#azure interview questions

[herovired12]

Azure DevOps interview questions typically focus on various aspects of the platform, including version control, CI/CD pipelines, agile methodologies, project management, and collaboration tools. Candidates may be asked about their experience with Azure Repos, Azure Pipelines, Test Plans, and integrating DevOps practices to enhance software development and delivery processes. Click here to learn more.

[kitorin]

"I need you to be completely honest with me right now."

"What's wrong, Rin?" Another page turns, your eyes remain glued to the novel, head resting on his thighs as his fingers occasionally poke your cheek.

"Am I ugly?"

The question makes you choke on your spit; Itoshi Rin, the very man who had you infatuated at first glance with his prominent eye lashes and his wintry gaze, just asked if he was hideous.

"Who the hell said that?" The surprise makes you sit up, and Rin barely dodges collision with your head. It's common knowledge that he couldn't care less about his appearance, skin and hair care were simply for hygiene, which was all that mattered to him. There's anger heating up at the thought of someone breaking his indifference, and it reveals itself through your speech

"No one, Yukimiya's photographer came for a photo shoot. Everything went well until I noticed the lines on my face."

"Lines?"

He nods "They weren't there before." His fingers ghost over an area near his cheeks. "Apparently they're not supposed to be there." Rin reaches into his pocket, unlocking it and showing you a photo.

It's a photo of him, Hiori and Yukimiya, the three of them grinning whilst being covered in designer brands. Nothing seemed wrong, it's an adorable photo; revealing Rin's typically concealed dimples, eyes squinting with joy, the kind of smile he uses when he's genuinely happy, instead of the polite and subtle one he gives to interviewers.

"I don't see an issue."

"Here." He zooms into his face. "Those things." His lithe fingers point towards the area between the sides of his nose and the corners of his mouth. Smile lines.

"Fans said they shouldn't be there. So, am I ugly now?"

There's a legitimate confusion laced with his tone, and you silently thank how he decided to talk about it with you before believing in whatever comments were left on Instagram.

"First, whatever fans say have no credibility, they're just people on the internet. Second." You climb into his lap again, cupping his cheeks and once again getting lost in the depths of his beryl irises. "Those are called smile lines. You're not ugly for having them, and never will be." His aquamarine eyes gaze back, as you brush a strand of hair out of his face.

"Even if they weren't there before?"

"Of course. They're a sign you're living a life filled with joy and happiness. And that is more beautiful than any beauty standard out there, and so are you." Your thumbs trace the creases, the entirety of your palms can feel the warmth of his cheeks, savouring how the softness contrasts the callousness of your hands. "You're beautiful, you always have been and always will be. Don't listen to anyone who says otherwise."

Your lips plant a kiss on his forehead, and you soon return to admiring every crevice of his face. From the viridescent azure irises and the eyelashes which adorn them, how surprisingly soft and squishy his cheeks are (of course only you'll ever know that).

"Thank you for putting them there then."

"Hm?"

"I never had reasons to smile. Not until I met you."

Anyone can tell Itoshi Rin seldom expresses emotion, let alone joy; but you had always assumed he kept it to himself rather than believe nothing was worth his jubilation.

His hands reach for yours, fingers ghosting over them. "Thank you for brightening my life, for being the reason why I'm able to live so happily." Gently, his hand pries one of yours off his face, placing a kiss on it. "I love you."

Rin smiles; it's soft, exposing his dimples and smile lines, cheeks matching his lips in colour. You're pretty sure you're just as flushed.

A quick peck to his lips (he still tastes like the persimmon haichuu you were eating together earlier) and you swear he somehow grows redder. "Does this mean I'm allowed to have the last ice cream?"

"You're supposed to say it back dumbass. And fuck no, that's mine." Despite his callous language he picks you up into a cradle carry, placing you down besides him, soon making his way to the front door. "What flavours do you want? And what kind and which brand?"

"Awww, I love you too, I want the vanilla and melon soft serve by the way."

Rin scoffs. "Of course you only say it back when I'm doing you a favour." But he's pocketing his wallet, and about to unlock the door to leave. "You're annoying."

"Yet you still love me."

"Are you sure? Because I'm buying every flavour of yukimidaifuku and you're not getting any. Milky candy too." You don't miss the smirk on his face at the sight of your disbelief.

"I hate you."

"Love you too darlin'."

[In the end "you're not getting any" was a lie]

Tagging: @yuzurins

[fumiscripts]

✦ ROSE RED ROUGE

✦ one shot ,, michael kaiser x gn!reader

content:: he looks good with lipstick all over his face.

fluff ,, 932 words

additional:: reader wears lipstick, established relationship, reader and kaiser made a bet, kissing (ew pda), leaving lipstick marks, pure fluff, author copes from new chapter, badly written post-soccer match, old draft

Really, it was predictably inevitable.

“—Goal! Michael Kaiser scored a fantastic, last-second goal, bringing Bastard München to win this match!” the announcer was just as thrilled as the crowd. The timer hit zero, and the match concluded with a 5-4 in Kaiser's favor. You could sense the smugness from him all the way from your front-row seat, having just won the little challenge both of you made up before the game.

With all the fair player in you that you could muster, you decided to walk to your rendezvous point, waiting for him to finish whatever short, impromptu interview he has with reporters that want more of the hottest topics on their articles and news. The challenge was pretty small, anyways, something like giving him kisses the same amount as the goals he scores for the match.

The meeting place was the private bathroom, you slipped inside, placing your bag on the counter before fishing for something. A wine red lipstick. It wasn't something you'd wear regularly, because it was annoyingly staining and too bold for your liking. You picked it out to make this challenge at least a little bit more fun for you. You applied it on, waiting for Kaiser.

“Five goals,” speak of the devil. Kaiser had snuck his way out of the crowd of people asking him questions, coming to you. He closed the door with the back of his foot, walking towards you with a damning expectant smile on his face. “Five kisses, then,” he was drying himself with a towel, cooling down after the intense match—even if he would say that it was an easy win.

You roll your eyes, reaching for his arm to pull him towards you by the sleeve. “I was hoping you'd miss,” you jested, waiting for him to finish toweling himself. Azure eyes watched you closely, moving along as you tugged him closer. Behind closed doors, you had the privilege of seeing a part of Kaiser that he hasn't shown everyone else. You hoped that one day, you'll be allowed to see the person behind the layers.

He chuckled, feigning hurt. “Are you really that against giving me a kiss?” Kaiser set the towel down soon enough, leaning lower towards you. His eyes trailed down, catching a glimpse of the scarlet that tinted your lips, before he looked back up to your eyes again, a smirk painting his face. “Lipstick?” he mused, tilting his head.

“I thought that I might as well make this a little more fun for me,” you shrug, gently drawing him closer to your face, to the point you're a breath away. “Anywhere on your face, right?” you mutter, angling his face to the side before pressing your first kiss of five on his cheek. It was one of the usual ones you'd give him— soft and light— but the lipstick still transferred, as expected.

A faint hint of rose from the rouge marked his pale skin. Barely noticeable, with how quick the contact was, but it was there. Kaiser clearly wasn't content with just that, as he quickly voiced his complaint in his trademark way. “Ah, I think you missed a little,” he remarked, emphasizing his point by pointing at his lips.

That made you want to refrain from kissing him on the mouth just to spite him. You kissed him again in reply, this time, on the other side, on the space below his eye. “Two,” you counted, bringing your hand up to brush his hair back, placing another on his forehead. “And three,” the lipstick stains complimented his pretty face, in your opinion. It matched the shade of his red eyeliner.

For the fourth kiss, you seemed like you'd actually give him one where he wanted, but no! Like the sadist you were, you aimed for the corner of his lips, a sly smile gracing your features. Kaiser, at this point, had caught on to your little scheme. “You're so cruel, you know that?” he sighed, a half-assed attempt at getting you to cave in and give him what he wants.

“Your fault for not specifying where to kiss you,” you retort, proud of your little games. Kaiser couldn’t handle it anymore. So when you decided to lean in for the last kiss, he quickly adjusted his head, having you press your lips unto his. He could taste the subtle, waxy taste of lipstick on you as he went firmer, not letting you even protest. It took a hot minute, but he pulled away soon after, a red stain decorating his skin.

