#a play to the heart from ota

[mummers-of-the-heart]

To Be Free - Alastor (Hazbin Hotel) x GN!Reader

Premise: The chains of caring weigh heavy.

Word Count: 225 words

Fandom: Hazbin Hotel

Trigger Warning for themes of murder, yandere, loss of control, manipulation, ambiguous ending, and general creepy things. Also possible OOC. Not beta read or edited. Written in 45 minutes while sleep deprived.

Spoilers for the ending of season 1 of Hazbin Hotel and the subject matter here is dark. If anyone is a BSD fan, you likely already know what to expect because it is inspired by that one character. Can be read as romantic or platonic. Also tried to keep aroace in mind with writing this. Even as someone who is aroace spec, it can be hard to express at time.

Alastor collected eccentrics. People that stood out in an entertaining way particularly. With them, he could simply stretch out a hand and play them like a fiddle as they grasped for any sort of connection.

Exert control over others.

It gave him a feeling of control that was clipped away from him. Do unto others what was done to him.

You were just another part of his collection.

You struggled to maintain your perceived humanity in hell. He watched. He laughed. He toyed.

For years, he saw you hopelessly toil away.

Alastor didn't know when he started to care. It was something he never noticed.

Perhaps it was when you managed to get your hands on some old vinyl and hummed along to the songs he listened to while he was still alive.

Maybe your attempts to cook foods similar to your favorites in the human world wormed their way into his heart.

It wasn't until he realized the damage Adam had done to him that a small itch grew in the back of his mind.

Oh, how he hated it.

How those strong emotions chained him. That realization was suffocating. Tighter and tighter they grew with each second.

What was different about these feelings and the contract?

Kill.

That attachment tied him to another person. It limited him. It took away even more control. It...

His claws dug deeper.

Be free.

Like what you read? Reblog or share your thoughts. I always love to improve my writing and discuss the thought process behind it.

[boltupbitches]

Team Photographer - Justin Herbert

It was the first OTA of the off-season and Justin was excited to start. The idea of seeing his teammates and working with the new staff in the building was something he looked forward to. Change was needed, and he was optimistic about the future for the Chargers.

He wouldn’t lie though - he was also hoping to see the rookie team photographer hired last season. Since the day they met, he couldn’t stop his eyes from always looking for her during practice and games. A few times, he would try to approach her on the sidelines, discrete as he could be, but he never seemed to have an opportunity to talk to her.

The few times at the facility he tried to find her and engage in conversation, but something was always getting in the way of his efforts. More often than not, he was stuck watching her back disappear around corners and down halls as whoever stopped him from talking was chatting away without realizing what Justin was trying to do.

When he walked into the building and said a brief hello, he had to duck his head from the social media team to avoid showing his disappointment. He had hoped Caroline, the photographer, would be there, but she wasn’t.

He sat for a few team meetings, his mind still wondering about Caroline, as he tried to remain as engaged as possible, yet again, his eyes would wander to the door or even the windows outside, hoping to catch a glimpse of his favorite photographer, but no such luck.

Justin just wanted to talk to her alone, without the social media team, staff, and other players around them. He wanted to hear her laugh at one of his lame dad jokes, or ask her about her favorite kind of photography to shoot. He wanted to ask her where she was from, what she liked to do on days off, what her favorite ice cream flavor was, and if she liked going to the movies.

It wouldn’t be until lunchtime, when he was eating in the cafeteria with his teammates, that he finally saw Caroline.

His heart skipped a beat and he was frozen in place as he stared at her. 

She had cut her hair, something he noticed right away. Her locks, once down to the middle of her back, were now shoulder-length. She was wearing a team polo shirt, athletic pants, and sneakers. Her camera bag was tucked to her side like one would with a purse, and she was grabbing a tray in the line.

Most importantly, she was alone.

As Derwin continued telling a joke that made everyone at the table laugh, Caroline looked over at the noise and smiled when she made eye contact with Justin.

He smiled shyly back, his heart pounding in his ears as he felt the blood rush to his cheeks. He was on cloud nine from a simple smile. What was wrong with him?

His eyes watched as she got her food and took a seat by herself, a few tables away. 

He wanted so badly to go over there and eat with her.

Seconds ticked by before Justin finally stood suddenly, causing his teammates to turn to him in confusion. “I.. um… I need to go talk to someone. I’ll see you guys in a bit.” He nervously scooped his tray up and walked quickly over to Caroline’s table, not even caring to see his teammates’ reactions.

“I see you, Herbo!” Derwin called out.

He could have died on the spot when Caroline turned to see the commotion. 

“Hi, um… can I sit with you?” He asked quietly.

“Oh? Uh, yeah. Sure!” Caroline smiled brightly.

Justin sat his tray down and tried to will the blush on his face to calm down. He was for sure red all over. He just knew it.

What he didn’t realize was that Caroline was smiling at him, endeared by his shyness. “So, how has your off-season, been?”

“Good. Played some golf, visited family and friends in Eugene, and did a little traveling.” Justin gulped his water before asking, “What about you?”

“I went on a trip with my mom to Yellowstone and spent some time photographing landscapes,” Caroline answered with a smile.

“Do you enjoy the outdoors?” Justin asked curiously.

“I do! Especially the national parks. I’ve been to Yosemite, Yellowstone, Biscayne, the Grand Canyon, and next on my list is to see Crater Lake.”

“I’ve always wanted to see Crater Lake,” Justin admitted. “Maybe someday.”

They spoke for a while about travel and where they would love to visit someday. Justin mostly listened, enraptured by her words.

“There’s so much of the world and its beauty we don’t get to see when living in the city,” Caroline pondered as she looked outside the window, “I love my job and I’m thankful for what I can do with it, but I am envious of those who can see the world.”

“I know what you mean,” Justin agreed as he stared at her, unable to look away as the light from the sun made her eyes brighter, “There’s so much beauty out there. So much to see.” ‘Like you,’ he thought dreamily.

“Right?” She turned and smiled at him, “So what brought you over to my table today, Mr. Herbert?”

“I um…” He was getting red again, he could feel it, “I was wondering if maybe you’d like to get dinner with me sometime?”

Caroline stared at him in surprise as she blinked a few times while processing what he said, “D-dinner? With me?”

“Yeah, I mean if you’d like to of course. You’re decision.” He couldn’t help but cringe at his word choice. ‘Of course it’s her decision, idiot. Who else is going to decide but her?’

It was Caroline’s turn to be flustered. “Yeah.. Yeah let’s do dinner. I’d like that a lot.” She smiled shyly.

“Ok. Yeah, um, would tomorrow night be too short of a notice?”

“No, that’ll be fine. 7pm?” She suggested.

“Yeah that’s perfect. I’ll pick you up.” He reached for his phone and handed it to her after unlocking it, “Can you put your phone number in for me please?”

“Sure!” Caroline took it and entered her number in. She pressed call and hung up, making sure to save his number in her own phone.

Justin was relieved and excited. She said yes. He couldn’t believe she said yes to a date with him. Was this a dream?

“Maybe you could show me some of your landscape photography?” Justin suggested as he began to get up from his seat. His lunch break was almost over afterall. “I’d love to see them.”

“I’ll bring my camera,” Caroline promised, “See you later, Justin.” She winked.

He nodded and couldn’t hide the cheesy grin on his face as he went to dump his tray. 

He couldn’t hide that same grin on his face as he walked into the fitness center, ignoring the good-natured jabs of his teammates who saw him flirting at the table with the team’s newer photographer. He didn’t care though.

He did it. He asked her out. Holy shit.

Justin couldn’t wait for tomorrow night.

[morsking]

so i played ai: the somnium files - nirvana initiative. here are my thoughts about it.

at its core, the game is about irreversibility, and the effort to contend with the irreversible. it’s harrowing causes having disastrous effects in a manner larger and more visceral the original somnium files did. to tie into the buddhist and hindu imagery of the game, it’s about escaping samsara, clumsily and even gruesomely struggling to be liberated from endless cycles of suffering.

like the previous game, this core theme is tied to a more personal theme of family. the original somnium files was about the importance of being surrounded by love and the consequences of neglect and deprivation from love. nirvana initiative is the same in this regard. likewise, nirvana initiative also inherits a theme of personal separation, but in a much more literal sense intertwined with the theme of family.

the original ai was about date being separated from hitomi and iris, mizuki being separated from shouko and renju, ota and mayumi being separated from each other and takero, and so’s estrangement with saito being the most egregious case of familial separation that ties into the rest. nirvana initiative takes this further and emphasizes the irreversibility of separation with how tearer being an orphan starved for affection and treated as an organ donor for a more favored child was what turned him into a serial killer. he was literally split from his own humanity in a physical manner every time pieces of him were taken to be given to the ill jin furue, projecting this suffering into his victims, who are also separated from their humanity.

the story of nirvana initiative, unlike that of somnium files however, is that of being undone. being undone by divorce, being undone by failure, being undone by loneliness, being undone by grief, and being undone by permanence in ways that cannot ever be taken back. komeji cannot take back being a terrible father and husband. shoma cannot take back his spite toward his father, and like gen he cannot take back the effects the experiments of the horadori institute had on their bodies. kizuna cannot take back that she lost her ability to walk. lien cannot take back his past as a thief, and ryuki cannot take back that he couldn’t save his twin brother. most catastrophically, amame cannot take back that she killed somezuki in revenge, just like tokiko couldn’t take back that she ruined his life and set him on a path of murder out of her own desperation. nirvana initiative is about the consequences to impossible decisions, and this is what amame’s somniums were all trying to communicate.

so we’re guided through this conflict of being harmed by irreversible decisions whether made by us or on our behalf with the desire to reach an emancipation that cannot ever be disturbed (reversed) from those consequences, and the consequences that struggle has. what the characters ultimately desire is tokiko’s moksha: the unraveling of reality that would accomplish a freedom from all suffering in the form of a freedom from all painful consequence. that is why the game’s secret ending involves tokiko escaping reality leaving the player with the choice to tell ryuki everything they know to split the characters from the suffering they endured and grant them the good lives from which they were separated.

it is supposed to be a happy outcome, but it is actually a very uncomfortable thing. precisely because we, the players, have inflicted irreversibility upon ourselves by manifesting in our consciousness the same spiritual realization that tokiko did. in this sense, kotarou uchikoshi masterfully delivered a story that is deeply resonant in the hearts of his audience. we have been separated from normality, and we will never be the same because of it.

and i must give it to him. just talking about it fucks me up like you have no clue. i’ve even tossed the smarty pants language into the shitter because that’s how hardfuckingcore it is. that’s how bad it gets me.

amame is by far the highlight of the game. it’s incredible how uchikoshi made a side character from the first game a fully-fledged, complicated, and delightful actor in the story. amame’s somniums made me feel like i was going through heaven’s feel or omori all over again, and her presence was everywhere in the game in some form or another for me.

so that’s how the game knocked my socks off. but how didn’t it get my rocks off? 

well for starters i feel like the second worst decision uchikoshi could’ve made was have date and mizuki start seeing each other as father and daughter only to immediately separate them for 6 years just to tease you with a mystery. uchikoshi snorts twists like a long line of cocaine and shoves your face into a pile of it urging you to feel the same high, almost as if wanting to be thanked for being the one responsible for taking you on a roller coaster. drugs. that’s the metaphor i’m using here. because it’s 2am and i have very limited imagination.

