#finally getting comfortable with drawing kai… now I can be evil to him >:) | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

fangcyclonelunaheat · 3 years ago

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I was gonna ask you something related to the AU ask but I was too late ;-;

If you have anything you'd like to info dump on me about them, please give me your word vomit I'd love to hear it !! <3

no worries!! im here to answer whenever i can! (im sorry if i was also late i was busy and out for most of the day soo yea) ive picked some that might be good rn so that my minds stomach can finally rest in peace

- here they are - [god au] - just like how there is the spirit village (where souls and spirits go after death by bunta) and the underground (where souls of people that did bad or have bad thoughts (smth like bad paraphilias or killing or using people for worse), is also a city where people get help and start a better life there or get punished for their actions), there is a 3rd place that is in the galaxy in and only stars can live in. that place is called celestia and its only population are the stars and is above the other 2 alternitive places. the stars are able to go down to people when they are ready and ask for a wish, if the wish is anything positive related, the star will turn into anything from a human to a ladybug depending on the person wishs and themselfs. it was made by god of fire keisuke during the great gray war (a 1 year war that was about void god and god shining/light god over their ideals after god shining tried to assasinate void because shining always saw him as evil and even thought he would destroy the world one day, it caused the other gods to fight eachother over the ideals when everyones was different). when keisuke was trying to escape the war by going to outer space when he suddenly found dust like stars floating around near the orbit of mars, he looked at them carefully and realised that they would be helpful when the war ended for those in need, so kei creates a warmhole made with qurks and a fire ring and made them a big space to grow. they still are giving wishes to people. (fun fact: takumis mom in this au is a star here) (also im very sorry if this sounds very nonsencical im not good with words) - speaking of the underground lets speak about akio (yes THAT akio), the ruler of the underground, the omen neddle, god of calamity, possession, neddles as well as fate and change, he used to be human before kitami (yes YES THAT KITAMI, hes also the void god i mentioned whos with the big boys) resigned as the ruler of the place he created and saw akio as a good new god for him and gou (has a company still there but its more like their the ones puting the things in place and help those that need it) and thos took him, gave him a medalion and guides him to a forbidden fountain with space like water where he needs to hold the medalion while its underwater and kitami used his powers to turn him into a god yeaeeeeeeeeeeee (nutshell version, might draw the story) - bunta and takumi have a big pet kitzune yuichi and hes big and fluffy and they take care of him for the end of time - the tech in the world has evolved so much that the gods accept it and even assist on whats new to come. even lightning boy kai goes to conserts - kenta / okami kenta was and still is a dragon that controls the rain and snow. he was raised by the cloud dragon and the soil dragon with a brother whos rawr could roll and brake bolders and rocks of a mountain. when okami was away, he saw that his parants were murdered by pirates trying to riches, with his brother missing. trying to fight back, he screams as loud as he could in summoning a rainstorm but it was weak against them and fled, now searching for his brother but, he was no where to be found. now weaping for his family causing a long rain to be held, he hid on a ditch to stay for the time being. a man came accoss okami and saw that it was weak, the man gave him food and comfort. he finally gained trust in him and so, flew with the man to the shine of the birds and the man revialed himself to be the god of water and sciance ryosuke. the brothers, close gods and kenta were always there together, when fighting or general viewing of the beautiful mountains and fields, their friendship bond harded in the group. one day, kenta started to feel weak to the point only light showers came once and never again. the brothers didnt want to lose him so, they came up with something that might work. they brought kenta to a dish with a big portion of water. they pray that it will work so, they do their performance as soon as it was done, it started to rain and a big beam appeared

infront of them and became smaller and smaller. there was a human that looked like a young adolt with horns and short brown hair. he sat up, keisuke and ryosuke were so relived and happy that it worked, they only named him kenta and gave him the god of rain and snow status. kenta was no longer weak and was better like before. the group are back together just as close as they were last time, and kenta now being able to use his weather ablities back in shape. (fuck ima make this fast) [oni au] - kyoichi is an actuall emperor now! with seiji being the army general - the plot of this au was a bit different one was where shingo gets captured but then releses himself and brakes free and gets revenge and there was one where nakazato and shingo do a dance batte [angel au] - takumi originally didnt have his big white robe on and needed to be ryos guardian angel ok i finished this on 03:15 ima sleep

#initial d #fang ask #au ask #but ty twi for this <3

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hello-yue-here · 4 years ago

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About your atla ship songs, I have a couple of questions (sorry if my phrasing comes out wrong, english isn't my first language and I worry it might across as accidentally defensive): how did you end up with the choices for zukka, jetko and yuekka (note: I haven't seen the great comet, so feel free to obsess over it, I'm intrigued now and the hype is appreciated!)? Sidenote: I think the mailee choice is HILARIOUS and the tokka one just make me sad, I didn't expect to be attacked like this😭

kdjfha;s i love you im gonna obsess SO HARD over great comet now. you may regret this

this is gonna be so long so the rest is under the cut whoops

yuekka: no one else from great comet

where do i even begin. WHERE DO I EVEN BEGIN

okay so background information on this show: it's based off of a 76 oages excerpt from war and peace and its centered around a woman named natasha (and this guy pierre but he's irrelevant to this song so we wont worry about him) and natasha's bethrothed is off fighting in the war right now. she hasn't seen him in a while but she is in love with him.

every single lyrics of this song SCREAMS yuekka to me. the innocence and purity of their love. the love at first sight. and even the melancholy ending just- i go apeshit for this song. i love this song so much. and denee benton's voice??? kljsdhflwksugf please listen to this song if you haven't already. listen to the whole show. your life will be changed forever.

onto the lyrics (i stg this is ab to be the whole song whoops)

"the moon"

THOSE ARE THE FIRST WORDS ON THE SONG. natasha and andre (her bethrothed) met underneath the moonlight. Sokka and Yue first spoke to eachother at night and always met each other for their most intimate moments under the moonlight. also yue is LITERALLY the moon so like: right of the bat with those two words it's yuekka.

"and i saw your eyes / and i saw your smile / and the world opened wide"

sokka fell in love with yue the moment he saw her in the canal. she literally enchanted this motherfucker. everything about her made his heart go crazy. and 'the world opened wide' to me is from yue's perspective. Yue had never left the north pole and sokka had seen a good chuck of the world at the point. He took her on appa, he told her about his adventures. he saw the world yue wished to see and you know damn well that Sokka would have done anything to give it to her.

"oh the moon /oh the snow in the moonlight / and your childlike eyes and your distant smile / ill never be this happy again / you and i and no one else"

natasha sings fondly about the moon and the snow, seeing as it was where she fell in love with andre. yue and sokka LITERALLY fell in love in the same place: in the snowy nothern water tribe under the light of the moon. childlike eyes: THEYRE CHILDREN!!! distant smile: this is where it gets a little sad. theyre both children with way too many duties during a world that has known nothing but war for the past century. they want to be happy but yeah, theyre smiles are distant and far away because happiness seems out of reach for them most of the time. i'll never be this happy again: the moments yue and sokka shared together were probably the happiest either of them ever were. they were able to ignore the war and the world in the moments they shared together. and with no one else. no one else would be able to give each other this sense of peace and happiness and love.

"joy and life inside our souls / and no body knows just you and me / it's our secret"

Yue and Sokka had to sneak out in secret at night to go and see each other. Yue and Sokka couldn't be together for real because Yue was already engaged, but they were literally in love so she decided to see him anyways in secret. kasdjfhklasjd im losing my mind over them at this point.

"this winer sky / how can anyone sleep / there was never such a night before / i feel like putting my arms around my knees / and squeezing tight as possible / and flying away"

these are my FAVORITE lines in the entire song. yue and sokka had never felt this strongly about anyone before and that's why they are so drawn to each other. they had never experienced love before and they wanted to hold onto it for as long as they could even though they knew they couldnt. Sokka takes yue up on appa and she is wistful and wishes she could live like he does every day: ie flying away. oh my god these two deserved so much better. so much fucking better.

now for the saddes part. the saddest fucking part.

"maybe he'll come today / maybe he came already / and he's sitting in the drawing room / and i simply forgot"

natasha misses andre so intensely at this point. when i first listened to this show and heard this song i was like "wait a min... is andre like... dead?" and im sure i wasnt the only person who assumed that this was why natasha felt so sad by the end of such a beautiful song. (spoiler alert andre is fine)

but this line really exemplifies how sad natasha is, and hints at the fact that andre may never come back. it implies that their relationship is doomed (at least in my opinion) and that's all yuekka. Sokka misses yue intensely when shes gone. Yue accepted her fate almost immediately but sokka was in denial. he thought there had to be another way. but in the end it wasn't meant to be. and sokka will go on, loving yue, wishing for her back, even though it's not possible.

fuck im gonna cry.

zukka: all i've ever known- hadestown

"i was alone so long / i didn't even know that i was lonely / out in the cold so long / i didnt even know that i was cold"

sokka is from the swt so theres where the cold comes in. also in the gaang (initially) it was just him katara and aang. and katara and aang were much closer to each other than sokka was with aang and the two of them were benders so sokka was kind of an outsider with the two of them. He also represses a lot of his emotions and feels the need to do everything himself so i do see a lot of loneliness in sokka. and the fact that so many people in his life have left him (his mom, yue, his dad, suki briefly, etc...) he is known to keep people at an arms length. i see a lot of loneliness in sokka.

zuko's loneliness is a lot more obvious: he has literally been cast out and abandoned by everyone except iroh. and even then he still feels the need to be alone (remember zuko alone? thought so) these boys look after themselves and push others away and revel in their loneliness in order to keep themselves from getting hurt. at least in my opinion on canon and also some fanon because id be a liar if i said fanon didnt influence how i view ALL my ships (not just zukka)

"all ive ever known is how to hold my own / but now I wanna hold you too"

COME ONE MANNNN, they just wanna hold each other. theyre both very big protectors as well and kljhflkasdhg they wanna protect eachother like kljdhfl im gonna lose it rn.

"You take me in your arms / And suddenly there's sunlight all around me / Everything bright and warm / And shining like it never did before / And for a moment I forget / Just how dark and cold it gets"

SUNLIGHT SYMBOLISM. zuko is literally powered by the sun. i don't think i even NEED to elaborate on this one anymore lol. They find comfort in each other away from all of their trauma. when they're together nothing else matters and i personally love that for them. they both deserve love.

"I knew you before we met / And I don't even know you yet / All I know is your someone I have always known"

these two are extremely similar in canon. many parallels. older brothers overshadowed by their prodigy little sisters. longing to make their fathers proud (granted one dad is good and one is fuckin evil), both are pretty bad with emotions. both are seen protecting others before themselves (sokka protecting suki during the serpant's pass, sokka protecting toph on like multiple occassions, zuko protecting katara in the final agni kai), the list goes on. they know who the other is because they see themselves in the other person. they already know each other because they are each other (in a way, not entirely, but the similarities are strong in my opinion)

"I'm gonna hold you forever / The wind will never change on us / Long as we stay with each other / Then it will always be like this"

i just think this line is so cute and sweet (ignoring all the symbolism and foreshadowing that comes with the last line in the musical itself. im gonna pretend this is nothing but happy) and i think these boys deserve happiness so yeah. this song is zukka to me lol.

jetko: thrill of first love- falsettoes

if you've never listened to this song go an do it now. you will know INSTANTLY that it is jetko because of the dynamics alone. marvin and whizzer are pure jetko and i take no crticisms.

marvin and whizzer are both extremely stubborn, and they don't always get along, and they fight a lot, and they get mad at each other a lot, and they are both passionate as hell, and they will bring this passion into everything. they love each other that is without a doubt, but they arent perfect and they are once again stubborn and determined as fuck.

sound familiar? it's literally jetko.

the lyrics aren't what remind me of jetko, but the dynamic itself. the lyrics are too on the nose for a gay couple in 1970's america so that rlly cant apply to jetko all that much. but the way these two characters bounce off of each other and get annoyed with each other and argue with eachother reminds me of jetko. because let's be honest: these two are the most stubborn characters in the whole show. they will fight for what they believe and it will take literally everything to change their minds.

i love jetko but i think they would have petty arguments all the time and get aggravated by one another so easily. and this is even seen in canon: they work so fucking well together but they did not even HESITATE to fight one another after neither of them would give in and let the fight about whether jet was right or wrong about zuko being a firebender. like i cannot say it enough they are stubborn as fuck.

but underneath all that stubborn pettiness and bickering: marvin and whizzer still love each other. and jet and zuko would still love each other. because even though they are stubborn when it comes to arguments, they are even more stubborn and determined when it comes to each other. these two passionate motherfuckers are in love.

(now when i chose this song i decided to ignore the fact that this song literally spells out the fact that marvin and whizzer's relatinoship is doomed because they literally say passion dies. thats the difference between jetko and whizzer and marvin because i dont think passion dies. i chose this song strictly for the bickering lmao)

and i know you didnt ask about tokka but,,,,

i rlly wanna talk about the tokka one

so im going to

tokka: on my own- les mis

look. i KNOW this song is about unrequited love and i love tokka as a couple but,,, the unrequited love in this song just SCREAMS unrequited tokka to me so thats what i went with.

eponine is a girl who has neglectful parents who lives life by her own rules: toph. eponine is shown to be tough and confident and spunky to others but behind all of that she has emotions, she feels love, she hides her vulnerability so much: toph. she is in love with a guy she cant be with because he loves someone else: TOPH

eponine is toph to a t and toph is eponine to a t. this is not up for debate lmao

"without him i feel his arms around me"

toph is always seen grabbing onto someone (and its almost ALWAYS sokka) when she's somewhere where she can't use her feet to see. FEEL and ARMS cmon. look at it.

"and i know / i know that he is blind"

COME ON. IMAGINE TOPH SINGING THIS LINE. this line is already powerful enough in les mis but having toph, a blind character, sing it just makes the symbolism even deeper. toph sees the potential relationship they could have together. toph sees that sokka is oblivious to this. toph is not blind to the truth or the potention, but sokka is blind to her feelings. im about to lose my mind over this line.

"I love him / But every day I'm learning / All my life / I've only been pretending / Without me / His world will go on turning / A world that's full of happiness / That I have never known"

i need to sit down for a moment. toph grew up in a household where her parents did not understand her. she has learned to hide her true emotions and vulnerabilities from everyone. and its the fact that toph knows that she and sokka will never be together and the fact that she still loves him in spite of that is what makes this even more heartbreaking.

