#also melody pretending to be tall huh-

[shogunish]

𝗼𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿.

pairing. student! gojo satoru x reader

genre. fluff, slice of life, idiots in love

warnings. tooth-rotting fluff

summary. and when you laugh at his stupid comment, leaves of all colors and sizes in your hair, cheeks red from the low temperatures, he finally knows why you love autumn so much.

words. 901

note. don't imagine falling in love with toru in autumn, sharing hot chocolate, cozy movie dates and him giving you his sweater bc yours don't keep you warm enough

comments and reblogs are greatly appreciated! <3

satoru doesn't know why you love autumn so much when it's not only the busiest time for sorcerers, but also annoyingly windy with sudden downpours out of nowhere. days are cut short since the sun would set earlier than usual and dark skies would envelop tokyo at five pm instead of at nine in the late evening. autumn is the season in which everything starts dying or hiding away; may it be trees drying out and shedding their once lush leaves or that small hedgehog across the street searching for a cozy, safe place to hibernate.

a scowl rested on satoru's handsome face. the tip of his nose and the apples of his cheeks are bitten red by the chilly temperatures lingering in the streets. snot runs from his nostril and he sniffles. even the coat paired with the scarf wrapped around his neck can't stop his runny nose. satoru isn't sick, oh no. if anything, he's sick of the weather.

chilly temperatures always equal a runny nose for satoru.

he sighs, cerulean eyes rolling behind pitch black shades. "next time, you go on that walk by yourself. my doctor will hear about you if i get sick."

a light bounce is in your step. turning to face satoru, you smile at him. "stop exaggerating. i just wanted to see you and spend some time with you." satoru is right next to you, eyeing you from his peripheral. "you've been away so much ever since autumn came."

he just scoffs. luckily, satoru's cheeks are already red or else you would've called him out on the blush blooming across his cheeks. he likes to pretend to be tough and immune to your words when in reality, each of your honeyed words cut through his defenses like butter.

"must miss me real bad, huh? how cute." satoru puffs his chest out, proud of the comment he's just come up with.

a little pout rests upon your lips and all of a sudden, you feel a little shy, because yes, you do miss satoru real bad and feel almost..lonely without him. but with an ego as massive as satoru is tall, you can't give him that sort of satisfaction. so all you do is huff in response. "all i heard is that i'm cute."

selective hearing, hm?

despite the several layers of clothes hiding your skin and keeping you toasty warm, satoru knows how to worm his way through every single layer until he is underneath your skin, flustering you and making you feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside.

popping into your personal bubble, he wears a smug smirk on his chapsticked lips. "ohhh, you do miss me!" satoru chirps, tosses his arm around your shoulder and pulls you into his side.

occasionally, satoru forgets how strong he is compared to you and is a bit rougher with you than he should be. the pull is sudden, makes you squeak as you slip on a damp leaf and lose your balance. instead of finding yourself in satoru's arm, your butt lands in a pile of dried leaves.

dumbfounded you stare at satoru, owlishly blinking at him while a few leaves get stuck on the top of your head. he thinks he fucked up, will get a real good scolding from you, telling him to be more careful, but your nagging never comes.

instead, you laugh heartily with round cheeks and your teeth showing off. a melodious sound that fills the park and drips right into the cracks of satoru's heart, turning the snow into sweet, saccharine honey.

his heart does this funny thing again. the thing where it skips a beat and pumps just a tad bit harder, making him feel warm from the core up.

before satoru can even think about teasing you, a handful of leaves is flung right at his face and he finds himself laughing along with you. "what was that for?"

"for letting me fall and getting my ass wet!" you're still laughing, then your face scrunches up as satoru flings his own fistful of leaves at your face.

you begin chasing him with two fistfuls of leaves. suddenly, red, yellow and orange is stuck in his hair and you realize..it makes his eyes look even more mesmerizing than they already are. how unfair.

"not my fault you're getting your ass wet over me!"

oh, he's having the time of his life chasing you around the park, flinging dried leaves at each other and laughing so carelessly without a worry in the world. your laughter mixes with his, creating a symphony that only something akin to love could compose.

"oh, shut up, will you?!" playfully, you shove satoru into a pile of leaves, but if he's going down, he's taking you with him.

grabbing you by the collar, satoru falls into the pile of leaves with you and laughs alongside you. a tangled mess of limbs and puffs of white smoke fill the space around you. your head rests somewhere on satoru's chest while his arms and legs are sprawled out like a starfish.

"i'll only shut up if you make me, darling." satoru wiggles his eyebrows at you, all in good fun.

and when you laugh at his stupid comment, leaves of all colors and sizes in your hair, cheeks red from the low temperatures, he finally knows why you love autumn so much.

taglist; @torusmochi

[hendolish]

One more idea just pops up in my mind. Jack is a uni student. A brilliant one but he is weak in one subject (can be maths or chemistry or any other as per your liking). So he requested his professor to arrange a tutor for him and he recommends Hendo. Hendo is doing his masters and sometimes on professor's requests he also gives tuition to weak student.

Hendo and Jack works together and as a result Jack got distinction in his exams. But along the way they developed feelings and the rest you know.

jack grealish/jordan henderson | a lesson in love ♡

Jack, a charming and brilliant university student, strolled into the library's group room with an air of nonchalance that couldn't hide the nervousness within. His academic record was impressive, except for one glaring weakness – a subject that stubbornly eluded his understanding.

"Hey." Jack began, flashing his trademark grin to the man he finds there. His new tutor presumably. Jack had seen him around campus before, tall with dark stubble and ever-gelled hair, obviously much older than him.

The man greeted him in return and asked him what it is he's looking to get tutored in.

"I was thinking I could use a bit of assistance in, you know, chemistry. Numbers aren't really my thing."

Jordan, a Master's student and part-time tutor, raised an eyebrow at Jack's request. He was well aware of Jack's academic prowess among the faculty and couldn't help but wonder what had brought the lad to seek help.

"Chemistry, huh?" Jordan mused, tapping his pen on the desk. "I thought your charm could solve any equation."

So Jordan had heard of his reputation then... Jack chuckled, the sound echoing through the room like a melody. "Well, it turns out charm isn't very effective against a stubborn chemical reaction. So, can you help me out?"

Jordan pretended to consider it, though the truth was, he'd been secretly hoping for this opportunity. "I suppose I could fit you into my busy schedule. You're lucky, though. Chemistry is my specialty."

And so, their tutoring sessions began – a dance of knowledge, laughter, and a growing connection that neither could deny. The chemistry between them wasn't confined to textbooks; it was in the stolen glances, the accidental brushes of hands, and the way their laughter harmonised.

As the weeks passed, Jack's understanding of chemistry improved, thanks in no small part to Jordan's patient explanations and good-natured banter. They found themselves lingering after sessions, talking about anything and everything but chemistry. The tutoring had become an excuse to spend more time together.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon and the campus was bathed in the soft glow of streetlights, Jack couldn't contain the question that had been bubbling within him.

"Hendo, why did you become a tutor anyway? I mean, with your brains, you could be doing anything else."

Jordan leaned back, a thoughtful expression on his face. "I enjoy helping people understand things. And I like challenges. Besides, there's something about seeing the 'aha' moment in someone's eyes that's incredibly rewarding."

Jack nodded, absorbing Jordan's words. "You've certainly given me plenty of those 'aha' moments. I'm grateful, you know."

Jordan's gaze softened, and he smiled. "It's been my pleasure, Jack. You're a good student – just needed a bit of guidance."

Their eyes locked, and in that moment, the unspoken tension in the air became palpable. Jordan cleared his throat, breaking the gaze.

"Well, you passed your exams with flying colours. I'd say my job here is done," he teased.

Jack, however, wasn't about to let the moment slip away. "Is it, though?" he retorted, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I might need a refresher course. Private lessons, perhaps?"

Jordan rolled his eyes, but the warmth in them betrayed his true feelings. "You're insufferable, Grealish."

Jack closed the distance between them, his voice dropping to a whisper. "But you love it."

The banter faded, replaced by a charged silence. The chemistry they'd been studying was nothing compared to the magnetic pull drawing them together. Jordan cupped Jack's face, and the room seemed to hum with anticipation.

Their lips met, a collision of longing and desire. It was a kiss that transcended the academic realm they'd been confined to, igniting a connection that went beyond chemistry – a connection written in the stars and sealed in a stolen moment between tutoring sessions.

As the kiss deepened, the chemistry they'd been studying became an afterthought. In the quiet room, illuminated only by the soft glow of the desk lamp, Jack and Jordan discovered that some equations can’t be solved on paper alone.

♡

[rapono-writes-stuff]

Excerpt from a fic I might end up not posting:

Mostly cuz it's a very simplified version of a plot brainworm I've had for the past few months, mixed with my lack of confidence in understanding the fandom source material. Also it's not even finished yet lol.

◇◇◇

The new stranger is familiar, and the hunter doesn't know why.

Tall, too tall, and blind, hair a stark white. Eyes always closed, and yet used their keen hearing to move as if they could see. Nothing about her was familiar, the hunter would've definitely remembered someone so vividly unordinary.

And yet, the song she often hummed scratched something familiar in the back of their mind, an undeniable feeling they'd heard it before. And for some reason, it made their guts twist with a terror they couldn't quite recall, a memory that refused to surface, but was undeniably there.

“Where'd you learn that song?”

They'd eventually been brave enough to ask, pretending they hadn't been putting off doing so, the stranger turning their head to face them, despite never opening their sightless eyes.

“…I can’t recall. Known it as long as I can remember.”

With that, they sung the beautiful tune once more, the mountains carrying their voice. The hunter stood and listened, as if the melody didn't strike them with prey-animal fear.

They dream of losing a hunt that night, but can’t recall what the monster they face looks like.

---

Today, the stranger approaches them first.

“What's troubling you little hunter? I can sense the tension in your limbs.”

They bite their tongue. They don’t want to admit the truth, make her stop singing, but they can’t find a lie.

“Your song is familiar, but I can’t recall why.”

Her posture stiffens, if only for a moment, a beat of silence unbroken. It feels a little too long, before her answer comes.

“Interesting. I wonder why.”

There's an old flatness to her tone, but the hunter doesn’t question it.

They notice she sings it less frequently around them after that, as if she knows the fear it brings. Only catching the tune in the distance, but quieting to silence as they grow close.

The hunter regrets their words, despite the fear it caused, they hadn't wanted this.

-----

The stranger has become a stranger no more. Still unusual, yes, but proving herself in the hunt, despite her lack of sight. A fellow hunter, a friend.

The song loses its bite, the tune becoming familiar for a new reason. Her voice is beautiful, and carries far, able to hear her from across the village on good day.

She no longer shies away when the hunter approaches, as they come to sit and listen.

-----

“Would you still fight alongside with me if I was a monster?”

The question catches the hunter off guard, an unusual question,

“Huh?”

She elaborates.

“If I was turned into a monster, would you hunt me?

Instinctually, a part of them pounces on a yes, of course. She would be a danger to them and everyone if such a horrible thing happened. And yet, they hesitate to answer, as a smaller, quieter voice is the one to break the silence, put the words on their tongue.

“…I don’t know.”

And it, unlike the first answer, feels more like the truth.

The former stranger smiles.

“I'd hope, at the very least, you'd hesitate.”

[makerofmadness]

I accidentally posted the previous thing early so here’s more stuff (sorry everyone):

Melody: I dunno if I'm ready to process the ramifications of this bullshit.

-

Felix: Andy's first detention, I'm so proud. Melody: Whoa, back up. Why did they get detention? Claus: Because they're an idiot. Margret, terrified: They can do that??

-

Melody: Are you tall enough to play basketball though? Claus: Are you calling me short? Melody: I'm calling you vertically challenged.

-

Peter: When do you usually go to sleep? Melody: Whenever I collapse is entirely up to the gods.

-

Andy: I’m here for the cult stuff. Margret: How did you find us? Andy: I saw your ad on craigslist.

-

Margret: Could you maybe just like… stab me… right in the gut. Just REALLY twist it in there. ‘Cause that honestly seems less painful than this conversation.

-

Andy: But when all hope seemed lost, I had an epiphany! Andy, earlier: I'm going to throw myself into the sea.

-

Claus: ...My man Andy just killed a goldfish. Andy: *licking their lips* Yup. Delicious.

-

Peter: You’re charged with…..breaking into a pet store? Claus: I thought the animals might be lonely.

-

Margret: Die. Claus: Please don't die! Margret: DIE! Claus: PLEASE DON'T DIE! Felix, confused: Why are they yelling at a plant? Andy, watching while eating popcorn: They bought it together and Claus wants Margret to accept it as their kid.

-

Melody: Oh god, they texted you ‘hi.’’ punctuation only means one thing, Claus. They're mad at you. Claus: No, it's Felix. They're just being gramatically correct! *meanwhile* Felix: And then I used a period so they'd know that I'm mad at them. Andy: A period doesn't say 'I'm mad', it says 'you're dead to me'. Felix: I stand by my choice.

-

Melody: What do rainbows mean to you? Claus: Gay rights. Andy: There's money. Margret: The sign of God's promise to never destroy the whole Earth with a flood. Peter: It is an optical phenomenon that separates sunlight into its continuous spectrum when the sun shines on raindrops.

-

Felix: Don’t stay up all night, Peter. Last time you got this sleep-deprived, you tried to eat your own shirt.

-

Melody: Being half asleep and feeling someone gently plant a kiss on your forehead is one of the purest kinds of love in the world. Peter: Unless you're home alone.

-

Melody: You are a solid 11/10. Margret: Aw, thank- Melody: Which is 1.1 because you look like shit.

-

Claus: So, according to my university, it is, quote, “my responsibility if there is an internet outage to contact the faculty and the department.” Claus: Now, if you’re a critical thinker like me, you might be wondering one thing. Claus: HOW THE FUCK AM I SUPPOSED TO EMAIL THE DEPARTMENT?!?!?!

-

Claus: Goddamn it, the printer broke while printing out Margret's birthday invitations. Peter: Well, what are they supposed to say? Claus: "Margret's birthday". Peter: So, what do they say instead? Claus: "Margret’s bi". Peter: Peter: Works out either way.

-

Peter: Blue M&Ms are the best. Claus: whAT IS THIS SLANDER? Peter: What about it? They are. Claus: I WILL NOT ALLOW SUCH LIES ON MY CHRISTIAN MINECRAFT SERVER! Claus: THE RED ONES ARE THE BEST! Peter: YEAH? WELL YOUR MOM'S A HO! Margret: They're all chocolate inside, the colors don't mean anything. Melody: I like the yellow ones. Peter and Claus: SHUT THE FUCK YOUR MOUTH!

-

Andy: I'm not a morning person. I'm barely even a person.

-

Claus: New year, same me. Because I'm perfect.

-

*Everyone is giving advice to Claus* Melody: It's okay to ask for help. Margret: You're not a burden. Andy: Murder is okay. Felix: Your feelings matter.

-

Melody: I feel awful about killing you. Margret: Melody: Even though technically you never even died, so I don’t know what you’re bitching about.

-

Peter: I’ve never been in a snowball fight before. I don’t know the rules. Felix: What? Peter: Is there a point system, or is it to the death?

-

Margret: You played me! Andy: Like the cheap kazoo you are!

-

Peter: Ah, Hello again. We really need to stop meeting like this. Felix: Maybe we would, if you would sTOP BREAKING INTO MY FUCKING HOUSE!!!

-

Melody: You remind me of the ocean. Andy: Because I'm deep and mysterious? Melody: No, because you're full of salt and you scare people.

-

Claus: Uh, Felix? Peter is in the pool and I don't think they're waterproof. Felix: What? Andy: I think they meant, Peter is drowning. Felix: WHAT?! *Meanwhile* Peter: *is drowning* Melody: OH MY GOD, PETER! KEEP SWIMMING! Peter: I can't swim, dumbass— *sinks* Melody: PETER!

-

Felix: Do we have any orange juice left? Melody: *pours the remaining juice into their cup* Melody: Sorry, we’re all out.

-

Melody: We either die free, or die trying! Claus: Are those the only choices?

-

Andy: I am going to need you to swear- Felix: Fuck. Andy: Andy: ...swear as in promise.

-

Peter: I need to dye my hair. Andy: ... Peter: Or get another tattoo. Andy: ... Peter: Or a new piercing. Andy: Why? Peter: To, you know, appease the mental breakdown gods.

-

Melody: Yeah, I don’t like people. Felix: Oh, well now that’s not fair Melody. Have you met all of them? Melody: I’ve met enough of them. People. What a bunch of bastards!

-

Peter: Who wants to make fifty bucks? Margret: How? Peter: I need someone to take the fall. Margret: What did you do? Peter: I can't tell you. Yes or no, no questions asked. Melody, from the other room: Oh my god. Peter: ... Melody: OH MY GOD! Margret: Make it a hundred. Peter: Deal.

-

Margret: *Plays Slender: The Eight Pages* *Jumpscare* Margret: *Jumps back* OH SHIT, IT'S A WHITE GUY!!!

-

Peter: I once went on holiday and pretended to be twins. It was amazing fun. I invented this mad, glamorous sibling and went around really annoying everybody. And d'you know, I could get away with anything when I was my crazy twin Peter. Melody: But you're Peter. Peter: Kinda stuck. It’s a long story.

-

Andy, holding a gun: If the conspiracies about life being a simulation are true WHOEVERS CONTROLLING MY SIM I JUST WANNA TALK.

-

Melody: Andy, you’re such a genius! Andy: Yes, I know.

-

Margret: What do you call quantums of electromagnetic radiation that don’t get along? Andy: What did you just say- Margret: Foetons! *Laughs* Andy: Wh-what?

-

Andy: I got an idea! Claus: Does it involve breaking the law? Andy: By now don’t you think that’s a given? Claus: I was just trying to be optimistic. Andy: Don’t bother.

-

Demon: Hey, I took your soul last month and- Margret: No returns. Demon: *sobbing* But it's making me sad...

[pillow-anime-talk]

his talented baby. {pt.1}

synopsis: You as a person with a huge (and hidden) talent, and also a girl who really surprises your boyfriend.

# tags: scenarios; current relationships; romance; fluff; some PDA; sfw

includes: female reader ft. ken kaneki & nishiki nishio {tokyo ghoul} + yuuma isogai & itona horibe {assclass}

— KEN (ft. singing)

Your closest friends invited you to a popular karaoke bar on one Friday night to celebrate a successfully passed semester in college. Of course, you couldn’t forget about your lovely boyfriend, who was at the same university, but in a different field (i.e. Japanese literature) and always supported you with all his might, knowing how much you want to do your dream job in the future.

So you went to the meeting together, and on the way to the designated place you talked all the time about what the next year of study would bring you. As soon as you reached the room where your three closest besties and one male friend were waiting for you, you both greeted them warmly, immediately taking off your thick coats and taking your seats on a soft, leather couch next to a table filled with tasty-looking snacks and colorful drinks.

Long minutes of conversations between the six of you resulted in drunk plenty of alcohol and blushes on the faces. After drinking, you always got more talkative and more self-confident, so you suggested using the TV and the karaoke machine. Of course, you first offered your friends and Ken to sing something, but they all declined, saying that you should start as an initiator. One of the girls, blonde-haired Minami, smiled at you with a sparkle in her pretty golden eyes, adding that you are the best in this and you should show how to do it correctly. You chuckled in response, waving your hand at her to dismiss compliment.

Kaneki, on the other hand, frowned as he looked at the boy who was sitting on his right.

“... Oh, you don’t know? Y/N-san hasn’t yet praised herself to you that she has a wonderful voice? Huh, huh.” The black-haired boy shook his head, reaching for the glass filled with blue something again. “Hmmm, well. Normally Y/N’s very shy, but she always sings at trips when she’s drunk.” He chuckled while you picked one of your favorite songs in the meantime. So everyone looked at your standing figure, then heard the characteristic sounds from one of Selena Gomez’s songs coming from the gray speakers.

“My dear, I dedicate it to you~!” You looked with joy on your face towards the eighteen-year-old, giving him a quick wink, and then you started your little performance with ‘Love you like a love song’ from the above-mentioned artist.