You blink, in a daze. Kaiser just looked at you, a bit amused, but he hid that under a thin layer of faux innocence. It wasn’t long before you eventually snapped back to reality, instantly chiding him. “The fuck was that, you cheater..?” you scoff, hands reaching up to hide the fact that your face heated up. You looked at anywhere but him, averting your gaze to yourself in the mirror, instead. Seeing your lipstick ruined, you used it as a different conversation topic, a random card added in your lacking arsenal to use as a distraction. “Great, you smudged it.”

Kaiser stifled a soft laugh, leaning on the counter. “My bad,” he was clearly not sorry, if the satisfied smirk on his face says anything. Your eyes met his through the mirror, and seeing his face full of lipstick stains you made might have just made everything worth it.

kaiser fluff for the soul... ts was an old draft btw sjskns I wanna go back to this writing style

taglist (ask to be added):: @tired-xyra-urstruly, @kenyuukissme, @lakeside-paradise

© fumiscripts 2024-2025. don't steal, repost, translate or modify my works without my permission.

[wannabepoeticischiya]

if it can't be you, then let it be no one at all

ao3: if it can't be you, then let it be no one at all pairing: pro-mlb! miyuki kazuya x f! reader genre: romance wc: 3.7k status: one shot

As strange as it sounded, back then he couldn’t pray for love. It was kind of pathetic to hear, true. To dare to dream about it beyond the fields of baseball was ridiculous, and to want it with her? Even more so.

Miyuki couldn’t put it into words, because even if he tried to—the mirror of her smile showed up in his head, the sound of her laughter echoing in the once desolate meadow of his heart, the warmth of her gazes melting the frost he never noticed had encased his soul.

And when he conjures the image of the one who holds his heart—it was no longer the field domed by the azure skies, no longer the sweltering heat that came from the glaring sun… it was her, at the center of it all, holding it together, colored with all the shades of happiness the universe could offer.

There was something in summer that had Miyuki Kazuya feel iffy like there was an itch in the back of his head only the change of seasons could scratch. 

It's not like he totally detested summer (he did) or wished for it to go away faster (he does). He used to love summer—the heat, the burning sensation of the sun as he played in the field, the warm air as he ran from one base to another... he loved it, thrived in it even. Back then he was sure he could never hold even an atom of resentment for the season when baseball was played at its peak. 

Well, that was what he thought back in high school. 

Back when Miyuki was only chasing after the girl from band club, the girl he saw at orientation day, and unknowingly, all too suddenly—Miyuki found himself barreling through the atmosphere like an asteroid catching fire and fell in love… which was annoying for her, and very embarrassing for him. 

The girl he sat next to during tests and would discreetly stare at. When he would take the most ridiculous routes back to his dorm just so he could see her. The girl who led his batting song... the girl who said yes to going out with him after a year and a half of courting her along with the occasional begging. 

[Name], whom he is now married to. 

“Miyuki, how does it feel to once again step onto the world stage this coming tournament?” The interviewer’s question brought him back to where he was at the moment, sitting in this unnervingly comfortable chair, wearing clothes his publicity team had pressed into perfection, the glaring lights illuminating the stage. 

It always made him think that he should feel comfortable, be more confident in his own skin, and not feel as if he was giving off this… ‘stiff as a board looking like he wanted to get out of this place and run back home vibe’—which he would’ve done if he wasn’t so shackled by his professionalism. 

He is reminded of the wires, of the cameras, and the dozens of eyes staring at him from the rows of people occupying the seats. The red sign that read ‘On Air’ glared right at him from the far end of the studio. 

“Pretty great,” Miyuki inwardly winced at his lackluster reply. Great? Really? Is that the best you got? 

Miyuki always told himself that he should be used to this. That he shouldn’t be so jittery and jumpy and lose all the words he knew whenever someone asked him a question. After being invited to countless talk shows, interviews, press conferences, and all the publicity needed to promote the team—he should be used to it. But when he’s shattered out of his daydreams, he finds it difficult to quickly gather the fragments of his thoughts. 

He cleared his throat, plastering the well-practiced professional smile he spent so long trying to perfect in front of the mirror (and with his wife—duct taped on the mouth because she was always laughing—who gave him an approving nod and thumbs up as her shoulders shook from her giggles).

“We have an amazing lineup of players, and we’ll definitely be reaching for the World Series title this year.” 

Even if the words were something his PR manager told him to say, Miyuki—for all his charm and ego—knew it was the truth, and he would have said it even if no one told him to.

The interviewer chuckled, liking the way Miyuki's energy took on a much lighter form. “Confidence! We love seeing that in promising young players. And when has Miyuki Kazuya ever turned down a challenge?”

Miyuki smirked, leaning back and crossing his legs, draping an arm over the couch—something less than a force of habit. “Wouldn’t be here if I did.”

The interviewer laughed, flipping through his cue cards. “Alright! Let’s switch things up a little. We have here some fan-submitted questions, and—” He glanced up from the cards, heaving a breath, and gave Miyuki a knowing look. “—well, they are very interested in your life outside the field.”

Miyuki sighed, the smile still very much present on his face—but if he could, he wouldn’t tell the world anything beyond what he shows in baseball. 

“Of course they are,” he laughs quietly, shaking his head like he expected this to happen—which he did considering [Name] showed him the form a few weeks earlier informing the fans that their questions had the chance to be answered by Pro Baseball Player Miyuki Kazuya.

“Okay let’s get right into it!” The interviewer cheered, shuffling the cards as the lights of the studio were set to scatter to increase the tension. 

“What is Miyuki Kazuya’s favorite season?” 

Miyuki tilted his head in thought. If he were to be asked that question ten years ago, he’d say summer right off the bat (pun intended). No one would ask him why—not when the answer was written all over him. 

Already painted on his sunfire-kissed skin, tan lines that never faded no matter the shift in seasons. It was printed on the school roster that bore his name year after year, in the tournament highlights played under the searing sun. Even stared right back at them through his sports glasses as he crouched behind the home plate. 

Summer was baseball. Summer was his season.

But here, underneath the artificial lights of the studio, wrapped in layers of designer-approved clothes, in the center of all these curious eyes, he couldn’t say the same. 

Not because he fell out of love for summer—heaven knew he still loved the feeling of warmth covering his skin, of the hot zephyrs hitting his face as he ran across the field, the way everything would settle into silence… he adored that, it was still living within him. 

But one day, somewhere along the way, Miyuki found something—someone—he loved more. 

And suddenly summer paled when put next to her. 

No summer sky could match the glow on her face when she smiled. No sun could rival the gleam of her eyes when she looked at him with all the gentleness in the universe. No warmth of the season could mirror the way her arms felt around him—when she actually let him hug her, or even get close enough to try to.

He remembers it clearly. The moment he had experienced the sheer cruelty that came with the season of summer. It wasn’t shrouded in daylight, not even on the field where he believed should’ve been the only answer, and—as horrible as it was to say it—he would’ve chosen losing a game underneath the sweltering heat than be subjected to this torture. It was in the dead of night, when silver light flooded the darkened room, and he was banished to the other side of the bed.

“Dude, get away from me.” 

A hand—her hand—was planted on the hill of his cheek, pushing him away. 

Miyuki groaned but did not budge, still trying to cling onto her despite her efforts to shove him away. “You’re so mean.”

“You're too hot,” she fans herself with her other hand, not giving him the chance to glomp her with his torrid temperature. “Why are you even here? There's literally so much space over there!”

He props himself up on an elbow, resting his head on his fist, staring at her unimpressed. “Well, I wouldn't be here if someone didn't spill chocolate over my side of the bed.” 

Miyuki was lucky enough to have that excuse because if he didn’t, he would still try to get into her personal space—only he would have less of a chance to actually succeed. 

She huffed, turning away from him. “I already said I was sorry!”

“Sorry isn't gonna magically get us clean sheets overnight.”

That was a lie of course, he did see some bed sheets in the cabinets earlier—choosing to hide them underneath a pile of hello kitty blankets so she wouldn’t think to look for it there. 

Realizing she wasn’t gonna win this one, not when she was close to passing out, most certainly not when the heat of the season was beginning to test how far her patience can reach, she relented—albeit reluctantly. 

