#ca chan can’t sleep

[scary-senpai]

I’ve gotten something like 8 hours of sleep over two days, and it shows.

Saitama: for the last time, stop incinerating squirrels!

Genos: me or the dog?

Saitama: BOTH OF YOU.

[xerox-candybar]

TFW you and your classmate / co-writer are both up at 5am working on projects. It feels a little bit like when I was in actual school

[ca-chan]

This is the closest I get to sexting, generally

[filmnoirfoundation]

ASK EDDIE returns Thursday, September 7, 7:00 PM PT to our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/filmnoirfoundation/live

FNF prez Eddie Muller responds to film noir fan questions fielded by the Foundation's Director of Communications Anne Hockens In this episode, we discuss “Oppenheimer”, why audiences laugh inappropriately at classic film screenings, how to get the most out of a NOIR CITY film festival, Fritz Lang’s “The Woman in the Window” vs. “Scarlet Street”, if either the Dick Tracy or the Charlie Chan films can be considered film noir, and more. We wind up the show with a discussion of Westerns, both noir and not. On the cat front, Charlotte is curious and Emily sleeps.

Want your question answered in a future episode? We solicit questions from our email subscribers in our monthly newsletters. Sign up for free at https://www.filmnoirfoundation.org/signup.html

Everyone who signs up on our email list and contributes $20 or more to the Film Noir Foundation receives the digital version of NOIR CITY Magazine for a year. Donate here: https://www.filmnoirfoundation.org/contribute.html

Can’t join us on Thursday? No problem! A recording will be up on our YouTube channel, @NoirCity, on Friday, September 8: https://www.youtube.com/user/NoirCitySF

Note: Eddie will not be able to answer questions posted during the livestream nor ones left on our social media accounts

This week's questions

This past Saturday night, we were in your audience at the Music Box Theater in Chicago for the screening of “Call Northside 777”. For some viewers, the 1948 dialogue seemed hopelessly funny, no matter how serious the scene, whereas for others, the same dialogue elicited no such reaction. Do you see this kind of split reaction among viewers when you present noir films across the country, and if so, what do you make of it?  (Is it okay to laugh at a serious scene if/when the dialogue sounds too hokey to sustain the mood?) -Mike I am planning to attend my first NOIR CITY this year. Any suggestions for first timers to maximize the experience? -Carlton, Atlanta, GA Could you put in a plug for the downloadable back issues of NOIR CITY Magazine? -Jerry, Burke, VA What should take precedence …the music or the sound? Very often, if the sound effects are that powerful and important, they take the music out. There are directors who feel that one shouldn’t hear the music.  Music can be overshadowed by horses’ whinnies, or anything the sound-effect person put into the track prior to the musical scoring. -Alan, San Anselmo, CA. I have a question concerning noir films set in England but staring American actors. In "Night and the City” Richard Widmark would not be able to obtain a work permit. Burt Lancaster in "Kiss The Blood off My Hands” is in England illegally, having jumped ship. How does Bill Saunders not get deported at the end of his prison sentence and how does he get a legitimate job as a truck driver without a passport or work papers? Also, there is nothing in the plot that makes it imperative that it be set in England. The story could easily have been changed to take place in the States. Why not make this change? Or am I the only one who notices or cares about such details? -David Fishman, Chesterfield, VA Curious if Eddie is familiar with a tongue-in-cheek 1954 homage to Film Noir produced as a 30-minute black and white episode of "The Adventures of Superman" TV series titled "Semi-Private Eye”. -Brian In watching TCM's marathon of Dick Tracy movies recently, it struck me how Noirish these RKO B movies were. Would these Dick Tracy movies be considered Film Noir? If so, would Eddie show them either on “Noir Alley”, or at a Noir film festival? -Scott, Los Angeles, CA Would you consider the Charlie Chan movies noir, and should they be aired regardless of the Chinese aspect of them? -Gerard It’s so interesting that Fritz Lang basically remade his 1944 film, The Woman in the Window, just a year later with “Scarlet Street”.  Do you know of any other instances where a director made such a close variation on his own film?  Also, which of the two films do you think is better?  -Kingpin Johnny, Doylestown, PA I recently watched a batch of early 1930s Joan Bennett movies and was struck by the contrast of her wise-cracking, sassy characters in those films with the film-noir roles she would go on to play in the '40s and '50s. Can you think of any other actresses that made a similar transition? -John from Bethesda Would Eddie consider "Julie" to be Doris Day’s noir film? Maybe “Midnight Lace”? -Pam Eddie, are you a fan of Westerns and what are your favorites? Would any qualify as noir? -Kitaman

[miastideclock]

Bang Chan Drabble, "figure it out."

anon asked:

hi there :) could i please request a drabble where the reader was dating chan secretly but it recently got leaked, and now they’re being swarmed by fans and he swoops in to rescue them? (im a fan of angst and fluff if you can’t tell haha) and no worries on writing it if this isn’t your cup of tea, thanks for all your great content :)

of course!! i hope this was what you had in mind- and if not, just shoot me a message and we can figure it out together ;)

word count: 1355 ca. warnings: strong language, hateful words, not proofread my bad angsty?? i guess???

"are you sure you have to go back home?" a whine came from your boyfriend who was stretched across the couch like a cat. you were sat with his head in your lap, messing with his dark curls. you hummed a reply, not bothering with a proper verbal response as he knew the answer just as well as you did.

a while back, on the four-month anniversary of you and chan, you had decided that it was time to tell the company and the managers about your relationship. up until now, you had kept it as secret as you could, resulting in you never getting to see each other. the company was clearly not very happy about the situation, but didn't have too much of a say as the dating ban of the boy-group had lifted. however, they did arrange a set of rules to protect not only chan and the image of the group, but also you. one of these rules was that it should be kept secret from the public for as long as possible. you completely understood this, and was just happy that they allowed you to still be together. but to prevent your relationship from becoming public knowledge, you mostly hung around at the company building or the dorms; and you weren't allowed to sleep there.

"you know the rules, my love." you spoke in a low voice, tired from the day. chan sighed and sat up, allowing you to get off the couch and move to the hallway. while putting on your shoes and coat, chan stood in the hallway with you, telling you something about his schedule for the next day.

"we have that music video shoot starting tomorrow evening, and before that we have dance practice, so i don't have too much time tomorrow." he said, informing you so you wouldn't get worried if he went hours on end without replying to your messages.

"sounds exhausting. maybe i can come over tomorrow morning and bring breakfast for you and the boys? if we meet at the studio around nine?" you suggested while pulling your hair out from the collar of the jacket. he lit up like a candle and nodded profusely. you chuckled and announced that it was settled then. with that, you gave him a kiss and left the dorm.

it wasn't until you had returned to your own place, showered and gotten into bed that you realized you had forgotten your phone charger at the dorms. you mentally smacked yourself before you setup the alarm clock on your nightstand instead of setting one on your phone, knowing it would probably die during the night.

one thing you had forgotten about the alarm clock was the god-awful noise it made in the morning, making you sit up, startled out of your mind. you quickly shut it off and got ready for the day.

it was a beautiful day, the spring really coming in hot. you were so captivated by the blossoming trees and the flowers along the parks, that you almost forgot to pick up the breakfast for the boys. only almost though, you didn't dare show up empty handed.

however, the sense of calm and tranquillity quickly faded when you saw the mob outside the company building. paparazzi hoying and fans with foul words in their mouths. you flipped through the recent news of the boys in your mind like a pokedex, but nothing that could cause this reaction came to mind.

"that's her!" a voice shrilled and it was like everyone's necks snapped to look at you. a cold shock ran down your spine, and you felt the sudden urge to throw up. before you could as much as blink, you were being swarmed by paparazzi and angry fans, screaming at you, but it was too much for you to understand, and their words melted together in a word soup you were in no mood to taste.

you had dropped the plastic bags of food long ago and were currently focused on your breathing and not being trampled to death.

"that's the girl who forced herself on our chan!" you suddenly heard and everything sort of clicked. you had seen this happen once before when the relationship of an idol got leaked, and the girlfriend was almost hospitalized by an angry mob. you suddenly realized your fate, and your knees buckled. your arms had already been up over your head to protect yourself, but you gripped even harder now.

"get fucked, you whore." "is it true your pregnant with bang chan's baby?"

the shouting mixed with the flashing lights of the paparazzi cameras soon became too much, and your vision started getting spotty and your breathing uneven.

just as you thought you were bound to fall completely to the asphalt underneath you, someone grabbed your upper arm. it sent a shock of adrenaline through you, giving you the energy to tear away from them, more scared now than ever.

"y/n, grab hold."

you recognized that voice from anywhere, and quickly looked up to see chan there, a hood pulled over to cover most of his face as he reached a hand out for you to garb. you quickly did as you were told and held his. before you knew it you were being pulled out of the crowd by chan and one more person you hadn't seen the face of yet.

the sound of the crowd soon muffled as you made it through the doors and a bit into the building so that no one could see you anymore.

"are you okay? are you hurt?" chan and what had now been revealed to be changbin peppered you with questions, examining your arms and face, as that was the only skin on your body they could see. you took a second to catch your breath before you let them know that you were pretty sure you were unharmed, just dizzy.

"help me get her to that studio over there." chan told his mate, and changbin did as he was asked. one arm over each of their shoulders, and they crutched you over to an empty recording studio, placing you on the couch.

"i'll give you a minute." changbin said and went to leave the room, but not before you got to thank him dearly. he returned a smile and closed the door behind him, leaving you and your boyfriend in the studio alone.

"please tell me what is going on?" you asked chan, who then went on to explain that the news about the two of you had leaked overnight. he had tried calling you multiple times to tell you not to come to the building, but as you had forgotten your charger at the dorms, that had been to no avail.

"i'm so sorry, y/n. i had no idea they were capable of things like this." he seemed genuinely apologetic on behalf of his fans, but you knew what he was really thinking, and you couldn't help but think the same thing. the people out there weren't stay, they weren't fans.

"it's not your fault, okay? you can't blame yourself for what others did," you spoke, your voice still shaking from fear. chan heard the tremble and soon sat down next to you on the couch, wrapping his arms around you.

"you're so strong," he whispered with his lips pressed into your hair on top of your head. you closed your eyes and melted into his touch. "we'll get through this together, right?" he continued.

you quickly sat up and looked at him, in disbelief that he would even ask you that. "of course we will. nothing and i mean nothing, is strong enough to tear me from you." you said, placing a kiss on his lips, then falling back into his arms, returning to your previous position.

"and nothing is strong enough to tear me from you." he replied, placing yet another kiss on the top of your head.

hope you liked it! feel free to request again! -bennie ♡

[fantastic-bby]

SKZ as animal hybrid boyfriends

Pairing: Reader x Members

Word count: 2.9k

Genre: Fluff | Headcanon | Animal Hybrid/Shifter AU | Boyfriend AU

Warnings: Very brief mention of spiders

Masterlist

Chan

A husky hybrid

Has the CUTEST pair of gray and white ears that stick out of the top of his head

Also has the most gorgeous pair of pale blue eyes that glow in the dark

He has a fluffy white tail that wags like crazy whenever he’s excited because he doesn’t know how to stop it from showing

He’s also the sweetest boyfriend in. The. WORLD!

Always asks how you’re doing

Makes sure your not missing any meals and that you’re always hydrated

Every morning, he wakes you up with cute good morning texts and he always tries to send you good night texts sometimes forgets because he gets so caught up in work

He makes up for it tho

Sends flowers to your place whenever he forgets uwu

Chan’s the perfect boyfriend

The only problem is that you’re allergic to dogs

He didn’t realise why you always seemed to sneezy and stuffy whenever you would come over to his place

Until you told him

And his reaction makes you feel like you just told him the most horrific thing in the world

To him it is!!!!