Your friends didn’t seem surprised and instead started clapping to the beat of the music... but Ken’s eyes widened and he spat out his high-percentage drink, not knowing how to react to the fact that for nine, long months of your relationship, you concealed the fact that you could sing so well and so beautifully. Your voice was perfect for the song that was playing now, and you seemed to be having a great time – there was a huge smile on your lips, your eyelids were slightly closed and your hand was over your heart. If it weren’t for the fact that you were at a karaoke bar, everyone would definitely think you are playing a concert on the biggest stage in Tokyo city.

After the song was over, another girl got up to present a completely different choice, and you handed her the dark microphone, bowing in the process.

Kaneki still seemed speechless and as soon as you sat down next to him, he immediately kissed you on the warm forehead, asking you to sing more to him, especially when you two are going to be alone, because he probably fell in love with you once again and just wanted to experience that love every day thereafter.

— NISHIKI (ft. ballet)

Nishiki, as a pharmacy student, didn’t have much time for extra-curricular activities or unnecessary meetings; in addition, the fact that he was a bloodthirsty ghoul and had to watch over himself made it difficult for him to function normally in the life of Kamii University. However, the brown-haired man always found time for you, for his beloved girlfriend.

You had been dating for over three, long years, and the man definitely couldn’t imagine his own life without you by his side. You knew each other better than anyone else in this world, but sometimes some tiny things of your ordinary day eluded Nishio; of course you understood it perfectly and you weren’t angry or disappointed with him. After all, he had to protect himself, you, take care of his specific menu, be vigilant at every step, and additionally he had to pretend to be the perfect student, senpai (or kouhai) and friend of other people.

So you weren’t surprised when one day you handed him a silverish ticket for probably the most important show of your life and he just looked at you in wonderment. At the beginning, the twenty-year-old asked if it was a performance related to singing or playing an instrument due to the fact that the colorful paper didn’t tell him too much, but you just smirked as you tweaked the unruly, soft hair on his head.

“Hmm. If you don’t remember what I do in my free time, it’s even better, I guess. Come and see it for yourself, honey. I think that thanks to this you will even calm down a little and rest due to the recent weeks.” You announced in a light tone of voice, and the young man sighed under his breath.

“So... I’ll find out in three days, am I right?” He made sure by correcting his glasses and you nodded, then grabbing his rough hand and kissing his cool cheek. A short while later you suggested going to your apartment and catching up on a few episodes of your favorite series that you started quite recently.

The anticipation of your important day passed very quickly and on Saturday, at 6 p.m., when everyone took their seats (with your boyfriend sitting on one of the balconies with the best view of the stage), delicate music was played in the theater, which made everyone shiver on the whole body. Until then, the brown-eyed boy somewhere in the back of his head had the impression that it was a theater performance or an opera, but when he saw your person appear on stage in a beautifully tailored dress and ballet shoes, all the questions that flickered in his mind disappeared in literally one second.

‘Well, yeah. I remember now. She always told me about ballet classes and new shoes.’ A huge, proud smirk came on his pale face and you glanced out of the corner of your eye towards his VIP seat.

Though your expression was cold and composed, you felt an enormous heat in your small heart as the man waved at you, showing two thumbs up. His lips moved even slightly, and although Nishiki tried to hide it, you knew perfectly well that the pink blush and mute ‘I love you’ was sincere and even better than being able to play Odetta, the White Swan, in a ballet spectacle.

— YUUMA (ft. songwriting and guitar playing)

Christmas at school was never what you enjoyed; maybe due to the fact that before, your classmates on main campus were quite specific and you definitely didn’t fit with their strange ‘ideals’. It was only in the class E that you felt that you could find real friends or people who would share your ideas.

But, hmm. Still, you seemed to stand out from the rest of the girls in the class who had more... down-to-earth hobbies or characters than you; Okuda liked chemistry and was really excellent at it, Kirara loved reading, Rio was the best at English and had a great sense of fashion, and Toka was pretty good at cooking. Contrary to them, you preferred to... do more ‘intimate’ things. Writing short poems filled your heart with peace and prevented you from being as critical of yourself as usual. And when you wrote the lyrics of the songs, made notes or melodies to them and sang quietly, you could feel like a real artist that everyone wanted to admire and imitate.

Therefore, when your first and last class holidays with the rest of the 3-E students were fast approaching, Koro-sensei was the one who asked you for a short talk. You weren’t sure what this was about, but moments later your uncertainties were dispelled.

“Y/N-san, I think you mistook your notebooks today and instead of giving me your homework, you gave to me... this.” He said in his as always happy voice, and seeing the black notebook in which you always wrote songs and notes, you blushed all over your face, apologizing profusely for the mistake. “Huh? But this is no mistake, my dear. If it weren’t for this, I would never even think that we have such a talented soul in Class 3-E. So would you like to perform in front of the rest of the students and teachers during the holidays?” The easy question made you widen your eyes and sighed.

“I-I’ve never played in front of anyone, so...” You admitted shyly, and the tall, yellow octopus just chuckled.

“I’m pretty sure they will love it. We can practice together.”

Well, you couldn’t refuse (especially when Koro-sensei offered to bring your favorite, foreign snacks...) and on class Christmas day you showed up with your acoustic guitar and a notebook full of chords and songs. Everyone was surprised and curious at how well you play guitar. After all, you’ve never even mentioned that you can play any instrument before. On the other hand, the class representative, and your boyfriend at the same time, immediately came up to you, asking if you were really okay; better than anyone else, Isogai knew that you didn’t like too much attention and big crowds. But you reassured him it was okay and promised your teacher you would do it, so you smiled at him and then took your seat under the blackboard with a wooden guitar on your lap.

The song you chose for the day was a song you wrote quite recently. It had a little bit of magic, and at the same moment it seemed very romantic and delicate. Even Karma seemed delighted with your beautiful play and soft voice that echoed from time to time between the walls of huge classroom.

At the end of the song, you decided to raise your gaze and simultaneously look at your all friends, three teachers and other half; everyone was really happy and positively speechless. So you gave Yuuma a slight wink, making him blush sweetly.

The young teenager definitely hoped you would show him more of your songs someday, not necessarily the happy Christmas carols Kaede and Ritsu asked for.

— ITONA (ft. dancing)

“... You never mentioned that you can dance.” He admitted softly, and you squeezed his smooth hand tighter.

“So... I mention it right now. It’s not a big deal, baby. I just ... like it and enjoy it a lot.” You giggled as you correcting the black sports bag over your shoulder, then opened the heavy door to the training room, immediately jumping up at the sound of loud squeals and greetings from your closest friends. “Guys, this is Itona Horibe, my boyfriend that I told to you before! Love, it’s Aki-chan, Yui-chan, Kazuya-kun, Saburo-kun, and our cameraman and editor Ryuu senpai. Most often, the five of us cooperate with each other when it comes to dance in groups of five people. And... today we are going to cover a song so I hope you’ll like it. I’ll go change and you all, please, don’t scare my boyfriend and give him something to drink!”

As a group leader, you often came up with choreographies and warm-ups for yourself and others. So, it couldn’t be otherwise this time. For the last week and a half you have been practicing the choreo you came up with and today you were supposed to record material for the video on your quite popular YouTube account. You were extremely excited, not only with the new content, but most of all with the fact that your beloved one would be able to watch it live and evaluate your skills that have been refined over the years. So as soon as you got back to the teens waiting for you, you kissed the light-blue-haired quickly on the right cheek and told him that he could sit against the wall, close to the table full of snacks and the contact for charging the phone.

Then you talked with everyone for a while, doing a short warm-up and reminding the cameraman about how to move the cam. A few short minutes later, you lined up in the middle of a huge white room with Ryuu in front of you. You knelt down in the center, of course, gently moving your shoulders to calm your rapidly pounding heart and heavy breathing, and when a song by Ariana Grande started playing all over the bright room, you all looked at the already activated camera, shaking your heads and then you got up from the wooden floor.

Itona... was speechless. He has never seen people dancing before, he has never even been interested in others, only you and what you like. Today he got to know your little passion, which turned out to be a breathtaking talent, and the boy wondered if you could do anything else; are you good at one specific dance genre or are you able to move your body in a completely different rhythm than he currently saw?

From Koro-sensei’s history lessons, when you two were in junior high, the eighteen-year-old remembered perfectly well that there is also classical dance, tango and breakdance. So could you also do that? He had to ask you about it later.

But now his curious gaze was focused on you and your huge, radiant smile, and the sound of feet hitting the ground. He also looked at your legs, tiny hands, stomach, and hair, while he wondered if he might learn to dance too, to be even closer to you and your hobby. After all, you looked so beautiful and so joyful... He wanted to share these emotions.

[hermitcraftheadcanons]

AU Raffle: Cryptid AU!

[COMPLETE]

The result of the random selection was the Cryptid AU! Multiple people suggested this, so I'm looking forward to hearing all the ideas and extensions you guys will come up with. This will be a masterpost collecting them all, and it will be pinned for the duration of the AU.

Original suggestion: "For the Raffle. Cryptid AU. None of the Hermits are truly human and they all are really powerful cryptids that are hiding their true nature. The catch! Every Hermit thinks the other Hermits are totally normal and they are the only cryptid one. Hilarity ensures with everyone trying to explain the extrange things that keep happening "

Some ideas I came up with:

- every Hermit is a cryptid or monster of some kind, except for Grian, who is fully human and completely clueless about everything that's going on (suggested by a previous ask)

- Team ZIT is an investigation group trying to prove the existence of cryptids, but each one of them is subtly trying to sabotage the investigation to hide their own cryptid-ness. None of the three know the other two are also cryptids. Hilarity ensues.

- Xisuma probably knows what's going on with everyone, but he's not saying anything

- Mumbo is doing an absolutely horrible job of hiding that he's a cryptid, but somehow people still don't notice. Iskall is probably the closest to figuring it out.

- VintageBeef has already figured out that Keralis isn't human, but Keralis is bribing him to keep quiet

I hope that's enough to get the ball rolling! Send in your ideas using asks, and I'll put them down here!

If you need ideas about which cryptid would fit best with which Hermit, this list may be helpful.

Anonymous Additions:

- I feel like xisuma should be some kind of shapeshifter

- cleo was brought back to life by a family that loved her very much- or at least, that was what they tried to do. in reality, they brought a completely new soul back in the body of a deceased relative. cleo felt uncomfortable around people who thought she was a different person than she was, so she ran away and eventually befriended the hermits bc she just felt ~drawn to them~. she disguises her bloodless skin and lack of body heat with thick clothes and lots of makeup

- Cleo, of course, is a zombie, but she also has ties to Cthulu that she doesn't really try to hide, but that people overlook all the time. I'm just saying, an avatar of an eldritch being having to be a zombie kinda makes sense...

- Cthulu needed a body, and this kind family was nice enough to supply one! It was kinda their fault really, praying to ancient gods and making deals without reading the fine print. Cleo might feel guilty, but it wasn't on her, not really

- cryptid au: joe isn't a human, but a changeling: a shapeshifting, nonhuman entity that evolved to invade human families like a cuckoo. he has the ability to bend light to make illusions, but he normally just uses his powers to make himself appear human. however he does like to make all lime green things he sees invisible, for the lulz

- What about mumbo being a vampire, it just introduces the idea of so many odd behaviors that the others are just oblivious to

- What if ren is a werewolf(I know it isn't original) and he just thinks of the other hermits as his pack and is therefor very protective of them

- Obligatory Ren is a Werewolf for the Cryptid AU. He is acts like a gigant puppy when he is in wolf form. Nobody questions why sometimes they found a gigant wolf trying to play fetch with them. But nobody is complaining. Everyone talks about it and Ren is just upset because the gigant pupper has never come to see him. Surprise!! Not even Ren knows he is a werewolf

- idk if your still doing cryptid stuff because i don't really know how this works but,, what if everyone thinks that Grian Is Something when he's not. They keep trying to figure it out by asking him weird questions or trying to get him to do weird stuff, but he still stays completely oblivious. And then since Xisuma knows what everyone is, he thinks it's hilarious trying to watch everyone try to find something that isn't there.

- Cryptid au: Doc has made it obvious that he is a cryptid like, he explains it so obviously even an idiot would tell that he's one, But no one has figured out yet. So after the 15th time of explaining things he decides to present how he's a cryptid, by making a goatess.

- For the au, I have 2 ideas for grian, either he is very outspoken about not believing in the super natural, or he very much does believe in the supernatural, either way he unknowingly befriends multiple cryptids and is very confused

- Cryptic AU: Tango has fire for hair, and no ones really questioned as to why?

- What if false was a siren, just because it seems like an interesting idea (my addition: Wels would also make a great siren)

- Stress seems like the type to be an elf, graceful and cheerful, and of course admiring nature's beauty

- What if Impulse was mothman, I like this idea because of the whole team zit being paranormal investigators and they just go looking for mothman on one trip, and Impulse is just standing there probably feeling a bit awkward

- If Impulse is Mothman and he can fly and Tango is like a fire demon that controls fire, is only fair that Zed is an aquatic Cryptid. Maybe related to a lake monster or he is a Sea Serpent

- Yeti Iskall getting used to the hot environment of the Jungle??? Maybe?

- i have no clue how this works but etho is related to ningen in a way (Antarctic sea creatures from Japanese folklore)

- Joe's poems seem to stick in your head, echoing around for hours after you hear them, ringing between your ears. Their subjects vary, but they often seem eerily prophetic, warnings encased in rhythm and rhyme. Sometimes you swear you can hear the soft scritch of a pen on paper, before you realize you are the only one around.

- Wait how the hell would jevin hide that fact he's a slime? Better yet how do the other hermits not put to and to together? Through I think jevin probably wouldn't even bother trying to hide it, I mean he's a huge blob of slime how would you not be able to tell

(my response, summarized) Jevin inhabits a body of slime because that's the easiest way to hide his true form. "Jevin" is a non-physical entity that can possess other lifeforms by destroying their will. He chose a slime this time because it was easy and inconspicuous.)

- Cryptid au: Team ZIT have a headquarters and they all pitched in to commission Etho to make their door bell chime, the ghost busters theme, and afterward interrogated Etho to the ground.

- Doc is not a creeper with cyborneticts. Doc is the AI that came with the cyborneticts and over-wrote the conciousness of the creeper. Figured that making Doc something else would be too dificult so maybe subverting what he is with what we got alredy is enough (like you did with Jevin)

- I am putting this here for vampire mumbo in the au because the thought will not leave my head. It's dark, and mumbo's eyes seem to reflect light very well, his canine teeth seem just a bit too long and sharp, they seem to be stained red,was he always this tall? Something about him seems off, he seems very elegant in this darkness.

- cryptid au: when joe was young, he was ignored so much that he turned invisible. you can still see his shadow but you could look directly at him and not see him there with the best tools. he disguises himself by staying quiet, using text to communicate with the other hermits or by covering himself with clothes and masks so nobody would be able to see his body even if he wasnt invisible.

- For the au I think that Iskall could be a dryad because of his base this season

- Imagine if you will: Tango leaves town for a bit so the team ZIT can't do their "investigations". Impulse gets bored and decided to pretend to kidnap Zedaph in mothman-form. When Tango returns, Zedaph tells him how he almost was kidnapped by Mothman (and is over-exaggerating on every detail)

- What if in the au there is a situation where team zit is in some sort of danger, and so each of them just independently decide that they have to reveal the fact of their cryptid selves, and they just collectivly think,"huh. Okay." And after they are safe, they just talk about it as a group

- Beef is big foot.

- Biffa looks like a robot or cyborg, which one? He won't say. Maybe its because its neither, maybe he's just a walking body with a mind, maybe he's just a suit of armor roaming the world, maybe a spirit or ghost from the past, maybe a mob whose inhabited and pilots the body, maybe he's just Biffa. Only he knows, but he won't say

- Cryptid AU: I’m just imagining zedaph or tango throwing a bell at grian in an attempt to “capture” him under the suspicion that he’s part fae or something at a server meeting

- About Cryptid!Wels, sometimes, when the night is dark and the world is silent, you'll hear it; a soft voice in the darkness. You can't help but listen to it as you get lost in the song, swaying to the melody as your foot moves to the beat. The song gets louder and your feet are more frantic as they seem to take you somewhere. Suddenly, the voice stops singing and so you stop moving, and when you open your eyes you find yourself on the edge of the cliff overlooking the ocean. The siren lurks near

- Doc isnt a Creeper with cybrog parts but a robot made to look like a creeper, that arm and eye? yea just exposed parts from years of just not caring enough. He's waiting to see when someone will call him out on it. So far, only TFC and X but they like to watch how long this will go. Doc isnt even hiding anymore, he loves to mess with Grian by making remarks that imply he's a robot but Grian just can't figure it out

- tbh I love the idea of Joe as a regular human who just acts super cryptic and strange, and has a bit of skill at poetry. others try and figure out what he is, and he's just vibing in a corner, the last one anyone would expect to be the sole normal person on the server

- Cryptid AU. Joe and Cleo as the ‘One Bagel. No!! Two bagels!’ Vine. Joe being the one that asked and Cleo ignoring Cthulhu

- Joe starts sharing different ideas of what he could be, and only Cleo knows (mostly... she's the closest at least). Joe's mystery is a Hermitcraft classic, greeting every hermit except X, who still only has what Joe's told him to go on. He delights in the chaos he causes

- Scar is a poltergeist, he hides it well. One time Grian caught him using his powers, after scar fessed up, in private, they both bring some amount of chaos to the server, but not to much so the ZIT crypt hunters, name in progress, don't know about the chaos, thus not puting the duo in danger.

- Mumbo might be a vampire, but it isn’t for blood (at least, not anymore). Only Grian has come close to figuring it out, and it’s due to seeing how refreshed and satisfied his friend looks after being around 2+ groups of people. If only he would just straight up and ask. - 🦊

- Rather last minute but do you have any ideas of how Evil Xisuma could fit into this? Would he be a shapeshifter as well. A copy of X's true form? A demon haunting Xisuma? Just X's pesky brother? There's a handful of ideas I can't personally decide what would fit best. Maybe none of them at all, who know?

Cryptid Au. Xisuma shapeshifts for fun. Thats how we get Turtle!Xisuma, Beesuma and Stridersuma. All hermits just assume X changes his suit because they have never seen his face so there is no way for them to know he shifts. Also clasic headcanon that TFC is Herobrine and he is just laying low in Hermitcraft after years of going around worlds. Everyone knows the legend about Herobrine but have not connected the dots yet because TFC is just everyone’s grandpa. No way he could be Herobrine.

- @/ivi-prism

- While most might assume that Grian would be a harpy, its actully Scar. He's incredibly flexable in Human form, hes able to manuver his foot behind his head, and moret than once has Cub walked in on Scar with a living fish in his mouth. He never questioned it because "Hey, Vex magics weird."

- Imagine- sytyr Zedaph and Fae Impulse walking in on Willowwisp Tango who,because willowwisps are typically tiny, shrunk in response to panic and is now stuck in a caldron. I think that be hilarious. Just the idea of impulse going-"YOUR A CRYPTID?" while Zed just "WAIT I KNEW I DIDNT BURN THOSE PAPERS!" Which leads into a discussion of ZIT internal sabotage, and suddenly ZIT invesigation changes direction from "Are cryptids real" to "Is anyone else a Cryptid cause this cannot be a Coincidence"

- @/crypticalwitch

- Cryptic AU: Tango can also control his hair, to an extent. He can slick it back, but it still looks like burning embers. It's a bit mesmerizing

- Cryptid AU: Cub was a normal guy, maybe with some weirder interests, before the Vex. "Playing" with their magic too much is what made him a cryptid. So maybe he understands that the other hermits aren't exactly "human". But it isn't his business, and it means they don't question what the Vex get him into, so he just doesn't say anything about it

- Cryptic AU: Team ZIT's strongest evidence for Grian is the fact he's a master with an elytra, especially since he first said he "might use it a little bit" for long journeys. He's flown into a dark hole in a dark wall that's barely big enough to fit him multiple times, with ease, among other risky stunts that would get other hermits killed. The fact there's not much else to go on, besides his pranking zeal only matched by Zed himself, drives them up the wall

- Cryptic AU: when you stay out too long at night, you might start to feel watched. You'll turn around and nobody is there, but still you feel eyes on your back, and the breeze always seems hot and brushes your neck like too-close breathing and a hand. Finally, you catch it: a familiar figure that stands too stiffly, always just too far away to name. Then it vanishes with an airy shriek, and phantoms descend from the stars. Bdubs did always say the worst things happen in the night.

