#and don't even get me started on how forcefully taking away someone's religion is bad

[pastel-odette]

My favorite thing about edelstans is when characters from Faerghus and Leicester say that what Edelgard is trying to do won't benefit their nation and edelstans say they're brainwashed.

[aceofspadegrass]

Pancake Day, but Better

Characters: Niragi Suguru, Dori Sakurada, Last Boss, Cabot, Aguni Morizono, Chishiya Shuntaro, Hatter

Genre: Crack Part 2, now with pancakes.

1.9k words

Prompt: Can you do like a sequel for that dori and niragi crack,cause i want to see dori in pancake day and introducing himself to chishiya,last boss(and catbot)aguni,and hatter. And i have an urge that maybe hatter would like him because how he dresses himself how hatter likes it to be,also chishiya would just go up to niragi and say" Wow, he's actually even more better then you niragi. Maybe he's smarter then you too" As he walks away leaving a a angry niragi - @a-simp-20

(Counts as a Part 2 to this)

*Rubs hands together* Heck yeah, more gentle chaos. Time to gently bully this giraffe lizard man again.

Now with the added addition of pancakes! Fun times for all!

Despite the laws of the Borderlands and the highly likely chance that nobody knows the actual date that passes by, people still managed to produce what someone offhandedly referred to as the 'Borderlands Holy Day'.

Now, what pray tell was the Borderlands Holy Day? Was it a religion?

Despite the fact that it had 'Holy' in its name, no. It wasn't a religion. Although if someone tried hard enough it could become almost like a cult. Wouldn't be the first time.

So what was it?

Well, obviously.....

It was Pancake Friday. The greatest day of the century. The premise was simple enough: Every Friday everyone gets a pancake. A single pancake. Want more? Well, you better bet and compete for other people's pancakes. The only thing more exhilarating to the members of the Beach than winning games and living another day to party and do fuck-all was Pancake Day.

So, of course, when Friday rolled around, people weren't thinking of anything except the spoils of little bets and competitions over the week, thick fluffy pancakes topped with whatever they pleased and whatever the Beach had in stock at the time. Even Niragi was thinking about pancakes, because what's better than bragging about how many pancakes you got that week?

Nothing, that's what.

Pancake Day was great.

Niragi walks down the corridor with the strut of a man that knew he was feared, and he heads to the dining area where the pancakes would inevitably be given out. People were already there, a few making last minute bets in an attempt to win just a little extra amount for the day. Niragi found it almost amusing. Such a pitiful sight. Niragi himself had already gained a total of four whole pancakes, two of which he won off of some idiot who just thought he was really pretty.

" There's a lot of people here. It must be really important, right?" A smooth voice pipes up from just a little behind him, and Niragi is reminded quite forcefully that he didn't come here alone.

" Of course it's important, it's Pancake Day! Haven't you ever heard of it?" Niragi spat, Sakurada merely shrugging and walking away to talk to other members of the Beach. Niragi scoffs and storms away. At least he didn't have to think about the other him anymore, no matter how neat he looked.

He ends up finding Last Boss standing in the corner by himself, watching everyone else with a self made distance, leaning against his katana. His cat was chilling right besides his foot, apparently having her snack before the pancakes came out and making quiet eating noises. Niragi made sure not to accidentally step on her, which wasn't that hard to do. Niragi stares at Last Boss almost expectantly, waiting for even the slightest hint of a greeting, but all the other man does is stare ahead, lost in his own thought.

So, like a completely normal person would do to a guy ignoring the other, Niragi starts poking Last Boss in the side with his sniper rifle.

" Hey. Hey. Hey. You awake?"

Last Boss just continues to ignore him, and Niragi's pokes get a little harder the more he gets ignored. " Hey! Why are you ignoring me! Come on!"

Last Boss finally looks in his direction, and Niragi grins in victory, Last Boss just staring at him blankly. " Fucking finally, you were ignoring me."

Last Boss just continues to remain silent, but Niragi didn't care, instead putting his rifle back to balance on his shoulder as he looks out among the people still puttering about. Niragi could barely make out that Sakurada guy, who was talking to some random nobodies, Niragi scoffing to himself. He points him out to Last Boss, whose gaze follows the direction of Niragi's slender finger.

" See that one? Yeah, that one busted into my room and kept spraying me with water, the nerve of that guy."

