#if you guys know an easier way to watch gh let me know | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

gisachi · 3 years

Note

Hi ^^ I know that your requests are now closed but I was thinking that, given you have written jealous Shinichi, I would very much enjoy some jealous Ran! Maybe you can mix it with one of the prompts? Just throwing the idea out there, no pressure. Delete this if you don't feel like it, it's okay really. Thank you for writing these amazing fics, the shinran fandom is in your debt. ❤️

So this is the last (!!!) and longest (!!!) of the kiss prompts, and I dedicate it to multiple-requests Anon and to this Anon. I hope both of you still see this. It took me a while. ^^;;

P.S. Special thanks to @artycreaty for keeping this in check. You are awesome. 🥰

41. Kisses shared under an umbrella. 46. A lingering kiss before a long trip apart. (6,489 words)

Ran keeps telling herself she has no right to be jealous.

She has hundreds of reasons not to. They’re merely childhood best friends. Life would be much easier if she didn’t involve herself in his business twenty-four seven. Shinichi absolutely doesn’t look at her that way. And so forth.

She wonders why they’re even friends in the first place. If their parents hadn’t enrolled them in the same kindergarten, she was certain they wouldn’t even be on speaking terms. He lives in a world of grisly books and crimes, she in a world of martial and visual arts. Their hobbies don’t overlap. They excel in different fields. They enter the same university with completely unrelated majors. The only bond they have in common is their shared history. Literally bonded since they were four, until now at nineteen.

So when she sees him all jolly around his newfound circle who hold the same interest in Holmes or detective work, it shouldn’t surprise her as much. It’s part of university life, it’s normal, they expand their horizons, and Ran understands that it hits much differently when they bond with people who like the same stuff they do. Something she’s aware they cannot share a hundred percent.

She’s proud of him, and she absolutely has no right to feel jealous, especially when she sees him around taller, prettier, more interesting women from his course block. There is no reason for her to look away with a heavy weight in her chest everytime the women get giggly and touchy while he’s absorbed in narrating his stories.

Everytime she does, she reminds herself of how he didn’t seem to mind when she was casted as the protagonist of their high school play and the leading man was the handsome Araide-sensei. Or how he simply shrugged when she fawned over the brother of a classmate because he looked so much like the karate senpai she was crushing on. Or when she secretly caught Sonoko dragging the detective behind gym after P.E. to confront him about his opinion regarding an upperclassman courting Ran and his only response was, ‘She can like whoever she likes, Sonoko. I’m not her boyfriend.’

He never showed her any sign of jealousy, therefore he must not be into her. Simple as that. So it’s unfair for her to be treating him differently. Getting snarky just because he received sixteen new fan mails again, more now that they’re in uni, and two even coming from the popular criminology seniors he is often teased to? Or ignoring him unprecedentedly just because his eyes followed the back of a woman with long chestnut hair and voluptuous curves? There are plenty of fish in the sea, and he’s bound to be attracted to someone else. This is a pill she ought to learn to swallow eventually.

Eventually.

“Shinichi-kun, you never told us about your scariest case yet, tell us about it?”

Kaori closes her notes and so do the other two girls across her, and Shinichi’s eyes twinkle. He truly seems to enjoy study sessions with the little group they made consisting of some of his and Ran’s coursemates because they love listening to his stories.

“At the top of my head is this murderer disguised as a bandaged man, and he targeted us one by one…” and so the detective drones. Ran pauses typing and reminisces quietly. Ah, that one from summer three years ago. I was almost injured by that crazy man during my sleep but Shinichi woke me up in time.

“Ran-san,” Shun, her friend and coursemate, mutters beside her, also stopping his typing to listen to the detective’s story. “It’s ridiculous how popular Kudou-kun is with the girls. He’s full of wild adventures.”

“Yes, he is,” Ran says, smiling. “He’s been a girl magnet ever since high school.”

She watches as Kaori inches closer to Shinichi, listening attentively, chin on her palm and flirtatious smile on her lips as the detective rants on and on.

For the third time that afternoon, Ran looks away.

Ran keeps telling herself she has no right to be jealous.

She does, everyday, but it’s hard when he smiles at her, cares for her, holds her in a way she’s never seen him do for anyone else. It gives her hope every time the girls cling to him but he never touches them back, whereas he automatically slings his arm over her shoulder because she’s afraid or cold or he simply feels like it.

Then again, maybe she’s giving herself too much credit. Perhaps it’s a free pass for being around him for too long. She even gets to spend time with him during weekends and holidays. It isn’t special because it’s normal.

And that’s all she’ll ever be, a normal girl in his eyes.

“Ran? She’s pretty special.”

Ran reacts to the mention of her name and catches Shinichi looking at her. “She appears quiet but she can kick anyone’s ass without breaking a sweat. It’s bad if you cross her,” Shinichi gloats with a grin.

“Oh my god, really? We can bring her with us then!” Kaori claps her hands in excitement.

“Ah... But she won’t like that,” he follows up, wary. Ran has missed the topic they were talking about and now she’s curious.

“But ghosts aren’t real and Mouri-san can give them a good beating!”

“Gh-Ghosts?” The color in her cheeks drains, eyes freezing at Shinichi who has probably already expected that reaction, for he sports that same look of concern as those times he had expressed whenever she joined him in his way-past-bedtime elementary school adventures.

“We’ll investigate an abandoned house I always pass by walking home,” Kaori explains. “Last night I saw a faint cigarette light at the second floor window. It might be a fugitive or a homeless person or a ghost, who knows?”

“You don’t need to come if you don’t want to, Ran,” Shinichi assures.

Gulping, Ran contemplates whether going with them will do her any good. It’s a nice change, it’s been a while since she last tagged with Shinichi in his cases. But she isn’t exactly proud of shrieking like a little kid in front of serious criminology majors who may feel like she’ll drag their covert investigation down if she joins.

“...I’ll pass,” she answers meekly, and his coursemates sulk except Shinichi, who offers her a smile of understanding.

“Man, I thought we’ll be able to see Mouri-san in action!”

“That’s ok, maybe next time. We still have Shinichi-kun!”

“Shinichi-kun will protect us, ne?”

“Hah. Right. Invite Hakuba too, use him.”

“Oh c’mooon, Shinichi-kun!”

Ran closes her eyes, struggling to zone their voices out.

In her silence, Ran ponders if she has made a wrong choice.

Ran has no right to be jealous. So it’s unfair for her to be treating him this way.

The following weekend, Shinichi narrates what happened in their late-night investigation. Hakuba wasn’t there so Shinichi was the only available guy as usual. Ran refuses to hear any more details, both of the haunted house and secretly of the girls chancing onto him during the investigation. Shinichi is puzzled.

“Did I do something wrong?”

“Nah, just swamped with work.”

“On a Sunday?”

“Yes.”

“Want me to assist?”

“No.”

Her replies are curt from the couch of his house, not looking at Shinichi on the other end as she mindlessly cleans up her digital sketches. She hates how snappy she sounds but her brain is too absorbed with conjuring spiteful imaginations to even think of masking her annoyance.

“Ran, hey. Look at me.”

His low voice freezes her from drawing, and she slowly looks up to meet Shinichi’s serious eyes.

When this happens, she knows he’s reading her. She inwardly chants a prayer because now isn’t a good time. Whatever time isn’t a good time. She doesn’t know what to say when she’s aware everything she’s been feeling is irrational and unfair. She’s being selfish.

“You’re… stressed.”

“No, I’m… Eh?”

He scoots closer, an arm’s length away. “Your dark circles are more prominent now, you need a break.” His eyes turn a soft blue. “Let’s have dinner out? My treat.”

Ran is surprised, to say the least. The last time he invited her out was two weeks ago. She’s become so used to seeing him around others that any initiative from him sounds too good to be true.

“But I need to finish this project by tonight.”

“Let’s have food delivery then!” Shinichi announces, not rattled by Ran’s indirect refusal. “I know exactly what you want. Ramen and shaved ice.”

Her eyes thin at the absurdly goofy expression she knows he makes when he’s being mischievous. “Clearly you’re ordering that ramen for yourself. I only like shaved ice.”

“Damn! Miss Detective gets it.” A mile-wide grin stretches across his face, earning an eye roll from the half-smiling woman. “Let’s eat together on your short break, please?”

He leans within a respectful distance and she sees his smile better, pair of kind eyes locking with her overworked ones. “It’s been a while.”

Her heart throbs for him. So much.

She caves - of course she does - and breathes her acquiescence.

After two long weeks, they have dinner together, just them and Shinichi’s ramen and Ran’s donburi and shaved ice, Shinichi taking a spoonful of dessert from the cup when she isn’t looking and Ran snatching a slurp from his take-out bowl and laughing when he catches her.

With how heartfelt his laughter is in her presence devoid of any mysteries, Ran knows she’s probably giving herself too much credit, but for once she wants to believe she is the cause of why Shinichi’s happy.

Just for that night, she gives it to herself.

She’ll change the dark colors of her digital artwork to brighter ones after they eat.

Despite everything, Ran finds it difficult to contain her recurring jealousy.

The more she shares precious time with him, the more it gets harder to suppress the selfish emotions. What is so unsatisfying about being the best friend is that she is only the best friend. No more no less. At the end of the day, she isn’t the one he gets to cuddle with, to tease then kiss, to tell ‘I love you’ to, romantically.

“I love you.”

Ran feels her heart about to leap out of her chest.

“But please. Stop. Tearing. The. Cushions!”

The little furball he has scooped underneath a throw pillow wiggle from his grasp. The kitten and detective engage in a brief staring showdown before it jumps away to hide under a farther couch.

Snapping out of reverie, Ran watches her childhood friend slink dejectedly onto the partly scratched furniture. He’s fortunate enough that his mother isn’t around to give him a long lecture on Why Pets Aren’t Allowed in the House 101. She can always take Yukiko-san’s role and reprimand him for it, but as for this and the cat, she finds herself not wanting to intervene.

“Kaori-san sure is taking her time with her parent’s permission. By the time she does, Momo would’ve shredded all the pillows in this house.”

“You named the cat?” Ran asks, amused.

“She did.” He thinks for a moment, then sniggers. “Actually I did. I suggested a random name. She took it.”

Ran merely hums. What can she say? They’re getting close. Close enough to team up as parents to an adopted kitten.

“I’m surprised you also agreed to keep Momo when you never took in animals before.”

“Kaori said she’ll treat me to the latest Detective Samonji movie this weekend if I do. Can’t resist that.”

“Just you two?”

“Yeah.”

A beat. Then he turns to her.

“Wanna join? I can ask her to count you in since you’re kinda helpi—”

“N-no need,” Ran quips, “It’s—It’s fine.”

“No really,” Shinichi insists, “Kaori-san has a lot of money, she—”

“I’m going to Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum with Shun-san this weekend... so... I can’t.”

“Ah.”

Silence.

“It’s, um, for a project,” she bolsters.

“I know.” The faintest smile graces his lips. “It’s your thing. Both of you.”

“Mm.”

He doesn’t say anything else after that.

“Shinichi, you’re a detective, right?” she blurts out of the blue.

“Yeah...and?”

Then deduce what I feel. Here and now.

“Then you’re going to enjoy that movie!” Ran forces a beam, giving Shinichi a thumb of approval. “And you can discuss it with Kaori-san over dinner. I’m sure you two have a lot to say about it.”

Shinichi’s eyes linger on her, reading her like a book, and Ran has her mind reeling again, afraid to be read.

“Yeah, we do,” he finally says, ending the conversation.

Only a few words are uttered the rest of the afternoon.

Momo resurfaces and curls beside Shinichi.

Momo’s purring is loud, but Ran’s shattering heart is louder.

Ran must not feel jealous. She is not a girlfriend.

Because she isn’t a girlfriend, he’s free to fall for and date anyone else. Who is she to gatekeep him? There are plenty of fish in the sea, and he’s one big catch. Ran believes she’s a big catch, too. With the way she loves dearly, her future boyfriend is going to be very lucky.

Her future boyfriend is not going to be him.

“...mber the required fieldwork in one of my majors I told you? We actually go by batches. The first batch did theirs last month. The second batch was last week… and I— Ran, are you listening?”

“Ah! Yes,” Ran notices they have already reached her station and are now walking two blocks to her apartment. “Your fieldwork, right?”

“...Yeah,” he carries on. “I’m in the last batch... This whole winter break.”

“I see, I understand.” She smiles, getting what he means. No Christmas or New Year’s Eve together. The first time since they’re four. It’s fine, honestly. If it’s a required activity, then there’s really no way to go about it. She isn’t going to lash out just because she can’t be with him in her most favorite time of the year.

“And Hattori-kun and Hakuba-kun will be with you?”

“Hattori did his last month. Hakuba is in the previous batch. I’ll be stuck with the girls.”

Ran’s heart momentarily squeezes. “Where will your fieldwork be?”

“In Akita.”

Her pupils constrict. “That far?”

“Yes... so to cut on expenses, Kaori-san offered her house for me and the others to stay while we’re there—”

Kaori. Again with the tall, beautiful, intelligent Kaori. She bets it’s amazing to spend the holidays doing what he loves and with Kaori beside her, snuggling with him by the fireplace in a romantic snowy night and she might even confess, and it’ll be a great catch for Shinichi, and he’ll return with a girlfriend, and—

“Kaori-san is lucky.” The words flow out of her mouth, unbridled.

Shinichi looks at her. “Lucky?”

Ran remains quiet and keeps walking. It’s dangerous to say anything. She only has one thing in her mind and she doesn’t want to say it out loud. She has no right.

“Ran, hey.”

She doesn’t stop walking.

“Ran.”

She ignores his call.

“Ran… you’re jealous.”

She stops walking.

“Excuse me?”

“...You’re jealous…” Shinichi repeats quietly.

A contrast to his calm tone, his irises beset hers in the cold twilight and Ran attempts to shield herself but her bag and umbrella are in the way. She thinks of turning away but her feet are frigid like icicles, and Shinichi steps closer.

For the third time, he declares, “You’re jealous.”

Hearing her thoughts echo through his words renders her speechless.

It seems to take a moment before Shinichi’s brow arches, lips curl up as his eyes refuse to stray, and she hears a faint exhale even, like he’s exasperated, and suddenly he’s smiling - or is he smirking? sneering? - and...and...

It stings, is her immediate reaction.

For the longest time, she’d wanted him to take a hint. But if she had known this was how he’d react, she’d rather live a life having him oblivious of her emotional struggle. Dealing with that is more tolerable than witnessing him gaze her down in blatant mockery. He sneers as though he’s about to crack a joke and move on and forget such a laughable matter. That’s the last form of acknowledgment she wants for her honest feelings.

Heartbreak and shame and pain build up in her chest like a volcano closing eruption. Water begins to cloud her vision. She clenches her fist tight on her umbrella and Shinichi notices, and he takes another step forward.

“Ran…?”

“I am not, and you’re a fool.”

In a span of a breath, she’s sprinting in the opposite direction, tracing the path where they have walked, ignoring the distant yells of her name behind her. She runs and runs, and as she runs farther, with her thoughts muddy and breath short and dry, she wonders if she may have overreacted.

If he’s done that on purpose, screw him. If not, screw her.

After all, they are merely friends and she has no logical reason to act this way.

“Stop... running... will you!”

She hears heavy footsteps close in. It takes all the energy Ran has to prevent herself from turning her body around but his strong grip overpowers her.

“Let me go!”

“Why are you running?!”

“I can’t...deal with you!”

“Why? Was I right?”

“Right or wrong, it doesn’t matter!”

“Why doesn’t it matter?”

“Because I am your best friend!”

On another occasion, she would’ve successfully jilted away and run farther, but Ran is floored when he yanks her into a one-armed hug, so floored she drops her umbrella to the snowy ground.

“Stop saying that!” he hisses in her ear, frustration apparent.

“What are you— Let me go!”

He hugs her tighter.

“If you don’t let go in three seconds, I will screa—”

“I am happy!”

Ran stops struggling, eyes widening in shock.

Icy huffs tickle her neck as he half shouts, “I’m happy you feel that way!”

“You’re...You’re happy because I’m suffering?”

“What? No! I—”

“Is that supposed to make me feel better? How?” The hurt in her tone is impeccable, prattling muffled against his chest as she spares him no moment to butt in. “You think I wanted to feel this? That I enjoy griping in helpless jealousy? And you’re rejoicing that I am? How full of yourself can you be?!”

“That’s not...You don’t underst—”

“I do understand! I understand that I am so incredibly stupid for catching this disgusting heap of emotions for an obnoxious, stuck-up deduction maniac that is my best friend and maybe it’s better after all that he never, ever sees me the way I see him!”

“Stop saying that, Ran!”

She thinks he has broken away, but he drags her back with an insistent tug, crashing his lips onto hers as she stumbles into his arms.

All willpower rippling through her disintegrates quickly like snow in high heat.

An impatient pop resonates as he separates, eyes slowly opening, breath thick and ragged.

“I know that is not how we explain things, but does that explain anything?”

She hears it. The madness. But more than madness, yearning bleeds through his voice so much that her frustration turns into physical pain. Blinded by an all-consuming ache, she tips her chin and presses her lips back against his, demanding for cure in the wrong place. Shinichi freezes, then relaxes. He moves his hand to her nape, four fingers in her hair, thumb treading her jaw.

They look like a scene in a movie.

Under his umbrella and hidden from view, they communicate through brushing lips and tilting heads. His mouth closing over hers with gentle force, her hands splaying across his chest, heavy with something that makes his heart pound under them.

She is so lost in the chase and his tender embrace that for a second she forgets she is kissing her best friend.

Best friend.

This doesn’t explain anything. It worsens it.

She pulls back, ending what she has so recklessly started. “N-no, I’m— No.”

She pushes him away, gathers the stuff she drops, and runs without looking back.

“Ran!”

He shouts her name. Twice.

On the third call, his footfalls die down. On the fourth, he stops running.

She doesn’t.

Thirty minutes before midnight, Ran stands outside his gate, boots buried half foot under the snow as she rings his intercom for the second time, thinking to herself how foolish she must be to cut communications with him for a week and then show up his doorstep looking miserable like a stood-up date.

It’s the start of winter break.

He’ll leave for Akita in ten hours.

She needs to give his Christmas present before his departure.

She’s crazy, pathetic, still frustrated, and hurtfully in love.

“Oi. You better have a good explanation for why you’re buzzing at goddamn midnig—”

“Shinichi.”

His surprised gasp is apparent even through the intercom. A rustle follows and with a croaky voice, he responds. “...Ran.”

