#improved by this is any way….. just make her the same age as him they’re already going to school together 😭

[grantgustluv]

his champion - lando norris

pairings: lando norris x fem!footballer!reader

author’s notes: THIS IS MY FIRST IMAGINE AHHHH so let me know what I need to improve on. Also, just pretend that it wasn’t the Hungarian GP on 31st July 2022

warnings: some mentions of anxiety, implied smut (i’m not ready to write that yet sorry)

comment any requests please - i’m going to try and put a new one out every Wednesday

30th July 2022 - the night before the final

Lando and Y/N had been together 4 years, but known each other since the age of 4 and despite their demanding work schedules and busy lives, still found time to love and support one another. They decided to keep their relationship private (with the exception of close friends) because they knew just how brutal their “fans” could be with the introduction of a significant other in their lives, and, although they considered themselves too young to be fully settling down yet, they still only saw each other as their future and they didn’t want that ending yet, especially not by fake fans.

~

Lando was incredibly proud of his girlfriend and all her achievements despite her only being 23, he had been by her side through everything, all the best parts, like signing for her childhood club, scoring her first goal for both Manchester United and England and making her first appearance at the 2015 World Cup at the age of 16, but also all the lowest moments of her career too, the injuries, the hate, the doubt and all the rumours. Lando had been there through it all and he would always be her biggest supporter no matter what. The same could also be said for Y/N, she was his biggest fan and came to as many of his races as she possibly could and Lando insisted that she was his lucky charm. The only way they could support each other while not physically being there was by sporting the number 4 on their backs, Lando being McLaren’s number 4 and Y/N being number 4 for both Manchester United and England. It was their number. They were each other’s person.

~

The Women’s Euro tournament had been life changing for England’s Lionesses so far, they had truly done their country proud in every game, but they still had one more to go, the final, against Germany, their toughest opponents yet. Y/N was the top scorer of the tournament so far and was determined to walk away with the golden boot, but she knew it wouldn’t be the same without also winning the Euros altogether with her team.

She never usually got nervous before her games, but this was different, it was one of the biggest games of her career. But all that took over her mind was that she knew that Lando was going to be there. Thankfully, a break in the f1 season had fallen right on the day of the final, which meant Lando and a few of the other drivers were able to come and show their support.

Y/N couldn’t help the smile that took over her face when she looked at her phone, more specifically, her home screen as a notification popped up. It was a picture of Lando wearing her football shirt from last season with the cheesiest grin on his face. Lando hated the photo, but she absolutely loved it, because whenever she would look at it, it would brighten up her day. In that moment she couldn’t believe how lucky she was to have someone that radiated so much joy and happiness by her side. He was the daylight in her life.

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts. Slowly, she walked over to the door of her hotel room and opened it to be greeted by a bouquet of gorgeous roses and the very same smile she was grinning to herself about a few minutes ago. “Missed me?” asked Lando as he handed her the flowers. Y/N didn’t even answer as she jumped straight into his arms and held him as tight as possible. They both breathed a sigh of relief at finally being back in each other’s arms and they weren’t ready to let go yet, they could’ve stayed like this forever. Y/N pulled away first and looked at the flowers. “They’re gorgeous Lan, thank you,” she beamed as she walked over to put them on the side table. She felt his arms wrap around her waist and the tickle of his faint stubble in the crook of her neck. “Not as beautiful as you sweetheart,” he mumbled softly, kissing her neck. He gripped onto her hips and spun her round so they were face to face. “How are you feeling?” he asked, knowing how anxious she could sometimes get before big games like this. “I just feel like I want to get out there and play, I hate the waiting around before,” she ranted. He chuckled lightly, “I know baby, but you’re going to do so amazing, Daniel and I have already predicted what’s going to happen” she raised her eyebrows encouraging him to carry on. “You’re going to score, I just know it. And not just one, but two. It’ll be a tight game but I really believe you girls will win, you all deserve it so much, especially you Miss L/N” he finished. She just gazed at him lovingly and said with a teasing smile, “I hope you’re right Mr Norris.”

~

It was the day of the final at Wembley and all the girls were getting ready in the changing rooms for the last push of the tournament, giving each other encouraging talks and of course a last minute motivational speech from Leah. Higher up within the stadium was Lando, he was in one of the family boxes with the rest of the L/Ns and had brought along Daniel, Carlos, Max, George, Lewis and Charles (Y/N’s second family, she would call them), all there to support not only their friend’s girlfriend, but someone who had supported them in their careers too.

As Y/N was listening to her pre-game music, her phone buzzed, it was a message from Lando. She tapped on it and chuckled to herself, it was a picture of Lando, Daniel, Max, George, Carlos, Charles and Lewis looking out onto the pitch, all wearing an England shirt with her name and number on the back. She felt a tear form in the corner of her eye at the sweet gesture from the boys and replied back quickly with a red heart when she felt a tap on her shoulder from her teammate, signalling that they need to go line up ready to walk out.

Stood behind her was Jill who squeezed her shoulders and said “We’ve got this kiddo.” Y/N laughed at the nickname that had stuck since the first time she played with Jill in 2015 when she was in fact still a kid. She took a deep breath and replied with “Yes we do.” All of a sudden she was walking out into a packed out Wembley, screams and cheers surrounded her as the two teams made their way onto the pitch. Lining up, Y/N started to look around and her eyes locked onto him. There he was. They gazed at each other lovingly and Lando waved down at her and then made a love heart with his hands, causing Y/N to blush and a big grin to take over her face showing off the dimples that Lando loved so much. It wasn’t until a nudge in her ribs from Lucy Bronze broke her loving gaze from him, letting her know that the national anthem was about to start.

~

The first half had been pretty uneventful with neither teams scoring a goal and England knew they needed to up their game in the second half or their dream of winning might just slip away. It was in the 62nd minute when Lucy was running down the wing and spotted Y/N outside of the box with no one marking her. Y/N saw the ball coming her way but she knew she wouldn’t have time to stop the ball in order to get the right angle for her shot, so as it came closer she prepared herself and as the ball made contact with her right boot, she volleyed it into the top corner of the net. She couldn’t believe it. She had scored for her country in the European final. She ran to the corner of the pitch towards the England fans and the subs that were warming up alongside the rest of her team, with Leah launching herself onto Y/N’s back. All she could hear around her was her famous chant the fans had come up with a few years ago and the encouragement from the girls. This was a dream come true.

The stadium was still buzzing as the players made their way back to their positions, she looked around for him and when she spotted him she held up an ‘L’ with her fingers and then formed a heart. Lando got a few teasing shoves and comments from his friends. “I think that one was for you mate,” Daniel said with a chuckle. Lando just blushed and mumbled “I know” back to him.

Unfortunately, due to Germany scoring as well and bringing the score to a draw, the game was forced into 30 minutes of extra time. The last thing any of them wanted was it going to penalties, because they knew how much pressure they were, especially in a final. Everyone was on the edge of their seats as it edged into the last 2 minutes of the game and Germany were given a corner. Y/N decided to hang back instead of getting in the box with every other player, even the Germany goalkeeper had joined the rest of her team in the box in hopes of scoring a last minute winner. The delivery into the box was near perfect but no way was Mary letting that ball into the goal at this point so she pushed it away straight out of the box. The ball flew over all the player’s heads and straight towards Y/N and the player that was marking her. She collected the ball, turned around and started running as she already knew that she was onside. She could feel the German player close to her trying to catch her up but she kept pushing. She was running towards an open goal and they were surely into the last minute by now, so she increased her pace as much as she could for one last push. She kept her gaze forward as she took the shot just after entering the box.

Time slowed down completely as she and nearly ever person in the country watched the ball hit the back of the net. Everything felt like it was moving in slow motion as she ripped her shirt of her head and swung it round throwing it to the ground as she saw her teammates running towards her. She looked around the stadium. The fans were screaming, the girls were grinning from ear to ear and Lando was cheering and beaming down at the love of his life. He already thought that he was madly in love with her but right now he swore he had never felt this much love for a person, his heart felt like it was about to beat out of his chest and without thought reached into his pocket to feel the little box he had been carrying around with him for the last 3 months. He wanted this, he wanted forever with her, no, he needed forever with her. He caught her looking up at him and nearly fell to his knees when she grinned up at him with teary eyes, pointing to herself, forming a heart and then pointing at him. Lando chuckled nervously to himself, wiped his eyes and then repeated the action.

All the players were eagerly awaiting the full time whistle from the referee and finally it came. Y/N dropped to her knees and burst into tears, they had done it. She had done it. She felt herself being lifted off the floor by a few of her teammates and they couldn’t even produce words as they just cried into each other’s embraces. They approached the German players, congratulating them on a good game and comforting those in tears.

‘Three Lions’ started blaring through the speakers after a few minutes causing the girls to start dancing and singing on the pitch, the whole of Wembley sung in unison and gazed down at their Lionesses, their champions.

After applauding their fans and the German players receiving their silver medals, it was time for the Lionesses to collect their Gold medals, she was nearly there. “And now, give it up for your golden boot winner, your player of the tournament, your number 4, Y/N L/N!” the announcer spoke and suddenly, a loud roar burst through the stadium. She couldn’t believe it. To have the support of your family and team was one thing but to have the support of your country was like no other feeling in the world. She shook Prince William’s hand after receiving her medal and walked over to the trophy, admiring it before walking over to the rest of the team who were now just waiting for their skipper Leah to bring over the trophy ready for the proper celebration to begin.

She didn’t think it was possible, but as Leah lifted up the trophy into the air, the stadium grew louder than ever. Y/N and Millie were then handed a bottle of champagne each and they knew exactly what they needed to do. Y/N turned up to her families box and winked at Lando and he immediately caught on as to what was about to happen. She gave the champagne a little shake and with some force banged the bottom of the bottle against the floor, causing the champagne to shoot out of the top and high into the air, the screams of her teammates then took over as Rachel stole the bottle out of her hands and started spraying everyone with it. Y/N looked up at Lando and could see Daniel and Max next to him cackling at the stunned and lovestruck expression on his face. He was a little embarrassed by himself with how easily that turned him on.

The girls all jumped around on the pitch taking turns holding the trophy and when it was finally handed to her, Y/N kissed the top of it and lifted it high into the air. Just as she was about to pass it on, she felt multiple pairs of arms lift her up in the air and the stadium yet again let out a huge cheer for their number 4. The girls had never experienced an atmosphere like this, things were changing and they knew that they were a part of that change.

As the celebrations had died down, the player’s families were allowed to come down onto the pitch, and as Y/N was getting yet another picture with the trophy, she felt arms wrap around her from every angle. She turned around to be met by the proud expressions of her mum, dad and little brother, she shared tight hugs with all of them before she heard her name being called by a familiar voice behind her. She turned round and jumped straight into Lando’s arms as her legs wrapped around his waist. After a few moments she unhooked her legs and Lando placed her down onto the ground with their foreheads still touching, neither of them could care less about being private anymore as they both leaned in and connected their lips together in a loving and passionate kiss, hearing the sound of cameras clicking around them. They were pulled apart by the sounds of fake gags coming from behind them, they turned around to be met with the boys sharing fake looks of disgust on their faces. Y/N and Lando went over to them and they all joined together for a group hug, which again, caused a ricochet of camera clicks to go off around them. This moment was exactly what Y/N had waited for, winning the European Final and doing it with her team, her family and the love of her life.

~

Lando and Y/N walked out the stadium hand in hand, heading back to the hotel to get changed ready for the real celebrations to begin.

Lando couldn’t tear his eyes away from her all night, she was jumping up and down to the song playing, her hair bouncing as she did so, her dimples prominent due to the gorgeous smile on her face, her dress clinging to her beautiful figure and her angelic glow causing her to stand out perfectly in the room full of people. Lando could confidently say that he was the luckiest man on earth to have a girl as perfect as her being in love with a guy like him.

It was getting into the early hours of the morning now and both Lando and Y/N were ready to go back to the hotel room, both had craved to be sleeping in each other’s arms again after a month away from each other. They arrived back at the hotel room 15 minutes later and Lando watched as Y/N flopped onto the bed dramatically. Chuckling to himself, he began to remove her heels that she had been complaining about for the majority of the evening and placed them to the side, before carefully lifting her up with her clinging to him like a koala and carrying her to the bathroom and placing her gently on the countertop. Lando stared at her lovingly and softly pushed her hair out of her face. Her eyes flickered open slightly and she let out a little hum as her eyes met her favourite person. Lando proceeded to gently remove the makeup from her face and then carry her back through to the bedroom before removing her dress and replacing it with one of his tops that drowned her figure.

Just as Lando had snuggled in beside her, he felt her shift slightly in his hold. “I love you Lan, you’re everything to me” she mumbled tiredly, followed shortly by her soft snores. The faint traces of the early morning sunrise had started to peek through the curtains allowing Lando to gaze at her sleeping figure. Being careful not to wake her, he placed a gentle kiss on the side of her head, “I love you too my champion,” he whispered softly into the kiss, before drifting off to sleep, holding his girlfriend tightly to his chest.

[jungk0oksthighs]

Her | First Heartbreak

(now)husband!jungkook, tattooartist!jungkook, BF2L, fluff, smut, angst

Word Count - 6.6k

You want to give Jungkook what he's always wanted. Warnings: swearing, lots and lots of fluff as always, mentions of sex, heavy angst, infertility issues & a spousal argument

MINISERIES COLLECTION

You’re two years into a blissful marriage with your best friend, the one guy you ‘didn’t see like that’ until one day the only thing he became was exactly that. The love of your life, the sneaky bastard had been right under your nose your whole life and finally – finally, you’re his. And he’s yours.

Things with Jungkook are effortless, exceedingly so. Always have been, and you pray to every higher power that they always will be. You love him with your whole heart, every fibre of your being misses him when he’s not around. And judging by the constant buzzing from your phone, all the missed texts and calls, he feels the exact same way.

It's a Saturday morning and you’re teaching your favourite class at the dance school you own. Baby ballet. A dozen tiny toddlers drowning in tutus three times their size are your company for the next hour, and truthfully you wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s not that you’re broody, you just really like teaching this class. At least that’s what you try and convince yourself when a smile creeps onto your face, watching the young girls stomp about with purpose.

Divas in the making, you’re sure.

The class is for ages two to five years, parents drop off their daughters and trust you to take good care of them all while teaching them the very basics of ballet. At their age it’s mostly about balance and coordination, but even you have to admit a couple of them already show a promising future in dance. It makes you almost nostalgic, seeing their chubby little faces light up when you clap excitedly and praise their hard work.

That used to be you, in a room just like this one. Laminated flooring and mirrored walls leaving no room for mistakes. You used to wear the cute pastel coloured leotards and tutus too, whereas these days you teach in a simple black leotard and a sheer wrap skirt of the same colour. Swapping out your painful pointe shoes you used to tour with for simple soft-soles. Just like your teacher used to wear.

You’re watching the girls behind you in the mirror, noting their technique and wondering how you could help them improve when a full-circle moment comes crashing down on you.

Mina, one of the older toddlers of the group, takes a heavy tumble to the ground after losing balance. Her features immediately drop with disappointment and sadness, especially when one of the other girls laughs at her mistake.

“Mina? Are you okay sweetie?” You turn to face her, panicking when you watch tears cascade down those perfect rounded cheeks of hers. “Mina are you hurt?”

“N-no…” The five year old sniffles, begrudgingly picking herself up from the ground. “I’m fine Miss…”

They’re children. You can’t scream at children. You exhale, trying not to lose your patience when at least five of Mina’s ‘friends’ all begin to point and laugh at her. Once upon a time that was you, around the same age as her too. The memory plays clear as day in your mind, how the other girls snickered and made bitchy little remarks about your technique. Well, about as bitchy as toddlers can get.

But with that memory comes a flashback of what happened next. You recall the way you dragged your feet across the sports hall building, sobbing, until you were inside the Taekwondo practise room. Six year old Jungkook knew there was something wrong immediately, rushing over to you with those big, round, sparkly doe-eyes that look the same to this day. Whether he’s aware of it or not, what he said to you that day left an impact on your life and personality. It was the birth of the ‘fuck it’ attitude you’ve developed over the years.

‘Everybody falls over once in a while, it’s no big deal.’ His signature bunny smile was adorable even then.

“Mina, can you come here please?” Your voice is gentle and kind, mirroring the expression you wear when you reach a palm out to her.

Reluctantly, she makes her way across to you with pink cheeks. You don’t know much about Mina’s personal life giving that you’re only her ballet teacher. But you do know that for whatever reason she lacks a maternal figure, her father, Hoseok, is a single dad and raises her on his own.

Hoseok is what can only be described as the perfect father. He’s never late to pick Mina up from class, in fact, he arrives ten minutes before class is due to end and sits to watch her practise with a proud smile that lights up the room. Always bringing her snacks to enjoy in the car ride home. Never misses a show. Consistently supportive of his number one.

You hope that Jungkook will be that kind of father one day.

“Are you sure you’re okay honey?” You kneel in front of a very upset Mina, who’s messily wiping away her tears with the back of her teeny tiny hand. “Are you hurt?”

She shakes her head, swallowing, “I-I’m fine…” Her tone is less than convincing, especially when her eyes scan the room and register there are still girls laughing at her.

“Everybody falls over once in a while, it’s no big deal.” You can’t catch the smile that tugs your lips in time, reminiscing your own experience with your now husband, “As long as you’re not hurt.”

“I’m embarrassed.” She huffs between little sobs and your womb has never felt emptier.

“Don’t be honey, it happens. You can dance up front with me, okay?”

Another nod, “Okay Miss…”

“Okay everybody settle down!” You’re loud, eyes burning holes into the other girls that have upset your favourite student. Is it immoral to have a favourite student? You don’t care. Mina is your favourite regardless. “Can we all apologise to Mina for laughing please? That wasn’t very nice of you girls.”

Immediately there’s a chorus of baby voices behind you, their faces panicked and scared in the mirror, “Sorry…”

Yeah, thought so.

“Okay lets go over this one last—”

There’s a low wolf whistle paired with the sound of the wooden doors being barged open that cuts you off, “Helloooo Mrs Jeon!”  

In the mirror your stare finds the newcomer, rather newcomers instantly. Hoseok gives a small wave at his daughter in the mirror, her face immediately brightening upon seeing him. They resemble each other so much. From their glossy black hair to their identical heart-shaped lips, there’s no denying Mina is her father’s double. He’s carrying a little pink princess rucksack on his shoulder, holding an unopened juice-box in his other hand when he takes a seat at the back of the dance studio quietly.

The polar opposite to the man beside him, the one who just wolf-whistled at you in front of twelve toddlers. Of course it’s your loud, overbearing husband who’s joined him.

Jungkook reads the room pretty quickly, defensively raising his palms and mouthing ‘sorry’ at you with an awkward toothy grin. You’re 99% certain he had a full day appointment booked in for today. You vaguely remember him telling you all about some body builder who wanted his entire arm tattooing in one sitting, despite your husband advising him against it. Maybe you got the dates mixed up, because by some turn of events Jungkook is in your class waving at you and clearly not at his tattoo studio.

You offer Jungkook a polite smile before returning to work, prompting the girls to go through the simple routine you’ve showed them one final time. As to be expected Hoseok’s eyes are trained to his daughter, sparkling with pride and a love so deep even you almost get lost to it. He adores that girl so much, it’s enough to make any woman sigh contently with a small smile.

You really hope Jungkook will be that kind of father one day.

It’s no secret that your husband wants babies. Seven to be exact. It’s all he talks about, wondering when you’ll finally give into his insistent nagging. He’s wanted to be a dad for as long as you can remember, he even has names picked out and everything. Much to your amusement. It’s comforting that he’s not rushed you into making such a life-changing decision, despite knowing how badly he longs to have his own children. You’re grateful for that, you’re grateful for everything Jungkook has given you. His time, his patience, his unwavering love and affection.

And the way he's hyping up the baby ballerinas from the back of the studio does something funny to your tummy. Your empty tummy. He's talking to Hoseok, completely immersed in watching little Mina get lost to the craft she'll no doubt perfect when she's older. His features are stretched with astonishment, eagerly nodding along with whatever Hoseok is saying.

Maybe you are ready to make that man a father.

The music fades and you’re forced to come back down to earth, having being daydreaming about what kind of mischief a tiny version of you and Kook would get up to. You turn to your students with a wide grin, clapping excitedly.