"but only on my own"

TOPH AND EPONINE SWEETIES I LOVE YOU

thank you for indulging my theatre kid nonsense. you are very sweet and kind and lovely and awesome and i hope you have a lovely day bestie :) <3

ask me why i think these songs go with these ships

#asks #liv is a theatre nerd #liv is an atla nerd #yuekka #zukka #jetko #tokka #ask me about my ship songs

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dailybeastarsthings · 4 years ago

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Chapter 6 - A Wind Of Change

The Grim Reaper and a distressed mistress were running quickly through the dark forest. As they were moving, branches and leaves kept brushing them wildly as if they were trying to hold them captive until the chasers would eventually reach and capture them both.

‘Why are they chasing me, Grim Reaper?’ the mistress asked.

‘Because you were supposed to have died three days ago” the Reaper said without even looking back.

Suddenly, the Reaper flung his sword and cut one of their chasers in half. The poor soulless demon let out a lifeless sigh before its death.

‘Water, Wind, Fire… The forces of nature all want you dead.’

‘Then… These entities are a part of them?’

‘Yes… This is a fight against fate.’

Our heroes were cornered. As the demons were closing in, the Reaper hid the mistress behind his cape to protect her. He took out his sword and looked their enemies in the eye.

‘Stay behind me. Killing you… is my job. Until then, I won’t let anyone lay a finger on you.’

And with that the Reaper lunged out to fight!

‘Okay, that’s it for Scene 15. We will now take a break’ said Sanu, the president of the Drama Club, shattering the tension into a million pieces. Sanu was a third-year Pelican student in Cherryton Academy. He was elected to be president just as he became a second-year but has known many of the members from way before. He used to be a background actor in many plays but never appeared again after becoming president. He always made sure to let the creativity and emotions flow freely in the club while maintaining its integrity and improving the relationships of the members.

‘What? Why, Sanu?’ Louis asked with audible dismay in his tone. ‘We’ve never taken a break in a rehearsal before.’

‘Oh… Well, it’s just going to be 30…’ he swallowed his words after seeing Louis’ expression ‘I… I mean 15 minutes.’

Sanu walked up on stage to Louis. He leaned close to him and started whispering.

‘You know, Louis, we’ve known each other for a long time now. I can tell that your movements are... how should I put this… a bit stale. Are you feeling well?’

‘Quit whispering Sanu. I’m perfectly fine.’ Louis replied. He then turned to the other members present on stage. ‘This performance is the most important part of the New Student Welcome Event. We need to show all of the new students the importance of the Drama Club, so we have no time to worry about our physical condition’ he said while he wiped the sweat off his forehead and neck with his towel.

Louis hanged his towel on his antler then bent over a bit, to rest a little. He turned his head towards the other students on the stage and glared at them with flaming irritation in his eyes.

‘Next time attack me like you mean it. I’m a deer as Adler, and you’re all carnivores, attacking Adler with the intent to kill. That’s what we are going to portray when we get on stage, so we need to be as fierce as we possibly can.’

Taking advantage of the break, Louis walked backstage to relax his foot a little. It was still sore and while the medications were certainly helping, the fact that he didn’t put on his bandages in order to avoid any awkward questions definitely didn’t help. He was in a lot of pain. He could feel his ankle pulsating, radiating the pain from the injury to nearby areas as well. He wanted to scream, but he couldn’t.

‘Sanu is right… My movements are not perfect this time. I can’t put too much weight on my leg if I want to avoid any further problems. However, a perfect performance is expected from me, so I’ll give them just that. Even if it means that I’ll hurt my leg even more!’ he thought.

He suddenly heard Sanu’s voice.

‘All right everyone, break is over, we’re beginning from Scene 16!’

And with that, Louis put on his act of being completely fine and went back on stage to play his other part, Adler, the Grim Reaper.

***

Meanwhile, the stage crew was busy making the finishing touches on the costumes backstage.

‘What? A break from rehearsal? We’ve never had a break before!’ Dom said with surprise in his voice.

Dom was a third-year peafowl student. He was the leader of the Drama Club’s stage crew. Although he was a long-time member, he never had any ambitions on becoming an actor nor the president of the club. He was always perfectly fine with sewing costumes. He had great talent at it. His costumes always turned out to be vibrant and lively – and yet, comfortable. He had aspirations on becoming a fashion designer in the future.

‘Well yeah, but I haven’t heard all the details. Kibi hurried me because the boxes we were carrying were really heavy’ Legoshi said.

‘Yeah, but Louis is always excited when the performance is coming close. I can’t even imagine how frustrated he must have been’ Kibi, an ant eater member said.

As the conversation was going on, Kai’s face – who was directed to be part of the stage crew instead of the acting crew – became more and more red by the second. Deep down he was still sure that he should’ve been approved as Tem’s replacement as he knew the script by heart and had way more practice in acting than Zoe.

‘Damn it!’ he yelled ‘I was supposed to be rehearsing with all of them, not sewing in this dark place!’

‘Oh, Kai, I think you have a good sense of design. I’m happy that you’re part of the stage crew’ Dom said with a soft smile on his face.

‘Oh… Really? Do you mean it?’ Kai asked excited.

‘Of course!’

In the meantime, Legoshi was digging for some extra yarn in a box next to him, when he suddenly found a white and gold vest, which was part of Tem’s costume.

‘This is Tem’s costume’ he said. The others looked at him in surprise. ‘What should I do with it?’ he continued.

‘Well…’ Fudge, the red panda began ‘We can’t just keep it here forever, you know.’

‘Look, Legoshi, Tem is dead so it’d be creepy if we still kept it around!’ Kai yelled at him in frustration. Legoshi’s ears drooped.

‘Tem was killed and devoured by one of the carnivore students in this school’ Legoshi thought. ‘That is the biggest taboo an animal can commit in this world. That’s why none of the others want to dwell on that incident. There’s a bottomless pit of darkness lurking in this world. Now I understand the meaning of what Louis said. The meaning of why he is acting so fiercely as Adler. He must be the one, who is confronting the reality of that incident the most. He has the ambition to be the next Beastar, so he needs to take center stage in the world of carnivores and herbivores. I can’t even imagine the pressure he must…’ his thought was interrupted.

‘Legoshi! Legoshi!’ Dom yelled at him. ‘Were you listening?’

‘Oh! Umm… Yeah!’

‘You were spacing out again, weren’t you?’

‘Maybe…’ Legoshi said, while looking to the side. His ears drooped a little, too.

‘All right, well, we were talking about bringing flowers from the Gardening Club. I want to use roses as the motif for the final act and decorate the assembly hall and entrance, too. Look.’

Dom held up a drawing of what he imagined. It was beautiful. Large bouquets of red and white roses – ones with only a singular color, others mixed together to symbolize the two sides of the play, good and evil. It looked wonderful and grand – and Legoshi believed that it would’ve smelled amazing, too!

‘There should be plenty of roses in the Gardening Club, and I want you to help’ Dom said.

‘You mean… with decorating?’ Legoshi asked.

‘That and with getting the roses from the Club.’

‘Are you sure that I should go? I mean, this whole incident and all… I don’t want to scare anyone…’

‘I think you should’ Kibi said. ‘You’re a second-year high school student, so you ought to improve your social skills.’

‘Well, okay then. But you’ll have to come with me, too.’

The Gardening Club was a long walk from the Drama Club, since it was on the rooftop of a building at the other end of the school. While Legoshi had no problem walking such distances at high speeds, Kibi had to jog alongside him, if he wanted to keep up with him. By the time they were climbing the steps to the rooftop, Kibi was already exhausted.

‘Was it absolutely necessary for me to come with you?’ Kibi asked almost breathless.

‘Sorry, but I think the members would be scared to see a lone wolf asking for flowers’ Legoshi said.

There were only a few steps until the end. When they got to the top, they were greeted by a large green iron door. It had rust around the frame and near the doorknob. The building definitely had to face water damage a good few times.

‘I never knew there was a garden on the rooftop’ Legoshi said, while reading the sign on the door, which said ‘Gardening Club’.

‘It’s probably not well-known among carnivores. It’s a pretty plain club anyway. They rarely appear publically. They only sell flowers at events and festivals.’

As Legoshi was reaching for the doorknob, he became aware of a very familiar smell. But how did he know it? Why did he notice it? It suddenly sparked the memory in his mind. The smell belonged to the student he almost devoured just yesterday!

‘I have to get out of here, quick!’ he thought.

‘Wait, that smell is…’ Legoshi said but he was interrupted by Kibi.

‘Probably the flowers. Pretty amazing isn’t it! Well… let me just go ahead and open the door.’

As the door opened, a beautiful view of a thousand colorful flowers of all shapes, kinds and sizes greeted them. Under an arch near the entrance, a small white rabbit was holding a hose, watering the plants around the area. Legoshi recognized her at an instant. It was the rabbit girl he attacked. It was Haru. When she heard the steps, she closed the water and looked at her visitors.

‘Hello. Do you need something?’ Haru asked, smiling softly.

Legoshi was still in shock. His heart was beating fast and he began to sweat. He couldn’t believe that their paths crossed once again. But one thing was sure: he entered a place, which he should have never gone to. It was heaven… in hell…

#beastars #beastars fanfiction

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slashingdisneypasta · 5 years ago

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Bisexual!Granny Boone x Lesbian!Reader || Drabble

Plot: I’ve been thinking about this for a while, so here it is. Just some petty bickering between you and your lover’s beard. This is what happens when a gay woman’s bisexual lover marries a straight man. There is also, of course, feelings.

Warnings: Eh, bickering. Boone does not mind seeing you and Buckman fight at all- in fact, she watches it happen. So, she’s mildly abusive.

I was fine with the men Who would come into her life now and again I was fine, 'cause I knew That they didn't really matter until you I was fine when you came And we fought like it was all some silly game Over her, who she'd choose