the absolutely worst decision though was making shouko and renju mizuki’s adoptive parents rather than her biological ones. uchikoshi’s need to make everything connected in ways you weren’t expecting works for the story’s detriment here. it’s not necessarily bad that mizuki is the result of a genetic experiment, and it’s not bad that she has an older genetic sister. i do think it’s bad that it feels as though he’s betrayed the found family angle of the original somnium files. it was compelling that renju and shouko tried their best to be good parents to the child they made together but couldn’t make it work because neither of them were actually equipped to be parents, and that mizuki was able to forge a familial bond with someone she had no blood relation with. nirvana initiative diminishes the power of that narrative. i wouldn’t go so far so to say uchikoshi spited it, i’d just say that his habits as a writer got the better of him. talk about choices that can’t be taken back lol.

this is more of a personal nitpick but i really do wish the game had done more with ryuki in the second half. in an effort to sell you the twist of the game’s timeline, i feel ryuki was unforgivably sidelined in a way that turns “oh my god, what could be happening with ryuki right now!?” to “ugh. where the fuck is ryuki. i wanna see him have a mental breakdown right now.” granted, from launch this was advertised as The Mizuki Game but weeeeeell we saw what The Mizuki Game had to offer in terms of mizuki herself. and that’s not to say she, or rather, they aren’t fun. they are. i adore them. it’s just *gestures at everything i just said in the two paragraphs above*. 

tangentially related to mizuki, i feel like kizuna and lien were probably the weakest part of nirvana initiative. it’s not that i don’t like the lady and the tramp, i just don’t like it when the lady and the tramp has bad romcom tropes all over it. comun kaibutsushidousha put it in perfect words. lien would be better if he was less lien. if he was less “22 year old man who just wouldn’t stop being a pest to a girl 4 years his junior”. which is a shame, because the post-time skip portion of lien and kizuna’s story arc is rather good. i’m a huge fan of stories where two people come closer together overcoming the burdens of their past. i just can’t get the bad taste of lien’s first impression off my mouth.

speaking of bad taste in my mouth, not a day goes by where i don’t wish uchikoshi would stop using “older men really wanna get it on with a girl half their age” as a joke. maybe it’s just a brand of humor i don’t get, but i just feel like “this sexually deviant man is so WEIRD” just isn’t a punchline to me. especially not when i already know too many women who have had uncomfortable encounters with too many entitled men.

so yeah, that’s nirvana initiative. overall a very thought-provoking experience occasionally held back by uchikoshi’s worst habits. i really am looking forward to the next somnium game and lowkey terrified at the implications of tokiko’s parting words.

in the meantime

遐ｴ繝ｬ邯ｻ繝吶ご閼ｱ繧ｻ繝ｨ繧ｳ繧ｳ繝剰劒讒句ｹｻ荳也阜

逶ｮ隕壹ａ繝ｨ隲ｸ蜷幃擠蜻ｽ繝取凾逵溽炊繝取演髢九こ 菫ｺ繝上ム繝ｬ繧ｳ蜃ｦ繝上ラ繧ｳ莉翫ワ菴墓凾繧ｭ繝溘ワ 繝ｯ繧ｫ繝ｩ繝翫う繝ｯ繧ｫ繝ｩ繝翫う繝ｯ繧ｫ繝ｩ繝翫う窶ｦ 莉ｮ諠ｳ遨ｺ髢捺錐螢翫す蛛ｽ繝惹ｸ悶き繝ｩ縺九う謾ｾ繝ｲ 蜉ｩ繧ｱ縺ｦ繧ｯ繝ｬ蜉ｩ繧ｱ縺ｦ繧ｯ繝ｬ蜉ｩ繧ｱ縺ｦ繧ｯ繝ｬ窶ｦ

[sophiie2000]

A Past Long Forgotten?

Chapter 2.

Words ~ 3454

Disclaimer ~ Characters belong to Voltage Inc

Link to Chapter 1 below ⬇️

Sharp aqua blue eyes scanned the room. They noted all the various security cameras, security personal, and locations of all of the exits. She internally mapped out the entirety of the hotel in her mind. A blue print forming in her head. 

The hotel was lavish. Expensive décor. Crystal chandeliers. Rich guests, dolled up for a night in the casino or bar, or any of the other facilities the Tres Spades boasted. Whispering to Hugo, MC noted,

“Clearly has a thing for opulence, doesn’t he?” 

“I wonder if we will meet him tonight?” Hugo squealed, blushing. All MC could do was chuckle, knowing full well Hugo had gone into full blown fan girl, crush mode. 

“I have no intention of making any move to connect with him. He is not my target. And frankly nothing good would come from meeting him here tonight. It just happens that my target uses his hotel… unfortunately.” 

Hugo was obviously aware of her past experiences with Eisuke. When was it she had confided her past in him? When he had been the one to discover Eisuke was searching for her?

“Spoilsport.” Hugo grunted, although the soft, understanding smile on his face belied his moaning.

“Hugo, lets head to the casino. Play a few games, giving me the chance to look around inside, then we can leave”. 

Nodding to her once, Hugo escorted MC into the casino. Acting the perfect combination between gentleman and protector. 

As they made their way through the doors, MC could feel as all eyes fell on her. She felt blanketed by the stares. Nonetheless, she kept her head high, face forward. Not once glancing at those staring her way. 

Stares of others was something she had become well accustomed to over the years.

“Babe, everyone is looking at you!” Hugo squeaked. His eyes widening with excitement. Smiling at him, MC shook her head. Simply shrugging. 

“Nothing new, not with your talents of making me look a million dollars” Her comment made Hugo blush, turning as red as a strawberry. 

As they continued walking, MC detected a different sort of stare. Not hostile, for the hairs on the back of her neck did not stand on edge in the way hostile stares made them. 

Although, they certainly were not admiring stares either. 

They felt inquisitive, as though questioning who she was.

Careful, as to only move her eyes, she found the source of these gazes. Her eyes briefly finding a group sat in the middle, playing poker.

Five men gazing her way. Each gaze slightly different. 

The man she recognised as Mitsunari Baba gazed adoringly her way. The desire and lust of this ladies’ man evident in those brown eyes. The artist, Ota Kisaki, too held similar affection in his look. Although, his was accompanied by a sort of innocence. Cute.

The lazy detective, Mamoru Kishi, briefly glanced at MC before looking away, back down at his cards and raising the bets. To an untrained eye, you would think he was uninterested by MC’s presence. However, she noticed the subtle glances he sent her way. The questions forming in his head. 

Soryu Oh, now his gaze bored into her. He was clearly questioning who she must be. Was she friend or foe? It was almost entertaining to watch his attempts to determine this flit across his face. 

But it was the cold glare of Eisuke Ichinomiya, looking her way. It could be seen as anything. Anything from intrigue or malice, or lust. His eyes followed her every move. Seeing him staring at her prompted a waver in MC’s heart, of feelings from the past, a past which should be forgotten. 

No. 

A past that IS forgotten. 

MC forced a lid over those feelings. Her mask firmly in place.

It was not her intention to make any sort of contact with any of these men. Frankly, she would have preferred them to not have noticed her. So, she took her eyes off the group. Proceeding towards the roulette wheel. 

Maybe she’ll stay longer tonight, so she can observe them too? Risky, she thought. But at least she wouldn’t be bored.

Leaning in close to Hugo, MC whispered into his ear,

“We’ve sparked their interest. Ensure you don’t look around too much while we are here. Move only your eyes. We don’t need them getting too close. We’ll play the roulette for a few spins and then move onto a different poker table”.

“Got it” Hugo nodded. They began placing their bets. All the while, MC could sense the gazes of the group on her back. A burning, as though they really could burn holes in the back of her head with their looks. 

They played a few games. So far, MC had correctly chosen the number and colour on the roulette wheel each time. 

“Black, 15” She said. But she had not been alone in voicing it. Moving only her eyes, she noticed Eisuke had joined the roulette table and was standing beside her. Eyeing her, as he placed his bets. 

Shit, she thought she would manage to avoid him a bit longer. How long had passed since their voices had overlapped? Although her face and demeanour would not show it, inside she was busily calculating the success of any of her attempts to move away.

“Ma’am will you be placing a bet also?” The employee spinning the wheel asked her. The sound of their voice bringing MC out of her head. 

Still refusing to look at Eisuke, MC quietly shook her head, moving away from the table. Her long curls swaying, offering her face and features some protection from Eisuke’s knowing stare. 

Dipping her head in a polite, graceful bow in thank to the employee, MC placed her hand into the crook of Hugo’s arm. The pair elegantly walking in search of another table. 

The gesture seemed to frustrate Eisuke, as his eyes followed MC as she moved towards the poker table. His glare boring into her, did not go unnoticed by the agent.

“Did you guys see that? She just completely ignored Boss!” Baba exclaimed in shock. 

“Ahahahaha that won’t please Eisuke!” Ota laughed heartily. MC could feel Soryu’s glare harshen at her brazen attitude towards Eisuke as she passed them to the other poker table. 

Despite his glare, as sharp as daggers, MC still was undeterred. A fact which surprised the bidders.

“Kid’s got guts” Mamoru said, while exhaling the smoke from his cigarette. Clearly, he was now displaying a more open interest in her than to the casino.

“I think I may have caught their attention” MC smiled, Hugo, slightly nervously coughed. 

Looking to the side, she noticed a few other seats at the table had been taken. Fuck. Opposite her now, sat Eisuke. Still, he had not taken his eyes away from her. The other seats, now occupied his friends. 

“Brillante, esto debe ser bueno. Por qué no me dejarían en paz esta noche? (brilliant, this should be good. Why could they not just leave me alone tonight?)” MC muttered under her breath to herself, making Hugo laugh, and earning a harsher glare from the man sitting opposite her. 

“What did she say?” Ota asked the others, all of them looking around at each other. Yet Eisuke kept his gaze firmly on her. 

“It was Spanish. Although, I am not sure what she said exactly” He stated.

At this, MC for the first time tonight, finally looked at him. And smiled. The minute she looked directly at them, they all gasped. 

A slight uncertainty filled Eisuke’s eyes, as he stared directly into hers. She held his gaze. Never looking away. Shit… had he recognised her?

“Woah! No one has ever held Eisuke’s gaze before!” Ota exclaimed. 

Now it was Soryu who was looking at her. He, too, reacted in the same way when he came face to face, finally looking into her eyes. 

“Only one other person could ever hold Eisuke’s gaze. But… we haven’t seen her around in years.” Soryu stated, trying to get a better read of MC. 

MC made sure she kept her features schooled. Despite her inside turmoil, wondering if she had been found out, she remained outwardly undeterred. 

“Oh yeah, what was her name again?” Baba asked. 

“MC…” Eisuke breathed her name out. While it was in reply to Baba’s question, his eyes continued looking directly into MC’s. Almost as if he was speaking her name directly to her. Beckoning her. 

Her heart stopped. Stomach dropping. To anyone around her, she appeared calm. No different. But inside was a blizzard of emotions. Emotions that she had locked away. 

