#MAMA TALKING TO IZUMI

[milksetters]

have been going absolutely bonkers bc of the checkmate anime announcement. i am . crazy. i am . crazy .

[valkyrietookme]

Crazy:B relationship charts translations

Taken from "Doki Doki! Ensemble Seminar"

Written descriptions of all relationships under the cut

Unit chart

Leader: Rinne

Ages: Rinne (21), HiMERU (17), Kohaku (15), Niki (18)

Rinne -> HiMERU: Worries about. Knows his secret

Rinne -> Kohaku: Cute. Wants to mess with

Rinne -> Niki: Owes him his life. Wants to make him happy

HiMERU -> Rinne: Understands his methods. Strict

HiMERU -> Kohaku: Cute junior. Lovable

HiMERU -> Niki: So easy-going it's worrying

Kohaku -> Rinne: Irresponsible and free-spirited. Worries and cares for us

Kohaku -> HiMERU: Kind, but sometimes weird

Kohaku -> Niki: Airhead. Can't leave alone

Niki -> Rinne: Older yet dependant. Close friends

Niki -> HiMERU: Puts on a cool and collected act. Fun to mess with

Niki -> Kohaku: Crazy:B's only conscience

Rinne relationship chart

Crazy:B: HiMERU, Kohaku, Niki

Roommates: Kanata, Hiyori

Rinne -> Yuta: Interesting ♪

Yuuta -> Rinne: Is he picking a fight?

Rinne -> Hinata: Dotes on

Hinata -> Rinne: Attached to

Rinne -> Ibara: Overthinker

Ibara -> Rinne: Problem child

Rinne (eldest) <--> Hiiro (youngest): Brothers

Rinne -> Hiiro: Cute little brother. Smart

Hiiro -> Rinne: Beloved older brother. Chief

Rinne -> Aira: Wants to mess with

Aira -> Rinne: A bit scary

Eichi -> Rinne: A lot smarter than one may first think

Rinne -> Shu: Interesting ♪

Shu -> Rinne: Unpleasant

Rinne <--> Niki: Old duo

Rinne -> Niki: Owes life to. Wants to make happy

Niki -> Rinne: Older yet dependant. Close friend

Rinne -> Kohaku: Cute. Wants to mess with

Kohaku -> Rinne: Irresponsible. Cares and worries about us

Rinne -> HiMERU: Worries about. Knows his secret

HiMERU -> Rinne: Understands methods. Strict

HiMERU relationship chart

Crazy:B: Rinne, Kohaku, Niki

Roommates: Arashi, Tetora

HiMERU -> Makoto: Has a way with words

Makoto -> HiMERU: Talented

HiMERU -> Souma: Very physically capable

Souma -> HiMERU: Very knowledgeable

HiMERU <--> Izumi: Work rivals

Jun -> HiMERU: Was he always like this?

HiMERU -> Tatsumi: Hates him due to certain circumstances

Tatsumi -> HiMERU: Old friend

HiMERU -> Ibara: Skilled. Let's him plan things for him out of convenience

Ibara -> HiMERU: Useful

HiMERU -> Yuuta: Agency junior

Yuuta -> HiMERU: Kindly relies on

HiMERU -> Niki: So easy-going it's worrying

Niki -> HiMERU: Acts cool and collected. Messing with him is fun

HiMERU -> Kohaku: Cute junior. Lovable

Kohaku -> HiMERU: Kind, but weird at times

HiMERU -> Rinne: Understands methods. Strict

Rinne -> HiMERU: Worries for. Knows his secret

Kohaku relationship chart

Crazy:B: Rinne, HiMERU, Niki

Roommate: Jun

Ex-Double Face: Kohaku, Madara

Kohaku <--> Mika: Easy to talk to

Kohaku -> Leo: Close friend of Madara-han

Leo -> Kohaku: Mama's follower and Suou's "Yuu-kun"

Kohaku (branch family) <--> Tsukasa (head family)

Kohaku -> Tsukasa: Somehow close to

Tsukasa -> Kohaku: Dear family

Kohaku <--> Madara: Partners

Kohaku -> Madara: Can't leave alone. Supports

Madara -> Kohaku: Glad they met. Grateful

Kohaku <--> Aira: Close friends

Kohaku -> Jun: Good person. Cool and calm

Jun -> Kohaku: Cute junior

Kohaku -> Ibara: Calculating

Ibara -> Kohaku: Talented person used to living outside of norms

Kohaku -> Niki: Airhead. Can't leave alone

Niki -> Kohaku: Crazy:B's only conscience

Kohaku -> HiMERU: Kind, but sometimes weird

HiMERU -> Kohaku: Cute junior. Loveable

Kohaku -> Rinne: Irresponsible. Cares and worries about us

Rinne -> Kohaku: Cute. Wants to mess with

Niki relationship chart

Crazy:B: Rinne, HiMERU, Kohaku

Roommates: Hinata, Hiiro

Tetora -> Niki: Big fan of him during childhood

Niki <--> Nazuna: Shipwrecked together

Niki -> Ritsu: A cut above

Niki -> Mayoi: Smells good

Mayoi -> Niki: Mayo-chan!?

Ibara -> Niki: Deceived and made into an idol

Niki -> Adonis: The meat guy

Niki -> Midori: The vegetables kid

Niki -> Kohaku: Crazy:B's only conscience

Kohaku -> Niki: Airhead. Can't leave alone

Niki -> HiMERU: Acts cool and collected. Fun to mess with

HiMERU -> Niki: so easy-going it's worrying

Niki <--> Rinne: Old duo

Niki -> Rinne: Older yet dependant. Close friend

Rinne -> Niki: Owes life to. Wants to make happy

[polyphonical]

Enstars Memories Road - Class 3A

Location: 3-A Classroom

Eichi: Welcome to Yumenosaki’s Class 3-A.

Izumi: Aren’t you acting a bit too pretentious right at the start? It’s just like Tenshouin to act all suspicious though.

Eichi: Fufu. It’s just my own type of service. I thought it’d be fun to recreate the way I met Anzu-chan. That fits with the theme of the show, right?`

Kaoru: My first meeting with Anzu-chan… That’s something I don’t really wanna think of. It’s a part of my dark past.

Izumi: You just chased Anzu around right?

Kaoru: I only called out to her when I saw her, I didn’t chase her… Well, I don’t wanna hear anything about chasing someone around from you, Senacchi.

Izumi: Hah? Look, Yuu-kun and I mutually love each other, so I wasn’t chasing anyone around, got it?

Keito: Hakaze didn’t even mention Yuuki’s name though? Glad to know you're at least a little bit aware.

Madara: Anzu-san used to be pretty wary of Kaoru-san, so she hid behind me once to avoid him.

Do you remember that, Anzu-san? …Yes yes, I’m talking about that time we played billiards[1] together. Mama’s glad you remembered that ☆

Keito: Billiards? I wasn’t aware you had a hobby like that, Anzu.

Eichi: … You said “I’m not good at it enough to call it a hobby”? There’s no such thing as being good or bad at a hobby.

Alright. Then, how about we play a game after we finish recording? If you beat me, I’ll buy you anything you want…♪

Chiaki: I’d love to join! I never played billiards before, but I always wanted to try…☆

Kaoru: Ahaha, one of Moricchi’s charm points is that he can manage to squeeze himself into the smallest of gaps～

Izumi: You're acting all adult like just standing on the sidelines like that. Are you going to join them? You look like someone who’d be good at billiards.

Kaoru: As a matter of fact, I am good at it. Then, let me join in and show off a bit♪

Chiaki: Haha, this reminds me of that time we all went to the arcade together after school[2]…☆

Shu: I remember that very well. I had no choice but to join you all when Tenshouin threatened me by saying, “If you don’t come with us, I’ll blow up Mademoiselle♪”

…But I will say that it was a good memory of mine, since I was able to spend my time like a regular student would.

─────────· · · · · ·♡· · · · · · ────────

Referring to Billiards !

Reffering to WANTED!!!

[fruittarts-with-rosepetals]

after mai became the new firelady, she had a lot of rules that needed to be added to the fire nation constitution and now. She wanted to raise the age of marriage and provide more education for women and this wasnt easy at all, she became stuck at her office more than zuko.

And izumi came along soon and she needed to take a very long break to avoid any complications, so she had to put a pause on her projects but still was present in court (cuz she didnt want to be stuck in the bedchambers,bored, ugh). A year after izumi's birth, she restarted her projects and this needed more work and time out of life than when she started.

So zuko had become the one who tucked izumi to bed and he was more than happy to spend time with his little girl. He loved reading izumi bedtime stories and hear izumi's babbling with often mentions of 'mama' or 'dada'

One evening just around izumi's bedtime, mai was able to get off early, so she decided to join in on tucking izumi to bed. She walked to the princess's room just to stop by the door as she heard zuko's voice.