(Lyrics from ‘It’s Over, Isn’t It?’ From Steven Universe)

~~~

Knock knock knock!

“Aghhhh… “The primal, frustrated groan escapes you before you can restrain yourself. You both pull back at the same time, whether because you really both felt you needed to or because you knew she would and refused to endure that embarrassment of seeing her run off to him again you would never admit. You close your eyes, letting your hands fall from her soft hair to your lap, defeated for the time being. “At least he’s learnt howta’ knock… “

“That’s right.” Boone grins, eyebrows furrowing in a look caught between amusement and empathy, especially when I open my eyes and pout up at her. Her hands find your upper arms, near shoulders and holds your comfortingly. “There’s that. Wait right here, I’ll just see what he wants- it is his home.”

You take such a deep breath that your shoulders raise, and then fall dramatically as you sigh it out. “Okay… “With one final comforting squeeze to your shoulder, Boone gets up and rounds the corner from the living room to the front door. You amuse yourself with picking up your tea and dragging it to your lips as you hear the door open and quiet voices.

Like a secret. Like an inside conversation between them.

Her, and him.

Rolling your eyes and your shoulders simultaneously, trying to shake off the jealousy, you try to enjoy the feeling of steam on your face and the smell of the tea. It is nice. You brought it over from the town to the west when you went to visit and attend a ball. Its jasmine and apricot and, honestly, you bought it for the packaging on its own. A beautiful deep purple and marmalade coloured box with intricate gold designs around the label. You had felt a bit magical just buying it, actually.

As you take a sip, the conversation at the door stops and instead footfalls replace the noise- footfalls that are definitely not your lover’s. Too heavy.

You hurriedly put down the cup and the saucer back on the table because you don’t trust your suddenly icy fingers not to shake too hard and spill the drink just in time for George to stick his head around the corner and greet you. For some reason, despite him being the second, the intruder in this relationship, the whole thing between you and Boone still feels clandestine. He knows all about it, he knows his role as her ‘beard’- yet you still feel like the outsider. The other lover.

It’s not a nice feeling.

“Afternoon, Y/N. Sorry to interrupt your lil girl’s night, hope ya’ll are havin’ fun! - I just forgot my hanky. I won’t be a moment.” Oh my God, he’s so patronising. ‘Girls night’?! It’s a date, you son of a bitch! He flashes a fake smile; A politician’s smile, before popping off up the stairs to search for it.

And, hanky??? I’ve never heard anything so ridiculous or translucent. You were headed to the bar for the night, sir. You couldn’t have used a napkin for your sniffles!?

You raise the tea back to your lips, throwing your head with elegance instead of pushing back the hair. “Of course, sir… “

“I just new you would understand!” He calls back, ruffling through some draws in the room above you. Boone, looking apologetic - but, still. Half amused. Half happy. Because he’s here, - sinks back down into the couch beside you, knees touching yours. That does calm you a bit- those small bits of affection always do. The small things always still feel rebellious, even now.

“Hm, really.” You ask sarcastically, raising your eyebrows at Boone but responding to her George. She grins and shakes her head, always liking it when you’re cheeky. Finishing another sip of your tea, you set it back down again as George comes back down the stairs, pocketing a particularly gaudy napkin with G.W.B stitched into it in thick lettering.

Then, to your horror, he looks between the door and the room you and Boone are sitting in and decides to come and seat himself down on the couch across from the two of you. Boone quickly, immediately puts a hand in both of yours, in your lap and you hold onto it like your life depends on it.

Or, like Georges life depends on it- which it very much might right now.

This man just loves to toe the line with me, doesn’t he… You think, glaring daggers at him. He’s so cheery, like he really doesn’t see much wrong with interrupting like this. Like he’s just being ‘cheeky’.

Oh noooo, no, no. He’s mistaken. He’s waging war.

“So, how have you been Y/N? Boones told me you went to a Ball in neighbouring Greenvill. How was that?”

Sarcastically, I quip back. “Oh, Greenvill was fine. Grapes are good this time of year- “Immediately I snap out of my restrained silence and lean forward, pointing a finger at him. “No, no, no. Don’t do this to me. We are not going to do this. No. Walk your britches out that door right this moment!” Boone squeezes your hand and pats it, watching your and her husbands now darkening glares at each other with a cruel entertainment.

“Oh, I’m just bein’ polite, dear. Do we have a problem?”

“Yes!” Absolutely!

“Well you can talk to your community representative about that! - Oh, wait.” He makes a show of putting his finger to his chin and looking as if he has just remembered something. “That’s me, isn’t it??”

“You know very well what this day is- mine. My day. What can I do to make you leave? Do you take bribes?”

“Now sweetheart, you and I both know there ain’t nothing you can give me that I can’t get myself.”

Oh, you are going to launch off this seat and dump the tea over his smug, patronising, misogynistic head. “Oh, well, what about threats, then??”

“If you can dish it out then I hope you can take it, too, Y/N.”

Seeing the line, the unspoken line that we never cross coming fast like a steam train, you pull back. Straightening your back and taking a deep breath through your nose, you calm down. He does the same, glancing up and muttering something to God, and Boone just looks from you looking silently at your knees and fuming, to her husband rubbing his hands together and looking down at the floor; And she smiles. An evil twinkle in her eye that neither you nor Buckman catch.

“Okay, Bucky, I’ll see you later? Y/N’s right, we were havin’ a date, and its not over yet.” Boone winks conspiratorially to him and you roll your shoulders back in discomfort- so does he. Her thumb rubs gently over your knuckles, and you let out all the breath you were holding in in an attempt to be quiet and calm. “That was my polite way of askin’ for you to leave, in case you didn’t catch it.” She jokes, with a hint of seriousness- because she really was hinting for him to leave. But she doesn’t want to make a big deal out of it.

Its like the tenseness of the room doesn’t even touch her.

“… “Georges glance at either o you in turn is dark, tired, before he gets up and straightens his back again after leaning on his knees for too long. “Course. Have a good evening, you two. Uh, “You can tell he’s struggling to think of a polite goodbye as he slowly moves out of the room, and you make yourself watch for a moment. Out of respect. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t like him. There’s too much love and hope for the same woman between us for us to ever have a non-confrontational conversation as things are they this way, but we’ve both been in this horrible situation that he’s enduring right now, too many times. When you have to leave her, Boone, to be with the other. Like you’re the outsider. And I can sympathise with him… sort of… for that. “The tea smells lovely.”

Then, he leaves- but not before flashing you a look, and you share a moment. One teensy tiny moment without hostility.

A sharing of the wish that neither of you had to do that walk.

Then the man’s gone and Boone lets go of my hand, bunching her fists in your skirts to get your attention back which you gladly give with an - at first, - empty smile. “Now, where were we? Ah, I think we were just… about… here.” Our lips connect, and I forget all about what I was just thinking about.

Here. Always here.

#Granny Boone x Reader #Granny Boone x Reader Drabble #Drabble #Mayor Buckman

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reading-writing-revolution · 5 years ago

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"However bad things are for most other rich democracies, it is hard not to feel sorry for Americans. Most of them did not vote for Donald Trump in 2016. Yet they are locked down with a malignant narcissist who, instead of protecting his people from Covid-19, has amplified its lethality. The country Trump promised to make great again has never in its history seemed so pitiful."

(Thank you to David Lerigny for forwarding this article)

Here is a brilliant Op-Ed From Irish Times writer, Fintan O’Toole.

April 25, 2020

THE WORLD HAS LOVED, HATED AND ENVIED THE U.S. NOW, FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE PITY IT

Over more than two centuries, the United States has stirred a very wide range of feelings in the rest of the world: love and hatred, fear and hope, envy and contempt, awe and anger. But there is one emotion that has never been directed towards the US until now: pity.

However bad things are for most other rich democracies, it is hard not to feel sorry for Americans. Most of them did not vote for Donald Trump in 2016. Yet they are locked down with a malignant narcissist who, instead of protecting his people from Covid-19, has amplified its lethality. The country Trump promised to make great again has never in its history seemed so pitiful.

Will American prestige ever recover from this shameful episode? The US went into the coronavirus crisis with immense advantages: precious weeks of warning about what was coming, the world’s best concentration of medical and scientific expertise, effectively limitless financial resources, a military complex with stunning logistical capacity and most of the world’s leading technology corporations. Yet it managed to make itself the global epicentre of the pandemic.

As the American writer George Packer puts it in the current edition of the Atlantic, “The United States reacted ... like Pakistan or Belarus – like a country with shoddy infrastructure and a dysfunctional government whose leaders were too corrupt or stupid to head off mass suffering.”

It is one thing to be powerless in the face of a natural disaster, quite another to watch vast power being squandered in real time – wilfully, malevolently, vindictively. It is one thing for governments to fail (as, in one degree or another, most governments did), quite another to watch a ruler and his supporters actively spread a deadly virus. Trump, his party and Rupert Murdoch’s Fox News became vectors of the pestilence.

The grotesque spectacle of the president openly inciting people (some of them armed) to take to the streets to oppose the restrictions that save lives is the manifestation of a political death wish. What are supposed to be daily briefings on the crisis, demonstrative of national unity in the face of a shared challenge, have been used by Trump merely to sow confusion and division. They provide a recurring horror show in which all the neuroses that haunt the American subconscious dance naked on live TV.

If the plague is a test, its ruling political nexus ensured that the US would fail it at a terrible cost in human lives. In the process, the idea of the US as the world’s leading nation – an idea that has shaped the past century – has all but evaporated.

Other than the Trump impersonator Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil, who is now looking to the US as the exemplar of anything other than what not to do? How many people in Düsseldorf or Dublin are wishing they lived in Detroit or Dallas?

It is hard to remember now but, even in 2017, when Trump took office, the conventional wisdom in the US was that the Republican Party and the broader framework of US political institutions would prevent him from doing too much damage. This was always a delusion, but the pandemic has exposed it in the most savage ways.

Abject surrender

What used to be called mainstream conservatism has not absorbed Trump – he has absorbed it. Almost the entire right-wing half of American politics has surrendered abjectly to him. It has sacrificed on the altar of wanton stupidity the most basic ideas of responsibility, care and even safety.

Thus, even at the very end of March, 15 Republican governors had failed to order people to stay at home or to close non-essential businesses. In Alabama, for example, it was not until April 3rd that governor Kay Ivey finally issued a stay-at-home order.

In Florida, the state with the highest concentration of elderly people with underlying conditions, governor Ron DeSantis, a Trump mini-me, kept the beach resorts open to students travelling from all over the US for spring break parties. Even on April 1st, when he issued restrictions, DeSantis exempted religious services and “recreational activities”.

Georgia governor Brian Kemp, when he finally issued a stay-at-home order on April 1st, explained: “We didn’t know that [the virus can be spread by people without symptoms] until the last 24 hours.”

This is not mere ignorance – it is deliberate and homicidal stupidity. There is, as the demonstrations this week in US cities have shown, plenty of political mileage in denying the reality of the pandemic. It is fuelled by Fox News and far-right internet sites, and it reaps for these politicians millions of dollars in donations, mostly (in an ugly irony) from older people who are most vulnerable to the coronavirus.

It draws on a concoction of conspiracy theories, hatred of science, paranoia about the “deep state” and religious providentialism (God will protect the good folks) that is now very deeply infused in the mindset of the American right.

Trump embodies and enacts this mindset, but he did not invent it. The US response to the coronavirus crisis has been paralysed by a contradiction that the Republicans have inserted into the heart of US democracy. On the one hand, they want to control all the levers of governmental power. On the other they have created a popular base by playing on the notion that government is innately evil and must not be trusted.

The contradiction was made manifest in two of Trump’s statements on the pandemic: on the one hand that he has “total authority”, and on the other that “I don’t take responsibility at all”. Caught between authoritarian and anarchic impulses, he is incapable of coherence.

Fertile ground

But this is not just Donald Trump. The crisis has shown definitively that Trump’s presidency is not an aberration. It has grown on soil long prepared to receive it. The monstrous blossoming of misrule has structure and purpose and strategy behind it.

There are very powerful interests who demand “freedom” in order to do as they like with the environment, society and the economy. They have infused a very large part of American culture with the belief that “freedom” is literally more important than life. My freedom to own assault weapons trumps your right not to get shot at school. Now, my freedom to go to the barber (“I Need a Haircut” read one banner this week in St Paul, Minnesota) trumps your need to avoid infection.

Usually when this kind of outlandish idiocy is displaying itself, there is the comforting thought that, if things were really serious, it would all stop. People would sober up. Instead, a large part of the US has hit the bottle even harder.

And the president, his party and their media allies keep supplying the drinks. There has been no moment of truth, no shock of realisation that the antics have to end. No one of any substance on the US right has stepped in to say: get a grip, people are dying here.

That is the mark of how deep the trouble is for the US – it is not just that Trump has treated the crisis merely as a way to feed tribal hatreds but that this behaviour has become normalised. When the freak show is live on TV every evening, and the star is boasting about his ratings, it is not really a freak show any more. For a very large and solid bloc of Americans, it is reality.

And this will get worse before it gets better. Trump has at least eight more months in power. In his inaugural address in 2017, he evoked “American carnage” and promised to make it stop. But now that the real carnage has arrived, he is revelling in it. He is in his element.

As things get worse, he will pump more hatred and falsehood, more death-wish defiance of reason and decency, into the groundwater. If a new administration succeeds him in 2021, it will have to clean up the toxic dump he leaves behind. If he is re-elected, toxicity will have become the lifeblood of American politics.

Either way, it will be a long time before the rest of the world can imagine America being great again.

You can follow Fintan O’Toole @fotoole on twitter.

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chloes-yellow-cup · 5 years ago

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Copied and stolen in full from a friend on FB.

This reporter sums the entire dire situation here.

Powerful piece from the Irish Times’ political reporter. Hard to read, impossible to put down. Should be required reading for every American. In fact, they should hand out copies at the polls before letting anyone vote.

———

Irish Times-April 25, 2020-By Fintan O’Toole

THE WORLD HAS LOVED, HATED AND ENVIED THE U.S. NOW, FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE PITY IT

Abject surrender

Fertile ground

Either way, it will be a long time before the rest of the world can imagine America being great again.

#the irish times #fintan o’toole #long post #it’s scary when people you used to think were rational post things that are’t logical #like ‘no vote by mail’ when they did it for years living in oregon #all because 45 says it would increase voter fraud

