#(note this is a slight joke character I just wanted a sweet grandma character for this blog really)

[askkolathecourierandco]

Just got the best idea for an oc for this blog a Sole Survivor who is a 191 year old grandma who is looking for her grandson.  Also she’s gonna be part of the BoS because that would be fun.

[okimargarvez]

THE MAGNIFICENT, EXTRABILIANT POWER OF SUGGESTION

Original title: Il magnifico, strabiliante potere della suggestione.

Prompt: just right after 14x1, the team go to Rossi’ house and talking about Luke and Penelope situation.

Warning: comic, border of the absurd, parody.

Genre: humor, family, parody, comedy, romantic, friendship.

Characters: Penelope Garcia, Luke Alvez, Emily Prentiss, Tara Lewis, David Rossi, Matt Simmons, Spencer Reid, Jennifer Jareau.

Pairing: Garvez, Tarily.

Note: oneshot 39 in Garvez collection.

Legend: 🔦🎈.

Song mentioned: Solo è solo una parola, Tiziano Ferro.

This story it’s my first Tarily.

GARVEZ STORIES

THE MAGNIFICENT, EXTRABILIANT POWER OF SUGGESTION

As the last time, Rossi had that idea. After what they had passed, after what they had risked losing, it was necessary to spend a moment of suspension, in which they didn't have to think about the duties and responsibilities that weighed on their shoulders, every time they got on that jet, and even on those of those who remained on the ground. But above all, the father of the BAU wanted to prevent someone from mulling too much and arriving at the wrong conclusion. Finally, they have to stay together for what distinguished them from all the other teams, including the VICAP where the traitor, Mary Meadows, had been working for a very long time. Because they were, because they are, a family.

Dave is in the kitchen, intent on taking care of his very famous pasta, which, he himself is aware of, would make his grandmother pale, because it is too different from the original recipe. But here they are in America, not in Italy, and dishes, like people, change, transform, absorb something new and combine it with tradition. Despite not being in the living room, he still has a good view of a good part of his colleagues. And his hearing works great. -No, I say, have you seen?- Tara blurts out, jumping on the couch and beating with her arm that of her colleague, as well as boss. -Or am I the only fool to have noticed?- she turns to the blonde, while trying to lower the volume of the voice. But there wouldn’t even be to worry. The reason that justifies her sudden jump in the air hasn’t noticed anything in the least, is too busy to do something else. Rossi giggles, continuing to mix the sauce; he adds the cream.

I think of you thinking of me and a life goes away, I look at you, watching that another era ends and while inexorable the time doesn’t console me, I'm alone but I smile, and I think that alone it's just a word...

-Are you talking about a certain someone who hasn’t stopped staring at someone else since we left the elevator and even now seems not to want to commit too much to make everything less obvious and clear?- says the expert's answer in communication with the press. They all burst out laughing, yet the man doesn’t even turn around.

Emily even applauds. -I couldn’t have said it better, JJ.- the two friends look at each other and approach their heads, blonde and brunette, so perfect to see together.

Perhaps even to avoid being pushed aside, Dr. Lewis says: -But why, don’t tell me it's the first time you realize it. -And so Prentiss returns to focus on her.

JJ shakes her head vigorously, clapping a hand on her leg, to emphasize the following concept. -Not really! Say rather the millionth time.- she casts more circumspect glances at the subject of their conversation, but there is no danger at all. -He doesn’t miss an opportunity to stare her, whenever he knows she can’t noticed it.- a slight, that is not slight, trace of frustration.

-I don’t think he does it consciously.- Matt decides to take the defense of his friend, at least a little. -Sure, his brain has a security system that prevents him from looking at her and being caught, but there is nothing conscious, in what he does.- for the first time he turns to check the situation with his own eyes. Luke is still there, dazed at the entrance to the patio, and is staring at their beloved colleague, in the garden, intent in a lively telephone conversation with her chocolate thunder.

-In any case this situation has lasted for too long. This story has been going on for two years.- it is clear that JJ can’t stand it any longer, she hoped for them from the first moment, she also thought more than once to talk with him or her, but she didn’t want to intrude on things that didn’t concern her. And here is the result.

Tara helps her. -Yes, well, if you expect that he makes the first step, you are a dreamer.- she launches an overall look at the whole group, thus obtaining a strategic pause. -We have noticed the way he looked at her a moment ago, no?- another break, before expressing at best what she has learned in years of university and several specific courses in psychology. -With regret. Disillusionment.- she scans every term well, almost as if it were arcane and she wasn’t talking to equally competent people. -It doesn’t even dare to put a hand on her shoulder, while inside him, who knows what he thought.- she shakes her head, looks at her friend again. -It's hopeless.- she decrees, finally, virtually by leaving her own signature to the recipe that she would recommend to him.

-And then, do you think it would be easier if she makes the first move?- Simmons loves both, loves Penelope, but in this discussion he must at least try to take the parts of his adoptive brother.

-When she came back from that audience in San Francisco... Pen told me that, if anything could have happened before, now it was too late.- JJ reveals, with a slightly sad tone. Emily strokes her arm.

-For Lisa?- Tara asks.

-I think so, what else?- the blonde answers rolling her eyes.

So, Matt decides it's time to seriously expose himself. -I'm sorry to be so abrupt, I'm really sorry for Lisa, but... theirs is not a big love story. At first maybe he was taken by the new... but it lasted less than a week.- he remembers his look while he told him about this girl fabulous, smart, nice... and remembers even better what he had thought himself, i.e. that he was actually speaking of Garcia.

-Are you sure they're still together?- more than a pair of eyes look strangely towards the chief. She spreads her arms as if to say "I only asked". Then, after a moment's hesitation, she adds: -After all, you all didn’t realize that Mark and I broke up.- JJ opens her eyes wide and also her mouth, then takes a deep breath.

-WHAAAAAAAAAAT?- a look of reproach that is equivalent to a "how could you not tell me". From the kitchen, Rossi refrains from laughing so as not to distract himself. He can’t forget to add onions. What a David Rossi’ pasta Carbonara would be, otherwise?