“Well done everybody!” You beam, “You all did great today! Good job!” Your eyes land on Hoseok again, this time he’s making his way over to Mina with big, bouncy steps.

“Meen!!!! You did great!!!” He shouts, swooping her up in his arms.

“Hoseok…” You smile again as you approach the pair, lowering your voice, “Mina fell down today, she said she’s not hurt but of course I just wanted to let you know.”

“Oh no, Meen are you okay?” He coos with a pout, his daughter simply nodding in response with a whispered ‘yep’. “Thanks for letting me know Y/N, oh you didn’t tell me your husband was a tattoo artist! He seems like a cool guy.”

At this you chuckle, gaze landing on Jungkook who’s already grinning at you, “Ahh… Yes, he is a tattoo artist.” You confirm, blood rushing to your cheeks when you notice some of the dance moms ogling him as they arrive for scheduled pickup. One woman even goes as far as introducing herself to him, but as always when Jungkook meets a new woman – he shakes her hand with his left one. A not-so-subtle way to flaunt his shiny wedding ring.

“Don’t call him cool though please, I’ll never hear the end of it.” You sigh, suppressing a fit of giggles at the pure panic settling onto your husband’s features when all the dance moms flock through the double doors. Gunning for him.

“Is that your husband Miss?” Mina’s looking at Jungkook as though she’s seen a ghost, features wide and round with shock. It’s so cute you think you could burst. “I didn’t know you had a husband.”

You offer her a warm smile, nodding, reminding yourself that having a favourite student is fine but maybe you should be less obvious about it in front of the other parents. “Yes Mina that’s my husband.”

“Really?” Her nose crinkles, curious.

“Mhm.” You hum with pride, eyes flickering to said husband who’s still beating off single moms, even the happily married moms, with a tattooed hand and his wedding ring.

“Okay well we’ve got a dentist appointment to get to Meen, so we’ll see you next week Y/N!” Hoseok’s smile is as bright as ever, replicated in the tiny mini-me he holds.

“See you both next week, well done you did really well today Mina!” You wave them off, saying a few polite hellos and goodbyes to the parents who come and go. Until you’re standing in the dance studio alone, well, almost.

“Not that I’m complaining but why are you here? I thought you had an all-day client today?” You hum with a grin while walking over to Jungkook who looks like an out-of-breath zebra having just escaped a pack of wild lions. Bless his soul.

At this he nods, standing until you’re being pulled into a warm hug, “Right. Well the guy pussied out as soon as I got to the elbow ditch, seized up like a teenage boner and wanted to reschedule.” He chuckles mostly to himself, kissing your forehead. “He was even leaking like a teenage boner. Tears though obviously, I wasn’t looking at his cock—”

“Do you have to be so vulgar?” You snort, snaking your arms round his taught body.

“Depends,” You can hear the smirk tugging his lips without needing to look up at him, “Are you excepting anybody else in here today? Cause if we have the place to ourselves…” His words get lost against your lips when he tips your chin to his, kissing you.

He tastes like home. He smells like home. He feels like home. Jungkook is your home.

“Nuh-uh,” You pull away from him with a child-like grin, “Not happening in here.”

“Come on…” He whispers, reattaching his lips to the skin of your neck in a series of dainty kisses, “Why let all these mirrors to waste?”

Your body begins to betray you as his mouth starts to feel really good against your flesh, you hum contently, eyes fluttering shut. That's when you clear your throat, “You know…”

Jungkook registers the change to your tone immediately, peeling his face away from your neck to watch you curiously. His eyes are sparkling with adoration and a genuine love that’s so pure it's indescribable, a single brow quirking in confusion.

“Why do I feel like you’re about to say something serious and kill the mood?” He laughs, wetting his lips with an anxious smile. “I’m kidding, are you okay?”

“Mhm…” You nod along. This isn’t exactly how you envisioned having this conversation but truthfully you can’t get Mina and her perfect chubby cheeks out your mind. You remember Jungkook as a child, he too had cheeks equally as puffy and adorable. The idea of creating a mini-him doesn’t absolutely terrify you anymore, and so you throw your arms over his shoulder and look him dead in the eye.

“Hoseok’s daughter Mina is super cute, isn’t she?” You hum, trying to gauge his reaction, “Do not repeat this but I think she’s my favourite.”

“Okay…?” It’s as though you can see the dusty cogs in your husband’s brain grinding against each other, a feeble attempt to figure out where you’re going with this. “She is really cute, I remember when you used to stomp around like that in tutus too.” He’s chuckling, gaze flickering over your features. “So what do you wanna do today? Since we’ve both finished work and apparently having sex in here isn’t an option.” He’s fully laughing now, playfully tutting at the fact you refuse to taint your work space like that.

“I have an idea…” You’re bursting at the seams with equal parts nerves and excitement, “Why don’t we make a Mina?” Biting your lip to suppress a giant smile you watch Jungkook’s mouth fall open, bewildered.

“Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” He cocks his head to the left, the hold he has on your waist suddenly tightening. “Because… You know that… Okay-, really? I-, wait what? I need you to be a little more specific, just so I know I’m hearing this right…” He’s tripping over his own tongue like a bumbling idiot, usual doe-eyes narrow and uncertain.

“Well-,” You dumb down your train of thought so that a neanderthal himself would understand, “What if we… Had our own baby?”

Jungkook’s white teeth are fully bared in a Cheshire cat like grin, spreading from ear to ear. It’s a second later when the sound of your yelping fills the air, him having just picked you up and thrown you over his shoulder like a measly ragdoll. You’re laughing loudly, hysterically. Slapping his denim-clad ass in sync with each step that carries you to a nearby storage room.

“Jungkook!” You’re breathless, giggly and excited, “Put me down! What are you doing?!”

But of course he doesn’t respond right away, shoving you into the props storage cupboard until your back is firmly pressed against a rail of items too miscellaneous to describe. It’s when the snap of the door locking registers with you that blood rushes to your cheeks. Peeling an inflatable pink flamingo from under your feet you launch it at Kook, til it bounces off that pretty little head of his and messes his long raven hair. Even that doesn’t deter him, the man’s still smiling as though he just won the lottery.

“What on earth are you doing?!” You snort, and Jungkook pretty much lunges at you with a new found determination. Still grinning. "Jungkook what are we doing in here?"

“Making a baby.”

--

“It’s negative.” Your husband’s voice sounds distant and absent, despite the fact he’s standing by the bathroom sink right in front of you.

Another negative pregnancy test. That makes it four in total, this being the first one to make you cry. It’s just so frustrating. You’ve read all the articles, all the books, you know all the old wives tales. Eat more yoghurt, that’ll get you pregnant. Drink less alcohol, that’ll get you pregnant. Keep track of your cycle to get pregnant. Put a pillow under your ass, abuse the doggy-style position, put your legs up against the wall after sex, take folic acid supplements –

Except you’ve tried all that, and here you are four months later. Surrounded by too many houseplants and white bathroom tiles that probably need cleaning again.

Still not pregnant.

It’s a Sunday morning and you’re sitting on the toilet in your bright ensuite bathroom, Kook having joined you out of sheer excitement that this time you might’ve got the results you were hoping for. But of course, that’s not the case. The weather outside is glorious, sunshine mocking the devastation coursing your veins. Four months you’ve been actively trying to conceive, what was once the beginning of an exciting new chapter has now diminished into nothing but a colossal disappointment. The only positive thing about the last four months has been the daily rampant sex.

“I’m sorry…” You sniffle, feeling guilty that you’ve been unable to get pregnant. Jungkook would be the most amazing father, you know that with every fibre in your being – you’re ashamed that you haven’t been able to give him that title yet.

At this Jungkook sighs, his features softening when he makes his way over and kneels in front of you. His eyes are sympathetic and tired, the polar opposite to the shiny child-like hope they were swimming with when you initially took the pregnancy test.

“Why are you apologising? You’ve done nothing wrong Y/N…” His voice is gentle and kind, quiet as it rolls off his tongue. His hands rest on your knees, pierced lips pursing when he catches sight of the first few tears to betray you. “Please don’t cry… It’ll happen when it happens.” He says reassuringly, squeezing your thigh.

Fearing the worst you can’t bring yourself to stop the sobs forming in your throat, “What if it doesn’t?” You sniffle again, not daring to look him in the eyes that will be no doubt disappointed, “What if I-, what if there’s something wrong with me?” You wail, smothering your face with shaky hands. “What if I can never get pregnant.”

“Hey, hey… Shhh…” Jungkook coos, tugging you onto the tiled floor with him until you’re sat in his lap, the two of you only wearing robes, “I’ll love you until the end of time no matter what happens, okay?”

“But—”

“Baby or no baby you’re my person Y/N. My best friend. My wife. The love of my life and nothing, and I mean nothing is ever gonna stop me from being in love with you.” His words get lost into your hair when he plants a chaste kiss to your head, soothingly rubbing the spans of your back. “It takes time to get pregnant sometimes, and for all we know it could be me.” A nervous exhale leaves him, “I have taken a few critical hits to the Jeon jewels over the years…”

At this you can’t fight the tiny smile creeping onto your face, nuzzled into his neck, “Jeon jewels?” You chuckle lightly.

Jungkook returns your hushed chuckle, relishing in the fact that he’s managed to stop your tears with one of his dumb jokes. Be it intentional or otherwise, “My testicles.”

“I got that.” You sniffle, swallowing the aftermath of your emotional breakdown.

“Maybe we should go to the doctor? I’m sure everything will be fine, we have only been trying for four months… But if you’re worried we could make an appointment?”  

“You think that’s a good idea?” You pull back to look at him, heart sinking at the glimmer of frustration and desperation behind his eyes. “But what if-, what if there really is something wrong with me? Or you? What are we gonna do?”

He nods slowly, zoned out while he processes your words, “Then… Then we’ll cross that bridge if and when we get to it.”

It’s two weeks and two doctors’ appointments later when you’re prepping vegetables to be thrown into the slow cooker, following your mom's homemade casserole recipe by the book. Jungkook barges the kitchen door open with a giant grin. Judging by the black latex gloves dangling from his baggy jeans he’s come straight home from work. When his eyes focus on you chopping veggies he hums contently, coming up behind you and snaking his tattooed arms over the bend of your waist.

“Good evening beautiful. How was work?” He’s in a good mood, a really good mood. And you question what could’ve possibly caused him to be so bouncy and smiley.

It’s not the affection that’s surprising to you, he’s a very touchy-feely husband and his love language is definitely physical touch. Hand holding, cuddling, playing with your hair, even just resting his legs atop of your own - he loves all of it. It’s more so the spring in his step and added honey to his tone that has you frowning, settling the knife down to face him.

“Work was fine… You’re in a good mood…” You chuckle, draping your arms over his broad shoulders.

“Did the doctor call you today?” He blurts excitedly, smiling from ear-to-ear.

Your heart sinks, his words hitting like a bullet to the vital organ, “No… Why? Did they call you?”

At this your husband swallows, the Adam’s apple in his throat bobbing up and down anxiously. His hold on you loosens ever so slightly, his own features softening until there’s no trace of joy remaining. Not even in his eyes, his long choppy hair is brushed back for a change, revealing his thick brows and forehead. Leaving nowhere to hide his disappointment.

“Umm, yeah they did… I’m sure they’ll call you with your results tomorrow though, don’t worry.” He feigns a smile, lips closed and awkward-looking.

Nodding in response you fight the urge to panic, “So… You got your results back?”

“Um… Mhm.” He clears his throat, suddenly pulling you into a tight bear hug that catches your breath, “I’m sure they’ll call you with yours soon princess. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have mentioned it. Forget I—”

“It’s fine.” You bite, resting your cheek to his strong shoulder, chin already beginning to quiver, presumably from the anxiety you feel toward the situation, “So… Everything on your end is… okay?”

He plants a shy kiss to your temple, “Yeah… The swimmers are swimming as they should be.” He whispers, cradling you in his arms. “I’m sure everything is fine Y/N, please don’t be upset. I’m such an asshole I’m so sorry I shouldn’t have said anything.” Another kiss, this one burning a hole in your skin and sending a sucker punch straight to your empty womb.

“It’s okay…” You sniffle, a strange pain budding in your gut. It's that same gnawing sensation that prompts you to call the doctor the next day, but that's when you discover they want to run more tests.

--

This isn’t happening.

Jungkook’s fingers are entwined with your own, squeezing you tightly. You feel numb. Your husband sits beside you in the doctor’s office with pinched brows, hanging on to every single word spoken by Dr Min, but you zoned out around the time Dr Min uttered the words;

‘Asymptomatic endometriosis is particularly hard to diagnose because of the lack of symptoms, it’s a miracle we were even able to spot the abnormalities during your first pelvic exam. I’m really sorry to be the one to say this Y/N… But your chances of conceiving naturally are... minimal to none. I’m afraid you’re already at stage four. There are surgeries that can—’

It’s like an outer body experience. You can see your own body deflating beside your husband, your fingers cramping from the grip he has on them. You can make out Dr Min’s long black hair gathering at the nape of his neck, contrasting against his white lab coat. You know there’s a conversation happening, you can hear their voices, but you don’t have the strength to partake.

Where your legs were bouncing anxiously upon entering the small office, now they’re completely still. It feels as though blood has stopped pumping your veins, like a part of you just died and your body is in shock, mourning the loss of what will never be.

“What about IVF?” You hear Jungkook say, every word stained with hope and desperation.

Dr Min’s lips purse, “This stage of endometriosis means a worse prognosis for IVF treatments, in comparison to the milder stages. It’s not impossible though, it does happen…” He opens the first draw in his wooden desk, the clunking sound snapping you back to reality, “Would you like me to refer you to a specialist?”

“Yes—”

“No.” You cut Jungkook’s words short, not daring to look at either man in the room. Swallowing the lump gathered at the back of your throat. “No thank you.”

“O-okay.” The doctor nods once, soft milky features washed with silent understanding, “There are a lot of groups and online forums for women in your—”

“No.” You sigh, battling the urge to break, “Thank you for your time but I think we’re done here.”

Without giving either man another millisecond of acknowledgement you tear your hand away from Jungkook’s, pushing yourself to your feet that carry you to his black Mercedes parked out front. It’s raining, a fitting bleakness in the air that you can genuinely relate to in this moment.

You’ll never be able to give Jungkook what he’s always wanted.

“Y/N!” The man himself calls out after you, jogging until he’s standing beside the car. “Everything’s gonna be okay, I promise… There are tonnes of options and—”

“Unlock the car Jungkook.” Your voice is flat, eyes never meeting his.

He shuffles closer, tugging you into his broad chest with a pained sigh, “Come here, I know this is a lot to process but—”

“Unlock the car.” You say louder, not returning the hug currently threatening to crush your bones. “Please… Just unlock the car Kook.” You soften, realising your anger is misplaced. You’re not mad at him – you can’t be mad at him.

You’re mad at you.

The journey home is spent in uncomfortable silence. In your peripheral vision you can make out Jungkook gnawing his lower lip, a nervous habit of his, but his eyes never break from the road ahead. Not until you’re parked on the gravel of your driveway, but by the time he looks to you with those big brown doe-eyes you fell in love with, you’re already sliding out the car.

His presence is strong and right behind you when you unlock the door, but you don’t turn to face him, you can’t. All he’s ever wanted is to be a father, to have his own children to love and dote on. A tribe of Jeon’s to play sports with, share secrets with, to laugh and to cry with. To carry his family name.

You’ll never be able to give him any of that.

All you’ve wanted for the last four months is to give him what he deserves, a child of his own to raise. Truthfully you’ve been more in love with idea of Jungkook as a father than the thought of you being a mother. You just wanted to make him happy, you’re married, not getting any younger and well society has drilled into you that a baby is the next normal stage of life. Something you won’t ever be able to give your husband.

A normal life.

“Can we at least talk about this please?” His voice is oozing with sadness, pulling your heart strings when he locks the front door behind him. The grey hoodie he wears is darkened from the rain, as are his blue jeans. His long hair damp when he brushes it away from his chiselled face. Revealing just how upset he is, and the punches just keep coming.

Standing in the hallway you nod, emotions bubbling, boiling, crawling up to the surface and you know full-well you’re about to erupt at any given moment. The irrational side of your brain is merging with the half that knows better than this. But still, you can’t keep it together anymore. You’re looking straight at your husband’s face with a serious expression, trying to mask the fear inside you.

He deserves someone who can give him what he wants.

“Okay.” You feign a smile, internally crumbling, “What do you want to talk about?”

Jungkook calmly walks over to you, until his inked hands find your shoulders, lowering his head to get a better look at you, “Are you okay?”

“M’fine.” You huff, pulling away from his comforting hold.

“Don’t do that.” He follows you with a sigh when you attempt to walk away, heading upstairs into your shared bedroom. “Don’t push me away Y/N. Talk to me… Please.”

“About what?” With a hammering heart it’s taking every ounce of self-restraint you have not to lash out and project your feelings onto him. Your breaths turn shallow, erratic, eyes frantically looking everywhere in the master bedroom save for Jungkook’s features currently crumpled with despair.

“Y/N…” Another exhale leaves his lips, but it’s when he’s suddenly in front of you gripping your wrists that you finally snap.

“What?! What do you want me to say Jungkook?!” You yell at him, wincing at the fact he remains unphased by your outburst.

“I’m sorry that I can never give you what you always wanted! I’m sorry! Okay, is that what you want?! I’m sorry that I can’t do the one thing women are biologically designed and programmed to do! I’m sorry that you’ve wasted all these years pining after me for it to turn out to be a disaster, a fucking failure! Is that what you want to hear?! Is that what you wanna talk about?!”

Jungkook’s eyes are swimming in worry, shiny with equal parts sorrow and empathy when he finally speaks after a brief silence, “What I always wanted Y/N… is you.” He whispers, brows furrowed, “I told you, baby or no baby there is nothing that will stop me from loving—”

“That was before you knew I can never give you a child... Before-, before I was diagnosed with a disease I don't even have symptoms for!” You sniffle, tears betraying you as they start to build up behind your eyelids. “I’m so sorry Jungkook...” The weight of your body makes your knees buckle, until you’re crashing to the ground with a thud in a sea of tears, sobbing, wailing, crying into your hands on the bedroom floor.

“I’m so fucking sorry... I can-, I can't-, I'm sorry!” You wail, barely able to catch your breath.

Without a moment of hesitation your husband calmly settles on the floor in front of you, crossing his legs before tugging you into his lap. Time simultaneously speeds and slows while you cry it out into the crook of his neck, fists balling the material of the hood gathered behind him.

“I’m sorry…” You manage to choke out again between ragged breaths.

Jungkook squeezes you tighter, resting his angular chin atop your shoulder, “Stop apologising. This is nobody’s fault, okay? But…” He hesitates, his tone weary and uncertain, “Why did you say no to IVF?”

“I-, I…” You swallow, attempting to calm yourself down, “I don’t want to have to go through all that Kook… I-, I’m… No. I just-,” You struggle to find the words to express your emotions, truthfully you don’t want to put your body through the stress of IVF, you know it’s not always guaranteed and the second you discovered you can’t make a baby was the second you decided – you don’t want a baby. Not if it has to be like this.

“I’m sorry… I-, if we can’t… I don’t want-, I… Jungkook I don’t want—”

“Shhh…” He coos, kissing your temple, “It’s okay… There’s other routes we can take. We have the savings to fund them. Be it surrogacy, adoption—”

“No, you don’t get it...” You peel away from him, shaking your head with mascara staining your cheeks, “I… I don’t want to do this if we can’t do it naturally. I don’t want a baby if I’ll never know the weight of it growing in my womb…” Your breath hitches, “I’m so sorry Jungkook… But—”

“Stop apologising.” His smile is small, pained yet genuine when he thumbs away your tears, “I understand. We don’t need a baby to be complete. We have each other for that.” His doe-eyes are staring at you intensely, sparkling with adoration and sincerity as they usually are.

“But you deserve to be with someone who can give you—”

“Don’t say that.” He snaps angrily, jaw so tight it threatens to shatter, “Don’t you ever fucking say that to me Y/N. You are my world. You. Nothing and nobody else. I didn’t spend my entire life madly in love with you for you to tell me I deserve something different. Nobody has the right to tell me what I should have or what I should want, nobody. Not even you.”