“Fine, just—just stay away from me.” She sneaks a glance at him from over her shoulder, staring at him pointedly; a warning. Don’t you dare. 

Miyuki barely moved before she snapped again.

“Kazuya! Stop it!” She pushed him away, giving him one of the nastiest glares he had ever received in his life. “I told you, it's too hot so move away!”

He sighed dramatically, willing his body to move a fraction away from her. “I literally just tried to find a better position to sleep.”

“You can do that without inching close to me.”

Miyuki only agreed, finding that she wouldn’t relent no matter how he tried. It was summer vs him. It’s not like he could force his body temperature down in the snap of a finger. If she didn’t want him near, then it’s fine. He would behave. 

At least… until she falls asleep.

When the world was shrouded in stillness, the midnight sun crossing the center of the sky, and the only sound she could hear was the steady hum of the AC—which she had so stubbornly set to the lowest power setting—she woke up feeling the same problem she desperately tried to avoid earlier.

It was too hot. 

And this time, she couldn’t move.

Amidst the haze of slumber clouding her vision, it took her a solid ten seconds to figure out why. 

Kazuya had locked her into a bear hug, one arm draped over her waist, the other curling over the expanse of her collarbone. His breath was warm against her nape, legs tangled with hers like she was some human-sized plush toy.

The more she tried to pry his hold away from her, the tighter he held on. She knew he was completely knocked out, and she knew there was no changing anything about the situation when clearly Kazuya was unwilling to let go—even in his unconscious state.

She could only sigh, defeated—silently berating herself why she was stupid enough to sleep next to him on one of the hottest days of summer. Then again, if she were to sleep on the couch, Kazuya would still find his way next to her and she would still be faced with the same dilemma. 

Left with no other choice, she slept feeling like she was pressed up against a literal furnace.

Miyuki let out a breath, dragging himself back to the present. He smiled fondly at the memory, it felt like he was reliving the moment all over again but in reality, he knew he was up in la la land for no less than ten seconds. 

The interviewer raised a brow at Miyuki. “You’re really considering your answer carefully, huh?”

Miyuki let out a chuckle, shaking his head. “Yeah,” he playfully agrees. “Had to go through a whole mental debate for a while.”

“So?” The interviewer prompted, nodding encouragingly. “What’s the verdict?”

Miyuki tilted his head, the corner of his lips curling to a boyish smirk. “Winter.”

There was a beat of silence. Miyuki didn’t even have to look anywhere to know that everyone expected a different answer. He was Miyuki Kazuya, someone who lived for the season of summer, for the sun, the thrill of baseball underneath the sapphire skies.

The interviewer gathered his thoughts faster than anyone else, flashing a grin. “Yuletide! Well, it looks to me that the audience is just as shocked as I am! Any special reason why winter takes the crown?”

Miyuki smiled, if only they knew just how lucky he was during winter.  

When the cold made her clingy, lingering around him like a shadow because the warmth of the heater wasn’t enough. When she would abandon her side of the bed to come near him—because all too suddenly, no amount of blankets could replicate the feeling when it was his arms curled around her.

When she curled into him effortlessly, like winter sun: slowly, effortlessly… as though it was always meant to be; slotting herself to all the spaces between them, pressing her cold feet against his legs without warning. He would flinch, caught off guard, and she always laughed—always.

When she would rise first during the slow, snow-ridden mornings, tugging his sweatshirt over her head, sleeves reaching past the horizons of her fingertips, before walking the hallways in her fluffy wool socks to go and make warm drinks for the both of them. When she would find herself beside him, holding the cup between her hands, leaning against his side because he was abundant in warmth—because Kazuya ran hot and she liked it.

When she let him pull her close—without complaint, with no hesitation… nothing but the infinite vastness of adoration lingering in the spaces they couldn’t take for themselves. When she would bask in the feeling of his warmth, without shoving him away, without calling him a human furnace and declaring war on him at the ungodliest hours of the morning.

Winter meant the return of stolen hoodies, when his clothes weren’t enough for the two of them because she would refuse to use any of hers with the excuse of ‘they aren’t as warm as yours’. It meant waking up to find her draped over him like a cat. Winter meant pulling her in for a hug any time he wanted… it meant lazy mornings spent under thick blankets where it’s just the two of them—and nothing in the world could ever matter.

Winter meant her. 

Miyuki blinked, realizing he got lost in thought once more. He lets out a breath, half expecting a cloud of white to form where his lips meet the air—only to find it nowhere. Thinking about winter made him wish for it to arrive faster. 

He tilts his head with a knowing smile. “Well…” he began, “it’s closer to my birthday.”

The host couldn’t hide the chuckles that left his lips as he shook his head in amusement. “Ahh, we really cannot argue with that folks! No one can beat birthdays.”

Miyuki joined in on the laughter, shifting where he sat—inwardly grinning like a fool, if only they knew. “What can I say? I like the season that treats me well.”

The audience collectively laughed, though anyone with half a brain working could figure out that there was so much more to what the athlete was saying. But Miyuki wasn’t about to spell it out for the world to hear. 

The interviewer, ever the professional, let the moment simmer before he once again shuffled through the cards for the next question. “Alright, moving on—next question, and this one… oh, this one’s interesting.” He wiggled his eyebrows at Miyuki, as the latter just smiled the best he could.

“Is Miyuki Kazuya single?” 

The question nearly had him choking on air… literally. 

Was that… a serious question?

Wasn’t it already obvious? Wait. Hold on. Did I never—? 

A mental recap of the past year rolled in his head at lightning speed. He remembers getting married, of course—highlight of his life. He remembers wanting to tell the world and he believes he was close to doing so before his name slips past the borders of his wife’s lips, beckoning him to come over. But even after that, he could’ve sworn he posted a picture of their anniversary earlier this year… or did he just think about posting it? Surely he mentioned it elsewhere, right?

Snapping out of his thoughts, he did the one thing he was good at even after all these years—he laughed it off. Miyuki quickly looked at the camera and smiled proudly. “Nope,” he chuckles, raising his left hand to show the silver band on his ring finger. “Haven’t been single since second-year high school.”

The audience reacted immediately. Some in laughter, a mix of impressed murmurs, the others in absolute shock. 

Miyuki let out an amused laugh, although he, himself, was also quite lost. “Really?” he blurted out before he could hold his tongue—he was so gonna get grilled for this. “Did I never explicitly say I was married?”

The interviewer whistled and leaned forward, seemingly intrigued. “Many fans speculated that you were off the market even before your teammates posted Instagram stories of a wedding where the groom looked quite similar to you.”

And it hit him. 

Miyuki had never actually announced it. 

Miyuki put a hand against his mouth, trying to fight off the laughter that wanted to break free from the back of his throat. 

“Oh,” he breathes out, voice dying in the tunnels of his throat at the realization. “Oh, that’s—wow. That’s on me. Sorry.”

Laughter filled the studio, and Miyuki could do nothing but card a hand through his hair. So… he never actually announced that he was married. Perhaps the excitement got to him too much that he only imagined telling the world all about it but in reality, he became far too preoccupied living the dream of a married life to even say a thing about it. 

“Now you heard it here first, folks. Pro Athlete Miyuki Kazuya is a happily married man! So happy he forgot to announce it.”

The interviewer relished in the audience’s amusement, giving Miyuki a grin of his own. “Well, now that we know you’re hitched this brings us back to the fact that you married a high school sweetheart. Now that’s rare! How did that happen?”

Miyuki found himself smiling softly at the reminder of her, rubbing the silver band on his finger—the only anchor he had left to this moment so he wouldn’t ascend to the clouds and drift in the ocean of every thought he harbored for her. “It wasn’t easy, I’ll tell you that.”

“You had to work for it?” The interviewer looked like his eyes were about to pop out of their sockets. Was it really that surprising? It wasn’t just the host who looked bewildered, from the corner of his eyes, he could see a few cameramen and staff and the audience staring at him eagerly waiting for him to continue. 

“The words of my wife were, ‘Work for it like a cow, Kazuya. Maybe, I’ll consider it after a year or so’ and she considered me after a year and a half.” He grins proudly.

“A year and a half?” Now the interviewer practically had his soul escaping from his open mouth. 

