#i... don't know if this has any relevance to the prompt?? whoops

[jtl07]

Hi! Welcome back! For shenanigans, any or all of the following that tickle your fancy:

Avatrice, this post:

https://www.tumblr.com/alterumsinealterononest/769889024736444416/i-just-saw-a-video-of-a-girl-scattering-tea-bags?source=share

Avatrice (or AvaLil) as astronauts accidentally stranded together for 9 extra months

Shannon x Mary enemies to lovers and they're lawyers on opposite sides of a case

oh gosh Alms you always bring the fun prompts XD i'm going with the second one though i can guarantee it ended up not where you'd expect (mostly bc i may or may not be working on a fic centered around Bea's thoughts on aikido 👀). always fun to see what you send in, i hope this is alright!

"Wait you're a black belt? You could teach me! 9 months is enough for me to get to black belt too, right?" 

The laugh that escapes Beatrice surprises both Ava and herself. Beatrice nearly covers her mouth but Ava's already wiggling, her grin stretching wide across her face. 

"C'mon Bea, we've got nothing better to do!" 

"On the contrary, we have plenty of things to do," Beatrice says, gesturing towards their checklists. 

Ava rolls her eyes, does a lazy backflip and lands against a bulkhead. "Don't tell me you haven't been curious about how it'd feel to do that kinda stuff in space." 

Beatrice knows they're talking about martial arts - they'd been talking about Ava's many hobbies and somehow, as conversations with Ava now usually go, Beatrice had ended up sharing about herself as well - but the suggestive way Ava waggles her eyebrows makes Beatrice blush. 

"It isn't relevant the mission," is all Beatrice says, ignoring the heat in her cheeks. 

Ava, thankfully, also ignores it. "You never know, Bea: what if we run into evil space aliens and we have to fight them off when they infiltrate the ship?"

Beatrice rolls her eyes. "You've watched too many sci-fi movies." 

"No such thing as too many. So, are you ready?"

Beatrice's brow furrows. "Ready for -"

"Here I come!"

It's instinct that takes over Beatrice's body, has her hands moving, her hips turning - Ava shrieking as she tumbles to the far side of the open space. It's instinct again that fixes Beatrice in place, replaying her technique, taking it apart, finding places to critique - 

"That was amazing!"

If the gravity was on, Beatrice is sure Ava would be bouncing literally off the walls. Here in zero gravity, however, Ava's settled for wildly waving her arms and legs to express her excitement. She looks silly, so free, so joyous. Beatrice can't help but laugh and let herself feel the same. 

"What was that called?" Ava asks - and Beatrice wonders how a person can grin so wide, so much. 

Beatrice shrugs. "Koshi-guruma, it's a judo technique that -"

"Aw, but I want to see aikido! Please, Bea?" 

Beatrice opens her mouth but finds herself unable to speak. It's bewildering, having someone so eager to share in something irrelevant; in something she loves. Has found herself bewildered countless times, now, because of Ava. 

She shakes her head, feels her body already shifting to respond. She's learned enough - from martial arts, from the dogged determination of Ava's smile - to know when resistance is futile. 

"Fine," Beatrice sighs, ignores the way her mouth wants to curve up to match Ava's expression. "Fine." 

Ava whoops as she drifts back towards the bulkhead, uses it to launch herself at Beatrice once again. Beatrice is ready this time, and her mind splits like it does when it's calm like this: one part executing movements written now into her bones, the other part watching from the outside-in.

It's with that part of her mind that Beatrice thinks how it's not that different without gravity, even without the gi. How her hands still know how to lead, how her hips are still free to shift and twist and redirect. But here, there is no weight - of expectation, of perfection - no need to go through the technique too quickly. There's time: to feel her body moving, to hear Ava's surprised gasps, to take what she knows and make it into something new. 

She lets her body and mind still once Ava is out of her arms, watches her tumble harmlessly through the air. (And that too is different, a relief to know that here, they're both safe.)

"The fuck - did you just clothesline me?" Ava's squawk is more in delight than affront. 

Beatrice tilts her head, thinks back on the technique and laughs. "I suppose I did," she admits. 

"Damn I didn't know aikido had some WWE type of shit," Ava says, floating back up to Beatrice. 

"Well, there is some overlap, actually. Many of the joint locks for example -" 

"Okay wait, we're gonna have to make a list now of everything you need to teach me."

Beatrice raises an eyebrow. "You? Make a list? The thing you said was for 70-year-old grandmas?" 

Ava rolls her eyes - Beatrice notes the light flush creeping up her neck. "I can be organized! Anyway, I wanna learn that one - what's it called?" 

"Irimi nage," Beatrice answers - and this is instinctive, now, though new: the way she feels herself respond to Ava's eager questioning. From somewhere outside of herself, she can see the way it's different with Ava, the way she's different; the way everything is easy and weightless. 

And as she watches their hands fit together, Beatrice thinks how 9 months may not be enough. So this is what it feels like, she thinks as she watches Ava tumble through the air, listens to her laughter, feels her own heart stumble and soar: this is what it feels like to want more.

[queenofbaws]

! Pride Month Challenge 2024 !

Well hi there, everyone! With May winding down to a close and June just around the corner, it's about that time again...the time where @jadedsunshine, @unicornaffair, and I host our yearly create-a-thon! 🥳

What's the Pride Month Challenge, you might find yourself asking? Well, this year it's a little bingo game we've put together, featuring some classic tropes. The aim of this particular game? Make something!!! Anything! Just get those creative juices a-flowin' and see if you can snag a B-I-N-G-O along the way!

This challenge is open to everyone and anyone who wants to take part, whether you know the three of us or not! We're going to be using the tag #pridemonthchallenge2024 for the stuff we create, so if you decide to join in on the fun and games, feel free to stick that tag on whatever you make, too! If you're interested in more details, you can check below the cut or reach out and ask ;)c

Either way, happy almost-pride, and happy creating!!!

I don't write fic - can I still participate?

Ab. So. Lutely!!! We've done this challenge for a few years now (we've missed a year or two for weddings and other life stuff, whoops!), but in the past we've had people doodle, sketch, draw, make edits, create props or other physical art, and even curate playlists! The three of us are writers, so you're very likely to see fic or ficlets from us...but you? Oh. Oh, you can do whatever your heart desires!!!

Are there word limits/expectations for a finished product?

NO!!! :D Zero. Literally zero expectations. We aren't putting together an exchange, we aren't holding a competition, we're just trying to get the spirit of creation in the air. That's it! So whether you're writing 50 words or 5,000, whether you've made a rough sketch on a notebook page or fully lined/colored a scene, you're good! You're so good. As long as you've made something, you've earned a stamp on that bingo card, baby!!!

