#all this to say that I keep seeing people judging this scene as if aqua were a healthy individual

[skania]

I've seen people criticize Akane's reply to Aqua in Chapter 52, but I think Akane actually said exactly what Aqua needed to hear.

Because she once again saw through Aqua.

Akane promises Aqua that she will always be his ally. That no matter what happens, she will be by his side; that she will understand him.

This really touches Aqua, but he can't bring himself to believe her. After all, Aqua, cynical and self-deprecating as he is, doesn't think it's "easy" to find someone who will acknowledge you as you are and appreciate you for it.

Of course, it doesn't help that he hides himself and his heart under multiple layers.

Despite that, he does open up to Akane in this chapter. You wouldn't understand, not that I'm going to tell you anyway, he says, before proceeding to do just that (lol).

He gives it his best shot, even turning his dark stare on her.

He is testing her. Laying a trap so that when she naturally judges him for his less than noble intentions, he can convince himself that that moment of comfort she gave him was nothing but a mirage. Of course she wouldn't understand, no one can understand.

He is doing the same thing Ai did when she met Saitou, being honest with the goal of scaring Akane off.

However, Aqua, who is always at odds with himself, is simultaneously also hoping Akane will prove him wrong, because he wants to believe her. He really does want to believe someone out there can understand him.

And Akane sees through the trap into what Aqua truly wants, and tells him exactly what he needs to hear.

She doesn't encourage him, neither does she tell him that he's wrong. She listens to him without judgement and tells him, in no uncertain terms, that she is willing to share that burden with him. Just like she told him she would.

And that kind of companionship and acceptance means the world to Aqua, who thinks so little of himself. It even chases the darkness from his eyes, turning the black star back into its usual white.

This is all highlighted later. First in Chapter 65, where Goro reveals that finally finding someone who understands him is one of the reasons that makes Aqua start to believe he can be happy.

And of course, in Chapter 97, where Aqua has a monologue about how Akane acknowledging him and accepting him as he is has saved him little by little.

[honney-boy]

Wonder (Part 1)

Rudy Pankow x Oc!Reader

gif by → @riobeth​

Wonder Series Masterlist | Wonder Playlist

Chapter summary:  Rudy and Nevaeh meet in person for the first time and things aren’t awkward. Yougurt cups, bananas and ice blended in a cup and maple syrup.

Full Summary and Story Concept

Warning(s): language, shenanigans, jet laggness, social media zombies, teenage girls

Words: 5k+

A/N:  This is my first attempt at a Rudy fic. My first series too! But if this flops, let's pretend it never happened, okay? :) But If you guys want to read more, please do let me know. Your love and support is the encouragement I need. I got the concept from tik tok haha. Fair warning, I am handwriting out chapters with a pen and paper before converting it digitally, so updates with be spread out. THERE WILL BE GRAMMAR MISTAKES! I'm human, and Tumblr is my test run for this series. Anywho, hope you enjoy :)

taglist

One | “Social Zombies”

            In Nevaeh's opinion, airports were the worst. It wasn't due to the 38,000 feet in the air flying ride or the nothingness in the sky you see your whole flight; it was the people, the airports themselves, and the limited space.

Airports were much worse than flying - especially the San Francisco International Airport. Also known as SFO Airport. The few times, literally very few times, Nevaeh has been to the airport, she had poor experiences. Now, SFO Airport is definitely smaller than LAX and not as busy - it's a nightmare. You would think with a much smaller airport, there would be fewer crowds, but no, it's like a family reunion every day but with strangers. If you bump into the wrong person, your day on the off chance will get ruined.

Along with the busy crowds, there are many places to eat. From pizza to Italian to pie, your choices are endless. That's until half or more restaurants are closed or have long lines. Nevaeh never ate airport food, so she couldn't give her opinion on it. She'll leave that to the professional reviews. She wasn't at SFO Airport to judge the food or traffic flow, not even the staff's attitude - except she already gave a flight attendant a glare. The flight attendant took a bathroom break before their next flight and griped at Nevaeh because she used the last paper towel so they couldn't dry their hands. Air drying is a thing, and it works well, she thought to herself while leaving the restroom. She was not going to let one grumpy flight attendant ruin her great mood. She was going to meet someone who she hopes is special today.

Over the past two months, Nevaeh and this person had gotten to know each other well, virtually, that is. They met online, and Nevaeh lived in San Francisco while they lived in Alaska. Countless messages, facetime calls, photos, and videos were exchanged, and a bond was formed. Who would have thought that two people could meet through a video sharing social media app and hit it off? Most people start with dating apps, meet and get to know different people, but Nevaeh met them all because a video of hers popped up on their for you page.

Nevaeh created and shared a variety of things on the app. From cooking to creating and her little hobby of disco skating. She wanted to keep her followers and supporters entertained and herself; she didn’t want to be stuck, making the same content, so she did many things. Nevaeh thought maybe one of her disco skating, videography, or cooking videos drew them in, but it was one of her mini vlogs. In the video, she showed how she would scout places before spending the day getting footage for a short montage film or scenes for a movie she is working on. Not long after the discovery, they - he sent her a message asking about a more in-depth explanation of her process, and it went up from there.

Now, after all this time of them chatting back and forth, they get to meet. Nevaeh gets to meet him. 

Standing by the arrival gate, her eyes bouncing around the room at different things just to keep her mind centered and not all over the place. She wanted to pick at her nails, or hold her hands to her chest but she couldn’t hold them in place for long; she opted for playing with the white beaded bracelet he bought and sent to her in a box full of other things. It was so sweet of him; just thinking about the box she received makes her smile and her heart swell. Just last week she received a box full of thoughtful gifts. Inside were some of her favorite snacks, a movie she loved, one of his hoodies - it was the hoodie he wore the first time they facetimed. The hoodie was one of his favorites, but he had the urge to send it to her, he just wanted her to have it. And finally was the white beaded bracelet with a single aqua blue bead on it - he had the matching one with all aqua beads and one single black bead. She was having an uncreative and pretty shitty day until that box arrived on the front door step of her shared apartment.

“I wanted to surprise you, so I messaged Birdie asking her for your favorite snacks, I added the hoodie and got the two of us distance bracelets. You know, because we are long distance.” He told her later that day when they talked on the phone.

“Until you come here, or I go there,” she replied. She hasn’t stopped wearing the hoodies since and she has had the bracelet on since the moment she got it.

Nevaeh watched different people walk past her; none of them were him yet. The dirty blond mess he sported for hair shouldn't be that hard to miss, but the longer she searched, the more she doubted her assumption. 

It was another couple of minutes that went by, and she didn't see him, so she pulled her phone out to see if he had sent something. Maybe he has to catch a different flight, and he forgot to tell her, or perhaps he didn't want to meet after all. Her fingers type out a message to send, but a figure stands in front of her before she hits the send button. Nevaeh could see the shadow of their body from her peripheral vision, but she did not look up, hoping they would go away - but they didn't. Sending her message, the woman was preparing to turn away until she heard the stranger's phone go off. It's just a coincidence that their phone went off a couple of seconds after I sent a message. She said to herself, then she looked up and there he was. Dirty blond hair - a little long all over, but instead of it being in his face like it always is, it was pushed back and tucked underneath a red cap. His eyes were more lovely in person. The pair ranged from a light blue to gray, depending on the day. Today they were light blue. He sported stubble across his chin and cheeks with a blond mustache above his top lip. He wore nothing flashy, just a simple red ACDC sweatshirt, cargo shorts, and a pair of vans. He looked tired, but that didn't throw off the good vibes and smile he had going on. She couldn't help but smile back. He's here in the flesh. Rudy.

"Hi," he said light-heartedly, breaking the silence.

"Hi," she echoed; the smile on her face grew some more. "Wow, you're really here in the flesh."

He chuckled, and the sound woke up the butterflies in her stomach. "Yeah, I am. And you...the pictures and videos don't do enough justice for the actual thing." His eyes scan over her, noticing the navy blue Hilfiger sweatshirt he sent to her. Nevaeh couldn't help the dust of blush that appeared on her cheek.

“Talk about me, what about you? Who knew those Snapchat filters were hiding such a god-like person.”

“Oh, stop, you’re making me blush,” he joked while bashful. No matter online or in person, Nevaeh was still able to get him flushed; it was something he didn’t want to admit, not while he was flying blind with this.

Nevaeh smiled and had a tiny giggle; the full laugh was muffled by the hand she brought up to her mouth in an attempt to hold the sound back. He could watch her smile for a while. Is that weird? “How was your flight? I hope it wasn’t too horrible.”

“It wasn’t too bad,” he admitted. “Definitely long, but nothing a pair of earbuds, music, and a couple of movies couldn’t fix.” The two quickly began walking toward the direction of baggage claim. More of Rudy just following whichever direction Nevaeh was going. She did know the airport better anyway.

“Which movies did you watch?” she asked.

“Since I had six hours to waste - Joker, 1917 and Pride & Prejudice.”

“Oh, I see you listened to my suggestions; not surprised you watched Joker again,” Rudy shrugged his shoulders with a hum. “I’m surprised you didn’t watch the Harry Potter movies.”

Rudy rolled his eyes and scoffed. “Actually, I already watched them a couple of days ago,” Nevaeh hummed as if she were to say, ‘of course’ “You can judge me all you want. I won’t pay you any mind. Just the same as I did with the guy that had the aisle seat in my row. I guess other guys find it weird that a guy decided to watch a period drama on a flight.”

“He was just jealous he didn’t think of it first. Mr. Darcy’s pinning for Miss. Bennett and the film’s  overarching theme is too good not to watch.”

“That it is, who would want to miss the warnings heeded against trusting one’s first impression or prejudices?”

“Or the character arcs that grow throughout the storyline. I pity that aisle sitting man.”

“I do too,” Rudy agreed. “He missed out on a classic and had to get up to let the other person and me out to take a tinkle.” He did it again. He made her laugh genuinely. The conversation between them flowed. The small worry Nevaeh had earlier about the two of them not being able to continue the light-hearted and enjoyable nature they had over text had diminished. He seemed just the same - goofy, charismatic, charming, and caring - as he was over the phone the past month and a half. She, too, was still kind, compassionate, and sarcastic as before. Yet both of them had their own doubts about the thing they were doing; they didn’t know what it was or where it was headed, but they were willing to find out.

           In the car, Nevaeh drove the route she knew from the airport to her shared apartment. Rudy sat in the passenger seat; his gaze focused out the window, watching the San Francisco scenery appear, disappear and morph as they passed by the window. The radio played while they sat in a comfortable silence - it impressed her how easily they fell into it. Wasn't it common for an uncomfortable silence? Two people who just met for the first time should struggle in an attempt to make a conversation, but not them.

To Rudy, the comfortable silence was almost expected. Granted, he did expect one of them to talk the other's ear off - he's glad neither of them was. The six-hour flight took its effect on the man, but he wasn't going to let his fatigue ruin the time they had together. He'll rest later. Spend time with her now, sleep later.

The car rolled to a stop, a red light shined on the traffic light hanging in front of them. Rudy's eyes watch a girl across the street riding down the sidewalk on a skateboard. Her stance relaxed, feet planted in a way that helped her ride easily; she was experienced, probably skated regularly. Watching her skate triggered a longing in Rudy for his board back at home. He rides on concrete and in the snow, but he was missing snowboarding the most. It was beginning to be summer, so the temperatures in Alaska were warmer. To warm for snow but warm enough for the evergreen to take over. Now he was in California, the state that was sunny all the time. The state that thrived in the summer and its soil hardly ever to never had the chilled touch of snow. His longing grew more for the chilly weather and white flakes.

The woman sitting next to him took the next couple of seconds between the light change to look at him. Catching the moment of his gaze out the window of her jeep. "I know you're probably tired from your flight. I had some ideas about the things we could do, but we don't have to do anything today." She spoke and after, glanced at the traffic light only to see it was still red.

Rudy tore his gaze from the distant image of the skater and met Nevaeh's. "I am, but if you want to do something, we can. I'm more than happy to hang out." He said.

Trying to reason, she said, "I know, but you just got off a six-hour flight." 

"Nevaeh, it's fine. I'm not that burned out. Time zones are an hour apart, and seven am isn't that bad." she begins to give him a skeptical look. She heard his words but feels as if he was only saying that to make her happy. He sat by her, leaned back, and relaxed. His head sat lazily against the headrest, and the smile he was giving her was light but tiresome. She switched her gaze from him to the traffic light, which turned green, and she didn't know when. Nevaeh eased her foot off the brake and to the gas pedal. "Seriously, we can do something."

“Fine,” She says after a moment. “I won’t wear you out too much more.” Flicking her left turn signal on after checking her mirror, she merges into the lane beside her. “There’s somewhere I wanna take you - well, maybe two places, but we’re going to the apartment first.”

“Alright, sounds good to me.” Nevaeh drove them to the apartment she shared with her long term friend. Rudy followed behind her as she led the way; they only spent a few minutes there. After a short tour, a bathroom break, and dropping off a couple of suitcases later, Rudy and Nevaeh left the place. They began a walk along the San Francisco hills to the mysterious place Nevaeh had in mind.

“This place is somewhere I walk to every other day. It’s Birdie’s and my favorite place.” It was a short six to eight-minute walk. Nevaeh reassured him before briefly going into a conversation about the impressive things you see in the city. Just like Nevaeh told him, they both come up upon a corner shop with a couple of large windows to see inside and out, a brown exterior with outside tables with green umbrellas and foldable outdoor chairs. The corner shop was known as the Nasik Cafe. For a small cafe, the place was doing well. There were a handful of people inside sitting, chatting, or ordering and quite a few sitting outside.

“This place is pretty health-oriented, and like Starbucks, it has things you could make at home for free, but their stuff is great,” Nevaeh explained to the man.

"So you spend way too much on yogurt cups, fruit drinks, toast, and other food you can make at home?" She nods her head like it was evident at what he said. Rudy shook his head. "Couldn't you just spend ten dollars on a yogurt cup?"

"Oh my goodness, they don't have yogurt cups, Rudy." She shook her head in disbelief.

"Okay, so ten dollars for a banana blended with ice in a cup - still sounds ridiculous to me."

"I can't with you," She tilted her head back, but she wasn't annoyed. She found his witticism amusing. At this rate, Nevaeh should prepare to always smile all the time around him. "You should find a table out here, and I can grab us something - wait, do you want to sit out here?"

Rudy nodded, then began to scan the area but only briefly seeing a couple of empty tables. "Yeah, it's nice out, let's enjoy it. Out here is great."

"Great," she says, pleased. "I'll grab something; I wanna surprise you. I'll be back." Nevaeh turns to walk inside. The smell of strawberries, oranges, and granola invaded her nose. It wasn't a new smell to her, but a new one for the day. She would always smell fruit and granola wherever she would walk into Basik. Some days it smelt like bananas and chocolate, or honey, peanut butter, and coconut. The smells varied, but the most prominent one was the tropical smell. To her left at a table was a couple enjoying smoothies. Both cops were a little under half full. A person sat at another table, invested in their laptop. To her right, more people sat. Art adorns the walls as realism paintings along with abstract images. There was a line at the counter; no more than four people stood waiting. She took the time to look up at the big and wide wood board hanging from the ceiling. When Nevaeh told Rudy she wanted to surprise him with something, she knew what she was getting for the both of them. The colorful and fruitful acai bowls.

Nevaeh and her roommate Birdie loved acai bowls. Birdie was the one to introduce her friend to the fantastic bowls she grew to love. Now it was her turn to turn another friend onto them.

The line moved along smoothly and grew smaller by the minutes. Once Nevaeh got closer, her lips stretched into a grin as her eyes caught sight of the barista.

"Hi, what can I get you? Could I interest you in our new fall to-Vae! Hey." the blonde barista's mood brightened significantly when she realized she was taking Nevaeh's order. She leaned across the counter and grabbed hold of Nevaeh's hand, and laced their fingers together. "What are you doing here? I thought you had to pick up your friend." She said, then making finger quotations. The barista was her roommate, Birdie. Birdie was a full-time college student and full-time barista to get by. She was more than happy to talk to her friend now that she wasn't as busy - Nevaeh was the only person in line for now.

"I was - I did pick up my friend. No air quotes, we're friends."

"For now."

"Whatever," she rolled her eyes at the blonde. "He's here with me, just outside." Birdie looked past Nevaeh and out the window in search of this guy. Nevaeh looked around for him, too; she didn't get to see where he chose to sit. "He's...the one with the red cap, right there." She pointed out once she spotted him. Birdie hummed and squinted her eyes to get a better look, which was difficult with the angle he sat at.

"He looks nice...from here," Birdie leaned back, so her fingers could let go of Nevaeh's and tap the terminal screen as she put her friend's usual order in. While Birdie did that, Nevaeh nodded in agreement but kept her gaze on him. "Lemme guess, the usual?"

"Kilauea; everything but-"

"No pollen and extra honey." Birdie finished with assuredness and not a drop of doubt in her answer. Her friend smiled, her eyes looking to Birdie with amazement.

"You know me too well."

"Well, you order the same thing almost every time."

"Touche," she couldn't argue with that. When it came to her acai bowl, she liked the Kilauea - made with mango juice, granola, berries, papaya, honey, and acai - the best. "And water, of course - make that two." She stepped back to look over the menu. Rudy wasn't familiar with the place, and he didn't know what they served, so Nevaeh wanted to get him something he hopefully liked. She decided to go with something not too fancy - directing her attention back to her barista friend. She went ahead and finished her order. "And...let me get the Islander acai bowl." That one was made with hemp mylk, granola, banana, berries, cocoa shavings, and honey.

Birdie rang up the rest of the order for Nevaeh. After catching a glimpse at the total, Nevaeh reached in the little card pocket of her wallet and grabbed her card. Unbeknownst to her, while she was getting her card, Birdie took her name tag and gave her friend her employee discount - she got it for half the price.

“I know you’re an independent woman and paying for the first date, the least I could do is give you a discount. Just don’t tell Daniel.” She winked, and Nevaeh gave her a thumbs up with one hand, and with the other, she made a zipping and locking motion over her mouth before throwing the key.

Outside, Rudy sat at the table he picked out for the two of them while waiting. While Nevaeh ran inside to get their order, he observed the small San Francisco scenery around him. California weather was sunshine with fluffy clouds. Just about everyone was either in shorts, a tank, and a cut-off shirt or any other summer clothing that provided them some comfort in the blazing sun. He dressed just right for the weather, though in Alaska, it was more on the chill side, causing him to wear a sweatshirt while he left. Now that he was basking in the California weather, he took off the warm sweatshirt and left it at Nevaeh’s apartment.

There were other people outside along with him. A group of girls sat a few feet away at a table in front of him, trying not to giggle as they attempted to make a video. At another table, there were two guys, perhaps brothers. They were eating something colorful from a bowl - it looked like yogurt to Rudy - and having a conversation with one another.

Rudy shook his head at the drastic difference between the two tables. Maybe it was just him, but it was amazing how much the world - more specifically America- was wrapped up in technology and social media. Sure the brothers at the one table had digital watches that told them the time and lit up, catching their attention with a vibrate when a text or notification went to their phone. But at least they could carry on a conversation without having their phone in their hands. On the other hand, those girls haven’t put their phones down longer than a few seconds. After those seconds, they tap away or show the other something they thought was worthy enough to gauge a reaction out of them.

Rudy wasn't one to judge. He didn't have much right to because while watching them and waiting for Nevaeh, he had the urge to pull out his phone. It was almost like a habit, but he chooses not to feed the temptation. He wanted to enjoy the day with Nevaeh; notice the burn on his skin from the sun, get to know her, have fun, pick up on little cues she has, and find out what he likes the most about her. And though it was kind of ironic that the two of them met through social media, he hopes Nevaeh is not one of those social zombies. Then this trip would be a waste of time and effort.

Ruby pulled his sunglasses down due to the sun starting to bother his eyes. Then he also wanted to cover his eyes and focus on something else while he waited. A minute later, Nevaeh walked out of the cafe's door backward with her back pushing the door open. In her hands, she had what she ordered; he wondered what she got. Rudy briskly stood up out of his seat to help her out.

"Hey, let me help you out," he walks around the table towards her, but she only nods him off.

"I got it, you sit."

"You have all the food and drinks in your hands; it's the least I can do." he stood off to the side, not interfering but reading despite what she said. He watches her struggle a bit and almost drops the stuff. Rudy immediately reached out, but Nevaeh had already saved herself and looked at him with a smile.

"I got it, Rudy. I was just pulling your leg." He picked up on the playfulness in her eyes, which made him pull his lips into a smile matching hers; her smile is definitely contagious.

“Alright, alright,” he raised his hands, backing away and then taking his seat. Nevaeh took her seat across from him, sat everything down before passing him the items she got him. “What’d you get us?”

“Well, I don’t know if you have had this before, but it’s my go-to thing to get here. It’s an acai bowl,” Nevaeh’s eyes caught his confused expression before he tried to cover it up with an understanding.  She laughed softly and explained further. “It’s like a smoothie bowl with other things in it.”

“Smoothie bowl…” he murmured more to himself, but she still heard it.

Shaking her head, she continued. “Acai palm is the main ingredient along with bananas and granola, but you can add other fruits or peanut butter and syrups. Or take things off.”

“Like maple syrup?” he asked, looking at the acai bowl she got him.

Her face begins to twist in disgust until she covers it with a shrug and looks down at her bowl, ready to dig in. “Uh, I guess if that’s what you want, then yeah.” She answered, and Rudy nodded his head and grabbed his spoon to take a taste. Before Nevaeh tasted her own, she watched Rudy, waiting for his reaction. He took a bite, letting the flavor invade his taste buds.

“Wow, this is good,” He says after swallowing. He glanced up, catching Nevaeh already looking at him. She quickly looked away and stirred her bowl.

“I’m glad you like it; it’s my second favorite one,” she peeked back up, and Rudy was still looking at her. Laughing softly to herself, then shaking her head, she takes a bite of her own, almost moaning at the taste. “I’m surprised you haven’t had one before.”

