#where he coulda probably gotten away w/it

[radiaking]

love how in like basically all the vaultghoul verses for a huge chunk of their relationship, there are so not on the same page. he makes 0 first moves. this bitch is nice to everyone. how is he supposed to know if she's trying to flirt?

[beann-e]

Mha characters reacting to you forgetting things in the store

Read Part One Here

Deku

You’d been traveling down different aisles for hours so many that deku found himself getting amazed that the store could even hold this many

he found himself thinking that the store just had its own shape shifting quirk that could change the aisles anytime someone went down them

that was the only way to explain it I mean It had to have one right because how did you find this new brand of ceral and he didn’t

How did you just pick up this new candy bar that he had never known abo—

wait candy bar

he snapped himself out of his trance drawing himself back into the real world finally hearing your voice and seeing your cart that was filled to the brim with different items from the original plan that he didn’t even know you two needed

“ oh god babe look — they “ you jumped in your shoes as you reached up to the top shelf “ they have hot chocolate “

“ we um y/n— baby”

you turned to him with a smile on your face

“ we don’t nee— “

“ deku could you get the hot chocolate it’s too far in the back at the top my hand doesn’t reach that way it’s at an awkward angle “

he looked to the floor for a moment before turning his head to look at the hot chocolate biting his lip as he stayed in his spot on the ground maybe if he just stayed here he could lie and say he’d been hit with a glue quirk you wouldn’t know righ—

your stare sent chills down his spine as he hurried over to pickup the box setting it neatly on top of the rest of the things in the cart shaking his head when he finally seen everything you’d gotten

He could never tell you no

all he wanted was for you to be happy he loved seeing you and everyone else happy he hated to see people with any other emotion it made him feel like it was his fault regardless of who it was

family or friend

villian or hero

he felt like everyone deserved to be happy which is why he was following every order you gave him like a puppy

his little protests every once and a while falling on deaf ears

“ my love we don’t need crackers “

“ but I want to make s’mores “

“ but baby then you have to get the rest of the ingredients for s’mores you can’t just buy crackers “

he moved to grab the box carefully putting it back a pout on your face as he bit his lip shaking his head in defeat and holding it out to you and looking to the floor

“ yay —now where are the other ingredients for ‘ em do you know deku ? “

his last attempt finally hitting you when you two were standing in line to checkout “ y/n “

“ yeah “

“ baby can —how about I pay for the stuff ok “

you looked at him in shock

“ I don’t —you just did all the shopping and I want to help and let you rest “

he reached in his pocket as he maneuvered the cart to be placed In line dropping his keys in your palm “ here—go sit In the car ok my love “

he kissed your forehead as he moved up in the line

“ but—“

“ no I swear I got this just go you’ve been on your feet all day “

“ but dek—“

“ look how about this “

he moved to stand on the side of the cart next to you “ you tell me what you really look forward to that your buying and i’ll make sure to get that first ok so you know that I got it and whatever else is in the cart i’ll pay for last ok “

you smiled as you listed off the ten things you’d originally had a taste for which, is why you guys ended up going to the store in the first place

you just wanted to get some groceries so you two could have some food in your new apartment

Deku had finally agreed to move out of his moms apartment thinking that she was ok and had finally come to terms with him being a real hero

allowing him more time to spend with you after making sure she was taken care of

The hero association offered him a house with no down payment after they found out but they were hit with your boyfriend saying no and explaining how you would both like to work hard for everything you two get in the future

sad thing is you wanted the house

you kissed his cheek leaving the store him putting every item you just said on the check out register watching it move up as he started conversation with the lady in front of him

“ yeah being a hero’s actually harder than I thought “

he laughed as he watched her ring everything up “ y’know actually could you do me a favor “

she shook her head small smile on her face as he gulped “ might uh — might be a weird request bu— “

“ no we don’t do hero referrals here “

“ wait no I — wait hero referrals no I “ he laughed uncomfortable with how many people were around “ no I don’t want to trade companies — uh let’s not uh “

he looked around making sure no one heard as he set his arms on the ledge speaking soft “ let’s uh let’s not say that aloud ok y’know —cameras—my company — and yeah “

he cleared his throat “ what I was actually y’know talking about was “

“ we don’t do — “

“ please allow me to speak “

she moved to scan his items as he sighed and started over “ again this may be a weird request but can you um — can you just like take this and put it back “

“ oh yeah of course you should of just said that “ she cupped her mouth as she screamed to her friend “ hey mari can you put his item back for me “

“ yeah sure —an item where’s it at ?“

“ oh it’s um not just one ite— “

“ it might be this — I don’t know who eats canned fruit so — he’s probably putting it back “

“ no uh — “ his eyebrows furrowed in slight annoyance “ actually my s/o eats those i’m not putting them back “

he whispered under his breath “ they’d kill me “

“ ok then where’s the item “

he laughed as he talked to her “ well um I meant could you actually put this back “

“ oh yeah sure if it’s just like 4 thin—- the whole cart“

her eyes widened as she watched deku push the cart towards her “ s-sir the — that’s like our whole store in one cart “

he shook at the comment

“ do you know how long i’m going to be walking around and putting things back where they belong “

his head dropped in embarrassment as he turned red his ears wiggling in fear “ oh trust me I know —i should be applying for manager with the way I know every aisle by heart now “

she shook her head and grabbed the cart as she rolled off

“ w-wait actually “

he ran after her as he rummaged through the cart “ ok yeah got it i’m done “

she stood stone faced as she looked to the male in front of her in pure annoyance and hatred

“ you stopped me to grab the things to make s’mores from the cart “

“ my —my s/o wants to try s’mores “

“ you have to be the best boyfriend ever or something because you allowed them to get all this stuff and waste your time and mine just to put it all back “

the lady at the register moved to grab his card bagging his stuff and handing it to him “ the fact you even acknowledged this and love them enough to let them run wild in the store for hours —like a child says a lot “

“ their not a kid “ he snapped eyes hard on the woman in front of him only softening when he saw her scared expression

“ yes I do — I love them and just being in their company so I love our trips when they get lost in what their doing and I just get to see them happy “

he left the store hand gripping at the backseat as placed the bags he held there

smile nervous and shaky while getting in the driver seat starting the car

“ babe I coulda sworn I got more stuff than that “

he shuddered as he sweated “ I—wh—no I —that’s all you l-left me in the store with babe—with —with your stuff“

his nervous smile widened “ got —got it all “

“ huh guess you did I was kinda out of it anyways “

you looked to him he looked away afraid to make eye contact

“ oh yeah deku did you get the stuff for us to make s’mores I totally forgot to tell you I left it off the list of things I wanted when you asked “

he took a deep breath as he turned his left turn signal on ‘ thank god I stopped her ‘

“ I got it y/n your good “

you smiled as you looked to the backseat again “ damn it is really bugging me that I really only had so little in a cart that looked so full “

his grip tightned as he pulled into your apartments parking lot “ god it all looked like so much in the cart“

“ yeah that uh that happens to people —it’s—it’s like science my love “

you moved to open the door to the backseat as he screamed at you through the cracked window from the drivers seat

“ hey uh babe you can go in the house I got it “

“ aw your so sweet deku you keep doing nice things for me “

he shook his head up and down as he watched you walk off to your new shared apartment

his head falling to the steering wheel as the horn went off in a slight honk jolting him head only moving over a bit mouth opening in a silent prayer

“ god of all might I ask that you don’t allow her to find out — and shit—theres no way to hide thi —wait I didn’t mean to curse don’t hurt me quirk gods please —i’m just stressed “ he almost cried when he thought about it

“ god we even live in the same apartment now there’s no way I can keep a secret or even the fact that I put her groceries back to myself all night “

he cursed as he thought about everything you were so happy about “ please I pray I haven’t left anything important or seriously i’m gonna cry “

he sucked it up as he got out the car walking through the hallway and placing the bags on the marble top walking over to go sit down trying to get as far away from you as possible

hoping if he could go to sleep or even stay out of your way he may be able to get out of this

his body doing what he wanted by almost falling asleep until he heard your voice pout out in front of him “ baby — have you seen my advil “

his eyes widened” I swear I bought ‘em because my head was killing m— wait deku babe why are you crying “

“ I— I i’m worsening your headache — I— I i’m making y-you hurt “

your eyes opened as you hugged him tightly “ no no why would you say that “

his voice was whiny as tears fell “ I put all your stuff back and only got what you could remember —which was only 10 things because I knew the stuff you remembered was the stuff you really wanted “

he sucked up his tears as he looked at you “ but I got you s’mores— I put everything else back but got you s’mores “

he choked back a cry “ baby I put your stuff back “

your voice was hot as you moved away from him flicking his head after turning your body towards the door “ you put my stuff back—all my important stuff that i was looking forward to “

he shook his head as you went to grab the keys “ asshole “

you slammed the door his body shaking as he heard the car start up wiping at his eyes

moving to the door to lock it only to hear the door open wide and present you who fell straight into his chest that was blocking the entrance

voice muffled as you spoke “ I can’t even remember half the stuff I picked up “

[jayeray-hq]

He’s My Best Friend: Miya Atsumu

The start of a new series celebrating having 50+ followers thank you all so much! 😊💖 Post Time Skip/Manga Ending Spoilers!

Warnings: None all fluff 

Choose your own ending platonic or romantic!

He’s My Best Friend Masterlist - Character Masterlist

Big thanks to Bri from our Haikyuu Headquarters discord server for beta reading for me she’s amazing! 😊💖 The Past : How You Met            

The day you’d met Miya Atsumu for the first time, you never would’ve guessed he’d become your best friend. After all, you’d been at an age where you were utterly convinced that all boys had cooties and were absolutely gross and boring. However, you’d just moved to Hyogo prefecture with your family and you’d honestly been feeling a little lonely.

It was the end of summer break and you were going to be starting school in just a week, in what would technically be the middle of the school year as a second grader, and the whole thing had made you more than a bit anxious. Luckily one of the perks of your new house was that it was right next door to a nice park, which meant your parents were more than happy to send you out to distract and entertain yourself.

             You’d done so with aplomb setting on to one of the swings and deciding to see if you could break your personal best for how high you could go, fully believing that if you just pumped your legs high enough you might actually be able to go over the bar the way some older kids had told you and your friends from your old school.

             There’d been a few other kids at the park that day, but you hadn’t felt the need to approach them, though nowadays you couldn’t remember whether that was from shyness or because you’d been too focused on your aerial goals. What you did remember though was him, or them actually; the Miya twins.

             They’d caught your attention because they’d taken up seats on either side of you. They hadn’t had a choice because there were only four swings, you’d chosen one in the middle, and the other one on the far-right end was clearly broken, the seat dangling from one of the chains. It wasn’t until later that you’d learn that the broken swing was their fault in the first place.

             The two boys had barely seemed to notice you, swinging in between them, shouting over your head about how one of them was going to beat the other. You weren’t sure who’d said what, all you could remember was how incredibly annoying the two of them had been, so much so that you’d quickly gotten over your awe that there were somehow two of them that looked just alike.