- Cryptic AU: Impulse's smiles are just a little too big. If you look at one too long, you feel as though it's stretching wider and wider, the cheery shine in his eyes twisting into a hungry gleam, but then you blink and he's back to normal ol Impulse and you question if you really saw anything. That time you saw his smile glinting in the darkness just beyond your bed must've been a nightmare. Your imagination.

- Cryptic AU: Don't look into his eyes. Look in, and you will see the universes. Billions of stars, trillions of futures, all impossibly swirling together, hauntingly beautiful. You'll fall down, down, down through the glittering spirals, until with a breathtaking snap you're on your knees, on solid ground. You're lucky he doesn't want to keep you, like others might. The lives and worlds you glimpsed will echo through your mind, weave through your dreams. Do not fear. Do not look into his eyes.

- The mountain is his territory. If you enter it unbidden, he will ensure you leave, lucky to keep your life. His contraptions are nonsense, seeming to serve no purpose other than to confuse. They distract from how the air crackles on your skin, how it tastes of storms and thunder. They distract how, from the corner of your eye, Zedaph's limbs are too long, fingers with too many knuckles and legs with too many knees. All angles and bones, like his designs. Do not look too closely at his garden.

- Everyone learned not to ask about him. Mostly because in trying to form the question, you'll find the words slipping from your mind. So Tango's hair burns, his eyes are red cherries. In the darkness he glows, the embers of a forgotten fire. His skin is always hot, almost feverish, yet he isnt sick. If he gets too close to lava, the illusion fades, reveals the magma that forms his skin. Illusion? No, that was just a burn. He relishes the smoke and rubble of explosions. Control. Always controlled.

- xB doesn't mind being away from the other hermits. It's quiet there; far enough away that most aren't bothered to prank him. He doesn't like surprises. Surprises get people hurt. Gets his friends hurt. His guardians appreciate the still predictability. The calm. Yes, he prefers to sit back, quiet, and watch. If he looks too long, bad things happen. So he observes it all, never focusing too much on one detail, never letting them go unseen. It prevents surprises.

- Because that last one wasn't all that clear, xB is a guardian-based cryptid! While nothing seems inhuman about him at a glance, he has a close affinity to water, and when threatened the spines he hides with his clothes will stick out. (Guardians only spawn in water, but they actually don't suffocate in air! Though their desperate flopping is a sad sight to behold) Plus, laser-eyes

- Xisuma wasn't always able to change his form as easily or drastically as he can now. But by now, he's forgotten his own face. Now, he'll feel his skin, his body begin to itch with the need to change. He's glad the hermits don't seem to care when he does. Keralis's mimicry was a surprise, but a welcome one. He feels less alone. Loneliness is how he would lose himself. He's scared of that possibility.

- When he sleeps, he walks through the minds of those whose eyes met his, as if it were his own dream. He'll hear their thoughts as if they were his own. He doesn't like this. It feels like an invasion. He feels like a parasite, and maybe he is. Whoever he dreamed through last, they seem exhausted and jumpy after, while he feels energized, near invincible. It's through this ability he knows their deepest secrets, but they aren't his to tell. Sometimes, he wishes he could understand. (Xisuma pt 2)

- Cryptid AU: another reason that Grian cant possibly be a human is his clothes. Just. How does he have something for every occasion. He even has a janitor one? Why did he have that? This "man" doesn't own a single closet yet has at least 20 different costumes-- not to mention you blink and he's changed! Wh- he had a REAPER costume for himself AND SCAR???

- @/basaltdragon

- Cryptid AU: Grian used to be against cryptids because of Sam (YHS) and his bunny attributes, but has since accepted the fact Sam was just a bad apple, and cryptids as a whole are neutral/good.

- Your heart, it beats, like redstone ticking away within you. He knows redstone through and through... so why not you too? Every pulse sent though the machine of your body is one more reason for him to reverse engineer you. But he restrains, takes a step back, as these machines could never be put back together.

- He's been here since the beginning; not of Hermitcraft, but everything. Watching as the game evolved over the years... He smiles at the thought. His hair now matching his eyes - like harsh reflective snow - he recalls these memories fondly. As his eyes fade to their piercing blue, he sighs, for this is home.

- When any of the other Hermits (at least the ones with blood) get injured, Mumbo has to step away. The need for their blood, their lifeforce, is too overwhelming.

- @/12u3ie

- Cryptid AU: with the team ZIT headquarters I thought of something similar to the TEA headquarters from season 3. Probably more confusing, colourful and chock full of even more excessive redstone doors. Why not add another elevator? Where's the coffee machine? Maybe the next room over? Was that corridor there before? I don't know. What's the use of that room? What's behind that door? What's behind you?

- Cryptid AU: with the whole burning hair thing on Tango, another explanation for why no one questions it. That's just Hermitcraft, people just assume he either royally messed up a redstone machine, or succeeded completely, you never know with Tango. Or maybe they think they're sleep deprived. They haven't slept in a while, Bdubs has been reminding them to do so. What were they doing? Maybe they should go home instead. Whatever they were doing can probably be done later. What were they doing?

- @/the-royal-bat-snake

- If joe is a changing then he is some kind of fae folk or as the irish and the Scots call them "the good neighbours" he could like anything, from a human, a small man, like knee height or a small green impish or goblin esque creature. Also changlings were the very old fae folk, not just the babies (humma women were stolen to be nurse maids cus fae folk cant make milk, also stolen to be mistresses) I know a lot of irish faerie lore so if you want to know anymore

- @/whatschooldoesntteachyou

[artificialqueens]

Things That Were (Branjie) - pureCAMP

A/N - … Hi.

I won’t get into it, I don’t think I need to. But here’s a return no one expected, at least.

I wrote this based on some Feelings I have and also Jinkx’s song The Auld Lang Syne Song from… Christmas Queens 3? It has this beautiful sad, wistful, nostalgic kind of feel and it made me nostalgic for love and that strange time between Christmas and New Years. Largely sad, mostly bittersweet. Dedicated to my love Ortega, and in part for the nostalgia fic challenge.

I appreciate any and all support I’ve been given over these past months.

You have a new memory from (1) years ago!

Brooke swipes across absent-mindedly. She doesn’t think much about it, they pop up all the time in the holiday season. There’s a little loading screen, decorated with animated tinsel, that flashes in her face before every ounce of breath is knocked out of her body.

This is what dying feels like. Brooke wonders if there’s a loading screen before entrance into the afterlife. She supposes it would allow the dead some time to adjust, at least.

It’s a perfect, filtered picture. The Christmas tree looks beautiful, even as the pine dies, all decked in shades of red and gold, glittering twists and lights that twinkle gently enough to lull you to sleep. It stands tall in the background of the photo, illuminating everything with a cosy glow. At the forefront of the image, Brooke is that kind of happy, sleepy, warm drunk. Full of Baileys, probably, and little mini mince pies and leftover chocolate from boxes opened and half-finished. There’s a glass of red wine behind her, slightly visible on the table. She’s cradling Henry to her chest, kissing the top of his head.

Vanessa is next to her. The remnants of plum lipstick still on her lips, grinning, Apollo in her arms. She’s beautiful. She looks and feels like how Christmas is supposed to - welcoming, kind, gentle, sweet. And Brooke knows that she’s drunk too, and right after this she burst into laughter and her foghorn voice shattered the cosiness and it was so right and so them. And she knows how her stomach had twisted horribly after they took it.

It’s perfect. She won’t share this one. It will stay in her archives. It’s really been a year, huh.

The cats look at her accusingly, as if they know. They probably do know. They know everything about Brooke. Every flaw, every fault. If they could speak, she knows they’d ask for Vanessa instead of her. Well, tough. Vanessa’s gone, Brooke thinks, almost aggressively as if she’s trying to telepathically tell them so. Vanessa’s been gone for a year.

Or has she? Vanessa isn’t the one who left. Vanessa isn’t the one who walked out without warning, who pretended the bliss was as blissful as it looked and then ran from it all. No, no, that was Brooke.

She shuts off her phone, clicks the button to make the picture fade to black. The switch from warm and bright to black is jarring. It’s probably how Vanessa felt, waking up to an empty bed.

“Brookieeeeee,” Vanessa sings. She’s grinning, cheesing so hard that her eyes have disappeared, nothing but the flicker of a fake eyelash visible from them. “Brooklyn Briiiiiidge…”

Brooke turns, laughing, and waves away the whistles and teasing mumbles from their friends. “Vanjie?”

She pushes her lips together and makes kissy noises, wordlessly begging. Brooke gently holds her chin, lifts her head, kisses. She tastes like cinnamon and nutmeg and chocolate, a festive concoction of things that Brooke usually hates but loves on her. Vanessa looks amazing in gold and she’s an Oscar from head to toe, sparkling, beautiful.

Akeria makes pointed eye contact with Brooke, then mimes gagging herself with two fingers.

Vanessa rolls her eyes, the fondness on her face so evident that it could light up the entire bar. “I love you.”

And Brooke kisses her. The kiss says what it needs to.

Christmas a whole year ago. Brooke made a series of decisions. Stupid ones, maybe. Definitely. She doesn’t know who she’s kidding.

Funny how she finds it so hard to kid herself. Apparently, she had no issue kidding Vanessa.

A little while after Silky comments that Brooke really shouldn’t still be living in the shithole apartment she rented at 20, she realises that as rude and bluntly honest it had seemed at the time, she’s right. She resolves not to mention this to Silky, in case her ego inflates too far and she flies away like Aunt Marge (she thinks this with love), and starts looking online. And it’s impossible.

So out comes the phone, because there’s only one person to go to for this. For anything. Because she’s always there and she’s always willing and she only ever wants some quality time as payment.

B: Vanjie [8.22pm]

B: Vanjerella….. [8.22pm]

B: Vanessaaaaaa [8.23pm]

V: brooke lynn hytes [8.24pm]

B: Not the full name… am I in trouble? [8.24pm]

V: do u wanna be? ;) [8.24pm]

B: Hmm… I’ll think about it… [8.24pm]

B: Anyway I need your heeeeeelp [8.24pm]

V: i gotchu boo [8.25pm]

V: what u need baby [8.25pm]

B: Cutie [8.25pm]

B: I’m going apartment hunting, help me look? Idk what to even look for [8.25pm]

V: exciting!!!!!! [8.26pm]

V: babyyyyy this is so exciting for u omg!!! I love moving [8.26pm]

V: i hope i can help!! im usually terrible at this but i think we’ll have fun!! [8.26pm]

V: although i gotta wonder what made u ask me instead of somebody smart like nina [8.27pm]

B: Ah shit, great point nvm I’ll ask her [8.28pm]

B: Jk. Asked u because ur always here visiting, may as well find something u like as well <3 [8.28pm]

V: u bout to make a bitch cry [8.29pm]

Vanessa was over in maybe ten minutes tops, Brooke remembers. It was like she could read Brooke’s mind, and she’d brought coffee for them both to keep them going and even a little bag of kitty treats from the place she’d stopped at (“a guy was sellin’ them outside and I felt a little sorry for him in the cold so I bought ‘em. They’re good, the ones you usually get!”). They were up for hours scrolling, and then searching in person just so that she could act as a second opinion.

Brooke stands up from the couch and walks slowly, heavily, towards the window. Her Christmas tree is silver this year, silver and purple, and as pretty and icy as it had seemed when she decorated it, it feels cold and desolate now. It reflects on the glass and for a moment it’s hard to focus on the world outside when the world inside is so disturbed, but she manages. Dark as it is, the lights of the city are never gone, and she has a beautiful view of a metropolitan paradise laid out beneath her.

Vanessa loved the view. She picked it, in a way. Brooke was unsure about the viewing, and Vanessa wheedled, tugging her arm and telling her she’d love it.

She did love the view. But it was Vanessa’s view, that she saw first, that she loved first. Now it just makes Brooke feel sick. Sick at herself. Like it’s not hers to look at, and she shouldn’t.

She looks away.

A change of scenery helps to calm the mind, Brooke thinks. Nina told her that once, she vaguely recalls, as she sobbed helplessly into the arms of the only one who would listen. The only one who didn’t think of her as a raging evil bitch, and more of a hopeless coward instead. It’s not much better, but it’s a small comfort given how much she hates herself for it. She’s more inclined to go with what the rest of them all thought after it happened.

It’s late, anyway. Maybe it really is time to read a book and push down the thoughts and try to sleep away the regret.

“Oh god, oh god. Vane- fuck,” She breathes.

Waves of pleasure shoot through her, beginning deep in her belly and sending shockwaves all up Brooke’s back. Her hands grasp at the sheets around her head, desperate, clinging, her mind and body totally incognizant of each other. Her body is on fire, and her mind isn’t even functioning correctly.

Vanessa’s mouth is hot and fast and her tongue is skilled, and every time she grazes over her clit with the swift, feather-light touches Brooke thinks she’s going to pass out. Her fists grab tighter and her toes curl and a gasp floats from her lips, accidental, unstoppable. She manages to tear one hand away and threads it into Vanessa’s dark hair, urging her to keep going.

“Don’t stop, don’t stop, fuck…” She manages.

The goddess between her legs doesn’t stop, not until long after the inaudible mumblings have stopped falling from Brooke’s lips and her breaths are finally starting to slow, and she wonders how Heaven is meant to be above them when she feels herself sinking into it right now. Brooke thinks absent that maybe Heaven is here and everything else is Hell because nothing feels like being with Vanessa feels, and when they’re naked and intertwined and breathless and warm maybe they’re closer to God than they’ll ever be.

She catches herself before three words make their way out.

“God, this fucking mattress…” Is what she ends up producing. It’s digging into her back, lumpy and old. She’s only just noticed, in truth.

Vanessa’s head lifts, her makeup smudged in a way that feels beyond sinful to look at. She licks her lips coyly, sucks off her finger, and offers a lazy, heady sort of smile.

“The mattress? That’s all you got, boo?”

She’s laughing, happy, delirious. Brooke laughs too. “I don’t have to say anything about you. Isn’t the state of me enough?”

It is. On her back, chest peppered with bruises not yet formed, chest rising and falling beyond her control, legs still twitching slightly. Brooke’s completely spent, blissed out, exhausted. Vanessa’s still worn out from hers and yet her tongue is musical and the melodies were handcrafted by all the muses of the ancient world.

Still smiling, Vanessa shifts so she’s hovering on top of Brooke and then leans down to kiss her, their bodies colliding, Brooke tasting herself on the lips of her lover. It’s nights like these that make her feel like the world is a good place to be. That everything is fixable, everything is brilliant.

“We should get you a new mattress, baby,” Vanessa tells her when they break apart. “And I’ll probably never leave.”

Brooke forces a laugh, but the idea isn’t laughable. Vanessa and Forever go hand in hand, somehow.

And they do go shopping for a mattress for Brooke’s place. They wander through stores and discuss mattress firmness and size and height and flop down until they feel as though they’re ready to drop, and then Vanessa lands on one and yells “BROOKIE!” so loud that her voice - that goddamn voice - almost shatters the glass. She’s laying down with a beam on her face like nothing Brooke’s ever seen, pure sunshine, and she clearly has the best taste in mattresses because when she buys it, Brooke’s never slept so good in her life.

The bed is cold. Brooke deserves a cold bed. She left Vanessa in one, so it’s the least she can deal with it.

They weren’t always at Brooke’s - sometimes it was Vanessa’s too, for the sake of variety. Looking back on those memories makes Brooke feel like the biggest idiot in the world. Which she is, of course, and she knows it. But even here, the mini Christmas tree is cold and isolated, and Vanessa gave it to her as an early gift last Christmas, and Vanessa chose the mattress, and Vanessa picked the view. Brooke stares at everything that Vanessa has touched in her life and wonders why in the world she let herself ruin something so good. It’s selfish and stupid and self-sabotaging and that angel of a woman deserves so much more.

She thinks about sharing the picture. She could caption it with that song, ‘Now I’m in the house you chose and the bed you bought to face your perfect view’, and that could be her apology. Because she knows all too well she’s too much of a blind coward to say it properly. And Vanessa won’t see it even if she does share, because they’re not friends anymore. Someone will get it to her - probably Silky - but that’s not worth it.

Brooke opens her phone again, and swipes away from the picture before she does something stupid. Then she opens her texts.

B: Are you busy? [10.11pm]

B: Oh shit sorry, just saw Yvie’s insta, u guys are out tonight. Ignore this x [10.13pm]

N: No no! They’re out, I’m home because I was working all day and I was too tired :( [10.19pm]

N: What do you need hun? <3 [10.20pm]

B: If ur tired it’s okay, I’ll talk to u another time x [10.20pm]

N: Shut up. I’m here [10.21pm]

N: I think I know what’s going on. Right time of year [10.21pm]

B: I’m just an idiot, idk [10.22pm]

N: Nope. Stay where you are, I’m coming over. [10.22pm]

N: Did she text you? [10.24pm]

B: She’s not that stupid lmao why would she [10.24pm]

Nina is the only one who bothered to ask what the hell was going on when it happened. It’s not like Brooke can blame the others, and she doesn’t either. If someone did that to her best friends, she would be the same. And she is the same - she hates herself passionately for it. But Nina has this untraceable kindness to her, this unfathomable tenderness that seems to have no beginnings, no ends, no limits. It flows so freely from her, like a gift.

She has no idea how much time passes by crying and looking blankly at her phone, or even any idea when she started crying, but the doorbell rings and Brooke answers it already in tears and Nina sweeps her into a hug like it’s the easiest thing in the world, and maybe it is. To love your friends is easy and natural, like taking a breath in clean air.

To love someone special is like inhaling in water, drowning, getting lost. And you have to be content with the helplessness in order to survive it, or at least strong enough to swim and keep it going. You can’t just sink. Brooke couldn’t handle drowning.

“I’m a fucking idiot,” She weeps into Nina’s arms, once her choking sobs settle into streaming tears. It’s not better, just different. “I wanted to be with her forever and that was so fucking scary.”

Nina rubs her back. “Breathe, breathe. It’s okay, it’s gonna be okay.”

“Is- is she okay?”

Stupid question. Brooke isn’t sure she even wants to know.

The hug finishes; they’re on the couch again. Nina pulls out her phone, frowning, and pauses like she’s thinking. She looks guilty, which is unusual.

“I would never normally show a friend’s text, y’know? It’s private, I don’t do all that betraying trust stuff. But I know she’ll delete these tomorrow morning and I think you should see them before she does.”

V: so its been a ear then hasnr it [10.56pm]

V: a year of fwithout brook [10.56pm]

V: honestly fuck her yknw what i man [10.56pm]

V: she fuckin broke mt heart man why did she do that [10.56pm]

V: i miss her an the stupid vats so muhc [10.57pm]

V: tha sonf auld lang syne plaed earlier in the bar bef4 eht club [10.57pm]

V: very apropaotye hahahahksjkdh [10.57pm]

V: may rhe acwanriance be forgot forever and fuckung ever [10.57pm]

V: is okay i can lobe w the bitternness [10.57pm]

V: i just kisd girls unt il it dont hurt [10.57pm]

Brooke sobs. Again, loud, shaking, broken. Because Vanessa is hurting so much even a year after it happened and everything feels so raw and it’s entirely her own fault for crushing the dream they were building.

“I miss her so fucking much, I don’t know why- I don’t know why I walked out,” She babbles, helpless and hopeless and hurt. “I’m fucking lying, Nina, I know why, I know why I did it. Why did I fucking-”

She knows all too well. Because Vanessa helped her pick an apartment and Vanessa picked her bed and Vanessa loved her cats. Because Brooke could imagine them getting married and growing old and it had barely been four months by the time Christmas and New Years were rolling around and everything seemed so serious and so intense, and that didn’t mean it wasn’t fun but it was scary in the same breath because speed was terrifying.

Brooke is bitter, but only at herself.

New Years Day. January 1st, a brand new year, a bright new start. The frost glistens freshly on the undisturbed morning, and all across the city, singles and couples sleep through the dawn, hungover or still passed out drunk, party hats akimbo, party blowers still suspended in smudged lipsticky mouths.

It’s early, enough that the daylight is blinding but pale and faded. Vanessa’s bedroom has the huge window that she never covers, and she sleeps through it like the dead. Brooke wakes up and looks around.