"and that is the story on how your mama saved me,she defeated the army of bad guys and she once again captured my heart" zuko told izumi who was busy chewing on her turtleduck doll (gifted by her coolest aunt suki and sokka) he finished chuckled as he pressed a kiss against her hair.

Turns out izumi got bored of her bedtime stories and became far more interested in hearing about her mama.

It took zuko 10mins to realize the presence of his wife(who was smiling) as he was too busy talking with his daughter in his baby-voice (after he once sweared he would never in a million years talk like that to children) while izumi was babbling and grabbing his hair to chew on

[cr3sswellsgf]

absolutely ravishing - maiko week ’24 day 3/4

prompts - jealousy / parents

inspired by this tweet by kvohru 'maiko headcanon zuko puts baby izumi's hair into mai's buns anytime he pisses mai as a way of silly apology/getting her to soften up & talk to him WALK WITΗ ΜΕ' in which maiko go to a party and mai feels left out. baby izumi is the cutest. zuko is a good father. amongst other things lol.

It was a lovely, sunny morning, and Mai was pissed off.

Normally, this wouldn’t have been anything out of the ordinary—after all, she was famously ‘angry at the world’, but this was different. Today, Mai was pissed at the Firelord.

Also known as her husband.

He was, admittedly, unsure as to what he’d done to warrant her annoyance today, but he didn’t want to risk upsetting her further by asking. God, no. He’d rather pluck every hair off his body than have Mai think he was an inattentive, dismissive, careless husband who didn’t care about his gorgeous, beautiful wife! He was better than that, thank you very much. So he did the next best thing and tried to rack his brain, thinking over his actions over these past few hours.

Okay, he thought, pulling out a teapot from the cupboard. This mood started at, like, 8 pm last night? He put on some water to boil, falling into that familiar rhythm of making tea.

Because he was the Firelord, he rarely had the chance to do things for himself, and while that was an insane privilege he frankly enjoyed, it was nice to take a break from everything and just be with his family, away from the hubbub of the palace.

Hence this vacation at Ember Island.

The moment he realised he had a few off-days in his calendar, he decided to plan for him and his wife to go on vacation.

He let the teapot boil and started on breakfast. Rice for the rice porridge, what remained of the dumplings and steamed buns they’d bought, and whatever else he could find. Oh, and eggs and chopped fruit for baby Izumi.

He smiled at the thought of their pudgy little 9 month old. She was just starting to speak, though that mostly came in the form of incoherent babbling with the occasional Mama. Yeah, she called them both Mama.

And yes, Zuko was a teensy bit sulky about that, but I digress.

Just as he was about to put his hair up and start on breakfast, he heard that distinct baby voice he was just thinking about. He glanced at the clock— yup, 7.30 a.m., on the dot. Izumi was awake.

Right now, it was usually a race with time. He had a very short window of time before Izumi’s good-tempered giggles would turn into wailing screams, and he was determined not to wake Mai up any earlier than she needed to be.

She was on vacation and she deserved to rest.

Also, she was mad at him. So. He really didn't need to make it worse for himself.

“I’m coming, darling,” he called out in a whisper when he was close enough, crossing the distance in long strides. At the sight of that little girl in her crib, all chubby limbs and big golden eyes, he smiled and reached to grab her. “Hi, baby,” he whispered, nuzzling into that space between her cheek and shoulder and kissing her. “D’you sleep well?”

She made an incoherent baby noise and happily grabbed a strand of his long hair, which was, positively, one of her favourite pastimes, it seemed. He winced, regretting not putting it up earlier. “Let’s get you changed,” he said, trying to untangle her fingers from his hair— that is, trying to undo that vice-like grip babies seemed to have. I mean, at least that meant her fine-motor skills were good? Pincer grip, and all, right?

She didn’t let go. He sighed.

“Sweetheart, you need to let go so I can get you out of this nasty diaper.”

She didn’t budge.

“Don’t you wanna change so we can surprise Mama with breakfast? We won’t have time if you keep this up.” Just as he had begun to suspect that reasoning with a nine month old was a lost cause, she actually let go.

“Mama!”

“Oh, of course that’s what gets you to let go!” He clicked his tongue.

She giggled again, and, instead of grabbing his hair, she valiantly took to doing her other favourite pastime. Which was just, like, smacking him on the face repeatedly.

Think like, someone clapping their hands, but instead it’s just his face between her hands.

Since he was almost always on morning duty, this was more or less how every morning went.

⁎⁺˳ ✧༚ ˎˊ˗ ♡ ˗ˏˋയ ✩

Finally, after much trials and tribulations (i.e. Zuko violently getting his hair pulled and cheeks pinched), Izumi was changed into an adorable onesie and strapped into her high chair in the kitchen.

Oh, also, the water had completely evaporated in the time it took them to do all that, so he needed to refill the teapot. “What would Uncle think if he sees this,” he grumbled, opening the window to let the steam out.

Now that that was all over with, he was again plagued with the fact that Mai was mad at him, and he didn't know why! So, being the mature Firelord he was, he decided to take that issue to council.

“Your mom is mad at me,” he said to Izumi, quickly tying his long hair back and away from his face, in a loose bun at the bottom of his head, and rolling up his sleeves.

Izumi babbled excitedly and kicked her feet at the reference of her mother. “Mama!”

“Yup, that’s the one,” Zuko agreed, chuckling. He pulled out a bamboo steamer and started preparing the dumplings and steamed buns, planning on letting them steam while he washed and cooked the rice. “Anyway, as I was saying, Mama is mad at me, but I don’t know why. I tried asking her last night, of course, but she said she was ‘fine’, which is, obviously, a blatant lie.”

He cut up some fruit on a plate for Izumi to hold her off while everything else was ready. He had approximately twenty minutes until Mai got up, which he figured would be enough.

“I can’t really recall doing anything to upset her last night, and I don’t even know when she got upset, you know? She was fine and then she suddenly wasn’t!” He finished washing the rice and transferred it over to a pot to cook. Drying his hands, he continued, “But” —he turned to Izumi seriously, crouching down to her eye level— “of course, me not remembering or knowing why Mai is upset does not mean that I am not at fault!” He cupped Izumi’s cheeks, interrupting her mid-chew. She grinned happily at him with her whopping six (!) teeth. (New development, by the way). He continued, determined to set a good example for his daughter, “Even if I don’t understand why Mama’s upset — even if she has told me, and I still don't get it — she still deserves an apology, because at the end of the day, I upset her, and that’s all that matters. Understood, Firelord Izumi?” He playfully pinched her little nose (which was identical to her mother’s), and she giggled, reaching for him with fruit-sticky hands.

“Anyway…” and so he continued, thinking out loud with his daughter and trying to puzzle out the reason for his darling wife’s anger at him, all while making breakfast for their family of three.

⁎⁺˳ ✧༚ ˎˊ˗ ♡ ˗ˏˋയ ✩

“Mai, come on, we'll be late!” Zuko called out, fastening his red robes around his waist.

“Well I don't know what to wear!” she called back from her place in the closet, frustrated.

“It doesn't matter! You look—”

“—And I love you, but you telling me that ‘I look beautiful in everything’ does not help!”

Zuko sighed. He'd dressed himself and Izumi in the time it took for his darling wife to… affectionately, make a mess of their closet and complain about having nothing to wear.

Placing Izumi in her little chair, he said with an affectionate roll of the eyes, “Yeah, yeah, I'm coming.”

“Is this good?” Mai asked, bashfully, when Zuko rapped his knuckles on the closet door and walked in, leaning against the doorframe.

He breathed out. She looked beautiful.

She was wearing a long, pretty, dark red dress that hugged her curves and flared out at the bottom. It had a row of buttons that sloped from the neckline down to her side, and dainty golden embroidery that matched her eyes and the gold and red fan earrings she wore. Her hair was in the usual hairstyle she'd adopted in her adult years— half of it in an elegant bun at the back of her head towards her nape, and the rest in two strands over her shoulders and down over her chest.

He noticed she put two beautiful gold pins through the bun.

“Do you like it?” she asked again, and he had an inclination her rosy cheeks weren't just due to an excess of powder blush. She adjusted it over her hips. “Is it too tight? It doesn't fit the same since” —she bit the inside of her cheek, averting her eyes and smoothing the fabric over her stomach— “Izumi.”

Zuko moved closer, slipping an arm around her waist and pulling her against him. Her hands went to his chest automatically, a familiar affection built over years of being together. “You look,” he rasped, hoisting her up by her waist and wrapping his arms around her middle, “absolutely ravishing.”