What if I don't want to do something fandom-y? Can it be OCs/original work?

OF COURSE!!! 100%. You don't even have to ask!!! Show the world your OCs! Tell the world about your story's worldbuilding! It's all fair game :)

What if I don't want to post what I made?

Don't sweat it! Again, this is...the farthest thing from official. This is for fun, and this is for the sake of making something. Sharing your work can be nerve-wracking - don't feel like you have to! We'd love to see you playing along with us, of course, but as long as you've made something that you're proud of, you've earned that stamp! No ifs, ands, or buts!

Is it cool if my creations aren't necessarily pride-themed?

Totally! We host this challenge during pride month because (1) it traditionally works better for the three of us than NaNoWriMo because of our schedules, and (2) we're queer creators ourselves! But if you're feeling a prompt and can't find a way to make it relevant to pride, PLEASE don't sweat it! As I've been known to say (and then get laughed at for saying), this challenge is no rules, just right, Outback Steakhouse :P

Let's say I get a bingo...what do I win?

:) Nothing. <3

Wait, really?

:) Really <3 Hehehe, in all seriousness, this challenge has been a fun way for us to sit down, take our minds off of life and our bigger projects and just...make some fun stuff! In our humble opinion(s), being able to point at a finished piece and say "I did that! I made that!" is its own kind of reward. The bingo board itself is really more for bragging rights ;)c Which, of course, we encourage wholeheartedly. Nothing wrong with a little bragging!!!

We hope to have you along for our month-long adventure! Again, we're going to be using the tag #pridemonthchallenge2024 for our own stuff, so if you'd like to use that tag - or tag any of us!!! - in whatever you end up creating, feel free!!! We love seeing what everyone comes up with, and this challenge is always so much more fun, knowing other people are taking part! <3 Hope to see you along for the ride!

*The bingo board was made by the lovely @jadedsunshine 🥰

[electrasev5nwrites]

Ninja Daily: AIC 20

By the second day that she dropped by to see Naruto during training, Jiraiya had pretty well given up on coaxing her into a bathing suit. He was sulking on the other edge of the pool, occasionally giggling over whatever he was trying to write. Also at Naruto's failures, he liked laughing at the little irritated screech Naruto made when he fell in the pool. The onsen had been cleaner, but it had only taken Jiraiya a day to get thrown out.

Aiko kept one eye on Naruto and one turned to the surroundings. She'd felt watched all day, in a way that couldn't be attributed to Jiraiya's wandering eyes.

'I'd say Konoha, but I can sense that team. So they're not the ones giving me the creeps. Unless it's a different Konoha interest- Danzo? But why would he care about me?'

"I heard some interesting news this morning."

Aiko glanced over. "Oh?"

Jiraiya looked uncharacteristically serious. "Kirigakure announced they have a new Mizukage." He met her eyes. "I don't suppose you know anything about that?"

Oh. She gave an enormous stretch, feeling the skin on the back of her neck prickle. After a moment she decided, "That's very surprising."

He looked unconvinced, surprisingly enough. "Is it?"

For other people, probably.

"Very." Aiko couldn't contain a yawn. "Politics are so interesting. I wonder if this change will affect my life?"

"Ha!" Naruto splashed over, apparently unconcerned with the fact that he was sopping wet. "Maybe you should be the Mizukage! That way, when I'm Hokage, we can be friends." He cheerfully climbed back onto the edge, gave a whoop, and flung himself back into the water. She wasn't entirely certain he'd even tried to water-walk that time.

Aiko let the water hit her, because what the hell. It was a hot day and she liked water just fine.

Naruto was half-wincing, watching for her reaction to being drenched.

She peeled her hair away from her face and gave him just enough of a smile that he would know she wasn't angry. "Actually, I am the new Mizukage. Are we already friends?"

Jiraiya made an irritated sound and lowered the arm he'd used to keep the wave of water off of his face. "Stop messing around."

"Yeah, yeah." Naruto gave the Sannin an unimpressed look. "It could happen. I'm definitely going to be Hokage, you know!"

"I know," Aiko agreed. She leaned back against the side of the pool. "You should master water-walking first, though. I'm pretty sure that Mizukage's friends should know water-walking."

He blew a raspberry at her, but he didn't disagree.

"If I can do water-walking for hours, how much chakra do you think it takes?" Aiko prompted

Naruto hesitated. "Do you have a lot of chakra?" he asked.

She shrugged. "So-so." That wasn't true, but her chakra reserves weren't that relevant. And compared to Naruto, everyone was so-so at best, really. Comparing himself to other people was functionally useless in most cases.

It took him a minute to come up with a better question, face scrunched in thought. "Could many people do that?"

Aiko nodded. "Pretty much any shinobi in Kirigakure, including many genin."

"Oh." Naruto sat on the edge and kicked at the water. "I guess that water-walking doesn't need to use a lot of chakra."

She nodded again. "Good, that's one possibility. It's not quite right, though."

There was silence while he mulled that over. Aiko waited patiently, closing her eyes and leaning her head back. The wind was pulling at the short hairs on her neck. It tickled.

"I don't know what you mean." Naruto sounded sullen.

"The key phrase is 'doesn'tneed to use a lot,'" Aiko explained. "It's more like, 'walking on water has to use…" she trailed off.

He jumped in quickly this time. "It has to use a little?"

"Right." She peeled her eyes open to give him an approving look. "That's exactly right. What counts as a 'little' chakra varies from person to person, so you'll have to figure out the rate that works for you. But until you manage to hit the right amount, it's a good bet that you're using too much. Start from there."

"Oh." Naruto sounded dejected. "That's…" He inhaled. "That's great! I can do that! Just watch, Hikari-san!"

"Of course."

He went back to his more timid approach, face screwed up in concentration and repeatedly jabbing a foot into the water from the rim. Aiko watched for a minute, and then turned her head to Jiraiya. "It's still rude to stare. In case you were wondering."

"I'll keep that in mind for future reference." Jiraiya scratched at his chin. "You… you like kids, then?"

She thought she might know where this was going, so Aiko raised an eyebrow and let her gaze go back to Naruto. True to his word, he seemed very industrious and conscious of being observed. "Not enough to have one of my own."

'Conventional wisdom says that I should, to be jinchuuriki after me, if nothing else. But I could have a dozen kids and no guarantee that any of them would want that. I need to find another solution. If Sanbi doesn't totally freak out and start killing people when I die, I'd say he should just be left alone to do whatever the hell he wants. But even if Mist respected my wishes in that, no one else would.'

"I can hear you thinking about what to do with me," Sanbi said dryly.