“ I have wanted to try one, but never really went with actually going out to get one.”

“Well, maybe now you will get them more often,” She says but stops herself before taking another bite. “Wait...you aren’t allergic to any fruit, are you? Or granola?”

He lifted a brow while getting another scoop. “Oh, only bananas,” He replies. Nevaeh watches him as he lifts the spoon to his mouth and takes another bite that includes bananas before she could reach across the table and stop him in time. “What?” he looked at her. Her eyes were wide with shock and fear, her mouth opening to say something but closed when nothing came out. “Is there something wrong?”

Nodding her head slowly, she sat down her spoon and reached for her phone in her pocket just in case. "You ate a banana, and you just told me you were allergic to them." Nevaeh wanted to yell at him for being so careless, but that would mean she was too for not asking before ordering something random for him. She pretended to remain calm but was internally panicking.

"I actually eat them all the time," he held back the smile easing its way into his features. "I eat them quite often. They're a great source of potassium and vitamin C."

"So you aren't allergic to bananas?" she noted, and Rudy shook his head. His mouth broke out into the smile he managed to hold back for a few seconds. Nevaeh relaxed a bit, her shoulders dropping as she was no longer tense. "You're an asshole, you know that, right?" Rudy gasped softly, a hand placed on his chest as he looked at her, offended at her comment.

"What, me, an asshole? That can't be right, I'm really nice," he said and made Nevaeh huffed. "What do you not believe me?"

The woman shrugged, the smile still on her face when she looked down at her food. "Well, you did play a mean joke just now; I thought I almost killed you." She reminded him and picked at her bowl.

"I wanted to see how caring you were, and you passed the test. Now you love me, don't you?"

"You wish," she said, taking a bite then pointing at him with her spoon. "We're going on a road trip together, let's see if I survive that, then I'll let you know if I like you enough to be your friend or jump out of a moving car because you're an annoying little shit."

Rudy raised his eyebrows, smirking at her now. "Me being an annoying little...alright. Let's make a deal," he starts; Nevaeh gestures for him to continue. "If you survive this road trip, meaning - if you have a great time - I get to take you to my home town in Alaska. Ah, ah. I'm not finished." he held his finger up to stop her from making a comment. She rolled her eyes and sat back in her chair, attempting to hide a simple, but you could see the amusement on her face. "If you don't have a great time, I'll do whatever you want."

"So, If I understand right, If you win, you get to take me to Alaska - assuming I haven't been there already,"

“Wait, you’ve been to Alaska?” Nevaeh held her finger up, echoing his movements moments before.

“If you win, you take me to Alaska, and if I win, you do whatever I want, correct?”

“Yeah, as long as it’s not too inappropriate or impossible,” He says, already finished with his acai bowl, which Nevaeh didn’t remember seeing him eat the rest. It didn’t matter when he ate it, she didn’t care, but that was quick. Looking down at her own, she wasn’t more than halfway done. “So, so we have a deal?”

Nevaeh looked up from her food, meeting his ocean-like eyes. The pair were becoming more familiar over the past few weeks from countless photos and videos the two have shared over Snapchat. Messages over text and facetime calls. They got to know each other digitally, and now they have to learn more in person. 

“We have a deal.” She says, and Rudy sticks his hand out, which she gladly took. They shook hands. While doing so, Rudy thought of a million possibilities to get the woman across from him to a great time and not just so he could take her to Alaska, his home. He found her intriguing, and he wants to take the time to get to know her better and maybe have a solid standing friendship at the end of it all. If the cosmos had a say, perhaps something more would blossom.

➣ End Note:

So, I honestly don’t know how the next few or future chapters will go but hopefully they turn out well. Here are the Revaeh interactions we all needed and plenty more to come so just you wait. ;)

AGAIN IF YOU WANT ME TO CONTINUE THE SERIES I WILL, JUST LET ME KNOW.

Wonder Taglist:

@Scooby6, @ifilwtmfc​, @rudypankowswife​, @themaddies-obx​

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[yukiobeyme]

Hi there! Just wondering if you could possibly write hcs for trans Beel or trans Satan? But if you can’t that’s fine.

I am supposed to doing my Civil Engineering HW? Yes.

I am coming back from the dead to answer this? Yes.

Can I talk about Trans!Beel and Trans!Satan all day? God Yes. Please ask me more talk to more about LGBTQIA+ and how it fits in Obey Me!

Thank you so much I hope I do this some justice. I am sorry how it got so long, but I got in the groove for this and I just came up with other ideas

Beel has some implied body issues, mention of top surgery and T-shots

So you more or less got Satan’s coming out story, I could have just written it as a fic and it would have probably been shorter and more concise. But I did add other headcanons as well and accidentally hc how Satan got his everyday outfit.

*Also disclaimer: Satan’s hc focus a lot on Parrotfish by Ellen Wittlinger being a gateway for him figuring out his identity. I have heard of it and seen both good and bad reviews. I recognize that some bad reviews implied that there are possibly inaccurate stereotypes but was a good starting point to introducing Trans Characters to fiction. I have never read it and can not confirm or deny what the reviews say.

Beelzebub:

From a young age he wondered why and how Belphegor were twins when he was a girl.

It caused a distaste in his mouth but more often than not he pushed it away.

 It wasn’t until the Fall; did he finally act on it.

The first time he was called “sir” his heart almost burst out of his chest

 He immediately told a sleepily Belphegor about it, he figured he wouldn’t remember in the morning

 But boy was he wrong, it turns out Belphegor laid awake after Beel told him that. In the morning they talked about it again. Belphie offered his full support.

Belphie became Beel biggest piece in his support system. Like sure a lot of problems, he said maybe a nap or food would help. But it turns out he was right? (Well for the most part) but whenever Beel felt like everyone hated him and judging him, Belphie would wrap him up in the softest blanket in the house and they would take a nap together. Or when Beel seemed to be angry at everything and hated everyone, Belphie pulled him to the kitchen and made his favorite meal.

Randomly one day Belphie asked about how Beel felt about himself. “Like it doesn’t matter if you pass in someone else’s eyes or not, but do you like how you look?”

That’s when Beelz really got into bodybuilding and weightlifting

While he didn’t necessarily come out to the rest of the brothers, but none of them came out as cis so he wasn’t going to go out of his way and come out as trans

“working your legs naturally helps build more testosterone, so does eating eggs,” it was Satan that told him shyly behind a book if Beelz noticed that Satan was eating more eggs and even doing leg exercising he said nothing

Satan and Beel would have random conversations about gender and identity. Most times Belphie sat in on it. Asking questions or making comments.

Before he got top surgery, he would wear full-body binders, he had a standard black and white, but he also had an orange one. Completely confident to wear them by themselves.

 After top surgery, he showed off (as he should)

Takes pride in his body and the work and effort he put into it. To make it his own.

·         T shots doesn’t help with his appetite at all, the horror that went through the house when the avatar of gluttony appetite almost doubled. After a few weeks, it averaged out to be just a little more than pre-T but the brothers none the less both impressed and mortified

Belphie immediately opened his closet to Beel, like Beel occasionally stole clothes before, but this time Belphie made sure that Beel knew whatever he wanted he could take.

Asmo was definitely down to help Beel with shopping, but he turned him down. Favoring to go with Belphie

Faced little backlash, only some sports watchers had problems with it but were quickly shut down. Though even after all these centuries some people still have problems. But Beel has learned to keep his head high but knows he is allowed to be upset and hurt by their words. But he also knows he can go to any of his brothers for comfort and to regroup.

Beelz doesn’t get the same attention and attraction that Satan does, but he doesn’t mind. Though when he sees younger lgbtqia+ looking in awe at him at the gym, he usually swings by to see if they have any questions or need tips.

Okay, wait hear me out… Definitely created a club specifically for lgbtqia+ to have the gym and exercise together. Whether it was leading a class, he has gotten Asmo to lead a few yoga/ meditations or letting them break out into groups and giving them tips on stance or what exercises could build muscles to help them pass. But most importantly teaches/reminds everyone that their body is their own. That no matter what happened to them, their body is theirs. It can look however they want and even if it doesn’t look perfect, it is still is worthy of love and self-care. “The only opinions that matter is your own, it is your body. Claim and make it your own. No one can take it away from you”

Satan offered to let him borrow Parrotfish, Beel isn’t too interested but Belphie wanted to read it to him.

Overall Beel is confident and comfortable with his body and his identity. On his bad days, he knows he has endless support from Belphie and his other brothers.

 Satan:

You know that feeling when something clicks and its that chilling calm that covers your body? Satan was reading a random book, Parrotfish by Ellen Wittlinger.

First came out to Asmodeus, because Satan knew Asmo would accept him and help him in whatever way Asmo could.

And of course, Satan was nervous because Asmo couldn’t go to the others not yet. Satan planned it out that Lucifer was on Earth and expected to be there for a week, so Satan had time to execute his plan.

Asmo was worried when Satan came to him all serious. Well, Satan is always serious but this time the nervousness and lack of confidence made Asmodeus sit still and hold his breath. Asmodeus was attentive as Satan slowly stumbled through his prepared speech, which mainly focused on talking about the book he had just finished.

 Asmo didn’t understand until he saw how heartbroken and lost Satan looked. He was frantic in a sense and blurted out something along the lines of, “So, you wish you were a parrotfish?” while it wasn’t necessarily the best thing to say, the laugh it go out of Satan and the uncertainty in his smile was worth it.

Asmodeus took it upon himself to go shopping for Satan, getting him new more masculine clothes.

It was Levi that got Satan’s his first Binder, “A lot of cosplayers wear them, so you should be okay for some light exercising in it”

Soon all the brothers, well except Lucifer knew and the day Lucifer came back, Satan hid and avoided him.

Satan should have known better, but he was still surprised when Lucifer summoned for him

He was terrified.

When he entered the room, he couldn’t meet Lucifer’s eyes. But when he spared the glance, he saw the disappointment in Lucifer’s eye. Satan tried to swallow around the lump in his throat and ignore the burning in his eyes.

“What are you wearing?” Not exactly what Satan thought Lucifer was going to say first. “Was it Asmodeus?” “Ugh” Lucifer shook his head and strolled to his closet and threw the door open and went searching for something. “Ah, there it is,” Lucifer returned with a yellow sweater. “This would be more suiting for you,” Lucifer offered the sweater to Satan.

“You aren’t mad?”

“The only thing I’m relatively mad at is how offensive that outfit is,”

“I might have shoes too, but they might be a little big on you,”

Satan left wearing his new sweater and shoes on, laughing how he had to keep a black undershirt on, and the shoes flopped due to being too big. But he left with a lot of weight off his shoulders and high in spirits.

That sweater is the famous one you still see him wear today. He wonders why Lucifer would have such a bright color and when he asked Lucifer just made a face and rolled his eyes as he replied with “Asmodeus thought I needed to brighten my wardrobe.”

 Satan loves it, its soft and bright. It’s a little too low cut for his liking but an undershirt fixed that problem. And it doesn’t hug his chest and honestly, it’s his favorite piece of clothing

 Parrotfish is a permanent book in his room and he reads it once a year. And has special scenes marked, so he can go back and read certain passages when needed

Once Satan came out to Barbatos and Diavolo they both requested to read the book and met with him for tea to talk about the book and life.

Lucifer even snagged the book for a bit. (He tried to be sneaky about it and Satan pretended not to notice)

 Asmodeus and Mammon is chaotic with their support, it nice and needed but can also be overboard but he knows they do it out of love. Pride is a huge thing at the house and Asmo decided to do a gender reveal party for Satan

Beelzebub, Belphegor and Levi are supportive like they are ready to fight anyone who gives Satan any issues about his gender and gender identity, but they are as obnoxious as Asmo and Mammon. They will sit with him, talk to him, or just quietly listen. Most times they can’t offer help and admit they don’t know what to say other then they are here for him and willing to listen to whatever he needs to talk about.

Lucifer is quiet support. At first, Satan thought he didn’t approve but then Lucifer would make a random statement or ask for clarification that made Satan feel comfortable. Lucifer glared at anyone who even thought about giving Satan a weird look.

Satan’s go to binder color is a light grey and most times it just a crop top rather than a full-body one. Though he has an aqua blue one he wears occasionally. (I have a drawing of this somewhere lmao)

Satan tried to give himself his first haircut but Asmo had to come in and fix up the mess and disaster he created. Sure, his hair was way too short for his liking, but it wasn’t long anymore.

Over the years has learned the different meanings behind the looks he gets, whether it’s in disgust or that longing look that demons that aren’t out give him. He somehow occasionally becomes a dad to other trans! Demons. Whether it's long talks or if it's just quick tips that help him through the years.

Ironically enough, Lucifer is his biggest support or the one he relies on the most during days or moments when Satan feels terrible. Because Lucifer won’t be fussing all over him or beat around the bush about it. Sometimes he will state he too busy to talk but will leave and come back with hot tea and Satan’s favorite biscuits. Lucifer sometimes sends him away to grab his homework and they will just work in silence together. While Satan hates to admit how much he appreciates Lucifer for these moments, it helps a lot.

Last one! The first formal after Satan came out, he realized he didn’t have clothes for it. Out of all the styles and outfits he had gotten nothing formal ever came through. His brothers came through though. Asmo couldn’t convince him on any of his extra formal wear so he went around finding pieces that the other brothers weren’t using. Satan was only missing a jacket, but the outfit looked perfect. When he ran into Lucifer, Lucifer brought him to his room and offered him one of his simpler jackets and touch him how to pin it to tailor the sleeves to a better height.

[mimiplaysgames]

A Powerful Enough Dream (Ch. 6)

Pairing: Terra/Aqua (eventually) Rating: T Word Count: 6,014

Summary: Riku and Sora drag Aqua to Yen Sid’s in order to hash out a plan to save Ven. But Aqua is having none of it.

Read on AO3

A/N: Hi!!!! It’s been a long, long time, I know. I’m sorry for not updating this more often. My other WIPs take up so so much of my time, and I don’t have enough to spare this collection. I’m nervous about continuing this, I mean: it’s no longer relevant because of KH3, and sometimes I think the Terqua fandom has died??? I’ll have to see what people think of it. I know there’s readers for this piece and I HEARD YOU. I HEARD YOU. I have the next two chapters lined up already, so we’ll see!

~*~*~*~*~

Betrayal

Riku shows her to her room: a small thing held together by enormous stones, with a bed at the center, a wobbly nightstand, and a door leading to the bathroom. A thin window sits high on the wall, through which Aqua can see this tiny, dark world that Yen Sid calls home. 

In the corner of the bedroom is a dusty outline on the floor where something once stood. A mirror, most likely. She peeks into the bathroom to find that the mirror screwed to the wall above the sink has been removed as well, leaving a rectangle of slime-free tile.

What she appreciates the most is how Riku doesn’t make a big show of what he does for her. 

“I’ll come get you when Yen Sid’s ready to see you,” Riku says, reaching for the door knob. “Hope it’s comfy enough.”

Nothing about this trip is comfortable. 

The Mysterious Tower is just as she left it: a speck far in the distance, too far for darkness to do any real damage. Protected by a sky of stars and magic that bubbles deep into its earth, this place breathes light. Aqua braces her fingers against the stone wall - instead of something cold built by man, she feels sparks of magic scatter across the surface, from memories of mischief and self-discovery.

She lets go and prepares herself to wash up, maybe find some food in one of the tower’s quirky rooms, when Riku knocks on her door.

“That was fast.”

Riku looks at her questioning face and shrugs. “I figured… considering how Terra’s visit went, we should probably get this over with.”

~*~*~*~*~

Yen Sid lounges in his office at the top of the tower. Everything is the same - maybe the notes on his board are different, but the pile of books, most with dust that gathered over years, still sit where they live. The candles burn as though they will never run out of wax. Yen Sid himself doesn’t seem to age. 

Riku and Sora flank Aqua, and she stares at the tremendous wooden desk in front of her. Twelve years ago, she slammed her hands against it, adamant that Terra would never do anything to hurt the Master. Something in her gut questions whether Yen Sid has even left his damn chair since.

“I am delighted to see you safe, Master Aqua,” Yen Sid starts, his voice polite, which is the basic minimum for anything professional: solemn, well-mannered, detached.

Initially, she says nothing in return. Eraqus would not have approved of such rudeness, so she swallows her pride. “Thank you, it is good to see you again, too.”

“I assure you will get a decent amount of rest in time.” He folds his hand neatly over each other. “For now, we must eagerly discuss the state of affairs.”

Eagerly, he says, but he talks too slow to understand the meaning of the word.

“Well,” Riku starts.

Aqua feels him taking side glances at her but she keeps her mouth in a firm, straight line. 

“We lost Terra,” he says when she doesn’t volunteer, “to the Realm of Darkness.”

Yen Sid grumbles, “With the King.”

“Yeah.” Riku sighs. “I like to think they’re taking care of each other.”

Yen Sid doesn’t seem pleased or agreeable to this. A sick thought crosses Aqua’s mind: He doesn’t think Mickey is safe with Terra. Which isn’t fair.

“We must hurry to the King,” Yen Sid says, and Aqua’s stomach churns that Terra is an afterthought. “Now that we are aware intent to enter the Realm of Darkness is certainly true to statement, we must act swiftly to find another Door to Darkness, as long as we do not sacrifice a world to it.

“Sora,” he commands, “have you made arrangements with the sky pirates to do this?”

Sora fiddles with two of his fingers, staring hard at them. They won’t give him the courage to speak, so there’s no reason to find it there. 

“Balthier won’t take my munny.” He frowns. “He demands more from me if I’m going to waste his time searching for something without any direction.”

“What does he call direction?”

“If Fran can track something, then he’ll only do it if the plunder’s good enough for the job.” He shrugs his shoulders and throws his hands in the air.

“Pirates,” Riku mutters.

“Balthier saves people, too!”

“When a world is falling. He takes their riches along with their medicine, food, and weapons… but Traverse Town doesn’t need that anymore.” 

Aqua scoffs. Her impatience bubbles, and it takes all her effort to swallow it down.

Sora steps away from her. He’s shocked to see her terrible mood.

“We shan’t wait too long for a world to deteriorate to that state,” Yen Sid says. “Sora, I will pay the pirate more if that is necessary to find an entryway sooner.”

Such quick and decisive action for Mickey. 

“Now that we have discussed one path forward, let us continue on to other matters.” If he hasn’t noticed her attitude, he will soon. “Master Aqua, I understand there is trouble getting to Ventus. Anything I can do to aid your efforts?”

Aid, he says.

She creases her lips. 

“How long have you known?” she asks quietly.

“Pardon?”

“How long has it been since Mickey found me?” She raises her voice. 

Sora shifts with a whimper. Riku crosses his arms, not surprised and not even totally into the conversation. Best to get it over with.

Yen Sid takes his time to study her first before he answers: “Two years.”

Aqua grips her hands into fists, hiding them neatly in her sashes so that the old man doesn’t notice. “Why-”

“Mickey was not yet a Master,” Yen Sid says, his brittle voice finding strength. “Sora and Riku were brand new to the Keyblade, and needed friends, guidance, and training. We did not have the power yet to pursue such a dangerous task.”

What he said should have insulted her, but strangely, she feels serene, empowered by something knowing, something cynical, something that gloats in how tense he’s becoming under her scrutinizing gaze. Yen Sid doesn’t deserve anything she has to offer. 

“And what did you do all this time?” she asks with bitter sweetness. “Twiddle your thumbs and eat out of your chair?”

Riku rubs his chin. She’s impressed with how quiet he could stay in a scene like this. Sora stammers like he’s been kissed by a frog.

“Master Aqua…” Yen Sid tries softer this time. “I understand the disappointment. Please, let me offer what I can to help-”

“I don’t need your help to find Ven.” With that, Aqua gives a mock curtsy before turning on her heels and briskly leaving the room.

Behind her, she hears Riku tell Sora to Let her go, each word fading as she runs down the long steps to the bottom. 

The audacity of that old, stuffy man. 

Aqua is fuming, replaying sentences in her mind again and again: things she could have said to make him really sorry, what he might be saying now to those two young boys. She’s descending so fast that her ankle twists, and she grabs the railing to stop herself from toppling all the way down. 

It snaps her out of her stupor.

Riku is so well-mannered for his age, not blinking at the signs of her episode; he’s someone a good Master ought to behave like. Sora doesn’t judge, completely motivated with the need to make everyone comfortable and easy-feeling. 

And Aqua embarrassed herself in front of them. 

Leaning on the wall behind her, she breathes deeply. The stone is freezing against her skin, too much for her to be at a normal temperature. She palms her forehead to check for a fever; she has none. But her mind is in a hot fury, willing to climb back up and roast Yen Sid with all the insults she still has blurring in her brain - starting with how crusty that beard is.

“You can’t just say whatever you want, Aqua,” she says out loud, hugging herself. “This isn’t like you.”

It’s unbecoming of a Keyblade Master, is what Eraqus would have said. 

Aqua decides to descend the rest of the way slowly. Getting mad won’t do anything for Ven, and while she doesn’t have a good lead in creating a pathway back home, she’ll find a way to do it without giving Yen Sid the honor of listening to his advice. She has to. 

The last time she was here, she never got a good chance to explore this world. While the front entrance only leads to an outcrop overlooking deep space, the back entrance leads to a garden, awnings making way over the shrubbery until it circles a pool. 

Aqua stiffens. It’s not long enough to swim in, so it couldn’t be deep enough to get up to her thighs.

But it’s big enough to drown in, and that’s the worst part. 

The water is as still as glass, but it doesn’t mean it’s peaceful or safe. If she’s careful enough, Aqua would be able to see her reflection if she stood over it. 

She doesn’t dare try. Instead, she sits on a stone bench far enough away that the pool couldn’t get to her. There isn’t a good reason to sit here, really, except for the fact that she misses the idea of enjoying water: of being at the beach, of swimming against Ven in a race, of splashing it on Terra’s face when he isn’t looking. Showering in a bathtub doesn’t compare… a dark voice in her mind tells her that she’ll never experience water the same way anymore.