Dr. Lewis strokes her shoulder. -I'm very sorry, Emily.- she understands that her friend is sincere, but she still catches something strange; but decides not to commit too much in the search for an answer that is not ready to know.

I wrote the answers even without the questions because I have riddles and doubts sent back to the sender...

JJ takes the situation in her hands. For her it is not just one of the many chats in the family, but a real mission. -We must trying to stay serious. Does anyone have a real plan to put them both in front of the reality of what they feel?- the million dollar question. Nobody dared to risk proposing something, until the boy, the youngest of the group, finally takes the floor. Tonight, he was strangely silent.

-Why don’t we lock them in a closet and don’t leave them there until one of them fails?- his best friend seriously evaluates the idea for a moment, then forces herself to discard it, although she sees the scene in front of her eyes as if it were real.

-Spence! Do you want to be arrested for kidnapping?- the little genius doesn’t understand the reaction of his boss. -No, it seems too bad.- the others nod.

-Where did you take this idea, from a book by Stephen King?- Tara asks him. He nods vigorously. -I guessed.- and a chorus of laughter breaks out. For the first time since being at Rossi's home, Luke turns to look in their direction. But only for a moment. He can’t risk that the work of art he is contemplating vanishes because he has let himself be distracted for a while.

-Hey, conspirators, the dinner is ready!- Dave's voice resounds also to Luke, who has a sweet and dreamy smile on his lips.

-Penelope!- he calls, enjoying seeing her turn around and forcing her to look him in the eye. -It's time for dinner.- the blonde looks up at the sky, clearly annoyed and interrupts her conversation. She is too far to read the labial, even if he would be able to.

 Later, while the two lovebirds (still unaware of it, but these are just details) clean up the room (they have certainly not decided to do it, it was the landlord who entrusted to both of this task), all others take care of the rest of the house. And it is precisely during the passage of a plate between JJ and Matt, that Reid elaborates the perfect plan. That is not at all so, but the general enthusiasm is too great for anyone to realize it. And luckily for them, those two are overly naive to smell the smell what’s in store.

-What if we let them believe that we all involuntarily ingested a "truth serum"?- for a while the dish doesn’t fall to the ground, where it would surely be shattered, ruining Grandma Rossi's favorite set.

-Spence, but it's a great idea!- the ceramic object reaches the dishwasher unharmed, and the blonde holds back from throwing her arms around his neck, even though he no longer hates hugs or physical contact in general.

-Pentothal.- Tara can’t help but say, correcting his colleague. This too, it's quite strange. Spencer that doesn’t use the correct term of a drug.

-Yes, all great, but there is still a problem. How did we eat such a thing without realizing it? As a joke it seems a bit too...- Simmons is forced to be the pain in the ass.

-Right, we need to study the details better.- Emily nods to herself meditatively.

-But we don’t have much time left. Those two have practically finished and aren’t stupid to this point.- JJ looks terrified at the living room, not even she was the protagonist of a scars horror film or a slashers movie.

-I'll take care of that.- Rossi walks outside the kitchen, still wearing an apron with "Bella Napoli, da Tony, cheap prices" written on it, a gift from one of his best poker’ companions from the good old days, apron that, between brackets, it suits on him so good. -Hey, guys, I realized I had made an unforgivable mistake. I forgot to buy wine. And what Rossi’ party would be, without a nice glass in the hand?- he mentally asks forgiveness to the various bottles down in the cellar. Perhaps, in another situation, perhaps, if it were vital information to capture an unsub... perhaps in that case they would have understand, which was just a lie. Instead, in the special circumstance, they fall for it, both. -Would you go there to buy one, while we end up settling down there?- he paints the most sincere and innocent expression he know on his face. Yes, he always got along well with poker.

-Sure, no problem.- Luke smiles and certainly is not because he wants to take a ride with the car. The smile widens more and more, and the eyes are filled with little hearts. Damn it, it's just so hopeless.

-But why do I have to go too? Can’t do him alone?- instead, his kitten protests, behaving like a naughty child, but not at all affect the blissful expression of her colleague.

-C’mon, getting some air will do you good, and beyond there, a couple of hands, here, might be a bit too much. And this evening it's better that none of us stay alone.- he is good also with improvisation. Maybe he should have worked in the cinema; after all, he is half Italian. Di Caprio, De Niro, Tarantino...

-Let’s not split up, exactly the opposite of Fred's suggestion in every episode of Scooby Doo!- agent Alvez adds, hoping to gain points in the eyes of Garcia, having noticed (and noted, in his mind) a poster and a statuette of the famous Great Dane in her house.

-Exactly!- the man gives him a fatherly pat on the shoulder. Penelope looks first at one and then the other, as undecided about who unleash her own wrath, who fulminates first, then emits a loud puff, that surely others in the kitchen will have heard because they hear shortly after laughter in the distance. However, Dave is surprised not to see her stomping her feet on the floor.

-Italian Stallion, you shouldn’t do that!- in the end, she shows quite generous, before walking behind the Latin, which launches at the older one a gaze that seems a silent thanks.

While the roar of the car of Luke resounded, Rossi returns to the kitchen, where the housework has been completed quite a while ago. Three women and two men, one of them married and one self-sufficient for unhappy circumstances; he couldn’t expect otherwise. -Ok, it's done.- he exclaims in a strange tone, as if he were talking through a walkie-talkie. He can resist to not adding a Roger.

JJ is responsible for taking the floor for everyone. -Great. So, we thought we could say that you found a letter from your old enemy, maybe a rival of love, I think there will be an infinite list of them- this mania to reiterate the stereotype of warm hearted Italian -that instead of killing you has decided to punish you by forcing you to tell the truth and so ruin your romantic evening with Krystall!- many heads nod in sync.

-Wait... how do you know that I restarted to dating the third wife?- Tara, Emily and JJ exchange a look too explicit.

-Well, before you said it, we had only suspects.- and the blonde blinks innocently, tapering her lips and passing her tongue over it, as she always does in these circumstances. Shit. Now the damage is done.