You’re stunned, visibly taken aback by that, and so your voice is barely audible when it crawls off your tongue, “But you’ve always wanted to be a dad…”

“No,” He shakes his head before pressing his forehead to yours, “I’ve always wanted you. A life with you. To spend my entire life loving you, whatever that looked like. I’m not going to leave you because of this, you can try and push me away as much as you want but I meant what I said in my vows,” He wets his lips, “I’ve chosen you every day for my entire life and I promise to keep choosing you, to honour that choice.”

“Jungkook…”

“Y/N I love you. Okay? More than anything. And if you don’t want to look at the other options I respect the fuck outa that.” He’s still wiping away your tears with one hand, the other settled on your lower back, “We don’t need a baby to complete us. I don’t need a baby to complete me. By some miracle I finally have you, and that’s more than I could’ve ever dreamed of.”

"But... What's the next step if we don't have a family?" You kiss the tip of his nose, eyes squeezed shut.

"Next step? What do you mean next step?" He frowns, chuckling lightly, "The step we're standing on is pretty fucking great. We have a beautiful home, money in the bank, the freedom to do whatever we want whenever we want... We have a good life Y/N. A strong marriage. Do you know how rare that is? Waking up next to someone every day and loving them ten times more than you did the night before." He offers you a genuine smile, "This doesn't change anything. I'll love you until the very end, no matter what."

"Til' the very end?” You repeat with a tiny smile, beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's heart-breaking that the choice of starting a family the conventional way has been stolen from you, by an illness you've shown no symptoms for, but Jungkook is right. It's a choice to start a family, it’s a choice to look at other options. It’s your choice, just as he’s always chosen you.

"No matter what." He confirms, stealing a soft kiss.

And you choose him.

x

[vaporvipermedia]

THE SIRENS🌊🎶🧜‍♀️

Backstory/Situation:

The Sirens were outcasts in the Coral Sea, regarded as bad omens and invasive creatures due to their ability to read the minds of both creatures and humans in order to lure them to their doom. So their time there was not very great to say the least. The three of them weren’t even close and yet they still ended up being friends. The Sirens more or so became a sisterhood finding comfort in each other’s presence.

How they got into NRC:

After stealing some food from a well known family runned Coral Sea restaurant, The Sirens made it to the surface to hide from the obviously angry owners. While trying to enjoy their soggy wet meals, a human ended up finding them. But not just any human, but a prince from The Aquatius Kingdom, Malachi Fotea.

At first, the trio were apprehensive of Malachi. After all this was their first time encountering a human and had no idea how to deal with them, so they ducked back into the sea. It took a little bit of corasing from the Prince to bring these scared creatures back but his calls ended up making them curious.

From sneaking out of his castle to tell them stories of cultures from different homelands he researched his kingdom’s secrets and even told the tale of two rival magic schools RSA & NRC. Which intrigued the girls most.

They already liked Malachi and considered him their first close human friend. So possibly enrolling in the same school he is, RSA, would not only be fun to hang out with, but would also allow them to turn over a new leaf in their lives by evolving their magic as a sort of middle finger to the merfolk that pushed them away.

So the Sirens decided to go to "Land Boot Camp" and study in order to improve their magic. Even working on their unique magic and entrancing vocals. The girls were finally accepted...to the school they didn't want, NRC, after their final day of boot camp and training. 

Unfortunately for The Sirens, NRC discovered their magical abilities before RSA could. After spotting a Black Horse Carriage approaching them at high speed, they all had to learn the hard way. Having to wave goodbye to Malachi promising to meet each other when the time comes.

All of this hard work, only to end up at the wrong school.

——————

Siren’s Description 

——————

Mitzy (She/They)

Age: 18

Best Subject: Astrology

Birthday: April 19th

Class/Grade: 3-D

Club: Film Studies

Height: 5’6(167cm)

Hobby: Turning everyone into her makeup guinea pigs

Homeland: Coral Sea

Likes: “Cute” or “Cool” people (personality wise/appearance wise)

Dislikes: “Boring” and “Bland” people (personality wise/ appearance wise)

Unique magic: Bizarre Belt

Her songs are able to put people into mass hysteria, making people see illusions and even cause others to attack people they’re allies with.

Mitzy’s UM is pretty much her unique song along with her other sisters. This melody requires loud belting in a hypnotic but strange tone of voice. The tone gradually shifts from soft and quiet to jagged and harsh melodies, as if harsh ocean waves are crashing into someone's ear while they listen to this.

Personality:

When it comes to Mitzy's Personality, she is highly extroverted & loves socializing with people she knows nothing about. They essentially like being friends with people who aren’t “boring”. Mitzy never had a fun or relaxing moment during their time in the Coral Sea. She wants some excitement in her life! So, if your whole demeanor is just bland…they’ll probably won’t be interested in talking to you.

Also she’ll absolutely claw you if you mess up her hair, nails and clothing she puts a lot of time into that. But besides all of that she’s pretty cheerful and loves running up to people she finds adorable or cool.

Mitzy would honestly just ramble about whatever goes inside her head to someone she just met, only for her to give you her number after.

And yes she will be expecting you to answer back.

——————

Grace (She/Her)

Age: 19

Best Subject: Potionology 

Birthday: August 23rd

Class/Grade: 3-C

Club: Science Club

Height: 5’8 (172cm)

Hobby: Collecting different types of mugs and tea sets 

(Grace has a whole cabinet in her room filled with her findings. She also just loves having a tea break with her sisters)

Homeland: Coral Sea

Likes: Being praised whenever she completes a task

Dislikes: Feeling useless or Cowardly 

Unique magic: Melancholic Lullaby

Grace’s song essentially forces everyone in her vicinity to uncontrollably cry their eyes out making their vision extremely cloudy and blurry.

This melody requires a soft and melodic tone, making the atmosphere around them shift into song full of sorrow and hopelessness. This song not only brings people to tears, but it also reminds them of past experiences that caused them to feel this way at the time. Making them relive a memory they wished to forget and suppress as their tears flow out from their eyes. Often at times tiring out the ones affected.

Personality: 

Grace is very introverted and at points tends to be completely silent. Ever since she first met the sirens, she’s always felt like she was in the way or too cowardly whenever they got into trouble with some apex predators. Grace thought that coming to the surface would give her a better chance at changing her weak-willed nature. 

From getting good grades, speaking up for herself, helping out whenever she can etc. This is what Grace strives to accomplish in order to reach her goal of becoming a natural born leader and an extraordinary alchemist due to her love of Alchemy & Potion making. And maybe getting some praise for her hard work along the way.

She’s in need of a confidence boost…

——————

Coco (She/Her)

Age: 19

Best Subject: Swimming 

Birthday: January 16th

Class/Grade: 3-C

Club: Track & Field

Height: 5’11 (180cm)

Hobby: Herbalism 

(Usually practices this whenever the Sirens are under the weather or just to use it in a therapeutic way to calm herself and her sisters down)

Homeland: Coral Sea

Likes: Making people at ease

Dislikes: Getting stressed 

Unique magic: Healing Vibrato

Coco’s song is able to heal others from wounds to poisoning in a matter of seconds.

Her melody is a more relaxing but vibrant tune that feels soothing to the soul. Making the person she’s healing warm inside as if the sun itself is beaming in their hearts. After the song ends, the person affected feels more energized and feels like a weight has been completely lifted off their shoulders.

Personality: 

Coco is a very loyal and patient person, even when she is frustrated. She always had that big sister energy that the sirens felt at ease with. Finding Mitzy and Grace was the best thing that could have happened to Coco.

For the longest time, she’s felt empty and hollow since she had no family or friends. If she had a problem, she had to solve it on her own. Injured? Swim it off, Hungry? Steal to save your skin, Sad & Stressed out? Suck it up, you don’t have time for unnecessary emotions. Which made matters worse for her.

Coco had not only calmed down after finding the other sirens, but she had also found a new purpose in her life. Her new sisters' personalities and quirks made her feel warm on the inside, finally realizing she now has a family of her own. Which made her protective of the girls.

Coco promised that she would make their time on the surface more exciting and relaxing. So if they ever had a problem, they would tell her everything and she would handle the rest.

It’s the least she can do for the people who changed her lonely life.

——————

The Sirens’ Trivia

——————

Mitzy:

Has a Bestie Journal where she writes about all of the friends she has gained throughout her years in NRC. Each page is full of glitter, stickers, ribbons, whatever else is in her room and of course a picture of the friend in question.

Mitzy dyed all of the Sirens’ hair when they first got to the surface. Of course she ended up needing help from Divus since the TwisTube tutorials weren’t working.

Is not afraid to go for the throat when someone talks shit behind their back. If you start it Mitzy will end it.

Grace:

While Grace doesn’t talk all that much around people in public, she’s super talkative around the Sirens’ and Divus. Especially if it’s on a good day for her! Like getting good grades on her exams, completing a list of chores she made for herself, having nice customers at the Monstro Lounge etc. Grace would talk for hours and the girls don’t mind one bit.

Grace wants to communicate with her fellow science club members Trey & Rook but is too shy to speak to them. Maybe one day she’ll gain confidence.

Absolutely loves cats but is extremely allergic to them and often sneezes 5 times in a row when around one.

Coco:

Loves picking up people shorter than her. If you’re lucky or unlucky enough she’ll show you off to her sisters. “Look at this little squirt I found on my way to the dorms.”

Coco’s room is filled up with smoked plants that’s used for stress relief. That’s why some students love coming by to her room whenever they’re in need of her.

THE AFFECTION MASTER! Coco gives out the best of  hugs whenever someone is in need of comfort. It’s nice, loving, and just tight enough to put anyone at ease. Coco often does this for her sisters too so she knows for a fact that it works. Oh, and I can’t forget the words of confirmation she whispers out to the lucky person in need of affection.

The Sisters:

They are under the watchful eye of Divus after Crowley assigned him to make sure their time in NRC is most comfortable. Especially, after an incident where Grace started to cry realizing that she didn’t go to the school of her dreams, RSA. He basically became the girls father figure and even helped them study for up and coming tests/exams. Divus basically adores them for their taste in fashion & quick learning abilities!

The Sisters even asked Divus to tailor their uniforms for NRC since the original uniforms were boring to them. (Mostly to Mitzy)

Instead of the regular “Duo Magic” the Sirens can team up to create Trio Magic called “The Sirens’ Shanty.”

Often sing songs on special events or weekends for that good Monstro profit!

The Sirens actually knew Orval when they were kids but didn’t interact all that much due to his severe social anxiety. 

Bonus Sketches/Planning:

Reblogs>Likes

[jacksgreysays]

"riding the current" - uzumaki kareru and the traits he inherited from the people who raised him, especially team 7! since i love how in one of the drabbles he mentioned learning to lie with a smile from ino

A/N: Kareru, my sweet boy! :D Thank you for requesting him, anon! I actually had to reread his tagged posts because it’s been a while (also, apparently he learns how to lie with a smile from Yoshino not Ino, but I truly understand the vibe) I actually, weirdly enough, DON’T want to write about Team Seven? Like, they’re obviously so integral to his life and how he grows up, but I’m almost more curious about what my brain will churn out regarding what he learns from everyone else—I hope you don’t mind? Hopefully it’s still enjoyable, anon!

—

Riding the Current, a Kareru Uzumaki ficlet

Kareru is the heir to a lost village, a clan whose name still shakes the world, and a legacy that he will one day have to rediscover and rebuild.

He is raised by three cosmically powerful beings who are practically gods amongst mortals; what traits he may or may not inherit from them are of his own choosing.

—

Sakura-oba teaches Kareru that his parents are only human.

“Please stay in bed,” Sakura-oba says with a smile on her face that adds a silent “or else.”

Mum, leaning forward, one foot out and almost touching the floor, slowly slumps back into a resting position. She pulls her leg back onto the hospital bed almost as an afterthought.

Kareru, because he is a good son, helps tuck the blanket around her.

Sakura-oba then turns to him with a far less threatening smile on her face, “If she tries to leave before I say so, you know how to reach me.”

Kareru, because he is a very good son and an even better nephew, obediently nods his head in agreement.

—

Kareru learns how to manage his appearance from Ino-neechan which is a surprise to absolutely no one. Considering his parents and their styles (or lack thereof) she’s really the best choice when it comes to fashion advice. The extra lessons about certain looks cultivating different first impressions on people—and how those impressions can influence future interactions with those people—are also helpful.

He learns how to manage his presence from Uncle Chouji which also shouldn’t be a surprise but somehow is to some people. Although, that might say more about how talented Uncle Chouji is at managing his own presence than anything else.

Kareru is a protector: he might not have the same physical build, but he knows what he looks like. He knows how to make the most of his bright appearance, his loud personality, how to make himself a flashy target so that enemies don’t pay attention to his teammates. Look at me, focus on me! They don’t notice the tree roots reaching up to entangle their limbs or the red eyes ensnaring them in a different way until it’s too late.

And when he and his team are not in danger, Kareru knows to tone it down. Knows how to be a listening ear and a comforting shoulder and a helping hand, just like Uncle Chouji.

—

TenTen-sensei is literally his jounin sensei: he learns so much from her, it’s hard to pick out a specific moment or skill or lesson that epitomizes their relationship.

But Kareru does pick something up from her and her teammates that he thinks she didn’t mean to show him.

“You have to be more careful,” TenTen-sensei hisses between clenched teeth, furiously scribbling out tag after tag of chameleon camouflage and air barriers and healing.

Uncle Lee bows in apology, a near perfect right angle, until Neji-oji yanks him back upright, presumably out of concern for his cracked ribs.

Kareru is practicing his stealth—it’s harder for him than his teammates. Mirai is a genjutsu specialist and Shachi can blend in with the trees; meanwhile Kareru has the chakra reserves of someone four times his age, a churning sea of energy that makes it obvious to any sensor worth their title—but he didn’t think he had improved this much.

But TenTen-sensei is, understandably, distracted.

“You have to be more careful,” TenTen-sensei repeats, handing over the stack of tags. “We don’t have that much clout to protect us if we fuck up, and Gai-sensei won’t always be around to do it for us.”

Uncle Lee, in perhaps the quietest and most somber tone Kareru has ever heard him, says, “Things are better now, TenTen. We all made it to jounin. You’re a sensei to three amazing genin. My Eternal Rival and I are part of the Hokage’s Guard. We are all valued members of Konoha. It’s not like how it used to be.”

But TenTen-sensei’s frown doesn’t go away. She looks to Neji-oji’s forehead for a moment, before turning back to Uncle Lee.

“Some things still are,” she says instead. Uncle Lee, as if he cannot help himself, also glances at Neji-oji’s forehead before looking away.

Neji-oji doesn’t react to them. But he does silently turn his face in the direction of where Kareru has been hiding.

He flees before anything else can happen. Considering their speed, he knows they let him.

TenTen-sensei doesn’t mention anything the next time he sees her, so Kareru stays quiet, too.

—

Kareru learns about a good poker face not from Shino-sensei, but from Uncle Kiba.

“I’ll admit, it took me a while when we were brats, but it’s easy to read him now,” Uncle Kiba says, one arm thrown around Shino-sensei’s shoulders, the other hand gesturing to his face as if part of a grand presentation. “His face doesn’t move much, but that just means when you can see something move he’s really feeling something. So obvious.”

Kareru gets what he means. During the early part of the Academy, many of Kareru’s classmates did thought their teacher was emotionless, but Kareru could tell that he was a kind man despite the monotonous voice and expressionless face. It’s as he got older could he tell what certain eyebrow furrows meant, the barest flattening of a mouth, the tilt of a head—not expressionless, just different expression.

Like right now, Kareru can tell that Shino-sensei is annoyed with Uncle Kiba, but also fondly putting up with him.

“Now take this handsome mug,” Uncle Kiba says, gesturing to his own face. “Yeah it’s swoon worthy, but it’s also great at hiding what I think.”

“It doesn’t have much to hide,” Shino-sensei posits, teasing.

Uncle Kiba just shakes him with the grip around his shoulders. Reward for the witty joke or retaliation? Kareru can’t tell.

“I’ve only ever cracked on one mission since I made chuunin,” Uncle Kiba says. Shino-sensei doesn’t contradict him, which does imply he’s telling the truth. “It has to do with Land of the Moon but, well, I’ll give up storytelling rights on this one.”

Uncle Kiba’s grin doesn’t give anything away.

—

The dangers of good intentions: a lesson not from any one person, but gleaned from careful observation and unspoken consequences.

“Be careful Kareru-kun,” Kaka-jiichan says, before opening the vault and stepping aside to let him pass. Inside are some of Konoha’s greatest secrets, some from the founding era. Some from before it. “You’re walking a very narrow path.”

Kareru is reminded of TenTen-sensei’s warning through clenched teeth, of Uncle Chouji’s switch between loud and quiet protector, of a grin that only ever cracked once, and Mum, in a hospital bed, more human than god.

Kareru smiles and lies, “I won’t cause any trouble.”

—

A/N: … I’ll be honest, anon, I went into, like, a fugue state and that’s what shook out. I thiiiink it’s because my brain keeps wanting to touch back on the Primadonna Girl ‘verse even though this isn’t specifically in that universe, nor do I necessarily think that this is what Kareru is up to if he were in that universe. But, like, I still am wondering about what is going on with the Caged Bird Seal and if that has been addressed—by which I mean, why hasn’t Shikako (or TenTen) addressed it already? And like, my brain maybe went… okay, this is a clan/clout thing, then obviously TenTen can’t, even if she’s the non-Hyuuga with the most investment in getting rid of it. Then why hasn’t Shikako? And, like, even if this isn’t Primadonna Girl ‘verse in which she went briefly feral and had to disavow her name and shinobi reputation, there still might be some… clans can’t interfere in other clan business without war being declared type of thing where maybe she’s working on it in secret but can’t actually do anything with it? Whereas, Kareru MAYBE has some legal wiggle room to actually come up with a counter to Caged Bird Seal because if Boruto and Himawari are nominally Uzumaki, then he’s their clan head. So there is some reasonable concern about the Hyuuga putting a torture/slave seal on members of another clan, even if they do have the Byakugan. So it’s… uh... preemptive measures? And obviously he would need to, like, TEST it on someone. And, you know, his jounin sensei HAPPENS to be teammates with the Branch Hyuuga who's seal was put on him the youngest(? I think?) so... you know... totally legal? To be fair, he gets his troublemaking tendencies from all three of his parents which Kakashi already knows and which is why he’s enabling this. Oops, this is almost definitely not what you wanted, anon, but I hope it was entertaining anyway.

[fabuloustrash05]

About the group of friends in tmnt 2012 (Mona, April, Karai, Shinigami, Renet and Alopex) What would the personality of each person in the group be like?

April often tries to be the voice of reason of the girl group, kinda like Leo with his team, but she is often overwhelmed, because for most of her life, she’s never had girlfriends before. She’s always been a tomboy and more comfortable hanging out with guys so having female friends is a new experience for her. She’s definitely convinced that she is the “normal one” of the group. Often she’s 110% DONE with these girls and their antics.

Mona is a friend that everyone just likes to be around. They enjoy her presence and her cluelessness of earth culture so it’s very entertaining to see her reaction to certain things but also sometimes she has the most insane war stories to share with everyone and it just boggles everyone’s mind that she’s their age yet has been through so much and does not seem phased by these traumatic stories it at all.

Karai and Shinigami are those two friends in the group who are WAY closer to each other than everyone else and would often gossip and talk about the rest of the group behind their backs, mainly shit talk about April. Sometimes the two would even try to “pick on” or prank Mona by taking advantage of her culture shock on Earth but April would quickly shut it down, protecting her friend. April is usually their main target. They just like to see what would make her snap. 

Renet is that friend in the group that no one really knows how exactly she got in their group but have just accepted that she is in their friend group. She comes and goes as she pleases (considering she is from another time period) not always around but when she is it really shocks everyone. She’s that friend who doesn’t respond when the group is making plans to hang out so everyone just assumes that she’s can’t come, but at the last minute, she shows up out out of the blue.

Alopex is the friend who’s apart of the group but never really around or hangs out with them. Like, she’ll just send a “👍” or leave the chat on “READ” and no one’s bothered by it cause she’s the older lady who’s used to being alone. Karai also looks up to Alopex as he idol ever since she learn that she’s the one who chopped off Tiger Claw’s tail and arm.

April and Mona are instantly besties, idc what anyone says, these two are like sisters who always have each others backs.