Surely he isn’t expecting this. Not after the tantrum she threw days ago. He probably thinks she hates him more than ever. But what she truly feels is more overwhelming than all negative emotions combined, and may god grant her all the strength to address it all, tonight.

“May I come in?”

“The house is—The house is a mess I, um. I’m packing my stuff for...”

“I’ll help you.”

“...”

She’ll understand if he decides to turn her down. But the answer that follows the deafening pause is a low and quiet ‘Okay’.

Despite psyching herself hours before she came, courage wanes when he opens the front door and gate in his pullovers. She is welcomed in, and the trip up his room is wordless. Shinichi only talks when he points out that he’s already packed clothes for two days and will need help for two weeks’ worth. He lamely laughs when he instructs her to pick the tops and layers, and he’ll take care of the pants and underwear.

On a normal instance, she would’ve humored him and they would’ve been talking right after. Now she simply pulls an empty smile and then they fall back into silence.

She supposes he’s trying to act unbothered, to treat what happened a week ago as a one-and-done glitch in their friendship, never to be discussed again. She cannot fault him when she’s trying to do the same. But it’s not easy when in the stillness of the night the echo of their altercation howls, raging persistently in their ears.

What has he been thinking of for the past week?

Has he been kept up all night by the words she said and the words he left unspoken?

Are they still friends? Will they still be friends after this?

The kiss... What about the kiss?

So many questions. So little words. So little time.

Ran is seated on the floor, folding shirts and stuffing them neatly in his duffel bag. Her back faces Shinichi who is sorting out bottoms in his cabinet. She senses him sit on the floor, back against her but not touching. Neither dares to speak first.

A ringing phone cuts the silence.

“Mm, still awake. Good for two weeks right? Gotcha. No, I’ll meet you girls at the station, no need to fetch me. Pfft. I can walk. Ok, see you tomorrow.”

If Ran wasn’t so hyperaware of where she is and what she’s done, her mood would’ve shifted to the one she’d been trying to avoid. Now isn’t the time to think about that. Midnight sneaking out to go to his house is something she wouldn’t do even on good days. She scans her bag on the far couch, deliberately bringing a bigger one to hide his gift. Maybe she can just sneak it in his bag and leave once she’s done and he’ll discover it only when he’s prefectures away. Brown has always suited him, and he’ll definitely find the overcoat useful as spare protective gear.

That’s right. She always cares for him like this. She is his best friend first, and... and nothing second.

“Don’t just leave after putting your present in my bag. At this hour, I can’t let you walk home alone,” he says swiftly.

Ran’s eyes fly wide.

“How did you…”

He doesn’t say anything and continues with his business.

Again with the throat-drying silence.

Something in Ran’s gut compels her to speak, but she is surprised when he does first.

“I... I don’t like Kaori-san. If that’s what you’re thinking.”

Ran stiffens, pausing mid-motion from folding. “I’m not…”

He leans his back completely against her and she shudders, voice reverberating through her skin. “Ran, if you could just hear me out.”

Unable to talk and move, she does.

“Kaori-san and the rest... They know I love mysteries. They know I want to build my own private detective agency. They know my favorite Holmes’ story is The Sign of Four. They know how many crimes I solved in Tokyo. All the information about me which anyone can read from the internet and newspaper and from what I told them when they ask, they know. Ran, you know all that. All that and more.”

He angles his head to the ceiling as if he’s talking to someone there. Ran supports his weight, curling to her knees as she silently listens.

“You know of my first ever deduction because Christ, my first deduction was about you. You know of the two cases which haunt me until this day because I watched the culprit die in front of my very eyes. You were with me the nights I locked myself in here thinking about them. You know of the interesting, the boring, the absurd cases, everything, because I told you or you were there. You know of the odd way I play the violin while I ponder over a case. You know I forget to eat when swamped with new books to read. I have three copies of The Sign of Four but the one I keep beside my bed and read almost weekly is the one you gave me on my tenth birthday and that is all I need. You know me for me, Ran. Everything about me that is off the record, the good and the bad, you know all of those. Only you. The same way I do... about you.”

She feels him crane slightly to the side, addressing her.

“Ran.”

“Mm.”

“I love you.”

Ran’s heart almost completely stops beating.

“I love you,” he whispers, “more than I am even supposed to.”

All words seem to have fizzled out of her vocabulary as she sits still, stunned at what she’s hearing.

“I’m happy growing up with you, studying with you, bickering with you, acting stupid with you, investigating with you, eating with you, napping with you, hugging you, holding you, taking care of you, simply... being with you. Before I know it, it’s not the cases or Holmes or mysteries that complete my days, it’s you.

“For you to keep repeating that ‘best friend’ phrase, I…” He lowers his head.

“For who knows how long, I’ve loved you as that and more.”

Someone pinch her because in no way can this be real.

“I was happy thinking you’re jealous because it meant a sliver of chance you feel the same way. We could’ve remedied the misunderstanding easily, Ran. We could’ve talked it over like we always do. But I was stupid and emotions were high and in the end I… kissed you…” he takes another deep breath, “But—but you kissed me back, and my heart couldn’t stay still...”

Pulse drumming loud, Ran tilts her head on the side where he leans, wanting to see the slightest expression he makes as he continues.

“If my deductions are wrong and you’re mad for a different reason, and—and you returned that for a different reason...” she hears the pang of remorse in his tone, “then please forget I ever said anything and I’ll leave myself to die in humiliation once I’m out of your sight.”

He lays one palm flat on the floor and she notices.

“But if my deductions are right and you were indeed jealous, I...” She feels his head swivel enough to feel his warm breath fan across her cheek, before shifting back front and releasing a slow, guttural exhale he’s kept contained within.

“I’ll wait... until you accept it. Accept me.”

Ran may have choked on her throat for how long she’s held her breath.

In spite of herself, she knows she doesn’t need to think of what to say. She had it all in her head before coming here. Yet expressing it out loud is a different matter.

She isn’t ready, but when will she ever be ready? Shinichi undoubtedly isn’t too. Yet here he is, laying the groundwork for her, no holds barred and a stuttering mess at that. How she plans to build from it is the question she asks herself next.

Inhaling as though bracing herself, she places a hand beside him, pinky slightly grazing his.

“I didn’t... You never showed any signs.”

Careful and calm, he extends his little finger over hers. She doesn’t flinch, and both hands crawl closer until two fingers overlap.

“Either I’m a great pretender or you’re incredibly dense.”

“I’m...I’m not dense.”

“I’m a bad actor, then.” He slides his hand further.

“I was trying so hard to be a supportive best friend for you.”

“I sensed that but ignored it because I didn’t want to assume anything.”

“You did though. Now we’re here.”

“Would you rather we aren’t?”

“I would rather we spend the last weeks of this year talking like normal than being stupid idiots before you leave.”

“It’s just two weeks, Ran.”

“Two special weeks I would’ve wanted to spend with my best frien-... with you.”

Without knowing it, his hand has completely nestled atop hers, four fingers curled between her thumb and index finger.

“Ran... You must really hate the idea of falling in love with me.”

“Eh?”

“You’re so wrapped with the thought that we’re simply best friends that you hold your love in chains as though it isn’t permitted to grow.”

“I… I didn’t want to ruin the only connection we have-”

“Two friends falling in love are still friends… They are also more. You cannot ruin an indefeasible connection. Friendship and love may be the only bond we have, but they’re the most important bond of all.”

Ran falls quiet.

“Geez…”

He releases a thick sigh, brushes his thumb across her splayed fingers.

“I have shit art appreciation skills, but I can take you to museums too... as a friend and as a date.” A beat, and a mumble. “Even to better museums than Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum.”

She darts her head sideways, realizing something.

“Were you also…?”

“No.”

Ran doesn’t suppress the heartfelt giggle that bubbles out.

“Shun-san has a boyfriend, Shinichi.”

“I—” he pauses. “I wasn’t asking.” Ran giggles more.

“Shinichi.”

“Yes.”

“I love you too.”

The hand above squishes hers all too suddenly like he’s been blown away and is needing something to hold onto.

“I came here to give your present and to apologize for being so shallow and for acting without thinking and for a lot of things actually... but now I feel there’s no need, because then I wouldn’t have...” She looks down at their intertwined hands.

Before she can return his squeeze, he recoils.

“Oh, y-you do apologize. Running away like that.” He coughs, and she can practically hear the tripping in his tone.

“Aren’t you already used to it? I’ve done it many times,” she chides.

“No. Apologize,” he insists. “And look at me while you do.”

Ran’s stomach twists, heart kicking up a step.

It’s easy to talk without eye contact, but to be requested so after confessions are exchanged—

“Face me, Ran.”

The familiar voice of yearning strums her heartstrings, tone sounding a lot like a plea than an order and Ran finds her head instinctively craning at an angle, hand coiling on the floor trying to calm her nervous beating heart. She feels him shift behind as well.

She takes all her time to face him, partly unsure what to do, partly knowing exactly what she wants to do. Despite the deliberate slowness of their movements, it is when they lock eyes that time truly seems to stop.

Shinichi appears so different, so soulful. His blue irises glimmering, fixated on nothing but her as she reveres him with matching intensity. The same guy she treats as her best friend looks at her with tender love in his eyes, darting down her lips and up like no best friend ever would.

“I love you,” he says, breathless. “Make me your boyfriend.”

A wave of emotion sweeps over her, heartbeat fluttering in overdrive as they huddle on the floor, bags and clothes and time forgotten.

“From best friend to... such a shift-”

“Nothing will be different.” He rests his forehead on hers, gaze of soft blue patient though more intimate now, knowing what they share is mutual. “We’ll still do what we do... With exclusive romantic commitment and sweet nothings that translate to ‘I love you’ in more ways than one.”

She attempts a jab on his chest but he catches her fist, soft but jesting beam all too apparent and she does but play along.

“What about when we fight?” she asks.

“Same. But...” he slides a thumb over her quiet lips, parting them slightly, “I can do this once we make up.”

“...Like right now?”

“Like right now.”

A genuine smile is the last thing she sees before delicate pair of lips lands on hers, capping their one-week fight and their last night of the year together in the best and most unexpected way imaginable.

Ran keeps telling herself she shouldn’t be jealous.

Not because they are simply best friends, because they aren’t. Not because life would be easier if she didn’t involve herself in his business twenty-four seven, because it wouldn’t.

Not because Shinichi doesn’t look at her that way, because he does.

She shouldn’t be jealous because she absolutely has no reason to, is all.

“I haven’t forgotten about your present. I was planning to buy yours in Akita.”

“Stop lying, you totally forgot it.”

“I didn’t. Stop that.” Half-mast eyes rake her side profile, and Ran covers a mirthful grin with her mitted hand holding the umbrella, then yawns. Hours of packing and talking and laughing left them with roughly four hours of sleep. It isn’t like she slept the whole period because while sleeping in his room isn’t new, cuddling while they sleep is. Ran couldn’t simply shut her eyes and heart to that.

“I believe though,” he wraps a hand around her free one, pocketing both of them in his brand new overcoat, “I gave half of my present already.”

“Hnn. That doesn’t count as a gift.” Her hand shifted, coddling his own to a warm fit.

“Really?” A smug smirk pulls up his face. “I believe I am a nice present, Ran. That’s why they—”

“Screw this. You are unbelievable. A humbug. Why do people like you.”

“I know. Why do you like me?” Shinichi laughs as he avoids the swing of her umbrella.

From afar, they see Kaori and the girls at the meet-up point outside Tokyo Station, though they seem unaware of their presence yet. Suddenly feeling conscious, Ran feels the urge to disentangle her hand, but Shinichi holds on, firm.

“Why?” He asks in a low voice.

“I dunno… maybe this isn’t the best time…”

“Isn’t now the best time?” His smile is proud and natural, not one ounce of reluctance visible.

Although she gets what he means, that doesn’t free her of shyness and guilt. Somehow she feels like apologizing to Kaori for… she doesn’t know. She just wants to. Letting her see them like this makes her think that she’s giving her an indirect slap on the face. Shinichi certainly won’t agree because ‘What’s with women and their logic?’, but still, whether or not it’s all in her head, Ran needs more time to prepare for this.

But to her surprise, Shinichi lets go of her hand. They are still a few feet from view when he steps in front of her and turns around. “Maah, fine, I get it,” he huffs, then smiles. “Then, just give me your umbrella.”

The moment she does, Shinichi closes their distance and dips his face onto hers. Ran is given no leeway to gasp as loving lips seal her quiet. It isn’t as long as what they shared a week ago, but the emotions are loaded and full, speaking fond thanks and temporary farewell.

She doesn’t realize she has closed her eyes until he separates, and she’s met with the most tender, most angelic expression he wears only on the rarest occasions. He’s saying without telling that her feelings are valid, she doesn’t have to worry, and he doesn’t have eyes for anyone but her. Somehow, the snow is the sea and fish are swarming around but neither cares because they have already caught each other.

“You don’t have to, silly.” Three layers of pink blanket Ran’s puffy cheeks.

“But I want to.” Grinning, Shinichi hands her back the umbrella. “You don’t like hand-holding. You don’t like being seen. Don’t you think that’s a great compromise?”

“Idiot, many people saw...”

“No, they didn’t!” Upping the duffel bag slung on his shoulder, he steps back and gives her one last goofy beam. “I’ll see you next year, Ran. I’ll call as often as I can.”

Wordlessly, Ran watches Shinichi’s back as he jogs to his waiting companions, who by then have already had their eyes pinned on the approaching figure.

“That is Shinichi-kun! ...And Mouri-san!”

“Ehhh!!?! You’re a thing!”

So much for being subtle, Ran flushes inwardly as she returns the wave the other girls are giving her. At that moment she really does feel immature for her past conduct. All of them are sweet. Even Kaori.

“I knew it Shinichi-kun! Mouri-san is sooo lucky, I’m so jealous!” Ran hears their banter and sees her jab his bicep before acknowledging her. “We’ll take care of him, Mouri-san!”

The Ran from one week ago would’ve had her heart crushed by such declaration, but now she’s nothing but pleased and the smile that forms across her lips is nothing but honest. “Make sure he doesn’t drag your group into a random dead body, Kaori-san!”

“Hey!” surfaces Shinichi’s shout amidst the mincing laughter of the group and the onlooking passers-by, and Ran bids her last wave before they enter the station.

Smiling to herself, Ran returns home, the lingering promise of his kiss committed to memory, knowing that she doesn’t have to get jealous because she has no reason to. Their indefeasible bond is all the assurance she needs.

#shinran #kiss prompts #fanfic #lmk anon(s) if you see this and if you do then yaaay #thank you for requesting!#and thank you for reading!#:')#I have a love-hate relationship with this fic #it's only supposed to be 4 scenes #oh well it is what it is lmao #it's ok ig since this is the last (awww) from the kiss prompts!#😌#I tried so hard with a jealous Ran haha #jealous fics are good reads but writing them is hard :O

133 notes · View notes

knight-queen · 3 years

Text

Black Wolves Saga Bloody Nightmare (Common Plot Part 1)

This game covers 200+ memories and but I were to translate them individually, it will take me forever which no way I want lmao. So I decided to make the whole game into parts, specially the common plot. Each parts hopefully ends with a red-splash thing. I know it may sound inconvenient but I found it as a best option. The main thing I am worried is the selection things because they are so long and I hope God will help me to arrange the whole story smoothly <3

The sky is weeping. Weeping for grieving over the sorrowful event that is going to happen right away.

Large droplets of rain hit the ground. Some approaching sounds of footsteps mixed with such groaning rain could be heard from far away. Gradually, gradually.

The village which is more likely has sank inside the darkness has yet to notice the impending crisis.

???: ーー...It’s raining...brother.

???: ーー...Hmph. What is wrong, Rath? You are scared?

Rath: No, it’s not….It’s not like that...Brother, it’s raining awfully too much.

???: ーー...Raining? You are wrong, these are tears.

Rath: Tears? …...What do you mean?

???: God of the Weblin is crying. He is feeling sorrow for these humans after all.

Rath: Human...human...HUMAN...I hate them.

???: If so then kill them. Paint your heart with those emotions. Wolves do not need any heart inside them.

Looks like they appeared out of nowhere. Unscared of this rain, two human-looking persons were standing in the middle of the village.

One of them is tall figued. Another one is a young man still in the mid-way of becoming an adult.

Those are the eyes of fellows, ash colored beasts, the eyes which were shining like sparkles, like starving for flames and blood.

???: ーMove forward.

He commanded splitting a single word.

*Wolves howling sounds*

*Village was set to fire*

Female Resident 1: Heeeeehhh…!

Howling wolves are screaming as if they are proceeding by tearing through the rain.

As the people are uproaring in panic, the man’s smile inside the rain deepens.

A beautiful smile that one cannot overlook if the situation would allow you.

???: Kukukuh...Devour it all. These human’s blood, flesh andーーeverything.

Female Resident 1: KYAAAAAAAAAAA!! Wolves!? Why, what are they here....!!

Male Resident 1: Just run…!! Hurry and take our kids to….gh, kyaaa!!

???: ーIt’s pointless.

The howl of wolves that vibrates the dark night. Plus their accumulated screams rise one by one, and the echo disappears in an instant.

The sound that could be heard next was the pulling sound of something heavy. Pulling human bodies one after another.

*BG turns to an wolf eating flesh*

The next sound that could be heard was the chewing sounds of the wolves mixed with rain-water. Those wolves were slicing humans as if they were nothing more than baits.

Female resident 1: Kyaaaaayaaaaaaaaaa!! Stopp….ughuh….!!

*Blood splash*

An awkward chewing sound was resounded from all around by getting mixed with raining sound.

At the same time, the scent of blood which was not getting erased even with incessant rain spread around. It stirs up the instincts of the wolves as well.

???: Fufh...it has a very beautiful timbre. Human’s shierkings are the best comfort. I hope you will not mind letting me hear more.

From the shadows of the wolves’ flock, someone stretched their hand by appealing for help.

Strengthless, yet that person was shivering and struggling like has gotten twitched.

???: Just die, shameless.

*Blood splash*

That person has stopped moving right away.

From human, to object. To alive, to dead. From a mass of protein, to a piece of flesh.

All left now is the despicable sound of water that wolves are using to satisfy their hungry stomach, but that could be heard inside of darkness.

???: More, fill your stomach more. Eat them all….

The male’s heart gets filled with screams and frustration. Meanwhile, a villager seemed to run away in sight of that man.

That person is a villager. His destination will probably be the stable. His intention for now is to ask his neighbouring villagers to help him out by riding on a fast horse.