             It had been especially annoying because, despite their argument, it was very clear that you were the one who was going the highest, being the lightest of the three. Finally fed up with them ignoring you, and shouting over your head you’d decided to perform the neat trick you’d always done with your friends back home.

             With all the absolute fearlessness of youth you let the swing get to the highest point of its arc and leapt free, landing in a perfect crouch in the sand. Your little maneuver had managed to shock the twins into complete silence, and you’d turned to look at them in surprise as you dusted off your shorts, freeing them of sand. Both had been gaping, and you’d managed to catch the eye of one of them, the twin you now knew as Atsumu. You’d given him an absolutely haughty look before sticking your nose in the air and stalking away, completely ignoring their shocked cries, and their calls to wait up, figuring it served them right for ignoring you in the first place.

             Much to your dismay it turned out the loud twins lived nearby, and ever since your little stunt they’d been determined to befriend you. Atsumu in particular was relentless, chasing you everywhere and insisting on being your friend. You’d even ended up in the same class as him once school started, much to his delight.

             In the end his persistence had paid off, and the two of you had become good friends once you’d gotten used to his loud, unabashed, blunt personality. The two of you just fit together well, though it helped that you were far more willing to be dragged into Atsumu’s schemes than his much more realistic twin. While you did become good friends with Osamu, an inevitability given the twins were practically attached at the hip twenty-four seven, you were always Atsumu you were closer with, who you considered your very best friend.

 The Present : Your High School Days

             “What happened to your face?” you demanded shocked and a little appalled that your friend had shown up on your doorstep his face covered in scrapes and a nice bruise forming over one eye, “Did you try to receive a volleyball with your forehead again?”

             Normally you walked home every day with the twins, as you still lived close to one another, but you’d had a doctor’s appointment earlier that day and so had left school early. It just figured that somehow in the scant hours between the time you’d last seen him and now he’d somehow gotten himself into trouble. Honestly, trouble probably should’ve been his middle name; bold and brash Atsumu could be entirely too impulsive at times and Osamu tended to either egg him on or ignore him entirely. You, on the other hand, had taken the firm stance of compromise and while you did allow yourself to be dragged into his schemes far too often you also did your best to discourage some of his wilder ideas to keep both of you safe.

             “I only ever tried ta do that once,” Atsumu protested in response to your accusation, as you stepped back to let him into your house and ushered him toward the bathroom.

             “Once was one time too many,” you informed him dryly, “Especially since you’ve accidentally received with your face before and should’ve been well aware that it was an incredibly dumb idea.”

             “A man screws up once and ya hold it over his head fer ever,” he grumbled unhappily, as he hopped up on to the counter at your urging, folding his arms over his chest, a slight pout on his lips that had you rolling your eyes in fond amusement.

             “So, if you weren’t practicing receiving with your face, what were you doing?” you asked as you dug in one of the cabinets for the first aid kit. You’d had more experience with the thing than you cared to remember, patching up both yourself and the twins after all the scrapes you’d gotten into over the years, and made sure to keep it well stocked.

             Of the twins Atsumu had always been quicker to anger, though he was also quicker to cool down and forgive, unlike Osamu who was a bit of a grudge holder. It meant you had lots of practice patching him up, not that you could complain as half the fights from when you were younger were started on your behalf. Despite how he would tease you at times, often viciously, only he was allowed to do it, not even Osamu was allowed to make fun of you without Atsumu taking extreme offense and getting vicious on your behalf.

             It was why you never got angry at him when he got a bit snappy or came to you to be patched up. You knew you could always count on him to have your back though you were infinitely grateful he’d gotten much better at using his words over using his fists as the two of you got older, saving the physical fights almost exclusively for Osamu.

             He grumbled something unintelligible in response and you pulled your head from the cabinets to give him a look, one that long experience meant he interpreted perfectly as ‘spill your guts or else’.

             “I got in a fight with Samu,” he repeated a little louder so you could hear the words properly.

             “What did you do this time?” you asked as you set the kit on the counter, flipping it open and pulling out some disinfectant.

             “What makes ya think it was me? It coulda been Samu, it’s not always me!” he protested annoyed.

             “Because if it was Samu you’d be with him gloating over what a terrible person he is and whining to your parents, but instead you’re moping around here at my place and clearly hiding,” you informed him bluntly, ignoring his indignant spluttering as you demanded, “hands.”

             He offered the appendages without complaint, letting you gently clean his scraped knuckles, even as he sulked over what you’d said. You’d cleaned him up after fights both with his brother and with others he didn’t get along with more than once, so you knew despite how utterly vain he could be his priority was always his hands. Which was why you always started there, and were most careful with them.

 He’d told you more than once that a setter was nothing without his hands, and he was always incredibly meticulous about their care. Funnily enough it was also only you he’d ever trusted to help him with his hands. Not even Osamu was allowed to touch, and certainly no one was allowed to wrap his fingers or put bandages on them but you.

 “So, what did you say to Samu that ticked him off bad enough to try to break your face?” you asked, as you carefully dabbed his hands with the antiseptic.

 “He was bein’ scrubby,” Atsumu protested clearly still moping, “My sets were perfect, he shoulda been able ta get them.”

 “And let me guess, instead of just shrugging it off as him having a bad day, you decided to tell him he sucked to his face,” you finished with a sigh, already able to predict how your best friend would’ve behaved in a scenario like that. Honestly you wouldn’t be surprised to look up the definition of tactless in the dictionary and find a picture of Atsumu’s face next to it considering how utterly inconsiderate and blunt he could be at times. It was a good thing you’d managed to grow a thick skin over the years, otherwise your friendship probably never would’ve lasted as long as it had or been as strong as it was.

 “So, what if I did?” Atsumu protested, annoyed, though he didn’t pull his hands from your grip as you carefully bandaged them, doing your best to ensure he’d maintain proper mobility of his fingers.

 “Pretty sure Osamu would know he was having a bad day Tsumu,” you told him with a sigh, finishing up with his hands and moving on to his face, “He didn’t need you to rub his face in it.”

 “What so yer takin’ his side then?” he demanded petulantly, eyes flashing with a mix of hurt and anger, his quick temper rearing its ugly head.

 “Don’t be stupid,” you told him flicking him hard on an undamaged part of his forehead, “You’re my best friend Tsumu and you know it. I’m always on your side, even when you’re being a scrub.”

 “I ain’t a scrub,” he muttered sullenly, “An ya shouldn’t go beatin’ on me. M’ already beat up enough, what kinda best friend are ya anyways?”

 “The best kind,” you told him completely unbothered by his whining and well aware he didn’t mean it, amused at the pout he gave you in response, even if he would vehemently deny ever doing something as unmanly as pouting at you, “The kind that tells you when you’re being an inconsiderate jerk to people.”

 “Nope,” you cut him off before he could open his mouth, “You were a jerk and you know it Tsumu, otherwise you wouldn’t be here moping.”

 “I ain’t mopin’,” he protested half-heartedly, the fact that he didn’t protest the other part of your statement was as good as a confession and you both knew it.

             You hummed in amused agreement not saying a word, simply patching up his face with infinite care, and absently ruffling his hair when you finished, laughing at his protests off with practiced ease.

             “Can I hang out here for a little bit?” he asked quietly, the words almost inaudible as he refused to meet your gaze.

             “Of course, you can,” you told him fondly, “You don’t even need to ask.”

             He slumped forward, nearly making you stumble as he leaned on you, his forehead pressed to your shoulder in a rare moment of vulnerability, the ones that as his best friend you were privy to, his quiet ‘thanks’ muffled into your shirt. You rolled your eyes at him fondly, and gently pet his hair for several long moments until he lifted his head up and hopped off the counter fully prepared to pretend the moment of weakness hadn’t happened and loudly challenging you to defeat him at videogames.

             You huffed in amusement but allowed yourself to be sucked in, well aware that this was what it meant to be best friends with Miya Atsumu.

 The Future : Platonic

             You grinned down at the court, decked out as usual in your MSBY jersey that had Atsumu’s number on the back. These days you didn’t always get to go to every game the way you had in high school, even if Atsumu always made sure you had a ticket if you wanted one. You honestly just couldn’t, as the two of you were living very separate lives. Still that didn’t stop you from trying to go to every game you could, even if it took you a little out of the way at times.

             Your lives after graduation had been pretty hard on your friendship, what with Atsumu deciding to go pro right away and you off to fulfill your own dreams as well. Atsumu in particular had, had it rough as neither you nor Osamu could be there all the time for him anymore, and you knew he’d struggled to find and stand on his own two feet.

             You’d done all you could for him at the time, keeping your door open and your phone on you, ready to talk him through his temper or chew him out if he needed you to, the same way he always made time for you when you needed a shoulder to cry on or a listening ear, even if his advice wasn’t the greatest.

             Honestly, you’d been a little worried that your friendship would fall apart, that the two of you would grow apart because of the distance between you. You should’ve known Atsumu would never let that happen. He held on to your friendship with the same dogged persistence he’d used to procure it in the first place, reminding you of his presence and his support, brutal though it sometimes was, at every moment he could.

             In turn you could do nothing but return his fervor, reaching out to him and ensuring you scheduled things like meet-ups, phone calls, and more. The two of you had a snap streak that had lasted almost five years and counting, and neither of you had any intention of breaking it.

             The only small bit of trouble you’d had over the years was when the two of you had significant others. You’d noticed right away that the people surrounding Atsumu could be incredibly jealous and suspicious of you, the same way you’d had a partner or two who hadn’t liked how close you were to the nationally ranked pro athlete.

             However, Atsumu had always been possessive and protective of what was his, and your relationship was something he treasured just as much as he treasured the one with Osamu. It meant that if his partner so much as hinted that they wanted him to stop talking to you or hanging out with you, he dropped them, oftentimes ruthlessly and with no remorse.

                       You did your best to do the same, hanging on to your friendship, and telling the people you dated flat out that if they had a problem with Atsumu then you wouldn’t continue to date them. After all you’d been friends with him for over a decade at that point, and there was no reason why you should put more value into a new relationship over the one you had with him even if one was strictly platonic and the other romantic.

             Your combined stubbornness meant your friendship was still going strong even now, enough so that Osamu often referred to you as his twin’s other twin, because the two of you had proved to be inseparable.

 Yes, he was rude, blunt, and still a little temperamental despite maturing a lot in the past few years, but he was also fiercely loyal, supportive in his own way, and goofy adorable dork. He was your best friend, one you knew you’d someday be sitting with side by side in the future, the two of you old and wrinkled as you argued over whose grandchildren were better as you reminisced about the good old days. Honestly you wouldn’t have it any other way.

 The Future : Romantic

             The fact that your relationship had bloomed from a steady strong friendship into something romantic had surprised absolutely no one except for you. Even Atsumu, who you’d thought to be completely and utterly oblivious to pretty much everyone’s feelings, had known before you had, much to your eternal shame.