Because he’s the reason that you’ve been having allergic reactions around him!!

He starts vacuuming his place more often to keep any fur away and makes sure to keep the area super clean so that you’re clear from anything that could cause a reaction

He also starts lint rolling and vacuuming his clothes before giving them to you so that you don’t take any of his fur home unless you ask him to leave his fur

Chan gets confused whenever you tell him that you don’t want him to vacuum or wash his hoodies before giving them to you

But you like them because every time you see the strands of gray and white fur sticking out of his hoodie, it reminds you of him

So instead,

Chan starts buying a crap ton of allergy meds

Puts them in every corner of his house

In the bathroom

The kitchen

The living room

The bedroom

Literally everywhere just in case you get a super bad reaction

That way he’s always prepared for anything

Minho

A maine coon hybrid

The most luscious fur ever known to man

His cat ears are so fluffy and always well groomed

He has this beautiful fluffy orange tail that he’s gotten pretty good at hiding his feelings with

Usually a hybrid’s animal features would probably give away their emotions, but Minho learned to control his ears and tails really well

It’s just that his ears are really sensitive and they flick around every few seconds whenever he’s in a crowded place

He has a pair of yellow eyes that are constantly in the shape of slits simply because he wants to intimidate everyone around him

Also always has his claws out because they intimidate strangers

Wouldn’t tell anyone, but Minho lets his pupils dilate when he’s alone with you (´∀｀)♡

He also likes to tease you a lot but you know he’s just joking because if he was serious, his tail wouldn’t be so related

You try not to tell him because then he’ll start working harder to hide his tail swishes

Is the most precious yet teasing boyfriend out there

He’ll make a joke about you eating a lot of ice cream whenever you’re sad, but he’ll always have your favourite ice cream in the freezer

If you complain about some kind of muscle pain, Min would call you weak but then also come home with muscle relief patches that he’ll stick to you himself

Minho likes to shift into cat form if you’re stressed because then it means that he wouldn’t really disturb you a lot

His footsteps are way quieter when he’s in cat form as compared to human form

So if you’re stressed or tired and you ask him to give you time

Minho would shift and hide in one of the cat towers he bought for himself until he hears you coming out of the bedroom

The moment he hears the sound of the bedroom door opening, he’ll lift his head and peek out from the top

If you sit on the floor right in front of the tower, Minho will scurry off of the tower to sit in your lap to

But if you don’t even look at the tower and you instead go to the kitchen, he’ll wait a bit longer to give you more time

Changbin

Yk I wanna say he’d be some cursed Dwaekki hybrid the skzoo dwaekki haunts me in my sleep

But I genuinely feel like he’d be something really threatening like a wild animal

So if Chan’s a husky and Minho’s a maine coon

I’m gonna throw Changbin in as a grizzly bear because he’s a tank of a man and I love him for that

His ears are dark brown and rounded, poking out from the top of his head

His eyes are super dark brown and sometimes you can’t even tell if you’re able to see the white in his eyes bcs his pupils are just that big

His hands have these huge black claws that could claw someone apart if he wanted to

Also has a cute brown tail that he often hides underneath his clothes because it’s small enough for him to sit on

He gives THE BEST CUDDLESSSS!!!!!

Sometimes shifts into bear form just to cuddle you because it’s cold and relying on the heater might make it too warm

So Binnie likes to use his own fur to warm you up if he notices you shivering

Also would not hesitate to bear his teeth at anyone who tries to hurt you

Changbin doesn’t really tell anyone this

But one of his proudest bear traits is his ability to vocalise like a bear

Which means that whenever he feels the need to protect you or whoever’s around him

He will growl like a bear

And it’s terrifying

You didn’t even know that Changbin could roar until one night when a stranger wouldn't take your ‘no’ as an answer and your boyfriend almost lost his mind

He pulled you behind him and grabbed the collar of their shirt and just roared at them

The stranger being a hybrid of a smaller bear species immediately scrambled off

But Changbin also immediately switches back into sweet, cuddly boyfriend the moment he turns back to you <3

Hyunjin

A sphynx hybrid

Very dramatic

Very loud

He has pink cat ears sticking out of the top of his head with a little black splotch on his left ear

He also has this naked pink tail that sticks out from underneath his shirt

Every minor inconvenience and Hyunjin’s meowing and whining to you about it and you think it’s funny every time he does

Like the time he misplaced his sock and was crying all over your shared home looking for it until he found it underneath the bed

His claws are retractable, so he usually hides them because he doesn’t want to hurt anyone on accident unlike Minho

He’s VERY cuddly both in human form and cat form

Hyunjin likes to do the ‘kneading the dough’ thing whenever you’re cuddling

And ends up leaving holes in your clothes because his claws would accidentally grab onto the fabric

Would also feel really bad afterwards because now he’s ruined your shirt

You reassure him that it’s fine

But Hyunjin’s dramatic also kinda wants an excuse to go shopping with you

So he cries about it and it leads to him dragging you to the mall so that he can buy you a new one

Ends up getting distracted at a cat cafe because he’s made conversation with one of the cats there

And he’s basically talking to them like he’s a middle aged wine mom talking about their weird husbands

You have to remind him what the goal is

But he’s so immersed in the conversation with the orange tabby that you can only watch in amusement

Hyunjin’s talking to it in English while the cat nods with it’s tail swishing every time he asks it a question, mewling every once in a while as a response

You watch with a smile on your face, chin resting against the palm of your hand as you listen

You can only gather that Hyunjin’s telling the cat about why you’re at the mall

And the cat turns to you with a bored expression on its face before meowing

“She says good luck on finding a new shirt”

You nod and reach out to pet the cat’s head as thanks

You and Hyunjin leave after a while

And soon, the trip to get one shirt turns into a shared shopping spree

Jisung

Kinda obvious but he’s a squirrel hybrid

He has a pair of rounded, light brown ears on the top of his head

A bushy light brown tail that bumps into everything whenever he’s in cramped spaces

And the CUTEST pair of brown eyes EVERRRRR

His squirrel trait is where he gets the habit of stuffing food into his cheeks whenever he eats

Ji’s really good at climbing

So he has this long ass piece of wood that he keeps in the living room of his home so that he can still climb something in squirrel form if he can’t go outside

He also has tiny black claws that he uses mainly for practicality when he's in human form

So stuff like cutting into plastic, through strings and to open mail

He just slides his finger across the top of the envelope and boom

Jisung’s quite clumsy

It doesn’t help that he has this huge, bushy tail behind him

He bumps you with it a lot and he’s always so apologetic over it

But it’s fine because it’s his tail and it’s soft and cute and it’s part of Jisung UwU

There were a couple of times where you would wake up and his tail would be tickling your sides

So you’d wake up giggling

And it would wake him up too

He’d turn around and immediately wrap his arms around your waist to cuddle into you

You love playing with his ears

Jisung’s really responsive whenever you pet his squirrel features

So if you touch his tail in public

He’s jolting forward like AHHH

And you like to gently rub his ears whenever you’re cuddling

Jisung usually ends up cuddling into you more because he really likes it whenever you play with his ears

He has a habit of making those squirrel squeaks whenever he’s uncomfortable

So in public, if he feels like he’s overwhelmed or wants to leave

He’ll cling onto your arm and start squeaking softly so that only you’re able to hear

And it’s an easy way for you to know that he wants to leave without him actually telling you

Felix

Horned owl hybrid

He has two sets of white and brown feathers that poke out from the top of his head and curls to the back

He does, however, have talons at his fingertips that he doesn’t really like because it gets caught on a lot of things

Has feathers running down his arms, but can’t actually fly in human form

His eyes are this beautiful amber colour

He also has a lot of hanging stuff in his house that he likes to fly back and forth to whenever he shifts into owl form

Absolutely loves doing the head spinning trick because you freaked out the first time you saw him do it as a human

Felix also has really light footsteps

So sometimes you don’t even hear him coming into a room and suddenly he’s beside you

Which scares you sometimes

Overall, Felix is just unintentionally scary.

Buuuut

Because he has really good eyesight at night

And because he’s nocturnal

He sleeps in the day

Which means that all of his work is done at night while you’re asleep

His hearing is intense which means that he could hear the smallest pin dropping in the kitchen from the bedroom

So when he hears something strange coming from the kitchen

He’s immediately crawling out of bed and peeking out of the bedroom door

That’s when he sees a spider crawling out from behind the fridge

A huge spider

Now, Felix does NOT like spiders

But he knows that if you wake up in the middle of the night to get a drink, then you’re going to be freaked out by too

But he should be able to toss it out the window in owl form

So Felix pops open one of the windows and shifts

His silent flying and sharp night vision make it a quick mission that’s executed without much hassle

He manages to grab the spider with his talons and just tosses it straight out of the window

By the time Felix has returned to the bedroom

You’ve woken up because you realised he wasn’t beside you anymore

So he climbs back into bed and lets you hold onto him while you fall back asleep

Seungmin

Labrador hybrid

Has a pair of golden ears flopping over the top of his head

Also has a golden tail that he usually hides because if he gets over excited then it’ll wag all over the place and might bump into things

Is a relatively quiet person and is also a quiet dog

He doesn’t say or bark that much

But you’ve come to learn how to read his body language

Because his posture both in human form and dog form speak his thoughts

Like whenever he’s standing tall then you’ll figure that Minnie’s probably uncomfortable or feels threatened

As quiet as he is

He’s extremely attentive to your needs as well

Seungmin’s able to catch your body language way quicker than you are at reading his

Which means that the moment you look uncomfortable, he’s immediately moving to stand beside you with an arm wrapped around you

Think of it as that TikTok trend that’s like ‘using my scary dog privilege’

In this case

Seungmin’s more than happy to be the scary dog that lets you walk around alone

He’d bark and bite at anything or anyone who would try to hurt you

Even in human form, he’d growl as a warning to other animal hybrids that are around you

Whenever you’re out in public, Seungmin tries to stay by your side just in case anything happens

But when he has to part from you to talk to another group of your friends

He keeps you in his line of sight

He’d always angle himself in conversations so that the person he’s talking to has their back facing you so that he’s able to see you

And when a cat hybrid suddenly approaches you

Seungmin’s more on the attentive side but he hasn’t gone into protective mode because you don’t look uncomfortable

But then your frame starts to shrink

He immediately changes his posture

Which scares the people around him because suddenly, Seungmin looks so scary

He waits a moment longer and the moment you start looking around the room for him, he’s shoved his drink into the hands of Hyunjin so that he can make his way over to you

He slings his arm over your shoulder and glares at the cat hybrid who’s now extremely intimidated by the presence of the labrador hybrid

Seungmin leans close to the cat and growls at them until they run off

He stays with you for the rest of the night and the way he stays in protective mode makes you feel safe

Until you get home and Seungmin’s back to this ball of cuddle fluff that you absolutely love (｡♥‿♥｡)

Jeongin

Fennec fox hybrid

Has a big pair of white fluffy ears that poke out of his head

Has a fluffy white tail that blends into a more golden colour that’s long enough to poke out from underneath his shirt

He has super insane hearing

Even if he has headphones in, he can hear the outside world

Bodes well for him because whenever you walk into his apartment, he’ll walk out immediately to greet you

He never actually feels hot or warm because his body heat radiates off of his ears

Is always cold in human form

In fox form, his fur insulates his body instead so he doesn’t feel much of a difference

Has a habit of not drinking for hours because he can get stuck in his fox form

Also has a habit of chewing on your desk plants if he deems them edible

Unfortunately for you, that means you’ll come home to your beautiful plant babies half eaten and munched away because your fox boyfriend wanted a snack

To solve this problem, you filled the fridge with berries and vegetables for whenever he feels like snacking

But sometimes he goes overboard and he pretty much eats everything he can find when he forgets to eat for a while

He’s a fox hybrid that doesn’t know how to shift on command

Usually he has this big urge to shift but he’ll be stuck in one form for a while before being able to switch

He doesn’t know any other fox hybrids

So Jeongin has to learn to control his animalistic instincts with the help of you!