The memories made Miyuki smile. How his stare constantly gravitated towards her. The feeling of absolute euphoria when he stood in the batter’s box knowing she led the theme song to his play. When he would come in late to PE because he knew her name was last on the list and she would be left with no choice but to pair up with him. 

Miyuki chuckled, he found it peaceful to talk about her—that he could finally tell the world why he was so happy. “She didn’t like me at first. But I had the biggest crush on her—downright ridiculous. Took the longest, most unnecessary routes back to my dorm just so I could ‘casually’ run into her. I swung hard enough to make the ball go out of bounds so I’d have the excuse to go get it because she was there. This is kinda embarrassing to admit.”

The interviewer grinned. “That’s some strategic planning, Miyuki,” He playfully salutes the athlete. 

“What can I say? I have baseball to thank for that.”

Miyuki wouldn’t have it any other way. If she told him to work hard for her to agree for the next ten years he would do it in a heartbeat. 

He wouldn’t even hesitate. He wouldn’t falter. 

As strange as it sounded, back then he couldn’t pray for love. It was kind of pathetic to hear, true. To dare to dream about it beyond the fields of baseball was ridiculous, and to want it with her? Even more so. But there he was, choosing to look at her instead of the team practicing, his gaze drifting from Kuramochi ranting about the pitcher’s haste to watch as she led the band to the tune she wanted to play, his heart slowly but surely finding its way to orbit around her.

Miyuki couldn’t put it into words, because even if he tried to—the mirror of her smile showed up in his head, the sound of her laughter echoing in the once desolate meadow of his heart, the warmth of her gazes melting the frost he never noticed had encased his soul.

And when he conjures the image of the one who holds his heart—it was no longer the field domed by the azure skies, no longer the sweltering heat that came from the glaring sun… it was her, at the center of it all, holding it together, colored with all the shades of happiness the universe could offer. 

So how could he give that up so easily? How could he never find a reason to stay? When all that he has ever loved and more was her? 

And if it wasn’t her, then he would rather have no one at all.

There was something about it; knowing—learning all that she was passionate about. Carving into his very being the engraving decorating her soul just to feel a tad bit closer to her than he already was, delve a little deeper into her mind, to see for himself the meadows of her desires.

There was something about it… when he does that. As though there was no greater thing to exist other than to love her slowly… intimately. To catch her form as she joyfully hops the last step of the stairs, wait as she ties her shoelaces, hold his hand out for her to take when she's walking slow—ready to receive her once she catches up, wait for her to finish her meal—to be awarded the rarity of the moment of basking in the light of her vulnerability.

He found greatness in loving her softly… slowly. Like letting the stars simmer and cool before they're ready to burst forth and burn for all the eternities.

Miyuki would find himself telling her the words, if it can’t be you… then let it be no one at all.

It is so ridiculously hot where I live (around 42C here) and when I go out my sweat drips like a faucet that can’t be shut off (;´A｀) The original title for this was supposed to be written in Filipino ‘Kung hindi lang din ikaw, ‘di bale nalang’ which would literally mean: if it’s not you, then nevermind.  I have a serious issue with Miyuki because I burst into tears when I see him (ㅠᯅㅠ) I'm such a loser and I don't even know the reason why.

[lonelydiary]

20. Sapphire.

When Lena was just a little kid, the answer to the question about her favorite color was simple - blue. It reminded her about the sky in Ireland, when she and her mom took a path to the lake down the hill. The lake was not big, rather small actually, but it was the brilliant blue color with some pretty water lilies on it. These few times with her mother on the lake were the happiest moments in Lena's childhood.

First thing Lillian said to her, when she arrived at the mansion were to not mention her mother or the lake ever again.

Later, some time in her college days, her favorite color became azure. Her class actually was on excursion on the beach some late spring day and the weather and the water was lovely. They played games, sang some songs by the campfire and Lena was never happier that day, actually she can't remember when she was that happy.

A few weeks after, Lex made the sun red and tried and almost succeeded to kill Superman. He also killed hundreds of people and kidnapped Lena to watch all of this and to be on his side.

The day, when her favorite color became sapphire was rather ordinary, really. She was interviewed by Clark Kent about her crazy brother and her motives in this city. When some woman reminded her of Supergirl and...she was lost instantly. She had never seen the eyes as blue and as beautiful before.

So they became friends. They laughed and cried and brought comfort to each other like noone in Lena's life before. Kara was her anchor, her hope, her rock and her personal sunshine.

And then Lex told her, that she laughed behind Lena's back.

During the time, when all was burning, and hurting and killing inside, Kara's eyes Lena was missing the most. And every time, when she was looking at the sky, or the river in NC park she was reminded of what they truly have lost.

But time heals and also they have found their way to one another slowly, but steady. One game night became two, three and soon half of Lena's wardrobe was at Kara's. Just like her heart.

And now, looking at her wife's beautiful eyes, Lena knows for sure - this is her favorite color. Always have been. She just didn't realize it at that time.

[twistedmafiaau]

Break 'em in slowly, she had to remember that. Slowly. Unlike her boss who came in hot she wasn't all bark and no bite. Her blog was a testament to that. Carefully knitted ideas and research along with some of her feelings and skills to add a dash of spicy attitude.

So, she made her way back to the press conference feeling a bit more of her dignity slide away as she sat down and observed the others there along with the family's that loomed nearby. Each group lined up like this was them watch a tournament over the reporters asking questions. Why were they even doing this? Why talk with the public at all? What was the angle? Better yet what were they distracting everyone from...

Her turn rolls around and she stands, eyes once more fixed on the three Kingscholar family members. A slice of her pride burned away under the stares of those in the room but she persisted. Gaze focused and determined.

"Afternoon gentlemen, this is for all three of you: The King, The Hitman and The Lone Wolf, a follow up to the week before, what's a personality trait that ticks you off?" She gives a pleasant more relaxed smile now knowing what to expect from them. Her stance more relaxed with her pen poised on her note book page. Easy question after last week's surely. More agreeable and less sharp. She'd taken care this week and ignored her bosses promptings. Apart of her wanted to address the controversy, the nerve The King had to assume so much about her, but she figured pulling his tail wasn't the best option. Nor would be publicly embaressing the Mafia.

Unlike the previous meeting, the three men seemed more comfortable with the question posed — almost as if they were expecting it. Ruggie allowed himself large, theatrical hand gestures, Jack tilted his head while thinking of an appropriate answer and Leona...his face didn't betray a single emotion.

The silence was short lived as Jack huffed loudly, almost like the conclusion he reached irritated him greatly.

“I highly despise a bad communicator. I know it sounds hypocritical, considering the kind of work I do, but I have my reasons.” he stated, letting himself take the word first. “I can understand that there are people whose past is painful or shameful to relive, especially if you are not ready to reveal it to your partner. If they do not feel like it, it is not honorable on my part to go and stick my nose where it is none of my business. However, if there is a problem with a specific situation or gesture or phrase, they cannot think that I can read their mind and do something about it.”

An unusual murmur arose from the rows behind you — some of the female interviewers seemed almost shocked by the response.

Jack sighed, raising his hands in surrender. “I'll explain myself a bit better. A fundamental part of a stable relationship is to communicate what is a problem for an otherwise peaceful life as a couple and resolve it with compromises, right? — he asked rhetorically — Well, if they can't bother to put into words what is the problem with said situation, they can't expect me to figure out on my own what the problem is or how to work it out. Especially if they're gonna be pissy and pouty and sulking for a thing only they know about. If that's the case the best thing I can do is walk out that door and bid my goodbye.”

Ruggie whistled, feigning impressed. “You sure are quite demanding with a partner candidate.” he said while rolling his azure eyes, “But they do say that wolves mate for life so I guess you have to be highly picky with a potential lover.”

“As if you don't do the same.” replied Jack, “I know you're not enough of a doormat to let awful behavior go down smoothly.”

Ruggie shrugged. “Can't deny that. I am flexible with that kind of thing 'cause I know I have bad traits too, so I try not to let those weigh much. But if there's one trait in a partner that I stay away from like the plague is one and one only: being indecisive.”

The blond released a long, frustrated sigh. 