"What?" Jiraiya's eyes widened. "I mean- because of your work, right? Now isn't a good time?"

'Oh, sorry,' Aiko thought back snidely. 'I'll just do my villainous plotting in that other headspace I have.'

Aiko snorted belatedly when she caught up with what Jiraiya had said aloud. He was right on that- the Mizukage did not have a lot of time to spare. "That too," she said. "I'm working on my career right now. But also in the general sense."

"There is no call for such attitude," the Sanbi said primly.

He gave her an odd look. "Doesn't everybody want kids?"

"Clearly not." She raised an eyebrow. "I thought you didn't have any," she prodded.

'Having an attitude is always appropriate.'

The wink that Jiraiya gave her was so lascivious that he had to be hiding something unpleasant. "Whose to say I don't? I've loved many women, after all."

"No need to brag," Aiko said mildly. "I have too."

Sanbi snorted. "I have only seen you cavort with that foolish Konoha warrior."

'I've cavorted before, Sanbi dear. And would you let that go? Yes, I get it, he's kind of a douche. I'm done with him.'

"What?" The sannin blinked. "Oh…." Jiraiya's shoulders slumped. "That explains why you're immune to my charms, then." His tone was sorrowful. "It's just not to be, is it?"

She choked down a laugh. "We're star-crossed," Aiko agreed as solemnly as she could manage. "Another time, another place, if you weren't quite so hairy…" She trailed off. 'If you weren't my godfather in another universe, if you weren't so much older than me, if I was attracted to you.'

He gave her a wounded look, and then brightened. "I'm incredibly manly, you mean?"

"Exactly what I meant." She slapped her left foot against the surface of the water to make a splash. He sputtered in indignation, but she was already getting up. "I should get back to my students. Good luck, Naruto. I'll look forward to seeing your progress tomorrow."

Said students were going back to regular training, although they hadn't realized it yet. Thinking that they might have to fight for their lives in the tournament and subsequent invasion was enough to really light a fire under their asses in terms of work ethic.

Aiko almost felt a little bad about it.

'But what's the alternative?' she asked herself. 'If I could teach it to him in time, and if he could perform it quickly enough, Sen Tsurara might be enough for Yuusaku to survive Gaara. But he's not going to get it in time.'

Besides.

Why the fuck would she let her genin participate in the invasion of Konoha? It wasn't their city to defend. Aiko would be perfectly fine, but the invaders would not count many genin among their numbers, so her team would be facing a disadvantage. She wasn't going to risk her people against Orochimaru's forces.

'Of course, Konoha would probably prefer every able body helping them out, but I've noted before that it sucks to suck. They're just going to have to deal.'

"Sensei is being weird again. See the faces she's making? I wonder wha-"

Aiko threw her pen at Ryuusei without looking up. She was rewarded with a yelp. "What's that?" she asked.

"I said-"

"You'd like more practice running in the trees?" Aiko held up a hand for her pen. The return toss was mediocre, but she caught it anyway. "How industrious, Ryuusei-kun. Please, go ahead."

He groaned, but he began cleaning up his equipment.

Placidly, she looked at his teammates. Yuusaku was frowning slightly, Keisuke smirking.

After a moment, Yuusaku sighed. "Oh, damn," he said quietly. He raised his voice. "Wait a minute, we're going to try that race again."

"We're what." Keisuke crossed his arms.

"We're going to race in the trees," Yuusaku repeated. He dropped the water he was manipulating and walked over to his reluctant teammate. "We wouldn't leave Ryuusei to have that much fun by himself, would you?"

"Yes," Keisuke hissed. He gave both of his teammates a beady, resentful stare. But he began yanking his senbon out of the target and putting them away.

Aww. Aiko gave Yuusaku a nod of approval. The little bastards were learning. "How long did that take you last time?"

Keisuke gave his taller teammate an aggrieved look. "One hundred and Forty minutes."

"Oh." Aiko blinked. That… actually, that wasn't completely terrible for a village circuit by genin. Maybe she'd make runners out of them yet. "Good. And what will you do afterward?"

They blinked at her.

She waited.

Ryuusei sucked a breath in through his teeth. "I think I should do those strength exercises again," he suggested slowly. "It's been two days." He looked to Yuusaku.

"Ah." Yuusaku ran a hand through his hair, leaving it to stick up like a bird's plumage. "Taijutsu forms? Or- actually, I could use some strength training too."

"I'm already far too powerful," Keisuke said loftily. "I should see if I can replicate that trap you showed us last time."

Aiko pursed her lips. "You're doing strength training tomorrow, I think. Don't worry, your sheer power isn't intimidating the rest of us quite yet. But all that sounds good- Yuusaku, your first instinct was good. Go with the forms." She stood, giving a stretch. "We're going to do a team training exercise the first thing tomorrow morning- you three against me. So I'm leaving tonight up to your discretion: do what you think will prepare you for that. Understood?"

They nodded, so she felt free to head out.

She hadn't had a chance to check out movie showing times yet, after all. It was better to go a bit early and be sure she wouldn't miss the start time. Aiko took a minute to look around when she'd found the right street- it wasn't quite busy yet, but it would be soon.

'If I were the one staking this location out…' She worried at her lower lip. 'That coffeeshop is a good vantage point and reason to hang around for quite some time. Or that window up there- it looks like a vacant apartment.'

Well. Maybe she'd see where he came from. She had to take the bait first. Aiko firmed up her shoulders and walked over to the ticket booth to check the times. The woman behind the counter was a knock-out, but she had the kind of severely unimpressed look that didn't usually help a person in customer service.

That sort of bad attitude was actually more attractive, so Aiko had to consciously keep interest off her face. "Good afternoon," she greeted. "I was wondering about showings for the Princess Fuu movie tonight?"

"I was wondering when you would deign to show up," the ticket woman said back. "A moment, please." She began to pull something up on the machine.

"Alright," Aiko agreed. She blinked. "Wait. What?"

She got an unimpressed look back, one perfectly shaped eyebrow lifted. Good lord, those eyelashes were to die for-

Wait a minute.

Inside the lobby, a graying manager noticed Aiko with a start.

"Sorry about being a little slow. I'm a new hire," Obito said blandly. "Temp work. The usual girl is sick." He leaned back, apparently absorbed in whatever he was doing. "The first showing is at 5:45, the second at 7:20, but if you'd like the final one it's at 9:40 for a special price, just today."

Aiko gave him an incredulous look. "Oh my god." She paused, realizing something. "What did you do to that poor woman?"

The manager was walking closer. What a good dude. What exactly did he think he would do if a foreign shinobi was harassing one of his employees, though?