-Whatever.- he talks hoping that the information vanishes from their minds, submerged by other data much more important for their mission -We don’t have much time, Luke and Penelope will return in at most ten minutes. There is a supermarket nearby, and there is no queue at this hour.- and magically, it works.

-I'm in charge of manufacturing the threatening message.- Reid offers, genuinely enthusiastic.

-I'll give him a hand.- Tara says.

-Ok, but there is another problem.- all look bad at Simmons, who spreads his arms, as if to say that he certainly doesn’t want to be on purpose the Voice of Doom. -I don’t think Garcia will fall for it. I have no doubts about Luke, because... forget it. But she, is naïve, ok, buts... no, in my opinion her protection system will prevent her from saying what she feels. In short, she already normally come out with things that maybe she would rather not say out loud, right? I don’t think it would make the difference for her.- they dreadfully admit it, but Matt hit the mark.

-Damn it!- JJ is displeased, already thinking of abandoning everything.

-Hey, hold on, I have the solution.- all eyes are now on the psychologist. -Pen is the only vegetarian, among us, right? So, she ate a different sauce from ours, without meat.- she says simply.

-Of course! Tara, you're a genius!- Emily gives her a warm smile and something melts inside her colleague.

-Well, now, everyone at work!-

 About ten minutes later, Alvez's car was parked in the huge Rossi garage. -Ok, are you all ready? Battle stations.- JJ is still the one to take the situation in her hands. -I recommend, try to look natural. Chatter, bar talk.- steps approaching. -...so, Michael looked at Harry and said "But what you say, Santa doesn’t exist?"- the door knob lowers.

-Yes, I understand you perfectly. The same thing happened to me last year. Fortunately, the twins have taken it quite well...- and finally a burst of color makes its entrance, followed by a man much grayer but no less lively, which, while he is busy carrying two heavy bottles, takes advantage to glance not too veiled at the backside of the woman who precedes him.

-Hey, Rossi, I hope you don’t mind, but we took a bottle of white and red wine.- the buzz stops abruptly.

-But sure, kitten, so everyone will have what prefer.- and the elderly landlord is winking at the rest of the gang.

-We have lost something? You will not have started playing without us!- and only when he hears that pronoun, that also including him, the heart of man makes the leaps of joy, jackknife twist, triple flip and also hurdler one.

JJ almost chokes with his own saliva. -But what, are you joking? We had just a little conversation...- tomorrow, all together, group trip to the statue of the patron Saint of Ingenuity. Dave emerges from the kitchen, along with Simmons, with eight glasses counted. They have thought of everything, every single detail, so the two find themselves sitting together, close (too much for her, too little for him), in the only sofa left empty, the smallest, strange coincidence. Spencer passes to the colleague the bottle of red (everyone in the team knows that Garcia prefers red wine and in fact seems quite right so, suitable for her character), followed by the watchful eye of his best friend.

Luke grasps it gently, then turns to the blonde. -Want some?- and everyone, including him, less her, understand that he is not just talking about alcoholic beverages.

Penelope stretches her own glass with a gesture too theatrically bored and disinterested, then she gives him the honor of a thank you that illuminates him like a Christmas tree. And it is while watching the scene, that Emily realizes that only the computer technician didn’t drink white wine. And she decides to change the plan, in full swing. She whispers something to JJ, who does the same with Reid, then to Tara, who jumps slightly, finally the latter sends a telephone message to Matt who is careful to also inform the landlord. The lovebirds don’t even notice it, too intent on staring each other. In fact, the idea that the serum has been poured into a liquid is much more sensible... but then... the drama.

-It can’t be there, they just bought them, those damn bottles!- and who understands first this? Simmons, of course. Spencer is too tired tonight. And so, as soon as the pass word makes another turn, they go back to Plan A.

JJ and Tara exchange a look and a few seconds later the brunette stands up suddenly. -Oh, how hot it's here, but you are not hot?- she doesn’t let anyone time to reply. -I feel... I feel my head spinning...- and she looks directly at Prentiss.

-What are you, Tara, are you okay?- the latter perfectly plays the role of the worried friend. Or maybe she doesn’t play at all. She pulls herself up on her feet and puts her hand on her shoulder.

-Yes, Em, I'm fine, I'm always fine when I'm close to you.- a brief pause, almost imperceptible. -You're so beautiful, I think it's you that makes my head spin like this. And to make me feel all this hot.- it seems that she really thinks so and for a moment even the others fall for it.

-Oh, Tara. You're right, I'm hot too. I don’t know what happens to me, but... I have to tell you. I love your hair, they are beautiful. And your legs... damn it, I struggle to concentrate on work when I see you walking, I would like to spend all the time looking at them and not constantly having to worry about psychopaths...- the psychologist draws her close, placing both hands on her shoulders, but in the direction of the neck. A detail that is not insignificant at all.

-I think the same, your legs, Emily, are long from here to hell, the place where you will send me.- the other opens the eyes wide and the pupils are dilate. This is something that nobody can’t absolutely pretend, and Dr. Lewis should know it perfectly, but right now her brain is too clouded.

A moment of absolute silence, all with bated breath. And then Emily approaches her lips to those of her colleague and kisses her. First slightly and then more and more intensely. Everything lasts a moment, but it's an eternity for the two who live it from within. Penelope stares at her friends in shock, but at the height of joy.

-Wow!- she is so happy that for a moment she risks to hug Newbie.

-I... sorry, I don’t know what got into me, but... but I can’t say I'm really sorry. I liked it, damn it.- lie and truth are just two words that don’t always oppose.

-Yes, well, me too. I would do it again now, maybe without all this crowd.- Tara chuckles and realizes that some of her lipstick, of a color so similar to the natural one of her lips that she is almost never noticed, is partly in the corner of her mouth. Prentiss' mouth. Her boss.

-Yes.- Emily also laughs, but with less naturalness.

