#you know how you sometimes offhandedly reveal to someone that you have a particular fondness for some slightly more uncommon animal

[canisalbus]

as far as i understood from previous posts, Machete loves snails, but how does Vasco feel about them? does he try to love them for Machete's sake?

Maybe "loves" is a strong word. He certainly likes them more than an average person, can get lost quietly observing a passing snail for a long while, and has read about them to understand them a little better, but they aren't his main passion in life or anything. He sees a snail and feels fond, positive emotions for reasons he can't fully explain. They're common, overlooked animals and they remind him of his childhood.

If Vasco ever picked up on this, he might start to doodle little snails on the letters they exchange (in an unintentional callback to the snails you might see in medieval manuscripts). But I doubt it'd ever go beyond than that. Vasco's innate relationship with snails is largely neutral.

[httpbread]

Rivals, but Not Quite

Pairing: Akane x reader

Words: 4441

also not a request,,, this account gives me too much productivity juice 

"Aoi-chan, please, accept this letter of my appreciation!"

(Y/n) screwed her eyes shut, head hung with her hands extended forward, a pristine ivory letter clutched in them, sealed with a neat red heart.

Another heart, unsettled behind her ribcage, thumped with a familiar thrill.

"Ah! Of course (N/n)-chan! I’d be happy to."

A wicked smirk curves at her lips at these cheerful words.

With the bait accepted, the trap was set all to a perfect T.

The scene was perfect, from her flushed cheeks- from holding in her evil laughter- to Aoi-chan’s happy acceptance.

To his eye, it was yet another confession to their sapphire-haired friend.

In truth, though, it was only just a letter thanking Aoi-chan for being friends for her thrown in with some confetti and stickers she thought the girl would enjoy, a little thanks for obliviously going along with her evil plans.

She looks up at the beautiful girl under her lashes, unable to cross the smile from her lips, "Thank you, Aoi-chan! I hope we can be ever more than friends from now on!"

The letter asked Aoi-chan if she would like to be best friends, not just childhood friends- despite that they already were.

Aoi-chan only giggles, "I guess we’ll just have to see!"

Truer words had never rung so sweetly in her ears, she thought to herself as she stood upright, flashing her dearest friend a wink before making her way off, a chipper bounce in her step.

(e/c) glittering eyes shifted around, searching for a special someone.

The target of her ever apparent mischief.

However, a tap on her shoulder told her the target had found her first.

"You must be just over the moon with yourself, huh?"

She looks over her shoulder to find him towering, staring down at her like a disgusting bug he was about to squash with his shoe.

(Y/n) subtly checked to make sure there wasn’t actually a shoe above his head, ready to end this rivalry with all he’s got.

Before her lips curve upward, "Oh, yes, can you believe it, Akane-kun? Aoi-chan may finally just accept my confession!"

Actually, she would. (Y/n) was certain of this. She’d probably even be quite tickled by (Y/n)’s grandeur reaffirmation of their friendship.

"She didn’t say that," he smiles, accept unlike her smile, he is full to the brim with poison, ready to sink those pearly whites into her and be done with it, "She said she would see about it. Are you truly that stupid?" 

She lazily wheels around to face him, dropping her head to one side, "Hah? Stupid? She at least said she’d look at it, didn’t she?"

Those dark chestnut eyes narrow at her, hatred dancing in those depths of his, it was what she lived for.

(Y/n) was sure this vicious cycle had begun back when they were just kids.

They’d been fighting for Aoi’s attention just like now, except back then (Y/n) had just been competitive and jealous, wanting to be her best friend’s favorite.

Though...

Somewhere along the line, she’d grown fond of those angry glances he’d give her when the blue-haired girl wasn’t looking.

Somewhere along the line, she’s begun to take joy in seeing just how far he would go if she just gave him a little push.

There was just something about that distaste he had for her that had her coming back for more, reliably.

