way to smoke, that eerie silence was replaced by shouts. I had the sensation of falling into intense heat. It was all the warning I had before my feet touched ground. I ran three staggering steps, through the dark haze, tripped over something soft…

… and landed on a body. Even in the heat around me, the person was limp, his clothing soaked and -

Where’s the rest of -- ?!

Oh God.

Get away from him-

They're…everywhere!

I'd seen battlefields from a distance.

There had never been a desire to get any closer than my perch from a tree in a nearby forest. Though that distance had been enough to give me an idea of how much smoke, noise, and confusion there could be, nothing could have prepared me for the smell or the heat.

Or the feel of a dead body beneath me.

@selenacosmic @lorei-writes @bestbryn @lyds323 @tele86 @akitsuneswife

[intricate-ritualz]

Facing You

i tried to find myself in those eyes

i have a little pond,

barely 3 feet at its deepest.

a little pond my dad dug up and filled

with water.

we keep fish in it.

goldfish, koi.

barely 3 feet at its deepest, but trust me.

they’re fine over the winter.

“Scientists have discovered how goldfish and their wild ilk survive months of winter in frozen-over lakes of oxygen-free water. The answer is alcohol – the cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems” (The Register).

one time, a fish got sick.

when a fish gets sick you separate it from the rest,

naturally.

2.

as may be expected; of course

“naturally, I hoped for the best”

we kept this little sick fish in a little bowl inside. (Naturally)

a little bowl barley 3 inches at its deepest.

a little calico sick fish in a little bowl.

barely 3 inches at its deepest.

the fish died.

the little calico sick fish died alone away from its fishy friends. alone and little and calcio and sick

but i so wanted it to live,

trust me.

i didn’t want hard enough,

i guess.

anyways

ANYWAYS my point is

i saw that little calico sick fish in those eyes

i saw the feeling you get right before you fall asleep

you know? when you’re just about to be gone

the warm heaviness of it you know

i saw the feeling you get when you're just about to be gone

and all of a sudden it feels like you’re falling

you know?

i saw those eyes melt into spring and then freeze all over again

and i guess if i was religious i’d say i saw god

but i’m not,

trust me

but most importantly

most IMPORTANTLY

i saw;

myself;

ofc u did 🙄

,” you say

“Eyes are more mirror than window.”

you don’t even get it,

truust me

Facing Away From You

a song.

Would it be so weird to see you? / Would it hurt so much to try / To stop the bleeding on your tongue by pressing it up against mine?

-(My Ex, my best friend, idk idk IDK

-Sleeping

-Spring time

-God

-A little calico sick fish

i tried to find myself in those lyrics,

(swears it’s the worst thing they’ve ever written, but i still tried to find myself nonetheless)

they probably* weren’t even about me.

*They weren’t

“Of course you tried to find yourself somewhere you never even stepped foot,” you say

and i say

songs are more mirror than window?

One word from you and I would / Jump off of this ledge I’m on, baby / Tell me, “Don’t,” so I can crawl back in

-

[qafi]

Jupiter at 3.33 am thoughts under the cut. iykyky, tgwgigi

I so very much want to construct a cohesive essay but I fear my rambling heart may make that impossible. I would like to begin with appropriate and necessary accolades, as this author is a god among men and this story, like all of theirs, is gorgeous, with rich prose and imagery and monologue, addictive dialogue, brilliant pacing and cohesion. They wring out every drop of a scene, and have an almost succulent way of weaving in exposition, they don’t reveal details about the plot until the very last moment they possibly can. It builds beautiful suspense.

In the following paragraphs, I would like to identify the descriptive techniques present in silent scenes in this text, how they work so well, and my thoughts on the piece as a whole.

I do highly recommend you read the above fanfiction in its completion, however, just to add some background for the sake of structure: Jupiter at 3.33 a.m. is about Tsukishima moving across the world and completely losing contact with Yamaguchi for two years, and then moving back.

In the first chapter, we are introduced to Yamaguchi’s listlessness. Plentiful words are used to describe the koi pond he frequents, how sitting there is his favorite place even if it still makes his bag slide down (revealing a kind of resignation and surrender to this character). I want to talk about the amount of time spent describing this koi pond.

The fact that Yamaguchi actually has the time and concentration to focus so religiously on what is essentially a couple of fish, sub-textually shows us something important, which is, he doesn’t have much going on in his life. The fact that he has only seen fifteen percent of the campus also indicates he is leading a life that is unfulfilled in some way. As the reader, you don’t start to realize this until somewhere around the third paragraph, because this author avoids telling you how this character is and rather lets you feel it.

(As an aside, the way this campus is described, with rolling grass courtyard and climbing ivy, is more akin to American or European universities— Japan is not as keen on lawn culture, as it monopolizes valuable real estate. Not a detracting factor at all, but it makes me wonder if the author wrote this while looking over at their own university, and how much reference to their real life it holds.)

He has no idea what to do with himself. People have to force him to join a club, or work on his resume. This makes a lot of sense when you consider how codependent their relationship can seem in canon. His favorite spot being a place that makes his backpack slide down is a crucial detail, because it shows us that Yamaguchi can be content with something that does not accommodate him. It is foreshadowing for all the negative qualities he overlooks with Tsukishima.

To create such a vivid scene, the verbs used are enticing. Instead of saying, this moves, he hears, he enjoys, we instead get these delicious words: mouths, breaks, churns, dies. The koi disappears the moment Yachi and Hinata arrive, a metaphor for his loneliness disappearing in the presence of his friends. Yamaguchi glances back to this koi pond throughout the story.

The abandoned setting here also implicates the state Tsukishima left him in, subtly and through metaphor, by using language such as forgotten and broken. Yamaguchi notices the way things are neglected because he experiences it himself. There is realism to fostering an intimate friendship only to be torn apart by moving to different schools.

What particularly punches me in the gut is how all of these accomplished and passionate volleyball players have kind of pushed their hobby to the back burner as they try to make something else out of their lives and education. I feel like this is a much more realistic portrayal of life than what we see in the canon universe, with almost everyone either joining a prestigious volleyball team or having shiny salaried careers straight out of college. You can devote your life to something and have it not work out, that happens all the time. There’s a beautiful realism to this, and an inherent romanticization of the mundane that comes from simply capturing it.

Everyone is experiencing some level of disappointment and it graduates from being a protagonist’s struggle to being a theme, something that seems inevitable and inescapable in the rules of this fictional universe.

Oh god, the yearning. The yearning. What a beautiful way to introduce the distance between them.

This scene gives me goosebumps. After over three-thousand words spent without him, when Tsukishima arrives it is like seeing someone who died. Everyone but Yamaguchi knows he now works at the school— but this detail was not revealed until the latest possible moment.

Yamaguchi does not describe the sensory details of the moment he is in, and instead lists all the ways he imagined seeing Tsukishima again. This is a stark juxtaposition to the way he pretends Tsukishima does not even exist before this scene. The settings chosen are whimsical and romantic: in a coffee shop, traveling abroad, hiding from the rain.

