koorinokujira - Tumblr blog

koorinokujira · 15 days

Note

hello, I can ask for headcanons about how Masamune, Yukimura, Motonari, Saika and Motochika would try to confess their feelings?

Ooooh, yes! Confession imagines were always my jam, so I'm honored to write some myself! I'll try my best, so I hope you enjoy!

♡ Confessions - SB Imagines ♡

You've been close friends for a very long time. Living your lives, fighting alongside each other, and sharing many a laugh together over a nice cup of sake. But neither of you has expressed taking it further just yet, even though the chemistry is undeniable. And so it falls to your dearest friend to make the first move...

♡ Masamune ♡

Masamune is adamant to Kojūrō that he has everything under control. Sure, he's been very distracted lately, not as good in their sparring matches, and keeps zoning out, but everyone has those days, right? Sadly, he defends his actions as of late quite weakly... and when gazing into his Second-in-Command's eyes, he's pretty sure that he wouldn't be convinced even with a strong argument. That man has known him essentially his whole life... he knows when something is up.

Eventually, he sighs and begrudgingly tells Kojūrō what's on his mind. How he's fallen madly in love with you, how his days are so dull when you're not around. And at the end, he leans in closer and whispers, so no one can hear how incompetent he feels because he has no idea how to ask you out. Frustration is writ on his face the whole time he speaks. He can lead his men to battle and turn it into a party of bloodshed... but for some reason, his mind goes blank every time he tries to figure out what to tell you.

Kojūrō is silent the entire time, and his face betrays no sign of the amusement he feels at that moment.

"Why not say the things you've just told me? A proper confession should come from the heart, I believe. This is one of the things I can't help you with, Lord Masamune, as much as it pains me. This is your war to win," is all he says, much to Masamune's disappointment.

Of course he'll leave him to his own devices. Typical Kojūrō, always making sure he is a well-adjusted leader that can take care of himself. Ugh... sometimes he wishes he was just a bit more irresponsible. But that's neither here nor there. He has a war of the heart to go through, and damn it all if he doesn't win it like everything else.

The Dragon spends most of the next day mulling over possibilities. Sure, his confession should come from the heart, but he can't just leave it at that, can he? Just confessing isn't his style. No no no... you both need to have fun. A day that will be great even if you reject him; which is an idea that terrifies him more than he would like to admit. But when he leaves his work to his subordinates for the day and takes his time, he realizes that he has quite a few ideas brewing in his head... and he can't wait for tomorrow.

The next day, everything seems to go exactly the way you want it to. It's kind of suspicious, but you can't put your finger on it. When you go meet Masamune for breakfast, you find yourself gazing at a table full of foods you love. And the Lord has the audacity to act all casual about it, telling you to eat at your heart's content. While you eat, you ask what duties you have for today- you two may be friends, but you still serve the Date clan, after all. His response?

"Don't worry about it."

You look at Kojūrō, who's guarding the room at his usual spot, but the man is as stoic as ever, revealing nothing. So you do as Masamune says... you don't worry about it, digging into your food.

But it doesn't stop there. Whatever you want to do during the day, he seems to be on board with. Sparring with ridiculous rules in place? Sure, that's fun. Riding to the markets and stuffing yourself with sweets? He'll buy you enough so that you even have some for tomorrow. Finally racing your horses against each other like you were planning when younger? Your wishes are his command... and you're 99% sure he let you win. But you're not complaining, it felt good.

And after a day filled with fun, you end up in the gardens of his castle, sitting on the grass with cups of warm sake in hand. Your eyes sparkle with joy in the moonlight, and Masamune knows that he'll remember that look forever, no matter the outcome of this day.

"So..." you finally break the silence, watching how the wind plays with his brown hair. "Want to tell me what this is about?"

"What's what about?" he gives you a cocky grin in response.

"Well... today. It's like we're celebrating something."

He lets out a bark of laughter at that, tilting his head to the side as he pretends to think of a response.

"Well... I suppose we are. Look, don't expect anything awfully sappy from me... but I'm just glad you're here. My lucky seventh claw," he says eventually, his usual mischievous glare giving to a look of sincerity.

Your eyes widen, but before you can even say anything, he speaks again.