He craned his neck and caught her bottom lip between his teeth, kissing and gently tugging back. She wrapped her legs tighter around her and grinned despite herself, cupping his cheeks and looking down at him. One thing she enjoyed about being carried was the limited height she gained over Zuko.

She leaned down and kissed him again, their lips interlocking in an easy embrace. “Are you sure? You're not just saying that to get me to hurry up?” He could still hear a hint of unsurety in her low, raspy voice.

“Positive,” he responded in kind, slanting his lips over hers, “but if you don't want to go…” his hand slipped down her back to her ass.

She rolled her eyes without any heat, picking up on his very obvious implication. “Alright, horndog. Hands off.” She hopped down and adjusted her dress before looking up at him through her lashes and, teasingly, parroting back, “We'll be late.”

⁎⁺˳ ✧༚ ˎˊ˗ ♡ ˗ˏˋയ ✩

The sight Mai was met with when she walked downstairs was, she thought, a sight she could never get bored of. It was such a quintessential picture of domesticity she, at one point in her life, could've never imagined would've been hers.

Her husband in the kitchen making breakfast while their daughter sat beside him, babbling incoherently the way babies did.

“Really?! And what after that?” he asked animatedly, humouring said daughter while still focused on the plate he was assembling. Mai exhaled softly, leaning against the doorframe and just watching.

Watching her husband’s overly focused face as he diligently placed the fresh steamed buns onto a plate using chopsticks, a furrow in his dark brows and his hair tied back, all the while nodding along with Izumi’s story (which was, of course, all adorable gibberish).

And Izumi, who was sitting in a high chair and shoving eggs into her mouth using her entire fist, no doubt making a mess around her. What struck her though was Izumi’s hair, which was in two little buns at the sides of her head, and the front was smoothed over her head in a silly imitation of a fringe.

Mai bit back a smile.

This was obviously Zuko’s attempt at recreating Mai’s infamous hairstyle on their daughter. Which was a regular occurrence.

“Mai!” Zuko had finally noticed her.

Even after all these years of being together, and a whole child together, he still had a way of lighting up so genuinely every time he saw her. And no, this is not a firebending pun.

The way his eyes widened in an almost child-like excitement and his immediate awestruck kind of smile that made him resemble his sixteen year old self were almost enough for her to forget the fact that she was upset with him. Almost.

He set down the food, which was all ready now, and wiped his hands before walking up to her. “Sleep well?” he asked gently, tilting her chin up to kiss her. His touch was feather-light, so she could tell he was hesitant. Clearly, he hadn’t nor was he pretending to have forgotten about her mood, so. One point for him.

She let him kiss her, and she kissed back, because over their years of being together, one of the things she realised was that dealing with conflict did not mean that they had to rescind their love from each other— and especially for them two, whose primary language was physical touch.

“I slept pretty well,” she replied, her raspy voice full of that polite disinterest most people were used to hearing from her. To someone else, maybe, this wouldn't have been any cause for concern or anything out of the ordinary, but Zuko was immediately alarmed.

He could always tell.

So she's still upset. That was fine. He hadn't really expected otherwise. In fact, this was good for him, because there was no chance she could dismiss his questions about it now and say that ‘Oh, it's nothing, don't worry about it’.

They sat down to eat, and after a moment of awkward silence that made him feel like a seventeen year old in an argument with his girlfriend (also Mai) again, he broke.

“What did I do?” he blurted out. It wasn't an accusatory or patronising or deliberately obtuse question in any way. He sounded painfully earnest. “I know I did something to upset you, but I just… don't know what it is. I'm sorry. I tried to think, but I still don't know. I love you. Please tell me.”

If any of his friends could see him right now, the high and mighty Firelord, practically (unintentionally) giving his wife puppy eyes, they'd probably say he was pathetically in love.

And they'd be right.

Mai sighed and put her chopsticks down.

Another thing she'd realised over the years was that, as corny as it sounded, communication really was key. There was no use going in circles and beating around the bush and waiting for the other person to figure it out. Sometimes—most times—you just needed to have the conversation and move on.

Butttttt that doesn't mean that she didn't enjoy making him sweat sometimes. Most times.

“Last night,” she supplied. “At the party.”

“Yeah, I figured,” he responded without missing a beat, spooning a bit of dumpling into Izumi's mouth. “Good, huh?” He grinned when she got all excited and signed more. He directed his attention back at Mai, “Sorry. Keep going, baby.”

She feigned frustration, turning her face away from him while stroking Izumi’s hair, playing with the tiny buns. The feeling of the soft sprouts of hair between her fingers almost made her crack a smile. She knew it was Zuko's way of softening her up, but she didn't crack, wanting to make him sweat a little longer.

She shrugged nonchalantly, saying, “Your little… girlfriend was there last night. You didn't tell me she'd be there.”

He blinked. “Jin?!”

Mai scoffed. “Still on a first name basis, huh?” She shook her head in bewilderment, muttering, “You'd think the Firelord would have some respect for his wif—”

“Darling,” he breathed, interrupting her, in so much theatrical disbelief she almost laughed. He was so dramatic. He left his chair and immediately went to kneel in front of her, taking her hand in his.

Out of everything he could've guessed, it never would've been this. Mai was never jealous—not of his old girlfriends (just the one), that is. And of course, he wasn't faulting her for that or anything, but it was just… unexpected.

They'd met Jin the previous night unexpectedly at the party, and having already been well acquainted years ago (and having gone to Jin's wedding and having invited her to theirs, and having had Jin visit them on numerous occasions, the most recent being Izumi's birth), he'd safely assumed that speaking to Jin was fine. Right?

I mean, come on, Jin and Mai were closer than Jin and Zuko ever had been! They'd gone on one date, for God's sake!

But he wouldn't dare discredit Mai's feelings, no matter what.

“Did I say something specific that upset you? Or was it just the fact that I was having a conversation with her to begin with?” he asked, stroking her cold knuckles with his thumb, the contrast between their body temperature making him want to just scoop her up and take her to their bed to warm her up. In any means necessary.

Again, his question was nothing more than earnest.

“I… don't know,” Mai answered honestly, because even though she thought she didn't really care, she realised that she really was a little hurt, still. She had, of course, had time to think about it the previous night in the shower, and she'd come to the conclusion that while, yes, she was a little hurt at him barely paying any attention to her the whole night, busy both with Jin and everyone else who kept flanking him for a chance to speak with the Firelord, it was mostly the hormones speaking and after taking a little time to cool down, she understood that her feeling left out didn't mean that he was intentionally leaving her out. “I guess I just felt a bit jealous. And left out.”

“Mai…”

She squirmed. Even after all these years, she still felt that vague discomfort in the pit of her stomach when vocalising her feelings.

She rushed to say, “I know it's nothing and that you love me and that you're the Firelord and it's your duty to—”

“I am your husband before I am the Firelord,” he fiercely interrupted and pulled her down to join him on the floor. The gentleness of his touch contrasted the tone of his voice, both determined and desperate. “I am yours before I am anyone else's. My duty is to you, first and foremost, and I was wrong to neglect you in a party I brought you to. We came here to relax— to enjoy time away from all that Firelord bullshit, but I still found away to sink back into that role.”

“Zuko,” she said quietly with a hint of a smile, leaning into him and looping her arms around his neck, “it really isn't that big of a deal.” She kissed him sweetly once, his arms instantly going around her and pulling her closer against him. “I was just hormonal.” Then with an adorably teasing smirk that Zuko wanted to kiss off her face, she jested, “You can stop with the melodrama now.”

He huffed a laugh and spoke sincerely against her lips, “Still. I don't care if it was ‘the hormones’. I still upset you, and I'm sorry.”

“It wasn't a big deal,” she insisted, but deep down, she was really glad he cared so sincerely for her feelings.

“Don't care. I'm still sorry.”

She rolled her eyes, but couldn't help the smile and the rumble of laughter in her chest. “Fine, you drama queen.” She leaned forward and brushed her lips against his. “I forgive you.”

He ran his tongue across her bottom lip, one side of his lips tugging up in a smirk. “So soon?” he murmured against her, slipping his fingers in her long silky hair. “I was ready to make it up to you.”

Before the kiss could escalate any further—their daughter was right there, hello?—Mai pushed Zuko away, laughing. “Are you in heat?” she asked, giggling.

He gave her a lopsided grin. “For you? Always.”

She shook her head with laughter and pulled him up to stand. They made a good couple.