So, knowing that, the vicious look he was giving her only stirred her on as she innocently traced her lower lip with her pointer finger, her own gaze locked with his unwaveringly, "Say, Akane-kun, when was the last time Aoi-chan looked at a letter from you...?"

Instantly, his hands were on her shoulders.

"Ah! Akane-kun! (N/n)-chan!"

And just as quickly did his grip loosen on her, only remaining as a threat.

A threat that did nothing but make her heart race, making the grin on her face irremovable as she looked up at him.

"Aoi-chan, good morning!" He greets their ‘shared’ friend with a welcoming smile, lashes against his cheeks as he no doubt tries to calm himself.

"Hey, hey, Aoi-chan," she salutes the girl cheerfully, "Long time no see!"

This stirs a giggle from her, "So silly, but good morning to the both of you!"

(Y/n) glances back up at the brunet under her lashes.

A silly, dreadfully childish game it was, but her favorite despite it all.

—-

(Y/n) walked in step with the boy, trying her best to match his strides despite his longer legs.

It was sort of fun, put a bit of a hop in her steps as she gazes down at their feet with a soft smile.

"Did you get that paperwork signed and filled out for the president?"

"Mhm!" She doesn’t look up, wondering why his steps have slowed down a smidgen and too focused on, once again, matching with him.

"All of it?" The stern tone draws her attention.

She bats her lashes at him curiously, "Yeah? Why wouldn’t I?"

However, as she looks up at him, she’s greeted with a harsh thump between brows, causing them to furrow and a hand to hastily flutter up to the spot.

"Why would you? Not doing it would only prove to get on my nerves, and that’s just like you."

As she rubs her injury, she peers up at him under her hand, a sheepish smile crossing her lips, "Maybe, but I’m not going to sacrifice my work to do that."

She lowers her hand, "I like working with the student council."

It was nice.

Sure, originally, she has joined to torment Akane-kun, but...

It made her feel sort of important that way.

Plus, it meant Akane had to rely on her sometimes, even though he hated it... and her. Which was more teasing than she had ever hoped to achieve in a club with him!

She’s quick to taunt him nonetheless, a toothy grin on her face as she shuts her eyes, waving a hand, "Man, you must be some masochist trying to give me new ideas!"

This thump is to the side of her head, not nearly as hard as the one to her face, probably to spare his fingers against her thick skull, "No, it’s my duty as the Vice President to make sure you’re doing your job, idiot."

"Ah, right, right!" She looks away, hiding her smile as she cups her cheek.

Akane-kun really was amazing, wasn’t he?

Even though he thumped her so often.

(Y/n) was pretty he was the only person who’d thumped her before.

Coincidentally, he was probably the only person she would let get away with thumping her, anyone else and she’d be happy to bite their fingers quicker than they could get them away from her.

Mm... well, Aoi-chan could definitely get away with it too, but-

"(N/n)-chan!"

(Y/n) nearly tripped over her own feet at the sudden arms thrown around her, making her choke on her surprise and her spit as she fought to keep them on their feet.

"You’re such a sweet girl!" (Y/n) looked over her shoulder, arms held out a little frantically still to keep their balance, Aoi-chan looking beautifully unbothered as ever, "I can’t believe you’d say such kind things to me."

(Y/n)’s face grows hot at this, "O-Oh, did you read my letter?"

Her lashes flutter open, revealing her big shiny eyes, filled with warmth, "Of course!"

She beams, suddenly leaning forward.

(Y/n) can only stand still, having a hard time processing her friend’s affectionate kiss to her cheek, "I accept!  I accept a thousand times!"

This made her smile unabashedly, turning in her grip to adoringly hug her friend back, "Awe, Aoi-chan! Was it really that much of a surprise?"

"No, but I forget how kind you are sometimes!" Her blue-haired friend explains, "You’re always such a joker, it’s hard to see."

"I’ll ignore that jab because you’re cute," (Y/n) announces, giving her a good squeeze before slipping out of the hug while her friend is laughing.