“Like, I get it, when you are a teenager or a young adult and you feel lost because you have not yet figured out what to do with your future. It is understandable, even adorable for some people. But when they're in their mid twenties or approaching thirties and they're still incapable of keeping one goddamn job, that is not adorable, that's annoying as hell. You're an adult for Christ's sake, get your shit together.”

He then leaned forward, blondish brows arched down with an irritated expression. “Also, minus points if they have a licence and drive around like a psycho clown with ADHD. I speak from personal experience.”

“I suppose that is the reason why you don't let anyone drive the limo. That trauma must have stuck with you.” said Leona with a mocking smile, earning an hiss from his subordinate. “When you see that a seatbelt is not enough safety measure then you'll understand my paranoia about it.”

Leona raised his eyes to the ceiling, ignoring the complaints and ramblings of his trusty subordinate.

“You did well to specify in a partner, since the list of traits I found annoying is...unsurprisingly long.” he said while looking directly into your eyes.

“But you, my dear, curious reporter, are not here to listen to a monologue about how annoyed I am by the rest of the human race. — and gave you an eloquent smile — Without too many turns of phrase I can state that the trait I dislike most is...excessive naivety.”

Silence echoed loudly in the room.

“Don't get me wrong, a person so innocent that they can't understand ulterior motives, or even better flirting, is entertaining.” Leona's smile fell immediately, emerald eyes turning dark and chilling. “But while it is a quality of some sort, it is also a flaw of no small importance. The kind of naivety that makes you open the door to any stranger who comes knocking, without caring who is on the other side…it'll eventually get you killed. The world is not all sparkles and rainbows, in fact, it is very dangerous for those who do not have a modicum of survival instinct.”

Leona smiled again, a tad amused that he got to make everyone in the room shiver. Including you.

“But you're nowhere near that kind of person, so I suppose you can get to walk your own path in this world.” his smile widened — teasing, amused, mocking perhaps.

“Anything else you wish to know?”

✠ Back to Bullettin Board

✠ If you have arrived to this point consider leaving a like, a comment and reblog. Thank you very much for your support

[dcydreamz]

(  kim doyoung •  cis man •  he/him )ㅤ ›ㅤ is that ꒰ hong minhyun ꒱ ? stepping onto the island is always a sight, and theirs is no exception. the ꒰ twenty-eight ꒱ year old ꒰ professional portrait photographer ꒱ has been calling ꒰ côte d’or ꒱ home for ꒰ five months ꒱, effortlessly moving through azure’s elite while ensuring all eyes remain on them. with a staggering net worth of ꒰ €45M ꒱, they’ve more than secured their spot. they’re always seen with their ꒰ santos de cartier sunglasses ꒱ and every time you hear ꒰ apocalypse by cigarettes after sex ꒱ playing, you can guarantee it’s them.   (  jia.  gmt+3.  she/her.  30.  )

basics.

name: hong minhyun

nicknames: n/a (feel free to nickname him though!)

age: 28 years old

birthday: february 7th, 1997

gender & pronouns: cis man, he/him

sexual orientation: bisexual

zodiac chart: aquarius sun, aquarius moon, sagittarius rising

place of birth: seoul, south korea

azure isle residence: côte d’or

education: bachelor's degree in fine arts from the royal college of art

occupation: professional portrait photographer for vanity fair

languages spoken: korean, english, french, japanese

net worth: €45M

family.

father: hong jiyong (world renowned celebrity plastic surgeon)

mother: song hoyeon (ceo of luxury fashion house)

siblings: n/a

pets: a bombay cat named lulu

physical.

face claim: kim doyoung

height: 5'10" (178 cm)

hair color: black

tattoos: link

piercings: lobe (both ears)

personality.

positives: open-minded, free-spirited, independent, observant, conversationalist, easy going, adventurous, passionate

negatives: insatiable, restless, quixotic, stubborn, enigmatic, unpredictable, greedy, temperamental

love languages (top 3): words of affirmation, physical touch, quality time

enneagram: the individualist (type 4)

mbti: isfp (the adventurer)

interview.

what first brought you to azure isle, and what keeps you coming back?

“its beauty,” minhyun begins with a very simple yet honest answer. he doesn’t clarify that it answers both parts of the question. because at the core of it, it's what minhyun always follows, always seeks. sure, it had been the highly publicized break up with his ex that brought him here again to rejuvenate and seek inspiration, but it’s not what keeps him here. “there’s a magnetism to the island, don’t you think? a tranquility you wouldn’t find elsewhere. and isn’t that what everyone seeks?” he smiles at the thought, because the reality of the matter is: everyone is seeking something, whether they know it or not, and somehow azure isle has a little piece of everything for everyone. 

what’s your favorite part of island life — the exclusivity, the luxury, or something else entirely?

“sure, the exclusivity and the luxury of azure isle are wonderful, there’s no debate about that,” minhyun answers, leaning back in his seat. minhyun’s restlessness and hunger for more has led him to travel to different places. he’s been to a lot of places that offered exclusivity, luxury, and beauty, and while the island remains at the top of the list for him, it’s not what makes it special. “people become their most real selves here. it’s somewhat… freeing for a lot of people.” the community he belongs to, the superior and rich and mighty lived life hiding behind some sort of façade, to different extents. he’s lived behind one for the majority of his life, too. you had to, really, it was the basis you were raised on, and on azure isle, it’s like all these inhibitions no longer existed. while that façade made people interesting to minhyun, it’s also who they are without it that piques his curiosity.

in your opinion, what’s the unspoken rule of azure isle?

“unspoken rule?” minhyun thinks for a moment. “that’s rather limiting, no?” he adds, a playfulness to his tone, amusement twinkling in his eyes as a smile curves up his lips. “people didn’t create amazing things by being sticklers to the rules.” he’s an artist, sticking to the rules is a suffocating and stifling punishment. besides, anyone who’s been to azure isle knows rules are there for the sake of it—no one’s actually following them, at least not behind closed doors. it’s the community they live in, after all. however, minhyun knows how to blend in when needed, and how to stick to the rules for the public’s sake. sometimes you had to. “but i suppose if i had to pick one…” he trails off, he has to appease the listener. “what happens in azure isle, stays in azure isle.” 

what’s one indulgence or luxury you could never give up, no matter the cost?

“creativity,” minhyun says with a gentle smile that reaches his eyes. who is he without it? who is he without his camera and the portraits he’s taken and will continue to take? a life without it is one he can’t comprehend or register. his camera has been his companion through thick and thin, so he can’t give it up and he can’t give up on all he can create with it.

background.

minhyun’s the only son to world renowned celebrity plastic surgeon, hong jiyong, and a ceo of a big fashion house, song hoyeon. 

he was born in seoul, south korea, and lived there till he was six years old, before his family moved to new york city. 

he got a degree in fine arts from the royal college of arts in london. his mother’s connections in the fashion industry got him his first job with vanity fair at twenty-two as a photographer.

his first viral and notable photograph was at twenty-four, which paved the way for him even more. within three years of getting his first job, he secured the position of chief photographer. he's made a name for himself in the industry, becoming one of the up and coming talents, with several notable pieces under his belt, and one of the most sought after photographers.

he has mainly worked in portrait photography for the magazine, shooting different celebrities. on the side, he also enjoys landscape photography.

he has a huge collection of over 15 cameras, but his personal favorite to use is a canon 5D.

as part of his job, and his own restlessness, he has traveled to over 15 countries, always seeking something wherever he goes, be it beauty, inspiration, or some unknown.

minhyun was in a highly publicized relationship with a famous personality, who had also served as his main source of inspiration and muse for his work. they broke up for good the previous year. losing a companion, lover, and muse made him desperate for change and a break, once again on the search for something unknown and for another muse and source of inspiration, hence making azure isle his home for the unforeseeable future. 

connections.

the ex: i'm open to tweaking details and such, but the fixed points would be it being a highly publicized relationship, and this person being minhyun's muse at the time! (taken by lana paladesh)

best friend

hook ups/one night stands/fwb

flings/flirtationships

antagonistic dynamic: we can work through the details

people he's photographed/worked with

someone who intrigues minhyun

people he enjoys photographing

someone who's a fan of his work?