A past, long forgotten. Like a mantra, she kept reminding herself. It was long ago. She had forgotten it all. ALL. OF. IT. No memory could remain.

Slowly placing her cards down, she turned to Hugo, who was already eyeing her cautiously. 

“Go get the car. Be ready for me around the corner. Text me when you are down there and I will leave” She whispered in his ear. 

Giving her a quick nod, Hugo hurried from the casino and downstairs. 

“Entonces, estás listo para jugar? (So, are you ready to play?)” MC smiled. At this, Eisuke smirked. 

“Let’s play”. 

As we were dealt some more cards, Eisuke and MC never once took their eyes from each other.

Baba folded. Then Ota. Soon followed by Soryu and Mamoru. 

It was just Eisuke and MC left. In her hand, she held a royal flush. She couldn’t lose. Eisuke pushed all his chips forwards. 

“All in” He said, smirking. 

Gods, she remembered playing poker with him when they were teenagers. That same trademark smirk when he thought he had won, riled her up then, and was still bugging her now.

All eyes focused on her. Smiling, she too, pushed all her chips into the middle. 

“Todo en (all in)” Onlookers had begun murmuring around them. Suddenly, MC felt her phone buzz. Hugo was ready for her.

“Show your cards!” The dealer declared. Eisuke showing his, he had a straight. Everyone looked at him as though he had won. Then the dealer pointed to MC.

“Well played, Sir.” She said, standing from her seat, dropping the Spanish language with them for the first time that evening, but maintaining the fake accent hoping they wouldn’t know it was her. She tossed her cards forward, as though she had lost. 

Baba grabbed them turning them over. 

“ROYAL FLUSH!? She won!” He exclaimed.

But when they all turned to where she had been seated only moments earlier, all they could see was her weaving her way through the crowded casino, towards the exit. 

“WAIT!” Eisuke’s shout trailed behind her, still MC did not turn around. 

She needed to get out of there. Fast. It was a good thing she had compiled a blue print of the building in her mind earlier that evening allowing her to identify the quickest route out.

“Soryu, catch up with her, I want to speak to her!” Eisuke barked his order.

Oh, hell no, MC thought. A quick glance behind her showed Soryu come running her way. Welp, good thing she knew how to run in heels!

As she made her way through the door, she turned back once more noticing Soryu was still following her. Great… she couldn’t lead them towards Hugo and the waiting car like this.

Continuing to make a run for it, she navigated her way through the back alleys to give her a chance to break out onto a different busy street and hopefully gain some distance between her and her pursuers. 

Phoning Hugo, she quickly informed him of her dilemma and instructed him to get home as it was far too risky to wait for her. Promising him she would inform him when she was home, she ended the call and continued running through the dark, thin alley.

After running further into the alley, she found the perfect spot before the end of the busy street to hide. And just in time too, for Soryu rounded the corner shortly after she had hidden herself away. 

The sound of his feel splashing through the puddles littering the pavement. The sound of him kissing his teeth before starting to phone someone, echoed through the empty alleyway. Snippets of their conversation filled MC’s ears.

“Eisuke, I lost her. She must have blended in with the crowd after I followed her through the alleyways.” … “I’m sorry Eisuke.” … “Yes, she looked just like her, but it has been so long and we haven’t ever found any evidence she’s living around here, I couldn’t say for certain.” … “No I know her eyes were the same, but without speaking to her we can’t be certain.” … “Don’t forget, MC didn’t speak Spanish?” … “Look, I’m on my way back, we can try see if we can turn up any new information on MC again, but I doubt we will find anything.”

With that, she heard Soryu vacate the alley. Once she was certain he was gone, she stepped out from her hiding spot and headed out onto the busy streets. 

Looked alike… MC… they really were looking for her. This was the last thing she needed while her mission was taking place inside his bloody hotel!

When she finally made it back to her apartment, she updated the Boss. 

He had been impressed she had taken the initiative to scope the place out, and had obtained a ticket to the IVC, and also identified verifiable information regarding the black-market auctions. 

However, he also stated it was now too risky for her to engage in the game, particularly since she had a history with Eisuke, under the circumstances where he was aware of her true identity. As such, she was instructed to not investigate until the next IVC, as a way to prevent potentially blowing her cover. 

She would be free for two days. Therefore, she opted to roam through the streets of Japan, a place she hadn’t spent much time in recently due to missions keeping her away. 

Pulling her long locks back and up into a messy bun, and applying some lighter, natural makeup, MC slipped into a cream knitted jumper, and some black high waisted skinny jeans, and some white daps. Putting her air pods in, she started playing a random playlist and headed out. 

After walking the streets window shopping for a couple of hours, she decided to head into a café with a cute interior. It had a cute, cosy vibe and was quiet, despite it being the middle of the day. The wooden tables and benches, and the shrubs gave the place a rustic vibe. 

Ordering herself a spiced latte and a slice of cake, she made her way over to a table at the back, in the corner, furthest from the door. She may not be working, but she still wished to remain inconspicuous. 

Soon the waiter brought over her order, thanking him politely, MC turned to look out the window absentmindedly. 

All of a sudden, there was a commotion by the café door. Looking up, MC saw none other than Eisuke and Soryu, walking in. Well that was her break in the café over. 

Slowly, so as not to create any suspicion or draw any notice, she left some money on the table and made her way towards the exit with her head down. 

They both seemed distracted by the crowd of women surrounding them, creating the perfect commotion for MC to leave undetected. 

As she was scurrying away, she overheard Soryu speaking to Eisuke.

“She’s gone” A quick glance at the pair showed her their eyes were directed to the seat where she had been only moments earlier. Surely, they had not come in just to see her…

“Ugh, keep looking for her. I need to speak with her.” Eisuke grunted a reply. 

As he turned his eyes suddenly met with MC’s, as though her gaze had lingered too long and drawn his to her. But as quickly as they had met, MC turned, disappearing into the bustling streets. 

“Soryu, there!” Eisuke’s shout followed her. Great. They couldn’t have just left her in peace. 

Luckily wearing daps meant she could run even faster than when she was wearing heels yesterday, making today’s daring escape 100 times easier. 

She ran. And ran. Making her way across town, with only one destination in mind. 

Shige’s workshop.

If she got to his workshop, she could hide. If they followed her, they would be none the wiser that it wasn’t your typical workshop. 

She could sense she was being followed. They were keeping a polite distance. One where they wouldn’t lose her, nor would they spook her into running quicker. 

Glancing behind her, she could see it was as expected, Eisuke and Soryu following her. Turning around, she started to speed up. Almost there. As she stepped into the alley, she began to run.

“Wait!” Their voices called from behind her, as two sets of footsteps, too, picked up pace. Quickly, looking behind her, she noticed they were no longer in sight, so she slipped into Shige’s store.

“MC?” Shige looked at her concerned. Her breathing told him everything he needed to know, yet she still explained. Even if it was in rushed words, and heavy breaths.

“Let me hide, I’m being followed. I’ll explain after.” Nodding once, Shige opened the hidden door below his counter. MC crawled in, closing the door behind her. As soon as the door shut, she heard the chime of the bell on the front door and two sets of footsteps, announcing her pursuers had arrived. 

“Can I help you gentlemen?” Shige asked the people who had just entered. 

“Where is the girl who just came in here?” Eisuke demanded.

“You’re my first customers this afternoon, I’m afraid” 

“Do. Not. Lie. To. Me.” Eisuke responded clearly angry with Shige’s response, “We saw her come in here”

“Wasn’t here I’m afraid” This time it was Soryu’s turn to ask questions.

“Look we’re looking for someone who was a friend once. We haven’t seen her in years and we thought we’d seen her again last night, and then again in a café just now. We just want to see if it is her.”

“I wish I could help, but as I already said she didn’t come here” 

“You’re lying!” Eisuke yelled. “Come on Soryu” With that she heard them both leave, the bell chiming to show they had walked through the door. MC heard Shige walk over and lock the door and closing the blinds before letting her out the secret room.

“Isn’t he someone you knew before you joined the EAC?” Shige asked, concerned. 

“Yes… apparently they are still searching for me… They know my first name at least and associate it with my looks. But they haven’t seen or heard from me since I left my old life behind. I don’t understand why they are still searching for me when I disappeared years ago! And now my bloody target is staying in his stupid hotel!” MC spluttered. The frustration of the chase was evidence of the influence they had had on her emotions. 

“That’s going to make your mission tougher then” Shige said with concern. 

“You’re telling me… at least I like a challenge” MC smiled half-heartedly, letting a sigh escape her lips.

When she left the workshop, MC found herself walking back along the main road. Figuring she should purchase some food from the store, she headed into the closest convenience store. 

Upon entering, she clocked the cashier. Shit. Baba sat behind the counter reading the latest horoscope readings. Best make this quick, and avoid eye contact. Picking up some Lady Borden and some other necessities, she headed towards the counter. 

Hi there, pretty lady, is this everything?” Without looking up, MC smiled and nodded. “Have we met before? You seem familiar?” Baba asked. Simply shaking her head, keeping her eyes down, MC responded.

“No, I don’t come around here too often” And she wouldn’t be again, she thought. Finishing up, and paying for her items, MC started to leave. 

“Aqua blue eyes are a rarity pretty lady. Not many people have them. Particularly in Japan.” His comment made her finally look up. Not disclosing her nerves, she offered him a friendly smile. 

“So I have heard, but rare as they are, I am not the only person with eyes this shade. Maybe you have just been lucky enough to meet a few of us.” Baba didn’t seem convinced, he nonetheless, let her leave without asking any other questions. 

MC made a mental note to herself… start wearing sunglasses or contacts to hide her eyes from people. 

[ciitrinitas]

ai: the somnium files.

my long awaited date arc.

the funniest part of me playing was how much i kept remarking to xofi that i liked how generally professional and competent date was. he was a bit of a nutjob in his head, and there was the porno mag running gag, but he was otherwise a fully formed character that also had horny bolted on. date was very charming as a protagonist. he's aiba's soaking wet poor little meow meow, and she loves him... if date/aiba isn't real, then why game???

aiba's actual best girl (i was ready to disown the true end if she stayed dead), and boss is my wife, and the receptionist is hysterical (let's go to atami!). overall, i quite dug the cast! except ota. i do not like ota. the simp act got tiresome, and yes! i'm still salty about how he lied to his mother (who has dementia) that an eighteen-year-old girl he has a parasocial fixation on is his girlfriend. that did not warm my heart. why did ota even have a route and ending.

i think i found mizuki's route and ending the most satisfying. it would have been nice to have seen more of how date did care for her before that final somnium and to have mizuki be more involved outside of her route, but it still worked for me.

but, oh, mizuki... love her, and while the visual of her lifting weights is hysterical, i do not care for her having the strength and acrobatic ability of a shounen protagonist. watching a sixth grader run up to armed adults actively firing at her at close range so she can club them with a metal pipe stretched my suspension of disbelief too far. the game otherwise didn't have a setting that allowed it; mizuki was an anomaly...for some reason.

my biggest gripes have to be the inconsistent tone and structure. the former would hit with jarring instances of comedy or absurd action sequences that were too predicated on the world's strongest twelve year old. the latter is probably a more personal quibble (i mean, this is all just me rambling out my thoughts), but my first run at the game ended with me on the annihilation route where i was locked out of more once i hit a cliffhanger. not even a bad end! just booted from the route until later. then it happened again when i branched into the true route before iris'. the game clearly didn't want me to access key exposition yet; i would have preferred it if branching onto both routes was barred until ota, mizuki, and iris' routes were complete.

anyway, let's all look forward to the aiba and date marriage! i can't wait to see who boss blackmails so date can legally wed his eyeball. and then we all go to atami.