His human partner

Lucky for the both of you

You have a friend who’s a red fox hybrid

She’s not a fennec fox

But she still shares similar instincts to Jeongin because they’re both fox hybrids

So now Jeongin comes to you with the biggest smile on his face whenever he’s accomplished something, gushing about how Fox Noona taught him how to shift on command

He’ll show you

And you watch as he shifts into this tiny little fennec fox with a big smile on his snout (Ｔ▽Ｔ)

[dialovers-translations]

Diabolik Lovers LUNATIC PARADE ;; Laito Route ー Chapter 4

Yui: Nn...

( My body feels kind of heavy...My head hurts as well... )

( But I should consider getting up soon... )

*Creaaak*

Laito: Ah, Bitch-chan. You’re awake? Good morning~

Yui: Laito-kun. You’re up already.

Laito: Yeah. For quite some time, actually?

I was getting a close look at the faces you made in your sleep.

All while reminiscing about how much fun we had together yesterday, remember?

Yui: ...God, Laito-kun...

*Rustle rustle*

Laito: Well then, we should probably get out of bed soon and be on our way.

Yui: ...Good idea.

( I’m not feeling that sick, so I should be fine. )

( More importantly, we have to hurry... )

*TIMESKIP*

ー The scene shifts to the underground passage

Laito: Hey, Bitch-chan. About the crystal we acquired...

We’re keeping that a secret to the boy, okay?

Yui: Eh? But...

( He’s the one who pointed us into the right direction... )

Laito: I mean, we have no idea what his true objectives are.

So we’re in no way obligated to help him out, are we? 

Yui: ...Well...

???: Did you get your hands on the crystal?

*Thud*

Yui: ( ...This voice... )

Laito: Aah, it’s you. Who knows. What do you think? 

Vampire Youngster: Hm. You won’t tell me, huh?

Laito: Nfu~ Exactly~

Yui: ...Hey, why are you trying to get into the Count’s castle?

Vampire Youngster: Eh? Um, well...

He stole something important of mine. I want to get it back, that’s all.

Yui: ...Something important?

Laito: Heeh, what a coincidence! So do we! ...So? What did he take from you, I wonder?

Vampire Youngster: ...That’s...I can’t tell you...

Laito: ...I see. I mean, not that I caーー

ー Yui steps forward

Yui: ...Did something happen?

Vampire Youngster: ...

Yui: ( He went quiet... )

Laito: Hey, Bitch-chan. Why bother? We should get going now...

Yui: Hey, Laito-kun. Can we really not take him with us...?

Vampire Youngster: ...!

Laito: ...Why would you say that? Did you already forget what I said earlier?

He’s the one who refuses to explain himself even when we asked.

So why should we do him a special favor?

Yui: I mean...I just can’t turn a blind eye to him.

We’re just as troubled from having something important stolen from uーー!?

*Thud*

( ...I suddenly feel dizzy... )

Laito: ...Yui-chan!?

ー Laito catches her

Vampire Youngster: ...Miss! Are you okay!? What happened all of a sudden?

Yui: Actually...I haven’t been feeling the best since this morning...

( ...I can’t...My consciousness is slipping... )

( ...I’ll end up putting extra strain on Laito-kun again... )

Laito: Haah...I guess you really did catch a cold after yesterday’s shenanigans?

Geez, guess we have no other choice then. Today’s plans are cancelled. We should head back to the hotel and...

*Rustle*

Vampire Youngster: ...Wait!

Laito: Haah? Why? She’s feeling under the weather so what other choice do we have?

For one, what we do or where we go is none of your business, is it? Now could you let go of my hand?

*Rustle*

Vampire Youngster: ...I can’t let you do that!

You guys! Hurry up and stop him!

Yui: ( ...Guys...? )

ー The boy’s comrades arrive

Comrade A: Oi, hand over that woman!

Comrade B: You’re coming with me!!

*Rustle*

Laito: ...Heeh, you sure have a lot of friends.

What do you plan to do to Bitch-chan while your friends keep me busy? ...!!

*THUD*

Comrade C: You shut up!

*THUD*

*SMACK*

Laito: Ow...

Yui: Laito-kun...! Cut out the violence...!

*Rustle*

Vampire Youngster: Fufu. Rest assured. We won’t treat you hard-handedly...

I’d be a much better match for you than this man over here, you see...?

Yui: ...!

*Rustle*

Vampire Youngster: I’m leaving the rest up to you guys, okay?

Comrade A: Okay! Leave it to us!

Laito: ...Wait! Where are you taking he...Kuh...!

*THUD*

Vampire Youngster: Fufu. Does that even matter? See you, Mister...

Yui: Laito...kun...

ー The screen fades to black

Yui: ( ...My body has gone limp... )

*TIMESKIP*

*Rustle*

Yui: Uu...

( What was that...? I just felt something cold... )

ー She opens her eyes in the youngster’s hideout

Yui: (  ...My hands and feet are bound by chains...!? )

Laito: ...Have you woken up? Bitch-chan...

Yui: ...Laito-kun...!

( This is the boy’s place we visited before... )

Laito: Geez, we really had a number done on us.

Do you understand why I warned you now? ...You shouldn’t just blindly trust strangers. 

Yui: Laito-kun, are you okay...? I mean...You were roughed up earlier...

Laito: I’m fine. I’m still a Vampire, remember?

*Cling*

Laito: Still, it’d be difficult to escape when we’re chained like this.

...On top of that, the crystal was taken away from us, you see?

Yui: No way...

ー The youngster enters the room

*Thud*

Vampire Youngster: Heeh, you’re awake already? Both of you are tougher than I thought.

Yui: ...You’re...

*Rustle*

Yui: How could you...Why would you do this...?

Vampire Youngster: Why, you ask? ...I mean, both of you just kept refusing to listen to me.

You even hid that you had acquired the crystal, didn’t you?

Yui: ...Well...

Please. Remove these chains. Or just Laito-kun’s at least.

I’ll let you have the crystal, so set him free. 

Laito: ...Bitch-chan!

Vampire Youngster: Hmm. He must be really important to you, huh...?

...Sure? I don’t mind doing as you say.

Yui: Really...?

Vampire Youngster: However, I have one more condition. That being...

*Rustle*

Vampire Youngster: I want you to promise that you’ll become mine...

Yui: Eh...?

Laito: ...!

Vampire Youngster: I don’t think the two of you ever made for a very good match.

For someone as pure and kind-hearted as yourself...

To be dating a man who only knows how to lie or be suspicious of others, it just doesn’t click with me. 

So you should put an end to your relationship right here, right now, and be with me instead.

Yui: ...No way...

*Cling*

Laito: Hm, look who’s talking. You’re just as much of a liar, nor do you trust others...

Vampire Youngster: ...Shut up!

Hey, miss. What will you do?

But, well...If you won’t agree to my offer...

I could just toss this guy into the volcano real quick.

Yui: ...!

Vampire Youngster: I mean, you don’t need him, do you? This guy who is all talk but no action.

Yui: That’s not true!

Vampire Youngster: ...

Yui: Laito-kun...He isn’t just all talk.

While I won’t deny that he has a hard time trusting others.

And there’s definitely times where I struggle to follow his trail of thought.  Still...

Even so, I’m more than aware. That he’s always keeping the situation in mind.

On top of that, he’s always looking for the best option for me...

...He’s looking out for me...So much I can tell...

Vampire Youngster: ...

Yui: ...Also, I’m probably not the amazing person you make me out to be either.

I’m sure there’s been plenty of times where I’ve acted selfishly, or did something unfair...

But you see, despite knowing that, Laito-kun has chosen to stay by my side regardless. That’s why...

( That’s why I... )

Vampire Youngster: ...What have you been going on about...?

Are you saying that guy’s better than me...!?

Laito: ...If you can’t even tell that this isn’t about winners or losers...

Then I don’t think you’ll ever be able to get her to look your way, you know? ...Just kidding, nfu~ 

Vampire Youngster: ...I’m done with you two! Just do as you please then!

ー He throws the key to unlock the chains their way

*Woosh*

ー The boy runs away

Laito: Haah...’I’m done’, he said...That’s what I’d like to say, really...

This is exactly why children are so exhausting to deal with...But...

Yui-chan...I got to find out how you feel about me exactly...

So I suppose it was all for the best?

Yui: ...Laito-kun...

*Cling cling*

Laito: Well then, I suppose we’ll take his word for it and do as we please.

Could you unlock me first using the key he hurled at us?

Yui: Sure, gotcha...!

*TIMESKIP*

*Rustle rustle*

Laito: Phewー We’re finally free...

By the way, how do you feel? You seemed to be running a fever earlier...

Yui: Ah...

( Now that he mentions it, I totally forgot about that in the heat of the moment... )

( I believe I was out cold for quite some time...So it seems like that helped my body recover... )

( I might be quite sturdy just like that boy said... )

Laito: Fufu. By the look of it, I guess you should be fine now?

Yui: Yeah, I’m okay.

*Rustle*

Laito: I’m glad. In that case, I suppose we can go retrieve the crystal then.

Yui: ( ...The crystal... )

Laito: Well then...

Yui: ...Wait, Laito-kun. There’s something I want to talk about regarding that.

Laito: ...Talk? What is it?

Yui: Anyway, let’s get out of here first?

Laito: ...? I mean, sure...?

Yui: ( After straightening out my own thoughts, I finally came to the realization... )

( About what is most important to me... )

( I think that’s probably... )

ー The scene shifts to Glimmer Main Street

Laito: You want to give up on getting your heart back? ...What do you mean?

Yui: Exactly as I said.

...While it might shorten my lifespan...

...Still, as long as I have this Kleinod, I won’t die right away, right?

Besides, even if I retrieve my heart, I’ll just go back to being a human.

I won’t be immortal like you Vampires are...

Laito: ...

Yui: I came to realize. That you’re important to me. 

I don’t want to witness you risking your life any more. 

I want to value our time together, exactly because I know how limited it is.

...That’s why I want to stop fussing over getting my heart back.

...I wonder if that’s too selfish of me...?

Laito: ...Haah, I won’t deny that you’re being a little self-centered right now.

Yui: ...I’m sorry.

( I already had him do so much for me... )

Laito: I treasure you as well, you know?

No matter how limited your life may be, if there’s a way to prolong it by even one day.

I’d want to try it, is that so weird?

Yui: ...

Laito: However, I do understand what you’re trying to say as well.

Besides, you said it earlier, didn’t you? To that boy...

That I’ve decided to be with you, despite knowing just how selfish or unfair you can be at times.

Yui: ( Ah... )

Laito: Well, since I acknowledged that, I guess I have no other choice but to respect your decision.

Yui: Laito-kun...

Laito: That’s what you wanted to hear, right?

Yui: Yeah...!

Laito: Well then, now that we’ve both made our intentions clear, what should we do next?

...By the way, today’s the final day of the Parade, you know?

Yui: ( The Parade...Right... )

( I want to make the best of our time together...In which case... )

...I mean, while we’re here anyway, why not enjoy it to the fullest? ...Together. 

Laito: Exactly! Now we’re talking! Well then, first up...ーー

*TIMESKIP*

ー The scene shifts to Saint Nore Park’s venue

Laito: Haah, the Haunted House...What a ride...I could feel shivers going down my spine.