Once he manages to get on the horse, then wolves or something like that will be unable to interfere with him.

???: ...Guillan.

He muttered by calling that name.

Guillan: Hiyaaaaaa~! What’s up, Arles? Isn’t it just a waste of time to kill that ugly jackass?

Arles: ーIt is an order.

Guillan: Tch, how boorish. ...Well then I am gonna kill ‘em in boldly, ‘kay? Just watch me will yaaa’ー?

Along with sliced-through-wind sound, silver light breaks through the dark night. Then he immediately scratched off the man’s head who was trying to reach the horse-stable.

Resident 1: Guggh…!!

*blood splash*

Slashed fresh blood. But that immediately got mixed and soaked with rain and soil respectively.

*Shoots*

Guillan: I hit itー! Wooooooh! Oi, they’re seriously tiny sized fish. Guess it’s worth it to get more of ‘em still alive?

The headless villager trumple down to the ground with a thud. Right there was a flock of wolves. Soon enough, they could be seen devouring by chewing him.

They slurp down the fresh blood as they apart the flesh. Gushed and overflowed red with rain droplets have become one and they both are ending up being mud.

Guillan: Ahh, that guy is fukin’ ugly. Me the great don’t wanna see him, so gonna mess him up.

*Shoots*

Guillan: Hiyaaa! Cool, cool. Kindly just pass away, ugly humans.

*Another shoot*

Guillan: Hiyahahahah! Now it becomes easier to eat, yah? Eat ‘em more, ‘cuz they are merely chunks of “meat” anyways, kay?

*Blood splash*

Guillan: Ooh, It’s damn boring for some reason. It’d be better if they would fight back more. Just hunting isn’t fun though?

Arles: ーShut up. It is my order.

Guillan: Oh goodness, I smash ‘em all just as you wished right? You knoooow, wolves sob if you don’t compliment them.

Arles: ...Alright.

*Arles pats Guillan*

Guillan: Kukukuh...I like that side of yours. Oi, shall I butcher ‘em more?

*gets ready the spin-blade*

The young man called Guillan, at his fingertips, there is the dangerous weapon that reaped out the life of the villager is rotating making a humming sound.

It is a weapon called chakram, a weird weapon where one has to bag fingers into it and hurl at the distant target by being very concentrative.

Every single part of it’s external is made out of blade, the users will get hurt if they make an error in holding that.

The perfect owner of that weapon, that young man, was really suited to using that.

*Shoots + Blood flash*

Guillan: Arlesーwhat ‘bout attacking a bigger place? As you can see, It’s been a while since this miny village’s gone hollow.

They aren’t even responding a thing. Darning borin’. They are fukin villagers after all. Seriously trash yeah?

More, more and more, let’s do somethin’ more entertainingー?

*Shoots again*

Guillan: Hiyaaa, hiyaaaaaa, hiyaaaaaaaaahーhhh!!! Blooood, blooood, blood-blood-blood-blood, gotta chop off everything wooo!

Although he seems to have lost his mind, at the same time, the Charkram shoot off from his fingertips and hunts the prey by spinning through the rain and wind.

*Blood splash + stab sound*

Female Resident 1: KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAー!!

His attitude is potent, and his talent is that not only was he able to master a very difficult weapon, he mastered hunting a target very comfortably and easily. That skill of his is very well-known.

Arles: ...Fufh, you are right. We can begin to prey upon a larger city onward. We must make those humans...suffer, more suffer.

Kill more...we must kill them more. We must erase them entirely.

Guillan: Hiyahah! Sounds great...I can’t wait…

Among the wolves as they run, hunt and howl in the rain, those two’s conversations are like talkings between a child and his corresponding guardian.

Right after, Arles starts gazing on the other side.

Arles: ...What is Rath doing?

Guillan: Rath? Oh...you mean that rookie huh. Wasn’t he just hunting the foolish who were simply trynna escape over there.

He doesn’t seem to like murder thing that much. Don’t really think he is your younger bro.

Arles: ...Rath is still immature. If he abandons his emotions, he should be able to kill humans.

Guillan: Abandon emotions? He’d feel more at ease if he’d just do fun stuff and stop thinking about troublesome shits.

*Spins his Chakram*

Guillan: Hiyyaaah! ‘Kay then, I’m gonna rampage a lil’ more.

Arles: Do not let even a single one be alive. Kill everyone except wolves, seize the souls of everyone. Everyone.

Guillan: I’m down for itー! Bossー!

The scent of blood, as well as the screams and everything which is happening gets erased in the rain, doesn’t even reach anyone.

Now this small village has turned into a hunting ground for wolves.

Arles: ...Rath.

Rath: ……

After shifting places with guillan, the young man has shown up as if he gets out from the dark.

Arles: What were you doing?

Rath: ...Nothing particular. I was killing them. Just as you told me.

Arles: Do not worry, Rath. Set on fire after the rain stops.

Rath: ...Yeah. I know, brother.

Arles: We are doing this in order to let it know what happened. We want the foolish subjects of Weblin to realize the existence of us, the wolves.

Take everything away, their houses, lands, and lives so that they cannot even think about coming to these places again.

Rath: ...Big brother, I know.

Arles: If you know then respond. The leader of this flock is me.

Rath: ...Yeah.

Arles: Rath, do not think about the points that much. Listen to your own insects inside you. Sound yourself more like “kill humans!”

Rath: ...I know, brother. I know!!

Arles: Say it, you will kill them.

Rath: I will kill. I will...kill humans.

Arles: Say it once more. It is an order.

Rath: ...Kill, kill, kill...kill. I will kill...kill...kill. I will kill, kill...kill, kill, kill, kill them.

I must kill them.

Arles: Rath, do not hesitate. You are not allowed to forget what they did to us.

Rath: Kill, kill, kill, kill. Yeah...I will kill them.

Arles: Alright...time to go. Fire up.

A small nod, then the young man disappeared out of sight just like he faded away in the dark.

Arles: ...Kukukuh.

The male chuckles as he is glaring at this hellish disaster.

Arles: Other races etc, just devour all of them. Wreck them out and get rid of everything.

Look, the God of Weblin. This is the beginning of the wolves’ revenge. If you say our race is cursed, then I dare you to curse more.

Kukukuh, hahahah, HAAHAAHHAHAHAH!

As the bloody-rain continues, the man who stood in the middle of this tragic place was the king of the wolves.

Weblin Kingdom

It is a small kingdom which is lying at a corner of the continent thronged with great powers.

Garibaldi family of the Cat species rules it. Surrounded by abundant and strict atmosphere, Weblin is undoubtedly standing as an solitary island on the continent.

While wearing armor called “Nature which prevents aggression”, this kingdom was flourishing as an independent civilization on the continent.

The one that holds domination power is the species called ‘Cats’.

In this world the species that exist are ー1) ’Cats’

2) Human

3) Wolves

4) And the rare species are ‘Rat’

5) Lion

6) Dog

7) Rabbit

When wolves and humans hand over the top of the Weblin to the Cats, the races living there including the rare ones were being dominated.

Hundred of years passed after its founding, although there were clan’s barriers in it, Weblin was still a harmonious and splendid country which existed in a beautiful environment.

Exactly like this, until ten years ago.

As the history progressed, Cats and other races of Weblin were producing a few number of frictions.

Exploiting takes place right one after another. The relationship between the tribes finally began to be disputed.

There was a rebellion that occurred ten years ago.

A wolf guard-knight who used to work for the Weblin kingdom had turned the sword towards one of the members of the royal family.

Cats who ruled Weblin, and the one who ruled on their top of that was the royal family Garibaldi. Treasoning that family was a very heavy sin.

That guard-knight’s residence was disrupted and so after he was driven out from the country. However一the uproar still was not all over.

That uproar was not only between Wolves and Cats but involved in every other race.

一And thereupon, a big plague had assaulted the country.

A brutal death-disease called “Zodiva” 一 so called this disease by human and it was in trend.

This may dye the sufferer’s skin into black color and may also end up completely spoiling the brain-tissues. And this unknown caused plague will eventually lead the affected individual into madness.

Wherein a rumour takes place which is “Wolves are the reasons behind the origin of this plague.” This rumour got spread across many regions in no time.

The people of the villages and towns that wolves attacked were feared, that thoroughly-outbroken disease was the wolves’ curse.

And eventually that ‘Zodiva’ name becomes identified as ‘Madness-disease by Wolves.’

In order to sweep away the fear of such people, the Weblin Kingdom Garibaldi VI had announced a certain rule.

一 “Genociding Wolves Law”

“Behead the wolves who are the origin of the nation-wrecking disease.”

Balanced relationships between the clans that had been preserved for 100 years have decisively collapsed after coming this far.

The decree to protect yourself from the wolf species was warranted as a reason to hunt the wolf species behind anyone’s notices.

In the fear of Zodiva, the other clans started wildly joining in wolves-hunting and had decided to exterminate them.

ーAnd ten years have passed since then.

Due to the dramatic decrease of wolves, the impact of Zodiva has also descended.

However, the wolves killing law that Garibaldi VI had published still continued to function without undo.

The wolves species began to decrease so much as if it was an endangered species.

By changing the wolves’ position to be preyed on, the cats became more and more absolute strength owners.

Weblin, unlike the outer places where the plague was not spreaded, is now belonging to cats…

ーIt was an absolute monarchy.

Place: Weblin Kingdom Castle一 Corridor

Auger: …?

Hm, I just heard a voice. As I was walking leisurely in the hallway, I stopped and brought up my ear to listen to something interesting or not.

(Hmmm? What kind of conversation would they possibly have in such a place like this.)

Waiting Maid 1: Hey tell me, did you two heard a rumour about a witch?

Waiting Maid 2: A witch?

Waiting Maid 3: Yeah, rumour about the witch of Charmessen (Beautiful Forest)?

Waiting Maid 1: Oh yeah exactly. You know, it’s said that there’s a witch in the Charmessen forest.

Waiting Maid 2: Yes, I have heard about it a little. It was about like the witch from the Charmessen forest is cursing the Weblin by wielding a disaster, right?

Waiting Maid 3: Exactly, as you see the northward village has been raided up and destroyed by the wolves recently.

Waiting Maid 2: Very miserable indeed… After eating and killing the people regardless of their gender and age, they even set the places on fire.

Waiting Maid 1: Yeah, I talked to a member of knighthood who was dispatched later on…

It was not cool to ask him but, he turned pale after saying it wasn’t something that humans could do.

Waiting Maid 3: Even a brave knight has averted his eyes, it means it was a terrible spectacle indeed…

Waiting Maid 1: Same goes for the impact on the wolves, I heard the witch is manipulating the wolves to attack everyone.

Waiting Maid 2: Eeh? But what the witch would possibly achieve by making the wolves attack down.

Waiting Maid 3: You know, it’s something that I have heard though...because the witch wants to have an eternal life, she will need so many sacrificial victims.

Waiting Maid 1: Then she is making the wolves hunt the villages or towns to get so many sacrificed people...I am scared now.

Waiting Maid 2: Talking about being scared...recently the Garibaldi Majesty IV keeps getting in weak condition. I am scared of what if something bad happens.

Waiting Maid 1: You’re right. Majesty’s condition just keeps getting frailed lately…

Waiting Maid 3: Raids by wolves, Zodiva, Witch and so many threatening stuff are going on. So I would like the Majesty to hang on there…

Waiting Maid 2: Rather, isn’t it okay to hand over the royal to His Highness Mejojo really quick?

Waiting Maid 1: Hush…! How can you handle it if it goes to others’ ears…!?

Waiting Maid 3: As she said, no matter how number one royal successor Lord Mejojo is, don’t say so confirmly that he is going to be the next heir.

Expecting Garibaldi VI is going to pass out is something considered as the crime of treason you know?

Waiting Maid 2: ...R- right...kh. I am so sorry for being careless.

The silence that stares around for a while continues. The three of them are more likely to sweat over what they will do if somebody would hear their conversations.

Auger: (Seriously, you ought to be careful since you don’t know if somebody had a chance to hear you or not.)

That’s right. For example, just like this, there was a possibility that the twin brother of the next royal successor prince Mejojo Von Garibaldi has been taking a peek in your conversations.

(Everyone likes gossiping about rumours afterall~ I also don’t hate it though)

I like it even more if it comes out handy for me.

Waiting Maid 1: That being said...It just pops up in my mind. The disagreements between the Garibaldi Majesty VI and his twin princess came out pretty much a fact.

Waiting Maid 2: Eh? No kidding?

Waiting Maid 3: Oh, I heard about that too. Let me go back umm...it was about Lady Eleanora and Rayrie, yeah?

Waiting Maid 2: Lady Eleanora and Rayrie…? Who are you talking about? Was there anybody with those names?

Waiting Maid 1: Ohh, you have moved here recently. Both Lady Eleanora and Rayrie are Majesty Garibaldi VI’s wives.

Waiting Maid 2: Oh yes, that’s why...I felt like I heard those names before.

But surely both of them had passed away right?

Waiting Maid 1: ...Yeah. It’s been many years since Lady Eleanora and Rayrie had passed away.

Waiting Maid 2: I see. Guess no matter how newcomer I am or other maidens, you are gonna know those names today or tomorrow.

If that is the case then...it means Majesty Garibaldi VI is very sorry.

Waiting Maid 1: Eh? Why’s that?

Waiting Maid 2: Because both of his wives have passed out pretty early, no?

Waiting Maid 1: ………

Waiting Maid 3: ………

Waiting Maid 2: Eh? What’s wrong with the two of you? Did I just...say something weird?

Waiting Maid 3: ...You say something weird or not, Err well...looks like you still don’t know yet, so I shall inform you about that.

Waiting Maid 2: E- eh?

Waiting Maid 1: Talking about Lady Eleanora and Reyrie are prohibited in the interior of the castle. Even if you split them accidentally, you are gonna be dismissed.

Waiting Maid 2: Di- dismissed…?

Waiting Maid 3: Told you right? Lady Eleanora and Reyrie contents are the main reason for the bad patches between His Majesty and his princes.

Waiting Maid 2: Eeh? What does that mean?

Waiting Maid 1: Well you see…

Auger: (Looks like the time has arrived)

*Footsteps*

Waiting Maid 1: …!

Waiting Maid 2: …!

Waiting Maid 3: …!!

I purposely straightened my neck up and showed up from the place that I have silently been hiding.

The maidens who were blooming like a flower while ridiculously chattering a minute ago, are instantly turning into pale blue.

That’s not surprising either. Because the rumoured person that was being chased by these ladies’ curious minds has presented his appearance.

Auger: Hey there, what three of you were talking about? Would you please let me join too? I love those kinds of conversations.

With an intentional carefree and light voice, I asked if it would be okay to accompany them.

Obvious enough, they turn around their heads side to side with immense vigor.

Waiting Maid 1: W- we are terribly sorry, your highness Auger...we are taking our leaves…!

Waiting Maid 2: Kindly excuse our silliness…!

Auger: Eeeh, aren’t you going a bit over? I had already heard every single word of what you just talked about. That being said, you also mentioned something like ‘you will get dismissed’, no?

Waiting Maid 1: N- not at all…! No way…! If I had misunderstood something...kh, I- I am begging your forgiveness…

Auger: Nope, now way I will pardon you right? You are gonna die here.

Waiting Maid 1: Hhhee…!!

*that maiden falls down*

Auger: So, what are you upto? Oh right, you also intended to say that yeaaa.

Waiting Maid 2: W- we are begging...your pardon...gh!

Auger: Oh jeez, do not let out that loud voice. It’s earsore.

...I am a royal master musician. My ears are very sharp. And you can tell it clearly by looking at those ears, no? Or perhaps you humans can’t possibly get what I meant.

Look carefully, my ears are really great. I may end up hearing every single thing.

Waiting Maid 2: ...R- right.

Auger: That- is- why, if you talk about such things for a second time...I will kill you.

Waiting Maid 3: ...hhhgh…!!

Auger: Your response, lil’ human girls?

Waiting Maid 3: A- alright!! Your highness Auger!!

Waiting Maid 2: W- we beg our excuse…!

While the three parties fairly raised their voices, the ladies got dismissed from that place in no time.

Auger: Looks like there're so many rumours spreading out...Fufu, rumours are pretty fun I guess…?

I slothly resumed to start wandering while giggling.

Although it has declined, the effect of Zodiva still has not reached zero.

The raids on the towns-villages by the wolves.

The same time when those situations got paired, other threatening rumours also got spread in a blink of an eye.

Auger: (Even the ‘father is passing out’ being a rumour...mhm, pretty interesting indeed)

I was able to hear something very amusing while loitering around looking for cool news.

I’m also telling this great news to my big brother.

I have to set it up since brother has a serious gaze. He may also not be gonna tease about it like me.

Let’s make it more interesting if that’s what the case is, okey?

#black wolves saga translations #black wolves saga bloody nightmare #black wolves saga #rejet otome games #otome games translations #BWS bloody nightmare #BWS BN common plot p1

49 notes · View notes

doyelikehaggis · 4 years

Text

Rowing the Rarepair Rowboat: Luke Patterson x Willie (Julie and the Phantoms)

Requested by @phoenixfidelity

Luke can't help but be distracted every so often. He can tell that it's starting to get on the rest of the bands nerves every time he misses a chord or he accidentally glances away from the lyrics so he misses a word and then the whole thing is forced to an abrupt halt. He's really trying to stay focused.

Usually it's a piece of cake! He loves the band and he loves playing, because he gets so lost in the music that he forgets the rest of the world exists half the time.

He catches sight of Willie out of the corner of his eye again as they're building up to the chorus of the new song they've been working on. Luke resists the urge to look away from the notebook in front of him.

His fingers keep moving determinedly... while his eyes dart off to the side. It's just a split second, then they're right back on the page, and he hasn't missed anything!

But his mind is quickly taken over by the brief glimpse of Willie that he got. He's just sitting cross-legged on the studio floor, hair tied up in a messy bun, nodding along to their music while he paints. While wearing one of Luke's hoodies. He found it lying on the back of the couch when they came in and he said he was cold, and so he asked if he could borrow it, and Luke wasn't going to say no, was he? That would be rude!

Besides, the orange actually really suits him. It matches the streaks of yellow paint on his cheeks--

Luke quickly glances back over. Sure enough, there is actually paint smeared across Willie's face. And a paintbrush in his mouth while he carefully paints with a different one. He's so focused, his eyebrows scrunched, his foot tapping to the beat on his knee--

Luke catches the mess up in his chords but not before he can stop it. He abruptly stops playing, the rest of the band once again halting along with him.