(but, seriously! i liked hitomi, but her relationship with date...did nothing for me romantically. iris, sweetie, you need to accept that aiba is your uncle's waifu for laifu.)

[askwhatsforlunch]

The Rugby World Cup Table

In France, there is something specific to Rugby we call "la troisième mi-temps" (third half-time), where both winning and losing teams and supporters gather after a game for a bite and a pint! In that spirit, as our home World Cup comes to a close tonight, I am celebrating all the teams that took part and played exciting, enthralling rugby (sometimes breaking our hearts!) all across France this past couple of months, sharing recipes from all the countries represented. I really enjoyed delving into national cuisines I did not know, and perhaps some future travels will be inspired by these delicious discoveries! In the meantime, I'll be happy eating, whether New Zealand or South Africa lifts their fourth Webb Ellis Trophy!

Pool A

Confit Duck (France)

Manuka Honey Glazed Ham (New Zealand)

Melanzane alla Parmigiana (Italy)

Pasta con Salsa Caruso (Uruguay)

Ombidi and Mielie Pap (Namibia)

Pool B

Beer Battered Sausages (Ireland)

Regte Braaibroodjie (South Africa)

Scots Apple Crumble (Scotland)

Ota Ika (Tonga)

Griș cu Lapte (Romania)

Pool C

Haddock Welsh Rarebit (Wales)

Vudi Vakasoso (Fiji)

Aussie Burgers (Australia)

Pastéis de Nata (Portugal)

Abkhazura (Georgia)

Pool D

Chicken Pot Pie (England)

Guiso Carrero (Argentina)

Salmon Chirashi (Japan)

Kopai (Samoa)

Chupe de Camarones (Chile)

[craftydragonperson]

Narasaki Ryō wife of Sakamoto Ryōma

I’ve talked about the man behind Gintoki’s main plot. One of the most beloved Japanese historical figures, Ryōma Sakamoto, the man who paved the way towards the establishment of the modern Meiji government. I’ve talked about how Sorachi had Sakamoto Tatsuma’s role more offscreen most likely because he models Ryōma’s trading business ventures, while Gintoki carries Ryōma’s more personal history. Although Sakata Gintoki references the Japanese legend of Kintaro; after certain events he became a samurai under the name Sakata Kintoki; in question corners, Sorachi explains this & doesn't intend on making Gintoki a descendent of Kintaro. Like GinTama’s Sakamoto, Oryo (Otae’s friend and coworker), has mentioned, and rejected numerous advances from ronin man Sakamoto Tatsuma. It’s a spoof on the historical figures Sakamoto & Narasaki.

Both characters don’t appear as much as we would like but their story together have been shared and passed onto Gintoki and Otae. I wanted to talk about the woman beside the man. The woman who captured Sakamoto’s heart. I want to talk about Narasaki Ryo, a woman who pushed back against sexual exploitation and violence, and Sakamoto Ryōma, the man who fell in love with her for her strength.

This is a story so well-known in Japan it's become a just-so-story to explain the origin of honeymoons in Japan. One day in 1866, historical superstar ronin Sakamoto Ryoma is hanging out in his room at the Teradaya in Fushimi, a town just outside Kyoto. Some local guards show up hunting Sakamoto, but are overheard by a maid in the inn's bath. The maid runs upstairs to warn Sakamoto. Some versions are happy to emphasise she does this naked. He draws his Smith and Wesson pistol, and has a shoot-out with his attackers, then escapes into the night, wounded but alive. The next day he marries the woman who saved his life. They then leave the city, and sail off to Satsuma in Southern Japan, where they relax at hot springs, hike up mountains, and enjoy the first honeymoon in Japanese history.

And basically, that’s all true. Minus the honeymoon bit, which is a romantic 20th century rationalization of their escape and respite. It’s a great story, but it usually starts at the wrong place, the bit where a woman saves a man, and seems to be rewarded with marriage.

Narasaki Ryō and Sakamoto Ryōma

We know the details of Oryo’s early life from her husband’s letters to his older sister. She was the daughter of a Kyoto Imperial court physician. Oryo was the oldest of five surviving children, three girls and two boys. She had a privileged, comfortable childhood. She had the education of a cultured young lady: “trained in flower arrangement, perfume, the tea ceremony, and so on” as her somewhat less refined husband later described it. She played the koto (a stringed harp-like instrument) , wrote and read , and learned fine needlework. As the oldest sister, she took care of her younger siblings from a very young age. She would have expected her family to arrange a marriage to a young man of similar status, and to live an ordinary, refined life.

However, when Oryo was still a teenager, her father was caught up in the turbulent politics and plots surrounding the Imperial Court. He was a “Loyalist”, who wanted the Emperor to be “restored” to power in Japan. In a shogunate crackdown on these loyalists, Oryo’s father lost his position as court physician. Furthermore, many of his friends and colleagues were executed, imprisoned or also lost their jobs. The Narasaki family not only lost its income, but its network of reliable friends. A few years later, in 1862, Oryo’s father died, leaving his wife and children destitute.

Ryoma wrote to his sister of the family's state when he first met Oryo:

They have nothing to eat and no one to look to. Sometimes they have been so hard up that they had to borrow household implements and return them after using them. They sold first their house, then their belongings, and then the oldest girl began selling her clothes so that her mother and younger sisters wouldn't have to do the same thing.

Oryo was then 22. She had one teenage brother, sisters who were 15 and 12, and a four year old brother. An impoverished family with two young girls, and no adult male protector was an easy mark for a predator.

Ryoma writes her story: But then the youngest girl, who is unusually beautiful, was duped by some scoundrel and sold into the Shimabara as a maiko; the same villain, without saying anything to the mother, took the girl who is 16 and sold her to an Osaka brothel. The five-year old boy entered a Shibataguchi temple as an acolyte.

Note: these ages are by the Japanese reckoning, by which children are born aged one, and add a year at New Year's Day. By our count, they would be at least a year younger.

(This segment reminds me of another lesson where Otae offers her help to her young-like coworker Hanako who was duped by a swindler).

Several things have been changed & roles of Gin Shinpachi & Tae were moved around for the story.

When the eldest sister realized this, she sold her last good kimono, headed for Osaka, and confronted the villains there. She didn't care if they killed her, and she carried a dagger. When they saw how determined she was, the scoundrel showed her the tattoo on his arm and shouted threats at her. But she had come prepared to die, and so she flew at him, grabbing his clothing, striking him in the face, and exclaimed that if he didn't return the younger sister he had brought to Osaka with him she would stab him. The wretch shouted, "Look out, woman, or I'll kill you!" They went at each other with shouts of "Kill!" and "Do you worst!" After all, through, he couldn't very well murder the woman who had come to Osaka, and so she was able to get her younger sister back and take her to Kyoto with her again. Isn't that a story? The youngest daughter in the Shimabara is in no danger immediately, so she has left her there for now.

It was this story which won Ryoma's love and admiration. “I must say, she has more strength than I do," he closed this letter to his sister Otome. He explains in this letter that he's helping to get her siblings places, and he's entrusted Oryo to the care of the landlady of the Teredaya, Otose. You see, he was already planning to marry Oryo, simply because he was in love with this strong awesome woman. Ryoma had been brought up by strong women. He was an immensely talented swordsman who had been first taught to fight by his older sister Otome. He would later joke that people who knew them believed Otome would win in a fight.

The story of how Narasaki Ryo fought for her family, and then was loved for her fighting spirit, is a much greater and truer story than the first one.

(Saigo, Otose & Otae)

There's a sad ending. Sakamoto Ryoma was assassinated in 1867, and Oryo faded into obscurity. Most of the men in Ryoma's life, including his own family, didn't care about supporting her. The exception, Satsuma leader Saigo Takamori was killed leading the Satsuma Rebellion. Oryo managed an ordinary life in Tokyo, marrying a merchant, adopting a child, divorcing, and living in modest circumstances till 1905. At times in her later life she received some attention from the press for saving her husband's life back in the Meiji Restoration. People said she was an alcoholic in her later years, lost in dreams of her romantic early life. Perhaps, and who could blame her? But I also know that the Meiji era became more and more judgmental of women's drinking. Many late Edo Period women could put away a lot of sake, and that didn't sit well with Meiji arbiters of proper womanly behaviour. Meanwhile, in my opinion, many of male heroes of the Restoration were functional alcoholics, who slowly were slipping into dysfunction. Let Oryo have her sake, without making that the emphasis of her life. She lived a long life, survived, and won a better life for her family.

All the quotes from Sakamoto Ryoma's letter can be found in Marius Jansen’s ‘Ryoma Sakamoto’s and Meiji Restoration’ p. 225-226.

[leeyanyanyaaan]

oc profiles: otaharuryu

Otoha Konagawa

小名川 音葉

VA: Inori Minase / otakoyaki

Nickname: Ota

16yrs, May 28, Gemini

143cm / 4’8”

1st Year, Hanasaki High School, Class 1-B. 

An adorable first year. Her sweet and friendly nature makes her friends with almost everyone, it's hard not to love her!

Adorable, cute, pure, innocent, sweet, bubbly, optimistic, friendly, loving, shy at first. Please protect this cinnamon roll.

Deredere/Dandere

INFJ-T

Even though she's friendly with everyone at school, she doesn't really have anyone to call a true friend

Spends a lot of her time after school working her part-time jobs, doing schoolwork and household chores. She's actually mature and responsible, at least when she's working or taking care of someone.

Her parents died in a plane crash during one of their business trips when she was 9 yrs old. She and her brother, Haruto, were left in the care of their tired, workaholic aunt, Ayane Takamiya

An independent and hardworking girl, she doesn't usually rely on others and instead insists to help them. She’s always determined and refuses to give up when things get tough.

Likes: music, singing, cute aesthetic stuff, simple things, reading, crafting, food, cooking, cleaning, helping others, giving love and affection. Likes anime and manga as well, surprisingly, but usually doesn't have the time for it anymore

She loves to sing the most, but she's too shy to ever show anyone.

Best subject: Home Economics, Arts

Dislikes: mess and disorganization, centre of attention, the dark, criticism and judgment, being belittled (especially for her appearance), being taken advantage of, getting sick, not having anything to do or not being able to do anything, flying planes, heights

Fears: being alone and helpless. Aerophobia and acrophobia.

Primary Love Language: Physical Touch, Quality Time

Ota is a very affectionate person, she will with no doubt shower you with all her love.

Loves giving hugs, kisses and holding hands. Cuddling is also a must.

Doesn’t mind PDA but will also understand if her lover wouldn’t want it, she’ll just make up for it when they’re together alone. 