             You weren’t exactly sure where it had started. If it was in the moments where he’d lean on you physically and emotionally showing you the vulnerable moments he went out of his way to hide from everyone else. Maybe it was the way he’d go out of his way to touch you, ruffling or gently tugging on strands of your hair, an arm over your shoulder or around your waist, hugs everywhere in public and in private, completely and utterly shameless. Or it could be the times when he’d listen to you, simply making time, even when the two of you were busy, even when he wasn’t close by, pursuing his career as a professional athlete while you chased your own dreams, to hear anything you felt you needed to say. Whatever it was it had all come together in one moment, hitting you with startling clarity.

             You remembered it clearly, you’d been sitting in one of the booths of Onigiri Miya, you plus the team and their significant others, all celebrating Osamu’s success at finally opening the restaurant of his dreams. Atsumu had been sitting next to you, a casual arm slung over your shoulders, gesticulating wildly with the onigiri in his other hand, talking with his mouth full as usual, and showing no table manners whatsoever.

             Despite that you’d seen the way the light had caught in the gold of his hair, the brightness and clear joy in his eyes, and the wide smile on his lips and your heart had flipped over in your chest and squeezed near painfully as you looked at him. It had hit you then with all the force of a freight train. You loved him, you were in love with your best friend, with Miya Atsumu, the man who’d been by your side since that very first moment you’d met on the playground over a decade ago.

             You must’ve had an odd expression on your face because Atsumu had abruptly stopped talking, and turned to you with clear concern in his eyes, and demanded in his usual tactless way to know what was wrong with you.

             In a stunning moment of sheer blunt bravery and absolute recklessness that proved Atsumu had probably rubbed off on you a little too much over the years, you’d turned toward him looked him in the eye and blurted out ‘I love you’ right then and there.

             Osamu would later congratulate you on managing to do something no one had ever managed to do before by stunning his twin absolutely speechless, but in that moment,  you’d been too focused on Atsumu’s eyes to notice how quiet both he and the rest of the restaurant had gotten at your confession.

             No matter what, Atsumu’s eyes had always given away exactly what he’d been feeling, and in that moment,  he’d been staring with such blatant hope, and longing in his face as he searched yours for any sign of deception that you hadn’t been able to look away. Though you couldn’t help the way they fluttered shut as he leaned forward to press his lips to yours, cupping your face sweetly and holding you more tenderly than most probably would’ve thought he was capable of.

             The kiss was everything you’d looked for in previous relationships, warm and sweet, with a feeling of rightness and familiarity that made you feel safe and completely and utterly loved. You’d broken apart to the sound of cheering from the rest of the restaurant’s occupants, all of whom had been extremely happy for the two of you, even if Osamu and Suna did tease you rather relentlessly over it.

             Apparently, everyone knew the two of you were head over heels for one another, and Osamu had been listening to Atsumu pine over you since high school. That you’d finally realized your feelings had come as a major relief for the younger twin and you and Atsumu had been together ever since.

             It was almost strange how easily the two of you fell together, years of experience meaning nothing surprised you. There were no ugly habits or dirty secrets to hide. You knew all about his temper, how blunt and vicious he could be, you knew everything about him, and he knew everything about you. It was comfortable, warm, and everything you could’ve asked for because there wasn’t anything better really, than being in love with your best friend.

[just-jordie-things]

5 from the kiss prompts w/ sokka please!

prompt 9: angry kiss ___

“This is your fault, by the way” Sokka hissed, sending you a nasty glare

“Excuse me-?”

“Well, if you didn’t need your precious groceries, we wouldn’t have needed to go into town.  And if we didn’t go to town, we wouldn’t be in this situation right now!”

“Precious groceries?” You repeat, narrowing your eyes.  “Do you mean the food and soap that we needed-?”

“Look, kids, do you mind shutting up for a few minutes?”

You and Sokka turned your heads, looking at the man who had captured you both and chained you up a few minutes ago.  He’d caught you in the streets on your way to the market, and before you could fend for yourself, he’d knocked you out and chained you up.  You came to after a few short minutes of him dragging you back to his wagon.

Ever since you’d regained consciousness, you and Sokka haven’t stopped arguing.  And your captor was starting to think that he was being tortured more than you two.

“Spirits you two talk a lot” He said gruffly.

“That’s mostly him” You muttered.

Sokka opened his mouth to retaliate, but then your captor stood up abruptly and grabbed hold of the chains that bound your hands.

Unfortunately, you were not only handcuffed, you were handcuffed directly to Sokka, which was probably the cruelest thing anyone could have done to you.

“You know what? How about I turn you into the Fire Nation right now for the pretty penny that’s on your heads?”

The man ran a grimy hand over your face before grabbing you by the jaw.

“Try running that mouth after they decapitate you, sweetheart”

Sokka fought against his restraints, but with his hands behind his back and cuffed to yours, he didn’t exactly intimidate your captor.

You rolled your eyes at his attempt to defend you- even if it did make your heart flutter a little- and decided to make a move to defend yourself.

You reached out and bit the man’s hand before he could pull it away from your face.

The man screeched in pain, but Sokka let out a yip as well.

You turned to look at him, your brows furrowed.

“Why are you yelling, dumbass-?”

“You bitch!” The man in pain hollered, and roughly grabbed at the chains between you and Sokka.  “I hope they burn you to a crisp!”

You just snickered while stumbling over your feet.

“Great, now he’s gonna be rougher” Sokka grumbled, before you were both thrown into the back of his wagon.

The man slammed the door in your faces, before attaching a large and heavy duty lock on the door.

“We’re his prisoners, Sokka, he was never going to tuck us in,” You snapped back at him.  “Besides I’ve got this handled, so just- calm down”

“Oh, you’ve got this handled?” Sokka repeated in disbelief.  “What part of us being handcuffed together do you consider handled!?” He screamed.

“Hey! You keep it down back there!” Your captor called from where he sat above the wagon, before kicking roughly at the wood to make his point.

“That’s it, I’m done entertaining this idiot” You grumbled, and clenched your fists, and with ease, the handcuffs on your wrists crumpled like paper, and you could break free.

“What the-!?” Sokka’s eyes widened as you were suddenly free from him, his jaw on the floor as he caught sight of the mangled handcuffs.  “How did you-!?”

“Shh!” You hushed, before covering his mouth with your hands.  “Toph taught me a new trick, now shut up and let me save you”

He wanted to argue with you some more, but he was still too awestruck at the fact that you’d just used metalbending- which he hadn’t known existed- to try to put up a fight.

Without another word, you grabbed at the chains around his hands, and repeated the same motion that Toph had taught her, and just like that, the cuffs fell from his hands.

“You got that boomerang still?” You asked, to which he scoffed.

“Duh”

“Great” You grinned, and Sokka thinks it might have been the first time you ever smiled at him.

You had only met about a month ago.  You were an earthbender friend of Toph’s and she’d begged you to come with her on her travels with the Avatar.  You’d only made it to Ba Sing Se, and you and Sokka had argued since your meeting.  You weren’t sure why, he was just always off with you.

“When I break this open, you throw it right away, alright?” You ordered, standing directly before him, and raising your arms until your hands were pressed against the wood paneling of the roof.

“What? You’re standing in the way!” Sokka hissed, boomerang in hand.

You rolled your eyes.

“I’ll bust it open, duck, and you throw it,” You clarified.  “Do I really need to walk you step by step through this? You just gotta knock the guy out so we can get out of here!”

“Well with your plan, I’ll be knocking the both of you out, because you’re standing in the way!”

“Sokka! For once can you just listen to-!?”

Your question fell short as the paneling above you was ripped open, and only then did you realize the wagon had stopped moving, and now your captor was staring menacingly down at you.

“We fucked up” You barely registered Sokka’s mumble of defeat, before a pair of hands were reaching down for you, and snatching you up like a ragdoll.

You screamed on instinct, thrashing in your captor’s hold, but no matter how much you kicked and punched at his chest, he didn’t seem to budge.

“Let her go!” Sokka hollered, rearing his arm back, ready to throw his weapon if the man didn’t release you.

“You two are so goddamn annoying!” The man complained, not caring about the young Water Tribe boy threatening his life.  “I definitely don’t need the reward for both of you.  One will do” He decided, and carelessly tossed you off the wagon and onto the rocky ground.

You grunted at the impact, wishing you had been quick enough to use your earthbending to soften your landing, but at least it hadn’t been a long fall.

“(y/n)!” Sokka shrieked, and without thinking, threw his boomerang with all his might, hitting the man in the forehead and buying himself enough time to pull himself through the opening of the wagon, catch his boomerang, and catapult himself over the side of the cabin.

“Get back here you heathen!” The man howled, one hand covering the mark on his face as he jumped off the wagon after you.

You pushed yourself up into a sitting position, and raised one arm with great force, sending a column of earth jut out from the ground and hit him in the gut.  And then you sent another to his face, making him crumple to the ground like he was boneless.

“Shit, are you okay?” Sokka asked, wrapping his hands around your shoulders as he helped you up.

“I’ll be fine,” You said, wincing in pain at the soreness in your back.  “I should have taken care of that idiot back in town, I’m sorry”

Just as your eyes met Sokka’s, he seized forward, smashing his lips to yours.  You barely even had time to close your own eyes, much less process that he was kissing you and it was a very nice kiss- albeit a little desperate and aggressive- but that you’d very much like to kiss him back.

When he pulled back, you blinked, your eyes as wide as the moon and a blush dusting your cheeks.

Sokka did not share the same look of whimsy, instead he was furrowing his brows at you angrily.

“You idiot,” He scolded you, dropping his hands from your shoulders to gently smack at your arm.  “Don’t ever do that again.  Next time some guy tries to kidnap you, you earthbend him seven feet under the ground, got it!?”

He sounded more panicked than angry, but you silently and shakily nodded your head back at him, still reeling from the kiss he’d just laid on you.

“And if for whatever reason you’re trying to prove a point- spirits (y/n) don’t let us get kidnapped just to spite me!”

“Just to spite you!?” You repeated in disbelief.  “For fuck’s sake Sokka don’t flatter yourself-”

“Oh please, you coulda’ taken care of that guy forever ago! Why didn’t you?”

“He caught us off guard!” You argued.

“You’re a master earthbender!”

“I was unconscious, you dipshit!”

You both argued the whole way back to camp, and then argued some more when the others asked why you hadn’t gotten any of the supplies you were sent out for.

But that night as everyone set up their sleeping bags, Sokka placed his a little closer to yours than necessary- but it was shocking enough that he’d even set up next to you.  And you didn’t complain, or mention it at all.

And later, after you’d thought he’d fallen asleep, his hand reached out and grabbed onto yours.

Again, you didn’t say anything.  Just tangled your fingers between his, and wondered if something had changed, or if there had always been a spark between you and you were just too clueless to notice it.

It was an answer that you’d have to wait until morning to get, but it still kept you up most the night thinking about. ___

might just have to write a part 2 to this

xoxo ~ jordie

[gegenji]

Going Going Kugane, Part 16

A Condemned Love - When a Man Loves an Ijin...