"I was thinking a lot about us... you see? About everything we've gone through together. I mean, you've been here almost as long as Kojūrō- and that's a lot. You've seen me act like an absolute idiot, but you never left me behind, even though it probably would have been deserved. And I mean..." he cuts himself off for a moment, his expression turning almost bashful as he struggles to find his words. "Today was fun. And maybe we won't get to do things like this often, maybe not at all. But... every day's a party with you, even if we're both covered in the blood of our enemies. And I... I want it to keep going. I want to enjoy the rest of my life with you next to me, and if all these stupid wars end while we're still around... then I want to make every day that remains a thousand times better than this one."

He takes a deep, shaky breath, letting out a few quiet curses.

"What I mean by that is- do you want it? The wildest adventure we'll ever have? An adventure with... me?"

The Dragon stares at you with his single eye, his breath hitching as he knows that his heart has been laid bare, and thinking that this was probably the worst confession known to man. Your stunned silence certainly doesn't help ease his worries at all.

And then you take his hands into yours, a huge grin plastered on your face.

"Of course."

♡ Yukimura ♡

Yukimura is panicking, and not even trying to hide it by this point.

He told himself, he promised to himself that this week, he'd finally confess to you. And yet, every single day that he wakes up thinking that this is the day... he chickens out the moment he sees you. Your smile... oh, that smile. He loves it, and he's terrified he'll lose it forever if he confesses and you reject him.

That's how it often goes, no? One rejects another, and then the friendship just feels off, which results in both people slowly drifting away from each other. He's seen it before, and the idea of it scares him beyond belief. He can't lose you. But that feeling, that need to be something more than just your friend... it gnaws at his heart even stronger than his fears. He wants to be yours, to stand by your side until you both take your last breaths.

Of course, he tries to ask around about what to do. Sasuke wasn't much help at all. The shinobi simply shrugged and told him to do what feels natural. Not like he would actually know what to do, never having been in a relationship. His Lord wasn't much better. What began as a simple, vague question about how to confess love turned into Lord Shingen telling him about his many romantic escapades from when he was younger. He certainly did not need to hear all that... but it was still somehow better than the advice he got from some of his fellow warriors.

He's on his own. And maybe it's for the best, now that he thinks about it. He just has to find his courage, and it will all go smoothly, right?

...right?

Well, he certainly won't get anywhere by overthinking it and doing nothing. So, he decides to confess when he's the most in his element: during a sparring match.

It's a fight like any other between you two. You hold nothing back, knowing the other can take it. You tend to bring out the best in each other, after all. And you know each other's moves enough by now that it's very easy to prevent serious injury. It's his spears against your trusty blade, sparks flying as they clash. A grin is plastered across your face, while his expression is nothing short of determined.

You're winning.

"I must say, your form is particularly good today!" his gaze never leaves you as he dodges yet another blow from you, an excited glint in those beautiful brown eyes of his. Of course he would exchange pleasantries mid-fight. Typical Yukimura.

"It's the same as always," you quip back once you're sure it's safe for you to talk. "But you seem a bit distracted..."

That seems to give him pause. His face, which was already flush from the physical exertion, changes into a shade of crimson that rivals his clothes.

"Ah, well- um... you could say that I am!" he shakes his head, trying to focus as he attempts a counter attack. "For there is something weighing on my heart!"

His hands shake a bit with a mixture of nervousness and excitement as he seems to gain a new burst of energy. The tables are turning, both in his mind and in the sparring match. But you say nothing, looking at him expectantly as you refuse to let him regain his footing.

"It's difficult to put into words... but there has only been one thing on my mind for the longest time now. And that- that's you! Every time we spar like this, my heart burns even stronger than it used to. Every single moment I get to spend with you makes me forget to breathe because of how... happy it makes me. And every time I look into your eyes I... I get utterly lost!" his words are hesitant at first, but are quickly filled with the fiery passion you know him for. "But I know that even if I feel lost, I always find my way thanks to you! I wish to be more than just your brother in arms, more than your friend..."

Your weapons lock into one another, creating a window through which he looks at you. And you look back at him. Your hair is messy, your faces red, your breathing heavy... and the world seems to revolve around this moment.

"I wish... I wish that I could be yours! You make my heart burn with the brightest flame... and it would be my greatest honor if you decided to feed that flame, until we leave this world."