-All right, at this point I can’t really be silent anymore. Also because I feel that something forces me to say it, and I don’t know how I have managed to resist until now.- everyone stares at him, and hell, there is the embarrassment of the choice here to put on the next blockbuster and get all Oscars. -I found a message from a Krystal’ ex- they hear JJ clap and say "I knew it!" -that he had drugged something in my kitchen with the truth serum, so finally she would have discovered with what kind of man she wanted to stay.- he recites in a solemn tone, like a composed actor.

-What do you mean, Rossi?- Matt asks, pretending to be upset and confused.

-It's pretty simple, we've probably all swallowed that serum, even if that's an incorrect name and derived more from the use that has been done in several VHS movies, because the real name is...- Spencer, the real Dr. Reid, is back, talking in his usual way.

-You didn’t need to drink it, to say everything you think.- JJ makes lovingly fun of him. He blushes.

-Anyway, more bluntly, this means that we are forced to say only the truth, just like in the film with Jim Carrie. Liar Liar.- Dave explains. And here the anxieties and reproaches of the Asian former IRT member are well founded.

-But... but I... I don’t feel anything weird. Neither hot nor...- Penelope seems lost and almost sorry about it. Luke, for his part, is silent, because if this were true, he would be in the most total shit. Deeply.

-Garcie, honey, Spence and you are the sincerest people I know. On you a truth serum has the same effect as a mosquito bite on the armor of a rhinoceros.- the chief glances at her as oddly as to say, "And where did you get it out? It wasn’t in the script"; but she clearly appreciated. The blonde seems to think seriously about the words of her friend.

-Or it was something you didn’t eat. Like meat.- Tara takes care of the main line, the one that holds on the whole castle of cards. And it works. It works fucking good.

-Oh, shit.- Luke lets escape it from his mouth, signing his own death sentence. Mentally the women of the BAU are already rubbing their hands and are ready to start the choir of Alleluia and celebrations beyond any legal measure, and even beyond every decency. Luke's eyes falls on Garcia's neckline. On her breasts, as huge as perfect.

-What are you looking at, Alvez?- and she doesn’t ask him with malice, she doesn’t think at all that, under such circumstances, he should be forced to tell the truth, naked. It's another one, the lie she follows, ever since she saw him as a new member of BAU. -You see anything you like?- and with a short sentence, it's over. Goodbye to dignity and pride, forever.

-Oh, yes, in fact there are a lot of things that I like, of what I'm looking at. Your tits...- he rolls his eyes backwards, once he has left he can’t stop. -They are so big and firm... I'm dying to test with my hand how much. And I'm... I'm sure your face when you're coming is the sweetest thing in the universe, I would take a picture and hang it in the room, even if it happened only once.- between the sentences Penelope passes from shock and indignation to... other. Same symptom of Emily: dilated pupils. Diagnosis: excitement. And it's not just the eyes, that rat out, but also the lips that bent like that, mischievous and inviting. And in fact, they manage to steal the attention to the breast. -And your mouth, fuck, it's so red, soft, juicy, I spent the nights wondering what it tastes like, and imagining your lips around my...- before he can finish a scream covers the last word, already also evident in the silence. Indeed, even heavier because it is not pronounced.

-LUKE!- Matt doesn’t take it anymore. At that moment the Latin re-emerges and realizes what he has just said. All he has just said. Shit, shit, shit. He can’t look her in the eye, but he can’t help it, and the fight is soon won by the man madly in love. And when he sees that expression on her face, he even forgets the shame he was starting to feel.

She seems to invite him to continue, only with a movement of eyelashes. She is not at all sorry about his performance. Indeed, she plays along.

Rossi decides that the game has lasted too long. -Guys, what would you say to take a room? Normally I would tell you to go to on of your houses, but... Luke, my boy, I think there is nobody besides Roxy waiting for you, I’m right?- he waits for him to nod. -Well. But I'm afraid that if you get behind the wheel now, I'm sure you would crash somewhere. And I prefer some stained sheet, to have to wear again the black dress and the tie that tightens my neck like crazy. So...- he winks towards the stairs. And Penelope doesn’t wait for him to decide, takes Luke by the hand and, knowing quite well this house (even if she never managed to find secret passages like those in the castles that are seen in the films set in the Middle Ages), knows that Rossi has several rooms for guests and one is right for them. Not even their cheeks are too red, while they fade quickly into the night. -Tara, Emily, do you want to favor too? Each room is soundproofed.- they take a second too long to burst out laughing.

-No, thank you, Rossi. But the proposal is tempting.- Emily admits, only partially joking. Tara instead, is silent, thoughtful. She is lost in a memory not too far in time. Just at most half an hour ago.

JJ looks at her friends and sighs, turns to Spencer, but doesn’t grasp the extent of his look, then opts on Matt that proves more receptive. Luke and Penelope are settled. Now they have to think about these other two here.

TAGS: @theshamelessmanatee  @arses21434 @kathy5654 @martinab26 @reidskitty13 @jenf42 @gracieeelizabeth27 @silviajajaja @smalliemichelle99 @charchampagne14 @thinitta   @myhollyhanna23 @garvezz @mercedes-maldonado  @shyladystudentfan @cosmicmelaninflower

[jimbersquish]

Willowden

By Jimbersquish

Rating: M 

Genre: Romance; a/b/o dynamics; Alternate Universe--Wolves; Bonding; Mating Bond; Soulmates

Other notes: Some original characters

Pairing: Jeon Jungkook/Park Jimin

Summary:  Jimin is an ordinary high school student. Around school he’s pretty much ignored—and he likes it that way. He doesn’t need the added drama that these angsty teenagers deluge on anyone involved. Been there, done that freshman year, and he’d really not like to go back. He’s content with his small group of friends and their regular shenanigans. They really keep him entertained, and he needs the entertainment, because if there was one word he’d use to describe senior year so far, it would be borrrr-ing. But he doesn’t remain bored for long. One night on the way back home from a party Taehyung and Co. talked him into crashing, he finds himself kidnapped and taken to a strange place.

Chapter 1: Obsidian (3449 words)

“So Hamlet was just really bad at making up his mind, and that led to his death?” A student from somewhere in the class asked. “Yes,” the teacher answered, “it was his fatal flaw.”