She’s just as verbally affectionate as she is physically. Will shower her loved ones with “I love you”s and other loving and kind words. 

All she needs from her lover is for them to return her affection with physical touch as well. It gives her a sense of security and is how she feels loved the most.

She will also happily do acts of service for her loved ones. She also appreciates it if they offer to help out but usually turns them down because she’d rather let them depend on her to do it.

Ota has always been a loving person and will continue to be one for her lover, in fact, even more so. You'd be a really lucky person to have won her heart. Don't you ever dare to betray her love, you'll never be able to find someone who loves as much as she does.

Ryūhei Akimoto

明本 竜平

VA: Yūma Uchida

Nickname: Ryu

16yrs, August 3, Leo

168cm / 5’6”

1st Year, Hanasaki High School, Class 1-B

A prideful, arrogant boy that does what he wants and reigns power. A playboy that likes to play with people's feelings for his amusement. Despite this he's quite popular for his good looks and status

Proud, arrogant, cocky, snarky, presumptuous, egotistic, mean, teasing, playful, flirty

Tsundere

ESTP-A

However, he's also rather guarded, closed off even. No matter how many relationships he goes on he's never let anyone close. He can be cruel and hurt others if they try

Spends a lot of time out of the house, hanging out with friends and going on dates with girls - anything to stay out of the house

After an affair scandal of his parents was made public, his parents fought often and left their relationship sour. He could no longer see them the same. He's come to resent them and refuses to simply let them do what they want with him

In fact, he created a bad reputation for himself simply to ruin his parent’s reputation and force them to move him out of his previous private academy.

Likes: going out, shopping, social media, photography, design and editing, modelling, pop music, western media, street food, playing with other people(s feelings).

Goddamn photogenic. He's surprisingly good with the camera just as he is being taken by one.

Best subjects: Physical Education, Business

He can speak English fluently, his mother taught him and they’ve been to America a few times. He is also of American descent, from his mother’s side.

Dislikes: sitting in one place too long, lack of attention, following others, vulnerability and weakness, business parties, superficial and fake people, fancy food, silence, horror movies

Fears: the ultimate betrayal that breaks him apart

Primary Love Language: Physical Touch, Words of Affirmation

Ryu is very touchy. Holding hands, arm around his lover, cuddling, hugging, kisses, nibbling. Literally anything. He just needs to feel his lover's touch.

Enjoys PDA. It shows others who's his.

Playful, or rather, a big tease. Loves teasing his lover and making them flustered. Oh but he'll also welcome the notion of them taking initiative as well.

He'll take every opportunity he has to steal kisses or any affection from his lover.

Good with his words, a smooth talker who knows the right words to set one's heart a flutter. Although his experience comes from being a playboy, when it comes to his lover, he means every word. He makes sure to let you know that he truly loves you.

Words of affirmation back would be greatly appreciated. He's never had a legitimate relationship aside from those past flings of his. He worries that he doesn't do enough to show how much he truly loves them, or that his lover may start to doubt him. In worst-case scenario, he may doubt the trust between the two of you and fear of being betrayed. Not to mention the scandal that happened with his parents. He'll need someone who will reassure him how much he's loved

As much as the guy is a flirt, once he's found someone who truly loves him, he will fully repay it back. He will be a loyal and dedicated boyfriend who makes sure to show how much he loves you. Albeit, he can get jealous easily and a bit possessive. He still has lots to learn.

Haruto Konagawa

小名川 春人

VA: Yuki Kaji

Nickname: Haru

14yrs, January 12, Capricorn

Two years younger than his sister

161cm / 5’3”

2nd Year, Hanasaki Middle School, Class 2-B

At school, he's known to be sporty and get along with his classmates. A bit on the more reserved side, but otherwise pretty friendly! He has a sharp tongue though

Reserved, chill, sporty, sarcastic, snarky, loyal, mature, protective

Kuudere

ISTJ-A

But it's different when he's with Otoha. With his older sister, it’s like he’s grown up. He tries to act more mature so his sister would depend on him more. He cares greatly for her and always puts her first, to the point he's a little overprotective of her - she's the only family he has left

After school, he goes straight home and helps with the household chores as well. Otoha insists that he should go hang out with his friends or join a club, instead of being at home not enjoying his childhood with his friends, but he strongly refuses. 

Likes: sports - mainly soccer and volleyball, outdoor activities, instant ramen, anime and manga (where his sister got it from), video games, media, digital drawing, lo-fi, mixing music

Has an interest in creating things, whether it's drawing or music. He might take on some sort of media-related occupation in the future

Best subjects: Art, Physical Education

Dislikes: Ryūhei, rain and thunderstorms, (TBC)

Fears: losing his only family left

Primary Love Language: Physical Touch, Quality Time

Haru's more on the reserved side. He's the listener rather than the speaker, so he would have more trouble showing affection through words

This is why he prefers physical touch like giving kisses and hugs to even just holding hands. So someone who's affection is through physical touch is enough to assure him that he's loved.

Even if they're not physically touching, Haru also enjoys just hanging out with his loved one, chilling together, and just being in their presence.

He'd also do acts of service for his loved one, but he'd rather his loved one let him do it for them than also receiving acts of service

Haru might need some words of affirmation every now and then, especially if he's gone through rough times. Haru doesn't think highly of himself and thinks he needs to be better for his loved ones, so he kinda beats himself up about it sometimes :"( especially considering Ota and Haru's current situation where Ota and even their aunt is working a lot just to keep their finances stable. Ota is carrying all the burden on herself and doesn't want him to take it on as well, which although he understands his sister's intentions, he feels like he isn't doing enough or he isn't good enough. Please give this boy a hug and tell him he is good enough as he is

Haru is an awkward boi when it comes to love, so during his first stages of dating he'd be flustered and gets shy easily, becoming a blushing mess. But once he's been in the relationship for a good amount of time, he'll feel more comfortable and open to show affection.

[all art created on picrew!]

[elishaoloapu]

Book.

Statement

A buck and a vision, is my attempt at recreating my childhood growing up in Otahuhu South Auckland, Through photographs. A lot comes into mind when I think about this particular area I call home. Home comes with a whole lot of characters and personalities like dealers, doctors, hustlers and dreamers. And although the inevitable impact of gentrification has changed some aspects of this place, I want to document what was left of it and tell its stories through a photograph. Visually I want to take the audience on a tour around my “HOME” truthfully through these photographs. Let them view it from the eyes of someone who's lived there their whole life,  And not listen to these media reporters who show up when shit hits the curb.

Book opens up two locations that are notorious to Otahuhu, the monument of Charles Fergusson. AKA “the horse” and the Rec-center AKA “Ota-Hoops”, Names the locals call these spots. These areas played a huge part of my childhood and have shaped the very man that I am today. Especially the Rec-center, a place that I can go to with a few of my mates and shoot hoops late at night without worrying about anything.  

Then followed by a dairy on “High street” and the bro “Ravi”, People like these in South Auckland who get to witness the growth of kids into youth are the unsung heroes of any area. Along with every local self-runned business owner in the hood. I'm certain you can ask them and they can point out which kids grew up around locally and who didn't, and that's something special.    

The next set of photographs is showcasing Otahuhu in the night. I opted to go for the night to showcase its beauty, The Train Station, Otahuhu Shopping Strip and the Recreational Center. Also there is this real calmness about documenting this busy street while it's sleeping. The Lighting and emptiness of the streets is just so captivating.  

Seaside where I currently reside is the bright side of Otahuhu. Quite a nice little neighborhood, I say bright side because it's the east side of my childhood and would always joke around saying that that's where the sun shines first. But with all honesty I believe with my heart that Otahuhu as a whole is the real bright side.

“Struggle and the Hustle” a phase that literally some of the locals live by. Hustle definition via urban dictionary “To strive headstrong and voraciously towards a goal”. Second part of this book series is the hustle lifestyle of my people. I wanted to document this side of my home purely because it's as real as it gets. Many have mixed opinions on what South Auckland is like, In spite of all that, We as a community have always not given a shit about articles and what they call us. And that’s what I want the world to see through these photographs.    

Chapter two opens up with a photograph of an old “T-house” tinny house, Metaphor for a piece of Tin foil that contains Marijana that dealers run. Following are photographs of a few very close childhood friends of mine, Who in my own words are the epitome of the term Hustle. Just boys who are looking to earn their cut and to cater for families, And make the most of what life has offered them this far, legally or illegally.

Last two photographs are of the blue night skies of otablu. Father always told my siblings and I, Growing up that “if we look up and see stars in the night skies, then everything ain't as bad as they seem no matter where you are in the world”.  Lessons that i'll cherish this whole lifetime,  

I guess for me, personally I want my photographs to be an archive of my area's beauty along with the rough, rugged and raw aspects there is to the lifestyle of an ordinary South Aucklander. In terms of portrayal I want to State that in this little part of South Auckland which is called Otahuhu also known as Otablu. Locals all have one objective in mind and that's providing whether it's legal or illegal. Hustle knows no rules and struggle is cruel, It's the world we live in and that's why documenting this certain subject for me is quite an honor, Although this is only an assessment and will have no physical and financial impact on my home, i feel like i’ve done my best at trying to document “the hood”.

Undoubtedly moving forward as a photographer I’ll love to continue this body of work on to more of the other South Auckland suburbs. Also exploring their very own stories and finding their voices through my love and passion for photography. This is my “a buck and a vision”.

[mummers-of-the-heart]

To My Dearest One (Leon Kennedy x GN!Reader)

Premise: Leon comes home after a mission.

Sad Vibes/Slight Comfort, Song fic

Word count: 1072

Content warning: Not beta read or really edited if I'm honest. Vague Infinite Darkness and RE6 spoilers. Leon and his whole deal, especially post-RE4 stuff. Depression. Isolation. Implied suicidal thoughts. Reader is sort of a living emotional crutch for Leon. Also reader is not quite all right. I can't write domestic fluff for the life of me. Look, the grammar is going to be a mess, I constantly switch between using APA, AP, and MLA on a regular basis for professional stuff. My brain is gonna zone out here.

Song fic time and first time writing Leon. Came up with the idea while I was studying for my interrogation test for history and I had a concert where this song was performed playing in the background. Finished writing this in between studying for my psych exam in a couple days. Hope you enjoy (๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵)

Song: Itoshiki Hito E (To My Dearest One) by Kotobuki Reiji (CV: Morikubo Showtaro), Translation by Utapri No Sekai (slight variation by me)

The apartment is quiet besides the sounds of light music and cooking as he enters. Despite living there for a few years, it lacks much character causing it to feel hollow. One of the only things proving that it was Leon's apartment was the sun damaged photos, yellowed with time.

One of them from years ago as he visited Sherry on her birthday. The smile on the girl's face. Claire.

It all felt so distant.

Everything grew out of reach. Nothing seemed to last for a broken man, especially for one who had the bright sparkle in his eyes beaten out so violently.

As he approaches the kitchen, the smell of onion and herbs wafting through the air, Leon notices the nostalgic yellow tinted light that colors the white walls.

At the stove-top was a familiar figure standing before a pot of soup.

You.

A heart made of glass is always... hurting anything that tries to touch it. Yet you embrace it so tight without fear.