His voice is quiet by the time he finishes speaking. An innocent plea said by Yukimura himself, not the warrior and leader he tries to be. And as if connected by some invisible link, you both step back, lowering your weapons. The silence that follows is thick with anticipation, and yet... yet those words slip from your mouth as naturally as another breath.

"I want to be yours, too."

♡ Motonari ♡

Motonari is... well, he doesn't even know what he's feeling right now. It's a mix of annoyance and confusion, spiced up by something... awfully warm and fuzzy that he really doesn't want to think about. Love and affection? Pathetic, he is above such trivial notions, he's the Child of the Sun, he-

He's hopelessly in love with the only true friend he has, and has no idea what to do.

Maybe it's how talking to you never felt dull. Maybe it's how you stuck by him with no fear for all these years, not getting caught in a scheme of his even once. Or perhaps it's how... gentle you are to him. Like the time after a devastating loss, when you sat down with him and placed a hand on his shoulder, listening to his frustrations. There's just something comforting about you, something that allows him to feel the things he tends to bury deep in his mind. You make him feel... human. That's probably the best way to put it, as much as he hates that fact.

And now he's at a crossroads. Either he ignores this ever-growing passion in his heart, which would be the harder, yet more logical option for him... or he faces it head-on, and maybe, just maybe, takes things further. Logic against feeling, the comfort of things staying the same fighting the temptation of the unknown.

But in the end, the feelings he has for you win. It's simply too much. And so he decides to confess his feelings, whatever they may be.

Motonari is not a romantic person by any means, and he won't pretend to be. Still, from what he knows, it would make sense for the confession to take place in pleasant circumstances. So he makes sure everything is perfect. Meaning, he orders all his underlings to covertly prepare everything, while he doesn't have to lift a finger. Why wouldn't he take that opportunity, with so many soldiers ready to do his bidding?

Finally, the time comes. The whole day has just been... suspiciously relaxing for you. No planning of strategies, no training, nothing you were used to. You suddenly had time to do some things you were putting off for so long to help ensure the clan is doing well. And everything you wanted was taken care of with the snap of a finger.

Something is afoot.

And the hunch you had was right, which you find out in the evening. You don't eat dinner inside, but instead in the castle gardens. Plenty of comfortable cushions are laid out for you to sit on, there's a lot of good food... and a certain warlord who is attempting to steal sneaky glances at you and failing miserably.

"So... what's the occasion?" you raise an eyebrow at him after a while of silence, gently tilting the cup with your drink from side to side.

"Whatever do you mean?" he responds in that nonchalant, monotone voice of his.

It took you a long time to learn it, but even he has a tell when he lies. The pinky on his right finger tends to twitch subtly anytime something dishonest leaves his mouth. Perhaps that is why he has such long sleeves on his armor. And he's doing it right now. Not even attempting to hide it, either.

"Come on, stop pulling my leg. You don't usually have fancy dinners like this with me... or give me days off," you point out, which makes his shoulders tense up.

He's completely out of his element here, and here you go pointing out something which could be seen as a fault on his side. Well, that does decrease his chances slightly, but he has to keep a cool head if he is to win you over. Even a love confession can be strategic if he tries hard enough, right?

"Ah. I suppose that is true," he gazes off into the distance, looking at nothing in particular, "are you unsatisfied with our current arrangement?"

Your eyes narrow with suspicion at that, but his body language betrays nothing about it being a trick question, so you decide to be honest with him.

"Well... it would be nice to have days like this more often, but we are also at war, so I understand having a lot of work," you shrug. "I doubt our enemies would respect my day off."

"True enough," a ghost of a smile graces his lips, something rarely seen on his face. Is he... amused?

"You still haven't answered my question."

A pause. He looks back at you, his face going back to its stoic, unfeeling facade.

"You are correct... though I suppose I was hoping that diverting your attention to a different topic would make you forget altogether. Alas..." he hums in thought, his eyes never leaving yours. "There is something we must discuss."

Uh oh, that doesn't sound good at all. When people say things like that, it usually means something went wrong, and you know Motonari has no qualms saying what he doesn't like. In detail. So you do the smart thing and simply gesture for him to continue.

"Something has been on my mind for a while now, but it took me a a long time to sort my thoughts out in regards to it. You and me... we have known each other for a long time now. And you know me better than anyone else in my life," he begins, shifting a bit so he faces you more with his entire body. "I used to find that fact quite unnerving. After all, such knowledge can be quite dangerous. But lately, my opinion has been changing. I do not mind it as much anymore. Or you in general. I suppose I have gotten used to you by now. Enough that I find your presence... pleasant, I suppose."