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ameryth74 · 5 years ago

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From The Irish Times: very well-written yet heartbreaking. "Either way, it will be a long time before the rest of the world can imagine America being great again."

——————-

April 25, 2020

By Fintan O’Toole

THE WORLD HAS LOVED, HATED AND ENVIED THE U.S. NOW, FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE PITY IT

Abject surrender

Fertile ground

Either way, it will be a long time before the rest of the world can imagine America being great again.

#fintan o'toole #the irish times #us politics #2020 election #2020 elections #trump

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longwindedbore · 5 years ago

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Trumpianism: Made America Grotesquely Incompetant

The “Trump Era”. A warning to Posterity.

What does the world see when they look at the USA now? Here’s what Ireland’s most respected mainstream political writer says. Brace yourself! 🇮🇪 ☘️ 🇮🇪

Irish Times

April 25, 2020

By Fintan O’Toole

THE WORLD HAS LOVED, HATED AND ENVIED THE U.S. NOW, FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE PITY IT

If the plague is a test, its ruling political nexus ensured that the US would fail it at a terrible cost in human lives. In the process, the idea of the US as the world’s leading nation �� an idea that has shaped the past century – has all but evaporated.

Abject surrender

Fertile ground

Either way, it will be a long time before the rest of the world can imagine America being great again.

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ourlastbastion · 6 years ago

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Wild Fire Ch. 16

AO3

FFnet

“We can’t find him anywhere!”

“No one has seen him anywhere!”

“I tried searching the city, but I can’t find him, not even a trace of his soul.”

Stein sighed, rubbing his temples as he held his cigarette between his teeth while different meisters and weapons spoke over one another. The early sun was still rising over the horizon, laughing at them as it ascended the sky. How can a city full of meisters and weapons lose one little kid?

When Marie and Spirit tried to talk with Maleko late into the night, they’d found the door wasn’t blocked anymore, not entirely. The desk had been moved to the side to offer a narrow space to slide through to get into the room. The room itself had been a mess, as if it had been the sight of a battle with how much had been destroyed in the boys tantrum.

The kid hadn’t been in there, his window was open and bars melted and torn off. The metal had long since cooled, so no one could say just how long it had been since he had escaped, but they had issued a city-wide search as soon as they found out.

Yet hours passed and no one found any sign of the boy. Everywhere had been searched; abandoned buildings, alleys, empty apartments. Anything that could hide the child and it all turned up empty. So far those who were searching outside of the city had yet to find him either, though some were still out looking.

It would have been easier and quicker if they could follow his soul, but it was gone, not a single trace.

Damn it. How did he even learn Soul Protect? He hadn’t known how to use the spell when he arrived at the city, he had to have learned it within the months he stayed here, but from who? Had this escape been planned from the start? Or was it triggered by a recent event? The kidnapping, was that the cause of all this?

Stein knew that there was something up with Maleko, something else happened in that warehouse that he wouldn’t tell them. Was that what this was really about?

He cranked his screw and blew out a puff of smoke. If he managed to reunite with Kai, it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, but the boy knew things about the academy that he’d rather not let such a prominent enemy know.

Perhaps he had been working as a spy all along? No, Stein doubted Maleko would have been capable of fooling them for that long if that was the case, he wasn’t necessarily the brightest child in the world after all. He was too naïve, he wore his heart on his sleeves. It was impossible for the child to deceive someone for so long and on such a grand scale.

Slowly the group began to disperse, and no sooner had the students left had Spirit approached, looking disheveled and tired. He’d not gotten a wink of sleep, searching with the others to try and find the sorcerer before someone potentially got hurt. He placed a thick manila folder onto the desk, papers starting to fall out but held together by paperclips and staples.

“Lord Death’s issued for everyone to cease searching in the city,” he explained, pulling out a chair and collapsing into it. “We’ll keep looking outside the city, there’s not many places he could have gone on foot.”

Stein took a drag from his cigarette, “It’s a big desert,” he pointed out, to which Spirit gave a hum. “If we’re lucky we’ll find him alive, but it’d be easy for a boy like him to die out there. Animals or dehydrations… as soon as he uses his magic we should be able to find him if he’s still close by.”

“We’ll find him alive,” Spirit frowned. “and then we can find out why he ran off. But, we also have bigger problems,” he pushed the folder over to Stein and waited as the doctor flipped it open, scanning through the pages. “We’re starting to suspect that there’s something bigger at play.”

Stein began shuffling through different reports and records, narrowing his eyes and turning his screw with his free hand. “Acolytes?” he said out loud. Of course he’d heard of them, they had caused quite a scene a long time ago, had been a very real threat during the time as well. “I suppose it makes sense that there would have been remnants of their organization that survived long enough to begin rebuilding.”

“We don’t have concrete proof, not yet, but everything we’re finding is pointing towards a resurgence,” Spirit ran a hand through his hair. “Which may make things even worse. Hunting down kishin eggs is one thing, but asking students to fight and kill human souls doesn’t feel right.”

Stein hummed as he found the black and white photo of a scrawny witch with a tangled mess of pale hair and narrow eyes. What made the Acolytes so dangerous was their fanaticism, blind worship of an evil entity. Witches. “When the witch they worshipped was killed, the logical line of thinking would be to realize she wasn’t an immortal god,” he said as he plucked the photo up and stared at her face. What had her name been… Sara, her magic involved iron manipulation, she had been leading the Acolytes when they’d finally been squashed.

Or so they’d thought. “She was killed and the Acolytes were defeated,” he said out loud and placed the photo back down, “but perhaps it had been wrong to assume she was the one they thought a god.”

Spirit raised a brow, leaning back in his chair, “What’s going on through that head of yours?” he asked.

Picking up another report from the file, Stein skimmed it over, the frown not leaving his face. “It’s only a theory at the moment, but I feel very strongly over it’s possibility. Everything seems to convenient to be a coincidence. We find Maleko, and instead of coming to retrieve him, the witch raising him vanishes,” he put the paper down and began turning the screw in his head even more. “What few sightings we’ve had are lining up with the reports suggesting Acolyte movement. The timing is too perfect.”

“You think this sea witch is the real mastermind behind the Acolytes?” Spirit asked.

Leaning back and putting out his cigarette in the ashtray on the desk, Stein stared up at the ceiling, at the slight flicker in the lights. “She could be,” he nodded, “it’s not a good outcome, but it seems to be what everything is pointing at. She’s preparing for war, and we need to prepare as well.”

Maleko yawned as he curled up in the shade of a large rock. He didn’t mind the heat, honestly the dry air and hot sand was comforting if anything, he enjoyed the feeling of warm sand under bare feet—it reminded him of the beaches at home—and he was grateful that even with his magic shut down, he still had a high heat tolerance. The problem was that he’d been walking and running for several hours and he was exhausted.

But, he’d made good ground and now was as good a time as any to take a rest.

Shrugging the backpack off, he reached for the canteen of water and took a drink, careful not to take too big of a swig before he put the cap back on. Taka had landed and nestled in next to him in the shade, patient as Maleko rummaged through the bag to find a granola bar to munch on.

“We should be able to reach the next town over in a few days,” Taka mused as Maleko ate. “You’re doing wonderful, little sun, you were able to escape the city long before they noticed you were gone. No one could have asked for more.”

A few more days of running, Maleko could do that, he’d keep running if it meant there was someone in the next town who could help him get back to his mama. There had to be one of those… those… Acolyte people there, right? Or maybe another witch? Someone was bound to help him.

Or maybe not.

Maleko’s face twisted into a frown as he nibbled on the bar. Maybe he wouldn’t find anyone who’d be able or willing to help him. Maybe he wouldn’t be able to find her at all, the meisters might find him first and drag him back to the academy. They might just kill him on the spot. The thought sent shivers down this spine.

He’d held them in such high regards, but they’d been using them, hadn’t they? They wanted his soul, or maybe information on his mama. They’d been quite interested in her when he first arrived, asking questions and making him believe they wanted to find her so they could reunite the two. But that wasn’t the case, was it?

He reached up with his free hand and began scratching at the nook between his neck and shoulder. His body trembled as he bit down hard into the granola bar and drew blood with his claws. The more he scratched, the more he began to calm until it felt like he could breathe again.

“Little sun,” Taka nudged him slightly, “I believe the sword pair had put a map in the bag?”

Blinking, Maleko glanced at the bird and then at the backpack. “Oh,” he whispered and then another pause before his brain began catching up and he moved towards it, opening the pouch once more and rummaging within. A map… that was important, right? He didn’t really understand it, but, Taka wanted to see it, he guessed.

He pushed aside the jacket, the snacks and bandages as he searched. His fingers brushed against some paper and his mind went ‘ah’ as he grabbed it. A map, right? It felt small, maybe maps were small.

But when he pulled it from the bag, it wasn’t a map it was a photo. Maka and Soul, Blackstar and Tsubaki, even Crona was in the picture. It looked like they were at some sort of party, dressed up in fancy clothes and all smiling at the camera, looking like they were laughing, that they were happy.

Maleko’s heart clenched, his mind thought back to eating with Maka and Soul, getting sick and carried to their apartment to recover. He thought of Blackstar, always happy and laughing, confident, his fun declarations of strength and how much Maleko had believed him. Tsubaki was always so kind and sweet, like a mother or sister.

All the fun games he’d play with them, following them off into class too sit beside them, drawing the zombie man as he did lectures, or the screw man, or Marie when they taught instead. How they’d let him take naps during class, walk him to the cafeteria so he could join them as they ate or walk him back to his room when classes were done. They didn’t care if he couldn’t understand the classes, they let him participate and let him have fun just by being there.

Blinking back tears, Maleko realized how much he missed it already. Even if it’d all been an act or a game to them… he had enjoyed his time with them, he had thought them his friends and had loved being with them and a large part of him wanted to go back to it.

“It’s best not to think of them,” Taka flew up to perch on Maleko’s arm brought up his foot to rest on the photo, pushing down as if to lower it. “They were using you, little sun, they don’t deserve your love.”

Whimpering, Maleko let the picture drop to the ground. Taka was right, he had to try and forget about them, if he didn’t, it’d only hurt him. Swallowing back the tears, he focused his attention back on the bag to go back to looking for the map as Taka watched silently.

Eventually he was able to find the map folded up deep in the bag and withdrew it. Taka flew off his shoulder to land on the ground as Maleko unfolded it and placed it on the sandy ground, finding small rocks to hold it down.

It was a mess of squiggly lines of different colors, jumbles of words and symbols. Just staring at it made his head hurt.

“Let’s see,” Taka examined the map, putting a talon on a large marker, “Death City, and we’ve been running for several hours so… we should be around here.” He hopped down and put his talon on an empty space a little bit away from where the city supposedly was. It wasn’t really far from it, the distance was only the length of his thumb, still close to the city. Maleko scrunched up his nose as he stared at the map as Taka kept talking, something about how he had an amazing sense of direction and that if they kept going this way, they should be go, confirming that they were just a few days away from the nearest city.

How could he tell any of this?

“Is something wrong?” Taka asked looking up at Maleko and then glancing down at the map once more, “was there something that caught your eye?”

Maleko shook his head, “Can…can’t ruh-read,” he mumbled and wanted to hit himself. All this stress, it was making it harder for him to remember how to form his words, talking was getting harder again. He hated this.

“Not even a map?” Taka asked, to which Maleko shook his head. He cocked his head and then looked over to the map, hopping over so that he started pointing at a small series of symbols on the side. “These symbols represent landmarks, cities and other locations. This big dot with the star marks the capital—the main city—of this state. These smaller dots represent towns and cities…”

Slowly and patiently, Taka began explaining different aspects of the map, different places, and each meaning. He paused in between topics, waiting to see if Maleko had questions before moving on with another. He was understanding and practical, and even if Maleko still wasn’t quite sure how to read a map, he at least knew a little more than he had when it was over.

They went over the map, mostly Taka looking at different things and trying to plan out a safe route that would lower any chances of running into others from the DWMA. Eventually, after Maleko had crunched up the granola bars wrapper and stuffed it into a different pouch in the bag, Taka let him fold the map back up and return it to the backpack. It was time for them to get moving again, too dangerous to stay in one spot for too long, who knew how long the academy would keep searching for.

The plan would be to keep walking, and when the sun went down, he’d keep walking until he found someplace safe to set up a den for the night to rest. There was still a long way to go until they reached that, though. The day was still young.

Hours passed, his legs were starting to grow sore but Maleko didn’t voice a complaint. Taka would fly off to scout on ahead, sometimes following from above and sometimes just perched on Maleko’s shoulder or bag.

Maleko swallowed and adjusted his grip on the bag, he kept walking, feeling the warm sad sinking between his toes with each step. Cautiously, he glanced up at the hawk on his shoulder, his last talk with Crona and Ragnarok repeating in his head, their comments towards the bird sticking.

“Ta…Taka,” his tongue felt weird in his mouth, words felt weird. It always felt weird trying to say words, but now it felt worse than usual. He grimaced and tried again watching as the bird looked his way. “Are you uh-ah ah familiar?”

Even Maleko knew what a familiar was, mama had told him about them when he saw some during a gathering of witches. They were animal companions to witches and sorcerers, they were magical. Was Taka magical? It’d make sense, most birds couldn’t talk, right? Was he… was he Maleko’s familiar?

Taka ducked his head as he continued preening his feathers, a few beats of silence passed as Maleko kept walking through the Nevada desert. “Clever little sun, I am indeed a familiar,” Taka confirmed after plucking a light brown feather from under a wing. Letting it drop from his beak, it fluttered to the sand. “However, I am not your familiar.”

It was disappointing to be shot down, ducking his head in shame and feeling his face heat up. But then, if he wasn’t his familiar, then… maybe, just maybe… “Mama?” hopeful, desperate hope.

“That’d be a sight to see. A witch of the sea with an avian familiar,” Taka’s voice chuckled in Maleko’s head at the thought, feathers ruffling as he adjusted his perch on the boys shoulder, then settling back down to relax. “You don’t need to concern yourself with it, my dear sun. My master would like to look out for you is all.”

It was hard to not worry himself over it when Taka made it so much more curious of a topic. If he wasn’t his or his mama’s, just who was the witch or sorcerer that the hawk belonged to? But, Maleko tried his very best to banish those thoughts from his head like he was told to do, tried not to think of it anymore.

He supposed that all that mattered was that there was someone looking out for him. Taka was someone’s familiar and they were a friend. They had to be if they were this concerned over helping him reunite with his mother. Maybe, if he was lucky, he could meet Taka’s master and thank them.