Since she is the tallest, all of the girls enjoy being carried or getting piggyback rides from Mona.

Mona Lisa is that friend who won’t shut up about her boyfriend. She always manages to find a way to mention him any time she hangs out with the girls. April and Renet don’t mind and think it’s sweet, Karai and Shini however find it annoying. Alopex just doesn’t care.

Karai and Mona often buttheads, not that they don’t get along, it’s more of a friendly rivalry. Karai sometimes feels threatened by Mona’s presence, think of it like two Apex predators fighting for dominance and deciding who’s the best. Often these two girls will spar with one another or engage in friendly competition just to see who is better. Karai does it to fill up her pride and honor while Mona does it for her own enjoyment and likes a challenge that could possibly help her improve in combat. In the end, they’re good friends but there’s some slight tension.

Shinigami is definitely that friend who likes doing makeovers and shopping for new clothes. I can imagine her wanting to make Mona Lisa her new fashion project, to teach her about Earth’s fashion and improve her wardrobe. Shini also teaches April about how to properly use make up because April knows next to nothing about it (only mascara and lip gloss) so Shini would take her under her wing. Renet would be the same except with hair. She would always love to style and braid each of the girls hair when hanging out with them.

Shinigami is Renet’s favorite person to be around in the group. She’s always in Shini’s personal space. In the beginning, Shini found it extremely annoying and couldn’t stand Renet, but slowly she warmed up to the bubbly time traveler and now they’re besties.

[libraryofneith]

Out of Mind - Chapter 4 (Joel x Reader)

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3

Summary: You settle into life with Joel and Tess and try to win their trust.  

Warnings/tags for this chapter: [18+, minors DNI], mentions of sex, no actual sex though, not yet, kinda bratty reader.

You'd seen the way Joel looked at you that first night as he'd dabbed at your wounds. He looked like he'd wanted to kill someone and you didn't think it was you.

You

The days are hard, harder than they ever were on your own. but they're also better. It's been weeks and they're still not allowing you to go on runs with them, but in that time Tess drills you all day every day in basic fight techniques. By evening you're covered in bruises, your muscles ache, you're dripping with sweat and grinning from ear to ear. "Don't know what you look so happy about. You haven't even made me break a sweat." It's true. Humiliating, but true. Despite being about twice your age Tess could still pin you in minutes, but that was progress. She used to be able to pin you in seconds. "Don't get too comfortable, maybe I'm lulling you into a false sense of security." "Yeah? Then maybe you'll be able to beat me before I drop dead of boredom." "If I do, will you finally let me go on runs with you?" "Maybe, but you'll probably be fuckin a hundred by then." That's how you two communicate. Jabbing at each other with words as well as fists - endless amounts of sarcasm even when her body is pinning yours to the floor, especially then. You don't want to admit it to Tess, but that's what's making you smile: the fact that you have a rapport with her. You can almost call her a friend. Just her of course. Joel still doesn't like you, he makes that clear everyday. He barely speaks to you, and when you speak to him, he only grunts or offers monosyllabic responses. 

He has shown no interest in helping with your training, except once when you thought you'd pinned Tess until she wrestled her knee between your legs and thrown you off her. You'd been working yourself into a huff until you heard: "Almost had her." Joel had been leaning against the door frame looking faintly amused. It shouldn't have meant much, if anything, but it felt like some small acknowledgement of your improvement. He was gone before you could think of something smart to say back. That was the trouble with Joel. The more determined he was to close himself off, the more determined you were to claw your way in. You plagued him with endless questions, tried ribbing on him to see if it'd work the same way it did with Tess. It did not. When that didn't work you started teasing him. It didn't make him like you any better but it at least got him to acknowledge you. And he was just so easy to rile up. It started by accident. You'd both tried to enter the kitchen at the same time and wound up squeezed against each other in a door frame. You'd noticed Joel's eyes glance down at you then very quickly away again. With a mixture of exasperation and spite, you'd whispered, "You didn't seem to mind looking when we first met." His eyes had flashed. "I wouldn't bring that up if I were you, especially not in front of Tess." "Don't look at me that way then." "I'll try to control myself." It was the most he'd said to you in days. The next time he'd caught you stepping out of the shower. "You better not have used up all the hot water." "Feel free to jump in with me next time," you'd retorted with a grin. Joel's face had turned a remarkable shade of crimson then he'd disappeared into the bathroom. From then on it was an endless series of grins, winks and raised eyebrows whenever the poor guy happened to look your way. It did nothing to improve your relationship but you felt a strange victory in how you could make him squirm. --- "Sit tight, we're gonna be gone a few days." "Where?" "Going on a supply run - no, you're not coming with us" Tess cuts in before you have a chance to ask. "Y'know, I could've sworn the whole reason you took me in was so I could help you with situations like these. Or did you just pick me up so you could have something pretty to look at?" Tess snorts but Joel just rolls his eyes. "You come with us when we decide you're ready. Right now you'd be more of a hindrance than a help." "Ugh. I should've just stuck it out on my own. At least then I could actually do something." "Then maybe we should've let Robert gut you" Joel spits, stalking past you and out the door. "He didn't mean that. He's just mad cos he doesn't like the people we're going to see." "I know." You really did know. You'd seen the way Joel looked at you that first night as he'd dabbed at your wounds. He looked like he'd wanted to kill someone and you didn't think it was you. He may not like you but he didn't want you to die. Progress I guess? "Shouldn't be gone for more than four days. Keep your head down and stay out of trouble, ya hear?" "I hear." Tess gives you one last sympathetic smile before following Joel out the door. Keep your head down and stay out of trouble. Well if all goes to plan, there shouldn't be any trouble. --- You sit at the kitchen table all day waiting for them. Your ass is completely numb by the time they finally make an appearance but its worth it. It's all set up exactly as you imagined it. "Hey Skye" Tess calls as they trudge through the door. "Did ya miss-" she stops short as she takes in the scene in the kitchen. You kicked back, cocky little grin spread across your face, and spread across the table: enough contraband to open a small shop. "How did you..." "Just a few things I picked up in town. Please, help yourself." Tess just gapes at you. "I thought I told you to keep your head down." "I did. No one spotted me." "You think no one spotted you." "I can tell when people notice me." "And how did that work out with us?" Your lips quirk. "That was a fluke. I was careful this time." Tess looks like she's trying to stay angry. "So... this is all stuff you picked up off the street?" "Yup." "Liar." Joel stalks forward and picks up a particularly high end brand of cigarettes. "These you can only get from inside FEDRA barracks." The colour drains from Tess' face "Skye. Tell me you didn't." A stony silence hangs in the air. "For fuck's sake how could you be so stupid?" "Hey, I was in and out in no time. Used to do it all the time before." If Joel was angry before, his fury now is a thing to behold. "Did it ever occur to you while you were showing off that if you were caught you could be traced back to us?" "Please, FEDRA officers aren't meant to have these in their bunks so who're they gonna go crying to? Besides, I took those the night you left, if they were gonna come looking they would've come already." If Tess's jaw dropped even more, a bird could nest in her mouth. "Seriously? The first night we were gone? Do our orders mean anything to you?" "I've been following your orders to the letter for weeks now but frankly, your orders are dumb. I've done stuff like this before and I was good at it. If I just waited for you to decide when I'm ready I'd live the rest of my life a glorified house pet." "Oh if you think you are ever, ever going on runs with us after the shit you just pulled..." "Wait! I saved the best for last." You reach down and pull out a packet of condoms, chucking them to Joel who still manages to catch them despite looking like he's just seen an infected stand up on the table and do the can-can. "I knew you'd run out a month ago cos I could finally get some fucking sleep. You're welcome." They both just stare at you and for a second you worry you've made a horrible mistake. But then you hear a snort. It's Tess, she's laughing. "It's not funny!" But Joel looks like he's supressing laughter too. And once Tess is gone, so is he. Holy shit, you made Joel laugh. "This," he holds up the box as menacingly as you can hold a box of condoms, "does not mean we're ok with what you did. We're still very, very angry" he wheezes, trying to put his serious face back on. "Eh, what the hell Joel, let's take her out for a spin, see how she does." "You can't be serious. She can't follow basic orders." "Yes I can! If you take me with you I'll be good as gold I swear." "We'll just take her to Bill and Frank's. We're due a visit there anyways. We know the route like the back of our hands, we hardly have any trouble there, and we if we can't trust those two, who can we trust? Besides, you know Frank would fucking adore her." "Yes please take me to Bill and Frank! I love Bill and Frank, can't wait to meet them." Joel gives you one last withering stare, heaves an exasperated sigh, and gives in. "Fine." He turns to you. "But if you pull anymore crap like this..." "I know Joel, I know."

---

Guess you’re gonna be meeting Bill and Frank soon, huzzah! Thank you so much to everyone who’s shown their support by liking and reblogging, it means the world to know this is actually getting read. If you have any feedback, feel free to let me know in the comments and make sure to follow me so you know when I update. 

[olympeline]

A few headcanons for Hetalia Scotland:

Is Alisdair a canon name? If it’s not, idc. It’s a good one 👍 If all the brothers are Kirkland then I like to think it was Scot’s surname first. England (and Wales by extension) took it when the Scottish James I became king of England and so formed the United Kingdom. That all his little(?) brothers took his name is definitely a feather in Scot’s cap.

No one knows if he or Wales is the oldest brother, including Scotland and Wales themselves. The first time they happened to cross paths during their wandering around Great Britain, they each saw another boy who looked the same age. Scotland insists he is the elder brother, Wales disagrees but more quietly.

Scotland has a favourite city out of Glasgow and Edinburgh. But he’s not going to start a civil war in his country by telling anyone which it is! (Psst, it’s Glasgow)

The Auld Alliance was a fiery, passionate affair between Scotland and France. The kind that was pure, mutual lust at first sight and got physical very quickly. Like, “we just met for the first time while our bosses hammer out details and now we’re banging against the wall in the antechamber” quickly. Sexy, sophisticated, continental France vs. wilder, rougher Scotland was just what the doctor ordered for both of them. Unfortunately, it didn’t really last. That kind of white hot, burning hunger never does. It didn’t help that a significant chunk of the non-physical part of their bond was built on their mutual hatred of England. You can’t build a long term love on something like that. Once Scotland’s relationship with his little brother started to improve, his affair with France simultaneously cooled. These days they’re better off as friends. Scot recalls their relationship more fondly and feels more wistful than France does.

And yes, that Scotland was eventually replaced by England as France’s soulmate does make his complicated feelings towards England even more strained. Thank ye for asking *Sound of Scottie teeth grinding*

Scotland holds his liquor best out of all his brothers and can drink most of Europe under the table. Only true heavyweights like Russia and the Balkans give him a run for his money

Like all the UK bros, Scotland has magic and can see magical creatures. Vistors to his country are often surprised to learn that Scot’s favourite isn’t the famous Nessie (though he is very fond of her) but rather his herd of unicorns. Hunted nearly to extinction in the rest of the UK, the unicorn’s last stronghold is up in Scotland. During one of their many wars, England slew Scotland’s oldest and most beloved unicorn (“The Lion and the Unicorn were fighting for the crown…”) and took its alicorn back to London. Even after the unification and a regretful England returning it, Scotland is still bitter.

Yes, Scotland does play the bagpipes. Yes, he’s very good at it. When he plays and Wales sings, it’s really something to behold…er, listen to

What’s Scotland’s least favourite thing about his home? The rain? The cold? No, you fool! The midges. Dear GOD the midges. Eat you alive in summer they will!

Scotland’s cooking makes the rest of his brothers look almost competent by comparison. He has the dubious honour of making both some of the most unappetising food (haggis!) and also the most unhealthy. Everything battered, deep fried, and washed down with fifty cans of drink so stiff with sugar it would make America blush. What’s not to love? Diabetes. Diabetes is not to love. Scot’s bosses have been on a health kick lately but their nation is as stubborn as any of the UK bros and it’s not easy persuading him to change his ways

Scotland wears his kilt like a true Scot: nothing below and god help ye if there’s a headwind 🍆

Kitain (Britain cat) was born in Scotland but doesn’t like spending much time there because of the climate. He still comes to visit Scotland in the summer, though. His favourite place to sleep is on Scotland’s feet. Keeping his toes warm like a living heater

Scotland is very proud that he was able to hold off Grandpa Rome and stop the Romans ever getting a real foothold on his turf. Though that pride is complicated by feelings of guilt that he couldn’t protect his little brothers. Even if they were enemies at the time, it still chafes Scot that part of their isle was occupied for hundreds of years. Seeing England and, to a lesser extent, Wales under Grandpa Rome’s boot and watching them be Romanised was painful

And yes, let’s talk about that elephant lion in the room: England. England, England, England. The golden child of the UK bros that Scotland can’t get away from or ignore no matter how hard he tries. To say Scot’s feelings towards his baby bro are complicated is an understatement. He’s so proud of what they achieved together, but wishes he could claim more of the credit. He feels guilt for not driving the Romans out of Britain, but a small, hateful part still gloats that only he could stop the invaders in their tracks. He’s glad they’re on better terms these days, but resents that the unification has eclipsed him so much in the eyes of the world. He knows in his heart of hearts that his relationship with France was never meant to last, but seeing France with England hurts him even so. Scotland was the older brother, not England. It should have been him. It all should have been him

Scottie has a lot of Nordic in him and gets on well with the Scandis. He could probably make a good case for being one of them, but nothing’s come of it yet. Estonia is very jelly

His favourite food is scotch eggs. His favourite drink is irn bru in the day and good old Scotch whisky at night

[ghostypetrainer]

essential key facts that I have not yet mentioned for the PLA ageswap AU:

Ingo disappeared when Iris was ten. He was gone for five years. He and Iris are now the same (physical) age.

Ingo is technically taller, but Iris’ hair has more volume so she wins.

Iris is just as deeply amused by this situation as Emmet is.

Drayden is... just happy his nephew is home, even if this development is unexpected. He also has to try very hard not to fall back into old habits from when the twins were actually that age. But sometimes he will still pat Ingo on the head and ruffle his hair. It’s hard not to.

Oh yeah, Emmet doesn’t warn anyone else about Ingo’s second adolescence either. They all need to experience what he experienced.

Akari and Ingo do both get checked out at a hospital in their respective regions, both because they’ve been living in the past and because, you know... Pokemon ageswap fuckery. Thankfully they are mostly fine!

Ingo refuses to get any scans of his brain because he would like for it to continue to remain unclear as to whether or not his frontal lobe is currently fully developed or not, thanks. He does not wish to know.

(Emmet suspects it is not. His brother does verrry stupid things now and again.)

Akari continues in her quest to get called ‘older sister’ by her friends. Only Lucas obliges. Barry just calls her ‘aunt’.

Akari, tearing up as she holds Lucas’ shoulders: I always knew you were better than Rei.

Rowan is very helpful in the effort to figure out a way to reverse Akari and Ingo’s situation. Truly an improved version of his ancestor.

Akari and Ingo meet up frequently! This does lead to the strange situation in which her friends and family have only ever met him as a teenager, so they can’t help but think of him as being Akari’s (actual) age despite functionally knowing he’s an adult. When the situation does get fixed and they meet adult Ingo for the first time, somehow they don’t... expect him to be that tall. Or that imposing.

Yes, Akari does visit Gear Station sometimes. Yes, the depot agents do hear this grown woman call their 15 year old boss ‘uncle’. They just assume it’s one of those wild family situations. It happens sometimes.

Sometimes Barry and Lucas come with her and they’re just happy Boss Ingo has some friends his age after all. They were worried!

(The ones who are in the know just sympathetically pat Ingo on the shoulder. It’s okay boss. We know you’re an adult.)

Back while they were still in Hisui, Akari and Ingo’s situation lead to the fear that this could possibly happen again, but thankfully it never does. It’s literally just the two of them.

It takes awhile for Akari to get used to her increased height, but Ingo gets used to his decreased height much faster. He only needed to miss a handhold he would have been able to reach at his adult size once for him to never make that mistake again.

(Thankfully Gliscor was there to catch him.)

[doublethetheories]

Miraculous LB/CN Movie: Multiverse Notes

Based on the movie having differences in not only plot, but worldbuilding laws set up in the show, I’d like to propose the perspective that the movie is in a different universe than ours (the show). This is less of a theory and more just me wanting to point out some interesting things I saw when watching with this pov. I hope you all enjoy!

Canon Events

Using the logic from Spiderman: Across The Spiderverse, we can gather that multiversal laws have canon events for every version of a like character. Ladybug And Cat Noir presented a few of those when compared to Miraculous Ladybug. Let’s talk about them.

Alya:

She is meant to be the first person to document the new Holders’ first battle. It’s a shaping moment for her (and sometimes Marinette too, though it isn’t a canon event for LB). 

Marinette:

Obviously it’s becoming the miraculous holder, but quickly after, she has a more notable canon event: rejecting the miraculous. I saw this as a canon event because its sameness made me realise how significant to her this decision, and then the decision to rejoin the fight, is for her growth. Realising she is capable is huge for her.

Adrien:

Losing his mom. This may seem obvious, and it is, but I want to discuss how it affects him differently��in this universe in the next section. (Other than the upcoming notes though, this obviously is what shapes his relationship with his father, and it’s also a CE for Gabriel as well, launching him into his next arc.)

Differences (and significance)

Aside: Okay so first let’s address the butterfly in the room: changes in the moth miraculous. I’ve been seeing a lot of people on twitter discuss how it was presented as evil/chaotic by a default in this movie, and when I watched sadly I agree. This falls under the “changes to the world laws” umbrella I mentioned earlier, and it didn’t worsen the story, but I also feel like it could’ve been better used as an opportunity to show how the power isn’t bad and it’s the holder’s responsibility to use it for good. I feel that would have been a better lesson. Anyway, back to theory.

The biggest difference I noticed was in a specific scene with Adrien and Gabriel, where Adrien talks back and even shouts at his father, and it really caught me by surprise. But then I realised why.

Adrien in this universe isn’t a sentimonster.

It’s not a canon event, it’s one of the things which makes him different than ours. Here, he’s able to go through the teenage angst that comes with his age and with losing a mom (and having that as your dad). 

Lastly, I’d like to point out other differences in the world, broken into two categories for ease of reader 😌

Character Differences:

Nino never had a crush on marinette (that we know of), and it seems like he did on Alya :)

Marinette isn’t blubbering-nervous, she’s quiet/shy-nervous around Adrien (an improvement, I think we all agree)

Kwami’s personalities ! (explored more in World Law Differences)

Gabriel both A) did more damage as a villain while B) caring more as a father, both of which were equally jarring

if you’re confused about A, the mime literally pulled out a(n invisible) gun multiple times o.o

World Law Differences: (mentioned earlier)

Holders’ Powers: To my knowledge, the Holders don’t have a time limit after using their powers

Furthering that point, and this may be debated, but I don’t think their powers work the way we’re used to.

We never see any holder use their trigger word, and it doesn’t seem to be a one-time or limited thing, it’s contraints are just the Holder’s willpower and physical endurance for what they’re doing

Other miraculous might not exist, it might just be the main 7 (fox, bee, moth, turtle, peafowl, and ladybug/chat noir)

This is implied by the intro sequence, and also I thought I noticed the miracle box being shorted in my watch through, though that might be just me

Kwamis are able to be physically present while Holders are transformed (doesn’t affect much but I found it interesting)

They also acted wiser, Tikki and Nooroo having moments of sober seriousness that was wildly different than what we’re used to.

except for uh...

Plagg.

no comment.

Guardians of The Miraculous might have powers of their own which we just didn’t have time to explore. (This could’ve also just been the creators wanting him to be mysterious with no intended lore implications)

Implied chaos around the Moth Miraculous (this is mostly just in the intro though, the rest of the movie it’s Gabriel who’s responsible for the bad stuff rather than it being inherent)

There is still something to say here about power corrupting, we don’t know how much of it was him or the miraculous, and that does bug me :/

Power ups likely don’t exist in this world too, given what I mentioned about the power-constraints being different; The holders likely are able to handle extreme circumstances naturally when transformed, and if they can’t (like the lava scene) that’s because it is too much for them.

Contacting holders was significantly easier here since they were able to receive (vague) notice while detransformed; I liked that :)

That’s all!

Let me know if there’s anything I missed that I should discuss! As always, the ask box is open and I love reading comments and discussing things with y’all :))

Thank you for reading!