His arms wrap around your waist as his head sits upon yours in this rehearsed dance. He smells your shampoo as he takes a deep breath.

"Welcome back, Leon.” You say in a light tone as if he wasn't gone for a little over a week. "I'm making tortellini soup tonight."

He can hear how much you missed him. Even if you don't say it, those feelings tinge your voice.

"Mmm," he sighs with closed eyes, "That sounds good. Haven't had that in awhile."

Leon’s hold on you is strong. He wants to savor the moment.

There’s an itch in the back of his mind; one that would never leave. That this relationship would only hurt you. That he was taking advantage of your kindness. That he could never express just how much he loved the sense of normalcy you brought.

As if sensing his emotions, you quietly grab his left hand with a softness Leon wasn’t used to feeling.

Your hands were light compared to his calloused hands, which were covered in blood. Regrets marred his digits.

The plush feeling of your lips is unfamiliar to his inner wrist. This intimate touch caused Leon to melt.

A simple touch, a simple act, a simple situation in your eyes but it doesn’t feel so simple to him.

A clink as the spoon is set down. You turn around to face him.

But such happiness is sometimes, through cruelty of God, suddenly in front of my eyes… disappears and it makes me so scared.

The look in your eyes, how greatly it contrasted the steely eyes he would see everyday. Fresh eyes that didn’t twist with fear, changed. Not hardened by painful experiences. The look in your eyes is different.

Tired but understanding.

It is something that Leon was grateful for. A calm in a life that he felt so little choice or support in. A happiness from not feeling alone.

A deep hunger satiated but it caused a fear to rise.

What if you saw what he faces everyday? What if you got hurt even more than before? What if… you left?

They kept scratching at the back of his mind.

I live only for your sake. This voice will take an oath, to my dearest one.

Night carried on. Dinner came and went. No discussion of his work.

The ticking of the clock counting down the seconds before the feeling of the mattress would soon greet the two of you. The nighttime routine felt so unfamiliar. He was a stranger to this domestic moment.

“Apparently Sara,” your coworker, Leon had to remind himself as you spoke, “had decided to drag me out while you were gone. Saying that I was being too focused on work again.”

You roll your eyes in a familiar manner as you wipe the skin of your face with a cloth. There’s a soft, tired look, one that is aware of reality.

“Right.” Leon responds. “I already know you were hunched over your desk, typing away at a proposal looking like Gollum." He chuckles as he remembers the first time he saw you at work.

“Hey.” You pout cutely in response, before sitting on the bathroom counter and sighing. “Let me see your face.”

You put out your hand expectantly and he obliges as he puts his chin in your hand. Reaching with your other to grab his cloth and wetting it with water, you smile sweetly with the look that Leon loved.

A careful caress with the cloth as you clean his face. Your thumb traces over faint scars, reminders of the memories he can never escape. There’s a tightening in his heart at this touch.

As you finish and wring out the cloth, you turn back to face him still sitting on the counter. The softness of your hand shifts to cradle the side of his face.

In response, he lifts your chin with his fingers and gives that charming smile of his. “I have the world in my hands.”

“Not sure about that.” You reply softly. “Pretty sure I got it in mine.”

As you get into bed, due to a learned habit after living with Leon for four months, get into the side of the bed away from the door. He lies across from you and lets out a heavy sigh, as he feels exhaustion wash over him.

His hand finds its way to your waist as the light turns off. Leon’s face burrows itself in the crook of your neck, like something was commanding him to get as close as possible to you. To find the core to the warmth. The rhythm of your breath, a lullaby, gently sends him to sleep as his fingers curl atop your skin slightly.

Even at that moment, the scratching turned into digging.

Your eyes heavy and on the verge of the precipice, a whisper drifts from Leon’s lips as he is asleep.

“My only… Make me happy when…”

Will it be sent to you? Will it be conveyed? Words will never be enough… for this feeling of mine, to my dearest one.

By the time the rays of the sun bounce off your gentle skin, Leon is awake and doesn’t move as he watches you sleep peacefully. A smile creeps onto his face as he notices a line of drool.

In that moment, the man, who long lost his faith and wishes, says a silent prayer.

AN: Like what you read? Consider reblogging or leaving a comment. Thanks for reading.

[ubaid214]

Beneficial Tunes: Discovering Ota City's Violin Lessons in Gunma Prefecture

In one's heart of Gunma Prefecture lies Ota City, an energetic link of culture, convention, and community. Amidst their hectic roads and serene landscapes, one finds a distinctive treasure that resonates with the equilibrium of audio – the Ota Town Guitar Classes. Set in this city, these classes stand as a testament to the enduring passion for music and the determination to nurturing imaginative talents. 群馬県太田市ピアノ教室

A Prelude to Love The Ota Town Guitar Courses have a wealthy record, relationship straight back many decades. Started with a vision to provide available audio training to residents, it's evolved into a cornerstone of the area cultural scene. What units these lessons aside is not merely their durability but also their commitment to fostering a love for audio in pupils of most ages and backgrounds.

A Symphony of Learning In the middle of the Ota City Piano Classes is a group of specific instructors, each a maestro in their very own right. With decades of knowledge and a profound understanding of musical pedagogy, they information students through a detailed curriculum designed to specific needs. From novices getting their first steps on the keyboard to advanced students sharpening their abilities, the lessons appeal to a varied array of proficiency levels.

The curriculum encompasses various facets of audio education, including technique, principle, sight-reading, and performance. Beyond learning the complex features, stress is placed on cultivating creativity, expression, and a heavy understanding for the art form. Students not just learn to play the violin but additionally build the assurance to highlight their skills on stage.

Crescendo of Community What truly units the Ota Town Violin Classes aside may be the sense of neighborhood they foster. Beyond the confines of the classroom, students bond to take part in recitals, events, and musical activities through the city. These performances not only showcase the development and achievements of the pupils but also function as a party of music that resonates with the whole community.

Additionally, the classes function as a system for cultural exchange and collaboration. Through workshops, masterclasses, and outreach programs, pupils have the opportunity to communicate with famous artists from around the world, enriching their musical experience and broadening their horizons.

Sustaining the Symphony The success of the Ota City Violin Lessons would not be possible without the unwavering support of the local government, academic institutions, and town at large. Realizing the transformative energy of music, these stakeholders have rallied behind the classes, giving resources, funding, and infrastructure to make certain their continued development and accessibility.

Moreover, the dedication of the students and their families represents a essential position in sustaining the history of the classes. Through their commitment to apply, participation, and ongoing wedding, they contribute to the vivid tapestry of audio excellence that identifies Ota City.

A Eternal Overture As Ota Town remains to evolve and accept the difficulties of the modern earth, the amazing songs of the piano courses resonate as a note of the enduring energy of music. Within an age noted by constant modify, they function as an anchor, nurturing creativity, fostering connections, and loving lives one note at a time.

In the symphony of life, the Ota City Piano Lessons stay as a testament to the enduring soul of equilibrium that unites people all.

So, whether you're a budding artist eager to set about a audio trip or a seasoned player looking to improve your skills, Ota Town welcomes you to participate in the tune and uncover the transformative secret of music.

[hellcatinnc]

Bungo Stray Dogs Season 4 Anime Review

This season started where I didn't expect by starting telling a story about Fukuzawa and Ranpo. It was sweet watching him become Ranpo's like mentor. I also learned alot about Ranpo in this season as well, like his parents died in a accident and he wasn't even from the city he came to. He had a keen sense with things but has no ability and he is funny when he gets in a place with food especially sweets he is too cute. I respect Fukuzawa for giving him somewhere he could belong that was honorable of him. Also can we talk about why he was attractive when he was young like whhhaaat??!!?? It was funny when he gave Ranpo the glasses the cheap ones that he trained Ranpo to think was the only time his powers worked keen. Its funny because before this season I thought Ranpo was supposed to be like sherlock holmes since he said he was the best detective in the world I didn't realize its because Fukuzawa told him he was that he believed it not cause he really was.

Then we got to talk about Ranpo's "Mooing" the fact he got kidnapped knew he was going to but then tells the kidnapper he drowned him cause he was bored hearing him. He then says all he hears is mooing and then he continues to moo as the guy talks omg never laughed so hard in this show til then. Sad it didn't last long because when Fukuzawa showed up he was so angry with Ranpo for playing his own life and then smacked him across the face. Watching Ranpo broke down brought me to tears. This is a boy who had no one and now only Fukuzawa and then he hits him. I feel like Ranpo is just a scared little boy sometimes. I get the strictness trying to teach him but still uncool to make Ranpo cry like that. Like this moment broke my heart.

The hunting dogs was a definitely unexpected thing to me wasn't expecting to see them and damn Saigiku Jōno & Tetchō Suehiro are hot as fuck... like so wasn't expecting that at all. Also guess Saigiku, him having his eyes shut all the time and white hair reminds me of Saint Germain. Anyways their powers are bad ass but the moment Chuuya came to save Kunikida, Kenji, Tanizaki, and Akiko, the way he used his powers to make even them look like little lost puppies. I love Chuuya he is so damn epic and sexy as hell when he was on that helicopter. As time goes on in the show the less I like the hunting dogs it seems they are killing some of my favorite characters off one by one. Every time I turn around something was happening I didn't see coming, it definitely kept me on the edge of my seat.

Watching Kunikida die broke my heart however because Fukuzawa doesn't think he is dead I'm hoping to see him in season 5. The powers the hunting dogs has is ridiculous however I can see how they are the good guys in the end not my favorite because they are trying to destroy the agency members but I realize its only because they believe them the enemy. Dazai getting inside of Fyodor's head to know how his plan works is genius and Fyodor doesn't shut up he just keeps talking. Ango who used to be friends with Ota & Dazai surprised me to be on the good side but I never knew his powers til now being able to see someone's truth in this case this is a good thing for the agency.

Lack there of Chuuya in this season sucked and I never say Akutagawa once except on the intro to the show. Never realized how those two being my favorite I missed them when they won't there. As for Tachihara I was surprised he ended up being one of the hunting dogs however he wont me over like he was never a huge favorite of mine was easy to forget him however that one time he brought the others to help Higuchi now I understand. He tells a bit of his story and how he wanted to be out of his brothers shadow and honestly I think he became a good man and one of my favorites in this season. Sure he is in the port mafia undercover but he actually cares for his team mates as well as he knows the truth no that the agency was framed so I'm sure the next season he will be working to try to clear their name as well.

I do think once the agency is cleared of this mess the hunting dogs will be allies to them. This season will keep you on the edge of your toes and still leaves on a cliffhanger to clear the agencies name. You don't know who to hate or to love. You won't know who to trust or who will even live or die. There is more than one enemy but also more than one good guy. You will learn more about Akiko Yosano's past as well as Ranpo, Fukuzawa, and Tachihara. I love all the moments you get more Atsushi and Kyōka moments though. Even when they try to put Lucy in the picture alot I love how some may ship them but he literally goes right back to Kyōka every time. Some may say they are more like siblings but I beg the difference the way they look at each other and would die for each other there is way more there than that and Lucy can't even come close to that.