The black-haired beauty that Obito appeared to be gave the sort of fluttery "oh, it's nothing," gesture that Aiko would expect from Ino. "She'll feel better tomorrow," he said lightly.

'I'm not dealing with this. Any of this.'

She folded her arms and leaned back, trying to look more bored than aggressive or dangerous. "Thank you," she said, loudly enough for Obito's manager to hear. "The last showing sounds fine. I think I'm going to go rest for a bit, first."

"That will be 1300 yen." Obito said, disinterested. He did something to his machine and it began to make some awful noise. "And I see. All the way home?"

"A friend's house." Aiko took the ticket he offered. "It's a nice place, with an herb garden in the back."

He had a lot of safehouses, but only one had a terrible tangle of overgrown lavender where the porch had been, once upon a time. Honestly. That man needed to hire some caretakers.

"That sounds lovely." Obito gave her a vaguely queasy smile, tone polite and distant. "Thank you for your patronage."

"Of course." She glanced at the ticket before she put it in her purse- it was actually for the 7:20 showing. Well, of course, there was no 9:40 showing. He was probably saying he'd be there at 9:40 at the latest.

As soon as she was far enough away, Aiko ducked into an alley and hiraishin'd to the safehouse she'd chosen. She eyed the front door cautiously- he had so many that he probably wouldn't have been able to guess which one she would choose as a private rendezvous point, but he did know how she thought.

Rather than risking an entry, she took a minute to wish she was a sensor. Obito wouldn't have many allies to ambush her with, but there was always Zetsu. Maybe Kisame-

'I think I would know if Kisame was lurking around.' She nibbled at her fingernails. 'His chakra is unreal.'

Obito didn't show up within half an hour, which was bordering on rude. Was he really going to stick to that time?

'I don't have all night. And I don't have to play by his rules,' Aiko decided. She was considering leaving a note when the front door swung open.

Obito walked out, bare of any henge. "I apologize." He looked directly at her, and Aiko had to work not to wince at seeing the one sharingan in his face. Ah. Just one… Well, there wasn't the Danzo surplus kicking around just yet. He must have taken it from his counterpart.

He was still talking. "I took the liberty of a shower. I thought that the popcorn aroma would be distracting."

Fair enough, actually. "It clings," Aiko agreed. She blinked quickly, as if that would get rid of the hairline cracks in her vision or the fact that he was the reason she was going blind. She didn't take a step closer, but she didn't move backwards either. He stopped about ten feet away.

It didn't mean anything except as a gesture. The distance was nothing to either of them.

"What do you want?" Aiko asked. It was blunt, but…

He gave her a reproachful look, but didn't scold. "We have an aligned interest. I would like some measure of coordination so that we aren't working against each other."

She raised an eyebrow. She thought she knew what he meant, but…

"Akatsuki is a beast that I unleashed on this world as much as ours," Obito said. The skin around his eye was swollen, red, and shiny. Still? When had he taken the eye? "I… I've lost the taste for revenge. And you have a very personal interest in stopping a threat that the rest of the world doesn't know to look for yet."

What, Naru-

Oh.

'I keep forgetting I'm a jinchuuriki now. That's… so weird.'

"Akatsuki is formidable." Obito showed his palms slightly. "I wouldn't trust my strength against any two of them, but they will surely react to outside attacks. Dismantling the entire organization will take more than one person, more than one set of resources. And there are at least two in their number who I think that you do not want to face alone."

Two? Which two would he mean? Konan had been a difficult opponent in past, but Aiko would probably do better in that match-up now than she had before. She thought for a moment. "Pein and Itachi?"

Obito gave her a pitying look. "Itachi-kun's legend is exaggerated. I was thinking of Hidan."

Aiko scrunched up her face. She didn't know much about him… He had a foul mouth, he'd somehow mortally offended Sasuke through persistent survival, he was a close-quarters specialist….

He was clearly watching her thought process. "If Hidan manages to touch you, no amount of distance fled would save you."

Well. That was a pretty big clue. And ominous as hell.

'My survival strategy is pretty dependent on fleeing if things go badly. I don't like how that sounds.'

"My plan so far was just to kill people as they became annoying," Aiko said. That was the general life plan, really, she hadn't bothered to come up with a plan for Akatsuki at all yet.

Obito hummed. "So, Kisame and Itachi, then?"

What? Oh. "They come and put Kakashi in the hospital soon, don't they," Aiko remembered. "And then Jiraiya rebuffs them from taking Naruto." She frowned. Well. Kakashi's hospitalization was fucking terrible and he didn't deserve that. But it was important as a reason to coax Tsunade to return to Konoha. And Jiraiya would keep Naruto safe….

"Are you willing to trust that?" Obito sounded disbelieving. "This isn't our world, Aiko. Is everything here the same as it was before?"

Sakura.

Her expression might have been enough information, because he nodded. "Right. You'd better do something, then. I'll help if you want. I don't think you would do well against Itachi and Kisame together."

Aiko winced. She didn't think that would end well, either. And now that she was a jinchuuriki, she was risking worse than a sticky end.

But…

'I don't trust Obito at my back. I'd rather face hard odds than backup I can't trust.'

"It's hard to imagine how you could help, if Jiraiya really is nearby," Aiko deflected. "Unless you want to make yourself known to Konoha?" She didn't let her bitterness color her tone. Much. "They'll welcome you back with open arms. They'll be confused, but you were never a criminal until years from now. And I don't imagine you have a living counterpart here who could ever contradict your right to the welcome."

Obito made an ugly snort. "Aside from how that would limit my options and end with Bakashi plastered insufferably to my heels apologizing to me for the rest of my life, it sounds like an excellent idea. I'll consider it if becoming useless and miserable ever looks like a valid tactic."

Ah, yes. Kakashi's devotion to Obito was depressing and horrific, but when viewed from the lens of the irritation it provided Obito, it was actually pretty funny.

'I hope that he's telling the truth about his intentions there. Konoha doesn't need to take in that kind of danger. Would they find out about everything he's done, or just treat him as a victim? Either way, he's the kind of ally you don't want too close. He murdered his teacher- that wasn't mind control, it was just anger and manipulation. Anyone who is capable of that can't be trusted not to change their mind again.'

"Your loss." Aiko shrugged. "Maybe you can go off Orochimaru and take over his village, then. Get some resources for your fight against the Akatsuki."

"Because my previous attempts at village administration went very well," Obito said dryly.

She didn't bother to respond to that, because she didn't buy it. He'd been the shadow ruler of Ame for a very long time. Yes, he'd brutalized Kirigakure, but it hadn't been out of incompetence. It had been because he wanted to, or more likely, because it served one of his agendas somehow.

"What do you want?" Aiko repeated. She took a step back.

