#but um... im trying to stop that. so i hope its still enjoyable!

[yaay-y]

Here, have some ribbun 🫴

We're starting with some cute tickling moment. Tears of laughter were needed :3

I like to think that Gangle melts like a puddle the moment she receives loving, physical touch from Jax. That woman is absolutely touched starved

She's rubbing her hands together like a fly as she somehow convinced Jax to dress up as a maid for her.

He just wants to get the dress off, but he's doing it for her

[m1ckeyb3rry]

No because I thought his LN was on crack or something especially when he had like his osha awakening moment like they fully wrote out all the details of him posing with the galaxy in the background surrounded by all the planets and the literal LETTERS floating above his head like???? Yeah I mean if I were an Aryu stan I would’ve taken more time to read but I also couldn’t get past the fact that he was so appalled by his lack of musical talent that he fr was sick in bed for three days BRO it was so goofy it kinda makes me wonder what he would’ve been like if he hadn’t been bullied though :(

I- THERES NO WAY??? THE GRIND IS TOO INTENSE OMG???? Glad you’re alive now though oh god allergies really suck

And no seriously like people think that writing is the only thing you’ll have going on like sorry bro your fav writes have lives?? Also considering the length of your fics generally you’d think they’d realize that it’s kinda insane for you to update so quickly??? And I’m ngl I was really impressed that you were churning out so many pieces in such a short period of time especially since they were all at the very least 6k or something like….

IM SO EXCITED ugh baby Karasu truly is too cute the epinagi panels make me wanna just squish his cheeks!!! But I have full faith in you your different fic verses always keep it unique even if some things might be similar (like fwtkac and freaky Friday) like I remember you saying they had some similar aspects too but they didn’t feel repetitive in the slightest so!!

Vibe checking is so real like I’m not about to make people think that I’m like THOSE anime enjoyers yk….its okay we’ve got you o7 bllk chatter sessions ftw>>>

Freak loser Rin confirmed guys….yeah I did feel a bit bad for Sae LMAO but erm yeah what an interesting kid Rin was…..The fact that they don’t have eyes sent me I saw someone post somewhere saying that Rin and Sae must be adopted because they have long lashes but their parents don’t even have eyes LMFAOOOO

PLEASE KANESHIRO GET KARASU AND YUKIMIYA IN THERE!!! Honestly I’m lowk conflicted about post nel arc on one hand I’m really excited because I wanna see everyone together again but on the other hand I’m like…how much more of bllk do we still have…..I need my content!! Dw we add the slice of life filler episode into the manifestation circle…it will happen! Wait I’m also kinda curious about how the nel offers work? I’ve seen people all over talking about how after this they’ll like split and go to their respective countries from which they selected in nel to go join clubs and whatnot and I’m like uhhh that doesn’t sound like getting the gang back together!!!!

BAROUU>> I hope more people stop with the red flag Barou trend now because this man is such green flag material….okay and um maybe we actually just have prophetic abilities I was being so unserious when I said that LMAOOOO soooo trust slice of life episode tabieitaken comeback soon!!!

-Karasu anon

HELP the way they described the letters and everything omg i was cackling…it felt like they were trying to give a serious backstory to a very unserious character which gave it a general cracky vibe 😭 and the lack of musical talent causing him to throw up was unreal like what even

HAHAHA the grind is always with me fr 😈🙏🏻 this was a while ago like circa 2021 so it’s been a bit 😫 unfortunately i do have a peanut allergy it’s like my debuff 😢

THAT’S WHAT I’M SAYINGGG bro i had written over a 100k words for that fic in like a month that’s legitimately longer than most published novels 😭 i feel like when i’m inspired i’m a very prolific writer (eg i’ve written probably close to 150k words for bllk since may??) but the downside is if i’m not into smth you’re not getting anything out of me for it

OKAY YAY i’m glad it doesn’t come off across as too similar…i do think part of it stems from me just being the one writing it so i notice even the smallest similarities even though they wouldn’t really bother a reader necessarily?? at least i hope they wouldn’t 😓 and yessss squishy cheeks baby karasu that’s exactly the vibe he’s supposed to have he’s such a cutie i want to eat him

fr i need to differentiate myself…like yes i watch anime and write fanfiction and am a LITTLE not normal abt certain characters but i still shower and have friends/hobbies and touch grass 😔

HELP omg idk what the deal w the itoshi parents being so mysterious is…like is it meant to represent how sae was the only family rin cared abt?? because that’s lowkey crazy if that’s the case 😭 freak loser rin we’ve known it from the start 😩 need the world to get on our wavelength

ooh it might be how it is irl where like players play for their respective clubs but then for the world cup they come back and represent their national teams!! so we’ll have an arc or so of them learning how to play pro football, introducing more players so that the stakes for u20 wc are higher (because there’ll be established dynamics with other international players) and then everyone gets back together to play for japan in the wc

YES FREE BAROU FROM THE RED FLAG ALLEGATIONS PRONTO HE IS TRULY THE OPPOSITE!! and FRR we are bllk oracles or smth…seeing karasu yukimiya and kunigami relevance in the future of pxg vs bm 🧿🕯️

[boycritter]

hiiii i hope its okay to add on to this :3 i've had chronic pain for 7 years and here are some things that have helped my pain dramatically :) obviously everyone is different but this is my experience

okay first i dont want to be That Guy that says you need to eat well and take supplements and exercise or whatever but. all of that really does help. you should, to the best of your ability, be attempting to live a healthy lifestyle because that will help your pain. obviously it's easier said than done but it's still probably one of the most important things for pain management.

eating well does NOT mean eating super healthy all the time. number 1 priority is making sure you are eating ENOUGH. your body needs that energy and increased presence of ghrelin (the bitch (hormone) that makes you hungry) has been linked to lower pain thresholds. if you struggle with appetite (i've been there) then protein shakes/similar beverages help. if you are able to, it really helps to eat a balanced diet with vegetables and protein and all that jazz. DO NOT cut out carbs carbs are your best friend.

if you are able to, try cutting certain foods out of your diet for a few weeks and seeing how you feel. you may have a food intolerance that isn't super obvious but is causing a ton of inflammation and other problems in your body (i stopped eating poultry 2 years ago and gluten this year. im not exaggerating when i say it changed my life). gluten is one of the common intolerances but a lot of things can cause it

those migraine ice packs are a miracle sent down from heaven.

also exercise does not mean working out or whatever. i find it's better to think about any form of moving your body rather than 'exercise'. just trying to move around and get your blood flowing really helps!!! don't push yourself, do what your pain allows. but even 5 minutes of stretching or a 10 minute walk is so helpful

standing is the activity of the devil. if you are in a situation where you need to stand you should sit down if possible or try to walk in place. standing sucks so bad because you're activating the same muscles for way too long without giving them a break.

if you are looking into supplements, DO YOUR RESEARCH. they can be very helpful but make sure you're getting your information from credible sources AND. if you are on any medication check to see if the supplements will interact with those medications. if you can check with your doctor, you should.

i personally swear by magnesium and vitamin b (all of them) but yeah do your research beforehand

there are going to be a lot of things that make your pain worse. try to figure out what's worth it!! because [activity x] may make your pain worse for a couple days but you love [activity x] so much that you'll take the pain. or [food y] may cause flare ups but [food y] is so good that you're willing to eat it occasionally. or [activity z] is also going to worsen your pain for a couple days and [activity z] isnt enjoyable enough to deal with that.

this one sucks. it kinda just does. im sorry. stop hoping that one day you will wake up and your pain will be gone. it's hard. grief goes hand in hand with chronic pain and it really fucking sucks. but you have to put your energy to finding ways to decrease your pain and make it easier to live with it every day, not fixing your pain. stop hoping you'll waking up better and focus on just making sure you wake up.

um. yeah. a lot of these are tips on long term pain management because i havent seen much of it on tumblr? like theres some but its harder to find than other kinds of chronic pain content on here. if anyone was curious i have hypermobility (likely hEDS), pots, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, chronic migraines, and new daily persistent headache :) i can always elaborate further on anything and if anyone reading this has questions then feel free to reach out to me :3

ive made posts like this before for autism and adhd but i recently found out i have chronic pain so i want to share some tips for people who have also recently found out they have chronic pain

take pain meds Before the pain starts. if you can feel a flare up coming on or you're about to do something which you know will cause pain, take the pain meds. its much easier to prevent pain than to reduce it after its already bad

heat packs and ice packs! use them!! if you often get pain in multiple areas at once, have multiple on hand. you may want to invest in an electric heat pack!!

rest when you need to. its not shameful to need rest more often than other people. if you're out and about and you need to sit down, do it!! if you need to stay in bed all day during a flare up, do it!! accommodate yourself, you deserve it. (if you're going to stay in bed all day please make sure you have access to snacks and a drink though. take care of yourself!!)

hot baths are excellent for joint pain

use mobility aids!! if you think it would help, get one. they're so worth it. if you can, go to a physical store and talk to the people there about your needs and try a few out

get a kitchen stool. get a shower stool. sit down while you brush your teeth. there are no rules, dont stand up if you dont need to be standing up.

if you're hypermobile, compression garments can be useful. also knee braces, ring splints, anything that will help stabilise your joints

meal planning!! cook multiple portions of a meal in one go so you can have leftovers when you have no energy to cook. make sure to have some low effort meals on standby too, like cans of soup or pot noodles.

be kind to yourself!! getting through the day is so much harder when you're in pain all the time. you're doing the best you can, even if that doesnt look like someone elses best. you cant help having the body you have, so dont beat yourself up if you cant do everything you want to do all the time.

[thisbisexualbrainrot]

15x20: Soft Epilogue

Here I go writing fix it fic again. It’s almost 2am and I couldnt sleep until I posted it. I hope its enjoyable. Definitely fluff and a little angst thrown in as well. The soft epilogue with happy endings that Sam and Dean deserved. I didnt get a good place to mention this in the fic, but I believe Sam and Eileen would have rebuilt the American Men of Letters together. :)  _________________

Sunlight glinted against the black impala as she flew down the back country road. It was midday and the air was warm. Turns out when you are fighting for your life, you forget to pay attention to the seasons change. Sam was grateful they could pay attention to that now. 

He checked his phone again. No response yet. Where is she? 

“Hey um... Eileen hasn't called me yet and she's not answering. Do you think she didn't come back?” Sam asked, glancing over at Dean who was tapping his hand on the wheel. 

“Jack wouldn't do that, he would bring her back with everyone else. It's okay Sammy. She'll be there.” Dean assured him, he gave Sam a smirk and looked back at the road. “She probably just doesn't have a phone remember?” 

“Yeah, you're right.” Sam sighed, running his hand through his hair. She has to be there. Dean noticed Sam fidgeting and stepped on the gas.

In the backseat, Miracle barked in approval. 

Before Dean even had the car in park, Sam opened the passenger door and ran up to Eileen's door. Dean chuckled as he watched Sam bound up and the front door opened quickly. Eileen ran out to meet him and the two crashed into each other. Smiles, kisses, laughter. Good Dean thought Sammys happy. For the first time, Dean isn't worried about his little brother anymore. They changed the world, for good, and now Sam has a real chance for a real relationship. Eileen is good for him. 

Eventually Dean got out of the car, Eileen gave him a hug and signed while saying “Thank you.”

Dean looked at Sam, who hadn’t stopped grinning ear to ear, and smirked “Yeah well, now he's your problem.” “Yeah okay” Sam laughed. “I’ll call you later”. Eileen wrapped her arm around Sam’s waist and Dean was confident he wouldn’t be hearing from his brother for a while. 

“Yeah yeah” Dean smiled, “You kids have fun.” 

“I'm 37, Dean.” 

Dean gave them a shit eating grin and slid into the impala “I'm gonna go check on Jody and the girls. Apparently Claire is really pissed she got zapped and missed everything. She keeps texting me.” 

Dean put the car in reverse and he noticed Eileen jump into Sam's arms and kiss him as the car pulled away. Deans phone was laying on the passenger seat and it vibrated with another text from Claire: 

How is Cas? Is he with you? 

---

The lights flickered on in the bunker as Dean walked in with Miracle at his heels and he shut the heavy door behind them. The emptiness of it felt especially loud as he had spent the last few days sleeping on Jody’s couch in a house full of teenagers. 

He sighed as he remembered telling them about Cas. He couldn't meet Jody’s eye the entire time. He kept it simple, just told them what he had told Sam and Jack: 

Cas summoned the empty. 

Cas saved him. 

Cas was gone.  

Claire especially didn't take it well and the first night she fell asleep leaning on Dean's shoulder in front of the TV. Kaia came downstairs and Dean woke Claire up long enough for her to let Kaia lead her up to their room. 

Poor kid he thought as he picked up the decanter and filled his glass. He had gotten a text from Sam: 

Going on a trip with Eileen actually. We thought some time away might help us find normal again, if that's even possible. Call you later? 

Dean sent a short response telling Sam that was fine and tossed his phone on the library table.

What to do now? 

The whole world was open, skys the limit. For the first time he had no one to protect, no world to save, no monsters to hunt...just his own thoughts in an empty bunker. Well, except for his dog curled up next to his feet. It was terrifying and Dean found himself pounding down whiskey a lot faster than he intended. 

A few glasses in and he started praying. 

“Cas…” he whispered to the silence “Cas..I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.” Dean felt his eyes fill with tears. “Cas...why didn't you tell me before...”

“Dean” 

Dean's head shot up. He must have really drank way too much because there was absolutely no way this was real. But there Jack was, standing in front of him with the same white jacket, same innocent smile on his face. 

“Hello” he said, raising his hand. “I'm here for your advice.” 

He said it so sincerely, Dean couldn't help but let out a sad, drunk laugh. His body relaxed a little and he looked up at him. “Man you can't just pop in- I mean you can it's just….Jack, I'm not in the place to be givin’ you advice anymore alright? Besides, I thought you were going to be all hands off?” 

“I am, mostly. I think. I don't really know, I'm still figuring it out. Amara is helping me.” Jack waited patiently while Dean’s intoxicated mind took in this information. 

“Alright” Dean stood up and leaned against the table, his arms crossed. Strangely, talking to Jack as whatever he was, was easier than he thought. He missed this. “What’s going on kid?”  

Jack nodded at Dean’s approval to ask. “I want to take Cas out of the empty but Amara said I should ask you.” 

Dean froze. His mouth went dry. Cas. “So you- you can get him out?”

“Yes, it seems quite possible. Chuck showed me how in his memories. He was able to pull Lucifer out and Amara told me it should work for Cas as well.” 

Dean's head was spinning. “I..um well, why are you asking me then?” 

“You are very important to him Dean.” Jack said with such firm resolve, “If you think this is a bad idea, I will respect that. Amara said it should be up to you.” 

Dean's heart leaped at the thought of seeing Cas again. Panic mixed with pure elation. He was terrified but of course the answer was obvious. “Yeah..” Dean whispered. “Yeah” he repeated louder, clearing his throat “Yeah, Bring him back.” Dean swallowed and looked at the floor. His mind desperately trying to understand that this was happening, this was real. Cas.

Jack smiled “That's what I told her you would say. Thank you Dean. Give me a moment.” and disappeared. The silence was deafening and then Dean heard his phone vibrate. He spun around and almost fell over a chair getting to where it laid abandoned on the table. “...Cas?” 

“No, Dean it's Sam. Are you okay?” “Sammy I um....” Dean couldn't find the words “Jack, he was here.” 

“What? Dean what's going on?” 

“He-...” And then Miracle started barking and Dean let his phone drop to the floor.

“Hello Dean”

He was standing a few feet away, this couldnt be real.  “...Cas I..” Dean started but he lost the ability to speak. He was really there. Rumpled trench coat, crooked tie, tousled hair and bright blue eyes. Dean tried to speak again. Why couldn't he say anything else? Too drunk, too stunned and too afraid to move. Damn it. “Cas...you’re here.”

“Yes” Cas smiled “I'm here.” Dean sensed a nervous caution in his voice. “It's good to see you Dean.” “Cas, what the hell were you thinking?” Dean’s voice was low and Cas furrowed his brow.

“I was protecting you.” 

Dean shook his head like he didn't want to hear it. Like he wouldn't accept that as a reason.

“Dean, BIllie would have killed us. You know that. The world needed you alive Dean. I needed you alive.” Cas paused and met Deans’ gaze again. “It was more important to make sure you were safe.” 

Dean pursed his lips and closed his eyes in frustration. “Im sorry, more important?” Dean looked at Cas again,  “No. You don't get to dip out. You should have told me about that deal! I could have helped you! I could have-... Damn it Cas!” Dean slammed the chair next to him and heard it clatter on the floor. 

“Dean I did what I needed to do. And I don’t regret any of it.” Cas let his voice raise a little in responsive anger but he chose his next words carefully, “I don't regret what I said and I don't regret saving your life.” Despite Dean's outward display of anger, Cas knew Dean was reacting out of love. This anger was misplaced guilt. “You owe me nothing Dean. None of this was your fault.” 

Dean was just drunk enough that he faltered, his voice breaking as he said “Cas, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry Cas..I didn't stop you...I couldn't tell you...” 

Cas moved toward him then, reaching a hand to wipe away the tears Dean didn't realize were falling down his face. Dean could feel his heart aching against his ribs. How did he tell him that images of that moment came back to him every night, swallowed up in black? Cas crying, Dean reaching, Cas disappearing. Over and over they haunted him.

Cas lifted his hand away but felt Deans rough fingers stop him, holding his hand in place. “Cas….Tell me again. What you said..please..”

“Dean...” 

“No I..” Dean breathed out “I need to hear it Cas. Please tell me again.” 

Cas brought his head closer to rest on Dean’s forehead, closing his eyes. Dean lowered their hands, still grasping on in desperation. Cas could feel Dean shaking as he moved closer to him. Dean let his eyes flutter closed when he felt Cas rest against him. After a moment of silence, Cas said in a quiet voice “I love you Dean.” 

Dean wasn't sure if it was the whiskey or the feeling of Cas’s skin, warm and real against his face.Maybe it was just the pure joy that Cas was here or the relief that he would never leave him again. But he needed more, he needed to feel Cas. He needed to touch him. He moved in slowly, brushing their noses together. Cas’s breath staggered as he let Dean make the decision. Dean grazed his lips along the angels mouth and everything felt warm. The kiss was soft and cautious. Dean moved his mouth slowly, carefully and Cas leaned in slightly, letting Dean set the pace. And then, realization. 

Oh. Oh.

The energy changed and Cas felt Dean’s kiss deepen, his hand reaching up to wind fingers into Cas’s hair. And it was then that Cas allowed himself to grab onto Dean, pulling him in by his flannel. He breathed in Dean's scent, pine mixed with bourbon and aftershave and Dean let his other hand up to rest on Cas’s neck. He could feel the angel’s pulse racing as he pulled back to look at him. “This is...okay right?” 

“Yes” Cas breathed, and immediately pulled Dean in again. 

---

When Sam walked into the bunker he noticed the lights were on and a chair was toppled over in the library. Deans phone on the floor. But he didn't see anyone. “Dean?” 

Eileen followed after him, calling out for Dean. Sam ran to Dean’s room and when Eileen followed, Sam stopped her before she called out for Dean again. He gestured into the room. “Look” he signed to her. 

Dean was sleeping, his head resting on Castiel’s chest. Miracle was curled up at the bottom of the bed, her head resting on Dean's leg. Sam noticed Cas, in nothing but boxers and a t-shirt, calmly placing his fingers on Dean's temple. A pale blue glow kept Dean’s dreams peaceful and Cas ran his fingers through short hair as his hunter slept soundly. 

 “Cas?” Sam whispered, in disbelief that the angel was alive. Cas gently slid out from under Dean and moved to the door, shutting it carefully behind him.

 Sam smiled “It's so good to see you Cas.” He pulled the angel into a hug. “I thought you were in the empty. How are you here?” 

“Jack,” Cas smiled “He brought me back” Cas looked back toward the bedroom.”Dean and I have been...catching up.” 

Sam smiled and let out a short laugh “Yeah I can see that.” 

“I love him Sam” 

“I know you do. I never wanted to push him but I knew.” Sam let out a breathy laugh and ran his hands through his hair. “Wow I cant believe Dean finally figured it out. I can't believe this is really happening. What are you going to do now?” 

“Whatever makes Dean happy.” Cas said, so matter of factly that Sam shook his head in pure amazement and laughed again.

---

It was a small outdoor ceremony, but Sam and Eileen couldn't have been happier. Dean beamed with pride standing next to Sam, his tux pressed and black shoes shined. They held the reception in Jody's backyard, string lights and cheap alcohol. It was perfect.

Cas walked into the kitchen, slightly intoxicated and saw Claire sitting on the counter rubbing her feet “I hate heels.” 

“They do look very uncomfortable,” Cas replied. “These suits are restricting as well. My neck is very itchy.” 

Claire beckoned Cas over and loosened his bowtie. “You don't really need it all the way on anymore. Ceremony is over.” She smiled, “Your boyfriend took his off hours ago I bet.” 

Cas never will be used to hearing Dean referred to in that way. “Where is he?” 

“I think he’s out front on the porch.” She said, jumping off the counter barefoot and walking back out into the yard to find Kaia for a dance. She popped her head back inside “Oh hey, tell him I can work that Sunday shift he asked about okay?” Cas nodded and Claire spun around and headed to the dance floor. 

Cas walked out onto the porch to find Dean. The night air was cool and crickets chirped loudly in the fields. As Claire had suspected, Dean’s tie was long gone. His dress shirt was unbuttoned enough to reveal the t-shirt underneath, and to see the necklace filled with Castiel’s grace glowing on his chest. He took another drink from his beer and looked up. “Heya Cas.”

“Hello Dean.” He paused and then remembered “Claire said she can work the Sunday shift.” 

“Ah, good. That kid is killing me. That's what I get for owning a bar, I guess. I’m a freakin boss now.” He laughed to himself, “It still feels weird to say it. Like I'm gonna mess it up.” 

“You’ve earned it, and you certainly are not messing it up.” Cas sat down next to him and smiled as Dean wrapped his arm around him, “How are you Dean?” 

“Eh, I'm fine.” Dean looked down, picking at the label of his beer. “Sammy seems happy, huh?”

“Yes, he does.” Cas reached out and pulled Dean’s hand away from his nervous movement, entwining their fingers together. “He's going to be fine.” 

“I know.” Dean says, squeezing Cas’s hand. “I just hate that he doesn't need me anymore.” 

“That's not true, he’ll always need you.” Cas reassured him. Dean leaned over and kissed Cas, gazing at him for a moment before saying “I love you, you know that right?” 

“I know,” Cas replied, “I love you too.” It didn't matter that they had been together for over a year, 6 months since Cas had made the choice to be human, it still made Cas shiver to hear Dean tell him he loved him.  

“You sure you don’t regret giving me this?” He holds up the glowing grace pendant. Cas shakes his head “No, not once.” and Dean pulls him in for another kiss. 

Jack watches from afar, a smile on his face. 

The sounds of the party last long into the night. 

[normieexclusive]

How My MC wins the boys over:

Ah, um, this really went off from the original story line. This was also supposed to be a short simple thing but then I started thinking and two hours later Im left with a bunch of messy notes and thoughts

The first to fall victim is:

Mammon turns out to be easy, literally MC just shows him an ounce of kindness and he takes it and runs. 

Unconsciously MC gets much softer around him then the others (A combination of total trust in him and wanting to show how much love he deserves despite his brothers treating him harshly) 

 hes the one that gets the most kisses, the most hugs, and its great for them at first because they get to make fun of the dumb ass second born getting doted on but some silly little human and (while denying it constantly) loving it. 

But then the others start to actually like MC and Mammon can nearly feel the six pairs of eyes glaring him down as his Human showers him with all the affection before going about their day. 

(There’s one moment where, while Mammons sitting on the floor and MC is on the bed and he's making fun of one of his brothers that MC just grabs him by the back of his shirt collar- with only a finger- pulls him in between her legs (So his back is to her) and gives him a kiss on the top of his head as she coos "Mammon, be nice to your brothers" and he shuts down for the rest of the day) 

Second, but the bestest of friends!:

With Levi its by being a grade A nerd and overthinking.

 She reads all of TSL for their big quiz, and watches the movies with Beel and mammon, but on top of that the nerd goes back to the books and starts to annotate everything. 

She starts digging for any bit of subtext she can find and jotting down notes in the margins, in her notebook, on sticky notes. 

It becomes enough of an issue that she has to buy a new set because the first (Old and used) ones she got off of akuzon are ruined with her messy scrawling.

 During the quiz they are evenly matched (if only because shes given such easy questions. Shes pissed but at the same time oh gosh she is really not up to Levis level) and somewhere along the way she just... Goes off about this theory of hers and reading the subtext because she needs to get this out and it seems like Levis the only one that can really keep up with her 

(She tried to talk to Mammon and Beel but, honestly, they're as helpful as you'd think)

 She forgets about the whole quiz and yanks out her vandalized book in order to debate with Levi about a part. Levi is horrified at the state of her TSL book and nearly goes apeshit right there, but then she shows just how much of a nerd she truly is by showing him the much nicer version she brought along

("And its even signed! Can you believe that! I didn't order a signed one cause they were too expensive but somehow the boxes must have gotten switched up! Ah! Levi! You have a shrine in you're room for them right! You should have these copies, I think you'll take more care of them then I can!")

Whenever they have a conversation its gibberish to everyone around them but they get it and that’s what matters.

(They spend nights just in his room and no one knows what they're doing so they assume the worst. The others always send Levi dirty looks when it happens, and Levi always looks a little more refreshed after every one.

They're having anime/gaming/TSL marathons but Levi lives for the jealousy that rolls off his brothers so hes not telling them anytime soon)

Somewhere starting after her pact with Levi and after the Lucifer/Satan Body switch:

The whole fiasco with Levi actually leads to Satan warming up to her!

 He had initially brushed her off as a soon to be Lucifer Lapdog (and also kind of dumb) but now he's interested. 

Someone whos capable of dissecting a book like that has to at least have some ability to reason, he just cant figure out if that moment was a fluke or if shes actually smart. 

He refuses to start a conversation with her like a normal person and instead resorts to pranking her at every opportunity hoping to see if she’ll think her way out of it (He does leave some hints for when ones about to happen, but gets frustrated when she walks right past them)

 It backfires on him tremendously because, somehow, they never seem to work! it goes to the point where it becomes rube goldberg levels of pranks that are always almost-but-not-quite misses because she bent down at just the right time to pick up a shiny rock. 

Satan is at his wits end and ready to rip someone apart

 his pranks start to extend to the others, it’s only after mammon mentions such that it finally clicks in her...

That same day she willingly walks into a pie in the face and Satan nearly cries. 

After he starts to rile her up more often with words. He learns very quickly that she is a fantastic debate partner and, if he can find the right button to push, he’ll get her going for hours as they go back and forth

(And!! Even better!! Not only does she listen to everything he says and waits her turn! But Shes willing to change her opinion when she thinks he has a better point. When she loses She’ll come back hours later to drag more information out of him.

That’s usually not the case though, because Satan finds way too much enjoyment out of playing devils advocate and will simply choose whatever is opposition her POV. 

He tried to argue about how she couldn't possibly like a flavor of candy she was eating because he didn't like it and nearly gave her an aneurysm)

(To his complete embarrassment, though, he has gotten hard during one of their debates and nearly lost because she looked fucking amazing as she shouted at him)

A bond that starts right at their first meeting and grows throughout her entire time there:

Beel is scary at first, and Lucifer- for some forsaken reason- made it her job to make sure Beel doesn't clean out the fridge every single day.

Shes scared of the man that seemed more then willing to eat her, but shes more scared of whatever punishment Lucifer would deal if she didn't at least try.

 So she goes

 It only takes her one run in with Beel and his puppy dog eyes (Because how could she just stop him like that!! How awful of her!!) for her to figure out that

 A: this man is harmless and...

B:she knows what hunger pains feel like and the guilt wells up

Still she knows she can let him go so she spends her grimm allowance on buying ingredients to cook with and makes him huge meals as "offerings"

 It doesn't always stop him from eating half the fridge, but sometimes it seems like he's willing to actually savor what she makes. 

It gives her enough time to save the ingredients for dinner that night. (and If Beel sometimes wanders over to the kitchen while shes watching so shell make something for him, well there’s no harm done

The bastard pavlov dogged her and shes none the wiser) 

Slow and steady, the pieces fall into place naturally:

Asmo turns out to be another easy one, to her shock.

Even with MCs jealousy over how stunning Amso looks and how easy it is for him... they just seem to drift to each other

Starts with a comment on Asmos sharp eyeliner one day, and Asmo asking MC what shampoo she uses. 

Then the next day the same brand shampoo (And conditioner) will be left outside his door. And after MC will walk into the bathroom first thing in the morning only to wonder whom the fuck applied eyeliner to her in her sleep

It starts with days where they greet each other in the morning, to Stopping to chat for a few moments before heading on with their morning routine, to them walking down together, to Asmo fussing over her disheveled look after just waking up ‘-seriously Asmo not everyone can just roll out of bed like some Demons and look stunning’ - to ‘MC move over a scooch I need more room’ ‘Asmodeus this is my bed’ ‘Well how are we both supposed to fit when its so small!’, to weekly spa days and Gossiping about the others.

Its such an smooth transition that they both feel like it had always been as it was- two friends whispering secrets to each other late at night, pinky promises made over arbitrary things, laying so close that they can feel the others breathing. If maybe he leaned in a little closer they would--

--Oh... She fell asleep again. 

And he curls up next to her, blanket wrapped around both of them (That is, until Asmo hogs it later) and sleeps peacefully

A build up of trust, and a moment of venerability that finally knocks down his walls:

Swallows her pride for Lucifer

Its hard to explain in words for her, but she tells him of her family.

A family that is good but dosnt care, that used to leave her alone for hours on end when she was far too young. She says it with a smile too, admits that it helped her become as independent as she was, that she could cook for herself before she was 10.

She tells him of her younger brother. Someone she tried her best to love as much as she could only for him to, one day, just stop talking to her. Years trying to build back an abruptly cut connection only for him to snap one day and change his tune to something much worse. A family that watched as he screamed at her, berated her and never did anything. How she still stood tall, how she swallowed back every tear and tried to talk to him with a steady voice- only for him to become angrier.

How, when he did try to snap at other members, she was always there to stand between them. How she was the one to chase him off or take the yelling despite her family never doing the same for her. How she was the stable rock of the family where no one was for her.

Physical violence was only once, but it was enough for her to know things would never change.

