The fact that developers spent time designing each Cookies of Darkness school outfit. I respect them so much.

Gaang + if they were in an apocalypse?

what kinda apocalypse we talkin about? like, i’d argue that they’re already in a post-apocalyptic landscape—well, at least, aang is. and an au wherein ozai wins during/after sozin’s comet is too bleak for me to think about, so i’m just gonna go with your straight-up classic zombie scenario (except bending is also a thing, i’ve decided).

sokka is responsible for keeping katara, aang, and toph alive and safe. he makes the plans, and insists that they trust his instincts. as much as they put up a struggle when he nags them to keep moving when they would rather rest or just chill and hang out—have even a moment’s fun and respite in this unending nightmare—sokka’s insistence on caution and strategy has never led them astray.

toph picks up early on that if she can sense footfalls but no heartbeat then it must be the undead. this ability proves to be one of their greatest assets, because they’re usually able to escape danger before it even reaches their doors. and when it does, well, between three master benders and sokka braining zombies left and right with his boomerang, they don’t usually get hurt too bad.

when they do get scraped up, katara is always there to heal them. not to mention she has no compunctions killing zombies by exploding them from the inside, since they’re technically already dead. the trick is not getting the viscera to splatter on them, because being covered in zombie guts tends to feel pretty gross after a while. toph is convinced that katara is directing her bloodsplatter onto her on purpose. they fight about it a lot. (she was actually aiming for sokka.)

aang is their secret weapon. whenever they’re in a tight spot, he goes into the avatar state and destroys all the zombies. he also proves very useful when it comes to knowing which mushrooms and berries are safe to eat and which are poisonous, which is a great help considering how often they must rely on foraging for their meals.

they encounter suki a couple times before she finally joins up with the gaang after getting separated from the other kyoshi warriors. she doesn’t know whether they’re alive or dead, but what she does know is that it would be pointless to search for them now. she has to keep moving forward, and she’s happy to be part of their group (as is sokka).

yue was traveling with them for a while, but she sacrificed herself to hold off a horde of zombies, and the rest is history. sometimes sokka feels like every time he closes his eyes, even to blink, he can still see her smiling, completely at peace, as the writhing undead mass of violence tears her apart. whenever he feels like giving up, especially now that suki is here and just as capable of protecting the others, he reminds himself that her sacrifice cannot have been in vain.

ozai created the virus on purpose. he wanted it to target “undesirables” (anyone not fire nation, basically) so that from the ashes of the old world, he could rebuild a new, perfect world, in which he is the supreme ruler. he’s been hiding in an extremely fancy underground bunker for years, waiting out the zombie-infested warzone until all the “undesirables” have perished (zombies only have a short lifespan, so ideally it should only take up to, like, seven years for them all to get infected and then die out).

zuko has been tasked with capturing the avatar, who is (apparently) the greatest threat to ozai’s plan, and he cannot return to the bunker unless he brings aang with him. azula has to clean up zuko’s mess (ie, his general ineptitude), so she finally leaves her nice, cozy bunker to venture into the outside world, and kills aang (whom katara later heals), giving zuko the credit. once zuko is able to return to the bunker, having seen how brutal the world outside is, and how comfortably they are all living in their hoarded comfort and opulence, his conscience forces him to defect. he tracks down the avatar one last time, to beg him to join them and defeat ozai, their true enemy.

eventually, mai and ty lee defect too, leaving azula in the bunker to wonder why anyone would abandon this, abandon her, for the hellscape beyond. they hunt down zuko and team up with him and his new friends, arguing that what they provide to the team is having immunization against the zombies, meaning they can protect them without fear of being infected themselves. zuko is like “wait you guys were given a vaccine?” and has yet another revelation about what a shit father ozai was. apparently everyone in the bunker was immunized except for him. go figure.

they decide that it is imperative that they not only take out ozai, but also find the vaccine and proliferate & distribute it to everyone they can. mai, ty lee, and zuko are all like “great we can show you where the bunker is” but sokka’s like “uhhh i triangulated the location of the bunker and toph found it with her seismic sense and broke in using metalbending ages ago. azula already knew about our plan to kill ozai so we had to retreat, but yeah… we already know where the bunker is. did you guys…. not know that? lmfao”

anyway they break into the bunker and katara subdues azula and aang fights ozai and they get the vaccine just in time to save enough people that they can count it as a victory. the devastation the virus wreaked was still an incalculable loss to be sure, but at least they have a plan to move forward, and make the world a little bit safer, together.

Here's a weird ask: how does the cast off MHA and TW react to being in first place in Mario Kart only to get blasted with a blue shell?

I see @twistedtummies2 and I share some anons. :P

Twisted Wonderland

Ace: That dumbass would have the worst luck imaginable. He'd get nailed by the blue shell right when he's doing one of those loops, so he'd go crashing down and have to get scooped up by that passive aggressive cloud-flying dickhead whose name I never knew or cared to know. He'd lose a few places in the race, and before he can eve get started, someone would use the lightning to shrink everybody...aaaaand someone else would blast him off the cliff again because they had the Bullet Bill. By the time he can race again, he's in dead last and also a full lap behind. "...Wha...how...WHEN...?!?! O___o; " would be the only his only befuddled response.

Deuce: He'd snap and get mad at what a cheap shot that was, and how he was so close to victory. Then, he'd apologize, go back to playing and acting like he's not super annoyed that he got screwed so badly.

Cater: He's far too busy taking selfies of him and his pals playing video games to actually...PLAY video games.

Trey: He will be in shock for a moment, but when the person who blasted him smugs at him, he'll retaliate by refusing to bake them any pastries for a week. They won the battle. But Trey just won the war...aaaaand broke their spirit.

Che'Nya: Heeee's too busy driving backwards and smiling to himself to ever get blasted by the blue shell. He tilts his head with confusion at the cloud turtle for constantly telling him to go the other way and mutters, "But I like this way! :3 " and keep on playing incorrectly.

Riddle: That controller is going through the TV.

Leona: He'd say his famous catchphrase. "Tch, pain in my ass..." then he'd lazily toss the controller, get up and leave. I imagine Leona isn't actually THAT fond of video games despite being young. I think he only really likes strategic video games that make him feel smart. And anything that has complete random chance to negate skill like that goddamn blue shell just turns him off.

Ruggie: He'd whine and pout. "Awww, whaaaaaaat?! D8> No fair!!" Then he'd sulk for a while, grumble in annoyance, and keep playing, trying veeeeery hard to inch his way back to the top.

Jack: He'd show a flicker of anger, would pretend that it's just some stupid game, then turn away, grumbling about what a crappy, cheap trick that was and that no real wolf would ever need to use...in fact, I'm pretty sure Jack's the type who never uses items because he doesn't think he needs them.

Azul: He will forget all about winning and focus the entire duration of the game to ensuring whoever got him with the blue shell is dead last. He will not rest until he crushes their dreams...

Jade: He'd just nod passively, resume playing like it's no big deal, then he'd wait to hear the smug "Haaaaa!" from the culprit he's playing with, and make a note to exact revenge slowly and embarrassingly once the game is finished.

Floyd: He will immediately turn to whoever blasted him, have pinprick-sized pupils, aaaaaand the other player will immediately restart the race, and Floyd will beam happily at being able to play more and giggle about how his opponent is really bad this time.

Kalim: He's never been hit by the blue shell. He's too busy getting hit by green shells. And red shells. His OWN red shells...which...isn't supposed to be possible...but he found a way...

Jamil: He'd use his magic to immediately force whoever blasted him to keep driving off a cliff again and again and occasionally act as a roadblock for other racers. Why get mad when you can get "cheat-y?" :P

Vil: He'd just huff dismissively and say that this is why he doesn't stream video games like other online personalities. Too uncouth and mindless like that blue shell and whoever lobbed it.

Rook: He'd be too busy focusing on wiping out other players to actually race. He's the sort who would literally drive backwards just so he can kamikaze with all his green shells at any incoming player he decided is his prey.

Epel: He'll sneer angrily, catch himself, and say it's just a stupid game, and keep playing like it's no big deal...then occasionally glare daggers at whoever blasted him when they weren't looking, and contemplate stealing some of Vil's poisons for later use.

Idia: Idia's such a ""pro gamer"" that he knows the shortcuts in every single track. You can hit him with TWO blue shells, he'll still be ahead by half a lap and have time to spare. He'll just grin that rare cocky fang-filled grin and say, "Ohhhhh nooooo, blue shells, I hope I don't lose my entire lap lead... >:D " Then he'll giggle maniacally...aaaaaand immediately whimper at realizing he just giggled in public, then largely keep to himself for the rest of the race.

Ortho: He'll pout and angrily whine that blue shells are cheap...until he realizes how much better the items are when you're in last place...then stay in last place when he realizes how fun the golden mushrooms and lightning bolts are.

Malleus: ...He's never been first place in any video game he's ever played. He's not very good at any video games, but the fact that he's been invited to play at all already has him in a good mood. Also, whenever he plays in a castle level, he's too busy trying to admire the decor to actually race.

Lilia: He's never been hit by the blue shell because he's never allowed himself to be that far ahead. He intentionally eases up whenever he has a major lead so it's neck-n-neck between himself and second place. And once a blue shell has been launched, he'll slam the brakes so second place takes the lead...aaaaaand promptly takes the shell, so he can carry on freely to victory. :P

Sebek: He'll never play unless Malleus is playing, at which point, his only priority is supporting his young master, who is...not gonna be in first place. Instead, he'll stay by Malleus' side the whole time, and be horrified when he accidentally blasts Malleus off the road when he gets green shells and stays too close to his master.

Silver: He fell asleep two laps ago.

My Hero Academia

Midoriya: He'll grit his teeth and just try harder to claw his way back to victory. Can't keep a cinnamon bun down after all.

Bakugou: One angry shout later, and the entire room will explode...

Todoroki: He'll blink with surprise, look around in deadpanned confusion and simply ask, "...Did I win? : | "/

Kirishima: He'll whine and frown, muttering, "Awwwww, blue shell?! That's not manly at all... >:( " Then huff but nonetheless keep on playing through. Also, he'll be screwed if he ever gets the blue shell because he actively refuses to ever use it because he doesn't think it's fair.

Iida: Blue shell him once and he's effectively lost the game. He will immediately jump to his feet, stomp over to whoever blasted him, chops his hands in the air like a robot and proceed to go on a massive tirade about how true heroes should never rely on such unfair trickery...until someone points out that anything goes in Mario Kart, and if it you were a skilled enough player, you could overcome such an unfair disadvantage. At which point, Iida will freeze, hunch over and mull over to himself for a solid ten minutes about what an excellent tool the blue shell is to actively push players to be better, to overcome the odds. Then he'll immediately bow repeatedly and apologize for blowing up, praising the blue shell as the ultimate teaching moment in a video game...not realizing no one is even playing anymore...

Uraraka: She'd go wide-eyed, turn to whoever blasted her, pout and shout, "You did that on purpose, you traitor...! >:{ " Then, she'd try and latch a ride onto the cloud turtle to see if her character has zero gravity powers as well. :P

Momo: She'd never get hit with the blue shell because she's learning how to drive, and is trying to be responsible behind the wheel...meaning she's driving veeeeery slow and avoiding all the collisions everyone else is facing. So even if she's dead last, she'll say, "Well, I may be last, but I'm also unscathed. So I do believe that makes me the REAL winner in this silly game."

Kaminari: "Awwwwww, wwwwwhaaaaaaaaaat....?! <8'{ " He'd just turn to whoever blasted him with this adorably pathetic look of absolute betrayal on his face.

Mina: She'll complain about what a cheap shot that was, then get over it in a second, grinning as she tries to get payback with red shells and banana peels.

Tsu: She'd stare blankly, ribbit, and resume playing, expression unchanged while she deadpan says, "...You suck. : | " while continuing onward.

Tokoyami: He'd mumble that this never would've happened if any of the players knew how to fly, then remark that whoever blasted him must have been pretty desperate if they couldn't best him otherwise.

Ayoma: Heeeee's far too busy admiring himself in the slightest reflection he can see on the screen to actually play the game...

Mirio: "Awwwwwww, looks like I lost, guys! :D " Would literally be his response and his expression...without realizing the game isn't even over yet.

Tamaki: He'd sigh a breath of relief, saying it's so much better not having to be first because now, that's a load of pressure off of his mind...then complain that he's hungry and ask if he can go home yet. :P

Mineta: ...He was too busy perving out over Daisy to actually play, and then Tsu wrapped him up in her tongue and flung him out a window.

After The Witch | Part 1

552 words

Licorice gets assigned a mission to check on the new escapee cookies of the witch, it hopes to please his great master and bring more answers of the witches to them.

In the deepest parts of the Dark Lords castle, some scratches and splashes were heard. Surely a mess was being made.

“Yes, yes… it is almost complete. Surely this will please Dark Enchantress—!”

“Licorice.”

Startled, Licorice almost dropped a a bit too much of poisons mushrooms spores into the cauldron. That could’ve been messy. But once he regained his composure and recognized the voice— he groaned. Turning around to face Pomegranate. Not even hearing her due to how focused he was when she opened the door.

“Oh, what do you want?! I’m busy!”

Pomegranate scoffed, allowing herself to take a few steps closer to the so called wizard.

“Dark Enchantress sent me for you. She actually has a mission for you.”

“Eh-? Really?!”

“Mmm.”

With that, she raised her mirror at her ally. Allowing him to see.

“It seems that more cookies have escaped the witches oven. These are new…”

Licorice raised an eyebrow at this. What was Pomegranate getting at?

“… And?”

“Some will survive the outside world. Some will not. The forest will make sure to crumble most of them alive… Find them. So, so that we can ask them on what they saw. To know more about the witches. Do it right. Before any of them stumble on that pesky Gingerbrave and his friends.”

Licorice frowned, reaching for his scythe. This sounded easy enough.

“Right. Right.”

“Do not fail us.”

Licorice felt like he was walking for hours now. It’s been so long since he’s been on these part of the forest. It was gloomy… quiet.

There wasn’t any cookies in the forest it seemed. Just crumbs and jellies. It seemed like it was too late already. Since he didn’t wanted to risk it further, turning on his heel to leave. Until he stopped on his track, hearing a sniffle and whine inside the bushes.

Raising an eyebrow at this and holding his scythe closer to him, ready to strike if necessary. Licorice began to take steps closer to sound just beyond the bushes.

Once he was close enough. His eyes winded a bit. It was a cookie. Such a fragile cookie managed to make it so far? He then scoffed.

“You! Pink-Cottoned-Haired Cookie quit your crying!”

With this-- the crying cookie perked and even jumped back, looking up at the taller Cookie with the scythe who loomed over her so easily.

“it's... Not cotton...”

She said, wiping her tears.

“I'm Strawberry Shortcake Cookie... Who are you?”

Licorice signed, kneeling down to her.

“Licorice Cookie. Now tell me. What happened to the other cookies. You escaped the oven, didn’t you? How did you get so far… You must have had some help. You look… too weak to survive on your own.”

“I don’t know… It all happened so fast! In a blink of an eye even! I was— running and running! And.. it all went black. I don’t- remember the rest… I’m sorry…”

Licorice frowned and sighed, standing back up.

“I see. Come on now. We don’t want you to crumble now,”

Licorice said, turning around.

“H-huh?! Where are you going?”

“Somewhere safer. And further away from the witches hut. So, I recommend following me, Shortcake.”

Licorice said with a light snicker. And with this— Strawberry Shortcake got up in an instant, following after the other cookie.

——

This is my first time writing in a while I’m gonna throw myself in a hole

Ode to an Angel-Chapter 2

Summary: You had been alone in this apocalyptic world since you got seperated from your old group and lost your brother. You were on your way to an old metal factory in the hopes of finding your former group when a herd of walkers dragged you in to the woods. You took refuge in a hut, where you met him. You have got a long road ahead and some reckoning to do. (Set in the end of season 2)

Pairing: Daryl Dixon x Female Reader

A/N: Ahh... the second chapter is here... Thank you for your likes and reblogs for the first chapter. This is my first time writing Daryl, and I’m a nervous wreck, I don’t know if I’m doing this right ahaha! This chapter reveals more about the reader and her past! I can’t wait to dive deeper into this journey. Feedback is always appreciated. Please let me know what you like or don’t like about the story.

This chapter’s recommended song is “Because We Have To” by Low Roar. 

Spotify  Youtube

Chapter 1

CHAPTER 2  

Then…

At this point you didn’t even know who to trust, this man could even lead you into a trap for that matter. But you knew that the factory would be somewhere near the area he was showing you. 

“Thank you,” you said turning your head to face him. 

He got up from his knees as he let out a humming sound as a response.

“Ya gonna need more than just two bullets if ya gonna take tha’ route,” he said putting your gun and knife back on the table and left the cottage, closing the door behind him.

 Now…

The time had seemed to come and pass. There was a full moon when you had found the old metal factory, and you haven't seen another since then, which told you that it hadn't been a whole month since the factory.

It was a total failure. There were just dead workers walking around. There was nothing, no sign of settlement, no one… your chances of finding your former group were getting low.

You had checked half of the areas that you thought were their kind of places; remote, large, and safe. You didn't know where else to go anymore. They could even be dead by now. But if there were no place to look for, then you were going to look for them. You owed it to your brother.

However, you did not have the energy anymore, being on the road— on foot, was taking all the power you had in you. It could have been weeks since you’ve ended up alone, wandering around to find a bunch of people...

Moreover, you would most definitely be dead by now if it wasn’t for the man with the crossbow. Yes… a couple of weeks ago when you thought that he was taking half your food, he was actually leaving two of the canned food and an additional bottle of water for you. He did not say anything about it, you didn't know why he did it. He just helped you.

You remembered him looking at you before fumbling with his bag.

When you’d checked the drawers again before leaving the cottage, you’d spotted the mushroom soups and the bottle of water. Maybe he looked at you and saw no threat, just a broken girl. He could’ve easily pitied you.

It’d been two days since your food ran out and the boiled dirty water in your canteen was almost finished. You’d avoided eating frogs or snakes since then, but you were starving. It seemed like your belly was sticking to your spine and your lips were cracked from dehydration.

You were walking through the woods, trying to find the highway, then maybe a car to spend the night. The sun was high up in the sky, the Georgian summer heat working against you, your whole body was covered in sweat. The humidity was making it almost impossible to breath.

You could not bring yourself to lift your feet fully to take a step. At this point, you were just dragging them to keep you standing. When you couldn’t keep on going, you sat next to a large tree, laid your back against its trunk, and closed your eyes.

You were all gathered around the fire. The military camp that you took refuge had been bombed a week ago and you were on the run with your little group and your brother. Neither you nor your brother liked to be around people like them; selfish, loathing, and vulgar.

“More people mean better chance at surviving,” he told you, “We just have to put up with them.” You two moved away from the fire to come near the truck.

“I don’t trust them,” you said pointing your chin towards the group of four.

“I know, me neither…” he reassured you, “we need to stick with them ‘till we’re out of the city,” said he.

When the outbreak happened, you and your brother hit the road for the military camp. They said that it was a safe haven for all people, and it really was— until the government bombed the whole place down. You’d managed to get out with a small group of people. You were with them ever since.

“Okay, but I don’t know how long I can keep up with that asshole’s bullshit,” you said turning your head to the brunette man sitting beside the fire. He was just a few years older than your brother. He had good survivalist skills, but he was a total self-absorbed asshat, who kept ordering people around like he was the one in charge.

“You will have to try, sis, just a little while longer, ” your brother said as he wrapped his strong arms around your shoulders.

           You reluctantly opened your eyes. Resting for a few minutes did good for your body. You reached for your canteen to take sip from your little remaining water, wanting to boost your energy just a little more to keep going. As the warm water washed down your throat, you found yourself wanting more but you refused to drink any more.

           As you tried to get up from the forest floor and reached to support yourself, your hand connected with something slightly colder and moist. You turned your gaze towards the object and saw a large beige colored mushroom.

           You once ate a mushroom that looked just like this one, so you assumed that it was not poisonous. Even if it were, you were too hungry to think on it.

           “Hello dinner,” you said smiling to yourself as you reached for the wild plant.

           You broke the mushroom from its root with a swift motion. You did not want to waste your matches for cooking. You mostly used the matches to start a fire to boil the dirty puddle water. You blew air onto the large plant to get rid of the excess dirt and soil.

           You started to eat with such hunger that the mushroom was gone within minutes. You were far from being full, but it was going to have to do.

           You got up from the ground after eating the whole thing. You needed to move forward. The highway was only couple of hours away and you had plenty of time to get there before the sunset.

           To your surprise, you did not come across that many of the dead throughout the day. There were couple of stray ones here and there. You didn't even bother to kill them. To be honest, you were still scared to get close. You did not interact with them unless you had to.

           After a while of walking, you needed to stop as your stomach started to feel funny. You felt a sudden urge to throw up, but it didn’t happen. You were having hard time figuring out where to step as the trees were all in motion, their branches intentionally blocking your way. You continued walking, but you fell a moment later when the forest floor beneath you began to move. Mushroom…

           A second later, a piercing pain shoot through the left side of your waist, a warm red liquid spreading around a spot, marking the fabric of your top. You had just realized that you’d fallen over a piece of wood.

You sat on your knees and removed the piece of wood with a groan. You successfully got up despite the mobile ground and the biting pain on your abdomen.

When you were fully standing you untied your shirt around your waist and pressed it to your wound with one hand. Beads of sweat were crawling down your temples to your chin. Just as you were about to move your feet, you recognized a figure standing in front of you.

           It was a male figure, slightly taller than you, broad shoulders, dark greasy hair…

           “What the hell are you doing here?” The figure talked. His voice was very familiar.

           “What?” that was all you could say, you were in utter shock that the man appeared out of nowhere.

           “It isn’t worth it, (Y/N),” now that the he’d talked again, you finally figured out who the figure was.

           “Matt?” It was your brother. Your chin trembled as you spoke his name. This wasn’t real. No, it was not.

           “What you’re doing…isn’t worth it.” He repeated.

           “Yes—yes, it is…” you said. Your voice was hoarse because of the lump in your throat. Tears were threatening to spill.

           “Stop chasing something you’re not supposed to, sis,” he spoke so tenderly. You felt a pang of grief inside your chest. Well… at this point your heart was taken out of your chest and was squeezed in someone’s hands. That was what it felt like.

           “They killed you—,” your sentenced was cut when he spoke, “It doesn’t matter what they did to me. Be smart,” he urged you, his sharp gaze was piercing through you.

           “Matt…” you were going to argue but in the blink of an eye, the figure disappeared. “Matthew!” You shouted after him, but he was long gone, and it wasn’t meant to last. You knew that it was the mushroom. You ran after him anyway, not bothering the pain, but your legs failed to carry your weight as you fell flat o your face.

           Dehydration, starvation, and exhaustion all together had tired you. The poisonous mushroom and the blood loss did no good on top of all. The dizziness was unbearable now. Your stomach ached like someone had punched you with full force.

Sleep and it will be all over. A voice inside your head snapped. You struggled to get up, but your surroundings went dark and the last thing you saw was the dying sun on the Georgia horizon.

Your eyes fluttered open just a little as you feel yourself moving. But no, you were not laying on the rough forest ground. Instead, you were being carried. A moment later, your eyes closed again, not allowing you to identify the person carrying you.

Muffled voices raised around you; they were two men; you could tell that one of them was old.

“…your responsibility.” The older voice said.

Your mind immediately went to the sharp pain on your abdomen. You frowned at the aching pain as you opened your eyes.

“Hey, she’s waking up,” the younger man said. He looked like he was in his thirties and had dark wavy hair that he had swept back. His sounded cautious. Next to him was the older man.

“Where the hell am I?” You asked the older them; your voice was croaky from sleep.

“Good morning, my name is Hershel.” The man talked, he was much older than the other man, his hair was whiter than the snow. You did not know these people. The last thing you remembered was the sunset, the pain and a person carrying you in the dark. Maybe you did find what you were looking for all this time. But you had to be smart.

***

Chapter 3

A Kiss From Diana

FF / AO3

Summary: Seven unconnected snippets of Diana kissing one of her friends.

Pairing: Diana x Akko, Lotte, Sucy, Hannah & Barbara, Amanda, Jasminka, Constanze

Word count: 1838

Akko

Diana feels weird looking at a shooting star from the ground knowing that once she stood in the middle of the stars in space.

A lot of things have been different these past weeks, even if things got relatively back to normal, but in subtle ways, the way that Diana saw the world around her was different too. It wasn’t something she could discuss with anyone, not only due to her usual closed nature but because she feared that no one else would understand her.

But Diana was thankful that there was someone else who she knew felt the same way, because she was with her during everything.

The stars would never look the same to her again.

“What did you wish for?”

Akko’s voice interrupts Diana’s thoughts.

“Good fortune and success in this new chapter of our lives. But mostly, prosperity for you and me, and for all of our friends and loved ones, too.” Diana smiles fondly while looking at the sky, then she turns to Akko. “And you?"

“Aww, man, now I feel silly.” Akko says while making a pout face. “I just wished for the new Nintendo Switch.”

Diana chuckles a little, then gives her a small kiss while caressing her check. “Well, hopefully, we can manage to get one very soon.”

Akko grins at her then holds her other hand.

“All my other wishes already came true. I honestly didn’t think of asking for something else.”

Diana just smiles, thinking how no other star could compare to the one in front of her.