[mamadarama]

bad end alt timeline?? oaugh i love mama and do rlly want him to have a happy ending (honestly anything going well for him would be nice at this point) but im SO curious <3

ohh man. ok. ooookkkkaaaay. so i sort of havent posted details about this one cuz it is A LOT to take in all at once..... and as we all know im a hardcore hurt/no comfort fan which is not everyones cup of tea. but um.... okay. okay. this is going under a readmore cuz itll be a long one

its basically if madaras storyline ended very soon in a worst case scenario. his reason for going on hiatus from mam and disbanding double face is because hes tying up loose ends . he holds being related by blood to too high a status and wasnt able to recognize in time that just because he no longer has a blood family doesnt mean he has no family at all. it becomes too much for him to bear and hes lonely, and cant imagine where hed be in the future. he starts to feel like hes becoming a dead weight for his friends and causing them too much secondhand distress . he thinks it would be better if he ripped the band aid off so to speak, it would hurt for a moment but never again *. he finishes tying up the rest of his loose ends, and commits suicide by jumping into the ocean from a cliff with a lighthouse where he and kanata spent a lot of time as children. (this isnt canon i made it up for impact) he felt it fitting to meet his end where it all began, in the water that acted as his red string of fate, remained a constant in both his best and worst memories, and has long since become a symbol of his grief.

* he is wrong about this.

his grave is on this cliff. kanata visits often to talk to him. kohaku also does. his family did in fact come to the funeral. chiaki feels a little guilty despite knowing it wasnt his fault. its easier with kanata supporting him. madara left a note telling him to take care of kanata. leo locked himself in his room again and would have followed madara if izumi hadnt snapped him out of it. kohaku wears his hair in braids regularly now. no one mentions it or double face. rei is coping well, he recognized the signs and had anticipated this might happen but knew he wouldnt be able to talk madara out of it, so he focused more on making the most of the time they had left together. he seems a little more distant these days though. tsumugi tries not to think about it. sora thinks about it a lot, but the feeling eventually stopped aching and became more of recalling fond memories. keito and mitsuru feel sorry for madara. kuro is still in shock since he had no idea about madaras history, and it probably wont ever fully sink in, which might be for the best.

also as a little bonus , read the lyrics to hey you by pink floyd after you read this post.

so yeah! thats my catharsis fuel. dw im in therapy.

[attackfish]

Could you please do another Mama Lin AU post? I absolutely freaking love it!

Continued from: [Link], [Link], [Link], [Link], [Link], [Link], [Link], [Link], [Link], [Link], [Link], [Link], [Link], and [Link].

1. The deciding factor, and there were other things too, but the one that brought them to the breaking point, was that Tenzin needed to have children if there were ever going to be more airbenders, and Lin wanted to be a mother about as much as she wanted to be buried alive. And now she's got two kids? It's a bit of a shock for Tenzin, let's be fair. He's married to someone else, and has children, and he's not unhappy about not being with Lin, but it's a weird feeling, a road not taken feeling, something like, but not really, regret.

2. But whatever mixed and complicated emotions Tenzin feels in regards to Lin's forays into motherhood, he recognizes a potential political ally when he sees one. And he has too few of those to throw one away needlessly. He, of all the Council members, treats Republic City as his home. Air Temple island is right offshore, and the United Republic is part of his father's legacy. Most of the rest of the Council expect to serve out their terms and return home to their respective countries. Tarrlock is the only one who intends to stay, but Tarrlock is slippery as an eel-shark, and anyway, he is two parts smarm, one part corruption, and he has no interest in changing the status quo to improve lives for the poor. Not a man Tenzin can work with. Lin however, Lin he can work with.

3. Technically, Lin isn't officially a mom yet. The official adoption is still about a week away when she has her audience with the Council. They still have to meet in front of a judge and declare that they are a family. Bolin is over the moon excited about it, and Mako is, well Mako has mixed feelings. He can't shake the worry that this is all some kind of trap and everything will change once he and his brother are legally Lin's sons. He knows it doesn't make any sense, but... Lin asked Mako's teacher about that, and she said it's normal, so Lin is mostly ignoring the worry, cautiously trusting that it will fade when nothing actually changes. And nothing does change. They go in front of the judge, the paperwork is filed, they go out to dinner at Mako and Bolin's favorite noodle shop to celebrate, and the next day, Lin signs a paper with their school to officially add Beifong to the boys' names. That's it. They're officially a family.

4. Okay, that's not strictly true. Zuko also shows up a few days later on the boys' day off school with Fire Nation style ginger honey plum cakes, and presents for the three of them, and a mock-stern warning that the boys are his nephews now. Lin pulls him aside later to talk to him about the problems in Republic City, and he promises to talk to Izumi, but it's all he can do not to pinch Lin's cheeks.

5. I just want to give a shout out to Kuvira. It takes a lot of bravery to do what she does next, calling Katara up in the middle of the night (for her, not for Katara) to talk.

[mirrortouchedsea]

Madara tapped his foot impatiently as he listened to the stage crew move around to start cleaning up after the show. Leo had asked him to come to their live showing off all of Knights' featured outfits and originally Madara hadn't been able to but things wrapped up quicker than he thought and so here he was.

He didn't need to sneak in, management knew who he was and agreed to not let Leo know that his boyfriend had made it after all. Madara hadn't taken his eyes off Leo on the screen in the dressing room, wishing so desperately that he could be in the audience with him. Ah well.

A moment later the door burst open and the sounds of Knights' bickering filled his ears. He never missed how they all still took care of each other despite the insults that were slung across the changing room about makeup or their performance. It took a few seconds before Leo noticed Madara sitting on the couch and as soon as he did he was running over to crush him in a hug.

"You said you couldn't make it!" he exclaimed, burying his head in Madara's neck. Madara smiled and hugged him back.

"My schedule cleared up at the last minute. I wanted to surprise you~" he teased, giving Leo one last squeeze before letting go.

Leo started excitedly talking about how the live went and the inspiration that he had gained from it, grabbing a notepad and pen that had been left out on the coffee table to quickly scribble some notes in. Madara sat there and took it all in, in awe of how someone like Leo had come into his life, someone so filled with light and someone filled with darkness were an unlikely pair and yet...

"Hey Mama, are you okay?" Leo asked, reacting to Madara's uncharacteristic quietness. "If you need anything you can tell me you know?"

Madara could hear Izumi's "Get a room" comment but he didn't care. Leo's face was so filled with concern for him and--

"Everything is fine, Leo-san. I'm just a little tired, don't worry about me. Get changed and we can get something to eat." Madara hoped he could at least cover up his thoughts in front of the rest of Knights. Maybe he'd actually talk about his feelings with Leo in private, but not in front of his friends.

Leo frowned for a moment before smiling again. "Okay! I'll meet you outside in five minutes!" He bounced off to where he had left his casual clothes and Madara was shooed out of the room by Arashi, who winked at him and wished him luck.

"I love you!" Leo called out from his dressing table as Madara was about to leave.

"I love you too," Madara said, just quietly enough that nobody but himself would hear it.

[jewwyfeesh]

The Lost Tome - 2

Writer: Mitsuki

Characters: Suou Tsukasa, Mikejima Madara, Sena Izumi, Narukami Arashi, Tsukinaga Leo

Translated by: jewwyfeesh

Leo: It’s not good for your body if you’re always angry ☆

[ ♪ ]

Season: Autumn

Location: Yumenosaki Academy Walkway

Izumi: (Where the hell did the King run off to? Tch, I can’t find him anywhere.)

(Though… Rather than saying I can’t find him at all, I have a feeling that Ou-sama’s trying to hide from me on purpose. I know he’s back in school, but I’ve searched high and low and checked every nook and cranny — there’s literally no way he can’t be found.)

(Perhaps someone told him in advance? Only Kasa-kun and Naru-kun knew that I’d gone looking for our King back then — just who ratted me out?)

(Must’ve been that Shitty Okama, getting on my damn nerves again! Sure, if you wanna play tag, I’d gladly keep you company till the very end!)

(Hm? Mikejima and Anzu are up ahead. I’m unsure if I’ll even be able to glean some information off of them, but it doesn’t hurt to try.)

Madara: Someone’s full of energy! An angry Izumi-san is truly a vision to behold! Though, Anzu-san, there’s no need to be afraid! You can rest assured, Mama will handle it! Hahahaha!

I’ll help you answer any questions Izumi-san may ask.

Izumi-san, fancy seeing you here! You’re truly a sight for sore eyeeeeees…!

Izumi: Hello…

While bumping into you both doesn’t necessarily make me feel any happier, but since we’re already here, I suppose it’s worth a shot.

Did you see the King? If you see him, notify me immediately. If not, get lost, stop blocking the road. I need to find that idiot today.

Madara: I did not see Leo-san at all… ☆

Though, aren’t you prickly today! Did something happen?

Izumi: Hmph, telling you won’t help me in my search for Ou-sama, would it?

But whatever. You have a good relationship with him, don’t you? I was hoping that when you find that idiot later, you could help remind him of some things.