“Are you Aqua?” 

That voice belongs to a girl in a short pink dress, who helps herself to the stone bench even when Aqua doesn’t immediately reply. 

“I am.”

The girl stares up in awe. “You were the one Terra was looking for? Wow, I didn’t think you’d be the same person…”

“Excuse me?”

“Oh, I’m Kairi.” She holds her hand to her chest. 

Aqua gasps. “Kairi?” It’s true. There’s the same necklace she charmed years ago, draped around her neck. Aqua almost brushes it with her fingers, but thought better of it. At least it kept Kairi safe. At least this is one success she could account for. 

Kairi is so unrecognizable now, but it makes sense: the cropped auburn hair, the round violet eyes, a curious smile. And a heart that is unmistakably brighter than anyone’s here. 

“You were so little,” Aqua says quietly. “I can’t believe you remember me.”

“Um, not really.” Kairi sheepishly rubs the back of her head, then waves her hand in the air as if imagining something. “All I remember is something really tall… and blue.”

Aqua has to laugh. Kairi is quite small. Still.

“But when I heard that Aqua was here, I had to see - never in my life would I have made the connection that Blue and Aqua were one in the same.” Kairi smirks, leaning forward to study Aqua in the face. “No wonder Terra was so obsessed with finding you. You’re really pretty.”

“Uh-” Nothing useful comes out of her mouth. That can’t be the reason. Aqua hides the heat in her cheeks with one dignified hand as though she isn’t affected by it. 

“Terra acted the same when he talked about you,” Kairi grins, patting Aqua on the knee.

But her excitement deteriorates soon after, her hands finding each other at her stomach as though she’s swallowing something rotten. “I heard about what happened to him…” To Aqua’s surprise, tears develop in Kairi’s eyes, trailing down without much effort on her part to produce them. 

They even surprise Kairi. “I’m sorry.” She wipes them off her face, sniffling. “I don’t know where that came from. I didn’t know him long.”

Aqua more than understands, she’s just much more practiced at roping it in.

“He makes a strong impression on anyone he meets,” Aqua says, brushing her hand lightly over Kairi’s head. 

A small smile curls at Kairi’s lips despite the onslaught out of her eyes. Kairi hangs all of her expressions at the edge of her nose. Her sincerity is something to be admired. 

“He’s a lot kinder than what he gives himself credit for.”

“Yes.”

“He was really helpful and sweet when he trained me.” Reality strikes her, and the tears dry up. “Would you mind teaching me a bit?” Then shame makes its way, as though she asked for too much. “I- I promise I won’t take up too much of your time.”

A Princess of Heart fighting? A brilliant idea. “Of course, it’s not a bother at all.”

Kairi takes her inside to a large ballroom equipped with destroyed furniture: hollow sofas, the shells of cupboards, the foundations of bookshelves, dilapidated bedposts. Pots and pans. Chipped plastic. From what Aqua can tell, they were used for target practice. 

“Terra was really particular about my posture,” Kairi says, summoning her Keyblade - frilly, like the heart of someone who carries the joy of life with her. She sinks low into her knees. “But we focused mostly on my ability to block attacks. The rest is basic stuff.”

By the looks of her stance, he’s done good work.

“Then let’s talk about what you really want out of your fighting ability.” Aqua summons the Master’s Defender. 

Kairi flashes an embarrassed frown. “To catch up with Sora and Riku.”

“Are you sure that’s what you want?”

“Yes.” Forgetting about her posture, Kairi throws her passion out in a flurry. “It’s not about being as good as them - I want to make them see that when they need me, I can be there. They don’t have to worry or doubt me for a second.”

“That sounds a lot like comparing yourself.”

Kairi ponders for a moment. “Sora and Riku are patient with my training, but for years they’ve left me behind.”

Aqua has to think about it before responding… listen to the words Kairi is finding difficulty in expressing. So much of it stems from an insecurity and a drive to level with her more experienced friends, and a needle pricks right into Aqua’s ribs when she thinks of how Ven has been treated in the past. 

If they never held themselves back when training with Ven, or treated him like a puppy needing to stay home, then he wouldn’t be unconscious now. 

Sora and Riku work full steam ahead, and Kairi needs to match their speeds without the burden of mastering technique before she’s ready. What she wants is to feel useful to them. What she needs is to be equipped with something that could get her out of trouble in a pinch.

Aqua thinks of Noctis, and how he uses his weapons as points of destination. 

“I have a unique idea.”

Instructing Kairi to stand by the farthest wall, Aqua does the opposite to create the most distance between them.

“From there,” Aqua says, “I want you to take a hit on me before I’m able to block - without doing a far-range attack.”

Kairi gapes. “H- How am I supposed to do that?”

“You’ll adapt to the circumstances.” At Kairi’s agony, Aqua shrugs. “I’m more strict than Terra. We won’t stop until your heart makes the connection.”

Kairi shivers and settles herself. “I’ll try.”

She does a dash - which is the expected choice and Aqua easily blocks it. 

“Again,” Aqua says. “Use your magic.”

Another dash - this time propelled. Blocked.

“Again.”

Three more times, all blocked, and by now, Kairi is panting for breath.

“You’re exerting too much on your physical body. Remember your magic. Your Keyblade is your heart in physical form: all its desires, life goals, and insecurities are embedded into your weapon. If you want to come at me faster than I can block, then will it.” 

“Magic,” Kairi rasps. “Right.”

Now she’s getting it. Instead of dashing across the room this time, she blends with the air, teleporting to Aqua’s position. But it’s still not fast enough.

“On the right track. Try again.”

“But Aqua-”

“Your Keyblade needs to get here before you do.” Aqua winks. 

“Isn’t that kind of like a Strike Raid?” An attack that utilizes the Keyblade like a boomerang. 

“Not quite.”

Kairi is exhausted and probably doesn’t have the energy to think too much, but it’s necessary to let her heart define it for itself. That’s the only way to communicate with your own Keyblade. 

But she’s the type of student that is eager to please, and as her eyes drift away with her imagination, it dawns on her. “That’s genius,” she whispers. 

With new resolve, Kairi properly stands. 

“Let’s start for real,” Aqua says. 

Kairi throws her Keyblade. Aqua feels in the air Kairi’s energy not to aim, but to be where the Keyblade goes, and she blurs through the room, letting her heart guide her to where. 

She doubts herself, though, and drops her Keyblade halfway across. 

“I’ll try again!” Scrambling back to her spot across the room, Kairi throws, warping as though both wielder and weapon are chasing each other, knocking past unsuspecting pieces of couch legs.

Aqua cannot block the strike but manages to move - not the most grateful dodge she’s ever done, but it does the job even if it lands her flat on her stomach. 

“We did it,” Kairi says shakily the moment she realizes all she’s done without using her feet. 

Aqua snorts and picks herself up. “You did it.”

“I did it!” With squeals and claps, Kairi jumps in place, throwing an embrace over Aqua’s way, triumphantly parading with her Keyblade.

It’s worth the effort to see. Aqua has needed something pleasant today, and maybe giving someone else hope will satiate some kind of karmic hunger out there and return the favor.

“No one invited me to the celebration,” Sora’s voice strides into the room, his giant toothy grin followed by a very solemn Riku. 

“You guys will never guess what I can do now,” Kairi says. Realizing she sounds like she’s preparing a show for them, she backtracks. “I- I’ll polish it first, then show you.”

“Kairi has a lot of promise,” Aqua says, drawing the hilt of her Keyblade in and resting its tip on the floor, standing straighter. Riku’s presence, though totally lost in his own head, makes her nervous. She wills the image of her episode away.

“You’re not going to show us?” Sora asks, casually standing with them like he’s inviting himself over to their inside joke. Aqua wonders if he’s ever been rejected before, but Kairi’s more than happy to keep a small success to herself. 

Riku takes a more respectful distance and sits on a chair with a missing armrest. “Of course she won’t. Destiny Islanders have spunk.”

“Except Riku,” Kairi retorts. “He only knows grouchy.”

“Says who?”

“Your face. You look like you spent an hour reading obituaries.”

A muscle twitches in Sora’s jaw, and he takes himself to Riku’s side. 

It reminds Aqua all too much of herself and Ven: how she and Terra would share a rare distaste with training when it doesn’t go their way, or worries about the future, cutting Ven out of certain bits. Aqua wouldn’t count that Ven never noticed. 

She hopes that Kairi doesn’t take it personally. It never is. 

“Sorry,” Riku says, willing a more natural smile to come. “I am happy for you. Maybe you’ll get to join us on missions next time.”

“She already should be,” Aqua says. 

Kairi sighs in relief. “I’m ready to share the work. What’s the plan now? I can handle it.”

This is where Riku and Sora stare at Aqua. 

“Must have been an interesting meeting,” Kairi says, cutting the silence. 

“It was the same level of cringe as Terra’s,” Sora says, snickering. It doesn’t improve the atmosphere, so he switches gears. “You can come with us wherever you’d like, Kairi,” he offers, like it’s supposed to be a consolation but Aqua suspects there are limitations to such a contract. “Except the Realm of Darkness.”

“You’re going to the Realm of Darkness?”

Again, they glance over at Aqua. Are they expecting her to lead an expedition? To have a differing opinion?

“Is there something you want from me?” Aqua asks when they won’t budge. 

Sora hangs his head but Riku is the one to speak: “I don’t want to bet on a world falling for us to enter. There’s no way to predict when it would happen or how long it would take. Estimated guesses are just that, and if we waited a day too long, we could have lost Traverse Town.”

“Or not. It could have stood for another week,” Sora quips in. 

“Exactly. It’s a very unstable plan and it could take forever.”

When Sora’s eyes meet Aqua’s, he warms up. Aqua has to wonder how his parents raised him to be this open and loving to everyone he meets. 

“How did you do it?” he asks.

Next to her, Kairi tenses. Riku seems unfazed - it was probably his question, but Sora is the better mediator. 

It’s the worst memory in Aqua’s disposal, but the most important. Aqua has to be professional, cast away the way her heart rages at the thought. 

“A world didn’t fall, if that’s what you’re really asking,” she starts. “I was fighting… Xehanort, and he…struck himself with his Keyblade. To the heart.”

Sora steps back, a giggle worming its way out. “That’s an intense experience.”

Riku scoffs, amused. “It makes sense now.”

“And out came a horned monster,” Aqua continues. “You could say it resembles a Heartless, large and angry. Its teeth were bound by bindings… or bandages. It had an empty hole in its chest-”

She stops. The looks she’s getting - they recognize it.

Sora turns to Riku, his eyes wide. “Is she talking about-?”

Riku faces him. “Ansem’s Guardian?”

At Aqua’s stunned expression, Sora waves her confusion away. “No, no, not the Ansem you know. That’s the real Ansem. There’s a fake Ansem, and he’s the one who controls the Guardian.”

That doesn’t clear anything up.

Riku holds his hand up. “What matters is what happened when the Guardian appeared.”

“Well, he commanded it to come after me,” Aqua says.

“As he does.” Riku shrugs.

“But when I defeated him, it fell into a black pit. It was the force that created the Door to Darkness, and…”

Terra fell. 

“I went after him.”

The room buckles under the weight of her words, a little too quiet for her liking but it’s better than anyone apologizing to her. Kairi holds a hand to Aqua’s shoulder, but it doesn’t help much. 

“Maybe that’s the answer,” Sora says slowly. “It probably created a force of darkness so strong, it just warped reality.” 

Kairi glares at him as though he’s said the wrong thing. 

But Riku nods like he’s reading the same mind. “We could sacrifice it. Not a bad idea.”

“It sounds like you’re talking about hunting him down,” Kairi says. “Isn’t that a little risky, trying to draw out his attention?”

“Yeah, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.” The way Riku says it leaves everyone else out of the equation.

“If you can find him.”

Aqua has to ask: “Is that difficult?”

Riku strains a smile; he’s remembering something unpleasant, something he still hasn’t made peace with. “Not really. But admittedly he is more trouble than he’s worth.”

Aqua bites her cheek. Everyone makes it sound like rescuing Terra is the biggest hassle. 

“Then I’ll do it.”

Sora grimaces, and Riku waves his hands in surrender. “That’s not what I meant. Not at all. But I do think that getting to Ventus may be an easier goal to reach right now. Once we have greater numbers, and we don’t have our attention scattered as much, provoking Ansem shouldn’t be an issue. We can do it together.”

Aqua stops herself from drawing a long scoff, holding her hand to her hip to prevent herself from flailing it around in frustration. Professional is the key word here. 

“Except I don’t really know where to begin,” Aqua says quietly. “I know where Ven is, but I don’t have a way of getting to him without my Keyblade.”

“Oh that’s easy!” Sora says. “Terra had it with him.”

“What?”

“He carried it around at Destiny Islands, when he was with us,” Kairi says. 

“But I don’t recall seeing him with it in Traverse Town,” Riku says. “It’s possible he put it away somewhere.”

The question hangs over their heads. 

Riku inhales as he thinks about a place to start. “He spent the majority of his time in Radiant Garden.”

Right where she broke her tether to it. It’s a possibility that Terra took it back there. Not likely, but plausible. 

“We should go tomorrow, first thing,” Sora says, slamming a fist into his palm. “There’s got to be a trail of clues we could follow. Maybe Terra left a sign saying Here’s her Keyblade.” He motions with his hand, bracketing invisible words in the air. 

“If there’s nowhere else…” Aqua hushes. 

“If not there,” Riku says, “then we’ll go back to Traverse Town and search his room. If it’s not there either, we’ll think of something. I can’t imagine that he’d leave you hanging.”

He’d never; Terra has always been the worst at hiding anyway. As children, he’d giggle too loudly that playing hide and seek with him was always futile. As teens, he never withstood the feeling of being lonely for too long, so if he needed time to himself, he’d leave notes with suggestions of when he’s ready for company. 

Hiding a Keyblade to protect it is something he wouldn’t commit recklessly, but just like she was able to track him down a long journey through multiple worlds when he disappeared, he’d leave the smallest crumbs. 

“Then it’s a solid plan,” Kairi says, stepping her foot down. “I’m coming with.”

They’re much more optimistic about it than Aqua is (honestly, it sounds like they’re leading themselves blind).

Either way, she bids them sweet dreams, a knife forged of the worst anticipation gutting at her. Maybe her mood will improve in the morning. 

When she leaves the ballroom, the knife twisting at her side digs deeper the moment she overhears Riku saying over the other side of the door: “That was something.”

Aqua peeks through the crack. Riku has lost his composure he had in her presence, slouching over and smothering his face in his palm. Sora looks tired, his usual joy giving way to reflection. 

Kairi shifts uncomfortably. “She’s been through a lot.”

“She’s like a boiling teapot about to explode.”

“Except teapots don’t explode.”

“But you’d rather have your hand cut off than have it melt from the steam.”

“Come on,” Sora says, “this won’t be the same situation as it was with Terra… At least, I hope not.”

Riku throws Sora a hard glance. “I’m only saying that something’s not entirely right. I can’t tell how she’s going to react to things. Sometimes, I get the impression that I’m not talking to the same person.”

Silence.

“Honestly, I’ve felt the same,” Sora murmurs, “but I can’t blame her.”

“No one is.”

Kairi starts sniffling, bringing her wrist to wipe her face.

Sora asks, “Why are you crying?” 

“I don’t know. Isn’t that weird?”

Next, Sora’s the one to shed a tear. “I guess I don’t know either.”

Riku looks at his friends not with concern, but with horror. He sighs into his hand, rubs his face, and thinks better than to let them cry alone. Joining them, he pulls them both into an embrace, roughing their hair enough to leave frizz.

“Knock it off, you two.” 

He ignores their protests, squeezing them in his elbows. Sora can’t wrestle his way out, so he says to Kairi, “He’s still ticklish in the same spots.”

The last sight Aqua sees is a heap of three best friends on the floor, the tallest one begging the others to stop. 

~*~*~*~*~

Aqua treks back to her room with ferocity. They think she’s crazy. Maybe she is. Maybe she’s lost a part of herself to the Realm of Darkness forever, chewed up and spit out in a lumpy blob that she can’t bring herself to swallow. 

That thought should terrify her, but it doesn’t. Aqua’s more concerned with how hopeless she let them feel. What’s the point of being a Keyblade Master if she can’t inspire those around her? Or make them feel protected and listened to? She doesn’t know how to make it up to them. 

She should apologize - and yet, there’s a small voice inside that loathes to do so. It’s not her fault for acting up; she’s earned the right. They’ll be patient with her and see she’s not all bad.

Or maybe she’s just as bad as they say. The moment she sees Yen Sid standing in her way will test that.

“Master Aqua,” he calls, his pointy hat looking all the longer because of the way the torches that line the stone walls illuminate it.

She wants to ignore him. She doesn’t - wouldn’t Eraqus be proud? She waits for him to continue, hands laced in front of her, posture straight, expression neutral. Professional. 

“I had hoped,” he starts, then stops himself. Ah, so he knows there’s nothing he could say that would be a proper apology to what happened. “I completely understand where you are coming from.”

Aqua doesn’t respond. 

“I mean to ask forgiveness.”

Silence.

“Cast away this unpleasant business between us. I have no expectation that you’d lend a hand of friendship towards me, but we can still benefit from an alliance.” He extends his hand out, not as a gesture to hold hers, but as a symbol. 

She could forgive him, and she would have before falling to darkness, before Eraqus had ever sent them on an insane journey without giving them any of the crucial details, before hearing anything insulting about Terra. She could have. 

“I’ll consider it when I have the time,” she says, her voice flat but strong.

Yen Sid draws his hand back. There’s a slight offense to his eyes before he wavers it away. 

“This road you have chosen to follow may be dangerous.”

“Excuse me?”

“Following Terra.”

“I’m so tired of defending Terra,” she spits.

“You have mistaken me,” Yen Sid says. The quality of his voice dips deep, like a growl. “Just as I have warned Terra about his limitations when it came to you, I sense the same desperate recklessness within you.”

“His life is worthy enough to save.”

“So is yours.” He stares at her, a hand teasing the length of his beard. “Will you not trust him to fend for himself in the darkness?”

Her lips quiver and she zips them up. Professional. “Won’t you?”

Yen Sid sighs, disappointed. “I hope our next meeting is more amicable. Please look out for yourself, Master Aqua.”

“Likewise.”

She storms into her room and slams the door. She’s burning up, the heat from her body creating perspiration that denses through her hair, but not enough to let the sweat fall. No, she doesn’t have a fever.

There’s nothing here for her to throw around, so she paces back and forth. Back and forth, again and again, until one last huff expires out of her. 

“Terra,” she calls out softly as though he is right by her side. Who knows, maybe he can hear her from somewhere deep in the darkness if she focuses enough. 

Pulling out his orange Wayfinder, Aqua massages her fingers over the borders. Maybe her magic on it would have worked better if she had his essence embedded into the glass, instead of her intention to keep him close by. 

When she made it, she never once thought that the sight of it would bring regret. 

“I’m so angry,” she says to it, shaking her leg. She’s exhausted, but nowhere near the fits of depletion from earlier nights that easily pulled her under. She’d be an idiot to expect sleep to come any time soon. “None of them understand.”

Except they do; they have been separated before, forgotten, then weaved back together. 

Yet they don’t; they never had to pay such an expensive price such as twelve years.

“Please come back,” she whispers. She could cry, but she’s all dried up. Begging only makes her feel worse. 

“I’ll bring you back,” she demands of the quiet when nothing responds to her. 

She could scream, but she doesn’t. She’s a knot of weeded thorns, something that yearns to slice to numb the pain and grow out to breathe, choking at the same time.

The bed creaks and moans under her weight, but it’s not comfortable. The sheets are cold. The stone walls are apathetic to her mood, gray and bored. 

Aqua holds the Wayfinder close, but it does nothing to soothe her. She opts to stare at the ceiling in a contest she can’t win. 

~*~*~*~*~

Her hair reached her ribcage in tousled waves that coiled at the tips. Ven called it a flag of water that rippled whenever she moved, but it rippled too much; she certainly resented it when it whipped her in the face during training.

Her mother would have called it stunning, just like hers. 

A sepia-toned portrait sat on Aqua’s vanity table of a woman with the same hair and a man with a thick handle-bar moustache, wearing a bowler’s hat. 

“I’m sorry, mama,” sixteen-year-old Aqua said, scissors in hand, mirror smudge-free, hair ready to be tamed.

The first snip came at the point right above her ear, and Aqua winced from watching it all fall to the ground. A panic shot through her, and she wondered if there was magic to reverse the damage just in case. But Aqua was brave and Aqua was relentless.

Cutting the rest of her hair came easier, a waterfall having its last hurrah. She went shorter, and then much more. She might have done too much, but keeping it layered should justify the work. Now it was a pixie cut: clean, prissy, and above all, out of her face.

Aqua presented herself during breakfast. Ven still wasn’t up and the Master was busy in his office, so Terra, who sat at the table with a mug of coffee, was the first to see. 

The mug stopped before it reached his lips while he gaped. She sat in front of him. He didn’t say a word. 

Suddenly, she regretted it.

“It was always getting in the way,” she said, surprised by how assured she sounded.

He blinked. “It’s cute.”

“It’s what?” Warriors were supposed to be practical. Not cute. Never cute, damn it all.

“Nothing. I didn’t actually say anything.” He sipped his coffee, avoiding her gaze. If he caught it, she’d have words to throw at him. 

She still did. “I’ll dump that coffee on you the next time I hear you say that.”

Terra stole glances at her, mainly toward the top of her head, and his eyes almost sparkled. He opened his mouth to say something, but stopped himself. “It is pretty, though.”

… What was she supposed to say to that? All she had was vacant stammering.

“Well, you know,” he set back, “I don’t want you to feel bad about it.”