Last Boss mutters something under his breath, Niragi not picking it up properly. He glances at Last Boss suspiciously, Last Boss just continuing to stare off at Sakurada without any sign of emotion on his tattooed face. Niragi groans, and he looks back in the direction of Sakurada, only to see that somehow the bastard has disappeared. Niragi frowns and looks around from where he stood to see whether he could see him again, but no dice.

The area was getting more and more full the longer Niragi tried looking, to the point that he gave up even trying. At some point Last Boss' cat had finished her snack, and he could feel Cabot rubbing her body across his legs as well just for the hell of it. He looks down at the feline, Cabot just doing her own thing like she usually did.

" Hey you little fuck. What's up." Niragi mutters down at the cat, Cabot just continuing on her little rub spree before going over to Last Boss and meowing loudly until Last Boss bent down and picked her up, Cabot resting happily with her butt in the crook of Last Boss' arm and her head and front paws draped over his shoulder.

Niragi rolls his eyes at the sight, and finally the time had come, Hatter walking in with the utmost grace, people cheering him like they do every time they see the man, with Aguni not that far behind. Niragi and Last Boss head towards the little stage Hatter insisted needed to be built for Pancake Day, standing in position as Aguni joins them, Hatter going up to the Pancake Podium.

" Greetings everyone! Today is the glorious and absolutely magnificent Pancake Day! I hope all of you have worked hard to acquire your pancakes!" Hatter shouts with arms outstretched like a bird's, people cheering and whooping excitedly. " I, for one, have a total of five whole pancakes, as throughout the week I have worked hard to get them from my loyal and beautiful members, and that one person who sadly perished in a game and bequeathed their pancakes to me for many months to come! May their soul be at rest, the courage of them~" Hatter announces, the crowd going wild.

" Now, may the pancakes commence!"

People scattered to tables near immediately, and the kitchen doors open as the designated chefs come out with the freshly made pancakes on carts. Niragi and Last Boss end up following Aguni and the rest of the executives plus Hatter to what was apparently the special table, used only by them.

Niragi grins as he leans back in his chair. At least Sakurada would stay away for now-

" Oh, there you are!"

Speak of the devil. Niragi shuts his eyes in annoyance as his clone comes over. Several pairs of eyes shoot to him, and despite his eyes being closed, Niragi could still feel the smug and interested smile Chishiya was giving off.

" Oh? And who are you, you splendid looking being?" Hatter's voice rings out. " Your outfit is immaculate, but I have never seen you before. No, wait...... I have seen you! Except less fancier. And usually with a hat. Who is sitting right there."

Niragi wanted to shoot this man so bad.

"My name is Sakurada Dori, it is very nice to meet you." Sakurada greets them.

Niragi finally bothers to open his eyes as Hatter stands up, and apparently does a quick check over of Sakurada, nodding to himself. " Yes, you are absolutely stunning. I love what you've done!"

" Are you the one that made Niragi take off his hat?" Aguni asks, low and stoic as always. Niragi rolls his eyes at that. He didn't intend to get rid of his hat, Sakurada just kind of yeeted it outside his window without even asking. The nerve of this guy.

Sakurada quickly nods. " I will get him another hat eventually, as I promised, but only as long as he shoots his gun responsibly!"

" Is that so...." Aguni mutters, and just kind of nods like a sort of proud dad.

Hatter grins even wider, and claps Sakurada across the back. " Now that's some courage! Hey, what say you, would you like one of Niragi's pancakes? As a sign of strength!"

" What?!" Niragi shouts, and he stands up, slamming the table. Aguni watches him quietly, as does Last Boss, the latter just staring more than a tired gaze like Aguni was sporting at the moment. " You can't do that!"

" But I can! I'm the leader after all, I can say what I want, and what I want is practically law here, Niragi. Remember who your boss is." Hatter smiles at Niragi in that sort of way that Niragi hated, but a firm tap on his arm by Aguni made him relent, Niragi angrily muttering to himself as he sat back down.

" Ah, thank you very much, but I don't need to take his-"

" Nonsense, you deserve it! Besides, Niragi already gets... how many?"

" Well I had four, but apparently not anymore."

" Three is plenty for you! Anyways, so that means you get two pancakes, you funky little ball of glory!" Hatter states.

" Are you sure? Is that alright with you Niragi?" Sakurada looks to the man, Niragi just grumbling some more.

" Don't worry about him, he'll get over it." Chishiya mentions, and Niragi quickly glares at him, Chishiya casually looking back with that damn smug ass smile on his lips.