Although Knights has been doing better after the King’s return, to the point where others have been praising the resurrection of a powerhouse unit…

But slacking off for that particular reason is unacceptable. Complacency on the battlefield is but a sure-fire way to send oneself to ruin; and yet, the King is capricious as ever.

That’s my motive behind looking for him today — I need to teach that idiotic Ou-sama a lesson!

Madara: (Ah, so that’s the reason behind Izumi-san’s actions… Izumi-san’s prioritising Knights' wellbeing, but I’ve already promised Leo-san to safeguard his secret. I’ll be sure to pass Izumi-san’s regards on to Leo-san later.)

Though, what’s that in your hand? Is that a sword? A furious Izumi-san brandishing a sword… How majestic, hahahaha!

Izumi: This? This is Ou-sama’s toy, as well as evidence of his negligence.

That guy would sometimes skip on practice; and if that wasn’t bad enough, Knights events too! This time, he even brought a f**king toy to practice, as if that isn’t just throwing gasoline into a blazing fire! He’s really pissing me off!!!!

Leo: (So that’s what happened… Sena’s treating that sword as some sort of toy.)

(At first, I’d thought of hiding here to eavesdrop on what Sena and Mikejimama could be talking about, but ended up hearing something rather disastrous.)

(Although I do disappear… sometimes… But this misunderstanding is something that must be cleared up.)

(As they always say, one must take responsibility for their actions! Everyone does that! Okay! I think it’s better if I reveal myself.)

Yoohoo~

Oh? Sena! What a coincidence, seeing you here.

Why’re you so angry? Did someone upset you? Eh? You somehow look even more displeased — your face’s all red.

It’s not good for your body if you’re always angry ☆

Izumi: For f**ks sake, you acting as if nothing happened… The one pissing me off is you!

Ou-sama, you… I… I don’t even know what to say anymore!

I need to cool off and get my thoughts in order. Aaaargh, sooooo annoying!

Ou-sama, ditching our practice is one thing, but our events too! Hmph, don’t think I’m in the dark about it. I’ve asked the fans at the venue, and they all said they’ve seen you! Don’t you dare try to bluff your way through this!

This time, you’ve even brought this toy to practice! I hope you can very well offer me an explanation!

Leo: Oh, that’s not a toy, it’s a sword. It’s because the book from earlier really got the creative juices flowing! In my search for the feeling of being a knight-errant, I specially commissioned someone to buy a sword for me.

Though, I’ve completed the piece, and so happened to have bumped into Sena! Here, here, you have a look too~ ☆

Izumi: …………

Leo: Sena, you’re looking hella confused? Why? What’s wrong? Is it because my composition was too amazing, and you got a shock from it~?

Izumi: Excuse me? Don’t go around blindly trying to guess what I’m thinking!

It– It’s not a bad piece I guess… But, don’t think that you’re able to wriggle your way out of the mess from earlier just because of this particular outcome. I can see that you’re doing your part too, so I’ll let you go this time.

With that being said, could you please be more involved in our activities and practices outside of composing? Are you even aware of what it means to be the leader? Don’t just disappear as and when you like!

Tsukasa: Sena-senpai, Leader, I would like to request that the both of you cease your fighting. The members of Knights should all get along with each other; now really isn’t the time for us to be demoralized and disunited…

Arashi: Tsukasa-chan’s right. Everyone should coexist in peace~

Izumi: Kasa-kun, don’t just run over and start pulling me away— I wasn’t fighting with Ou-sama, the situation is not what you think it is. And, why are the both of you here?

Tsukasa: That’s because after you left, Narukami-senpai and I came to the conclusion that you’d gone to look for Leader; judging by your furious expression, we were worried that a large Conflict would come to pass. Thus, in order to avoid such a scenario, the both of us came over to mediate……

But uh… Are you sure the both of you aren’t quarrelling?

Madara: Relax, Tsukasa-san. As a bystander, I can testify that the worst of it is over, and that the both of them are getting along rather swimmingly, hahahaha!

Though I am curious to know how this happened in the first place? What about this book that you mentioned? I’m super curious about the source of inspiration for Leo-san’s song! And don’t forget to tell me what happeneeeeeed!

Izumi: Good lord you’re annoying as hell, Mikejima! Whatever, I’ll tell you what happened, I guess.

[ ☆ ]

�� Chapter 1 | Story Masterlist | Chapter 3 →

[wickedcriminal]

Okay SO! Basic summary of the fic, during Nana Shimura's fight with AFO she winds up getting pulled to Amestris mere seconds before the killing blow has a chance to land. In trying to find a way home, she learns alchemy in order to become a State Alchemist to get funding and research materials, and after passing the certification she meets the Elric Brothers during the Freezer incident. Upon learning their secret, she decides to tag along on their quest since what they're looking for is likely what she needs (and then she proceeds to adopt them).

The fic is called One For Alchemist, and you can find it on AO3! (I can also keep talking about it if you're okay with Spoilers™️)

OHHOUGHHHH NANA LEARNING ALCHEMY??? THAT SOUNDS COOL AS HECK

AND THEN SHE ADOPTS THE ELRICS YEEEESSSSSS Nana and Izumi teaming up to be the boys' badass mama figures they DESERVE

[lake-archive]

Chapter 12 - Patch

AO3 Link

Fandom: Ensemble Stars

Series: Alte Liebe Rostet Nicht

Characters: Izumi Sena, Nyeli (OC by @watersofcamelot), Izumi's Mother (OC)

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It had been years ago ever since, maybe ten. Or over it, no one had kept an exact count. A decade at least. And yet, it felt all so familiar, as if it could have happened yesterday.

Those times were happy times, the times where the two would be able to just have a fun time. The young boy had found the stray humanoid creature with cat features on the streets during a rainy day. The kitty was in a cardboard box, peeking out and freezing at the same time. They had met eye contact at the moment, a young Izumi having been on his way home. He had to hurry or his parents would have gotten worried sick, perhaps lock him up in his room again for the rest of the week. Yet he wanted to enjoy it all the same, having barely the chance to get out unless it was to go to one of the several photoshoots the agencies assigned him to, an agency Mama chose. So he wanted to enjoy the moment a little. It will be fine as long as he is home by five. And today no one had picked him up either, both parents were busy with their own work. One of the few times the boy could breathe and do a little detour. Not too far either or he might not find his way home. He would have loved to go with one of his friends, preferably Yuu–Kun, but his parents had already picked the other boy up. But that was ok, they would see each other again tomorrow!

And it was during that detour where he met the small cat. He ran up to it in an instant which made the kitty dive right back into the box yet the boy had taken a peek, looking inside curiously. None of the two said a word when coming eye to eye that way, only staring for a moment. The cat had stared at the boy curiously, ears wagging. And it was cute! Of course a cat would be cute, this kitty was no exception to the rule. Just like he had seen in some books or right through the windows! He just never had a chance to invite them into the house and pet them. He tried before but Mama had caught him, having dashed over and lifted him up before he could even touch the fluffy thing. She even shut the door close and scolded Izumi for some time which resulted in him pouting but she always added that this was ‘for his sake’. In a worried yet also the sweetest voice she could manage. Then again, when was Mama not talking sweetly to him? He couldn’t remember nor imagine any other voice on her as she spoke.

“Besides, stray cats might carry scary illnesses! You don’t want to get sick, right dear?”

“No Mama…”

“Good boy, of course you would understand what Mommy is trying to tell you~”

Still, that didn’t change that he was curious. Then again, this kitty was not a full kitty so if he pets that one it’s fine! Mama only said cats, not strays with cat–like features! Mhm mhm!

Thus he didn’t even hesitate, making his small hands touch the kitty’s head and pet him over and over. It was soft, very soft. He liked petting him. It put a wide smile on his face.

The kitty himself noticed the gesture, first sitting still and staring up with his wide, brown eyes. Maybe he was questioning what this was yet it became an even cuter sight once he purred, nuzzling right against the hand of the boy. He giggled as a result, grinning brightly. Kitty was so cute! Little Izumi couldn’t resist then, suddenly picking kitty up in the air while keeping up his wide smile.

“Say, it’s cold in this box! I’ll take you home with me!” He had blurted it out without a second thought at the time, just wanting to have the kitty around. The nameless cat was certainly surprised by then, wagging curiously, though confused all the same. “You’ll live with me, Mama and Papa! And we can have lots of fun together! Oh, and you get to stay somewhere warm! How does that sound?”

Either way Izumi just wanted to take the even littler one home with him no matter what. It could be like having a younger brother, both could have fun together and the house would be less lonely that way. It didn’t take much time before the kitty nodded as well, letting out a ‘nye’ while nodding which gave the boy an even wider smile.

