#Is It Still Worth It? Let's Crunch the Numbers
Note
Could I request Matt Murdock x wife!reader, just something with them, they have a toddler aged child (named after Matt’s dad). Maybe hurt/comfort. Thank you
wordcount: 1383
warnings: assault, bit of blood, daredevil is daredevilin', hospital
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“C’mon buddy, let’s get home.” You felt bad, almost dragging Jack home from urgent care. He’d been steadily getting more and more sick, so you’d decided to take him tonight. One hand gripped his little hand and the other scrunched the brown bag with his prescription inside. You’d made him some soup earlier, and wanted nothing more than to give him a bath and put him to bed, and then fall into your husband’s arms to sleep.
“Care to help me out, Miss?” You hear a voice call out, presumably to you, but you keep on walking. You could hear the man grumble and the jingle of the coins in the can quieten, but you thought nothing of it as you slightly quickened your pace, deciding your best bet would be to pick Jack up as he was struggling to keep up with you.
“Mommy?” He whined, presumably upset with the pace you were keeping, bouncing him up and down on your hip with the speed.
“I know honey, but we gotta make it home. Don’t you wanna surprise Daddy before he gets home?” He nods enthusiastically, hiding his face in your neck.
“Mommy, that man is catching up with us.” Jack says, his dad having taught him about being vigilant of his surroundings.
“Yeah, bug?” You say, trying your best not to sound nervous, trying to dig into your pockets to find your phone and dial Matt.
You never made the call.
The man had grabbed you by the waist, practically throwing you into the alley next to you. Jack had landed safely, but you landed on your back. Sitting uo, vision blurry, you reach a hand to the back of your head where it had made contact with the ground, warm blood seeping onto your fingers. Your phone had skidded away from you, the cracked screen tauntingly displaying your husband’s picture and phone number.
“What’s in the bag?” He asks, gesturing a knife wildly to the prescription bag on the floor.
“Sir, please-” You try to reason with him.
“I asked you a question!”
“It’s flu medication! Flu medication for my son, please there’s nothing of worth in there.” He dumps out the bag on the ground, a bottle of medication rattling on impact. He picks it up and checks the label, and he must have realized that it was no worth to him as he threw it on the ground. You gesture to Jack, and he makes a mad dash to position himself behind you.
“You’ve gotta have somethin’ of worth on you, lady.” He turns the knife towards you, but before he can make impact, a sickening crunch of bones interrupts him, landing him against the ground in a rough fashion.
“Leave them be.” A voice rang out, one that sent chills down your spin as well as a feeling of warmth and comfort. The man foolishly takes a swing at Matt, and his actions are met with yet another hard impact.
You pull Jack into your lap, covering his eyes and ears so he doesn’t have to witness his father’s other personality. Matt pulls the other man up by the collar of his shirt, pushing him up against the bricks and throwing his fist, not stopping until you mutter his name under your breath.
“Get lost,” he says, “I don’t even want to find you messing with anyone else.” The man nods, sprinting away with gashes across his face to escape Matt.
“Daddy!” Jack runs over to Matt as he kneels down, burying his head in Matt’s shoulder.
“Hi buddy.” His voice is still hoarse from the grunting and the adrenaline running through his veins.
“Can you grab your medicine and Mommy’s bag while I check on her?” Jack nods and Matt plants a kiss on his head before getting up to check on you.
“Where’s the blood coming from?” He asks, voice softening with use.
“My head, back of my head.” He takes his glove off, gingerly weaving his fingers through your strands of hair, stopping when he feels the warmth of blood and your quiet whimper.
“You’ll have to go to the hospital for this,” he says, “they have to make sure it isn’t a concussion.”
“Can you come with?” You ask.
“Course I can. I just gotta run home to change. Is it alright if I drop you off there?” You nod. He stands, reaching his hands out to take yours and help you stand. He turns to Jack.
“Can you hand Mommy her purse?” He nods, your purse almost dragging on the floor because of how small your son is.
“Matty, what-”
“Don’t worry your head about that. I’ll drop you off, take him home, and then change and meet you at the hospital.” He presses a kiss to your lips, and then leans down to carry Jack on his back.
“Are you holding on tight?” He asks, and Jack hums his agreement.
“I can walk on my own,” you say, Matt immediately taking a defensive stance, “I can make it, it’s only a few blocks.”
“Sweetheart-”
“I can make it. Keep Jack safe and make sure he takes his meds, I’ll see you when you put on appropriate clothes.” He shakes his head.
“Fine, but I’m following you all the way.”
“Okay.”
He’d called Claire while following you, asking her to take care of you. She agreed, and was there to bring you in from the door. Your cracked phone buzzed a few minutes later, a message appearing from Matt saying he and Jack had made it home.
“Is it throbbing?” Claire asks.
“Starting to.”
“Hm, that’s the adrenaline wearing off.” She separates your hair, cleaning off the sticky blood with alcohol wipes to make sure the bleeding has stopped. She does her assessment, diagnosing you with a concussion, and keeps you there for monitoring.
“Matt’s here,” she says after about twenty minutes, “he brought the kid.” Sure enough, you hear the stomping of little shoes running down the hallway towards your room, little four-year-old sneezing and sniffling Jack pushing himself up onto your bed.
“Mommy!” He shouts, nuzzling up to you. You laugh, watching him burrow his way into your blankets. Claire pats Matt on the shoulder, and he turns his attention towards you once she steps out.
“Hey,” he smiles, pressing a kiss to your forehead, “how are you feeling?”
“Head’s throbbing, but I’ve got Doctor Jack,” you tickle his sides and he giggles, “to take care of me.” Matt smiles down at the two of you, reaching up to remove his glasses.
“I was telling Daddy, he went ‘boom!’ and ‘pow!’ and he scared that man off, Mommy! Did you see? Daddy looked so cool!” Jack excitedly babbles.
“I did see, bug, but you gotta keep that a secret, okay?” You say.
“Daredevil is my favorite superhero.” He says, and Matt grins widely.
“Okay, buddy. Let’s get on this couch and let Mommy get some sleep, okay?” He nods, reaching his arms up towards Matt, who takes him and lays him on top of his chest.
“Goodnight, Mommy. Goodnight, Daddy.” He says, voice still nasally but sounding just a bit brighter.
“Goodnight, Jack, we love you.” You say, turning over and letting sleep take you.
Matt stays awake, the background noise of the hospital too loud to rest. Jack is mouth breathing on his chest, and he can’t get mad at the kid either, he’s getting over a nasty flu, and the patient in the room next door has a wheezing issue. His head aches.
“Matt?” He hears your voice call out.
“What is it? Are you in pain?” He whispers back.
“No, but I can hear you thinking.”
“It’s just loud,” he sighs, “struggling to rest.” He hears you sit up, rummaging around somewhere.
“What are you doing?” He asks.
“Here, catch.” You toss him a small container.
“What’s this?”
“Earplugs. Just enough to block out most of the sound, but not enough to block out what’s near you.”
“You didn’t have to.” He says, slipping them in. Sure enough he can still hear your’s and Jack’s heart beats, but not the wheezing next door anymore, or the beeping a few floors away.
“How’s that feel?” You ask.
“It feels amazing, thank you.”
“Love you, Matty.”
“Love you too.”
#matt murdock#matt murdock fluff#matt murdock fanfic#matt murdock request#matt murdock x fem!reader#matt murdock x female reader#matt murdock x wife!reader#matt murdock x wife reader#dad matt murdock#dad!matt murdock#matt murdock x reader#matt murdock x you#daredevil
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AFTER 8 MONTHS OF WRITING AND NONSENSE AND WRITING- I PRESENT 'LA VIE EN ROSE' PART 1
ASULILI NATION MAKE SOME NOISEEEE | thanks to @scalproie , @headlessstar , @pettyeti for your encouragement and feedback
Summary:
'The Seventh Iron Fist Tournament has ended. In its aftermath under the Mishima-G Corp conflicts, the world lays fractured into ravaged wastelands and pockets of civilization under a facade of normalcy. Asuka Kazama returns home, reminded there is no ground she can stand on untouched. And with persistent Lili sticking like a bad itch, their entwined fates form her a lone island.'
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20k words per part from here on. Three parts total. I will be building the events between Tekken 7's ending for Asuka and Lili into just before Tekken 8 would start. I will be using canon, Harada's statements, and my two essays I recommend reading as guides.
Asuka Essay | Lili Essay
PLAYLIST GO BRRRRRRR
EDIT: I decided to also just dump the entire part 1 on tumblr then decide how I wanna share the rest moving forward
NEW: PART 2 POST
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1
SE BATTRE C'EST TOUS
She held her breath and the numbers came. One, two, three, four, five…she could still smell the roses piled in the training hall. Sighing she opened her eyes and paced, arms crossed, around and around the doorway until she tripped over a shoe. Asuka threw out her hands, let herself collapse then slide down the wall into a slump. Tightness gripped her chest as she chewed her bottom lip. First had been the roses, roses of every color, size, and shape she’d never attempt counting. Everything was polished blinding like the sun and all things broken were now shiny replacements; Asuka still had no idea which button on the new microwave simply heated her leftovers.
Next had been coming home, standing in their kitchen, to watch Dad’s face worn and lined face split with a grin. The pile of bills that used to sit on the table had vanished, becoming a single check he’d waved like it’d disappear. Then of course Lili didn’t even bother showing up with her for any of it; creating yet another mess before pulling out of reach. The confused silences punctuating arguments between them over the flight home were broken when they’d landed at the airport. ‘Return ahead of me Asuka Kazama. I need a day to arrange my things.’ Lili had said, wearing a smirk before flipping her hair and strutting away. The once in a lifetime thrill at hot meals and extending seats aboard first class had evaporated. How the hell did you respond to that? So she’d braced herself and crossed the threshold of her house, alone.
Now she was crouched here, her mind in knots. Dad would probably be halfway done shopping for the huge welcome party dinner he’d bragged about. They needed to thank Lili properly, of course, his eyes seeming to go right through Asuka when he said so. To the end no matter how she protested or hovered over his limping strolls from point A to point B, he gave her a glare. Said that he’d taken her coddling for too long; the doctors had discharged him for a reason. Her hand curled a fist but stopped short of hitting the wall. No point in ruining what was indeed fixed, even if it could be fixed again. No way would she create another reason for Lili to call her a brute. Then the rumble and crunch of a car tire beyond the door perked up her ears; snapping her from her stillness.
Asuka looked through the peephole.
The white off Lili’s limo flashed orange into her eyes under the setting sun. The thing blocked off their courtyard as the driver’s side opened; out came a wrinkled old man hustling in his tailed suit for the passenger’s side door. She turned away. She’d hold out on looking at her until that final, final second it became unavoidable. Instead she could imagine Lili’s self-satisfied smirk, the confident strut as she dragged her suitcase worth a hundred little hole in the wall houses, the haughty air in her laugh that’d come whenever Asuka so much as stared. She hummed in concentration imagining her perfect hair, perfect poise, flawless as she claimed her prize. No! The brave thing would be looking that dumbass right in her stupid eyes. ‘You don’t get control of everythin’ you want!’
Suddenly the doorbell rang making her jolt and yelp. She opened the door and there stood Queen Dumbass, lifting pink tinted aviator shades that covered her face. A silver rope necklace glinted around the collar of an outfit Asuka didn’t attempt guessing the price for. The limo was gone. Lili clicked her tongue; somehow her long blonde hair remained flawless. But there was, if only for an instant, tiredness beneath her stare. She leaned over her tall and wiry enough to block the door. Like so many times before Asuka’s words died on her tongue.
“Good day Asuka Kazama. Have you recovered from our flight? We have much to do if I’m going to train, and I can’t have you slacking.”
Stand tall, now.
“I’m fine. Don’t go expecting a summer camp here you ass. Might be your name on the deed these days but I was born here, right in the living room.”
Her thick Osakan drawl dragged and cut the words of her temper by their syllables. Lili stood unfazed, cocking her head in that blurred line between annoyance and amusement Asuka never understood.
“Well then you’ll know which room I’ll be staying in, how many meals I’ll eat, and exactly what our regimen will be already. I am the only student after all. Or are my expectations too high for one as knowledgeable as you? Perhaps you will find some other way to meddle and fuss during my stay. Father’s wealth is why we can stand where we are.”
Lili flicked Asuka’s forehead, swaggering inside and rolling her luggage behind her. A duffle hung from her shoulders, jostling Asuka as she passed. She scowled jostling her right back.
“Wha’ was that for?!”
“For being so very you. Now, my room if you’d please?”
“Yeah, yeah upstairs follow me.”
Upstairs meant passing several floorboards whose every creak made her heart lighter. Some things stayed the same. Asuka carried the suitcase as they climbed, and after a pause realized another floral scent was flooding her senses. It grew stronger each step she watched Lili climb forward.
‘Perfume? Damn it smells good.’
She bit her lip. Give them a week and she doubted this girl would keep primping herself up like a show dog. The gears in her mind whirled rearranging tomorrow’s plan as they reached the top.
“It’s on the left, close to the stairs for any going back an’ forth. I’ll put your things down so you don’t knock nothin’ over.”
“How rude! Don’t treat me like some monkey; I’m capable of minding my surroundings!”
“As capable as those fancy kicks of yours leave you wide open in a fight, sure.”
“Asuka Kazama you insufferable little…”
Growling Lili spun around setting upon her, pride wounded. She spotted the way her body drew back a second too long and rushed forward. ‘You still have that habit?’ One step sideways slid her out the way letting Lili pitch into air. Asuka lunged. It came an instant too late. Grappling and tussling each other had them tripping through the doorway, until forgetting the weight of her duffle saw Lili topple to the floor. Asuka planted her feet on instinct and pulled Queen Dumbass up as if it were reflex. The force thrust Lili clinging against her chest; for an instant she stood close enough to feel her gasp.
Asuka felt her body freeze, her face fixed in confusion finding Lili’s doe eyed expression. Then it was gone when she watched her glance around. Shelves covered in books, photos, and trophies lined the north most wall above a computer desk. The curtains were white around an opened window above a single bed. A dresser with a mirror and CD player hugged the western wall. Several spare bicycle parts were piled in a corner peeking out of a full trunk. At their feet a futon sat atop a plush rug.
“Are we…in your room?”
Asuka let go of her and stacked the luggage aside, crossing her arms.
“This ain’t a five star hotel; there wasn’t no other place to put you. It’s my room, my rules. Don’t go gettin’ ideas. You’re sleeping on the floor.”
She expected protest, an insult, any kind of resistance. Instead Lili nodded and gave the futon a once over. She spent greater time standing in awe like this were a museum exhibit she’d paid a personal tour for. Asuka’s skin flushed, but before her temper spilled Dad’s voice called from downstairs.
“Girls? Asuka? Is our guest home yet or can you help me with the cooking?”
“Cooking? Did he say cooking?”
“Yeah it’s for your moving in an’ all. Just stay here and look pretty. I doubt you’ve ever cooked in your life.”
She stuck her head out and yelled back.
“I’m comin’ Dad! She’s here in my room don’t worry.”
From behind her came the sounds of bags being unzipped. When she turned around Lili knelt knee deep in stacks of clothes for every occasion, dresses included. There were several tailored bags some of them spilling makeup tools next to bottles she couldn’t see the labels of. She watched her lean back and forth from bag to bag; it was like a cat pawing at yarn. Asuka swallowed a laugh. Lili didn’t notice. Instead she shooed her with a wave of the hand.
“Go on then. I need to make myself presentable. Where is your bathroom?”
“Last door on the right down the hall.”
“Don’t sound so dejected. You are killing the mood.”
She didn’t look at her as she spoke. A suck of her teeth felt reply enough. When she walked away she heard a confident ‘Thank you as always.’ Her chest tightened. A breeze followed her wake down the stairs.
Dad limped around the kitchen pulling out pots and setting oil to heat on their best skillets. Meat, vegetables, seasonings, a fruit platter, tiny cakes, even the takoyaki fryer- her mind grew fuzzy just counting everything. For a pause her eyes followed him, the tightness lingered.
“Oh there you are girl. Come and cut the lettuce for me.”
She gave him a once over from his strong and sweaty lined brow down to his quietly bent leg. He must be straining just standing there. Without thinking she set about washing her hands, placing things within his reach before he knew he needed them; then came prepping. Her face felt stiffer than her chopping once they settled into a rhythm. From the corner of her eye she watched him drag his steps a breath too long; at times when she passed on one prepped ingredient, he stood slumped over the counter. Asuka set down her knife.
“Dad. Why?”
Takoyaki sizzled.
“Why what?”
“Selling the house…not chasing after that bastard who crushed the dojo an’ gave you your wounds. Your coma. We could’ve figured it out ourselves.”
“…We talked about this.”
“And it makes no sense to me!” She shouted, slamming her palms and rattling the cutting board with a thud.
He glared dead at her straight backed, cold eyed, impassable. His lips were pursed with the unsaid that no longer bore repeating. Immediately she recoiled and the fire that twisted her face in anger began wavering. Goosebumps shot across her skin. When he spoke it was deep, rough as gravel; resigned but not bitter.
“Asuka, Asuka I won’t say this again. We’ve gotta survive. That’s all there is to it. They can bust me up, they can drive our students away, but there’s always a way out if you’re alive. You don’t spit on a helping hand.”
“I’m your daughter; it’s my job to be the helping hand. I just need to double my training and some time. There’s no point begging from anyone, much less the asshole that keeps picking fights with me! This is another one of her shams Dad; you should kick her to the curb and let me protect us!”
“Keeping my family does not mean I’ve lost!”
His nose flared and eyes shot wide with ferocity, with pain, as if she’d pressed fingers into an open gash. She recoiled, shuddering in silence. There remained nothing left to say. Slowly, slowly her breath returned; her blood warmed again. Then someone cleared their throat behind her. Asuka turned, rushing the break of the spell hanging over the air, to find Lili stood like a deer in headlights. Thinly applied blush and the sheen of lip gloss colored her face. Dad’s stare felt as if it kept burning holes through the back of her head. Whatever kept Lili stunned broke when she gave them a graceful bow. ‘You’re lovin’ this aren’t you.’
Yet the look Lili wore made her chest ache.
“Good Evening Mr. Kazama, sir. I apologize for any disturbances my presence has caused; a pleasure to meet you face to face.”
“Yes, please come in make yourself at home. Help yourself to as much as you’d like.” Dad said softly, ignoring Asuka’s bent, pleading expression as he wiped his hands on his apron.
Only a few finishing touches remained for the dishes. As she worked Lili sat waiting lost in thought each time she glanced a different spot. Sometimes, for the barest instant, she felt her stare linger a second too long. But whenever she glanced back Lili had moved on. When they plated the okonomiyaki, takoyaki, udon, oshizushi, and more around the hot pot center piece- that made her balk.
It’d been Dad’s idea to offer her everything Osakan and the kitchen sink if need be; Lili accepted bite after bite with firm grace. With turns of phrase she joked, listened, chatted as if Dad were an old friend. Asuka sat mute unless asking for seconds or giving a clipped word or two, or three. Her glares seemed to deter nothing. She watched one of Lili’s smiles, oshizushi stuffed in her mouth. For whatever reason Lili didn’t focus on her, didn’t pry the fresh cuts she’d overheard. ‘I think I used too much broth in the hot pot…’
Steeping in the bath after a wash, Asuka watched the moon hang obscured by clouds. Heart pounding, she rolled back her head. The ceiling was blank.
Night was giving way to blue dawn when her alarm blared. Fumbling she flipped her phone open to shut it off, eyes squinting as half of her read the time- the other half still dreamed of darkness. The screen blasted full on her face. Five thirty in the morning; time to get up. Various bottles, makeup tools, and pouches littered the surface of her dresser. Hairclips, brushes, ties, and ribbons (one set for the hair another to pin at the chest) were scattered in the space between. A handful of mirrors in a ridiculous range of sizes threatened toppling when she rummaged for clothes; she sucked her teeth. Even her things were starting to smell expensive.
Her closet had been overtaken until the hangars were bursting, and the most enormous or excess dresses that couldn’t fit hung from wall hooks. What had been hers with its white and aqua walls, bike posters, and her parts box now became something cheaply soundproofed by lace. Lace buried even the flutter she once enjoyed from her white curtains. Everything was pink or silver or both or cream and red and grey and purple and she swallowed a scream. The last drops of sleep evaporated under her anger as she kneeled. Lili slept piled under the futon straight backed; a velvet mask embroidered with flowers over her eyes. A neat collection of stuffed animals ringed her body. Her breaths were so quiet she could pass for dead. Asuka considered it for a split second. She poked her cheek.
“Hey wake up. Training starts before school.”
Nothing, she poked her harder.
“C’mon you can hear me can’t you?”
A sudden mumble then jerk, but still she slept. Asuka groaned into a growl, leaning right into her face.
“Wake the hell up dumbass!”
“AAAUGH!”
Lili shot upright slamming them together, a breeze from the impact shifting Asuka and sending her rolling across the floor. Pain exploded, purple spots flashed her vision then were gone.
‘Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck-‘
“Fuuuckk!”
“My god what’s wrong with you?”
“You! You and your forehead nearly killed me.”
“What did you expect yelling so close like that? You’re not even bleeding. I thought someone came to kill me! Or rob us, or both.”
Asuka grumbled then settled into a scowl. She felt her face tenderly; Lili was right. Her head throbbed but hadn’t caught a scratch.
“Whatever. Keep your voice down or Dad might wake up. Sorry.”
Lili grimaced as she pulled off her eye mask, tossing it over a shoulder as she stood and yawned.
“Why are we up before the sun anyway? My beauty sleep will be ruined.”
Asuka sighed.
“Training.”
By the time they’d each had their turn fishing in the dresser true dawn dappled through the windows. Thankfully Lili matched her careful pace and save for their footfalls the house laid blanketed between quiet and nature’s white noise. Asuka glanced at her from the corner of her eye. Lili wore her hair pinned in a bun with an upturned tail, a headband cupping her bangs; both were paired by a compression tank top that hugged everything, and flowy sweatpants. From the midriff down were stitched roses and sharp curving vines. It wasn’t bad, and that made her bite her lip.
Her nose twitched when she could smell the training hall before they entered it. The rainbow of roses was now wilted; their grey brittle shells crunching under her feet. Musk of decay mixed with rancid sweetness filled her mouth. Behind her she heard coughing followed by a dry gag. Lili threw a hand over her lips; her eyes startled wide.
“My poor things…”
She watched her shift forward and Asuka threw out an arm to stop her, gently. Lili’s body had a softness to it, but to her surprise she felt muscle only practice produced. A jolt like a warm electric shock raced up her arm. She replied firm like it could restrain a tinge of regret.
“I saved the ones I could but they were already half dead when I came home. Then the ones I threw into vases died a little while after too.”
“You tried.”
Lili whispered absentmindedly, a hint of disbelief. Asuka sucked her teeth. Did she come off heartless to this girl? It was completely unfair, after all-
“None of them had to die if you hadn’t thought to leave a bunch of flowers without water. That’s so wasteful and stupid.”
“Making things beautiful is not stupid; you lack refined tastes. Being an uncouth boor seems to better suit you.”
“Yeah well, whatever that means, at least I have sense.”
They stomped at one another, their faces drawn close enough to feel the heat rising after every word. Asuka bit her lip; her jaw tightened into a scowl. Then, rather than argue and scrunch further, Lili ‘Hmph’d’ and turned away.
“We’re wasting time if we’re going to get any practice done before school.”
“No. I will be practicing forms. You can clean this up; it’s your mess. I’m not showing you squat for however long that takes.”
Before Lili could bark another complaint from her twitching mouth Asuka pointed a finger.
“Look up.”
Above the doorway rested the outline of bright untouched wood versus the rest of the dark wall polished by age. Its straight lines and angles formed the shape of a missing rectangle. Lili cocked her head, her expression stilled.
“What was there?”
“Dad hung our school’s motto on a plaque before I was born. It was nailed right in that spot, until that Kempo bastard snapped it like a twig when he trashed the place.”
Every syllable saw her blood boil, every word guiding the drum of her heart pounding in her ears. The hairs on her nape stood not stiff in fear as it was rage howling for release. In her vision there rested only the naked wall, nothing else.
“I need to get stronger, hunt him, and then I’m taking our school sign back. That one he stole like it was nothin’ but some cheap trophy. When he’s begging mercy at my feet, it won’t be over till he’s pissing, shitting, and eating through tubes!”
Spittle flew through the bite of her last word. Her heart turned to roaring in her ears; not her heart entirely but the rush of air, she realized, when she heard a gasp beyond it. Lili stood, that doe eyed stare returned now bordering on panic as she trembled softly. Glancing at the floor Asuka found her own fists had clenched. Since when? Her body had grown tight, pain beginning to throb in deeper knots along her limbs, her back. She breathed in then out. Her voice became stifled.
“Whenever we’re here we have to bow at the sign, got it? That’s all.”
She did so, half in demonstration and half in fervor; a perfect tilt neither too high nor too in the middle. When she walked away roses parted at the force on her heels. Lili said nothing, but she heard faint shuffling, a pause, followed by more movement fuzzing at the edge of her awareness. Forms, she needed to concentrate on her forms now. Bending down in the middle of the hall she cleared a circle then straightened into position. Breathe in then out.
First came arm stretches followed by meaty pops from both shoulders, she shivered into a sigh at those. Then she bent over feeling the burn in her hamstrings before it fizzled out. Slowly she stretched out one leg at a time for her sitting hamstring work, then ankle flexes. The routine loosening each limb emptied her mind, honed her focus into a single razor point.
There was a nagging presence circling the edge of her awareness, she launched into White Heron Dance. Its sequence was familiar, her roundhouse kicks spinning her with whirlwind momentum into a sucker punch that curved the air in passing. Moon Scent would be next. She threw herself downward, bouncing from a handstand as she speared her legs into an upward arc. Like a looping bird she let gravity carry her backflip, fluid as water. Her stomp boomed when she landed upright again. She caught her breath, readying to jab when the presence danced across her skin, refusing now to hide.
Asuka glanced at Lili, wrinkling her brow in confusion when the girl kept staring as if mesmerized. She scoffed. A rich girl had probably never seen anyone who worked for their skills, much less the sturdy muscle years of technique carved along Asuka’s body. Even other girls during P.E. class at school were prissy about it- until she’d once sent a few flying. None of them had ever turned as red as Lili now was though.
“What? Quit grilling me unless you’ve got something to say.”
Lili turned away and swept the roses slower. The flush on her face reached her fingertips.
“Sh-Shut your mouth.” Was all Asuka heard her grumble.
She adjusted her crop top and shifted her shorts. The modest room seemed to shrink the longer neither moved. Then just like that Lili went back to sweeping as she jabbed the first steps of Basho’s Dance.
Together they faced the walk to school. One glance at the battered frame and missing bolts of Asuka’s bike had her tugging Lili along before a word could shoot out her mouth. It was left leaning against the house; her stomach sank at Lili having seen it at all. Then she was under a barrage.
First the streets were nice to walk but crowded easily yet it was better than Monaco. The weather was too cold at a slight breeze despite it being May. They were too far away to smell the ocean. There were no gull calls floating readily through the air in their neighborhood. Despite this the buildings were beautiful, quaint, and street signs were a splendid rainbow. Asuka’s uniform, though handsome with a popped collar and short sleeves, was too typical. Nothing could change it being a sweater vest over a dress shirt and a skirt, how very dull. It lacked the refined precision of a superior tailor- Lili had a dozen points proving as much. And that was why she’d had hers custom ordered to her measurements in a green complimenting her as well as the hand sown cuffs. Her butler, Sebastian, had arranged paying off their principal so she could keep it on. She had something to say after every other block; it took only three before Asuka wished she’d shut the fuck up. Instead she rested her bag over her shoulder, her chin held high, and humored her anyway.
Homeroom finally divided them by school year, and even if she whined about it and rolled her eyes, Lili relented. Teachers shooed her away toward the Second Years by the time Asuka sat her ass in the Third Year class she rightfully belonged with. Everyone else clustered around their circles of the room, chatting about gossip she didn’t understand. Understanding hadn’t been a privilege she’d held since her first time storming back, that Kempo bastard having been nowhere she could reach. It would be almost a year ago since she’d flung desks out the window when one boy joked ‘At least you got to be a tourist while the rest of us took exams!’ The suspension afterwards marred her student record, yet when she’d been yelled at in the faculty office she’d felt nothing. There’d been only the off white of the florescent lights, fury killing the pain into numbness.