“Isn’t that a little…melodramatic,” the student replied and Jimin rolled his eyes.

“What do you think Shakespeare was trying to say by making something so simple, Hamlet’s fatal flaw?” The teacher asked to the class. There was a long silence. Apparently none of the students knew the answer.

Jimin was staring at the clock with bated breath. He had his chin in his hand and his elbow on the desk as he watched the staccato movement of the clock’s second hand. The ticking was even audible in the quiet of students probably staring at the teacher with blank expressions on their faces.

“Shakespeare, was trying to highlight an occurrence that we face every day,” the teacher explained, “making a decision. Sometimes it can be difficult to do certain things, but they need to get done. You shouldn’t put off the difficult things just because they aren’t easy. For example, homework,” She continued, “Right, Youngjae?” and the rest of the class laughed at this. It was common knowledge that Youngjae would rather ask around for the answers the period before, than actually try to come up with them on his own.

Realizing that the clock wasn’t going to move any faster, Jimin turned his eyes towards the window. He sat on the edge of the class right next to it. He was eternally grateful that his assigned seat allowed him to be so close. It was the closest he would get to the outside before the bell rang, signifying the end of the school day.

The sun was barely out today, and the slight overcast made the afternoon look later than it actually was. Jimin noticed that there was a large black dog outside, sitting some distance away. It really looked more like a wolf, with its big pointy ears and fluffy mane, but what would a wolf be doing out in the suburbs? Maybe it was a Husky with the opposite of albinism, he mused and laughed internally at his own joke.

The longer he stared at it though, he couldn’t help but feel like it was staring right back at him with its piercing green eyes, the only part of the animal not obscured by dark fur. It was blacker than night, and so shiny. The sunlight reflected off of it like obsidian. Even with its unyielding gaze, Jimin never felt afraid. The animal didn’t seem threatening, it felt more like curiosity than predatory stalking. Its stance was strong, alert. It showed no sign of caring that it was being watched right back. It wanted Jimin to see it.

The bell ringing caused Jimin to jump a little. He stood up swiftly, ready to get the hell out of that place, and stuffed his books into his gray Jansport backpack. He put one strap over his right shoulder as he started to walk out, falling in behind the mob of students trying to squeeze through the door. When he looked back at the window the wolf was gone.

“Agh!” The force of something big and heavy jumping onto Jimin’s back caused him to grunt at his misfortune.

“Hello, Jiminie.” His friend’s deep saccharine voice sounded right next to his ear. Jimin shook him off and yelled, “Why would you jump on me? I’m small.”

“Now you admit it?” Taehyung teased.

“Shut up.” Jimin rolled his eyes. He just couldn’t seem to do it enough. So many things in life warranted his eye roll.

“You know you love me.” Taehyung wrapped his arms around Jimin’s chest a little too tight.

Their interaction was interrupted by the honk of a car horn and they both turned their heads toward a light blue Mazda 3.

“Winner gets to sit shotgun!” Taehyung shouted before running off in the direction of the vehicle.

“You fucking…,” Jimin said under his breath and took off right behind him. Despite his slightly shorter legs, he caught up quite quickly and even reached the passenger side door first, but by the time he realized that Hoseok was already sitting in the seat, Taehyung jumped into the back and slammed the door behind him.

Jimin tried the handle only to find it locked. “Come on, open the door.” He could practically hear Taehyung snickering. He shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest, and stood there on the curb until he heard the click of the lock. It must have been unlocked by Seokjin, because Jimin didn't see Hoseok move a muscle.

“Hoseok,” he started, “you couldn’t unlock the door?” He asked as he climbed into the car and buckled his seat belt.

“I’m sorry, Jiminie. You just look so cute when you’re mad.”

Jimin scoffed. “Hi, Jin. How was your day?” He asked with mock politeness, “Since you seem to be the only sane person in here.”

“It was fine. College you know,” Jin answered, as he pulled away from the curb and got behind the line of cars on their way off the school grounds. After school traffic was the worst. Congestion caused by the surplus of parents coming to pick up their kids, buses on their way to drop off others, and high school students lucky enough to have a car, made getting off of Oakridge Road a fifteen minute ordeal.

"Hey, Jin," Taehyung said, "I kind of gave Mr. Thompson your number, and told him that you were Dad."

Jin sighed with exasperation. "Seriously?!" He griped. "What did you do this time?"

"Nothing! I swear. He just doesn't like me," Taehyung said.

"He told him to go fuck himself," Hoseok announced. Then Taehyung leaned between the seats in order to smack Hoseok a couple of times on the arm.

“Put your seatbelt on!” Jin yelled.

“We’re in a school zone!” Taehyung yelled back. "We’re barely even moving,” he added before reluctantly buckling himself in. “And that wasn’t what I said. My exact words were, “You should just ask someone else”, after he demanded that I give him the answer even though I kept saying that I didn’t know."

“He was only doing that because you told him last week that he did the math wrong in front of the entire class.” Hoseok retorted.

“THANK YOU, HOSEOK. You’re really not helping,” Taehyung replied.

“I’m just saying, if you want to stop getting in trouble, you should stop doing things to make him hate you.”

“More than he already does,” Jimin added

“It’s not my fault he has a superiority complex and got offended just because I tried to show him a shorter way to get to the same answer.” Taehyung huffs and slouches down in his seat.

“Hoseok’s right. You should just leave him alone, for your own sake. I am not picking up the phone every time he feels the need to tattle on you,” Jin said.

Taehyung feels bad about having to subject his brother to the long, and most likely stupid, conversation he was going to have to have with his teacher, but it’s better him than their parents. "I didn't want to give him Mom or Dad's number because they'll believe anything he says. You’re the only one that knows what I’m actually dealing with,” he explained.

“I know he’s an asshole, but please try not to get into any more trouble, Taehyung,” Seokjin said. He does know what his brother is going through. He complains about it almost every day that he gets in the car after the final bell, but enough is enough. Sooner or later the battle that’s been going on between Taehyung and his teacher would reach a tipping point, and when that happens, the results won’t be good. Taehyung could end up facing suspension or worse, and that won’t be very appealing to colleges.