She was like him in a way, same but different.

and She cant bear to see the same thing happen to him.

She wants to help, she knows shes just a little, useless human but please she needs to help. She cant bare leaving another broken family behind without helping. Her life had been stagnate before them, unbearably lonely, and she just wants them to be happy, even if that means without her

 even if it means she has to shove her nose where it doesn't belong

So... please... Please... Talk to Belphie. Please. He said he just wants to tal--

(She had earned Lucifer's respect not too long ago, and - to everyone's shock- the revel of what she came upon does not bring upon Lucifer's fury. Instead, he feels a deep understanding that he’ll never say aloud

Shes still going to get lectured, though. But he is too.) 

It takes time:

Spends what probably amounted to most of her time in Devildom with that little fu--

(No, No. Belphie needs help, she needs to reel it in for now.)

She gets what it means to be lonely. Despite her distrust of the man who caged up in a place where the bad people are, you know, supposed to be caged up and tutored feels like she needs to do something- if only to make sure he doesn't lose his mind from the isolation.  

(Rethinks a lot of her life and how she spent just hiding away from everything. How she would lock her door and never come out unless the sounds of another fight reached her. Thought about how it probably messed her up more then shes willing to admit and refuses to let the same thing happen to him

Oh sweet summer child)

Less trusting of him when its reviled that hes the seventh born, but more willing to help. If only for Beels sake

Brings stuff up to his room, a toy, a fluffy blanket, food that she snagged last minute. He complains hes cold one day and she yanks off her own sweater for him

(It all gets flushed down the toilet when she leaves, he scrubs his skin raw thinking about how his room smells disgustingly like that fucking human now) 

And then, one day, it just... changes: 

A human stands between him and the fucker that locked him up in there, his brothers that never knew he was there. All of them watching him with such pity in their eyes and he didnt want it- he didnt want their p-

The door was unlocked.

He was free.

Just like that.

it made no sense. He learns that they-- She-- spent hours dancing around Diavolo, deals were made. A room where it was just her and The Prince of Hell, promises not even Lucifer knew (And some part of Belphie relished in the fact that it was eating away at the fucker) 

("All those hours shouting at each other paid off” She looks to Satan with a smile. A joke he was not privy to. Lucifer huffed but said nothing. 

How much had changed since he was locked up?) 

A slow, downward spiral 

They're never alone, someone is always with her or with him (Beel sticks to his side like glue. after so long he finally gets to sleep next to his brother again) 

He finds food in the fridge with the words “For Beel <3″ in this awful chicken scratch handwriting. Mammon’s screaming interrupts his naps one day and he wakes up to see her smothering the second born in kisses. Her shouting wakes him up as her and Satan pass, her voice becoming high pitched as they argue about... the number of toes humans are supposed to have???? (she sits down next to him and rips off her shoes in a fit of rage, demanding that Belphie count with her because what the fuck-

Satan sneers at her feet and tells the only actual toes are her two big ones, the rest are just digits.)

There’s traces of her everywhere. Layers of clothing haphazardly thrown about after a day at RAD and then neatly placed away. A mention of her name at the dinner table before shes there. Not even his and beels room is safe from her- he can smell her scent on Beels pillow. Faint, but a awful reminder of the human down the hall. 

He hates it, he wants to throw it all away. He wants to erase her memory from his home, he wants to ripe her apa--

A blanket is draped over him one day, and he cant bring himself to open his eyes to see who did it...

She talks to him, Or more like at him. The longer he stays freed the harder is it to hide his distaste towards Humanity and- especially- to her. He thinks shes dense, because he knows his brothers sense there’s something wrong (Levis tail wraps around her when hes too close, Lucifer stands between them, Amso pulls her by the waist. Close to him, further from belphie) But she doesn't. She pushes closer. She asks him questions.

She never touches him, one small blessing in Hell. 

Beel believes him when he bashfully admits one night that he may start to enjoy his time spent with human. And for a moment he feels guilty about the lie but its all for a greater goal

When its just the three of them, Beel leaves for a moment too long. To get snacks, to grab something from another room, it doesn't matter. This was the moment he waited for. 

She smiles at him, all kind and gentle (And the words that leave her lips are unheard through the blood rushing through his ears) and leans forward

He puts his hands around her neck

She goes limp.

He-

He needed to-

He couldn’t squeeze.

Beel comes back with the biggest grin on his face, arms full of snacks (”Here MC I got your favorite”) He sits on the opposite side of Belphie, leaning into him with enough weight that his own shoulder presses against MCs, mushing her against the wall. 

Despite her smile he can feel her shaking.

[herakosmos]

@dreamyjaems: “hi babycakes!! i loved your “target headcannons” and it was so enjoyable to read! i was having a rough night, so reading it brought a huge smile on my face 🥰 so if you don’t mind, could you do the “target” headcannons but with goshiki and atsumu! thank you very much and i hope you have a lovely day! i look forward to reading more things from you and good luck on your blog! 💓”

hi bb! ty for the kind words🥺 im glad it made your night <33 you’re my first request, so im kinda nervous😭

im not too familiar w/ goshiki and atsumu, so i’m sorry if they’re ooc :((( i really hope you like it tho!

going to target w/ their s/o

{hcs for goshiki and atsumu}

goshiki

“BABE!!! i’ll go get your favorite cereal brand for you!”

✰ would run all the way across the store just for your favorite type of cereal LMAO

✰ when he comes back PLS praise him 🥺

“goshiki you’re so sweet how did you know?”

✰ stands proudly, chest out and smiles ear to ear

“well..i always see you eating this type of cereal in the morning!”

✰ he would probably get really flustered from pda, so don’t do it unless you’re ready for an overheated baby

✰ pushes the cart for you the moment you guys enter target and would insist to push it until the very end of the trip

✰ IF you’re feeling a little mean today, your hand would “accidentally” intertwine with his on the handle bar

✰ goshiki.exe has stopped working

“u-um y/n what are you doing?”

✰ HIS WHOLE FACE TURNS SO RED POOR BABY

“nothing, i just want to push the cart with you” :)

✰ tries to loosen up a bit, but his heart would be pounding so much that it’s the only thing he could hear <\3

✰ still tries to suck it up and look like it’s not making him sweat at all (even though it is)

✰ he’ll get anything and everything for you

✰ no matter what height you are, goshiki would still want to grab the items on the highest shelf just to impress you. he’ll put it in the cart so proudly knowing how cool that was of him

✰ sometimes it’ll either leave him with a proud smirk or a face of defeat when you aren’t looking HABQAHBSAHS

“did you see that y/n!?”

“huh? what do you mean baby?”

✰ you’ll leave him stunned and kinda hurt tbh

✰ this won’t stop him from trying though!!!

✰ i feel like goshiki would also want to check out the sports section. his eyes would automatically land on the children sports gear and turn soft. he would get MAJOR baby fever from the sight of it and immediately turn to you about it

“BAB-“

“i know what you’re thinking goshiki and nows not the right time to talk about it” 

“BUT”

“goshiki -.-”

“yes ma’am!”

✰ salutes you cutely and that leaves you in a giggling mess. he loves to do dorky actions just to make you laugh and he succeeds every time🙈

✰ probably thinks about what ushijima gets from each aisle you guys pass through. even though you always remind him he doesn’t need to BE like him in order to beat him lmao

✰ 100% pays for everything. he flexed his money and bought $100+ worth of junk food

✰ practically broke afterwards, but doesn’t really care because it was spent on you🥺🥺

✰ going back to the car, he’ll put you in the cart too with the grocery bags like kuroo, but would do it to only show off how strong he is haha

“baby are you sure this is fine?!”

✰ HE’LL BE GOING SO FAST SOMEONE SLOW HIS ASS DOWN 

“DON’T WORRY MY LOVE THIS IS NOTHING”

✰ he of course would start to load the car for you. maybe roll up his sleeves just a tad for you to see his ya’know 👉💪😼

✰ you’d be so grateful to have this little bean like??? he’s so sweet :(

✰ you of course had to do something in return. before goshiki could even say a word out of his mouth, you connected his lips with yours for a light peck. his eyes would be WIDE open while receiving it omg

✰ goshiki: 👁💋👁

“thank you for everything today goshiki….i love you”

✰ AWH CRAP GOSHIKI STOPPED WORKING AGAIN

✰ the kiss made him blush 10x more than from inside the store and starts to muster up a sentence to try and say how he wants another one

“m-maybe we c-could do that a-again?”

✰ of couse you would give another one for the cutie. this time he actually lets it last for at least 5 secs before letting you go

“i love you too baby...always!!”

atsumu

✰ you being his first ever long term s/o, going out to target with his partner was a first for him. atsumu honestly just came because he had nothing else to do...or at least that’s what he told you

✰ atsumu is a man of physical contact, so expect A LOT of pda. he honestly doesn’t give a fuck😭 he’s THAT ballsy to try anything in public

✰ he would be the type to put his arm around your waist while in the midst of choosing between two snacks. this little punk would slowly start to trail his hand lower...and lower....and low-

✰*SMACK*

✰ you smacked his hand off before he could do anything perverted😭 boy would be sorta pissed at either the fact you didn’t let him do what he wanted to do or because you slapped his hand wayy too hard and its turning red now JANXNC

✰ although atsumu can be protective, you can’t be protected from his jabs of teases and pranks lmao

✰ he would purposely take an item out of the cart and put it on a random shelf until you’ll notice something is missing 

✰ when he sees you getting all riled up or show some sort of irritation he can’t help but admire how cute you look all mad. doesn’t try to show any expression though and hides it with a smirk

✰ 100% only does it to get a reaction outta you😭

✰ drags guides the cart to the toy section and checks to see if they have any cool action figures (idk why but i feel like he would collect those kinda stuff)

✰ turns out there’s only those science toys

✰ (kuroo?👀)

“why is there only fucking science shit”

“HUN there’s children next to us don’t say that”

✰ looks at the children and then back at you with a lazy smirk

“ffffffuuckkk” says it in slow-motion 

✰ AHAHAHAHAHSHXHCHH

✰ omg you would just roll your eyes at his immaturity and leave him there with the clueless children 😭😭

“awww come on princess don’t be like that, i'm just teasing”

✰ another eye roll came from your face at how stupid he is, but can’t hold back a small giggle as well

✰ ah how he loves that adorable giggle of yours

✰ the sole reason for this target trip was to look for furniture and it was the LAST stop you guys took from this whole time

✰ atsumu would straight up lounge on a couch even though it would say do not sit on it’s only for display

✰ AGAIN mans does not give a flying fuck he does what he wants😎

✰ if an employee tries to tell him to get off his reply would be:

“if i wanna buy it, my ass needs to approve”

“babe! i don’t think there’s anything here that’s nice we should look somewhere else”

“ahh seems like my princess and my ass doesn’t seem to approve this leather couch of yours we’ll be writing reviews on yelp”

✰ hey, his baby didn’t find what they wanted 🤷‍♀️

✰ rumor has it the employee’s jaw is dropped to the ground till this day lmao

✰ once you reach the check-out area and pay for the junks you got, you put the groceries into the cart and atsumu squishes your face to stop you 

“babe, we’ll find you a pretty couch in no time”

✰ not gonna lie you were kinda bummed from not finding anything

“i know just what to do to make you happy again”

✰ debby ryan smirks 🌚🌚

✰ he immediately lets go of your face and starts jogging towards the lines of carts to get one for himself.

“lets race!”

✰ your face immediately lit up from the request of a pisshead (who wouldn’t want to wipe that smirk off of that handsome face🙃)

✰ you two both started to race each other on carts towards the car and you won. he probably would say he made you win on purpose just because you were a bit pouty

✰ laughter filled the air from how THIS was his way of cheering you up. it was so cute for him to “lose” for you 

“babe you’re such a loser” 

✰ your lips suddenly met his cheek for a light peck

✰ you thought it didn’t really faze him until he asked you to slap both of his cheeks till they turned red

✰ the only reason he told you to do that was to hide the fact his cheeks were burning from that tiny peck LMAO

taglist: (i’ll add more in the future!🥺)

@deadontheinsidebut @kat-writes-haikyuu @lovetsuki

want to request hcs or a matchup? here are the rules!

[vanchlo]

The Assistant / Chapter Thirty-Three, “If It Kills Me”

A story about what happens when she can’t be just his assistant anymore, and he can no longer be only her boss. Now, can they be happy with being just friends?

Read this story from the beginning here! :-) 

Inspo tag here!

*NEW* Spotify playlist in the works can be found here, songs that inspire me for the story and have significance in the story c: 

Warnings: one brief mention of vomiting, and some mild language.

                                   SNEAKY PEEEEEEEEEEEK

“And Becky’s face consumes my thoughts, much like it’s been captivating my conscience as of recent. Rather unsurprisingly. 

There it remains for days, much like it has been. It follows me through the air as I stare out the window, floating above the clouds. It crops into my conversations, leeching any enjoyment gathered from them. I even see it in a crowd of people inside the walls of the courtroom before I deliver my closing statement. When I look a second time, I’m disappointed to find the eyes of a stranger. 

I only find a respite from longing for her face when I turn my phone off, trying to stop wondering why she won’t return my texts. That thought only sticks to all of my others during the coming week with more ignored texts, craving her voice, and sufficing for browsing her Instagram. Her face. That smile. The smell that sat in the corner of her neck. I miss all of it.”

Song Inspiration: If It Kills Me by Jason Mraz (click to listen)

            “It’s like before it’s gonna storm, you know? You can’t see it, but you can feel it, like this, uh electricity, you know?” - Steve Harrington, Stranger Things 

The warm rays hit my cheeks as my sandals pound on the pavement. I wonder how I could ever be unhappy given the May sun shining down on me, and walking from my favorite restaurant. Without fail, the blissful idea is stolen away by a swarm of thoughts dosed in reality. And a particular one that reminds me of what I need to do, despite the dread I’ve been feeling. Not even the former respite of Asher’s hug after our shared lunch can keep them away. 

Pulling my phone from my pocket, I swipe through my apps until I find the right one. Stopping in front of my gray car, I lean against the door with a huff. My thumbs hover across the screen nervously, followed by a curse under my breath. Quickly, they flit across the screen composing words in front of my eyes. Sliding into my driver seat, I stare at the screen for a moment longer before hitting send. 

I wait for the chime to come, telling me I have a new message, from him. Nervousness coats my limbs and only grows worse as the minutes tick by driving home. Waiting. But when I check my phone after walking in the door, my lock screen showing my dad and I’s smiling faces is blank. 

No new messages. 

Sliding off my black sandals, I pad through the shared living room and kitchen area before reaching my bedroom. My laptop beckons for me across the room on my desk, and I sit down before it. I hope that maybe if I don’t procrastinate this specific thing, maybe things will turn out a little better. But as I’m opening a study guide for Family Law’s final exam, I’m proven wrong. 

The chime grabs my attention immediately, making my fingers still on the keyboard. Flitting my eyes to the lavender Speck phone case, I grow antsy at wondering who the text is from. And what it says. Inhaling nervously, I pick it up and wake up the screen. The few words of a preview I see of the text cues a sour anxiousness to grow in my stomach. Bringing my knees up onto my chair, I pull them against my chest as I open the text. 

Me

Hey I’m so sorry I’ve been terrible at texting back, finals these next two weeks are getting to me. Speaking of that I realized that I have to take a final at the time we’re supposed to get lunch in a few days. I’m really sorry but can we reschedule . . . again? I was thinking in two weeks when I’m finally free from the clutches of uni????? :( 

Harry 

sorry cant love. im in edinburgh all that week for a case. lets talk about it when im back. good luck w finals xx

Sighing, I type up a short response, agreeing to that. With guilt casting a shadow over me, I return my attention to the lengthy study guide. The gross feeling in my stomach remains, and with its arrival, my excitement for our lunch date is replaced with disappointment. I’ve been looking forward to it for weeks since we rescheduled it the first time, due to me messing up the dates, again. Peeking my eyes at my phone, I turn away and slump against my chair. 

It’s been a month since I saw him last, and although we’ve sent a handful of texts, they haven’t been enough for me. Skye, of course, told me that there’s nothing stopping me from showing up at his office door, but she’s wrong. I don’t know his schedule anymore, and for all I know, I’d be waiting around for him. Plus, my appearance would just yell ‘desperate!’ Sometimes, I wonder what little world Skye is tucked away into that’s far simpler, not realizing I still have to work during the day, especially more so this summer. 

But as the days drag on with chemo and radiation appointments, and lectures upon lectures, I think maybe Skye has the right idea being so optimistic. Maybe. 

+

Over the next few weeks, I see him at almost every corner I turn, and it hurts more than it should after all these weeks. The ignored texts shouldn’t feel like a fresh stab wound when I see that Scrabble box in the family room, get on that very same lift, or walk past the nurse’s station I found him leaning against that morning. Nothing compares to the piano and the pang I feel in my chest at the sight of it. It comes every time I walk through those doors and am reminded of the intimacy held on those keys. No, it didn’t get easier after the first time being back there with my dad, or the fifth time. Avoiding that gray sofa like the plague only reminded me of the texts I sent him that went unanswered. I can’t blame him though, because like a bitch, I took a week sometimes to reply to him. 

The tight feeling in my chest only feels heavier as I sit on the plaid couch in my childhood living room. I can’t even enjoy watching FRIENDS like I used to be able to, as their faces bring forth the sound of his laugh. It pains me to turn down their voices as I dig my phone out from under the cushions. I try not to let it get to me when I, once again, find no new text messages. My attempt is futile and it only causes me to take longer to open the phone app. By now, I know his number by heart, but my shaky hands cause me to mess up a few times. 

Pressing the phone to my ear, all I can hear is its ringing and the pounding of my heart. As the seconds drag on, I’m almost certain I’ll hear the voicemail next. But then I’m pleasantly surprised, although the bitterness in my stomach blossoms. 

“Hullo?” His gravelly voice pulls my lips into an instant smile. Rubbing the back of my neck anxiously, the words fall from my lips hurriedly. 

“Hi, Harry.”

“Hey, how’s it goin’?” he responds curtly, a clattering noise heard in the background before he mutters a ‘shit.’

“I’m sorry, did I call at a bad time?” I ask quickly, regret filling my veins. 

“No, yer fine. ‘m jus’ makin’ dinna.”

“Oh um, nice. What are you cooking?” I inquire, twirling the braided silver ring on my pointer finger. Swallowing, I wait to hear his molasses drawl again, like music to my ears. 

“Jus’ a stir fry. So . . . why’d ya ring?” Harry responds, a coolness hugging his voice. 

“Um, I haven’t heard from you in a while and wanted to say hi.”

“Hi,” he hums awkwardly, followed by the sound of a door closing. Squeezing my eyes shut, uneasiness falls over me in a wave. Oddly, I wonder if all of a sudden I can’t call to say hi. “Ya, we’ve both been busy. Cases fer me, an’ prolly uni an’ yer dad’s treatments fer you.”

“Yeah,” I agree aloud, my chin falling to rest in my palm. But it leaves a second later to lose my fingers in my hair. “I wanted to tell you that I finished my finals last week, so now I just have clinical left in the fall. Oh, and my dad got to ring the bell today. He’s all done with chemo and radiation after his scans all looked good. It’s hard to believe that he’s cancer-free. His doctors will, of course, have to keep an eye on him in the future to make sure it doesn’t come back, but I couldn’t be happier.” 

“Tha’s wonderful, love,” Harry coos into my ear, the first notes of happiness heard in his voice. It begins to put me at ease, and cause me to think maybe something isn’t off after all. “‘m really glad t’ hear that- well both o’ those things.”

Unbeknownst to me, I find myself nodding along with his words as if I needed his confirmation. But his words stop there, and the sickening feeling that something is wrong settles back in. A small ‘yeah’ stumbles off my lips as my fingers form into a fist in my lap, debating what to say next. Or if I should ask what I’ve been wanting to say the entire time. 

“We weren’t able to get ahold of each other a few weeks ago to reschedule lunch. Would you still like to?” Going out on a limb, I let the words fly. 

I watch for them apprehensively, uncertain if they’ll take flight. The loud sound from his side, the subsequent shuffling, and a voice saying his name shoots them down hastily. 

“‘m sorry, I gotta go. ‘ll text ya ‘bout gettin’ lunch,” Harry remarks, his words stringing together swiftly. I barely have the chance to say an ‘okay’ before he abruptly hangs up, sewing together an unwanted thought for me. 

Tossing my phone to the other end of the couch, I fall back against the cushions. Turning up the volume of the telly, I avert my gaze back to the make-believe world I’ve always taken comfort in. As the phone call gnaws away at my insides, planting insecurities every few steps, I let the characters whisk me away. Even if their faces and familiar jokes will now never stop reminding me of him, and something I let go of that I didn’t know I had. I only feel worse when I realize that I knew then that he’d never send that text, and I think he knew that, too.

+

“Staring at it isn’t going to make it ring, y’know,” somebody states, pulling me from my webs of thoughts. 

Lifting my attention away from the black screen in my hand, I catch Myles looking at me impatiently. 

“Wha- ‘m sorry. I was listenin’.”

“Then what’d I just say?” he requests, the hand propped against his chin rising in a silent question. 

My lips fall apart to welcome my voice, but nothing comes out. Shrugging, he receives his answer and replies with a disapproving glare. 

“Hare, this is important stuff. We’re leaving for Edinburgh tomorrow for the case, it’s a huge one.”

“I know, My. Jus’ repeat what ya said, please,” I huff, batting a hand at him. His eyes roll into the back of his head when he leans back in his leather chair. 

“I swear to God, Harry, I-.”

“Stop,” I retort, growing annoyed. 

He plays with the point of his quiffed blonde hair before clearing his throat. Although I try to listen the second time around, my gaze is lulled back to my laptop screen. My fingers itch to touch the keys and type up words, and when Myles begrudgingly answers his ringing phone, I find my chance. Sliding my silent phone into my pocket, I click on the blue thought bubble, only to be met with disappointment. Brushing it away, my fingers fly across the keys and my words are sent with a soft hum. Soon, Myles hangs up the phone with a perturbed sigh and resumes the conversation we were having. Again, I try to return to the bubble we share and the words that occupy it, but my mind is consumed with the anticipation of that coveted ding. And with Becky’s face, much like it’s been captivating my thoughts as of recent. Rather unsurprisingly. 

There it remains for days, much like it has been. It follows me through the air as I stare out the window, floating above the clouds. It crops into my conversations, leeching any enjoyment gathered from them. I even see it in a crowd of people inside the walls of the courtroom before I deliver my closing statement. When I look a second time, I’m disappointed to find the eyes of a stranger. 

It crowds my mind when I wait for the boarding call, tapping my fingers along the screen and watching the words be sent off. I only find a respite from longing for her face when I turn my phone off, trying to stop wondering why she won’t return my texts. That thought only sticks to all of my others during the coming week with more ignored texts, craving her voice, and sufficing for browsing her Instagram. Her face. That smile. The smell that sat in the corner of her neck. All of it. I miss all of it. It gnawed away at me slowly, and terribly, burying doubts beneath my defenses. They sprang up when I least expected them, and when I thought about sending just one more text. A few words wouldn’t hurt anything, I thought, but at the same time, I distrust the ultimate impact they could have. 

The pounding jars me from my reverie, bringing me to my feet slowly. Padding past the television and kitchen area, a yawn jumps from my lips. Another pound lands on the door, dragging my brow into a knot. 

“Oh, shuddup!” I exclaim in disbelief, wrapping my fingers around the smooth metal of the door. Yanking it open, I find the grinning bearded face of my mate standing on my stoop. “‘m not goin’, Rore, I already told ya this.”

“C’mon, Harry, I’ll look like a right idiot being there all alone,” Rory responds, his steps telling me he’s following me inside once I turn around. “Help a mate out here.” 

“Ya, ‘coz ya were so helpful tha otha day when I asked ya t’ consult with me fer the Starkey case.” Scoffing, his words pause between his lips as I fill a glass of water from the attachment on the fridge. “Why’re ya goin’ anyways, since it sounds like sumthin’ yer dreadin’? And since when d’ya even go t’ these sorta things? Last place I thought ‘d see you at, Rore.”

“I don’t, but it’s for me sister’s showing. I can’t miss it, she’s me baby sister. I’d hear about it from me mum for weeks.”

Snorting, I have to pull the glass of water away from my lips. 

“Hope ya bloody choke on that water, mate,” Rory scoffs, only making me laugh harder. Water flies from my lips as I’ve forgotten the glass on the marbled countertop. “Are ya coming or not, Harry? Ya know it’s a good place to pick up chicks, too. They blooming love these art gallery places.”

Recovering from my fit of giggles, I turn my head to find Rory waiting with the question in his eyes. He huffs and riffles a hand through his tousled blonde hair a few shades lighter than that which covers his face. Shaking his head, he wiggles his head at me. 

“I’ll consult with you on the next case, or even give ya first pick,” he whines, folding his hands together under his chin, as if he’s praying. 

“‘m yer bloody boss, I always get first picks,” I murmur, a smile cracking at the end of my words. 

“Oh, fuck off, would you?” he spits, pushing at a chair in front of the seated bar attached to the kitchen island. Clucking his tongue, he messes with the collar of his navy blue blazer thrown over a bloody Zeppelin shirt. Yeah, you sure look artsy there, Rore. But with the next words that fly from his sailor’s mouth, he pins me down. “What’re ya gonna do here anyways, sit and watch the bleeding telly all in your lonesome when ya could be with me getting damn a date?”

Biting my lip, my house slippers come into my view and when Rory’s eyes find them, a laugh explodes from his lips. “Go hurry up and bloody change before you’re too far gone, mate. I’ll be in the car,” he titters before his voice falls with a delighted sigh. Delight found in my pain. 

“Two cases, Rore. Any two cases I want, ya consult with me on. Ya got it?” I argue, following on his footsteps. 

“Whatever makes ya feel better, mate. I know you'll be thanking me later tonight.” 

“Doubt it,” I mutter, watching him open the door, sure there’s a sly grin covering his face. 

I turn to jog up the stairs until I arrive in my bedroom. Quickly, I toss on skinny jeans, a Keith Haring shirt, and a mustard button up smattered with faded white flowers. I look rather artsy, I reckon, I decide as I look at myself in my bathroom mirror. It’s an easy feat when you’re standing next to wannabe Rory over there, though. After taming my hair and finding a pair of shoes, I pad down the stairs. 

“Alexa, turn off all o’ my lights,” I announce, slipping my wallet and phone into my pocket as my hous darkens around me. 

“Take fucking long enough?” Rory groans when I slide into the passenger seat of his silver Sentra. 

“Shuddup and drive, will you? So we can get this ova with.”

“If you’re gonna be an ass tonight, then just go back inside,” he almost laughs, beginning to back away from the towering walls of my house. 

“Talking ‘bout yerself, are ya now?” I quip, bringing my phone from my tight pockets, tapping in my passcode. 

“I’ve noticed, y’know,” he mumbles, barely loud enough for me to hear him. Looking up from the bright screen, his eyes don’t stray from the road. “There’s a girl, isn’t there? Or there was?” he continues, a man I’ve come to love over the last three years he’s worked with me. And somehow I thought I had fooled him, but it turns out, I haven’t. I can’t even fool myself.

“Sumthin’ like that,” I whisper, my attention straying back to the conversation lit on my screen. Another day of the ball being in her court, and she just leaves it in the bloody corner, neglecting it. “I see why ya wanted me t’ come now . . . jus’ don’ try t’ set me up with yer bloody sista. She’s like twenty.”

His hearty chuckle fills the space around us, the words of a song from Death Cab for Cutie lurking in the background. “I won’t, but y’know she’s not gonna let ya out of her sight, mate. She’s had the hots for you from day one.”

“Oh God, Rore, what’d I let ya drag me into here?” I joke, my lips curling into a nervous smile. But the smile feels good, and it feels even better when her name disappears from my screen, and I forget my phone in my pocket. 

+

“What happened to making me dinner?” I whine from the couch, crossing my left leg over the other under the comfort of my blanket. 

“That was when you were busy, and well, the other day when I was feeling generous. Not today, missy,” Skye scoffs, the sound of the fridge shutting marking her words. Something lands in my lap with a plop, startling me. 

“Wow, how gourmet. Why thank you, I definitely don’t need to make dinner now,” I joke, picking up the wrapped piece of string cheese. 

“I know you’re still going to eat it. Just eat cereal or something, you hobo. I’m going to bed at a decent time, unlike somebody.”

“Hey, it’s a Friday!” I argue, pressing the page down button on the remote, waiting for something to catch my eye on Netflix. 

“Yeah, and some of us still have a job on Saturdays!” she calls from her journey down the hall. 

“Party pooper!” 

She remains silent on the defensive line, and so does the list of boring content on the television screen. Relenting, I click over to My Stuff and press play on the next episode of FRIENDS. Relaxing into the cushions, I unwrap the cheese and slowly eat it in strings. Giggles flow from my lips watching the scene unravel in front of me, and some eye-rolls because of Ross or Monica. After a while, my legs stray to the fridge, and I return to the tan sectional with a bowl of Cheerios. The milk threatens to spill over the side when I sit up suddenly, almost yelping in laughter at the scene when Monica and Rachel lose their apartment to Chandler and Joey. The sugary Cheerios soon disappear, and the milk follows them as the episode nears the end. 

Placing my bowl and spoon in the dishwasher, I hurry back to the sofa to catch a Phoebe scene. My cheeks warm with a smile, but they soon grow cold when my thoughts have to interrupt with a memory of his face. That god awfully sweet smile adorned with his cherry lips and precious dimples. Without knowing what I’m doing, the cartoon looking app appears under my nose, and pictures fill my feed. I take a second look at a few of them that catch my attention, the angry voices of Rachel and Monica tickling at my ears. 

Soon, the search bar materializes and although it feels wrong, I type in letter after letter to create his name. I can’t remember the last time I glanced at his profile, just to catch a hint of him. Finding the profile I’ve become familiar with, I tap on his picture and wait for his profile to load. Glancing away, the tv captures my attention once more as I scratch at an itch on my leg. Yawning, I rub at my eye before it falls back to the blindingly bright screen. Blinking hard to clear the haze from my vision, I scroll down to see what new pictures he’s posted, although they’re usually few and far between. 