someone who doesn't like his work

also someone minhyun's not really a fan of at a professional level

fellow art lovers

family friends

childhood friends

unlikely friends

smoking buddy

party friends

anything lmao i'm open to brainstorming <3

[silvercage]

(  lee know  •  demimale  •  he/they  )ㅤ ›ㅤ is that ꒰ sun-ji “suni” gwang ꒱ ? stepping onto the island is always a sight, and theirs is no exception. the ꒰ twenty - six ꒱ year old ꒰ twitch streamer꒱ has been calling ꒰ villa lumiére ꒱ home for ꒰ four months ꒱, effortlessly moving through azure’s elite while ensuring all eyes remain on them. with a staggering net worth of ꒰ €40M ꒱, they’ve more than secured their spot. they’re always seen with their ꒰ peach scented chapstick ꒱ and every time you hear ꒰ you so done by noga erez ꒱ playing, you can guarantee it’s them. 

personal record.

full name — sun-ji gwang .

nickname(s) — suni .

date of birth & age — january 2nd, twenty-six .

gender / pronouns — demi man, he/they .

sexuality — biromantic / bisexual .

occupation — twitch streamer .

astrology — capricorn .

songs that suni listens to while absorbing your life force via simple eye contact — if I had a heart - fever ray ; career boy - dorian electra ; achilles come down - gang of youths ; blackout - breathe carolina ; hey , mickey - baby tate  

general disposition — conscientious and distant .

interview.

if your life on azure isle had a theme song, what would it be and why? 

" tell me why the first thing that came to mind was that hoa-hoa-hoa song ? you know , the one from twilight . me , emerging from the mist , hovering an inch above the ground , like a mythical creature born in mystery and vanishing just alike " a fleeting giggle , something utmost sacred as it happens rarely with this much genuine intention behind it . " no , but if you really come to think of it . . . that's not too far off , actually . like when do you really see me out and about ? in broad daylight , I might add . exactly , whenever I can't arrange it to be differently . so , like a vampire . and you know what , I actually wouldn't mind the glittery kind . so , either that or dead inside by younger hunger . I'll let you get your thinking hats on and figure this one out yourself "  

if someone were trying to find you, where on the island would they start looking? 

" depends . do you want the honest answer or the one I make up to get everyone off my back ? with the way you're looking at me . . . probably not the second one " silence overtakes the room - to some uncomfortably so , yet suni revels in it . like second skin , they slither within it ,  sole purpose to wind up and drag out . one of the several skills earned from years in front of a camera . " next question " and the smirk slowly daring to creep up it's way is something close to diabolical - simply having ditched the intention the question held to begin with .  

what’s one indulgence or luxury you could never give up, no matter the cost? 

" wifi . yeah , I know . . . booo , what a typical ass answer for a streamer . but it's true . you wouldn't believe the quality content I am able to dish out . my streaming schedule barely changed with me being here . oh , and also the shrimps . but generally speaking , like on everyday basis - being known , really really known . it's not just oooh you're the kid from the bookshop owner and all that . within the range , I made a name for myself and I wouldn't want to miss that . may make me sound entitled as fuck but I've earned that place and I'm not planning on losing it any time soon "  

capricorn : ambitious , hardworking , loyal , stubborn , disciplined , pragmatic  

here some hc to add to the 'suni being a gremlin' folder :  

they grew up an only child to a upper middle class family - wealth wasn't expected nor given , yet a fancy family dinner or a holidays spent in greece were never out the question .  

he had always been the strange kid thus the reason they didn't grow to have a whole bunch of friends around them . only a couple of sole soldiers handpicked by suni himself . strangers would often describe him as weird and offputting , to which their friends would simply shrug a shoulder and brush it off .  

they've been streaming for five years now , being kickstarted by a shoutout from a fellow streamer way higher in the ranks . ever since then he's been continuously climbing that ladder himself .  

their content consists of a weekly schedule : gaming on friday , reactions on sundays .  

fans love suni for their obscure humor , honest soul and heartfelt pep talks whenever actually needed within the community .  

despite not declaring so on his platforms , they use the island as a getaway from the pressure his career increasingly puts onto him - especially since he rarely allows himself a break from it .  

they are freshly out of a relationship of seven years - having met the end by suni being cheated on ( they are still recovering okay * bandaged heart emoji * )  

wanted connections .

wip :((

[ivanttakethis]

hey vant, question related to tov! how would the course of her story go if she was the winner of s39? i think you originally planned for her to win so i would like to know how things would have been like. thanks!

Hi Alis!!

Things would’ve gone quite differently if Tov had won S39.

I had a lot planned, so I’ll put it below the cut!

Originally, after winning the final round, Tov was going to go back to her dressing room, where Wren would’ve been waiting for her.

Wren would reveal herself to be Tov’s twin sister and also the mastermind behind Elias and Prem feeding Tov information during the Alien Stage complex lockdown.

Tov — already distraught after watching Cirrus die, and feeling somewhat manipulated — was supposed to lash out at Wren for the whole masquerade.

Then Elias and Prem would’ve come in to break up the fight. And that’s when the truth about the group’s shared past would have been revealed.

Notably, Tov was never supposed to find out that the “good luck charm” ring Wren gave her was actually a failsafe in case she lost.

Post S39, she would’ve gone on a huge media campaign. Interviews, brand deals, photo shoots, her face on giant billboards, the whole works.

Tov and Dian would still have their fake relationship and become the new power couple.

Her survivor’s guilt would be much worse than it is canonically, to the point of her hallucinating either just Himei or a rotating cast of her dead classmates (Moran, Flor, Lark, and even Azure) and having conversations with them, like how Castor kept seeing Kyo.

Speaking of Castor, with Tov as the most recent winner, she would’ve taken his place. Which I was interested in exploring because Tov wasn’t fond of Castor during their time at Anakt and she hates him for what he did to Nyx. It would’ve forced her to sympathize with him. She would’ve hallucinated him at one point too.

She would’ve also been invited to meet the S40 contestants and offer advice to them, like Castor did after Round 12.

Some notable highlights would have included Tov seeing a lot of Azure in Jiu, learning that Faisal is Flor’s brother, and her meeting Naz for the first time.

I had started working on dialogue of a possible confrontation between Tov and Naz after Tov won against Akane. Naz is pissed about how Akane died and she thinks it’s Tov’s fault.

Naz thinks Tov has it all and is mostly unfazed by the competition, but the truth is Tov has been completely broken down behind the scenes and has lost so many people, including one of the most important people in her life (Himei).

Naz: “You haven't suffered like I have. You don't know how I feel.”

Tov: “I know exactly how you feel, don't patronize me when you have no clue what l've been through.”

Tov tells Naz that she still has so much left to lose in S40, including Wren, and that she needs to get her shit together.

After this, my plans were much looser since S40 hadn’t started yet. But here are some story beats that were supposed to happen at some point during that season:

Tov would be involved with S40’s production and present backstage during the rounds

The AREPH would still come around, but different from how it’s happening canonically

Tovallis reunion somehow (could still totally happen tho)

I think some of these ideas could still be salvaged with some tweaking, but it would depend on if folks felt okay about Tov still being involved with Alien Stage even though she didn’t win.

But yeah! I think that’s pretty much everything. Thank you for asking! I had a lot of fun going back over my notes and putting this post together.

Cirrus belongs to @cirrusoftheclouds.

Dian, Nyx, and Faisal belong to @rockwgooglyeyes.

Himei, Castor, Kyo, Tallis, and Naz belong to @lookatmysillies.

Jiu belongs to @severedscales.

Akane belongs to @aakaneeee.

Azure belongs to @azureitri (you, lol).