Selection

→ ...I wonder? (☾)

Yui: (  ...I wonder...? Or rather, Laito-kun seemed totally unaffected earlier... )

Laito: The way you would cling onto me, as if you were trying to show off towards those ghosts...

It turned me on beyond belief, I couldn’t help but start shivering as well! Haahn...~ 

Yui: ( That’s what he meant...!? )

→ Yeah...

Yui: Yeah...

( It was very realistic and scary... )

Laito: ...Right? Of course...If you imagine doing all sorts of things...

While those many ghosts and monsters are watching you, I’m sure you’d get excited as well...

Yui: Eh...!?

Laito: That being said, why don’t we go inside once more? This time, we could turn our fantasies into reality.

Yui: Eh? I think I’ll pass...Y-You know...I’d like to see some of the other stuff while we’re here as well.

Laito: Eeh~? I thought it was a great idea though...

Yui: ( Gosh, Laito-kun... )

Laito: ...Anyway, where should we go next? We already tried out all of the notable rides...

Why don’t we hit up the nearby spa resort next?

Yui: Spa...?

Laito: Exactly. We’re both drenched in sweat from running around the amusement park after all. 

The resort is at the Onyx Tower you can see in the distance over there.

I figured we could probably get a good view of the Parade’s finale from up there as well?

Yui: I see. Let’s go then.

*TIMESKIP*

ー The scene shifts to the spa resort

Laito: Hey, Bitch-chan. Why are you all the way in the corner over there? Come here!

Yui: B-But...!

( I didn’t know it would be a mixed bath...! )

Laito: Nfu~ Guess I have no other choice then. ...There. 

ー Laito moves closer instead

*Splash*

Yui: Kyah!

Laito: Nfu~ Problem...solved~

Yui: L-Laito-kun...!

( He’s way too close...! )

Laito: Eeh~? Why not? You’re the one who said we should enjoy our time together, remember? 

In which case, we have to stick together or else your words hold no meaning, don’t you think?

Yui: I know I did but...!

Laito: I wonder if that boy from earlier got inside the castle using that crystal...?

Yui: ...Who knows...

Laito: It’d suck if he failed to. We went through a lot of trouble to get our hands on it after all.

Yui: Fufu, you’re right.

Laito: That being said, the way he’d talk down on us as we were chained up and at his mercy...

...It was kind of arousing, don’t you think? 

It really inspired me to try something similar in the bedroom sometime!

With you, of course? Nfu~

Yui: Eeh...!?

Laito: Oh, right! I almost forgot about my list! I better add that to it later!

If I imagine a similar situation but you’re the one dominating me instead of that boy...

Aah! The thought alone is driving me crazy!

Yui: ( ...God, Laito-kun...He truly has no shame... )

*Splash*

Laito: Well then, we should probably get on stand-by for the Parade’s finale soon.

Yui: ( ...It’s that time already? It really flew by... )

Laito: Ah, but if you’d rather have some fun with me instead...

I don’t mind missing out on the finale. Nn...

*Splash*

Yui: Kyah...!

Laito:  I don’t know if it’s from all those fantasies I had earlier, but I’m kind of in the mood right now...

Yui: L-Laito-kun...! Not here...!

Laito: Eehー? Don’t you think this is the perfect place?

Yui: W-We can’t!

Laito: Haah...You’re going to leave me hanging again? Oh well, I guess it’s fine. We’ll continue once we’re back at the hotel then.

But to make up for it, you better believe I’m going to up my game tonight, okay~? Nfu~

Yui: ( ...You really cannot be too careful with this guy...! )

*TIMESKIP*

ー The scene shifts to the inside hall of Onyx Tower

Laito: Bitch-chan! This way, come on! Hurry~!

Yui: Laito-kun, wait...!

Laito: It’s really crowded with people hoping to witness the Finale.

Yui: By the way, what happens during the Finale?

Laito: Huh? I didn’t tell you yet?

On the final day of the Parade, a bunch of lanterns are sent off into the night sky all at once.

Different colored lanterns light up all across the sky, it’s a true sight to behold!

Since it isn’t something you get to witness every day, I really wanted to show it to you.

Yui: Heeh...

( I’m excited... )

???: You two over there. One second, please.

Yui: Eh...?

Laito: ...Where is this voice coming from...?

Yui: ( ...Are we the only two who can hear it, perhaps...? )

???: My name is Walter.

Laito: ...Walter...? As in, Count Walter...!?

Count Walter: Exactly.

For these past few days, I have closely observed your every move. Wondering time after time when you would give up...

Laito: Haah...You really are nasty to the core, aren’t you? Honestly, you remind me of a certain someone. (1)

However, in that case, we won’t have to waste much time on this conversation. We’ve decided to no longer talk about the heart.

So could you stop getting in our way as well? 

Count Walter: ...Fufu...Ahahaha!

Laito: ...What’s so funny?

Count Walter: Tell me, Miss. Is that truly what you want?

Yui: ...I don’t mind. We decided this together after all...

Count Walter: ...Fufu, I see. I get it now...

I assume the two of you are far more foolish than I thought you were...

Laito: You really don’t mince your words, do you...? Big talk coming from the guy who won’t even show his face.

Count Walter: Hmph. However...I suppose one could call it the truth as well.

Yui: ...What do you mean?

Count Walter: Hey, Miss? Do you know why I did all of this?

Yui: ...Why? Well...

( I have no clue... )

Counter Walter: I wanted to determine whether the two of you were suitable.

Whether you were deserving of a highly valuable treasure such as this heart.

Yui: Eh...?

Count Walter: That is exactly why I made you face many trials, all while keeping a close eye on you...

However, I did not think it would lead to this kind of outcome...

Laito: Haah...We’re sorry for betraying your expectations, but we’ve already made up our minds, so leave us alone, okay?

Count Walter: ...That seems to be the case.

However, things do not always have to go according to the book. In other words, I just have to agree with it.

Very well. I will return this heart to you.

Yui: Eh...!?

Count Walter: Please continue to entertain me with your innovative  perspectives and the strong bond shared between the two of you. Fufu...

*Woosh*

Yui: ...!

ー They are blinded by a flash of light

Yui: ( It’s so bright...! What is happening...!? )

*Ba-dump*

Yui: ( ...A heartbeat... )

*Ba-dump*

Yui: ( ...Could it be...? )

Laito: Ah...Yui-chan...!

Yui: ...Laito-kun...

Laito: ...Are you okay?

Yui: ...I’m fine. More importantly...I...

*Rustle*

Yui: ...Laito-kun, please! Suck my blood right now!

Laito: Eeh!? Right here!?

Yui: Exactly! Right now!

( This sensation...I’m positive. I’m sure inside my chest... )

*Rustle*

Laito: Nfu~ I can’t believe you’re the one asking for it. How irresistable~

*Rustle*

Laito: However, I could tell already just from embracing you like this.

...Don’t worry. It’s back inside of you.

...Your heart, I mean.

Yui: ...!

( I actually got it back... )

Laito: That being said, that Count sure loves to cause people trouble, doesn’t he...?

The heart always belonged to you in the first place.

So I don’t think there’s any need to determine whether or not you’re ‘worthy’ of it.

...But oh well, I guess this is the best possible outcome? 

After all, this means that for quite some time.

We’ll be able to just enjoy ourselves together without having to worry about a thing, right? Nfu~ 

Yui: Laito-kun...

Laito: Well then, Yui-chan. Will you lift your face? 

Yui: Eh...?

*Rustle*

Laito: The Parade has reached its Finale, and your heart has returned. To commemorate this happy ending...

I give you this celebratory kiss...Nn...

Yui: Nn...

( ...Exactly. This is a happy ending, right? )

( I can still continue to live at Laito-kun’s side... )

( The two of us together... )

ーー TO BE CONTINUED ーー 

Translation notes

(1) I’m fairly certain Laito is referring to Karlheinz here. Since he also often will use the adjective 悪趣味 or ‘akushumi’ to describe his father.

← RETURN TO CHAPTER 3

→ PROCEED TO NORMAL ENDING

→ PROCEED TO FINALE ENDING

[haechanniesunflowers]

Stray Kids reaction to you breaking up with them

Theme: angst, rage, hate, very much established relationships, y'all deeply love each other

Scenario: You had been waiting for almost 2 hours now. "where is he" you were getting impatient and angry. He did this quite often, forgetting about your scheduled dates. You call him for the umpteenth time, and finally he picks up. You can tell by his raspy voice that he had been sleeping. "you've been blasting my phone for a while now, if I'm not answering then it means I'm either asleep or busy. What do you want?" he says annoyed. Oh hell no, he did not just just talk back to you. You immediately hangup, not wanting to create a scene because you were fuming at this point. You drive to his studio, but he's not there. Okay now you're just losing your mind, like you're on fire now. You go to his apartment and knock until he opens the door "WHAT THE HELL???". You walk straight in and it all makes sense to him now, he forgot about your date. He has no explanation to give so he's silent and embarrassed. "yeah, that's what I thought" you say sarcastically. He tries to come near you, "oh no keep your distance mister, I am sick and tired of your behaviour. Who do you think you are?? You might be the dream man of millions of women but you're an ordinary man for me and I will not allow you to treat me like this!! You have been forgetting about our dates, not even random ones, we schedule them TOGETHER but you still forget them! And I am sitting there embarrassed, waiting for you all the time! You always put your work first, even when it's not urgent!".

Bang Chan

He's shocked listening to you and tries calming you down "babe listen to me I know I messed up again, I'm so-". "so what? So sorry? Like you were the last time? And before that?". He's silent. You get more annoyed knowing full well that this isn't going anywhere and he will most definitely do it again. You take a deep breath, trying not to let your anger cloud your judgement but it's not really, your voice of reason tells you to do it. "Christopher, listen to me". Oh shit, you almost never call him Christopher, the only time you do, it's 100% serious business, his heart is thumping hard at this point. "y/n I'll be better, I promise. I'll make time for us I swear". "you and I both know that's not gonna happen, at least not now when you're so deeply involved in your work. And I honestly think it's better if we go our separate ways from here. Because this, us, isn't working and I'm not too happy being the only one putting in effort and making compromises for this relationship". He isn't thinking straight right now because even though you're right, a part of him is telling him that you're being ungrateful because he infact does check up on you, leaves you texts occasionally and meets up with you sometimes. That made him lose it and he snaps "look at you being an ungrateful little brat" this caught you off guard like hello?? how dare you? "wHAT??" you're voice is shrill, laced with anger. "you heard me, all you do is glorify your efforts while you completely ignore the effort I put in this stupid relationship". "well if that's what you wanna think then I can't do much about it now can I?". "leave" he says lowly, you heard it but you can't believe it so you're starting at him. "I said leave right now" he's seething. "oh gladly! I don't want to stay here with you anyway". You walk towards the door and look back just once, "we're done, I don't want to be in a stupid relationship with you where all you do is list down the things you do for me and bring me down". You want to slap him but he's too angry just like you and might start manhandling you so you decide against it. "I made it clear that we're breaking up, even now you weren't paying attention" you say as you step out. He slams the door shut.

Lee Know

He's instantly annoyed at your reaction. "I don't want to deal with you right now I'm tired". "I'm tired too Minho" "then fucking rest, don't yell at me" "I'm tired of you pushing me aside all the time! You expect me to put up with your stupid behaviour and comply with you but not anymore". "I said be quiet, don't yell at me" "UGH!! you make me so angry I hate you" "congratulations now go away" "I'm breaking up with your annoying ignorant ass Minho, don't ever text me or call me again because we're done it's over" you say barging towards the door. "whatever just leave me alone". You fight the urge to punch him in the face and squeal with anger, leaving the door open as you left his apartment. "annoying ass woman" he says, not yet fully understanding what happened.

