#medea did indeed do everything wrong

[lov3nerdstuff]

Hi Kay!

I just wanted to take a moment and say how deeply moving (and overall comforting) I find your writing to be! I've gone through almost the entirety of your masterlist twice in the past month alone and have found myself returning more often to the pieces of literature/poems your reference sometimes. (Especially that one poem by Benedict Smith! I've read a few more by him because of you and they're just wonderfully lovely 💛 so I'm eternally thankful to you for including it.)

I may be wrong in assuming, but I believe you may have studied/are currently studying a degree involving literature. I hope this isn't too foreward of me but I was wandering if you have any other works of literature that you'd recommend? (I'd love to read anything you recommend from poems to plays 💛) I'm slightly embaressed to say but the works I've read are quite limited to a highschool level and since I'm currently studying Pharmacy, there are very few people who can recommend me such moving works. :)

I also feel like I should apologise for writing such a large ask, so please accept this apology as well hehe 💕🥺

Sincerely,

Bek 🌻

Hey there Bek 💚💕✨

First of all... I'm incredibly sorry for how long it took me to reply to this ask, I know you sent it weeks ago and I'm honestly just ashamed of myself for only replying now! I've been taking a bit of a Tumblr break again, or rather a break from literally everything, and I guess not having written anything in a while made me feel guilty whenever I opened Tumblr, so... All I can say for myself really is that I'm sorry you had to wait so long! Again, I never ever ignore anyone, I promise! It just sometimes takes a while for me to reply 😅🙈

Now, I'm so happy to hear that you've been enjoying my writing! 🥺🥰 Hearing that it's comforting and inspiring to you is honestly such a relief and indeed does make me happy more than I can say 💚 It's so cool that you're checking up on all the references I make aaahhh 🥺🥺🥺 I love it 😁 You're always more than welcome, love! I don't think I could stop including references to literature, culture, history and the science around it even if I tried 😅☺️

And yeah, I did study classics and newer literature as a minor for my undergrad degree 😄 But tbh I still work with literally a lot even now (I'm in grad school for media and cultural studies) even though it's technically not something I've been properly taught ☺️ I'm just a nerd who likes to learn on her own, and with media and culture you can pretty much delve into almost anything you want 😂😅🤷🏻‍♀️

Now, it's not forward at all to ask me for literature recommendations! 😁😃 I truly love recommending stuff!!! I have a few up my sleeve, even though you've probably heard of a few already, for obvious reasons: A lot of what I truly enjoyed reading was something Tom Hiddleston has worked on in one way or another! It's truly a magnificent guideline for picking new literature... Just look up the literary origins of his films/shows/plays and you will be in for quality literature most of the time! I don't think I've ever mentioned it on here, but me reading High-Rise (JG Ballard) because I heard Tom would be partaking in the film adaptation was actually what sparked my love and passion for literature!!! Yep, it's that good. Now on to the recommendations though 😁(This... got rather long):

Plays

Anything by Harold Pinter really, but for obvious reasons you'll find a lot of additionally fun stuff for Betrayal, which is lovely and truly funny if you're in on the kind of humour btw

Medea by Euripides (a classic, but I love it nonetheless... You can find translations in almost every language) ((and pls stay away from Seneca's Medea, because ugh... Euripides is far better AND the og story, as much as anyone can say that for Greek mythology)

La Bohème by Puccini (I know, this is technically an opera, but if you read the libretto it's honestly just like a play... And if you're up for it, the og story is in prose and written by Henri Murger... It's better than the opera, but oftentimes more difficult to find) ((this one is hilarious and basically explains an entire cultural subgroup in the 19th century)

Faust by Goethe (many people hate it, but I LOVE this one!!! It's also been translated into any and every language, and it's so interesting philosophically!!! It's also referenced SO freaking often literally everywhere, and the operas and ballets based on it are always my fave) ((there's technically Faust I and Faust II, but you're good to go just reading the first one)

Anything by Shakespeare, obviously... Though I do love me my Hamlet like every other literature enthusiast (Yes, I can do that one famous soliloquy in act 3 scene 1 by heart as well...)

Poetry

Again, anything Shakespeare for the win, but I LOVE the sonnets and keep a copy of them with me most of the time (Yes, I own multiple copies of the sonnets...) ((My faves are 116 and 91, but there's always so much truth to be found in there!!!))

A lot of the stuff William Blake wrote is amazing, though you have to pick carefully with him if certain religious motives aren't your thing... I love The Tyger, which is an individual poem, and the collection of works called Tyger, Tyger which does have many good ones and a few ones that are a little more on the mediocre side

Do not go gentle into that good night by Dylan Thomas (I know this one by heart as well... It's beautiful, and there's a version of Hiddleston reading it on YouTube, which gives you even more goosebumps than the poem does anyway)

Invictus by William Ernest Henley (same for this one, also read by the one and only) ((I love to read this when I'm feeling down or powerless))

The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T. S. Eliot (This is another wow piece with many quotable lines and truths... I love it a lot and keep coming back to it! It's also a great example of how literary modernism tried to condense the complexity and passing of time and history into a single frame that had to be intrinsically poetical in nature... As in, this poem could've been a short story in any other period, but modernists loved to make everything a poem so here you go)

Der Zauberlehrling by Goethe (This one sucks in all English translations I’ve found, poetically speaking, but in German it’s such a fun piece! If you’ve ever seen the Disney ‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentice’ with Mickey Mouse or listened to the orchestral piece by Paul Dukas, then this poem proves very useful in truly understanding either! But again, the English translation should only be taken for informational value... The German one is also worded hilariously)

Prose

Short edited by Alan Ziegler (This is a collection of short prose forms that honestly is a must for me... I love this book to pieces and have had it for years now! It’s an international anthology, so you’ll find more and less famous authors from all around the world represented with short stories, prose poems, short essays and just curious and interesting snippets of writing! I draw a lot of inspiration from this book)

High-Rise by JG Ballard (As mentioned above, I owe this book part of my personality... I don’t think I would be the same person without having read it. It’s not necessarily full of wisdom, but if you’re interested in a different kind of portrayal of the human condition, then this is the read you need to take a look at)

The City of Dreaming Books by Walter Moers (This is another piece that changed my perception of literature, even though this is a more ordinary and ‘fun’-value read... It’s one of my favourite books and it’s endlessly entertaining! So if the classics are a bit heavy for you, this one is perfect for casual readers as well! Its value really does lie more in the realisation of how fun literature can be, and the freedom you have as an author... So really, I could recommend everything by Moers, his style is amazing both in the German original and in the English translation. Yes, I’ve read both.)

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (This is comedic gold, stylistic gold and generally a bloody perfect book. Also a ‘fun’-value read, but it also does a magnificent job at showing you what you can do with literature, and how well-developed characters are supposed to be written)

The Penguin Book of the Undead (Penguin Classics) edited by Scott G. Bruce (This book is basically an education on fifteen hundred years of supernatural encounters and how culture wrote, used and perceived them. You get introductory texts for different periods and social groups, explaining how and why ghost stories were written and used, followed by passages of the prime source texts (eg. ancient necromancy shown on The Odyssey). Really, this book is just for cultural history nerds)

The Earthquake in Chile by Kleist (This isn’t necessarily one of my faves, but it has helped me understand what studying literature and culture can do for you. In case anyone remembers my insistence in Wicked Game that you gotta know what a pomegranate symbolises... this novella is such an instance where this knowledge would prove useful. Generally, it gives many opportunities to think about privilege and circumstance)

The Symposium by Plato (You’ll probably not want to read the entire collection of speeches tbh... But the concepts introduced mainly here and in some of Plato’s other work are well worth looking into! For example, the ‘double being’ introduces a concept that in modern fiction is called soulmates... Just sayin’)

[olympusnerd]

Medea

I recently reread the story of Medea and I don’t know why but she really resonated with me. I know she doesn’t count as a Greek hero, what with all the murdering she does, but you have to admit, Medea has a way of captivating people as made evident by the fact that centuries after her death we still know her name. 

My husband bought me a new computer with Adobe Illustrator and while I haven’t used art software in over fifteen years, I gave it a go and I’m not too disappointed with my first try :D

So here is the unofficial cliffnote of Medea’s long and (in some instances savage) story: 

For back story, Medea is the daughter of King Aeëtes, the ruler of Colchis (an ancient city located around present day Georgia) who coveted the Golden Fleece (literally golden sheep wool). Jason and the Argonauts were tasked to find the fleece for King Pelias of Iolcus (Jason’s asshole uncle who made him go get it in order to inherit the throne that was rightfully his). 

So when Jason arrived to Colchis, he was given three tasks to conquer in order to win the golden fleece: tiling the land with two fire breathing bulls, plant seeds that would grow Spartanoids (inhumanly malicious soldiers spawned from Ares son who would fight to the death), and defeat the Spartanoids. He would then have to retrieve the fleece from a tree in the Grove of Ares that was guarded by a dragon. 

Distraught over these seemingly impossible tasks, Jason prayed to the goddess Hera for help. She in turn sent word to Aphrodite who used Eros to shoot Medea, the king’s beautiful daughter and devoted worshiper (and sometimes also the daughter) of Hekate (Titaness goddess of witchcraft), so that she would fall helplessly in love with Jason and help him with his tasks. 

You read that right, little cherub boy came and turned Medea into a lovesick puppy for the doofus Jason so that he could win the Golden Fleece because even the gods knew Medea was a badass. 

She helped him with every one of his tasks, but once her father realized it, they had to get out of dodge. Medea used her powers to make the dragon (yes a MOTHER FUCKING DRAGON) fall asleep so Jason could get the fleece from a tree it hung on. (Some depictions have Medea soothing the dragon while Jason gets the fleece, some have her soothing it then having to help Jason get the damn thing out of the tree cause women have to do everything themselves. Honestly how she didn’t see he was useless at this point is beyond me)

They go on their merry way when Medea sees her father Aeëtes’ ship sailing after them. Jason can tell the ship was going to catch the Argos and was preparing to battle when Medea said there was no way they could win hand to hand with her father, so she did what any good lover would do: she sacrificed her prepubescent brother, chopped him into tiny bits, and dropped him into the ocean at intervals for her father to stop and pick up ( :,) I did mention she’s not a hero, right?)

So she has Jason sail up a river away from Colchis, long story short, they get to  King Pelias of Iolcus with the Golden Fleece. He acts like he doesn’t even know they had a deal and, spoiler alert, apparently straight up murdered Jason’s parents and little brother (though some sources say he just told Jason’s father that he died and his father actually killed them all in grief but this makes for much better story telling, just assume Pelias is that big of a dick cause he is). So Medea, who has basically been brought to a whole new country just to chase dick, says don’t worry, I’ll get you some revenge and proceeded to go straight fucking Savage. 

Medea befriends Pelias’s daughters and one day mentions “Oh, it sucks your dad is so old, he’ll probably die soon. My father is older than yours but looks our age.” The girls beg to know how this could be, and Medea, sharp, lovely, conniving as she was, showed the girls a spell. She took an old ram, slit it’s throat, chopped it up, then threw it in a giant pot with herbs. She chanted, waived her arms and boom, baby goat popped out of the pot. 

The daughters excitedly go find Pelias, chop him into pieces and perform the ritual, only to find that their dad (surprise) was dead dead. 

I’m talking Dead AF. 

Pelias’s son tells his sisters they were fooled and Jason and Medea are chased out of Iolcus and landed in Corinth. They lived there for years, had three (sometimes two in different references) sons and lived happily ever after. 

Except they didn’t because remember, this is Greek Mythology and gods are involved so no one can be happy XD

Turns out Jason gets the hots for the daughter of the king of Corinth and they are set to get married. 

Yes, after all this shit Medea has done for Jason (cheated at her father’s orders, murdered her brother, abandoned her home, saved Jason and his Argonauts from certain death at least three times, reaped vengeance on his uncle, bared him children) and this mother fucker up and says, “Naw, you see, you’re just a tool by the gods for me to get what I needed to get in order to be a king. So I’m gonna merry ole faceless Corinth princess and now our sons will be kings, isn’t that rad?” 

“Super rad,” Medea would have hissed behind a fake smile. 

It was in fact not rad, as Medea then takes it upon herself to send poison laced garments to the happy bride-to-be and she died an especially excruciating death (as well as her dad cause he tried to save her, told y’all, my girl be ruthless). 

So in a final fuck you to Jason, Medea then murders their children (which I admit, puts a big pin in all the badassery she does, but in the play Medea by  Euripides she struggles with this because she says she loves her children and it will hurt her to kill them, but ultimately decides she is more angry at Jason and that she has to do it because if she doesn’t, someone down the line will. 

“I know indeed what evil I intend to do, but stronger than all my afterthoughts is my fury, fury that brings upon mortals the greatest evils.”

Like, shit, okay, I get it. You’re pissed. Do as you please. 

Again, Medea isn’t a hero, but I find it hard to completely condemn her actions. She gives her all to Jason, only to have him choose someone else who can give him the throne he always wanted while telling her that it was at a god’s behest that she help him. In some ways, I imagine that being used like that is what probably hurt the most. But it’s cool, she ends up ending the play by riding in a golden chariot pulled by MOTHER FUCKING DRAGONS that her grandfather Helios sent for her and her dead kids, so I mean? She also ends up becoming the queen of Athens, but shit goes wrong there, too, but that’s a whole other thing that makes her like the original shitty step mom (save for all of Zeus’s illegitimate kids Hera keeps trying to kill). 

And Jason is crushed to death when a piece of wood falls off his ship, so good riddance. 

It’s interesting that this story is originally Jason and the Argonauts, a tale that’s supposed to illustrate the bravery and resilience of our ‘hero’ Jason, but really as Euripedes makes evident, it is Medea who the most resilient and in the end, of all the characters, though she may not have an explicitly happy ending, she isn’t punished by the gods for any of her actions while Jason literally dies by the ship he sailed on these ‘heroic’ escapades. 

About the artwork: It took me three days and a lot of cussing, I mean YouTube videos, to get this where I liked it. I feel like it uploaded a little blurry but overall I’m content :)

[mrchalamet-mrstyles]

*A MUST READ:*

Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart never broke up. Indeed, their split was merely a distraction for the press that would guarantee the former Twilight stars privacy. In the interim period, where Pattinson got engaged to FKA Twigs and Stewart dated a series of women, including St. Vincent, the pair were actually living in wedded bliss. Their PR game was so effective that it helped to hide no fewer than two pregnancies for Stewart. Now, the Pattinson-Stewart family are happy together, laughing at the ignorance of the press and public who believe they broke up years ago and moved onto fulfilling and happy relationships with other people.

Of all the weird celebrity conspiracies that pollute the internet, the Robsten fandom may be my favourite one. It has everything: Press conspiracies, outlandish theories that would put Moon landing truthers to shame, the inability to tell reality from fiction, and of course, bad photoshops. Every now and then, when I see Pattinson and Stewart in the headlines, I go and visit the tin-hatters’ sites for that potent combination of entertainment and fear for my life. It’s astounding that they’re still keeping up this façade. 

As time passes, I wonder more and more if they truly believe it or if they’re going full My Immortal with the scam. It’s too outlandish to be real, yet the emotions behind it clearly are.

Sadly, this is nothing new for the world of shippers, nor is it limited to the breeding pair of Twilight. Name a prominent pop culture property and the chances are there are hardcore shippers whose interest goes beyond a fizzy hobby. Some fans truly believe that Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson are a real couple, which is hysterical because their chemistry levels in the Fifty Shades series are sub-zero. The stars of Outlander face the same shippers. Taylor Swift and Karlie Kloss are secret lesbian lovers, according to a subset of their fandom. Cate Blanchett will eventually leave her husband and children for Carol co-star Rooney Mara, thus freeing her from an exploitative bearding relationship with Joaquin Phoenix. The Larry fandom have yet to admit defeat, even as both Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson admit the fan delusions over their supposed secret romance hurt their real-life friendship. The Supernatural guys may never shake those conspiracies.

It isn’t all romance related either. Spare a thought for poor Benedict Cumberbatch, whose already overzealous fan-base includes a portion of people who think he was trapped into marriage and fatherhood by his wife, who they paint as the modern-day iteration of Medea. They don’t even think his kids are real. Apparently, one of them is clearly a doll.

I could go on, listing the many other fandoms I’ve come across with these near identical conspiracies of secret relationships, hidden children, public relations bullying, and so on. From Scandal to Orange is the New Black to The Hunger Games, it’s as big a part of fandom as cosplay and dirty fanfiction. A lot of the time, the celebrities being obsessed over don’t even know it’s happening. 

If they call it out, as Robert Pattinson did, or mock it, like Armie Hammer recently did on Instagram after someone DM-d him to claim he should be gay like his character in Call Me By Your Name, then they write that off as simply proving their point. The majority of fans deride and condemn this behaviour, partly because it reflects badly on everyone else but mostly because it’s blatant bullshit that should be treated as such. What is most striking about these myriad conspiracies is how eerily similar they all are in terms of tone and content.

The basic set-up for a tin-hatter shipping conspiracy is thus: The pair are in love, the pair are in a serious relationship, but they have to hide it from the world because of ‘evil PR’. The nature of this shadowy public relations organization is never made clear. It’s mostly rooted in conjecture and a hazy understanding of how the entertainment industry has worked over the decades. 

Historically, publicists and studios have operated with a certain degree of shadiness. In the Golden Era of Hollywood, where studios reigned supreme, a star’s image could be kept on a tight leash and their indiscretions hidden from the public. Fixers like Eddie Mannix (made famous in the Coen Brothers’ movie Hail, Caesar!) could clear up all manner of problems if the occasion called for it. Pregnancies could be hidden, illegal abortions procured, marriages annulled or concealed, and even the occasional murder dealt with (allegedly). We know this stuff happened, and we know that today, publicists do a lot of work to keep their clients happy. That probably doesn’t extend so far as to covering up marriages and multiple pregnancies and fake babies.

The psychologies behind these tin-hatter conspiracies tend to be remarkably similar too. There’s always massive amounts of paranoia at the heart of their delusions. Arrogance is key as well. You need infallible ego to maintain repeatedly debunked fantasies. They talk of their conspiracies as if they’re the most obvious truths in the world, deriding the ‘ignorant masses’ who refuse to see the reality in front of them, which they’ve kindly circled in MS Paint. The mentality is frequently rooted in a strong brand of self-victimization: They tie their theories to social issues like homophobia and claim anyone who opposes their belief that the One Direction guys are in love are clearly bigots. Even when the people in question call out this nonsense, they’re written off as poor closeted prisoners of invincible publicists. The game of tin-hating shippers is designed so that they never lose.

That’s the sad part of this all. They won’t be proven wrong simply because they’ve invested too much of themselves into this fantasy. They run around in circles, desperately claiming everything is against them and only they are smart enough to know the truth. 

If Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan insist they’re just friends, it’s only to throw everyone off the scent. When Tony Goldwyn talks of his love for his wife, it’s just to distract everyone from his romance with Kerry Washington. If Robert Pattinson is smiling in public, it’s because he’s thinking of Kristen; if he’s looking a bit down, it’s because he’s thinking of Kristen.

When the fantasy does begin to crumble, the tin-hatters get violent in their rhetoric. Taylor Schilling’s rumoured boyfriend briefly deleted his social media after receiving harassment from her fans who think she’s with Laura Prepon (who just had a baby with Ben Foster). Rooney Mara’s so-called fans called her a disgrace for dating a man and claimed she was letting down LGBTQ+ kids everywhere because of it. Robert Pattinson’s then-girlfriend FKA Twigs faced all manner of horrific racist and sexist abuse for simply existing. It can be easy to laugh people like this off, but we’ve also seen what happens to celebrities when their obsessive fans decide to invade their lives. A 19-year-old fan of Lana Del Rey drove cross-country to her house, broke into her garage and tweeted about it. An obsessive fan of Paula Abdul committed suicide outside her house. Rebecca Schaeffer’s stalker shot her on her own doorstep.

Real person shipping (or RPF) doesn’t bother me in theory. If you just treat it like any other fandom hobby - safe, private, clearly fiction - then go for it. There’s a major difference between liking two actors and writing silly fanfiction about them and going to extremes to prove they’re actually married. 

The people who cross that line are a minority, but they’re a loud and insidious minority who shouldn’t be written off as mere ‘crazies’.

This phenomenon is undoubtedly fascinating and reveals a lot about various intersections of celebrity, media, the internet, fandom, and so on. It’s worth keeping an eye on, if only to ensure nobody gets hurt, because it’s not unique to internet culture. This stuff breeds, and that should concern us all.

Now, when do I get my shadowy PR conspiracy cheque?

[mariacallous]

As she sat brooding over what she should do and thinking of her wrongs and her wretchedness,—wishing for death to end the life she could no longer bear, sometimes remembering with tears her father and her home; sometimes shuddering at the stain nothing could wash out of her brother’s blood, of Pelias’, too; conscious above all of the wild passionate devotion that had brought her to this evil and misery,—as she say thus, Jason appeared before her. She looked at him; she did not speak. He was there beside her, yet she was far away from him, alone with her outraged love and her ruined life. His feelings had nothing in them to make him silent. He told her coldly that he had always known how uncontrolled her spirit was. If it had not been her foolish, mischievous talk about his bride she might have comfortably stayed on in Corinth. However, he had done his best for her. It was entirely through his efforts that she was only to be exiled, not killed. He had had a very hard time indeed to persuade the King, but he had spared no pains. He had come to her now because he was not a man to fail a friend, and he would see that she had plenty of gold and everything necessary for her journey.

This was too much. The torrent of Medea’s wrongs burst forth. “You come to me?” she said—

To me, of all the race of men?

Yet it is well you came.

For I shall ease the burden of my heart

If I can make your baseness manifest.

I saved you. Every man in Greece knows that.

The bulls, the dragon-men, the serpent warder of the Fleece,

I conquered them. I made you victor.

I held the light that saved you.

Father and home —I left them

For a strange country.

I overthrew your foes,

Contrived for Pelias the worst of deaths.

Now you forsake me.

Where shall I go? Back to my father’s house?

To Pelias’ daughters? I have become for you

The enemy of all.

Myself, I had no quarrel with them.

Oh, I had in you

A loyal husband, to be admired of men.

An exile now, O God, O God.

No one to help. I am alone.

His answer was that he had been saved not by her, but by Aphrodite, who had made her fall in love with him, and that she owed him a great deal for bringing her to Greece, a civilized country. Also that he had done very well for her in letting it be known how she had helped the Argonauts, so that people praised her. If only she could have had some common sense, she would have been glad of his marriage, as such a connection would have been profitable for her and the children, too. Her exile was her own fault only.