The reality is almost disappointing in contrast. This is a horribly disconnected way to reunite with someone, seeing their reflection first, and thus this is the first impression we have of this new Tsukishima. He is distant and disconnected. This creates narrative, because there is a gap between what he has and what he wants and we must spend time and effort to move there.

I could write a fucking soliloquy on “Je peux voir que tu rougis”. It struck me down like lightning. It is a piece of dialogue, but unlike the core property of dialogue it does not exist to communicate an idea from one character to another, because Yamaguchi does not speak French. It exists to help us better understand Tsukishima.

Yamaguchi doesn’t know French, he could have said anything when prompted. He could have said Je vous aime, or Tu m'as manqué or Le ciel est bleu. He said I can tell you are blushing. Until now, nothing has been resolute about Tsukishima’s intentions or feelings.

He is telling the audience that he knows that Yamaguchi feels some form of desire for him. It is done so off-handedly you could easily miss it. Of course, he would probably translate to Yamaguchi what he’d said if he hadn’t been interrupted, which shows intention to move forward with things in a shy (let’s be honest, really cute) kind of way.

Its effectiveness can also be credited to fictional realism. The idea that the physical sensations and reactions a character has can be perceived by other characters and influence their behaviors in return.

This is a brilliant piece of writing that will destroy you, and leave you unable to stop thinking about it for days.

Now for my fanfiction inside of a fanfiction. Fanfiction-ception.

I believe this text could easily fit in the genre of literary fiction, rather than fiction. I want to talk about the ways in which these two versions of the story would be different.

In this fanfiction, Tsukishima had no choice but to move across the world, as he was a child following the location of his mother’s work. This gives him a level of innocence. This story is able to have a happy ending because of this innocence.

If we give him more agency in this decision, it changes the story completely. Consider, that Tsukishima is offered admission at a great university abroad, but Yamaguchi is not accepted. This happens all the time.

Now we are posed a question: Do we prioritize our future or our relationships?

It’s our future, right? Wouldn’t it make sense to take advantage of an opportunity given to you, wouldn’t your friend wants what’s best for you?

There could exist a version of Tsukishima who chose school over Yamaguchi. This decision and its subsequent guilt would eat at him. This could be the reason he decides to lose contact with Yamaguchi, not out of jealousy but instead because he feels Yamaguchi deserves better than him, he wants Yamaguchi to find other friends.

Now, instead of moving back due to his mom losing her job, he would need another reason to move back. I think the most fascinating reason would be, if he flunked out and comes crawling back to Sendai. Studying abroad becomes Plan A, and Yamaguchi becomes Plan B.

Now, he wants to take the place of all the friends he forced Yamaguchi to make in his absence. He knows Yamaguchi adores him so it’s like a comfortable safety net he can always fall back on.

But the thing is, Yamaguchi would probably be okay with being Plan B. His self-worth is low, and Yamaguchi actually struggles to function without Tsukishima. At the same time, I don’t think this would necessarily make Tsukishima a bad person, even if he did hurt him.

This version of the story would most likely have a bad ending no matter how you tried to write it. As most literary fiction does.

I just think it’s fascinating that one decision could change so much about a story. Thank u author for this incredibly thought-provoking work!

[elijahhendley]

7月13號 Day 2: A Little bit of everything

Today we were able to experience taiwanese art, nature, a temple and a market. Our first stop today was the traditional dongsanshui/xinfu wet market. It was really cool to see all of the different shops and the food they sold. I saw everything from chicken feet to cow tongue! I have never seen or even thought about eating cow tongue. I don't even know how you would cook it! But is is so awesome. There was also a lot of seafood there.

Then we walked through an older part of the Wanhua district. It had dutch, chinese, and japanese influence. The different building types were made by the different cultures when they settled in taiwan years ago. Brick was actually introduced by the Dutch and became a popular building material after they arrived. Here is a picture of a brick art piece that has all the names of the stores that were down the alley way we walked through.

Then we made our way to LungShan temple. It was very pretty and was flanked by a waterfall and a koi pond on either side.

I am always amazed at the detail that goes into each one of these traditional buildings. At this temple specifically, in the front it is a buddhist place of worship and in the back it is a daoist place of worship. We learned that people will pray and ask questions and to get an answer you would throw moon rock on the ground. depending on how they landed is what the answer to the question is. One side of the moon rock is flat and the other one is not. So if the flat sides land facing upward then it is a no. If it is the rounded sides facing upwards, it is a maybe, and if it is one flat and one rounded, it is yes. Also you have to place an offering on the table before you do that. It is said that the soul/identity of the fruit is taken up by the god, so after you offer it you take it home and eat it since the offering was already taken up by the god. While we were there they also were doing a ceremony and parading the idols around for a parade. They were playing the drums and everything.

Then we walked through the botanical gardens and saw a lotus pond!

We also went to the National Museum of history, specifically the yuyu yang exhibit. It was really cool to see all of the art he has created in his lifettime. You could see as time changed, how his artwork changed with it. I found it so cool that he did so many different types of art. He did not stick with only one genre. He created more than 2500 art peices in his lifetime such as sculptures, landscape art,self potraits, laser art, modern art, art with mirrors, and my favorite comics. I found the comics to be so funny. they tell such simple stories in only 4 slides. So cool. Here are a few examples

Then to end our day we had lunch at a hotpot place. It was so cool and we got to order so many different types of food. different types of beef, pork, lobster, shrimp, chicken, fish, chicken testicles, icecream, and veggies.

Untill next time, 再見！

[recallback]

1, 8, 36! ;D

YAY dragons ok lets go

1. a character loved by their community

A prime example of that would be this guy here, Mr Diego Montaya! He used to be an archivist for the Starwood Anomalies Research Facility, but quit many years ago and retired to a quiet little gig as a librarian in the local public library. He's a sweet old timer who loves his job and encouraging people to read, especially little kids. He runs an educational reading circle for the tykes from the local school once a week, and makes up all kinds of silly songs to hold their interest - a lot of people grew up with him and his songs, so he's thought of very fondly.

8. someone who hates their job

There's a few candidates, but if there's anyone who so clearly absolutely despises their job, it's Mars. Mars works a technician for SAR, as part of their attempts to judge whether their people are fit for declassification from anomalies, and they contemplate every day chewing through the security system's wires. But instead they're settling for being very obnoxious about sticking to their contract's exact wording at every opportunity and refusing to socialize with "coworkers".

36. a local deity or worship practice

Religion isn't a huge focus in my lore, but we do have one local deity! This is Mica, they are a God of Wishes who takes the form of a large, serpentine-like koi fish living in a pond on SAR's grounds. On occasion, the staff allow people to toss small gems into the pond and make a wish, which Mica will then grant. However, everyone is only given one wish and the result may not be entirely favourable......