Their homeroom teacher whose name she couldn’t remember called everyone’s attention. The pockets of gossip went back to their rank and file seats for roll call and bowing. Waiting for her name to be called she stood, a handful of glances finding her staring at the wall clock. Behind her more gazes merged and bore upon her shoulders. Whispers tickled her ears buzzing like gnats, silenced when their tired teacher asked,
“Asuka Kazama?”
“Here.”
She sat down when he passed her over and leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, brow narrowed. It was every day with this shit. When the lecture started she pulled out her notebooks in silence. Half of her listened; reason kept her anger lidded to a simmer.
History was today’s first subject. It was something about the Sengoku Era picking up off yesterday’s lesson. She hadn’t kept track since chasing Lili at the seventh Iron Fist Tournament; with the bombings, cities in rubble, and armies mowing each other down on the news, studying felt as much a moot point. Her hand clenched in her hair absentmindedly as she took notes on Nobunaga Oda’s last stand at Honnō-ji. His own men had turned and cornered him like a rat. In the crowd around her some jeering or nervous faces turned away when she returned their stares. Many had been weak little squirts running to her covered in bruises when they were in elementary school. She’d charged their bullies and taken blows she’d showed off to Dad wearing a toothy grin. Her enemies were left groaning on the pavement, worthless against the latest technique she’d trained. Asuka’s eyes stuck to her paper, gritting her teeth.
Math came next. An equation that stretched a good width of the chalkboard had her cocking her head, a brow raised incredulously. Then the worst possible thing happened as she squinted in frustration- the teacher locked eyes with her.
“Ms. Kazama, can you tell us the correct answer?”
Two people snickered. She stood and crossed her arms. It was algebra she recognized but never exceled at. If she multiplied, subtracted, carried the one and divided she’d get…
“Er, uh, is it four?”
Pain swatted against her forehead flashing purple spots in her vision. Something clattered at her feet and when she crunched it underfoot she found chalk dust.
“Perhaps you’d know if you took your education seriously. Next.”
She balled her hands at her sides growling into a scowl. Not caring for surrender she flopped back down into her seat and stared into her notes. Then came more whispers,
“Kazama struggles with math worse than I do…”
“Of course she does all she cares about is fighting.”
“Don’t let her hear you or she’ll turn into Violent Kazama!”
Literature class left her tongue tied and head swimming in muddy metaphors. One book’s story could contain a million answers and counter answers, and then there was the view teachers wanted you to have. She wasn’t picked for a read aloud, sighing in relief at that. Still, she tried looking as neutral as her face could tolerate. Her fists clenched on her desk.
‘How the hell am I supposed to know what some author’s going through? Nothing’s going right with me!’
She didn’t even want to attempt English. The straight and curved squiggles of letters on the board were jumbled nonsense. Her notes tapered into messy lines. The borders of her page became busy with scribbles. In one she trampled that Kempo bastard underfoot, holding her dojo’s sign above her head, triumphant. In another Dad practiced his form grinning ear to ear. Then without thinking she drew curve after curve until Lili’s arrogant eyes and unknowable smile framed in a detailed portrait stared up at her. She sucked her teeth quietly.
Lunch came without fanfare when everyone again went in their little corners eating together. Some people scraped their chairs loudly when they moved seats; when she looked around she sat alone. Even the bullied loner kids had made a camp of their own. They shot her nervous, pitiful glances. Tch. She scowled into a sigh. Her lunch amounted to a protein shake and the bento she normally made slapped together without order. The rice, unshaped and seaweed scattered, half buried her sliced sausage. The pickled radishes, lettuce, and sliced carrots spilled over the rectangle cut omelets and nearly the rest of the box. Her hamburger steak felt fucking pathetic squished at the center of it all. The nonsense that morning, and Lili’s cluelessness doing anything herself made Asuka rush in the kitchen. Before she could wallow her stomach growled.
Whispers beat against her as she ate.
“Stupid.”
“Nosey.”
“Thug.”
“Didn’t you hear? What if she’s related to that Jin Kazama, the terrorist…?”
“Enough people end up in the hospital ‘cuz of her. Even if they’re mostly punks…”
She gritted her teeth and glared like she could punch using her eyes. Her name went quiet after that. After the final bell for the day she checked the chalkboard and breathed a sigh of relief. She wasn’t on cleaning duty this time, and that made her steps ten times lighter out the door. Her bag went on her shoulder, swaggering even as the tips of her ears flushed. A pair of girls walking toward her staggered and speed walked away at one glance. Asuka growled and the weight in her steps thud off the walls like trampling hooves. She turned the corner to find them opening their shoe lockers. They gasped, bug eyed as they gaped like the idiots they were, fumbling to get their loafers on. The taller one fell against the lockers and yelped letting her lackey drag her away. She dashed forward and yelled after them,
“Go ahead and fuck off! That’s right! I hate you too!”
She sucked her teeth kicking off her school slippers, angry enough to never care again. When she opened her locker a presence hovered by her left-
“These people are largely lacking in the social graces, it seems. How awful.”
The hairs on her nape stood and her grip grabbing her shoes turned her knuckles white. Her jaw clenched, for a breath she stared ahead utterly still. When she slammed her locker shut Lili jolted but recovered as if not a hair were out of place. She threw her shoes to the ground and shoved into them one foot at a time. She didn’t bother looking at her until there were no options left. The heat rose like steam off her skin; her face scrunched into a glare that made Lili cock her head. Asuka stared her up and down. Lili stood rod straight holding her bag in front of her with both hands; a picture perfect schoolgirl waiting poised like some cliché out of an old drama. Like a cat sitting in a high place it didn’t belong; ignorant to any wrong it’d done.
She leaned up right in her face. The air wrapped around them hot, stale, bristling.
“You made it worse.” The words practically spat out her mouth.
“I beg your pardon?”
“First I had to go chase my Dad’s enemy halfway across the world; people gave me shit for ‘overreacting’. People started doubting what I’ve done for them. They think I just want to fight. Then you came along pulling me into whatever this petty bullshit grudge you have is. You made me show up to the Iron Fist Tournament on live TV missing more school, and what do I find when I meet you? You’re not making any sense talking about my family, what fucked up bloodlines I belong to; the drama that’s destroying the world could come after me. Buying my house, moving in! Now they think I’m like the idiots I clean up on the streets and treat me even worse!”
Finally Lili’s brow pinched.
“Petty? You think what I do is petty?”
“What else is this shit supposed to be? I’ve only met you three times and you’re already ruining my life.”
“Ruining- I can’t believe this. Our rematch outside this school was for my honor after you trounced me at our first meeting. Everything since however has been for your benefit-“
“Don’t you dare say that-“
“I just don’t understand your anger over something practical-“
“THIS IS YOUR FAULT!”
A gale roared flinging Lili’s hair wild as a shaking tree; she stumbled then froze in terror. Asuka felt nothing but the stinging of her blood, a burning on her skin. Then she followed Lili’s stare. Her right fist trembled, raised mid punch, her twitching muscle all that leashed it as if it were a tugging dog. Her ears were ringing. Her tongue felt like pins and needles. Blood trickled down her knuckles from a few tiny cuts. It was so strange; she could see the heat haze rising off her wounds. Her mind went blank.
“Asuka…”
Her tendons flexed as she forced her arm down. The thud of her bag hitting the floor came muffled to her. To breathe shook her body one wheeze after another. Behind her long shadows smothered all warmth from the room.
Her voice was ice.
“Fuck you.”
She took off sprinting outside not caring what direction took her so long as she flew anywhere else. Far, far, and far away; anywhere else. The streets blurred past into denser and denser blocks lined with bright neon or metal signs. Lanes and corners went from mostly empty to small crowds parting at her wrath.
‘Where…where’s some punks…where?!’
The soles on her shoes squeaked as she dipped into an alley. She heard voices pop into existence and her ears perked.
“Got a problem asshole? This is our turf.”
“Not last week it wasn’t, you assholes keep pushin’ your way in here. You got no respect!”
“What’d you say fuckin’ tough guy?”
“Eat shit and give it up!”
Ahead of her figures lunged together until they became two big guys locked in each other’s grip. She flung herself high, tucked in, then thrust out both legs.
“Hold it right there!”
Instantly her heels bashed against their skulls crashing them together; she flipped and rolled safely off their domes. When she stood up there were no exits, just two gangs bunched shoulder to shoulder. At least twelve boys her age now circled her gawking and silent. She got up slowly, catching a deep breath then stopped.
Stand tall, now.
The pair she’d crashed into rolled and groaned clutching themselves before going dead still. They were blacked out. Good. She liked these odds. A guy wearing a jumpsuit stitched with catchphrases and his hair slicked back pointed at her.
“Who the fuck are you?”
She dusted off her hands then put one on her hip and smirked.
“Nothing belongs to either of you; the least you can do is not fight where everyone can see. You’re disturbing the peace. Go knock each other out in private, got it?”
Taking a step forward she stabbed her finger on the flashy guy’s chest.
“That’s me telling you as the Gang Mediator of Osaka, Asuka Kazama!”
A heavy silence passed where only a breeze whistled through. Then roaring laughter burst into her ears without buildup. She scowled but before she could react the guy grabbed her wrist.
“You’re so full of it, look there’s blood on her knuckles and she’s talking about ‘disturbing the peace’ gyahahahaha!”
‘Shit.’
Then something deeper hummed, it liked these odds.
“What’re you gonna do arrest us? Where’s your badge?”
“We can handle cunts like you!”
She tried snatching her hand away but he gripped it tight; his eyes narrowed like he’d stepped in fresh shit. She sighed.
“Put the turf on hold let’s get this bitch.”
As he grinned she gripped him by the hand he held and yanked them together. One of her legs swept his left shin; the instant he stumbled her fist slammed into his jaw. Woozy, he started crumpling when her kick flew into his nose. The next guy hurled a right cross she dodged, seizing his arm and flipping him to let momentum do the rest. He hit the ground with a smack, her heel stomping his throat. More goons scrambled to corner her from every side; thinking fast she chopped one’s windpipe and shoved another with both palms. She dashed between the gaps he left as he fell into the others, toppling some into a groaning pile.
The guys left standing chased her into the alley she’d come from, not bothering to look around until she readied herself. By then their mistake sealed them into a single file row but still they raged.
‘Now ya really asked for it!’
She went low planting her hands on the ground before kicking in a perfect arc on her backflip. The rubber of her soles bounced knocking a guy’s chin backwards. A few teeth clattered to the pavement. She caught her breath and ran as more trampled him underfoot. It was a few meters until she could see the sign lined street peeking ahead. She booked it, narrowly emerging in time to sidestep a grab for her hair. Again she ducked sweeping the guy’s ankle; bashing his shin, and then sprung into a one two punch. In an instant his head knocked around harder than a jiggling water balloon. With a roar she thrust a kick forward booting him easy as a door. They cried and shouted under another pile up. One avoided the spill and charged; two punches whipped together was her answer.
“Somebody hit her already!”
“Stop pushing!”
“Who stepped on my new sneakers?”
“This bitch is stronger than a fucking gorilla!”
Again some lunged after her but she was shorter, faster, and nimble as the wind she sent them falling in a row. Then pain slammed her from behind shooting lightning across her spine. Crying out she stumbled but didn’t slump. Not wasting precious seconds she felt her neck rock sideways as she turned; the boy’s punch glanced her and even half its power crashed like a waterfall.
‘Fuck…’
“I got her!”
Roaring, Asuka pivoted into a back turn throwing herself behind her right shoulder; he slammed against a building, bouncing off the wall. His body dropped useless as a sack of meat. Everything went quiet; every eye had traced the arc of his flight. She gathered her breath, huffing and slinking back into stance. Her hands waited, palms slicked with sweat the same as her hair sticking to her forehead. Her clothes were getting damp; this had to end soon, Dad’s voice chided echoing in her mind. A grimace shut him out. Carefully she watched them and planted her feet. Anger cinched her into one piece, one feeling that demanded nothing but to sit beside her. Whether it was bravery, stubbornness, or still being pissed the boys started getting up.
She shook her head, grinned, and was gone in the fray.
Darkness filled the gaps of the sign lights curving over twelve sprawled bodies. She huffed, bent and holding her knees to stand. Everything from hair to socks stuck against her skin as if she’d spent hours rolling in cement. Her muscles pooled heat in knots. Tenderly she prodded her face; a swell around her left eye would definitely bruise by morning. Blood had long dried just under her left temple too, she wasn’t worried about that. When she tugged her sweater and checked for stains, she groaned finding streaks of it. Swaying she managed getting herself upright. The world wobbled the way your balance tipped lifting a heavy block. Her throat was sandpaper she couldn’t swallow enough to wet.
Someone moaned stirring painfully slow near the edge of the sprawl. Asuka gnashed her teeth into a growl and limped toward him. Winding a kick she slammed his head planting him on his back. Then finally she was alone. She roared into the sky,
“Next time listen to me you dumbasses! No fighting!”
She spat at them and kept going down the cleared street. The fighting must have shooed everyone when she’d been busy. It wasn’t even a long walk, she knew this area the more she looked around, but each step was lead. The streets could have stretched a few meters or several kilometers, time lessened nothing. At least she had her vision, scanning for the familiar signs and lanes that would turn into home. Like an idiot she’d left her phone in her school bag, and she’d never gotten into watches despite Dad swearing by them. Whenever it was she guessed the trains still ran with as many people crossing intersections as there were. That made it late enough though that she’d probably missed dinner. People quickly turned not daring to look her in the eyes. Or they gasped, froze in place, and then scurried off. She sighed softly but never once rested.
When she turned a familiar intersection her chest tightened; another punk crowd lounged outside a Lawson’s. They laughed, pretended to fight, and ate snacks loud enough to set her head aching halfway down the block. She sucked her teeth. To her left opened up another tight alley; if she could just limp across, if she could just stay low then-
“Ms. Asuka? Izzat you?”
“What’s she doing out this late?”
“Yeah that’s her look, look!”
Their sneakers hit the pavement thundering closer and closer. Growling she pulled herself up, readying her hands. Their eyes glinted under the streetlights bouncing from surprise to shock. She squinted and studied their faces, their casual dress. For once her relief seemed like it could melt her pain away. She’d broken these guys in months ago. Their fussing was music to her ears, and when the leader insisted two people help her stand while they walked her home, she didn’t resist. Everyone rained down questions scrambling her thoughts until she swore she might explode. So instead, urging them to shut up for a second, she gave them the rundown start to finish. Lili however, of course, was none of their business.
They ooh’d and ahh’d and that got a snicker out of her. Twelve guys at once, they kept passing it around as if the words were something they could touch. Someone slapped her shoulder. Another offered her an energy drink she gulped greedily. As it dribbled down her chin she asked them if they’d been making nice around town. Silence fumbled in the darkness but when her eyes narrowed they nodded and reassured her. Yesterday they hadn’t even fought anyone, helping a granny cross the street instead. Exhaustion drowned her will to question. They chatted until she had nothing but listening to their jokes.
She said goodbye waving off their good cheer two blocks from home and felt lighter. A dog barked somewhere when she leaned against her courtyard’s fence; her head throbbed. Huffing for breaths she looked up. Lili sat on the front step head in hand and scrolling her phone. Seconds passed and when she blinked they were staring. Out came her next breath and Lili ran toward her; Asuka had never seen her move so fast. She found herself in her arms and managed a protesting groan but didn’t pull away. Lili’s fingers tenderly grazed her black eye.
“My god where the hell have you been, what happened?! Do you have any idea how late it is? You idiot running off like that without even taking your things…”
Asuka’s temper smoldered, fizzled into ash.
“I’m fine, go get my Dad he knows about patching me up. And quit hugging me you’re not making this hurt any less! You’re the idiot.”
“Stop talking or I shall drop you where you stand so you may crawl inside.”
“Damnnit.”
Dad wove the gauze tight between her knuckles. She hissed then shuddered when he glared back. With a sigh she put her chin in her other hand. She couldn’t tell if he read her regret; the ice pack taped to her face blocked half her vision. Her shoulders sagged pathetically. A cold jolt prickled along the cut beneath her eye; on reflex she hissed and instantly the pain began dulling. Lili had a steady hand applying a second thin streak of ointment.
“At least warn me when you’re gonna do that.”
“Hush, there’s no time to waste keeping these from ballooning overnight.”
“Listen to her Asuka. It’s you who went looking for trouble when unfocused in the first place.”
She swallowed hard then huffed quietly.
“Lift your head and hold still, I’m applying your bandage.” Lili said.
Asuka obeyed; this time she could feel their body heat hovering close. Lili’s touch worked so softly on her skin, Asuka couldn’t find it in her to feign annoyance. It didn’t hurt at all like it should. A low gentle hum rumbled in her throat when Lili’s thumb smoothed the bandage, the white noise of an absent mind filled the space. Then Dad cleared his throat breaking the spell; her eyes widened driving that weird calm away like someone throwing stones after a fleeing dog. She rubbed her head and scoffed, crossing her arms in silence. Lili humph’d and did the same.
“So, what started this?”
Dad looked dead at her. Anger rolled when she flexed her tense shoulders, fogging as it curled her voice.
“My classmates avoid me and talk crap about what we’re going through at school. It’s nothing I can’t handle so don’t worry yourself.”
“You’re the one coming home like this. Defending yourself or someone is what I encouraged you to do, not chase idiots proving how tough you are. What have I kept telling you-“
“Fight with a clear head.” She sighed.
“That’s right.”
“If I might add Mr. Kazama…”
She turned expecting Lili stone faced or cocky. Instead a frown wrinkled her mouth, her eyes narrowed just enough. It was like she’d seen this before; daughters at odds with fathers.
“I saw some of the bullying myself. Anyone would have found it insulting, and though I didn’t mean to contribute, some misunderstandings between us worsened everything. I suppose I played a part in her rage.”
“Played a part, you are-“
“Asuka. I understand Lili and I appreciate you admitting fault. But in the end she is responsible for her behavior.”
He leaned back stretching his sinewy legs, worn into silence. Then he sighed and she saw even his shoulders deflate.
“Just go Lili. Thank you for your help.”
Without a word she watched her bow her head, give her an unreadable glance, then she was gone. Gently Asuka pressed the ice pack closer against her skin. Immediately her body winced, saving her from looking him in the eye.
“Times like these make me not know what to do with you girl.”
“What else am I supposed to do? It’s between this and the world going to shit, I...”
He leaned forward taking her hand with both of his. His face softened. Asuka’s heart seized up her throat.
“I know what happened while I was…getting better. I wouldn’t wish the burden you had on my worst enemy. Watching while what our family built gets sold off piece by piece. The bills. Not a single old student asking what we, what you needed. Whole thing haunts me waking or dreaming.”
Her muscles locked; she hung her head before her lip began quivering. A cry choked and died inside. She felt hot tears dripping into her bangs. Dad smoothed her hair, tucking parts behind her ears. Asuka cried.
“My poor girl.”
“…I’m confused Dad. I’m so confused.”
He kept petting her hair, each new pass making her weightless.
“What’s confusing, which part? Tell me what it is.”
“She just, that girl never tells me what she wants! And if she does it’s wrapped up so fast I can’t keep track. Nothing makes sense anymore and she wants to make that worse. She’s so fucking cocky about driving me in circles.”
He sighed.
“Well, if I know you the way I do, did you press her to talk straight- or did you feel lost and get fed up when you weren’t hearing what you wanted?”
She snapped up glaring, pointed as a knife. He chuckled like he knew something she didn’t.
“You want me sitting there and taking stupid crap?” She growled into a sniffle.
“No. I’m saying sometimes you gotta find out as much as you can before you hold grudges. Can’t punch your way through life kiddo.”
Again her lip quivered, no longer pained. He leaned close. He put on his firm voice.
“Someone like that never wears their heart on their sleeve. Not usually.”
He clapped her forearm and shuffled toward the fridge. She sat there, blinking. Her knuckles stung flexing her hand. Spots of blood seeped into the bandage; the red pinpricks tightening her chest when she couldn’t help counting them.
“Dad.”
“Yeah kid?”
“When…when I got mad and shouted at Lili…my arm moved on its own. I didn’t even feel pain or my skin tearing. I was just making a fist…and the wind went crazy. It blew; around me. I blinked and it shot out everywhere.”
His spine went ridged, lamp post straight. His eyes fixed something hard and tighter than his discipline at training.
“I didn’t mean to!”
“The heat of the moment got to you. I know your temper; you let it blind your mind. You’ll get pissed enough and forget about stopping yourself. And you’ve been stressed. Yes I could tell don’t look at me like that. Rest is what you need.”
He said it matter-of-factly erasing any questions. Not entertaining a single one even if she got them out. Her stomach bundled a knot she felt pinch her breath. She nodded and glanced toward the wall. There was nothing more to say. Already she cast it down her lake of memory, where it sank with a sword’s weight.
Burying under her thin summer covers she stared at the ceiling. A plate of dinner had been saved for her, setting her stomach near bursting now. Only their breathing filled the night, Lili having taken her place among her stuffed animals. Slowly Asuka sat up, squinting to make out her silhouette; the girl was fast asleep. She had no idea how. It never seemed she did much all day save for homework and experimenting ridiculous skin routines. Unless they crossed paths or ate dinner Asuka kept to herself. Though sometimes, without meaning it, she’d overhear soft conversations; phone calls reassuring Sebastian, and other things she was sure. Words slid back down like watery noodles. She lay flat again on her doubled pillows, until her throbbing head lulled her away.
When she dragged herself out the bath the next morning her wobbling steps wanted nothing more than to crawl back into bed. She yawned gripping the towel around her neck; the tips of her wet hair kept passing out at bay. As she stood drying off, a distant thump echoed almost as if it were right beside her. Fumbling into a shitty stance she nearly tripped over the towel, scrambling to snatch it before it might hit the floor. Another thump echoed to match the first. Then a third, faster stomp followed, scared to miss the rhythm of what came before it. Her feet moved toward the training hall; not a thought in her mind giving voice to the goosebumps climbing her arms.
She poked her head through the entrance; Lili landed a perfect backflip. There came a calculated pause for catching her breath, before she pivoted into a roundhouse kick. Its arc spread a bit too wide but that didn’t lessen how it snapped the air. Her back was turned to Asuka as she wiped her face with a handkerchief. From wall to wall the floors were spotless. A grin touched her. Quiet and gingerly she leaned against the doorway.
Tucking the handkerchief into a pocket, Lili huffed, hands on her hips. Asuka blinked, and she threw another roundhouse. This one snapped sharp, corrected into something sleek. She watched her throw out five more never resting save for the turn from one to another. Groaning, Lili launched into a somersault; when their eyes met she tumbled out her landing. Asuka laughed so hard her towel shook free crumpling at her feet.
“Nique ta mère!” Lili shouted.
Asuka slid down wiping tears, twitching when her laughs grew louder. She slapped her thighs nearly tipping sideways. Lili slammed her fist, tried to stand, then tripped over herself. In a few steps she towered over her, and offered a hand. It was met with a glare. She cocked her head and shrugged, but Lili grabbed it as she pulled away. Asuka stood her up slow; the girl dusted her hands off, her thanks amounting to a simple ‘Hmph’.
“I could have done without your sneaking around, but what did you think?”
“About the practice or you eating shit on the floor?”
“That tongue of yours should be traded for some manners.” Lili’s dry tone pinched her expression.
Asuka snorted a tiny laugh into her fist.
“At least I can see you’re not lazy, even when you get sloppy. I remember a few students used to quit after barely starting. Just ‘cuz they thought they’d be action heroes in a day. Then when it turned out they didn’t get it perfect in a second, poof.”
Lili smirked.
“Yes well, I do not intend on going ‘Poof’; I intend to win.”
“Against me?”
Lili’s expression hardened sensing wariness.
“Against whatever stands in my way.”
Then she smiled flipping her bangs. She was being a dumbass again.
“And that may include you, or it may not. Time will tell. Now let us ready for school.”
“…You’re so damn annoying.”
Lili curtseyed and walked past with a spring in her step. When she disappeared silence lingered for how long Asuka didn’t count until she heard birds singing outside. The world was waking up. She took in the empty hall. Crisp air cleansed her lungs; everything spotless. A smile came without thinking. Her satisfied chuckle warmed like a cloudless summer. She looked it over one last time, and then left the pull of childhood behind.
Lunch at school was no longer the hard won lesser evil she could tolerate. The left side of her face formed a minor swell beneath bandages and one of several fresh ice cubes in plastic baggies Dad had tossed in a thermal bag. Fixing it to her head had her fumble an entire roll of gauze. Every bite of food brought tiny hammers down on her jaw. The whispers had outright ballooned into normal chatter.
“Whoa look at that! It’s a blue black plum!”
“Did she seriously go look for a fight right after school? So typical.”
“How dangerous…oh my god she glared at me.”
From the side of the room a door slid open. Asuka didn’t bother checking to see until suddenly she heard no sound. Lili flipped her hair as she swaggered in, sitting right beside her and smirking. She watched her place her briefcase and take out her own boxed lunch like this were some prissy café and dozens weren’t gawking. Several pounding heartbeats passed for anyone to find the mind to speak.
“How the hell did you find my class?” Asuka whispered.
“It’s called asking around don’t be stupid.”
A few people crowded them, walling Lili off before others got the chance for five seconds of her presence. Keeping the utmost poise, she gave them not a single glance as she opened her food. They may as well have not existed when she began setting the table. It was impressive. A wide faced girl at the front who Asuka recognized as the Third Year gossip bitch grew antsy, tugging the hem of her skirt. Her flunkies flanked her mimicking the shy act better than a clone. The whole thing gave Asuka chills.
“Wow are you the new transfer girl? Hiii, my name’s Ayako and-“
“What appointment did you schedule to interrupt me?”
Asuka watched Ayako freeze in her tracks; the plastic smile now stiff and twitching at the corners. Her robot wiring had short circuited. The circle of her little goons threw their hands over their mouths. They glanced from their leader to Lili and back again.
“…Sorry, we just thought you’d want to eat with better company. Among people who can show you all kinds of things so you’re not lost. Your hair is sooo pretty by the way. What’s the secret?”
Lili unfolded a napkin onto her lap and started cutting the filleted swordfish beside her salad of tomatoes, olives, and bell peppers. All things she had insisted on bringing to Japan in a cooler, of course. Ayako leaned forward sticking her hands on the desk mere centimeters from Lili’s arm.
“Just so you know, for your own good you know, that girl next to you…she puts people in the hospital. She’s sooo unsafe, you know?”
Neatly Lili set down her knife and fork, dabbing the napkin at her mouth. Asuka made a choked sound watching her stand and push past them. Without warning she planted her ass right in front of Asuka’s lunch and crossed her legs. Her hands folded on her knees while Asuka sputtered for the right words. She never found them when Lili cocked her head and bore polite, surgical venom.
“Who told you to wear that cheap makeup and slouch like a slob when talking?”
“Excuse me?! What’s your problem?”
“Oh, nothing. I simply cannot recall when I requested a small minded cow offer their opinion. Much less dictate anything toward me, of all people. Perhaps being so comfortable brown nosing, there’s another ass you should be licking.”
Chopsticks fell from Asuka’s grip clattering into her rice. She stared at her wide eyed and mouth gaping. Ayako burned so red she could be a dynamite stick that sparked itself. All at once the flunkies clung to each other rubbing Ayako’s arms and shoulders. They showered her in nasally compliments, but that didn’t stop her shoving them aside, balling her fists.
“B-Bitch!” She shrieked.
“I must get back to eating, if you’ll excuse me.”
She threw herself to her feet giving them a dismissive wave. Bumping them out her way she set everything as it’d been, and dug into lunch. Ayako moved to snatch Lili’s knife; Lili plucked her wrist mid thrust and twisted it in reverse. She bent it at an angle taking a bite off the fork while the girl sank to her knees, screaming breathlessly.
“Ah ah ah I would not flail if I were you. Run along now. Adieu.”
She gave Ayako’s wrist a jerk then released her. Wheezing and shaking Ayako scooted on her ass, crawling and tripping over the floor. Together her goons pulled her up. Wobbling they stumbled into the corner they came from. Asuka who stood ready on reflex found herself reduced to a dumb stare.