I find the most recent picture I recognize and tap through them. Picturesque shots from high in the clouds. His unbelievably adorable niece. Food-grams. A picture of a homemade pizza is making my mouth water and is still stuck in my mind when I happen upon the next photo, and the most recent one. The moisture in my mouth is wicked away, suddenly bone dry when the image in front of my eyes slowly registers with me. But I can’t believe it, even though I’m seeing it. I don’t want to see it, or believe it. The moisture reappears in the corners of my eyes quickly as a sourness quickly knits together in my gut. The image shakes in my hands and then blurs in my eyes, accented by the thrashing of my heart inside of my chest. 

“Skye!” I shout, the words leaping from my lips with little success. 

My lip wobbles and I feel my entire face collapse from pain, disbelief, the whole shebang. The sob screaming from my lips is muffled by my fingers coming to my mouth. 

“No, no, no, no, no,” I mutter, inhaling fast and feeling the tears in my throat. Because I can feel it everywhere in my body - the pain. In my eyes, my stomach, my hands, and my chest. The sight of Harry’s lips touching that of another girl’s sends knives into my heart, and my stomach roiling. “T-this can’t . . . ,” but my words escape me, because the multitudes of feelings punished with anguish and despair course through me. 

“Skye!” I yell again, not realizing that I’ve gotten to my feet. I stumble at first, feeling the weakness reach my legs. Her name leaves my lips wet with tears as I run past the kitchen and down the hall. 

Pushing open her door, darkness meets my eyes, and I swear in that moment it swallowed me. Hitting me, I grab the doorframe and feel my forehead fall against it. Leaning there for support, the sobs roll through me, the very reason still clutched in my hand. 

“Whaaaaat?” she groans tiredly from her bed across the room. 

But I only reply with a sob of her name, hiccups havocking my chest. My hands claw at the wall, darkness coating my eyelids. 

“Ree?” Skye asks groggily, the click of her lamp following her words. “What happened? Are you alright?” she hurries, the pillowy patting of her covers being thrown back meeting my ears. 

Her arms wrapping around me are almost numbing, and do nothing. And feel like nothing. But when I feel my head meet her chest, the slowed-down world I lived in for those few seconds vanishes. 

“Skye, I-. . . ,” I attempt, once again falling up short as tears suffocate my voice, much like they’re making me feel. Shakily, I press my phone into her hand as I try to find safety in her arms. 

I wait and then am rewarded with her intake of breath followed by a sigh. “Holy fuck,” she whispers, and retaliates by pulling me closer against her. “Come here, Ree.”

She walks me over to her bed and helps me under the covers until I’m surrounded by them, and her arms. 

“Who i-is she?” I demand sloppily, searching for something to hold onto and to anchor myself with. I’m compensated with the smooth fabric of her shirt that I cling to the back of, my head falling into her hair. The mundane scent of strawberries wafting from her body tries to relax me, but to no avail. 

“Ree-,” she begins, but I don’t let her start, let alone finish. 

“I want to kn- I need to know,” I respond, sniffling against the warm expanse of her neck. There’s shuffling next to me before she sighs, and I sense the light of my phone. Tapping prods at my hearing as I try to form coherent thoughts. 

I’m met with images of him. Harry. His dark curls, the way his eyes crinkle when he laughs, and the high-pitched giggle that accompanied my tickling as well as his own. The intruding memories rack my body with shaking sobs, pressing my lips together as new tears gush over them. My belly contracts with each sob, and I don’t even register the cramping in my hands from holding on so tightly. 

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Skye hums warily from above, pulling my head into her neck, leaving her arm there to shield me from her words. Or the image that I can’t remove from my mind even if I tried. It’s burned there indefinitely now. 

His arms in a blue button-up surrounding her and his lips enveloping hers. A smile creasing his cheeks with happiness, and spreading to those of her dark cheeks. Her curvy body pressed against his, flowing ebony curls tickling her chocolate skin. 

“Tell me.”

“Okay,” Skye caves, the tips of her fingers running marathons along my back, in attempts to calm me down. But I don’t know if the tried and true will work this time, although it has for every other, even when my dad’s life was painted with the C-Word. “She’s a London based artist, does some sculpting and gallery work locally. According to her Instagram account, anyways.”

“I asked . . who is she?” I repeat, my voice wavering under the dominance of the tears. 

“Her name’s Bailee Taylor.”

“W-what does her page look . . . like?” I request, exhaustion blanketing me, and only adding another feeling to the rest. Blinking away the tears, I try to take in a deep breath, but my memories hit me with the safety I felt in his arms. Unwaveringly. 

“It looks like they’re . . dating,” Skye announces quietly, squeezing me around the middle. The confirmation I didn’t know I’d been searching for hits me like a train, knocking the air out of me again. And all of a sudden, hatred pulses through me, asking me where to lay it. Where to feel it. “There’s a few pictures of them on her feed, looks like they met maybe a few weeks ago.” 

“Why?” jumps from my lips finally, taking a nosedive to join a sea of unanswered questions. The word shakes the second it leapt from my tongue, and somehow it hurts more than all of the rest. “I h-hate him,” I cry, my nose smushing against her skin when I try to hold onto her tighter than I already am. 

“No, you don’t,” she coos, raking her fingers through my hair slowly, and carefully. 

“I know, b-but I wish I could,” I answer, the memories dancing through my head at hyper speed. Falling asleep in his arms, and waking up in them. The tickling fight. The almost kiss. The Scrabble game. Waking up to find him waiting there in the doorway. Him coming back even after the way I treated him. Finding him standing there at the front of the lecture hall. The reprieve of being in his arms again after so long spent away from them. And then, like a wall, my mind runs into the strings of unanswered texts. The canceled lunch dates. The both of us ignoring the other’s texts, but then at the end, it was him. It was him who was awkward during the last phone call. He hung up on me abruptly, and I heard somebody else was there. Was it her? It’s possible they would have already been together by then. He said he’d text me to set up lunch, and he never did. 

“It won’t make you feel better,” she murmurs, cupping my head with her palm. The sound of tears edging at her words only makes mine come harder, and the feeling in my gut grows louder. 

“Then what will?” I beg, wondering if I’ll ever forget the taste of the salty tears. A taste I thought I could forget just late last month when my dad was cured. News that I told him, and had been impatiently waiting to do all day. “I thought I was just feeling okay again, Skye.”

“I know, Ree, I’m so sorry,” she returns, placing her cheek against mine, the first tear peeking through in her voice. “I’m sorry.”

I unpeel myself from her anxiously, kicking away the blankets before my feet land on the floor. 

“Where are you going?” she almost demands, the sound of her following me far away. 

“I’m gonna be sick,” I confess, rushing down the hall before falling to my knees in front of the toilet. The Cheerios and milk from earlier make a reappearance, along with the string cheese, and mushy contents of my other meals. 

Running a cold cloth along my face, Skye kneels in front of me, her face painted in sadness.

“How can it hurt so much, Skye, when he wasn’t even mine?” I croak, focusing on the lone tile in our bathroom that doesn’t match the rest of the flooring. 

“I think you’re wrong, he was yours, Ree.”

“I was so close. I fucked up, again,” I weep, my lips collapsing with yet another sob. 

“Don’t say that, don’t,” she insists, tucking her hair behind her studded ear when it goes every which way with the shaking of her head. “You can’t blame yourself for this.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“It feels like it is. She’s so pretty . . Of course she is,” I remember aloud, breathing in quickly before the tears take hold of me once more. Closing my eyes, I reach out for her and let my head rest against her shoulder. 

“She really isn’t, Ree. A big pair of tits doesn’t make you pretty, and anyways, you’re far prettier. He could do much better, like you.”

“You’re just saying that,” I confess, trying to swallow, but my throat has tied itself into knots with the thoughts of him. And when that word falls out of bed inside of my head, I find that it can hurt worse. “I was his Becks, Skye, I thought it was right there. That it was gonna happen for us.”

“Oh, Ree,” she cries, sniffling against my hair when she pulls me against her. “I know, I’m so sorry . . so sorry.”

Nodding into her chest, it feels right as her necklace digs into my wet cheek. My jaw aches from clenching my teeth, and so does every other part of my body in some way. Somehow I let her bring me back to her bed, and hide me away in her arms. My head swims with questions, then fleeting hatred for him, and inconsolable longing the very next. I shed a tear for his smell, his contagious smile, that Scrabble game we’ll never finish, the churros I’ll never be able to eat again without him ruining them for me, the color of his eyes I could never forget, and the lost feeling of his lips I never got to kiss. The list miles long of things I never got to say to him, or do with him, or make him feel. Because now she does, and she isn’t me. 

“I-I thought . . that he felt the same way about me, and that somehow he knew that I loved him.” 

A whimper escapes Skye’s lips as my tears fall into her neck, adding to the puddle I’ve shed there. 

“What does she have that I don’t? Am I not interesting? Does she have a nicer body than I do? Am I not pretty enough? Was I not nice enough or appreciative of him?” I weep, the questions flowing off my lips from the recesses of my mind. My name greets my ears firmly, but I ignore it. “I was trying to answer his texts when I could, but things got so busy with uni and my dad. All the driving, the tests in both places, and I couldn’t keep dates right in my head. Maybe if I’d texted him back sooner that one time, or made the lunch date on the right day the first time-.”

“Becky, don’t do the ‘ifs’ thing,” Skye urges, pulling the covers further up our shoulders before returning to combing my hair back again and again. 

“But I can’t stop thinking about what went wrong, a-and how much I miss him, Skye. I miss him a hundred times more after seeing that picture,” I reveal, falling into her, my lips meeting her shoulder. My teeth dig into my skin and I let them, numb to the pain as the same word is too busy with my mind. “I don’t know if I ever wanna see him again.”

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

“But I do want to, I’ll always want to. Like something inside of me will always want him.” 

+

The sunlight streaming in through the windows is the first thing I see when I awake. Ducking my head back under the covers, I pull them over me with a groan. The blissful ignorance of the first few minutes after waking up follows me, until it all comes crashing back. 

“Are you awake?” a voice murmurs, sleep clinging to it. 

“Unfortunately,” I whisper, staring into the muted light underneath the gray covers. 

“I can stay home if you want me to, I was just making some breakfast,” Skye responds, the tapping of her feet along the floor following. 

“No, don’t cancel your hair appointments because of me. I’ll be . . I’ll be fine,” I tell her, but then the tears greet me good morning. 

“Oh, Ree, I’ll cancel and we can watch movies all day, or FRIENDS. Whatever you want,” she announces. The bed falls to one side when she sits on the edge, and I feel her hand find my back. 

“Thanks, I was hoping you’d say that,” I return, turning around and sitting up to dive into her arms. “I was hoping I had dreamt it all and it was just a bad dream. But my life is the bad dream.”

“Oh, Ree,” she coos, surrounding me with her arms. “I know this is cliche and it doesn’t feel like it, but it’ll get better.”

“I don’t know about that. My life is a running joke lately because it feels like it’ll get better, and then it just gets worse.”

+

“Your birthday is coming up, isn’t it, Becky?” somebody asks. Looking up from my cupcake, I find the face of Sophie. 

“Yeah, end of next week,” I answer, picking an orange sprinkle from the white frosting to eat.

“Do you have any big plans?” my boss asks as she places her lunch in the microwave. 

“My brother and I hang out every year, we’re twins.”

“Oh, how fun! I remember meeting him once when he brought you lunch one day,” she smiles, turning to face me as she waits in front of the humming microwave. 

I just nod and dip my finger into the frosting, feeling it melt on my tongue a second later. 

“Everything alright, love?”

“Yep, just tired is all,” I fib, taking a bite of the carrot cupcake, although I’m not wrong when I think about it. Skye has been a lifesaver for the last two weeks helping me get back on my feet. Thinking back on it and all of the tears leaves a funny taste in my mouth, but I try to brush it away with a forced smile. 

“How old will you be this year, Becky?” Sophie asks, pulling out a rolling chair to sit to my right at the long table. 

“Good old 26.”

“Wow, still a spring chicken, I’d say,” she comments, bringing a quirky smile to my lips. I almost follow her laugh with mine. “Well you know what, an early birthday present from me is you can have the rest of the day off. You always do a great job, Becky, and so you deserve it.”

“Sophie, I-,” I begin, my jaw falling to the floor. 

“I mean it, go. Get out of here. Go do something that makes you happy, love, it looks like you need to,” she smiles, squeezing my arm from across the table. Standing to my feet, profuse ‘thank yous’ leave my lips before I leave the break room. 

I drive around with my windows down, unsure of where to go instead of home. Before I know it, I find myself walking into my favorite little coffee shop. I’ve always loved to hang out here with a cup, reading a book, doing homework, or just relaxing on one of their sofas. 

Soon, I sit down with a Cubano sandwich and an iced cinnamon roll coffee, my very favorite. Pulling a book out of my work bag, I crack it open to the first page, unable to remember when I last had the time to read a book for fun. The words of Ruth Ware stare back at me, slowly drawing me into a made-up world, and away from the desolate one trying to swallow me. 

Quickly, I’m grateful for the respite from the thoughts mucking up my mind. Instead I lose myself in the sentences that spin a scary story, thanking my old self for stashing something besides a romance in my bag. That’s the last thing I could even think about indulging in right now. For some reason, the mystery entices me, a genre I’ve always had a love for. I think, especially now, it’s the aspect of being able to solve a mystery, and to fix a problem. If only I could do that now, I wish silently with a spiteful snort. 

Placing my empty plate on the return area by the cash register, I return to my cozy spot on the couch and to my book. Losing my fingers in my hair, I prop my head up and open the book to where I had left off. Soft indie music trickles from the speakers as conversations float around me. Several more sofas are dotted around the large room and booths, as well as tables varying in sizes. Friends play board games borrowed from the shelf by the fireplace, and others do schoolwork or actual work. A laugh from behind the counter echos through the room, right as the bell on the front door jingles. Although across the room, I can hear the voices floating in from the sidewalk. Cars honking and birds chirping. The sounds make me itch to leave the air-conditioned room, and bring my reading outside into the June sunshine. 

The words covering the pages root me to the spot, but they can’t protect me from what I hear. It’s a voice that I know inside and out, from the shortened words to the often used words. My vocal cords soon begin to tangle into knots in my throat at the mere noise. Beneath my baby blue blouse, there’s a clobbering in my chest as the voice grows near and then stops. Instinctively, hair falls through my fingers as I lower my head, wishing to remain unseen. Unknown. 

I can’t stop myself, and there I am looking up to see that crinkly-eyed smile through wrenching tears. 

Harry. 

[spin-birdie]

Conkus first kiss

this has been floating around my inbox basically since i made this blog and im sorry its taken me this long to get around to it, depression has been Kicking My Ass lately and its been hard to do basically anything??? anyway hope this is enjoyable

word count: 894

pairing: rk1k, past norkus

additional tags: fluff, established relationship

“Did you and North ever kiss?”

The question catches Markus’ attention in no small part thanks to how unexpected it is. For the past hour, they’ve been sitting together in contented silence while an old movie plays on the screen in front of them. It seems like an unusual moment to bring up Markus’ ex.

Regardless of how strange it seems, Markus shrugs and answers, “Yeah, sometimes.”

Connor purses his lips, eyes moving between Markus and the television screen. “What was it like?”

Markus turns his head to look at Connor with raised eyebrows. The younger androids expression doesn’t betray anything but curiosity. He’s not even sure how to answer the question; he and North weren’t together for too long, and when they had kissed, it was either when they were alone or thought they were about to be killed.

But that doesn’t answer Connor’s question, and Markus doesn’t like to think about it. “Why do you want to know?” Markus asks.

Connor’s LED blinks yellow and his gaze flits down for a second. “I’m just...interested, I guess. It seems to be such a human thing. We androids have no reason to do it aside from mimicking humans, but we still do it. We still want to do it. I don’t know, it’s strange to me.”

“Deviancy is all about wants and needs. They don’t always make sense.”

Connor folds his arms across his chest. “It’s frustrating.”

Markus puts his arm around Connor and pulls him closer. It’s funny, now that Markus thinks about it, how many pointless things deviants do. Like what he and Connor are doing right now. They don’t need to be watching this film on a TV, they don’t need to cuddle, but they do it anyway.

“It’s not all bad. We need comfort in our lives. And I guess that’s why we feel the need to be kissed. It feels...nice.”

If Markus concentrates, he can hear Connor’s cooling fans speed up. They don’t speak for a few moments, but he can tell Connor wants to say something.

“I can’t stop thinking about it,” Connor admits. “I, um...think I want to try it...”

The end of Connor’s sentence is uttered too quietly for Markus to hear. He looks at Connor again, jostles him lightly. “What did you say?”

Androids don’t blush, but between the look in Connor’s eyes and the audible sound of his fans speeding up, it’s obvious how flustered he is. It’s strangely endearing; Markus doesn’t think he’s seen Connor this nervous other than when they started dating.

Connor takes in a shaky breath - another thing they don’t need to do - and says, “I really want to kiss you?”

The realization hits Markus at full force. He tries to rein in the sudden increase in his heart rate. “Are you sure?”

With a nod of his head, Connor turns to face Markus more directly and rests his hands on Markus’ shoulders.

“It’s just... Every time I see you, I heat up so much I think I’m overclocking. I-I can’t stop thinking about kissing you. Being near you makes it worse,” he chuckles nervously.

Everything about how earnest he sounds has Markus falling head over heels. “How long have you felt like this?”

“Too long.”

Markus raises one hand to cup Connor’s face, pulling him ever-so-slightly closer. His thumb traces Connor’s bottom lip, coaxing his lips apart easily. Connor’s eyes close as he breathes deeply. He’s so warm, and Markus probably isn’t much better.

He isn’t sure who leans in first, but they meet in the middle as their lips touch. They’re hesitant at first, savoring the moment until Connor tilts his head to the side. Markus doesn’t know how to describe the feeling that rushes through him other than pure warmth and light. He’s never felt like this before.

Connor is first to pull away, sighing harshly. His LED is flashing yellow, his body trembling like even that was too much for him.

“Take it easy,” Markus chuckles, stroking Connor’s cheek.

Barely seconds after he speaks, Connor dives in for more, catching him off-guard. Markus’ other hand comes to rest on Connor’s side as his eyes fall closed.

For minutes on end, their lips move together in a fluid rhythm, only breaking apart when the rush of affection and warmth gets to be too much. Markus swipes his tongue across Connor’s bottom lip tentatively, and the gasp he gets in return is something he wants to memorize. While he can’t claim to know what being drunk feels like, it can’t be far off from this feeling. It was never like this with North. It’s addicting, it makes Markus’ head swim.

When Connor moves back and Markus opens his eyes, he’s greeted with the sight of Connor with swollen lips and wide pupils. It takes all of Markus’ will not to kiss him again.

“Was that okay?” Markus asks.

Connor visibly swallows before nodding with a lopsided grin, laughing giddily. Markus’ heart soars. At that moment, he’s positive that being with Connor doesn’t just feel right; it is right.

[selfshipping-baby]

Super self indulgent Obey Me! fic

Be gentle with me, I don’t write often and haven’t in a very long time. This is part one! I might post other parts but I kinda wanted to get this out there. If it’d be more enjoyable for you to read without my name I’d be okay changing it to MC and taking out pronouns. Thank you for reading!

The Boys are Worried! 

Investigation Team (6)

Mammon: Guys have any of you heard from Kenzie today? I've been texting her and I even sent her a meme and she hasn't responded. I'm worried. 

Mammon: Also DO NOT add Lucifer to this chat 

Beel: Maybe she's in the kitchen

Asmo: Oh no! I hope my dear sweet Kenzie is okay! 

Asmo: Also I highly doubt she's in the kitchen Beel, you would have seen her. 

Mammon: c'mon guys this is serious what if she got sick of us and went back to the human world 😭

Levi: I can see her online on DevilStation so she's still here lol

Belphie: she probably fell asleep watching something….

Mammon: WHAT!?!? if she's online then why didn't she respond to me???? 

Asmo: I just messaged her too and she didn't respond. Oh dear. 

Levi: haha maybe she doesn't like you guys anymore lmao. 

Satan: Why don't you just knock on her door and ask..?

Beel: oh

Asmo: huh

Levi: Galaxy brain Satan rofl

Mammon: IM COMIN KENZIE

----Lucifer has been added to the chat----

Lucifer: I caught Mammon running in the hall and made him tell me what was going on. He has made it clear to me that everyone is worried about Kenzie. 

Lucifer: Even though you are worried about her, barging into her room uninvited is not only extremely rude but also an extremely stupid idea. Because of that, I assume that this was all Mammon's idea. What we need to do is be respectful, humans are fragile.

Asmo: We get it Lucifer! Relax! I know what's going on with Kenzie. Everyone can relax I know exactly what she needs~

Mammon: Asmo you keep your hands off of Kenzie or I'll uh… I'll beat you up! 😤

Levi: Fight fight fight!

Lucifer: Enough! All of you! I'm going to Kenzie's room right now to get to the bottom of this

I glance over at my phone sitting on the nightstand, lighting up with yet another notification from Mammon. Maybe I should respond, he seems worried. I just don’t have the energy for communication right now. I sigh and pull my blanket up over my shoulder, returning my focus back to the screen. I’m not even sure what’s playing now. I’ve been napping on and off all day. After a few minutes the show ends and the message on the tv displays “Are you still watching?”. I grumble and sit up, hunched over on the edge of my bed. My face feels dirty and my hair is definitely a mess. I’m wearing a t-shirt that’s 3 sizes too big for me and comfy sleep pants. “Self care day” I keep telling myself but I’m not really taking care of myself am I. Oh well. Maybe it’s time to take a shower and change my clothes. I stand up slowly and turn off my DevilStation. As the console chimes its shutdown sounds a soft knock at my door makes me freeze. There is no way I’m answering the door like this, regardless, I don’t want to be on Lucifer’s shit list if it’s him. I walk over to the door and put my hand around the knob, leaning my ear against it. “Who is it...?” My voice is a bit gravely, I guess I haven’t talked all day. 

“It’s me..” A deep, smooth voice comes from the other side of the door. 

“Beel? What are you doing here?” I relax a little at his voice, happy it isn’t Lucifer. 

“Um.. can I just come in please?” I hear the wrinkle of a snack wrapper, of course he brought snacks. I think for a moment and open the door slowly. Even though Beel towers over me he very gently waddles in with an armful of snacks. “I.. I brought you some snacks. And I didn’t even eat most of them on the way here!” He said very proudly. 

“Oh thank you Beel. You didn’t have to..” I reach up and attempt to tame my unkempt hair. Beel walks in and sets the snacks on my coffee table, he grabs a bag of chips and turns to me with his big goofy grin. I can’t help but smile a little at him. I hug myself and sway a little. “So… did you just come here to bring me snacks?”

“Oh! No. I came here to tell you that Lucifer is coming to check on you and well.. Mammon is like.. Really upset. He’s super worried.” Beel said between fists full of chips. My back stiffens and I look over at my phone. I should have answered those texts. Fuck. 

“I can’t have Lucifer and Mammon seeing me like this! They’ll be so worried and.. And..” I pace a few steps, feeling the anxiety well up in my chest. I stop and look up, Beel is standing very close to me. How did he move so fast? Wasn’t he just eating chips? I open my mouth to say something but before I can get any sounds out Beel sets his large hand on my shoulder. He smiles down at me, his hand was firm but comforting. 

“We just really care about you Kenzie. Lucifer can be really intimidating but he really does care.” Beel wraps his arms around me in a surprisingly gentle hug. He doesn’t linger too long and pulls back from me with both of his hands on my shoulders. “Just be honest with him okay? I know you will, that’s who you are… but I just gotta say it.” He takes a step back and wanders over to the coffee table to pick out another snack. He walks to the door, giving me a smile and a nod before walking out. As soon as the door closes I sigh heavily. What Beel said to me repeated in my head over and over. They really care huh. I didn’t mean to make them worry this much. What am I going to tell Lucifer?

I go to my dresser and pull out some clean clothes, changing quickly before going to my vanity to try and run a brush through my knotted hair. I quickly give up and throw my hair up in a messy bun. As I’m just tucking the rest of my hair into the scrunchy a loud heavy knock at my door startles me. That has got to be Lucifer. I look in the mirror and scrunch up my face at the image. I don’t look as bad as I did before but definitely not the picture of mental health. “Coming!” I say loudly, walking over to the door. I pause before I grab the handle, a bit of anxiety in the back of my mind, I shake my head and open the door. Sure enough Lucifer is standing in front of me. Even with his eyebrows furrowed with worry his presence made me a bit nervous, I feel my face begin to get warm. I’m probably blushing. As always he is dressed very nicely, even his casual clothes consist of some kind of suit or uniform. 

“Kenzie.. Why haven’t you answered any of our messages..” Lucifer’s voice was deep and powerful. Everything he says sounds important just by the way he speaks. I take a step back from my door as he invites himself in. “It’s very important that we maintain open communication in this house. You are a human in Devildom afterall.. It can be dangerous here.”

“Well I uh.. I was just..” I start to make up a lie but Beel’s words ring in my ears. ‘Just be honest with him’ I know Beel is right. I have to be honest with him. “I.. am not having a very good.. Um.. a very good mental health day Lucifer..” The look on Lucifer’s face softens and he pulls me into a hug very suddenly. He holds me close and rests his cheek on my hair. Unsure of what I really should do I slowly wrap my arms around him. 

“I’m sorry you’ve had a bad day… I wish I would have known sooner.. I could have helped you.” His voice was suddenly gentle and kind, not stern and disapproving like it normally was. It was like Lucifer was a different person. I guess I’ve never really seen a soft side of him before. He’s holding me tight to his body, my heart starts to race a bit and I feel my face get hot. I nuzzle into his chest and tighten my grip on him. I can feel tears starting to well up and a lump in my throat. I really don’t want to cry on him but it feels right. We stand in place for what feels like an hour. I manage to choke back most of my tears. Finally I loosen my grip and bring a hand up to wipe my eye but Lucifer already has a gentle hand on my cheek. I look up into his eyes as he wipes a tear with his thumb. He wipes my other cheek and leans in slowly, and presses his lips to my forehead, lingering for just a second before pulling away. I open my mouth to say something but the words catch in my throat and I just shake my head a little. “You sure are blushing a lot for someone that just cried on my chest.” He straightens up and chuckles a little. “I hope you feel like you can come to me with this kind of thing more often. Or that you find a more healthy way to deal with these feelings.” He strokes my cheek with the back of his hand before turning to the door. “Oh and be prepared. The rest of my brothers have expressed wanting to make sure you’re okay. I know it’s a lot… but they mean well. If they are bugging you too much don’t hesitate to call.” With that he walks out.

Brothers Support Club (7)

Beel: I went and saw Kenzie. I brought her snacks but she didn’t eat any. 

Beel: I think she’s just really sad. She looked like she was gonna cry. 

Lucifer: I too went and visited Kenzie. I think we need to do something nice for her to cheer her up. 

Mammon: First time I’m ever agreeing with Lucifer on something. Holy shit.

Mammon: UGH I wish she would have said something earlier. It hurts me that she’s been just suffering all day alone and none of us tried to help. We just sent her messages. I feel bad.

Asmo: Mammon actually feels bad for once in his life? Can I get a reality check. 

Mammon: Shut up Asmo. You can’t even pretend to care about anyone other than yourself

Lucifer: Anyway let’s figure out something to help her. Put your differences aside for day. 

Satan: I have an idea. 

Satan: Let’s each of us set up an activity to do. That way we won’t overwhelm her. And from my reading into mental health issues a great way to deal with a “bad day” is with distractions and activities. 

Lucifer: That is actually a really good idea Satan.

Levi: oh damn Lucifer is complimenting Satan now. What’ll happen next!

Asmo: OH MY GOD THIS IS PERFECT SATAN YOU’RE A BEAUTIFUL GENIUS~

Asmo: I have the PERFECT thing for Kenzie. Oh my gosh I have to prepare

Levi: Yeah I like this idea. I’ve been wanting to play Mononokeland with her more..

Belphie: I’ll help her get a good night’s sleep tonight. And don’t worry Mammon not in that way. 

Mammon: You better not. I’m her main guy and you all know it 

Asmo: Yes Mammon we all know you have a hard on for Kenzie. You’re just too chicken to actually do anything about it. 

Mammon: What! Pff not even! How could I even have feelings for a human jeez. 

Lucifer: Yes it is a good idea to do these separate.

As soon as Lucifer left I sat on my bed with a plop. I touched my forehead where Lucifer had kissed me, I found myself smiling thinking about it. I could still smell his cologne lingering on me. It was musky but not overpowering. There was also a hint of the black tea he’s often drinking. I pull the collar of my shirt up to my nose to hopefully get a better smell as I reach for my D.D.D. I clear my notifications and open up a chat to Mammon just as I receive one from Levi.

[lillianwrites]

Baby it's you and Me

Genre: Fluff and angst.

Words: 1,865

an/ Hi anon, i know this isnt exactly what you wirded,but i hope its still enjoyable! Sorry it took so long! I went on hiatus on the day i was gonna post it because of the drama, anywho, enjoy!

_________________________________________

Dan had a serious problem, the kind of problem that kept you up and night, stressing over the solution, if there even was one. He and Hades had once been a thing, the god of the underworld had been sweet and understanding. He allowed Dan to share his opinions, and Dan had quickly climbed the chain, soon becoming Hades partner in the underworld, making his own calls, and deciding the important issues of the Underworld. However, like all couples, they soon found their issues, and after a thousand years of arguing, they had decided to call it quits. Dan had decided soon after their split, to head down to earth to get away for awhile. He had spoken to Thea, and had her permission to serve the underworld from a small flat in the London city. With the say so from the goddess, he moved his belongings to the flat, and began his life on earth for a short time.

Now, going to Earth wasn’t the issue. The move had gone well, and all of his neighbors were kind people, offering to help him carry stuff up, and bringing him small gifts to make his flat seem more homely, as he had told him he moved into London for a fresh start, a new beginning. He took shape as a tall man, reaching 6’3, who had brown eyes, a round face, and curls of brown hair, which he decided to leave curly. The problem, that he had encountered on the fifteenth day of being on earth, was a tall man, only about an inch shorter than Daniel himself. He had bright blue eyes, with small pieces of yellow and green mixing around the center, near his pupils, and his hair was dark, with lighter roots, giving the impression he dyed it.

It had started when Dan had decided that he was going to head to Starbucks. He had recently fallen in love with their coffee, and he was ashamed to admit he continued to go there every morning at 11:00am, always trying something new. He usually sat and drank his coffee while writing, figuring out some of the work needed for the Underworld, writing names that were to be going, and who were to be sent to purgatory. He had been sitting down, when his name had been called. He had gotten up, heading to the counter and grabbing his caramel macchiato, and went to head back to his table, when someone had been walked straight into him, causing him to drop his (thankfully cold) drink, all over himself.