Whatever else she lacked Medea had plenty of intelligence. She wasted no more words upon him except to refuse his gold. She would take nothing, no help from him. Jason angrily flung away from her. “Your stubborn pride,” he told her—

It drives away all those who would be kind.

But you will grieve the more for it.

From that moment Medea set herself to be revenged, as well she knew how.

By death, oh, by death, shall the conflict of life be decided,

Life’s little day ended.

She determined to kill Jason’s bride, and then—then? But she would not think of what else she saw before her. “Her death first,” she said.

She took from her chest a most lovely robe. This she anointed with deadly drugs and placing it in a casket she sent her sons with it to the new bride. They must ask her, she told them, to show that she accepted the gift by wearing it at once. The Princess received them graciously, and agreed. But no sooner had she put it on than a fearful, devouring fire enveloped her. She dropped dead; her very flesh had melted away.

When Medea knew the deed was done she turned her mind to one still more dreadful. There was no protection for her children, no help for them anywhere. A slave’s life might be theirs, nothing more. “I will not let them live for strangers to ill-use,” she thought—

To die by other hands more merciless than mine.

No; I who gave them life will give them death.

Oh, now no cowardice, no thought how young they are,

How dear they are, how when they were first born—

Not that—I will forget they are my sons

One moment, one short moment—then forever sorrow.

When Jason came full of fury for what she had done to his bride and determined to kill her, the two boys were dead, and Medea on the roof of the house was stepping into a chariot drawn by dragons. They carried her away through the air out of his sight as he cursed her, never himself, for what had come to pass.

-Edith Hamilton, Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes

[fierce-little-miana]

Why do I like Medea?

@irleughlivelyatalanteangodfan asked “May I ask what you like most about Medea?”

To which my first reaction is what is there not to like?

Of course of course someone might answered me that even in the more positive version of the myth Medea is at the very least a murderer. In the worst version she is a fratricide, infanticide, and mass-murderer. So there are indeed things to discuss.

First I must say that I love Medea the most at her worst. I do believe the academics working on the myth finding trace of older versions in which Medea is not at her worst are producing necessary content because it is solid and necessary academic work. And it is not uninteresting to see how with each newer version her depiction tended to be blacken. There is indeed something to be said of a myth that goes from a mythical magical woman to a murderous vengeful woman, especially when this woman is powerful in her own right (her magic) and foreign (three things that ancient Greeks despised). But that is not the appeal of the character to me.

No I love Medea in her murderous rage. I love everything that “dark” Medea stands for. One of the main thing being:

Feminine Rage:

This the name I give to something that became, without me noticing it, one of my favorite tropes in media. It is when a woman just snaps when confronted for the umpteenth time with something fundamentally unfair, fundamentally degrading, that is only leveraged against her because she is a woman.  

There are ways women are supposed to bear pain, humiliation, or attacks against themselves, that are dignified and are positively recognized by society. Gendered ways. While a man is going to fight against adversity a woman is going to endure it. I personally find it extremely disempowering. Resilience has good sides of course but it is not proactive, it is enduring a situation up until it changes of its own accord. Yet this is what women are taught to do. And women are taught to be resilient in the eyes of a society that covers them with outrages specifically because they are women.

A woman who ends up resorting to violence is a great transgressor. Violence is a transgression that might get women completely shun from the “civilized” world (whereas it is not automatic for men). And yet I think there is a secret fear/desire for a lot of women that they are actually one step or two away to falling into primal violence (I am not saying that all women feel like that obviously but the idea seems to speak to too many to be described as only personal).

I recently found this quote that goes in this sens pretty well:

“almost every woman i have ever met has a secret belief that she is just on the edge of madness, that there is some deep, crazy part within her, that she must be on guard constantly against ‘losing control’ — of her temper, of her appetite, of her sexuality, of her feelings, of her ambition, of her secret fantasies, of her mind”

Elana Dykewomon “Notes for a Magazine”

Women are divorced from their violent impulse, from a part of themselves, for the best and for the worst. This feminine rage is powerful way to reconnect with this part of themselves in a eyes of a society that keeps on tormenting them.

That’s what Medea story is in the end. A total dip in primal violence to avenge all the offenses she had to bear because she is a woman. And she only can regain her dignity, and a real agency through this violence.

Medea’s story is incredibly gendered. Sure there is the theme of who is the real criminal: the one committing the crime or the one not preventing it and benefiting from it? But it is mainly the story of a woman who sacrificed everything she had (rank, reputation, honor, morality) to make her husband and family succeed. She got her husband out of all dangerous situations they faced together, and has even offered him opportunity he wouldn’t have had without her. The story of Medea is the one of an older woman whose husband can’t use her anymore after having made her sacrifice everything.

So Medea snaps and exercises powerful violence on her husband and everyone who is working with him to strap her of what remains: her sense of self (I don’t know if it is in every version but in at least some of them Creusa asks to be able to wear Medea’s wedding dress to her own wedding). She punishes them all and finds herself back in the process. Even if she has to suffer excoriating pain in order to do so (killing her own sons) as long as the others suffer more than her and are punished according to their crimes she will not falter.

Medea is feminine rage at its peak, uncompromising and lethal. There is something extremely cathartic in this for me.

The story of Medea is also the story of a foreigner in an hostile land. It is less important than the woman part for me but still essential. And that is why I really like that in the french comic book by Le Called and Peña they do present her as significantly different from the Greeks women and significantly darker.

Not like any other:

Medea, like most of characters in myth, is related to gods. Circe is her aunt, so she is related to Hecate, which is unsurprising considering that she is a magician (a deeply feminine power in most greek myth). But she is also the granddaughter of Helios (actually all four of her grandparents are gods or close to be). But Medea isn’t just related to gods, she behaves like one.

Medea destroys not only Creon and his daughter but in some of the version she is responsible for the burning of the entire city. Exactly like an angry god who has been disrespected by members of a community and brought their anger on all the community (granted the citizens of Corinth did not like her but still).

But it is the punition that she reserve to Jason that strikes me as the most god-like. In ancient Greek myths gods often punishes humans or other gods who had wronged them with fates worse than death (like Prometheus or Lycaon of Arcadia). This is exactly what she does to Jason. She takes everything from him, everything, but she leaves him alive so he has to live through his punishment. He is left with nothing except maybe the shame of being Jason. Even in the Divine Comedy (written in the 14th century and not directly concerned with the Argonauts or Medea) Jason is placed in Hell for what he did to several women.

Medea is superior to nearly everyone else she runs into in her story and her actions in Corinth is a way for her to reclaim that.

A reasonable women:

Medea most famous deed might have been the killing of her sons in Corinth to annihilate Jason but even in this she keeps on being rational. She might fall prey to primal violence but she still plans and executes it with meticulousness.

After all apparently her name comes from the verbs μήδομαι / mêdomai which means to meditate, and might come from an earlier root meaning: understand/conceive.

Medea is victorious thanks to the power of her reason and cleverness. She doesn’t kill Pelias, she convinces his daughters to do so by tricking them into believing that they are going to make him young and healthy again. She gets the Golden Fleece. She gets the very dreadful idea of how to slow down her pursuing father’s fleet. Medea is not only powerful because she is a great magician. She is powerful because she is a smart, ruthless, dedicated woman.

In Corneille’s version, Pollux (an Argonaut whose role here is to be the confident of Jason) has this to say about Jason’s plan of marrying Creusa :

“Bien que de tous côtés l'affaire résolue

Ne laisse aucune place aux conseils d'un ami,

Je ne puis toutefois l'approuver qu'à demi.

Sur quoi que vous fondiez un traitement si rude,

C'est montrer pour Médée un peu d'ingratitude :

Ce qu'elle a fait pour vous est mal récompensé.

Il faut craindre après tout son courage offensé ;

Vous savez mieux que moi ce que peuvent ses charmes.”

Basically this replica starts with Pollux saying that he knows Jason isn’t going to listen to him but still what he is doing to Medea (repudiating and banishing her) is not cool. He finishes by “We need to fear her offended courage / You know better than me what her spells are capable of.” To which Jason answers something along the lines “no worries, her banishment should be enough to tame her”. To this Pollux retorts:

“Gardez d'avoir sujet de vous en repentir.”

Which roughly translates as “Be careful to not end up sorry about it.” Later in the play it seems that Medea has accepted her fate and she has given her wedding dress as a present to Creusa. Everyone thinks that everything is going great and this what Pollux as to say about this:

“J'eus toujours pour suspects les dons des ennemis :

Ils font assez souvent ce que n'ont pu leurs armes.

Je connais de Médée et l'esprit et les charmes,

Et veux bien m'exposer aux plus cruels trépas,

Si ce rare présent n'est un mortel appas.”

He starts by saying that gifts from enemies are always suspicious and dangerous and then say that since it is something from Medea he is ready to bet his life that it is a deadly trap (and by the way he is absolutely correct). This is how the verse from the middle of the replica translates:  “I know of Medea her spirit and her spells”. We can see that in this version, Pollux is deadly sure that Medea isn’t going to take that laying down and that she is going to be a formidable foe. But it is not only her magical ability that he recognises as dangerous (even if he insists a lot on it), it is her courage and her mind (reason).

Medea isn't cold, she burns bright, but she is still a calculating strategist whose magic is as dangerous as the way she uses her mind.

In the end, Medea embodies one of my favorite trope which is woman giving in to a justified burning anger more than ready to bear the consequences of said anger. She does so while acting and thinking like a god and being the best strategist in the room.

A god-like angry clever scorned woman? What is there not to love in her?

[solaetis-moved-blog]

CASTER (MEDEA) HEADCANON AND PORTRAYAL SUMMARY DUMP

Just a rundown of all the myth & canon interpretations I follow! I do not stick with one version alone. I mix them and take what for me makes the most sense for the character of Medea that I know of.

For Fate/Stay Night roleplayers, I can write her in any route. I will go along the with the route of your muse 'cause I'm flexible like that. I can play her at any canon point in Fate/Hollow Ataraxia as well.

For Fate/Grand Order roleplayers, all routes in Fate/Stay Night are sort of canon for my Medea. This doesn't mean all of it happened to this specific incarnation, just that she has recollections of all the events that transpired during the fifth war including the bad endings.

More info below!

She learned Magecraft through the Moon Goddess Hecate and from her aunt the Goddess Circe, who was also a disciple of Hecate.

She was very close to Circe and respects and admires her in great amounts and was always her ideal vision of a true witch.

Medea, in truth, is not really a witch. She is skilled in Magecraft, but it did not make her one. Her title as a witch is only granted to her as an attempt to berate and demean her for having magic powers.

She was cursed by Aphrodite to fall in love with Jason under Hera’s orders.

She was very to devoted to the Greek Gods despite not being Greek herself which earned her a place in Elysium where she was said to have eventually married Achilles. She has no memories of her life in Elysium as a Servant.

Medea is Colchian and not Greek. This makes her an Asian woman. 

She has utmost respect towards Heracles for the time she spent with him and the Argonauts. He also gave her a place to stay when she had nowhere else to go in exchange of healing Hera's curse upon him.

Because Medea was not Greek, she was often shunned, if not envied, by those around her. After Jason, there was nowhere she could return to. There was no place left that will accept her.

Theseus was with the Argonauts, but he was young at that time and Medea did not recognize him when they met once again, this time in Athens and she became Aegeus' wife.

Aegeus didn't know that Theseus was his son and wanted him dead for his powers were a threat to Aegeus' position as a King. For Medea, who bore him a son, Aegeus learning Theseus' birth right was a threat to her son Medus.

Medea tried to poison Theseus after he returned successful in his quest to capture the Marathonian Bull. But Aegeus' realized that Theseus was his son due to his sword and sandals and knocked back the cup of poisoned wine. Medea fled afterwards with Medus.

There is no consistent depiction of how Medea's life has ended, so I have mixed some interpretations I've read.

When Medea fled Athens, her son Medus was exiled and he returned to Colchis only to find out that King Aeetes was murdered by his brother.

Medus was then captured by King Perses so that there was no one who could challenge his claim to the throne. Medea, having heard this, returned to Colchis to free her son. She deceived Perses and made Medus the King. She died of old age, grieving still.

My Medea did not kill her children. The Corinthians killed her children, but because she found the bodies first and have been caught by Jason holding them, she was accused of their murder.

Her Fate incarnation knows that she killed them to hurt Jason as a result of her lore being bastardized, but she has no recollections of doing so. She simply believes this because it's what's installed in her Spirit Origin.

Her hatred is not restricted to Jason alone, but towards the world who had betrayed her without an end. Still, majority of her agony is a product of his actions.

My interpretation of Medea is heavily focused on this. It plays a huge role in how I write her, so she's not as chill as she is in canon.

Medea's hatred towards Aphrodite and Jason is clear.

Being told that she was coerced to fall in love with Jason mocks her for it was the only thing she had left of value. She also believes it takes away the responsibility behind the cruel acts she made because of her love for him.

If Medea has to acknowledge that she fell in love with Jason because of Aphrodite, that would mean that she cannot take responsibility for her crimes. So she does not, for she knows to herself that she committed vile acts of her own volition.

Her acknowledging her crimes and knowing it is wrong is her only proof that her love for Jason was real and not manipulated through celestial means. She did them because she wanted to be useful and she truthfully loved him.

My Medea despises Berserker!Heracles because his existence disrespects the hero that he used to be. She thinks he is nothing but a pile of muscle with a face and wants nothing to do with him.

She doesn't acknowledge Jason, Achilles & Perseus as heroes.

She dislikes socializing with men in general, especially the handsome, cunning and eloquent ones. She has learned first hand that sophisticated men aren't to be trusted.

I'm a slut for Medea/Kuzuki, Medea/Women & Medea/Respectful Master. 

She helped Jason steal the Golden Fleece in exchange of him agreeing to marry her and he did.

She left Colchis with the Argonauts alongside her brother Apsyrtus, which she cut to pieces and scattered his flesh into the seas to delay the pursuit of her father King Aeetes.

Medea's room in Chaldea is dark and brooding with no signs of modern technology. Even her door can only be opened by dispelling the field that surrounds it. She has various skeleton pets inside of her room that she uses to help her in certain activities such as Myrmekes as cleaners, Alectryon as an alarm clock, Crows for water fetching etc.

Medea named her skeleton creatures after her family members from Colchis as a way to help her cope with the fact that she can never return to them anymore. So when she returns to her room, it signifies "coming home". This is why she considers her room sacred. Should one be given the permission to enter her room in Chaldea, know that it is a heightened level of intimacy for her. Invading it, however, is a high grade insult and thoroughly offensive. She will hate you for it.

Medea makes tea brews that she only shares to a few people. Each are named after certain ties she had in life such as Golden Fleece, Argonautica etc. They range in hundreds that she displays on a large cabinet.

In Fate verse, Atalante was indeed with the Argonauts, making Medea and Atalante the only women to ride the Argo Ship. They've had a very genuine friendship, but parted ways afterwards, Whether or not Atalante retained her respect to Medea when things went downhill is unknown.

SOME RANDOM RAMBLINGS

since erika and i are talking about it... remember when i said that medea's wish is to go home? and her idea of going home is simply not returning to specifically to colchis but to possibly revert the life she had when she decided to leave so medea's idea of "going home" is returning to the time wherein she was still princess of colchis and she never left. if she never left, her relationship with her family will not be compromised. she would have avoided a large scale of tragedy. medea dies as an ambitionless old woman in my interpretation. she had spent her remaining dies waking up, sleeping, monotonously doing her everyday routine. in her every revenge completed, a part of her dies, and she has died completely when everything was over and done with. she wants to use the grail for that. to return to the time where she was most content with herself. as a servant she's incarnated with her hatred of the world being her only pillar to keep on going. medea wants to be a normal person so she's desperate for the grail.

if i have to explain medea's feelings towards aphrodite, eros and hera it's really all too simple? she lamented that they have had a hand in her suffering but medea knows the workings of the gods and there's no law which states that they have to be fair in the first place. one man would wish something from the gods, and another would wish for something which opposes the other. it's always a matter of having to choose who deserves their assistance more and medea accepted that the three favored jason more because he prayed to them the same way hecate, circe and zeus favored her because her prayers for them were stronger and they were medea's revered gods. so yes, medea hates being a tool for gods' entertainment, but not to the point wherein she'd kill one because she still respects them to some degree

[cindersinrags]

Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart never broke up. Indeed, their split was merely a distraction for the press that would guarantee the former Twilight stars privacy. In the interim period, where Pattinson got engaged to FKA Twigs and Stewart dated a series of women, including St. Vincent, the pair were actually living in wedded bliss. Their PR game was so effective that it helped to hide no fewer than two pregnancies for Stewart. Now, the Pattinson-Stewart family are happy together, laughing at the ignorance of the press and public who believe they broke up years ago and moved onto fulfilling and happy relationships with other people.

Of all the weird celebrity conspiracies that pollute the internet, the Robsten fandom may be my favourite one. It has everything: Press conspiracies, outlandish theories that would put Moon landing truthers to shame, the inability to tell reality from fiction, and of course, bad photoshops. Every now and then, when I see Pattinson and Stewart in the headlines, I go and visit the tin-hatters’ sites for that potent combination of entertainment and fear for my life. It’s astounding that they’re still keeping up this façade. As time passes, I wonder more and more if they truly believe it or if they’re going full My Immortal with the scam. It’s too outlandish to be real, yet the emotions behind it clearly are.

Sadly, this is nothing new for the world of shippers, nor is it limited to the breeding pair of Twilight. Name a prominent pop culture property and the chances are there are hardcore shippers whose interest goes beyond a fizzy hobby. Some fans truly believe that Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnsonare a real couple, which is hysterical because their chemistry levels in the Fifty Shades series are sub-zero. The stars of Outlander face the same shippers. Taylor Swift and Karlie Kloss are secret lesbian lovers, according to a subset of their fandom. Cate Blanchett will eventually leave her husband and children for Carol co-star Rooney Mara, thus freeing her from an exploitative bearding relationship with Joaquin Phoenix. The Larry fandom have yet to admit defeat, even as both Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson admit the fan delusions over their supposed secret romance hurt their real-life friendship. The Supernatural guys may never shake those conspiracies.

It isn’t all romance related either. Spare a thought for poor Benedict Cumberbatch, whose already overzealous fan-base includes a portion of people who think he was trapped into marriage and fatherhood by his wife, who they paint as the modern-day iteration of Medea. They don’t even think his kids are real. Apparently, one of them is clearly a doll.

I could go on, listing the many other fandoms I’ve come across with these near identical conspiracies of secret relationships, hidden children, public relations bullying, and so on. From Scandal to Orange is the New Black to The Hunger Games, it’s as big a part of fandom as cosplay and dirty fanfiction. A lot of the time, the celebrities being obsessed over don’t even know it’s happening. If they call it out, as Robert Pattinson did, or mock it, like Armie Hammer recently did on Instagram after someone DM-d him to claim he should be gay like his character in Call Me By Your Name, then they write that off as simply proving their point. The majority of fans deride and condemn this behaviour, partly because it reflects badly on everyone else but mostly because it’s blatant bullshit that should be treated as such. What is most striking about these myriad conspiracies is how eerily similar they all are in terms of tone and content.

The basic set-up for a tin-hatter shipping conspiracy is thus: The pair are in love, the pair are in a serious relationship, but they have to hide it from the world because of ‘evil PR’. The nature of this shadowy public relations organization is never made clear. It’s mostly rooted in conjecture and a hazy understanding of how the entertainment industry has worked over the decades. Historically, publicists and studios have operated with a certain degree of shadiness. In the Golden Era of Hollywood, where studios reigned supreme, a star’s image could be kept on a tight leash and their indiscretions hidden from the public. Fixers like Eddie Mannix (made famous in the Coen Brothers’ movie Hail, Caesar!) could clear up all manner of problems if the occasion called for it. Pregnancies could be hidden, illegal abortions procured, marriages annulled or concealed, and even the occasional murder dealt with (allegedly). We know this stuff happened, and we know that today, publicists do a lot of work to keep their clients happy. That probably doesn’t extend so far as to covering up marriages and multiple pregnancies and fake babies.

The psychologies behind these tin-hatter conspiracies tend to be remarkably similar too. There’s always massive amounts of paranoia at the heart of their delusions. Arrogance is key as well. You need infallible ego to maintain repeatedly debunked fantasies. They talk of their conspiracies as if they’re the most obvious truths in the world, deriding the ‘ignorant masses’ who refuse to see the reality in front of them, which they’ve kindly circled in MS Paint. The mentality is frequently rooted in a strong brand of self-victimization: They tie their theories to social issues like homophobia and claim anyone who opposes their belief that the One Direction guys are in love are clearly bigots. Even when the people in question call out this nonsense, they’re written off as poor closeted prisoners of invincible publicists. The game of tin-hating shippers is designed so that they never lose.

That’s the sad part of this all. They won’t be proven wrong simply because they’ve invested too much of themselves into this fantasy. They run around in circles, desperately claiming everything is against them and only they are smart enough to know the truth. If Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan insist they’re just friends, it’s only to throw everyone off the scent. When Tony Goldwyn talks of his love for his wife, it’s just to distract everyone from his romance with Kerry Washington. If Robert Pattinson is smiling in public, it’s because he’s thinking of Kristen; if he’s looking a bit down, it’s because he’s thinking of Kristen.

When the fantasy does begin to crumble, the tin-hatters get violent in their rhetoric. Taylor Schilling’s rumoured boyfriend briefly deleted his social media after receiving harassment from her fans who think she’s with Laura Prepon (who just had a baby with Ben Foster). Rooney Mara’s so-called fans called her a disgrace for dating a man and claimed she was letting down LGBTQ+ kids everywhere because of it. Robert Pattinson’s then-girlfriend FKA Twigs faced all manner of horrific racist and sexist abuse for simply existing. It can be easy to laugh people like this off, but we’ve also seen what happens to celebrities when their obsessive fans decide to invade their lives. A 19-year-old fan of Lana Del Rey drove cross-country to her house, broke into her garage and tweeted about it. An obsessive fan of Paula Abdul committed suicide outside her house. Rebecca Schaeffer’s stalker shot her on her own doorstep.

Real person shipping (or RPF) doesn’t bother me in theory. If you just treat it like any other fandom hobby - safe, private, clearly fiction - then go for it. There’s a major difference between liking two actors and writing silly fanfiction about them and going to extremes to prove they’re actually married. The people who cross that line are a minority, but they’re a loud and insidious minority who shouldn’t be written off as mere ‘crazies’. This phenomenon is undoubtedly fascinating and reveals a lot about various intersections of celebrity, media, the internet, fandom, and so on. It’s worth keeping an eye on, if only to ensure nobody gets hurt, because it’s not unique to internet culture. This stuff breeds, and that should concern us all.