Changbin

You guessed it right, he's angry. Just like Chan his brain thinks of all the times he worries and care for you. "YA! It's not like I did it on purpose, you need to get your mind straight". "not do it on purpose? Sure you might haven't done it on purpose but this has been going on for some time Changbin didn't you think I was gonna snap at one point in time? Or did you just think I was gonna keep forgiving you like the rest of the time!" "stop pushing it, alright?" "my God Changbin if you aren't even gonna believe me then there's no point in arguing about this" "I'm glad to finally read my mind" "Changbin you are so stupid and annoying ugh I don't want to be with you anymore". His eyes widen "what?" tries to hold your arms. "don't touch me, I'm leaving you Changbin we're done for good". His mind is going haywire, like he loves you so damn much what is he gonna do if you leave him. "y/n listen to me, you're angry right now we ca-" "there's no we anymore" you say as you open the front door, he holds your wrist but you push him back and leave. He stands at the threshold looking at your disappearing figure.

Hyunjin

He's scared and embarrassed. "y/n please baby I'm so sorry, I'll try to make you happy" "Hyunjin I can't believe that you and I have been together for so long and you're still gonna try to make me happy, like that's how much it matters to you" "nononono I don't mean it like that come on sit down I'll get you some water okay baby?" "save it Hyunjin, I'm done" "what do you mean" "I mean I'm done with you, with us trying to stay together, with this relationship, we're done I'm leaving" "no honey please let's talk about this" "there's nothing to talk about" that's the last thing you say and start walking towards the front door. "baby please think about this, you're doing this out of rage, please don't do this, sit down with me we need to talk about this, I love you so so much y/n come back". You silently leave his apartment.

Jisung

Doesn't say a word. He knows it will make you more angry if he says anything so he stays quiet. "Jisung I'm not an object for you to turn to when you're stressed about work. Do you even realize that the only time you actually put me first is when your work stresses you out to the core and you need release. Is that all I am to you?? A booty call? Well? Answer me!!"" erm no" "no what?" "no it's not like that, I'm sorry give me another chance to prove to you what you mean to me" "no thank you Jisung I'm done being embarrassed, I don't want to continue this relationship with you, we're breaking up right now" "what? No nono no nonono hey wait listen to me, I love you, wait I'll be good to you please wait" but you don't wait and you don't let him stop you, you're tired. Jisung cries watching you leave his apartment and his life.

Felix

He'll start crying. You can't deal with this anymore, every time you're mad at him and snap he starts crying. "Felix I'm not going to let things go on like this, I know just how busy you are and I fully understand how little time you have for me but I endured it. Not anymore. I want out. I'm breaking up with you". With that you walk to the door but he stands in your way, "please don't do this y/n I love you way too much, I need you in my life please don't leave me". "you want, you want? What about what I want? I want you to be there for me, just as I am there for you all the time. But you never make an effort. It's in your nature to put all your energy into your work, you can't seem to help it. I'm sorry Felix, but it's over, please get out of my way". He knows stopping you is futile and he doesn't want to swallow his pride, the pride he has left after a little begging, so he quietly moves but comes in for a hug before that. You don't hug him back though and you feel his frantic heart beat. You want to hug him so badly but you can't make this any harder for yourself. "what will I do without you?" he says, suppressing tears. "work? I guess. Goodbye". He cries quietly in his bed the rest of the day. "what have I done".

Seungmin

Maknae line do be sentimental huh? Boy's sad because he can't give you enough time and understands your position. "I'm actually really sorry y/n, I'm sorry for making promises I can't keep" "I don't need your apologies anymore Seungmin, they don't matter anymore" he's like ??? come again? "I don't want this anymore, I'm done, we're breaking up". "y/n please don't say that, why don't we sit and talk when you calm down" "I don't need to be calm to make this decision. We're over". "y/n wait listen to me, I said I'm sorry please wait at least sit down with me, let's talk". "I'm sorry Seungmin, this is how things need to be, goodbye". He's pleading for you to stay but you're gone.

IN

This baby is just sad and upset. He wants the best for you and knows that this isn't the best. So when you say "we're over" it does come as a shock to him but deep down he knows this is the best for you. You leave immediately, immediately because you don't have the heart to see him cry. He calls Chan to tell him what happened, Chan offers to meet up with you and talk on his behalf because just like you, Chan and the older boys can't see IN cry. It hurts to see him like this so he shuts out, completely. He doesn't want to hurt the people around him just because he couldn't treat his girlfriend right.

[hansols-yoda-boxers]

Canoe Trip 1 - July 18th

[8:36]

“You know what?” you said as you started to pull tent pegs out of the ground. “This is a small tent. I think I can take it down on my own.”

“Oh, really?” Seokmin asked.

“Yeah, it’s pretty easy,” you hummed. “You should find someone who needs help.”

Seokmin looked around with a pout. “I think everyone-”

“Yuna, Ryujin, Lia, come over here!” You called. Seokmin hissed your name but you ignored him. “I need you three to pack up equipment and take it to the boats.”

The three girls groaned as they passed you, picking up bags and starting to carry them down the path. When you looked at Seokmin again his cheeks were flushed and he looked a little panicked.

“Looks like Tzuyu could use some help,” you said pointedly.

“I can’t just-”

“Go help her.” You hissed.

Seokmin pressed his lips together before spinning on his heel and walking over to her.

=============================================================

Seokmin tried to settle the butterflies in his stomach as he walked over to Tzuyu. It was utterly useless though. As soon as she saw him coming closer he felt like his knees were going weak and his heart was going to jump right out of his chest.

“H-Hi.” 

Great start, he thought to himself.

“Good morning,” she said sweetly.

“I was- I wanted to know- you seem l-like this is a big tent and I-I- you- uh… Help?” How did he manage to speak so incomprehensibly?

“Are you asking if I need help?” She giggled.

“Y-Yes,” he stumbled. “If you need any. I know you’re capable b-but I thought I’d offer. I-I ca l-”

“I’d love some help,” she smiled.

“Okay,” Seokmin nodded. He was mentally kicking himself. Why couldn’t his mouth and brain just work properly?

“Did you sleep well?” Tzuyu asked, undoing tent pegs.

“Y-Yeah,” he said, pulling the cover off the tent to fold it. “They brought an air mattress that was pretty comfy.”

“I could have used that,” she hummed. “My shoulders are all stiff.”

“Ah?” Should he offer to rub her shoulders? Was that weird? It was probably weird. Or was she hinting at that? Why would she be hinting at that?

“I’ll see if you can borrow it next time.”

“I’d appreciate it,” She smiled, collecting tent poles as she took them out. “You know, I heard you like to sing.”

Seokmin felt his face heating up. “Wh-Who said that?”

“Seonghwa mentioned and Chan said it was true.”

“Ah, w-well I do,” he mumbled, watching the tent deflate before starting to fold it.

“I like to play ukulele sometimes, and I heard them saying you play guitar. I was thinking maybe, if you have time, we could sing together?”

Seokmin looked up at her, a little shocked, while he tried to process her words. Why was she asking to jam with him? It seemed out of the blue. But they got along well so this was normal, right? He took in the way her cheeks had a slight rosy hue, the breeze blowing her hair across her face, until she met his eyes hopefully.

“Yeah! Yeah I’d love to,” he said, a smile tugging at his lips.

“Cool,” she smiled shyly.

[stellacolletore]

i know this much (you will never be enough) summary: Mashima Reiko is crazy, and rich, and the mother of the person she loves. note: title and blurb inspired by the film ‘crazy rich asians’ because reiko is basically eleanor

“If you’re not doing it, I will.”  

Chihaya didn’t dare breath. A single move from her and she knew—she knew Sumire will see through her threat. Her thumb was perilously close to pressing the dial button. Should Chihaya say the wrong thing, she might end up having to answer to Mrs. Pressure without any mental preparation at all.

“Wait!” She pleaded. “I’ll call tonight. Promise.”

Sumire narrowed her eyes. Assured that Chihaya was completely serious about her resolution, Sumire handed the phone back to her.

Everyone in the club room exhaled. No bomb was unnecessarily detonated this afternoon, fortunately. “Man, you’re almost as scary as Mashima-san just now, Hanano-san.” Nishida remarked, finally able to swallow the pork bun in his hand.

Sumire sighed, still exasperated. “It’s been three days since I gave Ayase-senpai Mashima-san’s number. Forgive me if I sound impatient right now, because I totally am.”

Chihaya prostrated on the tatami. “Sorry, Sumire-chan!”

“Don’t be like that, Chihaya. We understand,” Kanade patted Chihaya’s head lightly. “But Sumire is right. Mashima-kun has been sick for three days already. We’re all very worried about him, just like you are.”

Komano fixed his glasses. “And as his unofficial girlfriend, the task to check up on him falls on you.”

Chihaya exhaled in defeat. She had ran away long enough.

It was time to face the inevitable.

*

Chihaya felt like coming down with the flu herself as she searched Mashima-san's contact number on her phone directory. It was a good thing she delayed eating dinner—her stomach was in knots just thinking about finally calling Taichi's terrifying mother and asking her a favor.

"You're a Queen, Chihaya," she muttered to herself, "You can do this."

Momentarily psyched up by her pep talk, she pressed the CALL button.

Clutching her Daddy Bear to her chest, she nervously waited for the other line to pick up.

"Moshi moshi. Mashima residence."

The voice unmistakably belonged to Mashima Reiko. Chihaya instinctively froze at the recognition, failing to follow through with a greeting.

"Hello? Who's ca—"

"It's Chihaya!" she blurted. Voice slightly shaky, she chattered, "Um, this is Chihaya. Good evening, Mrs. Pre—Mashima-san."

Reiko's voice instantly turned ice cold. "Ah, Chihaya-chan. It's a pleasure to receive your call at dinnertime."

Chihaya's eyes latched on the clock. Of course she'd end up calling at an absolutely inconvenient hour. She instantly replied, "I'm so sorry! It's just—I'd like to ask if Taichi's okay..."

She could hear a disappointed sigh. "If he is still unable to message you and your friends, I believe that means he's currently unwell. Now, do you have other questions, Chihaya-chan?"

Every nerve in her body was desperately begging for her to drop the line already, but if Chihaya would back down now, she's sure Sumire would find a way to still make the request, which may make things more difficult. Steeling herself, she took the plunge. "May I come over tomorrow?"

When she was met with silence, Chihaya rambled on, "I was asked by Tsukue-kun—I mean, his classmate—to deliver the notes for the lessons he missed. And our club members bought him oranges and apples and—"

"You may come tomorrow at five. You can help me prepare dinner."

Chihaya almost choked her stuff toy. This wasn't on the plan. "Sorry?"

"I believe you have excellent hearing, Chihaya-chan. Surely I won't need to repeat myself."

Like a soldier under scrutiny by her commander, she automatically replied, "Y - yes, Ma'am."

Pacified with her answer, Reiko said, "If that is all, then I must be going back to dinner. See you tomorrow."

"Thank you for your time, Mashima-san. S - see you tomorrow."

As soon as the call disconnected, Chihaya collapsed on the bed, energy spent. A minute later she got up, exited the room, and dashed down the stairs.

"Mom! Please teach me how to cook!"

*

"Woah—is meeting Taichi's mom really that scary for you?" Nishida inquired, staring at Chihaya's bloodshot eyes. "And what happened with those?" He pointed at Chihaya's freshly bandaged fingers.

Chihaya blinked rapidly, moistening her eyes. In between yawns, she explained, "I slept late. Mrs. Pressure asked me to help her with dinner so I had to learn how to chop vegetables. Perfectly."