His face instantly melted into a glare, angry at how someone could possibly not see him. He was cold now, and a crowd had gathered around, all faces holding amusement, that is, until Dan looked up and began to glare at them. When everyone had turned around and continued on with their coffees and reports,Dan looked back to who had ran into, only to stop when he was met with the man spewing apologizes as soon as Dan was looking at him.

“I’m so sorry, im literally the clumsiest person ever!”

“Honestly i’m a danger to society!”
“Good job Phil honestly.”

And even though his new jumper was stained, and probably ruined, he just couldn't stay mad at the pretty eyed male, whose lips were in a perfect pout, and was ducking his head in shame. “Um, its fine.” Dan said curtly, sighing, when the man ‘Phil’ he thought, flushed a bright red, seeming to try making himself smaller. “I truly am sorry, i’m just awfully clumsy.” Phil explained. Dan honestly just couldn't be rude to this man, he was far too adorable in his pokemon shirt. Something Dan had quickly became obsessed with on his third day on earth. Dan had smiled at the human. And had reassured him it was fine, and if Phil slipped in his phone number to “pay for his dry cleaning” then Daniel most definitely did not accept it and call him later, to accept that offer. A friendship grew as they continued to meet, and soon, it was no longer a friendship, but an relationship.

The biggest problem, however, came on his second year on Earth. Phil had been mentioning marriage, and Dan was so happy. The question hadn’t been asked yet, but they both knew the answer.Dan had been considering talking to Thea about how this was to work, about what happened considering Phil wasn’t immortal. He knew Phil would stay with him, become an immortal, but it was all up to Thea. He truly believed she would say yes but he had to make sure.

Dan shook his head as he walked into their flat. The warm smell of his boyfriend greeted him, and he let his thoughts slip away as he was greeted with the familiar decorations that phil had insisted were perfect them. The flat was unusually quiet, but Phil had texted him just an hour before saying he was going to be filming, so Dan wasn’t too worried. Phil made Youtube videos for a living, and while Dan didn’t understand it exactly, Phil loved it, and it paid well, so he wasn’t going to complain.

He began to head up the stairs to the office, were he assumed Phil was going to be filming. The stairs creaked as he walked upon them, and soon enough he was outside the office, however he paused when he heard two laughs. Phil had always told him about collabs before they happened, so he knew that's not what was happening, so Dan was very confused. He continued to listen for a second before sighing.

Shrugging off the noise, he knocked quickly before stepping in, not noticing what was happening for a moment, before he saw the scene before him. His boyfriend, Phil Lester, making out with some random male, not knowing the man, he definitely wasn’t one of the youtubers Phil had shown him. They were on their sofa bed, Phils hands in the guys blonde hair, and the mans hands far too close to Phils ass for him to be comfortable at the moment. Dan couldn't describe what he was feeling at the moment if someone handed him a book of words scripted perfectly for this situation. He was sad, but he could feel anger pooling on him as they continued to kiss, making disgusting sounds as they did. Sadness and anger, but there was something there he just couldn't put a finger on, perhaps because he's a god and had never felt it before. Deciding he couldn’t just watch anymore, he coughed loudly, preparing himself for what was to happen.

His boyfriends eyes flew open, blue meeting brown. He couldn’t tell if he wanted phil to think he was angry or sad, but he could tell it was seen as sad. The man's eyes confused Daniel Just as much, his eyes were widened, however not in a “oh shit” way, but a confused and even scared way. He sat and watched as emotions flew past his lovers face, before settling on fear, a frightened sounding squeak passing through ihs lips before he got up and ran to the middle of the room, looking between him and the strange man quickly. Dan didn't know what was causing him to react this way, but humans are cunning, so he began to wonder if this was just a ploy to make him forget how he was cheating on Dan.

Dan heard himself scoff before he could even think to do it logically. His eyes were not hardened, he had wanted to marry him, so why was he kissing this man. Dan was a god, not stupid, he knew this was wrong, yet he couldn't make himself believe phil would ever do that to him, it just didn't fit right. “I trusted you, i gave you everything i had, i told you the most important things about me,and you kiss some stranger?” he asks angrily, glaring at his boyfriend, or should he say ex.

Phil Looked conflicted, confused, and albeit, a bit angry himself. The stranger he had been kissing sat on the same spot as when dan had walked in, although there was now a smirk on his face, one that seemed way to familiar to be comfortable.”Dan-” PHil started, causing them both to look over at him. “You know i would never, look i know this sounds crazy, but, he was…..you? He had walked in, he looked exactly like you. He thanked me for the food i told you i brought home from mcdonalds, and we came up here, he said you wanted to do the video, Dan it sounds crazy, but he was you.” Phil said

Dan scoffed “You expect me to believe that Phil, seriously!” he shouted. He then stopped, his face paling before turning a nasty shade of red, his neck blotching as he realizes exactly what was happening here. He turned slowly, glaring at the stranger. “You! You seriously tried to break us up! Thats ridiculous! We've been over for 3 years now hades, you need to go, leave me and my boyfriend alone, i never want to hear from you again. Im dealing with my side, so leave me alone, leave! And don't come back, ever! Im serious hades. I’m done with this, dont make me go to Thea about this.”