The thought was enough to keep him going with a smile, as if reenergizing him with the hope of meeting this person one day. He bounded forward at a decent pace, hands on the straps of his bag to keep it secured as Taka took off from his shoulder to fly around.

By the time the sun had gone down and the air had cooled, Maleko found himself an abandoned next that smelled of a strange animal. It was safe and hidden, so Maleko curled up in the dip on the ground to sleep for the night. Taka nestled down beside him, telling him to sleep and that he’d keep watch over night, and come morning, with the sun starting to rise, the two were on the road once more.

True to words, they had reached a small city within a few days. It’s timing couldn’t have been more perfect, as Maleko had run out of food the day before and would run out of water in his canteen soon. The city was full of strange and new scents, none of it familiar.

Maleko received a few curious glances from the adults that passed him on the streets, staring down at the dirty, barefoot kid with an oversized backpack, and dirt covered clothes. But no one stopped to talk to him, they went on their way and let him go about his own business.

Though they had reached the city, he still had to be careful. They didn’t know who was a friend and who was an enemy, he couldn’t let people know just who he was, what he was.

He set up a cozy den under a damp bridge coated with a generous amount of obscene graffiti and spiderwebs. It was safe, and all the scents of people underneath were several days old, so he felt confident that he wouldn’t be found under there. They needed to figure out a game plan now. Or, Taka did, Maleko wasn’t a good enough thinker to be able to think of a viable plan of action, he’d come to accept that about himself. He wasn’t smart, not like those around him, so leave the thinking to those who could do it.

Shrugging the bag off to the side, Maleko sat down and crossed his legs together as the bird settled down in front of him.

“You’ll need a new name,” Taka said, “You can’t call yourself Maleko, not when people are going to be looking for you, and you can’t tell people you’re a sorcerer, not unless we can trust them.”

“Buh, but Maleko…” he made a face when Taka said he’d need a new name. He liked his name, it was the one Kai gave him, it was important to him. He was Maleko, he didn’t want to give that up, it felt wrong.

Takas feathers ruffled but then relaxed. “It’s an alias, a fake name to keep you out of trouble,” he assured. “You’ll still be Maleko Palakiko, but those who meet you from here on forth can’t know that. Does that make sense?”

He frowned but nodded. It didn’t make a lot of sense, but he could try and understand. “Okay… theh, then what… my name?”

There wasn’t a moment to think, not a pause to contemplate possibilities. When Maleko asked, Taka answered. “Asahi. You are Asahi.”

“Asa…he?”

“You’re Japanese, little sun, neither the wilds, the tropics or even the deserts can hide that. So, you’ll don a Japanese name,” Taka explained and hopped a little closer. “Asahi, the morning sun. It’s a fitting name. I’ll try and teach you the language as well.”

Asahi… Maleko frowned. The name, it stirred something deep within him, felt as if something in the back of his head was scratching at the walls, trying to get out. It didn’t make sense. But, if that was the name that Taka chose… “Maleko… Asahi,” he accepted with a nod.

“Good. Now, let’s rest, little sun. We’ll need to search for your mothers allies tomorrow.”

#Soul Eater #Wild Fire #Fanfic #Adrian's Writing

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kuromantic · 7 years ago

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Whumptober Day 18: Hostage

The teenager with grime covering his face and clothes emitted a low growl, his dark eyes glaring into the entire Nekoma gang. There was no telling if he could speak or not. Any efforts made with communication were swiftly shut down, when the teenager lashed out violently.

“Hey, kid. What’s your name?”

Kuroo’s question was met with an animalistic scream, as the boy struggled against his restraints.

“Why did you try to kill Kai?”

This time, it was Yaku who asked. There was no answer, only a “Let me go!” The boy couldn’t have been more than sixteen years old, but he was quick. He’d stopped screaming when he realised there was no way out, but remained extremely apprehensive and refused to answer anything he was asked by the eldest members.

“We don’t want to hurt you. It’s not pleasant, you know? Torturing a kid. But we are a gang, and we don’t care much for pleasantries. Spit it out.” Kuroo extended a hand towards the teen, drawing back when the boy attempted to bite his finger.

“I hate you.”

Kuroo threw his hands up in mock defeat, shrugging jovially. “How saddening. You should be glad your murder attempt failed miserably. Otherwise you wouldn’t be here right now,” he stated darkly, without a hint of enthusiasm in his eyes.

“What’ll I do with him?”

Kenma looked straight into the hostage’s animosity-filled eyes, then turned away. “Send him over if he’s dead. Living hostages are loud and annoying.” With an indifferent expression, Kenma turned away. He dealt with covering their tracks and disposing the corpses, making sure they were never caught with their actual murder count.

“I’m not scared of you!” The boy was visibly shaking, but held his ground and refused to admit anything. “My group will kill you! You’re all going to be done for!”

Kuroo’s eyes narrowed. “You’re part of a group, huh?” He inched closer to the snarling hostage. “What’s the name of your group?”

Before the boy could answer, Kuroo pressed a buzzer to shock him. “Katanari,” he choked out, his eyes widening as he realised what information he had given out. “You fucking bastard!” He yelled every curse he could think of, and attempted to bite off his own tongue in retaliation until Kuroo yanked his hair sharply.

“I’m going to tell you this for your own sake, kid.” Kuroo gave the teenager’s hair a light pat, his touch becoming gentler than ever. The boy let out a confused whine, eyes darting over to catch a glimpse of his captor’s face. “If you get out of here alive and stay with them, you’ll most likely be murdered.”

All of Nekoma knew about Katanari, a group that focused on gathering young troubled teens and grooming them into becoming their personal killing machines, the ones that they would pin the blame on if anything went wrong. Seijoh and Fukurodani had some members that they had managed to save from Katanari before, all of them requiring an enormous amount of help to get them back into a less animalistic state.

The boy opened his mouth, but no words came out of him as he shivered in disbelief. Kuroo could tell that he was swaying. He wasn’t a hopeless case. There was still saving him, as long as they handled him with care and let him heal slowly.

“They’re using you. Because you aren’t in a comfortable living situation, they offered you a home and a job. Isn’t that right?” Kuroo questioned him mercilessly, forcing the boy to meet his gaze. He could tell that he was shaking his head just to deny the suspicions rising inside himself.

Kuroo sensed that the boy needed only a few more pushes before becoming tame to them. “You know what? You’re a kid. Even if you’ve killed people, I don’t think I have it in me to torture you. If you want to, I’ll let you go right now.” He offered, and Yaku gave him a dirty look. He was too good at mind games, and had no limit when it came to being a manipulative master.

“You’re just saying that to scare me into submission,” the boy’s voice quivered, uncertain. “You’re going to kill me as soon as I try to escape!”

“Shibayama Yuuki, sixteen years old. Used to work part-time at a coffee shop until publicly outed and was recruited to join the gang when he was on the streets after getting kicked out.” Fukunaga read from his computer screen, having already composed a fact file of the captured teen.

Shibayama’s eyes widened in fearful surprise. “How- how?” His expression was a mixture of dread and awe, and it dawned on him that Nekoma wasn’t a group that he wanted to mess with. Which he did without knowing, and was paying for it very much. “Why are you telling me all this? Is this how you guys torture people?!”

“Interesting idea, but no. Kuroo isn’t doing this to torture you.” Yaku crossed his arms, tipping Shibayama’s chin up. He didn’t attempt to attack this time, only flinched instead. Yaku shot a glare towards Kuroo to tell him that he had scared him too much. “How about you join our gang instead, Shibayama?”

“Me? Join your gang? What do you want me for?” Shibayama remained unmoving even as Kuroo released him from his restraints, surveying the entire area cautiously. “They won’t let me get away with this. If I do that, I’ll be murdered. Do you think I have a death wish?” He argued weakly.

Kuroo gave Shibayama a flat look. “It’s completely your choice. If you want to go back to those manipulative assholes and be their scapegoat, suit yourself. Or you could join us and kick every last one of their asses.” He clapped his hands once, urging Shibayama to decided what he wanted right that second.

“I- I’ll do it,” Shibayama nodded, staring down at the ground as if he had just made a regrettable decision. “I’ll be part of your gang. Just… please. Don’t let them kill me. They won’t ever forgive me if they find out about this.”

“You’ll be sharing a room with Inuoka,” Kuroo announced, a flash of sympathy appearing in his eyes. “No funny business, you got that? He can and will end you if you try to get him in his sleep.”

Shibayama bowed his head, his expression unreadable. “I won’t try anything,” he promised, remaining backed up against the wall. Kuroo knew that he was vulnerable, and he could kill him right now if he were truly evil.

“Yaku and Yamamoto, take him to the baths.” Kuroo commanded, whirling around and shoving his shock switch back into his pocket. “You know what to do if anything happens.”

Without a word, Yaku and Yamamoto approached Shibayama and held him by his arm. “Come on, follow us. I trust that we can leave you on your own in the bath.” Shibayama realised the many implications of him stepping into a bathroom on his own. He could break the mirror and use the shards however he pleased, or throw soapy water into their eyes. It wasn’t something he could do in his current situation, but the thought crossed his mind.

“There’s a towel and clothes outside. Come out if you’re done.” Yaku and Yamamoto kept their sentences simple, and Shibayama didn’t talk except for a mumbled “I understand.” He was left alone when he stepped into the room just behind the bathroom, for him to remove his clothes. It was a massive relief being left alone, nobody to stare at his bruises and scars.

Shibayama cast his torn t-shirt and discoloured shorts aside in a neat pile, removing everything until he was completely naked. His bruises that came from mostly his own group seemed to have worsened after the manhandling, and bits of dried blood were caked on his skin.

He stepped into the bathroom, taking the shower head and pouring warm water over his injured body. The hot steam caressed his grimy face, clouding the mirror beside the shampoo bottles. He hadn’t been able to take a bath in days. His skin stung as jets of water hit his wounds, even more so when he added a dollop of body wash onto it, but he couldn’t waste the opportunity to become finally clean again.

When Shibayama scrubbed at his skin with a soft sponge, the dirt and blood whirled down the drain with brown water, and the grime under his nails gradually disappeared. He massaged a large amount of shampoo into his scalp, absentmindedly playing with his bubble-filled hair. A pleased sigh escaped his lips as he washed off the suds on his skin. As he stared into his reflection on the mirror blurred with perspiration, a ghost of a smile appeared on his face.

The clothes set out for him fit well, and they were the best he’d had in a long time. He stood without saying a word outside the bathroom, staring at his arms. The colour had returned to his skin, turning it into a healthy shade instead of ghostly pale. He let out a breath, looking around for somebody else.

“Hey, Yuuki-kun, right?” A boy about the same age as him popped inside the room, his brown hair swaying as he wheeled around to peer into his face. “Welcome to our gang, I guess? Trusting that you’re not going to turn against us.” His smile was kind, but Shibayama could tell that his eyes were murderous.

“I won’t,” Shibayama mumbled, as the boy sprawled himself out on the bed.

“Good! My name’s Inuoka, nice to meet you!” Inuoka held out a hand to the ceiling, and Shibayama took it carefully. He didn’t show signs of hostility this time, and shook his hand enthusiastically. “You’re safe now, okay? Nekoma is pretty strong, and you won’t ever be hurt by them again.”

Inuoka pointed to Shibayama’s wrists when the boy gave him a look of confusion. They were red from the constant restraints, and cut up from when he had been handled roughly. “It’s because I carried out a mission poorly. It was to be expected.” He formatted a robotic response, hiding his hands behind his back.

“You still didn’t deserve it. You’re not a machine.”

“I’m a gang member.”

Inuoka held Shibayama’s shoulders, leaning into his face. “So am I. But neither of us should be hurt by our comrades. They’re meant to help you, not pin the blame on you when something goes wrong.” He threw a blanket over Shibayama’s head, placing an extra pillow on the bed. “Let’s get to sleep for tonight.”

Shibayama nodded, hesitantly slipping under the covers. He didn’t know whether to trust Inuoka, but his smile was more genuine than anyone from his previous gang. He shut his eyes, shivering in anticipation of unexpected beatings and water hurled over his head. He jolted when something touched him, but it was the gentle Inuoka’s hand, patting his back rhythmically.

For the first time in years, Shibayama wasn’t an animal, but a person. He couldn’t speak, but his eyes fluttered and tears dripped onto the pale covers. He hadn’t expected to feel like he belonged in a gang, but maybe this time, his soul was in the right place.

#nekoma #haikyuu #Kuroo Tetsurou #Kozume Kenma #shibayama yuuki #inuoka sou #whumptober #whumptober 2018

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kpopfanfictrash · 7 years ago

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A Devil’s Tale

Author: kpopfanfictrash

Pairing: You / Kai (Jongin)

Rating: PG-13

Word Count: 3,762

Summary: When you make a deal with a devil, the bond is supposed to be unbreakable. Unless the devil himself takes pity, and chooses to change your bargain.

“Stop doing that,” he grumbles, bent over his writing.

“Doing what?” you reply innocently enough from the bed.

Kai doesn’t look at you, though the furrow between his brows deepens. “I can feel you plotting,” he states. “I can feel you plotting and whatever it is – I’ll add ten years to your sentence, I swear I will.”

“Meanie,” you sigh, plopping down on his comforter. Since coming to this place, you’ve found yourself in a sort of half-life – able to levitate and hover at will, which can be fun. If only you weren’t, legally, considered dead. Kai is right, of course – you were planning on draining the ink from his wells while he slept, but he doesn’t need to know this. “How much time is it now?” you ask instead, drawing circles on the comforter.

“One billion,” he mutters, dotting the i.

“Lies.”

Kai looks up, the burgundy of his eyes startling. “I cannot lie to you,” he reminds pointedly, before going back to his notes.

Frowning, you cross your ankles on top on the comforter. “Yes,” you nod, “though you failed to specify which unit of measurement. Trickster.”

The tiniest of smiles flickers across his lips. “An oversight, I’m sure.”

“Sure.” Watching him a moment longer, you begin to grow bored. “Play with me,” you insist, scanning the room.

Kai lifts a brow. “Play?” he muses. “I know not the meaning to your word.”

“Play,” you nod, lifting up on your knees. “Like that one night, when you took out the chess board and I creamed your ass –”

“Shh,” Kai sputters, nearly dropping his quill. “That wasn’t supposed to happen. You’re not even supposed to even talk to me – fuck,” he groans, pushing a hand through his hair. “How did I get stuck with the most insubordinate, annoying charge in the entire Underworld?”

“Because you took my soul,” you remind him quietly, as though he’d forget.

Kai stares at you for a moment, uncertain what to say.

Looking down at his bedspread, you fiddle absently with the string. You remember the day as though it were yesterday, the day that you offered Kai your life. The entire world was burning, crashing down around you, while your brother kneeled at the feet of a predator. You were not a good person back then, and neither was he. He was caught in a gang, one where he began trading as a drug dealer. When your brother decided he wanted out though, when he tried to change and get clean – the gang kidnapped him, held for ransom.

A ransom sent to you, no less, though you had no money to speak of. You went to the drop regardless, even knowing you could not win. It was either that or let your brother die alone somewhere, and you couldn’t bear the thought of this second option. The pleas of mercy you made were laughed at and when you were thrown beside your brother, you became unbearably angry. Reckless enough to speak the very name you’d been taught not to say.

You swore out loud, calling upon the devil.

Kai stepped from thin air – he did so quietly, elegantly, as though opening a door. His suit was immaculate, dressed in head-to-toe black with a red handkerchief in the pocket. He gazed blankly at the surroundings, frozen entirely, before fixating on you.