However, as she glances up, just offhandedly, she remembers Akane-kun.

Her face falls.

It’s like time has stopped at that moment, leaving the two of them in a bubble.

She stares up at him as he stares back down at her, his dark eyes round enough to let the light touch the honey flecks in them.

For once, he doesn’t even look angry with her.

For once, (Y/n) didn’t even want to make him angry with her.

Her heartbeat stutters in her chest, a sickly feeling finding her.

A mistake.

She’s made a mistake.

She was sure of it.

-

(Y/n), for once, sits silently in the club room, doing her new wave of paperwork during the actual time Minamoto Senpai provided.

She keeps her eyes down on her papers, away from the boy who was always at the center of her attention, even now as her hands begged to fidget.

She felt off. She felt wrong. She felt bad.

She hadn’t even done anything!

Not really, anyways. It wasn’t like she actually confessed to their friend, nor had she actually accepted (Y/n) as her girlfriend. In truth, it was his fault for making assumptions!

...

So... why did she feel like she’d royally messed up...?

Sure, Akane-kun wouldn’t look at her, or speak to her, or even breathe in her direction, but that wasn’t her fault!

He was the idiot, not her!

...

But boy did she feel like a couple of cents short of a dollar.

Which is probably why, for once in her life, if not the first time, she actually was leaving Akane-kun alone.

Sure, she liked to get him all riled up and argue with him at every chance she got, but she didn’t...

She didn’t.... what?

Want him to hate her...?

He already hated her. Why was this so different?

"Is the new paperwork that confusing, (L/n)?"

She blinks down at it, finding her pen hovering just above the signature line.

Slowly, she tears her wide eyes away to gaze up at Minamoto senpai.

"S-Sorry!" She curses the squeak on her voice, "No, not at all, I’ll have it on your desk by the end of the hour, senpai."

This does not make him go away, as she had hoped.

"Any particular reason why?" He tilts his head to the side, eyeing her, "You always take your work home."

That was true.

"Oh, uhm. It’s just really easy today!" She forces her lips up in a hopefully reassuring and not terrified-looking smile, "No worries here, senpai."

"Ah... okay," she stills with surprise when his hand suddenly finds her head, tousling her (h/l) fluffy locks, "If there’s something on your mind, feel free to come speak with me, though, alright?"

She looks up at him, trying to force down her fluster, "O-Okie dokie!"

He offers her a small, kind smile, before moving away from her desk, allowing her to turn her eyes back down to her work.

Gosh! Now she was even bothering the president?! Akane was surely going to murder her in her sleep!

—-

"(Y/n)-chan! Where are you going?"

She looks over her shoulder to find Aoi-chan dragging Akane-kun by the hand, hurriedly making her way over to her.

"Oh. Just up to the roof," she says, feigning nonchalance, "I forgot about some homework last night, so I thought some quiet would make it go by faster."

"Homework?" Aoi-chan bats her lashes at this and her.

(Y/n) arches a brow, she hadn’t actually forgotten the homework, but she had an inkling she knew who did, "For math class...?"

Aoi-chan gasps, "Oh dear."

(Y/n) offers her a warm smile, "I’m sorry, but you’re going to have to ask Akane-kun for help on his one, okay?"

Aoi-chan flashes her an odd look, "Huh? But we’ve always done math together..."

(Y/n) quickly turns away, gesturing away from the idea, "I’ve just got too much work today! Sorry! See you in class!"

She didn’t want to brush her friend off so carelessly.

She just didn’t think her heart could take the cold shoulder anymore... not so close, anyways.

The hope was that if she gave Akane-kun some more time alone with their friend that maybe the mix up would get untangled, and he’d show at least some vague toleration for (Y/n) again.

It was only a hope though...

A foolish one too! Akane-kun wouldn’t forgive her so easily after what she’d unintentionally, sort of intentionally done!

There was a sudden haste in her steps as she made her way up the stairs.

She was hopeless! A dumb dumb! She could do nothing but struggle her way through life- and also bother Akane-kun!