“Better?”
Lili asked, smiling, eyes studying. Slinking down in her chair Asuka pinched her brow and held her head in her hands. Gripping her chin couldn’t conceal a tiny smile.
From then on she never ate alone. Each day Lili announced her arrival by striking some model pose or with a hair flip. Then she’d park her ass beside Asuka surrounded by everyone pretending they weren’t scared. At least Asuka no longer heard her name in gossip. For a day someone tried slipping Lili’s name within earshot. No one said so, but the immediate silence could only have been under Ayako’s orders. For her part Lili didn’t seem to give a shit; in fact she’d never seen her so self-assured. At first she felt her skin crawl, that ugly nervousness she hated even imagining. But not a week passed before she started grinning too.
Each day her eye got lighter, the bruise centimeters smaller, and soon she better recognized her reflection. Once, when Dad was out on an errand, she brought it up over tea. Without Sebastian there, Lili kept trying to brew the way he knew she liked. After Asuka showed her how water boiling worked obviously. So far there’d been no success.
“I haven’t forgotten about the other day you know.”
Lili stopped stirring sugar into her tea. Her tone had a way of looking at Asuka even if she herself wasn’t.
“Then you remember what I said.”
“Yeah I do. Don’t be an idiot.”
A silence passed. A hesitation. She got a tight lipped smile for a reply.
‘Playing the long game huh? I can do that too. I’ll figure you out.’
As long as her head kept pounding she never stepped foot in the training hall; instead she’d park herself at the door, watching Lili move. Each morning brought something new. Tighter swings, jumps and flips that belonged at the Olympics, Asuka chuckled remembering knocking Lili out the air for those. She refused to abandon the most ridiculous nonsense in the name of ‘aesthetics’.
“You need techniques that won’t leave you wide open!”
She couldn’t help but blurt it out while watching her fling herself around. Her nerves grinded like pepper through a shaker the longer she’d watched. Lili landed on her feet this time, wiping sweat as it touched her skin.
“What do you suggest that won’t rob me of my grace? Or will I be rolling across all manner of ground as you’d prefer.”
“Nuh uh, keep that attitude and I’m leavin’.”
Lili stopped running her handkerchief along her nape. Her eyes softened and for once she stood waiting patiently. Asuka grunted, satisfied. Stepping in slowly she bowed at the old sign spot then positioned herself behind Lili.
“I’m gonna have to touch you to explain.”
“Do as you must.”
“Ok so first, you tend to put your front foot a bit too forward in stance. That’s why I’ve never had much trouble sweeping it.”
“This can be done without reminding me of-“
Asuka planted a hand on Lili’s left thigh, guiding it until both legs were shoulder width apart. Against her warmth Lili shivered. But her body didn’t tense, staying loose when Asuka realized they were practically stuck together. An electric feeling coursed through twisting her gut. For a few seconds sounds were sharper, her touch sensitive; she thought she even tasted her. She pulled back just enough. Glancing up, the faintest blush painted Lili pink, even her eyes might’ve blushed if they could.
“I’m not gonna touch anything if that’s what yer’ worried about! I used this kinda stuff to help our students when we had ‘em.”
“No…do more of that. I didn’t imagine you’d be so bold about it is all.”
“Shaddup you’re makin’ me sound like a pervert!”
“When did I say that? I am not. Are we continuing, or have your suggestions been cut short?”
“Tch. Keep your feet shoulder width apart. And your back should be straighter it’ll keep you balanced.”
Gentle yet firm she pressed the small of Lili’s back easing her into place. Their bodies drew close enough without hugging this time. Asuka felt Lili’s heart pound through the touch of her palm. It couldn’t explain why hers started racing too. Not a single movement was forced. Her tongue tied when Lili gave another unreadable glance and a smile. Like Asuka had once again played into her schemes. Another electric feeling rode under her skin.
“What next?” The smile hiked into a grin.
“Movement; you dodge well but you over rely on it because your moves come out slowly. Don’t just hurl those complicated flips at an enemy. Make them want to come to you.”
Asuka barely kept her words together; everything had grown too hot. Finding strength she pulled her hands away. Lili smirked.
“My, you’ve studied me with an interest I’d never have imagined.”
“…I fight…any good fighter knows about paying attention.”
“Certainly. But after having fought only three encounters? I’m beginning to think you’re fonder than you let on.”
Immediately Asuka jabbed a finger at Lili’s chest. It was soft to the touch.
“I dunno what ‘fond’ means but we’re not friends! Don’t go actin’ like you know me for me.”
She huffed and stormed off without her heart in it. Her hopes were it read as ‘Screw You!’, but instead it fizzled into ‘Whatever’. Sucking her teeth she left Lili standing there; burying how she’d made her body sing a new song under silence.
That night they sat at the kitchen table, notebooks and worksheets piled between their dinners. Asuka had eyes on her homework and ears for her pencil scribbling. The swell around her eye had shrunk from a plum to a cherry tomato. The long form equation taunting her from the page met her glare. She scratched her head in frustration. A groan died in her throat when Lili beat her to it.
“These damned dates! I cannot believe anyone memorizes so many periods by heart.”
“History?”
“…Yes.”
Asuka snorted.
“That’s easy ‘cuz it’s all copying stuff down. Nobody’s asking you solve their problems that make no sense.”
Lili looked up at her, pencil butt pressed under her chin.
“Math?”
“Yeah…”
“Simple. Give it here and I shall explain, slowly.”
“Fuck off.”
She paused.
“You mean you can do stupid numbers and variable crap, but can’t read a few paragraphs?”
Lili leaned forward, a scowl splitting her mouth.
“And you are a year older than me but can’t do better than counting.”
Asuka’s grip squeezed a groan from the table when she leaned in too. They glared at each other; neither budged. Her brow quirked but Lili kept a straight face; who would break first? Time stopped. Then they each grabbed the other’s work sighing as they swapped.
“I’ll have you know I received top marks at home for this ‘number crap’. Numbers matter in business. And I’d hate seeing Daddy-Father, keel over from worry.”
“Daddy? Are you five?”
“Quiet! You must have your reasons as I do mine.”
She slouched thumbing the pages.
“History tells us what’s happened so we’ll be less stupid. It’s like tradition; you learn what to do and stuff. And why you should do it. That way you’re not confused.”
One glance and she found Lili staring into her eyes.
“And it can be rewritten too.”
Asuka’s face pinched. She looked at the notes.
“Whatever.”
Lili’s handwriting was neat and clear, highlighting chunks in a rainbow of inks, some glittery. Her brow rose. From the corner of her eye she spied Dad washing dishes. He smiled to himself.
The next time she saw her math teacher swagger in she slid a second notebook under the first. Terms and equations decorated its pages in lists. She’d copied them down herself with a pencil, much to Lili’s annoyance at how colorless that was. But she got through class without any chalk or suspicion hurled her way. A full picture stayed out of reach yet now she no longer drowned among the waves, sputtering for answers. When he left she slumped over her books with a relieved sigh. The notebook bent tight in her embrace.
Lunch came and went; Lili only gave her another unreadable smile when Asuka asked about history. She’d shrugged, eating with a silence between them she didn’t mind. Though she swore at some point, if this weren’t her imagination eating away her sense, Lili had shifted her seat closer. Now Asuka reached for her shoes; aching for the walk home, dinner, and beating numbers to a pulp. She saw blonde hair the instant her locker clattered shut. She jumped crying out,
“What the hell? At least say something moron.”
“Since we cannot train thanks to your eye, I insist you show me your city.”
“Ah, not listenin’ to me again. Alright.”
“Please…”
Asuka gnashed her teeth before turning to find a sight so pathetic she giggled. Lili stood pouting. Her hands balled at her sides not as if she wanted a fight, but like a kid about to stomp their foot. The hopeful glimmer clouding her eyes spilled over. It was a plea. Asuka’s breath hitched realizing this girl was at her full mercy. She grinned. She could do something with this.
“You can ask nicer than that.”
“Well, may I please ask you show me the rest of your beautiful home?”
Asuka kicked off her school slippers for her shoes. She held a hum as she put her heels in one at a time, thinking nothing. When she was done Lili was still pouting, slouched in a kicked puppy way. She crossed her arms and rubbed her chin.
“Hmmm…I dunno how much I buy it. Doesn’t sound sincere enough.”
She knew that Lili knew. It was plain on her face. The girl was too clever not to know, too stubborn for-
Lili turned around placing her bag at her feet. Carefully she smoothed her hair, tucking whatever came loose. Her cuffs, blazer, and skirt were straightened. From her pockets came a compact with a round mirror. She checked her face. Asuka saw resolve in the briefest glimpse of her reflection. Finally ready, she tucked it away and picked up her bag, facing her again.
“Asuka Kazama. This is my first venture into Osaka. I would like your perspective as a native; to see what you feel it offers.”
“…Well…since you put it that way, maybe I will. C’mon.”
She slung her bag over her shoulder and walked off before Lili could react. Not a few seconds passed when she heard footsteps hurrying behind her. If they were going together, then so was Lili’s wallet. Quickly she flipped her phone open.
[To: Dad]
[ Hanging around with Lili after school; do you need anything from the market? ]
Lili caught up just as she hit send. Asuka smirked flipping the phone closed.
“What? Do you have somewhere in mind?”
“Yeah. Of course I do.”
The catlike grin Lili wore vanished the moment they met the swell of Dotonbori. People packed the bridge end to end bringing their bags, their noise, and each other. Open aired boats trucked beneath the underpass, carrying gawking tourists and their readied cameras. Neon signs dotted every billboard and restaurant woven between those lit by paper lanterns. Though their light was dim in the afternoon sun it grew by the second. They had few hours left before the nightlife stirred and nothing would be left for anyone their age. The entire city loved to come crawling out when the sun kissed it goodnight.
She found Lili frozen stiff in place, gripping her bag. A man passed her sending her recoiling against Asuka’s side. More people walked around them, two boulders diverting the stream. Still Lili’s eyes refused to shrink smaller than saucers of wonder as much as uncertainty. Asuka elbowed her gently. Lili stuck closer to her.
“What’s your problem? Changed your mind?”
“I’d seen pictures and heard rumors from Father’s business trips but, these are your streets? Is there nowhere…private?”
“It’s the street princess; didn’t you walk anywhere back home?”
Lili turned her head, mumbling.
“Seriously? No way-“
“Sebastian drives me around! It’s what we pay him to do…and he insisted anyway. And Father gave me my limo so…”
With a roar Asuka burst out laughing and slapped her leg not caring who stared.
“Stop that! Shut up! Idiot! So what if it’s my first time? You should be nicer about it.”
“I can’t, I can’t. I’m gonna pass out.” Asuka wheezed, gripping Lili’s forearm for balance and clutching her mouth. Her hand couldn’t contain another laugh from bending her over.
“Asshole. But you did call me princess so, I suppose, it isn’t all terrible.”
“Eh?”
When she looked up Lili wouldn’t look at her, but her skin turned a furious pink. Asuka huffed. Her heart kept racing.
“Weirdo. Let’s go already.”
She grabbed her hand and parted the crowds. Wave after wave would press them close until a break appeared, then it grew packed again. Not once did she feel their hands slip. When she slowed down descending the bridge stairs, Lili practically tipped them over. Asuka planted them against the handrail and let her right herself. The rest of the city flowed, some people throwing glares at having to step around them. She forgot about their hands feeling Lili’s breaths, her warmth, watching the flutter of her eyelashes. Her face felt hot; sweat started beading her clothes. Lili didn’t notice, instead scanning for their opening to move. Asuka licked her lips and tugged her along.
The street thinned out beside the river. They stopped beneath a flashy yellow sign with a giant statue depicting Ebisu sitting above that. Don Quijote’s. She grinned.
“Is that a built in ferris wheel?” Lili blurted out, craning her neck toward Ebisu with awe. The lights on the carriages framing him were off.
“If it’s running every damn tourist and their family will want to ride it. It’d be dark by the time we left.”
Lili flashed her puppy dog eyes. Asuka quickly looked at the display shelves.
“What’s more important is the discount store! We need a new frying pan and I wanna check the deals.”
Something smooth swiped across her fingers. She saw Lili’s thumb retreat; they were still holding hands. Sucking her teeth Asuka let go. Taking her coy smile and bottomless poise with her Lili went ahead. It took strength to swallow and straighten her collar. Her phone beeped like a nagging little bird; tension fled her for sweet relief. Flipping it open, Dad’s message was a button away.
[ Be home before 19:00. Get a few instant udon, eggs, milk, and some instant curry. If I think of more I’ll text; have fun. ]
[ Thanks. ]
“What is this, a lineup of counterfeits? And so much candy and liquor…”
‘Ah shit.’
“Don’t go touchin’ anything we don’t need. I’m not trying to buy the place-“
She moved beside her with the halfhearted worry of an owner letting their dog free roam. Her words fell on deaf ears. Lili stood checking the bag display; her judging reflected off the glass case.
“This is a ‘discount store’ as you said no? Designer names truly do go places.”
“Those are second hand or something I dunno; can’t afford and don’t care about that crap.”
“Neither do I; most are hideous and after a dozen or so from Father, simply boring.”
Asuka gawked.
“What? They’re only a few thousand euros it’s nothing. It’s unlike here, where everything could be worth one but together bring such variety. For instance,”
She reached for something colorful off a shelf and thrust it at Asuka.
“What am I holding?”
“A water bottle.”
Lili grabbed another item. Asuka’s eyes narrowed, confused yet compelled to answer.
“House slippers.”
Another.
“Hair dryer.”
Another.
“Candy box.”
“See? Isn’t it interesting?”
“I don’t see your point. You’re just being weird.”
Lili’s expression soured.
“No. I’m demonstrating how you can gain so much at once for relatively little. There’s so much in fact you may be accustomed viewing it not as it is, but for what it does. And I find that fascinating.”
All her focus stretched and stretched then snapped wire thin. Asuka scratched her head absentmindedly. No matter how she tried there came nothing to say. Lili sighed, gesturing toward the row after row of displays, shelves, and cases boxing them in.
“Though I suppose, in the end, what value is there to anything unless it is beautiful.”
Their eyes met. There was a conviction, sincerity so keen from Lili, the feeling pierced Asuka warm as a sunbeam. She talked not through her but at her. Nothing hurt, and everything seemed a bit brighter. Fumbling for words took too long; Lili moved on checking the next thing over. Asuka spied kitchenware to her left. She wandered rather than move with purpose, winding her way without worry. Rifling through the pans she grabbed what called to her.
She spun a wide set thing whose steel mirrored her pondering in its pan. The handle was basic, sturdy, good. It carried a plain grace, a thing that knew what it was. She smiled. Looking around, there were a few grandmas downwind of her. Carefully she gave it a few swings; balanced weight too. Playful laughter burned her ears; the grannies had glanced her way. Her face flushed and she scurried to find Lili, setting free a giggle at herself.
When they finally left she found herself loaded with their bags. Really, both were almost entirely for Lili. The frying pan she’d picked was drowned in a bright candy sea. Never in her entire life had she imagined becoming a spectacle at a cash register. Lili’s self-assuredness grew to confidence; embarrassment wasn’t in her dictionary. Asuka stood pretending they didn’t know each other when the clerk rang them up, trying to keep cool. But not a minute later she felt a squeeze on her arm, Lili gesturing toward the bags, wearing a winner’s smile. ‘We must agree you possess…a strength I do not.’ She’d said. Asuka sighed and found she couldn’t resist. It didn’t stop her grumbling and shoving at least one in Lili’s hand though.
She set their steady pace crossing the bridge again. This time Lili wasn’t all but on top of her ass, yet she didn’t stray. Asuka glanced up putting out an arm to stop her. Rainbow lights flashed then danced across their faces.
“I pass by this guy whenever I’m out y’know. Sometimes I tell myself his smile looks goofy but, the colors are beautiful. Then I might smile too.”
The Glico Man posed arms raised in triumph mid running stride. Behind his thick bold lines a sunny day at the track curving into Osaka’s skyline framed a massive rectangle. She stepped back, watching. Lili stared at him, holding her chin, studying. She didn’t look at Asuka as she cocked her head. The curves and angles of her face were outlined in a glow that softened the shadows.
“I suppose I do see why. There’s an aesthetic bringing every element together.”
Asuka’s stare lingered gently, foolishly, opening a smile holding an ember of her heart. She drank her in, unnoticed with nothing to rip them away. A feeling washed over her the way mist in summer snapped sleep from one’s eyes. Again she took Lili’s hand guiding her across the bridge.
“Hey! I was still looking.”
“We can come back whenever. There’s more around before the adult places open up.”
She tried not looking at her, and hoped the heat from her hands would be mistaken for the weather. They wandered keeping off the alleys and anywhere crowd thick. Every once in a while Lili’s nerves made them huddle under an awning. Asuka’s grip slid to her fingers, squeezing gently whenever the street thinned enough. She wanted an answer, tried guessing why she bothered as they walked. Why not let her go untethered? In the end she had nothing. The thought of leaving her helpless just felt wrong. If there was anything Asuka was ever gonna do, it’d be not sinking lower. Dad had taught her better. And such a fact meant she was more considerate. For some reason Lili never pulled away either.
She watched her so busy taking in whatever they saw that for once Lili wanted answers from her. They found a rhythm. They’d walk silently until Asuka felt her arm tugged. Then she’d nod enduring the waterfall of precise questions and give a matter-of-fact answer. If they passed a food stall they didn’t leave till they each got something. If it went with sauces, Lili wasn’t satisfied unless she asked to try them one by one. More than a few cooks threw Asuka a glare or surprised stare. She’d smile her apology and pretended nothing mattered except eating as much as possible. Whenever they slapped a wad of bills from Lili’s designer wallet, all was forgiven. The more they went on the longer she gave her tour speech bite sized memories or rumors. A place could never stay a place- it was a feeling understood. Still, there were too many people around for Lili’s nervousness to go away.
“C’mon I’ll get us outta here.”
She brought them to the arcade she’d stuck herself in before the Kempo bastard appeared. Every other day after school Asuka would sink a few hundred yen trying anything new before falling back on her favorites. Whenever she wasn’t scheduled for teaching at the dojo, time meant nothing unless Dad showed up and dragged her home. Then she’d get an earful. She grinned. It’d been worth it anyway. The neon sign stood small as ever. Most of the posters plastering the entrance walls were alien to her. Some she remembered by shape only; as forgettable now as they were for the girl who’d once made a home here. The white walls and checkerboard linoleum floor tricked people into thinking the rows of glittering cabinets were infinite. Half the customers were kids their age or younger. Planted at the fighting games like dried gum under a desk were the same grown men she remembered practically living there. She closed her eyes, and breathed in, at ease.
“What is this?”
“Not even an arcade? This is starting to feel like a joke. You play video or claw type games here. This place’s my favorite but I haven’t come in a while.”
The words were barely out her mouth before Lili dragged them along. A huge neon lit pad on the floor for a dancing game lay at their feet. Techno music banging from the cabinet thumped her chest as a tutorial played itself on the screen. She cocked her head.
“Really?”
Lili brushed back her bangs and cleared her throat.
“Asuka Kazama. I challenge you at a duel of dance!”
“Pft. You’re ridiculous. Don’t cry when you lose!”
They piled their bags against the wall; Asuka rolled her short sleeves further back. She started stretching against the rail fencing in the game cabinet and Lili joined her.
“Father sent me to ballet lessons I’ll have you know.”
“Is everything you have always because of ‘Daddy’?” Asuka taunted.
Lili rushed the stage, punching in a song and readying herself. She stood hands on hips as the bass started pulsing. Asuka snorted, crossing her arms. Then she watched her move.
Her body all but glided, twirling from direction arrow to direction arrow effortlessly. Her long legs couldn’t take an instant off her speed; Asuka’s brow rose hearing the stage creak. Sometimes, when studying for weaknesses, a flash of Lili’s thigh might catch her eye. Or she’d linger on the flutter as her freed hair spun. Above all else was her face; the shit eating grin wiped from existence. And in its place the hard set of her jaw, a knit brow, and intense gaze. She found the rhythm and matched it, outpaced it before it might outpace her. What Lili would call grace wrapped her in pure determination.
When the last note faded Lili wiped her neck with a handkerchief. She turned smiling that little self-assured smile; Asuka hummed. Then she made herself scoff, they weren’t alike.
“Do your worst.” Lili chirped.
“Shaddup.”
Asuka jostled her and straightened her shirt. She glanced at the screen; a new high score. She sucked her teeth. Breathe. Picking a song was easy, something fast but steady. Just right to make her heart race through her skin. A guitar strummed; the world narrowed to this moment. One step at a time, that’s all she needed. The notes rushed forward for her to stomp and chase. Sweat prickled her nape but she didn’t lose breath. Guitar riffs wailed rushing her as the arrows raced into each other. Her limbs became a storm; the wind curved softening her blows. She threw herself harder, hit each note faster.
Then her foot slammed through one of the pads like a hammer through a paper screen. Behind or in front she heard a crash. Though it slowed her the wind couldn’t keep her from falling- she felt herself grabbed. She glanced down. A centimeter or two right and her ankle would be finished. Lili sighed in what felt weird calling relief as she pulled her up.
“I suppose we shall call a draw.”
One fat stack of cash later and the owner whistled on his way to calling a repairman. Her head still rang from panic and insults. They stood on the street, nothing but the summer heat to fog their embarrassment.
“This sucks.”
“You Kazamas and your sheer strength.” Lili sighed.
Asuka turned her head slowly, glaring.
“Don’t lump me in with that stupid dickhead.”
“Never. I find that insulting.” Lili scoffed, all softness gone.
Asuka’s face widened in surprise, her smile was gentle.
“Thanks.”
“…Ahem…You are welcome.”
She watched her move to fix her hair but Asuka’s hand got there faster. Carefully she tucked loose strands behind Lili’s right ear. The stunned blush on Lili’s face made her stomach flip.
“Dad asked me to get some groceries before we’re home.”
“Perhaps this time you’ll save us both the spectacle of collapsing property.”
Lili laughed, full of mockery and teasing that came up short at the edges. It felt as if laughing would paint over her blush with anything else.
“Will you drop it?! This is why you’re annoying.”
“What does a market look like by the way?”
“Arrrghh!”
Passing under the Kuromon banner Asuka stood just to breathe it in. Fried food, flowers, loud signs, fruits, seafood, store clerks, people- this was Osaka. Her city. This time Lili glanced around and went ahead, strutting like a swan. Asuka cocked her head.
“Let us be on our way. Unless you’d prefer going hungry tonight I presume.”
“I don’t think so…” Asuka smirked.
They fell into another pattern at her lead; she’d hover around what she wanted, working over to the most expensive cut. After a few minutes Lili would find her and question what made that one special, did Asuka get it often, and on and on. She’d sigh or pretend getting lost in her thoughts. Then she’d throw in a version of “We’ve been too broke for that; wanna try it with me?” or “Duh! Get it all the time, never had it before huh?” reminding her Dad must’ve shortchanged her allowance. Lili would pull out her wallet gasping and crying “That won’t do!” then buy whatever Asuka picked.
In this way, remembering they’d each have to carry a bag home, they bought everything off the top shelf. When they made it home she grinned until her face hurt and Dad stood stunned silent. He gave her ear a twist behind Lili’s back as she shared ‘their wonderful adventure’, stopping when Asuka winced.
“Don’t trick people.” He grumbled, whispering.
Then he saw the premium tuna cuts and marbled beef.
“Well, it can be harmless here and there.”
Asuka snickered into her wrist. Lili read it as a muffled cough, insisting they serve a hearty stew at dinner to ‘keep from feeling ill’. That night and many nights after they ate like kings.
She gripped the ends and tightened her headband. Her hakama was cinched just right as she checked the ties one last time. She straightened her gi collar, it’d picked up the laundry smell from her closet since she’d quit teaching; breathe in then out. Behind her Lili finished stretching, smirking. Her catlike stare couldn’t fog the pure clarity of Asuka’s mind. Strength surged filling her out as it coursed through her muscles, barely held by her smile. Her body had healed. Out of habit she rolled her right shoulder as they stood five paces apart.
“Are you prepared to be humiliated Asuka Kazama?”
“Just show me what you’ve got. I won’t make it hurt too bad.”
“You’ve made me wait long enough.”
Her heart jumped seeing that smile widen. It toyed with her. Her face went hot.
‘Exciting…’
“Let’s go, moron.”
They readied, the quiet held itself tight.
Lili’s kick was slapped away as Asuka closed distance, striking her with a left punch. To her surprise Lili turned with the blow, but even when it glanced, Asuka leaned into a right. That one connected and she wasn’t about to let her breathe; lunging threw her elbow forward, aiming for the jaw. In the move to dodge Lili narrowly escaped but glanced again on her scalp as she ducked low. A yelp cut her ears. She felt her balance waver in the feedback. Asuka stepped into her weight, bringing down her elbow at the blink of an eye. A certain hit- she met empty air.
Barely, just barely, Lili had rolled out the way. A streak of blood stained the back of her hand as Lili wiped her lips. Her already pale face almost dazzled all sweaty as she was. Asuka watched her panting, bent on one knee and big eyed. She watched her and washed in nothing but the clarity of this moment reset her stance.
“Et merde…” Lili sighed.
Asuka didn’t move.
‘That’s right you’re coming to me.’
She knew, and Lili knew she knew. Those glaring eyes calculated, hating how every option ran toward the same end. The distance begged to be closed or they’d get nowhere. Still a grin split Lili’s mouth flashing crimson teeth like a dog tasting raw meat. She felt her heart race. One heartbeat and she saw her launch from a cartwheel into the flight of slamming her heel on Asuka’s nose. No time to think! She sidestepped, grabbing Lili’s shin and tossing her behind. Riding that momentum into another roll, she recovered raining a waterfall of strikes. Most of them Asuka slapped away or dodged but soon her sides stung. Knocking Lili’s fist aside with her forearm she twisted and spun sending a back heeled kick flying up.
Her foot crashed missing Lili’s temple by centimeters. The impact shook her bones; it was enough to send Lili tumbling down. She crumpled on her side, groaning loud enough to wake the dead. Asuka felt herself huffing and shut her eyes. A good pause forced her to center again. The hairs on her nape relaxed.
Grunting and stirring Lili came back to life one limb twitch at a time. Somehow she found the strength to wobble into standing. A gleam shined under her disheveled blonde hair, an animal instinct. Their eyes met in an instant. Asuka leaned back; the strike scraped the tip of her chin. On reflex she shoved Lili aside with both palms flat against her chest. Deflated, Lili lay sprawled on the floor, a heap of sweat, loose hair, hard breathing, and biting shame. Frozen, it took a chill up her spine for Asuka to unclench. Several beats passed silently. She laughed; lightning storming through her veins. An adrenaline rampage withered, hollowing her into a drum pounding thunder in her chest to keep her standing. It was a thrill. It was joy. It was the world. Her laugher roared, bursting like playful rain.
Coughing and wincing Lili flipped herself onto her stomach. She curled inside the shape of Asuka’s towering shadow. She crouched and Lili’s stare followed. Reaching over she tilted Lili’s chin.
“You lost ‘cuz you think too much.”
She chuckled at her squinting eyes.
“Laugh at my failure would you…”
Asuka gave her an amused smirk. She pulled her hand away. The world felt so light and airy with another whirlwind behind them.
“It’s my win but you can come at me any time.”
Again Lili sighed and rolled on her back. She started to pout but the longer it went the more it fizzled. Instead her brow scrunched. ‘Why are you better than me?’ it asked. And she pressed her answers in her mouth. She stood, reaching for her water bottle on the sidelines.
“Where…where did I overthink?”
“Better question is where you didn’t.” The water was still cold, liquid smooth.
Silence. She pressed.
“You waited before dodging, weighing where to go. You hesitated planning your approach when I gave you room. You were so focused on how you’d overwhelm me with your hits that you forgot paying attention to my tells.”
Lili draped her arm over her face. From under it Asuka saw her lips purse.
“…You almost got my chin though. It’s obvious you can move faster than before. And you can lean into a punch now.”
More silence. She started wiping off with her towel even if she didn’t need it as much. When she finished on her hairline Lili was staring at her. Those blue grey eyes were hard; the way a river stone is hard and smooth, anchoring itself against touch. Reassuring but muddied; it left a tingle in Asuka’s brain.