Now, when do I get my shadowy PR conspiracy cheque?

[randomactuallywrites-57]

i’ll take the blame (if you’ll come back)

Title: i’ll take the blame (if you’ll come back) Author: randomwriter57 Rating: G Word Count: 1,956 Pairings: gen Summary: Sorey doesn’t like arguing with Mikleo.

Notes: I wrote this a couple months ago when I wanted to improve my characterisation by trying to stick as close to canon as I could. For whatever reason, writing about Sorey and Mikleo as kids felt like the easiest way of doing that. It’s just a small thing, but I hope you all enjoy it anyway!

Also on: AO3

Sorey doesn’t like arguing with Mikleo.

It’s a rare occurrence that the two ever truly fall out, of course, but they often have little spats which tend to resolve themselves quickly enough. They’re usually about silly things, like who found a discovery first, or who was the last one to help the older seraphim with certain chores. As such, they’re never really all that serious and the boys manage to be best friends again with a few minutes of their spats beginning.

Today’s argument is only an exception in that it lasts far longer than Sorey would like.

Gramps sighs, breathing out some of the smoke from his pipe. “You know full well that you are not allowed to explore inside the ruins. It’s far too dangerous.”

“It was Mikleo’s idea,” Sorey says, only vaguely remembering Mikleo suggesting something like this. “He’s the one who said we should go in.”

Mikleo gapes at Sorey. “No, it was your idea! I was totally against it, but you just went in anyway!”

“No, it was definitely you!”

Even as he says this, Sorey doubts himself. Did Mikleo actually say they should go in? It might have been his own idea, now he thinks about it. He definitely knows that he didn’t go in until Mikleo agreed with him, though.

This situation has become way too troublesome. He doesn’t want to end up arguing with Mikleo over something as petty as this - Gramps is likely going to punish them both, anyway.

“It was Sorey,” Mikleo says, turning to Gramps with his hands clenched into fists on his knees.

“Who started it doesn’t matter,” Gramps says, his tone stern. “You are lucky nothing harmed you in there. There might be hellions lurking in the depths, and you know that we can do naught against them.”

“We know,” Sorey and Mikleo chorus, bowing their heads in guilt.

“Then you’d do well to remember it.” Reaching over, Gramps swats them both over the head, light enough that it doesn’t hurt, but it’s a warning nonetheless. “I’ll make sure the others give you plenty of chores to do, as punishment.”

“Yes Gramps,” they chorus.

Once they get out of Gramps’ hut, Mikleo turns on him, eyebrows furrowed in anger.

“You and I both know it was you who started it.”

“Can’t we drop this?” Sorey says. He’d been happy to think that the argument might have ended already, but it’s strange that Mikleo would willingly bring it back up again. “It’s not like it matters.”

“It matters because you were putting the blame on me!” Crossing his arms over his chest, Mikleo huffs.

“You were putting the blame on me, too!”

“That’s because it was actually your fault!”

“Well maybe it wasn’t my fault!” When he speaks this time, Sorey is aware of how their voices have escalated in volume. He knows they should quieten down and stop arguing, but again, and he wants to do that, but Mikleo doesn’t let him.

In fact, Mikleo turns away from him, fuming with anger. “Come and find me when you’re willing to face the facts.”

When Mikleo storms away from him, Sorey lets him go, his anger fading into sadness at the sight of his friend’s back.

This has indeed become a far more troublesome situation than it started out as. But Sorey comforts himself in the fact that, if he waits a little while for Mikleo to cool his head, he’ll probably come back later on, and they can go on as normal.

The next morning, when Sorey wakes up, he feels colder than usual. It’s obvious as to why: in this bed, which is already far too large for a single child, he is all alone.

Mikleo didn’t come over last night.

It shouldn’t surprise him, really. His best friend can be incredibly stubborn at times, and it isn’t like he comes over to Sorey’s house every night even when they’re on good terms.

But it’s unusual that he should wake up in a house all by himself. Most mornings, Mikleo will come over so they can have breakfast together, even if he didn’t stay over the night before. It fits with their lessons and chores, so it’s become routine.

The sight of a lifeless house makes his heart ache.

Sorey gets out of bed and prepares for the day, eating a lonely breakfast accompanied only by The Celestial Record, which is an amazing book but makes for a poor conversation partner, given that it can only speak words that Sorey has read a thousand times over already.

After breakfast, he gets changed and heads outside. He heads over to the small rock house which Mikleo was given after he and Sorey were separated by Gramps a year ago. The outside of the house is pretty barren, save for the nature overtaking it, and Sorey knows the inside holds only books and Mikleo’s clothes and cookware. Neither of them have many possessions to begin with, but given that half of Mikleo’s clothes are at Sorey’s house, it’s fair to say that Mikleo’s own house doesn’t get used often.

When Sorey knocks on the door, there is no reply save for a heavy silence, and though he waits a good five minutes, after that he forces himself to accept that Mikleo just isn’t coming outside for him today.

It’s his own fault, and he knows it. He shouldn’t have pressed on with his own argument when he knew he might be in the wrong. Apologising would have been the best course of action. Now, though, he’s made Mikleo upset with him.

Letting out a long exhale, he forces himself away from the house. There’s no point in wallowing here right now - he’ll wait a while before finding Mikleo, and he can apologise then.

Except he doesn’t get a chance to talk to Mikleo that day.

Throughout their usual classes and chores, he only sees glimpses of his friend, who avoids him and his gaze at all costs. The one time they meet eyes, Mikleo immediately looks away, huffing. And without fail, any chance he has to get away from Sorey, he takes it, storming off in the same cloud of annoyance that he was cloaked with the day before.

“It everything alright?” Medea asks when Mikleo leaves as soon as she ends their handicraft lesson for the day.

“We had a fight,” Sorey says reluctantly. “It’s okay, though. I’m going to apologise to him, once he stops avoiding me.”

Medea smiles and hums. “I’m glad. Don’t lose hope - he’s stubborn, but I’m sure Mikleo doesn’t want to fight with you, either.”

(Neither of them see when Mikleo glances over his shoulder after leaving the house, a forlorn expression on his features.)

Sorey thanks her and leaves her house, taking in a breath of fresh air once he gets outside. Since he has no classes now, he’s tempted to go out and relieve some of his pent-up stress by hunting a prickleboar or two. As long as they’re small ones, he should be able to handle them, and he needs to gather food anyway.

Rushing to his own house, he picks up the wooden sword he usually uses and heads out of the village towards the prickleboar hunting grounds. The walk is oddly quiet, a fact which he attributes to the fact that he doesn’t have his best friend at his side, making idle conversation about their classes and chores and whatever else comes to mind. It isn’t often that Sorey goes hunting by himself - or anywhere, for that matter. Looking to his left he half expects to see a head of white hair, and he fools himself into a sense of false hope every time.

It doesn’t take long for him to find a small prickleboar, one which is minding its own business, chewing the grass at its trotters. Though he still feels a hint of pity for it, he knows by now that unless he hunts these animals, he won’t have food to eat. This is a necessary evil.

He pounces on it with his sword, engaging it in battle. Luckily it is quite weak, unable to fight back against Sorey’s slashing attacks. None of the attacks are very well executed, due to his lack of experience, but they do the job; after a few whacks on the head, the prickleboar goes down with a squeal.

“Yes!” Sorey grins, turning to his left. “We did it-”

There’s no one there to celebrate with.

A wave of disappointment flows through him. His smile drops as he remembers himself, and he turns back to the downed prickleboar, wondering how best to take it back to Elysia. He’s not strong enough to carry it by himself, even if it is quite small, so it would probably be best to drag it behind him. Kneeling at its side, he searches his pack for some rope to tie around it, to make dragging it home easier.

Except he hears a grunt.

Looking up, he sees a larger prickleboar a few feet away, pawing at the ground with its trotter. It grunts again and tosses its head.

“Crap,” Sorey whispers, his hand going to his sword again.

The prickleboar is too fast for him. He hears it approaching and closes his eyes, waiting for the impact-

“Twin flow!” a young, familiar voice yells.

He hears the prickleboar cry out as the attack hits it, and opens his eyes to see it drenched in water. Turning his head to the left, from where the voice came, he feels a wave of relief wash over him. Between the trees stands Mikleo, holding his staff out in the direction of the prickleboar. For only a moment, Sorey wonders how long Mikleo has been nearby, and if he was following him. His showing up couldn’t be coincidence, right?

“Mikleo!” Sorey stands up, turning to his friend. “Am I glad to see you-”

“The prickleboar!” Mikleo interrupts him, readying another seraphic arte.

Sorey whips back around and manages to block the prickleboar’s next attack with his sword, though only just barely. “It’s an adult one, we’re not strong enough!”

“We’ll have to flee,” Mikleo calls, two jets of water slamming the prickleboar on its side again.

“But what about the small one?!”

“Leave it!”

At this point, Sorey isn’t about to argue. With the adult prickleboar still recovering, he and Mikleo manage to run away, back in the direction of their village. They don’t stop running until they’re safely inside the gate, at which point the prickleboar has long since given up its chase. Breathing heavily, the boys try to catch their breath before saying anything.

It’s Sorey who speaks first. “Thanks, Mikleo. You’re a lifesaver.”

“Don’t thank me,” Mikleo says, looking away with a frown. “I only did it because I happened to be nearby.”

Sorey smiles, not believing his words for a second. “Uh-huh. I’m glad you’re here though. I don’t want to fight with you anymore.”

Mikleo’s eyes flick over to him in interest, though he tries to make it look like he’s not interested by keeping his body turned away. “Oh?”

“That argument was over something silly,” Sorey says, not put off by Mikleo’s feigned lack of interest. “So let’s stop fighting, okay?”

Sighing, Mikleo turns to face him properly. Though he tries to look exasperated, it’s a ruined effect due to his own smile. “Fine.”

The two boys head back to Sorey’s house, the usual warm atmosphere falling back into place around them.

“Let’s not argue again, okay?”

“Okay.”

And though the two are bound to argue again in the future, they will never forget the feeling of missing the other when such arguments tear them apart.

[intrepidmare]

Dragonsworn - Extended excerpt

“Remi! You can’t kill Daimons at the front door!” Dev Peltier shot across the main bar floor of Sanctuary at a dead run, with his wolfwere brother-in-law Fang Kattalakis hot on his heels.

“Sure I can,” his identical brother snarled in his earpiece. “Watch me!”

Dreading the scene of his shapeshifting twin ripping the heart out of a demon on the busy streets of New Orleans underneath a closed circuit police camera, Dev considered teleporting to stop the coming disaster, but that would only worsen this fiasco.

And guarantee them both some special quality time in a high security government lab some place where they’d never be seen or heard from again.

He and Fang barely reached the open front door in time to grab the tall, muscled mountain that sometimes passed as a human being before Remi ate the petite blonde standing nonchalantly under the outside streetlight.

And that bastard fought them with everything he had as they pulled him back from his would-be victim. A victim who didn’t appear concerned at all that she’d narrowly escaped certain death.

Remi even bit Dev in the shoulder as he struggled against them.

“Dammit!” Dev snarled. “You better have had your rabies shot, boy!”

Growling in that unique way that only a shapeshifting bear could, Remi continued to try and throw them off so that he could reach the woman who still hadn’t moved.

In fact, the Daimon yawned. Then checked her watch as if the entire event left her bored out of her mind. “Can I go in now? You two have him leashed, right?”

Fang’s jaw dropped at her nonchalant tone. “You know, Medea, given what happened the last time a bunch of you showed up here, you’ve got a lot of nerve.”

“‘Course I do. It’s what makes me the bad guy. And I’m told my half-brother’s upstairs, playing poker with your little brother. So if you don’t mind …” She headed inside as if she didn’t have a bar full of shapeshifters who’d love to make her their lunch.

Remi continued to curse them both. “They killed Maman and Papa! How could you let her waltz into our bar like that?”

Dev kept his brother in place with his forearm across Remi’s throat. “Because if you harm one hair on her head, we’ll lose our sanctuary license again. Think of your nieces and nephews!”

All of them had lost too much during the last battle that had shattered their family.

Finally, the fire went out in Remi’s eyes as he stopped struggling against them.

“We good?”

Remi nodded.

Releasing him, Dev stepped back to eye Fang. “So what idiot put hothead on the door tonight?”

Fang cast him a disgruntled glare. “I be said idiot. Thank you very much. Thought he was you. Could one of your bastards cut your hair so that I can tell you apart?”

Dev rolled his eyes. Then pointed to the double bow and arrow tattoo on his biceps. “I do have one mark that distinguishes me from the other idiots, you know?”

Fang scoffed while Remi started for the door.

“Hey, hey!” Dev caught his arm. “What’cha thinking, punkin?”

“That Maman should have eaten you when you were whelped.”

Dev snorted. “You can’t go in there and start a fight with her. Need I remind you there’s a shit ton of human tourists in that bar and Max is a bit preoccupied tonight with his dragonswan. That boy ain’t been up for air in days so we can’t count on him to help us out with the humans.”

Remi’s nose twitched in that way that said he was hellbent for blood. “Can’t his brother mindwipe them, then?”

Good question. Falcyn might have the same powers as Max. Then again, he might not. Even if he did, there was no guarantee he’d use them as helping others wasn’t exactly the surly dragon’s priority. “No idea. You want to ask Falcyn?” That shapeshifting bastard was the only creature alive with a worse attitude than Remi.

Unless you counted the former Dark-Hunter Zarek. Though to be honest, Dev would run Falcyn up against Z any day. Thrice on Sundays.

Proof to the point? Remi backed down immediately at the thought of speaking to Falcyn, and that was something his brother never did.

“I’m going to go watch her,” Remi grumbled before he headed inside.

Dev growled low in the back of his as he met Fang’s irritated smirk. “I know. Dev, go watch your brother.”

“And find me someone else to guard the door.”

“Where’s your ear p …” Dev’s voice trailed off as he remembered that one of Aimee’s favorite things was to nibble Fang’s ears in the backroom when no one else was around. Disgusted with the thought of his baby sister touching anything male in a sexual way, he grimaced. “Never mind. I’ll grab Cherif. You can’t miss him. He’s the one who looks like me, but isn’t.”

“That could also be Quinn.”

“Don’t remind me.” It was hell to be one of four identical quads. Only Aimee and the Dark-Hunter Acheron had ever been able to tell them apart.

And Dev’s wife, Sam. She’d never once confused him with his brothers, which was one of many reasons he loved her.

“Double time, Bear!” Fang snapped. “Don’t need your brother starting some shit while we’ve got humans around to witness it!”

Letting out a bear growl in his throat, Dev went to find Remi before the bear really did eat the Daimon, and start another war they didn’t need to fight.  

###

Medea screwed her face up at all the humans in the dark, noisy bar as they swayed to the music of the Howlers. Gah, how she hated them. Though to be honest, it would be quite a feast for her should she choose to indulge, not that she needed their blood to feed— unlike the others of her kind.

For her, it was just fun payback …

More tempted than she ought to be, she forced herself to ignore all the throats that would be so easy to rip open and searched for her half-brother’s familiar face. Though she and Urian were technically enemies who fought on opposite sides of this war, he was still one of the few people she considered her friend.

Right now, she had dire news he needed to hear.

“Hey baby! You looking for me?”

Medea curled her lip at the cheesy come-on line. Worse? The filthy human stank of cheap alcohol and some cologne he must have bought off a clearance drugstore aisle. “Out of my way.”

“Ah, now, why you want to do me like that?” He put a rough grip on her arm to hold her by his side.

Laughing, she bit her lip seductively. “Sugar, you have no idea what I really want to do with you …”

His eyebrows shot north. “Oh yeah?”

“Ummm-hmmm.” She stepped into his arms as she dreamed of gutting him on the floor.

An instant later, he was snatched back and shaken like a dog would do its favorite toy. “Take a hike.”

The human started to attack, until he caught sight of the man who’d grabbed him. That took every bit of bluster out of him and he quickly dashed away.

Not that Medea blamed him. This Were-Hunter was huge, even by their inhuman standards. Tall. Well-muscled. His caramel skin would make any woman’s mouth water. And to her instant horror, she wasn’t immune to his charms.

In fact, she was strangely breathless as her gaze went to a pair of silvery blue eyes that practically glowed. Between that and his black hair, she’d almost think him a Dream-Hunter. Indeed, his powers were strong enough to be godlike.

The air around her was rife with them. It crackled in a way that was reminiscent of Acheron Parthenopaeus— an Atlantean god who pretended to be a Dark-Hunter for reasons only he knew. More than that, she couldn’t even tell what breed this particular Were-Hunter belonged to. Bear, wolf, bird, lion, leopard, panther, tiger, dragon, jaguar, cheetah or jackal. He was that powerful.

“What are you?”

Falcyn felt an odd half smile curve his lips. A rare, rare thing for him. But then it’d been a long time since he’d seen a morsel as tasty as this one. Her white-blond hair was an unusual shade, but natural. And it contrasted sharply with her black eyes.

And she wasn’t just a Daimon. There was something a lot stronger inside her. Something he could taste and smell. The scent of it was like honey to his tongue.

“Hungry,” he whispered.

She actually rolled her eyes and stepped around him.

A sound rumbled out of him that was even more rare than his smile. Took him a few seconds to realize it was a laugh.

No one had ever been so dismissive of him. Mostly because he ate those idiots and picked his teeth with their bones. And before he even realized what he was doing, he was after her.

She paused in the crowd to turn around and glare at him. “Oh, I see. You’re a dog. Well, Fido, I’m sure there are some nice little humans over at the bar who’d like to take you home and pet you. I’m not one of them. So go on, boy.” She clicked her tongue like a human would do their pet or a stray they were trying to get rid of. “Go on! Shoo!”

As she started to leave, Falcyn licked his lips. “So you’re the queen bitch of the Daimons. They told me you were something else. But how many of them know you have demon blood inside you?”

She quirked a brow at his question, then gave him an insidious smile that made his cock jerk. “Before or after I kill them?” Her gaze narrowed as she swept a gimlet stare over him that said she was sizing him up for battle. “And you’re wrong about my title. The queen would be my mother.”

“Then what would that make you?”

“Daddy’s most precious little girl.”

He belly-laughed. Something that made every Were-Hunter near them step back and gape.

That finally took some of the bluster out of her as she caught sight of their uncharacteristic actions.

And fear. Especially since they never feared anything.

Except him.

“Who are you?” she asked with a note of reservation in her voice.

“Wrong question.”

“How so?”

“It’s not so much who am I … as what am I.”

Medea felt a tremor of fear finally roll down her spine. “You’re not one of them, are you?” The Were-Hunters had been created aeons ago by the king of Arcadia in a desperate attempt to save the lives of his sons from a curse placed upon their mother’s race by the Greek god Apollo— Medea’s own grandfather. Seeking to elongate the lives of his sons, the king had bargained with a Sumerian god to magically splice their DNA with animals.

It’d worked and the Sumerian god and Arcadian king had created two races of shapeshifters. Those who held human hearts, called Arcadians. Human in their base forms, they could take animal form. And the Katagaria who had animal hearts and were able to shift into humans.

The “man” in front of her shook his head slowly to indicate that he fell into neither group. As he said, he was something else entirely.

Yet he bore the scent of a Katagari warrior. An animal at heart and in base form. She knew the raw, preternatural musk that permeated their breed. It was unlike anything else in the world. And though tinged with something else, it was unmistakable.    

This wasn’t a man she was dealing with, but a creature of immense power.

“Like you, princess, I’m something much, much older that those half-Greek byblows… Deadlier. And unpredictable.”

“I know you’re not a god.”

He approached her slowly, and while it wasn’t in her to ever retreat, she found herself stepping back to keep from being overwhelmed by the sheer size of him. By the magnitude of his arcane powers that seemed to grow stronger the longer she was here.

“Nay, love,” he breathed in her ear with that deep, resonant baritone. “But there are things in this world that even the gods fear.”

And he was definitely one of them. She knew it with every single molecule of her being.

[chaldeaposting]

The Maiden’s Arrival

Chaldea Summoning Room

“Are you really sure about this?” Gilgamesh asks Shǒu.

As usual, he’s accompanying Shǒu on another attempt to summon new allies, so that he can “judge if they’re worthy of fighting alongside the King of Heroes”.  Or so he says.

“Not really? But my gut tells me it’s a good day to attempt a summon. And I think we’ve stockpiled enough catalysts to try, don’t you think?” Shǒu answers offhandedly.

“Ha! I suppose so. Your gut have bolstered our forces quite immensely these last few months. Very well, let us see what happens this time.” Gilgamesh nods, convinced.

“Well, I’m not expecting much. But let’s see what happens!”

With a smirk, Shǒu raises his hand and invokes the summoning circle, using the golden ticket as catalyst.

The circle glows white, and a white orb comes out.

“Hmph. A Craft Essence? Business as usual, I see.”

“Well, I did say it was just a good feeling after all. All right, let’s try this next one!”

The circle once again glows white.

And what appeared was totally unexpected.

Blond hair tied into a brain. Silver armor atop blue clothes. A white flag.

It could only be…

“Servant Ruler. Jeanne D’Arc. I am truly happy to…”

Jeanne looks at Shǒu, and with eyes full of recognition, gives him a warm smile.

“...no. I believe, “I am happy to see you again” is more appropriate, wouldn’t you say, Master-san?”

Shǒu stands there speechless, partly surprised that his good feeling was once again on the money and partly that Jeanne was the one that answered the summons.

”What’s wrong, Master-san? Is there something on my face?” Jeanne tilts her head, puzzled.

Shǒu suddenly grabs her in a ferocious hug.

“E-eh?! Master-san?” Jeanne was surprised, but accepts the hug.

“I’m just so glad to see you again, Jeanne. I never really got to thank you, and everyone else, for your help back in the Time Temple.” Shǒu says with his voice thick with emotion.

“There is no need for thanks, Master-san. We came to help out of our own free will, after all. We believed that you would be able to save the world, and you did it magnificently. If anything, I should be thanking you.” Jeanne’s voice is dipped with gratitude.

“Since my debt to you extends beyond saving the world….”

Jeanne thinks back to the time when Shǒu had travelled to the Orleans singularity.

She had been executed only a few days prior and was then immediately thrust into a Grail War.

Making the orientation from a living human being to a Servant was a disorienting experience, to say the least.

Adding the fact that she had manifested incompletely, having little access to the Skills usually given to the Ruler class.

She was as good as a novice, unskilled and useless to anyone.

All, except to him.