Part of her wanted to kill him. Part of her wanted to find the spell to make it grow.

He blundered for more words, set his coffee mug down, and pressed his index finger onto the surface of the table to make a poignant argument. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

She grimaced. “I’m not going to play nice with you during training today.”

“I probably deserve it,” he chuckled.

“You definitely deserve it.”

He smiled, and stared more at her hair. Not with disgust, not with shock, but with admiration. 

It hit her then - he meant what he said. Which left one question to nag at her for the rest of breakfast:

She was pretty to him?

[daxieoclock]

ok shay you dont understand i was literally scrambling through our messages on discord to find a dissidia link and now i cant pick between the kairi reunion with sora and the namixi bed sharing scene so you gotta pick for me

jdhfbghjgb Enu you absolute sweetheart thank you for the ask

they’re both kinda short scenes though sooooo por que no los dos djhfgbjh

Kairi reunion scene is in chapter 10 and the Namixi scene is in chapter 14

She'd only been there twice before, both times after Xehanort's defeat, but Kairi instantly recognized Terra, Aqua and Ventus's home: the quintuple towers and golden chains of the Land of Departure.

I don’t remember if I ever articulated what both of those times were in my head, but it’s a HC that just felt right hehe.

And there, sitting on the bottom steps leading up to the front door, was Sora.

He hopped up as soon as he saw her, that stupid grin all over his face, and then Kairi's eyes blurred over and her feet pounding against the stone courtyard.

"It's so good–" he said, and she cut him off by punching him as hard as she possibly could in the shoulder. "OW!"

Kairi’s anger, frustration and just general emotion is something I had a lot of fun exploring in DKH, and something I definitely want to do more of if I ever return to KH writing (still undecided on that). As much as I love the comedy beat of the pissed-off reunion, it’s an honest feeling I think, to be both overjoyed and infuriated by someone at the same time. And it definitely fits my interpretation of where Kairi – who has been incessantly damseled, left behind and sacrificed-for – is at this moment in her arc. Furious and bitter and just wanting to drag her dumbass bffs/bfs to safety whether they like it or not.

"It's so good–" he said, and she cut him off by punching him as hard as she possibly could in the shoulder. "OW!"

"You absolute, goddamn, stupid idiot!" Kairi shrieked. "Do you have any idea how worried I was? How worried Riku was?"

For whatever reason this makes me think of the very beginning of the story, with Riku lying awake thinking of Sora. Like...yeah. Yeah he was. And on that note, as much as I missed Sora’s presence in the story, I absolutely loved the chance to expand on Riku and Kairi’s friendship/relationship (it’s complicated; when is it ever not?) without him there. I wanted to emphasize both how much they care about each other, and how much Sora’s absence is felt nearly constantly.

"Probably," Sora said, sheepish, massaging his shoulder.

"We had to try and explain to your parents how you....you vanished into thin air, but how it's actually completely okay because you did it to save my life!"

I don’t know that I’ll ever focus too much on any of the KH characters’ biological families, but I think the Destiny trio are the closest to actually Having Any Sort Of Bond with their parents. We’ve got a vague idea of Kairi’s home life – adopted daughter of the mayor, and I’ve extrapolated her dad is kind of absent – but none of Riku’s and only the fact that Sora has a mom. But the idea of Kairi and Riku returning to the island alone, having to break the news to Sora’s parents, just stuck in my head when I was writing this.

She didn't know who embraced who first. But she was in his arms then, and he was in hers, and she squeezed him so close, so goddamn tightly.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"Just hold me," she said. "Just shut up and hold me."

I think this is just a sweet moment tbh djhfgbj.

"Your hair looks longer," Kairi said, finally. They were sitting on the steps together. Her eyes had cleared, but she wasn't ready to leave this moment. "And you're missing a button on your jacket."

"Oh." Sora ran a hand through his hair in that absentminded way that he did. He laughed. "I hadn't noticed."

Liar. She knew him well enough to know when he was putting on a front, and he definitely was now. But she wasn't much better, she had refused to point out the bags under his eyes, the greyish pallor of his tan skin, the way his blue eyes seemed darker than she remembered. She couldn't speak those details, as if silence would make them go away, as if she could will away the scuff from his shoes and the dullness from the little metal crown that hung around his neck. He reminded her of how Aqua had looked after they'd rescued her, so relieved but yet so exhausted. It was the impact of that much time spent alone, that much time spent wandering, spent lost and far away from the ones you love. Kairi's grip on Sora's hand tightened.

I will never forgive Nomura’s cowardice to not show the physical, kinda traumatizing toll that years of isolation in the RoD took on Aqua. 0.8 delved into it slightly, but only in the most surface-level way. And judging by what we’ve seen from Re:Mind and MoM, the same sort of surface-level emotion is going to be applied to Sora’s ‘death’ as well. He’s almost definitely going to come out of a YEAR of complete isolation being just as chipper and bright-eyed as he’s always been, and that is something I wanted to rectify here.

I love the KH cast and I love seeing them challenged, and love watching them grow. There’s not quite enough Sora in DKH to grasp the full extent of how he’s changed after his ‘death,’ but I’d like to think we do see that he HAS changed. It’s something I touched on more directly during Riku’s reunion with Sora, but it’s present here as well.

"So, who's your friend?" He motioned with his head towards the Spirit-Namine, who sat patiently on her haunches.

"Sora, it's me," she said with a little laugh. "It's Namine."

"Oh." Sora stared at the Spirit-Namine for a moment, the gears straining in his head, and then he looked over his shoulder up the stairs, then back at her with a confused expression on his face. "Wait, weren't you sleeping inside? Why are you here and a cat? How are you here and a cat?"

But of course, even after that sort of trauma, Sora is still Sora. He’s still a goober and a softie, and I didn’t want to abandon those traits for the sake of angst.

Sora had never been very comfortable with silence, she noticed him starting to shift and adjust next to her.

ADHD Sora rights.

Kairi kept catching herself holding her breath, waiting for him to vanish or the floor to give way or her alarm to wake her up. Waiting for something to drag him away again.

He looked over his shoulder at her and smiled. "I'm not going anywhere, you know," he said.

Kairi spluttered. "What...who...shut up!" She stared at the ground, cheeks flushed, unable to acknowledge out loud that he'd read her so well.

I haven’t decided if Sora’s surprising emotional perceptiveness is a new aspect of his character or something he’s always had that hasn’t been highlighted well, but it’s definitely an interpretation of him I enjoy. Like, yeah, he’s impulsive and inattentive and kind of rude on occasion, but he’s also showed some moments of being able to read people with shocking accuracy. I think that’s a skill some Keyblade wielders have, a sort of magical hyper-empathy, and Sora definitely has it in spades without even trying.

And briefly before we go into Namixi (and speaking OF Namixi)

Xion glanced at Sora and Kairi from the middle chair and threw up a peace sign. "Hey, what's up?" Her outfit had also changed a lot since Kairi saw her last, she had on a pair of loose black cargo shorts and a pullover hoodie, her black hair swept to one side and tucked behind her right ear. Honestly, she looked a lot happier, a lot freer.

Butch Xion is absolutely the hill I will die on this gal is 100% loves girls and presenting in nonconforming ways.

Namine, laying against Xion, her eyes closed and her expression peaceful.

Xion looked down at Namine as she noticed Kairi's stare. "Oh, yeah, I'm uh...keeping her safe? Cause she can't move when doing her spell, and uh, probably more comfortable than laying on this ground or something right?" She forced a laugh. "Yeah."

Namine, who absolutely has ulterior motives: “I’m going to be unconscious while using this spell and I’d rather not wake up sore, so maybe you could hold me while I’m using it? I’d make me feel safer too.”

Xion, who is gay as shit and forgot about the fact this castle has beds in it: “Yes absolutely I will totally hold you for as long as you need Namine wow yes that sounds great I’m on board heck yeah.”

*************

And with that introduction let’s hop right into the dedicated Namixi scene shall we.

Namine heard her door open, then close. She didn't move, just kept staring straight ahead, lying on her side in the bed, her heart beating staccato on the inside of her chest. A quiet bump of collision in the dark.

"Ow!" Xion muttered. "Stupid bed."

No good confession scene is complete with at least a couple comedy beats.

Her eyes probably had to adjust to the dark still, which Namine was thankful for, considering the fact she was probably blushing up a storm at the moment. "Are you okay?" She sounded so concerned, oh light.

Gentlebutch Xion strikes again. I refuse to see her as anything but very polite towards pretty gals (and Namine is very pretty gal in her humble opinion).

"I'm fine," Namine said, quickly. "I just...." She reached out to take Xion's hand, but hesitated, and just let her own fall back onto the mattress. "Wanted to see you, I guess."

"Oh," Xion said. Relief. Namine started when she felt Xion's fingers brushing against her hand. "Shit, sorry, sorry."

"No, no." Namine laughed, and took Xion's hand. "Thank you. This is really nice."

The eternal sapphic dance of being terrified of overstepping and desperate to express your affection at the same time. Also I have said it before and I will say it again: The Gay Gals Love Hands. Idk what it is but sapphic attraction is like 75% hand-holding it’s ridiculous.

Xion opened her eyes again, those gorgeous purple eyes.

Changing characters’ eye color is sort of a running theme in my fics I suppose, though it doesn’t ALWAYS come up. Xion’s purple eyes is something I saw once and got stuck in my brain forever. I have no idea who came up with it or why it’s something that apparently a decent chunk of Xion fans hc for her, but it sure is what we’ve decided on haha.

Three words. That's it. So easy, just three words. Just say it. Say it. "When you found out Sora was here, and decided to go after him." Coward.

Namine, like most of the female cast of KH, has basically no outwards emotion and very little development. For whatever reason, I’ve fixated on an interpretation of her as someone who expresses her emotions in unconventional ways, spends a lot of time overthinking things, protects herself by exaggerating her personality around others while also being terrified of hurting people the way she was forced to hurt Sora. It’s sort of funny to see a very similar personality come up around my interpretations of Haru Okumura in Deja Vu, but Namine definitely expresses her post-trauma identity a lot softer, less formal but still so very careful.

Anyway that’s a lot of words to say that she self-loathes and picks her words incredibly carefully and that contrasts really interestingly with the more impulsive, emotion-driven Xion. They’re a good fit for each other C:

"You can get under the covers too, if you like."

"Oh, I wouldn't want to make you uncomfortable."

Please stop being a gentlewoman and take the hint. "I want you to," Namine said. Was that too firm? Too bossy?

"Oh!" Xion smiled, and threw the comforter over herself in an instant. Guess it was fine.

More of that aforementioned dynamic.

"This is very good. I'm happy."

"I'm glad," Xion said. "I...like making you happy."

Namine had to inhale deeply at that. It wasn't easy to confess when the girl kept taking her breath away.

I really like the idea in general that it takes so long for Namine to tell Xion how she feels because Xion just keeps doing really sweet things or being kind of romantic but not really making the space for that confession, and Namine just gets flustered and puts it off.

Three words. Just three. Just say them. Namine took a deep breath. "I, uh. I..." She felt a sob welling up in her throat. Light, why was this so difficult, why couldn't she just tell Xion–

Her lips were on hers. Namine couldn't breathe, could barely think for the screaming of her heart in her ears. Xion broke the kiss, looking so very embarrassed. "Sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean–"

Namine reached up and pressed a finger to Xion's lips, cutting her off before she could apologize any more. "Um," she said, "kiss me again?"

And Xion nodded, and Namine let her finger fall, let Xion lean in and kiss her again. And she squeezed her hand so tightly and kissed her back.

So not really a confession but Xion DID get the hint. Once more: Xion’s impulsiveness makes things both very difficult and much easier for Namine. And I think I like the fact that she ends up deciding to just go along with that impulsiveness, just let go of her plan and kiss the gal she’s been pining for, and stop beating herself up about the words she can’t say yet. It’s sweet hehe.

[artificialqueens]

All about a drunk party (craquaria) - GYT

Aquaria is basically the most popular girl in the whole school, at the same time as she is known to everyone, she is feared by all, which eventually resulted in not much friends for her.

Like, for example, now. Aquaria was in the far corner of the room where the party was being center, her friends had gone a few moments ago, busy doing more fun things than being totally excluded in a house full of people. It was always a strange and familiar feeling to her, to feel alone even when surrounded by people. She grimaced at this sensation, then turning all the black liquid that was in her glass, she did not know what it was, but it tasted strong and Kameron had pushed it into her hand before climbing to the second floor of the house, his fingers intertwined with a boy from the school football team.

She tried to focus on other things, like the group of girls, Asia and Monet, who danced in the middle of the improvised dance floor made with the redistribution of furniture in the room; then she focused on the girl who spoke too loudly across the room, Eureka; her third focus was the contest of who drank faster between Courtney and Adore, which ended the victory of the second, who at the moment of celebration pulled Violet to a messy and drunk kiss, soon after running out of the house and jump in the pool. A curious observation that Aquaria did was the reddish appeared on the cheeks of Violet with that kiss, Violet and Aquaria were friends since she stepped into the school for the first time 4 years ago, but she had never noticed any sign that Violet had any crush or something for the rebel girl a year older than them.

When she was ready to go after an answer a pink flash ran past her, Aquaria followed him to meet that person from somewhere, stopped at the last door of the corridor beside her, she was open enough that she could see a small figure kneeling next to the toilet, wearing a short pink dress and long blond hair covering the sight of the girl’s face. It took her a few seconds to realize what the scene was about, but she quickly opened the door and crouched down beside the girl, her hands going to her hair to keep them from getting dirty.

“Do you want me to get you a glass of water?” Aquaria asked after the stranger seemed to have finished putting it all out.

“No, I …” the words said with difficulty get stuck in the air, the girl had finally turned to Aquaria.

Now she recognized her, Brianna, two years older than her, the girl who had won several medals for school in various sports, who sat at the table next to hers at the lunch break and who had been her crush all through the first year in school, crush that had been forgotten with difficulties, because surely the girl was straight.

“Is everything okay?” Aquaria reached out to touch Brianna’s pale skin, looked like she had seen a ghost, Brianna’s skin was soft … and cold, probably a result of the vomiting crisis the girl was having. The girl opened her mouth to speak, before turning her entire attention back to the toilet again, vomiting again.

The youngest jumped up out of the bathroom quickly, passed the sea of people in the room with a little difficulty, grimacing each time some sweaty body came in contact with hers, she searched the refrigerator for some trace of some drink that had no alcohol included, with a little difficulty got a can of cola and a bottle of water, returned even faster to the bathroom. Brianna was sitting against the wall in front of her private, her knees bent as she hugged her legs with trembling arms.

“You’re back …” Brianna’s voice was so weak it was barely audible, but Aquaria smiled at her then sitting next to her, opening the can and the bottle before handing them both to the drunken girl.

“Sorry for the delay, I had a bit of trouble finding things in the middle of alcohol and drunk teenagers.” Aquaria looked at her feet, this time it was her turn to have reddish cheeks, remembering the earlier scene of Violet and Adore.

“You should be with your friends, not taking care of a drunk girl”

“My friends are too busy to pay attention to what I’m doing now”

“Your tone sounds sad”

Aquaria looked at the girl next to her, eyes blinking slowly toward her, her mother always told that it was better to keep the drunks talking, so she would always know if the person was well or not, but at that moment… With those eyes flashing in his direction, with the tone of voice that seemed to really care about her answer… She did not want to talk, she knew she’d end up saying too much, she knew the things she was good at, but she recognized even more the things that were not good, and being social was not one of them, like, now, for an hour and an irrational fear of ending up talking some nonsense to hers ex crush.

“You helped me, let me help you too.” Aquaria felt the older girl’s hand squeeze her gently, something warm took over her, suddenly everything changed, she felt brave enough to let the words flee from her mouth “I really think it’s easier for people when I’m not around … I mean, I do not think I’d make a difference in someone’s life here, or they do not even look at me, like I’m a monster who they fear, or when they actually stop to talk to me it’s like I’m replaceable, whatever I do they can do with someone different. ”.

“Aqua, you are not replaceable, who else would be the girl who steals glances in the halls every day of school if it were not you? You’re amazing, beautiful and talented, that dress you sewed for Violet for last ball was more than beautiful, no one can replace you, no one can be Aquaria, the most beautiful girl in the whole town, like you, and in relation to others, people can be very cruel, they can judge you for anything, you are not the only one who goes through this, the important thing is you know that the people by your side are really by your side, and from now on I am one of them, and people look at you in other ways too, you can be sure of that”.

Aquaria felt her heart beat faster than ever now, her palms were sweaty and she hoped that the other would not notice it while gently squeezing her. All that speech could be only drunk talk, but she felt deep down that it was a form of statement.

She felt herself hit by a wave of nostalgia, she had noticed Brianna a week after she had started classes, she always sat down at the table next to her, a noisy table, but her laughter always stood out.

She felt herself hit by a wave of nostalgia, she had noticed Brianna a week after she had started classes, she always sat at the table next to her at the lunch break, a noisy table, but her laughter always stood out. Two months later, Brianna put braces on, Aquaria noticed that she stopped smiling after that, seemed to want to hide this fact from the idiot boys who arranged any reason for bullying, that day she wrote with a letter as little as possible suspicion on a piece of yellow paper: “Your smile is beautiful, do not let others hide it” the older girl walked with that paper in her pocket for a while, Aquaria always felt his cheeks flush when she saw the girl with any yellow paper. Another four months had passed, Brianna had been classified for karate national, she was being congratulated by almost everyone, Another four months had passed, Brianna had been classified for karate national, she was being congratulated by everyone, the day after being classified they even had pizza and cake as a snack in the cafeteria, Violet congratulated her, but Aquaria continued in the same place as it happened, just smiling as the girl looked toward her when her friend went there. Brianna has not won the competition and Aquaria lost another chance to go talk to her, she tried three times in the day, but her feet were stuck more to the ground, his heart was racing too fast and she just went to the nearest bathroom, only with the memory of seeing the girl walking around school with her head down after a defeat. Two more months, during her free time, while sitting on the grass under a large tree with some people by her side, she could see in the distance Brianna, she was running on one of the athletic tracks near them, one of the boys of the football team approached, she could not see much of what was happening, she just watched the girl stop running and face him for about four minutes, then bent down and placed a quick kiss on her mouth, Aquaria froze, her eyes turned quickly to her hands on her lap, thinking of multiple excuses to get out of that moment, got up quickly, announcing that she would go to infirmary because she was not feeling well, Asia made herself available to go with her, but before she could get up, Aquaria was already far away; she did not show up at school for the next three days, her mother was the target of her cries, Violet showed up in her room the next day, she did not have to say anything, the girl just gave her a sad smile and sat down next to her, offering a pot of ice cream while putting a movie for them to watch. After that she forced herself to forget the girl, her eyes did not focus on the table next to them, not to hear the laughter she put headphones or talking on a higher volume with someone, in seventh grade she had already overcome such a crush.

“Thank you for the water and the coca, by the way.” Brianna broke the silence between them, they were silent for so long that she could already hear the machines of her youngest brain working against her.

“Thanks for the speech.” Aquaria smiled, this time she squeezed Brianna’s hand, signaling that everything was fine.

There was another silence, this time on Brianna’s part, now her machines were working fast and at the same time slowly.

“I’m sorry for that too … I always thought you hated me, you always ignored me, every time I went to some competition it seemed like you were the only one that didn’t wish me luck, or say sorry or celebrate after with me, I do not know if I’m being dramatic with this, maybe it’s just because I always expected you to say something … I know I’m going to hate drinking for making me say all this, but right now I’m loving it for making me have the courage”. Brianna said quickly, as if it was the last chance to get it all out of her chest, this time it was Aquaria’s eyes that were blinking slowly.

"I had reasons for this …”

“And what were they? Mine to wait for you always were because I created a crush for you ”

Aquaria could feel she was having hallucinations, it could not be true, it was drink and stuff for sure, maybe it was out of pity for the girl to have said she felt alone, her heart pounding so hard she could not hear any of those voice.

“You’re drunk …”

“But I’m not crazy, and I can repeat everything I said to you tomorrow”

The door opened suddenly, the girls’ hands untangled as well as their eyes, focusing on the three silhouettes at the door, Bob and Katelyn in front and Violet right behind, with a big smile on her face, Aquaria did not know if it was for the scene or something that had happened before.

“Well … I’m sorry to mess with the conversation, but …” Katelyn started stumbling on her own words as she looked for help looking at Bob.

“The police are coming and we have to leave now, Miss Fame’s boyfriend is waiting in the car.” Violet passed between the two of them at the door, she reached out for Aquaria to lift her quickly and pulling her out when she heard the sirens begin.

Aquaria glanced over her shoulder one last time to see Brianna get up with the help of her friends. “I can repeat everything tomorrow, Aquaria,” Brianna said one last time before Aquaria left the house.

[kiheons]

I know you just wrote it but a follow up of the one-shot where aquaria left brianna? Maybe where brianna goes back to aquaria thinking this went on long enough and aquaria doesn't let up (at first)? She maybe even found someone else, Idk i was just obsessed with it i need more

Okay so first of all, that technically wasn’t a one shot. I didn’t put enough detail for it to be a fic. Same with this. But this ended up being 5000 words long so yikes. If I ever turn this au into a full blown fic (i might as well) this scene will likely be split in two, if not three parts. 

it got a bit humorous as times. god bless katelyn. brianna has some issues. sorry the continuity is a little wonky. 

When Brianna wakes up the next morning she wakes into the kitchen saying “Aquaria what do you want for brea-” Before she remembers that Aquaria left the night before. She’s still like well she’ll be back later today. Brianna going about her day, asking Aquaria questions before remembering that she’s not there. It’s kinda weird but Brianna isn’t worried. A full day passes and Brianna is still sticking to her story that Aquaria is gonna be back eventually.