Lotte

Diana likes the peacefulness of the schoolyard when it comes to studying, and she learned that Lotte likes it too.

She learned a lot of things about her these past days. The number of freckles that covered her nose and timidly disappeared over the rest of her face, how her glasses hid the expressive, vivid eyes that marveled her every time. Now, she was learning all about her most special interest.

Akko and Hannah warned her about this.

“So, do you like it? This chapter is one of my favorites! Also, the best to introduce people to the series!”

Diana gives another look to the page she was reading. Between the love triangle involving that Bella girl with a vampire and that one werewolf, plot twists involving long-lost relatives, annoying miscommunication between the main characters, and, for some reason, a side plot that included time travel and sky pirates, she was trying to make sense of one of Lotte’s favorite hobbies.

“Is…certainly a unique story. I can’t say I’ve read anything like this before.”

As an attempt to change the subject, she gives her a kiss on her temple while playing with her messy orange hair.

Now she learns that it only takes a kiss on the forehead to make Lotte blush.

Sucy

When her lips meet Sucy’s she expects her to throw some poison, snakes, or poison-covered snakes at her. To Diana’s surprise, she doesn’t do anything like that, but she makes sure to keep her expression as stoic as possible.

Is Sucy the one that looks surprised. As surprised as she can look, Diana thinks. But the tone of her voice gets a little shakier.

“What… what the hell was that.”

Diana just crosses her arms.

"Akko mentioned to me how she tried to kiss you one time. Twice, if I recall correctly.” Diana tries to make something of the other girl’s red face, if it’s embarrassment or something else. “Just wanted to see what all the fuss was about.”

Sucy blinks, seemingly annoyed, then tries to look away.

“So? What did you think?”

Diana licks her lips, looking down. She turns to Sucy with an amused expression.

“Mushroom-flavored lip balm? Seriously?”

Hannah and Barbara

A serving tray with a cup of Diana’s favorite tea, a plate of pancakes in the shape of a heart, and a small box of chocolates with a rose laying on top of it. Very subtle.

Diana stretches her arms.

“Breakfast on bed? May I ask what’s the occasion?”

“Does it there needs to be an occasion to show how much we appreciate our best friend?” Hannah questioned loudly and frantically.

“Yes, we only want you to know, like, how much you mean to us, Diana!” Barbara continued, nervously.

Probably nothing to do with that copy of “How To Confess To Your Roommate for Dummies” that Diana found under Hannah and Barbara’s desk. Not at all.

Very very subtle. But she would be lying if she said their antics weren’t endearing.

“You two mean a lot for me, too.” Diana says while getting up from her bed. “Unfortunately, you have chosen a bad time for this. I already promised Headmistress Holbrook that I would assist her in some chores for our school, and I’m afraid I need to leave as soon as possible if I want to arrive on time.”

Their expression turns to disappointment almost in sync.

“But I’ll make it up for you.” Diana says as she walks to the bathroom, stopping to the side of the two girls. “I’ll get back by tea time, and then I’ll bake something just for the three of us.” She kisses Barbara’s right check and Hannah’s left chek much to their surprise.

She keeps her pace, Barbara still freezing, Hannah the only one able to speak.

“D-Diana! You don’t need to!”

Amanda

“Let’s start with chapter two, shall we? Seems to be the one you have the most trouble with. The History of Transmutation in-“

“Yaaaaawn.” Amanda’s exaggeratedly prolonged yawn interrupted Diana.

A study session with Luna Nova’s top student would be an important opportunity for any other classmate, but to Amanda, it was just another boring chore.

“I will let you know that I’m not exactly thrilled to spend my afternoon helping study someone who doesn’t seem to care to improve her grades, but as you know, your roommates were so concerned that you wouldn’t pass your classes that they asked me about it.” Diana expected that stating the obvious would change Amanda’s demeanor. “Because you do know that they care about you, right, O’Neill?”

Diana’s attempt at guilt-tripping makes Amanda roll her eyes. Of course she knows. What she doesn’t know is why it was such a big deal for everyone. Amanda already had ideas to keep in touch with their friends In Case Anything Happens, as she said.

“It’s just…it’s hard to give it my all you know? Don’t really care for grades, don’t really care for this school. Of course I care about my friends, Cavendish. But when it comes to this place…I don’t feel like there is something worth making me stay in here, alright?”

Diana sighs, gets up from her seat and advances closer to Amanda, who isn’t sure why she decided to come near her if she’s gonna give her another speech about responsibility, tradition, duty or whatever.  

Before Amanda can complain, she feels Diana’s hand on her chin, tilting up her startled face a little. She gives her a kiss. Quicky, yet gently at the same time.

And before Amanda can reciprocate, Diana pulls away, keeping the serious expression on her face.

“Would that suffice?”, Diana says before returning to her seat.

She thinks is cute how the red in Amanda’s face doesn’t quite match her hair.

“Geez, Cavendish, you sure had gotten better at pep talks, I’ll tell you that.”

Amanda bashfully reopens her book, half looking at the text, half grinning.

“Alright then, chapter two, wasn’t it? The History of Transmutation in Modern Witch Society..”

Jasminka

The smiling girl stands in front of the blue team’s dorm room door, offering one of the cornflakes from the bag she’s carrying.

Diana accepts one. She is not hungry, neither is in the mood that kind of food, but she doesn’t want to be seen as uncourteous.

“Sorry to bother. Is just that the cakes you brought for Akko’s flying practice the other day were just so delicious Diana. I couldn’t help but wonder if you may have more with you, or even the recipe?”

Diana eats the single cornflake she took, then inspects Jasminka’s apparently-closed eyes, who patiently waits for her answer.

"I’m afraid I don’t have anymore, Antoneko. But I was thinking of preparing another batch for our picnic with all our teams together, next week. If you are interested, perhaps you would like to assist me.”

“Really? Oh, thank you so much! I can’t wait!”

Diana feels the scents of candy near her, specifically strawberry and cinnamon. Before she realizes it, Jasminka is giving her a kiss on the check.

Was this typical Russian customary or just Jasminka being herself? Either way, again, Diana doesn’t want to be seen as uncourteous.

She approaches her timidly and gives her a small kiss on the right check. She takes her time, to see if she can catch the scent of cinnamon again.

When she turns back, Diana can see a visible red on the other girl’s face and her smile getting even wider. For a brief second, she can’t help but think how adorable she looks.

Then she figures it out. It was just Jasminka being herself.

Constanze

“No no, no, I can’t open the door! You go open it!”

Amanda’s loud tone isn’t that of her typical laziness, as Diana can hear it from the other side of the door. Is more akin to the one she uses whenever she has a scheme going on.

Terrific. She braces herself for the worst.

To her surprise, there is nothing out of the ordinary when the door is opened. Just Constanze with a questioning expression on her face.

“Greetings, Von Braunschbank.” Diana wasn’t sure if it was customary to say her entire surname, but she hoped that wasn’t the case. “O’Neill summoned me here, saying it was important for me to come to your team’s room and that she would inform me why once I was here… but I can already tell there is an ulterior reason for that, isn’t that right?” she says while glancing at the American girl grinning at them from her bed.

“You betcha.” With a movement of her wand, she reveals a previously invisible tiny object hanging at the top of the door, above the two girls who look up at the same time. “Mistletoe! And you know what that means, you two!”

Constanze blinks then covers her face.

Diana sighs while closing her eyes.

“Yes, I know what it means at a certain time of the year. You do realize that Christmas was two months ago, right, O'Neill?”

“Awww, c’ mon! Don’t be so lame!”

Amanda can’t decide which of the two girls looking at her has the most stern, unamused look in their eyes. Constanze’s furrowed eyebrows certainly make it look like is hers.

They quickly raise from their position, accompanied with wide eyes blinking at high speed, when Diana stoops a little and gives her a peck on the check anyway.

Amanda just laughs.

(this is gonna get kinda dated when nintendo releases a new console, isn’t it?)

Diana is one of my favorite characters on the show, but I’m not sure if I write her properly. So this is mostly an exercise to see how well I do in that regard.

Sucy’s part of the story is a little shorter than the rest because as I was writing the original idea I had, I found myself expanding it more and more to the point that it didn’t count as a snippet anymore. So I decided to leave that one for another fic. I think it may be worth a try.

Thank you for reading!

in the woods somewhere

read here on ao3

“You’ve truly never been camping? Even as a kid?” Magnus asks, dead leaves crunching underfoot as they walk, pack slung over his shoulder jangling against his back with every step.

Alec, nose crinkled with distaste as he navigates the knobbly roots and brambles that Magnus seems to practically glide over, takes a moment to respond. “No. Shadowhunters aren’t camping people,” he says, gesturing around him, “There are no demons in the woods.” And, he thinks, even if they were, who goes out into the middle of nowhere for fun? A mosquito buzzes in his ear, only punctuating this thought. He keeps it to himself, Magnus had been so adamant about it. And they haven’t even reached the campsite yet, he could give it a chance.

“Better late than never, I suppose. Builds character,” Magnus replies jauntily, jumping over a fallen tree, mostly rotted with white mushrooms blooming from the soft flesh of it. Alec scrambles over it after him, gracefully, but with considerably less enthusiasm.

He has a backpack as well, along with a newly purchased sleeping bag and pair of hiking boots, which are still stiff on his feet. “Yeah, nothing makes a man like sleeping amongst the bugs and dirt,” Alec grumbles, the smell of wet leaves filling his nostrils. Spring has broken, creating a damp forest which teems with life. But a chill still lays over everything, the clammy air creeping into Alec’s clothes with him.

“Almost there,” Magnus announces cheerily, and yes, Alec can hear the babble of running water nearby. They’re making camp in a clearing by a brook, several miles too far from the nearest sign of human life for Alec’s comfort. Definitely way too far away from the noise of New York, the chirping of wildlife all around him making Alec’s skin crawl.

“You know there’s a reason horror movies take place in forests,” Alec says, speeding up to fall into step with Magnus, who has gotten a little ahead. “Ever seen Cabin in the Woods?”

“We’re not renting a cabin, we’re pitching a tent. And anyway, I’ll protect you from any wandering blood-thirsty vagabonds we happen across,” Magnus beams toothily, and Alec can’t help but smile back. The only upside to this whole camping thing is seeing Magnus in a red and gray plaid flannel and hiking boots. His hair is down and his face is bare of makeup, rendering him almost mundane. It’s unusual, but not at all unpleasant.

After a few more minutes, they reach the burbling stream, and Alec has to admit that it’s a nice sight. Sunlight streams through the forest canopy and just reaches the floor, painting their word shades of shining green. The stream only adds to the picturesque beauty, cold and clear with mossy rocks and tiny fish. Birds call overhead and there’s a moment of serenity before Magnus throws his pack down and says, “We have to make camp.”

Alec blinks at him. “What?”

“Camp, Alexander. We have to make camp. With a firepit and tents,” Magnus says patiently, the side of his mouth pulling up in a barely restrained smile.

“I thought you were just gonna, you know,” Alec makes a dramatic hand motion and waves his arms in an imitation of wielding magic, and this time Magnus does laugh.

“Not this time, my love. We’re doing it all the mundane way. Better hurry, too, if we’re going to have time to make traps,” Magnus says, unpacking the tent they will, apparently, be assembling by hand.

“Traps?” Alec echoes, kneeling beside Magnus.

“Of course. Unless you plan on eating acorns,” Magnus replies. Alec swallows, but says nothing else, in case Magnus decides to impart more disturbing news like the fact that they will be catching their own dinner.

Pitching a tent is close to the worst activity Alec has ever participated in, including the time he hunted a slug demon through the New York sewage system. He cracks himself in the face with a pole twice before it’s finally securely assembled and they set about making a firepit. This is easier, scraping away a layer of dirt and leaves and surrounding it with rocks. It gets harder when Alec discovers most of the wood around them is damp due to the spring rains.

After several frustrating minutes of fighting with the fire-starter and cursing God himself for creating rain in the first place, Alec allows Magnus to help. Magnus, infuriatingly, gets a decent fire going in a matter of moments, crackling and eating up the damp wood like store bought kindling. Alec glares at him, but Magnus leans over and places a chaste kiss on his lips, effectively quelling his increasingly poor mood.

“Do you know how to skin a rabbit, Alexander?” Magnus asks casually, pulling a pocket knife out of his pocket and whittling away at a stick, sharpening it to a point and setting it aside, beginning on another.

“No,” Alec says with a frown, watching Magnus’ movements. “Are you planning on chasing one down with spears?” he asks doubtfully.

“No, silly, these are for the traps. Unless you’d rather eat earthworms. They’re chewy, but not nearly as filling,” Magnus looks up from his sharp sticks in time to see Alec’s completely desolate expression. There are a few more seconds of agonizing eye contact before Magnus cracks, breaking into full-bodied laughter, setting the stick and knife aside to hold himself.

“Your face,” Magnus gasps out, cracking open a teary eye. Alec scowls at him harshly, cheeks burning. Magnus reaches for his pack and pulls out a bag of turkey jerky and also reveals several cans and bags of food. “Oh, you really believed me!” he says when Alec’s eyes grow wide and then his glower grows even more poisonous. “Alec, I’d never make you skin a rabbit or eat bugs. Come here,” Magnus reaches out to Alec beseechingly, grabbing his hands and pulling him in close, kissing the side of his angry face and chuckling into his neck.

Alec eventually forgives him and they eat a dinner of canned soup and trail mix, all the while Magnus goes back and forth between laughing and apologizing.

The sun disappears beyond the trees and immediately the temperature drops, until Alec is pressed tight into Magnus’ side and slapping vaguely at creepy crawlers which emerge with the moon. The fire keeps most of the bugs at bay, however, and Magnus is happy to wrap Alec up in an embrace, although Alec gets the vague sense that Magnus is laughing at him still.

“You really are a city boy, aren’t you?” Magnus asks, leaning into Alec and taking one of his cold hands.

“I’m from New York, what did you expect?” Alec grunts.

“Nothing. It’s endearing, really. Can’t go a day without electricity or cell service,” Magnus teases, and Alec huffs.

“If you’re going to be mean to me, I’ll just walk back to civilization by myself. Leave you out here with the bugs and the bears,” Alec threatens with no real intent behind it.

“Oh, be my guest. You wouldn’t make it a quarter of a mile,” Magnus shoots back and Alec rolls his eyes but doesn’t disagree.

Magnus reaches behind him and switches on an electric lantern, handing Alec a flashlight. “Shall we retire to our tent and tell scary stories?” he asks ominously, the lantern casting his face in stark shadows.

“Oh, sure, our very romantic tent,” Alec drawls, getting to his feet and dusting off the seat of his pants, grabbing a long sleeved thermal shirt and thick fleece sweatpants out of his pack before shoving it into the tent. He changes while Magnus tamps out the fire and packs away the supplies, shivering in the chilly night breeze before ducking into the tent and climbing into his insulated sleeping bag. Magnus follows a few minutes later and gets into his own sleeping bag, which displeases Alec greatly.

“Can’t even cuddle properly. I’m never coming camping again,” he says, worming his way toward Magnus until he’s pressed as close as he can be with the puffy layers of fabric between them.

“I’m sorry it’s been such a hardship,” Magnus reaches an arm out unzips Alec’s bag enough to reach in and wrap it securely around Alec’s middle.

“You’ll make it up to me,” Alec says, turning to face Magnus in the dim.

“How so?” Magnus asks, teeth gleaming with his smile.

“I’m sure you’ll figure something out. Better be good though, after all the pain you’ve caused me,” Alec warns, leaning in to kiss Magnus gently before launching into some story Shadowhunters are told coming up about ghosts.

Get Up (Pt. IV of IV)

[[tl;dr: Tressie and Mav’reth go out for an evening of romance and gladiatorial bloodsport on Nar Shaddaa, and they end up participating a bit more than they had bargained for. *** CW: Language, violence, some sexual themes. *** Written by @tehlaen, who plays Mav’reth; Tressie belongs to @carasilvaart​.]]

Whatever disappointment Mav’reth had felt with the undercard fights notwithstanding, the main attraction surpassed her every expectation. Tressie and Mav found themselves on their feet more than once, howling for blood with all their fellow spectators. To Mav’s critical eye, the fighters were magnificent, matching their foes in primal savagery and feral, animal cunning. Pity at least one wouldn't survive the night.

Kohnir’s blaster bolt could have simply gone wild and ended up blazing toward Aubriena’s throat, but the Zakuulan whirled her saberpike up and around, deflecting it into a Mawrorr’s eye. After that particularly exhilarating exchange, Mav’reth dropped back into her seat and leaned on Tressie’s shoulder, panting breathlessly.

Black imitation-nerfhide, trimmed with red and orange, obstructed her view, and Mav’reth glanced up in irritation. The sandy-haired human, his stocky build equal parts fat and muscle, gave her a dismissive look and sneered at Tressie. “Get up and get out, De’Roachez. You don’t belong here.”

Fury rolled off Tressie in waves, and Mav was torn between mirroring in it… and exulting in it.

Her lover bared her teeth in a snarl. “Go back to whatever hole you crawled out of, Zubner, and stick ta dealin’ to sewer-scags. This here’s my turf, ‘n you get one chance to leave upright.”

The Rodian said something in that absurd language of theirs and Zubner scoffed. “Fuckin’ right. You come in here tryin’ ta show off, dressin’ like a Cartel underboss with some pretty piece of ass hangin’ on yer arm. Doll yerself up all ya want, yer still nothin’ but gutter trash.”

Muscles bunched under Mav’s fingers as Tressie started to her feet. Before she could, the Sith gave an exaggerated, loud yawn. When she had the attention of all four, she swung her head to look at Tressie. Large, opal eyes blinked slowly, and in her sharpest, haughtiest Kaas City accent, Mav said, “Tressie, darling… I can’t see.”

“Who zis, De’Roachez? Yer a nobody, but she seems classy. Looks expensive, too,” Zubner said with a lecherous grin. “Gotta be a whore. Can’t imagine somebody like her’d be fuckin’ caught dead with a worthless, wannabe streetpunk like you if she wasn’t gettin’ paid.”

Unbridled rage flushed Tressie’s face the purple of a fresh bruise and her citrine eyes blazed like blasterfire. The human made a big show of ignoring her reaction as he leered at Mav’reth. “Whatcha say, sweet thang? Why don’t ya come with us and we’ll give ya what this pathetic gutter-scag can’t?”

Mav’reth didn’t speak Gamorrese, but the porcine alien’s vulgar, jerking motion at his crotch made his meaning plain. Tressie rocketed to her feet. Her fists balled at her sides and she leaned forward on her toes, her nose scant centimeters from Zubner’s. The human stared at her defiantly, lip curled in a sneer.

It was Mav’s voice that broke the silence of the standoff. “Tressie, my love…” Her lover didn't turn to face her, but Mav knew she had her attention. She stretched languidly, then regarded Zubner and his lackeys under hooded lids. “Rid me of this noisome pest, would you, darling?”

Tressie’s chin jerked in a sharp nod. Her eyes blazed as she growled, “Disrespect me here, on my turf, that’s just plain stupid. Disrespect my Lady ‘n I’m gonna slow-roast you til yer skin starts boilin’ off the bone, so ya can watch as my akk dogs start eatin’ ya alive. You got one chance, ‘n only one chance, ta apologize to the Lady for bein’ a brainless, no-manners shitwad ‘n disappear, if ya wanna make it outta here alive.”

The human laughed, then hocked and spat. The gob of saliva hit the floor, barely missing Mav’s feet, but the impact speckled her skin with spit through the open toes of her slippers. Mav’s eyes flashed and her fingers curled, nearly overwhelmed by her desire to rip his jawbone free from his skull and use it to gouge out his eyes. She restrained herself; this was Tressie’s fight, on Tressie’s turf, and stealing her kill would make her weak in the eyes of all who were watching, and all the people they’d tell.

Before either of them could make a move to draw, the announcer came over the speakers. “Just a reminder, sentients and gentlebeings: the only gunplay that goes on here is in the arena! Violators will be disintegrated, and maybe their friends, too, for good measure.”

“Works fer me,” Tressie snarled. “You ‘n me. No blasters, no blades, just fists. ‘N tell yer friends ta stay out of it or once I finish with you, They’re next.”

“Ha! Like I need backup to deal with you.”

Tressie began to shrug out of her shoulder holster and unbuckled the gunbelt as Zubner did the same. She turned to Mav’reth to hand her the bundle of weaponry, and the Sith grabbed her chin in strong fingers. Her pale eyes held Tressie’s gaze and she pitched her voice low. “I won’t waste my breath telling you I love you; you should know that by now. What I will say…” Her fingers tightened and pulled Tressie into a deep kiss that was almost savage in its intensity. “Win.”

“You done yet?” Zubner jeered. “Good idea, get one last kiss from ‘er, ‘cause she ain’t gonna be doin’ much kissin’ once I get done with her.”

Mav’reth’s eyes narrowed and her lip curled in a snarl. Tressie mirrored the expression and gave her a sharp nod.

Mav’s snarl shifted into a predatory grin as Tressie’s muscles tensed. She sat back in her seat, sipping at the dark Rishi rum in Tressie’s glass. Not usually her preferred poison, but it felt like it fit the scene.

In one smooth motion, Tressie dropped into a crouch with her legs coiled under her, spun, and exploded out of her crouch like a pouncing vorntiger. The sudden ferocity took Zubner by surprise, and he backpedaled unsteadily, a flurry of sharp jabs at his ribs and short, sharp hooks keeping him on his heels. Mav noted approvingly that Tressie was carefully choosing her shots; without even minimal padding or wrapping, striking the jaw or other bones could easily break her knuckles.

A sharp jab flattened Zubner’s mushroom nose. His eyes opened wide in shock and he shook his head, spraying flecks of blood all around. His shoulders drew in and he set his feet, fists up in a cautious guard.

WHatever his shortcomings, Zubner was not stupid--at least not in matters of violence. He waited for Tressie to spend her momentum, and at a short pause in the flurry of punches, he short a haymaker left at her ribs.

Tressie’s eyes shot open and she twisted, the bone-shattering strike grazing her side instead of cracking her sternum. She danced back out of rang and regarded Zubner warily.

Mav’reth’s opal eyes flicked between the two and she could see in the set of Tressie’s eyes that the two were making the same assessments. Zubner was a brawler, slow and plodding, but it’d be stupid and potentially fatal to forget that the flab covered muscles like durasteel cable. THe punches he threw at her head and torso had roughly the same kinetic energy behind them as a rogue comet, fully capable of knocking Tressie’s teeth down her throat.

Tressie, by contrast, was nimble and wiry, constantly moving so as not to give Zubner an easy target. She couldn't match Zubner for brute strength and weight, but she had the advantage in speed, reach and flexibility. She compensated by striking hard and fast at spots she’d already hit, forcing Zubner to fight defensively to protect his injuries.

The two settled into an equilibrium that, far too quickly for Mav’reth’s liking, stagnated and turned to stalemate. Tressie ducked in, fired off a few well-aimed shots, and ducked back out of reach before one of Zubner’s killer retaliations could connect.

Everyone present could tell how the fight would go. For Tressie it was a battle of attrition, hammering the same sore spots ‘til the pain made the human drop his guard. Zubner, conversely, only needed to land one solid shot to the torso or head to put Tressie down. The Pureblood was younger, fitter, and faster, and if she paced herself and didn’t fall for idiot feints, she’d wear Zubner down.

And thus the stalemate. Both fought cagily, playing it safe. Mav’reth frowned severely; warfare--not to mention a youth at the Korriban Academy--had carved into her psyche and her hide the lesson that stalemate is broken by doing something unexpected. And in her experience, victory went to the bold and the unpredictable.

Gnawing dread and roiling anger vied for supremacy in the Sith’s mind as Zubner acted to break the impasse. With an agility Mav wouldn’t have thought him capable of, Zubner feinted and, when Tresise moved to block, opened his fist and wrapped sausage fingers in a vise grip around her forearm, planted his foot, and twisted his bulky form, giving Tressie’s arm a savage yank. He wrenched her arm and wrung a cry of pain from her throat. Tressie stumbled toward him and into his waiting arms. Zubner’s arm wrapped around her torso, crushing her wiry frame against him and pinning her arm to her side.

The arm around her ribs tightened, constricting her breath. She twisted and wriggled, feet kicking ineffectually against his shins. Her free arm--her dominant left, by some miracle--flailed, trying to both fend off the punches from Zubner’s free hand and strike at him. Her fingers clawed, scratching his eyes, and he jerked his head from side to side to keep her thumb out of his eye socket.

The saving grace--and one that probably saved Tressie’s life--was that, this close in, Zubner couldn’t put his full strength behind the punches he rained on Tressie. Instead he hammered at the side of her head, he flattened her nose, and he pounded at her cheek and lips.

Mav watched ing rowing horror as blood poured from Tressie’s shredded lips and her broken nose. BLood dripped from one ear and her left eye was rapidly swelling shut.

I. Am. Sith. She scourged herself inwardly. Fear is for the weak and the doomed.

Mav’reth channeled her fear into burning, seething rage. Anger at Zubner for his impudence and disrespect and for daring to strike at Tressie. Anger at Tressie for her stupidity in assuming her foe would adhere to her idiot rules of fair play, and for not going straight for the kill, and for hobbling Mav’reth with foolish notions about respect and keeping up appearances and not getting involved. At herself for knowing that Tressie was right and wanting to get involved regardless.