Tagging: @chevalperd @apple8ees @neverforgetyou

[raxistaicho]

Red Flags I've noticed when someone's take on Edelgard is in bad faith include, but aren't limited to:

Constant erasure of her queer identity as the bisexual emperor she is

Calling her Edel, the nickname Kronya uses, instead of Edelgard or El, the names she prefers to be addressed by

Completely ignore everything regarding Abyss in canon while simultaneously bringing up interviews from the writers that a majority of fans don't actually learn exist until years later, if ever

Constantly ignoring all the war crimes Dimitri commits during the other routes or giving him an out due to the insanity plea

Gloss over the fact that Edelgard is literally 18 at the start of the game and has spent the last 8 years being abused, experimented on, and had her life threatened by people she literally cannot escape from without abandoning Fodlan all together, leaving her in a "work with them or die as a political puppet" position unless Byleth or Shez sides with her

Constantly forget Dedue exists and/or forget that in his Felix Supports he swears to commit terrible war crimes if Dimitri orders him to and will do it without question

Constantly forget that Those Who Slither in the Dark don't actually get dealt with in Azure Moon unless you recruit Hapi and pair her with either Byleth or Dimitri

Refuse to acknowledge that human experimentation is in fact a war crime and that Rhea has committed many, MANY war crimes in her 1000+ years of ruling over Fodlan

Hate on Fire Emblem: Engage to an unhealthy degree

Ignore the fact that Dimitri, Seteth, and Rhea are more than happy to set a town of innocent people ablaze if that's what it takes to win the war

Constant erasure of her queer identity as the bisexual emperor she is

Gah, don't remind me of all the desperate bleating that she's poor representation because she's designed to appeal to men.

Calling her Edel, the nickname Kronya uses, instead of Edelgard or El, the names she prefers to be addressed by

That's not one I've really seen. Usually haters call her even dumber nicknames.

Completely ignore everything regarding Abyss in canon while simultaneously bringing up interviews from the writers that a majority of fans don't actually learn exist until years later, if ever

And also just misinterpreting the interviews.

Constantly ignoring all the war crimes Dimitri commits during the other routes or giving him an out due to the insanity plea

So the whole insanity plea doesn't work with Dimitri because he's still very much aware of the fact that everything he's doing is wrong, his scene with Randolph is all about that. He's just in full-on, Then Let Me Be Evil, mode.

Gloss over the fact that Edelgard is literally 18 at the start of the game and has spent the last 8 years being abused, experimented on, and had her life threatened by people she literally cannot escape from without abandoning Fodlan all together, leaving her in a "work with them or die as a political puppet" position unless Byleth or Shez sides with her

It's wild how folks seem to think Thales wouldn't retaliate if she refused to play ball or that Rhea would be the best ally in the world against the Agarthans.

Constantly forget Dedue exists and/or forget that in his Felix Supports he swears to commit terrible war crimes if Dimitri orders him to and will do it without question

Eh, Dedue's pretty yikes there, but that support's kinda shit in other ways. Specifically Felix calling him a dog. That's pretty damn bad.

Refuse to acknowledge that human experimentation is in fact a war crime and that Rhea has committed many, MANY war crimes in her 1000+ years of ruling over Fodlan

Nah, but it's okay that Rhea was experimenting with life itself, an act forbidden by her own people, because she was nice to the lives she created! :D

[california-112]

Travels Afar - Chapter 4 (/6)

General Audiences | No Archive Warnings Apply | Gen | English

Fandom: The X-Files

Characters: Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, Original Characters

Additional tags: Season/Series 02, Other Additional Tags To Be Added, Case Fic, New Years, Crafts, Hurt/Comfort

Chapter summary:

Chapter 4: A Point On The Side Of The Aliens After a morning of interviewing more of the townspeople to try and get evidene for their respective theories, Mulder and Scully split up after lunch. Although their afternoons are largely successful, their reunion in the evening is called into question by bad weather.

Fic summary:

"More travelling?" Scully asked suspiciously, "I've already been on a plane for three hours this morning, Mulder, how much further is 'a bit'?" "A, uh, couple of hours," Mulder replied hesitantly, "maybe a bit longer. But it's worth it, I promise." They exchanged a look over the car's roof that was on one side sheepish and the other mildly annoyed. "It had better be." was all Scully said, before opening her door and disappearing into the passenger seat. As soon as they pulled out of their parking space, Scully was all business. After taking a moment with her eyes closed to recall the sparse details that Mulder had given her in his phone call the previous day, she delivered her planned reply to his claims in a wry tone. "So, the case. A Christmas crop circle, if I recall? In somewhere called Pot?" -or- Mulder and Scully make an unofficial visit to rural Iowa to investigate an alleged alien visitation, and a series of potentially related phenomena. Over the course of the case, they learn a little more about eachother, too. This is a work in progress, with updates planned to be daily between the 27th and 31st. Happy New Year! BRIEF REFERENCES TO SOME EVENTS IN S1

Link to AO3 | Read from the beginning

Taglist | DM for addition or removal @today-in-fic - @tressknight - @pwhlboston21 - @azure-firecracker

[howlingday]

Belladina Interviews

Oobleck: Right! Well then, why don't we start with a few questions for the parents?

Blake: (Thinking) Bartholomew Oobleck. Forty-seven years old. He has a doctorate in history as Beacon's history teacher and is housemaster of dormitory 7, Amber Hall. Regarded as intelligent, reliable, and open-minded. He's well-liked by his students, but is also known for speaking at a swift pace. The safest path to win his favor is with honest and straightforward answers.

Oobleck: I understand that this is your second wife. How did you meet your husband?

Blake: Straight to the point. It makes sense, since Beacon Academy is focused on family values.

Blake: My husband and I met by chance at the neighborhood tailor's shop. The same one where Beacon uniforms are made, in fact. It was the way he carried himself which first caught my eye. It was like he appeared out of nowhere. After the death of my first husband and being so busy caring for my daughter, I was hesitant to pursue a new relationship. But the more we talked, the more I realized I'd found a kindred spirit in him. I was touched by his kindness and how much he valued family. I knew he would be a wonderful father to my daughter.

Jaune: (Blushing)

Oobleck: I see. Same question, Mr. Belladina.

Jaune: Oh... Well... Blake is such a wonderful woman. And she's so good with children. She understood how difficult it was for me to be all by myself, and she welcomed me into her family.

Oobleck: Excellent to hear. Family is very important to us at Beacon.

Jacques: I see you're a man who must have low standards, Mr. Arc. Why else would you saddle yourself to a woman with a child? And a woman like her no less?

Goodwitch: Behave yourself, Master Schnee.

Blake: Jacques Schnee. Fourty-nine years old. A legacy hire, as his father-in-law was the headmaster, he is the business and economics professor and housemaster of dormitory two, Azure Hall. Greedy. Callous. His wife filed for divorce last month. His wife just won full custody of her children. In all of his previous interviews, his questions focused on directly disparaging the families of applicants. It's best to avoid provoking him.

Oobleck: On to the next question. May we ask why you have decided to apply for Beacon Academy?

Blake: For one reason, sir...

Blake: To get close enough to my target, Charlotte Malachite!.

Blake: The quality of the teaching staff at Beacon Academy is second to none. The instructors are cultured, knowledgeable, and talented. More importantly, I believe only the elite faculty of Beacon Academy can instill in our child the nobility and patriotism needed to stand amongst our country's elite.

Goodwitch: (Thinking) A most disciplined reply, Blake Belladina. I knew I saw something in you.

Glynda Goodwitch. ??? years old. Fitness Professor and housemistress of dormitory three, Lavender Hall. Personality: Elegant.

Oobleck: We would like to hear about Penny from the perspective of her parents. What would you consider to be her strengths and weaknesses?

Blake: Penny holds a deep and passionate curiosity. She is willing and eager to poke her nose into everything, sometimes to an extent that it could be considered as much of a strength as it is a weakness. And perhaps this is just a mother's bias, but I find her to be wise beyond her years.

Goodwitch: Wise? This girl here? Didn't she only earn thirty-one points on her entrance exam?

Penny: (Flinches)

Blake: In fact, she's so intuitive, I swear she can read my mind! Ha ha!

Penny: (Shivers)

Blake: But for a solid answer for weaknesses, I do wish she was less picky about her food.

Oobleck: Hm. And what do you see in her, Mr. Belladina, and how would you describe your parenting style towards her?

Jaune: Well, as we've already discussed, I am not her birth father. So I will admit that, at first, I may have spoiled her in my attempts to win her over. I had to learn how to be strict sometimes, for the sake of her future. I work hard to remember that.

Jaune: (Thinking) Just like we practiced.

Oobleck: Mrs. Belladina mentioned that your daughter can be picky. What sort of meals do you cook at home?

Jaune: M-Meals?! Oh, uh, I, uh... W-Well...