You open your mouth, but no words come out as you stare at him in stunned silence. Motonari being nice? Or, as nice as Motonari can be, that is. And what's worse, his hands are completely still, and nothing else betrays any hint of dishonesty. But seeing your shock, he clears his throat and quickly clears his throat, trying to save the situation despite words of affection not being his forte.

"What I mean to say is... a long time has passed since I simply saw you as yet another valuable asset. You have become a trusted companion, as strange it is for me to say. And in the past few months, you have made me feel- different. It terrifies me, because no matter what I try, I can't seem to get these feelings under control. And yet... it's very pleasant, and I find myself giving into them more and more often," his brows suddenly furrow as he attempts to explain his feelings to you. "It's like happiness, but it goes further. It feels better than when something goes exactly as planned... or when I triumph over you in shogi. Better than- anything else I can think of, I suppose. And it only happens when I'm with you."

He gazes at the starry sky, suddenly seeming strangely vulnerable.

"To put it simply... I would like to try something new. To be... more to you, and for you to be more to me. No more schemes, no more... facades. I want us to trust each other fully. And maybe, just maybe- do more than trust. You have shown me that there is an array of emotion that I have no clue about, and I think it's time for me to... research into that. Learn. Live," he seems almost hesitant as he looks back at you for the last time. "Perhaps there is a place for the both of us under the sun's glorious rays... what do you think?"

It takes a bit for you to process everything he said. He has just confessed that he has feelings- dare you say, love - for you. In the most Motonari way possible, of course, but you can't help but find it endearing. It is true, you know him better than anyone. But that goes both ways, and despite his strange habits and almost sadistic satisfaction he seems to get when he beats you at board games... you appreciate him a lot, too. There is something exciting about the prospect of getting to know the real him and just... being close. And besides, who can say no to a mutually beneficial agreement?

"I think there is... so let's see where this path leads us. I accept."

♡ Magoichi ♡

When Magoichi realizes she's in love with you, it gives her pause. Not that such feelings are unwelcome, on the contrary; it is simply an odd feeling. She tends to keep herself detached, focused on the task ahead so she can be the best leader of the Saika Faction she can. But it seems that even someone seemingly cold like her has her own weaknesses.

And oh, does she have one for you.

How could she not? You were by her side since you were only children, and you never left her behind. Whether she was was having the best time of her life or mourning those she had lost, you were an ever-present companion that she could share her life with without being worried. And she offered the same to you, though she was never all that great at it. That kind of trust is hard to come by, especially in these dark times, and she never took it for granted.

But now, she is faced with feelings much deeper than close friendship. Love seems like a very pleasant feeling so far, and it helps that you seem like you could even be receptive to it, were she to confess. And yet...

She hesitates.

Would it be a good idea for her to do such a thing? What if she neglects her duties too much? What if the attachment to you becomes a burden instead of the pillar she leans upon when she needs companionship? What if it hinders your ability to do your job? Neither of you can afford such a thing, not when there's a war raging everywhere around you and you need to stay vigilant.

However, that's only the logical part of her mind. The part that's slowly but surely getting overshadowed by that pleasant, fuzzy feeling in her chest. The loud thumping of her heart whenever you flash that grin of yours after a job well done. When you tell her about something you love and your eyes light up than the stars she sees every night. When she returns from patrol, only to find you snoring soundly on your mat in the most adorable way possible.

She weighs down her options, and eventually figures that keeping her feelings bottled up would be much worse. She's had enough of that, and you... you've convinced her, at least partly, that even she deserves affection. Besides, she's let you this close already, it can't be much worse.

She doesn't fuss over the confession itself much; Magoichi is a straight-forward, practical woman. She knows that saying it how it is in a relaxed situation is more than enough. And she wouldn't even know how to confess in a romantic way without sounding like an idiot- or a certain poetic vagabond with more feathers in his hair than sense in his head. Ugh.

So she does exactly that. On a fairly uneventful day, she invites you to go on patrol with her, as she often does. She knows she can count on you having her back. And just like any other time, it doesn't take long for a conversation to start. It's mostly you talking and her listening, a preferred arrangement between the two of you. She watches intently as your lips curl up into an amused smile while you tell her a joke you heard from one of your fellow Crows.