Nishida gave her a comforting smile, "Ganbatte, Ayase. If you survive tonight, I'll treat you with pork buns for lunch tomorrow."

Resting her head on the desk, Chihaya muttered, "Thanks, Nikuman-kun."

*

Had Chihaya been a lucid dreamer, she would've realized that the castle was simply a representation of the Mashima house, the sleeping prince was Taichi all along, and the fire breathing dragon guarding the gate was definitely Mashima Reiko. If she were, she may not have woken up with a start, embarrassing herself in the middle of Fukasaku-sensei's class.

Looking at how messed up Chihaya was, Nishida began to doubt if he'd be able to buy her pork buns the next day.

*

It's okay, Chihaya, she's not really a dragon, she inwardly declared. She pressed the doorbell with her free hand, and then sighed in relief when she found Rika peering excitedly at her from the entranceway.

"Welcome, Chihaya-chan!" Taichi's younger sister greeted. Quirking an eyebrow at her, she then questioned, "Do you want some water? You look pale."

Chihaya waved her worry away. "I'm fine."

Locating Reiko at the kitchen, Chihaya presented the basket clutched in her hand. "G - good afternoon, Mashima-san. This is from everyone in the club." She proceeded to extract Komano's papers from her bag. "And these are the notes from Tsukue-kun."

"Please extend our gratitude to them, Chihaya-chan." Reiko took the basket and began to put the fruits inside the refrigerator. "You can leave the notes on Taichi's desk later."

Chihaya's heart skipped a beat. For all the stress she had gone through in the past twenty-four hours, the prospect of actually visiting Taichi had been at the back seat on her mind, overshadowed by the daunting ordeal of dealing with Mrs. Pressure without her son's intervention. Her thoughts led her to look in the direction of Taichi's bedroom.

She had never seen Taichi this sick, and she dearly hoped she could help him recover, if only a little.

She heard Reiko clear her throat. "You may see him as soon as we finished making dinner."

Chihaya's gaze snapped back to Reiko. "H - hai."

Reiko seemed to consider something, staring at her with a surprisingly concerned expression. "Would you like to have some tea first? Your face is pale."

Chihaya slapped her cheeks in response, giving some color to them. "I'm okay!" Encouraged by the thinly-veiled worry for her wellbeing reflected in Reiko's eyes, Chihaya attempted a smile, "I'm ready."

*

Having tried her hand in kitchen work for the first time last night, Chihaya could recognize how admirable Mashima Reiko moved through the space, retrieving cooking tools from the cupboards and ingredients from the refrigerator with exceptional grace. Taichi must have inherited his poise from his mother.

Chihaya put the vegetables in the strainer and headed to the sink. "I'll wash these up, Mashima-san."

Reiko hummed in agreement. "I'll be seasoning the meat." She turned to her daughter perched on the dining table stool, happily watching over the two of them. "Go work on your homework, Rika. You have nothing to do here."

Rika started to protest. "But I wanna see—" her words were cut abruptly, and from behind her Chihaya could guess that Mrs. Pressure had given Rika her intimidating gaze.

If Mashima Reiko were karuta Queen, Chihaya was sure she'd never become a challenger. If she did, she would have to play blindfolded, just so she can avoid that look.

"Fine," Rika relented. "Ganbatte, Chihaya-chan." She proceeded to go upstairs, leaving Chihaya and Reiko alone.

Finishing her first task, Chihaya deposited the vegetables on the container next to the chopping board.

Time to show what I've practiced. She picked up a medium-sized knife and was about to slice the head of a cabbage when Reiko suddenly ordered, "Stop."

Chihaya stared at her, dumbfounded. Was she already deemed a failure? That fast?

Reiko withdrew the knife from her hands. Then she remarked. "Your fingers are hurt."

Chihaya blinked. "They're all right. I can still—"

"Take a sit over there and just watch me, Chihaya-chan," Reiko instructed, her tone clearly expressing that Chihaya have no other choice but to follow. Flustered, Chihaya merely nodded, settling on the stool Rika had previously occupied.

Reiko continued preparing the meal, making Chihaya feel more and more anxious at being utterly unhelpful each second that passed. She knew she should attempt to make small talk, but her mind can't come up with any dialogue, not even about the weather.

It was Reiko that broke the silence. "If I remember correctly, you've injured your hand once before. Was playing karuta that challenging?"

Taken aback by Reiko's recollection, Chihaya failed to filter her thoughts. "Harada-sensei trained me harder so I won't get injured like that again. I, um, got these last night chopping carrots."

As soon as the words were left hanging in the air, Chihaya bit her lip. Please don't think much about it please don't think much about it please don't—

Reiko stopped swirling the ladle in the pot. Chihaya held her breath, preparing herself for whatever it was that will come out of Mrs. Pressure's lips.

Her imagination couldn't have predicted what she had finally said. Not in a million years.

"You know, I never disliked you, Chihaya-chan." Reiko resumed her motions, "Just how early you arrived."

Even though they were merely two sentences, Chihaya couldn't begin to grasp what Mrs. Pressure was telling her.

Even without Chihaya's prompting, Reiko elaborated, "When I became a mother, I promised to myself that I will raise my child with the same standards that my parents had set for me." Having finished cooking the broth, she turned off the stove. Reaching for the box of genmaicha tea, she continued, "Fortunately, I hadn't had much trouble with Taichi. He is naturally brilliant and determined. He listens to my demands and takes on the challenges I set for him. But then one day he came home saying he wants to be good at playing this obscure game,"—Chihaya straightened up, ready for a lecture—"and it worried me, not just because it wasn't in my plans, but also because the game came from a girl that has taken more than his attention, even though he's unaware of it at the time."

Reiko poured hot water on two porcelain cups, then submerged the tea kernels in them. "Just as how my parents had given me freedom to choose the person I like, I must give the same choice to my children. But you happened to come into Taichi's life far earlier than when Oligo came into mine, and I can't help but treat you with unwarranted hostility for that." Reiko gave her a stricken smile, "But maybe it was for the better. If I had Taichi controlled for all these years, he might have been leading a broken life by now." She slid one cup towards Chihaya. "I suppose I owe you both an apology and my thanks, Chihaya-chan."

Unable to completely digest the sudden disclosure from Reiko, Chihaya could only refute her last statement. "That's not true! Taichi is the person he is right now because of your efforts, Mashima-san." Chihaya recalled a moment from way back their first team tournament as a seven-membered club. She relayed the details of the event to her, narrating how Taichi had uncharacteristically snapped at Tsukuba for arguing with the word 'but' all over his sentences, declaring that a man has no use for the word. Chihaya had then commented how Reiko's strictness with Taichi had disciplined him, allowing him to become strong in his own way.

This time it was Reiko who was rendered speechless. Chihaya sipped the tea, finding her nerves settling. After finishing her cup, she shyly ventured, "If you will, I'd like to take up Taichi's dinner with the notes now, Mashima-san."

Composing herself, Reiko nodded, then started assembling the food.

*

She found Taichi covered under layers of blankets when she entered his room. Setting the tray on the study desk, Chihay tiptoed towards his huddled figure.

She rested a hand on his arm, finding it awfully warm. "Passing Todai must've been so hard, ne, Taichi?" She swapped the dry towelette for a cool one, setting it on his forehead. Feeling the sudden chill, Taichi stirred. His amber eyes connected with Chihaya's, and he muttered weakly, "Now I'm delirious."

Chihaya chuckled, placing a hand on his cheek. "Not yet. I'm real."

Taichi sounded genuinely lost when he insisted, "You can't be. You'd have to get past my Mom to be here, and you're terrified of her."

Chihaya perked up, "About that..." she decided against telling him about her upgraded relationship with Mrs. Pressure. Taichi would be more convinced that he was hallucinating if she did. Instead, she took his hand. "Everyone was worried about you. Please get well soon, Taichi. I missed beating you in matches."

Taichi grinned mischievously, "You could leave out the beating at matches part."

Chihaya felt her face warm. "Fine, just because you're sick this time. I missed you, Taichi."

Satisfied at her admission, and perhaps still feeling very much unwell, Taichi began to drift off again. Checking her wristwatch, Chihaya noted that there was still an hour before he had to take his medicine.

Reaching up to gently caress his head, Chihaya found herself narrating, "Once upon a time, there was a beautiful prince who was stuck in a castle. There was a big, fire breathing dragon at the gates and everyone in the land was afraid of her. It turns out, the dragon wasn't bad at all, and so when the princess..."

[scary-senpai]

What am I working on? Nothing, really. Just an exceedingly self-indulgent fic where Garou and Genos come from the same place.

[xerox-candybar]

When I am super tired, sometimes I dress up even if I have nowhere to be, because it makes me feel better

[tamcitrus]

Home.

pairing: Oikawa x f!reader.

genre: fluff, domestic. (sfw)

warnings: manga spoilers for Oikawa after graduation!

words: 900~.

Tam’s notes: Happy birthday to The my Great King! I can’t even explain how much I love him. I wrote this short little thing last night to celebrate his birthday. Thanks a lot to @dorkyama​ and @sunshinesatori​ for beta-reading this! I was sleepy and tipsy when I wrote this alñskjdñas ♥

You and Oikawa had met many years ago, as soon as he joined the CA San Juan club. You worked at the club as a physical therapist and assisted him on his admittance exams. You also doubled as an English-Spanish translator. Very few people in the club didn't speak English, nor did they speak Japanese, so you'd help with communication if all those people would happen to be together.

Along the years you got closer and closer and finally ended up together. You bought a comfy apartment in a nice neighborhood close to the club. You divided your time in work hours, your private consulting room, and him. He divided his hours in training, the club, and you.

When he told you about him getting the Argentina citizenship, you didn't even blink. Of course he was going to show a 200% commitment with the club because that's who he was. Committed, perseverant, dedicated, passionate. Of course he would go so far as to get the citizenship.

So, when someone in the club let it slip to you that he already got it, you prepared a surprise for him.

"Baby, is everything  good? You never call me from work," he answered his phone and sounded breathless.

"I'm just craving something and you're closer to it. Could you go to get some ice cream from that store we went to last time when you’re done in the club?"

"Craving? Is your period on time?" he laughed.

"Yes, Tooru! Gosh, you’re making me nervous," you giggled.

"Well, choose your words wisely next time, honey," he said and you could hear the smirk on his voice. "Ok, I'll get the ice cream. I have to go, see you at home."

"Bye, babe!"

Now you had an extra 30 minutes for him to come home. You rushed out of your consulting room and ran to buy everything you needed for the special dinner. Three hours and a lot of shopping later, you had a whole dinner with japanese dishes. Sushi, ramen, takoyaki, sake. A bit of everything for sharing between two and, of course, milk bread.

"Baby, I'm home!" he announced. He put your ice cream in the fridge. "I have great news to share with you!"

"Hey babe, welcome back," you smiled from your seat on the table.

"Woah, what's all this?"

"First your news," you said and offered him a glass of wine.

"I'm officially Argentinian," he smiled and showed you his little ID card. It no longer was tagged as foreign.

"Tooooooru, I'm so happy for you, congratulations!" you threw your arms around his neck and he grabbed your waist with one arm to lift you up a bit and walk to the table.

"Your turn now. What's all this?"

"Celebration for you getting the citizenship!" you let him go and showed him his seat. "We've got all kinds of Japanese food, or everything I could think of, and your favorite dessert! I just wanted you to have something that reminded you of your home today," you explained.

"This is my home now, love," he kissed you. "You are."

"I know, I just-" you blushed.

"I'm just messing with you. This is awesome and I love it," he sat on his chair and guided you to sit on his lap.

"You'll make it to the national team now, I'm sure. You'll kick everyone's ass," you kissed his cheek.