An expression of murderous and almost childlike glee shone on Zubner’s face. Mav’reth struggled to keep her fury at heel and not indulge her desire to carve the look off the human’s face with a shard of glass. Tressie’s knee came up sharply, and while Mav’reth would have preferred to see Zubner collapse screaming and clutching his crushed testicles, the glancing blow was enough to loosen his death-grip.

Tressie wriggled free--and her knees gave out from under her. Mav’s momentary elation withered as quickly as it had blossomed. Tressie fell onto her back, and although she curled her neck forward, the back of her head still slammed against the permacrete. The blood oozing from her torn scalp gleamed oily black in the darkness.

Dazed, Tressie’s head tipped back, staring upside down through Mav’reth’s face. Grey gnawed at the edges of her vision, and her eyes didn’t want to point in the same direction. Until… Her sight tunneled and focused on Mav’reth’s face. The Sith’s elegant features contorted in a mask of  primal, unbridled fury. Mav’reth’s opal eyes held Tressie’s gaze, as irresistible as being drawn past the event horizon. They blazed and went supernova. Mav’reth’s lips might have moved;  Tressie couldn’t be sure, because she couldn’t look away from that stare. Later, she’d lie awake, wondering if she heard Mav’reth’s voice in her head because of some Sith bullshit, or because she’d so strongly internalized her lover’s expectations and mindset.

“GET. UP.”

Mav’reth and Tressie’s eyes remained locked for  heartbeat that lasted a lifetime. NEither broke eye contact to look at Zubner, standing over Tressie with his foot raised to crush her kneecap.

Tressie tucked her arms inward and rolled into Zubner’s ankle. The human--already unsteady on one foot--windmilled his arms to get his balance. Tressie gathered her limbs under her, then exploded out of her crouch. SHe slammed into Zubner, throwing the teetering human wholly off balance. His arms flailed wildly and Tressie jumped on him, knocking him from his feet.

She kept her grip on him, following him to the ground. The arc of Zubner’s skull as he fell intersected with the alusteel frame of Mav’reth’s chair, and Mav felt as much as heard the sharp KRAKK of parting bone as the side of his head met the metal.

Stunned, the human’s eyes jerked wildly and his hands flailed ineffectually to ward off Tressie. Slender, bloody fingers tangled in dirty hair and she slammed his head again and again against the permacrete. He thrashed weakly but couldn’t break her grip, and she held him by the hair as she rained blows on his cheek, ear and throat.

After a short time--that was likely interminable for the poor Zubner--his weak flailing slowed. He shuddered violently once and went still. It took Tressie a few moments to realize he was no longer moving.

The too-brief stillness was broken when the late--or soon-to-be late--Zubner’s Gamorrean lackey squealed in anger and alarm. Thick fingers groped for the blaster at his hip.

A primal scream tore from Mav’reth’s throat, equal parts fury and exultation, finally free to unleash her rage. Her fingers tightened, shattering the glass in her hand. She surge dto her feet, utterly unmindful of the broken glass shredding her palm. Bloody fingers clutched at the largest shard as she lunged for the Gamorrean. Her other hand clamped around the porcine alien’s throat, his windpipe creaking and cracking under her grip. Fury flooded her limbs and she lifted the Gamorrean off the ground by the neck. Stubby legs kicked and thrashed and Mav allowed herself a brief instant to revel in his terror.

Her bloody hand crossed her body and buried the glass shard in the Gamorrean’s side above his hip. She stared into his wide, terrified eyes and drew the improvised knife across his belly. The glass, with Mav’reth’s raw physical strength behind it, ripped through the cheap jacket and thick hide and opened a ragged, gaping tear from one hip to the other.

Three strides took Mav’reth and the screaming Gamorrean to the short rail of the terrace and the forcefield separating the audience from the arena. It was meant to repel bottles and other detritus thrown from the stands, and to dissipate stray blasterbolts. It was not, however, spec’d to resist a 150kg Gamorrean, propelled by the unchained wrath of a Lord of the Sith. A four-meter section of the field sputtered, flickered, and shorted out. Muscles bunched in Mav’reth’s arm and she hurled the squealing alien through the gap and into the arena. He hit the sand twenty meters below with a sickening thud and the wet crack of snapping bones. Not the neck, Mav’reth mused as the squealing continued unabated. He was, therefore, still alive as the pack of sauroid tonitrans--sensing much less dangerous prey--fell on him and began to devour him.

Mav’reth spun to stare at the Rodian, her bloodlust still raging. The bug-eyed alien’s compound eyes were hard to read, but he jerked back and forth between looking at the possibly-living Zubner and the avatar of death clad in a backless, shimmersilk evening gown.

The Sith kept eye contact--as much as she could with a compound-eyed alien--as she moved to remove his dilemma. Bloody fingers wrapped around the unmoving Zubner’s ankle and dragged him to the terrace railing. She stooped and grabbed him by the collar and belt, then hoisted him effortlessly and flung him to join what was left of his friend.

The Rodian fled. Mav’reth--with blood seeping from the wound still embedded with broken glass--stared at the alien’s retreating back. She was giving serious consideration to chasing him down, to burying serrated fangs in the back of his neck, to feeling the delectable KRONCH of vertebrae between her jaws…

She was drawn from her reverie by Tressie’s panting and groaning. Her lover sat slumped back against her chair, too exhausted to lift herself up into it. Mav’reth turned back to her and gave her a beaming, loving smile. “May I, darling?” she asked and offered Tressie her hands to help her up.

Tressie grunted inarticulately and Mav’reth pulled her easily to her feet. “Shall we stay for the remainder of the show, Tressie, dearest? Or shall we see to your concussion, broken fingers and knuckles, popped eardrum, torn lips, and hairline skull fractures?”

Tressie gave Mav’reth a wary, sidelong look from her good eye as she listed off her injuries matter-of-factly. A disapproving frown tugged painfully at her shredded lip and she hissed to herself. “Love, ya know I don’t like it when ya use that Force bantha-shit on me, even if it’s jus’ ta see how bad I’m hurt.”

Mav’reth snorted and surreptitiously wiped blood from her hand on her dress--where Tressie couldn’t see. “I didn’t, darling. You might not have noticed,” she quipped dryly, “but I’m something of a connoisseur of bloodshed and bodily harm. The injuries of a fistfight are rather… uncomplicated.”

Tressie shrugged and winced as the gesture shifted her wrenched shoulder. “If ya won’t be disappointed, I think I’d rather get some kolton ‘n somethin’ ta take the edge off.”

“Mmm. I didn’t get the fight I expected, my love, but I’m not at all disappointed. In point of fact, Mav’reth said, lips curled in a predatory grin, “I believe I prefer the show I got to the one I came for. Besides… For what I’ve got in mind for you, I need you in fighting trim.”

Tressie leaned heavily on Mav’reth as the Sith led her lover to the exit, her arm over Mav’s shoulder and Mav’s arm supporting her around her waist. “Mav… Ya know I love showin’ off fer ya, but…” She hissed in pain. “I don’t think I’mma be up for another brawl like that again real soon.”

Mav’reth stopped and turned with her arm still around Tressie’s waist. Her other hand caressed Tressie’s cheek tenderly and she leaned in to kiss the point of her chin, between her jawspurs. Her eyes smoldered and the growl in her voice sent shivers up Tressie’s spine.

“Not what I had in mind, my love.”

Poison-Wielding Fugitive   Chapter 16

What should I do about this? Should I wash it first? And then disinfect it… with poison? Veno? Do you know how to make laundry detergent? I know how to make soap, but will that do? I’m not gonna destroy it if I don’t wash it a certain way, will I?

‘Calm down. After doing that, check your status. Another option has appeared.’

Huh? Being told to, I check my status. … oh? There’s a skill named Call Fungus. Was it there before I got back to the inn?

‘It was there when you finished hunting and were returning home this afternoon.’

I don’t want to dig deeper and ask when he checked my status, but it was already there then? Call Fungus… to take it literally, I would summon a mushroom? … hmm? There’s another layer to that menu. The second option is Call. As soon as I activate it, it blips, and yet another option pops up. At the same time, my moldy robe starts… squirming around. One of the mushrooms growing on it starts to expand.

“Whoa?!”

I shrieked out unconsciously and I back away from my robe. Come on, that’s scary. What’s seemingly like just a shiitake is plumping up.

A monster? Did I just find a parasitic monster on my robe? And now that it’s been found, the mushroom is showing its true form and gonna attack me? Before long, the mushroom that was on my robe grew to the height of where my hip is. Its cap is at an angle and its stem is slightly bent backwards. Blinking in surprise, I feel like our eyes met.

“Muu!”

It raises one of the slight protrusions from its stem—its hands?—to greet me. I gotta take a closer look at this thing. It’s got two big round eyes attached to its stem portion with a cartoonish mouth underneath them. And below that are its hands, one from either side… at the base of it are two feet-like protuberances. It has another mouth on its cap and from it a tongue sticks out. Its outward experience is both cute and gross at the same time…

‘Myconid or fungus is what one would call this monster.’

Veno explains it to me. Hmm…? Fungus? Its name is –… it’s blank.

‘It is because it is a servant you have summoned, is it not? Look, it shows on your status screen.’

“Huh?” “Muu?”

– Mutated Myconid Fungus Level 1 Acquired skills: Spore Scatter, Self-Regeneration, Stamina Recovery Rate Increase (Weak)

I can thoroughly check its status, but the part where the name should be is just a dash. Is it alright that no name’s been registered?

“Jump.” “Muu.”

I commanded it to jump and it did.

“Spin around three times and make a sound.” “Mu… mu!”

The mushroom splendidly twirled around and called out. Yup… there’s no doubt about whether or not he’s following my orders.

“Why is this mushroom getting tamed by me?”

In an MMORPG, you’d have to tame a monster for them to be your pet. Others might use a different word, but I like “taming.” It’s affectionate.

‘It is likely due to the influences of Hunting Sense. Or perhaps it one of the fruits of your labor, your training as a Poison-Wielder.’

You’re saying it’s not due to our Spirit Link?

‘It is not so that I am unable to create subordinates of my own, but it would be difficult for me to do so in my current state. I do not even have the mana to do so.’ “Muu!”

The mushroom points at the robe of which where he grew from, at me, the compounding machine, and at the direction of the swamp. Then after that, he points vaguely behind me… hey, cut that shit out. Are you trying to saying there are spirits here?

‘Is it not so that he is pointing at me?’ “Muu.”

It nodded in agreement and bowed to Veno. It can hear him?!

“Muu muu.” ‘Aye, indeed… somehow, the spores drifting in the air in the swamp clung on to the robe… the combination of the poison you release, the toxin of the swamp, and the miasma, along with the mixing of pharmaceuticals, and my powers all got mixed together, giving life to this mutated being. And now, it wishes you to be its master as you are the one who had sublimated it. That is my guess at what it wishes to say.’ “Muu!”

The mushroom nods in agreement at what Veno had said. Still, this is a lot to take in.

“So, what you’re saying… umm, the spores that were stuck onto the robe interacted with stuff like my poison and suddenly mutated… and the result is that it wants to follow me?” “Muu muu!”

If you keep nodding that hard, your head might come off loose. More importantly… I don’t get what the mushroom saying at all.

‘Even with my Seal of Solomon, it is not translating its words. It was no more than from its body language that I got my understanding.’ “Muu.”

Aren’t you a little too good at guessing? It’s probably because you’re both monsters, right?

‘Were you not wishing for comrades? Here is your chance, is it not? This solves at least one of our problems.’

You’re not wrong… but is it really okay? To take a monster into our group so casually? And not only that, how do people treat monsters working under them in this world?

“Am I to simply summon it when no one’s around?” ‘There exists a tool for this. A collar is used on low-ranking monsters or slaves by their masters. To imitate that, we could use a belt instead to signify that it is no threat to others. We can always buy the proper collar and have it wear it at a later date.’

You don’t have one on hand, Veno?

‘I do have one back at my lair. Unfortunately, I have none with me at the moment.’

Mm…

‘How about trying to craft a belt out of tanned hide? Aye, do it yourself.’

Alright, alright. Because of that, I cut the leather with my sword and shaped it into a belt. I tie it around the mushroom’s… waist? The part between its hand-like protrusions and its feet.

“Mu!”

The mushroom seems happy. But some time later, I should switch it out for a master-servant relationship-signifying collar, right?

‘For the mean time… that would be right. You should claim it to be a homunculus made through magic and pharmaceutics. Cohgray of the Swamps.’

Was it better to use my nickname there? What sort of position am I in right now?

‘Well, now… we must face the situation at hand. What shall you do about this creature’s name? It is necessary part of the process.’ “Hmm…”

While gazing at the mushroom hopping around for joy, I ponder on a name for it.

“Since it’s always crying out ‘Muu muu,’ how’s Muu?”

Honestly, it’s a total chore to think of a name. At least it’s better than names like Kinoko, or Matango, or Eringi.

‘That is considerably an awful list of names… and to say that it is the best of all of them…’ “Muu!”

It seems happy to be named Muu. There’s a certain charm to it, don’tcha think? Anyway, it’s not good to only telepathically speak to Veno.

“We’ll treat Muu like a fellow party member, but Veno, do you know what its growth is like? “Mu?” ‘I was just checking on that. It seems like it possesses both monster and human traits.’ “Ah, between Mutated Myconid and Fungus?” ‘That is correct. Normally, the former should be its race, but it is now its profession. As well, contradicting that, Fungus is also its profession. I have yet to come to a complete understanding.’

Two classes… or maybe not? Would it be right to call him a mushroom person? It’d probably be easier to confirm that just by levelling it up.

“Mu!”

Muu’s showing me his fighting spirit by shadowboxing. Oh, maybe it’s like that. It’s instinctual for him to battle.

‘Perhaps it is trying to say that it wishes to be the vanguard.’ “Is that right… well, that’d definitely help me out a lot, but will you be okay?” “Mu!”

Well, for now, we should go hunt to try and see. What kind of weapon would be good for it?

‘As it is still level 1, it would be fine for him to use your old sword, like a hand-me-down.’

Although I still carry it around, I only use it in case of emergency as a personal defense weapon. Since I have my crossbow now. If I’m in a pickle, I can use Poison Release and throw venom at the enemy. I give Muu the Flyiron sword. I don’t really understand how Muu holds a sword, but he does, and he swings it around a little.

“Mu…”

He doesn’t seem too satisfied with it. Maybe swords aren’t appropriate for mushrooms?

‘It is uneasy due to the sword being so light. However, the sword is rather sharp. If you wish for a heavy weapon, gain a few levels and prove your might.’ “Mu!”

Its right hand swished in the air and landed at his head to salute me. I wonder where he learned that. He’s less than complete happy about it… but oh, well. With that, I head to the swamp again. I leave my room and the inn, but not before passing by the front desk.

“Oh?”

Unsurprisingly, the proprietress fixates her sight on Muu who’s behind me.

“Ahh, that’s my underling who I created with medicine and magic. I believe you’ll be seeing it more from now on. If it’s better for you, I can borrow a shed to put it in.” “Mu!”

Muu bows to the proprietress. “Wow, how well-behaved. You’re well-versed in alchemy too, hey, Cohgray of the Swamps?”

The proprietress who gave me that nickname speaks with admiration. Ahh, she thinks I’m remarkable with only that much.

“No wonder you don’t need any adventuring allies with you. I see, I see.”

No, actually, I really would like some buddies. People to share the good times and the bad. You know, all I have right now are a my way or the highway dragon who can’t read the mood but yet I talk to in my head and, as well, a mystery of a mushroom. It’s hollow and I get real sad over it, okay?

‘The truth comes out. Nay, it comes pouring out. How terrible of you. It is not that I wish to be involved with you. Anyway, regardless of that you are a spineless coward, you are still awful.’

Gah… I have no comebacks for that.

“I’mma head out to try this new underling out!” “Alrighty. Take care out there. When you get back, I’d like for him to stay in the shed.” “Understood.” “Mu!”

Muu innocently gets close up to the proprietress and gives her the ol’ puppy eyes.

“U-Umm…?”

He tilts over to her to be patted on the cap. The proprietress timidly touches and pets it on the cap.

“Muu… muuuu… muuuuu.” “Oh, what a cutie. You’re a good boy, aren’t you? If you don’t get the room dirty… oh, what should we do about you?”

It’s nice to be cute. Muu’s acting cute enough for her to question her decision to have it stay in the shed.

“Just to try it out, I’ll… give permission for him to stay in your room. But be tidy, okay?!” “Muu!”

Muu bows to thank her. Oh, you’re good. This is what you call a pet, huh?

“O-Okay, we’ll head out now.” “Get home safe. Be careful out there… if anything comes up, call for me with this here bell and I’ll come help you.”

You, uhh, don’t look so good, you know? You’ve got a stubborn cold. With her permission, we set out for the swamp.

By the way, this happens some time later, but Muu begins to help out the proprietress with stuff like wood-splitting and cleaning. It seems like she’s taken quite a liking to Muu. Thanks to that, Muu’s boarding fee is only 500 lag, making the grand total 2,000 lag per day. She’s clever to charge per head and so our expenses increase too. I’ve got some qualms about that, but since she’s letting us stay for so cheap, I can’t really complain.

previously: /ch001/ /ch002/ /ch003/ /ch004/ /ch005/ /ch006/ /ch007/ /ch008/ /ch009/ /ch010/ /ch011/ /ch012/ /ch013/ /ch014/ /ch015/ /ch016/ /next/ (full list of translated chapters) (discussion thread) (support me on Patreon or Paypal)

(Chapter four of “Ace of Knives”)

“Answers”

Naharé entered through the Missing Member's doors and beamed a shite eating grin the moment Tray'ju caught her eyes. She sauntered her way towards the back of his chair with an all too cheery hum ringing from her throat. As soon as she was behind him she leaned in to slide both hands down his chest. Her breath smelled of rum when her lips touched his ear. "I have a few questions fer ye, sweet'eart." Just then the back of one hand swiftly moved to his throat with the blades on her glove putting pressure against his skin. The other hand came up to clasp her palms together to keep her grip firm.

Tray'ju had been enjoying a nice dinner. He was eating a chocobo burger slathered in fried onions and wine sauce. Point was, it was delicious, and juicy, and only half eaten when he caught the smell of booze and gun powder. He had enough time to swallow and put the burger down before the glove touched his throat. His tail twitched upwards and the three, poison barbed onyx rings rested an ilm away from Nahare's stomach. Tray forced a lecherous purr. “Couldn’t ye just say ‘ello like a normal person?” He commented with a wry smirk twisting his lips.

Naharé sharply bit his ear. "Ye expected summit else? Yet again I'm disappointed in ye." She let go of his neck but not before a few of her nails left a grazing trail. "Yer food smells good." She took a step back and kicked his tail away as she made her way around the table. A single finger dipped itself into the sauce with her tongue wrapping around the digit a nonce later. "Nnh. Not bad." She made herself comfortable in the chair across from him with one leg crossed over the other and her arms folded across her chest. The bloodied grenade pin could be seen on the leather chord around her neck and the equally as blooded Five of Knives peering from the left side of her brassiere. "Ye be a good boy an' hear me out, an' I'll leave ye ta ye dinner. Savvy?"

Tray'ju let out a small moan of enjoyment despite himself. There was a brief moment where he thought about legitimately driving those poisoned barbs into her, but she retreated before he could decide. Instead his tail came to rest by his legs once more. His visible blue eye glared at her, and he rose an eyebrow while his pierced tongue rolled over his gums. He weighed the situation in his mind. Tray casually lowered his hands to his belt with the fingers of his right hand lightly resting on his holstered revolver. “How can I refuse such a generous offer?” He replied sarcastically, feigning a delighted smile. “Do go on.” Every muscle in his body was coiled to spring. He had not forgotten her card.

Naharé's eyes flickered to his hands. The gesture wasn't lost on her. She mocked his expression with a raised brow of her own. "The pin. Who?" Her voice held a blunt tone. She squared her jaw and ground her teeth together.

"Who what?" Tray answered calmly. "Need context here my dear." His tail flicked as he watched her grind her jaw.

Naharé narrowed her eyes. "Gave. Ye. Tha. Pin."

"Million gil question, ain't it?" Tray mused. "No one gave it to me. I took it. Right off a workbench." He paused to take another bite of his food. "Oh, forgot to mention the workbench was in yer husband's cell." He swallowed. "Did it while the guards were smashing him around. Proof I know who has him."

Naharé inhaled sharply through her nose. She was partially right on her hunch of Askier being captured. The air held in her chest exhaled very slow. "Fer a second I thought ye were lackin' basic question comprehension. Where is 'e?"

Tray'ju clicked his tongue and shook his head. "I suddenly can't recall. Too many mushrooms last night." He gave an innocent looking shrug. "But I do remember the name of the chap that locked him up in the first place." He reached into his coat and slipped a sketch of a Lalafell across the table. The Lalafell was elderly, with a refined mustache and well groomed hair. "Frandrin Mandrin. Monetarist, businessman, and Garlean sympathizer. Having yer husband makin' bombs for the Garleans again was a happy day for him indeed. Ye should ask him yerself. And feel free to kill him after." Tray gave an endearing smile. "Does us both a favor."

"It seems ye've fergotten about that bounty sittin' on top 'o yer pretty head, yeah?" Naharé grumbled and snatched the sketch. "Ye claim not knowin' tha location but ye can easily tell me who?" In her head she mused, 'I'll kill both 'o ye whoresons.' She tilted her head with a sigh. "Is this tha bugger ye royally pissed off an' ruined yer life ta? I thought ye were keepin' yer head down but yer still playin' 'round in prison cells it seems. Yer not very smart, love."

"Think what ye like about how I got the pin." Tray shrugged, amused she thought he'd taken the pin after his fall from grace. Truth was, she'd been an insurance policy since before he'd lost everything. "But ye have yerself a name, but not anything else. I'm not gonna play all my cards. And if ye feel like trying on collecting on that bounty right here and now, well," He pulled the hammer back on his revolver with his thumb as he used his other hand to pull the fabric from his black eye. “I’ll be sure to send my regards to yer husband. I know what it’s like to be a widower.”

Naharé slowly, and carefully, folded the sketch into several neat squares. She was focused on the sketch, yet both of her ears sat perked high and forward catching Tray's movements. "Sweet'eart ye've already started yer card game with me. Ye can't take that back even if'n ye wanted ta." Her eyes lifted to his face now. "Yer threat is fallin' on ears that dun care. I'd be stupid ta collect me bounty righ' now." A smile curled her lips. "Yer gun worries me not. So, why did ye give me tha pin in tha firs' place, hm?" Even if she did collect her husband alive it didn't guarantee that he'd stay in one piece.

"Ye know," Tray licked his lips as he pretended to think. "It's the damnedest thing, I can't recall that either." He chuckled. "Damn all the mushrooms. I should probably stop." He took another massive bite of his food. He chewed loudly and swallowed. "But least ye have a shot at freeing yer mate. Seems like ye are coming out ahead here. I never was a very good card player."

Naharé wrinkled her nose as if to sneeze. She held up a finger in a 'one moment' gesture and turned her head. "Ugh," she muttered when no 'sneeze' came forth. Naharé gently rubbed the tip of her nose. "Nnh. It's summit learned over time." She shook her head, blinking a few times. "Think m'good now." With her palms she pushed away from the table and stood. "Ye did as I asked. Surprisin'ly." Around the table she went again and with another pause by Tray's chair. "Look... Thank ye. I guess." A feigned frown crossed her face. "Enjoy tha rest 'o yer food, love. An' tha kid play date ye mentioned a while back? I jus' migh' take yer offer if'n yer still up fer it." She squeezed his shoulder and gave him a half smile.

Tray'ju rose an eyebrow at her sudden display of... whatever it was. It was weird and it made the hair on the back of his neck prickle. 'Thank ye' from her lips was as bizzare as seeing a cat bark and the smuggler was now more uneasy than ever. He wasn't sure how to react and he blinked several times to compose himself. "Well, I... suppose maybe we will. I'll have to get back to ye on that after seeing how my son is." Tray did not let go of his gun even though he returned he smile.

"I... jus' wanna set shite straight, yeah? Bein' shitty ain't gonna help. Hells ye didn't even have ta tell me tha shite ye did now." She blew air through her lips and sighed again. "I'll see ye later..." With that she shoulder pushed the tavern doors open and made her leave, running her hands through her hair and mumbling all the while.

Tray'ju watched her go. He sucked on his teeth and then, leaning forward, used his free hand to eat the rest of his now tepid burger.

Naharé walked along the path leading down towards the Lower Decks with a deranged smile on her face. The thought of Tray'ju's kid had sparked another card to play and it amused her more than it probably should have. The laughter of her deceased, and equally as deranged, brother-in-law echoed in her mind. His abuse and influence still affected her to this day, and it was from that which stemmed the idea. Her chin twitched back and forth a few times, and after placing a roll of tobacco in her mouth she muttered, "Thanks little brother."

Continuation From Here! “Well...”,Ziv peered over the Knights shoulder on the tiny sprout of green growing out of the earth in one of the patched she had set up in the first Dome with breathing atmosphere on the planet.  “Seems you just managed to grow your first sprout of earth-apples in your life,Padawan Dameron.”, Ziv huffed and looked down at the Knight who she had last seen as a youngling when she had hugged him goodbye: “Congratiolatioons, you are now on the level of a 13-year-old Agricorps-Adept.”