“Haha! Awesome!” He even responded before clinging tightly onto the kitty, this one being now held tightly in the kid’s arms. “Oh, I gotta name you too, don’t I? Hmm… Let’s worry about that later! Let’s go home first!”

That was how he and Patch had met. The name choice was odd for a Japanese kid yet Izumi didn’t know what else to name him. It was a word he had heard in a kid’s show he had been watching at the time and he just loved the sound of it. It was a character’s name most likely and he loved it. Nothing classic Japanese, a unique name for his new friend. He didn’t know what it meant at the time and honestly, the kid had not even cared. Kids do not sweat details after all.

As for Patch himself… He had no complaints either. He loved the name, seeming to be very happy with it. He even hopped up and down once hearing it. They both had agreed on it. And things went smoothly for some time, though to his surprise his parents’ reaction was… Weird. Especially Mama’s at the time, the smile she had upon herself forced when little Izumi had told her about his new friend. It was almost terrifying yet she didn’t want to terrify him of course. “Oh, you… Brought him home?”

The kid nodded. “Yes! I couldn’t leave Patch alone!”

“H… How… Sweet of you. Really.”

“Mama? What’s wrong? You don’t like Patch?” At the time such a thought was terrifying to Izumi, though his childish naivety made him believe that there was no way. Mama wanted him to be happy too, right? Patch had become part of the family, no doubt about it! It should be fine! She had even told him so himself after a long pause on her end. Though she had stuttered. Kids do not recognize such things however, or at least Izumi didn’t. There was no reason to doubt Mama after all! She was always honest with him!

“No Sweetie, of course not. If you want to keep… Patch… Around, then we have no complaints. But you will be responsible for your… Friend… Alright?”

“Yes! I promise!”

He had been happy with that answer. Oh if he had been a bit older, he probably wouldn't have smiled. He had a suspicion later that Mama hated Patch. Why? he didn’t know, he never asked. He couldn’t or it would just bring more pain to him. He didn’t want to find out if he was completely honest. She just said what she said because she cared. She is a caring mother, yes! He had no doubt about it! In his mind Mama was only looking out for him! She didn’t want to make him cry! That’s all!

So of course, as a carefree child Izumi and Patch were inseparable. He even brought Patch along that one time to the set before being lightly scolded. The boy didn’t know so it was ok yet he had to stay home. However, it was always a reason to quickly return home, so he and Patch could play together as much as they wanted. It was simpler times, more fun times. It lasted for a good year or two, both of them being children. The kitty was one of Izumi’s closest friends after all! Playing various games of pretend, their favorite being the two of them as knights, rescuing a princess or defeating an evil dragon together! Or whatever deeds they believed knights did at the time. They had several adventures together!

Though it was not limited to that yet one noteworthy. It was their favorite, something they could do together and no one would complain. Plus it wasn’t too violent so Izumi could live with it. Mostly it was indoor adventures but the two made do with whatever they had lying around. Sometimes they even showed Papa and Mama. These were fun times! Really! He looks back at them fondly!

And yet, they were also sour. Ever since their trip to a foreign country, Izumi has been unable to communicate. It was the last time he would see Patch… Back then he believed it was for good. They were both on their own at first until meeting a little, energetic girl around Izumi’s age. He didn’t understand her nor get her name but that was not important to a kid. The three started to get along quickly, even Patch liked her which he took as a good sign. The last few good memories with Patch until he just… Vanished.

One day Izumi had just returned to the rented home in this country, expecting Patch but his Mama was there to greet him instead. And when asking where Patch was she told him with a pained smile: “I’m sorry… But it seems little Patch ran off.”

Hearing this the boy had gotten desperate, wanting to dash out to find his friend yet Mama had dragged him back inside, telling him that there was no more time and it was past his time to spend outside anyway. One of the few times Izumi kicked and screamed at Mama, almost breaking out in tears. He wanted to find the kitty, he wanted to find Patch again! He even yelled out his name yet Mama was as strict as ever. She wouldn’t let him. Instead she kept him in an embrace, an attempt to calm her son down. Yet this one tried to break free, not wanting to even speak to Mama. It was rare yet there were such moments. It had always left her in shock but he had no choice. In the end he was forced to go to his room and sleep. Then again, he had not slept that night, only mumbling to himself constantly and asking why Patch would have run off. Back then he had accepted the fate, that he would never see Patch ever again.

It was the night he swore to himself to forget all about it, all about Patch. And it succeeded.

That was until adulthood of course. It was by chance he saw the cat again, clinging onto Ritsu and calling him ‘Papa’. Izumi was speechless, surprised how the cat even got here. Yet he dared not to say it, not bringing it up towards anyone. They didn’t have to know. And he wanted no one to know. Even if he was envious… Kuma–Kun was now the one who took care of the cat! The cat he had taken in! It should have been him! But he didn’t dwell on it, or tried to. Yet finding out that the new staff member and translator had taken the cat in and changed his name to ‘Nyeli’... It made Izumi’s blood boil. And while not all reason it was a contributing factor, knowing that Ann got to spend time with Nyeli. He hated it, he really did… Both of them were now taking care of what had been his duty. It was as if they had snatched Nyeli away from him! He knew they didn’t but it felt like some weird betrayal all the same…

But the past is the past. It is best if both leave it behind and focus on their lives now. And the more distant the two are the better… Or that is what Izumi believes anyway. As long as he doesn’t have to remember.

Previous Chapter - Masterlist - Next Chapter

[jujumin-translates]

Event | Ayakashi Summer Festival | Chapter 6

Izumi: The summer festival has finally begun. Fufu, the atmosphere combined with everyone’s outfits is incredible.

Hisoka: It’s not just us, the people from the shopping district are wearing ayakashi costumes and accessories too…

Omi: I saw a couple I usually see at the grocery store earlier and they were wearing ayakashi masks and looked happy while getting ready for the event.

Azuma: Your costumes are very fitting and cute on you, Haruto and Shift.

Shift: Hehe, thanks!

Haruto: Thanks.

Shift: By the way, is Omi-san the only one not wearing any makeup?

Haruto: It’s because of his role, isn’t it?

Omi: Yeah, it’s because I’m a tsuchigumo. Plus my character has a lot of human qualities in the play.

Shift: Makes sense!

Masumi: Seems like the festive is really popular because of the ayakashi theme.

Misumi: Kazu said that too~!

Guy: I’m sure we’ll get lots of visitors then.

Shopping District Chairman: Thank you, everyone, for your help with the preparation so far. Today’s finally the day for the summer festival.

Shopping District Chairman: Let’s make sure to do our best so there will be no injuries and everyone who comes will leave with a smile on their face. Do your best, everyone.

Izumi: Well then, Misumi-kun, Azuma-san, and Guy-san can start by patrolling around and Hisoka-san, Omi-kun, and Masumi-kun can help out at the stalls.

Izumi: I’ll go around the whole festival and help out wherever people need it.

Masumi: I want to help with you. I’m coming with you.

Izumi: I’ll come and check on you and the others when I’m free, Masumi-kun. For now, make sure you help with the stalls so that all the attendees can have fun.

Masumi: Got it. I’ll do my best.

Haruto: Ugh… Usui really never changes, huh…

Shift: Well, we’ve got a contest to get ready for, so we’re headin’ to the stage.

Haruto: You all better be ready to bring it.

Misumi: Kaaay!

Izumi: Good luck, guys!

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Azuma: Seems like no one is injured or unwell.

Guy: Yes, it does appear that way.

Misumi: Ah! Omi and the others are helping out at the chocolate-covered banana stall!

Masumi: Welcome. We’ve got ayakashi chocolate-covered bananas.

Hisoka: Would you like a sweet and cute ayakashi chocolate-covered banana?

Attendee A: Waah, cute! They’re decorated to look like youkai!

Attendee B: This one even has marshmallows on it! That’s so Inste-able~!

Attendee C: Mama! I wanna eat a chocolate-covered banana!

Omi: Here you go, two chocolate-covered bananas. Thank you for your patronage.

Azuma: Looks like they’re getting lots of business.

Guy: It’s started to get crowded. Perhaps we should help organize the line.

Misumi: Right! Anyone who’s getting a chocolate-covered banana, please line up over he~re.

Azuma: The line for the chocolate-covered bananas starts here.

Guy: We will inform you where to get into line.

Attendee D: I’ll take one ayakashi chocolate-covered banana, please!

Omi: Thank you so much! Here you are.

Azuma: Now the line has been rearranged and the walkway is easier to get through.

Guy: Yes, there should be no problems with things like this.

Misumi: This shop is really popular, so Masumi and the others are gonna have to work super hard~.

Azuma: They are. They look quite busy now, so we can talk to them later.

Guy: Yes. For now, let’s try and head over by the stage.