“You rang?” he asked – Kai’s default tone was dry.

Fingers trembling, you nodded. Wiping away tears, you somehow managed to pull yourself together long enough to ask, “Save him.” Pointing at your brother, you begged, “Kill these men, save his life – I ask this of you.”

Kai’s eyes gleamed with interest, though he did not accept. “And in return?” he asked. “If I do this for you, if I kill these men, what will you offer me in turn?”

Swallowing, you struggled to respond. Kai stared, then took a small step forward. His presence was chilling, it broke into your bone. Humans tended to think of hell as this bright, burning place – a flame which consumes, boiling you alive. Hell is not this way. Hell is a cold and empty place – a freezing lack of anything: lack of love, friends, family. Hell is absence, is isolation; hell is hell, the lack of everything else.

When Kai touched your cheek, cradled your skin in his palm – you couldn’t help yourself, you shivered.

“What will you offer me,” he asked you, eyes soft. Kai’s gaze was a dark shade of red – bright, despite the ice in his touch. “You know who I am, do you not? You know you should run, do you not?”

You nodded, somewhat jerkily. “I will offer you my soul,” you whispered – and everything around you disappeared.

The world remade itself, your brother gone from view. Everything disappeared, as you reemerged in hell. To be fair, Kai seemed just as startled by your presence as you were. Stumbling, you tripped over his rug and fell flat on his bed – all while Kai stared, slack-jawed, in surprise.

“Lucifer’s glory,” he swore, stepping ever closer. “How did you get into my room?”

You didn’t know. Neither did he.

Each time Kai tried to lock you away, each time he tried to send you outside – it would fail. Most human souls stayed elsewhere, not with their devil. The place they stayed was not a bad place, actually – a bit cold, lonely, kind of like a gaming café. Though Kai tried to send you there as well, it never really stuck. The separation would last hours, days at the most, before you’d reappear on his bedspread.

Kai swallows, reminded of this. “Ah. Right,” he agrees, glancing down at his notes.

Pushing yourself upwards, you walk to his side and as you read over his shoulder, your eyes widen. “You’re behind on the quota,” you realize, alarmed. If Kai does not provide the Devil with a certain number of souls, he’ll be punished.

Kai quickly yanks the page away. “Y/N,” he growls, turning – with a swift wave of his hand, you’re frozen in place.

Only your eyes are still able to move, squinting angrily at him over the grip of his power. Kai rests his wrists on the table, ink held in one hand, paper in other. He’s filling out his quota right now, the number of souls he’s taken – and from what you can see here, the number is significantly less than the previous period. Somewhat worried by this, you pull your lower lip between your teeth.

Realizing this outward display of emotion, you force yourself to relax. It should be odd, the fact that you’re worried. Should be, since Kai is the entire reason you’re here but honestly, you’re not certain when you stopped being afraid. Kai is a devil, after all – not the devil, as he’s wont to correct – but a devil, a demon of hell who does the bidding of the Devil.

“How confusing,” you responded, when he said this. “Why just a devil, why is that different than the Devil?”

Kai shrugged, having never asked. This was about a week into your arrangement, and Kai still wasn’t sure how to act in your presence. “Less name confusion?” he supplied, quirking a lip. “Makes things simpler during introductions. Hello, I’m devil. Hello, so am I. Easier at parties and such,” he suggested – and you stared.

Only for a moment, before bursting out into laughter. You didn’t expect to laugh, in a place like this. The action made you confused, made you withdraw for the next couple days. Kai left you alone often, in his search for his souls. His absence gave you time to think, gave you time to explore.

Hell was lonely, or so Kai explained that first day.

It wasn’t lonely for you, though. Nor was it for him, since your arrival. Something about your deal tied you together, tied you in an entirely unprecedented way. You found this out on accident, while you were roaming the halls. Hell seemed to be an endless place, stretching on for eternity, hewn from the belly of the earth.

You left Kai’s chambers, dragging a hand over the damp, mildewed stone in the hall. While wandering, you found very few people – even fewer devils. Each time you passed one, you’d hide. You’d disappear around corners, suck in your breath until they passed – none of whom, it seemed, even looked your way and after a while of hiding, you grew used to it.

You wandered more brazenly, unblinkingly – you wandered for hours, until finding the room. This was an accident, though soon after you found it, you realized that nothing in hell is an accident. The door was plain, black metal and barred with wood. You nearly passed by, until something inside you stopped. A soft whispering emerged, turning your head to make you step closer.

The whispering was evil, like a prickle to the back of your neck, but your hand reached for the knob anyways. Something or someone, dragged you on – it called out for you to look, to know. Curiosity won you over, while your fingers closed tight around the handle.

To this day, you still can’t discuss what you saw.

The sight was horrible, gruesome and it – the thing – it wanted you. Rooting you firm, that thing held you senseless while you tried, and failed to move. Finally you screamed, voice unsteady – until suddenly, the door slammed shut between you.

Kai stood there panting, his stare colder than hell itself. “The fuck is wrong with you?” he seethed. “Must you try and get yourself killed, before I can even report you in my quota?”

Grabbing you by the wrist, Kai dragged you back to his room – sat you awkwardly on the edge of his bed, while searching his room for water. Kai moved about it roughly, muttering about nosy humans and where they could stick their enormously large egos – until you exhaled once, and looked up at him.

“How did you know?” you questioned, which made Kai pause.

“I,” he faltered, then frowned. “I heard you.”

It seemed you could communicate, both verbally and not. You could send him thoughts, requests, emotions. This is what you do now, letting Kai know you’re worried. His expression softens, lines of his face smoothing. For a being locked in eternal damnation, Kai certainly has a mouth for smiling – and perhaps, you wonder, for other things.

Thinking this makes you blush, and you retract the thought quickly. Those kinds of thoughts are not allowed, because they would not and cannot be returned. Your feelings for Kai are woefully human. You exist because Kai has no other choice. He keeps you alive because you are his. He cannot afford to lose you to Heaven – or worse, to Hell.

Kai looks at you now, feeling your worry. “Don’t be worried,” he chastises. His fingers hover over the paper, before smoothing it out. “I have a few more days to report my numbers.”

A few more days. Your hand moves, as though to touch him – before stopping yourself, thinking better. “Why so low?” you ask. It might be your imagination, but lately Kai seems to be hiding. Recently, he’s been distant and you can’t help but feel like you’ve done something wrong.

He leans back in his chair, gaze terse. “Perhaps,” he muses, “my numbers are so low thanks to a certain, annoying soul who won’t let me work.”

Huffing under your breath, you turn. Kai’s room is small but cozy – an odd thing to say about the middle of hell. The walls are stone, indents filled with mismatched collections of lamps and candles. Below these are bookshelves, filled with books from every century imaginable, all deemed too inflammatory for human consumption.

Running a finger down a spine, you look over your shoulder. “Why was this banned?” you ask, pulling out the volume.

“Ah,” Kai blinks. “The Decameron, published in the 14th century by Giovanni Boccaccio. It’s a collection of short stories, some of which were quite explicit – sexually,” he adds, watching your expression.

“Oh,” you blurt, looking at the cover.

Kai chuckles, setting his quill aside. He stands, walking closer and when he reaches your side he gently opens a page. “The collection was written during the plague. Humanity thought God had forsaken the world, and there is much comedy at the expense of religion and authority. This was one of the reasons it was banned. Another was Boccaccio’s liberal view of sex, and the nature of it. This idea was also not accepted at his time.”

Staring down at his fingers, lying flat on the page, it’s a struggle to control your racing heartbeat.

“It’s a masterpiece,” Kai admits quietly, before drawing away.

He returns to his desk, as you’re suddenly filled with the need to continue. “Kai,” you start, uncertain what to say.

He stops, looks over his shoulder. “Yes?”

You gently set the book to the side. “Would you recite me something,” you ask. “From the book.”

This is something Kai does on occasion, when he’s bored enough or in high spirits. He chooses passages you love, ones to capture your heart, not only your soul. Kai hesitates, halfway to his desk – his gaze roams your face, before he materializes before you. It’s startling when he does this – you nearly flinch, at the proximity of his frame.

“To have compassion,” he murmurs. “To have compassion for those who suffer is a human quality, which everyone should possess.” Kai’s voice is velvet, softening the words. “Especially those who have required comfort in the past, and have managed to find it in others.”

The silence which follows, is longer than most. “Is this something you feel,” you whisper, too scared to be loud. “Compassion, for others?”

Kai pauses. He merely looks, as though deciding how to answer. “I am not human,” he responds, though this doesn’t answer the question.

Somehow emboldened by this, you press on. “Hell is loneliness. Hell is punishment, solitude – so why, then, am I bound to you? What force keeps us together like this?” Taking a small, hesitant step – you notice Kai does not push you away. “Why do I see things? Thoughts in your eyes, words in your movements. You care – care for me," you clarify, watching his gaze.

Kai’s eyes are dark and strange – beautiful, in their own way. Like Kai himself, who is dark and alien; trapped in a form that’s both beautiful and strange.

Kai’s expression then shutters. “I do not care for you,” he responds. “I cannot care."

“Is that so?” you ask, voice quiet.

In his space between words, there is screaming. Kai stares, wonders how you do not know. How you do not hear. Ever since he met you, he's been falling. It seems wholly impossible, that his heart should beat within his cavernous chest – but somehow, it manages to beat for you.

The moment he saw you like that, half-kneeling in the alley, bloodied form covering your brother – he should have known you’d be his doom. Something inside him stirred at the sight, sang in his veins and Kai felt himself shift, when you looked his way.

He accepted the bargain, while secretly wishing he hadn’t. He tried to scare you away, tried to frighten you – because he did not want to take your soul that day. Had Kai not accepted, both you and your brother would have died. This idea seemed distasteful at the time, which is why Kai accepted your offer.

Since that day though, he's felt himself cracking. Before he was a creature of stone, and now he’s so fissured and fractured, he barely recognizes himself. He’s broken by the words that you speak, the way that you look at him. You look at him as though you understand, as though you see him and what you see is so much more than what Kai truly is.

Before, Kai never gave much thought to his existence. He never cared much what he was, nor if he could improve. You make him ask, make him wonder. And now you're standing before him, asking if he cares.

Of course he does. His entire body aches from the weight of it, splinters at the seams, because Kai has never felt so alive, nor so horribly wretched. Before, Kai never felt he was damned. Before, Kai never felt anything at all.

The weight of it tears him apart. Devils aren’t built for such things, Kai wasn’t built for such things; for a burning, yearning need for you. He wants to see you alive, wants you freed – but the idea of being without you is equally as painful. And so, Kai lifts his hand to trace gingerly down the side of your neck.

"I do not care," he repeats, though it’s hardly audible.

You hear him. Watch him swallow, the noise loud in otherwise silence. Kai hears your heart beat in turn, listens to the rapid thud-thud within your chest and hears your pulse quicken, when he slowly bends his head.

The kiss is an experiment.

A press of his lips, a brush of your soul – until Kai gasps, drowning as the flame within him ignites. He kisses you harder – heatedly, hurriedly, as though he can’t waste time with breath. Your lips are his mirror, just as eager while he pushes you up and against the wall. Kai’s hands skim your waist, lifting your shirt – and you suck in a breath, when his cold hands find your waist.

“Kai,” you groan, though he’s already moving. His lips brush your cheeks, your temple – his hands encircle your wrists, cage you to the wall. A whimper leaves your throat, when you feel him, hard, between your legs. Ready and wanting and god – you nearly lose it, at the thought of him inside you.

Gasping his name, the sound is so choked it almost doesn’t sound like him and when he hears this – hears you – Kai forces himself to stop. His hands on yours tighten, chest heaving as he somehow pulls himself together. Hovering over, he kisses you again – this time gentle, this time soft. As you fight to catch your breath, when you open your eyes – the expression staring back is shocking.

Kai’s eyes widen, glassy with fear. "I," he inhales, shuddering. "No, don't – don’t speak."

Shutting your mouth, you return to quietly staring.

“I’m a liar.” Kai stops, licking his lips. “Not in the literal sense of the word, but in who I am – at my core. I’m a liar, a sinner, damned. I used to not know what such words meant. I don’t know if I’ll remember them, after. I spent a long time,” he confesses, hardly more than a whisper, “staring into the eyes of the broken. I saw humans at their worst – heard them beg, plead, scream with me for mercy. I never felt pity for them, since I could not understand what it was.”

Searching his gaze, you slowly lift a hand. Your thumb draws a crescent, from the curve of his ear across the slant of his lips. Kai’s skin is cold, smooth while his arms tighten around you.

“I,” he chokes, as you press yourself closer.

Holding him tightly, you close your own eyes as you try and piece him back together. Squeezing him softly, you seek to mold his frame to your own. To embrace his pain, and make it yours.

“I’m divided,” he confesses, into the strands of your hair. “My nature wants you captive but whatever soul I have left, it wants you alive.”

Breath catching on the words, you turn to shake your head at him. Such a thing is impossible – a deal with a devil, once made, is unbreakable.

Kai pulls back. “When I first saw you, I thought you were a punishment,” he admits, voice slightly hoarse. “I thought you were a test. I still think you might be,” he whispers, bending his forehead to yours. Hands cupping your jaw, he holds your face between palms, “though I am no longer sure of the meaning. All I know now is that I feel, I care – and because of this, I can no longer keep you with me.”

Your eyes fly open, abject with horror. “Kai,” you blurt. Struggling to move, you find his grip is too tight, or perhaps it’s that he’s frozen you once more.

Kai’s chest rises and falls. “I want you to stay,” he pleads with you, voice breaking. “I want you to stay with me, but more than that, I want you to be free. I want you to live, want to give you heaven – not hell. Not this.”

“No,” you whimper, trying to pry free. “No, Kai – listen,” you pant, “you don’t understand.”

Gently, he smiles at you. “What do I not understand?” Kai’s voice is hollow, gaze stark with sadness, as though already haunted by the decision he’s made.

“You want to save me?” Fear becoming anger, you twist in his grasp. “You want to keep me from hell? Hell is loneliness,” you repeat, echoing his words. “Hell is the absence of love, and if I’m surrounded by a billion people on earth – if you’re not one of them, it will be hell.”

Hearing you say this, Kai’s eyes brim with tears – the first he’s ever felt such emotion. The sight of it is shocking, sliding down his cheeks. Kai does not give in to it though, gently removing his hands from your face. “I love you,” he responds, momentarily stilling. “Goodbye.”

It happens all of a sudden. You disappear without a word, leaving Kai alone in the dark. He stares at the spot you once stood, before white descends from all sides.

You don’t remember him in your next life.

You don’t remember the devil who gave back your soul. All you remember is a vague sort of yearning; this unspoken reach for something you’ve never had. All your life you’re looking over your shoulder, constantly feeling as though you’ve forgotten.

Nothing sparks a memory though, nothing brings relief – not until your eyes open again, for the very first time. You lived a better life. A life inspired by the memory of a person you know not the name.

The air is muddled and when you step through the door, your find your feet do not echo on pavement. There’s a river nearby, it’s sides curling with mist and when you bend down for a drink, it all comes rushing back. It all returns in a harried storm of emotion and as you wipe your lips clean on the back of your hand – your eyes look up and you freeze. There’s someone standing there, on the bank of the river.