She looks at everything but Vanessa, but eventually her gentle snuffling is too much to ignore and she looks down at her beautiful sleeping form. She’s a disaster, hair everywhere and glitter still all over her face, and she’s the most breathtaking woman in the entire wide world. Something heavy and all encompassing sweeps into Brooke’s chest, and she can identify it by name. It’s only four letters, but it strikes a fear in her like an old god from a lost world. She needs to vomit. She needs to run. She needs an escape.

Before she even knows who she is again, any of the things that ended up staying half their time at Vanessa’s are stuffed into a couple of carrier bags and she’s in her dress from the party and out of the door into the cold winter air, panicked, unable to breathe.

It’s a heart attack, she thinks. Or a panic attack. It’s an attack that feels like it’s going to kill her, and she runs away, and she runs all the way home and barricades the door shut, dropping her belongings on the floor, numb and confused and cold. It’s the start of the new year and she begins it alone, hyperventilating.

Within a couple of days the worried texts subside and the angry vengeful ones start flooding in, and just like that Brooke’s lost the best thing that ever happened to her and all of her friends along with it. Because she got up on new year’s day and abandoned Vanessa fast asleep and that was the end.

It’s ugly and chilling, how much she cries into Nina’s gentleness. The only thing that stops her is, ironically, the thing that makes her feel worse, the characteristic ‘ping!’ of Nina’s phone, undoubtedly more drunk texts.

V: i hoper he fucjibg bubble bursts this tie of year [11.23pm]

V: every jhanduary first for the rest of hersitnkin life [11.23pm]

“I deserve it,” Brooke whispers hoarsely, “But she doesn’t. She never did.”

“Neither of you do,” Nina tells her sadly. “They don’t all hate you, they hate what you did the way friends always do when breakups happen. You both deserve to be happy. And both of you have been dreading New Year’s for this exact reason.”

It hurts to hear, and Brooke wishes she doesn’t have to listen, but her friend is so goddamn wise it feels stupid not to.

“Two days until it’s officially New Year.” Nina kisses her hand. “Can you keep living like this, Brooke?”

It’s not like she even has to say it for Brooke to understand. “She hates me.”

Nina shakes her head. “No she doesn’t. She loves you.”

“That’s worse.”

“You love her.”

“I know.”

“You got scared.”

“I still am.”

“Face your fears.” Nina holds her at arm’s length, forcing her to look right into her face. “This hurts more than what blundering through it would, surely? Fire doesn’t always mean you get burned, sweetie. Sometimes it just warms you.”

She makes no fucking sense.

“I can’t play with Vanessa like that again.” Brooke swears. “I can’t.

The transitional period between Christmas and New Year doesn’t feel like real time. It’s just liminal space, a waiting room of chronology, a suspension in space. If she’s honest, trying now causes no harm, because it’s like it didn’t even happen. Maybe she should, maybe she will.

Eventually Nina leaves, pressing a kiss to her forehead and promising that somehow everything is going to be okay. She’s like a fairy godmother, Brooke thinks to herself. Always knowing, always positive, and total magic to behold.

She’s awake all night long just staring at the time on the top of her phone, lying in bed sideways and wondering if she’ll do it. It has to be right. It can’t be when she’ll still be awake and drunk and angry. But it can’t be on the anniversary of her biggest fuck up, because that just feels like some kind of sick joke and that’s not what she wants.

The entire night passes. At six am, her finger hovers over the send button for a full three minutes. She counts the seconds.

B: I fucked up. If u’ll have me, I’ll never mess u around again. I didn’t know I could love someone so much and then u came along and everything sped up and I wasn’t fast enough. I shouldn’t have thrown away what we had when it was as close to perfect as anything can get. This message is all me me me I I I but if ur okay with it, I think new year should begin right this time. I’ll hold u and I won’t let go, and u don’t even have to hold me as long as ur here. Everything is up to u. I’ll learn to live with what I did if u say no. Because I totally get why u should hate me. I hate me too, kinda. U did nothing wrong. U were and will always be perfect. [6.03am]

B: Full disclosure is I was scared of how much and how quick I loved u. But it didn’t go away even when I hurt u. I was stupid to do that, and I don’t wanna do another year in the shadow of that massive mistake. [6.05am]

B: I won’t say it here, because thats cheap for u. But I’ll say it when I see u again. I promise, and I want to [6.13am]

She falls asleep with her phone in her hand after being awake all night long.

She wakes up four hours later.

V: ur dumb [9.51am]

V: theres a party at yvies for new years yknow [9.52am]

V: im not saying ill kiss u at midnight but [9.52am]

V: fuck around and find out [9.52am]

(tags: purecamp, branjie, brooke lynn hytes, vanessa vanjie mateo, lesbian au, things that were, fic challenge, nostalgia challenge, nina west)

[senorarelojes]

Fic: But Not Tonight (7/?)

Summary: Dave asks his best friend Alan to go to the prom with him. Pairing: Dave/Alan Notes: One of the silly little things I wrote for @pinksyndication @what-could-have-been @songsofgayanddevotion @rvphinas-blog!

Part 1: here. Part 2: here. Part 3: here. Part 4: here. Part 5: here. Part 6: here.

.

The hall is filled with almost the entire student population of Barstable; even most of the lower secondary students are attending as dates or friends. The music booming over the speakers is something bright and poppy from the current UK charts, and Dave laughs at the open disdain on Alan’s face. He can’t wait to surprise Alan later with his own secret song request, provided that Daryl doesn’t forget.

Fletch is already waving at people and greeting acquaintances whom Dave also vaguely recognises, while Martin’s wings attract several gasps of delight and wolf-whistles. Alan seems happy to blend into the background, shooting Dave an extremely amused look as a flock of girls run over to squeal over Martin’s outfit. Martin is laughing, face a little red with embarrassment and the alcohol they’d already consumed in the limo. Dave just shakes his head with a grin, hoping his friend truly does get crowned Prom King tonight.

“Let’s go say hi to Vince and Daryl,” Fletch suggests, pointing to one of the tables near the sound booth. After they manage to extract Martin from his fans, the four of them make their way across the dance floor, Dave nodding and smiling as various people clap him on the shoulder in greeting. Everyone else looks utterly glamorous, the girls dolled up for the night while the blokes are dressed sharply in long-sleeved shirts and pressed trousers, some of them wearing blazers like Dave and Alan.

Still, no one else in the entire place could even compare to the bloke beside him. Dave can’t quite take his eyes off Alan, who is his usual calm and cool self, observing everything around him and occasionally leaning back to share a remark with Dave. Dave just nods at whatever Alan is saying and smiles giddily at him, trying not to stare at his mouth. He still can’t believe Alan is here as his date.

“...you’re not listening to a word I’m saying, are you?” Alan’s words jolt Dave out of his haze. Alan’s expression is both amused and fondly exasperated.

“Sorry,” Dave says, not at all apologetic as he licks his own lips. “My mind was somewhere else.”

Now Alan’s gaze has dropped down to his mouth as well. “Be patient,” Alan says with a chuckle, squeezing Dave’s arm. “The night is still young.”

Daryl and Vince welcome them with cheers and several glasses of fancy punch, which is sadly non-alcoholic as the teachers are standing guard by the punch bowl. Vince is actually dressed in a proper pinstriped suit, while Daryl is wearing jeans and the school t-shirt, the uniform for the AV team tonight. “Are you two aware that you’re wearing matching blazers?” Daryl says, gesturing towards Dave and Alan with his cup. 

“Yeah, it was on purpose,” Alan says, much to Dave’s surprise. He flashes a sideways apologetic grin at Dave. “Sorry, Sue sent me a picture when you went shopping. I couldn’t resist.”

Dave is in awe of his devious sister and his equally devious-- friend? Boyfriend? He doesn’t know yet. “Bloody hell,” he says in an admiring tone. “Clever bastard.”

Vince’s eyes are roving over the both of them, taking in Alan’s corsage and Dave’s rose. “You’re here together,” he says, deadpan. “Like, together together.”

“Very much so,” Alan says without batting an eyelid, while Dave just reaches down and takes Alan’s hand in his.

“Huh.” Vince doesn’t look very surprised. Instead he holds out his hand to Fletch, who mutters something and fishes out his wallet, plonking a fiver on Vince’s palm as Martin and Daryl laugh very loudly at this exchange.

“You lot bet on us?” Dave is more amazed than upset, while Alan is just grinning at the whole thing. Dave’s wondering if he’s recently been more obvious than he let on.

“I thought Vince was off his head,” Fletch says with a sigh. “But I knew I lost when Mart figured out you two were going together.”

“I told you not to take that bet,” Martin chides him. “Why do you never listen to me?”

“Oh well.” Fletch shrugs it off. “So you lads want to dance?”

“Can’t,” Daryl groans, checking his watch. “I’ve got to head back for DJ-ing duties before some smartarse takes over and plays Nickelback for an hour.”

“I hardly think playing a Spotify playlist qualifies one as a DJ,” Alan says dryly, ducking when Daryl tosses a balled-up napkin at him in retaliation. Daryl drops a wink at Dave before he heads back to the sound booth, which assures a relieved Dave that he remembers his request for Alan.

They sit around Vince’s table and chat loudly over the music, groaning and booing Daryl every time he picks something by Ed Sheeran. “I’m going to go over and cheer up Flood,” Alan tells Dave at one point, gesturing towards the sound booth. “Poor sod picked the short straw and is on duty tonight as well.”

“Tell him I said hi.” Dave tries his best to look as unaffected as possible, the way Alan always does so effortlessly. But some of his jealousy must show on his face, because Alan is smiling before leaning in to brush his lips against Dave’s, lingering a little longer than he had for the previous kisses. 

“I’ll be back.” Just three simple words, but Alan’s voice is laced with promise so Dave’s smile is far more genuine this time. Dave watches him stride off to where the AV crew are. 

“Wow,” he hears Vince say. “If I’d known how bad it was, I would have wagered more money.”

“Me too,” Martin says with a laugh. “Could have afforded a halo to go with my wings.”

“Excuse me, are you pissheads discussing how you want to rob me blind?” Fletch says, pretending to be indignant.

Shaking his head, Dave leaves his friends to squabble it out while he goes to fetch more punch for himself and Alan. The dance floor is heaving with people, many couples provocatively entwined as they groove to the rhythm of the music. Dave is pleased to see that he and Alan aren’t the only same-sex couple in attendance. There’s a few girls dancing with each other, and even the blond captain of the visiting football team from Brum is here with his boyfriend, the equally tall, dark-haired bloke that all the girls in school keep sighing over. 

“Already shopping around?” Alan’s very amused voice huffs in his ear, a hand wrapping around his waist. “I’m very jealous.”

Dave relaxes and leans back in Alan’s hold, smiling like a lunatic. “You’re just in time, Al. I was about to run off with the mailman.”

Alan merely chuckles before pressing a kiss to Dave’s neck, which makes him shiver. The music has changed to something slow and dirty with Spanish lyrics; although Dave barely understands a word of it, he lets the melody wash over him as his hips sway from side to side.

“This song’s really good,” he hears Alan remark. “What’s it called?”

“No idea.” Dave jerks his head towards the crowd. “Want to dance?”

Alan is eyeing the masses thoughtfully. “I’m not really good at it.”

“It’s easy, c’mon.” Dave turns around in Alan’s arms, putting down their glasses of punch on a nearby table for safekeeping. Now they’re standing face to face, Alan’s eyes warm as they slide down Dave’s body. Dave clears his throat, reminding himself not to jump on Alan in front of almost the whole bloody school.

“Okay, so-- like this.” Dave puts his hands on Alan’s hips, his throat going dry at the feel of that firm muscle under his palms. “Just follow the beat of the snare, yeah? So, on every ‘two’, just move your hips to the right. On every four-- the left. Got it?”

Alan nods, an adorable look of concentration on his face as he tries to follow Dave’s directions. Dancing is something that comes so easily and naturally to Dave, so it’s hard to break it down into instructions for someone else. Then again, playing the piano is second nature for Alan, but Dave is completely crap at it despite Alan’s repeated attempts to teach him.

“Am I getting it?” Alan’s frowning a little, his hips rotating a little stiffly.

“You’re overthinking it, mate.” Dave tries to guide him with his hands, but Alan is still trying too hard to get it perfect. So he tries to think of the best way to distract Alan, to catch him off guard so that he’ll let his body take over instead of focusing too much on that brilliant mind of his.

Dave tips Alan’s chin up, grinning at him before he leans in and kisses him slowly, their lips brushing together, his tongue tracing the edge of Alan’s teeth. He feels it the exact moment Alan’s body loosens against his, his hips pliant under Dave’s grip now, both of them moving along to the sensuous rhythm like they’re part of it. When Dave breaks the kiss, he laughs at Alan’s stupefied expression. “Yeah Charlie, just like that.”

[phoenix-downer]

A Step Closer to Home

Sora’s stuck in Quadratum, alone, but a familiar voice comforts him and gives him courage to keep moving forward. His friends are waiting for him, and he wants to return to them, no matter what.

~1935 words. Post-Kingdom Hearts III and Melody of Memory. Gen, Friendship. Introspection, Reflection, Slight Angst, Hope. Sora POV. Written for @sorazine​. 

Sora never thought he’d get tired of seeing other worlds, but he sure was getting tired of this one.

Maybe it was because he was stuck here. Couldn’t leave like he wanted to. It wasn’t like this was an ugly place, or even a bad place, but all the tall buildings and skyscrapers were starting to feel more like prison walls boxing him in than a testament to all the cool things people could do with the right technology. 

It was always cities, wasn’t it? Always cities he was getting stuck in. First The World That Never Was, and now this place. Quadratum, it was called. Full of more monsters he had to fight, but this time without the promise he would be able to get home. 

Home. What he wouldn’t give to see it again. He missed the feel of the sand beneath his bare feet, the cold of the waves crashing against the shore, the heat from the sun beating down on his back. He was an islander, through and through, and he felt lost without his home. Lost without being able to see all the stars in the sky. He could barely see them from here—the city lights were too bright for that. 

More than Destiny Islands itself, though, he missed his friends. There was an empty ache inside his heart where they should be. Did they miss him as much as he missed them? He almost wished they didn’t. Because if they did, that would just mean more pain for them, and they had already suffered too much. 

It was okay that he was wandering around the streets of Quadratum at night all by himself. Really. The more monsters he fought, the better, even though it was pouring down rain. He just had to keep fighting and fighting and fighting. One foot in front of the other, till he stumbled on a curb and fell with a plop onto the wet ground, the rain pouring down around him and chilling him to the bone. 

“Guess I really should’ve nagged Donald more about that coat, or asked Goofy to help me buy one,” he said as he huddled in on himself. His Keyblade lay on the ground nearby, and it glinted dully from the street lights. He was a little stronger than when he’d first gotten here, but it was still nothing compared to how he used to be able to fight. He was weak without his friends. Powerless. Always had been, always would be. 

He wouldn’t change what he’d done. He didn’t regret saving them. Carrying their pain in his own heart was a part of caring. Their strength was his strength, their weakness his weakness, their smiles his smiles, their tears his tears. 

But his tears weren’t their tears. They welled up in his eyes and dripped down his cheeks and mingled with the water on the ground, empty and sad and alone. No one came to wipe his eyes or dry his face; no one was here to share his pain like he’d shared theirs. 

Maybe his friends were crying for him back in the Realm of Light, but the connections had been cut off as he’d crossed over into this realm. They could be crying their hearts out, and he still wouldn’t know.

Man, being alone really sucked. The empty ache in his heart throbbed, and try as he might, he couldn’t get the tears to stop coming. Riku would be giving him so much crap for this right now if he were here, because Sora was doing the exact opposite of pulling it together. What he wouldn’t give for some tough love from his friend right about now. But the floodgates had been opened, and he’d just have to let it all out till there was nothing left. 

“I guess that’s the nice thing about the rain,” he remarked to no one as he wiped his eyes. “When the sky’s crying, no one else can tell you’re crying, too.”

It was like that story Kairi had told him once, about why it rained. One of her grandmother’s stories from Radiant Garden. The original rulers of Radiant Garden had lived in the skies, it was said, and when the king died, the queen cried for him so much that her tears fell from the sky and flooded the land. The people of Radiant Garden took those floods and built waterfalls and pools and canals, and those waterfalls and pools and canals gave rise to Radiant Garden’s beautiful flowers.

Sora had always thought the story was really sad, but sitting here soaking wet on the ground without a friend in sight, it just seemed so much worse. He felt as alone as that queen must’ve felt. But at least people remembered her and the king. No one would tell stories about Sora. He was just a nobody, stuck here in the darkness. Once he was gone for good, he’d fade into oblivion, and that would be that. 

Getting up was pointless. He’d just have to keep fighting, and for what? So he could dream about seeing Kairi and Riku and the rest of his friends again? Maybe it would be better if he just stayed here and—

“You don’t really believe that, do you?”

He wiped his eyes and looked around, but he couldn’t see anyone else. “Huh?”

“You don’t really think giving up is okay.” 

He grabbed his Keyblade and struggled to his feet. “Who are you? What do you want with me?”

“Relax, Sora. I know you’re feeling down right now, but you’ll be okay.” 

The voice was oddly familiar. Sora knew he had heard it before. Who—

“How do you know my name?” he decided to ask. 

“Because I’m you.”

Sora tilted his head. “Huh? Now I really am confused.”

He glanced at his reflection in one of the puddles nearby. It still looked pretty much the same as it did earlier, just with more ripples because of the raindrops. How could this voice be his? 

And yet, even as he thought about it, it made sense. The familiarity, the hunch that he knew this person. He would’ve recognized the heart of one of his friends immediately, and it wasn’t any of them. That must mean the voice wasn’t lying. 

“I’m not the ‘you’ you are right now,” the voice explained.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“From your point of view, I’m ‘you’ from the future.” 

“Oh,” Sora said as he tried to wrap his head around this information.

“I know you’re feeling down,” the voice said. “I know things are rough right now. And I’d be lying if I said you won’t face any more hardships before you make it home. Because you will, and you need to prepare yourself for them. You’ll have to face new enemies. Someone you think is a friend is gonna be an enemy, and someone you think is an enemy will actually be a friend.” 

Sora’s head drooped. Things were going to get even worse from here? A friend was going to betray him? How was that supposed to make him feel any better? Hadn’t he been through enough already? He just wanted to go home to his friends. Was that really so hard to ask? 

“I know all of that sounds bad, but don’t let it get you down,” the voice continued. “The night is always darkest before dawn, remember? But dawn will come. You’re gonna pull through this.”

Sora looked at his reflection in the puddle again. It looked very small and alone. “How do you know?” he asked the voice, and his voice also sounded very small and alone. 

“Your heart is strong. It always has been.” 

He let his Keyblade disappear. “But I’m only strong because of my friends. They gave me their strength. Without them, I—”

“Sora, take a look around you. What do you see?”

Sora sighed deeply. “I’m stuck in this city. My powers are a small fraction of what they used to be. I have to fight these monsters. And to top it all off, it’s still raining, and I’m wet and cold and I—”

“You’re right, it is raining. Do you know why?”

He kicked water onto the nearby curb. “Because the universe hates me,” he muttered with a pout.

“It’s the opposite, actually. Remember Kairi’s grandmother’s story?”

“The one where the queen of Radiant Garden cried after the king died? I was just thinking about it, actually.” 

His older self sure was a winner, reminding him of sad thing after sad thing. Yikes. He hoped he wouldn’t be a complete killjoy once he grew up. 

“This rain… it’s like the rain from the story,” the voice said. “Sora, this rain is the tears of our friends.” 

Sora’s breath caught. No way. There was no way. He hadn’t been able to feel his connections to his friends ever since he’d come here. But was that because he hadn’t been looking in the right place? 

He held his hands out as the rain continued to fall, as it dripped down his face and hair, and this time, he let it. This time, he closed his eyes and listened. 

“Kairi and Riku,” he said. He could feel their hearts now as the rain fell on his outstretched arms. He could sense their pain. “Roxas and Axel and Xion, too.” This was like when he’d journeyed through the Keyblade Graveyard a second time as he’d searched for Kairi. His hearts were still connected to theirs somehow, and he could feel what they were feeling. “Terra and Aqua and Ven, Naminé, Donald and Goofy and the King.” His eyes fluttered open. “They’re all still with me. How did I not realize it?”