[19:19](Chachanji Gegenji) > It has been an emotional trip, this journey to Doma proper. One might have made gotten over that which they have lost when it is distant, but seeing it here - an empty city filled with monsters, a former smithy burnt to the ground, a tattered journal highlighting a time - and a relationship - that can never be returned to again. It was all too much for little Chachanji. And another surprise awaited him in a box locked behind a flower of regret and forgiveness. The very first Gegenji -- [19:19](Chachanji Gegenji) Genji himself - was a Roegadyn.

[19:27](Jancis Milburga) Jancis squeezed her fingers together. Looking at the ruins. At Chachanji's earring. Trying to piece together what was going on and be actively helpful. She had walked away from the box, not being able to read any of it anyway. She started digging around the plants that were growing, finding tubers and roots that looked good. In some of the ashes and useful parts of the forge she'd use to make a steady fire and roast them. Every so often walking back over to look at where Chachanji sat. [19:29](Y'zhara Zekial) Zhara kept her arms wrapped around Chachan from behind him. At this point she was mostly focused on comforting and supporting Chachan. She'd eye the box with the documents and thought about trying to read it but wasn't sure she was going to be as lucky as she was with Gogon's journal. She sighed and gave Chachan's head a little pat as she continued to sit there quietly with him. [19:31](Denz De'bayle) *Denz simply stood there, watching a man struggle with sitting upon the ashes of his previous home. He couldn't say anything, console in any way, that would begin to help the sitation. And he couldn't read Doman to decipher the scrolls they had just unlocked.* [19:34](Virara Wakuwa) Virara shifts uneasily in place, uncertain of what to say to Chachanji. She glances curiously at Denz and the scroll he's carrying. If nothing else she seems tremendously calm despite everything else. [19:34](Chachanji Gegenji) It took Chachanji quite a bit of time to recompose himself, still clutching the tattered diary to him as if it were made of gold. "'m-m sorry... I-I thought I'd... I'd made peace wit all this but..." [19:35](Jancis Milburga) The roots were small and set up to roast in the smoldering wood bits and things Jancis picked up, she went to join the others by Chachanji, watching his face as much as listening. [19:36](Y'zhara Zekial) Zhara shook her head. "No.. you're fine. This is a lot to go through." she'd give him a quick kiss on the cheek before looking over at Denz. "Hey... you mind giving me that box? I'm going to attempt to read those papers... see what I can get out of it." [19:37](Denz De'bayle) *Denz looked to the miqo'te, nodding slowly as he held out the box to her quietly. He turned around, eyes scanning the horizon for rogue garleans... or tigers.* [19:37](Virara Wakuwa) Virara tilts her head, pigtail draping lazily across one of her shoulders. "After what you've seen, do you feel the same way? About the Empire. About the Garleans?" [19:38](Jancis Milburga) "Chachanji. I am not sure, but I think you are doing quite well at making peace with it. How you feel is not wrong." She scoots forward a moment, trying to look at the tattered book in his hands. "May I see this?" [19:39](Denz De'bayle) *The elezen raised an eyebrow in surprise, looking at Virara over his shoulder. What could she possibly hope to gain by asking such a question?* [19:40](Chachanji Gegenji) He seems hesitant but, with a slow nod and a sniffle, he oh-so-carefully hands the remnants of the book to her. Some of the pages lay about him and what ones remain certainly seem like they could just as easily join them. He looks over to Virara, rubbing at his eye. "W-whaddya mean?" [19:42](Virara Wakuwa) Virara levels at him a tranquil stare. "Does it not anger you? You don't wish to punish them?" [19:42](Y'zhara Zekial) Zhara smiled weakly as she got the documents from Denz. "Thank you." she'd begin looking over the papers, trying to decipher what she could from the Doman language. She'd look over at Jancis for a moment. "It's a good story Jancis. From what I read it's about the hero Chachanji and how he goes on adventures to fight dragons and other monsters to save the people. I think Gogon missed his calling in life, he would've been a great author." [19:44](Chachanji Gegenji) "I-it makes me sad tha' this all had ta happen but... I-I know some good Garlean peoples too, y'know?" Zhara had managed to look at a few of the more complete pages of the journal. Most of them were torn, smudged, burnt, and otherwise damaged. Whatever the full story might've been was long lost to time, with only these fragmented tales remaining. [19:46](Virara Wakuwa) Virara averts her eye, glancing downward towards the charred earth. "I see." She doesn't question him further, but her hands tighten at her side. [19:46](Jancis Milburga) Jancis flattens out her lap, carefully balancing the book and any loose pages on her legs and 'reads' it. Looking at the handwriting mostly, the little additions, "It shows a lot of care. It must be a wonderful story. Some of it must be close to the truth, too." She continues to turn page by page, even looking at some loose pages to see if she can match where they're suppose to go. "Quite lucky to find a treasure. It helps to bring back everything we still have inside. Just hiding from view." [19:48](Y'zhara Zekial) Zhara smiled. "Yeah... it's kind of a bummer that most of the story was probably lost in the destruction but at least we have that little bit." Zhara continued flipping through the documents. So far she was able to make out that there was a man named Genji and that he was a roegadyn, but not much else. [19:48](Chachanji Gegenji) > As for the notes in the box, Zhara's somewhat limited Doman was still enough to verify that she had read right. The first of the line - Genji - had apparently been a Roegadyn, and had wed an ijin Lalafell all those years ago. The paperwork in the box was the proof of their bonding, apparently done by a simple priest-for-hire, done within the smithy itself. [19:49](Chachanji Gegenji) > And, along with them, several other letters that were written in a sharp and angry hand from the looks of it. [19:50](Jancis Milburga) "The most important part of the story is right here." Jancis closed up the book and gave it back to Chachanji, giving him a meaningful look before standing. "I had better check the tubers." [19:50](Virara Wakuwa) Virara peers into the box curiously. "What are these?" [19:51](Y'zhara Zekial) Zhara smiled and looked up at Virara. "Oh it's the story of the first Gegenji." she chuckled a little bit. "... This might come across as surprising but Gegenji wasn't a lalafell... he was a roegadyn named Genji." [19:52](Virara Wakuwa) Virara nods, tilting her head forward as if tired. "I can see, but what of the letters?" [19:52](Chachanji Gegenji) "I-I know I prolly should be angry at 'em... b-but... tha' won't solve anythin', right? It won't bring our home back..." he murmured as he took the book with a thankful nod to Jancis. "'s-sides... me whole family got out akay... a-all we lost was a buildin'. E-ev'n if'n it was our home..." [19:53](Y'zhara Zekial) Zhara noticed the angry looking letters. "... I don't know." she'd hold the letters up to Virara. "What do they say?" [19:53](Denz De'bayle) *Denz blinked, broken from his thoughts as he looked at Y'zhara.* "What?" [19:54](Virara Wakuwa) Virara squints to read the messy handwriting. [19:54](Y'zhara Zekial) "... There's apparently letters in here with these documents." [19:54](Y'zhara Zekial) Zhara said to Denz. [19:54](Denz De'bayle) "No no, not the documents. What's this about a Roegadyn?" [19:55](Chachanji Gegenji) > The letters seemed to be from an irate lady suitor. Apparently one of station given the seals. Demanding why Genji was rebuking her advances, and warning him that ill tidings would come if he continued to pursue the ijin's hand. [19:55](Y'zhara Zekial) "Oh.. Chachan's part roegadyn. The first Gegenji smith was a roegadyn. Crazy right?" [19:55](Denz De'bayle) *Denz's eyes blink down to the supposedly part-roegadyn, before looking back to the miqo'te.* "You're not... reading that wrong, are you?" [19:56](Chachanji Gegenji) Chachan blinks, as if finally hearing that bit himself. "... Wait, what?" He too looks at Zhara. [19:57](Y'zhara Zekial) Zhara smiled. "Yeah honey... the first Gegenji smith was a roegadyn. That's probably why you're so buff, because you're not fully lalafell. You're a mixed breed." [19:58](Chachanji Gegenji) "I... but... w-what?" he repeated again, as if he was suddenly hard of hearing. "... I-I coulda sworn th' whole family back as far as I can 'member have been Lalafell 'n only Lalafell..." [19:58](Chachanji Gegenji) "Th-tha's why Papa was so 'gainst us datin', 'member...?" [20:00](Y'zhara Zekial) "I remember but..." Zhara blinked in realization. "But he was wrong... if your family isn't purely lalafell, then he shouldn't have a thing against us right?" Zhara smiled. "We could finally get his acceptance." [20:00](Virara Wakuwa) Virara scrutinizes the letters, but she hardly can understand the content. It is clearly the brushwork of someone tremendously angry. Why seems to escape her. "These letters. Someone was displeased by this marriage." [20:01](Chachanji Gegenji) "W-well... I-I mean... i-if'n yer right, I-I 'spose it might..." He moves to look at the wedding certificate himself, should Zhara let him take it. [20:01](Virara Wakuwa) "It isn't surprising that they would be. But they have a calligrapher's hand. A woman of good breeding wrote them." [20:01](Virara Wakuwa) Virara levels a curious gaze at Zhara, but says nothing further. [20:02](Jancis Milburga) Jancis came back, sticks and some kind of metal plate had little roasted items on it, ashes on part. They were mostly bland save for some fresh pinched flowers that cut the edge, but they were warm and soft under the crisped skin. "That is the box that was in the forge? He did not build this place?" [20:02](Y'zhara Zekial) Zhara hands the wedding certificate over to Chachan before looking up at Virara. "That's very interesting... was this another suitor of Genji? Maybe she was angry because he was interested in this lalafellin woman." [20:02](Y'zhara Zekial) "And not her." [20:03](Chachanji Gegenji) > At the bottom of the box is one last letter, not written by priest or by scorned suitor. Given the date, though, it seemed to have taken place after the bonding. [20:03](Virara Wakuwa) "There's more." Virara picks the last letter out of the box and opens it rather hastily. [20:03](Y'zhara Zekial) Zhara looked up at Virara as she began reading the last letter. "What does it say?" [20:04](Chachanji Gegenji) > To Virara's eye, it was quickly obvious what this last letter was. A letter from a lord, banishing Genji from Doma. [20:04](Denz De'bayle) "Sounds reasonable. Those who love outside their races are oft seen with a scowling face." *He tilts his head.* "Not that you two need to be told that. " *He moves closer to Jancis, placing a hand on her shoulder carefully.