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Misumi: Waah, there’s a lotta people~!

Azuma: The contest is about to start and it seems to be getting people excited.

Madoka: Ah, Nii-san.

Misumi: Madoka~!

Madoka: Your costume is amazing.

Misumi: It’s a daidarabotchi costume. Yuki made it~!

Madoka: I see. It really fits you, Nii-san.

Misumi: Ehehe, I’m glad you think so~!

Guy: I thought your promise to meet up with Ikaruga was later, but you’re already at the stage.

Madoka: It was. But watching plays is also a good way to study for scriptwriting, so I decided to watch some of the plays.

Azuma: You’re quite studious, Madoka.

Misumi: I’ll give you a reward for being so hardworking, Madoka!

Madoka: Eh, a reward…?

Guy: I see, that’s a good idea.

Azuma: Fufu, I think so too.

Misumi: Ah, it’s almost time to go and help out at the stalls.

Misumi: Madoka, I’ll send you a LIME later, so come to the place I send you on LIME when you get hungry!

Madoka: ? O-Okay, got it.

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Misumi: Hmhmhm~m ♪

Azuma: You seem to be having fun helping out, Misumi.

Misumi: Yeah, I am! And it makes me even more happy seeing other people go around the festival looking happy too~.

Azuma: I feel that way too. I hope Guy is having fun going around the festival on his break.

Madoka: There you are, Nii-san.

Misumi: Madoka! Welcome~.

Madoka: This is the stall you told me to come to on LIME and this is… A donut stall?

Madoka: A donut stall at a festival…

Azuma: Unusual, isn’t it?

Misumi: They’re decorated to look like ayakashi~. Here’s one for you, Madoka!

Madoka: Thank you, Nii-san. Umm… How much do I owe?

Misumi: It’s on me!

Madoka: Eh, are you sure?

Misumi: It’s okay, I wanna do this!

Madoka: But…

Azuma: I think Misumi would be happier if you let him spoil you, Madoka.

Misumi: Yeah, yeah!

Madoka: …I’ll take your word for it, then. Thank you, it looks good.

Misumi: Ehehe, you’re welcome!

Attendee A: Excuse me, I’d like three ayakashi donuts!

Misumi: Welcome, coming right up!

Madoka: Well then, I’ll go back to my seat by the stage…

Azuma: Ah, wait a moment.

Azuma: I thought you should know that this stall was actually Misumi’s idea.

Madoka: Eh, it was Nii-san’s idea…?

[ ⇠ Previous Part ] • [ Next Part ⇢ ]

[canarymemories]

hi finally compiling the thread i made the other day on twt abt the first chapter of recital so. welcome to me having far too much to say about my big bang fic skgh

chapter titling is similar to symphony (leo day fic) but instead of music terms, it's ballet terms. i'm nowhere near as used to ballet terms as i am w music terms so they won't have a deeper meaning (at least not on purpose lmao) like some of the symphony chapter titles do, but that's part of why there's nine chapters

a small aside: there is a specific structure i have in mind for the fic. there will be three arcs (if u want to call them that), the first three chapters is the first arc and then there will be an intermission chapter (up to this point is as far as i've confidently planned out so past this point, i can't guarantee anything but. nine chapters is the goal adkgsh). so then chapter 4 and 5 are arc two followed up by another intermission, then the final arc will be chapters 8 and 9. the plan is to stay mostly canon compliant until i don't agree w akira (or kinosei aslkhg), so i'll pretty much be sticking to the canon timeline

please listen to the playlist akdhg most of the songs do correspond to specific things/chapters so it's tied to the story itself plus i've listened to it too many times so. please tell me i'm so right about it 😔 the song i used in the summary of the first chapter is more of a chapter 2 song but i felt like it fit for the first chapter so adkgh (i have. So Many songs for checkmate so. can't wait for that one lmao) (chapter 1 songs are the first four in the playlist, the 5th one could go either way between ch 1 and 2) once more is posted, then i might actually sit here and go on abt why each of these songs is specifically here

writing choices 🎉 the one i want to talk about so so so so bad is the using nicknames in the narration bc if you've read literally anything else i've posted, you'd see that i don't do that, but bc recital is so close to izumi as the narrator, and this chapter is focused on his childhood, i thought it was fitting. there are a few instances of this changing throughout the chapter, such as makoto going from yuukun to makoto in the one flashback section and then staying as makoto when izumi is older, naru eventually changes to arashi.

and the one i really want to bring up,,, izumi's parents are always referred to as mama and papa but there is one singular instance where that's changed and that's during the argument at the end of the chapter.

and then she's referred to as mama again a few paragraphs later and this just goes into the point that i think izumi has a very complicated relationship with his parents. on one hand, they don't support him as an idol and have quite literally told him to his face that he's not successful enough to make it on his own as a model (next door), have treated him more like a doll than their child and they couldn't be bothered to actually ask him what he was interested in, but he still cares about them. he gets offended on their behalf more than once (in ! era at least), but it's just,, complicated. i feel like i can't really properly explain my thoughts here but i have Thoughts. but this is where the vaguely toxic parenting warning comes in from this chapter because the thing is, i don't think his parents were planning for him to feel the way he does about their parenting, they do love him and they do want to have him succeed just. maybe not for the right reasons, yk? ofc that doesn't justify their treatment of him or anything like that, there's just more to it than outright toxic parenting hence why it's subtle here.

what's a little less subtle is izumi's mom living vicariously through him, it's a bit more obvious with the modeling bit than the dance classes but idk it makes sense to me for her to have done them as a child too

baby modelgumi,,, they get their own point here bc i think those might've been my favorite bits to write and genuinely, the baby arashi bit is my favorite part of the whole chapter. they're just so alsdkgh oeugh cute i want to squeeze them in my hands 🥺🥺🥺. my note for this on my list of things to talk about is literally "baby modelgumi :pleading:" they hold a special place in my head and i hope in urs too

i was going to list stories reference but i might wait until i have more done and posted for that (plus i can't remember what story it is that arashi mentions izumi pushed her mouth into a smile as kids) but. portrait and canary hall mentions 🎉🎉

the argument. it's implied a few times in ! that izumi's parents don't really agree with him being an idol (leo says izumi was having isses at home around checkmate/war era). given that they put so much time and effort into having izumi model, i suppose that wouldn't be too surprising, but i think it's important to have some kind of breaking point like the argument scene bc in next door, izumi talks about how his parents treated him growing up and that just makes me think that he probably didn't have much say in his own life and there's just something about being an idol being his first big decision that idk hits a little different and there is more to an extent on this concept in the next chapter in comparing himself to leo and just kind of being like ,, huh...

last thing, so aside from the ending of the beginning section of the chapter, i feel so smart about the ending line of this chapter bc mama's pancakes come up in portrait and there's even a baby izumi homescreen line about it and it's meant to serve as an apology rather than her actually apologizing but i feel like u could take it a few ways but akhg felt so smart when i came up w the ending of the chapter. and i felt the same way when i thought of the first chapter ending and u guys will not like me for that one btu aksdgh <33

baby's first friendship next time 🎉🎉🎉🎉

[twinkubus]

✨top books of 2023✨

Father of Lies, Brian Evenson (psychological horror centering on a mormon religious leader. if you like books that make you feel gross and bad, this one’s for you)

Any Other City, Hazel Jane Plante (fictional memoir of a trans musician. the book is split between her life right before she comes out, and then decades later when she’s an established musician)

Try, Dennis Cooper (imagine if salo, or the 120 days of sodom was a high school romance. that's basically this book)

The Feminist and the Sex Offender, Judith Levine & Erica R. Meiners (fairly in-depth discussion of non-carceral responses to sexual violence. you can read an overview and my thoughts here)

Anything That Moves, Jamie Stewart (autobiography/memoir of xiu xiu founding member, mostly featuring wild sex anecdotes. i loved this)

Assata: An Autobiography, Assata Shakur (imo a must read if you're interested in prison abolition & the history of (black-led) resistance to police brutality in the US)

The New Topping Book, Dossie Easton & Janet W. Hardy (topping & dominance tips from the authors who brought you the ethical slut!! i wouldn't say there was anything *brand new* that i hadn't considered in this book before, but it phrased things and connected them in ways i wouldn't necessarily have thought of. have been reading various polyam-adj books and this one was probably my favorite)

Hit Parade of Tears, Izumi Suzuki (anthology of 70s sci-fi stories translated from Japanese and published for the first time in English this year. one in particularly was a stand-out for me, but they are all worth reading!!)