“Sometimes our connection to our friends doesn’t look the way we expect it to,” the voice said. “But you’re right. This is their sadness and pain because you’re gone. And they know you’re sad, too. They all miss you. Their hearts are trying to reach you, and right now, this is the only way they can.” 

Sora wiped his eyes. He’d been so lost in his own pain that he’d lost sight of how his friends were doing, even though they’d been trying to reach him through the rain. He wouldn’t ignore his own sadness or pretend like everything was fine, but he couldn’t bear to make his friends cry like this, either. And they wouldn’t be okay till they’d gotten back what was lost. 

“They’ll stop crying when I get home, right?” he said. 

The voice chuckled. “Well, they’ll cry a lot more at first, but those will be happy tears. Then the crying will stop, yeah. And it’ll be replaced by smiling.”

“In that case, I better get back to them as soon as I can. I want to see their smiles again!”

“That’s the spirit!”

Sora smiled and nodded. “Thank you, Future Me. I know it won’t be easy, but I made a promise, and I’m gonna keep it. I will get home, no matter what. It might take a while, and I might go through a lot, but every step forward is always a step closer to home.” 

The voice was gone now, but Sora knew he wasn’t alone. As much as it made him sad that his friends were grieving because he was gone, the only way to fix that was to return to them. And return to them he would, so he could make the tears stop and bring back the smiles on their faces. 

For that, he would keep moving forward, one step at a time. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: A big thank you to the mods for organizing everything and the artists and other writers for creating such beautiful pieces! It was such an honor to have been a part of this zine for one of my favorite characters of all time! 

[toogayforthistoday]

mermaid AU, roaring 20s AU, and fake dating AU with Hiei and Dabi too plz? ~nikkzships

@nikkzships sdgsdrhdfgjghjk!!! AHHHHHH!! NIKKI!! I love you so much oml

As a note, I apparently do not know how to ‘just write headcanons’ for these two, and I just straight up started writing bLURBS AHH-

Mermaid AU: Who is the adventurous mermaid who swims a little too close to the shore? Who is the curious human who finds them? Give one headcanon about you and your f/o’s relationship in this AU!

It goes without saying that for this AU, their first meeting(s) would be as wee beans. For those that don’t know what I mean by wee beans, they’re all children. Cause it’s adorable, and that’s how my brain thought these up.

For Hiei, he’d be the mermaid (merman?) and Gabe would be the Human.

Just Hiei being a tsundere little shit, like “No, I’m not getting too close to the Humans! I’m just making sure they won’t find us...” but the section of shore line that Hiei likes to hang out and sunbathe in, also happens to be Gabe’s little hiding spot away from everyone. So one day while Hiei’s laid back on a rock, almost asleep, Gabe stumbles down, rubbing at their eyes, so they don’t see him. As they settle against Hiei’s rock, still not having noticed him, Hiei had noticed them, and the fact that they were upset.

“Why are you crying?”

The question makes Gabe jump, and they start rubbing harder at their face as they stand back up. “I’m sorry, I didn’t think anyone would be here. I’ll leave...” They lower their hands to look at him, and finally notice he’s a merman.

“You don’t have to leave yet. Not til you answer my question first, at least...”

Gabe eventually manages to calm down enough to answer him, “My family don’t like me, and keep calling me a monster...”

“Hn. A Human as pretty as you can’t possibly be a monster.” At Gabe’s smile, Hiei smiles a little too. “I’m Hiei.”

“My name’s Gabe. Will you... be my friend?”

Hiei nods, smiling more.

@junkratsloverat also asked for Mermaid!AU with Dabi, so here you go, Hannah!!

For Dabi, Gabe’s the mermaid.

Touya had been going to that section of beach almost every day for a month, now; It seemed to be ignored by most of the locals, with tall grass and weeds growing right up to the waters edge. He thought he’d heard singing coming from there one day while walking by, and he’d hoped to find the source. Touya had tripped, crying out in surprise as his face met sand, before hearing a splashing sound and silence. Today, he was hoping his luck would change.

As he walked closer, he thought he could hear a melody over the wind. Touya had to force himself to be careful this time, didn’t need to trip and scare them away again. As he crept close, the song got louder and louder, and he could start making out the words the person sung. Passing a large driftwood log, a figure came into view, leaning over a large rock to look down into a tide pool. Their blonde hair gently swayed back and forth as continued their song, watching as a small crab scuttled by a starfish. The red-head leaned forward, putting more of his weight on the log, hoping to get a better look at the singer.

The driftwood let out a creaky groan before moving under Touya, frightening both him and the blonde. The figures head shot up, looking straight at him before pushing themself away from the rock and into the water.

“Wait!” Touya cried out, running towards the rock. The crab had the good sense to scuttle under the crags of the rock, before the human accidentally stepped on him. He jumped up onto it, where the figure had been resting, looking over to try and find them, but there was no sign of them. He sighed, and sat down, catching his breath.

“I just wanted to tell you that I liked your song...”

Hearing nothing but the waves lapping against the rock in response, Touya stood back up and turned to hop off the rock.

“...You liked it?”

The question made Touya jump and whip back around to the water, quickly loosing his balance and falling back into ocean. He felt the burn of the frigged water, followed by arms around him, pulling him back up. He’s set down on the rock, just out of the water.

“Are all humans this accident prone, or is it just you?” the voice joked. Touya opened his eyes, and saw the blonde figure in front of him, still half in the water.

“...Aren’t you cold?” He asked, noticing they weren’t wearing a shirt of any kind.

“Why would I get cold? Do humans not have good circulation? Is that why you wear those fabrics?”

“Huh? What do you mean?” Touya stared at them, confused by their questions. He looked down at the water again, and noticed something shimmering at their waist. “...Are you not human?”

The blonde shook their head. “I’m a mermaid!” A look of guilt shot across their face and they ducked down slightly. “We’re not supposed to let humans know we exist... You promise not to tell anyone, yeah?”

Touya quickly nodded as he grinned. “I promise!”

The blonde grinned back. “I’m ᎶᏗᏰᏒᎥᏋᏝ.” At the sight of Touya’s confused face, they slowly nodded, “You probably can’t pronounce that... Uhhh, you can call me Gabe?”

“And you can call me Touya!”

Roaring 20s AU: Who is new to the city or visiting family in the city? Who’s the wealthy bachelor who notices them at a party? Give one headcanon about you and your f/o’s relationship in this AU! 

Dabi would the wealthy bachelor? With Gabe being new to the city.

Touya had been dragged to the party by Natsuo, who just wanted him to have some fun without their father constantly breathing down his neck. Gabe had also been dragged to the party, by Atsuhiro, so they could make some new friends. So Gabe’s off being a social butterfly with Atsu, and Touya notices them flitting around, and their joy is almost infectious, and he can’t help but go and say hello.

Now for Hiei... He’d be visiting Kurama for one reason or another, and Kurama convinced him to go to the party to loosen up a bit. Hiei’s always constantly stressed, and maybe a bit of light-hearted shenanigans would do him some good. Gabe’s been too busy lately to just relax, and let’s their brother Yusuke convince them to come to the party as well. Yusuke and Kurama are old friends, so of course they introduce the two, and the enjoy the party together.

Fake dating AU: Who has a plan and needs a fake partner to show to their parents or ex? Who begrudgingly agrees? Give one headcanon about you and your f/o’s relationship in this AU! 

In both cases, it’ll be Gabe who needs a partner, cause we already have Hero!Dabi needing the fake partner for that wedding.

Hiei doesn’t understand why the witch would need him to pretend to be their date, Kurama would do a much more convincing job of it. But the longer he thinks about that, the more upset the thought makes him, so he stops thinking about it, and agrees to parade around for their family. The sight of Gabe relaxing in relief has him feeling a certain way, and now he’s confused and slightly worried there’s something wrong with him.

Hiei hasn’t experienced these feelings before, so he goes to talk to Kurama, who would surely know the answer.

“Hiei, you like them.”

“I tolerate their existence.”

“I think you love them.”

“What? No, that’s ridiculous.”

Well, Kurama didn’t have the right answer.

So Hiei goes through the week of Gabe’s family visiting, holding their hand, constantly being near them, and letting Gabe do all the talk as he watched them. On the last day of the visit, it finally clicks that he actually enjoyed being that close to them, and after today, he wouldn’t be able to do that anymore.

And fuck, Kurama was right.

So he goes and tracks them down. Luckily, Gabe’s just chilling in their room, as it’s still early, and they didn’t want to talk with anyone yet. So, true to Hiei fashion, he’s terrible with words, and just goes in for a kiss, hoping that would get his point across.

It does.

For Dabi... Hmm...

Gabe and Dabi would be chilling in a random bar, when in walks a rather attractive looking woman, who smirks when she sees Gabe and starts walking over.

“Ahh, fuck it’s my ex... Uhh... Can you make out with me?”

Dabi almost spits out his drink, “What?”

“Make out with me! I don’t want to deal with her manipulative ass tonight. I will cook you dinner for a month-” Their offer was cut off as Dabi’s fingers lifted their chin towards him, and he moved in to kiss them. Just as Gabe started to kiss back, Dabi felt a tap on his shoulder. He slowly pulled away slightly, just enough to glance at the woman, who was now sporting an offended look on her face.

“Excuse me, can you stop making out with my boyfriend?”

Dabi slowly looked her up and down, before smirking, and pulling Gabe over to straddle his lap. “Sorry, sweetheart, but I think you mean my boyfriend. They broke up with your terrible sense of style ages ago,” and pulled Gabe’s face down to connect with his again. The woman’s best impression of a fish did nothing to break their kiss a second time, leaving her to storm off, spouting off obscenities and threats.

After a minute, and neither could hear her screaming anymore, they parted again, their breathing heavier than expected. “Thanks Dabi. I... Really appreciate that.” Gabe smiled as a tint of red started to creep onto their face.

“Don’t worry about it,” Dabi smiled back, rubbing his thumbs gently on Gabe’s hips where he’d rested them. “I... Uh... wouldn’t mind skipping out on those dinners, if... you wanted to keep making out on a more... romantic basis...?”

Gabe’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“Yeah...” and they leaned in to continue their make out session.

Oops, I got carried away again!!

~ Gabe

[the-science-of-stories]

Find Your Star.

A Dungeons and Dragons fiction writing commission for my buddy Noriaki on Twitter! 

They’re part of a campaign I am also a part of with Dahlia and have given me permission to post it here on Tumblr! This was my first writing commission and I couldn’t be happier with it. 

Characters that belong to the commissioner:

Star Chaser, Tabaxi Rogue 

Aegis Olyrnn, Female Elf 

“Huh. I guess this is the place.”  

Above the babbling brook that ran through the quaint expanse of a small forest came the voice of an elvish man. He wore the garb and carried the hefty bag of a researcher. Holding up a pamphlet he was using for reference he adjusted his glasses to get a better look.

It was a crude drawing of a small cottage flanked by an abundant garden and a quaint little pond. In front of it stood a couple of stick figure drawings: a woman with dark hair and a small cat-like figure with a cloak.  

Lowering the drawing to compare it to the cottage he stood before he gave an affirming nod. His boots clacked against the cobblestone path in melody with the stream and a few home-made wind chimes.  

He stepped up onto a creaky patio that led to a wooden door, both showing signs of their age with weathered surfaces. He gave the door a couple of raps with the back of fist before placing his arm behind his back in a patient stance waiting for an answer.  

After almost a minute the door creaked open, the sun spilling in onto its residence.  

It was a woman. One also of elvish descent with ears poking out of shoulder length dark hair. She wore a set of casual clothes with her hair hanging loose, cascading around her face with evergreen eyes that matched the lush vegetation around her dwelling.  

“51 seconds, that’s almost slower than last time.” The researcher observed, pretending to be impressed and earning a tired scowl from the woman.  

“I was taking a nap, Farlan,” she groggily answered, looking at his hand, “You received the drawing?”  

Farlan raised the paper before turning it around to face the drawing towards the woman, “I would say so, as I found your home.”  

The woman stepped aside, gesturing with an arm for the man to follow inside. He gave a thankful nod and stepped through the door.

Taking a look around he was immediately met by lush pots of different flora hanging from the ceiling or resting on shelves. The air itself almost smelled like perfume, something Farlan clearly noticed as he flinched a bit when he took a breath.  

“I see you still have your hobby,” he remarked, “Quite an... exotic home.”  

“Keerla likes it when she comes here.” Aegis crossed the room to a small stove where she set a kettle on a rack in a quaint fireplace.  

“Keerla was busy, so they sent me instead. Like they always do when she’s busy. She’ll be back before you know it. But in the meantime-” Farlan slipped a document out of his bag, adjusting his glasses and clearing his throat, “Aegis Olyrnn, my name is Farlan Chaedi of the Harpers Medical Wing. I will be your substitute physician for this visit. Do you accept my treatment?”  

The woman turned around, now holding two mugs that she set down on the table with a firm stare at the scientist, “Yes, Doctor Farlan, I accept. Do we have to do this every time?”  

Farlan nodded in answer, scribbling on the scroll before tucking it back in his bag. Aegis gestured to the chair opposite of her at the table. He nearly took his seat when he stopped to pick up another paper that sat atop a few others.  

“These came in a parcel, are these from him?” Farlan asked, holding up one of the drawings, pressing the back to his chest to face Aegis.  

“Yes, that is from Star Chaser,” Aegis responded, resting her cheek in her hand with a bit of an endeared expression, “Bless him, he learned how to use the mail. He has been sending me some of his drawings to let me know where he is and that he’s okay.”  

His brow furrowed as he turned it back, clearly he noticed something on the paper as he pressed it to his nose and took a sniff.  

“This smells like cinnamon,” Farlan observed, causing Aegis to chuckle to herself.  

“One of his new friends makes these cinnamon treats he is obsessed with. I believe he attempted to send me one tied to the letter.”  

Farlan’s lip curved up a bit with a quiet ‘hrm’ as if that were an answer he didn’t expect but definitely believed. He set the paper back down with the pile before taking a seat.  

“So we ran some more tests, and it looks like you are responding positively to the treatment. There are no signs of any infection or antibodies to the-”  

“Get to the ‘but’ please, Farlan,” Aegis interrupted with a couple of exhausted nods, “I was in the field as well. I may not have done as much medical study but I’ve been alive for over 400 years. I know what letting a patient down easy sounds like.”

Farlan pressed his lips together in a relent expression, setting the paper in his hands down before lacing his fingers together on the table, “We believe your condition might be spreading to your muscle tissue. We cannot be sure just yet, but it appears to be migrating away from where we’ve targeted the treatment.”  

Aegis took a heavy breath through her nose, her shoulders rising and falling in deflation. She didn’t seem surprised, but that didn’t make the news any easier to take.  

“If there’s nothing else you can do I’d like you to finish your test and be going.” Aegis requested.

“I think you should tell him.” Farlan responded, tapping the drawing.  

“I don’t want to hear this.” Aegis interrupted, standing up from her chair to walk towards the fireplace.  

“He is out on his own he should know about-”  

“Doctor Farlan.” Aegis cut him off as the kettle started to whistle. For a moment the loud screech was the only sound in the cottage before she quickly turned around and removed it from the heat, “My lifespan is likely to be much longer than his. Even with my condition I will outlive him.”  

“You may outlive him,” Farlan emphasized, “You knew this when we found him. I need you to recall I don’t ask this lightly, he was like a nephew to me.”  

Aegis had just started to pour the boiling water into the two cups laid out, her expression softening, “He did love his ‘smart uncle’, even if he thought you were strange at times.”  

“I think he found me just as fascinating as I found him,” Farlan countered, seemingly a bit annoyed. It made Aegis crack a smile as she sat back down and cupped her hands around her tea.  

She reached across the table, dragging one of the drawings out from the bottom of the pile. She picked it up and looked it over, tilting her head with a bit of a smile.

“Do you remember when we found him? Freezing and feral that night in the Mulhorand desert? He was so comfortable in the wild, but the moment I touched him he wouldn’t let me stop petting him. Such an affectionate little creature, alone for such a long time. Couldn’t even speak or write common yet.”  

“I had to remind you he was for a study when all you wished to do was play with him,” Farlan recalled, taking a sip of his tea.  

“You weren’t the most on task, either,” the elvish woman reminded, giving him a knowing glare, “I would find you pausing in the middle of taking notes when he was batting at your pen.”  

The memory sparked something with the researchers as Farlan cracked a smile before they both laughed for a moment. Aegis collected herself as she ran a finger around the rim of her cup.  

“He’s having so much fun,” she explained, looking at the stack of drawings and letters, “He’s met such a wonderful group of friends.”  

“We knew sooner or later we’d have to release him,” Farlan said, “He was still a living creature, even if he’s an adolescent. He deserves to make his own choices.”  

She shuffled the drawing she was looking at across the table to face Farlan.  

It was another crude drawing of the same cat from the reference picture he used to find the cottage. This time, he was standing atop a large hill with sword extended towards a starry sky. A shooting star’s trail streaked to where it was drawn in place at the tip of his sword.  

“He wanted to find a star. Just like a story I used to tell him: that shooting stars all landed somewhere and we had our own to find.” Aegis reminisced, her eyes starting to get misty.  

Farlan nodded somberly with his eyes on the drawing, “That was how you came to the choice of his name. Yes, I recall.”  

“He believes if he finds one it will make me better,” Aegis continued, “That if he finds his star then I’ll be healthy again. I can’t take that away from him.”  

Farlan exhaled, clearly he wanted to argue but he knew he couldn’t. Instead he elected to start removing equipment from his bag, “I don’t know if it’s a star he’s gonna find, exactly, but he may find what he’s looking for in a form he didn’t expect. Maybe a magic potion or an ancient artifact.”  

“Don’t patronize me, Farlan,” Aegis said, but she couldn’t hide the bit of a smile, “You’re my doctor today, you don’t get to tease me.”  

“Not teasing. Well, maybe half teasing.” Farlan assured, “It is quite a world out there, after all. From what you’ve told me already he’s on quite a remarkable adventure.” He held a hand out, flexing his fingers. Aegis rested her hand in his as he started to check her pulse, “For now, he has his own star to chase,” he cast a glance at the drawing again, “I think you’ve already found yours.”  

Farlan placed his other hand over top of Aegis’ as she nodded a couple of times, covering her teary smile with her hand. She sniffled, brushing some of her hair out of her face.  

“Remember, my little Star Chaser-”  

“- When you see a falling star, follow it. Follow it and remember that I see it, too. If you chase the star, I will know where you are!”  

A small Tabaxi with an orange coat sang the parable to himself as he had before hundreds of times, kicking his feet on a bar stool way too tall for him. He held a length of chalk in a fist drawing on a sheet of parchment.  

An empty glass with the remnants of what was likely milk sat next to him as he had just finished scribbling ears on a cat-like stick figure staring up at a very large tower.  

His party was about to go see a tower just like it nearby. He couldn’t quite remember why they were, but he was still so excited. It was so tall! Maybe if he could scale it he’d get close to the night sky.  

There were so many stars above where they were, and it was so pretty! One of them just had to be close enough to touch! If he couldn’t grab it, maybe he could just knock it loose.  

“Hey Star! We’re about to go to the markets and see the fresh catches for today,” A soft female voice called from the doorway, “Do you wanna come with us?”  

“Uh huh!” Star eagerly replied, nodding a couple times. Fresh fish at the market, he couldn’t wait! He just had to finish this drawing.  

A couple more details and... Done!  

He folded the drawing up along with a note, giving a rather unnecessarily large lick to the envelope  to seal it before waving it around to the barkeep, “I’d like to send this letter, please!”  

The barkeep, a burly man with a bushy mustache reached out with a bit of a forced smile as he grabbed the slightly damp letter with two fingers.  

“Same place as th’ last one?” he asked.  

The Tabaxi nodded a couple times, “Yes, please!”  

Star scooped up his drawing materials, hopping off the stool before padding for the door. Before long the letter would be on its way to the cottage, but the words almost rang in the air off of the paper that was filled to the brim with wondrous, if not brokenly written words.  

The envelope was lovingly (albeit a bit sloppily) wrapped and sealed. The cover sported a blotch of ink resembling a paw print and a couple words scrawled barely legibly across the front.  