Blake: Actually, sir, I do most of the cooking. However, my husband is more than happy to help when I'm too busy.

Blake: Not that it's ever happened.

Jacques: You're kidding me. A husband who can't even cook? You need to work harder to be a better example for your daughter, sir!

Jaune: !!!

Blake: No one is perfect, sir. While my husband may not be the primary chef, he is incredibly neat and organized. The house is always spotless. And he is a most wonderful example for our daughter.

Jacques: That may be, but a man who can't even cook is hardly a good example for a child.

Blake: And who are you to-

Jaune: B-Blake, it's okay! He's right!

Blake: (Clenching her fist) He's right. Calm yourself, Nightshade. Why are you even upset? It's not like he's really your husband.

Jacques: (Thinking) Just a pair of lovebirds, eh? I could just puke. Well, I'll just keep pecking at those cracks and see what comes pouring out. If these smug plebians don't get rejected, then there is no justice in the world.

Penny: (Thinking) This man hates Mama and Papa! I need to do real good, or else...

Oobleck: Well, I think it's time we heard from your daughter.

Penny: Here we go...

Oobleck: Can you tell us who you are and where you live?

Penny: M-My name is Penny Pellapina. And I live in Vale... North. At 42 Space... Something. Mister sir!

Oobleck: And what do you like to do when you're not in school?

Blake: She knows this. These are all the questions we...

Penny: I like to watch at restaurants and eat the opera.

Blake: Huh?.

Oobleck: And what sorts of things do you want to accomplish while attending Beacon Academy?

Penny: Uh... Um...

Penny: What was the answer?.

Blake: Well, I know what I want to do while at Beacon Academy. Get close to Charlotte at a school event and expose the plans of the organization she leads. Then stop her before-

Penny: I want... to expose the secrets... of the boss... of the or-gun-eye-zay-shun.

Blake: WHAT DID SHE JUST SAY?!. The answer was to read all the books in the library!.

Penny: Oh, and library books.

Oobleck: "Boss of the organization"? Do you mean the headmaster?

Blake: Ah ha ha ha! Oh, excuse my daughter! She's very ambitious! She's so curious about the lives of the people who have achieved leadership positions.

Goodwitch: Hmmm... Seeking to learn from those at the top at such a young age... There is a degree of elegance to that.

Goodwitch: If that is true, then you mist know the name of our headmaster, young lady?

Penny: Um... It's, uh...

Blake: You know this! It's Headmaster Ozpin!.

Penny: Head pasture... All in. Mister sir.

Goodwitch: Eh... Close enough.

Goodwitch: And do you understand how hard one must work to succed as he has?

Penny: ...

Penny: Yeah! You gotta run through the jungle to get strong! And face life-or-death stuff over and over to get brave!

Blake: That was the training montage in yesterday's spy cartoon...

Goodwitch: Such incredible resolve! Perhaps I have underestimated this child.

Oobleck: Haha! Perhaps you needn't go that far. Now, I have questions for you about your parents. What does your mother do for a living?

Penny: She's a spy.

Blake: !

Penny: Spy... Spycial social work.

Oobleck: Are you alright, dear? You sound a bit congested. What about your father? What is he like?

Penny: He can be a little scary sometimes, but he's really nice!

Jaune: !

Oobleck: If you had to give your mother and father a score, what would it be?

Penny: 100 points! They're perfect and I love them. I want to be with them forever!

Jacques: Garbage like this is the last thing we need at Beacon.

Jacques: So, who do you like better? Your old daddy or your new daddy?

Oobleck: Master Schnee, that question isn't-

Jacques: Who cares? Are we who ask the questions not permitted to improvise and think outside the box?

Blake: May I request a different question?

Blake: I don't know how she ended up in that orphanage, but there's too good a chance her parents are...

Jacques: No. Answer the question or be scored accordingly.

Plip... Plip...

Penny: (Crying) D... D...

Blake: Penny...

Penny: (Sniffles, Wipes eyes) Daddy...

Jacques: Well, there you have it. She likes her real daddy more.

Jaune: (Comforting Penny) How dare you?!

Blake: Calm down, Jaune.

Jaune: But this is...

Blake: For the mission, we can endure this. We have to endure this.

Jacques: The dorms are full of children living away from their parents. This is no place for children who burst into tears over every little thing.

Blake: He can smear us all he likes. It doesn't matter. We're not a real family.

Jaune: "Every... little.. thing"? You think THAT is a "little thing"? (Fingers pop and crack)

Blake: Calm. Calm. Calm. It doesn't matter.

Jacques: What's your problem anyway, second husband? It's not my fault she doesn't love you.

Jacques: Ah, now that feels better. Hm?

Blake: (Swinging her leg for Jacques head) STAND DOWN, NIGHTSHADE!.

CRUNCH!

Jacques: (Stares at table split in perfect half)

Blake: (Removes her foot from the table, Reveals bug beneath) Forgive my behavior. There was a gnat buzzing around. (Turns) Thank you for your time.

Jacques: W-Where do you think you're going?! We're not finished!

Blake: If belittling the feelings of children is part of Beacon's educational philosophy, then I have clearly chosen the wrong school.

Jacques: HOW DARE YOU DISGRACE THE NAME OF BEACON ACADEMY!

Blake: Jaune. Penny. We're leaving now. (They walk ahead) Good day. (Slams door)

Jacques: YOU WILL NEVER SET FOOT IN BEACON ACADEMY AGAIN! DO YOU HEAR ME?!

Goodwitch: You went too far, Master Schnee.

Jacques: Oh? Are you questioning my methods, Goodwitch? I'd watch your attitude, if I were you. Big Nicholas may no longer be with us, but his name still holds a lot of weight around here. Send in the next family already!

Goodwitch: ...

???: (Memory) Those who beg and grovel at the feet of the powerful... They're such pitiful creatures, no?.

Goodwitch: ...She didn't disgrace the good name of Beacon Academy.

Jacques: Huh?

BAM!

Jacques: (Falls back, Unconscious)

Goodwitch: (Changes gloves) There. Handled with elegance. And with that, Mrs. Belladina, I think I can face you with the pride and dignity of a proper Beacon Academy educator.

[sotogalmo]

6 — 10:31

Round 12— The Note.

("I'm not sorry but thank you for enduring me as long as you did. That's more than I'd ever ask of you." •Flor towards Rosca, in her dreams. ) — @season39 . To clear up about Rosca and her status ~quite short.

@junebluues , @ivanttakethis , @rockwgooglyeyes , @bluemoonscape , @apriciticreveries , @alien-til-i-stage , @starry-skiez , @skyisjusthere , @teapotuser , @4listr (Azure mention), & others. / Toxic yuri lets gooooo

The note wasn't able to be read by Flor.

She was too late, but she knew she would be late. She was deliberately late. Because she also knew that she would be dead.

She knew, and she waited for it, because?

Even if a clown is well liked and loved and had her small (or rather big? A lot of them were cheering her on, and some interviewers were asking me questions about her and how I felt) fandom. Even if that is so, they'll always fall down.

It happened with the black haired and color related name (what was his name? Cerulean? Blue? Water..? Oh who cares. Too much has happened and it's such a hassle).

And it has now happened to her clown.

Which she expected from the.. start, in all honesty.

She knew that this would happen.

Yet, she still made a note. Just to tell her (or for others to know. That must be it)

“You.. ah,

My silly billy.

One makes mistakes; that is life.

You gravely thought you'd win? You thought like that from the start, either way. Only from a little praise, that me and the others would give you.

You're so stupid. And I say that with affection.

You're like a dog. I like dogs... But not that much anymore. You're like my fans in the most.. unusual way ever.

...

You were a wonderful experimental, experience.”

•~ Rosca.

Is what the note says.

And it'll stay unread for whatever time. Unless someone finds it. If they do?

It's not her matter to say. Because, Flor is dead.

The jester, dead in the weak yet adored castle while the queen— the ruler of said jester's heart walks away from the back stage to head back to her own castle; strong but not as well- adored as Alien Stage is.

It's truly.. weird.

Absurd (she drops the note anyways, she wants to see if someone will find it)

______________

Who will find the note?

Will it be Tov, Nyx, or someone else? Or maybe no one at all?