Novice she might have felt, to Shǒu she was like the strongest ally he could ever gotten. A mere fledgling himself, he was only plowing on through with sheer determination.  He tried his best, and while they got into quite a bit of trouble on the way, he never failed to support everyone as much as he could.

She couldn’t help but respect him. He was successful in doing what she couldn’t, and also managing to keep morale high. To Jeanne, who was undergoing a lot of emotional turmoil, his support was very essential. It gave her a pillar to lean on, and help her slowly come to terms with her new reality.

There came a night that she wanted to show her gratitude to him for his support (physically and emotionally). His reply was unexpected.

“I don’t really deserve your gratitude, Jeanne. Half the time, I don’t even know what I’m doing. I was suddenly thrust into this whole saving the world thing without having a lick of what to know or what to expect. Honestly, if it wasn’t for these video games I’d played as a hobby, I’d be having hard time coping…. Oh, sorry, you wouldn’t know what video games are right? Haha.” He gives a tired chuckle.

“Anyway, I’m not anything special, it’s you, Mashu, Ushi, Sasaki, Medea, and Kiyohime that deserve that praise. I’m just here to support you the best I can, if it’s in battle or even with talks like this. Though it feels like you’re the one supporting me this time.” A smile.

Jeanne was taken aback. She was both surprised and ashamed. Surprised that Shǒu was actually in the same boat as herself, scared and unsure. She also felt ashamed that she had forgotten one of the basics of leading, that showing uncertainty in front of the troops just lowers morale. She felt that she should’ve known better.

But, she also wondered why he was sharing this to her.

“Well, I just had a feeling that we’re the same. Or am I wrong?”

She was surprised that he had seen through her that easily.

“I can read the signs, I guess? Since I’m also the same.”

He looks at Jeanne, with determination in his eyes.

“I know i’m an inexperienced Master, and I know you’re still having a hard time adjusting to everything, but I took this mission and I’ll make sure to complete it. I’ll be relying on you until then.”

Moved, Jeanne stands and raises her flag.

“Don’t worry, Master-san! With this flag, I’ll make sure that no harm befalls us!”

A meaningful connection had been formed between Jeanne and Shǒu. Both were harboring the same doubts within themselves, but found the strength to carry on.

And it was the same strength that lead them to defeat Jeanne Alter and Gilles de Rais.

At the war’s end, when Jeanne was starting to disappear, she felt a twinge of sadness in her heart. Of having to leave Shǒu’s side. She was worried but she knew he was going to be fine. She had no basis to the contrary, but somehow in her heart, he knew he was going to be safe.

And so she managed to disappear with no regrets.

“Ahahaha. Well, it was a battle to save the world after all.”

Jeanne is returned to reality with Shǒu’s words.

“I know this is will sound silly of me, since you’re a Servant, but I’m really glad you managed to get away from the Time Temple safely.”

“Hee hee, well it is but your concern is appreciated.” Jeanne says this with a giggle.

For his part, Gilgamesh was just silently observing the events unfold before him.

“Hoo ho. This is quite a surprise. I’ve seen Shǒu be flustered, be happy, and be surprised, but this is the first time i’ve seen him actually hug a new Servant.” He murmurs to himself.

“Is it possible that…?” A shadow of a smile plays on his face.

Gilgamesh then notices that the two are still locked in the hug.

“While this is amusing it in it’s own right, this is getting a bit out of hand.”

“While i’m glad that you two are enjoying your sweet reunion, you have yet to greet your king, Maid of Orleans.” He directs this to the couple.

With a jolt, Shǒu lets go of Jeanne.

Jeanne, after composing herself,  takes a step forward, and greets Gilgamesh.

“Well met, King of Heroes. It has been a while since the Time Temple. I pray that you are well?”

“Indeed. I must thank you for your service, Maid. If it was not for your help, we would’ve been overwhelmed.” Gilgamesh acknowledges Jeanne’s greeting with a nod.

“Your words gratify me, Your Grace.”

“Speaking of which, you seem to be very fond of the Maid, Shǒu.”

Gilgamesh says, amused.

“Don’t tell me that you have fallen for her?” His grin spreads even wider.

“While that’s fine and all, I’m not sure how the rest of the Servants will take this, especially Meltlilith.”

“W-w-what are you talking about Gil?! I was just worried about her! Plus, we’ve known each other ever since Orleans! Right, Jeanne?!” Shǒu stammers defensively, his face a bit red.

“Hmmm. Is this correct, Maid? I admit I was yet unsummoned when Shǒu went through Orleans, so I have no knowledge about your history.”

Gilgamesh is speaking the truth, but he already sees through Shǒu. He’s keeping up the pretense for his own amusement.

“Oh! Yes, indeed. Master-san was instrumental in helping me save Orleans back then. It was back when both of us were still novices. This is why I am happy that we’ve both grown since.” Jeanne smiles genuinely as she says this.

“Well, I can see why he has fallen for the Maid. I suppose he has commendable taste, at the very least.” Gilgamesh thinks to himself.

To further avoid the awkward situation, Shǒu immediately grabs Jeanne’s hand, and leads her out the door to avoid the awkward atmosphere.

“A-anyway! Let’s go, Jeanne. I have to give you the grand tour and introduce to the other Servants!”

“Of course. By the way, what was this about a “Shǒu”, Master-san?”

“It’s a long story. I’ll tell you on the way.”

“Hee hee, of course.”

Gilgamesh follows them out the door.

He notices that both of them are still holding hands.

Gilgamesh feels somewhat happy, seeing his Master finally acknowledge his own happiness for once.

“But of course, this happiness should be shared to the others. How rude of me to withhold such good news!” He says with a chuckle.

Within minutes, the news had spread among Chaldea’s Servants that Shǒu had finally chosen a woman, and it was the newly summoned Jeanne D’Arc.

[elliotthezubat]