The male glared over at Dan, before sighing. “I miss you Daniel, but you're clearly happy here. i'll leave you alone, but don't expect me to be happy about it.” the male said dramatically, before snapping his fingers, a cloud of black smoke appearing, clearing when he was gone. “Drama queen.” Dan murmured.

`````````

“Phil look,” he said sighing “first of all, i'm sorry for waiting to tell you, but i-”

“A God from the underworld? Yeah i know.” Phil said cutting him off, not sounding angry or surprised in the slightest. Dans eyebrows furrowed, not expecting such a calm and nonchalant claim after saying something so wild and big. “How did you find out?” He asked confused, wondering how long Phil had known. “Oh, for at least a year. I figured you were waiting for the right time, you leave your notes out all the time, and then you said hades and it kind of clicked.” PHil explained. Dan just nodded slowly, having dealt with far too much today.

“Let's go lay down.”he said, sighing as they went to go cuddle. No more secrets.

_________________________________________

“Dan! Your ex took our toaster again!” he heard phil yell from the kitchen. Dan smiled. After everything had happened, Dan finally asked PHil to marry him, and a year later they were husbands. Hades stills showed up, but all was friendly as he had found a god and they had begun to get serious.

“Phil, I've told you time and time again, if you say you really like i-”

“He's going to take it, i know, i know. I expect it back by nine, i need some waffles” Phil said cutting him off.

Dan smiled at his husband, he was exactly where he wanted to be in life.

___________________________________________

Finished.

[wayward-demons]

Game For Anything Pt. 19

Word Count: 1,552 Warnings/Notes: None, sorry its so short, and sorry for the long wait. but like... it will be worth it for the ending next chapter! (im not ready to end it :( ) Tags: @crawegirl @nea90sweetie @littlegirlsdontplaynice @queen-of-moons-peace-out-bitches @gaysmutstiel @xolyssaaa @uruburock13 @lisa-horn@jencharlan @fangirl1802 @spn-4-eva @hey-um-misha  @grumpymoonbird

((if you want to be added to the list just let me know))

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 /  Part 5 / Part 6 / Part 7 / Part 8 / Part 9 / Part 10 / Part 11 / Part 12 / Part 13 / Part 14 / Part 15 / Part 16 / Part 17 / Part 18

“Sammy, we have a problem with the potion… we need Randy’s blood.” Dean said, entering your bedroom. He found you sitting on your bed with Sam facing you. his fatherly look on his face that told Dean he was being sweet, but trying to ask you a million questions on the sly.

Sam coughed, :I’ll be right back Y/N. Just stay right here.”  Sam rose, and you could feel the bed give a little from the loss of his weight. He shut the door gently behind him, pulling Dean into the hall. He didn’t say anything till they were a few steps away, knowing that you could hear him even from this far. Probably still could.

“We gotta talk about what’s going on.” Sam started. He glanced back at the door, not quite sure how far he needed to go to be out of your ear shot.

“What’s to say?” Dean shrugged Sam’s hand off his shoulder. “She’s a vampire. And we need to cure her. We have to.” His voice was deeper than usual.

Sam shook the hair out of his eyes. “I know that Dean. But-“

“Okay, but the problem with the potion, spell, whatever.” Dean interrupted him, raising a hand and walking farther down the hall. “We can’t exactly cure her without Randy’s blood. I think I still have some on my clothes, but who’s to say that’s his and not any of the others we killed. It’s kind of a long drive. It’s not like we can’ just turn tail and get some.”

Dean was rambling, and Sam was letting him. Letting him fill the air with his string of nonsense words. It wasn’t as if you couldn’t hear them, you could. But with all the other noises in the air you were trying your hardest to pick one to focus on.

You lay down. How much longer were you going to let them try and find you a cure? How long till you told them the change had already happened? How long do you wait to tell Dean it was you who had bit him?

Sam steered the car with both hands. Knuckles white as he drove quickly down the road. He was closing as much distance as he could between himself and the vampire nest they had just destroyed. He was lucky for once that they hadn’t burned the place down. That they had run out so fast there wasn’t a chance to take care of the damage like normal.

He glanced at his phone, content with the fact that it hadn’t lit up yet. If it had Dean was in trouble, and he would need to turn tail and get back as soon as he possibly could. But would it be quick enough?

Dean walked into your room, once again hesitant. “Y/N? It’s just me. Lil’ ‘Ol Dean Winchester.”

You lay in bed, in and out of sleep. “Y/N? I don’t know if you know this, but I’ve been turned before.” Dean wasn’t sure you were awake or listening. “It was scary. I remember it. I remember… the hunger.” Dean sighed. “I almost hurt…” his mind started to spin with memories. “Never mind.”

Dean sat on the edge of your bed. “I don’t know what I am doing in here. I guess I don’t want to leave you alone. Even though that’s probably the safest thing for both of us right now. Y/N…” Dean sighed. “I can’t believe this happened. We should have gone after you as soon as you left. Not sat around twiddling our thumbs.”

You tried to lay as still as you could. Your heart beating inside your chest. Dean kept talking, about nothing and yet about something. His voice was blaring in your ears until you turned over so quickly you forced yourself on top of him.

You could feel his body heat against your skin. Could hear his heart beat quickening. You licked your lips, face close to Deans. “Dean shut up.” You ordered. You lowered yourself, pressing your body harder into Dean. “Just.” You whispered. “Shut.” Your hands squeezed Deans wrist, keeping them in place. “Up.” Your tongue licked his neck, salty and sweet.

“Y/N, don’t do this.” Dean tried to free himself of your grasp, quickly remembering how strong new born vampires were. “Y/N you don’t want to do this.” He could feel his wrists starting to bruise. Could feel his skin growing sore from both him trying to escape and your squeezing.

Your new teeth started to show. They slowly poked through your gums; sharp and deadly. “Oh but I do. I want to taste you again. It was so good before.” You could barely recognize your own voice, it was deep and commanding.

Deans attempts to free himself grew stronger. Suddenly your hands gripped him so tight they went numb. You switched, raising his hands above his head, holding them with one hand. Your free one ran a finger down his jaw line. “You’re so… Yummy.” You uttered.

You pressed yourself harder on Deans lap. His face seemed confused, turned on by the fact that you were all but grinding yourself on top of him, but afraid of the new vampire wanting to suck his blood. You turned his head until his neck was exposed and ready for you. Dean’s heart couldn’t beat any faster, but for a moment you heard it skip one beat. “Stop fighting Dean. It sounds, and feels, like you like this.”

Dean stopped kicking his legs. His whole body stilling while he lay there under your command. “It’s not enjoyment. Its fear.” Dean grit his teeth together.

Dean acted so quickly you didn’t know anything had happened till you were suddenly under Dean. Now he held you down, his legs binding yours. His hands holding your wrists. His body still close, closer than ever before.

“You don’t want to do this Y/N. This is just the vampire in you talking. Not you. You’re still Y/N, you’re still you. Don’t forget that.” Dean looked scared. Dean looked worried. Dean looked like he cared. You’d never seen this look. Dean always looked so calm, collected, and stern. Never so weak before.

You were entranced by Dean, not even bothering to fight as you lay under him. Your ‘human’ brain kicked in. Dean was on top of you. Deans chest was pressing into yours. You were on top of Dean. You could feel Dean. For the first time in a day you had forgot about being a vamp and suddenly were overwhelmed by the fact that a boy, Dean Winchester, was on top of you.

“D-Dean.” You croaked, trying to cower under him. “Dean.”

It took a moment for Dean to realize what it was you were suddenly nervous about. “Sorry Y/N, I- I didn’t mean to-“ Dean stammered, letting himself rise a bit so he wasn’t touching you so much. He was just hovering over you. His body still warm. And for a second time you could hear it skip a beat.

“I’m sorry Dean. I don’t know what’s going on with me. I just…” Tears started to pour out of your eyes until your vision blurred. You could barely breath, choking every time you tried to inhale. “I just-“

“It’s alright.” Dean climbed off you, rising you so you were sitting up at his side. He held you close and rocked you back and forth. “You’re going to be alright. Sam is out getting the blood we need for the spell.” Dean stopped.

The spell. The spell to stop vampirism in its tracks. It needed a bitten, the biters blood, and you not to of fed on someone. Dean let that sink it. You not to have fed before. “Y/N, did you- is this from you?” He pointed to the bite mark on his arm. The red and puffy scabs that have been picked off thanks to his boredom and nervousness.

You gulped. “Randy bit you, and forced me to drink it. Dean I didn’t mean too. It wasn’t what I wanted.” You tried to argue, but Dean was already on his feet and a few steps away from you.

He drug his hand over his mouth and let that sink it. You’d tasted him, you’d had his blood. You were an actual vampire now. “It makes since I guess. I mean, normally your eyes… and the-“ Dean sighed. He wasn’t willing to admit it fully. He still wanted to hope, to pray even, that you were still not a full-on vamp. That the spell would still work on you. But suddenly he was nervous, suddenly he wasn’t so sure on what the next plan of action should be.

Sam walked up to the house slowly, blade at the ready in case he found another stray vampire here waiting for him. The house was grand, rooms on both sides of him for what seemed like ages. He tried to remember which room you were in. Tried to remember where he had found you hovering over Dean’s body. And then he hesitated.

He found the room. Randy’s head cut off with fly’s buzzing around it. Sam scrunched his face before stepping foot into the room. He pulled out a syringe and tapped into the source itself until it was full.

[larksinging]

alright im not super happy with this but i think this is as good as its going to get, so. this exist in @rorykillmore‘s deserves better au (for lack of a better name). she also suggested i write this, because i doubt canon is ever gonna examine this parallel, and i would die for black siren at this point. (i also considered adding wally, but that seemed too complicated for the time being. maybe another fic) 

brief references to alcoholism and also trauma i guess? 

“What, like…” Kendra stares at Ray in vague horror. “Like he was human once?”

“Yeah,” Ray replies, and mimes a shiver.  “Seems like a horrible fate.”

“Maybe he deserved it,” Laurels adds, and hopes nobody reads anything into it besides her usual cynicism.

“Doesn’t it ruin the point of a surprise party if you tell me about it?” Kendra asks. She has to look up from the laundry she’s folding when the other two, having taken over her bed to play cards on, only give her a shrug in response.

“Would you rather we didn’t?” Zari shoots back. Kendra hums uncertainty, but Zari ignores her to frown at her cards while Laurel watches her impatiently.

Honestly, Kendra should be thanking them for warning her, as far as Laurel’s concerned. Her “hangouts” with Zari are becoming a regular thing, usually when Nate and Amaya are off being intolerable and Sara’s off pretending she’s not flirting with Ava and they’re the only two cynical enough on the ship to appreciate each other’s complaining.

So the fact they ended up sitting on Kendra’s bed, playing cards, is one half coincidence and one half Kendra not knowing any better. And the newbies have to stick together, even if Kendra’s not technically a newbie. It’s only right that they warn her.

“Besides, it’s less of a surprise party and more a chance for everyone to get drunk and brag about the stuff they’ve done under the guise of catching you up,” Zari continues.  

Kendra pauses and turns to look at them. She seems caught between amusement and vague bafflement. She looks at Laurel. “They do this for everyone now?”

“Don’t ask me,” Laurel responded dryly, “I managed to avoid it.”

“The boys didn’t want to spook you,” Zari adds, though it’s a little hard to tell if it’s teasing or not.

“If you imply I’m skittish again, I’ll break your Xcube.”

“Seriously?” Zari puts down her cards. “It’s called an Xbox on this Earth. Xcube doesn’t even make sense.”

“Whatever.”

“Anyway,” Kendra interrupts with an awkward cough, “This party sounds almost restrained by Legends standards. Because I really doubt that any of them had chilled out at all.”

“It’s more… terrible and awkward,” Zari says.

“It’d be more fun if it was up to Legends standard of destruction,” Laurel grumbles.

“Not when it’s on the ship,” Zari grumbles in return. Then she shrugs at Kendra.  “Anyway, most of it is Nate rambling. You’ll probably hate it.” She glances at Laurel. “And you will definitely hate it.”

Frustratingly, Kendra adores the party. Earlier she even caught up a few of them with her stories. And she listens to Ray’s ramblings with a certain lightness in her laugh. The only thing that’s not completely saccharine about it is the way Laurel notices Sara keeping a worried eye on Kendra. There’s history there, Laurel figures. Too much history.

They’re all gathered in the Gallery and listening to Nate ramble on about the team’s reality-bending adventure last... whenever. Personally, she thinks it’d feel more like a history lesson if it was in the library, but Gideon had cryptically said “No more parties in the library. Captain’s orders”.

Zari wasn’t wrong. Laurel hates this. Then again, it’s probably more enjoyable when you’re drunk, and Laurel’s not that eager to drink anymore. It’s a side effect of finding out her doppelganger and the doppelganger of her father both had drinking problems, she figures. Kind of makes you think twice about hitting the bottle.

Speaking of, Nate is clearly too drunk to be telling this story anymore.

“And so there’s Thawne, just standin’ there, and we- we…. Hm.” Nate pauses and thinks very hard. “Hey, Sara. You tell the rest of this story better. C’moon.”

There’s some brief cheering as Sara steps up, and even more when she takes the drink out of Nate’s hand and sets it aside. He half-stumbles into his seat with a disappointed grumble.

“So there I am,” Sara begins, sweeping her gaze over the crowd, “Everyone’s knocked on their ass, so it’s just me, Thawne, and the Holy Lance.”

“Spear of Destiny,” Nate corrects.

“Whatever. So I have it in my hands, and-” There’s a hint of hesitation. None of the others seem to notice it, but Laurel watches Sara a little more closely. Sara catches her eyes, and then quickly looks away.

“-And he snatches it from me. But joke’s on him, I made one tiny change. And that’s when he realizes it’s just a  powerless hunk of wood.” Sara soaks in the approving cheer from the crowd. Even Laurel’s more impressed than she’d like to admit.

“He’s just about to try and kill me, keyword try, when that… thing shows up. That, um…” Sara searches for the words for a moment. “The Black Flash.”

Laurel’s blood runs cold.

“He had one of those silly speedster suits, but all black and red,” Sara adds. She gestures to her face. “But all torn up and…. Grr.”

“It, er, he? He was some kind of time wraith chasing Eobard down,” Ray explains to the newbies. “Like a twisted version of a speedster.”

“What, like…” Kendra stares at Ray in vague horror. “Like he was human once?”

“Yeah,” Ray replies, and mimes a shiver.  “Seems like a horrible fate.”

“Maybe he deserved it,” Laurels adds, and hopes nobody reads anything into it besides her usual cynicism.

Ray and Amaya give her a horrified look, while Kendra looks more confused than anything. Zari seems uncertain, Nate’s too drunk to care, and Mick snorts in amusement. Sara pauses. Laurel shrugs to try and brush it off, but she feels strangely fragile.

“...Anyway,” Sara says, “He just sticks his hand in Thawne’s chest and boom, suddenly him and his stupid yellow suit are disappearing. And-”

“Oh, I remember this!” Nate interrupts. “Then-”

But Laurel doesn’t hear the rest of what he said. Even now, she can still remember the sound of that little execution trick. Just a bit too low to sound like a fly. She’d always wondered what it felt like, not that she ever wanted to find out. It didn’t seem like it should have hurt, but it also seemed like Zoom would have found a way to make it hurt a lot. The metas always screamed before they died, so it must have.

Laurel startles and snaps back to attention when the room bursts into laughter. She quickly covers herself by giving Nate a vaguely unimpressed look, but in the corner of her eye she catches Sara watching her closely.

Nate makes another sweeping gesture and knocks his glass over. As it shattered on the ground, Laurel rolls her eyes with extra amounts of dramatic scorn. If she makes herself seem annoyed at Nate, nobody will question why she needs to leave the room that’s suddenly way too loud. Everyone seems to buy it, because when she rises from her seat they just wave her off. They all think she’s prickly and mean and cultivating suits her well for moments like this.

“Enjoy brooding!” Nate calls as he leaves. Sara doesn’t say anything.

Her room is too quiet, so Laurel runs her finger along the rim of the half-empty glass and listen to the high pitched humming. It’s silly and a little cliche, but it makes her feel a little bit better.

The door slides open and Laurel stops abruptly. She’d told Gideon not to let anyone in, which means it must be Sara. Gideon would ignore her command for Sara. Sure enough, Sara enters carefully and looks her over. She doesn't even do Laurel the honor of not looking openly worried.

“It’s just water,” Laurel grumbles when she catches Sara eyeing her glass.

As much as she doesn’t really want to do this right now, she’d rather not have to deal with this later either. So she slides over a fraction of an inch from where she’s sitting on her bed. Sara takes the invitation and takes a seat next to her.

“...Look,” Sara begins gently, “I know you well enough to know that you don’t scare easily. But whatever happened in there really spooked you.”

“What, you think I got scared?” Laurel sneers in return. She doesn’t have to look at Sara to know that her (sort-of) sister is skeptical.

“If you don’t want to talk about it, that’s fine.” Sara’s voice has a kind of careful, even quality to it, like she’s expecting Laurel to startle. Her Captain voice. “I just.... You can talk to us. If you need to.”

The idea of opening up feels gross and vulnerable. Maybe the Legends have warmed her up to being nice, or not mean, or whatever, but that’s a completely different hurtle. And yet, when Sara rises with a little nod and heads for the door, Laurel’s chest constricts.

“Wait-” She says. Sara pauses. “Wait.”

It’s not until Sara sits back down on the bed that Laurel finds her voice. “I… know that thing,” She says after a moment. “It’s… my old boss.”

“...Prometheus?” Sara seems to be struggling with this. Not that Laurel’s told her that many details.

“No.” There’s a nervous part of her that feels like if she says it, he’ll suddenly appear. Even now. “Zoom.”

When she glances at Sara, it’s clear that Sara’s not fully following this. So she goes on. “He wasn’t like that before. It must be… Speed Force bullshit, or something.” She shakes her head. “S.T.A.R. labs never told me what happened to him. I just assumed he was dead, because everyone was still in one piece.”

“Let me get this straight,” Sara says. “The evil speedster from Earth-2 you used to work for became the time wraith that killed Eobard Thawne?”

“I guess,” Laurel says, because thinking too hard is not what she wants to do. There’s a slightly awkward moment of silence between them.

“Time wraiths don’t come after us,” Sara says gently, as if that’s what’s gotten under her skin. It rubs up against her all the wrong ways. “We have a different kind of time travel. It’s not going to come looking for-”

Laurel pushes herself off the bed and begins to pace. She wants to scream that no, that’s not it. Zoom’s probably less of a monster as a time wraith. She has to grit her teeth to stop the nervous energy rising that makes her want to break something.

“Laurel-”

“Forget it,” She snaps, and turns for the door. At this point, she doesn’t care how silly it is to storm out of her own room. But Sara catches up and just stands in her way.

“Okay,” Sara holds up her hands, as if that’ll calm Laurel down. “Okay. I get it, I’m... jumping to conclusions.” Sara puts her hands on Laurel’s shoulders when it’s clear she’s cooled down, and then gently guides her until they’re both sitting on the bed again. Laurel’s feeling a bit too hollowed out to resist.

“You didn’t know Zoom,” is all she manages to say. Sara starts to say something, but Laurel interrupts her.

“You know...” She dips into that sickly sweet mocking tone that she doesn’t use around the Legends much anymore, “When he’d drop metas off on your Earth, some of them would go and track down their doppelgangers to kill them to take their place. As if that would let them get away.” She smiles bitterly and looks at Sara. “I didn’t exactly have that option.”

The silence that hangs between them is more tense. Laurel’s smile fades when she notices how tightly Sara has clenched her fists in her lap. Sara doesn’t say anything, but Laurel suspects she’s trying to hold herself back from lashing out. Maybe she wouldn’t with anyone else. The jab suddenly doesn’t feel as satisfying.

“...That was a low blow,” Laurel admits, because she’s not quite to a point where she can apologize. But Sara deserves something.

There’s a long moment, and Sara sighs a little. Laurel wishes she could hate herself more for the misstep, but it’s hard when Sara somehow finds a way to move past it.

“...Anyway,” Sara begins a little tensely, but then evens out, “I’ve had some experience with  murder-happy megalomaniacs. And if the one you dealt with was also a speedster, then I think that being afraid is a normal response.” She looks at Laurel, and her voice is softer. Less Captain-y, more vulnerable. “These things linger.”

Laurel wants to argue that she’s not afraid. Being afraid of Zoom was the kind of thing the lesser metas did, or ones who’d done something to disappoint him. She’d always found some safety in putting on the impression that she could even openly question him. A little bit.

And, sure, sometimes she has nightmares, but the usual one is of being choked. Sometimes it’s Chase, and sometimes it’s Oliver, sometimes it’s Cayden, and even every once and a while it’s Sara. But never Zoom. Not that she doesn’t have nightmares, but it’s different. Maybe that’s because her subconscious mind knows he wouldn’t need to choke her. That’s not fear, is it?

Is it?

“Laurel?” Sara sounds concerned, and Laurel realizes she hasn’t responded.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” She snaps. “Just like you don’t want to talk about the Spear.” From the way Sara almost winces, Laurel can tell she didn’t expect anyone to notice. A hurt silence hangs over them for a moment, and then she relents. “Not right now.”

“Okay,” Sara says quietly, but it sounds like an agreement.

Instead Sara puts her hand on Laurel’s shoulder. Laurel shifts to move a touch closer, and Sara takes the invitation to pull her into a gentle hug. It’s a careful system they’ve worked out, since Laurel can’t quite herself to initiate this kind of affection and Sara doesn’t want to crowd her.

“If you tell anyone I let you hug me, there won’t be a Captain anymore,” Laurel teases.

“So you’re recording this, right, Gideon?”

“I hate you,” Laurel sighs, but hugs her back a little more tightly than she intended. It helps, just a little.

[writing-in-riverdale]

Twin Andrews Part 2 | jughead x reader

part one:https://writing-in-riverdale.tumblr.com/post/158708863703/twin-andrews-juggie-x-reader-an-im-hoping

part three: https://writing-in-riverdale.tumblr.com/post/158929430293/twin-andrews-part-three-jughead-x-reader

a/n: part two of twin andrews is here!! if you love it and want more make sure to send me a request for a part three!! love u nugs🌹

♕

“wow V” i chuckle as we walk out of the gym “i can’t believe you got Betty onto the squad” we all laugh and Betty smiles admiringly to her friend.

“it’s about time we had a cooper on the squad” i chuckle looping my arm in the blondes “thank you both- this has been a dream since like forever-” she swoons grabbing her heart.

“you wish is our demand” Veronica tells her friend as we bow jokingly in front of her we all laugh holding a new uniforms in our hands “should we try them out for size?” i nod eager to get into something that was familiar.

we pile into the girls change room and put on our uniforms “im a vixen!!” Betty squeals jumping up at down and swishing her mini skirt.

“B can you zip me up?” i pull my red hair aside as she zips me up

“wow (y/n/n) looking hot!” Veronica exclaims fanning herself cause me to stick my tongue out at her “why thank you miss V”

we walk out of the changing rooms head held high, it started to finally feel like i was finally getting back into my old life, the one i left a year ago for with my mum. I find myself smiling at my friends glad that i came back, i needed them and I didn’t know that till this very moment.

“have you spoken to Archie?” i was snapped out of my thoughts

“spoken to him about what?” i ask stopping at my locker to grab a few books “Betty didn’t tell you?” i shrug feeling someone’s eyes on me “tell me what?” i press.

“she doesn’t need to know-” Betty stumbled with her words, i furrow my eyebrow hitting myself in the head with my chemistry book “if this is about B having a crush on him then yes i know” i roll my eyes.

walking backwards i giggle at Betty’s blushed cheeks, ronnie joins in on the giggle nudging the blonde with her elbow “approve?” she questions and i nod winking st the girls

“look i gotta go- Pop’s after school to celebrate? we have our very first Cooper and Lodge girl that means milkshakes and burgers on me” i ask glancing at the clock it was the last lesson and I was craving one of pops famous burgers

“sounds like a good idea!” Betty smiles at me “good see ya’s later”

i turn on my heels and collide with another body sending me to a heap on the floor, i land on the victims chest and we bop heads “fuck!” i cuss rubbing my head.

i didn’t get a chance to see his face before i tried to stand instantly going dizzy, hands dart to my waist keeping me steady.

“woah easy there Andrews” i instantly recognised the voice “Jughead?” i exclaim glances at his face taking in all his features and that old beanie of his “oh my god” i throw my arms around him as he circle my waist.

“i wow you look-” i step back glancing at him “you look good juggie” i hug him once more and he freezes before hugging me back. “still not a hugger?” i ask and he shakes his head.

“no but you’ve always seemed to be the exception” i laugh “id love to stay and talk but i have chem-” he smiles “me too, walk together?” i nod following the boy

“so how come you weren’t at Pop’s last night for my big return, i knew something was missing but Archie didn’t mention anything” he goes quite so i figure I’ve hit a nerve.

“how are things?” i ask changing the subject “yeah okay” his voice sounds strained “are you sure?” i press “im here aren’t i?” i bite my lip and walk next to him in silence earning a few glances from peers, a river vixen walking with an ‘outcast’.

“this is us” he point to the class i follow him in just as the second bell rang others scrambling into their seats as Mr Hill slips in behind us “seats everybody” i gulp glances around desperately for a seat i forget we’d be in pairs.

all eyes are on me and within seconds the class is buzzing in soft whispers “Andrews” i hear jughead call sitting a few desks back, he gestures to the open seat next to him and gladly slip into it “thanks jones”.

he nods glancing to the front of the class “welcome back miss andrews” Mr Hill greets me “good to be back” i clear my throat awkwardly the eyes of my classmates piercing into me.

“so the hotter Andrews is finally back” i turn in my seat to see Reggie smirking in his seat running his hands through his hair “Reggie Mantle, god even Chicago couldn’t erase your idiot voice from my brain” i smile sweetly batting my eyelashes before facing forward rolling my eyes.

jughead laughs at my comment and i smile at him “baby you couldn’t forget me if you tried” i shake my head facing forward “oh but baby It’s not your devilish good looks that made you memorable it was more what you were lacking in you know where”

the class erupts in laughter and i smirk at my victory “ive always liked you feisty my little river vixen” he purs.

“enough” our teacher yells standing and scribbling notes on the board “good to be back” i mumble catching Reggies sleazy glances in the car of my eye “gross”

i mumble copying the notes “you okay?” jughead whispers “yeah just sleaze ball taking a little bit of a long look” i gesture to Reggie with my pencil and Jughead narrows his eyes at the boy.

“yeah he definitely hasn’t changed since you left” i laugh trying to hold in my giggles and people’s eyes start to stray from the board to me.

“hey juggie” he murmurs glancing to the board then back to his book “Betty & Veronica wanted to go to Pop’s after school to celebrate them making the team- do you maybe wanna come?”

he puts down his pencil facing me “andrews are you asking me out?” i jolt up shaking my head furiously

“no i um no i was just-” i give up when i realise im no longer speaking English “what i meant to say is that no the whole gangs going to be there and i want to hear more about what’s happening around here- Betty told me you’ve been writing about Jason”

he turns to the front nodding “ill be there, we can talk about Jason another time when it’s just the two of us” i nod returning to my work.

“why aren’t we celebrating you becoming a vixen?” i roll my eyes “ive been on the squad since freshman year juggie it’s not that big of a deal” i tease clicking my pen.

“noted” he replies focusing his full attention to the white board.

//

“(y/n)!”

i turn to see my brother jogging over to me looking slightly puffed “you good?” i ask continuing to walk my brother following hot on my heels, i was eager to get out of this damn school and to Pop’s.

“are you going to the dance tonight?” i knit my brows “what dance?” i question approaching my locker to grab a few books slipping them into my bag.

“the school dance- its tonight- Betty asked if I’d go with her and Ronnie” i close my locker “she what?” i say surprised.

“i- i dunno she just asked if I’d go with them and i said yes which means you have to okay!” i grown “arch i don’t want to go to a stupid school dance” he grabs me by the shoulders pulling me toward him “please!” he begs.

i remove his hands from his shoulders and start the walk to his car, “please please please please please” i block him out taking long strides to reach Archie’s truck.

“open the damn truck arch” he shakes his head “Archie! Open the damn truck” i yell frustration consuming me at how annoying my brother was being “i swear to god Archibald is you do not open this door i will kill you!” i hiss and he shakes his head.

“ill open the door if you come to the dance” i groan resting my head against the door “fine fine! ill go” i say in defeat earning a happy yell from my brother followed by the beeps of the car being unlocked “hallelujah” i mumble getting into the car.

“Betty and Veronica are going to the mall to buy a dress so ill drop you off and you can pick out something nice okay” he teases smiling stupidly at you “why don’t we both ditch and order in watch a movie something actually enjoyable” i offer clasping my hands together to beg.

“no, i can’t let them go by themselves” i smack his arm “um why the bloody hell not? we can take care of ourselves yanno” i tell him irritation itching at me.

“oh well it’s your first social event back- you need this” i ignore him glancing out the window as he pulls into the parking lot of the mall “bye sissy” he teases. i slam his truck door and flip him off as he drives away.

“jerk” i mumble

“you made it!” i walk toward the blonde and the raven headed girls “i made it” i smile at them as they loop their arms in mine “let’s get you a killer dress” i tell Betty as we walk into the complex and she blushes

“archie tell you?” i nod “when were you going to tell me you asked my brother out?!” i exclaim bumping her shoulder “i didn’t ask him out i asked him to the dance with V it’s not like it’s a date”

“whatever you say coops” i wink at her and run my fingers across the nearest dress rack “wish i had someone to go to the dance with” i think aloud flicking through the hangers.

“what about Jughead? Yous seemed pretty cozy in the hall” Betty speaks up curiosity filling her voice “oh my god!” i exclaim cursing.

the mention of his name reminds me that we were supposed to be meeting at Pops now “shit shit shit” i smack my forehead trying not to think about how hurt he’s going to be when he shows up and none of us being there

“what’s wrong?” Ronnie asks concerned her arms full of dresses “i invited Jughead to Pops tonight and i totally spaced” i tell them guilty “im sure he’ll understand” Betty tries to comfort me placing a hand on my shoulder.

“i hope so” i sulk “do you know what happened with him and my brother?” she shakes her head “they haven’t really spoken since before summer break i don’t think they spoke for the whole summer” i gulp, great what the hell happened.

the rest of the shopping trip i spent too engulfed in my own thoughts and theories about my brother and his former bestfriend that i barely noticed buying a dress and getting to Betty’s house.

“earth to (y/n)” im snapped out of my thoughts by Ronnie, she waves the curling wand in front of my face “you almost ready Arch will be here soon” i nod finishing off my hair and grabbing my dress “ill just change and ill be down before you know it”

“okay we’ll be outside”

i nod closing the door and quickly changing into my dress sliding on my heels and applying another coat of lipstick before glancing at myself in the mirror. i didn’t look half bad i smile at my reflection before the tooting of a horn brings me back to earth

“really archie? i was coming jesus” i complain opening the front door of Betty’s house and walking down the driveway to meet my brother the girls already tucked into the car

“wow little sis you look decent when you put in effort”

i gasp shoving him in the chest “your 10 minutes older than me okay-”

he rolls his eyes at me and mockingly opens the door for me, i smile sarcastically at him and slip in the passenger seat “the quicker we get there the quicker we can get home” i think aloud

“c'mon it can’t be that bad” Veronica teased but i just shook my head “you have no idea”

a/n: sorry for it being long and kinda poopy im in the midst of starting a new part it’s just with the ending i wanted for this is would’ve taken SO LONG! but be excited for part three because their will be lots of jughead x reader fluff! so if you’d like that PLEASE (im low key begging you) to just type a ‘part 3’ or ‘i really like this series or just SOMETHING. silent readers get me down!

and as always requests are wide open my friend feel free to drop a question or a request, love hearing from you nuggets!

-🌹

TAG LIST AS PROMISED: @smadrat @natalieroseg @isak-lo @lena-light

[elliotthezubat]

DEATH CITY DAYS CHAPTER 43

from FIGHT FESTIVAL to the 8th getting a new recruit