* "Maybe I should look into the De'bayles heritage. I could be half-dragon." [20:04]Denz De'bayle grins tauntingly at Jancis Milburga. [20:05](Chachanji Gegenji) "Y-ya certainly dun look it..." Chachan managed with an awkward smile, still obviously trying to recover from his little breakdown earlier and this revelation about his own history. [20:05]Jancis Milburga's eyes grow wide with awe upon seeing Denz De'bayle. [20:05]Denz De'bayle laughs at you. [20:05](Virara Wakuwa) "Banished?" [20:06](Virara Wakuwa) Virara curls a finger beneath her chin curiously. [20:06](Chachanji Gegenji) That got Chachan's attention back right quickly. "W-wait, what?" he repeated. "Who was banished?" [20:06](Jancis Milburga) Denz's words weren't lost on Jancis, "People scowl at-" His words caught her before the grin, a smile growing on her face. "If not before. You are now." [20:07](Denz De'bayle) "And nor you roegadyn." *He winks at the man, before easing closer to the ground.* "Those documents were hidden and locked, my friend. They must be important enough that no one would find them." [20:07](Y'zhara Zekial) Zhara looked up at Denz and grinned. "Hey yeah! Maybe you are part dragon!" [20:07](Jancis Milburga) "Banished from here? Or moving here for being banished?" Jancis clearly lost track of the story, looking apologetic. [20:08](Virara Wakuwa) Virara hands Chachanji the letter for him to read himself. "..." [20:09](Chachanji Gegenji) > Closer look at the letter - and comparing it against the others - would help piece things together. The original Genji had been banished by some lord of standing. A lord that just so happened to share the last name as the slighted suitor... [20:10](Denz De'bayle) *Denz furrowed his eyebrows.* "So you've papers of ancestry, a certification of marriage, and... a letter of exile?" [20:10](Jancis Milburga) Lehsohmarrn, the small silver dragonet, crawled from Jancis' satchel, climbing onto Denz's shoulder, his quiet rumbles clearly agreeing with Zhara's sentiment on dragon heritage. At least in some form. The soft muzzle looked over with mild curiosity at the paperwork as if he could read it but kept quiet. [20:11](Y'zhara Zekial) Zhara peeked over Chachan's head to glance at the letter herself. "Hm... looks like quite a few people were mad with Genji's choice of wife... which I guess is understandable if want a person to marry someone else." [20:11](Virara Wakuwa) "Mn. His choice led to his banishment." [20:12](Y'zhara Zekial) "To this wonderful area here!" she'd gesture to the place. [20:12](Y'zhara Zekial) "But I'm sure it was hard." [20:13](Chachanji Gegenji) "Th-tha's what this looks like... a weddin' 'tween me honored ancestor Genji 'n a Lalafell ijin... a buncha angry letters from some other girl who liked 'im too... 'n then th' letter sayin' 'e wasn't allowed in Doma no more..." [20:14](Jancis Milburga) Jancis looks about at the gesture, "Able to live here without needing trade and the mountain looking near impossible to climb. Making this place a sanctuary from exile? Did your Papa Gegenji ever speak about who lived here before? His father?" [20:14](Y'zhara Zekial) Zhara nodded. "Yeah..." she'd then form a small smile. "Well.. if the first Gegenji could marry whoever he wanted, then you should too, right?" Zhara smiled as she tightened her hold around him into a squeeze. [20:16](Chachanji Gegenji) Chachan returns the hug from his awkward position before looking to Jancis. "W-well, yeah. Grandpapa was a Lalafell too. So was Grandmama. Papa always said we were a proud line'a Lalafellin smiths..." [20:16](Denz De'bayle) *Denz bows his head.* "Much and more couldn't been done for such actions. But if nothing else, yes, this validates your claims to one another." *He furrows his eyebrows in thought.* "Do you think your parents do not know about this?" [20:16](Jancis Milburga) "Pray how old is this document, then, that no one recalls a very large grandfather?" [20:19](Virara Wakuwa) "It could be far in the past. As old as the reign of that tyrant..." [20:19](Virara Wakuwa) "Such a deed would easily go unnoticed then." [20:19](Chachanji Gegenji) "I-I 'spose not... I-I figger Mama, at least, woulda said somethin' 'bout this if'n she'd known..." He looks over the dates. It was certainly generations back, Genji would have been long since dead even during the time of Chachanji's 'Grandpapa.' [20:19](Y'zhara Zekial) "Yeah I don't know how many generations it's gone back... but it's probably been awhile since the family now seems mostly lalafell." [20:21](Denz De'bayle) "How long would it have taken for the blood to dilute...?" *Denz shakes his head.* "Are you certain that there were children between Genji and this wife?" [20:22](Virara Wakuwa) "It could be the idea of such heritage displeased your father." Virara mused, largely to herself, in thought. [20:23](Chachanji Gegenji) "W-well... I-I mean... if'n 'e really is th' head of our family... th-then he had ta have had at least one..." [20:23](Y'zhara Zekial) "Well, we should probably bring this information back to your parents to have them look it over. They probably should know that the family being completely lalafell isn't entirely true." [20:23](Chachanji Gegenji) "'n... I-I 'spose tha'd be true..." the Lalafell nodded to the taller of the two of them. "W-we'd hafta ask 'im." [20:24](Y'zhara Zekial) "Why would his own heritage displease him though? It's his own heritage." [20:24](Y'zhara Zekial) "That'd be like hating a part of your self." [20:25](Chachanji Gegenji) Chachan fidgets a bit awkwardly at that. [20:25](Virara Wakuwa) Virara looks up to Zhara, wordlessly implying exactly that. [20:25](Jancis Milburga) "Or mayhaps your father was told that mistruth by someone who wished to have it lost. With the walls intact, we would have not found this box." She looked back at the forge. "It still stands. Keeper's Grace, it is is far older than I imagined. The forge, I mean." [20:26](Denz De'bayle) "'Tis not uncommon to hate the blood you have been given." [20:26](Denz De'bayle) "If not it's kind, then where it had taken them in life." [20:26](Chachanji Gegenji) "W-well, Papa said th' forge was built by th' first Gegenji so..." [20:28](Jancis Milburga) "That is such a peculiar term. Blood." [20:30](Jancis Milburga) "I do not want people to lose blood. And I give people blood. You would think it is a good thing." [20:31](Y'zhara Zekial) Zhara scratched her head. "But why would you hate your heritage so much that you would hide it? Because of the taboo of mixed race couples and families?" [20:31](Chachanji Gegenji) "W-well... it's normal in Doman culture ta honor yer ancestors... s-so ya'd figger if'n Papa knew our first was a Roegadyn, he woulda made mention'a it..." [20:32](Denz De'bayle) *Denz shrugs.* "It depends on who you ask? If this is true, and there -was- a child of a Roegadyn and lalafell... Imagine that person's life?" [20:33](Denz De'bayle) "You are forever the reminder of this near-illegitimate, exiled bonding. It takes a lot to move past that." [20:34](Chachanji Gegenji) "M-mebbe tha's why th' family has been Lalafell ev'r since...?" [20:34](Virara Wakuwa) "Perhaps." [20:34](Chachanji Gegenji) "I thin' Zhara said once tha' th' kids of'a mixed relationship take mostly after th' Mama, so..." [20:35](Jancis Milburga) "Only if someone lies about it being important." Jancis sighes. [20:36](Chachanji Gegenji) "But we still took our honored first ancestor's name... as a way ta honor 'im. Tha's why we're th' Gegenji..." [20:37](Denz De'bayle) *Denz shrugs his arms.* "The De'bayles have been plagued with all sorts of criminals, yet the name lives on. [20:38](Chachanji Gegenji) Chachan seemed to be taking... some degree of solace in that? He gets back to his feet and rubs away what remnants of his tears remain. "So... he's still bein' 'membered... in a way." [20:39](Y'zhara Zekial) Zhara smiled and stood up. "Well... I say we show these papers to Papa Gegenji and see what he thinks. We don't know if he knows or not." [20:40](Virara Wakuwa) "Are you certain that is wise?" [20:40](Jancis Milburga) "Ever so subtle as it may be." Jancis looked thoughtful at that. "And now that is not lost. And tell him where you found it in Genji's Forge." [20:41](Chachanji Gegenji) "I mean... if'n nothin' else, we could show it ta Mama. She might be able ta help break th' news ta Papa if'n she thinks 'e'd take it bad." [20:41]You gaze upon Virara Wakuwa in deep reflection. [20:42](Y'zhara Zekial) "Sure, it might be easier to get your mom out to the smithy than dad, since I know he has a lot of orders and work that he doesn't want to leave behind." [20:43](Denz De'bayle) "The smithy? Bring them all the way here?" [20:43](Chachanji Gegenji) Chachan blinks at Denz's question and giggles a little. "I think she means our smithy. In th' Goblet." [20:44](Y'zhara Zekial) "Oh yeah! I meant our home in the Goblet." [20:44](Denz De'bayle) "Ah... b-better idea. 'Tis a long journey here." [20:44]Denz De'bayle tries to comfort you. [20:44](Virara Wakuwa) "Are you certain that is wise? Bringing that information to him?" [20:44](Chachanji Gegenji) Chachan cants his head thoughtfully. "Act'lly, I dun think either of ya have been ta it yet... have ya? I know Virara has..." [20:45](Y'zhara Zekial) "We're thinking of giving this information to Chachan's mom first, to see what she thinks." [20:45](Y'zhara Zekial) "His mom seems to do well at talking with his dad, so we think that might be the most cautious thing to do." [20:45](Denz De'bayle) "I have not, no." *His eyes downcast to Virara, setting his lips for a moment.* "They deserve to know." [20:45](Virara Wakuwa) "Is heritage such an important thing?" [20:45](Jancis Milburga) "Still do not see why it is so important to justify how you feel. But if it gives you more piece of mind, it is still a boon to know something of someone from so long ago. And see their bravery. It is worth sharing." [20:46](Chachanji Gegenji) "It is always good ta respect 'n honor yer ancestors... I... I 'unno if'n we might be dishonorin' th' first Gegenji by not rememberin' 'im correctly." [20:47](Y'zhara Zekial) Zhara scratched her head. "Maybe I'm being a little selfish, but it's honestly worth it to me. If Chachan's ancestor is a roegadyn then that means his family isn't completely lalafell and it might be my chance to be able to marry Chachan." [20:47](Chachanji Gegenji) Chachan flusters a little at that, scratching at his cheek. [20:48](Denz De'bayle) *Denz nods.* "To those who revere it. Such as the Domans and Ishgardians, aye." [20:48](Y'zhara Zekial) "If not marry... then at least have acceptance from his dad." [20:48](Denz De'bayle) "People find pride in sharing blood and the goals of their parents." [20:49](Denz De'bayle) "Is there not something you can attribute to your parents?" *Denz slowly begins to feel like he shouldn't have asked that question.* [20:49]Denz De'bayle fails to understand Virara Wakuwa. [20:49](Jancis Milburga) "Then it is all the more important, especially to remember that your ancestor was not blinded by such trivial things and saw within. To be his own person despite pressures and persuasion." [20:49](Y'zhara Zekial) Zhara nodded. "Yes, exactly Jancis." [20:49](Chachanji Gegenji) Chachan nods. "'e was true ta 'is heart." He taps at his own. "'n tha's worth 'memberin' 'n honorin'." [20:50](Virara Wakuwa) Virara doesn't seem to understand, giving her frowning, unmoved countenance. "I wouldn't know such things." [20:50](Virara Wakuwa) "I do not know where I came from. And it hardly matters." [20:51](Jancis Milburga) Jancis smiles lightly and inner fond, copying the gesture and tapping at her heart. [20:51](Denz De'bayle) *Denz sets his lips in a scrunched 'o' for a moment, before clearing his throat.