DEATH CITY DAYS CHAPTER 52

crushes, babies, and rats

Vulcan: "You didn't know? Or see the resemblance?" shinra: ....to be honest no....from pictures i've seen, nozomi looks a lot more like her dad. Vulcan: "Well, I knew it already..." *sips* ("THE DOC AND HER ARE RELATED?! WTF?!!! WHY DON'T I REMEMBER THAT?!") shinra: i've never seen a picture of nozomi's mom before....wonder what she looks like... Vulcan: *shrug* "Probably like Nozomi..." *empties the can--then crushes it against his forehead* "...Can I ask you something?" shinra: yeah? Vulcan: "...I still don't know everyone's name at the 8th." shinra: i'll introduce you then. *smiles* Vulcan: "...'Kay." -elsewhere- Chuuya: *waves as he exits the shop* -footsteps can be heard behind him- Chuuya: "???" *turns* -no one there- Chuuya: "..." *shrugs, keeps walking* -by the time he gets to his apartment- rain?: welcome home, chuuya. Chuuya: "?!!! Wh-What?! Rain..." -no one there but mito- mito: O^O~? Chuuya: "..." *sets down his bag, picks up Mito* "...What was that...?" mito: *purrs* Chuuya: "..." *pets Mito* "I'm fine...I'm okay...I just miss her." mito: *nuzzles against his hand* Chuuya: "..." *hugs Mito* "I'm sorry, Mito..." mito: =w= Chuuya: "..." *tears up, carries Mito to the couch* mito: *purrs* Chuuya: *takes the remote, turns on the TV* weather report: -patches of sunlight, with rain later in the week- Chuuya: "!!!" *changes the channel* -some romance movie- Chuuya: 0_0 *changes the channel* home and shopping lady: -and aren’t these sandals just the cutest for your child? Chuuya: *smashing the remote to change the channel* Q~Q -phone call- Chuuya: *picks up* "WHAT?!" miura: yeah, there's an exec meeting this weekend, so mark that on your calendar, m'kay? Chuuya: "WHO THE FUCK IS THIS?!" miura: Miura? mori's new secretary? it was in the briefing? Chuuya: "...Oh. Right. Sorry...What time's the meeting?" miura: around 9:35 this saturday. Chuuya: "...Okay. Give me a wakeup call that day." miura: noted. Chuuya: "...Okay. Is that everything?" -elsewhere- Mephisto: *tapping hamster cage* maid: please dont tap the cage, it disturbs him. Amaimon: Q~Q *distressed hamster sounds* Mephisto: "Oh, dear. Maybe take him to the vet?" -elsewhere- Rin: "I can help with the food!" torako: why thank you. ^^ Rin: "So, Mrs. Suguro, what did Bon like to eat as a kid?" *chopping vegetables* torako: well, i remember when he was younger, he used to eat leaves from off the ground. Bon: o\\\\\o Rin: "Ha ha ha! Yeah, kids do weird stuff like that. My bro and I used to try making mud pies--not tasty at all." izumo: *snickers* Bon: "SHUT UP, IZUMO!" torako: *ear tug* ryuji, be nice! Bon: "Ow! Moooooom!" -elsewhere- Shotaro: *sitting in the corner* mana: what have you learned? Shotaro: "When Emine tells me to do something, do the opposite?" mana: right. dont do the thing. and emine? what have _you_ learned? Emine: "Do the thing, because I have to do bad deeds or else I will die." mana:.....*sweatdrop* -elsewhere- FD: *listening to an opera* "..." yana: *working on stitching up some dead rodents* *looking at the incubator* <it's coming along nicely> FD: "???" <How much longer do you think?> yana: *shrugs* <not sure. just wanted to see if this thing worked or not.> FD: <About how many months is this fetus, if this fetus was in a woman?> yana: *shrugs* <i honestly cant tell. im a taxidermist, not a doctor.> FD: <Well, I can only give a best guess...and I'd say it's a bit more to go...> yana: <seems about right. did you plan on using this thing for any reason or can i just drop it off some yutz' doorstep?> FD: <I have plans...> *smirks* -elsewhere- Belkia: *knock knock* ayami: yes? *smiles* Belkia: *takes off his hat, and pulls out a card, which he hands to her* ayami: hehe~ ^^ *Inside the card, confetti shoots up* ayami: ^///^ Card: " 'Miss Ayami, will you join me for a private dinner at the elegant Lapin Blanc?'" ayami: i would be delighted~ ^^ Belkia: ^^ "Excellent! Please dress for the restaurant--something important will happen..." -elsewhere- Poe: *panting* "It...is finished..." *holds up papers* karl: ?? Poe: "My latest mystery...Ho ho ho...This will deceive Ranpo..." Jacqueline: "...Is this the best you can do at work? We have people who need your help..." *thumbs at person at help desk* medea: .....*reading some novel on the occult* Poe: "???" *approaches* "How m-may I help you, ma'am?" medea: i'll...take this out...for now. Poe: owo "You like...the occult?" medea:...i've grown up with it from a young age.... Poe: "I have long had an interest in the occult...I write about it." *holds up his pages* medea: i see....i also like....communing with the souls of the departed. Poe: OWO "You are a necromancer?" Jacqueline: ._.; medea: ....a medium....may be more accurate a term... Poe: "...Can you show me?" Jacqueline: ("Aren't you supposed to help her with getting her book...?") -elsewhere- Kid: *splattered with paintballs of different colors* "..." kirika: get mcrekt. Kid: "...Why?" kirika: cause i can. Kid: "..." *turns, marches back through the house and up the stairs* kirika:....*casually sips her slushie* sore loser. Kid: *closes the door behind him...then...* *rips the clothes off symmetrical* "...The paint is still on my face and hands." stocking: need me to help you? Kid: TT_TT *nod nod* -elsewhere- Kepuri: "I swear, something has to be done about Emine...You see what he did to my room?!" -elsewhere- Mr. Tsubaki: "Just a few more days of summer..." reimi: yeah... Mr. Tsubaki: "...I wonder what to do going forward into the autumn." reimi: who knows... Mr. Tsubaki: "...I promise. I will find a way to deal with C3." -elsewhere- Akitaru: "How's Vulcan fitting in, Doc?" karin: room for improvement, but he's doing good. Akitaru: "Well, I finished setting up his room. Hope that helps him...Any idea what he likes?" karin: he likes animals. a lot. Akitaru: "...So, stuffed animals?" -elsewhere- Mori: "Elise, did you finish your dinner?" elise: yep! Q: *nom* Mori: "Good! Then I'll bring out dessert..." miura: mr mori? after you're done there, you have a phone call from miss higuchi. Mori: *sets out the dessert* "Very well. I'll take it in my office..." *takes the call* "Yes, Higuchi." higuchi: we found some things you might be interested in regarding the underground passageways. Mori: "Okay. What did you discover?" *looking over mail that has arrived...* higuchi: i sent you a pic on your phone. Mori: *sets down a letter and looks at the phone* "What am I seeing?" -there seems to be a gated entrance with graffiti with a familiar logo...- Mori: "...Is that symbol...what I think it is?" higuchi: yes. seems we're getting close to the rat's den. Mori: "Organize a team to infiltrate. Will need surveillance, defense, offense..." *opens letter from hospital* higuchi: understood. Mori: "See any traps there?" *reading* ("Weight...height...blood type..Yes. She will work.") higuchi: not to the naked eye, no. Mori: Maybe Chuuya can spot them, and Black Lizards can disable them." ("Thank you, Doctor...") higuchi: a good plan. Mori: *smiles* "Good. Call them to your location. I want a successful report." higuchi: understood... Mori: "Well, I have dessert to finish, so I am going now.” higuchi: right... *hangs up* Mori: *puts the letter into a file folder labeled "Higuchi"* *smiles* *returns to the dinner table* "How is dessert? Did you save a piece for me, Elise?" -elsewhere- Konro: TT_TT kabuki: something wrong? Konro: "The Commander is sending me in his place to the 8th's meeting...I was supposed to have the day off." kabuki: that's unfortunate. Konro: "...Are you busy? I could use assistance with the meeting." kabuki: unfortunately no. fang-hua: i can go with you if it helps. Konro: *nod nod* "That would help, thank you." -elsewhere- Hibana: "Gabriella, have you read the files for the meeting at the 8th?" gabriella: *nods* i have indeed. at least 3 times now. ^^ Hibana: "Because you're so thorough." ^^ "Did their report match mine?" -elsewhere- Karim: *hiding photocopies of documents in his bookbag* pearl: *nervous* Karim: "Thanks for these...but don't tell the Commander." pearl: i wont. ^^ Karim: *head pat* "Thanks. I told the Commander I'm taking a sick day..." pearl: o-of course. .///. Karim: "So, cover for me, alright?" pearl: a-anytime! Karim: "Well, back to work. Later." -elsewhere- Giovanni: "...What is the next step? Do I return to my brigade?" -elsewhere- FD: *stretches* "I think that's all for today..." -elsewhere- Kid: =\\\\= "I feel clean..." stocking: glad to hear~ Kid: *lies down in bed* *sigh* stocking: *running her fingers through his hair and humming* Kid: ^\\\\^ "Thank you..." *cuddles* stocking: hehe~ Kid: "Your fingers feel so nice..." stocking: U///w///U Kid: *kisses her cheek* -elsewhere- Vulcan: "Okay...Done. That should be a good set up for my room." *he has candles and cow skulls on the walls* Arthur: o__________o Relan: "...Are you the devil?" iris: ._.; tamaki: hey, im not gonna judge... Vulcan: -_-; "Gee, you guys know how to make someone feel welcomed." shinra: ^^; Vulcan: "..." *awkward cough* "So...Yuu's room coming along?" shinra: yep. Vulcan: "Good...Th-Thanks..." Takehisa: "Time for dinner." -elsewhere- Montgomery: "What's your order?" naho: iced coffee please! Sakuya: "Same." Montgomery: ("I hope they tip well...") "Anything else?" -elsewhere- Hyde: "Hey, kid? Want my extra jello?" yu: u-o-ok... *nom* Hyde: "So, was that guy your dad who visited?" yu: n-no, just my mentor. Hyde: "...Glad you got someone visiting you, kid." *nom* "My, um...'mentor' just kicks me in the head." yu: yeah, same here, haha! Hyde: "Ha ha ha! Man...That's painful. You must got a hard head." yu: i guess i do! Hyde: "You know what they say about hard heads: they got persistence!" *playful jam at Yuu's shoulder* "Keep it up, kid!" -elsewhere- Akutagawa: "Gin..." gin: hmm? what is it, ryu? Akutagawa: "Did you get the message about the upcoming mission?" gin: yes... Akutagawa: *nods* "Watch your back out there." gin: i always do. Akutagawa: *small smile* "Right..." *sighs* gin:....is there something on your mind? Akutagawa: "...I feel...anxious." gin:....*hand on his shoulder* i'll be ok. i promise. Akutagawa: "I just...I don't focus. My stomach feels funny." gin: did you go speak with the medic? Akutagawa: *nod nod* "The stomach medicine still doesn't help...and I keep thinking about..." gin: ?? Akutagawa: "About...that Man Tiger." gin: oh? Akutagawa: "I dream of defeating him...pinning him down." gin: of course you do. Akutagawa: "And I stare down at him...into his eyes..." gin:.... Akutagawa: "Then...something weird happens." gin: what do you mean? Akutagawa: "The Man Tiger wraps his arms around me...and doesn't let go." gin: oh? Akutagawa: "And we wrestle, as I try to get out of his grip...he slashes at me, tearing off my shirt..." higuchi: *listens from the corner out of sight* O///-///o;;;; Akutagawa: "He bites into my neck...and down my body..." higuchi: !!!!???? Akutagawa: "I try to push him away, or bite back at him, my mouth colliding with his neck...my nails digging into his body as we slide along each other." higuchi: *NOSEBLEED* *KO* X/////X gin: oh...oh my... Akutagawa: *turns around* "...Oh. Higuchi? You're bleeding." gin: i think i know what's going on here. Akutagawa: *patting a tissue to Higuchi's face to clean away the blood* "And that is?" gin: i think you're developing something most people refer to as 'a crush'. Akutagawa: "...Well, yes, I do desire to crush the Man Tiger--press my hands down along his chest..." higuchi: *KO* @////////@ awawawawawawawawa..... -elsewhere- atsushi: *frozen on spot* there's that chill again.... Kyoka: *puts a blanket over his shoulders* "There, there...Maybe see the Doctor about that?" -elsewhere- Benimaru: "I decided to stay at the village while Konro will go to the meeting." -elsewhere- Giriko: *smooch* arachne: mmmm~ Giriko: *hug* "Feeling alright?" arachne: yes. anna: zzzz Giriko: *smiles* "Our little babe...She's so quiet." -elsewhere- Chuuya: "Zzz..." rain?: mmmm... Chuuya: *small smile, muttering in his sleep* "Rain..." -elsewhere- FD: "Hee hee hee..." yana: (thinking: do i even want to know?) FD: <All according to plan...> yana: <how so?> FD: <This beauty...> *pats Rain's corpse on the shoulder* <...will cause the Mafia's strongest to snap--giving me the distraction I need to speak with their leader.> yana: ....*smirks* <some of my best work. hell frickin yes.> FD: *thumbs up* <Excellent work, my friend. Keep it up, as I may have needs of a secondary project...should we get the 'raw material' we need.> -elsewhere- Montgomery: "..." ("It's too quiet here...") ???: and so then i hit it dead center! of course, given my ability, it's just normal~ eh? well well wellity well, small world, eh steinbeck? Montgomery: "!!!" ("Steinbeck?!") *hides behind the dumpster* twain: *peek* hey there luce! Montgomery: o___O *leaps up* "EEEK!" twain: easy there. say, if you arent doing anything right now, did you want to get some coffees together? Steinbeck: *nod nod* "Lots to catch up on...How about this place?" *points to--* Montgomery: -\\\\- "I...kinda...work there now." twain: sweet! employee discount! Montgomery: "YOU'RE PAYING FULL PRICE! WITH TIP!" twain: jeez. -elsewhere- Shamrock: *passed out on the couch* himawari: *worried* lavender: it was only one shot of booze....goddamn. Higan: "Lightweight?" Shamrock: *murmuring* "Hi-Himawari..." himawari: ?? Shamrock: *holds out his hand* himawari: *holding his hand* .... Shamrock: X\\\\= "...Thank you...I'm sorry..." himawari: ?? Shamrock: "I...embarrass myself..." himawari:...sham... Shamrock: *his hand moves to her face* himawari: ah.... *slight blush* Shamrock: "You are truly wonderful..." *his hand rubs lightly along her face* Higan: "..." *whispers* "He has no idea we're still here..." lavender: *snickers* himawari:....*small kiss on the forehead* Shamrock: X\\\\\\= "I...l...l...lo..." himawari: ?? Shamrock: "...lost my sense of balance." *tumbles off the couch* himawari: ^^; Higan: "Nuts." lavender: ouch. Shamrock: "Zzz..." *snoring* -elsewhere- FD: "...Do you get jealous when I speak in Russian and you can't understand what I'm saying?" zoey: as long as i can hear your voice, i'll be happy. yana: *gagging* FD: *nuzzle* "Good answer, my sweet." yana: *cringe* FD: "Because I have big plans for you...I want you to meet some new friends." zoey: oh? FD: *pulls out a switchblade* "Better go in ready~" zoey: for you, anything~<3 FD: "Good..." *traces the tip of the knife along her shoulder-strap* zoey: ah~ *SLICE* zoey: oh~! FD: *slices off one strap, pulling down her dress there* -elsewhere- Vulcan: *tossing in bed* -morning- Akutagawa: *snore* -in the underground where the graffiti was- Tachihara: "Man, these tags look stupid." hirotsu: .....*touches the bars, sending them flying back...or ahead rather* Tachihara: "??!!! The shit?!" hirotsu: -_-; Tachihara: "Don't do that! It almost gives me a heart attack..." hirotsu: do you want me to give you a warning next time? Tachihara: *nod nod* "Like, do a hand signal. And make it cool looking!" gin: *already heading in* Tachihara: "!!" *follows* -at the end there is a box- Tachihara: "...What you think's inside?" gin:....could be a trap. Tachihara: "...Yo, Old Man? Can you, like, push the box onto itself? Or explode it out? Or throw it away from us?" -music comes from the box- hirotsu: ?! -a taxidermized dead mouse pops out with a note that says 'fooled you'.......and a Taser then gets tachihara in the junk- Tachihara: "GAAAA-A-A-A-A-A-AAHAHA-AH-AH!!! ..." *collapses* gin: !!! hirotsu: *winces and covers his junk* Tachihara: *high-pitched squeak* "Gin...get me ice..." -elsewhere- Dazai: *lifts his head up, looks around* -still in his apartment- Dazai: "..." *cups his junk* "Oh, pfew! I felt an odd sensation of pain...Glad that wasn't me." -elsewhere- Montgomery: *muttering* "Stupid Twain and Steinbeck, skipping on the bill..." -elsewhere- Kyoka: "Hello, Doctor." yosano: morning. Kyoka: "How is work treating you?" -elsewhere- Mori: "...What happened on the mission?" hirotsu: seems it was a red herring. Tachihara: *ice on his junk* Q~Q "Some 'red herring.' Big Michizo is screaming..." gin:..... -_-; Mori: "Gin, make it feel better..." Tachihara: .w. gin: *drags him to the medic* -____-; Tachihara: "That's not what he meant!" Mori: *shrug* miura: -_-; -elsewhere- Arthur: *has hung donkey head on the wall* tamaki:......no comment. Arthur: "I wanted a memento from our mission. You would agree it suits the room nicely, yes?" tamaki:...sure. Takehisa: "A jackass for a jackass: suitable." *he's wearing a horned baseball hat* shinra: this feels familiar somehow. Takehisa: "...Vulcan designed it, per my request. He left one for you as well, Shinra." shinra: oh, cool. *The hat has moose antlers* tamaki: *snerk* Arthur: "Ha ha ha! Moose!" -elsewhere- Rino: "Yo. Newbies. Princess Bitch told me ask whether you need your sheets washed or anything." mikami: m-miss rino, that's not very nice! also our sheets are fine for the moment. Rino: *annoyed twitch* "You try dealing with her royal pain the ass, then you can come at me with criticism..." mikami: ..... ryuuko: giovanni was much worse than that... Rino: "...No argument there. Doesn't change her behavior...She treats me like something she wiped off her over-priced shoes." mikami: i-im sure she's a really nice person, deep down. Rino: "Yeah, underneath the expensive clothes and those two fat blobs on her chest." Hibana: ^^;;;; ryuuko: ....*ahem* gabriella: is that right? tamiya? ^^# *cracks knuckles* Rino: o______o;;;;; *runs--and crashes into a wall* X____X -elsewhere- Tsukiyo: "With you and the Captain going to the 8th, what am I supposed to do to pass time?" -elsewhere- Hyde: "Okay! Day the cast comes off!" romina: congrats! Hyde: "And see? My buddy Yuu signed the cast, too!" julian: how nice. Hyde: "Now, someone get a buzzsaw and slice this thing off!" -elsewhere- Yumi: "Hello, Christa!" christa: hi yummy! lord death: ^^ marie: ^^ Yumi: *laughs* "And who's this?" *holds up Shiori* shiori: ah! christa: shiowi! shiori: ^o^ Yumi: *sets Shiori down* "Now, be careful around Shiori, Christa--you are older..." -elsewhere- Mephisto: "I'm happy you could meet with us, Stocking." ^^ stocking: it's not a problem. so what's the situation? felisia: 7w7 well~ *rubbing her stomach* stocking:.......................................mom.....mom please no. Mephisto: ^W^ stocking:............*KO* felisia: ^^; Mephisto: owo "Oh dear...Maybe we should have had dessert first?" -elsewhere- Poe: owo "H-H-H-H-Hel-el-el-elloooooooo..." naomi: *SCREAMING* Ranpo: "??? Oh, hi, Poe!" Poe: *hiding from Naomi, covering his ears* "Don't hurt me!" -elsewhere- ???: "Stocking?! Stocking, wake up!" stocking: mmmn? huh? am i...dead? Kid: "I most certainly hope not!" stocking: oh hey kid.....*yaaawn* i had...the craziest nightmare....mom was...*yawn* pregnant again... Kid: ._.;;;;;;;;; Kid: "Would that be...so bad?" stocking: well n-no but...it'd be a lot to take in. Kid: "...Maybe you should stay lying down." stocking:........oh no. Kid: owo "...You're getting a sibling. Yay?" stocking:.......TTuTT *KO x2* Kid: D: "Stocking, no!" Mephisto: "I said, 'Give her dessert first,' but noooooo, no one ever listens to me..." *dines on parfait* -elsewhere- Tachihara: *pouts* "Stupid prank...Stupid mouse thing..." medic: ^^; Tachihara: "Hey, nurse? Am I still going to have kids?" medic: yes, sir. Tachihara: "Pfew! That's good to know..." *pats Little Michizo* "--and I can get to work after we find out WHERE THAT DAMN MOUSE GUY WENT TO!" -elsewhere- Dr. John: o_o;;;; "Um...I'm not used to being the OB-GYN to...an angel?" felisia: ^^; stocking: *COUGH* >->; Dr. John: "...You got to be kidding me...Um, well, I-I guess the concepts are the same...and I guess I have the experience, then." ^^;; "S-Sure, I'll be your doctor..." -elsewhere- Sakuya: *looking at a guitar at the pawn shop* "???" naho: shiny. Sakuya: "Yeah...I wonder how it sounds." -elsewhere- Kepuri: *lying down in the garden, butterflies in the flowers* =w= akaderu:... .////. Kepuri: "Hey, babe." *pats a hand on the blanket next to her* akaderu: ....*sitting next to her, head rested on her lap* Kepuri: .\\\\. "..." *strokes her hand along his head* "Comfortable~?" akaderu: =////= *purrs* Kepuri: "Hee hee...Akederu...You're amazing..." -elsewhere- FD: "A world without sin...without crime..." zoey: *listening* FD: "That is my goal. These ability users...They are a bloat on a perfect world. They must be eliminated." zoey: yes... FD: "And that is where this comes in..." *holds up a USB* zoey: what is it? FD: "Information on ability users. And a hint how to take down the Mafia and the Agency simultaneously." -elsewhere- torako: happy birthday, son! Bon: "Aw, thanks!" torako: ^^ shiemi: happy birthday, suguro. ^^ Bon: "Yeah, um, thanks..." Shima: "We got you some gifts, man!" Rin: *holds up a cupcake* Bon: "..." *takes the cupcake* "F-Fine..." izumo: i bought you some CDs. Bon: "Oh, awesome. Thanks, Izumo." -elsewhere- Patty: *hug* liz: hey there. Patty: "Hee hee! Doing okay, Sis?" -elsewhere- Chuuya: "It sounds like the mission was a failure." kouyou: seems these rats are smarter than we thought... Chuuya: "Indeed...And a cornered rat is dangerous. How do we trap them?" mafioso: mousetraps? Chuuya: "...And what is the bait to put on the 'mousetrap'?" -elsewhere- Dazai: "...Atsushi? I think someone is here to see you?" atsushi: ok. hi what did you nee- Montgomery: *holds up bar tab* "Pay. Up." -after that incident- Kunikida: "There will be no advances on pay." atsushi: Q.Q Dazai: "Ah, don't worry! I can lend you a few bucks..." *holds up $200* atsushi: O-O where did you- Dazai: "Shhh...Don't tell the IRS." -elsewhere- Akutagawa: *slicing at training dummies* higuchi: *BANG BANG* boom. headshot. Akutagawa: "Behind you!" higuchi: ?! *Attack robot swinging a sword* higuchi: *ducks and shoots* Robot: X___X *falls down* Akutagawa: "Good work." higuchi: phew... Akutagawa: *taps hand along wall, opening a panel and pulls out cold drinks* "Here. Rehydrate." higuchi: *downs one bottle* ha... Akutagawa: "You had a hard work out. Your reflex time has improved." *sips* higuchi: *small smile* thanks. Akutagawa: "Have you been keeping up with your practice sessions?" higuchi: yeah. Akutagawa: *nods* "Good. I am pleased to see how more fluid your attacks are. You move swiftly and efficiently." higuchi:... 7///7 t-thank you, ryunosuke. Akutagawa: "No need to thank: I speak only the truth." *sips, a bit passing down his cheek* higuchi: .... 7////7 y-you...um...have a little....*scratches her cheek* Akutagawa: "...A little what?" higuchi: water on your face.... .///.; Akutagawa: "Ah." *takes his towel, pats it down on his face, then along his neck* higuchi:....*sweats* Akutagawa: "While we are on the subject of battle strategies, I wanted to discuss a maneuver to try..." *starts unbuttoning his jacket* higuchi: um....ok....*knees weak* Akutagawa: "I have been practicing a technique to hide my presence, using Rashamon to make people think they are merely walking on shadows..." *lies down* -elsewhere- Belkia: *trying on a new coat* naho: hot date? Belkia: "Best date! The hotness comes later..." *holds his fist to his mouth--then blows fire out of it* naho: wow...say, if you arent busy right now, can you help me with my hair? i wanted to do a braid ponytail... Belkia: "??? Oh, sure!" *sits behind her* "Is this for something special, too?" naho: nah, just because. Belkia: ^^ "That's cool." *starts braiding* "...You okay with who I'm dating?" naho: well, if they make you happy, then im totally ok. Belkia: "Thanks, buddy..." *continues braiding* "...You happy with Sakuya?" naho: of course. ^^ being with him...it make me feel all fuzzy inside >///w///< Belkia: >///w///< "I know that feeling. It's super-kawaii-cool, right?" naho: yep~ ^^ Belkia: "Well, you keep that boy on a tight leash, okay?" *almost done braiding* naho: ok. ^^ Belkia: "There--all finished!" *small hug* "You look great." naho: wow! thanks belbel! *hug* *SNAP* Higan: "What a cute photo." naho: WHAT THE HECK OLD MAN?! WE'RE HAVING A MOMENT! >n< Belkia: "...Can you text it?" Higan: "Just recording memories..." -elsewhere- Poe: *finishes his tea* "Th-Thanks..." lana: no problem. *smiles* Poe: "...Wh-What brings you around?" lana: just heard you were a bit sick, so i decided to see how you were doing. *smiles* Poe: .\\\\. "W-Won't your boss want to know why you aren't at work?" lana: i did just get off work an hour ago. *chuckles* seems your new place is on the route i take home. Poe: "Th-That's convenient...You live around here?" lana: just in one of the apartment buildings a few blocks down. Poe: "...Heh. Neighbors, huh? Ha ha ha..." ("OH GOD MY HEART IS DYING INSIDE.") lana: i suppose. ^^ Poe: .