                                            To Mama

[twinkletoes-rp]

Princess Tutu College AU Ch. 2 - “Second Position”

(Can also read on FFN | AO3 | Previous | Next )

--

It’s been about a week since then, and things have gotten calmer and crazier at the same time. Fakir’s been helping her catch up when she’s forced to stay after classes, and even if it’s taking longer and only a tiny bit (not that he’s surprised with her professors letting her fall through the cracks instead of helping her – yes, he’s bitter), he can see that she’s improving and makes sure to tell her so (the right way this time). That alone is enough to make her grin, and he can’t help but smile softly, too, mostly when she’s not looking. Honestly… She’s such a simple thing.

Their living arrangements have gotten better, too. They don’t fight anymore, at least not much, something they and their neighbors all appreciate. He still makes her food (she survives almost solely on bread and managed to burn water their first week together – friends now or not, there’s no way he’s letting her cook), but now they eat together when they have time, sometimes in companionable silence, sometimes talking about their classes or different techniques they can try during practice or how Mytho and Rue are doing. That carries over while he washes and she dries the dishes. It’s nice and fun and domestic (though they both blush heatedly when that word crosses their minds).

Things are better.

Today, Ahiru’s beginning class is going to be getting a look at the advanced class to see what they can do – hopefully, what they’ll be able to do someday if they work hard enough (or that’s what Cat-sensei says, at least…usually while looking disappointedly at Ahiru…). Ahiru brightens at the news. That means she’ll get to see Mytho, Rue, and Fakir, all at once, and see them dance! How lucky!

Their classroom doors open, and the advanced class strolls in, beautiful and handsome and mesmerizing. After introductions, mostly for formality’s sake, they start their dance right away, and none of the younger students can look away. Ahiru figured she’d want to see Mytho dance the most, maybe with Rue since they’re so good together, but she finds herself drawn to Fakir instead, and she can’t take her eyes off him. His movements are precise and controlled, definitely gorgeous, his face stoic, as always, but…there’s emotion hidden there, too, just beneath the surface, that’s helping to drive him. She wonders if the others notice or if it’s just because they’re roommates and they’ve been practicing together that she can see it. She can’t quite put a name to the emotions she sees, too fleeting and complicated, but when he catches her eye, she feels caught for some reason and looks away quickly. Are her ears burning or is that just her imagination? She’s pretty sure she hears Pique snickering and a conspiratorial Lilie ‘ooh’ing around her. Great…

Fakir, for his part, nearly stumbles at the look, but catches himself and forces himself to focus on the dance. What the hell? This isn’t like him. So Ahiru was watching him, so what? That’s what she’s supposed to be doing. Why would that (almost literally) trip him up so much? He’s never cared about who was watching him before. Why is his heart beating so quickly and why does his face feel so warm outside the exertion? Is he…embarrassed? Shy? It’s true that he figured she’d watch Mytho and Rue instead, given how she used to (does?) feel about him, but why would her shift make him so flustered? She’s watched him dance so many times during practice. None of this makes any sense…

Their dance is over before he can blink, and after a healthy amount of applause, including from a still-slightly-flushed, but shyly-smiling Ahiru, Cat-sensei claps his hands. “All right, and now, my class will show you what they can do!”

“Qua--?!” Ahiru cuts herself off, slapping her hands over her mouth. Her classmates chatter excitedly around her.

“We are?!”

“Oh, wow!”

“Finally!”

“I didn’t think we’d get to show off for another few months, at least! Maybe till next year!”

“In front of Prince Mytho, too! And Fakir!”

“And Rue! She’s so pretty and talented!”

“This is the best day of my life!”

Cat-sensei claps his hands again, a little louder this time. “All right, all right, that’s enough!” The noise dies down, and he motions for them to stand. “I know you’re excited for this surprise, but if you want to show off your skills, you need to get up! Up, front and center, everyone!”

They do as they’re told, Ahiru purposely trailing behind so she can take deep breaths and try not to panic. She’s always wanted this, sure, at least in a way, but she thought it would be later, more toward the end of the year, when she was at least a little better! She doesn’t think she’s ready! There’s no way! She’ll totally fall or trip or accidentally do it to someone else! She’ll be a total laughing stock—!

A hand appears on her shoulder out of nowhere, snapping her out of her thoughts, and she blinks. Following it, she sees it’s Fakir, and her eyes widen. He’s never…touched her before…not like this, anyway. Her heart speeds up, and she can feel her cheeks heating up slightly. “F-Fakir…?”

“Remember our practice, and do your best. Pretend we’re not here.” A tiny, almost subconscious smile comes to his face, and his hand slips to his pocket. “You’ll be fine.”

She blinks again and then grins, feeling better already. She never thought he’d do something like this for her, at least not so early into their friendship, but he did say he’d be helping her from now on, so maybe this is part of that. Pumping her fists, she nods determinedly. “R-right! Thank you!”

He watches her hurry to get in position with the others, her happy face stuck in his mind as he goes to sit with Mytho and Rue. He swears his face is warm again, and he catches the other two eyeing him like they know something he doesn’t, a respective smile and smirk on their faces. He ignores them and looks ahead to watch as the beginning class starts.

For their level, each student differing in places, they do very well. There’s a very tall, muscular girl who clearly knows what she’s doing, but she’s too robotic and fierce and angry, almost competitive. The last three aren’t necessarily bad, but when paired with the first, it can make or break the dance, and for her, Fakir can already see it’s the latter. He can also tell that it’s something she’s working through, though, and he’s vaguely intrigued enough to see what she’ll do once she’s past it. She could be in the advanced class rather easily then.

The others are mostly average, some falling higher or lower on the bar than others. A lot of them are trying way too hard, not that he’s really surprised. They want to make a good impression. Still, he wonders if they realize they’d make a better one if they danced like they’re not there, like he told Ahiru to do.

Speaking of Ahiru, his attention quickly leaves the others to find her, and he has to stop himself from breathing a sigh of relief. Good. She is listening. She’s still shaky and unbalanced and her movements are far from pretty, but it’s still better than she was last week, and he can’t help but feel a jab of pride when Pique and Lilie and a few others look over at her like she’s sprouted another head. He’ll take it.

All the same, he grimaces and clenches a fist to keep himself from standing when, at the very end, Ahiru’s foot catches on the back of her ankle and she crashes to the floor with a startled cry.

Her classmates laugh and his do, too, minus him and Mytho and Rue, the upperclassmen girls snickering, and Cat-sensei only sighs before clapping his hands again. “Thank you, beginning class! That was very good!” The ‘most of you’ is left unsaid, but a red-faced Ahiru still winces in picking herself up from the floor and hurrying to sit in the far back, knees drawn to her chest and looking away from everyone. She blinks back the tears that prick her eyes, sniffling quietly. It’s already bad enough. She won’t make it worse by crying in front of everyone.

The rest of the class is a free period for the classes to interact, and Fakir is just getting up to go make sure Ahiru didn’t hurt herself when he hears it.

“Did you see that duck girl’s performance?” one of his classmates says to her friends, laughing rather shrilly, if Fakir does say so himself.

The other girls laugh and snigger, too. “Are you kidding? How could you miss it? She’s the worst dancer in the whole school!”

The first girl, Melody, waves her hand like she’s about to share the latest gossip. “Oh, it’s worse than that! She’s the worst dancer I’ve ever seen! I don’t know why she even bothers! She has zero talent!”

Clenching a fist, Fakir’s had enough. “Yes, and you’d be the authority on that, wouldn’t you, Melody?” His quiet, yet sharp voice manages to cut through the others’ chatter, and everyone turns to look at them, not that Fakir cares.

Melody blinks, caught off guard, before she smirks, tilting her chin up like she’s something special. “Well, I am in the advanced class alongside you, Fakir.”

Oh. He gets it now. He’s one of the best dancers the school has (not bragging, just repeating scores), and since she’s in his class, she thinks she’s got a leg to stand on, huh?

Well, now he almost feels bad for her.

Almost.

“Dancing alongside me doesn’t mean we’re on the same level. According to our scores, you still have a long way to go.” Melody and her friends gasp, a hand flying to her chest. Fakir isn’t fazed. He’s just stating facts, after all. “For that matter, dancing below us doesn’t make anyone less than we are either. We all started out here, too, if you’ll recall. Ahiru may not be great now, but she does have potential and talent.” He smirks. “Something you’d know if you really were looking down from where I am.” Again, just telling the truth.

Melody narrows her eyes and growls. “That’s rich, coming from the guy who always put her down before! Why are you defending her all of a sudden anyway?” Fakir’s smirk falls, a dark frown sweeping in. It’s true, fair, but it still hurts. God, he really does suck at communicating. That’s not what he meant…! “And what was with that little encouragement before?” She sneers. Fakir never really noticed how ugly she was before. The ink of personality stains the cover, he supposes. “You don’t smile! You never smile!”

That’s not true – or at least, not entirely. He’s smiled a few times lately, thanks to Ahiru. Not that they need to know that. Not that it’s anyone’s business but their own. He growls slightly in the back of his throat, glares a little more. “I was wrong, and I’m changing.” Stopping himself before he can say more, he closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, standing tall. He doesn’t need to explain anything to these people. His brother and Rue are the exceptions, of course, but they already know at least part of what’s going on. His eyes are steely in finding Melody’s once more. "Talk about Ahiru like that again, and we will have a problem."

Declaring class over for himself for the day, he turns on his heel and storms from the room, Melody and all the other students watching after him, sensei, too. Their gazes fall on Ahiru next, who’d been watching the entire thing speechless and red-faced, and she only blushes further at their stares before remembering herself. Shooting up and tripping over her feet on the way, she bolts for the doors. After what he did for her, she can’t just let him go like that! “Sorry, sensei! See you after class!”

She can hear him calling after her, but she’s already gone, and she has no intention of stopping. Not until she’s found him.

Luckily, she doesn’t have to go very far. He’s only made it most of the way down the empty hallway, bright sunlight streaming through the half-open double doors at the end.

"Ah—Fakir!" He stops in his tracks. Too nervous to turn around to face her after all that, he turns his head toward her the slightest bit so she knows he's listening. She's nervous, too, so she squirms, but she calls on her courage to come closer, just to his left, and offer a tiny, shy smile. "Um...t-thank you!" Realizing how silly that probably sounds, she hurries to clarify, "F-for, um, back there, I mean! Defending me like that! It was...well, surprising, but really nice, too!"

She smiles brightly, and Fakir does a double take when he sees it. She's never looked at him like that before. What's with his face heating up and his heart beating quicker all of a sudden? Why is he thinking that she looks pretty like that? Why does he want to see her do it more?

He surprises himself by huffing a laugh, letting a small smile grace his lips in turn – one he lets her see (her eyes widen, and she's pretty sure her heart does flip flops, though she doesn't understand why) – and reaching out to flick at the little hair tuft that always sticks up at the top of her head. He’s never...done that before... Although, he supposes, with their friendship just starting, there will be a lot of ‘firsts’ incoming. "Yeah, well…the only one here allowed to mess with you is me. Anybody else tries, and I want to know about it." He fixes her with a gaze that might be considered...protective if she saw it coming from anyone else, but...there's no way Fakir...right...? "Tell me if anyone else says anything like that to or about you. Got it?"

She blinks, shocked and happy and awed and so many other things that she doesn’t even know how to name them, and then realizes he's still waiting for an answer. Snapping out of it, she nods. "R-right! Got it!”

Sighing a bit in relief at all this being done, she hesitates a moment before, feeling bold, reaching out to flick one of his unruly bangs away from his forehead. Sticking her tongue out playfully at how caught off guard he looks, she suddenly runs a few steps ahead, reaching back to grab his hand and pull him along. He yelps, startled. "Come with me! As thanks, I'll show you one of my favorite spots in town!”

It ends up being the ice cream shop (because of course it does), and technically, according to their program’s dietary regimen, they're not really supposed to have that, but she knows Fakir sticks to it like glue, and she can always work it off with the run back to school, so... "Just trust me! It'll be fun!"

And lo and behold, it is. They don't make it (read: sneak) back to their dorm until well after curfew.

[chicoboco]

Suzuki Aina’s 1st Photobook interview

Today is Ainya’s birthday! 2 years ago, I worked with Ray to bring you the interview from her first photobook “Airabu.” ! Enjoy reading as our favourite shiny ojiisan share with us her experiences as she goes around Kominato Railway and look back at the past 2 years, and pray for us to get a 2nd photobook of our smol ojiisan!!

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The scenery from the train window, the station gives me a nostalgic feeling.

The location of this photo album was taken at Kominato Railway in Chiba Prefecture. With three patterns of costumes, with the first costume being a school girl’s uniform.

Ainya: I was worried that I would look like a fake high school girl (laugh). But I was able to remember the nostalgic feeling about the high school days and I was very happy.

Rather than a fake high school girl, isn’t it more like a junior high school?

Ainya: Junior high school is too young you know!  (laugh)

I’m sorry (laugh), it wasn’t meant to sound weird

Ainya: No, it’s okay. I don’t mind, anyway, thank you. (laugh)

The shoot that was taken in the train had a nice atmosphere didn’t it?

Ainya: Well I’m from Hokkaido, and the train was running in a similar atmosphere.

It certainly does not seem strange to be running in Hokkaido

Ainya: It is, well the trains I mean. We can see the rice fields and there are no tall buildings visible from the train window, the scenery and the train station are also nice. It has the same familiar atmosphere as my hometown. In addition to having to wear the uniforms, I started to feel all the nostalgia come back to me.

Have you ever been on a train?

Ainya: I have, that was when I was in high school. While shaking and rattling for about an hour, I fell asleep

At the time of the shoot, did you feel like you were returning back to the high school days?

Ainya: Mm that’s right. The theme of this photobook is “Journey”.  When I was actually travelling on Kominato Railway, it felt like I was going on “A journey to look back on life” and it reminded me of my high school days.

I see. By the way, while inside the train, you were playing (messing) around with the hanging strap like crazy weren’t you?

Ainya: At that time, there weren’t many people on the train so I messed around like crazy (laughs). Of course when a passenger comes, I won’t scare them away.

I understand (laugh). By the way, have you ever actually traveled by yourself?

Ainya: I haven’t, because my sense of direction is pretty bad. Even when I was at my parents house, I felt like “travelling by myself was unthinkable” (laugh)

It’s dangerous to have Aina to travel alone huh (laugh)

Ainya: Yeah that’s right (laugh)! Because there’s a possibility that I will get lost while wandering aimlessly. Of course there is always that feeling of wanting to go somewhere far away by myself. A desire to walk around a place with good scenery while listening to a music.

Is there any place you would like to travel by yourself specifically?

Ainya: During the shoot this time I soaked my feet in the foot bath right? Well I love hot springs in the first place but thanks to that foot bath, my love to hot spring become even stronger!. So I would like to go around Atami. (TL Note: Atami is a hot spot for hot springs)

It is quite close from Tokyo so it may be nice right?

Ainya: Ah, but it will be too lonely to go to the hot spring alone (laugh). That’s why, if I go I’ll drag my friends! It will be a short trip by train.

It will be a fun trip. However, it seems to be still a long way for you to go on a trip by yourself.

Ainya: It is. I wonder if I can become more independent?  (laugh)

Experiencing my first foot bath helped me relaxing my mind and body as I remembering my childhood

The second costume was a one piece, a cardigan, and a straw hat. What do you think of this costume?

Ainya: A white one-piece cloth and a straw hat gives off this street girl feeling isn’t? It’s packed with the feelings of a pure girl. Something that’s been loved by everyone since a long time ago, and that no one dislikes. Because I haven’t really had the experience of wearing those sort of “pure girl” clothes, being able to wear them makes me happy. The thought of “girls wearing these kind of clothes often appear in anime” and “a girl that is smiling and laughing on a sunflower field while basking under the summer sun” came to my mind while i’m wearing it, (laugh)

But instead of sunflower field, it’s a quite nice scene how the costume reflected together with the ripened flowers

Ainya: Really? I also thought how the ripe flowers blossoms were cute.

The clothes, your presence and the the ripen flowers. The feeling of these three things combined were giving this nice feeling

Ainya: Im so happy! Thank you very much!

Do your feelings also change when you are wearing the clothes?

Ainya: It gave me the feeling that I be more graceful than usual. While waiting for a train, I thought that “I should not do things that look indecent or too vulgar”. Ah, it’s not like I’m usually indecent or anything! (laugh)!

I don’t think you’re like that. Well, occasionally you do something weird don’t you? (Laugh)

Ainya: That’s right! There are times where I do stupid things (laugh)! Anyway, when I was wearing those clothes, I wanted to behave a bit more elegantly. That one piece must not be disgraced!

That feeling, was then able to be reflected on the 3rd costume isn’t?

Ainya: That’s correct. That costume is like the clothes that I wear usually and something I thought that I would love to wear. I didn’t feel out of place wearing it and I was just in my usual self.

It just felt really natural huh?

Ainya: That’s how I feel. Also, sometimes I wore sneakers and beach sandals, so I thought there’s this “summer” atmosphere feeling in my heart.

The feeling of playing around on the riverside was also nice isn’t it?

Ainya: Ah! It’s time to fish! I’m in high spirits when I do that~ (laughs)

Also in this costume you soaked in the foot bath which I was talking about just now

Ainya: That foot bath was my first experience, and it feel really pleasant! Although it was only the legs that were soaked, it’s amazing how my whole body was also also warmed up from the foot bath.

Nonetheless it is nice to have a foot bath at the station isn’t it?

Ainya: I really think so! Especially in the winter! If you’re tired from work and you’re on the way home, having a foot bath by the station is the best thing. I want my home station to have one too~  (laugh)

Seeing old trains and soaking your legs in the foot bath at this station gives off a nice feeling huh?

Ainya: Yeah, I thought that I could stay here forever. I wanted to stay more~

Overall, what are your thoughts on this location?

Ainya: To summaries, I really enjoyed myself. I think that it was a good journey in sense that it made me feel like I was in my teenage years again.

Are you feeling that you just had both a train journey and a space-time journey while relaxing and soaking in a foot bath?

Ainya: It felt exactly like that. Somehow it’s kind of embarrassing (laugh). But it was really comfortable. Everyone, if you get the chance to visit, please try to soak in the foot bath! (TL Note: “space-time journey” I’m guessing it’s talking about whether the foot bath felt spiritual or something like that)

Looking back at the first installment series… I thought that I grew a little bit

In this photo album from the March 2016 issue, Suzuki’s series that is still going on “Magical Girl Miracle Aina” are also included. I heard that you used to like “Magical Girl” from a long time ago?

Ainya: I liked it a lot! Since I was young, as I’ve always liked concepts like “Magical Girls” and “Transforming girls”, I used to watch those on TV a lot. For example…when I was in elementary school, the show I liked was “Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch. I yearned to be like Mermaid Princess Naomi Ruchia-Chan who would transform and sing songs. Later on of course, I also loved “Beautiful fighting girls Sailor Moon”! Other than that, “Futari wa pretty cure” and “Magical Doremi”…

It’s all coming out huh? (laugh)

Ainya: I’m sorry (laugh). Oh, and also, I really liked “Fushigiboshi no ☆ Futagohime ” – It is a story about the twin princesses that try very hard to use magic! Anyway, when I was a child I really had a longing for  magical girls. I’ve always pretended to be a magical girl and I thought “I also want to fly in the sky one day” (laugh)

In Seiyuu Paradise, your dream of becoming a magical girl has came true didn’t?

Ainya: Yes! I also was longing for “Futago Hime” at that time, so I thought that I wanted to be a princess, and it also came true at the second series (May 2016 issue). I was really happy~

By the way, do you remember the time when the shoot was taken at the hamburger shop for the first series (March 2016 issue)?

Ainya: Yes. At that time, as I wasn’t used to taking pictures at all. I didn’t know how to strike poses, even when I was told to “walk a little there”, I was worrying over “How should I walk?”~

Then, looking back on the first photos how do you feel?

Ainya: It’s embarrassing (laugh). When I look at close ups of my pictures, I think “Wow, I’m really doing my best!”. But even though it’s embarrassing, I think I’m doing pretty well now. When I look at the pictures, it feels like I may be growing up properly now.

I see.

Ainya: Also, I think that through this series, I’ve also learned various things such as posing and expressions.

You said that you wanted to be a magical girl when you was in elementary school, but what kind of girl was Suzuki-san when she was a junior high school student?

Ainya: I like to move my body around a lot so I entered the track and field club. However, even though I had the stamina, I didn’t have power at all. So I was doing medium to long distance runs.