* "Ah. You've never given it thought?" [20:51](Chachanji Gegenji) "Well... ya kinda do, Virara," Chachan suggested, rubbing at his neck. "Ya honor yer Master, right? 'n she's kinda like family." [20:52](Virara Wakuwa) Virara glances over her shoulder, up through her eyelashes at Denz. "Such questions are irrelevant. Master raised me. Anything else does not matter." [20:53](Virara Wakuwa) "She is not my family. I need nothing like that." [20:53](Denz De'bayle) "To you, that is." *Denz chooses not to contest the point further, though.* [20:53](Chachanji Gegenji) Chachan sighs, rubbing at his neck some more. He seemed to be roughly back to normal spirits, all things considered. So at least that was a plus. [20:54](Y'zhara Zekial) "Sometimes family matters more to other people. Other times family is kind of an irrelevant thing." [20:55](Y'zhara Zekial) "I'll admit that I do have identity issues from time to time... being adopted and such but that's not my whole life, and I have a family with people I picked - my friends." [20:56](Chachanji Gegenji) "Ms. Hat was like a sister ta me early when I first came ta Eorzea too! ... 'n didn't we kinda bring Virara inta tha' 'family' too?" [20:56](Chachanji Gegenji) He taps at his chin. [20:56](Virara Wakuwa) "I don't know what you're talking about." [20:56](Denz De'bayle) "She treats you like a younger brother." [20:56](Jancis Milburga) "I dare not think that is the proper use of family." Jancis' smile faded. "Virara is right. Honoring should not mean detrimenting yourself. These people of the past were people and made mistakes and all the same errs as we. And generations past us we will be the same in kind. Would not want them to limit themselves." [20:56]Denz De'bayle nods to you. [20:56](Virara Wakuwa) Virara states pointedly. Obviously she didn't agree. [20:57](Jancis Milburga) Jancis regards Virara, "You both have been through a lot side by side." [20:57](Virara Wakuwa) "It does not follow that I see him as a brother." [20:57](Virara Wakuwa) Virara notes plainly to Jancis, in a calm tone. [20:57](Denz De'bayle) "To you, that is." [20:57](Chachanji Gegenji) "W-well, I def'nitely see 'er as one'a me best friends!" [20:57]Denz De'bayle fails to understand Virara Wakuwa. [20:58](Virara Wakuwa) "Hm." [20:59](Chachanji Gegenji) "A-anyroad! Um... u-unless we wanna look 'round 'ere some more... should we go back ta Mr. Fisherman 'n start headin' back ta Kugane?" [20:59](Jancis Milburga) "It still matters, regardless what term you would give it." [21:01](Y'zhara Zekial) Zhara chewed on one of the leftover plants Jancis had cooked up. "Yeah, I guess we should head back." [21:02](Denz De'bayle) "If there's nothing else you wish to see or check, my friend, then I shall follow your lead back." [21:02](Y'zhara Zekial) Zhara began packing the documents neatly into the box before closing it up. [21:02](Jancis Milburga) "Agreed." Jancis went to collect her things, leaving the semi-sorted piles of broken stuff as they were. [21:02](Y'zhara Zekial) "Anyone want to help me carry this samurai sword that Jancis found?" [21:03](Y'zhara Zekial) "I'll hold onto the box." [21:03](Jancis Milburga) "Denz might have a place on his belt for it?" [21:03](Chachanji Gegenji) Chachan tucks the damaged journal gently away in one of his pouches. He pauses briefly as he does so, looking at something else in the back and shifting its contents about before tucking the thing in. He then looks up at Zhara. "... Samurai sword?" [21:04](Y'zhara Zekial) Zhara nodded and picked up a sword that was still neatly tucked into it's sheath. "Yeah... this sword." she'd show it to Chachan. [21:07](Chachanji Gegenji) The little Lalafell took the blade from her, slidling it out a bit to examine it with that suddenly intense look he always had when dealing with weapons and armor. Even to the layman, however, it stood out that the weapon seemed to have remained in quite pristine condition considering where it had lay for at least a couple years. [21:09](Jancis Milburga) The hyur's face looked on more so at Chachanji's face, calmed and looking relieved at his expression, than at however pristine the weapon was. [21:11](Denz De'bayle) *Denz rolled his shoulders, losing the tension that had been there since they had made it up the mountain. He took a single step forward, before letting out a short "Hnngh!" in his throat. They would need to now climb -down- this mountain.* [21:11](Chachanji Gegenji) "... I thin' this mighta been one'a th' weapons Mama was gonna take down ta Doma ta help th' resistance..." He mused thoughtfully. "'s obviously'a Papa's make..." Even as he looked at it, he made his way down to the edge of the shallow lake that encircled the remains of the smithy. [21:14](Chachanji Gegenji) Kneeling by it, he gathered up some loose leaves and cast them out into the water before setting the blade down into it, the edge pointed towards the leaves as they started moving in the current. He was surprisingly focused on this task, watching closely at the movements. [21:16](Jancis Milburga) Jancis went back to Denz, raising an eyebrow at his discomfort, then offered him her hand. "You are already annoyed at the prospect of seeing him? We have not even gotten off the mountain yet." [21:16](Y'zhara Zekial) Zhara looked down curiously, wondering what Chachan was doing with the sword and leaves in the water. [21:17](Denz De'bayle) "Seeing hi- Oh! No, not him. 'Tis... a long way down." [21:17](Denz De'bayle) "And I've no griffin to catch me, this time." [21:18](Virara Wakuwa) "Oh? LIke the folk tale, then?" Virara observes, watching Chachanji's behaviour curiously. There is an odd trembling in her shoulders, but it passes. [21:18](Chachanji Gegenji) Chachan continued to watch as the leaves floated gently around the edge of the blade. Nodding, he took the katana from the water and, flicking it deftly to remove the clinging droplets of lake water, slid it back into its sheath before bringing it over to Denz and offering it to him. "Ya needed a katana made, right?" He looks to Virara and nods. "Had ta see th' intent of th' blade." [21:18](Jancis Milburga) Jancis' eyes widened at Denz, gripping his hand fiercely. "I will catch you. One way or another." Her eyes went down to the curious shimmer in the water, then. "Folk tale?" [21:18](Denz De'bayle) *Denz breaks away from his converstaion to observe what Chachanji was doing.* [21:19]Denz De'bayle looks at you in shock! [21:20](Chachanji Gegenji) "This one never got ta see its purpose fulfilled... so mebbe it could do?" [21:20](Denz De'bayle) "Wh- I cannot accept such an item from you! It belongs with a member of your family! [21:20]Denz De'bayle disagrees with you. [21:20](Y'zhara Zekial) "How do you test the intent of the blade? If the leaves rest along the edge of it, it's good?" [21:21](Y'zhara Zekial) Zhara smiled. "It's okay Denz, you want to practice fighting like a samurai right? This is a really good sword for that." [21:21](Chachanji Gegenji) He shakes his head. "It was -made- by a member of me family. Ta be used in th' resistance. Doma is free now, so it can no longer do tha'. But I thin' ya 'n yers could make good use'a it." [21:22](Denz De'bayle) *Denz cleared his throat, looking to Y'zhara.* "The blade is meant for mine cousin, Adelise. B-besides, she wanted one lacking a hilt, and I wouldn't dare ask you remove it on my account." *He looked back down at Chachanji and the outstretched blade, staring at it in contemplation.* [21:23](Chachanji Gegenji) "... She wants jus' th' blade part?" Chachan raises a brow. "How'd she hold it?" [21:24](Denz De'bayle) "Ah, forgive me. The crossguard..." *He eyes the katana.* "Or... circular guard, in this case." [21:25](Jancis Milburga) Jancis frowns a bit. "Is no cousin. Byregot's Mercy, so complicated. Is a gift. The blade should remain unchanged it was made with purpose." [21:26](Chachanji Gegenji) "Oh. Tha's easy enough ta remove..." Chachan stated cheerfully. "I know I said I wasn't comfortable makin' 'er a sword... but I can fix up this one instead if'n tha'd work." [21:26](Denz De'bayle) "Which is why I won't give -this- one to her, then." [21:26](Denz De'bayle) "A-are you sure, Chachanji?" [21:28](Y'zhara Zekial) Zhara smiled and looked down at Chachan. "He looks pretty sure." [21:29](Chachanji Gegenji) "I wouldn'ta offered if'n I didn't mean it," Chachan stated with a small pout, still holding up the sword. [21:30](Jancis Milburga) Jancis let her agrument slip away seeing Chachanji so. [21:30](Virara Wakuwa) "But this is a weapon. She will use it against others?" [21:30](Denz De'bayle) *With a small sigh, he takes the sword carefully and loops it under his arm, bowing his head humbly.* "Thank you my friend." [21:30](Virara Wakuwa) Virara raised an eyebrow. [21:30](Virara Wakuwa) "Aren't you... particular about that?" [21:30](Denz De'bayle) "Arguable. Adelise is more akin to using the lance. I believe she wanted it to honor her own master, who wielded a similar katana." [21:31](Chachanji Gegenji) "I... dun like makin' weapons tha'd hurt others, no. But this one's already made 'n... a good blade too. I'd rather it go ta someone I can trust ta have it rather'n leave it 'ere ta be forgotten." [21:32](Chachanji Gegenji) He then looks back to Denz. "... I should introduce ya ta th' concept of'a naginata sometime." [21:33](Y'zhara Zekial) "Yeah just come over with your sister to Chachan's smithy and he can fix it right up." [21:33](Y'zhara Zekial) "Cousin I mean!" [21:34](Virara Wakuwa) "Hm. If you say so." [21:34](Denz De'bayle) "A large and confusing family, is it not?" [21:34]Denz De'bayle grins tauntingly at Y'zhara Zekial. [21:34](Denz De'bayle) *The knight tilts his head back to Chachanji.* "A what?" [21:35](Jancis Milburga) "Now another says it." Jancis takes a slow breath. "It would be another reason to go to the smithy." [21:35](Chachanji Gegenji) Chachan turns his head back to watch those leaves he had used earlier drift away. He's quiet a moment before turning back to Denz. "A naginata. 's a type of Doman-style polearm. Um... think, like... a katana on a stick." [21:36](Jancis Milburga) "Naginata." Jancis likes repeating things. [21:36](Chachanji Gegenji) "Naginata!" [21:36](Y'zhara Zekial) "Didn't you repair a Naginata for an Ishgardian at one point Chachan?" [21:37](Chachanji Gegenji) "I did! One'a Ms. Aya's friends." [21:37](Denz De'bayle) "Naginata." *He nods, before properly securing the katana to his body.* "Right, we've... one hell of a climb down ahead of us. After you." [21:37](Y'zhara Zekial) Zhara smiled. "That's pretty ccool." [21:37]Denz De'bayle nods to you. [21:37](Y'zhara Zekial) "Yep... this will be a long trip back." she'd secure the box in her hands before walking onto the first stepping stone to walk across the shallow lake. [21:38](Virara Wakuwa) Virara hops across the stones like a wandering rabbit, alighting on the other side, looking almost weightless. She glances back towards the ruined house and her expression grows murky once more. [21:39](Jancis Milburga) "Should I go before you Denz? I will catch you." [21:39](Denz De'bayle) "I-if you want." [21:39](Chachanji Gegenji) "Well, um... if'n it helps, Virara 'r I can tell ya 'bout what I was doin' there at th' water's edge..." the little Lalafell offers as he hops across the stones with practiced ease and makes his way to the tunnel mouth. [21:40](Y'zhara Zekial) "What were you doing at the water's edge? I'm sort of curious about that too." [21:40](Jancis Milburga) "As I have, how they say, fallen for you. It does not makes sense. Not really fallen. I read it in a book. If someone was so clumsy they would fall for nearly everyone about them." [21:44](Denz De'bayle) *Denz lets out a small chuckle, bumping Jancis with his hip as he walked up alongside her.