“It’s beautiful.” Poe said and there was no jest or mockery in the young knight’s voice. In fact, it betrayed a genuine emotion as he sat kneeling before the little sprouts, his hands on both sides of it, almost protective. There was something absolutely moving about this, about new life sprouting in an environment that had been so hostile and barren before. It was… hopeful. Deeply so. “We can’t all be as talented as you guys.” He added too, turning his head back to look at his friend - his sister - and offer her a big grin, an honest one too. “But I’m not gonna lie, I’m pretty proud of myself here.” He admitted, bumping her lightly, affectionately, with his forehead. “I had a very good teacher, though.”

When Poe bumped hisforehead against her, Ziv flinched as if she had been slapped. She flicked a ear like a confused animal, for a second, just for a second, unsure what to do. “No need to boot-lick, Knight Kestrel. I am not even wearing boots.” The young woman said the word “knight” almost like a insult and in her way it meant to be a insult.She did not knew what to make of the man who had the hair and the eyes of the boy cuddled to which she had fallen asleep as a child, but who was not that boy. Grunting Ziv got back on her hindpaws, brushing damp earth from her knees with her small paws, then she reached out and patted dismissively the mans head: “Now, be a good cub and continue to ogle the potatoe-sproutling. I have kriffing work to do.” Grabbing the datapad with her researchs and reports from the ground, Ziv swiftly walked to one of the small Domes Airlocks and strangely felt as if she was fleeing. The feeling made her grunt in  frustration and she wagged her tail in utter irritation.

The base they were in was for now six domes coming like mushrooms out of the before dead ground connected with short double-door-systems to the maindome in the middle and to another, so when one dome would be damaged and the unbreathable atmosphere from outside would droop in like a poison, it would always be possible to have at least three escape-routes. To be more accurate the dome in the middle were two domes, put into another with the first dome laying protective like a shield over the second with just enough distance to the dome in its middle to build a proper corridor to walk in comfortably when one would leave the smaller dome in the middle in which were stored Poe and Zivs belongings, the freighter, a place to cook, beds, agriculture-engines, and the supplies. Much too big for one person, much too small for two. Especially when the second person felt for Ziv like a stranger and not like the boy in her memory, the one with which she had grown up in the temple, the one who had left her behind alone in the Temple and had (Died in War) gone to the Clone Wars as a Padawan. The domes were build of a transperisteel compound clattered with energy generating solar cells, that would turn transparent when the blue sunlight would fall like oceanwater on the walls and then turn murky and matte when the sun sank down so the during the night produced light in the Domes to enhance the plantgrowing would not shine useless to the outside. While in the maindome in the middle was simply for the two people to store their belongings in, keep their supplies save, cook, sleep and live in, the other five domes were nothing but targetorientated: With one Dome hosting a just big enough area with grass for two Gornt-cows, two where were different crops growing, one dome made for vegetables and the other two- the most important ones as precious as jewels- were full of slowly growing small trees that were already producing most of the  oxygen in the base.The last two Domes were suppose to slowly be build bigger and bigger step by step so the producing of breathable air and areas that were producing air and fertile earth and with that change the enviorment around them would become bigger over time. It was already late and the walls of the Dome with the patches and high shelfs of hydroponic beds with vegetables had turned pale and dull like grey tentwalls. The only sound was the water gurgling in the pipes running from the high shelfs with the hydroponic beds to the fishtank put in the maindome so the nutrientfull water with fish excrements could wash to the hydroponic beds and returned cleaned by the plant roots back to the fish in the tank. With a huff Ziv followed the pipes through the airlock in the middle-dome to go to the living area- there she would need to dim the light in the Dome with the two Gornts to lead them to believe it was night and keep their sleeping circle and their health properly. In the middle of her step she stopped. Tensed, frozen, stiffned. The Tynnan stood there in the corridor, yellow, Couroscant sunlight imitating artificial light falling down on her while her pelt bristled like from electricity, her ears perked up, and her whiskers suddenly rosen.

Ziv had never been good at feeling other people or beeings in the Force, yet she was also still a Tynnan so the carnivore she was was suddenly from one moment to another highstrung and -                                                              -sensing something?

Beside her, in the corner of her eye and on the other side of the murky wall, a shadow moved.

In the blink of an eye Ziv had jumped back to the airlock, the durasteel in her back and her lightsaber in hand, ready to attack, ready to fight, ready to protect- “Poe-”, from one moment to another the Tynnans voice turned into a growl, her eyes glued to the pale wall that was now just that, pale and grey with not the single fleck of a shadow or a movement on the other side:“Knight Kestrel?! Move your kriffing tail here! Did you saw that?”

[ @poewingsdameron ]

If you don't mind, I have a flash fic request: Dick and anyone in the Batfam, but Dick is not the one doing the cheering up?

Hi, here is an entry in the continuing saga of Audrey has forgotten how to write flash fiction. Characters: Dick Grayson, Jason ToddGen/Family BondingStubborn (AO3 Link)

Dick Grayson was in the midst of such a deep sleep that he couldn’t drag himself out of it, no matter how many times the alarm on his phone went off near the bed. The problem is that he was also awake in jerking spikes of attention, like a ship tossed in an ocean storm. Heavy sleep and then the too-loud air conditioner drilling into his head. Then heavy sleep and after, his stupid phone.

He didn’t know if he wanted to wake up. He didn’t think he did.

Then there were strong, rough hands under his arms shoving him forward out of deep sleep into uncomfortable grogginess, and he shoved at the arms.

“Bruce, stop,” he complained, twisting away and into the covers. “Lemme sleep.”

“Sorry, Dickiebird,” Jason Todd’s voice sounded too sharp, too knifelike in his ears. “B’s not here.” The arms didn’t leave, but repositioned themselves under his shoulders. Dick was surprised but also not surprised? He didn’t have the energy to be surprised.

“Jay,” Dick growled, pushing hard enough at the younger man that Jason stumbled and squeezed Dick reflexively to keep from dropping him. Because Dick wasn’t in the bed, he was on his feet but just barely, his arm thrown around Jason’s neck and his feet dragging along the floor while Jason half-carried him, half-hauled him away from the bed.

And when Jason’s arm tightened around his ribs, Dick recoiled with a howl that died off into a whimper.

“Shit,” Jason muttered, moving his arm lower. “Dick, stop fighting me.”

His voice was tight and maybe worried?

Or maybe Dick was still asleep.

He was asleep. It was a heavy sleep and a troubled sleep and a–

Dick’s whole body jerked once against Jason’s grip when the water hit his skin. He was down to his boxers and being forced into a bath that wasn’t freezing but it was cold, too cold, maybe freezing after all and he fought like hell to get up but Jason’s arm was like iron rebar and with an indignant sob Dick gave up.

“Why,” he asked, the smell of wet cigarette filling his nostrils. Jason was tugging off his leather jacket and throwing it out the bathroom now that Dick wasn’t fighting as hard, one hand on Dick’s chest in case he started again. The hard plastic of the tub was frigid against Dick’s back.

“Because Alfred asked me to check on you,” Jason said, adjusting the temperature of the still flowing water. “And it’s a good thing he did. Your bitch-ass is half dead already.”

“Let me go back to bed,” Dick mumbled and in an effort to get away from the chill on his back, his head slipped under.

Jason swore above the tub and a half-second later, Dick’s face was lifted out of the water and he sputtered and coughed. When he blinked up at Jason, it was with a suddenly clear mind. The clarity began to fade again, fast, but not before he was aware that he was shivering violently and that there was obvious worry in Jason’s pale eyes.

“Shiitake mushrooms, hold still. I have to get your fever down.”

Dick was coherent enough to comply with this, though coherency brought awareness of how miserable he felt, how much the side of his chest throbbed, how cold and hot he was all at the same time. The water sounded loud, too loud, and Jason shut it off right as the noise was becoming unbearable.

“I should take you to the hospital,” Jason said, standing and hunting for towels. “But going to the Bludhaven ER is like asking them to just sign the death certificate. It’ll take us an hour to get to Gotham Memorial.”

Dick’s teeth chattered and it took a few attempts to get out his words.

“Antibiotics in,” he stuttered, sitting up out of the water and then slumping back. The air was cold. The water was cold. His chest hurt. There was nowhere to go. “Kitchen.”

“You’re a fricking idiot, you know,” Jason muttered, throwing the towels on the vanity counter. He pulled the drain plug and plunged his arms into the water up to the elbow to hook them under Dick and drag him to the side of the tub, where Dick sat shivering even after Jason wrapped a towel around his shoulders. “God, you’re like a drowned kitten. Have you always been this light?”

Dick remembered standing on a rooftop, looking down at Jason who seemed especially tiny in the Robin costume. Just so, so short and thin, even standing next to Batman, even after months of Alfred’s cooking.

“You’re smaller than I remember,” Dick had said, teasing. “Did you shrink?”

“Couple years of starving most days’ll do that to you, Dickface,” Jason had answered glibly, earning a warning scowl from Bruce. Dick didn’t know if Jason could read the worry and sorrow behind the mask, the very slight change around Bruce’s eyes that Dick just knew would be there.

“Names,” was all Bruce said. Dick knew he didn’t mean the insult– it was the fact that it wasn’t their batnames.

“Sorry, Dickwing,” Jason had amended.

“Dick,” Jason said again. “Dick. C’mon.”

Dick blinked and found himself sitting on the floor of the bathroom still wrapped in a towel. Jason was crouching next to him, shaking his shoulders.

“If you do that again, we’re going to the hospital,” he said with a frown, studying Dick’s face.

Dick’s eyes filled with tears. He just wanted to sleep forever. When did Jason get so tall?

“You got big,” he said stupidly, pulling the towel more tightly around himself. “You’re not a kid. Who let you grow up without us?”

“That’s the fever talking,” Jason said gruffly. “Now quit passing out on me. I got you some dry boxers but if I have to help you I’m never gonna let you forget it.”

Dick summoned enough energy to scrub tears away from his eyes and grumble at the younger man. Jason left him on the bathroom floor with the damp towels and the boxers and Dick could hear him rummaging in the kitchen the whole time he was peeling the wet pair off of himself and pulling the dry ones on. It took too much effort, too much focus, and when the band was around his hips he just laid flat on the cold tile and towels and waited with his eyes closed.

“Shit,” Jason said from above him a few moments later.

“Not passed out,” Dick replied without moving.

Jason didn’t answer but it sounded like he sighed.

“Al picked a helluva time to be out of town,” Jason complained, leaning over Dick. “Or you picked a helluva time to have a crisis.”

“What are you doing,” Dick asked, opening his eyes as he shivered.

“Admiring your chiseled abs,” Jason said seriously, his lock of white hair falling into his eyes, his hands propped on his knees as he studied Dick’s chest. “Or looking for weak points. Whatever makes you stay alert.” He pushed his hair out of his eyes. “Fuck, I need a haircut. What did you do to yourself, anyway?”

Dick reached out and Jason clasped his forearm and helped him sit up.

“Does it matter?” Dick asked bitterly, shuddering again. His whole left side was tight and throbbing and when it gave it his attention, he realized how much of his attention it had already been taking.

“Maybe, if there’s a chance of poison. At least your stitches held,” Jason said, pressing his fingers near the sutured wounds. Dick hissed and sucked in air, trying to move away. “Bed first, though. Can you walk?”

“Yes,” Dick said, gritting his teeth as he pushed himself off the floor. He balanced, one hand on the vanity for support, before his knees buckled and Jason caught him.

“Nope,” Jason said, ducking and spinning so Dick was draped on his back. “You’re like a Barbie princess. You don’t know when to quit.”

Despite himself, Dick laughed. Even with his head on Jason’s shoulder as the younger man carried him through the apartment to the bed, he felt dizzy.

“What the hell,” he mumbled, when Jason dumped him none-too-gently onto the bed.

“Have you seen those Barbie movies?” Jason asked. “They’re frickin’ hardcore. I thought if anyone else had watched ‘em, it’d be you.”

Dick let himself sink down into the blankets, his face pressed into the soft and dry pillow.

“No. Did you change the sheets?” he asked incredulously, grunting in protest when Jason flipped the blankets back just as Dick had cocooned himself in them. “Jay, I’m freezing.”

“Do you think Alfred would ever forgive me if I didn’t change the sheets?” Jason asked, sitting on the edge of the bed with a syringe and batting Dick’s hands away from the blanket. “I still can’t believe you haven’t seen the Barbie movies. After all the times I had to listen to you sing Pocahontas songs.”

“Twice,” Dick said, wincing as Jason jabbed a needle in his vein for the IV line. “Two times.”

“Three. That one time from the roof.”

“Oh, yeah,” Dick said faintly. “I’d forgotten about that.”

The bed creaked as Jason stood back up and Dick fumbled around reaching for the blankets, but they missed his grasp when Jason pulled them up instead and tucked them around Dick, the motion quick and gentle despite Jason’s continually coarse and off-handed tone.

“I was thrown,” Dick mumbled, already mostly asleep. “Against some broken pipes.”

“I’ll be back,” Jason said, his voice sounding far away and muffled. “Don’t die while I’m gone.”

“Wait,” Dick said, the word barely a noise in the dryness of his throat. “Wait, Jay, don’t l–”

The door slammed shut.

“–eave.”

Dick Grayson dreamt of falling. Sometimes, he was falling into flame and other times he was falling into ice, but it was always falling.

Every time, right before he hit the ground, he’d wake up with a start and a groan and glance around the empty bedroom and toss in the sweaty sheets and then fall back asleep again.

He didn’t know how long it had been when he woke again and heard someone moving around in the apartment. With a grimace, he untangled the IV line and sat up, dropped his bare feet to the cold floor and staggered to the doorway. He slumped against the frame, his vision spinning, and pressed a hand against his tender side.

Jason was in the kitchen pulling an eight-pack of Gatorade and cans of soup from a paper sack. While Dick watched, Jason put a plastic bag of grapes in the fridge and then pulled one of the sports drinks away from the others.

“The fuck are you doing?” he demanded when he saw Dick standing there. “Get back in bed.”

“You left,” Dick accused, feeling angry and not sure why.

“To get groceries,” Jason shot back. “Like I told you I was going to. Gracious, Dick, I was gone for less than an hour.”

“Hm,” Dick muttered, turning back to the bed. “Seemed longer.”

He sprawled on his stomach across the blankets, feeling too hot and gross to get under them. The IV line trailed out from his arm and up to the hanging bag.

“You’re a big baby,” Jason said, coming into the room with the Gatorade and a straw. “Drink this.”

When Dick made no move to sit up, Jason growled and knelt next to the bed and shoved the straw between Dick’s lips.

“Drink,” he ordered again and Dick did. He hadn’t realized how thirsty he was until half the bottle was already gone. He rolled over onto his side when Jason pulled the cup back.

“Don’t leave again,” Dick said quietly, swallowing. He couldn’t stop trembling, he was so cold, and he was immediately embarrassed that he’d even said anything, like the request had snuck out of him without permission.

“You didn’t get into fear toxin, did you?” Jason asked, putting the Gatorade on the side table and checking the antibiotics drip.

“No,” Dick said, putting his sore but free arm over his face. He braced himself for the harsh teasing Jason was almost certain to unleash. “I’m just…it’s been a hard week. It’s fine. You can go.”

“‘I should have called for backup’ hard or ‘I just don’t know when to cut myself some slack’ hard?” Jason asked, pushing the drink and Dick’s phone back so he could perch on the edge of the bedside table. When Dick looked up, Jason’s expression was serious and grim, not an ounce of mirth in the small lines around his eyes or mouth.

Dick was silent for a long time, holding Jason’s gaze, and then he closed his eyes and pushed his head into the pillow.

“Don’t do that,” Dick ordered hoarsely. “Don’t play the caring big brother.”

Jason’s wrist pressed against his forehead, and then the backs of Jason’s rough, calloused knuckles were on Dick’s neck. Each contact was short and precise.

“Your fever came down some,” Jason said. “And your pulse isn’t as rapid.”

“Jay.”

“You really fucking scared me, Dick,” Jason snapped. When Dick forced his heavy eyelids open to glance up, Jason was sitting on the bedside table again with both hands over his face. “I couldn’t get you to wake up. I almost called Bruce and he’s not even in the country.”

“I’m sorry,” Dick swallowed, his face hot. He was doing this all wrong. This was not how he wanted to reconnect with Jason and it was stupid to have let an infection spread so fast.

“Don’t be sorry,” Jason said fiercely, standing and letting his hands clench into tight fists at his side. “God, you are so much like him sometimes it’s infuriating. You aren’t superhuman. You should have called someone.”

And Dick knew he was right but Dick also remembered going to bed feeling a little sick but not that bad, hardly the worst he’d ever felt, and it wasn’t like he’d planned to get worse so fast but it was also such a shit thing to do, to be so irresponsible and bring it crashing down on someone else’s shoulders and his ribs still felt swollen with acid and now his head was starting to hurt and the next thing he knew there was a lump in his throat and he was blinking back tears.

“I’m sorry,” he said again, because he needed to say something, he had to, and there wasn’t anything else he could think of to say. “I’m sorry.”

Jason growled once, an incoherent noise of frustration, and he left the bedroom.

Dick waited, caught in a sob, for the door to slam shut again, but the sound never came.

It felt like an eternity of silence but it must have only been miserable, aching minutes before Jason came back into the room with the bag of cold grapes. He hesitated on the threshold and then untied and jerked his boots off his feet with one hand, one after the other, as if the very action annoyed him.

Then he sat on the other side of the bed, leaning against the headboard with his legs stretched out on the mattress. Dick winced and shifted as the mattress sagged and dipped under the weight and he stayed on his side, his back to Jason. There was a heavy, exaggerated sigh, and then Jason held a grape out over Dick’s shoulder and tapped his cheek with it.

“Eat.”

Dick took the grape and eased himself over, careful not to jostle his sore chest.

“What are you doing,” he sniffled, chewing the grape.

“Don’t choke,” Jason said sternly. “Or you’ll feel like you have to apologize for that, too, and I might shoot you in the kneecap if you do.”

For a long time, they were quiet– Jason would hand Dick a grape and Dick would chew and swallow and hold out his hand for another one. He didn’t know if he was hungry or not, but his stomach seemed okay with grapes either way, until it suddenly wasn’t and he pushed against the last grape Jason offered.

Jason popped it in his own mouth instead and leaned over to set the bag down on the floor. When he sat back up, he put a hand on Dick’s head, his fingers buried in hair, and just left it there. He didn’t tousle Dick’s hair or do anything except leave his palm and fingers as a weight against Dick’s scalp.

“I thought coming to Bludhaven would be a fresh start,” Dick said. “But it’s just more of the same. Same drugs, same murders, same rapes, same hate crimes. Just different street names.”

“Gotham doesn’t have a monopoly on evil, Dickie,” Jason answered. “It’s ugly everywhere.”

“I know,” Dick protested, feeling childish. “I know that. I just…I wanted…I don’t know what I wanted. I wanted to find myself. But it’s hard when all I can see is how things are broken. And then it starts to feel like it’s me, like, maybe I’m the problem. Maybe I’m the one that’s broken and that’s why I can’t see anything else.”

“I think everyone is broken,” Jason said casually. “You aren’t special.”

Dick laughed, a choked sound far too close to crying again for his own comfort.

“I’ll stay til you’re feeling better,” Jason said. “But I’m gonna rat you out to Alfred when he gets back.”

Dick let out a tense breath he didn’t know he’d been holding, some of the stress falling off his shoulders. He sagged against the bed, limp, and his head was thick with exhaustion again.

“Go to sleep, Dickface,” Jason said, patting Dick’s head. “Stop fighting it. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

When Dick woke again, it was early morning and Jason was in the kitchen with the smell of coffee and cigarettes drifting across the apartment. He felt a bit steadier on his feet but still weak and aching when he leaned against the doorframe. There was a crumpled blanket at one end of the couch.

“You better not be smoking,” Dick said, rubbing his chin.

Jason turned, a cigarette in the corner of his mouth, and said, “I’m not.”

“Good,” Dick said, as Jason ground the cigarette out on what Dick hoped was an ashtray and not the counter or one of his plates. “I don’t want to lose my security deposit.”

Jason snorted.

“And it’s bad for me?” he prompted.

“Your words, not mine,” Dick said, limping across the room to the couch.

“Another round of antibiotics,” Jason said, pointing a spoon at him from the other room. “And I’ve slaved over this oatmeal and burnt one batch already because your stove is a fricking temperamental piece of shit.”

“Then what?” Dick asked, yawning and gingerly feeling his side. It wasn’t nearly as painful as the day before.

“We start your Barbie movie education,” Jason said.

“You don’t have to give me teasing material just because I’m sick,” Dick said with a tired grin. He wasn’t sure how long he’d been asleep, but he was pretty sure it had been long enough that he shouldn’t still feel tired.

“You can’t tease me about Barbie,” Jason retorted, coming into the room with two mugs of coffee. He was walking quickly, but with eyes on the mugs and his hands held up a little to keep the cups level. “I’m not embarrassed about appreciating true art. You still put a metric ton of sugar in your coffee, right?”

Dick couldn’t remember the last time they’d had coffee together.

It was probably at the manor, before Jason had died.

He nodded mutely and accepted the warm mug.

“Thanks for staying,” he said, glancing over at Jason sitting next to him a moment later, the younger man’s hair sticking up in every direction. He chuckled.

“What?” Jason said defensively. “And of course I stayed. I can think of a dozen people who’d take my head off if I left you alone like that.”

“You mean because you love me, little brother,” Dick said, his heart full and warm.

“Psh,” Jason sputtered into his coffee. “Tolerate, maybe.”

“Close enough,” Dick accepted. He really was feeling better even if he knew he still had recovery time ahead of him. He sipped the sweet, black coffee and then let the mug rest hot and comforting against his palms.

“Dick?” Jason said, sounding pensive and quiet.

“Hm?”

“Don’t do that again.”

“I’ll try not to,” Dick said, deciding in a moment he had an opportunity to keep Jason reeled in. “But come check on me sometimes. I’m too stubborn to ask for it.”

He told himself it was for Jason, anyway.

“Maybe if I’m in town,” Jason shrugged. “I’m not going out of my way for you.”

Dick was comforted, after all, to admit that they were both lying.

Broken?

Maybe.

But reassuring all the same.

Here’s the full angst background! It sets up the scene when Lei gets taken, goes through what happened up to this thread, and then goes a bit past what has been written in the thread.

@magicandheart I’m gonna mention you so it’s easy to find ^^;;

content warnings: blood, torture, injury, a mention of poison (but no actual poisoning)

info: 2364 words, about 5 pages

Leibryn rummaged through her herb cabinet with a sigh. She had run out of mint somehow, and needed several other herbs that she knew grew nearby. Luckily for her, it was the perfect time to harvest everything she was out of and with a nod, she grabbed two baskets off the stack near the door, made sure she had her knife, and shut the door behind her. Michelle was supposed to stop by for tea later, but she would be back by then so there was no sense in leaving a note.

When her baskets were nearly full, neat bunches of lavender and mint and various wildflowers practically overflowing out of one, bittersweet nightshade, aconite, and several poisonous mushrooms wrapped in bundles of linen to keep them from touching in the other, she turned to head back to the house. She wanted to grab some chicory from along the edge of the road and then she would have everything she needed.

A sudden shiver of warning down her spine made her look up quickly, scanning her surroundings for danger. Something was wrong she needed to--

A click and then searing pain shooting through her leg caused the baskets to tumble from her grasp as she fell to her knees. Her hands brushed against something sticking out of her thigh as she went to cover what she was sure was an injury and pain lanced out, enough to elicit a cry. She looked down. A crossbow bolt. Really? Of all the things to use…. She was just glad they hadn't hit the femoral artery, that would have been much worse.

With a muttered incantation and several other choice words, a shield went up around her and she scanned where she thought the shot had come from, looking for movement and doing her best not to move. Suddenly she swayed, black creeping in at the edge of her vision as her shield flickered. That wasn't right. She hadn't lost that much blood, she shouldn't be…. She shot a panicked look at the bolt sticking out of her leg. Poison? Or a sedative. She hoped it was the latter.

Two figures emerged from the trees, waiting on the edge of her failing shield but she couldn't see much detail. A low growl made its way across her lips as she started to fall sideways, catching herself with one arm and using that chance to create a small magical beacon in the grass that would flare up if she was taken away. Damon and Gabe would be able to find it and from there, figure out what happened. "What did you do to me?" she demanded weakly as everything spun around her.

There was no reply as her shield finally fell and her vision went dark.

///

When she woke with a start some time later, she discovered immediately that she couldn't move. She was in a dimly lit room, bound to a chair and facing what looked to be three men. Her vision wasn't quite focused yet, so she couldn't be entirely sure.

Blinking a few times, she winced as one of the men turned on a nearby light and burned her eyes. Taking a better look around, her heart sank. This really didn't look good for her. One exit and a long way to get to it, especially on her injured leg. Three men between her and the door. And of course, the fact that she was tied to a chair and couldn't move.

A small leather bound book on the table nearby caught her eye and her mage-sight, what her mother had called a gift and which let her see the structure of magic on items, allowed her to pick out the glimmer of a magical signature on it. Her breath caught in her throat when she realized it looked an awful lot like another she knew almost as well as her own. Her mother had made that book, and probably warded it too. What were these people doing with it?

"I see you've noticed the book," a man's voice rang out as he moved over to the table to hold it up. "Do you recognize it? I've been wanting to read it for quite a while but seem to have encountered a slight issue. You see, it's rather heavily warded and I can't get it open."