"Sorry! Sorry, I didn't mean to--" He takes a deep breath and looks determinedly down at his guitar. "Let's just go again, yeah? I'll get it this time, I promise."

"Yeah, I don't think you will," Julie says, and Luke's surprised to find her smiling rather than being mad about it. She and the rest of the band share a look.

"Probably better if we take a break for now," Reggie agrees, clearly trying to suppress a smile of his own and failing miserably as he lifts his bass strap over his head.

"I'm... getting kinda hungry anyway," Alex lies, nodding way too eagerly.

Willie looks up for the first time since their last brief pause. "Are you guys done?"

Another look is shared. Luke shakes his head vigorously, staring at them all in disbelief.

"No! No, we're not! Come on, we still have to practice this song or else we're not gonna have it ready for tomorrow!"

"You'll be fine!" Flynn assures him, hooking an arm around Julie's shoulders. "You guys sounded great! Well... most of the time."

"Yeah, you were really good," Willie agrees, beaming at them with such sincerity that Luke's heart melts under the rays of sunshine he radiates when he turns it on him.

He barely notices Reggie muttering, "And that's our cue..." and the four of them scattering around the studio, and practically leaving the two of them alone.

Luke doesn't know why they're acting like this. So, yeah, he keeps getting distracted from the music. But he's trying to stay focused! It's not exactly going to help if the rest of them just decide to give up!

He sighs and decides he may as well put his own guitar aside for the moment.

"You okay?" Willie asks with a slight laugh, but his eyes are concerned when Luke glances up at him.

His stomach flips over like a pancake. It's weird but it's been doing that a lot lately and he can't seem to figure out why. Maybe he's coming down with something? That would be super inconvenient timing considering they have a gig tomorrow!

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," Luke says, but even he feels like he's somehow lying even as he tries for a grin.

Willie isn't buying it either. He takes a moment to think, his eyebrows only creasing the tiniest bit this time as his thumb rubs a circle into the crease of his elbow. Luke finds the movement strangely calming to watch.

Then it stops, and Willie lights up. "Well, since you guys are... taking a break for the time being, do you wanna help me with this?"

Luke finally tries to take a proper look at what he has actually been doing this entire time as Willie moves over to sit beside him on the couch.

There's a poster -- multiple, actually, as well as what Luke swears is a pile of what were once his guitar picks. He doesn't really play his acoustic too much anymore because it never sounds right with any of their songs, and his fingers just got used to the feel of the strings on his electric, so there wasn't ever really a use for them anymore.

Willie notices him picking up one of the plectrums and turns sheepish. "I found them lying about in here and thought they could use a little... sprucing up." He shrugs. "I didn't think anyone would really mind."

Luke shakes his head and grins as he picks up another in amazement. Each one is painted, and not just a solid colour, but a whole piece of art is painted onto each one. Scenes of bridges with the sunset behind them, fields full of vibrant plants, a starry night sky, a gh--

Luke raises his eyebrows at him. "Is this meant to be me?"

Willie peers at the one he's holding up which features a ghost silhouette wearing an orange beanie with a guitar strapped around its translucent little body.

"Yep," Willie confirms, then breaks out into another sheepish laugh. "I got a little bored of the fancy designs, and I thought that it would be funny, seeing as how you're, you know, Julie and the Phantoms."

"So," Luke glances at the pile of plectrums, "did you do one for all of us?"

"I haven't gotten around to it yet. I wanted to start with you 'cause I figured you'd make the cutest ghost. With the beanie and all."

Luke's stomach does the thing again. And he swears his face is burning up. He better not be getting a fever, because the thought of getting sick right before a gig is giving him a little too much deja vu.

"Does that mean you don't think I'm a cute ghost when I'm not wearing the beanie?" Luke teases, mock serious.

Willie laughs, caught in surprise by the question. But he shakes his head, gazing at Luke with creases around his eyes and a soft smile.

"No way. It's, like, totally impossible for you to not be cute."

Luke laughs as well now and gives him a gentle push, his hand lingering on Willie's arm. "Shut up."

"I got you smiling, at least," Willie points out.

"Yeah, well." Luke doesn't really have anything else to say because he's right.

He looks at him for a second as Willie shifts his attention back down to the posters and plectrums. Luke doesn't mean to stare, but there's something about watching his fingers move that feels... comforting, even when they're just moving a stray bit of hair behind his ear.

"Have you ever played guitar?" Luke blurts out without thinking.

Willie looks back up in surprise but shakes his head. "No. I like listening to music and sometimes performing with Caleb was fun but that was only ever singing. I've never really gotten the hang of an instrument. Takes too long to figure it all out."

"What if I helped?" Luke asks, not fully sure why he's offering. "I'm not saying perform with us. I'm just saying it could be a fun hobby, if you had someone helping you figure it all out."

Willie considers it then shrugs, beaming at him again. Luke's beginning to think he needs sunglasses just to be around him because he finds himself grinning back before Willie's even answered.

"Yeah, okay. Let's do it! But I will warn you, I'm not the most patient person."

"Good thing I am then," Luke says.

"No he's not!" Reggie shouts over to them from the other couch in the corner.

Luke glares at him but Reggie just raises his hands with a confused expression as if to say, what did I do?!

Rolling his eyes as Willie laughs, Luke says, "Don't listen to him. We can practice later and use my old acoustic, that way it'll be a bit easier and you can use one of your awesome designer picks."

He gestures to the pile and Willie scans over them, looking for one to use. Then he picks up the one with the ghost version of Luke on it.

"A great choice, if I do say so myself," Luke says, grinning. "Now, what are we painting?"

Willie hands him a paintbrush and one of the posters. He explains the design and they both start working on them. At some point in between Luke finishing one and Willie just adding a few last touches to his own, Luke tries experimenting on one of the blank picks himself.

When he shows it to Willie, his eyebrows raise and he almost doesn't seem to know what to say for a second. Then his face splits into a smile of pure joy and Luke doesn't think he's ever felt so pleased with himself as he does watching Willie gush over the little ghost hovering over a skateboard like it's the best thing he's seen.

#jatp #julie and the phantoms #luke x willie #willie x luke #luke patterson #willie #willie jatp #rowing the rarepair rowboat #myedit*#phoenixfidelity #this is such a cute pairing though??#they would be disaster dorks together and I love that for them

25 notes · View notes

mbavholidayexchange · 5 years

Photo

To @demonicbutterflies, from @pixiepaintt

Title: Piecewise Equations & The Inner Turmoil of a Mathlete

Rating: T

Summary: It was a day of completely no consequence. Small and tiny against the mass of the calendar; itty-bitty in the grand scheme of chronological order. It was no holiday nor commemoration. It was a Tuesday unlike any other Tuesday to have ever been invented, but to Benny Weir, grand amateur spellcaster and goof, it was the most important day of his life.

It was the day he was going to confess to Ethan fucking Morgan.

Ao3 Link: Link

Content

It was a day of completely no consequence. Small and tiny against the mass of the calendar; itty-bitty in the grand scheme of chronological order. It was no holiday nor commemoration. It was a Tuesday unlike any other Tuesday to have ever been invented, but to Benny Weir, grand amateur spellcaster and goof, it was the most important day of his life.

It was the day he was going to confess to Ethan fucking Morgan. AKA the smartest guy in the whole world. AKA an angel disguised as a human. AKA the person that Benny has been pining over for three years.

In Freshman year, he was just figuring out that he was even into dudes-- he spent most of the year pondering if he liked Ethan as a friend or liked him like that . In Sophomore year, he fawned over Ethan and decided that there was no way the feeling was mutual, especially not with Sarah around. In Junior year, he started out thinking the same, but then-- then Sarah confessed to Erica, and she apparently didn’t like dudes, and Ethan seemed relieved, and he felt like maybe, just maybe, this was his chance. So Benny convinced himself to confess.

The days couldn’t have passed any quicker; he had set a date to confess right after he learned he had a speck of hope (a week ago). Then he blinked, and it was the morning of his confession.

He forced himself to confess before lunch.

That failed.

He forced himself to confess during his last period English class.

That failed.

English class had just been dismissed by the bell, there were no hours left in the school day now, Ethan was still oblivious, and Benny was freaking out. If he didn’t do it now, he knew for a fact he’d back out and hide in his feelings for the rest of his lonely life. He’d done that for two years already; he didn’t want to go back now. Not when he had an opportunity in front of him.

“B? You coming?” Ethan asked, hefting his shoulder bag over his body and ambling to the door. He was probably excited to go home and play the new update of Zombies: Brains, Brains, and More! Benny wished all of his troubles were a zombie apocalypse; that would be infinitesimally easier than what he was going through now.

“Uh-- I--” Benny half-responded, still sitting in his desk. His feet wouldn’t move.

“Benny?” Ethan asked, lifting up a worried smile. He paused momentarily on his journey to the exit.

“You-- I don’t--” Benny managed, pointing a hand to the door. He was shaking.

“Let me just grab my stuff out my locker and we can walk home together?” Ethan promised, walking back towards the door.

“Wait!” Benny yelled, regaining his footing finally, “E, wait.”

“Yeah?”

Benny held his pointing hand straighter, flailing for the right words. He couldn’t think of any Latin with this state of a frazzled mind, so he settled for a simple English spell. Under his breath, sweating with nerves, he muttered:

“ Fire deflection, passionate perfection, grant the door unyielding connection !”

“Did you say something?” Ethan asked. Luckily he didn’t have super-hearing to go with his seer abilities.

“Uh.”

“I’m going to get the nurse. B, you’re worrying me.”

Ethan tried for the door’s handle. He tried again. It gave no budge at all-- not even a sliver of movement in any direction. Benny hesitantly smiled; at least his spell had worked. That was the only thing working for him in the moment; everything else was disorganized mayhem. Just call him Dr. Homo Doom, because his teenage life was descending into a frenzy of unrequited love!

Ethan kicked the door. Immediately after, he scowled tightly and rubbed his foot.

“The door is jammed.”

“Yeah,” Benny nervously responded. Oh God, was he too obvious? Was his plan failing? Was Ethan onto him?

“Are you,” Ethan dithered, choosing his words carefully as he checked Benny up and down, “better now?”

“Yeah. Swell as an Orc in the Highlands of Manoria!”

Ethan tried to suppress a grin at the mention of their favorite fantasy MMORPG. They always made fun of the janky 3D mechanics together.

“Valiant Orc, I shall slay you with my enchanted Ice Protection III Sword of Elysia!”

“Oh heavens above, not the enchanted Ice Protection III Sword of Elysia!” Benny yelled, clutching his chest. He made a pained ‘gh’ sound and collapsed onto his desk, twitching dramatically and trying to hide his giggles.

“Didn’t a new mob just get released?”

“Bro, yes, ah-- spear goblins, I think. Definitely OP. I wanted to play during last class but stupid Ms. Wallon won’t let us bring our phones in the room.”

“Some of us are trying to learn,” Ethan teased, smiling with his eyes, and god did that make Benny’s heart clench .

“And some of us are trying to learn strategy techs for the new meta!” Benny quickly responded. He regarded competitive gaming very seriously.

Ethan sighed. Although he, too, was heavily invested in gaming, he preferred singular player free roaming modes, or, at the very most, campaign modes. Competitive and ranked games gave him too much anxiety. He loved to watch Benny play rankings and rage at smurfs, though.

“Anyway, we should head home. We can play ZBBM?” Ethan pointedly looked at the door, “Can you, uh, do your thing?” He wiggled his fingers, and Benny snorted.

“That’s the issue. See,” he took a deep breath (it was now or never!), “I’ve been wanting to tell you something really kinda important.”

“Okay?” Ethan answered, and that confirmation sent Benny spiraling. This was really, really happening. It wasn’t just in his imagination anymore.

Benny’s breathing quickened, and he briefly considered backing out. Ethan certainly didn’t feel the same way. If he confessed now, he’d lose his best friend. Benny gulped and backtracked.

“Eh, I just--”

And then the door started hissing. And shaking. And glowing.

Ethan gasped. Benny cursed.

“Shit, Grandma always told me English spells were more tricky,” Benny muttered. He flexed his fingers. Something wasn’t right-- he may not be the most proficient spellcaster, but a simple spell like that certainly shouldn’t cause the door to rumble like a giant was full-throttle rattling it.

English spells often had a looser sense of interpretation; something about the translation from the original latin being lost in the magic altered them. He had pronounced the spell with all of the right intentions, but--

But the door was still shaking like an earthquake.

Benny blanched.

“Water pyre, built from needs dire, extinguish this door’s mental fire!”

Nothing.

“Succulent wind, in which all, uh, things end, to my cause a hand you should lend!”

Zero effect.

“Powers from earth, strengthened by girth, to a peaceful door you should give birth!”

Still, no response.

Ethan looked to Benny with wide deer eyes. He had the pinched inner brow expression that meant only one thing: he had been thinking through a problem, and reached a conclusion.

“Did you spell the door earlier?” He accused.

“Uh, heh… the thing is--”

“Benny!” Ethan whined, fretting a hand through his hair.

“I know, I know, I’m trying to find a reversal spell.”

“Because that’s going so smoothly,” Ethan snarked, then paled, “Sorry. I’m just-- agh, I don’t know what’s going on.”

Benny nodded. He didn’t either.

To be fair, he didn’t deserve all the blame. He’d only glanced over the spell once in a decades-old book with more dust than ink-- and then amateurly attempted it. At least it wasn’t a reanimated animal this time.

He could handle a door. Right?

“Let’s just calm down and think about this rationally,” Ethan suggested. He pulled out a chair and sat next to Benny.

Somehow, just Ethan’s very presence soothed Benny’s worries. When Ethan was near him, it was similar to a feeling of… indestructibility. Like nothing could stop them. Benny didn’t know how to feel about that.

Ethan smiled worriedly, always trying to stay lucid in tough situations, and Benny smiled in response. With Ethan by his side, he had no doubt that they could fix this.

“What spell did you use?”

“Well… uh… fire something, made the door lock.”

“Which spell, though?”

Benny grimaced.

“E, you know I have less than one brain cell. I don’t remember. It was pretty simple, though.”

“...Okay.” Ethan sighed, “Then why did you lock it?”

“Oh.” Benny sucked in a breath and froze.

“B?” Ethan asked, scooting closer.

“I-- I wanted to talk.” Benny settled on. Hopefully that was vague enough.

His hands were shaking, so Ethan settled put a hand on his shoulder.

“We can talk. Are you alright?”

“I’m fine, just-- nervous,” Benny replied, uncharacteristically grave.

And suddenly the door stilled.

It was clattering viciously, intent on nearly breaking, until it abruptly suspended all movement. It was… quiet. The room seemed to shrink without the raucous noise. Benny and Ethan both stared at the quasi-normal door. There was not even a hint of a glow anymore; no sign of any previous activity.

Benny was the first to crush the silence.

“What… happened?”

“Touch my arm.”

Benny shrilly laughed. It seemed too ironic to be true. Ethan asking for physical contact? At a time like this? Right after Benny had chickened out from his confession? He couldn’t tell if it was bad or good luck, but fate was certainly poking fun at him. There was an irregular bit of hope stirring in the pit of his chest.

“Wha-- Why?” Benny choked out, chuckling.

“Vision,” Ethan said impatiently, holding out his hand.

Oh.

A vision. Not because he actually wanted to touch Benny or anything. Okay. Benny shrugged and touched Ethan’s hand hesitantly. Not that he was paying attention, but it was quite warm.

Benny was snapped out of it when Ethan shook his head.

“Nothing happened,” he frowned. He took back his arm and pursed his lips.

“Okay,” Benny simply responded.

“At least the door’s stopped, though. Maybe it opened?” Ethan got up to check. He paused before wrapping a hand around the handle, taking a deep breath.

He shook it, and the handle didn’t move.

Benny couldn’t help but chuckle deprecatingly. Oh, how the tables had turned on him. He had trapped himself in a room with the boy he was infatuated with, stuck in a crappy school building past dismissal time. It seemed destiny was pulling his leg, and he had no choice in the matter.

Ethan raised an eyebrow at the laughing.

“Nothing,” Benny quickly assured, “Just… We couldn’t even get stuck in a cool classroom like biology.”

“And we don’t have our phones,” Ethan noted, his eyebrows furrowed in thought, “No possible way of contacting others.”

Benny nodded. He didn’t know what to tag on; it was his fault they were stuck, anyway. He didn’t want to worsen it and make Ethan despise him even more .

“I… just give me a minute to think about the situation,” stressed Ethan. Benny nodded again.

Ethan sat back down and tapped his fingers on his desk. A minute passed. Benny watched him think, so lost in thought that he didn’t even notice Benny’s stares. A few more minutes passed, and the crease in Ethan’s brows was only deepening. Benny wanted to help him so badly, but he’d already messed everything up. Not only did his confession go haywire, but he botched a simple spell and trapped Ethan.

He had never regretted a spell more. Not even when he had accidentally hexed Erica’s hair green and she threatened to sacrifice him to the council for weeks. Not even when he spelled Mr. G to give him an A, and his grandma found out. Not even when he tried magicking some of Sarah’s fake blood to taste like soda and tasted it himself. Nothing could be worse than this-- this cacophony of confusion and guilt. God, he really shouldn’t dwell in his thoughts, but he couldn’t help it. Ethan looked so utterly pensive, and Benny just knew that he was the root cause of it.

His worst fears were being realized, and he didn’t have a clue about how to amend it. His relationship with Ethan was the most important thing in his life, and like everything else he touched, he ruined it.

By this time, they would have both been beyond home, probably settling in for dinner and video games.

Benny waited for Ethan to say something-- anything-- because the silence was nearly killing him, but he didn’t. Ethan just kept tapping his fingers. The desk reverberated back at him. Benny was out of the loop.

Time streamed by them fruitlessly; it stole the light from the windows and the confidence that they had. It was on a different, faster river; Benny was left to run after it.

Eventually, Ethan sighed and broke away from his thoughtful silence. He grabbed a water bottle out of his nearby bag and drank from it. He paused and held it out to Benny as an afterthought.

“You thirsty?”

In more ways than one.

Benny nodded, and snatched the bottle from Ethan’s loose grip. He chugged it, small rivulets of water catching his cheek and strolling down. He pulled away after a second and grinned, garbling through a mouth full of water.

“Imdirect kiff.”

Ethan flushed red. His ears turned a rosy shade, and he tugged some hair forward to cover them.

“Huh?” He asked, voice airy with an odd mixture of confusion and hope.