* "As I have fallen for you, my love." *He glances over at Chachanji to hear his explaination.* [21:45](Jancis Milburga) Jancis sways with far more dramatic action than the bump really gave, smiling. "Not too clumsy." [21:47](Y'zhara Zekial) Zhara smiled at Jancis and Denz as she stretched her arms a little. [21:47](Chachanji Gegenji) "Well..." Chachan began since Virara's focus seemed elsewhere for the moment, hopping his way down the divots carved by the Reapers of years ago. "As I said, I was testin' th' intent of th' blade. A bloodthirsty blade cuts ev'rythin' in its path, and is a danger ta have - for ya risk havin' the weapon use you rather than you use th' weapon." [21:49](Virara Wakuwa) Virara seems to be busy climbing her way across the divots, much faster than before, since she has passed them once. She is a quick learner. [21:51](Y'zhara Zekial) Zhara listened as she climbed down the divots, being careful not to make one wrong move and slip or fall down. [21:53](Jancis Milburga) The height wasn't bothering Jancis. She actually seemed to like looking down at it when she had the chance, but then continued along to not get in Denz's way as he made progress. [21:53](Denz De'bayle) *Denz lets out grunts and disagreeable noises, doing his best to -not- -look- -down-.* [21:56](Chachanji Gegenji) "So we place th' blade in the lake and see how it reacts ta th' leaves," Chachan continues, making his way out the other end of the tunnel. He pauses at the bottom, looking up at the slower of the group as he continued his explanation. "A bloodthirsty sword cuts through ev'rythin'. So it'll draw in 'n slice th' leaves as they float on th' water. But a sword of proper temp'rment will split th' water such tha' th' leaves go 'round th' blade's edge." [21:58](Virara Wakuwa) Virara's descent is becoming dizzyingly fast. She doesn't seem to ever lose her footing or feel anxious at the possibility of a crumbling ledge. She even slides down between ledges with a firm grip at times, clawing the cliffside dirt with thick, gloved fingers. [21:58](Y'zhara Zekial) "Huh... that's very neat." she'd climb down the last the slope before finally making it to the other end of the cave at the bottom. [21:58](Virara Wakuwa) She seems to intimately know the land she passed after feeling the ascent for herself, like her body remembers before her conscious mind. [21:59](Jancis Milburga) "Not seeking to engage." Jancis repeated the words of leaves. "That would work on all blades?" [22:01](Chachanji Gegenji) "Well, sure," Chachan responded with a smile, waiting for Jancis and Denz to finish their climb down before heading out on the narrow mountain path down to Prism Lake. "Tha' blade had been left 'n fergotten fer a while. I had ta make sure it didn't have any resentment'r malice... hence th' test. If'n it had any, we would have needed ta either purify it or destroy it." [22:03](Jancis Milburga) Jancis' eyes lit up with realization. "Like the kami of the restaurant." She waited for Denz, her hand extended where he could finally let go of the cliffside and walk without too much hardship. [22:03](Y'zhara Zekial) "Oh yeah... that does kind of sound like that." [22:04](Denz De'bayle) *Slowly and carefully following behind the group, Denz did he best to listen as he struggled against the cliffside, before they finally made it back to managable ground, gratefully taking the hyur's hand.* [22:07](Chachanji Gegenji) "Kinda like tha', yeah!" Chachan chirped as they descended from the treacherous, hidden mountain path and began their trek through the multihued waters of Prism Lake. "Fort'nately, I think tha' one was waitin' patiently fer someone ta come find it so it could find its purpose. So I wanted ta help it find one." [22:09](Y'zhara Zekial) Zhara smiled. "Well that's good. Now this sword will have a new purpose to hopefully do good in aiding Denz's cousin." [22:09](Jancis Milburga) "Thaliak." [22:10](Jancis Milburga) "I would have to agree, though I am immensely biased. Denz is certainly a patient man." [22:11](Y'zhara Zekial) "Yeah what's Denz's cousin like? Is she a good fighter? Is she nice?" [22:12](Denz De'bayle) *Denz tilts his head, trying to process everything between the blood rushing to his ears.* "She's..." *He looks to Jancis for help.* [22:12](Chachanji Gegenji) Chachan seems thoughtful as they make their way through Prism Lake. "Hm. Mebbe tha' might be a good name fer it..." [22:14](Jancis Milburga) Jancis took a slow breath, "She grew up quite fast. So young and too old. It is complicated, takes after Denz that way. She wants to protect her family and goes to great lengths to do so. Tries not to burden them. Quietly yearns. She really is quite sweet if she allows someone to see it. And gets scared." [22:17](Denz De'bayle) *Denz nods in agreement to her assessment.* "Indeed. Fierce, has the soul of a leader, befitting her heritage. But that makes her no less impervious to the pains of this world." [22:18](Chachanji Gegenji) "Well, hopefully Matsumono there'll help 'er protect yer family," Chachan suggests as they transition from the lakes to the grasslands that lead back to Doma proper. [22:18](Y'zhara Zekial) Zhara nodded thoughtfully. "Ah.. okay... I can sort of understand that." Zhara nodded. "I think eventually she will be able to heal though. Pain makes you stronger." Zhara smiled. "Like Chachan for example, he's been through so much yet he's able to keep such a positive and optimistic demeanor toward almost everything." [22:19](Chachanji Gegenji) Chachan flusters quietly at the compliment. "W-well... I try. I want folks ta be happy, y'know? So I gotta try 'n help wit tha' where I can. 'n sometimes jus' bein' happy meself makes 'em wanna be happy." [22:20](Denz De'bayle) *He tilts his head in agreement.* "Matsumono." [22:20](Chachanji Gegenji) "Oh, um. Yeah. Sorry, a name fer tha' blade jus' kinda came ta me." [22:21](Chachanji Gegenji) "Matsumono. One Who Waits." [22:21](Y'zhara Zekial) "I like it." Zhara sighed in relief as the ground got flater and easier to traverse on. [22:22](Denz De'bayle) *He lets out a humoured laugh.* "I do not think patience in one her strong suits." [22:22](Denz De'bayle) "Pray this may help with that." [22:22](Jancis Milburga) Jancis smiles to herself, repeating the name silently. "All the more fitting a gift then." [22:22](Chachanji Gegenji) "Mebbe it will inspire her ta be!" he adds with a small chuckle. [22:22](Virara Wakuwa) Virara sways in and out of the tall grasses, obviously searching for any potential threats as they go. Every once in a while they can catch a glimpse of her eye glancing back at them from amidst the reeds, watching their conversation with muted interest. [22:27](Chachanji Gegenji) > Their return trip to Doma proper is thankfully uneventful, given the many things that have already happened on the trip up to the smithy. The remains of the defeated automatons still lay where they had fallen, testament to the trials the group had undertaken. [22:28](Jancis Milburga) Jancis had stayed quiet after the sword naming, looking about and trying to recall everything about her, including the people she was walking with. [22:29](Virara Wakuwa) Virara is utterly silent on the way back except when addressed, speaking only when necessary. Nothing seems out of the ordinary there, but she appears to be on edge in this land more than normal. [22:30](Y'zhara Zekial) Zhara was pretty quiet as well, looking over the ruins and the mountains one last time. She wasn't quite sure when she was going to see it again so she felt it was good to take in the sighs before heading out. [22:32](Denz De'bayle) *Denz, naturally, fell quiet as they continued down the paths of Yanxia, reflecting on their journey thus far and what was ahead of them as they began turning their eyes back towards home.* [22:33](Chachanji Gegenji) Chachan looked over the ruins of Doma as they skirted around it again. There was still a wistful sadness to his expression, but there was also that determination and hope of his. They had chased out the Garleans, they would rebuild. Perhaps his family would want to return and help that, even after finding out the truth of their history and the family's banishment from the city all those generations ago... [22:37](Jancis Milburga) Jancis tried to focus on the kami, her hand reaching out to brush at the broken walls and tiles with quiet words that things were going to get better, "Should I see you again, it will be so different and a welcome reunion." [22:40](Chachanji Gegenji) > For perhaps the briefest of moments, Jancis might feel... something. A vague sense of loss and dismay, lightened if only a little bit. Whatever it was, her attentions were likely stolen away by none other than Tairyo. Rather than being down at the boat, he was at the top of the ramp, staring out over the ruined city himself. He seemed adamant on not using Denz's gift for its intended purpose, leaning against it like it was a walking stick. A look of... almost surprised relief quickly segued-- [22:40](Chachanji Gegenji) --into bored disdain. "Well, took you all long enough. I had begun to hope the beasts here had gotten you. Well, ONE of you, at least." [22:44](Jancis Milburga) Jancis' eyes gave Tairyo new regard, catching that brief expression. Her hand left the wall and waved lightly to him. "Only begun. It was quite the journey. The pools beyond are a rainbow of colors, like the sky laid it down." [22:44](Y'zhara Zekial) Zhara nodded. "Yep, we're back. I guess it's time to figure out our trip back to Kugane." [22:44](Y'zhara Zekial) "And home.." [22:45](Denz De'bayle) *Denz's reflective face was broken down into a flat, unimpressed look. A mirror of Virara's, if nothing else. He sucked in a breath, choosing to ignore the man as he walked past him.* [22:46](Chachanji Gegenji) > "Well, you can figure all THAT out in the boat. This place is giving me the creeps," the fisherman stated gruffly, turning as Denz apparently had a similar idea - as much as Tairyo seemed loathe to admit it. "I AM curious how you plan to get back to Kugane considering I'm not allowed on those waters anymore. For some mysterious reason." He leaned towards Denz for that last sentence for extra childish emphasis. [22:46](Virara Wakuwa) Virara glances over the man warily, unsure of his actions. Whatever he was observing was no business of hers, but there is some glimmer of curiosity there. [22:49](Denz De'bayle) "Something Jancis and I shall discuss in private." *Denz says tersely, making his way down the ramp in front of everyone else.* [22:50](Jancis Milburga) Jancis followed behind, looking thoughtful before hearing Denz's answer. She kept Tairyo in sight now that they were back together as a group. [22:50](Chachanji Gegenji) > "Well that just fills me with SO much confidence," the fisherman quipped, continuing to use the spear as a walking stick down the path. [22:51](Y'zhara Zekial) Zhara followed behind Jancis as they began to load up in the boat.