"I've got a free day tomorrow. Wanna play a drinking game?"

"You bet. But let's eat first."

"How did you know I got the citizenship today?"

"That's a secret," you stick your tongue out to him. "Now, let's eat!"

You finished your dinner talking about your day. Then, you moved to the couch to share a blanket and watched a movie.

"Did I ever tell you what my favorite alien movie is?" you asked him. He shook his head. "Signs. Have you seen it?"

"I don't think I have."

"Each time we get scared, we drink," you said.

"Let's start then, baby."

By the end of the movie you were already tipsy and snuggling by your boyfriend's side.

"We should go to bed now, babe," he laughed when you refused to let go of his arm, safely locked between your arms and against your chest.

"I really really love you, Tooru~", you babbled and kissed his arm.

"I love you too, y/n-chan," he said, sweetly, and kissed you. "Want me to carry you to bed?"

"Pretty please," you pouted.

He took you bridal style to your shared bed and hugged you from behind, being the big spoon.

"I'm happy you feel this is your home," you whispered. "I'm really happy to meet you and for being your partner."

"You're the best thing that happened to me here," he kissed your neck. "Now sleep."

"Iwaizumi is coming."

"What?"

"Hajime is coming. He's part of your birthday gift," you explained.

"That's awesome."

His birthday was months apart yet but you found a way to make it awesome already.

After a few minutes of silence, he felt your breathing get really soft. You were sleeping. He pulled the covers over your bodies and cuddled with you again.

You, right here between his arms, were his home now.

[a-student-out-of-time]

And now for Makoto and Iroha's *ahem* Love Hotel Event. Its funny because neither Trigger Happy Havoc nor Sun of Despair/Moon of Hope has the Love Hotel feature in it!

*Iroha lays on top of Makoto, the two of them making out slowly and deep for some time*

*Once they finally pull apart, Iroha plants a smaller, gentler kiss on his lips, like a signature*

Haah....haah....that was awesome.

Haah....yeah. I hope I’m getting better at kissing.

You’re great~

And you know...it kinda feels like I’m always taking the lead. Which I don’t mind, exactly, but...well...

Do you wanna?

A-Are you sure?

Yeah. I trust you.

Well...alright.

*He gently pushes Iroha over to lay her back against the bed*

...

*He smiles, gently pushes her shirt up a bit, then he leans down and blows a raspberry against her belly*

Pffff-hahahaha!

*He takes the opportunity to start tickling her as well*

Makoh-hohohoto! Hehehehe!

Ahahahaha! Wa-Wa-Wait! Hehehe! Sta-Stop! Stop!, I ca-ahahaha! Can’t breathe! Pffffhehehehe!

Alright, alright, I’ll be nice.

Heh...heh....hoo...

That...heh...that was fun too.

You have the cutest laugh, Iroha-chan.

And you have the cutest...everything.

I...*Yaawwnn* Noooo...I don’t wanna sleep yet.

Well, we probably should. I still have school tomorrow.

Right, I...forgot that exists.

Can I...sleep here with you though?

I’d...like that.

Thank you~

[addercharmer]

Izumi woke up to something on top of her wiggling and a little finger poking her in the cheek. 

She cracked an eye and made eye contact with brilliant gold, Izumi knew that Keigo had been with the commission for a year and a half but she was mildly surprised to see that he hadn't yet lost all life in his eyes. 

"Good morning my rosefinch." She rasps with her lack of clear early morning voice. 

"Morning Izumi-san." Keigo says back perfectly polite. 

Izumi wrinkles her nose, she will not accept that name. 

"Ahhh my rosefinch is too polite!" She cries dramatically, digging her fingers into soft sides and wiggling them. 

Keigo look panicked for all of half a second before he's bursting out in giggles and trying to get away from her fingers. 

Izumi stops when it sounds like Keigo is just about to become breathless. 

"You can call me Izu-nee or nee-chan if you want, hopefully after you talk to the adult about how we make you feel you get to stay with us forever and ever." Izumi tells the little boy seriously. 

A little grumble from Keigo's stomach cuts off any of Izumi's other thoughts. 

"Breakfast it is." She agrees to nothing, some more acrobatics gets Izumi out from under Keigo's weight, once her feet are on the floor she offers her hand to help him get his feet under him as well. 

Izumi leads the winged boy down into the kitchen before settling him at the table. She turns the radio on just loud enough that it's barely background noise as she makes a breakfast of pancakes and fruit. 

The entire time she's cooking she feels Keigo's eyes following her around the kitchen, Izumi just keeps her movements slow and easy, not sure if anything too sudden would spook him. 

"Ta-da!" Izumi exclaims in a normal volume as she places a plate in front of the baby bird. 

Keigo's eyes are wide and he looks slightly panicked as he speaks. "But I'm only supposed to have oats for breakfast." 

The words make Izumi come to a stand still, she takes a quiet breath to calm the rage bubbling in the pit of her stomach. 

"Well that may be so at the commission, but here with me and dad you can eat anything you want." She says, and pokes Keigo in the tip of his nose, then she hastily adds. "Within reason, and it won't kill you." 

"Okay nee-chan." Keigo agrees with a small smile before he's digging in, she makes the cutest little chirps as he eats that Izumi has to take a moment to convince herself not to snatch the boy up and cuddle him for the rest of their lives. 

"Morning pups." Nezu greets when he walks into the kitchen, by the time he's made it to the table Izumi has a plate of breakfast and a cup of tea settled for him as well. 

"Morning dad." Izumi replies, she's not even thinking as she leans over and kisses between the stoat's ears. 

Both of them freeze for a moment before springing back into eating. 

It takes a little for the awkwardness of showing new kinds of affection to die down but when it does Izumi is quick to ask. 

"Dad, I forgot to get curtains and a desk chair for Keigo's room. I also wanted to take him for some new clothes, if that's okay?" There is no hesitation in her voice like there still had been a year ago. 

"Yes, make sure you also invite someone who has a fashion sense." Nezu teases her. 

Rolling her eyes and giving a little huff and makes eye contact with Keigo again. 

"Wanna meet my friend rosefinch?" She asks the boy. Izumi refuses to make him uncomfortable. 

"Sure nee-chan." He nods, then he blushes a little. "Bathroom?" He asks and blushes deeper. 

Izumi jumps to her feet and quickly scoops Keigo into her arms before she takes off at a quick walk to the bathroom on the second level. 

"This is our bathroom rosefinch, not that it's the only one you can use, but most other people won't use this one, we can pick out ideas to decorate it later, I used yellow in the last house but I want us to do it together here." Izumi natters as she takes Keigo into the bathroom and puts him back on his own two feet. 

Just before she closes the door she says. "I'm gonna be in my room, it's right across the hall. You can come get me when your ready." 

Izumi had finished changing and was in the process of throwing her hair up into a messy bun when her door opened, Keigo shuffled into the room, his wings tucked tight to his back. 

"Rosefinch, you okay?" Izumi dropped her hair and went to kneel in front of Keigo.

"I...I need help preening…" Keigo said quietly like he was afraid to ask for help. 

"Ah, I don't know how to do that, but you know who will?" Izumi feels a little stupid for not having researched, she hadn't thought of one of the most necessary things for someone with wings. 

At her question Keigo shakes his head but he's making eye contact now, Izumi counts that as a partial win. 

"Dad will know!" Izumi tries to make it sound exciting. "Dad can teach me how to do it too, and when we are out today we can get anything special we need." 

Izumi stood and offered open arms so Keigo could choose to hold her hand or be carried, the force that Keigo hit her had Izumi rocking backwards and the air quickly escaping  her lungs. 

Securing Keigo in her hold Izumi thanks her past self and Nezu for making sure she did weight training, even with that she didn't think she would be able to carry her rosefinch for long. 

Going down the stairs was a much more difficult experience than going up, it made Izumi all the more thankful for her dance and gymnastics training. 

"Dad." Izumi called as she placed Keigo on the couch. "Our baby bird needs help preening." 

Nezu didn't reply verbally but he did appear by her elbow, the smile on his muzzle was the same gentle one she had gotten used to seeing in her first few months in the past. 

"I was hoping he would." The stoat chirped as he climbed on the couch. "Will you open your wings for me pup?" 

As Keigo opened his left wing Izumi let out a little gasp, part of her had forgotten how brilliant Keigo's wings were on the news, but seeing them in person was incredible. 

"Oh rosefinch, you have the most brilliant wings I've ever seen." She told him as she lightly ran her fingers over the feathers. 

Nezu squeaked out a laugh and he brought his paws up to the wing, first he started running his claws around the joints that connected to Keigo's shoulder blades. 

"No oil glands." He said lightly. "You will need to buy some, we will preen again when you get back to get the feathers moisturized, then again before bed." He told the two. 

Izumi realized that it was now ten o'clock and she should really ask the others about shopping before they finished preening. 

Mouse?Bear?Human?: Are you guys still up for some shopping? 

IBreakGlass: yep! (✿◠‿◠)

LoudAssCloud: sorry parents need me at home

FemFatale: can't sorry（￣^￣）

sleepdeprivedcat: coffee nd ill be there

Mouse?Bear?Human?: Meet at the house?

                                        : It will probably be easier on the baby bird to meet you where he knows he's safe. 

IBreakGlass: be there in half an hour. (☞ﾟヮﾟ)☞

sleepdeprivedcat: same 

Izumi shut her phone off and turned her attention back to Nezu and Keigo, they were half finished the wing. 

Izumi paid close attention as Nezu raked his claws through the crimson feathers. Every few seconds he would stop to pull a feather back in line with the others, Izumi grinned at how simple it was. 

"Can I try your other wing rosefinch?" Izumi asks, as she steps around in front of Keigo. 

Once she was behind the boys right wing extended immediately, Izumi hummed happily as she started to take her own fingers through the soft feathers. 

Izumi lost herself to the soothing actions of tidying feathers that when the doorbell rang both herself and Keigo jumped. 

"Yo Nezu-sensei." Hizashi' voice boomed through the house followed by three sets of steps, one soft and quick, the second just as soft as the first but longer between foot falls, the third was loud like they hadn't yet learned not to lead with their heel. 

Izumi kept her hands moving, she didn't want to take them away yet, she also wanted to be within easy reach of her rosefinch in case he needed comfort with the new people. 

Hizashi's gasp and coo had Keigo skittering back towards Izumi, he pressed his back into her front and curled his wings forward. Izumi just wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pulled him tighter to her chest. 

"Keigo, these are my friends." She explained quietly. "The blond is Hizashi, he makes a lot of noise but he's super fun." Keigo wings fall from their protective stance a little. "The one who looks like he could sleep anywhere is Shōta, he's really quiet but really strong." 

Izumi is glad that Keigo's wings have folded as well as they can with her still plastered between the joints. 

"Zashi, Shō, this is Keigo. Isn't the rosefinch the cutest thing you've ever seen." Izumi speaks louder now that Keigo has relaxed. 

"Good reflexes." Shōta grunts, his tone is softer than she had ever heard it before and Izumi can't help but to smile at him. 

"Oh, he is the cutest! I just want to cuddle him!" Hizashi burbles as the two boys step further into the room, his movements are telegraphed and Izumi knows he's trying his best to be non threatening at his ridiculous height. 

Keigo steps away from her, fluffs his wings and refolds them. Then he's looking over his shoulder at Izumi checking for her reaction, she just smiles so Keigo opens his arms much like she had. 

"Ca-can I have a hug?" He asks the two male teens once he's looking at them again. 

Shōta crosses the distance smoothly before wrapping one arm around the boy's shoulder and lightly tugging him forward, Keigo goes with the tug and smooches his face into Shōta's ribs as he wraps his arms around the black haired teens waist. 