She shook her head. It wasn't a lie, she had never seen it before, though she knew who had made it. It looked awfully similar to the set of journals her mother had written on poisons that she had at home and her heart sank. One of those books had been missing for as long as she could remember…

He stepped closer, putting a finger under her chin and tilting her head up to look at him. "Take a closer look," he insisted. "Because as I've heard it, you know the woman who made it and are rather good at breaking through wards. I want you to open this."

"No."

He raised an eyebrow. "You will."

Lei narrowed her eyes. "You sound sure of yourself. My own father can't get me to do things I don't want to, what makes you think I'll listen to you?"

His hand dropped from her face and he took a step back. "There are ways to convince you. Go on then boys," he said dismissively. "See if you can persuade her, or at least get a little information."

Light started to pool at her fingers as the two other men stepped closer, but it sputtered out as one of them jabbed a needle into her neck. "What the fuck is that?" she hissed, flinching away as he laughed. "What the fuck did you do to me?!"

She tried desperately to connect to the buzzing of magic beneath her skin, but it was as though there was a barrier between it and her. Lei growled as she pulled against the restraints.

The hit was sudden and left her reeling, ears ringing, as she clenched her jaw and forced herself to breathe. That was going to bruise. "Why do you people always start with the face? Like damn, mix it up will you?" she mumbled, glaring at the figure to her right.

There was no answer as she was hit again, this time by the other man across the ribs with what felt an awful lot like a wooden baseball bat. There was a pause as the first man, the one who seemed to be the leader, looked at her expectantly from where he had perched himself on the nearby table. He seemed almost bored. She tilted her head, raising an eyebrow. "You expect me to give in already? I've only been hit twice. I'm insulted."

"Merely giving you a chance to reconsider," he replied lightly. "The boys don't like to hold themselves back and the only rule I've given is that they aren't to kill you."

She spat at his feet and glared in reply. "Fuck you, I'm not opening the damn book for you."

"Very well, suit yourself." He shrugged, tossing a knife that embedded itself in her shoulder and she jerked forward with a cry, gritting her teeth against the pain. One of the men beside her grabbed the handle and twisted, his other hand coming up to pull her head back by the hair causing her eyes to fly open as she shrieked, trying to pull away.

They were brutal with her. Every time she nearly passed out from the pain, they threw ice cold water at her, shocking her back to wakefulness. Between hits to the ribs, they would toss questions about the wards at her, which she would ignore. Each demand to open the book earned them a litany of curses in every language she knew even once she was crying.

When the sedative had begun to wear off, lightning had formed in her hair and on her fingertips. They drew close to her and it arced out to burn them as she shook and swore at them not to touch her. The leader responded with a syringe full of amber liquid that he stuck into her neck like before. She nearly sobbed as the lightning faded again but instead shrieked and cursed angrily.

They used knives repeatedly, avoiding lethal damage but sure to make it hurt. Slashes across her shoulders and back. A shallow line down her face. Deeper ones across her stomach and sides. The crossbow bolt was pulled out of her leg roughly once it had stopped bleeding, tearing the skin once more. At one point they bloodied her nose, forced her head back so it drained down her throat, then let her go to lean forward as best she could to cough and try to catch her breath.

It was after the third instance of this that they heard a commotion in the distance and all three men looked to one another. The leader stood from the table and pulled out another syringe, this one even larger than the other two. "It won't kill you," he murmured as she tried to pull away, his rough hold on her hair bringing tears to her eyes. "Probably."

Any remnants of strength drained from her limbs as the liquid entered her bloodstream. A fog descended into her mind from where it had been looming threateningly earlier. It seemed as though everything was miles away and all she could do was hang her head forward limply, blood dripping from her nose and lips into her lap. A weak cough wracked her body as it tried to get more of the blood out of her throat and she could barely keep her eyes open. She stopped trying.

She was half conscious for what seemed like forever. The hushed voices faded in and out as she focused on breathing through lungs that felt as though they were burning. Everything was spinning and it made her feel sick, but thankfully there was nothing in her system. She was sure that would hurt even worse than breathing.

Taking stock with the last bit of clarity in her mind, she figured she had several broken ribs, severe blood loss, and a concussion. Probably a bruised esophagus and bruises on her neck that were clearly from a hand. Beyond that she was unsure. The fog in her brain was making it hard to think.

The familiar voice caused her to lift her head, but the spinning stopped her after only a few degrees as she groaned and furrowed her brow. "Damon?" she whispered, voice hoarse from screaming. " 's th't you?" Where was Gabe? How had he found her? She wanted to sob, but that hurt too much. Instead a few tears escaped her eyes and tracked their way down her face, falling to her lap and mixing with the blood there as she struggled to breathe.

She wanted to go home. She wanted Damon and Gabe. She wanted her lungs to stop burning and her head to stop spinning. Most of all, she wanted her connection to her magic back. She could practically feel the energy building up under her skin with no way for her to release it and she knew that if this went on too long it would damage her body further. Her fuzzy thoughts were slow to make connections, but she realized it may have already started. How long had she been here? How much of the sedative was in her body?

Too much. Too long. Her skin was buzzing in time with her head.

Lei coughed again, more forcefully this time, and couldn't hold back a sob as her chest burned. She couldn't hear over the odd rushing sound in her ears and she couldn't get her eyes to focus on anything. "Please," she mumbled, not sure what she was pleading for. The blood falling from her lips had finally slowed down and she lifted her head carefully. It seemed to take all her strength to simply get it high enough to see the men in front of her seemed to be between her and two other blurry figures.

Unfocused eyes widened as one of the figures looked between her and the two newcomers before striding toward her purposefully. Leaning in, she could almost see the grin on his face as he whispered to her. She only caught half of what he said through the rushing in her ears and she protested weakly. He wanted to make the boys desperate to get to her, in hopes that they would make mistakes. She thought he also just wanted to be cruel.

He didn't stand a chance.

He dug his thumb into the wound on her shoulder and a scream ripped its way out of her throat as she struggled, desperately trying to pull away. All she could do was scream, and then when she ran out of air moments later, she could barely get another breath into her lungs. The black began creeping in from the edges of her vision. When his hand finally left her shoulder, the pain receded slightly and her head dropped forward as she struggled to breathe, coughing and then sobbing at how that hurt too.

Things spun as her head lifted slightly with a pained groan and she wasn't sure how much time passed before she could hear voices again. Were they speaking to her? She thought she heard her name, but she couldn't tell. When a hand brushed the injured side of her leg she jerked away with a cry at the pain. Curling in on herself as best she could, she flinched away from the hands that entered her vision with a quiet sob, not wanting to be injured further.

The voices were gentle and so were their movements, but it mattered little how gentle they were when even the lightest touches felt like knives on her skin. She sobbed and begged and tried to move away from the hands and the pain they caused but that hurt too. Eventually it all became too much and darkness threatened to overwhelm her while things spun. She welcomed it gladly, slipping into blissful unawareness.