She threw open the door, letting out a frustrated yell, ignoring the weird looks she got from the very few already on the roof.

-—

"You know, you shouldn’t be so hard on (Y/n)-chan all the time."

Akane blinks, the utterance coming out of left field.

What did this have to do with the angles of a triangle...?

Aoi-chan gazes up at him, head resting between the hands cupping her cheeks.

He offers her his best smile, "I’m not sure I know what you’re talking about. Now, how about we try-"

"Akane-kun, you’re a smart boy," she sighs, long dark lashes finding her porcelain cheeks, "You really haven’t figured it out?"

His brows draw at the jarring question, "Aoi-chan..."

She cracks open one eye, telling him flatly, "(Y/n) has a crush on you. You can’t really tell me you haven’t noticed."

She says, as though she’s talking about yesterday’s weather. Except, the weather, in this case, was something outlandish and vaguely horrifying to him, like the story of oobleck raining down from the sky.

"Pardon me?" Is all he can say.

His longtime crush sighs, shaking her head almost disappointedly, "Oh, Akane-kun... I had hoped my little performance yesterday would have made you realize."

"But in the end, you didn’t even realize it was an exaggeration at all, did you?" Akane feels a little nervous under Aoi’s sudden evaluation.

"I’m sorry, Aoi-chan, won’t you explain? I’m- uh. I’m not really following," he tries to smile.

She laughs a little at this, "Akane-kun, (Y/n) hasn’t ever asked me out."

He blinks.

"The letter yesterday? She just told me how much she enjoys our friendship," Aoi smiles fondly, "The only thing she asked, was that if I would consider her one of my best friends."

Friends...?

"Really?" He reaches up, looking away as he runs his fingers through his hair, trying to ignore the embarrassment creeping up his neck.

If that was the case, why didn’t the stupid girl just say so?

"I don’t think she expected me to make such a big deal out of it," Aoi-chan says, as if reading his mind, "And since you’ve been so mean... she’s probably too scared to correct you."

"Scared?" He gawks immediately, "Out of all the stupid stunts she’s pulled, she’s going to get cold feet on the one that works?"

Aoi flashes him another unamused look, "Akane-kun, she likes you. She wants your attention. She doesn’t want you to actually be upset with her."

Well, serves her right! She was always causing him problems. She could stand for him to cause her a couple for a change.

"I really thought you’d get jealous and confess if I acted like we were dating."

His eyes hastily dart up, "Huh?"

Aoi’s brows draw, lifting a finger as his lips part, "The answer is no."

He squints at her, "Then why did you say that! My hopes shot up."

Crossing his arms, he listens, "I meant to (Y/n)! Not me."

"I’ve heard it all now!" He huffs, promptly looking away, face screwing up, "Confess? To that she-demon?"

He can picture her now with her dumb fluffy (h/c) hair, two red horn poking from her head, a pitchfork clutched between her hands and that mischievous look she got in her eyes before she did something less than intelligent.

"Yes, our childhood friend, (Y/n)," Aoi informs him firmly, but then adding, astounding him further, "Who I’m almost completely sure you have a bigger crush on than she has on you!"

The accusation is so wild he can’t even find the words to respond.

Any word he’d ever heard, learned or even glanced at all died on his tongue at that moment, staring at the sapphire-haired angel across from him.

"That’s right," she chirps, a big smile finding her lips, "You’re in love with (Y/n)-chan!"

No?

It really wasn’t right!

But his tongue still refused to cooperate.

Aoi is no fool, "You really don’t see it?"

He only shakes his head, helpless almost silently begging her not to explain.

"It’s almost romantic in a way!"

In what way?!

"She’s the only one I’ve ever seen get you so frazzled so quickly, you know. Sometimes I wonder if she secretly lights you on fire something she gets such a quick reaction out of you."

Because she was a heathen! He wants to interrupt, shut down this argument immediately.