Benny didn’t reply. He was too busy gulping back the water and despairing in self-negative thoughts. He had no clue why he had done that.

Ethan was still staring at him.

Benny looked away, willing his cheeks to stop burning. They didn’t comply. And hindsight was truly a bitch. He refused to meet Ethan’s inquisitive gaze; he stared at the floor and picked at his short nails instead. Somehow, among this entire mess, he had managed to do something completely ridiculous and irrational again . In his peripheral vision, he saw Ethan twine his fingers together tightly, to the point of whiteness (one of his nervous tics). Benny’s heart stuttered.

Neither of them moved or made a sound for several minutes. There was only the combined noise of their breathing: Benny’s stilted and Ethan’s indecisively heavy.

God, nothing had ever been this awkward between them. It was so unusual-- so innately deafening for Benny to not be completely comfortable around Ethan. He was abruptly dunked in a pit of ice water, and he was left to flail in the bitterness. He was so accustomed to the warmth, and a fire was near, but-- he hadn’t the courage to pursue it. So he was silent.

It took everything in his limited willpower to not crack open a half-assed joke about being about as straight as 2 radians (because that was equal to a circle, and Ethan would love a math reference) but he didn’t. He couldn’t let himself ruin their relationship even further. Well-- if they still had a relationship and Ethan didn’t completely despise him by this point.

But then the object of his worries spoke.

“Unless… it didn’t have to be indirect?” Ethan’s voice wavered, pitchy and breaking on every other word, but Benny had never heard anything so beautiful .

Benny sputtered for a second, then managed to choke out a few words.

“Not indirect-- wait, what--”

He didn’t have the chance to finish, because Ethan was promptly burrowing under his desk and tucking his limbs away from view, husking himself into a neat shell. When he wanted to be, he could be very flexible. His shoulders folded between his knees, his head ducked into his chest, and his feet slipped underneath his body. He was nearly cornered into a fetal position, if it weren’t for the tremor in his chest and wild, watering eyes. Benny was all too familiar with these symptoms; Ethan was extremely anxious.

“E, it’s okay,” Benny soothed, forgetting all of his stressors in lieu of seeing his best friend hurting. That possessed the utmost priority.

Ethan didn’t respond, so Benny took a little step forward and continued to talk.

“I promise everything’s fine.”

“Just-- Just forget I said anything,” Ethan pleaded, lifting his head just enough to meet Benny’s eyes.

Benny didn’t know quite how to respond to that. How could he simply forget the most suggestive thing his crush has said to him in the history of their friendship? That moment was already ingrained into his memory, and he doubted it would ever leave. But instead of telling Ethan that, he simply extended a hand.

Ethan paused and took a couple of deep breaths, steadying himself. He took the hand, and Benny gently hauled him up. And then, in the same motion, pulled Ethan into his chest.

“Wh--” Ethan began to squeak, but was quickly muffled by Benny’s classically striped shirt. He relaxed into the hug after a few awkward moments, tentatively wrapping his arms around Benny in reciprocation.

They had hugged before, sure, but it was never truly intimate. Usually it was a quick pull and release, or a light half-hug in pictures. They friendship was never very physically close; that was largely a result of the stigmatic culture that they grew up in. Besides, playing video games together was much more fun than have tickle-fights. This time, though, this hug was different-- it was a mental connection as well as physical.

Benny sighed into the hug; it was such a simple gesture, but it seemed that all of his chaotic fretting was vanquished as soon as he was pressed against Ethan. The naturally subduing aura of Ethan was only amplified through physical contact.

Idly, he noticed that more than a few seconds had passed. Was this too long of a hug? Was he making this awkward? Benny grimaced and pulled back, suddenly feeling bad, but--

Ethan didn’t let him get far at all, tugging him back into the hug with a strength neither of them knew he possessed.

“Stay,” mumbled Ethan.

“Okay.” Benny surprisedly breathed out in response. The things he would do for this boy .

“I’m sorry,” said Ethan, ever-apologetic, and Benny couldn’t help but shaking his head against Ethan’s hair.

“Don’t be sorry. I-- uh-- I wanted to talk to you about-- stuff. Actually.”

“Stuff?”

“Yeah.”

Benny failed to elaborate. Ethan lifted his head just enough to stare Benny directly in his eyes, maintaining fierce eye contact. He wasn’t joking around.

“Stuff?” Ethan repeated. He raised a hand, almost as if he were to tuck back the hair falling in front of Benny’s eyes, but then changed his mind and dropped it.

Benny averted his eyes, opting to stare at the door. The moment was finally here. Ethan was asking him so directly, so intently that he couldn’t bring himself to lie. It was actually happening; he was going to confess his undying love for Ethan Morgan. Where he had been previously anxious, Ethan’s “indirect” comment was fueling him. He was on top of the world with adrenaline.

“Uh, well, there aren’t any cherry blossoms falling around us like, uh, all successful anime confessions go, but-- but yeah. So basically I’m in lo-- I love you.” Benny nervously chuckled. He studied Ethan’s face very closely, noting all of the emotions that cycled through it: first confusion, then surprise, then contemplation, a bit of sadness, and then contentedness. Or what Benny hoped was some form of contentedness. Ethan’s face settled on that last emotion, holding it for a time akin to forever; neither of them moved in fear of… so many things. The unknown, rejection, loss of each other-- But it didn’t happen.

After several long moments, Ethan’s thin smile cracked into a wide grin.

“I love you too, dork.”

“So…” Benny prompted, lopsidedly grinning just as wide as Ethan now.

Ethan quirked his brows as a silent question.

“Maybe we could get started on making it not indirect--”

And then the door shuddered, trembled, and rounded it all off with a clicking noise. It wasn’t glowing or moaning anymore, just… still.

Ethan, who had been curled against Benny’s chest, pulled away and hesitantly stepped toward the door. He watched it carefully for a few seconds, before deciding something in his head and walking up to it. Benny almost called out to him, was on the verge of warning him to not mess with fickle magic or he might get hurt, but Ethan had his hand wrapped around the handle before he could. With a subtle but effective flick of the wrist, he turned the knob, and the door… opened. It hinged into the classroom, revealing the empty hallways behind it, inanimate and soundless as ever. It was so normal .

The next thing Benny registered, Ethan was doubled over laughing.

“E…?” He asked, confused beyond belief.

“I-- It--” Ethan laughed.

“What’s so funny?” Benny didn’t understand at all.

“I had a hunch. It-- Your spell was fire-based, right? Fire is connected to passion, and draws power from intensity and enthusiasm. When you cast it, it… Latched onto your conflicted feelings, and created a warped version of a piecewise equation.”

“E, I don’t get how algebra messed up my magic.”

“Imagine it like this: if you still had unexpressed feelings, the door would be shut, and if you had expressed feelings, the door would open.”

“Bruh,” Benny said, at a loss for words. His magic spell had held him hostage in an attempt to get him to disclose his crush? Shit. He would have to ask his Grandma about that later (if she didn’t kill him for his stunt in the first place). Magic backfiring against him was a lot more worrisome than him merely messing up a spell (which he had assumed he had done).

“It’s okay,” Ethan assured him, “It’s all better now. Just… be careful with your powers, okay?”

“Thanks, Mom,” Benny bit back without any real anger. He was more upset with himself for letting this happen.

“B,” called Ethan affectionately, “Come on. Let’s go home, play some new meta, and forget this ever happened.”

Benny looked up from his inner turmoil like a possum caught in headlights.

“Forget… all of it?” Benny asked.

“No. Not all of it. Forget your worries.”

“Hakuna matata,” Benny weakly responded.

“Forget the feeling that you’d ever have to be scared of me,” Ethan clarified. He stepped away from the unlocked door and returned to Benny’s side. He held a hand up and finally brushed that piece of hair out of Benny’s face-- this time, without any hesitancy.

“I--” Benny started, but then Ethan was getting closer, so close, and--

Well, with the way that their lips connected like two halves forming a whole, and the way Ethan’s arms slid seamlessly behind Benny’s neck, and the way time slowed for their benefit--

There was no way it was indirect.

#bethan #mbav #my babysitter's a vampire #mbavholidayexchange #mbav holiday exchange

6 notes · View notes

yotsutama · 7 years

Text

SS1.12.1 - One Step Towards Tomorrow

Part 1 Side Story Chapter 12.1

Side Stories

Gaku: Thank you! Thank you all for tonight!

Audience: Kyaaaa! TRIGGER!

Audience: Your new song is the best...!!

Ryuunosuke: ......gh, haa haa... Ahaha! This new song is the best!

Gaku: Yeah! Everyone's really excited!

Ryuunosuke: I really like this song!

Gaku: Me too! I've always wanted to sing this kind of song!

Tenn: ............

Gaku: It's time for the encore, let's go! Of course, the song will be, "Let's✧NATSU"!

Audience: Kyaaaaa....!!

Momo: Good work!

Yuki: The live was great.

Gaku: Re:vale-san! You were here!?

Tenn: Well, I realized they were here.

Momo: Hey! You did some fanservice, right!?

Ryuunosuke: Even though Yuki-san and Momo-san are always so busy, thank you for coming!

Momo: No, no! We got to hear your new song, and I got to have a date with my darling. I'm so happy!

Ryuunosuke: A date?

Momo: Yeah! We came here holding hands!

Yuki: We didn’t, we didn’t.

Momo: We were two-stepping when we crossed the sidewalk! (1)

Yuki: Pfft... Even an elementary student wouldn't do that.

Gaku: Joking as always, huh, Re:vale-san.

Momo: Ehehe! We're aiming for an appearance in a commercial for household detergents so we're practicing for it!

Gaku: Another commercial!? You've appeared in commercials for cars, cosmetics, foods, drinks, smartphones, and even air conditioners too, right!?

Momo: We wanted to do the commercial for White Hot Thunder Dry the most though! Ryuu-chan, you were so sexy and cute up there~!

Ryuunosuke: Ahaha! Thank you very much!

Yuki: TRIGGER, your new song is nice.

Gaku: Do you mean it!? We're so happy to hear that!

Yuki: It resembles Zero. That Hyuuga-san, he's more than what I expected him to be.

Momo: It's different than the usual songs, but it's energetic and cute, I like it! "Let's✧NATSU"!

Ryuunosuke: Thank you very much! We look forward to Re:vale-san's new song too!

Momo: Ahaha! That's taboo for now!

Ryuunosuke: Eh!? Why’s that!?

Momo: It's writer’s block.

Yuki: We're currently cursing the whole world.

Gaku: You can't make a song if you curse the world, right? ...gh, ow! Why, are you pinching me!?

Yuki: Even if you're right, we can’t do it after all, you know......

Momo: Don't, Yuki! It's the face of the Desired Embrace No. 1, take good care of it...!!

Gaku: Putting my face aside, don't vent your anger on others please. I like the cool Re:vale-san.

Yuki: ............

Gaku: If it's Yuki-san, you can do it. Definitely. You're a great person.

Gaku: You're a genius. Everyone knows about it, and you know more than anyone, right?

Yuki: You're right.

Momo: Gaku... So cool......

Ryuunosuke: He's cool......

Gaku: Huh? We're talking about Yuki-san's coolness here, not me.

Momo: Haaa... So handsome... I wanted to say that line......

Yuki: You can say it later.

Momo: Wait... Tenn, why are you so quiet today? Are you tired?

Tenn: No......

Momo: Well, your new song used a lot of your energy, right?! The audience was so excited too, they were overflowing with happiness!

Momo: Tenn always thinks of the fans, you really showed TRIGGER's sincerity and spirit! The three of you were so cool!

Momo: Being able to see that kind of amazing stage overflowed with your pride and great services, I'm sure TRIGGER's fans were so pleased!

Tenn: ............

Tenn: ... We don't deserve those kind words. Thank you very much.

Tenn: I'll take my leave now.

Momo: Tenn......

*slam*

Ryuunosuke: What's wrong with him?

Gaku: I wonder. I don't understand what he's thinking. Just what is he unsatisfied with......

Gaku: After a great concert like today, I wanted to be happy with my members, and yet......

Ryuunosuke: Gaku......

Announcer: Now then, it's a single that reached the top of the ranking this week! TRIGGER's "Let's✧NATSU!"

Riku: Ah......

Nagi: ............

*turns off*

Riku: Y-you're not watching?

Nagi: I'm not.

Riku: But, it's Tenn-ni... I meant, TRIGGER's new song......

Nagi: It's not TRIGGER. Their name is "Shameless Song Thieves".

Nagi: Filthy criminals who dumped away their TRIGGER name.

Riku: ...... Don't say criminals! TRIGGER might have sung it without knowing anything, right!?

Nagi: OH... Riku, are you supporting the TRIGGER who stole our song?

Riku: That's not it. I'm upset too, but......

Nagi: But?

Riku: I don't want to talk bad about my family, I don't want to hear it either.

Nagi: That judgement is full of flaws. Even if reality is cruel, we must admit that......

Mitsuki: Nagi!

Nagi: ............

Mitsuki: Come with me.

Nagi: ...... I don't want to.

Mitsuki: What?

Nagi: Mitsuki, you're angry. I'm not in the mood to talk with an angry Mitsuki.

Mitsuki: I'm not angry.

Nagi: You're obviously angry. You can't fool me......gh!

Riku: Mi, Mitsuki!

Mitsuki: Why are you looking away? Look at me.

Nagi: ............

Mitsuki: Come with me.

Nagi: ...... Yes......

*slam*

Riku: ...... He took him away... Mitsuki can be scary sometimes.

Nagi: I... I won't apologize. I'm not wrong. I'm not going to forgive TRIGGER who stole our song.

Mitsuki: Why do you look scared?

Nagi: Mitsuki, you're gripping my collar......

Mitsuki: Well that's…! Because I was in hurry! I don't think it's good to say those things in front of Riku. Now, let's sit already.

Nagi: Excuse me......

Mitsuki: Nagi. We couldn't sing our new song, and I’m upset and angry too. Everyone is. There's no one who's ok with it.

Mitsuki: However, for Riku, TRIGGER's Kujou is his older brother. Of course, he doesn't want to hear insults about him.

Nagi: ...... That's a big mistake.

Mitsuki: What is?

Nagi: One can betray even one's own family for the sake of gaining an advantage. Feeling deep hatred, even more than towards outsiders.

Nagi: If we don't admit the facts, then we won’t take any countermeasures. Riku will just be hurt, without ever knowing the truth.

Mitsuki: ...... I don't think TRIGGER are those kinds of guys.

Mitsuki: And, even if they fight, or if there are things they don't like, siblings will be siblings. There's no way they would go that far......

Nagi: They wouldn't?

Mitsuki: ............

Nagi: Can you say that you would never do that to Iori?

Mitsuki: Of course.

Nagi: Can you say that Iori would never do that to you?

Mitsuki: ......, even if he did, he wouldn’t mean it, right?

Nagi: Even in situations where one didn’t mean it, as it piles up it will cause serious trouble. Pain can lead to hatred.

Mitsuki: I'd never hate Iori!

*knock knock*

Mitsuki: ...... Come in.

*click*

Iori: I'm sorry. I heard my name being mentioned, did you call for me?

Mitsuki: Ah... No, we're fine.

Nagi: Iori. What would you do if Mitsuki stole something important from you?

Iori: ...... Is it about the new song and Nanase-san? If it is, then you have used a wrong example. Nii-san would never steal my things.

Iori: He would say it straight out whenever he wants something. Isn't that right?

Mitsuki: ...... Yeah. Although, if it's something I can never get, then saying it out loud wouldn't change anything so in the end, I wouldn't say it.

Iori: Nii-san...?

Mitsuki: Anyway, you should stop saying bad things about TRIGGER in front of Riku. He gets weak from stress.

Nagi: ...... I understand.

Mitsuki: It's not like you, Nagi! You always find people's good traits. You always find hope in even those who are at their lowest.

Mitsuki: We couldn't sing that song. I know hearing that song makes our hearts hurt, but hurting others because of it is wrong, right?

Nagi: ............

Nagi: Mitsuki, can you spoil me.

Mitsuki: Ahaha, what the heck. Fine.

Iori: It's not fine!

Nagi: Mitsuki, Sorry... My heart has been rough. Please comfort me until the thorns are gone.

Mitsuki: Geez, you're so helpless.

Iori: You can just meditate by yourself. Japanese mind training. Rokuya-san, you like ninjas, right?

Mitsuki: Iori, don't say cruel things! Nagi is trying to hold back his frustrations.

Iori: ......, Even I, even I am holding my frustrations in too!

*slam*

Mitsuki: Iori! What's with him......

Nagi: Look, it’s just as I said. Even in situations where one didn’t mean it, if it gets piled up it will cause serious trouble in the future.

Mitsuki: Uum... Serious trouble, huh... If you say that, then MEZZO" too......

Nagi: OH! Stop thinking about other things. Now focus on comforting me. Let's try it.

Mitsuki: ............

Mitsuki: Good, good, you're a good boy! (2)

Nagi: OH... I feel like a dog being stroked. But, it actually feels nice.

Mitsuki: Nagi, are you on bad terms with your relatives?

Nagi: ............

Mitsuki: You said it before, right? Women treated you nicely, but you didn’t get along with men because they're jealous of you.

Mitsuki: The closest male near you is your brother, right? I also get jealous of Iori sometimes.

Mitsuki: Nagi is super beautiful, you can also do anything. But, I never got jealous of you.

Mitsuki: However, if you were my brother, I wonder if I would.

Nagi: Mitsuki.

Mitsuki: Hm?

Nagi: One more time please.

Mitsuki: ...... Good, good, you're a good boy!

*click*

Yamato: Sou.

Sougo: Yamato-san... You're still awake?

Yamato: That's my line. You stayed up late yesterday so you said you were going to sleep earlier today, right? What are you doing?

Sougo: I'm preparing for tomorrow's job.

Yamato: Preparing what?

Sougo: The script is written in difficult words, so I'm re-writing it to make it easy for Tamaki-kun to understand.

Sougo: I can't explain things nicely, so I always anger Tamaki-kun... I thought if I could make a memo, it will be easier to understand.

Yamato: I can explain it to Tama later. You should go to sleep.

Sougo: I can't let you do that. This is MEZZO”'s job......

Yamato: You are looking in a mirror every day, right? You haven’t realized it? You look tired.

Sougo: ...... I'm sorry.

Yamato: I didn't want you to apologize. I just want you to rest. Now, go sleep.

Sougo: But......

Yamato: No buts.

Sougo: ............