DEATH CITY DAYS CHAPTER 29

camping trips, and fire brigade feels

Mad!Kid: *holds his fingers flat--and jabs them into Belkia's side* belkia: *screaming* Mad!Kid: "Die now, please." belkia: im a vampire i cant die dumbass! *SPLAT* *Kid has decapitated Belkia* stocking: !!! Mad!Kid: *smirks* "Can't keep yourself together, can you, vampire?" belkia's head: THAT WAS JUST BEING RUDE! MISSY HELP ME- *SHIV* stocking: *has her sword through his head* no. Mad!Kid: *smirks at Belkia...then at Stocking* "Fascinating." belkia: THAT HURTS BUT AT THE SAME TIME ITS SO HOT! Mad!Kid: *licks his lips* "Indeed...she is..." Bakugo: "..." *looking around* "What the fuck?" stocking: *cutting belkia's body to bits and throws them into the river* bye. belkia: oh nooooo my love life is all washed uuuuuup! Bakugo: "Um...Is that going to pollute the water or anything?" Mad!Kid: *staring at Stocking* Mad!Kid: *not blinking* stocking:....kid..*puts her hands to his cheeks and kisses him* Mad!Kid: "!!!" *eyes droop...he kisses back gently, his arms falling to his sides* Kid: "...Stocking?" stocking: *she hugs him* its ok kid...im here.... Kid: "...It happened again, didn't it?" Bakugo: "???" (He's still in his boxers only) stocking:....want to go back to the tent? Kid: *nods, as he holds her hand* -in the tent- stocking: *stroking kid's head as he lay on her chest* Kid: *whimpers slightly* "I'm sorry..." stocking: its ok kid.... Kid: "I-I kept up on my medicine...How did he get out?" stocking:....*holding him close* i blame that pink ponytailed bastard...i hope he stays dead. Kid: *nods* "I-I don't like this...I don't like being like this...I was so scared he would...he would take you away." stocking: i wouldnt have gone with that creep, his voice makes me want to be sick. -outside- ojiro: i feel like my ego just got bruised. -back in the tent- Kid: *hugs her* "I know you wouldn't...I just am afraid after...what has happened to both of us..." stocking:..i know.... Kid: "...Stocking...I want you to be happy." stocking: i am happy. happy with you. *she kisses him* Kid: *kisses back, nods* "I am happy, too. I am happy with you." *lies in her arms* -elsewhere- Izuku: "Is the medicine working?" momo: i think so. ochako: zzzzzzzzzzz......... Iida: *muttering in his sleep* "No more mushrooms..." Izuku: "Man, I was an idiot. Thanks, Momo." momo: it's fine. *hair ruffle* (thinking: so fluffy im gonna die!) Izuku: -\\\\\- -elsewhere- tamaki: *fist steaming* shinra: *in a thong* WHY?!?! nozomi: at least you werent subjected to becoming a 'braid-kini'... Arthur: *large hand-sized red mark across his face* "...I want to be blinded." Iris: o\\\\\\o Relan: "..." *nosebleed* shinra: .////////. Iris: "..." *small reach at Shinra, then pulls back her hand* mina: total uke. kyouka: total uke. sayaka: total uke. shinra: STOP IT! D8> Iris: "COULD SOMEONE JUST PUT SOME CLOTHES BACK ON HIM?!" Relan: *long stream of nosebleeding* -and so- Iris: ("I need to bathe in holy water for weeks...And I feel...") Relan: *washing his face in the lake* Arthur: "Hmph. Surprised Tamaki got Shinra into that position..." tamaki: *punches arthur* shut up. Arthur: "Ow! Well, at least now I have matching punches..." Iris: "..." *stands up to leave* "Excuse me..." -elsewhere- Patty: "Mmmm...Takeru, could you...carry me?" takeru: um..o-ok... *lift* Patty: *giggle, as she wraps her arms around his neck and lays in his arm* "So tall, strong, and big!" takeru: *blushing* Patty: "..." *kisses his cheek* -elsewhere- hito: *practicing marches* Spirit: "Jeez...Real serious person, huh?" hito: *salutes* sir! Spirit: *salute* "At ease...You need a break? Something to drink?" hito: as soon as i finished my protocol. Spirit: "...Okay. But just don't dehydrate, okay? Got to take care of your health, right?" hito: right... Spirit: *glances at Marie* "What's with them?" marie: i think they're a member of the yasunoki family. they've been military officers for generations. Spirit: "When did they enter the DWMA?" marie: i think they're in the 2nd fire brigade Spirit: "Who's their leader? That guy with the creepy mask?" marie: the 2nd brigade is lead by Gustav Honda. -elsewhere- Emine: *yawn* setsuna: welcome home emine. Emine: "Hey...I'm exhausted after that bad deed..." setsuna: i see...are you hungry at all? Emine: "No, I am--" *loud stomach growl* "...A small snack." setsuna: *she smiles and goes to make something* Shotaro: *waves at Emine* "Do good at your bad deeds, today?" Emine: *sits next to him* -\\\\- "Mostly. You do okay at your good deeds?" Shotaro: *nods* "I saved a puppy!" setsuna: very good showtaro *she smiles* Emine: o_o "B-But I did my deed, too! I stole someone's puppy!" Shotaro: "..." *glares* Emine: ^^; setsuna: *making double bentos* Emine: T_T "My shin still hurts..." Shotaro: *small chop to the head* "No stealing puppies." setsuna: bentos are ready! Shotaro: "Thank you, Mom!" Emine: "..." *looking around at it, uncertain how to dig in* setsuna: *she hugs them both* Shotaro: *hugs, smiles* Emine: O\\\\\\O setsuna: mama loves you both so much... [flashback!mama emine: just remember brat, i could have aborted you, good-for-nothing piece of shit.] Emine: *whispers* "N-No...You don't." setsuna: emine? *concerned* Emine: "N-No one loves me! Stay away!" setsuna:.....*she looks at showtaro* Emine: "No one could ever love me! And I--" Shotaro: *hugs Emine, holding him* "You are loved. Stop that." setsuna: *she hugs him too* i know i might not be the woman who gave birth to you, but i still want to be your mother... Emine: *squirming, grunting, howling...then crying* setsuna: *humming and rubbing his head* Emine: *crying* "Why did she hate me?" setsuna:...*rubbing his back* Emine: *whimpering, crying, clutching her* "Mama..." setsuna:...its ok emine...mother loves you so much... Shotaro: *nods* "We love you, Emine." Emine: *keeps crying, falling asleep* setsuna:....*carries him to his bed and tucks him in* Shotaro: "Will he be okay, Mom?" setsuna: i think so..i can feel he's been put through a lot of suffering in his life... Shotaro: *nods* "He has...No family for the longest time." setsuna:....*she hugs him* im so sorry showtaro.... Shotaro: "..." *nods* "I know. And I accept your apology...I just want to know you're here..." -at the campsite- Black Star: "How did another vampire find us?!" tsubaki:...it was the same magician guy.... Black Star: "Jeez. Do we have any magic person here who could, I don't know, block any more weirdos showing up?" -a ways down the river- belkia: waaaay just along the swammie riveerrrrr~ XwX -next morning- Patty: "Mmmm..." *small moan* liz: *snoring* Patty: *moan* Izuku: "Zzzz..." Black Star: *already awake, outside, fishing* liz: *snaps awake* (thinking: what the heck?) ojiro: *meditating* Patty: *moan* "Takeru..." Mineta: *somehow glued to a tree up at the top of the branches, ostensibly to guard their food from bears* fang-hua: *doing her morning aerobics* Tsukiyo: *groan, as she crawls out of the tent, covering her eyes* "Too bright..." fang-hua: *she looks up, the sun is just beginning to rise* Tsukiyo: *yawns* "What're you doin, Fang?" fang-hua: morning aerobics. i do this every morning. Tsukiyo: "Tch. Good plan for you..." *stretches, groaning* "I just feel stiff after lying in that uncomfortable tent..." *Iris is walking out of the forest, having gone in there early this morning...she is blushing* fang-hua: oh, morning iris. *she smiles* Iris: *avoiding eye contact* "M-Morning..." Tsukiyo: "???" fang-hua: are you feeling ok? Iris: *nods meekly* "I'm fine..." *looks up, trying to keep eye contact* "J-Just ready to start the day!" fang-hua:...ok then.... Iris: "I-I'll get to work now! Professor Aizawa wanted me to catalog some plants. I-I'll need someone to go with me, th-though..." fang-hua: want me to go with you? Iris: *nods* "That would help." Tsukiyo: *studying Iris, then shrugs* "Don't know what the teachers are gonna have me do--target practice, maybe?" -and so- shinra: *shuddering* Arthur: *grunt* "What's with you?" tamaki: oh come on, a little water never killed anyone. shinra: YOU TRIED TO WATERBOARD ME IN MY SLEEP WHAT THE HELL KOTATSU?!?! Arthur: "...Um, isn't that illegal now?" tamaki: i had to wake him up somehow. Relan: *glaring at Tamaki* "Why not, I don't know, shake him? Or play loud music?" tamaki: *shrug* shinra: Q-Q Relan: *glares at Tamaki, as he hands a towel to Shinra* "Come on, Shinra, you can dry quicker out of this shade and in the sun." shinra: thanks rel. tamaki: *rolls eyes* nozomi: miss tamaki would you like to take a walk with me? tamaki:...sure. Relan: *leads Shinra to sunlight near the lake* "I'm sorry about her...What's her problem?" shinra: she's always been aggressive from what i can tell…and her accidents dont help matters....cause then she takes it out on me.....*tenses* it...brings back bad memories. Relan: "Oh...I'm sorry...I don't know why she takes it out on you--or why someone doesn't tell her to stop. Or make her stop." shinra:........ Relan: "..." *awkward shoulder pat* "Hang in there. You're better than some bully like her." tamaki:......... Arthur: "Tamaki?" tamaki: yeah? Arthur: "..." *pat on shoulder* "It's okay. You're okay." Arthur: *smiles* tamaki:...thanks. Arthur: *looks around the forest with Nozomi and Tamaki* "It is nice here." tamaki: yeah.... Arthur: "..." *holds her hand* tamaki: *blush* Arthur: -\\\\- tamaki: ^^ Arthur: "..." *small kiss to her hand* tamaki: O////O Arthur: "T-Too fast?" tamaki: i-its cool... Arthur: *nods* "Sorry." tamaki: *blushing* Arthur: *continues walking, looking at her* ("She's so pretty, strong...stubborn...gorgeous...") -elsewhere- Iris: "This one is poisonous, but it can make a medicine, so..." *puts on gloves* "I will take a sample of this plant. Fang-Hua, please put on gloves, too." fang-hua: right. Iris: *removes the plant, places it into the baggie* "...Fang-Hua? Could I ask a question?" fang-hua: what is it? Iris: "Do you ever feel...uncomfortable around someone?" fang-hua: what do you mean? Iris: -\\\\- "Like you want to be close to them..." fang-hua: i dont know if i can tell you... Iris: *looking down* "I feel so ashamed..." fang-hua: whats wrong? Iris: *looking away* "I...just feel attracted to someone, and I...don't know what to do..." fang-hua: *pats her back* Iris: *shivers a little* "It's so embarrassing..." *sniff* "I...I..." -elsewhere- Iida: *holding his head* "Thanks, Momo...I feel so foolish after eating those..." momo: its ok. *pats his head* Izuku: *stretching* "Time for the trail run!" -in death city- Yumi: *putting Christa and Shiori in their bath* christa: ^o^ shiori: hehe~ Yumi: *holds up rubber ducky at Christa* "Quack quack!" *holds up little toy boat for Shiori* "Toot toot!" shiori: ^w^ lord death: so sweet... Yumi: "They're getting along so well." lord death: >w< Yumi: *smiles* "You're squeeing with joy, aren't you, Death?" lord death: it reminds me of little baby kiddo~! Yumi: "...Want to look at baby photos after this?" lord death: *nods* Yumi: *washing Shiori* "Could you help me with Christa?" lord death: of course. -later, elsewhere- Hibana: *groaning* "Ouch..." gabriella: coffee, princess? Hibana: *nods* "I would, thank you. Man, you gave me a workout..." -at the dokeshi house- Yohei: *holds a hand softly over Chie's stomach* chie: *rubbing her stomach* *she has a sweater with a little pumpkin where the baby is* Yohei: "How's li'l pumpkin doin'?" chie: doing good. Yohei: *whispers to her belly* "Be safe, kiddo." chie: *she smiles* Yohei: "We'll be here when you're born. And we love you so much." -elsewhere- Akitaru: ("Nozomi...Why didn't you tell me?") maki: still worked up over that i see.... Akitaru: "Wh-What?" maki: you had that look on your face... Akitaru: "..." *sighs* "Yeah." maki:...*she pats his back* Akitaru: "Why didn't she tell me?" maki: she did mention her dad...but to think its this guy of all people.... Akitaru: "I feel awful...I feel so bad for her." maki:..... -at camp- Kid: *holds Stocking's hand* stocking: i love you kid. so much. Kid: *nods* "I love you, too." *hugs her* stocking: U/////U Kid: "I'm sorry about yesterday. Let's try to make today enjoyable." stocking: want to go for a swim in the lake? Kid: *nods* "I would like that." stocking: great! -And so, one swimwear change later- Kid: *dips a toe in the lake* "Hmm...Nice and cool..." *goes into the lake* stocking: *in a nice black one-piece with white polka dots, with her hair in a ponytail* wee! *she jumps in with him* hehe! Kid: *catches her, laughing as he twirls her around* "Lovely suit." stocking: thank you~ hehe~ Kid: *swims with her* stocking: *she smiles* Kid: *swims down, picks her up and spins her in the air* stocking: hehe~ ^///^ Kid: *smiles at her* "You look great, with the sun behind you...Like a picture." stocking: *she smiles* Kid: *sets her down, and swims with her...then tickles her side* stocking: ah! *giggles* k-kid! Kid: "Ha ha..." *hugs her, swimming, as they pass along the shore* stocking: this is nice. Kid: *nods* "Very relaxing...I always love swimming with you." stocking: its nice.... well, seems we got company. Kid: "???" liz: hey guys! kilik: we interrupting you two lovebirds? Patty: "Come on, Takeru! Into the water!" takeru: *dip dip* Black Star: "Yahoo!" *swings on a rope into the water* hito:...*staying out of the water* hito: *goes to retrieve wetsuit* Izuku: *swimming around* Patty: "Come on, Takeru! I got ya!" Meme: *wearing a two-piece, approaches Hito* "Not diving in?" hito: i need to retrieve my suit. Meme: *smiles* "Did you bring it with you?" hito: its in my tent. if you excuse me... Meme: *nods, then waves at Mio* mio: *in an inner tube shaped like a donut* hito: *going to the tent* Anya: *swimming on her back in the lake* Spirit: *watches Hito going to the tent* *to Marie* "Looks like Hito's going to get some R&R for a bit." -and so- Meme: *swimming along Mio's inner tube* -back at the tents- shinra: hey! yasunoki! hito: !!! kusakabe sir! Arthur: "Um..." *hesitant salute* shinra: we were just about to change into our swim trunks, want to come with? hito: thats fine...i'd prefer to change by myself. Arthur: *nods* "Well, we'll see you out there--" *small chuckle* "Can't wake to see Tamaki~" hito: ..... shinra:.... Arthur: *walks a few paces, then feels his necklace around his neck* "Oh, shoot! I should put this back in the tent." *turns back* hito: *looking for a spot* !!! oh, hello again... Arthur: "Hey. Just leaving my necklace here--" *puts it into his backpack, noticing Hito* "You okay?" hito: yeah, just looking for a spot to change into my wetsuit. shinra: for a lake? hito: yeah, cant be too cautious of germs. Arthur: "...'Germs'?" ("Maybe they got immune deficiency or something...") Arthur: "Well, if you're shy about us being in the tent, we'll just head out--go change." shinra: come to think of it, you were wearing at the pool too. Arthur: "Oh, yeah..." hito: um...i have scars. shinra: hey, we wont judge. Arthur: *nods in agreement* hito: well.... its really embarrassing to talk about- Arthur: "???" shinra: what do you mean? hito:....*looks around*....*sigh* commander honda and noto are the only ones who know about this...promise you wont tell anyone else, especially the others in the 2nd? shinra: sure, yasunoki. Arthur: *nods* hito: *sighs* the truth is.....im actually a girl. Arthur: "..." o_O shinra:...really? thats it? hito: yeah. my full name is Hitomi Yasunoki. Arthur: "So...You're passing as a boy...why?" hito: the yasunoki family has served as military officers for generations, the past 2 working in the 2nd brigade...i never had any brothers, and since the 2nd is mostly male, i wanted to be taken seriously by my fellow soldiers. Arthur: "Huh...But girls are taken seriously in the Brigade. I mean look at Tamaki--" *pause* "..." shinra: take maki for example. she's pretty strong. Arthur: *nods fervently* hito: true, but i want to respect my family's legacy. and to be honest, i like doing this, even if i dont see myself as a man. Arthur: "..." *nods* "Then...that's good. Um, we'll keep your secret. Promise!" -elsewhere- Shinoda: *holding flowers* lin: what are those for? *she's in a frankenstein's monster style lolita dress* Shinoda: "A peace offering...Maybe this can help earn a bit of forgiveness..." lin: ah, i see. Shinoda: "Wish me luck..." *heads off to find Nea* nea: *reading in the den* Shinoda: *walks into the den, holding the flowers in front of him* nea: ?? hmm? Shinoda: "Hello." *holds the flowers out to her* "These flowers cannot compare to your beauty, so I thought I'd give them an example to aspire to." nea: *tiny blush and puts them on the mantle* they look nice. Shinoda: "Indeed. What are you reading?" nea: not much. Shinoda: *sits on the couch, leaving a space between them* "I know a new used bookstore that opened." nea: really now? Shinoda: *nods* "Quite a selection in genres, some rare older texts, too." nea: ah. Shinoda: "Would you be interested? Perhaps we could go together." nea: im kind of busy with stuff with week. Shinoda: "Oh...Maybe next week?" nea: ...ill think about it. Shinoda: *small smile, as he stands to leave the den* nea:....*faint smile* Emine: *watching Shinoda leaving the den* lin: aww. Emine: "??? What? She just turned him down." lin: *whispers* i could see her smiiiiliiiiing~ Emine: "...Hmm..." *whispers* "That's surprising." -elsewhere- Shotaro: "Hey, Mana--would this work for the baby shower?" *holds up a baby's onesie designed like a giraffe's skin* mana: it's cute. Shotaro: "Hee hee..." Cashier: *whispering to another* "Aren't they young?" mana: O///O i-ts for our friends! Shotaro: "???" *shrugs, as he holds up maternity dress* "Dude...I should put this on!" mana: *says nothing* -at the camp- Patty: *stretches* "Really good swim!" tsubaki: *she smiles and begins walking along the trail* Black Star: "Hey, Tsubaki, wait up!" Bakugo: *napping under a tree* -up the trail- tamaki: *inhales* this is nice. nozomi: *examining the plant life* Black Star: *looking around* "Yeah. Great view down into the forest." stocking: its nice. Aoyama: "Quite~" Black Star: *double take* "When did you show up?" Aoyama: "Shhhh...It's a secret." stocking: ....... shinra: *calls out* arthur is a loser! Aoyama: *chuckles* -hes down a ways- echo: arthur is a loser-loser-loser-loser Arthur: "WHO SAID THAT?!" *removes Excalibur* "Face me, bodiless voice!" sayu: lemme try something! 'you can shop at five or six stores, or just one!' echo: just one-just one-just one-just one... Black Star: "BLACK STAR IS THE BEST!" Echo: "..." stocking:.....*whispers something* echo: kid's got a fine booty-booty-booty-booty Kid: o\\\\\\o Patty: "Ha ha ha!" -elsewhere in the camp- soul: ...... Izuku: *doing push-ups as punishment by Aizawa for coming in last in a race* "Darn it..." *Wind blowing gently in the camp* soul:....*smiles* *Wind feels comforting around Soul, given the bright sun outside* Izuku: *panting* "Just 100 more push-ups..." vivian: so how much longer will we be on this trip? just curious. Aizawa: "Two more days..." vivian: ah, i see. Aizawa: "..." *glances* "You okay?" vivian: yes. just a slight bit homesick. but i am having fun, i dont usually get the opportunity to do things like this. Aizawa: *nods* "It is a nice change of weather and surroundings...but don't treat it as too much fun. There are still other exercises to complete..." Izuku: "..." *tries to use One for All to quicken his push-ups* Aizawa: *Erase* Izuku: *face-plant onto the ground* Aizawa: "100 more push-ups." Izuku: *muffled grunt* vivian: *sweatdrop* (thinking: i wonder if he can use that ability on people with ignition abilities?) Aizawa: *glances at Soul* "Is he asleep?" vivian: appears so Aizawa: "Hmm...Best let him rest." -elsewhere- Todoroki: *firing icicles at targets* yuu: well done, todoroki. ryuuko: *shooting fire feathers at the targets* mikami: *claps* Iris: "Tsuyu, how are you hitting the targets today?" tsuyu: platforming. sayaka: kind of like frogger? tsuyu: yes. Spirit: "Ha! Retro." Iris: "...???" -at the river- Anya: *just putting her feet into the water* takeru: *trying to fish* Meme: *swimming again* "So cool..." ef: *just watching birds* Meme: *feels something touch her foot* "AAAAH!" ef: ?! Meme: "I think I just had a slimy fish hit my foot!" Anya: ._. *steps out of water* tsugumi: *wince of sympathy* oooh... Meme: *nervous laugh* "At least Takeru should be able to catch a fish, then..." takeru: *he caught a fish* i-i did it! Meme: "Yay!" *claps hands* Anya: "Hmm..." *studying the fish* "Odd specimen." tsugumi: i think thats a crucian carp...that was a.....crucial catch! Anya and Meme: T_T; tsugumi: *forced smile and sweats* ao: hehehe~ Carp: *frowning* -elsewhere- Tokoyami: "...Eijirou? How did you get stuck at the top of a tree?" eijiro: i have no idea to be honest. Tokoyami: "Okay, hang on...I'll get you down..." kirika: *watching* Tokoyami: *Dark Shadow reaches and pulls Eijiro down by the back of his shirt, lowering him slowly to the ground* eijiro: thank you. ^^ Tokoyami: "You're welcome. Come along, we have our next assignment: it's a teamwork exercise on trust." eijiro: awesome! -back at school- Yumi: *visiting to check on former students* -a child answers- child: who is it? Yumi: *waves* "Hi. I'm Death Scythe Yumi Azusa. Are your parents home?" child: i think so. mama! theres someone here to talk to you! Yumi: *waits at the door, looking around the entrance* -its a nice family home, seems to house at least 3 children- Yumi: *smiles at the look of it* mother: hmm? oh, you're, yumi azusa, right? verona katterwahl, we had zoology class together. Yumi: *slight bow* "Yes. It's good to see you again, Verona. I'm sorry for dropping in like this." verona: its not a problem. want something to drink? Yumi: "Water?" verona: *she smiles* -a few minutes later, pictures are being shown- verona: heres me and james during our honeymoon, and this is charlie, our oldest, on his first day of school... Yumi: "Aww! He looks ready for classes." verona: *she smiles* and here we are on our vacation to the rockies. little lily was just a baby then. Yumi: "How old is Lily now?" verona: she just turned 6 years old last month. Yumi: *smiles at the photo of baby Lily* "Reminds me of our Shiori." verona: i heard about that. if you told me years ago that you would be married to the headmaster, i would have laughed right in your face... lifes a funny thing, huh? Yumi: *small laugh, blush* "I...You know how you can be both surprised by something, yet it also makes sense in a weird way? I know it's odd to say...but I was attracted to Death for so long, and as we worked together..." *covers her face a bit in embarrassment* "Ugh, I was hot for our teacher..." verona: *chuckles* aw, how cute. Yumi: *still blushing but smiling* "Being with Death...has made me so happy. And we have a family." verona: speaking of, how is kid? Yumi: He is doing well. He'll be finishing school soon...He also has a girlfriend that he's crazy about." LK: verona: ooh how sweet. Yumi: *nods* "They are so adorable." *opens phone, shows photo of Stocking and Kid with Shiori* verona: ah, i see. she seems like a lovely young lady. Yumi: *nods* "She's very sweet...and has quite a sweet tooth." -elsewhere- Tuhl: *playing with Io in the playpen* io: gugu! saki: *smiling* Tuhl: *holds up a toy cow* "What sound does the cow make, Io?" io: muu! Tuhl: "Yes! Mooooooo!" *shakes the cow at Io* "Moo!" io: ^o^ Tool: "Ha ha...Smart kid." saki: *she smiles* Tuhl: *picks up Io, waving their hand at Saki* "Say hi to Mama." io: mama! saki: hi sweetie~ *wave* Tuhl: *brings Io to Saki...smiles at both of them* io: *pointing to tuhl* papa! Tuhl: "..." *blush* "Um...S-Sure? If your mama..." saki: *smiles at him* Tuhl: "...doesn't mind me _being_ a father figure..." -elsewhere- Patty: "Mighty big catch you made today, Takeru! I'm so proud of my big guy!" takeru: *scratching his head* thanks... Patty: *smiles, as she starts eating the fish they are cooking* "Tasty, too! How much cooking do you do?" takeru:...*has a bag full of sweet potatoes* kyouko:... Patty: *mouth full* "Where did those come from?" takeru: well, i am from a family of potato farmers... kyouko: *remembering cooking sweet potatoes with her sister and father*...dad.... Patty: *swallows* "Cool deal! Can't wait to have one!" Crona: *looking at Kyouko* kyouko: *rubs her eyes and sniffs* i-im ok...just thinking... Crona: "..." *pats Kyouko's shoulder* kyouko:...thanks chrona.. Crona: *smiles, nods* Patty: *watching Takeru cooking...smiling* madoka: *she nods*... Rin: "...Hey, Kyouko? I'm really glad you're here." kyouko:...*smiles* thanks rin. sayaka: we're glad you're here too! *hug* Rin: *laughs as he joins in the hug* -elsewhere- Kid: *lying in tent* stocking: zzzzzz..... Kid: *hugs her as he sleeps alongside her* -morning- sayaka: happy birthday madoka! madoka: *smiling* Crona: *blushing, holding a wrapped present...* madoka: oh, thank you. *she seems happy* Crona: *smiles, nods* -later that day- madoka: *kisses rin on the cheek* thanks rin. Rin: *blush* "Ah, no big deal! Happy b-day!" Crona: *watching* sayaka: awwww! *shiny eyes* -elsewhere- Iris: *fidgeting* tamaki: you sure you're ok? Iris: *nervous smile* "Y-Yes! I'm fine...I was thinking about swimming maybe..." tamaki: ah. Iris: *grabs her swimsuit and starts walking away* -elsewhere- Relan: *waves at Soul* "All set for trust exercises?" soul: yeah... *holding arms out* Aizawa: "Hang on...Relan, come with me..." Relan: "???" *holds up a finger to Soul, indicating "One moment..."* -Later- Relan: *looking down from 50 feet in the air, down at Soul* D: Aizawa: *shouts down to Soul* "So, you're going to catch Relan from this 50 feet cliff fall! Okay?!" soul: O-O;;; Relan: "I protest! This is insane! This is not safe at all! I am not going to--" Aizawa: "Hear that, Soul! He doesn't trust you!" Relan: "I DON'T TRUST GRAVITY!" Aizawa: "..." *push* Relan: "AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!" *falling towards Soul* soul: O_O;;;;;;; Aizawa: "Tokoyami, Yuu, Ochako: now!" ochako: *gravity* yuu: *levitate* Tokoyami: *lifts up Soul closer to Relan* soul: woah! Relan: *the gravity/levitation manipulation slows his descent--as he lands safely in Soul's arms* Aizawa: "Good work, Tokoyami, Yuu, and Ochako. Soul, you as well. Relan, trust your teachers more." Relan: Q~Q ("Shinra...Help...") -elsewhere- Iris: *had walked all the way to the river...then walked all the way back to the tent when she remembered she hadn't changed, then walked from the tent to the river in her swimsuit, now finally swimming* "Where is my head today...?" shinra: hey iris. *wave* Iris: o\\\\o "H-Hi..." shinra: you ok? Iris: "Fine!" *tries to keep just her neck and head above water* "Um...What have you been up to?" shinra: camping stuff. arthur got a beetle in his pants, haha! Iris: *nervous laugh* "That's pretty funny...Um...Have you enjoyed swimming here so far?" shinra: yeah. its nice. Iris: "...Did you want to hop in? The water feels nice right now." shinra: sure *he steps in* Iris: ("Ever since he was in that thong...He looks so handsome...") *smiles, blushes, swims along with him* "How long have you swum?" shinra: swam? well, occasionally. Iris: *nods* "I...had a lot of problems swimming. But being here in the 8th has helped!" shinra:...*smiles* Iris: "..." *staring at his face* "You look...happy." shinra: *tiny blush* y-you too... Iris: *nods, smiles* "I...like being around you..." shinra: i like that too..b-being around you.... ./////. Iris: "..." *smiles...splashes a bit of water at him* shinra: hey! haha! Iris: *splashes a bit more, before seizing his hand by accident* shinra:.... (thinking: OHMYGODIMHOLDINGHANDSWITHAGIRLANDWEREBOTHHALFNAKEDAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!) Iris: o\\\\\o "...You have nice skin." ("...D'oh!") shinra: you too.... *SCREAMING ON THE INSIDE* Iris: "Thank you...I made sure to put on sunscreen so I wouldn't burn...but then I'm getting tanlines during this trip..." ("OH MY SOL, STOP TALKING, IRIS!") shinra:.....WARK! *covers his mouth* -his ignition ability kicks in a little- Iris: " 'Wark'?" O_____O "You're on fire!" shinra: !!!! *jumps out of the water* *panting* woah that was close, i almost boiled us to a criiiiiiiii--- O////////////////////////////O;;;;; Iris: o\\\\\\\o shinra: *faints+nosebleed* Iris: *covering her chest and screams bloody murder* -elsewhere- Arthur: *in his boxers, still shaking bugs out of his pants* "Did you hear a scream?" tamaki: *goes to check*.....for some reason im not shocked at this. Iris: *blushing hard* "Nothing happened! Shinra just...um...had an accident." tamaki: sure. Iris: *glare at Tamaki, as she wades out of the water* "Just help me carry him back to camp...