[sweetsickheart]

hi val it says "ask me about my fish"

I want to know about your fish 👍👍👍

YESSSS!!!!!! okie so i need to start off my saying that i have been growing my fish collection for years and thats why i have so many im not like mega rich. also my dad pays for some of them and visits them all the time.

1st tank:

• two big oscars (tiger and leche) who ive had for years and im pretty sure theyre immortal. absolute power couple, theyve had so many babies and i had to sell them all.

• some rando snails that just appeared one day and i feel bad killing them

• nothing else because the oscars are codependent little bitches and attack other fish

2nd tank:

• a school of angle fish. there's 7-13 any given time and right now its at 11

• a red-tailed dollar fish who is silly and stares at me all day

• lots of cool rocks that my mom built for the tank with her epic pottery skills

3rd tank:

• average person's "first tank" set up. bright colored rocks, smallish tank, fake plants, etc

• beta fish. one male and one female because the males WILL murder each other

• a singular minnow i found banked in the sand on a stream next to my house and took home, im suprised the male beta hasnt tried to kill him

4th tank:

• SO many mollies. if they have an uprising they could honest to god kill me. it took so long to move them to a bigger tank because there were just too many

• i dont kill/sell them because they're my babies and also i have a big enough tank for them all to be healthy in

5th tank:

• sickbay tank. desolate besides the most expensive and correct thermometer i could find, some comfortable sand, and four different types of river plants in each corner for the sick fish to hide in

• currently has a angel fish with god knows what diseases staring at me.

• i need to clean this tank after that fish is out so he doesnt spread his sickness to the other sick fish who will come in after

5th tank:

• MY PRIDE AND JOY.

• its in the main room of the house instead of the "fish room" where all the others are.

• 240 gallons and has had its interior switched out (from freshwater to salt) so many times that its probably seen the dawn of time. its so expensive to maintain. theres been lots of tears shed over it

• currently freshwater!!

• contains: angelfish (from tank 2), blue acaras, apistogrammas, corydoras, denison barbs, and some stray guppies and mollies!!!

• is incredibly loud when cleaning out/refilling

• set so thats its INSIDE the wall + has its own very tiny room behind it for feeding, temperature checks, and maintenance

• like i said, used to be salt water, and then fresh water, and then salt water. when we want to change it we either sell the fish or move them.

• personal favorite tank

weird brick pond that is shoved into and takes up most of the space in our tiny backyard:

• lots of koi

• sometimes my bearded dragon swims in here

• when it was being built, some of my extended family swam in there with me before there were any fish or plants

• pretty big, i just said small because it's definitely not what you think when you picture a pond

• also contains a turtle whose name is brook. i actually raised her in the sick fish tank from when she was a baby that could fit in my hand. shes still pretty small, shes only about three years old

• there was an emergency a couple of months ago where everyone was on vacation and the whole pond just...drained...? apparently there was some kind of leak. there was a bit of water left, so some of the koi survived, but most died. there was lots of crying and also brook had a field day eating the fishes dead bodies.

thats it!! PLEASE ask questions or make statements or whatever, i really love my fish <333

[solaris-amethyst]

💫No one but you💫

✨Pairing: Sicheng x gn!reader ✨Prompt: Just two soulmates finding their way back to each other in seemingly every lifetime. ✨Genre: soulmate au, reincarnation, non idol au, lovers, angst, 🌙Warnings: suicide, death, poisoning, angst let me know if I missed any warnings!! ✨Word count: 5k ☀️Authors note: Yeah I totally sneaked in the line Stoick tells Valka when they meet each other again in httyd 2 simply because I love it so much and it fit so well with the theme of soulmates finding each other again and again. Also I tried my best in researching what people wore in the eras I chose and I'm so sorry if I got anything wrong! I'm no expert and tried my very best to find the correct terms and such!

219 B.C. (Qin Dynasty)

"Sicheng I'm not so sure we're allowed to be here." You mumble as he drags you into the palace gardens, passing by the beautiful ponds with koi fish in them. The night sky reflecting in the water as it ripples lightly due to the movements of the fishes.

"Shhhh I may do as I please and I want to bring my beloved here to show you the most beautiful sight." He says looking back at you with a smile. His hair framing his face beautifully and he looks so wonderful in the dim moonlight.

“You are the Emperors son Sicheng, if they find out you’re out here with me of all people they’d be furious.” You mutter knowing that it would be frowned upon if they found you, a servant, being around the son of the current Emperor of the Qin dynasty in a romantic setting. Sicheng would probably get a scolding while you would be punished harshly for it in ways you don’t even want to think about right now.

“Shhhh my love, do not worry, they will not find out about us I know so because I have made sure of it. Now please relax and wipe that sad look off your face. I do not enjoy seeing my love with such an expression.” He says caressing the left side of your face gently with his hand.

You couldn't help but lean into his gentle hand with a small smile. Perhaps you could relax and trust that he is truthful about that no one will find out. Perhaps Chang'e would keep watch over the two of you from her palace on the moon and allow you to peacefully enjoy each other's presence without being caught.

Sichengs green shenyi shone beautifully against his skin highlighting his status while your white one paled in comparison to his. Further highlighting that the two of you should not be together this intimate.

But who are you to deny what both your hearts desire. The two of you fit together in a way only the gods and goddesses themselves could have created. Ever since the first time you two met it has felt just right. A spark tingling in your fingertips every time you touched even if it was a brief fleeting touch. Destiny had woven both of your life threads together but it also felt cruel, knowing that your love wouldn't be accepted in the eyes of others.

Sicheng was expected to marry someone of a higher rank to maintain his high and respectable status and it would cause an uproar if it came out he wanted to marry a lowly servant. He had made it clear to you many times that he wanted to tell everyone about the love he felt for you. He wanted to be loud and bold and show that nothing could hinder his love for you but you had talked him out of it every single time for the fear of what would happen to him, you and your family if it were to come out.

"Perhaps we should run away, you and me." He whispers as he leans his forehead against yours.

"Run away? Sicheng where would we even go?" You question back, looking into his bight eyes who are looking at you with so much adoration you can't help but melt.

"Anywhere. I could take some of my riches with me and we could go wherever we want. We could start a new life. Just you and me, away from all of this."

"They'd never stop searching for you my love. They wouldn't let the Emperors son get away that easily and you know it. You're so beautiful any one would be a fool to miss seeing you, they'd send word and then we would be separated from each other." You say sadly before looking at him again, holding his hand gently.

"I'm okay with the way things are now if it means I get to know you are alive and well every day. That's enough for me."

"It hurts me every day that I don't get to spend with you. I do not want to live a life filled with misery where I have to wed someone I do not love. You and me are meant to be together until the end of the days of this earth." Sicheng whispered before leaning in again to kiss you slowly.

The two of you continued to spend the night in each others arms under the moonlight, enjoying each others presence and quiet love confessions and murmurs of a shared future was shared between short but loving kisses.

It wasn't until the break of dawn that the two of you separated. You bid your lover farewell and hurried back to the servants quarter as Sicheng made his way to his.