"I'll keep an eye out," Obito said instead of answering. He closed his eye, shiny and painful-looking. "I won't butt in, since you clearly don't want me to." Was the eye infected? "A tip, since you seem concerned about Itachi- the Sharingan can't catch the Rinnegan in an illusion. Itachi relies far too heavily on those. He won't make the mistake twice, however, so use it well."

She pressed her lips together to keep from asking a stupid question.

'If it's true that the Rinnegan is stronger than the Sharingan, he just handed me a weapon against himself. He's bright enough to know that. Why would he do that? Is it a goodwill gesture, a lie- or is he somehow an exception?'

Obito seemed to take the silence as a hint that the conversation was over, because he sighed. "I don't want to be your enemy, Aiko. I think we've both got better shit to do."

'And I've kicked your ass before,' Aiko thought pettily. She had the brains not to say it out loud, at least. Obito might take that as a challenge. And she wouldn't be able to trick him in the same way again, regardless.

She honestly didn't know who would win in a death-match between the two of them, and she didn't like her odds well enough to press the matter. So she opted for the minimum levels of diplomacy.

"We both do," she agreed. "I'm not holding many grudges anymore. What's the point- I hurt you just as much, and our whole damn world is gone." Aiko had to swallow. "What happened there isn't relevant here."

Tentatively, he smiled, and it hurt something in her chest.

"But the person who hurt Kirigakure in this world was another version of you," Aiko continued. Her mouth was dry. "I would feel more comfortable if you stayed out of my country. When you need to contact me, you can send me a letter. I'll get a post box and give you the information. If it's urgent-" she slipped a hand into her holster and froze.

Because Obito had moved for his own weapon.

She met his single eye and pulled out the blade with pointed slowness. She moved her grip to the sharp edge and used her left hand to put a seal on the handle. Aiko managed a bitter smile as she extended it to him like that. She raised her eyebrows.

"Of course." Obito said stiffly. He looked a little ashamed. "That seems fair enough. I won't interfere with Kirigakure, under your protection as it is." Her weapon looked like a toy in his grip, sized as it was for a woman's hand. He was a bulky monster of a man, besides. The contrast was ungainly.

Aiko looked away.

Obito cleared his throat. "In the interest of full disclosure, I was watching in Kirigakure," he said. "Using that Konoha nin… it's helpful, but risky for anything important."

"I'm well aware," Aiko said, voice tight.

"Right." He sighed. "It's just that…. shouldn't you be able to use Mokuton too? Along with stone, so really, the reconstruction should be going faster."

She blinked and turned to look at him for clarification, but he was gone. Which…

"That's a good point," Aiko said, personally offended. "Fuck."

Sanbi cackled. "I was waiting for you to figure that out."

Aiko hissed, straight-up hissed. Because what other response to that could there be?

"So grumpy," Sanbi chided mockingly. "Why must you always look for a fight?"

"You're no prince of peace yourself," Aiko said grudgingly. She uncurled the hand that had made a fist at some point. She moved to her office in Kirigakure.

"On the contrary, I am extending an olive branch." Sanbi's tone was confident, but there was something about it that made her ears prick up. Something that made her think he wasn't as unaffected as he wanted to convey. "For the good work of restoring housing and structure to those who I was used to harm, I would share my chakra with you."

The door to her office swung open and the chuunin secretary was saying something, but Aiko couldn't hear it over the pounding in her head.

"The mokuton child is acceptably skilled, but has no stamina at all," Sanbi critiqued. "He must stop every hour or so for a rest, amounting to perhaps 6 hours of actual mokuton production over the course of a day. With your ability and my reserves, we can accomplish much more."

"sorry, I'll just-"

"Bring me the bridge-builder," Aiko said. Then she realized how rude she was being. She blinked and turned to actually look at her nominal assistant. "I'm sorry, I was distracted. I would like to speak with Tazuna. I can go to him, actually. Where is he?"

The man's expression was carefully diplomatic. "I believe he can be found discussing details of his plan with a representative in the third meeting room."

Aiko gave him a sideways look. "From your expression, it's not going well," she stated.

He opened his mouth. He closed it again. He sighed.

"Alright, then," Aiko muttered. "Excuse me." She pushed out of the room and left her assistant standing awkwardly a moment, before he hurried behind her.

She would have found Tazuna by following the drunken bellowing, even if she hadn't remembered how to find the room. She had to smile.

"shoved so far up your ass-"

The chuunin sighed again.

"Ask for an expert, asked by a family friend, on the Mizukage's orders, but he can't come tell me himself that-"

Something shattered.

"What's the point? Why ask for the best if what you want is so shoddy and-"

"He's lively, isn't he?" Aiko said cheerily.

Her secretary gave her an incredulous look.

'What was his name again?' Aiko wondered. 'Damn. I need to find these things out. I need to develop personal relations with my staff, as well.'

She managed a smile. "Come on, then. Let's calm him down." She knocked on the door, but no one seemed to hear over the argument inside. So Aiko just pushed it open and stepped inside.

It took a moment for her to be noticed. Tazuna's face was bright red with indignation and drink, but the dark-skinned young man who had been trying to placate him was calm-faced.

"Tazuna-san," Aiko greeted warmly.

Tazuna blinked. He gave her an up and down. Then his expression brightened. "Hikari-chan! Come tell these people that they need to let the architect make the decisions about what to build."

"Mizukage-sama, the purpose of hiring civilian contractors to repair the dock was to enable our people to get back to work with haste," the shinobi said calmly. He bowed to her. "I do not believe that constructing-" his eyes darted to Tazuna "-the finest harbor in the world, at a completely different location from our current harbor, is the most expedient course of action. One might even say it could be somewhat time-consuming."

'I want to promote him, just for saying that with a straight face.'

"The money and prestige that it will bring in the long run are worth more than any of that," Tazuna rebutted fiercely. "If you want someone to put plywood patches over your current mess so that you can tie up a damn canoe, well, you're going to have to find another architect-"

Aiko rubbed at her temples, because, ah. Perhaps she should have predicted that Tazuna's ambitions would not be satisfied with smaller projects after his great success in Wave. "Tazuna-san," she interrupted. "Let me see your plans. Perhaps we can come to an arrangement."

He frowned slightly. "Do you have the authority?" Tazuna asked. "Because I've been trying to go to the top to argue my case. Everyone is either disagreeing or saying they don't have the authority to approve the plans." He was already unrolling his drafts on the table.

Aiko stepped in close and tried to remember enough local geography to understand what she was looking at. She had to use the Rinnegan to read it in the poor lighting.