* -later- stocking: *enjoying smores* mmmmm~<3 Kid: *smiling* "You have a little marshmallow dripping..." stocking: *licking it* did i get it? Kid: *studies her...drags finger along her cheek to get last bit--and licks it* "Now." stocking: O////O Kid: *smirks* "All cleaned up~" stocking: >/////< Kid: "So cute..." *holds her hand* "I...am happy." stocking: *she smiles* Kid: *smiles back* "I look forward to heading home, but I also am happy for the time we have had here..." *whispers* "A little bit more time..." stocking: *blushing* Kid: *rests his head on her shoulder* stocking: *nuzzle* Kid: *kisses her cheek* stocking: hehe~ -morning- Kid: "Mmmm~" stocking: zzzz..... Kid: *nuzzles against her* stocking: *yawwn* mornin... Kid: "Good morning, beautiful." *kisses her cheek* stocking: *she smiles* Kid: "Feel good?" stocking: yeah.. -and so- Patty: "All packed! How 'bout you, Sis and Takeru?" liz: yep. takeru: yeah. Patty: *smiles at both of them* Iris: *downcast, as she carries bag to bus* shinra: iris- sorry about last nights incident.. Iris: *looks away, even-voice* "I accept your apology. Thank you." *keeps walking* -later- Stein: *driving along the road* "We'll be staying overnight at Carson City--home of the inventor of the Ferris Wheel with a view of Lake Tahoe." tsuyu: neat. kinoko: dude, thats rad. Izuku: *taking notes of the road trip back* Iida: "Hmm...A Ferris Wheel ride to see the lake would be appealing." -in another bus- stocking: *checking her phone* Patty: "Any good messages, Stocking?" stocking: just looking at pics. Patty: *looks over her shoulder* "Aw, that's a cute one of you and Kiddo." stocking: *she smiles* yeah. Patty: "Could you text me that one?" *points to one of Takeru* stocking: sure. Patty: *smiles* Todoroki: *looking out the window* -later, in carson city- Anya: o__O "There are Ferris Wheels everywhere...even the hotel is in the shape of a Ferris wheel..." -back in death city- Yumi: *hugs Death* "It was nice to catch up with a classmate." lord death: *he smiles* Yumi: *kisses him* "It's...odd to realize how much older I've become since graduation...and to see our children..." lord death: and soon, kid will be graduating too... Yumi: "Then Kirika...Before we know it, Shiori..." *pats his side* lord death: *he smiles* Yumi: *kisses his lips lightly* "Thank you so much." -elsewhere- chie: *BLEARGH* ugh... Emine: *cleaning the kitchen table* Yohei: *rubs her back* "It's okay..." chie: *crying* i hate thiiiis i hate being siiiick... Yohei: "I know, Babe...Please, hang in there...It'll be over soon." chie: *sniff* uuugh april cant get here any faster TT~TT Yohei: *holds her* "I know...One day at a time..." Emine: *hearing the noise of Chie* "..." *removes bottle of ginger ale from the fridge, pours some over ice* chie: ......*purring* Emine: "I have brought ginger ale." *holds it out to Yohei and Chie* chie: thank you- Yohei: "Wait...What did you do to it?" Emine: "...Nothing." chie: bullsh*t! Emine: "I swear, I did nothing. I already did my bad deed, and I am not in any mood to upset a pregnant woman." chie: you better be telling the truth....or so help me *wraps a shadow tentacle around his neck* i will break you so hard, it will be like you were never here. Yohei: o_____O Emine: *sweating and scared* Shotaro: "He's telling the truth, Chie! I saw him pouring!" Emine: "He saw me pouring!" chie:...*she lets go* *pat pat* good job. chie: *snuggles yohei* i love you honey~<3 Shotaro: o______o Emine: o______o Yohei: *snuggles back* "You wonderful woman..." chie: hehehehe~<3 -shoujo sparkles and flowers- mono: *gags* Emine: *seizes Mono, visibly afraid of Chie* "Quiet, you fool! Do not incur her wrath!" mono:...what? and dont touch me! Emine: *drags Mono and Shotaro out of the room* "We must hide!" -elsewhere- Iris: *tossing in her hotel bed* "Mmm..." tamaki: *watching a movie on the tv* Iris: "Mmm...Wh-" *turns--and falls out of bed* "...Ow." tamaki: you ok? Iris: "Um...Yes." *nods* "I just had...quite a dream." tamaki: ah. want to watch? Iris: *wraps blanket around herself* "Uh huh..." *sits by Tamaki* tamaki: *she smiles* nozomi: *finished getting changed and sits next to them* tamaki: your hair looks really nice down. nozomi: oh. thank you miss tamaki. Iris: *nods* "I agree, Nozomi." nozomi: *she smiles* Iris: *looking at the film* "Have either of you seen this one before?" tamaki: nah, just something on tv i guess. Iris: *blushing a bit at the romance* "The music is certainly...on the nose." -in another room- Patty: *drying her hair with a towel* "Good to have a real shower again!" liz: yeah. soul: *watching tv* Patty: "Who's up for the next shower?" *in a robe and lying on her and Liz's bed* liz: i'm up next! soul already took his. Patty: "Enjoy! Plenty of hot water, too!" *picks up phone, looking at it* "How you liking the room, Soul?" soul: not bad. Patty: "Yeah, comfy beds, good showers..." *looks out the window* "...Ferris Wheel right outside the window..." soul:..... Patty: *flicking through her phone, then looks at Soul* "You okay?" soul: yeah. -in another room- shinra: *in the bath* Relan: *in awe of the room* "This is amazing! Such comfortable beds! TV with cable and movies! And even snacks!" Arthur: *reading a book while laying in bed* "They charge a lot for each snack..." Relan: o_o *puts snacks back* shinra: *relaxing* Arthur: "Jeez, how much longer can one guy take a bath?" Relan: -\\\\\- shinra: ..... Relan: "..." *walks to door, knocks* "Okay in there, Shinra?" shinra: !! um yeah! Relan: *nods from outside, as his hand hits the knob* "Just wanted to make sure--" *his hand slips along the knob, opening the door and causing Relan to stumble in...* shinra: O/////O shinra: you ok? Relan: "Ow..." *picks himself up off the floor* "Yeah. Sorry. I guess I opened the d--" *looks up to see Shinra* "..." o\\\\o shinra: O//////////////////////////O kyaaaaa! Relan: "AAAH!" Arthur: *walking towards the open door* "What's with all the yelling--" *slips on wet towel* -he landed in- shinra: AHHHHH!!! Arthur: "Ugh! Damn it, Shinra!" *spits water* "Why'd you leave a wet towel on the floor?!" Relan: *waters splashes onto Relan, and falls onto the floor* "Arthur! Stop moving...I can help you out." -and so- shinra: .//////////////////. this bath did not go as expected. Arthur: -\\\\\\\- *no kidding* Relan: o\\\\\\\\\o ("...This is...Heaven...") shinra: *blushing* r-rel… Relan: "Wh-What?" Arthur: *glancing at the others...and including downstairs* *Their wet clothes are hanging over the shower rod* shinra: your getting pretty close..... (thinking: THIS IS SO WEIRD AND IT FEELS NICE AND I DONT KNOW HOW TO FEEL ABOUT THIS!) Relan: "Oh! Um...Sorry." *doesn't move a second too long...then moves back, bumping into Arthur* Arthur: "Hey! Watch it!" *shoves Relan--* shinra: ah- Relan: O___O *SMOOCH* shinra: O////////////////////////////////////////////O Arthur: ._. Relan: o\\\\\\o "..." *pulls back, slowly, his hands on Shinra's chest...as he slides a bit along them* "I'm...sorry?" shinra: *flustered* um.... (thinking: holy shit im bi.) Arthur: ._. "..." *stands up, walks out of the bath without a towel to dry himself, dripping wet as he exits the bathroom and shuts the door behind him* Relan: "...Shinra. I'm sorry." shinra: i-i-its fine....it felt...pleasent....i guess.... 7////7; Relan: "Really?!!" *smiling widely...then clears his throat* "I mean...Really? Um...It was...That was...Shinra...That was pleasant for me..." Relan: *staring at Shinra's body, smiling* "You are...very handsome." shinra: ./////. its going to be so awkward telling iris. Relan: "..." *sad* "Tell Iris...what?" shinra: *nervous* i mean, i dont want to hurt either of you...maybe...it could be a threesome relationship? Relan: o______o "You...would want to be in a relationship with me...at all?" *starts crying* "Sh-Shinra...No one ever wanted to be in a re-relationship with me..." shinra: well, i guess since i dont know you that much, i might want to...i feel really bad about all that happened...i want to make it up to you. both of you. Relan: *nods* "Uh huh...Um...I-I'm not...into girls...but...I like you...and I...I..." *holds his hand* "I want to take things at a good pace...I don't know what I'm supposed to do. But I like you...a lot." shinra: *he nods* did you...want to kiss again? Relan: ._. "Yes, please." shinra: *leans in* *smooch* >///////< Relan: *soft kiss back, as he hugs Shinra* "Mmmm..." ("This is all I ever wanted...Thank you, Shinra...") -elsewhere- Arthur: *still wet, standing in middle of the room naked* "How the fuck do I explain this to anyone?" tamaki: hey arthu-..... O_O;; Arthur: "...I can explain. I was giving Shinra privacy with--" -and aoyama waltzes in...- Aoyama: oh my~<3 tamaki: HE WAS NAKED WHEN I GOT HERE! Aoyama: "...NAVEL NUDE BLAST!" *boom, as he is now de-clothed* "We doing this?" Arthur: ._. tamaki: *backing up* oh dear sweet lord- -meanwhile- Iris: "Ah...ah..." *whimper, pant* "Shinra..." ("He would be holding my hips, rocking me, and then in front of me I would be sucking Relan--") "..." *eyes break open* "OH MY SOL! Did I just think that?!" -elsewhere- tamaki: *snaps awake* O-O what the heck...?? Iris: *exiting the bathroom, turning off the light, looking really shocked by something she just realized* "Um...You awake, too, huh?" tamaki: yeah, i just had a weird dream.... Iris: "O-Oh? I...kinda did too..." tamaki: ......... *looks at nozomi* Iris: *looks too* nozomi: *asleep* Iris: "...I'm going to try to get back to sleep..." *pulling off her pajama pants and underwear to change into new ones...* tamaki:...... O_O;;; Iris: *puts on new underwear and a new pair of pajama pants...* "...Um...good night?" -in shinra's room- Relan: "Where is Arthur?" *spots a note...* shinra: ?? Arthur's note: "I went to Stein and got a room change. You're on your own." Relan: o\\\\o "Arthur got another room..." shinra:....did you want to make out a little more or nah? Relan: "...Could we lie in bed, snuggle? I-I've never snuggled with anyone." shinra: o-oh... *lays down* Relan: "..." *lays down beside Shinra, unsure how to hug him* "Um...Am I...Do my arms go over or under you?" shinra: i guess whatever you feel comfortable with..im kinda new to this myself... Relan: "..." *puts his arm under him, and one over him* "It's obvious I'm a virgin, isn't it?" shinra: same here... Relan: *blush, smile* "Yeah...I really like you...You're so kind, strong...You put up with how much of a loser I am..." shinra: hey, your not a loser, just a little shy, but thats fine. Relan: "..." *looks away* "I've been a loser since I was born...I don't even know why the 3rd ever took me in..." shinra: ....*hug* if the 3rd doesnt work out, then there's always room in the 8th...we took in tamaki after she was kicked out of the 1st brigade... Relan: "Y-You would do that? I mean...Everyone in the 3rd is so nice and welcoming, but what you say means..." *cries* "It means so much! Why are people here kind? I'm not worth it." shinra: hey, its ok... (thinking: then again, the only people i really know from the 3rd are Ryuuko and Mikami....mikami fits the description, but ryuuko......its iffy) Relan: *lies in his arms* "...You have strong arms." shinra: t-thanks... but they're kind of whimpy compared to arthur and the commanders... im pretty much a twig compared to them. Relan: "Really? ..." *small squeeze of Shinra's upper arm* "This feels nice." shinra: a-ahh! *blush* s-sorry....i guess im still a little flustered... Relan: *nods* "I am too..." *leans into his ear* "I was when I saw...your penis." shinra: O//////////////////////////////////////////////////O Relan: *sees his blush* "I ruined the moment, didn't I?" shinra: no-no! its fine... (thinking: I DIDNT EVEN LOOK AT HIS!) *small glance before looking away from it* Relan: "...Um...You can look if you want..." shinra: *gulps* are you sure? i mean, its your body, and i dont want to make you rush into it if you dont want to- Relan: "It-It's fine! I mean, you showed me yours...I want to show you mine." shinra: well, if you're certain... Relan: *nods, as he pulls back a bit so Shinra can see...* shinra: *blushing* ah...!! i should take mine off too, i dont want to make you feel awkward! (thinking: WHAT AM I DOING?!) Relan: o\\\o "Th-That makes sense..." *pulls off his towel, now lying naked...* shinra: *looking down* O////O (thinking: OH GOD WHY DO I HAVE A BONER NOW OF ALL TIMES?!?!) *sweats* Relan: o\\\\\\\o "Shinra, you're so hard right now!" *slaps his hands over his face* "Sorry, that was stupid to say!" *now he's getting hard...* shinra: WARK! *covering face* Relan: "..." *embarrassed laugh* "We're so nervous right now, aren't we?" shinra: yeah..n-no kidding.... i never thought my first time would be with a guy- *covers his mouth* Relan: "...'First time'? Are we...Does this mean we...?" shinra: i-i-i dont know...im not even sure if im ready for that...i got nervous and spoke without thinking.... .//////. Relan: "...Could I at least...touch it?" shinra: ....o-ok.... Relan: *hesitantly lets his hand go down...his fingers just lightly tickle the top of his member* shinra: ah-ahhH~! >////< *hips jerk up* Relan: *pulls his hand back* "SORRY!" shinra: i-its fine...im still new to this...it felt....good. Relan: "...Would you...want to touch...mine?" shinra: you sure? Relan: *nods* shinra:.... *gently strokes up the shaft* like that? (thinking: hopefully books maki leaves around should help...maybe) Relan: *groaning* "Aaaa-aaaaah...Y-Yes...Y-You're hand feels g-g-great..." shinra: *gulps* (thinking: i think thats normal) *soft strokes* y-you can keep going too. Relan: *nervous smile* "I would love to..." *returns to touch Shinra's, a little more confident this time, as his hand strokes as Shinra's is* "Aaaah..." shinra: mmmmn! *clutching onto his shoulder with the other hand* f-feels good... Relan: *leaning his forehead against Shinra's neck* "Great...K-Keep going, p-please? Don't stop..." *continues working on Shinra* shinra: *going a little faster, rubbing the tip* Relan: *smiling* "Y-Yeah! The tip is great! Wh-Where should I put my hand?" shinra: um....did you...want to suck on it? i mean...i'm just going by what i've read... Relan: *nervous lip-lick* "I-I would...D-Do you mind? I-I won't bite..." shinra: i-its fine... Relan: *moves Shinra's hand gently away from his member...as he guides Shinra to lie on his back, holding Shinra's knees apart as he gets a look at his package...* o\\\\\\o ("I never thought this would happen...I-I can do this...") *opens his mouth lightly, as he kisses along Shinra's thighs before kissing his tip* shinra: a-ahhhh~!! *small squirt* ./////. s-sorry! i got nervous! Relan: *small cough, as he pulls back* "It-It's okay...I feel close to c-cumming, too..." shinra: y-you can keep going then.... Relan: "O-Okay..." *returns to kissing his member...then slowly putting his lips around the tip and down the shaft, slowly* shinra: nnnngh....*closing his eyes, feeling the sensations* Relan: *bobbing his head slowly along Shinra, slowly picking up the pace as his tongue slides along him...his fingers tickle along Shinra's testicles* shinra: ah! *his hips jerk up* Relan: *continues working, feeling Shinra get harder in him...* ("This is incredible! He's so big! I wanted this so long, and now...") shinra: mmmmnnn c-close..... Relan: *long lick along his shaft* shinra: *back arches* f-fuu-ahhhhh!!! *squirting* Relan: *catches some of it in his mouth, some landing on his face* "Aaah..." shinra: *panting and shuddering* ah......that...felt really great... Relan: "R-Really? I didn't suck at it?" shinra: well, you did suck me off- .....sorry, i was trying to make a joke....that just sounded so stupid *embarrassed facepalm* Relan: *laughs* "N-No, I got the joke. It was funny. Ha." *takes a towel--he doesn't know whose--and starts wiping cum off his face* shinra: *laughing until he is crying* thanks...im glade i made you happy.... Relan: "??? You're crying..." *hugs Shinra* "Are you okay?" shinra: yeah...just having a lot of emotions......should i repay the favor? Relan: o\\\\o "O-Only if you want to...I mean, are you okay?" shinra: hey, its only fair, right? Relan: "..." *lies on his back* "L-Like this?" shinra: yeah..... *he rubs relan's thighs gently, noticing small faded scars* rel.... Relan: *looks away* "I...I haven't had...I got...hurt..." shinra:....if you want want to explain it now, you dont have to.... *kissing along the scars* Relan: *squirming under his touch* "They're sensitive...but...fuck...That feels so good..." shinra: *gentle kisses* its ok relan....i want to make you feel better... *gulps and softly kisses the tip* Relan: "..." *cries a little* "Please make me feel good? I...I h-hurt myself a lot...'cause I thought I was...wrong." shinra: ok.... *sucking tenderly* Relan: *wiping away his tears, moaning softly, feeling himself grow harder* "I-I..." *places his hands along Shinra's head* "...Soft..." shinra: *lick lick kiss* Relan: *he's twitching* -\\\\\\- "A-ah! I-I'm so close...P-Please? I-I want to...go..." shinra: *suck suck suck* Relan: *twitch, twitch--* "AAAAAH!" *he ejaculates* shinra: *taking it all in his mouth* >/////< *swallowing* t-tastes strange.... Relan: "N-Not wrong, is it? I-I mean you tasted great...Weird, but so t-tasty?" shinra: i guess.....im still new to this.... Relan: "I-I thought you were great..." *holds his hands along Shinra's hips* "You were s-so...attentive. I-I never h-had something like that." shinra: *hugs him* i wanted you to feel happy...so...did you want to talk about stuff? i want to know you more. Relan: *blushes, hugging him back, smiling* "Um...What would you like to know? Maybe...books we like? Foods?" shinra: well, i do like ramen. hamburgers, anything with a warm temperature i guess. Relan: "Ice cream?" shinra: i guess, i dont really dislike any food in particular. what about you? Relan: "...I like cheese. I never got to have pizza much, but I love it. I didn't get to eat sugary cereals as a kid, so I've had more of that. Okay, um...Do you have pets?" shinra: not really. Relan: "...Do you mind pet rats?" shinra: i dont have any problem with rats. say, i heard you have a pet rat, right? Relan: *smiles, nods* "Yeah. His name is Buttons. The Commander let me keep him, the others in the 3rd like him." shinra: ah, thats nice. *he smiles* Relan: *small laugh* "I like your smile." shinra: *blush* you too. Relan: *blushing* "No one ever said that before...Thank you." shinra:...*reaches to brush relans hair back from his covered eye* Relan: .____. shinra: s-should i? Relan: "..." *nods* "Y-Yes..." shinra:...*he does so* Relan: "..." *blushes* "H-How do I...look? Weird, huh?" shinra: you...you look cute. Relan: .\\\\\. "...No one ever called me that." shinra:....rel...*frowns* did you-...were you bullied a lot? Relan: "..." *nods* shinra:...*kisses his forehead* i know what its like....to be mistreated.....when my mom died, my grandmother...*sighs* she abused me a lot. Relan: *holds onto Shinra, gently* "That's...I'm sorry...I'm sorry about your mom...and your grandmother..." shinra:.....sho....*trembling* Relan: "H-Hey..." *holds him in his arms gently* " 'Sho'?" shinra: ah, my little brother....he-...............he went missing. Relan: "...I'm so sorry..." shinra:.....its ok..... Relan: *holds him* "I...didn't know. Shinra...If-If there is anything I can do...to help..." shinra: ok.... Relan: *holds onto Shinra...pats along his back* "Will...Was this just, one time? Will you be here...in the morning?" shinra: of course i'll be here... Relan: *shy smile* "O-Okay...b-because you look...I mean...I-I think you look...beautiful." shinra: *blushing* thanks...you look nice too... Relan: *smiles* "Thank you..." *hugs Shinra...soft pat on his bottom* -morning, after discussing the situation with iris- shinra: you arent mad at us, are you? Iris: .\\\\\\. Relan: *squirming* Iris: "Um..." *looks around* shinra: im still thinking about how im going to tell the commander... Iris: *looks down* "Shinra...Do you remember when we went swimming, and you saw...me?" Relan: "???" shinra: .////////. i told rel about that, y-yeah... *blush* Relan: *blushing too* Iris: "...I didn't mind that...especially after thinking about...you..." *takes Shinra's hand* Relan: *downcast, sniffs, crying a little* Iris: "And you." *takes Relan's hand* Relan: "?!!" shinra: *blushing* *holds relan's hand too* Relan: o\\\\\o Iris: *meek smile* "I think...you--we can tell the Commander...that you found an answer, Shinra." shinra:...*smiles* -on the trip home- Arthur: *eyes red from lack of sleep* tamaki: arthur, you look like a mess, what happened? Arthur: "I...couldn't stand sharing the hotel room with Shinra any longer, so I asked Stein to move me to another room..." tamaki: why? you share a room with him back at the 8th. shinra: >->; (thinking: it was different this time...) Arthur: "He just got annoying, okay? We're on vacation, I could use some distance from him--that's all." Relan: *sweating* Iris: .\\\\. tamaki: ok, so you got a room swap, what of it? Arthur: *staring at Tamaki* "My new roomie was Aoyama." tamaki: *gives him a shocked look* Aoyama: *yawn* "Trust me--sleep was no picnic for me either, Sir Tushy." tamaki:....*her mind goes elsewhere* [fantasy!arthur: aoyama, we shouldnt...] [fantasy!aoyama: its ok mon amour, i'll be gentle~] [fantasy!arthur: ahhn~ aoyama~!] tamaki: O//////////////////////////////O Arthur: "???" Aoyama: *whispers to Tamaki* "I know that look~" tamaki: YOUHAVENOPROOFSHUTUP!! >////< Arthur: "???" Aoyama: *chortle* "Just give it time, chaton..." tamaki: .//////.;;; nozomi: ????????????? Aoyama: *winks at Nozomi* nozomi: e-ehh? o///o; Relan: *whispers to Shinra* "Are they always this weird?" shinra: yes. very much so. but at least tamaki isnt losing her clo- tamaki: *demonic glare* shinra: OxO;;;;;; Relan: "!!!" *hugs Shinra out of protection* shinra: *blushing* Iris: *glares at Relan, hugs Shinra, too* shinra: come on you two, be nice. Iris: *small pout, whispers* "Sorry...just takes some...getting used to..." Relan: *nods* "S-Sorry...W-We'll take our time..." shinra: *smiles* Iris: "..." *smiles, too; hugs Relan* Relan: o\\\\\o Arthur: o_____o ("Oh. My. God.") nozomi:.....*so confused* tamaki: .........learn not to ask. Aoyama: *smile of appreciation* sayu: hey look! were back! Relan: *disappointed voice* "Oh..." shinra: hey, its ok, we'll still write to you. *wink* Iris: *looking outside the bus* "??? Um...What is--" shinra:...?? Relan: o\\\\\o *THUMP THUMP THUMP along the top of the bus* Arthur: "What on earth?" shinra: ?! what the heck?! sayaka: IS IT ALIENS?! LOUDSPEAKER: "This is the 1st Brigade. We are here to escort Mikami Kurai into custody regarding some questions." mikami: !!! Relan: "Huh?" ryuuko: *clutches mikami* wait here.... *she steps off the bus* *Troops along the top of the bus and out the exit* Burns: *standing, arms crossed* ryuuko: i dont know what this is about, but i wont let you hurt mikami.. *phoenix mode* Burns: *fire burning under his eyepatch* "We are taking Kurai in to answer a few questions: that's all." mikami:.....i'll go. ryuuko: ?! Karim: *sad expression* mikami: if thats all you want, i wont resist. ryuuko:.....fine. but im going with you mikami. Burns: *nods* "Karim will take you to the 1st now." shinra: ?? mikami: *looks back and smiles at them, as if saying she will be ok* Iris: "Wh-What is this?" tamaki: *hateful glare at burns and dia* Burns: *meets the glare* Karim: "This way, Mikami...please." dia: *same* mikami:...ok. ryuuko:... *follows* *Karim and soldiers surround Mikami, leading her and keeping her surrounded, but not touching her* tamaki: *mouthing 'go fuck yourselves' to burns and dia* Burns: *fire crackles under his eyepatch* dia:...commander. i dont like her very much. Arthur: *reassuring hand on Tamaki's shoulder* Burns: "Forget her. She's the 8th's problem now." tamaki:.....*small smile* nozomi: just let it go miss tamaki. *smiles* Relan: *looking with concern at Shinra and Iris* shinra: yeah, dont let those jerks get you down! tamaki: right...we should head back now. Iris: *smiles at Relan, patting his back* -and so- sayu: we're baaaaack! miwa: hey kiddos, *waves* oubi's in his office right now. sayu: im sooooo hungry! Takehisa: *nods* Iris: *bows to Takehisa, waves to Maki* miwa: good for you, because serina just made lunch. maki: *waves* have a good trip? shinra:....yeah. Arthur: *keeping an eye on Tamaki* Iris: *small blush* maki: you guys get settled, then meet us in oubi's office, ok? shinra: sure... Arthur: "Okay." Iris: *nods* -later- nozomi: a meeting already? Akitaru: "..." tamaki: did you find something? Akitaru: "Yes." Akitaru: "We were reviewing previous case files and discovered one regarding one flame being. It was--" nozomi: *noticing a file....toshiaki harada*....this is....my father's name........*she becomes silent* akitaru oubi....i need to know the truth...... Akitaru: "...Nozomi. Your father...had turned into a Flame Being." nozomi:....you're lying....YOU'RE LYING!! YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO COVER THE FACT THAT YOU MURDERED HIM! shinra: ?!?! Akitaru: "I had no choice. We are the Brigade. Our task is to release Flame Beings. I did all I could to contain the situation--" Iris: *covering her mouth with surprise* nozomi: *takes a letter opener* LIAR! HE WOULDNT BECOME A FLAME HUMAN! HE-HE WAS TRYING TO CREATE AN ANTIDOTE! AND YOU KILLED HIM IN COLD BLOOD!! shinra: woah! nozomi what are you doing?! maki: !!!! easy nozomi! Akitaru: "..." *stands, approaches her slowly* "Nozomi...There was nothing that could be done but to let him pass on." nozomi: s-stay away! i...i want to avenge him....i dont...want his work to mean n-nothing... *shes crying* tamaki: .....nozomi... Akitaru: "Then continue his research. Realize his work. Please, Nozomi...put it down..." nozomi: *she drops and tries to put it to her neck and cries* Akitaru: "!!!" Iris: "Nozomi! No!" miwa: ?? !!!!!!! STOP IT! *grabs nozomi and tosses the letter opener to the side* dont you DARE think about doing that!! nozomi: f-father.....*she breaks down crying* Akitaru: "..." *keeps his distance* miwa:...shhh....its ok nozomi....its ok..... tamaki:........ Arthur: "..." *looks down* -later, nozomi is under suicide watch for the evening- Iris: *crying* shinra: *looking over the file* damn.... tamaki: *comforting iris* Akitaru: "You never forget..." miwa: .......*writing his name down* Akitaru: "..." ("My dear child...my love...I'm so sorry.") shinra: i can understand how she feels....it hurt when i lost my mom... Akitaru: "..." ("You screwed up this time, Obi...") Takehisa: "Then we work with her as she reconciles this news with what she already knows." miwa:...*back pats* ....*her expression says 'its ok'* Akitaru: *looks at her...then back at the floor* miwa: im glad i was there in time....i didnt want it to happen again... Akitaru: (nods) "Not again." Akitaru: "...I thought I could save him." miwa:....it isnt just the flame humans i remember.....their loved ones too... Akitaru: *nods* "We had a case where...this young woman...her mother had already become a flame being...then her father...and he was so peaceful, up to the end..." *shakes his head* "I thought I could save Nozomi's father. I thought I...gave him peace." miwa: ....did i ever tell you about my most horrifying experience as a commander? we got called in to a couple's home, the man had become a flame being...his wife, or girlfriend or something, she didnt want to accept it... she kept saying 'he's ok. he's still my darling senji'.....when we put him to rest.....she took a knife and slit her throat open.....she didnt make it. Akitaru: "...This work...What we see...This world...It is difficult to retain hope in the face of so much...death." miwa: yeah...but we have to keep going, right? shinra: *outside the office* *knock knock* commander oubi? do you have a minute? Akitaru: *nods to Miwa, then looks to Shinra* "Yes, I do. What's on your mind, Shinra?" -after miwa left, shinra explained everything, including the hotel room- shinra: *winces and trembles, almost expecting a harsh reaction* Akitaru: "And you have talked with both Iris and Relan?" shinra: yeah....they were ok with it.... in the hotel....did i do the right thing? Akitaru: "You mean...with Relan?" shinra:....*he nods* i wanted....for him to feel like he isnt unloved....and i wanted to know more about myself....i think i figured it out....i want to be with both of them...i want them to be happy. Akitaru: *gentle smile, as he pats Shinra's shoulder* "You're finding out a lot about yourself. And as long as you are open and honest with both Iris and Relan, that's all you can do. That's all good." shinra:....thanks....w-we didnt do too much....my head still spinning...*he looks like he's going to be sick* should i have done that? Akitaru: "Hey...Did you both consent? Did you make sure not to pressure each other?" shinra: of course. i was nervous, but he was too....but it turned out ok in the end.... Akitaru: *smiles* "Then that's all there is. I'm happy for you, Iris, and Relan. But as your commander, there are some ground rules regarding fraternizing inside the Brigade..." shinra: ...... Akitaru: "When you're on work hours, you focus on your tasks; when you have your off-duty time, then...well, that's off-duty time. And know that, as your commander, if I see you, Iris, and Relan mixing business with pleasure during missions at the risk of yours or others' safety, I will reprimand all of you. Understand?" shinra: yes sir.... Akitaru: *smiles* "Okay." *pats his shoulder* "You are who you are, Shinra. Be proud." shinra:...thanks.... Akitaru: "..." *pulls out a box from his desk* "And you'll need these." *It's condoms* shinra: *color drains from his face* Akitaru: "Can never be too careful. If you need any sex ed lessons--" shinra: we're keeping things PG for now! >////< Akitaru: "It doesn't take much for a PG film to turn into an NC-17 feature, though." *slides the condoms along the desk to Shinra* shinra:....(thinking: i hope relan's ok at the 3rd) -at the 1st HQ- Burns: "What do you know about her?" mikami: i dont understand? Burns: "Akami Kurai, your sister..." mikami: !! yes. what about her? Burns: "When was the last time you saw your sister?" mikami:.....a few years ago. she and our father had a really bad fight, and she left... Burns: "Has she contacted you since then?" mikami: ....no. she hasnt... Burns: *studying her* "Can you tell me a bit about your sister's personality?" mikami: well, from what i remember, she was protective and always stood up for me and what she believed in. i always thought she was really cool. Burns: (" 'Cool'?") "And what did she believe in?" mikami: ...im not sure. it feels so long ago... Burns: "In addition to the fight with your father, had your sister had other moments of violence?" mikami:......... [man's voice: akami! what the hell did you do to her?!] [young!akami: n-no....it was an accident, i didnt mean to....mikami...i didnt mean to!] Burns: "Kurai?" Karim: *watching Mikami...* mikami: yes sir? ryuuko:...... Burns: "I asked you a question. When else has your sister been prone to violence? And in which ways?" mikami:....