Magoichi is so lost in your expression, in fact, that she almost forgets to react, resulting in a somewhat delayed snort and amused roll of the eyes.

"Of course he'd say something like that... not surprised," she shakes her head, and only a pleasant silence follows right after.

It's late in the afternoon, and the sun is just now remembering that it's supposed to set, casting everything in a warm orange hue. Dirt and grass crunches around your feet as you walk, and you can hear a few birds chirping here and there. It's wonderful, and you can't help but take sneaky glances at the gorgeous landscape around you both.

"You know, I wanted to talk to you about something," she hums after a while, and slows her steps into an eventual stop.

You stop next to her, wordlessly gesturing for her to continue. The fearless leader of the Saika Faction doesn't respond immediately, however. Instead, she takes a deep breath and looks out into the distance, suddenly feeling incredibly awkward.

"Look, I won't mince words here, or I'll probably say something ridiculous," she turns back to you, crossing her arms in a seemingly relaxed manner. "Lately, I've been thinking... and I realized that you started to mean even more to me than before. I always cared about you, even if I wasn't great at expressing it. And I know you know that. But lately... it's been different for me. You smile at me and I suddenly feel like a mess-"

She cuts herself off for a moment, shaking her head again with a tiny scoff at herself. It's clear that this is a bit new to her. A bit unnerving, even.

"I guess I just fell for you, and I don't know what to do with myself except telling you. And I'm kind of hoping you feel the same. That you want to hold my hands and... tell me that you love me, just like I want to do the same for you. Right now, there's nothing that I want more, even though part of me feels stupid for saying all that," she smiles awkwardly. "...what do you say?"

But you know you don't need to say much. All it takes is taking her hand in yours, gently intertwining your fingers... and saying what has been on your mind for the longest time as well.

"I love you too."

♡ Motochika ♡

It takes Motochika an awfully long time to realize that his feelings for you run a bit deeper than regular friendship. It has nothing to do with his intelligence, nor lack of perception. He might be an intimidating warlord and an intimidating pirate, but no one could deny the size of his heart when it comes to all those he considers friends. And his crew? His crew is family. One that you're a very important part of. So, him showering you with affection and absolutely adoring you has always been par for the course.

But lately, his own feelings have been a bit of a mystery to him. It wasn't like there was anything wrong, per se. He was content, happy, even! Sailing the seas, being a menace and searching for treasure with his crew... it's all a sea wolf like him can ask for, war be damned. And yet, there was something strange, something tugging on his heartstrings. He even thought he was sick at one point, before he realized how silly that was. And through a mixture of pondering and talking it over with some of the other crew members, he slowly realizes that the source of that odd feeling is none other than you.

And that brings us to know. The poor man is in love, and now that he knows it, it's gotten even worse. Oh, how he wishes to scoop you up into his arms and never let go, to sit with you on the deck and stargaze when everyone is asleep, fall asleep while holding you every night and wake up the same way every morning... it's driving him insane. But he wants to do this right, to earn your love.

The problem is, he has no idea where to even begin.

He absolutely refuses to court you like some stupid, snobby lord from the mainland. That would probably just scare you off, anyway. You're made of sterner stuff, just like him. Maybe he could hunt down a shark for you? Impressive, sure, but kind of weird, so no. The treasure you have is shared by all of the crew, so it's not like giving you any of that would mean much, either. But he wants to do something for you, give you something, something that comes from the heart...!

Ah. He's got it. He'll do something he's never done before.

When the ship makes small stop on land the next day, he lets everyone do as they please (like always, anyhow), and disappears without telling anyone. Even you're none the wiser about where he went, but you're not particularly worried about him. He knows how to take care of himself. Most of the time, at least.

But unbeknownst to you, he went to a somewhat secluded beach nearby. And with no one to observe and possibly spoil the surprise, he starts gathering seashells. Big ones, small ones- as long as he finds them beautiful, he takes them, and slowly builds a decent collection. He wraps it all in a cloth, tucking it into a small pouch he currently has on his hip, before he slinks back to you and the others.

Later that night, he sheepishly approaches a member of his crew; a scrawny, cheery young man named Teruo, who has a bit of a knack for everything concerning jewelry. Collecting, and even making various trinkets is his hobby, which makes him a fairly valuable member of a team when the crew needs to make a bit more money. But this time, the infamous Sea Devil approaches him for a different purpose.