Izumi isn't sure what is happening but Shōta's face is turning pink, and she finds the whole thing really sweet. 

Keigo pulls away just after a few moments. Once he's safely distangles from Shōta, Hizashi shoves the sorter teen out of his way and wraps his arms around Keigo's waist and lifts him to settle on his hip. 

Shōta grunts at the push, a glare being directed at Hizashi promising revenge, Izumi can't help the giggle that bursts from her throat. Keigo is looking at Hizashi like the other blond is mildly insane and it just makes Izumi giggles harder. 

"Okay pups, I can take you to the mall, and you can taxi home." Nezu says from where he had stayed partially in the hallway. 

Hizashi refuses to put Keigo back down as they all slip their shoes on and parade themselves to the car. 

The drive sees Keigo struggle away from Hizashi, hitting him a few times with his wings to make his way over to Izumi's lap. 

"Rosefinch, I won't be able to carry you the whole time." She tells him sadly before explaining why. "You're almost as big as me already, one day you'll be able to carry me." 

Keigo looks sad until she points out that with her small size he could carry her when he's older. 

There is a snort from Shōta at the interaction but thankfully he stays quiet. 

[paraclete0407]

1.

That my favorite JLC novel was ‘Call for the Dead’ - a reference for the Black Death

2.

Nora Roberts’ ‘Holding the Dream’ - ‘Project 521′

3.

‘[Japanese word for bouquet] super-cruise

4.

‘Afterburner’ - hands on shoulders

5.

‘Disbelief in math’ - you [stole presence of breast]

6.

‘Why am I so dumb’

7.

Drinking boiling tea on empty stomach till fly, leap weightlessly

8.

‘Mariposa 2016′ - why not be ‘wheeled out’ 

9.

‘Speak while breathing in’

10.

Oxygen from outside not needed; breathing is crutch

11.

Do backflip; test of will

12.

‘Germantown Lake’

13.

Instant respect University School of Milwaukee

14.

‘UW-Milwaukee (once) respected me’

15.

‘The infliction

16.

‘H3B’ - ‘Mutt Riley’ drug-dealer w/ heart of gold (fake stock character) ‘Malaysian Camille,’ fingers intercostal, ‘Liesl,’ point to books w/ furry boot-toes, ‘I want to kick that cat.’  Some kind of gov’t agency.  Girl w/ marmalade hair,

17.

‘Gangster Opera’ - ‘__-ya what _ _ _ _’ - ‘penalty life’ 

18.

‘Flamenco dance-hall poison gas massacre’ - ‘First Love’

19.

‘The Persian Girl’ - NYC container-ship nuclear terrorism

20.

‘Oxygen Girl and Lithium Boy’ - W. Allen ‘Jupiter Symphony’ - Green R-33  - ‘Yeppeo Harkke’ - ‘I’m not Allen; don’t want to know everything; I groom no one; I expect not to live forever; IDC abt ‘sexual awakening’  + doesn’t need to be taught.  Unoriginal sinner, un-special sophistication, ‘nubile’ - well f--- you and praise God f---face

21.

Distributing the apple-baskets to the poor

22.

‘Epipen’ hostess-bar; [fake name spoken by munch-crumple-idiot].  

23.

‘The Coalminer’s Wife.’  Rutgers is Pyongyang; Mason Gross School of the Arts is Pyongyang; spiral staircase, why am I so dumb.  ‘Poetry-writing is like _ _ but novel-writing is like coal-mining.’  The small room, loom / weave.  Sleep in uniform apron / visor.  Blindness.  Hairband.  ‘If you wear this shirt on college 1st day will meet fut. husband.’  

Sitting in subterranean culvert, bride, pink silver white, orange light.  Kneeling in matte white in coal-hill.  ‘The village headman’s daughter.’  Candle.  Roman Catholicism implied.  

24.

Legalistic, fat on health-foods.  Friend is skinny always burning self down, love of pizza.  ‘Sungjin.’  

25.

‘Minister of the Right’ - ‘Scholar Jin and Lady Periwinkle’

26.

‘Eternal Protector YSS his face was white to blacks black to whites spoke breathing in, racist in immutable divine capacity, picking up valuables from ground even if stolen property =/- smashing store-window to steal.  Terrible elephant-trumpet, sinking, PCH will burn me w/ cigarette-tip in Eternity.  

27.

‘Sospira’ - mandatory euthanasia for piano-teacher after ‘genius student’ graduates

28.

‘Man is woman and woman is b _ _.’  ‘Women are floors.’  

29.

The bird says ‘laoshi.’  The rabbit approaches me; my son.  Little kids w/ armored lower legs will crush me.  

30.

‘So tired from writing strip-club accounts by hand shoulder fatigue the RU Aryan Nation (inc. blonde Jewesses) easily bent her arm to make it look like suicide.’    

31.

‘I caused WW3 due to collective hallucination and/or CCP deepfake; casus belli

32.

‘We’ll give you a five-course meal then f--- you up + also plant bomb in stomach

33.

‘I f---ig TOLD YOU

34.

Mom trusted me with absolute trust-ness as we walked; Jew ‘Take your family _____!’  ‘Carlos Park,’ ‘I HATE Jews; they think they’re the only humans.’  ‘At least we can all agree about Obergefell(?!).’

35.

Why Episcopalians sing about Socrates?

36.

Tell parents, ‘Don’t you know how easy it is to generate deepfakes and say anyone did anything?’  They drove away leaving me outside Best Buy.

37.

‘He’s like the Palestinians.’  ‘I really like you.’  Black boy in pom-pom-hat, tooth-smile, tinfoil.’  My Tibetan bracelet, Diamond Gym Maplewood

38.

‘Meta-wolf.’  Painterly resolution of cinema.  Die at piano.  Stab self in right thigh.  

39.

Looking in to the PC screen 2003 I saw the future; at the very end of the _ _ vid the katana right through her mouth and head / brain / skull.  Dads to plan Covid ultra-vengeance.  YSS, ‘I killed my sons to _ _ _.’  

40.

St. Peter in sky

41.

‘Delight of bread; it befits Man’s dignity... Xi Jinping likes _... delight stomach nursing school, orange sherbert, all ight getting beaten

42.

The Black PhD woman wants me to apply lip-gloss(?!), will not expand on educational philosophy of institution - ‘I blah blah blah Harvard, middle class can’t live within means - Shanghai novel ‘What We Were Not Promised’ - ‘

43.

Guidance counselor you f----- it up - incompetent reprobate self-hypermasculinizing crop-hair Jewess man up Derek Chauvin

43.

‘The neural math Yuki Katakura, mirror neurons, decoupling, cannot ride the vestibule, Matt Chai, “Correspondence and Correlation’  Berkeley CA, ‘Catherine Chai’ emerald dress, McDonalds in the days when seats were fixed outside.  Michelle WAi funeral; she played guitar; commanded submarine, assassinated by RPG Arab terrorist.  G-36.  ‘Fantail.’

44.

‘What’s Myeong Hyeongeso up to?’ - I really love my friend Cunningham whose heartrate spikes probably b/c he knows there’s CCP Yakuza assassins somewhere al the time thinking of murdering him

45.

Daejin McDonald’s one night, I start singing ’Star Spangled Banner.’  Kim Jong Un launches missile arcing over cereal grain fields, I start singing ‘Star Spangled Banner.’

46.

Literally 2015, ‘Trinity of Happiness.’  Later ‘finally enter.’  Gold label lite cigarette, ‘I’m gonna have my day!’

47.

I gave the little kid money + he flipped out; he later tried to freeze himself to death as Texas Bill is manning up worried about magazine cliches, contributions to ROKA(?).  Kid quit due to voice but he’s still better than me!  Fire all these people, CDF, ‘Charles David Framingham,’ nuke Milwaukee, I don’t trust his data.  ‘I had so much sex before marriage’ - just die I read your magazine 3,0000 years ago.  I can’t believe anyone wants to be you; my grandfather was B-24 co-pilot, main pilot KIA, landed without landing-training, grapefruit morning, infinite wrist-strength.  I smashed up his house but he didn’t get mad, just stutter.  Dead-eyed f---face shooting every animal in Texas.  

48. 

Very much fear of P2 holiness but holiness-shyness even worse than love-shyness even more blasphemous, I sincerely hope he strangles me very soon

49.

The evillest thing I ever thought, the ‘death of deaths,’ Kim Jong Il, what was he thinking?  I used to toy with TW-1, say word ‘zombie’  ‘How could you do that?!’  I didn’t liquefy girls’ skeletons or sth; it’s like Schindler’s List soundtrack; I just don’t know words for it.  ‘Final Gesture’ - Jesus to Judas ‘friend?’

50.

Iraq War Day trail-running, later cognizance of Noam Chomsky Hiroshima Day.  Wanted to say Op. Olympic noble but in retrospect ‘Bells of Nagasaki’ + ‘swamp of Japan.’  My grandfather’s funeral, dad is, ‘We have all drunk from wells we did not dig.’  Chinese chicken eat, nap, I can run all the way up of the hill w/ African chat.  I like YooA ‘Bon Voyage,’ check CNS high reps, atrial fibrillation.

51.

SHINEE fangirl ‘Stella(?)’ - noli me tangerine I know that stuff is ‘little stars.’  Awed at my gait  ‘If only they had stayed in hot pursuit.’  I wanna believe in all that stuff as well; I am also a dead-ender or last-chancer or last-caller; I admire Mari Iijima, ‘’Uncompromising Innocence.’  ‘Little Heaven’ but that’s Kim Jongilism or I’m worse than Kim Jong Il for thinking about ‘Agents Running in the Field.’  Timothy Keller, ‘I don’t like broccoli.’  I felt it was an innuendo and it made me think of HJ that gave me her number but I didn’t call b/c I’m against prostitution and I felt it’s fake number b/c everything is the Shadowplay.  I made stupid lewd stuff for years despite ‘Anointment’ and ‘When To Care’ - ‘toucan, macaw, demi-bra.’  Everyone thinks I’m a rapist but I’m not pressing my case; I don’t mouth-breath; I don’t spit.  I read ‘Sentimental Education’ and pre-targeted; I gave up; I wish Gen. McChrystal could be President or GWB 3rd term, conscience of Moon Jaein, ‘Weary Head.’  Thought I was ‘all hard’ for reading Natsume Soseki’s ‘Meian’ with ex-girlfriend’s smile at the end but he as dying then I started seeing kisses + wife-smiles and stuff; what’s Francis Chan up to?, does Mike Pompeo know I am real?  I liked 2nd Inuyasha movie, that song was about Mochida Kaori’s unborn niece or nephew, Kinokuniya Edgewater Mitsuwa.  The ‘Many Pieces’ live version ended with bass-note - ‘cantus firmus’ - instead of fadeout and wail.  Stone Lake NK Mountain morning.  Fav. Bible book 2 Timothy - ‘grievous wolves.’  & I used to listen to ‘Arirang’ and hear the Latin, ‘Respondemus’ - my favorite person said that Latin’s ‘quaint’ but it’s the lingua franca of the Roman Empire and that’s the final empire of this world that never went away; but this is a specific era, the great wave Delta and it’s not even the last iteration If I know anything about biological war or Satan.  Unironically fall on your face; ten billion jewel-souls tonight and this terrible fire rolling over.  I just simply pray for mercy on Milwaukee + somebody suspend their infinity-war-dueling over all the ills of yesterday back to Original Sin nd the Fall of Lucifer.  I’m unhappy that I know all this pop-culture; ‘worlds are swaying / someone is praying / please let us come home to stay’ or Kahi’s ‘One Love’ where at the end it uses the word for ‘I’ in the subjective case which is ‘arm confirmed identity’