[shiningwonderland]

Ai Mikaze (All Star)

Translator: Nadie (twitter: nmoniag) Proofreader: Raz (twitter: agnadance) Editors: Whitney (twitter: whitormiss), Terry (twitter: turtlemudge)

Chapter Three — Snowflake Memories

The season has changed and it became December. Today’s shoot is in a park close to the sea.

It’s already been a week since Mikaze-senpai first came to my room to nurse me.

Mikaze-senpai seems to be somewhat worried about my health.

He has begun assisting me when I’m unable to do my work, even though he complains.

I’ve also continued my role as an acting coach (for Mikaze-senpai only), which I was appointed to last month.

Director: Cut! Wasn’t that quite good?

He thanks Mikaze-senpai with a smile. The shooting progresses really smoothly.

But an incident follows right after that.

Ai Mikaze: As I said... if you have any complaints, wouldn’t it be better to use your own talent against me?

I hear Senpai’s voice from behind the park and it sounds as if he’s interrogating someone. Concerned, I rush over.

Mikaze-senpai is facing off against someone.

That person looks familiar. If I remember correctly, he was also with us during the previous shooting....

Ai Mikaze: Hiding my clothes, giving me the wrong schedule... even for harassment, that is way too immature.

If you’re going to harass me, why not hand me an original script rewritten by yourself? Why not show me that you can go that far?

Though if you had the intellect to do something like that, then you wouldn’t be doing this....

Talent A: Even though you’re a shitty brat, you’re all about smooth talk, huh? Do you always sweet talk your way into getting your roles like this?

Ai Mikaze: Sigh.... I am speechless.... I wonder which one of us is the shitty brat here.

As if in a state of shock, all the staff members are looking at these two from a distance.

Haruka Nanami: Um... this is....

Staff A: This is just a rumor, but that man was most likely originally supposed to be the protagonist.

Haruka Nanami: ... Is that so!?

Staff A: Something changed and suddenly Mikaze-kun became the protagonist, which is why he doesn’t think highly of him.

The shooting was continuing smoothly since last month and Mikaze-senpai’s acting was also gradually improving.

They’re from the same agency, Senpai gets along with Kotobuki-senpai, and his reputation at the shooting site is also good but....

His popularity seems to have backfired and ended up provoking this person instead.

If what Mikaze-senpai said is true, then that person is in the wrong. However, if this keeps going on it might turn into a big argument.

I have to do something to stop this.

Select the phrase!

Please apologize. (+15 Love)

Haruka Nanami: Er... please apologize! And please do not make such a fuss again! I am begging you.

I say and lower my head.

Talent A: What? What are you even saying, butting in like this?!

The actor glares at me.

Ai Mikaze: You are talking to me, right? Do not... lay a hand on her.

Mikaze-senpai says this, and gives him a harsh glare.

Please calm down. (+10 Love)

Haruka Nanami: Senpai, please calm down.

Ai Mikaze: I am calm. The one who isn’t calm is over there.

The actor glares at Mikaze-senpai with a piercing look.

Please stop. (+0 Love)

I rush over with determination.

Haruka Nanami: You two! Please stop it already!

Ai Mikaze: Don’t interrupt. This is a problem between him and me.

Mikaze-senpai says calmly.

Ai Mikaze: If you don’t like me, that’s fine. You can hate me all you want. I won’t even question the reason.

However, nothing good comes out of you ruining the mood on set for such a petty reason.

This goes for anybody, no matter what the age. We’re both working towards the same goal on the same set, so we should be civil with each other.

If you can’t even do basic things like that, you’ll only be disposed of in this already strict industry.

Mikaze-senpai declares indifferently to the trembling actor.

Talent A: Ugh—!! How dare you!

The actor raises the paper cup he has in his hand.

Haruka Nanami: Please stop—!

Thinking he’ll throw it at Mikaze-senpai, I jump in front of him.

I get covered in spilled coffee.

Ai Mikaze: ... Wha—! Haruka!?

As Senpai’s eyes widen, the director rushes to where we are.

Director: Hey—!? What are you guys doing!

The other actor turns on his heel and runs off the shooting location.

The coffee that spilled on my chest has cooled down now. Only my clothes and scarf were stained....

... Regardless of that, it seems like I caused everyone here to fret.

The news starts spreading from the director to the supervisor and even reaches the heroine’s actress.

Ai Mikaze: Actually, he wasn’t throwing it with the intent to hit me. He was just venting his frustration. You could clearly tell by looking at his motion and the trajectory​ of the throw.

Haruka Nanami: I see....

Senpai splashes water as he washes my scarf under the water faucet in the park.

The white scarf I was wearing around my neck was stained the most by the coffee.

Ai Mikaze: That’s what happens when you don’t think of the consequences before rushing in.... Aah, this thing is already looking like a panda.

He sighs as he holds the scarf with a stain that looks distinctively like the face of a panda.

I feel terribly sorry for doing something unnecessary and making the problem worse.

Staff A: Mikaze-san! It’s been decided that today’s shooting will be postponed.

Ai Mikaze: I... see.... I’m terribly sorry for all the trouble I caused.

Senpai says while lowering his head at the staff member who called from afar.

Staff A: No, it was unfortunate for you too, right? He has been getting less jobs lately which might have caused him to panic.

But now he might reflect on what he’s done, but that doesn’t mean he won’t do it again in the future. You should be careful.

We lower our heads.

Staff A: We’ll contact you again with details on the date of the rescheduled shooting and who will fill in the missing role. For now, we’re packing up.

After thanking us for our hard work, the staff member goes his way.

Ai Mikaze: Sigh.... In the end it got postponed, huh? I thought if he would admonish me, he would at least do so when nobody’s around. This isn’t working out very well.

His shoulders sink as he hands me my scarf.

Haruka Nanami: I’m sorry. Back then I thought that it might turn into a fight... so I... ended up stepping in.

Ai Mikaze: Perhaps I was also being too frank. As expected, emotions really are complicated.

He stands up with a bitter smile.

Haruka Nanami: Uhm, Senpai! You were truly amazing!

Ai Mikaze: What?

Haruka Nanami: Senpai, you were able to scold him so calmly. I wouldn’t have been brave enough to do so in that situation. As expected, Senpai is strong and amazing.

Ai Mikaze: You think so? But weren’t you amazing as well? ... Thank you for covering me.

When it was time to head home, the day had fully come to its end.

This park, located close to the sea, is a popular destination and there are still many people walking around.

Surrounded by an aquarium and the big park, there is a giant Ferris wheel, sparkling with bright lights.

Haruka Nanami: Wow, there are already Christmas lights up!

Ai Mikaze: Each year when this time comes around, there’s a big fuss because of Christmas. What’s everyone so excited about?

Senpai asks me while idly looking up at the lights.

Haruka Nanami: You’re right. We have deviated quite far from the original meaning of Christmas, but... maybe they’re just simply enjoying the atmosphere?

He replies with a simple “Hm” and doesn't seem to care.

Haruka Nanami: In Japan, it’s a day you spend with people important to you. Be it with your family or going on a date as a couple.

I look up and before me stands the Ferris wheel.

I guess if I were on a date, I would take a ride on that and view the night scenery....

Ai Mikaze: You want to take a ride?

Haruka Nanami: Huh!?

Turning around, I see Mikaze-senpai peering into my face.

Ai Mikaze: The Ferris wheel. You keep looking at it in a daze.

Haruka Nanami: T-that is...

Select the phrase!

I want to ride it. (+15 Love)

Haruka Nanami: I want to take a ride. If we look from up there, we might be able to have a grand view of the surrounding neighborhood.

Mikaze-senpai lifts his face as well and looks up at the Ferris wheel.

Ai Mikaze: True, I am interested in the scenery from up there. It sure is high. About 150 meters in diameter?

Haruka Nanami: You sure know it well.

Ai Mikaze: I’m just eyeballing it. Since we already came here, let’s ride it and make sure of the view together.

He says and suddenly pulls me by my arm.

What about Senpai? (+10 Love)

Ai Mikaze: Me? I... I kind of want to give it a ride.

He only mutters these few words.

No... (+0 Love)

After what happened earlier, it really might not be the time to ride a Ferris wheel.

After I mumble, Mikaze-senpai beside me also looks up at the Ferris wheel.

Ai Mikaze: Hmm, we don’t have much time but we might be able to ride it once. The Ferris wheel’s hours of operation goes on till 9 PM. It just turned 8 PM....

This Ferris wheel is 150 meters in diameter. It’s rotation speed is 0.30 meters per second, which means that one turn takes about thirty minutes. Well, we should manage.

Haruka Nanami: R-right.... You calculate really fast.

Ai Mikaze: So? Want to give it a ride?

I’m about to agree to Senpai’s question, when—

Child A: Ai-chan!

Haruka Nanami: Eh!?

Looking down, a child around kindergarten age is pointing a finger straight at Mikaze-senpai.

By the time I’ve noticed, it is already too late.

Man A: Hey, isn’t that Ai Mikaze? Whoa, so rare!

Woman A: The actual one!? Such a beauty.... What is this, a photo shoot?

That’s right. Mikaze-senpai is an active and popular idol.

Child A: Mama! Ai-chan is here! Ai-chan! Ai-chan!

The child jumps up and down in joy, which leads to everybody in the area becoming noisy.

Mikaze-senpai is so amazing that even small children know of him, but now is not the time to be admiring him for that.

Haruka Nanami: Ah, sorry. Today, Ai-chan is....

In the meanwhile, the information that Ai Mikaze is here is spreading among people and the fuss is gradually becoming bigger.

Man B: Is he taking his girlfriend out? Should we take a picture?

Without mercy, cameras are facing us.

Ai Mikaze: Haa.... I was careless.... Let’s run and retreat over there, where there are less people.

Pointing at the path that follows the edge of the park, he pushes my back with a pat.

Haruka Nanami: O-okay!

Then Senpai bends down and slightly waves at the child.

Ai Mikaze: See you, bye-bye. Next time, we’ll meet on TV.

Child A: Bye-byeee!

We run as fast as we can. We run and slip through the crowd.

When I look up, the Ferris wheel is right in front of us.

We jump upon the ferris wheel without the attendant noticing.

I hear the click of the lock closing as our passenger car gently floats into the air.

The gondola is slowly rising up to the sky.

Haruka Nanami: So we got to ride it after all.

Looking out from the gondola, not only can you see the illuminations of the park but also the lights of the city on the other side of the sea.

No one would chase after us in such a high place.

We’re sitting next to each other, facing out of the window.

Haruka Nanami: Beyond that mountain is where our agency is, and over there is where we were just a moment ago.

Ai Mikaze: Oh, interesting. It’s like looking at a map. We can see the path we took to escape. Ah, what’s that building?

Haruka Nanami: That’s an aquarium.

Senpai makes a face as if he doesn’t understand.

Haruka Nanami: It’s a place full of fish and creatures from the sea! If we had the time, we could’ve gone to see it....

I look to the side. Mikaze-senpai’s pupils are glittering and bright as he watches the night scenery.

Ai Mikaze: Even though the sea is right there? What a weird place.

What an odd person....

Knowing everything like an adult and knowing nothing like a child. Such duality.

Long eyelashes, shiny skin... such well-ordered and androgynous features.

Ai Mikaze: Why are you peering so closely at someone else’s face?

Mikaze-senpai, who notices my glance, asks suspiciously.

Haruka Nanami: Uh... well...

Select the phrase!

I just thought it was interesting. (+15 Love)

Haruka Nanami: I just thought it’s interesting how your expression when you’re on the Ferris wheel is different from when you’re working.

Ai Mikaze: Your facial expression changes far more than mine does. I think that is much more interesting.

He answers, gazing at me through the window's reflection.

Haruka Nanami: Is that so? Thank you... very much....

Feeling startled, I look down, to which Senpai murmurs “See?”

You look like you are having fun. (+10 Love)

Haruka Nanami: You looked like you were having fun while looking outside.

Ai Mikaze: Having fun? I just thought the difference between the scenery we see up here and the one from the ground is quite interesting.... Does that mean I’m having fun?

Hm? It seems like he’s pondering about something complicated....

Ai Mikaze: Are you having fun? Is it not boring to ride the Ferris wheel with me?

Haruka Nanami: That’s totally out of the question! It’s fun!

Senpai looks relieved after he hears my response.

You have beautiful skin. (+0 Love)

Haruka Nanami: It’s so glossy. It makes me want to get your advice on daily skincare.

Ai Mikaze: Glossy... I never paid attention. That aside, that’s a rather bold observation, isn’t it?

He pokes his cheek with his index finger.

I’m about to gush over his adorable gesture when Senpai makes a sullen face....

He pokes my cheek with his index finger.

I... I’m being played with!

Haruka Nanami: Uwaah!?

With a loud noise, the Ferris wheel abruptly halts and the lights of the passenger car shut off.

I fall forward from the momentum, but Senpai supports my body.

Haruka Nanami: A blackout...?

Ai Mikaze: No, it’s park closing time.

Mikaze-senpai mumbles as he looks at his wristwatch.

Ai Mikaze: We lost fifteen minutes due to running away, which means....

It takes thirty minutes for a Ferris wheel that’s 150 meters in diameter to turn once, and we lost fifteen minutes. In other words....

Ai Mikaze: We are now 150 meters above the ground. So that means exactly at the top.

As Mikaze-senpai says this, he looks down through the window at the ground.

We jumped on behind the attendants’ back, so no one will know we’re here.

My cell phone shows no signal.

There is an emergency bell in the passenger car which is connected to an operating room, but nobody responds.

Haruka Nanami: What should we do...?

Ai Mikaze: There’s nothing we can do. Once it becomes morning someone should come. We can only take it easy here until then, right?

Senpai has a good stretch and looks outside once again.

A strong wind blows and the Ferris wheel shakes.

The electricity vanished which means that the heating also stopped. The temperature in the passenger car starts to gradually cool down.

Fifteen minutes, thirty minutes.... As time passes, the cold becomes more present.

Will we be able to get out of here if we wait one night like Senpai says?

I try to calm down, but my body starts shivering and shaking because of the cold.

Seeing me like that, Mikaze-senpai stands up and takes the seat next to me.

Ai Mikaze: Are you cold?

I nod.

Ai Mikaze: That’s troubling, a miscalculation. There are no problems for me at all, but you are weak to the cold.

I hear his voice close to my ear and before I know it, I am being hugged by Mikaze-senpai from behind.

Haruka Nanami: ... Senpai!? Wh-what are you doing...?

Ai Mikaze: I mean, this is the only way, right? ... Is it warm?

Warmth reaches me.

Right now the feeling of relief from the warmth is greater than my embarrassment.

Haruka Nanami: Yes... I am... fine....

I relax my body and entrust myself to his warmth.

Ai Mikaze: It’s snow.

He lifts one hand to the sky while his other arm holds me.

His hand makes a slight thud on the window.

When I look up, I see soft white snowflakes falling from the sky one after another.

Haruka Nanami: Beautiful....

Snow silently falls from the wide sky onto this world with only the two of us.

Ai Mikaze: Yep, it’s beautiful.

We watch the sky together.

The snow continues and the edges of the windows of the Ferris wheel become slightly white.

Suddenly, I feel weight​ on top of my shoulder.

Ai Mikaze: I wonder. When I am with you, I feel uneasy.... It becomes a weird feeling.

He speaks close to my ear.

Ai Mikaze: My body becomes hot and my head becomes blank. I wonder... what this is....

Senpai hugs me tight.

Mikaze-senpai’s body temperature rises gradually.

Haruka Nanami: ... Senpai?

Something is weird. I shift my attention to my shoulder.

Ai Mikaze: Hah... hah... nh... sorry....

The amount of heat that is emitting from his body is rapidly rising.

Ai Mikaze: ... Hah, I see.... Trying to understand emotions is overloading me....

Senpai’s arms slip and drop down.

Haruka Nanami: Senpai!?

Senpai is breathing roughly and collapses on the spot.

Is he ill? Is it a seizure? I fall into panic.

Haruka Nanami: Senpai! Senpai!! I have to call someone for help or....

Ai Mikaze: Haa... ha.... It’s fine. I’d predicted this. I should have processed it slower... but it happened so rapidly....

Haruka Nanami: Rapidly? Senpai, just what are you saying...?

Ai Mikaze: At this point even if I tried to hide it, it would only have been a question of time. Actually... I didn’t want you to find out but....

Mikaze-senpai puts his hand on his neck. With a snap it makes the sound of a spark.

When he removes his hand, at his nape I see metal fixtures​ and lots of cords.

Haruka Nanami: ...!!

Ai Mikaze: I’m not human. I’m a robot.

Haruka Nanami: A robot...?

Ai Mikaze: Official name is “SongRobo.” A being created by an experiment for Shining who wanted to see if an artificial idol could be made.

Haruka Nanami: What...?

Ai Mikaze: You’ve never heard of it before, right? This is also a top-secret topic in the agency. Including you, there are only three people who know of it.

Right now, I have set studying emotions as my goal. But... this was too sudden....

I couldn’t catch up with the processing and now I’ve ended up overheating. It’s nothing like an illness so I’m fine.

Actually... it might be more convenient like this. Because when there is an abnormal performance in me, an automatic notification will be sent out instantly.

Senpai hugs me once again.

Ai Mikaze: I’m sorry for surprising you. I’m sorry for hiding it the whole time. But please... don’t be afraid of me....

Haruka Nanami: I don’t... understand... what you mean by “robot”....

As I tremble, Senpai hugs me tightly once again.

Ai Mikaze: I’ll protect you.

His soft and soothing voice hums next to my ear.

Ai Mikaze: ... You are... a being much weaker than me. I have to protect you. I can’t... collapse again....

Mikaze-senpai’s words are weakly breaking off. But still, he hugs my body tightly.

Ai Mikaze: Even if I break, I can get fixed again....

Senpai’s words become distant.

I tightly hold on to Senpai’s back.

Maybe because of fatigue and mental strain, my consciousness becomes distant and I fall into a deep slumber....

As I open my eyes, I see a white ceiling.

This place is....

The moment I lift my upper body, I hear the door open.

The Professor: Yo, are you awake?

A man wearing white clothes and glasses greets me with a smile.

The Professor:

Haruka Nanami: -san. You are a composer from the Shining Agency, right? I heard from Ai.

Haruka Nanami: ... And you are?

The Professor: I’m... something like Ai’s guardian. I’m an instructor at Saotome Academy’s affiliated university. Please feel free to just call me “Professor”.

The professor offers his right hand.

When I timidly return his grasp, he starts his explanation.

The Professor: I’ll say it straight. I’m the person who created Ai. You already heard that he’s a robot, right?

So it wasn’t a dream after all....

I remain quiet and nod.

The Professor: This knowledge is top secret so make sure to never talk about it, ‘kay?

If you do, they’ll make you serve shaved ice to polar bears for all your life at Shining Agency’s arctic branch—I’m just joking but...

... if it does come to it, you’ll have to take the penalty, so be prepared.

Haruka Nanami: Erm... What do you mean Mikaze-senpai is a robot...?

The Professor: You see, as a hobby I once did research regarding the human heart. But that reached its limit because of financing.

But Shiny heard of that research and got interested in it. So he wondered if it was possible to make a SongRobo.

Haruka Nanami: Song... Robo...?

The Professor: It seems like Shiny wondered if it was possible to create an idol artificially. But idols need hearts. That’s when he reached out to me.

I thought it was interesting, so I used my nephew as a model and created a robot.

That was Ai’s prototype. After that, we went through ups and downs until he became mostly like a human....

As a test, we had him make songs and sold them online, but they did better than expected.... Afterwards, it continued as you know.

Haruka Nanami: Um... I got it.

The Professor: It sounds really absurd, so getting confused is only natural. Nevertheless this is the unmistakable truth.

The professor says and smiles bitterly.

From there on, the professor explains more about Mikaze-senpai in detail.

Mikaze-senpai’s real form is a supercomputer in the basement of the lab. Mikaze-senpai himself manages the computer terminal.

Equipped with artificial intelligence, he is capable of the human-like ability of categorizing things as “neither black nor white.”

If there’s an error in his system, the lab gets a notice immediately.

Whenever he’s discovered to be a robot, the system strains itself in an attempt to maintain his secret.

That’s the biggest reason why he tries to keep the fact that he’s a robot hidden.