There was the old harbor location on the west of the island, sheltered between Kirigakure proper and the island that sat between it and the mainland. The proposed harbor had been moved north, to a natural insweep of the islands curvature that was less drastic but much larger than the original location.

"I think I can make it happen," Aiko answered belatedly. "Tazuna-san, what is this?"

He beamed. "We want what's called a floating dock," Tazuna explained. "That's a way of protecting boats at harbor from storms and changing tides. You control the water-tight entry point, here, so that the water level is always equal to that of high tide. It allows more and bigger ships to take to the harbor." He traced the line with a finger, callous rasping against the page. "It'd be good policy to leave the gates open at high tide so ships can come and go quickly, but at other times this place here, the entry point-" he stabbed the paper with a finger. "It's called a lock. The ship leaving enters it and the water proof gates are closed behind it. Then the water level inside the lock is drained to equal that outside. You open the outer gate, and the ship can leave safely at a lower elevation than that of the harbor. The process is reversed to enter."

Aiko frowned, because the problem there was obvious. "Wouldn't that drain the water in the harbor?" She tapped the paper. "With one ship, it wouldn't be drastic, but it would add up, I'd think."

Tazuna beamed down at her and ruffled her hair.

Aiko stood stock-still in shock.

"Not bad," he said cheerily. "And that brings us back to this here." He indicated the construction she'd originally asked about. "It's a reservoir that you open to the outside at high tide to fill it as well. When water is lost from the lock, you open this mechanism here-"

She leaned in closer to see, as if the notations would suddenly make sense to her.

"And then you replace an equivalent amount of water from the reservoir into the harbor, which keeps the levels at the same height." Tazuna sounded exceedingly pleased with himself. "It's a neat little system, don't you think?"

Aiko thought it over for a while, until the silence stretched out to be uncomfortable. "I do like it," she decided. "But it creates logistical problems- I assume you've made sure that these waters are safe for ships, especially ones with deeper bellies that you would want to come here, but I'd still like to be certain. And the fishing industry will have support buildings and things located by the old location. New ones would have to be constructed, or else the industry would be crippled by a new need for transport and the increased time delay in getting the fish processed would reduce quality and safety."

Tazuna made a 'well, that's fair but I don't like it' sort of face.

She pursed her lips. "This area here- what is it being used for?" She glanced at the sassy man of indeterminate rank and qualifications. "Is it housing, farmland…" She trailed off.

"I'm not certain," he admitted. "But I can find out."

"I like your attitude." Aiko nodded. "Please do." As the man bowed his way out of the room, she looked back at Tazuna. He was frowning slightly, but more out of confusion than displeasure. "There's also this area," she said thoughtfully, indicating the outer arm of the harbor that would shelter from the sea. "You've made it fairly narrow here in the plan, just enough to tie up the boats and form the harbor. But if we're going to do this, we might as well significantly broaden it. It could be used as a center for warehouses for trade, and for processing some of the food on location. This arm of the harbor could be a walkaround- it's not safe to try to use the lock that way, right?"

"Definitely not," Tazuna agreed, surprised. "The rest is good, though. But aren't these people concerned about the time and materials?"

Aiko pursed her lips at the way he said 'these people'. But the fight wasn't worth it at the moment- it wasn't an intentional slight. "I can approve it," she said. "And I think that we'll all be pleasantly surprised with the time frame. Is there anything that could be built today, if you could just wish it into being?" she asked. "Or do you need to go back to the plans and make major adjustments to change the size of this?"

Tazuna scoffed. "You mean well, lass, but there's always something to do." He was beginning to grin. "If I could just wish and have it be done, I'd say that we could begin installing the outer line of the harbor. It should be done first to protect the latter work from tides and weather. The skilled work, like the gates and reservoir and drainage- that'll come at the end. Well, actually, the end will be outfitting with places to tie up ships," he corrected.

"Alright." Aiko leaned back, feeling interested and excited about having a project. "Let's go make the magic happen, then."

"My crew is repairing some footbridge that collapsed," Tazuna rejected good-naturedly. "Today isn't good, girlie."

She patted his shoulder. "It's fine," Aiko said, with confidence that felt like it was coming more from the Sanbi than her own lack of experience with large-scale stone work. "Just tell me where to start- solid stone is fine for material, right?"

Tazuna gave her a long look. He reached for the flask at his hip. "I suppose so," he said, more wary than pleased. "If you can manage that. Is this some of that ninja nonsense?"

"It's ninja nonsense," Aiko confirmed pleasantly. "I have some small skill with stonework. I believe I can provide the majority of the materials and do the vast majority of the construction, leaving the skilled work to you and yours."

As they were walking out, the secretary still on their heels, the man assigned to Tazuna caught up with them. "Yes?" Aiko asked.

"Mizukage-sama," he greeted.

Tazuna startled and hid it very poorly.

"I've pulled the most recent map from archives. There are two residences within the immediate area, but it's not very high quality land for farming, so it's mostly left to nature."

Aiko frowned. "What's wrong with it?"

"Ano…" He flipped a paper, reading as he walked. "I believe it's a mixture of a sandy, rocky soil and an uneven terrain." He cast a sideways glance at her, under blonde eyelashes. "An earth ninjutsu user of your caliber could adjust the terrain to allow for roads and building development easily enough, if I might offer a suggestion."

She sighed. "That sounds reasonable. Who would be qualified to come up with a design for that plan?"

He swallowed. "I don't know," he said in the same tone as earlier. "But I would be pleased to find out."

Aiko gave him an odd look, because he was a suspiciously good employee. "What's your name?"

"Sakurai, Mizukage-sama."

"Alright." She sighed. "It's your job now, Sakurai-san. We'll want to get on it quickly- schedule yourself a meeting with someone who will know what the fishing industry will need, make projections, then talk to a contractor for ideas. Make a preliminary sketch, and take that expert out to get it approved. Once it's approved, put it on my desk."

Sakurai gave her a deeply offended look, but he nodded. "Yes, Mizukage-sama." He drifted back to walk behind her, along with the chuunin whose name she had known at one point. Yama-something?

Tazuna watched her new city development official go with a bemused expression. He leaned into Aiko and said in what he must have thought was a whisper, "Why does that ninny think you're the Mizukage?"

Aiko leaned back, covering her mouth with a hand conspiratorially. "Because I am. Weird, right?"

The old man nodded. "Strange." His wrinkles deepened. "Very strange. How is…" He trailed off. "How do you like your new job?"

"Um. It's good," Aiko said cautiously. "I'm settling in, you know, and just keeping busy."

"Right, right." He nodded. "That's… good."

They managed to exchange mutually uncomfortable smiles. They were probably both relieved to arrive at the site, which took an excruciating half an hour at Tazuna's pace.