You hope that no one has seen the two of you knowing if someone sees you two it would be over for you. You'd loose your job and quiet possibly your life as well if you were unlucky.

"There you are! Where have you been? It is required for us to go to the great hall of the emperor today." The head of the servants said as you had entered your quarter again and you could feel some anxiety settling into your stomach.

You hadn't been caught had you? "Have they said what for?" You ask trying to seem unbothered by the fact that they suddenly want you all in the great hall. Perhaps someone had seen the two of you out on your nightly meetings in the garden and told the emperor?

"There are some announcements to be made and rumors has it the emperor knows somethings been going on which he isn't happy about." The head of the servants said with a stony face and it made you gulp as you nodded before hurrying away to change into a new, fresh white shenyi.

The walk to the great hall after the sun had finally taken her rightful place up in the sky was nerve-racking. Slight tremors made their way from your feet all the way up to your hands which you held tightly together as you held them slightly up above your stomach. You and the other servants keep your heads slightly bowed down as to not offend anyone of a higher status as you walked towards your destination.

The grand doors opened and you and the other servants stepped inside before quickly taking your positions at the near end of the room towards the walls so you'd melt in and not take up any more space than necessary. The emperors steely gaze flitted over all of you once you got settled after bowing to him and you could have sworn his eyes looked at you for a bit longer than they did with any of the other servants, which did not help the tremors you felt slowly wrecking through you.

It took a while before the doors opened again and Sicheng waltzed in followed by his escorts. He looked beautiful today, as he always did, his clothing highlighting his beautiful face and those beautiful phoenix eyes of his. You noticed by the way he walked that while he was confident there was a part of him that was unsure.

You wanted so badly to go to him and comfort him but that would only result in something incredibly bad happening.

Taking deep and steady breaths as the silence engulfed the room to the point where it felt suffocating. The energy in the room was filled with uncertainty and worry to the point where small whispers could be heard about what could possibly be happening next. It wasn't until the emperor stood up that the room fell silent again.

"It has come to my attention that someone in this room has ensnared my son into having thoughts of running away from the palace and his life as my heir." The emperors voice was calm and steady as he spoke and you felt your breath hitch at what he was saying, casting a quick glance at your lover you notice the panic in his eyes though his exterior remained calm.

"There is one in this room who has filled his head with thoughts of running away, of abandoning his position and for making him think he's in love." The steely gaze goes through every single person in the room analyzing them all until they land on you, you can't even comprehend that he's looking at you before two guards have taken ahold of your arms from behind forcing you forwards to be in front of the emperor.

"There you are." Is all he says and now Sicheng cannot stop himself.

He steps forward to try and reason with his father but he's held back by other guards.

"Father! Please stop this nonsense! What you have heard is not true." He tries to desperately convince him that there is nothing going on and that you should be left alone but his father does not listen to him.

"You have made my son look away from his duties and made him consider abandoning his destiny and filling his head with ideas that he can do whatever it is he wants." The emperor says coldly and you feel yourself shiver and tremble at what might happen next.

You know you can't say anything to deny it, it would only make things worse. You make the mistake of glancing up towards Sicheng and meeting his eyes makes a single tear escape from your eyes as realization hits you that you will never see him again.

"Take them away. Their life is forfeit." Was all that was said as the guards begins to drag you away and that's when the fear and panic kicks in and you start fighting your way out of their grasps.

Desperate to get to Sicheng one last time.

"Sicheng!!" The guards wrestle with you and you can see the guards holding onto your lover do the same.

"Y/n! My love!" He reaches for you desperately.

"Let go of me this instant! Father please you have to let us go!" Sicheng reaches his hand for you and you stretch yours out as well and the two of you only manages to touch each others fingertips before being ripped away from each other for good.

The spark that was always there when you two touched gave you some sense of comfort as you were dragged away. Calling out for your loved one, hoping and wishing that no matter what happens to you next your beloved would be safe.

That was the last time Sicheng saw you. As the door closed he be-witnessed his loved one, his Y/n, be dragged away seemingly having accepted their fate. He knew what was going to happen to you next and yet he couldn't find it in him to accept it. The tears fell freely from his eyes, his heart breaking as his mind went numb.

You would be gone and he would be forced to live on.

He could not look at his father any more after that moment. He became like a shell, empty and hollow now that his love was gone. Even when he was forced into a marriage he couldn't feel anything.

Sometimes he'd venture out to the gardens during the nights and sit and look up at the moon. Wishing you were with him, sometimes he wondered if this is how the goddess Chang'e felt as she resided on the moon as her beloved Hou Yi didn't reside with her on the moon.

How could he live with this feeling? He knew what had happened to you yet he could not accept it.

"My lord?"

Sicheng looked up from where he was sitting, spotting a servant looking timid and worried, holding something which looked familiar to him.

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry if I am disturbing you my lord. It's just... I thought you might have wanted this." The servant walks forward and quickly hands him a pendant.

Your pendant. The pendant he gave you during your first visit together in the garden under the moon.

"This is Y/n's pendant." He murmurs, feeling emotions well up inside of him again.

"Yes, I thought you might want it now that they are no longer alive." The servant said before bidding him farewell.

"My love." Was all he whispered before he broke down again holding the pendant up to his face so he could give it a gentle kiss.

That's when he decided. He no longer wanted to live in a world where he couldn't be with you. He'd rather find you in the next life than live this life without you.

Without much thought he stood up, walking slowly yet gracefully as silent tears fell from his eyes. He walked up to the highest point he could find on the wall surrounding the great palace he resided in.

It was weird. He felt at peace with the decision to take his own life as he stood there looking down at the ground.

"I'll find you soon again my love."

And with that.

He jumped.

545 A.D. (Middle Ages)

"Do you believe in love Y/n?" One of the children in your village asked you as you wandered up to the well to gather some water to bring back to the physician you worked for.

"Oh I don't know. Maybe? Surely everyone is destined to find love at least one time in their life." You tell them as they follow you like a pack of lost puppies wanting some affection and attention.

"Have you found love yet??" A little girl asks looking at you with wide eyes and you can't help but chuckle at that while shaking your head.

"No I haven't. I don't know I don't think I will find love if I'm honest. I'm pretty happy the way my life is now you know." You tell her as you fill your bucket with water and the kids all make varying noises of disappointment, clearly having hoped to hear something else from you.

"Why? You thought I had someone?" You ask them curiously as you turn to walk back to where you work and a chorus of yes! hits you.

"You're pretty and nice so of course you should find love!"

"Aren't you the age to marry someone?"

"If you can't how will I?!"

The kids all talk in the mouth of each other and you snort.

"Well I am certain you guys will find love eventually. Sometimes it just takes time finding the right person you know." You tell them, making sure to emphasize that it's important finding the right person for you and not just fall for any random person.

"But how do you know?"