“The Mishimas could come take you whenever they please. Your records are child’s play for them to trace, for Jin Kazama.”
Asuka went stiff; her brow narrowed as if it were a gear turning through rust. Her cold gaze betrayed a drop of fear. She clenched her fist in place of a steady heart.
“He is blood related to you. And his mother Jun is alive, though I have no way of knowing if he’s realized. I’m not sure your father knows either. If Ms. Jun has plans I believe she will track down her son. Depending on his thirst for war and schemes he may learn about you and grab you to prevent her from asking your help. He can turn you into a bargaining piece. Perhaps Kazuya Mishima will come to a similar conclusion and take you first instead. He was looking into the Kazama Clan after all. It wouldn’t be wrong to assume he knows of your family’s…innate gifts.”
‘Gifts?’
Asuka couldn’t feel her clenched fingers anymore. Her knuckles were fit to split the skin.
“…That fucking moron…and you think I’d just let him take me?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Lili snorted.
“Then what do you get out of it? Why are you here?”
Lili sighed crossing her arms over her forehead. She stared into the ceiling.
“It’d be awful if you faced that devil alone, no?”
“…What?”
She backpedaled when Lili sprung to her feet.
“Now I’m afraid I must retire and bathe before this filth turns my stomach.”
“Hey wait, wait tell me more!”
But her long legs carried her from Asuka’s reach before her brain understood the weight of what sat on it. This was as far as she’d get today. Sucking her teeth, every hair on her body stood. Alone and aching she stomped around; a vicious cracking yell scattered her frustration. Then as she caught her breath, its echo faded in the hollow of her chest. She felt exhausted. Her will formed rods that kept her legs from sinking.
When she gathered her things she stopped suddenly. Leaning against the exit, she gripped the towel slung around her neck. Her eyes widened.
‘Does she like me?’
Every morning after they met for practice, took turns in the bath, ate a simple breakfast while making lunch, then they were off to school. Her bike still sat battered in the yard and Lili gave her the peace of not mentioning it. But now, sometimes, Asuka found herself giving it a glance. One tire pump here, a new chain, new brakes, some replaced bolts, and it’d be ready for new paint. She should probably replace the rubber on the grips too, or trim where it frayed. There were a million, million ideas.
At lunch the day they’d sparred, people of course noticed the split on Lili’s lip. Despite how Asuka had made her stay still to press some ice and rub a bit of petroleum jelly, the red and purple mark read as bright as a road work sign. Of course Asuka had apologized, scratching her lowered head and looking her in the eye. Lili chuckled at her. As if it had been a game or nothing at all. ‘Now we’ve each landed a blow on the other haven’t we?’
Asuka couldn’t claim to understand that girl, but it made a sort of sense. They were finally even at something.
She learned many things day by day. While not a genius Lili was a fast learner, diligent as much as she was disciplined. Whatever she did was finished almost as quick as it started with calculated execution. Lateness cut into time for ‘the simple pleasures.’ Asuka had never seen one person drink tea like it replaced water. Despite appearances she wasn’t well read, only keeping up enough to, ‘please my Father’s expectations.’ Yet those put her ahead of most people, and she thought nothing was worse than falling behind, or the idea she might.
At training her moves were explosive when left to herself. There was always more to perfect, another river to cross until her muscle memory submitted. When given a form for practice, she talked of strategies as she shuffled it into her arsenal. No matter the situation, she’d pull some technique or the theory of one out her ass. She had to be motivated with more praise than even the mildest critique or else she turned moody at best, bitchy otherwise. The longer she spent encouraging Lili (at times making Asuka tear at her own hair) the faster something dawned on her.
Maybe it wasn’t that Lili enjoyed toying with people so much as she wanted to never stop moving. There had to be another problem to solve, another scheme, another fun thing to start- enough so that they were never bogged down sharing their feelings. She weaved between teasing, sass, or halfhearted sulking. Anything more earned silence. And the unreadable wall formed in her expressions. Well, even when it made Asuka gnash her teeth this was about patience. Like Dad said.
It wasn’t that Lili couldn’t remember moves or plan either; she just couldn’t get out her own head when faced with being hit. The possibility didn’t scare her she’d said, and for once Asuka agreed. She could counter Lili again and again, bruise her by occasional accident. Lili would trip over herself if that’s what it took to attack. Nothing dented whatever instinct drove that craving to win. She knew that’s what it was; a person couldn’t abandon themselves unless the rest of the world fell away. Few things matched the living lightning found in a fight.
They were sat on a day off school sipping water and drenched in the sweat of another practice.
“Unacceptable. Absolutely unacceptable! I should have gotten you when I went from low high jabbing to Matterhorn kick. It was the perfect cover.”
“The ‘unacceptable’ thing is you’re still using that. You’re wide open before anything lands.”
“Hush! I gave it a tremendous level of style. Who expects a rising kick with both legs from the ground? There’s an element of surprise worth the effort.”
Asuka squinted then shrugged. Their session replayed in her mind. This time there’d been no cartwheels or insane flips. There’d been jabs, lots of jabs from every direction pushing Asuka’s reflex but never breaking it; the kicks she answered with her own as they missed each other by a hair. If she couldn’t dodge, she made sure Lili collided against the hardest bones. Her knees and elbows were wearing off from numbing pins and needles. Lili was fast; if only her battle sense could match pace. Even a sweep kick forced her to adapt on the fly if it didn’t toss her outright. She took a long sip. Whenever Asuka had an answer for one method that moron fell back on what she best knew worked. That routine made her predictable.
Wait…predicable?
“Hey, how long have you been fighting again?”
“Why does that matter?”
Asuka flicked her forehead. Lili yelped and scowled.
“You want help then answer me.”
“…A year, if you must know.”
Instantly Asuka’s water sprayed from her mouth mid drink.
“A year?! And you ran to fight in two tournaments. Is your head on right?!”
“I fail at seeing the problem here. I can guard, I can attack, I train rigorously- there’s no reason I should be denied a test of my skills the same as anyone else.”
“That’s not even…you…I can’t believe this.”
“How many years do you have under your belt?” Lili snapped.
She stared at her in disbelief, gripping her water bottle to make sure this was real. The look on Lili’s face fell and a blush like a wave rose in its place. Neither said anything as they stared into space hugging their knees. Loud traffic revved through the walls. Another beat of gathered silence.
Asuka giggled.
“Don’t laugh.”
She laughed. Her mouth quivered as she set the bottle down. She laughed so hard her chest felt ready to cave in. Asuka tipped over collapsing at Lili’s side, pedal kicking her feet as she clutched her stomach.
“I’m not an idiot! Stop that!”
Softly, playfully, Lili whacked her everywhere demanding Asuka stay still. But not a minute passed before they were piled together roaring with laughter. She sat up.
“No wonder then why you keep being an easy read. You aren’t confident in your style!”
Again Lili scowled.
“You’re suggesting I lack experience.”
A loaded statement already, a question; Asuka groaned. Saying yes would have them bickering until the point ran away.
“What I mean is no one’s a master so quickly. Right now what I’d expect is someone comfortable in the basics. They’ve only started putting a foundation together for what they know and how they’ll use it. What school are you studying under?”
“I’m self-taught of course.” Lili said flipping her bangs and smirking.
Asuka buried her face in her hands.
“Forget feeling comfortable in the basics; you’re stuck at making shit up!”
“Such an accusation is ridiculous-“
“We’re doing you over. From the beginning.”
“This is unfair-“
“You can keep your crazy style. But since you wanna learn my school we do things my way when I think we should. Otherwise you’re not gonna learn a damn thing. You’ll never get any better.”
A growl rumbled her words as she took her hands off Lili’s cheeks, leaning over her. She was stared at as if she’d shot her; being stunned was the best way of getting through the concrete wall Lili had in place of a skull. They stared each other down. Asuka refused to budge her scowl a centimeter. Finally, Lili ‘Hmph’d and looked at the floor.
On their off days they started jogging around the block, staying in the quiet parts. After a rest when that was done they switched to spotting each other’s workouts and stretching. Each week Asuka would ask Lili to demonstrate a move from her flashy toolkit. That became the assignment she worked on until the next week. Lili would show the result of her drills by combining it with last week’s move; only then would Asuka teach her a complimenting Kazama technique.
At class Asuka never said so, but Lili’s notes started covering whatever went over her head. She never missed homework again; getting a test back now meant she got to wear her own smug grin. Not one teacher kept from throwing her a confused glare. Most kept their mouths shut. In their study sessions, Asuka either understood within Lili’s schedule, or else it got carried over to next time and not a second earlier. Even so, there always came a tease if she needed more than one explanation. Lili knew her way around cocky smirks and looking down her nose. It’d piss Asuka off more than it always had, if this time she didn’t need what the cat dragged in. Nothing could disturb Lili’s bubble baths, which she insisted on and Dad allowed so long as she used the tub last. She insisted on writing with fountain pens because ‘they’re mature don’t you agree?’ and easily color coded everything. Once, flipping through a notebook Lili lent her, she stopped dead at the table.
Page after page lay covered in sketches from top to bottom. The scenes included nature, random household objects, and an alley here and there. But those were just the scrap pages. Every picture before and after them showed Asuka. Some were labeled as ‘Her smile’ or ‘After today’s training’. Some were close ups of different expressions paired with figure studies in everyday poses. Did Asuka really look tough and handsome this much? There were the hard angles of her just before she got mad, the obvious confusion and wonder when she had to think. The carefree joy or satisfaction in her smiles, smirks, and grins. The cocky pride whenever she felt in control. The aimless frustration when she showed sadness. That one made her wince.
Each detail touched her greater than the last. Her heartbeats made a home in her throat when she saw their hands holding one another. She froze in her seat.
“Put that down this instant!”
She didn’t fight it when in a heartbeat Lili leapt up and snatched the book. Asuka chuckled nervously, no not nervous, she didn’t know why. She didn’t know what she was saying.
“If you keep drawing like that people will think you’re gay.”
Lili slammed the book closed, glaring. Then Asuka gasped softly; Lili’s lips were trembling, the entirety of her face grappling against bursting into tears. She watched her swallow. Then without a word she gathered all her stuff and stormed off. Asuka wanted to give chase, to throw any excuses but that’s exactly what they’d be, excuses. The air felt thick; a sand pit that’d drown her if she struggled. So she sat there, suddenly very small.
When Dad came home that night after visiting a friend, she told him Lili was too tired for dinner. She didn’t think of it as a lie; anger and sadness knew about killing anything that made you alive.
“You’ve been working her hard like you’ve always done when I needed you teaching. I’ll fix her a plate and you take it up, alright.”
“I guess…” She stirred her miso broth absentmindedly.
Asuka found her room door opened a crack with only her lamp light on. She balanced the food and went to knock- Lili started speaking, soft and hoarse. She must’ve been crying. Maybe Asuka shouldn’t have, but she stood, listening.
“I won’t be returning home Sebastian…of course I thought about it. No, a De Rochefort is not a coward! Spare me the thought…I’d rather die if so. No I don’t need you staying with me. Not yet at least. This is no pain or challenge I cannot handle. Oh but, well, thank you for your words. Yes, good night.”
She heard the thump of a phone on cloth. Lili spoke louder to herself, voice cracked.
“Why God, of all the people in the world why this one?”
Well she wasn’t gonna let her talk like Asuka wasn’t there. She gave the door a push with her foot.
“Yo, brought ya something.”
Lili stayed face down in the futon; her face lost in her pillow and under her hair. She groaned.
“Oh leave me alone you brute.”
“I’m sorry. It wasn’t serious.”
“…If it isn’t serious then why are you apologizing?”
Again Asuka went numbed. She had nothing but her fists when someone stuck their fingers in her own wounds. What was she supposed to do here, hit her? Over what, being mad at Asuka getting her to cry? It was stupid. She was stupid. But she wasn’t, she’d done a stupid thing. She didn’t go around living so that everyone else got inconvenienced. Saying nothing she cleared space and set dinner on her desk.
Her body tingled, restless, her blood vibrating her veins. The shapes of her room didn’t register. She kept herself together as she stepped out and down the stairs. Her mind was blank. She stepped inside the dojo not caring about having her pajamas on. She rushed past the wall sign stopping at the center of the hall. And she trained. The forms were muscle memory, all routine. Safe. They didn’t ask anything except that her body keeps up. In the middle of stumbling some lift kicks she saw Dad watching. He looked more patient with her than she deserved.
“Everything alright?”
“I can handle myself.”
“Sure you can, kicking off center like that.”
She narrowed her eyes. He shrugged and made his way over.
“I’ll observe. Take it from the top.”
A crack called gratitude broke her frenzy.
Lili wouldn’t speak to her. Day after day they still met for morning practice, but did their work in separate corners. Dinner was spent taking turns talking to Dad as they ate in a race to not finish together. He threw Asuka a look sometimes in between but held whatever he could’ve said. She read an understanding on his face. This was their problem. Breakfast was cold silence without him; a performance where they tried everything stupid or practical to not make eye contact. The study sessions stopped. She tried giving a sign to ask about it. Lili pretended she didn’t exist.
The next week she got back a failed test, a red thirty two took up a huge corner so anyone could see. Her math teacher adjusted his glasses, condescending down to his walk. He let her stew in failure as she curled against her desk. Her failure, again. The rumor flies picked her clean with the feel of their stares.
At lunch Lili did stay near her, but ‘near’ became moving her desk six meters apart facing away. Not really sitting with anyone else and not a message she couldn’t read either. It made her collar itch. Try as she might there’d be no way she could approach without causing a scene. Burying herself in her food and keeping quiet became the new routine. Once after a few days of this, Ayako and her goons saw opportunity. Lili glared at them as if she were a knife, like she might snap them as easy as a twig. It gave Asuka hope.
Hope? Why was she letting this matter the way it did? If Lili, the nail sticking her ass whenever she appeared, finally stopped annoying her then how was this bad? It was stupid.
‘I did a stupid thing.’
That was the reason; it had to be.
‘I hurt someone just because.’
The truth, then, cut sharper than everyone else’s lies.
On their off days Asuka started solo training, putting wherever her sulking half was out of mind. The basics were forever there. Shadow fights imagining opponents carried a real challenge. There was always more to try, more to perfect, a feeling of faster or stronger. She started with one random punk then added them in twos. She dodged; swept their legs, whipped their momentum around until they opened for punches. Kicks were a whirlwind leaving rippling winds in her wake, force whistling as it cleaved the air. Her foot bounced whenever she launched herself high; her body rocketing along the flight she’d set herself. As if she switched from floating into a pebble flying from a slingshot. The tip of her nose brushed the ceiling. A jolt of panic fried her; she killed it and tucked into a roll as she fell.
What the hell was this?
Her skin turned hot where the wind had touched it. Not a burn or ripping of blood; this time it passed over her like hands of sunlight. Under the summer heat it breathed into her as if the first clear day of spring. She lifted her head, standing, comforted by its embrace. All her worries blew, carried on the breeze. Then being the wind it passed and settled faster than it arrived. Every part of her felt light. Clenching her fist, she smirked. Whatever this was, it seemed ready to help. And that meant…
‘Time for a test!’
“I’m headin’ out!”
“Be back before nightfall.” Dad called as she slipped on her shoes.
“I know.”
Lili came down the stairs minding her business. Had Asuka left a second earlier she would have missed the slightest curious glance thrown at her. But that was it before Lili disappeared into the kitchen. Her chest jumped. Whatever, she could think about that later.
The sky stretched clear forever with the sun hanging gold smack in the center. People were a guarantee. Today she didn’t run, stuffing her hands in the pockets of her shorts and drinking in the day. People started crowding as she hit the main avenues; no one paid her any attention. Even if someone did, they’d see a friendly smile not the hunger leashed in her eyes. She kept her ears sharp ignoring any chatter; she wanted shouting. She wanted action. Asuka waited and walked and waited. Then she crossed into Shinsekai. A wolfish grin twisted her mouth.
In the middle of a shopping square some boys were in each other’s faces, seven altogether by her count. Lined up and shouting enough to spit they’d clash at the drop of a hat. Immediately she broke into a run. Someone at the front raised his fist; she jumped, flipped, and tucked in the air.
“Hold it right there!”
Scattering like bugs they yelled in surprise and cleared some space. Her effortless, cool landing left them speechless. When she stood she gave them a smile; camera, lights, action! Justice!
“Who the hell- oh not you again!”
“Ms. Asuka? Crap, crap, crap!”
Dusting off her hands Asuka shook her head. One gang she recognized not as the guys who helped her home, but a separate group she’d left in pieces before them. The others made her right eye twitch to remember. They’d get theirs as many times as it took till they learned their lesson.
“I’m disappointed. Haven’t I already told ya off? No fighting! No fighting where people are either. What if you dragged some grandma into your mess or busted down a shop? You can’t go around doing that.”
The boys who she thought knew better bowed their heads; someone she assumed was a new member had his head forced down by a senior.
“We’re deeply sorry Ms. Asuka. For sure, for sure we won’t lift a finger!”
“Don’t apologize to me. Just play nice like I ask.”
The leader guy with slicked back hair, his nose had healed crooked after its visit with her fist, got right in her face.
“I’m not like these pussies you little bitch. Try harder. We can go right now.”
Asuka sighed. His gang glanced at each other, afraid, backing him up anyway.
“If that’s true you wouldn’t bother talking. But you brought me on yourself!”
Roaring he threw out punches she knocked away, lunging himself in pursuit until she glanced the wobble of his left leg. Now! She went low sweeping him so fast it wasn’t a question of waiting for his fall, he just hit the ground. One moment he was a body under gravity, then the shutter on a camera, and he laid a groaning wreck. Her kicks would’ve gone off course as she reined them in within an instant. Her rhythm needed a new tempo. Her limbs were free and her muscles flowy, like how paper streamers became part of a breeze.
‘Amazing!’
Leader boy stumbled up as she flung her knee into his stomach. The wind wheezed from his lungs; her elbow drop swiveled his head with a thud. In that same second she wheeled around and with a single kick slammed him into the pavement. His gang threw themselves out the way. A tailwind curled from the force of her leg, cracking the concrete of a building behind them. The crash vibrated for longest blip in their lives.
At her feet leader boy made no sound. She saw the shallow rise and fall of his back; at least he was still alive. His friends took a look at him, then back to her, and back to him. Without build up their screams exploded; each one bundled into shrieking fear. They sprint away white as ghosts, clinging to any value they saw left in living.
She breathed in. She exhaled, giddy. Her mind blanked.
Asuka turned around and found the remaining boys gawking. Stunned until not only had they forgotten words, their eyeballs were gonna pop out their sockets. Her movement carried more energy than she knew what to do with. She could fly around the sky till the Earth itself was just a blue ball. Say something, anything to come down again!
“So, like I was saying! If you guys wanna be good then make nice with each other. Cuz’ if you don’t…”
She rested her foot on leader boy. Finally he groaned.
The boys watched, their mouths hanging open. Someone cried out,
“If we behave enough can we feel your boobs?”
Sailing in midair, everyone placed bets on how long till he came down.
Another morning at training she finished early and watched Lili work. Bit by bit she started leaving the simple behind. She weaved in and out of jabs and kicks, and backflips into stomps. She threw herself twisting into a cartwheel that became a flip. Down went her foot preparing a heel drop; Asuka remembered the hawks diving for fish on one of Dad’s favorite nature shows. Lili landed safe doing a split. Her sweaty face turned red steadying her breathing. A picture of focus came to Asuka’s mind.
She sat cross legged and watched, resting her chin on her hand as Lili got up. Then the routine reset. The forceful flurry of Sunrise Sunset’s striking twirled into a somersault that brought Lili low against the floor. When Asuka asked her about the silly name Lili had scoffed, ‘because I’m hitting high then low obviously.’ Of course, she angled herself, sticking her legs together and launching high into Matterhorn. Sweat splattered off Lili’s brow; her grimace carried the strain holding her muscles in place. Practicing or on the street under chaos, they earned the same effort. Tired, Lili finally flopped on her back.
“You’re not so bad at this, y’know.”
No response. Lili stared at the ceiling catching her breath. Reaching to undo the bun her blonde hair spilled around her slender neck. Her heart shaped face looked outlined by a gold brush. Her pink bow shape lips parted for sweet air, not pursed or confusing Asuka like she knew everything in the universe. Lili was so, normal. Normally pretty. Asuka tried imagining her real smile.
“I’m sorry, Lili.”
The spell broke; they stared into each other’s eyes. And for the first time, joy and joy alone bloomed open across all Lili was.
‘Wait a minute. This is my first time saying her name!’
Lili giggled playfully, honestly, waking herself from a bad dream and relieved. She sat up.
“My, you’re in agony after trampling a beautiful flower.”
“Don’t push it.”
Lili chuckled.
The next day off Asuka stepped out the bank. She walked smiling for herself alone. It was time to fix her bike.
#tekken#asulili#asuka kazama#lili de rochefort#i'm so happy to be done with this shit but also so happy to start and share it#my writing
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The Oar in the Sand - Chapter Thirty: Crossroads
I’m sure some of you have been waiting patiently for this. I hope I’ve done this chapter justice. Let me know what you think :)
As always, enjoy!
AO3 Link because I always forget.
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The sky blurry, a chaos of cloud. Overgrown grass is creeping through the pavement slabs, three blimps humming over the skyline. Playing cards rippling like kites in the wind. Hey? Can you hear me? Grass brushes my knees, the stems glittering with blood. Wet bone crunch beneath my feet. I think she might be dead. Have you even checked her pulse? The sky bleeds amber, now crimson. It wells from the horizon, light speckling the grass. Beads of rain under a blood sky. The moon has a headache. Careful with her. Just put her here. Clouds swell over concrete skyscrapers. The storm screams across the sun, shutters of thunder. What do we do now? Talk us through it. It hungers, bulges, breathes sparks into the city. The labyrinth unfurls once more.
‘You’re awake.’
I opened my eyes, squinting under the patter of rain. It took a couple of seconds to work out where I was. I was still in Shibuya, the crossing just barely recognisable beneath the grass and foliage. Except, my body ached all over. My shin in particular was throbbing, and I didn’t dare move it. I was lying on the tarmac with my head resting against Chishiya’s leg. He was propped up against a car, now bleeding from a second bullet wound to the chest.
‘What happened?’ I tried to ask, as a sharp pain reverberated through my lungs. There was a tight heaviness in my chest, and it was difficult to breathe.
‘Don’t talk. You’ll make it worse.’
Wincing, I cleared my throat and tried again. My voice was strained. ‘You’re…’
‘Ah, about that,’ Chishiya said. ‘Usagi appeared right after Niragi shot you. Naturally he tried to do the same to her.’
You took the bullet?
No, that couldn’t be right. It was so unlike him. For as long as I had known him, I could count on one hand the number of times Chishiya had risked his life for another person.
As if reading my thoughts, Chishiya explained, ‘I wanted to do something uncharacteristic. I guess I paid the ultimate price.’
‘But why?’
‘Kuzuryu was the King of Diamonds. At first, I thought he was trying to determine the value of a life. But it turned out he just couldn’t bring himself to decide how much a life is worth.’ Chishiya paused, as if he was still unsure of what had happened. ‘He sacrificed his own life because he couldn’t bring himself to kill me. Apparently it went against his ideals.’
I had known all along that Chishiya would be the one to clear the King of Diamonds - and likely the Jack too. But it didn’t surprise me to hear that the Beach’s very own second-in-command was also a civilian here in the Borderlands. Nothing surprised me anymore. Even if the King of Spades blimp suddenly appeared in Shibuya, it wouldn’t be unexpected.
‘I thought maybe I should try to do something different.’ Chishiya said. ‘Because of Kuzuryu and Arisu, their ideals. And you. I thought you were dead.’
Dead? Was I dead?
I looked down, finally noticing the blood staining my shirt. With one hand, I slowly lifted the fabric, revealing the bullet hole between my ribs. A square of clear plastic - like the cover of a dressing - had been taped over it on three sides. Every time I inhaled, the plastic would stick to the wound, and whenever I exhaled, the free corner of the square lifted slightly.
A one-way valve…
Now that I was aware of the sensation, I could feel the stickiness of tape on my back. There must have been another square of plastic there too. There was no way Chishiya could have treated me in his condition. He didn’t say anything, but I had a feeling it was Arisu and Usagi who patched me up while Chishiya talked them through the process. They must have raided a convenience store for dressings and tape.
‘You’ve got a traumatic pneumothorax,’ Chishiya said. ‘After Niragi shot you, the bullet went straight through your lung. You’re lucky you’re alive, though you’re on thin ice right now. If you move too much, you’ll bleed more and the plastic will stick to your skin. And if those two don’t clear the Queen of Hearts soon, you’ll die without treatment.’
By ‘those two’, he must have meant Arisu and Usagi. If what he said was correct, that meant every other game had been cleared and there was just the Queen of Hearts remaining. We were almost home, and this was just the final hurdle. Chishiya himself looked weary. His face was pallid and there were bags under his eyes.
‘You’ll die too.’
He hummed in agreement. ‘Looks like we’re in the same boat.’
I closed my eyes, feeling the cold rain against my skin. Although it couldn’t numb the pain in my fractured leg or the ache in my chest, the cool sensation was refreshing, and it helped to wash away the worries of this world. But as I lay there with my head against Chishiya’s leg, listening to his steady breathing, a thought struck me.
‘Kuina… where is she?’
‘Who knows? The last I heard she completed the Jack of Spades.’
So she’s alive.
But alive or not, she wasn’t here. The last time I had seen her was right before the Jack of Hearts, when she had hugged me so tightly and demanded that Chishiya look after me. Was that really the last time we would see one another? There was no way I could reach her now.
‘I never got to see her again.’
Kuina had been by my side no matter what hell this world threw at me. It broke my heart knowing that I might die before I ever saw her again. However, Chishiya didn’t seem as troubled as I was.
‘You will,’ he said simply, ‘when we get back.’
He sounded so sure of himself, but I just wasn’t convinced. ‘What if Usagi and Arisu… don’t finish their game?’
‘You have such unwavering faith in them,’ Chishiya said dryly.
‘They’re up against Mira,’ I told him. ‘She’s the Queen of Hearts.’
‘How did you find that out?’
‘From the King.’
There was a moment of pause. ‘So you were in the King of Hearts. That explains a lot.’
It didn’t explain anything. Unless Chishiya had been looking for me, or he’d heard differently from another player.
Seeing my confusion, he added, ‘I waited at the furniture store.’
You waited for me…
The news felt like a punch to the gut. He must have been waiting after his games, having figured that I would come back eventually. And when I did return to the store, it was likely that I had just missed him. If only I had been there earlier, or if I’d never ventured into the King of Hearts game at all, we could have avoided all of this mess.
But then I never would have met the King.
‘Chishiya…’ I struggled to find the right words to explain everything I had learned about this world and the last. And when I spoke, I had to stop every few seconds just to breathe. ‘So many times my dad used to say that… he was in his right to command respect… and that we had to respect him at all times…’
Chishiya scoffed. ‘Just like a tyrant.’
‘A lot like a tyrant… He would say the same thing over and over… but I don’t think he realised… the moment you command respect is the same moment that you lose it… I know that now.’
There was a silence, and I knew that Chishiya was listening to every word.
‘I did the same thing as he did,’ I said. ‘I just expected you to stay by my side… and let the others deal with the games… I didn’t think about how you were feeling… And even when we joined the Jack of Hearts… I still expected you to stay with me and leave everything to everyone else—’ I coughed suddenly, and Chishiya warned me again to be careful. ‘I’m sorry… I realise now, communication works both ways… This whole time, I should have asked you what you wanted to do.’
Once again, he was silent. I could feel the tension between us, and wincing a little I angled my head back to look at him. He was staring at the ground, his expression empty.
‘It’s okay if you don’t see yourself as having any value… or if you don’t have any will to live,’ I whispered. ‘Because I’ve got enough for the both of us.’
Despite the blood on our hands and the agony we were in, I knew I had to tell him how I felt. He could fight against it all he wanted, but he needed to know that I refused to let him self-destruct. And just as the rain cooled our skin and cleaned our wounds, the tension disappeared in an instant.
‘I thought I would know,’ Chishiya said suddenly. ‘After completing the King of Diamonds, I thought I would understand the value of my life. I wondered why I’m even here in this world, what my purpose is, why I’m even surviving at all. But I just felt empty. I realised this whole time, I’ve just been an empty shell of a person.’