Sanbi was stirring in her chest, picking up the pace and force of her heart. She tapped her fingers against her thigh and carefully listened to Tazuna's instructions about how to begin, but she was itching to start.

He seemed to realize that. "Just… Start here, aim for a wall from the seafloor to about 2 meters above the water level right now," Tazuna said. "You can always make it broader, right?" When Aiko nodded, he scratched at his head. "Alright, then. Try for about 2 meters in width, then, and we'll see how it looks."

She stepped out into the water and looked down. She couldn't actually see the seafloor- the water wasn't clear enough. But when she reached out, she could feel the water moving, ready for her to grasp, and below it- sand, useless land, she couldn't do anything with that- and below the sand was good, hard rock. Once she had the feeling of it, she closed her eyes.

Aiko began to pull on that feeling, putting her fingers into a seal she didn't even know, what was it, sanbi?

"Not me," he replied. "Rinnegan. Someone has done this with those eyes before."

"Odd."

"What's that?" Tazuna asked.

She breathed in. Out. When she breathed in next she flexed against the rock she was holding and began matching it, building, replicating the material and shaping it up like clay, pulling and molding and when it was nearly to the top she began walking, making the shape of the wall without letting it breach the water yet. She should ask Tazuna, she should get better directions but she thought of the curve she'd seen on paper and there, that jutting rock was parallel with the widest point she needed and beyond that, the dead tree leaning into the water would match where the gate would be.

All she thought was her work. She breathed it. If she'd looked at the wall forming behind her she would have seen confused fish and octopi fleeing one way or the other over the few inches of water left over stone, but she didn't look.

When she reached the end point, she turned back.

And blinked in surprise.

"Whoa." Aiko put a hand to her head, wavering. "When did…." She frowned. "It's later than I realized."

"You may have gone into something of a trance," Sanbi commented. He didn't seem terribly interested. "You were relying on someone else's experience, after all. You will probably have more control if you ever independently bring your stone-jutsu to this level."

Aiko looked back at what she'd done and gaped. Tazuna's plans had not been modest, and she'd just…. she'd just done a big chunk of it. "I don't think I can," she said slowly. "I don't have the right chakra type. Or the time, really."

"The chakra type doesn't matter," Sanbi rejected. His tails flicked- how did she know that? She couldn't see him. "The Rinnegan allowed you to use any type of nature manipulation. The Rinnegan is also like the Sharingan in that it recalls and can replicate usages it has recorded. The two functions are separate. Relying on the first doesn't not condemn you to relying on the second."

"Oh." She wrapped her arms around her body. "I see.

She could see back to where Tazuna was waiting- he'd sat down and was watching her. He was probably tired. How many hours had it been?

"I should get back to Konoha," Aiko said regretfully.

The bizarre thing was that she wasn't tired. She was- maybe she was a bit disoriented from the long trance state, and from having inhuman levels of chakra pumped through her body to keep her producing stone- good lord, she'd been making it out of nothing, not manipulating existing material. That chakra drain- that was ridiculous!

She gave Tazuna her apologies as she took him back to his suite, but he was actually in a good mood, if drowsy.

"I get to say that the Mizukage personally came to my door and asked for my help," Tazuna mused. "And with your crazy ninja magic- just think of what I can do! I won't be so modest in my next projects, I'll tell you that much. Hey, that Terumi-san, she was talking about other projects after this one. I can't wait to get started. We'll finish this in a week, if you keep that up. We'll need more time for the lock and the drainage system- you can't do that kind of detail work, can you?" He continued on without waiting for an answer. "I've been thinking about that- there's a special kind of lock that's more watertight, it gets a seal if there's even the smallest amount of difference in water pressure. We could-"

"Good night, Tazuna-san." Aiko squeezed the old man's hand for a moment, getting his attention. She smiled, woozily if not wearily. "I'll see you tomorrow, ne? I need to get to bed."

"Oh, of course." He nodded, and then drew her into a hug goodbye. What was going on in that genjutsu? First head-patting, now hugging?

Aiko bore it until it was over, bowed her goodbyes, and pulled herself back into Konoha.

The full ANBU team waiting in her room turned to look at her. "Uzumaki Aiko," one of them greeted. "We have some questions. Please come with us."

[soundofez]

for @mastar-week 2020, day 3// legacy

yet another star-centric side story to We Fill the Skies, set as always in the Leagues & Legends universe. i have a lot of emotions for both max albarn and sebastian black and i need to compensate for how little screen time they had.

(slight spoilers to we fill the skies, btw, but who cares about that when you can have Feelings.)

—

Max Albarn was usually all wiry strength and indomitable pride, a ramrod straight spine and perfect square posture, but now his back was bowed, his shoulders quietly sloped. Oscar had never realized before how thin his classmate was, how small and fragile. It looked wrong.

He turned back to his paper. They weren't friends, he reminded himself. And Albarn had plenty, anyway, if he needed a shoulder to cry on.

- We Fill the Skies, Chapter 2: Promises to Keep

—

Sebastian Black was tired.

It wasn’t the exhaustion of travelling for two weeks— travelling didn’t tire Seb like that. Seb didn’t get tired, usually, except from Elsewhere storms, and that wasn’t exhaustion so much as it was nauseated sickness, brought on by the feeling of magic trying to escape from his body to that mysterious other plane via fishhoks in his gut.

Seb didn’t get tired, except that now he was.

He hadn’t seen the note when he’d gotten back— it had been late, and he hadn’t want to wake the roommate he’d thought asleep in the next room. Instead, he’d crashed straight into his bed and gone to sleep himself, already looking forward to catching up in the morning.

Now, the desert sun was shining through the kitchen window, promising a hot day. Seb stood at the kitchen table, note in hand, and he was tired.

Papa died, the note read. I’m taking his ashes back to the Forest. Be back a week before classes start.

—

Seb was the only University affiliate to come home from the expedition. He didn’t like thinking about that, about how his professor and his classmate had gone missing, about how the other three students had all stayed behind while he’d gone home like a coward.

They hadn’t told him, either. That’s what hurt the most, if he thought too hard: that they’d simply agreed without him. And maybe Seb hadn’t talked to Ford much, but he’d spent every day with Kilik and Casper, and still they’d said nothing. They’d waited until the last second to tell him, too late for him to do anything, when even the Academy people had seemed to know what they were up to. They hadn’t given him a choice.

Max hadn’t told him, either, back before they’d even left on the expedition. Max had been chosen, not Ford, and yet when Seb had first arrived at the announced point of departure, he’d found Ford waiting there instead.

“What are you doing here?” Seb had asked.

“He didn’t tell you?” Ford had replied. “He gave me his place on the expedition.”