"I guess you just do when you meet them." You tell them chuckling again. Their questions were really cute and they were curious about pretty much anything, the could listen to you talk about different kinds of weeds you'd use to help treat sickness because you spoke in a way they could understand.

"Well kids, now you have to leave me! I got patients to help after all and we don't want any of you getting potentially sick." You tell them, shooing them away so they wouldn't be in the way or get sick themselves.

"There you are! We got a new patient while you were gone. I need you to look him over as I go get the correct medicine to treat him." The physician tells you as you step inside your quarters.

There on one of the beds lays a man with jet black hair looking very sickly. You take a few steps forward and you notice that he is gorgeous, something within you churns as if you're nervous seeing him. He looks peaceful when you settle down next to him, grabbing a cloth to dab on his face to try and keep his fever down. There is something about him which makes you relax, he seems familiar and you can't help but wish he would open his eyes so you could see them.

You sit with him even when the physician comes back and start working on the medicine for the man. You can't help it, leaving him or the thought of leaving him makes your chest hurt. Could this be love at first sight? Or is it something else?

"I will stay with him until he's fully recovered so you can still go and do your home visits." You tell the man in the corner and he nods, pleased he can still go and help others as you will keep your eyes on the new patient.

You spoke soft words to him as you sat with him day and night. And the more you spoke to him the more your heart grew fond of him. There had even been a point where he had woken up for a little while and when he saw you he had given you the most beautiful smile, murmuring the line It's you, I found you. Before he went back to sleep, the sickness making him more tired than he probably would be normally.

Other times he'd wake up breifly and you were able to feed him, he'd always look at you with those big beautiful eyes, it was as if he couldn't look away and it made your heart flutter. You learned that his name was Sicheng and he was kind, kinder than anyone you'd ever met.

There were nights when he was restless, when he was in pain and he'd whimper and groan looking paler and more sickly instead of looking healthier. What would always make him relax was when you sat with him and held his hand. You'd tell him stories, talk about your day or the latest gossip around town which seemed to help.

He'd always squeeze your hand gently throughout the day, as if to make sure you were still there as he rested.

You had promised you wouldn't leave him but there was one morning when you had to. The physician had told you he needed you to run down to the market to buy some more supplies as he worked on some things for the king.

Reluctantly you left Sichengs side, your heart aching as you left him. It didn't feel right anymore, the only time everything felt like it was how it was supposed to be was when you were with him. You knew you had fallen for the sickly man. All those days spent tending to him, feeding him, talking to him had made you realized you had fallen for him so leaving even for a moment felt awful.

"Hello I need to buy some honey and oregano and thyme today." You told the vendor who quickly wrapped everything you needed and handed it to you in your basket. After you had paid the man you hurried back to your work place.

Eager to see Sicheng again.

But when you enter the place you can see your coworker with a grim face and as you glance towards the bed you see that Sicheng is now covered entirely by the blanket you had put on him.

Meaning only one thing.

"No." You whispered as you look at the bed with wide eyes, almost dropping the basket in the process.

"I'm sorry dear... he did not make it." Is all your coworker say as he turns around to give you some privacy as the tears begin to fall.

You set the basket down and walk up to the bed, sobs can be heard as you sit down leaning your head on his covered stomach gently.

"I should have stayed." You sob as you cannot comprehend that the man you had been caring for, the man you had fallen for, that was so familiar when you first saw him, that filled that empty hole within you were now gone.

"I love you."

1755 (Rococo)

The ball was grand. Nothing like you had been to before, but perhaps that's what you should expect when you're invited to a masquerade ball by the king himself.

The room was filled with bustling energy and no one knew who else would be at the ball. You were hoping that a certain someone would be there.

There was this man who always was at every ball and he seemed to have a knack for finding you no matter where you were in the grand spaces. He'd always find you and you always knew it was him because of his signature bow and the words he always greeted you with.

"My love, may I have this dance?"

You were excited to hear those words again. You wanted nothing more than to dance with him and see if you could find out who he was. You wanted to get to know him more than you already did.

Taking another sip of the wine that had been served to you, you made a face at the taste of it. It tasted a bit weird but perhaps it was just a kind of wine you were not used to.

That was probably it you thought as you finished the entire glass, setting it down at a table as you begin to slowly walk around. Looking for where your man might possibly be. Yes, perhaps you had grown a little possessive over him, but you couldn't help it. He always looked for you, never entertained anyone else in the room even when many tried to speak to him or ask him to dance he always declined and went to you.

The music was lovely as it gently danced around the room, people already waltzing around on the ballroom floor in a graceful coordinated dance.

"My love, may I have this dance?" You heard his voice from behind you and when you turned around there he was, in a beautiful suit in the most vibrant of blues with gold details. His mask decorated in blue and gold as well as he held out his hand for you to take.

"You may." You say with a smile as you put your hand into his and he gently leads you onto the floor. Positioning your hand on his shoulder as he places one on your hip.

"Just follow my lead, I won't let you fall." He tells you with a smile as you two begin to twirl around.

"You know I was starting to think you wouldn't find me." You tell him as he dances with you.

"Oh I will always find you, no matter where you might be." He says, eyes twinkling beautifully under the light casted by the candles around in the room.

It was as if time slowed down when you danced with him. Everything else faded into the background as you focused on him. It felt so right, so serene and complete.

"You need to tell me your name some day so we can meet outside of these balls." You tell him, praying he will agree so you two can meet up more often.

You could honestly envision yourself living until the end of your days with him. Marrying, growing old, perhaps one day have kids if the two of you wanted that.

"I've been waiting for you to tell me that my dear, I didn't want to come on to strong by asking to see you outside of these balls if you weren't interested in me that way." He tells you, relieved that his love, even if you might not realize who he is, wants to be with him the same way he wants to be with you.

As he spins you around you start feeling a bit dizzy. This has never happened before when you've danced and just as you're about to tell him that you should stop, you collapse into his arms.

"My love! Are you alright?" He asks worriedly as he holds you. He looks you over wondering what could be wrong. It is then he notices the sickly color on your face.

Sicheng can feel the color drain from his eyes as he realizes what's happening. He had seen this before. You must have been poisoned and now you're dying quickly. The dread he feels as your breathing starts to become shallow and weaker is like the first time he lost you.

"No... HELP! PLEASE WE NEED A DOCTOR." He shouts loudly and people around him gasps as the reality of the situation kicks in.

He can see others stepping away from the food and drinks as they surround the two of you just staring. No one seems to be helping or getting someone who can.

"DON'T JUST STAND THERE GET A DOCTOR PLEASE! THEY'RE DYING! MY LOVE IS DYING PLEASE." He shouts again, desperate.

He can't lose you again. Last time he died because he was sick and now you're dying. He had promised himself he'd protect you and he couldn't do that in this life.

"Sir they're dead." Someone from the crowd said as they pointed to you.

Sicheng looks down and sees that you've stopped breathing. He pushes his ear to your chest trying to hear your heartbeat but he hears nothing.