Haruka Nanami: Ah, Mikaze-senpai!

Ai Mikaze: Did you finally wake up? Just how long did you intend to sleep?

Haruka Nanami: Ah! I’m sorry....

The Professor: Ahaha! Don’t be bashful. This is the woman that you risked your body to save, right?

Ai Mikaze: Don’t phrase it weirdly like that. It’s no big deal if I get damaged... I just have to get repaired....

Haruka Nanami: You... saved me?

The Professor: Even though it was in the city area, it’s still December. A night in midwinter. In addition, snow was even falling. Try staying in a place like that and see what happens.

Until we reached the emergency signal’s spot, Ai was holding you while keeping a state of high temperature.

Haruka Nanami: After what happened, for the entire time?

Ai Mikaze: Otherwise the temperature would have fallen....

For a short while, I turned off my interior body cooling system and raised the temperature to its limit. Once it fell... I repeated the process and raised it again.

The Professor: He doesn’t make it sound that serious but he got fried here and there. Just a bit more and his memory would have been lost.

The professor says and gives a bitter smile.

Mikaze-senpai went that far to save me.

Haruka Nanami: So... that happened.... Senpai, thank you very much.

Ai Mikaze: Not really.... It’s just natural.

I lower my head and Senpai suddenly averts his gaze.

Haruka Nanami: Uhm, this is?

The Professor: A laboratory, aka my lab. I mostly do Ai’s maintenance here. Sorry for the mess.

Scattered around me are documents, books and a lot of other things.

Ai Mikaze: It’ll soon be noon. Shouldn’t you go back to the dormitory?

Haruka Nanami: Yes, and I’m sorry. I seemed to have caused you a lot of trouble....

I try to stand up from the bed but I’m still a bit dizzy after all.

Ai Mikaze: Geez, are you okay?

Mikaze-senpai instantly offers me his hand and supports me.

As I am standing up, the professor eyes Mikaze-senpai with a very interested look.

Haruka Nanami: Excuse me... is something wrong...?

The Professor: No, I just thought that it’s really rare for you to help someone like that, Ai....

He looks at Mikaze-senpai, who then averts his eyes with displeasure.

The Professor: You did improve greatly through the Master Course. After all, you are a robot who didn’t hold any emotions in the beginning.

That’s why it was basically impossible for you to worry about someone or act for someone without being ordered to.

Thinking about it that way, the fact that you tried to save her yesterday—even if it would have broken you—is an extremely irregular situation.

During his explanation, Senpai kept averting his gaze uncomfortably.

The Professor: Not that I think that this was the reason you overheated in the first place.

Ai Mikaze: Hah... Professor, it’s time to zip it. You are noisy.

The Professor: ... As you can see, he won’t even talk with me. That’s not good. Is this his rebellious phase?

They really seem like parent and child.

The Professor: I’ve one wish though. Can you stay as Ai’s partner from now on?

The professor slaps Mikaze-senpai’s shoulder as he says that.

Select the phrase!

Of course! (+20 Love)

Haruka Nanami: Of course! I never thought about pairing up with another person to begin with!

I reply louder than expected but Mikaze-senpai smiles.

Ai Mikaze: Thank you. But... I think it would be better if you paired up with someone else.

That was my intention but... (+15 Love)

Haruka Nanami: Why are you asking me again? Of course I intend to stay Mikaze-senpai’s partner from now on as well, but....

Ai Mikaze: But that way, I’ll become a detriment to you.

Mikaze-senpai mumbles quietly.

If Mikaze-senpai doesn’t mind... (+0 Love)

Haruka Nanami: If it’s fine with you, Mikaze-senpai, then of course I will....

Ai Mikaze: I too want to pair up with you. But....

Mikaze-senpai is biting his lip broken-heartedly as he says that.

Ai Mikaze: You... praise my voice highly and I’m very grateful for that.

But singing is an expression of emotions. As a robot who doesn’t have emotions, I will become a liability.

In that sense, my singing will forever be imperfect. If you partner up with me, you will end up having to carry this burden with me.

An incomplete self won’t be adequate as your partner. Don’t you think so?

Haruka Nanami: Senpai, was that... why you refused to partner up with me from the beginning...?

Ai Mikaze: It was I who wasn’t suitable for you to begin with. But since you showed no sign of listening to me, I partnered up with you.

But now... if I stay as your partner, I’ll only hold you back from being able to debut.

Things keep piling up one after another, and the inside of my head feels like chaos.

Mikaze-senpai is a robot and originally someone who never held any emotions.

An incomplete being.

For that reason, he says it would be better to cancel our partnership.

Select the phrase!

You are not incomplete. (+20 Love)

Haruka Nanami: Incomplete...? That's not true!

I shout at Senpai.

I don’t want that. (+15 Love)

Haruka Nanami: I don’t want that.

I say clearly.

It might be better to cancel it. (+0 Love)

It’s like Senpai said. It would be better to cancel our partnership but....

“Incomplete....” That word is stuck in my heart.

Haruka Nanami: Even if you’re a robot and different from a human, you still have kindness. And I can feel that clearly.

Ai Mikaze: You can’t be sure if the actions you thought were kind were caused by actual emotions of kindness.

I shake my head.

Haruka Nanami: ... You probably just didn’t notice.

Thinking about the time when he nursed me during my cold or when he kept protecting me on the Ferris wheel filled me with pleasant feelings about Senpai's kindness.

The Professor: Well, well, this has gotten complicated. Look, if you overthink it too much you’ll get fried again.

Ai Mikaze: Hold on! ... We’re having a serious conversation here right now!

Without a care, the professor starts talking.

The Professor: Ai has been studying emotions since he started the Master Course, but the speed accelerated after he met you.

Maybe it could be possible for him to actually achieve free emotions.

Haruka Nanami: Free...?

The Professor: That is a gamble for me, for you and for Ai but... I wanna try betting on this possibility.

Afterwards, I bid the professor farewell and leave the lab behind.

As I am leaving, the professor hands me Mikaze-senpai’s massive manual.

It says things like that he’s waterproof but doesn’t like water.

As a robot, meals are not necessary. Rather, when he eats solids, energy is needed to decompose them.

There are also details written about Mikaze-senpai’s functions. A lot makes sense now.

The last thing written in the manual is the professor’s contact information in case something happens.

Haruka Nanami: Haah....

Looking at this really makes me realize that Mikaze-senpai is in fact a robot.

But when I speak to Mikaze-senpai normally, I can’t think of him as anything other than a human.

I have absolutely no intention of breaking off our partnership because of him being a robot.

As I said so while leaving, Mikaze-senpai told me that he needed to think about it a bit.

He said that I should take the unit song with me to the studio in four days so he can check it. He then returned to the lab.

He told me that the places that short-circuited while protecting me were not fixed yet.

I don’t know what will happen after the Christmas Live, but for now, I should clear the mark right in front of me.

My goal is to complete the unit song in four days, so I become absorbed in composing.

Four days later.

As Mikaze-senpai told me, I bring the unit’s song audio and visit the agency.

Ranmaru Kurosaki: Hey, what the hell’s the meaning of this?

Huh? Before I enter the room... I feel like I hear their voices....

Ai Mikaze: They’re lyrics, obviously.

Camus: What do you take me for, you idiot! I would never say such authoritative things!

I have a bad feeling about this.

I quickly enter the room.

Haruka Nanami: Pardon.... Is something the matter? I could hear you even in the corridor....

Reiji Kotobuki: Ah, Kohai-chan! Look at this!!

Kotobuki-senpai waves the musical score that was just on the table.

I see that the full lyrics are on the musical score.

Haruka Nanami: Oh, could it be that you all added the lyrics to it?

Ranmaru Kurosaki: That’s not it. That guy just wrote all of the lyrics on his own!

Kurosaki-senpai looks annoyed as he points to Mikaze-senpai.

Camus: On top of that, didn’t he also say something about how he went ahead and wrote things that we would most likely say?

He wrote the lyrics before everybody else? Why did he do that?

Haruka Nanami: Uhm.... May I take a look?

I receive the score from Kotobuki-senpai. Some words catch my eye.

“A rocking brilliant. Surely, I want you baby.”

Haruka Nanami: I see.

Select the phrase!

May I inquire about everyone’s opinion? (+15 Love)

Haruka Nanami: Uhm, just in case, I think it would be better to inquire about everyone’s opinion regarding the lyrics.... You are a unit after all.

Kotobuki-senpai nods in agreement.

Ai Mikaze: You might be right.... I made them based on everyone’s past lyrics’ tendencies, so I thought I did a comparatively​ good replication.

Maybe my selected data was old?

Mikaze-senpai looks at the score and tilts his head.

It captured the characteristics. (+10 Love)

Haruka Nanami: Indeed those are things you all would say... at least that’s how it feels. It has the right characteristics.

Ai Mikaze: Right? That’s because everyone is simple. Once you can read the pattern it’s easy.

Reiji Kotobuki: Simple you say?? That’s harsh, Ai-Ai! Only Ranran is!

Ranmaru Kurosaki: Hey, don’t drag me into this!

Together, they glare at Mikaze-senpai.

It’s wonderful. (+0 Love)

Haruka Nanami: Thank you very much, Mikaze-senpai! These are indeed song lyrics. They are wonderful.

Ai Mikaze: Really? Well, it’s not a big deal for me.

Camus: “Wonderful...?” This foolishness!!

Reiji Kotobuki: I got it! Kohai-chan is surely the type that nurtures others through praise! Hey, that’s how it is, right!?

Ranmaru Kurosaki: Argh! This woman... This is pointless.

The other senpai don’t seem convinced....

We have to discuss this at once.

Afterwards the four start talking right away.

“I won’t sing this.”, “There is nothing wrong with the lyrics thus there is no problem.”, “There’s not enough charm.” etc, etc....

Ah... how should I put it, it’s as always.

It seems like all the things we established merely four days ago were a lie.

Mikaze-senpai hits the table with a thud.

Ai Mikaze: I got it. Just rewrite it to your liking! That way it’ll be sufficient, right?

Ranmaru Kurosaki: Yer snapping back now?! Geez, what a pain.

Haruka Nanami: P-please wait!

They look like they’ll start a fight so I quickly step in.

Haruka Nanami: So, it was really nice of you to write the lyrics for them, but why did you do it all by yourself?

Ai Mikaze: By analyzing past lyrics, I categorized the vocabularies and patterns and wrote lyrics that they would probably write themselves.

Isn’t that equivalent to them writing it themselves?

Mikaze-senpai declares sternly.

Haruka Nanami: Uhm... I wonder if you accomplished that....

In the conference room, which has fallen still, the senpai are looking at the score.

Ranmaru Kurosaki: Or rather, just because ya pile up some words like that it doesn’t mean it’s good. Somehow... I can’t feel any soul in it!

Reiji Kotobuki: Oh, well said~ Since all four of us will sing this, let’s put our souls into the lyrics as well!

Ai Mikaze: ... Soul?

Reiji Kotobuki: But I’m happy that Ai-Ai tried to understand us in his own way. Now that we’re doing it, let’s work together!

Ai Mikaze: I wasn’t really trying to understand you.... It’s more like optimization​....

Reiji Kotobuki: Leave it up to your reliable team members! First let’s assign everyone’s parts!

Kotobuki-senpai takes the initiative and starts to unify the group.

Haruka Nanami: Ah! I have a copy of the score!

After Mikaze-senpai watches them for a while, he mutters a single thing.

Ai Mikaze: ... It... would be good to have cool lyrics....

Ranmaru Kurosaki: Ah? Duh, that’s obvious. Otherwise I wouldn’t sing it. Since we’re doing this, we won’t do it half-heartedly. Got it?

Ai Mikaze: ... Got it. Let’s fix it. The previous lyrics are deleted! This time let’s rewrite it together!

Mikaze-senpai declares.

From then on, everyone has been thinking about the lyrics.

Ai Mikaze: If you are stuck, I can write it for you.

Mikaze-senpai’s hand reaches out next to Camus-senpai who is lost in thought and takes the liberty to add some lyrics.

Camus-senpai’s expression hardens.

Camus: How can this be? How are you seeing through my behavioral pattern!?

Ai Mikaze: I already mentioned that I studied you thoroughly. You were especially difficult, Camus. Out of you three, you’re the most educated.

Camus-senpai goes silent with a “Mh....”

Ai Mikaze: Listen, about this part where we all sing together, I think English would be good. What do you think?

Mikaze-senpai points at the unison part.

After a moment of consideration, Camus-senpai takes hold of the pen again.

Camus: ... Fine, I’ll do it....

Quickly and swiftly, he writes a few phrases and hands them to Mikaze-senpai.

Mikaze-senpai.... Could it be that he’s also acknowledging Camus-senpai in some way?

Ai Mikaze: Well then, I should write as well.

Haruka Nanami: Then I’ll brew some coffee for you all.

Mikaze-senpai leaves it to me with a hand wave.

At first I was worried about what would happen, but now they’ve become so serious while writing the lyrics.

I’m delighted.

Some hours later.

Haruka Nanami: Good work, everyone!

Reiji Kotobuki: Yea~h, sexy plus dangerous! We really made some great lyrics!

Ai Mikaze: Let’s try singing it. Can you play the song?

Haruka Nanami: Yes!

After Mikaze-senpai calls out to me, we immediately head to the booth with the other senpai.

Now that I think about it, this is the first time these four will sing together. A bit nervous, I play the song.

Ai Mikaze: Heh~ Not bad. We all did well... I think.

Mikaze-senpai says so and nods.

Seems like he is pleased by it!

The expressions of the senpai are bright as they come out of the booth.

Ai Mikaze: So how is the song?

Camus: I don’t have a problem with singing this.

Ranmaru Kurosaki: Well, guess it’s okay. Let’s be careful and not slack off towards the end.

Reiji Kotobuki: Everyone’s in a good mood! That’s what I call a success, no mistake! Peace!

Everyone talks after returning from the booth.

Haruka Nanami: Yes, thank you very much!

I’m glad.... I got approved by the senpai!

With that, the song is almost done and it even has lyrics!

We’ll be able to participate in the Christmas Live!

Haruka Nanami: Uhm... Mikaze-senpai, about the lyrics, thank you very much. And for gathering the others.

Ai Mikaze: It was nothing much. I just worried that you might not make it in time because you were taking things at such a leisurely pace.

Haruka Nanami: I-I am sorry....

Ai Mikaze: We’re singing as a unit so I thought it’d be better to confirm things with the others. My lyrics ended up being rewritten, though.

... Mikaze-senpai also fully realizes that it’s about the unit this time.

Haruka Nanami: Yes. Thank you very much!

Ai Mikaze: It should’ve become better from the work we’ve done. Well then, shall I do the final checks on the song?

And about the partnership thing....

Your experience and technique is incomplete and I’m incomplete as a human. As I thought, you can’t call that an ideal partner relationship.

Still, I want to stay this way as your partner; that’s how I feel. No matter how often I think about it, I can’t find a reason why I think this way.

I want to put my soul into this! I’ll use the feelings and what I’ve researched to sing to the best of my ability at the next live concert!

And you use all of your current strength to create the best song. Let’s smash our souls together on stage!

As Mikaze-senpai says so, he looks straight at me.

Mikaze-senpai....

Haruka Nanami: Understood! I’ll do my best!!

I nod with all my might.

Mikaze-senpai smiles with a grin and rolls up his sleeves.

Ai Mikaze: Now I’ll give you my feedback. Listen carefully.

Haruka Nanami: I will!!

Since that day, we’ve continued to adjust the composition and do song lessons repeatedly as we aim for the live show.

The other senpai have also made good use of the spare moments​ in their busy schedules and participated in the lessons.

Before long, the date of the Christmas Live arrives.

It’s the day of the Christmas Live. After the rehearsal, I am waiting in the dressing room for the show to start.

Today’s Christmas Live is a concert in which only talented people from the Shining Agency will perform.

And furthermore, the unit song will be sung as its opening.

The senpai are calm, but I, on the other hand, am filled with nervousness and anxiety.

Haruka Nanami: Uuh... my stomach hurts....

Syo Kurusu: Yo, Nanami! How are you?

Natsuki Shinomiya: We came to cheer you on~!

As the door opens, there stands Shinomiya-san and Syo-kun with smiling faces.

Haruka Nanami: Syo-kun! Shinomiya-san! Thank you for coming all this way!!

Syo Kurusu: Of course. We’re interested in your song and also Ai’s performance.

Syo-kun says and smiles broadly.

Natsuki Shinomiya: That’s right. Also because the other senpai and a lot of talented people are here, I thought we would be able to learn from them so we came to take a look.

Haruka Nanami: That’s true. I’m happy! Please, come inside!

I invite the two of them into the dressing room.

Haruka Nanami: Here you are.

I brew tea and place it in front of the seated duo.

Syo Kurusu: Ah, thank you! Sorry for coming at a busy time, right before the performance.

Haruka Nanami: Not at all. My nervousness disappeared, you were right on time.

I say as I take a seat.

Natsuki Shinomiya: Thank you for the tea.

And then we sip our tea....

After the momentary silence, Syo-kun opens his mouth.

Syo Kurusu: Listen.... Did you hear about his situation? That... thing about Ai being a robot.

Regardless of being inside the dressing room, Syo-kun still says that with a lowered voice.

Shinomiya-san’s appearance also doesn’t show any sign of surprise. He’s sipping his tea with a smiling face.

I look at the two of them, surprised.

Haruka Nanami: Eh—why do you know that!?

Syo Kurusu: The professor called us. He said it would be easier to keep Ai’s secret by sharing information between the people who already know.

Haruka Nanami: Is that so.... Uhm, did you two know about Mikaze-senpai all this time?

Syo Kurusu: Yeah. To tell the truth, a lot happened during the Master Course. We also found out accidentally.

Shinomiya-san nods along with Syo-kun’s words.

Haruka Nanami: And when you heard that I paired up with Mikaze-senpai, it gave you all kinds of worries, right?

Natsuki Shinomiya: Right. We wanted to tell you, but the professor told us that we must keep it a secret....

Seemingly out of guilt, Shinomiya-san averts his eyes.

Syo Kurusu: Even though I thought that you might feel a bit more at ease with that personality and the way he talks if you’d known he was a robot.

Ai Mikaze: Hmm, my bad for this personality and the way I talk....

Haruka Nanami: M-Mikaze-senpai!!

As I hastily turn around, there is Mikaze-senpai looking fixedly at us.

Syo Kurusu: Ai!! At least knock, will you!?

Natsuki Shinomiya: Ah, Ai-chan!! Good morning. We came to cheer you on today!!

Next to me and Syo-kun, who are both in a panic, Shinomiya-san is greeting Mikaze-senpai with a smile.

Ai Mikaze: How about locking the door properly if you are bothered by being heard? And the door wasn’t even closed to begin with.

Maybe I didn’t close the door properly because I hurriedly invited those two inside.

Haruka Nanami: I-I’m sorry....

Ai Mikaze: I’m really worried about my future since the three of you already found out about my secret.

Mikaze-senpai lets out a big sigh and surveys us.

Syo Kurusu: I-it’s alright. We’ll definitely keep your secret! Right??

Natsuki Shinomiya: Y-yes! We won’t tell anyone!!

I nod my agreement next to them.

Ai Mikaze: ... Really, I am begging you. Don’t burden my system more than this.

Mikaze-senpai heaves a deep sigh.

Ai Mikaze: Well, anyways, I wanted to check something about the song real quick.

Haruka Nanami: Ah, of course!

I quickly grab the music sheet as Senpai starts to talk about the state of the rehearsal.

Haruka Nanami: Ah, the third stanza, right? I was also curious about that, so I changed it into a synthesizer melody.

And I also wanted to make it more brilliant as a whole, so I raised the guitar​’s volume.

Ai Mikaze: It’s better that way. Okay. Good work. Then, Natsuki and Syo too, thanks for coming today. Have fun.

As he says so, Mikaze-senpai leaves the dressing room.

The moment the door shuts, Shinomiya-san faces me with a bright smile.

Natsuki Shinomiya: Nanami-san! Fufu, you were really cool!

Haruka Nanami: Eh...? You think so?

Syo Kurusu: That Ai said “thank you”.... A bad omen​ maybe...?

Syo-kun says and turns around to face me.

Syo Kurusu: You’re amazing to be able to talk back to him.

Haruka Nanami: Senpai was very strict when it came to the arrangement, so I got wary of a lot of things.