Benimaru: *stands his ground, ready to knock the Demon away* shinra:.... (arrow: your flames...are only meant to kill) tamaki: *standing her ground* Arthur: *wields Excalibur...* Demon: *rushes at Benimaru* Benimaru: *doesn't move* tamaki: he's not doing anything?! Tsukiyo: "Wait for it..." Demon: *pulls back a fiery fist* tamaki: ?? !!! LOOK OU- Benimaru: *holds up two fingers, blocking the fireball...and sending it upward into the sky, where it explodes* tamaki: WOAH!....it's....STILL THERE?! shinra: ?! Demon: *lifts arms, summoning a larger fireball...* shinra: !!! Benimaru: *summons another matou--and flies it at the Demon, lifting both of them into the air, the heat of the Demon's fire ball burning away at Benimaru's jacket* arrow: got you. *shoots and arrow* shinra: !!!!!!!! *rushes up after and tries to kick the arrow away, taking most of the impact* GRK- arrow: ?! shinra: hey newsflash. my flames arent for destruction...they're to help people! Demon: "GRK...GRK..." Benimaru: *having dissipated most of the fireball, still sending the Demon higher into the air...* "???" Demon: "PIG...GY..." Benimaru: "...Wow. Those are incredibly dull last words..." Demon: "???" Benimaru: *prepares his final move...and...* "Goodbye." *BOOM* shinra: woah! *The shockwave sends a flame across the sky...its force felt along the ground* Akitaru: *standing, but stumbles back a bit* maki: what was that?! tamaki: WOAH! Arthur: "AAAAAH!" *knocked back* tamaki:... !!! Tsukiyo: ._. "...Benimaru...just turned...the Moon..." *points up* Benimaru: *watches as the Demon is evaporated in flames* Benimaru: "..." fang-hua: t-that’s…! kirei:...ah! Takehisa: "A red...Moon." fang-hua: akatsuki... Tsukiyo: *gulp* "Y-Yeah...That's one way to put it..." Benimaru: "..." *still floating on his matou* "...I have avenged you, Konro...And...I have no idea how to get down to the ground..." shinra: need a lift? Benimaru: "...Can you carry me down?" shinra: ah, right. Benimaru: *lets himself be carried bridal style down to the ground* shinra: *lands* 7.7; Konro: *struggling to stand, having exhausted himself calling aloud mentally* Tsukiyo: Q~Q "Commander..." ("And men-holding-men...") -and so- reimi:...... Mr. Tsubaki: *in fox form...approaches Reimi...* reimi:.....*mumbling* Mr. Tsubaki: "???" *approaches to hear her..." reimi: s...sister....yana...se.... -her breathing is shallow- Mr. Tsubaki: "..." ("What do I do...?") Mr. Tsubaki: "..." *clears his throat, in fox form* "Sister...?" reimi: *weakly opens her eyes* ....im happy....she's alive....even if...i wont be..... Mr. Tsubaki: "It doesn't have to be like that..." reimi:...?? Mr. Tsubaki: "I could help you live..." reimi: r..really?....i know...i gave my life for her....but im still afraid.... Mr. Tsubaki: "...Reimi...I am...not a normal fox. I guess the talking clarified that...I am a vampire." reimi: ?? Mr. Tsubaki: *changes into his human form, looks at her, holds her hand* "I have the ability to save your life..." reimi: !!!....p...please....*shaking* Mr. Tsubaki: *lowers himself towards her neck* "This will make you a vampire. You understand, yes?" reimi:.....*she nods* (thinking: is this a dream...?) Mr. Tsubaki: "And you will have to feed on my blood...So be ready..." reimi: *closing her eyes* Mr. Tsubaki: "..." *small cut on the index finger and rests it along her mouth* reimi:......*drinking the blood* Mr. Tsubaki: *waits a bit...* "Okay...That should be enough...You'll start to feel the changes..." reimi: *passes out* hinata: ?? hikage: ?! Mr. Tsubaki: "!!!" ("...Maybe I can say I'm a physician...") hinata: is reimi-nee ok?? Mr. Tsubaki: *nods* "I administered first aid, but she will need a hospital." hikage: <8c Mr. Tsubaki: "I am a traveling emergency medical technician. Where is the nearest hospital?" hikage: you're in asakusa's clinic! -elsewhere- maki: so what now? Konro: "The Commander wishes to speak with all members of your brigade." shinra:....*he nods* nozomi: r-right! Benimaru: *seated inside the HQ, in a new kimono* Akitaru: "...Yo." *waves* Benimaru: "...This is not easy for me to say...Thank you. Especially you, Commander Obi, and Shinra Kusakabe." shinra: ....*awkward smile* tamaki: so then...does this mean everything's all good between the 8th and the 7th? Benimaru: "Not yet..." Akitaru: "..." Arthur: ("Oh crap...He's going to cut someone's head off...") Benimaru: "Konro...Bring them out." Akitaru: " 'Them'?" maki: OwO;;; nozomi: ????? Arthur: *hides behind Tamaki* Konro: *enters with two saki bowls and a bottle of sake* Akitaru: "...Huh." Benimaru: *opens the bottle, pours two bowls for him and Akitaru* "It was your assistance that helped Asakusa survive. And which saved the lives of many people...those I care so much for." *he was looking at Konro and Kirei* shinra:....*smile* maki: *tugs his ear* you're too young mister! >n< shinra: ow! Benimaru: *he turns to Akitaru* "...What? You don't like sake?" Akitaru: "!!! N-No! I love it!" *picks up his cup* "Um...So, this is affirming our alliance?" Benimaru: "If the 8th needs the assistance of the 7th, we will be there." maki: great! shinra: awesome! *Akitaru and Benimaru sip the sake* nozomi: *smile* Akitaru: "Mmm~ Really good!" kirei:... ^^ Benimaru: "Yes. We look forward to beginning this partnership..." *Benimaru has his eyes closed...and is grinning peacefully* kirei: ah... tamaki: he seems pretty happy. fang-hua: ^^; oh dear. nozomi: hmm? what is it? Konro: *laugh* "When the Commander has a little too much to drink--" Tsukiyo: QWQ "Like even just a thimble, he loses control of his facial muscles...and has that adorable smile." fang-hua: ^^; Benimaru: *still smiling calmly* "...What?" tamaki: aww, just like shinra. Akitaru: "..." *snort laugh* shinra: *chuckles* Takehisa: *flatly* "Very amusing." maki: commander! be nice! >3< kirei:....*soft chuckle* Benimaru: *still smiling calmly, even as he sounds pissed* "It's not funny. Stop finding enjoyment in my face, you buffoons!" Tsukiyo: "But it's such a cute face, sir!" fang-hua: *chop* down girl. please dont mind them, commander. -_-; Benimaru: *smiling serenely as he says...* "Ignoring your jackassery..." *reaches out a hand to Benimaru* "The 7th kept a close eye on you before. Now as our allies...we'll be keeping an even closer look." *there is a tinge of a threat in that line* Akitaru: *forced smile, as he shakes Benimaru's hand* "Wouldn't have it any other way..." maki: ^^; Tsukiyo: *rubbing her head, pouting at Fang-Hua, before turning to the 8th* "Closer look alright..." soldier: COMMANDER SHINMON! USADA TOLD ME YOU AND KIREI- Tsukiyo: "???" Benimaru: *serene smile...but murderous edge to voice* "Told you what?" soldier:... OwO n-nothing sir. Tsukiyo: *hides behind soldier* shinra: ??? *confused* kirei: .////. Benimaru: *still smiling, looks at Kirei...sounds calmer* "And now, we as a community can move forward." Konro: "Well, let's celebrate! Takehisa, care for a drink?" Takehisa: "Thank you, but I am on duty." -elsewhere- chikami: thank you so much for visiting. iris: it's no problem, mrs kurai. ^^ Relan: "How is your daughter?" chikami:....she's recovering. she's asleep right now. iris: i see.... Relan: *nods* "We...brought some treats for her when she wakes up...and wanted to...um, ask..." chikami: hmm? what is it? Relan: "Has she mentioned odd dreams?" chikami: not that i know of... Relan: "Well, I hope she feels better soon." *smiles* "We brought a notebook for her, in case she needed to write or draw while she's resting..." chikami: why thank you. i'll give this too her as soon as she wakes up. Relan: *smiles, nods* "If you need anything, Iris and I can help..." chikami: *she nods* im certain she appreciates having friends like you.....i do worry about her. ever since ak-....*shakes her head* nevermind...its nothing important. Relan: "..." *nods* ("Wonder what 'since' was...") iris:...well, we should probably head home now. Relan: *bows to Chikami* -the next day- Mr. Tsubaki: *in fox form, in the infirmary, keeping an eye on Reimi* reimi: *asleep* Mr. Tsubaki: ("Another subclass...that I am responsible for...Tsubaki, my blossom, please keep me in your thoughts, as I take on this responsibility...") -elsewhere- Hibana: "This is idiotic!" iris: ?? nayumi: whats biting her butt? Hibana: "Sending someone from Haijima to the 8th, for chemistry?! This has bad news written all over it!" serina: didnt you use to work for haijima? Rino: "Yeah. You had some bad dealings there, right?" *smirk* Hibana: *glares at Rino* "Yes, I worked there...and I know every single person there, including this guy they are trying to stick onto the 8th!" gabriella: really? iris: well, the commander said they'd be coming home today. miwa: misora said she'd be back later tonight too. Hibana: "And that slow gorilla can't hurry his ass up?!" Rino: "...Maybe you need to calm down..." gabriella: *rubs her shoulders* Hibana: =w= *calms down* "I think I'll sit to a cup of tea...Rino, go make us tea." Rino: -_-;; -later that afternoon- shinra: we're home! iris: welcome back everyone. ^^ maki: well, good news, we got the 7th as allies now! Rino: "Yo, congrats." Akitaru: "Where is the Princess?" iris: in the den area. Hibana: *from the den* "DARN IT TO HECK AND BACK, THIS NONSENSE IS SO FREAKING STUPID--" Akitaru: "...Super. I'll go talk to her..." miwa:.....proceed with caution. Rino: *nods* "Take this." *holds up an axe* Akitaru: "...Is that from my office?" Rino: "...Yes." iris: rino! Akitaru: "..." *takes the axe* iris: COMMANDER! Rino: "What? I needed a quiet space away from this." Akitaru: "What? I need protection." Takehisa: "...Phrasing." shinra: *sigh* ok, i'll play the martyr....heeeeeey princess hibana.... ^^;;;;; Hibana: *fire breath* shinra: OwO;;;;;;; Hibana: "YOU STUPID GORILLA TOOK LONG ENOUGH TO GET BACK HERE BEFORE THAT IDIOTIC FUZZY-HEADED DICKWAD IS ADDED TO YOUR BRIGADE!'" *lifts Akitaru by he the collar* "Do you have any idea what kind of nonsense you're about to deal with?! Having an interloper in your midst to screw up your brigade from the inside?! Who knows what he'll do to your team!" Akitaru: "...Like re-decorate my entire building, have sex on my bed--" Hibana: "YOU ARE STILL GOING ON ABOUT THAT?!" Victor: "..." nozomi: ??? eh? Victor: "Yo." tamaki: hmm? who's that guy? shinra:... !! (thinking: that guy...he was at the trainee tournament...) Victor: "I'm Victor. I'm the new guy." *waves* "Hello, Princess." Hibana: *fire eyes* Akitaru: "...Huh. Um, welcome, Victor. I'm Commander Obi. And...you were assigned by the Emperor to join us?" Victor: "Yeah. Boss man said your chemistry department sucks." maki: well...we have a nozomi! Victor: "...Yes, indeed you do." nozomi: um...n-nice too meet you...s-sir... Victor: *reaches out, takes Nozomi's hand, shakes it vigorously* "Heya." nozomi: um...h-h-hello... .///.; tamaki:...*glint* Victor: ("Got her.") Arthur: "???" shinra: ..... Akitaru: "Well, then...Shinra! Show Victor to one of the guest rooms until we get him moved in..." Victor: "Or you can take me to my lab now. I'd like to get to work immediately." iris: well, we did get a room set up for you. Victor: "...I suppose I can do some work in there." *looks to Nozomi* "Care to show me the way?" nozomi: oh um... iris: they did just get back...i'll show you guys the way to the room. nozomi: .///.; Victor: "Awesome, Sister. Thanks." *follows Iris, looks back at Nozomi briefly* nozomi:... ?? Victor: *keeps walking* "So, Sister, how is life around here at the 8th?" iris: it's nice. its not a very big brigade, but we get by. Victor: "I hope my expertise helps. I can start looking at any evidence you got so we can find whoever is making these Flame Humans." Victor: *sets down his suitcase on his bed* nozomi: mm.... well, i'm currently the only member of the research department so...i'll do my best to help you, sir. Victor: "Great. I look forward to working with you, then." *smiles* "What I could use right now are some of your case reports. Can you get me those?" nozomi: ah! right! *she goes to get those* Victor: *smiles at Iris* "She seems hardworking." iris: she certainly is. Victor: "That should be helpful..." *looks at Iris* "Thanks for making my room up...Um, is there a meal to have around here?" iris: yes. commander hinawa is a really good cook. ^^ -elsewhere- Sakuya: *shudders* lilac:...s-scary... tsubaki:....*watching the news report of the asakusa incident* Reporter: "While the 7th Brigade is tight-lipped, we have heard reports of numerous flame humans emerging in the town--" Black Star: "Damn it..." naho: *shaking* Sakuya: *holds her hand, stays close to Lilac* Reporter: "--as well as some vague rumors. Sir, we wanted to know, what you saw--" tsubaki: *still watching* Resident #1: "People wearing other people's faces!" Reporter: "...What?" fang-hua: well, it's difficult to explain, but we'll try the best we can. -elsewhere- Yumi: "We've tried reaching to the 7th, but our calls are largely diverted to the 8th..." lord death: hmmm... Yumi: "Flame humans, impersonators...If the 7th has means against these potential threats, we should convince them to share the knowledge. And that's not even considering their potential partnership with certain villainous individuals with quirks." lord death: perhaps we could send someone from the hoshino shrine? Yumi: "Good idea. I'll contact them." Yumi: *calls the Hoshino Shrine...* -elsewhere- Kuro: "Really bad news." mahiru: ?? tetsu: whats up? Kuro: *holds up newspaper* "Look at the fires in Asakusa." tetsu: .... misono: that's pretty bad... Kuro: *watching the video* "Huh...Thought I saw something..." misono: ?? Kuro: "Like a small wolf or something. See, that injured woman?" mahiru: *squints* -they're interviewing someone at the clinic- *A nurse is tending to Reimi* mahiru: *examining the screen* *A small fox is sitting in Reimi's lap* mahiru: !!!! t-thats...! Kuro: o_o "...Shit." misono: !!! lily, could you call tsubaki? Lily: "On it~" *auto-dial on phone* "Hello?" tsubaki: yes? may i ask who's calling? Lily: "It's me, silly, Lily! What, you don't have me programmed into your phone? How mean." tsubaki: ah, sorry. i'll do that in a bit, so what's up? Lily: "We found someone~" tsubaki: oh? Lily: "...Him." tsubaki:....!!!.... Lily: "Asakusa, the village that was just attacked." tsubaki: !!!!...... Lily: "He's in fox form, sitting on a lovely young lady's lap~" tsubaki:.... ^^; s-should i intervene? misono: LILY! D8< Lily: "It's up to you, Negotiator~ We have full confidence in you." tsubaki:...right. i'll head over right away. Lily: "It is a disaster area there, though. It may help if you know someone in the 7th Brigade." tsubaki: i'll keep that in mind. -and so, after she explained the situation to black*star- Black Star: "...You think you can talk to him? After what he did?" tsubaki: the least i can do is try, right? Black Star: ("But what if she...") *shakes the thought away* "R-Right...So, given all that security around there, need some muscle?" tsubaki: *she shakes her head* i think i have a plan. Black Star: "Want to clue me in? I'll help however I can." tsubaki:...*hug* i appreciate the thought...but this is something i have to face myself. *kiss on the forehead* Black Star: -\\\- *nods, hugs back* "Come back safe." -and so, after she arrived in asakusa- tsubaki:...it's certainly busier here now... Tsukiyo: "Hold it right there! State your name and business being here!" tsubaki: tsubaki nakatsukasa...there's someone i need to speak with... Tsukiyo: "Oh? And who is that?" tsubaki:....he's at the clinic. Tsukiyo: "Oh, an injured? Are you a relative? Wife?" tsubaki: um.... 7///7; i-its complicated. Tsukiyo: "..." *light bulb* .w. "Ooooooooh..." *clears throat* "I'm afraid I will need more information to complete the paperwork before letting you in. Why don't you start at the beginning--and give me all the juicy details~" fang-hua: *chop* you can go on ahead, miss nakatsukasa. tsubaki:...thanks. ^^; Tsukiyo: TT~TT "Right this way, ma'am..." -at the clinic- tsubaki:....*enters reimi's room*....hello. reimi: *asleep* Mr. Tsubaki: *asleep on Reimi's lap...then opens one eye...* O_- *small gasp* tsubaki:...it's been a while, hasnt it? Mr. Tsubaki: "..." *nods silently, looks downcast* tsubaki:...did you...want to talk at all? a lot's happened since we last saw each other... Mr. Tsubaki: "...Okay." *carefully moves from Reimi towards Tsubaki, whispers* "She knows, but as she is sleeping, we will have to be quiet." tsubaki:..right. -she tells him about all that has happened- Mr. Tsubaki: "Sham...is back with my...with his family?" *looks relieved* tsubaki: yes.....and himawari as well.... Mr. Tsubaki: "...You continue to impress, Tsubaki Nakatsukasa." tsubaki: *small smile* Mr. Tsubaki: "...Would you like to hear my story?" tsubaki: *she nods* Mr. Tsubaki: "The short version is that I returned to a former subclass's home, then a shrine...then came here...and now...this woman was going to die..." tsubaki: ah.... Mr. Tsubaki: "...So now, I have a new subclass here...a new family." tsubaki: hmm....what will you do now? Mr. Tsubaki: "...I feel obligated to watch over Reimi. Becoming a vampire is a challenging process. But...I want to get home to the rest of my family." tsubaki:...and your mission that you had? Mr. Tsubaki: *shudders* "Tsubaki...I don't know. My teacher wanted this world wiped away...but I see the people in this world, too..." *thinks of Hikage and Hinata...* "..." tsubaki: .....if you need a place to stay..i'll still leave the door open. Mr. Tsubaki: "...When the time is right...Will it ever be?" tsubaki:..... Mr. Tsubaki: "...I miss my family...I miss you." tsubaki: hmmm.....we miss you too... Mr. Tsubaki: "...Please let them know I am safe. And I love them." *nuzzles against her hand* tsubaki:...i will. Mr. Tsubaki: *swallows* "And I...l-l-love..." tsubaki: ??........ Mr. Tsubaki: "...You." tsubaki: ...*small blush* i.... Mr. Tsubaki: *bows his head, leaving her hand on his head* tsubaki: im....conflicted. Mr. Tsubaki: "...'Conflicted'? Tsubaki...I'm sorry." tsubaki: you...black*star.......i think to put it bluntly....i love you both. Mr. Tsubaki: *looks up with a start* "...You do? I...love you, too." tsubaki: i know....i do love black*star, and i always will....but i think i can find room in my heart for you. Mr. Tsubaki: "..." *moves from the bed, to the floor...and resumes his human form...he is on one knee, and he holds her hand* tsubaki: ah- Mr. Tsubaki: *kisses her hand lightly* tsubaki: .////. Mr. Tsubaki: "Tsubaki Nakatsukasa, with all my heart, I will always love you." tsubaki: ..... -later that night, she told the others everything- naho: TT~TT my feels.... Shamrock: X~Q lavender: oho, going for the harem route then? Black Star: "..." *frowning* tsubaki:....do you hate me? Black Star: "...I..." *shakes his head* "Can we talk, in private?" tsubaki:...... -in her room- Black Star: "...I don't...I feel angry..." tsubaki: ....... Black Star: "I'm not angry with you...but this situation...I did not...I did not think this...person would come into our lives...He hurt people." tsubaki:...i know....he's done things that i still have a hard time forgiving... Black Star: "...I'm sorry for saying that I can't see how even you could hold love for him...How can you love him?" tsubaki:...to be honest...i'm just as confused as you are... i think part of me wants to reach out and show him he isnt alone.... i must sound pretty dumb right now, huh? Black Star: "..." *shakes his head* "...I knew you loved him, a long time ago...when I saw you reach out to help him..." tsubaki:......even then....i still love you too...i love you both. Black Star: "..." *wipes his eyes* "I don't want to lose you...and that's selfish...but I love you. And I don't want to be some creepy stalker who forces you to stay..." -she only replies by hugging him- Black Star: *cries, holding her* tsubaki: i'm not going to leave you...i promise. Black Star: *sniffs, nods* "I'm not going anywhere, either. I love you." -elsewhere- Mr. Tsubaki: *in fox form, smiling, in Reimi's lap again* -elsewhere- Benimaru: "A lot of rebuilding to do..." kirei: *she nods* Benimaru: "..." *takes her hand* kirei: *small blush* Benimaru: "Kirei..." *brings her hand to his lips* kirei: ah... o/////o Benimaru: "Kirei...I love you." kirei: b-beni... Benimaru: "This is me speaking. No one else." kirei: *blushing* Benimaru: "You don't have to say anything...I leave it to you to take the lead..." kirei:....*she smiles and hugs him* i...l-lo...lo.... >/////< Benimaru: "..." *holds her, smiles...a sincere one* "I love you, too." soldiers: WOOOOOOAH! fang-hua: congrats. ^^ kirei: !! O//////O Tsukiyo: Q~Q *cries, clutches Fang-hua, sobs into her shoulder* Benimaru: "...How long were you all there?" Konro: "Long enough, it seems." kabuki: aww. hinata + hikage: oooooh~ hehehehe~ ^^ fang-hua: ^^; *pats tsukiyo's back* at least you still have kabuki Konro: "D'aw, you're blushing, Young Master." Benimaru: -\\\\- kirei: ^^ Benimaru: *holds Kirei's hand, small squeeze* kirei: *smiles* Mr. Tsubaki: *enters, leading a recovering Reimi* reimi: hello sister. kirei: ah! reimi! reimi: im feeling a lot better now....what did i miss? fang-hua: well.....a lot. Tsukiyo: *crying* "Commander has found love with Sister Kirei..." Mr. Tsubaki: ^^ ("She's not the only one...") reimi: ah...WAIT WHA?! O-O fang-hua: yeah... ^^; well, im happy for you guys. kirei: hehe, thanks kohana. fang-hua: !!! NOT YOU TOO! Benimaru: *smiles* "It's catchy." Mr. Tsubaki: *looks up at Reimi* ("Something wrong?") fang-hua: -_-; -elsewhere- Meme: "How's your family doing with shrine stuff, Ao?" Anya: -__-; ao: they're doing well. Meme: "Helping out with the Asakusa recovery efforts?" -elsewhere- nozomi: *reviewing files* Victor: "How's it coming along?" nozomi: still looking things over......*staring at one file; Toshiaki Harada*.....*trembling* Victor: *picks up on her reaction* "...Someone you lost?" nozomi:.... my father.... Victor: "Oh...I'm sorry." nozomi:.....the commander.....put him out of his misery......he was...the only family i had... Victor: "...I can't imagine what you must be feeling." nozomi: oh..it...it happened a long time ago.....i didnt even know he had become....*her breath is caught in her throat* ....i...didnt want to believe it... Victor: *holds her hand* "Hey. Let out that breath...Breathe in...and out...You're doing good work here. You're trying to find who is responsible, so you can make sure this never happens again. You're doing what needs to be done...You're helping." ("..." *smirking internally*) nozomi: ah...right....just crying about it isnt helping anyone. s-sorry... .///.; Victor: *pats her hand, pulls back* "Let's take a break to refocus. You like coffee?" nozomi: i-i dont drink it often. i usually have tea... Victor: "Tea's good, too. Come on, let's go have a cup--it'll be good for both of us." *smiles* -elsewhere- Mr. Tsubaki: "I know you have an undergone a tremendous change...How are you handling this experience?" reimi: i've been feeling rather tired.... Mr. Tsubaki: "Because you need blood...?" reimi: i guess im still in shock... Mr. Tsubaki: "..." *nods* "It was that way for almost all of my subclasses...and for me." reimi: hmmm...... Mr. Tsubaki: "...Please know: you are still the same person you were before. Your memories, your hopes, your qualities..." reimi:..r-right. Mr. Tsubaki: "Sister...Tell me a bit more about yourself. What do you like to do with your day?" reimi: well, i've been told i have a talent for humming folk songs. OwO Mr. Tsubaki: *smiles* "Really? I enjoy folk music...Could you hum one?" reimi: *humming kagome-kagome* Mr. Tsubaki: -w- "Quite good..." *curls his tail up around himself...* -elsewhere- Kid: "Good news from True Cross?" stocking: well, i passed the preliminary exams. Kid: "That's great!" *hug* stocking: well, it helps that miss kirigakure was the teacher. kirika: for what? stocking: NOT YOU! Kid: "??? Wait, haven't I met her before--Shura Kirigakure?" stocking: yeah, she was on the camping trip with us. Kid: "Ah. She seems passionate about teaching, so that was good of her to be there for you." stocking: yeah. *she smiles* Kid: "When is your next exam?" stocking: next week. Kid: "Anything I can do to help prepare?" stocking: i'll have to do more studying. Kid: "I'll do what I can to keep your studying environment peaceful." *smiles* -elsewhere- Black Star: *knocks on Lavender's door* "Lavender? You got a few minutes? I...need some help." lavender: what's up, kiddo? Black Star: "...Can you tell me a bit about Mr. Tsubaki...and open relationships?" lavender: oh~? what did you want to know? Black Star: "Look, I trust Tsubaki...it's him I got problems with. And I worry, like, is he going to hurt her? How does our relationship work? Do he and I, what, 'share' Tsubaki?" lavender: ah. well, ever heard of a threesome, kid? it's easier than you'd think. Black Star: -\\\\- "Yeah...I've kinda looked into that...But how can I trust Mr. Tsubaki?" lavender: *smile* he may be crazy....and i mean really crazy...but he really cares about her, based on what i can tell.....once you get to see past that crazy psychopathy, he's not that bad a guy. Black Star: "...Not the best recommendation I've heard...If he really cares about Tsubaki this much, I guess I have to trust her...Regarding...'intimacy'...do you have any, like, books or something?" lavender: books, dvds, or you can watch me and higan, haha! Black Star: -___-;;; "Thanks for the offer, but I'll stick with the books right now." lavender: alright then. Black Star: *opens one book--* o\\\\\o "...I can't imagine Mr. Tsubaki doing _that_ to me..." lavender: need anything else, kiddo? Black Star: "...I'm scared...that I won't have Tsubaki in my life." lavender: hey, she's not goin' anywhere, ok? tsubaki:...*she hugs him* Black Star: "!!!" *looks at Tsubaki* "S-Sorry for...doubting you. I'm just...This is all new..." tsubaki: it's...still a lot for me to take in too... Black Star: "..." *holds her hand* "One day at a time?" tsubaki:..*she smiles* yeah. lavender: *smiles* Black Star: "..." *hug* -outside- naho: how heartwarming~ ^^ Shamrock: X_TT otogiri: .... lilac: a-are you...ok..mr shamrock? Shamrock: "...He hasn't returned to us...but somehow he finds love...and I feel alone." lilac:...... otogiri:...that's unfortunate. Belkia: "...Maybe try online dating?" Shamrock: X_T;; otogiri: it's a possibility. Shamrock: "Knowing my luck, I would end up with that stalker Belkia had--" Belkia: "NOT FUNNY, SHAM!" D: naho: too soon! Shamrock: *shamed* Belkia: "Hmph. Let's just have an adults' night out--Clubs! Bars! Random acts of violence!" otogiri: -_-; Sakuya: *chop* "No violence. Tsubaki said so." Shamrock: "...Maybe going out for a night would be fun." otogiri: perhaps. lavender: say, maybe we could go out and enjoy a night out. i know just the area to do so as well~ Belkia: "Where’s that?" -and so- lavender: there it is. Red light district~ Shamrock: x_o Higan: "...Huh. Didn't realize Death City had one." lavender: gotta know where to look~ besides, this city is massive. Belkia: "Well, let's get started! This is gonna be fun!" otogiri: *sigh* this wont end well. Woman: *looks at Lavender* "Hey, there." lavender: hey~ *waves* Woman: "You and your friends looking for a fun time?" manager: oi! you there! *grabs belkia* we need a performer, since our show tonight called out sick. lavender: trying to set our friend up here with someone. *points to shamrock* guys, girls, either will do. Belkia: "??? Oh! What will I be doing? Rabbit out of the hat? Cut a woman in two? Escape from a cage?" Shamrock: x_-;;; Woman: "I can help with that..." *smiles at Lavender* "Nothing for you, though, doll?" manager: just follow me. lavender:....you up for a threeway? Belkia: *follows* Woman: *smiles, puts an arm around Lavender's shoulder* "Depends who the third is~" lavender: *looks at higan* 7w7 Higan: *waves* Woman: "Oh, aged to perfection~" *stands before Higan and Lavender, hand on each of their shoulders* "Let's get your friend [Shamrock] hooked up, then we'll find a place..." Shamrock: *follows the Woman* otogiri:....*facepalm* otogiri: fancy... Woman: "I have some friends who would enjoy your friend..." lavender: dang. nice place. Shamrock: x_-;;;; lavender: good luck sham~ Woman: "We try." *holds out her hand to Lavender* "I'm Lilith." lavender: just call me lavender. or lav~ Shamrock: *looks around* "Y-Yeah, thanks." Higan: "Higan." *kisses Lilith's hand* Lilith: "Oh, a gentleman...What will you two have to drink?" Shamrock: *stands around, awkwardly* otogiri: 7_7;;;;; ?? oh, belkia didnt follow us? Shamrock: "??? Huh...Must be having fun elsewhere." woman 2: oh, that guy who dresses like the manager? i think he's down at prince pegasus. Shamrock: "Ah..." *looks at Woman #2* "Thank you. So...How is your evening going?" woman 2: alright. want something to drink? Shamrock: "Sure...How about a rum and coke?" woman 2: sounds good. -meanwhile- guy: O_O;; uhhh... guy 2: who's this guy? guy 3: not sure, but he's kinda cute~ Belkia: ^\\\^ "D'aw, thanks! I'm Belkia--and I...am a master magician!" guy 3: oooh~ *shiny eyes* Belkia: *smiles* "So, where do you want me to perform?" guy 3: 7w7~<3 -elsewhere- Tsukiyo: *grumble grumble* "So annoying..." fang-hua: its ok. you're life isnt over. Tsukiyo: *pout* "I know. I just feel conflicted. I'm upset for myself, but happy for the Commander and the Sister--and I don't want to come between that." *sigh* "...You know what I want?" fang-hua: oh? Tsukiyo: *sets a bottle of sake on the table* fang-hua: ._.; oh... Tsukiyo: *pours out two small cups, then sets the bottle away* "Just a little to take the edge off." fang-hua: ^^; -elsewhere- Sakuya: "Lilac, pass the plate around--take as many donuts as you want." lilac:....*nom* .... Sakuya: ^^ "Naho, want one?" naho: *nom* ^o^ himawari:..... Sakuya: *offers one* "Here, Himawari--try one." himawari:...*nom*.... Sakuya: *smiles* tsubaki: enjoying yourselves? Sakuya: *nods* "Yeah. It's kind of nice having the place not so packed." -later- otogiri: we're home. lavender: it was one hell of a night~ Higan: *his jacket over Lavender's back, his hand on her hip* "Yeah." Shamrock: *sigh of relief* lavender: ^^ otogiri: -_-; Black Star: "Wait, where's Belkia?" otogiri: he's here. Belkia: *winces* "H-Hey..." tsubaki: oh my goodness! are you ok? Belkia: "Y-Yeah, I'm fine...Just a...'show' didn't go as I expected." ^^; tsubaki: ?? Belkia: "Man, I've _never_ pulled a rabbit out like that before--HA HA--ow..." tsubaki: ?? oh..OH! O.O otogiri: *facepalm* what have we learned from this? Belkia: "Ask more questions, use protection, and damn that did feel kind of good!" lavender: on the bright side, at least sham didnt break any legs this time! Shamrock: x_-;;;; "...I may have bust a nut..." Black Star: >__< naho: O_O like with your foot or...??? Shamrock: "...It's a phrase, referring to men getting off..." naho: o////////o oh. tsubaki:..i....see.... *covering lilac's ears* Sakuya: -____-;;; "Some info is better left to yourselves..." Belkia: "I'm going to turn in...and sleep this off." Higan: "I'm not that tired yet." otogiri: .... lavender: round two~? Higan: "Indeed~" Black Star: -_-; "You okay, Otogiri?" otogiri: yes. just tired from dealing with their nonsense. Black Star: "Yeah, I hear that..." tsubaki: ^^; himawari:....... Shamrock: "??? Himawari? You have an okay day?" himawari:...... Shamrock: "...I hope it's getting better. Did you have anything to eat?" himawari:.... Shamrock: "...Well, I'll cook something and put it in the fridge, in case you get hungry in the night." -elsewhere- Tsukiyo: *slurred speech* "You are a good friend, Fang!" *pats her back* fang-hua: t-thanks... 7///7; Tsukiyo: "Okay, last call! Want another sip?" -elsewhere- Kuro: "...So we're fine with Tsubaki negotiating 'peace' with this lunatic?" mahiru: well, she's our best option for this. and it's worked so far, right? Kuro: "This person is dangerous, though. I only hope she keeps a tight leash on him." -elsewhere- Mr. Tsubaki: "I hope the blood helps you feel better. Get some more rest." reimi: *asleep* hinata: *pokes her head in* hikage: *peeeeek* Mr. Tsubaki: "!!!" hikage: mr doctor, are you really a kitsune? hinata: thanks for saving kabuki. ^^ Mr. Tsubaki: "..." *nervous laugh* "A 'kitsune'? Ha ha...Who told you that?" ^^;;; hinata: kabuki told us! Mr. Tsubaki: ._.;;;; "Um...You promise not to tell anyone?" ("Otogiri and Teacher, thank you both for teaching me first aid...") hikage: we wont say anything. hinata: so long as you pay up! Mr. Tsubaki: "...Eh?" *looking in his empty pockets* "Um...I guess I'll be doing odd jobs to pay up..." hinata: not money. *points to a jar of candy* Mr. Tsubaki: "...Ah!" *opens the jar, removes candy to hand to the girls* "Here you go!" -nom nom- hinata: thanks~ hikage: you've bought our silence. Mr. Tsubaki: ^^;; "That's good...Now, let's let the Sister sleep to finish her recovery." -elsewhere- Victor: "Thanks for the tea. I hope you get some good sleep tonight, Nozomi." nozomi: r-right. tamaki: making friends, new guy? *sits next to nozomi* Victor: *smiles, nods at Tamaki* "I hope so. Nozomi has been a brilliant colleague in our investigation." tamaki: she sure is. nozomi: oh..t-thank you. Victor: "How long have you two known each other, Tamaki?" tamaki: a while. she's kinda monitoring my behavior...she's kinda my best friend. nozomi: ./////. m-miss tamaki... Victor: *still smiling* "Then you probably have the best friend anyone could have." tamaki: *smiles* yeah. i want to be there to keep her safe too.... *gives him a glint* Victor: *smiles back* "Don't we all?" *glint--to the point that a spark of electricity is passing between his and Tamaki's intense glares* nozomi: ^^;; Victor: "I hope to continue this conversation with you both in the morning..." *yawns, stretches...right in front of Nozomi* "But I had best sleep. Good night, Tamaki. Pleasant dreams, Nozomi." nozomi: .////. r-right. tamaki:..... Victor: *leaves...and left a listening device hidden under the table* -elsewhere- Black Star: *crawls into bed* tsubaki: *asleep next to him* Black Star: "..." *worried face, as he gently hugs her* tsubaki: *smiles* Black Star: *closes his eyes, rests his head next to hers* -morning- Tsukiyo: =w= *muttering in her sleep* "Why, yes, that would be wonderful..." fang-hua: tsukiyo...tsukiyo time to get up.... Tsukiyo: *still talking in her sleep* "Right there, Kabuki..." *her arms go up towards Fang-Hua* fang-hua: e-eh?? O///O *she got pulled in* !!! Tsukiyo: *her arms wrap around Fang-Hua, as a leg goes over her* "Mmm...Hold me close..." fang-hua: !!!! t-t-tsu-tsukiyo!! Tsukiyo: "Oh, Kabuki...Call my name out again..." *opens one eye...sees Fang-Hua* "...Huh. Why are you in my bed, buddy?" fang-hua: im trying to wake you up... .///_///.; Tsukiyo: "...Huh." *looks down at herself* "...I guess I drunk too much, huh?" *she's pressed up against Fang-Hua...* fang-hua: mind letting go please? >///<; Tsukiyo: "Oh, right!" *lets go, sits up...she's naked* "Sorry about that." -elsewhere- Shamrock: *already making breakfast* tsubaki: morning. Shamrock: *nods* "Good morning. How are you feeling?" tsubaki: a lot better. Shamrock: "...I am happy for you, and Tsubaki." tsubaki: hey, dont leave black*star out. >.< Shamrock: *small smirk* "I think it's _you_ who shouldn't leave him out..." tsubaki: *pouts* lavender: *chop* come on sham, lay off. Shamrock: X_T "Hmph." *goes back to cooking* Higan: *shirtless* "Ignore him, Tsu. Sham just likes to be a jerk about things. Wishing you the best." tsubaki: thank you. Higan: *pouring some coffee, reaches to the table to take some sugar--and purposefully passes his hand just close behind the small of Lavender's back* Belkia: "Mornin', everyone." lavender: oh~ 7w7 Higan: *winks at her* naho: *nyaaawn* morning everyone... =.= *still half asleep* otogiri: -_-; Sakuya: *standing next to Naho...but...* "Zzz..." lilac: *poke poke* himawari:........ Sakuya: *snort awake* "H-Huh? Wha? Where am I?" naho: mrrzzzz..... Black Star: *yawns* "..." *spots Tsubaki* tsubaki: morning. *she smiles* Shamrock: *smiles at Himawari* "Ready to dine, Himawari?" himawari:...... Sakuya: *looks at Naho, who is leaning against him* Black Star: *small smile* "Hey..." *walks over...and kisses Tsubaki lightly on the lips* tsubaki: U///U naho: zzzzz..... Black Star: "Morning..." Sakuya: *poke poke at Naho's shoulder* tsubaki: sleep well? naho: nhhnng? who..wha.... Black Star: *small shrug* "Alright..." *holds her hand* tsubaki: *smiles* Sakuya: "Hey...It's morning. Time to get up, sleepy head." naho: is it the weekend? Sakuya: "Yep...so I thought you'd like to be up to make the most of it." *smile* naho: *nyaaawn* ok. tsubaki: that reminds me, i got this weeks schedule set up. Shamrock: "Oh? What's on it?" -a list of chores, appointments, and other reminders- Belkia: *pops up behind Tsubaki* "...I'm not going to do most of this stuff, so let's all agree to have Shamrock do all the work!" otogiri: -_-; Shamrock: *SHAM-CHOP to Belkia's head* "We will split the work on the basis of ability, time, and fairness. Tsubaki, I will take on more work so that the younger subclasses have time for their homework and leisure time." Higan: *points to a few entries* "I can take care of those today." lavender: hmm, i got gardening duty today, not bad. Sakuya: "Vacuuming and...bathrooms? Ugh...Fine." -elsewhere- Mr. Tsubaki: *in nurse's scrubs, visiting Reimi with a tray of food* "Morning. Ready for your breakfast?" ^^ reimi: ^^; Mr. Tsubaki: *sets the tray at her bed...and points to a vial with his blood in it* Mr. Tsubaki: "You'll be released tomorrow." reimi: *she nods* i cant wait to head back to the shrine. i bet the others are worried about me... Mr. Tsubaki: "I can assure you they are..." *points to his ear* "Foxes keep an ear open for those things." reimi: ^^; Mr. Tsubaki: "...I know it will be challenging to re-acclimate after all that happened, including having someone take your identity. But...if life has taught me something, it is that you can overcome these challenges." reimi: *she nods*.... Mr. Tsubaki: "Is there anything I may do to help?" *slicing her apple* -elsewhere- Kid: *already dressed and adjusting furniture in the den* stocking: feng shuei? Kid: *nods* "I always have trouble with getting the colors correct..." *holds up his fingers to form a square with with he looks* "Hmm...That painting is still crooked, too." stocking: need help? Kid: *nods* "Yes...You have such a good idea for these details..." -elsewhere- Konro: "Good work rebuilding, soldiers." soldier: ^^ Konro: "Kabuki, when does the next delivery of lumber arrive?" kabuki: should arrive by tuesday. Konro: *nods* "We'll move onto other tasks until Tuesday, then." Benimaru: "Oh, Konro, Kabuki. Good work..." kabuki: *he nods* soldier: gonna call it a day and visit your girlfriend, beni~? haha! Benimaru: -\\\\\\- *summons a fireball...* "You have five seconds..." soldier: O-O;;;;; kabuki: ^^; Konro: "...Huh. Having a girlfriend has made you lightened up: usually you only give them two seconds--" Benimaru: *fireball at the soldier's feet* soldier: *FLEES* Benimaru: *grunt, harumph...* "...Excuse me. I have to see Sister Kirei now..." kabuki: by all means. Benimaru: *approaches the shrine...* "Hmm...Much work to do here..." kirei: hmm. oh, benimaru. it's nice to see you. Benimaru: *nods* "You as well." *awkward silence* "...You are looking well." sister: oh~ she's going right to his name! sister: oh my~ kirei: g-girls! really... ^///^;; Benimaru: -\\\\- *small smile* "I wanted to check on how recovery and rebuilding was going." kirei: it's doing well. sister reimi will be home soon. Benimaru: "Oh, that is good news. Her recovery is nothing short of a miracle." kirei: ....she saved my life... Benimaru: "..." *holds her hand* "She knows how grateful you are...as am I." kirei:...*smiles* Benimaru: *looks around* "Wait...where is your fox?" kirei: he's with reimi in the clinic...he's taken a liking to her as of late... Benimaru: "...Rather loyal, then. Someone to help her recover..." -elsewhere- Lawless: *holds up his phone* "Do it. Come on! You'll get so many hits!" julian: this is a terrible idea. TT_TT romina: it's fine, you've had worse! Lawless: "Okay, I hit record--start the music!" julian:....*sigh of defeat as he begins dancing....in a maid costume....a very showy maid costume* Lawless: "Ha ha ha! Yeah, baby! Shake that money-maker!" licht: ..... -_-; Lawless: *finishes recording* "And now to upload! So much traffic, man...Licht, go put on those boxers with the hearts on them: you're going to be reading 1 Henry IV." licht: no way in hell. kranz: i'll do it then. besides, those are my boxers! Lawless: "Thanks, Kranz! You're a bigger help than Piano Fuck Boi over here..." licht: *inches from lawless' face* im sorry, the fuck was that? Lawless: "..." *puts the phone away, stares Licht in the face...and...* *tear, rip* licht: ?!?! Lawless: "AH HA!" Lawless: "You _do_ wear boxers!" licht:......... Lawless: *SNAP SNAP SNAP* "Blackmail!" -one brutal beatdown later- Lawless: *body pixelated due to the amount of blood lost* -elsewhere- Victor: "What do you in the 8th do for fun?" shinra: we have a wii u. tamaki: most of us go to school during the day. Victor: "How about you, Nozomi?" nozomi: i go to school with them. Victor: "Neat. How far along are you?" -elsewhere- Johannes: *grumbling* "Stupid Jeje and everyone telling me to get out of the shop for a few hours...Not my fault that stink bomb went off..." ???: then i said 'no you are', then he said 'no _you_ are' and then i was like 'i guess i kinda am.' so long story short, i kinda owe him 5 dollars. Johannes: "???" *looks at the person talking* kyouko: honestly, i dont know what we're gonna do with you. sayaka: hehe ^^; Johannes: :3 *looks at them talking* kyouko: ..?? hey, isnt that your 'boyfriend'? sayaka: eh? *turns* O____O OHGODNO! *'graceful' swan dive into the bushes* Johannes: *waves happily* "Hello, Sweet Pea! Hello, Sweet Pea's friend!" kyouko: hey. sayaka: *in the bushes* Q__Q Johannes: *walks over, waves* "I'm Dr. Johannes Mimir Faustus! Happy to meet you!" kyouko: well, you can just call me kyouko, and as you know, this is sayaka. sayaka: KYOUKO! HOW COULD YOU SELL ME OUT!? Johannes: *still standing beside Kyouko, waving happily at Sayaka* "Howdy! What are you two up to this fine day?" sayaka: Q-Q kyouko: -_- sayaka get out of the bushes and face your damn fears. sayaka: *tiny scoot* hey. Johannes: *squee* "So, what are you two up to? Errands? Off to the library? Movies? Meals? Battling the forces of evil with powers inherited by small furry creatures?" kyouko: ...what? sayaka: nothing! nothing interesting at all! we should be going now! Johannes: "...Oh. Well, um, okay." *waves* "Have a good day, then..." -elsewhere- Mr. Tsubaki: *in fox form, rolling on his back in Reimi's room in the sunlight through the window* ^^ "So happy..." -elsewhere- Relan: "Feeling better?" mikami: y-yeah... Relan: *smiles* "That's good...We miss you at the station. Gonna need you back there soon...Giovanni wants you back at work when you're ready, too." mikami: *she nods* ryuuko:.... Relan: "...Um...I could also get you your remaining homework, too...If that helps." mikami: i appreciate that, t-though you dont have to if you d-dont want to... Relan: "I want to, because you and Ryuuko are my friends..." *smiles* mikami:... ^^ ryuuko:.... 7u7; Relan: TTwTT -elsewhere- Sakuya: Q~Q "That bathroom was icky times a billion." naho: phew...at least it's all done now... Sakuya: *collapses onto the couch* "I wonder how the others did..." Higan: "About done..." lavender: all finished~! himawari:...... Shamrock: "Kitchen is cleaned up--so I made some snacks." *holds the tray up to Himawari* himawari:... Shamrock: "..." ("What do I do with this one...?") -elsewhere- Gopher: "I think it's cute..." kirika: 7n7;; *in a kigurumi* Gopher: "And I bet it feels soft and warm, right?" kirika: it's nice. -elsewhere- Jacqueline: *reading a newspaper* kim: whats new? Jacqueline: "Rebuilding is still happening in Asakusa...jewelry theft in Milan...value of the yen went up..." kim: ah. -with ponera's group- shaula: *hella proud of her new scorpion brooch* Ponera: "...So...How did you get that?" shaula:...it was a present~ beatrice: 7///7; Ponera: *shiny eyes* "D'aw! I wish I had someone do that for me..." grimoire: .... -elsewhere- Jeje: "I forgot how much quieter it is when he goes out..." metsu: *she nods* Jeje: "Anything I can do to help you with remaining items on our to-do list?" -elsewhere- Hibana: *eating cereal angrily* *NOM NOM NOM* >< gabriella: please be careful. ^^; -elsewhere- Shinoda: *hugging the apple tree* ^^ mana: SHINODA YOU ARE EMBARRASSING ALL OF US! Shinoda: "This is a life-giving tree for me--don't ruin this..." *kisses the tree* nea: *facepalm* Kepuri: "...Kind of shipping it." nea: D8< lin: maybe putting Adderall in his apple wasnt one of your best ideas, emine. Emine: "...I may have gone too far this time...I'll put myself in the corner when we get home." Shinoda: "Cradle me in your branches, you gorgeous life-giving plant." nea: and this is why we cant have nice things. -elsewhere- Kid: "And now, all is in order." *beaming* stocking: *she smiles* Kid: "...Sorry. I took you away from your studying, didn't I?" stocking: it's fine, kid. Kid: *smiles* "Thank you." *pats her back* "Well, I'll let you return to studying..." stocking: ^^ Kid: *heads to the kitchen...* -elsewhere- Lily: "Any updates from your girlfriend?" misono: oh shush. 7///7; mahiru: ^^; misono: well, things seem to have cooled down at C3 for now... Kuro: "Locking up vampires like that...I don't see Touma forgiving his employees for allowing their escape." misono:....still, i hope she- they, are ok... 7///7; Lily: "Maybe you should check in on her...I mean, 'them.'" :3 misono:....i wouldnt want to arouse suspicion. Kuro: "Put on a disguise? Or talk with her at school?" misono:...perhaps. Lily: "I have quite a range of disguises~" -elsewhere- Touma: *reviewing files on vampires...and other creatures* ("This may prove useful...") -elsewhere- Mr. Tsubaki: *in human form, waves at the twins* hinata: ^^ fang-hua: so then, 'drifter', you're some kind of kitsune then? Mr. Tsubaki: o___o;; ("So much for secrets...") "Um...Well, I mean...Heh. What makes you say that?" ^^;; fang-hua:....nevermind, just thinking out loud. Mr. Tsubaki: ^^;;;;; "I'm just here to provide any medical assistance I can...I mean, you don't suspect me of anything, do you?" fang-hua: why would i? you did help the commander out back at the shrine. Mr. Tsubaki: "It's just that your colleague seemed suspicious of me...I swear, I'm just here to help." ("...And because I can't go home...") fang-hua: alright then. -elsewhere- Relan: [things calmer now?] shinra: [yeah. we now have the 7th as allies! \(^o^)/ ] Relan: [yay! i assume in no small part because of your work] shinra: [daw. ^^; well the others helped out a ton as well.] shinra: [anyway, how's mikami doing, any better?] Relan: [a bit. it's a lot to work through] shinra: [no kidding. did U and iris talk to her about anything?] Relan: [a little. trying to figure out what kind of dreams she's having] shinra: [ah. so what was kurai manor like?] Relan: [big. o_o like, could fit 20 houses in there. regal look, interesting coat of arms] shinra: [oh?] Relan: [yeah, the coat has this woman with bright red hair] shinra: [ah, well, mikami does have red hair too... and i saw her dad has red hair too. i saw him on TV once. them genetics tho] Relan: [ha ha! yeah. hard not to spot members of her family in a crowd. sleeping any better?] shinra: [yeah.] Relan: [that's good. i hope you have good dreams soon] -elsewhere- Joker: "All according to plan..." *sips his umbrella drink* scarlet:.... you just walked in here, sat down and said 'all according to plan'. -_-; Joker: "...That is part of the plan." *sip* scarlet: your plan being? Joker: "Well, having Victor in place with the 8th to keep an eye on what they discover...and to make sure we keep tabs on the Hoods." scarlet: right. Joker: "We are in the intelligence gathering. Once Victor finds what we need, we make our next move." Joker: "And our next move will be quite a doozy~" -elsewhere- Arthur: "Huh. Never seen you without the nun outfit, Sister." iris: ^^; tamaki: so what are we doing out here? Arthur: "Grocery run. Freaking Victor is eating us out of house and home..." nozomi: he's not so bad. ^^; tamaki:... Arthur: "Well, you two _have_ to work together, so I get that _you_ have to see the best in him..." nozomi: .////. i-i suppose. tamaki: *rolls her eyes* Arthur: "If Victor gives you problems, let us know. No point having him try to disrupt our home...Interloper." nozomi: r-right... Arthur: "??? In any case, what food do we need? I want a boar, to roast on a pit." -elsewhere- Anya: *napping on the couch* tsugumi:...*puts a blanket over her* Meme: "Must be pretty tired after work today." -elsewhere- Shinoda: *holding an ice-pack to his head* "I can't remember what happened..." nea: *patting his head* Shinoda: "Did I do anything stupid?" *feels something in his mouth...pulls out a leaf* "???" -elsewhere- Johannes: "I'm home!" metsu: welcome back. Jeje: "Sss...I suggest you hide. Mikuni wants to know--" Mikuni: "What happened to Jocelyn's eyeball?!" *holds up a doll missing an eye* Johannes: "...Vision test." metsu:....*facepalm* Mikuni: "THIS ISN'T FUNNY!" Johannes: *holds up Jocelyn's missing eye to his own eye* "That's not how I saw it..." Mikuni: "...Metsu...Give me some space..." metsu: *she goes upstairs* please take it outside. Jeje: -____-;;; Johannes: "Yeah! Time to play--" *PUNCH'd* *Johannes is knocked through the open door and into the street, landing in a dumpster* Mikuni: "..." *sigh, as he picks up Jocelyn's eye* "Time to sew you back on~" ^^ Jeje: "That was quick...Wait for me, Metsu..." Johannes: @~@ "I see three of everything...That ain't right. Usually it's six of everything..." ???: oi, you alright? Johannes: "Oh, this is nothing. One time, he punched me so hard I went into orbit...Um, who is speaking? Is that you, God?" -a young woman is there, wearing goggles and a lab coat- ???: nah, just a regular passerby. Johannes: "Huh." *picks banana peel off his head* "You have on goggles and a lab coat, the international symbols of a fellow scientist." ???: why you'd be correct my good man. i also do some mechanic work on the side. *offers a hand to help him out* Johannes: *takes her hand, steps out, brushes debris off him* "Thank you. By the way, I am Johannes Mimir Faustus." ???: cool, the name's Itou. Karin Itou to be exact, haha! Johannes: "Hey, neat! So, what are you a scientist of?" karin: answering the unanswered question, my particular field of study would be in flame humans, as well as flame compatible tech. i even built this bad boy! *pats a flame powered mech suit* -elsewhere- Black Star: "Okay, so you all finish your errands?" naho: yep. otogiri: yes. Belkia: *covered in leaves* "Done!" Shamrock: *in an apron* "Food finished." Higan: *smoking a cigarette* "What do you think?" Black Star: -____-;;;; otogiri: *chop* do that outside. Black Star: "Thanks, Otogiri. Tsubaki, how did your errands go?" tsubaki: they went well. Black Star: *nods* "Well, guess it's time to sit to dinner--" *KNOCK KNOCK* tsubaki: ?? *she checks the peephole* *A small package is outside* tsubaki: ??? *It has a camellia blossom attached to the top...and a small kitsune plushie* tsubaki:... !! *she brings it in* naho:....ah! otogiri: !! Sakuya: "Is that...?" tsubaki: yes...*she looks at black*star* seems it's for all of us. Black Star: -___-;;; "It better not blow up..." tsubaki: *carefully opens the package* *Inside are some treats and a card* naho: ooh! *shiny eyes* tsubaki: *reads the attached card* NOTE: "A local treat until I can return to you, my family. I miss you all." *Signed with the doodle of a fox* tsubaki: *soft smile* naho: awwwww..... Black Star: "...Okay. That's pretty sweet. But you don't think he poisoned these, do you?" tsubaki: ^^; i doubt that Shamrock: X_TT "He thinks so much about us..." *nom nom* Belkia: "Yo, Tsu? I think there's another note in there..." tsubaki: ........*she looks at black*star* Black Star: "..." *nods* tsubaki:....*she opens it* NOTE: "Camelia Blossom-- What gets me through this time is knowing you are waiting for me. Your smile is what I see in my dreams. The warmth of your hand against mine is what I remember when I desire stability and strength to get through the day. I miss our family so much, and I miss you. I love you, and I will never stop loving you. Wait for me." tsubaki:....*tearing up* Black Star: "..." *pats her shoulder* tsubaki:...t-thanks. Black Star: *smiles, nods* Sakuya: "..." *holds Naho's hand* otogiri: -_-; so much for a 'private letter'.... lavender: oh shit...he's got it bad for her. *The envelope is sealed with a kiss...and the envelope is all black* naho: another one! *muttering* well, white day is tomorrow... Sakuya: ^^; tsubaki: *she opens it* Note: "If you need something to get you through those lonely nights..." *Enclosed is a photograph...* tsubaki:..... O////O;; lavender: oh. well then. Higan: "..." *smirk* "Good for him." Black Star: -____- otogiri:.... i have no response for that. Sakuya: "...That idiot." tsubaki:...*gives the photo to shamrock* here, you could use this more than me. i'll probably get too flustered to keep looking... .////.; Shamrock: x\\\o;;;; "B-But it was addressed to you!" *tries to pass it back* "My hands are not worthy of touching this!" tsubaki: n-no, i insist, really. >///< naho: JUST TAKE IT ALREADY! Shamrock: "Eep!" *holds it* x\\\\\\\o -elsewhere- Benimaru: "Kirei, are you well?" kirei: yes. *she smiles* i appreciate you letting me visit. Benimaru: *nods* "It is...a new experience. I tend to be private." kirei: *she nods* its understandable. your soldiers arent teasing you too much, are they? ^^; Benimaru: "...They tease. Not too much. They tend to stop once I threaten to burn them." kirei: hehe... *she holds his hand* Benimaru: -\\\- *small squeeze* "...I am happy you are here." -elsewhere- Kid: *yawn* stocking: zzzz.... Kid: *hugs her in his sleep* stocking: =w= Kid: *nuzzle* *yawns* "Love you..." tsubaki: mmmn~ Kid: *falls asleep next to her* "Zzz..." -elsewhere- Victor: *sitting alone in the kitchen, sipping on a glass of milk* nozomi: oh, you're still awake? Victor: "Yeah. Sorry, I take some time getting used to new places." ^^ nozomi: i see...h-how are you liking it here, so far? Victor: "Not bad. Surprised how furbished everything here is." *sips on milk again...leaving a milk mustache* nozomi: *chuckle* y-you have something on your... *points* Victor: "???" *touches his upper lip...small laugh, as he wipes it away* "Thanks...So, you're still up, too?" nozomi: *she nods* sometimes i work so hard i lose track of the time. ^^;; Victor: "Your hard work is admirable--I'm still impressed how thorough you have been in your records." nozomi: t-thank you. Victor: "...Hey, can I ask you something personal? What are some of your hobbies?" nozomi: eh? well, i do enjoy reading from time to time. Victor: "Fiction or non-fiction?" nozomi: usually non-fiction. Victor: "Ah. Any particular reason you prefer non-fiction?" nozomi: hmm, i suppose i just enjoy learning about things. ah, i sound like such a nerd, dont i? >///< Victor: "Yes. But I'm a nerd, too. It's about desiring to know more, and I don't think that's a bad thing at all. I think it's admirable." nozomi: oh. um.... .///. Victor: *smiles* "Thanks for telling me. It makes me feel better about being here." nozomi: mm.... .////. Victor: "...Want some milk? It tends to help me fall asleep." -elsewhere- Shamrock: x\\\\\\- *sigh of content* -knock- naho: sham? you in there? Shamrock: x\\\\\\\o ("WHY CAN'T I EVER GET A MOMENT OF PRIVACY?!") *pulls up his pants, hides the photograph, approaches the door, talks through it* "Y-Yes...Is everything okay?" naho: just checking. Shamrock: "..." *opens the door--he is fully dressed* "It is rather late. Couldn't sleep?" naho: im worried about himawari...i think she's cold... Shamrock: "...Maybe a thicker blanket?" naho:...do you think you can talk to her? Shamrock: "..." *nods* "Where is she?" naho: on the couch, she hasnt moved an inch... Shamrock: *nods, goes to the couch* "Himawari? How are you?" himawari:....*glances at him*...... Shamrock: "...May I have a seat?" himawari:...... Shamrock: *sits by her* "...I tend to have trouble sleeping, some nights." himawari:....... Shamrock: "I have to remind myself, that I have a life ahead of me...and another day..." himawari:........ Shamrock: "So I have to remind myself my body needs some sleep...and I lie in my bed, pulling the blankets over me, to feel held by them..." himawari:.......... Shamrock: "...Would you feel better if I stayed with you, until you fall asleep?" himawari:..... Shamrock: "...I brought a blanket?" *puts it down over her and him* himawari:...... Shamrock: "...Is this okay? I don't want you to feel uncomfortable..." *lightly rests his hand over hers* himawari:....*slightly leans in* Shamrock: "..." *puts an arm around her, lightly* himawari:....am i.... Shamrock: "???" himawari:....am i.....a bad girl....mr touma....? *she's trembling* Shamrock: "Himawari...No. You are not..." himawari:.....? Shamrock: "You are not bad. You are yourself, and you get to decide who you will be." himawari:......... Shamrock: "I think you are a good person..." himawari:...... Shamrock: "You are going through a difficult time...and you are strong to get through each day...and you will always have help..." himawari:....*trembling* Shamrock: *hug* himawari:.....im sorry.... Shamrock: "You have nothing to apologize for...I'm sorry I was not there..." himawari:.... Shamrock: "You are safe here...and your family loves you." himawari:.......*trembling* Shamrock: "It's okay...What you feel is fine...Let it out..." himawari:......i can....still feel him....touching me.... Shamrock: *nods* "Those memories...are going to persist. But he is not here..." himawari:........*whimpering* Shamrock: "You are away from him...And you have a life ahead of you." -morning- Shamrock: "Zzz..." himawari: zzzz....... Shamrock: *yawns, wakes up...* "..." *tries to get out of bed without waking her...* himawari: zzzzz.... Shamrock: *exits his room to go to the kitchen... lavender: she doing any better? Shamrock: "...You know, huh? I don't know...She held onto me, crying for an hour, before falling asleep. She talked a bit, shivered...but I think she got some deep, uninterrupted sleep." lavender: that's good...... sorry, its just....her situation...it hits a little too close to home for me... Shamrock: *nods* "I'm sorry." lavender: .... Shamrock: "...I was going to prepare breakfast..." -elsewhere- Yohei: "Good morning." chie: TT~TT Yohei: "??? Oh no...Need something to drink?" chie: *nods* Yohei: "Water? Ginger ale?" chie: the second one.... Yohei: "On it. Be right back..." *leaves and goes to the kitchen, getting the ginger ale* chie: TT_TT i thought i was done with morning sickness.... Yohei: "Just a bit longer..." *hands her the glass* chie: thanks honey. Yohei: *hugs her* "You're welcome." chie: UwU Yohei: "It'll get better soon..." *rests a hand on her belly* -elsewhere- misono: happy birthday lily. Lily: TTwTT "Thank you..." *hug* -elsewhere- Kid: "Good luck with studies today." *smooch* stocking: hehe~<3 Kid: "I'll have dinner ready when you get home. I love you." stocking: ok. *she looks at her notes* -upon arriving- student: i hear mr neuhaus is teaching the class today. stocking: (thinking: i've heard the name, but i've never met him in person...) Neuhaus: *enters* "Good morning. Eyes on the board, as we begin your work on summoning and controlling demons." *spots Stocking* stocking: ......?? (thinking: so, is he gonna be cool, or is he gonna be a d-bag?) Neuhaus: *calling to Stocking* "You are the new potential instructor?" stocking: !! yes sir! that would be me. OwO;; Neuhaus: "Hm. Any experience with taming demons?" stocking: well, somewhat. Neuhaus: "Good. Let's demonstrate. I'm having the students attempt a summoning--please pass out the summoning papers to students." stocking: right. Neuhaus: "Hold the paper to you...prick your finger to release blood...and let's see whether any of you have innate summoning abilities." stocking: *wince* Neuhaus: "Observe what I summon..." *POOF: a vaguely canine-like demon emerges by Neuhaus's side* "I have to keep a strong command over this demon, or risk having it loose control." stocking: *deep breaths* -elsewhere- Benimaru: *he is smiling* kabuki: you seem to be in a good mood today. Benimaru: "I think that this is a chance at progress for our home..." kabuki: how so? Benimaru: "A new alliance, rebuilding our homes, enlarging our medical unit...my own personal progress." kabuki: ah.. Benimaru: "...I feel more content." *smiles at Kabuki* "I am thankful that you and others were able to keep our home safe." -elsewhere- Victor: *stares at Shinra* shinra:...can i help you? Victor: *gets down on his belly, staring at Shinra's feet* "...Piggies..." shinra: uh.... iris: h-hey now! tamaki: WHAT THE HELL PERV?! Victor: *grabs Shinra's sandal, pulling it off, examining Shinra's toes* "So your fire is concentrated here? How do you walk with fire? Do you get athlete's feet? Are there any shoe-fabrics your feet don't burn through? Do you clip your nails? How do you avoid calluses? Have you ever walked on glass?" *starts writing notes, as he measures Shinra's feet with a ruler* shinra: um.... Akitaru: *picks Victor up--by his leg, holding him upside down* "Please don't harass the other members here. Nozomi, take him back to the lab to finish your work." nozomi: r-right. this way. Victor: *pouts* "Just want to learn more...for science." shinra: ......thanks commander. Akitaru: *smiles* "Any time, son. Now, let's all get back to work, too--we have a lot to catch up on after our excursion to Asakusa." -elsewhere- Jacqueline: *pokes Kim's arm* kim: hmm? Jacqueline: "What if you had a tattoo there?" kim: tattoo? owo;; Jacqueline: "Remember when I dyed my hair? I thought maybe a tattoo would look good on you." kim: like a permanent tattoo? owo;;; Jacqueline: *shrug* "Just a thought...Maybe...we could both get tattoos..." -elsewhere- Emine: "...You did say 'paint the fence.' You didn't say I couldn't write a message on it..." mana:....i have no words for this. Shotaro: o___o;; "...Those are some really naughty words." *holds up the "Swear Jar"* "That's at least 20 dollars' worth of cursing." Emine: "I don't see the problem. What do you think, Lin?" lin: O/////O;;;; saki: ^^# Tool: *glaring* "That fence...is crying in pain because of what you wrote. Now, paint _over_ those words, or you'll get an earful from me. Got it?" Emine: "...Fine. You *HONK HONK*." saki:.....emine~.....start running~ ^^# Emine: "..." *flies away like a bat out of Hell* Tool: "GET BACK HERE, YOU *HONK HONK*!" Shotaro: "...Mana? What's a *HONK HONK*?" mana: i'll tell you when you're older. -elsewhere- Mr. Tsubaki: *reviewing medical records* "Hmm...This patient's electrolytes are a bit low..." -elsewhere- Joker: *staring at the phone* "...He hasn't called in." -riiiing- Joker: *picks up the phone* "Yes?" Victor: [text...which is just a photograph of toes and the sentence, "his toes must be the answer!"] Joker: "..." -_______- scarlet:..... ew. -elsewhere- Gopher: *opens his locker* "...Where are my books?" kotone:...bottom shelf... Gopher: "Aw! Thank you." -w- *takes his books...then finds a note* "???" kotone: ??? -do your best. ~eibon- Gopher: TTwTT "My emotions...He cares so much about us..." kotone:...*small smile* Gopher: "Ready for lunch?" kotone:...yes. Gopher: "Yay! Chicken nuggets today--" *BUMP* kotone: ??? bandaid kid: ah! s-sorry! *runs off* Gopher: O_____O "...Was that a tinier me?" -elsewhere- Kid: *in the Death Room* "How is work proceeding, Father?" lord death: doing good kiddo. ^^ Kid: "I'm glad." *looks at the Mirror...his hand approaches its surface before he pulls back* -elsewhere- Sakuya: "Any plans for after school?" naho: not really. i'm probably gonna get myself ready for the flower viewing next month. Sakuya: "Neat. Got an outfit for it?" naho: still getting it set up. Sakuya: *nods* "Where is flower viewing next month?" naho: *gets up map app on her phone* here, in spring grove park in primrose neighborhood. Sakuya: "Cool...What do you wear to it? Kimono?" naho: probably. ^^ Sakuya: *smiles, nudge of her arm* "That'll be cool." -elsewhere- Kid: "Dinner is served~" stocking: thanks~ Kid: *pulls up the dining cover to reveal...* "Candied pistachio chicken." -later- liz: how was class? stocking: well, i learned summoning is not in my skillset. -_-; Patty: *pat pat* "Can't be perfect at everything!" stocking: i guess. Kid: "You have so many skills to offer the students, though." *smiles* stocking: *she smiles* Kid: "Do they have any trips planned to help you with additional training?" stocking: i'll have to check. Kid: "Do you have additional tests before they make your job official?" stocking: just the medical, aria, dragoon, and knight tests.... Patty: "Wow...That sounds like a lot." stocking: yeah.. *sigh* Kid: "One test at a time...Is there anything we can do to help with studying, or to keep up your motivation?" -elsewhere- Kepuri: *wearing a T-Shirt covered in baby vomit* T_T "I don't know how Saki and Tool deal with this..." akaderu: imagine what it'll be like with _two_ rugrats runnin around..... Kepuri: *groans* "That means more babysitting..." *pouts* "Kids are a lot of hard work, aren't they? I can't wait for Io to be old enough to tend to Yohei and Chie's kid." -elsewhere- Tsukiyo: "Woo! Good sparring session, Fang!" fang-hua: *she nods* it's starting to get warmer out now. Tsukiyo: :3 "I know. Can't wait for summer. But us fire people need to keep cool in the heat." fang-hua: yeah. Tsukiyo: "You know what? We should buy an ice cream machine and make some!" fang-hua: maybe. Tsukiyo: *smiles* "Well, that work-out worked up an appetite! What you hungry for?" -elsewhere- Higan: "...Feeling alright, Lav?" lavender: yeah. why wouldnt i be? Higan: *smile* "Just checking." *pat pat* lavender:...thanks. *small smile* Higan: "Hey...Wanted to show you something..." *takes out a photograph of the subclasses with Mr. Tsubaki* lavender: *she smiles* that was during the flower viewing last year, right? naho was still just a newbie then. Higan: *nods* "I found it while developing film...A lot has changed." lavender: yeah. Higan: *sigh* "...I appreciate what Miss Tsubaki does for us...but I miss that jackass." lavender: yeah, haha. Higan: "..." *pats her hand* "I also found some other photos I developed." lavender: oh? Higan: "Some of the youngsters, some of trips and meals...some private ones..." -elsewhere- Lawless: "Then check this out, Soul's brother--this is me and Lich-tan at Tokyo Disney! Look at his little Mickey Mouse ears!" Wes: "...Huh." licht: *sipping on a slushie* soul: ^^; Wes: "Never got to go to Disney. Soul, we should check it out some time." soul: sounds like a good idea. you could even take liz with you. Wes: "Yeah, her and Patty would get a kick out of it." Lawless: "??? You and Liz are a thing? Huh. So, Soul's going to be her brother-in-law, then?" Wes: o\\\\o soul: yeah, anyway, bro. Wes: *shakes his head back to focus* "Y-Yeah? What's up?" -elsewhere- Spirit: "Not too long before garden comes back into bloom..." sachiko: yeah. *she smiles* Spirit: "I was thinking of farming some new herbs for meals." sachiko: that sounds like a good idea. Spirit: "Anything you want to grow, Izumi?" -elsewhere- Anya: *flipping through a magazine* "Hmm...That one looks nice." tsugumi: oh. Anya: "Be a nice dress for you to try on. Or maybe this one?" -elsewhere- Arthur: *holds up a cat-shaped ice cream cookie sandwich* "For you." tamaki: *nom* Arthur: *smiles* "Feeling alright?" tamaki: yeah. *looking at the trees* hard to believe spring is just about here... Arthur: *nods* "A long year..." *slowly puts his arms around her* tamaki:.... 7///7 Arthur: "Maybe we can have a picnic in the park?" tamaki: sounds good. Arthur: *smiles, sighs* "...I'm happy you joined the 8th." tamaki: ...*smiles* shinra: come on, lovebirds, we got stuff to do. iris: ^^; tamaki: -_-; Arthur: -_-;; "Just taking a break...especially with the newbie around..." shinra: yeah, no kidding. *shivers* Arthur: "I don't trust him...Maybe we can learn more about him...Research him." iris: ^^; Victor: "Yeah, that sounds great! How can I help?" Arthur: o___O tamaki: NYAAAH! *jumps up into a tree* shinra: HOLY- Arthur: "Tamaki!" tamaki:...yeah yeah, laugh it up! the old cliche cat in a tree jokes.... Victor: "Oooooo! Tamaki! When you come down, I'd like to examine the flames along your legs and arms!" shinra: on the bright side, its not your usual cliche jokes. Arthur: "...I wasn't going to make a joke...Much." tamaki: WHEN I GET DOWN HERE IM GOING TO MASSACRE THE THREE OF YOU!!!! Victor: "What did I do?" Arthur: "YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID!" shinra: dont ask. Victor: "I could get you down..." *holds up an axe* -elsewhere- Hibana: *glomp* gabriella: ah! >///< Hibana: "Hee hee..." *smooch* gabriella: >/////< well, the tube is about ready, now we just have to wait... Hibana: ^\\\^ "Yes...How would you like to pass the time?" -elsewhere- Kid: *kitten yawn* stocking: *she smiles as she puts a blanket over him* Kid: *curls up, smiles* "Thank you..." stocking: hehe~ Kid: "I hope tomorrow is good to you..." *yawn* stocking: i hope so too.... Kid: *hug* "You will..." -morning- Benimaru: "Mmm..." kirei: U///U Benimaru: *smiles* "Good morning." kirei: *she smiles* Benimaru: "How is your morning starting?" -elsewhere- Shamrock: *whistling, as he makes breakfast* tsubaki: *helping* Shamrock: "Thank you, Tsubaki. Could you help me with this dish for Hinawari?" tsubaki: *she nods* Shamrock: "Keep an eye on this syrup I'm preparing while I finish the waffles..." *smiles* -later- himawari:....t...thank you... Shamrock: *smiles* "You're welcome. Tsubaki and I made this meal for you, because we wanted you to have a good meal." himawari:.....*small smile* Shamrock: *smiles back* "Enjoy." Belkia: *sniff sniff* "...Waffles?" naho: *drooling* Sakuya: "Looks great!" *sits down* Higan: "Good cooking, you two." *sits as well* -elsewhere- Kid: "Anything you want after school?" stocking: maybe visit the shops? Kid: *smiles* "I would like that." *pats her back* -elsewhere- Victor: "Yummy~" shinra: this is good, nozomi. nozomi: im glad you all enjoyed it... Arthur: *nods* "Thank you." Takehisa: "Quite good." Akitaru: "TASTY!" Victor: *smiles at Nozomi* "Delicious." nozomi: .////. tamaki: ...... Victor: "Well, I better get to work in the lab. See you all later!" nozomi:.... .//////. Akitaru: "...Nozomi? How are things working with Victor?" nozomi: eh? h-how so? Akitaru: "Getting along in the lab? Able to share the space, cooperate? Is he causing any problems?" nozomi: e-everything's doing well! very well! .////. maki:... 7w7 nozomiiiin~ is this love in the air that i smell~? nozomi: e-eh!? o/////o Takehisa: ._. Akitaru: "???" maki: just kidding~ nozomi: right!...hahahaha...ha...haaa..... .//////.;;; Akitaru: "Well, I'm glad you two are getting along at work. If you have any problems working with Victor, you let me know, any time, okay?" nozomi: r-right... Takehisa: "I think we should all get to work, then. No point fooling around..." -elsewhere- ivy: any updates? scarlet:... Joker: "I think our boy has an 'in' with the 8th, getting to one of their members." ivy: oh really? do tell... Joker: *shows a photo on his phone, with Victor posing with some brigade members, including Nozomi* "Looks like he is working along that girl there--ingratiating himself." ivy: i see. so he's putting the moves in shitty braids then? HAH! what a riot! scarlet: *rolls her eyes* Joker: "Got to start somewhere, if you want to appeal to the 8th and get them to see the Hoods for what they are--and help us with our work." scarlet: do you really think they’d be willing to work with 3 wanted criminals? Joker: "Misery makes strange bedfellows..." scarlet:....are you trying to hit on me again? -_-; Joker: "...Is it working?" scarlet:.........*takes his cig out of his mouth and snuffs it on his hand* -elsewhere- Shinoda: *pouts* "We only have apple sauce left..." lin: we'll head to the grocery shop then. medea:... Shotaro: "Right, we can go! Want to, Medea?" medea: very well. Shotaro: "Yay!" -elsewhere- Lawless: *reading poetry aloud at the school's entrance* student: isnt that hyde kranz? Anya: "???" Lawless: "True love is a durable fire, / In the mind ever burning, / Never sick, never dead, never cold, / From itself never turning." mio:....i dun get it. Lawless: -_-; *sigh* "It means--" Anya: "It means that love, if it is true, is everlasting rather than something fickle." Lawless: o\\\\o "Y-Yeah." licht: *clap* good for you. Lawless: *bows* "Thank you." *leaps off from the entrance to stand with Licht* "Ready for class?" -elsewhere- Relan: *smiles at Iris and Shinra* "How's the new recruit working out?" shinra: *cringe* iris: ^^;;; Relan: "??? That bad, huh?" iris: he's...enthusiastic, i'll give him that much. Relan: "So, kind of pushy?" shinra:.....anyway, is mikami doing any better? iris: did you find anything out? Relan: *nods* "Probably a link between what you were going through, Shinra. And she is almost ready to get back to service." shinra: hmm... Relan: "Would you like to meet them? I'm sure Mikami and you would have a lot to talk about." shinra: perhaps. (thinking: im not sure how much she knows....) Relan: *smiles* "Can always get something to eat. Mikami likes a few sweets..." -elsewhere- Hibana: "How is the tube working?" gabriella: coming along nicely... Hibana: *smiles* "Excellent." *checks the vitals* "Look at that..." gabriella: >w< Hibana: "Hee hee..." *kiss on Gabriella's cheek, holding her hand* -elsewhere- Kid: "Which shops would you like to visit?" -elsewhere- Lily: "Have you been speaking with your girlfriend?" misono: .... 