When they finally made it back to their neighborhood, Jin stopped in front of Jimin's house.

“I’ll text you, Jiminie.” Taehyung called from inside the car, and Jimin waved before shutting the door. The car drove off as he trudged up the empty driveway to his house. It was a Tudor style place with red trim and cream, sunbaked panels. It had a red door to match and the window sills had small flower beds—his grandmother’s idea. She was to blame for the house’s over all cuteness. All the homes on the block looked essentially the same, but his was the only red one.

He shut the door behind him and threw his keys carelessly onto the table near the door. Then he poked his head into the living room where his grandmother was watching TV.

“Hi, Grandma,” he said.

“Hi, Jiminie. How was school?” Her sweet voice asked.

“The same,” he said over his shoulder as he walked past the stairs and into the kitchen. He opened the fridge and scanned his eyes over its contents before grabbing a water and shutting it again.

“What was the same about it?” His grandmother was now standing in the opening just past the threshold that led back into the foyer.

“Oh, you know. Teachers, class, Shakespeare. Wash, rinse, repeat.” He spun his hand in a circle. “It’s just an endless cycle until graduation.”

“You want me to make you something?” His grandmother asked seeing how he closed the fridge, seeming disappointed in what he found.

“Yes, please.” He said with a smile. “I love you, Grandma.”

She laughed and said “I love you too, Jiminie.”

Jimin sat at the counter and watched his grandmother pull out ingredients from the fridge and then start to busy herself at the stove. He really did love his grandma. She was such a sweet woman. Always spoiling him. She was thin but not that tall. Jimin was taller than her, thank God. He didn’t think he’d be able to live with himself if his own grandmother had a few inches on him. She stood over the stove with a slight hunch that probably came from being hunched over while gardening, and cooking like she was now. She wasn’t that old, about sixty-something. Jimin can’t remember. Every year on her birthday he asks, “How old are you this year, Grandma?” He says that it’s just to see if she remembers, but really he had stopped keeping track after she hit fifty-five. It’s not like he doesn’t care, he just doesn’t like to see her getting older. So once she tells him her age, he forgets by the next year.

Hyeji had her peppered, dark hair pulled back into a loose bun, the way she usually wore it. Jimin hoped he inherited those genes. He would love to only be sporting a few gray hairs by the time he reached her age. She was wearing a pink sweater with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows, and a pair of white trousers cropped at the calf. She normally wore pastel colors and light neutrals. It really matched her sweet personality.

“Here you are, Jimin.” She placed a very thick grilled cheese with fried vegetables on the side in front of him. “Are you just going to have that water? You should have tea. It’s better for the digestion.”

Jimin didn’t even bother answering, stuffing his face with the sandwich. She was already at the sink filling up the kettle and she probably wasn’t going to take no for an answer anyways.

“I know peach is your favorite.” She said while rummaging through the cabinet full of boxed tea. When she found the one she was looking for, she took out a bag and placed it into the mug that was already sitting near the stove.

Jimin swiveled in the stool at the sound of the door shutting, followed by the rhythmic clunk of his mother’s high heels on the white marble floors before she appeared.

“Mom.” She greeted. “Jimin,” she said as she dropped her purse on the counter beside him, before giving him a kiss on his greasy cheek. Then she walked around to her mother still standing by the stove.

“No sandwich for me?” She asked to which her mother retorted, “Would you like one, Jane?”

“That’s okay. It’s a little fattening.” Jimin looked down and pouted at his sandwich when the kettle started to whistle.

Hyeji came over with the mug in her hand, steam swirling out of the top. It would be a while before Jimin could drink it without getting burned.

“Don’t listen to your mother,” Hyeji started after seeing the way Jimin was eyeing the sandwich dejectedly, now laying half eaten on the plate. “Grilled cheese is not fattening for cute little boys, with pinch able cheeks.” Jimin squirmed away from his grandmothers eager fingers. She was always trying to cop a feel. “They’re fattening for skinny women in stilettos and pantsuits.”

Jimin giggled at his mother’s offended expression. “I’m not little and I’m not cute,” he said. Both Hyeji and Jane looked at him with an unconvinced expression and then said at the same time, “You’re cute.” The way their tones were dressed with certainty, made it sound like they were speaking the truth, and nothing but the truth.

Jimin grabbed a broccoli off of his plate with his fingers. There’s no way he’s taking another bite of that sandwich with the pretense of getting fat hanging over his head. “I’m going up stairs,” he said and then picked up his backpack from its place on the ground by the legs of the stool.

“Wait,” his mother called, “It’s your birthday soon. What do you want to do? We can throw a party.”

Jimin snorted. “I only have like two friends.” He followed his mother’s hand down to his plate and watched as she brought the half-eaten grilled cheese to her mouth.

“Okay, no party. Then what?” She asked with a mouth full of food.

Jimin walked away with a shrug. “I’ll let you know. I have homework.”

Jimin went up the stairs and skimmed his eyes across the family photos that lined the walls of the staircase as he climbed. Most of them were pictures of him from when he was little. There aren’t many current ones because he never seemed to smile in the pictures anymore. His mother complained that scowls weren’t attractive to guests, even if he was still handsome anyways. There were two photos of his father. One was his parents’ wedding photo. The ever cliché kissing pose taken somewhere outside. The other was a picture of his father holding him in his arms. He thinks he looks a little like his father. He’s smaller than him, more lean than beefy. He has his jaw line, and maybe his eyebrows, but that’s about where the resemblance ends. He got his mother’s everything else, small sloped nose, thick lips, and her eyes. He can’t complain about those because he’s always been proud of his eyes. They’re his favorite feature, that and his hair. He’s always had great hair. It’s soft and bouncy, and it falls around his eyes beautifully. That’s probably one of the reasons why he likes his hair as much as he does, it frames his most defining feature.