"No. No no no please." He whimpers and the onlookers look at him with sympathy.

It is clear to everyone in the room that he loved you more than life its self. His sobs and the way he holds your dead body close is the proof of that.

"I'm sorry my love, please, I'm sorry, come back to me, please." He whispers over and over, hoping that somehow, someway he can get you back.

But in the end you don't respond.

You're dead and there is nothing he can do to bring you back.

2025 (Modern)

It had happened several nights in a row now for it to not be a coincidence. You'd wake up from a dream and in that dream there would always be a man. You don't know him, or at least you don't think you do but yet he seems so familiar to you.

Every time you see him in your dream you relax, it's as if all your worries are washed away when he is near you. Sometimes he got long hair and beautiful, flowing clothing. Sometimes his hair is shorter and he's wearing regal clothing and sometimes he's wearing what looks to be garments of someone who is a healer.

And the one thing that is consistent in each and every dream you have no matter what era your brain seems to have conjured up he always looks at you with such kind eyes. As if you hold the entire world in his eyes. There is so much love and adoration in his eyes that you want to melt.

Sometimes he talks to you but you can never hear his voice apart from a mere whisper in the wind. It's so familiar yet you've never actually heard his voice before.

You once told your friend about this and she had laughed and said that you must be lonelier than you thought and wishing for a boyfriend since your brain is conjuring up a boy in different lifetimes that seems to always want to be with you.

Perhaps you were lonely? You always told yourself you were okay with being single, owning your cat was more than enough even though sometimes you deep down yearned for a partner. But every time you tried to go on a date it never felt right, you'd get this pain in your chest as if the person you were seeing wasn't the one for you and you'd always leave feeling empty, as if a part of you were missing and no matter what you did nothing could heal that empty feeling.

The only time you'd ever felt completely whole was when you saw that man in your dreams. No matter what era he was in it felt right, as if you were destined to be with him.

Perhaps you were? If you believed in things like soulmates and maybe others would laugh at you if you ever admitted it but you believed that there was such a thing as soulmates. There had to be. Two souls which love each other so much they cannot help but search for each other in every life time until they can be with each other and be whole again.

As you were walking down the street, just wandering, your eyes watching a couple on the other side of the street you bumped into someone almost falling onto your butt had the stranger not caught you.

"Oh I'm sorry I wasn't looking where I was go-" Your voice trailed off as you looked up at the stranger.

It was him. The man in your dreams. The prince, the sick patient, the man at the masquerade ball.

He looked at you as if you had hung the stars and you felt it, the spark that ignited your entire body as his fingertips touched yours. It felt as if your entire body was on fire and only one thing was on your mind.

"Sicheng." You mumbled out looking at him as memories came flooding back. Your lover, he had found you, he always found you. The tears of relief welled up into your eyes quicker than you had anticipated as you reached up with a shaky hand to touch his cheek.

To make sure he was real and not a fragment of your imagination.

His cheek was warm and he leaned into your hand as you gently caressed his cheek. A low hum escaping him as he enjoyed feeling your gentle touch once again after so many years of searching for you.

"It's you. It's really you my love." You whimper giving him a smile through your tears and his eyes glisten with unshed tears as he understands.

You remember him. You know it's him. His own hand engulfs yours and he brings yours close to his mouth so he can give it a gentle kiss, his adoring eyes never leaving you. Soaking up the view of you in front of him. Looking at him with nothing but love.

He leans closer to you, his forehead resting on yours as he whispers quietly, only for you to hear:

"You're as beautiful as the day I lost you."

[darkmaga-returns]

Episode 217: A Kingdom Divided – Unmasking the Spiritual Battle Behind Political Polarization

America is currently a house divided against itself. While the majority may shift slightly left or right depending on the election year, we remain a deeply divided country. This division also happens in many other nations, particularly the West. While one side seeks to wield power over the other, the polarization that is taking place is being orchestrated by an unseen hand. Satan is the great divider, and humanity remains blind to the source of all division. We ignore the spiritual realm to our peril.

This episode Is brought to you by the following Bible Mysteries Podcast Premium Subscribers or Seekers: Wayne VanSandt, Deb Turner, and David Negele

Bible Mysteries is an educational ministry podcast exposing the ancient spiritual battle in the modern world. We seek to reveal the secrets in the Scriptures that current satanic world systems are trying to suppress. Join us each week as we discuss things in the Bible the world doesn’t want you to know.

“Imagine you are a fish in a koi pond. Your entire life and attention are engaged in a battle between the speckled koi and the solid koi, each vying for control of the pond. Neither side has any idea that above the surface of the water, there is an entire world of beings far greater in intelligence in a realm they can’t comprehend. These beings breathe air, walk on two legs, and possess amazingly advanced technology. They are the ones fomenting the koi division that is polarizing the koi. These beings created the division between the koi to distract the koi from what they are really doing… taking over the pond.

 Stop fighting each other! Look above the surface.” - Scott Mitchell

Scriptures: All Scripture references are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Matthew 12:22-30, Amos 3:3, Ephesians 6:12, Acts 23:6-8, Matthew 3:5-8, Matthew 16:1-12, Daniel 2:40-44, Revelation 13:4-7, Revelation 6:12-17, Ezekiel 22:23-31, Psalm 115:16, Psalm 115:16, Revelation 19:11-21, Psalm 146:1-10

Takeaway: The polarization of nations continues to distract us from the spiritual battle we wage. We don't fight this enemy with physical weapons; we fight it with the Word of God. Political engagements are an entanglement that diverts our attention away from the spiritual realm. Don't be deceived! Don't place your trust in men or princes! Only the Lord Jesus Christ can restore the mess Satan has made of this world's divided kingdoms.

Links: Bible Mysteries Podcast  Visit our Website: https://biblemysteriespodcast.com Listen to our Podcast: https://biblemysteriespodcast.com Be a Premium Podcast Subscriber: https://biblemysteries.supercast.com Support the Ministry: https://secure.subsplash.com/ui/access/BDJH89 Contact Us: unlockthebiblenow@gmail.com Follow Us: https://www.youtube.com/c/BibleMysteries Follow Us: https://www.facebook.com/utbnow Follow Us: https://www.instagram.com/biblemysteries/ Follow Us: https://twitter.com/biblemyspodcast Follow Us: https://truthsocial.com/@biblemysteries

Interactive church locator for those looking for a fellowship that teaches certain truths - https://rockharborchurch.net/grow-connect/church-locator/ https://rockharborchurch.net/grow-connect/church-locator/

[runaway-royals]

Nana smiled with Alexander, enjoying his gentle touch on her hair. "Actually, that's a very good idea. I still haven't showed you my favourite place, it's beautiful at night!" The princess beamed, also petting Yuki. "Come!" Taking the horse's reins in one hand, and Alexander's hand in the other, Nana walked between them, leading them through the imperial garden, until they reached the large stone stairway that led down to the pond. It was a big body of water, inhabited by koi fishes of all colors and sizes, which Nana and her siblings loved to feed and play with growing up. They still did. And while the pond was fun during the day, at night it was beautiful to look at. It perfectly reflected the starry night sky and the bright moon on its still waters, exuding an aura of calmness and magic. "Here we are." The princess announced with a smile, petting Yuki once more, before sitting on one of the steps, motioning for Alexander to sit beside her.