To say that you like to move your body, did you had a fun when you become a professional tennis player in the fourth series (September 2016 issue)?

Ainya: It was a lot of fun! However, although I like to move my body , I’m not good at any sports that involves balls, I can’t play tennis that well, after all, I don’t have the power, So I guess I’m not suitable for sports that involves balls I guess~

Actually in the previous issue of Seiyuu Paradise, A.U was also also wearing a tennis player outfit! And coincidentally you were also wearing a tennis player outfit. A.U thinks that you’re super cute in that outfit.

Ainya: No no no! No way! A.U is 100 times cuter than me! I swear! I truly respect her as a voice actor and even being compared to her is ridiculous!

In the next fifth series (November 2016 issue), you became a maid right?

Ainya: That’s right. I was wearing mint blue costumes, and I remember that costume was so cute. Speaking about maids, I think a white apron with black outfit is a classic one. But I also really liked that costume. By the way, I’ve been always wanted to try becoming a maid.

Why is that?

Ainya: I always liked Moe-type animations, and maid costume are one of the items that’s indispensable to Moe. So, when I was a high school student I thought that I would like to work as part-time at a maid cafe, although it didn’t come true.

In this series, you are becoming to what you really want. In the sixth series (January 2017 issue) you become Alice from “Alice in Wonderland”

Ainya: I really love it! if I get asked “What costume you would like wear again in this series?”, I will choose this costume. Of course, I really love “Alice in Wonderland” I was really happy!

Earlier you said that you “wear costumes”.

Ainya: Oh, no! I was “transforming” using magic! I’m making such a careless mistake ~ (laugh)

In the eighth series (May 2017 issue), you made the “transformation” to Tinkerbell and Wendy from the “Peter Pan”

Ainya: I was happy to be able to become Tinker Bell, a familiar character when I was a at young age. It had a dreamlike feeling as if I could go to “Neverland”.

You said you want to become Wendy.

Ainya: It’s the feeling of my brother saying “If I have a sister like that, I’m going to paper you”. (laughs)

Huh? You mean “sister” right?

Ainya: That’s right. it’s the elder daughter of two sisters, and there’s also a sister who is still under 2 years old. (TL Note: At this point they are probably talking about Tinker Bell which I have no knowledge on, sorry if I get anything wrong!)

Well, of course, you would like your sisters to be like Wendy, wouldn’t you?

Ainya: I wonder? (laugh) No, we get along well! Usually, because I’m really carefree while my little sister is the serious one, there’s a lot of times where she has to pull me back. It’s become a situation where the roles of the older and younger sister are reversed… I’m embarrassed.

What a sight for the eyes (laughs). But it’s a nice relationship isn’t it?. You seem to have learned folk songs since childhood, is it together with your sister?

Ainya: Yes. We were doing folk songs together. So there are dozens of yukatas and kimonos in our house.

As it turned out, the yukata appearance of the ninth series (July 2017 issue) really suits you well.

Ainya: Thank you very much. Certainly at that time, I had to stop “transforming” and “change clothes” like a normal person. (laugh).

I see.

Ainya: Really, because I was doing folk songs, it just makes me feel calm whenever I wear a yukata, and I like to eat soumen to help me feel more relaxed.

After that on the tenth series (September 2017 issue), you became a wife and the child. I don’t think that there’s that many people who can perform both at the same time

Ainya: For me, I also have the desire that “I want to be a good wife someday” and I’m glad it become a reality. Also because there’s the children, I also want to play as the child!

You’re probably the only seiyuu that entered the stroller. (laugh)

Ainya: Even though I’m considerably small, that stroller is quite cramped (laugh). Even so, to become the wife & the child at the same time, if you think about it, it is amazing. (laugh)

It sure is (laugh). Well, looking back on the series again, what do you think?

Ainya: When I look back at the two years of history, I start to feel somewhat emotional. Also it’s all thanks to Seiyuu Paradise R, the staff behind this, and everyone that have been supporting for allowing me to be able to continue to serialize the series. Just thinking about it like that, the word “Thank you” really is the only thing that comes to my mind.

This photo collection is packed with my 2 years of growth and appreciation

Then, what kind of book do you think this photo collection is?

Ainya: Generally, I think it became a book that’s filled with my feelings of “gratitude”. 2 years ago, I was in a state not knowing what to do, but I was helped and raised by so many people. I think that is exactly how this series appears, and in this Kominato Tetsudo location, I took the feeling of gratitude from everyone to my heart.

This photo collection included about two years of growth and appreciation isn’t?

Ainya: It is that kind of feeling.

As you was talking earlier, the way you makes expression may has change considerably

Ainya: It was awkward at the beginning because the smile was kinda forced. Everyone who looked at this photo collection would surely be thinking like “she’s getting the hang of this”. Now I can even make a pretty natural smile and a brave smile.

Even the relaxed smile on that foot bath scene may not have been happened?

Ainya: I don’t think that I could have done it.

Finally, a message to those who bought this photo collection!

Ainya: Truly, thank you so much for buying this photo collection! It was only because all of you that we could realize the dream of releasing a photo collection. From now on, I will continue to work hard so that I can become a voice actress that everyone will think “I want to support her.”, please continue supporting me!

Everyone who bought this photo collection must have been waiting for the second book!

Ainya: No way! It’s still too early! But if it possible to do such a thing, I wish I could give out a different feeling from this one.

Oh, is that mean a 2nd photo collection will come out?

Ainya: Aha, no way. it’s still too early! Anyway, please enjoy this 1st photo collection from corner to corner!

TL – Chicoboco, Ray

TLC, QC – Ray

Thank you all for reading this! We wish Ainya a very happy birthday!

[joeymozzarello]

unspoken passion

I’m writing about Tim Murphy but don’t get too excited.

it’s better if you have ‘just the way you are’ by billy joel playing on repeat in the background. trust me.

Dedicated to Madeline<3 

I made this tweet earlier and this is basically what this is:

~~+~~

“Thanks again for this,” Madeline turned to her best friend, the tall redhead in a suit that didn’t quite fit him right. He gave out a chuckle, rolling his eyes as he fiddled with one of the buttons on his blazer.

“Stop thanking me, you’re becoming a cliché,” he playfully hit her on the back making her stumble slightly forward. He laughed. “You’re so dramatic.”

The wedding reception was lively and filled with people she either didn’t know or met maybe once or twice. At least this time she wouldn’t be stuck at the singles table again. Last time, it was full of sad girls who got drunk and tried to sleep with virtually anybody and old men who no one knew. She’d spent the whole night regretting even showing up. Tim’s gaze flashed around the room, eager and childish, biting his lip, probably eager to get on the dancefloor.

There was a lot of noise, this wedding seemed a lot more lighthearted than the last she’d been to but maybe it was because this time she wasn’t alone. Tim was always the one that made things more exciting for the both of them. The bus rides to museums were always filled with the music from his mixed CDs or he’d fill scrapbooks full of cut out comic book pages and he’d create his own so that she could read them on the bus. Things like that always made her feel better, so just having him here with her made her feel a hundred times better.

She and Tim made their way to their table, this time she knew she was going to be sitting amongst friends, not only was she very close to one of the bridesmaids but also anyone Tim met ended up being his friend by the end of the night so it wouldn’t be nearly as awkward as it usually was. She’d just let Tim take the lead, do most of the talking and if necessary she’d crack a few jokes or ask a few questions but mainly, the only thing she was there to do was support her friend. Who just got married. She must be here somewhere, my friend, uh, Marie--no Joan, wait--

“Tim,” Maddie said lowly, her eyes wide and her cheeks getting slightly redder as time went by. Tim turned to her, eyebrows raised. “Whose wedding is this?” 

He burst out laughing, she hit his arm, trying to get him to stop so that not too much attention would be drawn to them. “It’s one of your friends! How am I supposed to know?”

“I don’t know, Timothy, I've been to so many lately I’m losing my mind!” 

“This is so funny.”

“Piss off,” she rolled her eyes. “Do you know or don’t you?”

“Yes, I do,” he said smugly, her face lit up, happily, that only made him giggle. “That doesn't mean I’m gonna tell you, there’d be no fun in that!” 

“This isn’t fun,” she pushed him, barely doing anything at all.

They got to the table and the first thing Tim did was shake hands with everyone there. He introduced himself, smiled, cracked a few jokes and all she could do was stand behind him and smile awkwardly. She spotted her friend, the bridesmaid, and her shoulders relaxed. “Lyn!” She shouted making Lyn look up and smile. Lyn was tall and skinny and naturally a model, she probably worked with Calvin Klein or something at the moment, Maddie couldn’t keep up.

Tim turned slightly, looking at Lyn as she budged past lots of different people with the brightest smile on her face. Tim was intrigued, he didn’t make it obvious but something about his body language made Maddie raise an eyebrow. “You’re drooling,” she scoffed. Tim jumped out of his skin and shook his head, pretending he had no idea what she was talking about.

“OMG, Maddie! I haven’t seen you in so long! How have you been?” Lyn pulled her into a hug, and Maddie happily accepted. Lyn was one of those people that connected with anyone through touch. She would take any opportunity to let you know that she’s supporting you and listening to and stuff like that. She was an overall nice person.

“I’ve been good! I saw you on a billboard last week, thought I was going crazy! You’re super popular now, we’re a long way from high school!” Maddie giggled, everything about her tone hinted at the fact that generally, she wasn’t being genuine, as much as she like Lyn, she found her a little annoying, everything with her sounded like a competition, so Maddie always had to lay down the compliments to avoid it getting annoying. Maddie turned to the overgrown boy next to her whose eyes were wide and stupidly pretty. “Tim, this is--”

“Lyn Carter,” Tim breathed. He shook himself out of his trance. “I’m a huge fan of your work, I saw what you did for all of those charities and your expedition to plant new trees in the rainforest, I really, really love what you do for the environment,” he shook her hand, her smile got brighter, a little shocked.

“That’s nice to hear, Tim, what do you do?”

“I’m a palaeontologist. I study dinosaurs,” he scratched the back of his head nervously, a blush rising on his cheeks. Madeline’s eyebrows knitted together and she cleared her throat. 

“Should we sit?”

Tim spent about an hour babbling to Lyn about the environment and basically spitting out any facts he knew or could remember, debating them with Lyn and they went back and forth for ages. Sometimes he’d turn to Maddie and rub her shoulder with a smile and ask if she was okay, to which Maddie only smiled and nodded back. In truth, she was bored out of her mind. She wasn’t even really listening to what they were saying, she’d spaced out then minutes in and had only really spoken to Mr H, the old man sitting opposite her, she’d asked him to pass her the salt because he’d been hogging and she’d been waiting for ten minutes.

Tim’s hand on her shoulder took her out of her trance, he’d stood up. He leaned down and with a smile, he said he was going to the bathroom and gave her a quick and innocent kiss on the cheek. She didn’t know why, this rarely happened but in the moment she didn’t really think much of it. 

Lyn watched Tim leave with a smile on her face and Maddie rolled her eyes. As soon as he was out of sight, Lyn squirmed and moved up onto Tim’s chair and sat next to Maddie. “Oh, my God, Mads,” she blinked with a huge grin, her mouth slightly open. “What have you done to this guy?” 

Maddie deadpanned for a minute. She wasn’t processing what Lyn had just said, it didn't make any sense. “Pardon?”

“He’s literally obsessed with you, I don’t know what you did to this man but he’s completely enchanted by you,” Lyn giggled at Maddie’s expression. “Do you seriously have no idea what I’m talking about?” 

Maddie thought about it. Tim and Lyn had been talking for an hour straight, not once to her directly, she basically felt ignored most of the time, and pitied every time Tim checked up on her. This didn’t feel like Tim was enchanted by her, mainly like he was just doing her a favour and was having a good time without her.

“Okay, let me lay it down for you--” Lyn cleared her throat, turning around to make sure he wasn’t coming back yet. “Tim brought your name up in the conversation every two sentences, he told me about fourteen stories about your childhood together, showed me a picture of you and him holding some award he won and literally zoomed in to your face to comment on the colour of your eyes. If that ain’t love,” she laughed.

Madeline didn’t say anything. She kept opening her mouth but nothing was coming out, it just felt like a rush to the head, none of it made sense. She felt a bit like she needed to chuckle or brush it off as if it were a joke but Lyn’s eyes didn’t have a trace of humour in them, just a gleam that showed some sort of glee at this discovery. “Tim isn’t in love with me,” was all Maddie could muster up. Her voice was quiet and cracked slightly and suddenly she was begging to feel a little lightheaded.

“And don’t even get me started on you and your green eye,” Lyn laughed.

“My eyes are blue,” Maddie said, confusion covering every inch of her face.

“I meant your jealous little remarks and faces! Girl, you’ve got it and you've got it bad!” Lyn pushed her shoulder playfully and Maddie didn’t move. 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, I don’t have anything!”

That’s when she saw Tim coming back from the bathroom, childishly pulling his trousers up and trying to frantically tuck his shirt into his pants before getting to the table. Lyn followed Maddie’s gaze and mouthed ‘here he comes’ before she moved back to her own seat and begun tucking into the food she hadn’t gotten a chance to eat yet.

Once Tim joined them once again, he didn’t sit, he just placed both of his hands on the back of Maddie’s chair and leaned forward to whisper in her ear, a crooked grin on his lips. “Wanna dance?” 

Lyn choked on her food, making both of them look up and all she did was laugh and hold up two thumbs. Maddie’s stomach dropped and she swallowed slightly, suddenly feeling very nervous. All she did was hum back and stood up, Tim’s hand snaked around her waist as he lead her to the dance floor. 

The light was blue, it felt like a school dance, barely anyone was in the middle dancing although there were a few couples scattered around the sides, gently swaying to the mellow melody of the music, Maddie suddenly felt watched. 

Don't go changing to try and please me

You never let me down before

Don't imagine you're too familiar

And I don't see you anymore

They got to the middle and Tim had a slight flush on his face as he placed his hands on her hips, biting his lip slightly, his usual smugness somehow washed away and now it was just him, vulnerable in front of her. She wrapped her arms around his neck so that their faces were really close to each other and she just watched his eyes as they seemed to scan her face. You always have my unspoken passion

Although I might not seem to care

Maddie cleared her throat. “Billy Joel, huh? This really is a wedding,” she chuckled awkwardly, Tim’s eyes flashed from hers to her lips and Maddie was looking over that fact, too anxious to think about any unspoken feeling that she may or may not have bottled up over the course of almost twenty years.

I don't want clever conversation

I never want to work that hard

I just want someone that I can talk to

I want you just the way you are

In that moment, Tim’s head ducked down and he kissed her. Maddie was caught back, completely shocked and for a moment she didn’t move. As he slowly pulled away and looked at her with what seemed like fear in his eyes--fear of having ruined something or completely misread the situation--Maddie just watched him for a couple seconds. They didn’t move. Then something came over her, something that had been hiding for so long, something that needed to be let out. With one glance at his lips, she pulled his head back down and reconnected their lips.

Memories flashed in her mind of sleepovers when they were younger and him waking up in the middle of the night sweaty and screaming and she’d have to comfort him and lull him back to sleep, his head on her chest and her hands in his hair, or memories of when she’d wear long sleeves in the summer just so Tim didn’t feel weird about being the only one, because she’d never wanted him to feel embarrassed about his scars or left out. She thought about when he comforted her when her first boyfriend dumped her so Tim took her out for ice cream at two am and talked her down to the point that she fully forgot she’d been dumped.

That was them, they were always there for each other, no matter what, when Tim was down, Maddie lifted him up and same goes for the other way around. Maddie had never really thought about anything else but really, it was there. She loved him, always had and in one way or the other something in her knew this would happen and as much as it came as a shock--it just felt right. Perfect. 

And in that moment, that’s all that she needed. No more overthinking or anything. In that moment, it was just them two. 

No one else.

As the song played, the night went on and it was perfect. 

I need to know that you will always be

The same old someone that I knew

What will it take till you believe in me

The way that I believe in you?

I said I love you and that's forever

And this I promise from the heart

I could not love you any better

I love you just the way you are

[writingsofmyimagination]

Conjecture |5|

Yoongi x Reader

Idol Reader Au, Enemies to Lovers AU

Summary: Your management refused to renew your contract unless you collaborated, so you ending up working with Min Yoongi. A guy you’d disliked from before both of your debuts. There is more to their past than meets the eye.

Words:2859

Links to other parts in my masterlist

if you want to be tagged let me know :)

Warnings: Smut :), soft piano scene,

(Mention’s on Monsta X’s Wonho)

Reblog, Like, Comment :)

//Yoongi was sparring constantly with regret, why did he choose to work over spending more time with you? The fact he couldn’t answer himself only exasperated his irritation; the only way he could justify himself was acknowledging you’d both probably be getting drunk and by not going he was severing any possibility he’ll leave himself vulnerable by confessing any of his true feelings. All reason ceased to exist when his phone pinged beside him.

-You’ll never guess who’s turned up as a surprise performer-

Hobi knew he was never indulge in this guessing game.

-When have I ever guessed anything you’ve said to me :P –

-True …-

He was never going to reply nor did even need to finish reading the name, he almost stumbled vaulting himself out of the chair and racing to get dressed before leaving in a frantic state. //

  You followed Yoongi like a scolded child, conscious of your surroundings you had the sense to not cause a scene, your glare burned hot into the back of him as he ended up leading you to the underground secure car park of the venue. The minute you stepped out of the elevator the simmering temper boiled over.

“What right do you have coming here and telling me what the fuck to do, my career was nearly non-existent because of that prick” The start of your career was stunted slightly when you were due to release a collaborated song and you refused to agree to release it or have anything to do with it with no reason. That you gave anyway.

“You’re seriously going to make me repeat myself, I’m trying to save you from fucking yourself and your career over” He’d stopped and turned, his jaw muscles twitched as he clenched his jaw, it was as if he’d swallowed a hot fire seed which grew and he was fighting to keep the flames from escaping.

“And besides, how are you any better than he is” you spat back, his eyes grew as wide and as puzzled as physically possible.

“What did you just say?” the glare he shot at you had you stumbling over your thoughts as he minimised the distance between you.

“Well you know what he did yet you still thought it was okay to take me home and sleep with me when you knew I was in no state or right mind” and there it was, the root cause of all your distaste for the guy stood frozen completely flabbergasted in front of you.

“What? We’ve never… what do you actually remember from that night” Your anger was an inferno with no intention of dying out, you refused to acknowledge any excuse or explanation he’d try and offer. You stood there confidently chest out, refusing to back down.

“You storming into my dressing room peeling that asshole off me and saving me, then finding myself awake and undressed in your bed with you nowhere to be found”

“So you don’t actually remember much then, jesus is that why you’ve been such a bitch with me? You thought I’d do something like that?” He was expression was nothing less than mortified, his face drained of the little colour he already had. Scowls had seeped into his words at the accusation, your inebriated system had caused a delay in processing any of this information.

“Let me fill you in, I came to your room to congratulate you on the single and ask you out, I get outside your dressing room and hear some kind of struggle. When I saw him forcing himself on you I acted completely on impulse, yes I pulled him off you, how do you think he broke his nose huh? Me! You was in a complete state, hysterical. You made me swear not tell anyone and not to involve the police, you were petrified of anything affecting your debut. You begged me to just take you home but I wasn’t going to let you be on your own; so yes I took you home. I cold compressed where you felt bruised and even sat with you until your tears stopped. When I left you in my room you were dressed. Whatever you did when I left was nothing to do with me. I slept on the couch”

You may as well have been hosed down with ice water with how this revelation had slapped you in face. You were struggling to even formulate a response, your hot headed ness soothed rapidly to a quiet motion, your chest deflating, you’d shrunk dramatically in size.

“Why… why did you never tell me?” the toxicity of your tone had also dissipated into nothing.

“Tell you? You never gave me a chance, I’d left to go get you some breakfast and some toiletries or whatever so you could at least freshen up and by the time I’d got back you’d left. It’s not like we’d ever exchanged numbers, I got hold of your management and if you remember you refused any contact with me” he spoke with a subtle defensive aggression, his pride and beating heart wounded caused the brightness in his eyes to dim as the blood flow slowed. How could you have got this so wrong, you’d hated and blocked a genuine thoughtful guy from helping you and assuming the worst out of him. The spiral of guilt started gaining momentum dragging with it embarrassment and shame. Yoongi apparently seeing this downfall of your own declining thoughts on your face he comforted his hand over yours.