Nikolai was cool looking but annoying. I waited seasons to see him thinking many times he would be such a cool character instead he is insane, his power is kinda cool but he also the biggest reason or part of that the agency was framed. I still love in the end Atsushi is the same man I loved from season one. He goes out of his way to help the people he cares about, and never wants to let someone die before realizing they have a right to live. I feel like thats the root core of his character and I love that about him.

All in all, same as any season before it won't let you down. It will bring some of your favorite characters back but add many new ones as well. Stay tuned to see how season 5 goes next.

[44gamez]

This Week's Marvel Snap OTA Nerfs the Game's Worst Prison Card

Marvel Snap ‘s meta has gone via fairly a number of slumps. We’ve been affected by Galactus, Alioth, and now Blob, and there’s at all times one specific card that’s on the heart of all of it: Professor X. With this week’s OTA update, Professor X is lastly getting a small slap on the wrist, although it’s price noting that his core means stays the identical. Other than X, a number of different playing cards have additionally gotten small nerfs, together with Viper, Werewolf by Night time, Black Widow, and extra.

Listed below are the entire adjustments on this week’s OTA replace: - Professor X - 5/3 – Ongoing: Lock down this location. (Playing cards can’t be added, eliminated, and so forth.) - 5/3 -> 5/1 It’s all enjoyable and video games once you’re curving Warpath into Destroyer… however that’s probably not what’s been occurring with Professor X recently. As we’ve pushed on the power to entry further Vitality or assault places with out enjoying on to them, Xavier has develop into a centerpiece risk in decks aiming to aggressively limit the play house inside the sport. As we mentioned when adjusting Galactus many moons in the past, that’s a dynamic we wish to management fastidiously. Professor X decks are particularly efficient at preying on metagames in flux or sure featured places. These are each instances once we’d choose gamers deal with the joy of what’s doable vs. insulating themselves from the specter of a locked-down location. For now, we’re addressing that downside with a Energy discount that we hope is stern sufficient to make gamers attempt tougher to threaten these sorts of wins. - Werewolf By Night time - 3/3 – After you play an On Reveal card at one other location, transfer there to realize +2 Energy. - 3/3 -> 4/4 Like Darkhawk, Werewolf By Night time provides a number of totally different decks an early supply of strain that’s laborious to compete with. Werewolf’s additionally a card that’s laborious to grasp, requiring gamers to navigate find out how to finest depart open areas at their places as a way to maximize Energy and the variety of places Werewolf can threaten. That’s robust sufficient that some Silver Surfer decks have even minimize Brood! When a card’s power is sufficient to unseat foundational playing cards in different archetypes, that’s normally a bit a lot. We thought-about many adjustments however needed to try to preserve the joy of leaping ferociously across the board with a significant risk. To perform that, we’re going to attempt transferring Werewolf up the curve to 4-Price. This could take away a significant quantity of Vitality and time from the cardboard, and likewise deliver Brood again in from the chilly. - Black Widow - 2/1 – On Reveal: Add a Widow’s Chunk to your opponent’s hand. - 2/1 -> 3/3 Shifting Widow’s Chunk to 0/-1 was an efficient increase to Black Widow’s power, and there are decks enjoying Widow right now that we’re glad to see. We’re much less pleased with how simple and rewarding it's to make use of Beast or some places to play Widow a number of instances. Getting caught with a bunch of Widow’s Bites could be pretty irritating for lots of decks, so we’re transferring to a better Price to make that tougher. That is pretty related in precept to the change we made a very long time in the past to Rockslide, shifting a card’s Price to boost the power ground however decrease the ceiling, and that change labored effectively! - Martyr - 1/4 – On the finish of the sport, transfer to a location that LOSES you the sport. (if doable) - 1/4 -> 1/5 It’s clear that we missed low on Martyr, so we’re coming in with a fast buff right here. Considered one of our learnings from Martyr has been higher gauging the worth of “easy” Energy, which has been devalued in lots of latest metagames. Decrease-Price playing cards are beneath a whole lot of strain to supply Energy in higher-level play. That’s a dynamic we’re going to proceed exploring as we develop future content material. - Viper - 2/3 – On Reveal: Considered one of your different playing cards right here switches sides. - 2/3 -> 3/4 Between Annihilus, Selene, and our adjustments to Luke Cage, decks targeted on gumming up the enemy’s aspect of places with unhealthy playing cards have obtained a whole lot of new instruments. Because the deck beneficial properties choices, generally it’s fascinating to have a look at shifting across the present items to see the place the play patterns might change. Viper’s not a problematic card–our objective isn’t a nerf, however a change, and three/4 is fascinating in that regard. Nevertheless, our motivations for this modification are largely an abundance of warning round Havok. We tried some flip 3/flip 4 Viper + Havok ourselves, and it didn’t impress. However lots has modified since then: Loki and Elsa are weaker, Luke Cage supplies much less sure safety for Havok, some then-dominant decks have even disappeared. As a result of the potential for that mixture of performs could be so unfun, we’re making this modification to make sure it doesn’t exceed our expectations and warp the metagame. It’s additionally only a good alternative to experiment with shifting Viper to a special value. - Ronan the Accuser - 5/3 – Ongoing: +2 Energy for every card in your opponent’s hand. - 5/3 -> 5/5 The Accuser has been on our buff record for months, however we waited to tug the set off for a number of causes. There was some concern about find out how to finest push previous archetypes, we had been additionally contemplating a extra important rework, and ultimately buffing Ronan headlong into Loki simply didn’t appear proper. We determined to stay with one thing easy for now, including some Energy to create a extra significant 5-Price risk. - Maximus - 3/7 – On Reveal: Your opponent attracts 2 playing cards. - 3/7 -> 2/6 As a further assist piece for Ronan, we’re delivering a buff to Maximus right here. Maximus was one of many early additions to Silver Surfer, offering a whole lot of Energy effectively. As we’ve continued to launch 3-Price playing cards, particularly Daken and Sebastian Shaw, Maximus has struggled to earn that slot. We had been glad to see the discharge of Blob present a surge to Maximus, and we’ve determined to capitalize on that momentum and see if Maximus might even play a job in different decks. - Gladiator - 3/7 – On Reveal: Add a card out of your opponent’s deck to their aspect of this location. If it has much less Energy, destroy it. - 3/7 -> 3/8 This can be a very related change to the one we’re making larger as much as Martyr. Gladiator has been extra profitable than Martyr, nevertheless it looks like there’s nonetheless room to enhance right here. Along with usually bettering the cardboard, transferring Maximus out of the 3-Price slot will create a void for some Silver Surfer decks that did need entry to a considerable amount of Energy on-demand. That’s a possibility for Gladiator to flex some muscle groups. - Punisher - 3/2 – Ongoing: +1 Energy for every enemy card right here. - 3/2 -> 3/3 Punisher has been unnecessarily weak for some time. Nevertheless, as a part of the brand new participant expertise, we must be cautious about how we alter the cardboard. For instance, a 2-Price model would necessitate shifting another piece of early sport content material to 3-Price. Even with that restriction, including a single Energy is mainly free and will simply make the cardboard a extra enjoyable sport piece. Whereas there’s little question that Professor X will probably nonetheless be fairly dominant within the sport’s prison-style meta, this small nerf ought to at the least make it a little bit simpler for gamers to beat the lockdown. Along with that, seeing little buffs to underplayed playing cards like Ronan and Punisher (particularly with that latest Peach Momoko Twitch drop) is good as effectively. OTA updates are normally nice for stopping the meta from feeling stale, and we’ve acquired an excellent feeling about this one too. Marvel Snap is now obtainable on PC and cellular gadgets. Read the full article

[perfectinceptions-blog]

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[sophiie2000]

A Past Long Forgotten?

Chapter 14

Words ~ 1969

Disclaimer ~ Characters belong to Voltage Inc

Link to Chapter 13 below ⬇️

Slight warning ⚠️ for sexual content.

The chimes of a clock indicated the change to a new day. When had it gotten so late? Everyone had spent the last few hours sat around enjoying themselves. Yukari had tired herself out, unsurprising after the ordeal she had endured the past few months, and so Eisuke had dutifully provided her with a suite to rest in.

The guys, meanwhile, were all drinking and playing poker. MC had excused herself a few games ago from playing another hand. She had been watching. She had figured out each of the bidders tell. She had identified exactly how Baba cheats. She had also noticed when Ota sneakily pinched someone else’s chips, usually Soryu’s, so he would not need to pay in more of his own money.

She really was an agent through and through. Yet now, now she needed to disappear before the agency worked out what she had done. That was, if they hadn’t already. That was always a possibility.

She vacated her seat quietly so as not to interrupt the others. It had become somewhat of a speciality to leave without saying goodbye. Today should be no different.

She had started to make her way towards the stairs, figuring the elevator would immediately alert them to her departure. Yet before she even made it as far as the first step, her arm was caught from behind.

A familiar warmth. Familiar grip.

Eisuke.

“Where are you going?” He asked, whispering into her ear, as she felt him pressed firmly against her back.

“Bathroom” She lied, hoping to leave, without having to make this any harder.

“Liar.” He breathed the words into her ear.

Goosebumps covered her arms as the hairs on her neck raised. How could the man turn her on with his voice alone?

“Eisuke…” She murmured his name.

“Come with me” His grip moved from her arm to interlacing their fingers together instead. Pulling her along and up the stairs to his suite.

The minute he shut the door, he turned facing her. Their eyes locked, and MC felt as her body temperature increased, her heart rate spiking. She couldn’t take her eyes off him. Her aqua pools gazed deeply into his light brown orbs.

He took a step towards her as she took a step backwards. It was like a game of cat and mouse, except unlike a mouse, she wouldn’t be disappointed when he caught her.

Soon, she was pressed against his bedroom door, and he was standing right before her.

“MC…” He hummed her name, breathily into her ear. His fingertips graced her body with their touch. Lightly stroking her cheek before running through her hair. Pleasure coursed through her body, beginning at the points he touched.

“Eisuke…” She spoke his name, as she ran her fingers through his dark brown hair, his eyes glazed over with lust, his desire… evident.

“No more running?” He asked. She shook her head. “No more games?” Again, she shook her head. “I want you…” He finally spoke his desire, the words she had craved to hear.

“I want you, too” She purred back. Words that seemed to work like a green light, igniting Eisuke’s desire. Permitting him to touch her how he desired most.

His hands danced over her body as his teeth grazed her ear before his lips finally crashed into hers. Their tongues danced together, their competition to not be outdone by the other ignited once again. Fighting for dominance.

Their hands both worked together to strip the other of their clothes. Despite how many years it had been, the same pattern fell into place. She was sure she could remember exactly how he liked to be touched, and he, too, seemed to remember how to elicit the most pleasure from her.

His hands immediately sought out the spots that brought her the most pleasure. Running teasing fingers up her thigh before letting them reach between her legs, giving a teasing rub. He smirked when he felt how readily she wanted him. Pressing himself into her, showing her, she was not alone in her desire.

The next thing MC knew, she was being lifted into the air. Wrapping her legs tightly around Eisuke’s waist, as he carried her into his bedroom, lowering her onto his bed.

Their eyes locked. This was it. There was no going back now. Not that either of them wanted to stop now.