The second day Monet calls demanding to know what the fuck happened. “Brianna, Katelyn just called me. She says that Aquaria showed up at her place two nights ago, sobbing and looking a mess. She had all her stuff with her too. Aquaria is refusing to tell either of us what happened. Clearly, this has something to do with you.” Brianna scoffing. “Is she still doing that? It’s nothing we just had a fight.” Monet isn’t buying it at all. “Are you sure? Because I know you’ve fought before but Aquaria has never done this before. Brianna she’s practically hysterical. Neither of us can mention you without her crying.” Brianna pushing all the guilt she’s feeling away. “She’s overreacting like she always does. I apologize for the inconvenience.”

That’s how Monet knows something is seriously wrong. “What the hell? ‘I apologize for the inconvenience?’ Brianna I’m your best friend not one of your clients. What is going on? I’m worried about you two.” Brianna does not want to do this anymore. It’s none of Monet’s business if her and Aquaria are fighting. “It’s none of your business Monet. So stop asking. I’m busy, I’ll talk to you later.” Brianna hangs up before Monet can reply. Her phone rings at least 4 more times, all from Monet.

Brianna just throws herself into work. Goes to the office because the house is too empty without Aquaria. Stays there long past midnight, looking over forms, calling business partners. She ignores 2 more phone calls from Monet, 3 from Katelyn and one from Bob of all people. Brianna goes home at 2 in the morning, pretty convinced Aquaria will be there by now only to find the apartment just as empty. Brianna makes dinner, accidently makes two portions, eats alone and replays their fight in her head. It’s the same thing on day three, except this time no one calls and Brianna wakes up in the middle of the night and works until the sun rises because she keeps dreaming about Aquaria.

On the opposite end of the spectrum Aquaria has been curled up on Katelyn’s couch for four days in a row. Katelyn doesn’t know what Brianna did but whatever it was it must have been bad. Nudging Aquaria up “Hey Qua Qua. I was thinking about going out tonight. Wanna come with?” Aquaria doesn’t really say anything, just kinda stares at the floor. “You’ll feel better I promise. I already asked Vixen, Asia and Jordan. It’ll be fun.” Aquaria mumbling. “Okay.” Katelyn is honestly just grateful that Aquaria is at least willing to take a shower and put on some makeup. Katelyn has never seen anyone looked this depressed about going clubbing. When they get there everyone else has already arrived. Vixen and Asia both hugging Aquaria. Katelyn is pretty sure Aquaria hasn’t told them what’s going on but Aquaria is smiling, or at least trying to.

Asia asks Aquaria about a new project at work and Aquaria finally seems happy for the first time in 4 days when she talks about it. She talks about how the new collection is coming along and she’s really excited to see it debut. Katelyn is happy for her. And then Asia asks “How is Brianna doing by the way?” Aquaria’s face falls and Katelyn is panicking right away cause she’s pretty sure Aquaria is going to start crying. Aquaria just looks completely emotionless instead. “I don’t know. I don’t care. We broke up.” Vixen is like what the fuck “Wait what? What happened?” Aquaria snapping “It’s not important. We broke up and I’m not talking about her. Brianna is a control freak who apparently can’t exist if she isn’t putting people down. She can go fuck herself and I don’t care what happens to her!” At this point Aquaria is yelling and some people are staring. Aquaria huffing “Whatever. I need a drink. Jordan let’s go.”

Aquaria taking shots one after another and when Vixen tells her to slow down she tells Vixen to piss off. Alcohol hits her hard and fast and after not even 2 hours in Aquaria is already drunk and Katelyn is very very worried. “Aquaria maybe you should sit down, I’ll get you some wa-” Aquaria trying to shove Katelyn away “No I’m gonna dance. I’m gonna dance and find someone hotter and fuck them. Fuck Brianna I don’t care!” Katelyn trying to keep Aquaria from flopping off her chair. “Uh huh yeah fuck Brianna. Here let’s maybe go outside.” Aquaria keeps yelling though “She’s a bitch Katelyn! She said I’m a kid and that I don’t have a real job but guess what? I’m an adult! I can buy alcohol and fuck people and I’m gonna fuck someone.” Katelyn is like yeah you’re definitely not, you’re way too drunk for that. Beckoning Vixen over and by this time Aquaria is crying “She’s a fucking bitch.” Katelyn patting Aquaria’s head as Aquaria drunk cries into her top, exchanging glances with Vixen. “I work hard I’m worth something. Right? Right?” Vixen looks so damn pissed off and Brianna may be her sister but Katelyn is ready to kill Brianna. “Yeah. You’re worth something.”

The two of them dragging Aquaria out of the club, shoving all 5’8 of Aquaria into a cab. Vixen looks livid. “You better talk to your sister because if she’s at work tomorrow then I’m giving her a piece of my mind.” Katelyn is like fuck cause she knows Vixen isn’t exaggerating. “Give me until noon. I’ll talk to her I promise. I’m mad too.” On the way back to Katelyn’s apartment, Katelyn texts Brianna. “We need to talk.” Brianna sees the message but doesn’t respond. Katelyn somehow managing to drag Aquaria out of the cab, paying the driver, and hauling her Aquaria into her apartment. Katelyn shoving Aquaria onto the bed, taking off her heels and going to take her own makeup off before sleeping on the couch. Katelyn doesn’t know what happened but Aquaria had a hard night, might as well let her take the bed.

Katelyn waking up suddenly because there’s a loud crash. Immediately getting up and rushing into the bathroom to see Aquaria with her head in the toilet puking her guts up and crying. Katelyn’s nightstand got knocked down by Aquaria in her rush to get to the bathroom. Katelyn kneeling beside her, holding Aquaria’s hair back as she throws up, rubbing her back and telling her she’s gonna be okay. Aquaria heaving, eyes bloodshot. “Hey Aqua. You okay?” Katelyn rubbing circles into her back and Aquaria picking herself up, leaning against the cabinets. Her hair is messy, makeup smeared, she’s still in her dress from last night and looks awful.

Aquaria sobbing “I told her I hated her.” Katelyn tucking some stray hair behind Aquaria’s ear, asking “Who?” Even though she’s pretty sure she already know the answer. Aquaria’s voice cracking “Brianna. I told her I hated her. I called her a sociopath.” Normally Katelyn would kill anyone who said that about her sister but Aquaria looks devastated. “ I told her she was gonna die alone and unloved.” Katelyn hugging Aquaria, Aquaria curling around her. “Katelyn I love her.” Sobbing, trying to get her words out. “I love her so much.” Katelyn just hugs Aquaria, telling her over and over “I know, it’s okay, you’re gonna be okay.”

Aquaria wakes up the next morning on Katelyn’s bathroom floor with a killer headache and a disgusting taste in her mouth. Katelyn is on the floor next to her, using a towel as a pillow. Aquaria doesn’t remember much of last night but when she manages to stand up and look at herself in the mirror the smeared makeup and tear tracks tell her all she needs to know. Turning the faucet on and rinsing out her mouth before shaking Katelyn awake. “You’re gonna get sick. The floor is cold.” Katelyn blinking awake. “Fuck did I fall asleep? I was gonna try and drag you back to bed.” Aquaria laughing. “You could have just left me here. I’m such a messy drunk I probably deserved it.” Katelyn looks at her and its nothing but pity. “You didn’t deserve it.” Aquaria trying to ignore the feeling of dread. Clearly Katelyn knows something Aquaria doesn’t. Katelyn getting off the floor. “I’m gonna make breakfast. Take a shower. You look like a trainwreck.” Aquaria throwing a tissue at Katelyn as she walks away, laughing.

Aquaria spends a solid 30 minutes in the shower trying to remember what happened. She’s still pissed at Brianna. She should start looking into getting a new apartment. Her head hurts. Katelyn and Brianna use the same shampoo. She knows Katelyn definitely can’t afford that so Brianna must buy it for her. She’s single again. She told Brianna she hated her. Aquaria standing there, watching the soap drain when Katelyn bangs on the door. “Get the fuck out you’re gonna drive my water bill up!” Aquaria coming into the kitchen to find Katelyn drinking coffee and looking at her phone and it reminds her so much of Brianna except Katelyn is poor as shit and her kitchen is not nearly as nice as Brianna’s and also they’re drinking folgers, none of that fancy Ethiopian stuff. Katelyn catches Aquaria staring. “Stop judging, Brianna’s the rich one not me.” Aquaria taking the cup of coffee Katelyn’s offering her. “I thought you were making breakfast.” Katelyn pushing a box of cereal towards her. “I had to drag your dumb drunk ass out of the club yesterday. You’re like 6 feet.” Aquaria mumbling “5 foot 8” and Katelyn rolling her eyes “tomato tomatoe the point is it’s Cap'n Crunch or nothing. You’re a plebian like me now.”

Katelyn sitting on the counter, sipping her coffee while Aquaria leans against the stove and eats dry Cap’n Crunch. It’s nice. It reminds Aquaria of her life before she met Brianna. Katelyn putting down her mug. “Aquaria.” Aquaria doesn’t look up at her, focused on her cereal. “Yeah?” Katelyn sighs. “What did you and Brianna fight about?” Aquaria stopped chewing. Katelyn looks concerned. “I don’t want to talk about it.” Now Katelyn looks pissed. “Aquaria you showed up at my apartment at 3 in the morning 5 days ago in tears, moped around and refused to talk to anyone for 4 days, and then proceeded to get black out drunk and puke your guts out in my bathroom before crying on the floor for about an hour! Brianna on the other hand has been ignoring all my calls and texts, I have no idea what she’s doing but knowing her she’s probably not eating anything, not sleeping, and is working herself into an early death!” Aquaria feels so guilty because she did just barge into Katelyn’s life. “I’m sorry.” Katelyn groaning. “I’m not looking for an apology Aquaria. You’re my friend, I would be here for you either way. But you’re also my sister’s girlfriend and you look absolutely miserable and I would be a terrible friend and sister if I didn’t at least attempt to fix this.” Katelyn taking a deep breath. “I care about you both. So please tell me what happened.”

Aquaria doesn’t have an appetite anymore. “We got into a fight. I accused Brianna of using her job to run away from talking about some problems we were already having. She keeps treating me like a kid and I’m tired of it.” Katelyn sighing. “Yeah she has a history of doing that.” Aquaria nodding. “Yeah. Brianna said she wasn’t running away and that her job was important. Like, actually important. Not like my job which is something that anyone can apparently do.” By this point Katelyn already has a pretty good idea of what’s going on. “It’s not like I worked my fucking ass off to get my position or anything. It’s not like I barely sleep and rest, no apparently none of that shit matters cause clearly everything I do will never be as hard or important as what Brianna does!” Aquaria is yelling at this point. “I’m always gonna be inferior to her, she’s always gonna see me as some immature kid, she’s always going to look down on me just like she fucking looks down on everyone!”

Aquaria is out of breath at this point. Katelyn waiting for a bit. “And when did you call her a sociopath?” Katelyn doesn’t sound angry, just neutral. Aquaria mumbling. “I threw a glass at her and then a vase. I told her she treated everyone around her like shit and called her a sociopath and said that it’s the reason Bob left her and the reason I’m leaving her too. I told her she was going to die alone and unloved and that I hated her and then I left.”

Katelyn is quiet. “You know when Bob left Brianna threw a plate at him and he called her a sociopath too. He said that she was incapable of being emotionally vulnerable and caring about anyone but herself. That she looked down on everyone around her.” Aquaria doesn’t say anything, just listens. “You’re both right. It’s the truth. Brianna doesn’t let herself lose, ever. She’ll fight for what she wants and steamroll over anyone who stands in her way, even if it’s someone she loves. It’s cause she’s convinced herself that loving someone isn’t worth it. She hates herself while also thinking she’s better than everyone. Honestly, it’s bizarre and I don’t understand it.”

Katelyn sighs. “But this isn’t like her and Bob. They had other issues too. Differences in worldview, how the other should do their job, arguments about life choices. Brianna has grown a little bit. Barely cause y’know, she’s an idiot, but she’s changed.” Aquaria doesn’t look at Katelyn. “She loves you Aquaria. Truly. I know it’s sounds fake when she says it but honestly I think it’s because she doesn’t know it herself. She’s always been a workaholic. Aquaria when she met you was the first time in years I ever saw her take a break. I won’t apologize for her cause she’s an asshole but she has a good heart. I promise.”

It’s quiet. Neither Katelyn nor Aquaria say anything for a while. Aquaria’s voice is hushed “I still love her. I know I yelled at her but I still love her. But I can’t go back. There’s no way Brianna wants me after this.” Katelyn stretching. “She does. My sister is an idiot. She’s too proud to back down and admit she made a mistake. She’ll keep digging herself into this hole. So I’m gonna go and beat some sense into her. It’s almost 10 and Vixen said if I didn’t talk to Brianna before noon she was gonna go and kick the shit outta Brianna herself.” Aquaria like wait what “You’re kidding, no Vixen worked so hard for this job she’s gonna get herself fired!” Katelyn like yep so we better hurry.

Katelyn looks very relaxed and confident and Aquaria has no clue how “How are you this okay with fighting Brianna? She could ruin your life. She doesn’t even need to ruin my life, I’ve been away from work for 5 days I’ve probably already been fired.” Katelyn shaking her head “You’re fine. I talked to Alaska, let her know that Brianna was being a dickhead again. You have the next week off.” Aquaria looking at Katelyn like who the fuck are you and Katelyn looks dead inside. “Brianna is smart but she’s stubborn as fuck. This isn’t the first time I’ve had to do damage control. Also I knew Alaska in college and we’re pretty good friends. I’m this okay with fighting Brianna because I’m one of the only people who loves her unconditionally and she knows it. Also she’s my sister and if she tries to ruin my life I have so many embarrassing stories that I can leak to the press. You’re lucky, you’re about to witness a legendary Heller style fight.”

While all this is going on Brianna is doing exactly what Katelyn thought she would. She hasn’t been home in two days because she’s been sleeping on the couch in her office for barely 3 hours a day. She’s alive by the sheer will of god and iced coffee. Brianna can’t go home. It reminds her of Aquaria, it reminds her of the fact that Aquaria isn’t there. It’s been 5 days and Aquaria isn’t back and at this point Brianna is wondering if Aquaria ever will be back. When Bob left Brianna laughed about it too and a week later she was being served divorce papers. Everything feels wrong without Aquaria there and Brianna hates it. Yes she loves Aquaria but she should also be able to function without her. But here Brianna is, hands shaking, retyping this email for the fourth time in less than an hour.

She’s tired, angry and she fucking hates herself for ever yelling at Aquaria. What kind of jackass tells their girlfriend that their job isn’t a real job? But she’s okay, she’s fine, she doesn’t need Aquaria. She’s been waking up in the middle of the night because all she can dream about is Aquaria, their fight is replaying over and over in her head. She sits on the couch and curses herself. Brianna hasn’t let someone see her cry since she was married to Bob but its 4 in the morning, she’s so tired, and she fucked up the one good thing she had in her life. She can let herself cry on her uncomfortable office couch for an hour, try and make herself presentable and pretend like she’s okay. She’s been doing it her entire life. Before she met Aquaria and after Aquaria leaves. But Aquaria wouldn’t actually leave, right? It was one fight. It was one fight and Aquaria will be back but it’s day 5 and Aquaria still isn’t back and fuck, Brianna is starting to panic.

Brianna is staring at her computer when Katelyn knocks on her door. It’s an email from Bob and all it says it “You need to fix this. Aquaria is young. Grow up and apologize. Take it from me, your ex-husband.” Brianna feels dead inside. Bob is right. It’s ironic that she accused Aquaria of being childish when she’s literally been refusing to go home cause it reminds her of the fact that she ruined her own relationship cause she was, what, too proud to suck it up and admit that she was wrong? That’s exactly it. It’s how she lost Bob and it’s going to be how she loses Aquaria too, huh. Someone knocks at her door and Brianna just mumbles “Come in” expecting it to be someone with quarterly reports.

Except it’s Katelyn and the look she has on her face is nothing less than rage and Brianna is already on the defensive. “What are you doing here?” Glaring at Katelyn. “I’m at work Katelyn.” Katelyn rolling her eyes “yeah I know. It’s cause you’re refusing to go home, right? I know you Brianna. You’re being ridiculous.” Brianna closing her laptop. “You don’t know what happened, don’t fucking tell me I’m being ridiculous. Aquaria stepping into the room behind Katelyn and closing the door. Aquaria looks exhausted and Brianna’s heart drops. “What are you doing here?”

Aquaria deadpanning. “I’m here to witness a legendary Heller style fight.” Brianna has about two seconds to process what Aquaria says before Katelyn hurls a couch cushion at her. “Brianna Maxine Heller what the f u c k is wrong with you!” Brianna ducking at the cushion takes out a stack of papers and bounces off a file cabinet. “Katelyn what the f-” Katelyn yelling “No you shut up and listen for once in your goddamn life! Aquaria showed up at my door 5 days ago looking absolutely devastated! And it was your fucking fault! She told me everything that happened, what the hell is wrong with you that you think it’s okay to say that Aquaria’s job is nothing? To tell her that she’s some kid? I know Alaska, she says Aquaria is one of the hardest working people she’s ever seen! Aquaria has never asked you to go to any kind of event with her but you’re always dragging her along here and there even though she’s fucking busy!”

Brianna protesting “Because it’s what expected! How the hell is everyone going to show up with their partners and I show up alone?” Katelyn throwing another cushion at her “That’s your problem, not hers! You think any of those wives of those rich fucks have jobs? They literally do nothing all day! Aquaria works full time! Hell, she works more than that! How many hours a week do you work, Aqua?” Aquaria glaring at Brianna. “52. I work on weekends and overtime.” Katelyn nodding. “That’s fucking right. And how many do you work Brianna? 46! I know because you’ve fucking told me! So if we’re just comparing numbers, which I know you know how to do because you’re a slut for math, then you’re already an idiot because why? Because Aquaria works more than your pompous ass and then she has to go to your stupid parties and meetings too!”

Brianna has nothing to say to that but the hell if she’s backing down. “She doesn’t even do anything! Picking out clothes isn’t a job!” Katelyn looking at her like she grew another head “Brianna who the fuck do you think picks out all the outfits you wear when you go to your meetings? Why the hell do you think you have a stylist?” Brianna stuttering and Katelyn just continues “Because you fucking suck that’s why! If you genuinely think that all Aquaria does is pick out clothes then you must be stupider than I thought because all you have to do is fucking google her to see that that is a fraction of what she does! By your logic all you do is talk to people and anyone could do that!”  Brianna frowning “That’s not all I do my jo-” Katelyn covering her ears “Nope I’m not listening to you because I’m Brianna Heller and I’m a jackass who thinks I know everything even when my fucking girlfriend is trying to explain it to me because she can tell that I’m an idiot!” Brianna can hear Aquaria snicker in the background and that just pisses her off even more.  

“My decisions affect the entire world, not just some random model!” Katelyn glaring at her. “Yes they do. But that doesn’t make you any better than Aquaria.” Brianna protesting “That’s not what I was saying.” Aquaria piping up “No that’s exactly what you were saying. That’s what you’re always saying. That because of what you do, and who you are, you’re somehow better than me. You’re somehow better than all of us. You go on and on about how much you hate the rest of the narcissistic asshole CEOs you have to work with but you are exactly the same. You look down on everyone because you think what you do is the most important thing.” Brianna opening her mouth to say something but Aquaria cutting her off “No, you’re going to let me talk. You treat me like I’m a kid. That I somehow don’t know how the world works or that when I’m mad about something that it isn’t something worth being mad about. You dismiss my anger as tantrums. I’m your girlfriend Brianna not your fucking child.”

Katelyn jumping right in “And knowing you, Brianna, you probably used that weird mommy kink thing you two have against Aquaria.” Brianna flushing red but Aquaria just nods. “Yeah. She did.” Katelyn shouting “Do you realize how, one, fucking weird that is, and two, how toxic that is? Now I don’t know much about a mommy kink but I have called guys daddy before so I assume it’s the same thing and-” Brianna groaning, “Katelyn I don’t want to hear about your sex life” Katelyn sticking out her tongue “Well I’ve walked in on you and Aquaria fucking more than once so you’re gonna hear about my sex life. My point is that shit takes trust. So for you to manipulate that is real fucking shitty.” Brianna is quickly running out of defenses. “Aquaria threw a glass at me. That’s childish.”

Katelyn throwing up her hands. “And I just threw a cushion at you! And you threw a plate at Bob at age 32, which if I remember correctly, is a full decade older than Aquaria is now! Childish? Brianna you’ve been hiding out in your office for the past two days! You’re ignoring all my and Monet’s calls and you keep fighting against this even though an adult would know when to give up and admit that they’re wrong!” Aquaria glaring at Brianna. “I threw a glass at you because you insulted me and my work ethic for 10 minutes. Knowing you, if I even tried to do that you’d try to collapse the American economy just to spite me. Because you’re a fucking sociopath Brianna. You treat people like shit and then somehow expect them to still like you.” Brianna is like no, “I’m not a sociopath the definition of a sociopath is-” Katelyn cuts her off “That’s not the point! The point is that you’re fucking crazy! Bob said that same thing. Brianna you can’t look down on everyone around you, especially your girlfriend, and expect her to be okay with it.”

“I don’t do that.” Brianna hates how unsure she sounds. Katelyn sighing. “Yes you do. Bob says you do, Aquaria says you do and I say you do. If you called Monet right now I’m she’d agree. This is your reality check Brianna. If you want to keep denying it and living in your fantasy world, fine. But you’re smart. I know you’ve realized it too.” Brianna hates it because Katelyn is right, she has realized it. She’s controlling, and looks down on everyone and unless she changes it she’s going to lose Aquaria too. Brianna doesn’t say anything, just stares at her desk. She’s tired, she can’t remember the last time she ate, she wants to go home and she wants Aquaria to be there too. Aquaria’s voice is soft. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said the things I did. You deserve to be loved. I don’t hate you. I love you so much and I want this to work but I’m tired Brianna.” Brianna looking up to meet Aquaria’s eyes and Aquaria looks sad. “I can’t keeping doing this if you aren’t willing to put in the work. I don’t want this to end but Brianna unless something changes I can’t stay.” Brianna realizes that there’s a clock ticking now and now it’s on her. Either she decides to grow the fuck up and admit she was wrong or her and Aquaria end like this. And Brianna doesn’t want them to end like this.” Aquaria sighing. “Let me know by the end of the week. If you don’t know by then I’m gonna start looking at apartments.” Brianna’s business brain tells her to take the time, think over the best strategies, get the most out of this but that’s what got her into this mess didn’t it?