7////7 y-yeah....she's doing well.. Lily: *smiles* "That is good. Is she safe with C3?" misono: i think so. Lily: *pat pat* "Then I'm sure she will be fine." -elsewhere- Victor: *looking through microscope, taking notes* "Still trying to figure out this ash...It's fascinating." nozomi: oh? Victor: *nods* "Ashes usually look like sand itself--yet I continue to find additional particles in these ashes from deposed Flame Beings...as if these are impure..." nozomi: hmmm.... Victor: "Here, take a look--" *stands away from the microscope* nozomi: *examining* ah, i see.... Victor: "If we isolate those particles, it may clue us in on what it is that separates Flame Beings from other humans..." nozomi: *she nods* Victor: "Here, let me increase the magnification..." *his hand passes over hers...* nozomi: o/////o ah... -elsewhere- Emine: *in overalls, with paint along his hands and face* "...I finished re-painting. The fence is now all one color and with no words on it." Tool: ^^ saki: good job. Emine: "Thank you. However, I still need to do a bad deed..." mono: TT_TT *covered in white paint* Emine: "And done." Tool: D:< -elsewhere- Kid: *reading through history books* stocking: *reviewing notes* Kid: *finishing writing a note* "May I help you with studying?" stocking: if you want to, though i dont know how much you know about this. ^^; Kid: "Maybe we can make some flash cards?" stocking: sounds good. Kid: *smiles* "Divide the notes, each of us write a few flash cards each?" stocking: sure. -elsewhere- Benimaru: "Kohana." fang-hua: hmm? yeah commander? Benimaru: "How has your day been?" fang-hua: doing well, sir. Benimaru: "That is good. I wanted to see whether you would be interested in joining Kirei and me for dinner." fang-hua: would you be alright? i wouldnt want to impose... Benimaru: "Not at all. We thought it would be a good way to catch up and decompress after the last few weeks. We may have Kabuki, Konro, and Tsukiyo as well, and Reimi." fang-hua: ah, well, in that case i guess it wouldnt be too much of a problem. Benimaru: *nods* "We were thinking this weekend." fang-hua: alright then. -elsewhere- Yohei: *rubs Chie's back* chie: ^w^~<3 Yohei: "Feel okay?" chie: yeah. Yohei: "That's good..." *hug* "Know what I did today?" chie: what? Yohei: "I improved the home security system, with a few more baby safe-guards." chie: *she smiles* that's great! Yohei: "Thanks...Just glad we got something in place for security." *holds her hand* "Anything you want to do tomorrow?" -elsewhere- Jacqueline: "Ready for bed?" kim: yep. Jacqueline: *nods, slides under the sheets of her bed* "Well...I hope you get some good sleep." -elsewhere- Medusa: "Aren't you just growing up fast..." neian: guu! ^o^ Medusa: *opens a book, starts reading...* "What animal is that, Neian?" *points to a drawing* neian:... sss... Medusa: "Yes, a snake. And a snake goes...'ssss'..." neian: ^^ Medusa: *points to a dog* "And what is that animal?" neian: bwuf! bwuf! Medusa: "Yes--a doggie! 'Woof woof!'" neian: hehe! Medusa: *kisses her forehead* "So smart." *flips the page, showing a lion* "Is that a kitty?" -elsewhere- Mr. Tsubaki: "Anything you need before bedtime?" -elsewhere- Victor: *asleep in lab* nozomi:....*puts a blanket over him*.... *smiles* Victor: "Zzz..." *smiles, feeling warmer under the blanket* nozomi: ^///^ Victor: *continues sleeping...* -elsewhere- Black Star: "Ready for bed?" tsubaki: *she nods* Black Star: *slides into bed beside her* "...I love you." tsubaki: *smiles* i love you too... Black Star: *smiles* "Sleep well..." *turns off the light, holds her hand* -elsewhere- Shamrock: "Himawari? Are you okay?" himawari:......tired..... Shamrock: *nods* "Want some warm milk?" himawari:....yes.... Shamrock: *heats up some milk* "...Will you be sleeping in your room tonight?" himawari:....could i......stay with you....you're....warm.... Shamrock: "..." *nods* "Of course. You are always welcome." himawari:....thank you.... Shamrock: *serves her the milk, smiles* "You're welcome." himawari:...... Shamrock: "...Is the bed comfortable? Do you want a different pillow or sheets?" himawari:......i feel.....safer....with you..... Shamrock: *smiles* "It means a lot to hear that. I hope I'm not a nuisance--I may snore..." -elsewhere- Lawless: "I can't sleep..." licht: zzzz...... Lawless: *pout* ("I guess I don't get to have a song played for me while I try to sleep...I'll go drain the lizard.") *gets up to go to the bathroom* -elsewhere- Hibana: "Mmm..." *small kiss on Gabriella's cheek* gabriella: ^///^ Hibana: *hugs her, patting her hands along her hips* "You have such a great figure." gabriella: o////o Hibana: *small laugh* "What? Am I wrong? You're beautiful." -elsewhere- Joker: *flipping through his phone* "...No updates." scarlet: was this really a good idea? Joker: "??? Sending in Victor? Yeah, why not? He gets us info on the 8th's Adora Burst..." scarlet:....right...... ['GET THE HELL AWAY FROM HER!' "her adora burst....i want to see it...."] Joker: "What, you had a better idea? How else do we convince Shinra?" scarlet:..... -elsewhere- Sakuya: *cuddle* naho: ^w^ Sakuya: *smooch* "Comfy?" naho: *she nods* Sakuya: "That's good." *leans his chin along her shoulder* naho: hehe~ ^^ Sakuya: *his arms wrap around her waist* "So huggable." naho: *nuzzle* U///w///U Sakuya: *hums lightly, as he rests his hands over her belly, holds her close* -elsewhere- himawari: *asleep* Shamrock: *watching her sleep...* ("She is peaceful now...I hope that lasts...We never talked as much when young master first brought her in...") himawari: zzzz..... Shamrock: "..." ("She didn't deserve this. No one does...Was I...ever this awful?") himawari: ..... *shifting in her sleep* Shamrock: "???" *eases his breathing so not to wake her* himawari:...... Shamrock: "..." *shifts the sheets over her* himawari:...*soft smile* Shamrock: *smiles* "Sleep well..." -morning- Kid: *kitten yawn* stocking: zzzz.... Kid: *smiles...smooch* stocking: =w= Kid: "Time to begin your day, Angel." stocking: *yawns* Kid: "Didn't sleep well?" stocking: i slept pretty good.... Kid: "That's good...Will you be studying at True Cross today?" stocking: is it the weekend? Kid: *nods* -elsewhere- Konro: "What would you like for Commander's dinner, Kabuki?" kabuki: perhaps some okonomiyaki? Konro: "Oh, good choice!" *grabs a bottle of sake* "Housewarming gift." kabuki: ah. Konro: "I'm happy for him and the sister. After that attack, glad he is moving forward." kabuki: indeed. who knows, maybe soon we'll be seeing the next generation of asakusa's leaders. Konro: "Ha ha! Please, you're going to make me feel even older." kabuki: hehe. Konro: "So, we'll be heading to their dinner tonight...Anything else to bring?" -elsewhere- Lawless: >w< *in bed...cuddled against--* licht: zzzzzz...... Lawless: *nudge nudge* licht: nngmhph.... Lawless: "Mmm...So huggable." licht: *muttering* cuz. im.....zz...an angel...zzz.... Lawless: "And what nice abs you have..." licht: *opens his eyes* nnnh...? Lawless: owo;;;; "...Morning." -he got wrecked. hard- Lawless: *twitching...his body embedded into the wall* "Ouchie." -elsewhere- Victor: *yawn, looks up* "Huh? I'm still in the lab?" nozomi: good morning. Victor: "..." *smile, yawn* "Hey." *stretches* "Ha. I always fall asleep in the lab. Glad you are here, bright and early." nozomi: t-thank you... .////. Victor: *stretches, then sniffs* "Ugh...I was at this so long, I need to shower first." *hands her his notebook* "You mind reviewing my notes while I get cleaned up?" nozomi: ah! right.... Victor: "Thanks." *smiles, winks, heads towards the bathrooms* nozomi:.... .////.;; Arthur: *already in the showers* Victor: *goes into the locker room, undresses, puts clothes into his cubby...enters the showers* "Mornin', Boyle!" Arthur: -____-;;; "Morning." Victor: *heads to stall, starts showering* -elsewhere- Shamrock: "Time to wake up..." himawari: nnh? *opens her eyes* Shamrock: "Hey. Ready to start the day?" -later- Higan: "Hey, Himawari, Sham." lavender: mornin' himawari:....*nods* Shamrock: *sniff sniff* "...What's burning?" Belkia: *holds up burnt toast...and his hair is on fire* "I don't know what I did wrong..." otogiri: *getting the fire extinguisher* Black Star: "Okay, new rule: Belkia never gets to cook again--" Belkia: D: Black Star: "Sham, get to work." Sham: "Hmph...Himawari, care to help me with toast?" -later- Sakuya: "All set for going out?" naho: yep. lilac:...*nods* Sakuya: *smiles* "Then let's get going. Can't wait to start..." -elsewhere- Emine: *stares at Chie* "Does your child require anything? I could eliminate any obstacles in your way." -elsewhere- Tsukiyo: "Get lots of desserts! We'll need them for dinner!" Tsukiyo: *picks up a Japanese cheesecake* "Yummy~" -elsewhere- Akitaru: *looking through his records* "Where was that workshop again...?" shinra: workshop? Akitaru: "Ah, Shinra! I ever tell you about Vulcan?" shinra: what, from star trek? Akitaru: "Ha ha ha! No, Vulcan is an amazing expert at analyzing Flame Beings, known as the God of the Forge." shinra: oh? tamaki: and you're telling us this, becauuuuse? Akitaru: "Unfortunately--" Hibana: *pops up behind Shinra* "Unfortunately, Vulcan does not take well to people coming to them with offers to join their brigades. Haijima has tried for a long time..." shinra: GAH! iris: when did she-? Hibana: *holds up a key* "I made my own to let myself in~" shinra:.....that's a comforting thought. Hibana: ^^ Akitaru: -_____-; "In any case, since Vulcan is around your age, I thought maybe having you all visit them may convince them to work with the 8th." shinra: seriously, they're that young? Hibana: "Hard to tell, given how secretive Vulcan is. If you're going to see them, you'll need to ditch the brigade outfits and look like regular civilians, to better ingratiate yourself." shinra: ah, well we do have casual clothes. Arthur: *looks at Iris* iris:....what? Arthur: "You can't go out in your habit." iris: i knew that... ^^; Akitaru: "I'll look up Vulcan's workshop address. You all get ready for the meeting when it happens." shinra: right..... *still thinking about what he learned about the amaterasu incident* ...... Victor: *pops up behind Shinra* "Should I go with them to see Vulcan?" shinra: GAAAAH!! nozomi: ^^; Akitaru: "No, for right now, we need you to keep researching the Flame Humans' remains for any leads on what is causing the transformations." Victor: *nods, then looks at Shinra* "Something on your mind?" shinra: nothing just....its nothing... Akitaru: "??? You sure, son?" shinra:...yeah... Victor: (thinking: "Joker told me to keep an eye on him...") -elsewhere- Shamrock: "Anything you want to do, Himawari? Play a game? Go for a walk?" himawari: *reading something from off the bookshelf* Shamrock: "Ah. Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt your reading..." himawari:...its...ok... Shamrock: "...What are you reading?" -it seems to be some kind of book on old legends- Shamrock: "Ah. Which legend are you looking at?" -it seems to be related to kitsunes- Shamrock: "..." *sad look* "...You are thinking about Tsubaki?" himawari:...? Shamrock: "Kitsune kind of remind me of Tsubaki's animal form." himawari:....you....really...like him....dont you? Shamrock: x\\\^;;; "I...am having to make my peace with that. He likes someone else..." himawari:......oh... Shamrock: *sigh* "It's rough. I have been devoted to him for so long. But I also have to know what he feels, and I want to respect that." himawari:...... Shamrock: "...So, all I can do is accept how things are, and move forward." himawari:......*nod* Shamrock: *smiles* "...Thank you for letting me get that off my chest." himawari:.... Shamrock: "..." *pats her shoulder* -elsewhere- Shotaro: *vacuuming under the couch...using Bone of the Gorilla to get enough strength to lift the couch up with one hand...while people are already seated on the couch* mono:...... -_-; Emine: *enters the room...looks underneath the couch...pulls back a spring on the couch, right underneath Mono's seat...* mono: nyah! Emine: "Bad deed complete..." *continues walking back to his room* mono: *growling* Shotaro: ^^;; "Um...I finished vacuuming, so I'll just set the couch down now..." -elsewhere- Sakuya: *holding up his phone* "Lilac, stand a bit closer to Naho." lilac: *scoot scoot* Sakuya: "That's good...Say cheese!" -click- Sakuya: "Hey, that looks great! See?" *shows his phone* naho: nice! lilac:...*faint smile* Sakuya: "You both look great in your outfits, too." naho: you too, sakkun~ ^^ Sakuya: ^^ *smooch* naho: ^///^ Sakuya: "Let's try underneath the tree." -elsewhere- Benimaru: *preparing for dinner* "Hmm...May need more salt." -elsewhere- Kid: "Feel okay?" stocking: mmhmm... Kid: *smiles, hugs* stocking: maybe after all this testing is over, we can take a vacation, just the two of us? Kid: "I would like that." *kiss on her cheek* "A reward for getting through the tests." stocking: hehe~<3 Kid: *smooch* stocking: U////U Kid: "Where should we vacation?" stocking: maybe a nice little inn by the countryside? Kid: "Oh, that would be nice! Get to see the flowers blooming..." stocking: ^^ Kid: "And wonderful breakfasts at the inn...and picnics." stocking: *nuzzle* Kid: *nuzzles, holds her* "That would be perfect...because you would be there." stocking: *smiles* Kid: "I love you." stocking: hehe~ Kid: *rests his forehead lightly against hers* stocking: U///U Kid: *his hand rests along her back, lightly rubbing* stocking: hehe~ Kid: "Tickles a bit?" *kisses her other cheek lightly* stocking: a bit~.....your hands feel nice though~ Kid: *smiles* "So do yours...so strong and precise..." stocking: *smirks and grabs his rear* Kid: o\\\\\\o "Oh...So, you're going to do that, huh?" *puts his hands on her bottom* stocking: ooh~<3 Kid: *squeeze squeeze* "Oh...So nice." stocking: *soft moans* Kid: "You like that..." *massages her cheeks* stocking: y-yes~ >///< Kid: *he pushes her from behind towards him, pressing her against him* stocking: ah... Kid: *his hand slides up under her dress, touching her bottom* stocking: ah~ k-kiddo~! Kid: *smirks, as his mouth reaches her* stocking: mmmn~<3 Kid: *he continues to hold her bottom, his fingers sliding under her panties and pulling them down* -elsewhere- Benimaru: "Welcome to dinner." fang-hua: thanks for inviting us all. kirei: ^^ fang-hua: (thinking: this is actually the first time i was ever at the commander's house. the estate is rather nice.) Konro: "Yes, thank you." *offers bottle to Kirei and Benimaru* Tsukiyo: *looking around* "Fancy home, Commander." Benimaru: *nods* fang-hua: *looking around* Tsukiyo: *looks around as well...including at a small painting of a few people who look like Benimaru* kabuki: ah, i take it that's you in your younger days, commander? Benimaru: "??? ...Yes. When I was tiny." -elsewhere- Johannes: "Come on in! I can show you what I did to Mikuni's doll!" customer: eh.... O_O; Johannes: "See?" *holds up the doll--which now has elephant ears and a nose* "I combined his Ella doll with an elephant! An Ella-phant! Eh? Eh?" customer: right..haha....ha....*backing away* metsu: doctor, stop harrassing the customers. Johannes: *pout* "I'm not harassing. I am just creative at attracting new customers." -elsewhere- *A cell phone rings* Shamrock: "??? Tsubaki? I think you have a phone call." tsubaki: *she answers* yes? this is tsubaki speaking. Touma: "Hello, Ms. Nakatsukasa." tsubaki: *her heart practically dropped to her stomach* !!! Touma: "It's been awhile. How are you?" tsubaki:.......what do you want? Touma: "Straight to the point, huh? Sorry, I guess you have been busy tending to various tasks...I just wanted to see how you are managing. I am sure your house feels like it gets more crowded all the time." tsubaki:..... Touma: "Tell me, are all of your visitors behaving themselves?" tsubaki:....my family has been on good behavior, yes. Touma: "...Happy to hear that about your 'family'...I hope you are taking care of yourself as well. I would hate for something to happen. I could always recommend a doctor. Or a nurse." tsubaki:.....what are you implying? *shaking, but keeping calm* Touma: "I never imply, Ms. Nakatsukasa. You sound a bit under the weather, and I am simply asking whether I may recommend someone to you. I know medical professionals everywhere, from Death City all the way to...Asakusa." tsubaki: !!! ......... Shamrock: *watching, looking worried* Touma: "If you ever require my assistance, please know C3 is always near." tsubaki:..... Touma: "Well, I have a meeting--interviewing new applicants for the position of my personal assistant. And I'm sure you are busy as well tending to your 'family.' I will let you go. Goodbye, Ms. Nakatsukasa." tsubaki:....*she hangs up*......*shivering* Shamrock: "Tsubaki...Wh-What happened?" -she explains what happened- lavender: that....sack of SHIT! Higan: *practically growling* Belkia: *oddly serious-looking* Shamrock: *shivering* otogiri:.... himawari:.....this is....my fault....mr touma's angry....because i ran away.....*trembling* tsubaki: himawari...its ok, this isnt your fault at all. Shamrock: *holds Himawari's hand* "He is angry...because he is a pathetic creature. This has nothing to do with you: you did nothing wrong." tsubaki: ..... otogiri: on the positives, yumikage and junichiro are our allies, as are those three girls, right? lavender: that is true. Higan: "But if Touma is doing an end-run around them to directly threaten Tsubaki over the phone? And getting a new personal assistant? That all sounds bad." tsubaki:..... otogiri: tsubaki....it's going to be ok. Belkia: *nods* "We're not going to let that weenie get to any of us." -elsewhere- Jun: "??? What is Touma up to?" yumikage: i dunno...but i dont trust him for a moment... mitsuba: 'new assistant'....i have a bad feeling about this. hyakuya: no kidding.... Jun: "Who is he even interviewing?" shinoa: no way of telling. tsurugi: even i dont know. 83 -elsewhere- Kuro: *curled up in Mahiru's lap* mahiru: ....*small smile* tetsu: *doing push-ups* Hugh: "93, 94, 95..." kaori: *smile* it certainly is peaceful nowadays.... uzuki: no kidding... Kuro: *yawn* "Hope it stays peaceful a bit longer..." mahiru: spring's going to be here before we know it... Kuro: "Good. I was getting tired of the cold." Hugh: "121, 122..." -elsewhere- Mr. Tsubaki: *playing ball with the twins* hinata: over here! over here! reimi: ^^ Mr. Tsubaki: *kicks to Hinata* "Coming your way!" -elsewhere- Kid: "Ah~" stocking: *panting* Kid: *small pant...he smiles, as he looks up and down her* "You're beautiful." stocking: you're not too bad on the eyes either~ *kiss* Kid: ^\\\^ "That means so much, coming from you..." *kiss* stocking: aww. Kid: *holds her* "Mmmm...So huggable and warm...and hot." stocking: ^///^ Kid: *pats her side* "You are the sexiest person I have ever known..." stocking: as are you~ Kid: *snuggles* "I can't wait for that vacation..." -elsewhere- Tsukiyo: "Mmm...Sister, you are a great cook!" reimi: thanks. ^^ Benimaru: *small pout* "I helped..." Konro: *trying to hold back a laugh* reimi: ^^; Benimaru: *clears throat* "Kohana, anything to drink?" -elsewhere- Black Star: *hugs Tsubaki* tsubaki: thanks...i needed that today.... Black Star: *nods* "Hey. You're going to be fine. You have an entire household full of vampires, you got me, and most importantly, you're strong." tsubaki:...*she smiles* Black Star: *holds her, smiles* "See? That's a happy smile." -elsewhere- Victor: *reading through a history book* nozomi:....oh, that's the amaterasu incident, right? i think i remember my father mentioning it... Victor: "Oh--you're familiar with it?" *looking at photographs of the documented destruction* "It was...destructive." nozomi: not really, just with what i've read in books. Victor: *points to the photo* "You ever hear the mythology about how this world came into being? What created it?" nozomi: i've heard a lot of stories, but there's so many interpretations to it... Victor: "Yeah...It has to do with those interpretations around the Adora Burst--and how it created this world...and can destroy it..." nozomi:.... Victor: "The Burst caused this..." *taps on the photograph* "...and as a scientist, I want to know more--so that something can be done with it, to benefit humanity." nozomi: ....*she nods* right... -the photo is of a large crater on the outskirts of tokyo; the amaterasu crater- Victor: *sighs* "I don't want to see that destruction again. And with some Flame Humans having that purified flame of the Adora Burst...I wanted to work here at the 8th to see it firsthand." shinra:....... Victor: *senses Shinra, but keeps talking* "Nozomi, have you ever been to the Crater?" nozomi: not personally, but my father has. *showing a photograph of toshiaki and a woman at the crater. the woman is giving him the bunny ears* Victor: *small snort laugh* "That's...Your dad? And...?" nozomi: a family friend, dr itou. she's also one of my mentors. Victor: "Oh! She also researches Flame Humans?" nozomi: to some extent. she also works with machines as well. she once built a flame powered mech suit. Victor: *shiny eyes* "Really?" nozomi: *she nods* Victor: "Neat...She work with any brigade?" nozomi: not to my knowledge. no. Victor: "Hmm...Hope I can talk with her at some point. Thanks for telling me about her." ^^ -elsewhere- Mr. Tsubaki: "It's getting late. Time for you two to head on home to bed." hikage: awww. hinata: that's lame. -n- Mr. Tsubaki: "The earlier you get to bed, the earlier you'll be up for cupcakes and fruit for breakfast~" hinata: *already asleep* hikage: *also heading to sleep* Mr. Tsubaki: *smiles, whispers to Reimi* "That was fast..." reimi: ^^; you know how kids can be. Mr. Tsubaki: "...I forget sometimes..." *thinks of Sakuya, Lilac, his own childhood...* -elsewhere- Konro: *pours a bit of sake out* "That was a delicious meal. Thank you for hosting us." Benimaru: *nods* -elsewhere- Tool: "Io's sleeping soundly." saki: *she smiles* Tool: "...Want some tea?" saki: i'd like that. Tool: *sets to work* "How was Io at daycare? What did the babysitters there say?" saki: she's behaving, but keeps to herself a lot. Tool: "Hmm...Maybe introverted?" saki: maybe... Tool: "...What were you like as a kid, Saki?" saki: me? i was a bit rambunctious. ^^; Tool: "Ha ha...Raised heck around the house with Chie?" saki: i guess she kinda helped me cool down a lot... Tool: *smiles* "That's it is with you, one who is calm..." *stares at her* "...one who is passionate." saki: ? Tool: "I admire how you persist, how confident you are." saki: *soft smile* aww. Tool: *smile...puts out his hand* saki: *small smooch* ^w^ Tool: ^\\\\^ "Heh..." chie: awww. Tool: o\\\\\o "...You've been there the entire time, haven't you?" chie: dont mind me~ saki: oh my, i didnt think my sister was a vouyer. for shame. chie: s-SAKI! >////< saki: haha! Tool: *snort laugh* chie: -n- -elsewhere- Arthur: *laughing* tamaki: what's so funny? Arthur: "If you ever want a laugh--" *giggle* "--ask Iris about various animals. Like ask her what she thinks an elephant looks like..." tamaki: ??? iris: .~. Arthur: "And Shinra didn't know what a bull looked like..." shinra: that's not true! i've seen bulls before! >3< Arthur: "Oh, really? Then why did you need to look it up online?" shinra: it's been a while since i was on a farm. Arthur: "??? You were actually on a farm? Doing what?" shinra: it was back when i was just a kid. my mom took sho and i to a farmers market. Arthur: "Ah. So, you saw the animals and picked up produce?" shinra: yeah, it was a lot of fun. iris: i've never actually been to a farm before.. Arthur: "Hmm...Neither have I. Have you heard of Mutton Busting? I have long wanted to tame one of those wild beasts." shinra: not really. -elsewhere- Touma: *reviewing his applications* "Excellent..." -outside the office- girl in school uniform: this is so dumb, why are we being dragged into this? random person: say, wasnt your sister in C3? school girl: yeah she was, why do you ask? *Touma exits* Touma: "Hello." -the applicants look up at him- girl: ..... Touma: "I am happy to have you here for today's interviews. Sorry for the wait. I am Taishi Touma, vice manager." -one girl raises her hand- girl 2: will we be doing an oral test, or is this a written test? Touma: "Written first, then one-on-one interviews." girl 2: do we have to bring our own stationary? i left mine at home. Touma: "I can provide stationery." *starts walking from his office to an empty room, gesturing for them to follow* -the applicants follow behind him- girl 1:....... *There are numerous school desks with chairs, and a chalkboard at the front* Touma: "Have a seat." *he hands each of them the test and a pencil* girl: what is this, school? -_-; Touma: *a bit too close to her* "We are simply making sure you got through school--and to push you towards adulthood." girl: ....... *The questions are largely about biology, mathematics, and problem-solving* -the test goes on until it concludes- Touma: *nods* "Give me a few minutes to grade these. Drinks and snacks are in the next room..." *exits for another room* -later- girl:.... Touma: *re-enters, points at the girl* "Let's begin the interview. Right this way..." girl:....*she follows* *Inside is a table, two chairs, and a lamp* girl:..... Touma: "Have a seat. I look forward to talking with you, Miss..." girl:....natsuna kanemoto. Touma: *smiles* "That is a unique name." natsuna: is it really? Touma: *nods* "It stands out. Well, let's get started with the interview. How far along are you in your education?" natsuna: i'm a 2nd year in junior high. Touma: "Oh, really? What would you say is your best subject?" natsuna: i guess writing? Touma: "That is a strong skill. Communication is key here, in order to best follow orders and to follow through on what I ask be communicated to my colleagues. Now, for the opposite question: what do you do when you have a bad subject in school, and can you give an example for how you overcome that problem?" -elsewhere- Benimaru: *smiles at Kirei* "Good dinner?" kirei: *she smiles* thank you, benimaru. Benimaru: *holds her hand* "...Thank you." *small kiss* kirei: ^///^ Benimaru: "...Did you..." kirei: hmm? Benimaru: "...want to stay over?" kirei: oh! if its not a problem with you... Benimaru: *shakes his head* "...I'm nervous. But it's not a problem." -elsewhere- Victor: *yawn* "Well, I'm turning in..." nozomi: good night then. Victor: "Good night. Pleasant dreams..." nozomi: r-right.... ./////. Victor: "..." *waves* nozomi: *meek wave* o/////o Victor: .\\\\. *turns and quickly leaves* tamaki: *glaaaaaaaaaaaare* Victor: "!!! ...Hello, Tamaki." tamaki: *glint* im watching you.... Victor: "...Okay." *smile* "I'll let you in on a little secret..." tamaki: what...? Victor: *smirks, leans in, towering over her* "I watch everyone--as a good scientist must~" tamaki: O____O;; Victor: *smiles* "So just know that's what I do. Good night." tamaki:...if you try anything to her, you're as good as dead, punk! Victor: *smiles* "What ever makes you think I would? I have no intention of hurting Nozomi...and it's not really up to you what she thinks or wants, now is it?" tamaki:...... Victor: "And I would expect her friend to be worried about someone new coming here. So, I'll focus on my research, and you focus on Nozomi...Deal?" tamaki:...... -elsewhere- Johannes: *doodling* metsu: *finishing up work for the day* Mikuni: *playing with dolls* Jeje: *changing a light bulb...* Johannes: "I DREW A VAMPIRE!" *holds up his doodle* metsu: an excellent job. we'll put it up on the fridge. Johannes: *happy hand-clap* "Yay!" Jeje: "..." *holds up an apple magnet for the fridge* -elsewhere- Shamrock: *lies down* -knock- Shamrock: *sits up, answers the door* otogiri: belkia got his hand stuck in the coffee pot. im taking him to the ER. again. Shamrock: x_-;;;;; "...Okay. Don't let him bite people." otogiri: understood. Shamrock: "How long you think it'll be this time?" otogiri: i'll give the estimate of 7 minutes the fastest. Shamrock: *nods* "I'll hold down the fort." -later- Belkia: -3- "Stupid coffee pot is out to get me..." otogiri: *sweatdrop* Belkia: *glares at the coffe pot, which now has a frowny face in perspiration on it* "I'M WATCHING YOU!" ???: bel....ki...a..? -ayami is laying in the hospital bed next to his- Belkia: o_______O *whispers* "Heeeeeeeeelp..." ayami:...am i....dreaming...? *she's covered in bandages* i did....something bad.... Belkia: "...Dude...You didn't..." otogiri:..... Belkia: "Oh, God...Why did you do that?" ayami: do you.....hate me now? *her eyes seem lifeless* Belkia: ._o *looks at Otogiri* otogiri:.....its ok. Belkia: "...No, I don't hate you...I'm sorry..." ayami: im sorry that...i...ever burdened you.... Belkia: "...You just scared me, that's all. I'm around a lot of scary people." *points at Otogiri* "You should see what Otogiri does when I get this coffee pot stuck on my hand." otogiri:... -_-; Belkia: "So, um...no hard feelings, Ayami?" ayami:.....it's....my own fault.... Belkia: "Hey...It isn't...It's no one's fault. Just...got to get past this. Make it disappear." ayami: *gets up* otogiri: you just sit down...dont...even think about it.... Belkia: ._. "...What exactly was she thinking?" ayami:...... Belkia: "Um...Ayami? What are you doing?" ayami:.... *staring at the ceiling, laying back down* Belkia: "???" -elsewhere- Shamrock: *looking at his bed* himawari: zzzz..... Shamrock: "..." *defeated smile...crawls into bed carefully beside her* himawari:....*shivers* Shamrock: "..." *pulls the sheets over her...small hug* himawari:....*slight nestle against his chest* Shamrock: *holds her, as he yawns* lavender: cute. Higan: *nods* Shamrock: x_-; *tries to fall asleep...* -early morning- Benimaru: *turns* kirei: zzz.... Benimaru: "..." *smile, tries to leave the bed without waking her...* -elsewhere- lavender: zzzzz..... Higan: *cuddling* -in another room- naho: zzzzz.... Sakuya: "..." *blows lightly at her ear* naho: >////< Sakuya: *whispers* "Time for beautiful young women to wake up..." *small nibble on her ear* naho: s-sakkun! >///O Sakuya: *rubs her arm a bit, hugging her* -elsewhere- Kid: "Zzz..." stocking: zzzzzzzzzzz *KNOCK KNOCK* stocking: neh? w-whu-wha? Kid: *snore* Patty: *from behind the door* "You two up yet?" stocking: im up.. *rubs eyes* Patty: "Well, we got a surprise for breakfast--so hurry!" stocking: ok. kiddo~ wakey wakey~ Kid: "H-Huh?" *looks up* stocking: it's morning~ Kid: *yawn* "So it is...and what a beautiful morning." stocking: hehe~ Kid: *stretches...gets out of bed and takes his robe* -and so- Gopher: "Surprise!" *holds up a box* "I brought donuts!" Kid: "...This is the surprise?" Gopher: :< kirika: mornin' Gopher: *shiny eyes* "Good morning!" Patty: *already eating a donut* -later- Kid: "Plans for today?" stocking: maybe i could do more studying. Kid: *nods* "Sounds like a plan. Need any help?" stocking: i think i'm gonna study over at the cram school, try making friends. Kid: "That will be good. See you this evening for dinner?" stocking: *she nods* Kid: *smiles, kisses her cheek* "Good luck." stocking: ^///^ Kid: "I'll finish some of my own studies with Father today." stocking: right. Kid: *nods, smiles* "Until then..." -later- Kid: "And this file, Father? Has that mission been completed?" lord death: yep. that puts soul at needing only one more soul plus a rogue witch... Kid: "Amazing...Another Death Scythe." lord death: indeed... Kid: "Which witches are on your Death List?" -elsewhere- Shamrock: *yawn* himawari: zzzz..... Shamrock: "???" *looks at the clock* -10:14 AM- Shamrock: "Oh dear...I overslept." *gets out of bed* "...Himawari?" himawari:...hmmn? Shamrock: "It's after 10. Time to wake up." himawari:...*getting up* Shamrock: "Sleep okay?" himawari:....*nods* Shamrock: "That's good. Let's see whether someone else made breakfast--and whether Otogiri and Belkia are back." -and so- otogiri: good morning. naho: how did it go? Belkia: "...Well, my hand is now sans coffee pot...but..." naho: hmm? Belkia: "...I ran into that girl who was following me." naho: oh. Belkia: "She...looked pretty bad. Hospitalized." naho: !!! Belkia: "I felt bad--I didn't mean to cause that for her." naho:...... Belkia: "Naho, what would you do?" naho: me? o.o~? Belkia: *nods* "Yeah. I don't know what to do with someone who was...well, struggling like this. I could use some advice." naho: hmmm...maybe a fruit basket? Belkia: "I guess that's a start. Will she misinterpret that, though?" naho:...*shrug* Belkia: *sigh* "Okay, thanks. I'll get to work on the fruits basket--" *looks down...lifts his foot...and the coffee pot is on his foot* "...MY ONE TRUE ENEMY..." otogiri:... -_-; Sakuya: "...Maybe try soap and water this time, rather than another ER bill." naho: or try turning into a doll and shimmy your foot out! Belkia: ._. "...Oh." *POOF* *the coffee pot rests on the floor, with Belkia in doll form inside it* naho: *picks it up and pulls the doll out* TA-DAH~! Belkia: "Magic!" Sakuya: *claps his hands* lilac: wow... naho: hehe~ ^^ *peace sign* Belkia: "I guess I'll be putting on more magic shows to pay the ER bill." ^^; naho: megane-pire~! Belkia: -_____-;;;; "...Ouch." naho:...~? owo Belkia: "That pun..." naho: what? it's cute! >n< Sakuya: "I thought it was." *smiles* Belkia: "Look, I'll handle the cute jokes here!" -elsewhere- stocking: *checking the map* lets see....hmmm... ???: "Hello." stocking: hmm? *she looks up* ya? Shima: "Yo!" stocking: hey. you're in...rin's class, right? Shima: *nods* "Renzo Shima, at your service~" stocking: nice to meet you then shima. Shima: "Likewise! If you ever need any help around campus, let me know--I know everything, every place, and everyone around here!" stocking: i'll keep that in mind.....1106....1106...hmm... Shima: "Ah, looking for Room 1106? Cool, cool..." stocking: let's see...ah! here we go! Shima: "??? You have a class there? Which is it?" stocking: i'm actually doing some cramming to become a student teacher, more or less. ^^' Shima: "Ooo, smart. But be careful in there--the corner of the ceiling leaks." stocking: noted. Shima: "Who teaches this class?" stocking: isnt this the freshman class? Shima: *nods* "Maybe Yukio?" stocking: that's good. *she smiles* Yukio: "Oh, Stocking. Welcome." stocking: hey. noriko: oh, you're....mr pheles' daughter, arent you? Yukio: "Okay, let's get started...Have a seat next to Noriko, Stocking." stocking: right! *she sits down* Yukio: "We begin today's lesson looking at taming demons in the category of Galatea..." *writing on the chalkboard* stocking:.... (thinking: i have no idea what that means. -_-; ) Yukio: "This is forcing a demon into an inanimate object." stocking: oh. like a possessed doll? Yukio: "Yes, although the process of forcing a demon into an inanimate object can make that object gain movement and abilities..." *opens a small chest...and a walking desk lamp pops out* noriko: ah! Lamp-Chan: *blinks light on and off...as it dances across the desk* Yukio: "This one is rather well trained. Other Galatea are less so. Imagine a demon possessing an entire building...and bringing it down upon you." stocking: o_o; (thinking: then honekoneko's also....) Yukio: "Even something innocuous like a doll could be formidable, depending on the form of taming completed. After all, the doll could just house the demon, or the demon could transform the doll..." stocking: *awkward sweat* izumo: *raises hand* Yukio: "Yes, Izumo?" izumo: it's because of that reason that games such as 'hitori kakurenbo' are ill advised, right? Yukio: *nods* "The results can be catastrophic." stocking:.... Yukio: "You will be testing your skills with Galatea in a situation similar to Hitori Kakurenbo, but it will be supervised." *notices Stocking* "Something wrong?" stocking: nothing, just thinking... Yukio: "Well, let's move onto another set of demons: Elements." *he draws a flame, a water droplet, a tornado, rocks, and some crudely drawn fifth element* stocking: the 5th one is metal, right? shiemi: i thought it was grass? izumo: of course you would -_-; shiemi: ^^; Yukio: "These elements are in harmony: each is stronger than another, but weaker than another." -later- Yukio: "Let me return your tests to you...Shiemi, you still need to use actual names for plants, not your pet-names for them." shiemi: ^^; Yukio: "Good work, Izumo, but you confused two of the Galatea versions." izumo: ._.