Syo Kurusu: Oh well, maybe we shouldn’t have been worried after all. You and Ai look like great partners!

Haruka Nanami: Is that so...? He still gets mad at me very often, you know....

Syo Kurusu: No way, Ai doesn’t give his okay that easily. Hehe, this might be good then.

Syo-kun smiles for some reason.

Natsuki Shinomiya: My~ I thought so from the beginning! That Ai-chan and you will make up for each other’s shortcomings and become good partners!

Shinomiya-san says and laughs lightly.

Haruka Nanami: If that’s the case then... I’m happy. Thank you very much!

I’m so happy at their words that I quickly bow my head.

Shinomiya-san and Syo-kun head for the guest seats while I head to the wing of the stage to see the senpai off.

As I stand there, I hear the guests buzzing.

I totally forgot while I was talking to those two, but hearing the voices of the audience reminds me that I’m nervous after all!

Ai Mikaze: Ah, you came.... What’s up with that face?

Haruka Nanami: Ah, Mikaze-senpai... and the others too. I’m sorry, I’m afraid I’m a bit nervous.

Ranmaru Kurosaki: Nervous? Why the hell would ya be? It’s not like you’re gonna be singing.

Haruka Nanami: That’s true, but....

Camus: Hah! Cowardly lass! To begin with, why are you even worried when I already said I am going to sing?

Reiji Kotobuki: Myu-chan, that’s some amazing self-confidence~ That being said, it’s only natural to become nervous when the song you composed gets sung on such a big stage~

Ai Mikaze: ... It’s natural?

Mikaze-senpai asks curiously.

Reiji Kotobuki: Oh that’s right, Ai-Ai is always so composed. Are you never nervous?

Ai Mikaze: I understand the meaning of the word “nervousness.” However, I’ve never felt it.

Reiji Kotobuki: But when it comes to the showdown of a match, your beat skips a heart—I mean your heart skips a beat....

Ai Mikaze: Nervousness.... The symptoms are a dry throat or sweating because of muscular contraction.... You can see the rise of the pulse rate....

Mikaze-senpai mumbles while looking into the air.

Haruka Nanami: What is wrong?

Mikaze-senpai suddenly chops at Kotobuki-senpai with his hand.

Reiji Kotobuki: Wai—that’s dangerous!!

Kotobuki-senpai tries to avoid the hand that comes flying at him.

Ai Mikaze: Don’t move!

Reiji Kotobuki: Ehh!?

Mikaze-senpai’s hand stops exactly at Kotobuki-senpai’s neck.

Ai Mikaze: Ah, it’s true. Your pulse rate is high.

Reiji Kotobuki: ... You’re right. NO WAIT! What were you doing so suddenly! Gosh~ I thought you were aiming for the seat of the leader there for a second!

Camus: Kotobuki. Just when did you become our leader?

Ai Mikaze: It was simply some sample collecting. I see, so that is the pulse rate at times of nervousness.

Reiji Kotobuki: No, I got really surprised right now! My pulse just raised momentarily, alright!

Ranmaru Kurosaki: Ahh! You’re so freaking loud before the performance! What’re ya, some brats before a field trip??

Kurosaki-senpai grabs Mikaze-senpai and Kotobuki-senpai by their necks and goes back to the stage.

Ai Mikaze: Wha—Ranmaru! What are you doing! The outfit will wrinkle! Stop this hooliganism!

Reiji Kotobuki: M-my neck... is getting strangled...!

Haruka Nanami: Um, er, everyone! It will soon be your turn so don’t push yourselves too hard!

Before I know it, my nervousness relaxes as I watch their exchange.

The time has come for the curtains to rise.

Haruka Nanami: Um, please do your best! Mikaze-senpai too.

I run up to Mikaze-senpai.

Ai Mikaze: Sure. I’ll be going. Umm.... At times like these....

Mikaze-senpai is looking into the air once again.

Ai Mikaze: Alright.... Well then everyone, let’s go! Shining Spirit! FIGHT! OHH!

As he says so, he raises his fist over his head.

Ranmaru Kurosaki: O-Ooh!?

Camus: A-all of a sudden?? Ooh!

Reiji Kotobuki: Ahaha! Nice! Oooh yay!!

The others who are getting caught up in​ the moment raise their firsts as well. With that momentum, they head for the stage.

Ai Mikaze: I’ll be on my way. I’ll be listening for your cheering!

Senpai runs off lightly towards the stage.

The stage slowly lights up.

And then, as the senpai enter the stage, the cheers erupt and resonate.

As expected, the senpai are truly popular after all....

The live begins, with heart-racing excitement already filling the air.

Kurosaki-senpai and Camus-senpai are singing at the center when Kotobuki-senpai suddenly barges in between them with a backflip.

During that interval, Mikaze-senpai shows off an ad-libbed solo dance. The stage’s excitement reaches its climax.

They are all, without a doubt, pros. They’re able to make decisions in a snap.

The combination of all four singing together, including the choreography, is flawless.

He said that he’d put his spirit into it, so Mikaze-senpai sings in a way where he is aware of all the emotions in the song.

Sometimes gentle, other times sensual....

Seeing those facial expressions of his for the first time makes my heart beat fast from beginning to end.

The Christmas Live finishes up as a big success and the curtain falls on the stage.

After the performance ended, I am helping out with cleaning up the wing when—

Shining Saotome: Oh! Miss Nanami. I found YO!

Ringo Tsukimiya: Haru-chan, good work!

The two of them enter the wing.

I wonder what the president’s judgement will be. I stare at the president’s face and my heart is racing.

Shining Saotome: Since YOU entered the Agency one and a half years ago, you didn’t manage to debut. Frankly, ME wanted to discharge YOU already!

BUT, I believed YOU still had the enthusiasm and willpower from your graduation audition even though you were alone!

ME wanted to check if YOU still have those feelings within you or not!

Haruka Nanami: President....

Shining Saotome: And now, YOU have made a pair with the strict Mister Mikaze and created a song acknowledged by all four unit members within three months.

And finally, from today’s stage, one could feel YOUR enthusiasm and sincerity as well as your LOVE for music!

Haruka Nanami: L-love?

In surprise, I lift my face.

Shining Saotome: BUT, in order to survive in this world, you must still overcome some difficult trials!!

What’s more, YOU must leave the Song Festival victorious or you can’t even stand on the startline!

BUT, if your love for music is there, YOU can overcome any difficulty!! Give it ya besht!!

Haruka Nanami: In other words....

Shining Saotome: Yes! YOU cleared the very first stage! YOU passed!

The president forms a big circle with his hands.

Ringo Tsukimiya: Isn’t that great, Haru-chan~ That was a really good song! I am expecting the same for the Song Festival!

Haruka Nanami: Yes! Thank you very much!

Natsuki Shinomiya: Wow! Congratulations! This is another step forward!

Syo Kurusu: The audience was also extremely fired up!! That wasn’t half bad!!

Shinomiya-san and Syo-kun, who are returning from the audience seats, rush over to me.

Haruka Nanami: Thank you very much!

And at last, the senpai, who are done changing clothes, also come over.

Reiji Kotobuki: We’re back~ And? Did you see it? My big jump!

Camus: Kurosaki! You’re making your hair stick up too much! My face probably got cut out!

Ranmaru Kurosaki: Right back at ya! That troublesome hair of yours is only getting in the way! When you move, it gets into my field of vision! It’s distracting! One day, I’ll definitely shave it off!

Camus: Hah! That goes for you too! I shall blow off that fuzzy dandelion head of yours, so you’d best be prepared!

Ai Mikaze: Really, how long are you going to continue this? So childish...

It seems like a lot happened....

Haruka Nanami: Um... thank you very much, everyone!

The president, who gave me a chance. Ringo-sensei, who watched over me. Shinomiya-san and Syo-kun, who came to cheer me on.

The staff members of the live performance. The audience that got fired up. The senpai, and finally... Mikaze-senpai.

Filled with gratitude for them all, I lower my head.

Ai Mikaze: Right, it was a good performance. Well done.

As Mikaze-senpai says so, smiles spread over everyone’s faces.

We clean up and once the backstage closing party finishes, each of the senpai says that they have business to attend to and go back.

Mikaze-senpai and I also leave.

We clean up and once the backstage closing party finishes, each of the senpai says that they have business to attend to and go back.

Mikaze-senpai and I also leave.

It’s Christmas and the roads are filled with couples and families coming and going.

They’re all linking their arms or joining hands. Even though it’s cold, they look warm....

Amidst them, I’m chasing after Mikaze-senpai’s back as he walks quickly in front of me.

Since coming out of the meeting place, we have been walking for around fifteen minutes.

Even though I came to join him because he invited me....

Haruka Nanami: Senpai, where will we be going?

Ai Mikaze: Hm...? I didn’t really plan on going anywhere specific....

He makes a blank face.

Haruka Nanami: Eh!? We’ve been walking around without a goal!? I was sure you wanted to go somewhere....

Ai Mikaze: You only told me that Christmas is a day that you spend with an important person.... You didn’t say what else to do aside from that.

I’m really feeling the difficulty​ of teaching things properly.

I wonder if he intends to accomplish his “Spending the Day Together Mission” like this until the date changes....

Ai Mikaze: Then at least let’s do this to fit in with our surroundings....

He gently grasps my hand.

Haruka Nanami: Eh!? But... Um, if someone sees us again....

Ai Mikaze: There is no problem. Because no one seems to be paying attention to other people today.

He casually swings our gripped hands, taking light steps.

Ai Mikaze: Ah, this is somewhat “fun.”

Rather than like a couple, the way we’re holding hands is more like taking a child along or like how siblings hold hands.

Haruka Nanami: W-well, I feel embarrassed!

Senpai smiles slightly at my red face.

Ai Mikaze: Speaking of “fun,” while singing on stage earlier, I felt “fun” for the first time!

Haruka Nanami: On stage? You mean the Christmas Live?

Ai Mikaze: Yes.... Your existence and your song taught that to me.

I want to teach you. I want to learn more from you. I’ll teach you music, and you’ll teach me about emotions.

If we complement each other that way, then staying as partners wouldn’t be bad at all. That’s what I think.... How about it?

The pace slows down. I can’t see Mikaze-senpai’s facial expression as he speaks because his head is slightly tilted down, but...

... the strength in the grip of his hand as he says those words tells me his feelings.

Haruka Nanami: I also had fun! Moreover, your singing made me happy, too.

Ai Mikaze: Thank you. Can you stay as my partner from now on as well?

Haruka Nanami: Yes, of course!

As I lower my head, I feel something soft and warm around my neck.

Haruka Nanami: Mikaze-senpai’s scarf?

When I lift my head in surprise, Mikaze-senpai turns his face away in a shy manner.

Ai Mikaze: I’ll give you this.

Haruka Nanami: T... Thank you very much! Is this a Christmas present? Ah, but... I did not prepare any—

As I am about to say something, I feel something cold on my cheek.

Haruka Nanami: Ah, it’s snowing again....

When we look up, white crystals fall from the cold night sky.

Mikaze-senpai extends his hand and one of them lands gently on his palm.

Ai Mikaze: I’ll make this your present to me.

Eventually the snow in his palm melts away, but the white crystals are falling and piling up one after another.

For some reason, the image of Mikaze-senpai looking up at the sky feels incredibly ephemeral.

Ai Mikaze: We should return soon. If you were to catch a cold, I’d end up in the plight of making udon for you again.

He says and firmly pulls my hand.

Haruka Nanami: Thank you very much, Senpai!

Ai Mikaze: It’s nothing... I just got it on my way home. Don’t be so absent-minded, let’s go!

Haruka Nanami: Alright!

In the midst of the pure white snow, we begin walking, hands joined, and head to the next stage.

(Chapter End)

[ignisgalaxia]

Star Trek Captain/First Officer Ships

In honor of Valentine’s Day, I wanna talk about the captain/first officer ships. I think that it’s perfectly normal to ship the captains and first officers to some degree. I mean after all, they’re ideally the relationship that gets the most focus in each show. That being said, I think each pair has their strengths and weaknesses so I will be ranking them accordingly in tiers, from not romantically compatible to practically married.

Low Level Ship Tier

As you can gather, this tier is mostly for the pairs that have the least amount of ship energy. Either they have the bare minimum or their dynamic is just not suited to romance imo.

Carol Freeman & Jack Ransom

I love Lower Decks for many reasons, but these two’s relationship leaves a lot to be desired. Honestly these two feel the most like coworkers. You know, the ones who only put up with each other because they’re on the same team. The biggest reason I feel nothing for them is that I just don’t like Ransom. At all. He’s like a caricature of Riker with all the male stereotypes and none of the charm. Plus Carol is already happily married (at least I assume happily; we should really see them together more), so I don’t really see any appeal to them.

Jean-Luc Picard & William Riker

I think for a while Will saw Jean-Luc as somewhat of a father figure. But based on the scenes they’ve had together in Picard, I think their dynamic has shifted to really close friends. Seeing them talk with each other so casually filled me with such joy. I love them as a team, but I don’t see any romantic potential, especially since they both have amazing women for significant others (and yes I do mean Deanna and Beverly). Also age differences make me uncomfortable sorry.

Michael Burnham & Saru

These two give off sibling energy more than anything. Their relationship has improved significantly over the past four seasons, but man season one was rough. I get why Saru was mad at her, he was grieving Phillipa and Michael did hold some responsibility for her death, but his attitude toward her got really infuriating at times. It was interesting seeing how they rebuilt their relationship into one based on trust and understanding though.

Benjamin Sisko & Kira Nerys

I don't really have much to say about these two since I haven't watched DS9 yet. But I also think they work best as friends. I mean I guess there could be something but I think the whole Bajoran prophet aspect makes things a little weird. Idk I really don't have any opinions on them because I lack knowledge.

Mid Level Ship Tier

This tier has the pairs that have a good amount of romantic potential, but something’s holding them back from being truly top tier. But overall I think they’re pretty good.

Jonathan Archer & T’Pol

I KNOW T’Pol ends up with Tucker (I don’t understand how or why), and her and Archer are very different but hear me out. You know the episode Twilight? Well that was originally written as a Voyager episode for the pair later in this list (and you know where they’re gonna be). So yeah, a romance episode for another pair was rewritten to fit these two. Kinda telling, don’t you think? Other than that not much to say since I haven’t seen Enterprise either.

Christopher Pike & Una Chin-Riley

I like this ship, I really do. But I just haven’t seen enough of them together to truly get on board. From what I have seen though, their dynamic is very cute. Like when he fumbled her name trying to introduce her. Frikkin adorable. And I love the idea of her just lifting him with zero effort since she’s apparently freakishly strong.

Dal R’El & Gwyndala

These two have come a long way in just the span of one season. Dal telling Gwyn to keep her eyes on him at the end of episode ten and his anguish when she accidentally saw Zero through his combadge’s reflection. AND THEN THE FINALE KISSES! Dal’s got some balls for planting one on her in part one, and then in part two their mutual kiss before Gwyn leaves. I LIVE FOR THIS SHIT. I hope these two go somewhere, but the fact that Gwyn isn’t gonna be with the crew next season is making me not get my hopes up too much.

I think it’s also important to note that this is the only pair to have ACTUALLY KISSED and is even remotely canon. And it’s two teenagers. The fuck’s up with that?! (That is also why they are not in the high ship tier because while they’re frikkin adorable and I’m happy they kissed, they’re still minors so I’m not investing every part of me into them if that makes sense)

High Level Ship Tier

This tier is reserved for the pairs that I legitimately think belong together. Like it’s borderline cruel that they’re not a couple. This tier is for two pairs in particular, but there’s always room for more if they prove worthy. I’d also call this the ‘Oh My God Just Kiss Already’ tier.

James T. Kirk & Spock

These two aren’t the fathers of slash fanfic for no reason. Again, still haven’t seen the original series, but having seen several clips, specifically from Amok Time, yeah they’re pretty gay. And considering there’s an entire movie dedicated to Kirk finding and bringing Spock back, it’s giving off soulmate energy.

Kathryn Janeway & Chakotay

And surprising absolutely no one is the couple I would literally sell my soul to see become canon. I mean, do I really need to explain myself? The only reason these two aren’t together is because the writers are cowards. For God’s sake he built her a bathtub! And she dropped everything to go searching for him when he went missing. He is her rock and she is his peace! THEY ARE SOULMATES DAMNIT!

So there’s my list. What about y’all? Do you agree with my ranking or would you put any pairs in a different tier? Let me know, and have a happy Valentine’s Day!

[tangirlisfangirl]

Alright @the-lavender-creator , here’s that Fleur deep dive I promised! Also for anyone else interested since I’m proud of this character and think she’s super cool and intricate <3

For anyone who doesn’t know this is just a post about my EAH oc who’s the daughter of the Fairy Queen from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, so keep reading if that interests you n whatnot

Under the cut because, as always, I don’t know how to control myself and this got longer than it should’ve 🥴

For simplicity/clarification, the Titania we see in Cedar’s opening part of Suzanne Selfor’s “The Storybook of Legends” is the same Fairy Queen that we see hosting the Blue Moon Fest in the animations.

My character, Fleurencia Monarch, Fleur for short, is her and Oberon’s daughter (although she’s much closer to her mother). Appearance-wise she has gold eyes and dark curly hair inherited from her father, and, unlike the other two fairies we know, has much larger and more complex wings akin to her mom’s. Also, she has the same flower powers so that plants grow whenever her hands or feet touch the ground, although she’s almost always flying so it’s not like overgrowth is a problem.

Because the story requires Titania and Oberon to have an air of otherwordly mystery and elegance, they grow up secluded in the forest with limited interactions before being thrust into Ever After High to fulfill their roles. Although with age they’ve been able to improve their social skills and engage with the outer world as they please, from selling flowers in town square to competing in carriage races, Fleur is still entrenched in the loneliness caused from being restricted to the Enchanted Forest, only just being introduced to popular trends and social media in her first year at school.

In spite of all this, she’s just as kind and loving as her parents, just with more of an untouchable air. She’s in charge of both Fairy Club and Enchanted Gardening club, but these are the only times anyone can find her, since she unintentionally spends most of her time in the forest; she has to keep in touch with her future subjects after all (but I like the idea that she can be summoned in a pinch with a fairy ring made up of all her favorite things). Her main circle is with Ashlynn, Farrah, and Nina, since they’re the kindest and share similar interests, but she has nearly none of the popularity. It’s not like doesn’t get invited to parties or get-togethers at all, just not as often since… she doesn’t get it, you know? Doesn’t know the popular bands, doesn’t know the slang, and she’s probably too busy running the realm of fae, anyway.

But she desperately wants to connect with others, have fun and foster relationships, feel the warmth that comes with laughing and spending time with people you care about and that care about you. She cares so much, all the time, and wants to experience the joys of life with everyone else but just can’t quite reach out, partially because she doesn’t know how but also she also has to keep in line with her destiny (you could also make the argument that the powers behind destiny cursed her in a way to be easily forgotten so she can better play her part without distractions).

It’s not like she’s totally lonely, though, she still has her destined king. Aurelius Viridian (introducing him since he’s important to Fleur’s character but I care about him less lmao) was the male fairy chosen to be the next Oberon when he was born, and though the two didn’t exactly grow up together they still have an intimate understanding. They’re not exactly ’dating’, they don’t share any physical or romantic affection, it’s just an unsaid thing that they’re spoken for.

However, Aurelius is much more… ‘kingly’. Stuffy and arrogant, he doesn’t interact with anyone at school but Fleur, and that’s the way he likes it. Whenever she’s left out or otherwise disheartened by the people of Ever After, she always comes back to lean on him, the only person she can truly communicate with. They’ll slow dance in the air or cultivate sections of the forest like a shared art project with their similar powers of growth, any low energy activity since it’s in line with the natural floatiness of fairies; but being around him elevates her poise and elegance, which strengthens her untouchable air, the last thing she wants. This kind of puts her in a difficult position— does she stick with him to validate her desire for intimacy, or branch out to others that might not understand her, but still feed into her need for social connection?

She meets someone that changes things, though. When accompanying her mother to the Top of the World to discuss seasonal matters with the Snow King and Queen, she gets to talking with Crystal, but they don’t exactly click; she’s way too spunky and Fleur is way too gentle and soft spoken. No, it’s a little frost imp she sees messing up his duties, clumsy but still laughing and enjoying himself, that she can’t help but find endearing. His joy is infectious and she finds herself laughing, too, waving to him down below before catching up with the others in the icy throne room. His sister notices this and, still spurred on despite her last plan’s failure, concocts a new one.