‘You’re not empty.’
‘Yes, I am. I once threw away a letter from a patient containing his dying wishes, just because I couldn’t be bothered giving it to his family.’
I didn’t know what to say. It was such an awful thing to reveal about himself, and so unnecessarily cruel at that. But that was the Chishiya from the past. Would he do the same thing now? Somehow, I didn’t think so.
‘Maybe you did… but you’re also the same person… who saved my life so many times… and you gave me those books to help me learn Japanese… you treated my arm in the pharmacy too…’
‘That was only because I wanted to use you.’
‘I know,’ I said. ‘But it was the start… of us.’
Chishiya didn’t reply. I felt the softness of his breathing and nothing more. He didn’t seem particularly annoyed, but I could sense that he was thinking deeply as he always did. I wondered if this was enough. If we died here in the rain, entangled with one another like this, would we have said enough to put all of our skeletons to rest? Or would there still be parts of ourselves left unburied?
And then Chishiya muttered something under his breath. ‘別の実現があった.’ I realised something else too.
He shifted a little as he reached into his pocket. Then I felt his fingers around my wrist, and he pulled my hand up towards his lap. He fumbled a little, slipping something onto my finger - my ring. In awe, I held my hand up so that I could see it better. The bright green stone and the tiny silverwork sun glinted even in the grey daylight.
You had it all along.
And then I realised that something was amiss. ‘Chishiya… it’s on the wrong finger.’
The left ring finger is only for…
I tried to wiggle it off so that I could put it on the right finger, only for Chishiya to stop me.
‘Leave it.’
‘But, that means—’
‘I was thinking about what you said, before I left.’ His voice lowered and I could scarcely hear him over the rainfall. ‘I don’t just want to be near you.’
I stared at the ring on my finger until tears threatened to spill down my cheeks. The first time he gave this to me, we had been standing on the soft riverbank as the Beach burned behind us. He was so certain that it was simply a piece of metal. Proof and nothing more.
It rained back then too.
‘You don’t have to cry every time I give you something.’
I sniffled, wiping my face with my sleeve. ‘Yeah, well, I still hate you… Shuntarou.’
‘Ah, it seems I’ve finally been upgraded to first-name basis.’ He closed his eyes, sinking back against that car door. ‘It took you long enough.’
‘I didn’t know… which name you preferred,’ I protested. ‘In the past you would have killed me… for calling you by your first name.’
‘That’s a slight exaggeration.’
‘Anyway,’ I gestured to the ring. ‘I thought you didn’t care… about this stuff.’
‘I don’t,’ he said. ‘But you do.’
I smiled, glad that his eyes were shut and he couldn’t see my face at that moment. I was probably blushing with the embarrassment of how well he knew me. Especially the dream I had told him about all that time ago in the jewellery store.
You remembered everything.
‘What will you do… after all this is over?’ I asked.
‘You mean if we survive?’ He hummed, unfazed by the idea of our uncertain deaths. ‘I’m not sure. In the past I was never really living. I just existed and got by however I could.’ There was a brief hesitation. His eyes cracked open. ‘And then I met you.’
He didn’t explain what he meant by that statement, nor did he seem to want to.
‘I imagine things will be different if I go back,’ he said. ‘But I don’t know what I’ll do yet.’
I could understand his hesitation. The normal world would take some getting used to, and after everything we had been through and everything we had seen, was it even possible to continue with our normal lives? Perhaps not. I couldn’t unsee the blood, the bodies draped and dangling. All I knew was that I needed find my brother and somehow sever ties with my father. It wasn’t something I was exactly looking forward to, but it had to be done. I had to be stronger now.
And of course, I had to find Kuina in the real world too. Maybe after all of this, we could sit down and have a drink together.
Time passed in silence, and although the sun was setting the Queen of Hearts blimp still lurked over the skyline. Part of me wondered whether Arisu and Usagi failed the game, but that way of thinking would get me nowhere. I had to have faith in them. They were our only hope now.
Eventually the rain drizzled to a stop. Chishiya’s breathing was more haggard than before. His leg was cold beneath my head, and when I looked up at him his eyes were closed. If not for the rise and fall of his chest, I would have thought he was dead.
‘Shuntaro,’ I whispered, as a cough rattled my chest. I tasted blood on my tongue, and I knew that I was running out of time too. ‘Hang on a little longer.’
His hand brushed against my hair as he picked up a strand and played with the ends. ‘Worry more about your own injuries.’
‘I’m fine.’
‘I heard that cough. There’s no point in lying.’
‘Stop deflecting—’
A new voice interrupted me. It was a voice that I had heard so many times before, and if I was honest with myself, I had hoped never to hear it again.
‘You two never shut up, you know that,’
Oh god no.
‘Niragi?’ I tried to pinpoint where his voice was coming from. It sounded like he was somewhere behind Chishiya, perhaps near one of the other cars ‘How are you even alive? Why are you alive?’
Wherever he was, he scoffed. ‘Bitch. I could say the same thing about you.’
Really?
Niragi was unbelievable. Even if I couldn’t see him, his presence alone had ruined everything. ‘I should have strangled you… when I had the chance.’
‘I should have shot you in the fucking head. My mistake.’
Chishiya snickered, but it quickly turned into a cough. Beneath his wry expression, it was clear that his injuries were getting to him, although he would never admit to it. I felt awful using his leg as a pillow like this, but it would be far too painful to sit up.
‘Try not to goad him on,’ he said. ‘If you move too much, your lung could rupture even further and fill with blood. If that happened, I wouldn’t be able to do anything for you.’
‘Fine,’ I muttered. ‘I just wish he didn’t exist… He’s a waste of cells.’
‘Oi!’ The response was instant. ‘I heard that.’
I didn’t reward him with a response, and instead diverted my attention to the sunset. The sun was sinking slowly over the concrete buildings, staining the sky a warm pink and lilac. As the light faded, stars began to appear. I wanted to trace them with my fingertips, but I no longer had the energy. I could barely move my arms, and the pain in my leg and chest was quickly becoming unbearable.
It would have been so easy, so gentle, to close my eyes and sink into sleep. In a world like this, sleep was a luxury — one I would never take for granted again. I only realised that I was slipping away when Chishiya’s voice roused me.
‘Stay here.’
His voice dragged me back from the darkness, back to this awful world. It took a conceited effort just to keep my eyes focused and avoid drifting away again.
I’ll stay with you.
It was only after an incredible length of time that a familiar screech of metal sounded in the distance. My eyes shot wide open.
I know that sound!
The Queen of Hearts blimp exploded against the stars. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, because at that moment I knew we had won.
‘Shuntaro?’ My voice was gravelly with blood. ‘They did it… We can go home now.’
Chishiya gave a distinct hum. ‘So they did.’
Somewhere in the dark, I heard Niragi complain. ‘Fucking finally.’
The moment the blimp crashed to the ground, fireworks in every colour lit up the night sky like chrysanthemums, bursting and fizzling into dust. Who had set them off if all the civilians were dead? It was one of the mysteries of this world. Either way, I couldn’t stop myself from smiling at the sight. Beside me, Chishiya was lazily watching the fireworks with a satisfied smile.
A voice boomed across the city like an intercom.
‘ALL SURVIVING PLAYERS WILL BE PRESENTED WITH TWO CHOICES. PLAYERS MUST NOW ALL DECIDE WHETHER TO ACCEPT PERMANENT RESIDENCY IN THIS COUNTRY, OR DECLINE IT.’
Two choices. To remain or to leave? The Queen of Diamonds had hinted as this very moment right before her life came to an end.
‘Like you, I was inquisitive for knowledge. I also wanted to find out more about this place, and so I chose to stay.’
My brother was waiting for me back in the real world. He could be hurt, or worse. However, here I could live life without restrictions or limits. I was free.
But would I be living or surviving?
I looked back at Chishiya. He appeared uncertain, or at least unconvinced by the options. ‘What do you want to do?’
‘I was going to ask you the same thing,’ he said. ‘Either way, it doesn’t matter to me.’
I smiled, knowing deep down that even though I was free in this world, there was only one true choice for me.
‘I’m declining it. 手にしない.’
Chishiya looked away, his face half-buried by darkness, half-lit by fireworks. I could see him thinking carefully, measuring his life. Finally, he spoke.
‘I’ll decline it, I think.’
I reached back and slid my fingers around his. For once he didn’t fight me away or pull away. Instead, he turned to his right and spoke into the shadows.
‘What do you think you’ll do?’
There was a pause, then Niragi replied with, ‘I don’t want it.’
After all that, you too…
It felt monumental. Everything we had fought for had come down to this very moment. I continued watching the fireworks light up the night sky, listening to Chishiya’s steady breathing, our cold fingers touching.
One by one, I noticed the windows of the buildings becoming brighter. At first, it seemed like the light of the fireworks reflecting in the glass. But they continued to glow in the dark, the light from each window blurring into one another like torches. Suddenly, there was a tugging sensation, a drag of unreality pulling me away from this place.
It’s time…
And with that thought, the labyrinth erupted in a blinding white light.
#alice in borderland#aib#chishiya#chishiya shuntaro#Imawa no Kuni no Arisu#chishiya x oc#Chishiya x reader
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D&D, The OGL, and a Better Future for Actual Play Content
So this is spinning out of a post I made on twitter about how I legitimately believe the future of Actual Play (or AP for short) is in working alongside indie rpg folks
You can see that thread here, but I'm gonna recap anyway
Lets talk about the OGL and D&D first
Thanks to some great reporting from journalist Linda Codega (@lincodega), we know the general shape of the new Open Gaming License (or OGL) that WotC is running for Dungeons & Dragons moving forward. In short it sucks, I am not super interested in getting into it here, especially because Linda (once again) did really solid reporting here. Generally this spells a very bad time for a number of bigger third party creators (Green Ronin, Paizo, Kobold Press, probably Critical Role if we assume they aren't in on it which I would not assume tbh), and it also spells out specifically that Hasbro's desire to monetize even harder is in full swing.
One of the more interesting bits to this whole thing to me though, is how Wizards is looking at Fan Content, and I think its very likely this is going to be a major rub for AP Producers in the future. The OGL is now much clearer that AP work needs to fall under the Fan Content Policy, which means in broad strokes there is to be no monetization of your content. This is an old policy, but one I think a lot of folks are blithely unaware of. Specifically
You can't require payments, downloads, subscriptions, or email registration to access your content
You can't sell or license this content to a third party
Your content must be free for others to view, access, share, and use without paying you anything, obtaining approval, or giving credit.
You specifically can run things like a Ko-Fi or a Patreon, but you can't hide content behind a paywall. It also is... unclear on the ability to do things like live shows for money? I'm not a lawyer.
Regardless I think its high time people left, and that brings me to part 2 here
D&D and APs
Fundamentally D&D has always been bad for Actual Play. It's a quagmire of conflicting rules and bubblegum fixes, it crunches in weird spots, it doesn't do half the things people play it for, and its expensive to get into. Furthermore, it requires a lot of prep, it doesn't adapt well, and fundamentally it makes bad radio.
Where we see the most successes in the niche of D&D APs is hyper edited, super slick, and wildly unachievable setups; with major changes in rules, players who can make a living doing it, and entire production studios working on them (looking at you Critical Role, Dimension 20, etc). Within these (and within a ton of other APs) we also see a wild amount of homebrew to bend an inflexible and inelegant system into something that tells the stories we're interested in telling in games. Be this the wild changes to death in Dimension 20's Neverafter, full new classes and mechanics across Critical Role, magic items and homebrew in every AP I can think of, etc.
Generally also D&D is bad radio. The exacting measurements on battle maps don't make great Theatre of the Mind (certainly not as well as games designed for it), the rolls + stat modifiers + misc. shit on your sheet requires a lot of boring and frequently had to follow math*, etc.
Point here being, when we see it done well** it's less on the hands of D&D being good at these things, and more because production is changing major aspects of gameplay to make a game make good radio.
We should also talk about the messy legacy of D&D, but honestly that would be a few thousand extra words from me, and I don't have it in me. If the OGL doesn't scare you, it's worth thinking about what you're cosigning by staying around. Here's some extra articles if this is the first you're hearing about Wizards having major problems tho
Why Race is Still a Problem by Linda Codega gets into a lot of it
Wizards is still making money off of Oriental Adventures (and an article on that)
Mike Mearls still works there, this was weirdly hard to find a good article on, but here's a reddit post where its discussed
A Better Future for Actual Plays
This brings me to the point of this thread, which is that I don't think the future of Actual Plays has ever... actually been in making 5e content. This is a thing I feel pretty strongly about as a person who makes non-5e ap content (and this is a bias, sure). To me a better future has always been in indie rpgs, and in making content hand in hand with designers and producers working together.
What does this look like though? In short it rocks, and it's a thing bigger folks in the AP sphere are clearly already looking it. I'll list some examples below, and then I'll talk more about what it looks like on smaller scale, and what my experience with that has been like
So first off here's a few examples of what this looks like on the higher production end of the scale. I'm specifically looking at examples of campaign APs, working with the designer of the system, and not one shots which are doing this a bunch already.
Dimension 20's Shriek Week with Gabe Hick's Mythic System
Yazeba's Bed & Breakfast Podcast getting made alongside Possum Creek (it is a series of one shots, but also a shared universe, so I'm counting it here)
Into the Motherlands moving to their own system eventually
Iron Edda: Puppet Strings with Tracy Hicks on the One Shot Podcasting Network (edited to add this example)
On the smaller end this is something I legitimately have some experience with, and this is where the thread was always heading. Let's talk about Renegade Racers, the game I made specifically for one person, what that has looked like for me, and why I think it's the future of APs to make content this way.
So a while ago I got on a Fast & Furious bend and watched all the movies. Not content to just watch movies though, I talked to some folks about if they had seen games based on it, and got linked to a video of @0sarahxfrank0 running a F&F inspired honey heist hack (I'm not gonna link it because the community it spun out of has had a lot happen and I don't wanna give them clicks tbh).
The short version of this is that I watched the game, built a system to better handle what folks were trying to do, and then sent it back to Sarah. She loved it. We made some changes, we rebuilt around the players and stories people wanted to tell, we released the game and the first AP together afterwards. Now Sarah and I do a lot of work together, we're planning bigger things like this for the future, and it's so far been a lot of fun and super rewarding for everyone involved.
We've seen some other stuff like this as well, even if not in campaign play. Offhand, Plus One Exp's home Down We Go system is a great example of working with a designer to stamp a system as the home system, and find community within it. We've been able to watch sorta in slow motion as DWG moved from a little one page OSR hack that potentially gets lost in the shuffle, to something big and exciting that both parties are happy to put a stamp on.
This is the exact future I see for AP campaign play, and not a wild dream I don't think.
What does Actual Play look like when it's tied to designers who want to help you tell your stories in the ways you want to tell them? What would it look like for a community to say "actually we've had enough"? What happens when we work with people who give a shit instead of faceless megacorps? What does it look like when we invest in people willing to invest in us?
I've seen the future and it's golden, we just have to reach for it.
*hard to follow in that if the players aren't saying out loud what exactly they're adding the numbers are nonsense
**by well here I do mean "expensive and award winning" I do not mean I think they're particularly master classes in game running or production, but that's a whole separate topic
#this goes so many places#it lands where I wanted#but wow it went places first#in which kegan spends 1400 words saying “please want more for yourself”
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Request: Reader suffers an accident with an infected and ends up full of their blood, so in a horde of infected she manages to go unnoticed and meets some strangers (Joel and Ellie) who were being cornered and saves them, since they did not know the technique of going unnoticed among the zombies. In a universe where they are zombies and not the infected from the last of us. Reader x Joel Miller.
ahhh, this is bringing me back to watching the walking dead as a kid and I love it! I put my own little spin on it, I hope that's ok :) thank you for the request, babe!
A Big Break
Joel Miller x f!reader
warnings | 18+ descriptions of gore and violence, angst, a dash of fluff
joel miller masterlist
..............
There was no other way. It was damn risky, maybe even idiotic, but Joel knew there was no other way. That’s what he kept telling himself as he and Ellie began to move through the fallen Columbus QZ. Shit had only hit the fan here a month ago, and the damage was still fresh. Bodies scattered the streets, already in various states of decay, most obviously bit and turned as they reached weakly for the pair. Ellie took odd pleasure in stabbing the walkers in the skull (“extra points for eyeball shots, old man”), but Joel was quick to tell her to “cut that shit out” and “keep fucking moving.”
They hadn’t been together on the road very long at this point. Long enough to lose Tess to a horde. Long enough to realize this wasn’t going to be easy, getting this kid across the damn country. But he had promised Tess, and he couldn’t turn back now, not when there was nothing left for him in Boston.
Joel was keeping his eyes scanning the storefronts as they skirted through the city. They needed supplies, food mostly, and they needed it badly. He knew that the geeks weren’t much danger, you could out-walk them usually. The problem came when they had numbers. The instant you were cornered, and there were more walkers than you could count on your hands, Joel knew you were shit out of luck. But really, it was humans he was more worried about.
It’s a huge break that they reach the outskirts of the city without any problem, and Joel thinks to himself that something big must have happened here for it to have been so wiped out. Just off the highway, he spots one of those big warehouse stores. It’s a fool’s errand, a store like that had probably been picked over a long time ago, and he’s sure that not everyone that went in came back out. But they’ve only got about another day’s worth of jerky in their packs, and he’s noticed that the hungrier Ellie gets, the more backtalk she dishes out. They skirt down the highway heading toward the store, Ellie asking all kinds of questions as they near the building.
“Why were people so obsessed with toilet paper?” Joel huffs, eyes darting around the crumbling parking lot, scanning for movement and finding nothing.
“Don’t know. People liked stuff back then. Liked having a lot of it. You ask me, I always thought these stores were a scam. Thinking you’re spending less and getting more but you’re really just spending more.” Ellie hums at that, close on Joel’s heel as they sidle up against the building. They both carry hunting knives and flashlights, Joel keeping his rifle slung across his back. The doors have all been busted in, glass crunching under their boots as they step into the dim store. At first glance, it seems clear, Joel can’t hear any of the warbly grunts he’s come to associate with walkers, and he sees no movements amongst the ceiling-high shelves. He lets his light dart across the store, catching motionless bodies down some of the aisles. It seems like they may have gotten another break.
He turns over his shoulder, nodding at Ellie, and the pair start to move further into the store. The lower shelves are all bare, but the higher ones are still packed with stuff. Joel sets his sights down one aisle, the top shelves lined with cans of food. He turns to look at Ellie.
“Think you can get up there, kid?” She grins.
“What? Scared of heights, old man?” He scowls at her smug expression.
“Too old for that shit. I’ll give you a lift up and you toss down whatever you can, alright?” She huffs, already shouldering off her pack. He hoists her up with a groan onto one of the higher shelves, and he’s a little annoyed at how easy she makes it look as she hauls herself up to the top.
They move in tandem, she tosses down cans of food that he catches in an old cardboard box that had been laying on the floor, his knife back in its sheath on his thigh. The heavier the box gets, the more relief floods through Joel’s system. But he’s learned that relief is always short lived in this world.
The thing is, Joel can’t hear out of his right ear. Hasn’t been able to after that stand-off with a group of smugglers. And it’s from his right side that a geek is suddenly on him, causing him to drop the box and stagger back onto the ground. He’s quick to grab his knife and stab the walker through its skull. That’s not his concern though, not when he sees the trickle of walkers starting to shuffle into the store.
“Ellie, we need to go now.” She sees them just as he does, letting out a low curse as she starts to scramble down the shelves. Joel’s shoving cans into their packs, keeping an eye on the horde, his heart kicking up the nearer they close in. They’re gonna have to gore their way out, there’s too many now to skirt the crowd.
The store is a cacophony of the garbled groans and grunts of the walkers as Ellie finally hops down onto the floor. As quick as she shrugs back on her pack, the first wave of geeks is on them and the pair have no choice but to start stabbing and struggling towards the exit. But when they’ve barely moved a few feet, the horde seeming to have no end, Joel starts to get worried. He tries to shut off his brain, to just keep running his knife through the geeks, but even he can’t tamp down the fear as they get encircled by the decaying creatures.
Ellie and he are pressed back to back, frantically killing off the swarming infected, both starting to let the panic wash over them of this reality. Just then, he catches a glint of something through the horde. The blade of a knife. And then he sees the person moving through the horde, seemingly unnoticed by the teeming geeks. They’re wearing what looks like an old, dark red raincoat with the hood pulled up, obscuring their face as they dart through the swarm, making quick work of the walkers who still bizarrely ignore them. Joel realizes that they’re clearing a path for them, and he grabs Ellie’s arm to start shouldering through the infected, following the hooded figure as they start to struggle towards the entrance. It’s damn close to a miracle as they step out into the light of day, and Joel now sees that the person who just saved their asses is a woman, and that the coat she’s wearing is covered in blood and viscera, enough to make even his stomach turn. She glances at them over her shoulder, a silent look that tells them to follow. Maybe it’s just because he’s still shocked by how easily she moved through that horde, but he complies, nodding at Ellie behind him as they silently jog out of the parking lot and down an embankment before they hit the treeline. When they get into the woods, she finally turns, taking down her hood and studying them. Joel’s fingers flex on the strap of his rifle as he holds her gaze.
“Where are you folks headed?” Joel glances at Ellie before looking back at her.
“West. How did you do that?” She grimaces, cocking her hip as she glances between him and Ellie.
“Where west?” Joel huffs.
“Wyoming. Got family there.” It’s not a complete lie, he is going to find Tommy, but not before taking Ellie to those doctors in Utah, information that this stranger certainly doesn’t need to know.
“You’re a long way from Wyoming. You sure that family is still gonna be there?” His jaw ticks under her steely gaze. She shrugs, turning heel and starting to trudge into the forest. For a moment Joel stands unsure what to do, Ellie looking at him questioningly. But then, she turns back around, hollering over her shoulder.
“Y’all coming or not? Look like you could use some rest.” They both stutter into motion, following behind her. Joel figures so long as it’s in the general direction of west, it can’t really hurt. That, and he’ll be damned if he doesn’t find out how she did that back there.
They walk for a while, going deeper and deeper into the woods until the sound of running water starts to come closer at hand. As they break through the trees a creek comes into view, a cabin sitting a little ways back from it.
“Holy shit.” Ellie laughs at the sight, and the woman turns back over her shoulder to grin at them.
“Found this place just passing through two days ago. Decided to stay a while. Think it was someone’s bug out cabin. There’s cans of food all stacked up in the pantry. Help yourself.” Ellie is already walking toward the cabin, but Joel grabs her arm, pulling her back behind him despite her protests. The woman stills, sizing him up again.
“Why are you helping us?” She scoffs, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Why shouldn’t I? Y’all bad people or something?” Joel doesn’t say anything, but Ellie pipes up.
“We’re not bad people. Joel’s just an asshole.”
“Ellie.” The woman laughs at the pair’s interaction.
“Alright then. Joel and Ellie, it’s nice to meet you.” She holds out her hand, but Joel only looks at it. Ellie huffs, coming out from behind him and shaking her hand herself. The woman tells them her name.
“Look, you can do whatever you want. I’m getting out of here tomorrow morning, heading out to Utah, if you care to know. But, you’re welcome to camp out here with me tonight. Wouldn’t mind a little company.” Joel’s ears prick at her mention of Utah, but he keeps his expression steeled.
“Well, I’m staying the night.” Ellie crosses her arms over her chest, shooting Joel a challenging look. He huffs, scrubbing a hand down his face.
“Fine. We’ll, uh, we’ll stay the night, if that’s alright with you. But we’re heading out tomorrow too.” The woman grins, nodding lightly.
“That’s alright with me, Joel.”
…
Ellie’s first move is to the pantry, finding herself a can of peaches and busting it open with a rock, slurping up the syrup. Joel sits down on the moldering steps of the cabin, watching as the woman goes down to the creek, shrugging out of her gorey jacket and dipping it into the water, scrubbing away at the smeared guts on it. He shuffles down to the water’s edge alongside her, sitting down on a fallen tree and watching her silently work at her jacket. He clears his throat and she turns to look at him.
“What’s in Utah?” Her movements still and she sighs before glancing at him again.
“That kid is right, you do seem like an asshole– but for some reason I feel like being honest with you. Before the Columbus QZ fell, I was a part of the Firefly outpost there, I’m sure you’ve heard of us. We had been radioing with a hospital out in Salt Lake City before shit hit the fan. They’ve, uh, been working on a vaccine, if you can believe it, last I heard they found a kid who’s immune, the real deal.” Joel swallows thickly, not totally believing that she’s actually telling him this.
“Are you a doctor?” She smiles.
“Was supposed to be, had another year left of school when everything– well you know.” He squints at her.
“What kind of doctor?” Her smile crooks and for a moment Joel’s distracted by how pretty she is.
“An epidemiologist, go figure, huh?” He snorts, shaking his head. She sighs.
“Anyways, a couple of us were holed up in the city after everything happened, kept listening to the radio and planned to head out but, uh, I guess I’m the only one who actually made it.” Her face falls, eyes settling on her hands. Joel sighs.
“Since you’re telling me the truth, I might as well do the same. We are headed to Wyoming, but we’re also headed to Utah.” She furrows her brow at him. He jerks his head over his shoulder, gesturing to Ellie who’s still sitting on the porch practically making love to another can of peaches.
“That kid? I’m pretty sure that’s the one you heard about over the radio.” Her eyes widen, jaw falling slack. Joel just nods.
“I’ve seen the scar myself. She is the real deal.” She lets out an incredulous laugh.
“Well then I guess I’m glad I decided to see what all the ruckus was about at that Costco.” Joel laughs at that, trying to tamp down the warmth that’s spreading through his chest at the sight of her grin. He shakes his head, trying to refocus.
“You know, I’m still wondering how you did that. Those geeks weren’t even glancing at you.” She quirks an eyebrow at him, lifting up her now clean jacket. Joel’s brow furrows.
“What, like camouflage?” She shrugs, laying the jacket out on a rock before sitting down beside him, their legs barely brushing.
“Something like that. Whatever this thing is, we’re pretty sure it’s a virus. Not airborne obviously, something more like a stomach flu that has to pass through a mucous membrane of some kind.” She glances at him to see if he’s following and he nods.
“Well, the only goal of a virus is to make more of itself, right? So, that virus is gonna be looking for hosts, organisms that aren’t already tagged by it. It was a shot in the dark, really, but I figured if I walked around with a nice coating of the virus all the time, all those stumbling hosts weren’t gonna pay me any mind, and I was right.” The explanation goes just a little over Joel’s head, and she seems to be able to tell, laughing lightly. He’d be hard pressed to admit how the sound is making a blush creep up his neck.
“Sorry, that was probably more of an explanation than you wanted. But, yeah, it works. You just gotta make sure you don’t get any of that gunk in any cuts or your eyes and stuff, but otherwise it’s damn good protection.” Joel huffs, nodding as he glances at her.
“Never seen anything like that before. It’s impressive– that you figured that out.” She shrugs, getting back up to collect her jacket. Joel speaks before he can even think about it.
“If we’re headed the same way, we might as well stick together. Might not be as smart as you, but I’m good on the road, and the kid is too.” They both glance behind them at Ellie. She’s on her third can of peaches. Joel turns back to her and she laughs at his exasperated expression.
“Alright, Joel– wait, what’s your last name?” He feels the smile spreading across his face as he holds out his hand to her.
“Miller, Joel Miller.” She grins, clasping his hand. His heart kicks at the squeeze she gives him.
“Joel Miller, looks like we’re walking to Utah together.”
…
They share a makeshift dinner of canned beans and vegetables, Joel having cut Ellie off from the peaches to get something other than sugar into her stomach. The girl promptly conks out inside, and Joel offers to take the first watch of the night. She still follows him out, leaving Ellie lightly snoring in her sleeping bag. They sit down together on the steps outside the cabin and she offers him a small flask she pulled out of her back pocket. He raises an eyebrow at her, but she just grins, pushing the flask into his hand. He takes a swig, letting the burn thrum down his throat before passing it back to her, the warmth that her fingertips brushing his sparks up his arm far better than anything booze could ever create. She grins around her own gulp before screwing the cap back on and tucking the flask away.