*covering her wounded eye*....she didnt mean to..... Burns: "Didn't mean to what?" Karim: *trying to intervene* "Commander..." ryuuko: *holds mikami's hand* i think that's enough, burns. Burns: "...We will call you back for more questions another time." *stands* "Dismissed." ryuuko:...mikami...are you ok? mikami:....y-yes... ryuuko: if you need to talk, im right here, ok? mikami: *small smile* i know...thank you ryuuko. ryuuko: *small blush* Burns: "Karim, Dia, escort them back to the 3rd." dia: of course. Karim: *nods, as he follows them out of the interrogation room and to the 1st's exit* Burns: "..." ("Just wait for it...") -outside- mikami:...... Karim: *follows, as he directs other soldiers to follow them* pearl: father fulham....will they be alright? Karim: "...I don't know." pearl:..... Karim: "..." *stops following Mikami, pats a hand on Pearl's shoulder* "We have to protect as many people as we can." pearl: *she nods* Karim: "...I will be back after I return Mikami and Ryuuko to the 3rd. Okay?" pearl:...ok. -elsewhere- Kid: *hugging Yumi and Death* lord death: welcome home kiddos! kirika: 7////7 Kid: "..." *awkward sibling hug to Kirika* kirika:...thanks. -later- stocking: *clutching her stomach* stupid cramps.... Kid: "I have the medicine and some water..." stocking: yes please... Kid: *puts the medicine into her open mouth, then holds the glass of water* stocking: thank you... TT.TT Kid: *lets Stocking drink, then lays hand next to hers* stocking: *whimpering* it huuurts.... Kid: "I'm sorry. I wish I could remove this pain." *holds her hand* stocking: *nuzzles* Kid: *holds her, humming a bit* -morning- Kid: *yawn* -at the 8th- nozomi:........................... Akitaru: "..." shinra: hey nozomi? we got you some breakfast in case you get hungry later... Iris: *nods* nozomi:....... tamaki: let us know when you're ready to talk, ok? Akitaru: "..." *turns to leave* shinra:...do you think she'll be ok? Iris: "I hope so." Takehisa: *watching Akitaru walk away* "It takes time." shinra:...hey commander? Akitaru: "Hmm?" shinra: *hug* i dont blame you... Akitaru: "!!! ..." *hugs back* "Thank you." -at school- Patty: *waves at Takeru* takeru: *wave* Patty: "How you doin'? Everything okay at your Brigade?" takeru: yeah. -elsewhere- ochako: oh, nozomi isnt in today? shinra: yeah...food poisoning. Izuku: "That's too bad. I hope she feels better soon." shinra: yeah...tamaki stayed with her to make sure she's ok. Izuku: "That's good." *small laugh* "Hate to say it, but it's a bit of a relief, given what she's like around you." Arthur: T___T "I miss my angry cat woman..." shinra: you'll see her when we go home, you baby. Arthur: *pouts* "You're the baby, baby." shinra: no-... hey rel! *waves and smiles* Relan: *slight shudder, blush, wave* "H-Hi..." shinra: *hug* how's it going? ochako: woah! o////o Relan: "!!!" *returns hug* "I-I'm okay...but at the 3rd...It's..." Izuku: ._. shinra: ?? Iris: "Relan?" *puts a hand over his* "What happened?" Relan: "...Mikami and Ryuuko seemed so...scared." shinra: yeah..after the 1st apprehended them- Relan: *nods* "I'm worried for Mikami especially. She was so...sad. I don't want her to be." Izuku: ._. *whispers* "Why are Relan, Shinra, and Iris all that close to each other, physically?" ochako: i dont know....but i ship it so hard *vibrating* Izuku: "WHAT?!" shinra: you ok izuku? Izuku: "I AM FINE!" Relan: o\\\\\\o Iris: "???" *hugs Relan* mina: im guessing polyamory here? shinra: yeah. ochako: ............*nosebleeds and faints* SO CUUUUTE~! Izuku: *catches Ochako* "...Um...Congrats?" Iris: *blush, smile, nods* Relan: "It's...something. Still getting used to it all." mina: *looking at izuku* (thinking: HIS HAIR FLOOF INTENSIFIED!!) shinra: yeah. Izuku: *electricity crackling in his hair* Relan: *smiles at both Iris and Shinra* "It's worth it." ochako: @w@ love has come to tooooown~ Iris: "Shinra...Um..." Izuku: "Ochako...Um...You're kinda...um...You're floating." shinra: hmm? ochako: hmm?? ah release! *drop* hehe... i got a bit...carried away....hahahahahahahaha!!! *sweats* Izuku: *still holding Ochako up* "Okay..." Iris: "I will...be stopping by the Church this afternoon. Could you and Relan walk with me there after class? It will just take a moment." shinra: sure. *smiles* momo:....arthur? you havent said anything... Arthur: "...You two...owe me...so badly." Relan: "!!!" *hides behind Iris and Shinra* shinra: let me guess, aoyama? Arthur: "And. More. Like the b--" Relan: "!!!" *covers Arthur's mouth* -elsewhere- Kid: "Feel better?" stocking: yeah...thanks babe~ Kid: *smiles* "You're welcome." *holds her hand* stocking: hehe~ Kid: "Just get through today, then we'll have the afternoon off for rest as we get used to classes again." stocking: ok. Black Star: "..." *oddly quiet* soul: you ok? Black Star: "...I couldn't stop them against Tsubaki. I needed someone else to stop them." soul:...its ok. *pap pap* Black Star: "I got to get stronger, man..." soul: how about we go to the gym and train tonight? Black Star: *nods* "Let's do that." -teacher's lounge- Stein: "Not one Yeti. Worst trip ever." marie: maybe next time. Spirit: "Killing a living creature, though, just to stuff it? Kinda weird, Stein, even for you." Stein: -_-; Spirit: "How's Christa, Marie?" marie: she's doing well. im so glad to be back with my baby~! Spirit: "Hee hee...That's good to hear." marie; and how are sachiko and izumi? Spirit: "They are well--and I'm so happy they are here and safe." *smiles* -when school let out- Kid: *smiles* "What would you like to do, Angel? Home to rest? Or go elsewhere?" stocking: im tired, lets head home for today... Kid: *holds her hand* "Okay. Rest will help you." stocking: im going to need pudding too. Kid: *smiles* "I think we have quite a bit at home." stocking: yay! Kid: *chuckles* "So cute~ Which flavor will you want?" -elsewhere- Iris: *enters the confessional* shinra: *waiting outside* Relan: *looking at the Church of Sol* "Wow...I-I've never been here..." shinra: yeah... *looking at the windows* Iris: *sign of the cross* "Bless me, Minister, for I have sinned. It has been nine days since my last confession." -minutes later- shinra: how was it? Iris: "A bit intimidating. I...have a lot to think about for what it is that I want. Regarding what the Church has to say about...us...they said..." Relan: "???" shinra: *listening* Iris: "...The Church is not as strict as other denominations. But nuns are expected to be clear in mind, body, and soul. I need time to think about what it is that I want..." *looks around* "Shinra, I really like you. Relan, I know you care deeply for Shinra." Relan: *blush* "I-I know you do, too." Iris: *slight squirm* shinra: *back pats* Iris: "...Could we talk in private?" shinra: all three of us? Iris: *nods* Relan: "I have a few minutes before I'm expected back at the 3rd." shinra: ok then. -In Iris's room at the 8th- Relan: *looking around* "Wow...You have so many books." Iris: *smiles* "Thank you." Iris: *looks at Shinra* "Shall I begin?" shinra: *sees a photograph of the sisters at the sol temple, including a young hibana, iris, and ivy* .... Iris: *smiles at the photograph of Hibana, Iris, and Ivy* "My sisters." Relan: "Oh...Wait, isn't that Commander Hibana?" Iris: *nods* shinra: yeah. long story. Relan: "Wow...I didn't know." Relan: "You don't seem anything like the Commander, Iris." Iris: "...That's...part of what I wanted to discuss, after my confession." shinra: *looking at the sheep plushie on her bookshelf* (thinking: cute.) shinra:.... (thinking: wait... THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER BEEN IN A GIRL'S ROOM!!) Relan: (thinking: "...So. This is a girl's room. Huh.") Iris: "??? Shinra? You okay?" shinra: im fine! Relan: *falls back onto the bed* Iris: "!!!" Iris: "You sure...you're okay?" shinra: rel? Relan: *landed, his head atop Iris's lap* o\\\\o Iris: o_o; shinra:....*sits on the bed*..........(thinking: this bed is so goddamn comfy!) Relan: *pulls up his legs so Shinra can sit on the bed, trying to get off of Iris's lap* Iris: -\\\- "Y-You can stay on my lap if you wish, Relan..." -later- Relan: o\\\\\o "...Okay." shinra: *still blushing over what he found in her drawers* Iris: *blushing* "That's what I told the minister...I really like Shinra...but I do find both of you physically attractive." shinra: i see..... Relan: "...Iris...You, um...were thinking about _both_ of us when you were...intimate with yourself?" Iris: -\\\\- *meek nod* shinra: *flustered* -in another room- nozomi:....... Akitaru: *outside her room...* nozomi:.............. maki: *gives him a look that says 'talk to her'* Akitaru: *inhales...knocks on her door* nozomi:........its open... Akitaru: "...May I come in?" nozomi:...... Akitaru: *enters, stands in the room* "...I wanted to talk, about your father." nozomi:......*she looks up at him from under the blanket, she looks like she cried the entire night* Akitaru: "Nozomi, I am sorry." nozomi:.....he worked so hard....to find a cure......i dont want to believe it..... Akitaru: "I know. I had no idea this would happen. If I had any other way I could have prevented this, I would have. I will always risk my life to save others: that's why I became a firefighter, long before I ever joined the Brigade." nozomi:.......im sorry.....i was so angry with you.....i wanted to kill you....but i dont think i could have.....*whimpering* Akitaru: "Nozomi...I think it's perfectly reasonable for you to be angry at me. I-I don't know what to do." *hesitantly puts his hand close to her shoulder* nozomi:....*crying silently* im sorry......im sorry......im sorry.... Akitaru: "..." *tries to give her a hug* "I'm sorry. I am so sorry." nozomi:.........*small awkward hug* Akitaru: *awkward hug* maki:....*small smile* -later- Akitaru: *sipping on tea* nozomi:....... tamaki: here, sorry if its a bit burnt... *slightly burned omlette was placed in front of nozomi* Akitaru: *small smile* nozomi:...thank you miss tamaki..... Akitaru: *finishes his tea, gets up to leave* maki: you ok, commander? Akitaru: *nods* "I feel better now." maki: thats good to know. Akitaru: *smiles* "Thanks." Relan: *exiting Iris's room* maki: oh, hey-....um...hey commander, did we get a new recruit? shinra: oh, this is relan, me and iris' boyfriend we mentioned- *realizes he didnt tell anyone else* oh. maki: b-buh-boy-BOYFRIEEEEEEEEEND??!! *vibrating intensifies* Akitaru: "Oh..." *holds out a hand to Relan* "Pleasure to meet you, son!" Relan: o_____o "...You're big." Iris: -\\\\\- "Maki, please calm down..." maki: *on the floor frothing and nosebleeding* awawawa shinra: yeah... nozomi:..... Relan: "Oh, no! What's wrong with her?!" Akitaru: *sigh* "I'll get first aid..." Iris: "This is actually to be expected..." *pats Relan's back* shinra: she's fine...in her own very strange way. Relan: *blushing, whispers* "Is she the one who...taught you in her books about...that stuff?" Iris: o\\\\\o tamaki: oh, hey you're that tall guy.....*looks at shinra* i knew it. Relan: "Um...Hi? I'm Relan. I'm...Shinra and Iris's boyfriend." tamaki: i know. nozomi:...nice to meet you. shinra:....*looks at takehisa* owo;;; Takehisa: "..." *small smile* maki: owo Relan: o____o *whispers to Shinra and Iris* "Why isn't he blinking?" shinra: he does. sometimes. Relan: *salutes Takehisa* Takehisa: *salutes back* Relan: "They all...seem nice here." shinra: *he smiles* hey, is arthur here at all? Takehisa: "He stepped out to get dinner." shinra: ah. -with arthur- Arthur: *at ramen bar, eating* "Hmm..." belkia: jeez, these places are sure finicky eh tsubakyun? Mr. Tsubaki: "The food at least is warm, and affordable." *SLUUUUUURP* Arthur: "???" belkia: yeah...im still a lil salty about getting tossed into a river though. q-q Mr. Tsubaki: "Oh, man up. You pulled yourself together! Most of yourself, anyway. Missing any organs?" belkia: nah....ah, love is such a cruel S.O.B. Mr. Tsubaki: *sigh* "No kidding..." *pours two shots for them* "To lost love." belkia: true that. *downs the glass* Mr. Tsubaki: "What did you like in that girl, Belkia?" belkia: she's every bit as stab happy as i am! and she's hella cute too! Arthur: " 'Stab happy'? Excuse me, sir, are you a fellow practitioner of the sword?" belkia: oho~? whats this now? Arthur: "I'm a knight. Are you too a knight?" belkia: nope. im a magician~! Arthur: *shiny eyes* "Like Merlin?" belkia: i said magician, not wizard ^-^# Arthur: "Close enough...So, what kind of magic can you do?" belkia: tsubakyuuun can i give them a show? can i can i can iiiiii~? Mr. Tsubaki: "Very well." belkia: YAY! gather round dearies! because the king of skewering has a show for you all! who is up for a try at the BOX! OF! DEATH!? Arthur: "..." *holds up his hand* "Question: Why is it called the Box of Death?" belkia: CAN I GET A VOLUNTEER?! Arthur: "..." Mr. Tsubaki: *bumps Arthur to the front of the crowd* belkia: oho~ so you want to have a stab at it then~? Arthur: "Wh-What? I didn't--" Mr. Tsubaki: "Our volunteer, everyone!" *puts an arm onto Arthur's shoulder, before shoving him into the box* belkia: *pulls out blades* lets see...stick a blade here! *shoves one in, thankfully it misses* Arthur: *dodging inside* Q~Q "What the hell?!" Mr. Tsubaki: *passes another sword to Belkia* ???: "Man, that was a good workout!" belkia: another one her- eh? ???: "Yo, Soul! Come on--I want some ramen!" soul: ok, but you have to pay half alright? Black Star: "Shut up! I'm good for it! But, just so you know, I'm going have, like, 15 bowls, so enjoy paying for 9 of them! Ha ha--" *Black Star spots Belkia and Mr. Tsubaki* Mr. Tsubaki: ._. belkia: OwO *doll mode and releases arthur* thats all for today folks! lets high-tail it outta here tsubakyuuun~! Mr. Tsubaki: "Don't have to tell me twice!" soul: what the fu- Black Star: "RRRRRROOOOOOOOAAAAAAAARRRRR!!! GET BACK HERE, YOU LITTLE SHITS!" Arthur: "Save me, Soul!" *hides behind him* soul:.....what the hell is going on? Arthur: "That wizard tried to cut me apart!" Black Star: *struggling to grab Mr. Tsubaki and Belkia* soul: uhhh..... Mr. Tsubaki: *dodging* "I'm afraid I'm too flexible for you, young man." Black Star: "Flexible this!" *Black Star knees Mr. Tsubaki in the groin* -a trash can gets launched at black*star- Mr. Tsubaki: "Umph!" Black Star: *head knocked into the wall* "...Ow..." otogiri: honestly, how many of your messes do i need to clean up? its bothersome. Mr. Tsubaki: "Less counting of messes, more getting us the heck out of here!" *opens an umbrella a la Mary Poppins* -le yoink- belkia: toodles~<3 Black Star: "Hey, get back--" soul: black*star! where did you go man?! Black Star: "???" Black Star: "I got hit in the head by a garbage can, and that asshole got away!" *kicks the garbage can down the alley* soul:....*back pats*...*looks down at his own ankles* Arthur: T_T "Thank you for saving me..." soul:...dude. get off please. Mineta: *in the trash can, disoriented* "Why am I always in here...?" soul: OHJESUSCHRIST!! Arthur: *blubbering* Black Star: "...Remember when Soul kicked your ass that one time, Arthur? Good times..." soul:..................... Arthur: "I want to go home! I just wanted ramen! I didn't want to die!" soul: alright, we'll take you home, jeez.... Arthur: T_T "Thank you..." -and so- soul: i think this belongs to you. *hands them arthur* Akitaru: *holding Arthur in his arms* Arthur: *whimpering* "So scary..." tamaki: hmm? oh, hey arthur, i was wondering when you'd get back. shinra and iris' boyfriend stopped by earlier. Arthur: *leaps out of Akitaru's arms and hugs Tamaki* "I was so scared I would never see you again!" Iris: *watching* "Well, he seems happy to be alive." soul: yeah... *sweatdrop* Arthur: *rubs against Tamaki like a kitten* Black Star: "...Dude, this place is weird." soul: *sweatdrops* Arthur: *purring against Tamaki* tamaki: -_-; Akitaru: "...Thank you for returning our Arthur. In the future, we will be sure to put a collar on him with his address." tamaki:...*chuckles* Arthur: *pout* -morning- Kid: "Any better?" stocking: *snuggles* the cramps arent as bad today... Kid: *snuggles back* "That's improvement. I hope you feel better soon." stocking: yeah....*pouts* stupid periods... Kid: "I wish this wasn't happening..." stocking: yeah, but its just nature..... Kid: *nods* "Much of this nature that is not perfect." *takes her hand, kisses it* "But we come pretty darn close." *looks into her eyes* stocking: *she smiles* Kid: *yawn* "Ready to start the day?" stocking: yeah. -at school- Black Star: "Take this!" *throwing a punch* kilik: hup! *dodge* Black Star: "AAARG!!" *swings randomly at Kilik* kilik: woah! easy there. *block* Black Star: "AAAAARG!" *swings--and misses, falling onto the ground* kilik: *concerned* sayaka: you ok? Black Star: *tears going down his face, as he slams his fist into the mud* tsubaki:.......*hug* Black Star: "..." *hugs her back* tsubaki: its not your fault... Black Star: "...I didn't protect you." tsubaki: im still here, aren’t i? Black Star: "No thanks to me..." tsubaki:.... (thinking: i really want to help you out of this funk...) Black Star: "...I think I need to clear my head. I'm going to skip today." tsubaki:.... Black Star: *marching away, covered in mud, towards showers* -elsewhere- Emine: *texting on a phone* lin: who are you talking to? Emine: "Doing my bad deed--pranking someone." Shotaro: *reading six books at once...thanks to Beak of the Octopus* mana: o-o mono: i know what joke your thinking of, and im not gonna do it. Zuno: "???" Assi: "Should I tell the joke, then?" mono: do not. *BOOM* Emine: *smiles* -elsewhere- Aizawa: *covered in feathers* "...I will be hurting someone..." namiko: *also covered in feathers*....i figured as much..... *sad sigh* Spirit: o_o "Um...Namiko? What happened?" namiko: tar trap... -elsewhere- Aoyama: *seated next to Arthur in class* Arthur: -_-; "Stop sitting so close to me." Aoyama: "No~" tamaki: *sweats* Arthur: *trying to read* Aoyama: *blows softly in Arthur's ear* Arthur: "Quit it!" tamaki: *sweats more* Aoyama: "What? You had a hair out of place." *moves Arthur's hair away from his face* Arthur: -_-; "Would you like it if I was touching all over your face?" tamaki: *vibrating* Aoyama: *reaches for Arthur's chin* Arthur: *clutching Aoyama's wrist* "Stop that!" Aoyama: *small kiss on Arthur's wrist* Arthur: ._. tamaki: EXCUSE ME I JUST REMEMBERED MY GRANDMOTHER'S SNAIL IS TERMINALLY ILL AND I HAVE TO GO DEAL WITH THAT! *exits quickly* Iris: .___. Relan: "...Is this going to be a pattern around here?" Arthur: "???" Aoyama: "Oh, that poor snail." shinra: -_-; after a while, you just learn not to question it. Relan: *shrugs* Iris: ("Lot to think about there...") -in the bathroom- tamaki: *panting* mmmn.. >////< *Tamaki's imagination of Arthur*: *giggles* "That tickles, Aoyama..." *Tamaki's imagination of Aoyama*: "But I can't help hearing your laughter..." tamaki: nnnnmm~ *rub rub* "Arthur": "Tamaki, let me help..." *hand traces down her belly* "Aoyama": *nuzzling against her neck* dream!tamaki: ahhhn~ that feels good... Dream!Arthur: *his hand slides under her panties, tracing along her slit* Dream!Aoyama: *kisses along her neck and down her chest* dream!tamaki: *soft moans* ahh~! Dream!Aoyama: "Double the pleasure..." *begins to suck on her left nipple* Dream!Arthur: "Double the fun..." *sucks on her right nipple, slowly sliding one finger into her* tamaki: *in the real world, she is fondling herself* nnnngh- f-fuuck~ dream!tamaki: n-nyaaahn~! Dream!Aoyama: *stroking Dream!Arthur's member* "I think he's ready for you, chaton..." Dream!Arthur: *hard, as he pulls down her panties* "More than ready here~" *slowly guiding himself into her* tamaki: ah-ah! *doubling over as she fingers herself* s-shit.... dream!tamaki: ah! s-so hard! Dream!Arthur: "You make me feel so hard, Tamaki..." *thrusting* Dream!Aoyama: *holding her from behind, grinding from the back, biting her neck* dream!tamaki: *mewling from pleasure* Dream!Aoyama: "I don't want to feel left out, so keep it up for me, chaton." *his hardness grinds along her, his hands along her breasts, playing with her nipples* Dream!Arthur: *grunting as he thrusts harder into her* "Fuck, you are so tight. You like this, Tamaki?" dream!tamaki: yes! it feels so good~! Dream!Arthur: "We want to make you cum, so hard, babe." *quick thrusts* Dream!Aoyama: *pinches her nipples hard* tamaki: a-AHHHH~!! *fire tails shoot up, slightly toasting the ceiling as she hits her limit* ???: "Shit!" *Fire sprinklers go off* tamaki: O/////O;; ???: "Eek!" *people running out of the restroom* ???: "Find out where the fire came from!" tamaki: *curls up in embarrassment* Fire Fighter: *turns off the sprinklers and alarms* "Must've been a false alarm.." -later- Arthur: "...What happened?" tamaki:....i dont want to talk about it. Aoyama: "Oh, chaton, you're all wet." tamaki: O///////O *tail flames* Arthur: o____o "And now you're on fire..." Relan and Iris: *slowly edging away from the scene* -elsewhere- Meme: "Yummy! I was starving in class." mio: *nom nom* Anya: *eating properly and slowly, finishes chewing* "You two seem rather ravenous, especially after our school trip." ao: i brought ohagi for everyone. Meme: "Yay!" Anya: -_-; tsugumi: they look really good, ao-chi! ao: hehe~ thank you. Anya: *eats one, trying not to react to how tasty it is* "Hmm..." ~_~ ao: how is it? Anya: "...Fine. I suppose." Meme: "So yummy..." -elsewhere- Mr. Tsubaki: *yawn* "Quite disappointing." lilac: ...... Mr. Tsubaki: *shakes his empty glass* "A refill, please, Lilac." lilac: ah y-yes sir. *goes to do that* Mr. Tsubaki: *sigh* "I simply cannot stand that small ninja. I think something will have to be done." belkia: lets shiv him in his sleep! Mr. Tsubaki: "Tempting, but it lacks poetry. And I can sense he is someone who could sense us coming..." belkia: bwoo.... =3=; -elsewhere- Yohei: *yawn* "Feeling better?" chie: *nods and purrs* *dark kitty tail* Yohei: *giggle* "Little kitty cat..." *holds her* chie: mmmmmm~ =w=~<3 Yohei: "Want anything to eat? Drink?" -in another room- mono:.....*looking at a picture* mono:....mom....dad.....*trembling as she remembers nofix killing them in cold blood* [NoFix: "Aw, what's wrong, tiny? Don't you want to play with me?"] [mama kuroshiro: mono, i need you to listen, go to the neighbors, call the police and hide...] [young!mono: b-but dad-] [Papa: "Mono, we love you. We always will. Now run. Run."] [NoFix: *sneers, slowly dragging his feet towards her parents*] [young!mono: *she hides upstairs with the phone, trying to dial and keep quiet*] mono:........... [young!mono: *staring at the crumbled, bloody corpses that used to be her parents* why....why are you doing this?] [NoFix: *marches towards her, holds her chin in his hand, smirking at her face* "For that. That look, where all of your hopes, dreams, and love are stamped out under my feet. I love it."] [young!mono: *trembling and crying* mama..p-papa....] [NoFix: *stroking a finger along her cheek, bruising her* "They're dead. But please, keep crying for them..." *rubs a finger along her face, taking up some of her tears...and licking his finger* "Mmmm..."] mono:.....*rubbing her eyes* i hope.....he stays gone..... Yohei: *walks by to get milk for Chie, spots Mono* "Hey..." mono:...... Yohei: "...You okay?" *approaches* mono:......yeah. Yohei: "..." *pats her shoulder* "It's okay." mono:.....*whimpering* Yohei: *hugs her* "You're safe." mono: i couldnt.....do anything....i just hid like a coward.... Yohei: "Do you remember what your parents told you?" mono:...... /we love you, we always will/ *crying* Yohei: "They did what any parent would do: they kept you safe. You are alive...and you have to live, for their sake." mono:......i still miss them.... Yohei: *nods* "You love them. And they are always with you." -elsewhere- Jacqueline: *reading a manga* kim:....*looks at it* i didnt think you were into horror manga? Jacqueline: *nods* "I wanted a little change of pace." kim: *she peeks over to see what it is about* Jacqueline: "It's by Itou." kim:....... O-O;; -elsewhere- Patty: *smiling* stocking: how does it look? Patty: *shiny eyes* "I look so pretty! Thanks, Stocking!" stocking: no problem. ^^ Patty: "Hee hee..." Patty: "Tsubaki, how're your nails now?" tsubaki: they look nice. *a simple peach color* Patty: "Sweet. And your hair looks cute, Sis!" liz: thanks. *she smiles* Patty: *snaps a pic on her phone* -elsewhere- Arthur: "Jeez, what got into her?" shinra: not sure...how's nozomi? Iris: "It's taking her time. But at least she's having some small food." shinra: thats good. Iris: "I better tend to the plants." Arthur: "And I'm stuck on cooking duty." -elsewhere- ???: ....mmhmm....i hear you....understood...... -elsewhere- Relan: *smiling, but panting* "At least my running time has quickened..." ryuuko: congratulations. *claps* mikami: *she smiles* Relan: "Thanks...Mikami, um...I was thinking of trying to cook something...Do you like pizza?" mikami: well...i guess so. Relan: "Okay...I'm gonna try to make some, and you're both welcome to try some. I'm sorry that it'll probably suck." -elsewhere- Kid: *walking around town* homura: good evening kid. Kid: "Oh! Homura! It's good to see you. How has today been?" homura: it's been well. and you? Kid: "Quite well. Happy to be back home. What are you up to right now?" homura: working on my job application for the DWMA special service. Kid: *smiles* "You would be good there." homura: *she smiles* Kid: "A lot to think following graduation." homura: do you have any plans for graduation? Kid: -\\\\\- "Yes..." -elsewhere- Medusa: -_-; "What the fuck did you put on my baby?" shaula: its a hat! -a knit hat in shape of shaula's ponytail- Medusa: "Did I say you could put that on her?" *looks at her to see whether she likes the hat* neian:..... XP shaula: what the fuck? i put a lot of hard work into that! and by _i_ i mean beatrice. beatrice: hello. Medusa: "...The fuck is she again?" shaula: she's my maid, dumbass. Medusa: "Quite a fulfilling career, cleaning the vomit off your bed." shaula: you're just jealous! Medusa: "Jealous of what, your early death brought about by alcohol poisoning?" shaula: if i were human maybe, but us witches are a liiiiittle stronger than that~ Medusa: "Can't blame me for dreaming..." -elsewhere- Dabi: "I think this arrangement is going to work out quite nicely~" yuuji: who died and made _you_ the boss? Kurogiri: *ahem* "We move forward with Stage 3." yuuji: are we going to drag along that loony ex-priest with us? Kurogiri: "Xey are quite powerful, and I received permission to bring xem along." yuuji: joy. Dabi: "I know, right? Come along, Light Bringer. We have to brighten someone's day~" -a few days later- Kurogiri: *observing a location from afar* -phone rings- eiko: how's it going up there? Kurogiri: "Challenging. Dabi is not playing well with others. The new member of our cabal is...intriguing." -with our heroes- Izuku: "How many more bags of chips will we need?" ochako: about 6 more bags, i think. Izuku: "Okay, but I hope the others chip in on the cost." ochako:....*bursts out laughing* Izuku: "???" ochako: 'chip in!' Izuku: "..." *snort* "Okay, that was unintended, but funny." ochako: i know, right? Izuku: "Oh, did we need drinks?" ochako: yeah. Izuku: "Hmmm...Tenya likes diet, Bakugo likes root beer..." -outside- Kurogiri: "Ready to begin?" ???: yes. Kurogiri: *initiating a Warp Gate...* -screams outside- ochako: ?! Izuku: *carrying the soda and chips, as he and Ochako check from the front entrance* "Oh no..." Kurogiri: *using a Warp Gate to slice a car in half* ochako: !! we need to find the others! ???: already on it! Izuku: "???" momo: we heard the noises from out here. Iida: "Time to get to work. Kurogiri is going to try to separate us, so we got to call for back up..." eijiro: well come on! lets rough and tussle this guy! Kurogiri: "Ah, hello, again. I remember you...separating you all." *eyes squint in a smile* "I look forward to slicing you into bits." momo: *summons a spear* eijiro: *rock arms* ochako: (thinking: just aim for the weak point like the last time! Kurogiri: "..." *bounces forward with Warp Gates at the group...* Izuku: "!!!" *tosses items to Ochako and Iida* "Fling it at his weak point!" momo: brace yourselves everyone! Izuku: *tosses can of soda--at Kurogiri's neck-guard* Kurogiri: "ARG!" *clutches his neck, gasping* "Ow!" Dabi: "..." *watching from afar* "Well, that's anticlimactic." ochako: nice shot! himiko: booo! that was laaame! Kurogiri: "ARG!" *giant warp gate comes down from above over them* Iida: "!!!" *struggles to run to gather them up to escape, but...* momo: !!!! Kurogiri: *cough* "Bye bye..." Izuku: ("We can't get out in time! We're--") ochako: !!! eijiro: !! *FWOOM* (Teleported) yuuji: our time to shine? Kurogiri: *through Warp Gate to Yuuji* "Yes..." sachi: *checks her watch* that time again.... *sharp claws* niiiice! Izuku: "!!!" Iida: *crashes down hard onto the floor* "Urk!" eijiro: ow... *he butt landed on top of ochako* ochako: o.o; Izuku: *managed to land on his feet and hands, looking around* "This is..." *looking for identifying marks to the warehouse* momo: *lands on a conveniently placed mattress* Izuku: "Mattresses? Where are we?" Kurogiri: "Somewhere where your teachers can't protect you, child." momo: gah, its really dark in here..... ochako: butt.... eijiro: *stands up* yeah, i can hardly see anything....*blinks to adjust his eyes to the dark* *Small flame forms next to Eijro's head* Dabi: "Let me help you with that..." eijiro:....*SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAMS* ZOMBIE GHOST MONSTER!!!! ochako: EEEEEEEEEEEK! Dabi: "Aw, that hurt my feelings." *extinguishes flame, pulls back fist* "Not as much as this will hurt you..." ochako: *gulps* momo:.... -something kicks her in the back- momo: gah! yuuji: yo. Izuku: "Momo!" yuuji: what a pain, who the fuck is this broccoli top? Izuku: *tries to stare Yuuji down, backing away* ("Got to assess this. Can't over-use my Quirk. Maybe I can attack them without my Quirk...") Dabi: "Have fun with them, kiddos, while I--" *PUNCH* Dabi: *knocked back by a super-fast punch* momo: ?! Iida: "...You talk too much." sachi: haha! Izuku: "Iida! Look out--" *PUNCHED* yuuji: stuff it junior. Iida: "Izuku! Wh--" *PUNCHED, HEAD SLAMMING TO FLOOR* Dabi: *chuckles, as he summons new flames, throwing them at Momo and Ochako* ochako: *gravities herself out of the way* momo: *dodge* yikes! ??? kufufufufu....