Yamato: Why do you look so troubled. Onii-san didn't want to trouble you. I just want to be told "Yamato-san, you are so niceー".

Sougo: ...... Yamato-san is nice, always......

Yamato: Yeah, yeah. I'm cool right.

Sougo: Yes......

Yamato: ...... You saying it like that is embarrassing me though......

Sougo: ...... I'm sorry for making you worry. It's my fault for being unreliable......

Yamato: I don't think you're unreliable. You're just unskilled at this.

Sougo: Am I, unskilled...? My way of doing this job......

Yamato: Wrong. Whether it’s refusing or relaxing, you should watch Onii-san and learn how to do things loosely.

Yamato: You should live more skillfully. If you keep being like that, you'll just break yourself.

Sougo: Yamato-san, are you living skillfully?

Yamato: I wonder.

Sougo: ...... I don't think you do things loosely. But......

Sougo: I feel like I've only seen your back. Because you always dodge things.

Yamato: Oh. You being able to complain now means you've recovered, huh.

Sougo: I didn't mean it as a complaint though......

Yamato: Night. I'm turning off the light. If you wake up again after I leave, there's gonna be punishment, okay.

Sougo: I understand. Good night... Thank you very much.

Yamato: Yeah, yeah.

*slam*

Sougo: ............

Sougo: ...... Oh right. The directions for tomorrow's workplace......

*click*

Yamato: Are you trying to wake up?

Sougo: I, I'm sleeping.

Yamato: Ok.

*slam*

Sougo: ............

Sougo: ...... Let's sleep......

Sougo: I hope I can do well with Tamaki-kun tomorrow......

*click*

Tamaki: Rikkun.

Riku: Ah... Welcome back, Tamaki. You came home late today too. Good work.

Tamaki: Did you want something?

Riku: Eh? What, that's sudden. Ah! Then, can you put this on the wardrobe?

Tamaki: Right.

Riku: And thenー Handstand!

Tamaki: You really like handstands, huh!? Fine. ......gh, here...!

Riku: Wow! Amazing, amazing!

Tamaki: ......gh, there you go. Anything else?

Riku: Next is......

Riku: Try praising Tenn-nii. Anything you can come up with, anything is fine.

Tamaki: Rikkun's big bro? Uum, he gave me King Puddings. He's nice.

Riku: Yeah.

Tamaki: He worked hard even when he had a fever. That's admirable. He always tries his best. And..., he's a good guy who always thinks about the fans?

Riku: Yeah... Yes, that's right!

Tamaki: Is this enough?

Riku: It is! Thanks! I'm cheered up now!

Tamaki: Hehe......

Tamaki: I, I like being with Rikkun.

Riku: Really? That kinda makes me embarassed!

Tamaki: Haha... Yeah. Rikkun, you are always happy. You think nicely of yourself......

Tamaki: ...... I'm not good at being with Sou-chan. It's not that I don't like him. How should I put it......

Tamaki: Being with him always makes me feel like a bad guy.

Riku: Tamaki... Are you fighting with Sougo-san?

Tamaki: We always, you know. Always. When we're not, we just keep silent awkwardly. I don't like that.

Tamaki: It feels like I'm troubling him just by being with him, I don't want that......

Riku: I see... So that's why you came here to do the handstand.

Tamaki: It would be nice if Sou-chan was easier to understand, just like Rikkun......

Riku: Don't say things like Iori!

Riku: Then, you can just help Sougo-san out tomorrow! Just like how you helped me today!

Tamaki: But there's nothing I can do to help him.

Riku: There is! Like, holding his bag, maybe? Tamaki is strong, right!

Tamaki: I wonder if that'll make him happy......

Riku: He will be! But before that, you should say to him that you want to get along, you want to help, that is.

Tamaki: ...... That's kinda embarrassing......

Riku: He'll definitely be happy! Those feelings are important!

Riku: Sougo-san and Tamaki are good guys! There's no way it won't go well!

Tamaki: Rikkun......

Tamaki: Should I, do the handstand again?

Riku: Yayy! Backflip! Do the backflip!

Tamaki: That, I made a hole in the wall when I did that last time!

*click*

Iori: You're so noisy!

Tamaki・Riku: Uwa...! You surprised me!!

Iori: Please think of what time it is now! Nanase-san, aren't you a working adult!?

Riku: Ahー! You only blame me!

Tamaki: Iorin, sorry... Riku-san ordered me to, and......

Riku: Uwaー! You suddenly act all innocent!!

Iori: I told you, you are all so noisy!

*click*

Mitsuki: Iori is noisy too, you knowー.

Iori: ......, Nii-san......

Riku: Mitsuki!

Mitsuki: Sougo is sleeping so keep it down, okay.

Tamaki: ...... Okay.

Iori: ...... We're sorry......

Mitsuki: The three of you, sit over there together.

Iori: What is it...?

Riku: ...... Like this?

Tamaki: Uwaa, he'll definitely hit us......

Mitsuki: ............

Mitsuki: Good, good, you're all good boys!

Iori: Wha......

Riku: Ahaha! What is it!?

Tamaki: Ahaha! We're not dogs, you know!

Mitsuki: Ahahaha! You're all, good, good boys!

Mitsuki: So that we don't lose to all the troubles we have, let's work hard starting tomorrow!

To be continued......

T/N

First, I'm sorry this is SUPER LATE. rl stuff happened and the next SS is SO LONG (I'll post it after this) thankss @ousama-pudding for proofreading!!!!❣

(1) two-stepping is a dance step that looks like this (lol)

(2) よーしよしよし is expression of affection and usually used when you pat someone/your pet on the head.. It literally translates to "good good good", I changed it into "good, good, you're a good boy" hahah

Thanks for reading~

#idolish7 #nagi arc when #i want to see nagi's brother #sidestories translation #yazutranslates

86 notes · View notes

celestmum · 5 years

Text

NYAFF19 HAN DAN George Wu Exclusive Interview by The Lady Miz Diva (June 30th, 2019)

The career path of George Hu has been a serendipitous one: The native New Yorker was talent scouted whilst on a family visit to Taiwan, despite being unable to fluently speak Mandarin, or Taiwanese. That didn’t stopHu from becoming one of Taiwan’s most popular television and film actors.

胡宇威能进入演艺圈都是机缘巧合。出生在纽约，说不出一口流利的普通话或闽南话，却在和家人一次来台湾探亲时被星探看中。虽然有语言障碍，却没成为他的绊脚石，如今他已是台湾著名的影视人之一。

In Director Huang Chao-liang’s semi-biographical opus,HAN DAN, Hu seethes volcanically as the good boy bullied into going bad. Hu sat for an exclusive chat withLMD about the movie’s combustible mix of internalised rage and firecrackers.

在黄朝亮导演半自传作品电影《寒单》里，观众能看到了宇威在角色里的多层变化，因为一直被霸凌，从一个乖巧的男孩渐渐地黑化。

在此很荣幸能与宇威做了独家专访谈谈他在戏里的火爆演出和内心深处的煎熬。

The Lady Miz Diva: How did the role of Lin {Zheng-Kun} come to you?

你是怎么接触到 "林正昆" 这个角色的？

George Hu: Well, we {Director Huang Chao-liang} worked together {SUMMER FEVER}, so he had the image of me playing this role. He was just trying to connect my own personality to this character. There’s two main leads in this film; and they’re each a shadow of him. They are both sides of him, my character is his good side gone bad. The other character is the bully becoming the good guy.

其实我和导演之前合作过 (恋夏38度C) 。他觉得我的性格很符合这个角色。电影里的2个男主的各自性格其实都是导演心里的影子。我的角色是导演 "从好人变坏" 的那一面而人硕的角色是他的 "坏变好" 那一面。

So, he would give me one word in Chinese, which translated means “hide,” or “buried.” I didn’t understand until I started looking at the character’s background story and the script, and it felt like I knew what he meant afterward. Because there are areas where, if, for a regular person -- for instance, like me -- if you would come across a conflict, sometimes you would explode. Sometimes you would react towards the person that gives you these negative comments, or negative behavior toward you; but Director wanted his character, Lin -- he’s burying all those emotions, and it got me sick. It got me sick to the point where we were filming, and I was like, “Why? Why?”. {Laughs}

所以导演给了我一个字 "藏"。起初我不明白直到我研究人物的背景读完剧本之后才真正体会到导演要的感觉。因为有些剧情对我本人不太理解，当人遇到困境被恶意重伤被欺负时自然都会发火，但是导演却要我把情绪藏着埋在心里这使我好难受甚至常在开拍时有疑惑会自问 "为什么？" "为什么？"

LMD: This film has enough character development for four different movies. Your Lin is the quintessential “good boy,” Yet, throughout the duration of this film, his emotional arc is like a roller coaster. How did you work with Director Huang Chao-liang, to keep a steady line through so much upheaval?

在电影节影展的4部电影里角色都经历过变化而你的角色就是个典型的"乖乖男" 却在戏里情绪变化就像坐过山车一样。这样的角色情绪起伏，你是怎样和导演在合作上取得平衡？

GH: Before filming, we were reading the script probably three or four times, back and forth, back and forth. So, in every scene would talk about, ‘What do you think this character would do?’ In his mind, Director has his own story, and I would have my own story; and we would just try to meet in the middle. He wouldn’t go too overboard in saying, ‘I want this,’ or ‘I want that.’ He would be more lenient. So, when we found our point, it would be easier to film this character.

在开拍前我们已经大概研究剧本有3到4次吧来回不断地讨论。"你觉得他(林正昆)会怎样做？" 导演会有他的想法，我也有我自己的，我们会试着找出共通点。导演不会那么野蛮坚持一定要跟着他的说法，他比较随和宽容，这样演起角色也容易多了。

There were times when we would go off the roller coaster; I would go straight sometimes, and he would say, “No, no, no, you gotta take it back in. You have to wait for this moment to explode”. So, that was why when I exploded, it felt so good. I finally exploded, because there were all these emotions buried deep within this character.

有时我的情绪还是会控制不了，他就会说 "不不不，你需要把情绪埋藏着。要等到对的时刻才能爆发出来" 所以当那刻一到我整个情绪就引爆了那种感觉很舒服终于能把埋藏在心里的感受全释放了。

LMD: Knowing that so much of the film is based on the life and personality of Director Huang, was he open to your interpretation and suggestions about a character that was essentially himself?

据了解大部分的剧情跟导演的生活性格有关联，导演有因此对你以自身为例讲解人物并且给于意见吗？

GH: He was definitely open to my suggestions, and I was definitely open to his. Plus, because this character is based on his self-memory, as well, I would definitely have to listen to his side of the story and mesh it with my side of the story to make it more reasonable for me to be comfortable acting this character as a role. So, at first it was a little bit {tricky}, but then afterwards, it was like, ‘You know what? It does make sense, because he’s been through it.’ He says it’s been through it, so I’m not going to question that. {Laughs}

我们彼此之间都会沟通给于想法加上这个人设大部份来自导演的记忆我一定会听从导演的想法再融合我的理解这样我诠释起这个角色也容易多了。起初我会觉得有点。。。但是后来想想 "其实也很有道理毕竟他经历过" 竟然他说他经历过，我无需质疑。

LMD: There is not a lot of dialog in this film, and we have to sort of study your character’s face to understand what he’s thinking. In that climactic scene, before Lin finally does explode, you can see the moment when his heart breaks watching the girl he loves with his trash rival, and then the bottled up fury when the rival taunts him. In that moment you keep waiting for him to haul off and rip the guy to pieces, but he never does.

这部电影没有很多台词大部份都是靠演员的脸部表情来表达。有个高潮的一幕就是当林正昆亲眼目睹心爱的人和讨厌的人在一起时还要被对方嘲弄那种心碎又一直强忍着愤怒的眼神很到位。当时大家都在等着正昆把对方打倒但是最终他没有。

GH: This character, I would say, can backstab a person, if he wanted to. He doesn’t want any confrontation up front; he wants confrontation in the back. In that moment when he just wants to punish that bully, he didn’t want to really kill him. He just wanted to punish him. Lin wanted him to deal with the pain that he dealt with, that he had to go through. So, he pretty much lights it up on fire, but he didn’t think that that situation would happen. He didn’t think it all through.

如果他心想要做他确实有能力在背后伤人。他不想当面对质只想默默对抗。发生那场意外的当时他一心只想惩罚那个恶霸没想要他死只想对方也能感受到他经历过的痛所以点燃了火没预料会造成意外那时他真没想清楚

LMD: You mentioned how you were becoming physically sick of having to internalise so much of Lin’s emotions. Were you able to leave Lin on the set at the end of the day?

你说过因为角色的内心戏太重使你感到难受。拍摄结束后是否能抽离角色？

GH: I thought when it was the huge wrap -- when we were done with the film -- that I was leaving him, already. Back when we were filming the first film together, that got to me after two years. Looking at the trailer, I broke down. I thought I was over it, because it was two years after that film, why am I being upset and really blue when watching this trailer? So, I’m not totally over it. So, I reminded myself not to get too deep with this new character.

当时电影杀青后我以为我就此离开了正昆。记得第一部合作作品，那次的角色不知不觉足足跟了我2年。当预告片在播放时我莫名奇妙地哭了心想都已经过了2年为何看预告还会感到难过悲哀呢？后来发现原来我没完全抽离。所以之后我常提醒自己不要将自己太过投入角色里

Luckily, it was only a month, because after wrapping filming, I was doing some photo shoots and commercials, and I was looking in the mirror and seeing something wrong. There was really something wrong with me. {Laughs} It was definitely not me. {Laughs} It’s something like possession, but it’s not. I have to learn to get rid of all this. {Laughs}

这次还好只维持一个月。电影杀青后就开始忙于一些宣传摄影有一天我望着镜子里的自己就觉得不对劲 (笑) 那个肯定不是我 (笑) 好像中了邪但也不是。我就慢慢地学着抽离 (笑)

LMD: Tell us about filming the firecracker ritual. Please tell me it was all CGI?

可以聊拍摄那场 "炸寒单" 的过程。请告诉我这全都是电脑合成

GH: Okay, it was definitely CGI, but we had to make it more realistic. We were still on the podium being carried around, and they would light the firecrackers from about three yards away. I mean, it’s kind of far, but not too far, because firecrackers, they don’t have eyes; meaning when you light them up, they can shoot up anywhere. So, you still have a little bit hitting your skin, but it wasn’t anything too severe, but the feeling actually helped my character.

确实都是电脑合成但是为了演出逼真我们还是需要站上抬轿他们还是会在远处点燃鞭炮三码外吧说远也不算远鞭炮不长眼睛它都会乱射所以还是会被烫伤还好不严重这种痛的感觉反而帮助我更了解角色

LMD: I’m curious about what motivates Lin to not only take responsibility for A-yi {Ming-yi}’s rehabilitation, but to keep him nearby and really bring him into his life and business? At first it seems clear it’s guilt over the fireworks incident, but then there is bonding that occurs between the pair of them. Talk about the arc of their relationship.

我很好奇正昆除了要帮阿义戒毒为何留他在身边还带进他的生活里而且一块经营生意？起初以为是因为愧疚但是过后又发展了兄弟情。聊聊他们之间的情感究竟是什么

GH: In my version, I would say it’s because he didn’t have that many friends back then. Even though A-yi was his childhood bully, Lin found his other side. He see this other side, where, if we were best friends, A-yi would do anything for me: We would protect each other, he would protect me, I would protect him, and it’s sort of like a brotherhood to him. He saw this in him.

剧我的理解正昆应该没什么朋友就算阿义是曾经欺负他的恶霸，他也渐渐发现他的另一面。他查觉到 "一旦他们成为好朋友阿义都会为他做任何事他们互相保护着他会保护正昆正昆也会保护阿义" 就是这样的兄弟情这就是正昆在阿义身上感受到的

But, when Lin calms down, and just thinks back -- because he can’t let go of the past, he thinks back a lot -- he thinks, if you didn’t bully me, I wouldn’t be the way I am right now. It’s because of you that I’m me, and it’s because of me that you’re you. So, he can’t forget the past, and once he thinks about it, it’s to the point where he’s hiding all the secrets behind him, and keeping them away from A-yi until he found out.

虽然如此，但是一旦正昆静下来回想过往就是因为放不下所以会时常想他会想 "如果不是你欺负我我应该不会像现在，是因为你才有现在的我，也是因为我才有现在的你。" 他无法忘记过去也就一直隐瞒直到被发现。

LMD: That relationship is just plain weird…

他们的关系好微妙。。。

GH: It’s weird, yes. It’s like, either it’s betrayal, or brotherhood. It’s like a mix between those two.

的确是啊好像是背叛和兄弟情 2个情感的混合

LMD: So, how did you and the other actor, Cheng Jen-Shuo work together to build that strange bond? Did you spend time together off the set, or extra rehearsals?

你和另一位演员郑人硕，是怎么培养这种微妙的情感？你们时常在场外互动还是有格外的排练？

GH: Not really. I mean, before shooting, we got the chance to meet with each other, and there was a spark that went off every time we’d meet each other. It was like, ‘This is weird, but it’s nice,’ because we’d known each other for a long time, but we started work not too long ago, and we were buddy-buddies off set all the time.

并没有耶，我是说。。在开拍之前我们有见过面一拍即合说也奇怪但是感觉很好我们一见如故虽然只是刚开工不久我们已经像是 "死党"了

For the brotherhood part, it was easy to act. We would always kid around. When it got intense, that was when we would really give it 110%.

演起兄弟情方面就得心应手我们时常胡闹但是一旦剧情变紧凑时我们还是会给于110%的关注的

LMD: As HAN DAN is based off Director Huang’s real-life experiences, were there particular memories he shared with you from his real life to help you develop your character?

电影《寒单》是导演亲身经验，他有没有和你分享旧时的记忆来帮你诠释你的角色吗？

GH: Throughout his childhood, everybody was also looking up towards him. Out of his siblings, everybody was looking at him, saying, ‘You have a bright future. I can tell you have a bright future.” But at the same time, when he would go to school and deal with being bullied, he said to himself that he didn’t want to be the one protecting the bullies, so, he had that mentality to fight back. So, that’s the part where the other side of his character comes in.

在导演的童年他常被敬仰在兄弟姐妹当中常常被说 "你将来必定有大好前途" 但是在那时他也在学校遇到霸凌他不想一直纵容恶霸所以随时都做好反击的准备。这部分就像足林正昆的心情

Plus he’s from Taitung, which is the ceremonial area; it gives him an aspect of writing the script for four years. So, he gave me a lot of inferences from back in the day, where he wanted to fight back, but if he fought back, it would affect his family’s name. He told me things like that.