His mother doesn’t talk about his father much and whenever he asks, she closes up and then he just feels bad, so he stopped asking. She won’t even tell him his name. What she has told him, is that he passed away when Jimin was still a baby, but that was as far as the story went. Jimin still wonders what it could have been like if he was still around. Would his mother be happier? Would his father love him? Would he teach him how to do things like throwing a football?—or how to date because that is still a mystery to him.

Jimin walks into his room and drops his bag onto the floor. Then he turns his back towards the bed and lets his knees give out with a sigh, free-falling into the mattress.

“I miss you dad. I never knew you, but I miss you.”

There was a faint knock on his slightly ajar door. “Hey, Jiminie.”

“Hey, Hoseok.” Jimin didn’t have to look, he knew his voice, and Hoseok was the only friend that showed up unannounced around this time of night. He walked in and closed the door behind him before jumping into the bed next to Jimin. He wrapped his arms Jimin’s neck and rubbed his cheek against Jimin’s face like a cat. “You smell good.”

“I just got out of the shower.”

“That explains your cold damp hair,” Hoseok said pulling his face away, “it’s ruining my hug.”

It wasn’t strange for Hoseok to be this way towards Jimin. It was how he always was. He’s been clingy ever since they were little, and he just never grew out of the habit. Hoseok actually lives in the house behind Jimin’s, and he’s mentioned the fact that Jimin’s house is way cuter than his multiple times.

“What are you watching?” Hoseok asks still clinging to Jimin’s neck like a koala. Jimin was laying on his back, more listening to the noise than paying attention to what was on the screen.

“Nothing really. I’m about to turn it off and go to sleep.”

“Oh,” Hoseok sits up and brushes Jimin’s hair out of his face. “I just came to say good night.”

“You could have sent me a text.”

“I know. I just…worry about you sometimes.” Jimin looks perplexed and asks why.

“Because you’re my little Jiminie.” He answers. Then Jimin picks up the pillow next to his head a swings it into Hoseok’s face.

“Hey!” The pillow get snatched out of Jimin’s hands and before he knows it, he’s being suffocated by his own best friend. “Don’t start something you can’t finish.”

When the pillow is finally lifted away, Jimin sits up feigning his difficulty breathing with fake gasps of air. “I can’t believe you just tried to kill me!”

“Tried?” Hoseok asks, “Oh, you haven’t seen attempted murder yet. Give me that pillow.”

“No, no!” Jimin shrieks, “I don’t need a demonstration.”

Hoseok laughs and starts heading for the door. “Goodnight, Jiminie.” He says and then he leaves with the click of the door.

Jimin shuts off the TV and then the lights. He lays on his side in bed, covers pulled up to his face, and he closes his eyes. Lately, every night it's been the same thing. Jimin tries to sleep, tries to get comfortable. He changes his position throughout the night, flips his pillow. Goes from having the blankets on, to blankets off. Nothing works. Every attempt at sleeping is done in vain, but he still has to try. Even when he does drift off by some miracle, he ends up waking just a few hours later, only to repeat the same restless ritual all over again. Tonight is no different.

With a frustrated huff Jimin throws the blankets off of him and moves with heavy feet to the sliding glass door in his room. It opens to the night air, and it is fitful tonight. The cold wind whips against his face and combs through his scalp like icy fingers. It only gets stronger as Jimin makes his way onto the roof, a process that does require some light parkour in order to reach it. Up here is Jimin's favorite place in the whole house, maybe in the whole world, but it's not like he would know. He hasn't seen the whole world yet. Up here is his favorite place because, here, perched on the apex of shingles, is the closest he can get to the stars. They are like a billion tiny freckles in the face of the endless sky. This place on the roof is where the moon keeps him company while everyone else is asleep, missing out on the wonders of the night. He receives a strange comfort from it, and he feels like it sees him, knows him, and understands him. He has a weird feeling that it's watching him but he is not afraid of it. The moon is his guardian angel that floats above him to spot any dangers advancing from afar. A watchman at the top of a fortress.

Jimin's eyes flutter shut and he tilts his head trying to listen. He's trying to hear the moon. It is saying something, but night after night, no matter how hard he strains, all he gets is silence. Silence and a faint howling being carried over the wind like a whisper.

A/N: So this was chapter 1: Obsidian. It’s an excerpt from an ongoing fic that I post on Ao3. If it interests you, please come on over and check it out! Willowden

[recentanimenews]

Bookshelf Briefs 1/25/20

Again!!, Vol. 12 | By Mitsurou Kubo | Kodansha Comics – For better or worse, Again!! has always been unpredictable. I appreciate that it didn’t always follow the expected story beats, but at the same time, the inconsistency has been frustrating. For example, Imamura’s fluctuating dedication to the Ouendan had him proclaim at one point how much he wanted his grandma to see him cheering, and had that occurred it would’ve been a heart-tugging moment. But it didn’t happen. Instead, Imamura returns from another do-over (this time, flashing to a future in which his death inspired the other characters) with an apathetic attitude that eventually prompts him to return to 2014—a future where his grandmother is dead—without apparently a single pang about it. The ending is also kind of abrupt and ambiguous. In the end, I find myself wishing this had been more predictable, ‘cos at least it would’ve been more satisfying. – Michelle Smith

Chihayafuru, Vol. 18 | By Yuki Suetsugu | Kodansha Comics (digital only) – This volume is full of choices for Chihaya. It’s time to complete another career survey, and this time she fills in a more realistic goal than becoming Queen. It’s also less ambitious, however, and thus her karuta advisor comes to see her play at the Yoshino Club Tournament to ask someone with more experience whether Chihaya really has the potential to become Queen. Happily, she’s playing with more precision and focus than ever, but her next opponent is Haruka Inokuma, a 4-time former Queen, so her chances really hinge on how she fares in that match. (I suspect Taichi vs. Arata is in the offing, as well.) Too, the school trip conflicts with the Master/Queen qualifiers, and Chihaya must choose which side of herself she wants to cultivate more. I seriously love this series and am eagerly anticipating the next volume! – Michelle Smith