Fleur is on the balcony of her dorm late at night (despite her light aesthetic she loves the evening, being surrounded by stars and fireflies, and is actually most active at night), but is visited by Northwind, on a mission to get close to her to take advantage of the magic of the forest and gain power (not Jackie’s best plan but she’s desperate). He’s… forgetful, and is more so focused on just having a good time, like he does all the time. Fleur isn’t used to it, but she’s more than happy to come along, and so he shows her all the fun of winter she’s never gotten to experience (she always used to hibernate during the winter since everything else in the forest would, too). Every chance they got they’d sneak up to the Top of the World together to have snowball fights, make snowmen and snow angels, even go sledding (on him as a penguin specifically cause I thought it was cute), and she cheers him on when he shows off all his animal forms.

The thing is, everything would always be his idea; Fleur always asked for his opinion, what he wanted to do, which he’s not used to, especially because he thought all princesses gave orders. She’s so genuine and non-judgmental that he starts to feel guilty, and tells her the truth, but sadly enough she already knew. It’s not like she didn’t hear about the two twin frost imps trying to overthrow the royal wintry family, and it’s not like anyone would go out of their way to spend time with her unless it’s for a grasp at power (Faybelle would do that sometimes), but she didn’t raise any alarm because for fairy godmother’s sakes she just wanted to go out and have fun for once! But she does wonder why someone as funloving as him would do something so devious, and he explains that all he wants to do is support Jackie since she’s so sick of being an unimportant, nobody imp.

So Fleur gets to talking with Crystal, and they come up with a compromise that the twins will come to Ever After High for Jackie to fill the role of Jack Frost (Northwind’s in a similar situation as Poppy (also sidenote why can’t this happen in-canon?? they did about as much treason as courtly and faybelle and the latter barely even had to apologize, i might actually make a separate post about it cause im so invested in the concept but anyway back to clean professional writing)) and Fleur is ecstatic that she’ll get to spend more time with North. He’s absentminded and doesn’t think about social conventions, while she’s more open-minded and fair to everyone no matter background or intelligence, so it turns into a positive feedback thing where they care for and pay attention to each other when others don’t.

But Aurelius doesn’t like this. He’s not jealous, more so annoyed since he sees Northwind as beneath both him and Fleur, undeserving of either of their time (I can also imagine that they’d be forced to room together since North is new and Aurelius was roomed alone for destiny sake but now they have to worry about saving space :P so North’s need for cold affects the prince’s general need for warmth and general ability for his plants to thrive, which doesn’t help his feelings towards the imp). This further puts Fleur into a torrid emotional situation where she wants to be with North—someone who brings out her inner bubbly spirit, who exhilarates her and helps her become the more easy and welcoming person she always wanted to be—but she doesnt want to leave her long-time anchor Aurelius behind, someone whos been there in a way no one else has despite how it keeps her closed-off, and who she still loves and loves her in his own way, not to mention the whole destiny angle (ignoring the fact that the book was destroyed, I forgot about that when I figured all this out let’s not talk about it lol).

Right now she’s straddling the line between both boys, and though Northwind doesn’t pay it any mind, Aurelius is a steadily boiling kettle, only tolerating it for the moment. After some time it climaxes to a point where Fleur and Aurelius fulfill their destinies in a way, with North filling the role of the boy Titania becomes attached to that causes Oberon to attempt to hex her, this time with the motivation of “use a spell to make her fall in love with an animal to show how frivolous her emotions are in hopes that she’ll give up the imp.” It’s toxic, sure, but that’s how the story goes, and as everyone knows, fairytales are not the kindest…

But yeah that’s about it! Beautiful but sad/lonely character trope but I feeI like thats everyone in EAH afsbdsjfks. I tried making the writing all pretty but it took a lot more work, oh well it’s done ʅ（◞‿◟）ʃ Some other fun tidbits I will include is that Fleur loves violin and will listen to covers of pop songs, has pointed ears like Faybelle (and assumedly Farrah), and loves fairyberry candies and anything else with the flavor, and will visit Book-End bakeries and cafés to stock up on treats. Her favorite memories are the few times she was invited to go to them after school with a group of friends. I’m also trying to design outfits for her to fit in with the specials (Spring, Wonderland, Dragon Riding, etc) but idk if I’ll ever post them, so instead I’ll include this messy digital drawing from a while back ‘cause I drew her traditional and scanned it but was still trying to figure out her color palette, plus a vibe playlist cause I do that for all my major ocs :)

[keres-dndoc]

keres

meet keres (she/they/fae), my lunar sorcerer in a homebrew 5e game based on Dragon Age!!

Keres was born in a very odd manner. They were exactly 3 weeks early, and active labour lasted the same 22 minutes as the full double lunar eclipse. Keres has blue skin, and when she was born their head was topped with purple peachy fuzzy hair. On their forehead, is a white upside down crescent moon that faintly glows. Horrified by the implications, as both her parents were human, Keres’s mother Marie didn’t hold this newborn baby for the first month of their life.  

At age 3, Keres started to show signs that faer magic was brewing, but for the most part it was tame. No attempt was made to hide them from other people in the city, but their parents did “accidentally” spread the rumour that Keres was just, found on their doorstep, and they were so kind to take the baby in, and they’d feel bad abandoning it now, even though it does have magical tendencies out of the chantry’s control. 

At 16, Keres' life had not much improved. When puberty hit, they started growing antlers, leading them to believe that their magic stems from Ghilan’nan. While they are a bit religious averse due to the intensity of their parents, they want to find comfort in the thought that Ghilan’nan could be guiding them home, wherever that may be. When they overheard their parents talking about seeking anti-magic solutions, to restrain Keres’ innate magic, they grabbed what little they could and ran away. Keres felt that this magic was the one thing they needed to hold on to above all else. Not once did they consider a circle. To Keres, magic was innate, and to their parents it was to be restricted. There was no other option. 

They made ends meet by pickpocketing drunk tavern-goers, and performing small gambling swindles (minor illusion and mage hand are quite good for this) and singing songs to sailors and merchants alike on the docks of Aren. 

They were one day, while trying to catch some sleep in the halls of a thieves guild, approached by Shay, a captain of a ship. They said that they’d been watching Keres swindle the people around here, and with light fingers like that, fae ought to make some good out of it. So, Keres joined his pirate crew. He taught them how to size up a target for what they’re actually worth, such as to pickpocket from wealthier types, to give back to the poor (sometimes ourselves, sometimes others). He taught Keres that it’s not really stealing if they needed it more, and Keres understood that profoundly. They never meant to stay on the ship so long, it was only meant to be temporary, but the crew heard them sing their song ‘The Moonlight Lament' and they fell in love with them, and in turn Keres fell in love with their new family too. In order to lay low, fae never exceeded too far on the ship, preferring to stay on as boatswain at most.

One day, when the ship was docked for repairs, Keres was exploring this small town. They were staking out a Chantry, attempting to determine if there were any decent targets for their latest plan to redistribute the wealth. However, they got caught in a bit of a shitshow when a young boy set the place ablaze. Seeing something in him that Shay had once seen in Keres, fae helped them escape authorities and brought him back to the ship. Keres introduced him as her replacement, as they overheard something about Tevinter (a place they knew by name, but knew nothing else about). A chantry-member spoke down on the place, but to Keres that was the appeal. They want to know if they can learn more about the magic they seem to possess. So they left the ship with a heavy heart and headed on their way with nothing but their backpack and pet rat they met on the ship, Vinnie.

They left the ship a year before Present Day, having arrived in Tevinter. They still laid on the outskirts of society, but their presence is well expected in the library. In their readings, they have become particularly fascinated with Lusacan, an Old God; the Dragon of Night. Keres feels this to be a kindred spirit, but they didnt have the courage to read on, fearing what fae might find. In Tevinter they make a living as a clerk in a small magic shop, run by an old man named Piel (p-ee-l), who is going blind. Not much in stock beyond a healing potion and a small selection of common items (at least, common in Tevinter where magic is more prominent), but it’s the first time Keres has ever made honest work of themselves.

Piel’s oldest daughter is coming to look after him, and Keres feels ready to move on knowing that he will be in safe hands. That being said, they are unsure of where the next step is. Feeling no ties to any specific place, Keres feels certain they’ll follow whichever path seems right, and if all else fails, there is a ship they can call home. They fear there might be a higher calling waiting for them, but worst than that, there is nothing, and it has all been a trick of fate.

They receive a letter, calling them to Aren, to aid in a rebellion effort to unseat a boy king who has thrown the nations of Aren and Orlais into war. Keres doesn't have a specific direction they desire to go to next, so they respond to this letter and go to Aren. There, they meet the rest of the party, which includes a member of their pirate crew, and the boy who set a chantry alight, among others.

Our tasks begin small, collect ingredients, escort important people. This escalates, when a prophecy is made by the Seer of Thedas, naming us The Starforged Seven, and predicting the return of a spider queen (it's lolth, it's fucking lolth). We aided the Princess in her escape of Aren, and have brought her into Orlais. We have made an ally of the sworn sword of the seer, a woman named Ferne. Keres, mayhaps, is forming more than friendship with her. Our journeys had us save the village of Redcliffe from swaithes of undead and demonic presences, attract the attention of an important spy council, and arrive at the front lines between Aren and Orlais. Most recently, we faced a band of very unsavoury types, and the one Keres once rescued from the law, and have now become quite close to, met his end. He has been resurrected, but it us unknown where. We don't know when we will see him again, but Keres has hope it is soon. Partly because she misses him, and partly because some of the party members are dating him, and Keres doesnt want to hear them mope for too long.

[professor-mist]

Babies! Babies! Babies!

Introducing our new nursery! Due to the increasing number of baby Pokémon at our center Nova and I thought it would be best to put aside a designated are for them.

Most of them will be up for adoption once they’re a bit older. 

Information about each of them down below:

Buttermilk (Mareep): Big ol crybaby, any little bump or bruise tends to set him off, but usually he calms down after being held for a while. He’s sensitive, but has a good heart, he doesn’t like seeing anyone else get hurt.

Cobalt (Aron): The youngest of the bunch, doesn’t do much but sleep and eat at their age. When they are awake, they’re right on the heels of Nova, me, or one of the older Pokémon. Can’t say much about personality yet, that’ll start to develop when they get a bit older.

Spinach (Trapinch): Little girl loves to lay in the sun and watch the others play, (which is very normal for her age) she’s very calm and slow going as Nova tells me, I don’t interact with her too much, she keeps a good distance from me.

Jello: (Goomy) This one’s all Nova’s responsibility, he’s very clingy and practically full grown. Can’t control his aura most of the time, we’ve been working on moving him to another area.

Poof(Jigglypuff): Girls always on the ceiling, always floating right on up. We usually have to tie a little string around her foot in order to get her down. Sometimes the others try to use her as a ball, but she doesn’t seem to mind much.

Dandelion (Deerling): We had to amputate her leg when she got her, poor things leg was crush and her mother abandoned her. She’s sweet though, stumbled a lot, does her best to make her way around. Her pink flower is a sign she might present a fairy typing later in life, which would be pretty dang cool!

Saturn(Solosis): Just a little guy, floats his way around for now, and has yet to present consciousness, which should be happening in the next few weeks.

Cumulus (Driftloon): Happy little lady loves to give hugs from behind, loves to sit on heads, just generally very friendly and just happy to be along for the ride of life.

Lapis: (Squirtle): He’s very shy, always hiding behind someone, and doesn’t like being acknowledged. We’re working on it, hopefully he’ll be showing improvement soon.

Volt and Bubblegum (Jolteon and Umbreon): Both brought in by the same breeder, he abandoned them because he couldn’t get them to mate. They really are a lovely duo though, I’ve never seen two Pokémon work together so we’ll. Since we’ve opened the nursery they’ve been the guardians of the place, they’re a bit tired, but the take good care of all the babies.

[crockersbian]

Experience the true horror.... Zanathan refusing to edit and proofread her work more than once

people talking about the intricacies of discussions surrounding the heinous shit some of the homestuck characters do versus their ages and lack of chances for self-improvement due to homestuckmurder (especially regarding eridan and equius, since vriska despite technically qualifying does actually manage to have opportunities to learn narrative-wise TWICE) is a fuckin attract'r beam for my own homestuck discourse brain. its like. on one hand i think people are completely correct to point out that characters being 13 and coming from a hellplanet does in fact mean that they cannot be held to the same standard as grownass adults. and that really should fuckin inform a lot of discussions about their behavior! trying to understand and still somewhat sympathize with a child in that situation is perfectly reasonable. Anything that i say past this isn’t *actually* disagreeing with that btw i’m just. spouting my own @#$#

Those conversations ignore the fact that they’re.... all fucking aristocrats. Literal blue bloods two of ‘em, the other a purple bc blue wasn’t even high-class enough. Vriska’s the only of the three (/four counting gamzee ig) “main” shitkids with a direct external force making her participate in The System*. Eridan’s implicated in lusus-killing for the sake of ol’ Glubby but that does NOT excuse his classism and generalized incel barely-even-crypto-fascist shtick. Equius has so few exterior reasons for his cultural attitudes aside from general conservatism that he doesn’t even *follow* his own cultural attitudes most of the time. If they actually got to live full lives outside SGRUB they’d be insulated from the harm they were responsible and any character growth they had would be incidental from that point onward bordering on unlikely. even presuming an alternative homestuck where they lived, i struggle to imagine PLAUSIBLE FOR HOMESTUCK development where they meaningfully develop away from their shitty shitty SHITTY attitudes given... well, Vriska got two chances and she got there halfway once and then the powers that be decided that a better outcome would be her NOT getting the (death-based) punishment

--------& then further dumpster fire plans (that yes hurt a lot of people but they’re plans that retcon vriska literally approves of. retcon vriska even buddies up with the pedo and actually-literally-a-fascist fake punk that was ghost vriska’s buddy-in-arms on that) and that her continuing to vriska all over the place while purporting personal growth (personal growth not shown + her guilt-tripping tavros over deciding to sprite-revive him when SHE. KILLED. HIM. is just. jfc people who think retcon vriska is the moral and characterization superior to dead vriska are assclowns falling for a character comprised mostly from reappropriated extremely online niche quasifascist talking points). ZAN SHUT UP ABOUT THE RETCON 

*cough* anyways. i forgot what i was saying. damn it. Eridan wouldn’t ever get better and its profoundly out of character to think he would i guess. While Equius has that strange inherent out-of-character soft(?)ness to him (ignoring the weird romantic shit he pulls which.... is probably linked to his strict hierarchical thinking regaurding castes -Aradia being a burgundy isn’t a coincidence- but frankly would take another fifty paragraphs jesus) and Vriska has the mountains of characterization dedicated to how she can do better and is aware of it, and Gamzee’s worse traits are buried in the arcane clusterfuck that is comprehending his “true” motives, eridan’s just... a piece of shit. even his moments of going-against-his-own-fascist-narratives are built integrally on *other* ways he’s basically entirely awful. the softer parts of his personality are used narrative-wise to further highlight the way he sucks like... *always*. Also the fucking insane person theories regarding his tranfem coding (that despite recognizing are.... fucking absurd I still willfully buy into bc they’re both interesting, about as credible as most homestuck meta, and fairly horrifying to contemplate considering his blithering incel shit and attempting-to-insert-himself-into-a-lesbian’s-quadrant-life but in the same grotesque way that i find yoshikage kira’s narrative parallels to The Closet compelling in a horror context. *ANYWAY*) and his actually goddamn official fucking pesterquest gender arc (seriously?????) that actually lends credence to the Magical Use As A Universal Feminine stuff leading him to be just... jfc this is the worst girl-thing ever created. I don’t even wish hate or anything on people who like Eridan than aren’t sex pests or nazis, that isn’t my point in this, i just think anyone who looks at canon eridan and goes “oh that can be redeemed” are fucking fools and people who look at equius vriska or gamzee and think “they just need to get older they’ll know better we all were bad as teenagers” are entire royal courts of jesters fsjlkfkldjsjfklds.  

[swagcoolcat]

Hey, friends! I made a post saying I was considering making a bmc fan-kid post, because I have three different sets with my close friend, Moth! (They’re not on tumblr, unfortunately, or I’d tag them). For the sake of simplicity, I made them all on the same picrew to see them in the same style. (Picrew will be linked at the end of the post).

(This spans across five and a half years, so half of these kids are boyf riends kids and half are pins and patches kids)

Fan Kids below the cut!

EDIT TO ADD FOR PEOPLE THAT GO PAST THE CUT: Let me know if I’ve made any mistakes in any of the Alt Text! I’m trying to improve at it so I can start adding Alt Text to my art! Thank you!

**PICREWS WILL DEPICT THE KIDS AS PRETEENS/TEENS, MEANING YOUNGER KIDS WILL BE OLDER IN THE PICREWS THAN THEY ARE IN CANON**

The Mell-Heere Kids (TW for brief mentions of physical abuse in Ruby’s section):

Marcus Daniel Mell-Heere: Marcus doesn’t have much information about him regarding his upbringing before he came to be adopted by Michael and Jeremy. What feels correct to me though, is that Marcus’s parents passed away around the time he turned 5, close to a year before he meets Michael and Jeremy, which also explains why he starts kindergarten at 6 instead of 5- because due to the trauma and grief of losing his parents, he’s not ready to start school when it starts a month later. He’s incredibly outgoing and social, and he absolutely loves sugar.

Ruby Maye Mell-Heere: Ruby came from an abusive household before she was adopted by Michael and Jeremy. When we first meet Ruby, she’s shy and reserved. She hardly wants to speak with anyone, and takes some time to trust Michael or Jeremy, or anyone really. She comes out of her shell more the more time she spends with them, and grows an especially close bond with Marcus. She’s fiercely protective of him, and he’s the same way with her. She gains an especially close bond with Jeremy, as he had a similar upbringing to her after his mom left, and finally talking about it and having someone that understands the pain she went through really helps her in healing.

Robin Miracle Mell-Heere: Robin is the youngest member of the Mell-Heere family and their only biological child, born about 8 years after the events of the musical on Halloween. He’s a very happy baby who loves to explore. Robin has some weirdness going on due to the SQUIP. We didn’t end up exploring this too much, but what we did have was that his freckles would glow when his emotions got intense, and this would give Jeremy and people who connected with Jeremy’s SQUIP migraines. Robin also is growing a lot faster than most babies, which we explained as being due to the SQUIP as well (but really it’s because we were 14 and didn’t know how babies worked).

Jeremy’s Cousin (TW for mentions of Death)

Nate/Rain (last name unknown- but likely Heere): For simplicity, I’ll just refer to him as Nate. We changed his name to Rain partway through because we got attached to him more so than we thought and he was named after a real person. At the beginning of his story, Nate has been recently adopted by his older cousin, Jeremy, after his parents passed away in a plane crash. Due to the sudden trauma of losing both of his parents, a once happy Nate was suddenly thrown into a depression. He starts learning how to heal and starts making some friends after Jeremy meets and hires Michael, who specializes in helping kids. We ended his story going on a date with a boy in his class, Aidan/Hudson (same name situation as Nate).

Dillinger-Mell Kids:

Tao Dillinger-Mell: Tao is the oldest of Michael and Jake’s adopted kids at 15 years old. We made him and his sisters less than a week ago, so we don’t have Lore for them yet, we just have their designs, names, and ages. I do however know that Tao plays soccer.

Viviana Dillinger-Mell: Viviana is the second oldest of Michael and Jake’s adopted kids at 10 years old. We don’t really have anything established about her yet.

Sybil Dillinger-Mell: Sybil is the second youngest of Michael and Jake’s adopted kids, at 5 years old. The only one younger is Gaïana, her twin sister. Her left arm ends at the elbow, and that’s where her prosthetic attaches. Aside from that we don’t have any established lore yet.

Gaïana Dillinger-Mell: Gaïana is the youngest of Michael and Jake’s adopted kids at 5 years old. She’s the younger twin sister of Sybil, and she really likes cats. Aside from that, we don’t have any established lore for her yet.

Body type A Picrew

Body type B Picrew

If you have any questions about any of these guys please do ask, I’d love to hear them!