" Fucking undercooked egg white." Niragi mutters under his breath, Chishiya just continuing to smirk.

Still, the pancakes arrive to their table, Hatter inviting Sakurada to sit with them for the day so he could talk about fashion, mainly about what kinds of hats the other liked, Sakurada easily falling into conversation with him. Niragi just drowns his now three pancakes in maple sauce, grumbling under his breath.

Last Boss was watching Niragi just nearby, eating his single pancake as Cabot got to treat herself to two whole cat-specified pancakes like she deserved, and goes to whisper to his cat, Cabot flicking her tail a little at whatever Last Boss muttered.

" You have a very nice cat there! It must be enjoying everything since it appears to be very well cared for and happy." Sakurada mentions at one point, Last Boss staring at Sakurada silently. Sakurada just politely smiles back, and Last Boss just slowly blinks, then nods.

" Thank.... you." Last Boss says, and Cabot looks up finally, and bumps her body against Last Boss, the man quietly petting her as Sakurada watches with a happy expression at how sweet the sight was. Sakurada makes small clicking nosies in an attempt to beckon the cat over to him, Cabot meowing and wandering over curiously, sniffing at Sakurada's fingers before letting herself get pet by the man softly. " She seems to like me already!" Sakurada says happily, Last Boss slowly nodding.

" That's good. She likes being pet gently." Last Boss mutters, and even Hatter tried to get in on the cat patting session.

" Hey Niragi." Chishiya's voice catches Niragi's attention, and he looks up at him, already despising of what he was about to spew out from his lips. The limestone fox man just smiles at him, pancakes already gone from his plate.

" The fuck do you want now."

" Your clone is actually way better than you. Perhaps even smarter than whatever half brain you have up there." Chishiya remarks, and with that he stands up and walks away from the table, immediately sliding himself into a group of people leaving and disappearing from his sight.

" YOU LITTLE FUC-" He whips out his gun, ready to chase Chishiya down and kill him like he always wanted to.

Water gets immediately sprayed on his face the second he stands up again, Niragi sputtering. " No. Bad Niragi."

[sisterssafespace]

Dear sister,

We are looking for a suitable match for my elder sister. We've had a horrible incidence earlier ending with calling off the wedding last year. My parents started the search again. We've met more than 15 families until now, not bragging but none of them rejected my sister. Our utmost priority is a deeni family, for instance if the family faces any kind of crisis they would resort it with Islamic solution and not just lose hope on Allah.

So we met a family yesterday, we had lunch together. Considering just for this dunya, the family was very simple, friendly, social kind of people, they like to explore new culture and easily get along with people different religion and they have grown up in a diverse culture, which is very different in our case we are not very conservative family but tries to follow as much sunnah as possible. Me and my sister now more focused towards our Akhirah and it is like if anything happens, we need someone to keep reminding us of Allah not just take us for shopping or car drive. We are quiet sensitive kind of girls, especially my sister after she has gone through an abusive engagement, she is a little paranoid.

And as far as my parents our concerned, even they are not very satisfied but they fear if we keep rejecting like this we won't be able to find a good match after a certain age, as my sister has turned 28. And it is quite difficult to get good options after certain age in India. They are trying to speak to our relatives to get more clarity to which my relatives who we can absolutely rely on says, maybe my sister might become the means of guidance to their path of Islam.

The boy says he is very flexible with everything, he doesn't have a problem with my sister taking hijab. He is not very regular with Salah though he tries, he said(only Allah knows the truth)

His mother(who absolutely loved my sister) has quite a liberal thinking, she kept saying we have to keep our duniya going along with deen, which in a way is correct but keeping dunya on a back foot and deen on a front foot is how we try function. She even forcefully got their numbers exchanged by the end of lunch. Although the boy was sensible enough and knew it won't be appropriate, so he just gave his number and asked to text him only if my sister feels comfortable.

My only concern is kids follows their parents path, for instance my mother has to taught us to give Sadqah every single day and I don't know if they follow such basic things. I know I shouldn't be too quick in judging but I feel they lack basic essence of Islam. I mean is the boy getting married for the sake of marriage or does he realizes the importance of this Sunnah.

Salam sweet one,

I could feel the worry and the concern in your words, Allahuma barik you sound very very attached to your deen and you sound ( as you sister ) like you have got your priorities in the right order, Allahuma barik lakunna ✨

Hmm, where to start? I will re-use the hadith of our Prophet ﷺ about the most suitable man to marry:

The Messenger of Allah said: "When someone whose religion and character you are pleased with proposes to (someone under the care) of one of you, then marry to him. If you do not do so, then there will be turmoil (Fitnah) in the land and abounding discord (Fasad)."