Joel is finding that he can’t take his eyes off her, the way her features are limned in moonlight, the slight smile tugging at her lips. He really needs to stop looking at her lips. He feels like he’s losing his mind, how quickly he seems to be getting tangled up with this woman. It’s easier to just chalk it up to the physicality of it all. She’s there, she’s warm, she’s pretty, she’s smart– he’s a damn fool. He clears his throat, trying to shake his brain free of these stupid thoughts.
“So you were really gonna study diseases? That’s what you wanted to do?” She snorts, resting her cheek on her shoulder as she turns to look at him.
“That was the plan. Although, I guess in a way I’m still doing that, just with one very weird disease.” He huffs out a laugh at that.
“Do you really think these people– these doctors– do you think they can find a cure?” She scrunches up her face.
“Not a cure– a vaccine. If it is a virus, and Ellie really is immune, her blood could be the golden ticket.” Joel shifts slightly to face her, their knees brushing. She grins.
“I won’t give you another medical lecture about how that would work. But, if what you told me is true, it will work.” Joel nods.
“Wouldn’t mind another medical lecture, for the record.” She quirks her brow at him.
“Oh, you wouldn’t? I’ll have to remember that.” Now Joel knows he’s going crazy because there’s no way in hell she’s actually flirting back, right? His head is swimming, exhausted from the long day and just slightly buzzed from whatever she had in that flask and it’s making him throw caution to the wind.
“I’d probably listen to just about anything you have to say.” He flushes the instant the words leave his mouth, but she just grins brightly.
“Well, maybe you aren’t an asshole after all, Joel Miller.” He winces as she laughs.
“I’m sorry about earlier– it’s just–” She cuts him off, resting her hand on his knee and squeezing lightly.
“Don’t have to apologize– I understand. You gotta look out for you and yours.” He presses his lips in a thin line holding her gaze. And then, Joel feels like his heart is going to explode when she carefully brings one hand to his jaw, leaning closer to him.
“It’s ok if you can’t believe what I’m about to say, at least not yet. But you can trust me, Joel. I’ll help you get her there as best I can.” He swallows thickly, nodding.
“We’ll get her there together, I guess.” She smiles at his words, dipping in and laying a sweet kiss on his cheek that sends a jolt up his spine. When she pulls away, she snorts at his agape expression. He collects himself enough to speak.
“What was that for?” She grins.
“For not being an asshole.” Before he can reply, she briskly gets up, turning and walking back into the cabin after speaking to him over her shoulder.
#request#joel miller angst#joel miller fanfiction#joel miller#joel miller x reader#joel miller x you#joel miller fluff#tlou fanfiction#tlou#the last of us#joel miller one shot
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The Narrow Road Between Desires VS The Lightning Tree
I reread both simultaneously to be able to have a more objective opinion on them.
TL;DR the new version of the story adds, on top of the illustrations, several additional scenes and some very welcome revisions. It is a kinder, queerer, and more magical version of the same story. For me it is definitely worth the read!
Spoilers below:
First let's crunch the raw numbers. Based on the audiobook version TLT has an estimated 27,807 words and TNRBD is at 71,760 words, so almost three times at long. The sections in TLT are arranged a bit differently than in TNRBD but I will use them to do a more detailed breakdown below:
TLT:
Morning: The Narrow Road (29p)
TNRBD:
Dawn: Artistry (6p)
Morning: Embril (18p)
Mid morning: The Narrow Road (40p)
Mid-day: Birds (8p)
Total: 72 pages
The same events are covered, but TNRBD expends on Bast and Kote's characterization. I think the story takes place before NOTW btw, because Bast looks intrigued when Kostrel jokingly tells him to write a book if he knows so much. I think that was was made Bast try to have Kote write his memoirs himself, a while before Chronicler ever sets foot in the Waystone Inn.
The order in which Bast does his turns around the tree changes, the breaking way first, then the making way. I'm not sure yet how I interpret that lol.
One of the boys is changed to a girl, and the first secret she gives about a man sleeping with someone who is not his wife implies that it might be an open relationship in this version (everyone knows, including the wife).
A girl named Gretta in TLT is now Grett, and explicitly referred to using they/them.
New divination system introduced, with things called Embrils that Bast uses kinda like runes, to do tosses
Instead of a shepherdess, Bast charms a shepherd (Bi!Bast for the win) who very cutely embroiders stuff on Bast's pants while mending them
The bargain with Kostrel is more complex, touches on Fae magic and debts, and Bast gets tricked into accepting the gift of a penance coin...
When Kostrel asks Bast to describe Emberlee's breast to him, Bast says he will only do it if she gives her permission
When Bast takes his bath, both men and women are watching (in both versions, he very well knows they are there)
---
TLT:
Afternoon: Birds and Bees (32p)
TNRBD:
Mid-day: Birds (continued, 16p)
Noon: Obligation (17p)
Afternoon: Still (33p)
Moonrise: Sweetness (11p)
Evening: riddles (7p)
Total: 84 pages
I had forgotten, but TLT already had bits of queerness, namely the little girl who saw "mama kiss the maid", and when Bast goes watch Emberlee bathe, it is strongly implied she was among the women watching him earlier. In TNRBD, that is expended upon.
When the little girl wants to know if her kitten is a boy or a girl, there's this quote that I really liked: Bast would rather tell the bigger truth than the smaller one anyway. "Bows and dresses don't matter much," he said. "She decided she's a girl, so she's a girl."
The girl is also smarter in this version
Rike has a hold on Bast because of the penance coin, so there's a bit of additional plot around that
Rike's sister is named earlier instead of being an afterthought
Bast does some magic on Rike to get rid of his obligation
The description of the still is longer, and the alcohol has a different flavor (no opinion on that but some people might theorize about it lol)
There's a second Embril throw, and Kostrel admits Emberlee told him where she bathed expressly so Bast could find her
Bast, Emberlee, Kholi and Dax (the shepherd) seem to be a polycule and everyone knows haha
Grett is mentioned again, along with "harthan tea" which I assume is fantasy HRT xD
---
TLT:
Evening: Lessons (17p)
TNRBD:
Sunset: lies (17p)
Twilight: carrots (1p)
Night: demons (15p)
Midnight: lessons (11p)
Total: 44 pages
The conclusion to the story has a long additional scene and a few more changes
Instead of Martin punching a tinker because he was assaulting a young girl, he punches the tinker because he had pushed down Old Cob
A scene where Rike washes his face and Bast notices the bruises he has from his father beating him have been moved later in TNRBD
There's a prediction from the Embrils that gets realized here, and the way the narration speaks of Bast and his desires impacting the world feel very reminiscent of TSROST, I wonder if Auri is using Grammarie? Is it just another name for Shaping?
Longer description that empathizes that Bast beat the shit out of Rike's father
There's an entirely new scene of Bast talking to Rike and helping him heal from his terror of becoming an abuser like his dad
I particularly liked that last bit, the story was always a commentary on the cycle of abuse, but this version makes it clear it can be broken. Overall, as I said in the intro, TNRBD is a lot kinder as a story. And meaner towards abusive fathers which is always a plus for me lmao. Bast is made very explicitly queer, as are some of the side characters, and the women are better treated as a whole, with more emphasis on consent. I have to say, in both versions Bast offers to take Kote to where Emberlee bathes, and there's no mention of her agreeing to that, so eh.
But I really appreciate the changes that have been made, and the extra magic. Plus the illustrations are lovely as the moon. I'm even more excited about Doors of Stone now (who knew it was possible lol) because I feel like Pat has grown a lot as a writer since WMF :D
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Hi! I’m the one who adopted bologna sandwich and Craig, recently Craig has been suckling on his blanket. I’m worried he might be upset. Is this normal or should I help the little guy?
Hiya hon, hope y’all have been getting on okay, sorry to hear this! Has Bologna Sandwich settled in well?
Hmmm, there’s a number of things that could be wrong with Craig, well, beyond the normal Bottom of the Barrel Spam issues. Still, it could just be another of his annoying but sort of loveable BOB traits, maybe he’s moved on from trying to be a worm and has been imitating you eating spaghetti but with a blanket?
If this doesn’t seem likely, let’s look at alternatives:
1. He’s afraid of something and is resulting to comfort behaviour to cope. If he took a shine to the blanket, it’s likely he’s using it as a distraction/coping tool, this is very common in Spamlings - they like to chew and bite stuff when they’re stressed. It’s important to give him this outlet (otherwise he may bite himself), but I’d try and transfer him over to a stress toy or chew necklace if you think this is the issue. Anything been stressing him out lately?
2. He’s hungry! Seems simple, but BOB’s can’t vocalise very well (if at all) and have trouble telling you exactly what they need. Has he lost weight or looked lost/unhappy after feeding time? It’s worth checking that B.Sandwich isn’t stealing his food, it’s not common among Spam siblings but can happen. What are you feeding him?
3. He just wants to cronch but has no outlet. Much like Iron Jaw variants, pretty much all Spamlings like to have something to nibble on. This is related to point 1, but this is the positive side. Think of it like a cat scratch post, they need to grind their jaws on something soft to hard in density, the exact hardness will vary on your Spam. Here’s a pic of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, our resident toe biter, who enjoys a soft and squishy bite outlet, unfortunately this is usually my feet….🥲
#SpamsAdventureDaycare#spamton#deltarune#spamton g spamton#the skrunkly#deltarune fanart#spamtong#spantong#my art#asks
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Mr Evershed x student!reader - snow trouble
Number 5 on the winter prompt list with mr evershed x student!reader :) - Anon 💜
5: “Throw one more snowball and you’re going to be in huge trouble.”
You didn’t want to be at school, nobody did when it was snowing and cold outside, but Ackley decided it was still suitable for students to come in.
It’s how you ended up outside on break, hiding away while other students were heading back inside for their lessons.
You grinned a little to yourself and waited a few moments before emerging to carry on what you were doing.
You were going to make the most of this day, even if it did mean spending a day in resolve, or having a detention.
You preferred it outside anyways, the cold air, the crunch of the snow under your shoes, how it made your hands cold and shake a little bit.
But it was fun.
“Well, I’m glad you see you’re still on school grounds at least.”
Spinning around, without thinking you threw a snowball at the teacher, hitting him in the shoulder.
Chuckling a little bit, Mr Evershed brushed the snow from his jacket.
“So, (Y/N), why are you out here throwing snowballs?”
“Because it’s snowing, and I don’t wanna be stuck inside.”
He hummed a little, nodding his head.
“Okay, but it’s mandatory, and it’s cold, and you need to come inside.”
“Come on.”
You threw another snowball at him, hitting his arm and he brushed the snow away.
“Come on please, I don’t want to give you a detention.”
“It’ll be worth it, am making a snowman.”
You gestured to the giant hall of snow you had been rolling around, and a slightly smaller one next to it.
“Okay, but you also have science.”
Mr Evershed walked over, putting the body on the snowman for you while you made the head and set it in.
“Can we go inside now?”
“Nope, because I don’t wanna.”
“You’re going to get a detention eventually if you keep this up.”
You made another snowball, running behind him you threw it at his back, letting out a loud laugh.
Mr Evershed turned around and crossed his arms.
“Throw one more snowball and you’re going to be in huge trouble.”
“Nah you wouldn’t.”
“Wouldn’t I?”
You grinned a little bit, making your way elsewhere to find something else to do and he sighed heavily, following after you.
“(Y/N).”
“Nope.”
You crouched down, making another snowball only for it to be taken out of your hands and dropped back into the snow.
“Come on.”
“Come on Mr Evershed! Be cool!” You whined.
“I am cool, and if we stay outside any longer I’m going to be frozen. You’re shivering, let’s go.”
You huffed, trailing after him back towards the school.
And of course, when you saw your chance to make a run for it once again, you did and he shouted your name as he tried to catch up to you
#ackley bridge#ackley bridge imagine#ackley bridge x reader#ackley bridge x you#mr evershed#mr evershed x reader#mr evershed imagine#mr evershed x you
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Let Me Count The Ways
Summary: Stan wonders why his family thinks he's worth a celebration. Ford takes their birthday as an opportunity to remind him of so many reasons.
“You’re strong.”
“Well, that goes without saying. Look at these arms!”
“You’re resilient and brave, even if it is to the point of recklessness—”
“Yeah, and how many times has it saved your skin?”
“And on that note, while I may not always appreciate it in the moment, I can’t deny the potency and effectiveness of your protective streak.”
“Isn’t that kinda just like saying the same thing twice? Come on, Poindexter, you’ve got a big brain and an even bigger mouth for all this waxing poetic but I doubt even you can come up with sixty-something reasons I’m apparently so great or worth celebrating.”
“Is that a challenge, Stanley?”
“Uh, no? But you’re probably going to take it as one anyway, aren’t you? If you’re really that invested in swelling my head up as big as these balloons, feel free to keep trying, I guess—”
“Very well then, I will, considering the fact that I still have a plethora of wonderful things to say about you! You’re shrewd and savvy, and not just as a businessman crunching the numbers. No matter the situation, you continue to think outside the box and look at things from distinctive, fresh angles. Your unique perspective and insights always find a way to surprise me.”
“Heh. That’s me, Mr. Full of Surprises!”
“You’re creative and offbeat. Your humor may not be very opportune or to my particular taste but I have to admit—”
“Aha, so you do think I’m funny! Yes, yes, I knew it! Trust me, I’m gonna remember you said that!”
“I didn’t even get to finish what I—”
“Don’t have to! A ‘have to admit’ is good enough for me to hold it over your head next time you try to say my puns are terrible.”
“The puns are terrible.”
“You’re smiling!”
“Never mind that I’m smiling, let me make my point! What I was going to say is that I can’t fault your enthusiasm. When you’re at your best, your happiest, your spirit is infectious. You’re…uncontainable. You inspire me.”
“Ahh, geez, anything but inspiring! Lord knows you don’t need me feeding any more of your crazy ideas!”
“Haha, perhaps not—but if or when those ideas take any unfortunate turns, I can trust that you’ll be right there to face them with me. I’ve never known anyone else to have such unshakeable loyalty…even for those who may not deserve it.”
“Wha—Hey, don’t say that. You do, you deserve it.”
“Just as you deserve to be acknowledged for it. You deserve to be appreciated; you deserve to be thanked.”
“You’ve already thanked me.”
“I can never thank you enough, Stanley—for all of it, everything you’ve done for me. Everything you are to me.”
“You…Ford, come on…You don’t have to get all serious about it.”
“I am serious. It may not look or feel like much to you but don’t forget, I wouldn’t be here—I probably wouldn’t have survived to see this birthday if it weren’t for your hard work, your care, your determination, forgiveness and faith, your heart.”
“…Ugh, you really do go for a plethora, don’t you? You don’t have to make such a big deal out of…I mean, what else was I supposed to do, just let you go? There really wasn’t much reason to celebrate our birthday without you.”
“I suppose you’re right. I wouldn’t be here to celebrate you properly.”
“T-That’s not what I meant, stop turning it around on me!”
“Why? This is what we agreed, isn’t it? We agreed to be more open with what we’re feeling and this is it. I know perfectly well how much love you have to give, how much you always give for this family. Now I need you to know how grateful I am to be included in it, to be one of the people you love—to be one of the people who get to love you too. If it takes sixty-something reasons to convince you, that’s what I’m here to do.”
“…”
“And this time, when I thank you, I mean every word. I’m—truly, I’m so grateful, and so glad, and so honored to be your brother.”
“…”
“Stanley? Are you—?”
“…Jerk.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Jerk. You and all your words. Y-You know there’s no way I can top a speech like that.”
“Heheh, yes, well, I wouldn’t ask you to try. There is something else you have that I don’t; it will be a much more beneficial gift to me than words.”
“Oh, yeah? What’s that?”
“Your healthy appetite. I need you to polish off what’s left of this cake before Mabel tries to push one more slice down my throat. It’s even more saccharine than my speech.”
#gravity falls#fanfiction#stanford pines#stanley pines#stan twins#happy birthday#brotherly bonding#brotherly love#fluff#self indulgent
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Taking Root
A/N: This was supposed to be a micro-fic based off of a prompt sent to me when I was trying to kickstart the creative juices again, and it just... didn’t want to stay short. Which is just fine with me. This takes place roughly two years after Point of No Return (and the still upcoming epilogue/sequel Petrichor- I dropped a few hints about what to expect in that series here). It could probably be read as a standalone story, but it really should be read along with the main story for that universe. Huge thank you to @valkblue who sent the prompt that sparked this one shot!! Thanks, Angie!! <3
Word Count: 2.6k
Warnings: none at all. this is very very soft.
Prompt: One character ruffling the other’s hair
Summary: After everything that Clara has done for Ezra and Cee, the two of them team up to make sure that her birthday is a special one.
“Are you sure she won’t be back before we’re done?”
Cee asked the question as she dropped a stack of wooden slats next to the porch steps. They landed with a soft clanking thud in the spongy grass near the toolbox Ezra had just set down. Up on the porch, Number Four jumped at the sudden sound, her stubby legs splayed in different directions as she toppled to her side. Abe, on the other hand, remained curled up on the doormat in the shape of a plump honey loaf, one orange ear twitching towards the source of the noise and deeming it nothing worth waking over. The smaller gray and white cat scrambled to her feet, letting out a tiny mewling yell as she tottered over to Abe’s side and tucked herself under his tail.
Brushing her palms together, Cee glanced over her shoulder at the long gravel driveway, as though expecting to see puffs of pinkish dust kicking up under the crunch of tires. Finding it empty, she turned back to face him, her lopsided frown almost comical to Ezra. No reason to fret, we have plenty of time.
“Of course I’m sure, Birdie.” He shifted his weight and tilted his head, left hip jutting out for his hand to rest on. “When have I ever steered you wrong?”
With a roll of her eyes, the girl snorted. “How about last week? When you told me to turn right on Plox Street instead of left, and then we ended up on the other side of town, three zones from where we were supposed to-”
“I did not intend for you to take that question so literally,” he responded through a smirk, eyes narrowed in faux irritation. “Besides, we did eventually end up in the correct location, and in doing so we discovered a new route to the Med Center.” Arching one eyebrow, he held up his pointer finger. “One that is much more scenic, I might add.”
Cee tilted her head to one side and then the other. “Yeah, yeah.” Her frown finally faded into a smile that brightened her whole face. Though he wouldn’t know it for months after they came to be one another’s family, the girl’s smile - when it was genuine, when she was actually happy and it wasn’t forced or unsure - was infectious in the best way. As soon as he saw it, Ezra’s own cheeks pulled up in a grin. Because I am not immune to its shine. “It was a nicer ride.”
Beginning as soon as her second rainy season at the farm came to an end, Ezra had been teaching Cee to drive Clara’s truck. And she is taking to it like a lakefowl to water. Not that I am the least bit shocked there. Their lessons had started small, not leaving the property until she was comfortable with the pedals and controls. Once she was, Ezra let her drive short distances into town, always in the passenger seat giving calm encouragement, directing her on when to use signals, and reminding her to keep an eye on the power gauge. When trips to the butcher and the farm supply became simple enough for her, Clara suggested that Cee be the one to drive Ezra to his appointments at the Med Center, where he was being fitted for his prosthetic.
Finally.
After just over two years of fighting, frustration, failed muscle matter scans, grueling physical therapy exercises and an endless regimen of pharmaceuticals, he had been approved to receive a fully integrated mechanical arm to replace the one he’d lost on the Green.
Finally. I… I miss it.
He was still a few weeks away from the surgical procedure to attach it, but he had already been fitted with the brace mechanism that his new right arm would connect to - a series of metal fasteners that had been surgically fused to the bones of his shoulder and humerus. Shrugging his right shoulder, he rolled it backwards and felt as the material of his t-shirt skated over the fasteners. It was an odd sensation, and an even odder thing to think about how the six knob-like devices were embedded into his skeletal structure. Soon they would be covered not by his clothing, but by his arm.
And then I will be able to do things that I have not done in far too long.
A flood of ideas crashed through his mind then. Holding Clara closer and more tightly than he had in seven years was, of course, at the forefront. But it was followed by much simpler things. Like regaining his penmanship, lacing his boots without the use of a hook, peeling potatoes or chopping leeks in the kitchen, helping in the Thulian fields, having a catch with Siggi - and now Cee - at the end of harvest feast. They were things he was so ready for that the excitement kept him up at night, the phantom nerves of his lost limb itching with how close they were to feeling again.
But first there was a project to finish.
On Kamrea, and in the farmlands specifically, it was tradition to give handmade gifts to celebrate birthdays, and Clara’s was fast approaching. The previous year had been consumed by Ezra’s return and recovery, getting Cee settled into her new life, and planning and hosting Sig and Runa’s wedding. With so many moving parts and all at once, birthday gifting had taken a backseat.
Clara still made sure to have something for Cee, though.
He recalled the gobsmacked look of surprise on the newly turned 15 year old’s face as Clara handed her a small, brightly wrapped package after dinner, the look transforming into one of pure delight as she slid one finger between the paper to open it, revealing a hand painted photo frame. In it was a picture Siggi had snapped of Cee with Ezra and Clara at the Harvest feast a few months prior. There had been tears then, the girl flinging her scrawny arms around Clara’s neck in thanks.
That memory warmed his chest as much as the midday starshine warmed his skin.
Oh, Huckleberry, Birdie and I are both so lucky to have you. And I’m the luckiest of us three, for I have you both.
Now that things had more or less calmed down for the three of them, Ezra had been eager to get back to the tradition. He had always put thought and effort into the things he chose to make for Clara, often using his time away on the Green to brainstorm ideas. It helped keep him from feeling too homesick, thinking of ways to make the woman he loved smile. Because that smile is still the most glorious sight these eyes have ever seen. It always will be. Past gifts had included the swing hanging from the crater-oak beside the creek as well as the windchimes that graced the front porch of the house. The fact that both of those objects remained in place even through his absence from the farm was not lost on him, and he looked forward to giving her something else that would become a part of their home.
And this time he had an accomplice in Cee, the girl just as excited to have the chance to give Clara a gift as Ezra was. In fact, what they were currently in the process of building had been Cee’s idea.
And it was a perfect one.
In addition to learning how to drive and finding her feet within the Kamrean school system, Cee had also spent much of the last year and a half learning about Thulian - and plants in general - from Siggi. She’d seen the harvest right away, and after that, the preparations for the rains. But it was what she learned when the planting season came around again that seemed to strike a chord with her, the care and tending that went into helping things grow. Coming in from the fields one day while Clara was in town, her light hair stained pink with pollen powder and an enthusiastic shine in her eyes, she had informed Ezra that she knew what she wanted to make as a gift.
“But I’ll need your help,” she’d told him, biting her lower lip. “I’ve never built anything before. I’ve fixed things, like my headphones but- ” Her forehead creased as she shrugged. “But that’s electrical stuff. Wiring. I… I wouldn’t know where to start when I comes to wood and-“
Ezra chuckled. “Well, you can start by telling me what it is that you would like to construct, Birdie.” Reaching forward, he brought his hand up to the top of her head, brushing the Thulian powder from her hair and tousling the strands. Cee clicked her tongue in what Ezra knew to be false annoyance, the girl only half able to pull off a very unconvincing frown. The look only made Ezra’s smile lift higher. “If it is something I can assist you with then I promise that I will.” He arched one eyebrow, tilting his head towards his right shoulder. “Do, however, keep in mind that my carpentry abilities have been somewhat limited since the last time I took up a hammer.”
Cee shook her head, her now powderless hair swaying around her shoulders with the motion. “I just need you to tell me what to do and… make sure I don’t muck it up.”
“Well then I’ll have an easy job, Cee. I have yet to witness you do a single task poorly.” Ezra brought his hand to his hip, shifting his weight to one leg. “Now, will you tell me what it is you want to build? Or should I venture a guess?”
It was her turn to let a small amused huff slip through a smirk. “I could make you guess, but the idea is to have it finished before Clara’s birthday.”
That made him laugh, this one more full. “Alright then, Little Bird.” He dipped his chin, making sure to keep his eyes on hers. “Let’s hear it.”
She told him that she wanted to design and build a trellis for the front porch. Siggi had shown her how they were used in last season’s fallow field to help the newly planted Thulian stalks grow while they were still establishing roots. “It’s, well the porch is where we all spend a lot of time and-” She paused, taking a breath and not at all trying to hide the slight shake in it. “And a trellis is like… it’s like what Clara - and you - have done for me. Are doing for me. And I-”
Ezra reached for her then, not to ruffle her hair this time, but to pull her into a hug. Her arms - still thin but now noticeably stronger as a result of farmwork and full meals - wound immediately around his torso. She gave a small squeeze that he returned, along with a quick peck to the top of her head. “It’s perfect, Cee.” He released her, pulling back to look at the girl who had become such an important part of his life. “Clara is going to love it.” Just like she loves you. Just like I do.
“Okay, but seriously.” Cee bent down to pick up one of the wooden pieces, using it to gesticulate at the porch steps and snapping Ezra out of his daydream. He followed where she had indicated, his eyes landing on the framework for an arched trellis that was partially in place. “We’ve been working on this for two days already. Are you sure we’re going to finish in time?”
Ezra stooped down with a grunt to open the tool box. “I am, Little Bird.” He handed her a hammer, her fingers wrapping surely around the grip. “The Kamrean Agricultural Authority’s annual convention is a seven cycle affair. Clara and Sig will not be back for another few days, which gives us plenty of time to finish constructing the trellis and to plant the seedlings.” Pulling a handful of nails from the box, he jumbled them around in his palm before selecting one to pass to her, pinching it between his thumb and pointer finger while the rest curled inward to keep the other nails from spilling into the grass. “You worry too much, you know that, right? We are making good time. In fact I would dare to say that we’ll have this finished by supper.”
She lined the piece in her hand up to the framework, matching the pre-drilled holes to the markings that Ezra had shown her how to measure out. Letting out a sigh, she waited for him to replace her hand on the slat with his own, holding it still so she could drive the nail to attach it. “If you say so.” She set the nail, pinching it carefully as she readied the hammer. “Did you decide what we were planting in it?”
Waiting until after she’d finished with that slat, Ezra nodded, handing her another piece of wood from the pile. “That I did, and I think you’ll be happy with my choice, too.” In fact I know you will. I have heard you talk about wanting to see these blossoms extensively.
Cee scrunched her nose, taking the piece from him and repeating the process. “Me? This is a gift for Clara.”
Again he waited until she’d whacked the nail, all the while watching to be sure that she wasn’t about to smash her own hand. But she didn’t. See? Like a lakefowl to water. Anything she sets her mind to, this one. “It is a gift for Clara, but it was you who pointed out that we all spend time together on the porch, was it not”
“Yeah, but…” She trailed off, taking the next board that was handed to her. “Well, are you going to tell me, Ezra? Or am I going to have to guess?”
He laughed, the sound carrying up onto the porch and again startling Number Four but going unnoticed by Abe. “Actually I am quite confident that you would be able to guess. I’ll even give you a hint.”
Cee narrowed her eyes and pushed her lips to one side. “Fine. What’s my hint?” She continued on with her task of securing the slats that would act as a ladder for the vines of the climbing flowers Ezra had selected.
“They can be found in your favorite bo-”
He didn’t get a chance to finish the hint, though, Cee’s eyes widening with wonder. “Novalilies?! Ezra? Are… Did you… Are we planting Novalilies?”
“We are indeed, Birdie.” He grinned. “I knew you’d guess it.”
Novalilies were the flowering vines that grew over the great archway leading to the Bowsum Conservatory - a place that Ezra had taken Clara so many years ago, and one that Cee had read about so many times that he knew that she could see it in her mind without ever having set foot there. They grew quickly and blossomed into soft white flowers that hung down like trumpets. But the real splendor came at night, when the petals, having soaked up the daylight, twinkled like stars against the dark.
“I…” She blinked, a smile spreading across her face. “I didn’t know they could grow anywhere but in the Ephrate.”
“All kinds of things can grow on Kamrea,” he told her. “Thulian, Crater-apples, Novalilies.” With a wink, he passed her the last slat for the side that they were currently working on, lifting his hand up to tousle her hair. “Even skinny little birds.”
.
.
.