His lips worked their way from hers to her neck before reaching her sensitive nipples. His tongue flicked over the sensitive numbs, enticing a delightful moan from MCs lips. All the while, his hands continued roaming her body, working their magic, paying particular attention to where she most desired their touch.

“Mn… E-eisuke…I want you, so badly” A moan escaped her red lips, puffy from the many kisses they had shared. She felt herself getting closer and closer to reaching her high. Eisuke smiled at her, a smile so full of love, reserved only for her, before kissing her deeply.

“I want you, too, baby. And you can have me. All of me” He spoke, before she felt himself lining himself up with her entrance.

She didn’t have much time to recognise the familiar feeling before she felt overwhelming pleasure as he pushed himself deeply into her. Grunting as he entered her. His lips once again found their place with hers as he began thrusting into her. His movements erratic. Fast, deep, and rough. Evidence of his lack of composure as he lost himself in her. The pleasure was overwhelming, and her nails dug into his shoulders as she cried out his name.

“Eisuke! I-I’m going to –” She couldn’t finish her sentence. Her walls clenched around him as she felt herself reach her climax. The dizziness of pleasure sweeping her away through her orgasm. Her walls clenching around him had also pulled Eisuke into his own climax, too, as he continued rocking back and forth into her, prolonging the pleasure they both felt.

After a moment of allowing them both to come down from their highs, Eisuke rolled off of her and led beside her. Pulling her into an embrace, he placed a loving kiss onto her forehead, holding her tightly against his chest.

It reminded her of all those years ago, when he used to hold her after they had slept together. She remembered how he loved his coffee. Kissing him lightly on the cheek, she headed towards his kitchen, wrapping his purple shirt around her as she walked out of the bedroom. She sensed Eisuke’s smirk behind her as she left.

Checking her phone, she saw a worried text from Hugo. This couldn’t be good…

Babe! They are saying you betrayed the agency! Are you ok?

Shit! They noticed sooner than she anticipated they would that she had helped Yukari out. She needed to run. Tonight. Now. With this in mind, she guiltily mixed some sleeping pills crushed up into Eisuke’s coffee. Enough to knock him out within minutes.

If he knew what was going on he’d never let her go. But she needed to run. And run alone. She couldn’t drag anyone else into her mess. It was her decision to act outside the scope of her mission. No one else’s.

Handing Eisuke his coffee, he smiled at her in thanks before sipping the drink.

“You always did make good coffee” He smiled.

God, she hated that he was smiling at her like that right now. Right as she was betraying him once again and running off. She could feel the tears prickling at her eyes. Eisuke noticed them too, taking one final gulp of his coffee before trying to pull her into his arms.

Except he staggered slightly.

The dizziness and tiredness were clearly starting. He eyed her worriedly.

“MC… what… what d-did you d-do?”

“I’m sorry Eisuke, but I needed to make sure you couldn’t stop me”

“M- MC! W-wait!” Eisuke forced the words out as he fell backwards onto the bed. Tucking him in under the covers, she placed a tentative kiss on his cheek.

“Goodbye, Eisuke” She whispered into his ear, before getting up, changing back into her clothes, and leaving the Tres Spades, under the veil of darkness to try and avoid detection from the EAC.

***

Three days. Three days, she had been running undetected. In the meantime, she had continued researching Wells and his mafia to find out any more information that would aid the EAC and CIA in their ambush. She didn’t expect this would make the EAC forgive her earlier indiscretion. However, she did want to protect them by giving them as much intel as she could gather.

She had taken refuge in a cheap motel for the last few nights. She had avoided all the cameras. Ditched her EAC mobile. Purchased a cheap laptop and burner phone, which would allow her to reach the EAC with information should she gather anything meaningful. She was literally laying low.

However, she still needed to eat.

Putting her hair up into two fishtail braids, slipping on some skinny jeans and a hoody, she left her hotel room to go and grab some food from the corner store on the road beside the hotel.

Deftly avoiding all cameras, she purchased some ice cream, coffee, and milk. Just as she was about to pay, an arm reached over and tapped the card reader.

“Wouldn’t want to get caught buying ice cream now, would you” His voice was the last thing she had expected to hear. How did he find her? She was in the most random store for him to have entered, so how did he find her?

“Eisuke…” She whispered his name.

Grabbing her purchases, he led her from the store by her hand.

“We’ll talk back at your motel”

Of course, he knew where she was staying. She rolled her eyes, knowing it would be pointless to argue before heading out the door.

When they exited the store, the first thing she noticed was Mamoru leaning against the same car that had sat on the road outside headquarters last week. He waved a casual hand when he saw them arrive and started walking with them towards the motel where she was staying.

“So, you followed me here the other night?” She grumbled at Mamoru.

“You run a lot, wouldn’t want ya disappearing on us again now, would we.” He chuckled. MC was frustrated at how easily they had found her, but also grateful for the distraction from her worries with the familiar exchange.

When they arrived back in her room, she immediately set out, making them all coffee. Handing them both their drinks, Eisuke eyed the cup warily.

“It’s just coffee, jeez” She moaned, sitting down and sipping her own, before offering him it in exchange for his. He shook his head, finally sipping his own, before replying,

“You didn’t have to spike me last time”

“You wouldn’t have let me leave if I hadn’t”

“Of course, I wouldn’t have let you just run off again!”

“See? So I did need to spike you after all!” She replied, rolling her eyes.

“Now, now…” Mamoru interrupted them. “No need to bicker now. You can do that later, alone. Right now, we are here to help, isn’t that right, Eisuke?”

“What do you mean help?” MC murmured, confused.

“You’re running because we know who you are, and you reunited me with Yukari. As apology, and thanks, we will offer you help in clearing up your name with your agency. You won’t need to run anymore. And then maybe we can sit down and talk properly” Eisuke spoke, the last bit barely audible.

But MC heard every word.

“Ok… thank you” They were the only words she could muster. Slightly taken aback by the surprising offer.

But she was grateful.

It was nice to think she wasn’t alone.

[easypeasyflytravel]

Flights from Illinois to Detroit with Easy Peasy Fly

Finding Flights from Illinois to Detroit with Easy Peasy Fly

If you're planning a journey from the bustling streets of Illinois to the vibrant heart of Detroit, you might find yourself in search of the perfect flight to get you there. Fortunately, with the help of Easy Peasy Fly and a few handy tips, your travel planning can be as smooth as a summer breeze.

1. Flight Search Engines - A Sky Full of Options

The journey begins with the click of a button. Enter your departure city, perhaps the iconic Chicago, Illinois, and set your sights on Detroit. Online platforms like Google Flights, Skyscanner, and Kayak will whisk you away to a world of flight options. Picture an array of airlines, departure times, and prices neatly laid out before you – a playground for wanderers in search of adventure.

2. Navigating Airline Websites - Direct Paths to Discovery

For those who like to go straight to the source, major airlines like American Airlines, Delta, United, and Southwest have their own digital ticket booths. Pay a visit to their websites, input your travel details, and watch the magic happen. A selection of flights tailored to your needs appears before you, just like magic. Choose your preferred option and let the anticipation of your journey build.

3. Assistance from Travel Agencies - Your Personal Travel Magicians

For a touch of personalized assistance, consider the modern-day travel magicians – local travel agencies and online travel agencies (OTAs). They are equipped to conjure up a selection of flights that suit your schedule and preferences. A conversation with these enchanters might just reveal options you hadn't considered, making your journey all the more exciting.

4. Airports: Gateways to Adventure

Think of airports as portals to new experiences. Check the websites of Illinois airports, like the sprawling O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Detroit. These digital gateways provide a list of airlines that can spirit you away on your adventure. Like treasure maps, these airport websites hold the keys to potential flight options.

5. Finessing Your Journey: Flexibility and Nearby Airports

If you're open to a touch of spontaneity, consider tweaking your travel dates. Some search engines offer the power to explore a range of dates, helping you uncover the hidden gems of affordable flights. Furthermore, remember that nearby airports might hold the key to your journey. Exploring alternative takeoff points in Illinois and Michigan could uncover unique flight paths to your destination.

Setting the Stage: Preparing for Travel

As you embark on this exciting journey, keep in mind that travel restrictions and COVID-19 guidelines might play a role in your plans. Always stay informed about the latest updates and entry requirements. To ensure accuracy and up-to-date information, rely on official airline and government sources.

So, whether you're an adventurer seeking the thrill of the road or a business traveler flying towards new horizons, Easy Peasy Fly and these travel insights can set you on the path from Illinois to Detroit. Let the winds of discovery carry you to the Motor City, where new experiences await at every turn.

Flights from Illinois to Detroit: FAQ

Q1: What are the available options for flights from Illinois to Detroit?

A1: There are several options for flights connecting Illinois to Detroit. Major airlines like American Airlines, Delta, United, and Southwest often offer direct flights between cities. Utilizing flight search engines such as Google Flights, Skyscanner, and Kayak can provide a comprehensive list of available flights.

Q2: How can I find the best deals on flights?

A2: To find the best deals, consider being flexible with your travel dates and times. Use search engines that allow you to compare prices across multiple airlines. Also, signing up for fare alerts or newsletters from airlines and travel websites can help you stay updated on special offers.

Q3: Are there any alternative airports in Illinois that I should consider?

A3: Yes, apart from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, you might also explore flights from Chicago Midway International Airport or smaller regional airports in Illinois. Depending on your location and preferences, these airports could offer convenient options.

Q4: How far in advance should I book my flight?

A4: Booking your flight in advance, ideally a few months before your travel date, can often help you secure better prices. However, last-minute deals might also be available. It's a good idea to start monitoring prices early and make your booking when you find a fare that suits your budget.

Q5: What COVID-19 precautions should I consider when booking my flight?

A5: Due to the ongoing pandemic, it's important to check for any travel restrictions, health requirements, and safety protocols that might be in place. Keep an eye on the guidelines issued by airlines, airports, and relevant health authorities to ensure a safe and smooth travel experience.

Q6: Can I find non-stop flights from Illinois to Detroit?

A6: Yes, you can find non-stop flights between major airports in Illinois, such as Chicago, and Detroit. Airlines like American Airlines, Delta, United, and Southwest typically operate non-stop flights between these cities.

Q7: Are there any budget airlines that fly this route?

A7: While budget airlines might not be as common on this route, it's always a good idea to check different airlines' websites and search engines for the most competitive fares. Keep in mind that even full-service airlines might offer special deals and promotions.

Q8: How long does the flight from Illinois to Detroit usually take?

A8: The duration of the flight can vary depending on factors such as the departure city in Illinois and the specific flight route. On average, a

direct flight from Chicago to Detroit

takes around 1.5 to 2 hours.

Q9: Can I make changes to my flight reservation if needed?

A9: Most airlines offer options to modify flight reservations, but the flexibility can vary based on the fare type you choose. Be sure to understand the airline's change and cancellation policies before booking, especially if you think your travel plans might change.

Q10: Where can I find the most up-to-date information about flights?

A10: For the latest and most accurate information about flights, it's recommended to visit official airline websites, airport websites, and government travel advisories. Additionally, using reputable flight search engines can help you stay informed about flight options, schedules, and prices.

Note: The content published in this post is claimed to be original and belongs to the author.