Brianna’s voice is strained. “Katelyn can you leave? I need to talk to Aquaria alone.” Katelyn raising an eyebrow “I don’t know if th-” Aquaria shaking her head “It’s okay. Thank you for yelling at Brianna Katelyn. It was very entertaining to watch.” Katelyn smiling, giving Aquaria a quick hug “Anytime. I’m gonna wait outside, let me know if you need me to yell at her more.” Brianna is exhausted but she can’t help but smile. “You’re both terrible.” Katelyn stepping out and Brianna practically collapsing into her desk chair, resting her head on her hands, closing her eyes. Aquaria is quiet, waiting for Brianna to talk. “I’m sorry.” Her business brain is telling her to backtrack, apologizing is losing. “You’re right. You’re both right. I look down on people.” Aquaria agrees quietly. “You do. Katelyn told me you don’t like to lose. It’s hot when you’re fighting other people but it doesn’t work if you’re trying to fight me.”

Brianna laughing dryly. “I can’t seem to admit I’m wrong. Clearly, I have some issues.” Aquaria nods. “Yeah. I’d suggest you see a therapist or some shit but it’s probably a liability.” Brianna sighs. “It is. Monet is a psychiatrist so I’ve thought about it because I’m pretty sure she wouldn’t try and take down my company but even then…” Brianna looking up at Aquaria. Aquaria shrugging “You could try. I don’t care how you do it. But you need help.” Brianna wants to die because this feels humiliating. Aquaria is 22 but she has to tell Brianna this. Fuck, Brianna needs to get it together. “Brianna I can hear you thinking. I’m saying this as your girlfriend. Talk to Monet. She’s your best friend she’s probably be a good fit.” Brianna groaning. “That’s so fucking weird. Asking your best friend if they can be your psychiatrist.” Aquaria rolling her eyes. “I literally call you Mommy when we fuck. It’s really not that weird.” Brianna will admit, Aquaria does have a point. “Okay. Okay, I’ll talk to Monet.” Brianna standing back up, holding the desk cause her head is spinning. Aquaria can tell. “Brianna when was the last time you ate?” Brianna mumbling “I don’t remember.” Aquaria sticking her head out the door. “Katelyn, you were right.” Brianna can hear Katelyn curse. Barging in, pulling a granola bar out of her purse ‘Brianna I keep telling you you need to eat. You’re lucky I know how dumb you can be.”

Thrusting the granola bar into Brianna’s hand and Brianna definitely has to sit down again. “By the way, I texted Vixen. She said she’s not going to kill Brianna this time but if it happens again she won’t hesitate.” Brianna like wait what. Katelyn explaining “Aquaria starting crying about you when we went clubbing. Vixen was ready to kick the shit outta you.” Aquaria like wait I did what “I started crying about Brianna when we went clubbing?” Katelyn like yes “It would have cute if it wasn’t for the fact that you’re a messy drunk and you kept trying to fight Asia cause she wouldn’t let you have any more drinks.” Brianna halfway through her granola bar. “Aquaria are you okay with going home?” Aquaria looking at her. “Are you going to talk to Monet?” Brianna sighing. “Yes.” “Then yes. I just have to grab my stuff from Katelyn’s.”

By the time they’re on their way back to Brianna’s apartment all of Brianna’s exhaustion is catching up to her and she’s ready to pass the fuck out. Aquaria watching her “You really didn’t sleep at all, did you?” Brianna yawning. “Only a little bit. I kept having dreams about you.” Aquaria grinning “were they sexy?” Brianna shaking her head “I wish. It was all about our fight. I thought you were actually going to leave.” Aquaria isn’t smiling anymore. “I almost did.” Brianna squeezing Aquaria’s hand. “I know.” The rest of the ride is silent and by the time they get back home Brianna has already fallen asleep on Aquaria’s shoulder.

[fvckingayer]

Mistletoe

Diana Prince/Wonder Woman x reader

A/N: Hey guys! This is very rushed and v ugly so please don’t judge, but yeah I hope the person who wanted this sees it!

Request: Imagine where the Justice League has a Christmas party and Barry (Flash) keeps trying to get the reader and Diana (who are friends) under the mistletoe together?

Warning: So fluffy like the fluff I love! Kisses and a ton of drinking 

The annual christmas party was being held in Bruce’s Mansion so of course, they invite you to enjoy the holiday with them. The usual bickering or small talk floated in the air as champagne hung on people’s hands. Bruce loved you like family so of course he brought you a nice christmas dress for the party since that was the theme. So here you stand with a glass full of water and your eyes carefully following the woman that haunts your dreams. Diana Prince.

If you had a dollar for every thought you had of Diana, you’d probably be as rich as Bruce. Diana wasn’t one to celebrate christmas, but you enjoyed the festivities so she did it all just for you. Your smile was honestly her everlasting christmas gift. Diana eyes burn into the clothing that hung onto your body as it showed too much for her liking. It wraps around your beautiful breast in a heart like shape as the shoulder bares a glowing glory with the straps falling from it. The stockings fit nice and comfy around your legs as it straps with the hold up that was left mostly for the imagination. Then there was the santa hat that sat peacefully on top of your head as it sometimes fell since it seemed a little too big for you anyways.

Your head whips around to see Diana giggle at the hat that fell down on your face for the 50th time now. Your cheeks burned a bright red as you turned your head to look at the floor. 

You decided to go back to the kitchen to get another glass cup for more guest. Your feet patters gently across the floor as your start to hear another pair of feet follow softly behind you. You entered the kitchen and opened the cabinet to grab the cup that was way to tall to reach up. Soon enough you felt a tall figure stand behind you and grab the cups for you instead.

“(Y/N), you know very well you could never reach for that. You should’ve  just called me instead.” Diana chuckles towards you as you blush profusely at the distance between your molten body and the body of an actual goddess. You look up to see her breath looming over your face with just 5 inches between your mouths.

Then a drunk Arthur enters the kitchen with two beers in his left hand and a champagne glass in the other.

“Oh I’m sorry ladies. I must be bothering something, um I’ll go now.” Arthur zooms out of the kitchen with a hidden bottle of liquor in his ‘mystery bag’ placed behind a small tree. You both start to laugh insanely at the thought of Aqua Man actually getting Bruce to get drunk with him.

You grab Diana’s hand and drag her out to the party but she stops you near the stairs to answer her phone.

“Hi Barry. Why exactly are you calling me?” See you knew how devious Barry was to get you to hook up with Diana. Yep he figured out your massive crush on the woman, well Wonder Woman to be exact. He has been trying to push you for months now just to ask her out, but you knew that she never saw you in that way anyways, plus she may have been straight so the chance for her to actually say yes was very slim. Or so you thought.

You patiently waited beside Diana until you heard her say something.

“Wait what do you mean to look up Barry?” You tilt your head and saw the mistletoe looming over your head along with Diana’s as Barry barley balanced himself on the ledge of the stars just to have a mistletoe on a stick and string over both your heads. You tap Diana’s shoulder and pointed up to make her look at it also. She finally got the memo and grins towards you.

“Um you don’t have to kiss me if yo–“ Diana grabs you by the hips and plants a huge smooch right on your lips as you stand there in shock. Her kiss was gentle as you start to feel her hands wrap around your waist. Your hands found it’s way to her neck and soon enough the cheers of people around you guys meant it was time to break this wonderful kiss up. You glowed with cherry red almost as deep as the color of your dress as you felt the stares and congratulations of everyone around you. Diana tugs you along to the kitchen to help the whole kiss scene you just pulled at the party. It was surely going to be the talk of the year.

“Um Diana I’m really sorry an like if you don’t like me at all it’s fine and that kiss meant nothing anyways and plus your straight and like way to perfect to be with someone like me, and oh my I’m rambling again.” Diana grabs both your hands and held them into hers.

“(Y/N), I’ve wanted to be with you for about a year now. I more than like you honestly. I just really like being with you, but if you’re not comforta–“

“NO! No. I also re-really like you.” You look down at your feet until a hand grabs your chin and pulls your face up to look at it.

“Good, so (Y/N), will you be my girlfriend?” Diana wraps her arms around you as deep vanilla scents invade your nose.

“Y-yes.” You quietly say those words and Diana’s eyes light up with joy. She kisses your nose and then plants a small kiss on your lips before tucking herself in between your neck.

“This dress looks good on you by the way, actually it looks too good on you so you better change when you get home or I’ll take it off myself.” You start to feel the crimson shade invade your skin again as you try to hide Diana from looking. Diana kisses your neck and shoulder before leading you out to the Christmas party with your hand in her hand.

(not edited) 

[minsyal]

[Revali x Reader, Mutual Feelings Pt. 3]

Summary: Wow, that was rude

Part 1 Part 2 Part 4

Thank you for the feedback on this story everyone, I will continue it as I didn’t really get any negative comments. I’m glad some of you are enjoying it as much as I am. Happy reading :)

Omisaatio (n): a desert flower that displays an eerie aqua glow as it blooms. It is found in the most peculiar places.

The wooden bridges swayed slightly under the stress of the six individuals forcing it downward. It was honestly shocking that it could even hold Daruk's incredible weight. The panels squeaked and groaned with each step forward. These needed to be replaced. Your head was glued to the sky, observing the Rito Warriors as they flew in from training. Their wives rushed to greet them along with their children. A smile almost tugged at your lips - almost. You stared blankly, watching as a couple embraced and the father scooped the young one up into the air. Their mouth opened as if to let out an amiable laugh and their eyes squinted into two rainbow-like shapes.

The wind had considerably picked up since Revali left. The sky had grown dull and a set of grey clouds loomed overhead. You could barely see the bright luminous hues of blue and white beyond the darkness that settled in. Ahead of you were the other Champions: Zelda, Link, Daruk, Mipha and Urbosa. Sounds of their distant conversation danced backward, chiming through your ears as diluted white noise.

“Looks like we have a fan.” Daruk’s billowing voice echoed from ahead. Your attention was naturally drawn downward, a hint of curiously at who would be down here at this time. The children were busy with their fathers and mothers right now. Surely it isn't an older Rito?

“Hi there!” Daruk said loudly, crouching down to get a good look at the person approaching. You watched as his head lowered, his hand held out to greet them.

“Sorry mister!” A screechy little voice you had grown to love passed the Champions. Soon enough, Keumi was crashing into your legs attempting to knock you over. She had a bad habit of that. Every time she grew slightly more determined to do so, but slightly weaker as well.

“Huh.” Daruk stood back to his full height and gave Urbosa a confused look. His hand came to cradle the back of his neck, his fingers scratching at its base.

Keumi looked the same, except for a new splotch of red that had appeared quite noticeably on her back. Her smile was as radiant as ever and her attitude never faltered. Her eyes only seemed to grow with fascination as she looked up to you.

“What happened?” She screamed more than asked. Her tiny wing attached to your arm and tugged you down to her level, to which you complied. She angrily eyed the cut that had appeared on your face, scrawling from just under your right cheekbone to the curve of your jaw. It had faded considerably from the time when you got it. Now it was only there as a memory, it had melted into your skin in a dark brown color that could never be scrubbed away. With time, it would fade.

“Just a small cut, kiddo. Nothing to worry about.” You leaned forward, bringing your hand up to shield the side of your mouth.  “You should see the other guy. But I think we should be worrying about this,” you motioned dramatically to her body to which she looked at you confused. “Keumi, you know you're not allowed to be this far from the Village alone. Must I go talk to your mother again?”

“No, no, no! You don't need to.” She hopped around on her toes, shaking her head in denial.

“Hmm.” You stroked your chin with your fingers, “Fine. I'll let it go this time. But-”

“It won't happen again! I'll wait until you get to the front steps! I promise!”

“Good girl.”

You glanced up to find the Champions staring at you. They looked utterly shocked at your sudden change of attitude. Quite honestly, all they had really ever seen was sarcasm, blandness and blah. Urbosa had her trademark smirk on her face, her eyebrow raised considerably and her arms crossed over her chest. Choosing to ignore them, you returned your attention to Keumi.

The day was mostly spent doing “Champion duties,” which you had absolutely no part it. Keumi was delighted to have you by her side all day. It had been about a month since she had seen you last, and according to her mother it was killing her. Though, there wasn’t much to do with a slight downpour beating from above. The raindrops cascaded down the sides of the single stone pillar that held the Village together, wetting its surface. Rooftops became slides for the liquid to run down, only to create waterfalls that you could not avoid. Most of the others stayed inside, the Rito were not too keen to getting their feathers wet. Keumi, on the other hand, loved the rain. She dragged you around the islands that you entered on, jumping and skipping through puddles that only grew murkier with every leap.  

At dusk, you were invited to feast among the Champions and the Rito elder, but kindly declined for the calm family setting of Keumi’s home seemed like a more suitable option. Her mother, Seoi, had prepared a pan seared porgy with a home style sauce that vaguely reminded you of the past, Hylian rice steamed with goat butter and a variety of seeds, and sweet vegetable side. Seoi was obviously Keumi’s mother, just judging by color and personality alone. She had the same orange feathers, the same brown eyes, her belly was coated with porcelain feathers and her tail was dipped in brown.

“So, [Name], how has research been coming?” Seoi said in between bites, she sat cross-legged on the floor of their home. A acacia table was paced between the three of you.  

“Slow lately. I've spent so much time with the Champions that I rarely find the time to do actual work. You know when I get back, I’ll have another year’s worth.”

“Yeah! Look at this!” Keumi jumped to her feet and rushed to your side. She lightly feathered her finger down your cut, tracing its path. A pained expression crossed Seoi’s face as she examined it.

If there was anyone in the land of Hyrule that you felt you could call your best friend, it would be Seoi. She was like a mother and best friend all wrapped into one. After finding out Keumi had taken a liking to you, she immediately adopted you into the family. Often, while you were away, she would make a special effort to send you updates on Keumi. She’d ask how you were and always tell you to get more sleep. If Link wasn’t pestering you about your health, Seoi was. It’s like they had some sort of agreement.

“It's nothing really. All patched up.” You put a gentle hand around Keumi’s waist and tugged her closer for a hug. Her wing wrapped around your neck and her head snuggled into the crook of your shoulder.

“What happened?” Seoi’s eyebrows were drawn in, her eyes full of worry.

“Just a little attack. You know those Yiga members, always wanting us dead.” You huffed, staring down at your half-eaten meal. “It's fine, Revali ended up saving me anyway.”

“Revali?” Seoi’s brows raised, a slight inflection of her voice alerted you. She then lowered her brows as a small smile crossed her face. “He sure takes care of you, huh?”

“What?” You coughed, choking for a moment before settling yourself. “No. He annoys me, if anything.” Her grin only grew, a cocked eyebrow told you she didn't believe a word you said.

“Anyway, how have you two been?” You attempted to change the subject. Keumi had crossed back over to her meal, and was happily chowing down.

“Same old, same old. The little one over there has been keeping me up at night, but other than that we’re no different from the time before.”

“Seoi, surely there’s been some excitement?”

“Mom’s dating a new guy!” Keumi said with a full mouth. Seoi shot her a look of disdain as she rolled her eyes and continued eating.

“A new guy, you say? Do I know this guy?” You said coyly, causing Seoi to blush.

“We aren’t dating.” She corrected, bringing a small cloth up to wipe the sauce from her beak.

“Yet!” Keumi giggled.

“I’m glad you’re putting yourself out there Seoi. It’s about time.”

The conversation continued until every last morsel of food had disappeared from your plates. Keumi was lying on her back by the end of the meal, her wing draped lazily across her full belly. Seoi laughed, covering her mouth with her wing before excusing herself. She picked Keumi up, hushing her before lowering her into her hammock.

A hint of sadness flickered in the back of your mind. The scene ignited flames from the past, sending chills coursing through your body, shaking you to the core. Seoi whispered words of encouragement and a mothers love to Keumi as she drifted off to sleep. You couldn't help but envy her.

“So let's talk about you.” Seoi collected the plates and left them sitting on the counter. Grabbing your arm, she escorted you from the home and out onto the walkway. The rain had stopped an hour or two ago. The wood was damp, but not soaking. “I'm worried about you.”

“What's there to worry about?” You attempted to laugh it off. She rolled her eyes and began dragging you to the staircase heading up. You immediately knew where you were going. Revali’s landing. It was Seoi and Keumi’s favorite spot in all of the Rito Village, and she always took you there when she wanted to talk.

“There you go again. Always trying to pretend you're fine.” She lowered her voice, a dash of distress was sewn into her words. Seoi’s hand shook against your body as if trying to shake the answers from you. “You don't look fine.”

“Are you hinting that I’m ugly?” Joking was pointless, Seoi was not having any of it.

“[Name],” she scorned, “Look at yourself. Those dark circles faded months ago, only to come back. Your body shakes like you’ve been left out in the cold. You’re over working yourself.”

“I’m trying to save people, Seoi.” The landing was in front of you, nobody on it. She walked you out to one of the edges and plopped you down with your legs dangling over the edge. “I know it sounds insane, but the Calamity is coming back sooner than we know.”

“If you work yourself to death, you won’t be able to help anymore.”

“I’ll have left what I needed to. That’s all I can ask. I’m no good at fighting, I can’t hold my own. Research and,” you inhaled deeply, the frigid air filling your lungs. The weight of it felt suffocating, like it was dragging everything into your stomach. You exhaled. “It’s just, it’s just all I have. It’s all I can do and I will do what I must.”

Her pleads became fuzzy, and eventually were tuned out completely. Below were the Champions, joyously laughing and clinking their glasses together. The heat of their fire rose into the air, its wispy embers engulfing themselves before burning into nothing. The updraft licked at your heels, warming the soles of your shoes. Though completely aware of your catatonic state, Seoi continued to speak. Her voice soothed you, it was like an effervescent tea that heated your frozen heart. She spoke about how she was immensely proud of you and only wished for you to be healthy. She told of the man she was dating, and how he reminded her so much of the last. A story of Keumi passed through, something about how she had made some new friends. After an hour of staring into space, she stood, patted your shoulder and told you she was going to retire for the night.

“Please get some rest tonight.” Seoi brushed her fingers through your hair, lingering for a moment before disappearing. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Goodnight.” You muttered, focus never faltering from the night sky.

The sounds of the Champions feast had dispersed, it ended thirty minutes ago. The fire was put out and you were left alone with your thoughts. The heat no longer grasped onto you, the comforting words of Seoi had gone, and you felt like you were the only one awake in the Rito Village. Another hour passed and you remained in the same spot. Finally, you decided it was time to find the Inn and lay your head down.

The beds were full, no vacancies for you to fill. Zelda and Link were occupying the two on the right side, Urbosa and Mipha on the left. Daruk was curled into a giant ball and placed perfectly in the center of the room. The Rito that was usually behind the desk and the one that stood out front were gone. You sighed, turning on your heel and opting to walk until you found a dry suitable place to rest.

“The early bird catches the worm.” An irritating voice caught your attention as you began descending the staircase, heading toward the exiting bridges. “Looks like you’ve been left behind.”

“I’m not dealing with you right now, Revali.” You said, eyes searching through the dark of night. A yellow grow illuminated from the stable, there were always open beds there.

“Oh, but you see. You just did.” He hovered over for a moment before lowering his body onto the ground beside you. “I noticed your absence from dinner tonight, why?”

Keeping your mouth closed, you focused on the task at hand – getting away from him. Your feet moved as if on auto pilot, carrying you further down.

“Ah, ignoring me huh? Well, I suppose I’ll just have to fill the empty space with my own.” He matched you in stride. “I assume you missed the feast to spend time with that little urchin of yours. Am I right? What was her name? It’s seemed to have slipped my mind.”

“Urchin?” You stopped in your tracks, a heavy tension bundling at the base of your neck. Your entire body tensed, she wasn’t an urchin.

“You know, the small one with the color mutation.”

“She isn’t an urchin.” You hissed through your clenched teeth.

“Getting a rise out of you, eh? So it seems you’re quite fond of that little family of paupers.”

Your fists clenched, your nails digging painfully into the palms of your hands. The wetness of blood coated your fingertips, signaling that you needed to stop. He wasn’t important enough for your time. It wasn’t worth it.

“You do fit in with them quite well, though.” A condescending tone engulfed his voice. “Maybe you should finally leave the Champions and be where you belong? You’re not of any use anyway.”

Before you could stop yourself, you had forcefully latched your hand around his beak. Yanking him down to your level, you left no room for any sense of remorse regarding your action. Revali’s brows raised, you had never really stood up to him physically.

“Insult me as much as you want, but never speak of Seoi or Keumi ever again.” You tossed him away like he was a piece of garbage, turned on your heel and stormed off.

Revali stayed in his spot, watching with a sense of regret. The cloud of night consumed your being, leaving no trace. Revali mentally slapped himself, why did he always have to combat things with words of hate? Why was it so difficult to express himself?

[little-kitten-aqua]

Tagged by the darling @chris-phd​!! Thank you sweetie!!

1. How did you come up with your username and what does it mean?

Oh geez, the question I allllll ways have trouble answering. I started tumblr as “catofmanyfandoms” at the tender age of 15, and you know I don’t remember when I changed it to little-kitten-aqua... There’s not a real story behind it other than Aqua is a nickname I had for a loooooong time, and I love little kittens?

2. Which fanfic of yours has the most feedback? (bookmarks/subscriptions/hits/kudos)

I’m gonna make a guess before I go check and say it’s YVC....

Yup. Yokohama Vampire Crisis in every category besides hits, in which it looses to “Bad Kittens Get Spanked.” Why.. I don’t know.