Looking into the prince's blue eyes, Nana smiled sweetly. "Would you like to know something? Despite everything... I'm really happy the Gods made our paths cross." She mused, and carefully rested her head upon the prince's shoulder, enjoying their closeness as she contemplated the moon's reflection.

Inside the palace, the Serizawa siblings observed as Hunter returned alone, and for a moment, they worried about Kori's whereabouts. However, overhearing him telling his brothers that she had met Lucas put their minds at ease. The fact that Alexander also hadn't returned meant that he'd found Nana and they were probably taking the time to get to know each other. Therefore, no one seemed to worry. Not even Raiden, who in other circumstances would have found it very improper for his daughter to be wandering outside alone with a man, but considering this man was soon going to be her husband, and the princess had finally agreed with this union, the Emperor did not wish to counter and upset her, so he let the pair do as they pleased. His friend Njord seemed to share his thoughts, for he also didn't say anything about this. "I'm sure she's fine. Kori was practically raised in the palace, so she knows her way around, and she's a tough girl." Raiden tranquilized Njord's concern, as they kept watching the show. And once it was over, princess Anna turned to the nordic princes, her usual defiant smile upon her face. "Hey, boys! How about a game of mahjong before we go to bed?"

Alexander hummed softly his arm around the princess.

"I know I definitely could." He smiled tucking a few strands of hair behind Nana's ear.

"You we never finished our tour of the gardens."

He suggested not quite ready to return to the other's.

"I'm sure Yuki would enjoy walking around right girl?"

The prince said, petting the horse.

Hunter soon returned to the dining hall.

"Wow, this looks interesting!" The prince said, reclaiming his next to his brothers.

"Is Kori okay? She didn't come back with you?"

Toby asked as the older royal nodded.

"She's fine Lucas met her outside."

He explained, taking a long sip of his drink with an overly confident look on his face as he watched the show while also wondering what royal the other blonde was referring to.

Njord continued speaking with Raiden as they planned for the upcoming ceremony.

"I certainly hope your daughter's handmaid is alright. She seemed quite on edge."

[mchlgayser]

can you write one about bellingham where they’re married and they are arguing all the time so they’re thinking about divorcing but one day he saw her crying in their bedroom and he conforts her and realises how much he loves her

𓂃⭑ᜊ: REALIZATION ft jude bellingham

𓂃⭑ᜊ an: HELLO! Ok this is a GREAT idea! Icl I love it, I might do this all out I swear.

𓂃⭑ᜊ content warning: arguments, divorce, and breakdown

𓂃⭑ᜊ: @iwritesjud3's masterlist

'I can't fucking do this anymore!' He burst, and you sat there numb and in distress, you sit on the couch hands over your head as you sigh heavily 'Should we just... Separate, Jude?' You didn't meant it, you really don't it just kind of slipped out.

But maybe, maybe you meant it.

'..Yeah. I think that's for the best, it's just not working out like this.' He shakes his head, sitting down next to you 'Right.' You declared standing up and stare down at him 'I'm taking the guest room, you can sleep at the room.' Leaving him, you tread upstairs as fast as you can and lock the door.

When? When did it get to this? Did it just happen? You thought to yourself, eyes burning with hot tears cascading down your cheeks. Tired is what you are feeling.

'Can you stop being jealous all the time?!'

'Oh well, I'm sorry for being so jealous over a girl wrapping an arm around you!'

'We talked about this, come on! Do I have to bring it up all the fucking time?!'

'I am not your fucking maid, Y/n. Take out the trash yourself.'

'How many times do I have to tell you not to touch my things! You are so stubborn!'

'Where are you? I called you the millionth of times, I'm worried!'

'Mind your business'

'Oh my God! You are a drunk mess!'

'Fucking let go, Jude!~'

'It's four, why did you even bothered coming home?'

'Because I paid for it, go and stop bothering me Y/n!'

When you think thoroughly about it now, it hurts so bad your heart aching and hammers so loud. You cry the whole night with your body still attached on the door.

The next day you woke up, and you didn't see any signs of Jude 'He's probably at practice.' You murmured going around the yard to take a breather. This yard is one of your favorite parts of the house. It was green with grass, yellow with daisies, and red with roses. The koi fish pond and a small bridge over the pond. The swing. Every part of this yard are your favorite. Sad to think you'll have to leave the house so soon.

Well technically this house is both yours and Jude's after you got married but to think that you have to live with thousands of bad memories in this house, you feel hopeless just thinking about it. If you wanted to divorce and leave, then you need to start fresh.

You stay hours in the yard doing nothing but admiring it. One memory after another came gushing back to you

'Stop Jude, it tickles'

Spending hours in the yard, you both did nothing but talks with each other, joking around, getting to know each other even better.

'You're cheating, you are not supposed to look!'

Hiding the canvas on his chest, you both spent time painting what reminds you both of each other, filming. He drew a beautiful home, exclaiming that you always remind him of the 'home is a person' thing. Meanwhile, you drew a flutter of butterflies.

The reason is that every small thing about him caused your stomach to rabble butterflies.

'Oh my God! The sausages burnt!'

It was a funny memory indeed, you both got so lost in your world, admiring each other's details you forgot the sausages you grilled on the pan.

'I love...'

Sunset picnic you both religiously do every month, pinning what you both like most from the snacks, fruits and drinks.

Now that you think about it, when is the last time you both did it, two months ago? Perhaps four months ago. It just sort of disappeared into thin air.

Your eyes welled up with tears again, these memories constantly bring you down making it harder for you to leave. Can you do it? Abandoning everything about him?

You walk upstairs to your shared bedroom sit on the bed and look around, your stuff, facials, and makeup are still neatly placed on the table. The mattress created a faint smell of Jude's fresh minty cologne. The one you bought him for your first wedding anniversary. The curtains slightly open allowing the sun to peep in inside the dimmed light room.

Eyes boring around some more, your eyes fidgeted on the nightstand table's drawer, it was open subtle and you got up to open it to see what was inside. The contain managed to slip a small gasp out of your mouth, tears welling up again. It was a photo album of you and Jude since you were both friends.

You take out the album and open it to the first page. It was a photo of you and him taking selfies with ice cream and beside the picture, you wrote 'We got each other's fav ice cream!'

You skipped a few pages, and the next page you open was you and him cutting a cake on your wedding day, you are smiling down, and Jude gazing at you with wide stupid grin on his mouth.

Another picture on the bottom is you feeding him a small piece of cake, and throwing your head back, laughing while he boop icing on your nose.