"Not to mention (Y/n)... every time you’re in the room she can barely stop from grinning! She’s so cute when you come around. She gets all giddy."

Again... demon. Sadist. Gremlin.

"But the reason I think you like her..."

He lifts his gaze up to meet hers at this.

She smiles softly, "Is because she gets you so riled up about things that don’t even have anything to do with me."

He blinks, lips jumping apart to deny this, but...

He supposed her student council antics hadn’t anything to do with Aoi-chan... or her dumb texts... or even the notes she would usually pepper him with during class.

Wow.

Aoi-chan was right.

(Y/n), herself, completely apart from Aoi… her very presence was enough...

…

to make him annoyed beyond comparison.

"That doesn’t mean I like her."

Aoi-chan groans, burying her face into her hands, "Just go apologize!"

---

After finishing her paperwork in record time...

Well, not really, she only finished it so quickly because it was all she had to work on during lunch...

But, that wasn’t the point! The reality of it was that meant she got to go home early!

All she had to do was ask Minamoto senpai and she’s be free!

She wouldn’t even bother Akane-kun with an awkward walk home today!

She was nailing this whole ‘staying out of Akane-kun’s way’ thing today.

Sure, things had gotten rocky, and there had been plenty of obstacles, but now the end of the day was here and she’d call this new forced talent a success!

She drops the stack of paper on the president’s desk proudly.

"I’ve finished all my work today, Minamoto-san."

"It’s only been fifteen minutes...?" His brows draw.

An inkling of panic strikes her, not wanting to let him down, so she’s honest, "I had some free time at lunch, so I worked on it earlier, I would never speed through it!"

However, the weird look he’s giving her doesn’t waver.

"Is everything alright, (L/n)? Or are you just on some strange productivity kick...?"

She offers him an apologetic smile, "Uhm... just a productive spur, yeah..."

She hastily looks out the window, trying to act like she has some vague sense of composure, "So- uh, I was actually wondering if- uhm, if I could go home early, since, y’know, did all my work and- uh-"

His small chuckle makes her eyes shift back, "Yes, (L/n). You’re free to go."

Mentally, she cheers, setting off fireworks, shuffling pom-poms, celebrations inside like no other!

Until her ears prick.

"Ah. I’ll be taking my leave as well," another packet of pages hits his desk, "This is the last report you asked for, correct?"

Slowly, her heart begins to sink in her chest, like a balloon full of helium forgotten, losing its will to float.

Her plan had backfired right in her face...

Now he was going to think she was going out of her way to cause him trouble again! That wasn’t what she wanted!

She hides her inner turmoil with a smile, "Oh. Cool. That’s great."

"Alright then...?" Senpai offers them a confused smile, "Have fun you too."

"Of course, have a nice rest of your day, President."

However, (Y/n) is already working on hightailing it out of there, at the door by the time either of them notices she’s disappeared.

"Let me get that for you."

This plan ALSO fails, as he reaches right around her, grabbing the handle and twisting it before she can even lift a hand.

Why...? Why was this happening to her?

She was genuinely trying her best!

Let her have this! Let her give him peace for once, life! Just this once!

"A-Ah, thank you, Akane-kun," she breathes, hastily making her way out of the newly opened doorway.

He follows right behind her.

For a moment, even despite her quicker strides, those cursed long legs carry him to her side with ease.

She stares down at the floor, silently panicking, wondering just how she was going to get herself out of this one.

"So, (Y/n), how has your day been?" His words stunned her, "Haven’t seen you around so much today."

"R-Really?" She mentally slaps herself for stuttering, refusing to look up at him even though she can feel his intense gaze, "I- uh, I didn’t notice. Today has been fine."

Maybe that was good! He noticed she was keeping out of his way, right? Maybe her efforts weren’t in vain!

As she glances up, making sure she wasn’t about to run into anything, her eyes catch on something.

"Well-"

"The bathroom!"

She looks up, not having meant to say it like that, falling victim to meeting his gaze.