导演是台东人台东也是炸寒单这个习俗盛行的地方他足足花了4年的时间写剧本导演会和我分享往事做参考他说过他曾经想过还手但是他没有因为他知道如果还手只会带坏家的名声

In the end, I understood what he was saying about this character where you cannot do anything at all. You will have your chance, just not the way the other character behaves towards fighting back. Lin fights back smartly.

最后我终于明白为何正昆会感到委屈而选择强忍着。心里了解终有一天会轮到你反击但是不是像对方那样以爆制爆。

LMD: Your career is fascinating: You hadn’t intended at all to become an actor, or singer, or any kind of famous anything, yet here you are. Are you pretty much settled on professional life in Taiwan, or are you interested or pursuing acting roles here in the US?

你的演艺事业好精彩啊你从没想过要成名当演员歌手什么的但是最后却意外地进入了这个行业。你在台湾的演艺生涯还算稳定吗？有想过回来美国发展吗？

GH: I’ve always been interested. After landing my first steps in the entertainment business, I was always like, my first language is English, and if I can use that to my advantage, I would actually try to land a role over here. I’ve been trying, and so far, I guess it’s lost in translation, I dunno.

我一直有想啊。自从踏入娱乐圈我就常想英语是我擅长的语言所以希望能借此在这里演个角色。一直有尝试就是没结果可能就迷失在翻译中吧我也不晓得

I’m based in Asia right now, so if I were to land a role over here, in my point of view, I would have to move back here. There are collaborations with Asia and America, where there are Asian films being filmed in America. I haven’t had that chance to be a part of that kind of role.

现在我的发展都在亚洲所以如果想要在这里发展我必须搬回来发现现在有蛮多亚美(亚洲美国)合作机会，亚洲影视也有在美国取景拍摄可惜到目前我还没有机会

Chinese translation: 77 Creation

Article source: http://thedivareview.com/NYAFF19_Han_Dan_George_Hu_Exclusive_Interview.htm

0 notes

mithoen · 7 years

Text

More Ageswap AU Stuff Because I Love This AU Except It’s Mischief Trio + Quail Boyfriends Focused

SURPRISE, THERE’S M O R E BECAUSE I’M A SELF INDULGENT FUCK WHO LOVES HER OWN AU’S TOO MUCH

THIS IS BASICALLY JUST A SKYPE CONVERSATION BETWEEN MYSELF AND @sproson-ya SO ENJOY

WARNING; SENSITIVE MATERIAL IS DISCUSSED HERE SUCH AS THREATS OF VIOLENCE, ACTUAL DEPICTIONS OF VIOLENCE AND DOMESTIC ABUSE, PLEASE READ WITH CAUTION

Please don’t take any of it too seriously, especially the parts where we’re fuzzy on certain things - yes, they could be researched but at the time it was spur of the moment and this is just a vague concept for something that could happen.

Kyn: HITORI AND KAZOO DON'T GET ALONG WITH THESE THREE, RIGHT?? I said tohri might be friends with them because he's the Nicest but

Vincent: hitori is a Little "e h " about tohri but Kazuaki probably likes him. xD or at least is not afraid of him when he's alone

Kyn: poor hitori I imagine souma and ryuuji might try to rope him into some pranks sometimes

hitori: "I-i'm not going to help you guys-"

ryuuji, on one of hitori's sides, holding hitori's arm in his own: "oh c'monnn, u-zu-ne! you're too stuck up,, being the teachers pet must be boring sometimes, right?"

souma, on hitori's other side, also holding hitori's arm: "indeed. you should relax sometimes, uzune. research says that a little fun is good for your health."

hitori: "it's not fun if you're hurting people!!"

souma: "oh?? I don't know, I find it's quite fun to watch nanaki cry while I pull his hair out strand by strand."

hitori: "gh- don't you dare!"

souma: "who knows? i guess it's up to you, uzune."

Vincent: hitori, gives souma his very known sharp-eyed look; "if you even dare to touch him, i will pin you to the wall and Punch out your teeth." meanwhile Kazuaki is probably sitting there nervously and talking to tohri it's really.... easy to win his trust kjsdhvkj

Kyn: souma: //smiles cruelly// "mm, i'd like to see you try." //tugs on the others arm a little// "i am aspiring to be a doctor,, and i'm not afraid to get dirty. i could dislocate your arm before you even got the chance."

ryuuji: "isa, reel it in a little."

souma: ",,,is that a yes or a no, uzune?"

tohri: //sweating and trying to distract kazoo from his friends 'persuasion' tactics// "so!! you say you like to draw, hm?? i have never seen your artwork! artistry is very important to one such as myself, so i'd love to see it sometime!"

Vincent: Kazuaki; small gasp, "you??? like art too?? do you draw or something else?" suddenly he's very interested and just omg, tohri you actually make him kinda happy how can you be such an asshole. look at this pure golden and freckled Boy...

Vincent: and hitori ksjhkcj

Vincent: he'd never agree to it and just protect Kazuaki better or get hurt himself

Vincent: he aint taking no threats from no one

Kyn: tohri: //blinks and then flushes, a little embarrassed and a little sad he's tricking this poor Boy// "i,, sculpt, sometimes! and i,,, well, they aren't very good, but i,,,, i draw clothes,,,,, i want to become a fashion designer,,,,,,,," //blinks again and realises what he was saying// "b-bUT ITS NOT LIKE THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME OR ANYTHING- IT'S JUST A STEPPING STONE IN THE LIFE OF THE GREAT NISHIKIKOUJI TOHRI!!"

Kyn: hitori: "grr,,, i'd never agree to your dumb pranks!! whether or not they're harmless - you're still causing trouble in the school! now get off of me!" //pulls himself out of souma and ryuuji's grip

souma: "hmph. as usual, you're uncooperative and annoying." //pulls out a scalpel from the inside of his blazer and sneers at hitori// "maybe if we skin you we'll find somebody a little easier to work with on the inside-"

ryuuji: //holds his arm over souma's chest// "no, isa, leave him be. fight on your own terms, in your own time. if he won't help, we'll just have to make it extra mischievous, right?"

souma: ",,,of course. fine. but we aren't done here, uzune."

Vincent: FUCK. FUCK. NOW I JUST IMAGINE HITORI RUNNING AND SEARCHING FOR KAZUAKI. BUT SOUMA AND RYUUJI OF COURSE KNOW WHERE HE AND TOHRI ARE SO THEY FIND THEM SOONER. AND JUST RYUUJI AND SOUMA WALKING UP TO THE TWO OF THEM SOUMA GRINNING LIKE THE EVIL FUCK HE IS AND KAZUAKI JUST "o h no.." probably tries to text hitori quickly but ryuuji snatches his phone away and aa aaaaa aaa

Kyn: AHAHAHAHAH Y E S.

kazoo: "p-please don't!! please!! i-i'm sorry!"

ryuuji: //holding kazoo still by his wrists// "haha! i'm not."

tohri: ",,,wait- wait, ryuuji, souma - do we have to hurt him?"

souma: //sorting through his 'equipment', turns his head to look coldly at tohri over his shoulder// "what, have you come to care for him now that we left you alone together for half an hour?"

tohri: "n-no, i just,,,"

souma: "remember where your loyalties lie, nishikikouji."

kazoo: "tohri!! tohri, help me please!!"

tohri: //falls silent, looks away from kazoo with a painful expression// ",,,sorry, nanaki."

ryuuji: "awright!! what're we gonna do with him, i~sa?"

souma: "i was thinking of leaving some light scarring along his stomach. perhaps we should sign our names into his skin and let uzune discover them as a present, hm?"

Vincent: Kazuaki fucking PANICS; "N-no!! please! don't touch me!! don't touch me there - it's inappropriate, please please please-- i'm gonna throw up, please -- ,, please,,, " he's still pretty scared of touch holy shit. and for them to get to his stomach they'd need to undress layers of clothes the boy would be v traumatized in many ways

Vincent: hITORI RUN!! RUN AND SAVE YOUR BOYFRIEND!! god,,

Kyn: HITORI'S GONNA H A V E TO FIND THEM AND QUICK BECAUSE SOUMA'S NOT ABOUT TO STOP FOR ANYONE, RYUUJI DOESN'T CARE AND TOHRI'S TOO POWERLESS TO STOP THEM BOTH

souma, bent over kazoo as he unbuttons the other's shirt: "you're annoying. stop moving. kawara, hold him steadier."

ryuuji: "hey, it's not as easy as it looks, isa!!"

kazoo: "no!! get off me!! please- please, stop, please-"

souma: "annoying. nishikikouji, come here."

tohri: "wh,,, what? what do you want??"

souma: //looks around before grabbing a loose brick off the ground and handing it to tohri// "hit him."

tohri: "what?! I can't-"

souma: "hit him, nishikikouji. all you have to do is knock him out - or at least give him a concussion. just get him to stop moving."

tohri: ",,,,,,"

kazoo: //outright crying// "t-t-tohri,,, please,,,, don't,,,,,"

ryuuji: "go on!!"

tohri: "mmnph. fine, fine... stay still, nanaki, it'll only hurt for a moment,,"

Vincent: Kazuaki; "no, no please i'll hold still please don't hit me. I'll hold still won't tell anyone. please, not the head.." still sobs and tries to hold as still as possible so tohri doesn't smack him over the head

Vincent: hitori probably,,, wont find him in time,,, they probably arent even in School anymore??? and if he finds them by trying to run in the direction they went in that would take too Long and Kazuaki would be in pain already,,,,

Vincent: at least hitori would be able to call the Police on them and then catch souma one day off guard and Punch his nose bloody

Vincent: ryuuji and tohri will get revenge too but a more quiet one that wouldn't be able to be tracked down to him as easily :'D

Kyn: I WAS HOPING YOU'D MENTION HITORI CALLING THE POLICE

Kyn: they'd probably find these three before any Actual harm could come to poor, poor kazoo

tohri: "ghhh,,, I can't believe this,,, arrested, again, because of you two and your stupid messing about!!"

policeman: "shut up. you were obviously going to hit that kid-"

souma: "let him go, please. I told him to."

policeman: "you're... isa souma, right? you have a record, boy, why should we trust your word-"

ryuuji: "no, he's right!! tohri's innocent! please don't get him into trouble."

policeman: ",,,we'll be investigating into this, but for now you're free to go."

tohri: "oh, thank god-"

Kyn: ryouta: "ryuuji!!"

ryuuji: "ah, dad. hi."

ryouta: "I can't believe you- again? really? we've talked about this! you promised when we made up that you'd stop getting caught up in this sort of thing and focus on your studies!"

ryuuji: "it's not like i'm doing terrible in school, dad. and we weren't actually going to hurt kazoo - it was just pretend! right, isa?"

souma: ",,,indeed."

ryouta: //massages the bridge of his nose// "we're,, talking about this seriously when we get home, ryuuji. come on."

ryuuji: "oh, looks like i'm getting bailed out. see you tomorrow at school, isa!"

souma: "bye."

//RYUUJI AND RYOUTA PASS A VERY ANGRY LOOKING MAN IN A SUIT AS THEY LEAVE//

ryuuji: ",,,wait. wait, wait-! souma! dad, get off, souma's-"

ryouta: "??? we're leaving, come on - hey, ryuuji!"

ryuuji: //arrives back in the holding cells just in time to watch souma's dad hit souma across the face

Dr. Isa: "you're a disgrace to this family! you have a criminal record!"

souma: "sorry, father."

Dr. Isa: "you will hand over all your research and equipment to myself and your mother immediately after getting home, do you hear me? your phone, too."

souma: ",,,yes, father."

Vincent: YOOOOO HITTING YOUR CHILD IS NOT COOL MAN HE MIGHT BE AN ASSHOLE THAT JUST TRAUMATISED KAZUAKI P BADLY ( good luck being able to snuggle up onto your soft boyfriend ever again hitori ) BUT YOOOOO O O NOT COOL. And that with the police in sight! You're going to get to hear something from them, too :T Guess the police at least sees where the roots lie...,,, Considering that souma is not of age yet and already has a record I'm pretty sure a social worker would visit souma at home and try to at least look around in his environment??? I'm pretty sure they would talk to souma and question his parents too... mmmm

Vincent: No money would really be able to be enough for souma to stay in that family,, He probably gets in a home for abused children for a while ;w; If he's lucky

Vincent: If not his dad is mightier and just owns everyone

Vincent: Which might be p b ad

Vincent: I'm basing this off on the German system btw

Vincent: Idk how it would be in Japan but I can't imagine that it would be much different,,

Kyn: aaah yeah i was gonna say i imagine souma's family is. Pretty Rich and they're likely to fork out a lot of money to keep souma out of real trouble - and themselves out a lot of trouble for being cruel to him, too

Kyn: IDK HOW THE POLICE WORK IN JAPAN EITHER BUT IT DOES MAKE SENSE YEAH

Kyn: in any case, souma ends up running away to live with tohri later on s o

Kyn: tohri: "you two are late!! i was getting worried you'd had to spend the night in jai- WHOA SOUMA, WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR-"

souma: "i don't want to talk about it."

ryuuji: ",,,maybe we went overboard this time."

tohri: "if even you're saying that, i guess we must have done,,, what happened?"

ryuuji: "his dad came to bail him out."

tohri: “oh...”

Vincent: O h n o

Vincent: They better apologise for what they've done qwq Hitori won't show any mercy otherwise, and nageki doesn't need this,,,

Kyn: souma Might have a bruise on his face but he certainly doesn't have a bruise on his pride

Kyn: he's not going to apologise for jack shit, ryuuji and tohri are gonna have to defuse the situation for him - or let their friend get what's coming to him

Vincent: Yeah... Hitori.... is more than only angry... he's dead set to see souma bleed because holy shit really anyone else deserved this but not his already anxious boyfriend ; w ; Ryuuji and tohri can talk as much as they want to him but he ain't gonna forgive haha,,

Kyn: mmmm souma might be prideful but he Knows he goes overboard sometimes and he Knows this time he definitely fucked up so even if he won't apologise, he's not going to fight back against hitori either

tohri: "what do you mean, you're 'going to go find uzune'?! he's going to kill you, souma!"

souma: "well. maybe i deserve it."

ryuuji: "don't say that,, it was all our faults-"

souma: "no. i'm always dragging you two into my messes. let me deal with it."

tohri: "now isn't the time to be selfless, you idiot!"

Vincent: SOUMA ARE YOU REALLY SURE BECAUSE WOWIE IF HE WON'T FIGHT BACK THEN HITORI PROBABLY WON'T do as much tbh... he's not as cruel to beat someone who's already on the ground xD

Vincent: But he sure as hell will lecture him good

Kyn: SOUMA WOULD BE SO CONFUSED

souma: "wh,, why did you stop?"

hitori: ",,,why aren't you fighting me?"

souma: "unimportant-"

hitori: "its not fair for me to hit you if you aren't going to hit me back. i'm not you."

souma: ",,,alright, i deserve that, but- you've chosen the worst time to be kindhearted, uzune, as always."

Vincent: Hitori; "well then. Glad that I didn't need to punch your lights out first to calm you down. What you did to kazu was beyond terrible and your understanding I assume. It's not only that you scared him... He always had a paranoia of people touching him. I don't know if this even gets in your stupid overly spoiled head, but he's even more terrified now. I can't even hug him anymore... speaking of holding him... Do you understand?” //actually cries a little because of his soft boyfriend Souma if didnt noticed earlier probably noticed now that Hito and kazu have a closer relationship than just friends :'D

Kyn: YEAH HE'S A LITTLE TOO DENSE TO NOTICE THAT THEY WERE IN A RELATIONSHIP, TBH

Kyn: dense or just doesn't care, at any rate

souma: ",,,i'm not going to apologise because frankly, I couldn't give two shits about how nanaki feels. let him be afraid, see if I care. i'm not here for a lecture, uzune - are you going to hit me or not?"

Vincent: Hitori; "...I didn't expect any different from the son of the Isas." he'd stand up, blow his knuckles a little since they were all red from the first punch he used on souma to knock him of his feet

Vincent: Kinda just dusts himself off and wipes his tears away "I won't dirty my hands on scum like you. You don't even deserve being beaten. I thought you were just one of these kids but.. Kids like you grow up to end up with a bullet in their head." And he just fucking leaves because NOT EVEN WORTH IT

Vincent: He thought he could beat some sense in him?? He uses fits and words but like wowie if souma doesn't even react to that he'd just see him a lost cause,,,

Kyn: souma: //blinks, left lying on the ground in surprise. sits up and puts a hand to his chest, expression twisting into a small frown// "son,, of the,,,,," //closes his eyes// ",,that's it?" //gets to his feet unsteadily, face half anger and half panic// "that's it?! you can't just walk away, uzune! you can't- ,,aren't you angry?! don't you want to hit me?? I don't,, I don't understand, I don't,,," //puts his hand to his cheek where the bruise is// ",,being hurt,, is all i'm good for,,, I deserve it,,"

Vincent: Hitori; stops and narrows his eyes at souma. feels a Little weird Hearing that. "Listen. I dont know what your parents taught you or what bullshit you're into. Maybe you're just getting off out of this. But i dont enjoy beating People up or being in rage. and what's even the Point if you don't get it? you'll learn that Actions have far more consequences than just a bloody nose soon enough... but i don't want to be the one to grant you that favour. now fuck off, isa. and dont let me see you anytime soon."

Kyn: souma: //wraps an arm around himself to grip at the other arm, eyes downturned as hitori walks off and mouth twisted into a frown// ",,,,,"

tohri: "!!!! souma!! you're back!! thank god, I thought uzune was going to murder you!"

souma: ",,,as did I. I was sorely disappointed."

ryuuji: "at least you're okay!! come over here and play cards with us!!"

souma: //blinks before shaking his head with a sigh, smiling lightly// "alright. what're we playing?"