So character and deen (which are two sides of the same coin) are extremely important, which means that valuing and giving so much importance to the deen is your right, you are not crazy, you are not delusional (like what this modern day society would consider, AstaghfiruAllah). I can relate because I come from a very liberal society that considers Islam in 5 words: Faith is in the heart (an internal matter). 🤦🏽‍♀️ So I do understand your dilemma. Allahu al mustaān. However, the common and basic solution to this is to pray Istikhara? I hope your sister is already doing that, she should pray it often and not just once and pray that Allah swt guides her to the right decision. I know it has been a systematic answer to any marriage-related question or issues but because that's the way the sunnah teaches us. When confused or in need to make a decision, we have to ask Allah swt to choose for us or guide us to the right choice, and shield us from the choice that is bad and harmful for us, our duniya, and our deen.

Maybe I have spoken more generally, but, I have two specific remarks: I don't think you need me to mention how compulsory and important prayer (on time) is, some scholars go to even condemn the person who doesn't pray a non-Muslim, so if your sister values prayer and can't see herself marrying a guy who is not committed to his prayer then it is her absolute right, if it is a deal breaker for her, to say no to this guy. She should have her boundaries clear.

My second remark is also related to sth you spoke about, how kids tend to follow the footsteps of their parents, well, in the same way, the wife often tends to be influenced by her husband. In my real life I have known a lot of cases where the girl would be more religious than her partner and after marriage, she changes (to please him or being fully convinced, Allahu aālam), and it goes both ways, if the husband is more religious, eventually, she will be influenced by him as well. And even in the best case scenario, where he won't influence her to change and loosen her principals and be more flexible, if she still held on tightly to her deen, marital problems will eventually stem between them, from her built up frustration towards him, or disappointment, or displeasure, or dissatisfaction or whatnot, la qaddar Allah (God forbid). I am not trying to deepen your concern nor your sister's paranoia, I am just trying to make you consider all scenarios. But at the end of the day, it's Allah's will and plan that work. Allah swt says be and it is. If He swt has planned that this is the perfect fit for your sister and that she will be the reason for his guidance and his commitment to his deen, then that's what's going to happen. Nothing is impossible for Allah swt.

Nevertheless, there is this famous saying in Law :

ما بُني على باطل فهو باطل

What is built on falsehood is false.

I want you to tell your sister to make sure that she won't marry this guy or anyone else FOR THE WRONG REASONS, be it her age (rolling my eyes, 28 is fine!!!!!!!), The parental pressure, someone's financial status, etc etc.. The day she decides to marry someone, it should be for the right reasons and she should be clear on her understanding of marriage and on her goals, expectations, plans, everything. We tend to rush into marriage because that's what people do and because everyone around us is getting married. A lot of people get married, that's correct, but only few of them understand the meaning of a partnership, a companionship in the path of Allah swt, a wordly journey towards Jannah with someone you share a life with, responsibilities with, kids with, heartbreaks with, losses with, deaths of loved ones with, sicknesses and struggles and calamities with, etc. You really have to carefully choose the person who is up for that! If you were going on a road trip, somewhere far far away, and you knew it would get uncomfortable and scary, you knew the trip will be very challenging, and you were allowed to take only one person with you, wouldn't you want to carefully choose that person? What would be the criteria to choose? Think about it.. Do you see my point? May Allah swt make it easy for All of us.

Finally, I pray your sister finds her peace and makes the right choice. Tell her to listen to her gut. Oftentimes, in these matters of marriage, when you know you know, if she felt at peace around him, then probably there's something there worth pursuing, in spite of everything. And may Allah swt ease all her affairs and yours, and grant you both the righteous spouse that knows your worth and puts his Deen first. And tell her not to worry about the age and whatnot, a spouse is a risq from Allah swt Ar-Razzaq, and He will grant her her risq when the right time comes. In shaa Allah.

To conclude, I will leave you with this beautiful duaa that Musa (as) said, and then Allah swt rewarded him with a righteous spouse:

رَبِّ إِنِّي لِمَا أَنْزَلْتَ إِلَيَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ

rabbi innee lima anzalta ilayya min khayrin faqeerun

'O my Lord, surely I have need of whatever good You send me.'

- A. Z. 🍃