Max hadn’t told him. Seb hadn’t admitted that to Ford, had ignored Ford’s silent pity. It wasn’t Ford’s business.

And Ford had seemed to agree. They’d talked on the expedition— the group was too small for them not to— but Seb had kept him at a steady distance, even as he’d listened with rapt attention to Ford’s many stories.

Maybe he shouldn’t have kept that distance. Maybe Ford would have said something if he had.

Seb didn’t do regret. The concept was anathema to him. You couldn’t change the past: your only option was to do your best in the present. He got frustrated with Max, sometimes, because Max seemed to regret everything.

Seb didn’t do regret, and he wasn’t about to start. He stuffed some coin into his pocket and left the empty apartment to find some food.

—

Ford wrote to him first.

Seb was surprised. He wasn’t much for letters, preferring action instead. (Max scolded him for this all the time, but Seb was vaguely aware of the hypocrisy. Seb wasn’t the one who furiously applied twice to the University with different genders to prove a point, and then had to scramble for housing when the point was proved.)

Seb wasn’t stupid. He knew he wasn’t normal, not just because his already-rare gift for magic was especially strong, but because his mind ran on different tracks from everyone else. His classmates teased him for asking dumb questions in class, but Seb had some of the best grades in the University, and it was only a little bit because Max helped him study. (You’re an auditory learner, Max had once told him. There’s nothing wrong with that.)

Point being, Seb could read, he just didn’t like to because it took so much effort. It was with some surprise that he found his eyes on Ford’s neat signature, having devoured the rest of the letter. He’d enjoyed listening to Ford’s stories during the expedition, but he hadn’t expected the enjoyment to transfer to Ford’s writing.

His eyes dropped to the last line, tucked plainly under the signature:

P.S. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.

Seb read the postscript several times. It would be just like Ford to get it, the creep. He shook his head, but he grabbed a pen and paper from the kitchen’s junk drawer and sat down to write a reply.

When he was done with Ford’s letter, he grabbed more paper and started another.

—

Max’s letter came a day before Max did. It sounded almost normal, filled with their usual banter (You picked up a pen without me? Is there someone you want to tell me about?), but it also told Seb when Max would be home.

Seb spent the entire day at home doing chores. When he heard Max’s familiar footsteps on the stairs outside, he immediately positioned himself at the front door.

It worked. Max opened the door and walked directly into Seb’s open arms.

“You should have told me,” Seb grumbled into Max’s hair. It had grown since he’d last seen her. Underneath the smell of sweat and desert sand and sun was a hint of green earth. “I would’ve stayed.”

“I didn’t want you to,” Max mumbled, and burst into tears. “Damn it. Damn it.”

Seb hugged her tighter, rocking gently on his feet. “They didn’t wring you out in the Forest, did they?” he teases gently. “Amateurs.”

They didn’t bother untangling themselves as they sank onto the couch of their tiny living room. Seb shared memories of cool mountain air, of red dust seeping into his boots and staining his clothes, his chin knocking against the top of Max’s head. Max returned the favor, recalling the damp shade of the Forest’s enormous trees, the looming closeness of the canopy as it blocked out the stars, her breath warm against his collar.

When their stomachs growled, Seb shooed Max away to clean up while Seb toasted some bread with the Elsewhere’s fire. They settled around the kitchen table for a simple meal of buttered bread and a wedge of cheese, and this time Max asked after Ford.

Seb snorted. “Why do you care about that creep?”

Max shrugged. “He knows what he’s doing. After me, he’s the obvious choice.” She scowled. “And I want to make sure he didn’t mess around too much. I recommended him, so his performance affects me, too.”

“He stayed.”

Max looked up. “What?”

Seb’s throat was unexpectedly tight. He tore off a mouthful of bread, chewed slowly, swallowed. “It went wrong. The expedition.”

Max looked livid. “What did he do.”

Seb shook his head. “No, it wasn’t Ford’s fault, it was Kim.” He made a face.

Max’s anger didn’t complete subside, but she still snorted. “I should’ve known.”

Seb grinned at her, but the expression died quickly. “The expedition went wrong,” he repeated. “Everyone else... stayed in the mountains.”

Finally, Max seemed to sense his emotions. “What happened?” she asked.

Seb exploded, suddenly frustrated. “Nobody told me!” he snapped. “First Jack and Kim go missing, then Professor Montero disappears— they say he’s dead! And then we just— kept researching with Professor Yumi, and I thought maybe that was it, because what the hell was anyone supposed to do?

“Then, as we’re leaving, Kilik and Casper and Ford all say they’re staying, they have ‘relatives’ or something—” he adorned the words with finger quotes— “but I know they’re looking into it! And they didn’t tell me— they’d all let the University know, or something, but not me.

“Professor Yumi escorted me home. Just me!” He looked at his hands, dragged his fingers like claws through the air, yanking at the magic that hung there and everywhere else. Gold fire pooled into his palms. “Because I’m a mage. Because I’m powerful, but that puts me in danger up there, or something. But hey, Kilik got to stay, and he’s a better mage than me!” He ripped more and more gold from the air, snarled, “Stupid Sebastian doesn’t know anything, so why bother telling him?”

He quieted when Max wrapped her hands around his fingers. He was shaking, he noticed dimly. His vision was a golden blur. His lungs heaved with the effort of drawing so much raw magic.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I know I should have told you. I just— I couldn’t. Not then. I c-couldn’t say anything about Papa, not then, so I just... didn’t.”

Seb didn’t get it, not really. It felt like their differences surrounding regret: he simply didn’t look at the past, but Max overflowed with what-ifs and if-onlys. He sensed it now, something fundamentally different about them, that while he sought company to relieve his pain, Max retreated from people to... to drown in it, maybe. (To digest, Max would tell him later.)

Seb didn’t get it, but this wasn’t the first time he didn’t get something. At least he knew how to ask.

He breathed, and slowly the gold faded from his vision. All the remained was just Max, just Maka, his oldest friend.

“What happened?” he asked her, and this time she told him.

The bustle of the Albarn clan had felt so much like her Papa, yet not. Maka hadn’t grown up in the Forest, and Spirit Albarn hadn’t spoken of his family, only of his beloved wife, Maka’s mother. The Albarns had loved Maka, but she hadn’t been family like Spirit was. It had hurt, so much, to see her Papa’s smothering affection directed at everyone but her.

“I would have gone with you,” Seb said. (I would have smothered you, if only you’d told me to, he would have said, if only he could find the words.)

“I know,” Maka replied, and smiled sadly. “But it wouldn’t be the same.” But she let him hug her anyway, and instead of going to their separate rooms they curled up on the couch together and fell asleep catching up.