Smiling at how lovey-dovey you two were before, without noticing a single stray of tear fall down your cheekbone. Skipping pages through pages, reminiscing the old good memories.

You held the album close to your chest, crying and wailing alone. Your tears freely escaped your sockets, you don't want to leave, never would you but you know, this is going nowhere. The marriage is something both you and Jude can't worked out together. Maybe this is the best. For him and his career.

Jude on the other hand just gotten home from training, he dropped his duffle bag and slumped on the living room couch, and close his eyes for a short sleep.

The gushing wind interrupted, he eyed up to the yard realizing that the balcony door is opened, the curtains pushed up and down because of the wind, he groan getting up to close the door.

He gazes the yard for a moment, now thinking of you. He tread ways upstairs to your shared bedroom. The door is open lightly and he peek in to see you on the bed, crying.

Your eyes are red and puffy, cheeks stained with tears. He slowly opens the door peeking his head in 'Y/n?' You jolted at the familiar voice, you hid the album away but it was too late.

Jude came and confronts you, he sat down beside you as the mattress dip 'What?' You stuttered out, eyes avoiding his gaze 'I just... Wanted to check up on you.'

You sighed 'We are separating soon Jude, no need to check up on me anymore, I'm fine.' He felt bad, really bad.

He thought to himself, how did this happen? Do you two just end up disliking each other and get spiteful every chance you get?

'I don't want to lose you, Y/n.' You gasp, eyes watering with salty tears 'No Jude, please don't say that. We both know that this is not working out anymore.' Out of instinct, he held your hand 'No! What we both said last night is purely angry talks, I said things I didn't mean and that's the same way for you! Please, I still love you, don't you love me?' You were hesitant 'I... Do but..'

'Then, that's enough for now, we'll try our best to go through this obstacle, we'll fight for each other just like we used to, alright?' You hum and nods at him

He takes you in his arms 'Thank God! I don't ever wanted to lose you.'

[queentheweeb]

Hanta Sero X Shy American Female Reader

A/N: You replace Mineta

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

"Breathe L/N-chan you have nothing to fear." You were trying to give yourself a pep talk in your just freshly moved-in dorm room. Everything happened so fast that you really didn't have a chance to reflect on all the blessings that have been handed to you. Your parents were struggling in America, you guys were originally from Canada but moved to America when you were just two years old and now that you are 15 the three of you moved to Japan. The reason? Your father got a job offering 3 times the amount he was making in America and he took it. Plus you got accepted to Japan's most prestigious hero academy. You were sad that you were leaving your friends but, you had a video call and can always pen pal with them. In the span of 2 weeks, you took that 12-hour flight jet lag kicking your ass, and when you landed you guys were taken to your apartment. It was huge! It was half the price back in America but you guys had a big backyard with a pond that had turtles, koi fish, and some snails. You guys had a finished basement and an attic/crawl space. The culture shock and difference were all so much to handle. Once again you thanked GOD that both your parents were fluent in several languages and taught you how to speak 3 fluently which were English, Japanese and Spanish. "I'm thinking too much again, come on girl" You slapped your cheeks a few times grabbing your bag and ensuring that you have everything you needed. It's only been 2 days since you moved in since you got here when it's been a few weeks of classes already. You were caught up on everything that happened courtesy of all the U.A teachers aka Pro heroes. They weren't lying when they said that only active or retired pro's worked there and that the principal was a talking animal. Your head was spinning by the time all of that was over and you didn't have time to digest it! You had to make up as much work as possible while adjusting to constantly speaking Japanese, learning how to use transportation and vending machines, and other culture shocks. It was a mess but, at least your parents were struggling with you.

"Watch where you're going extra!" You jumped looking to see who in the hell is that loud and rude to a total stranger. You looked behind you and saw a very pissed-off blonde with red eyes scowling extremely hard at you. "AREN'T YOU GOING TO SAY SOMETHING FOR GETTING IN YOUR WAY!" He let off little explosions in his hand. Ah! He has the same quirk as you! Choosing to ignore the fact that this guy was crazy and could have easily walked around you with all the available space you showed him your quirk. You put both your hands up showing your explosions to him. Bad idea. "SO YOU THINK YOU'RE BETTER THAN ME HUH SHITTY EXTRA! I DON'T GIVE A FUCK IF WE HAVE THE SAME QUIRK I'M STILL GOING TO BE ON TOP!" You gave him such an incredulous look confused beyond comprehension. How the hell did he come up with all of that when you didn't even say a word??

"You're already picking a fight Bakubro." You jumped at the unexpected voices both of you turning around to see who it was. It was a group, a girl with pink skin and horns, a redhead, a yellow-haired one, and another one with a triangle smile. The red one hardened his face and arm when Bakubro? swung at him.

"SHE'S THE ONE THAT GOT IN MY WAY SHITTY HAIR" Is he incapable of calling people by their real names.

"With all this space? You just chose to walk behind her to see who she was hee hee" The pink-haired girl started laughing while dancing around to avoid him.

"DO YOU WANT TO DIE RACCOON EYES" First Shitty hair and now raccoon eyes? What was next?

"Anyway, I've never seen you around here, are you from one of the other classes?" The yellow-haired one was in your personal space making you red and stutter from the sudden attention.

"U-uh, my name is Y/N L/N I'm a transfer student and got accepted to U.A through recommendation. I am from America and I went to the number one hero school there." You don't know why you told random students that but okay.

"OOOO you're from America? How many languages do you speak?" You held up three fingers which earned you gasps while the ash Blondie was still seething.

"I'm sorry while my friends are talking a mile a minute." You were surprised to see the black-haired triangle-smile guy shove away the yellow-haired one and stand a foot from you "Allow me to introduce ourselves. I'm Hanta Sero, the pink one is Mina Ashido, the electric is Denki Kaminari the one holding up the angry chihuahua-"

"I'LL KILL YOU." You couldn't help but giggle as the red-headed one was struggling to hold him back.

"He's Ejirou Kirishima and the loudest one is-"

"DON'T YOU FUCKING TELL HER MY NAME." The unholy screeching that was coming out of his mouth made you wince. Did he just not give a fuck about his vocal cords?

"-Katsuki Bakugo" You nodded your head in understanding now. That's why they called him Bakubro.

"YOU FLAT FACED MOTHER FUCKER" He broke out of Kirishima's hold and started chasing the two of you. You have no idea why you were running with Sero but, it felt right considering he was pissed and looked ready to attack anyone.

"By the way what class are you in?" You both were running and not the slightest out of breath.

"I'm in Class 1-A" You looked at him and saw he had a really big smile on his face.

"That's the best news I've heard all day! We all are in Class-1A!" You beamed at him finally making it into the building and turning your sprint into a brisk walk with the others very close behind.

"I can't wait to get to know you all." You saw the door down the hall and it was still open meaning class didn't start yet

"I can't wait to get to know you." Sero gave you a thumbs-up with a wink making you giggle. You can already tell this is going to be an interesting year.

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

A lot of potential for a part 2