\\\w\\\. "...Do you like scary stories?" lana: well...i guess? Poe: "I-I could always share some of my stories with you! I collect many! Read many!" lana: sounds nice. maybe later? Poe: *nod nod nod nod nod* "Okay! ...More tea?" -elsewhere- Akutawaga: "Well, enough for today. I will see you tomorrow?" higuchi: you always do, right? Akutagawa: *smiles* "And you always have my back. Good day, Higuchi." higuchi:....y-you too.... .////. Akutagawa: *waves, then sees--* "Oh. Hello, Gin." gin: *nods* Akutagawa: "Ready to leave?" gin: *nods* -elsewhere- Hibana: *hugs Gabriella* gabriella: u////u~<3 Hibana: "We're done with work hours...Our little one is asleep." *hug, sway* "And I am so happy..." -elsewhere- Vulcan: *staring at a photo of him and Yuu...and Lisa* shinra:....hey vul, there's a zoo not far from here, want to check it out? Vulcan: "..." *sets down the photo* "Sure...What they got?" -elsewhere- Jacqueline: *reading* -elsewhere- Kid: "Feel better?" stocking: yeah....*chuckles* Kid: *smiles* "That's good." *smooch* "I was worried." stocking: it's....a lot to take in....i guess it was like what you went through when you found out about shiori, huh? Kid: *nods* "Only, you didn't get slapped, like Yumi did to me." stocking: ........*hug* Kid: *hug* "Your mother will be fine...And so will you." *forehead kiss* stocking: right. ^^ Kid: "And you'll have a perfect sibling to love..." stocking: and shiori will have a new playmate. Kid: *smiles* "Siblings-in-law." stocking: hehe~<3 Kid: "Hee hee..." *pats her hand* "You'll be the perfect big sister..." -elsewhere- Kyoka: "You look exhausted." atsushi: *face down on the floor* long day... Kyoka: "...Yes. I will make you dinner." atsushi:... -elsewhere- Dazai: *looking out over the canal* "..." tsuyu: *casually swimming along* Dazai: *waves* "Hello, hero frog person." tsuyu: hmm? oh, im just a hero in training. but im just chilling right now. Dazai: "Cool. I'm staring at water and thinking about the past...and future." tsuyu: ah. Dazai: "You know other superheroes? Go to superhero school and stuff?" tsuyu: i attend the UA. thought there's other hero schools that exist. Dazai: "Yeah, we're sending some of my coworkers and mentees to the DWMA." *waves* "I'm Dazai." tsuyu: tsuyu. just call me tsu. Dazai: "Cool, Tsu." *looks again at the canal* "You know, I almost drowned in there." tsuyu: really? sounds pretty scary. Dazai: "I was trying to kill myself." ^^ tsuyu: ...... *no comment* Dazai: "Just...looking for someone to end it all with me. Someone around my age. Beautiful." tsuyu: i have to go home now. *swimming away* Dazai: "...I DIDN'T MEAN YOU! YOU'RE A LITTLE TOO YOUNG!" -elsewhere- Chuuya: *asleep on the couch* mito: zzzzz Chuuya: *small noise* "Hmmm..." -a warm feeling on his chest...- Chuuya: *smiles* -elsewhere- Akutagawa: "What do you think of Higuchi?" gin: well, she's dedicated, have to give her that. Akutagawa: *nods* "Hardworking. Focused. But..." gin: ?? Akutagawa: "Something seems to distract her." gin: oh? Akutagawa: "I think she needs some leisure activity to occupy her mind outside of work. Perhaps an evening with her female friends?" gin:....perhaps. Akutagawa: "...Could you do that for me? Please?" gin: alright. -elsewhere- Yohei: "Zzz..." chie: zzzzz *nuzzle* Tool: *in his bed, shivering* io: *crawling in* uu! Tool: "Hmph..." *instinctively picks up Io, holds them before pulling up sheet* "Okay, Io..." io: ....zzzz Tool: *has stopped shivering, sleeps...* -elsewhere- Arthur: *sips on milk, then dunks a cookie into his glass* -elsewhere- Montgomery: *buttons up her pajama top, looking at the clock* "Super late..." -underground- zoey: ah....~ *blindfolded, wrists bound* FD: "Are you ready?" *Something cold and metal touches her nipple* zoey: *shudders* yes~! FD: "Good..." *clamps it down on her nipple, as something wet is rubbed down her stomach, causing her skin to go electric...along with other parts of herself* zoey: a-ahhH! FD: "Does it hurt?" *his wet hand rubs the substance down to her sex, as he rubs his fingers along her lips...and something vibrating is heard* zoey: f-feels good! FD: "Aw, I was hoping to make you hurt just a bit..." *the vibration moves up her thigh* "That rub is practically orgasmic..." zoey: a-ah! >////< FD: "Given how badly you want this, I find it hard to believe you're as inexperienced as you claim..." *he holds the vibration over her clitoris, his tongue licking up her neck to her ear* zoey: *moaning* FD: "Were you a virgin when I met you?" *slaps her bottom, holding the vibrator to her sex* zoey: y-yes! i-it feels s-so good when you t-take me! FD: "You like when I dominate you, <my sweetheart>?" *slides the vibrator into her--and bites on her other nipple* zoey: ah-ah! o-oh god i love it! FD: "Then you'll love feeling this..." *something long, hard, and warm slides up into her, his hands along her hips, one of them vibrating a bit* zoey: o-oh! m-master! FD: *smile bites at her neck* "Say it again..." *he thrusts up into her, pinching her sides* zoey: a-ah! m-master fyodor~<3 FD: <”I've wanted you so long...”> *slams his mouth against hers* zoey: *muffled moans* FD: *he scratches at her sides, thrusting up into her, his tongue along hers* zoey: mmn~ m-master~ mn~ f-fyodor~ FD: *panting, as he increases his speed* "A-Almost there...Talk dirty, now." zoey: i-i love you master! i-i'm s-such a dirty whore for you! FD: "Dirty!" *thrust thrust* "What do you want me to do with my hard cock in you?" zoey: i-i want your c-cum! i-i need it! FD: "Then take it! Ah-ah!" *cums in her* zoey: AH-AHHHHHHHHH~<3<3 FD: *panting, as he pulls out, dripping...he removes her blindfold, staring into her eyes* zoey: ma...m-master~ *pant pant* *cum dripping down her thighs* FD: *unstraps her* "I now free you...What do you do now, my sweet?" zoey: p-please...i-i want...ah...wanna lick the cum off you... FD: *smiles, kissing her cheek* "Then proceed~" zoey: *blushes and pants, going down on him, lightly shaking her rear as she does so* FD: *sighs* "Ah...Y-You have a pert little ass..." *holds her head* -elsewhere- Rin: *on his phone* "..." madoka: *on her phone* hey rin. *smiles* Rin: *smiles* "Hey...I miss you." madoka: i miss you too....so how's kyoto? Rin: "Well, summer-y. And a little tense?" madoka: how so? Rin: "...You know what it's like when people learn your Satan's son? Yeah...they don't respond well to that..." TTWTT madoka: rin....i wish i was there with you...i really do... Rin: *nod nod* "Same...When I get home...will you be there waiting for me?" madoka: of course i will. Rin: *smiles, wipes a tear* "Th-Thanks...Love you." madoka: i love you too rin. ^^ Rin: *nod nod* "...Did I tell you about Bon's birthday?" -elsewhere- -morning- shinra:....hey tamaki? tamaki: what is it? shinra: was that.....always there? -a skull is above the door- tamaki: ?! VULCAN WHAT THE SHIT?! Vulcan: "You like it? Real metal, right?" iris: ...... Akitaru: "...That's..._a_ description." maki: pretty punk rock. shinra: *sweatdrop* (thinking: just what kind of vibe are we even going for?) Vulcan: "See? Muscles gets me! Besides, I finished all the repairs you wanted me to do..." ???: *ahem* shinra: hmm? oh! Vulcan: *climbs down the roof...* Akitaru: "You've arrived!" Karim: *waves* "Yo." pearl: g-good morning! fang-hua: hey guys. gabriella: *adjusting glasses* tamaki:...*awkwardly coughs* father fulham...pearl....good to see you...i guess. pearl: i understand if you're still upset with us, miss kotatsu. Karim: "...At least you look cheerful, Tamaki." tamaki: w-whatever, lets just go already. *begins walking...but suddenly falls into a sinkhole* ACK! shinra:...h-how- tamaki: NOT A WORD KUSAKABE! Rino: *holding a heavy set of file folders* "What a pain..." -inside- Rino: *dragging in the papers* Vulcan: "Here, let me get that..." *takes off his shirt, helps Rino* Rino: .\\\\. Hibana: *sits down on the sofa* "...You. No-Name. I do not like someone from the 1st sitting at my same level." Karim: "What, you want me to sit on the floor?" Hibana: "Yes, thank you." Karim: "...WTF?" gabriella: ^^; Konro: "Fang-Hua, you have all the files?" fang-hua: right here, sir. pearl: i-i have our files too! iris: sister, how are mikami and ryuuko doing so far? Hibana: "Precious little flowers blooming in the garden we tend to~" gabriella: p-princess. >///< fang-hua: *sweatdrops* could we just get to the point of this meeting now? Akitaru: "I'm sure you have seen the headline." *passes the newspaper to Fang-Hua* fang-hua: *examines the paper* pearl: 'commander of the 3rd arrested'? Hibana: "Ha ha ha! Oh, that's the best news I've heard all day!" Vulcan: *staring at the photo* "Wait a minute..." fang-hua: hmm? something up? Vulcan: "'t's not him." Hibana: "?!!" Vulcan: "Check the eyes. I've seen Giovanni without that dumb mask. Those aren't his eyes." pearl: ..... Karim: "..." *looks Gabriella* "Who did they arrest, then?" gabriella: im not sure. but it seems ryuuko, mikami, and relan arent the only ones who left the 3rd... Hibana: "Perhaps an actor? An impersonator? Some contingency plan?" gabriella: more than likely... pearl: maybe we could examine their base? find something there? gabriella: that may be difficult. according to what ryuuko told me, the base she, mikami, and relan stayed at wasnt the 3rds official base. Konro: "Really? That's frustrating." maki: relan said the same thing, so we had victor go and search for their base. Hibana: *stares at Maki* "You trust that creep?" -in a wooded area- ivy: why are we even in this stupid place? Victor: "Ooooo! Look at the metal bits jammed into this tree!" *snaps pictures* ivy: tch-, this is so stupid. why are we even helping those bastards? scarlet: did you only come here to complain? Joker: "What we need is to figure out how Sho was able to move so fast...His ability seemed familiar..." scarlet: ?? Victor: "What we need to stop Sho is Shinra--and he still hasn't gotten that internal flame of his hot enough yet..." scarlet:......(thinking: mikami...) -back at the 8th- fang-hua: so what do we do now? Hibana: "Obi, you in the 8th have the power of gorillas--can't you do something?" Akitaru: "...For real?" fang-hua: i may have an idea. Konro: "Oh?" fang-hua: maybe a combat training course at the 7th might help you? shinra: again?! Konro: *smiles* "Excellent idea!" Arthur: "...We will die." shinra: not to mention the rabbit demon and the terrible twosome. Akitaru: "I like it!" Konro: "And that kind of experience will toughen you up!" Akitaru: *nods* Hibana: "I am in favor of this plan." shinra: ....ok then. ^^; Karim: "I'll bring flowers to your funeral." shinra: HAVE _SOME_ FAITH IN US! Karim: "I do. I have faith you will get your ass broken." tamaki: D8< pearl: father fulham... ^^;; Hibana: *smacks Karim with a fan* "LIE ON THE FLOOR, WORM!" pearl: princess! please be a little nicer! Vulcan: o_o ("...Dad...Grandpa...Save me from these weirdos.") Karim: X__X Akitaru: "Huh. Thought the fisticuffs would've started five minutes ago. We did better than I expected!" Konro: "In the 7th, you show your power through fighting--so we're already making improvements!" tamaki:... (thinking: seems pearl's becoming a lot more assertive since last i saw her....) -elsewhere- Giovanni: "--and that is how I got a community theater actor arrested." guruna: *clapping* 8D -elsewhere- Benimaru: *on the phone* "...Well, yes, I know, but-- ... " *sighs* "Fine." *hangs up* kirei: did something happen, beni? Benimaru: "Konro signed me up to train those weaklings from the 8th." kirei: i see. *smiles* im sure you'll be an excellent teacher. Benimaru: "...Konro is better." kirei: *small kiss on the nose* i have faith in you, beni. Benimaru: .\\\\. "...Then I guess that will have to get me through this." -elsewhere- Burns: "Karim _and_ Pearl took a sick day?" ruby: yep. they both caught a cold! dia: ...... Burns: "...Must be spreading. Ruby, I suggest you have some Vitamin C before you catch their cold." ruby: understood! *nomming on orange slices* dia:....commander, may i speak with you? Burns: "Of course. What is it?" dia: do you suppose....there is fraternization involved here? Burns: "...The concern has crossed my mind." dia: should i investigate the matter? Burns: *nods* -elsewhere- Honda: Q~Q "No one invites me to meetings..." hito: perhaps making an alliance with the 8th might be on our agenda, sir? -elsewhere- Tachihara: *folding laundry* -elsewhere- Emine: "Tah-dah." chie: D8< Emine: "...You don't like it? I used something from each of you in this collage..." Yohei: "...Is that the motherboard from my laptop?" Tool: "My sickle..." Shotaro: "My boxers?" mono: D8< MY UNDIES?! -elsewhere- Poe: *writing writing writing* karl: zzzzz.... Poe: *pats Karl in his lap, as he dots an 'i'* "This...This crime drama should do the trick..." -the footnote attached....isnt exactly related to the project.....but appears to be a series of thoughts on a certain someone- Poe: *reading his footnote...* " 'Beautiful smile,' 'pools of life in her eyes,' 'a name that rolls off the tongue with such an appealing rhyme--'" .\\\\. karl: zzzz.... Poe: *his heart is pounding* "I-I just wanted to find a title to this story..." -elsewhere- Ranpo: *asleep at desk* -elsewhere- Akutagawa: *sets down his drink* bartender: ?? Akutagawa: "One more, please." bartender: you've already had at least 7 of them... Akutagawa: "I can handle it. Besides, eight is my lucky number." -elsewhere- Steinbeck: *reviewing papers* "...Jeez, Fitzgerald threw his money around..." -elsewhere- Medusa: *scream* shaula: SHADDAP! neian: ?? Medusa: "Your fucking scorpion bit me! Why is it on the floor?!" shaula: relax, this one isnt poisonous! ......or at least, it wont kill you. Medusa: "Two can play at that game..." *CHOMP* shaula: OW! FUCK! Medusa: "Ha! That's a pain in the backside, is it not?" shaula: hehe...you better put your kid to bed and pack your bags sister of mine, cause you're going on a triiiiip. Medusa: "?!!!" -the room is dark, and crying can be heard from neian's crib- Medusa: "Oh no..." *summons light snake to illuminate* -a tall gaunt figure is holding a sword above the child- Medusa: "!!!!" *sends a snake at the figure's throat* ???: even after all this time....you still hate me....dont you mother? Medusa: *tenses, stops* "What...?" chrona?: *stares.....with a sorrowful but blank expression* Medusa: "...Crona...Put down the sword for mommy..." chrona?: do you really believe you have a right to be a mother to me?! after all you've done?! Medusa: "Just stop! Stop...I don't want to hurt you..." chrona?: please........*twisted smile* as if that stopped you before.... *charges at her* Medusa: *holds snake sword, ready to block* ???: medusa? Medusa: *turns around, swinging the sword* arachne?: ........*emotionless expression as the sword impales her* Medusa: o_o "...The hell?" arachne?: you havent....changed at all...have you? *something can be felt crawling up her legs* Medusa: "Arachne...Wh-Why are you...?" noah?: have you forgotten me so easily? Medusa: "..." *sneers* "No...I can't forget you..." *turns and shoves her sword* -elsewhere- Giriko: "Wh-What is it?" arachne: *shocked expression as she sees a program on TV on blVck wid0w* is...is it really....? Giriko: *stares at the television...it's becoming clearer* "Have we seen...that girl?" arachne: ...eva? Giriko: "..." *falls back on couch, staring* "...What." arachne: *tears falling* s-she's really alive....after all this time... Giriko: "..." *holds her* "Where is that band?" -elsewhere- Hyde: *looking at a statue* tsugumi: hey guys! licht: oh, the spring bird. tsugumi: ^^; you can just call me tsugumi. Anya: .\\\. *meek wave* Hyde: .\\\\. *looks back and forth between the statue and Anya* licht: hey. ao: so i take it you're going to be attending classes with us again? Hyde: "Now that my leg is out of the cast--" Anya: "Your leg?" D8> licht: long story. Hyde: "But I'm all healed, thanks to Licht's blood--...Licht's bloody good hospice care!" mio: i...see...*sweatdrop* Meme: "Weird statue..." tsugumi: we were just about to visit maki at her brigade. licht: salmon? Hyde: "???" tsugumi: no, my cousin, maki! Anya: "Yes, she works at the 8th--" Hyde: "THE EIGHTH?!" .w. tsugumi: the 8th brigade. did you want to meet her? Hyde: *nod nod* "I think I know a friend of a friend there..." -and so- maki: hey tsugumi- AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! LICHT TODOROKI IS HERE?! *SQUEALS* Hyde: -_-; licht: the skull.....there are demons afoot. Vulcan: ("WTF is everyone hating on the skulls?") Relan: "Actually, they aren't demons. Just--" *stares at Licht* .\\\\\\\. licht: bring out your demon warlord. i shall pacify them...*poses* because i am an archangel sent from heaven. shinra: .....*hugs relan* Relan: o\\\\o *steam off of his head* Hyde: *whispers to Licht* "I think the one with the sharp teeth is kinda demony? Or a vampire?" shinra: im not a demon! i'm a hero, dammit! >n< Hyde: "Are you a hero vampire?" shinra: i'm not a vampire either! Hyde: "Nothing wrong about vampires. They're strong, powerful, sexy..." iris: should i get some tea for everyone? -elsewhere- Hugh: *reviewing logbook* "Fewer guests during the summer..." uzuki: on the bright side, it makes it easier to keep things clean around here. Hugh: "True. The work will increase come winter." *sweeps away cobweb* kaori: ....? oh, hello there. did you want a room? Tachihara: "Yes, ma'am! What you got?" -elsewhere- Kunikida: *writing notes* atsushi: *looking at a map of the school* Kyoka: *looking over his shoulder* Kunikida: "Have you figured out where everything is?" atsushi: i think so. any update who our homeroom teacher is going to be? Dazai: "Maybe Marie...?" atsushi: *shrugs* Dazai: "Could be worse--could be the guy with the screw in his head, the priest who has killed people since he was 13, the scary lady with the glasses--" atsushi: O-O;;; Kyoka: "Are they nice glasses?" Dazai: *wavers his hand* "Kinda?" -elsewhere- Arthur: "More time training at the 7th..." *pouts* tamaki: oh joy. Arthur: "...Where did Obi assign you? To stay here?" tamaki: i'm going with you. oubi said i 'need to work on cooperation'. Arthur: "...Um...That may be helpful?" *nervous smile* -elsewhere- Tsukiyo: owo "Guests are coming?!" fang-hua: seems so. Tsukiyo: *claps her hands* "Yay! What are they here for? End of summer party?" fang-hua: training, actually. Tsukiyo: "...Oh, poo. Well, guess they'll be working hard, so party hard, too." -elsewhere- Eijiro: *dancing in the kitchen* -elsewhere- Akutagawa: =_= *deep inhale* gin: how're you doing? Akutagawa: "A little congested..." *sniff* gin: did you need to see the doctor again? Akutagawa: "..." *nods* -elsewhere- Hyde: "Good to meet all of you!" -elsewhere- *Soap suds pouring out from under a door* kirika: the fuck? *The door smashes open, soap suds pouring into the room* kirika: WHAT THE SHIT?! Patty: "Incoming!" *sailing along the soap suds in a bathing suit* -elsewhere- Karim: *looking around* ("Okay...Coast is clear...") ???: feeling better yet, father fulham? Karim: "???" *turns around* dia: ..... Karim: "...I feel a bit better, yes. The day off was productive." dia: i see....and sister fiamma? Karim: "Sister Fiamma what?" dia: she was sick today as well, correct? Karim: "Was she? That's too bad..." dia: .....just know i have an eye on both of you...need i remind you about fraternization rules in the 1st... Karim: "Okay, stop. Are you suggesting the Sister and I are sleeping together?" dia: are you? Karim: "No." dia: .....*gives him a glare then walks away* foien: yikes. Karim: "How long were you listening, Foien?" foien: long enough it seems... sister volkov is pretty strict, eh? kinda scary. Karim: "Unnecessarily strict: she misconstrues why the Sister and I were out on the same day." foien: ah...maybe she's jealous? but i doubt that. Karim: "??? Why you doubt that?" foien: she seems to focus a lot more on her job than in a relationship.... and given her- *ahem* difficult personality... Karim: "She is rather serious...That hasn't stopped someone from having a relationship." foien: perhaps....you're probably wondering where i was? Karim: "You gonna tell me?" foien: serina and i had a date ^^ Karim: "For real? How did it go?" -elsewhere- Kid: *curled up in bed* stocking: *smooch* mmm~<3 Kid: *small kiss back* "Sweetie..." stocking: hehe~<3 Kid: *pulls the sheets over them, looks into her eyes* stocking:....*warm smile* Kid: *takes her hand, kissing it lightly* "My wife..." stocking: mmm~<3 im so blessed to have such a precious hubby~<3 Kid: ^\\\^ "You make me blush when you say those sweet things." stocking: fitting for you then, huh~? Kid: "Maybe..." *smooch* -elsewhere- Hibana: "Hello, flowers!" mikami: welcome back, princess. ^^ ryuuko: how was the meeting? Hibana: "Well, a bit confusing..." *sits down* "The 3rd with a second base, and some actor playing Giovanni." ryuuko: damn... Hibana: "So, he's still out there--and we need to find his location." -elsewhere- Chuuya: "Fiasco." bartender: sir? Chuuya: "Do you ever just think, how if you had done the one thing you could have...that your life could've been so different?" bartender: oh, like the butterfly effect? Chuuya: *sip* "Yeah. Or like that 'Sliding Doors' movie..." bartender: what brought this up? Chuuya: "...What else? Lost love." bartender: ah. Chuuya: "..." *sigh* "You folks must make a lot of money on lovelorn sad sacks like me sitting down to drown sorrows in booze, huh?" bartender: more often than not. Chuuya: "Figured." *pulls out his credit card* "I think I'm done..." -later- Chuuya: *walking home...slight stumble* -a young lady with glasses is sitting by the window of a cafe, reading- Chuuya: *looks at her* "..." glasses: ?? *nod* Chuuya: "..." *nods back* "..." -later- Chuuya: "Um..." mito: *nuzzles chuuya's leg, purring* Chuuya: "..." *pets Mito* mito: =w= Chuuya: "At least you're here..." *picks up Mito, sets her on his lap, keeps petting* mito:....zzzzz.... Chuuya: "..." *tear falls* *small whimper* {rain: did you need anything at all, mr nakahara?} {Chuuya: "No, thank you." *sips his wine*} {rain: i see, well... i-if you need anything at all, i'll be more than happy to help sir!} {Chuuya: "???" *small smile* "Thanks...Are you busy right now?"} {rain: e-eh? .////. w-well, um....uh....i-is there a reason?} {Chuuya: "I can't finish this bottle on my own. If you need a break, feel free to have a glass."} {rain: are you sure? i-i wouldnt want to impose at all...] {Chuuya: "Not at all--I'm about done with work for the day. Have a seat."} mito: zzzzz.... Chuuya: *yawns, leaning back on the couch* -elsewhere- Mori: *reviewing documents...and books* -elsewhere- hojo girl: *sitting near a lake, staring out at the water* ...... ???: "I'm telling you, Konekomaru, the water is going to be shimmering!" hojo girl: ??.... !!!! konekomaru: but in the middle of the night? Shima: "Heck yeah! May even take a dip. Great to feel cool water in hot summer weather." hojo girl: !!!! *hides behind a tree* Shima: *pulls off his shoes and socks, dipping a toe in* "Oh, yeah--perfect!" hojo girl:..... *slight blush* (thinking: that boy.....he has hexed me....) Shima: "You in, Komekomaru?" *pulling down his pants, showing his boxers* konekomaru: *sweatdrop* ill just... stand guard... Shima: "Cool! You can guard my clothes." *takes off his shirt* konekomaru: ._.; Shima: "And now, to cool off!" *grabs his boxers...* konekomaru: *covering eyes* hojo girl: !!! Shima: *tosses them back at Konekomaru and leaps into the water* hojo girl: !!! (thinking: i need to go to the shrine! have to be purified of these thoughts...) *runs* Shima: =w= "So peaceful..." -elsewhere- Relan: *shivers* shinra: *snuggles* zzzz love you rel.... Relan: =\\\\= "I-I love you, too..." *hug* -morning- Bon: "Where's Shima gone off to?" konekomaru: medics....a leech attached itself to his heel. Shima: X____X -elsewhere- Chuuya: *yawn, walking into the office* kouyou: rough night? Chuuya: *nod nod* "Bad drink, bad dream..." -elsewhere- Anya: *stretches* "Ah..." -elsewhere- Akutagawa: *sneezes* medic: still sick it seems... Akutagawa: *sniff* "Allergies, I hope..." -elsewhere- Kid: *smooch* stocking: mmmn~<3 Kid: *hug* "Sleep well?" stocking: yeah. Kid: *nods* "Likewise...What's on your agenda?" -elsewhere- Shotaro: "Few more days 'til school..." mana: yeah. did you get your uniform yet? Shotaro: "Yeah, Emine helped me!" *holds up a bright red and green outfit* mono: what are you, a christmas present?! Shotaro: -3- "I thought it looked cool..." Emine: "Hee hee hee..." -elsewhere- Benimaru: *setting up practice dummies* -elsewhere- Dazai: *dribbling a basketball* atsushi: im open! Dazai: *tosses to Atsushi* atsushi: ah! *catch* Dazai: "Shoot!" Kunikida: *trying to block* atsushi: u-a-ah right! *throws* Kunikida: *tries to leap up to block...and misses* -elsewhere- Higan: "Ouch..." lavender: easy there... *putting aloe on* Higan: *groans* "What a pain..." lavender: *nods* Higan: *small pant* "How are you?" lavender: well im surviving arent i? *small smile* Higan: *small smile, through the pain* "A-All we can do." *holds her hand* lavender: ^^ Higan: *buries his face in his pillow* *muffled* "Still aches." -elsewhere- Arthur: *practicing sword fighting* -elsewhere- Jacqueline: *sorting papers* ("Not sure why Poe isn't doing this...") karl: O^O~? Jacqueline: "..." *looking at Karl* -^- "What are you looking at?" Poe: *collapsed on the floor, writing notes...