3. What is your AO3 profile icon, and why did you choose it?

Dazai!! Honestly Dazai and I are so similar I couldn’t make my icon anything but him!

4. Do you have any regular/favourite commenters?

I mean, Stuffie always spoils me with their long, in-depth reviews of my stuff

5. Is there a fanfic that you keep going back to read again and again?

Oh geez, I download a ton of fanfics for reading again and again and again and especially when my internet is down. I think I’m up in the 30s with saved fanfics from AO3??

6. How many stories are you subscribed to? How many do you have bookmarked?

I.... I think I only have Seikibetsu subscribed... I’m a picky person with my stories that I follow. As for bookmarks, I’ve been trying to keep up with those and make more of them instead of just flittering off in an ADD haze but yeah.. not going too well.

7. Which AU do you find yourself writing the most?

Oh geez. Definitely omega verse. Hands down. YVC is even edited omega verse.... Omega verse really is just my favorite thing.

8. How many people are subscribed and bookmarked to you in total? (you can view this on the stats page)

!!! A lot more than I thought!!! 9 User subscriptions, 79 bookmarks, and 17 subscriptions!! Wow!!!!

9. Is there something you’d like to write about but are afraid of people judging you for it? (Feeling brave? If so, share it!)

There are some more taboo things that I consider writing, but considering they’re preeeeeeeetty taboo I’m not sure I’d ever share them.

I mean, I made huge strides with the fucking medical kink fic.

10. Is there anything you would like to be better at? Writing certain scenes or genres, replying to comments, updating better, etc.

Oh geez my fight scenes probably need help. That and my pacing, sometimes I just speed through things cause I don’t find them interesting. Just gimme that good fluff, please~!

11. Do you write rarepairs or popular ships more often?

Usually rarepairs! But there are a few fandoms in which I like more popular ships.

12. How many stories have you posted on AO3 to this day (finished and unfinished)?

45!!

13. How many stories do you have saved in/with your writing program?

..... ....... A lot

14. Do you write down story ideas, or just keep them in your head?

Oh geez, I do a ton of different stuff and keep ideas all over the place, sometimes I just run across ideas randomly when cleaning out files and I’m like “oh that’s nice!” and then place it somewhere else and completely forget about it.

15. Have you ever co-authored a story?

Nope!!

16. How did you discover AO3?

Oh geez it was probably a while ago, even though I only joined earlier this year. It was probably during one of the fanfiction.net purges haha!

17. Do you consider yourself to be a popular or famous author in your fandom(s) on AO3?

Maybe??? I dunno! I know I’m the only one in the Dazai/Kunikida/Katai tag and I’m a lot of the Kunikida/Dazai tag so... maybe??

18. Do you have a nickname or fandom name for your readers?

Not really!! I think “kittens” is a cute nickname, though!

19. Was there an author who inspired or encouraged you to write?

Oh geez, Stuffie did a ton to encourage me to keep going with YVC and other stuff, but there’s really never been one exact driving force behind my work.

20. What writing advice would you give to a beginning author?

Just write it. It might suck, but you can’t create something good until you’ve worked out all of the bad. And even then you’ll make bad stuff. Just enjoy what you’re doing and you’re good!

21. Do you plot out your stories, or do you just figure it out as you go?

Oh gosh, I’m so all over the place with this. I get some plots out and others I just wing it and work as I go. YVC is one that I’ve done intensive plotting for, but that was with help and everything haha

22. Have you ever gotten a bad comment on a story? If so, what did you do?

HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHHAHAHAHAHAHAH YEAH. I’ve gotten some shitty stuff. So I turned anonymous comments off and comment moderation on and waited for a while. Yeah, transphobes and some other choice characters have come to me.

23. Is there a certain type of scene that you have a hard time writing? (action, smut, etc..)

Fight scenes are reeeeaaaally hard, and since I tend to focus more on the erotica side of things, f/f scenes are really fucking difficult for me. I just get bored and flitter off, or get uncomfy.

24. What story(s) are you working on now?

Well, I (surprisingly!!!!) just finished part one of YVC so now I’m on to work on part 2, and then whatever the hell I decide to do next hahaha!!

25. Do you plan your next project(s) before you finish your current ongoing story(s)?

Oh man hell no. It’s a party up in my brain, ideas all over the place. Who knows what’s going on? Not me.

26. Do you have a daily writing goal set for yourself?

PFFFFFFFT. I rarely have enough energy to finish everything I need to do in one day, why would I give my disabled ass more?

27. Do you think you’ve improved as a writer since you first started?

I... think so? I mean, I’ve improved from when I was writing my first fanfics at 2... but that’s just age and experience. But I mean even just from the beginning of YVC to now, I think I’ve improved at least a little bit.

28. What is your favorite story that you’ve written?

I love nearly all of my stories? There’s not a lot that I don’t like. I really only write what I want to, so that helps me like it all.

29. What is your least favorite story that you’ve written?

Oh boy there are, however, a few pieces from prompt lists that I feel like I just fucking bombed. They’re shorter pieces mostly cause I lost interest half-way through, or tried something new only for it to fail spectacularly.

30. Where do you see yourself (as a writer) in 5 years?

Ideally? I’ve got a nice fully-funded Patreon to make/write ero games and everything’s good.

31. What is the easiest thing about writing?

Smut. Boy I am so versed in writing smut.

32. What is the hardest thing about writing?

You second-guess yourself sooooo much. It’s a lot of the reason why I post mostly non-beta’d stuff!

33. Why do you write?

Um.... That’s a great question. I write cause it... comes naturally to me? I don’t have to work super hard to churn out a lot. It’s also really freeing, you can write anything happening. You can write magical fairytale romances that you know would never exist in real life but you can imagine and dream and there’s nothing stopping you but the limits of language. (Which themselves can be bent and broken) So really, I like the freedom it gives me.

As for tagging people, ummmm.... if you wanna do this feel free! I’m always so bad at tagging OTL

[thatbookcritic]

Kingdom Hearts 3

Title: Kingdom Hearts 3

Media: Video Game

Developer: Square Enix

Criticism written by: Kai

Editor: Julie

The Review:

Hey there everyone. I just finished playing Kingdom Hearts 3 and I need to vent about it. What better way than to do a review on it. I’m simultaneously amazed but disappointed by the game. It’s beautifully crafted and hit all the right notes for the nostalgia. There were many occasions that got me to tear up as I recall my childhood that this game shaped. Yet despite the shine and sparkle that was the gameplay, design, and music; the story was extremely lackluster. For the story that were all waiting for, it wasn’t delivered properly and it was cheap. I’m sure many of you have already seen “kingdom hearts 3 disappointment” appearing on your search recommendations when you type up the title. I know there are those who like the game and others who are defending it tooth and nail, but I hope you all can understand that nothing is immune to criticisms and improvement.

That being said, this is all a warning for you all about spoilers. If you haven’t played the game yet, I highly recommend doing so before reading my review. For those who stayed, let’s review Kingdom Hearts 3.

Before actually talking about the story, I want to first say that I won’t dive into the lore and past games of the series. I’m going off the assumption that everyone reading this review knows the story and all the information pertaining to the series. If you need a refresher, I suggest looking up a TL;DR video on youtube about all the games.

Anyways, Kingdom Hearts 3 immediately picks up from Dream Drop Distance. Sora failed his Mark of Mastery test while Riku passed. Riku and Mickey went on to the realm of darkness to save Aqua. Sora, on the other hand, is tasked to go to other worlds and try to reclaim the “power of waking”. Skipping over the disney worlds since they’re literally not important for the big picture here, Sora learns about the three people who are currently living in his heart and how to free them via replicas and finding Ventus’s real body. It’s just one big scramble where team light is trying to find their seven members and team dark flexing on them by going “lol we got our 13 members already.” There’s also some side story about Maleficent and Pete looking for a black box but that’s never addressed except once by team Sora. Moving on, Sora saves Aqua which then leads into Aqua waking Ventus. From this point, the game goes from 0 to 100 in pacing. The team jumps straight into the final battle quest. Fought an army of heartless and nobodies, Kairi ex machina (will explain later), killed 12 members of darkness, exposition, final battle, “the villain was misguided!”, cliffhanger, epilogue, and secret end. That’s literally the chain of events at the end of the game. I finished this final portion in under 2 hours…. With breaks in between.

If you seen people complaining about how short this game was, they aren’t joking. This game is insanely short for what it should have been. The story was at least 24 hours long… that might sound like a long time but it’s not. At least, not a long time for a game. Kingdom Hearts 3 was released on January 29. Eight days passed and there are already guides on where you can find all the collectables. Eight days after a release date… that’s insane. You might say it’s due to “speed runners” or devoted fans with too much free time, but as a casual player myself, this was a short game. I finished it just under 24 hours… and that was me taking long periods of breaks (dealing with friends, going to work, doing chores, ect.) Needless to say, the story had a lot of wiggle room to expand instead of rushing to tie up loose ends.

Another thing to point out is the number of worlds included in the game. There weren’t a lot, let me tell you that. Just eight worlds (excluding the Final World and Caelum). Kingdom Hearts 1 and 2 have about 14 worlds each (excluding the other games since they aren’t “main” games). Some might argue that even if there’s less worlds, there’s more content in each world. I say bullshit. Are you talking about the mini games and collectables from the worlds? I bought this game for the main story, not the mini games. If I wanted mini games, I would have gotten mario party instead. As for the story each world present, they didn’t take long to complete… the story may be longer than other games but I still managed to finish two worlds for one sitting… one world if I’m getting rushed by my mom to go to bed lol. Needless to say, this part of the game wasn’t it chief.

Finally, let’s talk about story here. When it comes to Kingdom Hearts, you kinda gotta accept that the story isn’t going to make 100% sense, have plot holes, inconsistency, and lots of recons. That’s just how Kingdom Hearts gonna be but the story was still good. If a story can suspend your disbelief for the entire ride, then it’s a good story. And Kingdom Hearts is good at “story first, questions later”. But with this, the pacing is so fast that it broke the fantasy way too soon.

Now… in anticipation for Kingdom Hearts 3, I ran through all the lore and game stories once again to have a good idea on what’s going on. Leading into KH3, there was a long list of tasks that was left over from all the previous games. We have to save the Birth by Sleep crew. We have to save Roxas, Namine, and Xion. Sora isn’t a Keyblade Master. We got Xehanort and his norted group. The Masters of Master and his black box. The Keyblade war. The Dandelions. Maleficent and more. We got a long checklist here yet the script writers seem to just… gloss over all these details. With how long these cutscenes are, I’m honestly surprised how fast they zoom past the story. Honestly, there were many points where the writers could expand on something and actually lead to more gameplay. For example, for saving Roxas, Namine, and Xion. They just toss these three at the very end in one scene before moving to the next. Like… lmao what? It would have been interesting if they had Kairi… you know, actually being useful and chilling in Radiant Garden or something. Goes up to emo scientist and be like “Yo! Let me just free Namine in your conveniently placed replica and… boom!” Maybe toss in like “I remember this place” and give some background about Kairi. Then with Namine, she could have been useful in drawing up memories about Xion which would lead into that quest. These three could have been a great main quest in unlocking for main story. Would have been also great to see some interactions between Ventus and Roxas too and toss in a bullshit explanation on why they look the same. The same with how Vanitas look like Sora; instead of, again, glossing over it at the end. There’s just… so much where the writers could have expanded on and actually make the game a bit longer to make it more satisfying to play. Yes, I understand this was supposed to be the end of Xehanort’s arc but it was distastefully done. It was cheap and rushed. That ending where it’s revealed the Xehanort opened Kingdom Hearts to bring the worlds back together and was more or less well meaning about the whole thing (basically, he’s not doing this for the shits and giggles) but it doesn’t explain anything still. I honestly think it was an idea given to him and not something he came up on his own, judging on his ending cutscenes about him. Can I point out how funny it is that Xehanort was a more fleshed out character than fucking Kairi… a main character? Oh my god, this fucking bitch. Kairi is so useless storytelling wise. She’s just a deus ex machina for anytime Sora feels down in the dumps and only there to get kidnapped. “I’ll protect you Sora!” *Immediately gets kidnapped after*. Even in the one time she fights by our side, she instantly dies on me and left killing three bosses on Sora and Axel. She’s not even good canon fodder like Donald or Goofy in a fight. Just… there’s so much this game could have done with story and it just failed.

Some people might use the argument that we have high expectations for this game so “of course you would get disappointed.” Honestly, yeah! This is a valid point and we’re in the right for having high expectations. I don’t see how this was our fault? We all literally waited 14 years for this game. We were given all these puzzle pieces and waiting to see the finish picture. The hype was massive… and don’t say that it was just the fan’s hype. It was very much advertised to be the “conclusion” for Kingdom Hearts. The trailers that advertised the “end”, the names of the songs being used for this game (“Face my fears” and “Don’t think twice”), the fact that this is the third game (when it comes to series in media they usually end in trilogies (but of course I’m not saying that this is absolute)). It’s just that the hints that the developers were giving us were making us think in a certain direction… that is deception… and it wasn’t a good trick. Another argument to tackle is that: “A lot of time passed. You’re expecting the same thing as the original games. You’re not the same person as before, so you won’t experience it the same way anymore.” It’s one thing if you’re harping that the game doesn’t give you “the feels” anymore, that argument fit this issue. But it’s entirely different from the disappointment of reading a half assed story, no matter the age, I think anyone would be annoyed. I also want to toss out the argument of “You’re not the marketed audience”. Then… who’s the marketed audience then? People who aren’t fans of the game? This is the third main game in a series with a crazy fucking lore. You kinda need to be a fan to keep up here, mate. This isn’t an issue about age. The fact that there’s disney characters in it should be a sign that this game isn’t going over a pg-13 rating. So most people aren’t expecting a mature, “adult” story here. But we are expecting a “good” story… and that is an issue everyone can relate to. You! You are a consumer! You can expect more from a creator sometimes! I agree on respecting a creator’s visions, art, ect. I’m a writer myself. But at some point, you gotta realize that some people would shit in a bucket and try to sell it to you as art. Be a little critical sometimes. It’s fine. If anything, creators want some criticisms to know where to improve. So just don’t take this sitting down!

Kingdom Hearts 3 was an good game if you’re looking at this objectively. But for what it could have been… well… just wasted potential. Pity.

Overall Score: 6/10

(Btw, if anyone want some theories about Kingdom Hearts 4, I believe that they’re going to tie it in to us. The player. I mean, besides the obvious secret ending where it looks like the real world (we can use the same ending to point toward The World Ends With You so this isn’t strong enough evidence). I’m mostly basing this on a storytelling perspective and Union X. From a storytelling point, Kingdom Hearts tackled every single trope so far. Time travel, doppelgangers (the replicas), amnesia, multiple selves, body possessions, time passing at a different rate, alternative worlds, data worlds, ect. We can go on, but the one trope they haven’t touched yet is the 4th wall. I honest to god wouldn’t be surprised that they would do this for both storytelling but to also say a big “thank you” to the player. They already got closed to it by including the usernames of players from Union X in the Heartless Tornado. Talking about Union X, there’s still the Dandelions. Based on the current story known, the Dandelions are keyblade welders who are still alive in the dream realm… one of the welders being you… the player.  Also, the alternative game at the end that Master Eq- however you spell his name, talked about. It was seven darkness but an unknown amount of light. I suspect that it’s a number flip from the original 13 darkness and 7 light. It would make sense if you do a counting of the current cast. Sora, Riku, Kairi, Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Terra, Ventus, Aqua, Axel, Xion, and Roxas (I’m excluding Namine for now since she can’t fight). 12 fighters, right? Well… it becomes 13 if you count yourself since… we are fighting through Sora. Well… I could just be egotistical and give the writers way too much credit lol.)

[mimiplaysgames]

Strength to Protect the Things That Matter (Ch. 25)

Pairing: Terra/Aqua Rating: T Word Count: 5,631

Summary: Terra has prayed for years for relief from having no one to talk to in the dark, except with the monster of a man who stole his life. One day, when two boys chase a lead, he gets his chance - less than a week - to set things right before he loses everything again.

AO3        FFnet

A/N: I had a flashback scene of Terra interacting with Ventus that was supposed to appear in Ch. 15, “Confession,” toward the end. It seemed like a footnote after the flashback with Aqua in that chapter, so I removed it. I then moved it to Ch. 17, “Vacation.” Terra was supposed to think about this scene right before he helps Sora stand up, finding out where Ventus has been all along. But it lengthened it too much (in a chapter that was so damn long anyway), that I moved it to the beginning of this chapter. And it stuck out like a sore thumb. So this scene will not appear in this specific fic at all and will have to find a place somewhere else, lmao! I can’t believe I am at this part now. It’s almost done! Also, I will be posting WIP updates on Mondays and Thursdays (with the occasional extra Saturday). I put up a dated schedule that you can access here.

Fall

“You have to admit,” Terra said as Aqua dipped two fingers into a small tin of black paint, “you’re having fun.”

Swirling them into the paint, Aqua attempted to muster some strength to keep herself from grinning. But she failed.

“When the Master said we needed to restore the natural balance by retrieving a living boy from the Land of the Dead,” she said, “I don’t think he ever expected us to be doing this.”

She finished painting his eyes, and moved on to his nose. 

The last time they made such a colorful mess together, they finger-painted goblins dancing on flowers, on a corner wall tucked away in the castle by the piano. Eraqus spared them the lecture and actually kept their mural all these years. 

The last time they touched this much, they were young, long before Terra had developed blood-pumping feelings at the feel of her skin, or from being so close to her. They used to play-fight and wrestle, before he avoided such activity with her nowadays.

Two months until their Mark of Mastery exam, they were now in the Land of the Dead, where she was tracing his nose cartilage. They were on a mission, but Terra admitted he was grateful it gave him the allowance to enjoy so much contact with her.

It turned out that the Land of the Dead had gorgeous streets full of light and vibrant color. It featured buildings for homes, festivals, art shows, museums, and anything designed for entertaining all types of personalities. It was like a tourist attraction, and it had everything a person looking for fun and adventure would expect. Except rain. It didn’t rain here. The dark belly under a bridge where they were hiding for now harbored no puddles.

The people here, of course, were all skeletons. It didn’t take much effort to find the boy, Miguel, the person of interest in a world he didn’t belong. Which brought another problem – Terra and Aqua, too, had warm skin and pulses.

Aqua was against Miguel’s wish to reconnect with one of his famous singing ancestors, believing it too much of a risk for his own life. (She was very sympathetic to his need to pursue music, for she, too, adored it.) When Miguel’s family members, who were his ticket back home, didn’t approve of his obsession, she believed that they could be reasoned with. 

Terra agreed with Miguel, believing that the boy had a right to follow his passion no matter what anyone said. He was aware that Miguel had a very limited time in this realm, which could be fatal, but they had enough time, and this created a similar dynamic to all the times Terra and Ventus tag-teamed against her. Essentially pushed into a corner, Aqua went ahead and agreed to do it their way.

The plan was to blend in. A dead friend of Miguel’s, Héctor, went off to find them some clothes large enough to hide their breathing bodies.

Aqua was painting a calavera on Terra’s face to make him look like a skeleton. She traced one finger to make lines across his lips. The paint felt goopy and thick, but her touch was brisk, graceful, yet determined. It was so like her to move this way, and he had to keep reminding himself to stay calm and not let his mind wander on the touch. There were definitely some things he’d like her to do with his lips, and tracing them was not a typical thing best friends did together, right?

Neither was touching the neck this much, but she had to give the illusion that he didn’t have flesh anymore. She was careful enough not to push onto his laryngeal prominence, at the very least. But no care could be given to ease how he was feeling anyway.

Terra, if anything, felt immensely grateful when Miguel, who already had his calavera finished and was wearing a red hoodie to hide the rest, arrived to check up on her progress. An empty, cool feeling lingered on his collarbone as she finished her work.

Miguel burst into a fit of laughter. “I think you would even scare away la parca… the Grim Reaper.”

“What?” He picked up a cracked and foggy mirror laying on the ground next to him. 

Aqua had traced and covered his brows with black paint when she hollowed out his eyes. What looked back at him was a very angry skeleton, where the black color gave the impression that his eyes were even darker.

“What gives? You made me look so scary,” Terra told her.

She covered her mouth with her wrist as she giggled, careful not to mess her bare face up. “I’m sorry, I was trying to trace your face to make it look natural,” she said. 

When Terra attempted to swipe the tin can away, she evaded – which was usual. Ten years growing up and sparring together, she became a master at dodging him.

“I’ll fix it, I’ll fix it,” she said, swatting his hand away.

“You can add loops and dots.” Miguel traced his finger in the air as an example. “Or maybe something cute to trick the children,” he said with an impish grin.

She dipped her finger into the tin again and quickly went over some lines on his cheekbones and forehead. The mirror showed that she drew some loops around his imagined eye sockets, and a heart right above the bridge of his nose. His chest skipped a beat, careful not to read too much into why she picked a heart for him. But it didn’t make him look any sweeter.

“Now I look like the Evil Lord of Love,” Terra said.

She snorted and Miguel held his stomach, out of breath from his laughter.

“It’s the best I can do,” she said. It was most likely far from the truth. She was probably way too entertained to fix it for real. “My turn now.” She pushed her hair off her face and handed the tin over to Terra.

Ten years growing up and sparring together didn’t prepare Terra for this, but he became a master at hiding his emotions anyway. Each time he traced a brow or a cheekbone in black, or rubbed white onto her cheeks, he consciously breathed out of his nose. It made him look more relaxed and focused that way.

Which proved to be difficult when he finished painting her eyelids. She opened them, and the darkness gave just enough contrast to make her bright, beautiful eyes pop. They might as well be jewels. He wasn’t even aware he was staring until she asked him if something didn’t look right.

Calm and collected, his voice was smooth enough that there wasn’t an ounce of shake to it. “I was checking to see if everything was even,” he said simply.