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tags: @something-tofightfor @alraedesigns @pheedraws @shoopidly @fific7 @valkblue @a-court-of-feysand-and-elorcan @cannedsoupsucks @tobealostwanderer @paracosmenthusiast @gracie7209 @dihra-vesa @marauderskeeper @disgruntledspacedad @novemberrain221 @littlemisspascal @mishasminion360 @stevie75 @nyctophiliiiiaaa @practicalghost @tanzthompson @harriedandharassed @woodlandmouth @swtaura @thescarletfangirl @trickstersp8 @princessxkenobi @imtryingmybeskar @wildmoonflower @mswarriorbabe80 @theredwritingwitch @silverstarsandsuns @pedro-pedrito-pascalito
#ezra (prospect)#ezra (prospect) x oc#ezra (prospect) x oc clara#cee (prospect)#ezra (prospect) fic#ezra x clara#point of no return#PoNR#writing prompt#ezra prospect fanfiction#prospect fic#pedro pascal character#pedrostories
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Title: The Bloodmoon Graves (Part 6/7)
Summary: Nemona learns about the rumors of a fabled "Bloodmoon Beast" and decides they should all go for a camping trip out in the Timeless Woods to search for it. They end up finding a bit more than they bargained for.
(See Ch 1 for tags & other info)
Chapters: Ch 1 - Ch 2 - Ch 3 - Ch 4 - Ch 5 - Ch 6 - Epilogue
The teens had definitely settled on a plan: run away. However, they did take a few extra moments to arm themselves with various bits of Arven’s cooking equipment that had been scattered in the woods. Arven also had an excellent idea for the piece of rope that had been left in his bag; he tied it to each of them to form a safety train, since it was so easy to get lost in the fog otherwise, especially while running. Arven was in front, then Penny, then Juliana, Nemona bringing up the rear, the rope hanging loosely between them.
“Everyone ready?” Arven asked, adjusting the headlamp stuck to his forehead and looking back at the group. They all nodded. The mournful cries of the wolves still echoed from somewhere unseen. Arven told them quietly,
“Okay then. Keep up, we all need to stick together. And keep an eye out for anything tricky as you move. Let’s go.”
They started walking briskly, Arven guided by his phone’s GPS, Mabosstiff walking right beside him. It seemed absurd to Juliana that since they’d all been separated, it had only been around an hour– but apparently it was true, only a bit past 3am by now, according to Arven’s phone. The fog was still as thick as ever and the air was frigid; the little light from Arven’s headlamp bounced as he walked and didn’t light up much in front of them, since the fog just reflected a lot of the glare back at them. Nevertheless, Juliana concentrated on what little they could see around them. Arven had given her a bottle of Max Repel they’d found, so she would spray the air every so often as they moved, hoping it would help. It wasn’t much, but it was worth trying, and at least it made her feel like she was doing something.
Which was definitely a comfort she needed, because it sounded like the wolves were closing in all around them. Juliana didn’t know if her ears could be trusted, though, since they’d played tricks on them before. She exchanged some nervous glances with Penny and Nemona, and Mabosstiff gave an uneasy growl.
“C’mon, keep moving, don’t pay it any attention,” Arven muttered to them, pushing them to keep up the brisk pace. Juliana squared her shoulders and did her best to do as suggested, ignoring the strange, distorted shrieks, telling herself to just keep moving, just keep moving.
A number of minutes passed and the howling around them slowly died down, until all they could hear was the crunch of their shoes through dead leaves and their nervous breaths. They seemed to be making steady progress, Arven occasionally muttering directions and words of encouragement. Juliana felt her body slowly relax a little, since it felt like their plan was working and they’d snuck by the worst of things.
None of them noticed the wolf that silently materialized from the darkness like death itself, jaws reaching for Penny, until it was practically upon her– but Mabosstiff noticed, jumping onto the larger canid with an angry snarl, pulling it back just in time. Penny shrieked in surprise and Arven turned, ordering,
“Get ‘em, boy, Crunch!”
The two dogs tussled for a minute, but Mabosstiff quickly gained the upper hand and latched onto the wolf’s neck and bit down hard. The wolf seemed to melt after the attack, its body turning back to tar and its bones crumbling away. They stared aghast for a few moments, Penny stammering,
“D-did he j-just . . .”
“It’s okay, that happened to the one I smacked too, that’s just how they faint! I think,” Nemona whispered, trying to comfort her. Looking impatient, Arven seemed about to chide them, but then he suddenly yelled,
“Mabosstiff, there!”
The pokemon leapt to intercept the second wolf that had appeared in a wisp of ghostly energy. The hefty Dark type used his greater weight as leverage, shoving the wolf down and aiming another Crunch with precision. Soon the wolf had melted down just like the first, the tar seeping back into the earth.
Purple lights flickered in the darkness around them.
Arven assessed them quickly and then shouted,
“We can’t fight them all, come on, we need to go, go!”
They broke into a run, just as several more wolves Shadow Sneaked directly into their path; Arven smacked one with the hefty frying pan he had, stunning it, and Juliana yelped, jamming down on the Repel nozzle and spraying it about wildly as they ran past.
“Hurry, this way!”
They charged up a small hill and into a stand of trees, but the wolves weren’t giving up easily– they began to fire volleys of purple bones at them, the air humming dangerously with the sound of their approach.
“Keep your heads down–”
The bones sliced into the trees around them, sending sticks and branches tumbling down on them like wooden shrapnel. Arven cried out warnings, using his pan as a shield and trying to yank them all out of the way of danger, but Juliana stumbled and slowed them down. She heard Nemona cry out her name in warning, and in the next moment, Nemona had lunged forward and smacked at a falling limb with the sauce pot she had as a weapon, like she was taking a full-powered tennis shot– it bounced the branch away enough to avoid crushing Juliana.
“C’mon, I got you, let’s go!”
She helped pull Juliana to her feet and they kept running, while the wolves continued firing shadow bones, the projectiles spinning and flashing all around. When they cleared the stand of trees, Arven turned back briefly, calling to them,
“Everyone okay? C’mon, just keep–”
“ARVEN!”
One of the shadow bones had reached the end of its path and looped back around like a boomerang, and it was now careening through the air directly for Arven’s head. He barely had the chance to even turn his head and look, eyes wide.
With a bellowing bark and a mighty leap, Mabosstiff sprang up and caught the bone mid-air, landing and crushing the shadowy bone in his jaws.
“Holy crap– Mabosstiff– good boy, good boy! I haven’t seen you do a jump like that since you were a pup!”
He pet the dog for a moment as he praised him, but there wasn’t much of a chance for them to catch their breath. Nemona warned them,
“They’re still coming, we better move!”
They could see the swirl of Shadow Sneak from the nearby stand of trees, the wolves trying to catch up to them. Arven said,
“All right, let’s go! Don’t worry, we should be fine as long as we keep ahead of them!”
A flock of startled Noctowl took off as the group charged on ahead, sloshing through leaves and pinecones, stamping through the underbrush. Arven’s phone, their guiding light, led them to a lower part of the woods with fewer trees, which made running a bit easier.
“I think we lost ‘em!” Nemona eventually called from the back. Juliana glanced behind, the pokemon little more than a distant twinkle of purple behind them. She could hear them howling.
“They gave up! Good,” she said. She definitely preferred the wolves just sitting there howling instead of chasing them.
“Don’t let your guard down, there could be more,” Penny said warily.
Arven agreed,
“She’s right, keep your eyes peeled. We don’t want–GYAH!”
His sentence was cut short when Penny suddenly grabbed hold of his backpack and yanked, sending him stumbling to the ground. He apparently hadn’t noticed the strange void on the ground he had been about to step into. A wolf rose up from the hole and Penny jabbed at it with the BBQ fork she had– the wolf snarled and snapped at it, clamping down with its jaws. While Penny tried to wrest the fork free, the wolf was sufficiently distracted for Mabosstiff to easily leap in and strike, fainting the pokemon.
“Case in point. Watch the ground,” Penny said once the wolf had melted away. She prodded at the sticky ground where the void had been, but it seemed solid again.
“Hey, it’s not my fault I have to occasionally check the GPS and make sure we’re still headed the right way,” he griped, climbing back to his feet.
“I think the ones that are howling might be warning the others,” Nemona put in, looking around them cautiously.
“Oh, great,” Juliana sighed.
“Not much else we can do but keep going then, c’mon. And watch the ground for black voids!”
They kept racing through the woods, doing their best to watch out for traps while still going at a decent pace. They managed to spot several more suspicious voids in the ground and steer clear, and then the terrain began to slope upwards as they traveled.
Eventually they came to a clearing. Arven checked his GPS again.
“We should be getting close now,” Arven whispered, glancing back up and looking around carefully. It was very quiet in this part of the woods, which Juliana took as a comfort. At least, she tried to, but the silence was unnerving in its own way. It was still better than the howling, at least.
As they trudged forwards, the outline of a large body of water appeared within the fog at the center of the clearing. Arven’s expression crumpled into confusion.
“What? That shouldn’t be here. What . . .”
At first Juliana feared the worst– that the GPS was messed up or they got entirely turned around somehow– but as they came closer, she quickly realized what it was.
“No, it’s okay, Arven, that’s just one of the tar pits!”
He blinked at her,
“I’m sorry, what?”
She clarified,
“Remember, I told you I saw a wolf coming out of one earlier. I dunno where the pits came from, I know it’s weird, but, it doesn’t mean we’re lost. I think, anyway.”
He seemed to struggle with her explanation, which honesty was fair, since it’s not like a giant lake of tar suddenly appearing in the middle of the woods was a totally normal occurrence.
“Is this the same one you saw earlier then?” Nemona whispered, inching closer to gaze into the pit. Juliana squinted as she stared.
“Uh, I don’t think so? Not sure. But I think this is a different one. I dunno, I was pretty freaked out, it’s hard to remember.”
Arven was scowling down at his phone, looking a bit uncertain.
“So the pokemon are making these? How many do you think there are?” Penny whispered.
Juliana answered,
“They might be making them? Or maybe they just come from them. They do seem to be able to control the tar, though . . .”
“Maybe it’s both? This stuff’s already underground but they can make it rise to the surface or something,” Nemona speculated. Arven cut in,
“Okay well, we can play pokemon researchers later, guys, for now I wanna leave, if you don’t mind. If we’re on the right track, we just need to head this way–”
“Oh my god, wait, what is all that?” Penny interrupted him. They looked to where she pointed, out in the lake of tar. The surface of the tar was suddenly bubbling and sizzling gently, and there seemed to be lumpy shapes out there.
A lot of lumpy shapes.
“Uh– we should leave,” Juliana said quickly.
“There’s no way those are all wolves, though, right?” Penny whispered, eyes wide.
The moon had been lost behind many layers of fog for most of the night, but it now broke through enough of it to cast some of its silvery light upon the eerie lake. The tar was now bubbling aggressively and the shapes were rising higher and higher. They could see the vague outline of the skulls start to take shape within the ooze, the eye sockets dripping and emptying out.
“Oh god,” Arven breathed, backing away,
“There’s got to be like a hundred of them!”
“D-don’t worry, the one I saw took ages to escape the tar, we can just leave,” Juliana reassured him as they all backed away.
“Great, let’s just bail then,” Nemona agreed. They all turned.
Around them, purple lights flickered in the fog.
A lot of purple lights.
“Aw, fff–”
Everything happened far too fast after that. In an instant, there were several wolves on Arven, the rope that tied them all together tore and shredded, and Mabosstiff snarled in a rage, trying to wrestle the creatures off his master; three more wolves also appeared in front of Juliana, and when Nemona tried to swing at them with her sauce pot, they ganged up on her.
“Grrhh, Mabosstiff, go, help the others, go!”
Mabosstiff reluctantly followed orders, leaving Arven and charging in to assist, climbing onto one of the wolves; Penny was harassing another with her BBQ fork. Juliana only had a bottle of Max Repel and felt horrifically ill-prepared. She tried for a few seconds to douse the pokemon with the spray but it clearly wasn’t doing anything. Frustrated, she tried to think of what else she could do– a second wolf had ganged up on Mabosstiff and the two were overwhelming the dog, while Penny and Nemona struggled with the third, which was snapping at them wildly.
“Stop– STOP–”
She bopped one of the wolves over the head with the plastic bottle as hard as she could, repeatedly, until it turned and snarled at her. In a panic, she twisted the cap off the bottle with shaking fingers.
The wolf lunged at her, jaws wide. Juliana jammed the bottle directly into its mouth, shoving it down as far as she could, squeezing the bottle. The wolf made a strangled choking sound, flailing its head and stumbling away from her, mouth foaming. In the meantime, Mabosstiff had taken out one of the other wolves, unimpeded; he turned to now attack the wolf choking on the bottle of repel. Juliana turned her focus on the third wolf, which seemed to be targeting Penny, perhaps deciding somebody shorter was easier to take out.
“Leave her alone!” Nemona yelled, smacking at the wolf’s head with her pot, hard enough to daze it.
“Penny, Jules, run! I can handle it–”
Nemona screamed as a skeletal wolf from the tar pit latched onto her pants from behind her, yanking.
“NEMONA!”
She lost balance, falling backwards into the pit, and Juliana felt like her entire world was collapsing. Without a single thought, she rushed forward to the edge of the pit, dropping down to the ground and reaching out to grab onto both of Nemona’s hands. Nemona twisted in the tar and tried righting herself, Juliana yanking her along. They made it partway out of the pit before the skeletal wolf that had grabbed her re-emerged from the black, grabbing onto her again and pulling back in a high-stakes game of tug-o-war.
“Juliana!”
Penny rushed to them both, apparently having dealt with the wolf that had been targeting her. She tried swinging at the pokemon with her BBQ fork but it was too far out of reach.
“Pass it to me!” Nemona yelled. Once she had it, she used one hand to jab the fork backwards blindly at the wolf. The tongs cracked along the wolf’s nasal cavity and it shrieked but refused to release her, so she kept fighting until one of her jabs drove the fork deep into the nasal cavity, burying it up to the handle. The pokemon made a horrific noise and let go, sinking back into the bog, while Juliana and Penny pulled, trying to drag Nemona back to safety. In the middle of their efforts, Nemona’s eyes widened and she yelled,
“Behind you!”
Juliana didn’t get a chance to even turn and see– either it went after Penny or Penny led it away from them on purpose, because she was suddenly gone, leaving Juliana to pull on her own. The problem was that by now, Nemona had sunk up to her waist, and the tar seemed to almost have a will of its own, gripping Nemona stubbornly as Juliana tugged. Nemona battled fiercely to escape and sometimes they managed to lift her high enough that she almost got a leg free, but she kept slipping back in and reversing their progress.
Despite that, Nemona still shouted with certainty, “You almost got it, Jules, you can do it!”
From the edges of her vision, Juliana saw flickers of light. She glanced up to see the other skeletons in the pit were edging closer and closer to them, slogging through the tar slowly but surely. Her voice choked in despair, Juliana yelled,
“N-nemona!”
Nemona glanced back briefly to see and then turned back, saying,
“Don’t worry about them, just pull, we can do it!”
Juliana dug in her heels and pulled, feeling her arms and legs ache with the effort. The air around them began to grow foul, smoke billowing from the jaws of the skeletal wolves as they crept closer and closer.
Juliana coughed and coughed, but she kept pulling.
The eyes of the wolves grew brighter and brighter. Juliana closed her eyes just in time; she could see the intense flashing even behind her eyelids, but remained safe from the Confuse Rays. Her heart pounded and it was hard to breathe, but she kept pulling.
And even as the world around them swam in the howls of the damned, Juliana continued pulling with all her might, ignoring everything else, everything except the tenuous grasp she had on her most precious treasure, even as she felt her body weaken and her head grow faint.
Juliana pulled.
And then, all at once, the tar released its bitter hold.
Juliana toppled backwards onto the ground, Nemona careening forward and landing on top of her.
Juliana finally opened her eyes and saw an amber gaze looking back at her, eyes wide.
She heard Arven’s voice,
“Oh jeez, are you guys okay? God, they just kept coming and coming.”
Juliana turned her head a bit to see Arven, battered, bleeding and exhausted, but still okay and in one piece. Mabosstiff was beside him, looking even worse for wear, clearly having battled far too many opponents, but he hadn’t quite fainted.
Penny’s voice answered from somewhere nearby,
“Y-yeah, I’m okay. Juliana, Nemona, are you okay?”
Nemona pushed up off the ground and helped pull Juliana back to her feet, which was good, because Juliana’s legs still felt far too rubbery and weak from all that pulling.
Juliana felt shaky and bruised and sticky and lightheaded, but she didn’t care about any of that, because Nemona hadn’t been swallowed by the black, she was here, she was safe.
“You saved me,” Nemona said to her, but not in a tone of surprise– rather, in a voice overflowing with pride and elation. Without hesitation, she pulled Juliana close and kissed her, fueled by adrenaline and relief.
Arven squawked,
“Guys, now’s not the time!”
Juliana didn’t register Arven’s complaint at first, too distracted by the euphoria and her girlfriend kissing her like she was her oxygen– but when Arven yelled again they stopped and tried to pull away. They realized the tar had stuck them together a bit.
“Oh my god you guys, seriously . . .”
“What?? It’s not our fault, it’s the tar!”
Arven came over to help pry them apart, cursing under his breath, but fortunately it didn’t take long to unstick from Nemona.
“They’re getting close,” Penny called anxiously. Juliana turned to see many of the skeletal wolves had reached the shore by now and were attempting to climb out. She knew firsthand that they wouldn’t be getting out quickly, but it was still much too close for comfort. Juliana said,
“Okay, let’s get going while we still have a head start!”
They started to run again, Arven leading them on a path back through the trees.
However, they were all pretty worn down by this point. That final confrontation at the lake of tar wrenched most of the remaining energy out of the group and they hadn’t had the chance to even catch their breath. Juliana knew the constant running wasn’t sustainable; they already were going at half their usual pace, most of them limping and winded.
What was worse was when Arven pulled his phone out to check it again, he cursed.
Nemona quickly asked,
“What? What is it?”
He frantically wiped at the phone with one of his sleeves.
“One of those brutes must have barfed their gross tar crap on my phone while they were attacking me. Ugh!”
He wiped layers of the gluey muck off, but most of the screen was still smudged beyond recognition.
“What do we do?”
“It . . . it’s okay, I think I know where we are by now. We should be close, just follow me.”
They continued on, hoping Arven’s innate sense of direction would be enough, but it made Juliana very nervous, especially when Arven kept hesitating. Just when she had convinced herself they would drain the last of their energy running in circles, Arven spoke up again, and it was like music to her ears.
“Oh, yeah, okay, we’re close! This is right, just a little longer!”
“How close?” Penny wheezed, looking a little pale by now.
“Not sure exactly, uh, maybe less than a quarter mile?”
“That doesn’t help, how far is that?”
“It, uh, I dunno, like two minutes or something!”
“I hope you’re right, ‘cause I’m starting to see spots again,” Nemona said, hands on her knees as she panted for air.
“Yeah, just a little further, I promise!”
They continued to run, until Arven cried out,
“Yeah, yeah! See over there? Just past that hill, we’re camped behind there!”
“We made it!” Nemona managed to exclaim. They all ran just a little bit faster, spurred on by the thought of their nightmare finally coming to an end. As they approached the hill, Juliana noticed a strange light at the very top of it. Thankfully it wasn’t purple, so it obviously wasn’t one of the wolves– it was a red light. Juliana thought of the Duskull family for a moment, but the light seemed too big to belong to them.
“Hey, what is that?” Penny asked, noticing it too. The rest of them looked up as they jogged towards the hill.
As they drew nearer, it soon became obvious what it was.
The red light was big and round and it shone a brilliant scarlet. They could see a hulking figure in the fog, the red light sitting dead-center on the creature’s forehead.
The pokemon at the top of the hill turned, facing their direction; a smaller, green light glinted down at them, like a single eye that was adapted for the night.
The three teens and Mabosstiff stopped at the foot of the hill, staring, completely dumbfounded. Nemona gasped,
“The Bloodmoon Beast!”
“You have got to be kidding me,” Arven muttered.
“I-it’s real? No shot,” Penny sputtered, her eyes wide. Arven turned to them and whispered,
“Shh, quick, maybe it hasn’t noticed–”
But the green light trembled and they watched the shadowy shape on the hill change posture, dropping down on all fours. There was a rumbling growl.
The growl was much, much deeper than the wolves, and it echoed throughout the valley.
“Ohhhkay, nevermind, we’re screwed,” Arven murmured softly. Mabosstiff whimpered, obviously not feeling up to facing another battle, let alone with something like that. Penny whispered,
“Can’t we just go around?”
“Well, we can try.”
However, when they turned, the sight that met them sent Juliana’s heart sinking into her stomach. Purple lights, flickering in the fog. There were dozens and dozens and dozens of them, maybe a hundred, encircling their location from all around. Penny rasped,
“Wh-what?! How? How did they catch up so soon?”
The wolves were advancing on them slowly. Juliana turned and looked to the others; Penny looked terrified, Arven’s expression was bleak, Mabosstiff was cowering. Even Nemona looked entirely at a loss. The Beast growled again, lurking closer to them. They were completely pinned, surrounded on all sides by harbingers of grisly death.
The light cast by the Beast’s forehead bathed the valley in red, casting the creeping wolves in an infernal light.
And then, the Beast jumped, releasing a deafening roar. Juliana saw it fly over them, landing just in front of the group of huddled humans. But its focus didn’t seem to be them; instead, it was glaring out at the creatures that surrounded them.
It charged at the wolves in a sudden lurch, grabbing the nearest one in its jaws and shaking it like a ragdoll, the bones flying apart in all directions. The Beast swung a paw and sent two more wolves flying with a mighty swipe. Some of the wolves shrieked angrily and barked, Shadow Sneaking forward and advancing on the Beast.
The Beast stood up on two legs, pointing its muzzle skyward and roaring, its forehead glowing brightly.
Then it looked down at the wolves and unleashed an incredible blast of energy from its forehead, something so powerful that Juliana felt the shockwave punch her right in the chest. It looked to her like a Hyper Beam but even more unhinged, the blood-red beam of light sweeping across the ground as the Beast moved its head, vaporizing everything it touched, even scorching the earth itself.
Juliana felt a chill to her very core witnessing it, and when she could tear her eyes away, she turned to Nemona. Nemona had her hands balled into fists, her eyes sparkling bright.
“I knew it,” she whispered, unable to disguise her glee.
“I knew it was real!”
Her eyes met with Juliana and they shared a giddy smile, giggling together.
Arven and Penny weren’t quite as thrilled at witnessing the power of the Bloodmoon Beast so up-close and personal, at least not under their current circumstances. Arven stammered,
“O-okay, you guys were right, now let’s make sure we’re gone before– hey, what’re you doing?!”
Nemona had nabbed his phone and was pointing it at the pokemon wreaking havoc on the wolf horde.
“Just a quick picture, we’re gonna want to remember this later, right?”
She managed to quick-launch the camera feature and snapped the shutter a bunch of times before Arven swiped the phone back.
“We’re gonna want to live to remember this! Come on, let’s get out of here already!”
They climbed the hill and rushed back to camp, leaving the Bloodmoon Beast behind to face the horrors that lurked in the night.
#pokemon#pokemon s/v#pokemon scarlet/violet#the teal mask#julinemo#terajules#juliana#nemona#arven#penny#kitakami#julinemo fanfic
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80, go wherever the spirit moves you 💜
Ahaha, oh god, this got way longer than I wanted. Thank you for the ask, I hope you like it!
"Teach me?"
The words were quiet, almost shy, and Eddie thought for a second he must have imagined them. But no, when he turned his head, Steve was looking at him expectantly, a slight blush adorning his cheeks.
Eddie put down his pen and twisted in the chair to face his boyfriend. It was late evening and Eddie was completely immersed in planning of the next Hellfire Club campaign, the small desk in their bedroom cluttered with notes, drawn references and seemingly random numbers. Steve always kept himself busy when Eddie got into a creative mood, tidying up, fixing things around the apartment or watching sports on the TV, their routine had become comfortable and familiar. They had finally learned they can be different and still spend time together, their silences weren't awkward but safe. So when Steve spoke up while Eddie's mind was preoccupied with scenarios so devilish the party would undoubtedly end up whining to their favorite babysitter, Eddie didn't expect it.
"Sorry, love," Eddie stretched his back and yawned. The crunch of his spine startled him and he promptly lowered his arms, slightly shifting from side to side to avoid that sound. "I didn't catch that, what do you want me to do?"
Steve bit his lip and Eddie felt a flash of worry that he messed up, that Steve wouldn't repeat his request. It was such a fragile thing, asking for something, and they both were objectively not great at it. But Steve raised his eyes again, those beautiful, determined eyes, and repeated himself. "Can you teach me? Your...your game."
"Oh." Well, that basically covered the range of things Eddie didn't expect. There were too many things he wanted to do at once. Pinch himself. Check if the pretty boy in front of him wasn't a clone. Throw a party. Choices, choices.
He cleared his throat and, pushing the urge to tease deep down, took hold of Steve's hands. "Of course, Stevie. Anything you want."
Steve frowned, staring at their joined fingers. "You don't sound convinced."
"Nonono. No!" Eddie shook his head so vehemently that his hair nearly slapped Steve in the face. "Let me make one thing very clear now, Steve. What you said now? A dream come true. I absolutely want to do it, but I just...I'm a bit confused?" Seeing Steve's puzzled expression, he quickly clarified. "Because you've known Henderson for so long and always refused to play. You don't even want to stay for the Hellfire campaign sessions. I know I'm often making your pretty head hurt from all the brainstorming and ideas and that I mostly live in my head when we're starting a new campaign, and you're so sweet about it. What I'm trying to say is - I absolutely will teach you, but you know you don't need to do this if you don't feel like it, right? We all love you even if you don't play D&D."
The soft smile Steve gave him was all worth the mortifyingly corny confession. Steve's fingers, wider and stronger than his own, started tracking patterns along his palm. Eddie already knew that this was a nervous tell for Steve, like the twirling of anything and everything he had in his hand. "It's..." he mumbled, then shook his head. "I know I don't have to. The thing is...I've wanted to for some time. I get kind of jealous, you know. Not of the dice or anything," he quickly added when he heard the snort forming in Eddie's mouth. "But it looks so nice when you guys get so invested in something. I mean, I know how to throw myself into things, but only physical. Like sports and stuff. And I just...I thought it sounded good. To get lost in a different world. That isn't as shit as the other different world we have."
Oh. This, Eddie could understand. He was no stranger to his head being too loud sometimes, his intrusive thoughts taking over every minute, every second of his day. To think his beloved hobby could help save Steve too...
"It is really nice," he smiled at Steve and leaned into those restless movements. "I often think of you when creating my campaigns, you know. When there are kind characters who save the party's ass when they're being stupid. Or when there are brave knights too good to be true," he teased, dropping a kiss on Steve's wrist. "I will teach you anything you want to know. But why now? You never asked before."
"That's..."
Eddie patiently waited for Steve to gather his thoughts. And well, if the explanation wasn't enlightening. And not in a great way.
Steve sighed. "I don't know if you notice it, Eddie, but I'm not exactly a good fit. Yeah, I hang out with all of you, but I don't get your references, my knowledge ends at the fact that you have made up characters for the game and that you use special dice. Dustin keeps repeating I need to be told everything and maybe that's true, I tried reading some of those booklets they have, but I just don't get it. And when I don't get something, the kids just look at me like I'm the stupidest person in the world, which I mean, fair, but-"
Eddie's lips pressed into a thin line. "Not fair. Not fucking fair. Steve-"
"No, Eddie, it's fine." The caressing was back and Eddie wanted to throw Dustin Henderson off a bridge and then jump after him for ever making Steve believe that it was fine how they treated him. "It's just...knowing I'm not the sharpest pencil is one thing, but having it proved and repeated isn't great. And maybe I should have asked sooner, but I...I'm not great at that. Admitting I don't know something, but I'd like to. But walking up to any of you who have lived and breathed this game for years, it's just...it's intimidating."
"Stevie. I'm so, so fucking proud of you."
Steve's head shot up and he stared at Eddie, mouth hanging comically open. But there was no punchline, no joke. Eddie smiled at him and stroked his cheek, exactly like he did when Steve shared some of the ugly pieces from his family life. "There's...there's nothing heroic about it," Steve muttered, leaning into Eddie's palm.
"Um, yeah there is. It's like..." Eddie's brow furrowed and he started chewing on his lip, thinking. "I never thought of it like that, really, but...it's as if I went to you in high school, in front of all your basketball buddies, and asked you to teach me how to play. And I only knew that there was a basket, there was a ball and they had to interact with each other somehow. I mean, I'd be scared shitless."