He blinks at her, looking reasonably surprised by her outburst.

Her face is on fire as she hastily forced the words out, "I- uhm. I have to use the restroom. You can go ahead."

Nailed it.

"Oh no, that’s alright. I’ll wait out here for you."

Failed it.

Her feet wouldn’t even move, all she could do was gaze up at him, wondering where she went wrong.

"Why?"

The question falls right off her strawberry lips.

"‘Why’ what?"

She quickly tears her gaze away, "Oh, nothing, don’t worry about it, let’s just go!"

"But-"

"Changed my mind!" She’s quick to leave him in her dust again, almost robotically marching forward.

Only to get jerked back as though something caught her by the neck...

Well, by the shoulder, but fair enough.

"For your own sake, can you quit acting so weird!"

She blinks up at him, frozen.

He scowls down at her, looking frustrated as ever with her, making her heart skip a beat or two.

"I am trying to make an effort here, (Y/n)."

Here...?

Wh- With her?!

Was the world ending or something?! What the hell did he want with her of all people?

They’re were dated rivals! They were arch enemies! They were-

"I wanted to apologize."

Doomed.

She was doomed.

She was sure she had three days left to live, or something fatal and final that only Akane knew about because why on this entire big blue marble would he apologize to her?

She bats her eyes at the end waving in front of her face, "Oh quit acting so surprised. Won’t you listen for five seconds?"

Her face grows hot as her gaze darts up to meet his narrow coffee-stained one, "S-Sorry..."

He roughly threads his fingers through his hair, observing her with annoyance written clearly on his features.

"Don’t apologize," he tells her, his voice lacking its usual edge, "You haven’t done anything."

She makes a face at this, making him huff in return, "I meant right now. You’ve done many unacceptable things."

This lights a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she gazes up at him.

"You think so?"

"That was very obviously not praise."

She quiets, more than pleased to have him just bark at her again.

Maybe things were okay again...?

"Look, (Y/n)..."

She does, he has all the attention she has to give.

He taps his foot quietly against the floor, "I just- I wanted to say I’m sorry about yesterday... and today, too, I guess."

He guesses?

Wait, that wasn’t important, she didn’t deserve this apology anyways, she was going to take what she could get.

"I made a false assumption about you and Aoi, and I was..."

She raises a brow as he trails off, gazing down at her.

His lips tug back distastefully as he quickly looks away, "I was a little too hard on you. I see that now."

Hah?

"I apologize for being unnecessarily rude to you without reason."

Ah. She liked that last part. So, if she ever gave him another reason, he would it again.

Good to know.

Despite her sour thoughts, she can’t help but smile up at him, adoringly as ever.

"It’s okay, Akane-kun. I don’t blame you."

He stares at her a little oddly.

“Maybe I should go a little easier on you too,” she admits, reaching up to scratch her cheek, not willing to look away despite her embarrassment, “I really didn’t mean to make you angry with me...”

She jolts a little when his hand pats her shoulder, “I know, (Y/n).”

He did?

“I admit, you’re terrible, but I don’t hate you.”

“You don’t?” She parrots immediately, eyes sparkling up at him.

Using his hand on her, he lightly pushes her along.

“No, but I might start to if you don’t get moving. This is the one day I’m able to leave early this week.”

“R-Right!” Her lips almost hurt at the big smile on her face.

Akane-kun actually... tolerated.... her.

Who would’ve thought?

Certainly not (Y/n), but the new confirmation brought a blush to her face, more than sure that she would never let this down.

Maybe if she pestered him more he’d even like her one day!

“You are ready to go home, right...?”

“Yup!” She chirps, looking up at him delighted as he frowns.

“Don’t look at me like that,” he averts his eyes, “That’s your ‘I’m getting ideas’ look. Stop it.”

“Ideas? I haven’t a clue what you’re talking about!”

“(Y/n), did we not just agree to be nice to each other?”

“Funny, but those words did not leave my mouth, Akane-kun.”