Dr. STONE, Vol. 9 | By Riichiro Inagaki and Boichi | Viz Media – Perhaps being interesting was too much to ask, but Taiju and Yuzuriha are at least contributing now that they’ve been added to Senku’s team—Taiju by being a literal tank soaking up damage, and Yuzuriha by apparently taking all the statues that Tsukasa smashed and sewing them together, presumably so they can be revived. If this seems farfetched, it’s no more so than finding the hospital where Tsukasa’s terminally ill little sister was located and unstoning her, which apparently also cures her illness. That said, Tsukasa may not be the end boss, as there’s another who’s been waiting for the moment to make his debut as a Big Bad. This continues to be ridiculous but also cool. – Sean Gaffney

Hatsu*Haru, Vol. 10 | By Shizuki Fujisawa | Yen Press – Best Couple get the cover, and I continue to be more interested in them than I am Riko and Kai, who are cute and all but also somewhat predictable. The four of them go to the hot springs, mostly as Riko is too nervous to be alone with Kai, and Takaya learns that Ayumi leaves herself wide open. After a cute but slight Valentine’s chocolate chapter, the best part comes when Ayumi gets a bad cold and Takaya visits, meeting her parents and finding out she’s actually pretty rich and her family are famous film creators. Ayumi is not yet ready to reciprocate Takaya’s feelings, but she does open up to him about wanting to seek her own path. It’s great to see, and we have three volumes left after this, so I’m sure it will work out. – Sean Gaffney

ROADQUEEN: Eternal Roadtrip to Love | By Mira Ong Chua | Seven Seas – While not technically manga, ROADQUEEN will likely still appeal both stylistically and thematically to readers who enjoy Japanese comics. In particular, the volume makes an excellent addition to Seven Seas’ catalog of yuri titles. ROADQUEEN originated as a short online comic, followed up by a much longer multi-chapter sequel. Both of these stories and an additional bonus comic are collected in this volume. Leo, the prince of Princess Andromeda Academy, only has eyes for Bethany—her motorcycle. At least until Vega arrives on the scene and steals Bethany away. Vega promises she’ll give the bike back, but only after Leo proves that she can be a decent lesbian (not to mention human being). ROADQUEEN is deliberately over-the-top, Chua obviously having a lot of fun playing with tropes, but it can actually be very touching, too. With an abundance of humor and a ton of heart, ROADQUEEN is an absolute delight. – Ash Brown

Saki the Succubus Hungers Tonight, Vol. 1 | By Mikokuno Homare and studio HIP-CATs | Ghost Ship – I will admit that for a title that’s coming out via the Ghost Ship label, which means “borderline porn,” this is pretty cute. Saki is a fairly new, still virginal succubus who has been thrown out of her family home as she’s old enough to be finding men to “feed” on, but she’s honestly a bit too shy for all that. She is thus near starvation when found by Renta, an adult salaryman who is also a virgin. They clearly fall for each other pretty fast, but are also both innocent and clueless, so nothing happens… well, OK, something happens, she manages to “feed,” but the plot is still “will they ever actually do anything” and the answer is likely “no.” Still, for tease, this is relatively cute and sweet. – Sean Gaffney

Snow White with the Red Hair, Vol. 5 | By Sorata Akiduki | Viz Media – Welp, despite what I thought, the series does not end just because the main couple confessed. Indeed, most of the volume involves separating the two—not by design, but simply as Shirayuki has been invited to another country for a get together… her old country, where Prince Raj is. Indeed, after having it out with her a couple of volumes ago, Raj is seemingly turning over a new leaf, but that doesn’t mean he’s comfortable around her at all—he never expected she’d accept the invitation. Her bodyguard for this journey is Obi, and I note that this series is very good at having a bunch of guys in it who are not immediately in love with the heroine. Whether that’s true of the new villain introduced here, who knows? – Sean Gaffney

Teasing Master Takagi-san, Vol. 7 | By Soichiro Yamamoto | Yen Press – Having established that our leads will end up married with a child in the future, the series can now slowly move forward in increments, culminating in the final chapter here, where Nishikata, of his own volition, asks Takagi to the summer festival. But we’re also looking back, as we get to see how the two of them first met, and how Nishikata’s two basic qualities—a nice guy with great faces when he’s embarrassed or upset—inspire Takagi almost immediately. I’m not sure this is exactly when she falls for him, but she certainly has by the end of this book, which gives us another nice blushing reaction from her. Oh yes, and there’s still plenty of teasing. You expected something else? – Sean Gaffney

The Way of the Househusband, Vol. 2 | By Kousuke Oono | VIZ Media – This was another fun volume of The Way of the Househusband, in which Tatsu tries aerobics and yoga, intimidates a yakuza by offering him kitchen gadgets, eradicates stubborn stains in Masa’s laundry, plays volleyball with housewives, and more. I really appreciate that we saw more of Miku, his wife, this time around, and probably my favorite chapter is the final one, in which her parents drop by for a visit. Even though the fish-out-of-water setup in this series reminds me of the premise of Saint Young Men, The Way of the Househusband is not only visually superior (better art, great pacing to jokes), but has more heart, especially the bonus chapter in which we see Miku’s dad practicing for the moment when he asks Tatsu if he wants to go outside and play catch. I stop short of calling the manga sweet, but it’s wholly endearing. Highly recommended. – Michelle Smith

Yowamushi Pedal, Vol. 13 | By Wataru Watanabe | Yen Press – Yowamushi Pedal, Vol. 13 | By Wataru Watanabe | Yen Press – OK, I was probably foolish to think the race would end in this volume. We’re gonna have to wait for fourteen. But in return, we get so much shonen sports at its best. Midousuji does his best, but then crashes and burns. Instead, it’s Manami who gets the bulk of this book, where we discover that he enjoys shifting gears higher when he should be doing the opposite, just to make things even more fun. That said, he shouldn’t dismiss our hero, Onoda, who has his pedaling and his Pretty Princess song to keep him going forever. (Oh yes, and his mother shows up—apparently at rando, as he never told her about the race? This was the funniest part of the book.) Things should end next volume… well, at least this race. – Sean Gaffney

By: Ash Brown