Steve snorted in laughter. "I think you being my boyfriend makes it easier."
"Still." Eddie grinned back, freeing his other hand to hold Steve's head, running fingers through that perfect hair. "You, Steve Harrington, are one brave - and pretty - boy. So yes. I will teach you, as long as you want me to. If you find out, at any point, that it's not for you, you tell me and we stop. If you don't get something, please, promise you will ask, I will repeat things as much as you need, draw diagrams, I might even compose a song or something if that helps. And we don't have to tell anyone, but if you ever feel like wiping that grin off Henderson's face, there's a chair with your name in Hellfire. If you want it."
There was a spark of confidence in Steve's eyes and Eddie knew there and then he'd cherish it, make it bloom, grow a full fucking garden of it. "Let's do it," said Steve and kissed Eddie's lips, soft and brief. "Henderson won't know what hit him."
If you liked this drabble, check out the prompt list and send me an ask!
#steddie#steddie drabble#dungeons and dragons#stranger things#strangerthings#strangerthingsdrabble#stranger things drabble#steve harrington#eddie munson#steve x eddie#ask#writing prompt
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where's the lost and found? 💌🌙🔎
(a space ranger vlogs mini fic)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Keith: 8:39 pm
"God, Keith, why can't you just see that we don't need those clips?" Lance shouts. "They're weird, and I look so bad in them!"
Keith rubs the bridge of his nose, brows furrowed. "For the last time, Lance. Nobody cares! It's good footage, and we need it. We have to post tomorrow, and we barely have fifteen minutes in the video. For what, a week's worth of content?"
"Are you even listening?" Lance spits back. "We can shoot something else, or extend the end card."
"We don't have time to shoot more things. I need to finish the last edits and get it uploaded!" Keith stomps his foot on the ground. "This is the best footage we have! I'm sorry you don't look like royalty in it-"
"I DIDN'T SAY IT LIKE THAT!"
"THEN SHUT UP AND LET ME USE THE FOOTAGE!"
"NO!"
Keith's breath hitches. They haven't fought like this in a while. But that was the last straw. Keith is so done. He's so tired. His throat is scratchy from arguing so he leaves. Yeah, he slams the van door and doesn't even say goodbye. He can't stand Lance right now.
The warm night air greets him as soon as he steps out.
Lance: 8:44 pm
It's been four months. Four months since Lance and his best friend ever decided to hop in a van and film their way through all 50 states in the U.S. and this is how it's going. Could this night get any better?
Lance sighs and flops on the bed. Whatever. If Keith won't care about him, he's not going to care about Keith. The laptop is still open to the video editing app with all of the footage. Lance replays the debated clip again and promptly drags it to the trash icon in the corner.
Keith: 9:01 pm
The sound of gravel crunching under Keith's footsteps are louder than they need to be, but he doesn't care. He doesn't know exactly where he's going right now, but anywhere away from the van will be good enough for him.
The camping parking lot lies just at the edge of town, so within minutes, he's surrounded by street lamps lined with shops and apartments on top of them. He turns right and left, not keeping track of where he's been. It doesn't occur to him to do so.
Most places are closed by now since it's Sunday night, but Keith spots a bar a block down. Light pours out of the glowing neon entrance. Keith doesn't do bars, but it's not like he has many other options.
Voices chatter and glasses clink around him while classy music plays in the background. The overhead lights cast a warm tint to the room, creating a feeling that Keith can't quite place. There's not much of a crowd, thankfully, so he finds a bar stool and sits there, resting his elbows on the platform in front of him.
"What can I get ya?" A voice asks, and Keith suddenly remembers that this is a bar, and people order things instead of sulk around. Well, maybe they do sulk around, but still, they do it with a drink.
Glancing at the chalkboard menu of non-alcoholic beverages, Keith responds, "Uh, can I get a ginger ale? No ice."
The bartender nods and leaves. Keith reaches for his pocket and pulls out some cash. Rule number one for living on the go: always have money on you.
Lance: 9:07 pm
With Keith not having yet returned, and a video that can't be posted without a mutual agreement, Lance has basically nothing to do.
So, sick of waiting for his friend, Lance pulls out his phone and scrolls through Instagram. He checks out a couple or stories, likes some posts, and gets bored within minutes.
If Keith were here….nope.
Lance shuffles through some things in one of the upper compartments above the bed and pulls out a book. He hasn't read in a while, so maybe he'll just do that.
Keith: 9:18 pm
Sipping on a glass of Canada Dry, Keith realizes he should probably call Lance to tell him that he'll be back in a bit. The other part of Keith wants to avoid him for the whole night. Still, he pulls out his phone to possibly text Lance.
The second he tries to turn it on, his heart drops. Staring back at him is a dark screen with a battery symbol with a red cross going through it.
"No, no, no, no, please," he curses under his breath. This cannot be happening.
Panicking, he looks around the room, as if that would help.
Okay one, his phone is dead, which means no way to contact Lance, or anyone else for that matter. And two, since his phone is dead, he also has no GPS, something he needs for a town he's completely unfamiliar with.
He leaves the empty glass at the bar, and starts to get up. The bartender promptly comes to pick it up, and Keith gets an idea.
"Hey, excuse me," Keith starts, and the bartender looks at him. "Do you know where the camping lot is? It's right outside of town, right?"
The bartender shakes his head and shrugs. "Sorry kiddo, but you must be far from it because I'm not sure what you're talking about."
Keith feels a literal punch in his gut. This is just perfect.
Lance: 9:27 pm
The book is interesting, Lance supposes, but it's not anything that he'd want to spend more time reading. He glances at the time on his phone. It's been almost an hour since Keith left, but no texts or missed calls from him. Lance frowns. Was Keith really that mad at him?
Keith: 9:36 pm
The air outside, once calming, feels suffocating. Keith wanders aimlessly in the dark, trying to remember the streets he passed. It feels like he's been walking for at least fifteen minutes at this point. He feels like such an idiot.
There's practically nobody around, and Keith has no way home. Out of nowhere, he starts missing the van. He starts missing Lance. A lot.
He walks some more before spotting a mom and her son strolling down the block. If it were any other circumstance, Keith would never go up to them, but he's desperate. He starts walking fast towards them and hopes for the best.
"I'm sorry, ma'am, but I'm lost, and I need to get back to the camper van parking lot. Do you know where that is?"
The woman seems to ponder for a second. "The one just after Elm Street?"
The name sounds familiar, so Keith goes with it. "Yeah."
She points towards the next block. "If you go down this street, you'll find Allen Street. Take two rights after that, and you'll see a huge sign for the library. Keep going forward and I'm sure you'll find the lot."
Relief washes over Keith. He smiles and says, maybe with a little too much enthusiasm, "Thank you!"
The lady grins sweetly. "Of course! Have a good night."
"You too."
Lance: 9:49 pm
Missed outgoing call to "Keith♡":
Hey, buddy, it's me. Uh, I hope everything's alright. Text me back when you can, okay? I promise I'm not mad at you.
Lance: 9:54 pm
Missed outgoing call to "Keith♡":
Keith, I'm really sorry, okay? Please can you call me? It's getting too late. You're scaring me.
Keith: 10:03 pm
Ever since Keith received the directions, he spared no time, and has been jogging ever since. Out of breath, he can see the familiar chain link fence surrounding the lot. Freaking finally.
Lance: 10:07 pm
Currently, Lance finds himself pacing around the van. He wants to leave and go find Keith, but what if he comes back and they completely miss each other? Lance can't risk that. But he has to try something, right?
Just then, he hears the click and swoosh of the van door, and a head with tousled black hair peeks through, and Lance just stands there.
"Keith?"
Keith: 10:07 pm
"Lance!" he exclaims. "My phone died and-"
Before Keith could even start, Lance is firing questions a mile a minute. "Are you okay? Are you hurt? What- oh"
Keith's not a hugger, but this is an exception. He holds him so tight, like if he lets go, his whole world would disappear. An unknown feeling floats within Keith, but he doesn't mind. He just breathes in the scent of Lance's hoodie and allows himself to close his eyes. They stand like that for a minute.
"Hey, I'm really sorry," Lance whispers. "I got so angry for no reason."
"It's okay." Keith's voice is shakier than he'd like it to be. "It was two minutes of video anyways. I should have just let it go."
"Everything's alright now, then? Wait. Are you crying?"
"M'not crying," Keith says as he wipes a stray tear from his eye. "Just missed you, that's all."
Lance smiles. "Can't stand being away from Lancey, huh?" He opens his arms, showing off himself. Keith giggles, and the other boy clears his throat. "Um, but in all seriousness, I think it's good that you left. I mean, the van's stuffy. Fresh air is good.
"Yeah." Keith nods. "It was good to get out. No offense."
"Nah, just be sure to charge your phone before you storm off next time," Lance winks.
Keith rolls his eyes. "Sure. I'm tired though. Gonna sleep."
"Well lucky for you, we have a beautiful bedroom right in the back." Lance fake bows. "Right this way, sir."
"Pfft." Keith crawls into the bed, and closes the curtain divider so he can change. Afterwards, Lance joins him and shuts the lights while they lay down.
"I have one more question," Lance says in the dark, right as Keith is about fall asleep. "Where'd you go?"
Keith pauses for a moment before answering. "Nowhere important," he mumbles.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"Cool."
"Mhm. Go to sleep."
"G'night, Keithers."
"'Night."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
#i hate making them argue. ohmygod.#but they love each other. so its okay.#anyways hdhsshshj i really hope y'all like this one! i'm very proud of it ;0#klance#klance fanfiction#keith and lance#keith voltron#lance voltron#klance fluff#space ranger vlogs#klancedaywrites???
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Your favourite BLs of 2022 so far?
BEST BLS OF THE YEAR SO FAR
It's been a KILLER year so far. I've give out more 9/10 than in a LONG time. But by laws of stats hat makes sense, with so much MORE BL out this year than ever before, there’s more good ones. (More bad ones too.)
I was just crunching numbers and if things continue this way there will have been more BL produced in 2021-2022 than in all the rest of time... on this planet anyway.
TOP BLS OF 2022 SO FAr
Only BLs that have completed there runs by Aug 23, 2022 are eligible. BLs that started in 2021 but ENDED in 2022 are counted as 2022 offerings (by me).
A Man Who Defies The World of BL 2
AKA Absolute BL 2 AKA Zettai BL ni Naru Sekai VS Zettai BL ni Naritakunai Otoko 2
Japan Viki
Full review here. Is it actually BL, probubly not, but basically it was made for an audience of one... ME.
This one I rated 10/10 but I tend not to put on best of lists because it’s meta commentary not really a story.
Semantic Error
Korea Viki
My top BL of 2022 (probubly, I don’t see how it could get unseated - Japan is like: hold my sake).
Korea hit it entirely out of the Parks with Semantic Error by doing a university set BL featuring everything we expect from BL just done exactly right. It has Korea's signature quality executed perfectly, and added bonus good story, great pacing, stunning visuals, and fantastic chemistry. You cannot ask for more from a BL, let alone a KBL. Full review.
All the rest are 9/10. So remember I judge BL more on rewatchability than most and ALSO how much it is BL. So while I adore, for example, OFC because it’s so wonderfully mature and complex, it doesn’t sink into true BL in the way I expect OF THE GENRE. As a show show, it rates higher for me than as BL. Hope that makes sense. Full review.
Old Fashion Cupcake
Japan Viki
This show had me from the moment they broke the egg yolk with the chopsticks in the opening credits for episode one. It’s about a younger man with a long cherished crush on his boss (ten years older and going through a mid life crisis) who decides to save and seduce said man with pancakes. It’s wholesome, comforting, sexy, and a very necessary narrative about still having hope, interests, and openness to affection at any age. It’s coming of age/queerness packaged in a subtle critique of expectations around masculinity and love and loneliness... and it’s beautiful. Full review.
Cherry Blossoms After Winter
Korea Viki
Korea took on early Japanese sweet yaoi but gave it their signature softness and precise production style with a STUNNING color palette (beautiful pastels, sun-saturated over-exposure), manga framing style, some traditional BL character archetypes, that tiny edge of bullying roughness and out-of-control seme, plus FINALLY a palatable take on the stepbrothers trope and it was, in a word, classic. Sophisticated and understated CBAW is not slow, it’s just subtle. It's dream-like and atmospheric, as if the whole thing took place under cold water on a warm spring day. Is there plot or peril? Not really. Do we care? Also, not really. Look, I can’t help it, I’m old school and so is this show. I grew up reading sweet yaoi, and this was THAT YAOI just on my screen. There’s no objectivity with me and CBAW. It’s a beautiful pastiche and I loved it for how it made me feel and what it reminded me of. It’s not flawless, but it is a wonderful experience. Full review.
Blueming
Korea iQIYI
It’s a tiny bit dark and a tiny bit bittersweet, almost too honest to a university experience and first love for BL. I wasn’t into it at first, but the leads are solid and by ep 5 it got really good, becoming a narrative about self discovery meets understanding and accepting others people’s flaws without hurting them. Ultimately we witnessed two characters maturing because of each other and their mutual affection, without that affection becoming the conflict point. Instead, tension was built around other aspects of identity, popularity, and self-worth. While production values were a touch lower than usual for Korea, Blueming included decent kisses and other forms of intimacy and a satisfying ending plus there’s judicious and very elegant use of tropes, (which is expected for Korea). Full review.
Not Me
(OffGun) Thai GMMTV YouTube
GMMTV gave us a dark disestablishment narrative (in a time of civil unrest) with established queer award-winning director Anucha and starring the biggest guns of BL OffGun. THIS IS AN AMAZING THING to get to experience in the BL world - nerve racking but remarkable. But was it ACTUALLY BL? It certainly a lot of BL elements, but in the end that’s not what the show was about, or even what it was genuinely trying to be as a performance piece. Still an amazing moment in Thai cinema, certainly worth your time. Don’t worry, it all ends happily. Full review.
My Ride
Thai GaGa
Thai BL grew up with this pulp - a truly lovely and special little show featuring the extremely rare pairing of sunshine/sunshine AKA a cinnamon roll couple. Mature explorations of relationships using one of the softest, sweetest and most innocent friends to lovers vehicles. Kindly, overworked doctor meets broken-hearted motorcycle taxi driver in an “other side of the tracks” slow burn romance. The support cast is excellent, making for great friendship groups and family dynamics. With honest queer rep that adds to, but doesn’t impede the story, and genuine conversation about the nature of class, wealth, and classism, not to mention communication, honesty, and respect for boundaries, you can’t go wrong with this show. In other news, I am a sucker for a single dimple. Full review.
Bad Buddy
Thai GMMTV YouTube
This was GMMTV’s flagship BL and it started 2022 on a BANG (okay no actual banging but you know what I mean), starring heavy hitters Ohm & Nanon in a pitch perfect university Romeo & Romeo masterpiece that will give you domesticity meets pain whiplash throughout and jet lag at the end. Some of the friendship and family dynamics are overworked, but it has great production values, killer acting, and some conscious effort to correct for half a decade of Thai BL’s anti-queer mistakes. Full review.
Not responsible for BLs that completed their runs after Aug 23, 2022.
#top BLs of 2022#best bls of 2022#2022 so far#2022 bl update#bl update#bl reviews#best bls#top bls#ohmnanon#GMMTV YouTube#gmmtv#Thai Bl#Bad Buddy#GaGaOOLaLa#My Ride the series#Thai Bl pulp#Not Me the series#Korean BL#KBL#Blueming#Cherry Blossoms After Winter#Japanese BL#adapted from a manga#live action yaoi#Old Fashion Cupcake#rewatchable bl#Semantic Error#A Man Who Defies The World of BL 2#BEST BLS OF THE YEAR SO FAR
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Silly Headcanons: Super Pal Trio vs. Best Friend Squad, Airplane Travel
I don’t know where I’m gonna use this if ever in a fic so here you go.
Under a cut because it is hilariously long.
SPT is always running late to their flight. They choose early morning or late night flights to reduce the amount of people they have to deal with, and it’s the only reason they still make it to their plane before it leaves. Just, without fail, they will always run up right as they do the “last call for boarding parties A-D for flight 12345”.
This is in part because one of them always gets stopped for a “random” check at security. Usually it’s Entrapta because she forgot she has something metallic on her person, but Scorpia often gets stopped because when she’s tired and in go mode her resting bitch face is impressive and intimidating. Combine that with her size and stinger and someone wants to stop her for a quick double check. Catra also gets checked but less frequently, usually because she is “acting suspicious” (aka slinking around and looking around a lot because god fuck she hates the whole flying process from start to finish) or because half asleep she said something snarky that can be taken horribly.
Side note: Yes, I think Scorpia’s actual resting face is bitch face. But she knows that being a scorpioni means she has to be smiling to look non-threatening. She’s a genuinely nice person so she likes to smile too, but it is also performative so other people aren’t scared of her.
Even when they are running late, Entrapta somehow manages to buy them snacks and drinks for the flight after security. (Okay look, she grabs and drops more money than her purchases are worth, with her hair doing the heavy lifting and running, shush.)
SPT prefers to sit in a 3 seat row to get the max comfs for them all. They are very clingy once on the plane so it’s really the best for everyone. If they have to do a 2-1 set up Catra will be in the single seat and Entrapta gets squished against the window while Scorpia gets aisle. If they end up in a 2-5-2 seat row situation Entrapta will be squished against the window while Catra gets aisle on the two seats. Scorpia gets the aisle on the 5 across from them because she deals the best with strangers and can become friends with whoever she’s seated with (the number of friends she legitimately keeps in contact with after meeting on a plane is 100% of them).
Let’s focus on the 3 seat row ideal.
Scorpia will take one aisle seat because she needs the extra room to not feel like her legs are going to snap in two. She always has the arm rest(s) up if she can because she doesn’t quite fit in the seat and it can be painful otherwise. Scorpia has to slump in her seat to not hit her head, so the aisle lets her do that without crunching into a tiny miserable ball. She likes to read or knit while they are flying but always has Entrapta operate her light and personal air. They are just so tiny and delicate and fiddly that she could break them. Scorpia happily eats ALL of the SPT’s free snacks (with few exceptions that Entrapta can stand in which case Scorpia will eat Catra’s free snacks because she is extra finicky while flying). One (1) time the trio got an upgrade to business class and Scorpia straight up cried because it was so much nicer of an experience. The flight attendants (with permission granted) got a lot of great hugs on that flight.
Catra takes the other aisle seat because she feels claustrophobic otherwise. She needs to trick her brain into thinking there’s an escape route in case she needs to run. Yes, she is aware that she will be in a metal tube thousands of feet in the sky so “escape” and “run” are limited. Her brain Does Not Care about that, she just needs to not feel blocked in. She will lift the inner arm seat so Entrapta can sit in all sorts of weird configurations. Their deal is that Entrapta will use her hair as a buffer between them because while stressed out about the whole being in a metal tube thousands of feet in the air where she cannot escape and they could all die thing Catra doesn’t wanna be touched. She will eat only when semi-forced to on long flights (anything 3+ hours) but it needs to be particular food stuffs or else she will end up using a barf bag or in the plane toilet. God she hates the plan toilets.
Side note: hilariously Catra does worse on take off than landing, because when she was really little she learned about the way planes can sometimes crash while trying to take off because of wind tomfuckery the night before she got on her first plane. Landing she doesn’t really mind, plus it means she is getting off the plane thank the stars!
Entrapta needs the middle seat; she wants to feel a little crunched or crushed in. Planes feel weirdly exposed to her on an aisle seat so hiding between two people she trusts is *chef’s kiss*. Entrapta will always kick off her shoes to put her feet on the cushion with her and often sits sideways in her seat to talk with Scorpia or tunelessly hum while patting Catra with her hair. Her favorite part of flying is reading the sky mall magazine and tearing the rich person bullshit technology apart viciously and with no remorse. She spends most of the flight consuming the snacks she bought while curling into the tightest ball possible. If she needs to get out to use the restroom she can use her hair to easily haul herself over Catra.
Side note: Look, she may be a whizz at getting things connected SAFELY online and UNTRACEABLY when possible, but Entrapta is also the kind of person who will shoot her printer if it beeps at her funny. There is nothing connected online in her personal spaces except for her phone.
SPT is usually one of the last groups off the plane because 1: they do not want to touch another person while trying to leave thank you and 2: Catra is a little frozen in her seat afterwards so while Scorpia is stretching and popping to get her body in roughly the right shape again, Entrapta is convincing Catra to get up.
Once off the plane, they get their luggage and will then go eat. If the terminal has vending machine food (like real food not snacks) it’s what they prefer to get. Otherwise they’ll hit the cheapest food in the terminal before leaving. At this point Catra will be forced to eat whether she wants to or not. Hangry Catra is no one’s friend.
~
The BFS is always painfully early for their flights. This is due mostly to Adora needing them to be early because being early is being on time, so you have to be early to being early, but it’s also for a flight and you never know how long security will take so you need to be early to being early to be early (which is on time). It’s also due to Glimmer taking forever because she always remembers something she forgot to pack at the last second, so they plan in time for that too.
2 hours early crowd, can I get a woot woot?
They prefer early morning flights (okay Adora prefers them) because they are usually on schedule compared to later flights. But Glimmer is Not a Morning Person so when they can go as early as Adora wants someone basically ends up on “Carry Glimmer Duty”. She doesn’t mean to fall asleep but she does.
Side note: the number of video’s Adora and Bow have of Glimmer snoring away only to wake up because they are giggle and grumble, “Shut the fuck up.” before snoring away again within seconds is Far Too Many. It is tradition to take at least one video of this for early flights and post online. Glimmer is aware of this and approves because she would live stream it if their positions were reversed.
Because of how early they get there, the BFS always gets a light meal and a drink before boarding. Usually they get a pastry and coffee/tea, but if it’s midday they are happy to stop for a small salad or sandwich somewhere. Bow forces them all to drink at least one full glass of pure water at this time and then they all troop off the bathroom to avoid using the one on the plane.
If there is enough time after that they might go find an amenity. If they have access to a VIP area they’ll go there for their light meal and relax, or they’ll use massage chairs, peruse the shops, get a haircut, etc. (Bow likes having a fresh looking cut at all times, he goes to his barber once every 1-2 weeks to keep it looking good, but he will break and use an airport shop if needed. Adora tried one time and was so itchy from the hair afterwards that she vowed to never do it again. Glimmer thinks they are crazy she is not letting anyone but her stylist at her salon touch her hair.)
They usually fly business class or extended economy because of how tall Adora is and frankly how spoiled Glimmer is so they are pretty early in the boarding process. They don’t really care what the configuration is, because all three want the window seat. BFS has a rotating schedule for who gets it, so they can make any combo work since leg room isn’t an issue.
Adora is actually super relaxed once they are boarded because she no longer has any control over the situation. She always passes out instantly once in the air and is grateful to her friends for waking her up for her favorite part of flying, the free snacks and airline coffee. She loves airline coffee, and hotel coffee (the kind you make in your room). It isn’t usually great coffee but it tastes like traveling and vacations and she loves it. Once consumed she passes back out.
Side note: Adora used to fly a lot as a kid to visit family back in Russia so she is very used to long flight and finds airplane sounds soothing. In fact, she has a noise maker app specifically to mimic the sounds of air travel and likes to sleep in pretty cold conditions too. Her dad always complained about the cold on the plane, and her mom (although also a little chilled because she grew up in Texas) will claim she is perfectly comfortable. Maybe it’s the Russian genes, Randor. Maybe we are strong and awesome and you are sad and not? Adora still takes a bit too much pride in being part of the Shorts All Year ‘Round Gang.
Bow is the most nervous of them when flying, but he’s still pretty average for it. He’s not a fan of landings and turbulence can make him go silent as he begins to nervously eat away his anxiety. His ears are sensitive to pressure changes so he chews a lot of gum on take off and landing, and has the special flight ear plugs to help out. He likes looking through sky mall to get ideas for better inventions or ideas to look into (he is more sleek apple tech kinda dude, they have a lot of smart technology around the house) and talking with Glimmer. Which is necessary because Adora’s sleepy sounds are just so cute and soothing that he will fall asleep otherwise. Bow always orders a glass of water while flying because of dehydration concerns and shares his snacks with Adora. He gets chilled easily and usually wraps himself up in his travel blanket and neck pillow for comfort.
Glimmer is B.O.R.E.D. by flying after traveling so much with her mom and dad. She prefers to spend the trip watching a movie or show in flight with headphones, but Bow usually wants to talk so she does that instead. She has a specific air travel outfit she wears for maximum comfiness, but doesn’t need anything specific. She will always get a mini when flying to put in her coffee or soda, yes Bow she knows it’s not good because of dehydration and pressurization or whatever but by god she wants it and she will have it no matter the time of day or night! Glimmer’s favorite part about flying is snuggling her friends, which only wins over kicking Adora awake for snacks by a hair. She doesn’t really like all the noises and sounds, she finds it difficult to concentrate on what Bow is saying over it, but Bow often brings something for her to fidget with which can help a little bit.
When they get off the plane if they are hungry they’ll stop for food, otherwise Adora will dart into a store to buy a snack because she is always hungry. Once off the plane the BFS just wants OUT of the terminal. They’ll collect their bags and get the hell outta dodge.
#she ra#spop#super pal trio#best friend squad#headcanon#head canon#adora#bow#glimmer#catra#scorpia#entrapta#look it's written from a USA perspective because I'm from here and it's the air travel I know sorry folks#Catra hates flying with a passion#So does Scorpia but not for the reasons you'd expect#Adora wants to do two things: eat and sleep#so we have no choice but to stan a queen#Glimmer wants her alcohol mini Bow shut up about water Bow!!#Entrapta is honestly just having a fun time also long as she is squished#Bow just wants everyone to stay hydrated to stave off headaches :(#security would stop Scorpia and Catra way more if not for Entrapta showing up and setting off alarms#the number of wrenches and screwdrivers she's lost to airport security is concerning#the number of times she managed to steal them back is more concerning#can you tell I miss flying?#it's not like I did it a ton or anything I wanna say somewhere around 10 flights total#but I enjoy it once I'm past the heart attack of security#I just like traveling I think#I miss trains too but hell no I ain't riding any state side they fucking suck around here#and car travel#I'll get that in July tho so that'll be nice :)
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Day 2 - No Time to Explain
Ashkey Breaker looked over to Adela. "Its like I said, Commander. The gate's got enough juice for one last calculated jump. Anything after that needs to be manually mathed.
The blast door behind them shuddered. That massive Hydra and its Minotaur minions were still keen on getting to the Fireteam. And it was bringing the rest of the Martian Vex with it. Adela grimaced, "Then just tell me the computations and I'll do it." She held her hand out like they were a notebook to be handed off.
"Erde," Breaker chided, "you don't have time for me to explain the kinds of math you'll need to manually calculate teleportation trajectory along paracausal leylines, let alone how wide the number crunch gets to solve for translocation via vex network transmat."
"You were always too smart for a Titan, you know?"
"Yeah? And you were always too clever to see through my bullshit. I don't know how to crunch those numbers, either, darling." Breaker loaded the last of her shells into her shotgun. Erde had counted five.
"I can't just leave you here, Ash. To die? Alone?!"
Breaker raised her clenched fist upright and Erde reflexively pressed her forearm against her old friend's. "Titan to Titan; promise me you will make them pay for this." The Awoken woman nodded. As her helmet glimmered back into existence, Ashkey grinned wide and stupid, "Good. Then I promise to make my death worth retelling."
And with that, Adela Erde was airborne and flying through the chamber to the vex gate. Thrown by Ashkey, the move was smooth and sudden. Erde manage to wring herself around in time to watch Ashkey Breaker fling the doors open wide. She could almost swear she saw her grinning maliciously as she drew her shotgun up.
When she landed, it was roughly, against a bulkhead. She scrambled to her knees as the vex gate collapsed with the eruption of roaring laughter. Plunged into dim light, Adela could feel hands against her breastplate.
Irisi Erde touched her forehead lovingly to her sister's. "I'm sorry, Adela. I heard it all. I…" She stammered, throat aching in the anguish of losing Ashkey. "I didn't realize the core didn't have the charge for all of us."
Adela gasped silently, futilely digging through words to find her thoughts. In the end, she could only hold her sister and sob in sorrow.
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