He wasn’t there before. Or maybe he was, and you just couldn’t see.

Kai is motionless – he looks the same, but also not. Behind him drip wings of white feathers which caress golden skin and ruby eyes. An angel. You were a test – a test to save him, not damn him. Plunging into the stream, you nearly slip several times as you cross and when you finally reach his side, you fling yourself into his arms. You’re uncertain whose tears are falling, just that they fall hard and fast, burning your cheeks.

“It’s you,” you whisper, touching his mouth with your hands. As you push hair away from his face, it’s hard to stop trembling from happiness. “You’re here.”

Kai cannot speak, though he encircles you with his body, his wings. He lets you know that now, you need never be parted again.

Author’s Note: Happy birthday, to the Devil ;)

#noonanet #kpoptrashtag #kwriterskollection #kai fanfiction #kai #jongin #kim jongin #exo fanfiction #exo fluff #jongin fanfiction #kai au #exo au #jongin au #q: jongin tag

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reading-writing-revolution · 5 years ago

Text

"Copied from a friend, and it’s legit:"

Irish Times

April 25, 2020

By Fintan O’Toole

THE WORLD HAS LOVED, HATED AND ENVIED THE U.S. NOW, FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE PITY IT

Abject surrender

Fertile ground

Either way, it will be a long time before the rest of the world can imagine America being great again.

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kingyeoly · 8 years ago

Text

Privilege : Chapter 4

Synopsis: Kyungsoo lands halfway across the world in Seoul after his mother’s death. Cue the rich long-lost CEO father and a spot at one of the most prestigious boarding schools in The Republic of Korea. It doesn’t take long for Kyungsoo to get mixed in with a troublesome group of elite boys. Or, Where Kyungsoo finds out he’s actually the Korean Cinderella. Suho, the untouchable semi-evil stepbrother who rules the school with an iron fist. Sehun, the adorable little (big) brother who defends Kyungsoo at all costs. Jongin, the heir to a hotel empire and a LITERAL model (possible prince charming?) and Chanyeol, the best friend/volleyball star who challenges Jongin in winning over Kyungsoo’s heart. Who will win? Rated: R

Warnings: Fluff, Slow burn, Boy X Boy, Smut, Love triangles

Pairings: D.O & Kai, D.O & Chanyeol, Sehun & Chanyeol, Suho & Lay

Chapter 3

Masterpost

Chapter 5

“My name is Do Kyungsoo...you’re my roommate?”

Kyungsoo quietly entered the dorm closing the door behind him as the two made formal acquaintances.

Yixing sat on a stool near his bed looking intently at Kyungsoo as if he were examining him.

His eyes squinted and locked on him for a second before slightly sighing, looking back at the easel that sat in front of him.

“Yes,” Yixing replied as if something was just bothering him, “I’m sorry If I surprised you, Kyungsoo.”

He smiled, his attitude quickly changing, “I actually just got back from China today...my flight was delayed so I couldn’t make it here during move in day with the rest of you all.”

Kyungsoo nodded, “I thought for a second that I was going to be all alone.”

He laughed dryly trying to make conversation, “I see you paint?” Kyungsoo mentioned earnestly as he made his way over.

Yixing looked up from his painting to meet eyes with Kyungsoo. Something about his gaze was haunting yet suave and delicate.

“Mm, yeah,” He said nonchalantly, “My mother is a fashion designer in China and my father is a artist so I guess I get my talents from them.”

He chuckled as he continued adding some detail here and there.

Kyungsoo hid his amazement, instead he examined Yixing’s work in awe. It was an incredibly surreal portrait of a man, possibly a teenager, but it looked incredibly lifelike to the point where it started to scare Kyungsoo; it was that good.

“You’re incredibly talented.”

“You think so?”

Yixing rubbed his chin as he examined his painting, “I’m not sure if I like it or not...I feel like something might be missing.”

“Well, maybe it’s who you’re drawing...do you know him?”

“Yeah, I did know him.”

The tone in Yixing’s voice dropped, his words dripped in some type of pained secrecy that Kyungsoo wasn’t going to press any further.

He quickly felt the need to change the subject. He walked over to his drawer after an idea had struck him.

Kyungsoo really loved to draw himself, he wouldn’t consider what he draws true art like Yixing. It was more of a hobby for him if anything.

He’s never showed anyone his drawings, not even Chanyeol in fear of eternal teasing and harassment over his stupid little drawings.

“Uh, mind if I can get your honest opinion?”

Kyungsoo handed over his notebook which Yixing suddenly perked up to.

“You draw?!” He said in excitement, eyes beaming.

Kyungsoo laughed dryly, “I wouldn’t consider what I draw art. And I’ve never shown anyone my drawings, but, I’d love a professional's opinion.”

Yixing cocked a little grin as he opened the notebook, flipping through months of Kyungsoo’s work. The room fell silent as Yixing examined many of Kyungsoo’s drawings.

“It’s okay if you don’t lik-”

“These are really beautiful, Kyungsoo.”

The small boy’s eyes blinked hard as he became flushed by the compliment.

“You think so? Really?”

Yixing happily nodded, eyeing Kyungsoo more carefully now as he handed the book back to him.

“Yes, I do. You have a lot of potential; your attention to detail is polished and although it’s not the style I do personally, I think you have a really special gift.”

Kyungsoo grinned, “Thanks Yixing.”

“Yeah, of course,” he placed the notebook back in Kyungsoo’s hand as he yawned, “Oh, by the way, where are you from?”

“I’m from the States, why do you ask?”

Yixing grinned, “The Koreans here talk with this kind of accent I can’t describe,” he stretched before winking at Kyungsoo, “You sound a little different I guess.”

“A pretentious tone maybe?”

Yixing cackled, “Hm, I guess you could say that maybe?”

Kyungsoo sat on his bed, crossing his legs as he got himself comfortable.

“I’m pretty different.” He said dryly.

Yixing’s eyes locked on his new roommate, “That makes two of us.”

The first day of school was surprisingly great.

And as the next couple of days came around Kyungsoo found himself adjusting to his new school life incredibly well.

Although Sehun was adamant about walking Kyungsoo to every single one of his classes the first week.

He went through the motions, made some friends here and there and before he knew it, it was Friday.

Kyungsoo made his way to his desk.

Literature was probably his favorite class and he was grateful he could end his day with a subject he rather enjoyed.

The classroom began to fill up as Kyungsoo casually grazed upon the room and the incoming students here and there.

Until his eyes caught onto something different.

Kyungsoo cocked his head, his eyes zoning in on a male figure sitting in the first row, hair black, broad shoulders, and probably a giant from the looks of it.

That’s new…

“Alright class settle, settle!”

His English professor called out as the bell called the class to order, students rushing to their seats and quickly getting adjusted.

“Yes, well, before we start today’s lesson I would like to introduce a new student that will be joining our class from now on. Please, introduce yourself!”

Within an instant their eyes locked, a small grin stretched across the students face as he casually spoke to the class.

“Hello, I’m Kim Jongin. I’ll be joining your class for the rest of the semester.”

His eyes were still locked on Kyungsoo as if he were really talking solely to him.

“I was actually in another class, but, there was a mix-up, so, I’m glad to finally be in the right place. Please take care of me well.”

The class returned formalities as Jongin returned to his seat, sneaking one last glance back at Kyungsoo who looked directly back at the model with his big doe eyes.

Yes, Kyungsoo was internally geeking out about the fact that they now have a class together. He’ll admit his shameless lust and weird attraction to the guy which he kind of hated since it was such a clique considering he was probably this hot shot fuckboy that everyone secretly lusted after.

Hell, just from a simple observation he could already see half of the girls in the class stealing glances.

“Alright, thank you, Mr. Kim, and…” Professor Oh’s voice cracked, “Oh, young man...I’m sorry you must be the other transfer, yes?”

The class began to shuffle, turning their heads toward the back almost as if all eyes were landing on Kyungsoo.

He shifted in his seat nervously, he was fucking here the first day...he wasn’t that unmemorable, right?

Kyungsoo went a little cold from all the unwanted attention.

Totally unsure of what to say considering the wide-eyed girls who were just eye fucking Jongin were now utterly restless and dead set in his direction which confused the fuck out of him.

“I..-”

“Yes, sorry I was running a little late.” The booming voice filled the room.

A warm voice who snickered at the end of his sentence out of embarrassment.

Kyungsoo’s eyes went wide as he followed the rest of his classmate's gaze to a tall, big-eared figure.

“Ch-Chanyeol!” Kyungsoo screamed out, totally surprised with how loud he yelped it.

It was like the sun, the smile he had missed.

“Oh my god, Chanyeol!”

Kyungsoo quickly got up from his seat practically throwing himself into wide open arms and the warm embrace he had missed terribly.

“What the hell are you doing here?! Oh my god is this real?!”

Chanyeol let out a hearty laugh, his hands placed gently on the sides of Kyungsoo’s beaming face.

“Hey, I made a promise didn’t I?”

“You big goof,” Kyungsoo chuckled as he playfully punched Chanyeol’s arm.

“Boys?” Professor Oh called out in confusion.

“Ah!” Chanyeol immediately apologized.

“My name is Park Chanyeol…”

His eyes darted downward as he broke out into a toothy grin that had at least one of the girls in the class saying ‘omo omo’.

“Buuut, I’m Park Chanyeol. Love playing volleyball and videos games. Also, I’m from LA and speak pretty good English so if anyone needs help in English Comp. just let me know. I charge fifty dollars an hour.”

Kyungsoo quietly nudged Chanyeol’s side in annoyance

“Also, yes, I’m sorry for that outburst. Kyungsoo and I here haven’t seen each other in a while...This is kind of like a reunion, I guess you could say.”

Chanyeol awkwardly grinned as all eyes were on him.

To which Kyungsoo definitely heard a cluster of girls either whispering of fangirling over his giant of a friend.

“Ah, is that so?” Professor Oh smiled, “Well, feel free to talk all you’d like after my class...?” He jokingly warned.

Chanyeol snickered at his smaller friend, sending him a quick wink before walking towards an open set near the right side of the classroom, ways out from Kyungsoo who sat in the back.

His attention shifted to a presence that felt as if it were almost begging for attention.

Kyungsoo locked eyes with the model who sat in the front seat whose skin was sun-kissed and lips plump and naturally pouty.

His sharp eyes unreadable and sexy. He cocked a slight grin as he glanced Kyungsoo up and down, rubbing the bottom of his lip as if he were thinking of something sinister.

A look that definitely didn’t make Kyungsoo mutter ‘omo’ under his breath.

No...definitely not.

“Your hair!”

Kyungsoo stepped on his tiptoes in order to get a feel for Chanyeol’s new set of dark brown locks.

“Argh, yeah, do you miss the red?”

Kyungsoo huffed, “Yeah...I think I do actually.”

Chanyeol pouted as he crouched down in order for Kyungsoo to properly play with his new natural looking set of hair.

“Wow, I’m impressed it’s not completely fried.”

“Hey, don’t be mean!”

Kyungsoo rolled his eyes as he started walking towards the exit of the building, unaware of the set of eyes locked on him from the shadows.

“H-Hey wait up!”

Chanyeol chased after him, quickly wrapping his long arms around Kyungsoo’s small shoulders.

“You know...despite you being so small you’re a pretty big bully.”

Kyungsoo rolled his eyes, secretly loving the banter he’s missed out on for a good month.

“Yeah, well, I left sad valuable Kyungsoo back in LA, sorry big red.”

“Ya, I’m hurt.” Chanyeol gripped his chest playfully, “I thought you might've changed over a new leaf after you left but it turns out that was all an act, huh?”

Kyungsoo bit his lip, he realizes how much of a sap he was, but, considering the circumstances he thinks it was well warranted.

In that moment, all those weeks ago, he truly thought he was going to have to finish off his high school years without the person he started them with.

He grinned at the thought, happy to know that nothing was going to change after all.

“Well, you’re here now, right? Why do you want sad Kyungsoo...I thought you wanted me happy?”

“And I do!” Chanyeol choked out, coughing as he gathered his bearings.

“Wait, Chanyeol, how the hell are you here?” Kyungsoo asked completely dumbfounded.

“Ah, about that.” Chanyeol did that stupid old man snicker laugh that Kyungsoo hated but secretly loved at the same time.

“Well, you know my mom and dad are surgeons, right?”

“Yeah…”

“Well, they actually come from pretty important families here and graduated from this school way back when. As did my grandparents.”

“You’re lying, right?”

Chanyeol looked down at his short-statured gnome of a friend, showing off a toothy grin, “Heck yeah, Soo. Which makes me a Legacy.”

Kyungsoo squinted his eyes, “Wait, you know about that stuff?”

“Oh, well, my parents kind of filled me in. I was pretty much in the dark about it just as much as you were.”

Kyungsoo nodded, “Well, how did you know I was here exactly?”

Chanyeol began playing with Kyungsoo’s ears, something the short teen secretly welcomed.

“Dummy, you’re the one who told me, remember? On the phone?”

Kyungsoo cooed at the memory thinking back to those weeks ago.

“It took a very convincing powerpoint ang some slight begging to get my parents on board with it, and after my pretty convincing and A+ performance they spilled the beans on their past and our connections to the school.”

“No shit…” Kyungsoo muttered in awe.

This was too weird to be true.

“Yep, hey, wanna come over to my dorm? It’s so sick, Soo, you’re gonna freak!”

Kyungsoo nodded, following the giant onward as he chuckled noticing Chanyeol’s wide smile and how it beamed with goofy excitement. A sight that he’d missed seeing so much.

“What about volleyball!” Kyungsoo stopped dead in his tracks, “This was supposed to be your big year, how could you give that up?”

Kyungsoo’s brows furrowed, “You wanted to be captain for so long, Yeol, you worked so hard for that position!”

Chanyeol sighed, rubbing his chin almost acting ‘too cool for school’ which Kyungsoo also hated.

“Nah, the guys will be fine. I trust Minho, he’ll lead them to State no doubt.” He grabbed Kyungsoo’s arm yet again as the two began walking, “Besides, Soo, I can play volleyball here.”

“Yeah?”

“Hell yeah, my grandpa set up something with the coach. I have an individual tryout on Sunday.”

“Yeah?!”

Chanyeol giggled, “I said hell yeah once already, right?”

Kyungsoo jabbed the giant's side at that sarcastic comment (which actually hurt his fingers considering Chanyeol’s core was hard as a damn rock)

“Gunna come and cheer me on from the side, Soo?”

“When have I ever not cheered for you, idiot.”

Chanyeol sighed, “I've missed your loving words. I really did.”

“Oh,” Chanyeol stopped right in his tracks, “Here we are! Casa de...or...del? Ahh, this is my home, I fucking tried.”

“Chanyeol, you were never good at Spanish I don’t know why you just didn’t test out of Korean and get the easy credits like I did.”

“Too easy, Soo! You know I like a challenge.” He slyly winked, which Kyungsoo annoyingly scoffed at, lifting Chanyeol’s arm off of him in playful annoyance.

Kyungsoo’s eyes narrowed in on the dorm and it was...marvelous.

The architecture was no joke. The dormitory looked as if it was taken right out of Rome and delivered to this very spot here in South Korea. There was lush greenery all around. An elegant fountain was placed in the courtyard as simple lounging areas and a small garden with hundreds of exotic flowers decorated the brim. Regal street lamps lit the way as they walked on the modern rocky path.

“Chanyeol this is…”

“Amazing, right?” He beamed.

“You live here??”

“Yeah, stupid, didn’t I just say that in Spanish?”

Kyungsoo rolled his eyes as Chanyeol ruined the moment, something he had a knack for doing.

“Kyungsoo??”

A familiar voice called out as a set of long arms wrapped around his small body. A light scent of bourbon fragrance he’d become familiar with quickly filled his nostrils.

“Oh, Sehun!” He smiled at the surprise.

“Hey, hyung, I looked for you after class but you were gone! W..hy…”

Kyungsoo noticed his little brother catching a glimpse of his tall friend.

“Oh...yeah, Sehun, It’s because Chanyeol surprised me today and suddenly goes to school here now! I guess we got caught up in talking and I just spaced. I’m sorry.”

Sehun looked a bit shy before he remembered his manners and politely bowed, greeting Chanyeol properly for the first time in person.

“Oh, no no it’s quite alright, really.” Sehun’s voice was nervous, “I understand. Completely. Yeah, of course.”

Kyungsoo cocked his head in confusion before giggling at Sehun’s weird behavior.

“Ah..Oh! I see you made it to Privilege House, yeah??”

Kyungsoo’s eyes narrowed before turning his attention back to the big enchanting site that was Privilege House.

“Yeah...Chanyeol actually lives here.”

Kyungsoo said absentmindedly still taking in the scene.

“No kidding?” Sehun perked up.