* karl: ..... *sticking a dollar into the vending machine and getting a canned coffee* Poe: TwT "Thank you, Karl..." Jacqueline: "H-How?" librarian head: well, raccoons are rather intelligent. Jacqueline: "I knew they could remember locks...but jeez." Poe: *sip sip* "Ah..." *pet pet* -elsewhere- Medic: "Miss Moriyama, the tea, please." shiemi: *nods and hands it to them* Medic: *nods* "Thank you. Please bring more hot water to Miss Kamiki." izumo: ...so shima got discharged then from his leech incident? Medic: "Yeah, it was just a tiny leech." -in another area- Shima: *struggling to sit* "So...Excited for your meeting today?" ^^; konekomaru: ...... Shima: "...Bon will be there. I won't. Guess being fifth son gives me some time off." konekomaru: ...... hojo girl: .... *watching from behind a tree* Shima: "!!!" *turns around* -no one there- Shima: "...You feel something?" -and so, at the meeting- Bon: "..." ("Where _is_ he?") -the door opens- Bon: *looks up* "..." ("He's still not there?") konekomaru: .... uwabami hojo: yaozo... Yaozo: *cough* "Suguro...could not make it...I will lead this meeting." Bon: "?!!" juzo: take it easy, father... Yaozo: *seats himself* "First...tell me what happened at the theft in Deep Keep..." juzo: of course. -elsewhere- izumo: and it turns out that girl shima tried to hit on was a cousin to the 3 hojo sisters... shiemi: oh wow......it must be nice....having siblings. izumo:......yeah... (thinking: tsukumo....) -back at the meeting- uwabami hojo: so then, those closest to the eye at the time were all myoda sect. yaozo, juzo, my 3 daughters, and- Yaozo: "And why were you reaching for the eye?" ao hojo: mamushi was only trying to protect it! uwabami hojo:.....-and tatsuma....however he is absent. konekomaru: but what about the person who took the left eye? uwabami hojo: sabutora todo, yes.... juzo, mamushi, he was your instructor at the cram school, correct? Yaozo: *writing a note* Bon: *shaking with anger* juzo: what? nishiki: you really thing mamushi did it?! Yaozo: "We have no idea who did anything. And accusing each other without more evidence will--will--" *coughs* uwabami hojo: it pains me, but no one else has direct ties to todo. juzo: father, take it easy! Yaozo: *sips water* "...Without Suguro here, let us table this meeting until he arrives." nishiki: mamushi, arent you going to say anything? Mamushi: *slams her hands on the table* Bon: "?!" Mamushi: "I saw Suguro...as if he was controlling those flames...I wanted to protect the eye! And I get stabbed for my troubles?!" ao hojo: yeah, he was chanting a mantra we didnt know... Bon: *listening* Mamushi: "So, curious _he_ would not be here." myoda sect member: well- konekomaru: why would you suggest such a thing?! Mamushi: *cold stare* Bon: "Konekomaru..." uwabami hojo: *sigh* this is getting us nowhere. yaozo and i will discuss this. but for now, the meeting is adjourned... -later- konekomaru:....bon, are you sure you're ok? Bon: "...Why did he...?" -on the roof- shura: jeez, its like i said, think of a 'poof' not a 'boom', ok? Rin: "...'Poof'? Like, tiny flame?" shura: if it helps, then yeah. Rin: "Okay...tiny 'poof'...tiny 'poof'...AH, THIS ISN'T WORKING!" shura: maybe go cool off for a moment? Rin: "...'Kay." *hops off the roof* "Poof poof poof..." -the two candles on the end ignite, but the center is untouched- shura: 0.0 ..... huh...and he doesnt even....wow. -on the ground- ???: mother, father, what do i do? i feel so helpless...does someone like me even deserve the title of head of the miwa family? Rin: "???" *peaks around the corner* -konekomaru is in front of a grave- Rin: "Oh...Um, hey, Konekomaru..." konekomaru: !!! *trying to run* Rin: "D-Dude! Hey, it's cool...I just...wanted to see...I mean, I can go..." konekomaru: ...s-stay away from bon. h-he's going through a lot right now... Rin: "What?! You can't just tell me to stay away from people! We're supposed to work together--" konekomaru:....i...i dont have anything...no parents, no relatives....the myoda took me in, and i want to repay them, no matter what....enemies of the myoda, are enemies of me as well! Rin: "..." *starts laughing* konekomaru: ??!! w-whats so funny?! Rin: "You say you have nothing, but you're so quick to defend the Myoda. I mean, if you want to repay them, then you're not alone, right?" konekomaru: ah... Rin: "...Oh. But you see me as a threat..." *looks at his hands* "I can't blame you...I'm not in control of these flames...So, yeah, you should avoid me 'til I control these flames--because I'm gonna!" konekomaru: .... -that evening- nishiki: i cant believe that shima would accuse mamushi like that! ao hojo: i bet he's the culprit! Mamushi: "Then we will be on guard to see what proof to back up that suspicion." hojo girl: ..... nishiki: ?? unagi? you're out more than usual lately... unagi:....<the pink haired devil....has cursed me...> ao hojo: eh? <what do you mean?> unagi: <ever since that night....he has plagued my thoughts....when i have these thoughts, i feel hot...as if my chest is going to burst...> nishiki: O_O Mamushi: <"...Go pray."> unagi: <understood.> nishiki: that...little...shit! Mamushi: "Easy...Just have to deal with his family first." -elsewhere- Tachihira: *has a black eye, missing a shoe, pants ripped* gin: ... hirotsu: -_-; Tachihara: "I still don't know where my wallet and phone are. And my foot is cold." higuchi: i think i found your wallet and phone. Tachihara: "Oh, sweet!" *checks to see whether money and cards still in there--a photo falls out* -its a photo of him and some random prostitute in a photo booth- Tachihara: "Oh, good, still got my cards...???" *picks up the photo* "...Who's she?" gin:...*shrugs* hirotsu: *looks at the back of the photo* 'thanks 4 the $20, sugar'.... -_-; Tachihara: "...Goddamn it! I lost $20?!" -elsewhere- Kenji: "I think I like the blue more." *modeling a dress* -elsewhere- *15 stray cats are occupying Takehisa's office* Takehisa: "..." tamaki: *overjoyed* Vulcan: "They looked so cold and hungry outside." Takehisa: "..." *picks a cat up off his stack of papers* "I have work to do." -elsewhere- Wes: *marking music sheets* julie: *watching* Wes: "??? Jules--you see this?" *points to the music sheet* julie: what is it? Wes: "I'm marking here to tell the flutes to get louder..." *picks up a flute--plays softly on it* "Then they'll go--" *plays a bit louder* julie: ah... Wes: "And when everything comes together, it should be magical..." *smiles* "Want to hear a song?" -elsewhere- Jeje: *paper bag is colored with crayons* "..." metsu: ...*small smile* let me guess, mikuni? Jeje: "Likely. Johannes is not as good at drawing flowers." *points to a giant sunflower on one bag* metsu: still, its kind of cute. Jeje: "...Really?" .\\\\. metsu: ^^ Jeje: "...Um, okay. I can wear them...a bit longer." -elsewhere- Johannes: "GIVE ME THOSE BEAKERS!!!" -elsewhere- Chuuya: "...Higuchi?" higuchi: yeah? Chuuya: "Did you...go through Rain's...Mito's locker?" higuchi: not yet... Chuuya: "..." *nods* "Okay." *pulls out a flask* higuchi: did you want to do that now? Chuuya: "I-I don't feel comfortable seeing it.." higuchi: hmm.... Chuuya: "I'll wait here..." *sips on his flask, scrunches his face* "Yuck." higuchi: *clearing the locker out; inside are notes, some notebooks, photos* ..... Chuuya: "..." *leans against wall...closes his eyes* higuchi:.....*sigh* *examining photos* *One of Rain and Higuchi at the bar, another of Rain at her first day of work* higuchi: ....*looks at a photo of rain and chuuya during a party* *Chuuya has a hand on her shoulder, holding up glass of wine* higuchi: .....(thinking: she looks happy....) Chuuya: "..." *steps into locker room* "Is it...okay?" higuchi: yeah... Chuuya: *approaches...spots the pics* TT\\\\TT higuchi: .... Chuuya: *sniff* "R-Rain..." higuchi:...did you...want to visit her? Chuuya: *nod nod* -and so, at the mafia gravesite- Chuuya: "...I thought it would get easier..." *kneels at the grave* higuchi:.... Chuuya: "..." *looks at the grave...* "...What?" higuchi: nothing...i did get flowers though... *has a small vase with aster flowers* Chuuya: "R-Right." ("Why does the grass here look...different?") higuchi: .... Chuuya: "I didn't know what to bring..." higuchi: well, at least you're here...i think she'd be happy with that alone... Chuuya: "...She never asked for as much as she deserved..." higuchi:...*nods, gripping her fist*...chuuya....you know how mori treated her...right? Chuuya: "...Treated her how?" higuchi: you know he abused her, right? Chuuya: "...Yes." higuchi: and you know what she was put through because of him, right? Chuuya: *realizing but pretending not to...* "...What do you mean?" higuchi:....when we cleared her apartment out....i found something in her garbage... Chuuya: "???" higuchi:...there was a positive pregnancy test. Chuuya: "..." *falls to his hands* higuchi: *bites her lip* i wont forgive mori for this... Chuuya: "...Kill..." higuchi: ?? Chuuya: "K-Kill...him..." higuchi: .... Chuuya: "...and take over this Mafia." higuchi: ..... Chuuya: "Am I wrong?" -a crow is sitting in a tree....with a glint in its eye- yana: well, this sure is interesting... FD: *smiles* "A new tool to use." yana: by the way, i found out some info on mr mori's new secretary... FD: "Oh?" yana: i got the file right here. FD: "???" *opens it* "..." *smiles* "Interesting." -elsewhere- Tanizaki: *thumbing through papers* yosano: oh, burning the candle from both ends, eh? Tanizaki: *yawn* "Just confused by some papers..." yosano: need any help there? Tanizaki: "Yeah...Which case is this one?" *holds up a baggie holding a notepad page* -elsewhere- Anya: *sighs* mio: you ok? Anya: "Yeah, sure." *covers a paper that has names and columns listed "Pro" and "Con"* mio: what's that? Anya: "!!! J-Just taking notes." .\\\. -elsewhere- Relan: "Y-You want me to go?!" maki: yeah. it'll help to build some physical strength up. Relan: "O-Okay? But isn't Commander Benimaru a little strict?" maki: i guess, but i have the feeling you'll do great. Relan: .\\\. "I-I'm not that confident." maki: did you want to do some sparring? Relan: *nods* "J-Just...Can we start slow?" maki: alright. -elsewhere- Kishiri: "How're the newbies doin'?" ryuuko: hyah! *punching a training dummy* mikami: eep! *x-guards against an attack* Kishiri: .____.; "...Well, then?" gabriella: coming along pretty well. Kishiri: "No kidding...They're pretty strong." gabriella: seems their combat training at the 3rd paid off. though i notice mikami focuses primarily on defense, while ryuuko is more in offence. -ryuuko flame bullets a target down- Kishiri: "Is that because of their abilities, or personalities?" gabriella: seems a combination of both factors. Kishiri: "Man...I'm gonna have to get my combat game up..." -elsewhere- Giriko: "...I got the tickets." arachne: ....*nods* *nervous* Giriko: "...You up for this?" arachne:...yes...i kind of have to be. Giriko: "..." *holds her hand* "I'm with you." -elsewhere- Tool: "And then we tie it back here..." *showing how to tie shoes* io: uu! Tool: "Uh-huh. Then you loop back--" *pauses* "...Oh. The shoelaces get a little cranky if I don't tie them snuggly. Got to do that so your shoes don't slip off." -elsewhere- Jacqueline: "I'm home." kim: hey. ^^ Jacqueline: *stretches* "You know, I thought your job at the zoo would have you dealing with animals. And I get the job with a raccoon..." -elsewhere- Mori: "Coffee, please." miura: right away sir. Mori: "And for you, Elise~?" elise: hot cocoa! with extra marshmallows! Mori: ^^ "You heard her~" miura: understood, sir. -elsewhere- Chuuya: *passed out in bed* mito: *nuzzle* Chuuya: *groans, looks up...his face is awful* mito: *worried* Chuuya: "..." *sobbing* mito:...*snuggles* Chuuya: "..." *soft hug around Mito* "I'm sorry..." mito: *soft purring* Chuuya: "If-If you had told me...An abortion...Adoption...I-I would have...I would have helped you...Wouldn't I?" mito: mreow? Chuuya: *cries* "Mito..." mito: *nuzzles* Chuuya: *hugs Mito...closes his eyes* "I'll make it right." mito: *softly purrs* Chuuya: *yawns* "Stop...him..." -elsewhere- Sakuya: *sets out cereal bowls* naho: moooorning! Sakuya: ^^ "Hey." *forehead smooch* naho: ^///^ Sakuya: "Sleep well?" -elsewhere- Akutagawa: *inhales, sighs* "Better." gin: glad to hear that... Akutagawa: *nod* "Would you like to join my sparring practice today?' -elsewhere- Mifune: *meditating* angela: *mimicking him* Mifune: *smiles* "You would like to meditate as well?" angela: *nod* yuma: *nod* Mifune: "There are no wrong ways...It's just about being aware of what you think." *lays out three stones* "If it helps...you can look at the pebbles." yuma: *focusing intently* Mifune: "It's not about trying to not think...It's about being aware of your thinking. Just be aware of your thoughts." -elsewhere- Mr. Tsubaki: "A training exercise? Here? ...Is it safe for me to stay?" reimi: it's all up to you, i guess... Mr. Tsubaki: "Well...I could stay indoors, avoid people...If I were to leave...I don't think it is safe for me to leave unless I have a safe place lined up." reimi: good call... Mr. Tsubaki: "I can't even go to my family..." *sad face* "If only there was a place C3 couldn't find me and my family." -elsewhere- Shotaro: *half awake* -elsewhere- Poe: .\\\\. ("I can do this...but...") ???: oi, dude, you just gonna stand there? Poe: "Wh-What?" random person: you need anything? Poe: "Um...Wh-What fl-flowers would you recommend?" clerk: oh, for what occasion? Poe: "I-I-I don't know! I was just thinking of l-leaving them at her apartment?" clerk: oh? do you like this person? Poe: ._______. "...???" clerk: or is this a friend or a relative? Poe: "...Friend? I don't know." -elsewhere- Dr. John: "Feeling alright?" felisia: yeah, this isnt my first pregnancy, haha. Dr. John: "Well, can you tell me a bit about your previous experience? Any odd cravings?" felisia: can i have some cinnamon rolls? Dr. John: ^^ "We got some in the office." *offers one* "Here you go." felisia: ^w^ *nom* -elsewhere- FD: "Update?" -elsewhere- Kid: *covers Stocking's eyes* stocking: ah... Kid: *kisses her cheek* stocking: hehe~ kiddo~ Kid: "Stocking~" *pulls back his hands, hugs her* "I love you..." stocking: hehe~ *smooch* Kid: *smooch on her lips, then on the corner of her lips, before his hand pats her bottom* stocking: oh~ Kid: *kisses behind her ear* "What do you have on today?" stocking: *smirks* remember that kitty underwear set i bought~? Kid: *bites his lip* "Do I..." stocking: well there's your answer~ Kid: "True...but I want to see with my own eyes..." *lifts her skirt a bit* stocking: *smirks and steps away* ah-ah-ah~ you'll just have to wait until tonight~<3 Kid: *playful pout* "Then can I get a little something to hold me over..." *holds her chin lightly in his hand* stocking: maybe~ Kid: *soft kiss on her lips* -elsewhere- Dazai: "SODAS!" atsushi: oh, cool. naomi: thaanks~! Kyoka: "...Sour." -elsewhere- Black Star: *lifts the couch to clean under it* -elsewhere- Assi: *drenched* mono: =///n///= Yohei: "...What happened?" mono: i dont wanna talk about it! im taking a shower! *DOOR SLAM* Assi: "...But I was going to take a shower..." -elsewhere- Chuuya: *unshaven, walking through town* "..." ("Get cat food...Get coffee...Go home...") atsushi: sir? are...are you ok? Chuuya: *turns, stares* "...The Tiger?" atsushi: i have a name -_-; Dazai: "Jeez, shorty--you bathe in scotch or something?" Chuuya: "I WILL PULL OUT YOUR BONES AND PICK MY TEETH WITH THEM!" atsushi: O-O;; Dazai: "...Okay. The 'tooth picking' remark usually only happens after three insults. Something is wrong with you--" *Chuuya swings at Dazai, missing* Chuuya: "G-Get back here!" atsushi: O-O;;;; Dazai: "..." *easily dodges again* "Atsushi...I'll be right back to get him coffee. Deal with this guy." *Dazai turns* Chuuya: "H-Hey! Get back here! I'm going to kill you! I'm going to--" *stumbles* atsushi: dazai wa- !!!! easy there...are you ok? Chuuya: "..." *falls to his knees, crying* atsushi: um...uhhhh.... ._.;;;; Chuuya: "I-I got to make it up to-to-to h-h-her!!!" atsushi: uh...um... *looks over at dazai* dazai, what's he talking about? Dazai: "..." *hands Atsushi the coffee* "Come on. We're taking him home." *drags Chuuya by his collar* -and so- atsushi: ._.;;; *nervous* Chuuya: *blub blub blub* Dazai: *holding Chuuya's head under the shower* "Come on, sober up..." atsushi: o-o;;; mito: O^O~? atsushi: ??...*head pets* hey there... mito: ^w^ Dazai: "Atsushi, see what's in his cupboards. Make some chicken soup. Also, feed his cat." Chuuya: *head submerged in the bath* Dazai: "I'll clean him up..." -and so- Chuuya: *in pajamas* -\\\^\\\- "I don't need to be tended to like a baby." Dazai: "No one is doing that." *holding spoon* "Now open up for the airplane! Vroom!" atsushi: *sweatdrop* Chuuya: "..." *nom* -3- "...Yo, Tiger. Is Dazai still a dick?" atsushi: um...well... ^^; maybe ask someone else? Dazai: "He's just jelly because my new student is super!" Chuuya: *pout* atsushi:...*ahem* so, um.... *cough* so you knew dazai when he was still....y-y'know...with the... Chuuya: "Mafia. Yes." atsushi: ah. i see. Chuuya: "He tell you all he did?" Dazai: *tenses* atsushi: um....i...didnt ask.... ._.;;;; Chuuya: *smirks* "You missed a show...All that blood--" Dazai: *glares* atsushi: *cough* um... Chuuya: "Ever wonder why he is walking out on the streets, after the sins he committed?" atsushi: *sweats a bit* (thinking: and suddenly those scary moments of his make perfect sense) Dazai: "Chuuya, stop." Chuuya: "Or what? You'll do what you did to Lin in the 9th Street Gang?" Dazai: "Hardly." *smiles, as he pulls out his wallet* "I can show off photos from our last party!" *the photos show Chuuya on a table in his boxers* atsushi: oh...um.... ._.; who wants lunch?! Chuuya: "Y-You said you burned the negatives!" *lunges at Dazai* Dazai: *holding photos out of reach* "Too short! Too short!" *bumps into Atsushi* atsushi: ack! *stumbles to the door, which opens* !!!! oof! higuchi: ack! Dazai: "???" atsushi: ..... ._.;; Chuuya: "!!! Higuchi!" atsushi: *gets up* *cough* ._.;;; higuchi: *looks at chuuya* why? are they here?! Chuuya: .\\\\. "...I--" Dazai: "Higuchi! Glad to see you!" *walks over, holds her hand* "Your beauty only increases with each passing day." higuchi:...*twitching* Dazai: "Shall we initiate our joint suicide?" atsushi: *sweatdrop* ....*whispers to chuuya* was he always like this too? higuchi: i never agreed to that! so no! Chuuya: *whispers* "The double suicide side is a bit new..." Dazai: "...How about now?" higuchi: no. -_-; Dazai: "...Want to see photos of Chuuya dancing in his boxers at the bar?" Chuuya: "NO!" atsushi:...*sitting on the couch, like the awkward 4th wheel he is at the moment* Dazai: "I also got this..." *holds up another photo* atsushi: ?? *It's Chuuya And Akutagawa, in just boxers* atsushi:..... higuchi: O///////////////O Chuuya: D:< Dazai: "We got free drinks for just giving up our clothes!" atsushi: um.... ._.; Dazai: *smiles* "Want it, Higuchi~?" higuchi: oh do i ever... *staring at akutagawa in the pic* Chuuya: .\\\. Dazai: "Then I need a favor~" higuchi: what is it? Dazai: "I need some eyes and ears on Mori." higuchi: *grips fist* already way ahead of you... Dazai: *smiles, holds out a hand* "Shake on it?" higuchi:....*looks at chuuya* Chuuya: *grunts...puts out a hand* Dazai: *crosses his arms and shakes their hands, slipping photo into Higuchi's hand* atsushi: ^^ (thinking: what just went down i have no idea...) Dazai: "Let us know when he goes too far off the rails..." higuchi: *nods* Chuuya: "..." ("Way past that point...") -elsewhere- Mori: *looking through a file: "Rain"* miura: ...... Mori: "Miura, what do you do in your off-time?" miura: .....not much. 7.7 Mori: "You go out to dinner much?" miura: not really. Mori: "Hmm..." *pulls out $100* "Go to Ram's on the corner, ask the waiter for my usual and bring it here. Let Ram keep the change." miura: understood... -at ram's- girl: *pats miura on the back* um excuse me? miura: hmm? girl: oh, sorry, thought you were someone else. carry on. *walking away, smirking* Waiter: *spots Miura* "May I help you?" -elsewhere- yana: ....*over earpiece* i got it in place.... FD: "Excellent." -elsewhere- Bakugo: .\\\\. itsuka: *kung-fu'ing the training mannequins* Bakugo: *holding a jewelry box* "...Th-That's incredible, Itsuka..." itsuka: thanks. ^^ Bakugo: "H-H-How are you?" itsuka: you ok katsuki? you look nervous... Bakugo: *holds out a box* "I AM GIVING THIS TO YOU NOW OR LATER, SO FIGURE OUT WHEN YOU WANT IT!" itsuka: oh um...thanks. *takes it* ....!! aw, katsuki. that's so sweet. *smiles* Bakugo: *scratching the back of his neck* "I-I thought it went with your eyes..." itsuka:...*chuckles* it's nice. *small kiss on the cheek* thanks katsuki. Bakugo: .\\\\. "Y-Yeah...Welcome?" -elsewhere- Shotaro: *head stuck in the wall* -elsewhere- Hugh: *wearing an afro* -elsewhere- Relan: *holding tissues to his nose* "Ow..." shinra: you ok? Relan: TT~TT *muffled voice* "Sparring went badly..." maki: im so sorry! D8> Relan: ^^; "It-It's not your fault...I didn't duck." -late that night, mori's room- Chuuya: "..." *listening* elise: *yaaaawn* nighty night.....zzzzzz Mori: "Night-night." -about two hours pass, after mori had fallen asleep- Chuuya: "?!" ("The heck? He has a room for Elise next to his?") Mori: "Zzz..." Chuuya: "..." *has his silencer on his gun--* miura: good evening, mr nakahara. Chuuya: *hides the gun* "Miura. Hello." miura: did you have buisness with mr mori? at this hour? Chuuya: "I was debating...whether it was best to wait until morning or not." miura: i see....but is the weapon needed? Chuuya: *smiles* "I have to be armed at all times." miura:....i see. say....did mori ever tell you how he became head of the port mafia? Chuuya: "...The death of our predecessor." miura: correct....and do you know how he died? Chuuya: "..." miura: do you? Chuuya: "Heart attack. Before he died, he had installed Mori as his successor." miura: ....well, you are an exec, so i feel you should know the truth. but dont tell mori i told you this, or anyone else for that matter.... Chuuya: "..." *nods* miura:....you know mori was the doctor attending to the former boss......lets just say.....he finished the job. Chuuya: "!!!" miura: the deed was done in the very bed mori now occupies...in the dead of night......funny how similar it is to this situation.....the boss's underling, entering his room, armed....now...what did you want to speak with the boss about? Chuuya: "...It can wait. I should tend to other tasks." miura: *grabs his shoulder* i have strict orders. keep the boss safe. even if someone has to be killed. Chuuya: *gravity blasts Miura back into the wall* miura: !!! urk-... -underground- FD: *smirks* yana: *checking cameras* did you want to have some fun with your new plaything yet? FD: *nods* yana: wonder if that woke the boss up... -she looks at the file; Mafia Issued Ultra Realistic Android.....or alternatively....- Mori: *shuffles in bed* "Mmm...Lower..." Chuuya: "I am done here." *turns* -something charges at him- miura: see, now you just made me mad. *her arm now has a small gun attached to it- Chuuya: "?!" *grips her arm, trying to push it up* -a leg kicks under him- Chuuya: "?!" *tries to cushion his fall with gravity* miura: *arm blade and slashes* Chuuya: *his hand is sliced* "AH!" *kicks her abdomen* miura: tch-, how annoying. Chuuya: "Was saving this for Mori, but..." *holds up his hands, and crushes the gravity along her "spine"* miura: !!! like..that's going to- Chuuya: *tosses her into the wall and keeps applying the gravity...into the wall leading to Mori's bedroom* -CRASH- Mori: *turns in bed* "No, Mom, I didn't take the candy..." Chuuya: *panting* miura: *still getting up* Chuuya: "Wh-What the hell are you?" Mori: =w= "Yes, like that..." miura: my name's miura, but the full title is, according to motojiro, 'mafia issued ultra-realistic android'. Chuuya: "..." *light bulb* "WHAT?!!!" Mori: *sits up in bed* "BLOOMERS!" miura: ?! yana: time to start the show? FD: "Proceed." Mori: *looks back and forth* "The hell?" Chuuya: "?!" ("I can't do it now! What do I do? Why is this an android?") yana: assuming direct control. *button press* miura:........*eyes wide, turning a purple color* *arm blade and charges at mori* Mori: "Why are you in my room? Miura, if you wanted in my bed--!!! Oh shit!" Chuuya: "?!!!" ("...Okay. This works.") -CLANG- miura: ?! elise: *bare handed blade block* RINTAROOOOU! MIURA'S INTERUPTING MY BEAUTY SLEEP! Chuuya: ?!?!?! Mori: Q~Q "Elise! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!" miura: using your ability to protect yourself, mori? Mori: *internally smirking, as he plays afraid* "Elise! Don't hurt Miura--too badly..." elise: SHE'S TRYING TO KILL YOU! Mori: "But she's been an excellent receptionist!" miura: move it brat. *attempts to punch her, but has her arm ripped off* !!! Chuuya: "?!!!" Mori: *smiles...licks lip a bit* "Oh, Elise...Her poor arm." miura: !?!? elise: domo arigato, ms roboto. *d-d-d-decapitation! miura: a-a-a-a-a-h.....f-fy-odor...i...im afr-afraid.....wi-wi-will i dream? daaaaaaisssyyyyy daaaaaaaiiiiissssyyyyy.... elise: hmph!......chuuya, what're you gawkin at?! Chuuya: ("This can't end well--") *pushes back Miura with his gravity powers, looks at Elise* "...What the hell are you?" Mori: ("Fyodor?") elise: you seriously dont know your own boss's ability? Chuuya: "I-I know...Just...What the hell are you?" elise: a product of said ability! ^u^ Chuuya: ._. *turns to Mori* Mori: "My little Elise saved me~" *glares at Chuuya* "And you didn't." elise: what the heck chuuya?! Chuuya: .____. "...It wasn't my fault! Suddenly an android shows up! I was distracted! I was late! There was a bus full of nuns! Locusts! Bees! IT WASN'T MY FAULT!" elise: *SLAP* PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER! ???: now what is going on here? -it's kouyou......in her night clothes....very.....small...night clothes- Chuuya: *mortified* Mori: "...Oh. Kouyou. You're up. Hi. An android tried to kill me." kouyou: oh? *looks at miura* how unfortunate. Chuuya: *covering his eyes* "Why why why why why--" Mori: "???" ("Why an android...? Fyodor...") elise: hmm? hey whats this thingy? *points to a microchip attached to miura's back, with a familiar logo* looks like a demented mickey mouse. Mori: "...The same on the Whale..." Chuuya: *cowering, covering his head* kouyou: so then, Dostoevsky hacked this one as well. poor motojiro wont be happy... Chuuya: "...'This one'? There are more?" *uncovers his eyes--* "!!!" *covers them again* kouyou: oh please chuuya, dont act as though you havent seen a woman naked before... Chuuya: "COVER UP, DAMN IT!" Mori: *staring up and down Kouyou's body--then shrugs* elise: yeah, we can see your granny panties! kouyou: ^^# elise: O-O;;; Chuuya: *banging his head on the floor* Mori: "I prefer younger panties." kouyou: quiet you, or i'll sew your lips shut. ^^# Mori: :x Chuuya: TT~TT higuchi: we heard a noise whats-.......... gin: !!! hirotsu: oh goodness. Akutagawa: "...Why is there a robot in this room?" Tachihara: *yawns* "Yo, Kouyou." *looks* "...Another robot fight?" elise: someone hacked the robot and tried to kill mori. Akutagawa: "..." kouyou: *hugs chuuya* and you protected him? im so proud of you. Chuuya: D: "LET GO OF ME!" Tachihara: "...Don't complain about that, dude." gin:... -BAM- gin: -_-# Tachihara: X___X Mori: *smiles* "Thank goodness Chuuya was here, or Elise and him may not have saved me." Chuuya: *glaring at Mori, then looks at Higuchi* higuchi:.....*gives chuuya a look of concern* elise: oh look, lemon bomb man is here. Motojiro: *shaking* "...Mori...Elise...Chuuya...You destroyed...perfection..." kouyou: oh get over yourself. you can build another one. Motojiro: "DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO GET THE PARTS?!" -elsewhere- FD: *pouts* "So much for that..." yana: well that's a bummer. FD: "Can we get our hands on another?" yana: maybe? have you made contact with that person yet? FD: " 'That' person? You mean..." yana: *nods* FD: "Delivery comes tomorrow. Just got to pick the time now." -elsewhere- higuchi: so then, this 'Dostoevsky'.... Mori: "Been tracking information about him. Many dead ends." higuchi: damn. kouyou: quite the dangerous foe we're dealing with here... Mori: *nods* "We'd have better luck. But as I'm without an assistant--" *holds up Miura's head* "I need assistance." higuchi: *cringe* gin: .... Mori: "Hirotsu, find leads on Dostoevsky's contacts." hirotsu: understood. Mori: "Higuchi, I'm afraid Elise and I will depend on your help with a few matters." higuchi:....such as? Mori: "Review files on Dostoevsky and coordinate missions with Hirotsu. You will need to be in close contact with me--and provide security for me." higuchi:........very well. Mori: *smiles, nods* "And Chuuya will provide additional security." ^^ Chuuya: "..." kouyou: i'll pay a visit to the 1st. since i know there is someone there who might have some information. it's a long shot, but given the info provided, it's worth looking into. Mori: "Excellent! Thank you all for being so cooperative. I know together we can solve this problem." *smiles at Higuchi and Chuuya* higuchi:..... -morning- Dazai: *snoring* -phone rings- Dazai: *face-down in pillow, moves his hand around until grabbing his phone* "Huh?" kirako: morning dazai. normally kunikida gives you your wake up calls, but seems he's under the weather today... Dazai: *yawn* "That's too bad...Want me to visit him to cheer him up?" kirako: if it helps, but wear a mask so you dont get sick. Dazai: "Way ahead of you!" *puts on a scary monster mask* -and so- Dazai: *growling voice* "I've come to eat your liver..." atsushi: O_O; Kunikida: "...Brat. Stab Dazai in the back." atsushi: *chop* bad dazai, bad. Dazai: "How did you know it was me?" atsushi: you're still in your normal clothes....aside from the mask. Dazai: *sighs* "Fine..." *pulls off the mask--and skin is missing from his face...and his eyeball falls out* atsushi: *SCREAMS! and faints* Kunikida: -_-; "We get it. You're a pro at make u-u-up--AHCHOO!" Dazai: *picks up the eyeball and tosses it into Kunikida's bed* "Just keeping up practice!" Dazai: *picks up Atsushi* "Wakey-wakey, Atsushi!" atsushi: ororororororo......huh? wha? Dazai: -w- "See? You're fine, I'm fine--Kunikida is still sick because he over exerts his body--" Kunikida: *throws empty bowl at Dazai's head* atsushi: *sweatdrop* Dazai: "...I'm fine." *collapses* -elsewhere- Motojiro: TT~TT "I will repair you..." *reassembling the android* Q: *peeeek* whatcha doooooin? Motojiro: "EEEK! Don't sneak up on me!" Q: OuO~? Motojiro: "I'm trying to repair my girlf--...Robot. Robot." Q: oh? Motojiro: "...Here, play with this." *hands him a toy robot* Q: .... -elsewhere- Kid: "Your tea~" stocking: thank you~ Kid: *smiles* "You're welcome." *sets down muffins* "...Stocking...I..." stocking: hmm? yes? Kid: "...I want you to know, that...I...well, that is...it is..." stocking: hmm? Kid: "...Your mother's pregnancy had me thinking..." stocking: ah...i see. Kid: *nods* "I don't know when we would be ready..." stocking: *holds his hand* Kid: "..." *smiles* -elsewhere- Chuuya: "...I should have..." higuchi: ..... Chuuya: "...No one would have suspected...that damn...What is Dostoevsky? Just...how?" higuchi: not sure. lets just hope kouyou's visit to the 1st produces some results. -at the 1st- kouyou: you're dia volkov, correct? dia: yes. Karim: *watching from afar* kouyou: how did you come into service of the 1st? dia: ...commander burns found me, at a young age. kouyou: i see. and before that, you were kept in a research facility due to your abilities, correct? dia: yes. kouyou: how did you get out? Karim: ("Who is that woman...?") dia: i remember there was a riot. several people had been killed, and many used it as their chance to escape....i remember seeing a boy....around my age, or maybe older..... i didnt know his name, but his eyes.....he had the eyes of a devil. Karim: *watching Kouyou* "..." ("Look up who that woman is...Find out who she is, why she's here to see Dia.") kouyou: i see....*shows her a photo* does this face look familiar? dia:.....!!!....yes....the same boy.... kouyou: i see. what do you know about him? dia:....we didnt....speak much.....all i know is that he was called fyodor. but that's all i can recall. kouyou:...i see....i'll just be going now. thank you for your time. dia:..... Karim: "..." Karim: "You had a visitor?" dia:.....i dont know who she was, or why she was here.....or what interest she had in my past..... Karim: "What did you ask about?" dia:....its nothing important now.....*walking away* Karim: "...Hmm." -elsewhere- FD: *staring up at the ceiling* zoey: *head rested on his lap* ah.... FD: *strokes her hair* "...That day..." zoey: *blushes and looks up at him* FD: "Do you regret it?" zoey: when i met you? i'd never regret it~ FD: *sad smile* "Even when I...took your virginity?" zoey: if its with you, then i'm more than happy~<3 FD: *guides her chin to look up at him* "Your first kill?" zoey: if it pleased you~ *smiles* FD: "Tell me all you are willing to do for me, Zoey..." zoey: anything you desire, master. i'd kill for you, i'd become your slave, i'd even carry your child if that's what you wanted! FD: *lays a hand over her stomach* "Oh? Have you ever thought of being a mother?" yana: *cringe* FD: "Because I think you would look quite nice~" *gropes one of her breasts* zoey: ah~ -elsewhere- Tsukiyo: "How's this one?" *wearing a two-piece* -elsewhere- Medusa: *shaking* milia: feeling better yet? Medusa: "I-I don't know..." neian: o^o~? Medusa: "..." *smiles weakly at Neian* "I'll be fine..." neian: *nuzzle* Medusa: *holds her* -elsewhere- Izuku: "The wind up...and the pitch!" *throws the ball* ochako: *SHA-WING* *HIT* eijiro: woah! ochako: *running towards first base* Iida: "!!!" *running back, trying to catch the ball...but...* "...Is it not coming down?" ochako: *heading to second* Iida: *grunts, leaps, and..." ochako: *made it to 2nd base!* *Ball bounces off the ground into Iida's hand--he tosses the ball to second base* jirou: safe! ochako: woot! Aizawa: "Yay. Next batter, you're up." yuuji: *picking up the bat and examining it* Aizawa: "...Never played baseball?" yuuji: not really. never really got the chance to, y'know? Aizawa: "Well, you saw them. Just keep your eye where the ball is, swing, hit the ball, and run to the base on your right." yuuji: ok. Mineta: *the baseball catcher* *makes hand gesture to Izuku to tell him which kind of pitch to throw* Izuku: *nods...gets ready...and...throws the ball to Yuuji* yuuji: *he ends up throwing the bat, and the ball hits him in the forehead* ....ow. Izuku: D: "Oh no!" yuuji: im fine, im not dead. -he's bleeding slightly- Aizawa: "...Get to the nurse." yuuji: yes sir. -_-; -elsewhere- Vulcan: "So, how do you think you're training with the 7th will go?" shinra: hopefully it goes well. -elsewhere- Patty: *aims NES Zapper at the TV* "Come out, you stupid duck..." -elsewhere- fang: zzzzz himiko: *huuug* ^w^ Kurogiri: "Adorable..." *takes a photo* Dabi: o____o himiko: ^^ Kurogiri: "How were doctor's appointments?" -elsewhere- Rin: *pulling melted wax off the roof* "Darn stupid melting wax..." -elsewhere- Akutagawa: "How would one even know whether they are dealing with a human or a robot?" -elsewhere- Sakuya: *wearing cat ears* -\\\- naho: ^w^ Sakuya: "Okay, I lost...How long I got to wear these?" -elsewhere- Hyde: *in the park* "Now, where is that crepe stand..." -elsewhere- Poe: *holding a vase of flowers* neighbor: you need something there, dude? Poe: "!!! Is-Is-Is this where live Lanas? I mean, is this where Lana lives?" neighbor: the shephard family? Poe: *nod nod* neighbor: then yep, that's the right room. Poe: "O-Okay..." *knock* man: *yaawn* yeah? Poe: "H-Hello, sir...Is Lana in?" man: she's at work right now...why do you want to know? Poe: owo;;; "...THESE ARE FOR YOU!" *holds up flowers* man: ....um....ok? *confused blink* Poe: "...I will now dig a grave and lie down in it. Good day." *turns* man:.... ???? alright then....that...that just happened... -elsewhere- Kunikida: *rings a bell* "Atsushi. My pillow needs fluffing." atsushi: *doing so* Kunikida: "And I need another blanket. And more pizza bagels." -elsewhere- Konro: "Will you be helping with the 8th's training?" fang-hua: yes sir. Konro: *nods* "Your assistance will be important. And Kabuki?" kabuki: indeed. Konro: ^^ "Thanks...I think Benimaru is about done--" Benimaru: *holding two long swords* "I am ready." -elsewhere- Hyde: *stare* licht: what? Hyde: "There is a full moon coming..." licht: is there a point to this? Hyde: "Yes...I know that you are actually A SEXY WEREWOLF!" licht:....*KICKS HIM ACROSS THE ROOM* that's ridiculous. that cant be true because....*pose* i am an angel. Hyde: *sits up--a framed photo stuck on the back of his head* "You could be an angel werewolf! Like, with fur, wings, feathers--" -elsewhere- Jun: "Any other supplies you need, Tinker?" tinker: i am gonna need some new oil cans. Jun: *adds it to the inventory list* "Okay..." *looks at the workstation* "What're you building?" -elsewhere- ibara: ....... Monoma: "And then they were talking--talking!" tetsutetsu: no offence dude but, maybe you're blowing this waaay out of proportion? Monoma: "No, I am not! That is why I need help to break them up." tetsutetsu: real man talk here; if she's not interested, then just let go man. Monoma: o_o "...What do you mean 'she's not interested'?" tetsutetsu: if im remembering correctly, she dumped you. and clearly she had a reason, because, and i say this as a friend, you're a dick. Monoma: ._. "...How am I a 'dick'?" class 1-B student: well, this whole stalking thing is one thing, you're petty, you treat itsuka like she's property rather than a person, you hold too many grudges, you lie about owning a Rolex watch- Monoma: "IT IS A ROLEX!" *holds it up to Student's face* -elsewhere- Johannes: *working at Deathbucks* owo sayaka: O-O;;;;; Johannes: "Guess where I'm working today!" *happy wave* "May I take your order?" -elsewhere- Arthur: *in full suit of armor* "I am ready to train." -elsewhere- atsushi: X-X i didnt think....he was that high maintenance.... Dazai: *shrug* "He gets needy when he feels sick." *sipping on a slushie* atsushi: yikes... Dazai: "Just make sure you don't catch his cold, flu, or sour disposition." Kunikida: "Zzz..." atsushi: noted. Dazai: "At least there's one benefit to being in Kunikida's place..." *opens his underwear drawer* atsushi: D8 Dazai: "I KNEW IT!" *pulls out a baggie of oregano* atsushi: that's oregano.... -something starts buzzing- atsushi:......... O________O Dazai: "..." *opens, sniffs* "...How bad was his flu that he put oregano in the underwear drawer..." Dazai: "??? What's that buzzing?" atsushi: oh no... oh nononononono..... -it's coming from a lower drawer- Dazai: "???" :3 "Oh-ho-ho..." *reaches for lower drawer* atsushi: D8> *uncomfortable atsushi noises* Dazai: *opens* -yep, its just what you think it is......- atsushi: *covering eyes* Dazai: :3 "Oh, Kunikida--I never knew! And the batteries must have long shelf life..." atsushi: >///~///< Kunikida: *stirs in bed* "H-Huh..." *yawn* atsushi: D8> !!! Dazai: *shuts the drawers, smiling* *hums a lullaby...* Kunikida: *yawns* "Zzz..." atsushi: *phew* Dazai: "Two words, buddy: blackmail!" atsushi: .__.;; (thinking: and kunikida is now on my list of people i cant look in the eye without sweating. dammit.) Dazai: "Now, let's find some pot and laugh for a bit." -elsewhere- Chuuya: *holding a newspaper over his head* ("Damn it...I didn't remember to bring my umbrella before this storm...") {rain: nooo! *her umbrella broke* TT-TT} {Chuuya: "...Rain?"} {rain: EEP! m-mr nakahara! i didnt see you there!} {Chuuya: "Oh, no--your umbrella..." *hands her his*} {rain: ah....a-are you sure?} {Chuuya: *nods* "Can't have you getting sick..."} {rain:..*small smile* thank you... ^^} Chuuya: *soaked* TT~TT ???: sir? Chuuya: *sniff* "???" mahiru: *holding an umbrella out* Chuuya: "...Wh-What?" mahiru: there's a lot of rain today, and you dont have an umbrella, so thinking simply, we should help you out. Chuuya: "...'We'?" *sneeze* mahiru: me and kuro. ^^ Kuro: *peeks out from Mahiru's shirt* "Meow." Chuuya: Q~Q "..." *sobbing* mahiru: O-O;; um.. Kuro: *whispers to Mahiru* "...Maybe we should leave him? He seems freaky--" Chuuya: "I lost her...Why am I not over this...?" mahiru: um... are you...alright sir? Chuuya: *sniff* "I'm sorry...I lost someone." mahiru:...did you want to talk about it? Chuuya: *shivering* "...Can we get someplace warm?" mahiru: oh right. *looking around* how about there? Chuuya: "..." *nods* "Can get a hot drink, too..." mahiru: by all means. *they enter the building* Chuuya: "..." *takes off his soaking wet jacket, sits at chair...* *shivers* mahiru: *looks at the waiter* Montgomery: "...What you want?" mahiru: i'll have a hot cocoa please. Chuuya: "H-Hot cider..." Kuro: *pawing at Mahiru* Montgomery: o\\\\o "...You have a cat?" mahiru: yeah, this is kuro. ???: *SQUEEE* -kirako rushes over- kirako: SO CUTE! Kuro: ._.; Montgomery: "I know, right?!" Chuuya: "...Um...Does this happen to you [Mahiru] often?" mahiru: yes. yes it does. Montgomery: "I'll get the kitten some milk." *pets Kuro* -ding- Kuro: ^\\\\\\^ atsushi: o-o;;;; Chuuya: "???" atsushi: *AWKWARD COUGH* Montgomery: "...Oh. You." Chuuya: "..." *looks down* atsushi: hi....lucy. ._.;; Montgomery: -_-; "Hello, man who abandoned me." mahiru: oh, is this your um....significant other? Chuuya: .\\\\. atsushi: im sorry about that! Montgomery: "You should be! You left me without ever checking on me! I waited for you!" Kuro: .___. mahiru: *suddenly feeling awkward as hell* atsushi: i know i messed up, but i can make it up to you, honest! Montgomery: "H-How?! How will you make up for it?! When you weren't there, I felt so alone! I never want to feel like that again! You lied to me!" Chuuya: ._.; "...We just wanted our order..." atsushi: *sitting down* one coffee please. ._.;; Dazai: "Hi, everyone! Hi, Chuuya--see you're still short." Chuuya: "SONOFA--" Dazai: "Hi, Atsushi! Oh, hello, girl who was left hanging by Atsushi!" atsushi: *making an 'X' with his arms as if to say 'DAZAI STOP' * Montgomery: "!!! You want to go, you bandaged Detective pain in the butt?!" *glares at Atsushi* "You're gonna make up for this..." clerk: if you're gonna start a fight, please take it out to the alley. Montgomery: "Fine by me--I'm on break anyway!" Dazai: ^^ *claps* "Yay! Chuuya, I can put you on my shoulders so you can watch the brawl--" Chuuya: *growling* atsushi: h-hey now, lets just talk about this- Montgomery: *grabs Atsushi by the collar and drags him* atsushi: have mercyyyyyy! Q_Q mahiru:.....*awkwardly sips hot cocoa* o-o; kirako: *on the phone* yep, im fine.....no mother, im still single. Kuro: *licking up milk* Dazai: "Woo woo!" *follows Atsushi* Montgomery: "I am going to toss you into a nightmare..." -after that fiasco- atsushi: X-X owowowowowowowo...... Montgomery: >\\\\< "And it all serves you right! What kind of a tiger doesn't even fight back?!" atsushi: TT_TT curse my pacifistic nature... Dazai: "How did the lovers' spat go, you two?" atsushi: that-that's not-....i mean...i-.....it's....um.... ._.;;; Dazai: "You two just like getting handy with each other~" atsushi: WOAH NOW! lets back the bus up a little there! Montgomery: "MY FIST WILL GET HANDY WITH BOTH OF YOUR FACES IF YOU DON'T DROP IT!" atsushi: ._. yes ma'am Dazai: :3 *whispers* "Shipping it..." atsushi: -_- (thinking: i didnt expect to live out my young adult years like this...but ok.) Montgomery: "Just pay me my tip and leave..." *holds out her hand* Dazai: *whispers* "Tip her..." atsushi: ok! *hands her a 20* Montgomery: *stares, takes the $20* "It's a start..." Dazai: *nudges Atsushi's side* atsushi: *cough* kirako: ^^; Montgomery: "...You people are weird. So just make sure you pay up." *looks at Kirako* "You with them?" kirako: yeah. Montgomery: "Are they all idiots?" atsushi: !!! .///.;;;;; (thinking: nononononono) kirako:....define idiots. Montgomery: "Loud, obnoxious, no personal boundaries, fail to keep promises, make stupid faces--" Dazai: *behind Kirako, making a stupid face at Montgomery* kirako: dazai, please keep your tongue in your mouth. Dazai: "!!!" *does so...* ("...That's what she said...") Montgomery: "Like, is anyone at your agency responsible?" kirako: kunikida, fukuzawa, yosano, margie in accounting... Montgomery: "The supervisor, the boss, the doctor, and the accountant, right?" Dazai: D: ("Why didn't she say me?") kirako: yes. Montgomery: "At least that is less disconcerting." *points at Atsushi* "Don't you dare disrupt work at your Agency!" atsushi: understood! *salutes* Montgomery: "...Oh. Well...G-Good." Dazai: "I guess we're done here." *pats Atsushi* -elsewhere- Chuuya: "This is me. Thanks for the cafe stop." mahiru: no problem. you take care now sir! Chuuya: *nods* "Good day..." Kuro: *whispers* "He seemed irritable." mahiru: i guess..... Kuro: "...Probably lost someone." mahiru: i think so.... -inside- Chuuya: *opens his door* "..." mito: *nuzzles* Chuuya: *small smile, pets Mito* "Hey, Mito..." kouyou: welcome home, chuuya. Chuuya: "?!!! Kouyou?!" kouyou: what? a woman cant visit her adoptive son? Chuuya: "J-Just surprised at the visit..." kouyou: did you want something to drink? Chuuya: "...Water." kouyou:....by the way. i've noticed higuchi comes here often. Chuuya: "...Yes, I suppose she does." kouyou: .....chuuya.....im asking you this not as a fellow executive, but as a mother........are you and higuchi....*inches from his face* having an affair? Chuuya: "..." *brain snaps* "Wh-What?!! No! And how would that be an 'affair'?! Higuchi isn't dating anyone! ...Wait, is she dating anyone?" kouyou: i dont know. is she? *raises a brow* Chuuya: .\\\\\. "N-No? I wouldn't know! Because I'm not having anything sexual or anything to do with her or anyone!" -elsewhere- higuchi: !!! i dont know why, but i think im going to slap chuuya next time i see him. Mafioso: *thumbs up* -elsewhere- Akutagawa: "IT'S NOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, I SWEAR!" gin: i didnt say it looked like anything! Akutagawa: "The way your eyes look say it all!" T_T gin: *looking away*.....*cough*....care to explain then? Akutagawa: "...I was...trying to sleep?" *he has a pillow over him* gin:.....ok then. *walking away* Akutagawa: Q~Q ("What is wrong with me?!") -morning- Kid: *small whimper* stocking: *holding him close, humming* Kid: *holds onto her* "N-Not a good start th-this morning..." stocking: couldnt sleep? Kid: *shakes his head* "I was so worried..." stocking: ......*kisses his forehead* Kid: "Wh-What happens next...? I know you'll be here...I'm just worried..." stocking: i'm here kid....i always will be...*kiss* Kid: *nod nod* "I-I know...I love you." stocking: i love you too. u///u Kid: *lays his head next to her, holds her hand with a soft squeeze* stocking: hehe... *small kiss on his hands* Kid: ^\\\\^ "...Symmetrical." stocking: only the best for you, dear~ Kid: *small giggle, as he hugs her* -elsewhere- atsushi: a-CHOO! *sniffle* TT~TT Kyoka: "This is why you should have worn a mask." *wearing a mask...and gloves...and holding out glass of orange juice to him with a pair of tongs* atsushi: TT~TT *mumbling* darn you lucy, dragging me out in the rain and wrecking me.... Kyoka: "...She did what to you?" *flash of angry eyes* atsushi: o.o;;;; Kyoka: "I will teach her a lesson..." *Demon Snow pops up* atsushi: woah now, there's no need for tha-ACHOO! *sniffle* geh... Kyoka: "But she made you sick--that cannot be forgiven." atsushi: i-it's fine really...i kinda did deserve it... Kyoka: "...How so?" atsushi: i did make a promise to get her out from that place....and i screwed up. Kyoka: "...But she isn't there any longer." atsushi:.....*sigh* maybe i should talk to her. Kyoka: "Yes." *holds up a knife* "Be armed." -and so- atsushi: *knocks on the door* Montgomery: *from inside* "Hang on..." *looks through peephole* "...Oh. You." atsushi: hi lucy. i brought flowers. OuO;;; Montgomery: o\\\\o ("FLOWERS?!") *calms herself...opens the door* -\\\- "...What, this a date or something?" atsushi: *hands her the flowers* CONSIDER IT AN APOLOGY GIFT! >///<;;; Montgomery: "?!" *looks at the flowers...frowns* "This makes up for leaving me alone? ...I waited for you...and you never came back...and I...I..." atsushi: *COUGHING* ugh... s-sorry...sick.... Montgomery: "...You look hot. You must be running a temperature." atsushi: y-yeah.... =///=; Montgomery: "...Because of the rain..." *grabs his hand* atsushi: *his hand is getting a bit sweaty* um...y-yeah.... .//////.;;;; Montgomery: "Get in here. I'll make you feel all better." *pulls him inside and shuts the door* Kyoka: *pops up out of potted plant outside Montgomery's apartment* "...That witch." -elsewhere- Black Star: *pouting, on his hands and knees pleading* "Please? I'll be your best friend..." kyouko: cute, but rules are rules. soul: *light chuckle* kilik: *sweatdrop* Black Star: "But rules are meant to be broken! Come on, what do I have to do?" -elsewhere- Benimaru: *wearing glasses and fake nose* kirei:... *chuckling* hinata + hikage: X'D Benimaru: "I was trying to lighten up before the training gets underway. Did it work?" -elsewhere- Burns: *sets down two coffees* "Drink." dia:.....*sips* ..... Burns: "What can you tell me about the visitor? Did she have a name?" dia:....she called herself 'ozaki'...