Kyn: tohri and ryuuji understand souma better than souma understands himself :'D in any case hitori's words definite made him feel something

Kyn: he's probably the reason why souma runs away, actually he realises being stuck with his shitty parents is only going to make him just like them and while he's okay with being a dick he doesn't want to be a rich asshole who doesn't care about anyone because he does care about his friends

Vincent: bless hitori but..... god when he Comes home though hitori would have such a breakdown because "Kazuaki i am sorry that i couldnt do more.... i love you so much but i couldnt do anything...." what do you even do when you actually have morals?? :'D

Kyn: WOULD HITORI EVEN TELL NAGEKI ANY OF WHAT HAPPENED?? LIKE. HE'D CERTAINLY BE NOTIFIED BY KAZOO'S PARENTS THAT HE WAS PROBABLY ESCORTED HOME BY THE POLICE,,, AND HE'D DEFINITELY NOTICE KAZOO'S RECLUSIVE ATTITUDE

Vincent: OF COURSE NAGEKI WOULD KNOW EVERYTHING

Vincent: Kazuaki is more at hitori's place than he is at his home :'D

Vincent: and i am p sure Kazuaki sat nervously with nageki in the kitchen when hitori came back

Kyn: you know who'd be even angrier at souma than hitori

Kyn: n a g e k i

Vincent: OH B O Y

Kyn: he'd be fucking livid

Kyn: nevermind himself burning to death, he'd set souma alight

Vincent: NAGEKI HOLY FUCK

Vincent: I THOUGHT HE'D BE SOMEWHAT PROUD THAT HITORI DIDNT BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF SOUMA

Vincent: B UT OK AY :'D

Kyn: LMAOOO oh no he'd be very proud that hitori didn't resort to violence

Kyn: because it means he can do it himself

Kyn: doesn't help that he's the school librarian

Vincent: NAGEKI DONT BEAT UP KIDS

Vincent: YOU NEED THIS JOB

Kyn: ryuuji: "okay!! lets go get those books out of the library that mr. shirogane told us to get!"

tohri: "you know, I've always wondered what mr. fujishiro and mr. shirogane's relationship was,,,"

souma: "probably unimportant. don't get excited, nishikikouji."

ryuuji: "good afternoon, mr. fujishiro!!"

nageki: "...mr. kawara. mr. nishikikouji.... mr. isa."

souma: ",,,,i get the distinct feeling,,,, that i'm not welcome here right now,,,,"

nageki: "no. no you aren't. in fact, you aren't welcome here at all."

tohri: "um-"

nageki: "surely you're rich enough to just buy the books you want, right, mr. isa? get out. don't come back."

souma: ",,,,,,yes, sir. sorry, sir."

Vincent: THAT'S FUCKING LIT NAGEKI

Vincent: SOUMA PROABLY FEELS THE RELATION BETWEEN NAGEKI AND HITORI :'D

Kyn: EVERYONE KNOWS THEY'RE RELATED, THEY DON'T EXACTLY HIDE IT

Kyn: souma didn't think about it too much though

Kyn: nageki's always been a quiet but kind teacher, he didn't think the other could get so angry

ryuuji: ",,,isa, you oka-?"

souma: "don't bother, kawara. i deserve it, so it's fine."

tohri: "you keep saying that, but really,,,"

Vincent: no no i know that everyone knows it but like SOUMA ACTUALLY FELT IT because that was very hitori of nageki :'D

VIncent: ryuuji; "insane idea; but what about you try to apologise for a Change?"

souma; "insane idea indeed"

Kyn: LMAOOOO

Kyn: they're Brothers, alright

Kyn: i think after running away souma might be inspired to apologise on his own terms directly to kazoo

Vincent: wowie good luck Kazuaki will start crying when he only sees souma getting Close to him

Kyn: LMAO WHOOPS

souma: ",,,,!!! um." //swallows// "er,, n-nanaki, um,,,, uh,,"

Vincent: kazuaki; Looks around for hitori,, takes out his phone in a hurry, Drops it, kneels down it pick it up, cries more "i swear i didnt tell anyone-- they all found it out on their own-- please dont "

Kyn: souma: ",,,,,i did this to you. i made you like this. i'm,,, i'm so sorry. i'm so, so sorry. you don't deserve to cry like that- because of,, because of me. i understand if you can't forgive me, i'm just- i'm sorry."

Vincent: kazuaki; blinks a few times, stares up at him, just hiccups, "wh-.... i-is... this some k-Kind of joke... " picks up his phone, stands up and presses his Hands against his chest "... i... didnt know you c-could feel regret.... y-you arent lying right?..."

Kyn: souma: "no, i'm,,, I'm not lying. you have every right to be suspicious of course but - no, i mean it. i never liked uzune and he certainly doesn't like me, but you didn't deserve to be hurt like you were because i'm a petty asshole, so. i'm sorry. and i say that with all the compassion, for what little of it that i have, left in my heart."

Vincent: kazuaki; Looks around again, just to make sure that there is no one to just kinda grab him and hold him "ah.... mm... - then I am.. g-glad i... i guess i can accept your apology but uhm... please dont mess with hitori like this anymore.... h-he cares a lot and... he really doesnt deserve to be heartbroken like this... he already worries so much about his brother.... ... i apologise that he had to beat you up because i couldnt protect myself..."

Vincent: Baby kazoo is just too pure and naivee

Kyn: souma: //squints at kazoo, irritation slowly growing on his face// "we haven't spoken in quite a while now, so I think I forgot the reason why I never liked you - but i'm beginning to remember. you're weak. pathetic. stand up for yourself more, nanaki, stop letting uzune fight your battles - and stop worrying about him over yourself! I'm here apologising to you, - you are the one I held a knife to, you are the one who has spent the last few months in constant fear of me. focus on your own feelings for once, not uzune's!"

Vincent: kazuaki; seems to be quite surprised at the tone of voice. weak? yup.. pathetic? yup yup, he knew all of that,, ".. i am sorry- I ... uh... i know but i uh... can't really uhm... i dont know what to say........"

Kyn: souma: //sighs// "ugh, I don't know why I bother with either you or him. I came here to do what I felt I was needed of me, and I have completed that task. Goodbye, Nanaki. See you in school."

Vincent: that Feeling when you wanna say something but you are still too scared of the Person :'D

Vincent: sorry souma there is nothing much to dooo

Kyn: ka z o o he's le a v I n g say somethinnnnng

Vincent: but kazuaki thinks now that you didnt actually m e an i t

Vincent: WHAT SHOULD HE SAY HE'S AFRAID THAT HE'LL REGRET I T

Kyn: LMAO SOUMA STOP BEING SO COARSE YOU GAVE OFF THE WRONG IMPRESSION AGAIN

Vincent: kazuaki; "teachers always force their students to apologise to the Person they bullied but the bully never means it. it makes us only more scared that well see something worse coming because of the humiliation the bully went through.... "

Vincent: poor kazuaki proably gets bullied constantly and he doesnt know how to fi g ht it

Vincent: he tried talking back but that only made it worse probably because he never knows what to say :'D

Kyn: souma: //pauses, his back to kazoo// ",,,I do mean it, but I suppose if my words aren't enough proof for you, then... if you continue to have bullying issues with other students, you may come to me if you so wish. I can easily make those issues... Disappear. Or worse. It's up to you, of course, but it is a very real offer. I do not provide services for just anyone and I would like it if you believe me when I apologise, considering how you are literally the first person I have ever apologised to in my life, if you're willing to believe that as well."

Vincent: kazuaki; "THAT'S EVEN WORSE! Why would you even offer to hurt others?? you hurt me and you're sorry.... ok ay,,, i believe you then... y-you just sounded less.... like you really meant it... but why would you hurt others? Hitori... talks to them and they stop... sometimes tease me about it.... but it's alright ut why would you...... do worse....... that's terrible?...... did,, did you really try to kill me back then, too?...."

Kyn: souma: "I wasn't trying to kill you, Nanaki. just damage. hurt. scar. those sorts of things. even if the blade never touched you in the end, I suppose I managed to scar you in a worse way. as for why..." //goes quiet for a second// "it's all I know how to do."

Vincent: kazuaki; "huh.... that's actually... pretty sad... aren't uhm... your friends helping you?..... i mean haha... th-they do ... but i mean.... are they like that too?.... do you maye want to hang out with me and hitori then? he's very smart and nice! he'll forgive you! he knows a lot of things..... uh.... s-sorry I uhm..... anyway I forgive you........" //reaches out his Hand to shake souma's

Kyn: souma: //blinks in surprise// ",,,oh." //hesitates for a moment, hand half outstretched before accepting kazuaki's awkwardly, shaking it slowly as if unsure about what he's doing before letting go and staring at his own hand for a few moments// ",,,uh, what? Hitori? Uzune? N,, no, I doubt that he'd want me around. he told me as much. ,,,thank you for the offer, however. and thank you for accepting my apology. as for kawara and nishikikouji... no, they aren't much like myself. kawara probably has his own issues, but they aren't much like my own. nishikikouji is a very well-rounded individual. he's sorry too, by the way - he was very distressed afterward about almost hurting you - although I suppose you'd rather hear that from his own mouth."

Vincent: kazuaki; "hito! isa apologised to me!"

hitori; "???? HE DID WHAT? you didn't accept it did you -"

kazuaki;

Hitori;

kazuaki; "... i think we are friends now"

hitori; "kazu, oh my god,,, i love you but this is too much even for you...."

Kyn: SOUMA WOULD AGGRESSIVELY TRY TO AVOID BOTH HITORI AND NAGEKI UNTIL THE END OF TIME TBH

souma: //returns to the other two, expression confused// ",,,,"

tohri: "you're back!!"

ryuuji: "how'd it go?? did he say you guys were good now??"

souma: "I,,, believe that I have managed to,,, befriend nanaki, although I am unsure as to how I accomplished this."

ryuuji: "ah!! we've been replaced, nishikikouji!"

tohri: "oh well. didn't really see the appeal in isa souma's friendship, anyway."

souma: "wh- hey!"

tohri: "i'm kidding!!"

souma: //grumbles// "i'd never,,, replace you both,,, you are my,,, most important people,,,"

ryuuji: "wow, that was mushy!! come here and let me hug you!"

souma: "no- get off-!!"

tohri: "too late!!"

Vincent: GOOD

Vincent: VERY N I CE

Vincent: GET SANDWICHED SOUMA

Kyn: souma loves his friends and his friends love him and each other

Kyn: they're very gay tbh

Kyn: people Suspect things but they're too afraid of incurring mischief wrath to say anything

Kyn: they aren't dating tho

Kyn: yet, anyway

#Hatoful Boyfriend #im so sorry #HAVE MORE OF THIS I KNOW PEOPLE WERE CURIOUS #it's about as gritty as the original game #don't worry about that #tw: knives #tw: abuse #tw: trauma

3 notes · View notes

racingtoaredlight · 6 years

Text

spencer096′s Precision Bass Project: Strings

Tuesday I got an update on my bass’ body and neck, and the project suddenly feels like the finish line is in sight. The hard part of the finishing process is over...eight ultra-thin coats of nitrocellulose colored paint for the base before two more coats of nitrocellulose colored gloss get applied on top. Pictures at the end of the post.

I have a draft saved talking about strings and how to set up a guitar or bass, but it’s a fucking behemoth, much better served being broken up into parts.

Today I’m going to talk about strings. Strings are coming first because the choice of strings dictates how the instrument is setup, even moreso than a musician’s preference. And by talking about the physical construct of the strings, we’ll have a better understanding of how to compensate for that to make the best functioning instrument you can in tomorrow’s post.

***

“WHAT SOUND AM I GOING FOR?”

In the hierarchy of things that impact a guitar or bass’ tone, I put strings second behind pickups. Take a Strat with roundwounds and put a set of flatwounds on there, and it’ll sound like a completely different instrument. Even the most discerning ear would have trouble telling an alder-bodied Strat from one made out of ash.

Forgetting the difference between rounds and flats, and just comparing apples to apples of the same brand, there’s massive differences in sound. Here’s a chart that string manufacturer GHS uses to give customers an idea of how all their different models of bass strings will very generally sound.

Lets just use this scale as an example...if you have a bass with two active humbucking pickups, an onboard preamp, going into a boost pedal then into a hi-fi amplifier setup to play music featuring a lot of slapping and popping (think Victor Wooten), then you’ll likely want a brighter roundwound string like the Super Steel. If you play in an Iron Maiden cover band, you’ll likely use Brite Flats to get close to Steve Harris’ Rotosound flats.

This is just one company. When you factor in the dozen or so string manufacturers, you’ll see how confusing all of this can be for someone just getting into playing. Not all rounds are super bright and zingy, not all flats are dull and thuddy.

When I played guitar, the only strings I used were D’Addario. I used 15′s on my jazz box and 11′s on my Strat, and changed them every single week, no excuses. So when I started playing bass, naturally I went with D’Addario’s again.

Well guess what? I fucking hate D’Addario bass strings.

This post’s sections are all going to talk about different aspects of strings and how they relate to a musician’s preference. Every aspect of a string should be judged against that question “what sound am I going for?”

***

CORE, WRAP, MATERIAL

This is my least favorite thing about the string industry, because it’s just so fucking varied across each brand that the whole string selection process is like wading through a swamp. Lets start with the material...

Guitar and bass strings are most often made out of a nickel alloy, stainless steel, or a combination of both. Generally speaking, nickel is warmer and less bright than steel. A nickel core with a stainless steel wrap will sound mellower than all stainless.

The strings are made by wrapping a metal ribbon around a core. There are two common types of cores...hex and round. Don’t let the red X fool you, this is not suggesting that round cores are superior because there’s no “dead air space.” That’s nonsense.

Practically speaking, hex core strings are easier to manufacture more consistently. They are more tensile than round cored strings, giving a somewhat taught, stiff feeling when playing them. If you dig in with your right hand, that extra tension will be welcomed. Round cores typically have less of that tension, but they’re also more likely to have defects during the manufacturing process.

Rounds on the left, flats on the right. The difference during the manufacturing process is how the metal ribbon wrap is aligned with the core. Rounds are wrapped on the edge, flats on their side. Halfwounds (or groundwound, pressurewound, etc) are rounds that are then ground down almost like flats.

The flatter the surface of the wrap, the mellower your tone is going to be. This is where “what sound am I going for?” comes into play.

I’ve frequently mentioned how that there are harmonic overtones produced whenever a note is played. The note you’re fretting is called the “fundamental.” Flats have a strong fundamental and very little overtones because the way they’re wrapped has less resonance than a roundwound.

Without getting even further into the weeds, lets just put it like this...

FLATS - very strong fundamental, little harmonics

ROUNDS - strong fundamental, many harmonics

If you don’t want those harmonics...like if they take over when you play a lot of fast stuff with a decent amount of gain and volume...you might want to switch to flats. Same if you play with a pick and get a lot of noise.

Don’t think flats are some fuddy duddy old-man string because James Jamerson was all about them. Flats are prominent in every single musical style that has a bass guitar...one of the best modern country session bassists Michael Rhodes uses flats and groundwounds, Steve Harris uses flats, Sid Vicious used flats, so does the guy from MxPx and frankly and I’m just tired of Googling so trust me on this.

***

TENSION AND THICKNESS

Tension is largely a result of the core used, but also how thick the gauge of string you’re using. Each of these dozens of types of strings these dozens of manufacturers make are also offered in different gauges. The “lighter” the gauge, the narrower the string.

Generally speaking, lighter gauged strings are easier to play, but there’s a point where you sacrifice tone and those high notes just have nothing behind them. The other extreme is this...

This is the “Jamerson set” named for the famed Motown bassist. Those numbers are the measurement of the string’s thickness in inches, and compare that to the set at the very top of the post. The most common thing you hear when people review the Jamerson set is “it’s like playing a set of telephone wires.”

Again though, high tension is not a bad thing if that’s what you prefer based on your right hand technique (or if you play with a pick). Some bassists want absolutely no “give” with their right hand, and love the high tension.

But tension isn’t measured by material, thickness of the string or what core, it’s measured by...get ready, /deep breath...applying the weight measured in pounds per square inch (W), scale length (L), frequency of that string (F) and the number 386.4 (for reasons I cannot figure out...but every single tension formula I’ve found uses it) to this forumla...

T (Tension) = (UW x (2 x L x F)²) / 386.4

Lets use an E string with .002 lbs. per square inch for example...we know the length with be 34″, the frequency of a bass’ open E string is 41.2 Hz and that 386.4 is somehow involved...

T = (.002 x (2 x 34 x 41.2)²) / 386.4 T = (.002 x 7,847,281.6) / 386.4 T = 15,694.5632 / 386.4 T = 40.617

I have no idea why I’m talking about this so I’m just going to stop. Tension has a huge impact on the neck, so it’s definitely something to watch out for. Like, if you add up the tension of all of the strings, you know how much force per square inch is being exerted on the instrument, and how much of an adjustment you’ll have to make.

Like if you have a set of light strings on and put a Jamerson set on straight away, your neck is going to be bowed. More on this tomorrow.

***

DURABILITY

I’m going to motor through this just to finish this up...

Flats last forever, which is only slightly hyperbolic. Listen to the video below to get a good idea how different strings sound, and notice the seventeen year old LaBella strings, and how they might be the best sounding example in the whole video.

youtube

Rounds can last forever too, as long as you’re cool with them losing that zing they have when they’re fresh. If you need that upper end thought? Like if you’re playing in the style of Chris Squire or Victor Wooten or Verdine White, you’ll need fresh strings. Squire famously used a brand new set of strings every different concert Yes played, and when you hear his ultra-trebly Rickenbacker cutting through, it makes sense.

***

THOMASTIK-INFELD JAZZ FLATS

There’s one singular string that you will hear talked about over and over again in bass circles. It’s a flatwound string but it’s light with incredibly low tension. Thomastik-Infeld is a string company that’s hundreds of years old, and completely dominates the double-bass string market. Their guitar and bass strings are made on the same principles and are totally unlike anything else on the market.

I have never played their bass strings before (their flatwound guitar strings are fucking awesome), and even at an Amazon discounted $60, are a gamble (normally $75+). Just because they’re unique doesn’t mean they’re the best fit, and they might not sound as good to my ears in person.

The main attraction of the TI flat is the pronounced mid-range in the EQ. It cuts through like absolute butter, and the lightness of the strings allow for more magnetic pull from the pickups, making them higher output. The other attractive aspect is that they’re the only company to wrap the core of the string in a silk wrapper...mimicking their orchestral strings. From what I’ve heard, they have a beautiful feel under the fingers.

Flats take time to break in, and if I don’t like the TI’s after four or five months, I already know that classic LaBella’s are right up my alley (not the Jamerson set). So regardless of what ends up there, the extra cost is really meaningless given whichever set will be on there for easily 5+ years.

But the main reason I gambled on the TI’s though is because they sound really, really, really fucking good on a P-Bass.

youtube

***

The end, even tho I’m kinda salty I didn’t talk about all the cool different color silks on flatwounds.

*P-BASS PROJECT UPDATE...

#spencer's precision bass project #bass #precision bass #strings #p bass

0 notes