“Wait, you don’t live here, Kyungsoo?”

He turned to meet eyes with his tall friend, “Nah, they filled up. That and Suho hates me, so, I didn’t exactly get an invite to the club.”

“Bullshit, my mom said you’d be living here too.”

“A-and he should!” Sehun interjected.

“I’m still trying to get him a spot in the house, Chanyeol. Don’t worry about it...I’ll fix it, okay!?”

Kyungsoo made his way back towards his dorm.

Today was such a crazy day filled with so many emotions. There is just something about the feeling of genuine surprise that is so purely magical.

He smiled at the thought.

The moment he saw those big ears his heart basically ran out of his chest and onto the damn floor.

Chanyeol looked pretty cute in that blazer too. Too bad he didn’t get a chance to check out his butt.

Granted, Chanyeol doesn’t have much of an ass but Kyungsoo still appreciates it all the same.

He makes it halfway up the stairs leading to the dorms before he looks up to see a tall figure he’d already grown accustomed to seeing casually leaned over stone railing.

“Fancy seeing you here.” Jongin crossed his legs eyeing Kyungsoo with a welcoming smile.

“Well, yeah, I kinda live here, so..”

Jongin pursed his lips, “Ahaa, yeah, of course.”

Kyungsoo stood there looking up at Jongin, noticing just how damn handsome he was.

That and tall.

“English class was pretty eventful, that a friend from back home?”

“Chanyeol? Yea, we grew up together back in the states. He surprised me today, I didn’t know he was transferring.”

“Surprises are fun.” Jongin replied slyly as he perched himself up on the railing, “Wanna come sit? I promise I won’t bite...or scare you.” He grinned, “Scouts honor.”

Kyungsoo snorted, following the motions and getting comfortable next to Jongin as his eyes locked on a site that took his breath away.

His big eyes grew wide as he noticed the fall leaves changing colors upon the mountains that surrounded the academy. The sunset sat just perfect, causing the rich colors to truly glow.

“Beautiful, right?” Jongin leaned forward taking the sight in for himself.

“I like to come here some days to watch the sunset. Not a lot of people know about it, It’s kind of a secret.”

“It’s not a secret if you tell people about it, Jongin.”

He pouted, looking down at Kyungsoo before looking back into the sunset, “I guess it can be our little secret then...how does that sound?”

Kyungsoo liked that, he liked that a lot, actually.

Sunset watching with a cute guy was definitely somewhere on his bucket list.

Sunset watching with a legitimate model and the heir to a hotel empire probably wasn’t, but, he was sure it still counted somehow.

“Deal, pretty boy.”

“You think I’m pretty” His voice cocky as regret quickly filled Kyungsoo’s mind.

“It’s an expression, don’t let the nice words fool you.”

“Ahh...so...you don’t think I’m pretty?”

“I didn’t say that-” Kyungsoo paused before letting out a cynical laugh, quickly realizing he had just fallen into Jongin’s little trap.

He teasingly poked Kyungsoo’s tummy without any warning which obviously scared the fuck out of him.

“Hey!”

“What?” Jongin teased, “I thought you liked surprises??”

Kyungsoo shook his head trying hard to hide the smile slowly stretching across his face.

“Surprise? No Jongin, the past few times I’ve met you you’ve managed to creep up and scare the hell out of me.”

Jongin bit his bottom lips, looking towards Kyungsoo as he noticed just how big and heart-shaped his lips were or how the sunlight illuminated Kyungsoo's big doe eyes which revealed just how rich and brown his irises were.

Jongin took in the site for a moment before Kyungsoo turned his head, their eyes meeting as the sunset fell onto them.

“Well, if it’s any consolation, Kyungsoo," He grinned, "You scare the hell out of me too.”

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randomlovermoves · 5 years ago

Photo

From Ireland’s Prize Winning Writer, Fintan O’Toole:

Donald Trump has destroyed the country he promised to make great again

“THE WORLD HAS LOVED, HATED AND ENVIED THE U.S. NOW, FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE PITY IT

Abject surrender

Fertile ground

Either way, it will be a long time before the rest of the world can imagine America being great again.“

#America politics Destruction of America Worthless Trump Failed GOP

0 notes

yeolsmuffin · 8 years ago

Text

Married to a Monster - Six

Paring: kaiXreader, minseokXreader

Word Count: 2.2k

Genre: Angst&Fluff || husband!Jongin, best friend!Jongdae, best friend!Minseok

Summary: Being forced into a marriage with your first love/childhood best friend is messy - especially when he was the sole reason you attempted to kill yourself and the reason your body is riddled with scars. Old wounds were opened but you pushed yourself to figure things out, if not for yourself, then for your deceased sister whose death seemed to keep haunting you and Jongin.

Notes: This series will contain talk of suicide, self-harm, abuse, death and possibly more. Smut will be rated [M].

Minseok licked his lips and looked off into the distance awkwardly, “I have to protect her, Kai.”

“Not from me,” Kai said but as quickly as the words left his mouth he knew he was wrong. He knew he was wrong because Minseok indeed had to protect you from him, he spent four years of his life protecting you from Kai. Now, things were different though. He couldn’t tell Minseok not to worry that there was nothing to be afraid of now because he knew Minseok would still worry. While Kai conditioned you to hate him, he also inadvertently conditioned two of his best friends to protect you from himself.

Even if things were different now, he knew the two boys would always look out for you. Minseok watched Kai carefully but said nothing in response as Minseok’s expression spoke enough for the both of them. While Minseok knew Kai was more reformed now, it didn’t take away the past.

“I’ll protect her from me too,” Kai said sadly as he looked over at your curled up body on the bed watching as you said Minseok’s name in a small and sad voice while you slept.

Sunlight was pouring into your vision as you stiffly woke up. You had slept for what seemed like more than eight hours and your eyes hurt once you finally opened them. You rolled over on your side groaning when your eyes were met with the bright open windows.

Wait. You sat up quickly and saw that you were in the king-sized bed that adorned the room. How did you get here? You had remembered Minseok being over and you falling asleep on the couch, but how did you get to the bed? And who put you there? You looked down at the bare skin of your arms, wondering if you would have to burn it off if you found out that Kai had touched you.

“I’m sorry, it was the only way I knew to wake you,” Kai said from behind you.

You looked over at the side of the bed that faced the window and to your relief, it seemed that he hadn’t slept in the still made side of the bed. The sun was still streaming through the windows as your eyes met Kai’s tall form that was standing nearby the window. You had to shade your eyes to properly see him. Of course the asshole looked handsome. His good looks used to faze you in the past, but thankfully, that was no more.

“Or you could have let me sleep,” you mumbled, pulling yourself out of bed.

He ignored what you said, “Minseok was the one that put you in bed last night if you were wondering.”

You felt butterflies at the mention of Minseok. You had enjoyed seeing him last night and while before you were going to try to move on from the boys, your marriage to Kai put a damper in the whole plan. Now, you would let Minseok back in – and of course Jongdae. After all, Minseok and Jongdae had a way of making you feel good and you could never forget your past now.

There were so many times they had held you and comforted you when you hadn’t asked. There were times they had saved you when you hadn’t asked. The two boys were like angels. And somehow they always seemed to know when you had hurt yourself.

The scars that littered your body were just that now. You wouldn’t need the two boys to bandage you up and stay with you to keep you from inflicting harm. But emotionally, you still could use the love that they had always shown you. You hadn’t had any friends since them as you had lost most of your friends after Hani’s death. Not that you had many before then - it was always you, Hani, and Jongin against the world.

“That was nice of him,” you said as you pulled a dress out of your suitcase that was now placed neatly by the bedside. You turned to go to the bathroom so you could shower, but Kai walking towards you stopped you.

It was almost impossible not to hiss at him as he approached you but thankfully he kept his distance. “I was thinking we could do something today?” He bit his lip nervously and stared at you with his dark eyes.

You automatically cringed away, “Why?”

That got him. He looked away from you and licked his lips before flicking his gaze back to you, “Just to have some fun, I mean this is supposed to be like a mini-vacation,” he put his hands up and shrugged.

It felt weird to you. It felt weird to go from Kai being the mean and cold-hearted person he had become, to finally leaving you alone, and now being nice. Why was he being nice? You didn’t want nice from him anymore. You didn’t need it.

Sure, Kai had fucked you up and you were weak in the past, but you had spent two years building up your strength. Just because you cried from anger and frustration didn’t mean you were any longer the weak girl you once were. You were broken in ways that wouldn’t ever be repaired, but you had also healed up.

Hani’s death still haunted you, but you tried to carry her with you in ways you knew she wanted. She never wanted your sadness and she sure as hell never wanted you to be weak. Hani protected you when you were younger and now that she wasn’t here to do that, you had to do it yourself.

Although, once again you had Minseok to help you.

Minseok had a way of making you feel like the small vulnerable girl again at times, but not necessarily in a bad way. In a he-can-protect-me-from-evil, type of way.

“I don’t think we should spend much time alone,” you said.

“Is it because you don’t trust me?” he asked, a tone of hurt glazing his voice.

You walked closer to Kai even though it made your skin crawl, “No. I don’t trust you. That’s not the point. You didn’t want me around before so why now? Because we’re married? Listen, I don’t care about that. It’s not like we can make this work and have a happily ever after. We can live in the same house but that doesn’t mean we have to be anything to each other.”

He didn’t say anything for several moments as he looked down at his feet. You walked away and towards the bathroom when Kai finally spoke up, “Minseok and Jongdae will be there,” his voice cracked.

You nodded but didn’t turn back towards him, “I’ll go for them then.”

“I never got to properly tell you since I’ve been a bit of a grump every time I’ve seen you, but I missed you, Jongdae.”

Jongdae pulled you into a tight hug, “I figured you did,” he laughed when you smacked at his back, “I missed you more than you can imagine.”

When you pulled away, you noticed Kai was looking at the two of you so you just rolled your eyes and caught up with Minseok who was leading you guys on the hike you guys were taking.

You couldn’t help but groan when you learned that it was Minseok’s idea for the hike, but he insisted that a little fresh air would be good for you.

What would be good for you would be to take a flight home, annul this marriage and pretend it never happened.

You guys had barely started the hike and you were already ready to be done with it. The weather seemed like it would be a beautiful day, but the air was thick and humid as you guys started the hiking trail.

“I hate you,” you whispered once you reached Minseok’s side.

He looked over at you with a smile, “No you don’t.”

“Okay, I don’t. But I hate you for the idea of hiking.”

He shook his head, “It’s a typical honeymoon activity, Y/N.”

That made you feel cold inside, “This isn’t a typical marriage, Minseok,” you said through gritted teeth.

With a sigh, he grabbed your hand, making everything warm up again. “I’m sorry, it’s an adjustment for us all you know.”

“You don’t have to live with him,” you said knowing that Kai could very well hear you since he and Jongdae were following you and Minseok.

He squeezed your hand, “Yes, but I have to live with the fact that you’re married,” he said his words so quietly so the two boys behind the two of you couldn’t hear.

You raised your eyebrows and felt your pulse quickening. “W-what?”

Minseok shook his head again and instead of speaking, just offered you a sad smile urging you not to ask further.

You weren’t sure what he meant by it, but butterflies erupted inside your stomach making you nervous to even be holding Minseok’s hand but you couldn’t let go. Especially when you had a habit of tripping over every damn rock on the hiking trail.

As you guys walked further, it was evident that this hiking trail was made to be romantic. There was bright foliage and colorful flowers decorating the pathway. You couldn’t keep your eyes off of the various types of plants that you had never seen before, being immersed in the details of each. You knew you would want to draw once you got back home so you took pictures of everything you could.

There were also sparkling waterfalls that cascaded from large rocks and mountains making the air crisper than it had been around the hotel. The humidity increased the further the four of you scaled, but you didn’t mind. You ignored the sweat that was dampening your skin as the sight was so beautiful.

You were at loss for words at your surroundings as you still tightly clutched onto Minseok’s hand and you further guys ascended the trail.

Holding onto Minseok, you could almost zone out Jongdae and Kai behind you. You could pretend that you were on your honeymoon with him and enjoying sightseeing alone. Stopping to take pictures of your surroundings together and sharing soft hugs and little kisses as you enjoyed the foreign land.

It was a beautiful dream but no matter how hard you imagined it and pressed your fingers into Minseok’s, you could still feel Kai’s presence behind you. You remembered that even if you didn’t want to be, you were Kai’s in a way and you wouldn’t get the chance to ever be fully with someone else.

Minseok made you feel special and you couldn’t help but be infatuated with him. But even if Minseok felt the same, which you were sure he didn’t, there was nothing the two of you could do about it.

You were bound to the asshole and you all knew it.

If you had another life, you wished you could meet with Minseok again. You wished that the two of your lives would intersect and that maybe you could be happy with him. You wished that in that life that he liked you back and maybe you could have a family together. Minseok was nothing short of your dream guy. You could only hope for another lifetime but with him.

This life, you were stuck with Kai, the man who had once been your dream guy. You shivered at the thought and held back a laugh. If only you had been smart then. If only you had known then.

You and Hani were fooled by him.

Once Hani was gone, the monster was released.

The one the two of you knew had evolved. No longer the sweet Jongin.

Sometimes you lumped Jongin and Kai as the same person because, in a literal sense, they were the same person. Although, there were many times when you saw the true difference between the two and you saw them as separate. There were times when you would grieve for Jongin almost as much as you grieved for Hani - while other times, you were angry at Jongin for not being who you thought he was.

It was as if your mind was in a constant battle.

It took a long time, but after what seemed like a two-hour hike, you guys had reached the top of the trail. It opened up onto a mountain top that was surrounded by a stunning view.

You were high up, surrounded by other mountains, a wide expansive view of the land around you. The bright green of the treetops and the earth tones of the other mountains was something that sparked your artistic mind. The horizon was breathtaking. This was something that you had always dreamed of painting.

“It’s beautiful,” you whispered to Minseok as you let go of his hand to take pictures of the view. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

He laughed lightly as he snapped a few pictures of you without your permission, but you were too caught up in taking your own pictures.

When you had finished, Jongdae held out a selfie stick with a grin, “Group picture?”

You pointed at him and laughed bitterly, “Not a chance, Jongdae.” You didn’t mind taking pictures, but what you minded was Kai being involved. You didn’t need in evidence of him ruining your life as you felt the effects every day.

“Please, Y/N,” Minseok whined in your ear, “for me.”

You put a hand on your head and groaned. You couldn’t say no to Minseok very easily. “Fine.”

Although, the second that Minseok suggested you stand by Kai, you instantly said no to him and instead, you stood by Minseok as Jongdae stood in between you and Kai and snapped a few pictures.

“Smile, Y/N or we will be here all night,” Jongdae said in a sing-song voice.

You rolled your eyes but a smile broke across your face when Minseok started to run his hands over your waist and tickle mercilessly.

“That’s my girl!” Jongdae said as he took some more pictures.

You had to admit that you enjoyed yourself on the hike, even if it took a couple hours. But you didn’t enjoy it because of Kai… or even because of Jongdae. You enjoyed it solely for Minseok and you knew that was wrong.

--->seven<---

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