Mama Black Widow, Iceberg Slim (fictionalized memoir of a black drag queen who grew up in Chicago in the 40s and 50s. not sure how to talk about this one without trivializing the topic, so i'll say that it's pretty heavy, but if you're interested in gay and/or chicago history you should definitely check it out)

not sure who of my mutuals reads enough to do their own but if you wanna, please tag me so i can see your recommendations!! :33

[ga-yuu]

Ikegen babies talking about their parents

Rindoumaru (Yoritomo x Yoshino Son)

Rindoumaru: "What do I think about my parents?"

Rindoumaru: "My Dad calls himself the seii taishogun and always works. He always wears a fake smile in front of outsiders but when he's with Mom and my uncles (Yoshitsune and the Shogunate gang), he wears a more genuine smile. But who cares about him? Let's talk about my Mom!"

Rindoumaru: "My Mom is the cutest human being on earth! Whenever I'm with my nanny, she always comes by after work to see me. Every time, I show her how much progress I've made in studying, she praises me and pats my head. That's the happiest feeling of my life."

Rindoumaru: "I love my Mom so much that I always want to steal her from Dad! And it's even more fun to look at Dad's face whenever I interrupt their cozy moment."

Rindoumaru: "My smug Daddy who always bullies Mommy, loses his cool whenever I come in to interrupt their secret time together. He gives his usual fake smile, but seeing the frustration hiding behind it is really fun. I know that Mom is cute and that Dad always wants to pull her soft cheeks but I think pissing off Dad for no reason is even more fun. Getting to see that annoyed face is what I'm living for."

Rindoumaru: "Hm? You think I'm a bully just like my dad? Well, I won't deny that. I'm after all the real son of Yoritomo, and Mom loves me more anyway."

Sagiri (Shigehira x Yoshino Daughter)

Sagiri: "Facts about Mama and Papa....hmmm. Ah! I heard from Tamamo, that Mama and Papa were lovers before they got married and it was not like any political marriage or something."

Sagiri: "Papa loves Mama so much even though he always denies it. Once I caught Papa, secretly writing a love letter for Mama. He writes something, reads it again, and started blushing out of nowhere. I couldn't help but giggle. Mama always reads them and replies back too. Even though we three live together under one roof, this routine of sending and receiving love letters is quite often even to this day. Just how much do they love each other?"

Sagiri: "Another thing, once when I went to see a friend, who just recently got a new dog. When I reached her house, her dog just wouldn't stop barking at me. The dog was cute but it didn't let me touch her at all. When I told this to my parents, papa especially looked guilty. I wonder why?"

Izumi (Kurama x Yoshino Son)

Izumi: "What!? Facts? .....Well, my parents are the weirdest couple in the whole universe, I have no doubt about it. Mom is cute but I don't understand Dad. Once when I entered their room, I saw my mom sitting on Dad's lap, feeding him slices of oranges with a happy smile. My Dad was also holding my Mom like a teddy bear, with a straight face eating the slices of oranges without a care in the world."

Izumi: "I thought this was weird. Do every parent do this?"

Izumi: "When I asked Yoichi and Sueharu, they burst out laughing, saying that Dad is just possessive about Mom."

Izumi: "I swear, Dad is possessive about everything. One day I was casually relaxing in Yoshitsune's lap and Yoshitsune was stroking my wings (like he always does) with a smile. I don't know why, but Dad was glaring at me. He's even possessive about Yoshitsune?"

I don't write fanfic but this is something I wanted to do for ikegen babies because I was thinking about how the male leads and Yoshino would look from their babies' POV. Also, these names of babies are canon btw for those who don't know.

[twilightmalachite]

PORTRAIT - Ah, still delay—thou art so ■■■ 5

Author: Akira

Characters: Akiomi, Arashi, Makoto, Izumi

Translator: Mika Enstars

"Besides. My family is normal. A normal, loveless family, just like any other."

[Read on my blog for the best viewing experience with Oi~ssu ♪]

Season: Winter

Location: Modeling Office

About an hour later…

Akiomi: Hah… Hah… T-They’ve finally calmed down…

Izumi: ……

Akiomi: Or rather… Sena-kun got tired from crying and fell asleep. It’s already late at night—Kids this age should have gone to bed long ago.

Makoto: ……♪

Akiomi: (Ahaha, Yuuki-kun’s even sleeping while he squeezes Sena-kun’s hand tightly. They must really be close. Seeing something like this makes me feel at ease.)

Arashi: …Good job at work today, Akiomi.

Akiomi: Oh! You brewed me some coffee, huh? You’re so considerate, Narukami-kun.

Arashi: All I did was press a button.

Akiomi: Still, I’m happy to have been thought of. Good kid, good kid♪

Arashi: Please don’t pet me. I’ll hit anyone who is unpleasant.

Akiomi: You can’t jump to hitting others. You can get away with things like that since you’re still a child, but for adults like me, you’d get in trouble with the police immediately.

Arashi: Even though Akiomi’s a child, too.

Akiomi: If that’s what you think, then if only everyone else would treat me as they would any other child.

But alas, the others from the other agency didn’t help and instead just watched helplessly from a distance.

Arashi: Because adults are basically all useless.

Akiomi: What happened for you to have so little faith in adults at your age? Poor thing. You must’ve had a rough life, huh, Narukami-kun.

Arashi: I told you to please not pet me.

Besides. My family is normal. A normal, loveless family, just like any other.

Papa and Mama, me and my big brother, we all don’t care about each other.

If we’re talking about having it rough, those guys seem to have it worse. Though I don’t know much.

Akiomi: Right… I had gotten curious, so I asked the president and some others about it earlier…

There's a rumor that Sena-kun’s so-called monster parents had gotten into a full-blown fight with the agency he belongs to, it seems.

Apparently they had complained a lot about how their child was being treated disrespectfully, and the agency lost their temper and told them to just leave if they didn’t like it.

And so Sena-kun was transferred to our agency as a result.

Though I’m sure the president wasn’t too keen on taking in such a landmine, either, but…

Our motto here is that we’ll take in anyone and turn them into a splendid model.

If he had refused the transfer, Sena-kun’s parents probably would’ve spread negative criticism of us all over the place… In fact, just that had apparently inconvenienced his former agency quite a bit.

Arashi: What a seriously horrible family.

Akiomi: Yeah… I try not to speak bad about other people, but…

Wouldn’t you think adults of that age would have shame?

Arashi: Because adults are the worst.

Akiomi: I feel Sena-kun’s parents are a special case, though…

Still, even I think it’s the worst how Sena-kun’s parents don’t seem to consider his own feelings one bit.

I can tell Sena-kun definitely didn’t want to be separated from his beloved friend, Yuuki-kun.

It looks like his parents forced their son to transfer without any thought to his feelings.

Arashi: Hmm. It’s a pity, they seem to be really close.

Izumi & Makoto: ……♪

Akiomi: You can say that again. To tear two good friends apart just because you’re not pleased—It’s just plain cruel.

I bet Sena-kun must’ve really hated it too. That’s why he was crying and lashing out in desperation, as a way to express his disapproval. That’s probably what the huge fuss was over earlier, wasn’t it?

Arashi: If he hates it so much, he should just go back to his old agency.

I don’t wanna work with this guy.

Akiomi: Is that so? He’s fastidious, just like you. You might be able to unexpectedly get along with him, you know!

Arashi: Who is fastidious? Is that an insult? Should I be getting angry?

Akiomi: If you consider it a weakness, it’s a weakness. If you consider it a strength, it’s a strength! Any personality trait can be marketed in our line of work.

It all comes down to how you present it, and how you sell it.

Arashi: ? ? Sounds difficult.

Akiomi: I don’t fully understand it myself. But, recently, an idol I sorta like said something like that in an interview.

His name is Sagami Jin, have you heard of him? He’s around my age, and he’s an idol with so much momentum right now that he could knock flying birds out of the sky…♪

Arashi: Flying… birds? What about a bird?

Akiomi: Ahaha. …But anyways, this’ll cause a bit of trouble.

So if you don’t have any urgent work to do, Narukami-kun, you might wanna stay away from the agency for the time being.

I wouldn’t want you to get dragged up into something troublesome.

Arashi: That’s true. …But, if I don’t come here, then I can’t see Akiomi.

Akiomi: ? Did you say something?

Arashi: …… (Doesn’t say anything and kicks Akiomi in the back)

Akiomi: Ouch!? Seriously, why do you skip to violence so quickly?! What are your parents teaching you!

Arashi: You never told me I couldn’t kick.

Izumi: ……?

(What’re these guys doing… They’re making a racket right next to us, even though people are sleeping.)

(But, it’s nice… It kinda actually feels like something a close-knit family would do.)

(I wish I could’ve been born into a family like that.)

Makoto: Mn… Onii-cha, aaan…♪

Izumi: (If only Yuu-kun could’ve been my little brother for real.)

[ ☆ ]

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