He wants to make a necklace for you... using the shells he collected.

Obviously, he doesn't really know much about that sort of handiwork. His hands are great at fishing, swinging his anchor around to defeat terrified enemies... rough work, nothing as gentle as this. But he wants to learn. He wants to put an effort into making something for you. Something that you will appreciate and will hopefully look as good on you as he imagines. And when his dear aniki explains the situation, how can Teruo refuse to help?

And so begins a long, frustrating night full of cursing, some broken seashells, and unwavering effort of a pirate that's hopelessly in love. By the time he's done, he's certain it's almost morning, so he decides to at least take a short nap. He doesn't even bother to go back to his cabin. He just slumps down in the corner on the hard wooden floor, gently clutching the newly made necklace in his right palm.

He doesn't sleep for long, though. He's used to waking up around sunrise, and his biological clock doesn't disappoint this time, either. So he sleepily gets out of Teruo's tiny cabin (not without muttering an apology for bothering him the entire night, though), and walks back up on the deck. And as luck would have it...

...he spots you.

You're standing there, letting the wind caress your hair as your arms rest against the ship's railing. You seem content, just staring at the sun as it lazily rises up on the skyline. And if Motochika wasn't in love with you before, then boy is he now. You look utterly perfect to him in the warm orange glow, and like a siren, you've enthralled him yet again, heart and soul.

This is it. There will never be a moment more perfect than this.

He walks up to you casually, stopping right beside you. It takes him a while to speak, as he mentally prepares himself for what he's about to do.

"Enjoying the sunrise?" he asks as he hides the necklace behind him, his other hand moving to rest on his hip.

"Mhm."

Your response sounds a bit absent-minded, but that's mostly because you're still a bit sleepy. You're enjoying the sunrise, but paying attention to him, too.

"I get it. No better view of the sky than from the deck of a ship, with wind in your hair and the smell of the sea right at your nose..." he hums in approval, before his voice slips into a soft murmur. "Anyway... wanted to tell you something."

That tears your gaze from the gorgeous scenery, and brings it to his face. His brown eyes are filled with a strange tenderness, while the rest of his face remains somewhat stoic. You know the look... he has something important to say, but he'll probably say it with that endearing sincerity of his.

"So... we've known each other for what feels like forever, huh? Sailing the seas, having an adventure wherever the wind takes us... it's been fun. Great having you by my side through all that," he gives you a sincere, yet somewhat awkward grin. "But you know... I've been thinking a lot lately. About us, I mean. And I realized you mean a lot more to me than I thought you did. Not that you weren't one of my favorites before- you're the backbone of this crew at this point. But I guess I caught myself wanting... more."

There's a short pause, and you can clearly see the momentary realization in his eyes that he's really doing this, and there's no going back from it.

"What I want to say is... I... love you. A lot. And I want- I hope that maybe, we could be more than what we are now. More than a Captain and his right hand. I want you to be my partner in crime. Well, not just in that, but in everything," he rubs the back of his head to soothe his nervousness. "And to show you it's not just words, and I really mean it, I made something for you."

He finally reveals the necklace. It's actually pretty well made for his first try. A bit crude in some places, but clearly made with love. There's even a few silver beads dividing the various seashells to spice things up a bit.

"I know, not the best accessory in the world... but I worked hard on it. Picked out some shells I thought you'd like and put it together, even though it was kind of frustrating," he chuckles awkwardly. "...do you like it?"

You take the necklace from him, admiring it for a few more moments. Maybe it's not the most beautiful piece of jewelry, but he made it for you. Just for you. That's enough to make your heart beat like crazy. You care for him a lot too, more than you were comfortable with admitting before. And when you see the puppy eyes he's giving you now, you can't help but feel that maybe it's time to let yourself feel that love, let it out.

Without a word, you fall into his arms, and he catches you in time.

"I don't like it. I love it. But not more than you."

---

Woo! It's done! After such a long wait, I'm finally back with another finished request. This one was kind of daunting, to be honest... but I think I did okay! Despite all the obstacles, I finished these silly scenes, and I'm super proud! And that leaves only one more request in my backlog.

Thanks for your patience, and that you read my stories, it means a lot to me.

And as always...