He was aware of his posture, careful not to lean into her. Even though he really wanted to, especially when tracing her lips. Soft and supple, he had often wanted to feel them. Once wasn’t enough either. Each time he dipped his finger back into the paint was another chance at learning what her lips were like. 

He made sure to give her the same amount of care when tracing her neck too. Looking at her head lean back that way, tracing her chin, and coloring down to her crevice – it was better, as painful as it was, to finish the job than to let it drag.

It hurt enough to make Terra almost consider asking Eraqus to assign them on missions separately. Almost. There was too much enjoyment thrown into the mix as well.

The wave of relief that came when he finally closed the tin can was like being salvaged from hunger. Aqua looked into the mirror and approved of his work. Terra even gave her some doodles of small, simple flowers on her temples. Now she looked like everyone else in this world.

A skeleton soon approached them, wearing a straw hat and clothes that were so worn down they had rips and holes. Illuminated from the decorative lights of the streets, Héctor carried a couple of pieces of garments with hoods that he collected for them.

He handed Terra a bomber jacket, to hide the machismo, and stared at Aqua’s artistry on his face. “You trying to romance a demon?” he asked.

“Don’t ask,” Terra said, quickly putting on the jacket, wanting very much to keep any attention away from himself.

“And for the lady,” Héctor said, “a large cloak to hide all the... well, todo eso. Everything.” He made gestures as if to suggest curvature.

The cloak was such a dark brown that it almost seemed black. It was meant for a very tall person: it hung loosely off her shoulders, and dragged onto the floor with the sleeves draping off her fingers.

“I look ridiculous,” she said.

It was Terra’s instinct to cover her mouth for politeness’ sake, but then he’d have to trace her lips again with paint. Truthfully, she looked adorable - though he’d never say it out loud, or she would slap him with excess sleeve.

“It’s more important we blend in,” Terra said.

“Tiene razón. He has reason,” Héctor said. He glanced back and forth between Terra and Aqua, judging them. “Bueno…” he said in a way to suggest that he had no choice but to work with what he got, “You do both look like Fulano y Fulana de Tal.”

Terra’s head shook ever so slightly as his eyes narrowed. “What?”

Miguel dug his hands into his pockets. “He called you some dudes that came from nowhere.”

“Well, if it works…” Aqua mumbled to herself, following the others as they emerged from under the bridge. Her sleeves flopped back and forth as she walked.

The Land of the Dead kept a record of time. The buildings were so tall they were like skyscrapers, with each ascension more modern than the foundation it leaned on. It was as if they kept building on top of old structures, with the bottom floors a remnant of some ancient past. The music and the fireworks, all prepared to celebrate Día de los Muertos, told Terra that death was just a passage to something more exciting beyond what life could give.

It was comforting to know that whenever it was time for Master Eraqus to go, it wouldn’t be a place of suffering (or even boredom). But the separation still had to leave a scar to those left behind, right?

The people here were enjoying themselves, yes. Probably waiting for their own loved ones to join them and make the experience even better.

Héctor led them to the slums. Huts, boats, and wood houses gathered at the harbor down below the city, where the forgotten spirits dwelled. A neighborhood for those who didn’t have their photos propped up on their families’ ofrenda, a shrine where the living honor and remember their deceased relatives. These spirits therefore found family with each other.

The goal was to get Miguel a guitar. The nearby festival was set up in honor of Miguel’s relative, and he needed a musical instrument to enter the competition - and actually get a chance to meet.

The guitar was kept by Chicharrón, a friend of Héctor’s who lived in a wooden house at the end of the dock. He had to have been a hoarder, considering the stacks of random junk inside. Everything looked discarded, as if he was too exhausted to keep it all organized. As if he was the kind of person to desperately find something to hold onto through objects. Only the moonlight illuminated the entirely of the hut, as if he shunned away the joy and bright lights that paraded outside. It reflected on him as well – the bone on his skull and knuckles look sanded down, as if he wasn’t well-preserved.

Chicharrón, lying in a hammock buried under a pile of even more random trinkets, scowled when he took one look at Terra’s face. “Héctor, who gave you the right to bring el diablo here?”

“Even I don’t have the skill to convince the devil to do anything. He came on his own, acere,” Héctor said, as if addressing a friend. 

They both argued over the guitar, and agreed that Miguel could use it under one specific condition: that Héctor would sing a song. His friend wanted to savor some enjoyment left, because the guitar was the last thing that was able to give him just that.

And so Héctor sang. A folk song about a woman everyone knew named Juanita. It sounded like a beautiful love song at first. Miguel sat on his knees, in awe of the talent. Aqua had her hand to her chest, her eyes watering over the sweetness of the composition. Juanita was someone whose teeth stuck out, and a chin that caved inward. She wore her hair like shrubbery, and walked funny.

But the songwriter believed himself so ugly that she wouldn’t have considered him a proper suitor.

Terra had expected the song to end sarcastically, but the revelation of such adoration left a hard lump in his throat. What would it have taken for Aqua to give him a chance like that?

The song ended. Chicharrón, satisfied and making peace with whatever was in his mind, disintegrated into dust, the wind carrying away his remnants. He left behind a mess of all he thought was important, now discarded and unaccounted for, alone on that hammock.

It was the Second Death, a process for all whose living family members have forgotten they existed. He didn’t have anyone left in the Land of the Living who cared for him.

It wasn’t gory or terrifying. If anything, it was a pretty sight, but it was the most gruesome thing Terra ever witnessed.

The only source illuminating the clown and the streets around them is the moonlight. Kefka takes one step forward, and Terra prepares a lunge forward, aiming for the knees. 

But there is a swish, and a sphere of a gravitational contortion to push the beast back. The young version of Xehanort jumps from the roof he has been patiently waiting on, throwing all of his magical strength onto Kefka with that glowing, teal Keyblade of his.

Terra takes this opportunity to sprint towards the end of the block, where the hospital meets an alleyway, and places the duffel bag of elixirs into a nook. Away from the battlefield. Safe. Hopefully. 

Garnet follows close by, and he expects that it will be this way – he will fight, and she will mend his injuries from behind. They just need to survive ten minutes. Leave too soon and Kefka will follow them back to the others.

Xehanort lands near them, resting his Keyblade on his shoulder as Kefka stands back up. “Of all the people you lug around after our warning,” he says, “you follow the one target that pits you in such danger. It’s reckless.”

Terra is about to bark that he will not tolerate any word from Xehanort’s mouth, but there is the clown to mind. Xehanort doesn’t give Terra any chance to say anything, quickly turning his attention on the Heartless.

Xehanort’s powers of teleportation aid him in evading each and every attack, at no cost to his energy. His magic is explosive, and he takes any opportunity to hit at Kefka’s ankles and knees in order to bring it down. Kefka’s body is, of course, sturdy like diamonds.

Terra doesn’t want to ally with him. If anything, Xehanort is just as much as a threat. If he doesn’t stay focused, he might lose his body again. And he can’t afford it. Not tonight. Not ever. Not until Aqua is free can he relax and let go. Not until Garnet is safe.

He swings Ends of the Earth to let out a shockwave of light that sears the cobblestones of the streets. He follows it with a swipe of the old man’s nameless Keyblade, letting out a blow of darkness that doubles the force, ravaging all in its path. It’s certainly an aid to all of Xehanort’s acrobatics. The bastard proves himself a worthy front man to be thrown at risk, so that Terra doesn’t have to put himself or Garnet in the direct line of danger. 

But he’s too good to dispose himself.

And yet Terra is not giving out his full effort. Use the darkness, damn it, but not too much. He can’t lose control. The old man will use it to wrest his body back.

Already, there is a headache forming.

He must be stumbling too much, because Garnet seems to keep getting the impression that he is injured. He feels her healing magic envelope around him, and it takes away the hair-pulling headache. So he continues this pattern. Throw light and darkness, dodge, get tired and stumble from the pain, have her heal him. Continue.

Kefka changes its pattern to dance, creating random explosions throughout the area in an attempt to hit Xehanort. Debris crumbles, shaking the ground and tripping Garnet. It’s like an instinct, and Terra forgets he has two enemies near him, shielding her until the explosions stop.

“The bombs won’t ignite!” she says as she looks up at him. “I must have wired them incorrectly.”

She has a remote in her hand. The electric bombs planted in the office building across the street are still. Unless they can get Kefka to ram into them, they will stay silent.

She yelps. The reason why, he sees approaching them. Heartless waggle in patterns as if they can’t tell what they are aiming for. Maybe the potion still has some effect, and the Heartless cannot target them specifically. But it’s still a huge problem.

It takes too much thinking and concentration during such a heated moment to tap into Xemnas’ powers, but he tries anyway. The smaller debris floats up and above the ground, and with a wave of both Keyblades, he sends them flying to smack the various types of monstrosities that are invading the battle space.

“Terra, I need your aid!”

The voice is from behind. Xehanort blocks attacks from Kefka’s six poisonous swords. 

Pfft. Let him die. Let him suffer the way Rydia is.

... But then if he’s not there, Kefka would go after them.

Terra focuses his mind on larger masses of plaster, glass, and brick that used to be part of the hospital. They are harder to move, and sweat drops trickle down his forehead. He points his Keyblades at them, as though they are wands to help him take control. They float higher, and with huge swings toward the direction of the clown, he manages to hurl them. Kefka falls back. 

But not far enough to hit the office building, where the bombs lay waiting. Terra has managed to hit it in the face. The clown will soon come for him later.

Xehanort flashes him a look of disbelief, disgust emanating from his round eyes. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Terra, they’re surrounding us!” he hears Garnet yelling from behind. Heartless continue to come in droves.

Fight. Or protect. Dammit, why can’t I have both?

It’s like a stupor that stops him from doing anything as he thinks about his next move. A Heartless lunges at her. 

As though his body is responding, a straight wall of bright, electric energy erects in front of the princess. The monster gets shocked by this aggressive barrier, and it all disappears.

It doesn’t hurt. It’s like the fireball he made appear out of nothing. This has to be Xemnas’ powers.

“Stay close to me!” Terra says.

She stands back-to-back with him, and he waves his arms one by one, a Keyblade in each hand, in swift movements that gesture from the ground toward the sky. He visualizes this new kind of barrier forming as fast as a lightning bolt, and it follows. Against any direction where a Heartless is wandering too close.

To be so effective at protecting, while attacking at the same time... It��s like cheating, and it’s great. If only it is more intuitive so that he can do it faster. If only he doesn’t have to think about it, so he wouldn’t get so tired.

Kefka charges toward him. It prepares a force of energy and sends a fistful of it. Terra prays that the barrier will stick around this time. Kefka’s hand meets his wall, electricity sparking to and fro that Terra feels the pain of it in his forearms, as he wills it keep standing.

Something, some kind of energy flickers throughout his skin and reverberates his entire body. Silence.

Everything around him is frozen in time. There is Kefka’s screwed mask for a face, its glowing yellow eyes staring down on him, its smile glued. His barrier is still there, the electricity coming out of it, but it’s stuck in some never-ending moment. The Heartless stuck in postures, as if they are living photographs. Garnet behind him, also immobilized, holding her shortstaff close to her chest, meeting eye-to-eye with some tall shadow that stares back at her.

He has never seen time magic this effective and this far-reaching.

Xehanort pants, adjusting his black cloak. “Why do you insist on holding yourself back when you have all this power at your disposal?” he asks as he approaches.

This can’t be the time when Terra loses, all alone in a timeless space with the one man who will take away everything. He can’t touch Garnet without potentially harming her, the velocity of his movement too fast in relation to the paralyzed state she’s in.

“Unfreeze her,” he commands.

“I was under the impression you wanted to have control over your own body,” Xehanort says, wiping dirt off a sleeve.

“Unfreeze her, now.”

“So the puppet is finally given the chance at controlling the strings that once possessed him, but he hasn’t the courage to take advantage of it?”

“I’d rather cut them.” He stares hard at Xehanort. Perhaps this is foolish, considering that he doesn’t know how long the spell will last. If Kefka unfreezes now, it’s all over anyway. But if he takes his eyes off Xehanort…

Xehanort smirks. “That still assumes you are in control. You won’t be able to have it if my older self is still the puppeteer. You want to rely on powers of nothingness, which you have little understanding of, when darkness will give you all the endless possibilities for power you seek.”

This hits too close to home, darkness tied to all of his limbs. Loss of control and he’s a doll for someone else’s benefit again.

Furthermore, he wishes Xehanort would stop talking to him like he’s stupid. To use darkness too much is the one thing that will make him fall. He grips both Keyblades. Perhaps he has an advantage since he has one more weapon. “It’s just hatred and rage, and I don’t need it.”

Xehanort widens his eyes. “Is that what you think it is? How infantile.” His eyes glass over, and he cocks his head gently, like he’s talking to a child. “It is merely a first step to tap into powers of darkness through negative emotions, with fear being the wildcard because it is the only emotion that is useless as a weapon. But you – and whoever taught you that – are mistaken.

“Fear is only useful in reminding you of threats. It is the one thing that will make you weak. Not darkness. You want your life back? Then take control of it. You may use your anger and your hatred of Kefka to strengthen your power. But to imply that is all there is – do you think it was love that motivated Eraqus to wield light in his attempt to murder Ventus?”

“Don’t talk about them!” Terra barks.

“Light and darkness are all part of the same existence. In the end, they are simple tools. Do not aim to convince yourself that darkness is nothing but horrid impulses. You can love and protect with darkness. You can be driven mad by the blinding power of light.”

Riku comes to mind. Use darkness and turn it into light, he has said. To build the strength to protect what matters. Is this what he means? Is it enough to have good intentions? Or does the old man have too much experience with such things that it’s futile to try to take the strings for himself?

Garnet is the first to unfreeze. “Terra, what in the world-”

“Move!” He holds her bicep and escorts her down the street.

He hears the blast Kefka has prepared for them, crushing a mob of minor Heartless instead. 

Garnet screams his name. A Darkside, looming tall over them, contemplates its next move. It digs its hand into the ground and a portal opens up, a swarm of Shadows crawling out of it.

They run away. Worse still is the inky blackness that surrounds them and covers the entire street. He can’t see anything, except for yellow eyes squirming around everywhere. And suddenly he’s alone, the princess no longer by his side.

He hears Kefka’s footsteps, stomping the ground underneath it. It moves slowly, like it doesn’t know what to attack next. So it dances, explosions taking random pot shots in any direction.

One blows up behind him, and Garnet’s protection spell vibrates from the blast as he feels the cold street brace against his face. Hands grip his arm and help him stand up.

“Can you walk?” he hears Xehanort ask.

Terra rips his shoulder away. “Garnet!” he calls out.

Xehanort shushes him in a snake-like snarl. “We have the advantage. And I’m interested in keeping you alive.”

“Not without her.”

Xehanort holds a cold stare, his golden eyes a faint gleam in the shadow. Definitely not the kind of person to roll his eyes. 

Garnet’s pillar of light bursts through with such a power that everything trembles. It also dissipates the darkness, giving them the ability to see what has been happening. A mass of Heartless that have surrounded her are thrown back by her power. Of course, she is left exhausted and shaking from such use of magic.

And Kefka notices. It laughs, sending horrific pain throughout Terra’s head, so awful it feels like his eyeballs will burst. Xehanort yells along with Terra, clutching his hand to his chest. Garnet grips her head tightly, slumped on the ground.

Kefka moves to srtike. She is wide-eyed.

This can’t happen. Not another failure.

Terra sprints forward. He needs to get there first. To have more power. To cheat.

A portal of swirling shadows opens up on the ground in front of him. He drops inside. 

Here, there is no earth. No solid obstacle to keep him from her. Here he can fly. And up he ascends from another opening, putting him right in between a princess and a clown.

No need for a second Keyblade. Out from his left hand, all the dark impulses materialize into a deep red claw extending from his elbow, hitting Kefka upward at the chin. 

This sends it back - but still, not enough. So he throws another claw, oozing flickering shadows through his arm and body, sending the clown flying. It lands on its back, rolling. But it misses the office building.

This was the exact move, long ago, used against his Master. With good intentions, he once swore. Powerful, instinctual, impulsive. Dark. It’s a natural glove that fits, unlike nothingness.

“I’m actually impressed,” he hears Xehanort say.

A compliment from the monster. Not again. 

Terra slouches over and coughs out bile.

“Are you alright?” Garnet asks, hovering her hand at the base of his neck. Warmth radiates like waves throughout his body, as though she is healing his nervous system. The headache and the nausea lift up and away.

Kefka stands up, and screeches. It’s time to move again. Behind some bushes. Xehanort follows and covers his mouth and nose with his cloak. 

The poisonous gas releases from its joints and neck, and they all wait until it dissipates into the air.

“I grow tired of this,” Xehanort says.

“Let’s trip it.” Terra summons the nameless Keyblade again into his left hand. “Or are you incapable of that?”

Xehanort glares, disappearing into his own portal, only to reappear behind the clown as it stumbles its way back toward them. He hits one ankle with a burst - which seems like it took way too much out of him. 

Kefka trips onto one knee.

“Not enough!” Terra yells. He eyes Garnet, who is hesitant at first. He nods, as if to give her his blessing.

She sends healing magic to Xehanort. He takes a deep breath before striking the other ankle with his might. The clown falls to its face.

The prime opportunity. Terra allows darkness to swirl around him, and he growls as he grips both Keyblades in the hardest blow he’s ever given, directly onto the clown’s face, like vehicles crashing.

It screams, like metal grinding.

Two gashes now stain its once indestructible face, showing the black skin underneath.

It attempts to grab Terra in a fury, and Garnet steps in front to summon another pillar of light so that it fails, falling to her knees when she’s finished.

Kefka grabs its own face, as if in pain. As if it was human again. 

But Garnet screams.

Two more Darksides approach them, bringing forth more Heartless.

“No…” Terra groans. He doesn’t have to tell her to run away, for she’s already doing so, although she is tumbling. She heads toward the alleyway by the hospital, where he placed the elixir minutes before.

Kefka comes to and makes its way to Terra, who pants harder just to keep himself standing straight. Xehanort growls loudly and twirls his Keyblade, a sphere of time energy rupturing throughout.

It’s quiet and frozen again. Except for Xehanort, who adjusts himself with such a frustration that it’s like watching a spiteful mother clean up a child.

“That impudent, minuscule, subordinate, worthless neophyte of a clown,” he says, throwing around fancy insults at the Heartless that is clearly striking a nerve with him tonight.

The first thing Terra looks for is the princess. In the alleyway, on the ground, looking up at a swarm of Heartless about to pounce. Her shortstaff is to her chest, her eyes exhausted and teary.

He attacks the Heartless, although the Stop magic doesn’t doesn’t give way to their destruction. Not yet, anyway. They barely move from his force. But he hits enough to be sure they’d be gone when time moves forward again. 

He checks the clock tower. Less than two minutes left until Kefka is gone for the night.

Terra takes a deep breath, his muscles sore and shaking from weariness. They are almost there.

Footsteps behind him. Xehanort eyes the clock tower as well, looking just as grateful.

“At last,” he says. He forms a grip into the air. Terra is thrown up against the wall telepathically, his wrists cemented to the brick behind him, both Keyblades gone in a crackle.

“I’ve been advised to practice patience, but no longer,” Xehanort says through his teeth, standing in front of Terra with his Keyblade in hand. “You’re too much trouble.”

Terra tries to wrestle with the invisible force, but he can’t. He can’t move anything. He cries out, because this can’t be the end. Xehanort holds his Keyblade in the air, aiming for the chest.

Garnet jumps from behind him and rams her shortstaff right into the back of Xehanort’s knee. He staggers and backhands her, where she collapses. She crawls back against the wall opposite, holding her hand up in fear in a futile attempt to protect herself.

“You insignificant brat,” Xehanort says as he raises his Keyblade against her.

But her hit releases Terra, and he tackles. One arm around the bastard’s chest, another twisting the armed wrist until the Keyblade is let go. Xehanort is a touch shorter than Terra, but he’s much thinner. He has no strength when magic is not involved. 

Terra throws him, slamming him onto the ground which makes him bounce and roll away.

With Garnet following, Terra grabs the duffel bag of elixirs on the way and slings them over his shoulder. Kefka begins moving again. They runs across the street until they get situated close enough to the office building.

“Stand your ground,” he tells Garnet.

“What are you going to do?” She holds her place directly by his side.

Kefka follows them with its gaze, and walks forward. The gashes make it uglier, its neck ruffle and shoulder pads burnt.

“Just trust me,” Terra says. He summons both Keyblades and waits.

“Terra?” she says, her voice shaking with nervousness. Xehanort comes to and is running out toward them.

“Stand your ground.”

The clown comes close enough.

Terra thrusts the teeth of both Keyblades into the ground. The earth pops and spews, breaking the mended stones in a trail until it reaches the office building -  specifically the corner wall where she planted the bomb on the first floor.

It explodes as Kefka steps right past it. The building starts to crumble, triggering the second bomb to go off by the clown’s face. It screams like before, deafening the quake as the earth opens up the cobblestones underneath him and the princess.

They fall as the ground gives up. Garnet lets out a high-pitched scream, but she’s barely audible in comparison to the ruckus. 

Xehanort slides to the edge of the open pit. He wears the face of someone who desperately missed his target, watching them splash into a rush of water below.

This chapter references Pixar’s Coco (2017).

A/N: I have defined the Spanish words and phrases used with context clues, but I wanted to make a note that some of it is Cuban slang (I can’t help it). There were definitely times where I had to be careful of what I was writing. For example, for “calavera” I nearly used “calabaza.” In Spanish, that means “pumpkin,” but Cubans use the names of food to describe lots of things. We use “calabaza” to mean sugar skull, and that’s why many people look at us like we’re crazy. For example, in the movie, Frida Kahlo prepares a papaya that she makes her clone dancers crawl out of. For us, a papaya is the word we use for the woman’s nether-regions. You can imagine what kind of context we understood those scenes to mean, LMAO.