“Yoongi I’m…”

“Hey” his tone had lowered to a soft and soothing blanket. You hauled your chin up and met his gaze with heavily water filled eyes.

“It’s okay” the glaze of caramelizing sugar coating his eyes. Your mind became a void, unable to even comprehend how you felt in this moment. The only physical response currently manifesting was a racing pulse and the dull remnant ache between your legs that apparently had refused to subside through the drama.

“Okaaayy… you clearly need rescuing from your mind, come on let’s go home” Yoongi finally said.

“Thanks” you offered a weak smile and allowed Yoongi to drive you home.

 “You came to ask me out?” you finally asked bemused after your brain had stopped endlessly whirring. Your mind had settled, a calm and contented void creeped over your being.

“That’s seriously the first thing you’re going to say?” he chuckled.

“Let’s just pretend it’s the drink, come on spill” the alcohol was only mildly impairing you or your actions but it was definitely making teasing him more amusing. Even in the darkness, the flickering of the street lights illuminated a slight tainting of his cheeks to a light pink. His mouth dropped opened slightly in a grin and rolled his tongue against the inside of his cheek.

Firstly fuck that was hot, secondly he still blushed, were there still feelings?

“Okay, now I’ll rescue you shall I?”

“Please” he was thankful for the dodge.

It was almost as if a dam had broken between the two of you, animosity completely evaporated you don’t remember ever laughing so much in such a short drive.

Your hand gripped at the back of your heels as your feet adjusted to the cold tiled floor of his apartment. You dumped your bag on the side and your shoes cluttered to the floor as you hoped onto the breakfast bar in a happily adolescent manner.

“And do you remember how much forehead you had when your hair was all spiked up” you jested, bending over to soothe your exhausted stomach muscles

“How is that worse than those pig tails you used to have on the side of your head and especially that weird bit of hair you had dyed separately” his adorable laugh and smile were constant, you were doing best to not snort in between hardly catching a second to take a breath.

“Okay, okay we both made some terrible fashion choices” you conceded sipping some much needed water.

“But didn’t we think we were IT”

“Oh my god we sooooo did” you took longer than you needed to sliding off the bar and bouncing to join Yoongi on the couch, your hand dripped over the back, legs tucked under you. Yoongi was practically a mirror at the other end.

“But you know what I stand by the music, I don’t regret any of it” a solemn smirk rested on your face, your mind skimming through your back catalogue and more early releases. It brought to you a sense of warmth that seared through your blood, re-iterating your passion for you work.

“Really? He exclaimed “Even your cover of Monster?” he winced, a coy smile burning through his scrunched features. In retaliation you launched a pillow as a projectile, he deflected the incoming with ease.

“I mean…” you chuckled “That was a steep learning curve but it was lesson I needed all tooooo much” The amused atmosphere dissipated into a calm contemplative silence. You observed his features with a fine toothed comb, adoring everything your eyes rested upon. You was lost in a vivid day dream come to life. The tall stand-alone lamp illuminated a glow around you and the piano. The piano.

“Play me something” you implored, pumping as much glucose into your voice and your pleading eyes to win him over.

“Now?”

“Mmmhmm” your head rested on the back of the sofa arm cradling your hair, you curled up nuzzling against the doughy comfort of the chair.

“Well how can I refuse when you ask so sweetly?”

He shuffled on the small leather stool until he’d achieved his desired position, his long slender fingers ghosted across the length of the keyboard as is to tease the music awake before he made his own. The melody was beautiful, so soft it breezed straight through you resulting in you feeling fuzzy, your gaze drifted from the hands capable of bringing an entire room to awe to the focused, absorbed face staring at nothing but the keys depressing down under his touch. At times he even closed eyes for several keys completely washed over with his first love. He plays like nobodies watching, and you watch drowning in the soul he pours out when he plays. He really was a beautiful human in every way.

Could things have worked out differently?

“Y/N are you alright?”

Pulled out from the waves you grew aware your eye’s had filled and small droplets had escaped and trickled down your cheek. Wiping the vulnerability away in a rush to sit up composed, eyes down as you became way too self-conscious.

“Yes, I’m fine that was just beautiful, and another word about thi…” your unfinished defensive threat was halted, the delicate comforting pressure of his lips soothing yours rattled your heart, swept you into a level of perfect contentment. You leaned into the hand cupping your face like a fragile shell.

“That was beautiful, I’ve wanted to do that for years” the subdued, washed out tone of his voice cracked the already frail shell that resembled any resistance to his words.

Any negative wrongly believed views or opinions of him melted down, fluorescing into a warm beautiful orchard of uncovered adoration.

“I should never have made you wait or been such a bitch” you leaned to him to acknowledge your mirrored feelings. It wasn’t long before the beautiful orchard became a blazing forest fire spreading through the pair of you dangerously fast. He offered up no resistance as you pushed him back and straddled his waist, his hand to the back of your neck; the other wasted no time in creeping up the outside of your thigh. His fingers teasing excited exhales from your lips which were directly captured amongst the flurry of hot and heavy kisses. Your lips hardly ever parting, his hand slipped from grasping the curve of your behind to navigating southwards towards your pulsing bundle of nerves. You refused him and clipped his hands together under one of your hands above his head.

“Did I say you could touch me there?” You teased unable to keep a smirk from growing wide across your face. He didn’t respond, his eyes were blown out full of swirling passion and disbelief that this was finally happening. You watched his eyes intently unaware you were staring directly into a warzone of thoughts

“We can’t do this right now” he breathed, even you could hear the reluctance in his voice.

“What…why?” you sat back onto his lap, releasing an exaggerated huff.

“It’s not that I don’t want to, god I do” he paused, you followed his eyes downs to rest at his clothed erection “Obviously” his eyes snapped back “You pretty much hated me for years because you thought something had happened when you were drunk. I’m not risking that again, I wouldn’t feel right”

You sat intently taking in every word like each one was a secret code to save your life. The respect you had for him swelled uncontrollably, you understood his reasons with perfect clarity but the frustration attempted to blur the view

“I’m not even that drunk!” you whined contesting against his good natured reasoning. He went to speak again but you were not done. “But I get it” you carried on more softly conceding. “And don’t think I won’t make you regret this, it’s not nice to get so worked up” you toyed, ideas of your own back already blooming in your mind.

“Mmm I can’t wait” his face creasing into an appeasing smirk.

Interesting

“Well I’ll see you in the morning then” you leaned forward and gave him a strong kiss dragging his lip out slightly between your teeth before abruptly leaving him like the flustered, regretful mess he was on the sofa.

You was still going to have a bit of fun with him tonight if it killed you. Once you was all settled in bed you grabbed your phone, the bright artificial light blaring away the true darkness around your vicinity.

-To think you didn’t even get to feel how wet you made me-[23:47]

Normally the fresh scent and the comfiness of the bed would threaten to drag you into an unconscious state but currently you was way too charged, your eyes were wide managing the silhouettes of your room. Your eyes dropped shut accompanied with an exhale as your fingers glided blissfully through your arousal.

-Is this you making me regret my decision? Because that ship sailed when you left me wanting nothing more than to feel that under my tongue??-[23:49]

-Well if you’d decided to not think so much it would be your tongue and not my fingers right now. Your loss-[23:50]

A quiet gasp left you as you began teasing yourself imagining the sight of his head nestled in between your thighs.

-Fuck.Want to know what I’m thinking now?-[23:52] You interest was piqued immediately, you began tilting your hips pushing into your fingers.

-Depends, if it beats me thinking about how I want you right now-[23:53]

-And how’s that?-[23:53]

You took a beat to slow the pace of your fingers and considered whether to tell him you’d like him beneath you begging you to let him cum whilst your hands were round his neck. Maybe not just yet.

-you first-[23:54] While you waited for his response you rolled over and fished out your bullet vibrator from the depths of your bag and clicked it on to your favourite setting. Your moan escaped you with much more volume than you could control.

-You better not be touching yourself, if you are stop. I never told you you could-[23:54] you hastily added.

-I’m just thinking of how I could walk in there right now get you on all fours and have you cumming around my cock while my hand is yanking your hair back with you crying my name.[23:55]

A second buzz immediately followed the first, you edged yourself to read the second message

-Also are you serious? Of course I’m touching myself and I can hear you moaning, it’s driving me insane-[23:55]

You was too far gone at this point to stop your climax pulsing through you. When you’d drifted back down from your high you sent your reply, hints of aftershocks were still washing through.

-Good!-[23:59].

You woke up in a vacuum of darkness, the day had yet to even stir. A Slight thumping clouding your head. You pulled over a nightshirt and slowly bumbled your way to the kitchen and helped yourself to a glass of water. Filling your second glass you headed back to hopefully shift back into your dreams, you hesitated passing Yoongi’s door teetering on your next actions. Decision made you twisted the handle delicately and crept around the furniture you could see through the shadows utilising the moonlight which trickled in through the curtains. He was asleep on the right side, you silently slid in on the left shuffling with gentle motions toward the centre of the bed before rolling over and shifting to face outwards. The sleeping prince next to you stirred, nuzzled closer into the back of your neck and an arm drifted round your waist.

[dr-m-r-ma]

Our Secret

Part I: Broken Connection

Genre: drama, romance Rating: PG-13 Warning: suggestive Group: Monsta X

Summary & Disclaimer here

“어떻게 접근했나요?” (Translation: “How did you approach him?”)

Stop.

“파파라치는 얼마 지불했나요?” (Translation: “How much did you pay for the paparazzi?”)

“계획적으로 술을 마시게 만들어서 더 쉽게 덮치 셨나요?” (Translation: “Did you force him to drink so you could easily pounce on him?”)

“그날 밤은 어땠습니까?” (Translation: “What was that night like?”)

Stop it.

The crowd of reporters swarmed Soo-ah and the camera shutters went off wildly, as Soo-ah tried to cover most of her face all the while trying to make her way to the taxi her friend sent. It was as if they were attacking her with their barrage of skewed questions like a swarm of wasps ready to do some damage.

They tried to squeeze in more questions, kept pressing for answers, as she managed to slip inside the taxi safely. While the taxi driver quietly drove to her destination, Soo-ah trembled with fury. Turning on her phone, she saw the numerous articles slamming her falsely, countless direct messages on social media and endless missed calls from family and friends. She couldn’t help but put her phone on airplane mode, to silence all the noise that threatened to drown her.

“당분간 여기 있어. 좀 잠잠해질때까지라도…” (Translation: “For now, stay here. At least until it calms down a little…”)

Soo-ah looked up at her friend, Moo-hyuk, and took the glass of water in his hand. She nodded numbly before asking, “혁아… 현은...? 현이는 나 여기있는거 괜찮데?” (Translation: “Hyuk… What about Hyun...? Is Hyun okay with me staying here?”)

Moo-hyuk smiled and patted her head. “당연하지. 걱정하지 말고 쉬어.” (Translation: “Of course. Don’t worry and just rest.”) With that, he handed her a soft quilt for her to use at night. Right on cue, Moo-hyuk’s cell phone rang, with the caller ID “내 현이♡” (Translation: “My Hyun♡”).

Soo-ah looked up at Moo-hyuk, as he picked up the phone cautiously, only to hear Woohyun screech over the phone. Moo-hyuk looked apologetically at Soo-ah, and she waved him off. She chuckled when she heard Moo-hyuk attempt to calm his boyfriend down and soon, she was left alone in the living room.

The lights dim in the apartment, she sat on the futon sofa staring at the bright city lights out the large window. The only sounds she could hear were the muffled voice of Moo-hyuk from his room and the sound of the busy nightlife in Seoul. As she stared blankly at the lively city, her eyes blurred and she thought back to what started this troublesome situation. The memories only came back in fragments, but Soo-ah knew with a little bit of time, she was bound to remember all of it.

She wasn’t invincible against alcohol, but she also never blacked out from drinking and she would always end up remembering everything sooner or later.

That night was no different -- after a few rounds with her coworkers, she was definitely more than a little tipsy. Despite Soo-ah’s wish to take a break, her coworkers dragged her onto the dance floor at the club, already the fifth destination of the night.

The lights were flashing, the stereos were blasting and everyone was pumped with energy. Soo-ah swayed her body lightly to the melody and laughed with her coworkers, when all of a sudden, a chill ran down her back. A hand kept bumping into the back of her thighs and her butt, and every time she tried to inch closer to her coworkers, the hand kept coming back. Soon enough, it wasn’t just bumps anymore and light strokes that sent a wave of fear. Instantly, she was more sober, but still had effects of alcohol to defend herself without thinking about the consequences.

She pretended to stumble over her feet and stomped hard on the pervert’s foot. Even though she complained about her nine centimeter heels throughout the day, Soo-ah felt a surge of relief, as she heard him groan in pain. But she also didn’t prepare herself to defend herself when the man angrily yelled with his fist coming towards her fast. As she braced for the impact, she squeezed her eyes shut.

“어이, 아저씨, 지금 뭐 하시는 거예요?” (Translation: “Hey, mister, what do you think you’re doing?”)

Soo-ah opened her eyes slowly at the sound of the new low voice. Squinting at first, her eyes slowly adjusted to the tall figure in front of her, between her and the pervert. He had a black hoodie on, with the hood well over his head, hiding his face easily from the growing audience.

“야… 넌 뭔데?!” (Translation: “Huh… what’re you?!”) The man seemed drunk, as his words slurred and lost all power. The only thing worrying Soo-ah was the man’s menacing eyes. She shuddered as the man, despite being unable to stand properly, reached out for her.

Without thinking, her hands reached up to her protector’s back and grasped the hoodie. As if he took that as a sign, he turned around and leaned into her. He whispered, “조금만 견디세요.” (Translation: “Please bear with this a little.”) With no time to question his words, she felt one hand wrapped around her waist possessively while the other hand cupped her cheek sweetly. She could feel heat flare up on her cheeks the instant he pulled her close and she could no longer focus on the pervert who stared at them with disbelief.

“자기야, 늦어서 미안. 조금만 늦었는데 벌써 어떤 이상한 놈이 들러 붙었네….” (Translation: “Sorry I’m late, sweetie. I’m only a little late but some weirdo already latched on....”)

At that, the drunk groper huffed, “뭐야… 남자친구 있었으면 말 하지…ㅆㅂ” (Translation: “What… you should have said you have a boyfriend… fuck.”) He stomped off shortly, and Soo-ah was left disgusted by the drunk man.

“괜찮아요?” (Translation: “Are you okay?”)

Soo-ah looked up at her savior and blushed at the close proximity of his face. He was still holding onto her. When she gazed into his eyes, she noticed he had a worried look but he also looked a little drunk. His eyes were unfocused and he wore a sweet smile. Quickly, she squirmed out of his hold and nodded her head. “괜찮아요. 조금전… 고마웠어요.” (Translation: “I’m okay. Thanks… for just now.”)

I should have left after that.

But she remembered clearly that she offered to buy him a drink as thanks. Although the lights were dim at the bar and they talked casually for an hour, she could tell both of them felt attraction for each other. Regardless of whether they were both drunk by the end of the night or they both had beer goggles, Soo-ah didn’t recognize him until the morning after, when she woke up right next to him.

‘뭐지…? 꿈인가?’ (Translation: ‘What’s this…? A dream?’)

As she rubbed her eyes and focused on the man laying next to her, instead of the pulsing headache, memories of the night before cut in like fragments of glass. Soft touches here and there, light kisses in the taxi, stumbling into a bright colored motel… but her head twinged with pain and she couldn’t bring herself to remember anything more. Rather, even if she didn’t remember, she could easily guess what had happened.

Soo-ah couldn’t believe it, even as her eyes rested on Jooheon’s sleeping face. It was almost like staring at a magazine page, but she couldn’t admire for too long. Her eyes searched for more concrete signs -- like sure, she only had her undergarments on, and sure, his bare shoulders peeking out of the blankets suggested… something, but nothing was 110% concrete. Or so, she tried to convince herself, until she saw the dark bruise on his neck. ‘아씨… 망해ㅆ다…’ (Translation: ‘Shit… I screwed up…’)

As quietly as possible, she slid off the bed, looking frantically for her clothes. While throwing her clothes on silently, Soo-ah tried to block off the other memories. She didn’t want any more clues or evidence showing her grave mistake, and she wanted nothing to do with someone as famous as he was. Before heading heading out, she glanced back at him and thought, ‘아.. 진짜… 어떻게 머리색갈이 하늘색인데 몰라봐… 아무리 취하고 후드티를 입었어도…’ (Translation: ‘how the hell did I not notice the turquoise hair? Even if I was drunk… and even if he wore a hoodie….’)

Closing the door tightly, Soo-ah ran out of the motel and hailed a taxi. Only when she got in the car did she take out her phone to check her hair and face. ‘Fuck...ing hell.’ She noticed the small purple spots littered on her neck to her collarbones, all the way to her shoulders. Before the taxi driver could glance back at her one more time, she tried to cover the hickeys as best as she could.

Little did she know, she was already caught on camera. The back of her figure and his turquoise hair was caught going in, while a clear shot of her face was caught coming out of the motel -- even though her face was blurred out. The photos showed her disheveled hair and clothes. On the other hand, the photos captured Jooheon coming out looking nervous and worried. His expression was perfect for the way Starship released their official statement a few hours after the tabloid came after Jooheon.

“Jooheon was approached by a woman he did not know and could not defend against her advances as he was unaware and unconscious… will be taking legal action against Choi.” Soo-ah’s hands trembled as she scrolled through the comments attached to the article. It was the same wherever she went, whether it was the reporters that came after her or the netizens online who hurt her. Everyone was calling her names like prostitute and rapist, and that she should be jailed for her actions.

“Hey. 그만.” (Translation: “Stop.”) Moo-hyuk snatched her phone from her. Instead, he handed her a hefty envelope that contained a thick file and a small envelope.

She looked back up with questioning eyes, to which Moo-hyuk sighed. “돌려서 말 못 할것 같으니까 그냥 얘기할게 -- 변호사 통해서 들은 바로는 네가 입은 피해에 관한 손해보상 소속사가 배상한데. 그리고 고소를 취하 하겠데. 그렇지만… 아티스트 보호 차원에서 원래 내놨던 기사는 안 내리고 수정 반영 안될 거래…” (Translation: “I can’t sugarcoat my words so I’ll tell you as it is -- I heard from the lawyer that the agency will compensate for the damages you incurred and they will drop charges against you. But… they won’t take down their original article and they won’t fix their previous statement to ‘protect the artist’...”)

Soo-ah scoffed, “그럼… 이게 손해보상이라고?!” (Translation: “Then… this is compensation!?”) She held up the small envelope. It contained one flimsy check that wrote 50,000,000₩ (~$42,000). “이런거 말고 기사를 고쳐야되는데… 고작 이런걸로 끝내겠다?” (Translation: “They need to fix the article instead of this… but they’re going to end it with something like this?”)

Tears sprang up and she could feel her rage build up like a strong storm inside of her. Moo-hyuk took her hand and pulled her into a warm hug, as he softly whispered, “알아. 나도 너무 화나. 근데 우리한테 힘이 너무 없어.” (Translation: “I know. I’m also so angry. But we don’t have enough power.”) His voice sounded broken, like the both of their states, and his words caused another bout of sobs, as Soo-ah clenched the smaller envelope.

A few weeks passed, and it started to feel as if nothing happened. Nobody knew about Starship compensating Soo-ah; only word of the agency dropping the charges due to the artist “recognizing his failure to be more careful and letting down his fans” spread. There were still some fans who continued to talk violently about Soo-ah, but most people started to forget what even happened.

With a dark cap hiding her eyes and a mask covering half her face, Soo-ah stood in front of the Starship building. From her jacket pocket, she took out the envelope with the check inside and a small lighter.

*Click*

As the flames started to eat the paper rapidly, she waited until the very last moment to drop the remaining bit. When the flames died down, she stepped on the ashes and smudged them into the concrete ground.

*Bzzt Bzzzt*

“혁아. 응. 갈 준비 됐어.” (Translation: “Hyuk. Yeah. I’m ready to leave.”)

And then there was nothing left.

.

.

*** TBC ***

A/N: was not expecting this part to be so long (lmao) next part: Homecoming.