[batsysims]

100 QUESTIONS NO ONE ASKS

I was tagged by @tickledsims ty ily!!

1. DO YOU SLEEP WITH YOUR CLOSET DOORS OPEN OR CLOSED? CLOSED when i was younger my little sister had a baby doll that would talk on its own at night and we called it the demon baby and hooooly shit

2. DO YOU TAKE THE SHAMPOOS AND CONDITIONER BOTTLES FROM HOTELS? i dont take those bc my hair cant take cheap hair products but i do take the soaps!!

3. DO YOU SLEEP WITH YOUR SHEETS TUCKED IN OR OUT? i put the mattress cover sheet thingy on my bed but i dont use an actual sheet :/

4. HAVE YOU STOLEN A STREET SIGN BEFORE? nah lol

5. DO YOU LIKE TO USE POST-IT NOTES? YES i love using office supplies i could spend all day at staples omg

6. DO YOU CUT OUT COUPONS BUT THEN NEVER USE THEM? no lol but il save the lil receipt coupons and find them in my wallet months after they expire

7. WOULD YOU RATHER BE ATTACKED BY A BIG BEAR OR A SWARM OF BEES? hhhhh bees

8. DO YOU HAVE FRECKLES? yep!! i love them its why im scared to use foundation i dont wanna lose em

9. DO YOU ALWAYS SMILE FOR PICTURES? i either smile or if my moms takin the pic il make a stupid face 

10. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST PET PEEVE? i have terrible road rage...... um........... i also hate it when men interrupt me i just walk away at that point 

11. DO YOU EVER COUNT YOUR STEPS WHEN YOU WALK? yeah i pretty much count everything

12. HAVE YOU PEED IN THE WOODS? i dont think so??

13. HAVE YOU EVER POOPED IN THE WOODS? def not lmao

14. DO YOU EVER DANCE EVEN IF THERES NO MUSIC PLAYING? i have an eating dance, a drinking dance, and a video game playing dance hahaa

15. DO YOU CHEW YOUR PENS AND PENCILS? yes ugh it annoys me but i cant stop

16. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE YOU SLEPT WITH THIS WEEK? at LEAST 0

17. WHAT SIZE IS YOUR BED? i think its a single? a single or a twin either way im miserable send help

18. WHAT IS YOUR SONG OF THE WEEK? ummm probably You by Weird Milk?? its the most recent song i added on spotify so  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

19. IS IT OK FOR GUYS TO WEAR PINK? yeah def unless its one of those “real men wear pink shirts” like just.... stop

20. DO YOU STILL WATCH CARTOONS? sometimes my sister makes me watch stevens universe?? il watch phineas and ferb too bc honestly who doesnt anime too but not always cartoon ones or w/e

21. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE MOVIE? 2001: A Space Odyssey and Daughters of the Dust come to mind

22. WHERE WOULD YOU BURY HIDDEN TREASURE IF YOU HAD SOME? u kno where ;) no how big is the treasure?? if its a lil bit id put it in that drawer under the oven bc my family never uses that but if its BIG TREASURE id hide it in the backyard of the last house i lived in bc a. nobody lives there now and 2. its totally overrun with green bc of like two floods

23. WHAT DO YOU DRINK WITH DINNER? water! only water ever

24. WHAT DO YOU DIP A CHICKEN NUGGET IN? honey if theyre mcnuggets but other than that i use honey mustard!

25. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FOOD? chicky parm

26. WHAT MOVIES COULD YOU WATCH OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND STILL LOVE? honestly Inception is my feel-good movie

27. LAST PERSON, YOU KISSED/KISSED YOU? a lil babu

28. WERE YOU EVER A BOY/GIRL SCOUT? i was in girl scouts much longer than i ever wanted to be lmao WISH i coulda done BOY SCOUTS

29. WOULD YOU EVER STRIP OR POSE NUDE IN A MAGAZINE? if cash is involved absolutely

30. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU WROTE A LETTER TO SOMEONE ON PAPER? aboutttt three months ago!

31. CAN YOU CHANGE THE OIL ON A CAR? no but i can watch

32. EVER GOTTEN A SPEEDING TICKET? when i first got my license yea :( 15 yr olds are dum

33. EVER RAN OUT OF GAS? twice! very good memories

34. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE KIND OF SANDWICH? egg salad gud

35. BEST THING TO EAT FOR BREAKFAST? the all star breakfast at waffle house yasssss

36. WHAT IS YOUR USUAL BEDTIME? honestly like 9 since i always have to wake up at 7 in the am but il stay up til 11 if i can

37. ARE YOU LAZY? absolutely when have ACTIVE ppl done ANYTHING

38. WHEN YOU WERE A KID, WHAT DID YOU DRESS UP AS FOR HALLOWEEN? i was usually a cat bc i never could find a costume i liked smh but when i was 2 i went as winnie the pooh lmao

39. WHAT IS YOUR CHINESE ASTROLOGICAL SIGN? ox!

40. HOW MANY LANGUAGES CAN YOU SPEAK? just english but im tryna learn spanish and japanese and im fluent in french if a two year olds speech patterns can be considered as such

41. DO YOU HAVE ANY MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS? nah

42. WHICH ARE BETTER: LEGOS OR LINCOLN LOGS? LEGOS lincoln logs are big with nostalgia thoooo

43. ARE YOU STUBBORN? with dumb shit yeah but i usually just dont care enough abt stuff to deal

44. WHO IS BETTER: LENO OR LETTERMAN? theyre both old idc

45. EVER WATCH SOAP OPERAS? no lol

46. ARE YOU AFRAID OF HEIGHTS? not really tbh i like the adrenaline

47. DO YOU SING IN THE CAR? if im alone!! nobody deserves to hear that

48. DO YOU SING IN THE SHOWER? nahhh

49. DO YOU DANCE IN THE CAR? when im in the drive thru haaaa

50. EVER USED A GUN? id like to go to a shooting range some time but ive never used one im also very anti gun so i probs would never buy one unless it was a cute lil glock i can handle well

51. LAST TIME YOU GOT A PORTRAIT TAKEN BY A PHOTOGRAPHER? st patricks day it wasnt technically for me tho

52. DO YOU THINK MUSICALS ARE CHEESY? not in general but when ppl start obsessing over a certain one for months on end abt a certain time period and certain performers and certain songs and certain people of history i start wanting ppl to die

53. IS CHRISTMAS STRESSFUL? YEAH I NEVER HAVE MONEY WTF

54. EVER EAT A PIEROGI? my sisters obsessed with them so yea but never like. authentic polish potato pockets or anything just a frozen box of em

55. FAVORITE TYPE OF FRUIT PIE? apple?? im not rly into pie tbh

56. OCCUPATIONS YOU WANTED TO BE WHEN YOU WERE A KID? ive wanted to go into law enforcement/criminology my whole life!! for a sec i wanted to be a firefighter, a journalist/writer/poet, and some sort of artist but u know how kids are

57. DO YOU BELIEVE IN GHOSTS? i tried to find that clip from malcolm in the middle for like ten mins but i couldnt yea

58. EVER HAVE A DEJA-VU FEELING? doesnt everyone tho?

59. DO YOU TAKE A VITAMIN DAILY? no im a bad adult

60. DO YOU WEAR SLIPPERS? nah

61. DO YOU WEAR A BATH ROBE? im not rich!!

62. WHAT DO YOU WEAR TO BED? usually just my undies but when im living with other people il wear a soft shirt and my dc heroes pajama bottoms ayyy

63. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CONCERT? ive never been to one! i was gonna go see metallica in baltimore but i moved before i could smh

64. WALMART, TARGET, OR KMART? walmart sry targets cool but too much money!!! i go there for home things tho does kmart still exist

65. NIKE OR ADIDAS? ADIDAS ive been trying to get a full adidas tracksuit for YEARS

66. CHEETOS OR FRITOS? fritos! i like the super hot cheetos tho

67. PEANUTS OR SUNFLOWER SEEDS? peanutsssss

68. EVER HEAR OF THE GROUP TRES BIEN? Nope but they must be good im keepin @tickledsims response bc it made me laugh

69. EVER TAKE DANCE LESSONS? when i was a lil babu i took ballet and gymnastics a lil later

70. IS THERE A PROFESSION YOU PICTURE YOUR FUTURE SPOUSE DOING? i hope to never have a spouse  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

71. CAN YOU CURL YOUR TONGUE? yep

72. EVER WON A SPELLING BEE? ive actually never even had a spelling bee im sure theyre a myth

73. HAVE YOU EVER CRIED BECAUSE YOU WERE SO HAPPY? i think so??

74. OWN ANY RECORD ALBUMS? nah

75. OWN A RECORD PLAYER? nahhhhh

76. DO YOU REGULARLY BURN INCENSE? no but i had a roommate who did i fell in love

77. EVER BEEN IN LOVE? yeah ok lol so one time when i was a sophomore my french teacher had to use a substitute teacher and hes the reason i believe in love at first sight im STILL in love with him wtf ive also had a bf haha im hilarious

78. WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IN CONCERT? i dont really do concerts so i couldnt say but i think matd would be fun!!

79. WHAT WAS THE LAST CONCERT YOU SAW? oh my god

80. HOT TEA OR COLD TEA? hot!!!!

81. TEA OR COFFEE? coffee!!!!!!

82. SUGAR COOKIES OR SNICKERDOODLES? i dont rly like either but i prefer snickerdoodles over sugar

83. CAN YOU SWIM WELL? i can only do that weird frog swim i forget what its called so no im shit at it

84. CAN YOU HOLD YOUR BREATH WITHOUT HOLDING YOUR NOSE? ye

85. ARE YOU PATIENT? if im able to distract myself?? it also depends on the severity of what im waiting on i guess

86. DJ OR BAND AT A WEDDING? probs a band i guess i dont rly think abt that kinda stuff sry

87. EVER WON A CONTEST? when i was four i won a coloring contest at the ice cream store

88. HAVE YOU EVER HAD PLASTIC SURGERY? nope im poor 89. WHICH ARE BETTER: BLACK OR GREEN OLIVES? both are good!

90. CAN YOU KNIT OR CROCHET? i can knit but i cant crochet

91. BEST ROOM FOR A FIREPLACE? fckn bathroom

92. DO YOU WANT TO GET MARRIED? not rly unless its a partnership longlasting romance stresses me out especially with financial responsibility etc

93. IF MARRIED, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN MARRIED? -20 years

94. WHO WAS YOUR HIGH SCHOOL CRUSH? my high school boyfriend hahaaa h,,,,

95. DO YOU CRY AND THROW A FIT UNTIL YOU GET YOUR OWN WAY? im an adult sry

96. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? 1!

97. DO YOU WANT KIDS? nope! lmao i love her tho

98. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COLOR? red but i also like many others??? idk

99. DO YOU MISS ANYONE RIGHT NOW? ummm not rly?? im not close enough to anyone to miss them and those i am close to im able to hang with

100. WHO ARE YOU GOING TO TAG TO DO THIS TAG NEXT? god uhhh if you havent done it already and want to, @dreambot @nebula-simms @ellowynsims and @pixelbloom